Province Législature Session Type de discours Date du discours Locuteur Fonction du locuteur Parti politique Alberta 19e 3e Discours du trône 2 avril 1981 Frank C. Lynch-Staunton Lieutenant-gouverneur Alberta Progressive Conservative Party Mr. Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly: I have the honour to welcome you to the Third Session of the 19th Legislature of the province of Alberta. The first year of this new decade of the 1980s was a year of celebration and thanksgiving for Albertans, but at the same time it was a year of increasing concern for national unity. Alberta's future has been jeopardized in recent months as a result of federal government actions, both in pursuing a unilateral plan to patriate the Canadian constitution and in presenting energy proposals which have adverse implications for Canadian unity. My government calls upon the government of Canada to bring about an atmosphere in which realistic negotiations can be undertaken on both the constitutional and energy issues. I have mentioned the spirit of celebration and thanksgiving which marked the 75th Anniversary year of Alberta as a province. The celebrations touched the lives of most Albertans. Hundreds of communities throughout the province responded enthusiastically with individual programs of celebration for their own areas as well as government departments initiating special programs in recognition of the event. Of the nearly $41 million in capital grants to municipalities, more than three-quarters crated permanent or long-term benefits in culture, recreation and sports, and community facilities. This is a year of special significance, as nations throughout the world recognize the United Nations designation of 1981 as the International Year of Disabled persons. My government will make a number of proposals for special programs to bring improvements for the disabled in our province. My government will emphasize four priorities during this session: (1) Housing. Expanded programs to assure that more and more Albertans have access to good and affordable housing. (2) Health Care. Emphasis will again be placed on improved facilities throughout all parts of Alberta to ensure the highest quality of health care for our citizens. (3) Social Services. New and expanded programs for the disabled, support services for the family, improvements in foster care, and increased support for senior citizens, are among the high priorities of my government. (4) Federal/Provincial Relations. Although the difficulties are very substantial, my government will pursue its efforts for meaningful negotiations with the federal government in all matters of energy and constitutional concern. Hospitals and Medical Care My government is maintaining its emphasis on the building of fine hospitals in communities throughout Alberta. At present, over 90 hospital projects are in various stages of development, and consideration is now being given to additional proposals. Assessment of future building priorities will be aided substantially by the report of the Hospital Utilization Committee. This year the first hospital facilities funded by the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund will be completed and opened. They are the Alberta children's hospital and southern Alberta cancer treatment centre in Calgary, both of which will provide unique health care services to Albertans. The Walter MacKenzie Health Sciences Centre for specialty referral will reach a further stage. Additional progress will be made on the network of regional hospitals outside the metropolitan areas. The heritage fund program for cancer and heart applied research has now reached the level where diagnostic and other equipment is of major benefit to our citizens suffering from these diseases. Starting this year, physiotherapy services provided by private clinics will be an extended service available under the Alberta health care insurance plan. A full, province wide review of the nursing home system will be conducted by a panel of citizens. The Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, which is well under way, will be recruiting scientists and allotting funds for productive research. Housing and Public Works Despite the impact of high interest rates, Alberta is expected once again to account for over 20 per cent of Canada's housing starts in 1981. My government's commitment to the funding of housing programs is unprecedented in the history of this or any other provincial government. Several positive actions have made housing affordable to large numbers of Albertans. The Alberta Home Mortgage Corporation expanded its programs in 1980-81, and is expected to continue to do so through this fiscal year. The capital commitments required to meet the demands of builders, developers, and individual Albertans, doubled from $320 million in 1979-80 to $671 million in 1980-81. In November 1980 an additional $250 million was allocated from the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund, to finance both the rental and home ownership programs of this Crown corporation. This substantial funding has been used to finance an estimated 8,000 single-family homes and 6,000 rental units during the fiscal year. In addition, investors in private rental housing started in 1980 and 1981 are eligible for tax rebates or tax credits worth up to 5 per cent of the cost of construction. Together, these incentives are designed to help alleviate the impact of high interest rates on the supply of private rental accommodations. The corporation has also directed more than $50 million to supplying reasonably priced serviced land for residential and industrial use through various land development programs. A heavy emphasis will be placed on home ownership for as many Alberta families as possible through the fiscal year ahead. Proposals will be made for the continued support of approximately 1,000 families, to help build their own homes through the popular co-operative housing action program. During 1981-82, proposals will be made to substantially support four existing programs which assist native families in housing. The rural home assistance program will provide funds for up to 100 families in isolated communities and on Métis settlements to build their own homes. The rural and native program will provide self help advice and financing for some 75 families in incorporated municipalities with populations under 2,500. The transitional housing program will house some 150 native families making transition to permanent employment in larger centres, and the rural mobile-home program will continue to be available on an emergency basis throughout rural Alberta. Senior citizens will continue to receive grants of up to $2,000 through the Alberta pioneer repair program to help them remain in their own homes. To the end of 1980, some 35,000 households have been assisted through this program, and it is expected that an additional 12,000 senior citizen households will be helped during the forthcoming year. Self-contained and lodge accommodation also remains a priority, with the construction of 1,895 self-contained and 144 lodge units for senior citizens during the fiscal year just passed. An additional 2,600 housing units for seniors will be proposed for this coming year. My government maintains its concerns for other Albertans with special housing needs. The Alberta Housing Corporation supplied 950 units of community housing for low-income Albertans during the past fiscal year and proposes a further 1,170 units in 1981-82, an increase of 30 per cent. It is estimated that in the year ahead, over 45 per cent of Alberta's new housing starts, worth in excess of $1 billion, will have been financed by housing loans through the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund. No province in Canada is even close to Alberta in improving the quality of life through good housing. Planning is under way for new provincial buildings at Crowsnest Pass, Edson, Medicine Hat, Morinville, Pincher Creek, Provost, Rimbey, Rocky Mountain House, Slave Lake, Tofield, and Wetaskiwin. Advanced Education and Manpower My government will continue a program of regional expansion of postsecondary education, to accommodate an increasing need for highly qualified graduates from our universities, colleges, technical institutes, and vocational centres. The highly successful apprenticeship and trade certification program is developing an increasing number of skilled tradesmen. Over 4,100 Albertans received journeyman status in 40 trades in 1980, while a further 10,450 were enrolled as new apprentices. With a total of some 26,000 apprentices now registered in Alberta, an announcement will be made this year as to the location of a third institute of technology, to ensure that adequate training facilities are available in the trades and technologies. New legislation will be introduced to provide for a change in the administration of Alberta institutes of technology, from provincially administered to independent board governed. A satellite campus of Medicine Hat College has been opened in Brooks; and Fairview College, in co-operation with other institutions, is extending programs to the residents of MacKenzie North. Five institutional consortia are being established to serve the town of Peace River, the Yellowhead region, the city of Drumheller and surrounding area, the Crowsnest Pass-Pincher Creek region, and Drayton Valley. In this way, advanced education institutions are working co-operatively with local volunteer groups to provide greater educational opportunities to Albertans in these areas. Services to handicapped citizens will be improved, with the implementation of programs under a five-year project to support specialized teacher training, rehabilitation worker training, and direct vocational training for our disabled people. A number of special projects have been started to mark the International Year of Disabled Persons, including two special components in the priority employment program, and the development of special information and resource material on employment for disabled persons. These projects are designed to assist disabled citizens to become full and productive members of Alberta's labour force. My government will shortly begin a major development in response to nursing manpower, nursing education, and nursing research challenges in the province. Education This year will see the institution of the new social studies curriculum, designed to improve awareness and understanding of Canadian history, geography, and government, among junior and senior high school students. In further recognition of the International Year of Disabled Persons, the Department of Education will provide new services through the Alberta School for the Deaf. There will also be special education teaching positions provided for school boards throughout the province, and additional support for the development of a diagnostic program for young learners. The education opportunities fund program is proposed for renewal for an additional four years, and is being expanded in scope. Negotiations for the establishment of the sensory multi-handicapped programs are now in the final stages, with both the Calgary and Edmonton public school boards. Stage two of a major review of the education finance plan of the province will begin this summer. It will examine alternative ways of financing education in Alberta through the next 20 years. A thorough study of the operations of the Northland School Division will be completed this fall and will be of importance in determining future development of the division. Social Services and Community Health The designation of 1981 as International Year of Disabled Persons by the United Nations, draws attention to many opportunities in the areas of vocational training and community residences in various parts of Alberta. A special provincial committee has been doing an excellent job in co-ordinating activities and planning for the International Year of Disabled Persons. Increased child development services for the handicapped will be added in rural communities, to assist with day training and preschool programs for infants as well as additional support for parents of handicapped children. Staff will be requested for Michener Centre to improve the staff-patient ratio, thus providing better care. Preventive social programs are a high priority of my government. A new family and community support services Act will be introduced. Local decision-making will be strengthened, and the primary emphasis will be on providing support services for the family through voluntary agencies. New emphasis will be placed on suicide and crisis intervention by providing support to voluntary groups in the community and research through the University of Calgary. A provincial advisory committee will be established. Decision making in the department will be decentralized. Six regions will be established. Regional directors will co-ordinate activities within these regions. Amendments will be proposed to The Mental Health Act, allowing for board status at Alberta Hospital, Ponka, and Alberta Hospital, Edmonton. Increased support will be provided for the foster home program, and additional emphasis will be placed upon recruiting new foster homes. The recruitment of foster homes in the native communities to provide care for native children in their own familiar surroundings, will continue to receive our concentrated attention. Additional staff will he requested, to enhance the screening and training of foster parents and to further reduce caseloads in child care. The recent suggestions of the Ombudsman for improvements in the foster home program will be expedited and reported to the Legislature. Amendments to The Child Welfare Act will be proposed in the fall of 1981, following further submissions to the Cavanagh Board of Review. In continuing recognition of their contribution to our country and our province, senior citizens who qualify for the Alberta assured income plan will have their benefits increased. This will aid in meeting rising costs for food and shelter. To meet the needs of women and their children who are victims of family violence, a program will be developed to provide more support for emergency shelters. My government also proposes to provide a further increase in the operating allowance for day care centres, in keeping with a commitment that improvements in day care standards will not cause an increase in costs for parents. The Alberta Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Commission will undertake a new educational awareness program. These new and expanded programs emphasize my government's commitment to provide quality health and social support services to the people of Alberta. The commitment will be reflected in budgetary proposals. Agriculture My government recognizes the critical importance of agriculture to Alberta's economy and will continue its efforts to assure stability of our richest renewable resource. My government is concerned that because of inflation and high interest rates, increasing gross incomes are not reflected in comparable increases in real net income. Despite this concern, the future of agriculture in Alberta is promising, as a worldwide shortage of food is forecast for the years ahead. Changes in the lending policies of the Agricultural Development Corporation, particularly involving the beginning farmer, have been well received and have provided the means for additional numbers of young people to establish themselves in farming. Should this trend in lending continue, it is anticipated that over 1,000 new beginning farmers will enter agriculture during this fiscal year alone. My government fully recognizes the importance of constraining input costs, and has various programs to assure that fuel, heating, and other energy costs remain the lowest in Canada. A hog stabilization program, planned as a follow-up to the Alberta emergency hog stop-loss program, which has expired, will be presented for consideration. Its objective will be to provide hog producers with a reasonable income during periods of low returns. The report on hog marketing has been received, and its recommendations will be considered and reported to the Legislature. My government continues to promote expansion of agricultural processing and market development. Plans have earlier been announced for the construction of a $7.7 million food processing centre at Leduc. This is a significant step in complementing the efforts of the farming industry in improving value-added processing of Alberta products. Early this year, the first of 1,000 new hopper cars purchased by the people of Alberta through the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund began service in the province, a distinct aid to the transportation capacity available to our grain and livestock producers. Alberta Terminals Ltd., now fully established with a permanent board of directors, has been active in meeting the objective of a high throughput elevator system within Alberta. Energy and Natural Resources On October 28, 1980, the federal government unveiled its energy proposals attempting to control the exploration, development, and sale of Alberta's petroleum and natural gas resources. Among other matters, the federal program and associated budget, force Alberta to sell its oil and natural gas at well below half of value. Discriminatory and punitive taxes are imposed on the sale of these depleting resources. The federal plan also restructures the tax system with an attempt to direct exploration activity away from Alberta to federal lands. Federal energy policies, aimed at extending federal control over provincially owned resources, have generated an unprecedented crisis in Alberta's petroleum industry. The result is that geophysical surveys and drilling contracts have been cancelled or not renewed, with the attendant movement of Canadian skilled workers and equipment, almost wholly Canadian-owned, to the United States. Oil sands and enhanced recovery projects have been deferred, and investment in the conventional petroleum industry is switching in a significant way from western Canada to the United States. All this points to a serious curtailment of exploration and development activity in our province, compared to levels attained in recent years. My government is prepared to enter into meaningful discussions with the federal government on an overall energy pricing and taxation agreement which will restore the province's ownership position and also the investor confidence needed to maintain high levels of exploration and development activity. Canada is at the crossroads in terms of its energy future. Only through co-operation and agreement with the producing provinces can the federal government establish an economic and political climate inductive to finding and developing new petroleum supplies. Such agreement is essential if Canada is to stand a reasonable chance of achieving self-sufficiency in crude oil by the end of this decade. My government deplores the strong negative impact that Ottawa actions will have on jobs and economic activity in Alberta and other regions of Canada. Fortunately we in Alberta are in a position to, in part, offset this negative impact by accelerating other resource projects in the province. It is anticipated that the sale of substantial quantities of thermal coal to Japan from the Gregg River project will lead to the commencement of major new coal mining activity in the Hinton area. In addition, my government has recently authorized another large export coal development near Obed. These projects will, to some extent, help offset the anticipated downturn in oil and natural gas exploration and development activities in the areas. Public Lands and Wildlife During 1981 an estimated 275,000 acres of public land will be made available to new farmers and for the expansion of existing farms. Detailed inventories of more than 50,000 acres of public land will be carried out to confirm their suitability for settlement. Further inventories will be carried out on an additional 10 townships. It is anticipated that in excess of 400 rangelands improvement projects will be funded under the public grazing land improvement program that was introduced last year. The grazing reserve development program, funded from the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund, will continue to develop needed pasture land in the gray-wooded soil zone of the province, to encourage and promote the agriculture industry in those areas. The first livestock to utilize the Fort Vermilion, Bear Canyon, and Blueberry Mountain grazing reserves will be accommodated in 1981. My government recognizes the lasting importance and benefit of progressive fish and wildlife programs and will take steps to increase their effectiveness. Forestry The new British Columbia Forest Products limited project will see two large sawmills and a thermomechanical pulp newsprint mill developed in the west-central portion of our province. The first sawmill will be completed and the second sawmill commenced during 1982. My government will be accelerating the development of forest recreation areas in the southwestern part of Alberta, to increase recreation opportunities in this attractive area and to provide employment in the construction of these facilities in a part of the province where additional employment is needed. The Pine Ridge Forest Nursery produces 20 million seedlings a year. This production is fully committed, and plans will be recommended to the Legislature to increase this capacity by 65 per cent. Municipal Affairs Legislation will be proposed to amend certain provisions of The Municipal Government Act. Under these proposals, improvements will be made to the existing system of annexation. There will be increased emphasis on the development of local government in the improvement districts. Consideration will be given to ways in which improvement districts, special areas, and Métis settlements can play a greater role in local government and economic development. In co-operation with the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association and the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties, my government will carry out a study with the object of recommending improvement to the existing provincial/municipal fiscal relationships. Environment The water and sewer program is becoming a very major undertaking of my government. It provides substantial provincial funding for expanding and upgrading water and sewer facilities for many communities. Demand from large and small communities has required large special warrants in the past fiscal year, and increased funding will be requested this year. New initiatives for flood control, drainage, erosion control, and recreation and wildlife habitat projects will be encouraged, leading to an increase in the general quality of life for many Albertans. The Dickson dam project on the Red Deer River west of Innisfail is proceeding on schedule and is expected to be completed in time to regulate the 1983 spring run-off. Following the report of the Environment Council of Alberta on the management of hazardous wastes in Alberta, my government is planning an integrated management system for Alberta which will ensure public safety and environmental protection. A hazardous waste team has been appointed to aid in developing a system of treatment facilities with the least possible environmental and social impact. During the past year, the Alberta environmental centre operations in Edmonton were moved to the new laboratories in Vegreville. Several new research programs have been approved and are being implemented, while other programs are being developed. The land reclamation program, funded by the Heritage Savings Trust Fund, will return many damaged sites to productive uses. The success of this valuable program has been very encouraging. Transportation Significant increases in the metropolitan populations during the 1970s, and economic diversification in many other areas, have created a strong demand for highway services throughout the province. The major pavement rehabilitation program, commenced last year, is producing significant improvements and prolonging the life of the road system. The resource road program helps rural municipalities and improvement districts handle the heavy transport associated with resource development, by providing major improvements to local roads. The secondary road program is also being expanded. Access to recreational developments and to newly opened agricultural lands in northern Alberta will be improved. It is proposed that roadways programs be further expended, with major corridor funding extended to additional cities. Transit improvement programs have benefited from increased direct capital support. The ongoing airport improvement program will work to accommodate the steadily increasing air travel in our province. A Canadian agreement on vehicle registration has been completed, and will result in freer flow of goods between provinces and removal of double taxation for the transporter and pass-on costs to the user. Labour My government will maintain its efforts to assure access for disabled persons to public buildings and work places. During 1981, the International Year of Disabled Persons, seminars will be held to encourage initiatives by building designers. During the past year, my government has benefited from the co-operation and advice of leaders of trade unions and industry. In keeping with recent advances in labour legislation, efforts will continue to promote healthy union management relations. The fire training centre at Vermilion will be completed m 1981. The new facilities will have the capacity to offer fire officer training courses as well as training in industrial firefighting and in responding to accidents involving dangerous goods. Workers' Health, Safety and Compensation Significant changes to The Workers' Compensation Act will be introduced during this session as a result of the recommendations of the Select Committee of the Legislative Assembly on Workers' Compensation. Proposals are now being received to utilize the eight-year, $10 million program announced last fall to support research, training, and education in worker health and safety. This program is funded through the capital projects division of the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund. Important inquiries and task force studies on worker safety have been commenced or carried out in the oil well drilling and servicing industry, and also to determine the cause of a roof fall-in in an underground coal mine at Grande Cache last year. The board of inquiry report on safety measures in underground coal mining and the task force report on construction safety are expected later this year. Attorney General A new provincial judges Act will be introduced, to govern the appointments of Provincial Court judges and related administrative matters. New courthouses in Wetaskiwin, Drumheller, and Red Deer, as well as renovations to the old courthouse in Calgary, will be commenced. A new medical examiners' facility was recently completed in Edmonton, and construction of a new facility for the medical examiners' program in Calgary is planned for this year. The Alberta Gaming Commission was established January 1981, as recommended by the government caucus task force on gaming. The commission will have broad responsibilities in policy recommendations and program development, public consultation and information, licensing of events, and approval of gaming personnel. A native liaison officer for the department will soon be appointed, following upon recommendations contained in the fourth report of the Kirby Board of Review. Solicitor General To meet increasing demand for motor vehicle registration and operators' licences, a new computer system is being developed to permit decentralized services. Regional service centres will be located in Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, and Fort McMurray, to provide over-the-counter service at those centres. Construction of the new Lethbridge medium security correctional institution, to replace the old facility now in use, has commenced as has the construction of a new minimum security correctional institution for the Calgary region. Planning is under way for a new medium security correctional institution to replace the Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Institution and also for a new Calgary remand centre. Emphasis is being placed on developing prisoner training programs to better prepare prisoners for employment when released from prison. Greater employment opportunities within the correctional system are being extended to women, with integration of male and female correctional staff. Native Affairs My government will advance opportunities for native people to participate more fully in the economic life of the province of Alberta. A native business assistance corporation will be proposed, to support unique and effective ways in which native people will benefit from current economic opportunities with the province. Training and employment of native people will be encouraged, both through direct measures by the government and active support by the private sector. Increased placement within the Alberta public service will be given special emphasis. The need for water, sewer, housing, and transportation services in isolated northern communities will also receive special attention. Funds will be proposed for local preventive social service programming for Indian bands through the extension of the family and community support services program. The education opportunities fund will be extended to assist urban native students in developing an awareness of their history and cultural heritage. Recreation and Parks In recognition of the 1981 International Year of Disabled Persons, emphasis will be placed on recreation programs and services for disabled persons, including conferences on sport integration, development of barrier free playground designs, and expanded fitness and outdoor recreation opportunities. A special user facility for the handicapped will be opened in Kananaskis Country. Funding will be provided to various Alberta sport and recreation associations to assist in hosting major national and international sports competitions in Alberta. There will be support and encouragement of Calgary's bid for the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. The first Alberta Seniors Games were held in Camrose in August 1980, with enthusiastic response from 900 participating senior citizens. In co-operation with the Alberta Games Council, my government is proposing financial support for the Seniors Games to become a regular biennial event. The Alberta Summer Games, involving 3,500 participants, will be held in Lethbridge in August. The Alberta Winter Games will follow in early 1982 in Lloydminster. The Alberta Summer Games for 1983 will be hosted by five communities in the county of Mountain View. The hosting of the games by a group of rural communities will be a first in Alberta. My government will be proposing a substantial increase in financial assistance to municipalities for the operation of recreation facilities. Significant expansion and upgrading of Dillberry Lake Provincial Park will commence in 1981, with major developments continuing at Hilliard's Bay, Cypress Hills, Cold Lake, Tillebrook, and Carson-Pegasus provincial parks. Construction will begin on the regional parks shop in Rimbey, and on a major new provincial park in the Whitney-Ross-Laurier lakes area of east-central Alberta. Several locations under our new parks program will be developed to provide recreation areas in various regions throughout the province. Culture A major new museum and research institution devoted to the investigation and display of dinosaur remains will be established in Midland's provincial park near Drumheller. The Drumheller museum and research institute, located near the world heritage site Dinosaur Provincial Park, will provide a display of Alberta dinosaurs and fossils comparable to or exceeding that of world-class museums. Important work will continue at the Strathcona science centre, with its unique archaeological facility. The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village continues to progress in its restoration and education work. In the past year, a major step has been taken in completing the village interpretive plan. During the past year, Alberta Culture's film and literary arts branch supervised thirty-one 75th Anniversary films, writing, and publishing projects. Work is going ahead on the Canadian encyclopedia project. The encyclopedia, Alberta's anniversary gift to the people of Canada, will be published in 1985. Our provincial support programs for the performing arts surpass those in other provinces. Tourism and Small Business Support services to Alberta businessmen have been expanded with the introduction of the new Alberta location program, which provides financial assistance for towns to attract prospective investors interested in business and industrial site location. Through the Alberta Opportunity Company, over $125 million is currently committed or outstanding to Alberta businesses which were unable to obtain financing from other sources. The establishment of a major oil sands interpretative centre in Fort McMurray will highlight Alberta's world leadership in oil sands technology. The first alpine village in Kananaskis Country is being planned for development by the private sector. Kananaskis Country will provide many unique recreational opportunities for all Albertans. The Opportunity North Conference, held in Grande Prairie in late November 1980, was highly successful and increased the understanding of the needs of Albertans in northern communities. Appropriate follow-up initiatives will be undertaken. In particular, the Northern Alberta Development Council is proposing transportation priorities in the north, as well as training and adult education opportunities. Economic Development Economic diversification is a major objective of my government. Our goals are to process our natural resources, decentralize economic activity, upgrade the skills of our work force, and expand trade into foreign markets. Our petrochemical industry will make a major contribution to the goal of economic diversification. During the next five years, a multitude of projects involving over $5 billion of new investment and a substantial number of job opportunities are anticipated. Authorizations are being accelerated to ensure that Alberta's overall economic vitality is sustained. Our economic diversification is enhanced by the wood and paper products industry and coal projects previously mentioned. Support of high-technology industries and of the manufacturing sector contributes toward Alberta's goal of economic diversification. My government has placed a high priority on medical research and development, including financial support for Chembiomed, an internationally recognized medical products manufacturer. It is of interest that policies of my government will provide incentives for development of the motion picture industry within Alberta and provide employment opportunities for Alberta writers, performers, crafts people, and technicians. My government has actively encouraged industry participation in a development of the Neptune Bulk Terminals on the west coast and has provided financial support for the development of the Prince Rupert grain terminal. These and other transportation initiatives referred to, strengthen Alberta's agriculture processing and other industrial activity. My government's commitment to research and development is reflected in the support given to the Alberta Research Council's recently developed long-range plan. Planning for the initial phase of a new Alberta Research Council headquarters is proceeding, and it is expected that construction of the research complex will commence in early 1982. International Trade The development of export markets for our manufacturing industry, engineering services, agricultural products, and technology is a high priority in the efforts to diversify our economy. Alberta's highly developed expertise in petroleum and natural gas exploration, production, and transportation, has opened profitable markets with many nations. Substantial export sales have resulted from missions to other countries and participation in numerous exhibitions. Utilities and Telephones My government will continue efforts to develop the hydro-electric potential in Alberta, particularly in the Dunvegan and Slave River areas. My government will also actively pursue an agreement which would allow for the purchase of hydro power from the government of Manitoba and for the construction of an integrated electrical grid in the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. The natural gas price protection plan provides Albertans with low-cost natural gas, in comparison to other Canadian consumers. The rural gas program provides natural gas service to rural Albertans. To date, some 64,000 connections have been made, bringing the benefits of natural gas to 180,000 citizens. This program stands alone in Canada in terms of its size and success. These programs, along with the new remote area heating allowance, which provides a 35 per cent subsidy for propane and fuel oil users who cannot receive natural gas, ensures reasonable home heating cost for Albertans throughout the province, whether urban or rural. Alberta Government Telephones will be expanding its role as a total telecommunications corporation, while providing Albertans with modern services such as province-wide air-to-ground mobile telephone service -- the only province in Canada to have such a service. Consumer and Corporate Affairs A review of legislation, regulations, and licensing requirements is resulting in the elimination of unnecessary licences and regulations. This review will maintain the credibility of the market place by licensing and regulating where necessary, but eliminating unnecessary red tape and licensing where no useful purpose is served. A restructuring of the department will strengthen the delivery at the regional level and increase the effectiveness of services available to the public. The Alberta business corporations Act, The Securities Act, and the commodity futures Act, previously placed before the House for public comment, will be presented again for consideration. Government Services Further use of computers for the government's purchasing operations will ensure that the province's business community as the maximum opportunity to tender on government supplies. While the government's purchasing policy stresses open competition, attention will also be given to local vendors who can supply locally required materials. For the first time, citizens in all regions of Alberta will be able to call the Alberta government toll free. The regional information telephone enquiry [RITE] system is providing a toll-free Zenith number to all citizens who do not reside in communities with a RITE centre. Treasury The budget speech, to be presented later in the session, will reveal current fiscal forecasts and policies to stabilize the Alberta economy. My government, along with other provinces and the federal government, will be involved in significant negotiations in respect to fiscal arrangements, established programs financing, and tax collection agreements. My government will seek authorization for the transfer of a percentage of our depleting non-renewable resource revenues to the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 1982. Appropriations for the capital projects division of the fund will again be presented to the Legislature in the fall. Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs The year 1981 may prove to be a crossroads for the evolution of Canada's federal system of government. The very nature of our federation has been challenged by the constitutional initiatives announced last fall by the government of Canada. The resolution of this Assembly, passed on November 24, 1980, reflects the commitment of Albertans to the constitutional review process and to the preservation of a strong and united federal Canada. My government will work towards halting the unilateral federal initiatives respecting the constitution and will urge the resumption of federal-provincial discussion on constitutional change. Initiatives taken in this respect are vital to Canadian unity. Members of the Legislative Assembly: In due course, you will be presented with budget proposals by my government to support these priorities and a program of balanced initiatives consistent with appropriate restraint in public expenditures. 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. I leave you now to the business of the session, with full confidence that as elected representatives your debates and your votes will reflect your understanding of the public interest of all people of Alberta. I pray for your wisdom and strength in your deliberations.