PAGE 10, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBE-R 14,1972, WHITBY FREE PRESS KNOW YOUR (PREPARED DY THE LIBERAL GOVERNMENT 0F CANADA) GWOVERNMENT EDITOR'S NOTE: Until the 26th of October this i8 not necessarily condoned editorially by the news- readers write section. year, this portion of the WHITBY FREE PRESS will paper. Polîtical opinions are reserved for our edi- carry a political education article. All parties will be torials on page 2. Publie debate from contesting It is hoped through the information A represented in this series and all information offered candidates or party members is invited through our this space, the reader may draw his or her com EMPLOYMENT - In March 1972, 8,016,000 people were working ini Canada. That was 336,000 or 4.3% higher than a year ago. This is by far the highiest growth rate or any industrialized nation in flhe Westernî World. - The seasonally adjusted unemployient rate wias 6% in March, substantially below the peakof 6.9%;1 in Septeru ber of last vear. - Between 1965 arid 1970, in absolute nmes Canada produced more jobs tlîan the conibi,îed totals of France, Gernmany, Italy, Belgiumi, tlîe Netheriarîds, Sweden and Great Britain, more (han 1.2 million jobs. Population: Canada - 41221;million,~ European Countries - over 2100 inijîion. - The growtlî rate of Canada's Labour force is six times tlîat of the Western European countries and twice as fast as the United States. - INFLATION - Canada's performance in fighting inflation is better than ail industrialized nations. - Consumer prices rose by 2.8% in 1971 compared with 3.3% in 1970, lowest rate in the western Worid. - By comparison, U.S. rate 4.3%; comparable O.E.- C.D. countries 5% to 10%7 inflation rates. - Wholesale prices rose by only 1.2%, the best per- formance since 1964. GROWTH - The gross national product has doubled in a decade to $92. 1 billion. - 1971 G.N.P. increase of 9. 1% compared with the 7.5 increase in 1 970. - Real volume of output advanced by about 51/27r in 1971 compared to less than 3% in the United States. - Total corporate profit before taxes in 197 1 up by 16%. - lnvestment in capital goods rose by 1 1.3% in 1 971I compared with 4.2% in 1970. Consumer spend ing rose a sharp 8.5%. Consumers spurred by streng- thening of personal income and greater availabil ity of consumer credit. - - 1971 revealed an above average productivity gain per employed worker. - Manufacturing, trade, construction and mining are ail climbing rapidly. - Housing starts at record levels, 233,000 in 197 1. - An even stronger economic performance is ex- pected for 1972 with real growth in the economy at about 6%. TRADE -Value of Canadian merchandise exports rose by 5.3% to a total of $1 7.7 billion in 197 1. -Canada sales to U.S. were up 11% in 197 1. U.S. - consumes two-thirds of our total ex ports. -Canada's trade surplus in 1971, 2. 1 billion, the second highest on record; surpassed only in 1970. mie Oscar" for best al around economie perfor- mance of ail Western industrialized Nations. SPEECH FROM THE THRONE Neighbourhood Improvement Plan- rehiabiitation and renovation of blighted urban areas. -- Mortg-age Bank ---mreans for smnall investors to participate in mortgages and, to a lesser extent, rez.l estate equity. MEASURES TO PROMOTE SOCIAL JUSTICE Basic old tige pension, previously tîxed at $80 per mnonth, escýalated fn l'y ini step willti co.st-oH*-iving change s, tretroactive tb J arîuaicry 1, 1972. Affects 1.8 iniillion ('a djaiis n will cost $1I20 mnillion. Maximum lpaymn ts n tnde r coinbhined 01l Age Secu rit'/iiui teccd t îîcome Su ppleme rit in- cueased hy $ I 5 a mionfth, fromn $1I 35 to $1I50 for single persons arîd roin $255 to $28.5 for ainarried couple, retroactive to ianuctry 1, 197<). Close to I miillion people will beiiefit and tlie cost will heý $180 million. -'l'lie incomec supplernt, prcviotisly linkecd to a cost of living hikc of' 2% will now inecase fulIy ini step with the consumer price index. - Special tax exemption for persons 65 and over, as well as the blind and fully disablcd, lias been in- creased to $ I1,000 from $650, retroactive to Janti- ary 1, 1972. - Medical expenses to cover home care anîd travel costs for medical treatment miade deductible for încorne tax, retroactive to J anuary 1, 1972. - Vcteran's pensions- al low ances tried (o a1 of-living escalator, retroactive (o Jinuary Increased benefits for 333,000 people cost $25 millioni. full cost- 1, 1972. and wll - Students, trainces, their husbands, wives or par- ents become eigible for an incomne tax deductiouî ot' $50 for evcry nîonth tlîat (bey are engaged ini full-time studies in post-secondary educational ini- stitutions, retroactive to Januiary 1, 1972. Tlhis affects 600,000 people and will cost S50 millioni. TAX REFORM CHANGES - Introduction of rules for taxing "passive incomne" deferred ['rom 1973 to 1975. - Rules eased for the taxation of' accrued gains of*- persons leaving Canada. -Tax treatment eased on non-cash gifts to cliarities. -Persons relieved of obligation (o pay federal tax in quaFterly instalîmients if* (lîir federal taxes ini the preceding year were less tlian $400. Calculation of tax instalîmients simplified. -Income [romi damage awards in cases ot* hodily harm or injury no longer taxable until person reaches age 2 1. -Payrnent of taxes due on deemied realization at death of capital property may bc extended evenly over a period of 6 years. THE WHITE PAPER - A major view of' Indian Affairs policies and ini which is proposed the following changes: - a repeal of the Indian Act. - abolition of tlie Indian Affairs branch - extension of ail existing federal and provincial services to Indians, as for other Canadians - continued protection of Indian land with con- (roI of it passed on to the Indian people - creation of an Indian economic development fu nd - appointment of an Indian Claims Commissioner - support for Indian cultural heritage and revised sehool curriculum - Comments and couniter proposais on the above policy have been invited and are now being re- ceived from Indian associations across the country. - Bands now administer over $30 million in public funds for programs once administered by the governmen t. ACHIEVEMENTS In Broadcatig - Increase in Eskimo language news broadcasts. - Appointment of Eskimo announcer/producer. In Business -Canadian Aretie Producers (CAP) - suppliers of Eskimo art to North American and European markets -central marketing agency for 20 northern co- operatives. federal governmen t participa tion - $400,000 in- vestment and $25 0,000 boan -On-tlue-job Training Agreemnent - between federal government, Kainai Industries Limited and Red Crow Developmnents (a cor- poration representing Blood indians of the Blood Reserve at Standoff, Alberta) -~ will train 240 Blood indians in construction of trailers and sectional housing -provision for tie Standoff industry to be com- pletely Indian-owned and operated within sev- eral years -$50 million econornic development fund - to provide assistance thirough direct boans guar- anteed boans from commercial credit comipan- les, and direct grants to Indian businessmian - to hcelp Indianis develop nmanagerial and pro- fessional skills and to provide emiploymient In Education -$2.8 million school-hostel opened at Rae-Edzo ini tlie Nortlîwest Territories. adiiinistered by locally-elected 6-mnan Dogrib Indian Coiiimittee northiern-orien ted cu rricuIlum will emipliasize native languages, traditions and skills In Hotisiq - 1llieuitation of' a gram whiclî provides nients plans related to special I nd ian liousing pro- hiousing on deffered pay- inicoie. FOUR FREEDOMS The Liberal Party believes tbat the following four freedonîs are vested ini every conIsumier: 1) freedomîî of choice in the nîarket-place 2) tfreedomn of action in the nîarket-place 3) freedomn from Lfaid anid deception 4) t'reedom [fromn the f'ear of physical or econoic i 11J Li ry 1 ) FREEDOM OF CHOICE - Tex tile Labeling Act ( 197 1) provides for bilingual garinent labels indicating gcneric naine of' each fibre present, fibre con- tent, and dealer: covers sale, importation and advertising of textiles - Canadla Standard Size (CSS) Program ý( 1969) - encourages manLlfactLlrers and retailers (o Lise uniiforml labels on children's clotlîiîg. Abuses mnay resuit ini suspension or prosecutioii -Trade Marks and Drug Act -aînended poly and foods are to prevent abuse of the patet mono- to ensure (liat patented mcd ficines and available at the lowest cost - amnended to reduce prescription drug prices and encourage comipetition 2) FREEDOM 0F ACTION - Canada Patent Act - amiended (o prevent abuse of the patent mono- poly and to ensure tlîat pateuîted miedicines and foods are available at the lowest cost 3) FREEDOM FROM FRAUD AND DECEPTION - Consumer Packagingand Labelling Act ( 197 1 ) - designed (o lheip consumers make knowledge- able and rational decisions ini the miarket-place - provides for more information on clearer uni- form labels - sinmplified sizing for toothpaste tubes-6 types instead of the 29-marked by the metric sys-- temi and by volume not weight -standard ization of containers and removal of sizes