Headlines from this weeks SPEC

Feb. 3, 2002

Plane still missing, after nine days of search
Gilles Gagne

MARIA - The plane missing since January 20th between Gaspe and Quebec City had not been found, as Spec went to press, on January 29th. Despite the use of ten planes or helicopters over a period of nine days, the Search and Rescue team of the Canadian Armed Forces could not locate the Piper Cherokee Warrior, and its two pilots, Lamia Bakka, a 25 year old woman from France living in Montreal, and Morgan Furmansky, 19, also from France.
Both were accumulating flying time in their effort to get their commercial licence. They left Gaspe on Sunday, January 20th, a little after 4:00 pm. They were supposed to stop in Quebec City, enroute to St. Hubert, near Montreal. The plane belonged to Air Tuteurs, and both were members of the Aeroclub Montreal.

Gaspesia mill: Tembec and partners to sign a deal with banks for Mid-February
Gilles Gagne

Tembec and its partners in the Gaspesia mill modernization project are trying to close a deal with banks for Mid-February. The pulp and paper company is seeking a $95 to $100 million loan from a number of financial institutions located in Canada, and of one American bank.
In fact, only the interest rate remains to be settled between the promoters of the $465 million initiative, and the banks. Negotiations started before the Christmas break.

Next Young Liberal president could be a Gaspesian, Steeve LeBlanc, from New Richmond
Gilles Gagne

NEW RICHMOND - The next president of the Youth Commission of the Liberal Party of Quebec could be a Gaspesian, namely Steeve Leblanc, a New Richmond native who was studying law at Laval University until December 2001. As of January 29th, three days before the end of the nomination period for the presidency of the Youth Commission, Steeve Leblanc was the only candidate. He could replace Isabelle Merizzi, who resigned a few days before Christmas.