Province Législature/Legislature Session Type de discours/Type of speech Date du discours/Date Locuteur/Speaker Fonction du locuteur/Function Parti politique/Political party Ile du Prince Edward Island – Prince Edward Island 50 4 Discours du Trône/Speech from the Throne 24-02-1966 Hon. Willibald J. MacDonald Lieutenant-governor Progressive Conservative P.E.I: Speech from the Throne, Fourth Session of the Fiftieth General Assembly, February 24th, 1966 In the name of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II it is my privilege to welcome you to this the fourth session of the Fiftieth General Assembly of the Province of Prince Edward Island. The year 1965 was marked by gratifying industrial improvements. New industries have been developed, new jobs have become available, and construction to satisfy growing business enterprises have been undertaken. A new feeling of growth and brighter prospects is abundantly evident. Returns from the fishing industry with the exception of late lobster catches in some areas were greater than usual. Our tourist industry also recorded substantial expansion. The services of the Department of Agriculture have been expanded through high]y qualified extension personnel. A closer relationship with farm operations is now maintained. The total value of Agriculture production in 1965 reached an all time high due to improved quality and increased marketing of livestock, dairy products, potatoes, small fruits and new crops for the food processing plants. Amendments to broaden the coverage under the Crop Insurance Act and the Farm Establishment Act will be presented at this Session. Under a revised ARDA agreement a comprehensive program will be applied that will promote improved farm operations, render assistance in the reclamation and improvement of farm lands and expand the reforestation and water conservation programs. My Government will initiate a plan to assist in the marketing of high quality cheese and butter. The program of upgrading and paving of secondary roads will be expanded. Roads to resources will be completed in 1966. My Government has adopted a policy of an all-weather road from Tignish to Souris, Georgetown and Montague. This work was commenced during the past year and will be integrated with the Trans-Canada all weather highway which is well underway, and on which upgrading will be continued in 1966. A policy of paved roads to fishing centres begun in 1965 will be pushed forward to completion in 1966. My government will construct additional vocational facilities in West Prince and in Kings County for training in these two areas. The vocational extension program currently in operation in Prince and Kings Counties will be expanded to include additional training aid for farmers and fishermen. A comprehensive training project under the total manpower development program in the fields of Agriculture, Fishing, Tourist promotion and Handicraft will be undertaken. My Government, through regulations, has made available construction and transportation grants to consolidated school districts similar to that for regional high school districts. During the past fiscal year seven consolidations of elementary school districts were formed, as well as several small amalgamations. It is gratifying to note the interest that is taken by the people of the province in this elementary school movement. A new po]icy will be instituted to include the appointment of a director of guidance and special education in order to assist our youth to progress from primary to secondary school and to adjust to the demands of our present society. My Government will implement an increased salary grants scale for teachers. This policy will result in a greater retention and recruitment of teachers for the profession. The Prince of Wales College Act 1964 was proclaimed on June 15th, 1966. Grants will be given to Universities as recommended by the Royal Commission on Higher Education. Capital Cost Construction grants which have been available to the Regional High Schools of Prince Edward Island will be extended to Summerside and Charlottetown to assist in the cost of new construction. In order to assist the municipalities of Prince Edward Island costs under the Social Assistance Program will be provided. My Government proposes to increase the per capita grants to Charlottetown, towns and villages throughout the province. A program of Medical Care will be instituted for recipients of Old Age Assistance, T.B. Assistance, Social Assistance, Disability Persons Allowance, Mothers' Allowances and Blind Assistance. Pending arrangements with Federal authorities, this program will be extended to all people in need residing on Prince Edward Island. Mothers' Allowances will be substantially increased to provide a fair income to families who have lost the breadwinner. A criteria of need by citizens of this province will be instituted on April first replacing the Means Test of the Social Assistance Program. A policy of sharing in the cost of premiums in a program of assistance to farmers and farm labourers to compensate for injuries received on the farm will be initiated. The existing minimum wage of $1.00 per hour for labourers on Prince Edward Island will be increased to $1.10 per hour as of April first. Laboratory services have been extended to provide automatic equipment to facilitate chemical analysis. Public Health Nursing Services will be expanded to provide a follow-up service for patients released from mental hospitals. Recognizing the serious shortage of dentists in the province financial assistance will be extended to students taking dentistry training. The program to provide homes for special care will be expanded in Western Prince, Kings County and Charlottetown. Homes for Senior Citizens in addition to the seventy-eight units now occupied and the 138 under construction will be supplied. Legislation will be introduced to provide for a comprehensive family housing program in municipalities throughout the province. A 600 ton capacity Marine Slip will be completed this year at Georgetown which will provide adequate facilities for maintenance of the dragger fleet. Total returns from the fishing industry in 1965 showed an overall value of $7,085,000, a twenty-three percent increase over the previous year. My Government has rendered substantial support to the industry. Four modern draggers are now under construction for Souris and nine for Georgetown. Inshore fishermen in addition to loans, have received further support in the form of additional ice making and portable water facilities. Exploratory investigations in shrimp, herring and crab fishing have been undertaken. Recent representations to the Federal Government for special assistance for lobster fishermen in District number eight failed. In order to compensate for losses sustained by these fishermen and provide assistance to finance current years operations, my Government will provide much needed financial support to the fishermen in this District. Statistical information compiled by the Parks Division of the Department of Tourist Development points to the continuous acceptance of our provincial park facilities. Continued development and expansion of these parks will be provided in order to keep pace with the demand. A substantial increase in Tourist Traffic is recorded each year. Contributing factors to this increase are the active promotional programmes of the Tourist Information Branch and the provision for paved roads to the resort areas by the Department of Highways. My Government will continue to lend support to all programs providing for larger and better accommodation facilities for the convenience of our tourists. Legislation will be introduced to provide for the establishment and operation of Industrial Parks. The Industrial Enterprises Incorporated Act was proclaimed last June 23rd and the Directors of the new Company are now meeting regularly. We anticipate the new Board will be actively engaged in the Industrial Development field in the near future. In the meantime, other existing agencies of the Government continue to actively promote Industrial Development. As a result of negotiations an electric power link will connect Prince Edward Island with the mainland grid. Our province will become a full partner in the Maritime Provinces Electric Power Pool. In order to thoroughly examine and co-ordinate the various policies and forms of financial assistance available through Federal Government departments, a qualified economist will be appointed to investigate these policies and advise and direct their application with best advantage to provincial requirements. My Government takes pleasure in announcing that the Provincial Government Rural Electrification Program is now drawing to a successful completion. Deep gratitude is expressed that the Causeway between Borden and Tormentine promoted and strongly supported by my Government is now under construction. The long delayed implementation of a promise made when our province entered Confederation will on its fulfilment be a great boon to Prince Edward Island. My Government continues to press for an early completion of this project and the construction with all possible speed of a new carferry steamer for the Borden-Tormentine service. A Division of Community Development will be established to provide advisory assistance to communities in which, because of changing conditions, serious dislocation in occupation takes place. During the past year my Government has conducted the administration of the affairs of the province with every possible economy consistent with the efficiency of public works and public services. The public accounts and reports of the various departments of my Government for the year ending March 31, 1965 will be tabled for your information. The Interim Report forecasting estimated revenues and expenditures for the current fiscal year ending March 31, 1966 and estimates for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 1966 will also be presented for your consideration. During the past year my Government, in common with the governments of other Canadian provinces, has participated in a number of conferences with the Government of Canada on fiscal and economic relations. These conferences are scheduled to continue with a view to working out a new fiscal agreement which begins on April 1st, 1967. May you be guided in your deliberations by that Divine Power which works for the betterment of all people. I now leave you to your legislative duties. ??