Legislative Assembly

After the election the Premier went wild again and he has released statements to the public appearing almost every day which were misleading, occasionally un- truthful, and damaging. He stated that large amounts of money were paid to the promoters. The money from this province was not paid to any promoters. It was paid after inspection directly to contractors and suppliers who helped build the plants, and there was no money given for any other purpose. The amount of money for Gulf Garden Foods, according to my information, was three millions, and less than $400,000.00 for Bathurst Marine, or in that vicinity. These are covered by mortgages and there are no arrears in payment at the present time. The draggers are being built by agreement at a cost of $870,000 each. Fifty percent of the cost is federal government subsidy. Over $40,000.00 was paid in advance by the owners, Gulf Gard- ens, and 45% was loaned by the Fishermen's Loan Board. He stated at the Liberal meeting in Cardigan that the provincial government gave out taxpayers money, built Bathurst Marine Limited and Gulf Garden Foods and turned them over to Mr. Moe two days before the new Government took office. That was untrue! The contract for Bathurst Marine was signed in November, 1963, and a mortgage finalized in 1965. The agreement with Gulf Garden Foods was signed in 1964 and was finalized long before the government changed. Amounts paid in by Bathurst Marine were not paid from the funds of the Fishermen’s Loan Board as he stated. These payments were deducted from amounts owing Bathurst Marine by the Industrial Corporation, and the payments were up-to-date. On one occasion he said that it would take something over $600,000 to pay outstanding accounts and operation, and in another he had it

up to $1,300,000.

While other provinces are going ahead constructively and rapidly to build up industrial development this province, through the present Government has struck a disasterous blow to development. This is something that affects not only a wide area in Kings County but this activity on the part of the Government has given indus- trial expansion and development in this province a set-back from which it will not

recover for many years.

The Premier is now talking of a comprehensive plan. I don’t know what the cost of that is—some one has reported it at between one and two hundred million dollars—he dreams dreams and sees visions. Why didn’t he put some money into the Georgetown plant and keep it open if he has that much money to spend on some of these visionary projects? Why should that head plant have been closed? Why did he not take in the members of the Conservative Party who had experience, the men who were at the head of industrial development and fisheries for many years and quietly carry on these investigations. If there were some matters that should have been rectified, together we could have gone forward and kept that plant open and operative. They had an examination made there, they submitted a thirty-seven page report and the Cabinet took eight hours in one session, and probably many more others, in the discussion of these reports. What did they reveal? The Special Session should have been presented with some kind of an explanation from this Government. There was plenty of time. Now he has appointed a Commission. Why? Here’s what he states: “The final report of the Commission will not be forthcoming until after the problems at Georgetown have been finally and satisfactorily settled." What may I ask is the purpose of a Commission if he is going to settle this problem long before they take action. That thing doesn’t read reasonably to me. If everything is to be settled at Georgetown what need of this Commission? I note the complexion of this Commission and I have some recommendations to the Premier regarding these appointments and I am very pleased that he did give some consideration to my re- commendations. Now I feel that in view of the breadth of the reference the Opposi- tion should have been consulted as a matter of fact before final arrangement was made. But I have nothing to say against the members of this Commission. I note the appointment of Judge Trainor, and I would like to say here this is a man for whom I have the very deepest respect for I recognize him as a man of honesty, fairness and sound judgment. The other two men I do not know, with the exception of Mr. McKeigan, who has succeeded Mr. Wardell on ADB. One of the terms of reference however rather amazes me for after providing for a study of the industry at George- town, "All commitments between the province, Fishermen's Loan Board, Industrial Corporation and agents of these companies and all financial agreements and disburse- ments of the companies, and other studies over a very broad field.” The Minute-of-

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