Province Législature Session Type de discours Date du discours Locuteur Fonction du locuteur Parti politique Manitoba 28e 2e Discours du trône 7 mars 1968 Richard S. Bowles Lieutenant-gouverneur PC Mr. Speaker and members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba: I welcome you to the Second Session of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the Province of Manitoba. Since our last meeting we have had the privilege as Canadians of taking part in a great series of celebrations marking the hundredth birthday of our country. I believe that our pride in Canada and our confidence in the future of Canada have been greatly strengthened through the ceremonies which were held and the buildings and monuments which were erected to mark the hundredth birthday of our nation. As Manitobans we shall now be looking forward to the appropriate observance of our hundredth birthday as a province of Canada. Manitoba is indeed the eldest daughter of Confederation and many of the distinctive features of Canadian citizenship and of the Canadian character may best be understood in terms of the province of Manitoba. The Centennial year has been another year o-f sound progress across the broad spectrum of activity within the province. Personal incomes rose rapidly to record levels, the average wage recorded one of the highest increases on record, while at the same time a low level of unemployment was maintained. Economic expansion was sustained throughout most of the production sectors. The value of farm production was second only to last year's record level and output levels reached new heights in industrial production and in the service industries. Over the past year the province was host to the largest number of tourist visitors in our history. The Centennial activities throughout the province and the success of the Pan-American Games were the highlights of an outstanding year. Expectations for further progress in the coming year are based upon this evidence of continued growth. Despite the many uncertainties that confront us on the national and international scenes, my Ministers believe that we may face the year 1968 with confidence. My Ministers inform me that the remarkable growth of mining in northern Manitoba continues. In 1968 it is anticipated that the Birch Tree and Soab nickel mines near Thompson will be brought into production along with expansion of the open pit mine at Pipe Lake, Progress of work at the Fox Lake copper zinc deposits is reported, and production of copper from Osborne Lake mine in the Snow Lake area will begin. Mining exploration in the province will reach an all-time high, while oil and other mineral exploration in the vicinity of the Hudson's Bay holds continuing promise. The intensive forest inventory and road building program will continue in preparation for the expanded utilization of our widespread forest resource in northern Manitoba. My Ministers inform me that the present federal-provincial: fiscal agreement will expire on December 31, 1968. Preparations are now being made for a series of meetings with the Government of Canada leading to new arrangements for the period beginning January 1, 1969. My Ministers will insist that sufficient financial resources, be made available to provincial governments to enable them to discharge their constitutional responsibilities. Last year you were informed that administrative practices of the government were being reviewed. My Ministers report that this review is well advanced. It is expected that modern systems and methods will help to provide for better service at less cost to the citizens of the province. Conditions in the capital markets of the world have changed rapidly in recent months with resulting high interest rates. As part of the close examination of government costs, existing legislation and practices affecting the costs of the public debt are being intensively reviewed. As a result steps are being taken to revise our debt management policies. You will be asked to consider certain measures to improve those policies and to reduce the weight of these expenditures on the tax revenues of Manitoba. My government sees Manitoba's challenge as one of expanding the economic base of the province as rapidly as possible, and of increasing high productivity employment. In particular the objective is to provide employment for our people of a type sustaining rising incomes in rural and urban areas. Manufacturing investment has been at high levels in recent years and a number of important new industries have been established. It is significant that these industries, many of which are based upon agricultural resources, are heavily oriented to export markets, and will make a major contribution to Manitoba's export performance. To encourage growth of this type vigorous programs will be undertaken to investigate and explore new development opportunities. With members of the private sector, new sources of capital and technology will be sought out in Canada, Europe, Japan, and the United States. Enhanced export opportunities resulting from the Kennedy Round tariff negotiations will be pursued. My Ministers inform me that the work of the Commission to report on Targets for Economic Development to 1980 is under way. This Commiasion, which combines in its membership leaders in the fields of labour, industry, agriculture, university, government, and the general community, has the important task of evolving a program for the continuing economic development of Manitoba. It is expected that its report will be laid before you for your consideration in 1969. Notwithstanding the fact that agricultural production approached a value of half a billion dollars in 1967, serious problems of adjustment and of incomes rising from the cost-price squeeze continued to face our farmers. The agricultural programs of my government are designed to help people in agriculture to obtain their fair return for their labour and management, and these programs will continue to be available to the agricultural industry. You will be asked to approve recommendations designed to expand the existing farm management program. You will be asked to amend certain pieces of agricultural legislation, including amendments to The Dairy Act to deal with the matter of synthetic dairy products; to The Agricultural Credit Act in order to change its emphasis; to The Agricultural Societies Act to provide for increased grants to certain agricultural societies, and also to recognize one agricultural museum in Manitoba. You will be asked to consider amendments to The Horned Cattle Purchases Act to suspend the present penalty fee on horned cattle; and certain other pieces of legislation designed to improve the agricultural industry in Manitoba. As a result of referendums held during the year 1967, 40 of the 48 school divisions in Manitoba are now unitary divisions, These 40 divisions are receiving increased government grants under the foundation program. Since our last meeting, two new universities have received their charters. You will be asked to furnish increased financial support for all three universities. The new Manitoba Institute of Applied Arts will begin to operate in the fall of this year. My Ministers inform me that revision of the educational curriculum and a number of extensions and improvements of our educational system will be explained to you during the course of your deliberations. They also report that education in its broadest aspects continues to enjoy the highest priority among the objectives of government. Changes in The Manitoba Medical Services Insurance Act will be recommended for your consideration. My Ministers inform me that the Department of Welfare is involved in a reorganization of its services with the object of placing greater emphasis on preventative and rehabilitative programs. You will be asked to approve legislation permitting my government to enter into contracts with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to provide municipal policing services in towns and villages with a population of from 500 to 1,500. My Ministers will propose programs designed to maintain the high level of tourist interest and activity to which reference has been made and which make so vital and significant a contribution to our Manitoba economy. Recommendations will be submitted to you allowing for further development work at the Spruce Woods and Asessippi Centennial Parks while development work at the new Bird’s Hill Provincial Park will continue. My Ministers tell me that during the past year the Commissioner of Northern Affairs has overseen a number of projects designed to raise the level of local services in northern communities. The operations of this important northern agency will continue to provide improved government services for the citizens of the northern part of our province. My Ministers inform me that sufficient funds will be sought to permit the continuing improvement and expansion of the provincial road and highway systems. I am also informed that a development road from Lynn Lake to Hughes River has been completed and will be extended through to the Churchill River. Funds will be sought to allow the commencement of an extension of No.6 highway north from Grand Rapids. The Red River Floodway has been essentially completed and if required could be used this spring. Work on the Portage diversion and on the Shellmouth reservoir will continue this year as will the overall water conservation program. You will be asked to provide funds for the Housing and Renewal Corporation so that it may undertake programs in the fields of urban renewal and housing. You will be asked to consider legislation providing for condominium ownership of property. A new Local Authorities Elections Act will be brought before you for consideration. My government informs me that 1967 was once more a year of good labour-management relations in this province with only a small amount of time lost on account of strikes. It is my government's hope that these good labour-management relations will continue since they provide one of the essential factors for sound economic growth. Amendments to The Employment Standards Act will be introduced. I am informed that the driver testing and driver improvement program has been further expanded so that it is now available to most of the people of Manitoba. Further extensions will be made this year. It is the intention of my Ministers to place before you legislation designed to provide greater protection for securities investors and to impose new and broader disclosure requirements in relation to securities trading generally. My Ministers tell me that construction is under way on the new microwave radio system from Winnipeg to Gillam to meet the telecommunication requirements of Manitoba's northern developments and the Nelson River power project. This system, when completed, will carry live television to Fisher Branch, Grand Rapids, The Pas, Flin Flon, Snow Lake, Thompson and Gillam under arrangements completed with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Plant values of the Manitoba Telephone System now exceed $231 million and capital investment in the coming fiscal year will continue to meet the demand for System services and the provincial modernization program. It is reported by Manitoba Hydro that the southern interconnected system and the northern system, which were formerly two physically separate power grids, have now been interconnected so that it becomes possible to derive the full benefit of the two systems by the interchange of electric energy between them. Further expansion of the electrical system in the northern parts of the province will be accomplished by arrangements which have been made for Manitoba Hydro to acquire the generating facilities of Sherritt Gordon Mines Limited on the Laurie River, and for an interconnection of these plants with the existing system by means of a transmission line from Thompson. The arrangement provides that Manitoba Hydro by 1970 will supply all electric power requirements of the Lynn Lake residents and of the mining operations both at Lynn Lake and at the new mine being developed at Fox properties. My government will seek approval for certain amendments to The Electoral Divisions Act so that the decennial redistribution of constituencies may be proceeded with. Certain amendments to The Election Act which have already received the attention of the Legislative Assembly will now be brought before you for further consideration. The estimates of revenues and expenditures will be placed before you for your consideration. In leaving you I pray that Divine Providence may attend your deliberations and decisions.