The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutTimes-Advocate, 1988-04-27, Page 30Page 10A Times -Advocate, April 27, 1988 GUEST SPEAKER - Geoffrey Hale speaks to the Zurich Chamber 91 Commerce and area politicians on the benefits of the free -trade agreement signed between Canada and the United States. Chamber hears praise for free trade The Canada -U.S. free -trade agree- ment is goo4 news for Canadian business, according to Geoffrey 1 late who spoketo a crowd of local businessmen and politicians at the Dominion Tavern in Zurich last Tuesday. Hale represents the Canadian Alli- ance for Trade and Job Opportuni- ties and is a senior advisor to the Retail Merchants of Canada Associ- ation. Hale told his audience that Cana- dian businesses are not ready to take Brian Mulroney's word that the free - trade deal is in their best intdrest; However, Hale said the details of the deal show it to be beneficial. "We have read the agreement. We have read the fine print. And as businessmen and as Canadians we feel it is a good deal," said Hale. He hoped this deal would put an end to what he called "mindless protec- tionism" that has been brewing in the U.S. in past years. He stated the deal was necessary to protect the one in four Canadian jobs that are directly related to cus- tolncrs in the U.S. market. "It gives us a balanced, legal agreement in which we have a scat at the table," said Hale, adding that frcc-trade will not only halt nega- tive influences on Canadian indus- try, but will also create positive op- portunities for those and other com panies. Hale said that increased competi- tion from American companies may hurt Canadian business at first, but would be for the best in the long run. "Competition makes people run harder and give a better deal to their customers:1i - Hale insisted that all countries which have entered into free -trade agreements with their neighbors have prospered without any con- straint on their foreign policy. He citcd Sweden as a socialist country which experiences no political pres- sure from being a member of the European Common Market. Hale expressed a dislike of any form of bureaucracy and said that free -trade would take Canada's eco- nomic .policy out of the hands of bureaucrats and put it into the hands of businessmen who would always act in the best interest of the coun- try. He argued that American branch plants which would be closed as a result of free trade could be bought and -made profitable by Canadian businesses. He cited examples where this has already occurred. Hale dismissed a study which showed a worst case scenario of 228,000 Ontario jobs lost to free - trade over 10 years. He said that between 1976 and 1985 800,000 Ontario jobs were lost to a poor economy, but at the same time 1.5 million new jobs were created. Goals of encouraging trade with other countries rather than with the declining American economy Hale found shortsighted. "There aren't very many business- es in this country that arc going to go to Japan to sell before they de- velop a strong North American market," he said. He. also expressed little sympathy for govemment-subsidized business- es which may be harmed by U.S. trade. "We've used our subsidy pro- grams as political payoffs for far too long," said Hale. He noted only five percent of companies use the subsidies anyway. Hale did concede that food pro- cessing industries could be harmed by free -trade, but that the 20 -year phase-out of tariffs and quotas al- lowed in the agteement was likely to be extended indefinitely. He did say the Ontario wine industry would be in trouble. "It will get clobbered," he said, but speculatedsome adjustment may be allowed by Ottawa. Hale gave three options for Cana- dian companies facing American Hay denies Hay council has denied a request for financial assistance from the Hensall Union Cemetery. Bill Rowcliffe, citing difficulties in funding grass cutting and making repairs to older gravesites, was un- successful in persuading Hay Town- ship to come to the Usborne town- ship cemetery's aid. Hensall 'council will be notified of Hay's April -1-8 decision. Hensall is still deciding how and if aid should be given to the cemetery. Hay Township offices will re- ceive a badly -needed coat of paint sometime this summer. Both the. interior and exterior will be spruced up, along with new carpeting and repairs to the front door. Easements for Hay Municipal Telephone lines have been approved for construction in Grand Bend by George Kadlccik Construction Lim- ited. The agreement between Kadle- competition. ,The first is to be- come as large as the American Com- petition: an extremely difficult course of action. Or the Canadian company can specialize in a market niche not served by larger indus- tries. He cited success stories of clothing manufacturers who have done well against foreign competi- tion by finding and targeting a par- ticular market. The third option is to go out of business. Hale was disappointed that the brewing and publishing industries had been exempted from the trade deal, but he also noted that trade barriers between provinces would have to be lowered if trade became easier with the U.S. According to Hale, the U.S. was willing to sign the deal, not to gain access to the small Canadian mar- ket, but to show good faith in trade Matters to the rest of the world. American protectionism is on its way out as Hale sees it, citing Democrat Richard Gephardt's crush- ing defeat in the primaries because he ran on protectionist issues. cemetery funding cik, Grand Bcnd and Hay is for a condominium project which has run into engineering delays, but is scheduled to begin sometime this summer. Final readingsof bylaws for water distribution to Highlands subdivi- sions One and Two and to Norman Heights were given at Hay council's meeting. Construction of the dis- tribution system from the Highway 21 water pipeline will not begin until it receives ministry approval. Steve Habercr has placed a trailer on Fred Haberer's property without a building permit or a health unit permit for the septic tank. Council advised Habercr that the trailer did not conform to Hay Township's of- ficial plan nor zoning bylaw. Ha- berer told council .the trailer is only temporary and will be moved with- in three months. The county .plan- ning department and health unit will be notified of the trailer's loca- tion. 1c Mrs. Carmel Sweeney 236-4702 NEW BANNER - Zurich Minor Hockey president John Geiger shows the audience at Thursday's hockey banquot the banner brought home from the WOAA finals by.the Zurich Bantam team. The Bantams are the E division cham pions. The banner will hang in the arena, where, as Geiger noted, few minor hockey banners hang now. Golden Glimpses Although some residents arc keen to get out for a walk; they. are deceived by the bright sunshine ac- companied by the cold gusty winds and soon return to the building ei- ther for warmer clothing or to aban- don the walk. The movies shown on Monday cvcning were: "Ride the Gentle Breeze and Stampede". Thanks to Ervin Steinmann for his assistance in the absence of Mr. and Mrs. Risi who arc on vacation. Activities arc in full swing here (lady. Always a card game, shuffle- board or game of pool is going on somewhere. Wednesday cvcning has been set aside as games night and is becoming quite popular. We thank those who have bccn contributing materials of one sort or another for use in the hobby shop. We wish M'r. Harvey Keys a speedy recovery. He is recuperating is South Huron hospital. Please remember our Mother's Day Tea and Bake sale to be held on Saturday afternoon, May 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. Any donations for the bake table will be gratefully accept- ed. All proceeds to to resident com- forts. The Sunday cvcning chapel ser- vice was conducted by. Rev. Ste- phen Alles of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Zurich. The «ar Amputations of Canada... Safety Is No Accident - CHAMP PLAYSAI-1- Program AI-1•Program Bean Sprouts Nursery School Registration May 17 7:154.m. Hay Township Hall ZURICH SENIORS AT ANNUAL - Among the Zurich seniors attending Wednesday's annual spring meeting of Zone 8 of the Senior Citizens of On- tario are from the left, Luella Willer!, Emma Schilbe, Annie Finkbeiner and Gertie Fleischauer. YEAR END SALE Thurs • Fri • Sat. Trade in your old sofa and chair and we will give you - $20000 off the purchase of any new in stock , . set valued over $1,000 Bay Rest Queen Size Box Spring and Mattress Reg. $699 Sale$499 with the purchase of any set. get a steel bed frame at 1/2 price Many more unadvertised specials throughout the store. Open Thurs., Fri. till 9:00 Sales Rep on hand from Super Style Tieman's Furniture & Gifts Dashwood 237-3681 MINOR HOCKEY SUPPORT - Few of Zurich's minor hockey supporters missed the season -end banquet and awards presentation evening last Thursday in the arena auditorium. WE'RE CELEBRATING 15YEARS of Greenhouse Growing with an OPEN HOUSE April 29 - May 1 Anniversary Specials Perennials 1 Reg. $1.25 t Reg. 9 9 Selection of Junior Evergreens SALE $5.50 Reg. $7.95 Hetzi Junipers 2 gal. pots Skyrocket Juniper 1 gal. pots RIDGE ACRESReg. $9.95 $7.95 RIDGEACRES2 miles west, Then 3 112 miles north of Zurichst olf Hwy. 21 South of Bayfield at Stanley DAVE &CAROL STECKLE AND FAMILYR.R. 2 ZURICH, ONTARIO (519) 565.2122 NOM diAl Free Coffee and Cookies URON Follow our Signs 1 1l OR Ea Sideroad 15, then take first right