Alberta Hansard — 6 March 1987, Morning sitting (10:00) (Legislature 21, Session 2)

19870306

Alberta — Debates (Hansard)

March 6, 1987 ALBERTA HANSARD 9 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA Title: Friday, March 6, 1987 10:00 a.m. Date: 87/03/06 [The House met at 10 a.m.] [Mr. Speaker in the Chair] PRAYERS MR. SPEAKER: As we begin this Second Session of the 21st Legislature, let us first memorialize former members of this House who have died since we last were in session: Robin Daniel Jorgenson, the Member for Pembina, 1944 to 1967; Percy Alexander McKelvey, the Member for Ponoka, 1940 to 1944; John Archibald Mills, the Member for Lac Ste.

Anne, 1955 to 1959; Ronald Joseph Tesolin, the Member for Lac La Biche-McMurray, 1975 to 1979; and Joseph Henry Unwin, the Member for Edson, 1934 to 1940. Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them. Amen. Father, on this day of a new beginning we ask for Your guid ance in the responsibility we have undertaken and Your help in fulfilling our duties. As Members of this Legislative Assembly may we faithfully serve all Albertans and, in serving them, serve You. Amen. head: TABLING RETURNS AND REPORTS MR. GETTY: Mr.

Speaker, I'd like to table certain returns that have to do with the annual Premiers' Conference in August in Edmonton, the communiques that were prepared as a result of that conference. I'd also like to table the government of Al berta's opening statement in the First Ministers' Conference in Vancouver and the document entitled Canada's Energy Future: Action Today for a Secure Tomorrow, which was tabled also at the First Ministers' Conference. MR. HORSMAN: Mr.

Speaker, I am tabling the annual report of the Crimes Compensation Board for the period ended March 31, 1986, and the annual review for 1984 of the office of the Chief Medical Examiner. head: INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS MR. ELZINGA: Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure of introduc ing 30 students to the Assembly from the Fultonvale school in grades 4 through 9. They're accompanied by their teachers and some parents from the Fultonvale school, and I would ask the Chamber to extend their traditional warm welcome to these stu dents. They are in the members' gallery, sir. Thank you. DR. BUCK: Mr.

Speaker, I take great pleasure in introducing to you and through you to members of the Assembly, 40 grade 6 students from the Fort Saskatchewan elementary school. They are accompanied by their teacher Mr. Alexandruk, who has been bringing young people to this Legislature for many years; Mrs. Benn, who is also one of their teachers; one of the parents Mrs. Lawrence; and their bus driver Eric Van Camp, who's been bringing students to this [Legislature] for at least 15 years. They are standing in the public gallery, and I would like the members of the Assembly to give them the traditional welcome. MR. ORMAN: Mr.

Speaker, it is a sincere privilege for me to introduce to you and through you to members of the Assembly, 30 grade 8 students from Dr. Egbert community school in my constituency of Calgary Montrose. The students are accompa nied by their community school co-ordinator Del James, along with Colleen Roberts, Jean Johnson, and Marie Neault. I would ask them all to rise and receive the warm welcome of the Legis lative Assembly. MRS. BETKOWSKI: Mr. Speaker, I would like to introduce five students who are here at our invitation during the celebra tion of Education Week.

I would ask them to stand as I read out their names. First is Rasheed Hosein from J. Percy Page com posite high school in Edmonton, Mr. Greg Huyer of Paul Kane high school in St. Albert, Lynette McNamara of H.A. Kostash school in Smoky Lake, Jane Rowe of St. Francis high school in Calgary, and Scott Sieppert of Foothills composite high school in Okotoks. I would ask them all to stand as a group, please, and be recognized by this Assembly. MR. ANDERSON: Mr.

Speaker, I am pleased to draw to the attention of the Assembly the presence in the members' gallery of Margaret Leahey, the chairperson of the Alberta Advisory Council on Women's Issues, and Dr. Sheila Wynn, the execu tive director of the Women's Secretariat. I'd ask them both to stand and receive the welcome of the Assembly. MR. SPEAKER: Hon. members, it is my pleasure on behalf of all of us to welcome to the Assembly the families of some of the deceased former members of this Assembly. First, I would introduce to you Mr. Gino Tesolin and other members of Ron Tesolin's family, and also Mrs.

Stella Unwin and members of her family. One other set of introductions is by way of a thank you. Members will have noticed one or two changes to the Chamber, and in this regard I would first have us recognize the architect for the project, Mr. Brian Woolfenden, and with very special thanks to the representatives of the Department of Public Works, Supply and Services, if those three gentlemen would stand, I would greatly appreciate it. head: MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Department of Education MRS. BETKOWSKI: Mr.

Speaker, today marks the last day of Education Week 1987 in Alberta and the first opportunity that I've had in the Legislature to speak officially to the celebration. I had the privilege to introduce earlier five young people who represent what is excellent in our school system in Alberta. In the Speech from the Throne yesterday Her Honour high lighted this government's key emphasis on quality education as one of its leading priorities. That emphasis has not changed during the past decade an a half as Albertans have built an edu cation system modeled on strength, creativity, partnerships, and commitment.

Clearly, there is no more important function that we can fulfill as a society in general and as a province in par

10 ALBERTA HANSARD March 6, 1987 ticular than the foundation which only a good education can pro vide our young people. Education Week is one special week out of many during the school year when we can reflect positively as Albertans on the excellence in our school system, which we too often take for granted. It also provides an opportunity to pay special recogni tion to those who are involved in education throughout the province: our teachers, our trustees and, most important, our students.

The week began in Calgary where I invited Nadine Thomas, the president of the Alberta Teachers' Association, and Elaine Jones, president of the Alberta School Trustees' Association, to join me in the official kickoff ceremony at the Calgary Olympic centre. There we received copies of the new Olympic curricu lum kits, which have been distributed to the 1,700 schools around the province to heighten all students' awareness of the international focus and excitement which the Winter Olympics will provide in just 11 months from now. Mr. Speaker, the theme of Education Week this year is: learning for life.

It's about recognizing that learning is a lifelong process which never stops. It's about striving for excel lence in everything we do, whether it's teaching or learning. It's about deciding what are the critical and essential components of a good basic education. It's about making improvements in the way students are taught, in order to ensure, that they are learning in the most effective way. And it's about preparing our young people with the skills, the creativity, the knowledge, and the de sire to face the challenges of the 21st century.

Schools across this province have joined in the celebration of Education Week in Alberta through special projects, minicon ferences, science fairs, and general classroom discussion. I in vite all Members of the Legislative Assembly to join in the celebration. MR. MARTIN: Well, Mr. Speaker, it does take a government with a lot of gall to talk about Education Week when we are in the process of doing everything we can to dismantle education in the province. Nobody would disagree with the ministerial statement. I would compliment the minister for reading it well.

The rhetoric is nice, but I point out that rhetoric is cheap. I re mind that we are talking about cutting back 3 percent. With institutional inflation, that means it's probably roughly 7 per cent. We're talking about cuts in community schools -- and we well know they were here at the Legislature -- cutting by 50 per cent. I can tell the minister what that means in my own riding for inner-city schools like Norwood school and Alex Taylor school and people like that. If we really believe in this rhetoric, we would not be doing this at this particular time. Mr.

Speaker, I expect that we will have to wait until the budget to see how bad it is, but I would say to this Minister of Education, if she honestly believes in this statement, she will be talking to her colleague the Provincial Treasurer and turning back these regressive cuts in education so that we can indeed believe in her statements. I hope she'll do that. Department of Culture MR. ANDERSON: Mr. Speaker, March 8 is International Women's Day, a significant event for women worldwide, dating back to 1910.

It is a day in which efforts to improve the posi tion of women, especially in the area of employment, are acknowledged. Today, in honour of International Women's Day, I am pleased to table a new publication entitled Women in Alberta, which highlights some of the programs and activities of the gov ernment of Alberta which are of special significance to women. This booklet outlines the achievements made in enhancing the position of women and symbolizes the government's ongoing commitment to ensuring that women have the opportunity for full and equal participation in all aspects of Alberta life.

While it is evident that much progress has been made, other steps are yet to be taken. The government is committed to building on the momentum already developed for the benefit of all of its citizens, whether in the home, in the workplace, or in the community. Later in this Legislative session I will table new initiatives taken by several departments as committed to in the Premier's 1986 address to the First Ministers' Conference. MR. MARTIN: Mr. Speaker, I rise again to reply to the minis terial announcement. Again, who could disagree with the rhetoric in this particular announcement?

I'm sure all the women in Alberta will be overjoyed to know that they'll have a new publication titled Women in Alberta, but I expect that they would like some action from the Legislature dealing with things like pay equity, dealing with things like affirmative action in the public service, dealing with poverty in older women, dealing with battered women's shelters, dealing with the crisis line. I would think that an announcement from the minister in those areas would go a long way to satisfying women, but I doubt that they'll be too satisfied with the new publication.

But again maybe -- hope springs eternal -- we'll see something worth while in the rest of the Legislature. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Statement by the Speaker MR. SPEAKER: Hon. members, briefly I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you all to the Second Session of the 21st Legislature. While it is not my intention to review the practices relating to question period and ministerial statements, I do wish to briefly reiterate a few points of procedure which may help pro ceedings along.

I have a statement for distribution which out lines the procedures for question period and ministerial state ments which were in effect in 1986 and which will be in effect as we begin this session, and that is the result of a consensus developed by meeting with the House leaders of all parties. One further word with respect to question period. I'm sure you won't be surprised that it has to deal with the issue of supplementary questions.

I am sure all members are aware of the various restrictions on asking questions in the Assembly but would especially like members to take note of Beauchesne, sec tion 357(1), where it refers to citation 171, which is, "The pur pose of a question is to obtain information and not to supply it to the House." Lengthy

preambles or

preambles for a supple mentary question would seem to fall into that category. I would also like to draw members' attention to Beauchesne,

section 712(1), where it states, "The first reading of a bill is a purely formal stage as it is decided without debate or amend ment." The Chair interprets this to mean that one or two sen tences should provide members on all sides of the House ample opportunity to introduce a Bill. Each one of us is fully aware that we are elected members seeking to serve our constituents to the best of our abilities. At times we may disagree, but throughout the thrust and parry of debate all members are indeed equal. The Chair will do the ut

March 6, 1987 ALBERTA HANSARD 11 most in its power to treat you all as equals, and certainly you will be respected as equals. Thank you. head: ORAL QUESTION PERIOD MR. SPEAKER: The hon. Leader of the Opposition. Unemployment MR. MARTIN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to direct the first question to the Premier. Since the Premier took office a year ago, 30,000 more Albertans are officially unemployed, 15,000 more are collecting welfare, and in January Alberta suf fered the greatest increase in unemployment among Canadian provinces.

My question to the Premier: does the Premier agree that this performance is unacceptable, and has he set a specific goal of job creation in the next year? MR. GETTY: Mr. Speaker, as all members of the House know, we do have an unacceptably high level of unemployment in the province of Alberta, and we are working very hard to do every thing possible to reduce that level. Last year's budget, still in existence till the end of March, had the largest job-creation ef fort in the history of Alberta and went a long way to help the unemployed in this province.

The massive programs for energy, the massive programs for agriculture, the efforts in diversifica tion, the creation of a new department of tourism, a new depart ment of forestry, a new department of research and technology: all of those efforts have gone a long way to reducing the impact of international events that have brought an unacceptably high level of unemployment in Alberta. MR. MARTIN: Mr. Speaker, to the Premier. I would remind him that those things are not working. There are 30,000 more unemployed.

Instead of reiterating the failures of the past, can the Premier tell us why the throne speech offered only a con tinuation of the failed policies of the past? Is there anything new coming in this legislative session that we can tell the unemployed? MR. GETTY: Mr. Speaker, the hon. Leader of the Opposition starts off with a false premise. Those programs are working; they're working dramatically all over this province. You only have to drive through Alberta these days and you see those pro grams working. You see it in construction. You see it in high way construction.

As a matter of fact, we've been fortunate with the type of winter that we've had. There's been a lot of work able to be done that normally would have had to wait and start again in the spring. So, Mr. Speaker, in fact there was a tremendous impact on employment levels through the programs which the government has had in the past, and I think that as we go through the ses sion, we will see that there are many new ones that will help the unemployed in every way possible. MR. MARTIN: Mr. Speaker, that answer is unacceptable. The only industry that is going up is patronage.

My question to the Premier: will the Premier now start putting the needs of unemployed Albertans ahead of good Conservatives in this province? MR. GETTY: Mr. Speaker, the needs of unemployed Albertans are first in the province's mind at all times, and that is why the government has expended so many dollars in so many programs to help them. We will continue to do that. MR. MARTIN: Mr. Speaker, we spent a lot of money and wasted a lot of money; nobody is denying that.

My question is, though: will the Premier give the unemployed just a little glim mer of hope and agree to the suggestion of my colleague from Edmonton Belmont that we set up a select standing committee to deal specifically with unemployment and job creation? MR. GETTY: Mr. Speaker, I can't imagine a more foolish effort. MR. TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, I'm glad the Premier enjoyed his winter. Many of the unemployed had to stay here. Has the Premier made any study of what industries are job intensive and what are capital intensive in order to aid those that will create the most jobs per taxpayer dollar spent? MR.

GETTY: Mr. Speaker, there has obviously been work done in that regard. But we're not studying the matter; we are doing something about it. MR. SPEAKER: Second main question. Federal/provincial Meetings MR. MARTIN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Back to the Premier. This Wednesday, the Premier is probably aware, the federal fi nance minister told the Commons finance committee that west- em Canadians are, and I quote: prisoners of market forces which Ottawa cannot control. And he noted that 96 percent of the new jobs in Canada last year were created in Ontario.

My question to the Premier is: in view of those statements, why did the Premier throw away the opportunity to meet with Mr. Wil son in late February to explain that there are in fact many things that the federal Tories could do to spur job creation here in this province? MR. GETTY: Mr. Speaker, over the course of last year mem bers of the government have met with cabinet ministers of the federal government. I've met with other Premiers, the Prime Minister. We've met with Senators. We've met with many people with regard to the needs of Alberta and western Canada. To have another meeting with Mr.

Wilson didn't seem to me to be an important follow-up for me at this time. I believe Mr. Wilson should meet with Alberta's Treasurer and also with Al berta's Minister of Energy. I hope that in a meeting like that they can work out some new understanding for Mr. Wilson so that further changes in budgets or tax reform will reflect the needs of Alberta and western Canada. MR. MARTIN; Well, Mr. Speaker, in view of the Premier's answer -- I thought he was the Premier rather than the Treasurer, but maybe they've changed roles. He admits then that the strat egy has failed totally because of those statements.

My question is: beyond the strategy now of telling people to vote Tory in the province, what new strategy has the Premier devised to deal with his colleagues in Ottawa that would make them more effective? MR. GETTY: Mr. Speaker, there's been a long record in the House of the government having difficulties getting the attention

12 ALBERTA HANSARD March 6, 1987 and action out of central Canada, but we're going to continue to work at it. We will do it on a reasonable basis and also in a politically pressure-type of action, which I think will work. We have arranged a meeting of our Provincial Treasurer and our Minister of Energy with Mr. Wilson. That meeting will be held this afternoon, and I'm sure that Mr. Wilson will get the message. MR. MARTIN: Mr. Speaker, rather than worrying about protocol of his office, the Premier should be taking the opportu nity to explain it. These statements were made on Wednesday.

And the Premier says that he's not happy with the performance of his party in Ottawa, yet he still says he supports them in any case. My question is: is that not a pretty silly negotiating posi tion, that you're going to support them no matter what they do to you? Can the Premier explain that? MR. GETTY: Well, Mr. Speaker, my comments were to be clear that the present government has not responded as we would want in as many ways as we would want.

But they are so much better than the mess we had down there when it was a Liberal government, sometimes in a minority but even when they were in the majority, supported by the NDP so that they could somehow try and take over control of Alberta's resources and rape this province. We hope we never see that again. Hav ing been there . . . MR. SPEAKER: Perhaps the hon. member would like to leave some more of the answer for more of a question on the supplementary. MR. MARTIN: Well, Mr. Speaker, I enjoyed the Premier's sense of humour today. It is my understanding that Mr.

Mazankowski is preparing a new federal paper on western diversification. My question spe cifically to the Premier is: what representation has the Premier made to the Deputy Prime Minister on this, and if he has made any, will he table it in this Legislative Assembly? MR. GETTY: Mr. Speaker, I've had numerous discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister; so have other members of our government. Those discussions will continue. I have arranged a meeting with him as well when I travel to Ottawa for the First Ministers' meeting on trade.

I believe that these various initia tives by our government will cause this western diversification program of the federal government's to include within it meas ures that will help all of western Canada and Alberta specifically. MR. TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, a supplementary to the Premier.

In view of the fact that the federal Tories took away our base price for oil, they took away the right to regulate our natural gas prices, they've taken away any tax incentives for the oil in dustry, and in view of the fact that they think they have a bunch of provincial pussycats for Tories, what do you think they're going to take away next? MR. GETTY: Mr. Speaker, there is no question that there have been some problems with the federal government's initiatives which relate to Alberta. I've said that publicly, and other members of our government have. But I want to repeat, Mr.

Speaker, that they are so much better than that disgraceful group that were down there, and now to have them, having been booted out of Ottawa, come to Alberta and say, "We will help the energy industry" is the biggest joke I've ever heard in my life. [interjections] MR. SPEAKER: Please, hon. members, no catcalls, whether you're pussycats or not. MR. R. SPEAKER: Mr. Speaker, a supplementary question to the Premier. The federal budget of Mr. Wilson rather ignored the oil and gas industry. Could the Premier indicate what initia tive is being requested by Alberta of Mr.

Wilson to improve the oil and gas industry for us here in this province and in Canada as well? MR. GETTY: Mr. Speaker, the hon. member will recall that the other major extractive industry in this country, the mining in dustry, has certain tax incentives and depiction and flow- through shares that have allowed it to continue to grow quite strongly under current economic conditions. One of the major requests that we made of the federal government is that our en ergy industry be treated in the same way from a tax point of view. That did not come through in the budget. We do know that tax reform will be coming.

Our ministers will be meeting with Mr. Wilson, and rather than talk about their discussions in advance, I think it would be preferable if one or both of the min isters discuss the matter on Monday, having had their meeting. Education Funding MR. TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, this question is for the Minister of Education. The 3 percent cuts to people-oriented services announced by the government has left many people in the education, health, and social services sectors worried about their jobs, let alone the quality of services Albertans may end up re ceiving in these important areas.

The field of education, which is labour intensive and democratically spread -- the jobs are democratically spread. School boards will have to do with 10 percent less given the 3 percent cut and the 4 percent inflation, plus a 50 percent slash, of course, in community schools. While the unemployment in the province remains at over 10 percent, how many teachers, teacher aides, and support staff are expected to join the ranks of unemployed because of these cuts? MRS. BETKOWSKI: I guess the hon. leader would have to address that question to school boards across this province, Mr. Speaker. MR.

TAYLOR: Oh. what a cop-out. MR. SPEAKER: Is that your question? MR. TAYLOR: That was a comment, Mr. Speaker. Second question: how certain is the minister that school boards will be able to absorb the cuts without laying off teachers, bus drivers, support staff, and the like, since the school boards already have had to lay off 900 people in the province given the suspension of the intern program alone? MRS. BETKOWSKI: Mr. Speaker, I have every confidence that school boards in this province are addressing what is the most important thing in their delivery system, and that is the delivery of quality education.

I have every confidence as well that they will make the most effective decisions that they can.

March 6, 1987 ALBERTA HANSARD 13 MR. TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, supplementary this time to the Premier. Obviously, Ottawa is at fault for oil, as the school boards are at fault for education. Maybe the Premier could tell me if he feels that school boards can absorb the 10 percent cuts. Is it a message to Albertans that they can also settle for 10 per cent less in quality education? Where is the celebration for Edu cation Week? MR. GETTY: Mr. Speaker, first of all there are not 10 percent cuts, and the member would not, I'm sure, want to spread false information in the Legislature.

As a matter of fact, the reduc tions in school grants do not take place until September 1. That was announced by the Minister of Education so that school boards could plan, and that planning is what they are doing right now. We anticipate, Mr. Speaker, that school boards will fulfill their responsibility and provide quality education, because in Alberta in our education system, advanced, and public school education, the people in education receive more dollars per cap ita than any province in Canada. MR. TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, to the Premier. That's the trouble with his concept of measurement.

The more he spends is sup posed to be better. It's how you spend that's important. [interjections] MR. SPEAKER: Order. MR. TAYLOR: Somebody's fed him raw meat this morning. Let him have breakfast next time, Mr. Speaker. What percentage of the teachers joining the ranks of the un employed would the Premier find acceptable? MR. GETTY: Mr. Speaker, the education system is not an em ployment program. The education system is to provide quality education to the children and students of Alberta. The hon. member, though, in his preliminary comments is finally starting to understand.

Throwing money, dollars after dollars after dollars, at the system is not the answer. It's the ef ficiency and providing quality education in the most efficient way, and that's what we're asking the school boards to do. Dif ferent from the hon. member, the school boards are fulfilling their responsibility and working out those plans now. MR. R. SPEAKER: Mr. Speaker, a supplementary question to the Minister of Education. Could the minister indicate whether any flexibility has been built into the 3 percent cut, such as flexibility for small rural schools of Alberta? MRS. BETKOWSKI: Mr.

Speaker, that's an important ques tion, and I don't believe that the budget proposals which will come before the Legislature should be described as an across- the-board reduction plan. In fact, there are differences within that budget plan which reflect the priority of the different kinds of grants. One of the ones to which the hon. member is referring is, of course, the equity grant which recognizes the differing fiscal capacity amongst school boards in the province. That is the one portion of the budget proposals which are in part of my budget which will be recommended for increase in the '87-88 fiscal year.

MS BARRETT: To the Premier, a supplementary question. Can the Premier confirm that in light of the announced budget cuts in education and advanced education, which are resulting or will result in a direct brain drain of this province, the new PR motto of this government will be: will the last person leaving Alberta please turn off the lights? MR. GETTY: Mr. Speaker, the people of Alberta recognize that when the government had lots of funds, lots of funds were pro vided to the people of Alberta in many programs.

But they are all pulling together now; they realize there aren't that many dol lars and they are going to work with the reduced dollars. They are going to be able to make this province just as strong and growing in the future as it has been in the past. Only the kind of view expressed by the NDP is the kind of view that will hurt this province. The lights may start to go out in this province, but it will only be if you ever have a NDP government. MR. TAYLOR: Answers should not provoke debate. MR. SPEAKER: It's nice to have an expert on Beauschesne in the House. MR. R. SPEAKER: You're right.

The leader of the Liberal Party has been studying over the summer. It's nice to see. A holiday does a lot for a person even if they can't afford it. [interjections] DRIE Grants MR. R. SPEAKER: Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs, and it's my concern about Alberta's fair place in Confederation in getting a fair deal in Canada. It's with regard to the Department of Regional In dustrial Expansion and the grants that are available to Alberta. At present only two zones in Alberta qualify for the tier 2 grants, as I understand it.

My question to the minister is: has the minister made representation to the Hon. Michel Côté, the federal minister responsible for DRIE, to assure Albertans they're going to get a fair treatment in terms of those grants and will also get more treatment and have more availability or an access to those grants in light of the economic downturn in the province of Alberta, which I feel at this time qualifies us for a better deal from Ottawa? MR. HORSMAN: Mr. Speaker, that's a very important ques tion and has been the subject of representations by our govern ment to the federal government.

Unfortunately, they have not yet recognized the fact that Alberta has moved into an economic downturn and made the appropriate adjustments to the IRDP grants structure, and we have made representations to Mr. Côté. Also, it's important to note -- and this was referred to earlier by the Premier -- that in representations to Mr. Mazankowski rela tive to the preparation of a western initiatives program, we have made specific representations to Mr. Mazankowski and a group of Members of Parliament and cabinet who are working with him in preparation of that document.

So that is one of the repre sentations that has gone forward to the federal government. MR. R. SPEAKER: Mr. Speaker, a supplementary question to the minister. As of July 1, 1987, a reclassification all across Canada can occur in terms of the legislation. Would it be the intent of the minister to make representation to have Alberta classified in terms of all of its zones and, specifically, Edmonton

14 ALBERTA HANSARD March 6, 1987 and Calgary who meet certain qualifications at the present time to be eligible as of that July 1 date? MR. HORSMAN: Mr. Speaker, that is of course part of the process that is spelled out at the present time, and it is the inten tion of this government, working with the Members of Parlia ment for Alberta, to make sure that the federal government rec ognizes what is actually taking place throughout the entire province.

Specific recognition, of course, of what is taking place in Edmonton and Calgary, in the construction industry primarily in Edmonton and, of course, in the energy industry in Calgary, has to be taken into consideration, and that, we would hope, might even be addressed sooner than the regular negotia tion which is called for in the legislation by the federal govern ment in their western initiatives program. MR. R. SPEAKER: Mr. Speaker, a supplementary question to the hon. minister.

It is my understanding that because Alberta was not eligible and specifically Calgary was not eligible for the DRIE grants, this affected our opportunity of receiving some of the investments of Oerlikon aerospace in our province. Could the minister confirm that, and if that is so, was the minister in volved in any of those discussions at that time? MR. HORSMAN: Mr. Speaker, that particular matter my col league the Minister of Economic Development and Trade might wish to comment upon.

The fact of the matter is, of course, that under what is called the IRDP, industrial regional development program, we are not entitled to receive some of the grants, and that is, as I say, very unfortunate, because they are based on what was rather than what is the real situation in Alberta today. But my colleague may wish to supplement my answer. MR. SHABEN: Mr. Speaker, the hon. member raised the issue of the tiered grant system, the IRDP, as opposed to the ERDA system, which we have a number of subagreements in Alberta on tourism and nutritive processing and northern development.

Those have been successful for Alberta, but the tiered IRDP funding has not been available. As the Minister of Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs indicated, this has been a high prior ity in terms of effecting changes in the DREE/DRIE guidelines. To that end I raised the issue at the last federal/provincial minis terial meeting on economic development, and the federal minis ter Mr. Cote agreed, as did the other provinces, that this would be the topic at our next meeting, an entire and complete review of the tiered system of funding.

Our proposal was that it be changed in order to respond more effectively to the needs of western Canada. With respect to the specific question of whether or not the inability of Albertans to access IRDP had an impact on the awarding of a contract in Calgary through Oerlikon, my col league the minister of technology may wish to add. MR. R. SPEAKER: Mr. Speaker, a supplementary to either minister that has just responded -- the Minister of Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs. Will it be the intention of the gov ernment to press for all 15 zones in Alberta to qualify for these tier 2 grant opportunities? MR.

HORSMAN: I think my colleague has already indicated that he has already made representations to have a complete re view of the desirability of a tiered system at all. That is cer tainly something that we will have to examine. But within Al berta, as I have said, it is our intention to press to have the fed eral government recognize the realities that exist in Alberta to day and not base this program on what existed when the energy industry was booming and before the agricultural sector of our economy was so hard hit by falling international commodity prices. MR. TAYLOR: Mr.

Speaker, a supplementary to the minister. In view of the fact -- I'm sure he knows that Quebec received $489 million in the last report and we received only $13 million for the two zones we've mentioned. I'm sure the minister must have a fallback position. If the federal government will not ac cept the idea that all of Alberta is a depressed area because of the recent re-election of your government, what's your fallback position? Would you share with the House what areas of the 15 zones you are asking to be named acceptable for the DRIE grants? MR. HORSMAN: Well, Mr.

Speaker, the representations which have already been made, which we will continue to ad vance to the federal government, will we believe -- and they are reasonable people; they have to be. They are Canadians after all. They have to recognize the realities that exist in Alberta today. That's what we will be asking them to do. So the hon. leader of the Liberal Party's supplementary question is hypothetical. We would hope and expect the federal govern ment to respond satisfactorily to our representations. MR. MARTIN: One of the other realities, if I may bring it to the minister, is that, as Mr.

Wilson said, 96 percent of the jobs in Canada in the last year were created in Ontario. We find out that they also got the bulk of the DRIE grants. My question to the minister: has the specific point been made clearly to the fed eral government that that is unfair? MR. HORSMAN: Yes, Mr. Speaker, the fact that the Minister of Finance has seen fit to publicly acknowledge the fact cer tainly has brought home to me that they understand the realities. Now it's up to them to act upon the realities. MR. MARTIN: Except there's nothing we can do. MR.

HORSMAN: If the Leader of the Opposition wants to hear my reply, I would ask him to give me the courtesy of listening. Now that representation has been made, the Minister of Fi nance has made certain statements, the minister Mr. Côté. Dr. -- I jumped ahead on this subject; I was going to say Dr. Mazankowski, but I don't think he has received an honorary degree yet. The Deputy Prime Minister is going to be dealing with this matter, we are convinced, in the western initiatives paper. I think the hon. Leader of the Opposition and the govern ment are anxiously awaiting federal action on that promised event.

We'll look forward to it. [interjections] MR. SPEAKER: Order. Hon. members, the difficulty of hav ing to throw comments back and forth in the middle of an an swer or a question does indeed lead us further and further in terms of debate. Perhaps it can hold until a later time. It's all right to be making the points, but it does tend to add length of time usage. The Chair recognizes the Member for Calgary Fish Creek.

March 6, 1987 ALBERTA HANSARD 15 Budget Deficits MR. PAYNE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is to the Provincial Treasurer. I recognize that he will not be bringing down his budget for a few days yet, but as has already been mentioned in the Assembly today, several ministers of the Crown have indicated their deficit reduction intentions with a magnitude of 3 percent. Three or four ministers have made these announcements, and they concurrently impact on the fami lies who have handicapped children.

A number of these fami lies have asked me to ask the Provincial Treasurer: can he as sure the House that these various deficit cutting measures and intentions will be co-ordinated; in effect, will the deficit cutting left hand be aware of what the deficit cutting right hand is doing? MR. JOHNSTON: Mr. Speaker, let me begin by saying that this government is a caring government. It is well known that this government has achieved the highest level of services pro vided the people of Alberta over the past decade, and that record is clear.

And it is understood that when this government forms the next fiscal plan, which you will all be seeing in the next two weeks from today, in fact there will be that empathy I talk about, that clear understanding that this province does care about those people who are less fortunate than others, and more over I can assure that wherever possible, through the contribu tions and the hard work of my colleagues who have been on their feet already today, these objectives will be reflected in the priorities of that budget. So, Mr.

Speaker, clearly to not only the Member for Calgary Fish Creek, as the member has raised, but to others, and not just on the specifics of disabled people in this province, it is clear to all Albertans that our record is clear, that our priorities have been set previously, and I can give a general assurance that that set of priorities, that empathy, that feeling, will be continued in this budget. MR. PAYNE: Mr. Speaker, I wonder if I could ask a supple mentary of the Minister of Hospitals and Medical Care.

These families that I have referred to in my first question have children who benefit significantly from services at the Alberta children's hospital. They have obtained information from various sources that their children in those services will bear a disproportionate share of the sacrifices being made. I understand that he met yes terday with the board of the children's hospital. Can he advise us on the progress of that meeting? MR. M. MOORE: Mr.

Speaker, we have a rather unique situ ation in Calgary with the Alberta children's hospital providing a lot of services to handicapped children and other less fortunate children that is unique to that area, in that in other parts of the province such services are provided either through the local health unit or through the educational system. An example would be the speech therapists which all operate, really, out of the children's hospital. So we're mindful of the need for co ordination between the hon. Minister of Education, the hon.

Minister of Community and Occupational Health, the Minister of Social Services, and myself to ensure that deep cuts in the area of concern in the children's hospital don't impact unfairly on children in the school system or children that would be served by health units in other parts of the province. That was the subject, Mr. Speaker, of the discussions I had yesterday with the acting chairman and one board member of the Calgary children's hospital. We had a very good discussion about the various ways in which the hospital is trying to achieve the necessary budget reductions.

The board is meeting again this week and on Monday and will be discussing with me on Tuesday morning . . . [interjection] If the hon. Leader of the Opposition is not interested in the welfare of children, then I'd be prepared to sit down. Mr. Speaker, they will be meeting on Monday, and I expect to be talking with board members on Tuesday of next week. Hopefully we can come to a final con clusion on the services provided by the children's hospital in Calgary that will not impact in any unfair way on those less for tunate people. MR. PAYNE: My final supplementary, Mr. Speaker.

Could the Minister of Education indicate whether she's prepared to take any action with respect to the Calgary public school board and the information now circulating in communities that learning disabled teachers and other specialists in special education will be carrying their disproportionate share of the sacrifices being asked? MRS. BETKOWSKI: Mr. Speaker, there are really two steps to the process involved here. In January I announced the budget reduction plan which would be proposed to this Legislature and its effect on school boards in particular.

One of the grants that flows to school boards from my department is the grant for spe cial education. Because of the priority of special education and the very marvelous leaps we have made in terms of treating some special education needs in this province over the past decade, those grants will remain at a constant level between '86-87 and '87-88. The second step to which the hon. member refers is that of the actual board working out its own budget.

There are some very important yet difficult decisions which are being made right now by school boards across this province, and that is re ally the primary reason why this government decided to give those boards a full nine months to measure the impact on their communities of the reduction plan. The specific question about how the disabled will be dealt with within the priorities which the Calgary school board will set is one which I know that board is concerned about and is addressing. Certainly we will keep an eye on it, as the hon.

Minister of Hospitals and Medical Care mentioned, in terms of co-ordinating the effect on a particular service area within the province and, in particular, in Calgary. MRS. HEWES: Mr. Speaker, to the Minister of Social Services. In instituting means testing, will the government in any way al ter the conditions that must currently be met for the disabled to receive assistance, particularly in handicapped children's services? MRS. OSTERMAN: Mr. Speaker, the hon. member began her question with a supposition.

That was that there would be means testing with respect to some of these programs, and it is not my intention. Although I will be asking parents to help me provide information to the federal government which will allow better cost sharing between the federal government and the province, it will not be on a formalized basis. I can assure the hon. member that it is my intention to propose to this Assembly a maintenance of the handicapped children's program budget, and I believe that with the help of the parents across the prov ince we can see that it is delivered on a very equitable basis.

16 ALBERTA HANSARD March 6, 1987 MR. SPEAKER: The Member for Edmonton Belmont followed by the Member for Edmonton Gold Bar. Unemployment (continued) MR. SIGURDSON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are directed to the Premier. Thus far this fiscal year the govern ment has laid off some 170 or more people and has canceled or abolished a total of more than 1300 permanent, temporary, or contract positions, and this at a time when unemployment is run ning at an intolerable 11.5 percent rate and growing.

Can the Premier advise the Assembly when it became government pol icy to deliberately worsen the unemployment situation in Alberta? MR. GETTY: It never has been and it never will be, Mr. Speaker. MR. SIGURDSON: A supplementary, Mr. Speaker, to the Premier. Given that the cuts in government grants to local authorities have forced the layoffs and firings of literally thou sands of other Albertans, can the Premier advise what considera tions led the government to force the policy of creating further unemployment onto local governments in our province? MR. GETTY: Mr.

Speaker, it's been traditional, I guess, in governments in North America that every year every govern ment increases its spending over the year before whether or not they have the funds to do it, and they layer debt on the backs of taxpayers if they don't have the funds. We are not going to al low that to happen in Alberta as it has happened at the federal level, where there have been governments of the Liberal Party supported by the NDP. We are not going to allow that to hap pen in Alberta.

We are still providing more funds than any ju risdiction in Canada, and we are asking the people of Alberta to work with a few less dollars, 3 percent, and be more efficient and provide the services. Now the people of Alberta understand that, Mr. Speaker, and I must say that with some of the foolish questions, the lights must have been off in the offices over there. MR. SIGURDSON: I'm well aware that we're not going to have a committee, but I sure as hell hope we are going to get some answers out of you. [interjection] MR. SPEAKER: Hon. member, watch the language, please. Carry on. MR. SIGURDSON: Mr.

Speaker, can the Premier then name the economic theory to which this government subscribes, which holds that higher unemployment is good for the economy? MR. GETTY: Our economic theory, Mr. Speaker, is personal freedom and individual initiatives and not state control and socialism, as advocated by the members opposite. MR. SIGURDSON: Kittens are active. Final supplementary then.

Can the Premier offer any state ment to the Assembly at this time which might give the current and soon to be unemployed Albertans the slightest reason to be lieve that this government has any concern for their plight and their problems? MR. GETTY: Mr. Speaker, it's a repeat of an earlier question; however, I'm prepared to answer it again. The government of Alberta is doing everything possible to protect Albertans against the international factors that are impacting on this province. Mr. Speaker, we have brought in the current year in which we are operating the largest job creation effort in history.

The dollars that have been provided in public works, construction, highways, parks, dams, irrigation systems to municipalities throughout this province have all been working to provide jobs for Albertans. We are going to continue to work with Albertans, because we have the people who are strong and resourceful and proud, as it said in the throne speech. They're going to work together and they're going to build this province in the future, because they have the individual initiative and the determination to build it in the future as they have in the past. MR. SPEAKER: The time for question period has expired.

Might we complete this set of questions with the consent of the House? Member for Westlock-Sturgeon. MR. TAYLOR: Supplementary, Mr. Speaker, to the Premier. I want to thank him. We have an office now in which to turn the light on in. [interjection] Ten months. In view of the fact that not everyone can qualify for a job in Tory patronage, in what sector of the economy would the government suggest those laid off because of the government cutbacks look for work? MR. GETTY: Well, Mr.

Speaker, as the throne speech pointed out, tremendous strides are being made in tourism, in forestry, and the expansions that are coming in forest projects, in the petrochemical industry, in the technology and research indus tries in this province, in the service sector that is growing in this province. There are efforts being made by the government that are working to maintain jobs in this province, and we'll continue to care about the unacceptable level of unemployment and do everything possible to help those people of Alberta who have been caught up in the problems facing our economy. MR.

SPEAKER: Final supplementary, Member for Red Deer North. MR. DAY: Supplementary, Mr. Speaker. At the risk of confus ing members opposite with more facts, to the minister of career development, what have his job creation programs actually meant in terms of reducing unemployment in this province? MR. ORMAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it's important, going back to the original question by the Member for Ed monton Belmont, that not only is 11.5 per cent unacceptable, any level is unacceptable, and we certainly believe that on this side.

I should also let members opposite know that the job creation program that the Premier talked about just a minute ago created 60,000 full-time jobs in this province in 1986. As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, there are 22,000 more people working in '86 than in 1985. Now that doesn't mean to say that there's not work to be done, and we're not saying that there isn't. I thought it was important to put it in that perspective. We have a grow ing labour force, and we have growing employment. The dis parities are the concern, and our initiatives are in that direction.

March 6, 1987 ALBERTA HANSARD 17 MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, hon. member. End of question period. ORDERS OF THE DAY MR. GETTY: Mr. Speaker, I request the leave of the House to move the following resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED that the Assembly, on behalf of all Al bertans, endorse and support the Man in Motion campaign and congratulate Rick Hansen for raising the awareness of nations and peoples in respect to the needs and the abilities of the disabled all over the world. I would ask members if we could have unanimous support for dealing with this resolution. MR. SPEAKER: Agreed? HON. MEMBERS: Agreed. MR. SPEAKER: Thank you. The hon. Member for Edmonton Whitemud is moving the motion. Is there a copy for distribution to all members? Mr. Premier, would you continue, please, ad dressing the motion. MR. GETTY: Mr.

Speaker, all Albertans and all Canadians are aware of the tremendous effort being made by Mr. Rick Hansen, and it's just timely that he is now in Alberta. Albertans are sup porting Rick Hansen in such a meaningful way that we believe more funds will be raised in Alberta than have been raised in all of the provinces east of us. I think all hon. members realize the content of this resolution, and I ask that we could support it and have it delivered to Mr. Hansen when he arrives at our Legisla ture on Monday. MR. MARTIN: Mr. Speaker, I rise to enthusiastically support this motion by the Premier.

I think all of us welcome and ad mire an individual who believes in something deeply and then is prepared to dedicate his or her life to a cause. That is indeed special, and I believe this is the type of individual that Rick Hansen is. First of all, Mr. Speaker, when we think of it, who would have even believed that a person could go around the world in a wheelchair? I think it perhaps could have been in Ripley's Be lieve It or Not. But the thing that makes it special is that he is not doing it for that sort of reason, he is doing it for other people, mainly the disabled all over the world.

So besides the money being raised, I think the most important thing is that mil lions more people, not only in Alberta and Canada but all over world, are aware of the abilities and the special needs of the disabled. So I would just, as part of the Official Opposition, like to concur with the Premier. We wish Rick good luck, especially on the rest of his journey, and we hope British Columbia can do as well as Alberta. MR. TAYLOR: Mr.

Speaker, in rising to indicate the support of the Liberal Party and make the support unanimous, I can't help but remark that the efforts by this around-the-world tour drives home that there is still room for individual initiative, there is room to get out and show the rest of the world something. I think the Premier and the government are to be congratulated for moving this motion for Mr. Hansen to take on with him as he nears the final days. One thing we can take from this almost precedent-setting type of individual effort is the fact that our disabled are con tributors to our society.

They can contribute; they can do; they need employment; they need to be occupied. The idea of treat ing them as a recipient of some largess from the state is wrong. They have a part to play; they want to play a part. When we would construct our policies in this government and in this House in the months ahead, we should remember that the disabled and the disadvantaged just want a chance to participate as full citizens in our economy and a chance to show what they can do. MR. R. SPEAKER: Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my colleague, Dr. Buck, we wish to certainly support the Premier's resolution presented before us.

The accomplishments of Rick Hansen are unbelievable and certainly to be admired to a great extent. I would only add these comments to what has already been said by the other leaders in the House to this point. One of the things that Rick Hansen gives to many people, no matter whether they are slightly handicapped or not handicapped at all, is that concept of hope. I've seen in his comments through the media where people cry, where people look happy, where people are uplifted by just what he says in very simple, straightforward terms.

I think that even beyond the raising of funds and the fight for recognition of the needs of the hand icapped it's this extra thing that he is also giving to Canadians and people around the world that he should be admired for. I know my observation of him through the media -- I haven't met him personally to this point -- has made me feel very proud of that person because he was able to incite that hope in a very im portant leadership role that he has taken on. MR. HYLAND: Mr.

Speaker, I would like to participate in sup porting the resolution, as I, along with the Premier and you, the Speaker, were part of the party that greeted Rick when he ap proached the border. I'm sure it's a feeling that at least the three of us of this House shared that morning; it was quite a feeling when he rolled over the border and rolled up on that stage. Just the feeling from the people that were there -- the news media, my constituents, and many others on that cold morning when Rick came over the border. It was just something we'll cherish and hold for the rest of our lives.

When you see a person such as him doing the task that he's doing, it instills something in you that you never forget. Mr. Speaker, two days later Rick rolled into Bow Island, and I saw that community pull like I'd never seen it pull before. Within about four days they put something together and that community donated in excess of $15,000. That's a community of 1,500 people. The area around the community donated addi tionally to that amount. But even more important and more feeling than the money was that when Rick approached the town limits, the fire whistle was blown.

In about 20 minutes there were between 500 and 600 people at the school auditorium. That's more than half the population; virtually half the popula tion of that town moved to the school in about 20 minutes. It was really something to be part of that delegation and to be present at that time, and for me especially, as I have served about six or seven years as a board member of the Alberta divi sion of the Canadian paraplegic board. To be involved in those two things those two days has meant a great deal to me, and it's something I'll remember forever. MR. SPEAKER: The Chair understands the motion has now

18 ALBERTA HANSARD March 6, 1987 been distributed to all members of the House. Is there a call for the question? HON. MEMBERS: Question. MR. SPEAKER: Having heard the motion and having read the motion as proposed by the hon. the Premier, does the Assembly agree with the motion? HON. MEMBERS: Agreed. MR. SPEAKER: Opposed? The motion is carried. Let the re cord show unanimously. head: CONSIDERATION OF HER HONOUR THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S SPEECH Moved by Mr. Alger: That an humble address be presented to Her Honour the Honourable the Lieutenant Governor as follows: To Her Honour the Honourable W.

Helen Hunley, Lieutenant Governor of the province of Alberta: We, Her Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legisla tive Assembly, now assembled, beg leave to thank Your Honour for the gracious speech Your Honour has been pleased to address to us at the opening of the present session. MR. ALGER: Mr.

Speaker, to be honoured with the privilege of moving the acceptance of the Speech from the Throne pre sented yesterday by Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor, and therefore the delightful representative of Her Majesty the Queen, is a pleasure and a delight that I'm sure my people in the Highwood constituency will share with me for a long, long time.

On their behalf I feel absolutely at ease, I feel warm, and I feel comfortable, primarily because Her Honour has presented us with guidelines for the Second Session of the 21st Legislature for the province of Alberta that are deliberate, determined, aggres sive, positive, challenging, and fair. Truly we have a lot to do; we have a lot on our plate. We have more than enough in the nature of controversial problems to be resolved in this sitting.

And I am exceptionally proud to be part of the decision-making process with this august body of men and women, all elected people who I know will do their level best to represent their constituents in a most clear and comprehensive manner so that their efforts will be for the better ment of every citizen in this province. Before I get wound up, Mr.

Speaker, I feel that this would be a most appropriate time to offer you the hearty congratulations of the House, not only for the capable manner in which you con ducted the affairs of government in our First Session of this Legislature but also for the hidden talents that you have dis played in the resurrection and renovation of this famous Cham ber during these last several months. The countless hours you have dedicated to this magnificent project will indeed keep us all forever in your debt. MR. TAYLOR: I like that "resurrection." MR. ALGER: I thought the Speaker would enjoy it. I would like to say, Mr.

Speaker, that it is indeed a privilege to belong to a government that can not only handle the tough times and economic woes but can also remain a government with a social conscience. All Albertans have suffered through the effect of outside forces, and we will all have to work to gether to rebuild our economy. Mr. Speaker, my constituency, like many others, was af fected strongly by the downturn in the economy, causing pock ets of high unemployment, but because of our government's as sistance we were able to help alleviate most of these problems.

The people in the Highwood realize that like any other business government must run on a sound financial basis. If this prov ince is to return to a strong, reliable position, we will all have to grit our teeth, roll up our sleeves, and get this province back into high gear. As our economy strengthens, we will have to have the skills and technical abilities to meet this challenge. Albertans already have the finest educational system in the land, and our universities and colleges are producing some of the best graduates available. It is up to us to put them to work in our province for the people of Alberta.

Because we are entering a more technical society, the retraining and updating of present skills of today's labour force will become mandatory. I'm pleased to see that our government is moving to fill this need. Mr. Speaker, diversification of our economy is vital to our survival, but we should never lose track of our basic industries. Farming has always been the lifeblood of this province. In Al berta when the farmer hurts, all Albertans hurt.

The initiatives taken by the government make it possible for many in the agri cultural community to keep their heads above water until stabi lity returns to the world market. I am delighted to see that this support will continue, as agriculture is so vital to all rural con stituencies. Of particular significance is the government's plan to establish the agricultural research institute. This is a positive step in the right direction. The planned revitalization of the oil industry is of strategic importance to the future of Alberta.

Although we might have a difficult time convincing some other areas of the country, it is vital to the future, both theirs and ours. The backing of small business has always paid rich rewards for offering new employment opportunities for our citizens. Small business is responsible for the creation of many jobs, and in my constituency the Economic Development Council has worked diligently to stimulate this. I am pleased to see that con tinued emphasis is to be placed on assisting entrepreneurs and small companies to bring their inventive ideas to the marketplace. Mr.

Speaker, tourism already is important to the Alberta economy, and with the coming up of the Olympics and with panoramic views of the province going worldwide on television, Alberta will definitely become the place to visit. With the ad vent of the Olympics my constituency of Highwood would like to see all transportation routes to the Olympic sites from our constituency remain open for the winter. I've been struggling with this one for a long time, and I sincerely believe that it's high time we took a look at our whole card and made full utili zation of our highway system. Mr.

Speaker, I am tickled pink to see that the Alberta gov ernment is matching dollar for dollar the Rick Hansen Man in Motion tour in support of people suffering with spinal cord in juries. This government reflects the same enthusiastic drive and will to succeed. Yes, I guess we could say we are a government in motion. Mr. Speaker, I have addressed this House before on the mat ter of seat belt legislation, and I am heartened to see this govern ment take the necessary but controversial step to help save lives and dollars on the rehabilitation of broken bodies.

I'll have some constituent difficulty with this one, but since we have about a fifty-fifty split down there, I must as well admit right

March 6, 1987 ALBERTA HANSARD 19 now that I will argue for mandatory seat belt legislation. [interjections] MR. SPEAKER: Order, hon. members. MR. ALGER: Mr. Speaker, the continued rebuilding and upgrading of Alberta's road system is necessary for our eco nomic growth, and we are pleased to see that the government plans to keep this program on the high priority list. Anyone who has traveled my constituency knows Highwood boasts scenery second to none, and our citizens are keenly aware of the necessary protection of our environment and wildlife for future generations.

Although we are strong supporters of the Canadian military, we hope that the Department of National Defence will find a suitable location for training their troops in some other location than environmentally fragile and sensitive Highwood. Any one of my ranching constituents would gladly say, "This here is cattle country, and we ain't gonna cotton to any interrup tion or disruption by a practising army that could very well train their troops elsewhere." For our economy to strengthen, we must have a strong and stable labour force. The proposed labour laws should help al leviate the problems of the past.

Labour and management must learn to work together for us to survive. Turner Valley has been the best example of labour/management co-operation that I have ever known. Those oilmen have been working together down there for over 70 years. Mr. Speaker, negotiations regarding a more effective Senate are vital to the future strength of this nation, and I fully support and encourage any initiatives this government takes in regard to this matter. In 1982 I agreed to get into the political fray pri marily because I was frightened skinny that there was some dan ger of our nation splitting at the seams.

Our great country of Canada should not be decimated into smaller principalities. My Highwood supporters, I am told, initiated the first public meet ings on Senate reform that have ever been held in Canada. Our work with the Senate reform committee in 1984 proved to the nation that a Triple E Senate was the only way to fly. Equal representation for our provinces in Ottawa is a must, and with out it we could be looking at some pretty unfair considerations in the future. Mr. Speaker, as we all get a little longer in the tooth, the need for medical services and hospital care takes on ever in creasing importance.

I am pleased to see our government re viewing the hospital system. More flexibility like the conver sion of active treatment beds, especially in rural Alberta, will help to meet the needs of our senior citizens. In my con stituency of Highwood the High River hospital has, as of January 1, 1987, redesignated 25 beds to auxiliary care. As has been pointed out in the Speech from the Throne, Alberta has leading programs and services for seniors. We can be proud of them. They are among the best in Canada. Our older people are growing in numbers and making up an increasingly larger proportion of our population.

There are now about 194,000 sen ior citizens representing 8.1 percent of all Albertans. They are a proud lot, and they want to take care of themselves. I am gratified that a policy of our government has been to support them in every way to do so. Our policies have emphasized and will continue to emphasize the need to support older people in independence to the greatest extent possible while at the same time ensuring that they receive help quickly when needed.

Our income support programs, our housing programs, our family and community support services, and our health unit services all aid in achieving this goal for the elderly. Our home care program is crucial for those who need some special medical assistance. I am proud of our pilot projects in assessment and placement, one of which is taking place in my own con stituency. They are excellent examples of how our community services and our care facilities are working together to ensure the best possible choices for our seniors.

Last June the government gave me the responsibility for the Senior Citizens Secretariat, and then later I was appointed chair man of the provincial Senior Citizens' Advisory Council. It gives me great satisfaction to have this responsibility of repre senting senior citizens, of being the channel to the government for their interests and concerns. I know that this was done in order that this government can remain sensitive and responsive to senior citizens and to their organization. I have had the pleas ure now of meeting with some of these groups and hope to in crease my activities in this area.

These groups and organiza tions of seniors are very impressive, and they are doing a great job of serving their peers. In my position of representing older people to the govern ment I shall do my best, and we at the secretariat shall do our best to encourage communication and co-ordination among all the government departments responsible for programs for older people, among them Community and Occupational Health; Hos pitals and Medical Care; Municipal Affairs; housing; Recreation and Parks; Public Works, Supply and Services; and Culture.

In carrying out this objective, I know I have the support of the Minister of Social Services, to whom I report. The assistance of the provincial Senior Citizens' Advisory Council is im measurable to me, as the board is composed of 14 worthy citi zens from the length and breadth of this province. My staff at the secretariat are dedicated, thoughtful, and most helpful in their daily dealings with all of our seniors. Mr.

Speaker, the challenges facing this Legislature in the coming year are monumental, but with the blueprint given by this government and lots of hard work by its members, we will return this province to its rightful place in the sun. It might be an old cliché, but it's certainly appropriate to the occasion: when the going gets tough, the tough get going. I believe that we Albertans and this government are tough enough to do just that. Mr. Speaker, for some time now I have been proudly repre senting the constituents of Highwood in the Legislative As sembly.

They are truly great people, and they are all as anxious as we are to see the province come out of the doldrums and re ally swing again. But in the meantime they join me in pulling together for the good of all, and I take this opportunity on their behalf to move acceptance of the Speech from the Throne. In the energetic days that lie ahead, let me offer you, Mr. Speaker, and the Man in Motion, Rick Hansen, and our charm ing Lieutenant Governor, and our stalwart Premier, and indeed all of you, this sincere prayer. May the roads rise to meet you. And the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face, And the rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand. Good morning, Mr. Speaker. MR. DAY: Mr. Speaker, I rise to second the motion of the hon. Member for Highwood, and I do so with a sense of gratitude and

20 ALBERTA HANSARD March 6, 1987 appreciation -- gratitude first to that member personally for his speech, which so richly blends his own personality, his humour, and his strength with his realistic and insightful approach to the challenges of everyday life. Thank you to the Member for Highwood. I would also like to express sincere gratitude to our Premier for honouring the people of Red Deer North by allow ing me this opportunity today.

And with my expression of gratitude may I also extend on behalf of the citizens of Red Deer North an invitation to the Premier and his wife to drop in on our fair constituency at any time. The coffee's always on, and we have always enjoyed his visits there in the past. In last year's session, Mr. Speaker, during my maiden speech I shared at some length and, I have to admit, with some fear and trepidation on your commendable capabilities as Speaker and the depth of sincerity with which you handle not just your duties but also us as members.

As I look back, in retrospect I realize that I expounded on your obvious qualities at some length, prob ably causing you no small discomfort in light of the true humility of your nature. Therefore, I will not repeat at the same length my glowing comments about you, notwithstanding their sincerity. However, at the end of any day in this upcoming ses sion, should you be feeling dragged out or deflated and in need of a boost, may I refer you to Hansard of June 24, 1986, page 218. Mr.

Speaker, as you sit in the Chair of the House this morn ing, I invite you and all the members of this Assembly to forget for a moment that we are seated amongst this tastefully ap pointed and needed refurbishing of this fine Chamber. I would like to invite you to join me on an imaginary journey to the very real surroundings of Red Deer North and Red Deer itself, known affectionately as the jewel of Alberta. A few miles before actu ally entering the city itself you cross the winding Blindman River, which marks the northernmost boundaries of Red Deer North.

Picture if you can some gently rolling parkland blended with a flat expanse of fields which represents some of the most fertile and productive agricultural land in this province. Yes, agriculture is a vital component of Red Deer life, and this gov ernment's unquestionable commitment to this part of our econ omy was evidenced by the program which made available $2 billion in long-term financing to farmers. Twenty farms within the constituency boundaries of Red Deer applied for and re ceived close to $3 million of those farm loans, at an average of $138,000 per loan.

As we continue our drive down Highway 2, we'll gaze out the window and picture farmers servicing their machinery in their yards, and we realize that spring field work is not far away. The effects of worldwide price drops on our cereals and wheat crops have been buffered for that farmer and others in Alberta by this government's vigorous initiatives in the provision of pro grams like the farm fuel rebates and fertilizer price protection program and many others which give our farmers among the lowest input costs of any in North America.

As we face the challenges of worldwide pricing and competition, I'm thankful that our Speech from the Throne has also committed us to legis lation which is going to establish the agricultural research institute, a body which is going to co-ordinate and develop priorities for research that are necessary to maintain our industry at the leading and cutting edge of technology and productivity. Mr. Speaker, one farmer jokingly commented to me that farming is like crime; it doesn't pay.

But as we assess his com ment in the light of the fact that in 1986 the realized net income of Alberta farmers and ranchers increased to $713 million, it shows me why he also could comment, "It's a tough time for farmers, but I'd rather be a farmer in Alberta than in any other province in this country." MR. SPEAKER: Hon. member, with due respect. Hon. mem bers for Athabasca-Lac La Biche and Edmonton Kingsway, for give the intervention of the Chair. Private conversation perhaps could be held in the members' lounge. Thank you. MR. DAY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Red Deer economy is vitally dependent on every aspect of agriculture, and those constituents involved in everything from implement sales to seed cleaning are appreciative of our priorities. As we continue along our journey, we'll swing off Highway 2 onto Highway 11 and head into the northern reaches of our fair city. Picture if you will, Mr. Speaker, large, well-designed and -serviced industrial parks. Even to the untrained eye it's obvious that we are in the midst of the oil service and supply industry.

In fact, Red Deer North is seen by most as the head quarters for the service and supply industry in Canada. Here we find companies like National Supply Canada, world leaders in oilfield manufacturing; Quinn's Oilfield Supply, Canada's larg est down hole pump manufacturers; Viking Oilfield Supply; and many others that are good examples of hard-driving, innovative Alberta entrepreneurs who are among scores in Red Deer that have gone head-to-head with larger multinationals and have carved out their share of this competitive market, creating num bers of jobs for Albertans. Mr.

Speaker, as we drive through this area of Red Deer North, many of the people you will see are members of the en ergy services association. This group, in light of international and national pricing challenges, has banded together to pool their ideas and their initiatives. They've met with us, not asking for grants or subsidies but to have input and to make sugges tions. They will be pleased to see the throne speech recognition of the importance of the conventional oil sector in this day of fiercely competitive oil pricing.

Among their concerns they will also be pleased to see the Speech from the Throne outlining the formation of a joint government/industry task force which will be addressing regulations regarding liens, and they are thankful that that will include representatives from the energy sector. Petrochemicals and food processing are just two of a longer list of other industries which provide Red Deer with a solid and vibrant manufacturing base. Mr.

Speaker, in Red Deer we're proud of entrepreneurs who provide a wide range of innovative products, whether it's companies like Superior Emergency [Equipment], who are leaders in North America in the manufac turing of fire engines, or companies which produce soap and perfume products. Last year our annual manufacturing sales in Red Deer totaled almost $1.5 billion. That means jobs, quality of life for Albertans, and reflects the reality of economic diver sification at work. Mr.

Speaker, our government's recognition of small business as being the real driving force of any economy was evident by the acceptance in Red Deer of the small business term assistance program. Three hundred and seventy-seven businesses in Red Deer accessed the program at an average of $84,000 per busi ness, resulting in a cash injection of some $32 million. For a government program I say that's performance. As we continue now our leisurely drive down Gaetz Avenue, Mr.

Speaker, you can look to the right or left and see beautifully-treed subdivisions with quiet, winding streets which offer a choice blend of single and multi-unit residential dwell ings. Even with the economic challenges of 1986 we still saw

March 6, 1987 ALBERTA HANSARD 21 558 housing starts last year, continuing Red Deer's position of being the fastest growing city in Alberta in the last 10 years. With economic benefits come economic challenges. Dealing with some of the negative effects of economic challenges is a group of dedicated people in Red Deer, both in government, private, and volunteer sectors, who implement the many govern ment and community initiatives that cushion the effects on some people as they go through difficult times.

The job club, operat ing out of the department of career development, is just one ex ample of dedicated people working with scores of individuals who are determined to get back into the work force. And, Mr. Speaker, they are getting back. Last year the government's STEP provided 785 jobs in Red Deer between May 1 and August 31, bringing almost $2 million into the local economy.

When we look at PEP providing some 220 jobs between November 1 and April 31 of this year and bringing over $900,000 into the community and we consider the success rate of retraining and upgrading programs, we realize the beneficial effects this government's emphasis on jobs and training is having. Notwithstanding that, it is encouraging to hear our government's commitment to press on in the war against unemployment. As we continue with this emphasis, it's vital that we're in close communication with people in business, to get their as sessments and input into our programs.

It's the business owner who knows best and sees firsthand the effects of our initiatives. Let's be careful to listen. Well, Mr. Speaker, you've been in the car for awhile. Let's "Take an Alberta Break" and enjoy a little recreation, I'll give you a choice. We could go over to the Dawe community school and do some swimming, or we could take indoor tennis lessons there or skate indoors. Maybe you'd want to rent one of the gymnasiums there for basketball or volleyball. Maybe you'd prefer a little lime in the weight room to prepare you for the ses sion ahead or maybe just to sit in the hot pool.

This unique centre houses a public and a separate school -- the G.H. Dawe and St. Pat's, respectively -- under one roof. It is a genuine community centre, and along with the staff and parents of the Pine community school they combine provincial funding with local volunteering and expertise. And that weaves strong threads into the fabric of our community. Mr. Speaker, I might add that in this province initiatives and emphasis in this area continue to put us in a rare and exclusive minority in all of North America in funding community schools, and that's something we can be proud of.

Well, maybe you prefer outdoor activities, Mr. Speaker. How about skating at Bower Ponds and Waskasoo Park, which was built by the heritage trust fund? Here we can rent either cross-country skis or mountain bikes and cruise over the miles of pathways that border the river and forest areas. Maybe some thing a little more leisurely? We've got just the spot for you, the Kerry Wood Nature Centre, named after one of Red Deer's most loved naturalists and authors.

This particular centre offers a close-up look at the products of nature and is the starting point of a nature pathway that takes us through the Gaetz Lakes sanctuary, where we can enjoy watching birds and other wildlife in their natural habitat. Recreation of all sorts makes up a vital part of Red Deer life. When you combine that with volunteers and initiative, we get some exciting products. For instance, this year the players and parents of the Arber Crest hockey team raised money to be the first team of this type to go overseas for international competi tion.

Without any government grants or subsidies they not only raised the required $49,000 for the trip but also an extra $15,000, which was enough to operate their league for an entire year. Their chairman, Mr. Gary Sayer, and all the parents -- including people like Art and Shirley Berry and Ras Larson -- did a ter rific job. Then to put the frosting on the cake, the team won a tournament in Sweden and came third in Finland and enjoyed the benefits of a tremendous cultural exchange. Now you can begin to see why Red Deer is aggressively putting in a bid for the 1993 Canada Winter Games.

We've got the expertise and the volunteer power to do it. Well, after all this sporting activity, Mr. Speaker, it's time for a little arts and culture. Let's stop in for a minute at the Red Deer and District Museum and Archives. This is the oldest mu nicipal archives in the province and last year was accessed by over 3,000 researchers. The museum, the fourth largest in the province behind Edmonton, Calgary, and the Tyrrell museum, receives funding from the province and tremendous local fund ing. Last year had 45,000 visitors coming through the doors.

It also formally received a designation from the Canadian Museums Association as being the model museum for its size in Canada, a reflection of the quality of people having input there. While we still have time, let's head over for a moment to the fabulous new Arts Centre at Red Deer College. Built as a result of this government's commitment to arts and advanced educa tion, combined with tremendous community involvement and commitment in this area, this facility, which had its gala open ing last fall, provides endless theatre treats of drama, ballet, and music, both contemporary and traditional.

Whether it's the tal ents of the local Central Alberta Theatre group or national or international flavour that you're looking for, you can find it at the Red Deer Arts Centre. Before you leave town, Mr. Speaker, we're going to have to run up to the Westerner grounds to catch the trade show. If you can come back in November, you'd get to see our fourth annual agri-trade show. It's only March now, and with almost 300 ex hibitors signed up for the November show, it's already sold out for space. Your exhibit would have to wait till next year. We need more room to grow.

Up to 20,000 people will go through the doors of that one particular trade show, establishing Red Deer once again as having the potential of being a world-class agricultural and trade showcase. All of the shows and exhibi tions housed here are the result of dedicated staff and an equally dedicated volunteer component. The province's annual opera tion grant also helps to make the Westerner the success that it is. Well, you're probably wondering where we house all these visitors I'm talking about. Aside from Banff and Jasper, Mr.

Speaker, Red Deer has the highest per capita number of accom modations of anywhere in the province. We call ourselves the convention capital of Canada. People in the industry in Red Deer are delighted with the government initiatives and the estab lishment of the Alberta tourism education council. Red Deer truly will be part of this government's commitment to see Al berta established as a four-season world travel destination. Mr. Speaker, I'm glad to see that all this running around has n't caused you any physical distress.

But had it done so, you would have been more than well cared for at our tremendous Red Deer Regional hospital. Our government's commitment to hospitals has seen funding in the last year and a half for this hos pital's CAT scanner, the pacemaker placement program, and the total hip replacement program. This hospital's commitment to efficiency and quality care under its highly capable board and president, Mr. Gerry Vanhooren, is a model operation for any hospital to emulate.

22 ALBERTA HANSARD March 6, 1987 When we think of hospitals, we think of care. Being on the Social Care Facilities Review Committee under the capable and guiding chairmanship of the hon. Member for Calgary Foothills, I am overwhelmed at the scope of care provided in this province to people in need by people who care. These dedicated people also have fabulous facilities in which to work in the administra tion of their care. I am also especially encouraged by comments in the Speech from the Throne which recognize the absolute importance of families for a healthy society. Dr.

Carl Zimmerman, professor of sociology at Harvard University, makes the observation that no society has ever survived the disintegration of the home. I am pleased to see our social service programs recognizing that, by having programs that deal with the whole family and work ing to see family unification and personal responsibility estab lished. We must also recognize the community component of churches, pastoral counseling, and volunteer care giving as be ing essential components in seeing families and individuals strengthened and secured. Well, Mr.

Speaker, we could spend days touring Red Deer -- and you would enjoy every moment of it -- and seeing the re sults of the endeavours of a tremendous community of individu als that I like to call real people, but we should be getting back to the Legislature. I know it sounds like I'm bragging, but I can brag because I am not the one responsible for all the wonderful things that go on in Red Deer; it's the people themselves. They've gone through good times and hard times to make this community what it is today and to make this province what it is today.

Let's never forget that government does not have all the answers, and let's realize that any individual group or political organization that thinks that all economic and social obstacles can be hurdled just by having more government intervention are either kidding themselves or trying to fool the people. The role of government is to protect our rights as individuals, not to usurp our responsibilities. We face days of challenge, Mr. Speaker. I believe every challenge is an opportunity. During the days of high oil prices we showed the rest of Canada that we were a caring and a giv ing people.

Now is our opportunity to show that it isn't just our own personal wealth that has made us great as Albertans. A good example of that has been our overwhelming response to a young man who right now is touring our province in a wheel chair. That man has a dream, and our generosity as Albertans has helped to make his dream a reality. I was encouraged and challenged myself as I saw Red Deer students, citizens, and service groups line up as Rick Hansen came into town and put in his lap over $64,000 contributing to his noble efforts.

We're showing others and we're learning ourselves that it's dedication -- dedication to ourselves, to each other, to our families, to our communities, and to the Christian principles that have made our nation strong. That's where our real wealth lies. Nobody can take that from us, and it only increases as we give it out. Mr. Speaker, in this Second Session of the 21st Legislature of the province of Alberta you have my commitment -- and I know you have the commitment of my colleagues -- to serve this House and this province with a dedication of purpose that is going to see us through all challenges that lie ahead.

And it's with that commitment that I am pleased to second the motion of the Member for Highwood. MR. MARTIN: Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to adjourn debate. MR. RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, I move that we call it 1 o'clock. MR. SPEAKER: The Chair appreciates the energy and alacrity of all concerned, but first we could -- if the House is willing to vote on the motion to adjourn debate? [Motion carried] [At 11:53 a.m. the House adjourned to Monday at 2:30 p.m.]

Document details

Collection	Alberta — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	19870306
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	L21 S2 19870306 1000 01 han.pdf
Language	en
Format	json
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	0fe9672aa1bafb4c94d6bb22322b472e20f5cbd4

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