Headlines from this weeks SPEC

August 11, 2002

Guylaine Laplante had to drive eight hours to change her driving licence
Gilles Gagne

Technology is generally supposed to simplify our life, but it is not always true. In the case of Guylaine Laplante, from Paspebiac, the use of new technology forced her to drive eight hours, only because she needed to change the name of the province on her driving licence.
Since July 1st, people from the rest of Canada and most of the United States moving to the Province of Quebec can only do this apparently simple operation in four offices of the Societe de l'assurance automobile du Quebec, in Montreal, Quebec, Gatineau and Rimouski.
Guylaine Laplante, 24 years of age, moved back to Paspebiac three weeks ago, along with her parents, after having spent nine years in British Columbia. Since her car insurance was expiring, she tried to change the address on her driving licence while visiting relatives in Rouyn-Noranda, where they entered in the Province of Quebec, given the fact that you need a driving permit from the province where you now reside in order to get a new insurance contract.

SQ investigating incident in Murdochville
Death threats and assault could have been made
Gilles Gagne

Tempers are short in Murdochville.The Surete du Quebec is investigating an incident that took place on August 3rd when a small group of former Fonderie Gaspe workers tried to organize a meeting with a lawyer in order to learn more about a possible class action if negociations fail with Noranda.
One angry worker, who is not identified for now since accusations could be coming, grabbed by the neck the main organizer of the meeting, Bernard Dupuis, a resident of Fox River who was laid off at the end of April, and allegedly made threats to bang his head againt concrete. The following day, someone called Bernard Dupuis at his home and made death threats, he said.
The first incident occured in front of the town hall, following harsh discussions between union members who did not want the meeting to take place, and people like Bernard Dupuis, who were convinced that it was useful.

Investment of $4.4 million underway at Miguasha Park
Expansion should be ready by December
Gilles Gagne

MIGUASHA - The $4.4 million expansion at the Park of Miguasha is well underway, and the work should be done by the end of November or the beginning of December at one of the most popular tourist attractions of the Gaspe Peninsula, which is slowly becoming the main paleontology centre in Quebec.
The surface of the Park's main building will be practically doubled. A new permanent exhibition will be prepared before the 2003 summer in a much bigger room. Another room will be added for a temporary exhibition, mostly coming from other museums. The administrative building, actually located 1.3 kilometer west of the museum, will be integrated in the expansion.