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Poge 8. MWhy Fr.. Prosa, Wedn.sday, Jung 29,1994 1 Dunked ANDY KRUMMENACHER jeers (Ieft) as fellow emvlovees miss a chance to send him for a swim at Sony Canada's annual barbecue to raise funds for the Children's Aid Society. It didnt take long for Krum- menacher's compatriots to get the Iast laugh, though (right). Photo by Mark Reesor, Whitby Free Press IGA store reop ens as Price Chopper By Mike Kowalski Food prices are being chopped in Whitby. Closed for renovations earlier this montb, the IGA grocery store on Brock Street South bas reopened as a Price Chopper discount supermarket. «Vie think this format suits the area well,» said Tim Carter, vice- president of public affairs for the Oshawa-Group. "The discount format bas been very popular in a number of trading areas in southern Ontario." The Whitby outlet joins more than otber 20 Price Chopper stores which the Oshawa Group bas opened during the past three years. "It's safe te say this is the fastest growing food chain in Ontario," Carter boasted. According te Carter, the rea- son for the growing popularity of the relatively recent discount su- permarket concept is easy to understand. "tmeans ongoing, everyday low prices," he said. "Lt satiafies a full week's food shopping needs in a discount format and aIl under one roof.- Eveybing from meat, pro- duce, deli and baked goods, and anything else found in a stan- dard grocery store is available, Carter said. However, the «main difference» between the two stores is the lower prices he stressed. But in odrto offer îow prices, a discount outiet «doesn't zive you as wide a selection of biaind names as a tradition ai food store," Carter admitted. Yet the avera e shopper should have no difeulty filling bis/ber grocery needs at Price Chopper, he noted. While the store does utilize warehouse shelving, it would be unfair to label it a «bulk food" outlet, Carter said. "It's not as opulent (as a stan- dard store), but it will be bright and attr&active,» he said. Although this formn of mer- chandising is becoming more popular, it does not necessarily mean the demise of the tradi- tional grocery store, Carter said. SUR PAGE 9 £ Jc~c~fèr~S'. JcZP7l~!PS Strike disrupts home buyers' plans, budgets Ongoing strikes by two residential construction trades are beginning to cause inconvenience and in sorne cases financial harm for new home buyers in the Greater Toronto Area, Peter Langer, president of the Greater Toronto Homne Buiders' Association (GTHBA), said recently. The housing industry i. currently faced with a legal strike by roofers, which began on June 1, and an illegal strike by framing carpenters, which began around June 14. Construction on ail new homes that were not past the roof stage by June 1, as weIl as some that were beyond the roof stage, is being delayed pending resolution of the disputes. Depending on the duration of the work cessation, purchasers who were to close in July or August mnay be delayed and foroed to make alternative living arrangements. Some purchasers witb pre-approved mortgages may be hurt financially if their elosing date is delayed beyond the terni of their mortgage commitment, said Langer. "The association bas urged its members to keep the limes of comimmunication with their purchasers wide open and to advise purchasers at the earliest opportunity of any delay in closing dates," Lainger said. "Vie are confident that the framring carpenters will be ordered back to work by the Ontario Labour Relations Board," Langer said. "They are under a no-strike, no-lockout contract until next spring and we expect them to, avail themselves of the dispute resolution process outlined in the contract. "The roofers' strike was not really expected because the workers had been offered modest increases at a time when most other sectors are experieneing freezes and in some cases rollbacks. Ini fact, one month prior te the roofers' strike, an arbitrator deferred increases for several trades on the basis that the increases could noît be justified economnically," said Langer. "As matters now stand, the roofers and franiers are blocking all the later trades' acoess to work they have desperately sought for the last few years. "Builders are not involved in the negotiations. However, most are of the opinion that the 18 to 20 per cent increase being sought by the roofers is outrageous. "Iles absolutely amazing that just as we begin to emerge ever so tenuously from a deep and protracted recession, the roofers seem intent on undermining the progress we have made. "Although we enjoyed a relatively strong market, it was based on builders being able to contain costs and offer excellent value. The volume of sales, however, is stili far below what's needed te sustain a full recovery in housing. "Throuîghout the recession we worked closely with the trades to promote job creation in our industry. The irony is that their current demanda may succeed in putting them out.-of work. With inflation rates nit or very close te zero, stagnaniw incomes and significant increases in personal taxation over the last few years, purchasers are both unwilling and unable te pay more," Langer concluded. Damagçe to two homes Police suspect striking franiers caused about $2,000 damage to two homes under construction on Prentice Drive Thursday morn- ineolice were called after eight to 10 vans carrying 30 to 40 men pulled up at the site around 10:45 a.m. and began pulling down walls and intimidating car- penters and other workers on site. The men left when told police were on their way. Witnesses did not provide police with names or license plate numbers. 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