By Joel Goldenberg The Suburban One of Côte St. Luc?s biggest hopes in the last several decades has been for a recreation centre with the city?s first publicly-run indoor pool and much needed space for its popular men?s and women?s seniors clubs. Thanks to much hoped-for financial contri- HYUNDAI PRESTIGE 2009 ELANTRA L NOW FROM $11,999 PURCHASE FINANCING OFFER $169 ** PER MONTH 3,35% PURCHASE FINANCING Fadia Rassi 514.923.9280 Affiliated Real Estate Agent CITY EDITION LAST CHANCE TO SAVE ON 2009 ELANTRA L 84 MONTHS DELIVERY AND DESTINATION INCLUDED sothe bysrealty.ca At Sotheby?s International Realty Québec, we know that successfully marketing exceptional properties requires exceptional skills. If you are thinking about buying or selling a property of quality, contact us so we can illustrate the advantages of our unique approach targeting both local and international markets. SMITH: ADQ NEEDS CONSERVATIVE REBRANDING, PAGE 15 You don?t have to put up with foot pain any longer! butions f ...

2 ? THE SUBURBAN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2010 Around the Towns Quebec rethinking Hippo plan? Snowdon councillor Marvin Rotrand told The Suburban that the Quebec government may be reconsidering the sale of the land occupied by the Hippodrome de Montréal. Talks between the province and the city of Montreal are reportedly taking place. Rotrand and other local politicians, along with housing groups, have been pressuring the Quebec government to surrender the land to the city for housing. ?They gave the mandate (to sell the land for $100 million) to SONACC (Quebec?s horse racing authority),? Rotrand said, ?but they may be having second thoughts about that.? Some reports suggest BMO Capital Markets, acting on behalf on SONACC, will put the land on the open market in April. Former mayor Pierre Bourque?s administration sold Blue Bonnets to the provincial government for $15 million, when it was worth four times that in the early 1990s. ? DD New Hope Seniors need driver NDG?s New Hope Senior Ci ...

NEWS AND ANALYSIS FIGHT Cont?d from page 1 As opposed to his previous term when ignorance was often Tremblay?s best and only defence, Danyluk and the other mayors are doing their best to let both Tremblay and Premier Jean Charest know about the gathering storm of over rising ?agglo? rate hikes. Last month, Danyluk was the first to fire a shot across the central city?s bow when Town of Mount Royal?s council all accepted a motion to request the province to redefine the Montreal Agglomeration?s legal framework. As of early next month, several cities are planning to pass their own motions calling upon Quebec?s Municipal Affairs to deal with the city?s festering problems in order to resolve the growing confrontation between the Tremblay administration and the island?s independent suburbs. Apart from their objections to the arbitrary 12.6 percent increase in fees the city imposed upon its so-called ?suburban partners,? the new motion specifically condemns the several occasions when Tremblay ...

Govenor General shares her warmth Mike Cohen As rumours circulate that Prime Minister Stephen Harper will replace Michaëlle Jean as Governor General before she reaches the five-year mark in the post next September, I ask the question ?why?? Forget about the fact she saved the PM?s job by allowing him to prorogue Parliament a year ago January and thus avoiding a coalition government headed by Stéphane Dion. She permitted Harper to place the House of Commons on hold again this winter. I had a chance to meet Jean for my first time last week when she visited Share the Warmth, the fabulous community organization in Point St. Charles which assists those living below the poverty line. A former CBC broadcaster and prior to that a worker on 4 ? THE SUBURBAN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2010 NEWS & ANALYSIS behalf of battered women, Jean was born in Haiti and came here with her family at the age of 11. She is beautiful, charismatic, highly educated and a true people person. I watched with admiration ...

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6 ? THE SUBURBAN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2010 How are we doing? Lisa Finiffter ? Chabanel The gym has been most accommodating. I lost a few sessions but I?ve hooked up with the most amazing trainer who pushes me to the limit and beyond! Can?t move! Good pain almost every day. No pain, no gain! I can?t believe how much I?m enjoying this program. I?ve never had so much energy. I haven?t lost much on the scale maybe 4.5 lbs but my clothes are hanging off of me. My legs are so hard. Must be all the muscle I?m building. I am constantly reminded about the challenge by customers, acquaintances and family. Who knew the Suburban had such a following! I think people love the reality soap opera element of it. As for my new trainer Michael, he?s a gem! He is so excited for me with each level I surpass either cardio or weight training. He is most proud of my results and I really do credit him for having the patience and motivational skills to push me. The poor guy takes much abuse from me as I cry ...

NEWS & ANALYSIS DeSousa says parking spot tax will pay for public transport By P.A. Sévigny The Suburban As the man in charge of the city?s finances, Ville St. Laurent Mayor Alan DeSousa said the city?s new tax on downtown parking lots ?is a fair tax and a good way to show the province we?re doing our share to help finance the city?s public transport.? While some may applaud the tax as one of the city?s latest ?green? initiatives, others say the tax isn?t fair because it is only being imposed upon the busiest sectors of the city?s already beleaguered downtown core. From its eastern border along Papineau Blvd. to its western border along Atwater, every commercial parking spot within a rectangle located south of Pine Avenue all the way to the river is expected to raise up to $20 million in new taxes for the city. Parking lot operators will soon be expected to pay anywhere from 50 cents up to $2 per day for each and every space on their lot depending upon its location within DeSousa?s rec ...

St. Laurent has many activities for week-long school break By Joel Goldenberg The Suburban Youngsters and families living in St. Laurent have plenty of activities to occupy them during the upcoming week-long school, break from march 1 to 7, the borough?s culture, sports, leisure and social development announced last week. Some of the activities: ? At the library on De L?Église, on Tuesday March 2, Story Hour, in English, presented by library employees at 10:15 a.m. for children from three to five years old. ? In French, also at the library on March 2, a Productions Flash Boum & Patatra! 50-minute presentation of Jack et le Haricot Magique at 2:30 p.m. for children from four to 12 years old. ? On Wednesday March 3, Danielle Loiseau presents, in French, Viens Plonger dans l?Univers Clownesque, a 60minute activity at 1:30 p.m. for children from six to nine years old at the library. ? On Thursday March 4, two hour-long activities involving musical instruments called Brico-musique will be p ...

NEWS & ANALYSIS Activist accuses St. Laurent police of infringing Charter rights By Joel Goldenberg The Suburban Activist Murray Levine says he was threatened with arrest last Wednesday while picketing against St. Laurent borough mayor Alan DeSousa. ?Considering the fact that I demonstrate in order to get politicians to do what is best in the interest of humanity, it is amusing when the police see the need to have a presence when someone such as myself exerts their democratic rights, as guaranteed by Canada?s Charter of Rights and Freedoms,? Levine says. At the February St. Laurent council meeting, the mayor criticized Levine, a longtime activist for having the Tour de L?Île cycling event have a charitable element, for a protest he held against DeSousa in St. Laurent months before for not putting pressure on Tour organizers. DeSousa said that while he can take criticism, the contents of the sign were not appropriate for a community like St. Laurent with young families. The sign took is ...

10 ? THE SUBURBAN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2010 NEWS & ANALYSIS ?It won?t pay to be a slumlord? Applebaum: New rules could put them out of business By Dan Delmar The Suburban In the coming weeks, negligent landlords in Montreal may find themselves in a world of trouble if serious problems are found in one of their buildings. Côte des Neiges-NDG mayor Michael Applebaum, who is the executive committee member in charge of housing, told The Suburban that if city inspectors find major issues in one building, the owner?s other properties will be targeted in an inspection blitz. ?We?re still working on a plan,? he said, adding that the new regulations should be ready in less than three months. ?The city will become stricter on delinquent landlords.? Most landlords who let apartment buildings go and are fined by the city will conduct the necessary repairs, Applebaum said, but legal measures are necessary for a few who do not comply. That was the case with Robert Sebag, who recently sold his Vé ...