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FREE iijiijiEtjilii" Means job loss and increased dependency: Rae Richard O'Brien Chronicle Staff A "leap of faith" into free trade with the United States could cause Cana- dians to fall flat on their collective face. That's the opinion of Ontario New Democratic Party leader Bob Rae, who was questioned on the subject Thursday night after he spoke to members of the United Auto Workers. Will result in stronger dollar, jobs: Hockin Mark Bryson Chronicle Staff When it comes to freer trade talks with the United States, Canada is very much in the same position as the Toronto Blue Jays, says the co-chairman of the committee on Canada's International Relations. Tom Hockin. P.C., MP. for London West was addressing a luncheon engagement of the Confederation Club at the Valhalla Inn last Thursday when he made the compari- sion. "The Jays would never have improved so drastically if they hadn't attended trade talks. It's the same with Canada, you can't talk freer trade without going to the trade talks." said Hoekin. The Tory backbencher toured across the country last summer asking Canadians their opinions on both freer trade and Canada's participation in the Star Wars Defence Initiative. After documenting his findings, he reported to Prime Minister Brian Mulroney that it would be in the country‘s best interest to proceed with talks, despite experiencing "fear everywhere" and "desperate con- cern." A free trade agreement with the US. would result in lost jobs and increased dependence on the Ameri- can economy, said Rae, who urges Canada to look for an intreasing number of trading partners. The report recommended to begin talks on freer trade on not just goods. but services and culture as well. "Leaping into free trade will be bad for jobs and will also hurt the sover- eignty of our country and that is the basis for my opposition." said Rae. It was also recommended Canada take the lead in 1iberalizing trade barriersacross the world. By doing this, third world countries which cannot even pay the interest on their debts would at least be able to trade their resources to us. . -criiar'Ga/ersGiijitefio" Gloss' proiririciat borders. We don't have free trade in Canada," he said, Hockin also thinks something should be done about the lack of free trade within Canada's boarders. Despite arguments that jobs will be lost to freer trade. Hockin predicts that not only the opposite will happen. but the laughable Canadian dqllar will strangthen. _ _ "To do nothing (about freer trade) is admitting failure We have to investigate it," said Hockin. Bob Rae Rae admitted he would have difficulty putting a figure on the number of jobs lost as a result of a free trade agreement, but cited a recent speech by Minister of Labor William McKnight, who spoke on free trade Feb. 13 to the Ottawa Chapter of Profese sional Secretaries Interna- tional and brought up the subject of work force ad- justment policies. "A leap of faith such as the one that is being pro- posed...by several people such as the Prime Min- ister has the potential for costing us in lost jobs and in fact the Minister of Labor admitted as much last week," said Rae. "My reading of the speech he gave was a very frank admission that, yes, it is going to cost jobs and that there are going to have to be some of what he called 'adjustments.' I think we all know that 'adjustment' is just a nice word for people getting laid off. Rae said he favors es- tablishing stronger nation- al economic institutions and diversification in the number of Canada's eco- nomic partners and he sees Canada's falling dol- lar as helpful in competing in the U.S. markets. "Our dependence on the American economy is al- ready too great," said Rae. "We already have too many eggs in one bas- ket." Mark Bryson Chronicle Staff The Ontario government went against its own better judgement recently by 'pushing to extend rent controls, says the spokesman for an organiza- tion representing landlords and developers. The first concrete step in assessing Waterloo's recreation needs was taken by city council Monday night. By establishing the Master Plan Study Team, council autho- rized the prelirriinary stage of a comprehensive master plan process with a view to program- ming and funding of new facili- ties and services including parks. According to planning director Tom Slomke, the decision "was the start of a formal request"to the Ministry of Tourism and Recreation for partial subsidiza- tion of the $35,000 tag it will cost the city to bring in outside consultants once the study team has established terms of refer- ence. Joe Tenenbaum, executive member of the Fair Rental Policy Organization of Ontario, said in an interview last week that both the Ontario Liberal and Tory parties are against rent controls secretly, but go along with them for no other reason than fear of voter uproar. The Ministry provides assis- tance in the preparation of recre- ation master plans in the form of Community Recreation Planni 'g Program Grants. Slomke say. it will be early April before the Ministry announces its 1986 sub, sidizations, but feels Waterloo's project "is what the ministry likes to see" and is cautiously optimistic of receiving up to 50 per cent funding. "On a one to one basis, politicians will tell you that you‘re right and rent controls are bad. But,\as you know, politicians only worry about three things; getting elected, getting re-elected and after retirement making sure their sons get re-lected," he said. Tenenbaum's organization was formed in the summer of 1985 to present a cohesive industry voice to the government. It's main aim is to join with government and tenants' groups to develop a continuing rental housing policy for Ontario that will address all concerns, from the landlords to the province's needy. Last December in a Toronto hotel, council established the city's goals and objectives for 1986. Included in these goals, was a desire to complete the were ation master plan within a one- year time frame. Because of the one-year limit, city staff has recommended the outside con- sultants. The Master Plan Study Team will be co-chaired by Tom Li- twiller of Community Services and Don Roth of the Planning Department. Ald, Bob Henry will be council's representative. He was in Waterloo last week to talk to members of the media and later in the day, address the Waterloo Regional Apartment Management Asso- ciation at the Transylvania Club. By approaching Ontario's media, FRPO is trying to inform the average citizen of the damages done by rent controls. If this can be accomplished, the pressure is off the politicians to keep them in place. The immediate task of the team will be to devise the goals and objecives of the study, pre- pare the the terms of reference for the consulatant hiring process and eventually oversee the master planning process. A suggested guide for the process sees council approving the terms of reference in early trying: toinrform thelverage citizen of the damages "One you become informed to what a contagious done by rent controls. If this can be accomplished, disease rent controls are, you (citizens) will not be the pressure is off the politicians to keep them in so lacksadasical." said Tenenbaum.He feels that place. as soon as the voter is made aware of what he "People just understand the short term con- knows, Queen's Park would quickly follow suit and sequences of lifting rent controls. I want people to move away from rent controls. Team chosen to examine city's recreational needs Drive is underway to tell public truth about rent controls April, hiring consultants in late May and holding a public open house in September'. The final report of the consultants will be prepared in January, approved and adopted by council in Febru- ary and then submitted to the ministry to fulfill grant require- ' m’ an T Le") i I _ _ri',i, " 1»: N s K 2 u, Tr x ‘1 LA WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1986 - PAGE 3 Waterloo region’s great Bean Blitz started off with a blast Monday at St. Peter‘s Lutheran Church In Kitchener with a luncheon of, naturally, baked beans. wieners and beans. and bean salad. Campaign organizers hope to coltect 50.000 tins of beans for the area‘s poor. Chronicle photo MORE BEANS PLEASE know the truth," said Tenenbaum. He says rent controls have all but killed the market for the construction of new rental housing because of the low return on investment, It has also chased bricklayers, Plasterers and other crafts- men away from the market because it stopped putting dinner on the table. By lifting the cap, Tenenbaum says there would be a resurgence in the industry which would eventually benefit the renter. “If you open the market you are going to eliminate the shortage. Competition would then benefit the consumer," said Tenenbaum. Competition would benefit the consumer, according to Tenenbaum. because landlords would be faced with maintaining vacant units. Since that would cost the owner, he predicted rents would eventually fall because of the urgency of landlords trying to fill the units. The bill currently before Queen's Park that so worries Tenenbaum would eliminate the exemp- tions to rent controls that had previously been in place to buildings renting for over $750 a month or built after 1975. It would also lower the annual rent increases that can be legally imposed without a hearing, to four per cent from six. Despite all the setbacks, Tenenbaum is en- couraged by the response he has been getting after people realize what a "cancerous thing" rent controls are. ments if applicable. City staff has already attended two ministry seminars, says Slomke, at which time "informal requests" for subsidies were made. The new team will meet ministry officials twice more before reporting to council.