Province Législature Session Type de discours Date du discours Locuteur Fonction du locuteur Parti politique Nouveau-Brunswick44e 2e Discours du trône 14 novembre 1961 M. Joseph LeonardO’Brien Lieutenant-Gouverneur PL Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Legislative Assembly, It is my esteemed privilege a Her Majesty's representative to extend greetings to you on this opening day of the second session of the 44th Legislative Assembly of the province of New Brunswick. The threat of armed conflict continues to hang as a dark cloud over the world. Our fervent prayers are constant that world statesmen of good will and abiding faith will prevail in their efforts for lasting peace. It is seemly in these times and in this place that we offer renewed evidence of the loyalty, devotion and affection that we have pledged to Her Most Gracious Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. The prayers of the Commonwealth accompany Her Majesty and his Royal Highness, Prince Philip, as they visit the troubled African Continent. Our deep affection for the Royal Family has been evidenced recently through messages of warmest congratulations to her Royal Highness, the Princess Margaret, and the Earl of Snowdon on the occasion of the birth of their son, Lord Linley. My government believes it expedient in the public interest that the precedent of last fall be followed by placing before you at this time legislation of an emergent nature. When you have completed your consideration of such legislation, it will be proposed that a recess be taken until early in the new year. In late May sudden torrential rains caused extreme flooding, principally in the valleys of the St. John, Nashwaak and Miramichi rivers. Heavy damage to property and loss of livestock was suffered by many of our citizens. Numerous highways and bridges were extensively damaged or destroyed. It was miraculous that there was no loss of human life. My government is deeply grateful for the warm-hearted generosity of both private and public donors throughout the nation whose contributions to the New Brunswick Disaster Fund helped to alleviate the grievous loss suffered by many of our citizens. My government is warmly appreciative of the deep and continuing interest of Lord Beaverbrook and Lady Dunn in the educational and cultural life of New Brunswick. Through their generosity a magnificent new theatre will rise in the months ahead on a site adjacent to this Legislative Building. World-wide attention has been focused on our province through their sponsorship of outstanding exhibitions of art at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in our capital city. The importance of such cultural and educational contributions to our province cannot be overemphasized. Visitors to New Brunswick exceeded a total of one and one-half million for the first time during the 1961 tourist travel season. Improved promotional efforts of the past year will be extended in order to further develop the almost unlimited potential of this industry. My government believes that the present and future welfare of our citizens and the economic development of our province are closely related to educational standards. Improved standards of teacher training are being developed through a two-year course now functioning for secondary, home economics, shop and commercial teachers. This program will be extended to include primary and intermediate teachers. A Royal Commission has been appointed and is now carrying out a comprehensive study of all aspects of higher learning in our province. The new Technical Institute in Moncton is in operation with instruction in many fields being given some 700 students. Plans are well advanced for the construction of several technical trade schools as part of a jointly financed federal-provincial program. With the assistance of both labor and industry, and with federal participation, the most extensive program of training and retraining for members of our labour force is now underway. A short-term, three-part program for training of the unemployed will provide training for full- time jobs, for upgrading the skills of seasonal workers, and for elementary reading, writing and arithmetic so that those in the latter category may prepare for more advanced training. A second program, in cooperation with industry, is designed to meet specific skilled manpower requirements in industry. Hundreds of workers have already acquired employment through five separate training plans under this program, which is expected to expand rapidly. Apprenticeship training is now being offered in 36 trades with more than 1,300 apprentices enrolled. An expanded federal-municipal winter works incentive program has again been accepted by the province. It is indicated that the number of jobs created will exceed that of last year. Following consultation with those directly concerned, a revision and consolidation of the Workmen's Compensation Act has been undertaken and appropriate legislation is in preparation. The Female Employees Fair Remuneration Act came into force on Sept. 1 and the new Elevator and Lifts Act was proclaimed on June 1. The conciliation and mediation services of the Labour Department were utilized extensively throughout the year and were instrumental in settling a serious strike in our rapidly expanding shipbuilding and repair industry. Although the number of new jobs in the province has again this year shown an increase, it has not been sufficient to absorb the increase in our labour force. Unemployment, both seasonal and chronic, continues to be a serious problem and measures to reduce its incidence are under constant study. My government is expanding and improving the public health services. Free medical and surgical care for hospital in-patients suffering from cancer is now being provided. A new 169-bed addition to the Provincial Hospital at Campbellton will come into service next summer. A child guidance service for the benefit of retarded children and their parents is being established at the Saint John Mental Health Clinic. Construction of a hospital training school for mentally retarded children is scheduled for 1962. An Advisory Committee on Hospital Services, representative of hospitals, the medical profession and the general public, has been established to assist in providing the highest possible level of hospital services. Modern facilities for the reformation and rehabilitation of wayward youngsters are presently being constructed to replace the now outmoded Boys' Industrial Home the effectiveness of improved probation service in the correctional program is evident and will be expanded. The serious problems that were encountered in the administration of the Social Assistance Act have been largely overcome and its provisions have worked beneficially on behalf of many of our less fortunate citizens. The newly established youth program is now taking shape and is being met with wide acceptance. A total of 514 students have received direct financial assistance through loans to enable them to attend universities or technical schools. Thirty scholarships have also been granted for postgraduate studies and in physical education, as well as four bursaries to persons studying for Master's degrees in social work. Progress is being made in the guidance and career counselling program and supervised recreational activities at provincial parks were participated in during the summer by more than 63,000 children and adults. My government has placed prime emphasis on the need for and means to encourage industrial expansion throughout the province, especially in secondary manufacturing. The resultant expansion of existing industry and the inauguration of new enterprise has been highly encouraging and the future outlook gives reason for optimism. Financial assistance to inshore fishermen for the purchase of boats is being provided on a greatly increased scale. The dragger building program is being continued. Arrangements have been completed for construction of prototype 85foot steel stern draggers that it is believed will initiate a new trend in fishing vessels in Canada. These vessels will be built in New Brunswick and will be the first of their type to be constructed on the Atlantic Coast. These measures, coupled with a broader educational program for fishermen and extensive experimental procedures in fishing methods, constitute an effective program for planned expansion of the industry. Unseasonably low temperatures retarded spring planting in most areas of the province. Precipitation in the northern counties was favourable to plant growth but a protracted dry midsummer period adversely affected crops in the southern counties. Programs to promote expansion of crops in tobacco, industrial starch potatoes, vegetables, and to stimulate growth in the livestock industry, are being actively pursued. A revised farm woodlot management program is now in operation and is being generally well received by farm woodlot owners. A more efficient soil testing service is being organized to meet the growing needs for accurate soil information by individual farms throughout the province. Appropriate means are being sought to meet the demands for additional farm credit created by the development of larger farm units. The Department of the Provincial Secretary-Treasurer is being reorganized to provide for improved efficiency and control in the financial operations of the province. Substantial amendments to the Audit Act will be submitted for your approval. A series of conferences for the purpose of negotiating continuing tax sharing arrangements between the federal and provincial levels of government has been concluded by the federal authority. The Government of Canada has declined to continue the existing tax rental agreements that will expire on 31st March 1962. The provinces are thus being compelled to re-enter the fields of personal and corporate income taxation. Legislation will be presented to meet these requirements, as well as to provide for an agreement whereby the Government of Canada may collect such taxes on behalf of the province. My government is giving its most serious consideration to measures that will facilitate improved driver education, motor vehicle inspection and financial protection of innocent victims of highway accidents. A comprehensive study of the vexing problems inherent in the control of the sale and use of intoxicating liquor has been conducted. The report of the New Brunswick Liquor Inquiry Commission has been made public and you will be asked to consider legislation based upon its findings and recommendations. My government is deeply concerned that recent developments were permitted to occur which marred the prospect for construction of the Chignecto Canal. Subsequent events have shown, however, that the people generally are united as never before in support of this vastly beneficial project. Negotiations for a comprehensive survey of all aspects of the project are being continued with the Government of Canada. My government has reorganized the Department of Public Works through a division of responsibility under two deputy ministers; one with responsibility for the highway and bridge program and the other buildings and related works. The secondary and branch highway system is being improved at an unprecedented pace to provide industry with ready access to markets and for the greater convenience and comfort of the traveling public. Satisfactory progress is being made under the Trans-Canada highway and roads to resources programs that are being jointly financed with the federal authority. Preliminary planning is underway for a new general administration building for departmental offices in Fredericton with a view to economy and greater efficiency in the public services. A commission with broad terms of reference will be appointed to inquire into all phases of provincial-municipal relations. There has been a long-standing need for such a study that will point the way to the solution of many problems at the municipal level of government. The new Assessment Manual and a Personal Property Guide have now been distributed and will come palities. These constitute the firm foundation upon which to build a uniform and realistic assessment throughout the province. Active interest in the control of water pollution has gained momentum and improved means for disposal wastes are being studied. The demand for both pulp and sawn lumber remains firm and woods operations are expected to continue at a high level. A new softwood veneer industry is under construction on the Miramichi and arrangements are well advanced for the establishment of other wood-using industries. Although the incidence of forest fires was not as great as last year, the 1961 season saw two serious out-breaks that caused heavy loss. Improved methods of detection and suppression of fires at the incipient stage in isolated areas are being closely studied. The peat moss industry is expanding, with one new company preparing for production in 1962 and two others conducting exploratory and development work on an additional 2,600 acres of peat bog. My government is firm in its determination that the rich mineral resources of the province will be developed and processed to provide impetus to our economy and a good livelihood for thousands more of our people. Arrangements have been made for the orderly development of an integrated mine, mill, smelter, chemicals complex to utilize the vast base metals deposits of the Bathurst Newcastle area. This program will place New Brunswick in the forefront of mineral development in Canada. Three major mining companies are now preparing for active production. Prospecting and exploration activity remains high in the northern sections and renewed interest is being shown in mineral prospects in south-western New Brunswick. Market conditions in the coal mining industry are a source of continuing concern. Every effort is being made to assist the industry in maintaining a high level of economic operation. The rapid growth in demand for electric power by industrial and domestic users is being provided for through an extensive program of new generating and transmission facilities. Preliminary work has been undertaken on the construction of a 60,000 kilowatt coal-fired unit at Grand Lake. Installation of the 40,000 kilowatt third unit at Beechwood is scheduled for completion next spring and the new 50,000 kilowatt thermal unit at East Saint John is now in production. An extensive mileage of transmission lines is now under construction and negotiations are underway for purchase of the transmission and distribution facilities of the Maine and New Brunswick Power Company that are located in the province. The Commission has successfully completed the purchase from Gatineau Power Company of its generating and transmission facilities in the province, including the hydrogenerating plant at Grand Falls. Contrary to the trend in other jurisdictions, rates to principal classes of industrial and domestic users were reduced on Nov.1. My government is confident that the human and material resources of New Brunswick are capable of providing a high level of economic prosperity and human welfare. It continues to be the prime purpose of my government to foster industrial growth as the nucleus of a planned approach to that desirable objective. Members of the Legislative Assembly, Measures for the reform of the law and improvement of the public services will be placed before you. The Public Accounts for the fiscal period ending the 31st day of March 1961, a statement of estimated revenues and expenditures for the current fiscal year and the estimates for the coming fiscal year will also be submitted to you. I now leave you to your tasks confident of your high resolve and with the prayer that Divine Providence may guide you in all you efforts to improve your province and advance the interests of all it people.