20 — Wednesday, October 20, 1999 — North Shore News Polis favour free flow of goods and services ALTHOUGH views on different protectionist measures vary, majori- ties in each of the main regions favour a Canadian Economic Union based on free flow of goods, services and people among the provinces. These are key findings of a national poli commissioned by the Centre for Research and Information on Canada (CRIC). Tt was conducted carlicr this year in Quebee by using a sample of 1,004. Environics conducted the research in all other provinces through "98 using a sample of 1,024. Respondents who could not or would not answer make up the difference between the percentage of those who answered and 100%. Quebec tended to be most protectionist when asked if major grocery stores should give special preference to food products from their own province. Thirty-eight per cent said yes, but 54% wanted all Canadian farmers to have equal access to all grocery stores. Seventy-nine per cent of Ontario respon- dents-supported equal access while 17% favoured: preferential treatment. On the Prairies, 76% supported open access while 18% opposed it. In B.C,,. the same. figures respectively were 74% and 23%. After Quebec, Atlantic Canada was the most protectionist with 67% supporting equal access and 26% opposed. . . On’ whether provincial governments should give preference to home-grown com- panies, when contracting, or equal access to all Canadian firms, the breakdown i in favour _ Of sequal:accéss. over preferences was: Queber, 54%. Versus 35%; ; Ontario, 72% ver: sus 23%; Prairies, 62% versus 29%: B.C., 62% versus 32%: and Atlantic Canada, 60% versus 29%. Most respondents opposed — special provincial certification of workers in certain industries to restrict access by workers from other provinces. In Quebec, which shuts a lot of Ontario workers out of its construction industry, 62% opposed restrictions while 27% supported them. In other regions, the breakdown of those opposed to restrictions and those in favour was: Ontario, 62% versus 25%: Prairies 72% versus 20%; B.C., 61% versus 28%; and in Atlantic Canada, 73% versus 15%. In February, with the exception of Quebec, all provinees and the federal gov- ernment sigacd the Framework Agreement on the Social Union. it commits the provinces to eliminate social policies based on minimum residency requirements — 2 position that most Canadians endorse. Asked whether provinces should require Canadians moving in from another province to wait three months before being eligible for services, or if they should be cligible right away, support for residency require- ments proved strongest in Western Canada. In British Columbia, which did away with a 90-day residency requirement after becom- ing part of the Social Union, 50% of respon- dents favoured immediate access to services. But 45% supported a waiting period. In the Prairie Provinces, 52% favoured immediate access while 42% wanted a wait- ing period. "Bast of the Lakehead, the regional break- down of support for immediate access as opposed to a waiting period was: Ontario, 68% versus 27%; Quebec, 70% versus 21%; Atlantic Canada, 66% versus 28%. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY _ — BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT ~PHOME 9B O-343 I Lube, OF & Fier gett es Pod ‘ot cocietey hatte arvi thewes. kik All 1B CLAZAS ACCEPTED. KK Gold Custemas Reward g 1 'Siiver Customer Re 20% eon e 15% cree 1997 Ano Qrorr Vaniars Sfayics .31, 9 tet end te i 10% ne Top doc retires OR. Stew Madill flashed a retirement smile as ke packed up his office earliez this montn at Lions Gate Hospital (LGH). Madil! started at LGH as a general practi- tloner in 1961, a few months afier the “new” hospital was built at the corner of East 13th ‘Street and St. Georges Avenue. Madili has been LGH's vice-president of medicine for the last nine years.