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PAGE 4, WEDN ESDAY, MARCH 21, 1979, WHITBY FREE PRESS ~7j~whitby Volce of the County Town Michael Ian Burgess,1 The only Whltby newspaper lndependently owned and operated by Whlli F Publlshed every Wednesday ~ by M.B.M. Publlshing S and Photography ine. Phone 668-6111l - The Free Press Building Publisher- Managlng Editor* 131 Brock Street North, tby residents for Whltby resîdents. P.O. Box 206, Whltby, On Community Editor Î,ontributlfl9 Editof Production Manager Prini & Promotionat Manager Classiued Ad 9. rit. Whitby Ctiamber ai Commerce 111111 -. i -Brian Winter *Jim Quail *Marj Burgess -Robin Lyon Mailing Permit No. 460 Member 0f the: Better Business Bureau of Toronto Novel Approach Works Büy W. Roger Worh Two years ago, Sydney, N.S. b usinessman Harry Web - ber developed a program called Atlantic Plus, an at- tempt to convince consum- ers and retailers to purchase locally produced goods, cre- ating jobs in the region. A year later, both the On- tario and federal govern- ments enthusiasticaliy back- ed sehemes to promote Cana- dian produets, pointing out that con sumner spending on Canadian made goods could help reduce the nagging un- employnient problem.* Other provinces backed various sehenies to a greater or lesser degree. .The resuit: Ottawa's "Buy Canadian" program, after a slow start and a helpful as- sist from a devalued Cana- dian dollar, finally seems to be having a positive impact in the marketplace. "The monientum is still1 building but we're already a minor success," says Jeff Smith of the federal Depart- ment of Ind ustry, Trade & Roger Worth is Director, Public Affairs, Canadian Féderat'ion of Indpenen:Business. Commerce. "A recent study indicates awareness for Ca- nadian made products has in- creased dramatically during the last year." Smith's department acts as an umbrella organization, co-ordinating the efforts of governmnent and private sec- tor organizations pressing Canadians to buy goods pro- duced in this country. For years, through a vari- ety of incentives, Canadians have been pushed to bu>' made-in-Canada goods. But this is the first time, it seems, that a concertedl effort has been made to tackle the prob- lem head-on, at the emotion- al level. Canadians are now being told through advertising, la- beling systems and other low- ke>' promotions that buying Canadian made products is worthwhile, and why. The devalued Canadian dollar, of course, has helped spur interest, making Cana- dian goods dramaticaîlly more price competitive. Smaller Japanese made cars, for ex- ample, that sold for less than S4,000 two years ago, are now worth S5,200 or more, mainl>' because of devalua- tion. Meanwhile, Ottawa and many, of the provinces are re- assessing purchasing policies with a view to increasing Ca- nadian content without ruf- fling the feathers of the cou>- try's major trading partners. At the federal level, for example, it appears the De- partment of Suppl>' & Ser- vices, which already buys about 80% of its needs from Canadian based firms, is mov- ing a step down, attempting to expand access for smaller finms seeking sub-contracts fromn the big suppliers. For people like Ottawa's Jeff Smith and Sydney's Harry Webber, the total nuni- ber of jobs created because consumers turn to Canadian made goods is almost unim- portant. What's fundamental to them is not overaîl statis- tics, but the fact that some- thing is being done about the problem. "We have to have confi- dence in ourselves, that's what matters," says Webber, a graduate Iawyer who runs tîhe family's retail clothing business in Sydney. His view differs little fromn that of Smith who says: "What we're concemn- ed about is improving the consumer attitude toward local products, be the>' made regionaîl>' or nationaîlly. Just as long as the goods are Ca- nadian made." rom Swim Club thanks Lions Club' for its support Dear Editor: provîde awards to the visiting clubs. We wish to thank the Whltby Lions Club for their f inancia 1 help at the f irst Durham Regionai Swim Meet. This rneet was held during the Win- ter Carnîval, and their support enabied us to Yours very truly, W.A. Jones Treasurer Whltby Iroquois Swim Club Heartfund says thanks for support Hi! -"Heart Month" in Can- ada is now over and, on behaîf of the Canadian Heart Fund, Ontario Div- ision-, please ,accept our heartfelt thanks for your support during our f inan- cial campaign. Our objective this year was $5,500,000 and ai- tnougn all returns are flot in, we are quite hopeful that our objective will be atta ined. Withoutyour-wil ling co- operation in communica- ting our needs to the public, the Canadian Heart Fund would flot be able to express such an outlook - April 1979 has been des- ignated as "High Blood Report from Queen9 s Parlk ]B>' Geore Ashie, M P. P. During the first week of March, two rather exciting events happened at Queen's Park for me. First, on Friday, March 2, Premier William Davis appointed me Parliamentary Assis- tant to the Minister of Energy, and then on Tuesday, March 6 the third session of the 3lst Parliament of Ontario was convened. The Honourabie Pauline McGibbon addressed the matter of energy at some iength in her Speech from the Throne, indicating that the Government 'of Ontario will be giving this entire matter top priority during the coming months. I wili be discussing energy problems and proposais and the part I will be playing, in this coiumn next week. But now 1 wouid like to outiine a few of the other issues we wiiI be dealing with during the Session. The Provincial Government believes that effective manage- ment must be the halimark of ail areas of government operation, and wiii therefore be introducing measures during this Session that remain consistent with the requirements of good management. There is of course considerabie argument on whether primar>' emphasis should be directed to improving the economic climate of Ontario, or to expanding the social services availabie to our people. To me it is ver>' clear that the only way we can maintain and deveiop programs that contribute to the social weil-being of Ontarians is to keep the economic circumstances in Ontario strong. It is the Government's view that industry in Ontario wili need to be carefuilly, but aggressively, supported in future years because the social costs of not maintaining our industrial strength cannot be ignored. One specific measure to ensure that the Province's economy continues to expand will be the establishment of an Empioyment Development Fund to offer assistance to industry and to spur economic activit>' and employment. The allocation of funds wiii be the responsibilit>' of a Board of Cabinet Ministers, chaired b>' the Treasurer of Ontario. Pressure Month."- The themne for this month is "'Down With High Blood Pressure" andi at the end of March we will supply you with an educational media kit on high blood pressure and hope you will make extensive use of the material. Thank you again, for your past support--as aI- ways, it 15 truly appre- ciated. With best wishes. Yours, very truly, CANADIAN HEART FOUN DAT ION ONTARIO DIVISION Esther M. Richards Director of'Public Relations Under existing arrangements a number of manpower responsibilities, such as job creation, training, placement and counselling, faîl within the jurisdiction of several ministries. To ensure that these activities are pianned and carried ont in the most effective way, the Minister of Labour will be designated as the Minîster of Labour and Manpower, and given a mandate to guide and coordinate the Government's manpower activities. As well a comprehensive business and industrial training program will be implemented involving secondar>' schoois, colleges, organized labour and the business communit>'. Since food prices are unquestionably a matter of great concern to the average citizen, the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations will monitor and report on these prices and will launch a province-wide campaign to advise and assist consumners on ways to reduce food costs. The Government is also proposing to. ..increase tourist promotional investmnent; expand the pilot project providing special transit services for the physicali>' disabled; deveiop ways to enable sole-support mothers and disabied persons to become self-supporting; extend home care service for the chronicall>r iii patients who wish to live at home; increase out-patient services and day surgery progranis in a number of hospitais; continue the Ontario Youth Employment Programn during the coming summer months. In the agriculture communit>', the Government proposes to establish a modified grants program to maintain and enhance productivity on farms. The grants wilI be given maini>' for water and erosion control projects and to assist in construction of selected farm production facilities. The pilot project, Agricrew, wilI be expanded to a province-wide program that wiIl provide students an opportunity for new training and employmnent, and offers support. to farmers during peàk harvest periods and for improvements to farmsteads. In her Speech fromn the Throne, the Lieutenant Governor reaffirmed the Government's commitment to a strong and unified Canadian nation, and emphatically stated that Ontario wilI not negotiate sovereignty association with Quebec. We wish to work wîth the Province of Quebec within the Canadian framnework. The foregoing repres ents just a few 0f the issues and proposals we will be dealing with during the coming months. As y'ou can see, we the Government intend to continue deaiing in a positive and progressive way with the problems of the day, at the sarne tume being responsive and responsible to you, the taxpayer, through fiscal restraint and continued good Government. Ru e