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PAGE 2, WEDNESDAYI lJUNE 4, 19 80, WHITBY FREE PRESS Ashe is expendable to government, new NDP candidate believes The man who wiltry to put George Ashe on the unemployment rolîs after the next provincial election says that he was used by the government to put forward one of their ideas and when it flopped, left him out in the cold. Hugh Peacock, who will carry the New Democratic Party's banner in the up- coming election, made the statement after As}ie, the Progressive Conservative MPP for Durham West, tohd a Toronto symposuim on the Candu nuchear reactor that the provincial government will consider building nuclear plants sohely to ex- port electricity if Ontario Hydro can find the markets font. The very next day, Robert Welch, the minister of energy, told the Legislature that Ashe was speaking for himself and not announcing any new governrnent policy. Ashe is also Welch's parliamentary assistant.. "No one should believe that George Ashes nuclear- export trial baîhoon was shot down ast week by his boss," Peacock said. Peacock said in a written statement that Ashe was giving a signal to Ontario Hydro that if they found markets, the government would approve the building of nuchear power planta solely fer the export of elec- tricity. "The fact is," Peacock said, "the plan has been un- der serious consideration by the Conservative gover- nnient since a special study was made in 1977. "IL was given a big push when the federal Tories took over the government of Canada and desperately needed- help coping with a rising trade deficit and in- terest rates and a falling dollar." Peacock, a lobbyist for the Ontario Federation of Labor, aiso said that the idea would prove a good bargaining tool for Ontario to use against a higher oil and gas price in an Ottawa- Ahberta pact. "Premier (Bill) Davis has spoken recently of his sup- port for larger exports of power to the U.S. though he has not gone quite as far as Ashe," he said, adding that Ashe would not make such a statemnent wit.h somebody's prior approval. "George Ashe wouid flot move ahead of the Premier without tacit approval from somebody," Peacock said. "The same bureaucracy in the Ministry of Energy that writes and vets Robert Welch's speeches will do the same for thepariamentary assistant. " Peacock, who sat in the legisiature from 1967 to 1971 as the NDP MPP for Win- dsor West,- said that should the government carry out such a scheme it will be "emorrnously expensive. " "Ten years ago, Pickering 'A' nuclear' generating station was begun at a cost of $570 million borrowed at the then-unheard-of rate of nine per cent. If completed, Darlington will cost between an estimated $6 and $7 billion, including heavy water, - over ten times as much." Hydro is paying over 13 per cent for the money it is borrowing in ita nuclear programn, Peacock dlaims. '"4Surely it is absurd to propose a new series of Darlingtons at such tremen- dous cost when ahmost haif Ontario Hydro's existing capacity is surplus to peak power needs," he said. However, he did say that it dows make sense to seli sur- plus power, but onhy on a short term basis. While the revenue produced from exporta could be used to reduce Ontario Hydro's rates, Peacock believes he has a better idea. "More urgently, however, these funds couhd be ctan- neled into a program for the upgrading of insuhating values of houses and com- mercial buildings," he said adding that, "One dollar in- vested in thermal upgrading provides four imes more energy (in savings) than the same investment in nuclear- generated electricity ." He also dlaims that On- tario Hydro customers are paying for the carrying charges on 4,000 megawatta of installed capacity worth $4 billion. "That is the equivahent of two stations the size of Pickering 'A' sitting idie," he said. "To ask Hydro users to pick up the borrowing tab over the 12 to 15 year lead time for devehopment of new stations before there is any pay back is just too much.".,- -- SCOTT FENNELL MP wants deatli penalty vote Scott Fenneli, the MI' for Ontario Riding will ask the House of Commons to allow a free vote on the return of the death penalty for first degree murder. Fenneil, a Progressive Conservative, placed the motion on the House order paper and, requires the unanimous consent ofHouse to get the free vote on capital punishment that he wants. A free vote is one where MPs vote independanthy in- stead of voting as their par- ticular party does. Fenneil said that he is not optimistie about the chances of getting the full suport of the House and that by placing the motion he is fulfilling a campaign promise to, have parliament, reconsider the issue o.f capital nuniRhement. Ris, motion shall probably not corne before the House until some time in the next month and when it is finally deait with there shall only be a ten minute debate. Few private members motions receive the unanimous consent of Parliamerit. By $2590O00966 Whitby family wins Wintario One family is $25,000 richer after hast Thursday's Win- tario draw that opened the Brooklin Spring Fair. Richard Tigeau, 21, and his wife, Sandra of Whitby won with ticket 5083M. An employee of Generah Motors in Oshawa, Tigeau said that he will use the money to pay off the bills and put the rest of the money in the bank. The Tigeaus have two children, aged two-and-a- haîf years and six months. Paid Attendance at this year's Brooklin Spring Fair was over 18,000 al time record, according to a spokesman for the fair board. Last year's attendance was 12,000. Betters at Sunday after- noon's harness racing took home over $17,000 in win- nmngs and a Whitby horse, Fong's Kung Fu, owned by Biu and Gail Fong, won the feature (ninth) race. The Old Time Fiddling Contest was won by Rick Cormnier of Ray Ridges. For the first time ever, the Durham Regional Police Force won the annual tug-of- war event over their long time rivals fromn the Metropolitan Toronto Police Department. Over 18,000 turn out.... Record nunm..iber corne to faixr De THAPAR Denture Therapist 214 Dundas St. E., Whitby 668-7797 HOURS: Mon. - Sut. & Evnings Sy Appointment 0OnIy