A tale of two visions gŏđŏ
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put in doubt the profitability of the Poker Run, calling it a “big boat event” that costs $85,000 but without much waves. It’s not a surprise that Mayor Berthiaume didn’t take the councillors’ comments too kindly, thus penning the “for the first and last time” letter, published in this week’s edition of Le Carillon. “I’m just tired of all of this,” said Ber- thiaume. “Some still go on and on about the fact that I live in Champlain Township, but I grew up in Hawkesbury and I have properties here. I pay taxes here and I’m still one of the boys. (...) We need to have a broader vision and a collective one to go forward as a city and a region. (...) They say I did nothing right during the last four years and it looks like they want to destroy me. (...) Come August, I will start my muni- cipal campaign and I will do it on ideas and values which Hawkesbury needs to go forward, the right way”. While Mayor Berthiaume praises the im- portance of a new economical and social
STÉPHANE LAJOIE stephane.lajoie@eap.on.ca
HAWKESBURY | The Hawkesbury mu- nicipal council is currently taking a much needed vacation break until August, which follows a little war of words in the local medias between councillors André Chamaillard, Michel Thibodeau, Johanne Portelance and mayor René Berthiaume. While clashes of ideas and visions are an integral part of the political game, this in- tense and emotional tension raises ques- tions as elections loom. The three councillors made their outcry public after Mayor Berthiaume’s June 23 address, citing that his “remarks were more of an electoral nature and that the council table isn’t the place to gain political leve- rage”. They accused the mayor of taking credit where credit isn’t due, citing the HGH extension project as an example. They also
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influx to ensure a durable development in Hawkesbury, the disgruntled councillors say that the mayor is out of touch, “with his imagination taking over facts and reality”. “I would like to be on the same page as Mayor Berthiaume, but for now, we just don’t have the means to have a grander vision”, said Councillor Johanne Portelance. “We’re not a rich town and there’s not a lot
left in the coffers. I do have a clear vision and I want to do as much as I can to better our town, but we have to be realistic. We just can’t afford to dream when our taxes are sky high and our infrastructures are crumbling. (...) In his letter, he attacked us personally and we will respond.” The council will be back in chambers in August and the municipal elections are set
Liberals seek challenger to MP Lemieux GREGGCHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca
tion this year unless the prime minister chooses to finish out the regular term. For members of the Glengarry-Prescott- Russell Liberal Riding Association it means time to start hunting up a candidate to chal- lenge incumbent Conservative MP Pierre Lemieux at the polls. GPR association pre- sident Marie-Noelle Lanthier announced that the group is now open to nominations
to create a short list of possible nominees for a riding association candidate forum later in the year. “We are actively looking for enthusiastic and competent community leaders,” Lan- thier stated. “The party, under Justin Tru- deau’s leadership, has developed a new open nominations process for the search.” Lanthier noted that the “Green Light”pro- cess for the party is designed to determine if would-be candidates are committed to the values of the Liberal party.
The association’s nomination committee’s candidate search parameters also empha- size that potential nominees must be able to represent the linguistic and ethnic de- mographic profile of the riding with at least bilingual ability. The nomination guidelines are also designed to encourage possible female candidates. More details for interested candidates is available either by email to mnlanthier@ xplorenet.ca or president@gprliberal.ca or online at www.gpr.liberal.ca.
PRESCOTT-RUSSELL | The end of the cur- rent mandate for the Harper Conserva- tive government is drawing close, which could mean either a surprise federal elec-
The Liberals are gunning for Lemieux’s seat in Ottawa.
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