Manitoba Hansard — 10 March 1972 (Sitting 2, 29th Legislature, 4th Session)

29-4-2

Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 10:00 o'clock, Friday, March 10, 1972 Opening Prayer by Mr. Speaker. 9 MR. SPEAKER: Presenting Petitions; Reading and Receiving Petitions; Presenting Reports by Standing and Special Committees; Ministerial Statements; Tabling of Reports. The Honourable Minister of Finance. HON. SAUL CHERNIACK, Q. C. (Minister of Finance) (St. Johns): Mr. Speaker, I'd like to file the following reports for the Clerk as required under various Acts: The Financial Administration Act reports and supplements. The Insurance Act reports. The Mental Health reports. The Public Officers Act reports.

The Provincial Auditor Act reports. MR . SPEAKER: Notices of Motion; Introduction of Bills. The Honourable Leader of the Opposition. MR . SIDNEY SPIV AK (L eader of the Opposition) (River Heights): Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present to you David Robert Blake, Esq. , Member for the Electoral Division of Minnedosa, who has taken the Oath anr't signed the roll and now claims the right to take his seat. MR . SPEAKER: Let the honourable member be seated. ORAL QUESTION PERIOD MR . SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Portage la Prairie. MR. GORDON E. JOHNSTON (Portage la Prairie): Mr.

Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Industry and Commerce. Does the Minister consider the appointment of Dr. Bryant to the Board of Directors of Tantalum Mines as somewhat of a conflict of interests? MR . SPEAKER: The Honourable Minister of Industry and Commerce. HON. LEONARD S, EVANS (Minister of 1ndustry & Commerce) (Brandon East): I can only say, Mr. Speaker, that it is customary and has been the practice for many a year, for officials of the Manitoba Development Corporation to be on boards of companies who borrow money from the Manitoba Development Corporation. It's a customary practice.

This is not the only example - there are many other examples - and it's a good practice in as much as it helps to ensure adequate control of the lending procedure. MR . SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Portage la Prairie. MR . G. JOHNSTON: A supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. Does Dr. Bryant receive director's fees from Tantalum? MR. EVANS: I should really take it as notice but I believe the answer is no. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Leader of the Opposition. MR. SPIVAK: Mr. Speaker, before the Orders of the Day, my question is to the First Minister.

Will the First Minister indicate whether he has in his possession accurate informa tion regarding the capital and operating costs incurred by each of Manitoba's private schools, showing in addition the gross surplus or deficit, the capital surplus or deficit, and the operat ing surplus or deficit. HON. EDWARD SCHREYER (Premier) (Fossmere): Well, Mr. Speaker, I have information. Whether it would be regarded as complete by the honourable member, I have no way of knowing. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Leader of the Opposition. MR. SPIV AK: Will the First Minister table this information in the House? MR.

SCHREYER: Well, Mr. Speaker, I would undertake to have that information made· available to the honourable member if he wishes to. MR . SPEAKER: The Honourable Leader of the Opposition, MR. SPIV AK: Mr. Speaker, my question really is supplementary, to the First Minister. Has the government, in deciding what provisions of aid should be given to private schools, considered the full detailed information? MR . SCHREYER: I would assume, Mr. Speaker, that this government, in considering the matter, has probably acted in much the same way as the previous administration. A MEMBER: Here we go! MR.

SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Assiniboia, MR. STEVE PATRICK (Assiniboia): Mr. Speaker, before the Orders of the Day, I

10 March 10, 1972 (MR. PATRICK oont'd). wish to ask a question of the Minister of Health and Social Services. Has the government purchased the old Grace Hospital on Arlington Street? HON. RENE E. TOUPIN (Minister of Health & Social Development) (Springfield): Mr. Speaker, the acquisition of the old Grace Hospital from the Salvation Army has not been completed. MR . SPEAKER: The Honourable Minister for Assiniboia. MR. PATRICK: Mr. Speaker, I have a supplementary. Can the Minister tell us what will be the intended use of the hospital? MR. TOUPIN: Not at this moment, Mr. Speaker. MR .

SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Rhineland. MR. JACOB M. FROESE (Rhineland): Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct a question to the Honourable the Minister of Public Works. Is the report in the Winnipeg Tribune correct that one Wayne Peterson has been appointed as Executive Assistant by you and that he is primarily to take charge of constituency matters in your riding? And the fees? MR . SPEAKER: The Honourable Minister of Public Works. HON. RUSSELL DOERN (Acting Minister of Public Works) (Elmwood): Mr. Speaker, Mr. Peterson is my Executive Assistant and he will help me in my work. MR.

SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Rhineland. MR. FROESE: Is the statement then not correct that he will be primarily dealing with constituency matters as is reported? MR . DO ERN: • • • responsible for press reports. MR . SPEAKER: The Honourable Leader of the Opposition. MR. SPIVAK: A supplementary question to the Acting Minister of Public Works. Will your new Executive Assistant become the Minister or the Assistant in charge of the keys of the building? MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable First Minister. MR . SCHREYER: Mr.

Speaker, I'm wondering, Sir, you would not regard it as an offence to this House to have that kind of snideness creep in on the first day. MR. SPEAKER: I would like to make a statement at this moment, before we proceed. This being the first day and the first set of questions that have been starting to flow, I thought I would see if we could really get along and I would be very lenient, but I see that I may have to assert your rules on your behalf so that we get some work done.

So, therefore, let us all consider as to the procedures we wish to adopt in this House before we just ask questions and make lengthy answers. I'm trying to indicate that this is a two-way street for all members, The Honourable Member for Morris. MR. WARNER H. JORGENSON (Morris): Mr. Speaker, I should like to direct my question to the Attorney-General.

I wonder if his department, pursuant to a resolution that was adopted by this House, or a report that was adopted by this House by the Rules Committee, if his department has prepared a legal opinion as to the immunity of members on the floor of the House in the event that TV and radio are to be used in this Chamber. HON. A. H. MACKLING, Q. C. (Attorney-General) (St. James): Mr. Speaker, I'll take the question as notice. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Morris. MR.

JORGENSON: I wonder if the Minister would do just a little bit more than that and if the report has not been prepared would he undertake to see that it is prepared? MR. MACKLING: I'll take the question as notice and, following my report to the House, the honourable member may wish to ask further questions. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Thompson. MR . JOSEPH P. BOROWSKI (Thompson): Mr. Speaker, I'd like to address a question to the Attorney-General. Would he inform the House if he is prepared to appeal the obscene decision handed down by the Magistrate Dubienski regarding the film "The Stewardesses. " MR.

MACKLING: Mr. Speaker, I have not had an opportunity to discuss the probable course of action which we might follow following the decision, and I'll be having an opportunity to do that probably this afternoon. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Churchill. MR, GORDON W. BEARD (Churchill): Mr. Speaker, I'd like to direct a question to the Minister of Municipal Affairs but since he isn't here I'll direct it to the First Minister. In respect to the renewal in the Churchill area, I would wonder if consideration has been given

March 10, 1972 11 (MR. BEARD cont'd) , • to the priority for the use of Manitoba building materials and for purchasing through the local outlets at Churchill. MR . SPEAKER: The Honourable First Minister. MR . SCHREYER: Well, Mr.

Speaker, I can advise the honourable member that that matter was definitely being considered by those that are involved with the Churchill Townsite Development Plan implementation but I would have to have perhaps a little more clarification from the Honourable Member from Churchill as to what he means by the term "preference" because I'm sure the honourable member is aware that under certain statutory and regulatory provisions the Crown is not really in a position to exercise preference in such a way as to incur greater cost to the Crown, so there is a problem. MR.

BEARD: A subsequent question then: As I understand it, the material is available through CFI at The Pas and arrangeme::�ts have been made by the local merchants at Churchill to use this material and to put it in at the lowest possible price. Secondly, the land has been frozen in the Churchill area for building purposes. MR.

SPEAKER: Much as I appreciate that questions have to be prefaced, but I think the question period is for questions not for giving information to the House, so I regret that the honourable gentleman was doing exactly that even though the thing was a two-way conversation, so let's all consider what W!;!1re doing. The Honourable Member for Rhineland. MR. FROESE: Yes, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to direct a question to the Honourable the House Leader. Were copies of His Honour's speech distributed previous to it being read in the House yesterday, and to whom? MR . SPEAKER: The Honourable First Minister. MR. SCHREYER: Mr.

Speaker, the practice that was followed yesterday with respect to the distribution of His Honour's speech was the same practice as was followed in the Parliament of Canada with respect to Budget Adresses, etc., in that it was distributed in advance on the undertaking that it would not be released for public distribution until after it had been read to members of the Assembly, MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Rhineland. MR. FROESE: A supplementary. To whom is the distribution made? Are any members of the House receiving copies? MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable First Minister. MR .

SCHREYER: The practice, which has become a standard practice in the last several years in other jurisdictions and now here, is for it to be distributed only to members of the Press that are accredited to the legislative press gallery. I believe that is precisely how it was handled. MR . SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Assiniboia. MR . PATRICK: Mr. Speaker, I wish to direct a question to the Acting Minister of Mines and Natural Resources. Has the government actually signed a master agreement with the Sherritt-Gordon Mines for the development of the townsite at Leaf Rapids? MR.

SPEAKER: The Honourable Minister of Industry and Commerce, MR. EVANS: Mr. Speaker, I'll take the question as notice, MR , PATRICK: A supplementary: that has signed agreement, would the Minister be prepared to table the master agreement? MR, EVANS: I'll take that as notice as well. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Churchill. MR.

BEARD: I'd like to direct this question to the Minister of Agriculture, and I wonder if he has made any protest to the Federal Government in respect to their announced policy of having to curtail sale of future grain because of the lack of transportation, rail and port transportation. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Minister of Agriculture. HON. SAMUEL USKIW (Minister of Agriculture) (Lac du Bonnet): Mr.

Speaker, we have had a number of discussions with officials of the Government of Canada wherein they have indicated certain temporary problems in transportation and handling of grain, and I presume that it's reasonable at this time to accept from them as factual that they are una ble to accept greater amounts of delivery at the present time until they have cleared up the backlog. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Churchill. MR, BEARD: A subsequent question, then, to the Minister of Industry and Commerce. J

March 10, 1972 (MR; BEARD oont'd). Would he be prepared to put in a plea for further extension of use of the Port of Churchill this summer? MR. EVANS: Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to advise the honourable member and other members of the House that the Department of Industry and Commerce on behalf of the Pro vincial Government is continually attempting to improve the situation in the Town of Churchill and the Port of Churchill and I must say that never a week goes by, I believe, without some communication in this regard with the Federal Government in particular. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Roblin. MR. J.

WALLY McKENZIE (Roblin): Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Tourism and Recreation. I wonder if the Minister has found the key for the office of the Boxing Commiss ion? HON. LAURENT L. DESJARDINS (Minister of Tourism, Recreation and Cultural Affairs) (St. Boniface): I'll be glad to give him all details, Mr. Speaker, very shortly. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Roblin. MR. McKENZIE: A supplementary question, I wonder would the Minister table the reports, the minutes of all the meetings of the Boxing Commission that's been held in the last twelve months. MR. DESJARDINS: Mr.

Speaker, I wonder if the honourable member could speak to some of the members of his caucus. I believe there's ari Order for Return now asking for just this. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Portage la Prairie. MR. G. JOHNSTON: Mr. Speaker, in view of the absence of the Minister of Municipal Affairs .•. MR. SPEAKER: Order please. Order please. MR. G. JOHNSTON: Mr. Speaker, my question is about Autopac and the Minister responsible is not here so I'll direct the question to the First Minister.

Have any public funds been expended in the construction of claims centres or any other operation of Autopac, or is Autopac entirely financing ita own operations? MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable First Minister, MR, SCHREYER: Mr. Speaker, the answer to that is sim ple enough. Whatever facilities are required by Autopac in the judgment of the board and the administration of Autopac, such facilities are either acquired or constructed with monies that are really charged to the account of Autopac.

It may well be that in interval periods there may be some advance ment, or advancing rather, or forwarding of monies, but that would be only in the nature of a temporary loan, and I believe that in either respect it can be said without equivocation that facilities required by Autopac would be paid for from the account of Autopac. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Minister of Recreation and Cultural Affairs. MR. DESJARDINS: Mr.

Speaker, as the Minister responsible for the Censor Board, would like to inform the Honourable Member from Thompaon that I've asked the Famous Players to re-submit the film "The Stewardesses" to the Censor Board for review and I've so informed the Censor Board. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Portage la Prairie, MR. G. JOHNSTON: My question, Mr. Speaker, is for the Acting Minister of Public Works. Is it true that the government have denied the request of the Press Gallery for more seating apace for their members? MR. SPEAKER: Order please, That question is out of order.

The Press Gallery, as everyone else in this House knows, is a privilege that's extended through the Speaker's office, That includes all the galleries. Orders of the Day. The adjourned debate on the proposed motion of the Honourable First Minister. The Honourable Member for Rhineland, MR. FROESE: Mr. Speaker, I adjourned debate on this motion yesterday in order to make some comment in connection with the several committees that are to be appointed by the appointment of the committee before us.

I find that in the matter of selection of members to the committee that apparently it is pre-determined ahead of time as to how many members will sit on a particular committee, and that accordingly you then select, and I take issue with this. I feel that any member of this House desirous to sit on a committee should have the opportunity to do so, and members of this House should not be denied that opportunity. The Honourable Minister mentions that we should have 57. Well, I don't object to that,

March 10, 1972 13 (MR. FROESE cont'd) .•..• In fact, a year or two ago we had a Law Amendments Com mittee of 56 members, if I recollect correctly, and there certainly was nothing wrong with that, All members had the opportunity to appear before committee and to make their views known. In fact, I think we should have larger committees rather than smaller committees; and why is it that we are limiting the committees on a number of them so much? I feel that this is unwar ranted, For instance, last year I had desire to serve on the Economic Development Committee and I was denied doing so.

This particular committee is of interest to me and certainly when our economic conditions are as they are today, every member in this House should take an interest in the workings of that particular committee, in my opinion. We should all have the right to serve and to make our views known, and bring forward suggestions as to how to improve our economic situation in Manitoba. Certainly, the economy, especially the rural economy in Manitoba today, is nothing to boast about.

In the various hearings of the Agri cultural Committee that were conducted during the last month or so, we heard from many people of the plight that they're facing of the low or practically non-existent incomes of many of the rural people and the hard times that they were facing; the cost-price squeeze that is still on and is ever increasing; of the high taxation that they're facing and no doubt will further increase unless what we heard yesterday in the Throne Speech that there will be a very substantial reduction.

And I hope this is true, that we do get reductions, because my constituency last year did not enjoy any reduction in taxes whatever -- (Interjection) -- MR. SPEAKER: Order please. The Honourable House Leader. HON. RUSSELL PAULLEY (Minister of Labour) (Transcona): .•. my honourable friend, Sir, but I am wondering whether or not he is going beyond the proposition and the motion that we have before us, namely the establishing of a special committee to compile a list of members of the committees. MR. SPEAKER: The point is well taken.· The Honourable Member for Rhineland. MR . FROESE: Mr.

Speaker, certainly the motion is to appoint a committee to appoint all the other committees, and this will involve the Agricultural Committee, so I am . . . MR . SPEAKER: Order please. I would suggest to the honourable member that he read the motion if he1s not aware of what the motion is, and that he confine his debate to that motion. MR . FROESE: I feel also very strongly about the matter of committees reporting to this House.

I feel that some of the reports are very ineffective, are evasive, are not specific on many points where we've had instructions from the people, or had their views made known, and that we are not giving the House the proper information that we've obtained in our various hearings, and here again I feel that our committees are failing to a certain extent, in reporting to the House.

I think it is quite commonly known that the government has a majority on all the committees, and if these reports are not up to par, certainly we have to put the blame on the government, because they're the ones that approve or bring in the report and we more or less as members of the Opposition have to approve, and I feel that it's incumbent on them to see to it that we get better reports from these various committees. I also feel very strongly in the matter of Crown corporations, and I think we should have a committee -- (Interjection) -- MR. SPEAKER: Order, please.

I think I would like to once again remind the honour able member of what the motion is; that he should debate the motion and not Crown corporations or reports of committees, but the setting up of this particular committee. The Honourable Member for Rhineland. MR. FROESE: Thank you. I'm just trying to think how to go about it to say what I have to say and still be within bounds. I think all parties should have representation on the committee that we are about to appoint, and this is not the case; and I think this stems from the fact that we have set a number in the number of people to serve on this committee.

It says seven. I think this should be enlarged. There is no reason why it cannot be enlarged and that we should have a larger committee to take in the representation from all sides of the House. MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. I would like to remind the honourable gentleman that our rules indicate the size of this committee, so therefore we would have to have the rules amended, and the subject cannot be debated at this present moment as to the size of the committee. The Honourable Member for Rhineland. I I '

14 March 10, 1972 MR. FROESE: Mr. Speaker, surely the number "seven" is mentioned in the resolution and there is no reason why I cannot discuss the number of people serving on this particular committee. I'm discussing the resolution before us, which says that seven people shall be named, and I feel that this could be enlarged. We will, later on during the Session, no doubt, have a report from the Rules Committee and at that time no doubt this can be changed, and in my opinion should be changed.

I feel that in connection with this particular committee that meetings of the committee should be posted, the dates and the times, so that all members would be aware of the time that members are meeting. I know on some occasions I have been advised, but on other occasions I have not. Last year, the committee--I don't know who determined it, but I was approached by the House Leader of the Liberal group as to what com mittees I was wanting to serve on, and I feel that I should have access directly so that I can make my wishes known to the committee directly as well.

This does not mean that I dislike anyone or that I am at odds with my fellow deskmate or the members of the Liberal group, Not at all. We get along very well indeed. But I feel that the representation should be made directly rather than by representation. I had a few other thoughts that I would like to register but I'm not sure whether they fall within the rules, so that I might have to forego some of my remarks.

Certainly I would like to serve on the committee dealing with the Development Corporation, I feel that this organization deserves a lot of scrutiny and that a committee should be set up to set up guide lines as to having these various boards appear before committee like Hydro and Telephone does presently. I feel that the Public Schools Finance Board and the University Grants Com miss ion, these several bodies that administer large funds, should appear before members of this House so that we can question them properly and get the information that we desire. Mr.

Speaker, I will not amend the motion, or propose an amendment, but I do feel that when members are appointed to this committee that I be given the opportunity to indicate the several committees that I wish to serve on and that this opportunity also be aff orded to all members of this House. Thank you. MR . SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Morris. MR . JORGENSON: Mr. Speaker, if you were to follow the argument of the Member for Rhineland to its logical conclusion then the proper place to be setting up the membership of the various committees would be right in this Chamber.

Indeed, Sir, if you were to follow it right through, the proper thing to do is not to have any committees at all but all matters that come before the purview of this Chamber should be brought here rather than in the various committees. But I don't rise to comment on that as much as I do on another matter. However in passing I should like to say that the Member for Rhineland has found now a unique way of involving himself on two occasions in the Throne Speech Debate and he is enjoying a privilege that most of us are not going to be able to enjoy during the consideration of His Excellency's address.

I rise only, Sir, to say there is in my view some urgency in the setting up of these committees and one of the quickest ways of doing that as provided for in our rules is to appoint a small committee of seven members to with all despatch set up the various committees of the House so that they can begin functioning, I suggest to you, Sir, that at this time it is extremely important that at least one such committee begin its work at the earliest opportunity, and I'm referring to the last committee on the list>that on Economic Development.

In the light of the discus sion that has taken place, and the information that has been bandied about via the press, radio and television regarding Tantalum Mines, I think that it is urgent at this time that the Economic Development Committee be set up so that the officials of that mine can be brought before the committee and all the information that is necessary for the public to acquire in relation to the operations of the mine and the government's interest in it which involves the taxpayers be brought to light, and that I think, Sir, should include also other corporations and other groups in which the government has acquired an equity position, and since they have acquired an equity position it's important . • .

MR . SPEAKER: Order please. Order please. I think I must remind all members that they should confine their remarks to the resolution before us, If we are going to have a debate that is going to stray into what should be contained in reports or not we are not adhering to our own rules. I would request that all members take an attitude of confining themselves to the motions on hand, The Honourable Member for Morris.

March 10, 1972 15 MR. JORGENSON: Mr. Speaker, that is precisely what I was doing and I don't know how I can do it without the use of some words. What I was attempting to do is to point out the urgency of establishing these committees at the earliest opportunity so that one particular committee could begin its work, and I have made my case --I have made my case, Sir, that I believe that we should proceed forthwith with the setting up of steering committees so that the various membership of the committees can be set up and we can begin an examination of those companies that are involved with the MDC. MR.

SPEAKER presented the motion and after a voice vote declared the motion carried. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable First Minister. MR. SCHREYER: Mr. Speaker, if there is some way in which the House may be of assistance to you, I believe the next order of business has to do with the Address in R e(ily from the Honourable Member for St. Vital. MR. SPEAKER: Does the Honourable Member for St. Vital wish the floor? THRONE SPEECH MR. JAMES WALDING (St. Vital): Mr.

Speaker, may I first congratulate you on your continued presence in the Chair, It's your fairness and firmness at the previous Session which ensured the successful carrying on of the House's business. I thank the First Minister for granting to the people of the constituency of St. Vital the privilege of moving the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne. I also congratulate the new Deputy Speaker and those ministers that have joined the front bench since we were last in Session. Finally, may I also welcome the new Member from Minnedosa.

I am sure he will represent his constituency in the manner to which it has become accustomed. Mr. Speaker, as we move into the Fourth Session of this Legislature, having completed three, the government has completed two and a half years of its technically five year Session, could be considered to be half way through its program, although we know in practice that elections are usually called in less time than that, so it might be appropriate at this time to review the record of this government in its first two and a half years and see if it has done those things that it set out to do. Mr.

Speaker, at the time of the 1969 election the New Democratic Party in Manitoba promised that it would do four things for the people. It made four major promises. The first one was that it would reduce Medicare premiums to a very low level -and it did that. It promised to halt the flooding of South Indian Lake and take another look at it. And it did that. It promised to bring in a program of public car insurance. And it did that. Finally, it promised to reduce the burden of residential property taxes; and it did that.

Now there are some politicians and some members of the Opposition who think it's a little strange that a government should carry out its election promises, and indeed it was said in this House during the debate on car insurance that these were just political promises and the government should really not be expected to act on them. But the government has done more than this in the last two and a half years, Mr. Speaker, and I would just like to review very briefly some of them.

For senior citizens, one of the first actions of this government was to pass legislation enabling senior citizens to travel on the transit at a reduced fare. Furthermore, the reduction in the Medicare premium was equivalent to putting over $100. 00 a year in the pockets of many of those receiving old age pensions. And indeed, during the last by-election campaign there were several who said to me that had it not been for that reduction that they would not have been able to continue in their own homes.

As a further measure which helped senior citizens as well as those, this government brought in the School Tax Reduction Act last year which will serve this year to reduce education taxes by 50% to a maximum of $50. 00. That is a measure, Mr. Speaker, which will help not only those who own their own homes, and not only senior citizens, but also those not in receipt of pensions who are also in need, and it will also help those senior citizens who are tenants.

Another measure that we brought in to aid tenants was the Landlord and Tenant Act; amendments which brought that Act out of the middle ages and introduced some degree of fairness in the dealings between landlords and tenants. Along with that, the office of Rentals man was instituted. And for the working man -which includes most of us -there were increases to the

16 March 10, 1972 (MR. WALDING oont'd). • minimum wage; there were amendments to the Workmen's Compensation Act, improvements to it; there were changes in the Labour Relations Act; the Employment Standards Act; and the very important Queen's Bench Act, which gave to trade unionists some of the same civil rights enjoyed by the rest of the population. For the youth of the province we reduced the voting age to 18 and the Age of Majority Act set 18 as the level for many other legal things.

For northern residents, a Northern Task Force was set up which led to a very rapid expansion of the Northern Development Program which brought roads, houses and airstrips as well as other aids to the people of the north. To the farmers, an active encouragement for them to set up producer marketing boards.

For the homeless, a housing program, public housing for rent, for purchase; and for senior citizens, as the Throne Speech says so accurately, more housing in the last two years than in the previous twelve years, For Franco-Manitobans, Billl13 that allowed for teaching in French and for the teaching of other languages. For the unemployed, the PEP program, a vigorous winter works program that kept Manitoba's unemployment rate one of the lowest in the country.

For the people of Greater Winnipeg a Unicity bill which rationalized services in the city and gave the people the opportunity to become involved in their local government at the level closest to them. And for all of the people, Mr. Speaker, the office of Ombudsman was set up; a Human Rights Act, which prohibited discrimination on the grounds of race, color and creed in the areas of employment and accommodation. A Consumer Protection Bureau was set up giving Manitoba probably the most up-to-date legislation in this area in the whole of North America.

And, of course, Autopac, which admittedly has had a few minor difficulties at the beginning but is serving the purpose that it was set up to do, and that is to protect the motoring public of Manitoba. A Civil Rights Act gave further protection to our citizens, protection against inva sion of privacy; a Criminal Injuries Compensation Act; and changes to the Expropriation Act. This government also moved swiftly in the matter of the pulp and paper industry at The Pas to protect the large investment of the people of this province.

Another measure that I mentioned before was the reduction in the education tax which is becoming effective this year and that the Throne Speech promises us will be expanded into the future.

There are many other bills, too, a total of some 300 in two years; but every provincial government due to the nature of our federal system in Canada becomes rapidly aware of the limitations of its action when compared with that of the Federal Government, There are various cost shared programs which limit a province's scope of action; the Federal Government can take steps which can actively interfere or inhibit those thin!liS a province would wish to do. The most obvious of these, Mr.

Speaker, is in the field of unemployment where, by a deli berate policy, unemployment in this country has stood at six percent on a seasonally adjusted basis. This is something which is not acceptable to the government of Manitoba and it has required the infusion of large amounts of public money in order to reduce that unemployment to more acceptable levels, As far as taxation is concerned, the Federal Government has steadfastly refused to accept any of the principles of the Carter Commission Report, and the recent tax changes brought in cannot be considered as reform but rather as patchwork quilt.

The Federal Govern ment has refused to accept Manitoba's suggestions that there be changes in the flat rate income tax; they have refused to accept our suggestions that a tax credit system be brought ·in where by aid can be given specifically to those low income earners who are most in need of it, In the matter of shared costs, the Federal Government's decision to limit further increases in the health field on a strictly arithmetic scale has meant that Manitoba has not been able to move to maintain and to increase its health care in the way that we would wish.

Limits put on by the Federal Government make it extremely difficult for this government to include nursing home care, drugs, dental, under our Medicare scheme. The Federal Government's actions in the field of agriculture have not exactly endeared it to western farmers and the DREE program has generally been accepted as a dismal failure and has done practically nothing in any mean ingful way for the Province of Manitoba. Mr. Speaker, to move a little closer to home, the Manitoba Conservative Party held a

March 10, 1972 17 ,' I (MR. WALDING Cont1d) • nominating meeting last week and we learn from Pres• re- 1 ports of that meeting that the Leader of the Opposition has a new speech. I don't know whether someone gave it to him for his birthday or whether he traded the old one in on it, but it's called "The speech on government oollapse." And no one can doubt that the Leader of the Opposition is an expert on government oollapse, for he was a member, Mr. Speaker, of that government early in 1969 which was a classic example of how a government can oollapse. Now we can expect to hear this new speech, Mr.

Speaker, every time the Leader of the Opposition stands up in this House, but just to refresh your memory of the situation in 1969, let me remind you that he was a member of a government that was dragged fighting and screaming into Medicare, that imposed an inequitable premium tax; and furthermore the loss to the people of this pro- vince in the region of $20 million in lost federal money. A government that was up to its neck in embarrassment in 35 feet of water in South Indian Lake. A government whose housing re- oord was nothing short of disastrous.

A government who had set up a Manitoba Development Fund with a really dismal record of business loans which it attempted to keep secret, and whose large adventure, a pulp mill at The Pas was rapidly becoming a major embarrassment to it. A government that stood by while the San Antonio Mines closed at Bissett. A government whose northern member resigned because that government had no policy for northern development. Mr.

Speaker, that's not performance, thatts oollapse, And when that government dissolves the House in mid-session and goes to the people confident in the expectation that it will be re turned with a majority, that's not performance, that's stupidity, Mr. Speaker, we were informed a couple of weeks ago that the Leader of the Liberal Party in Manitoba had been offered the leadership of the Conservative Party, and I find that very difficult to believe; I find it diff icult to believe that the Conservative Party would be that reactionary in Manitoba.

But moving on to the Leader of the Liberal Party, we find that it is enjoying -if that's the word -it's third leader in three years; a leader who has finally decided to throw his hat into the by-election ring. We might wonder why but he told us some time ago that he was not really interested in running in by-elections until the new team had been set up. We were told at the time of the St. Vital by-election that their candidate there- a very fine man and a good candidate -was the first of the new Liberalists --and he didn't win. And presumably that the Liberal candidate in Ste.

Rose was the seoond of the p.ew Liberalists - and he didn't win. By the same token, the Liberal candidate in Minnedosa was the third of the new liberalists --and he didn't win either. Mr. Speaker, that's not must of a reoord to fall on. Or possibly looking at it from the other end, the Leader of the Liberal Party is the first of the new liberalists. Because we were told that the reason that he didn't enter the other by-elections was because he was the candidate for Crescentwood.

Now that may be so, but I don't remember any Liberal nominating meeting in Crescentwood that elected the Leader of the Liberal Party; I find it strange that any political party would pass up such an opportunity for Press ooverage, for publicity, for the opportunity to make a speech. Maybe it happened in someone's smoke-filled room but I don't remember. But worse than this, the Liberal Party has stated that its leader's views and his policies are his own views and policies and they are not shared by its Party. In other words, if he's successful they'll endorse him and if he loses they will reject him.

I suggest to you, Mr. Speaker, that's an untenable position for the leader of any political party to be in. Mr. Speaker, I've attempted to show reoord of achievement of this government that any government oould be proud of, a record of achievement unequalled by any government in this province's history. Mr. Speaker, I move, seoonded by the Member for Ste.

Rose, that An Humble Address be presented to His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor as follows: We, Her Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in Session assembled humbly thank Your Honour for the gracious speech which Your Honour has been pleased to address us at the opening of the present Session, MR. SPEAKER presented the motion. I

18 March 10, 1972 MR. SPEAKER: Are you ready for the question? The Honourable Member for Ste. Rose. MR. PETE ADAM (Ste. Rose): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In rising at this time to parti cipate in the consideration of the Speech from the Throne, I would like first to commend you, Mr. Speaker, for the manner in which you have discharged your duties of your high office with impartiality and foresight in the last sitting of the Legislature. I am confident that this shall continue to be the case.

I also congratulate the Premier, our First Minister, for having bestowed the honour upon my constituency to participate and second my colleague, the Member from St. Vital. I would also like to congratulate the First Minister for the astute leadership that he has provided the Province of Manitoba since his election in 1969. I am confident that he will continue to pro vide the leadership in the future that is required by the changes taking place in our time. May I congratulate my colleague on the efficient manner in which he has explained the achievements of this government since its election in 1969.

Congratulations are also in order for the new members who are now Ministers in the Government, and I would be remiss if I did not congrat ulate the new Member from Minnedosa for his election in the constituency that he now repre sents, and I wish him well in his endeavours. Many new pieces of legislation proposed and passed by this government since 1969 have been of great benefit to the people of this province and have contributed to the betterment of the human condition in our province.

The fact that some 300 pieces of legislation have been passed since 1969 indicates how much was left undone by previous administrations. Conducting the affairs of the province is not an easy task, as we well know, particularly when the government such as we have now is a very progressive one, and there will be controversy, there will be criticism, and I for one have always welcomed criticism, constructive criticism, honest criti cism. However, I find that for the most part this is not always the case.

I direct my remarks not only to the members of the Opposition but I also cast my eyes in the press gallery where many of my friends sit. I say, Sir, Mr. Speaker, let them ask this question, let them ask this question. Ask yourself, have I been honest? Ask yourself that question. MR. SPEAKER: Order please. MR. ADAM: May I mention, Mr. Speaker, a few things, new laws and pieces of legis lation that have been enacted by this government that has benefitted my constituency of Ste. Rose which I have the honour to represent.

Ranking among the highest, of course, is the reduction in the Medicare premiums, which had become an unbearable burden on the people and the municipalities. There has been in the past year, in the past couple of years, a very active and aggressive housing program which is providing comfortable living accommodations for our senior citizens and lower income groups.

We have in the past year, this past summer, we are extending telephone and hydro ser vices into remote areas, in areas where people had been waiting for 25 years for a telephone service, isolated areas such as Crane River, Mallard, Skownan, Salt Point, Red Deer Point and Waterhen. These people will now have some of the benefits that we here take for granted and have taken for granted for many many years. This has now come to pass because of a government that cares about people.

Since 1969 more funds have been allocated for road construction and maintenance in my constituency than had been in the past, and I would like for the record, I would like for the re cord, Mr. Speaker-- (Interjection) --You guys are worried now; I can see the Opposition scratching his head. May I quote you a few figures, Mr. Speaker. In 1968, the constituency of Ste. Rose received approximately $414, 000 for road construction. In 1969, in spite of the fact that there was a Liberal member sitting there, that did not enter the picture, this was in creased to somewhere around the $760, 000 mark.

In 1970 this went up, was increased again to over 800,000, approximately 860,000, considerably more than double that of 1968. What a contrast. And this year we are informed that we will have a hard-surfaced road from Lake Winnipeg right through Roblin and Ste. Rose, Dauphin, and right to the Province of Saskatchewan via P.R. 235. Unprecedented action to alleviate winter unemployment has been a main thrust of this government in 1971 and '72, and with the winter works program have created many jobs re sulting in a cash injection in rural as well as urban areas.

There has been farm programs for water and sewers and this is now to be expanded to towns and villages. I'm sure this will be very welcome to the rural people.

March 10, 1972 19 (MR. ADAM cont'd) • . •• This government has been shifting property tax. There will be tax credits implemented this year. This government, the first provincial government to make an acreage payment to farmers, while quite minimal did help the cost squeeze that the farmers are caught in and the cost squeeze, price squeeze that the Member from Rhineland is concerned about, as we all are. This helped to alleviate some of the pressures.

There has been a new Farm Implements Act to protect farmers as well as implement dealers and for this we are thankful; a new auto insurance scheme designed not only to reduce the costs of insurance but to save lives on our highways as well, which is far more important. This is now in effect. There is still much to do, Mr. Speaker, particularly in the field of agriculture, if we are to save the remaining farmers who derive their living by primary production and who by their vocation generate immense wealth for all Canadians.

There are problems existing in agriculture today that defy any conventional approach and will require radical solutions. This is particularly true with the problem of removing antiquated methods of marketing and distri bution. If we are to preserve what is left of our rural communities we must concentrate on the problems and zero in on the solutions. Some of our marketing boards have been effective and we can still improve in this area. Another area of great concern in my constituency is the rehabilitation of our inland fishing.

We must first of all eradicate the coarse fish which is now reducing the production, and we must introduce comprehensive management to our lakes. We must replenish these lakes with a higher quality of fish. This in turn will provide a better income for our fishermen and rural business people and in this direction we must also impose stricter regulations to prevent pollution of these beautiful lakes that we are endowed with. In the past two or three years we have made great strides in assimilating our native people into our society which heretofore seemed impossible for them to do.

Previously these citizens have found it difficult to share equally in the benefits of our society and I am indeed proud to be part of a government that has recognized that a problem existed and is taking action in this direction. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased with the Speech from the Throne and I feel that if all recom mendations are implemented therein and are acted upon, a better life will ensue for all the people of this province. I am pleased to second the motion presented by my colleague, the Member from St. Vital, and recommend its adoption by this Assembly. Thank you very much. MR.

SPEAKER: Are you ready for the question? The Honourable Leader of the Opposition. MR. SPIV AK: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Morris, that the debate be adjourned. MR. SPEAKER presented the motion and after a voice vote declared the motion carried. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable House Leader. MR. PAULLEY: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable the Minister of Finance, that the House do now adjourn. MR. SPEAKER presented the motion and after a voice vote declared the motion carried and the House adjourned until 2:30 Monday afternoon. � I I

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	29-4-2
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	29th 4th hansardpdf 2.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	813843403d2f548b15af8a3112932bcb3976ec96

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