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CONTENTS

Routine Proceedings

Tabling Documents

Report of the auditor-general, March 31, 1982,

Hon. Mr. Curtis –– 11

Ministry of Finance annual report, December 31, 1982.

Hon. Mr. Curtis –– 11

Compensation stabilization program annual report for 1982.

Hon. Mr. Curtis –– 11

Statement of Crown proceeding payments, 1982-83.

Hon. Mr. Curtis –– 11

Report of treasury bill borrowings.

Hon. Mr. Curtis –– 11

Assessment Appeal Board of British Columbia report, 1982.

Hon. Mr. Curtis –– 11

Remissions and refunds under the Taxation (Rural Area) Act.

Hon. Mr. Curtis –– 11

Statement of unclaimed money deposits Taxation (Rural Area) Act, March 31, 1982.

Hon. Mr. Curtis –– 11

Official administrator's (Estate Administration Act) annual returns, December 31, 1982,

Hon. Mr. Curtis –– 11

Human rights branch and Human Rights Commission annual report, 1982.

Hon. Mr. McClelland –– 11

Workers' Compensation Board annual report, 1982.

Hon. Mr. McClelland –– 11

Labour Relations Board of British Columbia annual report, 1982.

Hon. Mr. McClelland –– 11

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority annual report, 1982-1983.

Hon. Mr. Rogers –– 11

British Columbia Development Corporation's annual report, 1983.

Hon. Mr. Phillips –– 11

Throne speech debate

Mr. R. Fraser –– 11

Mr. Michael –– 14

FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 1983

The House met at 10:10 a.m.

Prayers.

MR. REE: Mr. Speaker, I congratulate you on your election, and I thank you for the opportunity of making the first introduction in this first session of the thirty-third parliament.

Over the years I have had the opportunity of introducing my eldest son Scott to this House. I have also had the opportunity of introducing my daughter Deanna, — who is getting married tomorrow. This morning I have the great pleasure of introducing my youngest son — the tallest son of my children — and I would ask this House to welcome Cameron Ree to Victoria and to the Legislature for his first visit.

MR. SPEAKER: Hon. members, I submit herewith the auditor-general of British Columbia's statement of expenditures as at March 31, 1982. I also submit herewith the special report of the auditor-general of British Columbia.

HON. MR. CURTIS: I have the honour to present several reports. First, I have the honour to present the report of the auditor-general for the year ended March 31, 1982. I also present the Ministry of Finance's annual report for the year ending December 31, 1982; the compensation stabilization program annual report for 1982; the statement of Crown proceeding payments for the fiscal year 1982-83, pursuant to the provisions of the Crown Proceeding Act; the report to the Legislative Assembly of treasury bill borrowings, as required under section 43 of the Financial Administration Act; the report of the Assessment Appeal Board of British Columbia for the 1982 assessment year; remissions and refunds made under the authority of section 23 of the Taxation (Rural Area) Act; the statement of unclaimed money deposits for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1982; and the official administrator's annual returns for the calendar year ended December 31, 1982, under the Estate Administration Act, section 51.

[10:15]

HON. MR. McCLELLAND: I have the pleasure to file the annual report for 1982 of the human rights branch and the Human Rights Commission, the sixty-sixth annual report of Workers' Compensation Board, 1982, and the annual report of the Labour Relations Board of British Columbia, 1982.

HON. MR. ROGERS: I have the honour to present the annual report of the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority for the year 1982-1983.

HON. MR. PHILLIPS: I have the honour to present the British Columbia Development Corporation's ninth annual report, 1983.

Orders of the Day

SPEECH FROM THE THRONE

MR. R. FRASER: I have the honour to move, seconded by the hon. member for Shuswap-Revelstoke (Mr. Michael), that we, Her Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in session assembled, beg leave to thank Your Honour for the gracious speech which Your Honour has addressed to us at the opening of the present session.

I am proud to rise as one of two members for Vancouver South, and I thank the citizens there for supporting me and the man with whom I ran. I am also proud to be a member of Premier Bennett's team, for I perceive that to be the one which will lead us into the future and the one which will help the whole economy of British Columbia and, in fact, of Canada. I congratulate the Premier and his cabinet on their re-election and I welcome them back, as I wish to join with them.

Special mention is warranted for you, Mr. Speaker, and the Deputy Speaker. You perform difficult tasks — a trying task — and rarely receive the recognition you deserve.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my predecessors in the riding of Vancouver South, and especially the man with whom I ran, the Hon. Stephen Rogers, the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. It was evident to me throughout the entire campaign that he is a man who has the respect of the entire community, whether or not they support the Social Credit Party, and it is very clear to me that he has done a lot of hard work there, for the work that he did made my own election much easier. Indeed, I congratulate all the members of the Legislative Assembly who were elected, and on your behalf, and on behalf of the citizens of B.C., thank all those people who ran and lost, for all of us share a common bond: to serve the citizens of B.C.

In the speech by His Honour, I see realism and compassion as the overriding themes. It is indeed a people-oriented program, one, in fact, which will understand and serve the needs of not only the economy but all the people, rich and poor. It is a call for delivery of services in a more efficient and less cumbersome way, for good industrial relations, and for democracy in every sector of our society. It is a call for government of essentials; a call to the private sector for cooperation in the development of real jobs, long-term jobs, the kind that will keep us busy for years. It is recognition of science and technology, and a move to high tech, where the world is going. And we must go and we must lead. It is a call to local councils to encourage job creation in their municipalities through a variable tax assessment procedure which will come. It's a call for every citizen in B.C. to set realistic expectations for the future.

Mr. Speaker, if I am famous for making speeches at all, I am famous for making short rather than long speeches. However, I could speak for days about the contents of the Throne Speech, for indeed it is the one which will lead us on and it is the way we are going to come out of this present economic problem.

Mr. Speaker, the people of B.C. have spoken. They have chosen Premier Bennett as the leader most capable of leading B.C. In these difficult times. They chose restraint, leadership and good management. They chose government with compassion, and they chose a government capable of making the

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hard decisions necessary in these difficult times, which may be unpopular when they are made but are recognized later as being the ones which ought to have been made. That's the government they chose.

When I speak of realistic expectations, I think about my own forebears. My mother's family came to this country in 1882 and my father's side of the family came in 1830, One presumes that their expectations were high or they would not have come, and I presume before long their fondest hope was to survive the first cold winter in eastern Canada. In fact, I suspect their salvation was in their own self-reliance.

Mr. Speaker, we have all come through a cold economic winter. Our salvation will be the resilience of the people of B.C., in their realization that self-reliance is the key, for if those with the capacity for work are given the hope and opportunity to be productive, governments and social agencies can help those who are less fortunate. That is the only way all these things can be done.

I see that hope because the Premier and his colleagues had the political courage necessary to talk about restraint and to bring in the compensation stabilization program, which was the best in Canada and still is the best in Canada. It provides the flexibility to adjust the wages of both high- and low-paid workers, the lower paid people having a better chance to get more money. It recognizes the collective bargaining process that we all know, which is voluntary within the guidelines and recognizes productivity and, if within the guidelines, is selfadministered. This is the best program in Canada.

I want to make special note of the fact that our government, under the leadership of Premier Bennett, was the first to recognize the downturn in the economy, the first to make public that we had to restrain ourselves and the first to make those hard decisions. That is worthy, Mr. Speaker. It is quite clear from May 5 that the people of B.C. appreciated that. The people of B.C. asked for and have chosen good management of human and natural resources, a government with vision and a government of compassion. The mandate is there. Our job is to deliver and deliver we will.

When we speak of compassion I note that the spending in the Ministry of Human Resources is up by 32 percent in these hard times. We understand that in the Ministry of Health, a major component of government spending in B.C., our spending is up 13 percent. That is compassion. In education His Honour speaks of training and retraining now, and in fact the teachers I spoke to during the election, many of whom supported us, understand restraint and efficiency and wish to work and make the system work. so that the children of B.C., our children, will get the education they need. They will be the future leaders and they will have to understand how the system works.

His Honour spoke of northeast and southeast coal projects, and I am certain, Mr. Speaker, that those people working there now were quite happy to see the government reelected. The people who will be working there are happy to see the government re-elected. It is the vision of the government and the vision of Premier Bennett that has led us to these great projects, which will lead us into the future well.

I note the discussion about the Crow rate. No doubt it is significant to B.C. I don't think too many people understand that. I am pleased to hear we will be talking about that.

We talk about the great resources of B.C. — natural gas. We certainly understand that it would be better to use our own resources wisely than to rely on the importation of oil from overseas, over which we have no control.

We talk about industrial relations. I praise all those groups who worked within the guidelines: government workers, municipal workers, school boards — everybody who cooperated to make that program work. In fact, the level of cooperation has been nothing short of phenomenal, and the results have been nothing short of marvellous. Mr. Speaker, we are lucky that our people understand.

Because of my background in the parks system I was pleased that His Honour spoke of parks in B.C. As I see it, our heritage in all of Canada and in western Canada is open spaces. That is why many of our forefathers came here. The preservation and enhancement of park spaces is something very close to me. Certainly in the urban centre that I represent — in fact, I feel myself to be a citizen of the entire city — there is no doubt that we need open spaces in urban centres.

We talk about the value of big parks and how people can get there, but in fact there are many people who cannot get to large urban parks, let alone large provincial parks. That is why, during my term in the parks system in Vancouver, I pushed for local parks, little parks and neighbourhood parks, so that the elderly who cannot walk very far and the children who should not be out of sight of their parents can enjoy the open spaces. I can assure you that parks and recreation are an absolutely essential stress-release mechanism. In the trip I took to Europe some three years ago I noticed — and I want everybody to remember — that some of the crowded cities are tearing up asphalt paving. They are tearing buildings down and building parks, closing streets and making them into pedestrian ways, restricting traffic and cars.

Sometimes we in Canada, where we have so much space, fail to understand the social value of those open spaces. I have said publicly before and will repeat to you that there are some members of the city council of Vancouver that I wouldn't let loose in Stanley Park with an axe. These people have no understanding of that value, none whatsoever. It's important for them to think, today, that the social value of parks is great. That is why I was pleased to see that in the subdivision of Riverview Heights proposed by this government there will be a 65-acre park. Mr. Speaker, that makes sense; it makes a lot of sense.

I was also very pleased to hear the comment about the B.C. Winter and Summer Games, Mr. Speaker. Two hundred and fifty thousand of our people participated in the games. It's obvious that the government understands that healthy minds and healthy bodies go together, and that people who are fit and well and in a good frame of mind can produce more and feel better about it, and create more and pay more taxes. This is the only way we can help those who are less fortunate than we are. We have to let the working people — the capable people — work, and then we can help those who aren't so lucky — and we cannot fail to do that, Mr. Speaker.

His Honour talked briefly about native rights. I do not claim to be an expert in this field, but, in fact, I am pleased to see the commitment of the government to work with native peoples and the federal government to help try to solve this very complex problem, which clearly cannot be solved overnight. That commitment I appreciate.

We talk about real growth opportunities today — perhaps as high as 6 percent. Wouldn't that be lovely? But this can only happen if we follow our mandate, if we all work and we all share in the tough decisions. If we don't make it, people

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will say that the dream was impossible. But we may be able to make it if we all work together, and the cooperation of every member of the House is sought in that respect.

[10:30]

I was pleased that the Minister of Forests (Hon. Mr. Waterland), who is a professional engineer, saw fit to work with the forest industry to convince our American friends — and they are our friends, and have been, and hopefully always will be — that in fact our lumber industry was not subsidized, that in fact the importation of our lumber to their country was useful to them and certainly useful to us. We are a trading nation. I was pleased that his effort there was strong and good and, in fact, effective, for indeed the Americans rejected the countervailing duties that would have ruined, or possibly ruined, our forest industry. That industry needs all the help it can get right now.

We talked about vision not too long ago, Mr. Speaker. Certainly the man with whom I ran, the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources (Hon. Mr. Rogers), the minister responsible for B.C. Place, the minister responsible for undertaking the first part of the dream of the Premier, built that stadium, together with a good board of public officials, and delivered the stadium to the taxpayers of B.C. ahead of schedule and under budget, and that is worthy. I'm sure there were times when the board of B.C. Place and the minister responsible were frustrated: the carping about traffic, the carping about roadways, the carping about density. Everybody knocked the project — almost everybody knocked the project — but luckily the vision, together with the determination of those involved in the project, resulted in its being finished, as I said, early and on time. I was one of the approximately 60,322 people at that first game on Monday night, and it was wonderful; those people were happy, and so was I. It is a long-term project that will benefit not only the city, part of which I represent, but the entire province. It was a vision unparalleled in Canada — in fact, in North America. We are lucky to have a government that can see these things and make these things happen.

We have Expo '86 coming on: another question, another problem, more carping. We have a minister responsible for that, and I am sure, as with B.C. Place, that by 1986 it will be in place, the problems will be put away, and the light rapid transit system that is already underway will be finished. I know the hon. member sitting to my left will want me to say that it's going to go to Surrey, and I hope it will. We're talking efficiencies. We're talking about putting the money into programs and getting the programs down to the people, instead of having the money go into operating costs. That is what the government is all about: getting the money out to the people, making governments less cumbersome, more efficient. People understand the mood. People are willing; everybody is tightening their belts. They are pleased to see the extension of the compensation stabilization program. They want it. And because of the cooperation, because of the success, we now find the inflation rate in B.C. below the national average. That is noteworthy, Mr. Speaker. As the Premier has said, we must earn our way out; we cannot spend our way out. I think everybody understands that, in spite of what you might hear them say.

I'm a professional engineer and a small businessman, and I can assure you that our profession and our industry has not been immune from the effects of recession. All of us in small business and all of us in the engineering profession are tightening our belts very hard. I know that unemployment in the engineering world is unbelievable. In fact, it wasn't that long ago when I think many engineers felt they were immune from the effects of recession. How much better we know today. Those people, those small businessmen and engineers, want the government to do what it is doing. They want it to be lean, and I'm sure we will be.

I was also pleased, as an engineer, to learn that the University of Victoria will have an engineering school coming on stream. Engineers are doers, engineers are builders, and we need people who can do things. For every engineer that is employed, between three and five other people in the community are employed as a direct result. They are technicians, workers in plants, secretaries, or something. For every engineer employed we get three other people, or five other people, so we need to get the jobs going, the builders going. I like to see the engineering school coming on stream.

I was pleased to see the note in His Honour's speech about single parents, about the commitment to funding for parents and children where they have gone through divorces or separations. I support that. Those custodial parents who have no ability to earn and who need the help clearly should have it, and this government should make every effort to see that they do. I'm sure that we will.

I was pleased to see the inclusion of housing projects for seniors. I was pleased to see the inclusion of housing projects for the disabled. I am pleased to welcome the second member for Vancouver–Little Mountain (Mr. Mowat), who is a personal friend of mine. He has shown all of us that the fact you are disabled does not mean you cannot contribute. His contributions so far have resulted in the fact that he was awarded an Order of Canada, which is significant and creditable.

Along with the hon. minister, I represent the riding of Vancouver South, which is a riding not unlike many that others of you serve. It is bordered by the Fraser River, Boundary Road, 49th Avenue and Nanaimo and 41st Avenue and East Boulevard. It is a riding compromised of all levels of income, all kinds of housing and small and big business. It is multi-cultural — a true Canadian mix.

During the time the minister and I were touring and knocking on doors, talking to the workers, housewives and businessmen, there was no doubt they wanted restraint. There was no doubt they wanted us to work hard. There was no doubt that they themselves were tightening their belts and working. I want to thank those people of Vancouver South for supporting me. Certainly it was phenomenal. I wish to tell all the people of Vancouver South that I appreciated the kindness they extended to me through the campaign, whether or not they happened to support the government. I thought that was a credit to them.

I express my thanks to the candidates who ran and lost. It was a good, clean campaign, and I thought it was worthy of me to mention them in that regard.

I would also like to tell the constituents of Vancouver South that I intend to represent them to the limit of my ability. I would like to think I could represent them as well as the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources (Hon. Mr. Rogers) has. I know he is well thought of there, because the people there told me so.

I was pleased to see some electoral reform concerns expressed by His Honour in the throne speech. I think it is useful for us to understand that populations change from time

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to time on a continuing basis when there is a shift from one area to another. In order that every single voter in B.C. has a fair shot at getting good representation, I should hope the reform process would be ongoing. Whether it's ongoing or periodic, it's something that we have to address, and I am sure we will.

We talked about the hopes for the future. We talked about the fact that everybody wants restraint. We talked about the willingness to cooperate and good industrial relations. We talked about real job creation, long-term job creation and possibly some short term, if it can be done. I happen to support this. I believe in the free enterprise system. I believe it's the only way to go.

Mr. Speaker, let me wrap up by saying that there are signs of recovery out there. Let us nurture them carefully.

MR. MICHAEL: I rise to second the Speech from the Throne.

I must say what an honour and privilege it is to be a part of the Bill Bennett team. It certainly is a privilege to represent the constituents as the member for Shuswap-Revelstoke, and I sincerely look forward to representing those constituents through the next few sessions of the Legislative Assembly.

I would like to congratulate you, Mr. Speaker, on your election and also congratulate the Deputy Speaker, the member for Prince George South (Mr. Strachan). I was happy to see that he received unanimous approval from both sides of the House.

I would also like to congratulate all members on both sides of the House on being elected. I would also like to pass my congratulations on to all of the defeated candidates in the past election. In excess of 200 people ran for office and there had to be a lot of losers as there are only 57 seats to fill. I think they played a very important role in the democratic process. I would like to pass my congratulations on to them for taking a part in the democratic process in the province of British Columbia.

In mentioning the defeated candidates, I would like to point out one person in particular, Mr. Bill King, the former representative of my constituency. I would like the members of the House to join with me in passing on our best wishes and regards to Bill King and his future endeavours.

At this time I would like to offer the House a few comments on the constituency of Shuswap-Revelstoke, one of British Columbia's most scenic and most important regions. I ask you to turn your attention to Shuswap-Revelstoke, the land of the great Monashee mountain range, the magnificent Columbia River and Shuswap Lake. It is a constituency that depends largely on forestry; however, we have quite a mixed agricultural community. We have beef and pork producers, dairy farmers, breeders of horses, poultry, lamb, sheep and rabbits, vegetable, fruit and berry growers — all located within the constituency of Shuswap-Revelstoke.

In talking about agriculture, I would like to very briefly point out to the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. Mr. Schroeder) that, in my view, a horse branch is needed within his department. It is my understanding that in Alberta there is one person in charge of horses, who gives advice to the horse community — advice on such subjects as nutrition, disease control and good pasturing practices. In my view, it would be a worthwhile review to look at the feasibility of appointing one person in that department to look at these types of things for the agricultural community. I assure him that it would have very wide support from the constituents of Shuswap-Revelstoke. Perhaps, with the permission of the hon. member for Omineca (Mr. Kempf), we might even get him a part-time secretary — he could share his secretary.

[10:45]

We also have a very large retirement community in the Shuswap-Revelstoke constituency. Many people come from outside the province and within the province to retire in the Shuswap area because of its beauty and the many things that Shuswap-Revelstoke offers in the way of recreation and golfing and things along those lines,

We have a very heavy tourist influx, particularly during the summer months. People come to see the Alpine City — the city of Revelstoke — and the Shuswap country; they come to visit Sicamous, which is the houseboat capital of the world, and enjoy the many golf courses and hiking and fishing opportunities available to those visiting the Shuswap-Revelstoke constituency.

We also have some mining. A large mine has recently been opened north of Revelstoke, the Goldstream mine, employing in the neighbourhood of 150 to 180 people. We have hydro generation from two large dams, the Revelstoke Dam and the Mica Dam.

My constituency is a large rural area. The people place a strong value on the quality of life. They have a farming lifestyle. They pride themselves on their independence and cherish their religious convictions. We take pride in clean air and clean water in the environment, and I will be working toward an eventual land disposal program rather than disposal of treated sewage into our lakes. I will also be pressing for the continuation of the excellent program that the Ministry of Environment has been supporting for the control of milfoil in Shuswap Lake.

In pointing to some of the complexities of my constituency, I would like to point out that my constituency embraces portions of six municipalities, three regional districts, four school boards, five hospital boards, three forest districts, four highway divisions and thirty hall societies.

Some of the special functions that take place during the calendar year in my constituency are: the Interior Provincial Exhibition in Armstrong, which is held in the second weekend of September; the Funfest festivities in Salmon Arm during the Canada Day weekend; the Salmon Arm Fall Fair held during the third week of September; the Falkland Stampede — it's very famous and has been going on for many years — held on the Victoria Day weekend in the month of May; the Moose-Mouse Days in Sicamous; the Revelstoke Snofest held in February; and the very famous salute to the sockeye, the Adams River sockeye run, which is tied into late September and early October. I would like to point out to the Minister of Tourism (Hon. Mr. Richmond) that the next big run on the Adams River will be in late September, early October, 1986. Let's try to tie that very famous event in to Expo 86, to build on that.

In the constituency we also have downhill skiing and some of the best cross-country skiing in the entire North American continent. The large hills of Salmon Arm, through recent expansions and building, have some 150 kilometres of cross-country ski trails. I look forward to giving that publicity to make it a tourist attraction for the winter months so as to support the tourist industry in the Salmon Arm area.

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I'd like to make some comments regarding the throne speech, and my first area would be the compensation stabilization program. I am very proud of our government's endeavours, very proud of our Premier for being the first in Canada to come up with a positive program on restraint. I think our government has received a very clear message from the electorate that they want less government, not more. We should be working toward a growth in the public sector that is closer to zero. Several sections in the private sector — farmers, small businessmen, industry and the unemployed — have not enjoyed any growth whatsoever, and I would ask that we work toward coming closer to zero, rather than the zero-to-ten or six-to-five programs that are currently in effect.

Regarding inflation I am very happy to see that the dominion level is now down to 5.4 percent. In British Columbia, the most recent 12 months brought a 5.1 percent growth. Members of the assembly would do well, to look at the rate of inflation in the Dominion of Canada for the last six months. If you measure that figure and annualize it, it comes out to 2.97 percent. If we continue for the next six months the success we have had in the past six months, we indeed will have an inflation rate of 2.97 percent. I think it is incumbent on all of us to work toward that target over this next six-month period.

I was very pleased to hear in the Speech from the Throne about the creation of 67,000 new jobs since January. The government and private sector in British Columbia must create 40,000 new jobs every 12 months just to break even, to maintain the current unemployment levels. That is the challenge before this province and the private sector, with government policies backing them up.

I would like to see us press our programs in philosophy at our first ministers' conference in Canada. We must clearly display, through example, that the secret to creating jobs is creating the environment and encouraging the private sector, not only in British Columbia but in all of Canada. We are faced with stiff international competition throughout the Pacific Rim and we must do an even better job in increasing productivity. Without increased productivity, we cannot see improvements in the much needed heath care, environmental and social services in British Columbia and all of Canada. That must be our challenge. We must create a better industrial relations climate, for that is one of the key things to improving the image in Pacific Rim countries.

Dealing with increased productivity, I think one of the greatest challenges of any minister in this government is that of the Minister of Education — the challenge resting on the shoulders of the recently appointed member for Prince George North (Hon. Mr. Heinrich). He must prepare our graduates to meet the new challenges of high technology, of computers, and he must do this by getting cooperation from teachers, school boards and their respective provincial organizations. We must understand the stress of the classroom teachers, who have a tremendous challenge before them in today's world. Having been a school trustee for the past five years, I have personal knowledge of many of the complexities in the classroom today. I would say that 20 years ago probably one child in 20 went home to a single-family parent. I would predict that the figure today is closer to one in five or one in four. This has created a lot of stress and emotional problems within the classroom, and has led to a large degree to the need to create special programs divisions. I understand the tremendous challenge to the Minister of Education. He must — we must — expand on our policies, leadership, understanding and communications to motivate and activate the talent in our classrooms throughout British Columbia.

Regarding the comments in the throne speech on highways and the fact that there will be a continuation of expenditures on drainage and diking, I can say that is most welcomed in Shuswap-Revelstoke. We have a lot of problems, particularly in the agricultural sector, and I look forward to working with the Minister of Highways (Hon. Mr. A. Fraser) in furthering improvements in diking and drainage problems in my constituency. This will certainly provide for economic returns for the farming sector throughout this province and will pass economic benefits onto all the province by improving productivity in those areas. I am very pleased with the past support we have received from the Ministry of Highways in our constituency and very pleased that a lot of improvements have been made. These improvements are needed to provide efficiency and safety for the constituents in Shuswap-Revelstoke and throughout the province.

I'd like to say a few words, Mr. Speaker, about the Crowsnest Pass freight rate. Under the Crow rate, unchanged since 1897, farmers can ship a tonne of grain for .05 cents per tonne mile. In other words, an Alberta farmer can ship a tonne of wheat from Calgary to Vancouver, a distance of 672 miles, for a freight charge of 33.6 cents, just fractionally more than the cost of mailing a first-class letter. Western Canada stands to lose billions of dollars in rail upgrading over the next four years if the Crow rate is retained, with enormous loss of attendant construction jobs and mining-related jobs due to the inability of southeast coal to meet the volumes required by overseas customers, solely as a result of failure to upgrade.

The potential impact of not abolishing the Crow rate has horrendous implications for B.C.'s economy. British Columbia stands to benefit immensely from federal initiatives to repeal the Crow rate and beef up our western transportation system. B.C.'s benefits will come from the direct rail investment estimated at $5.4 billion — one-third of that planned for all of Canada, providing an estimated 87,000 person-years of employment. This includes CP Rail's plan to build the Beaver tunnel and double-tracking from Golden to Revelstoke. The railway expects to build a coal car repair shop at Golden, expand its maintenance facilities at Golden and install major microwave communications equipment. CN will be improving its north line through the mountains to Prince Rupert and expanding its terminals at Prince George, Smithers and Terrace. Half of CN Rail's south line will be double-tracked with yards expanded in Kamloops and Vancouver.

The money spent by the railways will have a ripple effect throughout British Columbia's economy, creating thousands of full-time jobs. The construction industry will get a major boost in building new railway facilities. Crews will be laying new tracks and building new bridges and culverts. Maintenance crews will have more work; more full-time draughtsmen and engineers will be hired. The metal industries will also supply goods for railway construction. New businesses will be opened in British Columbia's electronics industry. The wood products industry will be called upon to help supply and treat the 3.4 million wooden ties needed to lay the new track. British Columbia's coal prospects are also directly affected. New legislation will release the federal coal blocks in southeastern British Columbia for future development. This large deposit of high quality coal which had been locked in by a fixed selling price of $2 a tonne will be a new source of

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supply for domestic use and export. Additional exports of British Columbia and Alberta coal during the decade could grow to a value of between $1.5 billion and $2 billion a year, depending on rail upgrading and a more fair balance in rail shipping charges between grain and coal.

As was stated yesterday in the Speech from the Throne, this investment, which is crucial to the future of British Columbia as a trading province and which could dwarf investment in northeast coal infrastructure, is on hold pending resolution of the Crowsnest Pass freight rate issue. The government of B.C. will seek an early resolution on this issue, which is in the best interest of the people of the province, and will ask the support of this House to aid in its efforts. I am proud of our Premier's efforts in attempting to bring about the necessary changes to the Crow rate, and I hope to see unanimous approval of this resolution, which will be introduced shortly.

Mr. Speaker, regarding the Ministry of Lands, Parks and Housing, I can say that I am very pleased with the mortgage subsidy program brought in by that department. It has certainly assisted in saving a lot of homes in my constituency and, I am sure, throughout the province of British Columbia. I am also proud of the work done by that department in subsidizing and assisting senior citizen housing projects, of which there are many throughout my constituency. I am very pleased with the two recent announcements of further expansions, one in Salmon Arm and one in Revelstoke. I can say that this will go a long way towards enabling elderly parents to stay close to their families.

[11:00]

Regarding the proposed changes to the the Labour Code, speaking specifically to the long-debated issue of the process of certification and decertification, I would like to say that as far as I am concerned I don't care whether the magic number to trigger a vote is 33 percent, 35 percent, 40 percent, 45 percent or 50 percent plus one. My only position is that whatever is fair for certification should also be fair for decertification. I will fight to protect the interests and the right of those to organize. If a group of employees have an employer who is not treating them equitably or fairly, then they should have the right to join a union. Alternatively, if a group of organized workers wish to leave their union because they are not happy with its policies on the local union administration, or if they are not happy with unbending or rigid policies being made without consultation with the rank and file, then I say they should have the right of equal opportunity to choose whether they wish to leave.

Regarding the makeup of the Labour Relations Board, I wonder what happened to public representation on the board. I can recollect experiences with the Labour Relations Board when it was made up of one-third, one-third, one-third, representing management, labour and the public. I think the public has a case to be made for representation on that board. Why shouldn't the agricultural community, small businesses, housewives and the unemployed have representation on the board, when the decisions of that board certainly have an effect on all those sections of the public?

It's my view that the labour standards act is in fact superimposing conditions and constraints on employers and employees with collective agreements. It's a perfect example of government interference in free trade unions and in the private sector. I think we should give serious consideration in this House to removing the effects and the law of the labour standards act from all employers and employees covered by freely negotiated collective agreements. They stand in the way of agreements and superimpose laws and restrictions that those employees and employers have agreed on in the free collective bargaining process over a bargaining table.

I think we should be reviewing the role of arbitrators in wage settlements. One perfect example of the irresponsibility of arbitrators was displayed in the teacher's settlement affecting the year 1982 — the decisions were made in November 1981. This is no reflection on the teachers or their organization. It was a direct result of the arbitration process that landed a settlement of 17.4 percent or 17.5 percent, resulting in a total cost to the taxpayers of 19.5, at the very point in time when this province was going through its most critical financial constraints. It has brought a great burden to the taxpayers. It is my view that the rules and regulations regarding arbitrators should be reviewed and, indeed, amended.

Mr. Speaker, I think enough has been and will be said about the ferry workers. It is my view that this government has a mandate to act. The right to strike of ferry workers should be taken away — not necessarily because of their past actions, but because the threat, the rumours and the discussion of a strike place an unfair burden on businesses, the public and whose who depend on the tourist industry. I think there should be legislation put in place that treats them fairly and equitably in line with their peer groups, and it is my view that we should act immediately in taking that right to strike away from the ferry workers throughout the province of British Columbia.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to say a few words regarding northeast coal. Northeast coal is an investment in the future of British Columbia. The government's $750 million investment represents only a fraction of the $2.5 billion being spent on the project, yet it will result in a net return of $350 million in taxes, surcharges and other levies. The financial benefits of northeast coal will go a long way towards paying for our schools, hospitals, and social programs in the future. Moreover, northeast coal is providing jobs for British Columbians right now. Already 6,800 construction jobs have been created by the project this year, and there will be permanent employment for another 2,230 people in mining, transportation and port-handling once the mines begin operating in a few months. The potential benefits are even greater. Depending on future contracts and the economic conditions, northeast coal could generate as many as 18,000 to 28,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Nor is coal-mining the only industry which will benefit from the government's investment. The extension of the BCR line will provide access to the rich timber resources and the other mineral resources in the northeastern part of the province and will also provide access to the Elmworth gas basin, the largest single pool of natural gas in Canada. So the money being spent on northeast coal is not being wasted; it is an investment in the future, an investment in the natural resources of the province, and an investment in the skills and initiative of British Columbians. Again, Mr. Speaker, I am proud of our Premier, our government, and our Minister of Industry and Small Business Development (Hon. Mr. Phillips) for their vision, confidence and determination in preparing this vast resource development.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to make special mention of the Winter Games held in Revelstoke. It was with

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a great deal of pride that the people of Revelstoke accepted the challenge of hosting the Winter Games. I'd like to say that 1,640 athletes participated. There were 2,100 local volunteers in the small community of Revelstoke who rolled up their sleeves and made those games happen, and assisted in their administration and development. I'd like to make special mention of the person who headed up that large group of volunteers, Rosemary Imlah. There were 72,000 youths in the playdowns leading up the Revelstoke Winter Games. I am informed that a BCTV survey during the games indicated that they had 193,300 viewers at the height of the Games — a larger viewing audience than "M*A*S*H." I believe the Premier deserves a great deal of credit in developing the Winter and Summer Games; it is a creative opportunity for young British Columbians to excel.

Mrs. Dailly moved adjournment of the debate.

Motion approved.

Hon. Mr. Gardom moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

The House adjourned at 11:09 a.m.