PAGE 8. WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19,1987 ELECTION 1987 Durham East candidates discuss'debate By ROXANNE REVELER On Monday evening, the leaders >f Ontario's three major political parties gathered for a debate, En- ýounter '87. On Tuesday morning, :andidates in Durham East were contacted for their views on the lebate, and also on specific Issues raised during the 90-minute discussion. Liberal candidate Diane Hamre felt her leader David Peterson "came off better than the other two 1 NDP Bob Rae and PC Larry Grossman)." She indicated she felt Rae was moré than fair in his -emarks until the point where he accused Peterson of attempting to take the credit for a successful two- year accord between the two par- ties. "David (Peterson) had just finished praising both of the other parties for their co-operation during the accord and Rae turns around and makes an accusation like that," said Hamre. NDP candidate Marg Wilbur con- fessed she did not watch the debate, chosing instead to knock on doors and "meet the people." She did say, however, that she had heard a con- siderable amount of the talk on the car radio and had read about the debate in the Tuesday morning- newspapers. PC candidate Sam Cureatz wat- ched the debate and felt it "was fair to everybody." He indicated he really did not feel such a debate was going to sway many voters one way or the other although he thought the premier was "on the defensive several times." On the subject of education fun- ding, Hamre said capital funding for education had been so drastically reduced under the previous Conservative government that even though Peterson had greatly increased the amount of money given to schools, the figures were still low. "The Liberals have tripled the amount of education funding in the past two years," said Hamre. "But years and years of neglect can't be corrected overnight." She said quoting percentages was not an accurate way of judging any situation, that it gave a false pic- ture of actualities, not only in education but in day care, road im- provements and senior facilities such as Fairview Lodge. "In all those areas, sitting in both municipal and regional gover- nment, I have seen more money coming in from the provincial government in all areas over the past two years,". said Hamre. She said the Region was in a "critical situation" over day care spaces until the province granted them $300,000 to ensure the program continued. "My feelings are not based as a Liberal, but as a participant at the municipal level," said Hamre. "I've seen it and I'm proud of what Peterson has accomplished." - Wilbur countered that education funding had been declining under the Liberal administration, leading to overcrowding of schools and for- cing the use;of an unsatisfactory number of portable classrooms, especially in this large-growth area. "The provincial portion of the education budget should be much higher," said Wilbur. "The NDP would work to get the provincial contribution back up to the 60 per cent level and get away from property taxpayers being the main contributor to education." Cureatz backed up his leader's statement that education funding had dropped from 48 to 44 per cent over the past two years, figures he feels are intolerable. "Peterson had no ready answer for the problems, save to say things would change when he was leader," said Cureatz. "Well, he's already been there and nothing has hap- pened." On the question of free trade with the United States, all three can- didates backed their leaders to the hilt. Hamre felt charges that Peterson was standing in the middle were unfair. "Being in the middle is à good thing, not a bad thing," she explained. "It means you are willing to sit down and com- promise." She said she could not possibly agree to anything that might en- danger Canada's work force or the Auto Pact under any circumstan- ces. "We can't become tenants in our own country," said Hamre. Wilbur charged that the Liberals were taking a middle-of-the-road attitude because they did not know what they wanted. "I am against the kind of a deal the federal Tories are making," said Wilbur. "Obviously we should continue to trade with the U.S., but on a sector to sector basis...we shouldn't give away our protection of the agrieultural and auto in- dustries." Cureatz said the whole question was one of "freer trade," not "free trade carte blanche." He alluded that America was our biggest trading partner and Canada needed the larger markets available south of the border. "We just don't have the large population base to compete," he said. "At least we have to be talking to them, but that doesn't mean we have to give away the store." He said the government must start looking into ways of re- training any worker who might lose their job due to any trade agreement with the U.S. The matter of official bilingualism for Ontario was a very eut and dry issue for ail three can- didates. Cureatz said "definitely not;" Wilbur said "definitely yes;" famre indicated a "boogie man" vas beizgg made out of the entire ssue. Skie said Peterson's refusal to set a date wkiereby hie would make )ntario bilingual showed he did not lave a kiidden agenda as was :harged by his opponents in Mon- lay's debate. "If it (agenda) was hidden, 'eterson would have a date in nind," said Hamre. "Ontario wiill ecome bilingual wkien the people tant it to be so." TERRY FOX RUN ORGANIZERS Tlie date of this year's Terry Fox Run is Sept. 13 and there is a need for Run organizers i Whitby. Call 1-800-268-8825.