Record set' for building pernnits Page 2 vvrm Marketing strategy s0fl to be completed Page 5 Hospital report soon expected Page9 Auto news Pagesl 69 17 Aeros pace com pan y to close~ By Mike KowalsI A corjorate decision te move production te, the U.S. will cost 130 Whitby aerospaoe workers Cannons.aunounced last week that it is shutting down plants iu Wbitby and Phoenix, Arizona later this year and mev- ing the werk to another facility MnSanta Ana, Califerni. A decline in- global military spendini; is cited by the company as the reason for its decisiou te consoldiate operations iu Sauta Ana. ITT Cannon a division of Axnerican multinational ITT Corp., supplies electronic inter- connect systems, information card technologies aud switches te a variety cf industries and goverrnen&ts. The company's Whitby plant west cf Hopkins Street, just oit Consulmers Dve, bas bêen in business since 1973. "Due te, the well-publicized decline ini global spending for militay programs, eur military/ aerospaoe busines currently is net fully utilizing the existing capacity at tliree operations,» a company press release states. 44his under-utilization cf assets adds te the cost cf aur product and detracts from our ability te be competitive in the market place," the release adds. Altheugh president Fred Musinka conceded. that the Whitby plant is a profitable one, he stressed that "you have te look at the big picture.» Whitby is oeeof four plants (Phoenix and two in Sauta Ana) iu ITT Caunou's military/aero- space division, Musinka said. But with a decline in military. spending and a downturn i the aerospace iudustry overaîl, «you can't justify keeping four places open, he sa.id. "Santa Ana is -the bigge-st aud more than capable of Iooking after ail the 'business inuoe building. "Ninety per cent cf what we ~roduce lere is shipped to the About half of the plant's work- force is represented by Local 1090 of the Canadian Auto Wor- kers (CAW) union. Local president John Gatens termied the cosing a «sad occa- sion» sud biamed it on corporate politics south of the border. "Mhis is a profitable, produc- tive plant which became a victim of political game-playing.in the Unted States," Gatens claimed. .While he "wrisheO» fee trade promted. the decision to close, Gatexns said he bas no reason te, suspect this was the case. «I just believe they were the victim of a large corporation cal- lingthe work homie,» he said. Gatens noted that the closing cornes at a time when govern- ments at ail levels in Canada are promoting hi-tech industries as a source of future jobs. ta u "I'm concerued ta u goverument believes in hi-tech work- the way it does ... it didn't heiphere,»" he said. While Gatens may have no reason te sus pect free trade is to blame, local MP Dan McTeague thinks otherwise. "It's another fine example of 'how the free trade agreement is workin, for thepeople of Ontario riding- said McT-eague. ai find it alarming, that it's a complée shutdown,' said the Liberal representative. «A business that's been bere since 1942 is finally packing it in. ait- shows that decisions are made based on the location cf the head office cf the multinational.» The former Cannon Canada firmn was founded 53 years ago. ITT', with holdings in 38 coun- tries, acquired the company in McTeague disputes some cf the reasons given for the closure. "I don't necessarily bu y the view that the aerospaoe industry is in trouble,» hie said. "Passenger service is up, net down .» SEE PAGE 13 Concernsraîsed over 'car cavalcade' rotest By Mike I<owalski Organizers cf a 'car cavalcade' te protest the proposed Lynde Shores bousing development have received the green lîgbt te hold their parade. Town council -Monday granted the Save Lynde Marsh (SLM) citizens' committee permission te hold the event this Saturdaty. But in se doing, council ruled that SLM will be held liable for any problems which may occur as a iresuit cf the protest. The cavalcade is being held te promote SLM's right against a proposed community cf 5,000 people and nearby industrial park, east of the'Lynde Creek marsh.1, SLM has appealed council's approval of the joint private- public sector project te the Ontario Municipal B3oard and a pre-hearing conference bas been scheduled for next Wednesday in Whitby. The cavalcade is planned ta SEE PAGE 21