WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1982, PAGE 5 Throne speech "realistic and responsible': QUEEN'S PARK.- Last Tuesday's Speech from the Throne in the On- tario Legislature has been termed "realistic and responsible" by Durham West MPP George Ashe. Ashe, who also serves as Minister of Revenue in the Progressive Con- servative government of Premier Bill Davis, said that the speech, delivered by Lieute- nant-Governor John Aird, was devoted almost entirely to the province's economy. The speech, he said, "is a realistic recogni- tion that we have some problems ... and we're prepared to do some- thing about them." However, Ashe main- tained that the provin- cial government cannot do it alone, in a tele- phone interview from his Queen's Park office. "We're looking to the federal government to take on its responsibili- ties," he said. The throne speech contained a government commitment to provide money for the créâtion of year-round jobs for young people as well as the construction of ren- tal housing units. It also provides for aid to young farmers; wage incentives for skill training in high technology areas. The government will also conduct more trade missions to foreign countries, amend the labor laws to protect against unjust dismiss- als and strengthen equal-pay laws for women as well as make the use of restraints on children under the age of five or less than 50 pounds in weight man- datory in automobiles. However, the govern- ment was severely criti- cized by the opposition parties for not providing aids or incentives to the automobile industry. According to Ashe, there is very little that his government can do for it. "We've been pressing the federal government for years over the auto pact," Ashe said adding that with the province's "limited financial re- sources" no new pro- grams or incentives could be devised. Ashe pointed out that the province is attempt- ing to get Ottawa to pass a Canadian content law for the auto sector. "There should be a minimum 85 per cent Canadian content," he said. "We, frankly, can't do anything about it," he added. The minister admitt- ed that the throne speech does not contain any items that directly affect this riding, although he believes many local residents will be able to take ad- vantage of the govern- ment's announced pro- grams. The throne speech made provision for Ashe some expansion of the GO Transit Service when the federal government withdraws its VIA Rail service in the northern part of Durham Region. How- ever, it made no provi- sion for an expanded GO Train service east of Pickering. But Ashe maintains that this is still feasible. He said that the Ministry of Transporta- tion and Communica- tions has been conduct- ing a cost estimate study. The costs for such a service have risen visibly about the $50 million original estimate. Ashe described the GO expansion as a "rea- sonable expectation" but did not know when it would be undertaken. Pool donation The Optimist Club of Whitby presented $1,000 to the Volunteer Association of the Durham Centre for the Developmentally Handicaplçed that will be used towards the installation of an inground swimming pool for centre residents. Club president Jim Gamsby (seated, centre) is seen presenting the cheque to volunteer association president Jill Walters (left) and volunteer co-ordinator Bhonda Vanek (right). Looking on in the rear is club secretary Bob Kennedy (left) and club member AI Siddal (right) - Free Press Staff Photo Town to get 401 noise barriers The Town of Whitby will be getting its long desired green noise barriers for its section of Highway 401, accord- ing to Regional Coun- cillor Gerry Emm. Emm told last week's meeting of Whitby Town Council that the item has been included in the Ministry of Transporta- tion and Communica- tions 1982 budget. The fence was first requested more than two years ago after homeowners whose properties bordered the freeway complained of the noise. LOC Pipe lay-off A local concrete pipe manufacturer has laid off 20 workers, only four weeks after most of them returned to the job after a two month lay- off. Lake Ontario Con- crete Industries (LOC Pipe) took the action last Friday. A spokesman for the International Molders and Allied Workers Union fears that the lay- off could last as long as eight weeks. "If things don't pick up, obviously it will be longer," spokesman Jim Breda said. The laid-off workers will join 19 others. In mid-December, the Hopkins Street plant announced its first lay- off in this series. It lasted for almost two months while the plant was being renovated. Last year, West Ward Councillor Joe Bugelli embarked on a cam- paign to get MTC's minister, James Snow, to approve the request. Bugelli pointed out that Oshawa has the barriers and asked that Whitby be treated in the same manner. However, Snow rejected Bugelli's request saying that other areas had been given a higher priority STRIPPING FURNITURE CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY MACNEIL'S FURNITURE 668-5481 STOP SMOKING. *NOW! Have you tried to stop smoking but failed? Are you afraid you will gain weight if you stop smoking? Are cigar- ettes bôthering you? Do you get pains in your chest or stomach from smoking? 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