WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2,1987, PAGE l Free trade, education among issues at meeting By MIKE JOHNSTON Free trade and education dominated a Durham Centre all- candidates debate sponsored by the Whitby Jaycees last week. The first question put to the four candidates from the 150-member audience, asked who would benefit from a free trade deal and should the Auto Pact be involved. "Canadians will benefit from free trade," said Conservative can- didate Stephanie Bal. She argued that by 1995, a free trade deal with the United States would create 182,000 new jobs in Canada. "There will be transitional pains," she noted, adding Conser- vative leader Larry Grossman has promised to set aside a $2 billion transitional fund. She said the Auto Pact should not be interfered with. NDP candidate Sarah Kelly stuck to ber. party's line condemining a free trade deal. "Why is it so secretive if it is such a good deal?" she asked. She argued Canada will lose many of its natural resources as wel as more jobs than will be created. She, too, supported the Auto Pact as did Liberal candidate Allan Furlong. "If it is not a fair deal for Ontario, there will be no deal," Furlong said. Later in the debate, Furlong said he could not respond to a question asking what Canadians would lose or gain with a free trade deal because "we don't know what the free trade deal is. It's a gain or loss. You have to see what the deal is." However, he said if sovereignty was in jeopardy, there would be no deal. Bal again said she believed the deal will create jobs. She said sovereignty will only be lost if Canadians want to lose it. However, Kelly said the U.S. may see such programs as medicare as a subsidy and it could be in danger. Green party spokesperson, Edie Gomille, who was representing candidate Harold Tausch, said the red meat industry would benefit with a free trade deal. On education, Furlong told the audience premier David Peterson's announcement to reduce pupil- teacher ratios would help in eliminating illiteracy. He said if students could be taught at an early level, that "is a good base to build on. That is the first step." Ball argued returning to a core curriculum would eliminate illiteracy, adding Peterson's an- nouncement is no good for Durham since the pupil-teacher ratio in elementary schools is already low. She said her party is committed to providing capital funding for building schools. Kelly said the NDP is committed to increasing school funding to 60 per cent and added the portables in Durham are a disgrace. Furlong said the need is there, but he wondered where the money for new schools would come from. He argued the Conservative gover- nment is to blame for the lack of schools. On affordable housing, Furloig said rent controls "are here to stay." He said the government, tenants and builders have negotiated rent increases that this year have risen slightly more than four per cent. He also said builders have been investing money in new apartment buildings and the government has helped with in- terest free loans. "Ail three parties are on record as saying they (rent controls) are here to stay," said Furlong. "We (Conservatives) are not on record as saying that," sid Ball. She said the Conservatives would gradually do away with rent con- trols as apartments become more readily available. She also said her party would permit the conversion of apartments to condominiums if 75 per cent of tenants agree. Kelly said the NDP supports rent controls and called for more affor- dable housing to be built. Kelly also called for a public run auto in- surance. When asked who vyould pay for claims and damages, she argued insurance companies are making large profits so they must be making money. But Furlong, quoting from the Winnipeg Free Press, (Winnipeg has adopted public run auto in- surance), said the government lost $18 million last year and rates this year have increased 30 per cent, He said a Liberal bill, defeated by Candidates would urge bedsfor hospital Each of the candidates for the three major parties in Duraham Centre in the upcoming provincial election ~say they would seek to provide Whitby General Hospital with the 43 acute care beds it needs. "I'm not happy with the announ- cement," said Liberal - Allan Furlong, who admitted that his par- ty's "future planning for hospitals is not good," comparing it to Con- servative policy on schools when that latter party formed the gover- nment. Furlong said, if elected, he would make it top priority to speak to Health Minister Murray Elston. Conservative candidate Stephanie Ball said the Liberal government shows a lack of com- mitment to health care when failing to allocate the beds. She and Furlong both said Whitby was "ignored." NDP candidate Sarah Kelly says the beds were identified as needed during research and should have been allocated to the hospital. Ball, similarly, noted that the district health council had iden- tified the need for acute care beds in Whitby. i Ask a parent! Nothing is more important that the edùcation of our children - * and parents know that best. They know that the quality of our childrens' education de- C pends on the strength of our representative at Queen's Park. L-R Dennis Fox, Cathy Valenti, Debbie Bainbridge, Concerned parents have chosen Stephanie Bail, Cathy Rowell V.P. Education Action * Stephanie Ball. Ask thern and... Committee, Angela Fountain * I On September 10th Stephanie VOTE for BALL DURHAM CENTRE * Stephanie Ball Campaign Headquarters Oshawa - 436-3161 a Whitby - 430-1167 Authorized by the Committee to Elect Stephanie Bail, Stephen Meek C.F.O. the NDP and Conservatives, that would cap rates for taxi drivers and cut premiums for 200,000 people, will be brought back to the legislature after the election if the Liberals are elected. "Business is better run by private enterprise than gover- nments," said Ball. However, she added, first-time drivers should not penalized and she noted the NDP have never given a cost on a gover- nment run plan. In his closing statement, Furlong reflected on the successes of the Peterson government and added "so much more needs to be done." He said Durham Centre needs a representative in the Peterson government. "If the Liberals had done ail that, why call an election? They should have kept going," said Kelly. Ball used her closing statement to ask why Furlong - is constantly criticizing the Conservative gover- nments of past. "When your record won't stand scrutiny, you fail back and blame someone else. Every government has to assume responsibility," she said. Gomille said the Green Party won't win the election but she said every.vote for the Greens is "im- portant." LEASE TO OWN All Makes, Auto Leasing Chrysier, GM, Ford, Imports You name it We lease it 666-3000 You'Il our rates! wHITBY 209 Dundas St. W. CH SE Whitby R :ICRSLER Ajax 686-1642 ÇeGC)ALMUNICIPALITV cOF CXD CNJ PROCLAmA'riON HERITAGE MONTH TAKE NOTICE THAT the month of September, 1987, is hereby proclaimed as "Heritage Month" in and for the Town of Whitby. Citizens of Whitby are encouraged to celebrate the history and heritage of the Town of Whitby by attending the following events: September 12, 1987 - Heritage Day In Downtown Whitby, a cooperative event sponsored by the following groups: Board of Management for the Downtown Business Improvement Area - activities from 10 a.m. onward Whitby Rotary Club - pancake breakfast 8 a.m. Rotary Centennial Park Contact Barry Lennox at 668-3800 Durham Branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario house tour of Downtown Whitby area - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact Margaret Boyce at 668-9691 or the Whitby Free Press at 668-6111 Whitby Historical Society - Victorian Tea Party 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Contact Rod Angevaare at 668-4290 September 26, 1987. "Heritage In Action" sponsored by the Whitby Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (L.A.C.A.C.) including: Seminar on the restoration of heritage buildings presented by the Ministry of Citizenship and Culture 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Contact Bryce Jordan at 668-5803 Open House including displays, demonstrations of heritage artifac- ts and craftmanship from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. - Cafetorium of Henry Street High School DATED at Whitby, Ontario this 26th day of August, 1987. R. A. Attersley, Mayor Town of Whitby à f à 1 s q i 5 6 3q 1 à 13 4 - 4 A A t' - 0 33335344 344 ie à 33$ à AÀA 4 * 4*.* **