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 57 4 Discours du Trône/Speech from the Throne ??-02-1989 Hon. Robert L.G. MacPhail Lieutenant-governor Liberal P.E.I: Speech from the Throne, Fourth Session of the Fifty seventh General Assembly, February, 1989 It is my privilege, in the name of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, to welcome you to the Fourth Session of the Fifty seventh General Assembly of the Province of Prince Edward Island. I am pleased to offer my congratulations to the new Member from Kings Fifth on her election to this Assembly. This year Islanders, indeed all Canadians, will commemorate the 125th Anniversary of the 1864 Charlottetown Conference, that historic meeting which gave rise to Canada as a federal state. Moreover, the Confederation Centre of the Arts, itself created in the spirit of this national political birth, will celebrate its 25th birthday. My Government has appointed the 125th Anniversary Committee to foster and co- ordinate special events and activities throughout 1989 in honour of our proud history during the colonial period and the distinguished role played by Prince Edward Island in the emergence of the Canadian Confederation. Our contribution to national life since then, of course, has far outmeasured our geographical size and population, and Islanders remain good and loyal members of the Canadian family. I invite all citizens to participate in this year's 125th Anniversary festivities. In particular, it is my hope that you will join with me this summer in welcoming to Prince Edward Island Their Royal Highnesses, Prince Andrew and his charming wife, the Duchess of York. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: Prince Edward Island truly is a special place in which to live, and the proverbial Island way of life, evolving as it must with time and circumstance, continues to define us as a people. Islanders share much with other Maritimers and North Americans. We are an "Island in the stream", constantly influenced by ideas and philosophies, values and attitudes originating elsewhere. But our essential Islandness remains strong. It is characterized by a strong sense of place, an attachment to family and community, an openness to the world around us, and an enterprising and independent spirit. Our collective identity as Islanders is not something which can be squandered or traded away easily, for it is the product of generations; yet over time, it can be lost just as a family keepsake, if not treasured and valued, can be lost. My Government reveres this collective family inheritance. We do not pretend to fully understand it, nor do we ignore its blemishes and imperfections. But after These years of political office, my Government celebrates its enduring value and distinctiveness. To follow tradition slavishly is to be a captive of the past. We seek instead a society which safeguards our heritage and culture, yet opens new doors to the future, and seizes new opportunities for prosperity and development. This, we believe, is a modern and progressive approach to government, and one which Islanders fully endorse. It is necessary and desirable for a people to define and implement progress themselves, as it befits their own community, their own needs and aspirations. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: Since coming to office, my Government has responded to the needs and interests of Islanders in a responsible, compassionate and creative manner. We have placed before this Legislative Assembly programs and initiatives which have measurably improved the social and economic well being of our people. Some old problems have been solved, others still elude us, while new challenges and opportunities continue to appear on the horizon. My Government has made sound financial management and deficit reduction a leading priority for it is clear that a debt ridden society, especially one of Prince Edward Island's size, is a vulnerable society with limited choice for its government and for its people. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: The program which my Government will present to you and the people of Prince Edward Island for the coming year, reaffirms the view of the Island community that I have just described. It is a program based firmly on the objectives of: - honesty and integrity in Government; - job growth and prosperity; - healthy living and social fairness; - care and protection of the environment; - education and training opportunities; - preservation and enhancement of Island culture and heritage; and - sound financial management. Before presenting for your consideration the specific plans and new initiatives of individual departments and agencies, it is important to state that none of the foregoing objectives should be considered in isolation from the other. My Government has taken an approach to policy planning and decision making which is integrative and holistic, one which recognizes the subtle weave of Island life, the vital relationship that exists, for example, between the health of our environment and the health of our economy; the health of our people, and the health of our communities. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: It is not an overstatement to say that the 1990s will belong, in large measure, to the environmentally wise and that our ability to sustain economic development will depend, increasingly, on our willingness to protect and nurture the natural environment which the Creator has provided for us. Daily we are made aware of the continued deterioration of the world's environment depletion of the ozone layer, deforestation, acid rain, and atmospheric pollution. While the challenge is global, we must act locally. Prince Edward Island is not immune to these global events, but more important, it is not immune to deterioration of its own environment. In recognition of this, my Government will re establish a separate Department of Environment to ensure the effective administration of the new Environmental Protection Act and to strengthen our capability in dealing with environmental issues and problems. In fulfilling my Government's objective of care and protection of the environment, the new Department of Environment will establish procedures for assessing the environmental impact of development projects in the province. All future development projects in the province will be subjected to this Environmental Assessment Process. The Minister of the Environment will retain the power to review and veto, if necessary, approval for any major project undertaken by the private sector or the Government of Prince Edward Island, it's Crown Corporations or Agencies. The new Department will also establish, in consultation with community and environmental groups, new policies and standards respecting air quality and litter, and new guidelines for directing development in our precious and fragile coastal areas and off shore islands. Consistent with its integrative approach to decision making, my Government has recently announced the establishment of the P.E.I. Round Table on Environment and Economy. The Round Table, made up of a cross section of prominent Islanders representing business, the resource sectors, Native Peoples, environmental organizations and academia, will provide recommendations on environmentally sound economic development policies and strategies. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: Prince Edward Island is known the world over for its rich, red soil. Land is a precious resource not merely because of its market value but also because of its intrinsic and aesthetic value. Our forefathers, many of whom were forced to leave their own birth land, knew that land was the very foundation of society, the life source of its economy and its culture. It is a limited and irreplaceable resource, and each generation must come to see itself, not as master of the land, but as steward of the land, charged with nurturing and preserving it for future generations. Last year my Government appointed the Royal Commission on Land Ownership, Land Use and the Landscape to carry out the first comprehensive review of land use and land ownership priorities in more than fifteen years. The Royal Commission has been asked to consult extensively with Islanders on this vital topic before bringing forward its recommendations and an extensive series of information sessions and public hearings has now been announced. It is my hope that many Islanders will share their views and opinions with members of the Royal Commission so as to have a full say in the shaping of public policy. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: Agriculture and the family farm are enduring and endearing elements of the Island way of life. Over the past number of decades, however, the family farm world-wide has come under increasing pressure. My Government responded to the farm financial crisis in a creative way with the Leaseback to Vendor Program. This program has been successful in enabling a number of Island farm families obtain relief from a smothering debt load, allowing them breathing room to repay their debt in an orderly fashion. Because of its success, my Government will expand the program to extend assistance to farmers who are facing short term cash flow shortages. Over the past three years, the Department of Agriculture has had as one of its main objectives the development of sustainable agriculture for the benefit of Island farm families and their communities. At its broadest, sustainable agriculture means the survival of the family farm. But sustainable agriculture is more accurately an approach to agriculture. It is based on continuing education and learning as the foundation of long term development, a sense of stewardship to improve the rich resource which we have inherited for the use of future generations, an awareness of ecology as the basis for sound farming practices and a healthy environment, and a commitment to quality as the foundation for market security. In an effort to foster a greater understanding and awareness of agricultural methods and issues, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Education will examine the introduction of an Agriculture Studies Program in the High School Curriculum. The Department of Agriculture will continue to pursue policies and programs which will strengthen the farm community. Soil testing services will be intensified to assist farmers in the lowering of input costs through the appropriate application of chemical or natural fertilizers. The lntegrated Pest Management Program will be expanded in order to monitor more acurately insect and disease levels and to recommend more effective control methods, thereby lowering input costs and protecting the environment from potential damage. You will be asked to consider new legislation establishing the Prince Edward Island Agricultural Development Corporation. This new corporation will bring under one administration the services formerly provided by the P.E.I. Crop Insurance Agency and the Land Development Corporation. In consultation and cooperation with the Federal Government, the Department of Agriculture has developed programs to improve land drainage and soil conservation. Negotiations have recently been completed which will result in the signing of a Soil Conservation Agreement between my Government and the Government of Canada. This agreement will further extend the accomplishments of the Soil Conservation Program. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: The Government of Prince Edward Island was the first in Canada to recognize the destabilizing cycles in hog commodity prices and, in response, initiated the Hog Stabilization Plan in 1973. Since that time, other provinces initiated similar programs which have contributed to further stabilizing market prices. Over the past several years, Governments in all the Canadian Provinces, including Prince Edward Island, have been carefully auditing their Hog Stabilization Programs. My Government has recently announced that Prince Edward Island will be joining, along with its sister Provinces, the National Tripartite Stabilization Program for Hogs. Though the terms of the agreement do not become effective until 1991, by signifying its intention to join the national plan before December 31, 1988, my Government was able to secure a sizable Federal contribution to the plan. Furthermore, the Minister of Agriculture, working in alliance with his counterparts in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, has been successful in attaining Federal assurance that regional variances in the cost of production will have compensation within the plan. Only when we are part of a national program can we hope to influence the direction of the hog industry, not only in Prince Edward Island but in the rest of Canada. Through the National Tripartite Plan, my Government will be able to work in concert with the Government of Canada and our sister Provinces for the long term security of the P.E.I. hog industry. My Government is well aware that much of the value of farm cash receipts on Prince Edward Island is derived from a single cash crop potatoes. Prince Edward Island has established a national and international reputation for quality potatoes and potato products. Not only is the potato an essential and important cash crop, it is also the basis for a growing processing sector, and the search continues for new ways to add value to our primary products. Many of the recommendations outlined in the Driscoll Report have been implemented. My Government now looks forward to the resumption of control of their industry by producers, with the establishment of a new Potato Commodity Marketing Board. In keeping with its commitment to the potato industry and potato producers my Government will introduce in this Session an Act to Incorporate the Abegweit Potato Producers Co. Ltd. which will place this major potato dealership squarely under the control of the potato producers. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: Being an Island, this province has always had an affinity with the sea. In part, it was the lure of our rich fishing grounds which first drew settlers to our shores. Successive generations of Island men and women have made an often uncertain livelihood from the sea. But in recent years, the waters which surround Prince Edward Island have been generous with their bounty. Over the past three years, fish landings and the value of fish landings have increased. My Government has introduced a number of programs consistent with its strategic plan to diversify fisheries resources, improve quality, develop the aquaculture industry; increase value added production, and improve our fisheries marketing effort. The result has been an improved fishery for Prince Edward Island. A specific example of the diversification of resources can be seen in efforts undertaken in the groundfish sector. The Minister of Fisheries' successful efforts to repatriate the 5,000 ton redfish quota formerly reserved for Georgetown Seafoods; support for the Special Program for Gulf Plants to provide redfish to inshore processors; and the Development of the Fishermen's Groundfish Program to assist inshore fishermen with technology improvement, will all contribute toward the goal of diversifying the fishing industry. My Government's strategic planning process in the Fisheries Sector has also identified aquaculture as one component of the fishery which holds out greater opportunity for broadening the Province's resource base, increasing employment, and generating economic growth. In response, my Government has introduced the Aquaculture Development Program which has enhanced the oyster fishery and enabled the expansion of mussel and trout culture as well as the development of aquaculture techniques for the improvement of quahaugs and other shell fish. During this session of the Legislative Assembly, my Government will ask Members to consider an amendment to the Public Departments Act in order to reconstitute the Department of Fisheries as the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture. Additional professional staff will be hired and the Department will be reorganized to include an Aquaculture Branch. Not only will this initiative recognize the increasing economic importance of the aquaculture sector, it will also ensure a coordinated, effective, and orderly approach to development for this fast growing component of our Island fishery. In the area of quality improvement, my Government, in cooperation with representatives of the industry, has identified an opportunity to stabilize and expand herring markets, particularly in Japan, through a comprehensive quality initiative. Planning is also underway to develop a Quality Control and Productivity Enhancement Program for Prince Edward Island fish processors. Plant management and staff, working cooperatively with Departmental staff, will be encouraged and assisted to prepare five year productivity and quality control plans which will strengthen Prince Edward Island's position in the marketplace and increase profits for Island processors and fishermen. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: At one time in Prince Edward Island's history, our forests were a major economic resource, supporting a thriving ship building industry and a brisk lumber trade with Great Britain. With the disappearance of the traditional economy, our forests were left depleted, largely ignored, and used primarily as a source of domestic fuel and local lumber. Over the past number of years, those decades of neglect have been redressed. Last year my Government entered into a multi-year Economic Regional Development Sub Agreement for Forestry with the Government of Canada. The Agreement provides a number of programs consistent with the Forest Management Act, which was passed during the last session of this Assembly. Over the next year the Minister of Energy and Forestry will be introducing a number of initiatives including: the development of guidelines for harvesting of forest products from areas along streams, ponds and scenic heritage roads; the introduction of a course for Island students at the Grade ten level, teaching forest management; the development of a training strategy which will ensure that more Islanders can take advantage of silviculture training and become employed in the forestry industry; and, the development of a sugar maple strategy intended to increase Prince Edward Island's maple syrup production. Much of the success of my Government's efforts in the forest industry is due to this province's achievements as a leader in the field of alternate energy. The Department of Energy and Forestry, along with the PEI Energy Corporation, has established a world wide reputation in the application of district heating and wood biomass technologies. My Government's commitment to wood chip biomass as a source of energy has created employment in all parts of the province, has reduced the outflow of dollars for imported fuel, has provided a ready market for diseased and dying wood, has provided business opportunities in the harvesting, transportation, fabrication and engineering sectors, and has created a pool of new technology and professional talent in the design and construction of wood fired heating system. The Minister of Energy and Forestry is currently studying the feasibility of the cogeneration of heat and electricity from wood bio mass. Such an approach to energy generation could supplement the other sources of electrical energy, improving our ability to provide Prince Edward Islanders with a reliable source of reasonably priced electrical energy. This past year, the efforts of my Government to secure a reliable, long term electrical energy supply for Prince Edward Islanders culminated in the signing of a six year Electricity Agreement with New Brunswick and Quebec. This Agreement will allow Prince Edward Island to obtain secure supplies of electrical energy and capacity from New Brunswick. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: In each of the resource sectors of agriculture, fisheries, and forestry, my Government has proven that a project need not be big to be successful. Over the years, Prince Edward Islanders have shown an almost innate ability to adopt technology when it is appropriate, to adapt technology when it does not fit the need, and to develop technology when it does not exist. That is precisely the approach which my Government has taken, and continues to take, in the area of industrial development. New initiatives in community economic development have tapped the creative, entrepreneurial spirit which lay dormant in many Island communities over the past number of years. Through the Community Economic Development Program, my Government has assisted more than twenty rural community organizations to secure loans for community development projects. This past year, the Minister of Industry introduced a special Community Development Capital Grant Program which has provided grants to assist community development efforts in twenty two Island communities. Over the course of the next two months, the Minister will explore, along with representatives from community groups and educational institutions, the introduction of a Program in Community Studies, which will enable interested Islanders, both volunteers and professionals in the field, to obtain training and accreditation in the area of Community Development. Prince Edward Island has long been recognized for the quality of its handcrafts and locally made products. Islanders' handcraft skills and talents, which have grown from our everyday work, have been a source of both creative pride and family income. My Government will assist this growing sector of our economy through the Handcraft Development Program which will provide assistance to Island craftspeople to improve or expand their handcraft industries. My Government, through the Department of Industry and the P.E.I. Development Agency, has introduced a number of programs and services to assist business and provide employment for Islanders. The Small Business Enhancement Program and the Equity Investors Incentive Program have provided assistance to more than two hundred Island firms over the past three years. My Government is also working in partnership with the Eastern Kings, Three Rivers, and Summerside Industrial Commissions, as well as the Federal Government, to help establish three incubator malls in Summerside, Souris, and the Montague Georgetown Cardigan area. The incubator mall concept, which has proven successful in the West Prince Region, will assist the establishment of new business and more employment in these areas. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: In November of 1988, Canadians' engaged in a nation wide policy debate on an issue which may well alter the economic structure of Canada for the foreseeable future. My Government has been a strong and vocal opponent of Free Trade. But the Canadian people gave the Government of Canada the mandate and the majority to sign a Trade Agreement with the United States. That agreement is now law and our attention as a province, as a government, and as traders in the international market must now turn to ensuring that Prince Edward Island is in a position to take advantage of the benefits which we are promised will flow from the new trade arrangement. Accordingly, the Minister of Industry has created the position of Director of Trade Policy to provide timely policy advice on matters of interprovincial and international trade. My Government also is engaging in discussions with representatives from the Government of Canada which will lead to the formation of a Provincial Committee to monitor the implementation of the trade agreement and to devise a strategy which will assist Prince Edward Island exporters in adjusting to the changed trading circumstances. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: I have said that it is necessary and desirable for a people to find their own definition of progress, one which befits their own community and their own needs and aspirations. Nowhere is this more true than in the area of tourism development. We are blessed, on this tiny Island Province, with a quality of landscape, a quality of culture, and a quality of life which makes us the envy of much of the world. But we must be careful with our treasure. We have seen other tourist destinations sacrifice their landscape and sell out their cultural inheritance in the interests of quick profit. We must ensure that our Garden Province does not suffer a similar fate. Prince Edward Island will be a "haven" for visitors only as long as it remains a "home" for Islanders. My Government, working with the Tourist Industry Association and the Government of Canada, has taken steps to ensure that the cultural and environmental integrity of Prince Edward Island is not lost in the crush of tourism development. Tourism 2000, a major planning document which outlines the principles upon which tourism development must take place, has been signed by the Minister of Tourism. This document represents the first time in Canada that the two levels of Government and the Industry Association have attempted to direct tourism development in a manner which is consistent with agreed principles. The document is now being considered as a model by several of our sister provinces. In this Session of the Legislative Assembly, the Minister of Tourism and Parks also will unveil plans for the continued revitalization of our Provincial Park system. My Government has recognized that a network of well maintained and developed Provincial campgrounds and day use parks is of vital importance to our tourism industry, and also a unique source of community pride and activity. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: Prince Edward Islanders know that more is needed than material satisfaction, that quality of life is not always tangible, and that our intellect and our spirit also require nourishment. Because of this, we believe that Government has a fundamental responsibility to assist Islanders in their quest for a life that is healthy, secure, and intellectually and culturally rewarding. In our view, this is accomplished through social policies that are sensitive and mature, policies that minimize bureaucracy, and policies that arise out of a broad human understanding. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: Healthy living is seldom accidental; to a large extent, it involves deliberate choices about such things as diet, lifestyle, and environment. Obviously, my Government cannot make personal decisions for individuals but it can and will strive to maintain a clean and non hazardous environment, and to promote healthy living at every opportunity. Indeed, our approach to health care recognizes the need, wherever possible, to prevent illness and disease before it occurs. All of us know that an active physical life is an investment in good health, and the more we become involved in fitness related recreational activities, the longer and more productive our lives are likely to be. Two years from now young athletes from across this country will gather in Prince Edward Island to take part in the 1991 Canada Winter Games. Already, our own youth are preparing themselves for competition. It is my hope that these Canada Games will, above all, bring about an increased public awareness of the lifelong benefits to be derived from fitness, amateur sport and recreation. It is in this spirit that my Government will be introducing in the current Session of the Legislative Assembly, a special program of Community Recreation Facility Development. This capital program is designed to enhance the recreation opportunities of our rural families and communities. In conjunction with funding for the Canada Winter Games facilities, this program will be available, on a one year basis, to smaller incorporated communities and non profit organizations. My Government also is working with the West Prince and Three Rivers Industrial Commissions, and the Government of Canada, to establish indoor swimming pools and fitness centres at Mill River and Brudenell Provincial Parks. These facilities will serve the people of the Western and Eastern regions of the province on a year round basis. In addition, further improvements will be carried out this coming year to the facilities and services at Brookvale Ski Park. A new ski lodge is being constructed for both downhill and cross country, and other changes will be made to improve Brookvale as a winter family recreation centre. Along with these recreation initiatives, the Minister of Health and Social Services will continue his efforts in the area of health promotion and disease prevention. The Children's Dental Program, the Seniors Pharmacare Program, the Special Drug Assistance Program, the innovative Reproductive Care Program, the continually expanding Home Care and Support Program, and the recent initiative to study risk patterns of cardiovascular disease are examples of my Government's commitment to quality health care for all Islanders, but especially for our children and our seniors. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: Since its creation two years ago, the Hospital and Health Services Commission has assumed a long suited and necessary position of leadership in the Island's health care community. A new partnership has been forged with health professionals, community health needs are being discussed more openly, and the actual delivery of health care has been improved through good management. In the current year, the Commission will complete a review of the hospital's role in the health care system, with the intention of directing more services into community and home programs. Medical staffing requirements throughout the province will continue to be monitored. Work will begin toward the establishment of a Baccalaureate Nursing Program at the University of Prince Edward Island, and support to hospitals for the acquisition of new diagnostic equipment will continue. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: Each Island family is it's own unique community, providing both comfort and security. When our families are healthy and secure, so then is our province. However, it is a reality that many Islanders suffer from material and physical disadvantage. Government must be prepared, in these instances, to extend a helping hand on behalf of the larger Island family, to offer protection and security where there is none, and to manifest compassion without judgement or invasion of privacy. My Government is committed to this philosophy of social fairness, and to the strengthening of Island families. We recognize that the individual who is part of a healthy, well integrated family most often develops a sense of purpose and a feeling of belonging, is able to develop meaningful relationships, and can find his or her place in the community. However, this strengthening of family must always be a shared mission for government, carried out with churches, schools, and volunteer groups. When it seeks to adopt policies which reinforce the family, government must be prepared to listen, and to follow, before it ever attempts to lead. In coming months, my Government will introduce, on a pilot basis, a new Community and Family Strengthening Program. This Program will be directed toward reinforcing those characteristics which tend to sustain family and community characteristics such as caring, support, commitment, communication. The intention to assist and augment those efforts currently at work among the many volunteer, community and church initiatives across the province. In recognition of the seriousness of family violence, my Government will continue to provide financial support to the community based board which operates Transition House as a short term shelter for battered women and their children, as well as to other volunteer organizations which provide essential social services to Islanders . In previous Sessions of the Legislative Assembly, my Government introduced means to increase the availability and quality of day-care in the province. Those measures included the proclamation of a revised Child Care Facilities Act, the introduction of a new program of financial support to licensed child care facilities, and a significant expansion in the number of child care spaces across the Island. These efforts will be continued in the coming year. During the past year, the number of people who required welfare assistance has declined. This reduction is the result of a number of job training programs which were developed and delivered in order to enable welfare assistance clients to achieve more freedom and independence. The final Report of the Welfare Assistance Evaluation Committee will be tabled during this session of the Legislative Assembly. My Government will consider carefully its recommendation and take whatever action is necessary to remove the disincentives that are inhibiting individuals from achieving independence. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: There was a time in Prince Edward Island when the one room school house was at the centre of our small rural communities the educational and social core of our rural society. The one room schoolhouse, of course, no longer exists. In a very short period of time our system of education has been greatly transformed. Yet much remains of the spirit of the one room school house on Prince Edward Island. There remains a strong sense of caring, a sense of pride, and a feeling of belonging. Just as in the smaller one room schools, our new modern schools continue to instill in young Islanders an appreciation of their privileges and their responsibilities as members of a broader community. My Government is committed to ensuring that our schools continue to respond to the educational needs of individual Islanders, while at the same time reflecting the essential values and culture of the Island community. Accordingly, the Minister of Education has appointed a committee representing parents, teachers, school board members, and others to re examine the philosophy and goals of education on Prince Edward Island to ensure that they continue to serve the needs of our children and the needs of our communities. My Government feels it is essential that our young people learn of their own culture as well as that of others. All too often in the past, our school curriculum did not reflect ourselves, but rather people in some geographically or culturally distant land. It is important that we achieve some balance. That is why my Government, through the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs and the Department of Education, has been a strong supporter of the establishment of an Educational Publishing Fund to encourage the writing and publication of educational materials in the Maritimes, and to assist the further development of the regional publishing industry. Over the next year, the Minister of Education and My Minister Responsible for Culture will be working with their colleagues in the other Maritime Provinces to make the establishment of such a fund a reality. In this session of the Legislative Assembly, the Minister of Education will announce the completion of the High School Computer Program. The initiatives outlined in the Five Year Plan For Education which was introduced in this Chamber in the last session of the Assembly will continue to be implemented. In the area of post secondary education, my Government will be adjusting the Student Loan Program to further assist young Islanders attending University or College. We must ensure that higher education does not, once again, become a preserve of the well to do. My Government has also increased funding to maintain the quality of facilities and instruction at both Holland College and the University of Prince Edward Island. I'm sure all Members of this House join me in extending congratulations to the University of Prince Edward Island on the re opening of the newly renovated Main Building. The Main Building, which was at one time the embodiment of Saint Dunstan's University, stands as a proud and enduring symbol of higher education in this province. In the area of Vocational Education, the Minister will be tabling for the benefit of all Members of this House the report on the examination of the Province's vocational education system. New measures will be announced in order to implement many of the recommendations contained in this comprehensive and exhaustive study. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: The basis of all learning is surely the ability to read. Literacy, the ability to communicate and function in day to day life, is an essential prerequisite for economic development. Without it, we cannot advance scientifically, economically, or socially. Without it, we will lack real dignity, as individuals or as a community. During this session of the Legislative Assembly, the Minister of Industry will unveil a program which will assist the P.E.I. Literacy Council and other community groups to address adult literacy needs in Prince Edward Island. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: I have already spoken a great deal about Prince Edward Island's heritage and culture as a collective inheritance, and as a way of life that should be respected and celebrated. But government must not be passive in its approach to Island culture. A heritage needs to be preserved, cultural enterprise needs to be encouraged, and the arts need to be promoted and shared. In the past year, The Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs has carried out a review of policies in support of Island culture, and a Federal Provincial study has demonstrated the social and economic benefits of cultural activities. These planning initiatives will greatly assist my Government in determining future strategies for development of the cultural sector. Nowhere, perhaps, is Island Culture more visibly or spontaneously expressed than in the local variety concerts which take place across the province each winter. To assist community groups in presenting these concerts, the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs will be acquiring and making available, on a loan basis, portable sound and stage lighting systems. It is hoped this equipment will enable communities to enhance the quality of their cultural events. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: Housing construction has always been considered as an indicator of economic health, and a barometer of peoples' confidence in their future. Over the past three years, the large number and value of housing starts in Prince Edward Island has been unprecedented. Much of the increased construction activity has been in the rural areas of the province where the lack of mortgage financing has traditionally been a barrier to young Island families who may wish to maintain their rural roots. In 1987, my Government, through the Prince Edward Island Housing Corporation, introduced the Second Mortgage Loan Program to ensure that Islanders wishing to buy or build their first home in a rural area would have access to similar mortgage financing available to urban Islanders. In this Session of the Legislative Assembly, the Minister Responsible for Housing will announce the expansion of that successful program to make provision for all potential home buyers or builders wishing to locate in rural areas. This program, coupled with the changes outlined in the Rental of Residential Property Act, represents the creative use of Government resources to address needs which cannot be met by the forces of the free market system alone. My Government remains committed, in both philosophy and deed, to the provision of comfortable and affordable housing for low and modest income Islanders. The Minister of Transportation and Public Works will announce a number of major capital projects for the coming year. Renovations, additions, or extensions will be completed at East Wiltshire Junior High School, Elliot River, Tracadie Cross, St. Theresa's and Glen Stewart Elementary Schools. As well, major renovations will continue at Birchwood Junior High School and construction will begin at Queen Charlotte Junior High School and Colonel Gray Senior High School. In the current year, planning and design work will be completed for the construction of a new elementary school in the Rustico area, and for extensions, additions, and renovations at Charlottetown Rural High School. A new building will be constructed in Tignish to accommodate a sign shop for the Department of Transportation and Public Works. As well, a new Queens County Maintenance Depot for the Department of Transportation and Public Works will be constructed in the North River Cornwall area. Major renovations will be undertaken at the Summerset Manor and the Prince County Jail in Summerside. In addition, the construction of the Food Technology Centre and the facilities necessary to host the 1991 Canada Winter Games will be completed during the next fiscal year. In keeping with my Government's commitment to community health care, renovations, additions and extensions will begin at the Community Hospital in O'Leary and the Western Hospital in Alberton. More than 100 new family and senior citizen housing units will be constructed in Souris, Tracadie Cross, Charlottetown, Summerside, Montague, and St. Louis. Many of these will be built in partnership with the Federal Government and non profit community organizations. In the area of highway construction, approximately sixty kilometers of pavement will be strengthened in various locations across the province. Forty kilometers of new construction will also be carried out on sections of the arterial road network, and another twenty two kilometers of asphalt surfacing will be completed in the coming fiscal year. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: Whatever their political affiliation, Prince Edward Islanders are great democrats. Perhaps it is a legacy of our colonial struggle with the injustice of a feudal land ownership system that we are vigilant in our insistence on fairness, equality, and justice for all. We demand this in our personal relationships, and expect no less in our relationships with Government. My Government has strived to fulfil this expectation of the people it represents. In the past three Sessions of the Legislative Assembly, a number of measures have been introduced which guarantee, through statute and the rule of law, equality and justice for all Islanders. My Government introduced the Pay Equity Act to ensure that Island women within the public sector are compensated fairly in the work place. My Government introduced the Conflict of Interest Act to provide guidance to Members of the Legislative Assembly. My Government also introduced an amendment to the Civil Service Act which guarantees political rights to most classified Civil Servants. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: In the tradition and spirit of this open approach, my Government has recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Prince Edward Island Union of Public Sector Employees to classify, under the terms and conditions of the Civil Service Act, a number of casual positions within government. A committee of senior government officials and representatives of the P.E.I. Union of Public Sector Employees has been directed to oversee the smooth implementation of the terms of the Agreement. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: My Government is awaiting the report of the Legislative Assembly's Standing Committee on Rules, Privileges and Private Bills which has been examining the P.E.I. Human Rights Act. In anticipation of the Committee's Report, my Government is announcing, now, its intention to introduce in this Session of the Legislative Assembly, an amendment to the P.E.I. Human Rights Act which will clearly define "political belief". Furthermore, my Government will ask this Assembly to approve a retroactive clause in the amended act which will allow all Islanders who have filed complaints under the "Political Belief" provision to have their cases heard by the Human Rights Commission. This will include all Islanders who have felt agrieved and have filed complaints under this section of the P.E.I. Human Rights Act since its proclamation. These three measures, my Government believes, will contribute significantly to the elimination of political favouritism in the politics of Prince Edward Island. Its final elimination will only be determined by the individual and collective will of the Members of this Chamber. M. L'ORATEUR ET MEMBRES DE L'ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE: Mon gouvernement reconnaît l'importance de la contribution des Acadiens à la vie intellectuelle, économique et culturelle de l'Île du Prince Édouard. Cependant, par le passé, les programmes et les services gouvernementaux ne tenaient pas compte de cette contribution. C'est pourquoi, en 1987, mon Gouvernement a approuvé une politique permettant aux francophones de l'Île d'avoir meilleur accès aux services, aux programmes ainsi qu'aux emplois dans la Fonction publique. Par la signature de l'Entente cadre sur la promotion des langues officielles conclue avec le Gouvernement du Canada, mon Gouvernement a pu mettre en oeuvre un certain nombre de mesures qui donneront aux francophones un meilleur accès aux services gouvernementaux. Grâce à la construction d'un Centre scolaire communautaire pour la région de Charlottetown, on s'assurera que la langue et la culture francise continueront d'enrichir notre Province. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: My Government's most intimate intergovernmental relationship is with the many Municipal and Community Governments across Prince Edward Island. We work in partnership to ensure the development of policies and programs for the betterment of our entire Island community. My Government salutes the many Island men and women who so generously volunteer their time and talents to local government in the interests of their communities. Over the past three years, my Government has also worked closely with the Government of Canada to address the needs of Islanders. The close working relationship which has developed has resulted in a number of joint undertakings and cost-shared agreements. My Government will actively pursue continued mutual development opportunities with the Federal Government. An important vehicle for those opportunities is a renewed package of Economic and Regional Development Subsidiary Agreements, which my Government plans to conclude shortly. These agreements will reflect this province's priority interest in agriculture, transportation, fisheries and aquaculture, energy, tourism and culture. Prince Edward Island also plays an important part in the development of the entire Atlantic Region. Through regional organizations such as the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers and the Council of Maritime Premiers, my Government is able to raise and discuss issues which are of mutual concern throughout the region. One such concern, and one which my Premier will ask his colleagues in the Council of Maritime Premiers to jointly consider, is Canada Post's intention to close a number of rural post offices in the region. My Government feels that rural post offices are an essential element of rural life and form an integral part of the strategic infrastructure upon which community development can take place. In the spirit of the Resolution approved by this Assembly at our last Session, My Premier will raise this issue with the Premiers of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick through the Council of Maritime Premiers, and with the Premier of Newfoundland through the Newfoundland Prince Edward Island Premiers' Agreement on Small Scale Renewable Resource Development. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: In addition to the measures already outlined, you will be asked to consider a number of legislative proposals including: - a new Gasoline and Fuel Oil Act - a new Pension Standards Act - a new Fisheries Act as well as amendments to; - the Apiary Inspection Act - the Dairy Products Act - the Lands Protection Act - the Mechanics Lein Act - the Securities Act - and the Electric Power and Telephone Act You will be asked to appropriate the funds for the services and payments required by this Assembly. The Public Accounts and the reports of the various departments and agencies of my Government for the year ending March 31st, 1988, will be tabled for your information. The Interim Report, forecasting Estimated Revenues and Expenditures for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 1989, and estimation of revenues and expenditures for the fiscal year beginning April 1st, 1989, will be presented for your consideration MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: Above all else, a government must be mindful of its obligations to the people it represents. As members of the Legislative Assembly, you have the honour and the responsibility of representing the interests of all Prince Edward Islanders. That requires integrity, honesty, and decisiveness on the part of all who work in the service of the public. My Government has advanced for your consideration, and that of all Islanders a program which reflects our pride in the past while seeking new opportunities for the future. My Government believes that strong leadership, guided by an understanding and appreciation of the greater public good, is the expectation and the desire of all Prince Edward Islanders. May Divine Providence guide you in your deliberations. ??