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 50                       2       Discours du Trône/Speech from the Throne 11-02-1964            Hon. Willibald J. MacDonald Lieutenant-governor           Progressive Conservative
      

P.E.I: Speech from the Throne, Second Regular Session of the Fiftieth General 
Assembly, February 11th, 1964


It is my pleasant duty, for the first time since my appointment as Lieutenant-Governor, to 
welcome the representatives of the people to the opening of the Second Regular Session 
of the Fiftieth General Assembly of the Province.

My people give humble thanks to a Divine Providence for another year of peace and 
prosperity. We have enjoyed freedom from the ravages of war and we sincerely pray that 
world leaders may be guided by friendship and goodwill so that fear and resentment will 
be abolished and our differences met in a peaceful, neighbourly manner.

My people look forward with great pleasure to the visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 
II and His Highness Prince Philip for the Official Opening of the New Confederation 
Memorial Building in October of this year.

All our people were shocked to hear on November 22nd that John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 
President of the United States, had been assassinated. The death of a great statesman 
brought sorrow and sadness the world over. Let us hope that this great tragedy will draw 
free men together in unity, wisdom and the spirit of accommodation needed to achieve 
peace, with dignity and strength.

Throughout this year, Prince Edward Island will mark the Centennial of the Conference 
of the Fathers of Confederation which was held in 1861, and at which the foundation of 
the Canadian Nation was laid. The celebrations of this event will be Provincial and 
National in significance and will lead to the National Celebrations in 1967 in the same 
manner that the Charlottetown Conference led to Confederation.

The Fathers of Confederation Memorial Building is nearing completion. It will be a 
magnificent shrine and a fitting tribute to the men who founded Canada, and will serve as 
a valuable contribution to the educational and cultural life of our community.

By and with the advice of my Executive Council, I have proclaimed the year 1964 to be 
the Centennial Year in this Province to be recognized, commemorated and celebrated by 
means of various observances, activities and community events. A warm welcome has 
been extended to all who will visit this Province to join with us in the joyous observance 
of this historic occasion.

Agricultural conditions in the Province were substantially better in 1963 than in 1962. 
We were blest with excellent growing weather, favorable harvesting conditions, a 
bountiful crop, and good market and price levels.

Steps will be taken to promote further, through proper fertilization, yields of grain, hay 
and pasture in order to increase livestock production. The present program designed to 
eradicate certain diseases of potatoes will be continued. My Government will introduce 
legislation that will restrict the use of certain highly toxic spray materials for the killing 
of potato vines.

You will be asked to consider legislation that provides for positive identification of 
livestock.

The opening of a new Food processing Plant at Montague has enabled farmers to further 
diversify production. This development will strengthen the economy, particularly in 
Kings and Southern Queens Counties.

The organization of a Research and Resources Division, with a director and field staff, 
has been of outstanding assistance in the promotion of new industries for the Province. 
Thirteen development groups have been formed and many new activities have been 
undertaken at the community level.

At present, a complete and detailed economic survey of Prince and Western Queens 
Counties is in progress and should be completed early this year. On the basis of the final 
report, a master plan for the overall development of the resources of the Province will be 
prepared.

The establishment of a large Fish Plant and a Boat Building Industry at Georgetown, as 
well as a number of smaller industries throughout the Province, has been a direct result of 
intensive investigation in the field of industrial development. This program will be 
expanded this year.

During the past season, our fishing industry experienced a successful year. Although 
there was a decrease in the landed tonnage of some fish, increased values brought 
earnings up to the level of the previous year. My Government will encourage the 
establishment of more fish processing plants and services while, at the same time, it will 
continue to encourage the improvement and modernization of existing facilities.

Substantial expansion has been made in our forestry program. New areas have been 
acquired and replanting to rehabilitate these lands is now in progress. More young people 
are becoming interested in Forestry, and 4-H Forestry Clubs have been formed and 
expanded.

The Trans-Canada Highway Contract has been amended to permit the strengthening of 
the entire highway to make it an allweather road. Work on the project started in 1963 will 
continue through this year. Federal-Provincial efforts to revitalize the Atlantic Provinces 
have resulted in far-reaching, long-range plans in highway construction. While no 
definite agreements have been signed, my Government is confident that, during the 
coming year, a program will be undertaken to make our main highways allweather roads.

Our Roads to Resources Program is on schedule and will be continued as planned. 
Construction of a bridge at Victoria, begun in 1962, will be completed in 1964.

The Department of Highways will continue to improve our highway system, both as to 
strength and in the matter of snowtrap removal. While the initial cost of these newly-
designed roads is higher than usual, the improved services, especially in winter, 
completely justify the additional expenditure.

The addition of the M. V. PRINCE NOVA, a new Ferry for the Wood Islands-Caribou 
Service, to be in operation this summer, will increase the efficiency of our transportation 
system.

Construction of a new Provincial Office Building, on the site of the old West Kent 
School, will be started this year.

In order to make consultation and early treatment of mental illness more readily available 
to all parts of the Province, the services of the travelling clinic will be extended to centres 
in Montague, Souris and Alberton.

To assure our people of maximal protection against the mortality and lifelong disabilities 
resulting from poliomyelitis, my Government will make Oral Vaccine available, through 
Provincewide clinics, to all children who have previously received Salk Vaccine.

During the past year, my Government raised the basic amount for Mothers' Allowances 
from $40 to $65 per month. Increases in Old Age, Disabled and Blind Persons' 
Allowances to a maximum of $75 per month will be made this year.

Six new Senior Citizens' Housing Projects are now under construction in various Island 
centres. Further expansion of this program will be made as the need arises. My 
Government will initiate a new program to provide lodges for senior citizens requiring 
nursing care. The first of these units will be constructed in the Summerside area this year.

The Winter Works Incentive Program has proven to be of great assistance in providing 
employment during the winter months. My Government will continue to encourage this 
program and notes with satisfaction that sixty projects are now underway in the Province.

The Prince County Vocational High School was completed and opened recently, while 
the Provincial Vocational Institute will be officially opened in September of this year.

My Government notes with interest the widespread appeals that have been made to 
elevate Prince of Wales College to a degree-granting status. These representations will 
receive careful consideration.

My Government will appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into and report upon the 
organization and financing of university education in this Province.

Fulfilling a long-desired need for uniformity in motor vehicle insurance cards, my 
Government is happy to announce the adoption of an Inter-Provincial Certificate, 
approved by the Superintendents of Insurance and valid in all the Provinces of Canada.

In view of the alarming increase in highway fatalities in recent years, my Government 
will ask for funds to establish a Safety Council.

My Government is happy to announce the appointment of a full-time Professional 
Planner. The services of town and professional planning will be amalgamated and the 
various statutes governing Municipal Affairs will be consolidated into a new Municipal 
Act.

During the past year, my Government has given careful study regarding the institutions 
for the custody of persons who are sentenced to imprisonment for offences against the 
Laws of Canada, as well as against the Laws of this Province and Municipal By-laws. 
There is a broad area of this matter which is proposed to be covered by an agreement 
between the Government of Canada and my Government. Legislation will be introduced 
for your consideration to make provision for the administration of our penal institutions 
and to give authority to make anticipated arrangements.

In an effort to rehabilitate first and young offenders of the law, my Government proposes 
to institute a Probation Service.

During the past year, my Government, in common with the Governments of the other 
Canadian Provinces, has participated in two Conferences with the Government of Canada 
on fiscal and economic relations. These Conferences are scheduled to continue.

During the past year, my Government has conducted the administration of the affairs of 
the Province with every possible economy consistent with the efficiency in public 
services. The Sinking Funds are maintained at a satisfactory level. In Current and Capital 
Estimates for the forthcoming fiscal year, every care has been exercised toward economy 
and the maintenance of a sound condition of finances so necessary to a Province with 
limited financial resources.

The Public Accounts and Reports of the various Departments of my Government for the 
year ending March 31, 1963, will be tabled for your information. The Interim Report, 
forecasting estimated revenues and expenditures for the current fiscal year ending March 
31, 1964, and the Estimates for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 1964, will also be 
presented for your consideration.

May you be guided in your deliberations by that Divine Power which works for the 
betterment of all people. I now leave you to your Legislative duties.


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