Manitoba Hansard — 4 March 1975 (Sitting 1, 30th Legislature, 2nd Session)

30-2-1

Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2:30 o'clock, Tuesday, March 4, 1975 The Sergeant-at-Arms, carrying the Mace in the crook of his arm, followed by the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Mr. J. R. Reeves, and the Deputy Clerk, Mr. Andrue J. Anstett, entered the House. SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor. HONOURABLE WILLIAM JOHN McKEAG (Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Manitoba) : Mr. Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba: I welcome you to the Second Session of the Thirtieth Legislature of the Province of Manitoba.

Year by year, the decisions made by provincial legislative assemblies are becoming increasingly important to the well-being of all Canadians. Never have the responsibilities of provincial legislators been greater and never have the questions before them been more complex or more challenging than they are today.

As your deliberations begin, it will be of satisfaction to Members to note that, despite certain national and international economic problems, the major sectors of the Manitoba economy continue to exhibit sustained strength and balance. 1 My Ministers have informed me that the value of our province's output of goods and services surpassed all previous totals once again last year.

Preliminary estimates indicate that Manitoba's gross provincial product increased to at least $6 billion in 1974, and that the real growth component of this record expansion, adjusted to constant dollars, compared very well with the experience for Canada as a whole. Equally favourable growth occurred in employment totals within an expanding labour force; and in wages and salaries and farm cash receipts. Business activity also kept pace with substantial expansion in capital investment, manufacturing shipments and retail sales.

While recognizing that economic conditions in our province must inevitably be affected negatively if current national unemployment and inflation trends are not reversed, nevertheless, my advisors are optimistic as to relative economic performance in the global context. I am informed that national economic conditions are to be discussed, along with oil pric ing and other energy matters, at a federal-provincial conference of First Ministers early in April. My Government is hopeful that this meeting will produce concrete results.

Manitoba 's perspective in the discussions on energy at this conference will be conditioned by the nature of the prime energy resource in Manitoba, which is renewable hydro-electric power. It is my Government's policy to reduce Manitoba 's dependence upon fossil fuels. To help translate that policy into reality Manitoba Hydro is actively planning new facilities to meet the extra electrical demands as energy users convert from oil and gas to electricity. This rate of conversion is increasing.

Manitoba Hydro is taking the first steps in preparing for the development of new genera tion to meet future Manitoba energy needs after completion of all the available economic hydro electric sites. It is expected that this new generation will use nuclear fuel and be of the CANDU type developed in Canada. In order to provide for adequate planning time and environmental impact analysis for and by the public, my advisors propose that a ten-year time horizon becomes necessary. Accordingly, further information will be provided well in advance.

A record increase of 33, OOO telephones is forecast by the Manitoba Telephone System for the next fiscal year bringing the number to approximately 5 80, OOO. To meet this continued growth, capital expenditures of $67 million will be requested bringing the historic accumulated capital investment to the order of $740 per telephone. In northern Manitoba, the System will continue the expansion and improvement of com munication services for many residents. During 1975-76 and 1976-77, almost 13, OOO persons in 32 communities are scheduled to receive improved toll and local telephone service.

Fifteen of the communities will receive dial service. Completion of the Radisson-Churchill microwave system will provide for growth and improved long distance service as well as a television channel to Churchill. The manual-to-di.al conversion and rural multi-party line improvement programs will continue. During the course of this Session, Members will be asked to approve expenditure and revenue estimates for the twelve-month period beginning April 1, 1975. My Government has informed me that its Budget proposals for the 1975-76 fiscal year have been prepared on the

2 March 4, 1975 basis of a rigorous evaluation of the effectiveness of existing programming and of various op tions in meeting primary economic and social development objectives. The estimates will re affirm my Ministers 1 commitment to ensuring greater equality of the human condition and a fairer distribution of Manitoba 's increasing economic wealth through new initiatives, as well as the continuation of such measures as: extended health care without premium payments; pharma care; day care; extended housing programs; tax credits; and guaranteed income supplements for the elderly.

All these programs and services are particularly appropriate in light of the current national economic trends and conditions in that they help to absorb some of the effects of inflation on lower and retirement income citizens. Among the priorities for the immediate future will be the continued advancement of a co-ordinated approach to economic development along with a redirection where experience has taught that the methods used to date should be improved upon.

A change will be sought in the legislation governing the Manitoba Development Corpora tion, designed to alter the basis on which the Corporation was initiated and under which it has continued to operate. The present Manitoba Development Corporation Act permits the Corporation to advance moneys only when all private lenders have refused. This stipulation has, of necessity, required the Corporation to conduct its activities only in the highest possible risk enterprises and circumstances.

Given these limitations, the Corporation has sustained a disproportionate number of losses, as would any lending institution so confined to an exclusive high risk role in its operations. It is the view of my Government that the Corpora tion should be given an opportunity to play a more conventional development role and, accordingly, Members will be asked to consider removal of the restriction that it must act only as a lender of last resort. My Government recognizes the important contribution of small enterprise to Manitoba and will continue to extend programs to assist small businesses.

My Government intends to expand the Manitoba Trading Corporation's export efforts which are also designed to meet a need among smaller business enterprises in relating to larger world market scales of operation. At this Session you will be asked to approve the final phase of my Government's mineral policy including its relationship to public revenues. A new system of royalties, to be based on an initial rate related to a standard of "basic income" and an incremental rate on higher income, will be placed before you for consideration.

In the important renewable resource field, a separate ministerial organization will be responsible for programs related to lands, forests and wildlife. To complement the celebrations denoting the lOOth anniversary of the arrival of Icelandic settlers in Manitoba, Recla Provincial Park will officially open this year. Negotiations have been successfully concluded with Canada to except the Bald Head Hills from the Shilo Military Reserve. The Bald Head Hills - a sand dune area unique to western Canada will be incorpor ated into the Spruce Woods Provincial Park.

New recreational options in camping, cottaging and canoeing are to be made available in a provincial park centred between Bird Lake and Long Lake. As a result of a Federal-Provincial Agreement on Highways, there will be increases in the allowable maximum gross weight and axle loads permitted on a designated network of our highways across the province. Construction of main road mileage north of 53° latitude is now making it possible to develop and designate public recreation areas at a number of locations.

Furthermore, in 1975, work will be well under way on construction of road access to Gillam and slightly beyond providing a basis for future decision-making regarding eventual road access to Hudson's Bay. My Government will continue to assign high priority to programs designed to provide livelihood earning options for more northern residents. Manpower placement and training measures will be emphasized and opportunities for employment creation at the local level will be explored vigorously.

In this regard the Government of Canada has joined with the Province of Manitoba in sharing certain of these developmental costs in northern Manitoba. The broad objectives of this Manitoba Northlands Agreement are to provide better ways for all people in the north to participate in the social and economic use of natural resources as much as possible in harmony with the environment and cultural patterns as well. My Government will continue programs to reduce isolation and cost of living disparities by the construction of major facilities relating to roads and air transport. Community services

March 4, 1975 (THRONE SPEECH cont'd) . . • . and infrastructure will also be further upgraded as part of this effort to improve the quality of life in northern Manitoba. 3 Although economic development has been, and will continue to be, a high priority of my Government, the emphasis on development has not been pursued without regard for other factors. Close attention has been given to the necessary structures of government which enable Manitobans, locally, to participate in the democratic process.

The new Northern Affairs Act, which was approved late in the last Session, makes it possible for northern residents to increase their involvement in local government and to take a greater share of responsibility for improved community services and facilities. I am happy to report that steady progress is being made in this regard. Affecting municipalities throughout the province, a new Provincial Planning Act will be introduced in this Session which you will be invited to consider. A much needed revision, this new Act will replace legislation dating back as far as 1916.

The new Act is designed to facilitate the increased control by local municipal government over their environnients - an important provision in an increasingly complex world. Decentralization of municipal services through rural regional assessment and planning offices is well under way. The passing of the new City of Winnipeg Act some years ago demonstrated the serious concern of my Government for our province's largest urban centre, a concern which has been sustained in the intervening years.

In accordance with the requirements of that legislation, my Government will launch a comprehensive review of the operation of the Act and the activities of the City thereunder. My Ministers inform me that with the concurrence of this Assembly and in response to municipal government request and inquiries, they plan to embark upon a substantial program of renewal and revitalization of the City of Winnipeg's central core area.

A major program of housing and public works will be. built in the .core area of the City to meet the needs of our citizens including public housing, senior citizens' residences and a number of provincial buildings, to meet the requirements of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation and the Motor Vehicle Branch, a Magistrates' Court Building, and an Environ mental and Health Laboratory. In this way three goals will be achieved in co-operation with local government and residents: a deteriorating

section of the City will be rebuilt, housing and care needs will be met and new facilities to meet public requirements will be realized. In order to ensure that adequate quantities of land are available at reasonable cost when required for urban development purposes, my Ministers will continue to offer assistance to the City of Winnipeg on its land banking program. In recent years, my Government has introduced a large number of progressive reforms in the social service and health fields.

These have included the development of regional and district health services; a nursing home insurance program; elimination of medicare premiums; a prescription drug benefit program; a home care program; an expansion of personal care beds; an indexed social allowance program; a new Child Welfare Act; a provincial Ambulance Program; a guaranteed annual income experiment; income supplementation programs for senior citizens; a day care program and the beginning of major changes in the care of the mentally retarded and disturbed.

Mon gouvernement est pleinement conscient du fait qu 'au Manitoba, le nombre de personnes agees va crciitre considerablement au cours de la prochaine de'cennie. Il n 'ignore pas non plus que ce groupe d •ige requiert une lourde contribution des ressources de la province en matiere de sante, et que des programmes sp�cialises doivent lui etre consacres. Aussi, le gouvernement envisage l 'instauration d 'un systeme planifie en vue d 'ameliorer les services de geriatrie et de r�pondre ainsi aux besoins des citoyens ages du Manitoba dans les annees a venir.

You will be asked to approve enabling legislation at this Session for the establishment of an initial phase of a dental care program for children. My Government informs me that it will concentrate on developing such a program for children utilizing paradental personnel. In designing this program consultation with the appropriate professional groups will take place. Child Development Services will continue to deliver specialized services to handicapped children in smaller communities.

We will be discussing with local school authorities ways and means by which the Department of Education can assist them in identifying their greatest needs and in developing local resources to meet these needs.

4 March 4, 1975 (THRONE SPEEC H cont'

d) The school milk program, which is proving successful in northern communities, will be continued. The continuing rise in the rate of inflation has had an effect upon costs at all levels of government. Thus, despite an increase, within five years, of more than $100 million in provincial support for our schools, additional funds will be requested in order to assist school divisions in meeting some of the effects of this inflation. Similarly, additional funds will be requested in order to help offset the rising costs of transporting pupils to and from school.

In recent years there has been an increase in the number of mature students who are re-entering the educational stream at the post-secondary level. The great increase in the availability of student financial aid and federal training allowances continues to be significant for such students. One of the more successful new efforts is the New Careers program which provides better livelihood earning opportunities for those persons with potential who have not previously had an opportunity to establish themselves in the work force.

On January lst, the minimum wage in Manitoba was increased for the second time within a year maintaining it at the level of the national aggregate average. Fkrther review appears necessary in light of cost of living changes. Last fall the Minister of Labour invited interested groups and the public generally to present their suggestions for changes in our labour legislation. The suggestions received have been summarized and distributed to all Members of this Assembly.

You will be asked to consider changes felt to be desirable and appropriate to our labour relations, employment standards and wage collection and enforcement legislation. A special labour-management Construction Industry Review Committee has been set up to look into the problems facing this industry. The matter of compulsory certification of tradesmen in certain trades is being inquired into by the Apprenticeship and Tradesmen's Qualifications Board which is equally representa tive of labour and management and has an independent chairman ..

World food supply prospects require constant vigilance and updated review. ·In that regard my Government believes that a healthy agriculture is the backbone of future stability. Within that context my Government is continuing to base its policies on support of the owner operated or family farm as the basic mode of production. Related to this concept, my Government is providing supplementary options and freedom of choice to farmers by means of land leasing alternatives that include built in opportunities for subsequent purchase or renewal of leases.

In spite of adverse weather conditions, which caused a reduction in crop yields, gross farm cash receipts and net farm income reached record levels in 1974. At $396 million, realized net income from farming operations was $100 million higher than in 1973, and was more than twice as high as in any year prior to 1972. However, rapidly increasing costs and weakening prices for livestock give cause for concern. In response to difficulties encountered by beef producers my Government has made available to farmers interest-free cash advances so that they may postpone the marketing of their stocker calves.

My Government has also waived the payment of fees on Crown grazing lands used for livestock production in 1975. In 1974 Manitoba farmers increased Crop Insurance coverage by 35 percent over 1973. Claims for crop losses due to unfavourable weather conditions in 1974 will be approximately $6 million. You will also be asked to approve amendments to The Milk and Dairy Products Control Act. A major change in dairy policy removing some historical restrictions on milk production, and placing all dairy farmers on an equal footing has been of significant benefit.

Our programs to assist farms and municipalities in sewer and water installation costs continue to meet needs of rural residents. To date, more than 10, 000 applications for tech nical assistance have been received from farmers. In addition, agreements have been signed with 35 communities involving the expenditure of $8. 5 million in grants and $12 million in loans. A I 'occasion de cette annee jubilaire marquant le soixante-quinzieme anniversaire de fondation de la premiere Caisse populaire au Canada, j'offre a tous les membres mes meil leurs voeux.

The year 1975 has been proclaimed by the United Nations as International Women's Year,

March 4, 1975 5 (THRONE SPEECH cont'd) .•..• during which time there will be new and intensified activities to promote equality between men and women. My Government is pleased to join in support of these efforts. In the past year my Government has undertaken a number of initi atives in this area: for example, the Human Rights Commission has been strengthened, a career planning co-ordinator has been appointed in the Civil Service Commission, and the pro vincial day care program has become operational.

My Government has considered a number of recommendations for legislation made by the Manitoba Law Reform Commission. This Commission has circulated a working paper on family law for comment from the community. It is hoped that a number of recommendations of the Law Reform Commission in regard to family and property law may be received in time for legislation at this Session of the Legislature. We expect certain recommendations from the Law Reform Commission for legislation at this Session to give effect to the proposed unified Family Court Pilot Project in the County Court District of St. Boniface.

The plans and the legislative proposals which I have out lined to you have been prepared by my Ministers in consideration of the interests of the people of Manitoba. These proposals and the Estimates of Supply are recommended for the consideration of this Assembly. In leaving you I pray that you may have the guidance of Divine Providence and reason in your deliberations. Que Dieu benisse la Reine et notre pays. MR. SPEAKER: 0 Eternal and Almighty God, from whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to the welfare and prosper ity of our province.

Grant, 0 Merciful God, we pray Thee, that we may desire only that which is in accordance with Thy Will; that we may seek it with wisdom, know it with certainty, and accomplish it perfectly, for the glory and honour of Thy Name and for the welfare of all our people. Amen. The Honourable First Minister. HON. EDWARD SCHREYER introduced Bill No. 1,

an Act respecting the administration of oaths of office. MR. SPEAKER: In order to prevent mistakes, I have obtained a copy of the Address of His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor which was read. I should also like to announce and in form the House that Ragnar Gislason has been appointed Sergeant-at-Arms for the Second Session of the Thirtieth Legislature. The Honourable First Minister. MR. SCHREYER: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable the Minister of Mines, that the Votes and Proceedings of the House be printed, having first been perused by Mr.

Speaker, and that he do appoint the printing thereof, and that no person but such as he shall appoint do presume to print same. MOTION presented and carried. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable First Minister. MR. SCHREYER: Mr.

Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable the Minister of AgricultureJthat the Standing Committees of this House for the present session be appointed for the following purposes: Privileges and Elections; Public Accounts; Public Utilities and Natural Resources; Agriculture; Municipal Affairs; Law Amendments; Private Bills; Industrial Relations; Statutory Regulations and Orders; Economic Development; which several committees shall be empowered to examine and enquire into all such matters and things as may be referred to them by this House, and to report from time to time their observations and opinions thereon with power to send for persons, papers and documents and examine witnesses under oath.

MOTION presented and carried. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable First Minister. MR. SCHREYER: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable the Attorney General, that William Jenkins, Esquire, Member of the Electoral Division of Logan, be Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the committees of the House. MOTION presented and carried. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable First Minister. MR. SCHREYER: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable the Minister of Urban Affairs, that a special committee of seven persons be appointed to prepare and report

6 March 4, 1975 (MR. SCHREYER cont'd) • . • • • with all convenient speed a list of members to compose the Standing Committees ordered by this House and that such committees shall be composed as follows: The Honourable Misters Green, Hanuschak, Paulley; Misters Jenkins, Johnston (Portage la Prairie), Jorgenson and Sherman. MOTION presented and carried. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable First Minister. MR. SCHREYER: Monsieur le Pri{sident, je propose, appuy/ par I 'Honourable Ministre de la Sant�1que le discours de Son Honneur le Lieutenant-Gouverneur soit considere demain. MR.

SPEAKER: Moved by the Honourable First Minister, seconded by the Honourable Minister of Health, that the speech of His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor be taken into consideration. QUESTION put, MOTION carried. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable First Minister. MR. SCHREYER: Monsieur le PrE{sident, je propose, appuy� par I 'Honourable Ministre du Tourisme, de la Recreation et des Affaires Culturelles1que la Chambre s'ajourne mainten ant. MR0 SPEAKER: Moved by the Honourable First Minister; seconded by the Honourable Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs1that the Assembly adjourn. QUESTION put, MOTION carried.

Translation of French on Page 3: My Government is. cognizant of the fact that the proportion of elderly people in Manitoba will grow dramatically over the next decade. It is aware that this segment of the population makes heavy demands on the health resources of the Province and require specialized programs. I am advised that my Government will be considering planning models to improve geriatric services to ensure that the requirements of Manitoba elderly citizens will be met in the years to come.

Translation of French on Page 4: On the occasion of this jubilee year marking the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the first credit union in Canada, I offer all members my best wishes. Translation of French on Page 5: God bless the Queen and our country.

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	30-2-1
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	30th 2nd hansardpdf 1.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	ac9da6c6bcf0a201f6bf82b3d935d7da441b96e5

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