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PAGE 18, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27. 1985,WHITBY FREE PRESS A YMCA Christmas A full range of ac- tivities at the YMCA has been planned for five days of the coming Christmas season. On each of the days there will be one and a half hours of computer instruction, gauged to the level of the par- ticipants. Outdoor ac- tivities are planned, weather permitting, in skating, toboganning and snow sculpture. Monday, Dec. 23 will include a program for making Christmas craf- ts and decorations. Friday, Dec. 27 is games day, when out- door and indoor games, quiet and active games, will be played. Par- ticipants are en- couraged to bring their favourite games to share with everyone. Monday, Dec. 30 will feature an afternoon swim at Iroquois Park. Thursday, Jan. 2, has a penny carnival plan- ned in conjunction with the other daily ac- tivities. Friday, Jan. 3 will wind up the Christmas Break with special films and a party including cake and hot dogs. The five days of Dec. 23, 27, 30, Jan. 2 and 3 will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the featured activities. Additional activities are planned for anyone needing ex tended hours, which wil be available from 7:30 Kiwanis Festival The Directors of the Oshawa Kiwanis Music Festival are pleased to announce the 1986 Festival will be held from April 14, 1986 to April 25, inclusive. The chairman of the Festival, Mr. Ashton McMaster, advises that committee work and general preparations are well under way for the upcoming event. Copies of the syllabus are expected to be ready for circulation to in terested parties on or about Nov. 30. New this year is the addition of a playoff for both the Senior and Junior Instrumenta Founder's Trophies and Scholarships. This promises to bea highlight of the festival. The chairman an directors are looking forward to another suc cessful festival. The Audi 5000 S Avant is a unique class of automobile. It has a truly spacious interior that is ingeniously designed to adjust easily to four alternative space corfigurations for people and cargo. 5, 4, 3 or 2 passengers. :'THE AUDI CARD The unique standard in standard features. It pays for virtually everything but your fuel. 3 years/unlimited mileage. See this extraordinary automobile today. OWASCO VOLKSWAGEN INC. 1425 Dundas St. E., Whitby Whitby: 68-9383 Toronto: 683-3234,361-1128, Ajax: 683-3235 AN "I CARE" and OML SERVICE AWARD WINNER 35 minutesfrom Downtown Toronto Hwy.2 DundasSt.E. Oshawa Whitby ou c 0WAC0O L I -wy4O 0 a.m. to 6 p.m. The program is $12 per day, and you may register for individual days or all five. The activities will be held at the Centennial Building, 416 Centre St., S., Whitby. All par- ticipants must pre- register. For more information please telephone 668- 6868. - l .1 In order to serve the Durham Region better, Owasco Volkswagen is doubling the size of its service department, body shop, part depar- tment and sales force. To celebrate the expan- sion, the Dundas St. E. car dealership is hosting a contest. Customers who can guess the total squarç footage of the new ad- dition to Owasco's building are eligible to win one of two vacation packages. First prize is a one week-trip south of the border for two. Second prize is a weekend getaway in a Volkswagen Deluxe Vanagon camper plus $50 spending money. Winners will be an- nouned on the day of the dealerships official new opening. In the event of a tie therewillbe a draw for first prize. Mayor Bob Attersley will be presenting the prizes. 0 Ontario's loas of its top "triple A" credit rating was an unîecssary disgrace and a black mark on the good iame of our province in the world's in- vestment capit.als. Although the governrnent, and its soialist allies, say the "triple A" rating does not matter; loss of this rating by Queen's Park casts a reflection on the economic performance of the *province aE a whnle. r Provincial Tceasurer Nixon had plenty of war- ning that ho vas endangering the provincial credit. e As soon as he made public his economic statement r in June, Ontario was put on a "credit watch". That was a warning from the rating agencies the Treasure was walking on dangerous grounds. d The government dlaims its economic difficulties s are the result of a mess leit behind by previous a Progressive Conservative administrations. But the press release fromn the rating agency, Standard and Poors, who, put our province on "credit watch", d says quite clearly that they took action because of ,g 1projected deterioration in financial performance and uncertainty over the new government's objec- tives". It was Treasurer Nixon's vague speech that resulted in a "credit watch" on our province not the excellent economic record left behind by the Davis and Miller government. Despite the warning, the Treasurer went ahead and put together a budget that not only unfairly discounted provincial assets, but also give a bleak forecast of Ontario's economic future. It didixt take long for the international financial community to react. On Nov. 12 our credit rating was down-graded from "Triple A" to "Double A- Plus" because the Nixon budget- projeted a significant increase in both the deficit and the over- ail provincial debt, at the same time substantially increasing taxes. The reaction of the provincial government to the loss of the credit rating was arrogant and il- îinformed. The Treasurer §ad said in lus budget that the "Triple A" rating didn't really matter, and, the day the rating was down-graded, hie was in Florida. But the facts are that the credit rating of Ontario does matter a great deal. A reduction in our provin- ce's credit rating will mean an increase in interest payments on the provincial government's borrowing. As well, it wil mean an increase in the cost of borrowing for Ontario Hydro. The resuit will be that goverrnment will need more money to pay for ils debts, rather than devote these <funds to new programs to encourage growth, jobs and social justice. But the real tragedy of the down-gracling of our credit rating is that it shouldn't have happened. Our province is still experiencing an economic expan- sion. Our province's economy is perforrning better than the national average and we have fewer unem- ployed. Treasure Nixon has earned his place in the history books. At a time when Ontario is experien- cing good economic times he has introduced a budget that both increases taxes and the provincial deht. In addition, he has down-graded the good namne of our province for international investors. This is not the competent government our people expect or deserve. IOwasco Expands SHOP LOCALLY N. - wMRwMMmMý Report from Queen's Park By THE HON. GEORGE ASHE, MPP (PC - Durham West)