PROVINCE OF NEWFOUNDLAND ~ HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY Volume 1 1st Session 35th General Assembly VERBATIM REPORT Wednesday, March 1, 1972 SPEAKER: THE HONOURABLE JAMES ... RUSSELL

FIRST SESSION OF THE THIRTY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY March 1, 1972 The House of Assembly met at 3:00 P.M., pursuant to adjournment, the Speaker in the Chair: The House being assembled, His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor arrived in the Chamber and ascended the Throne: HON. PREtrIER F. D. MOORES: May it please Your Honour, the House of Assembly, agreeable to Your Honour's Command, have proceeded to the choice of a Speaker and have elected Maxwell James Russell, Esquire, Hember for the District of Lewisport, to that office and by their direction I present him for the approb~t1on of Your Honour. THE HON. E.J.

A._ HARNUJ-f, LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR: On behalf of Her Majesty I assure you of my sense of your efficiency and I do most fully approve and confirm you as the Speaker. ;-!R SPEAKER: Your Honour, having approved of the choice of this House in constituting me its Speaker, it now becomes my duty in the name of the representatives of Her Majesty's loyal subjects, the people of this Province, to pray respectfully of Your Honour their accustomed rights and privileges, especially that they shall have freedom from arrest during their attendance in Parliament and that I, as Speaker, may have full access to Your Honour's presence at all reasonable times, and that they have confirmed to them all their ancient rights and privileges which have been confirmed to them by Your Honour's predecessors.

THE HON. E.J.A. HARNUM, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR: On behalf of Her Majesty, I do confirm this House in the enjoyment of all its ancient and undoubted rights and privileges. His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor was then pleased to open the Session with a Speech from the Throne, as follows:

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: I welcome you to the First Session of the Thirty-Fifth General Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. This House of Assembly opens at a time in our history when there is throughout the Province a rising expectation of a new era, coupled with a deep concern caused by the very high level of unemployment and the need for the creation of thousands of new permanent jobs.

It has been nearly twenty-three years since our Province became part of the great Confederation of Canada and it is fitting that we pay tribute to those who brought this about and to those who have been responsible for the progress that we have made since then. Many mistakes have been made in the years since we joined Canada and we would be a very unwise people if we had not learned from these mistakes. However, the past is past and our people now look forward with keen anticipation to a new approach and a steadily improving period of progress.

The future of the Province is bright but to achieve the hopes and desires of all our people will take hard work and imagination. The challenge has never been greater. It is a challenge that must be accepted by all the people of our Province in order to reach the goals that are avail­ able to us. My new Government has been in office for only six weeks and has shown already a determination to bring forward plans and programmes backed by the necessary legis­ lation to ensure an active and well planned programme of developmc:nt. MR.

SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: My Government is primarily concerned with visualizing the kind of Newfound­ land that is possible now and in the years ahead. My Ministers will present policies that can and must be formulated and made workable today if our social and economic goals for tomorrow are to be achieved. There is undoubtedly a consensus among all on some basic economic and social goals, such as full employment, high and sustained economic growth, reasonable price stability, good health services and an equitable dis­ tribution of rising incomes within the Canadian society.

These goals must also be reflected in increased earnings for all employable Newfoundlanders now living in one of the most healthful and pleasant environments to be found anywhere on this planet. My Government realizes that it must capitalize on our assets, it must minimize our liabilities. Reaching these goals requires looking ahead because what Newfound­ landers will be, in say 10 years, will be determined by the quality of the decisions made today and in the next few years. Looking ahead is imperative because we live in a world of swift, incessant, and all-pervasive change.

Decisions made today with only the past and present in mind are almost certain to lead to no better social and economic development than what we have experienced during the past decade. Newfoundland need not have the highest unemployment record and the lowest 1

per capita income of this great nation. My Government is planning to introduce new social and economic policies to guide effective development within the Province. My Government pledges itself to the philosophy of inter-regional equity, Government inter­ departmental co-ordination, and inter-governmental partnership.

The base resources of our Province - the sea, the land, the clean air and the pure water - must create the foundation upon which our new Newfoundland soc iety will be built in order to make the Province a place in which our young people can grow and find opportunity to develop and utilize the skills and talents which are theirs. In order to make, for our Newfoundland's sake, use of this human resource here at home, it must create not only jobs but a sense of challenge; not only material wealth but a p ride and purpose in Newfoundland life.

Our Province can provide these things, and my Government must see that it does . My Ministers are now reviewing in detail the situat ion with respect to various industrial projects and agreements entered into by the former administrat ion . A com­ plete review has been instituted of the Javelin Linerboard Project at Stephenville and Happy Valley. Full information will be given to the House on the current situation of that Project and of the plans of my Government to ensure that that Project is completed successfully.

The Oil Refinery Project at Come -by-Chance is receiving the careful attention of my Ministers and a progress report on the situation with respect to that Project will be given to Honourable Members of the House. My Gov­ ernment will carry out existing agreements but my Government is determined to en­ sure that every right of the people and the Government of Newfoundland is observed and determined to ensure that every benefit possible accrues to this Province from these Projects .

Honourable Members will be given full information on other govern ­ ment assisted industries, whether still operating, such as the Steel Mill at Donovans, or closed, such as the Magnesium Plant of Sea Mining Corporation at Aquathuna. It is my Government's intention to involve the people of the Province in the Governmental process through the establishment of Advisory Councils . These Advi­ sory Councils will be composed of individuals expert in their respective fields, with Province-wide representation. An Advisory Council will advise my Government on the problems and on the solutions to those problems.

They will provide specific re­ commendations to my Government. Employing the same principle my Government will establish Regional Advisory Councils to advise on regional matters. It is also the intention of my Ministers to decentralize the Government of this Prov ince. Government services will be taken to the people, so that no matter where they live they will have the opportunity to utilize these services to t he fullest extent. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: The first priority of my Ministers will be the establishment of a sound programme of Regional Resource Development.

The first step will be the stre ngthening of the 2

Department of Economic Development so that it will become an important vehicle for attracting new industry and business to this Province as well as assisting the ex­ pansion of industry and business which is already located in the Province . It is my Government's intention to proceed with the Development Corporation to be established jointly by the Government of Canada and the Government of New­ foundland and Labrador . This will enable small businessmen throughout the Province to develop and expand in those areas which will be the most important to our future development.

It is my Government's intention to have this Development Corporation operational this Spring. My Ministers will draw on the advice and assistance of qualified resource develop­ ment planners within and outside the Government, and will work very closely on Regional Development Plans for all regions of the Province with the residents of the regions who know best the potential of their areas. They will lay heavy emphasis on fishing, forestry, agriculture, mining, tourist development, and small business and industry which can quickly produce many permanent jobs for my people.

These programmes will place the initiative in the hands of my people with the full support of their Government. The Department of Fisheries will be greatly expanded immediately so that it can provide much greater assistance and information to the fishermen of this Pro­ vince. The Department will be dramatically increased in size, many new Divisions established, and many new services implemented, so that it will reflect the impor­ tance my Government places on fishing as one of the major industries in the Pro­ vince.

It is my Government's intention to establish regional offices of this Depart­ ment at selected locations. Initially, there will be branches of the Department located on the Burin Peninsula of the South Coast, on the West Coast, and on the Northeast Coast. These branches will be established in order to provide better service to the fishermen living in those areas. If the much expanded Department of Fisheries is to be fully effective the fishermen themselves in all parts of the Province must be direct· ly involved.

My Ministers will encourage participation by all fishermen through discussion groups; by providing them with the information developed in the Department; and through the establishment of Regional Advisory Councils which will work with the Department in the formation of future plans and policies affecting each particular region. My Ministers will introduce a new programme to give better assistance to inshore fishermen to obtain boats, gear and equipment.

A special incentive programme will be introduced to assist fishermen in obtaining large multi-purpose boats which can be used for dragging, seining, mid-water trawling, and longline fishing. My Ministers will introduce legislation concerning a new financing approach to provide the supply of fish necessary for existing fish plants around our coast in order 3

.that they may be utilized to as near full capacity as possible. Legislation will be introduced to establish a Corporation which will own or lease rights on a new fleet of trawlers. This fleet will add to the production of new or ex­ isting processing plants . This new trawler fleet will be in addition to the existing fleets in the Province. My Ministers, working in conjunction with the Federal Government, will estab­ lish a new and realistic programme of bait assistance to the fishing industry.

These stra­ tegic locations will ensure a continuous supply of suitable bait and when necessary prohibit excessive export of scarce and desirable bait from the Province. Legislation will be introduced at the earliest possible date to establish, in con ­ junction with the Federal Government, an inexpensive shared cost insurance programme covering loss of fishing gear. My Ministers recognize the fact that the preservation of the fish stock is the most important single problem facing our fishing industry.

It is the . intention of my Ministers to make the strongest possible representations to the Government of Canada to recognize the tremendous importance of the preservation of fish in Canadian waters. My Ministers will support any organization with this objective, and further, will make direct representation to the Government at Ottawa with all the energy and reason at their command to bring about this desired objective. Special emphasis will be placed on the tremendous need to upgrade the place of the fishermen in the social and economic life of this province.

In the coming months, the Department of Fisheries will provide information to all of my people concerning the important role of the fishermen and their great contribution to the economy of our Province. My Government will immediately embark on a programme to encourage the es- tablishment of additional advanced reprocessing facilities for fish within this Province. My Government feels that there will be a great many new jobs created by the further processing of our fish products.

It will take time to establish the facilities and teach the skills required to reprocess our fish production, but it is my Government's inten ­ tion to take immediate steps to initiate this programme. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: My Government will take steps to establish a Provincial policy of basic resource development.

All resource heritage areas of our Newfoundland - water resources; power; mines; farm lands; fisheries; minerals; both off -shore and on-shore; our natural gas and petroleum reserves; tourism; in short, all base resource sources - will be, as is our birthright, the property of the people of Newfoundland. Legitimate investors will be encouraged; decent fair partnership relationships will be established; and a climate of good, healthy, honest development will be generated in which legitimate business will be encouraged to locate. The entire resource base of our Province will 4

be examined in total context and Government policy will show an emphasis on job creating, resource development projects that have not had a place in our Province before. It is the intention of this Government to establish a Newfoundland Conservation Corps. This will entail the binding together of Game Wardens; Clean Air, Water and Soil Authority inspectors; Forest Rangers; in short, all enforcement officers who are charged with the all-important responsibility of protecting our priceless outdoor heri­ tage.

This corps will be expanded and more stringent regulations will be promulgated to aid this body in the essential job of protecting and preserving our Newfoundland forests, streams and wildlife. A committee of persons actively interested in our New­ foundland outdoors will be invited to advise my Government on such regulations and a group of volunteers will be recruited to aid in their enforcement. There can be no doubt that the prosperity of the future of our Province will, to a large extent, depend on the proper and reasonable management of our vast off­ shore gas and petroleum potential.

In order to ensure that the interests of the people of our Province are protected and to encourage the orderly exploration development of our off-shore resources, my Government will issue regulations governing the activ­ ities of interested groups in this area. These regulations will not only serve to protect the people of Newfoundland but will, as well, protect and encourage the activities of legitimate developers and discourage the unscrupulous and irresponsible promoters.

Newfoundland's unique and indisputable right to these off-shore resources must be established with the Federal Government and appropriate steps must be taken to see that our people acquire full benefit from them. Sane and sensible forest management policy must be embarked upon with due respect for the rights of established industry in order to promote and develop the orderly expansion of forest related industry. Negotiations must commence between Government and industry in order to ensure that our full forest potential be realized.

It is the sincere and honest conviction of my Government that farming should and will be an honourable way of life for many of our people. Toward the realization of th is end and to aid the small farmer already engaged in the farm industry who can­ not afford to invest large sums of money in heavy equipment, my Government will establish farm equipment banks in several appropriate areas of the Province. Farmers will, for a small rental fee, have the use of these items as their need demands.

Further toward this aim is the intention of my Government to introduce legislation to bring into active and productive use the large quantities or arable land lying vacant because of absentee ownership. It should be emphasized that people who hold land and who use it to good effect wili not be affected by this legislation. It is the intention of Gov­ enment to bring into production those areas of farm land which have lain fallow and idle for many years. This Government will also introduce legislation establishing a resource loan bank 5

to enable Newfoundland people to involve themselves in the expansion and develop­ ment of our resource-based industries . The farm loan plan and other such existing schemes will be incorporated into a new larger bank which will be in a position to ex­ tend aid to all those who wish to engage in the development of our basic resources. This plan is aimed toward aiding the fisherman, sawmill operator, the farmer and those other of our Newfoundland people whose desire it is to contribute to our Provincial development.

Over the years many mineral licences and concessions have been granted through­ out the Province which my Ministers feel have not produced sufficient mining activi­ ties in any sensible proportion to the large territories under concession . Similarly, off-shore oil drilling concessions have been granted on a very large scale without any real or adequate knowledge of their potential. My Government will examine carefully all such leases and concessions with a view to their revision for the purpose of attracting early exploration and develop­ ment.

My Ministers feel that if our Province is to develop its full potential from its mineral deposits a sound co-ordinated programme is necessary immediately. My Ministers believe that our forests have played and will play a major

part in the economic development of our Province. A programme to ensure the proper man ­ agement of our forest resource will be a priority. It is my Government's intention to review the present situation with respect to forest and timber rights in this Province. There will be discussions with all the com­ panies concerned, the objective being the reorganization and rationalization of the forest resource available, to determine how it can be utilized best for the people of our Province. It is my Government's intention, to encourage the establishment of modern sawmills in suitable locations in the Province.

My Government plans to carry out in conjunction with the industry a building programme of access roads to or,en up our timber resource . My Government will encourage existing companies to modernize and expand and working with industry and labour implement as quickly as possible a programme of planned forest management which will include afforestation and proper harvesting.

My Government proposes to introduce legislation to the Honourable House of Assembly during 1972 to deal with the question of the close-down of industries, whether mining industries or otherwise, and the setting of a period of reasonable notice by an industry before such a shut-down can occur. My Ministers feel that any industry utilizing the resources of the Province must be required to give the Govern­ ment and the employees of that industry reasonable notice before any proposed permanent or lengthy close-down of the industry .

My Government is very strong in its unqualified belief that the natural resources of this Province and the benefits to be derived therefrom are the birthright of my people. It is with such natural resources that our whole future rests.

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: My Government realizes that with the rapid developments of our age the prob­ lem of pollution control is one to be seriously considered. My Government recognizes that it must assume responsibility for the overall direction and control of this problem. It will be their intention to provide advice to all sectors of society in order to combat what could develop into a serious situation. In addition, we will be prepared to offer financial assistance in those areas where it is felt necessary.

Equally my Gov­ ernment will impose controls in areas which can be handled by those directly involved . My Government plans to encourage private groups and individuals to work on pollution control and it would like at this time to extend compliments to those groups already involved in this work. My Government intends to investigate the functions of the Clean Air, Water and Soil Authority with a view to strengthening it and extending its authority so that the pressing problem of pollution can be more readily resolved. MR.

SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: My Government is aware that the tourist industry of this Province must be de­ veloped substantially. To date, we have only scratched the surface and the full poten­ tial is really unknown. My Ministers will introduce a programme of assistance to improve private tourist home facilities in the rural sections of the Province and will assist in the develop­ ment of recreational facilities for winter and summer activities. Special emphasis will be placed on the expansion of tourist facilities where there is great potential for year round tourist activity.

Adequate conservation and protection for our sports fishing and game will be initiated and it is also my Government's intention to ensure that our Province's nat­ ural attractions, its beauty, its forests and parklands, its rivers, streams, lakes and mountains, will be preserved in their natural state and at the same time create jobs in the tourist industry for my people.

My Government will expand its tourist promotion programme throughout Canada and the United States to draw tourists into the Province, always bearing in mind that the greatest asset which this Province has in the field of tourism is the warmth and hospitality of its people. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: The rapid growth in the number of councils which have become incorporated under the Local Government Act is most encouraging.

As a very important part of my Government's policy to improve the quality of administration my Ministers rec­ ognize the need to strengthen the Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing by establishing regional offices in the larger strategic locations in the Province. The question of providing additonal financial assistance to municipalities has received very serious consideration. In view of the fact that the Newfoundland Fed- 7

eration of Municipalities has recommended to Government that the ceiling on revenue grants paid to municipalities be raised my Ministers have decided to remove the $75,000.00 ceiling and increase this figure to $100,000.00. My Government is also adopting a policy requiring certain crown corporations located and doing business within municipal boundaries to pay taxes to the munici­ palities involved. My Government wi\\ initiate forthwith a policy of cost sharing for paving of streets in the incorporate_d municipalities throughout the Province. MR.

SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: Education in our Province, in common with the rest of North America.is an ever changing and developing facet of our society. We are on the thresh hold of the 21st century. Mankind now has the ability to store, process and transmit information on a scale never before imagined. The-challenge this poses for my Government is unrelent­ ing. We must give our people the training to apply new techniques and the education to apply them wisely.

The process of change has been accelerated through the use of many new tech­ niques in the field of education, such as the introduction of computers, tape recorders, calculators, audio visual aid presentations, and similar modern additions to the field of learning. My Government will set up pilot projects using many of these new tech­ niques. This will be done in close co-operation with school boards and with the es­ tablished educational authorities of the Province, as well as with Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador.

My Government will strive for a balanced educational program that considers equally the needs of the elementary and high school systems, the University, the tech­ nical and vocational schools and the Fisheries College. In addition, particular atten­ tion will be given to special schools that teach all those children who are not adapt­ able to the traditional methods of education . This House will be asked to consider amendments to the present Newfoundland Teachers Association Act setting forth the terms of this Act more clearly. The transportation of school children by school bus is a very important problem.

My Government feels that the whole matter of school bus transportation needs close examination and co-ordination to improve its efficiency and to prevent its cost from increasing at too rapid a rate. It is my Government's intention to establish Regional Colleges in various sections of the Province and this programme is under the most active and detailed study by the Department of Education. It is the intention of my Ministers to commence consulta­ tion between representatives of the School Boards, the N.T.A. and the University authorities, to work out a satisfactory long-term plan for our educational needs. MR.

SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: In the construction of hm.pitals, my Ministers are aware of the urgent need for 8

construction of new facilities at Corner Brook, Carbonear, Twillingate, the Hospital for Mental and Nervous Diseases, and a replacement for the existing General Hospital, St. John's. Major progress is planned for each of these projects. It is mandatory that the existing concepts of health care be studied and modified. We have been assured of the assistance of experienced officials of the Department of National Health and Welfare to work with our own officials in planning and suggesting the future role of many existing health facilities, and, as well, where and what type of new facilities should be constructed.

Our general policy will aim for the construction of viable regional hospitals and community health centres which will include public health, diagnostic and emergency treatment services. Examples of the areas to be considered for hospitals include Clarenville to Whitbourne, the Bonavista Peninsula and the Burin Peninsula. Another is the north-west coast of the Province. Each of these areas should have more and better comprehensive health facilities.

However, in order to make health services more rational and more readily available to most people, taking into account population trends, the exact locations of hospitals and clinics must be considered carefully. This will be done. Progress in public health and hospital services will see, this year, an accelerated extension of the process of transferring Government-operated hospitals to the people and the communities they serve. These hospitals will be operated by Boards of Governors and the Boards will include major local representation.

There is a great awareness by my Ministers of the inadequate dental care avail­ able to our people. This is a most difficult problem and every conceivable solution is being considered. My Ministers are not alone in their alarm at the high cost of drugs and this sub­ ject is being given intense study, not only in Newfoundland, but in other Provinces. A solution must be found and much effort will be made to find that solution. While I have referred to some of the problems which confront Government in the field of health let it not be thought that we are complacent about other health services.

We are studying measures to correct drug abuse, to promote accident pre­ vention and industrial and occupational health. We shall improve public health facili­ ties by increasing the number of public health doctors and nurses, environmental health inspectors, health educators, nutritionists and others so necessary to achieve good public health. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: My Government will introduce legislation to improve the present social assistance program.

Our goal is to make it more comprehensive, so that those who cannot earn a living through no fault of their own will have their allowance increased so that they may live in decency and with dignity. Those people who can work must be given the opportunity to do so. An incentive system will encourage those who are able to work to re-enter the labour fnrce and at the same time retain some of the support of public 9

funds until they are fully self-supporting. The basis on which assistance will be provided for foster homes and institutional care of children will be reviewed and, where necessary, modified. Our senior citizens, church organizations and other agencies will be assisted with appropriate guarantees to 'Jrovide institutional care for our older people. Measures will be introduced to assist senior citizens in maintaining themselves in their own homes. The care and assistance of handicapped and retarded children is of deep concern to my Government and the present facilities will be added to as quickly as possible. MR.

SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: The Department of Community and Social Development will give high priority to improving the process of area development as a means of assisting the self-develop­ ment of our people and their involvement in the management of the resources avail­ able to them. My Government intends to promote further the Development Associations and will make available to them not only grants towards operating costs but also more technical assistance and additional training programs.

My Government realizes the great importance of such Federal-Provincial Agree­ ments as The Special Areas and Highways Agreement, The Special Resources Agree­ ment, The ARDA Agreement, and The Special Employment Programmes, as a basis for underwriting new development on a cost shared basis with the Federal Government. My Government will seek the maximum participation of the Federal Government in the financing and expansion of existing and new development programmes. My Govern­ ment believes very strongly that there are many areas in which rural development can be very successful.

Interim and long range planning will be carried out with a decided emphasis on job creation through the Federal-Provincial Programme. My Ministers are convinced of the need of a dynamic programme of rural develop­ ment. My Government has faith in the future of rural Newfoundland and they will translate that faith into effective action. For too long important areas of our Province, such as St. Mary's Bay, have been neglected. My Ministers will not tolerate a continuation of this neglect. My Government is pledged to a policy of development of these areas. MR.

SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: My Government considers it of the utmost importance to have a complete review made of all labour legislation. The present legislation is outdated and should be re­ pealed and new legislation introduced which would make the law more applicable to good labour management. My Ministers will create an Advisory Council that will play an active role in creat­ ing closer liaison between employers and employees, either individually or through their organizations, with a view to overcoming many of the problerr~ •.·hich lead to 10

major labour-management disputes. Immediately upon receiving the Cohen Commis­ sion Report my Ministers will be consulting with representatives of labour and manage­ ment, and, as quickly as possible thereafter, introduce appropriate legislation. My Government has taken the necessary steps to end the discrimination in the payment of minimum wages to women as compared to men. As from April 1, 1972, the minimum wage to be paid to female workers aged 18 and over will be increased from $1.00 per hour to $1.25 per hour.

As from April 1, 1972, the minimum wage for female workers aged 16 to 18 will be increased from 65 cents per hour to 85 cents per hours. My Government has further decided that the minimum wage to be paid all work­ ers, both male and female, aged 18 and over is to be increased from $1.25 per hour to $1 .40 per hour as of June 1, 1972. My Government has also decided that the mini­ mum wage paid all workers, both male and female, aged 16 to 18 will be increased from 85 cents per hour to $1.10 per hour as from June 1, 1972.

My Government will review from time to time the minimum wage level with a view to ensuring that the minimum wage rises with general wage levels in our economy. My Ministers propose to seek the authority of the Honourable House of Assembly to make amendments to the Employment of Children Act, so that following such an amendment the Act may be proclaimed . You will be asked to repeal the Trades Union Act and to pass new legislation relating to the registration of Trades Unions.

You will further be requested to revise the Fishing Industry (Collective Bargaining) Act to make it more effective in meeting the problems and needs of that industry. My Ministers feel that the legislation enacted in 1970, relating to Collective Bargaining within the public service, is inadequate in many respects. The Public Ser­ vice (Collective Bargaining) Act of 1970 is little more than enabling legislation which provides for details of Collective Bargaining to be prescribed subsequently by regul­ ation.

It is the view of my Ministers that this is not in the best interest of the Public Service and more comprehensive legislation will be introduced during this Session. Manpower Training and Placement and Training Services will be more closely co-ordinated with Federal programmes. The aim of my Ministers is to relate the type of training to the demands of the labour market. They shall set up a research division for a constant monitoring of the future needs of the labour market and a counselling service to devise and relate technical training programmes to these demands. MR.

SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: My Ministers have given very careful and sympathetic consideration to the re­ port of The Royal Commission Respecting Radiation, Compensation & Safety at the Flourspar Mines in St. Lawrence. My Government feels it is the wish and desire of all Newfoundlanders that the indomitable courage of those who worked in the mines 11

at St. Lawrence and the patience and suffering of the dependents of deceased miners be fully recognized. It is with this in mind and with a sense of gratitude and respon­ sibility toward these brave people that my Government has proudly decided to imple­ ment in full the recommendations of the Royal Commission on St. Lawrence. Legislation will be laid before you which will ensure that disabled miners who have worked in the St. Lawrence Mines and the next of kin of deceased miners will re­ ceive the security and amenities of life a grateful Province feels they deserve . MR.

SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: A general and far reaching programme of highway improvement will be introduced later in the Session the details of which will be revealed when the estimates of that Department are brought before the House. The objective of this programme is to attend to those sections of the Province which have been neglected in the past and especially those areas not served by the Trans Canada Highway . Transportation will be of the utmost importance to the future development of our Province.

This will mean that the isolated parts of our Province will be linked up with the main highroads system. The present substandard roads will have to be upgraded to a standard to meet the de­ mands of the future. Particularly, in the great mainland

section of our Province, Lab­ rador, a major road building programme will be commenced with the objective being a first class highway running from Happy Valley in the East through to the Province of Quebec Highroad System MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: My Government believes that decent shelter is one of the basic rights of human beings. My Ministers realize the needs and aspirations of our people in terms of Hous­ ing and have already commenced studies aimed at finding solutions to these problems.

At the same time my Government maintains that when a person is removed from his home through any urban renewal development that this person has the right to have his home replaced by a comparable home. You will therefore be asked to repeal The Family Hom.es Expropriation (Amend­ ment) Act, 1966-67. As well, you will be asked to give consideration to a new Land­ lords and Tenants Act, which will be introduced to protect the rights of tenants and also encourage construction to meet the demands for housing. MR .

SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: It is the intention of my Government to review the functions of the present de­ partments of Government with a view to streamlining and making more efficient our Governmental operations. To begin this process my Ministers have decided to estab­ lish a Department of Intergovernmental Affairs . My Ministers intend to set up an all-Party committee to review the present rules of the House of Assembly. 12-

My Government is fully conscious of the responsibilities of the Loyal Opposition in the Honourable House of Assembly and is desirous of ensuring that it is provided with adequate facilities to enable it to perform its functions in the best interests of our Province. To this end it is the intention of my Government to conduct a study of the needs of the Members of the Opposition with regard to office accommodation, staff, and related matters, and to determine the extent to which these needs can be met. MR.

SPEAl<ER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: My Government has decided to lay before this House legislation providing for a reduction in the voting age to eighteen years. My Ministers are convinced that young Newfoundlanders are alert to their responsibilities and should be given the opportunity to exercise their franchise upon reaching this age. Legislation concerning the expansion of legal aid in the Province will be intro­ duced as soon as possible.

In co-operation with the Law Society of Newfoundland my Ministers will work with firm determination to assure that none of my people will be deprived of legal counsel simply because of their inability to pay. A Family Guidance Act will be introduced at this Session and also a Marriage Act. There will be a new act concerning the Fire Department, a new act regarding The Alcoholic and Liquors Act of Newfoundland and legislation introduced requiring the establishment of an Independent Licensing Appeal Board.

My Government has initiated a study to be commenced into the complicated area of regulation of any possible or potential conflicts of interest between the private interests of members of the Honourable House of Assembly and of the Government or of senior Government employees and the public duties of their positions. This is an area in which no Province of Canada has satisfactory laws or regulations.

My Gov­ ernment has requested Professor Allan Sinclair of the Law School of the University of New Brunswick to commence immedjately a study of this area and to draft legislation to be introduced in the House of Assembly if at all possible during 1972. The law or regulations in other jurisdictions will be studied and my Government hopes to intro­ duce in the Honourable House of Assembly model legislation on this important ques­ tion. MR.

SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: The programme of my Government is a programme of action; a programme de­ signed to attack unemployment and the many other problems facing our Province. My Government will act to deal with the problems on two fronts; on a short-term and a long-term basis. The short-term programme will see immediate action; immediate steps to reduce unemployment and Q£t people actively involved in working with their Government to 13

shape the destiny of our Pr9vince. There will be immediate attention given to better­ ing the quality of life in our Province through improved social assistance to those in need and an expansion of services such as health and education . The second phase of the programme, the long-term, will see the beginning of co­ :irdinated, long-term planning. It will be carried out in conjunction with the Govern­ ment of Canada to ensure that the various services of the Government and its policies for creating long-term permanent jobs for our people will achieve maximum results.

This approach is geared to accomplishing a continual improvement in our economic and social conditions and it will assure for the future, through wise planning, the con­ tinued growth of our great Province of Newfoundland and Labrador . MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: I began with a reference to the past and I stress the needs of the present and the future.

My Ministers have laid before you a programme which will be of outstanding benefit to our people and one which demands their full understanding and co-opera­ tion if we are to reach the desirable goals which my Government has set for our Pro­ vince. The challenge of this new approach, in this new age, is for all of our people to become involved in the building of this Province . My Government seeks your full and loyal co-operation, not through demanding the impossible, but by working to­ gether for what we can accomplish with what we have on which to build.

All New­ foundlanders worthy of the name could not ask for a more sensible request or a more exciting challenge. With a clear understanding of our present position, and a dedica­ tion to the progress which we must make, we can look forward to the future with hope and confidence. MAY DIVINE PROVIDENCE GUIDE YOU IN YOUR DELIBERATIONS! 14

March 1, 1972 MR. F. STAGG: Mr. Speaker, never have so few been called upon to do so much for so many, and never have the few responded with such vigor as have the Honourable Ministers who prepared this Speech from the Throne. It has give me great pleasure to be of assistance when called upon by them and to have served on committees set up during the now famous or infamous "transition period", which connnittees did invaluable work in preparation for the takeover of the Government six weeks ago.

The task before this Government is stupendous, an unparallelled challenge, yea perhaps even greater than the treks of the present Member for Placentia East when the gospel of Confederation was spread while you and I, Mr. Speaker, were grappling with our primary education. But this Government is equal to that challenge, for it is made up of men who have looked within themselves and found the courage of their conviction and did a job that was long overdue. A lpeech such as has been presented here, Mr. Speaker, is what one would expect from such a closely knit group under the unflappable guidance of its Leader.

This Speech from the Throne is not mere platitudes, it is the manifesto of youth and vigor which will cut the Gordian knots left by the previous administration. I see the Government's express intention ·,to thoroughly investigate the Javelin Linerboard Mill and the Come by Chance Oil Refinery as strong manifestations of that decisiveness. The Javelin Linerboard Mill is of special importance to the people of Port au Port and I, with them, place great confidence in this Government's ability to see that project successfully completed.

I expect great things from a revamped Department - of Economic Development under its new Minister. With potentially the best industrial park in Eastern Canada, the Stephenville Area must figure 15

:t,1.arch 1, 1972 prominently with the future of this Department. It fills me with great confidence to see it under the control of the Honourable member from '.','.:.. John's West. I earnestly believe that the fishermen of Newfoundland will soon have cause to rejoice when the Department of fisheries' new progranunes, especially that of establishing regional offices are implemented. I note that fishermen will be asked to participate with Government and I know that this is no idle pledge~ 1t is the e..'Ctension of the " team approach " to Government. Mr.

Speaker, legitimate investors will be encouraged and decent, fair partnership relationships will be established and a climate of good healthy, honest development will be generated in which legitimate business will be encouraged to locate. It was the prospect of actually seeing this happen which attracted me to this great party. Coming from an area which abounds with fishermen and hunters and out-door enthusiasts, I welcome unequivocally the establishment of the Newfoundland Conservation Corps.

It will undoubtedlt obviate the necessity of the setting up of private vigilante type organizations to police our wilderness, as was suggested to me by a very concerned outdoorsman. The Newfoundland Conservation Corps will help make Newfoundland a pollution-free Province. Mr. Speaker, I look forward with eager anticipation to the proposed "Farm Equipment Banks," where farmers, be they large or small, will be able to use equipment for a small rental fee.

The only thing I saw like this was the old stumper, an ingenious apparatus for pulling stumps, which I believe was brought in by that much lambasted group known as Counnission of Government. At least that is the only Government Agricultural assistance Boswarlos ever saw. I think it is high time that the farmers of Newfoundland in general and Port au Port in particular received at least self-propelled stumpers - commonly known as tractors. if

r-~arch 1, 1972 :1-rr. Speaker, the proposed Resource Loan Bank, which you will undoubtedly remember was proposed in princiole by myself last November, promises to aid the fisherman, saw mill operator, the farmer and other resource 1:-asecl individuals. I see it as a great stride towards self--suff iciencv. ~-rr. Speaker, I welcome the reference to the intention of this r,overnment to establish Regional Colleges in various sections of the Province.

I know that their establishment will be done having regard to the total ~amut of education - from the need for such education,in the first place, to the economic feasibility of the in.eve. We in Port au Port have long promoted both the need for such a college and the practicability of establishing one at Stephenville. I 1,--now that the C,overnment will seriously consider Stephenville's case and will make an ob;ective decision based on all the facts.

The imnrovement of nublic health facilities by increasing the nwr.ber of doctors and nurses is especially gratifvin~ to the people of Port au Port and indeed to all rural areas which df'rive much of their hasic health requirements froI!l the visit of the Public P.ealth Nurse to the schools. Mr. Speaker, Development Associations have been the catalvst from which have arisen some of the most dedicated and competent men and wol'len this Province has ever seen. Our own Port au Port Economic Develorr1ent Association, one of the pioneers, and the NRDA group are virtually le!!ends.

I salute ~emorial University of Newfoundland who gave them their impetus and rejoice that this Government intends to assist them financiallv as well as morally. They will not always be supporters of government policy but this Government would rather have thrirns in its side than knives in its hack. Mr. Speaker, the Manpower Training and Placement Services have in the nast contrihuted much to the economy of Port au Port: as the Adult Centre is still the most stable industry our District has.

We welcome the settinp- up of a research divi.sion to assist in adiusting this traininp: to the future needs of the labour market. We have very many under-educated 17

Harch 2. 1972 Newfoundland ers but very few stupid ones. This programme will keep teaching the old do~s new tricks and keep every employable Newfoundlander employed. !•Ir. Soeaker, as a graduate of the liniversity of New Brunswick Law School, I heartily endorse the securing of Professor Al.lan Sinclair to study and draft le~islatioo concern~ conflict of interest. He is possibly the most brilliant leial mind I have yet encountered, and he couples his brillia nce with an approachability which is refreshing among academic lawyers. Ris will he an excellent work.

Allan Sinclair would n~t be associated with anything but excellence . ~r. Speaker, I have attempted to keep my comments brief, for I believe brevity and clarity are the hallmarks of competence, and that is what Newfoundland needs - competence. ?-'r. Speaker, it is therefore with ~reat pleasure and conviction I move that a Committee of this House be anpointed to draft the Address in Reoly to the Speech from the Throne. 18

March 1 , 1972. ''P. T. DOYLE: Mr, Speaker, as I rise to fully sup~ort the Motion so adequately made by my hon. colleague, the member for the District of Port au Port, that a committee be appointed to draft an Address in Re:ply to the gracious Speech from the Throne, I do so with a profound sense of history, as I stand here in the dignity of this House and amidst the pomp and ceremony of this official opening, representing as I do the wonderful District of Ferryland, which is itself so steeped in the history of Newfoundland. My desire, Mr.

Speaker, is to do honour to the District which has honoured me and at the same time to comment briefly an certain aspects of the Throne Speech. Mr, Speaker, I believe that the key sentence in the gracious Throne Speech is the reference to the base resources of our Province - the sea, the land, the clean air and the pure water - all resources given us by Almighty God for us to do with as best we can.

In my humble opinion, in recent years we have been completely ignoring our prime natural resources, and I am delighted to see that our new government is now planning to use these resources as the basis for the founding of a completely new era in our Newfoundland. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, it is a well-known fact that we continue to lose our best natural resource - our young people.

We must find ways and means to keep these intelligent and healthy boys and girls with us; and it is of tremendous importance to me that the government of which I am proud to be a part, has embarked on a journed which will eventually lead to a new society in our beloved porvince - a society in which our people, especially our young people can live and practice the skills for which they have been trained. In addition we must make them aware of the heritage which is theirs - a heritage of which they should be justifiably proud at all times. Mr.

Speaker, who in our country knows best what the government should or should not be doing for any given area? Obviously, the people in that area - and it gives me great pleasure to see that finally the Government of Newfound­ land is going to listen to these people and not talk at them. I note with interest and complete agreement that Advisory Councils are to be established throughout the province, to better equip government to do its job, What better way to involve 19

March 1, 1972 PK - 1 MR. DOYLE: the people than to have them aasiat in the shaping of laws for our co111111on future. We have already seen, in the space of six short weeks, how this government is meeting the people of Newfoundland in their c,w conmnmities and, if initial public reaction i.s any indication, ~his i~ something that Newfoundlanders have been asking for, for years, but have never received. Truly, a new era of government in Newfoundland has begun. Mr.

Speaker, my district of Ferryland depends heavily on the fishery, and the statement in the gracious Throne Speech that the Department of fisheries is to be greatly expanded and returned to its pnper place as a major area in lovermnent will be most welcome by my friends fro Bay Bulla to St. Shott'•· The fact that we will be involving the fishermen themselves, through discussion and through Regional Advisory Councils, bespeaks the success of this great new Fisheries prograaae. The Incentive Program to assist the inshore fisherman is long over- due, Mr.

Speaker, and the new approach of this government, to supply the fish necessary to keep existing plants working as near capacity as humanly possibl•, is a bold step which cannot help but benefit our people. The establishment of a corporation which will own or lease a new fleet of trawlers. in addition to existing vessels, is another step in the forward-lobking march which this new government has begun. Mr.

Speaker, for years our fishermen have struggle• along through stoni after stona, waiting to see what the politicians, both here at home .. and in the nation's capital, would do about the damages they sustained to their fishing gear - or more properly, if they would do anything. Now after twenty-three years of waiting we see this first Progressive Conservative Government annotmcing that legislation is to be introduced as quickly as possible, in conjunction with the federal government, to institute an insurance progr&11111e to cover these loaaea by our fishermen. This is welcome news indeed. I suppose, Mr.

Speaker. that the old saying of "Better late than never" could be applied here, but I am wondering why it had to be so late. thus causing many thousands of our fishermen undue hardships over the yeare. Apparently damages were paid in recent years, after certain storms, but the poor fisherman never knew whether the storm which washed away h~~ stage 20

Hr. Doyle and gear was a lucky storm or othenrise; and in moat cases he vu forced to go through many months of agonising torture before he foUDd out whether or not be would be coapeuated. Nov we are finally working toward a concrete progrm.e of insurance. Mr. Speaker, it appears on the surface as if the previous aclministration were inclined to overlook the obvious for ac>re grandiose scheaes coating our people aillions of dollars, rather than cater to Newfoundlanders responsible for the harvesting of one of our prime natural resources.

I welcome the announced intention of this Government to nress to the fullest extent for our rights over the preservation of our fish stocks. These fish stocks are our natural heritage and must be protected at all costs. I come now, Mr. Speaker, to that part of the gracious Throne Speech which dealt with the tourist industry in Newfoundland. It has been my privilege to have eztensively travelled in all parts of our Province over a period of some twenty-five years. In the course of these travels, I have come to realize fully the UDique potential which we have with regard to all aspects of tourism.

In particular the District of Ferryland, as I have already mentioned, can lay claim to a very important place in the historic past of our Province and this of course is the very thing which tourists seek. That special emphasis is to be placed on the ezpansion of tourist facilities is welcome news indeed for the people of the Southern Shore. Mr.

Speaker, when we hear this statement in the Throne Speech,and then a little further on we are told that this Government will be giving top priority to roads in the Province other than the Trans Canada Highway, I cannot help but feel that finally the Southern Shore road will receive the attention it deserves; and I - even bold enough to believe that in a period of a few short years this cGovermaent will complete the highway through Ferryland District and on through St. Mary's District so that Newfoundlanders and visitors a like, in their thousands, can make the circle through both districts and back to St.

John's in a day. It goes without saying that completion of this highway to a proper paved standard will serve to open up the southern part of the Avalon Peninsula which haa so long been neglected, 21

'•farch 1, 1972 NC - 1 ''R. OOYLP.: Mr. Speaker, the reference in the gracious Speech from the Throne to rural development is of special interest to me. J note with complete a~reement that priority will be given to improving the process i f at~~ development as a means of assisting the self-development of our peoole and of increasing their involvement in the mana~ement of their resources. I feel strongly that the ne~lect which has been evident in certain areas of the province will now he changed by the close attention and action on the part of our new government .

The effect of this far- si~hted policy can only mean good for all of us . Mr . ., .. p,.;,er, my hon. colleague, the 'lember for Port au Port, referred to the fact that so few are being called upon to do so much for so many. In this context I woul d simply add in conclusion that under the dynamic leadership of our esteemed Premier, those few are now entering their finest hour. I am happy and proud as a tlewfoundlander to he part of this new team which will bring a new society for all Newfoundlanders. lt gives me extreme pleasure. Mr.

Speaker , to second the ~otion that a Committee of thi s House be appointed to prepare a reply to the ~racious Speech from the Throne. 22

March 1 , 1972 I Tape no. 6 .. PK - 1 !10!'"!_·_._E_-:.. l~-- Jl:c.Q.B_!:J.:..T.§_ Q.:_EAD~OJ' THE OPPOSITION): ''1!-_!r. Speaker, mv first words must he of congratulations to you on your election by the members of this House to the hiph office which vou now hold. }s Soeaker, Sir, vou are our puardjan. you are our spokesman.

When His Honour came todav vou asl·ecl him, in ?. formula that goes hack for centuries, for freedom from :,rrest for access to his person at all times, words that are now kept for their symbolic value only hut words , Sir, which harJ.·en hack to many years ago in England when they were not symbolic, when occasionally a Spea1':er was invited to stop over in the Tower of London, when occasionally Speak~rs were not permitted to call upon the Crown nor upon the Crown's Representatives. You follow in a proud tradition, Sir.

The walls of this Chamber are hunf with the portraits of the men who preceded you. }'any great Ne~•n'oundlanders have served in that Chair, Sir, bep.inninf with John P,inp.ley <sarland and Dr. Carson. In the Confederation Years you. follow such !'len as '''r. Snea1,er Sparl<:es, Mr. Speaker Courage (the late 11-'r. Coura!!

e) and Mr. Speaker Clarke. My Colleap-ues and I, Sir, wish you well. We have no doubt that you realize vou face a difficult job and we assure you that we will do what we can to heln you. We "1ill do what we can to make your jor- as our Speake.r. the Speaker for this House, as easy and as effective as it can be. May I also congratulate the hon. gentleman from Port au Port and the hon. gentleman from Ferryland District for the manner in which they moved and seconded the traditional message, the traditional resolution that a committee be appointed to draft an Address in Reply. The motion will be put shortly.

I would assume that the Premier will follow my few remarks and then we presumably come to a vote. I thinl-- both pentlemen, Sir, both of whom are new to this House, neither of whom has nreviously sat in this Chamber, spoke well. They nerhaps were a little partisan but it is fair enough. There will be tirne enough for that. Since thev set the tone I may he permitted a few partisan phrases a little later on in mv brief remarks. 23

~larch 1. 19 72 PR - 2 , . .-- ROJlF;RTS: Hay I say though, Sir, a word in behRlf of my absent friend and colleap,ue, the hon. the member for nay de Verde . I am sure he is at home this afternoon ~·atching on the television . He is not well. Re has had some illness recently. I know that he is with us in spi rit and I uncerstand that in d~e course he will be with w- ~ person. I am sorr y he is not here . Any man who is elected to the House of Assembly should be here and if he could be her e he would . Now~ Sir, we are beginning a new session of a new House . This is the Thirty-Fifth General Assembly of this Province, the 24

March 1, 1972 Tape No. 7 JM - 1 MR. ROBERTS: thirty-fifth time that the Governor has read a Speech from the Throne. Mr. Speaker, it is more than a new session, it is more than a new House, I think it is the beginning of a nev era in the politics of this Province and for the first time since £onfederation each party is now led by a new leader. I welcome my friend, the member for Placentia East who will add distinction to this Chamber, to this House and who has served Newfoundland well as leader of a party and if the partisan waves recede I have no doubt that his position will i111111erge for what it truly is.

We will not see his like again, Sir. We can be proud and thankful that we have had a man like him to lead us - and for all the things that may have been wrong and for all the mistakes that have been made we have had a great Leader. I realize hon. gentlemen opposite probably feel very strongly and it is their privilege but, Sir, I repeat what I have said that years will be kind, the waves of partisan bitterness will recede. I hope, Sir, that that process begins in this session of this House.

In the last four or five years, Sir, there have been times, and I might as well say it honourably and openly and candidly, when I have been ashamed to be part of this House. AN HON. MEMBER: You should be. MR. ROBERTS: Yes, the hon. gentleman is right, I should be and the shame is on both sides. The hon. gentleman and his colleagues are as much guilty, if guilt there be, as I and my colleagues. But, Sir, that is past. What is done is done and what is past is past.

For our part and I speak for each of the twenty-one men who presently sit on this side, we will have no part of that, Sir, and I call upon all members of the House to debate the issues hard and forcefully. We will give as good as we can get and a little better. I think the people of Newfoundland expect this of us, Sir, and for our part we 25

March 1 , 1972 • Tape No. 7 JM - 2 MR. ROBERTS: will do our share, Now, Sir, it may not be inappropriate ~or me to say a word or two. I f~nd myself in a very unusual position constitutionally and I stand here today as Leader, as I am sure the Premier is well aware, of the largest group in this House, Mr.

Speaker, I from time to time have read a little of constitutional history or a little of political history and I know of no situation in the history of the Parliamentary System in which the Opposition Party, a single partv, have had a larger group than the Government Party and have not immediately attempted to throw them out of office, The Government, Sir, have nineteen members to support them in a division, the Opposition have twenty-one and yet, Sir, I have said repeatedly and I say again today that my party seek to serve Newfoundland. We do not seek to grab power.

There are many who have urged me to do so from all parts of the Province and not all of them Liberals. There are many who have urged me to do so on a number of occasions but, Sir, we believe that this Province, the people of this Province require and need and deserve a period of political stability. This Province has been in a political turmoil since well before last summer.

The last two or three months of the session, the last session of the Thirty-Fourth General Assembly, were very much that turmoil, So, Sir; I have said in behalf of our caucus that we do not seek to defeat the Government as long as they govern in the best interests of the people of this Province, We do feel, Sir, that our attitude is in part dependent upon the attitude which the Government adopt in coming to the House, I was shocked that there was no mention in the Throne Speech of a request for supply.

I can only assume that this was inadvertent, that it was an omission and if it is not, Sir, it is a terrible thing, The first duty of 26

, March 1, 1972 Tape No. 7 MR. ROBERTS: this Government must be to get supply, to get the authority of the peoples' House to spend money.

This is today the first of March and the authority to spend public money expires on the 31st of March, The Government must bring forward financial legislation whether it be in the form of interim supply, a reasonable measure would be treated reasonably, or whether it be a measure of a Budget, I realize that the gentleman who for the time being is the Minister of Finance has said that it would be difficult to bring in a Budget and that to me sounds reasonable and, of course, we are not expecting even him to do the impossible, Sir. Mr.

Speaker, I do hope the Premier will touch upon this and perhaps he will assure me as well that the change in the draft seating plan and the gulf between him and the hon. gentleman is merely a matter of seating and not a matter of policy, But I do hope, Sir, that the Premier will touch upon this and I think it is a matter which must come before the House at a very early date and I would say that upon this sort of question would depend our attitude, We do not give this Government, Sir, any assurance of carte blanche, They must bring their fate to the House, They have done the right thing to bring it to the House and we will see what happens.

They have also done the right thing, Sir, in my view,to open the seat in Fortune Bay and call the by- election. The by-election is to be held on March 20 and then JM - 3 we will know. The Premier has already said 1 through the press, in the first of his press conferences on Monday past, that if the party which I lead returns a member for that district he will, of course, do the proper thing and submit his resignation immediately. Well that is what we would expect and I have no doubt he will do the 27

March 1, 1972. Tape 7, J:M - 4 1-fF. ROBERTS: proper thing if the circumstances arise. I will do my humble part to try to make the circumstances arise, Sir, and so will my colleagues here and my colleagues throughout Fortune Bay. I have no doubt, in tu1 .·, the Premier and his colleagues will attempt to produce a different result. Well, so be it; That is the way it should be and that is the proper way. ~ay I touch briefly on the Speech, Sir? I was amused at the remark of the hon. gentleman from Port au Port.

Obviously his speech writers are getting a little better with a quotation from Sir Winston Churchill adapted to the situation. I tried to jot it down but I did not get it all. He said that never before have so few attempted to do so much for so many and I might add to that •·with so many words., . I have sat through five Throne Speeches, Your Honour, and I have read many more and I have never heard one longer before. So the next time the hon. gentleman's speech writers are at work he might ask Mr. McLean if he would be good enough to add those words to it.

He is beinp. well enough paid for the privilege I can tell you. Now, Sir, there are a number of items in the Speech which I welcome and there are others which we will discuss further at another time but I am particularly delighted that the f;overnment have brought in this House for a Rouse amendment or intend to bring it in and this was a policy which the Liberal Administration brought in in - I think it was 1964. It was pioneering legislation when it came in and we fell into error briefly. I was not part of the administration but I supported it in the House -then it was questioned,of course.

We fell into error briefly in the 1966-1967 session and we were asked by the then Minister of }funicipal Affairs if we would amend the Act and remove the house-for-a-house clause. Well we did and I have felt since that 28

, March 1, 19 72 Tape No. 7 JM - 5 MR. ROBERTS: perhaps it was a mistake and I am delighted that the new administration have realized this is so and I am glad that the gentleman is not g.oing to be consistent for the sake of being right. AN HON. MEMBER: Who was the then Minister of Municipal Affairs? MR. ROBERTS: Oh, I do not remember who was the Minister of Municipal Affairs. He has been back and forth a number of times since then, If only the hon. member for Bell Island could be assured that he would not cross back and forth a number of other times, we would all be happ.ier. 29

March 1, 1972 Mr. Roberts. Tape no. 8 Page 1 - MRW I also, Sir, welcome very much the news that the Government intend to ask the House to lower the age of the franchise to eighteen. It is not often they act so quickly upon the public requests which the ~eader of the Opposition makes. I made that request two or three weeks ago with a family gathering here in St. John's. I did not see any of the hon. gentlemen opposite there but obviously they saw it on television and I commend them - it is good legislation.

I have lon~ felt that if a person can vote federally at eighteen (that has been adopted by the Parliament of Canada now) he should be able to vote in a Provincial Election at eighteen. I assume that will extend to municipal elections as well. Perhaps the Minister of Justice could !lake a note and look it up when his draftsmen are at work. The Minimum Wage is very good news.Sir. I have never felt very proud of the fact that there are people in this Province who work for forty dollars, for a forty hour week.

I would hate to try to live on forty dollars a week., Jffly one of us here in this Chamber today would, Sir, any one of the forty-two or forty-one men who are in this House. It is high time and I welcome it. I think it is good. The wage will have to be raised constantly. It bas been raised constantly over the years, and it will go on being raised constantly. There are many other good things in it, Sir. I would be leas than honest if I did not say so. The Forestry Policy is a good policy. It is carrying on where my former colleague, Bill Callahan, left off.

He will lie doubtless commenting upon it in the morning newspaper.Sir. It is a good policy. It is the right policy. I commend the Premier and his colleagues for carrying it off. The Trans-Labrador Road, there are only three references to Labrador in the Speech, Sir, there are two of them,part of the name of the Province and the third the Trans-Labrador Road. MlY colleague the member for Labrador North has made this his personal aim. I know when he speaks he will welcome the 30

March 1, 1972 Kr. Roberts. Tape no. 8 Page 2 Government's decision to help them to realize that, The news so eloquently elaborated on by the hon. gentleman from the Ferryland District about the roads, of course is good news. I welcome that. I think the Minister of Finance should welcome it.too, He and I have a little session going about the 300 miles on the Northem Peninsula where it is going to be paved starting this year. My constituents expect it, Sir. The hon. the member for Humber East, the Minister of Highways, pro tem, has confirmed that this will start. I welcome it.

He will be doing, in a medical sense, his colleague a favour because while his colleague has a thick hide, if I have to beat 300 ailes of pavement out of him,which is 19,008,000 inches, Sir, even that hon. gentleman's thick hide will not be good enough, I beg the hon. gentleman's pardon. AN HON. MEMBER: The figure is wrong. MR, ROBERT~: My figure may well be wrong, Sir, The hon, gentleman's hide is thick. Oh my! a voice from the past erupting from over there. Mr. Speaker, I welcome the hon. gentleman's willingness to allow the debate to go ahead, Mr.

Speak.er, I also am particularly pleased with the Govemment's emphasis upon the conservation of our fish stocks. This should not be a partisan question. Anybody who realizes anything about the fisheries;- ! do not pretend to be an expert. far from it, but the secret of our fisheries is the conservation of fish stock. The material on the supply of fish is going to be interesting. I have a number of fishermen in my district, Mr. Speaker, who would like some fish, Would the Govemment be good enough to send them some today? They need it, I am going to be most interested in the ter11& of a policy.

I am going to be most interested in terms of a trawler policy. I hope it does not involve second-hand trawlers from the U, K, as has been suggested to me by people recently, expert in the business. I agree the mistake was made once by the Ross group. That was the reason why they could not crew their ships. It would be tragic to make that mistake again, as the Minister of Justice would agree. I know 31

March l. 1972 iape no. 8 Page 3 Mr. Roberts.• We welcome the news of the all-party committee.Mr. Speaker, the all-party committee to look at the rules of the House. They are out of date. They need to be updated. We will gladly work and work with a committee on this. My colleagues will serve on it. I am also pleased in a very short-term way about the news that the Government are going to study the Loyal Opposition's requirements. I realize I am trea~ing on dangerous ground. I do feel that we were treated badly. I do feel that we were treated badly, Sir. We are elected members.

Every man on this side was elected just as vu every man on that side, elected by the people of this Province. The fact that even today. Sir, any member of this aide of the House who wishes to write a letter must do it in long­ hand. Mr. Speaker it is true, There are two stenographers upstairs. and I am told that they are not available. One of the three was assigned to the Clerk of the House. The second of the three was assigned to the hon. gentlemen on the other side. There is one for twenty-one, Sir. The hon. gentleman thinks that is not true. Perhaps he would look into it. I assure him that it is true.

We have far less square feet per member than even the hon. gentleman had, Mr. Speaker, let me say now that if the hon. gentleman is going to adopt the attitude that everything for which he criticized us, maybe with some priority over the years, he is now going to do then I wish him well. In any event, Mr, Speaker, I feel that it ism matter of the present Government perhaps adopting a little self interest. I welcome it for that reason as well. Finally, Sir, the Premier, shortly after he was sworn in by Bis Honour and became our Premier said. in a public statement • not to expect miracles.

I think that was good advice, Sir, because the Premier and particularly his colleagues have gone throughout the Province and wittingly or unwittingly I think people do expect miracles. I say that with some hesitation, Sir, because although I realize that the House does not recognize strangers in it, I have a feeling that perhaps within hail there are soma gentlemen who know considerably more &bout miracles than I do or any member of this House. But, Sir, it was good advice in a political 32

, March :l, 19 72 Mr. Roberts. Tape no. 8 Page 4 and perhaps even in a theological sense, I was, therefore. very surprised to hear Bis Honour read the Throne Speech. Of course, it was filled with pious platitudes. I suppose that is what Throne Speeches are.Mr. Speaker. They are statements of intention. It is the action that will tell the tal,. Hr. Speaker, I have never in my life heard as great a collection of promises, of platitudes. They obviously sat down, Sir, and dredged up everything they could think of, everything thev could think of, empty words, Well they may have the action to back them up. We will see.

I really am, Hr. Speaker, somewhat taken aback. There is nothing wrong with intentions. There is nothing wrong with over-all programes. There is nothing wrong with good wishes. There is nothing wrong with hope. They are all very useful. I do not expect the Government that has been in office six weeks, Sir, to produce miracles or do anything. I do find, Sir. that the same group of men who criticized the Government of Hnfoundland, the previous government,for being bold in outlining a development conference have now done the same thing. I do not expect consistency in politics, Sir, I do expect honesty.

The hon. gentleman would be well advised to listen and perhaps he would learn. The hon, gentleman should remember what a fisherman in my constituency once told me Hr. Speaker. "that a fish is like a politician, he only gets into trouble with his mouth open." That was good advice for all politicians including me 0 Your Honour. 33

March 1, 1972. Tape 9 Page 1, MR.ROBERTS: So, Mr, Speaker, we have had, we have had this new look, this new look looking exactly as if they had sat down - Monday morning the Premier held a press conference, I was not present but I heard the tapes they were tap~d by newsmen and they played them for n1e. He made a number of statements. Monday afternoon, the noon hour news bulletins and Monday afternoon's edition of the 'Evening Telegram•· reported those statements. I do not know what happened, Sir. I do know that the Premier called upon His Honour the Governor, no secret there.

That car is a very prominent, car and the premier is a well known gentleman, v·ery well known in some places. He called upon the Governor, I assume to advise him to open the House. There are some theories on that point,Sir, but I assume it was to open the House. In any event that afternoon the Premier, in what the ''Evening Tele11:ram'· called a flip-flop, in elegant phrase but perhaps not inaccurate.decided to open the House. Very good, Sir, we welcome that, we did welcome it. What I do find interesting,Sir, is what must have gone on then.

I know the lights were burning late here in ministerial offices, the next two or three nights. I know what happened now, It is obvious, They sat down and a frantic cry went out,we are going to open the House. On Monday there was no full legislative programme. There was some hokum about something I had allegedly said. The word went out for Heavens Sake give us ,mything you have by way of a programme.

So they dredged up all the programmes, My friend tbe Minister of Health took the programme I had developed down there and it is a good programme, I compliment him for carrying it through, with everything in it, we started, The twenty-eight boxes of papers I have,Mr. Speaker, I assure the gentlemen, included all the correspondence to prove that. HON,DR,A.ROWE(Min, of Health): There are many th1ngs not started, MR.ROBERTS: Agreed, agreed many things not started, Agreed many things not started, There will be many things not started when the hon. gentleman, Mr. Speaker, is not the minister.

The hon, gentleman the Minister for Highways, has come up - I am all for it, I welcome it. I do not know what the minist~r of Finance is doing he has already made a speech the government are just about 34

, March 1 ,1972. Tape 9. Page 2. bankrupt. Our debt is huge, The Minister of Highways and Public Works, the Minister of Health together, Sir, will double the load and I am all for it, if they can pay for it. HON.DR.T.FARRELL(Min of Highways & Pub. Works): May be all right, me so~. MR.ROBERTS: Mr. Speaker, I give a great deal of thanks that I am not the hon. gentleman's son. I do not know how many sons he has or if he has any. I give a great deal of thanks that I am not his son. A great deal of thanks. I imagine, Sir, my mother would give even more thanffis.

If the hon. gentleman is going to play in this league Mr. Speaker, let him play • I am not interested in his smart aleck interjection, Sir. Let him debate. Not as finished as the hon, gentleman is. Terrihle Torn is at it again. Now, Mr. Speaker, in conclusion let me say simply that I am going to be most interested in how the government intend to finance this programme, I read the speech given by the Minister of Finance today to the service club here in St, John's and a good speech it was. He had to make it, he has been saying it for years, the gentleman has an obsession to prove himself right.

It will be most interesting when we start adding up the costs.I welcome all these things. Heavens, anything that can be done for the people of New­ foundland should be welcomed. It w!ll be by all the people of Newfoundland. But the creditibility gap is already open. One day the Minister of Finance says every dollar must be watched, the province is just teetering on the edge of aankruptcy. The next day, Sir, they are lashing out millions. They are creating jobs all right, leaving aside the political axe.they have hired on and that is their choice.

They all have terms certain, five minutes after we return the term certain will end. But, Mr. Speaker, the jobs are created - I know how they will put everybody to work in the civil service. All for it: All for it, Mr. Speaker~ I am all for anything that will help the people of Newfoundland, but I am looking forward to some concrete and some practical proposals. I believe in Newfoundland Mr. Speaker, I believe we can build here in this land of ours, a land where our resources have been developed 35

March l, 1972. Tape 9. Page 3 , meaningly and properly. God Only Knows what has been done over the years. It is not always right. I will not pretend that. Of course I will not pretend that. Of course we made mistakes. But, Sir, this is a new party. Sn let the hon, gentleman opposite, when they make mistakes,be as ready to admit it. If they think they will not - the first mistake was even inviting the hon, gentleman in the Cabinet I submit. But, Mr.

Speaker, I believe in this Province, I believe in the people of this Province, that is why I am in politics, I will do what I can to help them, If the government are genuine in this speel'n "nd not just working out drivel for an election, if they are genuine then we will work with them, The people of this province deserve all the help and assistance and services they can get. But we cannot have what we cannot afford. We cannot have what we cannot pay for, we cannot have what we do not have. So, Mr. Speaker, words are not enough. The Premier will now speak in a minute 1 I welcome it.

I ~ope he will deal with some of the points I have raised. Let me just say.Sir, that I welcome this session of the House, My colleagues are ready and anxious to get at it. We will get at it. We will debate long and hard, Well, we will see what comes, The time may have come at one stage, Sir, hut the time has now passed. Thanl: you verv much! 36

March 1, 1972 Tape No. 10 NC - 1 HON, F. P__:_MOOREf lPB,EMIER): Mr. Speaker, first I would like to thank the Lieutenant-Governor for the excellent presentation of the most gracious Speech from the Throne. Secondly I would like to thank the hon. member from Port au Port for moving the Speech, which was a motion rather and the hon. member for Ferryland for seconding it, both of whom I think did so in an excellent manner. I would also like to welcome the heads and representatives of the religious denominations that are here today. Gentlemen you have in the past played a great significant

part in the development of our Province but the future is even more demanding and the demand upon the church and state will increase as time goes on, It is my pleasure to welcome you here today and wish you good wishes as well. I would also like to welcome the representatives of the foreign countries that are with us today. I hope that they are happy and at home in our Province and also to welcome the other distinquished guests that are here. Before making my specific remarks, Mr.

Speaker, to the Throne Speech, the gracious Speech from the Throne, I would like at this time to pay tribute to the hon. member for Placentia East. His record has been a magnificent one in this House, whether you agreed or disagreed he has become an institution in his own right and I am sure he feels a little unfamiliar today sitting in that particular location, but Sir, in your retirement arid in your vocation we hope that it will be happy, we hope that it will be long, we also of course think it is a little over due but the best of luck anyway Sir.

You might rest assured that when you are wherever you travel from the Speech from the Throne even though it was not exactly the words you can be sure that there is

an Act to strengthen clear water and pure air. I would like also to congratulate the new Leader of the Opposition. He is the first member of his Party to occupy that position and we hope that he will have many years i.n t:1at distinquished ,·aparitv. The 'Hni.ster of Finance, I might say in reply tP the hon. gentleman's remarks, did not say that the Country or the Province was bankrupt. ~~-!1_9~ .... G~_NTLEMAN: I did not say that. MR. ~IOORES: Hell it sounded like you ,aid he did• The matter of supply will he brought before the Hous::- .:. .. l..re time and J might remind the hor... gentleman 37

~(arch 1, 1972 Tape No. 10 NC - 2 '-'IR._ MOORES: that it is now twenty-two days earlier than the House was opened last year to consider the same Bill. MR. !WBERTS: Inaudible. :~ ~O~~F.S: Well, ram sorry that the hon. member during his remarks brought in per s onalities. I have heard great enunciations lately t o the effect that he is not ?,Oing to bother with personal attacks. I would much rather in his reply to the Speech from the Throne that he would have dealt with the programmes that were dealt with here.

You mentioned the fact that the hon. member 1,.,..- -,c , John's West was si•t ting across the isle from me. I would much rather if there is any threat to leadership, that he be there rather than have the member for Bonavista South and the ex-member for Placentia East sitting immediately behind me. The length of the Throne Speech, I am sure that if the hon. Leader of the Opposition had written it, it would have been shorter because it would have said much less .. Labrador was not mentioned specifically in any part of the Throne Speech, anymore than any other district, because, Nr.

Speaker, we believe that all parts of this Province whether it be the great northern peninsula, the northwest coast, the northeast coast, the south coast, the Avalon Peninsula or Labrador should be treated equally and not treated as any separate part of this Province. Mr. Speaker, the Speech from the Throne basically lays out a programme for the seventies. The future of our Province is bright. The future of our Province will be great. It has a great potentiaJ now, it can have a great future, if we as a Government and we as a people are prepared to accept the challenge of what the seventies and our future hold.

Mr. Speaker, it is up to the people to accept this challenge, We, as a peo-ple and we as a Government and we of our House of Assembly will make this Province exactly what we want it to be, The goals that we must have will be basically based on our environment and we have a good environment in this Province. It is pollution-free for all intents and purposes. We have a way of life that most peo-ple in industrialized North America would be very proud to have where they are now. , But, Mr.

Speaker, it will take an appreciation of values, appreciation of those things that matter, it will take on increased earnings by our people to enjoy those things we have. 38

March 1, 1972 Tape No. 10 NC - 3 MR. MOORES: There are many things, Mr. Speaker, that need to be done but probably first and foremost is the participation by people. The Government nor this House of Assembly can do it alone that is why we have set up in the Throne Speech or the Throne Speech advises that we will be having advisory , councils, advisory councils and regional advisory groups that will not only allow the people of those areas to present the problems to the people but also to present the solution to the problems that they know better than anybody else to the people and to the Government.

I believe that through my Government we should take the services of Government to peop.le. Government cannot operate from an ivory tower, Mr. Speaker, it has to get out to the people, it has to take the services and the knowledge of Government to the people wherever they may live. We have announced this in fisheries that there will be four locations, on the Souch Coast, the West Coast, the Northeast Coast and Coast here on the Avalon.

Ther same will be done for the Department of Labour, the Department of Health, Education, Municipal Affairs, Community and Social Development, Mines, Agriculture and Resources and all those ·departments of Government that affect the people across this Province. In the fisheries we plan many changes. We first of all think it is most important that we enlarge the department itself, to give it the prominence that it must have in the future development.of this Province of ours.

We must establish the fishery and the fishermen in the light where it is a proud profession - not something you do when there is nothing else to do, but make it the professio~that we in this Province have been so proud of in the past and hopefully will be proud of again ir the future.

The first priority of this Government pertaining to fisheries will be the conservation on the continental shelf because without pressure being applied, not just by Newfoundland and Labrador but by all the other Atlantic Provinces together with Quebec and the Pacific Province of British Columbia, without full pressure being applied on Ottawa to see what they can do to bring about conservation on the continental shelf, Mr.

Speaker, there will be no fishery to worry about in Newfoundland and it is our obligation, our sincere and dedicated purpose that we make sure that this is done and I would hope that we would do it mutually with all parties in total accord with that, Mr. Speaker. 39

March 1, 1972 Tape No. 10 NC - 4 MR . ..1:_Q_Q_RES: We plan to bring in the dragger fleet, this corporation either in conjunction with existing companies or as a crown corporation only for one reason and that is to help divide the capacity that is so badly needed in under-capacity plants right now. It will also, together · with the multi­ purpose vote iive the fishermen the opportunity to expand and to modernize All the draggers will not, nor will I imagine very many would be second-hand trawllers, the only one that will be are the ones that are needed immediately because unfortunately, Mr.

Speaker, the plant at Marystown has not turned out those forty-eight that were due by now. There are many other things that need to be done with fisheries, We must have reprocessing so that our natural product that we are producing on this Island and on the Mainland of Labrador is not exported to the United States or to the United Kingdom for reprocessing there. That labour should be held for our own people here in Newfoundland and to make this possible we must have gear and equipment available to our fishermen. Mr.

Speaker, it is no longer possible for the fishermen to hope the fish will come into the rocks of this Province. We must have the gear and equipment, develop the skills and the know-how where these people are given the opportunity to go and hunt the fish like people from every Country from all over this earth. We unfortunately or fortunately have to do the same. In order to do it we must have the gear and equipment to be able to do it and that, Mr. Speaker, is what this Government prepares to make available to our fishermen. Mr. Speaker, we will and intend to put more emphasis on resource development.

Agriculture and the farmers of this Province must be given the chance they deserve. We as a Province should be self-sufficient in those crops that we grow ourselves and that is why there will be equipment banks established, why there will be marketing assistance for the farmer, why strategically located storages, which were started on the other side, will be continued in that policy, why adequate loan facilities will be made available and why dormant land will be 'made available. In other words, what we are saying, Mr.

Speaker, is that we as a Government will ~ivs> t"h ~ •·:i.rmer the opportunity to do the job that he and we know can be dc::c . 40

March 1, 1972 Tape No, 10 NC - 5 MR. '.M:OOP.E~: In the forestry of this Province we wi.11 have a proper programme of forest management, a programme that will regulate harvesting, forestation and afforestation. We believe that saw mills should be required in a province that is importing most of the w0od that we ourselves cdn produce in this Prnvince but we cannot because they arE' tied up in concessions 41

~-:arch 1, 1972, T!1Pe 11, Pa~e 1 -- aw HON. F. Moores (Premier) not necessarily by the pulp and paper companies but by people who are using them to sell off in a brokerage capacity and these, ~~r. Speaker, are the rights of our people. The resources of this Province are our heritage and our peovle are the o,;.mers of the heritage that they have inherited, Sir. They must have realistic conces:,;ions. He must have concessions that will be developed, concessions that will be IT1anar-ed. We, Sir, plan to assist not hinder the nnln c1t1cl paper comnanies that exist in this Province.

They have made a bj g­ contribution in the past, they will I am sure, make a hig contribution in tj1e future. Rep,ardinp, mining, Sir, we will carry on with a minin? nrograrnme that once again has been started but hopefully with increased exploration. We will review the concessions tl1;,t 11re presently heing held and that are presently not hPing worked becaus ,·, I and my Government do not believe that e man should o~m hundreds or thousands or hundreds of thousands of sQuare miles of land saying; 'I will develop it when I see fit' if we can get s0Mc0nc- that can develop that property now.

He want to develop this propertv , in this 'Province and all of it and,Sir, this wilL ,be a view of our Government as well. This is why this sort of reasoninp. is why we put in the close--down clause in the Speech from the Throne. We c1o not want another Gullbrdige where we find out about :i.t in the mornine that in the afternoon they are going to be laid off. The people of Brinex and Whalesback gave reasonable tme in advising the Government of their close-dm-m and this is the way it has to he. We cannot have irresponsible corporate citizens any· more than we can have irresponsible citizens of any kind, Sir.

The basic resource development programme,Sir, is to assist the small businessman in this Province, to change the priorities from bip. industries to the developMent of our small industries. There are people who will disagree with that but we believe and we believe very deeply that our econoroic base must be b~oadened, "'hereby marwrnen, many Newfoundland entrepreneurs are given the opportunity to develop, whether it be in the 42

¥arch 2 , 1972, Tape 11. Page 2 -- auh lumber woods, whether it be in the fishery, whether it be in agriculture or wherever else, hut many small husinessrnen piven the opportunity to develop in tlie manner that they deserve. I1unicipal C:overnments in this Province ~ill be encouraged, they will be given more autonomy and they will be !!iven cooperation by this r,overmnent:. Low··cost housinp.: is of great concern and it is of great expense. It is something that will have to be looked at closely with an objective of doinl?. what finances allow.

We have an increasing demand at all times for housing and it is a priority of this Government. In the area of health, we will as has been said progress in all haste with the hospitals at Corner Brook, TwHlinpate and Carhonear. After a very few years, }-fr. Speaker, with the addition of the hosnitals that were mentioned in the gracious Sneech from the Throne, the acute bed hospital situation will be over in Newfoundland for many, many years to come. Fegional hospitals will h;we been established and I think then we will have seen the end of the necessity of regional hospitals to any great derree.

Hhat we will have to do is have regional cJinics with comprehensive facilities located throughout the Island, ~omprehensive with a nlanned cipproach to hospitals and to medical care. But, Sir, in this vital area of service it is essential that we have planninfr and that we have hospital care or health care I should say for all our people.

In the area of Social Assistance and Rehabilitation, we will be taking a new anproach to this department because we believe, Sir, that anyone who cannot earn, anyone who is incapacitatecl, l1an.d;tcapped err unahle to mal~e a livinp should live in decency and dignity and this can only be done by an increase in their present allowance. Also, a person who can earn, an able-bodied man must have the opportunity, the opportunity to contribute to his pride and to his Province. Sir, we feel that it is very important tha.t opportunities be provided so that these people can have the opportunity of contributinf!,.

I notj_ced when the seven per cent sales tax came off yesterday, or at least announced for the 15th. of March, the hon. Leader of the Opposition 43

'·'ar ch 1, 1972,.Tape 11, Page 3 -- apb mentioned that this would help only the rich. I would like to advise the gentleman nm,,, that there are families all around this I sland, low income families, people who must have clothes, large families that very much, Sir, realize the cost of that p.1.rticular item. }'R. ROBERTS· What I said was , ft would help the rich as well as the poor. Hp • HO()P..ES: .... _ .. __ _ It should only go in your mouth. 'fl< .• A.J .~'IJRl'HY: (Inaudible) 'fR. 1rnoRES ; The gentleman asked arout footwear, that would be appropriate more than anything else. }'ost important, r1r.

Speaker, we need a dynamic programme of rural de.velopment. We need to assist in everv way possible the development associations that can be created around this Province. Development Associations are the key to the future development of our Province. Resettlement should he only encouraged when peonle that resettle are going to he better off than they were in the place they left. It is much better to take opportunities to people rather than move peonle to a land of no ooportunity but social assistance.

The increase i.n l'linimurn wages and equal pay for eaual work for females and males is lonp. overdue and is only a start I am sure of the society we enter into irrespective of government. We are taking a total review of labour legislation that will be prepared after consultation w:I. th labour leaders, management, with concerned people and with Government officials at which time fair and anpropriate lerislation will be introduced. We have lowered the voting age, Mr. Speaker, to eighteen,because the eighteen year old today is more progressive, the youth of today are nore progressive and they are better educated.

But much more important, the youth of today is the future of our Province. We have heard a lot about youth and recreation, youth and sports, but there is a great deal more than ;ust soorts if we nre p:oin r to involve our youth. They must be involved in society, they must be involved in what direction this society will take, they must r-e involved in the development of our culture. In other words, }fr. !=:neaker, they must r-e involved in the develor,ment of this Province. 44

~1arch 4, 197 2, Tape 11, Page 4 -- apb The Drogramme of action we have introduced is only the beginning, It will take planning and I cannot stress this enou~h, hard, maybe unpopular planninp.-. We roust face reality as a people, we roust face the truth and we must be honest B.s to where we are as a Province and where we are goin!!' to go and how we .45

March 1, 1972 Tape no. 12 Page 1 - MRW Mr. Moores. are going to get there, That is what we must accept not partisan politics. We have a bright future. We are reviewing the projects that are being carried on now. Yes, we are put only to ascertain the facts of exactly where our obligations are. Our first priority of the Government will be the future of this Province and not the past, Mr. Speaker. We are today in danger of a sociological problem in this Province not an economic one. It will take all the efforts of all concemed and people who care to create the opportunities that must be created. Mr.

Speaker, that will be created because we. are a proud people and we will do it. But we must operate as a Government in stability which means stable representation by all the people, by the representatives of the people particularly. Since October 28,anJ the general election, we have not seen stability. We have seen resignations. We have seen crossings of the floor on principle, on programmes. The programmes were not announced but that did not stop us from whipping across the floor mind you. We have seen fellows going backwards and forwards like yo-yo's. AN HON, MEMBER; (Inaudible) MR. MOORES That is right.

You ended up with the yo-yo's. Mr. Speaker, it is unreal but factual, What assurance do we really have that there will be stability? There have been announcements of non-confidence over the past few weeks plus the habit of past performances. Mr. Speaker, we must have co-operation which is unlikely but which we hope for. Stability,there must be! The Province and the people of this Province as well are at staL-e. Mr, Speaker whatever is required in the best interests of the people of this Province is what Her Majesty's Government will do, Thank you, MR.

SPEAKER: It has been moved and seconded that the Address in Reply be presented to His Honour the Lieutenant Governor in reply to the gracious speech with which he has been pleased to open the present session of the Legislature and that a Select C011111tittee be appointed to draft such Address in Reply. All those in favour ,"aye," Contrary "nay." Carried. 46

March 1, 1972. Mr. Speaker. The said committee will consist of the hon. member for Port au Port, the hon. member for Ferryland and the hon. member for Placentia West. HON. T.A.HICKMAN (Minister of Justice): Hr. Speaker, I give notice that I will on tomorrow ask leave to introduce the following Bills; A Bill, "An Act Respecting The Organization, Operation, Function, Powers, Duties, Rights And Privileges Of The St.

John's Fire Department.' A Bill, "An Act To Amend The Prisioners' Act, 1969." A Bill, ''An Act Further To Amend The Evidence Act. ' A h1..i.l, "An Act To Incorporate The Newfoundland Family Guidance Association.' HON. J.C.CROSBIE (Minister of Finance): Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will on tomorrow as leave to introduce the following Bill: '"An Act To Amend The Statute Law.' HON. G. OTTE1'n-IEIMER n finister without Portfolio): Mr . Speaker, I give notice that I shall on tomorrow ask leave to introduce the following Bill: "An Act Respecting The Department Of Inter-Governmental Affairs." HON.

W, MARSHALL (Ninister without Portfolio: Hr. Speaker, I give notice that I will on tomorrow ask leave to introduce the following Bill: "An Act Respecting The Application And Effect Of Certain Acts Passed In The s Present Session Of The Legislature Upon Revised Statutes Of Newfoundland, 1970. •· HON. A.J. MURPHY (Minister of Provincial Affairs): Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will on tomorrow ask leave to introduce the following Bill: "An Act Respecting Unsolicited Goods And Unsolicited Credit Cards.'' HON. T. HICKEY (Minister of Social Services and Rehabilitation): Hr.

Speaker, I give notice that I will on tomorrow ask leave to introduce the following Bills : ''An Act Further To Amend The Welfare Of Children's Act., . "

An Act Further To Amend The Corrections Act, 1953." "An Act To Amend And Revise And Consolidate The Law Respecting The Welfare Of Children." ''An Act To Amend The Social Assistance Act, 1971.'' MR. SPEAKER: Hon. members of the House, distinguished guests, it is my pleasure to advise you that a reception will be held in the Sir Robert Bond Auditorium irranediately following the adjournment of this House

March 1, 1972. Hr. Speaker. Tape no. 12 this afternoon and you are all cordially i .nvited to attend. Page 3 HR. HABSHALL: Mr. Speaker, I do aove that the Bouse at ita rising do adjourn untU tomorrow Monday, March 6, 1972 at 3;00 P.H .. and that this Bouse do now ad1ourn. !tR,. SPEAKER.: This House stands adjourned unUl Monday at 3:00 P .. M. 48