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WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1981,i PAGE 17 Candidates' common message.... The NDP cari forrn Ontario's goverriment i*n 1985 AJAX - The three leadership hopefuls for the Ontario New Demo- cratie Party addressed the Durham West riding association here last Sunday in an attempt to gain support. Richard Johnston, Jizn Foulds and Bob Rae tried to convince the 21 members of the party faithful in attendance that the NDP can form a governznent in 1985 if one of thern is at the helin. Richard Johnaton Ail three ^candidates said that the party has to get itself together, get back in touch with the grass roots and prove that they are a viable alternative to the Pro- gr essive Conservatives and the Liberals. Richard Johnston, the MPP for Scarborough West and the party's community and social services critic in the Ontario Legislature, wants the party to return to the funda- mentals of democratic socialism that was preached by Tommy Douglas, Stephen Lewis and others. "We have become dis- connected from our roots in the party," he told his audience, "'We hae to get back . to *operating as a move- ment rather thanlas an ordinary political party as the other parties do.", For Johnston, the major issues -in the province revolve around the economy including housing, interest rates and occupational health and safety. "I think I can make these issues people issues for people," the 35-year-old leadership candidate siad. He also offered his explanation as to why the party lost ground in the March 19 provincial election. "We stepped' back from some issues," Johnston said adding that 260,000 NDP voters stayed home on polling day. "They stayed home because we didn't excite them," he said. "lWe have to stand up on our principles and be firm on those principles."1 Love says pay fight is over Former employees of the Whitby plant of Fire- stone Canada voted last week to end their fight for severance pay. That decision was made after their lawyer advised them that to appeal the matter fur- ther would not only be .costly but unsuccessful. The employees, for-, merly members of the United Rubberworkers Union Local 494, had been demanding that the Hamilton-based tire company pay severance benefits to 164 em- ployees between the ages of 45 and 55. Workers older thian 55 received their pension and those under 45 received severance pay. Those in the 4to55 age bracket wil receive a vested pension when they reach age 65. The union had lost its fight to get these people severance pay when an arbitration board ruled that they would have to wait until age 65 to receive their pensions. Although they had threatened legal action, union members voted to divide their supplement employee's income fund amongst the 164 workers affected. There is approxi- mately $123,000 left in the fund which means that each of the people affected will receive about $750. "The'fight is over," was the remark of for- mer union president Bill Love. "There's nowhere we can go ... the membership realized Had the union been succesaful each of the workers would have received about $5,000 at a cost of about $1 million to Firestone. Johnston also wants to see local riding associa- tions working more closely with local unions and credit unions in an effort to become "arms of community action." The othier MPP seeking the job to be vacated ùy current leader Michael Cassidy next February, Jim Foulds, started his ad- dress with an attack on Durham West MPP and Ontario Minister of Revenue George Ashe. "My mother always said, 'if you don't have anything nice to say about anybody, don't say anything,"' Foulds said. "That's it for George Ashe." Foulds, the MPP for Port Arthur, was also of the' opinion that the NDP can form a govern- ment in 1985. 1"There is a need for us to be the governmnent of this province as there neyer has been before," he said. Foulds also focused in on the economic issues as the party's primary concern. He told his audience that Ontario Treasurer Frank Miller is attempt- ing to introduce a "branch plant economy" by following the politicies of U.S. President Ronald Reagan. "The economy should be there is serve the *I~ ~1l0 OFFICE FURNITURE WAREHOUSE-FULL IN AJAX people," Foulds said, not the other way around. Under his leadership, the primary objective of an NDP government would be the attainment of full em ployment. "So people can live useful and productive lives. " Foulds also called on the government to intro- duce legisiation enac- ting a one-year morator- ium on mortgage in- terest rates and to esta- blish the Province of Ontario Savings Office as a lending institution. "'I have inside me a deep and burning anger towards Bull Davis and the Tories," he conclud- ed. "I want to see a province of decency, a province of humanity and a province of fair- ness."p The third leadership candidate, Bob Rae, cailed for the end of the "irresponsible society" created by the Tories and the Liberals. Rae, currently the MP for Broadview-Greeni- wood is the federal par- ty's finance critic. Ne is also seen as the man to beat in the leadership campaign. In fact, it has been said that he is the most likely suc- cessor to federal leader Ed Broadbent when he steps down. Rae, 33, said that the NDP represents the "politics of experience and the polities of hope."Y "It is tirne to-put to an end the irresponsible society represented by the Tories and the Liberals," the labor Iawyer safd. Ne went on to define his version of the "irresponsible society."9 "An irresponsible society is one that sayis a doctor who wants to opt- out (of OHIP) can opt- out.... "'An irresponsible society is a society where an industry'can take no responsibility for training people in its Bob Rae own plant," he said. Rae went on to say that the current policies of the Conservative On- tario goverrument and the Liberal Canadian government were "nothing short of criminal. " "There are so many very practical thlngs that we want to do," he said. "We have a responsibility to those people who've neyer known anything but a Tory governent."1 Ail three of these men will know whether or flot they impressed the Durham West NDP and the provincial party on February 7 when the party holds its leader- ship convention in Toronto. To Serve Durham Region Corne In For A Free Road Test Speclal - Good Till Nov. 25 Drain & Clean Transmission Pan Clean Filter, AdJust Bands Replace fluld (where applicable) & Road Test Reg. 13210 NOW ON LY 115.111 Whltby Location Only 132 Brock St. N. Whitby 668-0737 HAIFDOZEN 0F 11E OTHE: 1. Rabbit-regulargas 2. Rabbit Convertible- regular gos 3. Jetta -regular gos 4. Scirocco - regular gos S. Vanogon -regular gas 6. Va nagon Ca mper -reg ula rgas aCooe* WANTED! FLOATS -BANDS MAJORETTES & ENTRANTS 0F ALL KINDS 1FOR THE WHITBY JAYCEES SANTA CLAUS PARADE, SATURDAYO DECEMBER 51b,- 1981 CONTACT KEN THOMS 668-7914 0F ONE: 1. Rabbit Diesel 2. Jetta Diesel 3. Vanagori Diesel 4. Vanagon Camper Diesel 5. VW Pickup Diesel TAM NOTICE 0F ANNUAL MEETING WI4ITBY CHAMBER 0F COMMERCE The annual meeting of the Whîtby Chamber of Commerce wili be held on Wednesday, November 25, 1981 ln the Lambton Roomn of the Eari of Durham Dinin g Lounge, Whitby, at 6:30 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is the election of 0f ficers and directors, the presentation of reports and any other business that may rightfully corne before the meeting. Slgned on behaif of the board of directors. Shirley M. Acker, Secretary Don'tieftHe for less. 0 ~'!W A 5CO An 'I Care" PWY2 Du'irx.St-E y'A- v0ii 668-9383 36118Award Winner IHWY 401 1