FINAL WEEK
STOREWIDE LIQUIDATION SALE
UP TO 75% OFF
Sale now on!
TO MAKE ROOM FOR SPRING ARRIVALS
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apparel • shoes • dancewear • accessories • chocolates
437280
Where Chocolate Meets Fashion
Arnprior location only.
12 Elgin Street West DOWNTOWN ARNPRIOR • (613) 623-0100 • mychocolatefactory .ca • 435 Street ALMONTE (beside Royal Bank) open 7 days a week • DOWNTOWN ARNPRIOR - 12 Elgin Street West (613)Ottawa 623-0100
MAPLE RUN 15
ARNPRIOR
Chronicle-Guide
Local artist featured in studio tour this weekend
Proudly serving Arnprior and surrounding areas since 1879
Year 130, Issue 30
131st Year, Issue 12
March 24, 2011 | 84 Pages
Election looms
www.yourottawaregion.com
Opposition parties expected to defeat budget
EARTH HOUR Spring arrived at 7:21 p.m. Sunday, although the spring-like weather has yet to show up in these parts. On the heels of the start of spring comes the Earth Hour celebration, when citizens are asked to see how much power they can conserve in one hour. People are asked to turned their lights down and enjoy oldfashioned get-togethers in the twilight between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. this Saturday, March 26. The Galilee Centre in Arnprior is holding a marshmallow roast to mark the event, with the public welcome to attend.
JOHN CARTER john.carter@metroland.com
A tumultuous week in federal politics culminates tomorrow (Friday) when opposition parties are expected to table a nonconfidence vote against Stephen Harper’s Conservative government. It appears the 2011 federal budget, presented in the House of Commons Tuesday, will not be supported by the NDP. Earlier, the Liberals and Bloc Quebecois parties had said they would be voting against the budget. If the budget is defeated, Canadians will be voting in a spring election that will cost them about $300 million, the same amount as the NDP were asking the Tories put in the budget for low-income seniors.
Post office saved JOHN CARTER
john.carter@metroland.com
REMEMBERING KAY The family of Kay Lyman, who died tragically in a May 2010 car accident, is honouring her memory with two scholarships for ADHS students. There are two fundraisers planned to fund the bursaries. 3
Last-minute efforts are being made this week to keep the Braeside post office operating. McNab-Braeside council held a special meeting Tuesday to give staff the authority to negotiate a lease to let Canada Post temporarily use the old municipal building in the village. See ‘POST’ Page 5
Despite the likelihood the budget will be put on hold for a spring election campaign, Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MP Cheryl Gallant was optimistic its provisions will be enacted eventually. “This year’s budget is a lowtax plan for jobs and growth,” she said. “It strikes the right balance in protecting Canada from the worst of the global economic recession while at the same time supporting families and communities.” Gallant said the budget has a number of measures that will benefit the riding, citing a $405 million allotment for AECL and the re-affirmation that $2 billion in gas tax funds annually will go to municipal infrastructure See ‘FEDERAL’ Page 4
UP ALL NIGHT AT ADHS The cast and crew of Arnprior District High School’s play 4 a.m. is all set for next week’s Sears Drama Festival. Above, Samantha Comeau and Brendan Edge are among the students hard at work during rehearsals. For more see Page 26. Photo by Sherry Haaima
Arnprior hooks top fishing town nomination Arnprior has been nominated as the best place to fish in Canada by a television network. The 2011 World Fishing Network (WFN) Ultimate Fishing Town contest is a nationwide contest awarding a $25,000 prize and more to the winning community. Residents can support the nomination and help reel in a win by adding photos, videos
and essays about Arnprior at www.wfnfishingtown.com. “This area is blessed with some of the best fishing for different species that you could ask for,” said renowned muskie fisherman Bill Craig, upon hearing his hometown of Arnprior was up for the award. “When you look at the number of people who fish, and how they don’t abuse what they’ve
got – a lot throw back – it’s really great.” In addition to national recognition of being named the 2011 WFN Ultimate Fishing Town and a $25,000 donation to be used towards fishing-related cause(s), the town will also receive a tourism boost when it is featured on WFN. See ‘VOTE’ Page 5
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(613) 623-3137
www.reidbros.ca
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LUBE, OIL, FILTER 20 POINT INSPECTION TIRE ROTATION TWO MOVIE TICKETS!** 437242