Province Législature Session Type de discours Date du discours Locuteur Fonction du locuteur Parti politique Terre- Neuve et Labrador 37e 1ère Discours du Trône 19 novembre 1975 Gordon Arnaud Winter Lieutenant Gouverneur PC MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: I have the honour to welcome you to the First Session of the Thirty-Seventh General Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland. Last August, through the courtesy of the Royal Canadian Navy I was enabled to further my travels in our Province. H.M.C.S. Algonquin took me on an official visit to the Governor of St. Pierre and thence to more than thirty towns and settlements along our South Coast. My wife and I received the warmest of welcomes wherever we went arid I wish to acknowledge with gratitude the addresses of loyalty which were read to me by the Mayors and other officials who greeted me and to say that these have since been forwarded to Her Majesty, The Queen. We are facing a challenge in the development of our Province, a challenge which must be met by this House of Assembly and the Government. The national and international climate is uncertain and we must strive valiantly to continue and advance the progress of the last four years. It has been a difficult year for the Canadian economy. Inflation became a major disruptive force threatening our competitive position and weakening the purchasing power of fixed income groups in our society. It is now clear that we must deal with the causes of inflation, and not with its symptoms alone. The responsibility for inflation must be shared by labour, management and government and each group must be prepared to exercise self-discipline. The Federal Government has proposed a program of national action and My Government has agreed in principle with the approach taken. The new policy established guidelines for prices and incomes and created machinery for administration and enforcement. My Government believes that these guidelines will be effective only if the major interest groups in the community cooperate fully. When my Government first took office in 1972 its main priority was' to introduce programs to meet the needs of our people. My Government recognized that the services available to our people were inadequate compared to the standards of other provinces. In many of our service areas, such as health and education, these disparities have almost disappeared. We have accomplished a great deal in health, education, recreation, highways and municipal services. While My Government has made the improvement of public services a matter of high priority, it recognizes that a strong economic base is essential if the progress we have made is to be continued. My Government has taken decisive action to strengthen our economy in the knowledge that the continued economic growth of Newfoundland will depend upon the development and wise management of our natural and human resources. Resource management has therefore been a high priority and in the future will become even more important. I would like briefly to review the achievements made by My Government to date, and to outline some of the plans now being implemented. My Government is making substantial progress in its commitment to ensure that a comprehensive range of health care is available to all the people of the Province. Since 1972 the number of medical doctors has increased by 30 percent and an exciting new program which provides incentives to doctors to locate in isolated areas of the Province has been introduced. This represents the first step in developing a community oriented approach to the delivery of health care. Further steps in this new plan provide for the establishment of community health clinics and the expanding of the nursing role. The emphasis in future will be on preventative health measures. In the past year My Government has introduced a new incentive program to alleviate the shortage of dentists, especially in isolated areas. My Government is pleased to report that the Mobile Dental Clinic which was begun. as a pilot project last Spring has been a tremendous success and plans are underway to expand the service. My Government was concerned with the severe shortage of ambulance services throughout the Province, as well as the high cost to patients. Therefore My Government introduced a new Program, which encourages the establishment of ambulance services throughout the Province and ensures that costs are not prohibitive. During the past year considerable progress was made on construction of the new hospitals at Twillingate and Carbonear, and the Extensions to Waterford Hospital and the Western Memorial Hospital in Corner Brook. Considerable progress was made toward completion of the Health Sciences Complex, and certain sections are now in operation. It is expected that when the Health Sciences Complex is completed in the Spring of 1977, it will rank with the finest teaching hospitals in Canada. My Government is concerned that the practice of acupuncture be safe and ethical. You will be asked to consider legislation to ensure that only qualified persons will provide that service to our people. Since 1972 My Government has provided expanded Social Services and endeavoured to place as many Social Assistance recipients as possible into jobs or vocational training. Phenomenal results have been achieved. Thirty eight hundred recipients have been placed in employment or training and the able-bodied Social Assistance caseload has been reduced dramatically. Another major step was to introduce a completely new Social Assistance program which provided adequate support for everyone in need of assistance. My Government is satisfied that it has now laid a solid foundation for Social Services in this Province. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE'OF ASSEMBLY: We are in the midst of a most critical era in Labour Relations. My Government is continually seeking to promote industrial peace and harmony. A program has recently been started to upgrade and expand conciliation and mediation services for labour and management. We intend to increase our efforts in this direction and plan to institute a Consultative Service to provide, for management and labour, a forum for discussing and identifying emerging problems. My Government will continue to seek new measures to cope with the ever increasing difficulties in this field. My Government has been distressed at the high rate of unemployment in this Province. Despite the numbers of unemployed it is disturbing that many jobs are unfilled because skilled men and women are not always able to take the available jobs. My Government is aware that in addition to provincial funds, substantial Federal funds are spent annually in training, retraining, counselling and job placement. My Government is not satisfied that vocational requirements are being served adequately under Federal-Provincial programs. I n the coming months My Government intends to develop a definitive policy to ensure not only that adequate training and upgrading courses are available but also that there is Provincial involvement in counselling and job placement. My Government continues to meet the educational challenges of the 70's. A major effort in the education field has been the construction of a Regional College at Corner Brook as an extension of Memorial University. The College which opened in September now accommodates more than 400 students. It will offer the first two years of a University degree program and at the same time will be co-operating with other post-secondary institutions to serve students who are taking vocational or technological courses, My Government is committed to amalgamating the major functions of the College of Trades and Technology and the Fisheries College and to extending the programs now offered. Legislation will be introduced in this Session to facilitate this amalgamation and to provide for a completely new facility in Post-Secondary Education. During the past four years, to meet the needs of a rapidly changing social order, My Government has placed considerable emphasis on Adult and Continuing Education. We are studying the broad question of adult education with a view to developing a community college concept which will provide a more comprehensive learning program as well as better use of facilities. My Government has taken a major step forward by forming a Division of Adult Corrections, and for the first time will provide an Adult Probation Service. My Government has been instrumental in expanding Legal Aid and, in 1975, placed it under the direction of the Newfoundland Legal Aid Commission. The Supreme Court of Newfoundland in 1975 was radically altered with the setting up of a Court of Appeal and a Trial Division. My Government has been considering reform of the present method of financing elections, and during this Session, legislation will be introduced to control spending on political campaigns, to require disclosure of contributions to political parties, and to provide for a measure of public funding of election costs. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: My Government recognizes the special problems faced by our senior citizens and will be placing greater emphasis on the important area of geriatric care, and, there. will be continued emphasis upon rehabilitation of the mentally and physically handicapped. My Government has also embarked upon an investigation of the problems of alcohol and drug abuse and has established an Alcohol and Drug Directorate to advise Government on prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. The needs of Newfoundland Youth have been foremost in our minds and my Government has formed a Youth Services Division to co-ordinate and initiate activities for youth. In particular the 4-H Program is thriving and the Young Voyageur Program last year made it possible for 400 young Newfoundlanders to travel to other provinces. My Government has continued to expand· its involvement in sport and recreation. Major expenditures have been made under the Recreational Capital Grants Program to provide facilities throughout the Province. In this past year My Government has been involved in five hundred and forty (540) projects in three hundred and thirty-seven (337) communities. These projects cover the construction and upgrading of facilities from playgrounds to full scale arenas and heated indoor swimming pools. My Government has already announced its intention to form a new Department of Consumer Affairs. A report will be received ·shortly as to how the Department should be organized, and the report will recommend courses, of action to be taken by the new Department to benefit consumers. My Government has already introduced several new statutes which give greater consumer protection and in particular the Real Estate Trading Act will be amended to improve the degree of control over that industry. A Mortgage Brokers Act will be introduced which will regulate that business and require mortgage brokers to make complete disclosure of all charges to customers. The Automobile Dealers Act will be proclaimed on December 1, 1975. That Act provides for the registration of all automobile dealers, the establishment of trust accounts, and the mediation of disputes by a Registrar. Automobile dealers will be required to provide full disclosure as to the date of manufacture and, in the case of used vehicles, the name of the previous owner, and any previous damages to the vehicle. My Government is also preparing a Trade Practices Act which will for the first time enable class actions to be taken in the courts by Government on behalf of groups of affected persons as a means of protecting consumers against unfair business practices. The Landlord-Tenant Relations Division established in 1973 has acted on hundreds of complaints and inquiries, and the Tenancies Boards have heard more than 270 cases. The jurisdiction of these Boards may soon be extended to incorporate rent controls in accordance with the Anti-Inflation Program. During the coming fiscal year My Government will continue its program of upgrading and paving main and trunk roads though the pace of the last three years will be reduced somewhat because of financial restraints. Road building and paving under the DREE Agreement will carryon and permit us to continue and complete the projects already approved and negotiations are progressing for a new highways agreement. My Government will be placing even greater emphasis on highway safety and driver education and has set up a Highway Safety Advisory Board to conduct investigations, receive briefs and make recommendations to Government on all aspects of highway safety. In February of this year, My Government established the Government Purchasing Agency to buy goods on behalf of all Government departments and agencies. This Agency will ensure equal access to Government business throughout the Province and particular care will be taken to ensure that locally produced materials are purchased whenever possible. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: My Government's municipal affairs policy is now under review in light of the report of The Royal Commission on Municipal Government. To this end full discussion will be held with municipalities to determine their reaction to the proposals contained in the report. In the past three years building of new homes in this Province has reached record levels in contrast with declining housing starts in the rest of Canada. In Newfoundland 5000 homes are being built annually as compared to fewer than 4000 before 1972. My Ministers are nonetheless aware, that despite these advances, too many of our people are poorly housed. My Government therefore intends a more intensified attack on the problem of housing for the poor and also to give relief to those of middle income. My Government, with the aid of Federal loans and shared cost programs, will continue to increase its already heavy involvement in servicing building lots, in the construction of subsidized rental units and in the making of loans to those in rural areas. It will support the repair and remodelling of existing rural houses and will help to provide housing for those who can least afford it. My Government is fully conscious of the Provincial role in housing. Whereas Federal assistance is important, it is only through Provincial initiative that many programs can be implemented. I t is the Province that is most keenly aware of local differences and is most sensitive to the individual needs of our people and it is the Province that can most successfully blend contemporary concepts with our cultural traditions. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: The future of Newfoundland depends on its people and resources. My Government is confident that Newfoundland has the resources and that our people have the initiative, to make this a very wealthy Province. With proper development we can enjoy a high standard of living without sacrificing our unique way of life. My Government is committed to an intensive program of resource development which will build a stronger economic base and will require an individual and collective commitment to work for the common good. My Government will call upon the initiative of Newfoundlanders and will ask people from every walk of life to bring forward ideas and proposals for growth and development. Pilot projects will be initiated with groups and individuals, whereby these development opportunities will be realized. Special emphasis will be given to developing all aspects of the Handicraft industry. Every effort will be made to attain a high standard of quality in order to ensure continuity of markets, and the greatest return to the producer. Pilot projects will also be initiated to develop opportunities in fish farming. My Government will provide substantial assistance to enlarge the specialty food industry with particular emphasis on our berry crop and, realizing the importance of further processing involving cooking, freezing and canning, will devise special programs to encourage entrepreneurs in this field. The Community Consolidation Program is now under review, and recommendations for a change of emphasis and direction will be brought forward during this Session. My Government's Rural Development programs have been successful in creating some three thousand jobs in rural areas. These programs have been a motivating force in encouraging self-help. The programs will be made more responsive to the increasing involvement of our people. in their economic development. Overfishing continues to be the most serious problem facing the fishery. My Government has continued to press Ottawa for decisive action on fishery management. Failure of the Law of the Sea Conference to reach agreement on the extension of national management rights has been a disappointment. The 40 percent reduction of effort agreed to by members of ICNAF in September represents a measure of success, though our optimism with respect to this agreement must be tempered by our concern as to whether this reduction can successfully be monitored and enforced. My Government feels that the only long term solution to the dilemma of the fishing industry is a well-enforced system of national management. My Government has strongly urged the Federal Government to change the Unemployment Insurance System as it affects our fishermen and we have made a number of strong representations to Ottawa on this matter. Resource depletion has accentuated the great imbalance between our capacity to harvest and our capacity to process. The problem of inadequate landings is most acute on the East Coast and is reflected by unused plant capacity and high unemployment. Restoration of fish stocks will help to resolve this imbalance, but My Government is now pursuing a more immediate solution through joint ventures with large fishing interests in other countries. These joint ventures would permit agreements whereby fish catches would be landed and processed in Newfoundland, thereby providing full employment and guaranteed markets. A major new thrust of My Government will be to formulate and implement regional plans for fisheries development. These plans will introduce catching methods and technology for underexploited species and will improve fish handling and holding facilities designed for specific regions. Such initiatives, co-ordinated on a Federal/Provincial basis, will create new opportunities for our fishery to diversify, increase employment in plants and generally bring more stability to the regional economy. The Food Herring Program successfully implemented on the Northwest Coast and Southern Labrador during the past season' is an example of a regional strategy for the development of the herring resource in that area. My Government fully recognizes the immediate need for improved quality, with· special emphasis on the primary level. I n order to develop such programs for eventual introduction in all regions of the Province, My Government will undertake a major pilot project to promote quality. A community will be selected and an intensive effort made in this community to eliminate outdated and unsatisfactory methods of fish handling. The project will become a major vehicle to test and develop adequate methods of transportation by way of containerization, icing or refrigeration, as may be required and My Government will encourage the provision of ice-making facilities in major fishing ports throughout the Province. My Government will continue to recover lost or abandoned fishing gear. This program has already been highly successful in retrieving lost gill nets. Knowing that many of our fishing boats are obsolete My Government will take action to develop new designs for fishing vessels, based on regional needs. This will be done in co- operation with our expert fishermen and boat builders, to arrive at the best designs possible. My Government will also seek to obtain Federal co-operation to subsidize the conversion of boats for other fisheries. In this coming year we propose to finalize agreements with the Federal Government, which will result in Provincial management of all Federally owned fish holding and handling facilities and their upgrading to inspection standards. As another positive step towards the development of regional strategies the current construction program for marine service centers will be expanded to provide a center in Southern Labrador and a second center for the Northwest Coast. It is hoped that the program will eventually lead to marine service centers in all major fishing regions of the Province. My Government recognizes the need for a Fishing Gear Insurance program and negotiations towards a Federal-Provincial Gear Loss Insurance program are now proceeding with the Federal Government and the Maritime Provinces. Such a program would be jointly funded by the Federal Government, the Provinces and the fishermen. The Fishing Industry Advisory Board will become fully operative in the new year and will be able to contribute to the rational settlement of disputes in the industry. My Government has amended the regulations of the Fisheries Loan Board to reduce the down payment required to purchase new engines, electronic equipment, and used fishing vessels. These amendments concur with the recommendations of the Select Committee on the Inshore Fishery and the membership of the Fisheries Loan Board will be increased to include fishermen. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: The past year has been difficult for our forest industries. World markets have been weak and the three large mills were forced to close for short periods. Prospects are good for the improvement of paper and I umber markets and My Government will continue to support and encourage these important resource industries. Last year saw the introduction of a policy which required Government departments and agencies to use Newfoundland lumber. Graded lumber is now stamped to identify it as a Newfoundland product and we look forward to further marketing arrangements that will assure our sawmillers of a good market. My Government intends to promote centralized lumber yards for buying and selling lumber. These yards would upgrade lumber and work to raise quality and impose uniform standards. The yards will be strategically located and will promote the orderly growth of the industry by ensuring greater price stability and continuity of demand. The forest management system introduced in the The Thirty-Sixth General Assembly continues to make good progress. The first management plans have been received from the two major companies and My Government is presently reviewing these. Management plans have been prepared also for most of the Crown forest area, and intensive forest inventories are being completed. These formal plans, to be approved by Government, provide for maximum sustained use of our forests. My Government is confident that as this work is completed over the next few years, our forest industries will be more efficiently supplied with raw materials. I am pleased to report that a spirit of co-operation exists between My Government and the paper companies and it is evident that the new forest policy will bring long term benefits to this Province. Our Forest Access Road Program is continuing at a fast pace, bringing greater employment for construction workers and providing necessary access to Crown forests for woods contractors. Last year saw a test of the new Forestry field organization. The forest fire hazard was more extreme than in 1961 when major fires devastated forest lands across the Province. My Government is happy to report that the new organization worked well. For the first time we had taken full responsibility for fire protection on all forest lands, including company limits, and losses were minimal despite the grave hazard. The spruce budworm continues to destroy coniferous forests in Eastern North America, and our forests have been hit hard. My Government has so far avoided the large expenditures necessary for chemical controls and has instead developed a program to build access roads to harvest infested forest stands. Last year three pilot projects were begun to provide small garden plots for City residents who do not have access to suitable land. These projects were well-received and over 400 families participated. My Government is also pleased to report that this program is self-sustaining, for the modest rental fees from the plot holders have been sufficient to cover direct operating costs. Our livestock industries continue to expand toward self-sufficiency. Swine production and broiler production continue to increase and this year should see a substantial increase in production on the West Coast. My Government is now preparing a comprehensive Swine Raising Program which will be adopted this coming year, and we hope that the program will in a few years make the Province an exporter of disease-free breeding stock. A similar program exists for sheep raising and a sheep breeding station was started last' year. Carefully selected breeding stock will be made available to sheep producers as the first move to re-establish sheep raising as an expanding and profitable enterprise for our farmers. My Government began in the past year, a system of equipment banks for farmers. This program will be assessed next year in consultation with the farmers to assure its effectiveness. An intensive survey of blueberry lands has been completed and ,My Government proposes to introduce a comprehensive management plan next ·year. Our blueberry production can be doubled under good management and the processing of these fruits into gourmet foods must be done within the Province. Natural, wild fruits such as our blueberries, which are not subject to any chemical treatments, can and will command a premium price in a world market that is becoming more and more appreciative of uncontaminated foods of high quality. The Province's vegetable producers encountered some difficulties last year in marketing their produce. My Government undertook a program to promote the use of locally grown produce, and the response of our people was encouraging. Our marketing and distribution system has been identified as one cause for high food costs and we plan to solve this problem by developing a processing and marketing system that will effectively place our own produce on the market. My Government will promote centralized storage facilities for agricultural products and will provide further support to the industry through its purchasing policy. The mining industry has made great strides in Newfoundland and Labrador and this progress has been due, in large measure, to My Government's new policies in all areas of mineral resource management. There is still a great deal to be done before we achieve all that we have set out to do, but the rapid growth in production, and the expansion of exploration activity have proven that the approach is correct. We have long expected additional mineral development in Labrador and it now appears that uranium deposits hold great promise for early development. I am pleased to say that My Government will be introducing legislation to make labradorite the official mineral emblem of the Province. Early in 1973 My Government adopted an interim policy which abolished the granting of mining concessions on the Island of Newtoundtand. It also eliminated the practice of extending such agreements, and provided that subsequent acquisitions of mineral rights will be in accordance with the claiming provisions of The Crown Lands (Mines and Quarries) Act. As a result, 22,000 square miles, or approximately half the Island of Newfoundland has already been opened up to competitive exploration and the number of claims being staked is rising rapidly. My Government will introduce new legislation to make permanent the successful new policy for mineral rights acquisition. The Mineral Act and The Quarry Materials Act will provide us with long overdue legislation on mineral land tenure. In order to encourage the surrender of long term mineral rights to lands, on which little or no exploration work is being done, My Government is considering the introduction of a Mineral Acreage Tax Act. Recognizing the need for a thorough examination of the Province's mineral revenue structure and the comparatively small return to the Treasury from that source My Government appointed a Royal Commission in 1974 to examine this area. With the valuable assistance provided by the Commission's Report the Mining and Mineral Rights Tax Act was passed in the last Session. That new legislation will result in a greatly increased return to the Province's Treasury and will nonetheless maintain a favourable tax climate for the industry. My Government is placing high priority on protecting the health of, and insuring safe working conditions for, our 7000 miners. Additional steps are being taken to see that acceptable levels for such hazards as dust and radiation are appropriately defined and that all necessary facilities are installed in mining operations. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: In June 1974 My Government acquired effective ownership of the Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation through the purchase of Brinco's interest in CFLCo. and at the same time acquired Brinco's water rights in Labrador. Since then major efforts' have been made to bring about the development of the Gull Island project on the Lower Churchill River. My Government is at present involved in negotiations for the financing of this project and a Ministerial Statement on the undertaking will be made in the near future. Over the past five years, expenditures estimated at close to $200 million have been made on exploration for oil and gas in the offshore areas of our Province. In 1974 Eastcan Exploration Limited made two highly significant discoveries of natural gas on the Labrador Continental Shelf. These discoveries were followed this year by two further wells in the Labrador area when significant evidence of hydrocarbons was encountered during drilling. The hydrocarbon potential of this area will be further evaluated during the 1976 drilling season. My Government has recently completed a thorough reassessment of the offshore resource potential and its possible monetary value to the Province. It is estimated that the offshore area contains Some 40 trillion cubic feet of gas and 3.5 billion barrels of oil which will likely be discovered, produced and sold on a profitable basis. The probability of a commercial find being made within the next five years is estimated at 70 percent. My Government is committed to the implementation of a proper resource management policy for oil' and gas development which will ensure that in the exploration, development and production stages, there will be a maximum economic return to the Province. At the same time, My Government is anxious to ensure that these activities cause minimal social and economic disruption and fully protect the environment. Discussions have begun with representatives of the communities most likely to be affected by offshore development with a view to involving local residents in the planning. These efforts of My Government will be futile if our moral and legal rights to develop our offshore oil and gas resources are denied. These rights are part of the Province's heritage and must be recognized by the Federal Government. In the area of the pricing of petroleum products My Government has noted with concern the extremely heavy burden being placed on consumers by rapid increases in gasoline and heating oil prices. In addition, the action of some Canadian provinces in controlling prices has jeopardized the principle of equal petroleum prices in the country. In response to these factors, it is My Government's intention to introduce legislation which will place petroleum product prices under Government control. Complementary to the actions on price control, My Government intends to place increasing emphasis on the conservation of energy. Action will be taken in the public sector to ensure that energy conservation is practiced in all public buildings and vehicles. One of the most exciting areas for future development is the field of marine technology. The exploration for, and extraction of, resources in the Eastern Arctic and off the Coast of Newfoundland will require not only high expenditure but a high level of technological competence. We have only begun to develop efficient methods of extracting resources in Northern latitudes, in cold oceans where water depths are extreme and where ice and climatic conditions are rigorous. The Province of Newfoundland has committed itself to become a leader in technological advances to solve these problems. My Government has created the Newfoundland Oceans Research and Development Corporation (NORDCO) in order to develop the technological competence which is required to overcome the physical barriers which impede development in these waters. NORDCO will undertake applied research projects related to exploration, development, transportation and processing of resources found in Northern waters and will encourage the growth of marine- oriented industry in Newfoundland. An example of an industry of this type is the construction of concrete production platforms for offshore oil and gas wells. Newfoundland has the only harbours on the Eastern Seaboard of North America which are suitable to build these massive structures. My Government is convinced that, with proper preparation, these new opportunities in the field of marine industry will contribute greatly to the industrial growth of this Province. In the field of Tourism, My Government has undertaken research projects to enable us to understand better our tourist potential and methods of attaining it. A Mobile Hospitality Training Program is now in progress and, for the past two years, a Hospitality Homes Program has encouraged private citizens to open their homes to tourists. The tourist industry is increasingly important to the Provincial economy and the number of non-resident tourists is growing rapidly. There has been increasing pressure on parks .end camping facilities and there is a clear need for improvement to, and expansion of our present park system. In view of the need for new facilities and in recognition of high employment associated with park construction My Government will be continuing its park expansion program. My Government is aware of the general dissatisfaction with the issuing of big game licences. As a first step towards the resolution of this problem it is planned to expand and increase hunter safety training. It is planned to increase the number of instructors and to prepare range facilities to implement and accelerate the announced program of mandatory qualifying and testing of big game hunters. Hunting regulations as they apply to Northern Labrador will be reviewed to correct inequities for permanent residents of that area. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: The Federal Government has requested that the Province sign an agreement to participate in the proposed anti-inflation program. My Government intends to sign this agreement provided it is satisfied' that the Federal system of price controls will operate effectively. As part of the program to control inflation My Government will introduce legislation which will impose limits on increases of rents. Any increase which cannot be justified by cost increases will not be allowed. This legislation will be complementary to the Federal legislation now before Parliament. The Federal Government has proposed changes in policy to restrict the growth of public spending. My Government has agreed to the need to restrict government spending but has argued strenuously against any curtailment of Federal spending which would reduce our rate of economic development. The rapid growth of our labour force makes it imperative that the rate of job creation in Newfoundland continue to increase in order to avoid increased unemployment. My Government has agreed to restrict its own spending in the social field and to exercise all reasonable economies. My Government will be taking firm action to bring costs under tighter control. Firm leadership will be required if we are to reduce the rate of inflation and to achieve a high rate of growth at the same time. The key to the future lies in our people and our resources. We shall continue our program of manpower training to ensure that our people have the skills to participate in a growing economy. While My Government will be exercising restraint in spending, priority will be given to resource development and creating new jobs. My Government recognizes that unemployment remains the major problem in this Province and that the only solution is to encourage the growth of resource based industries. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: It has been four years since My Government took office. In that time it has faced and accomplished the imposition of order in our economic development; programs of sound management of our resources; of compassion and justice in our social policies; of realism in our finances and above all shown a determination to achieve rational development consistent with maintaining our quality of life. To that end My Government is prepared to stand firm on the control of inflation, which includes control of Government spending and, where necessary, the control by legislation of excessive demands upon our economy. My Government recognizes that for our Province to become strong and viable, people must be prepared to work hard and to make sacrifices. There are no easy solutions and no hope of progress without a commitment on the part of our people to force this Province ahead by individual and collective effort. My Government will take all necessary steps, whether popular or unpopular, to achieve these ends, but Newfoundlanders must join with us in that commitment, for our progress is not the progress of a government but the progress of a Province. My Government has faith that Newfoundlanders will rise to the call of leadership, the call to work and the call to sacrifice. The acceptance of this challenge will determine our right to a sound and prosperous future.