Manitoba Hansard — 28 February 1963 (Sitting 1, 27th Legislature, 1st Session)

27-1-1

Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

Legislative Assembly Of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Speaker The Honourable Thelma Forbes I I I l Vol. VIII No. 1 2: 30 p. m. Thursday, February 28, 1963. 1st Session, 27th Legislature Printed by R. S. Eltans. Queen's Printer for the Province of Manitoba, Winnipeg

THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2:30 o'clock, Thursday, February 28th, 1963. The Sergeant-at-Arms, carrying a Mace, and followed by the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Charland Prud1homme, Q. C., entered the House. His Honour Errick F. Willis, the Lieutenant-Governor, entered the Chamber and seated himself on the Throne. HON.

GURNEY EVANS(Provincial Secretary) (Fort Rouge): I am commanded by His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor to state that he does not see fit to declare the cause of sum moning of the present Legislature of this province until a Speaker of this House shall have been chosen according to law. His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor retired. MR. W. G. MARTIN (St. Matthews): Mr. Prud'homme, according to the system of Parliamentary procedure in Manitoba, at the opening of the first session of every new Legis lature, and this is the twenty-seventh, a Speaker is chosen among the members of the House.

Until that takes place the representative of Her Majesty the Queen cannot fulfill the duties of his office and read the Speech from the Throne. Therefore, Sir, it is our first and immediate duty to proceed with the nomination and election of a presiding officer for this Assembly. During the past four and a half years the Province and the government have been well served by Mr. Speaker in the person of the Honourable Member for Rock Lake, the Honourable Mr.

Harrison, who carried out his manifold duties with distinction and dignity and fair judg ment, and won for himself the respect and the esteem of all members of the Assembly. Today we are to elect a new speaker and, Mr. Prud'homme, I count it a great privilege to nominate for this exalted office a member whom I believe is well qualified for the post of Speakership; and without holding the House or members in any further suspense, I have pleasure in nomin ating for the office of Speaker, the Honourable Member for Cypress, Mrs. Thelma Forbes.

I have never been charged with being a ladies' man, but today I am prepared to accept it as a distinct compliment that I have been a ladies' man in that I have regarded the revolutionary history of franchise for women as a major milestone in the progress of modern organized soc iety and, Sir, it is not a far distant cry from the days when the suffragettes languished in prison cells or chained themselves to the stout railings that surrounded the House of Commons at Westminster; but once given the right to vote, they have not slowed their march to the day when the representatives of the fair sex won their spurs as members of legislative bodies at all levels of government.

Indeed, Sir, it would be difficult, well nigh impossible, to overestimate the worth of the contribution which women have made to the enactment of laws for the general good of the people. The Honourable Metnber for Cypress is not a stranger in our midst. She entered this Legislature in a by-election and immediately impressed the House by her devotion to her duties as a member and by her forthright contribution to debates, particularly upon issues related to the social well-being and security of the people. I think that the Member for Cypress mourns the fact she will not be sitting here and taking

part in debate. But, Sir, it is not the first time that a woman's eloquent voice has been silenced, but as usually is the case with womankind, she will have the last word. I am confident, if the House sees fit to honour her by electing her as Speaker of this august assembly, she will not be found wanting and in every way will justify the choice. May I warn the members, though, be on your good behavior --no fighting here boys from now on --always wear a benign and smiling face, and if you are not smiling, do as the Irishman said: "Keep it behind your back.

" I am satisfied, Sir, that if she is elected her judgment and decisions as the Speaker, given with queenly grace, will greatly facilitate the Queen's business. It is not the first occas ion when a woman has been elected to occupy the Chair of the Speaker in a Legislative Assembly of Canada, and has proven herself equal to the responsibility and duties of office. Mr.

Prud'homme, I can rest assured that if this resolution I am to present at this time is adopted, history will repeat itself and, for the first time, the name of a woman will have joined the roll of distinguished citizens whose "Yea" and "Nay" represent fundamental principles of our demo cratic way of life. So, Mr. Prud'homme, I would move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Pembina, February 28th, 1963. Page1 ! I I I il I

that Mrs. Thelma Forbes, member for the electoral division of Cypress, do take the Chair of this House as Speaker. Mr. Clerk presented the motion. MR. CLERK: Under the circumstances, I respectfully suggest that members should speak only once on this motion. MR. MOLGAT (Leader of the Opposition) (Ste. Rose): Mr. Prud1homme, is it the inten tion of the seconder of the resolution to speak at this time? MRS. CAROLYNE MORRISON (Pembina): I can only accept the words of Dr. Martin as mover. I have every confidence in Mrs. Thelma Forbes in this position. MR. MOLGAT: Mr.

Prud'ho�me, I was very interested in the comments made by the mover of this resolution in his speech and very interested in his comments on the matter of the suffrage for women. Certainly those in my party would be in complete agreement with that next step for women in the Province of Manitoba, being the party who originally gave women the right to vote in this province, and, may I say, in Canada. So on the matter of the person involved -- Mr. Speaker and her sex-- there is certainly unanimity insofar as we are con cerned. I rise, however, in opposition to the motion, Mr.

Prud1homme, on the basis of principle, on the principle that the government has not taken a step towards the establishment of the Speaker in a permanent position. Going back to the last session of the 25th Legislature in 1958, there were certain steps taken then of a legislative nature by my colleague the Member for I Lakeside, who was then the Premier. One of these was seconded by the then leader. of the opposition who is now the Premier of this House. The other motion -- the other step was seconded by the then leader of the CCF Party. There was unanimity at that time, Mr.

Prud1homme, on the desirability of establishing the office --or the person in the office of Speaker in as great a degree of permanency as possible.

Unfortunately, when the then leader of the opposition became the leader of the House, there was a change of view, although he did state when we first met here in the first session of the 25th Legislature that he was still in agreement in principle, and the Hansard of that date, Thursday, October 23, 1958, Volume 1, states, and I quote - the Premier speaking: "I believe, Sir, that it is generally thought good in this House, and perhaps by public opinion outside it, that we should begin today to engraft into our custom and our practice a tradition which, for the last hundred years or so, has been followed in the Mother of Parliament at Westminster," -- then I skip certain portions to come to the concluding comment in that paragraph -- "but also, Sir, one who we would be content to see continue as ·a permanent Speaker in this House, above the changing trends of politics and of elections.

" So he agreed in principle, but went on to say: "there is nothing in the law about it nor do I believe there need be. " And he concluded by saying: "In proposing the name" -- that he was then proposing as Speaker -- "I trust that we may be taking a first step in estab- lishing the tradition of a permanent Speakership in the Assembly of the Province of Manitoba. Well, Mr.

Prud'homme, those were the statements made then, but there was no action taken in this regard; there was no consultation prior to that decision at that time between the Parties to establish a real degree of permanency in this; there was no action taken by the government to do anything about this from a legislative standpoint. Now the government has decided to change the Speaker and the previous incumbent is no longer to be. The government makes the choice of a new Speaker. It seems to me, Mr. Prud'homme, that this is important in our institutions.

The role of the Speaker is all too important and all too well known for me to run over it here this afternoon. The desire for impartiality on the part of the Speaker is absolutely essential to the proper func tioning of our Legislative Assembly here and, in fact, to our whole democratic process. It has happened in other areas, Mr. Prud1homme, where there was some question as to the im partiality of the people involved. It is extremely difficult to expect someone involved in day-to day politics; involved in elections on behalf of his party; to come here and suddenly become im partial.

We in this group feel that we have to take action to establish a fairer chance for the Speaker to be impartial and this can be done by establishing it on a permanent basis. My colleague when he spoke in 1958 recommended at that time -- made some suggestions such as the establishment of the area where this particular building rests as a constituency of its own from which the Speaker would be chosen, so that we could move the wards. This is one Page 2 February 28th, 1963

suggestion. There may be others. But, Mr. Prud'homme, the government has taken no action in this regard. We need only look at the situation in Ottawa. Prior to June, 1962, the Speaker of the House at that time, the Honourable Roland Michener, was regarded as one of the out standing speakers in Canadian history, and yet because there was no permanency to the office he was .lost to the House of Commons, and this was a loss not just to the government of the day but to all the parties, because he had the respect, the understanding of every group in that House. There are many advantages, Mr.

Speaker, to be gained from this action. It is one more step in establishing a sounder democracy. n me semble aussi M. Prud'homme, qu1il y aura un autre avantage dans le cas du . Manitoba en �tablissant notre orateur sur une base plus permanente. Le Manitoba a eu des grandes vues sur la confederation lorsqu•au debut de notre province nous avons etablis les deux langues du pays comme langue officielle. n faut �tre tous de m� me raisonable. Nons ne pouvons pas nous attendre ace que tons les deputes soient bilingue.

Et done, si nous allions limiter notre choix d1 orateur a quelqu•un qui est parfaitement bilingue, ce serait enfin limiter parmi les deputes. Je ne propose done pas que ce soit necessaire qu1au d�but l'orateur soit bilingue tout en concedant que ce serait certainement un advantage. Mais en etablissant l'orateur sur une base plus permanente, il me semble que cela permetterai.t a cette personne d1entreprendre des etudes pour arriver au point bilingue. Mon coll�gue, le premier ministre, l'a bien fait avec bon succes et je suis certain unorateur permanent pourrait faire la meme chose.

Translation of above: It seems to me Mr. Prud'homme that there would be another advantage in the case of Manitoba establishing a Speaker on a more permanent basis. Manitoba had a broad view of Confederation when at the beginning of our province we established both our country's languages as official languages. But we must be reasonable. We cannot expect all our members to be bilingual. Therefore, if we were to limit our choice of speaker to someone who is perfectly bilingual We would be limited among the members.

I am therefore. not proposing that it is necessary to have a bilingual Speaker at the outset, conceding however that it would be a decided advantage. By establishing the Speaker on a more permanent basis it seems to me that this would allow him to undertake the study of French and so become bilingual. My colleague, the Premier has done this with good success and I am sure that a permanent Speaker could do the same. So, Mr. Prud'homme, we oppose this motion strictly on the basis of principle.

We believe that this forward step should be taken, that action should be taken to establish the position of Speaker in the House on a permanent basis. We believe that this would be good for our Hous.e and good for democracy. I do not expect that my opposition will carry the day, Mr. Prud'homme, but we will be bringing forward a motion during the course of the session to deal with this very matter. We shall oppose this motion. MR.R. PAULLEY (Leader ofNewDemQCratic Party) (Radisson): Mr.

Prud'homme, it is not very often that we of this particular group find ourselves in agreement with Her Majesty's loyal opposition, but I think, Mr. Prud'homme, that we are in agreement with the words that have just been spoken so eloquently by the Leader of the Opposition. I recall that we did have a discussion of this matter of a permanent Speaker on a number of occasions. We had hoped that the position would become one of a permanent nature. It may be, Mr.

Clerk, that we in opposition have failed the Province of Manitoba as well as the government of the day, in not proposing in a concrete manner a resolution which would establish the permanency of the Speakership of the Province of Manitoba, and if this is so, then I, as leader of my particular group, must share the blame with those in opposition as well. I want to say that my opposition is not because of the choice as announced by the honour able member for St. Matthews. I have every respect and every admiration for the individual concerned. I might say, .Mr.

Clerk, speaking of the suffragette movement and its endeavour to obtain the rights of equality in political matters. over this last century or so, I had the privilege the other day of addressing a Junior Chamber of Commerce on this very subject, and at that time I was pleased to be able to pay tribute to both the Honourable Member for Cypress, and also for Pembina, for their contribution to the affairs in the Province of Manitoba. February 28th, 1963 Page3

But I do say, Mr. Clerk, that" in these days when so much depends in political affairs on the impartiality of all of those that have anything to do with them, whether they're in the electoral field or whether in the conduct of this legislature, I think it behooves all of us here to do what ever we can within our power to see that impartiality is the order of the day. Therefore, Mr. Clerk, with these few remarks I associate myself and my group with those of the opposition party. MR. J. M. FROESE (Rhineland): Mr. Prud1homme, I would just like to make a few com ments .in connection with the motion before us.

While I do go along with the remarks made by the two previous speakers that we need an impartial speaker, howeve r, I feel that certain con ditions would have to be met until I could support or oppose the motion before us, and these would be, naturally, that it would not be disenfranchising any of our electors in the province of a choice. Therefore, I will support the motion before us. HONOURABLE DUFF ROBLIN (Premier) (Wolseley): Mr.

Clerk, I submit that this is not the occasion on which we would wish to conduct a grand debate on the office and function of the Speaker, but since the Leader of the Opposition and others have declined to support the motion for the nomination of Mrs. Forbes, the Honourable Member for Cypress, on the grounds that they have clearly stated, being those of procedure in principle, it is desirable and prob ably necessary, and I'm sure expected, that I should offer another point of view in support of the method that we have followed in this Legislature up to date in the filling of this important office.

I hope I may do so very briefly. 1 The task of the Speaker is simply stated. It is to administer the rules of the House in a fair and impartial manner, and to invoke the spirit and the traditions of the parliamentary system. The Speaker is not the creature of the government. He is not even the creature of the majority that might happen to elect him, but he is in every sense of the word the servant of the whole House, and it is his responsibility to discharge his task in a fair, unbiased and im partial manner.

Now I say to you, Sir, that in my experience, electing Speakers as we do under these present arrangements, it has never been alleged by any member that any Speaker of this House has been unfair or biased or partisan. It is true that the Speaker is human. He is a man, or perhaps a woman, like other men and women, and being human, any Speaker no matter how he is elected comes to his task with certain basic loyalties, certain view of life and of politics, a certain cast of mind, and there's no such thing as a perfectly neutral person unless it be a cipher.

But we rightly expect, however, and demand, that when discharging his responsibilities of the House the Speaker should put aside all these considerations and regulate our proceedings in that fair and impartial and unbiased manner, and I say that this can be claimed as a clear record of every Speaker of which I have had knowledge in this Legislature. Let us rule out, therefore, change for the sake of change, and measure any new proposal, however theoretically interesting, against the record of our experience. I suggest to you, Mr. Clerk, that it is superficial to look at the Speaker alone.

We must look behind the Speaker. We must look at the institution, this Legislature, the members of this House, on which the Speaker relies, because the Speaker, _no matter how he may be chosen, is powerless without the support of the House. It is the House that makes the rules; the Speaker administers them. The House judges the Speaker and the House bears the ultimate responsibility for the tone and the atmosphere and the character of these proceedings.

The House is, by the very nature of the parliamentary institution, dependent upon an enlightened majority for its health and for its safety; a majority that is ready and anxious to preserve the rights and privileges of the minorities as if they were its very own; a majority that is ready and willing to ensure fairness, to see free speech, and to ensure fair play all round; a maj ority that is married by experience and tradition, by conviction and by conscience, to the par liamentary democracy as we have known it in this Chamber. And I am bold tO say, Mr.

Clerk, that the legislatures of Manitoba, regardless of which party has been in government and which party has been in opposition, have been able to rely on such a majority for the protection of the rights and privileges and traditions of this Assembly. That is why I believe that the Speaker ship, as it is constituted today, continues to be an effective instrument of democracy, operat ing fairly and honestly to preserve our institutions and to protect our parliamentary rights, and it is for these reasons that I think we can with a good conscience vote for a Speaker under the present rules of the House.

Now, Sir, I think all opinions have been expressed on :.llsides of this question. It merely remains for me to say that I intend to support the motion. Page 4 February 28th, 1963

MR. E. GUTTORMSON (St. George): Mr. Prud'homme, the First Minister has made a point that the appointment of the Speaker ship is the duty of this House. I would like to point out that I have always been under the impression that the Speaker has been the servant of the whole House and that he speaks for all of the members. For 600 years parliaments have fought, and some Speakers have died, to establish this principle that Mr. Speaker is not the servant of the Crown nor the servant of the government, but is the servant of the people and the people's representatives.

I might remind you of the most famous of all statements made by a Speaker in the Mother of Parliament. I am referring to the words of Speaker William Lenthall in 1642, when King Charles I attempted to influence his decision. Mr.

Lenthall fell to his knees and said, knowing well that his words were costing his life: "May it please your Majesty, I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak, but as this House has pleasure to direct me, whose servant I am here, I humbly beg Your Majesty's pardon that I cannot give another answer than this." That is the precedent and tradition from which the role of the Speaker in our parliamentary form of government is derived. This is the precedent that this government has chosen to ignore. It is up to us, the members of this House, to say who our Speaker should be.

It is not the function of the government to make an arbitrary decision, nor any way proper for the government to flaunt the fact without reference to this House. This House has not yet decided who our Speaker shall be. Until we do so, no-one has any right to announce officially or unofficially any decision as though it had been made in fact. Mr. Prud'homme, the government owes this House and the people whom its members represent an apology. Mr •.

Clerk declared the motion carried in the affirmative and the Honourable Thelma Forbes, Member for the Electoral Division of Cypress, duly elected to the Chair of the House. MR . MOLGAT: Mr. Prud'homme, I shall not ask for a recorded vote at this time but I would ask that it be scribed in the records of the House that our group is opposed. MR . ROBLIN: I think, Mr. Prud1homme, that the proper way to oblige my honourable friend is to declare the motion carried "on division." I think that's as far as our procedure would allow us to go. MR . D.L. CAMPBELL (Lakeside): Mr.

Clerk, I would rise simply to say that I think we would like a more definite decision than that, holding this to be a matter of principle as we do. I would suggest that there is an obvious way that it can be put on the record, and that is by having a standing vote and the names being called. MR . ROBLIN: .•.•.•... be quite willing to accept my honourable friend's suggestion if that is the view of the members of the House. The Clerk shakes his head. It's a little bit difficult to know how a division is to be carried in that way.

The Speaker is not in the Chair - it might be said we are in Committee, and thi s will cause some difficulty in recording a vote. I wonder if my honourable friends would be satisfied if we recorded it as "on division". I think the record of Hansard will make it perfectly clear what the various views were. MR . MOLGAT: Mr. Clerk, I think this would be acceptable to us that it be "on division." We will have our standing vote then when we propose our resolution in the Hause later on.

MADAM SPEAKER: Honourable members of the 27th Legislature, I am not unmindful of the honour which you have conferred on me today in electing me to the highest office within the gift of the Assembly - that of your Speaker and your servant.

It will be my aim and duty to uphold the principles and traditions of the House and secure for each member the right to express his or her opinion within the limits necessary to preserve decorum; to recognize the rights and the privileges of the honourable members, the political groups and the House it self; ·to facilitate the transaction of public business in an orderly manner; and above all, to seek to be fair and impartial. in the decisions you entrust to me. If these are your objectives - and I believe they are - I ask your patience and co-operation in approaching them.

I deeply appreciate your action in elevating me to the Speaker's Chair. With your assistance I hope to fulfil this commitment with dignity and honour. MR . EVANS: Ladies and gentlemen, it is His Honour's wish that you be seated. MADAM SPEAKER: May it please Your Honour, the Legislative Assembly have elected me as their Speaker, though I am but little able to fulfil the important duties assigned to me • If in the performance of these duties I should at any time fall in error, I pray that the fault February 28th, 1963 Page 5

(Madam Speaker, cont'd) •••• : •••• be imputed to me and not to the Assembly, whose servant I am, and who through me the better to enable them to discharge their duties to their Queen and Country, hereby humbly claim all their undoubted rights and privileges, especially that they may have freedom of speech in their debates, access to your Honour's person at all seasonable times, and that their proceedings may receive from Your Honour the most favourable consideration. MR.

EVANS: Madam Speaker, I am commanded by His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor to declare to you that he freely confides in the duty and attachment of the Assembly to Her Majesty's person and the Government, and not doubting that their proceedings will be con ducted with wisdom, temper and prudence, he grants, and upon all occasions will recognize and allow, their constitutional rights.

I am commanded also, to assure you that the Assembly shall have ready access to His Honour upon all reasonable occasions, and that theirp:roceed ings as well as your words and actions will constantly receive from him the most favourable construction. HONOURABLE ERRICK F. WILLIS, Q. C. , (Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Manitoba): Madam Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba: I have pleasure in welcoming you to the first session of the 27th Legislature of the Province of Manitoba.

As this session inaugurates a new parliament, I am sure that the people of the province can look forward with confidence to the constructive efforts of all Members of the Legislature in advancing the welfare of Manitoba. Nineteen sixty two was one of the best years in our economic history. My Ministers inform me that records were broken in the fields of trade, farming, mining, tourism, employ ment, hydro-electric consumption, and other important indices of activity. It is their opinion that 1963 will present an opportunity for continued good progress.

The government of Manitoba has received an invitation from the Government of Canada to attend a conference to discuss biculturism and other questions pertaining to the Canadian Confederation. My Ministers have indicated their desire to accept this invitation in the con viction that from the developing and harmonious history of bicuiturism in our own province we may be able to make a constructive contribution to the unity of the nation.

I am informed that the Committee on Manitoba's Economic Future is concluding its study of ways and means of accelerating growth and providing employment for citizens of Manitoba, and it is expected that its report will be laid before you in the near future for your consideration. My Ministers are grateful for the enthusiastic and constructive response of so many leading citizens in all walks of life who are contributing to this unique and important investigation.

The goal of my government's economic policy is to achieve a rate of growth sufficient to provide job opportunities and increase the standards of living for. our people. In this task the co-operation of all sections of society is essential. My Ministers propose to recommend legislation providing for the constitution of an Economic Consultative Board to assist the government in carrying on the work of the Committee on Manitoba's Economic Future and in planning our economic path over the years ahead.

In order to provide complementary means to facilitate our industrial growth, my Ministers will also propose the establishment of a number of new agencies and programs that will assist in speeding the expansion of Manitoba industries, with special emphasis on those using our own primary products. These will include the Manitoba Research Council, a product development fund, the Manitoba Design Institute, and the Manitoba Export Corporation, all of which are designed to assist in the development of industrial enterprise and employment in the province.

A report of the recent Manitoba trade mission which visited the United Kingdom will be laid before you shortly. My Ministers propose to sponsor a similar mission to the United States in the coming year. My Ministers believe that the growth .and development of the beef cattle industry in Manitoba represents a very important opportunity for growth in the agricultural sector. To assist this aim you will be asked to amend The Manitoba Agricultural Credit Act to provide for the granting of loans to beef cattle producers and to make provision for the capital moneys required for this program.

Further steps to promote the livestock industry will be proposed, Page 6 February 28th, 1963

including the appointment of a provincial veterinarian and the establishment of six new commun ity pastures. My Ministers will also propose a new policy to promote the production of pure bred swine and to provide for the initiation of an elite swine breeding program. Funds will also be sought to assist the establishment of a soil testing service for farmers. The crop insurance program, which has already proved its worth, will be extended to include a new district during the coming year.

I am informed that the increased use of chemical pesticides, although advantageous from many points of view, has raised the question of safety and control. Legislation to deal with this question will be laid before you. My government has entered into a general agreement with the Government of Canada for joint programs under The Agricultural Rehabilitation and Development Act.

You will be asked to provide funds for the implementation of several projects of research, land use and water controM y Ministers state that the construction of the Red River Floodway is proceeding favour ably and you will be asked to provide funds to finance its continuation as well as to make provision for associated proj!'Jcts on the Assiniboine watershed. The Manitoba Water Supply Board undertook water supply and treatment works for six towns and villages during the current year, and a measure will be placed before you to provide additional funds to meet the continu ing demand for this service.

My Ministers will request that once again a substantial increase in funds be provided for the support of the educational system of the province. A large increase will be recom mended for vocational and technical education, and you will also be asked to supply funds for the phased construction of new institutes at The Pas and Brandon. Classes in pre-vocational training, designed to prepare unemployed persons for educa tion in trade or technical skills, will be extended: the new classes will be instituted at such places as Flin Flan, The Pas, Dauphin and Gimli in addition to those in Greater Winnipeg and Brandon.

You will be asked to give consideration to legislation providing for the new Manitoba Teachers' Retirement Allowances plan. I am also informed that legislation will be placed before you to provide for operating support grants to colleges affiliated to the University of Manitoba. Legislation will also be submitted to raise the school leaving age. My Ministers report that the reorganization of the Advisory Board under The Depart ment of Education Act has been carried out and that special provision will be recommended to assist and expedite the matter of curriculum revision.

Substa11.tial increases will be recommended by my Ministers for the support of the University of Manitoba including the construction or completion of new residences, library, arts, science, medical and athletic facilities. My Ministers are pleased to announce that as a result of negotiations with the federal government, a special research and training centre dealing with congenital malformations in infants and children will be established here in the coming year.

You will also be asked to make financial provision for modern cottage type facilities for the rehabilitation of boys at the Manitoba School for Mentally Defective Persons at Portage la Prairie. Additional appropriations will be sought by my Ministers to improve rehabilitation pro grams in respect to the physically handicapped. New agreements with the federal government will also make possible the developme nt of a comprehensive vocational rehabilitation program for adults. A new facility for the Society for Crippled Children and Adults is also being pro vided in the coming year.

My Ministers report that tbS developments in the field of psychiatry give cause for satisfaction. You will be asked to provide funds for expansion of community mental health pro grams, out-patient services in our mental hospitals and more intensive therapy for in patients. You will also be asked to approve an appropriation for the expansion of the St. Amant ward for children and also for increased support for the care and maintenance of the mentally retarded outside institutions. February 28th, 1963 Page 7

The first report of the Manitoba Hospital Commission will be placed before you soon. My Ministers report that construction programs are currently under way in eight institutions while another 18 projects are expected to begin in the coming year. My Ministers state that the Cancer Treatment and Research Centre will be completed in the coming year and that this institution, combined with the cytology screening service, will markedly improve the cancer radiation and diagnostic facilities available to Manitobans.

My Ministers note with concern the human and financial problems being experienced in connection with welfare recipients, particularly in respect of the able-bodied. You will be asked to approve the operation of a new agency designed to bring together the various rehabil itation services concerned with this problem.

In this connection government and welfare agen cies at present operating in the Jarvis-Salter Street redevelopment area, including child guid ance, probation, marriage counselling and other social welfare aids will be concentrated as a single task force to carry out a preventive program as well as to assist their clients in return ing to a productive role in society. In addition a pilot project will apply a community develop ment approach to this urban area where it is regarded as an essential complement to the urban renewal and redevelopment projects now under way.

The Community development program for Indians and Metis will be recommended for further expansion. My Ministers will propose amendments to The Child Welfare Act to invoke the assistance of the courts in dealing with the question of adoption and religious faith. You will be asked to consider a system of grants under the physical fitness and amateur sport policy. Legislation will also be presented to enable municipal authorities to undertake low cost housing by means of the limited dividend housing plan. This will include a measure of provin cial assistance.

Agreements have been entered into with the Government of Canada and with the City of Winnipeg for the first low rental housing project in the province: this is linked with the Jarvis Salter urban renewal scheme in which the province has agreed to participate on equal terms with the City of Winnipeg. Contracts for the Burrows-Keewatin housing project have been signed, and this joint effort by the province, the City of Winnipeg, and the national government is under way. My Ministers are satisfied that you will give your support to these forward looking projects.

The program for the expansion and improvement of public recreational resources will be continued and you will be asked to provide additional funds for these widely approved purposes. The beneficial utilization of the fishery resources of our ·province continues to concern my Ministers.

They will propose that funds be provided to assist in the development of a rough fish processing plant to provide a valuable source of animal food and to supply a market for less valuable species of fish now being wasted in the industry · A further program of investigation into the mineral resources of northern Manitoba will also be included in my Ministers' proposals. During the course of the session you will be asked to provide further large appropriations for the construction and reconstruction of the highway system of Manitoba.

In particular, approval will be sought for the acceleration of the construction program in northern Manitoba to link the town of Thompson to the rest of our province. Capital moneys will be requested by my government to provide for the St. James bridge - Portage Avenue underpass, the Winnipeg - St. Vital Red River bridge, as well as for the con struction of a new bridge as part of the north perimeter system in metropolitan Winnipeg.

My Ministers recommend that the policy of providing grants-in-aid for the building and maintenance of school bus routes, heretofore limited, now be extended to all school division bus routes on a 60/40 basis. In addition my government proposes that the assistance to muni cipalities for snow plowing purposes be doubled over present limits. During the year the Workmen's Compensation Board assisted in special studies in the field of rehabilitation of injured workmen. In line with this increasing activity you will be asked to augment substantially the size of the rehabilitation fund.

My Ministers also report that an inquiry committee has recently been convened to consider particular problems of labour - management relations and employment standards in the construction industry. Representatives Page 8 February 28th, 1963

of management, labour and government will direct their attention to the solution of current and anticipated problems in this area. Further improvements are reported by my Ministers in the provincial correction program during the past year. While studies are proceeding with a view to a complete recasting of the present system of administration, you will in the meanwhile be asked to approve expenditures for an extension of the important rehabilitation work of the probation and parole branch.

Legis lation with respect to the Judicial Boundaries Commission designed to improve the administra tion of justice in the province will be submitted for your consideration. You will as well be asked to approve certain remedial amendments to The Time Sale Agreement Act intended to improve the mechanics of its operation. A measure to provide for uniform time will be proposed by my Ministers. My Ministers state that a reciprocal trucking agreement has been completed with the province of Ontario, representing a substantial saving in fees for the trucking industry.

Simi lar agreements are now being negotiated with Saskatchewan and Alberta. Electric power usage is reported by my Ministers to have shown the largest increase on record during the calendar year 1962. This growth rate emphasizes the importance of my government's hydro-electric production policy by which it is expected that power will become available from the Grand Rapids project in the latter part of 1965 in good time to meet our needs. As announced by my Ministers recently, the Manitoba Hydro has conducted preliminary surveys of the Nelson River.

Agreement has now been reached with the Government of Canada on studies of the Nelson power potential in relation to the possible supply of power to markets outside the province, as well as for use within the province. Under this arrangement the cost of financing the site and market studies is being shared on a 50/50 basis between the Govern ment of Canada and the province of Manitoba. I am informed as well that additional large sums will be sought for the Manitoba Telephone System to finance further expansion of its facilities.

In the past five years 16, 600 subscribers have been converted from manual to dial service with the installation of 35 automatic exchanges at a cost of over $8 million. This program, combined with the party line improvement plans, will be continued during the coming year. Since the House met last year two important steps have been taken in the field of municipal government. The Metropolitan Review Commission under the chairmanship of Dr. Lorne E. Cumming has been appointed to study the development of metropolitan government in Winnipeg and recommend such changes as may be necessary and desirable.

A royal commission under the chairmanship of the Honourable Roland Michener has also recently been appointed to consider and recommend on the problems of finance and organization of local government in the province. It is anticipated that both these bodies will contribute greatly to the improvement of municipal government in Manitoba. A legislative measure will be placed before you respecting the celebration and commem oration of our national centennial in 1967 and our provincial centennial in 1970.

A major feat ure of the proposal will be the creation of a provincial arts centre in the capital of the province, while at the same time suitable projects in other parts of the province will be studied. You will be asked to make provision for a general increase in civil service salaries. Estimates for the requirements of the public service of the province for the next fiscal year and the accounts for the last fiscal year will be submitted for your consideration. In leaving you I pray that you may have the guidance of Divine Providence in your deliber ations.

MADAM SPEAKER: Oh Eternal and Almighty God, from whom all power and wisdom come, by whom Kings rule and make equitable laws, we are assembled here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to the welfare and prosperity of our province. Grant, Oh Merciful God, we pray Thee, that we may desire o.nly that which is in accordance with Thy will, that we may seek it with wisdom, know it with certainty, and accomplish it perfectly for the Glory and Honour of Thy Name and for the welfare of all our people. Amen. MR. ROBLIN introduced Bill No. 1,

an Act respectmg the Administration of Oaths of Office. Madam Speaker presented the motion and after a voice vote declared the motion carried. February 28th, 1963 Page9

MADAM SPEAKER: At this time I would like to make the following statements. In order to prevent mistakes I have obtained a copy of the Address of His Honour which was read. Second, that Frank E. Skinner has been appointed Sergeant-at-Arms for the First Session of the Twenty-Seventh Legislature. MR.

ROBLIN: Madam Speaker, I beg to move, seconded by the Honourable Minister of Education, that the Votes and Proceedings of the House be printed, after first having been perused by Madam Speaker, and that she do appoint the printing thereof, and that no other person but such as she shall appoint do presume to print the same. Madam Speaker presented the motion and after a voice vote declared the. motion carried. MR.

ROBLIN: Madam Speaker, I beg to move, seconded by the Honourable the Attorney General, that the Standing Committees of this House for the present session be appointed for the following purposes: Law Amendments; Public Accounts; Municipal Affairs; Agriculture and Conservation; Public Utilities and Natural Resources; Privileges and Elections; Private Bills, Standing Orders, Printing and Library; Industrial Relations; Statutory Regulations and Orders; which several committee·s shall be empowered to examine and enquire into all such matters and things as may be referred to them by this House and to report from time to time their observations and opinions thereon with power to send for persons, papers and documents and examine witnesses under oath.

Madam Speaker presented the motion and after a voice vote declared the motion carried. MR. ROBLIN: Madam Speaker, I beg to move, seconded by the Honourable Minister of Health, that a special committee of seven persons be appointed to prepare and report with all convenient speed, a list of members to compose the Standing Committees ordered by this House, and that such Committee shall be composed as follows: Honourable Messrs. Roblin, Lyon, McLean; Messrs. Alexander, Campbell, Molgat and Paulley. Madam Speaker presented the motion and after a voice vote declared the motion carried. MR.

ROBLIN: Madam Speaker, I beg to move, seconded by the Honourable Minister of Welfare, that the speech of His Honour the Lieutenant-Goveri:Lorbe taken into consideration tomorrow. Madam Speaker presented the motion and after a voice vote declared the motion carried. MR. ROBLIN: Madam Speaker, I beg to_ move, seconded by the Honourable Minister of Mines and Natural Resources, that the House do now adjourn. Madam Speaker presented the motion and after a voice vote declared the motion carried and the House adjour:iled until 2:30 Friday afternoon. Page 10 February 28th, 1963 • I

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	27-1-1
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	27th 1st hansardpdf 1.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	2aeefa34f109212c9dad8ac9abfe541d0dcf5720

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