Legislative Assembly

J. Cyril Sinnott: Yes, we will get to Item Seven. “Given the nature of Can- adian society in which we liVe and complex relationships which exist within it." Did anyone ever hear more trite expressions than that? “There can obviously be no absolute acceptance of any such responsibility by any provincial government. No provincial government has complete and arbitrary control of all the variables which ultimately effect the rate at which its economy develops and its people prosper.” What he meant to say was, in our society the government cannot control the economy. Now it is full of more words, but on page eleven we come to the great promise. “The government therefore believes that now is the time for a clear definition of the responsibility of government in economic development. For a clear enunciation of the current position in this regard, and for a clear statement of principles and government thinking and intentions this paper provides such a statement that further policy and further policy statements by government and the necessary legislation will be introduced in due course." This is the big promise of the White Paper and it goes on to seven principles, no five principles, which are enunciated and I am unable to understand what they mean. If anyone on the Government side can translate this into English in simple words and let me know what it means, I would be glad to give further consideration to this White Paper and what it is supposed to mean.

After the bright promise, we go on to development strategies. ”The research and analysis com leted and available to the present time is not yet sufficient to permit a full an detailed elaboration of the many aspects of the comprehensive development plan.” They are already beginning to hedge. It goes on further and says, and comes to a startling conclusion which has been apparent to me ever since I was born, and apparently to Islanders for the last hundred or more years. It says, “Economic development in P.E.I. must have its basis in a massive development of

the agricultural sector." It took him nineteen pages to come to that startling con- clusion.

“It is this predominance of agriculture which not surprisingly constitutes the focal point of future economic development on the Island.” But it doesn’t say what it is going to do about agriculture.

On page 29 is the big promise of legislation to implement the objective of this White Paper. This is among their objectives. “Secondly, to establish as possible, the necessary administrative machinery to ensure the most efficient, economic, and co-ordinated implementation of the development program. This machinery will, as did the establishment of the Joint Planning and Research Committee, reflect both the special nature of the task before us, and the extensive range of its application. Legislation to this effect will shortly be introduced into this House." It goes on, three or more pages of words which means the same as those that I have quoted, and ends up meaning nothing. Thirty-one pages which amount to nothing but a promise to study the needs of the Island. There is no plan, there is no proposed plan for the future, and all we have here is a wordy document which means ex- actly nothing and was probably intended to fool the people into thinking that great economic expansion is just around the corner, if only we will be a little bit patient, if only we will place our full confidence in this energetic Government that is going to be all things to all people ends up being nothing to anybody. The people cannot bt so easily misled. (Applause) The people cannot be so easily misled and this Government is going to find out whenever it has the courage to call an election. But more was to come; legislation was introduced to set up another new Crown Corporation to look after the brilliant promises of the White Paper. This, of course, is nothing more than an attempt to clothe this vision in some sort or flimsy garment. Another Crown Corporation is absolutely unnecessary in P.E.I. Industrial Estates can look after all our economic development in Prince Edward Island. Its Manager is a highly qualified man and if he can’t do it, how can we expect a couple of Deputy Ministers to look after it. The comprehensive development plan was promoted so much by this Government that to be let down like this must, indeed, be a shock to all Islanders. Now, I will let this White Paper rest in peace. I am sure we will not hear of it again, at least not from the Gov- ernment benches in the near future.

Honourable Alexander B. Campbell: You have no confidence in the Deputy Ministers?

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