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Page 2, Whitby free Press, Wednesday. August 16, 1995 ONTARTO RIINGMP Goývernment should review priorities I -, ~i$ANNIVERSARY ~1'CELEBRATION Continues... Standard Features Incude: *16 Valve DOHO 115 HP Engine a 5 Speed e Tilt *Am/Fm Cass. - Power Steering, Mirrors, Windows, Locks - Dual Air Bags - 60/40 Split Rear Seat *Alloy Rims e Rear Spoiler *Dual Cuphoders *Mud Flaps - Tachometer Remote Trunk & Gas *Side Mouldings 0 FOg Lights a Full Carpeting e Cruise *Plus More... and it's fun to drive. By Mike Kowalski Canada's economy rather than 'social tinkeiing' muet be the federal government's new priority, says Whitby WI Dan McTeague. The government has no choice but ta redirect its eniergies if it is serious about improving the cauntry' economic health, the Ontario riding representative contends. The type of issues, which dominated the Liberals' agenda since taking power in 1993 must now take a back seat to economic concerns, McTeague believes. Failure to do so will only hurt bis party's chances in the next election, he warns. "Why in God's name were we involved ini gun control, sentencing bis, hate crimes when the economy should have been our number. one focus," said McTeague. "We're doing in the second and third years of our mandate what we should have been doing in the first year." McTeague's comments followed two days of meetings by the Liberal caucus in Ottawa last week as it prepares for Parliament's return in September. Economic issues, specifically job creation and the future of the gooda and services tax (GST), were the main focus. McTeague, for one, welcomes Prime Minister Jean Chretien's assurance that the tax wiil be deait with in Finance Minister Paul Martin's next budget.' 1"We taiked (in 1993) about the GST's impact on business and done nothing about it," he said. "The prime minister has now instructed Paul Martin ta include it in the budget." Aithough the Liberal election campaign Bible - the so-called red book - promised a repiacement for the GST within two years, Chretien reiterated last week that Ottawa canmot afford ta dispense with the revenues generated by the tax. A 12-per cent tax, three per cent less than the combined GST and Ontario sales tax, has been proposed by Martin. But whatever form it does take, the new tax must benefit bath the consumer and those who coiiect it, McTeague said. "We have to get the federai government out of the retail business and simply it," he said. "It's extremeiy 'inefficient for mom an~d pop stores ta sit down and figure it out every 30 days." As for consumers, a lower tax may put a 'dent in Canada's "vast underground economy," McTeague said. The Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses estimates that $120 billion is lost annuaily as a resuit of the GST, he said. Noting that the average Canadian famiiy's income has steadily deciined in the past decade, McTeague said the government is "caught between a rock and hard plac 'e" with respect ta the ecanomy. An ail-out attack on the deficit and debt must be baianced with the need ta get Canadians back to work, he said. Although the unemployment rate has dropped frorn 11.1 per cent ta "9.6 per cent since, the DAN MoTEAUE Liberais took office, McTeague said the figures are misleading. "It doesn't take into account the unemployable jobless," he said, such as people who no longer show up on government statistics and lack the necessar-y skilis ta find work. As a resuit, "we have been beset by a structural- defect in the( econamy," said McTeague -- slight growth combined with high unempioyment. For that, businiess, chiefly big business, must take some of the blame, he feels. "The private sector can't lecture the government about efficiency and the deficit when its making billions of dollars in profit and laying people off .. that's immoral. 'Everyône has ta do their share. We're>ail in this together.," NDP leadership hopefuls continue swing through region One of four candidates for the leadership of the federal New Demacratic Party will be in Whitby on Aug. 24. Herschel Hardin, author of The New Bureaucracy: Waste and Folly in the Private Sector, is scheduled ta be at the Whitby Public Library at 7:30 p.m. Two other candidates wiii be in Oshawa. Alexa McDonough, who just stepped down as leader of the Nova Scatia NDP, will be at the Thornton-Dundee Centre, Thornton and Adelaide streets, at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 20. Longtime Saskatchewan MIP Lamne Nystrom wiil be at the Steeiworkers Hall, 115 Albert St., Oshawa, on Monday, Aug. 21, 7 p.m. The other candidate, Burnaby-Kingsway (B.C.) MP Svend Robinson, was in Oshawa earlier this summner. A debate between the four candidates will be held Sept. il in Toronto. NDP party members are voting directly for the new leader, in the first round of voting. The new leader wili be determined at the party convention in Ottawa in Octaber. safet poster contest A local group that promotes bicycle and mn-une skating safety has begun an awareness program with a kids' poster campaign. Oilîdren can submit bicycle/mn- line skate safety posters ta enter a draw for prizes that include bicycles and skates. Enitry forms are available at Canadian Tire. ________________________ GRACIQUS LIVING IN DOWNTOWN WHITBY $184.000.00O Charming home on 70x 145 ft. lot. This home is wel decorated Di-and cared for with many attractive features. 4 bedrooms, bathrooms, main floor family room, finished basement. Cali Sue Duchesnay 668-171 The campaign is being held until the end of August by Safety on Wheels, Durham Region, and is partly sponsored by the Canadian Tire Child Protection Foundation. Two bike rodeos, community forums andother events are also being planned. Cohfdé tii1 Document Shreddung *Hîgh volume equîpment wilI reduce your shredding cost *Secure locked containers at no extra cost *Bonde d drivers *100% of paper is recycled *Certif icate of destruction *Volume discounts available year-end, clean-outs CAIL NOff (905) 427-3605 (Derrick) WASTE SYSTEMS EEA TO CPALLOCK ORCHARDS) NOWOPEN!!M Featuring New Crop 0f Fruits And Vegetables Cidere Honey e Homemade Jam EVERYDAY LOW PRICES First Entranoe North of Rossiand on Brock St. N. (East Side)