General Motors Adds 650 Jobs by Lorraine Manfredo The Ontario government has rec­ General Motors in Oshawa has ognized the economic significance announced plans to introduce an un­ of the third shift and has allocated precedented third shift at its truck $5 million from the Ministry of Eco­ assembly plant this August. It’s a nomic Development and Trade, to move that will mean the creation of assist in upgrading the skills of the 650 new jobs at the GM autoplex. new truck plant employees. George Peapples, President and The financial assistance will be General Manager of GM Canada, in the form of a repayable grant, to made the announcement Wednesday be forgiven on achievement of job at company headquarters in targets. Oshawa. He said that the decision to oper­ Allan Pilkey, MPP for Oshawa, ate on a round-the-clock basis dem­ was on hand Wednesday to an­ onstrates GM’s flexibility to meet nounce the job training grant.- strong and growing demand for the He said the funding will help full-size extended cab Chevrolet and buoy the fortunes in the local com­ GMC pick-up trucks. munity and contribute to the eco­ The third shift is a first for any nomic recovery across the province. auto assembly plant in North Ameri­ Increased production at the facili­ ca and its implementation will at­ ty is also expected to generate jobs tract attention from the auto industry at hundreds of auto parts suppliers, world-wide. many of which are located in Onta­ Buzz Hargrove, President of the rio. Canadian Auto Workers, said other It is estimated that for every job car manufacturers have already ex­ created on GM’s shop floor, there pressed, open intèrest in the idea. are five more created in the auto­ The third shift has the potential to parts sector due to the spin-off ef­ revolutionize assembly operationsin fect. Canada, he said. MPP for Durham East, Gord Scheduling three shifts back to Mills, says this ripple effect will back hasn’t been tried in the past easily multiply the province’s due to concerns about equipment million dollar investment into many maintenance and cleaning. But, GM millions more in economic activity. is confident it has these and other He believes the training grant, in Contestants who came closest to guessing the correct weight of a Bow- technical challenges sorted out. combination with the third shift, manville Zoo elephant picked up their contest prizes on Monday and had a An agreement between local 222 will be a “wonderful lift for the Rid­ chance to meet Sheba who walked downtown to congratulate them. Glenn of the CAW and GM, ratified last ing of Durham East.” He believes if McKenzie, (left) won second prize of a family season pass to the Bowmari- it hadn’t been for the province’s fi­ week, was a key factor in obtaining ville Zoo. And 8-year-old Lisa Schultz won first prize for her guess - a nancial support, the third shift may the additional volume of truck pro­ mere 28 kilos off the mark. Lisa picked up $100 in Downtown Business duction. According to GM President have gone to a GM facility in Ponti­ George Peapples, the positive ratifi­ ac, Michigan. Improvement Area bucks. The DBIA had sponsored the contest as part of cation sends a strong signal that Oshawa Mayor Nancy Diamond its White Elephant Sale. By the way, the elephant weighed in at 2946.5 ki­ Oshawa workers are determined to said the united effort of GM, union los. Also pictured are Ron Hooper, chairman of the Board of Management earn the right for new jobs and fu­ leaders and the provincial govern­ of the Bowmanville Business Improvement Area, and Ted Strikwerda of ture production opportunities. ment is the kind of co-operation the Bowmanville Zoo Local 222 shop committee chair­ which will be needed to survive eco­ man John Caines called the agree ­ nomically in the 90’s. ment a “turning point” for General She points to local infrastructure Motors. improvements (such as the Oshawa The 650 jobs represent real hope airport upgrading) which were pos­ for GM workers in Oshawa and for sible because of co-operation be ­ laid off employees from the van tween four levels of government. plant in Scarborough. The announcement of the third Petition Calls for Radiation Centre at O.G.H. shift at GM will in no way lessen ity to do radiation therapy would be a There is also the possibility of byLaura j. Richards The petitions are the effort of Citi­ the city’s efforts to diversify the more jobs if strong consumer de­ Over 15,000 names have been col­ zens for a Cancer Centre (CFACC) at plus. economy,she said. According to information supplied mand continues. lected on petitions asking the provin­ the Oshawa General Hospital (OGH). from CFACC, approximately 80 per cial government to place a radiation The organizers of the petition, Mar- cent of the new cancer cases diag­ treatment centre at Oshawa General yanne Sholdra, Donna Kingdon and Sylvia Blomme, hope that the prov­ nosed in the Durham Region each Hospital. year, are initially admitted to the Three boxes holding the petitions ince will designate a site in the Dur­ OGH. carrying over 15,000 names are to be ham Region for a cancer centre hav­ ing full radiation therapy facilities. Outpatient chemotherapy visits presented at Queen's Park before the have increased by 90 per cent over the Graham’s IGA* end of the current sitting of the legis­ “From all points within the region, it’s easier, safer and quicker than go­ past four years from 2,298 to 4,500. lature. Durham East MPP Gord Mills Statistics collected by CFACC also will officially table the petitions at ing to Toronto or going north if there IVlaxi Drug is a waiting list,” Ms Sholdra told the state, “it is projected that the number Queen’s Park. of new cancer cases diagnosed in the (Indicates partial distribution) He picked up the documents at a media and others in attendance. With chemotherapy already availa­Durham Region each year will in­ For information about inserting flyers in 1U KJutoUe*, media conference held on Friday af­ crease by 56 per cent over the next 10 ternoon, May 28, at the Oshawa Cen­ ble at the Oshawa General Hospital, please contact our office at 623-3303 tre. CFACC secs that having the capabil­ Continued on Page 3 .y.v.v.v.v.;.;.; ||| III!!iiiüü iiiiilliiiil m Éslàill --am JBxX ; ;;, with something for everyone ::>ï:.