Manitoba Hansard — Sitting 118 (29th Legislature, 3rd Session)

29-3-118

Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 9:30 o'clock, Friday, July 16_, 1971 Opening Prayer by Mr. Speaker. 2845 MR . SPEAKER: Presenting Petitions; Reading and Receiving Petitions; Presenting Re ports by Standing and Special Committees; Ministerial Statements. The Honourable Minister of Labor, MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS HON, RUSSELL PAULLEY (Minister of Labour) (Transcona): Mr. Speaker, it has been - what I presume my duty - to indicate to the House the more recent figures on the unemploy ment situation in Manitoba.

I have had the pleasure of being able to indicate reductions in un employment in the province over the last three or four months; unfortunately, the latest statis tics indicate a different picture, You will recall, Sir, the other day, the Honourable Minister of Finance indicated that the situation pertaining to unemployment would not, in his opinion, get better due to general policies at the Ottawa level, and this is Indicated in the figures that were made available to me late yesterday morning. The seasonally adjusted employment rate in Canada is up to 6.4 percent, the second highest figure this year.

Actual unemployment in Canada is 6,2 percent, and represents 551,000 people unemployed- 5,000 more than a month ago. In Manitoba the unemployment statistics, too, have gone up, from 16,000 to 18,00D.

I want to offset this to some degree and I want to assure the hciiloutabie members of the House that I am not satisfied, but the iabour forl:e itself Increased in the Province of ManltOba over the month under review by 8, OOO, showing a decidedly higher participaho11 rate than a nioilth ago, but we evidently fell short by 2� OOO In employing all of the Iiew idditions that entered on to the labour market. or the 8,000 i referred to. I suggestthat in the exJ)ansloriofthe labOur force that the expansion generally came as a result ofa large lnfl.lix of students.

We naturally have some disaJ>i>ointD1ent with the speed with which employment programs bi thlfi area have taken hold. The labour force betWeen the ages of 14 and 19 iiicrea8Eid by 4,ooo, biit employment iil that tcital -group only by 6, OOO, a.lid this seems to be the area in whfoll the difnculty ha& tikell place. _ If we in }fanitoba can take any comfort 1il the employment situation In respect to the prairies, I woultl indicate that ManitOba afone of the three prairie provinces bad an_ increase in the totai work force.

I refer to statistics whicli indicate truit the work force ln ManltOba, or labOur force, increased, Jrine over May by some 8,000; remained dormant 1h Saskatchewan and in A iherta the total work force went down by about 4, OOO. The actual rates of unemployment on tlie prairies I give now, Mr. Speaker, as I have done on previous occasions. The actual rate, June of this year in Manitob�, 4.5 percent; a month ago, 4.1 percent. They indicated fo May of this year 16,000 unemployed; 18, OOO for June. In Saskatchewan the unemployment rate is 2. 5 percent as. against three percent in May.

Alberta, 3. 7 percent as against the actlial of 4. 6 percent. Again, Mr. Speaker, I point outthat Manitoba was the only province of the three that showed an increase in the work force which indicates, I think, to some extent the reason why our unemployment rate went up. MR . SPEAKER: The Honourable Leader of the Opposition. MR . SIDNEY SPIVAK, Q. C. (Leader of the Opposition) (River Heights): Mr. Speaker, I thank the Minister for his statement. I think we all look with concern to the reports that emanate from the Federal Gover nment authority with respect to unemployment; we have ex amined and watched it.

There is obviously a pattern that still is occuring and this combined with the warning the other day by the Minister of Finance of the expectations of unemployment in Manitoba - a warning to the Federal Go vernment as well as I would assume a warning to our selves - indicates and highlights the concern we must have for job opportunities in this prov ince.

I think the statistics that have been mentioned have to be read in the light of last year as much as in the light of last month; and if I'm correct - I do not have the figures in front of me for Manitoba but if I am correct, the prairies last year were approximately 4, 1 percent and the average at this point is 3, 7, so in effect there has been a reduction of unemployment on the prairies but significantly there has not been a reduction in Manitoba. Mr.

Speaker, this would I think indicate and highlight the Minister of Finance's concern for unemployment in Manitoba in the future, because this particular situation in the summertime, with construction probably

2846 July 16, 1971 (MR. SPIVAK cont'd.) ••••• at its highest point, we find unemployment higher than the other prairie provinces and higher than the prairie average, and this must express and must show our concern for job opportunities in this province. Mr. Speaker, we have said on this side in the past, and we repeat again for the govern ment, two things are essential if in fact job opportunities are going to be created within the next year - within a year period from this summ er to next summ er in Manitoba. Those two things are simply:

(1) Government programming, the kind which was introduced by them too late in the last 12-month period, but should now be introduced - now rather than later; that is those types of public works programs which in fact will take the slack and spur out construction industry and in fact provide job opportunities. · And the second, Mr. Speaker, and equally as important, is the expanding of our economic base, which means the expansion by the private sector in Manitoba of job opportunities for our people. And· if.in fact, Mr.

Speaker, the private sector is to be encouraged to do the things that should be done within the next 12-month period to create job opportunities for our people, then it must be done as a result of selective tax credit programs that the government should introduce and should introduce immediately.

We.have said before, ·and we repeat again, that the attempt by the.government to use the public purse only as a means to spur 011 public works programs without any aµempi to encourage the private sector tc:i expand, to construct and in vest iJl new buildings and plant and 'equipment, is iJl error 'and that we cannot meet the job re quirements.and the.jpb needs iµ. this, province without a program that will recognize the essen:.o tialfact �hi;tt.the private sector is still the largest employer iri thi� province and that the oppor tunities fo� job e ni.ploymentwill cpm!:J a·s a result of the encouragement ·onheir �ctivity, We know·, Mr.

Speaker" thaLthe Ontario budget recognized this fact; we know as well lhat there were tax credits that were:·provlcied intheir bud,get to spur the private sector to _do the things that.we've. suggested. . . ,, ·· . · · · · , We .do not have .lief.ore Uf\ tb.e forllcast t�at the government obvfously have in their posS'es sion of the. proj 0ct�ons of unemployment for the next quarter' second quarter' third quarter or for .·the £µµ period ofth!J gext year, but obvtqusly in the prei;; enfatiQn that was made to the .. Minlster of.Finanpe thifl iJ!,fo�mation.was supplied •. .

We have as�eid,, and we ask ag atn, that this informa tion be given to us; we ask for the opportunity of a proper debate in this House to be able to deterrµipe whet.her. the goviir,nment. acti911 andJ>0lipy is correct, Because, Mr • . Speaker, there is a fundamentaLerror and it con�inu,es to be )nade by the goy:ernment, who simply betleve that they can meet.Jhejob,requiremepts, the, problem, .of unenrpioyment, by simply priming the pump through govermn.ent .action, through government public works programs, and I suggest, Mr.

Speaker, if we examine what has happened in �he past year, the number of' hew job oppor tunities that were created by the prl�ate sector i� �hi� ,province, t)le .expaJ;,sion that really took place in. this. province, we r.ecognize that the ,kind of activity that should be occurring in the private .sector in Manitoba to wid.en the economic base is not happening, nor will it happen un.:.: less. a greater, degr.e e of confidence is developed between the government and the private sector, and unless the government recognizes the ess.ential fact that a program of selective tax credits; to stimulate expansion of existing industry, new investment. in capital equipment,' new invest ment in construction, and in tu,rn, new investment in Manitoba as a result of that program, should be and must be the stimulus if in fact we are going to meet the job opportunities in Mani toba.

Mr. Speaker, we are no t going to debate at this point out-migration, but I think if we examine out-migration in relation to • • • MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. I'm sorry to intrude on the honourable member, but I believe a reply should not be lengthier than the statement of the Minister. The honourable member is starting to debate the question. The Honourable Leader of the Opposition, MR. SPIVAK: Mr. Speaker, I'll make the point and then I will sit down.

We do not have as yet the out-migration out of this province of people who cannot find jobs in this province, and we must weigh that out in relation to the figure on unemployment and the whole problem of job opportunities, and notwithstanding the announcement by the First Minister that our popula tion has achieved over a million in Manitoba, notwithstanding that announcement - which only indicates that in Manitoba we have had a number of births, and those births are significantly higher than the deaths in Manitoba in the past year, because that's all it indicates - notwith standing that great announcement, let me suggest, Mr.

Speaker, that the out-migration coupled with our unemployment, highlights, I think, the Ministers point that there is a crisis

July 16 , 1971 2847 (MR. SPIVAK cont'd.) • • • • • of job opportunities in this province and we are going to have to look to the government who manage the economy, to try and develop the kind of programs that will in fact see to it that unemployment is maintained at a reasonable level; and, Mr. Speaker, it's a question of having confidence in the government that this will come about, that the programs will in fact achieve this.

The Minister of Finance has indicated and given us warning that there are danger signals; the Minister of Labour's announcement indicates that there is a danger, because we have it in the figures that are announced today, and, Mr.

Speaker, I suggest that danger will not be met, nor will it be corrected unless the government changes its basic attitude and commences a program which will encourage the private sector to create the job opportunities, because the priming of the pump through government public works programs, as necessary as it is, is not going to be suff icient to create sufficient jobs in Manitoba, and we can only look with announce ments to come from the Minister of Labour that will be as depressing as the present announce ment is today. MR.

SPEAKER: Ministerial Statements; Tabling of Reports; Notice of Motion; Introduc tion of Bills. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS HON. HOWARD R. PAWLEY (Minister of Municipal Affairs) (Selkirk) in the absence of the Minister of Youth and Education introduced Bill No. 118, the School Tax Reduction Act. (Recommended by His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor) MR. THOMAS BARROW (Flin Flon) introduced Bill No. 117,

an Act to Validate By-law No. 559 of the City of Thompson. MR. IAN TURNBULL (Osborne) introduced Bill No. 65, The Manitoba Mental Health Re search Foundation Act. ORAL QUESTION PERIOD MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Riel. MR . DONALD W. CRAIK (Riel): Mr. Speaker, I wonder if I could direct a question, I guess to the First Minister? It's with regard to the one page ads that are being distributed to the Lake Winnipeg property owners by Manitoba Hydro. Can he advise whether the government is involved in the distribution of this ad or has knowledge of the material that's being distrib uted. MR.

SPEAKER: The Honourable First Minister. HON. EDWARD SCHREYER (Premier) (Rossmere): Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of the particular advertisement or information bulletin that the honourable member is referring to, but I would say that that information bulletin, whoever it is being sent out by, whatever it says, surely it's within their rights to disseminate information. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Assiniboia. MR. STEVE PATRICK (Assiniboia): Mr. Speaker, I wish to direct my question to the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

I wonder if the Minister of Municipal Affairs can advise the House how much the government is spending for temporary facilities for Autopac at the Bank of Montreal - that's the first part of the question. And the second part: Is it true that the govern ment is spending $40, OOO for one small executive office within the whole rented space? MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Minister of Municipal Affairs. MR . PAWLEY: The answer to the question was given quite some time back when the honourable member, possibly two months ago, asked the rental fee and the term of the lease of the Bank of Montreal building.

This was given in the House to the honourable member. If he would check back in Hansard he would find the answer there; and certainly the answer to question No. 2, I don't have the information with me; I would suspect that it's quite erroneous, however. MR. PATRICK: Mr. Speaker, I feel that the Honourable Minister has misunderstood my question. I didn't mean what was the rate per square foot. I mean how much is the govern ment investing in fixing the facilities and office space in the way they want it - in renovating the facilities for their purpose. MR.

PAWLEY: The honourable member would have to file an Order for Return. I want to say that the use of the temporary, rental on a temporary basis can leave an erroneous im pression because certainly there will have to be office accommodation for many Claims people for many years in Greater Winnipeg, so no impression should be left or attempted to be left

2848 July 16, 1971 (MR. PAWLEY cont'd. ) , , , , • that this is necessarily on a very temporary basis that the Claims people will be in that office accommodation, MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Leader of the Opposition. MR , SPIVAK: Mr, Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs. I wonder whether he can indicate to the House how many people from Saskatchewan have been employed by the Autopac Corporation? MR . PAWLEY: Mr, Speaker, I haven't attempted to count, All that I do know is that we are hiring more and more people that are Manitoba residents.

I would suspect that, except for two percent, three percent, they will be all Manitoba residents, MR, SPIVAK: I wonder then if the Minister can indicate how many people will be em ployed so we will be able to know exactly what three percent represents. MR. PAWLEY: It is strange that the Leader of the Opposition had indicated at Red River Community College th�re would be 550 employed, I don't know where he got that figure, so I can't understand why he is asking me this morning if he knows, and told Red River Community College students there would be 550 , MR.

SPIVAK: Then I take it that the Minister is indicating ••• MR , SPEAKER: Order please, The honourable member is making a statement. Would he indicate his question? MR. SPIV AK:Will the Minister confirm that there are at least 16 employees who have come from Saskatchewan who are now employed by the Auto Insurance Corporation? MR. PAWLEY: No, I certainly would not be prepared to confirm any figure such as that; I would say that the figure is f ar out.

I can say to the member if he would like specific in stances that I can think in mind, of course, the new General Manager, Mr, Dutton, the Claims Manager, and possibly two or three more, but certainly nothing like 16, The source of the honourable member's information is very bad indeed. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable First Minister, MR . SCHREYER: Mr.

Speaker, I wonder if on a point of order I might indicate that questions of the kind that have just been asked really ought to be insisted upon, in my view, by the Chair as requiring to be put in a written way; and furthermore, some of the questions asked by the Leader of the Opposition in a sense are impossible to answer -- asking how many persons are employed from another province; it's not always easy to so categorize people, I can think, for example, of one individual in particular who is employed in Ontario as well as in Saskatchewan.

He is a Canadian but he is no more a Saskatchewaner than he is a resident of Ontario - so he is a Canadian. But it would be inaccurate to refer to him as being any more a Saskatchewaner than a resident of Ontario, and vice versa. MR .

SPEAKER: Speaking to the point of order, I would concur, and I think it should be well taken, Honourable members will recall I have a number of times suggested that it would be a courtesy to advise Ministers of questions- give them notice of a question, and this would eliminate a lot of time of the Assembly being wasted in people trying to answer questions which aren't worded properly. The Honourable Member for Rhineland. MR . JACOB M, FROESE (Rhineland): Mr, Speaker, I would like to address a question to the Honourable Minister of Municipal Affairs.

Is the government considering including East St, Paul and West St, Paul in Territory No, 2 in connection with Autopac, as is the case with other additional municipalities? MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Minister of Municipal Affairs, MR, PAWLEY: The member, if he would refer back to Hansard, would see reference to East and West St, Paul.

They are presently in Territory No, 1, urban rating by all companies in the province, As long as I know. for as long as we can go back they have been so rated, so it would be improper to transfer part of either of those municipalities into Territory No, 2, the rural rating, MR, SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Souris-Killarney. MR, EARL McKELLAR (Souris-Killarney): Mr, Speaker, I would like to direct a ques tion to the Minister of Municipal Affairs. Could he advise the House who the rental agent is for the Manitoba Automobile Insurance Corporation? MR, PAWLEY: Well I don't think we have a rental agent.

If the honourable member w� uld file an Order for Return I would look into it, but I don't believe there is a rental agent. MR, SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Riel,

July 16, 1971 2849 MR . CRAIK: Mr. Speaker, I wonder if I could address a question to the House Leader. I be lieve we've had 15 bills since the speed-up came in. Can he indicate whether we're going to get any more bills ? MR . SPEAKER: The Honourable House Leader. HON. SIDNEY GREEN, Q. C. (Minister of Mines, Resources and Environmental Manage ment) (Inkster): Mr. Speaker, I answered that question yesterday, but for the benefit of the honourable member I'll answer it again. As certain as I can be about these things, I don't think there are any more. MR . CRAIK: I wanted to formalize the request.

May I add a supplementary? Will the government give consideration to hoisting some of the larger bills? MR . GREEN: Mr. Speaker, when I introduced the resolution which suspended the rules, I indicated that I didn't think that the government was going to proceed any differently or that the Opposition was going to proceed any differently. It's my impression that there will be no more bills, but I presume a bill could be brought by any member of the House, and we intend to proceed with business as normal. MR . SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Rhineland. MR . FROESE: Mr.

Speaker, I'd like to address a question to the Minister of Agriculture. Has he been in conference with the Honourable Mr. Otto Lang in trying to secure better grain quotas, especially in connection with wheat, for Manitoba farmers for the current year? HON, SAMUEL USKIW (Minister of Agriculture) (Lac du Bonnet): Well I think, Mr.

Speaker, the honourable member ought to know, or does know, that grain quotas are usually evened out across the prairies by the first of August of every year and that there is no possi bility of getting special attention for Manitoba or any province, The Wheat Board has always tried to level the quotas quite evenly across the prairies. MR , SPEAKER: Orders of the Day. The Honourable the House Leader. MR . GREEN: Mr.

Speaker, once again, we have several delegations left in the Muni cipal Affairs Co=ittee, and I gather that there is no objection to going back to Municipal Affairs Co=ittee this morning, but I think that it may be wise for the Speaker to remain on call and the Mace to remain on the table, because it's possible that we could be back in the House and certainly I think that we should be in the House at 2:30 in the event - so that other business could proceed if we are finished with Municipal Affairs.

And if, Mr, Speaker, we are through with business in Municipal Affairs Co=ittee, then of course we will summon the members back to the House in the usual way, So on that basis, Mr. Speaker, I would think that you could leave the Chair to return before 12:30 if summoned, or at 2:30 if not summoned before 12:30, MR . SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Morris. MR . WARNER H, JORGENSON (Morris): I wonder if the House Lea der could give us an indication of what he plans for tomorrow, MR . GREEN: Mr, Speaker, I discussed this informally with the Leader of the Opposi tion.

What I thought that we would do is proceed with Municipal Affairs Co=ittee, then, when that Committee is completed, come back into the House to deal with those matters which can be dealt with in the House without any difficulty, such as third readings --well, all the third readings, with due respect to any amendments that wish to be put, and introduction of bills on second readings that are now on the Order Paper.

When that is completed, to go back into Law Amendments Co=ittee to deal clause by clause with all of the bills that have been referred to Law Amendments Co=ittee, leaving the Municipal Affairs Co=ittee to be con vened at a later date to deal with the clause by clause on Bill 36. If that's agreeable, Mr. Speaker, then I would ask that you leave the Chair, to return at the assembling of the House. (Adjourned until 2:30 Friday, July 16, 1971,)

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Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	29-3-118
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	29th 3rd hansardpdf 118.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	f8b5e9bd6758b656316b9f91a52a5b4f1615631c

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