Vol. 11, No.$ Wednesday , Februar'y 11, 1981 28 Pages Grossman kicks off Ashe cam]paign: says Ontarlo has best econo .mice record By MICHAEL KNELL Free Press Staff A prominent member of the Davis cabinet kicked off the Tory campaign in Durham 'West last week with a stinging attack on the leaders of the two opposition parties. Larry Grossman, Ontario Minister of Industry and Tourism, told a gathering of about 150 of the party faith- fui that Stuart Smith, Liberal leader, and Michael Cassidy, leader of the New Democratics are flot giving the public a complete pic- ture of Ontario's economy. Grossman said that Smith should stick to subjects that he knows about and accused Cassidy of being a "reverse Moses." "He's leading his party back into the wilderness," he told the Progressive Con- servative Association. The meeting was to nominate incumbent MPP Gree tingas [rom Whitby The Mayor of Whitby, Councillor Florence~ Roach, this week received the followlng telegram fromn Canada: 'Best wlshes for 1981 to the Mayor, Couincil and citizens of our twin town of Whitby, North Yorkshîixz. From the Mayor, Council and citizens of Whltby, Ontario. Kindest regards. Mayor Bob Attersley. " Counillor Roach sent greetirigs on behaif of the people of Whitby when she used the town's new telephone exchange to speak to the Clerk of Whitby Councîl. Ontario. The above item appeared in the Whitby Gazette of Whitby, North Yorkshire, England in their edition of January 2. Mayor Bob Attersley sent the telegram to his English counterpart, Mayor Floren- ce Roach just before Christmas. "l've got a very warm feeling towards Whitby. England." Attersley said. adding that it dates from 1958 when as a member of the world champion Whitby Dunlops hockey team he was made welcome by that community. Atterslev said that it was ironic that he sent greetings to Whitby, North Yorkshire, George Ashe for a second term of office. The, 37-year-old MPP for St. Andrew St. Patrick said that while he admits that Ontario was lth in economic growth in Canada it had a larger base to start with. Between 1977 and 1980 Prince Edward Island had the largest increase in its gross provincial product, he said pointing out that its 31 per cent growth only represented $160 million. However, during the same time period Ontario ex- perienced an 11.5 per cent growth rate representing $11.5 billion Grossman said. "We outperformed the United States, West Ger- many and the United Kingdom," he said of the economie growth. On the issues of job creation and. unem- ployment, the five-year veteran of the Ontario Legislature told his Ajax High School audience that this province's record was better than any neigh- bouring jurisdictions. Grossman said that bet- ween 1975 and 1980, 500,000 new jobs had been created in Ontario which he claimed was more than twice the number created in Alberta and Quebec and was 300,000 more than created in British Columbia. Ontario 's unemployment rate of 6.6 per cent was well below the national average of 7.4 per cent he added. It is also lower than automotive manufacturing states, he continued, saying that Ohio's rate is 9.3 per cent and Michigan's 12.8 per cent. In further defending the présent provincial gover- nment's economic policy, Grossman claimed that On- tario experienced a 45 per cent increase. in manufac- turing investment in the last five years. The minister claimed an investment growth of $5 billion compared to Quebec's $1.8 billion and Alberta's $700 million. "We have surpassed all of the rest of Canada com- bined," Grossman said. Calling the 46 plant closings that have occured in Ontario "tragic," Grossman said that there CONT'T) ON PG. 2 -Photo courtesy of O.F.M.A. Skia r wins Trillium Award Larry Grossman, On- Sheppard of Sklar tarlo Minister of In- Manufacturing Ltd., ldustry and Tourism located in Whitby and (left) presents a Hanover, Ontario. ýTriIlium Award to Dave Sklar was a finalist in the bedroom furniture category with the 'Marquetry" bedroom suite. The Trillium Awards program, a joint yen- Association, judges ture of the Ministry of the entries on the basis lndustry and ,Tourism of styling, ser- and the Ontario Fur- viceablity and value for niture Manufacturers' the consumer dollar. or-- - - - "s Ilt jo l fil 111 Ili il agi