WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 1985, PAGE 5 "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." - Thomas Jefferson h~i~j ami i~ni0 j w _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ n d 1 an'U;a mImwÉ'u'Rf THE CROW'S NEST by Michael Knell Brace yourselves, everyone. For the next few weeks, probably even months, we're going to be subjected to a lot of bally-ho over'the Fraser Royal Com- mission Report on Pornography and Prostitution. From the accounts in the national press I've read to date, this report promises to be one of the most sensible ever tabled by a royal commission since the beginning of Confederation. The first, and probably most important, thing this report recognized (without actually saying so) is that prostitution is, indeed, "the world's oldest profession". It also realizes that only pious pipedreamers, radical religious fundamentalists and ultra-conservative politicians believe it is possible to wipe it out and get the ladies (and men) of the evening (morning, afternoon, whatever) permanently off t.e streets. Since it is abundantly clear that we cannot rid ourselves of prostitutes, we can take it out of the realm of criminal law and eventually, we hope, out of the hands of pimps and other low-lives. While I don't think that the Fraser Commission wanted to make the oldest professional respectable, it did want to ensure that there are adequate safeguards for both the hookers and their customers, who are also referred to as "johns". The other major aim of the commission was to get prostitutes off the streets and get their activities out of public view. As an aside, I've always thought there was really only one way to deal with prostitution effectively. Since we can't get rid of it, we should legalize, inspect, license, regulate and tax it. If we did that it would go a long way to getting prostitution out from under the control of organized crime and the above men- tioned pimps. However, as far as I'm concerned the most important work of the commission lay with its research on and recommendations concerning pornography. Fraser has recommended the creation of there tiers of pornography: that involving children and child abuse; that which depicts violence and the simulation of ac- tual harm; and, that which is sexually explicit but doesn't have violent over- tones. The Fraser Commission has recommended that tough new legislation be in- troduced concerning child pornography. It calls for even tougher penalties for those convicted of producing and distributing books, magazines and films that depict the use of children for sexual purposes. As a parent and a citizen, I welcome such recommendations. As far as I'm concerned anyone who exploits children as sex objects ought to be hanged. I cannot think of any viler and disgusting sort of individual. Childhood is a time of innocense. It is a time for play. It is time to learn and to love. Those persons (I refuse to call them human beings, for they are noting more than a disgusting sub-species) who engage in this activity rob children of the most precious time in their lives. These persons do not deserve our under- standing or compassion. They should be treated like the scum they are. And I'm not just talking about the producers, I'm talking about these who sell this stuff in their stores as well. I hold many of these same feelings about those who produce, distribute and seil violent pornography as well. Human sexuality isn't about violence. It's about love. It's about two people who want to share the most intimate thing about themselves. It's not about chains and whips and leather. Those who need this stuff for sexual gratification or "get off" on it are sick and in urgent need of psychiatric care. Those who make and sell it for a profit are among the worst sort of criminals. They rank up there with child molesters and rapists. In fact, they mock and destroy everything that is good about being human. While I don't believe that much can be done to wipe out prostitution, I believe much can be done to control the flow of pornography into this country and to put those people who produce inside our national borders behind bars. Justice Minister John Crosbie (a man for whom I have much respect) told reporters last week in Ottawa that he plans to act on the Fraser report later this year after the government studies its recommendations and consults with the provinces. I hope that he takes his own convictions to heart and brings forward some of the toughest legislation on pornography ever seen in the western world. During television interviews on the report, Crosbie was most non-committal, which is unlike him. The fire in his soul and the passion of his politics makes him a rarity on the national scene. While most of our leaders, i.e. Mulroney, Turner and Broadbent, tend to ooze calm, even coolness Crosbie, like Jean Cretian, is a man who usually speaks from his heart.'I interviewed Crosbie a few years ago in Claremont and during that brief discussion I met a man who I felt had managed to keep his personal convictions despite the pressures of party politics. In fact, we even talked about this very subject. He was adament about the need for new, tougher legislation. He also said law enforcement agencies should be beefed up to deal with the problem of pornography. I hope he hasn't forgotten that. The Fraser report is one of the most important documents that the new Mulroney administration has to deal with. Any legislation that results from it could be a landmark in their government. They have the chance to show Canadians that they are truly interested in protecting everyone from this vile filth. If they waffle, they will lose the respect of many. Pornography, it appears, has become more widespread over the past few years, especially with the ad- vent of V.C.R.'s in the home. % The Fraser report promises a means of nipping this problem in the bud before Canada suffers problems akin to those in West Germany and other parts of Europe. Let's all hope the government acts on it. EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the third and final of three articles profiling the candidates of the major parties seeking the Durham West seat in the Ontario Legislature. Through these conver- sations, we hope to give Whitby residents and voters a better insight Into what they stand for and what they believe. This week, we profile the Progressive Conser- vative incumbent MPP for this area - George Ashe. By MICHAEL KNELL Free Press Staff George Ashe is every inch the professional politican. After four years in cabinet, eight years in the Ontario Legislature and almost four years before that as the Mayor of Pickering, politics has become his life and career instead of the equally competitive and demanding world of life insurance. With the rise of Frank Miller as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party and permier of Ontario, the truly conservative or "right" wing of the party has taken charge. Ashe identifies himself with this group and could prove to be a major "mover and shaker" in the party and the government should the Tories win another majority tomorrow. - The 52-year old Pickering resident has a long political history which started over 20 years ago when he served as trustee and chairman of the Roman Catholic Separate School Board No. in Nepean. After coming to this area he was elected deputy and later reeve of the old Town of Pickering. After the formation of regional government in 1974, he became the first mayor of the present Town of Pickering. He was also the first chairman of Durham Regional Council's finance committee. He was first elected to the Ontario Legislature in 1977 but it wasn't until 1981 that he was first named to cabinet as Minister of Revenue by former Premier Bill Davis. In 1983 he was moved to the Government Services portfolio. After len- ding strong support to the winning leadership campaign of Frank Miller earlier this year Ashe was named Minister of Energy. But the issues are the most important thing in any election campaign and this one is no excep- tion. Ashe has some very strong views on almost all the issues. Although he has said time and again that he is philosophically opposed to them, Ashe will admit candidly "let's not kid ourselves, we're kind of stuck with rent control. That's a political reality. "Even though those who'want to be realistic look at the issue and know that one of the reasons we still have a problem is because of rent con- trols." And that problem is the development of affor- dable, rental housing. Controls, along with some other factors, have effectively put an end to development of rental housing without some form of government assistance. "You can see what rent control has done, there's very, very few private developments of rent accommodation, except for the luxury type, without the aid of some kind of government program," Ashe said. "And government programs can only do so much, after all, there's only so many dollars there." Despite his basic opposition to them, Ashe believes that the province will "probably be stuck with them forever." However, he also believes that sometime in the distant future con- trols will be gradually withdrawn as the gover- nment attempts to build up a stock of rental housing. Ashe maintains that if the government can provide the financial support to build a large stock of rental housing, which would increase the vancancy rate. This, he continues, will mean competitive rents. The more housing stock there is, the stiffer the competition for tenants. This will reduce the need for rent control because the best possible control on rent, Ashe says, is the marketplace. "But I'm afraid that's a long way down the line," he quickly adds. The issue that seems to have come to the fore in the latter days of the campaign has been the government's announcement that it will extend funding to grades 11, 12 and 13 in the Roman Catholic Separate school system. When asked, Ashe readily agreed that the full funding, in effect, would create two public school systems. "That's exactly what the British North America Act of 1867 said was going to happen," he continued, "And i think if you take the trouble to research that, you'll find that probably the only reason that we have the country we now know as Canada is because of that consideration and agreement, back in the those days, to fund two school systems." He is also quick to point out that what we call CONT'D ON PG. Il George Ashe After 12 years, George Ashe is very much the professional politician