Province Législature Session Type de discours Date du discours Locuteur Fonction du locuteur Parti politique Nouveau-Brunswick 48e 1re Discours du trône 11 mars 1975 M. Hédard Joseph Robichaud Lieutenant-Gouverneur PC Mr. Speaker and Hon. Members of the Legislative Assembly, In the name of Her Majesty the Queen of Canada, I have the honour to welcome you to your duties in this first session of the Forty-Eighth Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick. In particular, I congratulate those members who have just taken the oath for the first time as members of this historic democratic assembly. At this session, you will be asked to begin legislative implementation of the program which my government placed before the people of New Brunswick at the 1974 general election. A program of this scope can be implemented in full only over a period of several legislative sessions. Its progressive implementation over this period will therefore require decisions as to spending priorities and careful attention to the financial resources available to the government in each year. This is of particular importance at a time of international economic problems and consequent severe strains on some New Brunswick industries. The present period of international economic uncertainty must not however, be an occasion to lose sight of our longer-term needs and objectives in economic growth. My government is determined to take every responsible step to ensure that New Brunswick industries which can contribute to our long-term growth do not fall permanent victim to temporary conditions beyond their control. Furthermore, the government reiterates its commitment to provide active leadership in industrial development. The government regards its involvement in this field as essential to the continued growth of our province and to the creation of the increased employment opportunities needed by our people. During this session, you will have full opportunity to declare yourselves on these policies, which my government considers vital questions of principle and of confidence. In 1974 the rate of economic growth in New Brunswick was higher than that of Canada as a whole; While there remain serious problems, my government is convinced that 1975 and the years immediately ahead demand a policy that is positive and expansionary. To such a policy, founded on confidence in New Brunswick, my government is fully committed. Initiatives designed to fortify the natural resource and agricultural base of our economy, and at the same time to expand business and employment opportunities for all our people, will continue to be taken. Implementation of recommendations of the Forest Resources Study has already provided a significant impetus to forest resource development. A new sawmill which will create employment for 200 people has been opened near Bathurst, and a plywood mill to create employment for 300 people will be under construction in the McAdam area this summer. Further expansion and modernization in forest industries is being planned by private companies with full regard for the policy and criteria set out by the province and in close cooperation with the government. Meanwhile, major programs in reforestation preparation of management inventories and silviculture will be carried out. Resource, industrial and multiple use programs undertaken over the past year in the pilot area will be continued and expanded to include all aspects of forest resource development. My government is also determined to adopt the same comprehensive approach to development of our total agricultural resource. Within two years the Agricultural Resources Study will have recommended measures to strengthen the entire farm economy. At this session my government will introduce a farm income assurance program to protect farmers in cases of extreme changes in prices for certain commodities. The crop insurance program is being extended to potato producers. Capital incentive programs are provided for in the General Development Agreement with the federal government for greenhouse crops, blueberries, vegetables, apples and livestock feed crops. Special financial and technical assistance is being made available to farmers who wish to take advantage of opportunities in dairy, sheep and beef production. Amendments to marketing legislation, including the Dairy Products Act, the Natural Products Control Act and the Forest Products Act, will be placed before you. Improvement in productivity and greater coordination between industry and government are also the objectives of fisheries programs currently under negotiation with the government of Canada. Meanwhile, the Department of Fisheries is negotiating doser cooperation with the Huntsman Marine Laboratory at St. Andrews for construction of fisheries training facilities nearby. Such facilities would contribute significantly to improvement of productivity of fishermen in the Bay of Fundy area. The feasibility of aquaculture operations which would use heated water to grow fish, shellfish and seaweeds in a controlled environment is being closely examined. New Brunswick will participate in the third session of the United Nations Conference of the Law of the Sea opening in Geneva next week. My government shares the concern of other Maritime Provinces about depletion of the living resources along the Canadian continental shelf resulting from increasing activity of other Maritime nations. New Brunswick, therefore, fully supports the concept of an economic zone giving sovereign rights to coastal states over their offshore areas extending to 200 miles or to the continental margin, whichever is greater, for the purpose of exploring and exploiting natural resources, as well as for preventing marine pollution and controlling scientific research. Efforts to strengthen ,he manufacturing industry where employment increased by some 2,000 last year, and to diversify the service sector where employment increased by some 3,000, will be actively pursued. A program of loans and loan guarantees for the tourist industry will be implemented in recognition of the current and potential importance that this industry has for the province. Meanwhile, substantial progress has been made in negotiations with the government of Canada leading to construction of the proposed Fundy Trail in conjunction with expansion of Fundy National Park. General expansion in our province has created an increase, much higher than the national average, in demand for electric energy. The government is proceeding with its program to increase generating capacity. The first unit of the Coleson Cove plant will be producing power in the autumn of 1975. Meanwhile, preparations for the start of construction of the Point Lepreau nuclear plant are well advanced. Letters of intent for the purchase of major components to triple the generating capacity of the Dalhousie station have been issued. This extension, at a cost of some $123 million, will add a 200,000 kilowatt unit to the plant. Field construction will begin in May of this year, and the construction work force will build up to more than 700 during the peak construction period. The New Brunswick Electric Power Commission has awarded a contract for the design and management of construction of causeways to the Keswick Islands with a view to improving the utilization of farm lands. The cost of energy and its conservation continue to receive the close attention of my government. Exploration for new coal deposits is being accelerated and studies are under way concerning the development of alternate sources of energy, including use of the vast peat deposits on the province's north shore. You will be asked to consider a new Oil and Natural Gas Act which will regulate exploration and production of this resource within New Brunswick and its offshore. My government has decided to proceed with construction at Saint John Deep of a docking facility which will accommodate ships of up to 80,000 tons. The New Brunswick Transportation Authority will be responsible for design and construction of this facility and for its management. The dock is expected to be in operation by December 1976. Present estimate of cost is $13 million, which will be shared by the provincial treasury, and by the New Brunswick Electric Power Commission whose requirements for imported oil at Coleson Cove can be shipped through this facility. My government is convinced that this initiative will not only help meet its needs in energy production in that area, but should provide an impetus to the longer-term development of Saint John Deep. Meanwhile, New Brunswick continues to be deeply involved in interprovincial and federal-provincial negotiations concerning supply, price, allocation of resources, and development of new sources of energy. In particular, the interests of New Brunswick and the Maritime Provinces will be upheld by my government at the First Ministers Conference next month in Ottawa where a national oil policy will be discussed. Economic progress is without meaning unless it makes possible the achievement of a more humane and equitable society. My government is therefore determined to use its taxation and social policies to help ease the burden of inflation rather than increase that burden. Accordingly, you will be asked during this session to begin the tax reductions to which the government is committed for its second term of office. This includes the phasing-out over four years of the provincial residential property tax and reductions in the provincial income tax rate. You will be asked to approve legislation to make prescription drugs available at no cost to citizens 65 years of age and over. This program will commence on October I of this year. The government will report to you on progress in the development of the ambulance service program, on the establishment of a permanent commission on alcoholism, and on the hospital construction program. My government is aware of the rising costs of automobile insurance to our citizens and the difficulties which some experience in obtaining suitable coverage. Accordingly, legislation will be presented at this session to provide for a new system of automobile insurance which will introduce compulsory no-fault coverage without restriction on the right to sue for personal injury. To ensure that New Brunswick citizens benefit from the lowest possible automobile insurance premiums, you will be asked to grant authority to the Board of Public Utilities to regulate rate changes in this industry. Adequate housing at reasonable cost remains a concern of my government. It is the goal of the government to add a minimum of 6,000 new units annuallY, which is the average production level of the past four years. In order to maintain this goal during these severe inflationary years, my government has increased, and will continue to increase, the portion of provincial funds spent on housing. The development budget of the New Brunswick Housing Corporation, that portion of funds invested directly in the housing process, will be over $9 million in 1975. The merger of provincial housing funds with federal programs will produce a total investment in housing of approximately $32.5 million over the next year. The Province's growing financial commitment to housing has produced several new programs, including the cooperative housing program. From a small pilot project in Saint John last year, this program will increase to 200 units in 1975 and will become in the future a major housing program throughout the province. The government will also continue to expand the provincially funded home improvement and direct construction programs. The provincial home improvement program will reach an activity level of approximately 1,000 loans this year, 200 of which will represent interest free loans to senior citizens. This does not include the government's commitment to build 1,500 units of senior citizen housing over the next five years. Of this planned production total, a significant number will be targeted for rural areas. Over the next year, my government will provide home ownership grants to about 450 New Brunswick families under the assisted home ownership program and the cooperative program. These grants will facilitate home ownership to families that otherwise could not afford such accommodation. It is the intention of the government to present again the Residential Tenancies Bill so that the new law amendments committee may continue the public examination of this legislation commenced by its predecessor. A special program on the occasion of International Women's Year will be undertaken by my government and the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission with the objective of promoting the involvement of women in the social, economic and cultural aspects of provincial life. My government will also lay before you amendments to the Workmen's Compensation Act which, among other provisions, will give equal consideration to women. Amendments to the Change of Name Act will have the same effect. You will be asked to give statutory recognition to six provincial holidays, including one new holiday, New Brunswick Day, to be celebrated on the first Monday in August. A program will be placed before you which will help expand the opportunities for employment open to persons and communities affected by long-term unemployment. This program will explore with employers and provincial and federal agencies all possible work and training potential that might be available, and capitalize upon this potential by encouraging and participating in job creation. It is expected that this program will be carried out in collaboration with the government of Canada's community employment strategy. Improvement in employment opportunities for individuals is closely tied to effective manpower and general education programs and their efficient administration. Through the Community Colleges Board and other provincial agencies, increased emphasis will be placed on improved manpower training programs both within institutions and in collaboration with employers. My government will propose the establishment of a school district boundaries commission charged with examining and recommending upon the most appropriate division of the province into school districts. Legislation will also be introduced to allow school districts wishing to amalgamate with contiguous districts to make such recommendations to the Minister of Education. Changes will also be proposed to the Fire Prevention Act, strengthening the involvement of the Office of Fire Marshal, consolidating some provisions presently in the Fireworks Control Act and the Hotels Act, and regulating the storage and handling of flammable liquids. My government continues to place a high priority on transportation matters and upon the improvement of facilities within the province. During the coming year, work on resurfacing of arterial routes will be accelerated and major activity will be undertaken on urban facilities within Saint John and Moncton. Construction continues on the highway between Campbellton and Moncton and the government of Canada has indicated its willingness to enter into a highways agreement which would provide, among other things, for completion of this highway. An important element of the 1975-76 transportation program concerns marine facilities. New ferries will be built for the White Head Island-Grand Manan route, and to replace the ferry now operating between the mainland and Deer Island. Improvements will be made to service between Lamèque and Miscou Island and between the Kingston Peninsula and Millidgeville. In addition, a major study is under way concerning the existing service between Blacks Harbour and North Head, and my government expects to consider substantial changes to this important link between Grand Manan and mainland New Brunswick. You will be asked to consider amendments to the Unsightly Premises Act, the Clean Environment Act, the Motor Vehicle Act, the Elections Act, the Real Estate Agents Licensing Act, the Motorized Snow Vehicles Act, the Closing of Retail Establishments Act, the Direct Sellers Act and the Executive Council Act. A pension benefit standards Act will be placed before you, with a view to establishing standards for private pensions plans and protecting employee contributions. Amendments to the Public Service Superannuation Act and the Teachers' Pension Act will be proposed to increase the annual "escalator" from two to six per cent. This will remove some of the hardship felt by present Civil Service pensioners whose real purchasing power has been severely constrained by high inflation; it will also alleviate the necessity of making large but infrequent adjustments in the future to protect the real value of public pensions. My government will introduce a new Companies Act, a new Probate Act, a new Bailiffs Act, and amendments to the Liquor Control Act. You will be asked to re-establish a Select Committee of the Legislature on Rural Life and Land Use to recommend measures related to retaining land in agricultural use, nonresident ownership, land development policy and planning, and social policy in regard to land use. You will also be asked to re-establish a Select Committee on Renewable Resources as formed in the fourth session of the Forty-Seventh Legislative Assembly, pursuant to the report of the Forest Resources Study. The White Paper on conflict of interest presented during the fourth session of the Forty-Seventh Legislative Assembly will be referred to the new law amendments committee for continuing public consideration prior to legislation. The public accounts for the period ending March 31, 1974, together with a statement of estimated revenues and expenditures for the current fiscal year and estimates for the coming fiscal year, will be placed before you. In addition, there will be an opportunity to consider and debate fully all special warrants approved during the past year. Members of the Legislative Assembly, the program to be placed before you in the coming weeks will require that you affirm your confidence in New Brunswick, in our capacity for economic progress and in the desire of our people to create a dignified and equitable human condition for all their fellow citizens. In leaving you now, I pray that Divine Providence may help you in these endeavors and bless all your deliberations.