Wednesday, March 15, 1967

: The Department of Municipal Affairs has put much valuable effort into the ‘ ma r of water coservation as well as the pollution control.

The P.E.I. Water Authority, under a very capable director is approaching the roblems of water resources and pollution with foresight and determination. onourable Mr. Clark’s activities are not confined solely with Municipal affairs; as

Minister of Health he directs many programs in that field. With Medicare in the offing, competent study is under way and the best possible advice is being received as to the best way to implement and finance this program. We compliment this Minister in his development of Chronic Care Centres in Montague and in Alberton.

Now, gentlemen, we are not going to keep you too much longer but I think we must continue the role of this government, Mr. Speaker, and .put emphasis on the cultural, social and the economic betterment of our Island. But most of all, I think we must be creative, we must introduce a creative provincialism across our Island because I believe that we are on trial today. If we are not willing to pay the price, if we are not willing to change where change is required, then we have only one recourse and that is to prepare ourselves for an orderly transfer of our remaining resources and responsibilities to the central government. All too often we occupy ‘ourseIVes and our minds with problems that no longer exist, or if they do exist, they are of minute value. All too often the main issues remain in the wings, lost to our res- ponsibility. If we continue on this road of reckless abandon, the responsibility long cherished, will soon pass to the central government —- make no mistake about that.

Everything that is moved must have a vehicle of some sort or another -- progress is no different from that. If we are to move forward we must have a conveyance. Whither we go is determined by two main forces, the force of energy and, the force of direction. During the past number of years there was evidence of energy, but although direction existed, the electorate decided it was guided in the wrong direction . . . . (Applause) . . . . with the result that the Campbell government has inherited abnormal problems. Problems aggravated, I think, by indecision; pro— blems aggravated by influences which have proven to be both temporal and regional. Temporal in value to the late goverment, yet lasting in complexity to those who receiv- ed this inheritance. We are not exactly proud of the inheritance, gentlemen, but we are proud of the challenge, proud of the opportunity to trade defeatism for determina- tion, proud of the opportunity to introduce the new technology and provide the climate whereby the skills of Islanders may be developed to meet the demands not only of a growing Nation, but of a growing provincialism as well.

There is one segment of our great Island potential singularily our own. This has been verified very forcibly by the Honourable Minister of Northern Affairs, the Honourable Mr. Laing, when he said, “the beaches in Prince Edward Island are the beat in North America.” He also said that the beaches in the First District of Kings are the best on the Island. Regardless of politics, gentlemen, can we not profit by the Minister’s advise and co-operate fully with this Honourable Gentleman, who has charge of Canada’s National Parks program, as we develop not only an additional park, but also develop the park that is here. Increase the scope and size of it, and accept assistance for the development, to a lesser degree, a third ark in our province. Let us forget political expediency, let us open our doors to the onourable Minister’s suggestion. He has suggested that some provinces have difficulty in finding ready cash for the promotion of such lands. Who can deny that our province fits into this category? Since this federal government assistance is increased to this greater degree, then it is apparent that the National Parks Expansion program, as outlined in the flash from the Throne, will have a tremendous impact on our provincial tourist

stry.

Last year six square miles of our beautiful Island attracted 1,200,000 visitors — ten times our population. This tells us two things. First, that these six square miles were overcrowded, and secondly, vast areas of our virgin Island have not yet been properly utilized. I say we stand alone in provincialism in this important tour- ist industry, gentlemen. I say too, that we have a Minister of Tourist Development in this Legislature, the Honourable M. Lorne Bonnell, a man of great initiative and drive, who since taking over the Department of Tourist Development has already

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