The record, 14 juin 2016, Brome County News

[" Brome County NEW Tuesday, June 14, 2016 Paradis pushing to reopen Experimental Farm in Frelighsburg Committee mandated to study possibilities, deliver recommendations By Ann Davidson During his election campaign last fall, Denis Paradis, the elected Member of Parliament for the Brome-Missisquoi riding, told constituents that he wanted to make sure to take advantage of the land and facility owned by the federal government that is known as the Experimental Farm in Frelighsburg.Last week Paradis announced that he has formed a committee with a mandate to advise him of possible scenarios following the reopening of the farm that has been left abandoned since 2012.The five-member committee made up of environment specialist Jean Simard, Frelighsburg Mayor Jean Lévesque, wine producer Léon Courville, blueberry producer Alain Ménard, and apple producer Réal Carron will look at possibilities and make suggestions and recommendations that would define the future of the Experimental Farm.They will examine the possibility of a federal-provincial partnership.After 40 years in operation, as a way to reduce the budget, the Experimental Farm located in Frelighsburg was one of nine that the Conservative government under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, shut down.It worked on important research on plant diseases, insects, and genetic improvement of apple trees.In her address to the Speaker of the House, NDP member Lauren Lieu stated that in the case of the Frelighsburg farm, permanent jobs and a number of student jobs were eliminated.Most importantly, she said, \u201cwe lost 40 years of scientific data and we are compromising the future of an important agricultural sector.\u201d Five empty buildings at the entrance to the compound on Chemin St.Armand and a bleached out map depicting the layout of the 133-acre farm are ghostly remnants of the past waiting for renewed purpose and energy.Paradis says that the Frelighsburg Experimental Farm is a gem.\u201cOur party has committed to restore Canada\u2019s image in science and innovation and this farm is the perfect example of it.The location of the farm is ideal ANN DAVIDSON AC',.There are already a number of structures lying vacant at the entrance to the Experimental Farm that the Conservative government of Canada shut down during a budget-cutting spree in 2012.because it allows research on fruits in Canada to do research on climate cold climate.Moreover, why not take ad- change in relation to agriculture.\u201d vantage of the presence of Environment TBL retail suffers while A Thinking of selling.Please call for a free evaluation.By Ann Davidson Citizens of TBL are uneasy about the town\u2019s future as they continue to see a decline in retail business.With the closure of Korvette looming and last weeks\u2019 news of Jones New York pulling all 37 of its stores out of Canada, the Town of Brome Lake is suffering a double-headed blow.Yet despite the reality of locked doors and empty store- 450.242.1515 Let me list it.Let me sell it.Lets you move on.Peter Marsh Ortut^ ANN DAVIDSON Once the Texaco gas station, then Papa Spiro\u2019s Restaurant, the 290 sits in the heart of Knowlton hospitality holds its own fronts and devastating job loss, there continues to be a glimmer of hope with hospitality holding its own and a landscape that sets the stage for myriad activities that continue to draw tourists to the region.Owen Falquero, president of the TBL Chamber of Commerce, says it should be kept in mind that the closing of both Jones New York and Korvette are corporate decisions made at a much higher level.\u201cEspecially in the case of Jones New York the decision is not a reflection of the profitability of the Knowlton store, nor is it an indictment of the suitability of Knowlton as a commercial zone,\u201d he said.In the case of the building where Jones New York is situated, Falquero is sure that it won\u2019t be empty for long, because the building is a jewel in a prime location.\u201cIn the short term, we understand that empty storefronts are unattractive.The chamber will be working with its existing sub-committee of retailers to encourage owners of empty spaces to beautify their storefronts and shop windows until new occupants are found.As well, the chamber supports the rapidly-growing phenomenon of\u2018pop-up\u2019 stores, wherein entrepreneurs rent out unoccupied retail spaces for short periods of weeks or even days.\u201d Cont\u2019d on page 3 GROUPE GUYST-LOUIS COWANSVILLE COWANSVILLE OCCASION MEGA SALE! 250 VEHICLES IN STOCK UP TO $5000 REBATE WWW.COWANSVILLEOCCASION.COM RUE DE SALABERRY 450 263-8888 pressfjjfcfcmi Printed and distributed by PressReader £f\u201e