Alberta Hansard — 15 May 1975, Afternoon sitting (15:00) (Legislature 18, Session 1)

19750515

Alberta — Debates (Hansard)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA Title: Thursday, May 15, 1975 3:00 p.m. [In accordance with the Royal Proclamation dated February 14, 1975, summoning the Members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta to convene on this date, the House met at 3 p.m.] SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: Order! [All stood, and the Clerk read the Royal proclamation.] CLERK: Please be seated. [The Premier, the Clerk, and the Sergeant-at-Arms left the House to attend the Lieutenant-Governor.] SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor! [The Lieutenant-Governor entered the House and took his seat upon the Throne.] HIS HONOR: Please be seated.

MR. FOSTER (Provincial Secretary): Hon. members, I am commanded by His Honor the Honorable the Lieutenant-Governor to inform you that he does not see fit to declare the causes of the summoning of the present Legislature of this province, until a Speaker of this Assembly shall have been chosen according to law. He therefore is pleased to retire from this Assembly to return at a subsequent hour today to declare the causes of the calling of this Legislature. SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: Order! [The Lieutenant-Governor withdrew from the House.] head: ELECTION OF A SPEAKER CLE RK: Please be seated.

Hon. members, nominations are invited for the office of Speaker of this Assembly. MR. MILLER: Mr. Clerk, I take pleasure in nominating Mr. Gerard Amerongen, Member for Edmonton Meadowlark, to be Speaker of this Assembly. MR. MANDEVILLE: Mr. Clerk, on behalf of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, I am pleased to support the nomination of the hon. member. CLERK: Are there any other nominations? I declare Gerard Amerongen, Member for Edmonton Meadowlark, to be Speaker of the Alberta Legislative Assembly for this 18th Legislature. [Applause] DR.

BUCK: Off with his head! [The Speaker, with apparent reluctance, was escorted to the Chair by Mr. Miller and Mr. Mandeville, and left the House. ] SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: Order, order! Mr. Speaker! [The Speaker returned to the House and took the Chair.] MR. SPEAKER: Please be seated. Hon. members, my colleagues in this, the 18th Legislative Assembly of Alberta. My constituents have, in the first place, made possible this special opportunity for service to them and to all of the province.

On behalf of my constituents and myself I thank you, hon. members, for the unique honor you have done to them and to me in choosing their member to be your Speaker, to serve in a position which is essential in our cherished system of self-government. 2 ALBERTA HANSARD May 15, 1975 I say it is an honor, and it would be such in any law-making assembly in Canada. In Alberta it is a very special distinction. The reason is that this legislative Assembly has a deserved renown for the orderliness and effectiveness of its proceedings. And yet it is in no way dull.

It is, in fact, an assembly of fascinating interest and vitality, a lively working place. This is an assembly with a history of sound traditions, and on this basis it has developed exceptional opportunities for the effectiveness of individual members and of its Speaker.

Your expression of confidence compels me to pledge my utmost in the fulfilment of your trust. [ Applause] [The Premier, the Clerk, and the Sergeant-at-Arms again left the House to attend the Lieutenant-Governor.] SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor! [The Lieutenant-Governor re-entered the House and took his place upon the Throne.] HIS HONOR: Please be seated. MR. SPEAKER: May it please Your Honor, the Legislative Assembly have elected me as their Speaker, though I am but little able to fulfil the important duties thus assigned to me.

If in the performance of those duties I should at any time fall into error, I pray that the fault may be imputed to me and not to the Assembly, whose servant I am, and who, through me, the better to enable them to discharge their duty to their Queen and province, hereby claim all their endowed rights and privileges, especially, that they may have freedom of speech in their debates, access to your person at all seasonable times, and that their proceedings may receive from you the most favorable consideration. MR. FOSTER (Provincial Secretary): Mr.

Speaker, I am commanded by His Honor the Honorable the Lieutenant-Governor to declare to you that he freely confides in the duty and attachment of this Assembly to Her Majesty's person and government, and not doubting that the proceedings will be conducted with wisdom, temperance, and prudence, he grants and upon all occasions will recognize and allow the Assembly's constitutional privileges.

I am commanded also to assure you that the Assembly shall have ready access to His Honor upon all suitable occasions, and that all proceedings, as well as your words and actions, will constantly receive from him the most favorable construction. head: SPEECH FROM THE THRONE HIS HONOR: Mr. Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly: I have the honor to welcome you to the First Session of the 18th Legislature of the Province of Alberta. The privilege of accepting the responsibility of office for a second time came to my government as a result of the Provincial General Election of March 26, 1975.

The general purpose of this First Session, including the fall sittings, will be to implement those legislative and other policy initiatives introduced during the short Fourth Session of the 17th Legislature. The significant improvements in programs for senior citizens, proposed over the past months, will be reflected in the budget.

The important Alberta assured income plan, the contemporary increase in the senior citizen renter rebate, the promising senior citizen community services program, and the comprehensive improvements in medical services for senior Albertans will all be proposed to the Legislature or implemented by policy changes. The proposals to effect a major reduction in personal income tax for our citizens and to remove many Albertans from the tax rolls entirely will be reintroduced. They will be retroactive to January 1, 1975, so Albertans can receive this benefit for the entire year.

The increases in pensions, benefits, and allowances paid under The Workers' Compensation Act will be proposed again. They will be implemented retroactive to April 1 , 1975. My government's wish to place priority emphasis on adequate shelter for Albertans will be underscored by the proposed creation of a housing and public works department. The guidelines for significant new initiatives in this area will be outlined by the minister during the coming session.

The notable achievements since 1971 in agriculture, which emphasized strengthening of the family farm, provide a solid base for continued expansion of markets and the processing of agricultural raw materials. Irrigation policy guidelines will be announced. Transportation, in all its facets, will be of even greater importance to the economic and social development of our province in the years to come, A new department of transportation bill will consolidate all related government transportation operations for the first time.

Co-ordination, long-term planning, and contemporary policy improvements will result from future initiatives by this important new department. May 15, 1975 ALBERTA HANSARD 3 The creation of a new department of energy and natural resources will ensure a balanced approach to the future development of our oil, natural gas, coal, forest, and other resource assets.

There will be renewed emphasis on three basic goals: preservation of sufficient resources for future Albertans, sale of our depleting assets at a price as close as possible to fair market value, and stimulation of the processing of raw resources in Alberta by Albertans. As well, my government will continue its efforts to encourage exploration for oil and natural gas. Legislation regarding natural gas marketing will be introduced. Albertans enjoy the highest standard of hospital and medical care in the nation.

But my government is increasingly concerned about the rapidly escalating costs of health services and their impact in the years ahead on our tax paying citizens. Accordingly, a new ministry of hospitals and medical care will be proposed. It will seek to ensure quality in health services at reasonable cost. Social initiatives announced earlier this year, and other new approaches, will be achieved within the framework of a department of social services and community health. There will be increased recognition by my government of the concerns and needs of Alberta’s Native people.

Because meaningful job opportunities will be sought by thousands of our young people upon graduation from our advanced education institutions and high schools, responsibility for the increasingly important manpower aspect of our developing province will be integrated within a restructured department of advanced education and manpower. My government will initiate changes in the administration of justice following consideration of the report of the Kirby Board of Review, expected shortly. Steps to implement appropriate recommendations of the Report on Industrial Health and Safety will be taken this year.

Strengthening even further the climate for private sector initiative is a basic goal of my government. Accordingly, a department of business development and tourism will be proposed. It will seek advice from and work closely with those Albertans wanting to expand existing businesses and develop new enterprises. Orderly, efficient delivery of government services will be even further improved by a new department of government services which will provide administration under a comprehensive "umbrella" approach.

My government is sensitive to the expanding interest of citizens of all ages in recreation and relaxation in the great Alberta outdoors. Under the newly-formed department of recreation, parks and wildlife, the new multipurpose cultural and recreational facility program will proceed. New provincial parks will be established to offer improved recreational facilities to Albertans and visitors to Alberta.

Through changes in the responsibilities of the consumer and corporate affairs department, and the reintroduction of the unfair trade practices bill, Alberta's leadership in the field of consumer services will be maintained. Previously outlined improvements in basic education, services for the handicapped, and mental health research will be carried forward. There will he new approaches in environmental protection and extensions of rural gas and telephone services. Initiatives regarding matrimonial property will be announced.

Although North American and world economic indicators give cause for concern, the economy of our province has continued to remain generally strong. The proposed new Alberta corporate tax incentives for business will come into effect as soon as practicable. The second of a series of position papers on this unique plan will be presented. Plans regarding the formation of the Alberta heritage savings trust fund will be announced during the fall sittings.

My government recognizes its special responsibility to carefully consider sound advice, to seriously weigh constructive criticism, to encourage thoughtful debate regarding its policies and, above all, to listen to and be responsive to Albertans in every walk of life and in every part of the province. Members of the Legislative Assembly, in due course you will be presented with budget proposals by my government to support these priorities and legislative initiatives.

You will be asked to grant the necessary funds for the operating services and expenditures authorized by the Legislature and to endorse a program of capital financing for the Government of Alberta. I leave you now to the business of the session with full confidence that as elected representatives your debates and your votes will reflect your understanding of the public interest of all people in Alberta. I pray for your wisdom and your strength in your deliberations. SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: Order! [The Lieutenant-Governor left the House.] MR.

SPEAKER: Please be seated. 4 ALBERTA HANSARD May 15, 1975 head: INTRODUCTION O F BILLS B il l 1 The District Courts Amendment Act, 1975 MR. LOUGHEED: Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to introduce a bill, being The District Courts Amendment Act, 1975. [Leave being granted, Bill 1 was introduced and read a first time.] MR. SPEAKER: In order to prevent mistakes, I have obtained and am tabling a copy of the speech of His Honor the Honorable the Lieutenant-Governor.

Certificates of Election CLERK: Hon. members, under the provisions of The Election Act, I have received the returns of returning officers appointed to conduct an election on the 26th day of March, 1975, in the following electoral divisions, and the said returns show that the following members were duly elected. [The Clerk read the Election Returns.] head: MOTIONS MR. LOUGHEED: Mr. Speaker, I move that the speech of His Honor the Honorable the Lieutenant-Governor to this Assembly be taken into consideration tomorrow. [The motion was carried.] MR. KOZIAK: Mr.

Speaker, I move that the Votes and Proceedings of this Assembly be printed, having first been perused by Mr. Speaker, and that he do appoint the printing thereof, and that no person but such as he shall appoint do presume to print the same. [The motion was carried.] MR. HYNDMAN: Mr. Speaker, I move that the select standing committees for the present session of the Assembly be appointed for the following purposes:

(1) Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders, and Printing; ( 2 ) Public Accounts; ( 3 ) Private Bills; ( 4) Law and Regulations; ( 5 ) Public Affairs; ( 6 ) Members Services. [The motion was carried.] MR. HARLE: Mr. Speaker, I move that a special committee be appointed consisting of five members hereinafter named; the said committee to prepare and report, with all convenient speed, lists of members to act on the select standing committees ordered by this Assembly: Messrs. Appleby, Cookson, Diachuk, Speaker, Trynchy, with Mr. Trynchy as chairman. [The motion was carried.] MR. HYNDMAN: Mr.

Speaker, I move the Assembly do now adjourn until tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock. MR. SPEAKER: Having heard the motion for adjournment by the hon. Government House Leader, do you all agree? HON. MEMBERS: Agreed. MR. SPEAKER: The Assembly stands adjourned until tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock. [The House rose at 3:38 p . m . ]

Document details

Collection	Alberta — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	19750515
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	L18 S1 19750515 1500 01 han.pdf
Language	en
Format	json
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	5db2de5f33913458d9fe43a01c338c5ec43ed3e0

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