Legislative Assembly

or a provincial government. You can only keep going in debt so long; there has to be a day of reckoning, and I think that day is coming soon for this province unless we sharpen our pencils. We all want more and better services but we must realize somebody has to pay for them. I am sure that the capable Provincial Treasurer will get our finances back on the rails and keep them there. Our farmers are feeling the burden of increased school taxes and I hope that the government will have this mat- ter studied as soon as possible in an effort to find a better and fairer measure of raising the necessary revenue to opearte our schools and government services. All of these matters have been envisaged in the Speech from the Throne and the Legis- lature will provide the framwork on which the expanding economy of our fair prov- ince will be built. One has only to look around to conclude that this is the best place on earth to live and enjoy God’s bounties.

I thank you. (Applause) Walter R. Shaw (Second Queens): Leader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, I would like to say at the outset that I am very pleased to have this opportunity to say some things to the Government of the country that were said a year or so ago — the last few years as a matter of fact — from the Opposition in relation to the Government that occupied those seats at that time.

I feel however, that I should offer a comment in regard to the late date at which this Legislature has been held. I don't know why; the government has been in power about eight months, and if we listen to those men who have just spoken on the draft address, these wonderful men who are Ministers of the Crown at the present time, there would seem to me to be very little reason why this session is so late. Of course, some are nasty enough to suggest that the governmnt wish to put off the evil day as long as possible but surely that cannot be a legitimate reason. They knew they had to meet with us sometime and answer some questions. And some other nasty person said that there were people in the ministerial benches of the government that were more interested in bonspiels and curling up in the province of Quebec than they were in carrying out the business of the people of this province. lwonder if that is correct? There seems to be a great inclination on the part of the Premier who, apparently, is very much in support of that kind of thing, and other members of this government to take note of bonspiels, sporting events, and social events, everything aside altogether.

Some Member: Minister of Golf.

Walter R. Shaw: Yes, the Minister of Golf Courses; he’s a grand fellow. And then they take on the legitimate duties of the government of this province.

I would like to say to you that, in view of the serious problems that has arisen in recent months, and the unfortunate, and I say this wisely, unfortunate economic deterioration that has taken place in this province within recent months, there has been an urgent need of a meeting of this Legislature at an earlier date so that some of these conditions may be fully explored and appropriate action taken to correct the weaknesses that are so apparent in the Government administration.

I mention these matters not in any narrow political sense at all. But only with a desire, the earnest desire, to lend the fullest possible support and co-operation with this government. And that is true of the men that are here in the Opposition, every one of them, so that we may together promote policies through the government. This gentlemen mentioned working together; I agree with him, and I hope you do it so that together we may work toward the enunciation and establishment of policies that will open out and create greater opportunities for all our people. In rendering that support it may be fully necessary to very frankly, very sincerely, but very directly correct our criticism of governmental activities in the hope that there may be applied some slight corrective measures. This, after all, is the function of an Opposition. The duty of the Opposition is to watch, correct, advise, and criticize wherever weaknesses occur, or faulty practices occur. This does not necessarily mean that the Opposition is desirous of defeating this Government. Neither is there evi-

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