Province Législature Session Type de discours Date du discours Locuteur Fonction du locuteur Parti politique Terre- Neuve et Labrador 37e 2e Discours du Trône 2 février 1977 Gordon Arnaud Winter Lieutenant Gouverneur PC NEWFOUNLAND: Speech from the throne, Second Session of the 37th General Assembly, February 2nd, 1977 I have the honour to welcome you to the Second Session of the 37th General Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland. This year, 1977, marks the Silver Jubilee of Her Majesty, the Queen of Canada, the Twenty- Fifth Anniversary of Her Majesty's accession to the Throne. Queen Elizabeth succeeded her father, King George VI on February 6th 1952, and was crowned at Westminister Abbey, London on June 2nd., 1953. On this happy occasion this Honourable House joins with the people of our province in celebrating the event. Let us at this time reaffirm our loyalty to Her Majesty, as a most gracious and humane person and also as our Sovereign. This Honourable House welcomes the opportunity to express its sincere affection to our Queen. My Government is planning to hold a number of special events to commemorate this occasion. It is an occasion which brings into remembrance not only the Silver Jubilee of our Head of State but it evokes as well a reaffirmation of the rights, dignity and freedom that are the essential attributes of our constitutional structure. During the past year I continued my travels in the Province and these included a visit to the important and historic Town of Lewisporte for the celebration of its Centenary. Last September a Canadian Armed Forces helicopter took my wife and me on an eleven day visit to coastal Labrador. I gained a deep appreciation of the hopes and aspirations of those who struggle to preserve their way of life in this vast and distant part of our Province. The past 28 years in Newfoundland have seen successive Governments strive to provide services for our people comparable to the other provinces of Canada. Enormous progress has been made, but a great deal more needs to be done. However, we have now reached a time when worldwide economic difficulties dictate a severe slowing down of Government expenditures in the area of public services, for the immediate future. The vicious inflationary spiral that has affected all the Western World was not of Newfoundland's making. At the same time, the higher cost of goods, services, and especially money, have most certainly restricted our consumption power. These decisions require that each of us be prepared to make personal sacrifices for the common good. Let each of us, in this Province, respond to a call to work harder and with greater commitment, for the individual and collective good. Let the fisherman, the teacher, the miner, the shopkeeper, the public servant, and the elected representatives of the people respond to a call for higher productivity and greater commitment. Let this call go forth today from this Honourable House and let it be heard throughout the land. It is a call for faith in the future of this Province and for a confidence based on commitment. My Government has a firm faith that this Province has the resources to provide a high level of income for its people. In order to realize our aspirations we will have to rely more on what we can do for ourselves, rather than depending upon Government to do everything for us. The call to self-reliance must be heard and upheld in our Province. The main problem in Newfoundland today is the high rate of unemployment and My Government will be bringing to this Honourable House a number of measures designed to alleviate and to help solve this pressing problem for both the short and long term. The challenge that we face is one of initiating a major thrust against unemployment without jeopardizing our financial position and without a severe curtailment in the level of public services. We must meet this challenge with a willingness to sacrifice and to go forward with more realistic expectations than we have had in the past. My Government has taken great care to establish what are the opportunities for economic growth and for the creation of new jobs. There is no simple answer. Rather the answer must be found through a balanced approach to our economy. There must be more activity in primary resource industries, but there must also be more processing of our resources to obtain a better balance between primary and secondary processing. At the same time there must be a balance between goods producing industries and the service sector. There must also be a balance between the private and public sector in this Province. The role of Government is to facilitate the growth of industry and to provide the conditions and incentives whereby employment and income growth can be generated. My Government has resisted the pressure to do those things that are best done in the private sector. The role of forest industry, in agriculture and in marine industry. There are also many opportunities for growth which arise in the service industries which support our basic resource sectors. Recognizing that Government has a leadership role to play, without detracting from the role of free enterprise, it is important that new programs be designed to bring these opportunities into reality. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: My Government is firmly convinced that with the declaration of the 200 mile limit the fishery represents the greatest opportunity for growth and development. In reaping the full benefit of this enormous resource it is essential that there be a comprehensive approach: one which builds on the advantages of the inshore, the mid-water and the offshore fishery. Full advantage must be taken of the low capital cost requirements of the inshore fishery, and the opportunity to expand the labour intensive inshore industry is one which My Government is pledged to fulfill. By the same token, there must be an orderly expansion of the offshore fleet to ensure continuous year round operations in our processing plants. With a balanced expansion of the inshore and offshore fishery our fishermen will be in a position to take an increasing share of the catch within the 200 mile limit. My Government will be proposing measures to this Honourable House of Assembly to ensure that our fishermen will soon have complete access to the resource. These measures will include a program for the revitalization of our long-liner fleet, which has been suffering from attrition in recent years. My Government takes the position that our fishermen should have first claim on the resource and that foreign fishermen will be phased out as soon as our own fishermen can replace foreign fishing effort. Indeed, the management principle adopted by the Federal Government is that Canadian fishermen should have first claim on the resource up to the limit of the total allowable catch established by Canada, as the coastal state, for conservation purposes. Only if there is a surplus to Canada's needs should any of our resource be allocated to foreign vessels. My Government has concluded that a major requirement for the full realization of the benefits from our fishery is the opening up of the European market for fishery products. Another major requirement is that... The magnitude of the fishery resource which will be available to us in the next five to ten years will present a great challenge. My Government recognizes that a great deal of private capital and public investment will be required. Also, if our fishing industry is to be placed on a sound foundation it is important that new facilities be located in proper geographic relation to the resource. My Government will be working with representatives of union and industry to ensure that measures are taken which will allow the Province to reap the full benefits of the 200 mile limit, by putting appropriate facilities in place and by expanding our inshore and offshore fleets so as to harvest the full resource. My Government will be introducing a program of assistance for new products along with a program to encourage processors to undertake more advanced processing. This program will assist private companies to undertake a multi-year investment plan for upgrading facilities so that a higher grade of product will be produced. My Government will continue its efforts to improve the quality of Newfoundland fish products by bringing about changes in the methods of moving fish from fishing vessels to processing centers. Amendments to The Fish Inspection Act will be considered with a view to promoting the transportation of fish in containers and insulated trucks, with a program for provision of ice making facilities playing a major role in the quality improvement strategy. In the year ahead continued emphasis will be placed on experimental and exploratory fishery projects relating to innovative vessel designs, new and improved gear types, aquaculture, and the further development of new harvesting techniques. Projects of this nature have contributed greatly to the recent and rapid expansion of the inshore herring industry on the Northeast Coast. One of the most critical areas for responding to the opportunities presented by the 200 mile limit is in the acquisition of new skills and technology. My Government is committed to amalgamating the major functions of the College of Trades and Technology and the Fisheries College, and to increasing the range of programs offered. The Newfoundland Polytechnical Institute Act, which will be introduced in this Session, will facilitate this amalgamation and will enable the establishment of a new post-secondary seat of learning. It is clear that our Fisheries College will need ... MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: The most pressing problem confronting the forest industry at present is the spruce budworm infestation. An experimental spraying program will be undertaken this year in selected areas of the Province, supervised by a group of forestry and environmental experts. The primary purpose is to determine the extent and nature of the corrective action which is required to control the infestation. My Government continues to support and encourage the development of industries based upon our forests. Implementation of the forest management policy which was introduced in the 36th General Assembly has been continuing. The construction of forest access roads is of major importance in opening up timber stands to industrial users. During the past year salvage roads were built for the first time to reach over-mature and infested timber stands on company limits. In the coming year, the construction of forest access roads will be intensified. I must report, however, that there is growing concern that a shortage of an economic wood supply will occur in the foreseeable future unless new methods of harvesting are developed and substantial measures are initiated in forest protection. This is somewhat paradoxical in a Province where the total forest resource is greater than industrial demand for wood fibre. It has become abundantly clear, however, that many areas of the Province cannot be harvested economically with present day technology. To address this supply problem, My Government has taken positive action. Greater emphasis has been given to forest improvement, and programs for thinning and reforestation will be expanded. In the past year a large sum has been spent on this intensive management practice and it is planned that this expenditure will be more than doubled in the coming year. This program is highly labour intensive, and is a wise investment which will be returned to the Province through increased forest productivity for generations to come. As well, significant progress has been made in overcoming technological impediments to harvesting high quality timber from steep slopes. My Government will continue to explore ways and means of assisting our forest industry to develop a viable year round operation, particularly in secondary processing. In the past year My Government has introduced a program to assist the sawmill industry, which has been suffering from the ... In agriculture, My Government intends to place proper emphasis on soil surveying and land use planning so that the specific areas of the Province best suited for commercial agricultural development can be identified. My Government recognizes that the marketing of agricultural products has been a problem for our farmers. Therefore, more emphasis will be placed on improving the marketing system for vegetables and other farm products. It is the intention of My Government to introduce an intensified program of animal husbandry so that the Province will become more self-sufficient in sheep and swine production. Furthermore, measures will be undertaken to ensure that a much greater degree of processing takes place with regard to the final consumer products made from local sheep, swine and poultry. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: During the past year My Government continued its progress towards developing and implementing the best possible mineral management regime for the Province. The Minerals Act and The Quarry Materials Act were passed by the Legislature. These two Acts, together with the accompanying regulations which are presently being finalized, will be proclaimed in the Spring of 1977. This proclamation will be the culmination of the major overhaul of mineral land tenure which began four years ago and was tested through a successful interim policy trial period. My Government has created a business climate and tax system that makes it attractive for private industry to invest in the rich mineral resources of this Province. To encourage such activity, it is My Government's intention to introduce a Mineral Acreage Tax Bill designed to increase exploration expenditures on lands held for long periods of time or in perpetuity. My Government has also embarked upon an intensified exploration program so that potential investors will be better informed about specific mineral prospects. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: My Government stands firm in its commitment to do everything possible to ensure that the benefits of our rich energy potential accrue first and foremost to the people of this Province and will spare no effort to make that commitment a reality. In view of the need for greater freedom of action in the development of our hydro electric resources, My... In addition My Government will be working to promote the development of Labrador hydro resources for use in Labrador. It is our hope that a major processing and shipping center can be developed in Labrador and that our hydro power will be used by energy intensive industries who find such a center attractive. An expanded mineral exploration program in Labrador will enhance the prospects of new development while the availability of hydro resources with stable prices should encourage further processing to take place in the Province. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: My Government will table new regulations in this Honourable House with respect to offshore oil and gas exploration and development. It is proposed that a White Paper will be published to explain regulations which are now in draft form and which are intended to be given an early release. These regulations will provide the oil companies with a greater measure of certainty as to the taxation system which will apply to the oil and gas industry. Provision has also been made to require more use of Newfoundland manpower and materials. The potential of the offshore oil and gas industry is enormous and these regulations represent a comprehensive plan to ensure that Newfoundland derives maximum benefit with the least amount of social disruption. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: My Government has done a great deal to support and strengthen the initiative of the private sector through financial assistance and management training, as well as through other programs. Since its inception in 1972, the Newfoundland and Labrador Development Corporation has directly contributed to the development of 1800 jobs in the Province. During the course of 1977 it is hoped that the Corporation will expand its activities in the area of local market development and will provide greater services to the Newfoundland business community through the establishment of additional field offices. My Government has placed high priority on marine-related industry and has founded the Newfoundland Ocean Research and Development Corporation (NORDCO) to perform studies and engineering activities relating to cold oceans and the problems of working in ice-covered waters. My Government will be introducing new programs to promote industrial development. Three of these programs relate to marketing, product development and industrial productivity. The new approach to marketing will be to provide a service to small and medium sized industry which is presently unable to deal directly with markets outside the Province but has a potential to expand. This program represents an example of My Government's commitment to small scale industry which has the capacity to make a positive contribution without creating a disruptive influence. The second is a new product development program which will assist small industry to branch out into new and diversified product lines and to employ more people. The third program is designed to help small firms to conduct an efficient processing operation and to provide technical advice which would otherwise be too costly or else unavailable. Particular emphasis is being given to small resource based industries. My Government is giving serious consideration to the role of a Newfoundland Productivity Council to help implement this program. It is the intention of My Government to reinforce its policy whereby Government purchasing and contracting are used to provide greater stimulus to the Provincial economy. New programs will be introduced to ensure that contractors working on behalf of Government make every effort to use local manpower and materials. In addition, measures will be taken to ensure that local contractors are given a fair opportunity to undertake Government projects. My Government has been examining a number of mechanisms for enhancing the process of economic development on the Coast of Labrador. The Department of Rural Development will assume a larger role on the Coast and will be responsible for initiating and executing projects along the whole Coast. This role will be complementary to the normal functions of the other Departments of Government. My Government is very sensitive to the isolation problems in Labrador and has decided to establish regional offices for most Departments in Happy Valley- Goose Bay. These offices will be able to respond more quickly and effectively to the needs of the people living in Eastern Labrador. Great strides have been made in implementing an improved transportation system within the Province. My Government recognizes, ... will play an important role in the development of offshore oil and gas off the Coast of Labrador and it will enable the community of Cartwright to participate more fully in the associated economic developments. This policy of building airstrips both to reduce isolation and to encourage economic development will be continued. My Government has made major progress in strengthening the economy of rural Newfoundland through programs in the Department of Rural Development. These programs include loans and grants to small firms as well as support for Regional Development Associations. These Associations have been fulfilling an important role by identifying local resource development opportunities and working to ensure that these opportunities are realized. The Associations have worked successfully with local people, and in some cases the Association has taken on the complete implementation of projects. The Department has also had a great deal of success in promoting the handicraft industry where Departmental efforts have been directed toward market promotion and development. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: My Government has developed a comprehensive tourist development strategy which will be used for the development of our tourist resources, particularly in the rural sections of our Province. My Government is exploring with the Government of Canada the feasibility of establishing a recreation and conservation corridor for the Avalon Peninsula. This corridor is based upon the heritage route which focuses and links historical, natural and cultural resources. The development will include scenic drives, trails and waterways, the restoration and conservation of historical buildings and the development of a major marine interpretation center. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: These programs for development of our fishery, forestry, agriculture, minerals, energy and tourist industries are designed to provide a solid foundation for our economy. They will not create immediate full employment nor will they produce a sudden transformation in the Newfoundland economy. It would be naive and unrealistic to expect that any set of government programs will be a panacea for our present ... MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: One of the major problems facing My Government at the present time is high unemployment and the lack of available jobs for many Newfoundlanders. In keeping with its desire to alleviate this problem, My Government intends to embark upon a Provincial program of job creation. The objective of the program is to combine the existing unemployed manpower with identified development opportunities so as to maximize the potential of both. The program will cost approximately $2 million. It will focus on labour intensive, high priority projects which are modest in cost, but which will strengthen our resource base and resource oriented facilities. Projects have been identified in fisheries, forestry, agriculture, tourism, and in community development activities. The program will extend from February to the end of May. It will be operated selectively in areas of the Province where there is a lack of job opportunities and will help alleviate the seasonal unemployment normally experienced during the winter months. The role of the Government of Canada respecting this Country's labour force is a major one, and My Government will be making every effort to ensure that this Province obtains the maximum benefit from national manpower programs such as training, job creation, mobility and job placement. To achieve this end, My Government is pursuing with the Federal Government the development of a comprehensive manpower agreement which will include a clear statement of policy respecting manpower programs. It will delineate the roles and responsibilities of both levels of Government in providing the best possible manpower programs and services to members of our labour force. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: During this Session you will be asked to consider several pieces of legislation which are designed to protect the consumers of this Province. This new legislation will include The Trade Practices Act, The Consumer Reporting Agencies Act as well as amendments to The Real Estate Trading Act, and The Landlord Tenant (Residential) Act. Since My Government assumed office it has been concerned about the health and safety of our people in their places of work. Acting on the recommendations of the October Conference on Occupational Health and ... MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: The main thrust of My Government's activity in health care now, and in the future, must be to obtain the best possible value for every health dollar spent, and to strive for optimum use of existing institutional facilities. To that end, My Government hopes, within the coming months, to expand its ambulatory care programs to provide, where feasible, lower cost services as alternatives to the more expensive institutional care, while at the same time safeguarding the high quality of care which is available at present. In the social services sector, My Government recognizes the value of and the continuing need for preventive, supportive and rehabilitative social services which are aimed at strengthening the family unit and helping the handicapped individual. To this end the Employment Opportunities Program for social assistance recipients will be strengthened. The Homemakers Services, which was introduced last year, will be continued. My Government is encouraged by the remarkable results which these programs have achieved in promoting financial independence, in preventing family breakdown, and in improving the lives of our less fortunate citizens. The care of physically and mentally handicapped children will be given very special attention. An intensive effort is now underway to find more foster homes for children with special needs. This effort has already shown very encouraging results. My Government realizes that physical fitness plays an important role in the health and general well-being of our citizens. During the past several years, greater emphasis has been placed on the establishment of recreational facilities in our Province and the provision of services related to leisure time activities. The efforts of My Government will be directed to ensure that these facilities are fully and effectively used by citizens of all ages so that the general level of fitness in the Province will be improved. To promote sports activity more attention will be given to coaching our athletes and young people. All Newfoundlanders look forward with eagerness to the Canada Summer Games which will be held in our Province next summer. It will provide us with an opportunity to welcome our fellow Canadian citizens and to enjoy with them the achievements of young Canadian athletes. It will be a time as well for celebration and a focal Point for a new thrust in the creation of a municipal government structure based on a new consolidated legal framework and the development and strengthening of municipal administrative support programs. During the coming months you will be asked to consider legislation in the form of a new Municipal Grants Act and this will mark the initial step in bringing these plans to fruition. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: My Government is most concerned over the present law as it relates to matrimonial property. It is obvious major changes in the common law dealing with the sharing of personal and real property acquired by married couples prior to and during marriage is a matter calling for careful and major reform. It is My Government's opinion that matrimonial law should be changed to confer upon the Court, as a minimum, the power to recognize the contribution of work and management made by both husband and wife to matrimonial property. Before embarking upon this major change in the common law and in full recognition of the implications derived there from and the keen interest of our people in this vital field of law reform, My Government has authorized My Minister of Justice and Attorney General to invite briefs from all groups throughout the Province who have an interest in this subject, preparatory to the drafting of appropriate legislation. It is hoped such briefs and submissions will be received in time to enable the necessary legislation to be drafted for presentation to this Session, but if such is not the case, Government wishes to make known its determination to bring before this House, at the earliest possible time, carefully prepared legislation in this important area of matrimonial property law. My Government has been directing its attention to the structure and jurisdiction of Family Courts in our Province. It is becoming increasingly clear to My Ministers that all matters dealing with family law should come within the jurisdiction of one Family Court, rather than the present position where jurisdiction in family matters is divided among Family, District and Supreme Courts. The Government of Canada has some jurisdiction and obligation in this field, and has indicated a willingness to negotiate with interested Provinces a cost-sharing formula for the establishment of a Unified Family Court as a pilot project in a particular area of a Province. Consequently, My Government has authorized My Minister of Justice and be constructive, not destructive of marriage; to be helpful, not harmful to the individual parties and their children; to be preventive rather than punitive in the Court's attitude towards marriage and families. A Unified Family Court will be therapeutically oriented, non-punitive, where possible, and attempt to focus on the overall family problem. My Government is satisfied that streamlining of the Election Act is necessary. It is My Government's intention to introduce legislation to modernize election and voting procedures, to reform the present method of financing elections and to impose controls on contributions to political parties. The Public Accounts for the period ending March 31, 1976 and the estimates for the coming fiscal year will be placed before you, for your usual close scrutiny. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: I ask today for a renewed commitment from all our people to the work ethic of our forefathers in the knowledge that our land and sea resources are sufficient to give us and our children a full and prosperous life. This prosperity will come through action and leadership. My Government will take action and will provide leadership but the call to action and leadership, and perhaps to sacrifice, must be accepted by one and by all. Let this House accept this challenge and let it show a model to the people of our Province. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: You will be asked to grant supply unto Her Majesty. I invoke God's blessing upon your labours as you give careful consideration to the matters laid before you for the welfare of our beloved Province.