Monday, April 24, 1967

their hame or they may be partially disabled and would not want to enter into an agreement for home ownership. This would cause these other apartments and houses to be vacant and these would be taken up. So then we would be clear of low-cost housing, low rental housing which in many Municipalities have become the dumps of the province, and they are not working out as anticipated.

Now, Mr. Speaker, there is another matter which I would like to mention that is of the concern to home owners, which concentrated {heavily on housing as a means of raising tax revenue and this is actually in contrast to the program they have in the United States. The Americans are allowed to deduct mortgage in- terests, property taxes, sales taxes from their taxable income for federal income tax purposes. All these conjunctions are denied Canadians living in owner occu- pied homes, causing them to pay taxes on taxes and pricing housing reasonably out of reach of our average Canadian. Industrial families, residing in their own homes, cannot treat property taxes as a deductable expense for income tax purposes, as landlords and realty companies and apartment owners can. The Province of British Columbia refunds the first $120.00 of property taxes to the home owner. Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have adopted a similar policy and I think this would be one way of keeping the cost of taxes down if these were subsidized such as they are doing in the Western provinces.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I spent considerable time on Friday speaking on this Draft Address and I know there are many others waiting to speak. But in con- clusion, Mr. Speaker, and to summarize my remarks. The former Government took progressive steps in every area of undertaking, in comparison to the present government which has done nothing to implement their election promises. I can only conclude by expressing my feelings towards this dorment Government over the past twelve months. Never before has so little been done by so many in such a long period of time.

Thank you. (Applause) Gordon Max Thompson (Fourth Prince)

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Premier on his selection of the Speaker for this House. 'He has chosen a man who has, and will continue to occupy this position with dignity, with grace, with humility, and with fairness to all. He will be a credit to himself and to the Party that he represents. Now, Mr. Speaker, I want to sincerely congratulate you on being the Member chosen to occupy this honoured and exaulted position. I would like to join with Members who have previously spoken, in congratulations to the Mover of the Speech from the Throne. He performed his duties in a very able manner and indeed performed more like an experienced Parliamentarian than a new Member mak- ing a maiden speech in the Provincial House of Assembly. I would like to sin- cerely congratulate the Seconder of the Speech from the Throne. He is a man of some experience in this House and he certainly demonstrated this point during the course of his remarks. He is my colleague from the Fourth District of Prince and so I have had an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with him through years of association with him, in farm organizations, and political party work. So it was no surprise to me that he would perform his duties, deliver a sound constructive address in a manner clear, concise and understandable to all.

A few days ago, I took notice when the Senior Member from the First Dist- trict of Queens made mention of his first speech in this Assembly, a speech which he had written out and attempted to read, and of his embarrassment and frustra- tion on being heckled by the Leader from the opposite side of the House. I thought he was giving me just a little hint of what I might expect if I attempted to do the same thing. So, Mr. Speaker, if my remarks today appear a little tottery, I hope you will not be too critical, and you will bear with me in this what is for me, a memorable occasion.

(Applause) As you no doubt are aware, the District which I represent in this House, has —260