Canada

Women’s group
takes CBC before
CRIC

The National Action Committee on
the Status of Women is laying charges
With the Canadian Radio-television and
Telecommunications Commission after
the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
tefused to air the organization’s public
Service announcement.

The 30-second announcement, pro-
duced in both English and French, is a
Centrepiece of NAC’s public awareness
Campaign for the federal election. The
Campaign is based on the slogan Women
’Ote! It urges women to vote in the elec-
tion, and reminds politicians that
Women’s issues play an important part in

© Campaign.

The newly-produced video portrays
‘Wo women having a conversation about
the federal election. One asks why she
should bother voting. The other explains
that women must be aware of the issues
affecting them, including free trade, child
“are, reproductive rights and violence
against women and children. She
Teminds her friend to find out what the
Candidates have to say on these issues

fore voting, and concludes: “They

Want the most important jobs in this
Country and this time, we’re doing the
iting,”

The Telecasters Committee of Canada

ave approved the announcement for
airing on both radio and television.

Complain about
hiased coverage

_The media is coming under fire for its
lased coverage of the Nov. 21 election
Campaign. A spokesperson for the Pro-
Canada Network was angry to find
€xperts” recruited to comment on the
°rganization’s booklet “What’s the big
?,” a popular analysis of the free
ttade agreement, when advocates of the
are not similarly scrutinized.

t a weekend conference of environ-
Mentalists held in Toronto over the Oct.
a weekend, a media strategy session

Vised groups to “write off the Toronto
Media, and concentrate on the outlying
teas” which will usually cover events.

Affordable housing advocates have
“| €d poverty and homelessness the
meas talked about issue” in the electi-

n.The parties don’t want to discuss
Poverty. They don’t want to discuss peo-
ing Seine in the streets or living in
quate conditions, so these become
On-issues as far as the media is con-
paned.”. says Gary Parsons, a Toronto
8al aid worker.

mpty seat
Syndrome

oy candidates have apparently
~pted a hide and seek strategy in the
me: Efforts by groups to raise peo-
S issues by hosting all-candidates’
A Pies are being rebuffed by local Tory
“aNdidates, who seem content to stroll
© power behind the prime minister.
Bre face groups, tenant’s associations,
: 8tessive church groups, women's
8anizations and others are among the
any who have tried and failed to entice
Ndidates to face the electorate.
an National Action Committee
Tts no-shows by Tory candidates in
i pon Winnipeg, Toronto and
a Ph. NAC is advising its member-
Ups to proceed with their meetings
Publicize candidates who are trying

0 hide,

The Canadian Peace Pledge Campaign
has released its the results of its survey of
federal parties standings on disarmament
issues. The parties were asked to respond
to seven questions covering support for a
Canadian nuclear weapons free zone and
a comprehensive nuclear test ban; opposi-
tion to the purchase of nuclear powered
submarines; cruise missile testing; visits by
nuclear-armed warships; Star Wars; and
nuclear bomber test flights.

Not surprisingly, the Tories had the
worse record, giving only lukewarm sup-
port to a test ban treaty. While the party
speaks of support for a treaty, its actions
are more telling: Canada abstained on a
resolution calling for negotiations at a
recent meeting of the United Nations.

The CPPC noted the “hostile rhetoric
and aggressive military policies put for-
ward in the government’s White paper,
especially given the thaw in. superpower
relations.”

Not far in front were the Liberals who,

Parties surveyed on peace

as on many other areas, are split on disar-
mament. The party opposes Star Wars
and has changed its position on cruise
missile testing. It is against buying nuclear
submarines but would spend $300 million
each shot for diesel-powered subs. It is not
concerned that nuclear-armed warships
visit Canadian harbours, nor that foreign
forces use Canadian airspace. They do
support a test ban treaty.

Despite the fact that the 1986 Liberal
convention backed a nuclear free zone sta-
tus for Canada, party leader John Turner
has refused to accept the policy.

The CPPC welcomed the party’s call for
the creation of a multi-national treaty to
halt the militarization of the Arctic, but
noted that this approach “has not per-
vaded all aspects of their defence and for-
eign policy.”

Leading the other two parties were the
New Democrats who fared well on the
questionnaire, with one exception. Like
the Liberals, the NDP supports the pur-

chase of non-nuclear submarines. But, as
the CPPC pointed out, the party has not
put forward a persuasive argument as to
what real contribution these submarines
would make to Canada’s security.”

The CPPC noted the party has been
“somewhat reticent about raising their
peace polices for fear of being attacked for
their less popular opposition to Canada’s
membership in NATO. The party is also
committed to increasing military expendi-
tures, which already consume 42 per cent
of funds spent directly by the government
on goods and services each year.”

The Communist Party also answered
the questionnaire, supporting all the
CPPC positions. Key to peace, says the CP
is peaceful co-existence between east and
west and collective security for all coun-
tries. It calls for a cut in the military
budget, withdrawal from NATO and
NORAD and the dissolution of all mil-
itary blocs.

NN es = —_—
= — re — |

The Tory myth of consumer bargains

Available beside the supermarket check
out is a glossy brochure designed to pro-
mote the Canada-U.S. trade agreement. In
it, the federal government promises free
trade will bring lower prices. “A Canadian
earning $23,000 a year” would have his/her
spending power “increased by between
$700 and $1,000.” The next time you go out
to buy “a washer, dryer, fridge, stove and
dishwasher, you could save about $500 in
total.”

Since he and Mila are forever redecorat-
ing, perhaps the PM doesn’t realize few
Canadians can afford to buy five new
appliances in one whack. But this isn’t the
only area where he’s out of touch. Eliminat-
ing tariffs under the agreement will not
reduce the price of consumer items.

Already 76 per cent of all goods pro-
duced in the U.S. enter Canada duty free.
Most of the others have duty rates of 5 per
cent or less. And as previous tariff reduc-
tions under GATT agreements have dem-
onstrated, the cuts in duties simply aren’t
passed on to consumers.

The deal will phase out tariffs over 10
years in 10 equal stages. A five percent rise
in an already rising Canadian dollar would
eliminate any advantage. In addition, goods
with less than 50 per cent U.S. content will
not be tariff-exempt. If they are made in
Europe, Japan or a host of other countries.
(where most of our TVs originate) tariffs
will still apply. Sa

The federal government nets $2.1 billion
each year from tariffs. This lost revenue will
have to be made up elsewhere. The Tories
favour a national sales tax.

Canadians already pay a 12 per cent fed-

A GOOD DEAL FOR Many compares depend on imported to he bg US market
CANADIAN machinery parts and equipment Free Vaae will eve wil be greater ncentive io
remove tarts and vade barnes on materials 36 "and producers 10 novate The
icoitbhes wes Sobicheneamne services mponed fom the US. Ths means give both Canadian
US 18.0 900d deal for consumers For every
pend a parle ese we ‘money Lowe" Supply costs mean lower product
. pres.
sive paeme Troe race wil ano gee Canagun ase
‘+ higher disposable inc and and equal access to the
Ht you Import goods trom the US. the much larger US market This means we will De
~ hte ES aie fo prodce more goods atone be. And he
ne ee more we ‘atone te. the more c!
Pope = ‘can be done So lower production costs mean
tower prices 10 you the consume:
LOWER PRICES in this more ethcrent and competitive climate.
businesses wil pass on the savings 10 you. the
Here's how the Agreement wil lead to lower comune si
‘Right now, tails and wade 0g
xoumoney You aepayng item nase vores. ‘MORE MONEY iN YOUR POCKET
impors. trom food to clotvng to
‘Some tanfts 90 a8 hugh as 25 per cent You are ——p~ Foes Sag oe
eo paying Ingher prices because row Sa ~
reairee opus quan on some US ecomanes rat once fe Agreement hy
‘Such wade barners act almost ike a tax on you
Cpa ae ea es ‘ed be merous by between $700 and $1000
‘Statistics ‘says that i 1986, without tree neon
these barners cost Canacuans $21 neve oat pec eee
more for goods importec from the US. That's $80 an mpd a ten
Santen ocean preweon cooercaen
alNtat wit ree ade do? Free rade wa ep ing wpe od
cut S and reduce Ost 10 yous — oF
You 90 Out and uy a washer.
‘consumer, The result? Lower pr Loewen
‘could save about
TARIFFS AND BUSINESS way 10 look att — Duy
S kitchen apphances a
Tantts and trade barvers preserity rage the ie over to buy a TV
cost of doing business in Canada. And Canachan
ompamves Rave lo puss OF these Costs 10 yOv. MORE CHOICE
the consumer
canoes he Arwen. bares wit be ale a onsumers ilo peel rom mer
jth more goods avaiable to Canadians,
+ lower prces Tr or supple. and esses wil be More hey 10 Ofer lower
ethcient production fang better service in order to succeed

GOV'T BROCHURE ... like Tory tax reform, the benefits exist only in government

propaganda.

eral sales tax on most items. The proposed
program would cost consumers $10 billion
annually, as previously exempted items
such as children’s clothing, low-priced clo-
thing and footwear for adults, and the vast
area of services — from haircuts to dry
cleaning to accounting — would be sub-
jected to a sales tax.

Although Finance Minister Michael Wil-
son says the current federal sales tax will be
phased out as the national tax comes into
effect, experts disagree. They point to the
British example where people ended up pay-
ing essentially the equivalent of both the old
federal sales tax and the new national tax.

The trade agreement has other effects on
prices. It prohibits the sale of energy to the
U.S. at higher rates than to Canadians. Not
only will consumers pay more for their fuel;
any competitive advantage the economy
could have through lower energy costs will
be eliminated.

Canadians are already feeling the pres-
sure of the agreement on prices. Changes to

Canada’s drug laws were demanded by the
U.S. to prepare for free trade. The patent
drug legislation has resulted in higher drug
prices as generic alternatives are restricted.

The flip side of the free trade and prices
question is how much disposable income
Canadians will have. The free flow of
goods, services and capital across the
border will mean less production in Canada
and fewer jobs. For those industries that
remain, management will hold the threat of
closure over workers’ heads to extract lower
wages and benefits.

Lower prices is also a relative question.
The real issue is purchasing power. The
Tory plan is about creating a profitable
climate for the transnationals. This includes
undermining social programs, tougher
trade union regulations to force down
wages, and increased military spending.
Under the Tories, the purchasing power of
the majority will be cut, along with their
ability to buy their new TV set at any price.

Tories, U.S. seen behind contempt charge

WINDSOR — A USS. corporation has
used the Canadian federal election as the
occasion to lay charges against an incum-
bent MP and several local labour leaders,
academics and politicians who took part in
an anti-free trade demonstration last Janu-

othe New Democratic Party’s economic
critic, Steven Langdon, along with 20 others
has been charged with contempt of court by
the U.S.-controlled Ambassador Bridge
Corporation, in the aftermath of a Jan, 2
demonstration on the International Bridge
er

Gore of those charged, Windsor and Dis-
trict Labour Council president Gary Par-
ent, called the action “a dirty trick to
embarrass the trade union movement and
paint the NDP as irresponsible.”

The demonstration, one of several border
crossing protests organized by the Pro-
Canada Network, stopped traffic on the
bridge linking Windsor and Detroit for an
hour. Ambassador had applied for a court
injunction to prevent the demonstration.

There had been immediate demands for
the police to take action. Following the rally
by 2,000, Essex Kent Conservative MP Jim
Caldwell, called for charges. The police
refused, reporting they had observed no
criminal activity.

On Jan. 13, George King, a prominent
local Tory and a lawyer representing the
bridge owners announced charges would be
forthcoming following the viewing of video
tapes of the demonstration.

But it wasn’t until 40 weeks later, when
the federal election was called, that the

accused were named. King claimed the
delay was due to the “ton of video tapes”
which had be viewed.

Maggie Bizzell, Communist Party candi-
date in Windsor West, accused Ambassa-
dor Bridge management of “blatant
meddling in Canadian affairs.

“The people of Windsor are being treated
to the spectacle of an American-controlled
company uniting with local Conservative
members to undermine those forces
opposed to free trade. It’s further proof that
the Conservatives are the party of U.S. big
business in Canada,” she said.

Bizzell said the charges should be
dropped. She also called for nationalization
of the Ambassador Bridge.

“Tt is ludicrous for a main thoroughfare
to remain in private hands.”

Pacific Tribune, October 31, 1988 « 5

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