Province Législature Session Type de discours Date du discours Locuteur Fonction du locuteur Parti politique Colombie-Britannique 30e 2e Discours du Trône 25 janvier 1973 John Robert Nicholson Lieutenant-Gouverneur New Democratic Party of British Columbia Mr. Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly, I am pleased to welcome you to this, the second session of the 30th Parliament of our province. I extend to you all my best wishes as you, my new Government and Legislature, embark upon the course of action required to face the changes of the 70's. This last year has been an eventful one and we are mindful of the high level of expectation that our citizens have from governments across the nation. Consequently, the policies and programmes of my Government, as evidenced by the special session last October, will continue to be carefully designed to meet both the priorities and the expectations of our people in the most appropriate ways. All Canadians have felt deep and abiding concern over the horrors of the war in southeast Asia. It is therefore with an overwhelming sense of relief that we welcome the Vietnam ceasefire and peace treaty announced earlier this week. Since last September many of my Ministers have met with their counterparts in other provinces and with the Cabinet Ministers of our federal government. Sincere appreciation of our contributions has been expressed by many at these important discussions, and the expressions of optimism regarding the province's future role in Confederation and the future of Canada are highly significant. All Canadians were recently saddened by the loss of the Rt. Hon. Lester B. Pearson, Canada's Prime Minister from 1963 to 1968. Mr. Pearson, a Nobel Prize winner, was a dedicated and a very highly respected diplomat who brought honour and dignity to the country that he loved and served so well. I note with regret the passing on November 13 last, of Herbert Anscomb, a Minister of the Crown from 1941 to 1952. Mr. Anscomb was an able politician and a servant of the people whose passing was mourned by all who came in contact with him. I am pleased to report that my First Minister and members of the Executive Council met with the Hon. Daniel J. Evans, Governor of the State of Washington, and members of his administration in Olympia earlier this month to discuss matters of mutual interest. Such discussions and the frank exchange of ideas should prove to be beneficial. While in Olympia, the Hon. Premier was afforded the high honour of addressing the joint houses of the Legislature. I note with pleasure that Governor Evans has been invited to visit British Columbia in the fall of this year in order to carry on with these discussions. In mid-November of last year we were honoured by the visits of the Hon. William A. Egan, Governor of the State of Alaska, and Mr. James Smith, Commissioner of the Yukon Territory. These visits were for the purpose of discussing ideas as to the improvement of our environment and ecology and other matters of joint co-operation. During this session of the Legislature you will be asked to consider, among others, the following measures: • A British Columbia Bill of Rights. • Legislation to implement a Government-operated automobile insurance plan. • Amendments to improve the pensions plans administered by the Government. • Amendments to The Constitution Act and a revision of some departmental Acts to reflect the new thrusts and priorities of my Government. • Amendments to The Park Act and The Litter Act. • Amendments to The Land Act and The University Endowment Lands Act. • In the important field of health care you will be asked to consider legislation for the following: • An Ambulance Services Act and amendments to the Medical Act and The Mental Health Act. Major administrative and legislative changes will be made in the Department of Industrial Development, Trade and Commerce and you, the Legislative Assembly, will be asked to discuss measures to complement these changes. Two major problems will come before you as a result of your actions in the special session last October. These are the continuing study of the effects of the consumption of, and the advertising of, tobacco and alcoholic products; and the report from the Speaker as a result of the passage of The Legislative Procedure and Practice Inquiry Act. The administrative and legislative programmes will be carefully designed and will be based on the clear necessity to plan our future so that we may live in harmony with our special environment and at peace with our fellow men, and to depart from the acquisitive North American values that have seen profligacy and waste on all sides. To implement these programmes, our Government will bolster services to our country, our people, industry, and labour, to catch up with modern society's demands for quality services provided by skilled people. Our citizens have spent vast sums educating our young people in special skills. These talents will be tapped as we update the Civil Service which has been handicapped for some time by lack of sufficient staff. Therefore, our Government will institute measures that will create close to 1,000 new government jobs in the Civil Service of our Province. The complexities and burdens of government in these troublesome times clearly suggest that your wisdom and advice will be required more frequently than in the past. It is my Government's intention to call you together as the work load expands and also to increase the work and the designed use of the standing committees of the House so that our citizens will be served best at all times. To these and all other matters which may come before you, I ask your most careful attention and I pray that Divine Providence may guide your deliberations. Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, I leave you now to the discharge of your legislative duties.