Province Législature Session Type de discours Date du discours Locuteur Fonction du locuteur Parti politique Alberta 17e 1re Discours du trône 2 mars 1972 J.W. Grant MacEwan Lieutenant-gouverneur Alberta Progressive Conservative Party Mr. Speaker, Hon. Mr. Premier and Ministers, Hon. Mr. Leader of the Opposition, members of the Legislature, ladies and gentlemen and young ladies and young gentlemen: I have the honour to welcome you to the First Session of the 17th Legislature of the Province of Alberta. In many ways, this event is unique and historic. The privilege accepting office came to my government on September 10th, 1971, marking the first Progressive Conservative administration in the history of Alberta, and the first new government in thirty-six years. After calling on Albertans to recognize the many contributions the previous administration in the years since 1935, my government set about the task of charting a new course for "Alberta in the Seventies". New programs, policy changes, innovations and reform, will be implemented. Existing programs that are sound and have proved their worth will be continued. Change will be viewed -- not with fear and apprehension -- but with optimism, with a sense of challenge and of opportunities to be grasped. Social reform will be considered in the light of employment opportunities. Employment and industrial growth will be considered the light of conservation of our environment. All will be blended to a goal seeking fulfilment and a rewarding quality of life for all our citizens. My government is determined to pursue excellence in every endeavour. It is a major goal of my government to reduce bureaucratic routine and red tape. New job creation and expansion of the private sector will be emphasized. To be responsible, yet seek reform; to be contemporary and progressive without forgetting the lessons of experience; to allow the full exercise of free initiative, combined with compassion for unfortunate; these are the broad goals of my government in the exciting years ahead. OPEN GOVERNMENT My government is committed to the principle of open government; providing citizens with easier access to their Legislature and its deliberations. To this end: 1. A resolution to provide a continuous and easily available written record of the business proceedings of the Assembly will be introduced. Similar to the "Hansard" publication in other jurisdictions, this written record of proceedings will enable Albertan's to receive, if they so desire, an accurate, up-to-date report on the manner in which issues affecting people in all walks of life and in all parts of the province are being dealt with by their M.L.A.'s. 2. A resolution to open the public business of the Legislature to the television and radio media will be put forward. By this means Alberta citizens should gain additional audio and visual information as to the work their elected Legislators are doing, and should be able to better understand and add their voices to the discussion of issues that are being debated and considered. 3. The "open government" concept will also be fostered by the decision of my government to call the Legislative Assembly into Session twice a year, beginning in this year, 1972. The addition of Fall sittings will make my government more frequently accountable to the people for its decisions and policies. In addition, this reform will enable the expanding public business of the province to be handled more efficiently and expeditiously. Emerging problems and contemporary issues that call for debate should then receive greater public scrutiny, with less delay than has been the case in the past. Laws needing amendment will be changed more quickly, to serve faster and more effectively the needs of Alberta. 4. The status and responsibilities of M.L.A.'s, as representatives of the people in their constituencies, will be substantially increased. To accomplish this, two specific steps will be taken: a) A resolution will be introduced to assure that all Members of the Legislative Assembly will have a reasonable opportunity to debate Public Bills (other than Government Bills proposed and introduced by them in response to requests by their constituents and by other Albertans; b) Expanded use of Special Legislative Committees will give Members of the Assembly net opportunities to carry out fact finding missions and assure that elected representatives, rather than appointed individuals, may consider net and better policies and legislation. 5. The position and significance of Government M.L.A.'s who are not members of the executive Council will be recognized by a very significant innovation: -- the introduction by, and responsibility of, such Government M.L.A.'s for certain Government Bills which do not contain budgetary obligations. LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES To ensure that objective, non-partisan scrutiny is given to the public accounts, my government will propose that a Member of the opposition be appointed Chairman of the Committee on Public accounts. The formation of six special Legislative Committees will be proposed in order that issues and problems of contemporary concern receive detailed study, and in order to ensure that Alberta citizens are provided an opportunity to make submissions directly to elected Legislators. These committees will suggest policy alternatives after considering the following areas of public concern: (a) The desirability of limitations, if any, upon foreign investment. (b) Alternatives to The Communal Property Act. (c) The necessity for any form of censorship in Alberta. (d) Improvements in The Elections Act. (e) Legislative changes, if any, in laws governing professions and occupations. (f) Improvements in crop insurance programs. NATURAL RESOURCES The question of the amount and the method of calculation of natural resource revenue accruing to the people of Alberta, through their government, is of major importance to Albertans in the years ahead. During the Session, to ensure that citizens and Members of the Assembly are given an opportunity to assess the strengths and weaknesses of arguments advanced, this subject will be referred to the Standing Committee on Public Affairs. To the event that the business of the House permits, the points of view of individuals and organized groups will be presented publicly and considered - before this critical decision is made. REORGANIZATION My government has made a number of major changes in organization to improve the effectiveness of its operations, in accordance with contemporary demands. Legislative ratification for these changes will be requested. These changes include: 1. The establishment of a new Department of Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs to assure that the Alberta Government's relationships with the Federal Government and with other Provincial Governments are improved and are effectively coordinated as between the various provincial departments. The rapidly escalating event and variety of Federal/Provincial cost sharing agreements will be a major responsibility of this new department. 2. A new Department of Advanced Education, responsible for all educational programs in vocational and technical institutions, colleges and universities. The division of the former Department of Education into two distinct portfolios reflects my government's concern that adequate ministerial attention be given to all educational activities in the province and full recognition be given to the diverse elements comprising these various educational activities. A Standing Committee of the Executive Council consisting of the Ministers of Education, Advanced Education, and Manpower and Labour has been created to assure effective coordination. 3. The former Department of Labour will be changed significantly into an expanded Department of Manpower and Labour, having responsibility for interdepartmental programs, and will relate more closely the diverse capability of the Alberta labour force to the anticipated skill requirements of the province. With regard to employment programs, the Minister is currently chairing the successful interdepartmental Priorities Employment Program (PEP), which is aiding in strengthening the winter employment situation in this province. My government intends to assure that in the future there is adequate advance planning for seasonal employment programs in order to avoid the reduced effectiveness of crash programs. 4. The Department of Industry will take over responsibility for the transportation sector of government research, in recognition of the key relationship between industrial development, freight rates, and transportation policies. 5. A Department of Telephones and Utilities is being created to ensure that one Minister of the Elective Council has overall supervision of the services of essential utilities which affect the daily lives of every Albertan. 6. Among the new cabinet committees is a Cabinet Committee on Metropolitan Affairs to work in conjunction with the administrations of the cities of Edmonton and Calgary to attempt to offset some of the problems and difficulties apparent in metropolitan centres in North America. The committee consists of six Members of the Executive Council. 7. In addition to their broader obligations, the Ministers without Portfolio have been assigned specific areas of responsibility in health care, tourism, rural development, and northern development and native affairs. 8. In keeping with my government's position that all Government Members, within and without the Executive Council, share responsibility for policy formulation and response to the changing needs and requirements of the people, five major task forces of Government M.L.A.'s have been established to delve into five critical areas and recommend specific new directions for government policy. IMMEDIATE PROGRAM PRIORITIES In accordance with its undertaking to declare its priorities, my government confirms that it is committed to five areas of major priority action during Phase I of its administration. These immediate programs priorities are: 1. Protection of human rights. 2. The difficult circumstances of many of our senior citizens. 3. The pressures on maintaining the family farm and problems associated with the marketing of agricultural produce. 4. The needed facilities and support for handicapped children. 5. The overdue required reforms in mental health treatment and prevention. My government's specific responses to these immediate program priorities involve: (a) Protection of human rights My government has as its primary concern the protection of individual human rights; both the rights of individuals in relation to the power of the state and the rights of individuals as between themselves. Therefore, at the outset of this Session my government intends to introduce The Alberta Bill of Rights, to be the Paramount legislation of the province. This Bill will be similar to the Canadian Bill of Rights, within provincial jurisdiction, and will involve the area of protection of individual rights from the encroachment of the state. Subsequently, an Individual Rights Protection Act will be introduced, to replace the former human Right, Act, which will strengthen the protection of the individual from discrimination by other citizens as a result of race, creed, colour, religion, national origin, sex or age. These items of legislation will be supplemented by the Confidentiality of Public Documents Act to assure the protection of individual citizens in the intended disclosure by government representatives of an individual's private documents without the consent of the individual. In addition, the Office of the ombudsman and its independence from the Government will be strengthened by amending The ombudsman Act. Further, it will be proposed that the sexual Sterilization Act, which in the view of my government offends basic human rights, be repealed. (b) Senior Citizens Ratification will be requested of the action taken on January 1st, 1972, of relieving citizens 65 years or over and their dependants from the burden of medicare premiums drug costs and optional health services. Over 158,000 Albertans benefitted directly from this major policy change. In my government's view our senior citizens are usually trapped on fixed pension incomes with a very tight budget, and in these inflationary times deserve special consideration. One must bear in mind their contribution to Alberta's progress, over many years. In addition, there will be an amendment to The Highway Traffic Act to confirm that citizens of 70 years or over will not hereafter be obliged to take annual drivers' tests if they have had a safe driving record and can provide the required health certificates. Other special programs to improve the quality of life of our senior citizens will be announced during the course of the Session. (c) Agriculture My government appreciates the serious situation arising from the decline of net farm income over the past three years. Through an Agricultural Development Act, a major attack will be launched on the problem of helping to improve the strength of the family farm and the declining income level in agriculture. My government will establish an Agricultural Development Fund which will have a total capitalization of fifty million dollars to cover all areas of agricultural credit, with special programs aimed at the small farmer and the young farmer. The programs will be particularly and specifically related to marketing opportunities. The Department of Agriculture has been substantially reorganized to emphasize the major areas of marketing and the family farm, to reflect my government's new direction in these priority areas. My government will coordinate the marketing thrust of the Department of Industry with the Department of Agriculture to make a combined international approach in these two base economic sectors. In addition, my government will significantly revise existing legislation regarding surface rights throughout Alberta, by introducing a new Surface Rights Act to replace a number of existing statutes, including The Right of Entry Arbitration Act. This new legislation will confirm the important shift of jurisdiction for administering matters arising out of surface rights from the Department of Mines and Minerals to the Department of Agriculture. (d) Handicapped Children My government believes there needs to be a much higher priority given to facilities and support for Alberta children who have handicaps and learning disabilities. It is felt that society has a clear obligation to confirm its believe in the equal opportunity concept by providing special help for children who start life with disadvantages. This priority involves not new legislation, but new directions in programs which will be presented for consideration of the members during the course of the session. (e) Mental Health My government is committed to reforms in mental health, primarily by taking action on the Alberta Mental Health Study of almost three years ago; a study directed by Dr. W. P. N. Blair which concluded that "the mentally ill in Alberta are in an underprivileged position now and the discrimination against them must end." As a result, the government intends to present a new legislative framework, with a completely new Mental Health Act, and supplement is framework with initial program commitments to accelerate programs of mental health reform in Alberta. My government calls for concurrence from all Members in granting this area of public responsibility such a high and immediate priority. LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM In addition to these five areas of immediate program priority, my government intends to introduce a substantial number of new legislative proposals. In the very important area of environmental control my government will propose a number of new legislative improvements. These include expanding the impact of The Beverage Containers Act; the introduction of an entirely new Litter Act; the strengthening of the provisions of both The Clean Air Act and The Clean Water Act; a complete revision of the all-encompassing Water Resources Act; and finally, of great significance to conservation practices, a new Land Surface Conservation Act. To fulfil its important commitment to undertake new directions in industrial development for new and expanding Alberta enterprises, my government will present to this Session - as a major thrust of its administration - The Alberta Opportunity Fund Act, with the critical objective of creating a more diversified and a better balanced provincial economy. This Fund will give particular emphasis to new development for Alberta's smaller centres and is separate and distinct from the Agricultural Development Fund. Labour relations and stability is a prime objective of my government and sore amendments to The Alberta Labour Act will be supported for your consideration, although a general review of this Act will not occur until the Second Session. Overdue improvements in women's compensation are planned and will be presented. My government also intends to amend The Public Service Act and related acts to provide provincial Public Service employees with the improved position of arbitration of salary and wage disputes, subject to establishing reasonable statutory guidelines for such arbitration. In consumer affairs, it is intended to overcome certain defects in the existing Credit and Loan Agreements Act. Equity, excellence and maximum value for the dollar are goals of my government in the high priority area of education. Programs to ensure communication and feedback arising out of the Report of the Commission of Educational Planning, expected in June, will be represented. Amendments to The Department of Education Act, The School Act and The Teaching Profession Act will be proposed. The Attorney General will be introducing legislation by amendment to The Investment Contracts Act and The Securities Act which will tighten the law protecting the public from abuse. He will also be introducing legislation dealing with Occupier's Liability and the Rules relating to Perpetuities which will bring the law in these two important areas into line with modern thinking. Among a number of proposed changes in highways and traffic administration will be an Off-Highway Vehicle Act to reflect my government's concern with growing problems in this sector. These legislative measures will be supplemented by a comprehensive program for extension and improvement of Alberta's highway system reflecting my government's emphasis upon rural development. In the field of improved communication, Alberta Government Telephones' construction program for 1972 includes a substantial rural buried cable program, and from this, service to in excess of nine thousand additional rural subscribers will be provided. Progress in terms of establishing adequate wilderness areas within Alberta will be reflected in various programs as well as amendments to the applicable laws. The needed amendments to The Wildlife Act will be submitted for your approval. In addition to the aforementioned question of possible revisions in the rate of return from natural resource development, a number of statutory improvements will be introduced under that jurisdiction of the Department of Mines and Minerals, including, in particular, a new Coal Conservation Act. My government's support of the cultural aspects of our society will be recommended by a novel Art Foundation Act to strengthen support for Alberta artists. Further, my government will request ratification of its desire to undertake a new museum for southern Alberta to house the magnificent collection of the Glenbow Foundation in Calgary. My government intends to commence an approach to repeal unnecessary statues and considers its legislative program in relation to both the introduction of new legislation as well as the repeal of outdated laws of Alberta. My government intends to implement, without delay, the wishes of the electorate to reflect the positive vote by plebiscite in favour of joining with the rest of Canada by accepting daylight saving time. POSITION PAPERS My government is well aware that apart from legislative measures a budgetary programs, modern government involves the process of developing policy positions from various alternatives, and that these positions reflect and often subsequently create both legislative and budgetary commitments. My government thus has the view that it is in the best interests of the people of Alberta to have a clear understanding of its various policy positions, and that this is particularly so with a new government. Therefore, my government intends to start a new approach by presenting to the Legislature, from time to time, a series of New Direction Position Papers so that the Members and also the public may have a better appreciation of policy positions or alternatives which may form the foundation for subsequent legislative or budgetary proposals. Our emphasis on the need for better long term planning underscores the desirability of such an approach. My government concludes that this approach may improve public understanding of the complexities of various issues also provide both the members and interested citizens with an opportunity to respond to such positions. CONCLUSION In summary, my government has established five specific areas of immediate program priorities; it plans to supplement these areas with substantial list of legislative innovations; it intends to organize significantly the operations of a number of departments; confirms its intention of broadening the accessibility of the citizen in relation to the Legislature, and it intends to emphasize strongly the importance of individual M.L.A.'s. Members of the Legislative Assembly! In due course you will be presented with budget proposals by my government to support these priorities as well as many of these legislative proposals. You will be asked to grant the necessary funds for the operating services and expenditures authorized by the Legislature and to endorse a program of capital financing for the Government of Alberta. The public accounts of the previous administration for the period concluding March 31st 1971, will be presented for your scrutiny. I leave you now to the business of the Session, with full confidence that as elected representatives, your singular motivation will be the public interest of all the people of Alberta. I pray for your wisdom and your strength in your deliberations.