Province Législature Session Type de discours Date du discours Locuteur Fonction du locuteur Parti politique Nouvelle-Écosse 48e 1re Discours du Trône 6 Février 1964 Henry P. Mackeen Lieutenant-gouverneur PC Nova Scotia: Speech from the Throne, First Session of the 48th General Assembly, February 6th, 1964 I am pleased to welcome you to this, the First Session of the 48th General Assembly convened in the Province, and I extend my best wishes to each of you, especially to those of you who have become Members of the House of Assembly for the first time. The Conference of Premiers of the Atlantic Provinces was held during the year at Fredericton, New Brunswick, and matters of mutual interest and concern were discussed. My Government was host this year to a Conference of the Premiers of Canada. This was the first meeting in Nova Scotia of the Premiers of the Canadian Provinces. The Conference afforded an opportunity for discussion of common problems and the exchange of ideas as to the manner in which each Province can contribute to the building of a greater Canada. My Government participated in the Federal-Provincial Conference at Ottawa called by the Federal Government in November last to discuss fiscal and related matters throughout Canada. It is expected that the adjourned Conference will resume shortly. The financial consultants appointed by my Government have indicated that the study of federal, provincial and municipal taxation being made has proved more complex and far reaching than was at first anticipated and they advise with regret that it cannot be satisfactorily completed to be laid before you at this Session of the Legislature. The provincial economy as a whole is showing increasing strength and new activities in manufacturing are especially encouraging, but economic expansion and the related problem of automation remain a challenge for my Government and the people of Nova Scotia. The program of Voluntary Economic Planning begun by my Government to increase the rate of economic growth and employment in the Province has continued to develop satisfactorily. During the past year five of the ten sectors of the Provincial economy have been organized and it is anticipated that organization of the remaining sectors will be completed during 1964. More than 950 people attended the five organization meetings of the sectors now in operation and 230 people, in addition to those in the Government service, are now actively engaged in examining those sectors of the economy and preparing plans for the future. The Nova Scotia Voluntary Planning Board has been appointed and has begun its consideration of the sectors of the Provincial economy. Its work should be well advanced before the end of the year. Industrial Estates Limited has had a year of remarkable success in attracting industry to Nova Scotia. To enable Industrial Estates Limited to increase its assistance towards the economic growth of the Province you will be asked to consider legislation to amend the Industrial Estates Act and to increase the capitalization of that Company. My Government has discussed with the Atlantic Development Board measures to develop further the economy of the Province. These discussions will continue. As we mark the 100th Anniversary of the establishment of the free school system in the Province, my Government wishes to emphasize the importance of education to the future of our Province, and the great effort that will be required to provide sufficient resources to support an adequate program. Recognizing that the provision of a continuing supply of well trained and enthusiastic teachers is of paramount importance, my Government introduced on August 1, 1963, a new and materially higher scale of teachers' salaries, toward which substantial grants will be paid by my Government. All local school boards have agreed to these new salary scales which will be further increased on August 1st of this year for teachers with high professional qualifications and long service. You will be asked to vote the additional sums required for this improved salary scale. The broadened high school program introduced in 1961 is now being offered in fifteen of our high schools. Since careful guidance and counseling is essential to the success of such a program, special summer courses for guidance counselors will be initiated at the Nova Scotia Summer School in 1964. These courses will enable more of our high schools to take advantage of this broadened program. Students who began the program in 1961 wrote provincial examinations in 1963 and of those who wrote, 71.3 percent were successful in obtaining pass certificates. My Government proposes to establish a new trades school in Cape Breton, and to enter into discussions with municipal governments towards additional vocational high school facilities in the Province. My Government proposes, in co-operation with the Government of New Brunswick, to build a vocational training school at the Interprovincial School for the Education of the Deaf at Amherst. The University Grants Committee established by my Government has completed a report on higher education in Nova Scotia and this report will be laid before you. This Committee has recommended to my Government an increase in university grants for the coming fiscal year which you will be asked to consider. The work of this Committee will continue. Following the changes made last year in the Foundation Program my Government has noted a substantial improvement in the relations between teachers' organizations and school boards in the negotiation of new contracts on salaries and working conditions. At the joint request of the Nova Scotia Association of Urban and Municipal School Boards and the Nova Scotia Teachers' Union, legislation will be presented for your consideration for the establishment of Boards of Reference to consider disputes arising from the termination of teachers' contracts. Plans for the commemoration of the Centennial of Confederation are being considered by the Confederation Centenial Celebration Committee. The Government of Canada has proposed to contribute to the erection of a centennial memorial to be built in the provincial capital. My Government has recommended a medical science building as an appropriate centennial project within these terms. My Government is reorganizing the Department of Agriculture and Marketing in order that the best possible deployment and use may be made of the personnel of the Department so as to give improved assistance to our farmers. The courses of study offered at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College are being revised to provide wider educational opportunities in the field of agricultural education. You will be asked to consider an amendment to the Land Settlement Act to enable farmers to borrow for the purchase of additional land without necessarily involving the farmer's home farm in the purchase agreement. My Government proposes to make available under the ARDA program assistance for the construction of roads to farm woodlots. These roads will serve a two-fold purpose, that of opening up the farm woodlots themselves, and also give access roads to timbered areas. You will be asked to consider legislation to establish a Department of Fisheries. My Government proposes to appoint a Minister, a Deputy Minister and an appropriate staff for this Department. Employment in the coal mining industry continues to be a matter of concern, although the market for coal appears to have become more stable. The prospects now appear favourable for a program of training for miners to upgrade their technical skills, with the cost of such program to be financed jointly by the employer and the Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia. Preliminary figures for mineral production in Nova Scotia in 1963 indicate a gain of 9.2%. Expenditures on exploration reached a record high. My Government recognizes the growing need for recreational resources within our Province. Additional picnic areas and campsites will be developed. My Government is now acquiring the lands to constitute a second National Park now being established in western Nova Scotia. It is anticipated that this park will strengthen further our tourist industry as well as provide a recreational area for our people. My Government will continue its efforts to secure improved ferry service between western Nova Scotia and New England. You will be requested to vote funds to establish an office in Montreal to promote tourism and business in our Province. You will be asked to consider a Bill leading to the initiation of fire hose coupling standardization so as to make fire-fighting equipment throughout the Province interchangeable in the event of any emergency. During the past year the Nova Scotia Power Commission again reported a record rate of growth which exceeded the national average of seven percent. The Canada Electric Company has been formally wound up and the area formerly served by that Company is now designated as the Cumberland System of the Commission. Since April 1st, 1963, electric service at standard rates has been available to customers in Cumberland County. Effective December 1, 1963, the Nova Scotia Power Commission purchased the assets and undertakings of the Pictou County Power Board which services most of the County of Pictou and supplies approximately 11,000 customers. This will bring the total customers served directly by the Commission to nearly 55,000. During the coming year the Nova Scotia Power Commission proposes a major capital program to provide for the more effective integration of the electrical systems in both Cape Breton and western Nova Scotia with existing high voltage facilities of the inter-provincial grid. The Commission is now making arrangements necessary to meet undertakings given to supply steam to the heavy water plant in Cape Breton. The Nova Scotia Water Authority appointed pursuant to the amendments made to the Water Act at the last Session of the Legislature has embarked on a program for the preservation and allocation of water resources and for the control or elimination of pollution. It is the intention of my Government to complete fine Trans Canada Highway in Nova Scotia as rapidly as possible, and to proceed with the reconstruction of congested sections of other arterial highways. Engineering studies are proceeding regarding highway by-passes of the towns of Amherst, Oxford, Truro, Windsor, and the City of Sydney. Heavy emphasis must be placed again this year upon the resurfacing of old pavement and attention must continue to be given also to the replacement of inadequate bridges and to the needs of those living on secondary roads. Studies of bridge requirements in the Halifax area are continuing under the direction of the Halifax- Dartmouth Bridge Commission. The highway link between Bicentennial drive and Trunk 3 will be completed this year. You will be asked to consider legislation arising from the Report of the Outhit Commission. Legislation will be introduced to strengthen further the control of unsightly premises on our highways. An interim report of the Commission under the Public Inquiries Act to inquire into money lending practices and the protection of borrowers will be laid before you. Arrangements have been completed for a survey and study to be made in the Fall of this year of Children's Aid Societies and Child Caring Institutions by an independent child welfare authority. You will be asked to consider legislation to provide for an increase in the rates of maintenance paid on behalf of wards of Children's Aid Societies and of the Director of Child Welfare In approved child caring institutions, and to provide for an increase and an extension of financial assistance to certain Children's Aid Societies. You will be asked to approve legislation providing for an increase for the maintenance of girls under sixteen years of age committed by the courts to the Maritime Home for Girls and the Good Shepherd Industrial Refuge. During the year the amount of Social Assistance payable on behalf of certain deserted wives and wives of men confined to penitentiaries was increased and you will be asked to approve legislation to provide for expansion of benefits to such recipients on behalf of children over sixteen years of age who are attending an educational institution beyond the level of Grade VIII. The maximum payment to recipients of Old Age Assistance, Blind Persons' Allowances, and Disabled Persons' Allowances was increased from $65.00 to $75.00 a month, and the annual allowable ceiling income was also increased. The program of boarding home care for retarded children initiated last year in conjunction with the Nova Scotia Training School will be extended. A classroom and auditorium building at the Nova Scotia Training School at Brookside will be completed this year. An architect has been appointed and preliminary planning is being carried out to erect a museum building for the Nova Scotia Museum of Science. The program of providing assistance for the establishment of community mental health centres will be continued and a ninth community mental health clinic was put into operation during the year in Cumberland County. During the coming year a new program will be put into effect to provide drugs to persons attending out-patient facilities in psychiatric centres. At the present time 80% of all patients in municipal mental hospitals are housed in approved municipal institutions being assisted by the Province. My Government is considering, in co-operation with the Department of National Health and Welfare, an educational program throughout the Province respecting the dangers in cigarette smoking. My Government proposes to initiate a program to provide Sabin type poliomyelitis vaccin to all children throughout the Province and it is the intention to offer Salk type vaccine combined with tetanus toxoid to all adults in the Province. During the 1964-65 year much activity is anticipated in the field of hospital construction with substantial programs underway or to be undertaken at the Victoria General Hospital, and at Digby, Kentville, Lunenburg, Bridgewater, Truro, Springhill, Amherst, New Glasgow, Grace Bay, Artigonish and other places. The Inter-Departmental Committee on Human Rights has completed the survey begun in 1962 on the Social and Economic Conditions of the Negro in Nova Scotia. Based on this report, this Committee is now preparing recommendations for the consideration of my Government. A development of great significance to our Province has been the joint labour-management study conferences held under the auspices of the Dalhousie University Institute of Public Affairs. A committee of the conference has made representations to my Government and you will be asked to consider legislation to amend the Trade Union Act. Legislation pertaining to minimum wages will be introduced. A tri-partite Provincial Conference on Apprenticeship Training will be convened to make an appraisal of the present programs and to project the future needs for training skilled tradesmen. You will be asked to consider legislation and other preliminary work on the revision of the Statutes of the Province. My Government is continuing to carry out negotiations with the Government of Canada respecting the care and custody of long-term prisoners. It is anticipated that a start will be made early this year on the construction of a medium security institution at Springhill which in conjunction with the existing minimum security institution will make provision for the custody and training of provincial prisoners. You will be asked to constitute a new select committee of the House to consider legislation respecting Sunday observance. You will also be requested to establish a select committee of the House to consider whether the House of Assembly Act should be amended to provide for a change in the constitution of the House and the principles that should be followed in carrying out any such change. You will further be requested to establish a select committee of the House to consider the desirability of creating an office similar to the Ombudsman of the Scandinavian countries. Legislation will be introduced to amend the Government Purchases Act, the Motor Vehicle Act, the Education Act, the Credit Union Act, the Civil Defence Act, the Child Welfare Act, the Social Assistance Act, the Lands and Forests Act, the Municipal Hospitals Loan Act, the Public Hospitals Act, and other public Statutes of the Province. The Public Accounts of the Province for the fiscal year ended March 31st, 1963, will be placed before you. An interim statement showing revenues and expenditures for the current fiscal year as presently estimated will be furnished to you. Estimates for the fiscal year to commence April 1st, 1964, will be presented to you for consideration. To these and all other matters which may come before you I ask your most careful attention, praying that Divine Providence may guide you in all your deliberations and decisions.