Thursday, March 16, 1967

after the election, false and misleading statements that were particularly injurious. The Premier of the province said not very long ago, “Take this matter out of politics." Think of it! How could it be taken out of politics when he dragged it into politics. Rather a strange suggestion from the leader of a party that used every means to embarass this government and slow up and destroy industrial growth. Shortly after this statement what did he do? He went out to a meeting at Kingston and another at Charlottetown,, and another in Eldon and perhaps elsewhere and there he pointed out the horrible things that were happening in the Georgetown plant. Why was it necessary to drag this matter into public political meetings? Is this a common policy when the government deals with other matters where they loan money or assist other organizations in this province? The task of attracting investment in the plants that have located here became almost unsurmountable and prospective investors, in the light of these statements and criticisms, located their industry in other provinces where the atmosphere was more favourable and they were free from political propa- ganda. During this whole program I read with amazement articles that I knew were wrong, but I did not wish to enter this discussion and make a public controversy of it for I felt that it would only add to the unfortunate reaction on the part of intend- ‘ ing investors. I might as well have done so because the harm was done. Sinister attacks brought their unfortunate results and people with money who were interested withdrew their support because of these suggestions spread far and wide of the grave errors in the operation of these plants. They must surely have known that the next day any criticism, any suggestions of wrong-doing that appeared in the press of this province would be in Montreal, would be in New York, or Boston, would be overseas in Norway. Our method of communication today doesn’t stop any of these statements were quoted outside of this province in the financial journals of Canada, hold his hand; he not only went to the political meetings with his story but his statements were quoted outside of this province in the Financial journals of Canada, and in order to be sure that his remarks would be thoroughly publicized he even went on a National broadcast, I haven’t the statement here but I could look it up if necssary, that cast very grave suspicions on the operation of the Georgetown pro- ject. Our Premier was a party to that broadcast. How could we expect, Mr. Speaker,

anything else but a contrary attitude on the part of the people who had money to invest.

Now I would like to mention the Premier’s attitude during the election cam- paign. I want to read to you some of the abstracts from a letter he wrote to the ple of the Georgetown area. “I want to give you my personal assurance that the

wn industries. This is my firm guarantee. I want to assure all the workers at rgetown," take note of every word of this, “that in no way will their jobs be terferred with when a Liberal Government is elected. Anyone who suggests such thing is trying to mislead thepeo ple. It is our plan," said the Premier, “that work- g closely with the industries we poowill be able to increase the level of wagespai paid all m ployeesy. " Take note of it. “My fellow candidates and I are determined to do every- ing possible to raise wages throughout the province and in conclusion, may I again 've you my firm personal guarantee that under my leadership our industries will be elped and continued in every possible way.

“We will also take steps to raise minimum wages so that all workmen may rn a decent living."

That’s the statement from the Premier. That is a letter that was sent out to e ppeo le of the Georgetown area. No wonder the Premier looks down at his desk hen he hears his own words that were distributed to the Georgetown people. What tragic sellout and shortly after that the same Premier went into Georgetown, losed the doors of Gulf Garden Foods and Bathurst Marine, and threw hundreds of eople out of employment. That is the story, that of course was in keeping with the licy of his government, he fired hundreds of employees out of jobs. I do not par- icularly blame the new Minister of Labour. He had his orders and he was a good oldier; he was a member of the Light Brigade and he obeyed his orders and fired em. The “dismissal squad” added three or four hundred more at Georgetown, gave em a Christmas pre resent of unemployment, and the representative of Georgetown ho sits here and the other Cabinet Ministers who sit here sat on the sidelines and ever opened their mouths in defence of their own people.

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