Legislative Alembiy

Association, as well as many other Associations and individuals. Also in line with our policy on labour management relations we are encouraging the incorporation of a clause in all working agreements that would set up 'a joint Labour Management Committee at the plant level to provide for communication between the two parties. Communications is a two-way street as far as labour management relations and productivity is concerned, and can be most effective when it passes freely from the top down and vice versa.

Upon assuming office, the Labour Relations Board commenced processing the great backlog of applications for Union certification. The Board dealt with thirty- five applications in all; of these ten were certified, eight were rejected, and fifteen were withdrawn for one reason or another, while decision on two more is presently pending. In addition, the Board has been called upon to act on one decertification, and one change of certification, and also to hear an application on the definition of a “confidential” employee. One decertification, Mr. Speaker, was ordered by the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island on an appeal to the Supreme Court. As a result legislative changes are proposed this Session to The Industrial Relations Act. In addition, a formal set of regulations on procedures of the Board, together with voting procedure regulations, will be formalized by Order-in-Council under the authority of the Act. The Labour Relations Board, and here, Mr. Speaker, I wish to clarify that the Labour Relations Board is not of the same makeup as the Labour Management Relations Council -- they are entirely two different things. The Labour Relations Board is comprised of a Chairman, two representatives from management, and two from labour. The present chairman is Joseph J. Revel]. of Sherwood. the management representatives being Lloyd Weeks of Charlottetown, and Joseph Murphy of Summerside. Labour is represented by Jack Brown of Park- dale, and Reginald MecLellan from Summerside. Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the Opposition that they should not get confused between the Labour Relations Board and the Labour Replacement Board, which I have to admit operated so efficiently for the Progressive Conservatives during their term of office. (Applause)

L. George Dewar: How is the present one?

Honourable J. Elmer Blanchard: I imagine, Sir, that you will find it very difficult to find such a Board operating at the present time .

L. George Dewar: The action still goes on though.

Honourable J. Elmer Blanchard: . . . . or at anytime. The conciliation services of the Department were carried out with despatch. Conciliation Officer services were provided on three occasions when negotiations had broken down. At the same time, three Conciliation Boards were also setup. The Department has no staff for conciliation services and depends on citizens of the province outside the Department to carry these responsibilities. We are grateful to these people who have given their time and experience in their successful efforts to maintain industrial peace. Amending legislation will be proposed at this Session to broaden the terms of re- ference under a Ministerial Inquiry or Commission in order to provide an additional vehicle to maintain industrial peace in the province. During the year the Department has supervised eight representation votes under the direction of the Labour Relations Board; also during the year, two strike votes were supervised by the Department.

In 1966 and to date two strike or work stoppages occured in Prince Edward Island, but both were under the federal jurisdiction. I refer to the CNR strike and the Canada Packers strike. Canada Packers strike has been settled and the CNR. strike was ended by Act of the Parliament of Canada.

The Minimum Wage Act for Men, The Equal Pay Act and the Minimum Wage Act for Women are enforced at the present time only when a complaint is made. Two complaints were received and investigated under The Minimum Wage Act for glenwbut none were received under The Equal Pay Act or The Minimum Wage Act or omen.

The Workmen’s Compensation Board comes under the jurisdiction of the De- partment, and it provides for the Wage Compensation, medical and surgical benefits to workmen who are injured on the job, and to provide bendits for the workman’s family in the event of a fatal accident on the job. Because of its vital concern with

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