Wednesday, February 28, 1968

is designed as a gap-filler and pays the difference in costs between the programs we are now conducting and the programs we should now be conducting, that is, the difference between the programs we are now conducting and the cost of the programs we should now be conducting. There is a wide gulf, a deep gap, between what we are now doing and what we should now be doing in order to develop fully the resources which are ours in this Province. We in Government have been de- veloping policies to define and to meet the programs which we in Prince Edward Island should now be conducting. We have established the Economic Improvement Corporation to assist us in our work. The combined efforts of economists in the Economic Improvement Corp. and within Government are vital to the future of our Province. In the light of the severe criticism and the lashings directed at person- nel of the Economic Improvement Corp. by the Leader of the Opposition in this House I am, therefore, in these circumstances, duty bound to raise a defence for these men. And also a defence for the urgent need for men of their special train- ing and capabilities to assist us in designing the framework of any development program for the Province. The Prince Edward Island Comprehensive Development Program is the most ambitious program ever undertaken in Eastern Canada. They have also attached doubts on the need for men expert in their profession in the framing of such a program. Yet the former Government recognized the need to engage non-Islanders or experts as advisers in many instances in projects of much less significance than the Comprehensive Development Program. I have a note from my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Speaker. and I am quite pre- pared to offer him the floor for a few minutes. I’ll be back though.

Walter R. Shaw: Thank you, Mr. Premier, I appreciate that. We have dis- tinguished visitors to this Province who very often visit the Chamber while it is in session. We have such a person in our midst today and I would like to take this opportunity of introducing to this Legislature Mrs. Isabel MacAulay who was born in Yarmouth, now living in Halifax, and who is the National President of the Pro- gressive Conservative Women of Canada. I have very much pleasure in extending to you, Mrs. MacAulay, a very cordial welcome to this Chamber and I hope your visit to this Province will be pleasant and rewarding.

Hon. Alex B. Campbell: Mr. Speaker. that introduction was rather devious. The Leader of the Opposition’s note to me suggested that he would like the oppor- tunity to introduce the National President of the P.E.I. Women’s Association of Canada and, of course, I had no objection to that. The fact that she has some in- terest in politics makes it even more appropriate that I join with him in extending a cordial and warm greeting to her. We certainly hope that she is enjoying her visit to this assembly and that it will be possible for her to drop in again some other time. She'll be most welcome. I’m certain all members would like to extend that welcome to her.

Walter R. Shaw: Thank you, Mr. Premier, I appreciate that and when I be- come Premier shortly, I will return the compliment!

Hon. Alex. B. Campbell: Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is go- ing to have to get to work pretty fast because I understand there's a leadership convention coming up. I would gather from his remarks that he will be one of the present contestants.

M. Alban Farmer: He may be re-elected. Walter R. Shaw: I'm feeling great now for the war.

Hon. Alex. B. Campbell: What we’ve heard in the last day or so in this House, Mr. Speaker, is innuendo, is snide criticisms, .little unfortunate digs at the fact that persons not born and bred in Prince Edward Island have somehow become involved in the Economic Improvement Corp., have somehow been making some contribution to the building of the framework of this program. They are doing much of the analysis, much of the study behind the program. They are foreigners. They were not born and bred on Prince Edward Island. They’re like Mrs. MacAulay, can’t claim to have been born in this Province. Why should these

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