Province Législature Session Type de discours Date du discours Locuteur Fonction du locuteur Parti politique Nouveau-Brunswick 45e 5e Discours du trône 14 mars1967 M. John Babbitt McNair Lieutenant-Gouverneur PL Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Legislative Assembly, I extend warmest greetings and a sincere welcome to each of you on this opening day of the fifth session of the Forty-Fifth Legislative Assembly of the Province of New Brunswick. It is fitting at this time and in this place that we should reaffirm our allegiance to Her Most Gracious Majesty, Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada and Head of the Commonwealth. We rejoice that Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, will visit our province during this year of Canada's Centennial, permitting us to renew the treasured association our people have with Her Majesty. The ceremonies of this day are shadowed by the sudden passing of the Rt. Hon. George Philias Vanier, Governor-General of Canada. The second Canadian to fill the high office of Queen's representative in Canada, Governor-General Vanier brought outstanding gifts of mind and spirit to his duties. For more than 40 years he served Canada as lawyer, as soldier, as diplomat and statesman. He was a Christian Gentleman. The service of his years offers a demonstration of that patriotism which makes for greatness in a nation. Our sympathy and prayers go out to Madame Vanier and the family in this time of great personal sorrow. Some months ago, a change in the judiciary of the province was effected with the appointment of Mr. J. Paul Barry as a Justice of the Supreme Court of New Brunswick. The Legislative Assembly suffered grievous loss in July of last year in the death of Hon. Dr. Georges Dumont. Dr. Dumont rendered outstanding service to this province as Minister of Health. The warmth of his humanity and the sincerity of his concern earned him the respect and regard of all members of this assembly. The past year has seen the continued expansion and strengthening of the economy of New Brunswick. Our major resource industries achieved very considerable rates of growth and contributed to a marked improvement in the levels of income achieved by our people. After many months of planning and study, my government signed agreements with the federal government inaugurating the largest regional redevelopment programs ever undertaken in the history of the nation. Under these agreements, massive federal expenditures are being, joined to provincial programs to achieve the social and economic renewal of the northeastern area of our province and the area surrounding the Mactaquac hydroelectric development. My government is gratified that work is proceeding on the construction of the Northumberland Strait Crossing, linking New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. This vast project provides an immediate stimulus to our economy and will produce lasting commercial and communication benefits. During the past year, my government's policies have led to the strengthening of the commercial and industrial base of the economy. A major expansion of the services and programs of the New Brunswick Development Corporation has been launched under the direction of the recently appointed president and general manager of the corporation, Mr. James Addison. With the encouragement and assistance of the government, various industries have expanded and diversified their operations or have Achieved major contracts. New industries have been secured for the province, culminating in the $68 million hardwood pulp and paper mill to be built in the Mactaquac regional development area. My government is confident that further expansion of the forest and other resource industries is imminent. In recent months, my government has begun the process of implementing the measures to reform the structures and responsibilities of government, as approved by this assembly last year. These measures will ensure that an acceptable level of services, particularly in the fields of education, health, welfare and justice, will now be available to all citizens of our province. You meet now during the Centennial Year of the Canadian Confederation. New Brunswick was a founding partner in Confederation. Those who led us into the new nation were convinced that our province could not achieve its full potential if it stood apart from the union. They believed that the two great cultural groups of New Brunswick must work together within the new nation if we were to achieve the highest levels of human and social development and economic advance. On this occasion we would affirm our continued belief in our Canadian Confederation. We are conscious of what our nation has achieved in the past and what it is called to accomplish in the future. It is entirely appropriate that at this session of the Legislative Assembly you build on the achievements of the past, and the foundation that has been laid in the reform program recently enacted. You will be asked to give approval to measures that will constitute a comprehensive "Program for Citizen and Community". My government will place before you a Human Rights Act, to ensure that no citizen suffers discrimination by virtue of race, color or religion. It will be proposed that the Department of the Attorney General be designated the Department of Justice to more accurately reflect the changed and expanded roles of that department in the government and society of our time. My government believes that because of the comprehensiveness and complexity of government in modern society, it is important to secure for the citizen full protection against arbitrary or unjust action. For that reason, my government will place before you an Act to establish the office of Ombudsman. The increasingly broad range of activities of government also make it desirable that the documents of government be available to our people promptly, in both French and English languages. You will be asked, therefore, to make provision for the establishment of a Translation Bureau whose responsibility it will be to achieve the preparation of documents and statements in the languages of the two main cultural groups of our province. If it is the unanimous wish of the members of this assembly, my government is prepared to enlarge the responsibilities of the Translation Bureau to include the provision of a simultaneous translation service for this assembly so that both French and English languages may be used freely in the course of your deliberations. It is the view of my government that the revised National Housing Act makes it desirable that provincial Programs be developed to achieve the possibility of sound and proper housing for citizens of all income levels. My government will submit a White Paper an Housing to this assembly during the course of the session. You will be asked to approve a measure to create a New Brunswick Housing Corporation. It shall be the purpose of the corporation, by means of varied programs: (1) To achieve flexibility in our approach to housing needs and with respect to solutions; (2) To work with existing housing- authorities in the province for the sake of increasing the stock of public, subsidized housing; (3) To achieve housing programs that will meet the requirements and objectives of our northeaster and Mactaquac development agreements; (4) To devise and carry out housing programs that will be applicable to rural as well as to urban areas of the province. You will be asked to approve a variety of measures for the assistance and protection of the consumer. My government will propose truth-in-lending legislation, requiring the clear disclosure of interest rates and service charges in all credit transactions in the province such as loans, charge accounts and revolving credit accounts. You will be asked to approve a measure to protect the consumer against unconscionable transactions. Other measures will provide for the regulation of direct seller transactions and will establish a period during which direct sales contracts may be cancelled without penalty. It is the intention of my government to make provision for a consumer bureau within the Department of the Provincial Secretary. It will be the purpose of the bureau to maintain liaison with consumer groups throughout the province, to investigate complaints concerning marketing practices, and to encourage the development of retail practices that will be of benefit to the consumer and seller alike. My government is conducting studies on all aspects of securities legislation. You will be asked to make mandatory the insurance of deposits of financial institutions chartered in New Brunswick. In the Department of the Provincial Secretary, studies are under way to determine the changes in law or regulations that will ensure that a history of ownership be provided by the dealer to the purchaser of any used car sold in the province, and that used cars sold in the province be certified as to road worthiness. You will be asked to consider amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act that will, among other things provide for: (1) the safety of operators of and passengers on motorcycles by requiring the wearing of safety helmets; (2) part-year license plates for trucks and truck-tractors to be available to owners of such vehicles who wish to provide for licensing on a seasonal basis; (3) a License Suspension Appeal Board that may restore driving privileges in cases where hardship would otherwise result. Studies are being undertaken to provide for the awarding or "building-up" of points for new drivers. It is the intention of my government to amend regulations so as to require motor vehicle dealers to maintain bond security against improper or unethical practices, thus ensuring the protection of the motor vehicle industry and the public against fraudulent operators. As a result of extensive studies my government anticipates instituting a program of reflectorized license plates as a safety measure. It is expected that such plates will be provided in 1968 for vehicles registered in the province. My government is studying ways to increase the availability of driver education to the students of our secondary schools. A course for driver training instructors is being planned for this summer, to involve a minimum of 24 teachers from all parts of New Brunswick. In assuming full responsibility for welfare and health services in New Brunswick, my government is determined to provide for the orderly and essential improvement of these services. Already, action has been taken to improve the amounts paid under social welfare programs. The review of existing cases as well as the study of new applications has revealed the inadequacies and inequities of former programs and the improvements already achieved under the new program. In addition, action has been taken to provide health care service to those in receipt of social welfare assistance, which category includes those aided under former programs of social assistance and mothers' allowance. As part of its program for citizen and community my government will extend health care service to those persons in receipt of blindness and disabled persons' allowances and old age assistance by means of the schedules and programs of social welfare. Similar arrangements will also be made for certain persons in the lower income ranges who would otherwise find it impossible to secure health care for themselves and their families in emergency situations or periods of extended illness or treatment. These measures will assist many citizens pending the provision of a universal program of medical care service by July 1, 1968. Planning is actively under way to Provide for the universal medicate program, and to link it with the existing hospital care program, so that a comprehensive health care service will be available to all citizens of our province. As experience is gained in the alcohol education and community services section of the Department of Health, plans are being formulated to make available protected domiciliary and working situations for alcoholics, including recurring drunkenness offenders. My government is in full accord with the recently developed federal old age security and income supplement plan. This program will benefit some 25,000 older citizens of New Brunswick through the provision of a guaranteed annual income. By means of the schedules and programs of social welfare, my government is in a position to provide income supplement assistance to those persons age 65 to 68 years, who now benefit under old age assistance programs. This arrangement will enable my government to be of service to many hundreds of our citizens during the period of years that will be required to make the federal old age security and income supplement plan operative at age 65. My government is committed to the rapid improvement and modernization of educational services and facilities in this province. Provision will be made for a major program of school construction, including technical and vocational schools utilizing both federal and provincial funds in large amounts. My government will propose amendments to the Education of the Blind, Deaf, Mute and Deaf Mute Persons Act so as to make possible the establishment of preschool classes at various centres in the province. These amendments, together with programs of assistance that have now been developed, provide improved academic educational opportunities for qualified students in the province. It is clearly in the interests of the citizens and of the economy of New Brunswick that major attention be given to our programs of post-secondary education. It is also in the best interests of the province to involve leaders in our communities in the planning of programs and policies for post-secondary education of all kinds. Post-secondary education must be in tune with the needs of our society and economy, and responsive to them. Therefore, as part of the legislative program for citizens and community, you will be asked to approve a measure creating the New Brunswick Post-Secondary Education Commission. It will be the responsibility of the commission: (1) to channel greatly increased capital and operating aid to the universities; (2) to finance the operations and programs of the technical-vocational institutes; (3) to develop programs of bursary, scholarship and student aid for post-secondary students; (4) to propose structures to provide representation from industry, labour and the local community on advisory boards for our technical and vocational training institutions. The Post-Secondary Commission will be guided in its work by representatives of universities, business and labour, as well as the Department of Education. You will be asked to approve a Regional Libraries Act that will provide for the financing and direction of this most essential community service. You will he asked to approve amendments to the Assessment Act to ensure that the province benefits equally with other provinces as a result of federal legislation providing for the taxation of railway property. Other amendments to the same Act will make improvements in the administration and application of the statute. You will be asked to approve amendments to the Municipalities Act to provide for more flexibility in representation on municipal councils; to provide for amalgamation and annexation procedure, and to provide for the election of advisory committees for local service districts, which committees will assist the minister in matters pertaining to such districts. In the field of community improvement and renewal, my government will propose an Unsightly Premises Act and an Automobile Junk Yards Act to correct unsightly and blighting conditions. These measures have been requested by citizen groups and municipalities and will be of great benefit to our communities. Under the Auxiliary Homes Act my government provides grants to build homes for the aged and special care institutions. With federal mortgage funds provided under the National Housing Act it is therefore possible to arrange all capital costs of such construction. In keeping with its concern to achieve local participation in the provision and administration of such services, my government will encourage and assist local boards or community groups to build such facilities. The members of the boards will be drawn from the community served by the institution. You will be asked to consider a new Act respecting the Lord's Day. My government will place before you a new Elections Act. You will also be asked to make revisions to constituency boundaries and to the numbers of constituency representatives in this assembly. The Minimum Wage Board has recommended changes in minimum wage orders in the province which will improve the earnings of our people. It is the intention of my government to require that persons employed on projects financed by the government shall be paid at a rate that will not be less than $1.35 per hour. My government believes that it has a responsibility to encourage, by means of such decisions the improvement of wage levels in the province. My government is awaiting the report of the commission appointed to study the conditions of employment, including collective bargaining arrangements, for those in the public service, and those who are employees of hospitals and school boards supported from the Consolidated Fund of the province. Members of the Legislative Assembly, it is also the intention of my government to provide for ongoing and expanded programs in the fields of public works, agriculture, natural resources, fisheries and power development. Today the formal opening of the Centennial Building has taken place. This great $7-million project is an attractive asset to our provincial capital and has made possible a most desirable coordination of the offices and services of government. It is a most worthy provincial Centennial project. Last year, the Department of Public Works completed one of the largest programs of road construction and maintenance in our history. This year, in the field of highway programs, my government intends: (l) to carry out further construction of the Trans-Canada Highway, so as to complete all grading work and bring the project within one year of surface completion; (2) to begin upgrading of older portions of the Trans-Canada Highway so as to complete this work as required under the program dates established by the federal government; (3) to inaugurate a major program of arterial highway reconstruction that will bring our arterial highways up to Trans-Canada Highway standards. This program is of great importance to the economy of our province and will contribute much to our commercial progress. My government has been engaged for some months in negotiations with the federal government regarding the financing of this program. The Department of Public Works has arranged for the services of a safety officer to ensure high standards of safety for construction workers and for the travelling public in project areas. Last year, under the Farm Credit Corporation Assistance Act, loans to the extent of some $3,500,000 were provided to New Brunswick farmers. The program was double that of the previous year. Under the Farm Adjustment Act passed at the last session, the province will make loans available for the purchase of farms, the acquisition of additional land, the erection of farm buildings and the purchase of necessary equipment and livestock. My government will assist farmers to achieve desirable consolidation of land units, resulting in more economic and productive farms. My government will continue hog and fowl production programs that have achieved most beneficial results in the past year. Further encouragement will be extended to farmers in the production and marketing of forage and grain requirements, thus reducing production costs. Strong efforts will be made by the Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the New Brunswick Development Corporation to develop agriculture-based industries that will provide greater economic and market stability for our farmers. Vocational training programs are to be expanded again this year to keep farmers and potential farmers abreast of the most modern methods and techniques in the farming industry. The same is true of the fisheries training programs developed by my government. The fisheries training facilities at Caraquet are used to capacity and my government has now arranged for additional personnel and space to provide for further expansion of these most vital training programs. Last year, total landings of fish and shellfish increased 15% over those of the previous year. In a three-year period a 46% increase has been achieved. During the coming fiscal year, my government will make available over $3,500,000 to the Fishermen's Loan Board for the financing of about 100 new vessels of various types. My government is determined to work closely with the fishermen of the province to achieve that expansion and modernization of this industry that will provide great economic benefits to the fishermen and to the province as a whole. The department will also provide new programs and services for the large number of inshore fishermen so as to improve their financial position and standard of living. My government will cooperate with the federal Department of Fisheries in a series of projects to introduce more efficient techniques to locate new fishing grounds and to utilize species not previously exploited on a commercial basis. My government is assisting the development of new fisheries industries in Charlotte County and will work for further expansion of the processing industry in all parts of the province. To further the economic progress of our province, my government is committed to the sound and full utilization of our natural resources. The new pulp mill to be located at Nackawic will lead to a most desirable utilization of our great hardwood resources. The growing requirements for wood fibre make it desirable to achieve the maximum use of ours forest lands. The Department of Natural Resources will therefore proceed with an expanded program of reforestation of those areas which are presently nonproductive. New Brunswick has large reserves of bituminous shale which are receiving considerable attention due to the development of a new processing technology. To provide for the orderly development and exploration of this resource, legislation will be introduced to provide the necessary framework for its efficient exploitation. To provide for the necessary training of the people of the province to participate in development of our mineral resources, an instruction course for prospectors has been instituted in the Bathurst area. This program will be expanded to other centres in the province to familiarize interested persons in the techniques of modern exploration methods. Growth of demand for outdoor recreational opportunities continues to increase and requires continuing expansion and improvement of development and management programs for the best use of this most important provincial resource. More and better angling opportunities are being provided to New Brunswick anglers, with special attention given to the acquisition of fishing rights for public use, accessibility, and sound management programs . A province-wide deer study is almost complete and changes in the rules and regulations are contemplated so that each section of the province will derive maximum benefits in hunting opportunities. Attendance figures for provincial parks in 1966 show a 30% increase over the previous year. Facilities are being expanded and improved to accommodate this increasing demand. My government is proceeding with the development of the Mactaquac Park. This is the first large recreational park to be built by the province. Easily accessible from all parts of the province, the park will feature both summer and winter activities and will do much to extend our tourist season into the winter months. Another record year for the New Brunswick Travel Bureau was experienced in 1966, and existing promotional and advertising programs will be intensified. The New Brunswick Electric Power Commission continues to provide improvement of service and increases of energy resource to the province. A third 100,000 kilowatt generating unit was added to the Courtenay Bay plant last year. A fourth unit of equal size is now under construction and will be commissioned this year. Progress at the Mactaquac hydro plant site will ensure the completion of three 100,000 kilowatt units by 1968. The first unit of the new Dalhousie station will be completed and operating by 1969. The Power Commission's farranging development of energy sources and interconnections with other power systems is essential to our industrial and commercial development. My government will continue to encourage the Commission in this task. The program for citizen and community which I have outlined will ensure worthy achievements by this assembly in our nation's Centennial Year. My government is committed to the economic and social renewal of our province until we achieve for all our citizens fully Canadian standards of services and opportunities. The present program of my government is intended to carry forward this necessary work. The Public Accounts for the fiscal period ending the 31st day of March 1966, a statement of the estimated revenues and expenditures for the current fiscal year and the estimates for the coming fiscal year will also be placed before you. Measures for the reform of the law and improvement of the public services will be placed before you. I now leave you to your task, confident of your high resolve to advance the progress of our people. May Divine Providence guide you in your deliberations.