1977 Legislative Session: 2nd Session, 31st Parliament

HANSARD

The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.

The printed version remains the official version.

Official Report of

DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

(Hansard)

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 1977

Morning Sitting

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CONTENTS

Routine proceedings

Throne speech debate — 29

Mr. Kahl — 34

Mr. Lloyd

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 1977

The House met at 10 a.m.

Prayers.

MR. G.H. KERSTER (Coquitlam): I'd like the House to join me

in welcoming 25 students from Sir Frederick Banting Junior Secondary

School in Coquitlam who are with us in the gallery today along with

their teacher, Mr. Saric.

MR. J.J. KEMPF (Omineca): With us in the gallery today from

the constituency of Omineca are Mr. and Mrs. Carl McKilligan and I

would ask the House to join me in welcoming them.

MR. H.J. LLOYD (Fort George): I'd like the House to join me in welcoming my wife and my friends, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Benson from Prince George.

MRS. P.J. JORDAN (North Okanagan): It's a rare pleasure for

me to ask the House to welcome my husband who is in the gallery, and a

particularly warm welcome for Mrs. Jack Bowie from West Vancouver.

MR. W.G. STRONGMAN (Vancouver South): It's with great honour

today that I have the opportunity to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Peter Brick

of the North Vancouver–Seymour constituency. Mr. Brick was my campaign

manager in the last election and I owe him a great gratitude for the

excellent work that he has done on my behalf.

MR. E.N. VEITCH (Burnaby-Willingdon): I'd like to introduce my wife Sheila and Mr. and Mrs. Lorne who are situated in the gallery today.

MR. G. HADDAD (Kootenay): It's not too often people come from the Kootenay.

MR. G.R. LEA (Prince Rupert): You and Leo made it.

MR. HADDAD: However, I have with me today Mr. and Mrs. Terry Segarty from Cranbrook and I would appreciate you welcoming them here today.

MR. D.G. COCKE (New Westminster): I'd like the House to welcome Mrs. Johnson and everybody else in the gallery who hasn't been introduced heretofore.

Orders of the day.

SPEECH FROM THE THRONE

MR. L.B. KAHL (Esquimalt): Mr. Speaker, with your permission I would

like to first introduce four guests I have in the gallery; my older daughter,

Shannon; three friends of mine — Mrs. Foster, and Ann and Terry Ridley. I would

ask the House to bid them welcome, please.

Mr. Speaker, I take great pleasure in presenting the following motion, seconded

by the hon. member for Fort George (Mr. Lloyd):

That the following address be presented to His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor:

We, Her Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative

Assembly of British Columbia in session assembled, beg leave to thank

Your Honour for the gracious speech which Your Honour has addressed to

us at the opening of this present session.

Interjection.

MR. KAHL: You're not that lucky. (Laughter.)

Mr. Speaker, I am told that in the British parliamentary system it

is considered a great honour to move the Speech from the Throne. It is

a privilege I am appreciative of, and trust that I will be able to

honour all members of this assembly. I would be remiss if I did not

thank the constituents of Esquimalt for electing me, and thus making

this occasion possible.

In his opening remarks, His Honour spoke of the direction his

government will take in the coming year. In my remarks, Mr. Speaker, I

too would like to speak of that direction. In so doing, I will review

the past year of 1976, the year in which our government set the stage

for the future of British Columbia, the year our government asked the

people of this province to exercise restraint, work with us in

untangling the financial chaos, and the year we asked the people to

plan with us for the future.

The ties that hold us together and make us a leading province in

Canada are ties that are, in my opinion, interdependent. We are not a

separate entity on our own. We are part of a great nation, the great

nation of Canada. Our country is part of a world-wide global village.

As we sit on the Pacific Rim, we in British Columbia are also part of

that global village, a global village that we must again find our place

in, a global village we must again begin helping.

Mr. Speaker, our province is a producer of primary resources,

resources that the rest of the world desperately needs. We cannot sit

idly by and continue to make demands that exclude us from sharing and

trading with the rest of the world. We, as legislators, must legislate

positive steps; we, as citizens in British Columbia, must develop

support within the public; we, as workers, must contribute what we can

to the economy so that those less fortunate through age, handicap, or

place of residence who need our help may receive it.

Mr. Speaker, to achieve this goal, let me explore a

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fundamental tie that binds us together: that of our

economy. In our complex and industrialized society, economy is a tie

that we must all reckon with. It is a tie we must all work with, and a

tie that must unite us. During the past year, we have set the stage for

our economy to improve in British Columbia. The $100 million pipeline

project, the coal developments in the northeast of our province, and

the restored investor confidence in British Columbia are but a few

examples.

Mr. Speaker, not long ago, I watched on national television the president of

Crown Zellerbach say: "We're investing $125 million in our plants in

British Columbia." He went on to say this would never have been had the

last government remained in power.

Speaking in Vancouver on September 23 of last year, Mr. Iwasaki, a

Japanese mineral economist, said, "Government planners must have

learned through the experience of trial and error over the past five

years that attempts to control the rate of resource development can

only be undertaken with the awareness that most of Canada's mineral

commodities are intrinsically international commodities and that they

cannot disregard the impact of other world suppliers when they

introduce new policies relating to mineral industry. We in Canada have

dropped from being the fourth largest exporter to Japan in 1971 to the

sixth largest in 1975. We must take a stronger position as a trading

partner on the Pacific Rim.

Our Office of Intergovernmental Relations must move forward in

securing that position together with the Ministry of Economic

Development. I am confident we will see that happen. His Honour

mentioned Intergovernmental Relations would be attempting to develop

new markets and arrange trade missions, a step we are all pleased to

see.

Mr. Speaker, the other day I saw a headline that read: "First Uranium

Mine In B.C." This is the kind of economic expansion that sees new jobs

for our citizens and a brighter future for all.

His Honour spoke about the role of Canadians. The hon. Premier,

while speaking in Toronto, talked about our role as Canadians. The

Premier spoke about our cooperation with the federal government to

bring on stream the developments of our tremendous coal deposits. In

this way we, as British Columbians, can assist Canada in her deficit

balance of payments in the years 1980 through 1990 and provide a

much-needed resource to our trading partners.

In the last short while, we have seen the Ministry of Forests set up

a committee to advise the minister on the Pearse report. This report

and the recommendations from it will hopefully be the basis for shaping

our forestry policy in the years ahead. Last year, Mr. Speaker, in the

resource industry we saw a 28 per cent increase in total shipment

value. This increase is the result of increased confidence in our

province — a confidence that came about because our citizens practised

restraint and because our government operated with sound financial

policies. The quarterly financial reviews of our province are another

example of our open government.

The Prospectors Assistance Act resulted in a tripling of mining

claims being staked, and in 1976 we saw an increase of 121 per cent in

well-drilling activity.

MR. A.B. MACDONALD (Vancouver East): It's based on NDP programmes.

MR. KAHL: Mr. Speaker, we have provided an atmosphere in

British Columbia for our natural resources to supply a greater portion

of our markets and those of the world.

MR. MACDONALD: Haven't changed a thing.

MR. KAHL: Mr. Speaker, by creating the position of convention

coordinator under the Ministry of Travel Industry, we are creating an

awareness among our own citizens of the benefits that tourism can bring

to our province. That awareness has already resulted in talks being

held between the Minister of Travel Industry (Hon. Mrs. McCarthy) and

many individuals in British Columbia. The Vancouver Board of Trade, in

its January 4, 1977, newsletter, had this to say:

" The provision of a convention centre-exhibit hall

complex is somewhat akin to providing a railway, a port, or a highway.

It is the basic infrastructure needed to bring economic expansion."

This structure will serve as a backbone for an industry that is

predicted next year to see an increase of at least 10 per cent. A

conservative estimate places a $19 million figure on annual direct tour

spending in Vancouver with another $40 million as a multiplier effect

of indirect spending. Mr. Speaker, this goal can be achieved with the

provincial government continuing to lead the way. Our citizens will

benefit in the increase of the stability of employment and business.

Last year, it is estimated the tourist industry pumped $1 billion

into the British Columbia economy. With approximately 70,000 people

employed in that field, our government has a commitment to meet, a

commitment I know will be kept so as to see this industry expand, the

like of which we have never seen in our province before.

Mr. Speaker, another boost in our economy last year was in

agriculture. For the first time in history the farm cash receipts

reached the $400 million mark. We saw a major thrust for the sale of

British Columbia home-grown products, a thrust that will be continued

this year, a thrust that will result in better farm production and,

hopefully, a return by some

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younger citizens to the farms so once again the

true individual enterprising spirit that built this province can be

evidenced in the agricultural industry.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to see the emphasis placed on the rural

electrification programmes. I am pleased to hear His Honour speak of a

regeneration of rangeland leading to expansion in the production of

quality forage. For the first time, in 1976 we saw the Japanese buying

from South Peace Dehy. We saw an expanded market that hopefully will be

able to place that plant on a sounder financial footing.

A true measure of an economically attractive climate is the rate of

housing starts. In 1975 we saw a total of 2,631 starts to October; in

the same time in 1976 we saw a total of 2,869 starts, an increase of

some 10 per cent.

Mr. Speaker and hon. members, the economic atmosphere of this

province has turned around: investors are feeling secure, and our local

citizens must be encouraged to invest more heavily in the private

markets so our government does not have to. It is reported that our

main strength last month was in construction — 20 per cent higher than

the same month one year ago.

Mr. Speaker, let me talk about another tie that binds this province.

Let me now focus attention on the working person, the individual who,

without any economic policy from the government, has no future, the

individual who has built this country and our province, and the

individual who will continue to build it tomorrow.

MR. LEA: Have you seen one up close?

MR. KAHL: Last year in our legislation we saw, under Bill 83,

the reinstatement of non-union contractors to be allowed to bid on

government jobs. We saw an extension of the cooling-off period from 21

to 40 days in labour disputes which threaten life. We saw the

government supervision of strike and lock-out votes. We saw our

Minister of Labour (Hon. Mr. Williams) earn the reputation, in this

province, of a cool, level-headed individual who is concerned about the

worker.

The hon. minister in a speech not long ago said: "The available

supply of men and women who are skilled in the modern techniques used

in our industries is a basic requirement for a healthy economy. It is

also fundamental to a healthy economic growth." Last year we saw a

growth of 56,000 more jobs than the previous year. Yes, we had tough

times too. Last year when we asked for restraint, the working people of

this province responded positively. They recognize that if we are to

survive in the world economy we must again become competitive.

Mr. Speaker, continually I get calls at my home from individuals who say that

they do not want to go on strike; they do not want to be out of work because

of labour disputes. Work is the very cornerstone of our economic system, and

without it we are lost. The pioneers of this country worked hard and left for

us the great heritage we have in British Columbia today. We must carry on that

path.

This year we have 472 collective agreements that must be negotiated.

This involves some 279,000 workers. If we are to prosper together, we

must negotiate together: business, workforce and government. Neither

party must lose sight of the long-term goals: prosperity, happiness and

a sense of well-being. We must be prepared to give and to take. We must

again be prepared to practise restraint. We must again ask our citizens

to cooperate; they have in the past, they are today and they will in

the future.

Mr. Speaker, I have noted lately that some of our union leaders are

softening in their demands for more money. They too have come to

realize we are part of a global village, part of an international

trading scene, and to play a significant role we must be competitive.

OPEC can demand a high price for oil and get it. They have an

overabundance of supply; the rest of the world has precious little. We

are not in the same position. While we do have a plentiful supply of

forestry resources and minerals, so do many other countries. Hence, we

must remain competitive.

Some union leaders have indicated they will be turning away from

high-profile economic issues and concentrating on items such as

technological change and other non-monetary items. We must commend them

for that; we must assist them in achieving that goal. We must, and we

will.

Mr. Speaker, it is time, too, that we gave more recognition to the

workers of this province. It is they who have provided the tax dollars

for a $30 million hospital in my constituency, they who have provided

$7.5 million for widening of the Trans-Canada Highway in my

constituency and the neighbouring constituencies of Saanich and the

Islands and Victoria. We must never lose sight of that. They realize

more than anyone that strikes and lockouts do not provide funds for the

social services we demand today. They realize that personal income in

British Columbia increased by some 16 per cent in 1976; they know that

economists are predicting a 13 per cent gain in 1977.

In both cases our workers realize they are above the national

average. They are content with this. Today they own more homes, more

cars, more boats, and consume more energy than anywhere in the Dominion

of Canada. When we ask for a response to restraint, that response will

be positive. I am confident they will not let us down.

This year, Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Labour will be coordinating

activities from other ministries with respect to summer employment. We

all know and recognize the difficulties created when our high

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school students, our college students and our

university students are without summer employment. Here again, it is

not necessary to pay maximum rates to individual students. What we

should strive to do — to use an old cliche — is share the wealth. Our

students want work and a reasonable remuneration for that work. They do

not want to see their fellow students miss a year of education because

of a lack of funds or jobs. If we ask their cooperation they will

respond. They will accept, and we will all see the profit from it.

Particularly hard hit, if the wealth is not shared, will be those

students whose families might happen to be on the lower end of the

income scale.

Our summer employment programme must be the best ever. Looking at

the consequence of a summer employment programme that does not provide

for adequate jobs, I can see many problems that financially we must pay

for anyway. Our youth have an abundance of energy that will be used in

any event. Our challenge is to utilize it to its maximum potential. Our

challenge is to direct that energy so the outcome is productive and

constructive. We are all familiar with the delinquent behaviour of

individuals who have time on their hands. The citizens of our province

pay for those delinquent behaviours in court costs, damaged property

costs and rehabilitative costs. We must not expose our youth to that

realm of socially unaccepted behaviour. If we challenge our youth in a

constructive manner, they, in turn, will be able to meet the challenge

of tomorrow. Our job is to train them to make a significant

contribution to society by working, by financially contributing to

society, so that as adults they will be able to make that same

contribution and government will not have to do it for them.

Mr. Speaker, they must be trained to balance their budget through work. They

must be taught to pay as they go, and our government must set that example for

them. This country was built by the workers of Canada. This province was built

by the individual enterprise spirit of our taxpayers. Mr. Speaker, it is only

through them that we can make significant financial contributions to the rest

of Canada. The Premier once said: "It is our price for being Canadian —

a price we are willing to pay." We must ensure that our youth are willing

to pay that same price to be a Canadian. That is our challenge, for the benefits

of being a Canadian within the global village are far greater than the financial

contributions we might make.

The workforce of our province can be optimistic about the future.

Some programmes were announced in 1976; others will be announced in

MR. LEA: No doubt!

MR. KAHL: This will be a good year for labour and, in so being, it will

be a great year for all of us. It will be the best year ever. It is through

sound economic development planning by our government, cooperative participation

with individual enterprise and the dedication of our working force that we are

all able to provide those services to people that are so necessary. This province

was not built by government handouts. This province was not built by waste and

mismanagement.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KAHL: This province was built by the cooperative spirit

of individual enterprise who own small businesses, who work for small

businesses, and have contributed in like manner so the aged, the young

and the less fortunate can be a significant part of our society.

Our Human Resources ministry has, once again, led the way in Canada

in providing assistance to those in need. Last session, Mr. Speaker, we

saw the new GAIN legislation providing assistance to those 55 years of

age and older, and providing assistance to single-parent families. We

saw the beginning of agreements between some provinces to collect funds

from individuals who may have abandoned their families and moved to

other provinces.

In cooperation with the Attorney-General and Ministry of Education

we shall see a concentrated effort to not only contain delinquents

under 17 years of age but, more important, His Honour indicated an

environment will be created where they will be given an opportunity to

learn and to live a law-abiding life.

AN HON. MEMBER: Hear, hear!

MR. KAHL: We all know too well the recidivism rate of our

young offenders. I am optimistic that these programmes will straighten

out some of the wayward youth who, through little fault of their own,

place a horrendous financial burden on the taxpayers. Few of our

citizens realize that the cost of incarceration is approximately

$14,000 per year per inmate. Some people have said to me that our

approach might be too soft. They have said: "Why should we provide a

good training facility to those who break the law?" We must provide

them because they are our citizens. They are our heritage. They are our

responsibility. In today's highly technocratic society we must seize

every opportunity to train, to counsel and to direct our youth, be it

at home, at school or, yes, even in jail. I remember an old man once

telling me: "Our youth is in reality an advantage, not a handicap, as

some would make them out to be."

Mr. Speaker, in services to people our province is surpassed by none. His Honour

spoke of new programmes in health care: new cancer clinics, a new

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children's hospital and a universal Pharmacare

programme, to name only a few. In my own constituency, plans are

underway for a new 300-bed hospital, the cost to range around $30

million. The site for our Helmcken hospital has been talked about for a

decade. We have heard much debate in this House about it, from all

sides. Debate is part of the democratic process but when it halts the

delivery of a health service to our people then I say we have heard

enough, and that is where we are today. We must not lose sight of the

fact that our commitment is to deliver a service. That must be done,

and that will be done by this government. Today in British Columbia we

have over $100 million of new hospital construction underway. In health

care our commitment to the people of British Columbia is further shown

by the fact that our ambulance services will be extended and escort

services to patients will be improved upon.

MR. COCKE: Restored! Restored!

MR. KAHL: His Honour, in his speech, talked of those

individuals in our society who may be handicapped because of chemical

dependencies. We will see the development of four clinics for that

purpose — clinics that will provide so those citizens can find their

way back in to the mainstream of life. To further our commitment in

health-care services, our government has a priority extended-care

emphasis — no more lip service, but action from a government that works

for people.

For our seniors we will see a monthly shelter allowance for

individuals over 65 — more help for those who built our province, more

help for those who, through years of toil, have blessed us with the

heritage we enjoy today. Mr. Speaker, this year we will see, for the

first time, our senior citizens enjoy our park system at no cost.

MR. G.F. GIBSON (North Vancouver-Capilano): On the weekends, too?

MR. KAHL: Who is more deserving of that opportunity than

those who had the foresight to plan for their children? It is my hope

we can only provide as well for our children.

Mr. Speaker, an institution in our society that continues to be foremost in

people's minds is our educational system. The pendulum may swing from the

far right to the far left in politics and in education but one fact remains

constant, and that is we must provide a basic education for our children. The

basics are fundamental to the continued socialization process begun at home.

It is at school that children learn, through a more structured manner, the skills

of reading, of writing and of arithmetic. These skills are central in our developmental

process, for without them we cannot become a social animal. They are the skills

we use no matter how many times we may change jobs. They are the skills we require

so we can meet the new challenges that may confront us. It is those skills that

our government has spiralled the core curriculum around. Mr. Speaker, the goals

as outlined in the pamphlet "What should our children be learning?"

are ones that must be learned. They are essential to our society. The booklet

is intended as a guide, and the hon. minister has asked for a public response

to it. That is participatory democracy at work.

For the first time parents have been asked to participate on a

province-wide basis. For the first time parents have had available to

them a handy, simple booklet outlining what their children should be

learning. Too often I have heard from parents the fact that they did

not know the basic skills their children should be acquiring. The goals

of the core curriculum should be widely distributed to the public.

Mr. Speaker, once again we must include the parents in the

educational process. We must remember that from the time a child is

born and until he reaches 14 years of age, he spends 90 per cent of his

time under home influence. We need parent support; we need parent

participation They are the dominating influence on our children. We

must make a concentrated effort to maximize the funds available to us.

The so-called frills in education are just that — frills. The best

resource children have is their parents; the second-best resource is

their teacher; and the third, their community. Thousands of expensive

machine gadgets lie idle in our schools while what we should be doing

is encouraging local school boards to spend their funds on reducing

class sizes. We must change that. The core curriculum is an excellent

beginning, a better utilization of our resources.

The Winegard report was welcomed by all. It pleases me to know that

post-secondary facilities are being extended to the interior of our

province. Too often in the past those students who do not live near a

large university campus have not had the exposure to further their

academic careers. Access to a good education should be a right, not a

privilege, and a place of residence in our province should not be a

factor.

Mr. Speaker, another welcome move was the setting up of the advisory

commission to report on methods of improving the scope and

effectiveness of technological training in British Columbia. As I made

reference to earlier in my speech, the specialized society in which we

live requires vast training in technological advances. Many of our

citizens will have as many as four or five technical jobs in their

lifetime. It is our responsibility to provide for them the opportunity

to be well trained.

The last tie that binds the province utilizes the

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benefits from economic development programmes, from

hard-working taxpayers, from our services-to-people programmes. That

last tie, Mr. Speaker, is the family.

In British Columbia the family is somewhat unique in that it enjoys

the highest income in any province in Canada. The institution of family

is as old as time. It is in this small, interpersonal group that all we

strive for is realized to its fullest, for it is here that the results

of our programmes — whether they be economic, recreational,

educational, health or otherwise — it is here that things really count.

It is here where we must all exercise restraint. It is here that we

must all pay as we go. It is here that we recognize our importance to

the overall system and what contributions we can make.

Mr. Speaker, never before in the history of mankind has a group of

people had more leisure time. Never before has man been more mobile;

nor ever before have we been more subjected to stress — the need for

immediate gratification and overconsumption. With the family's

opportunity for exposure to television and fast travel, we have had

more contact with divorce, separation, delinquent behaviour, marital

conflict, violence and crime, and a host of others. That is why we

must, as government, strive to maintain the greatest institution of all

— the family

When developing programmes in government, when passing legislation,

we must always ask what effect, if any, will this have on the family

institution. Many of our new programmes are designed to make life more

enjoyable in the family.

The family consumer will be protected under the Consumer Protection

Act. Community grants for recreation, museums and open space will

relieve stress in the family and allow us more leisure to enjoy our

heritage from the past.

His Honour made mention of the Green Belt Protection Fund Act to

protect ecologically sensitive areas so they can be enjoyed by our

children and our children's children. The B.C. Heritage Trust will also

assure that we pass on to our families what our families passed on to

us.

More revenue sharing by the province with local governments will

ensure that at the local level demands made by families will be met.

Mr. Speaker, in our recognition of the family and our endeavours to

preserve it, we must recognize and serve a new type of family that has

surfaced in our industrialized world — that of the single-parent family.

Our province has never had more single-parent families than it has today. It

might surprise you that we have in our province today approximately 21,000 single-parent

families on social assistance. Of those, 90 per cent are women — startling,

perhaps, but nevertheless a fact that we must deal with. His Honour made reference

to the fact that family court will continue to provide support and counselling

for families in crisis. His Honour made reference to the sharing of property

regardless of bread-winner or homemaker. These are both good steps; these are

programmes that have been long overdue.

Last night I read in the evening paper if we have no major work

stoppages in British Columbia the improving world economy, although

slight, will be of particular benefit to British Columbia. As a result,

exports are expected to grow to $8.3 billion this year, up 20 per cent

from 1976. The gross provincial product will be worth $24 billion, up

13 per cent. Discounting inflation, the net provincial growth will be

up 5.5 per cent, well above the 4.2 per cent average growth rate for

all of Canada.

We must press for more legislation that will make our families

stronger, more united and more stable. Mr. Speaker, if we ignore that,

all the economic growth I have just mentioned, all our hard work, all

our services-to-people programmes will have gone for naught.

Mr. Speaker, I want to close my remarks this morning by leaving with the House

the following thought, first penned by that great futurist, H.G. Wells, who

said: "A federation of all humanity, together with a sufficient measure

of social justice to ensure health, education and a rough equality of opportunity

would mean such a release and increase of human energy as to open a new phase

in human history."

Mr. Speaker, the implementation of those words is our challenge. The

result is our destiny. Mr. Speaker, 1977 will be a great year; 1977

will be our greatest year ever.

MR. LLOYD: If I may, before I begin, I would like to

introduce to the House Mr. Doug McConachie, who is the Democratic

representative from the State of Washington. I ask the House to make

him welcome, please.

Mr. Speaker, I'd also like to make note of another guest, beside my

wife Helen and my good friends Mr. and Mrs. Carl Benson; we have Mr.

Tom Nixon sent from the Prince George Citizen , and I certainly appreciate the media in the north taking the interest to send someone down.

Mr. Speaker, I am indeed honoured and I take great pleasure in

seconding the motion so capably presented by the hon. member for

Esquimalt (Mr. Kahl) . My constituents from the industrious and

beautiful riding of Fort George will appreciate the meaningful

programme presented by His Honour the

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Lieutenant-Governor in the throne speech yesterday.

Indeed, all the citizens of British Columbia will welcome our

government's fulfilment of commitments which our party pledged prior to

the last provincial election.

Mr. Speaker, I also feel British Columbians are thankful that our

government has moved quickly and efficiently to control wasteful

spending of taxpayers' money and the return of responsible management

to our Crown corporations.

I would like to commend our Premier on the restructuring of the

government portfolios and the creation of ministries, which should

reduce bureaucratic red tape and assist the public in understanding the

various portfolios of government.

Mr. Speaker, may I also extend my sincere congratulations to the recently appointed

ministers, namely the Minister of Mines, the Hon. Jim Chabot from Columbia

River — I'm sure your background and your previous ministerial experience

will be a great asset to your portfolio; the Minister of Agriculture, from

Boundary-Similkameen, the Hon. James Hewitt — again your background, your

specific interest and your knowledge of agricultural affairs will be of great

benefit to your ministry; the Minister of Recreation and Conservation, from

Victoria, the Hon. Sam Bawlf — your administrative ability and your dedication

will be very useful in coordinating your ministry's efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I believe the entire cabinet has performed remarkably

well in their first year of our term to transform our province's

affairs from the chaos that existed under the previous administration

to the restructured and revitalized government our citizens enjoy

today. .

As the MLA for Fort George and as a former alderman of the city of

Prince George, may I express my sincere appreciation for the attention

and direction given by the individual ministers to specific concerns

from my riding.

After the restructuring and amalgamation took place in January of

1975, Prince George was enlarged from 42,000 people to close to 64,000

people and now covers over 79,000 acres. Many servicing problems that

had plagued the outlying subdivisions, such as water supply, sewage

disposal, fire protection and garbage disposal, not to mention the lack

of recreational and cultural facilities, became the responsibility of

the Prince George city council and their administrative departments.

Under the terms of the restructure agreement, the former provincial

government had agreed that definite financial commitments of some

$5,200,000 would be paid to the city of Prince George, plus other

promises on road and street upgrading and rebuilding, as well as the

one-third provincial recreational grant for the construction of

recreational facilities.

Mr. Speaker, in spite of repeated efforts during 1975, the Prince George city

council was unable to receive an agreement or commitment of funding for either

the road upgrading programme in the newly restructured area, or even assurance

that funding was available for the one-third provincial recreational grant that

had been previously promised.

I am pleased to report that after I brought these problems to the

specific cabinet ministers whose jurisdiction was involved, prompt

resolution of the outstanding issues was forthcoming. The Minister of

Municipal Affairs, the Hon. Hugh Curtis, paid in full the balance, some

$2.5 million of the restructured grant and other grants owing, which

the former government had been allotting in instalments. He also

expedited the transit study for Prince George, which will result in

greatly upgraded transit services in 1977, through the Urban

Transportation Act mentioned in the throne speech.

The Provincial Secretary, the Hon. Grace McCarthy, and more recently

the new Minister of Recreation and Conservation, the Hon. Sam Bawlf,

managed to allocate additional funding to provide the one-third

recreational grant to all our major recreational and cultural

facilities that had been constructed. This amounted to some $784,000

and leaves only a balance of some $50,000 for ball fields and tennis

courts that will be applied for in 1977. The original recreational

grant funds had been exhausted prior to this.

The Minister of Highways and Public Works, the Hon. Alex Fraser,

held a meeting with his senior highways officials, the Prince George

mayor, Mayor Moffat, the city Engineer, Ernie Obst, the city manager,

Chester Jeffery and myself, where the minister indicated what specific

funding his ministry was prepared to consider for road improvements in

the amalgamated area. I am quite sure, since the city's request was

reasonable and the Highways offers were realistic, that this issue will

soon be resolved satisfactorily.

The Minister of Highways also expressed his desire to rebuild and

widen the first eight miles of the Hart Highway, which has been such a

great problem. Preliminary construction and right-of-way acquisition

has commenced already and this will continue as the city completes the

installation of the sanitary sewage construction in that area.

Discussion has also taken place on the interdepartmental level of

planning between the engineers and representatives of Highways, CNR,

BCR and the city of Prince George regarding the rail overpasses, the

river-crossing priorities and the arterial thoroughfare construction to

alleviate the dangerous level crossings on railways, with the first

priority on the airport hill area, the BCR and CNR rail crossings at

the east end of the CNR bridge. I am hopeful that the planning will

soon be completed so scheduling of construction can begin on this

programme. Mr.

[ Page 36 ]

Speaker, many of these problems were dealt with

during the cabinet visit to Prince George in October, when the cabinet

received briefs from various community groups and individuals on

problems of local concern.

The Hon. Alex Fraser also announced the tendering of Project 400, a

joint programme with the City of Prince George and Kau Investments, to

redevelop an entire downtown block in Prince George for provincial

government offices and commercial shopping areas. This $7.5 million

complex will be assumed by the British Columbia Buildings Corporation

created under last session's legislation. This new provincial office

complex will enable consolidation of provincial offices now operating

in scattered locations throughout our city, which will increase their

efficiency and allow better public access.

Mr. Speaker, just prior to the Prince George cabinet meeting, the

Highways minister travelled by car from Dawson Creek through Chetwynd

over the Pine Pass into Mackenzie. There he announced an accelerated

programme of reconstruction, widening and paving scheduled for the Hart

Highway. A major contract has been let in the Pine Pass area, and

another contract for the Parsnip River to McLeod Lake stretch.

Right-of-way clearing, shoulder widening and reconstruction by day

labour has been continuing on various stretches of this highway since

last summer.

Mr. Speaker, I referred to the Hart Highway in my maiden speech last

year as the "suicide road" because of its narrow 24-ft. paved surface,

because of the poor alignment and the lack of shoulder area for

emergency parking, and because of its toll of highway accidents.

Recently, due to the accelerated construction programme, I have

received many favourable comments about our government's active

highways reconstruction programme, so I would like to congratulate the

Minister of Highways and the treasury for allocating the required

funding for this very worthwhile programme.

The Northern Trans-Provincial, constructed almost totally by the

previous Social Credit administration, is a first-class highway

extending from Jasper in the east to Prince Rupert in the west. Certain

sections still remaining that require improvement have been allocated

funding this year also.

Now it is gratifying to see Highway 97, the north-south highway

including the Hart Highway section, receiving the attention it deserves

and the upgrading. I must again commend the Highways minister and take

particular notice that the

section of Highway 97 through his riding in

the Cariboo has been repaved this summer and is a real change from the

potholes of a few short years ago.

I'm sure all our province's citizens enjoy the highways upgrading programme

started in 1976, including the rural road repairs which so drastically required

rebuilding. The main access road in the Reid Lake-Hoodoo Lake area in my riding

was in such poor condition that school buses and passenger vehicles could not

travel for several weeks early this summer. Here again the Highways department

planked certain sections to allow travel until the weather conditions improved

for gravelling and reconstruction.

The maintenance and reconstruction of rural roads will have to be a

continuing priority for our government. Our pioneer residents should be

entitled to year-round access to their farms and rural homes. I have

been told by the local Highways officials that my Fort George riding

has more miles of rural and secondary roads and major highways than any

other riding in the province. I would like to see it get continuing

attention.

Mr. Speaker, the Prince George Regional Hospital services a major

region of the central and northern area of our province. It is

gratifying to realize that the Minister of Health, the Hon. Bob

McClelland, recognizes this factor, and has given permission to the

hospital to allow construction to start this year on a 75-bed extended

care unit. Planning and negotiation is also proceeding on the other

stages proposed by the regional hospital board. Stage two, the power

plant expansion, as well as stage three, the integrated

obstetrical-surgical suite to accommodate more operating rooms, will

proceed when the regional hospital district, the hospital board and the

Health ministry reach agreement on the funding priorities.

As the ambulance services required upgrading in my area, I am

pleased to note that the throne speech indicates more emphasis will be

placed on this, and the escort service will be available when

necessary. Also the added assistance for air ambulance service will be

very welcome in remote areas of the north.

Mr. Speaker, two areas of my riding that appreciate the Health

minister's announcement of new health units that will be constructed in

1977, with cost shared 20 per cent regional district, 80 per cent

provincial government, are Valemount, which is a community of 1,200

people lying 50 miles southeast of McBride.... Valemount had only

makeshift quarters in a renovated house, and they will be receiving a

$200,000 diagnostic and treatment facility of over 3,000 square feel

that will include an ambulance garage. I must say they're very happy to

get this long-awaited facility.

A further facility of 43,000 square feet will be constructed on the

regional hospital grounds in Prince George to accommodate the Northern

Interior Health Unit at an estimated cost of $3.2 million. This

replaces a unit that was built in 1957 and that was badly in need of

replacement to properly service the larger area.

Mr. Speaker, another decision of the Minister of

[ Page

37 ]

Health to designate Prince George a regional

alcoholic treatment centre will provide very beneficial results. The

regional hospital board has graciously accepted the responsibility for

the operation of this centre, together with the detoxification unit

that they now operate. I am very optimistic that major improvements in

the treatment of alcoholics will be forthcoming as these services are

expanded, which should help to alleviate the growing alcoholic problem

across the northern area. I understand the Van Bow treatment centre

will be in operation again very shortly.

The broadening of the Pharmacare programme, outlined in the throne

speech, will certainly be most appreciated by everyone in my riding.

Mr. Speaker, on education, the core curriculum, which is under

review by the parents, trustees and teachers, and which the member for

Esquimalt (Mr. Kahl) made particular note of is very welcome in my

area. I'm also pleased at the reference in the throne speech to

financial assistance to independent, recognized schools. I feel their

competition has improved the public school system standards and that

this recognition and financial assistance is long overdue. School

District 57 in my riding, as well as a group of parents, both expressed

their concern with the shifting in our schools and delays in school

construction that resulted last year from the construction labour

dispute. As the Hon. Dr. McGeer, Minister of Education, has met both

groups during the cabinet meeting in Prince George, I am sure he is

addressing himself to the problems associated with my area's growing

school population.

I also concur with the minister's policy statement regarding college

budgets. Since the local colleges control their own budgeting, it is

imperative that everyone adopt realistic wage requests and benefits —

including the sabbatical leaves — to ensure the taxpayers' dollars

provide maximum educational benefits. I am pleased to see that third-

and fourth-year university courses will be offered soon at the College

of New Caledonia in Prince George under the auspices of either Simon

Fraser University, UBC or the University of Victoria. However, I am

rather dubious about the wisdom or efficiency of developing an

administrative department in Vernon separate from any of the regional

colleges, as recommended in the Winegard report.

Mr. Speaker, another responsibility of the Hon. Pat McGeer is the Insurance

Corporation of British Columbia. I would like to commend the minister and the

ICBC board of directors for their restoration of the financial health of the

corporation and for the remarkable lowering of accident claims that dropped

from 622,000 in 1975 to an estimated 375,000 claims in 1976 — a remarkable record,

particularly when considered in the terms of the fewer deaths and personal injuries

that directly result from more responsible and careful driving habits.

Last session, during debate on the opposition's throne speech

amendment referring to lowering of ICBC premium rates, I issued a

challenge that my constituency would realize a more substantial

reduction in accident claims than any other high-risk area of our

province and, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that according to

statistics presented in the July 1976 issue of the British Columbia

Medical Association News by Dr. Tony Chambers, who was the major

supporter of the "Take the Car out of Carnage" committee in Prince

George.... Dr. Chambers stated that: "Due to the community effort and

media support, the Carnage committee's efforts have been particularly

successful, to the extent that comparing Prince George in the same

period one year earlier and then comparing all of British Columbia who

are under the RCMP jurisdiction, during the same periods, specific

differences show up." In Prince George, the kill rate on the highways

is down 13.5 per cent when compared with the rest of the province, and

the injury rate is down 29.9 per cent. While the property damage in

British Columbia is up 13.8 per cent, it was down 12.4 per cent in

Prince George, for a difference of 26.2 per cent. It is recognized that

the "Take the Car out of Carnage" group in Prince George has just

touched the surface. There is still a lot to be done in this city and

in the province.

Mr. Speaker, I offer my heartfelt congratulations and appreciation

to the Carnage committee for their outstanding efforts. The committee

will, no doubt, be pleased with the new regulations indicated in the

throne speech regarding more stringent penalties to impaired drivers,

which should alleviate this problem area. Dr. Chambers also stated in

the same

article that 86 per cent of the accidents in 1975 involved

alcohol. In 1975 there were 27 fatalities, 341 persons injured, with

property damage and hospital costs topping $8 million in my area.

Positive action had to be taken and I commend the Attorney-General

(Hon. Mr. Gardom) for addressing this problem. I would also like to

inform the Carnage committee that caucus support is growing in relation

to compulsory seat-belt legislation similar to Ontario's programme, Mr.

Speaker, I am certain B.C. drivers, especially those with clear driving

records, will appreciate the reduced rates that their more careful

driving has made possible.

Mr. Speaker, another area that the cabinet ministers reviewed during

the Prince George cabinet business was problems facing the logging

industry in the interior. The Hon. Tom Waterland, Minister of Forests,

the Hon. Jack Davis, Minister of Energy, Transport and Communications,

and the Hon. Alec Fraser met with delegations from the British,

Columbia Logging Association, the Council of Forest Industries, and the

Prince George Independent

[ Page 38 ]

Truckers Association concerning log-hauling

regulations and, specifically, the retention of the restricted route

permits. As this restricted route permit is critical to the economic

viability of the interior forest industry, the delegations expressed

their appreciation for the ministers' attention and guidance to

establish guidelines which would allow the retention of the restricted

route permit. The ministers also met forest industry executives and

delegations from the Prince George Chamber of Commerce concerning

specific matters of concern to them.

The working cabinet visit also provided opportunity for the

ministers to inspect first-hand the facilities and sights available to

better understand the immediate priorities. For instance, the Human

Resources minister, the Hon. Mr. Vander Zalm, toured the premises of

the Aurora activity centre and praised their workmanship and enthusiasm.

Mr. Speaker, I hope I have emphasized my appreciation and the

appreciation of my constituents for our government's prompt attention

and speedy resolution of the many problems affecting my area. I am sure

my fellow MLAs share my sentiments regarding the results of the cabinet

holding working sessions in population centres throughout the province.

Mr. Speaker, the throne speech indicates modifications and revisions

will take place to modernize and update land registry transactions and

records. I welcome these changes and would suggest that further

restructuring of the lands division should take place to encourage

regional land managers to be more responsible for decision-making at a

local level, to speed up the land lease and purchase applications. The

Environment minister (Hon. Mr. Nielsen) should review staffing

problems, particularly in the more remote areas, where distances to

travel are causing some land inspections to fall behind. Our government

has pledged to improve land acquisition procedures, and I consider this

a major priority in my riding.

Mr. Speaker, the provision of electrical power to rural areas not

presently serviced, as mentioned in the throne speech, will also be

greatly welcomed throughout my riding. Another welcome piece of

legislation will be the provisions to decentralize more land-use

planning to local government. Municipal government is the closest to

our citizens so it is logical more regulation of planning should be

conveyed to them. The Ministry of Highways resolution last year

conveying approval authority to regional approving officers was greatly

appreciated in my riding.

Mr. Speaker, the Urban Transportation Act to coordinate provincial-municipal

sharing on transit systems should enable smaller municipalities such as Prince

George to provide better levels of transit service, as well as providing provincial

subsidies such as the Lower Mainland enjoys through the B.C. Hydro transit system.

I would be remiss if I failed to acknowledge the effort extended by

the Minister of Economic Development (Hon. Mr. Phillips) to upgrade and

improve the British Columbia Railway system. Particularly would I be

remiss, since I harassed the minister considerably during the past BCR

labour and management problems that cost a year's disruption to my

riding's economy. While understanding the extreme difficulty of any

simple resolution, I could not help but be dismayed by the serious

problems that the confrontation was causing to so many individuals and

businesses throughout the interior who depend on the BCR.

Mr. Speaker, I am very impressed with the outstanding qualifications

of the board of directors that has been selected to manage the British

Columbia Railway. I believe their prompt action in meeting with the

unions, and in travelling throughout the line to familiarize themselves

with the BCR's problems will greatly assist them in maintaining

consistent service and extending rail lines to tap our natural

resources.

The level of service has improved considerably and the labour and

management morale seems much better. I heartily concur with the

minister's judgment that politics had to be removed from the management

and operation of the British Columbia Railway. I look forward with

optimism to a brighter future for this important resource railroad, the

key to our province's economic development.

Mr. Speaker, the newly structured board of the B.C. Development

Corporation is another example of business leaders becoming involved in

assisting our province's development. This board has also travelled

extensively throughout the province. I share the business community's

optimism that the B.C. Development Corporation will be a major

component in future industrial and small-business expansion throughout

B.C.

The Speech from the Throne states that the Ministry of Economic

Development will be coordinating efforts with the other resource and

energy ministers to develop a team approach along with private

enterprise to stimulate industrial development. With Canada's and our

province's serious unemployment problem, I am sure this programme will

be very well received.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Labour, the Hon. Mr. Williams, merits

special appreciation from our province's citizens. His cool judgment,

his impartial decisions and his tireless endeavours to restore rational

and realistic bargaining have earned him the trust and the respect of

unions and management. His efforts to ensure the preservation of the

rights of small businessmen have also been most appreciated.

I am pleased to note in the throne speech that the

[ Page

39 ]

Labour minister will be coordinating the summer

employment programmes to assure students and others of gainful

employment. With the increased emphasis to be placed on park

development, tourist facilities and tourist promotion, I would feel a

good deal of useful summer employment will be generated for students on

maintenance and construction programmes this coming year.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to briefly discuss tourist promotion

throughout the province. The previous government's policy of "Go home,

Yankee" and "Keep those campers off our roads" left a bad taste with

our American neighbours and our fellow Canadians from other provinces.

The Provincial Secretary, the Hon. Grace McCarthy, the minister

responsible for travel, has instigated major programmes, including

appointing a convention coordinator to rebuild our tourist industry.

I am concerned about the local government participation and

endorsement of tourist promotion that has been lacking in my riding.

The Fraser-Fort George Regional District removed funding last year to

the Yellowhead Highway Association, and the Prince George city council

is reviewing critically the chamber of commerce grant for tourist

promotion. While I agree that the motel and hotel associations should

become more actively involved, I am still disappointed that tourist

camping accommodation is limited and of low standard and that more

realistic financial support is not offered by local government.

Mr. Speaker, I will work to upgrade the highway and lakeshore

campsites and improvements to access to our scenic attractions. I will

also request local government to review their decision on participation

so tourism will continue to produce employment opportunities and

revenue for our province. I understand that last year British Columbia

realized some $1 billion in tourist revenue in 1976, and there's no

reason why that can't be increased.

After a province-wide architectural contest, the city of Prince

George has endorsed a proposed library-cultural convention centre that

would greatly enhance tourist revenue and convention business. I'll be

working closely with the city council to coordinate the phasing and

financing of this project as soon as realistically possible. The

proposed complex may seem grandiose to some people. However, when one

considers the geographic location of our city and the necessity of

providing both cultural and convention facilities to our citizens who

live in the central and northern half of British Columbia, I am

convinced the investment would repay itself many times over. Kelowna,

Penticton, Vernon and Kamloops all have better convention facilities

than Prince George, and I would certainly like to work to improving

this.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend Mayor Moffat, his council and the administration

of Prince George. I believe Prince George has responded enthusiastically to

the challenge of amalgamation with all the attendant servicing problems which

I mentioned earlier. The mayor and the council also demonstrated leadership

and restraint at the time of amalgamation by holding their salaries at $6,000

for aldermen and $7,200 for mayor. With the workload they have, I think that's

fantastic service on behalf of them. It has indeed been a pleasure and a valuable

experience for me to have served the past three years under Mayor Moffat's

guidance and to have worked with such a dedicated and energetic team of aldermen.

I am indeed fortunate in my riding to have energetic, dedicated and cooperative

councils, not only in Prince George but also in Valemount, McBride and Mackenzie.

M r. Speaker, while mentioning dedicated individuals, I would ask

the House to join with me in regretting the passing in early May of

Chuck Ewart of Prince George. An outstanding fisherman, sportsman and

citizen, Chuck was always ready to pitch in on community projects such

as the Christmas Rotary auction to raise funds for the underprivileged.

Chuck Ewart's sense of humour and fair play will not only be missed by

his fellow friends at the coffee club but also by all our community.

The Ewart family's loss is also a loss to Prince George and to British

Columbia.

Mr. Speaker, in concluding, may I state that I am optimistic about

our province's future since the market for our natural resources has

strengthened noticeably in lumber and forest products, The market

demand in price is improving, both in the Pacific Rim countries and due

to the American economic recovery and subsequent demand for more

housing. Our natural gas revenue is increasing and oil exploration has

returned. The mining activities and coal production have also resumed

under Social Credit legislation, so mining development will again be a

major source of employment and revenue. My riding, especially Prince

George, will benefit greatly as a service and transportation centre for

the immense coal developments lying north and east of our city. When

the CNR-BCR rail agreement is finalized shortly, this project should

boost employment greatly.

Mr. Speaker, the only small, dark cloud which I see at present on

British Columbia's horizon relates to our standard of living — rising

prices for food, accommodation and services, and our high labour costs

which directly trigger many of those cost-of-living increases. But not

only is labour to blame. Many businesses' markup for overhead and

profit is excessive, especially considering this critical time of

restraint and economic recovery. An example I would offer is when an

ordinary householder cannot afford to hire a plumber or electrician.

Sure, the electrician may be receiving $10 per hour, but does the

electrical contractor really have to charge $30 per

[ Page 40 ]

hour for his services, overhead and profit? In the

logging industry, a $50,000 skidding machine rents for $29.50 per hour

plus the operator, the service truck and the fuel. This is the

difference between the resource industries' ability to pay and what

service industries feel they should charge for their services.

What benefits accrue from labour rates of $10 per hour or service

charges of $30 per hour if no one can, or will, hire people?

Professional people — lawyers, accountants, engineers, dentists,

teachers and others — should also reassess their fees.

Mr. Speaker, I would ask B.C.'s citizens to consider their future

very carefully. Even an individual enterprise government cannot supply

all the social services our people have come to expect. We cannot

continue selling off our natural resources to maintain an artificially

high standard of living. We must restrain our demands so our resource

industries may regain their competitive place in world markets, and we

must endeavour to increase our productivity.

I would maintain that every citizen owes his country and his fellow citizens

consideration and respect. Unless we work together and stand together, not

only British Columbia, but Canada, will fall. I feel that this government, by

leadership and example, has accomplished a remarkable recovery of our province's

fortunes. Our Premier, the Hon. Bill Bennett, has set a fantastic pace for his

cabinet, for his caucus and indeed for the entire province to follow. Our

Premier has set a pace and an example to rebuild British Columbia to its former

place of strength, stability and respect.

Mr. Speaker, the throne speech clearly indicates the direction

British Columbia should take. I ask the cooperation and the dedication

of all members of this House, and the citizens of our great province,

to participate in fulfilling their destiny.

Mr. Barrett moves adjournment of the debate.

Motion approved.

Hon. Mr. Gardom moves adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

The House adjourned at 11:31 a.m.

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