Charest leads roasters in tribute to MNA Middlemiss: It was a roast for MNA Robert Middlemiss, but the PQ government took the hardest hits of the evening from guest roaster and Quebec Liberal Party leader Jean Charest.

Revealing an off-the-cuff sense of humour, Charest opened his address to the Liberal faithful in the gymnasium of Dr. S.E. McDowell School in Shawville.

Pontiac, he said, reminded him of the Eastern Townships, where he was raised, and where the “English and French always got along,” playing hockey together, going to school together, the marriages between English and French.

“We are blessed in our relationship,” he said.

When Charest finally turned to sear Middlemiss with his wit, he also poked fun at himself before again using the roast to criticize the PQ.

“The PQ doesn’t only want the shirts off our backs, they’ll go for our socks and shoes, too,” said Charest.
E-commerce hailed as business booster: Another high-tech term has crept into the popular lexicon and, if forecasters are correct, “e-commerce” will be heard both often and in many circles.

The term describes business-to-customer and business-to-business exchanges on the Internet which lead to the purchase of goods.

“Business-to-business will be the most important aspect in the next five years,” says André Rochon, e-commerce development officer with Canada Economic Development (DEC).

Rochon spoke to about 15 people at an e-commerce information session sponsored by the SADC and CED at the Forest Inn in Bryson. Session organizer Christine Amyotte, of the SADC, says the breakfast meeting was a success.