Legislative Assenlbly

Something new this year is silo construction for which I will be looking for an appropriation of $15,000.00. Also, in the Western part of the province, thee in a group of people growing cucumbers contracted with the Terry Cucumber pop]. in Quebec, and we have budgeted a freight assistance subsidy of $15,000.00. Vs hope that this will benefit the people in that part of the province; we know it well and it is also estimated that this program will be self-sustaining at a later date.

Our potato industry promotion last year was a sizable amount of — $100,000.00, and this year we are budgeting $12),000.00. This, we feel, is one the most important things we can do due to the fact that the economy of our wince depends to a large and continuing extent on our potato returns. This is why we are requesting an increase here; we now have most of these people employed and we have to buy new machinery. While we do not want to legislate this, we do fiel that it be required that potato growers plant certified seed, or better. We hope toses the day when people will have the desire to plant foundation seed. We have my rea- sons for thinking this; we must move to the position where we can inform otr mar- kets where there is considerable competition, that we have disease free seel. This is going to take a terrific amount of co-operation and I feel that even if ever: mom- ber of this Legislature had a disinfectant unit and a steam cleaner and we all went out, thirty two of us, we still wouldn’t be able to do this unless we had he full co-operation of the growers and everybody involved in the industry. This is our objective and we hope it will be achieved.

All in all, Mr. Speaker, I said I wasn’t going to say very much, ani I am going to stick to my word. According to my estimation and figures, the a prolriation for the Department of Agriculture for the year 1967-68 is increased by 600,|00.00.

Thank you. (Applause). Honourable J. Elmer Blanchard, Minister of Labour: (Fifth Queens)

Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that a speech on the Draft Add'ess is mainly one of a review of Departmental activities for the previous year, wlile the speech on the Budget Address is a forecast or projection of matters to be dedt with by the Department in the coming year.

In this particular Session a considerable amount of labour legislation ha been presented to this House, and has received third reading and is now to receive Royal Assent. So a foundation is now laid for effective work in advancing the rogue of the Department. The Equal Pay Act has been tightened up, and The In ustr'al Re- lations Act has been overhauled to bring it up to modern standards. The Depart- ment name has been changed to The Department of Labour and Man ower Reamrees, which will allow for a statistical branch in the Department. The orkmen’s Com- pensation Board Act has been amended to give more equitable monthly allowances to widows and their children. Three new Acts have been passed. The Indistrlal Standards Act will allow for stabilization of the labour force in the various trades. The Winter Works Projects Act gives a framework to- organize Winter Worle Pro- jects on a more productive basis, while the Vacation Pay Act provides another fea- ture which, for the first time, gives the statutory right to employees to a vacation with pay or vacation pay. This latter Act is another election promise fulfiled by this government.

In the past year, legislation with respect to The Industrial Relations Ad only was submitted to The Labour Management Relations Council for its advice an! sug- gestions. In the future all legislation relating to the Department of Labour and Manpower Resources will be submitted to the Council. The practice of subnitting proposed legislation to labour and management groups will also be continued. This

rocedure will continue until the time has arrived when the two groups will make Joint submission on proposed legislation. It is proposed this year that research be done in new areas of labour legislation. Preliminary talks have been held wth of- ficials of the Dalhousie Law School to undertake such research by post-graduate students in law. It is also proposed that all existing labour legislation, togetha with any future additional 1e 'sation which maybe enacted, be incorporated into a Prince Edward Island Labour ode somewhat similar to the Federal Labour Code. Steps

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