York council demands an apology

No proof of Shulman corruption charges

TORONTO—York Mayor Phil-
ip White accused MPP Morton
Shulman (NDP-High Park) on
April 1 of sidestepping demands
for proof of corruption charges
Shulman levelled against Bor-
cugh of York officials.

On March 26 York Council, in
a special meeting, demanded
that Shulman substantiate charg-
es of illegal activity and conflicts
of interest by April 1 or with-
draw the accusations.

During a speech in the Legis-
lature he had called for the resig-
nation! of Cecil Foreht, a lawyer
on the York committee of ad-
justments, which rules . on
changes to zoning bylaws.

Shulman said that Foreht was
involved in payoffs with build-
ers. The MPP said six builders
had told him that “they had to
pay off” to do business in the

- borough.

Foreht was also charged with
conflicts of interest, even though
borough solicitor J. H. Boland
repcrted that Foreht had declar-
ed 20 conflicts of interest since
1971. Boland said a. conflict of
interest is wrong only if a mem-
ber does not disclose it.

Shulman also made accusa-
tions about corruption and ille-
gal activities in other sectors of
the borough’s administration.

Foreht handed ‘in his resigna-

. tion to the Borough Council

March 25, but the Council voted
8-2 not to accept it.

A motion was put forward by
Alderman Nobleman, seconded
by Alderman Kogan, that: the
Borough of York Council request
the Hon. Russel D. Rowe, speak-
er of the Ontario Legislature, to
request Dr. Morton Shulman to
previde proof of his charges
made in the Legislature on
Thursday, March 20, concerning

the Borough of York, or with

draw these charges and apolo-

gize to all concerned.
Unanimous Vote

A second motion, moved by
Controller Trimbey, seconded
by Controller Saunders, read:
Whereas Mr. M. Shulman, MPP
has used his office and the pro-
tection of the Legislature to
level charges against the com-
mittee of adjustment, the chair-
man of the committee of adjust-
ment, the building department,
the building department inspec-
tors and an unnamed alderman
of the Borough of York, and
whereas these charges are not
backed by signed affidavits or
other concrete evidence to the-
present knowledge of the police
or the Council of the Borough of
York, therefore the Council ré-
quests Mr. M. Shulman, MPP to
supply signed proof of his
charges by April 1, or apologize

No prices roll-back in
Combines Act amendment

The following letter, sent April
2nd by Mrs. M. Ferguson, chair-
man of the Communist Party
Prices Committee was directed
to Andre Ouellet, Minister of
Consumer and Corporate Affairs
with copies going to. all Mem-
bers of Parliament:

Thank you for the copy of Bill
2-C, “An Act to amend the
Combines investigation Act.”
We had understood from various
speeches made by you across the
country that this Bill would per-
mit Price Rollbacks. However,
on reading over Bill 2-C careful-
ly we find very little in it per-
taining to prices, other than
Price Maintenance on page 38,
and nothing in relation to Price
Rollback.

It is long past due that action
should have been taken to pro-
tect the majority of consumers,
who, because of ever rising
prices, have their standard of
living-continuously lowered.

Just a few days ago it was an- .

nounced that the price of milk
would once again increase by 4-5
cents a quart. That’s 65% in
three years, making it range
from 54 cents to 56 cents for one
quart of milk. Of course it is not
only milk that keeps increasing,
it is the basic staples of the
family that go up in price.

The real problem as we see it
is “Excessive Profits”. The gene-
ral rule of the corporations and
conglomerates is price hikes to
maintain and increase those ex-
cess profits. This of course ag-
gravates the already out of hand
inflationary situation — now
12.4%, food costs up 16.3% in
one year — bringing about ever
greater hardships on the work-
ing people, especially the low in-
come groups, the unemployed —
now 7% of the work force — the
old age pensioners, and those on
fixed incomes.

These groups spend a dispro-
portionate amount of their in-
come on food and rents, and the
increases published in the Con-
sumer Price Index, understates
the impact of food merchant and
landlord gouging on this sector
of Canadian society.

According to Statistics Can-
ada in the period August 1971 to
August 1974 the all items-index
rose from 135% to 169%, an in-
crease of 26.6%, and now even
higher. During this period food
was up 41.8%, housing 22.2%,

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 1975—Page

Sena). 3700 2 SiR A 4-8

,

health and personal care 20.9%,
clothing 19%.

Since 1971 cheddar cheese has
risen by over 47%, macaroni,
and bread prices increased by
50%, margarine 70%, chicken
80%, canned salmon 70%, eggs
70%, meat and vegetables and
fruit, have also increased at this
same rapid speed. Hydro has
doubled in the past seven years,
Bell Telephone 15.06% in 10
years to say nothing of the fuel
oil and gas. During this same
period real wages have in fact
been declining.

Now let us take a look at
some of the profits.

George Weston Ltd., owner of
Loblaws, Weston Bakeries, and
a long list of other food, invest-
ment, packing, property, dairy,
and chocolate companies had
$40,179,000 left over after taxes
and all expenses in 1974. Of that
profit, say the Weston account-
ants, $6.2-million was from food
distribution.

J. M. Schneider of Kitchener,
had an. annual profit in 1973 of
$3,286,000. A headline in the
Globe and Mail .March 20, 1974

me

Pee OA,

tells us Dominion Stores profit
was up 92.4%.

March 20, 1974 issue of the
Globe and Mail reports on 13
major amendments proposed to
the Federal Combines Act. This
report bears out our contention.

It is the usual buckpassing and ~

politician’s ploy to pacify the
public by appearing to do some-
‘thing, while in reality doing no-
thing, but in fact, legalizing big
business fleecing of the public.

The Communist Party of Can-
‘ada has consistently called on
the government of Canada to
impose an excess profits tax.
Over this past year we have
called upon the government to
“roll back prices” to the level of
January 1973, on basic foods,
rent, housing, clothing, fuel oil,
telephone, and hydro.

We also call upon the govern-
ment to recognize the prices re-
view board, and provide it with
the power to order a “rollback
of prices,” and “stop excessive
profiteering.”
serve as a landmark for . the
Association and the community
inither0ls: :

by his action.

Both resolutions were passed
unanimously.

In his letter of resignation
Foreht said that the adjustment
committee had been wrongfully
accused. Alderman Oscar Kogan
said accepting Foreht’s resigna-
tion would “give substance to
the Shulman charges,” even
though they were as yet un-
founded. Controller Douglas

United Ukranians mark |
33 years of struggle

TORONTO — The 33rd Natio-
nal Convention of the Associa-
tion of United Ukrainian Cana-
dians gathered 120 delegates for
‘four days from Feb. 27 to March

All of them reflected the com-
mitment of the organization to
the struggle for peace and to
closer ties with the motherland
of their fathers; to the great
cause and objectives of Interna-
tional Women’s Year; to urgent
economic problems in .Canada.
They reflect the faith of the
younger generations in the goals
of the Association and its com-
munity.

In the main organizational re-

pert, National Secretary, William:

Harasym. said, “During the
weeks and months of prepara-
tion for the Convention the past

NEC has noted an overwhelming .

agreement with the proposition
that this, our 33rd National
gathering, should be a practical
working convention” and furth-
er, “that this Convention needs
to deal with the question of
how? and not “why?”; of “how
best to build and strengthen the

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
IN U.S. HIGHEST

SINCE 1941
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The
unemployment rate in the

United States climbed half a
percentage point to 86% in
March — the highest level since
1941 — as the number of un-
employed rose to eight million
from 7.5 million.

Last month’s rise in the num-
ber of unemployed reflected a
200,000 drop in total employ-
ment to 83.8 million and a
300,000 rise in the total labor
force to 94 million people.

It was the sixth successive
month of lower employment, a
drop that has totalled 2.6 million
since last September.

The department said that
about two-thirds of the increas-
ed number of jobless in March
could be traced to lay-offs, with
the number of people who lost
their last jobs rising to 4.4 mil-
lion. Last month’s increase was
shared by almost all worker
groups.

JOBLESS BENEFITS

COST $2.119 BILLION

OTTAWA — Unemployment
insurance benefits paid out in
1974 hit a record $2,119-billion,
Statistics Canada says in its an-
nual review of the Unemploy-
ment Ipsurance Act. In 1973,
benefits were, $2,004-billion. The
average number of claimant at
the end of each month was
828,000; slightly lower than in
1973

~ situation in the Ukrainian Can® F

Saunders accused Shulman of
“dabbling in McCarthyism.”

By April 1 Shulman had nol)
backed up his charges. . Inste#
he levelled more unsubstantia :
charges against York officials: |
Shulman presented to Darcy MC |
Keough, minister of inter-govel™ |
mental affairs, material concen 4
ing contract tenders which h?}
alleged were improperly awat® | —
ed. :

AUUC”. . ee
One of the highlights underlif,
ing the concern of the AUU 3
with peace was the Declaratio®
adopted marking the 30th Anni 3
versary of Victory Over Fascist |
in World War II. F
Other special reports dealt 3
with a review of the presett|

dian community; a report on ©
AUUC delegation to the Ukrain® |
and also contributions on. the)
publishing activities coveriNé|
the recent period.

A review of major cultural
events since the last conventiot}
and plans for the present and 19)
the immediate future revealed af
organization that is very activ®
innovative, and productive.

There were greetings from
Canadian Solidarity Committee
with the peoples of Chile a?
South Africa, as well as from
progressive ethnic fraternal of
ganizations in Canada. Joht
Margan brought greetings from
the Canadian Peace Congress.

There was no question in
minds of the delegates that thé
33rd National Convention will

"IT COULD BE A LONG
STRIKE’ MONTREAL ~
DOCKERS

MONTREAL — A union 0”
cial said a strike by 2,200 long
shoremen could tie up three
Lawrence River ports indefil?)
tely if employers do not com)
promise on their negotiati?)
position. oS

“If nobody moves it will be
long strike,” said Fernand Bo
dreault, secretary-treasurer “|
the. International Longshot
men’s Association, at odds wi?)
the Maritime Employers’ Ass |
ciation.

“I hope the employers maké
move, or we'll stay out as 10%
as necessary,” he said of tht
striking workers at Montre?)
Trois-Rivieres and Quebec City

The strike began over job sé
urity proposals which the uni
called “a step back into sla%)
ery.” ; e

Mr. Boudreault said no ney
meetings or reassessments 9%
the union position were ov
nent and the membership “su?
ports us fully.” —

QUEBEC RAISES
MINIMUM WAGE
QUEBEC — Premier Robef!
Bourassa announced last weé
the minimum wage in Queb@)
will be increased to $2.60 houl
ly from. $2.30 effective June 1-
In a statement, the premié
also announced a minimum hou!
ly overtime rate of $3.90 for
45-hour week after June 1.°