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Nn 2 ation gL at EG GS ar ee a I me I EE a ee MEAP a Eo NET 308 RET pu a A tn ETRE "A Famlly Tradition for 127 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, March 16, 1993 - 3 Reform Party candidate Free trade public meeting outraged over money spent on referendum By Scott Anderson Port Perry Star Durham's Reform Party can- didate is "outraged" by the high cost of last October's referen- dum. Figures released last week in Ottawa revealed that the Octo- ber 26 referendum for the Char- lottetown Accord cost Canadian taxpayers $104 million. This did not include Quebec which held a separate referendum. Ian Smyth, Reform Party can- didate for the Durham Riding, says he was "outraged" by the excessive amount of money spent during the campaign. "It was a total abuse of the system," he said. Mr. Smyth says the govern- ment took advantage of the tax- payers to further its goals. He charges the federal gov- ernment not only spent too much money on the referen- dum, but it used taxpayers' money to promote the Yes cam- paign. It is estimated the federal go vernment spent an additional 7.45 million to promote the Yes campaign. But Mr. Smyth says this does not include the cost of other advertising, consultants and outside polling. "All of this is a totally outra- geous use of the taxpayers' mon- ey to further the government's cause," he said in an interview last week. In addition to the $104 mil- lion spent on the referendum, Mr. Smyth says millions more was spent on "secret polling" be- tween the Meech Lake Accord and the Charlottetown Agree- ment. Mr. Smyth says this spending continued right up until the campaign was in its fi- nal days. "Ironically, the Conserva- tives' secret poll results show us that they knew full well that Charlottetown was likely to be rejected, and yet they went ahead and wasted all that mon- ey," he said. While the PCs spent more than $100 million on the failed campaign, Mr. Smyth says the reform party spent less than $1 r= BO What professional investors know that you can use 0 Find out what bankers don't tell you i y BO Where will interest rates go? How do 1 profit? i Please call 723-2828 to reserve seats | i FOUNDATION FINANCIAL SERVICES + MULTI MUTUAL INC. 3 IAN SMYTH million to oppose the campai "And we won," he said. baign. "Despite the fact that every premier and all the forces they could muster were behind the accord, they couldn't get a Yes vote," he said. Mr. Smyth says the PCs should have followed the lead of the Reform Party and imple- mented referendum legislation in which taxpayers' money is not spent on the campaign. "Public money shouldn't be spent to further the govern- ment's side," he said. Mr. Smyth, who is sessing accountability in his platform, says politicians must be ac- countable to the people. If they are not, they will face the conse- quences. "The old-line parties and the provincial premiers who agreed with this squandering of tax- payers' money will have to an- swer to the voters when their time comes at the polls," he said. "The conservatives and the two other old-line parties may like rolling the dice, as they did - with the referendum, but when they also wager tax dollars, they deserve to be called to account at the coming federal election." Despite the high cost of spending, Durham MP Ross Stevenson says the government had no choice but to call the refe- rendum. He says three of the provinces had legislation in place demanding a vote if changes were made to the con- stitution. "The federal government act- ed out of necessity by calling a referendum," he said, adding the majority of the people, in- cluding himself, were opposed to a referendum. "The Reform Party can say what they want, but I'm sure with a party of any political stripe there isn't a whole lot of choice." But Mr. Stevenson is sur- prised by the Reform Party's criticism of the referendum. He says the Reform Party's plat- form calls for more public input through referendums and is surprised they should criticize their own beliefs. He noted that the cost of a ref- erendum or vote would amount to $80-$100 million each time and would prove to be far too costly. Mr. Stevenson also said last October's referendum will save the country money. As a renu- meration was conducted last year, there will be no need for another for the upcoming elec- tion. MACKEY, BAILEY & KORB | BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS Saturday Mornings - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Oshawa Rd., Port Perry Lake Scugog Lumber Building 985-7391 90 Minutes of Valuable Information for those with GICs, CSB's, RRSP's RRIF's, Mutual Funds, Stocks & Bonds 5 Proven Techniques to Increase Wealth FREE PLANNING GUIDE for the 1990's Gary Butts, Investment Advisor WIA [0 » PIZZA & SUBS 80 or Street, Port Perry * Pree Delivery re in a Limited Area 085-8448 Two area grassroots organi- zations have joined in arrang- ing for a public information meeting on NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agree- ment) to be held in Lindsay on March 23 at 8 p.m. in the confer- ence room of the Provincial Building at 322 Kent St. West. The meeting is being hosted by the Victoria County Federa- tion of Agriculture and the Citi- zens' Open Circle, a local non- partisan organization dedicat- ed to strengthening democratic awareness. Ms. Janet Sheridan of Veru- lam, co-chair of the Open Circle, said, "At first we hoped that our federal MP would see fit to call such a meeting. No such luck. But they went the first mile with us. They asked Trade Min- ister Michael Wilson's office to provide a speaker. A senior trade negotiator is coming, and that's great." Ms. Sheridan went on to voice delight at being able to co- operate with the Victoria County Federation of Agricul- ture in organizing the meeting. "The farmers," she said, "and a 1 other area business people must really be wondering about NAFTA. This is their chance to listen and then ask some solid questions." The Victoria County Federa- tion of Agriculture and the Citi- zen's Open Circle stress that it is a public meeting, open to all. "The only ticket you need," says Ms. Sheridan, "Is an interest i in Canada's future. There is easy parking. Admission is free." Victoria County Federation of Agriculture, c/o Evelyn Bitt- ner, R.R.1, Oakwood, KOM 1NO. 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