SPEC Headlines, April 4, 2004

Hydro-Québec ends talks with NB Power regarding a second power station in Belledune
NB Power wants to build anyway
Gilles Gagné

    NEW RICHMOND - Hydro Québec is no longer holding talks with NB Power
regarding the construction of a second coal-burning power station in
Belledune, where the New Brunswick utility already operates a similar
facility. The two public corporations ceased their negotiations in a very
discreet way at the end of 2003.
    Hydro Québec spokesperson Élise Proulx states that talks between the two
parties didn't go very far. They only reached an "exploratory" stage, but
Hydro Québec was nevertheless "preoccupied" by three criteria that are
considered essential when the Québec utility gets involved in a project as
an entrepreneur or a partner.
    "These projects must have the support of local communities. They must
also be acceptable environmentally and they have to respect our requirements
in terms of profitability (...) In the case of our talks with NB Power, we
had concerns regarding the three criteria", said Mrs. Proulx.

Coupe Desjardins provides a break for Chandler
Hundreds of people generate spin-offs in town
Gilles Gagné

    Seriously hampered over the last two months by the halt in  Gaspesia
mill construction, the Chandler area was an animated place between March
25th and March 28th when 1,500 people converged on town for the Coupe
Desjardins, the Regional Minor Hockey Championship.
    More than 400 of these visitors were players, parents, coaches and
supporters from the Magdalen Islands. Since lodging in town was scarce for
the duration of the tournament, most people from the Maggies spent the four
days aboard the CTMA Vacancier, the cruise ship in which they made the trip.
The ship can hold 450 people in more than 200 cabins, excluding the crew.
    For a while, Chandler regained the feverishness that characterized the
period prior to January 30th. when the modernization project of the paper
plant was stopped because of an overspending of $265 million.

A new vision for Gaspé
Jeanie LeLacheur

A meeting of  "Vision Gaspé Percé Now" was held on Thursday, March 25th at
St. Paul¹s Anglican church in Wakeham. The Vision organization was formed in
an attempt to combine the scattered and often individual efforts of citizens
to address the economic social and cultural needs of the English speaking
community, Greater Parish of Gaspé  (Cap-aux-Os to Cap d'Espoir, including
Gaspé and Percé).  Vision has since worked in collaboration with Richard
Walling and Jennifer Johnson of Holland Center, a well-established health
and social services community agency in Quebec.  On the advice of the
Holland Center a report was prepared allowing an accurate evaluation of the
English speaking communities¹ strengths and weaknesses, thereby creating a
means to assess its potential and needs.