Friday, March 1, 1968 Walter R. Shaw : I understand the snow hazard is not as heavy up in that area as it is in a good many others. Hon . Robert E. Campbell : We have as much snow as anybody else. Walter R. Shaw : Just a minute, I am asking the Minister, not you. Hon . George J. Ferguson : I will say this to the Honourable Leader of the Opposition, they haven't got as much snow up there as they had last year, but I think you know they have quite an average snowfall. Walter R. Shaw : I imagine they have a good deal, but I don't think the snow, Mr. Minister , is as heavy up there in that area. At least that's what I am informed. L. George Dewar : A little more this morning. Hon . George J. Ferguson : Mr. Speaker , ten years ago we kept most of the roads of the Province open for traffic with a fleet of ninety units. At that time we were not under the pressure of school busses and commutors to the extent that we are now. So if it took a little longer to open roads it was not too serious. The engine horse power of that fleet was 11,000 H.P. Since that time road machinery has suddenly increased in size and numbers in this Province, and at the present there are two hundred and fifty units at work on snow, with an installed H.P . of 34,000. The improvement in power is impressive but so great is the demand for winter roads that .sometimes it seems simply impossible to make headway in meeting the demands. L. George Dewar : What year did you refer to the 90 units. Hon . George J. Ferguson : Ten years ago. Mr. Speaker , you might be interested in knowing the role of the Highway Department as an employer. In summer when highway construction and mainten¬ ance are in full swing the department may have as many as 2,000 persons on their payroll during a month. Now not all of these would be fulltime, but this number of different people will appear on the payroll. Contractors working on highway projects employ an estimated 800 men. Repair and service depots add a further 2,000 men during the construction season. Of course, this is at a time when un¬ employment is not usually a problem. Winter presents a very different picture, the summer gangs are laid off and would, in a great many cases, exist on unemploy¬ ment insurance if it were not for snow removal work. I have had a summary made of the various contractors, suppliers standards, and our own Department and find that at least 860 persons are working this winter who would be idle if we were to let the roads close. Of course, the entire economy of the Province as we know it would bog down in such a case. Schools would close, service stations would mostly be closed, and the Doctors would go back to their sleighs. Imagine, Mr. Speaker , what a closed highway system would do the unemployment fund. The 860 snow- fighters alone would draw in the vicinity of approximately $400,000, not to men¬ tion all those who depend on transportation to enable them to carry on their busi¬ ness. Now, Mr. Speaker , I have presented these facts in this way for the purpose of showing that snowfighting is not only indispensable to the life of the Province, but it is also a considerable industry in its own right. We consider a new industry that promise to employ one hundred men worthy of government assistance. Obviously then, an industry that employs 860 men is also worthy of support, and I propose to investigate the possibilities of obtaining Federal assistance in this matter. In a depressed area such as ours it just might be possible. (Applause) Walter R. Shaw : I wonder if I could ask the Minister a question? Hon . George J. Ferguson : Yes. Walter R. Shaw : In the case of an emergency that is done free isn't it? —113—