Province Législature Session Type de discours Date du discours Locuteur Fonction du locuteur Parti politique Ontario 27e 5e Discours du Trône 25 janvier 1967 William Earl Rowe Lieutenant Governor Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario Mr. Speaker and members of the legislative assembly of Ontario, I extend warmest greetings and a sincere welcome to each of you. We meet during a year of significance to all Canadians. It was 100 years ago that four British North American colonies joined in a great Confederation to form the Dominion of Canada. Ontario was one of the original partners of this historic union. From the beginning, this province accepted and has borne to the full its responsibilities in the life, growth and rising prosperity of Canada. Ontario has given leadership to her own people and to the nation and in time of strife her citizens have contributed their life-blood for the preservation of freedom. Of interest today is that following Confederation the first session of the first Legislature of Ontario was convened on December 28, 1867. At that time, Ontario was the home of one and a half million people. Now it nurtures and shelters seven million. The basic British and French stock, drawn together in Confederation, enriched by others of more than 65 national origins in the years that followed, constitute our people. As we gather for this fifth session of the twenty-seventh assembly of the Legislature of Ontario it is timely to reflect on the accomplishments of our people. It also is timely to rededicate ourselves to the principle of Confederation. Our belief in and support of Canada and Confederation is a fundamental of Ontario's existence. During the course of this session you will be given an opportunity to consider a comprehensive Programme for People. Measures will be proposed to assist the people of Ontario to adjust to economic and social change and to improve their standard of living. These measures will demonstrate that my government courageously faces its responsibilities to the nation and, in particular, to the people of Ontario. It is the belief of my government that adequate housing for our people at prices they can afford is of utmost importance to the expansion of our economy and the future welfare of our population. My government will give increasing attention to the problems of our cities and the well-being of the hundreds of thousands of people who live and work in them. The goal is to make Ontario's cities and towns increasingly pleasant and agreeable places in which to live. Programmes will be presented to provide adequate housing, redevelopment, transportation and recreation facilities. A matter of great concern to my government is the steadily increasing cost of home ownership. My government subscribes to the principle of the desirability of home ownership. Rental accommodation has an important role to play, but home ownership can enhance the pride of being a part of the community and of having a personal involvement in the future of our province and country. Plans have been formulated to bring into operation a new housing programme to be known as Home Ownership Made Easy which, through the use of the first letter of each word, will be called The HOME Programme. This greatly expanded programme of the Ontario housing corporation will remove many of the major obstacles that have restricted housing development and home ownership in the past. The HOME Programme will incorporate: land development; land lease; encouragement of home ownership; residential community development, and housing to encourage industrial development across the province. Wild Rivers will preserve for the use and enjoyment of our people a number of rivers which possess unique features, such as flora, fauna, aesthetics, historical significance, water conservation, recreation and other values basic to the economy and culture of Ontario. In the field of agriculture there is a twofold responsibility: to ensure that the farmer shares in our prosperity; and to ensure that adequate food is available for our growing population at a price the consumer can afford. Proposals will be laid before you to assist materially in fulfilling these obligations. You will be asked to consider an expanded programme of capital grants to farmers. These will form part of a long-range plan to preserve and stimulate the agricultural economy of the province. The grants will help the people of rural Ontario adjust to major technological, economic, and social changes. My government proposes to extend the existing programme of capital grants to include wells, farm drainage and the construction of certain types of farm buildings. There will be further intensification of the programme to consolidate small or uneconomic farms. A programme will be placed before you to increase the number of veterinarians practising in farm areas. My government will make available to students of veterinary medicine an annual bursary which will be forgiven if the student remains in farm animal practice after graduation. Many countries of the world face severe food shortages because of primitive agricultural techniques. My government will propose a programme to bring students from underdeveloped countries to Ontario so that they may study the practical applications of modern farming. There will be placed before you a programme to provide additional bilingual agricultural extension personnel in Ontario. For this purpose arrangements will be made to provide agricultural training in higher education in both languages. Further significant measures will be put before you to improve the quality of the life of our people. Proposals will be placed before you to extend the activities of the Ontario government in the field of medical and health research. A new concept for local health services has been developed. My government recognizes the problem of the small home owner who, through expropriation, loses his home for the good of the community and thereby faces relocation. This is a matter which must be settled satisfactorily for all concerned. Embodied in the programme of my government will be provisions to deal with such situations. Also to be placed before you will be a proposal that the fair housing provision of the Ontario human rights code be amended to prohibit discrimination based on race, colour or creed in connection with the rental of all housing accommodation. In this province of vast and greatly-varied territory, transportation plays a vital role in economic development and in the life of our people. Accordingly, a comprehensive study of the character and expanding transportation needs of our entire province will be conducted. This will result in a broad transportation policy appropriate to the rapidly changing requirements of modern life. This year will be recorded in the history of this dynamic province as the one in which the government of Ontario inaugurated, sponsored and financed the railway commuter service known as GO-Transit. In taking this progressive step, it is the purpose of my government to achieve a better balanced transportation system so as to lighten the burden of expenditures on freeway construction in areas of southern Ontario where such problems are especially severe. As urban living increases in Ontario, my government has accepted its responsibility to provide adequate and convenient outdoor recreational facilities. During 1967 four new provincial parks will be opened, bringing the number to 109. The new provincial parks will be Selkirk, on Lake Erie, Round Lake, in Renfrew county- Sand Shoals, on the new Chapleau-Wawa highway, and Sandbar Lake, between Dryden and Upsala. Parks and recreation centres operated by the conservation authorities continue to grow in popularity. Nature trails, displays and imaginative interpretive programmes are being extensively employed in the conservation areas, as well as in many of our provincial parks. In this way, our people and those who come from beyond our borders are assisted in understanding and appreciating the natural attributes of our province and the necessity of managing them with wisdom. In addition to reserving land for future provincial parks, my government will place before you a programme of signal importance to future generations. The Programme of ....A completely new Mental Health Act will be placed before you. Arising out of an inter-departmental committee study and report, a coordinated programme of services for children with mental and emotional disorders will be put forward for your consideration. This will require that eight regional diagnostic, assessment and treatment centres be established throughout the province. The extension of group homes operated under The Child Welfare Act will complement this programme and will play a significant role in meeting the needs of some children in the care of the children's aid societies. Plans also are proceeding for the establishment of a reception and diagnostic centre for boys and girls. This facility will provide service for all children admitted to the training schools of the province from the juvenile and family courts. You will be asked to consider the renaming of The Department of Public Welfare which, with your approval, will become The Department of Social and Family Services. This change arises from the notable advances made in the provision of social services and the enlarged facilities available for those requiring assistance. The counselling and rehabilitation services of the department will be increased. In view of the public concern and jurisdictional problems, my government believes it desirable that there be a public inquiry into problems relating to the law of divorce. You will be asked to approve a course of action to establish such an inquiry, in order that submissions may be made to the committee of the Parliament of Canada which presently has this matter under study. The industrialization of Ontario, coupled with an expanding population and urbanization, has increased the burden upon the air soil, and water of our province. My government will continue to press its war against all sources of pollution. Legislation will be introduced to apply the most modern and progressive concepts to ensure that the air our citizens breathe will be clean and pure. To effect this, the facilities and staff of the air pollution control service will be increased to provide a complete and integrated programme. To enable the Ontario water resources commission to continue its rapid progress in eliminating the pollution of our waters, an enlarged programme will be instituted. In addition, the Ontario water resources commission will accelerate research into the technological aspects of the treatment of sewage. Every person must be provided with opportunities to develop his or her full potential and, commensurate with reality, be entitled to receive the required maximum education. Equality of educational opportunity is the continuing policy of my government. The developments in secondary and post-secondary education in recent years and the Investment in educational facilities were designed to achieve this desirable end. The goal is to provide the best possible education and facilities for all our youth and for the increasing number of adults who seek continued education to adapt themselves to the technological and other changes of modern society. Recent studies have shown that many young people arrive at school for the first time handicapped in the basic vocabulary and concepts of our culture. It is imperative that provision be made for the preparation of very young children. You will be asked to consider means of assisting such children to participate fully in our school system. Other programmes will be developed or expanded to further equalize educational and cultural opportunities between the less urbanized sections of Ontario and the metropolitan areas. An educational research centre, to be located in northern Ontario, is planned. It will be equipped with diagnostic and assessment materials and staffed by a team of psychologists and educators. The education of children in remote areas not served by schools or railway cars will be improved by the use of portable schools and the extension of boarding allowances. In addition, the Northern Corps, which was established in 1966 to encourage qualified teachers to contribute their services to isolated areas, will be expanded. Construction of an educational centre in Moosonee is expected to begin during 1907. In the field of continuing education, the opening of new colleges of applied arts and technology will be carried forward. My government plans to continue the rapid expansion of programmes and facilities in the vital area of university education. Among the measures which you will be asked to approve will be a new labour standards code. The construction safety programme will be strengthened with additional staff and an extension of the training programme for enforcement personnel. Steps will be taken to bring labour, management and government closer together to deal formally with matters of mutual concern in the broad field of industrial relations. A body will be established, consisting of representatives of labour, management and government, to explore and report on issues which may be raised by any of the three parties. In this complex age, it is both desirable and necessary that the public and, in particular, those who are directly affected by legislative action, should be given the fullest opportunity to discuss and examine issues and to participate in the formulation of new approaches. In line with this policy, two Royal commissions have been established to deal with matters of the highest concern to Ontario's economy and both are receiving the benefit of many representations from the public. Mr. Justice George A. McGillivray is examining the operation of the workmen's compensation system, while the Honourable Ivan C. Rand has been given broad terms of reference to make proposals that will help to rationalize and harmonize the interests of labour, management and the public in the field of labour-management relations. My government will bring forward legislation to provide compensation for those who are injured while assisting the police in maintaining law and order. Every effort must be made to ensure that a climate is maintained which is congenial to investment in the development of our resources and our industry. The new Department of Financial and Commercial Affairs is working closely with all departments of my government to encourage a high degree of public confidence in Canadian investment. Participation by our citizens in the development of Ontario's economic life is of paramount importance. It is my government's intention to introduce legislation that will assure that the savings of our people are adequately safeguarded. There are questions of jurisdiction. The recent proposals of the federal government in the field of deposit insurance are being analyzed and, where additional protection is required, such protection will be provided. Canada's Centennial year will be marked by a full-scale Programme of Provincial Development. A review of all existing programmes relating to human and natural resources and social capital will be undertaken. From this reappraisal will evolve a general economic plan for the development of Ontario. Present policies in such areas as availability of labour, industrial development, natural resources, transportation, energy, conservation and water will be assessed within the framework of this total development strategy. Attainment of the full economic potential of every region of Ontario is a prime interest of my government. To maintain the upward progress of our economy, my government recognizes the need to greatly increase our share of available foreign business opportunities. In a realignment of our commercial trade officers, an International Task Force will be launched to assist Ontario manufacturers to secure more export volume, arrange for manufacturing licence agreements, seek new industries and investment capital for the province. Our continued economic and industrial strength depends to a marked degree upon the attainment and continuance of a high level of scientific research and technological development. My government will further encourage these concepts with the introduction of a programme to provide increased support to the activities of the Ontario research foundation. In recognition of the importance of landing strips and airports throughout northern Ontario, investigations are being conducted with a view to formulating an appropriate policy. Resulting facilities will provide new opportunities for the further development of this important part of our province. On January 1, 1967, our people entered into the centenary of Confederation. It is appropriate that, as we progress through our Centennial observances, we shall have in our midst Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, His Royal Highness the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and other members of our Royal family, and the chiefs of state of many of the nations of the world. These visits emphasize the close and continuing ties which link our people with our Royal family, and with so many friendly nations. They will be with us at a time of great historical significance and rejoicing by Canadians; a time for celebration and commemoration of the past. During the Centennial year Ontario will present itself to the world through the great world exposition to be held in Montreal. An invitation is extended to all of our citizens to visit the Ontario Pavilion at Expo '67. The exciting and imaginative architecture of our pavilion and its exhibits will mirror the life, culture and accomplishments of our people and our province. To further mark the Centennial year, my government will undertake two developments of significance to present and future generations. The first will be the creation of the Ontario Heritage Foundation. This foundation will be empowered to acquire and manage properties of historical, architectural, aesthetic and cultural interest for the benefit of the people of Ontario. The second will be the convening of a Confederation of Tomorrow Conference. This assembly will be asked to approve the policy of my government to invite the leaders of all provinces and the federal government to a conference where the future course of our federal system of government will be discussed. My government considers it appropriate for Ontario, as one of the founding provinces of Confederation, to provide the inspiration and setting for such discussions. It is the hope of my government that the Confederation of Tomorrow Conference will herald the beginning of a series of meetings through which our 11 governments are brought into closer communion and Canadian unity strengthened. The programmes, policies and proposed legislation of my government, which I have outlined, will ensure that our Centennial year will be noteworthy in its achievements. May Divine Providence guide you in your deliberations