Windmill project a possibility for Malbaie area

Charlene Eden

Innergex, a company that specializes in producing electricity from sustainable energy sources, held a public meeting last week at the community centre in Saint Georges-de-Malbaie to discuss a potential windmill project for the area. About 40 people showed up to listen to Innergex’s proposal that would see the implementation of numerous windmills within a 14-kilometre area between Bougainville and Prevel. Should the project become a reality, the total investment could be as high as $75 million.

While Innergex appears more than ready to invest in the project, most of the land in the 14-kilometre area is privately owned. Innergex has therefore been contacting landowners to negotiate rental agreements for their land. According to the company, negotiations have been fairly positive to this point. “The total number of landowners (in the 14-kilometre area) is not too far from 200. Right now, we have agreements with around 75 owners. There are about 10 left to see and others that we cannot use their property, because it’s too small or because it’s between the roads and the ocean. I think we have five refusals,” said Mr. Guy Dufort, director of public affairs for Innergex.

Gaspesia Papers to hire 198 unionized workers

Workforce will hit 246 with management people

Gilles Gagné

CHANDLER - The Gaspesia paper mill in Chandler will finally hire 198 unionized workers, about 27 less than what was expected and announced by government officials in 2001. The numbers were released last week by union president Denis Luce and confirmed by the managers of the plant.

When the modernization of the mill was officially announced on December 17th, 2001, most documents referred to a manpower of 275 people, sometimes 267, required to run the mill once the $495 million refurbishing of the plant was finished, by the summer of 2004.

With the new figures issued on February 20th, after weeks of negotiations and once the selection of the personnel was performed, the level of 198 production workers was reached. About 48 employees must be added, for the management and supervision positions.

The federal government should keep the port of Gaspé, says Georges Farrah

Ottawa gives the harbour road to the Town of Gaspé, along with $1.4 million

Gilles Gagné

The federal government should keep the port of Gaspé, despite the fact that Ottawa was ready to transfer the property to a local organization in May 2001, states the Member of Parliament for the Bonaventure-Gaspé -Magdalen Islands-Pabok riding, Georges Farrah.

He still believes that the federal government can develop the Sandy Beach harbour, even though Ottawa has owned the facilities for generations, without tapping into the potential perceived by the regional leaders.

Mr. Farrah thinks that people should wait a few weeks, until Ottawa releases its new policy on the ports, before judging his rather surprising opinion about the future property of the harbour.