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Whitby Free Press, Wednesday, September 15, 1993. Page 25 EConomy at issuem Durh"A rding By Mike Kowalski AS almost everywhere else in Canada,, the economy will dominate the election caxnpaign in Durhamn riding. Candidates for ail politicai par- ties represented in Durham agree, that the party which con- vinces voters that it is best equippeýd te, handie Canada's economic woes, wili emerge vie- torieus on Oct. 25. A sprawling mixture of urban highrises and rural communities, Durham riding camne into exis- tance in 1988. It includes Whitby north of Taunton Road, north Oshawa, Scugog and Uxbridge townships lus t e municipality of Claring- =n (formeriy the Town of New- castle). Former MPP and Ontario cabinet minister Ross Stevenson has represented the riding for the Progressive Conservatives during the past five years. He is being chaiienged by Liberal Alex Shepherd, New Democrat Luc Rybka-Beeker, Ian Smyth of the Reform Party, and Hrr Pope of the National Party of Canada. According te Stevenson, "jbs and the economy and how they inter-relater wiii be the major issue in Durham riding. A former professor at the Ontario Agricultural Colege in Guel ph, Stevenson ranks Canada's deficit as the second most important issue and leader- ship third. Although hie feels nation. issues, rather than issues speci- fic te Durham, will decide who wins the riding, Stevenson, 50, said the unempioymnent problein can get uvery specificr. "If you're out of a job and looking for one or if Zou want te change jobs and can t, that gets very specific,» he said. Stevenson defended Prime Minister Kimi Campbell's daim that Canadians wiil see a dif- ferent approach te, government if they send the Tories back to Ottawa for a third termi. But not ahl traces of the Mul- roney years wiii disappear, Ste- venson said. "I think certain policy areas wiil continue. In other areas you wiii see ciuite a change," hie said. "I think you will se a more aggressive stance in protecting Canadian culture against the United States' onsiaught and I think you will see a much tighter ship financialiy.» In this vein, Campbell has aiready reduced the size of cabine t and begun streamlining the governinent bureaucracy, Stevenson noted. «You will sec a much different approach from an administrative point of view,» hie said. Stevenson conceded that the Tories have made mistakes dur- ing their nine years in power. "Ithink the feeling of short- termn pain for Iong-termi gain, I think tha was pushed a little too hard without more thought on how it refiects on the lives of individual Canadians,» hie said. "I think she (Campbell) will mun a much more open style of administration and will be much dloser te the people." Liberal candidate Alex Shep- herd, a 46-year-old Scugog Town- ship businessman, is making his first run for public office. Jobs and 'Job security» are cited by Shepherd as the major concern of Durham's approxi- mately 83,000 eligible voters. «Statistics Canada says the unemployment rate for Durham is 10.9 per cent, but our door knocking is telling us it's over 20 percent,» he argues. Sepherd said there are snme local issues such as future deve- lopinent of the Oshawa airport and environinental concerns. "But if you're not working and there's no food on the table, that's your main concern,» be said. Describin Stevenson as an «honourable man," Shepherd said bis opponent must stili answer for his record in Ottawa. "He voted yes for free trade, voted yes for the GST and voted yes for Bihl C-91 (drug patent protection). These are ail things that lie is vuinerable on." Bowmanville resident Lucy Rybka-Becker is aiso seeking public office for the first time. A communications officer with the Ontario government the NDP candidate criticized (iamp- bell for waiting se, long te cai the election. «Here you have the prime minister and cabinet ministers travelling around the country at taxpayers' expense for basicaliy photo ops (opportunities),» she said. Now that the election has arni- ved, voters can focus on the issues, primarily jobs and the economy, Rybka-Becker said. NDPen41dte Open house will be heid at the campaig office of Durham rid- ing NDP candidate Lucy Rybka- Becker on Saturday, Sept. 18. 'Me open house wil i be heid froil a.m. te i1 p.m. at 68 King St. E. (main floor of the Veitri Complex), Bowmanviile. For more information cail 433- 7092. PRIME MINISTER Kim Campbell met with campaign swing through Durham. She made local farmers and business people TI'ursday an appearance at Ontario Riding MP Rene at Utica Farm Equipment as part of her Soetens office Friday. Photo by Mark Reesor. Whltby Fme Pres «We have 1.6 million un- employed and hundreds of thou- sands below the poverty line,» she said. «The deficit is imp ortant but job creation is part of that. With more people working the deficit IRyV'a-Bec;ker said Canadians are fearful of the future and looking te government for leader- shilp. Por te first time people are wondering if their kids wili be better off than they were and the gap between rich and pcor is growing ail the time.» Courtice resident Ian Smyth wiil carry the banner for the Reform Party in Durhamn riding. A 25-year-old computer consul- tant, Smyth is making his first run for political office. While the economy will be a major focus of his party's camn- eag, nyth said the Reform art wlldo things differently froin the other parties. «We're not teiling Canadians what the issues are, we'hh be listening te them te find eut what's important to them and then addressing it," he said. Smyth said people are worried that the magnitude of Canada's debt threatens the survival of the country's social prograins. They want the government te get that monke~y off their backs and deal with deficit reduction,» he said. .Uxbridge resident Harry Pope is running fer the fledgling National Party of Canada. A retired university professer Pope, 70, has written severaf books on ecvnomics during the past 20 years. He could net be reached fer comment. College enrolment more than 3,900 Enroiment at Durham Coliege is 3,907, 8.4 per cent more than last year. "We opened our doors to more students to help accommodate people in these tough economic times, and we are happy stu- dents are takinq atIvantage of the opportun ity,' said coliege president Gary P'cionsky. Changes this year included the totaily renovated and re-equip- ped tecnoiogy wing, a new 6,000 square foot bookstore and new Electrician injured A Peterborough man was taken te, Oshawa Generai Hospi- tai (OGH) after a brick wail collapsed on him at Durhamn College's new skilis training centre in Whitby. The 32-year-old man, an eiec- trician with Bright Eiectric, was instailing a fluorescent light in a welder training area Tbursday afterncon when break time arri- ved, says Inspecter Jim Fishiey of Durhamn Regionai Police. «Rather than go. down the lad- der he sort of jumped down, uttng is and ona cernent loc wal t swngdown te the ground,» says Inspecter Fishley. 'Mhe wail coiiapsed on tep of him, injurig bis rigbt leg and ankie,' possibiy breaking it." As with ail industrial acci- dents, the Ontario Mînistry of Labour is investigating. classrooms and computer labs. The new Whitby campus is open, with most classes in full swing. Lucie Rochette ST. CHARLES--GARNIER Bonjour. I hope my typing sidls aren't rusty, after having the whohe summer off. The summer had te corne te an end, thougb, and of course, with the end of summer, cornes the day that many students dread ... back te scbooi. It is great te be back at Saint- Charles-Garnier. As most of you already know, Saint-Charles-Garnier shares a school building with Father Leo J. Austin Secndary schcoi. Well, recentiy, a piece of land was purcbased to build the final site of Ecole Secondaire Catholique ,§kyýtCharles4Ganer. Afler seven Jears, and three different scbool buildings, at last, we wiIl be home. And now, on with the news. rd like te welcomne ail the new students at Saint-Charles-Garnier tbis year, frein grade 9 te OAC. Aise, Ird lke to welcome two new teachers te our school, Mme Agnes Martel, and Mme Li.qc Simon-Bouillon. Our student council is already bard at worlc, ready te make tbis an enjoyable year for ahi of us. Friday, the student council announoed that the first dance of the school year would tale place on Sept. 24. Sounds like fun. Aise, on Fiday, the 1992-93 school yearbcoks were banded eut. The yearbook cemmittee worked very hard last year and duning the summer te make the yearbook, and everytbing turned eut beautifully. Congratulations te everyone who worked on the yearbook. During the week, a number of assembiies were beid for the new Grade 9 students. They were officially welcomed te the school by the student council, and participated in a few activities te get te know each other. Wehl, gotta fly. (Hmmm .. 1 haven't written that in a whiie). I hope everyone bas a great 1993-94 year. And remember, don't work tee bard. A la prochaine. LUCY RYBKA-BECKER ALEX SHEPHERD IAN SMYTH ROSS STEVENSON -q