PAGE 2, WHITY FREE PRES, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1M9 NDP throne speech short, on specfIes, sa3 By Mile Kowalsi Ontario's firat New Democratic Party government throne speech has drawn mixed revieWs from DINING LOUNGE Good Food at Good Prices Cosy F!,repIace ComfortableA tmosphere Imported Ber on Draft -o. n Ban.quet L227BROCK ST. S. WHITBY mFor reservations cali 66ý6-2211 local officiais. Lon on issues, but, short on specifiès, sums up the general. impression of last week's throne speech aznong Whitby officiais. "In genieral it sounded good,' there are a lot of broad goals that we can support," said Bob Stanley, president of the, Whitby Chamber of Commerce. Included in this category are a code of conduct for provincial and municipal politicians, an environnmental bill of rights and a safe drinking water act, said Stanley. «But ther's -a lot that could make Ontario businesses uncom- petitive if brought i too- soon,» said Stanley. Measures that would nega- tively impact on .business are increasing the inimum wage too. quiýckly, e etending pay equity,*improving day care and piacing a moratorium on future nuclear plant construction, said Stanle. Wile Stanley jpersonally favors improvements in day care, for exampie,- he is worried a "far-reaching» program could ultimately harm the people it is intended to help. "]Pd like to see it improved but if it costs business a lot of money Fd have to take another look at it. According to Stanley, if' a broad-baseda care program resulted in additional costs, some companies could be forced to lay off employees. "You'd hurt the, people you want to protect.» The sanie argument can also be used with the minimum wage, Stanley added. (The government wil. gra- dually increase the minimum wage from the current $5.40 per hour to 60 per cent of the average indusral wage, mean- ingitwill reach $7.20 by 1995.) Ifthe government raises the minimm wae to fast, it will adversly affect the retail tourist, hospitality and emal business sectors, said Stanley. «A lot of people who are p'aid the minimum wag are workn,, in sectors already h1 ring. ««If it happens overnight, where you. had two people working in a store, one will have to go.» But if minimum wa#e in- creases are «phased in gra- dually, Stanley believes most mmmmmmmmmmmummmmmmn~ ~OL)~ENL2 CAN* DINE FOR $9099 When you present this discount certif icate 4 pm to10pm on a Monday or Tuesday and buy one complete TURKEY MEAL DEAL, YOU WILL RECEIVE THE SECOND COMPLETE MEAL DEAL 3SOLUTELY FREE!! p or salad, turkey meat. dessert, plus ,mless coffee or pop.) mu I I I I I I I businiesses can cope. StilI, he admitted it would be «liard to make a -living» on $5.40 per hour. "Hopefully,,a lot of the people. who make minimum wage are students or second wage ear- ners.» Overaîl, Stanley said the, in- augural throne speech from Ontario's first social democratic government should not frigliten 1«As long as they don't go over- board," he added. Whitby Mayor Bob Attersley also felt the speech covered "a broad number of issues but not many specifies.» Attersley said Premier Bob Rae has given his Cabinet the responsibility for announcing deatils of government proranis in the weeks ahead. In factthe process has à lready started, Attersley noted. He referred to Environnient Mini*ster Ruth Grier's announce- ment of a new provincial waste manageent strategy and Attor- ney General Howard Hampton pumping more money into Ontario's backlogged court sys- temo Included in Grier's announce- ment was a decision to make a proposd landfill site in north Pi ckering (Whitevale) subject to, enviroumental hearings, -which the former iAberal government had rejected. nTe povnce is also going to streamlinev the environmiental assessmt process and create a new public authorityr te handle waste management in the Grea- ter Toronto Aea (GTA). Attersley said- the garbage officiis issue is now entirely in .t1ieý-.pro- vinces court as a result*of Grxer's announcement. «It's fine to say te atful environmental hearings but I don't know 1 think theéchairmen of the GUÂ regi ons put fqrward their positions for a re 'ason.» As for mcreased funding of Ontario'à courts, Attersley pro- mised to comment on the issue in December after receiving a report from Durham RgItfonal Police Chief ave Edwardls . Attersley is cham an of- the DurhamRlegional Police Com- mission. Attersley admitted the govern- ment's decision to sven& $700 million on publiceworkprojects« did catch hie eye. «'I don't know how 'much of that. will wash into Durham Reégion, $700, million o*ver a pro.- vince our size is not a lot?'"ý However, while.he supported the move, Attersleyworndered if the gvrmn aybe .trading off def icit reduction for-job *ea tion. It's lhard to'tell at this 'point,» said Attersley. For Durham Eastý MPP Gord Milîs, completing work ýon *the Darlington nuclear genieraling station was the major. issue oïf concern locally. Milîs welcomed* the govern- ment's decision to see the $12.8 billion project through. -. «To me Darlingtonlha-,d.obe completed. Our credibility 'would be suspect if we cancelled'it now it made economic and political sense,» said Milîs. The rookie MPP -conceded the SEE PAGE 15 $1650.OO with hsa Os pecial Christmas paymeo1t plan available. you fre Scuturdcu Starting Saturday, November lOth, 1990, the Oshawa Centre wilI be open tili 9:30 p.m, for those of you who enjoy late night shopping! Over 170 stores will be open, offering you thousands of great Christmas gift ideas. Oshawa Centre-your gift centre 0S-H A'W-A CENTUE Holiday hours:Mon.-Sat. 9:309:30 Sunday 12-5 "I'LL -RE HOUE FOR CHRISTMAS MOI" SDONT FORfiT TO 1 Rent your Tables, Chairs, China, GlseCutiery, SUne,, Tableciothe and Linen I Napkins, Punch Bowls à Col- Sf.. Urne. 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