oTAwA REPORT Ed Broadbent (NC) - As more Canadians be- corne concerned about the effects of Ifree trade, women workers are tak- ing a particularly bard look at the consequences of a trade deal with the United States. The rnajority of women's jobs are concentrated in the industrial sectors that have the most to lose frorn a free trade agree- ment. Many of the social benefits which. Canadian families rely on could also be on the bargaining table because no similar programs exist in the U. S. In his Royal Commission report recommending that Canada pursue a trade deal with the U.S., former Liberal finance ministçr Donald Macdonald urged Canadians to take a "leap of faith" on free trade. It would be more accurate to caîl it a leap into the unknown. But based WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 19b6 PAGE 11 Wo men workers hurt byfree trade on what we do know, it's clear that women would be among the biggest losers if free trade becomes a real- ity. 0Over four-fifths of working wo- men are employed in the service sec- tor. A free trade agreement, com- bined with new technology, could enable Canadian-based firms to put their, women workers out of work by importing clerical, data process- ing and other services from the U. S. a Close to baîf the women work- ing in manufacturing jobs are in the sectors that are most vulnerable to free trade - textiles and clothing, srnall electrical products, sporting goods, toys and games and leather goods. If manufacturing jobs are lost, they'll be lost by women. 0 Under a free trade agreement, workers might be forced to accept major pay cuts and sacrifice work- place bealth and safety to compete with the unregulated and unpro- tected manufacturing operations of the southern U.S. Again, many of the workers involved would be womnen. e For years, Canadian women have been fighting bhard to win equal-pay-for-work-of-equal-value. Under free trade, Canadian comn- panies could simply move south to avoid meeting this obligation. e Long before free trade talks got under way, U.S. negotiators sug- gested that our social security net could be open to challenge. Some Amnericans feel tbat Canada's un- employment insurance, old age pen- sions, medicare and other hard-won social programns give Canadian workers an unfair advantage over thèir U.S. counterparts. Under free trade, Canadian companies could dlaim that contributing to social benefits could harmn their inter- national competitiveness. A growing number of Canadian women are realizing that the cos of a free trade agreement wilI out- weigh any possible benefits. "When 1 first heard about free trade, I thought it mightimake sense," says a 45-year-old mother of four in an Ontario footwear plant. "But then 1 started hearing about the lousy health and safety conditions in some of the non-union plants in the States. We've worked too bard for better working conditions to give up now.," "<The bottom line is that manage- ment wants to pay lower wages if it can possibly get away with it," says a fish cannery worker from New Brunswick. "If the government brings in free trade, we'll have to compete against the lowest wage in the nastiest plant in the U.S." If the Conservatives really care about women's employment, they must take some positive steps to strengthen the Canadian economy, to reduce our dependence on. for- eign ownership and create jobs. They would improve tralning op- portunities -for women and assure access to affordable child-care. They must move to enforce pay dis- crimination and sexual harassment legislation. tWhitby Ambulance Durlng the week en- ding May 15, Whitby Ambulance Service responded to 95 caîls for service lncludlng twu pInotor vehicle accidents .,in whlch two patients I,ýwere transported to 4ospital.' _The service receilved five emergency cails durlng the week for wihinjuries stiein fals, six for patients suffering front heart related problems, one for a patient suf- fering from stroke and two calls for patients in- jured in industrial ac- >Nineteen patients suf- fering from, a variety of medical problema - in- cluding emergency - transfers w ,were . also -traiisported by the ser- vice. Most of the rernaining "caîls involved routine tinsfers from. one meclical facllity to another.or home from, hospital and there were, 28 standbys supplied to area services. The number te cail for ambulance service in Whltby hs 723-5232. Accident A worker at Lasco Steel feli 15 ft. from a catwalk and landed on bIis head, police report. Jim, Wallace of 580 Mary St. E., unit 228 tripped on an oxygen hose and feil to a concrete floor. He was transported to J.O. Ruddy Hospital wbere he was treated for cuts and swelling to bis forehead and nose and a possible fracture. Adition A site plan application by the Durham Region Roman Catholic Separate Scbool Board to build an addition to st. Paul School on Garrard Rd. bas been approved by town coun- <cil. Incîuded in the 22,150 square foot addition wili be a number of relocatable classroom moduiars. These are portable classroomn units that can be moved te another scbool site. Thse Planning Depar- tment cf Wbitby bas asked that thse R.C.Ms, approximately 2,000 square feet in area, be sirnilar in color to the scbool addition. No date for construc- tion bas been set. MEErTHE CON VERTED.@ M eet thse converted... just a ---few of thse hundreds of drivers across Ontario who are converting their vehicles to Natural Gas auto fuel- mainly because of the savings. Private cars, taxis, delivery services, and ftrets are rapidly converting to Natural Gas. Switch to Natural Gas auto fuel today. ,Do it because of tise savings. Heather Wailker, NMissîssauga: «Converting f0 Natural Cas isthe best thing we could have done. Thie whole idea cornes down te saving rnoney" Hiarold Barrett, Toronto: lîn' cheop... a lot cheaper than gasoline. 1 arn looking at a new mini- van and the fîrst thing I arn going fa do is have if converted:' Ron Spearing, St. Catharines: "Natural Gos is leftîng me do better thi ngs with my money than putting if (rtfo rny gos tank" CONVERSION IS AFFORDABLE. Convert your vehicle now and Consumers' Gas, the Federal Government and the Ontario Government will help pick up the tab. VEHICLE CONVERSION COSTS Curaent Nwy Purchaed 0,1,8, Vehcle Cost of conversion S22002,800 $22002,800 Federal grant (S500) ($500) Consumners'Oas Grant' (S500) ($500) Ont. Gon't. tncentive Nil ($1.000) Net cost $1,200-1,800 $200-800 *Lmited numbernof grants available. OnIy those reident within the Consumers' Cas ysteni a re eligible. -Sales fax exemption on new vechicles converted f0 natural Cas. (Based on $14,285. vehicle.) Copisumners' Gas will do even more fory ou. Not only do we give you $50'0 toward conver- sion, but we also let you finance the balance on our monthly gas bill with two years to pay. I Warren McCormick, Toronto: I like t(fe (dca of (t bcing an add- on systemn to give me dual fuel capability. 1 con go from nortrol gas fa gasoline-and bock with the flick of o switch while driving: WILL YOJR VEIH[CLE STI RUN ON GASOLINE? Yes. With the flick of a switch on your dashboard, you can go from Natural Gas to gasoline- and back-even while the vehicle is rnoving. And because Natural Gas is an add- on systema your driving range is extended by 100-200km. HOWDOES THE NATLJRAI GAS FUEL SYSTEMWORK? Natural Gas in pressurized tanks is connected to a regulator installed in the engine compartment. The regulator reduces the pressure of the Natural Gas. Prom the regulator, the gas is fed into the carburetor where it is mixed w,,ith air. It then enters the engine through the intake manifold where ignition takes place. Consumners' Gas wil give you towsard your cost of conversion CALLNOW. NATURAL GAS SAVES MOST. OUiR GUARANTEE. If, during the twelve month period following the con- version of your vehidle, the average price of Natural Gas is flot beloW that of gasoline, on an energy basis, and as a resuit, you have flot saved on fuel costs by using Natural Gas, the Consuniers' Gas Company Ltd., will remove the natural gas system and refund double your net conversion cost. Ihis offeris validuntil December3l 1986. Ruas Domina, Ottawa: "Notural Gos hosprovedtfabe sorelioble that 1 feel there's a significont inecse in the re- sale of my vehice PL fL ?IP ConsumerslGas (416) 668-9341