Legislative Assembly

success in obtaining that co—operation depends on the labour relations policies of management.

We do have Minimum Wage Legislation for men and women in this province, but Minimum Wage Legislation is not the conclusive answer to the problem. 'The H: danger is that a minimum wage becomes a maximum wage in a great many inm- ces. The purpose of a minimum wage is to set some standard below which a . will not be paid. However, its big inadequacy is that the minimum wage so leg: . ’ may have no relation to the wage required for a minimum standard of living. _ e answer to higher wages, basically, is greater industrialization and higher proh— tivity in the industries which we already have. If the industry of the nation efld be induced to become more decentralized and set up here. and in the other havegot provinces, and be able to compete on the market, we will be on the first step closing the gap in wages. We must bend every effort to continue to attract industry that will upgrade the level of wages. In any event, we have to look at the minimum wages here, particularly the legislation: but the method of approach has to be tackled very carefully. And I may say. Mr. Speaker, that the concentration of the Department this. year will beon wage levels.

. ‘ ~ . 'This year the Department has budgeted for an overall expenditure of 81,. ,- 807.00, which is $13,860.00, more than in 1966-1967. The greatest part of the , partment budget is taken up in Winter Works, which this year is set at $1,031,000.00, of which $619,000.00 will be recoverable from Ottawa. This amount for Winter Works is budgeted in arrears as it covers the cost of the program for the year just past, 1966-1967. This accounts for the $200,000.00..not used up in the 1966-1967 budget as it was the amount budgeted for the 1965-1966 program. And as I explained this morning during the Budget, the honourable member for Second Prince flailing his arms about and crying shame at this lack of expenditure, but this program actually was completed while the previous government was in office. However, in the actual administrative services of the Department, which have been vastly increased and expanded, there is an increase of only $8,860.00, in the estimates. However, with more legislation to administer, I can see that more personnel will be required to give adequate attention in the future to make our legislation work properly. We now have the Minimum Wage Act for Men, The Minimum Wage Act for Women, The Vacation Pay Act, The Equal Pay Act and The Industrial Standards Act to administer. At the present time the enforcement of these Acts is by complaint, which is not satis- factory at all because employees are afraid of retaliation by employers if they com- plain about their wages. The time has arrived when an inspector has to be appointed to administer all five Acts by a progressive system of inspection on the “on-the-spot” inspection basis. Only in this way can employees be protected against exploitation by ruthless employers.

In connection with union contracts and industrial peace in the province for this coming year. I wish to say. Mr. Speaker. that from the union agreements which we have in our files. twelve will expire in the year 1967. Three have already been renewed and signed through negotiations and one has been given a six-month exten- sion. by mutual consent, which leaves approximately eight to be negotiated this year.

During the many debates and discussions that arose in this House certain statements were made as to high rate of unemployment in this province during the past few months. I have with me the actual statistics of benefit claimants and also unplaced applicants as they made application to the Manpower Centres in Chan lottetown and Summerside. I bring this matter up at this particular time to show that during the months of January. February, March and April of this year there has been a small improvement in connection with benefit claimants in that there were 260 less claimants during that period this year than there were last year. On unplaced applicants there was a considerable difference. In February, 1966, there were 5,861 unplaced persons and 267 were placed. In January. 1967, unplaced were 3101, and 281 were placed. In February, 1967, unplaced were 2,949; 222 were placed. In March, 1966, there were 6,000 unplaced and 258 were placed. In March, 1967, 3,510 were unplaced, was about the half amount of last year, and 336 were placed. In April, 1966, 5027 were unplaced and 285 were placed. These figures, I will admit, are in- conclusive with regard to the question that has been raised in the House from time to time as to the promsie of our Party and this Government to create more jobs. However, it does give us an indication that the situation for the past four months‘as

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