Volume 2 PROVINCE OF NEWFOUNDLAND THIRTY-sEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NEWFOUNDLAND 2nd. Session VERBATIM REPORT WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1977 SPEAKER; THE HONOURABLE GERALD RYAN OTTENHEIMER : Number 1

February 2, 1977, Tape 1, Page l -- apb MR. SPEAICER: I am requeeted by members ~f the prus and of the media for the concurrence of hon. members in the filming, broadcasting ,, covering of today'a opening. I nave informed them, as usual, that this needs the unanilllous concurrence of the House. Do we have that unanimous concurrenc.e? RON. MEMB.ERS:. Agreed. MR. SPEAKER: Agreed. SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: Mr. Speaker, their Honours the Judges of The Supreme Court have arrived. MR. SPEAKER: Admit their Lordships the Justices of the Supreme Court. S$RGEANT-AT-ARMS: ~.

Speaker, His Honour the Lieutenant- Governor has arrived, MR. SPEAKER: Admi·t His Honour the Lieutenant-Governo .r, HON. GORDON Jr., WINTER: (Lieutenant-Governor): Mr. Speaker an4 Members of the Honourable House of Assembly: I have the honour to welcome you to the Second Session of the 37th. General Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland. 1 ,. ,.

This year, 1977, marks the Silver Jubilee of Her Majesty, the Queen of Canada, the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of Her Majesty's accession to the Throne. Queen Elizabeth succeeded her father, King George VI on February 6th., 1952, and was crowned at Westminister Abbey, London on June 2nd., 1953. On this happy occasion this Honourable House joins with the people of our Province in celebrating the event. Let us at this time reaffirm our loyalty to Her Majesty, as a most gracious and humane person and also as our Sovereign . This Honourable House welcomes the opportunity to express its 'sincere affection to our Queen.

My Government is planning to hold a number of special events to commemorate this occasion. It is an occasion which brings into remembrance not only the Silver Jubilee of our Head of State but it evokes as well a reaffirmation of the rights, dignity and freedom that are the essential attributes of our constitutional structure . During the past year I continued my travels in the Province and these included a visit to the important and historic Town of Lewisporte for the celebration of its Centenary . Last September a Canadian Armed Forces helicopter took my wife and me on an eleven day visit to coastal Labrador .

I gained a deep appreciation of the hopes and aspirations of those who struggle to preserve their way of life in this vast and distant part of our Province. The past 28 years in Newfoundland have seen successive Governments strive to provide services for our people comparable to the other provinces of Canada. Enormous progress has been made, but a great deal more needs to be done. However , we have now reached a time when world wide economic difficulties dictate a severe slowing down of Government expenditures in the area of public services, for the immediate future.

The vicious inflationary spiral that has affected all the Western World was not of Newfoundland's making. At the same time, the higher cost of goods, services, and especially money, have most certainly restricted our ability to reach our Province's social objectives. During the past year budgetary restraints have been the order of the day and we have had to undertake a program of austerity. The need for restraint is a continuing one and My Government is prepared to take the difficult decisions that are required in order to maintain a responsible financial policy. 2

These decisions require that each of us be prepared to make personal sacrifices for the common good. Let each of us, in this Province, respond to a call to work harder and with greater commitment, for the individual and collective good. Let the fisherman, the teacher, the miner, the shopkeeper, the public servant, and <he elected representatives of the people respond to a call for higher productivity and greater commitment. Let this call go forth today from this Honourable House and let it be heard throughout the land. It is a call for faith in the future of this Province and for a confidence based on commitment.

My Government has a firm faith that this Province has the resources to provide a high level of income for its people. In order to realize our aspirations we will have to rely more on what we can do for ourselves, rather than depending upon Government to do everything for us. The call to self-reliance must be heard and upheld in our Province. The main problem in Newfoundland today is the high rate of unemployment and My Government will be bringing to this Honourable House a number of measures designed to alleviate and to help solve this pressing problem for both the short and long term.

The challenge that we face is one of initiating a major thrust against unemployment without jeopardizing our financial position and without a severe curtailment in the level of public services. We must meet this challenge with a willingness to sacr.ifice and to go forward with more realistic expectations than we have had in the past. My Government has taken great care to establish what are the opportunities for economic growth and for the creation of new jobs. There is no simple answer. Rather the answer must be found through a balanced approach to our economy.

There must be more activity in primary resource industries, but there must also be more processing of our resources to obtain a better balance between primary and secondary processing. At the same time there must be a balance between goods producing industries and the service sector. There must also be a balance between the private and public sector in this Province. The role of Government is to facilitate the growth of industry and to provide the conditions and incentives whereby employment and income growth can be generated.

My Government has resisted the pressure to do those things that are best done in the private sector. The role of Government must also be to provide leadership in economic affairs rather than to compete with private industry. It is with a sense of determination _and confidence that this leadership role will be performed. My Government has prepared a program of resource development which I will outline to you today. The opportunities for growth over the next five years and beyond are to be found in the fishery, the mining industry, hydro electric development, offshore oil and gas, in tourism, in the 3

forest industry, in agriculture and in marine industry. There are also many opportunities for growth which arise in the service industries which support our basic resource sectors. Recognizing that Government has a leadership role to play, without detracting from the role of free enterprise, it is important that new programs be designed to bring these opportunities into reality. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: My Government is firmly convinced that with the declaration of the 200 mile limit the fishery represents the greatest opportunity for growth and development.

In reaping the full benefit of this enormous resource it is essential that there be a comprehensive approach: one which builds on the advantages of the inshore, the mid-water and the offshore fishery. Full advantage must be taken of the low capital cost requirements of the inshore fishery, and the opportunity to expand the labour intensive inshore industry is one which My Government is pledged to fulfill. By the same token, there must be an orderly expansion of the offshore fleet to ensure continuous year round operations in our processing plants.

With a balanced expansion of the inshore and offshore fishery our fishermen will be in a position to take an increasing share of the catch within the 200 mile limit. My Government will be proposing measures to this Honourable House of Assembly to ensure that our fishermen will soon have complete access to the resource. These measures will include a program for the revitalization of our IOngliner fleet, which has been suffering from attrition in recent years. My.

Government takes the position that our fishermen should have first claim on the resource and that foreign fishermen will be phased out as soon as our own fishermen can· replace foreign fishing effort. Indeed, the management principle adopted by the Federal Government is that Canadian fishermen should have first claim on the resource up to the limit of the total allowable catch established by Canada, as the coastal state, for conservation purposes. Only if there is a surplus to Canada's needs should any of our resource be allocated to foreign vessels.

My Government has concluded that a major requirement for the full realization of the benefits from our fishery is the opening up of the European market for fishery products. Another major requirement is that there must be more processing of our fish to the final product stage. With these two objectives in mind, namely markets and full processing, My Government has been working to attract new investment capital into our fishing industry.

The magnitude of the fishery resource which will be available to us in the next five to ten years will present a great challenge. My Government recognizes that a great deal of private capital and public investment will be required. Also, if our fishing industry is to be placed on a sound foundation it is important that new facilities be located in proper geographic relation to the resource .

My Government will be working with representatives of union and industry to ensure that measures are taken which will allow the Province to reap the full benefits of the 200 mile limit, by putting appropriate facilities in place and by expanding our inshore and offshore fleets so as to harvest the full resource . My Government will be introducing a program of assistance for new products along with a program to encourage processors to undertake more advanced processing.

This program will ass•st private companies to undertake a multi-year investment plan for upgrading facilities so that a higher grade of product will be produced. My Government will continue its efforts to improve the quality of Newfoundland fish products by bringing about changes in the methods of moving fish from fishing vessels to processing centers. Amendments to The Fish Inspection Act will be considered with a view to promoting the transpor­ tation of fish in containers and insulated trucks, with a program for provision of ice making facilities playing a major role in the quality improvement strategy.

In the year ahead continued emphasis will be placed on experimental and exploratory fishery projects relating to innovative vessel designs, new and improved gear types, aquaculture, and the further development of new harvesting techniques. Projects of this nature have contributed greatly to the recent and rapid expansion of the inshore herring industry on the Northeast Coast. One of the most critical areas for responding to the opportunities presented by the 200 mile limit is in the acquisition of new skills and technology.

My Government is committed to amalgamating the major functions of the College of Trades and Technology and the Fisheries College, and to increasing the range of programs offered . The Newfoundland Polytechnical Institute Act, which will be introduced in this Session, will facilitate this amalgamation and will enable the establishment of a new post-secondary seat of learning. It is clear that our Fisheries College will need expanded facilities if it is to respond adequately to the training requirements of an expanding and dynamic fishing industry .

These training programs for the fishing industry represent a major component of a policy directed toward the catching, processing and marketing of all of the fishery resources within the 200 mile zone by our own fishing industry. 5

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: The most pressing problem confronting the forest industry at present is the spruce budworm infestation. An experimental spraying program will be undertaken this year in selected areas of the Province, supervised by a group of forestry and environmental experts. The primary purpose is to determine the extent and nature of the corrective action which is required to control the infestation . My Government continues to support and encourage the development of industries based upon our forests.

Implementation of the forest management policy which was introduced in the 36th. General Assembly has been continuing. The construction of forest access roads is of major importance in opening up timber stands to industrial users. During the past year salvage roads were built for the first time to reach over-mature and infested timber stands on company limits_ In the coming year, the construction of forest access roads will be intensified.

I must report, however, that there is growing concern that a shortage of an economic wood supply will occur in the foreseeable future unless new methods of harvesting are developed and substantial measures are initiated in forest protection. This is somewhat paradoxical in a Province where the total forest resource is greater than industrial demand for wood fibre. It has become abundantly clear, however, that many areas of the Province cannot be harvested economically with present day technology. To address this supply problem, My Government has taken positive action.

Greater emphasis has been given to forest improvement, and programs for thinning and reforestation will be expanded. In the past year a large sum has been spent on this intensive management practice and it is planned that this expenditure will be more than doubled in the coming year. This program is highly labour intensive, and is a wise investment which will be returned to the Province through increased forest productivity for generations to come. As well, significant progress has been made in overcoming technological imp~diments to harvesting high quality timber from steep slopes.

My Government will continue to explore ways and means of assisting our forest industry to develop a viable year round operation, particularly in secondary processing. In the past year My Government has introduced a program to assist the sawmill industry, which has been suffering from the general economic downturn in the North American housing markets. My Government has a strong commitment to the sawmill business and feels that the structural changes which have been taking place in recent years are necessary and desirable .

It is therefore intended that a new program in support of the sawmill industry will be presented in the near future.

In agriculture, My Government intends to place proper emphasis on soil surveying and land use planning so that the specific areas of the Province best suited for commercial agricultural development can be identified. My Government recognizes that the marketing of agricultural products has been a problem for our farmers. Therefore, more emphasis will be placed on improving the marketing system for vegetables and other farm products . It is the intention of My Government to introduce an intensified program of animal husbandry so that the Province will become more self-sufficient in sheep and swine production .

Furthermore, measures will be undertaken to ensure that a much greater degree of processing takes place with regard to the final consumer products made from local sheep, swine and poultry. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABlE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: During the past year My Government continued its progress towards developing and implementing the best possible mineral management regime for the Province. The Minerals Act and The Quarry Materials Act were passed by the Legislature.

These two Acts, together with the accompanying regulations which are presently being finalized, will be proclaimed in the Spring of 1977. This proclamation will be the culmination of the major overhaul of mineral land tenure which began four years ago and was tested through a successful interim policy trial period. My Government has created a business climate and tax system that make it attractive for private industry to invest in the rich mineral resources of this Province.

To encourage such activity, it is My Government's intention to introduce a Mineral Acreage Tax Bill designed to increase exploration expenditures on lands held for long periods of time or in perpetuity. My Government has also embarked upon an intensified exploration program so that potential investors will be better informed about specific mineral prospects. MR.

SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABlE HOUSE OF ASSEMBlY: My Government stands firm in its commitment to do everything possible to ensure that the benefits of our rich energy potential accrue first and foremost to the people of this Province and will spare no effort to make that commitment a reality. In view of the need for greater freedom of action in the development of our hydro electric resources, My Government has initiated studies on the transmission of Labrador power through the Island and on the floor of the Cabot Strait to the Maritimes .

While additional detailed investigation is required, the preliminary conclusion is that such a development is technically feasible. My Government is encouraged by the interest expressed by the Maritime Provinces in the prospect of importing power from Newfoundland via that route. 7

In addition My Government will be working to promote the development of Labrador hydro resources for use in Labrador. It is our hope that a major processing and shipping center can be developed ; in Labrador and that our hydro power will be used by energy intensive industries who find such a center attractive . An expanded mineral exploration program in Labrador will enhance the prospects of new development while the availability of hydro resources with stable prices should encourage further processing to take place in the Province. MR.

SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: My Government will table new regulations in this Honourable House with respect to offshore oil and gas exploration and development. It is proposed that a White Paper will be published to explain regulations which are now in draft form and which are intended to be given an early release. These regulations will provide the oil companies with a greater measure of certainty as to the taxation system which will apply to the oil and gas industry. Provision has also been made to require more use of Newfoundland manpower and materials.

The potential of the offshore oil and gas industry is enormous and these regulations represent a comprehensive plan to ensure that Newfoundland derives maximum benefit with the least amount of social disruption. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: My Government has done a great deal to support and strengthen the initiative of the private sector through financial assistance and management training, as well as through other programs. Since its inception in 1972 , the Newfoundland and Labrador Development Corporation has directly contributed to the development of 1800 jobs in the Province.

During the course of 1977 it is hoped that the Corporation will expand its activities in the area of local market development and will provide greater services to the Newfoundland business community through the establishment of additional field offices. My Government has placed high priority on marine-related industry and has founded the Newfoundland Ocean Research and Development Corporation (NORDCO) to perform studies and engineering activities relating to cold oceans and the problems of working in ice-covered waters.

My Government agreed that, in order for major offshore development to occur, it was necessary to develop basic scientific information to overcome hazards resulting from Arctic ice, and to determine the effects of such hazards upon possible production operations. 8

My Government will be introducing new programs to promote industrial development. Three of these programs relate to marketing, product development and industrial productivity. The new approach to marketing will be to provide a service to small and medium sized industry which is presently unable to deal directly with markets outside the Province but has a potential to expand. This program represents an example of My Government's commitment to small scale industry which has the capacity to make a positive contribution without creating a disruptive influence.

The second is a new product development program which will assist small industry to branch out into new and diversified product lines and to employ more people. The third program is designed to help small firms to conduct an efficient processing operation and to provide technical advice which would otherwise be too costly or else unavailable. Particular emphasis is being given to small resource based industries. My Government is giving serious consideration to the role of a Newfoundland Productivity Council to help implement this program.

It is the intention of My Government to reinforce its policy whereby Government purchasing and contracting are used to provide greater stimulus to the Provincial economy. New programs will be introduced to ensure that contractors working on behalf of Government make every effort to use local manpower and materials. In addition, measures will be taken to ensure that local contractors are given a fair opportunity to undertake Government projects. My Government has been examining a number of mechanisms for enhancing the process of economic development on the Coast of Labrador.

The Department of Rural Development will assume a larger role on the Coast and will be responsible for initiating and executing projects along the whole Coast. This role will be complementary to the normal functions of the other Departments of Government. My Government is very sensitive to the isolation problems in Labrador and has decided to establish regional offices for most Departments in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. These offices will be able to respond more quickly and effectively to the needs of the people living in Eastern Labrador .

Great strides have been made in implementing an improved transportation system within the Province. My Government recognizes, however, that there are a number of isolated communities which require airstrips in order to provide better services for people in these areas. On the Coast of Labrador this problem of isolation is particularly acute and My Government has just completed a new airstrip at Cartwright. This airstrip 9

will play an important role in the development of offshore oil and gas off the Coast of Labrador and it will enable the community of Cartwright to participate more fully in the associated economic developments. This policy of building airstrips both to reduce isolation and to encourage economic develqpment will be continued. My Government has made major progress in strengthening the economy of rural Newfoundland through programs in the Department of Rural Development. These programs include loans and grants to small firms as well as support for Regional Development Associations.

These Associations have been fulfilling an important role by identifying local resource development opportunities and working to ensure that these opportunities are realized. The Associations have worked successfully with local people, and in some cases the Association has taken on the complete implementation of projects. The Department has also had a great deal of success in promoting the handicraft industry where Departmental efforts have been directed toward market promotion and development. MR.

SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBL V: My Government has developed a comprehensive tourist development strategy which will be used for the development of our tourist resources, particularly in the rural sections of our Province. My Government is exploring with the Government of Canada the feasibility of establishing a recreation and conservation corridor for the Avalon Peninsula. This corridor is based upon the heritage route which focuses and links historical, natural and cultural resources.

The development will include scenic drives, trails and waterways, the restoration and conservation of historical buildings and the development of a major marine

interpretation center. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBL V: These programs for development of our fishery, forestry, agriculture, minerals, energy and tourist industries are designed to provide a solid foundation for our economy. They will not create immediate full employment nor will they produce a sudden transformation in the Newfoundland economy. It would be naive and unrealistic to expect that any set of government programs will be a panacea for our present difficulties. Reality demands that the approach to development be balanced and orderly and that full scope be given for private initiative to assert its proper role. 10

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBL V: One of the major problems facing My Government at the present time is high unen1ployment and the lack of Jvailable jobs for many Nj!wfoundlanders. In keeping with its desire to alleviate this problem, My Government intends to embark upon a Provincial program of job creation . The objective of the program is to combine the existing unemployed manpower with identified development opportunities so as to maximize the potential of both. The program will cost approximately $2 million .

It will focus on labour intensive, high priority projects which are modest in cost , but which will strengthen our resource base and resource oriented facilities . Projects have been identified in fisheries , forestry, agricuture, tourism, and in community development activities. The pro9ram will extend from February to the end of May. It will be operated selectively in areas of the Province where there is a lack of job opportunities and will help alleviate the seasonal unemployment normally experienced during the winter months.

The role of the Government of Canada respecting this Country's labour force is. a major one, and My Government will be making every effort to ensure that this Province obtains the maximum benefit from national manpower programs such as training, job creation, mobility and job placement . To achieve this end, My Government is pursuing with the Federal Government the development of a comprehensive manpower agreement which will include a clear statement of policy respecting manpower programs.

It will delineate the roles and responsibilities of both levels of Government in providing the best possible manpower programs and services to members of our labour force . MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBL V: During this Session you will be asked to consider several pieces of legislation which are designed to protect the consumers of this Province . This new legislation will include The Trade Practices Act, The Consumer Reporting Agencies Ac1 as well as amendments to The Real Estate Trading Act, and The Landlord Tenant {Residential) Act.

Since My Government assumed office it has been concerned about the health and safety of our people in their places of work. Acting on the recommendations of the October Conference on Occupational Health and Safety, My Government has established an interim Advisory Council including representatives of labour, management and the community at large, to recommend and to advise Government with respect to the nature of proposed new legislation and programs dealing with occupational health and safety in the Province. 11

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: The main thrust of My Government's activity in health care now, and in the future, must be to obtain the best possible value for every health dollar spent, and to strive for optimum use of existing institutional facilities. To that end, My Government hopes, within the coming months, to expand its ambulatory care programs to provide, where feasible, lower cost services as alternatives to the more expensive institutional care, while at the same time safeguarding the high quality of care which is available at present.

In the social services sector, My Government recognizes the value of and the continuing need for preventive, supportive and rehabilitative social services which are aimed at strengthening the family unit and helping the handicapped individual. To this end the Employment Opportunities Program for social assistance recipients will be strengthened. The Homemakers Services, which was introduced last year, will be continued.

My Government is encouraged by the remarkable results which these programs have achieved in promoting financial independence, in preventing family breakdown, and in improving the lives of our less fortunate citizens. The care of physically and mentally handicapped children will be given very special attention. An intensive effort is now underway to find more foster homes for children with special needs. This effort has already shown very encouraging results. My Government realizes that physical fitness plays an important role in the health and general well-being of our citizens.

During the past several years, greater emphasis has been placed on the establishment of recreational facilities in our Province and the provision of services related to leisure time activities. The efforts of My Government will be directed to ensure that these facilities are fully and effectively used by citizens of all ages so that the general level of fitness in the Province will be improved. To promote sports activity more attention will be given to coaching our athletes and young people. All Newfoundlanders look forward with eagerness to the Canada Summer Games which will be held in our Province next summer.

It will provide us with an opportunity to welcome our fellow Canadian citizens and to enjoy with them the achievements of young Canadian athletes . It will be a time as well for celebration and a focal point for a new thrust in the development of amateur sport and fitness throughout the Province. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: My Government has approved in principle several policies recommended by the Royal Commission on Municipal Government, including the establishment of a new municipal fiscal support structure, the 12

creation of a municipal government structure based on a new consolidated legal framework and the development and strengthening of municipal administrative support programs . During the coming months you will be asked to consider legislation in the form of a new Municipal Grants Act and this will mark the initial step in bringing these plans to fruition. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: My Government is most concerned over the present law as it relates to matrimonial property.

It is obvious major changes in the common law dealing with the sharing of personal and real property acquired by married couples prior to and during marriage is a matter calling for careful and major reform. It is My Government's opinion that matrimonial law should be changed to confer upon the Court, as a minimum, the power to recognize the contribution of work and management made by both husband and wife to matrimonial property.

Before embarking upon this major change in the common law and in full recognition of the implications derived therefrom and the keen interest of our people in this vital field of law reform, My Government has authorized My Minister of Justice and Attorney General to invite briefs from all groups throughout the Province who have an interest in this subject, preparatory to the drafting of appropriate legislation .

It is hoped such briefs and submissions will be received in time to enable the necessary legislation to be drafted for presentation to this Session, but if such is not the case, Government wishes to make known its determination to bring before this House, at the earliest possible time, carefully prepared legislation in this important area of matrimonial property law. My Government has been directing its attention to the structure and jurisdiction of Family Courts in our Province.

It is becoming increasingly clear to My Ministers that ali matters dealing with family law should come within the jurisdiction of one Family Court, rather than the present position where jurisdiction in family matters is divided among Family, District and Supreme Courts . The Government of Canada has some jurisdiction and obligation in this field, and has indicated a willingness to negotiate with interested Provinces a cost-sharing formula for the establishment of a Unified Family Court as a pilot project in a particular area of a Province.

Consequently, My Government has authorized My Minister of Justice and Attorney General to enter into negotiations with the Attorney General of Canada with a view to concluding a satisfactory agreement for the establishment of a Unified Family Court as a pilot project in our Province. The object of such a Court would be to conserve, not disserve, family life, to 13 ,_

be constructive, not destructive of marriage; to be helpful, not harmful to the rnd1vidual parties and their cl)ildren; to be preventive rather than punitive in the Court's atti tude towards marnage and familes. A Unified Family Court will be therapeutically o r it:ntt~d, non-puniti ve, ~vhe re possible, and attempt to focus on the overall family problem. My Government is sat1sfied that streamlining of the Election Act is necessary. It is My Government's intentio n t o i ntrod uce legislation to modernize election and voting procedures. to reform the present method of financing elections and to impose controls on contributions to political

part ies. The Publrc Accounts for the period ending March 31, 1976 and the estimates for tht! comrng fiscal year will be placed before you. for your usual close scrut iny_ MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: I ask today lor a renewed commitment from all our people to the work etl)ic of our forefather s in the knowled ge that our land and sea resources are SJ.tfficient to give us and our children a full and prosperous life. This prosperitY will come through action and leadership.

My Government will take actron and will provide leadership but the call to action and leadership, anti perhaps to sacrifice. must be accepted by one and by aiL Let this House accept thrs challenge and let it show a model to the people of our Province. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: You will be asked to grant supply unto Her Majesty. I mvoke God's blessing upon your labours as you give careful consideration to the matters laid before you for the welfare of our beloved Province. 14

February 2, 1977 Tape No, 4 NM- 1 MR. SPEAKER: The hon. Minister of Justice. MR. HICKMAN: Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will on tomorrow ask leave to introduce a bill, "An Act To Amend The Collection A~encies Act, 1973." Motion, the hon. Minister of Justice to introduce a Bill, "An Act To Amend The Collection Agencies Act, 1973." Carried. On motion, a bill, "An Act To Amend The Collection Agencies Act, 1973," read a first time, ordered read a second time on tomorrow. MR. NEARY: Mr. Speaker. MR.

SPEAKER: If the hon. gentleman will wait for a moment,! wish to inform bon. members that His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor has been pleased to make a speech to the members met in ~eneral assembly and that for greater accuracy I have obtained a copy thereof. The bon. member for Bonavista North. MR. G. CROSS: Mr. Speaker, it is my honour and privilege today to move th~t a committee of this han. House be appointed to draft an Address in Reply to the Sreech from the Throne.

However 1 before doing so, since it is the first time that I have had the opportunity to speak in this honourable House since my re-election,! would like to express a sincere'thank you' to the people of the great district of Bonavista North for the trust that they have p]aced in me and the vote of confidence given to the present Progressive Conservative Administration of our Province. ~lost hon. members of this House will agree with me when I say it was no mean accomplishment to be elected as a Progressive Conservative candidate in a district that for forty-three years had been strongly Liberal.

There were many who told me it could not be done,but the many who voted for me proved once and for all that it cou]d. SOM}; HON . MEMBERS: Hear! Hear!

February 2, 1976 Tape No. 4 NM- 2 MR. G. CROSS: Now I am here by right,but in all sincerity and humility to serve to the best of my ability all the people of the district of Bonavista North. I may add also that in time I hope to make a worthwhil~ contribution to this hon. House. Mr. Speaker, the by-elections that took place on June 30th., 1976 put to bed and to sleep 111

February Z, 1977 Tape no. 5 Page 1 - mw Mr. Cross. the premise that the present Progressive Conservative Government, under the leadership of Premier Moores, was re-elected in September of 1975 because of the divisional split in Opposition parties. The majority I received in the by-election from the people of Bonavista North, a rural district, is clear evidence, plain proof that the people of rural Newfoundland have confidence in the present Progressive Conservative Government of our Province. SOME RON. ~ERS: Hear, hear! MR. CROSS: I realize, Mr. Speaker, that this is not the time to make a long speech.

But I do want to say how delighted my constituents are with the progress that has been made by the present administration in providing services such as water and sewer and transportation facilities. Sir, 1976 surpassed all other years in providing services for the people of my district. Never before were there five road construction contractors working on projects in the district in one year; three of which were cost-shared by the provincial and federal government; two of which were ·completely financed by the provincial government. SOME liON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear! MR.

CROSS: Never before were four water and sewerage projects going ahead at the same time, and never before had any municipal roads been paved. And while these good things were going on, there were other goods things happening as well. For the first time in any great quantity herring and mackerel were processed in the district. Upwards of two million pounds were processed by Beothuck Fish Processors of Valleyfield. A small smokehouse, through the good graces of Rural Development,went into operation at Greens Pond where caplin, herring, cod and salmon are being processed.

A small venture, true, but one that can expand if successful. If it should fail and fold, it would not mean a loss of hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars. It would not be a Come By Chance. 17

February 2, 1977 Tape no. 5 Page 2 - mw MR. CROSS. Mr. Speaker, it was the Progressive Conservative Government, under the leadership of Premier Moores, that gave the district of Bonavista North,a new iease on life. Having lived and worked in the district, I know only too well what was happening. From 1949 to 1965, oh yes, we were making progress and rapid progress. But then the years from 1965 to 1971. were not that good. They were lean years,in my estimation. Forced resettlement and uncertainty began to take its toll. But with the advent of the new administration the gloom and uncertainty began to roll away.

Progress became the order of the day. MR. NEARY: And now we are back to the hungry 1930's. MR. CROSS: I had the experience of living and teaching in the old historic community of Greenspond when resettlement was taking place. For four years I watched the community slowing dying. Good resource .ful people began to neglect their property and an era of gloom was in evidence. But if you visit;Greenspond today, I can say that the people again, even if they do not have all the material things. that they may want- they may lack some- but you can see a smile on their faces. Those people are happy and content.

It would have been nothing short of criminal to let that old historic community, with its heritage and culture, die. Rightly promoted .. that same old community could become the drawing card for the tourist trade in Bonavista North. In the Summer of 1976 Greenspond catered to 2,000 visitors, approximately five times their population. There is an interest in Greenspond. There is a tourist potential in Bonavista North. Mr. Speaker, I listened with intense interest to the Throne Speech and was 18

February 2, 1977 Tape 6 IB-1 ~m. CP.OSS: very happy to learn that our plan for future economic development is to develop to its fullest our own natural resources, our fish, our forest wealth, our energy and our tourist potential. It was certainly a joy to hear the e~phasis that has been placec on our fishery. It is a sane and safer decision to develop what we have and what others covet. The outlook for the future cannot be bright if we depend extensively on what others have to offer us. have learne~ that Jesson by now. sm1E HON. }'EM!IEP.S: Hear, hear! I believe we should fdl' • enos s : ~r.

Speaker, we all realize that our number one problem is unemployment. The two jobs for every man has not materialized. The day 1ohen we wi.ll have to import labour is a long way off. 1t is like the pie in the sky, a dream that may never become a reality. There is no magic formula that will bring full employment ove~ight but we do have to take a short-term and a long-term approach to the problem.

If we are to sacrifice, i.f there must -be retrenchment and some curtailment in services to give us the dollars to develop our resources thl't will in time put more doUars into the pockets of our people, that is the price we have to pay now if we want to build for a brip,hter Newfo~mdland. Our fathers and grandfathers strived and sacrificed and had a fierce pride and strong faith in this old Island rock of ours and Labrador. Their faith and pride was tempered t-Tith a real desire for independence.

If we today as a people are wi1Ung to make the sacri.fice necessary, if we can rekindle some of the old determination, we can build a better Newfoundland for ourselves, a Newfoundland and Labrador of which our children and our children's children will he justly proud. SO IE !TON. l'IF.MBF:T'S: Hear, hear! l'!R. CROSS: }lr. Speaker, as the member for the district of Bonavista North I have the distinguished honour of moving that a r.ommittee of this honourable Rouse he appointed to draft a reply to the most gracious Spee~h from the Throne. 1~

February 2, 1977 Tape 6 IB-2 SO}'E HON. ~IE~EFS: Hear, hear! MR. SPEAKER: The hon. member for Exploits. DR. TWOMEY: Mr. Speaker, it is with a sense of pride and profound humility that I today stand to second the motion proposed by my collea~e, the hon. member for Bonavista North (Mr. Cross). Before s.o dQing I would 1 ike to take a few minutes to thank all the voters of Exploits,and espec:!.ally those who were iMtrumental in electing me to represent them in this Rouse.

Being continually co8J1izant of the obligation~ and trusts that have been placed on me, a trust, Sir, that I will be proud to honour, I would also like to thank the Premier and tlte govermnent for the hon3ur they have done my district in asking me to speak on this appropriate occasion. Although the district of Exploits :ts young in the traditional political Bense,it is old in the history of Newfoundland. Its residents have diverse talents and abilities. They work at indu&try, lUIIIbering, fishing, stevedoring, farming, railroading, poultry raising, . :In fact too l!lllllY more to mention at this time.

All are hard working, big-hearted , proud individuals. Parts o·f lxploits have unusual beauty, a ;,portman 1 s ·'and 20 .

February 2, 1977 Tape 7 PK- 1 Dr. H. Twomey: a tourist's paradise with hunting and fishing, scenic drives and­ parks to amble in. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to bring the good wishes and greetings of the people of Exploits to the bon. House. Let me first say a special thank you to the Premier and his government for the commendable and very valuable improvements they have brought to all the communities ln my district- paved roads, water and sewerage installation, a stadium and other projects that have enhanced the quality of life in Exploits.

A government, Sir, that is concerned with the people is a good government. And this, Sir, is a government that does care. I would also wish to extend my best wishes to the Leader of the Opposition and to his party, Without these gentlemen government would be indeed a facade and a travesty of democracy. Among the party opposite sits one who by long service, hard work and dedication to the Province earned himself a justly deserved place in the history of Newfoundland. He is none other than the only living Father of Confederation . SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear! the hon. member from Twillingate. Hear, hear! DR.

TWOMEY: Mr. Speaker, we are all gathered together in this hon. House as patriotic Newfoundlanders to hold office to help the people,not to rule them. If I may paraphase St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians when he compared diverse opinions as part of one body, very different but also necessary to each other. I realize the comparison such as this leaves me open to comment as a simile can do in some occasions.

No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism as well as the abilities of all the very worthy gentlemen in this House, but different men often see the same subject in different lights, and therefore though I may not always agree with the opinions of these gentlemen, I shall always respect their right to these opinions. 21

February 2, 1977 Tape 7 PK - 2 Dr. Twomey: Mr. Speaker, Newfoundland has much to seek from the rest of Canada, and much to give back in return, much that she alone can give, Her gifts of the fruits of special qualities of mind and heart developed by centuries of eventful history. These special attributes were eventually recognized when we came a province of the Canadian nation. In recent years there has been a wind of change in one province in particular with the emphasis put on separation from our nation.

We however must accept the incontestable fact that in the present complicated state of political and economic interest, no thought of separation can be l entertained. Finally we must realize that ae~aration with political or economic aims is incapable of restoring the so-called historical injustices. All it could do would be to substitute new and perhaps still more glaring injustices for old ones, not alone for one province in Canada, but for all of Canada, and Newfoundland and the Maritime Provinces, in particular.

The present Federal Government is so frozen in the ice of its own inc!ifference that it cannot cir will not respond to the glaring problems of regional disparity. These are real problems that are afflicting both French and English speaking Canadians alike. The answer to the injustice of today lie not in the writing of our Nations's epitaph but rather in a rebirth and a rejuvenation of the basic principles which have made this land great. The gracious Speech from the Throne indicates that Newfoundland is facing a difficult and trying time.

I am glad that our government is taking strong and decisive measures to rectify these pressing and destressing problems. The spruce budworm has now become a major malighency to our most abundant forest resources. Hence intensive and perhaps radical means must be promptly instituted to salvage this vital industry for our immediate needs, and to the paramount importance for the generations to follow. 2~

February 2,1977 Tape 8 AH-a DR. TWOMEY: Unemployment at such a high level is devastating to the morale, of Newfoundlanders , Canadians, and in fact the whole world. Its practical solutions are difficult and at times appear to be insurmountable • We must face it as a common enemy, however implacable. Labour, industry and government must in unison strive to erase at least ameleorate this horrendous blight from our province. Hydr0-power development and fossil fuel exploration are not mere dreams or fantasy. Brought to fruition they would be the catalyst for our econQmic ~rowth.

I compliment the government on their approach to the fishing industry. They have emphasized the interdependence of harvesting , marketing and quality control. In the field of health and recreation I am pleased that the emphasis is being shifted to the latter, as many Public Health measures and medical therapeutics have not proven to be a ,.panacea for our physical fitness and our continued good health. Mr. Speaker, hon.members we must realize that government aid is only a process whereby one gives ones self a blood transfusion from arm to the other. You spill a little on the way over.

Never let us for~et that Rovernments have no funds of their own only that which we extractfrom the people. Mr. Speaker it gives me great pleasure to second the motion so ably put by by colleague from Bonavista North. MIL SPEAKER: The hon. leader of the opposition. MR. ROBERTS: Hr. Speaker, may I begin Sir, by saying a word of welcome to the distinguished visitors who have joined us today for the opening session of this second session of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the thirty-seventh General Assembly to sit in this chamber and in its predecessors.

I am sure that the Premier will express the feelings of the government and its supporters• I wish to express the feelings of those of us who sit to Your Honour's r~&ht, tosay how pleased we are that the tradition that the dignitaries from the church and state 1 representing some of the leading institutions

February 2,1977 Tape 8 Ah-2 Ml{. ROBERTS: in our province 1 come to take

part in the opening) not to make speeches but rather to show by their presence that the state opening of parliament,and that is what this is, is a significant day in the annual life of our province. I am also very pleased that among the guests in the galle;y today is the young lady who has been elected Newfoundland's first woman Rhodes Scholar, Niss Jacqueline Sheppard. I am very happy that she is here.

It is an honour to be elected a Rhodes Scholar and indeed I do not think there have been very many General Assemblys of this province,Sir, since Cecil Rhodes died and the trust under which the scholarships were given was created, there have not been many General Assemblies in which there have not been at least one Rhodes Scholar. The hon. gentleman from Kilbride was a Shades Scholar some years ago and a number of other hon. gentleman who served in this House from time to time have held that honour. MR. NEARY: The contender for the leadership is a Rhodes Scholar, I believe. MR .

ROBERTS: I thank the hon. gentlemen from l:.aPoile. The first, but not the only, I am sure, contender for the leadership of our party is a Rhodes Scholar, Sir, as have been a number of other men who are not in the House of Assembly at this time, including a number of former leaders of the Opposition, I say to the gentlemen from LaPoile, Mr.James ~.L.Greene, Q.C. that was a Rhodes Scholar, and a number of others, 11r. Malcolm Hollett, Senator Hollett as he afterwards became was a leader of the Opposition and a Rhodes Scholar.

I do not know if Miss Sheppard aspires to elective office, Sir, but I would say to my friend and colleague, the member for St. George's · that she has set the precedent but that others will follow after her in the House of ASsembly. Sir, let me also congratulate the mover and seconder of the Address in Reply, the committee that will be appointed to draft the Address in Reply. I think the gentleman

February 2,1977 Tape 8 All-3 f~om Exploits(Dr.Twomey)spoke well. 1 did not agree with everything that he sdd,but I ~o•as very much impressed by the thoutht and the manner of his presentation and 1 think,Sir,that he has added considerably not only to his own statu~e And to that of the people who sent him here with quite a decisive voice to speak for him in the House of Assembly 1 '>ut, Sir, he has added to the stature of this House. 2S ,

February 2, 1977, Tape 9 Page 1 -- apb MR. ROBERTS: The gentleman from Bonavista North made, I thought, quite a good speech. I rather regret that he has chosen to end the tradition that partisan speeches are not made on opening day, above all by the members who are chosen to move and to second the appointment of the Committee to draft the Address in Reply. I am tempted to enter into a partisan debate with the bon . gentleman but I do not want to carry on with that tradition, There will be ample opportunity. Let me say simply that he is now here fairly and squarely by the votes of the people of Bonavista North.

I am very glad he told us how he got here, because I think it is fair to say, Sir, in terms of public dollars the hon. gentleman from Bonavista North is probably the most expensive member this country has ever had. Mr. Speaker, I would add only one thing. He spoke with eloquence of the people of Greenspond - I agree a lot of it was federal money and credit should be given where credit is due , Sir.

At least 80 per cent of the dollars spent on the roads in Bonavista North last year came form the much maligned but very generous government of Canada - I noticed though that the bon. gentleman spoke with eloquence of the people of Greenspond and well he might- a fine community, ancestral home of the gentleman from Twillingate, a very noble community, a very historic community, a very fine community in every sense of the word. I was quite interested, Sir, to look up the results of the election.

The hon. gentleman will be interested to know, I am sure, that he lost Greenspond quite decisively in the voting on June 30. SOME RON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear~ MR. ROBERTS: Mr. Speaker, Newfoundland and Labrador today face very serious problems. They are grav•, Sir. In magnitude they are very sizable, in quality and nature they are going to be difficult to solve, and in their effect, Sir, they are far reaching. 2fi

February 2, 1977, Tape 9 Page 2 -- apb MR. ROBERTS: The people of this Province are looking for leadership. Sir, it is the job of the government to lead. It is the job of the House of Assembly to support the government when they lead and to provide the leadership when that government do not lead. Sir, we on this side have just about given up hope of any leadership from Her Majesty's Government, from the ministers who presently hold office.

Sir, this Speech from the Throne, and I will have opportunity on Monday, and my colleagues on succeeding days to deal with it in detail, Sir, but this Speech from the Throne is further proof of the reason why we, and so many thousands of people throughout this Province,have given up any hope of any meaningful and positive response from this government.

Sir, this Speech from the Throne would be a magnificent document if it were the first document that a government coming into office - the Premier and his colleagues assuming office, meeting a House of Assembly for the first time as a government - if it were the speech produced by such a group of men. Sir, this is the seventh such Speech from the Trhone which we have had from the present administration, seven covering six years Mr. Speaker, all the traditional words sre not adequate to describe the inadequacies of this Speech.

There is promise after promise that we have heard before and again and again and again, often in the same words. After five years in office, five complete years, Sir, entering into their sixth year, the government gathered together a fortnight or so ago for an entire week to try to indentify their priorities, and, Sir, we have it here. We have a Speech that is shot through with internal contradictions, with self-serving phrases and with empty rhetoric, Sir. It is not an answer, it is not a statement of leadership, it is not even a statement of a hope of leadership, Sir. 27

February 2. 1977, Tape 9 Page 3 - apb MR .• ROBERTS: We have had five years. Every problem seems to get worse. We have seen no ideas, no plans, no pro.gTalllllles. If we take just one thing> and it is not in the Throne Speech this year, gear insurance, we will take it as an example. On March 1, l972, the famous or the i~UOUII one day liession, the governmen .t promised the fishermen of this Province a gear insurance programme. It was to be worked out in cor;~.junc:tion with the Gover:QIIlent of Canada, the Goverml)ent at Ottawa. But th.e promise was made clearly, categorically, Sir.

In the years since then we have seen the gear scandal, the s.candal of millions of dollars in public: funds being wasted. I cannot say more beeause the matter is before the courts,but let me say, Sir, that it is a scandal whose full dimensions are not yet public and the full implications of which have not yet been made known. 2,

February 2, 1976 Tape No. 10 NM- 1 MR. RO.BERTS: And what iF< the response of the government, Sir? The need is greater all the time, the need grows ever greater. A fisherman in Conche in my district wrote me the other day, Sir, typical of hundreds,! would suggest,throughout this Province of ours. He was wiped out in 1972 by a storm which came and destroyed his stage and his gear,and he fishes in a part of Conche, Sir, called Southwest Crouse, Back Conche where there is no public facility. In 1972 a storm came, a.great sea came and wiped out his stage and his fishing premises, Sir.

He struggled back and got back in the fishery. In 1974, Sir, another sea came and wiped out what he built up in those two years. He went back at it again and in 1976, Sir, just before Christmas, again another storm came and wiped him out for the third time and the man wrote to me and said, "What do I do?" And I say, what do the government do to help that man? A half cent a pound is no answer, Mr. Speaker, and we have seen talk and that was a promise made five years ago.

It is hard to point, Sir. to any constructive action this government have taken in the last five years to develop our economy or to create any jobs. And I am unable,and I challenge the Premier, Sir, when he speaks,to point out any substantial steps, any substantial and significant improvements this govermnent have taken. Now, Sir, they appear to have given up. This speech is bereft of any insights or real ideas. It is the same empty words, Sir. I have heard them again and again. l do not doubt they are ~·ell meant.

I do not doubt the government believe these things but that, Sir, is an indication of the bankruptcy of their thought. They are drifting. They are uncertain, Sir, of where they have been, unaware of where they are and they are unsure of where they are going. So Newfoundland and Labrador is not being led as she must be by men of vision and courage and ideas and determination.

February 2, 1976 Tape No. 10 NM- 2 MR . ROBERTS : Sir, since the government will not lead and cannot lead,who can? Can the House of Assembly fill that role, Sir? Can the fifty of us,and fifty-one when the people of St. John's West are given the right to send their member here to speak for them and to work for them. Last year's session, Sir, was a disappointment and a failure, a complete waste of everybody's time, a complete waste Of whatever money it cost to run the House for the year, a complete failure in serving the people of this Province. I am not laying blame on that side or this side.

I think all of us, Sir, who serve in this House are guilty,and I accept whatever share is properly and rightfully mine and I am sure some of it is, Sir. My concern is not with the past. My concern is with today and where we go from here. Can we grasp the nettle, Sir, and can we make this House a worthwhile force in the public life of our Province? There are fifty of us here now, Sir, forty-nine gentlemen and one lady, each of whom has a right to be here, each of whom has been elected by th~ citizens of an electoral district. Can we make this House work? Each of us is here with the best of motives.

I question no man's motives, Sir. I believe every man and every member of this House has an equal and a genuine desire to serve this Province. We may differ on the aeans, we may differ on the methods we should use, we may even differ on the goals we want to achieve but,Sir, I do not think anybody is any less genuine, I do not think anybody has any other motives other than a very real aBd a very urgent desire to serve this Province. I believe that is why men and women seek public office, Sir. And I believe that is what keeps men and women here in public office.

Some of them from time to time have considerable sacrifice in personal terms or in financial terms of in terms of their career or other considerations. But can we make the House work, Sir? I believe we can and I speak for each and every one of 30

February 2, 1976 Tape No . 10 NM- 3 liR. ROBERTS: my colleagues, S,i.r,when I say that we are prepared to do all that we can co m.ake that so. But that is the challenge, Sir, a challenge which confronts this session of th~s general assembly. We have very real problems facing this l'rovince,and I am not going to list them now but,you know,unemployment has never been higher in numbers or in absolute terms, the public debt has doubled in five years, the economy of this Province is slowing down, inevitably, inexorably.

There is a feeling growing throup;hout this Province that somehow we are not able to put it together, we canno t make things work. And if ever we los~ our belief in ourselves and our nerve an.d our courage and our confidence,then, Sir, th~t vill be the beginning of the end. We are not there now and not a long way from it,but, Sir, we are slipping. We are not even standing still. We are slipping. ~ 1

February 2, 1977 Tape 11 IB-1 }fF, ROBERTS: in Labrador, problems exemplified by this speech which made little reference to Labrador and what was there was colonialist in attitude. We are not comin~ to grips with the feelings of the people of that significant part of our Province. I know about it at first hand. Twenty per cent of ~y constituenc~ is in the mainland portion of our Province. The hon. gentleman from Menihek (Mr. Rousseau) knows of it.

The letter that has come in from pTominent citizens down there askin~ the Premier to send ministers to negotiate a treaty of I know not what,but in effect to ne~otiate a treaty of quasi separation, is evidence of it. The hon. ~entleman for St. Barhe'~ (Mr. Maynard) who was in Labrador the other day at the same meeting I attended, the Labrador Resources Advisory Council 1 and where we '~ere treated to the privilege of a pubU.c servant denouncing the government publicly and questioning not .1ust the~r actions but question:l .ng their motives and their good faith.

That, Sir, is symptomatic and it is becoming increasingly so. I think~~ have got to come to grips with this. I think we have p,ot to start by changing the rules of tM.s House. I think we have got to make the House more effective. We must allow each anc1 every membE'r his or her full say, We all have a right to be here, Sir. We have a right to speak. He have no right to abuse that privilege.

I do not think any member - and I am not saying any member ever ha~ - hut if any member ever tries to twist or to distort the workings of this House to serve his own purpose, hi.s own narrow ends, that cannot be permitted. lVe have a duty to serve this Province, S:lr, to serve the people of this Province. I think one of the places we must bep,in is by reforming the rules of this House. I believe that must be done by concensus, by agreement, and not the kind of reform we saw two or three years ago involving a predecessor of the hon. gentleman who is the present House Leader.

I may add, Sir, wHhout revealing any confidences,that the present House Leader from the government and I have had some talks 32

February 2, 1977 Tape 11 IB-2 ~fR. ROBERTS: and I believe we have made some pror-ress and I hope shortly we will make greater progress. But I think it is of great importance, Sir, great importance to the functioning of th:ls House. I believe, Sir, we muRt open up this chamber and allow on every day the television and radio cameras to come here, hopefully,! may add,without these lights. There must be a way to do it without these very powerful, very penetrating and verv annoying lights,which I am sure bother hon. gentlemen opposite as much as they bother those of us on this side.

But, Sir, that is a long overdue step. It is not a very radical one. I th:lnk f.t would he relat:lvely simple to effect it. The House of r~mmons -hardly a body that is in the forefront of radical ideas in Canada - the House of Commons has now adopted this procedure. All it would do, Sir, is give the electronic media the same ri~ht of access that the print media have enjoyed for 100 or 200 years. I think, Sir, we should make it public. I think we should make the House as public as possible. I think we should let everybody i~ Newfoundland and Labrador see what we do and that may make us do it better.

It certainly should. We will support that reform, Sir. I think ~~e must move on election expenses. These notes, Sir, were made a little before I saw the Speech from the Throne. I put down there'the shame of democracy' and that is true, Sir. Any man involved in pol:!.tics knows that the whole system by which we finance elections 1.n this country -not just in th:ls Province, in this country - :Is shameful and wrong. It may have served in years past,but it does not serve, Sir, :l.n the <'fay and age in ~1hich '"e 1 ive and in the era to which we move. The TTnitetl States has moved on it.

The federal government of r.anada has matle moves on it. There :Is now a

section in the Speech from the Throne. but I might add, Sir, almost the same words were in last year's Speech from the Throne and nothing was done. The House 3J

Febr-uat"y 2, 1977 Tape 11 MR. POBF.RT~: met fot" month~ Pnd months and months and noth1nP, w~~ done. l hope we w{)l ~ee action th;i!; year, Sir, and see it enr-ly. We ar-e s"till two or three years, J suppose, from another general election. It is the Prcmiet"'s choice and he has, I guess, between now ancl November of 1980 before he mnst ask for a dissolution.

In the normal course it will be in, I suppose, 1978 or - do not give away any secrets,! say to the l't"emier - 1978 01: 1979. · It is time, Si r, if we are p,oinp. to make thts kind of thorough y,oing t"efo~ that ,,,e get it on the Statute book~< in 1977 so all concerned can a<ljust to it and can act under- it . I think, S:lr, that we should look at a number of !lpec:lfic pt"oblems which must he dealt with in this session of the House of AsseMbly and dealt ~rith in a definHive fashion, Sir. I have already spoken hr:lefly of Labrador. I ~ive that a high priority, ~r. Speake r. I ~tive that a very hi~th priority.

The hon. ~entleman for Fxploits (Or . Twomey) spoke of the separatism, the Party Quebecois, the SeparAtist !'arty that has no•~ been elected in Quebec. Not elected, true,As a Separatist Party but elected unde r Separatist colours ""'' open) y so, a fact which their leader, the Premier of Quebec, ha~ procla:lmed very recently in New York rity. Sir, that has sertou~ implications

February 2, 1977 Tape no. 12 Page 1 - mw Mr. Roberts. on this Province, of course. We should deal with those. But it also, Sir, has the effect of making separatism just a little more respectable. Now we have the Government of Canada 's second largest province , population, openly and avowedly working towards the end of destroying Canada, destroying the Canada we know. And I know I speak for everv member, Sir, when I say, destroying the Canada we love and hold dear. Sir, it has not come to that in Labrador, and I hope it never does, and I am not saying it ever will.

But I do say that we must come to grips with it in this House of Assembly, because if we neglect it, Sir, it will fester on, fester on and grow until it corrupts the entire body politic . There is a growing sense of frustration throughout Labrador, Sir. The hon. gentleman from Naskaupi (Mr. Goudie) knows full well of whereof I speak, because I am sure he encounters it as he moves around -amidst his constituents. My friend and colleague from Eagle River (Mr.

Strachan) has given eloquent voice to it, because he is exposed to it, Sir, a sense of feeling that the people of Labrador are being ignored, that their feelings are not being taken into account, that their wishes are not being heeded. We must deal with that, Sir. We cannot pretend that it is not there. We cannot stand and say,"Oh, it does not exist. It is just scare tactics. It is just bringing up something to try to have a point to make in the House." It is real, Mr. Speaker, and it is growing.

It is growing in support among younger people, whom we are always told are the wave of the future, and it is growing among the more substantial elements in the community. It is not just a few unusual people who are known for far out and radical ideas, who are on the cutting edge of the intellectual world. No, Sir: Ordinary people are giving serious thought now to this whole question. They are beginning to say, "Does our future lie within this Province or should we go our separate way?" It is vague and woolly.

February 2, 1977 Tape no. 12 Page 2 - JaW Mr. Roberts. But it is there, Sir. This• House must deal with it. I think we should debate this early on, very early on. The integrity of our Province, Sir, must be one of the first concerns of the legislators of this Province and of the government. We have got to talk about the economy. The government, Sir, to say the least, are confused. Take the Throne Speech: page 2 identifies the main problem, unemployment. Over to page 10, it is only a major problem. Well what do the government see for this Province, Sir? What is their strategy? What are their goals?

What are their aims? They have had five years to think it through. We have had mill,ons of dollars gone, Sir, in studies and planning and trips and conferences. When are they going to produce something? When are we going to see some ideas, some goals, instead of just vague general words. Throne Speeches are supposed to be vague. But, Sir, so is everything this government does. They bring in one of the highlights in this speech, I suppose, something that was put in at the last minute when somebody around the Cabinet woke up and said, "Gosh, goodness gracious!

We have got to have something in this that the headlines can grab onto." So what is their answer to unemployment? A $2 million job creation programme - $2 million measley bucks. MR. ROWE: That is $34,000 a district. MR. ROBERTS: We have $34,000 a distric~,as one of my colleagues tell me, for each of the fifty-one districts. Compare it to LIP. LIP has now spent or committed this year in this Province in the order of $21 mdllion - $21 million, Sir, ten and one-half times as much. And we all know that LIP has help,d, but LIP has not solved any unemployment problems.

There are about 5,300 men and women employed on LIP projects, Sir. The same ratio, unless this government feels that they can get jobs cheaper than LIP can, the same ratio, Sir, gives us 500 jobs in this great new job creation programme. Pretty small potatoes, Sir. Pretty small, Sir, 500 jobs. The social welfare rolls are up by several thousand people

Feb~uary 2, 1977 Tape no . 12 Page 3 - IIIW Mr. Roberts. over last year. We will not even hold our own. So I sav, Sir . that we have got to come to gr ips with the economy. We have got to work out a strategy. 1 am not saying that this government are fully responsible for the state of the economy, no. The Government at Ottawa have pe~haps a preponderant role to play in developing the economy of this country. They control, Sir, ~net ary policy. They have far more fiscal resources than we can even dream of. But, Sir, our government have a responsibility, and they have not discharged that responsibility.

And $2 million is a sop to the 28 ,000 men and women unemployed today and the 20 , 000 more who have left the work force , who have just - 37

Februar y 2, 1977 Tape No. 13 NM- 1 MR·. ROBERTS : not left the Province, not left the world, not died, just left the work force. 500 jobs, Sir,; the Rame number which the Minister of Finance told us in his budget last year were being sacrificed on the altar of fiscal expediency. The financial affairs of the Province, Sir: I hope we will get the budget early.

I suspect from what I k~ow;- and 1 confess, Sir, I only know what is made public,ard that is not very much because we have a government that,for all their ~ious words,operates behind a veil of secrecy, hiding things, trying to keep things secret - but I suspect, Sir, that this government are now running a significant deficit on current account this year.

Maybe they are not. 1 confess I do not know, but, Sir, we should know, the House of Assembly should know, ve should be told quickly. andif the Minister of Finance and his colleagues are not ready to bring in the budget early on ·, and they may not be, then I think we should have an early debate on the financial affairs of the Province. How long can we go on doubling our debt every five years? How long can we go on with a debt that is double the national average and gives no sign of going in any other direction?

The government boasts, Sir, it was in the Globe and Mail a week or ten days ago,that they only borrowed $197 million this year. Only! That is ten per cent of our total debt, Sir. And then what are the alternatives? There are alternatives,but what are they? They should be spelled out, Sir, because we on our side have a responsibility to spell out our thoughts and we shall. We have got to talk about linerboard, Sir. We are told that mill is a great drain,and I have no doubt, Sir, it is costing many millions of dollars to keep it open as it now stands. But we have had no full disclosure by the government, Sir.

The last financial statement to be made public was dated the 31st, of March, 1975, twenty-two months ago, Sir. The figures given by the Premier and his colleagues in various public statements have been contradictory . They all involve substantial sums of money,but none of theni gives the

February 2, 1977 Tape No. 13 NM - 2 MR. ROBERTS: full facts, Sir, anything like the full facts. The only debate held in this House in this last session on linerboard took place in the dead of night, after midnight 1 when the then member for St. John's West (Mr. Crosbie) who was Chairman of the Board of Directors of Linerboard Limited b~:ought a bill in to authorize I believe it was $25 million in government supply, $25 million, A brief debate ensued. It was one or two o'clock in the morning, Sir, and it certainly was not one of the better debates of what was a dismally bad session.

The minister promised then that serious consideration would be given the idea of a select committee of the House to consider the affairs of Linerboard, perhaps a standing committee even. Nothing apparently has peen done on that. Nothing was done last year and apparently nothing is to be done this year. All that we know, Sir, is that the problem is there. l-Ie have set up a board now. A number of distinguished gentlemen who are looking at the problem will make some recommendations. People of Stephenville and the whole. Bay St. George area are apprehensive, they are worried, they are concerned.

They feel that the government have let them down. They feel they are not getting leadership I think, Sir, we should have a full debate early on in this session of the House,that the government state the facts as they know them, state what they see to be the answers, state where they can see us going and then, Sir, let them get the sense in the House. There is no doubt in my mind, Sir, that the government will get the confidence of the House and the support of every member of the House if they . state a reasonable and a rational policy. Linerboard is not the creation of the present government.

They have made it infinitely worse by their policies, infinitely wo:.;-se1 but the Linerhoard mill, Sir, was a fait accompli when the present Premier and his colleagues took office. But their policy, their action

February 2, 1977 Tape No. 13 NM - 3 MR. ROBERTS: they have fallen into,in my view, Hr. Speaker, has made the situation infini tely worse, il!lllleasurably worse, It gives no sign of getting better. I chink we should have a debate on the Lower Churchill. We had a debate last year. It was quite a good debate, 1n fact. The then Minister of Mines and Energy, now the member for St. John's West at Ottawa, Mr. John Crosbie, who, whatever he was,was a giant of man, a minister and would make a full and complete statement of the facts,andbe did. The present Minister of Mines and Energy may very well be able to do the same.

I think we should give him the opportunity. I think we should have a full and early debate. All the fears, Sir, that those of us on this side expressed a year ago when we voted against the government's policy , all those fears, Sir, have been confirmed by events, and that is not something in which I take any pride or any job . We have got

February 2, 1977 Tape 14 PK- 1 Mr. Roberts: $250 million, Sir, socked into Labrador power. As yet, Sir, we have nothing to show. We can hardly blame all of our troubles on Quebec. To fall into shallow emotionalism, Mr. Speaker, might be satisfying, it might even be electorally worth-while, but it is not electrically worth-while, Sir, and it is a very poor way to serve this Province. The policy now, Sir, is back to the Anglo- Saxon route, which my friend and colleague from Twillingate (Mr.

Smallwood) first looked into thirteen years ago, I believe, The gentleman from Twillingate went to London and saw the British engineering firm, the great engineering firm of Preece Cardew and Rider, Queen Anne's 'Gate their offices were, and commissioned them to make a study, That study was made, and now thirteen years later the wheel was come full circle, and it turns out one of our last best hopes might well be to use the Anglo-Saxon route. Well it is time we had a full statement, Sir, and this House is the place for it. Oil and gas, again we need a full statement of the government's position.

I would like to hear the Minister of Mines and Energy to reject the insolent statements made yesterday by Eastcan• The insolence of that company to state - or were reported to have made by the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources at Ottawa and they have not been denied by Eastcan~ And it is well known, I am sure the minister's aides and advisers have told him, as I have been told by others, it is well known within the industry that Eastcan are pulling some sort of play with a view to making us toe their line. Well it is our resource.

It belongs to the people of this Provin~e, and if they want to develop it, they develop it on our terms. SOME RON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear! MR. ROBERTS: And if they do not like it let them go elsewhere and somebody else will develop it. SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear! MR. ROBERTS: The peop~e of this Province, Mr. Speaker, own that resource, and it must be developed for the benefit of the people of this

February 2, 1977 Tape 14 PK- 2 Mr. Roberts: - - ----- Province. I believe in private enterprise, but, Sir, private enterprise must operate in the public interest. We have had too much development in this Province, Sir, over the centuries we have heen here that benefited only the developers. Let us have some benefit to the people of this Province. The fishery, I will not go into it in detail 1 I will a little later on.

All I will say, Sir, is that the 200 mile limit was hailed as the dawning of a new era, and all we have had since then is more talk of doom and gloom, More words of joy, consolation in the Speech from the Throne, but no details. The same tired .old cliches we have been hearing from the present Minister of Fisheries since he assumed office, and from his predecessors before him. Now, Mr. Speaker, we have to come to grips with the fishery. I think there are some steps we should be taking.

I would like to hear the govern- ment outline what they think we should do, and I would like to see it debated so that every member of the House who wishes to speak can. Forestry~ here we are, Sir, facing a threat to one of our basic industries, a threat whose full dimensions are only now becoming apparent, the budworm, an infinitely small little bUg, Sir, that could eat us right out of the forest industry, and is busily doing it.

The government's response, Sir, has been weak,inconsistent, maybe from the best of motives, maybe they are not sure, and nobody expects them to have all of the answers, but, Sir, how long, if I can mix the metaphor, do we fiddle while Rome burns? How long do we experiment while the budworm eats? The policy of salvage will not meet the present needs. It may have been adequate in years past, it will not meet the need today as it exists.

And we have to come to grips with that, Sir, or else we will wake up, and not just discover that we are running , out of economically viable wood, discover that we have five or six or eight years to harvest all of the wood on this Island because then what is not harvested will be rotten. The Speech from the Throne talks about economically viable wood beiD$ in short supply. Of course it is. The forestry people have been saying for years that by the 42

February 2, 1977 Tape 14 PK- 3 Mr. Roberts: year 2000, twenty-five years from now,we will have run out of economically viable wood on this Island. What are we going to do about it, Sir? What is being done to rearrange forest limits and to make the best of what we have? The previous government, Sir, the previous a~inistration, that much maligned group of men, had a policy, a commercial forest corporation, It was not such a bad idea, It is a lot better than any idea the present government have implemented, Sir. All they have done now is recognize,after five years, we have a problem.

We are told there will be action on municipal government. I hope so. The problems of the St. John's urban region," the metropolitan area,will not wait much longer for solutions. Solutions are going · to be imposed,or solutions are going to be put into place whether the government want to do it or not. So I hope the minister will . be early on with his legislation, and I hope it is fully debated. And I must say, I do appreciate, Sir, his courtesy in consulting the St. John's Municipal Council and other bodies about some of this legislation, and I wish he would show the House of Assembly a similar courtesy. And I

February 2, 1977 Tape no. lS Page l - mw MR. ROBERTS: have no objection, Sir, to legislation being shown to outside groups who are interested. It is an old practice and a very valuable one. But I think, Sir, members of the House might be extended the same courtesy, and I would suggest that to the minister. Mr. Speaker, I could go on, but I will not. I would hope that we will have a good debate on Buchans. My friend and colleague, the gentleman from Windsor- Buchans (Mr. Flight), at times is close to despair, he tells me,at the complete lack of response by the government to the problems of Buchans.

The Minister of Municipal Affairs, the other day incorporated the community, and I am not even sure he did that in a proper way. It was kind of ham-handed and clumsy, and I am not sure if it was the right way to do what had to be done. It was recommended by the Task Force but not in the way in which he did it. MR. FLIGHT: Hear, hear! MR. ROBERTS: Mr. Speaker, let me conclude by saying that the House must seize hold of these issues and come to grips with them. I would like to suggest to the Government House Leader that we might perhaps try something a little new.

Let us have a series of brief ,. debates, one, two, three days, not necessarily involving confidence. I am not suggesting that we bring these up in an effort to defeat the government or to score political points.

I suggest we bring them up, Sir, because these are just some of the urgent problems which must be dealt with today which are not being dealt with, And if they cannot be dealt with anywhere else, let us deal with them here and see what ideas we can generate and what solutions we can put forward,and then hope that the government will take the best of what is put forward on the floor of this House and act upon it, Sir.

Since they have no policy of their own after five years in office, since they are only now identifying their priorities, since their statement, as read by His Honour, the Governor, their statement of policy is filled with vagueness and filled with

February 2, 1977 Mr. Roberts. Tape no. 15 Page 2 - mw empty repetition and rhetoric, then let them come here to the House, Sir. I think that this House, this session, Mr. Speaker, has a very great challenge before it.

The people of this Province expect a great deal from us, and l believe they have a right to expect that.' They have not had it, and I think, Sir, it is incumbent upon all of us here, the fifty of us who are here now, each to do our part, to make this House of Assembly a valuable and a functioning and a worth~while part of the government of this Province, of the running of this Province, of the public life of this Province. We, Sir, on our side shall do our part. We shall support the government in doing their part, and we call on them now to do it. Thank you. SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear! MR. SPEAKER: The hon.

Premier. PREHIER MOORES: Mr. Speaker, I also would like to welcome the dignitaries here today, Miss Sheppard and those people on the floor and those other people in the galleries. Listening to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Speaker, he talked about the Throne Speech being the same as he has heard for the last seven years. I would suggest, Sir, his remarks were the same as we have been hearing for the last seven years, but there is a difference. He may not be around to give his next year, Sir. SOME HON. MEMBERS : l'lR. FLIGHT: P.R:EMIER MOORES: Hear, hear! It is a shame! No, there is no shame to that.

A bit of humour never hurt anybody, including the member for -· Windsor - Buchans. The leadership, Mr. Speaker, is, I know, on the Leader of the Opposition's mind,as it should be. But his leadership showed through today by the tone of his remarks. I am sure that was encouEaged by the nestling so snugly of the three members of the LRP who have come to his breast, which I am sure gives him great comfort and security. 4S

FebTuary 2, 1977 Tape no. 15 Page 3 - mw Premier MooTes. 1 would also, Sir, like to thank the movl!r and the seconder and congratulate them today, the membeT foT Bonavista North (Mr. Cross), that gentleman who was here on a part-time basis before, but is now back with a real degTee of permanency . SOME HON • ~!EMBERS : HeaT, hear! PREMIER MOORES: And our new member for Exploits(~r. Twomey) whose remarks I thought were particularly pertinent .

And I might say that l know his family in the gallery are proud,as members in this House are proud, when we see a man who bas dedicat ed a great deal of his life to the people of this ProYince when he goes that one step further in the public service so that he can serve the people of all the Province and not in just one vocation. SOMI:: HON. M.El-!BERS: Hear, hear!

February 2, 1977, Tape 16, Page 1 -- apb PREMIER MOORES: I must say as well, Mr. Speaker, that at this time I think it is important that we comment on the manner in which both these gentlemen arrived here. Both cae in a very decisive manner from what had been previously very staunch Liberal strongholds indeed. The funny thing is, Sir, no one has mentioned the vote splitting this time.

Because the fact is, Sir, that - with all due respect - the LRP was obliterated forever, and indeed ironically enough that vote as was ~ned by the member for Bonavista North went to the P.C.candidate rather than the group that they were supposed to split the vote from. I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, that also had something to do with the logic . that was purported after the last general election. We have recently been hearing from the Opposition and some elements in the media that the people have lost confidence in the government.

I will be dealing with ~hat in a few moments, Sir, but I would suggest in the meantime that is wishful thinking and only wishful thinking on their part. Because. the only yardstick that this sort of judgement csn be made by are the people themselves. I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, that the three by-elections we saw underwrote what the people think of the two parties concerned. SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear! PREMIER mORES: If that was too long ago, Mr. Speaker, I would underline the fact that there was an election, a federal I election, mind you, in St.

John's West, but it had provincial connotations,as all federal elections do in this Province, but even more so when one considers that a prominent provincial cabinet minister was a candidate in the election, which he won quite handily, and at the same time the Liberal opponent got 18 per cent, I think it was, of the vote. That, Sir, is the lowest vote recorded by that party, by any candidate they have fielded in twenty-eight years, or since Confederation. 47

February 2, 1977, Tape 16, Page 2 -- apb PREliiER MOORES: Mr. Speaker, I suggest that, and 1 am sure~ that the Policy Conference or the essay contest or whatever it may be that is coming up in Gander will get them back on the road upward, and quite seriously, Sir, and I will be serious for a moment, I hope so. Now, Sir, 1 would like to turn to the matters at hand, much more serious matters. I am not going to talk about the policies regarding specific areas, Labrador, Baie Verte Peninsula, any other part of our Province, because I think as a government we have to talk about the policies that affect all our people.

The fact is, Sir, that today we have reached a time in our history when the people themselves must decide what their destiny is going to be. We will have to decide as a people, each individual will have to decide, if we are going to take advantage of the opportunities that we have in this Province,or if we are going to sit back in the vain hope that someone else is going to do whatever needs to be done for us. There has been some progress made. Not as much as I would like, or any member in this Assembly today would like, but the fact is progress has been made. But the fact is also, Mr.

Speaker, that Canada today has the lowest productivity of virtually any country in the Western World. Mr. Speaker, what is more saddening is the fact that our Province has the lowest productivity of any province in Canada, and that means that we as a people must face reality, and it means, Mr. Speaker, that we must produce and we must work if we are to succeed. We will not succeed if we do not start to deal with the negativism that surrounds us, negativism that comes from every quarter, that we are all more or less guilty of on occasion. Today we see negativism coming from everywhere, especially the media.

Particularly, I suggest, possibly the military types, also some of the politicians and just about everybody else. I suggest, Mr. Speaker, and I will be speeding more tim~ on this subject later, we have to analyze our attitude before we really talk about how progressive and succes•ful any of us

February 2, 1977, Tape 16, Page 3 -- apb PREMIER MOORES : are going to be. I suggest we objectively look at where we are, what has been done in our Province in a realistic way, and where we hope to go.

~ehruary 2, 1977 Tape 17 IB-1 P~'F:'MIER MOORFS: Things, in fact, are nothing Jike as bad as the gloom arid doom hunch would like to have us believe. There is no argument that the ,.,orld is experiencinp. difficult times, economically and socially. 1\ut Newfoundlann in fact is doing more than holding her own. compared to other countries in this world. An extreme example, I suppose, Mr. Speaker - there are many - but would be the llnited Kingdom,considered by most people to he one of the most civilized countries in the world, one of the most industrialized, one of the most educated.

The fact is, Sir, they have had triple our inflation in ~anacla in increas1ng balance of payment deficits, wicked devaluation of their currency, cruel taxat:l .on by our standards and on and on it goes. And as I say,many others are in the same boat. I also say, Sir, compared to most, Ne~rfoun<Uand is in fact do:lnp very well. StUl we hear of our IJorrendous unemployment. The novelty of that, Mr. Speaker, is of course unemployment is had, it is very ser:f.otis, but it is not some new phenomenon that just happened to our Province this year. \oe have had unemployment in this Province for a great many years.

It is so111ethinp that is very difficult to overcome. But the fact is that when unemployment is increasing in most nations in the world it has :In fact stayecl fairly stable here. It is no higher this year tn January them 1. t was last year in January nor the year before and the year before that. The Leader of the Opposition laughs at the $2 million short-term prop.ramme :In the resource area to help provide employment. Of course it :Is not enough. It is not even a good programme. It is only a programme to help. And Ottawa realizes the same thing because durtng the cerempnies today a meRsape came in from Mr.

Bud Cullen of the llanpower Department sayinll: that the on-again, off-again programmes are going to discontinue. So it is year 'round programmes they are go:fng to have now for job creation and that Newfoundland's share h~s been advanced to just over $5 million. It is okay I suppose for the l.eader of the Opposition to laugh or conde1!ln or to ridicule the :JO

February 2, 1977 Tape 17 IB-2 P'RErqER }{00PES: $2 million effort that this government is making,but I suggest, Sir, just two and a half times that is not exactly the most magnanimous gesture that the federal government could make either. The fact is, Sir, more jobs are needed but also many new jobs have to he created. The fact is, Sir, some 25,000 jobs have been created in five years. Not enough! The funny thing is with 25,000 .1obs that have been created nothing has been done~ Jobs did not happen without anything being done by someone, Mr.

Speaker, because after all,how could the jobs be created when there were not any huge industrial projects? I would ask you, Mr. Speaker, to cast your mind back when virtually everyone was criticizing the establishment of the gigantic industries as our salvation, they did not suit us, there were too many. And the philosophy was at that time, "no away with them at all cost. Get rid of the gigantic industries. No more ERr.Os. No more Come By Chances.

No more Linerboards, any of these if they were not satisfactory and based on our normal resources." The cry was we had to develop those things our people did best, to develop an excellence in our own skills. We agreed at that time, }{r. Speaker. We were elected, I suggest, because we agreed. Mr. Speaker, it may be news to the Opposition, but the fact is we still do agree . SOME HON. ~ERS: Hear, hear! PREMIER MOORES: The fact is the editors, the pessimists say nothing about what has been done. They say the scene is stagnant. I suggest, Mr.

Speaker, that in most cases,as I will illustrate in a minute, that most of these armchair critics are too lazy to do research to fi.nd out what is happening. The fact is they are not interestecl enough to find out what is happening. They are far more interested in criticizing what they think is not happening. J.et us :1ust examine a few of the things that have been done. Amazingiy, }~r. Speaker, none are glamorous, none of them could be called b:l r, business, none of it i.s p;oinp: to hit the netvspapers every day because it is not controversial. 51

February 2,1977 Tape 18 AH-1 PREMU:R MOORES: But they are, ~1r. Speaker, what people wanted, and they have succeeded. The orphan, Rural Development, everybody's wipping boy : The fact is Sir, when this government took office it was not Rural Development, it was resettlement- S0!1E HON. HENBERS : Hear, hear! PRENIER NOORES: -a programme where people were moved from so-called uneconomic,not viable areas of this province where their homes were, where their lives were,and where their whole culture, their own mini-culture, if yqu like, had been expended.

Get them into a larger community so that they could have water and sewer ! The fact is,Mr. Speaker,that these people were moved in a great many cases into areas they did not understand, no way to make a living,and they wondered why the welfare ro~ls did increase. The fact is,Sir, that the Department of Rural Development have made loans,in just four years they have established or been resnonRjhlP for creating two thousand seven hundred jobs at a cost of $2,300 per job. And that is if the loans are not paid. MR. NEARY: llave you got a list?

PREMII::R MOORES: Not only can the member for •LaPoile have a list, he can even put in an application. SOME liON. MEMBERS: !lear, hear! PREMIER MOORES: The fact is,Mr. Speaker, there are twenty seven hundred jobs and that in numbers is the equivalent of six oil refineries-the oil refinery employed four to five hundred people- six oil refineries~ just doing little things around the province, nothing big, no great incomes. But they are employed,Mr. Speaker, doing what they want and not what they are told to do.

The Rural Development Associations, there are noH thirty-one in this province, thirty •-one in thirty-one regions. There were very few when this . government came in and the fact is they were discouraged. Today they are being funded partially by ourselves, they are being encouraged because,Mr. Speak~r,they can 52

February 2,1977 Tape 18 AH-2 PREMIER HOORES: identify the local opportunities much better than we can sitting here in Confederation Building . They can identify what will work and they will find the people who will make them work. and that is why they are good \ a dec entralized form of government agency,if you like,and that is the way it should be.But more than that,Mr. Speaker, they are not muzzled. One time if a development association spoke up against the government, that would be the end of the funding.

The fact is noW~Sir, not only are they not muzzled, they are independent, they are encouraged to critieize, because any government or anyone else should welcome criticizism from those who know. And the fact is,Sir,they are not just independent hut they are awfully effective. In the Forestry, people laugh at what is not being done. But the fact is,Sir,that the Forest Lands - Management Act, that should have been done forty years ago, the Forest Management Act is now coming into play and by the end of this year the companies will very much have to say what we are going to hold nnto and what we are not.

Because the fact is Sir, they must do that and I will be referring to that in just a moment. There have been hundreds of miles of access roads built, thinning, nurseries, conservation in'. agriculture, land development programmes, equipment banks -Do not hear from the leader of the opposition when equipment bank goes in. We only hear when it does not go in. That is negativism that even he has got to get over,Sir. The fact is that little things, not major, like family plots.

A lot of people never heard of family plots but\ when vegetables became expensive there was-a small programme developed where the people in Goose Bay, Corner Brook, Grand Falls, Gander and here in it . Johnis, a small programme developed to see if we could start ap nome gardens so that the people who had no room for gardens could in fact grow ' their own vegetables. Four hundred in 1975, all occupied. w~ thought that was very successful. Last year eight hundred, all occupied- This year it will be eight hundred, I am sorry. There is 5]

February 2,1977 Tape 18 AH-3 PREMIER MOORJ::S: a waiting list now~Sir~on a programme that will allo~o~ twenty five hundred people to grow t heir own veget ables, who live in the city who normally cannot. This may not be important ,but it is to those people. It is not major, it is not the big deal but the fact is it is part of the rural thinking , the thinkin R of allowing our own people to do their own thing . Nothing big, nothing newsworthy, nothing glamourous. But what does the aver age person want? Oh, and by the way,Mr. Speaker ,the

Febru~ry 2, 1Q77 Tape 19 IB-1 PRE}!! Ell Mf10RES : average per capita income during these desperate, hard years 1 the average per capita income in this Province in 1971, the income of each person in this Province was $2,100. In 1977 it will be $5,100. SO!-'E HON. t-IEMBET!S : llear, hear! PREMIER MOORES: The fact is, Mr. Speaker, that it was the highest percentage rise in Canada and the moat progress made by any Province in Canada. Maybe we should talk about the Newfoundland and Labrador nevelopment Corporation which has helped to create - people help themselves - 1,800 jobs, four ERCOs,if you like. Mr.

Speaker, also the Newfoundland Development Corporation has provided and developed programmes for managerial skills. Maybe we should take pride in the fact that our min:lng tax is the best in Canada,and people :In the mining compan:l.es will tell yott that. It is the best and it is encouraging prospecting. Our recovery of unexplored mineral lands that were g:l.ven away in what had seemed were ever increasing chunk,; to a favoured fe~~ . now is becoming avaHable so that people can explore,t,•hether they be individuals or companies. Services have gone ahead, probably too fast. I am not sayin~ they have not.

I am certainly saying they are going to have to slow down. I could go through the litany that we have heard so many times, I suppose, for so many years, 2,000 · m:l.les constructed and paved, new hospitals, expanded hospitals, clinics, a new ambulance service for only twenty dollars a person, almost 100 new schools, 150 extensions, 150 new classrooms. I have. got to stop there, ~~r. Speaker, or you will think I am referring to the Book Of Ne~rfound] and.

The fact is, Sir, the recreation fac:l.lit:!es that have been provided in the Province, three times :In f:l.ve years, three times the amount in the twenty-three years before and on and on it goes. Many accomplishments, services that have been normal by any standard. lfayhe the most important of all, Mr. Speaker, and the one that I take most pride :In is regarding the welfare recipient. There was and there is, I am afraid, to a lesser degree, at one time no desire, no intention 55

February 2, 1977 Tape 19 IB-2 PRF.l-'IEl! ¥00PES : to work by a ~reat many able-bodied people ~rho were receiving able- bodied assistance. If there i.s anything that is a sickness in society is when a sociological problem of that nature is allowed to expand. That attitude had to change. ¥r. Speaker, I suggest it has to a large degree.

Since 1972 - and I pay tribute here to the personnel in the department particularly - but since 1972 the number of chronic - chronic are the ones who had never literally worked for years and years and years, able-bodied welfare cases, the unemployables - that are now working normally because of programmes that were established in just that short period of time, 5,000 able-bodied social recipients are now back in the normal work force. SO¥E RON. ~~ERS: Hear, hear: MR. NEARY: To draw your unemployment insurance you need eight weeks stamps. PJlEMIER MOORES: l-Tell, Mr.

Speaker, I am sure that is possibly the case in a great many cases but I am delighted that at least they went to work for that. I suggest that - MR. NEARY: no not take the credit for it. Ottawa dtd it. PRE~~IER MOORF.S: I am not taking the credit for it, ~r. Speaker, but I hear the hon . member for LaPoile (Mr. Neary) talking about the full larder or the empty larder. I suggest he think more of beinp the full mouth than the empty mind 1 I think is the problem.

The fact is, Sir, that at this time ~re could go on about more examples,that more Newfoundlanders are doing their own thing than ever before, quietly, without fanfare but effectively. Mr. Speaker, we can set the rroundtrork for all this but now,where do we go from here? Just before that,remember also, Sir, the consumer. We have the consumer,who certainly still has a difficult time and will as lonf'; !!.S there are people who ~rill take advantage of the consumer, but I suggest, Sir , we have made a lot of progress in that area. We have set up regional offices. We have set up home budget courses.

He have estahl:lshetl a clepartment. We have h!!.d man outs on buying procedures, how to handle complaints, the Landlord and Tenant Act 56

February 2, 1977 Tape 20 PK - 1 Premier Moores; and the situation is, in fact, much better; and the new Trade Practices Act which I will not go into in detail here for obvious reasons. It goes a long way to further protection of the consumer which is the way it should be. But the fact is, Sir, where do we go now? How far can we go? And in what direction? One of the most uncertain questions that we have to face is how far we can go or even should we go? Our borrowing has been too ligh, but services had to be done. After we entered Canada,or became part of Canada,expectations were very high, and quite rightly so.

But we are now at a time when retrenchment is not just necessary, it is mandatory. That will be the subject,naturally,of the budget. But there are many complicating factors, First of all is,where will the money that we can borrow or would want to borrow, within reason, where should it be spent? But there are other complicating factors as well, not the least of which is Mr. Levesque in Quebec.

Sir, the investment community, I think it is fair to say, and I am talking about the investment community whether it is capital going in for new industry or whether it be the fiscal markets where the bonds are raised,,will be slowed down to virtually a halt when it comes to investment or buying Quebec bonds. The fact is, Sir, that has an affect on us as well as a province. Because for many years the borrowing credibility of the provinces was based upon the backing of the Federal Government in Ottawa, If we raised a bond it was in fact almost secured by Ottawa because we were a part of Confederation.

Quebec's new attitude has put a great degree of uncertainty in that area. And I suggest, Sir, that the three or four years they are talking about before a referendum 1 that a great many of the provinces will not last that long unless the Bank of Canada steps in. But the real reason I am saying this, Sir, is to say that borrowing is going to be more difficult than ever before. And realizing, Sir, that we cannot just shut her down,only so much leeway left to move ahead, in fact under normal circumstances 57

February 2, 1977 Tape 20 PK - 2 Premier Moores: government can only do so much. However we should and will provide programmes so that the people in this year and the years ahead can help . themselves. We will keep our social and service sector on an even keel. We will maintain the present level of service. However,for this year at least we will not be embarking on new costly programmes; we simply cannot afford to. We have made the decision that in order to create jobs, and in order to provide the economic base we must have, we must dramatically increase our effort in the resource development fields.

Not industry for industry's sake alone, but rather the rational development of our r·esources whether they be big or whether they be small. So what does this mean,? Of course, we have not got the time today to go into all the areas of concern. I agree with the Leader of the Opposition, I agree very definitively when he says, a lot of these items should be brought before the House for debate without necessary legislation or any reason, but these things should be brought out so we can discuss them and get them aired properly. It is up to the government.

PREMIER MOORES: Things like Gull Island, and how we are going to intensify the development,which we are. The fact is that there will be a group of people dedicated to nothing else full-time, because, Sir, it is a crime in an energy-short world that the water of Labrador is allow to flow into the Atlantic to the benefit of no one because we are being blackmailed on the border. The option, Sir, is that the Gulf Crossing may be feasible, it is going to be costly, and the fact is that is of no more advantage to give it away to Nov~ Scotia than give it away to Quebec, if giving away is the name of the game.

The fact is that industrial customers must be tried to be found to be located in the Labrador area. On the other extreme there is the sawmill programme. Because, Sir, that is equally important in many ways to some of these much, much large·r programmes. Because it is the philosophy of these people who live in rural Newfoundland, and this is their way of life. 5R

February 2, 1977 Tape 20 PK - 3 Premier Moores: There are presently 2,500 people employed in the sawmill industry, a lot more than most people rea.lJze, as many as it would take to develop Cu.ll Island . The fact is, Sir, that the people in the sawmill industry depending on our forest will be there a lot longer than the construction worker who works on Gull Island. We have to put more emphasis on rural development associations because they are best equipped,as I said before,to identify the local opportunities. They are the best equipped to be knowledgeable in government programmes,

February 2, 1977 Tape No, 21 NM- 1 1'REMIF.R MOORES: and, Sir, as you would say around the bay 1 they are not backward in coming forward. One time if they were criticized) as I said, they would be cut off. That is no longer the case. We need programmes to encourage prospecting for minerals and they will be brought forward. MR. SMALLWOOD: Would the bon. gentleman allow me? I introduced that programme. I think there were some twenty-odd associations when I went out. I know of none that was cut off, not even one, at least in my time. MR. SIMMONS: It is all taken care of.

PREMIER MOORES : Sir, -I am delighted to hear from leader number two. MR. SIMMONS: Oh smarten up! Smarten up! PREMIER MOORES: Well the fact is that this is not the time for interrupting in the House 1and even with the decorum of the hon. member for Bay d'Espoir (Mr. Simmons) should know that. MR. SIMMONS: Direct lie. PREMIER MOORES: Pardon? MR . SIMMONS : Or for telling direct lies, PREMIER MOORES: No one is telling direct lies. Mr. Speaker, it is this - MR. SPEAKER: Order~ PREMIER MOORES: -when the people of Newfoundland are here, here is an example of the problem.

A member says, "No room for a direct lie." Now, Mr. Speaker, unfortunately that is the sort of problem we have had in this House for so long. SOME RON. MEMBERS : Hear! Hear! PREMIER MOORES: That is why a lot of us should step back and take stock and just say maybe we should try to elevate this chamber on behalf of the people rather than on behalf of ourselves. SOME RON. MEMBERS : Hear~ Hear! MR. SMALLWOOD : Mr. Speaker, to the Premier, I would like to apologize for having interrupted. It is not the time or occasion for that. It is just a little hard for me to take flO

February 2, 1977 Tape No. 21 NM- 2 MR. SMALLWOOD: what he says. PREMIER MOORES: Thank you, Sir. MR. SMALLWOOD: I do apologize. PREMIER MOORES: Thank you, Sir, and I am sure I can assure the hon. gentleman that many things that have been said back and forth have been hard for many members to take for a long period of time. But I do accept the apology, I hone 2raciouslv, Sir, and it is appreciated. There are a great many things we can talk about like oil and gas, the white paper that will be tabled in this House shortly.

The fisheries, Sir, is one thing I am not going to skip over even though we are running short of time - or we are not running short of time,but I sm sure most people would wish we would. Pardon? MR. SIMMONS: At six o'clock we ad1ourn until three tomorrow afternoon. PREMIER MOORES : Mr. Speaker, the fact is that the fishery is -"- too important,and even though it cannot be debated here comprehensively, the fact is it has to be ment_ioned. There has to be a debate in this House and I agree as soon as possible.

But, Sir, one of the things I would like to do in the immediate future is have an informal conference with the federal government people, provincial government, the union, industry, the Leader of the Opposition, those who are interested, to sit down with that group to get the facts before us, before any elaborate debate, so that we know what we are talking about and that emotion• is not overruling that which is so important at this particular time.

The 200 mile limit was declared just a month ago, And I know,and I apologize to the Leader of the Opposition,that we have not brought in oro~ammes yet that has taken full advanta~e of it,but the only one we could have is if we could have educated the cod to swim a~hore, Sir, and we have not ~anaged that ye~. The fact is that the opportunities of the 200 mile limit are fantastic. 61

February 2, 1977 Tape No. 21 NM- 3 PREMIER MOORES: One thing, and one thing I would like to do at this time, Sir, is to talk about conservation in the 200 mile limit. People are worried that the stocks are not going to be rebuilt and that they will not have an opportunity to be rebuilt. I would suggest now that the reduction in quotas has taken place to a huge degree. In 1968,as an example) Portugal caught 152,000 tons. This year they are allowed 11,000. Spain was 130,000 in 1968, this year they are allowed 16,000. Russia was 147,000, this year they are allo1~ed 19,000.

So I suggest, Sir, that conservation is taking place. We have got to talk about protecting the inshore ' effort, beefing up the inshore effort, training of our own people to take advantage, upgrading facilities, ships, whether •e should buy, charter or build, or all and it has to be the first priority of this government. Mr.

Speaker, in closing these few remark~,or I guess they are not so few anymore, there are many more things that all of us have to say and time will not permit,but we will be here for four or five months to do it, An intensive effort on our resources has to be our future and our priority, whether it be from handicrafts to hydro. All effort has to be made and all personnel have to be harnessed. The Speech from the Throne spells out in very general terms the philosophy that we have to approach but many specific pr~gramrnes will be brought to this House during this session so that they can be debate thoroughly. 62

February 2, 1977 Tape no. 22 Page 1 - mw Premier Moores. I, Sir, am anticipating a most productive session. The debates we will hold will merit the most careful consideration. It is a time for thoughtful debate on the issues before us, and a time for genuine criticism when the situation warrants it. It is even a time for humour if the occasion is right,for we tend too often, Mr. Speaker, to take ourselves too seriously. I can assure you most other people do not, but we do, and most times we are certainly far too negative. Party politics, Mr. Speaker, is not war, although you would not know that on occasion.

And I suggest we have an armistice, at least, for a year or two and try to get the co-operation that we need in this Ho.use, because, Mr. Speaker, our job, collectively, is leadership and that implies positive thinking by everybody. I am weary of negative thinking in a country, in a Province which enjoys a better way of life than virt~lly any other people in the word today. Certainly there are restraints that we must endure but what are they,in fact,compared to the past? It is intolerable the way we complain about our lifestyle today, particularly in terms of goods and services. Mr.

Speaker, when in fact over the past 300 or 400 years was it materially better? Some will harken to the good old days which we all respect but surely there is no comparison with the standard of living we enjoy today. We may p~aise the past values and virtues, and there is merit, I believe, Sir, in this for in some ways we have conned ourselves into believing that happiness equals dollars earned and spent and little else. We will bring in the programme, Sir, this year, and with the help of all members of this House help create the nolicv. But the attitudes must be shared by all our people.

And we and our people, we and our Province, our people, we, as a Province, can only do what we are prepared to do, only prepared to accept the challenge that there is. If people take advantage of the opportunities, we will do well. If they do not, we will not. 6J

February 2, 1977 Tape no. 22 Page 2 - mw Premier Moores: Mr. Speaker, my last words, I hear so much on the subject of negativism, on the subject .of where we are going, and on the subject of what, I suggest, is almost an inferiority complex amongst our people,sometimes,which is not deserved. We have got a lot to be proud of in this Province, and we should b'e. We hear about Quebec and their great heritage, and their great culture. I suggest the heritage and the culture of this Province is as good or greater than Quebec's any day.

And the fact is, Sir, we also thrived under austerity and developed a steeled character which is not too often seen in the world today, but we are going to have to grasp the.ne..ttle and get on with the job, Sir, I hop~, and I am sure that our people will do it as readily as I hope will the members of this House of Assembly, SOME RON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear! MR. SPEAKER: It has been moved and seconded that a committee be appointed to draft an Address in Reply to the gracious Speech from the Throne. Is the House ready for the question? Those in favour "aye." Contrary "nay." I declare the motion carried.

The Committee will consist of the following hon, gentlemen: The hon. member for Bonavista North (Mr. Cross), the bon. member for Exploits (Mr. Twomey) and the bon. member for Ferryland (Mr. O'Brien). NOTICES OF MOTION: MR. SPEAKER: The hon. Leader of the Opposition. MR. ROBERTS: Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Eagle River (Mr. Strachan), Sir. MR. SPEAKER: MR. NEARY: MR. SPEAKER: The hon. member for Eagle River. Mr. Speaker, may I have a moment? Order, please! If the hon. gentleman wishes to raise a point of order and state it, I will rule on it.

But otherwise I could not enter into a dialogue or question and answer,

February 2, 1977 Tape no. 22 Page 3 - mw MR. NEARY: Mr. Speaker,! would like to raise a point of order. It is tne first time to my knowledge that I ·have seen a !llelllber in this hon. House, Sir, stand in his place to move a resolution and then yield to somebody else,when Your Honour knows it is first come, first served. Whoever gets on their feet first in this hon. HollSe is the member who i1> recognized, . ud there are no favours to ap.ybody, Your Honou~. And I know Your Honour was looking at the Leader of the OppQSition, and tb.lt is why the hon.

Leader of the Opposition s-t~d to try to get recognition, but he cannot yield the floor to anybody else. He either has to 1110ve a resolution himself or Your Honour has to re.cognize another member. f1R. SPEAKER: Order, please! Any . 65 ,.

Februarv 2, 1977 Tape 23 IB-1 MR. SPEAKE!': other hon. members have brief, relevant points