Alberta Hansard — 11 March 1977, Morning sitting (10:00) (Legislature 18, Session 3)

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Alberta — Debates (Hansard)

March 11, 1977 ALBERTA HANSARD 237 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA Title: Friday, March 11, 1977 10:00 a.m. [The House met at 10 a.m.] PRAYERS [Mr. Speaker in the Chair] head: INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Bill 20 The Names of Homes Amendment Act, 1977 MR. STROMBERG: Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to rein troduce a bill, being The Names of Homes Amend ment Act, 1977. Mr. Speaker, the amendments pro posed in this bill will enable Albertans who take pride in ownership to protect the names of their farms and farm homes. [Leave granted; Bill 20 read a first time] Bill 21 The Public Health Amendment Act, 1977 DR. BACKUS: Mr.

Speaker, I beg leave to introduce a bill, being The Public Health Amendment Act, 1977. This bill changes the composition of public health boards in cities over 100,000, Edmonton and Calgary. This was introduced to comply with the request of the cities. [Leave granted; Bill 21 read a first time] MR. HYNDMAN: Mr. Speaker, I move that the follow ing bills be placed on the Order Paper under Govern ment Bills and Orders: Bill No. 20, The Names of Homes Amendment Act, 1977; and Bill No. 21, The Public Health Amendment Act, 1977. [Motion carried] head: INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS MR. HANSEN: Mr.

Speaker, it gives me great pleasure today to introduce to you, and through you to the House, a group of school children from Fort Kent school in my constituency. Some 40 students are with their teachers Mr. Parmar and Mr. Campeau, and their bus driver Mr. Luciak. I would like them to rise and be recognized by this House. MR. APPLEBY: Mr. Speaker, I would like to introduce to you and to the members of the Assembly the mayor of the town of Athabasca Mr. Jack Sturges. He's visiting the Assembly this morning, accom panied by his wife Jean. They are in the members gallery.

I would ask them to stand and be welcomed to the House. MR. KOZIAK: Mr. Speaker, it's my pleasure today, as the culmination to Education Week in this province, to introduce to you and to the members of this Assembly three award winning essayists in a province-wide competition for junior high school stu dents writing on the topic, "Can I Really Be What I Want to Be?" We have three winners from three regions of the province of Alberta. They have chosen their favorite teachers to accompany them, and I'll be introducing them as well.

Following their introduction to the Assembly, they will be taking a tour of the city of Edmonton by helicopter and subsequently will have the pleasure of meeting with the Lieutenant-Governor and the Premier. The winners are, Mr. Speaker: for northern Alberta, from St. Mary's school, Beaverlodge, Roman Catholic Separate District No. 68, grade 9 student Teresa Atkinson of Goodfare and her teacher Mrs. Patsy Martin; for central Alberta, from Sylvan Lake school in the county of Red Deer, grade 7 student Lynn Thiels of Benalto and her teacher Mrs.

Pat Anderson; for southern Alberta, from Olds school in the county of Mountain View, grade 9 student Kathy Smith of Olds and her teacher Mrs. Sharon Howell. MR. DIACHUK: Mr. Speaker, I wish this morning to introduce to you and to the members of the Assembly 53 grade 5 students from the Belvedere school in the constituency of Edmonton Beverly. They are accom panied by two teachers, Mrs. Marjorie Walker and Mr. Bill Babowal. They are seated in the public gal lery. I'd ask that they rise and receive the welcome of this Assembly. head: TABLING RETURNS AND REPORTS MR. MOORE: Mr.

Speaker, I beg leave to file with the Assembly copies of a brief which I had the pleasure of presenting to the Senate Standing Committee on Ag riculture, March 10, on the Long-Term Stabilization of the Canadian Beef Industry. In addition, Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to table the annual report of the Alberta Hail and Crop Insurance Corporation for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1976. MISS HUNLEY: Mr. Speaker, I wish to table, as required by statute, Sessional Paper No. 77, The Blind Persons Act, and Sessional Paper No. 78, The Dis abled Persons Act. MR. GETTY: Mr.

Speaker, I'd like to table The Gas Resources Preservation Act report as required by statute. MR. KOZIAK: Mr. Speaker, it's my honor to table the seventy-first annual report of the Department of Education.

238 ALBERTA HANSARD March 11, 1977 head: ORAL QUESTION PERIOD Water Management MR. CLARK: Mr. Speaker, I'd like to direct the first question to the Minister of the Environment. It flows from the ECA's report on erosion of land in north western Alberta. The ECA recommends the capital cost of joint water management programs in north western Alberta be shared between provincial and municipal bodies on the basis of 75 per cent by the province and 25 per cent by local governments, rather than the present 50-50 basis.

The question to the minister is: what point has the provincial government reached in its discussion of this recommendation? MR. RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, we haven't reached a conclusion on that. The report was submitted to the department for assessment. They'll be making rec ommendations. As members are aware, we also had the MLA, Mr. Shaben, put a resolution on the paper so members of the Legislature could debate and give their viewpoints on the recommendations. But no conclusions have been reached yet. MR. CLARK: Mr.

Speaker, is the minister in a position to give us some indication of a time line when we can look for a response from government in regard to this major recommendation? MR. RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, I would hope it could be very soon. It's rather a major problem insofar as environment protection in Alberta is concerned. We would hope to deal with it as soon as reasonably feasible following the adjournment of this session. MR. CLARK: Mr. Speaker, a supplementary question to the minister.

Is the government considering fund ing such joint water-management programs from the capital projects division of the heritage savings trust fund? MR. RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, we hadn't considered that. As you know, MLAs have been canvassed for suggestions insofar as land reclamation projects are concerned, but we view this as something much larg er than that. MR. CLARK: Mr. Speaker, a further supplementary to the minister.

Has the department, either itself or through consulting arrangements, undertaken as sessment of the economics and viability of controlling the level of Lesser Slave Lake, once again as recom mended by the same ECA report? MR. RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, as far as Lesser Slave Lake is concerned, I have asked the department to do an in-house review on the economics of water stabili zation versus land acquisition, which is the present program. I expect to have those figures very shortly. MR. CLARK: Mr. Speaker, a further supplementary to the minister, perhaps to redirect the question.

Since the ECA recommendations, has there been no initia tive by either the department or consultants in fact to follow up its recommendations? MR. RUSSELL: Well, I think there has been consider able initiative, if you want to use that word, Mr. Speaker. The first thing I did was give the report to the department and ask them to work out a recom mended plan of action for the area. I also indicated to the department that I wanted the benefit of a public debate, hence a resolution on the paper.

But I repeat, we do intend to design a program of reclamation and preservation for the area and start implementing it as soon as circumstances permit. MR. CLARK: Mr. Speaker, a supplementary to the minister responsible for native affairs — once again one of the recommendations from the ECA; that is, the proposal in which native people assume a strong er role in opening rights of way and that their management and advice be given more serious con sideration by the government. What steps has either the minister or the Native Secretariat taken with regard to implementation of that recommendation? MR. BOGLE: Mr.

Speaker, from time to time various proposals come forward from native groups request ing assistance in doing that kind of work. We are looking now at brush clearing and the like. The hon. Member for Olds-Didsbury may recall that last year the Neegan Society, which was set up to do that very thing and was funded by the Department of Advanced Education and Manpower, encountered some finan cial difficulties. Consequently, the funding came to an end. However, a proposal is currently before both the Solicitor General and me to reactivate a group similar to the Neegan Society for the same kind of work. MR. CLARK: Mr.

Speaker, a supplementary question to the minister, bearing in mind that the report came out in November 1976. The question to the minister responsible for native affairs really is: what initiative has the minister or the Native Secretariat taken in light of the recommendation by the ECA that native people should really have more influence in the ques tion of determining where rights of way shall go in their particular area? MR. BOGLE: I have just indicated, Mr. Speaker, we try to work in conjunction with the various native people in the province. We're currently working with a group on a proposal.

The fact that the ECA in its report has come up with a recommendation only strengthens the argument being used by native groups, and with the kind of input we're trying to have. MR. NOTLEY: Mr. Speaker, a supplementary question for clarification, if I may, to the hon. Minister of the Environment. I wasn't quite sure if I heard the hon. minister correctly when he answered the hon. Leader of the Opposition about the heritage trust fund, whether any possible investment from the heritage trust fund would be considered for water resource management and drainage in northwestern Alberta.

I wasn't sure if the hon. minister said that would be too expensive. But I would like him to clarify whether the government would consider that proposals under amendments in the whole water resource program in northwestern Alberta would be proper for the herit age fund investment.

March 11, 1977 ALBERTA HANSARD 239 MR. RUSSELL: Well, to clarify that earlier response, Mr. Speaker, I indicated to the hon. Leader of the Opposition that the reclamation of flooded areas was not included in the capital works part of the heritage trust fund as it now stands to the end of the next fiscal year. The reclamation projects that are budget ed for that part of the program would not include a project of that magnitude. That's not to say it couldn't be considered at some future date, but it has not been considered at this time. MR. NOTLEY: One further supplementary question to the hon.

Minister of the Environment. In assessing the various options of cost sharing on water resources projects, that is the physical construction itself, in addition to the proposals of the ECA is the government giving any consideration to the proposals of northern Alberta improvement districts that a cer tain set mill rate should be struck, then above that mill rate the funding would be assumed on approved projects by the provincial government, either through the Department of the Environment or through capital investment through the capital works part of the her itage trust fund or what have you? MR.

RUSSELL: Yes, Mr. Speaker, a variety of sugges tions have been made. I wouldn't want too much emphasis to be placed on one geographic region of the province because currently we have a report deal ing with northwestern Alberta. There are drainage and water management problems throughout the province. I wouldn't want to leave the House with the idea that we would want to rush into a special program for one special part of the province, unless circumstances were so unique that that was warranted. MR. SHABEN: Supplementary, Mr. Speaker, to the Minister of the Environment.

Is a local group or are local people involved in making recommendations to the minister on the report and working with the local regional office of the Department of the Environment? MR. RUSSELL: At the present time we are of course working with the regional office. We've been devel oping the pattern that as soon as we get some recommendations under way in any of these kinds of projects, we try to set up local advisory committees and later local management committees. It's a rather new technique, but I'm hopeful that we could use the same procedures with respect to this particular issue. Red Deer River MR.

CLARK: Mr. Speaker, the second question is also to the Minister of the Environment. It really flows from a statement made at the ECA hearings in Innis fail with regard to the question, to dam or not to dam the Red Deer River — in capital letters. Mr. Speaker, the question is: has the minister had a chance to check the statement which indicated that effluent from the town of Innisfail will be entering the Red Deer River immediately upstream from where the water intake will be for the central Alberta water line? MR. RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, I saw that statement.

As you know, the hearings are at the rate of one every two or three days in different communities along the course of the Red Deer River. I've been getting brief ings by telephone as each hearing finishes. Natural ly, we haven't had time yet to assess and respond to the various issues raised as a result of the hearings. But that one was particularly brought to my attention, and we will be responding to it. MR. CLARK: Mr. Speaker, I wonder if I could pose a supplementary question to the minister.

In light of the fact that the water line is supposed to open in April or May, that some of the water is already down the line, and they're now doing some of the final checking, would the minister be in the position to dispatch someone from the department posthaste to see in fact if that is the situation? Because if the town of Innisfail is putting its effluent, even though it's through a treatment system, in the Red Deer River just upstream from the pipeline intake, it seems to me to be rather questionable planning. And I'm being very charitable in saying that. MR.

RUSSELL: Well the hon. leader may have an swered his own question when he indicated that it is treated water that goes through the system. The treatment plant is part of the system. As for the detail with respect to whether or not water containing effluent dumped into the river from a nearby location is in fact being taken into the system, I can't answer that question today. It has been brought to my atten tion. It's in the department, and I will be responding as soon as I can. Rapid Transit MR. MUSGREAVE: Mr.

Speaker, I'd like to ask this question of the Minister Without Portfolio responsible for Calgary affairs. It's my understanding that the city of Calgary council are all going to Europe to view rapid transit systems in heavily populated cities. As this is a fact-finding journey before they commit to specific equipment that I presume the province will be expected to pay for, I'd like to know if the minister can advise if he or any member of Executive Council has been asked to accompany the council on their fact-finding journey. MR. McCRAE: Mr.

Speaker, I'm not aware of any invitation at this moment to attend this very interest ing tour. Perhaps that's one of the problems of being in this House rather than the house down there. The hon. member might want to reflect on . . . Well, no he shouldn't. Mr. Speaker, the short answer is no. We have not yet been invited, and frankly I don't know whether it will be necessary for any member of Executive Coun cil to attend that tour. MR. MUSGREAVE: Mr. Speaker, I have a supplemen tary that perhaps the Deputy Premier could answer.

Have any guidelines been offered to the council on the kinds of financial aid they might expect, particu larly with regard to the kind of capital investment they might make and the ongoing operational costs the citizens will have to bear if this expensive, long-range program is adopted? DR. HORNER: Well, Mr. Speaker, the hon. member will probably recall that some time ago in announcing

240 ALBERTA HANSARD March 11, 1977 our urban transportation policy during the last par liament, the then-minister outlined the kind of assis tance we would make available to both Calgary and Edmonton relative to public transit. Part of that includes a $7 million per year grant, which the city of Calgary has received. The question of the type of rapid transit will be decided upon after close consul tation with my department. I might also say to the hon. member, Mr. Speaker, that in fact we have had an invitation from Calgary city council to attend on their trip, but no decision has been made.

Nursing Home Plans — Taber MR. R. SPEAKER: Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Hospitals and Medical Care. Does the minister plan to build additional nursing home beds in the town of Taber in the coming fiscal year? MR. MINIELY: Mr. Speaker, Taber's planning is under way. I have also been in discussion with my col league in the House on that. Basically no final deci sion as to the extent of nursing home development in Taber has been made, but we are working on plan ning with the community. MR. R. SPEAKER: Mr. Speaker, a supplementary to the minister.

Will the Taber area receive a decision in the early months of 1977? MR. MINIELY: Mr. Speaker, in answer to that particu lar question I would reply to the hon. member that the highest priority in the hospital and medical care sys tem throughout the province would be in the area of nursing home beds. For that reason it's my intention, with Taber and other proposed nursing home devel opments in the province, to place the highest priority on those particular projects. MR. R. SPEAKER: Mr. Speaker, a supplementary to the minister.

Is the minister aware that at the pre sent time over 100 people are on the waiting list for nursing home facilities in the Lethbridge-Taber area, and that Lethbridge doesn't want to proceed at the present time because they're waiting for the Taber development? MR. MINIELY: Mr. Speaker, I think my reply to the earlier question from the hon. Member for Little Bow implied that we're aware of the need to accelerate nursing home construction throughout the province as the major priority. I believe, Mr. Speaker, that that answers the question of the hon. member. MR. R. SPEAKER: Mr.

Speaker, a supplementary just for clarification of the minister's remarks. Can I assure the people in the Taber area that nursing home facilities are being considered and will be made available in the Taber area, and that the minister has not denied them that facility? MR. MINIELY: Mr. Speaker, in reply to the first ques tion, I have assured the government MLA of this in conversation with them. As I implied in answer to the first question, that will be the case. Bassano Dam Study MR. MANDEVILLE: Mr. Speaker, my question is to the hon. Minister of the Environment.

Could the minister indicate whether he has received the study being done by the PFRA on the Bassano Dam and the proposed Eyremore Dam? MR. RUSSELL: No, I haven't, Mr. Speaker. MR. MANDEVILLE: Supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. Has the minister or his department had any input to the study being done by the PFRA? MR. RUSSELL: Yes, the department has had substan tial input, Mr. Speaker. MR. MANDEVILLE: One final supplementary ques tion, Mr. Speaker. Can the minister then give an indication when the study will be completed and when there will be a decision on the Bow River basin? MR.

RUSSELL: I'm unable to give an exact date, Mr. Speaker. The last time I asked about this I was told, very soon. Extended Flat Rate Calls DR. BUCK: Mr. Speaker, my question is to the hon. Minister of Utilities and Telephones. From represen tation that has been made from my constituency and other areas, can the minister indicate how the extended area service project is going? How close to completion is it, and when can we look forward to the 40-mile radius extended area service for telephones? DR. WARRACK: Mr.

Speaker, with respect first of all to the extended flat rate call service the hon. member brings forward, that program is nearing completion. Because of a meeting I had on Monday with the mayor of Bruderheim in the hon. member's constitu ency, I would clarify that the program was designed to provide for an exchange-to-exchange flat rate, not toll free but flat rate hookup to the nearest trading area, so long as that trading area was not more than 30 miles away from the exchange in question.

Extending that beyond 30 miles, for example to 40 miles, is not presently contemplated, although if the hon. member were recommending the necessary rate increases to cover such costs, that could be considered. Drought Plans MR. TAYLOR: Mr. Speaker, my question is to the hon. Minister of Agriculture. In view of the winter's low precipitation and the prospect of possible drought conditions this summer, has the department formu lated any contingency plans should such conditions prevail? MR. MOORE: Mr.

Speaker, in answer to a similar question in the House of Commons the day before yesterday, the federal Minister of Agriculture said, really, all you can do is pray. He wasn't far from wrong, although he was laughed at. I say that because for centuries drought has taken its toll on world food production and supplies. We simply don't

March 11, 1977 ALBERTA HANSARD 241 have any means, any short-term programs, that would alleviate a shortage of rainfall in a particular year. On the other hand, we have been doing some longer term things for many years and will continue. First of all, I think it's important — and I believe our farmers in southern Alberta are doing as good a job as any farmers in the world in terms of conserving moisture supplies in years of low moisture reserves, in the kinds of cultivation methods they have, summ er fallowing and so on.

It's likely that even without rainfall, much of the summer fallow land will be planted to crops. On the other hand, much of the stubble land will not be planted unless there is rainfall. In addition to that, the hon. member will recall some of the very extensive work that's been done, mostly in the northern U.S. states, on rain increase programs. That particular scientific area is very simi lar if not almost [identical] in nature to what we're doing in central Alberta with respect to hail suppres sion.

We don't think at this time we have progressed far enough to get into actual rain increase programs in southern Alberta. The most important thing we can do is longer term, the provision of some $200 million from the heritage savings trust fund to increase irrigated acres in southern Alberta and fresh-water storage in this prov ince. Hon. members would know that in western Canada we certainly have more ability to store water for irrigation purposes than any other province. In conclusion, Mr.

Speaker, we could say that hav ing made the decision two years ago to spend those kinds of dollars from the heritage savings trust fund, we'll be in a position 10 years from now where we will be less dependent on annual rainfall to produce crops in certain parts of the province. That isn't to say we won't always be dependent upon some very good rainfalls. Indeed if the hon. Minister of the Environment and his department can work effectively over the next few years in developing that additional water storage, I'm sure it will help a lot. In conclusion, Mr.

Speaker, the Minister of the Environment may have some additional comments to make. MR. STROMBERG: A supplementary, Mr. Speaker, to the Minister of the Environment. Is enough water now impounded for storage to supply irrigation and the urban needs of southern Alberta if there is no more snowfall on the eastern slopes this coming spring? MR. RUSSELL: I don't believe so, Mr. Speaker. I think the remarks of my colleague the hon. Minister of Agriculture were quite sincere when he alluded to the federal minister's exhortations for us to pray.

The department is making what arrangements it can to start filling the major reservoirs earlier. Somewhere between 40 and 60 per cent of normal run-off in the spring is expected, so there will be serious water supply problems in the region this year. MR. CLARK: Supplementary question to the minister on the portion of the minister's answer that dealt with rain-increase programs, cloud seeding, and so on.

In light of the fact that a number of states in the central United States, particularly the Colorado area, have now as a matter of policy moved in the direction of cloud seeding in light of the shortage of water and precipitation at this time, is the minister prepared to have officials from either the weather modification group who work in central Alberta or senior people from his department go down there to see if we can't perhaps use some of their technology, if we don't get very desperately needed moisture, certainly in April or May? MR. MOORE: Mr.

Speaker, scientists from the Alberta Research Council, and indeed I think almost all members of the Weather Modification Board, have been from time to time in that area and have had meetings with individuals involved in rain-increase programs in the United States.

While some progress appeared to have been made with respect to rain- increase programs two or three years ago, unfortu nately many of those programs in the U.S. have come to a halt, partly because of problems with respect to having perhaps moved the rain from one area to the other and the concern expressed on a national basis about law suits and so on which might occur if you implement rain-increase programs. It's never been well-established scientifically that in increasing rain in one area, you don't decrease it in another.

So I just have to say in conclusion, it's not our view that any technology, either in the United States or Russia, has yet reached the stage where we can say with any kind of certainty that a rain-increase pro gram can be carried out on a practical basis. But certainly, Mr. Speaker, we will be keeping in touch as closely as we can with knowledgeable people around the world about those kinds of programs. If it's our view they would be beneficial, we will be implement ing them on an experimental basis at least. MR. TAYLOR: Supplementary to the hon. minister in connection with the irrigation reservoir supplies.

In the event there is no significant precipitation in the next couple of months, how long would the water now stored in these reservoirs likely last? MR. MOORE: Mr. Speaker, I don't believe anyone can even answer that kind of question. First of all, you may recall that about this time in March two years ago it was very dry in southern Alberta. I was there in late April and it had just rained for 20 days. They were late seeding because of the moisture problem.

Really the problem of determining whether the water in storage will meet the needs of the area depends to a very great extent on rains that might occur in June and July. Indeed if it turns out to be a very dry summer, as well as winter, then of course we'll need additional water. It's just hard to put a figure at all on when we might run out of water for irrigation purposes. It depends entirely on how much rainfall occurs. AGT Policy on Harassment MR. STROMBERG: Mr.

Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Utilities and Telephones what reco urse Albertans have, besides paying their bills, when finance companies use AGT in a way that could best be described as "harassment" in order to collect overdue accounts.

242 ALBERTA HANSARD March 11, 1977 DR. WARRACK: Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the mem ber giving me notice of this question, so I have had some opportunity to look into it. It's my understand ing, if the information provided is correct, that the finance company involved has been calling the per son in question a couple of times a week during business hours. I further understand that under the present legislation at least, that would not constitute harassment unless threats or abusive language were used. It seems to me, Mr. Speaker, there might be about three alternatives.

One, although it may not be satis factory to the person, would be to pay the debt. A second, which I guess would be unsatisfactory to the finance company, would be that the customer does have the right to hang up. But I think the third alternative would probably be a useful recommenda tion to the person involved; that is to sit down with the finance company and try to work out something reasonable for all parties concerned. MR. STROMBERG: Mr. Speaker, does AGT have a policy as to harassment or abusive language on their phones? DR. WARRACK: Yes we do, Mr. Speaker.

I alluded to it in my initial answer, but not in detail. The policy is specified by the legislation that governs Alberta Gov ernment Telephones operation. Though what is a threat and what is abusive language are matters of judgment, it seems to me, watching television any way, that abusive language is becoming more and more commonplace. In any case, harassment would in fact have to involve threats or abusive language under the present legislation, which is the bench mark for Alberta Government Telephones policy in this regard.

In the event a person feels threats or abusive language, and therefore harassment, is tak ing place, Alberta Government Telephones has a security group that would try to assist the citizen in solving that kind of problem. MR. GOGO: Mr. Speaker, supplementary to the hon. minister. In the minister's response, he uses the term "finance companies". Does he really mean "col lection agencies"? DR. WARRACK: My term by way of response was to relate directly to the question posed by the hon. Member for Camrose. I don't know the name of the company or anything like that.

It may very well be a collection agency rather than a finance company. But the hon. member who posed the question would probably know that answer. Dunvegan Dam Study MR. NOTLEY: Mr. Speaker, I'd like to direct this ques tion to the hon. Minister of the Environment. It concerns the Dunvegan Dam study which was tabled in the Legislature yesterday.

Is the government in a position to advise the Assembly just where things stand on the proposal that there would be an imme diate assessment of the technological and economic merits of the low Dunvegan Dam proposal — three options, but the low proposal — as it relates to the integral part of Alberta's overall electrical requirements? MR. RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, I think a better way of putting it is that that proposal would be considered in comparison with other possible developments in other parts of the province. MR. NOTLEY: Mr. Speaker, a supplementary question to the hon. minister.

Will the proposal for a low dam at Dunvegan specifically be considered in relation to the proposal in this report that the Mountain Rapids site on the Slave River be fully examined as well? Will the two specifically be assessed hand in hand? MR. RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, the best way I can answer that question is that it would be the intention of the government to look at Dunvegan, Mountain Rapids, and other kinds of projects that might involve thermal rather than hydro sources for generating power. MR. NOTLEY: Mr. Speaker, a further supplementary question to the hon. minister.

In light of the very specific recommendation contained within this report concerning the low dam, plus the recommendation on Mountain Rapids — I shouldn't say proposal but pos sibility — is the minister in a position to advise the Assembly whether a time frame has been considered by the department at this time for that sort of evaluation? MR. RUSSELL: No, Mr. Speaker, not in a precise sense.

The government does have, through its De partment of Utilities and Telephones and its Electric Utility Planning Council, broad terms with respect to what time frames are involved in bringing additional projects on stream and tying them into the grid. I think the important thing for members to consider is the three

summary recommendations in the joint B.C. /Alberta report with respect to involvement with Brit ish Columbia in a joint project or simply going it alone at Dunvegan insofar as Alberta is concerned. That would involve what is called the low project. The report indicates that would be assessed in relation to other possibilities in the province before a decision would be made. MR. NOTLEY: Mr. Speaker, a supplementary question to the Minister of Utilities and Telephones.

Does the department at this point in time have any estimate as to the capital requirements for meeting the projection of the Electric Utility Planning Council of what would be approximately — if these figures are correct — a two-and-a-half-fold increase in the power require ments of the province by 1985, and more substantial increase between 1985 and the year 2000? DR. WARRACK: Mr. Speaker, no precise calculations, other than to recognize that the capital capacity involved in whatever series of alternatives there would be to meet the load growth projected would be very, very large.

As a matter of fact, I'm not sure that one doesn't really need to have some basis to estim ate future years' inflation to have any reliable set of figures projected into the future. But certainly the ballpark answer is that the amount of money that would be required in the way of capital investment would be very substantial.

March 11, 1977 ALBERTA HANSARD 243 MR. NOTLEY: Mr. Speaker, a supplementary question to the hon. Minister of Utilities and Telephones. Would the approximate figure the government has to consider at this stage for the total of those projects listed in the ERCB report on power requirements be somewhere in the neighborhood of $7 billion? DR. WARRACK: Mr. Speaker, that's really asking me the same question again.

I've indicated it would cer tainly be a substantial amount of capital investment to provide the high quality and assured supply service that we have been accustomed to, and is very impor tant, particularly for diversified economic develop ment throughout the province. But committing myself, or any member for that matter, to some exact number in the future on such large requirements would not I think be either accurate or wise. I did notice the hon. member referred to govern ment commitment.

He may be presuming govern ment financing in doing so, although that may be an incorrect implication to draw from the question. In any case, I would point out that government financing is not presently contemplated, nor has it been asked for. MR. SPEAKER: Might this be the final supplementary on this topic. MR. NOTLEY: Mr. Speaker, I assure that that is not the inference to the question. The question was to get some indication as to whether or not the govern ment has any information at this point as to the capital requirements, whether they come publicly or privately.

However, my final supplementary question to the hon. Minister of Utilities and Telephones, or perhaps the hon. Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, is: in view of the rather specific data we have on the increase in power requirements in the province, has the government given any definitive consideration at this time to the mix between thermo projects on one hand and hydro-electric projects for peak loading on the other? DR. WARRACK: Yes, Mr. Speaker. I've given consid erable attention to that matter.

It might be useful for the House to know that in the past year of 1976 the total load in Alberta was slightly over 4,300 mega watts. Of the breakdown by Calgary Power, which uses hydro sources in the Bow River, the Big Bend and the Lake Abraham Big Horn project, Calgary Power supplies about 62.5 per cent of that total across the province, and 30 per cent of that 62.5 per cent is provided by hydro. The remainder is provided by Alberta Power, Edmonton Power, and Medicine Hat; the latter two fueled by natural gas, and Alberta Power largely by coal.

With respect to the possibilities of future percent ages of the electric requirement served by hydro rather than coal, at the moment there appear to be the two projects that require and have in fact been receiving close attention: one, the Dunvegan matter that my colleague the hon. Minister of the Environ ment has just referred to, the other the question, which would be well down the road, of the Mountain Rapids project.

I think it would be fair to say that considering the modest size of the Dunvegan project, should it go ahead, and even the much larger size of the Moun tain Rapids project, should it go ahead, would be well enough into the future that we would largely be looking at base load requirements fueled by coal, unless it reached the point in the future where the people involved in the planning and the people of the province wanted to consider nuclear for base load requirements. In short, Mr.

Speaker, I'm saying that I doubt that the existing percentages of the capacity fueled by hydro and by coal would change all that much. Obscenity Legislation DR. PAPROSKI: Mr. Speaker, a question to the Attor ney General. I wonder if the Attorney General would advise the House whether, in discussing with the federal Minister of Justice amendments to the Crimi nal Code dealing with obscenity, he will use and encourage expressed concerns of Alberta citizens and communities in helping him to establish new guide lines and clarity in this regard? MR.

FOSTER: I'm happy to receive the hon. minister's representations, Mr. Speaker. DR. PAPROSKI: Mr. Speaker, a final supplementary. Would the minister indicate to the House whether he has established dates for discussions [with] the fed eral Minister of Justice, or is this an ongoing process? MR. FOSTER: Mr. Speaker, I expect that the federal Attorney General will be meeting with his counter parts from the provinces sometime in the spring. No date has been fixed for that meeting. Pollution Prosecutions MR. FOSTER: While I'm on my feet, Mr.

Speaker, perhaps I could respond to a question put to me earlier this week by the Member for Spirit River- Fairview concerning the appeal on GCOS. We will be appealing three of the charges involving GCOS, one under the Fisheries Act, one under the clean air regulations which relates to visible stack emissions, and one relating to S02 emissions. The appeals have to be filed before March 22. I don't propose making any further comment in the House; it's a matter before the Court. Power Lines MR. R. SPEAKER: Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Agriculture.

It's with regard to moving power lines off irrigated lands. The minister indicated in the fall session that he was attempting to negotiate an agreement between Calgary Power and the gov ernment, and a plan for the landowner. Could the minister advise the Assembly whether that program has been completed at this point? MR. MOORE: Mr. Speaker, I hope to be in a position to provide the information in that regard during the budget estimates. I'm sorry, I don't have it now. MR. R. SPEAKER: Mr. Speaker, a supplementary to the minister. Is it the intention of the government to

244 ALBERTA HANSARD March 11, 1977 provide funding for such a program through the herit age trust fund? MR. SPEAKER: It would seem that that question would also be answered in discussion on the estimates. Cooking Lake Study DR. BUCK: Mr. Speaker, my question is to the hon. Minister of the Environment. It's from the studies on the studies to study the studies on the Cooking Lake moraine. I'd like to know, Mr. Speaker, if the minister can indicate if his department is going to take up any project to increase and stabilize the water level of Cooking Lake. MR. RUSSELL: Well, that matter is still cooking, Mr.

Speaker. It's a pretty complex issue to deal with. There's a major problem with respect to involvement of large sections of privately owned land, as the member is obviously aware. Other than that, I can't report any further progress. DR. BUCK: Mr. Speaker, can the minister indicate if there is an RDA around the lake? MR. RUSSELL: I don't believe there is, Mr. Speaker. MR. BATIUK: Mr. Speaker, a supplementary to the minister. In reviewing the study of the Cooking Lake moraine, I noticed that fish and wildlife and recrea tion were centred. In no place did I see anything mentioned about agriculture.

It seems agriculture has been a very important part of that area. Could the minister advise whether this study was made intentionally for recreation, or is it a total package? MR. RUSSELL: No, Mr. Speaker, the study was really based upon what I would call a multi-use concept. My earlier answer to the Member for Clover Bar indicated we are concerned about the large tracts of productive land involved in any large-scale scheme. We're trying to consider that aspect of it, and that's why the matter has been rather quiet lately. Sulphur Dioxide Emissions Study MR. RUSSELL: Mr.

Speaker, while I'm on my feet I'd like to respond to two questions put to me earlier, one by the Member for Spirit River-Fairview with respect to a joint federal/provincial report on the Syncrude air pollution topic. He asked whether we have received the report. No, we haven't. The only thing I can find is what appears to be an unsigned draft of the federal point of view. But we don't yet have any joint report ready for consideration. Red Deer River (continued) MR. RUSSELL: I have more information for the hon. Member for Olds-Didsbury on the problem he raised with respect to the water intake.

I've been advised by memo since he asked the question that of course everyone knew the effluent discharge point was ups tream from the water intake point at the time. That was considered with the advantages and disadvan tages of other engineering aspects. The effluent is treated. It is released from the lagoon only once a year at high flow level and is perfectly safe. There's no reason for anyone to have any concern. It's not a new item which was brought to the attention of anybody. Coal Leases MR. TAYLOR: Mr.

Speaker, my question involves the excellent policy announced by the government to buy back coal leases that now become unworkable because of the new coal policy. My question to the hon. Minister of Energy and Natural Resources is: is a formula going to be used or is each lease going to be considered on its own merits? MR. GETTY: Mr. Speaker, the guidelines we've estab lished are to assess with the company the costs expended on a lease, then compensate them for those costs in return for the lease. ORDERS OF THE DAY head: GOVERNMENT MOTIONS 1. Moved by Mr. Hyndman

Be it resolved that Standing Order No. 5 be suspended in order that the Assembly may sit at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 11. [Motion carried] head: CONSIDERATION OF HIS HONOUR THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR'S SPEECH Moved by Mr. Miller.

That an humble address be presented to His Honour the Honourable the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta as follows: To His Honour the Honourable Ralph G Steinhauer, Lieutenant-Governor of the province of Alberta We, Her Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly, now assembled, beg leave to thank Your Honour for the gracious speech Your Honour has been pleased to address to us at the opening of the present session. [Adjourned debate: Mr. Hyland] MR. HYLAND: Mr.

Speaker, as I rise to continue my debate, I would like to mention that among the things in transportation that were finished in the Bow Island area this last year was a paved airport. It is going to be a great asset to the community in future years, I'm sure. I forgot to mention one thing, Mr. Speaker, when I was talking about irrigation. I gave many statistics on the number of pivots, but I forgot to note that in addition to this number of pivots there are also 300 to 350 of what we in irrigation circles call "side-roll systems", which irrigate a quarter section.

As I said, there are 350 of these as well as the amount of land that is flat enough to flood.

March 11, 1977 ALBERTA HANSARD 245 In the field of recreation, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to say a little on the Cypress Park hearings that created much stir in our area during the past year. These were public hearings. The department had assessed a report from a consultant, set out their position on the report, and put it out for public opinion. It was well debated in public. At most of the meetings, everybody had a chance to have their say. I'm sure the department learned a lot from the way the hear ings were carried out, and I'm sure it will be put to good use later on.

We must remember that, even if mistakes were made during this presentation, it had never been done before. Much of it was an exercise to find out what was the best way to approach this kind of program. Now, Mr. Speaker, we get into rural natural gas. Much has been said in the Legislature and in the papers in the last little while about rural natural gas and the Department of Utilities and Telephones. But it appears, Mr.

Speaker, that this program is getting off to a very good start, because for some reason many of the members who sat for a good number of years in this Legislature — sat on their hands and didn't do anything for rural natural gas — seem to want to get on the bandwagon now. Not only that, Mr. Speaker, even the news media want to get on the bandwagon. They want to take the praise for making it work. I quote: "part of the program's success can be probably attributed . . ." and it names the members of the opposition. It says they have burned up the phone lines to the depart ment since the program's inception.

Well, Mr. Speaker, this may be true, but they weren't the only ones burning up the lines to the department to make this a success. Mr. Speaker, there have been a lot of problems with engineers, the department, and the co-ops. But everybody has worked very hard together, and through communication and administration many of these problems have been solved. It's not all solved; nobody is saying this. But also it's been intimated that REAs were put up with just bang, nothing. Nothing went wrong, absolutely nothing at all, we've been led to believe.

But I've been told by members who were involved that sure wasn't all a pure exercise with no problems. And it worked. It's working now. To get back to rural gas: there have been a lot of things said on price ranges and the amount it would cost a person to get natural gas. Some of them undoubtedly haven't been right. But the people who are making this work are dedicated people. They have their minds made up that it's a good program. We know it's a good program. How many other provinces in Canada or anywhere else in the world have gas in rural areas? So we don't have to be told it's good. Neither do these people.

They're taking a lot of flak, but they're sure of what they're doing. They know it's going to work. Much praise is due to the local co-op directors, the Federation of Gas Co ops, and the people in the department who are now working very hard to make this program work. I hesitate to say, as I stand here, that I have an REA which celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary. Last night, I believe, they had their supper. [If] we stand here 25 years from now, we'll be talking about rural gas co-ops that are working. Mr. Speaker, I'd just like to make a short comment on national unity.

I believe we saw the greatest thing that has been done toward national unity in this province in a long while when the Premier of Nova Scotia was here the other day . . . AN HON. MEMBER: Newfoundland. MR. HYLAND: Newfoundland. Sorry about that. We don't want to get that mixed up. No comment. I don't want to say that and put it in Hansard. One thing that occasion brought to mind, Mr. Speaker, was a quote many years ago — I can't remember if I was watching television or if I read it in the paper — from a great Canadian, Louis St. Laurent, who said, I'm Canadian first and foremost. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. MR.

SPEAKER: May the hon. Member for Stony Plain revert to Introduction of Visitors? HON. MEMBERS: Agreed. head: INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS (reversion) MR. PURDY: Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure today to introduce to you and to the members of this Assem bly, 25 grade 6 students from the Seba Beach School. They are accompanied by their two teachers, one a former page of this Assembly, Donna Sanborn, and Dolores Soroka and their bus driver Mr. Wickware. I would ask them to rise and be recognized by the Assembly. head: CONSIDERATION OF HIS HONOUR THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR'S SPEECH (continued) MR. KOZIAK: Mr.

Speaker, I'm pleased to join with other members in expressing my delight in the fact that the Lieutenant-Governor was able to appear before us in full regalia when he read the Speech from the Throne, particularly when we appreciate that we are now in the throes of the centennial commemoration of the signing of treaties 6 and 7. I would also join others in complimenting the members for Lloydminster and Medicine Hat-Redcliff in their contributions to the throne speech debate. Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not join all members of this Assembly in complimenting you on your leadership.

I think that leadership is most impor tant at the very beginning of the day. This morning many of the members of this Assembly attended the ninth annual Premier's Prayer Breakfast, and you were among them. Mr. Speaker, the Speech from the Throne indicates there are things that government can do but many things governments cannot do. Among those things are those that can best be wrought by prayer.

It's my pleasure and, I think, my duty on this occasion in my contribution to the throne speech debate to indicate my support for the way in which you lead us in prayer every day in seeking the guidance of the Almighty in our deliberations in this House. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned when I introduced three award-winning essayists this morning, we are in Education Week; this is really the end of the week.

246 ALBERTA HANSARD March 11, 1977 The theme of Education Week this year is, Education Week every week — be involved. I reflect on my week, the time I have spent during Education Week, and question myself on the most significant thing I personally have done to be involved during Education Week.

I recall that on Monday, accompanied by the presi dent of the Alberta School Trustees' Association — who I notice is in the gallery this morning — the president of The Alberta Teachers' Association, and a representative of the Federation of Home and School Associations, I travelled by plane to visit a school at Hardisty and, following that, a school in Medicine Hat. During that visit we were able to meet with teachers and students right in the classroom and, on occasion, even participate in some of the educational experiences the children were enjoying.

I recall the debate in this Assembly on a very important resolution dealing with property tax distri bution. I recall my contributions during the course of cabinet meetings, during the course of sitting here in the Legislature, during the course of caucus. I reflect on all of these, and I think that none of these was important when compared with what I did on Wednesday. On Wednesday morning I listened to my son, and I took time from my normally busy

schedule to visit him in his school. I visited with my son in grade 8 and my daughters in grades 9 and 7. I joined them in their classes. Again in the evening I visited with a son in grade 1 and a daughter in grade 4 in their school classes. Mr. Speaker, I feel that was the most signifi cant thing I did during the past week to be involved in Education Week. Mr. Speaker, the significance of that event is brought out by a study brought to my attention some time ago, a study done in the United States of America and reported in the professional magazine of educators, Kappan.

The study was on the question of whether students achieve better in segregated schools or integrated schools; whether there is a dif ference in their achievement as a result of the color of their skin. The result, Mr. Speaker, was that it really didn't make any difference, in terms of achievement, whether the student attended a segre gated or an integrated school, or whether the stu dent's skin was black or white. The one factor that came through as most signifi cant in a student's achievement was the degree of parental support. Where that parental support was present and abundant, the student did well.

Where that parental support was lacking, in all likelihood the student did poorly. Now that's extremely significant, Mr. Speaker, when we consider some of the concerns being expressed today about the achievement of stu dents in our schools. Where parental support is present and abundant, students generally do well. Where it is lacking, they generally do poorly. So I say, Mr. Speaker, the most significant thing I did to be involved during Education Week was to visit with my children in their classrooms and in their schools.

I would hope that those members of this Assembly who have children in school would also take time from their busy schedules to do likewise. The teachers would be more than willing to have them in their classrooms, and I'm sure their children would be very pleased and proud that they would be there. This takes us, Mr. Speaker, to that aspect of the Speech from the Throne which deals with libraries. I'm very pleased that we are able in this session to provide greater support for libraries, as identified in the Speech from the Throne.

When we talk about literacy — after all, literacy is really the ability to read, to express yourself in writing and orally. If one cannot read, one does not have the foundation of literacy. I'd like to pick up the thread of the remarks con tained in the speech given so eloquently by the Member for Medicine Hat-Redcliff. Throughout his remarks he tied the role and responsibility of the parent and the community in terms of providing some of the needed services and discharging some of the responsibilities society has and which government can't properly discharge.

Someone once said that the best place to learn to read is on your mother's knee. That again takes us back, Mr. Speaker, to how a parent should be involved in the education of his or her child by showing an interest. With the emphasis on libraries, I would hope that people throughout the province of Alberta recognize that all reading cannot take place in the school. Parents who have certain musical ambitions for their children, whether it be in piano or any other instru ment, ensure that those children receive lessons.

More than likely those lessons take place on a weekly basis, perhaps half an hour to an hour a week. But I'm sure we would all be surprised if the student taking those lessons restricted practice on that instrument to the time that was taken during the lessons. It's expected, Mr. Speaker, that a student in music will continue daily to practise those lessons learnt during the half hour or hour spent with the teacher. The same goes with reading. We can't expect that students will become proficient just by the lessons they receive in school.

Parents have to ensure, have to take an interest and see that their children in fact are reading at home instead of watching television, which seems to be the norm for modern-day society. It's been said that by the time today's student has finished grade 12, he will probably have spent twice as much time before a television set as he will have in school. That time is time that's under the control of the parent, not of the teacher. It would be useful for parents in our society in Alberta perhaps to con sider the reduction of that time and the use of that time in other areas, such as reading.

I would hope the emphasis on libraries found in the Speech from the Throne will be brought home to parents through out the province, making them understand some of their responsibilities and obligations in the education of their children. Mr. Speaker, the Speech from the Throne outlines that education is and continues to be a priority of this government.

One of the concerns this Legislature will be dealing with over the course of the spring and fall sessions will be assessment of the goals and objectives of education and a determination of the priorities which should be attributed to some, all, or none of these goals. Hon. members will recognize a notice of motion placed on the Order Paper in my name for debate, a discussion on goals and objectives of education. It's not my intention this morning to delve deeply into that subject. However, I would like to say I would

March 11, 1977 ALBERTA HANSARD 247 hope that when the motion comes up for debate all members will participate, but before they participate that they take the pains to become fully informed. If they intend to criticize, let that criticism be construc tive and come from a base of knowledge which could well include a visit to some of the schools in their constituencies and attendance upon some of the classes in progress. Mr. Speaker, I hope we do not emulate those segments of society who, speaking from a large pool of ignorance, criticize the profits of the business world.

Leaving for a future debate the matter of goals of education, Mr. Speaker, I would like to spend some time this morning on the matters of student achieve ment and examinations, and touch a bit on the Curri culum Policies Board. I believe the Curriculum Policies Board has met five or six times, Mr. Speaker. On the basis of its recommendations an announcement was made early this year on the revision of the elementary mathema tics program, a revision which, from the comments I have read and heard from educators and parents, has been accepted widely throughout the province.

Prob ably a great deal of the reason for that acceptance is the input by teachers and school boards that has been evidenced in the program, and the fact that the program had been piloted in a number of schools very successfully. The Curriculum Policies Board as well will be looking very deeply into the matter of goals and objectives of education, as I indicated earlier in the Assembly during the course of a question posed to me. Perhaps I can move on now, Mr.

Speaker, to the matter of examinations, which of course is of interest and is mentioned in the Speech from the Throne in the following fashion: "Further consideration will be given to the place of provincial examinations in our educational system." The first of a series of high school achievement tests was administered on January 10, 1977, Mr. Speaker, to all Biology 30 students completing their programs at the end of the first semester. The test was written by 5,271 students. The significant thing about the number who wrote, Mr.

Speaker, was that they represented approximately 94 per cent of those eligible to write. That's consistent with the percent age that existed when compulsory departmental examinations existed in this province. What's signifi cant is that these examinations were not compulsory. So we had basically the same percentage of eligible students writing the non-compulsory high school achievement test as would write the compulsory de partmental examination. The same test was administered in the 1974-75 term to a select group of students. In that particular case the test was administered at the end of the first semester.

I give you these facts so the significance in terms of the marks I will subsequently supply you with is borne out. On this occasion the students wrote the examination three weeks before the com pletion of the semester. So they hadn't completed all the work they would normally be doing. The reason for the early date was to ensure that the students received their marks before the expiration of the semester they were in.

Some of the significant findings are as follows: the average raw score in 1977 for this examination was 69, as compared to a lower raw score of 66 two years previous; 70 per cent of the students this year scored above 50 per cent,

whereas 63 per cent did so in 1975. In 1975, 21 per cent scored above the 65 per cent level, and this increased to 26 per cent in the 1977 examination. I will not go into other statistics but they are available should any hon. member desire them in connection with this examination. However, they seem to indicate that the achievement by stu dents in biology has improved over the past two years. It seems the major concern in terms of achieve ment of students rests with their use of the English language, the level of literacy, and the quality of English essay writing.

There has been considerable criticism of essays as the exclusive test of English literacy. Perhaps hon. members saw the report in one of the eastern newspapers — I believe it was at the University of Toronto that an essay type of examination was administered to students, and the freshman student pass rate was 56 per cent. As a result, in subsequent discussions and contro versy, a number of other people decided to write the same examination. These included university English professors, high school English teachers, trustees, and newspaper and editorial writers. [interjections] The hon.

Member for Drayton Valley questions whether any MLAs wrote the examination. I'm sure that if members of this Assembly would like to write the examination, time and services could be made available so we could see the results and compare them with the results of others. [interjections] The interesting thing, Mr. Speaker, was that the university professors averaged 7I.6 per cent on this examination. That compared to 76.1 per cent for the high school English teachers. The highest were the editorial writers at 78.3 per cent. This wouldn't include Dr. Proudfoot because he is of course a pro fessor at the university.

Trustees came in at 61.4 per cent. I have the sneaking suspicion, Mr. Speaker, that if MLAs were to write the test they would probably come in around the trustee level. [interjections] We have all heard, Mr. Speaker, the comments of the business world that essay writing isn't the most significant thing they expect of students graduating from our systems. As a matter of fact, they place much higher on the level of needed skills: verbal proficiency, telephone manner, vocal clarity, and report writing. All these come well above essay writ ing in terms of what's needed of a student in the business world today.

And a substantial part, if not all, of our communication in this Assembly, Mr. Speaker, is verbal, through our speaking and listening skills. As a matter of fact, we're aided considerably by the qualified Hansard staff, Mr. Speaker, in some of the corrections they make, and in providing the proper spelling and punctuation. If we were required to do this, I wonder how well we would fare. No, Mr. Speaker, literacy is not just expressive essay writing. It includes reading, receiving the spo ken and written message, and translating sounds and sights into meaning, feeling, reacting, and responding.

The Department of Education is working on a comprehensive test of English literacy. Preparation of the test has been given highest priority. There are already over 80 teachers and educators working on items that must be included. The pretesting of a large

248 ALBERTA HANSARD March 11, 1977 number of prospective items will involve from 300 to 500 classrooms in Alberta this spring. From these pretests, final items will be selected. Last fall I announced in this Assembly the com mencement of the high school achievement tests. At that time I indicated that four tests — biology, chemi stry, physics, and mathematics — were ready and would be administered, probably two a year.

I also indicated at that time that the tests which were then in the process of being prepared were social studies, French, and English, and that we expected the Eng lish examination to be ready for the 1978-79 or perhaps 1979-80 year. As a result of concerns ex pressed to me in this area, I've asked the department to shorten the time line on the preparation of this examination, and to give priority to the English litera cy examination over all others. We expect as a result to have a high school achievement examination in English available in all likelihood for June 1978.

There are other considerations of course that we will have to face in terms of proficiency in language arts. Such concerns are: should English be taught on a semester basis, or is it more proper to teach it on a year-round basis? In other words, is the semester system, which may be good for some subjects, the proper system to use in the teaching of English? Should we be considering a return to the situation of a few years ago where, to obtain a high school diploma, 20 credits in English were required, as opposed to 15 credits? What is the role of second languages in terms of proficiency in English?

As hon. members appreciate, there is no longer a necessity for a second language in terms of the high school diploma. Does the studying of another language im prove one's proficiency in English? Or can it be said about languages as about history, that one cannot know Canada if one only knows Canada? Maybe the same applies to the English language, that one can not really know English if one only knows English. Because in the comparative work of studying Latin, French, and other languages, one strengthens knowl edge and ability in the English language. Last fall, Mr.

Speaker, I announced the establish ment of the Minister's Advisory Committee on Stu dent Achievement. The committee is comprised of representatives from teacher, trustee, superintend ent, home and school associations, and has members from labor, commerce, advanced education, and the university community. The committee has been charged with the responsibility of identifying solid evidence as to the achievement of students in our schools. The committee has met three times to date and has established a number of working groups.

Last fall in this Assembly a resolution was passed requesting the government to consider the effect of the non-compulsory nature of grade 12 departmental examinations on the quality of education in Alberta today. This resolution was referred to the committee and has received immediate attention. Their study is presently under way, and I expect that the results of that study will be available for your deliberation this fall.

Concurrently, a resolution of the Alberta School Trustees' Association in annual convention, to make compulsory a test in the basic skills of English before issuing a high school diploma, is also being consid ered by this committee. I'm pleased that this morning I was able to approve a study by this committee in connection with student achievement in grade 3. We are very fortunate that two well-known educators, former Dean Coutts and Dr. Clarke, were able to secure grade 3 examinations given in 1956 in the city of Edmonton — I believe approximately 3,600 in number — in mathematics, reading, and language.

Through this study we will be able to replicate an examination to administer to grade 3 students not only in Edmonton but through out the province, and be able as a result to make a comparison of the achievement of students today with students 21 years ago under similar circumstances. The Minister's Advisory Committee on Student Achievement will be studying the levels of achieve ment of students at levels 3, 6, 9, and 12 in all of these areas. During the course of the two years in which they will be working in these areas, we expect to receive reports on an ongoing basis.

Talking about the level of achievement of students in Alberta, I note that the hon. Member for Lethbridge West in his comments on the throne speech debate took pride in the level of achievement of the students in his area of the province. The information that comes to me is that in the administration of a similar examination, a test of basic skills given in British Columbia and in Lethbridge, students in Lethbridge were almost a grade ahead of similar students in British Columbia. Mr. Speaker, we've long been aware of the disad vantage that some in our schools have.

Social back ground, economic deprivation, cultural differences of some of the parts that make up the mosaic of Alberta society have created for some children a serious educational disadvantage. The government has coun tered such disadvantage by differential treatment. In 1973 the compensatory component of the education al opportunities fund was established. The Speech from the Throne announced further details and fur ther attention to the program. I'd like to give you additional details this morning.

But before doing so, perhaps a brief description of some of the programs available throughout the prov ince might interest hon. members. In Lac La Biche, for example, some beginners arrive at school so shy of the white culture that the teacher is unable to coax them to state their names. A native-speaking teach er's aide and a full-time special teacher provide instruction to a group of 13 beginners to develop reading readiness, oral language, and willingness to participate actively. At the Dr.

Swift Junior High School, small groups of grades 7 and 8 pupils use the specially-equipped learning assistance centre to im prove basic skills and reading mathematics. At Cas- lan, 18 students are organized into five small groups for special instruction. These go on and on. In the High Prairie School Division, a compensatory project for over $300,000 provided special reading instruction packages for seven schools. Selected pupils were assigned to resource rooms for intensive corrective exercises using these materials.

In Edmonton, teachers have provided basic English to over 240 immigrant children at Alex Taylor over the past three years. It might be of interest to members of this Assembly, Mr. Speaker, to know that collectively the 219 students attending Alex Taylor this year speak over 30 non-English lan guages. At eight other inner-city schools, the com

March 11, 1977 ALBERTA HANSARD 249 pensatory language arts reading program for grades 1 and 2 students resulted in dramatic gains in language arts and reading achievement. The list of the suc cesses of this particular program goes on and on, Mr. Speaker: Calgary, the Northland School Division. Mr. Speaker, we are reinforcing our priorities by extending the compensatory education program for a further four-year period. Two million dollars will be available for the 1977-78 school term for approxi mately 20 school systems, mostly northern, to oper ate compensatory programs.

The projects will be for selected students in grades 1 to 12 who are achieving levels appreciably below the average. In rural areas a per-pupil assessment for tax pur poses of under $6,000 will be one of the factors. This compares with the provincial average of approximate ly $12,000 per student. The provisions of the fund provide for special inner-city schools in Edmonton and Calgary. A total of $.5 a million is made available for these systems in these two cities. The emphasis of the compensatory portion of the program, Mr.

Speaker, will continue to be on direct assistance to pupils through teaching staff, aides, and materials. The thrust will be in the area of basic skills. When we get into the secondary educational system, the thrust may also include attention to per sonal attitudes and vocational skills. I believe I have knowledge of the contents of that note, Mr. Speaker, and I'll move along quickly. I'm not clairvoyant, but I can tell time. On the topic of educational disadvantage, Mr. Speaker: in 1971 when this government took office, 551 special education teaching positions were in place.

This represented approximately 2.5 per cent of the 22,000 teachers then teaching in the province. I'll quickly move on, Mr. Speaker, without going through the years in between, to say that that's been increased, as indicated in the Speech from the Throne, to the point where this year we expect the total to be 1,500; in other words, an increase of three times over that five-year period. I know how anxious the other members are to contribute to this throne speech debate.

I'll take no further time but will just confirm again my personal feeling that in the area of the disadvantaged we have made long strides over the past number of years, strides that maybe don't show today in terms of the results given for grade 12 students, but over the long period of time will show excellent results of which all of us in this Assembly can justly be proud. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. MR. PURDY: Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure today to rise during this wind-up of the throne speech debate and talk a bit about the Stony Plain constituency, the province as I see it, and a couple of other issues.

First of all I'd like to offer my congratulations to the hon. Member for Lloydminster and the hon. Member for Medicine Hat-Redcliff for their contributions in moving and seconding the throne speech. When the Lieutenant-Governor entered the Chamber on February 24 dressed in his Indian rega lia, it made me feel quite proud to be an Albertan and to be involved in this Assembly. I guess one of the main reasons for that, Mr. Speaker, is that I represent three Indian reserves in the Stony Plain constituency.

In the last four or five months we've heard com ments aired by the members of the opposition and by other people that our cabinet ministers and other people of the government are inaccessible. In January before leaving on holidays, I was doing some travelling in the constituency and listening to a talk- back show on my car radio. On three mornings in a row, I heard the Minister of Transportation one day, the Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs one day, and the Minister of Labour the following day. There are others I've probably missed. I think the hon.

Minister of Advanced Education and Manpower was on too. I'm sure a number of ministers have been on this particular talk-back show. The people of Alberta have certainly had a chance to air their views in this way. They've made some comments that the Premier is not accessible. That's so much nonsense, because he is as accessible as any of the other cabinet minis ters. I think he was on a talk-back show just before Christmas, when he spent two hours by the tele phone to get the views of people. Then he always has various TV talk-back shows on the different TV channels.

I'd just like to relate a story to this Assembly about a meeting we had with the Minister of Housing and Public Works in the latter part of January. It was with regard to a proposed provincial building the town of Spruce Grove wants. The chamber of commerce asked me if I could set up a meeting with the minister so we could discuss the proposals. I said, well, I can't see any problem. Right now the minister is away in Miami vacationing; he won't be back until the latter part of January, but I'll see what we can do.

So I phoned them back a day later and said, we have the meeting set up — I think it was for January 26. This person said to me, how could you get it set up so quickly when this is January 15? I said, well, the minister keeps contact with his office back in Edmon ton, and when he phoned, he advised them to go ahead and set up the meeting. I'm sorry to see that the Member for Clover Bar is not in his place. The other day during his contribu tion to the throne speech he talked about the Game Farm. I take a different attitude than he does on the Game Farm, because I feel the Game Farm is not part of Alberta.

How can you say a camel or a giraffe is part of Alberta's history? I'm opposed to the govern ment buying the Game Farm outright. I think there are other ways it can be done. I couldn't see spending $8 million to purchase the Game Farm outright. How could I go back to my constituents and say, that school proposed for one of the towns out there, or that overpass we hope to get at Onoway some day, or the addition to the hospital at Stony Plain has been cut out of the budget, because the opposition wants to buy the Game Farm? So I'd like to ask the hon. member where his priori ties are.

At one time they talk about government restraints and cutting back on the size of the civil service. Then he said the other day, let's take over the Game Farm, hire another 40 or 50 people to look after it. I just can't see the validity of some of his statements. The other day in the House the Minister of Housing and Public Works made the announcement in regard to phase two of the senior citizen home improvement program. It's apparent that the Leader of the Opposi tion was not listening in 1975 when the program was first announced, because it was quite clear to me

250 ALBERTA HANSARD March 11, 1977 when the program was announced that anybody on the assured income plan would be eligible for it. He rose in the House the other day and said, I remember the minister making the statement in 1975 that all people over 65 would be eligible at that time, why are we going ahead with phase two? I think when announcements are made, members of the opposition should look at them and get their facts straight. The other day the Minister of Agriculture an nounced that the government would have to get more involved with the lamb processing plant at Innisfree.

The Leader of the Opposition made the following statement, Mr. Speaker: I think the co-op has little alternative other than to accept the government's offer, and I would hope that in the future we wouldn't get involved in [any] more of these kinds of endeavors. Now I just don't know what he's talking about, "these kinds of endeavors". The development corporation has done a lot for agribusiness in this province. If he's saying we should cut out these types of endeav ors, I think we would go back into the bleak economic picture we had in Alberta in the 1960s in regard to agriculture.

By the year ending December 31, 1976, ADC made available loans amounting to $43 million for a 154 different agribusinesses. Just to acquaint the members with what these loans do: These agribusiness, because of their develop mental nature and an above average level of risk, could not secure reasonable financing from con ventional lenders. However, as the concept of their ventures had merit in relation to the overall agricultural industry, the corporation assisted them to secure the required financing by supply ing a guarantee of their borrowings. As I say, we have loaned to 154 organizations.

Twenty-six haven't been paid back in full. A couple are in trouble right now. Figuring this out, I come down to about 5 per cent failure. That's not bad for high-risk capital. Chartered banks in this country look at 5 per cent failure, not including high-risk. We only have to look at some of the agribusinesses that are doing quite well in this province right now. Maybe the hon. Leader of the Opposition should look at Didsbury Feeders Ltd. It's a feedlot that had been set up in Didsbury. This person in Didsbury is making money on this venture, even when we have de pressed cattle prices at the present time.

There's a potato-processing plant at Taber that's doing real well; an alfalfa plant at Falher; Foothills Veterinary Clinic at Cardston; Hyland Producers Limited, the egg processors at Two Hills; Hood Manu facturing Enterprises at Evansburg, who are doing peat moss; High Point Cleaning, a Seed-cleaning pro cessor at Hussar; Northland Feed & Farm Supplies, another feed mill at Grande Prairie; pig improvement for breeding purposes at Acme; a cheese factory at Glenwood; Wings Foods of Alberta in Edmonton; Big Red Industries, a sod farm at St. Albert; Alberta Bean Growers at Bow Island.

I've just picked a number of these that show we have an expanded type of agri business for the people of Alberta. It's also interest ing to note, looking at the 154 businesses, that only two or three are located in the metropolitan areas. The rest are out in the farming communities, where they should be. With regard to farm lending, this program is going over real well too. Farmers have borrowed directly from banks, with no guarantee of the government — under $50,000 per operation — a total of $76 million which is equivalent to 11,375 farmers.

The Agricul tural Development Corporation has also lent starter farmers $3.5 million. There has been $8 million for [specific] loans. So I think the Agricultural Develop ment Corporation is doing its rightful [job] in the agricultural industry in this province. We also look at the Alberta Opportunity Company. I saw a write-up the other day: The AOC, a provincial lending agency that trans cends the limitation of private-sector financing institutions says the loans will help establish 19 new Alberta businesses, renovate or expand 36 existing businesses, and create an estimated 128 new jobs.

They were discussing the 49 loans, totalling $2,875 million, for the months of December and January. I know the people of rural Alberta especially are appreciative of the Alberta Opportunity Company and the Agricultural Development Corporation for their contribution in the field of agriculture and economic diversification of this province. The hon. Minister of Education spoke before me about education. I will be involved more in this debate when the resolution comes before us. During the month of December, Mr. Speaker, I sent a questionnaire to the people of my constituency.

I would just like to take a couple of minutes to share the results of this questionnaire with the members of this Assembly. Six questions were asked. The partic ipation was excellent, in my view. It was broken down into yes or no, and I've had my research staff in the constituency break it into percentages. The first one was in regard to farm policy: In view of the fact that the federal government is reluctant to introduce any stabilization programs for the cow-calf operator or the hog producer do you feel hat: (

a) the provincial government should increase subsidies so that the farmer can keep up to the cost of production? Yes was 43, and against, 57. (

b) dairy quotas should be increased to allow a suitable market condition within Alberta? Eighty-three of the people said yes, and 17 were against. (

c) the government should be involved in any type of stabilization programs for the farming industry? Forty-six per cent said yes, 54 per cent said no. Now here's another difficult one that we've got to come to grips with fairly soon and that is land use: Our government has to make some decisions next spring with regard to: (

A) Subdivision of agricultural land. (

a) Do you agree with the present policy that will permit subdivision of grazing land and grey- wooded areas for country residential purposes? Seventy per cent of the constituents said yes, 30 per cent said no. (

b) Do you agree with the policy of urban annexa tion into 1, 2 and 3 soils? Here it must have been a split between the urban and the farm communities, because it was 50-50. (

B) Foreign Ownership. Should the government introduce legislation to

March 11, 1977 ALBERTA HANSARD 251 prevent: (

a) ownership of agricultural-recreational lands by Canadians other than Albertans? It was 15 per cent yes, 85 per cent no. LENGTH 200 (

b) ownership of agricultural or recreational lands by non-Canadians? It was 77 per cent yes, and 23 per cent no. So I think we've got the feeling from that constituency on for eign ownership. Housing (

a) Do you favor a speculation tax being intro duced in an attempt to reduce the cost of ser viceable lots for housing? Fifty-fifty, Mr. Speaker. There was a write-in ques tion here: What would you recommend [to reduce] the cost of affordable housing?" They talk about a varied number here. Some of them talk about relax ing the subdivision and planning time. Some of them say that government should stay out of the market place and let the developers look after it.

Number 4 was in regard to the gas rebate plan: At the present time the provincial government, through the natural gas rebate plan, has shelter ed Alberta gas consumers by an average of $60 per customer per year. In view of the fact that the price of natural gas will increase in 1977, do you agree with [the continuation of] this plan at a cost of upwards of $70 million to you, the taxpayer? Sixty-seven per cent said yes, 23 per cent said no.

I'm sorry to see the Attorney General is out, because this is in regard to matrimonial property: Our government is considering legislation per taining to community property settlement in cases of complete marriage breakdown. With a view to formulating legislation, do you favor: (a) "no fault" divorce? Seventy-five per cent, yes; 25 per cent, no. "Equal division of community property": 54 per cent, yes; 46 per cent, no. "Child support payments to the parent gaining custody": 86 per cent, yes; 14 per cent, no.

"Adjustment of alimony payments in accordance with a change in the financial status of either party": 62 per cent, yes; 28 per cent, no. "A cost of living clause incorporated into the settle ment": 92 per cent, yes; 8 per cent, no. "Marriage counselling prior to issuing a marriage licence": 83 per cent, yes; 17 per cent, no. Here's one for the Minister of Transportation: "Hi ghway Safety — do you favor: (

a) reducing the speed limit on highways?" Forty-three per cent said yes, 57 per cent said no. For "legislation which would require the use of seat belts": 29 per cent, yes; 71 per cent, no. "Safety inspection of used vehicles prior to resale": 84 per cent, yes; 16 per cent, no. "Safety inspection extended to periodic inspection of all vehic les": 71 per cent, yes; 29 per cent, no. So I think the results of that particular questionnaire have given me some guidance on the views of the constituents. When the hon.

Member for Drayton Valley spoke in this House last Thursday. [he] was still speaking about a new county of Drayton Valley, cutting up the counties of Leduc, Wetaskiwin, and Parkland. This has been a topic for discussion in the constituency. I oppose this for a number of obvious reasons. I guess the most obvious reason is that when the first bound aries were drawn, I guess it was December 1973, they stated the area should include an area approxi mately west of Tomahawk. All of a sudden, they changed the boundaries to include the Sundance generating station and two gas plants in the county of Leduc.

In my submission to the Municipal and School Boundaries Advisory Com mittee, I said it was obvious that assessment was a criterion in the change of these boundaries. With the proposed plant coming into the Keephills area, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if they bring in an amendment to have the boundary shifted further east to include this area. The Drayton Valley area ratepayers stated five rea sons for creation of a new county. They said, "(1) general dissatisfaction with road conditions".

They may have that in the counties of Leduc or Wetaski win, but it certainly isn't true in the Drayton Valley area. (2) services directed from location[s] too far from the economic and cultural centre of the community: (3) present school boundaries outdated: (4) agricultural services inadequate: (5) lack of recreational facilities. I oppose this, being in the county of Parkland as an elected representative and as a taxpayer. I comment ed on the five points in a brief I submitted to the boundaries commission two years ago. I stated:

(1) In travelling the County of Parkland, the ques tion of road conditions is always a topic for dis cussion. As a ratepayer of the County of Park land and as a provincial elected representative, I feel that all areas of the County get a fair share of monies available, either through the mill rate assessment or provincial grants. Number two was the question about services too far from the community: Any services directed from locations too far from the economic and cultural centre of the commu nity is no fault of the elected . . . Council [of Parkland] but [is] a problem of poor planning by local people.

The third one was "school boundaries outdated". I think we have proven with the tuition agreement signed about 10 years ago by the county of Parkland and the town of Devon that school boundaries can be changed to look after existing situations. The number 4 point was "agricultural services inadequate", and I stated: I do not understand that agricultural services are presently inadequate as the Province has a D.A. and the County has an Agricultural Fieldman located in Drayton Valley . . . They are there to look after the people's needs.

Number 5 was "lack of recreational facilities", and I responded: The lack of recreational facilities is no fault of the County of Parkland . . . In 1971, a grant system was structured where monies were made availa ble on a matching basis. Some communities in . . . Parkland have taken advantage of this plan. So I still question the formation of a new county in this area. As my summation to the boundaries commission said: At the present time, the residents of the County of Parkland enjoy a low mill rate because of high industrial tax assessment. If the boundaries are changed and a new county is formed, it will

252 ALBERTA HANSARD March 11, 1977 include the Sundance Generating Station with an approximate assessment of $30 million which will increase to between $80 million and $100 million by the time all units are commissioned. The residents of the new county will enjoy a [new] mill rate while the residents of the County of Parkland will see an increased mill rate. By comparing estimates for the two counties involved, with the proposed new County of Dray ton Valley and the remainder of the County of Parkland, I think it is like robbing Peter to pay Paul.

We have the proposed new County of Dray ton Valley with an estimated assessment in the neighbourhood of [$52 million] while the County of Parkland [would] have an assessment of ap proximately [$26 million]. There are recent ongoing discussions in regard to the Enoch Band proposal on the Enoch Indian Re serve located just outside the city of Edmonton. I support the Enoch Band in what they are trying to do.

I think it's a new venture in development on Indian reserves, and the sooner we can get amendments brought in by the federal government and the provin cial government to allow this to go ahead, it will be a lot better for everybody concerned. I think they could probably make affordable housing available on the Indian reserve which some people now cannot afford. We have the city of Edmonton opposing this because it is too close to their boundaries. I then question, why did we put a restricted development area in? Because this is on the west side of that restricted development area.

I'd just like to share with the members what's happening on the Enoch Reserve right now. They have just recently commissioned a trailer factory, which is making a number of trailers of different sizes. They have a very healthy potato industry. They are involved in grain farming. They have the oil and gas royalties. They also have many, many new homes coming up on the reserve. They also have the office — I had the pleasure of participating in the opening of it just after Christmas — funded through AADAC, where their counsellors are trained and sent out into the other areas to look after native drinking problems.

The Indian chiefs held a meeting in Edmonton, which concluded two weeks ago today. I followed that meeting with some interest in that I know a number of Indian chiefs throughout the province of Alberta. In some of the things they were doing, I think they have a solid background in what they're trying to propose. The one area I really concurred with them — and I've stated it to this government on a couple of dif ferent occasions — is in regard to policing on Indian reserves and bringing in the constables as they did.

When they had the supernumerary constable under the RCMP, I think they were a lot better off than they are right now. The Indians are saying they're being harassed and so on. There were charges from the Alexander Reserve, and there have been charges from other reserves. To have a functional police force, I think we have to go the way Enoch did and have members of whatever force it is — the RCMP or a special force — on that reserve. They cannot police it from 20 miles out as some areas are trying to do.

Another point I'd like to speak on very quickly is the two summer villages in the constituency; namely, Alberta Beach and Seba Beach. Their populations are about 1,200 for Alberta Beach and probably 300 for Seba Beach. Both villages attract thousands of peo ple in the summer time. Through the Department of Municipal Affairs, we have been instrumental in get ting extra grants for these villages, starting in 1972, because of the extra costs incurred. But we've got to look very seriously at sewage problems that are happening.

Mind you, we've come in with regulations under The Public Health Act say ing they have to have pump-out septic tanks and so on. But as far as I'm concerned, when you're using outdoor toilets and so on, you're going to get ground water contamination. We have the sewage programs available to our villages, but I don't feel they fit the bill for our summer villages that haven't got that assessment base so they can obtain grants on a per capita basis. The constituency of Stony Plain has thrived quite a bit in the last year. Industrial development is going ahead every day.

We now have in front of the Energy Resources Conservation Board, starting on March 15, a proposal for a new thermal generating station located in the Keephills area. Because of the impend ing hearings, I will not make any comment on them at this time. But an

article I received the other day says approx imately 30 million tons of coal are mined in Canada right now. It's interesting to note, Mr. Speaker, that 10 million tons of this comes from the Stony Plain constituency, for power generation being at the Sun dance generating station at Wabamun. I think a lot of other areas of Canada are looking at what's happen ing in regard to reclamation at the Sundance plant at Lake Wabamun. Calgary Power recently undertook, I guess it was in 1963, to do the first reclamation.

In 1976 they decided to experiment with some of the alfalfa they had seeded and also to plough up about 5 acres of land to see if it would return any type of crop. In 1976 they seeded 5 acres to barley in five different plots. Each plot had a different concentration of ferti lizer. The average yield for the barley was 35.5 bushels to the acre. The field wasn't seeded until June 14, and we had a very dry year until some time in August, when we did get some rain. They also undertook to cut and bale 258 acres of alfalfa. The alfalfa went from 1.75 to 2 tons an acre, which I think is pretty significant.

I have a number of brochures I'd like to table with the Assembly. I think there should be one for every member, and they can see exactly what's taking place out there. The other thing that concerns me in the little hamlet of Wabamun where I live is the recent groups who have been out there recently attempting to tell the utility company that it should stop putting hot water into the lake, trying to force it into a cooling tower situation.

As a resident of the area — and I'm sure the other 700 people feel the same as I do — if we were forced to cooling towers in that hamlet, in the winter when the temperature dropped to zero Celsius we would live in nothing but a fog bank. In summer the noise from these cooling towers would be horrendous. The main group trying to do this is local cottage owners who are not full-time residents. They live in the city of Edmonton and come out to the Wabamun area and spend three or four months there.

March 11, 1977 ALBERTA HANSARD 253 In 1971 Calgary Power started a weed harvesting program on Lake Wabamun. In 1973 they removed 3,600 tons of weeds from the lake; in 1974 they removed 5,200 tons; in 1975, and this is a significant figure, only 330 tons; and in 1976, only 280 tons. So we now have the biologists baffled. They don't know what's taking place. But regarding the lake, I can relate to other people, as I did on Wednesday night at a senior citizens' do at Wabamun — they said, we remember the weeds out here 50 years ago. Just to wind up, Mr.

Speaker, anything forced to be done such as cooling towers, cooling ponds, or envi ronmental control is [in] direct relationship to the consumer in the province. It's a direct result of the rate base these companies claim for expenses. My last and final comment, Mr. Speaker, is that I had the opportunity to speak to a group of school children in the hamlet of Duffield on Saturday morn ing, starting off Education Week. One of the students asked me, do you favor the Mackenzie Valley pipe line? I said that because of the situation in the United States, I would like to see the line go through.

At that time I said, it's no reflection upon what the thinking may be in our caucus, but that's my own opinion. I said, if you look out that window you can see the CN line that runs from eastern Canada to Vancouver. If we'd had these environmental groups around in 1908, that line probably wouldn't be running through there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. DR. PAPROSKI: Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the hon. member would permit a question for clarification. MR. PURDY: Certainly. DR. PAPROSKI: Mr.

Speaker, in regard to the com ments about the Alberta Game Farm, I wonder if the hon. member would indicate to the House whether he agrees with the set direction of the government; that is, to provide partial positive support to buy the land and lease it back at $1 per year to a non-profit community or foundation that has . . . DR. BUCK: You already made your speech, Ken. DR. PAPROSKI: . . . financial and managerial capability. MR. PURDY: Well, Mr. Speaker, I more or less said that when I was winding up in regard to the remarks of the Member for Clover Bar.

I don't want to see the government go out and buy that Game Farm com pletely. If some other organization wants to do it, they can do it, but not for 100 per cent government subsidization. DR. PAPROSKI: Mr. Speaker, one final question, and I agree with the hon. member. Does the member agree that this Alberta Game Farm has substantial value with respect to . . . [interjections] MR. SPEAKER: It's difficult at this time to revert to a question period type of interrogation. DR. PAPROSKI: Well, Mr. Speaker, with respect . . . MR. SPEAKER: I would respectfully suggest to the hon. member that perhaps he and the hon.

Member for Stony Plain might avail themselves of another occasion. MR. STEWART: Mr. Speaker, as this debate closes on this subject, I as the Member for Wainwright wel come the opportunity to express a few views of my constituents. To start with, I would like to congratulate the mover and seconder who started off this great debate, the Member for Lloydminster and the Member for Medi cine Hat-Redcliff. I think they set a very high tone, and I've been very pleased to sit and listen to the many viewpoints that have been expressed.

I think the parliamentary system of allowing each member his opportunity to stand and express himself in de bate on current subjects is very precious. While sometimes we feel that debate can be long and tire some, I think a real function takes place in this House. I think we should be proud of the high calibre we have maintained here. I would like to start, Mr.

Speaker, with the opening paragraphs from the Speech from the Throne: My government recognizes that there is a devel oping consensus [among] Albertans that they may be asking too much of the government, that expectations must be reduced, and that desirable but non-essential activities must be the personal responsibility of the citizen, the parent, the fami ly, and the community. Mr. Speaker, I heard one member of the opposition take exception to this statement.

I feel a large number of people believe our government has got to recognize — and we are recognizing — there is a limit to how much government involvement can take place while still retaining the philosophy we stand for: that this is a free-enterprise country and certain basic things are the responsibility of the family. I think our schools are a prime example. We are hearing that there is a return to the basics. There is a time and a place where family responsibility has to take priority.

I believe that although we have drifted away, in the last few years, from the realization that more responsibilities have to be at a family level rather than under the jurisdiction of government or any other phase of society, it is coming back. I believe the five basic priorities you've all read in the Speech from the Throne are very timely, and I can certainly agree that they should be the five priorities in this coming session. I won't take any more time on that subject, because I would like an opportunity at a later date to discuss some of these in greater length.

The Alberta economy has been heated up with our natural resource development. I think we have to recognize that our basic agricultural economy has not enjoyed that same sort of economic stability. Our prices in both livestock and grain have been at such a depressed point that our agricultural economy is now riding a very tight rein to compete for goods, services, and manpower at a time when our oil industry and other developments are demanding and able to offer more money than our agricultural industry can com pete with. I think this is something we have to live with.

I don't think it's something that can be legislated. I think it should be recognized that our basic indus try could be in jeopardy at the same time the rest of

254 ALBERTA HANSARD March 11, 1977 our province is riding on a very high plane. I think this government does recognize this fact. Any way we as legislators can ease the pressure and carry the thought to the whole country that agriculture is basic, does not set its own prices, and has to compete for manpower, goods, and services with a buoyant economy, is certainly a worth-while effort. I'm concerned, Mr. Speaker, that in this province we have a high mortgage load developing on our whole economy.

I think we should recognize the fact, with inflated prices, inflation in land values, that possibly we could be getting into a very tight money situation where adverse weather conditions could suddenly tip the balance and some of our economy could not survive a period of resulting drought and depression. Going on, Mr. Speaker, I think the restraint pro gram our government initiated in last year's budget was wholly supported. I think we've got to recognize that certain priorities [cannot] be held under the complete control of an established rate of expendi ture. But I'm pleased with the results.

I think curbing inflation with controls is sometimes a very necessary measure. I think that setting the policy and establish ing the precedent at the governmental level is one way to express to industry, to the rest of the province, and to the country that there is a meaningful reason for holding government expenditures down. At a particular time when this province has the financial resources to do otherwise, the establish ment of the heritage savings trust fund was a very significant way of saying to the rest of Canada, we're not going to heat the economy up any more than the rest of the provinces can stand.

We're trying to live with the rest of Canada at a basic level. We're not in a position to say we have accomplished 100 per cent of the things we started to do, but certainly our programs have been designed to show the rest of Canada that our economy is not going to be allowed to get completely at a difference with the rest of the provinces. On the matter of education, Mr. Speaker, I was very pleased to listen to the minister's address this morn ing. I would like an opportunity at a later date to have some

part in the debate, because it's a very funda mental part of our society. I think we're recognizing some changes are necessary, and we're reacting to the needs of the time. A considerable increase in financing promised to the library system will certainly be welcomed in all parts of our society. Housing is a very major part of our program. Phase two of the senior citizens' housing program, recently announced, will certainly be welcomed in all areas.

The initial phase was certainly one of the things that I felt restored our senior citizens' faith in the fact that this government recognizes that increasing costs of inflation are a difficult thing for people on fixed incomes. People in that calibre and in those circum stances certainly welcomed the opportunity of having a program like this that would help them specifically. Land banking and development of programs of this nature — expansion in our towns and cities — has had a real value and been a major thrust as far as this government is concerned.

I only wish the cities of Edmonton and Calgary could have taken advantage of the same opportunities some of our rural towns and villages have. They have land-banked and put land on the market for the home-owner practically at cost. In my particular town, I'm very pleased to say that lots have been available for private people to buy to develop their own homes at a significantly lower cost because the town is not particularly making a profit on this land. They are practically putting it on the market at cost. Seven thousand to $7,500 for a good developed lot in the town of Wainwright is standard.

I think this is a significant way of getting housing at an affordable price. I think this type of land develop ment should be a municipal responsibility. I'm sorry the cities of Edmonton and Calgary haven't been able to do the same. Our hospitals and medicare program, while we got some criticism last year of our 10 per cent restraint, has certainly brought to all parts of Alberta one of the highest standards of medical services anywhere in Canada. I am very proud of the fact that in my constituency a very beautiful health facility is about to be officially opened in the town of Provost.

It will probably be a model for anywhere in rural Alberta. There's an extension under consideration for our aux iliary hospital in Wainwright, to meet that particular need. I think the announcement of our cancer and heart research program is something all Albertans will benefit from regardless of where they live. I believe this is a very fundamental part of any health program. If we can have the research development in Alberta, I think we should be proud of the opportunity of taking advantage of it.

I think Alberta should be recognized as a progressive place where these types of things can happen, and I'm very proud of the fact we've initiated this part of our program as part of our heritage savings trust fund thrust towards developing something better for Alberta. In our agricultural program, Mr. Speaker, I'm very proud of being part of a caucus committee that reviewed irrigation in southern Alberta. I think the $200 million from the heritage savings trust fund that is going to be the initial thrust in rebuilding our irriga tion in southern Alberta is something all Alberta should be aware of and proud of.

It is a very fundamental part of our agricultural program and as far as I'm concerned, Mr. Speaker, something that's taken the dry land of this province and made it the garden land. I believe that anything we can do to encourage the expansion, improvement, and con tinuous operation of that part of Alberta as the garden of agriculture as far as this province is concerned, is something we should all be proud of and should all support. Our energy and natural resources have seen some of the greatest expansion and development of any time.

Our Alberta petroleum exploration incentive program is bringing on stream some of the oil and natural gas it wasn't feasible to develop until the price of natural gas and crude oil came to this level. I'm pleased to say that in eastern Alberta — where it's not a heavily producing field, but it's expansive — development is now possible with our increased prices. As it comes on stream, the part of this prov ince that has not seen too much expansion in the past is going to benefit. In Transportation, I had the pleasure to sit on the select legislative committee studying trucking regula tions.

They will be studied in this Legislature at a later date. I was pleased at the opportunity of being able to see first-hand what the problems of the truck

March 11, 1977 ALBERTA HANSARD 255 ing industry were. As the rest of the people have the opportunity to read the results of this committee's findings, I think these people who have felt they were being done an injustice will be pleased with some of our recommendations. In Recreation, Parks and Wildlife, I'm very pleased that a new system of classification of parks and park areas has been announced. I think there are a lot of smaller park prospects in the province that could very well serve the local communities as well as our tourist industry and be a great asset. I hope this program will be accelerated.

It's something that I don't believe is a very expensive program, and those types of facilities would be welcomed in any part of the country that are not adjacent to well-developed facilities at the present time. Mr. Speaker, in view of the hour I think I'll termin ate my debate. I've welcomed this opportunity to speak to this Legislature. [Motion carried] head: GOVERNMENT MOTIONS (reversion) 2. Moved by Mr. Lougheed:

Be it resolved that the address in reply to the Speech from the Throne be engrossed and presented to His Honour the Honourable the Lieutenant-Governor by such members of the Assembly as are members of the Executive Council. [Motion carried] MR. HYNDMAN: Mr. Speaker, I move that the reports of the special committee, presented to the Assembly on March 8 and March 9, be received and concurred in. [Motion carried] MR. HYNDMAN: Mr. Speaker, I move the Assembly do now adjourn until 8 p.m. MR. SPEAKER: Having heard the motion for adjourn ment by the hon. Government House Leader, do you all agree? HON. MEMBERS: Agreed.

MR. SPEAKER: The Assembly stands adjourned until 8 o'clock this evening. [The House recessed at 12:31 p.m.] [The House met at 8:07 p.m.] head: INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS (reversion) MR. CLARK: Mr. Speaker, on a point of privilege, I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce to you, sir, and to members of the Assembly the former Provin cial Treasurer for the province of Alberta, the hon. E. W. Hinman, who this evening is in the Speaker's gallery. head: GOVERNMENT MOTIONS (reversion) MR. LEITCH: Mr. Speaker, I've received certain mes sages from His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, which I now transmit to you. MR.

SPEAKER: Please stand. I have certain messages from His Honour the Honourable the Lieutenant-Governor. The Lieutenant-Governor transmits estimates of certain sums required for the service of the province for the 12 months ending March 31, 1977, and recommends the same to the Legislative Assembly. The Lieutenant-Governor transmits estimates of certain sums required for the service of the province for the 12 months ending March 31, 1978, and recommends the same to the Legislative Assembly. Be seated. MR. LEITCH: Mr.

Speaker, I request leave to table a copy of the Estimates of Expenditure and move that the messages of His Honour the Lieutenant- Governor, the estimates, and all matters connected therewith be referred to the Committee of Supply. [Motion carried] MR. LEITCH: Mr. Speaker, I move that this Assembly approve in general the fiscal policies of the government. head: BUDGET ADDRESS MR. LEITCH: Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to present this evening the seventh budget of our administra tion.

This budget reflects our continuing efforts to strike a responsible fiscal balance in order to main tain this province's current strong financial position during the transition from a resource-based economy to a more permanent self-sustaining diversified structure. As I announced on November 17, 1976, an integral part of our budget plan for the next fiscal year is the continuation of a general attitude of restraint in the growth of provincial government expenditure.

I would like to stress that our policy is one of control ling the growth of expenditure while maintaining and in some instances increasing the high level of gov ernment services Albertans are now receiving. With the reduction that has occurred in the infla tion rate over the past year, it is our belief the guidelines adopted for 1977-78 are well within our capacity to achieve, while still providing for improver ment in the quality of government service to people. In our judgment there are two compelling reasons why it is necessary to continue the restraint policy.

Foremost, we must continue to guard against the danger of building in unrealistically high levels of government expenditure based on our depleting resource revenues. Mr. Speaker, I think it is instruc tive to here reflect on some of the history of govern ment spending in Canada. Slightly more than 10

256 ALBERTA HANSARD March 11, 1977 years ago, in 1965, all levels of government in Canada combined collected and spent an equivalent of about 26 per cent of the total economic output of the country. By 1975 this figure had surpassed 42 per cent. While much of this increase was due to programs which redistributed income among individ uals, the growing presence of government is all too apparent. In Alberta we have not experienced this same rela tive expansion of the government sector.

By 1975 the equivalent of about 33 per cent of total output was spent by all three levels of government, com pared to 29 per cent 10 years earlier. In part, the lower proportion of Alberta output collected and spent by governments is a reflection of the much more rapid growth of the Alberta economy than had been achieved by the national economy. Mr. Speaker, we believe the lessons to be learned from the examples around us are clear. The major source of Alberta's past rapid growth — our conven tional crude oil and natural gas — is depleting.

As this process occurs we will experience an inevitable shift in government revenues toward those sources such as personal and corporate income tax, which future Albertans will be called upon to provide. If we do not take the longer view and maintain expendi tures at a realistic level, then the future tax burden on Albertans will be extremely onerous. As well as this government's direct responsibility to Albertans, we have a broader responsibility, which is fulfilled by our commitment to expenditure restraint.

In our view the partial success in reducing the infla tion rate over the past year has been aided consider ably by controlling government expenditure growth. Full co-operation of all governments in Canada is necessary for a further reduction in the inflation rate. Alberta has a vital interest in achieving this goal. If we are to diversify our economic base, we must be able to compete in both national and international markets. In large measure our ability to compete will be determined by our success in reducing inflation. Mr.

Speaker, major changes in the financing of health care, hospitals, and postsecondary education have been negotiated recently by the federal and provincial governments. I will be outlining the new arrangements in more detail later in this address, but I would now like to highlight their significance. In essence, the new agreement involves the change from a 50-50 sharing of the costs of these programs between the provincial and federal gov ernments to one where the province is responsible for financing a much higher proportion of the total cost.

The major advantage to the province of this new arrangement is a greatly expanded ability to determine its own priorities. The shift to greater pro vincial financial responsibility will be accompanied without extra burden on Alberta taxpayers by a change in the share of total personal income tax revenue collected by Alberta and the federal government. I am satisfied that we will now be able to respond more effectively to the needs of Albertans in the areas of hospital care, medical care, and postsecond ary education, without the artificial financial con straints imposed under the previous system.

Our government has been seeking this type of change for some time, and I am pleased to be able to outline the contents of the new arrangements this evening. Mr. Speaker, before reporting on the financial plans of the government for 1977-78, I would like to pro vide a brief review of the economic situation. Economic activity in the major western industrial ized countries has been strengthening since the trough of the world recession in late 1974 and early 1975. The recovery has been slow by historical standards, however, and there is a significant possi bility that the modest growth of 1976 will weaken in 1977.

The United States, Japan, and West Germany have been leading the recovery, but there is some concern that the momentum built up in 1976 in these countries will not be sufficient to propel the rest of the world economy on a sustained growth path. While inflation has moderated significantly through out the world, unemployment remains high. There is little likelihood of a resurgence of rapid inflation at this time, but current conditions suggest that without some form of stimulus unemployment rates may rise in 1977.

A common problem of many countries is a lack of business confidence, reflected in the slow response of investment to the improving economic situation. While the Canadian economic situation parallels that of the international economy in many respects, it is deeply disturbing to see the majority of economic forecasts for 1977 point to a worsening economic future. During 1976 real growth in Canadian output was 4.6 per cent. While this was certainly an im provement over 1975, it was a disappointment rela tive to previous recoveries from recessions.

Since relatively few new job opportunities were provided at this rate of growth, the unemployment rate in Canada rose to 7.2 per cent. With growth next year forecast at only 3 to 4 per cent, it is widely expected that unemployment will average close to 8 per cent in 1977. Given the regional diversity and economic performance, for a number of provinces this means unemployment rates of 10 per cent to 15 per cent, or even higher. One of the contributing factors to the slow growth in 1976 was a poor investment performance. In vestment in new housing was buoyant, but real busi ness investment was stagnant in 1976.

Current fore casts indicate little improvement in 1977. Policies are required at the national level to restore the busi ness confidence needed to stimulate this most impor tant economic activity. It is only through a process of investment that Canada will achieve the productivity gains necessary to allow us to compete on an equal footing in world markets, and hence provide meaning ful employment opportunities for an expanding labor force.

We must also view with apprehension the fact that our wage rates and production levels are making Canada increasingly non-competitive in many impor tant trading commodities, forest products being a dis turbing example. An area of considerable concern to this government as we review Canada's economic performance is the balance of trade position. While the deficit in the current account balance improved sligh

Document details

Collection	Alberta — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	19770311
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	L18 S3 19770311 1000 01 han.pdf
Language	en
Format	json
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	7a196c6386f37df8908fc3e90707a8a9d40ebe1a

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