SPEC Headlines, May 18, 2003

Hydro-Québec launches a call for tenders for 1,000 megawatts of wind energy
Total value of the projects far exceeds $1 billion
Gilles Gagné

Hydro-Québec launched on May 12th the call for tenders for the construction and installation of 1,000 megawatts of wind energy in the Gaspé Peninsula, the Magdalen Islands and the MRC of Matane. The public corporation then respects the terms of a decree adopted by the Québec government in December 2002, even if the political regime has since changed.

The decree imposed May 12th as the latest date for the publication of the call of tenders. The document issued that day stipulates that suppliers of wind mill equipment will have to put a Gaspesian content of 40 percent or more in the wind mills built and installed before December 1st 2006. The proportion of Gaspesian equipment will be raised to 50 percent one year later, and to 60 percent after December 2008, until the end of the installation of the wind farms, in 2012-2013.

Crabbers refuse to go at sea despite a 3,000 ton raise of the zone 12 quota
Gilles Gagné

SHIPPAGAN AND GRAND RIVER - Crab fishermen of the Southern part of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence still refused to go at sea, at press time, despite a meeting with Fisheries and Oceans Canada Minister Robert Thibault, held on May 11th in Fredericton.

Minister Thibault proposed a raise of the quota of the zone 12 to 20,000 metric tons, an addition of 3,000 tons compared to the initial fishing plan. But obviously, it was not what crabbers wanted to hear, since Minister Thibault did not want to give up on one point, the necessity to divide up the quota permanently between crab fishermen on one side, and other categories of fishers on the other side.

In the Gaspé and Magdalen Islands, most of the fishermen in that "other categorie" used to catch cod, and they are now paralyzed by a second moratorium in 10 years. In New Brunswick, cod fishermen are rare, and lobster fishermen will be the main beneficiairies of the permanent allocations Minister Thibault want to implement.

Barry Tennier charged 34 times for sexual assaults, death threats and drug traffic
Gilles Gagné

NEW CARLISLE - Barry Tennier, the former Mayor of New Carlisle, was charged with sexual assault, sexual touching and drug traffic on May 9th and May 12th at the New Carlisle Court House. He was also accused of uttering death threats to alleged victims.

A total of 34 charges were laid against the 62 year old man, and the Sureté du Québec investigators were still meeting with potential victims or witnesses as SPEC went to press.