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  52                      3       Discours du Trône/Speech from the Throne 02-03-1972Hon.        John G.B. MacKay Lieutenant-governor           Liberal


P.E.I: Speech from the Throne, Third Session of the Fifty second General Assembly, 
MARCH 2nd, 1972

As we begin the Third Session of the Fifty second General Assembly of the Province of 
Prince Edward Island, we encounter new challenges and new opportunities--challenges 
and opportunities to which all of the citizens of this province will have to apply courage, 
determination, and imagination so full advantage may be made of the resources, both 
physical and human, available to us. Tempering our endeavours must be a sympathetic 
understanding and appreciation of the needs and aspirations of our people.

The need to face challenges and opportunities is not unknown to the citizens of this 
province. Never a wealthy people in financial terms or in terms of physical resources, this 
province has had to rely, time and time again, on the native ability and inner strength of 
its people to create and nurture a climate of growth and quiet prosperity.

Since the days of the early settlers, that growth and prosperity has been constantly 
challenged by a variety of forces, largely outside our own province. Examples can be 
found in our early efforts to resist entry into Confederation, world wars, industrialization 
and intensification of scientific and technical approaches to the production of goods. The 
struggle to maintain our position in the world community has never been an easy struggle 
-for centuries we have had to make adjustments, changes in our approaches and 
alterations in our habits and practices- but we have persevered and largely won the fight 
to foster and promote our special way of life.

Running through the history of our province and the efforts of our province in this 
direction, is a strong iron thread of constancy and continuity. That iron thread of 
permanence and stability is made up of our family farms and the agricultural community 
made possible by the family farm. The family farm is to our province what mineral 
deposits, natural gas, and vast tracts of timber are to some of our sister provinces. The 
very nature and character of this province is built upon the nature and character of our 
farming community. No citizen of this province would have it any other way.

Because of the significance my Government attaches to the agricultural community, the 
customary format of the Throne Speech has been altered to reflect my Government's very 
real concern for the future of agriculture in this province. The determination of my 
Government to seek out and identify corrective measures will be established.

Almost all the province's economic activity can be traced, directly or indirectly, back to 
the foundation provided by the agricultural segment of our society. When that foundation 
is on a firm footing, the province's economic life is on a firm footing. When that 
foundation trembles, the province trembles.

The importance of the agricultural community cannot be measured simply by the direct 
monetary returns that agriculture and the sale of agricultural products provides to Prince 
Edward Island. The indirect economic benefits to this province are almost incalculable. 
What would our tourist industry be if the character and charm of our countryside was to 
alter? Certainly, one of the fundamental attractions of this province to our annual visitors 
lies in the nature of the people, the rural communities built by these people and the 
orderly and careful use of the land. In many respects our farmers and their families can be 
looked upon as trustees of the soil. Without their careful attention to thoughtful and 
prudent farm practices, our total environment would be placed in jeopardy. This kind of 
return to the province can never be calculated in monetary terms, but has to be considered 
in the overall evaluation of the significance of the agricultural community.

Similarly, the development of our post secondary educational facilities, our efforts to 
attract secondary manufacturing industry, the creation of opportunities for the processing 
of natural products, and the development of a strong business climate, depends to a large 
extent on the strength of the family farm and the community life that flows from a strong 
farm base.

But any consideration or judgment of the significance of the agricultural community in 
this province cannot be based solely on economic grounds. The social benefits to our 
people must also form a part of any thoughtful and meaningful examination. Our citizens 
have for many generations enjoyed the advantages offered by a strong, active, and 
cohesive rural community life. Such circumstances have fostered the development of an 
independent spirit, strong and lasting family ties, a greater understanding and fuller 
appreciation of what life on earth has to offer, and a closer communion with the Divine 
Spirit. In a world which seems at times to be losing these very attributes, opportunities to 
nurture and encourage such qualities must be promoted.

It was with these many considerations in mind that my Government initiated a variety of 
proposals which were aimed at the strengthening of Prince Edward Island's social and 
economic life. Such approaches endeavoured to take into consideration all aspects --not 
only agricultural-- but all aspects making up the social and economic fabric of our 
province. Some approaches have been necessarily slow in coming into effect; others have 
moved forward rapidly; others have had to be adjusted or changed to meet new 
requirements; others have not been as successful as envisioned; others still are not 
sufficient to meet the full needs of the people. Experience can be a harsh but wise 
teacher.

In some respects, such has been the case in my Government's efforts to meet the needs 
and aspirations of our province's agricultural community. Time and experience have 
shown that government efforts to assist and provide nourishment to the family farm have 
not been adequate.

At the same time it must be pointed out that the basic foundation of government 
assistance has been well laid, and it is my Government's belief that with new and more 
appropriate programs to build on that firm foundation, significant adjustments can be 
attained. Such endeavours must be made, not by the government alone, but with the full 
participation and active involvement of the farmer, his family, and of farm organizations. 
Experience would suggest that with this interlocking approach, based on a mutual respect 
for one another, efforts to accomplish mutually desired ends have every chance of 
succeeding.

Before outlining specific proposals aimed at the strengthening of the agricultural 
community, a number of pertinent considerations should be identified.

The Province of Prince Edward Island is not and will never be in a position to influence 
world agricultural conditions. Nor does this province have either the financial or 
constitutional tools to seriously affect the agricultural picture in our country. The Federal 
Government has an important and significant role to play in world and national affairs. 
This province can make, has made, and will continue to make strong representations to 
the Federal Government on behalf of agriculture in this province; but we must constantly 
remember that Prince Edward Island cannot stand in isolation, apart from national and 
world trends in production and marketing.

Prince Edward Island is not a rich province and at the present time depends to a large 
extent on financial assistance from the Federal Government in order to provide basic and 
necessary services to its people. At the same time, the province must be ever 
endeavouring to improve its own sources of revenue to buttress and improve upon the 
social and economic requirements of the people. A significant portion of provincial 
revenue now comes from the agricultural industry. Every effort must be made to improve 
upon the ability of agriculture to provide necessary revenue to the province.

Committed to the preservation and nurturing of the agricultural community, the 
Government must, at the same time, reconcile this commitment with the need to meet the 
national and world situation and the need to provide a climate which will enhance the 
revenue picture of the province. At times this presents a difficult dilemma which must be 
resolved by the Government and the people in a fashion that is acceptable to our 
fundamental aspirations.

It must also be clearly understood that the province, the government and the people 
cannot afford to initiate and support farm programs that are not aimed at improving the 
position of the family farms and their owners. Public programs must be applied in such a 
way that the difficulties and problems encountered by the agricultural community can be 
met and eventually overcome. Any other approach than this could well have disastrous 
effects on the entire province--effects that could be equally as disastrous as the 
disappearance of the family farm itself. It must be said at this time that it is not the 
intention of my Government to assure every rural landowner who is engaged, however 
precariously or marginally, in farming that he will receive a guarantee of adequate 
income from that activity. It must be frankly and honestly recognized that some of our 
people now involved in agriculture have, for a variety of reasons, a dim future in farming. 
My Government recognizes its responsibility in applying other programs and providing 
other opportunities for this group of people. Farm programs must attempt to help the 
farmer who is prepared to accept the need for adjustment and can offer the basic 
resources and skills to develop his farm to the point where it will return him a reasonably 
stable and satisfactory income. It is in this way that opportunities can be developed for 
farm children, if they wish, to continue the family farm under conditions where the 
transfer of a farm from father to son will not result in the impoverishment of either or 
both of them. My Government maintains that with meaningful consultation between the 
farm community and the Government, appropriate, useful and successful approaches to 
reach desired ends can be identified and implemented.

My Government intends to do everything in its power to stem the tide which is eroding 
away the family farm. Efforts, in the past, have been characterized by the inauguration of 
policy, standard in its application and province   wide in its objectives. Such policies have 
often failed to meet the requirements which the individual farmer has in his efforts to 
develop his own farming operation. My Ministers have, therefore, considered a more 
flexible approach in which Government may respond more appropriately to the needs of 
the individual farm operator. Essential to the success of this approach is the full co-
operation and participation of the farming community itself. The development of the 
individual family farm must be seen in the context of regional and national marketing 
opportunities. In production, as well as in marketing, our farmers must more closely 
examine the many advantages to be found in co-operative ventures. A variety of co-
operative possibilities exists which can assist the smaller farm enterprise to not only 
survive but also effectively compete in the increasingly competitive market place. My 
Government intends to actively promote and support such co-operative possibilities.

One example of co-operative activities to which My Government gives its complete 
support is the development of commodity boards established under the Natural Products 
Marketing Act. Acting individually and independently, the producer has only managed to 
recover an estimated seven percent (7%) of the Canadian consumer's food dollar. Such 
boards offer to the family farmer an opportunity to participate with his neighbour in the 
orderly and stable marketing of his goods. Participation in these boards requires the 
farmer to become actively involved in an area of agriculture which often, in the past, was 
left to someone other than the farmer. However, to meet present and future trends in 
agriculture, the family farmer will have to become involved and knowledgeable in the 
field of marketing.

Finally, it must be appreciated by the farmer and his farm organizations that new 
programs and endeavours of the Government cannot be implemented immediately. Prior 
consultation and discussion with the farm community itself is mandatory before detailed 
programs can be developed. In addition, the extent to which the costs of such programs 
are to be shared with the Government of Canada is subject to negotiations with the 
Federal Government. My Government is anxious to begin both these processes as soon as 
possible.

During the past number of years, My Government has taken a variety of steps to provide 
our farmers with the same services enjoyed by their counterparts in other provinces. The 
expansion of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, the restructured Provincial 
Lending Authority, expanded crop insurance programs and a Natural Products Marketing 
Board are examples of the determination of My Government to provide services to the 
farming community, equal or superior to those available anywhere else. In addition, the 
Land Development Corporation program, the Market Development Centre, and activities 
of the Rural Development Council are representative of efforts to provide new and 
sometimes unique initiatives and opportunities to the farm operator. The pilot project in 
West Prince for a regional government services centre has concentrated government 
services in that region in an effort to co-ordinate the variety of services required by the 
rural citizen. It is the view of My Government that public services should not be 
considered in isolation from one another, as one service is often inter   related with 
another, and all such services have an important role to play in strengthening the rural 
community.
The Department of Agriculture and Forestry also offers programs for agricultural 
extension and counselling with a view to bringing to the farming community the benefits 
of more progressive methods in farming. Education in management training is offered so 
that the latest developments in the technical and managerial fields may be applied to farm 
operations.

It is upon this solid base that new programs can be effectively developed and 
implemented.

My Government's new programs will be directed to those family farmers willing and able 
to make a reasonable profit but who lack the necessary capital and other specific 
assistance such as additional land, and sufficiently developed technical and managerial 
background. Interested farmers will be invited to embark, with the Government, on joint 
programs through which the farmer will be placed in a position to help himself.

Thus, the Family Farm Development Policy which my Government will shortly introduce 
will consist of a number of programs from which the farm operator may choose in order 
to satisfy the needs of his particular farm. These programs are by no means fixed and 
inflexible. My Government is presenting these programs as a proposal which it hopes will 
be fully discussed and considered within the farm community. My Government is 
looking forward to constructive suggestions from both the farm organizations and from 
individual farmers in order to assist the Government to arrive at a policy which will be of 
maximum benefit to the farm people of Prince Edward Island. Farmers have, in recent 
years, repeatedly requested the opportunity to participate in the evolution of Government 
policy. My Government views this approach as the opportunity to do just that.

My Government wishes to advance as a framework for the development of new programs 
and policies the following proposals:

CREDIT: Credit could be provided to purchase land and machinery that will be required 
to implement the planned development of the individual farm and could envision several 
possible elements:

(a) Provision of credit to purchase land through the Land Development Corporation 
programs;

(b) Provision of short term working capital at lower rates of interest;

(c) Special arrangements for young entrants to the farming industry.

2. CAPITAL GRANTS: To assist farm adjustment, capital grants could be made 
available for fixed assets other than land. For example:

(a) Buildings (new construction);

(b) Buildings (improvement or remodelling);

(c) Farm feed storage (silos);

(d) Farm mixing equipment;

(e) Milking systems;

(f) Milk storage.

LAND IMPROVEMENT GRANTS: These grants could offer a direct incentive to 
improve land holdings and could cover the following operations:

(a) Drainage;

(b) Field consolidation;

(c) Soil conservation;

(d) Irrigation;

(e) Re-seeding to permanent pasture.

4. LIVESTOCK IMPROVEMENT BONUSES: These bonuses could take the form of a 
premium on high quality livestock production as an incentive for herd improvements.

5. HERD EXPANSION INCENTIVES: These incentives could offer inducement to 
expand herds to a sufficient size that will assist the farm operator to attain an adequate 
income. Such assistance might take the form of a special interest rate on money borrowed 
to purchase stock to expand herds. Some of the interest could be reimbursed by the 
Provincial Government against the cost of increasing the size of the livestock herd. For 
each major class of livestock, the maximum size and length of period eligible for the 
special  interest rate could be detailed from time to time.

It is anticipated that in order for the farmer applicant to participate in any of these various 
programs, a farm plan for development will be drawn up by the farmer in consultation 
with the various Government agencies so that maximum benefits from these programs 
may be realized. It is further anticipated that limitations will have to be placed on grants 
to any one farmer amounting to $3,000 in any one year, and $6,000 over a five year 
period. Applications would be treated on a "first come, first served" basis, and would 
have to be frozen when the current year's appropriation of monies had been committed. In 
the next financial year, applications would be taken from where the list was frozen before 
new applications would be entertained. Any appropriated funds which are unspent in any 
one year would be applied to the next year's appropriations.

To support and underpin these basic programs, it is anticipated that the farmer will adopt 
a recognized farm accounting system which would be an integral part of his overall farm 
plan.

The foregoing proposals are general in principle and must, by necessity, be flexible in 
application. My Government looks forward to actively promoting and discussing these 
broad principles and proposals with the farming community.

MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY:

A number of additional proposals directly concerned with and directed toward meeting 
the needs and aspirations of the entire rural community will be outlined by my Ministers.

In addition to those proposals already outlined, my Ministers will be advancing for the 
consideration of members of this Assembly additional programs and policies which will 
be directed toward the concerns of all citizens of our Province.

May Divine Providence guide your deliberations.


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