Province Législature Session Type de discours Date du discours Locuteur Fonction du locuteur Parti politique Saskatchewan 16e 1re Discours du trône 15 février 1968 Robert L. Hanbidge Lieutenant Governor Saskatchewan Liberal Party Mr. Speaker, Members of the Legislative Assembly: It is my privilege to welcome you to the First Session of the Sixteenth Legislature of Saskatchewan. ECONOMIC GROWTH In the past year, the people of Saskatchewan were fortunate in seeing our industrial growth continue at a high rate. More industries continued to come into production. Work is progressing on a number of others. The mineral incentive program has so encouraged mineral development in our north that 92 mining companies are presently doing exploration work. There has been relatively full employment throughout our province. Crops, on the other hand, were substantially below the level of the previous year. This fact will tend to slow down the over-all Saskatchewan economy. Tight money and high interest rates have caused a number of industries to postpone their development and expansion plans. However, the over-all prospects are excellent. My Ministers will continue to press on with the widening of our economic base, so that the living standards of all our people may again be raised during 1968. AGRICULTURE The past year was one of the driest in the history of our province. Despite this difficulty, our farmers produced a near-average crop through the use of sound technology, skill and resourcefulness. My Ministers believe that only by increased agricultural diversification can our farmers be assured of a reasonable return for their efforts. During this Session, you will be asked to approve additional measures designed to expand Saskatchewan's livestock industry. You will also be asked to approve expenditures to continue a program of assistance in construction of swine facilities. The Crop Insurance program will be expanded substantially. A new policy for the sale of crown-owned lands by tender is being instituted. You will be asked to approve expenditures to continue development of the gigantic Saskatchewan Delta project in the northeastern area of our province. EDUCATION My Government continues to believe that our young people are the province's most valuable resource. Accordingly, you will be asked to approve further increases in spending for education at all levels. My Government will continue to provide increased funds for the rapid expansion of the two campuses of the University of Saskatchewan. At the same time, they will propose certain measures which will allow you to better scrutinize both capital and operating expenditures of this institution. You will be asked to approve expenditures for the continued expansion of our technical and vocational training facilities throughout the province. My Government will also propose measures to facilitate the bargaining process between teachers and school trustees. FRENCH-LANGUAGE SCHOOLS In recent weeks, the Government met with representatives of the other provinces, and the Government of Canada, to discuss a number of matters which threaten our Confederation. In an effort to promote national unity, you will be asked to approve legislation permitting the use of French as the language of instruction in the schools of certain areas, where the number of French-speaking students makes such a program economically feasible. LIBRARIES You will be asked to adopt further recommendations of the Library Enquiry Committee, including the establishment of one new Regional Library. INDIAN AND METIS The plight of our Indian and Métis people in Saskatchewan continues to be a major social and economic concern. Therefore, my Ministers are proposing increased investment in the education, training and rehabilitation of these people, so that their opportunities can be greatly enlarged. You will be asked to approve changes in The School Act, which will give to our citizens of Indian ancestry a greater voice in the administration of the schools their children attend. HEALTH My Government will ask again for large additional sums to improve the various health programs of our province. At the same time, my Ministers are concerned by the very rapid increase in the costs of our health program. These costs, if allowed to continue to rise so rapidly, could ultimately jeopardize these plans. Therefore, my Government will propose measures to better control the costs of these programs. COMMISSION ON ALCOHOLISM In order to combat a tragic social problem, you will be asked to approve legislation establishing an Alcoholism Commission in Saskatchewan. HUMAN TISSUES You will be asked to consider legislation which would permit persons to donate their body or parts thereof to the practice of medicine after their death. FRAZIER COMMISSION My Government, recognizing its responsibility and realizing the public concern on standards of psychiatric care, named Dr. Shervert H. Frazier, of Houston, Texas as a one-man Commission to hear representations, and make recommendations on the province's program. My Government is pleased to report that Dr. Frazier has now presented a very detailed report with significant proposals of far-reaching consequences. This report will be tabled in this Session, with an indication of the recommendations that are to be implemented forthwith. THE VEHICLES ACT It is my Government's intention to terminate the use of red and blue licences, and to remove the demerit point system which has proved costly to administer, and which has failed to take the bad drivers off Saskatchewan's roads. My Ministers will place before you several proposals with respect to The Vehicles Act, to more effectively control problem drivers. These steps were recommended by an all-party committee of the Fifteenth Legislature. THE DRINKING DRIVER My Government is greatly concerned over the proven relationship between drinking drivers and traffic accidents. Accordingly, it is my Government's intention to introduce legislation which will complement the Amendments to the Criminal Code in this field, presently under consideration by the Parliament of Canada. REAL ESTATE BROKERS My Ministers will place before you an Act respecting the Practice of the Real Estate business in our province. COLLECTION AGENTS ACT My Government will place before you an Act designed to better regulate the activities of collection agents in Saskatchewan. CONDOMINIUM PROPERTY ACT My Ministers will present to you a proposal to permit individual ownership of multiunit dwellings. EXPROPRIATION PROPERTY ACT My Ministers will present you with proposals respecting the procedure for expropriating lands, and for determining compensation for expropriated lands. HOUSING In order to overcome the problems that are associated with increased urbanization in a rapidly industrializing province, you will be again asked to approve measures designed to facilitate the construction of new housing. MUNICIPAL SHARING OF POTASH REVENUES My Ministers will present you with legislation for the consideration of the Legislature which will provide for the sharing of municipal tax levies on potash mine assessments. This program has been presented by the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities. It has received the general consent of all municipalities having potash mines. URBAN ELECTIONS ACT My Ministers will place before you a proposal designed to combine the many provisions embodied in the urban elections procedures. HIGHWAYS My Government will again seek your support for heavy spending on highway construction in all parts of our province. Particular emphasis will be placed on a paving and oiling program in rural areas. Major grants will once more be made to municipalities for the grid and feeder road program. SURFACE RIGHTS In order to ensure the fairest possible return to our citizens from development of our resources, you will be asked to approve legislation respecting surface rights and compensation. CHILD ADOPTION In order to overcome a difficulty of long standing, my Ministers will ask you to approve legislation permitting the adoption of children into homes where the religion of the adopting parent differs from that of the natural parent. SASKATCHEWAN FLAG My Government will propose that action be taken by the Legislature to adopt a Saskatchewan flag. THE CREDIT UNION ACT My Government will place before you certain proposals designed to assist the Credit Unions of our province. BEER AND WINE ADVERTISING My Ministers will present you with a proposal to permit advertising of beer and wine in the news media of our province. It will be proposed that the matter be decided by a free vote. LIQUOR OUTLETS The demand for additional liquor outlets in rural areas continues. My Government will continue the policy of closing some stores in small villages, where the size of the population does not justify the regular type of store. You will be asked to approve Amendments to The Liquor Act which will permit the establishment of additional agencies. AIRSTRIP IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM My Government approved assistance for airstrip improvements to 53 communities during the past year. This program will be continued and expanded during 1968. PARKS AND RECREATION My Government will continue to assist rural areas in developing local recreational facilities. A total of 70 regional parks will be in existence by the end of this year. During 1968, a start will be made on a park at Lake Diefenbaker. Over a five year period, approximately 50,000 acres of park and recreational lands will be developed at that site. By August, 1968, 900 acres of park land will be open to the public on the Black Strap Reservoir. LABOUR My Government will again make proposals to increase the Saskatchewan minimum wage. The Public Accounts for the last fiscal year, together with the Estimates for the year beginning April 1, 1968, will be submitted to you. I leave you now to the business of the Session, with full confidence that you will favorably discharge your duties and responsibilities. May Divine Providence continue to bless our province and guide this Legislature in all its deliberations.