1971 Legislative Session: 2nd Session, 29th 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, FEBRUARY 5, 1971

Afternoon Sitting

[ Page 253 ]

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1971

The House met at 2:00 p.m.

BUDGET DEBATE

MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable the Minister of Finance.

HON. W.A.C. BENNETT (South Okanagan): Mr. Speaker, I wish to

move, seconded by the Honourable the Attorney-General, that the Public

Accounts for the fiscal year 1969-1970 be referred to the Select

Standing Committee on Public Accounts.

MR. P.L. McGEER (Vancouver–Point Grey): Mr. Speaker….

MR. SPEAKER: The motion is not debatable.

MR. McGEER: I know it has been the long followed practice of

this House, that this motion, which is a referral to a Select Standing

Committee, be introduced without notice of motion. Nevertheless, it is

an instruction to the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts

because this is the only instruction, by tradition, which they have

received over the years….

MR. SPEAKER: Order.

MR. McGEER: …and if this motion is to be introduced,

without notice, then this should be a motion which can be amended,

without notice. I wish to amend this motion by adding…

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please, order.

MR. McGEER: "… including details of the financial statement of the boards commissioned and Government enterprises."

MR. SPEAKER: The honourable Member has contempt of this Chair. It won't be tolerated long. Be seated. One moment, please.

AN HON. MEMBER: You can't make an amendment?

MR. SPEAKER: No, there is no amendment to this motion. The

Member, by his own admission, has stated that for many years the long

established policy of this House is that, under this and former

administrations, indeed, dating back to 1947, this motion has been

introduced, without notice, to refer the Public Accounts to the Public

Accounts Committee.

The only matter that can be debated, if, indeed, it could be debated

at all, is whether or not these accounts should go to the Committee. It

is unthinkable, after a hundred years of parliamentary practice, that

accounts would not go for surveillance by the committee. Under these

circumstances, the matter is not debatable and I rule there is no

further discussion and that the matter raised is out of order.

AN HON. MEMBER: Question.

MR. SPEAKER: I think I have explained myself well. Would the

Member be seated? There is no ruling to be made, no ruling to

challenge. It is long established custom.

MR. G.H. DOWDING (Burnaby-Edmonds): I just want to remind

you, once more, you are the eyes and ears of this Assembly but you

speak through this Assembly. If this Assembly wants to change the

rules, it is up to you to decide the matter and we can then challenge a

ruling.

MR. SPEAKER: One moment, please. If the Assembly wants to

change the rules of this Assembly it can be done by putting notice on

the Order Paper, not by standing impertinently in one's place and

arguing with the Chair (interruption) .

MR. DOWDING:

Section 642, page 8, says that any instructions to a committee can, at any time, be altered by this House.

MR. SPEAKER: Would the honourable Member please be seated?

The Member, in his opening remarks, stated that it had been a long

established practice of this House that the motion had been introduced

to the Assembly, without notice. It has indeed been the practice for

the past 25 years, since 1947. If I left any inference that I was

referring to the honourable Member from Burnaby-Edmonds in connection

with impertinence I regret it, because it was not my intention. But I

do insist that this matter, because of the tremendous amount of

tradition that is attached to it because of the tremendous amount of

problems that were faced by parliamentarian after parliamentarian over

hundreds of years of tradition, we dare not, I do not think, interfere

with the financial procedures of the Parliaments of the Commonwealth (interruption) . What is the point of privilege?

MR. D. BARRETT (Coquitlam): The point of privilege, Mr.

Speaker, is that, I'm sure, that in the heat of exchange of words, I'm

sure that the word, "impertinence," was not applied to any Member and I

would suggest that it be stricken from the records.

The motion was agreed to.

The Hon. W.A.C. Bennett (Minister of Finance) presented the Report of the Comptroller-General pursuant to the provisions of the Audit Act ,

chapter 22, R.S.B.C. 1960, for the nine months of the fiscal year ending December 31, 1970.

The Hon. W.A.C. Bennett presented to Mr. Speaker a Message from His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, enclosing the Estimates.

MR. BENNETT: I move, seconded by the Honourable the

Attorney-General that the said message, and the Estimates accompanying

the same, be referred to the Committee of Supply.

The motion was agreed to.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable

the Attorney-General that Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair for the

House to go into Committee of Supply.

Speaking to this motion, Mr. Speaker, I consider it an honour to be

moving the traditional Canadian parliamentary system motion of supply

in this year 1971 — the year in

[ Page 254 ]

which we are celebrating the close of British

Columbia's first hundred years and the entry into our second century of

membership in the Canadian Confederation.

In the early days of the young Nation, the Federal Government

recognized the importance of British Columbia's strategic position and

rich resources to the evolving country and encouraged the Province to

become the sixth Province in the Confederation that assured a Nation,

for the first time, "from sea to sea." But the first hundred years have

not been without hardship and frustration for the Province,

particularly because of a remoteness from our National Capital.

However, events of the past two decades have rapidly altered British

Colombia’s position in Confederation and it will play an increasing

role in the Canadian economy in our second century (applause) .

National and international economic conditions, aggravated by

management-labour differences within important sectors of our industry,

restrained the usual buoyancy of the British Columbia's economy this

past year. Contrary policies of the Federal Government, which

concurrently support high interest rates, inflation and also high

unemployment have compounded the situation for British Columbia.

Through these annual Budget Speeches, briefs to the

Federal-Provincial Conferences and discussions with Canadian Government

and banking officials, I have continually stressed the danger of high

interest rates, tight money and deficit Federal Government financing

upon the continued prosperity of the Canadian economy and,

particularly, the threat to increased unemployment. All regions of

Canada are now reaping the harvest from these Federal policies.

The problem is of a greater magnitude for British Columbia, because

of the continued large inflow of jobseekers into the Province from

other Provinces. Over the past year, British Columbia's population

growth rate was over two and a half times and our labour force growth

rate over three times the rates for the rest of Canada. In the light of

these conditions, the British Columbia Government has had to review its

position in relation to the economy. It is our view that bold new

policies are required to stimulate the economy and provide jobs for our

people.

I want to say here, Mr. Speaker, I wish the Member from

Cowichan-Malahat wouldn't interfere at this time. I wish to say, Mr.

Speaker, that it is the Government's policy…

MR R.M. STRACHAN (Cowichan-Malahat): I would like a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: State the point of order.

MR. STRACHAN: Before he moved the present motion, the

Minister of Finance tabled with this House, a Message from his Honour

the Lieutenant-Governor that is now the property of this House. As a

Member of this House, I have asked to have access to that document. It

has been refused me and, right now, I am asking you, Mr. Speaker, to

make available to me, as a Member of this House, the document that

belongs to this House (interruption) .

MR. SPEAKER: In a matter of time it will take the Honourable

the Minister of Finance to complete his statement, the Estimates will

be available to all Members of the House. I think that no one has any

privileges here.

MR. STRACHAN: A long standing precedence in this House has

made this document available to Members of this House the minute they

were on the table. Now, is this long standing precedence going out the

window? We just had a lecture about long standing precedence.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please.

MR. STRACHAN: I'm asking, once again, Mr. Speaker. These

documents belong to this House, they always have. They don't belong to

the Premier. They don't belong to the Speaker. They belong to this

House. As a Member of this House, I demand these documents. I don't

want closure or secret documents. They belong to this House now, not an

hour and a half from now (interruption) .

That is the proper procedure. I would like any document that is tabled

on that desk. Under whose orders are we being refused this document at

this time? That's what I want to know.

MR. SPEAKER: Order. The Member has raised nothing in his

argument, other than the precedence he refers to about passing

Estimates to him during the reading of the Budget Speech. In this

particular case, there is some secrecy attached to the documents,

obviously, because of the discontinuance of certain practices. The

Estimates are in the custody of the Speaker, for the safety of all

Members and all Members will receive copies of the Estimates very

shortly.

MR. STRACHAN: What happens outside the House? The change of

practices outside the House should not affect a change of practices

inside the House.

MR. SPEAKER: Will the Minister proceed? Order, please.

MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, I was endeavouring to make an appeal to the people of the Province, when I was so politely interrupted (interruption) .

I was saying that the four-letter word for the Social Credit

Government, this coming year, is spelt J-O-B-S — jobs. It is our wish,

it is our desire, it is our determination that more jobs be created

within British Columbia. The Government not only will take action on

its own account, it will seek the cooperation of business, of labour,

of all segments of the economy and, especially, from every citizen in

this Province to bring this about. I want to stress that this is the

minimum objective, let nobody say it is the maximum. The minimum

objective this year is to increase the number of jobs of people

gainfully employed from October 1, 1970, to October 1, 1971, by a

minimum of 25,000.

Honourable Members are aware of the brief submitted by the Province

to the Federal-Provincial Conference in Ottawa last fall. The

requests. British Columbia must, therefore, take care of its own

budgeting. But our options are limited. British Columbia has no control

over monetary policy, no control of National financial institutions,

and no control over immigration — immigration within Canada or without

The Government control of monetary policy is of particular

significance in the current state of the Canadian economy. On two

occasions last fall, I wired the Prime Minister of Canada, drawing to

his attention that his policy of high interest rates, in a period of

high inflation and high national unemployment, was not good for our

Nation. The text of my telegram sent on November 30, 1970, was, as

follows: "Most damaging factor hurting our economy is high

[ Page 255 ]

interest rates by the chartered banks and the high mortgage rates for new homes. Strongly urge immediate drastic action."

It is encouraging to note the recent reduction in interest rates but

the Federal Government, with its full responsibility for monetary

policy, should effect immediate and substantial further reductions in

money rates to stimulate our lagging National economy.

Although lacking any monetary policy control, this Government has

initiated policies to give added strength to the British Columbia

economy. Work projects have been augmented to provide additional jobs.

Because of the fiscal policies introduced and adhered to by this Social

Credit Administration, over the almost nineteen years since taking

office, the Province is in a fortunate financial position to undertake

these projects at this time.

The emphasis in the Provincial Government policies in this Budget

will be twofold. One — the creation of additional jobs and, two — the

maintenance of high standards in education, hospital and medical care,

and social services established by this Government.

Mr. Speaker, in my Budget Address a year ago, I stated as follows:

"Our dependence upon world markets for the sale of the greater portion

of our productive wealth and our lack of control of the economic

conditions in these markets suggests and, certainly, realism indicates,

we should not anticipate a continued annual growth in Provincial

Government revenues at the extraordinary rates of recent years."

Honourable Members may also recall my reports to the citizens of the

Province during the past year on the state of Provincial Government

finances. Much lower revenues from the forest industry, as a result of

a depressed world lumber market, and from the construction industry as

a result of management-labour problems, both greatly affected

Provincial revenues. At the same time, the Province faced much higher

costs in social services, as well as the general downswing of the

Canadian and world economic climate.

Provincial revenues in the fiscal year ending March 31, 1971 — this

is the year that we're now in — indicate, Mr. Speaker, sufficient

strength to balance total current and all capital expenditures.

However, the state of the economy and the revenue needs for further

large expansion in Government expenditures required, not for just one

year but for the next decade, emphasized the need to undertake a review

of the Provincial tax structure.

The British Columbia tax structure adheres closely to the principle

of ability to pay. For example, the personal income tax increases at a

faster rate the higher the income; many tax exemptions are allowed on

the necessities of life under the social services tax; the annual

home-owner grant makes the net property tax payment more reflective of

ability to pay. Further, a proper balance between the cost of certain

services and the revenues received from users of such services must be

maintained.

The most criticized tax from an equity standpoint is the property

tax. The British Columbia Government has been the most progressive and

generous of any Government in Canada in reducing the burden of the

property tax upon residential and farm home-owners through the annual

home-owner grant. While recognizing that British Columbia home-owners

enjoy the lowest property taxes in Canada, the Government is prepared

to introduce budget proposals to further reduce the municipal property

tax burden. This continuing shift away from the property tax is in

keeping with this Government's policy of encouraging home-ownership.

Honourable Members, the significance of the financial support given

individual municipalities by the British Columbia Government is,

perhaps, little realized. I would like, therefore, to detail at this

point the per capita grant and home-owner grant payments to our largest

and most important municipality in our Province, the great city of

Vancouver. In 1971, this municipality will receive, through the per

capita grant, $6,071,438 for municipal streets and roads expenditure;

$4,187,937 for pollution, policing, and parks expenditure; $1,231,125

for ambulance services and tourism and industrial development; and

$820,750 for social services expenditure. The estimated payment to

Vancouver for home-owner grants, next year, is estimated at

$12,300,000. Total Provincial Government grants, over and above shared

programmes and so forth, to the city of Vancouver to support its

municipal services, which are normally supported by the property tax,

therefore, will be of the order of $24,600,000 this next fiscal year.

I'm not suggesting any increase there. As can be seen, Provincial

Government payments to the city of Vancouver allow for substantial

reduction in property tax levies in this municipality. I would,

therefore, add that an advantage of the property tax for the

municipalities, and one which is generally overlooked is its stability

as a revenue source over time, regardless of general economic

conditions. It is not subject to sudden changes, as is the case with

the Province's consumption and royalty taxes on forestry.

Expansion of the Provincial economy over the next decade will

finance part of the increased cost of Government services, but a modest

adjustment in taxes is required to maintain a balance between income

and outflow. British Columbia Government tax rates for the individual

citizens have not been increased for nine years. In the interest of the

citizens and the economy over the long term, I consider modest tax

adjustments to be now appropriate to finance our bold policies.

In regard to Federal-Provincial relations, Mr. Speaker, the Oxford Dictionary

defines "confederation" as "an alliance between states" and "a body of

states united for certain common purposes." Implicit in the definition

is a mutual respect of problems. I suggest, Mr. Speaker, the mutual

respect in the Canadian Confederation insofar as British Columbia is

concerned, has been mostly one-sided for a long time, and the present

Federal Administration continues to overlook our problems in favour of

other regions of Canada.

The unique problems that result from our phenomenal population

growth are a case in point. While our population is growing at over

double the rate of the rest of Canada, the most striking characteristic

is the large proportion of the increase coming from other regions of

Canada. During the past five years, for example, over 75 per cent of

our new population has so originated and this trend continues. This

large influx places immediate demands upon the physical and financial

resources of the British Columbia community. The majority of the

wage-earners in this group come searching for jobs, so the community

must create jobs for them. Many require retraining and Government

income maintenance support at the cost of the British Columbia

taxpayers. The new residents require housing at a time when mortgage

interest rates are excessively high and availability of funds too low,

which the British Columbia Government has countered with a large

infusion of subsidized housing capital. Then these newcomers are

entitled to the same high standard of Government services in health,

hospital and medical care, education and social services available to

British Columbia

[ Page 256 ]

residents, because they are citizens of our great

Nation of Canada. The Federal Government continues to ignore the

excessively high cost placed upon the taxpayers of British Columbia in

having to meet the demands of these new residents from other Provinces.

By providing services and facilities to these people from the rest of

Canada, it could be said that British Columbia is solving the problems

of the rest of Canada.

Canada cannot grow faster than any other put of the country is entirely

unacceptable to this Government. We have a responsibility to the people

of British Columbia and Canada to maintain a high level of economic

activity in the Province that will generate new jobs and continue to

improve the standard of living of our people. We also have a

responsibility to the new British Columbia citizens from the other

Provinces. We have no control over the movement of these people. If

they continue to come to British Columbia, and they will, it has been

conservatively estimated our population will be almost three times

today by the start of the twenty-first century. The Province has, and

must, grow to provide the necessary jobs. So, you see, Mr. Speaker, we

just cannot be held back on the development of British Columbia.

British Columbia has been offered a $35 million loan by the Federal

Government to finance job-creating projects. This Province has

occasions, as to the need for low-interest loans to municipalities for

essential local projects. While the loan fund has been accepted

completely for our municipalities, I do not consider loans at Canada

Pension Plan interest rates as low-interest loans.

The present stage of industrial development in British Columbia

excludes most of our industry from any tax benefit under the special

allowances and incentive loans offered by the Federal budget last fall.

The income tax advantage enjoyed by industry in other regions in Canada

from these Federal Government fiscal policies results in our industry

really being penalized. And this after British Columbia industry was

penalized more than any other in Canada because of our heavy commitment

Canadian dollar with its "unpegging" on May 31, 1970, which I say, Mr.

Speaker, was just taking an easy way out of a problem that could have

been solved in a more constructive manner.

of the Canadian economy and interested in providing more jobs in a

united Canada, I suggest more effective options are open than those

chosen in the latest Federal budget. British Columbia's views on this

subject have been expressed a number of times. Growth in the

economically dynamic regions of Canada is essential to generate the

wealth necessary to assist the slower economic growth areas. Federal

policies to the contrary will only contribute to a decline in our

Nation's importance in the world trading market and a lower standard of

living for our citizens right across our Nation.

The Federal White Paper on Social Security ,

published last fall, proposes some progressive action in income

maintenance, but is far removed from British Columbia's repeated

suggestion of a guaranteed annual income. The Federal Government still

has not acted to convert their equalization payments to certain

Provincial Governments to income support for people, as British

Columbia has proposed on many occasions. With the over $800 million

the current year to these certain Provincial Governments, plus

unemployment insurance benefit payments, the universal old-age security

payments and other income support programmes, the Federal Government

has an adequate basic pool of funds available to introduce a guaranteed

annual income plan. As I have stated a number of times, the wide

regional disparities in Canada will persist until basic Canada-wide

standards of income and minimum wage are assured.

explore the need for change in the Canadian Constitution. Mr. Speaker,

it is fitting that in this, our Centennial Year, British Columbia will

host the Prime Minister of Canada and the Premiers of the other

Provinces at a Constitutional meeting in Victoria in June and, I'm

sure, all the citizens of our Province will welcome them very warmly

indeed.

I wish to make a few remarks, Mr. Speaker, regarding our Crown

corporations. First, the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

and, here, I wish to compliment the man who has headed this Authority

from the start, Dr. Shrum. It shows with increasing years, only come

added vitality and added wisdom. Ten years ago, when he and the

University of British Columbia severed their connections, this allowed

the Province to have the benefit of his services. Within ten years he

has been able to give more service to British Columbia than he could

have given to a university in a hundred years. He has given greater

service, perhaps, than any other man in this Province.

The rate of demand growth for power in British Columbia has abated,

due in part to last year's work stoppages and moderated economic

activity in the forest and construction industries. Sales of

electricity in the Province by the British Columbia Hydro and Power

Authority increased by 6.4 per cent over 1969, and gas sales 5.8 per

cent. Between 1960 and 1970, the Authority's electricity sales

increased two and a half times, from 5.6 to 14 billion kilowatt-hours

in 10 years.

The forecast of electricity-demand growth in the Province points up

the importance of developing and using our power resources wisely and

carefully. To assist in the evaluation of our power-developing

capabilities, and in keeping with this Government's policy of ensuring

a supply of hydro power for our expanding economy, the Government has

instructed the British Columbia Energy Board to report on the best use

of public and private energy resources in the Province over the next

fifteen years.

Development of the Authority's power generation, transmission and

distribution systems continues unabated. Installation of the sixth

227,000-kilowatt generating unit at the Gordon M. Shrum Generating

Station on the Peace River will be completed this year, increasing the

generating capacity at this site to 1,362,000 kilowatts. Work continues

on the installation of two more 227,000-kilowatt units, for completion

in 1972. Construction of the Mica Dam on the Columbia River is on

schedule. Approval has been given the Authority for power development

at this site. Redevelopment of the hydro-electric generating plant at

Jordan River on southern Vancouver Island will be completed this year

and will provide 150,000 kilowatts of peaking capacity. The Whatshan

Generating Station redevelopment project, presently under way in the

southern interior, will supply 50,000 kilowatts in 1972, next year.

Extensive expansion of the Provincial electric grid to effectively

transmit and distribute the greatly increased generating capacity of

the system continues. The Provincial

[ Page 257 ]

Government's $2 million annual rural power subsidy

continues to allow the Authority to extend its service into remote,

sparsely populated areas of the Province and we will be asking, this

year, that the Authority do everything it can to step up that

development.

The thrust of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway over the last two

decades into the central interior of the Province and beyond to the

northeast and northwest sectors of British Columbia has opened the vast

undeveloped mineral and forest storehouses in these areas. This pioneer

railway, which, at present, leads all North America in construction of

new rail routes, will hail our Centennial Year with the completion of

the 250-mile northeast extension from Fort St. John to Fort Nelson, and

the first 80 miles of the 420-mile northwest extension from Fort St.

James to Dease Lake. Moreover, the balance of the Dease Lake extension

has been surveyed and 100 miles is now being cleared, with construction

contracts for this portion to be let this year, 1971. Bids have been

called for clearing another 100 miles and the entire line is expected

to be completed to Dease Lake by 1974. These extensions represent 668

miles of new track, a remarkable 60 per cent addition to the 1,121

miles of rail lines now operated.

The Pacific Great Eastern Railway had a dynamic year in 1970 with

carloadings and revenues soaring to the highest levels in the company's

58-year history. Our vice-president and general manager, Mr. Broadbent,

is entitled to special commendation. Gains in shipments of lumber,

plywood, wood chips, manufactured iron and steel, and piggyback traffic

helped to push carloadings to a record 106,400, up 84 per cent from

1960 and over 8 per cent from 1969. Operating revenues totalled

$31,354,000, compared with $28 million in 1969, and $13 million in

1960. Net profit after all costs, including interest and depreciation,

was $896,900, compared to a deficit of $2,904,800 at the start of the

1960's.

The continuance of this impressive railway growth experienced in the

first year of the 1970's will result in the most dramatic decade of the

railway's history. As rail routes penetrate the rich mineral and forest

areas of northern British Columbia, new jobs and new communities will

be created in increasing numbers. This growth will, in turn, stimulate

economic activity in all parts of British Columbia and greatly augment

incomes, including the income of the National Government.

I would like to refer, Mr. Speaker, to the economic conditions and

the outlook. The British Columbia economy had to contend with adverse

factors during 1970. The Federal Government's monetary policies,

coupled with a sharp decline in housing starts in the United States and

work stoppages in certain sectors of our industry, restricted our usual

growth in capital investment, productive output, employment, income and

housing.

British Columbia's population at December 31,1970, continued to

reflect the highest annual growth rate in Canada, with a 3.4 per cent

increase to an estimated 2,187,000 people. Not surprisingly, the labour

force rose from 836,000 in 1969 to 877,000 this past year, an increase

of 5 per cent.

Total private and public capital investment outlays rose moderately

over 1969. Major gains were recorded in utilities, mining industry,

Provincial Government institutions, the service industry, and trade,

finance, and commercial service sectors. The housing sector has

considerable pent-up demand and a large potential employment

capability, but requires lower mortgage interest rates and an increased

supply of money.

The gross Provincial product increased over 7 per cent in 1970 to an estimated $9,250 million.

The mineral industry experienced another year of strong growth as

total value of production rose to $497 million, a 7 per cent increase

over 1969. Copper, molybdenum and coal production increased

significantly. Commencement of coal shipments on long-term sales

contracts with the Japanese steel industry assures continued strength

in this sector. The improved outlook for crude oil and natural gas can

also be noted. The commitment of a portion of our mineral output under

long-term contracts will help stabilize the Province's economy.

The forecast for pulp and paper and other wood products is good.

With housing starts in the United States on the upturn, 1971 should see

the forest industry move ahead once again.

The revenue from the tourist industry was $475 million in 1970, a 10

per cent increase over 1969. The value of exports through British

Columbia customs' ports displayed great strength, with a 13.6 per cent

increase to an estimated $2,600 million.

The long-run outlook for British Columbia's economic progress is

excellent but, to some degree, is dependent upon the Federal Government

formulating policies more suitable to nationwide economic growth.

I wish now, Mr. Speaker, to refer to the Public Accounts for the year that closed on March 31, 1970, the last completed year.

In the Budget Address, it is customary to review three fiscal years

— the last complete fiscal year that has closed, the current fiscal

year of operations and our estimates for the next fiscal year. Within a

few months of the end of the last fiscal year ended March 31, 1970,

financial statements for the Province and its Crown agencies were

distributed through the publication of the Financial and Economic

Review, the Abridged Public Accounts and the Crown corporations' annual

reports. The detailed Public Accounts for the Government for the fiscal

year ended March 31, 1970, were tabled at the opening of this

Legislative Session.

Being free of annual deadweight debt charges and following realistic

financial policies, this Province has once again recorded substantial

Government gains in total assets, not only gain in total assets, but

fixed assets and excess of assets over liabilities and reserves. There

was an increase of $239,400,000 in total Provincial Government assets

during the fiscal year, from $1,967 million at March 31, 1969, to

$2,207 million. Fixed assets rose from $1,150 million at March 31,

1969, to $1,262,700,000, up over $112 million, or 9.8 per cent. The

Provincial surplus, or excess of assets over liabilities, at March 31,

was $1,537 million, a 5.8 per cent increase from the previous year.

Revenue receipts increased from $963 million for the fiscal year

ended March 31, 1969, to $1,169 million in the past fiscal year, a

strong 21.3 per cent gain — and all from higher economic activity.

Expenditures, including all capital outlays, registered a 24.8 per cent

increase, as $1,154 million was expended in the fiscal year ended March

31, 1970, compared to $924 million in the previous fiscal year. The

budgetary cash reserve went from $50,061,000 to $64,900,000 as revenues

exceeded all expenditures by $14,900,000. It's the first table printed

in the Budget Address, Mr. Speaker, which will soon be made available

to all Members of the House. It shows what has happened over the two

decades. In 1952, the Province's net debt was $34

[ Page 258 ]

million more than all its fixed assets. At the end

of December, 1970, there was no net debt and the flexed assets were

$1,315 million (applause) .

I now refer to the present fiscal year, Mr. Speaker. The Audit Act

requires the Comptroller-General to prepare for submission to this

Legislature a statement of the Province's revenue and expenditure for

the nine-month period ended December 31, 1970, on an accrued basis.

This report is tabled today.

Accrued revenues during the period April 1 to December 31, 1970, were $909,600,000, up $62 million over the same 1969 period.

Expenditure accruals, including all capital, in these nine months

were $888 million, having increased $92 million over the same 1969

period. Major expenditure increases have occurred in social assistance,

up $32,700,000 in the nine months; education, in the nine months on the

accrued basis, up $27,200,000; hospital insurance services, up

$25,300,000; medical care, up $11,795,000; fire suppression, up

$5,900,000; water resources, up $4,772,000; mental health care, up

$2,700,000; and grants to municipalities, up $2,426,000.

I will now deal briefly, Mr. Speaker, with the first two years out

of the three that are under review today. I'll now refer to the

financial proposals for our next fiscal year, which starts on April 1

of this year and ends on March 31, 1972.

The challenge for the Government to keep British Columbia moving

ahead on all fronts is large indeed. This is particularly so, when many

of the difficulties confronting the British Columbia community result

from causes outside the Province's control. Because of our large

reliance upon world markets for the purchase of our products, National

and international economic conditions are important factors in our

budgetary planning. So, too, are the actions and policies of our

Federal Government. These were the challenges confronting this

Government in establishing budgetary policy for the fiscal year ending

March 31, 1972. Mr. Speaker, we have opted for a continuation of

dynamic growth to increase the supply of jobs for our fast-growing

labour force and to maintain the high level of Government services to

the people of this Province.

The expenditures presented for the consideration of the honourable

Members today to cover Government programmes during the fiscal year

ending March 31, 1972, which is our next fiscal year, total

$1,300,692,600 (applause) . As

in all Budgets of this Administration, and this is the nineteenth, they

include all capital as well as current operation requirements. Mr.

Speaker, this is a record Budget to create jobs (applause) .

The printed Budget Speech ,

Table number 2, will show an estimate of expenditures by department,

the present fiscal year estimates as compared to the estimates of the

next fiscal year, and showing the increase of next year over the

present year of $135,232,600.

Our achievements in our first century are closely identified to the

educational attainments of our citizens. Therefore, it is vital for our

future prosperity that the education system be encouraged to the utmost

of our capabilities. So, in the fiscal year ending March 31, 1972, an

expenditure of $398,023,600 is proposed for the Department of

Education. This is, by far, the largest single departmental

expenditure. An increase of $35,562,600, over the current fiscal year,

reflects in $14 million more for school district grants; $9 million

more for operating grants to our universities; $6,250,000 more for

grants to regional colleges and technical and vocational schools;

$5,500,000 more for the school tax portion of home-owner grants; and

$1,260,000 more for teachers' pensions. Legislation will be introduced

today increasing the maximum annual homeowner grant from $160 to $170.

This means the Province will be contributing $60,500,000, annually, to

offset local school tax levies upon resident home-owners.

Expenditures of the Department of Health and Hospital Services and

Hospital Insurance are estimated to be $264,054,000, up over $35

million over the current fiscal year. Payments to hospitals for patient

care, alone, are increased $30 million and, now, total $205 million in

one year. In the Department of the Provincial Secretary, $10 million

more, or a total of $70 million is provided for the Government's

contribution to the British Columbia over-all Medical Services Plan.

Also, the estimates of this department now include the

appropriations for senior citizen housing grants, which have been

increased from $2,600,000 this year to $4,200,000 next year (applause) .

Total expenditures, next fiscal year, for the Department of

Rehabilitation and Social Improvement are estimated to be $136,615,100,

and these people in need, Mr. Speaker — I do not agree with the critics

— these people in need are entitled to good treatment from the citizens

of the Province of British Columbia. The Government is concerned about

the burden of social assistance costs upon the municipalities.

Accordingly, this budget reduces the municipal share of these costs

from 20 per cent to 15 per cent (applause) ,

while still maintaining the $2 per capita grant for municipal social

services, which, this last year, amounted to $3,100,000, which will

mean, as far as we can estimate, the municipal share, in effect, will

be 12 per cent.

I have emphasized in the past, and I do so again, this Government's

Budgets are to benefit our people. In the Budget proposed here, the

$868,693,000 for the Departments of Education, Health Services and

Hospital Insurance, and Rehabilitation and Social Improvement and for

the British Columbia over-all Medical Services Plan is more than the

whole total Provincial Budget of only five years ago. The $112 million

one-year increase in the appropriations for these departments is 83 per

cent of the total budgetary increase of the coming year.

The Department of Highways, which includes the operations of the

British Columbia Ferries system, receives an additional $7,301,200, or

almost $158 million. Mr. Speaker, we cannot judge closely, sometimes,

about the estimate on highways because contracts have a lot to do with

weather and so forth. But it is going to be the Government's policy to

have a bold policy of new highway construction throughout the whole

Province this coming year (applause) .

This appropriation will create additional jobs, at the same time

extending and improving our transportation network facilities.

Appropriations for the Department of Lands, Forests, and Water Resources have been increased $4,200,000.

There is a decrease of $671,000 in the Department of Industrial

Development, Trade, and Commerce, which results from the highly

successful British Columbia Pavilion at the Osaka, 1970, World's Fair,

which is now concluded, and is not in this coming year's estimate.

The Government maintains a progressive attitude toward the British

Columbia Civil Service. Employee remuneration and benefits are

constantly under review to ensure comparability with other employers.

The Government proposes a two-fold increase this fiscal year. Firstly,

to keep

[ Page 259 ]

salaries of civil servants apace with the increase

in the cost of living, $7 million more is provided, the tenth

consecutive annual increase. The increases will be made according to

recommendations of the Civil Service Commission and are additional to

annual salary increments and additional, as well, to promotions.

Secondly, legislation submitted at this Session gives greatly improved

superannuation benefits. Since 1951, the average British Columbia Civil

Service salary has increased 164 per cent, while the Consumer Price

Index has increased 47.4 per cent.

The Provincial Home-acquisition Plan has been an unqualified success

during its first five years of operation. Since the introduction of the

plan, the Government has provided $85 million for outright grants or

second mortgage financing. A total of $29,200,000 has been approved for

53,200 housing grants, and over $51 million for 12,200 second mortgage

loans. Accordingly, I am recommending, Mr. Speaker, a further $20

million be added to the Provincial Home-acquisition Grant Fund from the

current year revenues, or the budgetary cash reserve, to ensure

continuance and a build up of new homes, because when you build new

homes you employ all the trades and all the suppliers and it has a

tremendous effect on employment.

Mr. Speaker, in addition, to create additional jobs, I am

recommending, this is over and above the estimates, that $15 million

for accelerated park development be taken from the budgetary cash

reserve (applause) .

The Government established a $5 million Crop Insurance Stabilization

Fund in 1967 to assist farmers who suffer crop failures, because

farmers take all the risks of ordinary business people, plus the direct

risks of nature, and they are very important to our economy. But

adverse crop conditions this past year have resulted in a large

drawdown from this fund and I am, therefore, recommending a $5 million

appropriation from the current fiscal year revenues, or the budgetary

cash reserve, to replenish this Fund for Crop Insurance.

Perhaps, which is most important, Mr. Speaker, are the social

problems which inflict a great deal of grief and sorrow upon

individuals result from the use of alcohol, cigarettes and drugs. This

Government has made a contribution for many years to both the Alcoholic

and Narcotic Foundations and these will be continued. However, it is

the Government's conviction that a more aggressive and expanded

education, prevention and rehabilitation programme must be undertaken

to alleviate these problems. As the work will be a continuing programme

benefiting future as well as present generations, I will recommend the

establishment of a $25 million perpetual fund, with the annual interest

earnings being used to finance the programme. The Fund will be known as

the "Drug, Alcohol, and Cigarette Education, Prevention, and

Rehabilitation Fund" and will be set up out of the current fiscal year

revenues, or from the budgetary cash reserve. As in the other perpetual

funds established by this Government, an advisory committee will be

appointed to recommend on the distribution of the Fund's income. I

would say that these Funds that I have outlined, over and above the

Budget, these Funds total $65 million.

I now wish to deal, Mr. Speaker, with the revenues for the next fiscal year.

The British Columbia economy has shown some selective weaknesses

during the twelve months since my last Budget but, due to our basic

financial policies of balanced budgets and no debt, we have come safely

through this period. The tax adjustments proposed today will meet our

basic needs for fully balanced budgeting and have been selected so as

to be as equitable as possible. In addition, they have been selected

with a view to the relationship between the benefit received from a

Government service and the revenue contributed to the support of that

service. The revenue adjustments proposed are, and they are three in

number:

One, and this is the reason why this procedure was adopted today,

Mr. Speaker, to which there was some objection. Effective immediately,

gasoline taxes will be increased 2 cents per gallon, and still be the

lowest in Canada. The gasoline tax will be 15 cents per gallon in place

of 13 cents; the coloured gasoline tax will be 3 cents per gallon in

place of one cent, except for purchases by farmers and commercial

fishermen, which will remain at one cent; and the tax on motor fuels,

other than gasoline used in commercial motor-vehicles, will be 17 cents

per gallon in place of 15 cents. British Columbia has the highest

highway construction costs in Canada and the present level of motor

fuel tax rates are not providing the appropriate share of costs from

motor-vehicles. These adjustments in the motor fuel taxes, therefore,

are made to improve the balance between the revenue contribution made

by road-users and the construction and maintenance costs of the British

Columbia highway network.

Number 2, Mr. Speaker, effective immediately….

AN HON. MEMBER: The Wallace tax.

MR. BENNETT: No, it's not going to be known as the Wallace

tax. Effective immediately, a cigarette and tobacco tax will be

operative. The rate will be 8 cents per package of 25 cigarettes, which

is the lowest rate in Canada, and the tax on tobacco, cigars and other

tobacco products will be scaled accordingly. However, Mr. Speaker,

cigarettes and other tobacco products will be immediately exempted from

the 5 per cent social services tax, giving a net increase of 5 cents

per package of 25 cigarettes. These new revenues will be used to

augment our health and social services expenditures.

Third and last, Mr. Speaker, effective April 1, 1971, the start of

our fiscal year, a hotel and motel room tax of 5 per cent will be

operative. It is considered that our tourists should make a modest

contribution to our expenditures on their behalf.

Including the additional revenues from these tax adjustments,

Government revenues for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1972, are

estimated to be $1,301,232,000, to be completely in balance and provide

a cash surplus of $539,800.

Table 3 in the printed Budget Address will be the revenues for the different sources compared with the estimates of the present fiscal year.

The financing of an expenditure budget of $1,300,000,000, which

provides an increase of $135 million over the current fiscal year,

which is about double the per capita of the great state of California,

with only modest tax adjustments, accents the basic strength inherent

in the British Columbia economy. I draw the honourable Members'

attention to Table 7, depicting comparative Provincial Government tax

rates of all Provinces in Canada and, even after these adjustments,

British Columbia's tax rates remain the lowest in Canada.

Mr. Speaker, this Budget continues the high level of services

provided for the people of the Province by this Government. It supplies

the funds necessary to further economic expansion in the Province and

generate additional

[ Page 260 ]

revenues in the future to keep pace with our

growth. In addition, Mr. Speaker, over $400 million in capital for

construction projects will be arranged by the Provincial Government for

the Provincial Crown agencies, the British Columbia Hydro and Power

Authority, Pacific Great Eastern Railway Company, British Columbia

School Districts Capital Financing Authority and the British Columbia

Regional Hospital Districts Financing Authority.

By agreement with the Provinces, Mr. Speaker, some of which had

them for that, has accelerated Dominion-wide by one month, the

remittance of Provincial income taxes collected by the Federal

Government. They were always three months behind before, now they are

two months. As a result, British Columbia will receive thirteen monthly

payments in the fiscal year ending March 31, 1971, instead of the usual

twelve. As the extra payment, totalling $28 million, is rightfully

future revenue and only received once, it will be taken directly to the

budgetary cash reserve account. Similarly, for similar reasons, an

estimated $11 million advance payment, this fiscal year, under the

Federal Technical and Vocational Training Capital Assistance programme

will be deposited into this account.

Now, I want to speak for a moment or two, Mr. Speaker, regarding our

environment, which is the most important of all. Any person, perhaps,

can have perfect environment if there are no people. Perhaps you could

have lots of jobs, if you don't care about the environment. A great,

important thing in our society is how we solve both at the same time — and that is our policy.

The accumulated effects of large-scale pollution, especially by

industrial nations, is now one of the world's major problems. The

tendency in this area has been to act upon the condition after the

problem has developed and the environment damaged. The Government of

British Columbia, however, is acting now to preserve the Province's

healthful climate and abundance of unspoiled recreational areas.

Legislation enacted in 1956 established the Pollution Control Board and

initiated the procedure for developing our resources in a manner least

disruptive of the natural environment. All motor-vehicles manufactured

since January 1, 1971, and licensed in British Columbia, are now

required by law to meet pollutant-emission standards.

This Government has introduced several financial assistance

programmes to promote pollution control measures. An increase in the

annual municipal per capita grant was made in 1968 for pollution

control projects. The Government subsidizes the capital cost of local

government sewage treatment plants. Industrial pollution treatment

plants and equipment installed in the rural areas are exempted from

Provincial property taxation. Moreover, the British Columbia Income Tax Act provides accelerated depreciation allowance on industrial pollution control equipment.

I would emphasize, however, Mr. Speaker, that the problem of

pollution is everyone's responsibility. The collective effort of all

levels of Government, business, industry and the individual citizen is

required to safeguard British Columbia’s surroundings and heritage.

The progressive planning of this Government in the social and

economic fields is markedly evident in a comparison of expenditures for

education, health and social services, and Provincial development since

the beginning of the 1960's. A total of $288 million was spent for

these services in 1960. In 1965, it went up to $447 million, in

contrast to next year — $1,155,864,000, four times the 1960

expenditure. This next fiscal year, 89 per cent of our total Provincial

revenue will be expended on these services. Table 4 gives the details

and comparison between 1960 and 1965 and the next fiscal year.

Especially dealing with education, Mr. Speaker, to meet the

continuing challenge in the field of education, this Budget provides an

all-time-high of $403,960,000, or 31 per cent of our total Provincial

revenue in the next fiscal year. While the education of our young

citizens and other citizens is vital, the Government must maintain a

balance with other important Government services, such as health

services. Table 5 gives a detailed comparison of these expenditures of

1960, 1965 and 1972, so that we will have a comparison of which way we

are going.

Including the annual home-owner grant, Mr. Speaker, the Government

of British Columbia is now paying over 90 per cent of the residential

and farm home-owners' share of the total cost of public education. Over

90 per cent!

Last fall, the Government accelerated the authorizations for public

school construction, including gymnasiums and activity centres, to take

up some of the slack in the British Columbia construction industry.

These new facilities, which include almost 900 classrooms, will meet

the needs of our continually increasing student enrolment, as well as

furthering the programme of promoting physical fitness and amateur

sports.

As education costs accelerate with the progression in the level of

education, it is important to seek the most efficient and economic

means of educating our young students. Accordingly, the Government is

encouraging the establishment of regional colleges throughout the

Province to complement the nine strategically located Provincial

vocational schools. In 1971, nine colleges will be operating with an

estimated enrolment of 8,750 students. The three Provincial

universities and the Institute of Technology meet the students' demands

and needs for the highest academic and technical knowledge. The broad

programmes offered in post-secondary education require an expenditure

of $149,316,000, compared to $34,800,000 in 1965, and $8,100,000 in

1960. So the expenditure in higher education has gone up from 1960 to

next year, from $8 million to over $149 million.

Current enrolment in the Provincial vocational schools is now almost

36,000, up 13.8 per cent in the one year. A new $1,500,000 multipurpose

student centre under construction will greatly augment the facilities

of the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

Total enrolment in our public universities will be an estimated

34,750 in September, 1971, a rise of 175 per cent over 1960. The

Province is again providing substantial university operating and

capital grants in this Budget. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 1970,

Provincial operating grants to universities made up 78.1 per cent of

the total university general operating budgets, while student fees made

up 18.7 per cent.

Student scholarship and bursary aid will reach $3,750,000 this

coming year in contrast to $312,000 in 1960. Scholarship awards are

available to deserving students at all educational institutions in the

Province on an equal opportunity basis.

In regard to health services, this coming fiscal year, the total

expenditure on hospital insurance, social services, medical care, and

mental and public health will be over four times greater than the

outlay in 1960. Table number 6 gives the details and comparison of the

three years.

[ Page 261 ]

An outlay of $206,900,000 will be needed for the operation of

regional hospitals throughout the Province, compared to the $48,900,000

spent in 1960. Hospital construction now under way totals approximately

$60 million and will add 729 acute care beds and 573 extended care

beds. The British Columbia hospital system provides maximum patient

services to our residents as its care units range from intensive,

acute, activation and rehabilitation, to extended care. The department,

Mr. Speaker, is always taking further co-operation from the National

Government and will continue to expand the programme. Out-patient

treatment is being increased to free additional beds, and efforts are

being made to assure essential medical treatment is available in the

isolated areas of the Province.

The low-cost, subsidized, comprehensive British Columbia medical

care plan, available to all citizens of our Province, now covers over

2,131,000 people, or 98 per cent of our population, and requires an

appropriation of the next fiscal year of $70 million, partly ours,

partly the Federal's. Through the subsidization of overall medical

rates and the low-income premium subsidy, there is no reason for any

resident of the Province to be without medical care. That's what makes

it difficult for the people who come from that rich State of California

to find in this Province, that we have such a high state of medical

care for everyone, and hospital insurance at a dollar a day, which will

continue (applause) .

Expenditure on Provincial mental health programmes will be an

estimated $44,200,000, greatly enlarged from the $18,800,000 spent in

1965, and the $13,500,000 in 1960. There are now 17 regional community

health units, 10 of which have been opened in the last four years. In

1970, approximately 19,000 patients, 60 per cent of whom were

out-patients, received care and treatment, a 19 per cent increase over

the one year. Provincial Government facilities will be greatly expanded

with the opening later this year of the 300-bed Glendale Hospital here

in Victoria.

This Budget provides public health expenditures of $18 million. A

total of 82 community health centres now operate in British Columbia,

providing high-quality health care throughout the Province. An expanded

home care programme carried out by the public health nursing staff has

freed many hospital beds for acute cases.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I wish to refer to Provincial development, which

makes all the other expenditures possible, and we should always keep

that in mind.

Provincial development expenditures next fiscal year total

$256,531,000 as compared to $136 million in 1965, and $105 million in

1960. The Government is introducing bold new spending programmes in

resources development designed to create a maximum number of jobs.

Table 8, in the printed Budget Speech ,

will show how the highways and ferries have grown from $79 million in

1960, to over $167 million next year. Forests from $13 million in 1960,

to over $36 million in 1972. Lands, settlement and agriculture from

$3,800,000 in 1960 to over $25 million next year. Recreation and

conservation from $3,300,000 to $9,300,000, but that doesn't include

that $15 million. Water resources are up from $1,050,000 in 1960, to

$8,158,000 next year; tourism, trade and industrial development

$841,000 up to $4,268,000.

An outlay of $167,786,000 will be made for the Provincial highway

and ferry transportation facilities, up from $104 million in 1965 and

$79 million in 1960. The $27,513,000 in Provincial grants to

municipalities for upgrading municipal streets and roads will bring the

Provincial Government's overall expenditure to $195,299,000. Major

projects planned — and these are only a few of them, there will be

many, many more — include the Vancouver Island Highway extension

between Kelsey Bay and Beaver Cove, final contract on the

Stewart–Watson Lake Highway, the final contract on the Cowichan Lake

Road, and the conversion of the Trans-Canada Highway, which is no

longer the Trans-Canada Highway, because they are sharing no more — it

will be known as British Columbia Highway number 1 — between Bridal

Falls and Hope, and a

section of the Lougheed Highway, both into

four-lane highways.

Forest management, protection and reforestation programmes require

an expenditure of $36 million. In 1960, the expenditure was $13

million. Land expenditures on the development and protection of our

valuable recreation assets for the enjoyment of our residents and

visitors alike amount to $9,300,000 plus this $15 million which I

mentioned earlier.

The British Columbia Festival of Sports will help to make 1971

another record tourist year. Also the Vancouver Exhibition Trade Fair

and the British Columbia International Trade Fair, running from June 2

to 12 will consolidate the major industrial promotional gains made last

year at the World's Fair in Osaka, Japan.

And here I ask that all municipal governments throughout the

Province lend full cooperation both for tourist promotion and for

industrial development. It is for these purposes that we increased the

per capita grants just a few years ago.

Now, I especially want to refer to Provincial financial aid to local

governments. This Government's financial aid to local governments has

grown almost five times since 1960. This coming fiscal year, assistance

will total $766 million, compared to $163,800,000 in 1960. On a per

capita basis, municipal aid was $104 in 1960, and $150 in 1965, and

$347 next year. These grants, shared-cost programmes and so forth are

in Table 9 and take three pages to illustrate. They are higher and

better than are received by the municipalities and cities of any place,

not only in this Dominion but in any place on this continent (applause) .

Provincial Government grants to municipalities for the support of

street and road projects, pollution, policing, parks, ambulance

services, tourism, industrial development, social services, and

home-owner tax assistance will total $105 million this next fiscal

year. Table number 10 shows the comparison of cities, districts, towns

and villages and they all receive the same type of formula.

Mr. Speaker, the Budget Speech has taken about five minutes longer

than I expected but the reasons are, I'm sure, apparent to all Members

of the House.

Mr. Speaker, we celebrate, this year, our first century in the

Canadian Confederation. We can look back upon one hundred years of

outstanding achievement. While the first eighty years were relatively

slow and laboured, the Province has revealed its true potential in the

last two decades. It is fitting and proper to honour the pioneers — and

we were blessed with great pioneers who had the first vision of

greatness in our Province. In addition, we should also pay respect to

British Columbians of recent times, whose achievements have brought the

Province to the forefront in world and Canadian affairs.

Through this record Budget, the Government is ensuring the

continuance of the Province's dynamic growth. The bold policies

underlying the Budget will create many additional jobs, at the same

time, promoting a high standard of Government services. Sound financial

policies will continue to be followed to maintain a stable environment

in the

[ Page 262 ]

Province and allow progressive economic development to continue.

The spirit in British Columbia in 1871 when we joined Canada one

hundred years ago was one of resourcefulness and foresight. Mr.

Speaker, in 1971, this spirit is, if anything, even greater. I am sure

British Columbia will move to a more dominant position and make a far

greater contribution to the great Canadian Confederation in the years

ahead (applause) .

A debate arose, which, on the motion of Mr. Barrett, was adjourned to the next sitting of the House.

The Hon. W.A.C. Bennett presented to Mr. Speaker twelve Messages from His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor.

The following Bills were introduced, read a first time, and Ordered to be placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading at the next sitting after today:

Bill (No. 11) intituled Special Funds Appropriation Act .

Bill (No. 12) intituled Accelerated Park Development Act .

Bill (No. 13) intituled

An Act to Amend the Provincial Home-owners Grant Act.

Bill (No. 14) intituled

An Act to Amend the Gasoline Tax Act, 1948 .

Bill (No. 15) intituled

An Act to Amend the Gasoline Tax Act, 1958 .

Bill (No. 16) intituled

An Act to Amend the Coloured Gasoline Tax Act .

Bill (No. 17) intituled

An Act to Amend the Motive-fuel Use Tax Act .

Bill (No. 18) intituled Cigarette and Tobacco Tax Act .

Bill (No. 19) intituled Hotel and Motel Room Tax Act .

Bill (No. 20) intituled

An Act to Amend the Mining Tax Act .

Bill (No. 22) intituled

An Act to Amend the Assessment Equalization Act .

Bill (No. 21) intituled

An Act to Amend the Taxation Act .

The House adjourned at 3:54 p.m.