Province	Législature	Session	Type de discours	Date du discours	Locuteur	Fonction du locuteur	Parti politique
Nouveau-Brunswick	47e 	2e 	Discours du trône	7 mars 1972	M. Hédard Joseph Robichaud	Lieutenant-Gouverneur	PC


Mr. Speaker and Hon. Members of the Legislative Assembly,

Welcome to the Forty-Seventh Legislative Assembly of the province of New Brunswick.

Important changes are being made in the central management agencies of the provincial government. A cabinet committee on priorities and policy is being established to provide for more intensive study, and for more effective planning and decision-making concerning the overall direction of government policies and programs. The necessary staff work for this committee will be provided by the Cabinet Secretariat.

The Treasury Board will be reconstituted and strengthened as the management committee of the cabinet, headed by a full-time minister, with responsibility for coordinating ongoing activities, preparation of budgets, improvement of personnel policies, and modernization of administrative organization and systems throughout the government. For this purpose amendments will be introduced to the Financial Administration Act.

The objective of all these changes will be to improve planning for the future and to ensure that the government's financial and human resources are combined more effectively to attain government objectives.

During the past year the government has completed a detailed study of certain central support services required for the effective operation of all government departments. As a result, there will be a complete reorganization of these services, including the establishment of a new Department of Supply and Services to replace the former Department of Public Works. The new Department of Supply and Services will be charged with providing those services which can be handled most effectively on a centralized basis, including printing, translation, and computer services.

At the same time, the government has adopted the sound principle of decentralizing the management of those services where the needs of a single department are large enough to justify its own facility. Accordingly, the Department of Health has been assigned total administrative responsibility for the new program of hospital construction, and the Department of Education is to become directly responsible for the design, construction and maintenance of public schools in the province. A new buildings branch will be set up in the Department of Education, to be fully accountable for completing buildings on schedule and within budget, and for maintaining buildings according to prescribed standards.

Substantial progress has been made in reorganizing the Department of Economic Growth so that it will be more effective in assisting industry and in supporting attainment of the government's foremost objective of increasing the number of viable, permanent jobs available to the people of our province. As part of this reorganization, you will be asked to consider changes in the structure of the Industrial Finance Board.

The government is also streamlining procedures for administering its construction contracts, and will introduce standard general conditions for such contracts effective on April 1, 1972. A revised system of bonding and security deposits has been introduced to allow smaller contractors to bid effectively on government contracts.

Under the sponsorship of the Council of Maritime Premiers, the three Maritime Provinces have agreed to work toward the elimination of obstacles which may restrict the ability of firms from one of the provinces to compete effectively for contracts and work in all three. This action will serve to create wider markets for our own firms, and to bring to our own taxpayers the benefits of keener competition for government contracts.

During the past year unemployment continued to be a serious problem in New Brunswick. The employment situation in northeastern New Brunswick deteriorated seriously, to the deep concern of all our citizens. There was a special debate on this subject at the fall session of the Legislature, and special employment measure have been adopted to deal with the situation on a short-term basis But the basic task must be to find permanent work for the population of this region; and to this end my government has worked vigorously to attract new industry and to reach new agreements with the federal government concerning the long-term economic development of the northeast. The government earnestly hopes that an effective agreement can be concluded, for this purpose in the near future.

The province has also been active in planning and negotiating with the federal government new agreements affecting the special areas of Saint John and Moncton, highway construction, the development of rural areas and resource industries, increased mineral exploration and mapping programs, and the joint financing of the province's extensive study of the long-term development potentials for our forest-based industries.

Because exports and imports play a strategic role in the economic life of our province, my government attaches a great deal of importance to improving transportation services and facilities. A new transportation policy division has been established in the Department of Economic Growth, and is already involved in a variety of transportation studies and projects. The Department of Highways is at work developing a five-year program for highway construction, so that improvement of our road network can proceed in an orderly fashion and in line with overall government priorities.

Legislation will be presented at this session to provide for establishment of a provincial transportation authority, to administer the major new provincial port facilities being constructed at Saint John, and possible new air and water terminals to be located elsewhere in the province in the future.

The government is increasing its efforts to protect and rehabilitate our environment for the benefit of future generations, and for our own enjoyment. Substantial additional resources will be devoted to preventing potential pollution problems before they arise, and to cleaning up existing situations wherever this is feasible.

Appropriate emphasis will be given to the further development of the tourism industry, including extension of the provincial system of year-round parks and recreational facilities.

During this session, you will be asked to take further action to extend civil rights and their corresponding responsibilities. The age of majority will be reduced to 19. The Jury Act will be amended to give women equality for service on juries.

The government is dedicated to the advancement of language rights, and to the enactment of practical measures to ensure that both francophone and anglophone citizens have the opportunity to participate fully, and equitably, in provincial life. As part of this continuing program, the government is strengthening its efforts to increase the number of francophones and bilingual persons in the public service. This goal has been given priority in the government's recruitment program for young university graduates entering the government service as management trainees.

The translation of statutes is proceeding, with a view to enactment and publication of a complete set of revised statutes in both English and French during 1973.

Legislation will be introduced to modify the existing expropriation law with respect to the costs which may be awarded in compensation proceedings, in order to facilitate access by a citizen whose property has been expropriated to the administrative machinery presently established for hearing claims. Other changes will ensure that the fullest consideration will be given to the effects which expropriation by a private corporation may have on private and public

In addition, the government is undertaking a comprehensive study of all aspects of the expropriation law, with a view to bringing about complete reform of this branch of the law as quickly as possible.	

The Department of Justice is undertaking two important studies of laws affecting the economic welfare of all citizens. The first study will review the law governing relations between landlords and tenants, while the second will examine consumer legislation, including the right and obligations of both buyers and sellers as well as the terms and cost of credit.

Improvements will be made in the administration of welfare payments. The payments system will he streamlined by reducing the use of vouchers and increasing the use of cash payments wherever feasible. This will reduce administrative costs, and enable professional staff to concentrate more of their efforts on the essential functions of counselling and rehabilitation.

The year 1971 was a record year for housing starts in New Brunswick, with a total of close to 5,000 new starts. Yet housing problems remain, and the government is intensifying its efforts to achieve the goal of decent housing for all citizens, at a price each can afford. Legislation will be proposed to provide home improvement loans for home owners of limited income. By conserving and improving existing housing stock, this measure will help to ease the future demand for new unit With the direct home ownership loan program introduced last year, the new home improvement loan plan increases my government's emphasis on assisted home ownership as opposed to subsidized rental arrangements for low income families.

Changes will be made in the Motor Vehicle Act, including amendments to permit a right turn on a red light; to permit the use of studded tires during winter; to license driving instructors, and to allow New Brunswick to implement the concept of one driver's license across Canada.

Greater attention must be given to protecting the public from industrial hazards. The Mining Act will be amended to formulate public safety standards for quarries, pits, and similar excavations. Changes in industrial safety legislation will be made to require approval of the design of all public buildings, to provide for the central administration of this legislation, with adoption of the National Building Code and a more adequate inspection service.

Legislation will be introduced to allow establishment of a real estate council, and to provide an educational program and licensing requirements for those engaged in the real estate industry.

Important steps will be taken to further strengthen the role of local government, and to make it more responsive to changing needs. These measures take account of many of the views expressed at the Provincial-Municipal Conference which my government convened in Fredericton in December.

A special task force is being established to review and to make recommendations to the government concerning the current system of grants to municipalities, the integration and consolidation of services, the tax base and exemptions, the cost of utility services, and other matters. The task force, which will consist of senior provincial government officials, will consult with the organizations representing the cities, towns and villages.

To provide a more permanent base for consultations with local government, the government is prepared to establish a continuing provincial-municipal secretariat, under the direction of a council consisting of both provincial ministers and municipal mayors and councillors. The council and secretariat will be able to examine basic issues affecting provincial-municipal relations, and will lead to a better appreciation of each other's problems and points of view.

The government will also introduce at this session a completely new Community Planning Act, which will provide for the designation of planning regions throughout the province, adoption of regional development plans, and greater coordination between the planning of both provincial and local levels of government.

My government accepts that the boundaries of municipal government units must change from time to time to reflect the movements of population, and the consequences which decisions taken by one municipality may have for neighbouring units. This is particularly true with regard to roads, housing, recreational services, industrial development, pollution abatement, water and sewerage services. My government is developing a comprehensive policy concerning future amalgamations of municipal governments in New Brunswick.

The Department of Education has appointed special advisors to help work out arrangements for the merger of the teacher-training programs of the province's universities and teachers colleges. It is anticipated this merger will take place in the fall of 1973, and will result in a four-year degree program for future teachers in New Brunswick.

The Department of Education is also initiating the development of a voluntary testing program for adults, which allows those who obtain a satisfactory score to receive a diploma of high school equivalency. In this way citizens who could benefit from such a formal certificate will be able to gain recognition for work and education received outside the regular school system It is intended that these tests will become available in 1974 in English and French.

Consideration is being given to a proposal by the Higher Education Commission for establishment of a single community college board for the province, to manage a much needed expansion of technical and other forms of postsecondary education that offer a practical and rewarding alternative to university studies for those students who prefer such courses.

The maximum financial assistance through loans and bursaries available to all needy students at the postsecondary level will be increased to S2,100 per student per year.

Planning is proceeding for the establishment of a single higher education agency to help plan and finance all postsecondary education in the three Maritime Provinces in a coordinated and integrated manner.

The government's new hospital construction program is proceeding on schedule. Under this program, new hospital facilities will be provided for Moncton, Fredericton, Edmundston, and Saint John. This will constitute an important step in the development of integrated health care services for the people of New Brunswick.

The Study Committee on Alcoholism is currently completing its in-depth study of the problems of alcoholism, from the points of view of prevention treatment and rehabilitation of alcoholics. The committee's report will be tabled during this session.

The government is pleased that a postgraduate medical education program has been developed m a major hospital centre in the province. Located in Saint John, this program is affiliated with the Dalhousie University Medical School and will contribute in an important way to the provincial health care program. 

The government is continuing its efforts to modernize and strengthen the fishing industry. Particular emphasis is being placed on ways to exploit the trend toward increased consumption of high quality fish and shellfish products in the richer nations of the world. The Department of Fisheries is extending its fisheries training program to include supervisory personnel in the province's fish processing plants, so that our products will be able to hold their own in the quality-conscious markets of the future.

Programs will be developed to improve the production and marketing of New Brunswick potatoes. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development IS working in close cooperation with the recently organized New Brunswick Potato Industry Committee in developing policies designed to strengthen the position of potato farmers in the province.

Several Important changes will be made in pension legislation payments to retired public servants and teachers will be increased to protect them against the effects of inflation. In addition, the option of early retirement will be provided to senior executives in the public service who have had long service and wish to retire, but who in the past have been unable to do so because of loss of pension benefits. This will bring the province's policy more closely in line with prevailing practices in industry.

A comprehensive and independent study of the salary and expense arrangements for cabinet ministers and members of the Legislative Assembly has been completed by a citizens committee. Measures to implement their recommendations will be presented for your consideration.

During the past year committees of the Legislature have carried out studies of natural resources, and of agriculture and rural life in New Brunswick. Their reports will be placed before you.

Over the past year, the federal government has initiated major changes in the field of taxation. As a consequence of these changes, legislation will be introduced to provide for corresponding changes in provincial income tax legislation and to enact a provincial succession duty and gift tax.

In keeping with the principle of introducing greater fiscal accountability, the government will bring forward a special Appropriation Act and supplementary estimates containing all special warrants passed since last April 1. A full opportunity will be provided for debate of these supplementary appropriations.

The public accounts for the fiscal period ending 31 March 1971, a statement of the estimated revenues and expenditures for the current fiscal year, and the estimates for the coming fiscal year will be placed before you.

Members of the Legislative Assembly: As I leave you now to your deliberations, I am confident that you will approach the task of building a better future for the people you represent with energy and dedication.

May Divine Providence guide you in your deliberations.