Wednesdaytlflarchklg, 1968

to get behind this plan, and I feel they all will. But he will not achieve that co- operation by partisan speeches such as the one he gave in the Draft Address. If an economic plan for this Province is to be successful we must forget partisan politics. I might be willing to forgive him, because I don’t think the words were all his, and I think he was so completely out of character it would indicate that he had some help in the preparation of that particular speech.

With reference to the tourist industry. Recalling the Minister’s figures either last night or today, I think he said it was down 4% or up 4%. I think he was quoted during the season of saying it was up 12%, but this doesn’t matter very much. We did have a poor season in 1967; it was a poor season throughout the Maritimes, mainly due to the drawing effects of Expo. People just have so many holiday dollars and if it goes to Expo therefore we cannot get it. But I think we had a drop here in tourist trade last year to a much greatcr extent than a 4'; increase. Ore indicator that I have watched from year to year is the attendance at the National Park. They use the same method of counting heads year after year, so you get a more or less accurate comparison. The figures for the Prince Edward Island National Park last year showed a decrease of 33%. These are actual and correct figures. By the same token I think that 1968 will be one of our better years, and it has happened to the various operators that I have talked with so far. Their bookings are well ahead of any year so far. But there again, we are in the hands of the weather man: if the weather is good the people will remain; if it isn’t, people will stay a short while and carry on somewhere else.

Our advertising should be completely directed to improving the months of June, September and October. We can forget about July and August; the people are going to come here whether we advertise or not. But if we are going to make this a viable industry in this Province, we have to add three or more months to it. This is an old record that has been played over and over and over, but when are we going to do something about it? Not very much thus far.

I think it is time that the Tourist Development Department went all out, took a gamble and spent their complete budget, small as it might be, in advertising for June, September and October.

We should be charging more in our Provincial Parks. The Provincial Parks have reached a stage, now, Where they should be self-sustaining. This can be done without harming the volume that goes through these parks. It might be of interest to note that the Federal Government last year doubled their rates in the National Park; they were still turning people away. The revenue increased from $13,500 to $27,000. In other words they got $6,000 more from the one park than we got from twenty-one. I think this is something the Department should look at; we have to scratch the barrel for dollars, and this is one way we can make at least one depart- ment self-sustaining.

Georgetown here has been mentioned for the last hour and one-half, and I don’t know whether I should venture into this field or not. I am going to take a different approach altogether.

I am afraid that the Government at the moment is overlooking the other side of Georgetown that is most apparent to anybody that gives the matter deep thought. I am afraid that the present Government is putting Party before Province. I am not attempting to justify Georgetown to any extent whatsoever. Mistakes were made, they were man-made mistakes, they were errors of judgment. The concept of George— town was good and is still good and it can still be brought about as a viable industry. But the unfortunate and sad thing that is happening in Georgetown is that people are putting Party before Province. Does it matter or is it more important that the political future of individuals be knocked down at the expense of the Province? Does it matter if Leo Rossiter survives politically; does it matter if Frank Sigsworth makes it politically; does it matter if Dave Stewart survives politically at the ex- pense of the Province? Mr. Speaker, I say “no”. (Applause)

The economic future of the whole Province, all its people, all its population,

now and in the future, and affecting citizens of this province yet unborn, is being ruined by a bad press.

——-267—-