SPEC Headlines, May 25, 2003

Another crisis at the Chandler Hospital
Gilles Gagné

Chandler - The Chandler Hospital is caught in the middle of another crisis.
The management of the institution called the press on May 16th in order to
calm down the public, because rumors were circulating to the effect that
five or seven doctors had resigned.

President of the Board, Philippe Berger, vice-president Jean-Marie Cotton
and director General Chantal Duguay announced that only one doctor had
resigned lately, although a psychiatrist, Florina Thomas, is also leaving,
but this departure was announced months ago, they said.

But at the same time, other doctors, who do not want to be named, are asking
the management to call a mediator so to allow the two groups to "negotiate".

The loss of gynecologist Renée Soucy, a native of Chandler, has hit the
community like a ton of bricks because she comes from the community and
generally, doctors originating from the Gaspé are easier to attract and keep
around, in the so called "far regions".

One police station per MRC: convenient, but not compulsory, says Capt. Luc Fillion
Gilles Gagné

    NEW CARLISLE - The reorganization of the Sûreté du Québec services in
the MRCs of Avignon and Bonaventure would make sense if two stations were
kept or rebuilt instead of three, but this situation is not compulsory,
explains Captain Luc Fillion.
    Captain Fillion conducted, for the Sûreté du Québec, the first stages of
negotiations with the two MRCs of the Bay of Chaleurs, when he was based in
New Richmond. He has recently moved to Rimouski in order to work with the
Lower Saint Lawrence section of the police force, but he was still
considered the main spokesperson for the SQ in the reorganization of the
police services in the Bay of Chaleurs.
    "At the current time, there is no official scenario ready for the
Avignon and Bonaventure MRCs. The negotiations are ongoing. The MRCs have
submitted a list of services that they would like to keep, and some
improvements as well, and we are negotiating from there. It is too early to
say if two or three stations will be kept, if the three locations
(Matapedia, New Richmond and New Carlisle) will be closed, if two of them
will be kept, and which ones, or if two brand new buildings will be
erected", says Captain Fillion.


CASA AGM shows vast financial recovery
Charlene Eden

    About 25 people showed up for CASA¹s Annual General Meeting, which was
held on May 14th in Chandler. The meeting demonstrated that CASA has been
extremely active in the past year and plans to continue working hard for the
Anglophone community in the coming year.  CASA¹s financial situation has
also improved since last year.
    According to the auditor¹s report, CASA¹s total revenues for the period
of March 31, 2002 to March 31, 2003 were $252, 643.  CASA¹s overall expenses
during that time period came to $234, 578, giving the organization an
$18,065 surplus.  This enabled CASA to pay off the previous year¹s deficit
of $13, 695 and still have an excess of $4, 370.