Pegislativejssemhly

BUDGET DEBATE

Tuesday, March 19, 1968

M. Alban Farmer (Sixth Queens): I’m so shocked at the Budget that I don’t really kww what to say. I'm sure that the people of this Province will be shocked in the morning when they read of this or hear it this evening, later, in the news. This Government that talks about fiscal responsibility and increased the debt of this Prov- ince by fifteen million in a year and one-half cannot expect the people to put much dependance in that kind of talk. (Applause) Now, Mr. Speaker, in a Budget there are different principles which are supposed to be embodied in it. One is to provide policies for the development of that particular unit, particular political unit, whether it be of the Federal or the Province or any other country and in addition to that it also sets forth the figures of revenue and expenditure. Now, in this budget there is not one indication of anything to stimulate productivity or to develop industry or agriculture in this Province. Nothing at all on that.

Walter R. Shaw: Not a thing.

M. Alban Farmer: The figures are there. If we take that as a total, in fact, of a budget, then we only have half a budget. There’s another principal that’s very well known, Mr. Speaker, and that is when times are good and things are going good in a community, in the fiscal unit, the taxes are raised but when times get bad the brakes are taken off and taxes are lowered. We have the reverse here today. We have heard all the speakers, most of the speakers from that side of the House, dis- cussing the Speech from the Throne, talk about the difficult times that the Province is going through. The Provincial Treasurer admits we have difficult times but in- stead of taking off taxes and relieving the people of this Province. what do they do? They add another million and one—half to our taxes. It’s approximately a ten percent increase in Provincial taxes. It amounts to approximately eighty dollars per family of five in this Province. Now, where are those people going to find the money to pay those taxes? There’s one other principle. It’s not a budgetary prin— ciple or not a fiscal matter but it’s one that you all know about and that is, you should never kick a person when he’s down. I submit that the people of this Province have received a very, very drastic blow right in the vitals this evening. I move the adjournment of this debate. (Applause)

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