Province Législature/Legislature Session Type de discours/Type of speech Date du discours/Date Locuteur/Speaker Fonction du locuteur/Function Parti politique/Political party Ile du Prince Edward Island – Prince Edward Island 49 1 Discours du Trône/Speech from the Throne 01-02-1960 Frederick W.Hyndman Lieutenant-governor Progressive Conservative P.E.I: Speech from the Throne, First Session of the Forty ninth General Assembly, February, 1960 In the name of Her Majesty, the Queen, it is my privilege and pleasure to greet and welcome you to this, the first Session of the Forty ninth General Assembly of Prince Edward Island. In common with Her Majesty's loyal subjects throughout Canada and the British Commonwealth of Nations, the people of Prince Edward Island rejoice with great joy and jubilation upon the birth of a new Royal Prince. To Her Gracious Majesty and His Highness, Prince Philip, our people extend their abundant good wishes. In 1951 the people of Prince Edward Island had the inestimable good fortune for a visit from Her Royal Majesty, who was then The Princess Elizabeth, and Her Royal Consort, Prince Philip. Last summer our people were honoured by a second and longer visit from Their Majesties, and once again we had the opportunity to display our steadfast loyalty and devotion. Although our people recognize and regret the great physical strain which such a tour imposes upon our Royal visitors, we nevertheless look forward to Her Majesty's next visit on what we hope will be a more modified and less strenuous tour of Her Dominion Since the close of the last Session, the people of Prince Edward Island have been blessed with another year of Peace and Prosperity. Our farmers and fishermen have, on the whole, harvested good crops and we have been spared those climatic convulsions which ravage other lands. We give humble thanks to our Divine Creator for the Peace which He continues to bestow upon Recognizing the influence of the Agricultural industry in the overall economy of the province, my Government has taken appropriate action to strengthen and expand those services which will be in the interests of our farm people. Re organization has been effected in the Department of Agriculture designed to promote farm policies more effectively. A Director of Livestock and also a new Director of 4 H Club and Junior Farmer organizations have been appointed. Another practicing Veterinarian will also be added to the present staff. Changes have been effected in the Herd Improvement policy that will broaden the scope of this service. A special provision for breeding of outstanding cows with top herd sires in Canada and the United States will also be established. This new practice will be in addition to the regular insemination policies which will be vigorously Promoted. Greater use has been made of the Vocational School, and new courses in Forestry, Dairying, Fisheries and Navigation have been added to the regular Farm Livestock and Poultry training. My Government, recognizing the importance of good markets, has appointed a Marketing Expert who will undertake a broad investigation of marketing problems and will assist the fanning and fishing industries in securing improved market demand for primary products. Special attention will be directed towards improvement in the potato industry. Greater stress will be placed on quality and closer contact will be provided at the producer, packaging and consumer levels. More effective measures will be provided in the control of potato diseases and plans will be outlined to secure the full co operation of the potato producers in the promotion of industrial interests at both the production and marketing levels. My Government is pleased to report that discussions are now going on with a view towards stimulating interest in new crops for processing purposes, and in the establishment of suitable industries in the province to accomplish this end. The Farm Credit Policies will be extended to embrace a wider age group and include all farmers with at least two years experience in Canada. A survey of vacant Island farms and farms presently for sale has been undertaken by the field men of the Department of Agriculture, and the Queen's County survey has been almost completed, This survey by competent investigators will supply valuable information on the number, quality, value and suitability for farm or forestry purposes of farms vacant or for sale. My Government will encourage the production of the most suitable varieties of fruits and vegetables for our domestic and export markets, and for processing purposes, and in this manner provide new sources of revenue for farm producers. Improved Farm Management practices have become a vital part of our whole system of farm operation. Special attention will be directed toward a closer association of Extension officials with farm producers in order to plan more effective farm management policies. Consistent with the policy of improved efficiency in public services, my Government has transferred the Farm Improvement Service from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Industry and Natural Resources. Every effort is being made to establish this service on a sound financial basis while at the same time providing maximal usefulness to our rural people. Mindful of the need to develop higher levels of income for our fishermen, my Government will take steps to increase efficiency in our Fishing industry. Several new draggers and long liners will be added to our province's fishing fleet, and studies will be undertaken with a view towards the establishment of bait storage facilities. Recognizing the value and importance to our economy of the Tourist Industry, my Government proposes to create a new Department to be known as the Department of Tourist Development which, under the administration of a responsible Minister of the Crown, will supervise and promote this expanding industry. My Government further proposes to create another Department, that of Municipal Affairs. This is considered necessary because of the rapidly growing housing development in various areas of the province, which requires careful planning to provide a master plan for future generations. In connection with the Centennial observance of the meeting held in Charlottetown on September 1st, 1864, which led to the Confederation of the Canadian Provinces, my Government will increase the membership of the Committee, now established, so that plans may be continued for a fitting observance of this important and historic event. During the past year a number of camp sites and picnic areas were established in the province. It is the intention of my Government to further develop and expand this type of recreational facility for the enjoyment of our people and our visiting tourists. An agreement has been signed between my Government and the Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources whereby the Government of Canada will contribute substantially towards the costs of establishing camp sites and picnic areas within the province. Transportation continues to occupy a prominent place in the efforts of my Government to improve the economic condition of our people. In November last, the Royal Commission on Transportation held hearings in Charlottetown and briefs were presented by my Government and other organizations. The Commission was most attentive to the special problems of our province, and my Ministers were assured that careful consideration would be given to the geographical handicaps of this province. The brief presented by the province will be tabled for the information of the House. My Government is pleased to report that a continuous and extremely thorough study is being made by the Government of Canada in connection with the proposed causeway between this province and the mainland of New Brunswick. Numerous consultations have been held between my Ministers and the Federal authorities, and my Government is fully confident that if these studies show the Causeway to be economically and structurally. feasible, it will be built. In view of the length of time it would require to construct a Causeway across Northumberland Strait, my Government has continuously impressed upon the Government of Canada the urgency of additional transportation facilities between Port Borden and Cape Tormentine New Brunswick, and my Government is pleased to report that a new and modern Carferry is to be made available for this service in 1961. This will relieve, for a time at least, the long delays experienced by our truckers and tourists at this point. My Government is happy to report that the Government of Canada proposes to promote, with all possible speed, the development of the Fort Amherst Historic Park at Rocky Point. This will provide still another recreational area for our citizens, and add greatly to the numerous tourist attractions of our province. In anticipation of the large number of people from Charlottetown and surrounding areas, who will utilize the facilities of this Park, My Government proposes to provide adequate passenger ferry services between the City and Rocky Point. In January of this year my Minister of Public Works and Highways, acting on behalf of my Government, signed an agreement with the Honourable Alvin Hamilton whereby the Government of Canada will participate in the construction of over 400 miles of paved roads in this province to the extent of fifty percent of the cost. This Roads to Resources programme has already begun and will continue with all possible speed until completed. In addition to and parallel with the Roads to Resources Programme, my Government will pursue a Provincial Road Programme of its own, whereby roads ineligible for paving under the Resource plan may be considered wholly as a Provincial project. My Government will not be satisfied until every Island citizen shall have easy access to a paved highway. My Government deeply regrets the continued frustration experienced by our people, especially our truckers, in the delayed construction of the new bridge across the Hillsborough River. However, work on the new structure is progressing and it is to be hoped that no further difficulties will arise in eliminating this objectionable bottle neck in our transportation system. Recognizing that the production of trees and the cultivation of farm woodlots be an important adjunct to our province's economy, my Government proposes to accelerate its assistance to woodlot management. Opportunities will be made available to our rural youth to study Forestry, and the organization of 4 H Forestry Clubs will be vigorously promoted. Realizing the importance of adequate housing accommodation, if our people are to maintain a reasonable standard of living and foster proper family life, my Government has given detailed study to a plan whereby those in the lower income brackets may be given financial assistance by way of loans to help in the construction of adequate housing. Legislation to implement Group Housing will be submitted for your approval and if Passed. the plan will be inaugurated on a trial basis. The Rural Electrification programme will be promoted vigorously. My Government proposes to build a minimum of one hundred and fifty miles of power lines during the course of the next year, and this estimate may be substantially increased, depending upon weather conditions and availability of essential supplies. My Government deplores the existing telephone services in the rural areas of the province, and studies will shortly be made with a view towards providing a more extensive and more satisfactory telecommunication system for our rural people in keeping with the progress of our time. Last October my Government commissioned a noted Canadian Educationalist to conduct a survey relative to financing and administration of education in this province. It is a matter of regret that this completed report will not be available for presentation to this Session of the Legislature. However, certain proposals for the advancement of additional financial assistance to school districts will be presented for your consideration. My Government is pleased to note an increased interest on the part of the people of the province in the education of their youth. Great progress is therefore anticipated, particularly in the development of high school services. We note with satisfaction that our people of Acadian ancestry in the Egmont Bay, Mont Carmel and Wellington areas, as befitting the early pioneers of this province, have voted to form the first Regional High School Unit. There is evidence that other areas are displaying a similar interest in this type of school organization. It is a matter of great satisfaction to record that a school for the Deaf was opened in this province last September. Eight pupils were enroled under the guidance of a specially trained instructor. The province has continued its commitments for pupils enroled at the School for the Blind, and for those previously enroled at the School for the Deaf in Halifax, Nova Scotia. My Government is pleased to report that the newly established classes at our Provincial Vocational School in Radio and Television repair, and in Diesel Mechanics have attracted the maximum number of students. It is likewise a great satisfaction to my Government to note that the enrolment of students in our teacher training classes has more than doubled that of the preceding year. It will be the policy of my Government to encourage this trend towards regular qualification so that Letters of-Authority or Permits to Teach may be dispensed with entirely. During the past six months we have introduced a Hospital Insurance Plan which provides extensive in patient and outpatient hospital benefits to the residents of this province. For the first time in our history we have made available to our people the most modern diagnostic and treatment hospital facilities of the larger medical centres in North America for disease conditions which cannot be adequately treated in our own hospitals. The success of the plan is evidenced by the high proportion of our people who have taken this means to insure themselves against the cost of hospital care. To ensure the continued financial welfare of our general hospitals, and to provide assistance toward those hospital costs which are not sharable by the Federal Government under the Hospital Insurance Plan, my Government has made available a substantial Capital Cost Grant. This Grant will guarantee to our hospitals annual payments toward principal and interest on existing Capital Debt. It will also provide additional assistance toward the cost of new construction and renovations in our hospitals. Recognizing the need for different classes of personnel to provide nursing services in our General Hospitals and Institutions/ my Government is establishing an educational programme for Licensed Nursing Assistants. Such persons will form an integral part of the nursing team and result in a high quality of nursing services being provided to patients at home and in hospital. My Government has taken the initial steps toward constructing a hospital school for the care and training of mentally defective children. This will be the first phase of a comprehensive programme designed to develop the abilities of mentally defective children to the maximum so that they may be partially or completely self sufficient in adult life. In addition it will provide suitable facilities for the care of the more severe cases of mental deficiency in children who can no longer be retained in the home surroundings. The demands for sanitary services have increased tremendously during the past few years, especially due to the extension of Town Planning areas, numerous requests from town villages for Sanitary Surveys and the need for inspection of Tourist Accommodations. My Government intends to expand existing Sanitary Services by educating and employing two additional Sanitary Inspectors so that the various requirements may be met. Our province is developing an enviable reputation for the production of high quality dairy products, frozen fish and canned vegetables. So that this standard may be maintained, my Government will expand its sanitation inspection services to include the handling of the primary product at the producer level as well as at the packing plant. During the past year my Government took part in two Federal Provincial Conferences of Provincial Ministers of Finance and Treasurers, and the Minister of Finance of Canada. The purpose of these meetings was to consider how the outstanding problems of inter governmental financial and economic relations in Canada should be dealt with through active co operative study as a basis for future negotiations. In the event that in the near future, the Government of Canada should call a full scale Federal Provincial Conference, my Government is preparing a submission detailing the arguments on which we base our claim for additional financial assistance. During the past year my Government engaged the services of McDonald, Currie & Company, Chartered Accountants of Montreal, to examine into, and report upon, the financial position of the province as of September 16, 1959, and to make such suggestions and recommendations in reference e to the finances, accounting and audit of the province as it considered advisable. My Ministers will report upon the result of this examination, and the recommendations contained therein will be given full and complete consideration. Necessary action has already been taken to introduce a centralized system of accounting and budgeting effective April 1, 1960; whereby a better control may be exercised over the financial activities of the various Departments. During this Session legislation designed to improve the welfare of our people will be introduced for your consideration, and you will be asked to deliberate upon other matters of primary importance to the prosperity of our province. Recognizing the need for Electoral Reform my Government will take into consideration the establishment of a Committee to study the existing legislation and to make recommendations towards more satisfactory representation for the Electorate. My Government, in addition to several amendments to existing Labor Legislation, will propose new Legislation to effect a minimum wage scale for male employees within the province. My Government will, at all times, endeavour to conduct the administration of the affairs of the province in a manner consistent with and conforming to, the limitations of our economy. With a view to obtaining greater efficiency in the administration of provincial affairs, my Government has appointed a committee of Ministers of the Crown, to investigate the physical and financial possibilities of erecting a new building to house all administrative offices required to carry out the necessary Government services. The public accounts for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1959 will be placed before you. An Interim Statement showing revenues and expenditures for the current fiscal year, as presently estimated, will be furnished. Estimates for the fiscal year to commence on April 1, 1960 will be presented for your consideration. You will be asked to provide new sources of revenue to furnish the funds required for the servicing and retiring of the debt of the province, and for the payment of such capital expenditures as may be authorized by legislation. May Divine Providence guide you in your deliberations as you legislate upon the social and economic development of our people and province. I now leave you to your duties.