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Volume 122 [ "ened BN ber 50 PORT PERRY, ONTARIO - TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1988 Copy 50¢ 56 Pages Former federal Agriculture Minister Eugene Whal- en, sporting his trademark stetson visited Durham riding last Friday morning and blasted the Conserva- tives over free trade and the Impact on the farming industry. (see story for detalls) Former agriculture minister Eugene Whalen launched a blus- tering, two-fisted attack against free trade when he visited Durham Riding last Friday morning. Sporting his trademark green stetson, the burly Whalen spoke "off the cuff" for more than an hour at the Liberal campaign room in the Port Perry Lawn Bowling clubhouse on Simcoe ~ Street. He was warmly greeted by Durham riding Liberal candidate Doug Moffatt who called Whelan the agriculture minister this country ever had." The man who served as agri- culture minister in Ottawa for more than a decade is known for his colourful speeches, and he didn't disappoint his partisan audi- ence in Port Perry. At times stabbing the air with 'a finger or bunching his large hands into rolled fists to make a point, Whalen got the biggest chuckle from the audience when he declared: "If Mulroney was run- ning in the United States, they'd impeach him for selling the coun- He said the poultry and dairy industry in Canada will be hurt under free trade, and food process- ing plants will move to the south- ern United States where wage rates are lower. He noted that the giant Hall Packed For Candidates Meeting: Residents concerned with rapid growth The growth in Scugog Town- ship emerged as one of the main issues as candidates for mayor and Regional council met voters last positions. Harvey Graham, who's run- ning for mayor, told the audience long term planning is a priority for the new council. "New growth debt to get them." said he "very alarmed" over the deteriorating condition of > of the Port Fairgrounds. is the current areca raspy lives in Cartwright where he oper- ates a large family farm. Port Perry businessman and mayoralty candidate Howard Hall told the audience he is campaign- ing on his "experience an leader- ship." He listed his extensive back- ground in community affairs over the last 25 years which includes work with the hospital board, fund council. He said Durham Region is now in the process of studying ways to increase the sewage treat- ment capacity for Port Perry. In response 0 a question from oot oor, og Goan differed sharply in their answers. (Turn to page 3) Whalen blasts Free Trade during his visit to riding McCain Foods, based in New Brunswick has come out against free trade. He also sounded warnings about government-funded research into agriculture, and said the Con- servatives want to privatize re- search. In fact, there wasn't much in Whelan's wide-ranging address that he didn't touch on. He scoffed at claims from some red meat (beef and pork) pro- ducers who think they will be bet- ter off under free trade with access to the U.S. consumer market, and he said the laws and regulations that govern such things as food 'inspections, pesticide controls "will be destroyed." At one point, he Con- servative Cabinet Minister John Crosbie for "stretching the truth so far it broke." Whelan, who is not running for office this election, told the audience he decided to jump into the campaign for the "good of the Liberal Party," and because the Conservatives "are trying to de- stroy the things I built (while ag- riculture minister) "This is ours. We built it. No way should decisions be made be- hind closed doors to get rid of it. "We have something different here in Canada, and I believe we should keep it different," he said. Following his address, Whe- lan was presented with a can of Ontario honey and a basket of ap- es. P Liberal candidate in Durham riding Doug Moffatt, told the Star the free trade issue has gained mo- mentum in the campaign over the past couple of weeks. "There are a lot of people who are going to vote Liberal over this" (free trade) he stated.