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 55 4 Discours du Trône/Speech from the Throne ??-03-1982 Hon. Dr. Joseph A. Doiron Lieutenant-governor Progressive Conservative P.E.I: Speech from the Throne, Fourth Session of the Fifty fifth General Assembly, MARCH, 1982 It is my privilege, in the name of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, to welcome you to this Fourth Session of the Fifty fifth General Assembly of the Province of Prince Edward Island. Today marks the fourth Speech from the Throne for this Government and the first for my new First Minister. While welcoming my new First Minister, I want to say "Thank You,, on behalf of all Islanders to the Honourable Angus MacLean for his dedication and service to Prince Edward Island and, indeed, to all of Canada. It is fitting that one of Mr. MacLean's final official acts was to sign the agreement to patriate the Canadian Constitution. My Government hopes that this document will become an instrument of unity. Ceci est le quatrième Discours du Trône pour le gouvernement actuel, et le premier que je prononce pour mon nouveau premier ministre. En même temps que j'exprime les voeux de bienvenue à mon nouveau premier ministre, je tiens à remercier au nom de tous les citoyens de notre province l'honorable Angus MacLean de son dévouement et de ses services rendus envers l'Ile-du Prince-Édouard, et, de fait, envers tout le Canada. Il est bien convenable qu'un des derniers gestes officiels de M. MacLean était celui de signer l'entente sur le rapatriement de la Constitution canadienne. Mon gouvernement a confiance que ce document sera pour le Canada un instrument d'unité. Inflation, high interest rates and unemployment have plagued the economies of all industrialized societies. We could not expect to escape this worldwide reality. On the other hand, we cannot accept these circumstances without striving to improve our situation. My Government has faith that the human and physical resources of Prince Edward Island will not only survive these challenges, but will become more durable for having been tested. In these unsettled times, Governments find themselves in an increasingly difficult position trying, on the one hand, to restrain the cost of public administration and, on the other hand, to deliver those services essential to the public. In addition, public finance in Canada is interwoven whether it be at the Federal, Provincial or Municipal level. Because of that, any attempt to change the level of funding by the Federal Government has a significant effect throughout other public economies. Combined with the expected impact of the depressed national economy on revenues and expenses, the Federal changes will necessitate some adjustments in provincial programs. Because of this, my Government believes that in a Federation such as Canada, cooperation among the various Governments which share jurisdiction is vital if all citizens are to benefit from and share in the resources and opportunities. In order to facilitate this cooperation, an Office of Intergovernmental Affairs was established to utilize the full resources of my Government to negotiate the most beneficial arrangements possible for Prince Edward Island in conjunction with our Federal counterparts. We will continue to work with governments at all levels. My government is pleased with its working relationship with all governments, especially the Governments of the other Maritime Provinces and Newfoundland. During this Session of the Assembly, all three Premiers will be in our Province for meetings with my First Minister. I am pleased that my Government will be reconfirming the Newfoundland-Prince Edward Island Agreement, a unique effort to develop mutually beneficial programs with our fellow Island province. In addition, my Government has a number of working agreements with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia through the Council of Maritime Premiers. Later this month, the Premiers of the three Provinces will meet with representatives from the Trans-Quebec and Maritime Gas Pipeline Company to see what economic and employment opportunities will be available from this mega project. My Government will establish an industrial benefits office to cooperate with similar offices in the other two provinces and to take maximum advantage of employment possibilities. My Government is conscious of the need for employment opportunities in Prince Edward Island. Although we accept mobility as a right of Canadians, we are opposed to forced migration, however subtle. My Government strongly believes that it is preferable to have jobs move to people. A policy that makes it necessary for people to move across the country to find employment does not take into account the importance of family or community in a person's life. Although our taxation system provides the central government with the necessary funds to create jobs, we recognize that existing conditions require Prince Edward Island to use some of its financial resources to accomplish employment generation. To accomplish this end, the Department of Labour will increase its activities in the coordination and stimulation of job creation projects. Because the major efforts in job creation must be directed toward the private sector, my Government will be establishing new channels of communication and cooperation to achieve this end. Job creation in the private sector will be enhanced by our activities to improve our infrastructure, especially in the energy and transportation areas. My First Minister forcefully outlined the impact of high energy costs on Islanders at the recent First Ministers' Conference. I understand that he will elaborate on this concern at a future private meeting with the Prime Minister. Essentially, my Government advocates a national energy policy that would ensure an equitable price for energy to all areas of Canada. In addition, my Government has initiated the following actions as regards energy costs: 1. the establishment of a public enquiry to fully examine the costs of electricity to Prince Edward Islanders; 2. an assessment of the viability of wood energy as a source of electricity as well as a stimulus to economic and employment generation; 3. negotiations for the delivery of Quebec power with Quebec Hydro; and, 4. the creation of a committee to coordinate Government activities in the use of wood as a form of energy, such as the wood chip heating system installed in the Kings County Memorial Hospital. Transportation policy has been and continues to be a priority item. My Government regrets the continuing erosion of Canadian National Railway's operation in Prince Edward Island and will make every effort to ensure that an adequate and cost-effective rail system will be available to shippers and receivers in the Province. My Government will participate in a five-year planning process with Canadian National Railway to achieve the optimum in an integrated transportation system for the economical movement of freight. My Government will cooperate with the potato industry, the Government of Canada and Canadian National Railway in the implementation of a pilot project to establish central loading points in strategic locations as a more efficient means of moving potatoes to market. My Government has delayed signing the Federal plan to decrease substantially payments proposed under the Intraregional Freight Rate Assistance Program until the full impact of the program is known. A legislative debate on this urgent matter will be initiated at an early date in the Session. Together with the private sector, my Government will assess the existing regulations affecting the trucking industry. My Government will continue its planned program by adding 100 kilometers of pavement to the rural road system in the coming year. Increasing costs for pavement maintenance necessitates an increased effort to determine strong yet economical pavement throughout the Province. Careful evaluation will be made of the test paving which has been laid in recent years. To reduce environmental damage caused by highway construction, requirements have been built into tender specifications for road construction. Our primary industries are still our major source of new wealth. The success of our economy depends on the intense management of our land and sea resources and our ability to add value to these products. Historically, Islanders have had a special concern with the ownership and use of land. My Government believes in policies that make land ownership available to the maximum number of Islanders. For this reason, the Government welcomes the Report of the Select Standing Committee on Agriculture and commends it to the consideration of this House and the public in general. My Government is confident that legislation will result from this deliberation. This year, high interest rates and low prices have created serious problems for Canadian farmers especially in the hog and beef commodities. My Government continued to support the hog industry by investing in the Hog Stabilization Program. The beef industry does not have a corresponding program. In response to requests from the beef producers, my Government implemented a program to assist producers. My Government will continue to work with Island producers and the Federal Government to develop national stabilization programs that are acceptable to our farm community. Through the Marketing Branch, programs and strategies will be put in place that will tie production to market opportunities. The vegetable and small fruit sector offers significant development potential for production to replace imports and provide a diversified production base. Similar opportunities are available in the forestry sector and are being actively pursued. While maintaining our programs to assist all farmers, my Government has embarked upon a program to improve the circumstances of holders of small acreages. Last year my Government stated its intention to take advantage of the potential of the increased output of these farms by establishing a Small Farm Development Committee. The Small Farm Development Program evolved from the work of that committee, with input from the pilot project in the Department of Agriculture and the Small Farm Development Conference. My Government was pleased at the acceptance of this Conference with delegates representing farm groups and governments from all the Atlantic Provinces and five of the Northeastern United States. Forestry offers an alternative for the effective use of land in Prince Edward Island. My Government believes that this can best be accomplished by intensive management within the private sector. As evidence of this belief, my Government will continue to place priority on forestry management plans through a continuation of the Forestry Resource Management Incentive Program. My Government subscribes fully to the need for adequate management of the fishery stocks and the increased quality of marketed products. Although this is largely a Federal responsibility, the Department of Fisheries will continue to advocate the equitable and legitimate claims of Prince Edward Island fishermen in the area of quotas and licensing. The catching and processing sectors of our fishery are experiencing a difficult economic period because of high operational costs and sluggish markets. Therefore, we look forward to cooperating with the Federal Government's recently appointed Eastern Canadian Fisheries Task Force. During 1981, my Government received the Report of the Weeks' Commission on the Island Fishery and agrees that fishermen deserve the right to establish their own system of marketing. The Department of Fisheries will continue to work with fishermen to accomplish this objective. My Government is concerned about "soft" markets for fish products and believes that fish consumption on Prince Edward Island can be increased by improving fresh fish marketing facilities. A new incentives program will be implemented to upgrade the facilities of fish peddlers, fishermen's markets and conventional retail handling facilities. It is the intention of my Government to establish an industrial development program for the 1980's which will have as its primary emphasis increased employment in the manufacturing and processing sectors. In keeping with previous initiatives of this Government, emphasis will continue on increasing linkages to our resource base and building on the present nucleus of established manufacturing firms. Key elements of the revised industrial strategy will be: 1. the protection and enhancement of existing enterprises; 2. the creation of a more positive industrial climate; 3. the encouragement of innovation and the application of appropriate technology; 4. an emphasis on the identification and creation of new, small-scale enterprises directly related to the Island economy; and, 5. a continuing exchange of ideas and views with the Island business community. A number of industrial development programs will be introduced as part of my Government's new industrial development thrust. Programs will be introduced which will: A. identify appropriate new enterprises; B. encourage expansion of export activity; C. offer increased incentives for investment in Island industries; D. create private venture capital corporations which will provide equity capital for Island firms; and, E. encourage Island firms to enter into agreements with existing firms for joint ventures and manufacturing under licence. My Government recognizes the important contribution made by the tourism industry and the potential that exists to create jobs and investment opportunities for our citizens. The new Convention Centre, presently under construction, will add a new dimension to the tourism industry and will create new jobs and business in the winter season and, indeed, throughout the year. Although the economy attracts much attention, it continues to be the function and obligation of Government to provide health care, education and a vast number of services that are an integral part of our social development. The Minister of Education has received the Report of the Advisory Committee on Curriculum and intends to use it as a guide to improve education in the Province. His Department has also responded to the Report of the Learning Disabilities Advisory Committee by allocating a limited number of teachers to the unit school boards in addition to those allowed by the teacher pupil ratio. Small schools throughout the Island have been hampered by the application of the uniform teacher/pupil ratio. A program will be introduced to provide additional monies for school boards to improve and equalize programs and services in our small schools. Education also provides an example of how my Government is working to create Island jobs and skills. A contract has been awarded to a local publishing firm to develop a Grade Six social studies text. Besides having an appropriate local text, the contract will enable Island industries to gain experience and expertise in educational publishing. Given the highly technical nature of the farm industry, agricultural groups have worked with the Department of Education to develop a vocational agricultural program which will be conducted on a pilot basis in the 1982 83 school year. My Government firmly believes that Island culture, both traditional and contemporary, is a great Provincial resource that must be nourished and developed if we are to exist as a wise, vibrant society. My Government commenced a major Cultural Policy Review one year ago, and I am pleased to say that a Report, presenting the framework of a new Provincial policy in support of arts and culture, will be completed soon. The Cultural Affairs Office of the Department of Community Affairs plans to introduce several new programs in the coming year. These include a Provincial Art Bank, an innovative program called "Art to Senior Citizens" and an awards program to give recognition to individual Islanders who have made outstanding contributions to the cultural life of the Province. My Government sees the Community School Program as a successful Island institution and funding for the program will be assumed by the Province. Because the health of individual Islanders is a priority, my Government continues with the improvement and upgrading of health services. This year will see the opening of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital which will serve as a focal point for illness care in our Province. My Government will take measures to ensure that the presence of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital will not detract from other community hospital facilities and the very important role they play in the delivery of health services. In the year ahead, emphasis will be placed on improving capital facilities in the West Prince area in particular, at the Community Hospital, Western Hospital and Stewart Memorial Health Centre. In addition, my Government will support an examination of the future role of the Souris Hospital to ensure that its future will be in keeping with the needs of Eastern Kings county. A Report on Occupational Health and Safety has been completed and in the next fiscal year steps will be taken to establish a program to address unmet needs. My Government believes that it is important to provide community based services to the elderly so that they can function independently as long as possible. A consultative process involving representatives of the elderly and service agencies has been established to define needs and to encourage local communities and volunteer groups to provide services. I am pleased to report that my Government, in association with Parks Canada, has responded to a request from the Prince Edward Island Council of the Disabled for the installation of an elevator in Province House. Access to the proceedings of the Assembly will thus be assured to the disabled. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: Legislative proposals will be introduced for your consideration in the following 1. a new MUNICIPAL ACT; 2. amendments to the WORKERS, COMPENSATION ACT to provide increased benefits; 3. amendments to the JUDICATURE ACT to enable the provision of prejudgement interest; 4. amendments to the TEACHERS' SUPERANNUATION ACT; and, 5. an amendment to the LABOUR ACT guaranteeing unpaid maternity leave to employees. In addition to the measures specified, Honourable Members will be asked to consider a variety of legislative proposals. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: You will be asked to appropriate the funds required for the services and payments required by this Assembly. The Public Accounts and reports of the various departments of my Government for the year ending March 31, 1981, will be tabled for your information. The Interim Report, forecasting estimated Revenues and Expenditures for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1982, and Estimates for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 1982, will also be presented for your consideration. MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: May Divine Providence guide your deliberations. ??