PROVINCE OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY Volume 1 Number 13 5th Session 34th. General Assembly VERBATIM REPORT TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1971 SPEAKER: THE HONOURABLE GEORGE W. CLARKE

April 13th, 1q71 The House met at 11:00 A.M. Mr. Speaker in the Chair. Tape 215 JM - 1 PETITIONS: H01'!..:.......!!~~- ROWF(MINISTER OF COK'-lUNITY AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT): Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to present to this hon. House a petition which I have received from the good people of Westport and Purbeck's Cove in the district of White Bay South. The text of the petition is as follows: 11We the under- signed persons who find it necessary to commute frequently and regularily over the

section of road from the Baie Verte highway to Westport and Purbeck's Cove are concerned about the inconvenience and hazard involved because of the narrow, hilly and winding nature of the road. We all agree that this vital link with Westport and Purbeck's Cove merits immediate attention and action by the authorities. It is the prayer of your petitioners that a programme of upgrading and improving be commenced in the forthcoming construction season and that this prograrrane be continued until the total length of the road is brought up to an acceptable standard for secondary roads!' The petition, Mr.

Speaker, is signed by 196 residents of those two co'lllllunities which represents by far the majority of the voters of Purbeck's Cove and Westport. So I have no hesitation whatsoever in supporting this petition. the prayer of this petition, as a matter of fact I support it wholeheartily. Ever since Bowaters pulled out of operations in the Westport and Purbeck's Cove area,some five or six years ago.the whole area has been somewhat depressed and all the workers in those two communities are forced of necessity to go elsewhere to seek employment.

So we are talking about a road which is not merely used for pleasurable purposes of driving back and forth on a Sunday afternoon, we are talking about a road which is vitally necessary for the bread and butter of the people of Westport and Purbeck's Cove. I support the oetion wholeheartily, Mr. Speaker, and I move that it be received by this hon. House and referred to the department to which it relates. 920

April 13th, 1971 Tape 215 JM - 2 HON. F.W. ROWE(MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND YOUTH): Mr. Speaker, I would like to support the prayer of that petition. The people of Purbeck's Cove are living in one of the historic communities of that great bay, White Bay,and, as the member for the district has pointed out,they have suffered reverses entirely beyond their control in recent years, I have said this here before and I would like to repeat it; that the reverses that such communities have suffered it seems to me could be avoid if the parties concerned entered into long-term planning in respect of their woods operations.

I do not think that any company big or small has the right to go into an area, this is very pertinent to this petition, Mr. Speaker, has a right to go into an area and build up a community and encourage certain standards to be adopted and encourage people to settle there and build homes and improve their homes for ten or twelve or fifteen years and then overnight pull the economic rug from under their feet and leave the community derelicS and that is what has happened with some of these communities. MR. ROWE(F.W.): Yes, the Premier reminds me, Mr.

Speaker, that other Provinces have had this problem and are trying to face up to it by Legislation. In the case of Ontario they are now stating that companies carrying on operations of this kind must give a fair degree of warning to the communities concerned. That has not been done in respect of a number of communities in Newfoundland,especially in White Bay South and White Bay North too,I might add. The people of Westport, Mr.

Speaker, and I do not say this as a matter of idle flattery, the people of Westport constitute one of the finest groups of people in this entire Province,and within Westport, of course, I include the adjoining smaller community of Purbeck's Cove ihat road that they have there_which was originally a woods road and some years ago we hAd it improved on and a portion built to link up Westport and Purbeck's Cove with the main Raie Verte hip,hway, that road is still only a woods road and there is no doubt in my mind that the economic survival of Westr,ort and -the adjoining communities depends on an improvement 921

April 13th, 1971 Tape 215 JM - 3 to communications in that area. I would like to support that petition. It gives me great pleasure both as a matter of sentiment and as a matter of practical economics to support that petition from my former constituents in White Bay South. MR. J.C. CROSBIE: Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak in support of the petition also.

What is requested in the petition is something that people have come to expect these days and should have and in view of the great plans which the Minister of Coll'allunity and Social Development has under his department,~s evidenced at the recent Development Conference,there is no reason to believe that the Government would not carry out that work this year,there being plenty of money available for all kinds of purposes including this one. In connection with the companies giving notice when they are going to cease operations in any particular area, the hon.

Minister of Education has mentioned that some Provinces have Legislation. requiring this to be done . The question that must then be asked isJwhy not this Government? If it is a good suggestion, if it is something worth doing 1 and I think it is,that companies should be required to give notice when they are going to cease operations, perhaps at least a years notice so people can get ready for it, if other Provinces have similar Legislation there is no reason why this House cannct pass similar Legislation also. The matter lies in the hands of the Government, Mr.

Speaker. 7here is no reason why we cannot pass that kind of Legislation at this session and.in view of the fact that the Minister supports it and the Premier has suggested 1; we will expect that there will be Legislation along these lines introduced at this session of the House,and we certainly hope so. HON. E.M. ROBERTS( ll~ISTER OF HEALTH) : Mr. Speaker. in speaking in support of the petition.which, of course, I do gladly , not only in the interest of my friend and colleague but also in support of the suggestion which the hon. member for St. John's West has just made.

I am not supporting his suggestion, I am suppotting his support of our thinking. We have not said anything about it publicly but, ~r. Speaker, in my own constituency, the

April 13th, 1971 Tape 215 JM - 4 MR. RORERTS: community of Main Brook,which exists solely by virtue of the fact Bowaters had an operation there, solely because of that. There is no other reason why people ever lived in Main Brook. Main Brook is now under some sort of death sent~>nce because Bowaters are trying to make up their mind whether they can operate or not this year,in that area. Now I do not want to criticize Bowaters unfairly, they are in business to make a profit they have no other reason for existence. But for some months now my colleagues and I have been looking at this.

The Province of Ontario has Legislation, it is not yet in force but it has recently been brought in or it is before their Legislature. 1,,;e have been looking at this. It is not a matter ,as Your Honour will appreciate, that we could rush into quickly. When a company has economic reason for something, you know, in the long run it must do what is economic or the company will cease to exist. However,the Government have for some time felt that we should no longer tolerate this business of companies arbitrarily, unilaterally,without notice,closing out.

My hon. friend in White Bay South has had the problem, the hon. gentleman from St. Barbe South is quite familiar with it, the member for St. Barbe North, my colleague, rrry own area of White Bay Nort~ and,as I say,I am now living with it. I was talking to Mr. Ben Pride of Bowaters yesterday about this, Mr. Speaker, and I was in Main Brook a week ago and had a big public meeting of everybody in the community and we talked ahout it. It is a problem, Mr. Speaker. It is a problem that I think will have to he dealt with in Legislation. The day has come and gone when companies can just close down.

If they must close they must close, Mr. Speaker, we must accept the reality but they must be required to give notice. I will say to Bowaters credit and I do not think Mr. Pride would mind my saying it, he has made it quite clear to me that, if Bowaters do not operate this year in Main Brook 1 they will be quite happy to make their facilities and their woods limits available to any other company that wishes to go in to start an operation and so. Of course, that is the line we are doing. We are going into . that Legislation, how far we will · go I cannot 9 '1 ') 1 .. ..,

April 13th, 1971 MR. RORERTS: Tape 215 JM - 5 say 1 as it is not something we can rush into. I cannot even say we will bring it in at this session of the House but,if not, Mr. Speaker, we will look forward to bringing it in at the next session. I am very happy to support the petition. MR. H. COLLI~S: Mr. Speaker, knowing the area which the hon. Minister has introduced the petition from,! would certainly want to give it the support of our group.

With regard to the question of the responsibilites of companies, in this case it looks like it is Bowaters, going into an area and widening the economic base and sometimes building up the hopes and the aspirations of the people, I believe the most important consideration is not an economic one altogether but we must also consider the social implications,because a great number of those people invest large sums of monies in homes and stores and what have you, they have become accustomed to a certain level of living, a certain standard of living and to have the economic base cut from under their feet certainly this imposes some very serious social problems.

Now whether we can saddle the companies with that responsibility and have them to recognize this and do something about it is debatable,but certainly the Government of today has a definite responsibility in terms of trying to correct the social ills which are caused. I would hope that the Legislation,which the Minister indicates might be coming before the House,will come in this session so that we will have a chance to have a look at it. It gives me great pleasure to support the petition. BON. W.R. CALLAHA."l'(MINISTER OF MINES, AGRICULTURE AND RESOURCES): Mr.

Speaker, if I might have a word on this matter also.in support of the petition, primarily to make reference to the matter of the insecurity associated with woods operations,particularily in respect of export.as this is really what we are talking about. This is not a new problem, Mr. Speaker, and it is not a problem that is easily dealt with,but it is a problem that we hope may at least be mitigated and perhaps largely solved for the future,throu~h the means of some things-that are under discussion and negotiation leading,

April 13th, 1971 Tape 215 .IM - 6 MR. CALLAHAN: I am confident, to the establishment of the Commercial Forest Corporation recommended by the Rosseau Royal Commission. One of the possibilities, Mr. Speaker, and the concept is not new generally but it would be quite new in terms of woods operations and particularily export woods operations, is that the Co11UI1ercial Forest Corporation could in fact become the sole agency for,not only as we intended, shall become, for the co-ordination and plannin3 of Co11UI1ercial Forest operations but perhaps also, Mr.

Speaker, for the export of pulpwood for so long as we export pulpwood from this Province.

As the difficulty with export pulpwood is not only with Bowaters ,who are in fact required by law to expor~ and have been for decades,to export a minimum of sn,ooo cords of wood a year,unless that requirement be waived in particular circumstances, Jut it not only is a problem with Bowaters,it is a larger problem, I suggest, with large numbers of small contractors and smaller operators other than the major paper companies,who,when the price of pulpwood on the world market becomes ~uite high,are very anxious to have operations and,when the price falls,are quite anxious to get out of operations.

So this is the kind of problem, a much broader problem than simply Bowaters in this case, Mr. Speaker. It is the problem of finding,so long as we are exporting and going to export pulpwood, the problem of finding long-term markets and the problem of economic price and economic operation and the problem of the co-ordination of the entire export operation so that there will be stability in it.

As I have said,one possibility is that the Commercial Forest Corporation ,almost in the same manner as the Canadian Salt Fish Corporation,could become the sole agents for not only the planning and the co-ordination and for overseeing operations but also for the export, for finding the markets and planning,so far as it is possible to plan~the long-term markets for the export of pulpwood from this Province, ~gain I add.advisedly, so long as we do, in fact, export pulpwood from this Province .,because the economic advantage is far, far greater to our economy if we can turn this export wood around and use it in our own manufacturing operations in the Province. •

April 13th, 1971 Tape 215 JM - 7 MR. CALLAHA,.~ : I want to assure the House, Mr. Speaker. that the point has not been lost sight of and indeed is very much on our minds and is very much within our thinking 1as we move at this moment towards the establishment of the Commercial Forest Corporation, to be responsible in the future for a11'· commercial forest operations,including the export of wood>in order to have some stability in that ·industry in respect of the particular problem that was raised here ~his 1110rning. 9~6

April 13th •• 1971 Tape no. 216 Page 1 (MW) MR. SPEAKER: On motion petition received. HON. S. A. NEARY (Minister of Social Services and Rehabilitation): Mr. Speaker. I have the honour to present a petition on behalf of 457 brave and noble citizens of Trinity, Centreville, Wareham and Indian Bay, in that great district of Bonavista North. The prayer of the petition is that they urgently request the Department of Welfare to give serious consideration to stationing a full-time welfare officer in this area.

At present, people are receiving the services of a welfare officer from Wesleyville who spends from one to two days per week in the area, The prayer of the petition goes on, Mr. Speaker, to state that we are not finding fault with the work of the officer but we are convinced that it is beyond the ability of one man to give us the needed services in one to two days per week. I may point out, Mr.

Speaker, for the information of hon. members on both sides of the House~that it has been recommended by the district superviser for that area and his recommendation is presently under consideration, that the suboffice be transferred from Trinity to Centreville. This town is more central to the area and would mean that clients would not have to travel as far as they do at present. Furthermore, Mr. Speaker. I may point out that the case load for that area has been reduced considerably.

This has been estimated by the supervise~ to be cut in half, because of the ~f setting up, by my hon. colleague,the Minister of Health,,a clinic at Centreville. This means a reduction in the number of transportation orders, written for clients,to visit medical services. Heretofore, Mr. Speaker. these clients were requesting transportation to Gander. We wiil be keeping a very close watch on the situation and in the near future, when the House closes, Mr. Speaker, I hope to visit the area myself to , see if the prayer of the petition is warranted.

In the meantime, as I indicated, we will be keeping a close watch on it. I would like to place the petition on the table of the House and have it referred to the department to which it relates. And I note, Mr. Speaker, that the member for the district is not in the House. Perhaps, the leader of the reform group would like to support the petition. 9~7

April 13th., 1971 · Tape no. 216 Page 2 MR. BARBOUR. Being a native son of Bonavista North anion many occasions visiting Centreville and Indian Bay, I may say that I know the people personally. In factJ know them by name, like they know me. I would certainly be very remiss in my duty, as a member for Bonavista Bay, because Bonavista South is in Bonavista Bay and I,being a native of Bonavista Bay, I would indeed be failing in my duty if I did not rise to support the prayer of the petition. I whole-heartedly support it. MR. J. C. CROSBIE: Mr.

Speaker, I warmly endorse the prayer of the petition and hope that the minister will not only consider the matters raised by the good people of Centreville, in that part of Bonavista North, not only consider it, but do something about it. It is very comforting and heartening to know that,when the House adjourns,the minister will take a trip to Bonavista North. Perhaps, he plans to move from the district of Bell Island to some other district. He will take a visit there. That does not reassure the House that there is going to be any action on this request.

So, we trust that the petition,which the minister has presented, and by presenting it, he has endorsed it, will result in some action from the minister and not just his consideration. MR. H. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, in rising to support the petition, I think we might draw a parallel on what the hon. Miniser of Community and Social Development was talking about just now in terms of his district. Indian Bay and that area, as you know, was a

section of Bonavista Bay where Bowaters were very active in cutting wood for pulp and paper and also wood for export. That operation has closed down. I would suspect this is a contributing factor to the great number of welfare cases,which the Minister of Social Services and Rehabilitation was mentioning in that particular area. It is a crying shame, Mr.

Speaker, when one visits that area of Bonavista Bay and talks with the Rodgers, the CaptaimRodgers, the CaptaimD~vis and the Cuttlers and others who were well-known Labrador fishing skippers.who possi&ly killed more fish than any other Newfoundland skippers around the coast. Those people were residents of the islands in Bonavista Bay; Fair Island, 928

April 13th., 1971 Tape no. 216 Page 3 Mr. Collins. Flat Island, Gooseberry Island and so on and so forth. They moved to Centreville and Hare Bay and different places and now, of course, find that their means of finding a livlihood or obtaining a livlihood have disappeared. Certainly, this is another area for the Minister of Health to keep in mind, when he talks about legislation to try and copy with and alleviate the serious problems which those people face. It is a shame that we have so many wi.fare people, welfare recipients there that we have to improve the service for them.

I think we should be thinking in terms of trying to remove the cause for this particular type of service. Certainly, sir, it gives me pleasure,in the meantime,to support the prayer of the petition. On motion petition received. HObT. F. W. ROWE (Minister of Education): Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to present a petition from the town of Millertown in the district of Grand Falls. This petition asks · for the establishment of a sewer system and of a sewer treatment plant, sewage treatment plant,in that community.

I support this petition,not only because it is a valuable and important part of the district of Grand Falls, but I would support it in any case. Any person who has ever been to the Town of Millertown cannot fail to be impressed by the quality of the people there, to be filled with admiration over the way that community has conducted itself and the interest, as well, in the historic background of it.

It is one of the two communities in Newfoundland named after the greatest logging entrepreneur in our history, Louis Miller, a Scotchman who came here in the year of 1899 and established the largest, still the largest - I mean no logging enterprise has ever been so large, no lumbering enterprise in our history as that established by Louis Miller. An enterprise, incidentally, which lead to the building of two branch railways. I do not think that could be said of any other enterprise.

The branch railway to Lewisporte was built in order to facilitate the operation of the Miller Enterprise and the branch railway to Millertown szg

April 13th., 1971 Tape no. 216 Page 4 Hr. Rowe (F.W.) itself. Hillertown was a town established by Miller, unlike Lewisport~, although Levisporte is named after Miller, but it was not established by him. Be was thirty years old, when he came there. But Millertown owes its origin to Miller. It is the nearest approach, Mr. Speaker, to being the exact geographical centre of Newfoundland,that any town can be, It is not in the exact centre, but it is only a few miles from the exact geographical centre of the Island of Newfotmdland. It is on a road, incidentally, which serves the great Bay d'Espoir enterprise.

It is also on the road whl:h we hope will join up or expected to join up with the south coast at Burgeo. It is one of the few co11DDW1ities in Newfoundland which has,for all practical purposes, never had any able~bodied relief. The people there are loggers, logging contractors and~in recent years, 1110re and more, they have become tourist entrepreneurs. Quite a number caterers of our well-known tourist guides and camp operators are domiciled in the Town of Millertown. Anyone who has been there must be impressed by the loveliness of the co11DDunity itself.

It is at the upper end of Red Indian Lake, almost at the exact mouth of the Exp_lo1t's River, not the mouth but the source of the Exploit's'River. Its position is extremely important. It is what the old geographies would call a. "nodal point." It is there at the end of the great lake, the great Red Indian Lake. It is at the beginning of the river. It is al1110st in the heart of Newfoundland. The people have always enjoyed relatively high standards. It has never had more than a two .or three room school there, because of its size. It is not a big community. There are only 500 or 600 souls altogether.

But it has had high educational standards,and the number of professional people who have come from Millertown, teachers, clergymen and professional people in Government service, enginaers and the like, the number is amazing. It compares favourably with a number of small communities that have distinguished themselves in that regard; communities like Mortan's Harbour, Notre Dame Bay, and King's Cove in Bonavista Bay and so on. So, I have very great pleasure, Mr. Speaker, in supporting this petition for an improvement in the - they do have a water system there. They O"'O ~ .,,

April 13th., 1971 Tape no. 216 Page 5 Mr. Rowe (F.W.): have a paved road connectbn, The road through the town is paved. They have electricity. They have lovely homes there. They are a hard working and independent people. This request for assistance in providing a sewer system - many of thq,,of course, do have private sewer arrangements there now, but it is typical of the people of llillertown that they are not satisfied with that kind of a system.

It is typical of them also that,in asking for a sewer system, a new sewer system, they are also asking for a sewerage treatment plant, That is indicative of their approach to life here in NewfoW1dland. I have great pleasure in supporting this petition, signed by some 130 residents of this lovely town of Millertown. MR. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, I must agree with the hon. minister, when he says that Millertown has laid claim to a lot of the history of Newfoundland, particularly with regard to the logging industry.

I do not know how many hon. members have visited Millertown, but I can assure them that it is one of the loveliess places in Newfoundland,situated on the north side of Red Indian Lake. There are some very fine people, mainly, people from the coast, people where I came from. Certainly, their request, Mr. Speaker is a just one. MR. SPEAKER: Carried, MR. COLLINS: Closure again this morning?

When the minister says that the people are looking for a sewer system and they are also looking for a sewer treatment plant, certainly, a lot can be said for that; because those of us who have been listening,this last two or three years,to the maq,problems which are evident on the Red Indian Lake and the Exploit's River,for that matter, certainly must realize that the day has come,whenever we consider sewer disposal for a co11m1unity1 we must also consider sewer treatment. We all know that this is an expensive process but.nevertheless, Mr.

Speaker,it is a process which we must consider when we think about dumping sewers into some of the better lakes and streams of the Province. Certainly, sir, it gives me great pleasure to support the people . 931

-.. : April 2nd., 1971 Tape no •• 216 Page 6 Mr. Collins. of Millertown in their fight for something which, in my estimation, has been long overdue. I trust that this yearTwith all of the water and sewer systems which are to be dished out by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Minister of Community and Social Development, that certainly Millertown will receive their share of it. MR. CROSBIE: Mr. Speaker, I would like to support the petition also. The previous two speaks have elaborated on the beauties of the Millertown area and that is doubtless true.

But I . particularly want to support this petition because the problem of sewerage disposal, in many of the medium and smaller size communities, is a terrific one and one that requires a lot of money to overcome. We were pleased,last year, when the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing announced a vast water and sewerage programme. Some of that has not been started yet. But there are promises that there will be an elaborate water and sewerage programme this year.

The minister's announcement last year reminded one of the old song that: "They Are Moving Father's Grave To Build A Sewer." They are moving it regardless of expense. But any expense in that direction, is money well spent. The minister mentioned that the people of Millertown wanted·a ewerage treatment plant. That i ·s very necessary th,roughout Newfoundland, It is necessary , not only in new installation such as at Millertown, but very, very necessary for cities such as the City of St. John's. 9 1) •) ., ,.,

April 13, 1971 Tape 217 Pk - 1 MR. CROSBIE: I believe the City hopes.under the DREE programme,that some money will be available for a sewerage treatment plant, so th~~ raw sewerage will no longer be dumped into the harbour of the City of St. John's. This is very necessary, not only where it is being dumped in the sea water, but even more so, where the sewerage is dumped into rivers and lakes.

And I hope that the minister,if he has any elaboration_ this year of his water and sewerage progratlDlle,will be able to come up with something that is going to ensure the sewerage treatment plant for all of these municipal systems,where raw sewerage is now being dumped into the lakes and rivers and the seas off Newfoundland. We will not have to worry about oil pollution, Mr. Speaker, if this keeps up. There are many other forms of pollution, and this raw sewerage is one of the worst of them. I, therefore, support the prayer of the petition. On Motion petition received. MR. H. R. Y. EARLE: Mr.

Speaker, I beg leave to present a petition from the residents of Frenchman's Cove, in Fortune Bay. The prayer of this petition is that the airstrip at that place be upgraded, rebuilt and paved. The residents directed a petition to me,knowing full well that airstrips and airports normally come under the Federal jurisdiction and are under the control of the Minister of Transport. But, on many occasions in the past,these self.same residents have appealed to the Minister of Transport, to have this facility improved and upgraded,without result. And, further­ more, Mr.

Speaker, they have heard,through various press announcements and announcements at - the Development Conference and on other occasions notably in election manifestoes,that - airports and airstrips are going to be created and built in all sections of the country. Now Frenchman's Cove is a natural for this type of an installation, as a matter of fact, the reason the present airstrip is there, is that there is a very lenghtly level beach which only had to be bulldozed off and created,with very little expense,some years ago, a quite good 933

April 13, 1971 Tape 217 Pk - 2 MP . EARLE: airstrip. Its main draw-back,that it does not have a crossed leg, so that planes can land in all winds and all weathers. But, many years ago the Government purchased or acquired land in that area, so that a crossed leg could be built,and there is a large

section of land which would enable the airport to be equipped with this second nm.away. The residents themselves having heard of the programme of further airstrips and so on, notably there is to be another one,so we are told_ on the Burin Peninsula.

They have no objection to other areas of the Peninsula getting the services of an airstrip, but they do feel, having in a sense three-quarters of properly constructed airstrip in that vicinity,that they are entitled to having this properly upgraded and finished before the Government goes to the expense of creating and building another airstrips, in virtually the same area.

They go on to say.in there letter accompanying this petition, that while the airstrip has been there for many years and it is used quite frequently, the only time that it is even graded or bulldozed or cared for in any way is when the Premier or some Government minister pays one of his infrequent visit to the area, and the thing is then reconditioned so that the plane can land. I was there in December,in that area at Garnish,school closing and the hon. the Premier came in,quite late at night,and landed on that airstrip,in the dark,and took off after dark by the means of car headli~hts.

Now none of us would like to see, or personally I would not like to see the Premier take such terrific risks as he did that evening.in taking off from that particular airstrip. In fact, they had no lighting whatever, and could only use car headlamps and so on to enable him to get hack and forth. It speaks for itself, that this airstrip lacks every possible facility that any normal airstrip should have.

In additional to that, of course, three or four or five years ago, when the uarystown Shipyards were opened, the official opening on that occasion, the Premier,probably influenced by the very prais~·orthy introduction 9~4

April 13th. 1971 Tape 217 PK - 3 MR. EARLE: and lengthly introuductton which he had from the hon. the member for Placentia East 7 did go into raptures about the airstrip_and did promise that it would be paved. Now that is three or four years ago, and the people hea~ since then that other airstrips are to be constructed and one in their immediate vicinity. So they are righeously 1..ndignant and very anger indeed,that_ this natural airstrip,which has been there for some years and has been used,is not going to be attended to or not going to be up~radednor improved.

So, I think, they have a very justifiable case indeed that their airstrip 7which has served the public of that area for so long,should be brought up to standard. It is ideally located, it is halfway between town.ssuch as Burin/Marystown, Grand Bank and Fortune, and it is easily accessible by road to all of the major settlements in that area. Furthermore, we heatt(.,again at the Development ConfeEence,that the road leading from the main Burin Highroad,through Frenchman's Cove,will be paved this year. So that passes immediately on the fringes of this airport.

And the access to all the settlements will be further improved and much enhanced by the pavement of that particular road. So, thi~ in itself, would be another reason why that particular airport should be brought up to standard. It is e~sily accessible. It is easily used, and it is in a very convenient location. This can be borne out by the fact that airlines from Gander did put in a service during the past two years, and they operated fo~ some months, but had to give it up because of the lack of facilities there.

It is really the only means of transportation for the people of that great area, except for an occasional sea plane which drops down on Freshwater Pond and so on, In cases of dire emergency, where patients have to be airlifted to hospital and so on, this gives a very valuable service indeed. ~r. Speaker, I have the r,reatest pleasure and ,with all the pressure at my com~and, I recommend to the minister responsible that this particular petition by given immediate attention. 9~5

.. April 13th. 1871 Tape 217 Pk - 4 MR. SMALLWOOD: Mr. Speaker, the citizens of that part of the Province are on a good wicket. What they are asking is absolutely reasonable. And what they are askinp. is that somethinp. be done that has got to be done, and would be unforgivable, if it were not done. I have landed on that strip on a fair number of occasions, and I had been amazed by the thoughtfulness of nature in providing it and the unthoughtfulness of nature in providin~ it only in one way, and landing in a cross wind is not easy and it is not safe.

I think the runaway ought to be paved, and I think that another one ought to be built, if not exactly at right angles, certainly at a different angle _from the one that is there now. The hon. gentleman,who just sp~ke, said that I had landed at that airstrip and taken off with no more lights than that provided by the headlights of cars. That is not exactly correct.

They had a number of flares, flare pots laid along the edge of the runaway,and while they might have not given a great deal of light, they did,at any rate,give good guidance to the piLot, Captain Pearcey, who is very familiar with the airstrip,in any case. I do not think that the hon. gentleman is right when he says that airstrips are a Federal function, if by that he means that it is federal exclusively. We have in Newfoundland,built, Newfoundland Government have built 7 a number of airstrips, Ve propose,in the present year,to build a number of others and in succeeding years to build still more.

In the case of Deer Lake, we did subsequently get the Government of Canada to spend some money on the airstrips that we had put there. And, we hope, as we build airstrips, landinp strips, in Newfoundland,from time to time, the Government of Canada maybe persuaded to add something to them,by way of paving or by way of landing lights, signal lights, And even by way of wireless or wireless telephone, as aids to navigation and convenience to the public.

I very heartedly sµpport the desire of these citizens ,;!xpressed in their petition now before the House,and I hope that the matter will get the attention that it so richly deserves. 9~6

April 13th. 1971 Tape 217 Pk - 5 Y-fR. CROSBIE: Mr. Speaker, I would like to support the petition also. It is very comforting to know that the Government are going to build further airstrips in this Province,this year and in succeeding years, but here we have a case of an airstrip that is already there, where in the last four or five years at least, very little money has been spent, if any~by the Government,on it. It is just a sand beach there, a rough airstrip. The Premier has said; when he took off after dark they had to put out flare pots. There is no lighting and no other facilities down there.

So little, if nothing have been spent on the airstrip at Frenchman's Cove for the past few years. Here is a case where we already have an airstrip that needs money to spend on it, and one would not think that a petition is necessary to have that done. Now, in addition, to Frenchman's Cove, ~r. Speaker, there is an airstrip at St. Alban's or at the Head of Bay D'Espoir that, I think, was built originally by the Power Commission.

Well here you have a similar problem, this is an airstrip that is already there,at the Head of Bay D'Espoir, but the last time I attempted to land there, and that was a year and a-half ago, we were unable to land because the airstrip itself had been used by people for racing motor cars, drag-racing or having some kind of a speed race on this airstrip which has been more or less abandoned. Now, Mr. Speaker, this is something that should be prevented also. At the Head of Bay D'Espoir we have been blessed with an airfield that would take DC-3's,aircraft of that size or smaller.

Surely, it would only be wise for the Government to spend a few thousand dollars to maintain it, to employ someone as watchman at the airfield, to prevent the airfield from being spoiled by people just racing or carrying on or fooling around on the airstrip, and to keep it up and maintain its use. And, if there is going to be a policy of constructing airfields around the Province, which is certainly necessary, then to spend some money at Frenchman's Cove and Bay D'f.spoir to put in.lights, improve the service, have it graded regularly by the 9~7

April 13th. 1971 Tape 217 PK - 6 MR. CRO~BIF.: Depsrtment of Highways, equipment in these areas, and keep them up so that these facilities will be available for public use. I certainly support the prayer of the petition, as the Premier says, the construction of airfields is not exclusively Federal. Any mumicipality or any province can construct an airfield,if it wishes, as this Government did at Deer Lake and, I believe, at St. Anthony. The airstrip at St • .Anthony, in fact.probably still is, was certainly constructed by the Provincial Government. '1-'R. ROBERTS: Inaudible. ~i:R. CROSBIE· Ri~ht.

I do not know who maintains it now, probably it is still the Province. MR. ROBERTS: Inaudible. l-fR. CROSBIE: If Derrick Patey is gone with the Tories. it is not a sellout. That is just following rational good sense. The hon. the Minister is a bit disturbed by a large meeting that was held down in St. Anthony, a week or so ago. MR. ROBERTS: Inaudible. !om. SPEAKER: Order, please! MR. CROSBIE: In the meantime, ~r. Speaker, I am trying to support this airfield at Frenchman's Cove and the petition.

I hope the Government, instead of just making a promise to build airfields,will maintain and properly maintain the ones we have got. '1-'R. T.A. _HICl0t~~: Mr. Speaker, I rise to support this petition, and I should point out to hon. members,the r\lllaway at Frenchman's Cove has been there much longer than four years. I suggest it is closer to fifteen years and ,with each election there is a firm irrevocable commitment to pave the Frenchman's airport. It never comes to fruition, the minute the hallot boxes are sealed. ~rt.

Speaker, the Burin Pc~insula,~enerally, has probably suffered m~re than any other sin~le area in this Province from lack of adequate 9 :;g

April 13th. 1971 Tape 217 PK - 7 MR. HIClQ-fAN: ~transportation facilities. They are not asking for roads or airports or any other transportation facilities that they are ~~t entitled. They are simply askinp; for the means of transportation that any indust·rial area of 30,000 to 40,000 people,in 1970,feel that they are entitled to receive.

April 13th, 1971 Tape 2111 JM - 1 MR. HICKMAN: This year will .. ~t see the completion of the rebuilding and paving of the Burin Peninsula highway. Indeed this year,as during the past nine months, people moving to and frc./the Peninsula,over that road,will have to undergo hardships and torture that they have not had to face since the road was built by the Commission of Government during the years 1947 to 1949. It is almost unbelieveable the condition of that road right now.

The contractors are not living up to their obligations, ,hey are not maintaining the road in a passable condition and we had hope, we have hoped for years,that the committments made with respect to the Frenchman's Cove airport would be met, that people could move during the 60's by air off that Peninsula,with some comfort,but this has not come to fruition. One or two airlines have attempted to establish at Frenchman's Cove~nd they have found it impossible to operate a viable service.

One reason has been the lack of paving of the present runway, number two,the construction of another runway at another angle and number three .,there are no facilities at the airport itself. When7 I think . it was EPA,tried to operate a service there,there was no way you could make reservations, there was no way that a person living in Grand Bank or ~rystown or Burin or Fortune would know or could find out whether the plane was in. They spent hours sitting around there1 not in a building but sitting in their cars or standing on the runway, waiting to see if a plane -would turn up,which very often did not occur.

Now, ~fr. Speaker, there has been an indication that a second airport will be built or runway on the Burin Peninsula, That is fine,if they want to build two, three, four, five,by all means,but surely priority number one is the completion and paving of a runway in an airport that we now know can serve the people of the Peninsula and can serve it very, very adeouately, but tragically has been neglected.

The hon. the senior member for Harhour Main,when he was chairman of the Transportation Commission, strongly uried,at that tie ,th~t the French­ man ' s Cove airport he upgraded,and the standards improved.and paved without delay. _That was in 1965 .. ~r. Speaker, today we find that airport and that runway is not as serviceable as it was in 1965.

April 13th. 1971 Tape 218 J!-f - 2 MR. HICKMAN: I have g~eat pleasure in supporting the petition presented by the hon. the member for Fortune Bay and suggest to this House that it is one of the most reasonable petitions that has come before this Assembly for a long, long time. On motion, petition received. MR. CROSBIE: ~r. Speaker, I have a petition here, Your Honour. from the district of Ferrylandiwhich is not represented in the House of Assembly by a member at the moment.although there should have been a by-election there months ago.

The signers of the petition are residents of Northwest Trepassey 1 in the district of Ferryland,and I believe that the petition is signed by all those people who live in Northwest Trepassey. Mr. Speaker, the background is that the settlement of Trepassy is incorporated, was incorporated originally as a local improvement district,under the Local Government Act,and I believe it now has an elected council. The residence of Northwest Trepassey is separated and apart and quite a distance from, in fact, it is six miles from Central Trepassey.

It is an area of Trepassey that is down, if I remember rightly, below the fish plant, the Fishery Products Plant,in Trepassey, if you go past that you·are in Northwest Trepassey. Now the whole area, Mr.

Speaker, has been incorporated as a municipality 1 yet these people who live in Northwest Trepassey cannot receive, there are not any municipal services they can receive and their petition says: "We, the undersigned,being British subjects to the full age of 19 years and residents of ~orthwest Trepassey 1 hereby petition that the House of Assembly,under decree of the Lieutenant Governor-in-Council have Northwest Trepassey excluded from the boundries of the town of Trepassey." Apparently Northwest was taken into the town of Trepassey,without any consideration being given to the services it could or would receive.

Northwest~a two mile area having ten homes (you see. Mr. Speaker. this part of Trepassey covers an area of two miles and on it there are ten homes) and situated six miles from -r.entral Trepassey,is not included in the towns proposed water ann sewage system or any other proposed plans,either now or 911

April 13th, 1971 Tape 218 JM - 3 MR. CROSBIE: in the distant future. The prospect of building homes at Northwest is remote,as serviced lots are available only in the centralized area of the to~m of Trepassey,and are for sale by the ~ewfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. The petitioners 1 therefore,pray that the hon. !louse of Assembly may be pleased to accept our petition for presentation to the Lieutenant Governor-in-Council." Now, Mr. Speaker, this seems to me to be a legitimate grievance. Certainly the town of Trepassey should be incorporated, I am glad that it is incorporated.

It is quite a large town and it has the fish plant there in Trepassey, it needs water and sewage. ~he Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation have a housing project in Trepassey. If Trepassey itself is to go ahead 1 as it should, in the coming years, it has to be ' incorporated and provide municipal services. But, Mr. Speaker, here is an area six miles from the centre of Trepassey, two miles long,with ten houses on it, obviously they can never be serviced with water and sewage from the main system in Trepassey.

Obviously,the only municipal services they can possibly have might be garbage collection or it mi~ht the installation of a street light or two,and they can get that themselves anyway just by chipping together or any citizen can have a street light put up outside his home. So this is an area that cannot obtain municipal services from Trepassey bu~ by being included in Trepassey,is subject to all municipal taxes and regulations,despite the fact they cannot have the services. So this is a matter that should be referred to the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

The Lieutenant Governor-in-Council can;under the Legislatio~ amend the description of the boundries of Trepassey and exclude Northwest Trepassey,if the Govermnent feels it is proper to do so. I would.therefore,move that the petition be referred to the department to which it ·relates.which is the Department of ~unicipal Affairs and Housing~and that the Minister give it immediate and sy~pathetic consideration. On motion, petition received. 9.12

April 13th, 1971 Tape 218 J1'I - 4 RF.PORTS OF STA~DING AND SELECT COMMITTEES: MR. NEARY: Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the Weekly Day of Rest Regulations, 1971 and the Apprenticeship Consolidated Regulations. 1~71. MR. JONES: Mr. Speaker, I wish to table copies of special warrants that were issued since the closing of the last session of this House and additional copies will be available in the clerks office later on today. Also I wish to table copies of regulations made under the Insurance Premium Tax Act of 1968; regulations made under

section 42 of the Social Security Assessments Act, 1963; regulations made under

section 42 of the Gasoline Tax Act, 1962 and a proclamation made under the Alcoholic Liquors Act, 1970 known as the Alcoholic Liquors Amendment Act, 1970. I wish to table as well a report under the Loan and Guarantee Act of payments made in part and full during the fiscal year 1970-71 and this also includes, as hon. members will see, payments that were made after the report that I made in February last year while the House was still in session, there is a

summary on the back sheet. Under

section 27 of the Revenue and Audit Act,I am required to report any revolving temporary loans that have been made during the past year in order to pay off other loans. I have to advise the House that no such loans were raised since the last sitting of the House of Assembly. Under

section 45,too,of the Revenue and Audit Act,! am required to report if any expenditures have been made over the protest of the Deputy Minister and Controller. I have to confirm to this House that no payments were made and no protests were made, in other ·words no payments were made under protest. MR. MURPHY: Mr. Speaker, if I may at this time. The Minister just tabled warrants and he also added that copies would be available in the clerks office.

Now if I may at this time, Sir, there is quite a lot of consternation and dissatisfaction been aroused .not only between members the~selves but by the press,that when they go to look for these things they are not available. Would it not be possible, was it not just as easy to tahle copies .with this as have the office in there being continually hesieeed? What time will these he available? Three o'clock this afternoon, four 943

MR. MURPHY: o'clock7 It is just a simple question. MR. Jmrr.s: (Inaudible) . MR. ~RPIIY: Well, why not table them now instead of all this? MR. CALLAHA.~: Mr. Speaker, I have to table the annual report of the· · Newfoundland Farm Products Corporation 1 for the financial year ending 31st of March 1970, the Newfoundland Farm Product Corporation. There are copies available, Mr.

Speaker, and in tabling the report may I draw briefly to the attention of the House that the total product sold,in behalf of farm producers ,during that year,approximated Sl. million; 126 persons on the avera~e were employed,on a month by month basis;by the corporation, with the number of farmers still in total 250. Attached to the report is the report of the Auditor General. I also have for the House, Mr.

Speaker, the report of the Farm Development Loan Board,for the year ended 3l~t March 1970,and in tabling that report I might briefly say that,during the period 1 from its inception in the sunnner of 1963,the Board made 601 loans out of its revolving fund or S428,000., 601 loans totalling $1,378,000. Approximately $900,000. of that amount,getting up towards Sl. million, Mr. Speaker, for land development and the purchase of farm livestock. I think this has been a very valuable activity of the Division of Agriculture and Food. I table these reports with copies, Mr. Speaker. NOTICE OF MOTION: 9~4

April 13, 1971 Tape 219 page 1. HON.L.R.CURTIS(Min. of Justice): Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I .will on tomorrow ask leave to introduce the following Bills: A Bill, "An Act l'urther To Amend The Judicature Act." A Bill, "An Act To Amend The Coughlan College Incorporation Act, 1965." A Bill, "An Act Further To Amend The Women's Patriotic Trust Fund Act, 1920. " A Bill, "An Act Further To Amend The Registration of Deeds Act.'! A Bill, "An Act Further To Amend The Companies Act." A Bill, "An Act Further To Amend The Newfoundland Industrfal Development Corporation Act, 1966-67.

A Bill, "An Act To Amend The Constabulary (Pensions) Act, 1970." A Bill, "An Act To Repeal The Judgment Debts (Instalments) Act, 1962." HON.S .NEARY(Min. of Social Services & Rehab.): Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will on tomorrow ask leave to introduce the following Bills. A Bill, "An Act Further To Amend The Minimum Wage Act." A Bill, "An Act Further To Amend The Apprenticeship Act,_1962." A Bill, ~An Act To Amend The Employment (Notice of Termination) Act, 1969." A Bill, "An Act Further To Amend The Industrial Standards Act, 1963." ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS: HON. J.R.SMALLWOOD(Premier): Mr.

Speaker, on today's Order Paper, Question 414, (1) (a)Yes. (

b) No.

(2) I do not wish to make any statement on this matter at this time. Question No. 417:

(1) No. (2) & (3) they do nor arise. (

b) this therefore does not arise. (4) (

a) No. MR . CROSBIE: Mr. Speaker, in connection with plans for the proposed Carbonear Hospital, is it not a fact that the architectural firm of Campbell Horwood & Guihan were retained to do these and to do plans for a regional hospital at Carbonear, and that a certain amount of work was done by them1 There are certainly some plans for that hospital. MR.SMALLWOOD: I am sorry, I took that to mean Bay Roberas. The plans have been drawn. They have been done but they are not absolutely completed. 9~5

April 13 1971 Tape 219 page 2. MR.RICKMAN: Approved by Ottawa? MR.CROSBIE: Mr. Speaker, in connection with the latter part of the question, - MR.HICKMAN: How do you get the construction grants? MR.ROBERTS: There are no construction grants. MR.CROSBIE: Have plans for the proposed Carbonear hospital been drawn, the answer was'yes! Well now, the second part of that question, if so, are they suitable for the concept of a regional hospital? that part? Will the Premier answer MR.SMALLWOOD: That is a question I cannot answer because I do_not understand the question.

If that question were more carefully,sharply defined I might be able to answer it. HON.F.W.ROWE(Min. of Education): Mr. Speaker, I have the answers to Question 433,on the Order Paper of April 13, asked by the hon. member for Fortune Bay. Last ,year, that is during the calendar year 1970, Garnish qualified for a very small grant of a community's,$300, whether they used that on their football field I do not know. lt was for recreational purposes. In March of this present year, in the same financial year, Garnish qualified for a supplementary grant of $500, so over the twelve months period they received $800.

That $500 was for the express purpose of helping to reconstruct their football field there.

(2) We have a capital grant programme,as we have announced.for the entire Province,and,of course,Garuish has the right, as a matter of fact there is, I am informed,by the director,there is an application in from the town of Garnish . nt the present time it is under consideration among, I might say, a great many others. Question No. 442 : The answer is that of the four communities named the only one that we have received an application from is the town of Garnish. The Director informs me that applications have not come in from these other communities. 946

April 13 1971 Tape 219 page 3. RON. E. DAWE(Min. of Mun. Aff. & Housing): Mr. Speaker,,answer to Question No. 8. A preliminary survey has been authorized, and this work will commence as soon as weather conditions permit and we are of the opinion that work will begin this month or the first of next month to determine the cost of this water system. MR.MURPHY: ~r. Speaker, just a supplement, do I understand that, did the Minister say that work will begin installing the system or just to find out what it would cost? MR.DAWE: Just a survey,will begin to determine the cost. Question No 226: The answer 1 Mr.

Speaker, is that no determined formula has been arrived at, we try to use our best judgment in the amount of funds we have available and the population of each municipality and what each community probably would need,some,specific,need more than the others. We have been confronted this last two years with a more rapid growth in local Government than was anticipated. The average incorporations yearly was ten to twelve communities. But this last two years it has been just about doubled.

If I cite for example, we have such a large area to set up now/ within the next few weeks, or next week, the area of Concepti~n Bay South, ro look at a co11DDunity of that size 7 we naturally would need a larger initial grant tha~ a smaller community. We try to look at it the best way we can, based on ~he immediate need and the population, but there is no set formula that we actually use, but we try to make it as generous as possible and,-they arrange from two to five thousand dollars. MR.MURPHY: Mr.

Speaker, as the Minister states.there is no formula for providing these services - just, it is kind of a hit and miss thing - no established formula. MR.BAWf.: That is correct, Mr. Speaker, it is quite difficult to determine. How would you determine _ a formula, based on population.or we try to determine - this has been the policy of the Department for years and this is being guided by officials of the Department,who have had long experience in this. This is 91! 7

April 13 1971 Tape 219 page 4. the method we have adopted, but we have as I say no determined formula but we try to use our best judgment and I think in most cases the initial grant i's 1LS fairly distributed as possible. ORDERS OF THE DAY: MR. CROSBIE: Mr. Speaker, on Orders of the Day7 I have a question for the Hon. the Premier.

Is the Government's ~osition reported accurately when the Minister of Justice stated that it is not certain whether legislation will be available this year, where Newfoundland inshore fishermen will be given collective bargaining rights, is that position correct, or does the Government take the position that this matter will be dealt with in this session of the Hoose? MR.SMALLWOOD: ~r. Speaker, I do not know that I am required or even permitted to comment on wt'.at some newspaper has said.

The Government's policy will be made known in due course,if there is any change in what has been made known .• The policy is to bring this legislation before this House this session. Now I do not know what might happen to prevent it, maybe something might. HR.CROSBIE: Mr. Speaker, would the Minister of Justice inform the House whether a co~y of a Bill was prepared to present to the House in connection with collective bargaining .rights for-fishermen, constituting a copy of the existing Labour Relations Act,witn special application to fishermen. Does the Minister agree with Mr.

Richard Cashin that this would be a pretty sloppy way to run a Government1 Would the Minister - HR.SPEAKER: This is not a proper form of question. The idea of a question, as it has been pointed out dozens of times ,is to seek information not to givP- it or not to make speeches. A question that can be placed on the Order Paper is not in order at this particular time. MR.CROSBIE: I have a question for the hon. the Minister of Justice, and that is this Mr. Speaker. Is the Government going to table,as reQuired by 9~8

April 13 1971 Tape 219 page

Section 12, of the Industrial Development Incentives Acti968,Agreement~ntered into ,under that Act,within fifteen days of the House of Assembly opening or,at all. Under

Section A to that Act,the Agreement in connection with ~ncentives to consumers of power are to be tabled in fifteen days. ls this to be done and would the Minister infonn the House whether the Government will table any Agreements entered into in connection with the Javelin ProJect, since last year,in accordance with the Melville Pulp and Paper, Limited,Authorization of Agreement Act. There is a guarantee,the bank loan $250,000 there has been nothing tabled in connection with that. Is the Minister going to see that the law is observed and these Agreements tabled? MR.

SPEAKER: That type of question is not in order, they are insinuations. they are speeches. It is·not seeking, the question is simply not seeking information it is tendingiin my opin~on,to contain an implication of some kind. The question is not the type of question that should be asked on Orders of the Day. MR.MURPHY: Mr. Speaker, how are we to ascertain if the law is going to be C0111l)lied with or not? Is there any way we can do it in fifteen days? But on the other hand,that is another two weeks, the fifteen days are over now.

If the Government is not living up to its responsibility,let it get out and let someone else do it. MR.SPEAKER: The questions that can be placed on the Order Paperare not in order at this time. We have repeated that time and ~imP 4gain. dnP.11< lie MR.CROSBIE: Mr. Speaker, can we ask does the Minister~have available agreements, under either of those pieces of le~islation.to table? The one on the OLder Paper, the law is clear that by April 6, a week ago, on Tuesday April 6, there is supposed to tabled. MR.SPEAKER: Order please! let us not have a debate over the question or the answer to the question.

Adjourned debate on the Address in Reply.

April 13 1971. Tape 219 page 6. MR.COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, evidently there is no one on the other side of the House interested in speaking on the Address in Reply, or talking about their districts, or what have you. First of all Mr. Speaker, let me congratulate the hon. members from St. John's North and Trinity South for moving and seconding the Address in Reply. 9~0

- April 13,1971, Tape 220, Page 1 -- apb MR. COLLINS: - --- ··--- It certainly came as no surprise to us on this side, or to the press, or to the people of Newfoundland, nor might I add to the Premier himself, that both of the hon. gentlemen vied ~ith one another in their praise of the Premier and his Government. Before I go further,Mr. Speaker, I would like to make reference to the opening paragraph of the Speech, which made reference to the sudden passing of one of our friends , in the person of the hon. William J,Keough, who was the Minister of Labour and the member for st : Georges •.

I would want to associate myself,Sir, with the remarks made by other hon. members of the House in paying tribute to Mr. Keough. I always found him a man whom I could deal with and found him generally interested in the affairs of his fellow Newfoundlanders. He certainly deserves great credit for his many years of dedicated service to this Province and its people. I would like to extend my personal sympathy to his bereaved wife and his family .

Sir, before I deal with the Speech from the Throne itself, and some area~ of Provincial concern, I would want to bring to the attention of the House and the Government some of the needs and the concerns of the people of the district of Gander, and hopefully be able to detail areas where Government initiatives are necessary to provide a sound economic base and,.of course , to provide for social stability. ~I. Speaker, when one talks about a district in Newfoundland, and Gander is not too different from most of the districts.

When one attempts to contemplate or define the problems which exist in a district, we are immediately drawn to three major services, water and sewer projects, housing and street improvements I suppose would be three of the major considerations, three of the major needs. Certainly, in Gander district,which I have the honour to represent, as in practically all of the other districts in the Province, these problems are probably paramount in importantce. There was a time,Sir, when people considered water and sewer as water ·running throuRh a tap, and a toilet.whereby one could flush down the various wastes.

There was a time when this was considered a luxury,in Newfoundland. and a privile~e to be enjoyed by those who were rich or could 9~1

. April 13,1971, Tape 220, Page 2 -- apb afford such luxuries. Certainly,}tr. Speaker, this is no longer the case. All Newfoundlanders today have come to expect those services to be provided, as they certainly have a right to. Newfoundlanders now are not prepared to settle for anything less than good water and sewer systems. Water which is clean and water which is adequate in quantity and a sewer system which is adequate to perform the function which it is supposed to perform.

Government supported programmes for the extension or the installation of water and sewer systems are required in all municipalities in my district. At Botwood, I understand plans have been submitted to the Minister of Municipal Affairs. At Botwood an extension and completion of the work is necessary,to provide the facilities for the whole town. A great part of the town is now serviced but there are still too many residents who are not in a position to take advantage of it. In other words, the service is not brought to their lots.

At Bishops Falls, the system must also be extended to areas of the town which are not yet serviced. The water system for this community,which has been a matter of public concern for the past two or three years,has finally gotten off the rails as it were. Tenders have been let,and ,hopefully , the new water supply to correct the very unpleasant and very nasty and very unsatisfactory situation which was experienced by those people, hopefully this programme will be completed this year.

I would say,Sir, that the people of Bishops Falls should be commended for the patient manner in which they tolerated the very detestable condition of their domestic water, while they waited for this Government to act in an effort to remedy the situation. I do not want to dwell on that • . lt is in the past now, but , as I said, I would hope that the minister will see to it that work on the second and third phase of that particular project will be getting under way, and hopefully,by late summer or the fall, the new water supply will be provided. Mr.

Speaker, the decision to install that supply was in rr.y opinion toqlonr . As I said, the people did suffer for two years. In fact, the water was not fit to wash clothes in much less cook in or drink. I must again appeal to the minister to insure that that supply is ready just as soon as 9~2

April 13, 1971, Tape 220, Page 3 -- apb possible. A water and sewer system is also required at ~orthern Arm, and the existing supply at Peterview must be extended towards Wigwam Point to accommodate or to service another twenty-five or thirty families who are without water now. Very often we find that, they have to depend on wells and ditches. From information,which I have received from the Department of Health inspectors, there is a very good chance that there could very well be a real health hazard there in the summer months.

Certainly I would want the minister to look into this and see what can be done in providing those people with water and sewer. Actually Mr. Speaker, there is not too much work involved here, because the system extends throughout the length of Peterview,with the exception of twenty-five or thirty families who live on the far end. Certainly, there is a great need there. Glenwood and Appleton must also be further serviced. In the c~s~ . of Glenwood an extension to present facilities is needed.

In Appleton, I discussed it yesterday with officials of the Department of ~•unicipal Affairs, and in Appleton a water and sewer system is certainly required,because that town, a very beautiful little town on the southside of Gander River, is growing in leaps and bounds, especially in the last couple of years. While the building lots are of a pretty large size, the soil does not permit the successful use of septic tanks and wells. Certainly there is a need there for a water nad sewer system. Mr.

Speaker, one of the basic rights of people,! suppose, is the right to a decent shelter, and certainly a man's dignity,! suppose,is related to the kind of shelter which he can provide for his family. We have heard a lot of Government plans during the past few years~ subsidized housing and shell housing. We have it again this years,in the Speech from the Throne. But Sir. the time has come when the Government must stop toying around with this very serious problem and begin taking realistic action, based on the actual need, and certainly,l-lr. Speaker, there is no doubt about the need. 953

April 13, 1971, Tape 220, Page 4 -- apb Last year,for instance, thrity-two subsidized units were erected in the town of Gander. While there were prospects there of applicants, there were over a hundred applicants there for those units. With thirty-two provided,of course, this means that there were sixty-two people who were forced to go without housing. Many of those people are living in basement apartments and other types of substandard housing. I would hope that the minister would take this into account.

While he has made some moves to improve the situation, I think there is another eighteen under construction now, there is certainly a great need for further units, both of the subsidized nature and of the shell type. As I said, Sir, the applications that were received indicate that a number of people, not only in Gander, but I would say just about through all of my district, and I suspect many other districts in Newfoundland, the number of applications received is indicative of the number of people seeking improved housing.

There are also many people in Gander and many people in other towns, I supposeJwho are desirous of owning their own home. Without some special arrangements, certainly better arrangements than ·., we have now, they might never reach that happy point in their lives. We all know the very high cost of land. I do not know what the minister has in mind for this, but certainly the cost,"of serviced lots in Newfoundland have sky-rocketed down through the years. I have always been amazed,Mr.

Speaker, in the town where I live,where Central Mortgage and Housing are responsible for developing building lots, they moved in there, they paid nothing for the land, it was God's land. They developed it and are selling it,at a rate of $5 thousand and $6 thousand dollars. I suppose the contractors are justified in charging those amounts for servicing land, but when we think of $5 thousand and $6 thousand for a plo~ this certainly prohibits any of the people now seeking housing, it prohibits them from ever getting started, because they just do not have the finances to do this.

I would hope that the minister is looking into the situation and that he can come up with sooe system of leasing land,which would make it possible for people to take up a ninety-nine year lease,and monies which they normally would, or which they would now have to put into land,they might be 9~4

able to put into basements and the house structure. Similarly at Botwood the need for extra housing is fairly intense. The Town of Botwood was designated as a growth centre two or three years ago. There are people relocating there from the outlying areas because, of the better schools, churches and streets. and other facilities which the municipality has to offer. Of course, this has resulted in inflating the need for housing and today it is one of the towns major requirements. Subsidized and shell housing I would suggest is what is needed there.

In Bishops Falls the minister well knows that there is a serious housing crisis. This year the municipality were successful in convincing the minister that this was so, and I believe it is twenty units which are under construction or are about to be constructed. Some of them are of the subsidized variety and some are of the shell type. Sir, this falls far short of the urgent demand and further action is necessary if we are to avert a very critical situation.

In Peterview the approach to solving the housing problem has to be _ a totally conserted effort in my opion, to rectify the existing situation and to provide healthy conditions for the future growth. The Government Departments I am thinking about the Department of Health and the Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and the various agencies which those departments control. Those people are going to have to be more concerned and give fuller attention to the housing and the other social needs of this community if we are to avert a real tragedy.

I have taken this matter up with some of the ministers involved, who are concerned, and hopefully something will be done to improve the lot of the people who live in this particular town. The requirements at Glenwood and Appleton are centered primarily in the field of providing serviced building lots so the growth of those communities can be pennitted to continue. 955

April 13th., 1971 Tape no, 221 Page 1 MR. COLLINS. Last year, sir, many of the areas of Newfoundland, including the district of Gander, were designated for assistance under. what is know knows as the DREE Programme. As a result of that decision, of that announcement, of that approach. Provincial expenditures were curtailed, I suppose there was an argument to be made for that in that,if funds could be made avafl.able from Ottawa, Provincial funds could be diverted to other areas outside the special DREE areas.

At any rate, sir, Provincial expenditures were curtailed and the effect of this was transmitted right down, of course, to the municipal level 1with a provision and repair of services which were reduced accordingly. While there is now a good possibility that funds will be available for water and sewer programmes, if we can believe what Mr, Marchand tells us .and what our own Minister of CoDIIIUDity and Social Development tell us, while it looks as if funds will be available, evidentially these are priority items, Of course,it is thoroughly needed.

But there would seem to be some doubt,on the part of the DREE people and ·possibly of the Provincial Department,that monies might not be available for the programme of upgrading and paving of streets in the municipalities.

Mr, Speaker, this is a most important service in many of the municipalities across Newfoundland, especially. some of the larger ones, Gander, Bishop's Falls are not different from others, We found that during the past two years, because the Government decided to drop its fifty/fifty cost-sharing street construction and upgrading and paving,a couple of years, very little work has been done on streets in municipalities. Then, of course, the town councils were led to believe that all their problems would be solved with the introduction of the DREE Programme.

They have waited for that and they find now that there is very little hope of getting assistance from OREE for those purposes. Many of the municipalities, sir, are in a real quandry, lndeed, I understand that delegations will be coming to St. John's and meeting with the Minister of Municipal Afilirs and Housing,and they ha,ebeen impressing 9~6

April 13th., 1971 · Tape no.221 Page 2 Mr. Collins. upon him the need for a new approach or certainly an approach to the very serious problem, on whether it is a fifty/fifty cost-sharing or whatever the arrangements might be. Certainly, the minister is going to have to introduce some measures to provide assistance for municipalites, such as Gander and others who now are faced with a great street upgrading programme. The tax base of the communities does not permit the community to do it own their own.

I hope that the minister will come up, indeed he is going to have to come up,with something to assist those people in those towns,in these very important projects. Sir, I have said before in this House and I have said it on nl.Dllerous occasions outside that Gander,being an airport town, the economy is tied, not mainly, but certainly to a great extent, its economy is tied to air travel : and continued use of the airport facilities. Indeed, sir, I would say that the town possibily owes its existence to trans-Atlantic flight and to the airports.

Because it is different from most areas.whereby we find that an airport follows be town, in this particular case, the town grew, It was started and grew as a result of the international airport. Both the Federal Government, the Federal Government main-J,y, but the Provincial Government to some extent,spent aonsiderable amounts of money in the development of the ai~port and the town. Of course, business and individuals also invested vast amounts of money in terms of housing, churches and schools and business establishments.

Because of this, we feel that the Government, both Federal and Provincial, have a very real responsibili'ty in ensuring the economic growth of the town is continued. As I indicated, sir, the air travel is possibly - well it might not be at the core of the economy, certainly it is a very important cog and one cannot think, of course,today. about Gander, without thin~ing of the great contribution which is being made to the town's economy by Eastern Provincial Airways. I believe that hon members, 957

~ril 13th., 1971 Tape no. 221 Page 3 Mr. Collins. who have had the occasion to travel with this airline,will agree that E. P.A. are doing an excellent job. They are widely recognized and indeed,if things continue as they are now, the future certain\r looks bright for them. Eastern Provincial Airways could possibly become one of the largest, if not the largest, regional carrier in Canada. Certainly, this give us all a lot of pride,in realising that this airline, which was once a bush line, has now marched into the jet field. And as I said, sir, it is doing a tremendous jot and a real credit to Newfoundland.

But, Mr. Speaker, there would appear to be some forces at work,in another of the major national airlines using Gander .U.rport,that would,if it were successful, ultimately weaken the economic stability of the town. I am referring, of course, to the conserted effort to have Air Canada's Trans-Atlantic flights land at St. John's and not is at Gander. Now, this sir,as in ,other matters,/the characteristic, nature, I suppose, of people everywhere. St. John's might or might not be different. But the characteristic nature of people, we will say the characteristic nature of St.

John's in this particular case, is to want everything in St. John's and let the rest of the Island furrage for themselves. But, sir, we must not forget that three-quarters of the population of this Province live outside the Avalon Peninsula and certa:fdy they have a right to services which are provided in Gander by Air Canada,through their Trans-Altantic flights. We cannot see why people, from Corner Brook and Grand Falls and St. Anthony and Twillingate and Clarenville and other areas of Neufoundland,should be forced to come to St. John's, when the service alreadv exists in Gander.

Certainly, sir, the transferral of this business to St. John's would have an obvious and serious detremental effect on Gander. The people 1 in that town and the people in other areas of Newfoundland 1are not going to stand idly by and see this service go unchallenged. I know that the municipal authorities and other civic groups have already solicited and indeed have obtained the 9~8

April 13th., 1971 Tape no. 221 Page 4 Mr. Collins. support of areas as far west as Stephenville and as far east as . Clarenville, in their efforts to have the Air Canada flightsmairmined through Gander. It seems to me, sir, that a rescheduling, possibly, of feeder flights from St. John's to Gander so as to ,avoid lengthy delays and connections for Trans-Atlantic flights out of Gander, ~ght be a more reasonable solution than transferring the whole service.

We have seen statistics which have been presented this past two or three months showing Torbay Airport as being more active than Gander airport, When I look at the statistics I get the impression that every crow that flies over the city dump and every gull that gazes over Rbbin Hood Bay must be counted as a statistic for landing purposes at Torbay airport. There is no doubt at all that the figures, when you look at the totals, show that Torbay is a busier airport than Gander.

But in presenting those statistics, the people who do so, have the responsibility to explain them, because, as we all know, statistics can be misleading. In this case, they are very misleading and while we do admit that there are a great number of landings or touchdowns at Torbay, we have to think in terms of the number which might be of a flying club and other small aircrafts, etc., as opposed to the larger type aircraft.

Sir, I have some statistics in front of me here, which might prove what I am trying to say, In looking at the weights of aircrafts in the 4,000 potmd and under, St, John's is way in front of Gander. In the 4,000 to 9,000 pound capacity, St, John's is normally ahead. But, Mr. Speaker, when we get up to the large aircraft, I will eliminate between 9,000 and 139,000 pounds. When we come to the 159,000 to 199,000 pound category, in December month and for January the figures are not available yet, in December month, Gander A~ort had fifty-five and St. John's had none.

That makes up for a lot of pros and a lot of piper cubs and a lot of cessna 180's. In the 199,000 to 314,000 pound class, Gander had eighty-four and St. John's had eight. In the really big ones,the 340,000 and over, Gander International Airport had seventy-four and St. John's had sixteen. MR. CHALKER: With regard to landing of Air Canada, either at Gander or 9~9

April 13th., 1971 Tape no. 221 Page 5 Mr. Chalker: at Torbay, whose finalldecision would it be? Would it be made on the number of passengers_, boarding at Gander or at St. John,s? Would not the final decision be in the hands of those who operate Air Canada, not the Government or the Federal Government? MR. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker that could or could not be right.

But what I am trying to prove by those statistics , there has been a determined effort made for certain groups, based in St John's, sometimes with the full co-operation of the various media to try and create the impression across Newfoundland that Gander International Airport is dying and that Torbay is growing and that Torbay should be an international airport. We see nothing wrong •• MR. SMALLWOOD: If the hon. gentleman would yield for ,a moment.

Let me assure him and through him, through the press . the people of Gander, that we here on this side of the House will fight and fight hard, fight strenously to prevent any down-grading of Gander Airport. Now, if Air Canada wants to use Torbay, are we going to say no? But let us - we are determined to resist any down-grading of Gander. Gander, is where Confed~ration in Newfoundland was born. That is where it was launched. We will stand by Gander. The hon. gentleman, I am sure, will do the same. MR. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt about that and I appreciate the Premier's remarks.

It was not much of a question,but certainly it is something which is welcomed news to us. To get back to the Air Canada problem. I suppose that the ultimate decision would rest with Air Canada. By creating this false impression throughout Newfoundland ••• MR. SMALLWOOD: I doubt that very much. I doubt very much that the Government of Canada T.fOuld premit Air Canada to do a thing which was generally,in the public interest, inadvisable •. MR. COLLINS: Well I hope the Premier is right. I hope the Premier is right. But, Mr. Speaker, to come back to what I was saying.

The impression is being created that Torbay Airport is growing and that eventually it will 9CO

April 13th,, 1971 Tape no. 221 Page 6 Mr. Collins. become an international airport. I cannot see for the life o.f me, when we can support two international airports in Newfoundland. We already have an international airport at Gander,rith facilities which are second to ~one across Canada. Mil. SMALLWOOD: How often do you hear of a plane land in Gander, when she cannot land in St. John's? Mil. COLLINS: Well I have statistics ••• MR. SMALLWOOD: ~ny times a year. M}t. OOLL:tNS: I have statistics on that, Mr. Speaker, bu.t that is always a pretty sensitive point with 961

April 13th. 1971 Tape 222 Pk - 1 MR. COLLINR: the people from St. John's and the hon. members from St. John's. I do not want to dwell on that too much, but what I {oT()\l!d like them to hear is the proof that we do have the facilities that, if there should be the need of satisfaction among customers in St. John's, who are using Air Canada flights out of Gander,by virtue of being delayed needlessly,then I believe that the onous might be upon the regional carrier or upon Air Canada themselves to provide a better service between St.

John's and Gander,so .that the people will not be required to have long stopo~ers at the airport. MR. ROBERTS: Inaudible. MR. COLLINS: Well, we would like for people to come into Gander,and I notice that the parties in the Province are coming into Gander,towards the end of April or the first of May,for what is scheduled as a huge meeting, a tremendous meeting, we are certainly glad to have them around anytime at all, Mr. Speaker.

I can think of no better place than to spent my lifetime, as far as that goes, I am sure that it is a great place for people to stop off and do a little fishing and do a little hunting and any of the side excursions which are generally benefical·.to human_beings-~e are glad to have them around. But, Sir, I wanted to mention those facts,to show that we do have the facility at the airport. A lot of these statistics which have been presented, while we cannot say that they are wrong, nobody has gone to the trouble to really explain them.

And,as I have just said, there is no doubt in my mind at all,from the statistics which I ~ave you~that the lar~er aircrafts are using Gander and will continue to use Gander. Mr. Speaker, I mentioned that the economy of the town is tied very closely to Trans-Atlantic flights and to Eastern Provincial Airway. As I said,on many occasions before,in this House; to ensure the steady development of the town, the whole area, then we need something more than sim~ly the healthy Gander. Conditions must be provided, for example, so 9C2

April 13th. 1971 Tape 222 PK - 2 MR. COLLINS: that Gander is accessible to people in Welseyville, Fogo Island and Twillingate and indeed some of the area around the circle. Specifically, I am talking about the urgent need for a network of roads. r.he road is there now,in a great many cases,nothing is need to be done- but paving. But, certainly there is a great need, Mr. Speaker, to put a road around the loop from Gambo back up through Carmanville and Gander Bay, back to Gander and then fr0111 Gande~ Bay down to the Curtis Causeway,to New World I•land.

There is a need for that road to be upgraded and upgraded quickly. Because, as we all know, the key to the development of any area today lies in the quality of the transportation facilities. I suppose that the econ~vdc base that I refer to, if it is to be strengthened by industry, if it is to be strengthened by transportation, if it is to be stren,-thened by further development of airlines.then Government., at both level!!!, both Federal and Provincial, certainly have a major role to play. In terms of industrial development, Mr.

Speaker, a healthy Gander means a healthy Bonavista Bay Peninsula, and of course, ., this works in reverse. It is to. mutual benefit to have the road done and have a healthy Carmanville, a healthy Gander Bay and Wesleyville. certain it is also important that the Town of Gander, if they are to provide the services and so on for those people -then, they also have,in my opinion, probably the responsibility to provide some jobs for the people living down around the coast.

It is my opinion, Sir, that in Gander we have been more or less by-passed in terms of industrial development, ____ _ I would hope that this Government will see to it that, fr0111 here on,Cander does get its share, gets its full recognition in terms of the needs for industrial development. The central location of the Town,in such an important area contributes, I am sure, makes lt the ideal location for expansion of educational and cultural and othe·r welfare facilities. The town's growing importance. as an educational centre for the area, was clearly demonstrated, Mr.

Speaker, last fall,when a great number of young people from the area had to be turned away from the Gander District Vocational 9G3

April 13th. 1971 Tape 222 PK - 3 HR. C&U.1,,;s ~ :ichool. That institution has a seating capacity of approximately 200 and last fall over 700, I believe, if my memory serves me correctly, 761 people, youn~ men and women, made application to the school, which means that over 500 had to be turned away. Perhaps, l-'r. Speaker I better call it one o'clock, MR. SPEAKER: Order, please! It now being one o'clock, I will leave the Chair until three o'clock. 9G4

PROVINCE OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY Volume 1 ' Number 14 5th Session 34th. General Assembly VERBATIM REPORT TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1971 SPEAKER: THE HONOURABLE GEORGE W. CLARKE

·- __ ...... _...---~--~ April 13th. J971 The House resumed at 3:00 P.M. Mr. Speaker in the Chair. MR. SPEAKER: Order! Tape 223 PK - 1 HON. J,R. S~.ALLWOOD:(PREMIER): The hon. member for Gander has agreed that t shall have a moment, if the House is agreeable, to make a very brief statement of one or two sentences, but of some illll'ortance. The Treasury Board have just informed me formally that they and St.

John's Firefighters Association~Local 107~ of the International Association of Firefighters, have come to collll'lete agreement;and a copy of the a~eement is in my hand, and it is to be put in formal shape in a matter of days. I am sure the House will be happy to know of this agreement made bet~een the Government on the one hand and the Firemen of St. John's on the other. I thank the hon. member for yielding for this purpose. MR.

SPEAKER: Without taking too much of the time of the hon. member for Gander,I would like to draw the attention of the House t~ the fact that we have in the galleries today about forty-five nursing students, together with instructors, from the various city hospitals;and I know you would like me to ~ive them. a very heart:, .. welcome, on your }lehalf. MR. COLLINS: Mr. Speaker, when we left at one o!clock I was concluding my remarks relative to the importance of Gander, as the hub of the area of Central/Eastern Newfoundland.

I was about to make some remarks with reiard to the educational and ,· cultural and social aspects of the town. Certainly, Sir, the central location of Gander,is such an important area,must contribute to making it the ideal location for expansion of educational and cultural and welfare facilities. The town's growing importance as an educational centre for the area is clearly demonstrated; as+ said,by the number of students who sought access to the Gander Vocational School last year,and where turned away because of lack of space. 9,..,... u~

- --·=-.,---=-- April 13th. 197] . Tape 223 PK - 2 MR. COLLINS: I would suggest that similar demands would be placed on a regional college, if such an establishement were placed in the Town of Gander. I have said ,,on numerous occasions in the past ,that already there is a nucleus for such a college in the - the fact that more than 200 people from the Town of Gander and from the surrounding area avail of evening classes through the extension services offered by Memorial University.

I believe this can be enlarged upon and certainly as well,for the future, .t\. regional college anywhere, Sir, in the Province, would I suspect have to depend to a consider degree on Memorial University for assistance from lecturers,. when we think of the short distance by air;, from St. John' a to Gander, so short in fact that it makes it feasLble for professors to leave St. John's in the late afternoon and do their work in Gander and c0111e back by night. when, we think about this, certainly that should be a real important consideration in determining where junior colleges might be.

For the people ,in the area _.there is already a cultural and recreational attraction to Gander. The development and encouragement of this can be seen when we find the interest displayed by people from outside in the stadiUJ11, · tf course,this leaves me, Mr. Speaker, to make some comment about the much delaved Arts and CuJtural Centre. In 1987 when the steel was brought to the site, Government action,we could say, was conspicious by its absence for a long period of time, conspicious only for a great period of time by the rusting steel itself. Howe..-e~, work is now progressing on the swimming pool.

section of the structure, an~we are hopeful that other phaaes will be started and completed juat as soon as it is physically possible. While on the topic of recreations, Mr. Speaker, perhaps a review of the situation with regard to the stadium at Gander, might be worthwhile. I suspect there are similar cases across Newfoundland, but I happen to know of the one at Gander, wh~reby,some years ago, the Gander Hockey Association, with the support of this Govemment,raised approximately $300,000 to build a stadium. When the stadium was completed,the ll!Utlicipality was requested 966

.. April 13th. 1971 Tape 223 PIC - 3 MR. COLLINS: to assume responsibility for the loan. The municipality did not like the idea at the time, but then,of course, when the proposition was put to the,a that they might have to do this in order to protect "' the credit rating of the town, they had very little choice but~resume responsibility for it. But we all·know, subsequent to that the Government announced a vast recreational programme, none of which unfortunately came to pass. But, we are told again now,in an Election Year ,that ~reat things are going to happen.

I want to make sure that the Government are aware of the c011llllitment which the town has taken on is certainly paying more than · they are required twenty-five percent of the cost, and when any recreational programme is announced~! hope that the Government will assume their portion of the loan, which is seventy-five percent. I do not know what this would work out to be, but roughly I would say about $280,000. Certainly the Govermnent have a responsibility to accept that responeibility to :relieve the municipality of this n~c around their neck.as it were.

Becauae .Gander is the hopeful point for the area, and because it has a modem efficient regional hospital and other services which are required, it must be a natural location for senior citizen homes. A local committee is now working on this matter. I know they have had meetings and dillcussions with the Minister of Social Services and Rehabilitation. And we have the full support of the churches and municipal and other groups in the towo, and we are hopeful that the minister and his officials will see to it that this project is brought to completion. Mr.

Speaker, next I would like to make reference to Bishop's Falls, a major factor in the economy•, the life blood of Bishop's Falla over the years, as every hon. member knows,has been the railway, the Canadian National Railway. We recall tOCthat the decision of Canadian National to remove its Trans Island train service, passen~er rail service a couple of years ato hada significant detrimental effect on the ecomony of the town. We realize that we.are tivin~ in times of uncertainity and times which requires -:..:..-.· changes to be made. But, I would suggest that the time has come for the 9G7

April 13th. 1971 Tape 223 PK - 4 KR. COLLINS: Government of this Province to exert all its influence on Canadian National 1 to ensure that its depot is maintained at Bishop.'s Falls, if we are going to maintain one in Newfoundland. Because the very existence, the very reason Bishop's Falls is there is because of the Newfoundland Railway and the Canadian National Railways.who at Confederation assumed responsibility for train service in Newfoundland.

In connection with Bishop's Falls, I might also remind the Premier of his commitment to supply the establishment of a Central Newfoundland distribution centre,to be located near the Bay D'Espoir, Bishop's Falls road junction. The establishment of this centre, as the Premier agrees, vas a good idea and he said he would back it a hundred percent. The establishment of this centre would certainly have a great economic impact on the town of Bishop's,in particular.and in a more general way on Botwood and other areas of Central Newfoundland. AN HON. ~ER: Inaudible. MR.

COLLINS: From here to Head of Bay D'Espoir is right. Northaai . Arm .which is on the extremity of Gander District, is an area, in my opinion, having great potential in terms of saw milling and farming and agricultureaand to encourage this kind of development certainly Govemment incentives are need. And the effect of such development .would not only have a strengthening effect on the Northern Arms economy, but certaihly on the economy of the various smaller places like Point au Bay and other small places nearby. Before I leave this particular field, Mr.

Speaker, I want to draw the attention of hon. members and the Government to the vital necessity of providing suitable firefighting equipment to all of the communities where we have municipal volunteer fire brigades. In my district all of the brigades are volunteers, Certainly ,when we consider the prc ,blems which firemen encounter in fighting fires, it is all bad enough_and ~.erious enou~h to be exposed to the hazards of fire, certainly if they expect people to volunteer their services and go out doing this job 1 prepared to give them the best possible equipment. then we must be 968

April 13th. 1971 Tape 223 PK - 5 MR. COLLINS: We have heard some announcements from the minister responsible that some assistance is to be provided to various towns, I know that. the Town of Gander, as I have mentioned, earlier in this session, i~ in desperate need of a second pumper, Botwood, Peterview and Glenwood are in need of assistance with pumpers and trucks. I know the minister has received their applications, and I would trust that he will give their applications sympathic consideration, and ways and means will be found to provide the people with the necessary tools to do a very effective job. Now, Mr.

Speaker, to ~et away from the district of Gander for a while, and come back to the Throne Speech, which we heard when this session openerl: Those of us who heard it and read it since,must consider it a rather feeble attempt, a rather weakk.need attempt, if you will 1on the part of ~vernment, the mad effort to gain the support of the electorate in an Election Year. Certainly, Sir, if there were:to be a prize .awarded for brevity, shortness, if there were to be a prize awarded for that,then this speech would be a winner.

And for this Government to nm out of words, I would suggest, Sir, it ie the same as saying that, this Government have run out of its major asset, because we all know that, . if~words could have brough Newfoundlanders into.the seventies,in North America, if words could have done it, it would have been successful. Such, of course, has .not been the case. Mr. Speaker, when we look at the speech we see reference made a~ain to fisheries. Almost every Election Year we find that a ~reat deal of attention is paid to the Newfoundland fishermen.

We do know that Newfoundland fishermen represent a fairly large block of the voters of the Province. hid, of course, the way t~is Government operates,we can always assume that they can be doin~ what they can to ~arner what support they can frOII' any paricular block of voters. It is noth "ini? new for us to hear 1)f a new fisheries development pro~rlffl!T'le. I have heard of five or six ~reat development pro~ramrnes in the fisheries, more especially on the eve of the election. And, of course, we always find 969

April 13th. 1971 Tape 223 PK - 6 MR. COLLINS: that as soon as the election is over, the Premier and the I Government seems to for~et that the fishermen exifft. But, I think, the Government &11.d the Premier should be warned that they will not get trJay with this again, because the Newfoundland fishermen have been hooked- winked once too often. I would say, from here on in, they are going to demand their just ~ues from this Government, which they certainly have not been getting down through the years. Mr.

Speaker, certainly it has not take twenty-two years for this Government to realize the great need for fishing service stations, for larger fishing boats, for the need of unloading facilities and fishing holding units and for new bounties and grants for new boat construction and upgrading of existi~g boats, boats that they are using now. I would say, Sir, that the fishermen of Newfoundland have been pleading and indeed pra~ing for those services for years. But, it seems that their pleas have been falling on deaf ears and an unsympathetic Government.

The fishery in NewfolDldland, and those who know anything about it, have been watching it, certainly must realize that it is a very troubled industry. And I suppose its difficulties lie off of the Province. ~ Economic problems: 970

April 13th, 1971 MR. COLLINS: Tape 224 JM - 1 With few exceptions, Sir, the returns to Newfoundland fishermen.by r.anadian income standards,are very, very low. The fishing techniques.by comparison with those uf our competitors in the Northwest Atlantic,are often outmoded and productivity in the industry has gradually been declining,while the nwnber of fishermen has been increasing.

While this Government, Sir, has been pussyfooting and twiddling its thumbs,as it were, encouraging people to move away from the fishing villages and while our Federal Government has been acting as if they were in a strait jacket, indifferent and all too often gutless in their approach to the problem,whil~ all of this has been going on•·. Europeans have literally robbed us of nearly every species of fish which is known to Newfoundlanders and which is found in our waters.

I say '!robbed" because the Federal Government have failed to protect our inshore waters and the Provincial Government has failed to p~ovide the fishermen with the necessary incentives to enable them to take advantage of modern fishing techniques.

I would say that instead of our Minister of Fisheries visiting Norway and other Scandinavian countries,a short while ago, I would say that his time would have been more wisely spent in visiting Ottawa and bringing pressures to bear on that Government to immediately call an international conference of the sea,with the countries who are involved,in an effort to save our fisheries from complete destruction. ·r o save the fisheries, Mr. Speaker, and make it an economically viable industry certainly is imperative to all of us.

I would say that to do that there are certain steps which must be taken, I do not know what order they should go in , but I would say that certainly we must think in terms of the imposition and the enforcement of suitable limits arounaour coast,to preserve the fish stocks and also to protect fishermen's nets. I think that it is imperative also that we reach an agreement and set quotas in the deep seas outside those limits and also, Mr.

Speaker, improved incentive prop.rammes to fishermen to permit modernization of equipmcnt , so necessary to improve production,and probably what is even more important, certainly ju~t as important, to i111l)rove quality and>in co-operation then with private 971

April 13th, 1971 MR. COLLINS: Tape 224 JM - 2 enterprise,inst ... tute measures for further processing of fish products at home and in the process,of course, provide additional employment and increased earnings. Mr. Speaker, Newfoundlanders~down through the years,have not been a revolutionary lot. They have certainly not been people who would take the bull by the horns or the shotgun by the stoc~nor anything like this. and make their voices heard. They generally go about their daily lives quietly.,doing what they are required to do.

But I would suggest, Sir, that possibly the time has come when the fishermen of this Province must be willing to, not necessarily rise up in arms but certainly make their voices heard and make this Government aware of the problems of the industry and their concerns. I would urge them to start now making the noises which evidently are necessary to get this Government to move. We can talk, Mr.

Speaker, until we are blue in the face about fish prices and collective bargining and other matters,important as they are,but we can talk, as I have said, until we are blue in the face and this is not much good if there is no fish to be caught,because the price does not matter then. At present, I suppose we do, but I am of the opinion and most people are that at the present time Canada has a twelve mile limit. We have had so many limits announced and nothing done,it is difficult to say what we have,but legally, I suppose, we do have a twelve mile limit.

Certainly it is inadequately patrolled and I am of the opinion that it is improperly researched,as to the damage being caused by over-fishing by foreign countries. yet this Government and the Government at Ottawa seems to be quite wiiling to sit idly by while the whole economic future of the Province is imperilled. I do not know tf we really needed Federal researchers of the Department of Fisheries to say that the haddock resource is so severely depleted that it cannot be replinished by natural process.

Red fish,we are told, appear to be in the same crisis situation and what we all regard as the lowely poor,old codfish,which we have always thought, all Ne~foundland fishe~en thought that it was in boundless supply, from information which we received,this species also could be nearing extinction. 972

April 13th, 1971 MR. COLLINS: Tape 224 JM - 3 The catch in quantity of our inshore fishermen of Newfoundland has dropped roughly by half over the last ten years,and certainly this is something for us to be concerned about.

The average catch of the small inshore fisherman of Newfoundland is down also,about fifty per-cent of what it was in the 1950's and, Sir, at the same time that the annual average catch of Newfoundland inshore fishermen has been dropping, the same time the total catch in the Northwest Atlantic,by member nations of the inter­ national commission of the North Atlantic fishery.that has increased from 2. million tons in 1958 to 4. million tons in 1968.

The cod catch of the member nations increased from 880,000 tons to 1,880,000 tons and on the other end,in the period from 1963 to 1969,Newfoundland's total catch dropped from 450 million pounds to 300 million pounds. The statistics, as I said, on haddock are frightening. In 1965 the total catch in the Northwest Atlantic was 249,000 tons.,of which the Russians took 130,000? and in 1968 the total catch was down to 97,000 tons.,although most of the countries, most of the nations involved,had quadrupled their efforts and the decline in red fish, as I said, is also down considerably.

We believe, Sir, that Canada,and we can talk about where the jurisdiction lies from here until domesday whether it is the Government at Ottawa or the Government of Newfoundland, certainly if the problem exists in Newfoundland,then we have a responsibility to the people.

We believe that Canada should immediately take the initiative in calling a conference, as I said before, not wait until two years time or three years time or four years time,whenever the next ~aw of the Sea Conference is called~but call it now so that we can discuss the problems facing us.with the nations concerned,and,if we cannot reach agreement with them,then I eelieve that Canada should take the unilateral action which is necessary to protect and conserve this vital resource on our door steps. Mr.

Speaker, it might be argued that Canada has no right to do that but Canada does have the right to take measures on the management of this living resource and article (6) of the articles adopted by the International Conference on the Law of the Sea in 1958 states that, "A coastal state has 973

April 13th, 1971 MR.

COLLINS: · Tape 224 JM - 4 a specific inte~est in the maintenance of the productivity of the living resources in any area of the high seas adjacent to its territorial s~a" and article (7) goes on and says that, ''Any coastal state may -with a view to the maintenance of the productivity of the living resources of the sea, adopt unilateral measures of conservation appropriate to any stock of fish or other marine resource,in any area of the high seas adjacent to its territorial sea,~rovided that negotiations to that effect 1with the other states concerned.have not led to an agreement within six months." So certainly, Mr.

Speaker, Canada does have the right, in fact has the legal right to call a conference,if agreement cannot be reached,then take the unilateral action which is necessary. We all know, Sir, that fish has been a dirty word in certain parts of Canada especially in Ottawa for a good many years and I am not yet convinced, Mr. Speaker, that fish is not even a dirty word in the Confederation Building. The only initiative, provincially or federally,to meet and cope with the problems of the Newfoundland fisheries and the Newfoundland fishermen,has not been directed to remove the problem but, Mr.

Speaker, it seems that it has been directed in removing the fishermen,through a resettlement progrmrmie and through nonexisting jobs on the shore. The time has come for this Government to assume the role of champion and protector of the fishermen and show its concern by flexing some muscle where muscle is needed,and not just thinking about those people on the eve of an election and forgetting about them for the next four years. I made mention, Sir, of the need for further processing of fish in Newfoundland 9 rather than exporting the raw material,as we have been doing to considerable extent in the past.

When-we consider that our herring stocks are being utilizedimainly for fish meal and oil,one can readily realize the tremendous loss to the economy. :,.c::_,_ It seems to me, Sir, that caplin,which roll on our beach, roll on all the beaches around Newfound­ land for a considerable period of time,are not utilized to any real econo1111 purpose. A caplin possibly is a species that should be used for reduction purposes and the herring taken to further steps in processing 974

April 13th, 1971 Tape 224 JM - 5 MR. COLLINS: such as kippers and snacks and what have you. Any consideration, of course, of the fisheries in Newfoundland would be incomplete unless we dealt with the salmon fishery and until recent years, Mr. Speaker, Newfoundland ~treams and rivers ar..d ponds and indeed the coastal waters were teeming with salmon.

Sir, some of the problems which are besetting this fishery, granted, might be beyond the control of the Newfoundland Government. ln fact,some hon. members mi~ht say that this resource falls completely and directly and legally under the jurisdiction of the Government at Ottawa, a f course, legally and constitutionally,! suppose,that is true/but that does not mean that the Newfoundland Government, the Provincial Government~does not have a moral responsibility to bring pressures to bear upon the Federal authorities to assume greater interest in conservation and contro~nor does it mean, Sir, that this Government,j.n its mad desire, its mad rush,at times, to industrialize the Province at all costs,it does not mean that that Govern­ ment should permit the willful destruction of this resource;and that has been the case in a great many areas.

At the outset I mentioned the problem plaguing the fishery in general and 7 as I say it, Sir, as I mentioned here last year and has been mentioned by people since, .among the major problems affecting the salmon fishery is the extensive drift-netting done by the Danes on the Atlantic salmon feeding grounds ·,off the West Coast of Greenland. We have also•, around the coast of Newfoundland,what I consider to be an uncontrolled and unorganized commercial salmon fishery,and certainly we have a great lack of enforcement of regulations on our rivers,for which the Federal Government is responsible.

Certainly,and this is possibly one of the more important failures on the part of Government, certatnly there has been a tremendous lack of co-ordination between highroads and industrial activity on and around our rivers. With respect to the drift-netting by the Danes,we must impress upon Ottawa the need to brine about a mutually beneficial a~reement,if that is possible, !f that is not possible,thee, Mr. Speaker, I think the time has come for us to adopt some unilateral measures. I do not know

... April 13th, 1971 MR. COLLINS: Tape 224 JM - 6 what we could do but maybe tariff impositions on Danish goods. ~omething has to be done to make the Danes realize that what they are doing nov, in fact, Mr. Speaker, it has been said that what the Danes are doing o_ff the coast of Greenland is equivalent to milking a cow which one does not own. ,he salmon which they are catching 1 off the West Coast of Greenland,are salmon which were found and reared in Newfoundland rivers, go to sea and the Danes catch them all up.

Certainly we can reach some agreement with them,because it is to their benefit 1 as well as ours ~o protect this resource. The commercial salmon fishery, as I said, must be better controlled. The industry as far as I can find out is mainly a field where moonlighters operate; it does not have any real economic benefit or commercial benefit to the fishermen. Whatever the economic benefit is, is derived from the tourist dollars,which come into the Province with regard to the sport of the fishing potential. I would say, Sir, also that the Federal Government has a responsibility to practice what they pr~ch.

They seem to preach research, ln fact the Federal Government is involved in British C~lumbia very extensively in research, 1n fact there are three Federal research stations in Britiah Columbia 1doing research on the Pacific Coast salmon and also providing new stock to hatcheries 1for restocking their rivers and atreams,in fact, some of the restocked fish was introduced in Newfoundland two or three years ago and,Mr. Speaker - 976

April 13 1971 MR COLLINS: Tape 225 page 1:... it is beyond me why we should be introducing Pacific Coast salmon in Newfoundland when we should have research stations and hatcheries here, so that we can provide our own stock for re-stocking our rivers. Certainly an area of disgraceful neglect,as far as I am concerned,is the appalling lack of co-ordination between Government departments and industry in and around-·our rivers. I have seen. instances, I have referred it to the Department of Highways, I think everypne I have referred to them,the condition has been corrected.

I do not know how much damage was done before it-._was corrected. Too often we have seen, highroads, bridges and culverts and other obstructions and pollutants in our rivers,which have prevented the adult salmon from getting up to the spawning grounds. In my opinion,.they might have escaped the drift-netting off the coast of Greenland.

They might have escaped the many salmon nets on the coast of Newfoundland.~ They possibly escaped the hooks and jiggers and flies atidother types of lures on the rivers and then.to find that our own Government department are putting a block across a river,which stops the fish_from getting in to spawn, this 1in my opinion 1 Sir, is nothing short of criminal and something which must be looked into immediately. To illustrate,Mr.

Speaker, it is necessary, what I am ~rying to say; we might have a look at the beautiful Exploits River, one of the'larger rivers in Newfoundland, certainly one of the most beautiful and certainly one of the major rivers in terms of salmon resource is concerned.

On that river, as hon. members know, we have a mining development at Buchans,which is a very necessary development,provided a lot of jobs for Newfoundlanders, ~othing but praise is due them, but still the effluent from that mine. going into the Red Indian Lake,did create some serious problems from water contamination point of view, something which should not have been permitted. I understand that measures have now been taken to correct it. 977

April 13 1971 Tape 225 page 2. I do not know how far it has gone,we hope to get further information on it, before this session closes, but certainly it is something that has to be looked into very carefully and no stone left unturned to have this very unsatisfactory condition eliminated. Down stream, we have a pulp and paper mill at Grand Fallsvwhich the Bon. Minister of Education and member for the district will agree with me. when I say that it has made a tremendous contribution to the economic status of the Province.

But certainly they have been permitted,down through the years,also to dump pulp waste and tree bark into the river,which again bas been a major contributing factor to the contamination of the water and also damaging to the salmon resource, ~-~ Of course still further sources of contamination are untreated sewer disposals from municipalities along the river. Then1 to add insult to injury, Mr.

Speaker, as if all this was not enough, the hydro-electric development at Bay D'Espoir has further complicated the problem and certainly added enormously to the degree of contamination,by virtue of the fact that twenty-five per cent of the wated,which normally flows through the Exploits River,have now been diverted back south to Bay D'Espoir. The combination of course of this with the other problems has had a very detrimental effect on the quality and the quantity of the water of the Exploits.

Now, Sir, hon. members should not interpret what I am saying to mean that I am opposed to industrial development, because nothing could be further from the truth. What I am saying is that Government and industry do not have a right to pollute our waters, and ways and means must be found whereby we can have sane and sensible industrial development and at the same time maintain our clean water and our fish and wildlife and what have you; I think it has taken too long for the Government to accept this principle and,as I said,while an effort has now been made by 978

April 13 1971 Tape 225 page 3. the Federal and Provinci41 and Municipal bodies to restore the Exploits, the cost , ! am sure,is going to be staggering and some of the ecological damage which has been done up there might very well Sir, be beyond repair. I suggest that there are many, many stories similar to the Exploits? which we could tell about other rivers and lakes and streams in the Province, tiut because we still have time,Mr.

Speaker, at least in some areas of the Province 1 I think we should take the lead now in resources management and take the lead over North America, over the United States and Canada~who today Sir, are involved in such a major struggle,at enormous cost to the taxpayers,to regain their resources. I think we should take the lead, learn from their mistakes and get on with the job of protecting what we have. For a good many years the rivers and ponds of Newfoundland were looked upon as being almost untouched and certainly clean,but certainly we cannot say that any more.

We have witnessed ~hat can only be described as indiscriminate development of our water resources. There has been misuse and abuse without proper appreciation of the real cost to the Province. certainly without any thought being given to future generations. S-ince the water resources are substantial and certainly are of great. importance to our future prosperity,than management, and I repeat, management is necessary while the demand,relatively speaking,is low and while conservation measures-~re still possible. The management programme,if we are going to have one,Mr.

Speaker, must be founded on the following precints; We do have a Water R?sources and Pollution Control Act and I believe that it is necessary that there must be developed from that a comprehensive plan insuring that our water resource is developed in a rational and economical manner. Certainly we need hydro-power, there is no question about that at all in the world, but I. would sugii;est, S-ir, that there are other considerations ,and there is not much point in us ending up with a lot of hydro.power and no saimon and 979

April 13 1971 Tape 225 page 4. no trout and no moose and no caribou and possibly no water to drink. The Water Resources and Pollution Control Act,or the Board which follows from that 1 must insure that there is maximum co-ordination between Governments, Federal and Provincia~and Municipal and industry and other users whoever tb~y .might be. Unless we have maximum co-ordination,we have everyone going off in their own direction and nothing but chaos can develop.

Water resource management programme.if it is to be effective,of course,must take into account the quality as well as the quantity,as I said before, In considering the water 1 with.all demands,we must of course give attention to the domestic and the industrial needs and always bearing in mind the fisheries need and the wildlife need and the recreational need,Mr.Speaker. which in the end,.could be possibly more import