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PAGE 2, WEDNESI)AY, AI>RI L 3,1i985, WITBY F REE PRESS Affiïrmative action doesn't cati for the "wlly nilly"ý promotion of 'unqualified women, chamber is told .1. -~ Affirmative action, Affirmative action is not a goal to be achieved, but a process whereby the employer makes the best possible use of ail the human resources at bis disposai. That was the message brought to the Whitby Chamber of Commerce iast week by Lynda Sauroil, the affirmative action co-ordinator at Durham College. sbe said, isn't everyone's favorite topic because it brings out one's blases and "FOR QUALITY AND VALUE CHOOSE FROM OUR LARGE SELECTION 0F EXCITING FABRICS AND PATTERNS IN SOFA, CHAIR, SOFA-BED, LOVESEAT AND SECTIONAL DESIGNS. DESIGN THE STYLE 0F LIVING ROOM FURNITURE THAT SUITS VOUR NEEDS AND PERSONAL TASTE. WE'LL CUSTOM-MAKE VOUR ORDER AT A PRICE YOU'LL FIND VERY AFFORDABLE. O0R CHOOSE FROM OVER 150 LIVING ROOM PIECES IN OUR FULLY DECORATED SHOWROOMS. MANUFACTURERS 0F QUALITY LIVING ROOM FURNITURE 1-ALL WORKMANSHIP GUARANTEED- CLOSED GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 5185 OPEN SATURDAY, APRIL 6185 DR. CUSH ION SERVICES INC. MON. TO FR1. 10S, SAT. 100' a 1650 BAYLY ST., PICKERING (JUST WEST OF BROOK RD., SOUTH 0F 401) DIAL DIRECT prejudîces. "And very few of us ever admit to our biases, " Sauroil says. And most people bave an erroneous perception of wbat affirmative ac- tion is. "Affirmaàtive action is not concerned with the willy-nilly promotion of unqualified women," Sauroil maintains ad- ding that it bas become known in Ontario as employment equity to promote the ides of maximum use of buman resources. Wile she admitted tbat many gains have been made by women in the workforce, it is tbe traditional view of women that makes em- ployment equity dif- fîcuit to achieve. "The planned' and deliberate blases are easy to deal with - there is legisiation to cover those, " she says. Far too often, Sauroil says that employers have "unrealistic con- cerns- regarding stability or performan- ce leveis of female em- ployees. And it is these biases that are difficuit to overcome. And only education and awareness will solve these problems. Also attending the meeting was Durham West MPP George Ashe, wbo told the chamber tbat bis gover- nment is committed to affirmative action or employment equity as an essential democratic rigbt. While be admitted that as Minister of Energy, bis duties do not relate directly to women's issues, "«as a member of cabinet, 1 Iam certainly committed to the principle that al people in Ontario deser- ve equal opportunities. " Women's issues, he added, are among "the most fundamental prin- q03 CIFFORI<. SiilltlY. ONT UiN 253 Easter cittiroical celebratims ifol13 hursùaU [April 4] Gaoo Friùaul [April 5] Haig saturàau [April 6] [April 71 8:00 prn Mass of the Lord's Supper 3:00 pm Solemn Liturgy 7:00 pm Stations of the Cross 8:00 pm Solemn Easter Vigil 10:30 amn 12:15 pin 8: 00 jPm llI ave. colue> to love this place: peace aod quiet if N'ou want t. lots of activit% uî (companiomnship if -Vouu ro desire ..alI ini ail i great place to live'X This is how Marlou Shier. tenant at ltegency Place. sums up living ili this luxury etumplex. -Ail tilities iclulî'd (exceelî îelephoie i'& table *oulsiile parking in' ide'i Mirilel Sulite o pen Foir Vîe-wîîîg Weekdays 1) F. Sal I10-4, Suniii104 v-) R-gi-n vy Ires. Whithv. Ont. IIN 7K!) 110) 66-320. Torotbi Iî1-1t ,Iwi i litI ill('i.' f;slirey buildinigs el,1i 'iineil acl i vil v centre *ios 'Ii 1 tilt iiiitel e sitil I riiiu $ 4(;5 perr monlu *.J usl :oîii ru nul s (rOui lrrontoi I - I Il A NEW CONCEPT IN LIVING I~FOR 55 AND OVER Marlou Shie, enîoys rlaxinq at Regency Pace - i & 2 Bedrooms Located Ini Parkland Setting (eta Wliitby 1 the principles of justice, fairness and equity for ail people." In the 50 years since Emily Murphy won ber crusade to bave women recognized as "per- sons" in the eye of the law, Ashe said that mucb progress bas been made to enshrine equal rights for womnen in On- tario society. But, be also admitted that there was stili along way to go. He told the chamber that 57 per cent' of women in Ontario are members of the labor force. I'Tbey make up about 43 per cent of al workers outside the home." However, tbey only earn on average, 63 per cent of what men make and only work in 20 of the 500 Canadian cencus job classifications. "Mainly lower-paying jobs in the categories of clerical, sales and ser- vice work, " Ashe sa id. The Tory frontben- cher also said that women work for the same reasons that men do - "economic necessity and personal satisfaction and enricbment." "Many of these women are working to keep the family income above the poverty line," Ashe continued adding, that in many cases, tbeir busbands earn less than $15,000 a year and according to the National Council on Welfare, tbe number of poor families in Canada would double if they didn't work, "As well, about 40 per cent of working women in Ontario are single, widowed or divorced," Ashe said, "They are working not only to sup- port tbemselves, but, in many cases, one or more dependents. " Women, don't work for frilîs. That idea, "doen'twash." Another outmoded idea is that women don't want responsibiiity and promotions. "They work for many of the same reasons men do," he said, "lto achieve goals, to be promoted and, 1 think it follows, to be fairiy paid for their work." However, affirmative action in Ontario doe not use mandatory quotas or engage in reverse discrimination. ,lit simpiy ensures that women bave a fair chance to compete for jobs for which they are qualified," Ashe said, "As well, it ensures that women have a fair op- portunity to train for jobs for wbich they are capable." In 1975, only four per cent of the senior executives in tbe On- tario public service were female. Now its nearly 10 per cent. Women in ad- ministrative manage- ment bas grown frum 16 to 30 per cent during the same time, Asbe toid the cbamber. "The Government of Ontario is committed to employrnent equity for one simple reason," he concluded, "It reflects a basic down-to-eartb principle, a principle that is the foundation of any democracy - justice, fairness and equity for ail people." Whitby bridge The following are the results of last week's play at the Whitby Duplicate Bridge Club as reported by Mrs. Jim Wbarrie. North and South: Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Win- ter, 78; Mrs. P.N. Spratt and Mrs. Donald Wilson, 70; Mr. and Mrs. George Magvas, 65½/; and, Mrs. Jack Frost and Donald Wilson, 631/2. East and West: Ron Haniy and David Hamer, 86; Dr. and Mrs. Richard Ketcheil, 724-2; Paul deSouza and Don Leach, 62; and, Georgia Bovay and Mrs. George Steffler, 601/2z. The results of each week's play at the club will be reported in the foliowing issue of the Whitby Free Press.