Cafik tells Chamber members: Cooperation, goodwill required in difficult times By BRIAN WINTER Staff Writer Co-operation and a spirit of goodwill are required to meet the very difficult problems that face the business community in Cana- da today, Ontario Riding Liberal M.P. Norman Cafik told a meeting of the Whitby Chamber of Commerce Monday. Mr. Cafik was critical of the amount ofoverstatements, oversimplification, misunder- standing and over-reaction, in today's society, particular- ly following Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's statements on the free enterprise system last December. "The greatest enemy of democracy and freedom is narchy", he said, pointing out that a lot of signals are warning of this situation developing in Canada. A lot of the sectors of the :ommunity are trying to misunderstand and overstate everything, he said, and he questioned how people can maintain respect for govern- ment if they say all politicians are no good. "We should take a second hard look at what it is all about", he said. The real problem is that our children do follow our example",.he stated, pointing out that he has received many phone calls from people wlio overstate the problems facing Canada. "I think the great risk we have today is that over- reaction", he said. "We have problems and difficulties, but bear in mind that the government didn't create this society; we are. trying to manage it in some way". Everybody expects the government to solye every- thing, and when the govern- ment finally does something, everyone blames the govern- ment, ie said: "You can't have it both ways". Commenting on Mr. Trudeau's remarks on free enterprise, Mr. Cafik said that he considred they were- "pretty casuai remarks". "The simple fact of the matter is that the massive intervention of wage and price controls were necessitated because our system is not what it ought to be", he said. "Canada is the largest exporting nation on earth. All of us stand to lose a lot if we don't change our ways. The government was not being successful in controlling the economy so it had to intervene". Mr. Calik outlined the feder.glgovernment's approach to inflation since 1968, pointing out that from 1968 to 1972 it kept the inflation rate lower tev.,n any of Canada's trading partners, but at the price of high umemployment. "We had tremendous pressure, so we gave way, he said, explaining fhat after 1972 the government lossen- ed the purse strings, spent more money and tackled un- employment as its main priority. As a result, he said, inflation began to escalate. Other contributing factors to inflation at that time, he added, were the 1973 Middle E:st War, rising oil prices and shortages of primary pro- ducts ail over the world. Mr. Cafik aointed out that wage increase rates have been greater in Canada in the past year than in any of its trading partners, while the- United States has k ept them down with controls. "Today, there is hardly a section where Canadians do not earn more than their U.S. counterparts. That is not in your best interests", he said. He explained that Mr. Trudeau in his December 28 speech had said the free enterprise system does r.ot work the way it should, and if it did, the government would not have to intervene. "Governments do not want to interfere but they have to, said Mr. Cafik, explaining that Mr. Trudeau did not want to use controls unless they were necessary. "We resisted this as long as we could. The public interest demanded that we do something and we did", he said. Mr. Cafik said he did not like the current trend where everyone wants to catagorize everyone, and politicians are placed on the spectrum as left or right. "The real central question is an achievement of balance of responsibility of powers so one group does not take advantage of another", said Mr. Cafik. He gave examples of the pendulum swinging to the left and right over a period of years in society, and the need of good government to keep it as close to the centre as possible. For example, he said, present attitudes toward criminals are very right wing such as (bring back hanging) whereas 20 years ago there was an opposite attitude. Mr. Cafik also spoke of the recurring theme of complaints in recent years of too much welfare, a disIn- centive to work, and people ripping off the unemployment insurance fund. "The thrust of this govern- ment is to make sure that a person will not earn as much money not working as working", he said, and pointed out he was in favour of a program of community em- ployment proposed by the -government, which would provide money to municipal- ities to employ people to do things needed in the com- munity. Mr. Cafik also pointed out that the corporate com- munity often requests govern- ment intervention, but defended the right for free enterprise to be allowed to move with as little govern- ment interference as possible. "But we are not laissez faire Liberals who want the rules of the jungle to take overl", he said. "Again it's a matter of balance". Seniors' centre opens 3 I took only a few seconds for Mayor Jim Gartshore and Regional Chairman Walter Beath to cut the ribbon to open the' Whitby Senior Citizens Centre Saturday, but months of work went into the planning and building of the centre. More than 100 senior citizens turned out for the official opening, which got underway shortly after 11,a.m. "It's nice to see so many here. I hope this is a sign of things to come", said Coun- cillor Joy Thompson, chair- man of recreation. "I'm veiy very pleased to see so many of you out here at our opening ceremonies", said Mayor Gartshore. "On behalf of the council and staff we vwould like* to encourage all senior citizens to becorme thoroughly and completely involved in the mife ofthis building". Miss Goldie Vine, chief of senior citizens program development for the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services, pointed out that the ministry provided a grant for the building of the centre at Brock and Pitt Streets, and has grants available for its operation. "The projection of pro- grams and services in this centre will enrich the livesof. senior citizens", she said. Rev. Lu Harvey,President of the 'Whitby Ministerial Association, performed the dedication ceremony, fol- lowing the ribbon cutting hy Mayor Gartshore and Chair- aturday man Beath. "This is not-just a build- ing, but a symbol of what fellowship and brotherhood we all have in life", he said. The ceremonies closed with Bill Martin of Con- struction and Design Services, presenting the key of the centre to Recreation Director Wayne DeVeau. Mr. DeVeau then announced that within a few days, memberships in the senior citizens centre will be on sale for a dollar a year. Following the opening ceremonies, refreshments pre- pared by members of the town's senior citizens clubs were served. Dates are all set for Whitby's senior citizens to apply for membership in the new senior citizens centre Registration dattes are Monday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the centre. All Whitby senior citizens are encouraged to become involved with the program and operation of the centre. Memberships at the cost of one dollar per person will be accepted from any resident of the Town of Whitby 55 years of age or older and retired. A general meeting to elect the Board of Directors for the centre will be held at the centre Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. The general public aid representatives of existing seniors' groups are invited to attend. Recreation Chairman Councillor Joy Thompson holds right is Community Services Co-ordinator Bob Caspell who the ribbon, as Regional Chairman Walter Beath and Mayor acted as master of ceremonies for the occasion. About Jim Gartshore perform the cutting ceremony to officially 100 senior citizens turned out for the opening. open Whitby's new senior citizens centre Saturday. At far Free Press Photo Council passes no-mil increase budget Whitby Council, on Mon- day, gave final approval for a $4.6 million operating budget for local purposes which will keep the 1976 mill rate at 1974 and 1975 levels. The breakdown of the current budget is $1,788,831 for public works, $871,172 for recreation and cultural services, $845,600 for protec- tion to persons and property, $635,400 for general govern. ment, $259,875 for com- munity planning and develop- ment, $238,700 for environ- mental services and $30,025 for social and family services. Chairman of Finance, Councillor Gerry Emm, said "our first priority in 1.976 was to bring in a no-mill increase budget without reducing the level of service that the citizens of the Town of Whitby have corne to expect". - Mr. Emn, the only person appointed to the region's finance committee since the inception of regional govern- ment, is hoping that body will follow Whitby's lead. "The regional budget is being attacked at ail levels to cut the lunessential and chaff out of the regional budget",lhe says. "We expect a siight increase because ofadditional costs of inflation but we should not be buying Cadillac items with Chevy dollars", said Mr. Emm. The regional and the board of education budgets have yetl to be finalized. The local mtnicipalities have no control over hie taxes levied by those bodies. s, ~ 4* .1