Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - March 13, 1978, Winnipeg, Manitoba 1ft Winnipeg Fri March a news analysis economic prospects brighter but can Canada adapt to changes by Wilson Ottawa although there is a sizable variation Between All of the main economic forecasts continue to Point to the same two developments a bet Ter year than in 1977 but even sluggish recovery from the difficulties of the past two the Range of forecasts is from a growth rate of five per cent Down to one of Only three per the midpoint is per a consider Able improvement on last years per cent real although there Wim be sea Sonal changes in the extent of even the Best of these anticipated rates of growth would not do much to Cut into the if the most optimistic of the forecasts proves unemployment should at least not go on it is As it has been for some that we will have serious unemployment with us at the some time in the Early on the other Side of the twin problem of inflation and High the Prospect for slower Price in creases is it is the rapid Rise in food prices which has kept the consumer Price Index rising so sharply per cent higher this january than this is of great importance for individuals but it obscures Price developments in the rest of the with food the Jan uary Over january increase in prices was per continuing the steady slow ing that has taken place since the modest Confidence of the forecasters is being sustained in Large part by three developments a Strong improvement in retail sales late last 1977s 17 per cent increase in exports and the significant improvement in consumer Confidence shown by the conference boards latest the qualifications to the forecasters Confidence arise in Large part from indications that business and Indus trial investment will go on being As a result of continued sluggishness in the manufacturing sector and the unresolved balance of payments there is also some concern Over the Likely number of housing this Complex picture is in creasing the conviction that something More than cyclical difficulties Are plaguing the Canadian the term structural problems is usually applied to this and it suffers from the same defect As the constant talk of constitutional change and it is so often used with out specifics that it Means nothing to the Man in the in recent both the conference Board and the Howe Institute have been attempting to cast More Light on problems of this sort and make them More meaningful to Ordinary the Howe economists be Lieve that the current Situa Tion differs from the past in two there is a difference in degree More fundamental changes seem to be going on than in any other period since the second world there Are important differences in the response of people and institutions to this there is a tendency to believe that we youll be pleased every time in with Safe ways treats from the deep Safeway Fine fish and seafood Are As versatile As they Are come and see our great variety to make captains fish and scalloped tasty fish sandwiches and easy White fish whole pan ready Frozen Home style fish cakes Rupert Brand Golden Batter Perch Cimurs 1 454f shrimp meat 2 m 1k Mackerel Salmon steaks Rainbow Trout Boston bluefish chips Kkt j2 m cod fish Sticks 14 red snapper fillets Frozen 1 Boston bluefish fillets Frozen Pink Salmon cello pack whole Frozen 24 Goi eyes freshly smoked whole cooked crabs Frozen squid Frozen prices effective tuesday through saturday March 14th to 18th at All greater Winnipeg and Selkirk Safeway stores sales in retail quantities Safeway copyright Canada Safeway United have developed the economic policy tools necessary to control changes in the econ omy they also write that there Are some striking similarities Between the of structural change going on now and those that have triggered Long periods of economic stagnation in the in the de Cline in population growth in the United states and Europe is taking the momentum out of investment in housing and in educational facilities and is slowing the growth in Many consumer in the Momen Tum behind major technological developments seems to be the electronics which has spawned so Many new products in past is now concentrating its efforts on the refinement of Small elec tronic calculators rather than on new uses of electronic and the continuing buildup in corporate and National debt has made it More difficult for the eco nomic system to withstand Long periods of economic the conference Board also comments on the significance of this buildup of writing the emergency of an in creasing deficit on travel combined with mounting in Terest and dividend pay ments reflecting an increased Reliance on foreign produced a service account deficit of billion in with this deficit Likely to reach billion by the Board also notes that an examination of the com position of Canadas Mer Chandise Trade reveals a growing deficit in manufactured products which has continued virtually uninterrupted since this development has been coincident with a rapid expansion in production costs in Canada across a Broad spectrum of manufacturing the Howe Institute warns that the test of a dynamic Economy lies in its ability to shed inefficient and obsolete activities and to adapt to More efficient pro the two key characteristics Are therefore adaptability it feels that a combination of protective policies and re Liance upon imported ideas and management has failed to Foster the innovation and the entrepreneurship needed to spurt on the creative part of the us economists Are clearly at the level of resistance to the various forms of Adap tation that Are now becoming some of it fostered by government poli there for resistance to relocation from areas of economic stagnation to ones of greater Opportunity and our social programs increase this resistance to the income changes that would normally occur in a period such As this is in their by some forms of indexing against the wage guidelines of the last few years provided for Protection against inflation and for increases based on productivity and so militated against in expenditure patterns that would have reflected new values for Energy and higher prices stemming from devaluation of the one of the great structural changes of the last few years of been the altered value of Energy in rela Tion to other things but to a considerable extent canadians have been protected against the direct effects of this the great question posed by both groups is whether Canada possesses the Adap that is required a photo British Pilot David Cyster receives a warm embrace from his wife Cherry after Landing in saturday after a 32day Solo flight from London in a 1941 open cockpit single engine Tiger the flight was a reenactment of the first Solo flight to Australia 50 years ago by Bert Fuller coming to Brandon High school festival the mosaic Massey festival of life and Fea Turing Canadian poet Irving Alvin author of future and architect philosopher Buck minister Fuller will be held april 7 to 16 at Vincent Mas sey High school in fashion car poetry Reading and a performance by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet will also be part of the Canadian cuisine expert Madame Jehane Benoit will be at the festival to give culinary entertainment at the High school festival is to include Cathy Fink and Duck a Paintin to set a world rec magician Brian Coffee acro and ;