Ny. a2 Castlegar News November, 10 November 6, 1988 MILA VISITS De Mila Mulroney holds baby at the Children’s lopment Centre while on whirlwind tour of the West Kootenay CasNewsPhotc MILA continued from front page “She read a story to the children,” Michallik said “It’s been excellent, we're very pleased. It's not often we get such dignitaries visiting us.” Mulroney also heaped praise on the centre and its work with children suffering from development _pro- that centres like this are working.” Havingseen day-care centres around the country and how they work, she still would not offer any comparisons to the Tadanac centre. “I don't like to compare them only because every region is different - +" she said. “This one meets the needs of Trail and Castlegar . . . and Trade prompts review WASHINGTON (CP) — The first formal U.S, investigation of alleged Canadian subsidy programs since the signing of the free-trade agreement was launched Friday with a prelim inary ruling that steel rail imports from Canada are hurting U.S. pro- ducers. The six-member U.S. International Trade Commission agreed una mously there was a “reasonable in- dication” of injury but three commis. sioners made clear they found the evidence barely enough to justify proceeding. The targets of the trade complaint are Algoma Steel Corp. Ltd. of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., and Sydney Steel Corp., a provincial Crown corpora tion in Sydney, N.S. BethlehemSteel Corp., a major U.S. steelmaker, alleges the Can. adian steel rail producers are bene- fiting from massive federal and pro- vincial subsidies. It also charges that Canadian producers are selling the rails at below fair prices in the U.S. market, so-called dumping. Bethlehem is seeking penalty duties of about four per cent on imports from Algoma to offset the alleged subsidies, and a whopping 139 per cent on the Sydney Steel rails. 'y A Cornell University student whose father isa top U.S. government computer security expert created the “virus” that slowed 6,000 computers across the United States, said a report yesterday. The university said the young man possessed unauthorized computer codes, Two sources with detailed knowledge of the case told the New York Times that Robert Morris Jr., 23, & computer-science graduate student who friends describe as brilliant, devised the virus as an experiment. Stuart Lynn, Cornell's vice-president for infor. mation technologies, said today the university has not talked to Morris but is investigating his computer files. “So far we have determined that his account contains files that appear to hold passwords for some computers at Cornell and Stanford to which he is not entitled,” Lynn said in a statement, “We also have discovered that Morris's account contains a list of passwords substantially similar to those found in the virus.” Passwords are the codes needed to gain access to computer systems. The student's father, Robert Morris Sr., 56, is chief scientist at the National Computer Security Centre in Bethesda, Md., the arm of the National Security Agency devoted to protecting computers from outside attack. He has written widely to the security of the Unix operating system, the computer master program that was the target of the computer virus. Student creates computer ‘virus’ Several telephone calls to the family's home in Silver Spring, Md., near Washington, went unan. swered. The younger Morris also could not be reached. Computer viruses behave like biological viruses in that they duplicate themselves and spread from computer to computer,’ through electronit mail systems or other networks. They consume computer proces ig power and storage space, and some — but apparently not this one — destroy stored information. The virus was introduced into Arpanet, a U.S. Department of Defence computer network linking universities, research centres and defence opera tions, officials said. It was intended to remain there undetected, slowly making copies that would move from computer to computer, the Times said. But a design error caused it instead to replicate out of control, the Times reported Friday, quoting an y caller to the paper who said he was an associate of the program's designer. The virus jammed more than 6,000 computers countrywide starting Wednesday. But it apparently caused no damage other than lost research time and the thousands of costly hours that computer scientists and programmers spent to remove it from their systems. In Ottawa, officials told The Canadian Press the computers at the Defence Department and External Affairs Department have no hook-up with outside systems and were not vulnerable to thevirus. Computer scientists said the younger Morris worked in recent summers at the American Telephone and Telegraph Co.'s Bell Laboratories, Briefly Fisheries minister accused blems. “T've just had a terrific morning,” she said as she left the centre after her 40-minute visit. “I know what three- and four-year-olds are like and so when they're together, if they're in ‘harmony it's a really good sign ABORTION CLINIC Mulroney was the children are proof of that.” then taken to Castlegar Where she rejoined her husband who delivered a speech to a room full of Tory supporters. From there they boarded a plane and headed for Edmonton. VANCOUVER (CP) —Fisheries Minister Tom Siddon's office had three weeks to urge federal lawyers to proceed with crucial fisheries charges against a Queen Charlotte Islands logging company,, but a Protesters picket VANCOUVER (CP) — Several hundred sign-carry. ing anti-abortionists marched peacefully in the rain Friday as British Columbia's first abortion clinic officially opened in a quiet east Vancouver neighbor hood. The protesters — some singing hymns and praying — gathered in front of the steel-grated door to the windowless concrete building. “That used to be my doctor's office,” said Peggy Holland, her voice trembling and tears welling in her eyes, as she handed out signs bearing anti-abortion slogans from the back of her car.” Holland, of Christians for Life, was urging Protesters not to jaywatkor obstruct anyone. “A little courtesy goes a long way in a nasty situation,” said Holland, who said she regularly pickets at Vancouver General Hospital, where abortions are performed Vancouver police blocked off the quiet residential street during the height of the demonstration and about a dozen officers stood watch on the crowd Outside the clinic, a phalanx of volunteer security people wearing orange vests stood behind a barricade and screened everyone going into the clinic. The demonstrators — priests and nuns, high school students, parents pushing strollers or carrying babies and even a couple of Hare Krishna members dressed in orange robes — were generally quiet and there were no confrontations. GAVE NO DATE Joy Thompson of the B.C. Coalition for Abortion Clinics said abortions would be performed at the clinic * but she wouldn't specify a date “to protect She said the clinic would have escorts to prevent clients from being harassed outside by anti-abortionists. “We don’t want another mob scene,” said coalition spokesman Hilda Thomas. “We can protect our clients, Thompson said Premier Bill Vander Zalm declined the coalition's invitation to attend the opening. Vander Zalm, a Roman Catholic who opposed abortion, tried to cut off provincial funding for abortions but lost a court challenge to the move by the B.C. Civil Liberties Association earlier this year. New Democrat Darlene Marzari criticized the provincial government's refusal to fully fund abortions at the clinic. Although abortions are fully paid for in British Columbia hospitals, Health Minister Peter. Dueck says the medicare plan will pay only $106 for each abortion performed in the clinic. The Canadian Abortion Rights Action League estimates the cost to a clinic of an abortion at about $300, but the Vancouver clinic will charge only what women can afford. DEMAND CITED “This government isn't putting in a nickel of taxpayers’ dollars,” Marzari told guests and reporters who crowded into the comfortable, oak panelled reception area for the opening. “We need the provincial government to recognize a service that is in demand.” The demonstration outside included representa tives from about 20 anti-abortion groups in Vancouver and surrounding suburbs. And the B.C. Catholic newspaper included a notice that a prayer vigil was planned Some students from area Catholic schools turned out. “We're here because abortion is wrong,” said one 17-year-old girl British Columbia is the fourth province in Canada to have a free-standing abortion clinic. Abortion clinics in Quebec are paid for in full but in Manitoba, medicare only covers abortions done in hospitals. The Ontario government has introduced a bill we can protect our clinic.” NEW YORK (AP) Television personality Geraldo Rivera's nose was broken when a brawl erupted on the set of his talk show during taping of an interview with young white supremacists and black civil rights activist Roy Innis. Several chairs and punches were thrown during the minute-long fight involving neo-Nazi skinheads from the audience, TV crew members and security personnel. Rivera was hit in the head by a flying chair, then got into a toe-to-toe fistfight with the burly man who had thrown it. At some point, another ehair hit him in the nose, he said “It's broken; it clicks when I move it,” Rivera said afterward. Studio security helped restore order as Rivera, the bridge of his nose bloodied, called for calm. The show, which was being taped for airing at an undetermined date later this month, resumed after the skinheads and other white supre macists were escorted out of the ‘studio. Rivera then taped two more shows before going to have his nose that would give its three clinics operating funds. Rivera injured in brawl X-rayed. “T’ve been in plenty of scrapes be: fore, but never in a studio,” he added. “I never expected this. I anticipated heated words, but I didn't know it would boil into violence.” The brawl broke out when one of the guests on the show, John Metzger, the 20-year-old leader of the ultra-right-wing group White Aryan Resistance Youth of Los An geles, complained about “kikes” and called Innis an “Uncle Tom.” WRINGS NECK Innis walked over to Metzger with his fists beled. then turned to another panelist who was warning him off. Metzger then began to stand and Innis put his hands around Metz. ger’s neck. Metzger resisted and his support ers then moved toward Innis. Punch. es were thrown, several people were wrestled and pushed to the floor and audience members — more skin. heards among them — stormed the set, the video tape showed. “It was like a bench-clearing braw! at a hockey match,” Rivera said. “About a dozen of them came out of the audience. The three (skinhead) punks on stage would have been easy to handle.” Pushing and shoving matches con tinued as order was restored. “It confirmed| to me that these (white supremacists) are roaches, and the only way to get rid of roaches is to turn the lights on,” Rivera said. The show's topic was “hate-mong. ers,” and featured members of the White Aryan Resistance youth, The American Front and Skinheads of the National Resistance. Other guests included Innis, Rabbi A. Bruce Goldman and a white Bayonne, N.J., couple who said they were attacked and terrorized by racist skinheads at a train station Saturday night. Rivera said he was shocked when Metzger, who is not a skinhead, used the epithets. The brawl occurred at Times Square Studio on Broadway in mid. town Manhattan. Police spokesman Officer Janice Swinney said Rivera declined to press charges, no one was arrested and no other injuries were reported. federal Justice Department official said the call never came. Jim Fulton, the NDP member of Parliament and fisheries critic, that means Siddon is responsible for allowing the proceedings to be halted. They were to go before the Supreme Court of Canada on Sept. “I was mad enough yesterday,” Fulton said Friday. “Now I'm even madder. There is a minister res- ponsible for this — it’s Tom Siddon. This matter did not proceed, either through his negligence or his irres- ponsibility.” The charges against ITT Indus- tries Ltd. and Frank Beban logging were filed in 1 after Landrick Creek on Lyell Island, a major salmon-spawning stream, was des- troyed by landslides. The creek mouth is still blocked and chum salmon spawners were dying on the beach as recently as last month. After the charges were laid, lawyers for the company appealed a B.C. Court of Appeal decision in which a judge ruled that the case Offici OTTAWA (CP) — Planned Parent- hood has apologized for 31,000 letters, telling of a pregnant teen and asking for money, accidentally sent to children. Embarrassed officials of the Plan- ned Parenthood Federation of Can. ada said Friday the letters were sent by mistake by an Ottawa direct-mail house that purchased the mailing list of Young Miss magazine. The letters were intended to have been addressed to the girls’ parents, with “Mrs.” inserted before the sur: name and the young person's given name dropped. However, the letters, asking for $48 donations, went out addressed to the magazine's readers, aged as should proceed to trial. Preliminary arguments were to be heard Sept. 29 in the Supreme Court of Canada. SIDDON URGED In memoranda Fulton turned over to a Vancouver newspaper, Siddon’s deputy minister, Peter Meyboom, his senior assistant deputy, Louis Tou- signant, and regional fisheries’ dir- ector-general Pat Chamut all urged Siddon to proceed with the charges before the Supreme Court of Canada because the case had cast serious doubts on Ottawa's powers to protect salmon habitat. Fulton called for Siddon's resigna tion Thursday and accused the minister of halting proceedings in the case. Siddon responded by angrily deny- ing any responsibility in the affair, saying Justice Department officials made the decision based on legal reasons, But the Justice Department offi cial who ordered the stay of pro- ceddings in the case against ITT In dustries and Frank Beban Logging said he did so only after waiting for three weeks. He said he waited for als red young as nine. The letter, telling the story of a pregnant 16-year-old, says one-quar- ter of Canadian teens are sexually active by the age of 15, and many don’t seek information about contra- ception. Federation executive director Sharon Coleman said “the phone has been ringing off the wall for 24 hours” with irate parents complain- ing their children received the mail solicitation. The letters were part of a 100,000- piece direct-mail solicitation sent out a week ago using subscription lists from several magazines. Coleman says Planned Parenthood was not consulted on using the Police file TOM SIDDON . . accused of negligence fisheries’ offjcials in Ottawa to respond to a lower bureaucrats rec- ommendation to stay the charges — and the response never came. faced Young Miss mailing list but refused to name the mailing company that made the choice. “This is one of the most horren. dous things that could happen,” Coleman said. “Planned Parenthood does not solicit funds from teenage children.” ICBC proposal fails VANCOUVER (CP) — An 000 by the Ontario An 83-year-old Castlegar man was uninjured after his 1979 Dodge car collided with a 1980 Pacific logging truck on Columbia Avenue shortly before 8 a.m. Friday. Castlegar RCMP report that the driver of the Dodge, Siguard Mag- nusen, was southbound on Columbia Avenue when he made a left turn in front of the logging truck which was also southbound. Police say the truck was unable to avoid the collision. The driver of the truck, Eowary Desmoreau of Osoyoos was unin. jured and the truck sustained about $250 damage. Police are continuing their in vestigation. Court news In Castlegar provincial court this week, Craig Young was fined $400 after pleading guilty to driving while impaired. . * Robert Benigan was fined $300 after pleading guilty to possession of a narcotic. * *. . Caroline Miller was fined $400 for impaired driving. . 8 « Donald Bergen was fined $300 after pleading guilty to impaired driving. He was also fined $100 after pleading guilty to theft under $1,000. . 8 @ Peter Wulowka was fined $200 after pleading guilty to possession of stolen property valued under $1,000. insurance industry to dismantle and sell to the private sector the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia has failed, say industry officials. A pitch to the government that was supposed to be the culmination of the campaign never took place because the public response was “too ambivalent,” said Brian Stanhope, B.C. and Yukon vice-president of the Insurance Bureau of Canada. The bureau financed the campaign. The insurance bureau represents about 180 Ontario-based insurance companies that dominate the Can- adian industry but have no foothold in B.C. auto insurance. The signal that the campaign was over came Friday from the man who headed it, Oklahoma consultant Rob- bie Sherrell. He was president of the corporation for two years during the 1970s. Sherrell issued a news release saying he had filed his final report to the insurance bureau, which “eon. cludes our activity.” Prisoners get to vote WINNIPEG (CP) — A Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench judge has given prisoners the right to vote — but they may have some trouble getting on the official voters list in time for the Nov. 21 federal election. Mr. Justice Aubrey Hirschfield overturned a provision in the Canada Elections Act which prohibited prisoners from voting. Hirschfield said the Charter of Rights and Freedoms overrides the section of the act which prevent: yone convicted of any crime and incarcerated in federal or provincial institutions from voting. Settlement distant EDMONTON (CP) — A settlement to the Lubicon Indian band land-claim dispute doesn't look much closer today despite a meeting between Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Lubicon Chief Bernard Ominayak. Mulroney designated his chief of staff, Derek Burney, as a liaison with Ominayak. Burney will have “contact and monitoring function,” Mulroney's communications director, Bruce Phillips, said. Huge layoffs planned WINNIPEG (CP) — CN Rail plans to lay off 17,000 workers — some with as much as 20 years experience — during the next several years, an-internal company document says. “The current employee level of 43,000 will have to be reduced to a level in the vicinity of 26,000,” says an August 1988 report, written by the vice-president of employee relations in Montreal. Heroin seized in bust VANCOUVER (CP) — Five people have been arrested and police are looking for three others following two-year investigation, a police spokesman said. The arrests came after Hong Kong police seized 4.2 kilograms of high grade heroin, said city police Const. Jim Szekeres. The Co-ordinated Law Enforcement Unit — an organization composed of representatives of the RCMP and municipal forces — estimated the drug would have had a potential street value in Vancouver of more than $14 million, he said. The Royal Hong Kong Police, the RCMP drug, immigration and Passport sections, the V. Integ: I li Unit and Vancouver city police were involved in the investigation. Family evacuates home DAYTON, OHIO (AP) — A mysterious substance that erodes clothing and furniture has forced a family to flee their home and has baffled hazardous-materials' investigators, officials said. “Yesterday, the furniture started falling apart, and their clothing started falling off their body,” said Ray Hughes of the Dayton fire department. “The clothing — you could run your fingers through it.” ‘We're worrying about long-term health effects,” said Thomas Whipp of the city’s hazardous materials team. Hughes said firefighters spent about five hours at the home of Ethel Back on Thursday. He believes the problem is caused by an acid or a caustic, but that’s about all investigators know. Withdrawal hampered MOSCOW (AP) — The Soviet Union has suspended its military withdrawal from Afghanistan and sent in sophisticated weapons because of unrelenting pressure from Muslim guerrillas. Witnesses have seen MiG-27 ground-attack jets and SS-1 Scud missiles. Alexander Bessmertnykh, first deputy foreign minister, repeated Soviet accusations that the U.S. and Pakistan are violating the withdrawl agreement by sending a constant flow of arms to the insurgents. Communication law valid TORONTO (CP) — The Ontario Supreme Court has ruled that a law prohibiting communication for the purpose of prostitution is valid. Rejecting arguments that the law violates freedom of speech guaranteed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Mr. Justice David Watt said that freedom of expression is not absolute. Watt was ruling on two appeals involving a Toronto prostitute who was convicted of the offence by one provincial court judge but acquitted by another. Troops still important OTTAWA (CP) — The presence of Canadian troops in West Germany remains an important symbol of the western military alliance's resolve to stand together, says a leading [West German editor. Thomas Keilinger, editor-in-chief of the weekly Rheinischer Merkur, says the North Atlantic Treaty Organization needs physical evidence in West Germany of the North American allies’ commitment to Europe. Settlement reached VICTORIA (CP) — After a week of sputtering negotiations, a tentative settlement was reached between the British Columbia Ferry Corp. and its 3,200 unionized workers. : Corporation spokesman Bill Bouchard said no details would be revealed until after a ratification vote has been held. The last contract expired at midnight Monday night. Sub purchase questioned WATERLOO, ONT. (CP) — Members of the federal cabinet are asking “serious questions” about a plan to buy a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, says a senior Tory MP. The cost of the fleet — estimated at $8 billion — is foremost among their concerns, Waterloo MP Walter -McLean said in an interview. Drunk driver jailed PENTICTON (CP) — A man already serving a jail term for drinking and driving was sentenced to two years less a day in jail for a similar offence — his eighth drinking-driving conviction. Frederick Baptiste, 41, of Penticton pleaded guilty in provincial court to a charge of driving with a blood-alcohol content over .08 on Sept. 4. Judge Wilf Klinger was told that a breath-test administered to Bapliste gave a .29 reading. Such a reading in a 175-pound person would be equivalent to consumption of almost 12 bottles of beer. Relief money sent REGINA (CP) — The hurricane telief money Canada sent to Nicaragua is just a fraction of the amount sent to Jamaica, says a coalition of non-governmental agencies. Ottawa has given $1.69 million to Nicaragua to recover from Hurricane Joan, which struck the Central American country Oct. 21-22, spokesmen for five Regina agencies told a news conf fe Jamaica received more than $6 million to recover from Hurricane Gilbert, which hit the Caribbean island Sept. 12, said Cheryl * Stadnichuk of Tools For Peace. MULRONEY IN TOWN .. . Brian Mulroney was met by a roomful of supporters and a couple of hecklers when he visited Castlegar earlier this week. Mulroney (top) went over the free trade agreement in a speech to party faithful. Mulfoney and wife Mila (bottom left) were whisked off the tarmac at the airport to waiting cars. (Bottom right) Mulroney blasts a heckler during his speech at the Fireside Inn. CasNews Photos by Brendan Nogle Mulroney campaign. notebook By BONNE MORGAN Staff Writer Prime Minister Brian Mulron: ey's three-hour stop in Castlegar and Trail was a media circus. About 90 national media along with the Prime Minister's personal entourage filed out of the 727 jet at the Castlegar Airport Thursday! The Air Canada jet, which landed @ half hour behind schedule, sported a maple leaf on its nose and “Brain Mulroney” written in red along the side, Three chartered Greyhound buses pulled onto the runway to take the media to Mulroney's tour of Cominco and an appearance a¢ the Castlegar Fireside Motor Inn; along with television cameras and microphones. Mulroney's camer. amen and stage crew had separate vans which set up the stage at the Fireside. The Mulroney entourage had one bus to themselves. The stage crew all wore match ing jackets in Conservative blue. ELECTION NOTEBOOK They didn’t like the podium sup- plied by the Fireside so replaced it with a Conservative one. Even the electrical tape used to tape down lighting wires was Tory blue. Mulroney's own camera crew was in front of the press convoy getting first choice for a camera angle in the banquet room. * Mila Mulroney visited the Chil- dren's Development Centre in Tadanac while her husband toured Cominco. A special mini-bus was designated for media going to that event. However, only three local representatives showed up whilé national media followed the prime minister + 8 « Mulroney had an impromptu visit with about 25-30 local public school students in front of the Fireside before meeting Conser- vative supporters inside. Police estimate about 200 people were jammed into the small room. There was seating room for about 50 people and the rest stood. + 2 « At precisely the right moment after the prime minister ended his speech with “God bless you all,” a Mulroney “roadie” flicked a switch and the song Together Forever by Rick Astley blared through the room as Mulroney shook hands and supporters stood cheering. . + « The security at the tour was evident. RCMP were everywhere, both in uniform and plainclothes. RCMP bomb dogs were brought in from Vancouver and the Mul- roney$ were guarded by an RCMP “body package” from Ottawa. Girl marked SOCIAL PROGRAMS with cross on head By JOHN VALORZI jibe with Cc experience of countries already in free-trade arrange WASHINGTON — Could the United States use the proposed free-trade agreement against such ‘anadian Press ments Canadian Free trade slammed economic history or the Under international and U.S. laws, Canadian VANCOUVER (CP) — Four juven iles and an adult have been charged after a 14-year-old Victoria girl com plained she was forcibly confined and an upside-down cross was marked on her forehead with a sharp object Det. Sgt. Don Bland of Victoria city police said the juvenile told police she was held against her will early Friday in an apartment on Es quimalt Road. She alleged she was tied up and suffered bites, cuts and cigarette burns. Bland said the victim was an ac. quaintance of the five, who “ap peared to turn on her.” He said after the girl was released she went to hospital for treatment, then laid a complaint with police. Bland said four female juveniles — one aged 14, two 15-year-olds and a 17-year-old — and a 20-year-old male were arrested at the apartment. They all have been charged with unlawful confinement and assault causing bodily harm Bland said while he and Det. Sgt. Frank Whitton were conducting a search of the apartment a man not connected with the case kicked in the door. “He took a lunge at Sgt. Whitton and tried to stab him,” said Bland. All the accused, who are in custody, were to appear before a justice of the peace today. Canadian social programs as medicare, unemploy ment insurance and seniors’ pensions? That's what Liberal Leader John Turner and NDP Leader Ed Broadbent are telling Canadians in election-campaign rhetoric against the treaty that would phase out tariffs and other barriers between the world’s biggest trading partners over a 10-year period. But while there’s no guarantee U.S. industries won't try to use trade-remedy laws to undermine Canadian social programs — with or without a trade deal — current U.S. and international laws would appear to give them little chance of success. Turner and Broadbent argue the United States considers Canada's social programs illegal subsidies and could try to go after them after the two countries sit down over the next five to seven years under the trade pact to hammer out new rules on subsidies. Moreover, the two opposition leaders contend the deal will also create economic pressures to “harmonize” Canada's social programs like unem ployment insurance and medicare with far-skimpier programs in the U.S. LEADERS DISAGREE Prime Minister Brian Mulroney has called the opposition claims lies. He also says his Conservative government would scrap the agreement if it threatened social or regional development programs A close inatii gests the si arguments don’t hold water. Turner's claims the United States could gut Canada's social programs flies in the face of U.S. and international trade law and practice, while the argument that competitive pressure would under. mine unemployment insurance and medicare doesn’t social programs would be considered illegal and subject to retaliatory duties only if they were aimed at a specific industry, company or region and if the exports of Canadian companies benefiting from such programs hurt U.S. industry. This test of “general availability” is fundamental to trade law and means broad-based social programs like medicare, old-age pension, unemployment insurance and family allowances would be protected against any U.S. attempt to gut them. SSTIONS REMAIN Judy Bello, legal adviser to U.S. Trade Representative Clayton Yeutter, said while there's nothing to stop U.S. industries from filing unfair trade petitions against Canada's broad-based social programs, such complaints would almost certainly be thrown out by the U.S. government “If a Canadian subsidy program clearly is available to more than one industry or groups of industries, then those allegations are going to fail.” The NDP argument that economic pressure under free trade would force Canada to weaken its social programs also appears to go against Canadian history and the experience of other countries with free-trade agreements. Canada has been lowering trade barriers with the United States for more than 50 years. Today, 80 per cent of Canadian trade — mostly automotive — is already duty-free, yet the country has not been forced to cut its social programs. On the contrary, such programs have flourished as the economy: has grown under liberalized trade. New Zealand, which has had a free-trade agreement with Australia for more than five years, hasn't come under any pressure from its bigger trading partner to adjust its social programs.