Province Législature Session Type de discours Date du discours Locuteur Fonction du locuteur Parti politique Saskatchewan 18e 2e Discours du trône 12 mars 1976 Stephen Worobetz Lieutenant Governor Saskatchewan New Democratic Party Mr. Speaker, Members of the Legislative Assembly: It is my privilege to welcome you to the Second Session of the Eighteenth Legislature of Saskatchewan. THE ECONOMY AND INFLATION The halting performance of the Canadian economy in 1975 was confirmed last week when the Federal Government released figures showing virtually no growth in real terms over 1974. It was Canada's worst year, in relative terms, in over two decades. In contrast, the Saskatchewan economy - spurred by record farm incomes and high resource revenues - achieved a new level of performance. Our gross provincial product for the first time exceeded $6 billion. Although the outlook in Saskatchewan for 1976 is for continued growth at a somewhat more moderate pace, the threat of unchecked inflation is for us, as for all of Canada, the most urgent problem to be faced. My Government remains firm in its belief that a nation-wide effort is needed to help control inflation. My Government has enacted rent control legislation. My Ministers have set up the Saskatchewan Public Sector Price and Compensation Board. Price and compensation guidelines have been announced. My Minister of Finance will, in his Budget Speech, announce additional measures to restrain public expenditures. LEGISLATION TO BE RE-INTRODUCED When the first Session was prorogued in late January, 13 Bills introduced by my Ministers remained unpassed. A number of these measures will be re-introduced in the current Session, including: - amendments to The Fire Prevention Act; - amendments to The Northern Co-operative Trading Services Act, 1959; - amendments to The Dairy Products Act; - amendments to The Agricultural Products Market Development Fund Act, 1974; - amendments to The Rural Telephone Act and The Saskatchewan Telecommunications Act; and - amendments to The Forest Act. AGRICULTURE You will be asked to approve amendments to The Conservation and Development Act, The Agricultural Implements Act, 1968, and The Veterinarians Act. SNOWMOBILES You will be asked to consider legislation which will clarify the law relating to the responsibility of snowmobilers for their own safety when operating on private land and for liability with respect to damage caused to private property. HEALTH To protect persons who provide emergency medical assistance at the scene of an accident from the possibility of civil suit, you will be asked to approve a new Emergency Medical Aid Act. Amendments to The Prescription Drug Act, 1974 and The Mental Health Act will also be placed before you. HOUSING Housing starts in Saskatchewan in 1975 set a new record, yet demand for residential units continues to exceed supply. Because of the singular success of provincial housing programs, you will be asked to approve legislation which will raise the borrowing limits of the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation. DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS My Government recognizes that many problems of growth and development face our urban centres. At this Session you will be asked to approve legislation to reorganize the Department of Municipal Affairs to give greater emphasis to the solution of urban problems. OLYMPICS March has been proclaimed as "Salute the Olympics Month" in Saskatchewan. I know the people of this province would wish me to extend their best wishes to the Saskatchewan athletes who will be representing Canada in the summer Olympic Games. For the first time Saskatchewan artists and cultural groups will be involved in the Olympics. Under funding from the Department of Culture and Youth, the Ministers' Special Fund of the Western Canada Lottery, and Sask Sport, Saskatchewan will participate in the Olympic Art and Culture program. A ceramic display representing a Saskatchewan community, and exhibition of paintings by Saskatchewan artists, performances by Persephone and Globe Theatres, and performances by seven multicultural dance troupes will be features in the Province's portion of this program. BRIER Just 21 years ago our capital city of Regina hosted Canada's curling classic, the Macdonald Brier, for the first time. The winners on that occasion, Garnet Campbell and his brothers of Avonlea, were honoured in this Assembly. Today, the Brier is back in Regina. I wish to welcome all the participants, here from every Province of Canada and the Territories, and all those who have come to see the greatest display of curling our country has to offer. The Public Accounts for the last fiscal year, together with the Estimates for the year beginning April 1, 1976, will be submitted to you. I leave you now to the business of the Session with the full confidence that you will favourably discharge your duties and responsibilities. May Divine Providence continue to bless our Province and guide this Legislature in all its deliberations.