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WEMTY FREE PRESSY WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1988, PAGE 7 PAGE SEVEN THE FREE TRADE ISSUE Recently, I have devoted this column te municipal issues bécause, for Whitby, the local elections can fundamentally change the direction of this community. Incontrast, Whitby lias only a minority influence in the election of two MPs out of a total of nearly 300 in Durhiam and Ontario ricings. But 1 can't ignore'a federal election. which is without a doubt the mast important in the last thirty years - an election with one major abiding issue, the future of aur country. Canadians are nat at all sure about this free trade thing. The Conservatives talk about the oppartunities that trade will bring but we alreaýdy do most of our trade with the States and most of it duty free. Sa where are the benefits. They talk about access te the huge Amnerican market but are neyer tea specific as te how that will benefit us. Frankly I get very annoyed 7,by the put-down that Conservatives and ather free-traders use that anyone who opposes the FTA lacks faith in our ability te compete. On a level playing field, Canadians can campete with anybody. But is the playing field level? Are the rules stacked against us? Are the officiais an the payrall of the other teain? Do they have more players on their bench? .Certainly the FTA will help certain major industries - the steel industry is the prime example - but what about small business which employs by far the majoity of Canadians. Mulroney says that business favours it. Wihich ones? He neyer asked -me? True, a number of business organizations have backed the- deal, but that backing in most cases camne before the deal was even negotiated. Most of the studies which are quoted in favor of free trade were also done before negtiations started. They dealt with, a hypothetical agreement very different from what was finally agreed. Instead of subjecting the FTA to a new round of studies, the government has spent its (aur) money on piles of propoganda. 1 Since the FTA was concluded, I have seen little evidence of new support amongst business or any other sector. With few exceptions, the business people I have talked te take a largely ambivalent attitude ranging from, "We're going ta have it anyway, se letes make it work." te "If it doesn't work we can always get out of it." That latter argument is one that even some Conservatives are using now as they see the apprehension growing. The Liberals and NDP for their part talk mostly about the quality of life in this country that sets us apart from the Americans and how the deal jeopardizes it. (Have you noticed how neither side deals directly with the other's arguments.) The Conservatives say that social programs and unemployment insurance and medicare and regional subsidies, etc, etc, are not even mentioned in the deal. Whlich is very true and that is its greatest weakness. Because these things are not specifically defined as non-subsidies they remain open te just such an interpre- tation and, at a later date, aIl goods could be subjected ta countervailing tariff - an unlikely scenaria, but possible. A more likely scenario is that Canadian companies operating in Canada and paying the taxes which support these programs will find it difficult ta compete against American companies paying lower Anierican taxes. They will lobby the Canadian government te lower their taxes. To do se the governinent would have ta cut ou,r' socil prograins or pass the burden over te personal income taxes. Is either option acceptable ta the Canadian people? If free trade is played on a level playing field, both teamns will have to use the same rules. Do you think the Americans will adop'.our social progranis ...aor do you think well follow their rules? Or will we simply lose? Another real possibility is that Canadian companies will move their production to the, States. The president of.McCain Foads has said that the deal is great for his company but provides no incentive for him te keep his production in Canada. Will big business simply relocate south of the border dioser te their markets? Certainly' not overniglit, but as plants require upgrading, investment and jobs will go south. CoSteel, the parent company -of Lasco is a Canadian company with, global interests. Free trade will certainly benefit them. It has always been a good corporate citizen, but as they expand production te meet new demands, will the new facilites be built here or in the States? But-he&L-ncer;n my mind is environmiental -protection. f /j "ITHE R ACE" lui ----g ONTAIHO COUNTY COURT HOUSE (now Centennial Building) c., 1910 The old Court House was built in 1853 and was used by the County fromn 1854 to 1964, when the new court house was opened on Rossland Road. A second floor to each of the wings of the buililing was added in 1910, after this picture was t.àken. Whitby Archives photo 10 YEARS AGO from the Wednesday, October 25, 1978 edition of the WHITBY FIREE PRESS " Jim Gartshore has been acclaimed as Mayor of Whitby for 1979-80. " The Anderson-Dundas intersection will be rebuilt in 1979. " There will be no plebiscite on public transportation in'the Nov. 13 municipal elections.. " There are 19 Ontario Scholars at Anderson Collegiate's 1978 Commencement Exercises. 25 TEARS AGO from the Thursday, October 24, 1963 edition of the WHITBY WEEIKLY NEWS " Wilson H. 'Bull" Brown is retiring after 16 years as Whitby's postmaster. " Whitby's population is two persons short of that needed to get $3,000 in provincial grants. *A & P Food Stores are selling tea for 69 cents a pound and a quart box of brussels sprouts for 25 cents. *Forty-two casualties have been given first aid by the St. John Ambulance Brigade. 100 YEABRS AGO from the F'riday, October 26, 1888 edition of the WHITBY CHRONICLE " The Whitby te Lindsay train was derailed at Brooklin last week when it ran over a cow. " Brooklin merchant WA. Holliday objects te the Chronicle stating that the village is "dead." " There is talk of holding a 25-mile race in the drill shed on December 15 between Charles Perry ofWhitbty and a Toronto man. *Rev. Dr. John James Hare was presented with a siver-headed ebony walking stick on his 4lst birthday, Oct. 3. He is principal of the Ontario Ladies' College. RQQ