Thursday, February 29, 1968_

adian Legion have maintained what is called a ‘Sheltered Workshop’ for these young people, these handicapped young adults. Unfortunately, the facilities that have been provided have proven themselves most inadequate. Recently they had to completely vacate the premises, because the water system froze, completely unusable as far as the rest of this winter and spring is concerned. Fortunately, they were able to obtain emergency quarters. I am happy to inform this House that through a sharing agreement with Ottawa a new building for these young people will be constructed, a building which will cost somewhere in the neighbour- hood of $175,000.00, it will be shareable with Ottawa under a continuing and existing agreement of 75% of shared capital costs. The plans have already been drawn up and it is hoped that tenders for this very worthwhile project will be called at a very early date. I think we recognize, Mr. Speaker, and gentlemen, that these young people although handicapped are able to do many things well, and they are certainly able if these facilities are prOVided and extended to make a very substantial contribution to the work force, and, I would hope, to the social life of this province and of their own community.

One of the exciting programs underway in the Province is that being con— ducted under the Prince Edward Island NewStart Inc. with headquarters at Mon- tague. It was indicated in this House yesterday that this is a Federal-Provincial Crown Corporation, rather an unusual setup, with a central objective policy. I quote: “Developing and testing new methods of qualifying persons who are unemployed or under-employed for stable and rewarding employment.”

In order to achieve these objectives the Corporation will, in 1968 do a number of things.

(1) It will study in detail the overt and the hidden unemployed and under- employed in King’s County.

(2) It will conduct a study of the existing and projected employment pros— pects within, and external to, King’s County.

(3) It will conduct several experimental training programs which will be designed to provide an evaluation if the programs themselves and in addition, add to the depth of information that is required to conduct future programs.

I am not going to recite all the programs, Mr. Speaker, but among the many projects proposed which will be put in operation during 1968 are these:

(1) How to grow more and better vegetables.

(2) More efficient fishing.

(3) A future in the Food Service Industry.

(4) Identification of Management Training Needs. (5) Heavy Equipment Operator Training.

(6) Better Home Management.

The economy of King’s County, as you know Mr. Speaker, is dominated by agriculture and fishing and these are carried out, I think I am safe in saying, in some areas at a scale which would be considered unproductive in most of the more highly productive areas of North America.

Job opportunities in King’s County, and indeed in the remainder of Prince Edward Island are not abundant. At the same time, there is some evidence that a shortage of skilled or properly motivated labour exists within this area.

I submit, Mr. Speaker, and I am not an expert by any means, that increasing the level of farm management skills could greatly increase output and, subsequently, income. Competent crews for the successful operation of modern fishing vessels are in short supply in some areas. Plant operators often claim that workers are poorly motivated and unproductive. Job opportunities appear to exist in Various service industries for which skilled personnel are just not available.

These factors suggest that a careful assessment of the employment oppor— tunities in the County and elsewhere must be made in order that training programs can be developed to permit more productive utilization of the manpower resources

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