Legislative Assembly

of all the Province, as part of a broad plan of industrial development. We tried to open new'opportunities for our people, create employment, promote extended markets for our fisheries and farm products, and to advance the general prosperity of our Island people. All of these, despite the lack of complete success of this particular prOJect, were accomplished and our record in this respect is more than favourable when compared with similar developments in other provinces. Furthermore the pre- sence of former Ministers before the Commission would only have provided an oppor- tunity to reduce the hearings to the level of a political vendetta. despite the objec- tions of the Commission even to a greater degree than was unfortunately the case and would have further obscured the main issue. Was the project sriund in its original concept? Was it feasible of fullfilment, and where, if anywhere, did it go wrong? The public is entitled to know all the answers to these ouestions. The Com- mission made it clear in its opening statement, and quite properly so. that it would not be concerned with nor did it wish to hear political speeches or political “back- biting.” Unfortunately, it was not completely spared this by government witnesses.

The government has had its Commission. the hearings and its days in court; the Opposition must now await the outcome contained in the Commission report, whenever it may be forthcoming. We stand by our original position. but are pre- pared to proceed during this Session with public business and the many very serious prohlems to be found in this Province and its people. the solution of which we will assist the government in every way to achieve. It is my conviction that lack of co-operation during the past session, the attempt to implicate the previous govern- ment in unethical practices. unfortunately, created an atmosphere that not onlv pre- vented a prompt settlement that would have kept an important industrial plant in operation. but also seriously impeded further developments in the industrial life of this Province.

The time has come to gather all our forces together in a true spirit of co- operation and sound loyal principles of citi7enshin. and work together to settle our differences — political and economic — where they should he settled: in the circle of the family. by representatives of the people in the Legislature of this Province. This does not necessarily preclude the pin-pointing of the errors of administrative. processes or abundant criticisms where weaknesses or neglect are evident. l\Teither should it prevent a friendly, unpreiudiced, sincere attempt to fulfill our public res- ponsibility and promote, together. the best interest of the people of this Province. That is my statement, and that is as far as I will go at that.

(Applause)

Tn a recent broadcast the Premier made a rather pathetic and weak attempt to iustify the period in which they have ruled this Province. T do not know who pre— pared the statement. I can’t believe it was the Premier, frankly. but whoever it was most certainly was not complimentary to his government. In that outline he states: “It has been a period of reassessment.” Think of it! Almost two years in power and he is still re-assessipg things. T wasn't ir. power three weeks until. with my good friends. the Executive of that time. we re-assessed the situation. and we started the wheels of development going. a development that existed up until the time we. went out of power. And would still have been under development had we remained in power a greater length of time. Assessment. The Premier of this Province and his supporters stated three years ago that they had assessed the situation in this Prov- ince. they knew then what the situation was: they were definitely misleading in their criticisms against the government that was desperately endeavouring to do a good job for the province and its people. A job that has not been done since. They have had three whole years of re-assessment. and they are not through assessing yet. They are the most marvellous “assessors” that this Province has ever experienced. The fact is that they spent too much in endeavouring to pick flaws in the previous administration and they were racing around Canada and the United States and every- where else to gather up strav strains instead of staying home and minding the busi- ness for which they were elected. They agreed at that time, during the election campaign. that the finances of this province were satisfactory. Let us look at some of these statements.

I do not propose to go into a long and laboured statement of the finances. it is not necessary. I would like to say that three years ago our opponents had stated

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