Volume 4 PROVINCE OF NEWFOUNDLAND THIRTY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NEWFOUNDLAND 4th . Session VERBATIM REPORT WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1975 SPEAKER : THE HONOURABLE M. JAMES RUSSELL Number 1

FOURTH SESSION OF THE TRIRTY-SIX'n{ QENERAL ASSEMBLY February 26, 1975 The Rouse pf Assembly• which had been prorogued on the morning of the Twenty-Sixth day of February, Kineteen Rundt:ed and Seventy-Five, met on the afternoon of February the Twenty-Shtb, Nineteen Hundred and Seventy-FLve, at three of the clock; Honourable M.Jamee Russell, Speaker, in the Chair. Bis Honour, the Honourable Gordon A.Winter, oc, LL.D., Lieutenant­ Governor, read the Speech from the Throne to open the Fourth Session of the Thirty-Sixth General Ass~ly.

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: I have the honour to welcome you to the Fourth Session of the Thirty-Sixth General Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland. In addressing you for the first time, I should like to say how honoured feel to have been chosen Her Majesty's Representative in this Province. The office which I have the honour to hold has a continuous history of more than three centuries, and I follow a long line of distinguished predecessors.

As I said at the time of my investiture, I am conscious of my duties and responsibilities to all the people of Newfoundland, no matter where they are or what they do. I anticipate with much pleasure my travels in my native land. I look forward to going to Labrador and to visiting the many settlements, large and small, from whence have come the men and women who have made our Province what it is today. In 1972 my Government indicated new policies for improvements throughout our Province to be implemented over the subsequent four to eight years.

In just three years the majority of these commitments have been implemented. The past three years have seen priority action in assistance to the consumer through considerable protective legislation, in the reorganization of Government and the restoration to the Honourable House of Assembly of the powers to control the expenditure of Government. The expenditure on resource development has substantially increased during the term of office of my Government, and it is its firm determination to continue its main thrust in the development of the resources of our Province. SOME BASIC GOALS AND OBJECTIVES A.

Natural Resources: It is the conviction of my Ministers that they are trustees for the natural resources owned by the people of the Province of Newfoundland, and my Government adheres to the view that such natural resources fall within provincial jurisdiction and must be exclusively preserved for the benefit of all Newfoundlanders - to do otherwise would constitute an unforgivable breach of trust for future Newfound landers. B.

Social Services: My Government will continue its policy of providing assistance at public expense to Newfoundlanders who, through no fault of their own, are unable to participate in gainful employment. This will be

done whilst, at the same time, my Ministers reaffirm their commitment to provide jobs for those who are ready, willing and able to work. FISHERIES One of Newfoundland's great and traditional resource industries is the fishery. Our people are aware of and gravely concerned over the declining price in the market place for our fishery products and the frightening depletion of fish stocks off our shores . It is the unshakeable conviction of my Government that the Government of Canada must act decisively and unilaterally in gaining control of the fish stocks on our continental shelf.

The time has come for decisive action on the part of our National Government. The fishing industry will continue to play a major role in plans for the economic development of Newfoundland. Whilst my Government recognizes that the market for our frozen ground fish has been seriously weakened by foreign competition, particularly in the United States, it is felt that there still exist many opportunities for the expansion of the fishing industry. My Government reiterates its conviction that the most fundamental problem affecting the fishing industry relates to the generally depleted state of the resource.

The extent of this problem varies but is particularly acute for those species, primarily ground fish, which are subject to heavy fishing effort from foreign fleets. This has had a serious effect on the economic position of our processing plants, where less than optimum production at a higher than desirable fixed cost per pound of finished product have prejudiced their competitive position in our main markets.

My Government will continue to make representations to the Government of Canada to implement unilateral enforcement of quotas or harvesting restructuring based on Resource Capital Management Regimes by the Federal Government. In recognition of the problems of the fishing industry my Minister of Fisheries, in November, 1974, requested that the Federal Government work with my Government in developing programs for the benefit of the ground fish industry.

The Federal Minister of Fisheries has co-operated with my Government in setting up a Federal-Provincial Task Force to examine and report on alternative approaches to the difficu I ties of the frozen ground fish industry. As a direct result, two programs were implemented during December, 1974, to cope with the short-term problems of our fishing 2

industry and to keep our ground fish fleets in operation during the winter months to the end of April, 1975, whilst longer term solutions were being sought. The first program is designed to lessen the immediate impact of the rapidly rising costs faced by the frozen ground fish industry. Assistance under this program applies to all freezing plants in production between January 1st and the end of April, 1975. The second program is to assist the reopening of seasonal plants next spring in North-Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador .

These seasonal plants suffered serious losses in early 1974 because of severe ice conditions. Work Capital Loans are to be made available to those plants which have exhausted their financial resources . My Department of Fisheries has embarked upon a program to examine new markets for our fishery products and to assess the advantages to be derived by developing new products.

My Government takes the position that the fishing industry merits our support during this difficu It period and has clearly and definitively affirmed to the Government of Canada its interest in a new Income Support Program which will eliminate the many inequalities for fishermen presently within the scope of the existing Unemployment Insurance Program . My Government has expressed its concern, however, that the Fishermen's Income Support Plan has not been acted upon by the Government of Canada.

Industrial grants will be made to assist with other improvements and innovations on inshore, middle distance and offshore fishing vessels. These include mechanized longlining and handlining as well as conversion of side trawlers to mid-water trawling. Since the fiscal year 1972-73 the gross program expenditures of my Department of Fisheries have more than tripled. The new Fishing Gear Subsidization Program which became effective in May, 1974, was substantially increased in terms of funding, and will be continued during the coming season.

In the area of capital works, the construction and upgrading of community fish handling facilities will be undertaken. Slipways and haulouts at various locations will be constructed to assist fishermen with maintenance, storage and protection of their vessels. My Government was able to obtain the co-operation of the Federal Department of Regional Economic Expansion in the signing of two subsidiary agreements to construct twelve major Marine Service Centres and a number of water supply systems for fishplants and community stages. 3 . ' ... .._ .,;

Increased emphasis is to be placed on the assessment and development of the Labrador fishery. Programs will include assessment of inshore resources, potential, introduction of new fish harvesting technology, and continued evaluation of a mobile support facility, all of which were recommended by the Royal Commission on Labrador. Increased technical assistance to inshore fishermen to diversify their fishing operations with special emphasis on herring, mackerel and caplin, will be one of my Government's development thrusts for 1975.

My Department of Fisheries will also provide technical assistance to small and medium sized companies in the area of product development, product promotion and market research . Under a third subsidiary agreement on fisheries with the Department of Regional Economic Expansion presently under negotiation, important programs for the continued development of offshore, middle distance and inshore fish harvesting technology, fish handling, unloading and transportation system, and curing facilities for pickled fish are proposed .

My Government's belief in the future of our fishing industry is such that it has committed itself to a course of continued development which presupposes the successful overcoming of the present manifold difficulties besetting the industry. My Government is determined to re-establish the opportunity for our fishermen to wrest a full living from the seas and to harvest our marine resources to their fullest potential . HEALTH My Government's commitment to the provision of comprehensive accessible health services for the people of this Province is well known .

This commitment is well illustrated by massive new hospital construction programs, not alone those underway but also those for which planning is now in train. However, my Government is well aware that bricks and mortar, important and expensive as they are, represent only part of the fabric of health services. Measures to build up adequate numbers of skilled manpower, particularly in rural areas, are equally important.

While my Government can look with some satisfaction on the greatly improved situation with regard to the numbers and distribution of physicians which has occured since it took office, there are shortages in other professions, notably that of dentistry, and in the public health field, including preventive medicine, which must receive greater emphasis in the coming year. 4

Accordingly, my Government plans to introduce a new incentive program to attract and retain dentists for rural areas. In addition, a mobile dental clinic will be set up this spring as a pilot project for the provision of dental services to scattered and relatively isolated communities . If this proves successful, others will follow. An area of high priority for my Government is that of nutrition. This is a complex subject, involving several jurisdictions.

An Interdepartmental Committee has been established to produce specific recommendations for effective and realistic measures to improve the nutritional status of the people of this Province. EDUCATION During the past three years, serious and continuing efforts have been made to encourage the development of our natural resources, to maximize our industrial potential while safeguarding our unique environment, and to regain control of our economic destiny. Our first commitment, however, has been and must continue to be, the development of the human resource of this Province.

My Government is dedicated to developing and expanding the opportunities for Newfoundlanders to achieve a competence second to none in the vocational, technical and fisheries areas. In pursuance of this goal, it has been decided to establish a Newfoundland Polytechnical Institute, which will provide instruction in all post -secondary, technical, fisheries, marine and related fields. This Institute when completed will have three component parts.

A College of Fisheries, Navigation, Technology and Marine Sciences will give instruction in the area covered by the present College of Fisheries, and will include certain technical , post -secondary courses offered by the present College of Trades and Technology. The Institute will also include a College of Medical Technology, giving instruction in the various para-medical areas, including Pharmacy, X-ray and Laboratory Technology, courses in Nursing Assistants, etc .

The third College will be a College of Business Education and Applied Arts giving instruction in secretarial , commercial, and other related courses. Phase one of the Institute will be the construction of a College of Fisheries, Navigation, Technology and Marine Sciences, and residence accommodations for approximately 300 students . It is planned that construction on phase one, including the College and residences, will commence this year. Various sites for the location of the Institute are being studied. It is my Government's intention that the Institute will be located 5

contiguous to the University in order to make possible the sharing of certain facilities, but that the Institute will be a separate entity with its own Board of Governors. When the Polytechnical is fully operative, the building presently known as the College of Trades and Technology will become a District Vocational School for the St. John's area. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: My Government wishes to involve the youth of the Province in the formulation of policy.

None has a greater stake in the future of our human, land and sea resources than the young men and women in the cities, towns and communities throughout the Island part of our Province and in Labrador. In late April there will be a series of sixty-two regional youth conferences involving high school students from every electoral district, and also involving the student body of the District Vocational Schools and post-secondary institutions. Later next fall it is planned to have a Provincial Youth Conference as a follow-up to the sixty-two regional conferences.

It is envisioned that over 4,000 young people will be involved in the regional youth conferences, with representation from every community in the Province. Following the conferences it is intended to establish a Provincial Youth Commission, with representatives from the young men and women of the Province and the general public. This Commission will have as its mandate to keep Government informed on the views of our young men and women, and to provide a forum for continuing dialogue.

In an attempt to equalize educational opportunities throughout our Province, my Government is giving serious consideration to the greater use of technological media. Because the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador has such a scattered population, greater use of technology, especially technological media, should improve means of education and educational opportunities for a greater number of residents of the Province.

As an initial step in this direction, it is my Government's intention, through my Department of Education, to enter into a joint study with the Educational Technology Branch of the Federal Department of Transportation and Communications for the purpose of developing a long term and rational plan for applying technology to enhance the educational process in Newfoundland. JUSTICE In 1973 my Government was responsible for the appointment of a Federal-Provincial Newfoundland Corrections Committee and subsequently 6

appointed an Inter-Governmental Committee to advise upon the best steps to be taken to implement the recommendations of the Newfoundland Corrections Committee. In accordance with such recommendations, my Government has transferred administration in the field of Adult Corrections to my Department of Justice, and necessary legislation to implement such decision will be introduced. Within the past few days my Government has appointed the first Director of Adult Corrections for our Province and it is the intention to implement forthwith an Adult Probation Program throughout the Province.

When my Government assumed office, there was but a token effort in the field of legal aid. In the past three years, the provincial contribution to legal aid has risen from $20,000 annually to $380,000 for the fiscal year 1974- 7 5. My Government will introduce legislation to create an independent Commission to administer legal aid in close co-operation with the Law Society of Newfoundland .

Last year saw the first major re-structuring of the Supreme Court of the Province in over a century, as a result of legislation introduced by my Government for the creation of a separate Court of Appeal for the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and a separate Trial Division. My Government awaits the early passage by the Parliament of Canada of a Bill to amend the Judges Act to permit the Governor-General in Council to appoint Judges to occupy these new Courts.

At my Government's request, the Federal Government has introduced an amendment to the Judges Act which will provide for the appointment of two additional District Court Judges in our Province, which will ensure ready access by all our citizens to our District Courts . Consideration is being given to a new District Courts Act which will increase the jurisdiction of our District Court Judges and provide for the speedy administration of justice in these courts.

This Act, which has to be prepared in consultation with the Federal Minister of Justice, hopefully will be ready for presentation to this Session of the House of Assembly . MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS The Report of the Royal Commission on Municipal Government in Newfoundland and Labrador has been received and is now being evaluated. This comprehensive report is presently in the hands of the printers and will be tabled during this Session of the House of Assembly. My Government is convinced that a substantial number of the recommendations contained in this report can be implemented during the present year. 7

The Commission appointed by my Government during this past year to enquire into the St. John's Urban Region Study has already submitted its first interim report relating to the regional plan and defining the boundaries of the area to be included. The Commission has now made considerable progress with

Part 11 of the Enquiry relating to the level of servicing in the Region and will be completing a third and final report into the forms of municipal government for the area by early summer. Municipalities can be assured that my Government is most sympathetic towards the problems that confront them, particularly with regard to the rapidly increasing costs of providing essential municipal services and the demands that are being placed upon them by the rising expectations of our people .

It was with this in mind that my Government introduced during the past year a new program of road maintenance grants, thereby providing municipalities with substantially more financial assistance than was possible under the previous and outmoded program. Many municipalities have indicated their complete satisfaction with the program which has enabled them to provide a much higher level of service than was hitherto possible .

Similarly, my Government has not only agreed to continue the Provincial Municipal Street Paving Program, but has approved in principle an increase in the provincial contribution from 50 percent to 60 percent of the capital cost on approved projects. In other words, commencing this year the municipalities will only have to bear 40 percent of the capital cost of approved street reconstruction and paving projects with the Province assuming the balance. HOUSING My Government is continuing to increase its activities in meeting the housing needs of our people.

In the year 1974 this Province achieved the greatest number of housing starts in its history; 4,911 units in the face of a substantial decrease in starts on the national scene. The direct involvement of my Government through provincial funds and through loans and cost sharing from the Federal Government in support of our programs resulted in the commitment of $35,000,000 in the past year. This was in addition to funds from the Federal Government made directly to homeowners and builders.

Th rough the agency of Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, including Federal and Provincial fundings an important agreement for Federal/Provincial mortgage funding for homeownership was introduced and commitments for some 600 hornes were made in small 8

communities and rural areas. Good progress was made in the crash program for subsidized rental housing resulting in 426 starts . Residential land servicing has been undertaken on a widespread basis. Supplementary assistance to the Federal Assisted Home Ownership Program has also been introduced . My Government recognizes that the need for new housing is still great and to this end it intends to increase activities in the year ahead . The Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation has been strengthened in its capacity to plan and implement programs .

To the extent that our resources will permit, every effort will be made in direct spending, in the use of available Federal funding, and the funding from other sources to mount the maximum effort attainable. In addition, my Government will review any constraints that may be impairing private sector activity, particularly in the rental field, with a view to encouraging activity in this area.

The level of activity by my Government in the year past had an important impact in achieving the record level of starts, and my Government is determined that in the year ahead activity will be expanded to achieve even better resu Its. MR.

SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS During the coming fiscal year, despite spiralling cost, my Government will continue the program of upgrading and paving the remaining roads in our highways network and is actively preparing a new five-year plan which will guarantee that all main and trunk roads in the Province will be upgraded and paved within five years. It is hoped that this essential and exciting five-year paving plan will be completed in time for tabling during this Session of this Honourable House.

A cost benefit study of the Trans Labrador Highway has been completed and the results are most favourable from a benefit point of view. My Government is making strenuc.us efforts to reach a satisfactory agreement with the Federal Government and the Government of Quebec to commence construction of this Highway. It is fully recognized that here on the Island and in Labrador, transportation is one of the most important areas of Government involvement in the every day life of the people.

To secure transportation improvements compatible with provincial and regional objectives, my Government, through my Department of Transportation and 9

Communications, maintains an ongoing dialogue with the providers of transportation services and Government officials of the neighbouring Atlantic Provinces and New England States. CO-OPERATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL ECONOMIC EXPANSION On February 1, 1974, the Government of Newfoundland and the Government of Canada (through the Department of Regional Economic Expansion) entered into a ten-year General Development Agreement designed to improve the economic and socioeconomic development of the Province.

This Agreement permits the signing of Subsidiary Agreements covering various aspects of the economy and provides for grants from the Government of Canada for up to 90 percent of the costs involved. To date, my Government has been able to conclude a number of Subsidiary Agreements and is currently in the process of finalizing a number of additional agreements.

Those already signed cover expenditures of approximately $100 million, of which some $54 million relates to the forestry sector (including a recent amendment for $19 million) $18 million for fisheries covering marine service centers and water supplies for fish plants, $15 million for highways and $15 million for the Gros Morne area. The DR EE share of these agreements amounts to about $90 million. There are a number of additional agreements which will soon be signed with the Department of Regional Economic Expansion and which will amount to more than $100 million.

Agreement in principle has been reached for a Subsidiary Agreement covering the first three phases of the St. John's Region Water Supply and the completion of the St. John's Harbour Arterial. It has also been agreed that the funding for the Harbour Arterial will not detract in any way from funding provided by OREE for highways in the Province.

A new Highways Subsidiary Agreement will also be signed soon which will provide funds for further construction and paving of major trunk roads in the Province along with a Planning Subsidiary Agreement which will enable the Province to undertake additional research and planning . There are several other Subsidiary Agreements which are being negotiated and on which it is hoped agreement can be reached in the coming months . These various DR EE agreements are having a very beneficial effect on the economy of the province by creating jobs and facilitating economic and social development .

During the past year, OREE activity in the province amounted to approximately $60 million and this represents the greatest 10

amount of activity ever achieved by a very considerable margin. With several major new agreements soon to be reached, DREE activity in the coming year will again increase significantly and will continue to have a major impact throughout the Province. My Government is pleased with the progress made so far, as Newfoundland has been able to finalize more agreements with DREE than any other province in Canada. Every effort will be made to continue the progress achieved to date.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS For some time it has become increasingly evident to my Government that there was need for greater co-ordination of the intergovernmental activities of the Province. The number and complexity of programs and agreements between the Province, the Federal Government and other provinces have been escalating rapidly over recent years which is evidence of the growing economic and social interdependence of the various regions of Canada. It is anticipated that this trend will continue and several provinces have already enacted legislation concerning intergovernmental relations.

To accommodate this growing need, my Government has decided to establish an Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat which will be under the jurisdiction of a Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs. Legislation on this matter will be dealt with during the current session of this House. LABRADOR RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION My Government has been giving very careful consideration to the recommendations of the Report of the Royal Commission on Labrador, and is determined to implement, as quickly as possible, the feasible recommendations contained therein.

Many of the recommendations are presently being implemented by various Departments of my Government. Legislation will be laid before you to create a Crown Corporation to be known as the Labrador Resource Development Corporation, charged with responsibility, inter alia, for the development of the resources of Coastal Labrador. It is my Government's intention as well to charge this Corporation with responsibility for the industrial and commercial operations of the Coastal Regions of Labrador. GANDER AIRPORT My Government is firm in its determination to assure an adequate 11

supply of fuel for Gander International Airport in the hope that this great International Airport will remain competitive. Such action will promote the continued expansion of the Airport and the orderly growth of the Town of Gander. In this respect, legislation will be introduced to create a Crown Corporation to assume responsibility for these matters in co-operation with the Government of Canada. Negotiations along these lines have already commenced with the Government of Canada which has expressed a sincere desire to assist the Province in this new concept.

REHABILITATION AND RECREATION This past year has seen an encouraging expansion of programs falling within the jurisdiction of my Department of Rehabilitation and Recreation. In order that the future needs of our province with respect to senior citizens is accurately assessed, a survey will soon be completed which will indicate the areas in Newfoundland and Labrador that still require facilities for the deserving members of our society. A similar survey is underway to indicate what additional facilities and programs are required for retarded adults in Newfoundland.

The employment of additional Rehabilitation Officers for Central and Western Newfoundland will result in an expansion this year of services for the physically and mentally handicapped citizens of the Province. It is becoming increasingly ap'parent that Newfoundlanders are more and more desirous of participating in sports and recreation. In response to this justifiable demand on the part of the people, my Government will expand still further the program designed to provide community sports facilities which received universal acceptance by our citizens during the past year. MR.

SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: FORESTRY The Forest Land (Management and Taxation) Act has been proclaimed, and the accompanying regulations brought into force on January 17, 1975. In excess of $50 million will be invested in the resource in the next four years through the Forestry Subsidiary Agreements signed with the Federal Government in 1974. Reorganization of my Department of Forestry and Agriculture is almost completed to meet its new responsibilities. Forest management units have been established and detailed management plans for nine units are in 12

design. During the coming year, the balance of the crown -controlled forests will be covered by detailed plans, and it is expected that management plans for the major company holdings will also be completed. The coming year will see the forests of our people finally, after three years of concerted effort, brought under a management system designed to provide maximum sustained benefits to the people of our Province. 1974 also saw the purchase of the Reid lands by my Government, and these lands, now part of the public domain, are being brought under management.

The Forest Access Road Program was substantially expanded last year, and 1975 will see a continued expansion. These roads provide for orderly utilization of our forests and my Government anticipates significant advances in our lumber industry. By the end of 1975, Newfoundland lumber will be able to compete effectively with mainland products as a result of new modern mills brought into operation in the last two years. Our own lumber will be used for provincial construction throughout the Province .

If legislation is required to implement this policy, it will be laid before you during this Session of this Honourable House of Assembly. In the area of land management, my Government continues to develop new systems. A new Crown Lands Branch is being brought into full operation and the frustrating backlog of work for that Branch which my Government inherited will be completely cleared up to date by Spring 1975. Lands Offices are to be established in each of the four regions of my Department of Forestry and Agriculture - Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Corner Brook, Gander and St. John's.

By year's end, our people will be able to settle lands problems at their local offices instead of travelling all the way to Confederation Building. Planning will be completed in 1975 for a system of leasing, granting and clearing titles for Crown lands that will make our land resource more readily available for housing, cottages, agriculture and commercial endeavours. The past year, with its rapidly spiralling costs of food, has brought our agriculture program under close scrutiny. The coming year will see my Government respond positively to the increasing interest of our people in growing their own vegetables.

A pilot project which will provide small plots of garden for city dwellers is in draft stage and will be ready to implement this coming year. The importance of being self-sufficient in our own resources was the clear lesson to be learned from the oil crisis. Special emphasis is therefore being placed on those agricultural commodities which can be produced in 13

our own province. The objective of my Government will be to produce all our own requirements of such things as root crops, hogs and poultry products. TOURISM The tourist industry continues to possess great potential for development and is one of the largest employers in the Province. Its several elements have shown steady growth and progress which will continue to a far greater extent during the coming year. WILDLIFE A new wildlife program of management, conservation and enforcement will be introduced, aimed at the protection of this great natural resource and of the environment.

To achieve this, an enlarged staff of wardens, technicians and biologists will be deployed at various locations throughout the Province to ensure compliance with regulations and to assemble data as a sound basis for the management of the various wildlife species and for the preservation and proper utilization of this resource. Regulations concerning the operation of snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles have now been drafted and will be implemented during the coming year.

These regulations are essential to ensure that proper safety standards are met and to ensure also that the environment is adequately protected and that the habitat of all living species is not jeopardized. Such regulations, in draft form, will be tabled in this Honourable House and given wide circulation throughout the Province to enable my Government to receive public reaction and recommendations before they become law. PARKS During the past four years there has been an increase of 100 percent in the use and occupancy of our Provincial Parks network.

This increase continued in 1974 and clearly indicates the need for expansion of our present parks and the addition of new parks to meet the demand. The operation of 45 parks and 14 public school beaches will continue for the period May 15 to September 15, 1975. A total staff of approximately 300 will be employed to accommodate an estimated 2,600,000 visitors and 380,000 campers. A Park Planning and Surveys Program will be launched by my Government to include the development of a new Park classification and zoning system to be used in the planning of the future park system of the Province. A Park

Interpretation Program will also be introduced to aid park visitors in obtaining a better appreciation of the natural and human history aspects of park areas. Included will be the first amphitheatre at Barachois Pond Park, and a large logging history exhibit at Beothuck Park. 14

A program of improvements is planned to existing parks to meet the ever increasing demands for camping and day-use park facilities. Expansion will be carried out in some 11 parks to add an additional 400 - 500 campsites. My Government plans to develop additional parks to serve areas not now serviced by adequate Park facilities. Projects include the completion of new Parks started at Chance Cove (Ferryland), Little River Pond (Fortune Bay) and Winter Tickle Lake (Lewisporte) and the construction of new Parks at Stag Lake (Humber West) and in the Bauline - Cape St. Francis Area.

A program of improvement is envisaged for Public Beaches to protect and provide access to some of the more significant inland and coastal beach areas. The 1975-76 program will include development of facilities at Topsail Beach (Harbour Main) Pasadena Beach (Humber East) and Middle Cove (St. John's East Extern). CULTURAL AFFAIRS The Division of Cultural Affairs of my Government will continue to present to the public the best performing arts available in the local, national and international fields, and is constantly searching for attractions that can be presented throughout our Province.

This year will see the opening of a 450-seat Arts and Culture Centre in Steph•mville, and construction is progressing on the expansion of the Gander Centre to include a theatre, exhibition area and meeting rooms. HISTORIC RESOURCES The general objective of my Government is to develop the historic resources of the Province in order to provide for the preservation of our historic heritage, and also to provide a detailed basis for the study of the social, economic and cultural background of the Province. My Government will continue its participation in the National Museums Program.

Through this participation, it is hoped to commence major restoration work on the Newfoundland Museum. In addition, travelling exhibits will be provided and circulated throughout the Province. MANPOWER AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS Since assuming office, my Government has demonstrated an endless desire to promote and encourage harmonious labour relations and to improve the quality of life among the work force in this Province through continual research and evaluation of the laws governing collective bargaining and labour standards. 15

In the field of labour standards my Government is cognizant of the need to update employment standards for those in the work force who have not always been able to avail themselves of the benefits which accrue to organized groups through collective bargaining. To ensure that the rights of all of the work force are protected, my Government intends to introduce, during this Session of the House of Assembly, a new Labour Standards Code.

This Code will consolidate and update the various pieces of labour standards legislation to provide more uniform and equitable standards of employment with respect to minimum wages, annual vacations, notice of termination of employment, hours of work, weekly days of rest and employment of children. There will be provisions in the new Code for paid statutory holidays, maternity leave and wage protection.

Reference was made in the Throne Speech in January, 1974, to the fact that my Government had undertaken a careful study of the recommendations of the Cohen Royal Commission with a view to the introduction of new legislation to improve and foster labour relations at a time when labour-management relations have been subjected to greater than normal strains and tensions by ever-increasing inflation.

My Government intends that the toils of the representatives of unions and management who have worked with Government on this most important project will be brought to fruition during this Session of the House of Assembly by the introduction of an entirely new Labour Relations Act. My Government has been most concerned over the extremely high rate of unemployment during the past year and intends to work diligently to remedy this situation.

My Government intends to escalate training programs to provide those who are unemployed with a marketable skill and to update the skills of those who are employed to meet the labour market demands in today's rapidly changing world of work. My Government intends to develop a totally new and definitive manpower policy for the Province so that the development of our human resources may be carried out in the most rational manner. CONSUMER PROTECTION Steps have been taken to consolidate all existing consumer protection legislation to bring it in line with similar legislation in other jurisdictions.

Greater emphasis will be given consumer protection and additional staff will be provided to extend assistance to people encountering problems in the market place. Control over prices of foodstuffs and durable goods imported into the Province is, of course, outside of the jurisdiction of my 16

Government but it will make every effort to assure that consumers are protected against inferior products of workmanship and obtain adjustments under warranties to which they are entitled. It is my Government's hope to introduce legislation to implement a system of "No Fault" automobile insurance.

My Ministers have held several meetings with their colleagues in other Provinces and with the automobile insurance industry in an effort to provide uniform "No Fault" insurance legislation whilst at the same time, along with the other Provinces, attempting to obtain some indication from the insurance industry that the implementation of "No Fault" automobile insurance will not result in a substantial increase in insurance premiums to the Newfoundland motorist .

A Committee of my Ministers hopes to submit a final report to Government in time to permit the introduction of legislation to provide for compulsory automobile insurance, either under the "No Fault" concept or otherwise. My Government has set in motion a plan for the orderly conversion of the Province from the present system of measurements to the international system of units referred to as the Metric System. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: MINERAL RESOURCES In the past the mineral resources of our Province have been disposed of with little direct benefit accruing to our people .

Last year, my Government appointed a Royal Commission on Mineral Revenue to bring in recommendations to rectify this situation. The Report of the Commission has now been received and made public. My Ministers have requested the general public and the mining industry to furnish their comments on the Commission's recommendations and, in particular, the recommendation relating to the rate of tax which should be payable under The Mining Tax Act.

After receiving such comments and recommendations, my Government will lay before you legislation designed to ensure that our people receive a fair and equitable return from the exploitation of our mineral resources whilst, at the same time, encouraging further mining development in our Province. My Government also agrees with the finding of the Royal Commission on Mineral Revenue that too much of our Province's mineral land is lying dormant with exploration impeded because of long term dispositions of mining rights in the past.

Legislation will be introduced to eliminate the most blatant examples of th is regretable situation. 17

The past two years have seen record amounts spent on mineral exploration in our Province. To ensure that this activity continues and to permit maximum efficiency in exploration, my Government will present legislation for your considerat ion to replace The Crown Lands (Mines and Quarries) Act with a new Mineral Act. This legislation will improve the efficiency of procedures involved in acquiring mineral rights. ENERGY There have been significant occurrences in our Province in the past year relating to electrical energy.

My Government has acquired control of Churchill Falls ( Labrador) Corporation and the hydro potential of Labrador. Preliminary work was carried out on the development of the Lower Churchill River and the feasibility of transmitting power to the Island of Newfoundland confirmed . Negotiations carried out by my Government led to the Federal Government agreeing to assist in financing the necessary transmission lines and the tunnel beneath the Strait of Belle Isle.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Power Corporation commenced expansion ·of the Bay D'Espoir plant to meet our Province's energy needs until the Lower Churchill River is harnessed. My Ministers will continue the steps necessary to facilitate the completion of the Lower Churchill River project . My Government is determined to see that the benefits of this and other energy developments accrue to all our people, both on the Island of Newfoundland and within Labrador.

Legislation will be laid before you to reorganize the Newfoundland and Labrador Power Commission, to be known in the future as the Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro-Electric Corporation . The new Corporation will be so structured as to allow for the proper management of hydro and other power in the province . Newfoundland has long been known for its deep water bays and harbours. In the past they were merely safe anchorage for the thousands of ships that plied the North Atlantic.

For decades we have hoped to develop these ports into major industrial centres and we often wondered why such developments did not take place. Deep water ports, in themselves, are not sufficient attraction to major industries; not even when such ports are on the key north Atlantic trade routes . Additional incentives are needed and my Government is now launching the catalyt ic development that will see our deep water port dream come true. That development is, of course , the Gull Island site. 18

The power from Gull Island will stimulate industrial development throughout the Province . The combination of deep water and hydro sourced energy will permit the creation of a variety of large, labour-intensive industries . The connection of the island grid to the Gull Island site via the Strait of Belle Isle tunnel opens up the entire Labrador energy potential for industrial use. Industry siting, both on the Island and in Labrador, will no longer be subject to the vagaries of the international oil market. However, industry will not be the only benefactor of Gull Island and future hydro developments .

The people of the entire Province will profit from continued long-term , stable hydro electricity. Because the main costs for a hydro development are reflected in the initial capital investment, only marginal increases in price to consumers can be expected, in line with increases in the costs of labour and maintenance . OFFSHORE MINERAL RIGHTS During the past year my Government has continued efforts to reach a negotiated settlement with the Federal Government with respect to control over the mineral resources of the continental margin .

At the same time, my Government has continued the preparation of our legal case by extensive research and the retention of the services of eminent international and constitutional lawyers. Prior to further meetings, my Government will await a response to our last communication of November , 1974, when we requested a commitment from the Federal Government that it was prepared to negotiate a substantial degree of control for our Province over offshore activity.

With two gas discoveries off Labrador this past fall and the likelihood of early commercial developments being confirmed, it should have become obvious to all our people why it is so important that our Province continue to assert its rights to the control over offshore resources. My Government will request the support of this Honourable House for the position taken by my Ministers in protecting these most important rights.

My Government has stressed with the Federal Government the importance, during the Law of the Sea Conference, of preserving our mineral rights over the continental margin not only to the 200 mile limit but out to the very edge of that margin. As well as being crucially important for the protection of our fish stocks, control outside the 200 mile limit affects the very valuable mineral potential of the continental slope and rise. We do not want to see the Federal Government bargain away 19

rights over the margin in order to achieve other objectives at the Conference. My Ministers will be making further representation on this matter to the Government of Canada. RURAL DEVELOPMENT The Rural Development Program implemented by my Government is now in its second year of operation and the record to date has been most impressive. There are twenty -three Development Associations presently existing in the Province with ten more in the process of being formed . Seven hundred and thirty-three rural businesses have been assisted by the Rural Development Authority. A $30 million A.R.D.A .

Agreement has been signed with the Government of Canada and well over 100,000 pieces of information on various Government programs have been distributed by the Rural Development Authority throughout the Province. The activities of the Rural Development Program have touched the lives of thousands of Newfoundlanders in every area of our Province; approximately 260,000 through Rural Development Associations alone . The various programs are directed towards responding to the needs of the people in a way which will involve them in the making of the decisions that affect their regions or communities.

Basically, the approach is providing local people the wherewithal to plan the development of their own resources, to identify and pursue economic opportunities and to solve their problems. The local people are providing the major impetus to this kind of development . They are in the best position to identify local opportunities and to pursue them to their maximum potential.

OMBUDSMAN It is the intention of my Government to ask the Legislature during this Session of this Honourable House of Assembly to appoint a Parliamentary Commissioner pursuant to the provision of The Parliamentary Commissionaire (Ombudsman) Act.

Before so doing , however, my Government will lay before you legislation to amend the existing Act to make the administration of the Act the responsibility of the Legislature rather than one of my Ministers as is now provided and , to guarantee the total independence and impartia lity of the Ombudsman , to tie the salary payable to the holder of such high office to that paid the Chief Magistrate of the Province . 20

ELECTION EXPEI\ISES It is my Government's intention to recommend during this Session of the Honourable House of Assembly the appointment of a Select Committee of this House to hear recommendations from Newfoundlanders as to whether or not they wish election expen$1!5 to be controlled by the Legislature or whether they wish elections to be financed out of public funds. CONCLUSION If the young men and women are to meet the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities in the year ahead, proven, thoughtful leadership will be needed in Newfoundland.

In due course, you will be presented with Budget proposals by my Government to support the pr99rams referred to herein and to endorse a continued program of capital financing for the people of Newfoundland . . MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: You will be asked to grant supply unto Her Majesty. I invoke God's blessing upon your labours as you gjve careful consideration to the matters laid before you for the welfare of O!Jr beloved Province. 21

February 26, 1975 Tape No. 12 NM - 1 HON. J .C. CROSBIE, Mini s ter of Fisheries: Mr. Speaker, I ask leave of the House to introduce a Bill, "An Act To Provide For The Direction Of Intergovernmental Affairs In The Province." On motion, a Bill, "An Act To Provide For The Direction Of Intergovernmental Affairs In The Province," read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow . MR. SPEAKER: It is my pleasure to announce that His Honour, the Lieutenant-Governor has been pleased to make a speech to the members met here in General Assembly and that for greater accuracy I have obtained a copy. MR.

SPEAKER: The honourable Member for Bay de Verde. MR. B. HOWARD: Mr. Speaker, it is my honour and privilege today to move that a committee of this honourable House be appointed to draft an Address in Reply to the Throne Speech. However, before doing this, I think it would be worthwhile to reflect upon some of the accomplishments of this administration since we came to power, a mere three short years ago,and to reflect upon the course the government has chosen for its people over the next year.

Words are inadequate to describe the standards of living enjoyed by Newfoundlanders today compared with what we knew them to be a few short years ago. This has been brought about by a planned approach to bring Newfoundland into the main stream of the Canadian way of life. During the dying years of the previous administration people were very concerned about speaking out against government: to do so would almost result in political or economic suicide. A contractor may find his chances of securing work impaired. The average citizen would not be able to get a job if he spoke out against government.

Labour unions did not know exactly what the situation would be. In general people were very reluctant to speak out against government or against issues as they did not know what the consequences could be. Today here in Newfoundland, we no longer fear persons in authority. The feeling of dread has been lifted from our people by 22

February 26, 1975 Tape No, 12 NM - 2 the Moores Administration. The Moores Administration has given back to the people of Newfoundland the very basic rights of democracy. This restoration of the basic rights of Newfoundlanders I believe is one of the most important contributions this administration has made. Not only are people in general asked to give opinionseven providing they differ with government, members of the House of Assembly are also allowed to speak out without fear of recrimination. The rights of the individuals are being respected by government and Newfoundlanders from all walks of life.

They need not worry any more about reprisals against the stand they might take on a particular issue. Mr. Speaker, without bringing past issues before this honourable House I can only say that this administration has accomplished almost miracles in the restoration of confidence in government and in changing the general direction in which the province was headed. The Moores Administration found itself faced with the incredible task of trying to right so many wrongs.

Some of the major accomplishments to date have been takiilJl over the energy resources in Labrador which will benefit Newfoundlanders for untold generations to come, 23

February 26, 1975 Tape no. 13 Page 1 - mw the implementation of a system of taxation on unused and unmanaged forest resources on the island; the taking over of the giant Labrador Linerboard Mill in Stephenville which was doomed to failure had government not intervened; the establishment of the Department of Rural Development whereby people living in smaller communities would be encouraged to make a living there rather than being encouraged to move to a larger centre,and restructuring government to enable more services to be brought to rural Newfoundland. Mr.

Speaker, these are things that may not be readily appreciated. However had government not intervened, had government not taken back its resources, what would be left of our resources for the Newfoundlanders who are in school today and who will be trained to enter the labour market in the years to come? I submit, Mr. Speaker, that these are only the elementary parts of a blueprint of a master plan which will eventually bring Newfoundland into the main stream of life on the North American Continent. Had these measures not been taken this would not have been possible.

The opposition has called for an election on several occasions. I submit, Mr. Speaker, that they want to get back in power to give away the rest of the resources that they did not have a chance to give away while in power. Mr. Speaker, we have listened to the Throne Speech and we are very encouraged about the direction which the government plans to take in the province in the forthcoming year. Even in this difficult time of world-wide recession, Newfoundland appears to be forging ahead.

We see the province continuing to support an income stabilization programme for fishermen so that they no longer will have to rely on handouts from anybody. This, of course, is dependent on federal participation. These people must be treated in a fair manner by all levels of government. The Moores' Administration will continue to press the federal government for income stabilization for the fishetmen so that they can enjoy a standard of living no less than workers in any other occupation. 24

February 26, 1975 Tape no. 13 Page 2 In the field of fisheries as well, we have heard that new marine centres will be built at various points throughout the island and that technical assistance will be made available to small fish plants and producers. A health and mobile dental clinic will be made available to remote parts of Newfoundland so that Newfoundlanders who presently do not enjoy proper dental care will now be entitled to it. This is the first time since Newfoundland entered Confederation that this has happened in the smaller areas.

The previous administration wanted to relocate all these communities and would not make this type of service available. The Moores' Administration believes in rural Newfoundland and is therefore committed to them. The formation of the polytecbnical institute will no doubt be tied to the great developments envisioned for the province by the advent of the Lower Churchill. This institution will provide training for the many new job opportunities that will be created as a result of the energy from Labrador. Youth as well will contribute to the formation of policy over the years to come.

This again is a very significant move. The Moores' Administration has a plan whereby all main and secondary roads are to be paved within five years. The previous administration would only construct and pave roads where it was deemed politically expedient and in most cases the sign of roads being paved was an indication that an election was right around the corner. The Moores' Administration had prepared a plan whereby people know when their roads are going to be upgraded and paved and in no way is this work tied to an election. 25

February 26, 1975 Tape 14 This is the first time since Confederation that sound planning has gone into the construction of roads and other services. Mr. Speaker, the Moores' Administration also plans on correcting a few other discrepancies which were carried over from IB-1 the previous administration. A new labour standard code will be brought in whereby all standards come under the one code rather than the hodgepodge system at present. Legislation will also have to be introduced correcting mineral concessions that are not being explored. Mr.

Speaker, so much has been done and so much needs to be done that the orderly development of Newfoundland can only take place in a planned and systematic manner. The Planning and Priorities Secretariate of government evaluates all programmes whereby public monies are to be expended and established in order of priority for them. These priorities should be established in conjunction and consultation with the M.H.A's who are elected by the people of Newfoundland to be their chief magistrates in the House of Assembly. All M.H.A's must first of all be answerable to their constituents.

It is incumbent upon them to ensure that the voices of the people in their districts are brought to the attention of government. This is one of the basic principles we still enjoy in our system of democracy. It gives me great pleasure to know that the Moores' Administration would not have it any other way. Ultimately the members of the House of Assembly who represent the people of this province must establish the priorities for expenditure of public funds. These in turn must be made known to the offical arm of government, the Planning and Priorities Secretariate who no doubt will keep this in mind.

I look forward, Mr. Speaker,to the implementation of the many other items and recommendations contained in this most gracious Throne Speech. They are however too numerous to mention here. Mr, Speaker, this administration has laid the new foundation so that Newfoundlanders need never hold a second place to anyone ~n the future. While circumstances may have worked against us in the past, 26

February 26, 1975 Tepe 14 IB-2 this government is bringing a new era of prosperity to Newfoundland. Economic conditions have changed for the better, The average Newfoundlander today is much better off than he was at any time in history prior to this. While we cannot take complete credit, nor should we, for all improvements in economic conditions, I believe it is safe to say that but for that competence in governaent, these conditions may not have come about as soon as they have. Mr.

Speaker, as the member for the great district of Bay de Verde, I can say to this honourable House that my constituents have received recognition from this administration. This administration has paid tribute to the problems facing ay district.

These same problems were ignored for the twenty-five years previous to the Moores' Administration coming to power, Just to mention a few we have seen in the past three years: secondary roads have been upgraded as well as new ones been built, we have seen several slipways being built in places were none existed before; we have seen the development of a regional pastureundertaken; we have seen the main roads upgraded and some of them have been paved,and the others to be paved when the weatherp~rmits; we have seen a marine complex being constructed at Old Perlican; we have seen the approval of a water and sewerage system for the same town; we have seen deep wells being dug in different areas throughout the district to see to it that the people of the district receive an adequate fresh water supply; we have seen improvements made to medical establishments within the district; we have seen the development of six area dumps within the district within the past two years.so that the area could be cleaned up and kept that way so that the beauty of the area be maintained.

MR. NEARY: The real dumping will take place in the next election. MR. HOWARD: The honourable member will be the first one. A substantial amount of recreation grants have been approved 27

February 26, 1975 Tape 15 PK - 1 so that recreational facilities may be made available to the youth of the district where none existed before. Mr. Speaker, I could go on and on with the few accomplishments that I have mentioned above. It does not even scratch the surface as far as what has been done for the district since the Moores' Administration came to power.

And on behalf of the people of the historic District of Bay de Verde I want to thank the Moores' Administration for all that has been done for the district during the past three years and look forward to having the few things still not finished to be laid to rest within the next fiscal year. Mr. Speaker, as the member for the District of Bay de Verde I have the distinguished pleasure of moving that a connnittee of this honourable House be appointed to draft a reply to the Gracious Speech from the Throne. MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Member for Port au Port. MR. F. STAGG: Mr.

Speaker, my colleagues and distinguished guests: I apologize if I do not appear as alert this afternoon as I might be. Yesterday evening I 1 ,ad to drive to Deer Lake to catch the flight to St. John's. The flight did not land so I had to drive all night and got here 9:30 this morning. It iF not dissWlar to three years ago when under similar circumstances I drove all night and got here in time for the March 1 session. At which time I stood in this House of Assembly and moved the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne, March 1, 1972, three years ago.

I trust that the ensuing events today will not follow a similar pattern, although a perusalof this gracious Speech from the Throne taken in concert with the government's stellar performance over the past three years would indicate that such an event could proceed at no fear by the Hon. the Prfmier. AN HON. MEMBER: There is no feeling about that. NR. STAGG: In any event I do not propose dissolution. I would like to deal with two main parts of the Speech from the Throne, namely, housing and highways. I take note that the honourable '1ember for Labrador North, the Minister of Highways 28

February 26, 1975 Tape 15 PK - 2 AN HON. MEMJ!ER: Labrador West . MR. STAGG: Labrador West, I am sorry, the Minister of Transportation and Communications is in front of me and has charged me to speak well of his department. Under the firm guiding hand of the Member for Green Bay, the Department of Municipal Affairs and the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation propose to continue the astounding number of housing starts in this province.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Mortgage Lending Programme where people of modest means can obtain up to $18,000 repayable np to thirty-five years is the bulwark of this housing programme. It is geared to the Newfoundlander and the type of title that they have to their property. Many Newfoundlanders have title to their property by virtue of the fact that they have lived there, their ancestors have lived there for quite a number of years and the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation is taking a very flexible attitude towards the mortgage loans on this type of title.

Another 5,000 starts this year would indeed be gratifying and socially desirable. The Department of Transportation and Communications as it is now known or the Department of Highways as it is more familiar to us proposes to carry on its comprehensive plan of road upgrading and paving. I quote from the Speech from the Throne, page 13, "During the coming fiscal year despite spiralling costs the ·Department of Transportation and Communications will continue the programme of upgrading and paving the remaining roads in our highw~~s network. 29

February 26, 1975. Tape 16 RH - l My government is actively repairing a new five year plan which will guarantee that all main and trunk roads in this Province will be upgraded and paved within five years. It is hoped this essential and exciting five year paving plan will be completed in time for tabling during this session of the honourable House and I heartily endorse this position. My friend and seat mate from St.George's is presently looking for some roads in his district to pave.

What about the District of Port au Port and Stephenville as it now is because the District of Port au Port is now two districts under redistribution? We have the population and we will soon have the representation. Well, three years ago an election was fought with the Linerboard Mill at Stephenville a key issue.

My opponent in that election at an election rally, the Leader of the Opposition as he then was and still is, was on the stage at that time and that gentleman who opposed me in that election tore up John Crosbie's picture signifying, tore it up in this manner signifying that disaster would follow a government takeover of Javelin Pulp and Paper if that man were involved. Well, time has proven this thesis wrong. There are some problems but that mill is in operation. AN HONOURABLE MEMBER: Inaudible. l1R. STAGG: Maybe the honourable gentleman might wait for his turn to speak. It will come.

Time has proven the thesis wrong. There are some problems but the mill is in operation and has brought Bay St. George,which includes the Districts of St, George's,Stephenville and Port au Port,out of the economic doldrums. On behalf of all Bay St. George people I would like to thank you, John Crosbie, - MR. NEARY: And Joey Smallwood. MR. STAGG: And your executive assistant, Jim Cochrane, who has worked with you very long and hard in that task. We in Bay St. George are very proud people, always have been,and we are no longer advertised as a source of cheap labour as we once were.

There are no coolies in Port au Port. We have had an extensive road upgrading 30

February 26, 1975. Tape 16. RH - 2 programme on the Port au Port Peninsula over the past three years and hopefully all the main arteries will be paved this year. More money, and that is what keeps the world going around, more money has been spent in our three years than in all twenty-two prior to the frantic activity of election year, 1971. That was quite a year. It was like Vietnam. This is an organized and dedicated government. In October, 1973, about fourteen months ago, I said I was extremely upset about an arbitrary rise in rent on the Harmon Complex.

I believe I was justifiably upset, so upset in fact that I mentioned resigning my seat. I can say now that immediately all the facts were known by the Premier, this situation was remedied. Thank you, Frank! AN HONOURABLE MEMBER: Do not be familiar now! MR. STAGG: Mr. Premier. This is the kind of action I support and will continue to support. This government has bought back our heritage so far as power is concerned and is now tackling seriously the problems of the forests, the mines and the fishery and a multitude of others.

With the programme that is out­ lined in the gracious Speech from the Throne it is my sincere belief that this country is in good hands. It gives me great pleasure to second the motion so ably put by my honourable colleague from Bay de Verde. Thank you. 31

February 26, 1975 Tape No. 17 NM - 1 MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Leader of the Opposition. HON. E.M. ROBERTS, Leader of the Opposition: Mr. Speaker, may I begin, Sir, in the traditional and quite genuine ma.nner,congratulating the mover and seconder of the motion to appoint a committee to address a reply, to prepare an Address in Reply to the Speech frOlll the Throne, the Gracious Speech.

I thought each of them certainly lived up to his performances in the House and added considerably, The gentleman from Bay de Verde read his exactly as it was written, and I compliment hi.m,and the honourable gentleman from Port au Port seemed to feel that he should make an election speech and he gave what I thought was a good election speech, I only express the hope, Sir, I do not propose to go into the matter each of them raised, I would hope the precedent set in 1972 is followed.

I note with some interest that one or two government members are absent and I wonder if perhaps the precedent set by the former Member for Bay de Verde bas been followed on this instance also. I only predict there will be a different outcome whenever the people of Newfoundland and Labrador are asked to give judgement. Mr. Speaker, I think we should note with some pride and some pleasure that the speech which His Honour read to us marked his first opening. It was not his first appearance in the House, Sir.

His first appearance was just before Christmas when be gave assent to several pieces of legislation which we had enacted. This was his first appearance representing Her Majesty at the opening of the Session, the fourth Session of the General Assembly. He acquitted himself in the fine and noble tradition, Sir, established by his immediate predecessor, the honourable E. John A. Hamum and by the men who graced that office over the !00 years and more that we have had governors and lieucenant-govemors in Newfoundland. Mr. Speaker, these are the times that try men's souls.

They are very trying times indeed for Newfoundland and for her people. On every hand, Sir, grave and serious problems confront the people of this 32

February 26, 1975 Tape No. 17 NM - 2 province. It is up to us as the House of Assembly, the highest elected authority in this province and, Sir, it is not without significance, it is well founded in tradition that the only person for whom we as members stand, Sir, is the Queen's personal representative, His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor. Her Majesty's Judges when they come to our House, Sir, we do not stand for them. We are the highest authority, Sir, in this land within our constitutional jurisdiction. It is up to us to confront these problems, Sir, to come to grips with them and to try to solve them.

That is why we have been sent here. That is why the men and women of the forty-one constituencies which still exist and which will exist until the next General Assembly is elected, by the men and women of those constituencies, Sir, have sent us here. This House has had a long and a glorious history. The men who came before us, Sir, met the crises of their time, confronted them and dealt with them. All of us are in their debt, Sir.

Now as we enter the fourth session of the Thirty-Sixth General Assembly of this province the question I pose, Sir, is: Can we meet and confront the crises and the problems and the issues which face Newfoundland today? It is true, Sir, that there is a great deal of prosperity in our province today. On every hand we see new homes, magnificent, fine new homes, schools, hospitals, businesses, public services. The suffering which our fathers'generation knew, some members of this House knew it or knew of it first hand, twenty, thirty, forty years ago, that is gone, Sir, that is ancient history in Newfoundland today.

The men who were shaped by that era are gone too from the scene. John Kennedy said in his inauguiral speech in 1960, "The torch has passed." Well,it has passed too in Newfoundland. We have done much and we have accomplished much. We as a society - and I do not say it is the government of the province, I do not say it is any party and I do not say it is Ottawa-we as a society, it is the people of Newfoundland and Labirado~ have accomplished much. 33

February 26, 1975 Tape No. 17 NM - 3 But, Sir., we have not done well enough yet. There is still IIIU.ch to be done. We have not yet confronted our problems a,nd even today, the one message that comes through that speech, Sir, the message with which the government chose to open this session because. Sir• although Bis HonQJir read the speech, although it :is the Speech frDlli the Throne. Sir, it is the ministry's speech. It is the goveJ:D111eDt's statement, 34

February 26, 1975 Tape no. 18 Page 1 - mw the government's policy, the message that comes through it, Sir, is that they have no plans, they have no will and they have no ideas. There is a formidable agenda before the people of this province today, Sir, that should be before this House: the fishery. ,I do not propose to say anything about the dispute in the trawler industry. Negotiations are going on now in Ottawa.

Like every Newfoundlander I hope that they will succeed, that the fishermen, the trawlermen, will get what I believe and my party believe they should have, the right to an income and the right to negotiate those incomes and not the right to negotiate the price of fish by the pound of fish. SOME HON. MEMBERS : Hear! Hear! MR, ROBERTS: Mr.

Speaker, there is no mention at all in this Throne Speech of that dispute, a dispute which has gone on now for nine months with a brief interruption of several weeks, a dispute which is gravely threatening the well-being of everybody, every person living along the south coast of our province and substantial parts of the east coast. The fishery itself, Mr. Speaker, what reference there is are the same tired and trite phrases we have heard before and when analyzed even briefly, they will reveal that what action is being taken is the result of the Government of Canada. The figures, Sir, tell the story.

For 1974 fish landings were down substantially in value and in volume from 1973 and fish, Sir, is our life's blood. Fish landings were 514 million ponnds, down one-quarter from the year before. The market, Sir, frozen fish stocks were up thirty per cent by weight the end of last year, December 31, compared to the year before. Two months production remains unsold - one of the highest figures ever. There is nothing in the Throne Speech, Sir, nothing of any substance, nothing of any real vision and value. There is nothing in the speech, Sir, about the development of the province, the same tired, old phrases, 35

February 27, 1975 Tape no. 18 Page 2 When I speak in the debate on the Address in Reply, I am going to take - this administration, Sir, this is their fifth Throne Speech, the infamous one day session, the fraud session, the one to which the gentleman from Port au Port referred. I am going to take that and the three that preceded this one, Mr. Speaker, and we will see how many of these things crop up again. The dental programne we hear about. Mr.

Speaker, the Throne Speech, Wednesday, March 1, 1972 announced: "There is a great awareness by my ministers of the inadequate dental care available to our people." That previous fall during the general election, the leader of the party, the man who is now Premier and will be until the ~ext general election, that man, Sir, made a commitment to introduce mobile dental clinics. Four years later, four years, again that promise is trotted out. I can go through, Mr. Speaker, I can and I shall go through those five speeches of the same tired litany of promises. In every way, Sir, this province is falling behind.

A phrase was put in his Honour's lips, Sir, that is almost,almost an insult to the people of this province - almost. If I can find the speech, there are so many of these speeches, Mr. Speaker - they have not distributed the speech yet? AN HON. MEMBER: Yes, they have. MR. ROBERTS: All right. Let me just read this phrase, Mr. Speakeff, when we talk about the record of this government. "My ministers reaffirmed their commitment to provide jobs for those who are ready, willing and able to work." Let us look, Sir, at the figures, the unemployment rate on an annual average.

The Premier and I last year on opening day tangled on the figures and he was shown to be wrong. Let him deal with these. The unemployment rate stands at sixteen per cent for 1974 on an annual average. One in six Newfoundlanders are unemployed. That is what goes today. That is where we measure, Mr, Speaker, "My ministers reaffirmed their commitment to provide jobs for those who are ready, willing and able to work." Sixteen per cent! That might be a victory, 36

February 26, 1975 Tape 19 PK - l Sir. It might be if it had been a downward trend. But what is the trend, Sir? 1969, ten-point-three per cent, on an annual average; 1970, ten-'point-eight; 1971, twelve-point-four; rises I will agree, Sir; 1972, twelve-point-one; 1973, twelve-point-eight; 1974, sil:teen per cent. That is the trend and they dare to put that in without a specific or without a plan of without a prograDD11e. There are more persons unemployed this year, Mr. Speaker, than ever before in our history as a province or as a country.

In 1974 it averaged 29,400 people out of work, up one-third from the 1973 figures which were 22,800. Unemployment has increased by sixty per cent since this government came into office. The number of persons employed has increased by only twelve per cent. The labour force, Sir, just take one year, during the twelve months from January 1974 to January 1975, our labour force in Newfoundland grew by 8,000 men and women. There were 1,000 new jobs provided. Seven thousand of those men and women either got no jobs or had to displace somebody with a job and take that job.

One in eight chance of getting work for the new entrants into the labour force. The labour ferce, Sir, is not growing in Newfoundland at the rate it should. The unemployment rate is not growing at the rate it should. We are told in the Throne Speech that "My ministers reaffirm their commitment to provide jobs for those who are ready, willing and able to work:' The only jobs this administration has provided, Mr. Speaker, are some executive assistances and nine new members to the House of Assembly when the election comes,and they will not be supporters of the government. AN HON. MEMBER: Hear! Hear! MR. ROBERTS: Mr.

Speaker, there is nothing in the Throne Speech that will come to gripe swith the great issue of labour unrest, the justifiable feeling on the part of many of our wotking people that they are not getting their fair share. This in a year when the entire public service and many other large contracts, the paper makers, the loggers or all the construction industries in St. John's and across the province,are to negotiate new agreements. What happened to the infamous Neary Commission on wildcat strikes? 37

February 26, 1975 Tape 19 PK - 2 .offi.. NEARY: Not mine. MR. ROBERTS: It certainly was not the . honourable gentleman. It would have made much more sense if my friend for Bell Island had put it in. The commission was set up. What happened to the great international conference we were going to have on this great issue? \fuat about measures to deal with the loss of productivity, the loss of jobs, the loss of incomes.

There are a whole host of other problems I could touch upon, Sir; rising taxes, municipalities everywhere putting up their taxes because the government will not give them the money they need to do the jobs, the school taxes. Now the government, Sir, is cutting in on the municipal tax base by allowing the school tax authorities to increase , and by making the St. John's Area introduce a school tax. They are not dealing with the great questions of the environment; land use, planning, where our people are going to live and how they are going to live and how we are going to use this land which is ours as trustees.

We do not own it, Mr. Speaker. We are here but for a few brief years and then others will come after us. Housing: the gentleman from Port au Port spoke eloquently of housing. I hope and I believe he has considerable personal knowledge of the housing field. I think we have made some steps but we have not done nearly enough in housing. AN RON. MEMBER: We will get the legal work out. MR. ROBERTS: Consumer Affairs: despite calls from - Mrs. Plumptre's report is considered to be a very good one - from Mr. James McGrath, the Member for St.

John's East,spokesman for the Tory Party on Consumer Affairs nationally, we still do not have any Minister of Consumer Affairs. All it gets is the hind end, Sir, of one gentleman's activities, a gentleman who is more concerned any other time with dumps and with land developments. Mr. Speaker, we as the people must deal with these problems. There are answers and there are solutions. This is the forum where they should be debated and discussed, here in this House, the people's House. We all have a role, Sir, to play in that, each of the forty-one 38

.,. February 26, 1975 Tape 19 PK - 3 of us. There would be forty-two if the Premier had the courage of his convictions and would keep his promise to the people of White Bay South and allow them to elect a man or woman to speak for them. But that is just another broken promise, another dishonoured commitment, another breach of faith, another act of treachery. AN HON. MEMBER: Hear! Hear! 39

February 26, 1975. Tape 20. RH - l AN HONOURABLE MEMBER: Hear! Hear! MR. ROBERTS: The men and women in this House, Sir, men at present, the members of this House, Sir, each of us has a role to play. It is our job and the people of Newfoundland will judge our performance, Sir, and that hour of judgment draws nigh, I am happy to say. Nothing would give me more pleasure, Sir, than to learn that it had come. The opposition have a role, Sir, we have a role but that role is not to lead and not to govern. Mr. Stanfield in Ottawa who is Leader of the Opposition and will be until his successor is chosen by his party, Mr.

Stanfield does not pretend to lead the House of Commons or to govern Canada. No, Sir, he is Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Broadbent, interim Leader of the NDP does not pretend to lead the government. No. The government's job is to lead and to govern, Sir, and it is their job to bring to this House for our consideration and our discussion, all of us, solutions to these problems, the answers, their thoughts for the future of Newfoundland. That is the way the parliamentary system works, Mr. Speaker. Here we are ·now, the fourth session of this administration. Three years they have been in office.

This is their fourth Throne Speech. Three years ago, Sir, the gentleman from Port au Port reminded us again, this administration was elected to office with a great majority, an overwhelming majority. The people spoke and the people spoke clearly and the people spoke eloquently. The people of Newfoundland and Labrador had high hopes for this administration. That is why they put their confidence in them. Those hopes, Sir, have been shattered, violated and destroyed.

The people of Newfoundland and Labrador have been let down, disillusioned, betrayed, and, perhaps as a partisanpolitician, and I am one, Sir, just as the Premier is, just as every member is - I speak here today because I am leader of my party just as the Premier speaks in a moment because he is leader of his party - perhaps I should welcome this. Perhaps I should say that the fact that this government in three years have gone from the heights to the depths, it is something I should welcome. But I do not, Sir. I do not welcome it. I deplore it because as a Newfoundlander and as a member of this House I feel 40

February 26, 1975. Tape 20. RH - 2 that we have not got the leadership that we deserved, that the people of Newfoundland expected and needed and deserved. The people of Newfoundland, Sir, deserve better than this. They deserve better than that Throne Speech and they will get better. The Throne Speech, Sir, is not the answer to the problems facing Newfoundland today. It is a cruel and crushing disappointment. It is more of the same, the same trite old phrases. I would have thought Mr. George McLean could write better than that, Sir. There are a few good ideas in it 1 but they are very few.

We welcome the Labrador Corporation 1 but I say now, Sir, and my solleague will have much more to say on this, that that is only a small part of the answer. The headquarters for that corporation, it is proposed, are to be in Cartwright and in Cartwright, Sir, their big need is not a government corporation. It is water and sewer. The people of that community, three years ago, petitioned the government when the Premier went there during the infamous Labrador South by-election and went to stay with Mr. Rod Roberts, no relation of mine, no political supporter of mine I might add, but a fine gentleman none the less.

That was what the people of that community wanted and needed - a drop of water to drink, Sir, a sewer system, a water system. The corporation is fine and let us have development but we need more than that, Sir. The Polytechnic; I welcome that. I think that is a good idea. It is not a new idea. AN HONOURABLE MEMBER: Joey Smallwood - MR. ROBERTS: Mr. Smallwood - when the gentleman from Fortune Bay, before he was dismissed from the Smallwood administration was Minister of Education. I can remember the day when Mr.

Smallwood was then Premier and the gentle­ man as his colleague went and got in their car and went and looked around this building for a site for a polytechnic. That was seven or eight years ago. The idea now is being resuscitated and we welcome it. But, Sir, there could be no better example of our concern and our feeling that this government are not confronting 41

February 26, 1974 Tape 21 IB-1 the issues of the day. The questions in education in Newfoundland today will not be solved by a polytechnic. Indeed, Sir, it may only make them worse. Where are the thoughts and plans for the number of our students who should be attending post-secondary institutions? We have half the national average. What is going to be done about that? Where are the great plans and proposals that should be laid before our people to show them what steps are going to be taken to fit them to take and to win and to hold jobs in this modern,industrial, technological era? What about student aid?

What about the university? It has been starved. There has not been a significant, new, capital project in that university since the Liberal Administration left office. The Health Science Centre and the Engineering Building were both well launched before this administration took office. There have been a few residences built down on the corner of Allandale Road and Elizabeth Avenue, That has been the governments total commitment to the university, that and a deliberate policy aimed at restricting entry to the university. What else have they done? Some site access work? Mr.

Speaker, what about the questions that face the primary and secondary schools? All of the educational authorities agree that that is where the problems now rest in Newfoundland. If the Minister of Education spent as much time doing his job as he spends whispering to the Premier, Sir, we would be better off. Every school board in this province, Sir, the three great denominational co11D11ittees who control the churches' interest in education, they are strapped for cash, Sir. They have made their case publicly and privately time and time and time again.

One of those bodies, the Pentecostal body, feels it has been treated unfairly by the government, discriminated against. The Premier has not dealt with that, the same Premier who in March of 1972 announced in Corner Brook that he would entrench in the British North America Act the rights of the Pentecostal Assembl±es - another broken commitment, another broken promise. The problems of education, Sir, cannot be looked at in isolation. What is going to be done to meet the capital needs of our schools? What is going to be 42

February 26, 1975 Tape 21 IB-2 done, for example, in Bay Roberts where the Ascension Collegiate was burned and destroyed? Unless we can get a one shot grant perhaps to compensate for the imbalances in the DREE approaches to Newfotmdland, unless we can get that, Mr, Speaker, unless that is made available to the Integrated Educational Committee, I understand their entire construction programme will have to be pushed back one year. Why? Because there must be a school built to replace the Ascension Collegiate.

There must be one built, The children who go there now to grades nine, ten and eleven, one grade goes to Upper Island Cove. Another grade goes, I believe, to Harbour Grace or is it Coley's Point? And another one goes into South River. AN HONOURABLE MEMBER: The honourable gentleman does not know that. MR. ROBERTS: I know more than the honourable gentleman from Harbour Grace does, Mr. Speaker, but that is not saying very much, I confess. Mr. Speaker, those children now are going to school for two shifts. So that school must be replaced.

It is not the government's fault that Ascension Collegiate was destroyed by fire. Of course it is not. But it will be their fault, Mr. Speaker, if the entire construction programme has to be pushed back twelve months to allow a new school to be built. Mr. Speaker, some other things in the Throne Speech, the five year plan on highways that the gentleman from Port au Port lauded - the Minister of Manpower (Mr.

Maynard) is not with us today, he is in Ottawa about his duties - when he was Minister of Highways (Mr.Maynard) during one of our musical chairs cabinet sessions, he announced there was going to be a four year plan. We have heard it all before. The only plan they had, Sir, was seen in Hermitage when the graders came along one day and pushed the snow off and right behind it was the black top machine laying the asphalt. That was their highway plan. Then we come to the Labour Standards Code. We would like to see that, Sir. It was first promised in the 1973 Throne Speech.

We have gone through two or three Ministers of Labour and we still hear the same tired phrases. Let us have it . Let us see the draft. The quicker the better. 43

February 26, 1974 Tape 2'1 Then we come to legal aid where the Minister of Justice or whoever wrote that paragraph has perpetrated w_hat amounts to a deceit upon the people of Newfoundland . The Throne Speech , Sir, i's deceitful on at least that one point . I do not know who wrote i t . I do know it was not Bis Honour , the Lieutenant Governor , Si.r. I will find the 44 IB- 3

February 26, 1975. Tape 22. RH - 1 section. "When my government~ His Honour speaking, of course, Sir,"when my government assumed office,there was but a token effort in the field of legal aid. In the past three years,the provincial contribution to legal aid has risen from $20,000 annually to $380,000 for the fiscal year 1974-75. That statement is made, Sir, and I say it is misleading and deceitful and I would use stronger language if I could. The gentleman from Placentia East is very active in the legal aid society,on behalf of the law society in the legal aid.

Indeed 1 he is possibly the father, or maybe even the stepfather,of legal aid in Newfoundland. The facts are as follows,and a phone call would have sufficed. His Honour would not have been put in the terrible position of being made to utter to the people of Newfoundland a statement that is false, and knowingly false,! would submit. In the current year, Sir, the total expenditure on legal aid is estimated to be $340,000. That is the bill for criminal and civil, for lawyers to act in criminal and civil actions, not $380,000.

Now, Sir, let us look at the provincial contribution which according to the speech which the Minister of Justice and his colleagues wrote, which according to them, Sir, was $380,000, $40,000 more than would be spent in all- the provincial contribution, Sir, what is it? Mr. Speaker, although it is not mentioned in here, Ottawa pays ninety per cent of the cost of the criminal legal aid scheme up to fifty cents per capita,and we have not reached that level yet. So from Ottawa, it is estimated about $225,000 will go on the criminal side of the legal aid scheme this year.

Ottawa will pay ninety per cent of that, approximately $2OO,OOO,and that means the Province, Sir, the Province will not pay $380,000 this year but $140,000. Even next year, Sir, when it is estimated that expenditure will rise to the $380,000 level, it is estimated that provincial contributions will be less than it is this year. It will drop to $110,000 because the amount of money spent on the criminal legal aid scheme will rise, will rise to close to the maximun amount allowed of $270,000 on criminal from Ottawa.

Shameful act, Sir, shameful position to put the Minister of Justice in, to put the governor in, a shameful statement to make in a Speech from the Throne. I say, Sir, it is close to a deliberate attempt to mislead, to try to claim credit where credit is not due. Throughout this speech, Sir, that,is 45

February 26, 1075: Tape 22 RH - 2 the theme. They mentioned DREE and they laud DllE and they say how much is coming from DREE and how great it has been for Newfoundland. Not a mention of a Newfoundlander who is the Minister from DREE and who surely can take some of the credit for the fact that we have apparently got more money out of DREE than any other province of Canada per capita or any comparaple basis. Is it entirely, is it entirely outside the hands of the honourable Mr. Jameison, did he have nothing to do with it? Did he have nothing to do with it?

Anybody, Sir , who knows anything will admit hhat the reason why we have done so well out of DREE is that we have a Newfoundlander as Minister of DREE and a man who is determined and skillful! and is just going to help Newfoundland. That is the reason we have done o well and they did not even have the good grace to give the man the credit. I do not mind them claiming credit for what they have done, Sir. They are entitled to that. Mr. Speaker, I regret very much that there is no provision for a Minister of Consumer Affairs. ! : regret exceedingly that there is no provision for a house for a house.

There is a commitment made by the Premier in a letter in October, 1971- I was grubbling for a vote then, Sir-he had promised anything then, another unkept promise, a letter to Mr. Cecil Druken of the Blackhead Road, ''We will bring in that legislation." Last year,the gentleman from St. John's South,it was,put a motion on the Order Paper that received unanimous support saying; "Let us introduce that principle and make it into legislation~ Of course, it is his constituency that is effected and so he should put it on the Order Paper.

Re spoke eloquently and effectively,and the Rouse heard him and agreed with him, to a man supported it. Nothing in the Throne Speech ~lis year, Sir. AN HONOURABLE MEMBER: Inaudible. MR. ROBERTS: I regret exceedingly, Sir, that there is no notice that we are going to be asked to amend the Public Tenders Act, to close a loop­ hole which has been shown by some dramatic events recently to exist.

I think a government bf honour, a government that believed in even coming close to keeping their promises,would move :!Jnmediately to plug that loophole, to remove the words that allow a $9 million deal to be made for the private 46

February 26, 1975. Tape 22 RH - 3 developer without benefit of any tender. Shameful act'. Shameful act, and this was the government, Sir, that made so much noice,and perhaps rightly so, about some very imprudent, put it at that word, I could probably be stronger, some imprudent leases that were entered into by the Liquor Corpora tion some years back . Ah! they were pikers . Nine millions and that is not even talking about Trizec. They think we are too green to burn, Sir, if I may be permitt ed the pun . 47

February 26, 1975 Tape 23 PK - 1 Mr. Speaker, there is a debate to come and I do not propose to go on. But we have a great deal to say, Sir, a great deal. We have a list of 169 unkept Tory promises. We have a list of the ones they have kept, Sir. We are up to six now but we are working. The Throne Speech, Sir, is an empty document and it reveals the government's attitude towards the problems of this province. Sir Winston Churchill once said, I think it was during the Battle of Britain, I believe, that ''Never was so much owed by so many to so few".

An eloquent and a moving and a deserved tribute to the few, the pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain, many of them Newfoundlanders. Indeed the man who is the Chairman of the Board of Regents of the University was one of our heroes, one of the Newfoundland heroes in that Battle of Britain. But if I could paraphase that, Sir, and apply it to this Throne Speech, never was so much said by so few to so many after three years. Sir, this document is a cruel and crushing disappointment. They have planned and planned and planned and planned and planned and plann~d and planned and they are still planning.

There is no action, Sir, on the problems which face our people. AN HON. MF.MBER: They are planning their next vacation. MR. ROBF.RTS: If they put as much thought into planning the affairs of Newfoundland as they put into planning their vacations, we would all be better off. Sir, all of the concerns of our people are not dealt with in this document. It is full of empty phrases. If Your Honour goes through it and counts the numbers of wills, and he is thinking of, and givingsome consideration to, and this and that. We want answers to these questions it! the House, Sir. We believe the session should deal with them.

We will be raising them. There are other matters: we want to see offshore oil and gas debated. There has never been a debate on it in this House. Let us have the debate. What about the Lower Churchill? We have not had any debate on that. We have asked for one time and time again. The Shaheen Refinery - two years ago and more the Premier stood in his place and read a statement glowing with glory and with pride in his achievement that construction was to start in June of 1973 on the 48

February 26, 1975 Tape 23 PK - 2 great new second refinery for Come By Chance. What has happened? Are we going to get anything at all? Why not? Why have we no information? The Linerboard Mill - the Member for Port au Port lauded it. He might go and talk to his constitutents, if they could get to see him other than by appointment, and ask them what they think of it, Sir. This government has been in office, Mr. Speaker, for three years. Itis time they stood on their own feet. It is time they produced an agenda for Newfoundland. I believe that we can build a great and a glorious Province of Newfoundland.

We have the resources, Sir, and we have the will. What we need now is the leadership. The Bible says, Sir, "Where there is no vision the people perish'.'. Let that be our watchword. Let us take William Blake's line, in a little paraphase, "I shall not cease from mental fight,nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,til we have built a Jerusalem,in this our green and pleasant land". Let us make that our watchword. As we enter this fourth session let us make that our pledge, we owe it to the oeople of Newfoundland, Sir. I pledge myself to that, and I pledge my colleagues and my party. Thank you. MR.

SPEAKER: The Honourable the Premier. HON. F. D. MOORES: (PREMIER) : Mr. Speaker, did you ever hear the like of that in your life before? Mr. Speaker, it sounded like a caller on the "Tell It To Steve Show", and that show has probably got the same appeal in future as the "Kipawo". MR. NEARY: MR. MOORES: MR. NEARY: Thanks for the 0 publicity. All right,any time at all,my friend. Tell it to Steve. MR. MOORES: Mr. Speaker, there are a great many serious things that have to be discussed in this honourable House of Assembly, and we are not going to do it by paraphrasing people of the past.

We are going to do it by coming up with some ideas of our own. The situation is, Sir, that I also would like to congratulate the Lieutenant-Governor today on his first Throne Speech in this House and agree with,in that context,the Leader of the Opposition. I would also like to welcome the visiting clergy and other distinguished guests who are in this 49

February 26, 1975 Tape 23 PK - 3 Chamber today. But I would also like to comment on the Speech from the Throne and the record of this government. 50

february 26, 1975 Tape No. 24 NM - 1 The Hon. Leader of the Opposition seems to be somewhat mixed up between a throne speech and the budget speech. He talks about what is lacking in student aid and so on and various other aspects of finance, which he knows very well,or should know, is the sort of thing discussed in a budget speech and not in a throne speech. He talks about the crises in this province, the crisis of unemployment in this province. He does not mention that there is a crisis in just about every country in the western world today because of inflation and recession.

In the United States of America;where there were some 680,000 employed in the automobile industry, some 325,000 of those have been laid off. So the problems that we are having in this province are no different in fact than the problems that are happening elsewhere in the world. As a matter of fact,this province,I suppose,has been used to seasonal work for a longer pe~iod of time than any other part of our Canadian federation. He also mentions the fact that White Bay South shoald have representation. I agree,but it is not our fault, Sir, that White Bay South, does not have representation.

The fact is that the Liberal Member for White Bay South resigned and walked away from the seat and not a P.C. member. The other fact is that he talks about Cartwright not want- ing a government building. I doubt if that is correct. He says they want a water and sewage system and they should have it. I agree with that, Sir. But how can he say that after twenty-three years and he did not even send down a bucket. Ladies and gentlemen,when we inherited the government of this province, Mr. Speaker, we inherited one of the greatest economic financial messes of any province in Canada.

We still have a lot to do and after only three years we have moved well ahead and we will move ahead further and better from here. Now one other thing, we inherited this atrocious mess, this economic castrophe almost, and who were the advisers to the Premier 51

February 26, 1975 Tape No. 24 NM - 2 of that time? Was the Leader of the Opposition the financial adviser? No, he was the special adviser, I am sorry, Sir, Mr, Vardy was the financial adviser. MR. NEARY: No,Dick Greene. Dick Greene was the financial adviser. MR. MOORES: Mr. Speaker, the fact is, we talked about the fishermen's strike briefly and I will go on to it again in a moment. The fact is that the fishermen's problem in this province is a very serious situation, There are no easy solutions. The opposition certainly have not come up with any solutions.

They have not suggested that "x" amount be guaranteed or what have you, Obviously the principle of trade unionism,of parties bargaining,is the way that that has to be done, That is presently being done in Ottawa through the Minister of Manpower and Industrial Development and his Deputy Minister with the local bargaining team for the union from here and the Canadian Labour Congress bargaining on the union side and the Fish Trades Association negotiating on behalf of the companies.

This, Sir, has to be let stand in that position until such time as those talks succeed 1which I am sure every member of the House hopes will happen or otherwise. The fact is, Sir, that the fish situation, the Hon, Leader of the Opposition mentions the fact that the fish landings were down by twenty-five per cent last year in this province, as if the provincial government were at fault.

It was not the provincial government, Sir, and it cannot be the provincial government that imposes a 200 mile limit,because if that had been done at the appropriate time, the fish stocks would not have been down, they would have been up. It is from the neglect of Ottawa in not putting in the 200 mile limit that has caused the problem we have today throughout the fishing industry, The Leader of the Opposition says that this is a do-nothing government. He says he has worked hard to come up with six things that this government has done.

This morning at the proroguing of the House, His Honour the Lieutenant-Government mentioned the fact that 120 pieces of legislation was passed in the last session alone. 52

February 26, 1975 Tape No. 24 NM - 3 But, Mr. Speaker, to underline just a few of the things this government has done,and I will only underline a few, I would just like to remind this honourable House of Assembly what has been done. We have said 53

February 25, 1973 Tape no. 25 Page 1 - mw the fishery will continue to play an important role. The fact is, Sir, that the fishery will never be the same again. We are going through a social revolution-in the fishery and I, for one, think it is a good thing. In the fishery the special gear replacement programme last year for heavy ice losses, the new overall fisheries' policy maximizing the benefits to all,breaking with tradition as we have known it, the Department of Fisheries since 1972 has tripled its spending in the area of fisheries in this province.

In other words, the department that was ignored for years is now at last getting an opportunity to slowly but surely come through. There are major longliner building prograD111es through the Fisheries Loan Board, loan programmes available to the private sector to keep the industry viable. We have pushed for the 200 mile limit, Sir, as I mentioned a moment ago. The problems that are presently in force in the fishery, the state of the industry itself,are primarily because the 200 mile limit was not a fact before now. There will be future problems in the fisheries. Mr.

Speaker, to illustrate the emphasis we have put on the fisheries in the new polytechnical institute that will come about and start this year, the first phase of that institute is the new College of Fisheries, Navigation,Technology and Marine Sciences. That is the first phase of the polytechnical institute. That does not mean to say that this government is not putting emphasis on the fisheries. It is quite the reverse. There will be problems in the future because on the north east coast of our province, we have a very different way of life than I suppose just about any fishery in the world.

With not being used to going to where the fish is but more or less waiting for the fish to come to shore, the whole sociological change is going to be very traumatic for those who experienced it on the job as well as for the people who live in this province. These people in these outport communities on the north east coast, these inshore fishermen, must be protected and if they have to be protected by government or whoever that must be done and will be. 54

February 26 1975 Tape no. 25 Page 2 Mr. Speaker, in the field of forestry and agriculture, the Hon. Leader of the Opposition said that we have done nothing. We have proclaimed the new Forest Land Management Taxation Act. We have taken over all the forests of this province for the first time, taken them over instead of giving them to a few particular individuals. No longer do we have a situation where any company owns huge tracts of land,but rather we will take over the land and make sure that they have enough,but the balance will be managed properly. But most certainly, Mr.

Speaker, we will never again have a sale by NALCO or whoever of 10,000 square miles of forest resources in Labrador and $2 million deposited in a bank account in Liechtenstein. That day, Sir, has gone forever. MR. ROBERTS: MR. MOORES: MR. ROBERTS: MR. MOORES: Good,now we have got Craig Dobbin. I beg your pardon? Good, now we have got Craig Dobbin. Good,now we have got Craig Dobbin. Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition makes a comment like that and as usual his contribution in life is dealing nastily with personalities and never with the facts, SOME HON. MEMBERS : Hear! Hear! MR. MOORES: Mr.

Speaker, also in forestry and agriculture, the Reid lands were bought back for the people of this province. Local lumber,where sawmills were closing down for many years in this province, are being rejuvenated again. MR. NEARY: MR. MOORES: Sure they are, all of them in trouble, every one of them. Sawmills in this province, Mr. Speaker, are not only being started but also with the new legislation,for the first time, all lumber used in Newfoundland that is appropriate will be built from Newfoundland materials and not imported like for the twenty-three years of the Liberal Administration before. _AN HON.

MEMBER: Any Craig Dobbin contracts? 55

February 26, 1975 Tape no. 25 Page 3 Ill, MOORES : Mr.

Speaker, substantial expansion of the forestry branch in nine management units has been done; the signing of the $30 million DREE Agreement which was the first DREE Agreement,by the way and I think probably one of the most worthwhile ones; reforestation prpgrammes ha11e been started, a nursery has, in fact, b.een opened in Central Newfoundland; the general decentralization ·of the department generally; the rev:tsion of crown lands administration and an enlarged staff whtth was overdue but badly needed; a new programme for farm loans and capital assistance to agriculture; expansipn of pasture lands; community pastures; new crop insurance programmes, 4].l these, Mr.

Speaker, according to the Leader of the Opposition are not doing anything, Tourism, 56

Febru a ry 26, 1975 Tape 26 IB-1 more oarks than ever before and this will continue because Newfoundlanders, I suppose, more than any other people, enjoy the outdoors and enjoy the park facilities we have in this province. The wildlife in our province, the conservation and management of that resource, I suppose, is the envy of most provinces in Canada. The legislation on all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles ~ill be tabled in the House in the form of a white paper so that public reaction can be received and analyzed before the regulations are brought in.

Because, as was pointed out in no uncertain terms last year when we were discussing it by both the member for Labrador South and the member for Labrador North, the conditions in that part of the world are indeed very dissimilar from, say, St. John's or other parts of the province. The Arts and Culture Division of the Department of Tourism, which is an important part of our society, Sir - an Arts and Culture Centre is being completed in Stephenville and another one is under way in Gander.

Historic sites are something that I am afraid both governments over the years have overlooked to a degree, but I think at last they are coming into the true place in our heritage and society that they deserve. In co-operation with the federal government a great deal is being done in this area right now. In the New Medical Health Act that was passed this yea~ in the region of health itself,we had a new subsidized ambulance programme whereby the maximum any patient in this province will pay now for ambulance service is twenty dollars. That is the maximum. Most will be ten.

The ambulance programme that was in existence before was almost unbelievable. If one was not too sick, they took a taxi as a rule from some of these places in to see a doctor that probably cost eight or ten dollars. If one was quite sick, say from Bonavista into St. John's, they probably paid $120 or $130. AN HONOURABLE MEMBER: $190. MR. MOORES: Or $190 I am reminded. If one was almost dying, they sent a helicopter in and they got in for nothing. The fact is now, Sir, that it is being regularized for everybody to be the same. 57

February 16, 1974 Tape 26 IB-2 The doctor- patient ratio has been brought down to reasonable levels and the shortage eased. The vigorous programme of hospital construction has begun,as well as with nursing stations. Once again, Mr. Speaker, as we were reminded today, Mr. Smallwood had a great many ideas. There is no question about that. He had a cornucopia of ideas. He was full of them. Every time he stood up he had ideas galore.

Amongst those were Western Memorial Hospital expansion, the building of Twillingate HoJpital, the improvement of Waterford Hospital, the building of the first stage of Bonavista Hospital, the Carbonear Hospital. All these were ideas of Mr. Smallwood. But there is a big difference, Mr, Speaker. They were his ideas and this government has carried out the expansion of Western Memorial Hospital and the b•ilding of Twillingate Hospital, the improvement of Waterford Hospital, the improvement of Bonavista Hospital and the building of the hospital in Carbonear.

They were not ideas, Sir, -they were deeds and there is a big difference. In the field of Manpower and Industrial Relations, the manpower policy adopted by the Federal- Provincial Manpower Needs Committee has been done and will be meaningful. One of the minor things, I suppose; the opposition would consider that we have done is the minimum w·age. In 1972, I guess it wss, the miDimum wage was $1.10. Today, Sir, it is $2,20, in three years. The New Labour Standards Legislation is being drafted and will be presented. It is a big job as is the New Labour Relations Act. They are both. tremendous jobs of draftsmanship.

A lot had to go into them. They will be ready for this session of the House of Assembly. We also brought in equality for equal work in this province so that men and women doing equal work will get paid equal pay. Now we are bringing in no fault insurance. All these are worth-while. In the field of education I must point out one thing. I think it is unfortunate at a time like this that the Leader of the Opposition would single out any one denomination as such for dissatisfaction or being upset, The fact is that the Pentecostal 58

February 26, 1975 Tape 26 IB-3 Assembly has been recognized by this province by both governments, the one before now,and now. That appeal was sent on to Ottawa to be placed in the British North America Act. It was sent to Ottawa and as the federal government has not seen fit to have that British North America Act changed, it is not the responsibility of any government in this province past or present. MR, ROBERTS: Inaudible. MR. MOORES: 59

February 26, 1975 Tape No. 27 NM - 1 It went through as a motion in this House as I understand it. MR. ROBERTS: That was when the Liberals were in. MR. MOORES: Mr. Speaker, he says it was sent forward when the Liberals were in power. The Liberals have been in power ever since and they still have not done anything about it. But anyway I do not want to get involved in that particular sort of debate this afternoon. The pupil-teacher ratio has been substantially reduced in this province.

There have been major increases in school board grants, the expansion of pre-vocational programmes, the introduction of new student aid pr9grammes, revised school tax Act allowing for increased exemptions for the old people and the handicapped and those on low incomes, increase in high school student bursaries by thirty-three per cent, the introduction of a high school drama festival, a major increase in capital grants for school construction, expansion of free text book programme up to grade six and I understand to grade nine this year. Mr . Smallwood also had another idea, Mr.

Speaker, the poly­ technical school as was mentioned. There is a difference again. The polytechnical s·chool this time will be done, as well as the residences which are so badly needed for the technical and vocational students. It would be wrong, Sir, to leave the subject of education without mentioning the university. The Leader of the Opposition says that this government has not been associated with any major building programme at the university. That is true, Mr.

Speaker, I suppose, but then again a regional college on the West Coast, rural Newfoundland, is not something that the honourable the Leader of the Opposition is that familiar with. There is a regional college going on the West Coast, Sir. It is known. I would also like at this time to, Sir, officially congratulate Memorial on its twenty-fifth year as a university a~d its fiftieth year as a college. Regarding the student aid for the 60

February 26, 1975 Tape No. 27 NM - 2 students at Memorial as the Leader of the Opposition well knows, the fact is that this is a budgetary item and will be dealt with in the Budget Speech. One other thing I might say, Sir, regarding the role of the university I think the Leader of the Opposition did touch on this and I think it is important. We are putting a lot of emphasis in this province on the technological age, on increasing vocational capacity and the ability to learn more in the technical capacity.

But I am sometimes very afraid that even though this is very desirable,and people need this sort of training for jobs wherever they may be, people need this sort of thing to get jobs immediately, a lot of people need to be upgraded and skills developed and so on, the fact is, Mr. Speaker, that I sometimes become very afraid that the real meaningful role of the university will be lost. I think that should never, ever be allowed to happen.

I think in every way possible the academia, those small group of people 1 in fact,in our society who have the opportunity to attend and learn at university, must be encouraged at all costs and not at the cost of anything else.

In the field of Mines and Energy, Sir, getting back to a few of the achievements of the government itself, we have had an evaluation of the province's mineral endowment, development of comprehensive mineral policy, extensive geological mapping programme, extensive areas of Crown land opened up for claims taking for the first tim~ In other words instead of giving great tracts of land to friends, the fact is the land is now being taken back and given to various companies for a chance to explore and develop as may be the case.

The Leader of the Opposition wants very badly to have a debate on the Churchill Falls project. Well,I am all for having a debate on the Churchill Falls project but I am afraid from what I have so far heard from the opposition that all we will get is debate. We 61

February 26 , 1975 Tape No. 27 NM - 3 will not get any opinions on what to do or how to do it, we will not get any suggestions on what should be done. But the fact is, Sir, we did buy back the Churchill l'alls and we bought it back for one reas on, not j~t for the Churchi