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46March 18, 1980 Hansard
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52LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SASKATCHEWAN 
53March 18, 1980 
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56The Assembly met at 2 p.m. 
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58On the Orders of the Day 
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61WELCOME TO STUDENTS 
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63MR. A.S. MATSALLA (Canora): — Mr. Speaker, I take pleasure to introduce to you and to the members 
64of the House 51 Grade 8 students from the Canora Composite High School. They are seated in the west 
65gallery. Accompanying them are their teachers, Ed German and Allen Armit, as well as Ron and Betty 
66Cowley and Alex and Helen Dennis, who are members of the local Kiwanis Club. I want to indicate to the 
67House that the sponsoring of students to visit the legislature is one of the projects of the local Kiwanis Club 
68and I want to commend them for their concern and interest in our young people. As well, I want to express 
69the appreciation to the club, to the teachers and the bus drivers for arranging the trip here. I do hope that our 
70visitors will have an interesting and enlightening afternoon. I expect to meet with them later in the day. 
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72HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
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74HON. J.R. MESSER (Kelsey-Tisdale): — Mr. Speaker, it’s my pleasure to introduce to you and through 
75you to all members of the Legislative Assembly, 37 Grades 7, 8, and 9 students from the Sylvania School in 
76the southern portion of my constituency. I believe they are all seated in the Speaker’s gallery. They are 
77accompanied by two of their teachers, the principal Bill McGowan and Dennis Dahlsgo. They are also 
78accompanied by their bus driver, Jack Jackson. It has been customary for this school to send to this 
79Legislative Assembly, during the course of its sitting, a delegation of students to see the legislature in action 
80— to see the democratic process working. I know that all members of this Legislative Assembly will want to 
81join with me in wishing these students well in their visit to the city of Regina, and also in welcoming them to 
82this Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 
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84HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
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86MR. D.G. TAYLOR (Indian Head-Wolseley): — Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my colleague, the member for 
87Estevan, who is absent today attending the funeral of one of Saskatchewan’s oldest residents, Mr. Joe Hill of 
88North Portal who was 102 years old, I would like to welcome 14 members of the special ed. class from the 
89Estevan High School and their teacher, Mr. Wenaus. I hope that you enjoy very much today our 
90deliberations, the debate and that you have a good tour of the building. We’ll be meeting you later for 
91pictures and drinks. I hope you have a very safe trip home and that today is a very worthwhile educational 
92experience for you. Welcome to the legislature. 
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94HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
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96HON. G. MR. MacMURCHY (Last Mountain-Touchwood): — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, 
97it’s my pleasure to introduce you and to the members of the Legislative Assembly 18 Grade 12 students from 
98the high school at Lestock. They are accompanied by their teacher, Mr. Barry Kaytor. The members and you, 
99Mr. Speaker, will perhaps recall that Mr. Kaytor brings a class annually to the legislature. I’m sure it’s your 
100hope and all members hope that the visit today will be as educational as the visits 
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111usually are. 
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113HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
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115HON. MR. G.R. BOWERMAN (Shellbrook): — Mr. Speaker, I’m more than pleased today to recognize 
11614 students in the west gallery who are students from Grades 5 to 10 from the Wahpeton Indian Reserve, 
117which is a Sioux reserve in the Shellbrook constituency. They have been here since yesterday. I’m most 
118pleased to welcome them because we don’t often get students from the Shellbrook constituency to the 
119legislature, and I am pleased that they have decided to come. As I indicated, the Wahpeton Reserve is a 
120Sioux reserve and the Sioux Indians, as we know from your history, had a very colorful history and yet a 
121very sad history in terms of the allocations of rights and so on to them in Saskatchewan. But we’re fortunate 
122in the Shellbrook constituency to have these folks among us and we are glad this afternoon that the students 
123from the school are in the Assembly. We hope that your visit here will be rewarding and that you will 
124understand and perceive that perhaps some day the opportunity for you to be here as an elected 
125representative from that constituency would be welcomed. Thank you very much. 
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127HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
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130QUESTIONS 
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133Interest Rates 
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136MR. W.C. THATCHER (Thunder Creek): — Mr. Speaker, a question to the Minister of Finance. Mr. 
137Minister, in your budget and in subsequent press comments since then, you have made some rather stinging 
138comments about the federal government regarding its policy on interest rates. You are quoted in the 
139Saskatoon paper as being rather vitriolic in your comments on their allowing the interest rate to float. My 
140question to the minister today is, Mr. Minister, are you suggesting, in light of your statements, that the 
141Canadian interest rates should be pegged below that of the United States? 
142 
143HON. E.L. TCHORZEWSKI (Minister of Finance): — Mr. Speaker, the member for Thunder Creek 
144makes reference to comments I have made on the federal government’s policy of floating interest rates. I 
145have said on a number of occasions that I believe that to be an abdication by the federal government of a 
146responsibility which they have to manage the economy of this country. I suspect that knowing and believing 
147the interest rates will go up, as part of their policy they have chosen to leave it on a floating basis, therefore 
148leaving them in a situation where they can indicate that they are not responsible for increased interest rates. It 
149is our position, and has been our position, that we should not be following necessarily the trend of interest 
150rate increases in the United States. It is not good for our economy. It will increase unemployment. It will 
151stifle development and economic growth in Canada. 
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153MR. THATCHER: — Since the minister has just indicated that he is suggesting our interest rates should be 
154below the United States, would the minister then care to comment on the repercussions of such a policy 
155when obviously capital would leave this country in a very dramatic fashion to seek a higher interest rate 
156south of the border? Would you comment on the effect of the devaluation of our dollar which is an obvious 
157repercussion? Would you comment on exactly how you would . . . 
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159MR. SPEAKER: — Order, order! The minister cannot comment. He may answer a question if the member 
160asks a question. Now if the member wants to ask a question, 
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172have him proceed. 
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174MR. THATCHER: — Would the minister then tell us how his government would proceed with a 
175subsequent devaluation of the dollar? How would you proceed to service the hundreds of millions of dollars 
176in debt which your department already has in the United States? And what would be the effect on the 
177provincial budget of having to pay this back with the devalued dollar if the interest rate is, in fact, pegged 
178below that of the United States as the minister has just suggested? 
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180MR. TCHORZEWSKI: — Mr. Speaker, the present policy that the federal government applies to interest 
181rates in this country, with the argument that it needs to maintain the flow of foreign capital into Canada, will 
182mean in the long run the development of exactly what the member opposite is talking about. It will mean an 
183increased flow of interest payments out of Canada. It will mean an increased flow and an already large 
184amount of dividend payments out of Canada and it will mean a further devaluation of our dollar. Now it is 
185not enough simply for us in this country to decide upon and to take the kinds of policy measures necessary to 
186have a lower interest rate. We must also take, at the national level, the action necessary to assure that we 
187return back to Canadians the control of their economy. 
188 
189SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
190 
191MR. THATCHER: — Supplementary question Mr. Speaker, and I must comment that the Minister of 
192Finance does not stick handle nearly as well as the Premier does on this issue. Mr. Minister, since you have 
193in your suggestions deviated rather sharply from the Premier in his comments of about one week ago when 
194he indicated that this was not his feeling, since you have now sided with the federal Leader of the New 
195Democratic Party, Mr. Broadbent, would the minister conceded that Mr. Broadbent’s policy and your policy 
196in order to work, would effectively mean sealing the border of the outflow of any capital leaving Canada 
197itself? Would you concede that point? 
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199MR. TCHORZEWSKI: — Mr. Speaker, I don’t think I want to comment on Mr. Broadbent’s comments. 
200He can speak for himself perfectly well. 
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203Tandem Axle Trucks 
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205MR. R.H. PICKERING (Bengough-Milestone): — Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the minister 
206responsible for Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI). Mr. Minister, there is ever-increasing pressure 
207from the farming community in light of the recent Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities 
208(SARM) convention passing a resolution to seek increased load limits on tandem axle trucks. Does your 
209department have any immediate intentions of allowing tandem axle trucks to be licensed with farm plates? 
210 
211HON. W.A. ROBBINS (Minister of Revenue, Supply and Services): — Mr. Speaker, that question 
212should be addressed to the highway traffic board. 
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214MR. PICKERING: — Supplementary, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct that same question to the 
215minister responsible for the highway traffic board. 
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217HON. E. KRAMER (Minister of Highways and Transportation): — Well, the last time that question was 
218asked it was asked of the Minister of Highways. The minister of the highway traffic board has an answer: we 
219are not contemplating any immediate change 
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230in the licensing of large trucks. It strikes me as strange, Mr. Speaker, that delegation after delegation is 
231asking that more roads be taken into the highway system, for improvement of roads, reconstruction of grid 
232roads. They say they don’t have enough money for super grid; they’re asking of more money and in the same 
233breath they ask for ways and means of cutting back, and then for yet another subsidy to traffic. 
234 
235MR. PICKERING: — Supplementary, Mr. Speaker. Would the minister not agree that due to the rail line 
236abandonments and, of course, the closures of elevators in such areas, the farmers are forced to haul to 
237alternate points at increased costs and time consumption. Don’t you think that this is a matter of great 
238concern to these farmers? 
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240MR. KRAMER: — It is a great deal of concern to the farmers and it is a great deal of concern to us. And 
241when the federal government starts to pick up their share of the costs of their decision to abandon rail lines, 
242their decision to enforce greater and great costs on Saskatchewan taxpayers, we will be prepared to talk to 
243them and look at the situation. 
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245SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
246 
247MR. SPEAKER: — I’ll take a new question. 
248 
249MR. PICKERING: — New question, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Minister, would you inform this Assembly exactly 
250why you won’t let these farm trucks be licensed as farm vehicles? 
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252MR. KRAMER: — Simply, for the reasons I’ve already mentioned, Mr. Speaker. I think the question has 
253been answered. There is no doubt in the world . . . (inaudible interjection) . . . I said that the present 
254revenues, increased costs, increased loads, certainly do not warrant further reduction in the cost and the 
255revenues to the provincial treasury. 
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258Financial Burden on Community Rinks 
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260MR. D.G. TAYLOR (Indian Head-Wolseley): — I have a question to the minister in charge of the 
261Saskatchewan Power Corporation (SPC). I have here, Mr. Minister, copies of power bills from the 
262community rinks in my constituency of Indian Head-Wolseley. For your information, the monthly charges 
263are in the neighborhood of $2,153. And I am sure these represent other communities throughout 
264Saskatchewan. My question to you is this, would you agree that these costs, brought on by the rapid power 
265increase of the government opposite, have put a heavy financial burden on these community rinks in 
266Saskatchewan? 
267 
268HON. J.R. MESSER (Minister of Mineral Resources): — Mr. Speaker, I do not deny that the natural gas 
269and electric rates have gone up for such consumers as skating rinks and curling rinks. I do not believe that it 
270has put such a burden on them they cannot meet those charges. By comparison to other areas of Canada they 
271still enjoy rates that are cheaper than any other jurisdiction. The member should take the time to look at that. 
272We have a peculiar transmission system in the province of Saskatchewan where we deliver power and gas to 
273small communities, electricity to farms that under other circumstances and in other regions of Canada would 
274simply not have that source of power. Not only do we provide that power and electricity, we do it at rates 
275that are comparable and in most instances cheaper. 
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277MR. TAYLOR: — A supplementary. My concern is with Indian Head-Wolseley and 
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289Saskatchewan and not other areas of Canada. One of the things brought to my attention is that you have 
290demand metres in these rinks and this is part of the problem as told to me by the local people out there. 
291Would you consider taking demand metres out of the community rinks in this province? 
292 
293MR. MESSER: — No, Mr. Speaker, and I think the member for Indian Head-Wolseley needs a little lesson 
294as to why demand metres are installed in the first place. It is to put about an awareness of how you can use 
295power more wisely rather than just using it recklessly. It is being applied in the commercial and private 
296sectors. They are able to economize on the use of electricity and gas and I suggest that rinks can do it as well. 
297In fact, in a good many communities in the province of Saskatchewan they have been able to get better 
298mileage for dollars expended on electricity and power because of the awareness of the use and consumption 
299of large volumes of power over short periods of time. 
300 
301MR. TAYLOR: — A final supplementary. I am sure the community rinks are not using power recklessly 
302and many have been forced to close down as of early March, depriving people in this province of their rural 
303winter recreation. Will you do something to give these community facilities a preferred rate on your 
304Saskatchewan power? 
305 
306MR. MESSER: — Mr. Speaker, the member says the rinks are forced to close down. I would like to remind 
307the member opposite that a good many of these communities wouldn’t have a rink or wouldn’t have artificial 
308ice had it not been for the provincial funding to pout them in, in the first place. 
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310SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
311 
312MR. MESSER: — By and large there is virtually not a community in Saskatchewan that hasn’t received 
313tens of thousands of dollars in order to put into place recreation facilities or to improve them. We have 
314shown beyond a doubt this government is committed to the development of sport facilities and other 
315facilities that are needed by small urban communities. 
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317We are very much conscious that the costs of energy are going up; they are going up not only for 
318Saskatchewan citizens but for other citizens as well. I remind the member for Indian Head-Wolseley, in the 
319instance of natural gas, we rely on almost 70 per cent of our gas to come from the province of Alberta. They 
320dictate by and large what our energy rates are going to be. 
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323Budget Speech Printed in French 
324 
325MR. D.M. HAM (Swift Current): — Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct a question to the Minister of 
326Finance. Mr. Minister, I presume that you consider Regina a major centre in our country; therefore, can you 
327tell us how many copies of the budget speech were printed in French? If so, how much did this bilingualism 
328printing cost? 
329 
330HON. E.L. TCHORZEWSKI (Minister of Finance): — Mr. Speaker, as far as I know no copies of the 
331budget speech were printed in French. 
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333MR. HAM: — A supplementary to the Premier, Mr. Speaker. Since you and your minister apparently 
334believe Regina is a major centre and since you stated in Hansard last Friday, quote: 
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345I think the Government of Saskatchewan takes the view that Canada is a country of two languages 
346and it may well be beneficial in order to preserve Canadian unity that we give Canadians a feeling 
347that they can use either of the two official languages at major centres generally across Canada. 
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350Mr. Premier, therefore, as a leading politician do you only pay lip-service to bilingualism or do you sincerely 
351believe we are supporting the system? 
352 
353HON. A.E. BLAKENEY (Premier): — Mr. Speaker, I believe that it may be useful to make it possible for 
354people whose mother tongue is French to obtain services in a major centre like Regina. I would hope that 
355that would be the case in our post office and I would hope it would be the case in many government agencies 
356in this city. 
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358This does not carry with it the idea that all government documents should be printed in the French language, 
359be they the statutes or the proceedings of this House or the budget speech delivered in this House by the 
360Minister of Finance. 
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362I think that there is a halfway house there whereby we an give to people, other Canadians, a feeling that this 
363is part of their country and they can feel somewhat at home here without reproducing all of our documents in 
364French. 
365 
366MR. HAM: — A supplementary, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Premier, are you suggesting then that the budget of 
367Saskatchewan is not a major document produced by your government? Is that true? 
368 
369MR. BLAKENEY: — No, I’m sorry I didn’t make myself clear. I acknowledge that the budget speech is a 
370major document. I acknowledge that the statutes are major and important documents. I do not acknowledge 
371that they must necessarily be reproduced in the French language. A citizen from Shawinigan Fall or Rivere 
372du Loup, who comes to Saskatchewan on holiday, is not likely to want to read either the statutes or, I regret 
373to say, the budget speech. In any case, if he did have an interest, I would hope we would be able to provide 
374him with a copy, or excerpts from a copy in the French language. I hope we would have that much ability to 
375respond to the concerns of a fellow Canadian, but I do not think that we should necessarily go to the expense 
376of reproducing them all in the French language on spec. 
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379Teachers’ Contract 
380 
381MR. H.J. SWAN (Rosetown-Elrose): — A question to the Minister of Education. Do you agree that the 
382Government of Saskatchewan has shown their contempt for the locally elected representatives of the parents, 
383the school trustees, by allowing your bureaucrats to settle the teacher contract without having trustees at the 
384table? 
385 
386HON. D.F. McARTHUR (Minister of Education): — No, Mr. Speaker, I do not agree. Three are, in the 
387course of any collective bargaining procedures and proceedings, always certain difficulties. It is regrettable, I 
388agree, at the bargaining session last Wednesday that certain trustee members did not see fit to be present 
389during all of the bargaining on that day. However, I do not think it would be fair at all to say that there was 
390any contempt shown by the majority members of that committee. The majority members proceeded with 
391bargaining on schedule as was originally planned according to the schedule of bargaining. 
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393The trustee members, as I understand the situation, had a disagreement over a small 
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405item within the collective bargaining position that was taken by the majority members, namely with respect 
406to an item of severance pay. This item was contained within the general money and pay provisions that are 
407considered to be normally part of our collective bargaining with teachers. I believe that the decision made by 
408the majority members with respect to placing severance pay on the table is an item, when the agreement is 
409concluded, that will indeed assist both school divisions and teachers in the difficult adjustments that are 
410ahead at the present time. 
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412MR. SWAN: — A supplementary to the minister. Do you not feel, Mr. Minister, that you have jeopardized 
413the relationship between locally elected people and the government of this province by the action you have 
414taken? 
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416MR. McARTHUR: — No, Mr. Speaker, I do not believe that I have in any way jeopardized the relationship 
417between local government bodies and the government. I think it is certainly true that in the course of the 
418continuing relationship we have with school boards, that we are never always in total agreement on 
419everything. There will always be matters on which there is some disagreement. I do not think that those 
420kinds of disagreements, when they related to items such as the item at hand, the question of the severance 
421allowance where a teacher’s position is discontinued because of redundancy, need at all be considered to be 
422an item that will do as the members suggests in terms of the relationship between locally elected trustees and 
423the province indeed. Mr. Speaker, I would point out to the hon. member that the Saskatchewan education act 
424provides the greatest degree of authority and decentralization of responsibilities of any education act in 
425Canada. This was confirmed, Mr. Speaker, by an address made by the president of the Canadian School 
426Trustees’ Association at a meeting of trustees here not long ago. 
427 
428MR. SWAN: — Final supplementary. Is it the policy of this government to take over the complete operation 
429of the school system and use the school boards as mere pawns in the working relationship out there in the 
430country? 
431 
432MR. McARTHUR: — Mr. Speaker, I had thought that I had perhaps already answered that question for the 
433hon. member. I am sure the hon. member is well aware of the degree of authority and autonomy that our 
434education act does provide to school boards in this province. That in no way guarantees there will not be 
435occasionally certain disagreements. I know that the school boards would want it that way and we would want 
436to take independent positions periodically as well. But, in the matters of authority, autonomy and 
437responsibility, I don’t think there is any province in Canada, and certainly no Tory province in Canada that 
438recognizes school boards to the degree we do. 
439 
440SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
441 
442MR. TAYLOR: — Supplementary to the Minister of Education. Seeing that you feel the trustees should be 
443at the table when the agreement is made, what action are you going to take as Minister of Education in this 
444province, to make sure that all three parties are at the table when agreements are signed in the future? 
445 
446MR. McARTHUR: — Mr. Speaker, I will do nothing to compel trustees to attend bargaining sessions. It 
447will be their choice as to whether or not they wish to attend. Our legislation makes the provisions for 
448collective bargaining. We will continue to operate on the basis of that legislation which, when a majority of 
449the bargaining committee makes a decision, that will be the decision of the committee. 
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460Tax on Grain Drying Equipment 
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462MR. L.W. BIRKBECK (Moosomin): — Mr. Speaker, I would direct a question to the minister responsible 
463for revenue. For clarification on taxing policies of this government as it relates to agricultural products. I 
464would refer the minister to a February 11 Leader-Post edition — Devine disputes NDP claims it has been 
465good government. Devine attacked the Saskatchewan sales tax on a variety of items. In particular, he 
466attacked this government on fencing supplies and as a footnote, it might be noted this government taxes 
467barbed wire but not the staples to fasten the wire to the fence. Mr. Speaker, the question very simply with 
468regard to grain dryers — is it this government’s policy or is it not to tax grain drying equipment? 
469 
470HON. W.A. ROBBINS (Minister of Revenue, Supply and Services): — My understanding, Mr. Speaker, 
471is that grain dryers are not taxed if they are purchased by a farmer. 
472 
473MR. BIRKBECK: — Supplementary, Mr. Speaker. Only yesterday I received a call from a constituent, who 
474was marketing an aeration grain dryer. He has checked it out with your department and they have told him 
475that he must charge E&H tax. Obviously there seems to be some discrepancies. Can the minister clear up 
476those discrepancies here in the House today? 
477 
478MR. ROBBINS: — Mr. Speaker, he will pay tax on it if he is going to use it in a commercial sense and dry 
479for other farmers. If he is going to use it solely in the operation of his own farm, he will pay no tax. 
480 
481MR. BIRKBECK: — Further supplementary, Mr. Speaker. If in fact an individual in my riding is marketing 
482an aeration type dryer that is manufactured, as example in Southey, does that person have to charge E&H tax 
483to the prospective consumers he is marketing those grain dryers to? 
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485MR. ROBBINS: — It depends on what use the grain dryer is put to. It depends on whether it is purchased 
486by a farmer solely for operation on his own farm or whether it’s used in a commercial sense. 
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489Definition of Farm 
490 
491MR. E.A. BERNTSON (Leader of the Opposition): — Mr. Speaker, a question to the Minister of 
492Agriculture. I have here a judgment that was passed down last fall on the case of Poundmaker Feeders versus 
493the Minister of Revenue, Supply and Services. The case was a situation where the minister was trying to 
494collect retroactive education and health tax on agricultural equipment used in a feedlot. They lost. The courts 
495defined a farm for the minister. In the finance minister’s budget speech the other day, he said that 
496exemptions from sales tax will now relate to equipment used in primary farming activity and the definition 
497of farm will be standardized. My question to the Minister of Agriculture, will you exercise whatever 
498influence you might have in cabinet to seek and ensure the farmers of Saskatchewan that the definition of 
499farm will not be changed in such a way as to satisfy the Minister of Revenue, Supply and Services to the 
500detriment of the agricultural community of Saskatchewan? 
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502SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
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504HON. G. MR. MacMURCHY (Minister of Agriculture): — I think it should be known to the 
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516members opposite that the plans of the government are to introduce legislation in this session to correct some 
517of the problems relating to farmers and the E&H tax. There will be ample opportunity for the hon. member 
518for Souris-Cannington to debate the policy of the government at that time because it’ll be outlined in the 
519legislation. 
520 
521MR. SPEAKER: — Will the Assembly agree to move down the agenda to special order and return later this 
522day to complete the balance of the agenda? 
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525ADJOURNED DEBATES 
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528BUDGET DEBATE 
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531The Assembly resumed the adjourned debate on the proposed motion of the Hon. Mr. Tchorzewski (Minister 
532of Finance) that this Assembly do now resolve itself into the committee of finance and the proposed 
533amendment thereto by Mr. Rousseau (Regina South). 
534 
535SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
536 
537HON. E. KRAMER (Minister of Highways and Transportation): — Mr. Speaker, before I adjourned the 
538debate yesterday evening, I had made some remarks regarding some of the situations that we had just lived 
539through in this House and prior to that in the federal election. I will briefly review those in case there were 
540not completely understood by members opposite. 
541 
542I wanted to congratulate our Minister of Finance on the tremendous budget speech he delivered for the 
543decade of progress it’s going to be for Saskatchewan. I said that I was sorry we had to witness the defection 
544of Canadians, Saskatchewanians, to lead a movement to join the United States of America. This new Yankee 
545party has probably not read books like The Ugly American and a few others. It seems to me that there’s a 
546moral bankruptcy in people who would suggest that this great dominion should be separated to join that 
547country to the south of us. While we have many friends there, the fact of the matter is that they are ruled 
548largely by the multinationals and the Mafia. I certainly don’t want to have any part of joining that country 
549and I’m sure that the great majority of western Canadians and all Canadians will agree with me. 
550 
551SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
552 
553MR. KRAMER: — There is some doubt in my mind at this point in time, when I see the almost-defence 
554across the floor, the bantering and the hugging that even goes on between the two defectors and the members 
555opposite, whether or not they are the advance guard for Lougheed and a new western Canadian party — the 
556stalking horse as it were. It is common knowledge that there is a Dr. Phillips in Victoria who is phoning 
557businessmen and Chamber of Commerce people to ask them to join a western Canadian party. It is not 
558surprising that for a few dollars people who have no loyalty can be drafted to join a party that would take this 
559prosperous western Canada, which the United States needs so badly into it without the usual shot being fired. 
560The Conservative Party — well we had the so-called critic who is not in his seat today. I wonder if he has a 
561used car to sell. He said we should be doing things the Progressive Conservative way. The Progressive 
562Conservative way indeed, Mr. Speaker; you might as well take the biggest, the best, or the worst as you 
563make your choice: Ontario. I said yesterday that the Progressive Conservatives in Ontario charge the people 
564of Ontario — the needy — more in medicare tax nearly $500 per family and it’s still going up. 
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569March 18, 1980 
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575The total revenue to that great Tory province that uses the Progressive Conservative way is greater from 
576them than it is from the resource companies that have been milking that province of years. Those 
577governments come to us begging for our oil, begging for subsidies, and they refuse to tax the resource 
578companies right in their own province, Mr. Speaker, and proceed to give to those who have, and take from 
579those who have not. That’s the Progressive Conservative way. 
580 
581I can take an example closer to home. We can go right across the border. While they dropped the fuel tax in 
582Alberta on gasoline, they still charge the needy — it’s equality at least, it’s Tory equality. They charge the 
583poor $184 for medicare tax and the rich are charged exactly the same. Mr. Speaker, while those generous 
584Tories in Alberta allow the companies with fleets of 300 and 400 vehicles to drive tax free on the roads . . . 
585(inaudible interjection) . . . I certainly have and I lost the wheel of my car while I was there too, driving in 
586Alberta. I certainly have. Mr. Speaker, I see I’ve hit a few nerves across the way. 
587 
588You know the only value — I said it yesterday as well — of the Tory party in Canada and in Saskatchewan 
589is to get elected once in awhile, and then behave so badly as to make the Liberal look good. Certainly we’ve 
590had this in history. One of the advantages of having been around for awhile, as I have, Mr. Speaker, is that I 
591can remember the days of R.B. Bennett. I can remember when Bennett was going to blast his way into the 
592world markets. Mr. Bennett was elected; yes, he was elected and he was still doing what these people are 
593today. They haven’t changed. Mr. Speaker, trying to meet the challenge of the twentieth century with 
594nineteenth century ideas. They haven’t changed. Mr. Bennett was elected and after four years he even made 
595Mackenzie King look good. Then we went on. People were so afraid of Tories that for years they kept 
596inefficient Liberal governments in office — King, St. Laurent — and then along came a person who tried: 
597the late John Diefenbaker. I am almost glad that he went to his reward because it would have broken his 
598heart to see what happened in this House yesterday. 
599 
600SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
601 
602MR. KRAMER: — I’m almost glad that he didn’t have to suffer that disgrace in his party that has occurred 
603in this House, Mr. Speaker. But even John Diefenbaker, who tried to do some things for western Canada, the 
604Bay Street crowd and their bosses wouldn’t allow him to perform and after five years he made the Liberals 
605look good. Then came the genius of all time — little Joe the wrangler from Alberta. Mr. Clark and his 
606mukluk partner from newfie land — you know it only took them seven months to make Trudeau look half 
607good. I said this yesterday and I just though I would repeat it in case the people across the way didn’t hear, 
608because they were talking so much. These people are always saying giddy-up to their mouths before they 
609have their brains hitched up. I don’t want to overlook a few things which I think I ought to say about this 
610tremendous highway budget we have and those things that are being done . . . 
611 
612SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
613 
614MR. KRAMER: — . . . and I want to say take a look at the record. We are looking at Canada. Building and 
615maintaining a transportation system is not easy. It’s a major challenge to any government and federal policy 
616has an impact on that action. 
617 
618Since I have been Minister of Highways I have made submissions to both the past Liberal government and 
619the past short-lived (thank God) Tory government. They have 
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624March 18, 1980 
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631refused to share in policies which are going to be of benefit to Saskatchewan and western Canada. They have 
632refused to participate in a transportation policy, in spite of the fact that ministers of all provincial 
633governments right across Canada have asked unanimously for a transportation policy which will share in 
634roads of a trans-Canadian nature. If there is any one thing that I can think of which would be good for 
635Canada, it would be a policy which would widen and build better highways in unfortunate parts of Canada 
636that would allow Canadians to move back and forth across this country. They refuse to do so. 
637 
638In spite of the fact that we have contributed in crude oil and gasoline taxes alone more than $1 billion the last 
639few years to the federal government, except for bits and dribbles, they have steadfastly refused to participate 
640in the policy. 
641 
642The Premier has said this and I repeat, last years alone we contributed, as Saskatchewanians, $575 million 
643from our crude oil alone to subsidize eastern Canada. At the same time the past Tory government, the 
644present Liberal government and the past Liberal government, refused to recognize the fact. Ontario, 
645squealing for more money, refuses to tax the export of power. Both Quebec and Ontario still want the 
646subsidy and still want us to hew wood and draw water for them. 
647 
648In spite of that money we spent, what did we get? Termination of a federal community airport assistance 
649program, financial constraints on expenditures under the federal urban transportation assistance program, rail 
650line abandonment plans forgotten — they forget they are needed in western Canada to carry commodities, 
651reluctance on the part of the federal government to recognize the importance of a cost-shared program for 
652construction of highways which are national in scope and a lack of recognition of transportation as an 
653instrument of regional development. 
654 
655If Canadians are to pull together in a strong and healthy nation then surely priority must be given to a 
656national transportation policy which will give Canadians safe and dependable highways as a means of 
657communication. Even from a safety point of view let me tell you that 5,000 to 6,000 people died in Canada 
658last year and will go that way again this year because of motor accidents. But the past Tory government set 
659up, because of a couple of spectacular air accidents and rail catastrophes that only really lost a few people (I 
660am not suggesting they should not) — an investigation. I am saying it is high time they set up an 
661investigation, a commission, that is going to look into road transportation as well, because we cannot afford 
662to lose Canadians in epidemic proportions because of traffic accidents, faulty cars and all that goes with it. 
663 
664Mr. Speaker, I said last year in the legislature when I presented a budget array, project array — I will table 
665this one. I believe most of you have it — that we would improve many things. All of the highlights of the 
666budget are there and all the projects are in there. 
667 
668I want to say as well, that because of good weather we were able to extend part of the work that was to be 
669done this year and would normally be done this year; it was done last year when the good weather was on. 
670We actually went beyond our last year’s budget. I am not going to give you the details, but throughout the 
671length and breadth of the province, projects were completed to benefit the people of Saskatchewan and get a 
672great return on their tax dollars. 
673 
674Last years, for instance, there were some measures that we had undertaken, some projects we have 
675undertaken, that will provide co-operation between Alberta and Saskatchewan on construction projects. 
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680March 18, 1980 
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686Regarding Highway No. 13, we had the Hon. Henry Kroeger down in the fall of last year and we are going to 
687complete a link continuing on from No. 13 to, I believe, No. 502 in Alberta. Both these links will be 
688completed this year. 
689 
690Likewise, the minister from Alberta and myself signed an agreement to jointly construct an airport and a new 
691bridge on the meridian, north of Lloydminster and at Lloydminster. 
692 
693Incidentally, the history of this bridge leaves a lot to be desired. For years, Mr. Speaker, the Hon. James W. 
694Gardiner, the late James W. Gardiner, promised this before election and nothing was done. We had the 
695Diefenbaker government. Nothing was done, in spite of the fact that some of the major users of this bridge 
696north of Lloydminster will be the large and progressive Indian settlement, Indian reservation, in 
697Saskatchewan and Alberta north of the North Saskatchewan River. 
698 
699Of major importance, another project is the widening and improvement of the Yellow Head Highway. Again, 
700no assistance whatever from the federal government has been given and none promised. 
701 
702The late minister — he is still there, he is back . . . Mr. Mazankowski indicated an interest and he lived right 
703in Vegreville. He said there was money available last year and he would provide it, but we never saw it and 
704he would provide it, but we never saw it and so we are back to square one, asking for assistance on the 
705Yellow Head. 
706 
707One of the major thrusts of my department has been in the area of safety. The department has made 
708exceptional progress in the area of traffic safety but there are still major challenges ahead. The 
709accomplishments of 1979 are noteworthy. The newest computerized traffic information system in Canada is 
710now operational. It is providing instant recall of information on more than 47,500 traffic accidents which 
711occurred in Saskatchewan in 1979. There were 143 fatalities recorded on provincial highways in 1979, 
712which is the lowest level recorded in the past seven years. The department’s aggressive safety programs are 
713paying dividends in the first five years of operation. 
714 
715The injury accident rate has decreased by 26 per cent and the fatal accident rate by 2.1 per cent. In 1979, 12.5 
716per cent of all accidents took place on Saskatchewan highways as compared with 70.5 per cent in urban 
717centres, 11 per cent on rural roads and 6 per cent at other locations. The number of accidents due to vehicles 
718hitting roadside objects decreased by 28 per cent simply because seven or eight years ago we undertook a 
719safety program to remove obstacles that were going to cause accidents or death. 
720 
721The abrupt stop approaches — we have been trying and successfully trying to back slope many of them. 
722There is still a lot to do but the program is paying off and paying off in the best dividend possible, Mr. 
723Speaker, the saving of lives. These accomplishments, I believe, are even more commendable when you 
724realize that our traffic increases by 4 per cent each year, so there is a greater opportunity for accidents to 
725occur. Even in spite of more traffic, there are actually fewer accidents, and especially fatal accidents taking 
726place. 
727 
728Seat belts have reduced fatalities and injuries from traffic accidents. Before seat belt legislation was adopted, 
729projections indicated that 11,700 people in our province would be injured or killed in traffic accidents in 
7301979. That projection was reduced 23 
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735March 18, 1980 
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741
742per cent with about 9,000 injured or killed. That’s a difference, Mr. Speaker, of 2,700 and there’s no doubt 
743that seat belts are mainly responsible for that decrease. 
744 
745We have a seat belt survivors’ club which we started about three years ago. There are now 950 people who 
746have written in voluntarily and are carrying certificates as seat belt survivors. There must be thousands more 
747around that have not taken the trouble. There are 250 new ones this year and incidentally, we just enrolled 
748two members from Edmonton, Alberta. In reading the paper last night I believe I read that the Hon. Flora 
749MacDonald was in an accident — a bad accident. She was not seriously hurt but the statement said that her 
750secretary said if it had not been for her seat belt she would have probably been injured or killed. I am going 
751to send a seat belt survivors’ certificate to the Hon. Flora MacDonald. 
752 
753SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
754 
755MR. KRAMER: — There are many examples around. Four police officers in Moose Jaw were recently 
756enrolled in the seat belt survivors’ club. Two of them were involved in a fast movement — hit a lamp post. 
757The car was totally demolished, they had their seat belts on and they survived with no injuries. Two others 
758. . . (inaudible interjection) . . . well, there’s still a little carry-over there. I could tell the member for Moose 
759Jaw South of the old gangster days when those Americans used to come up and use Moose Jaw for a hideout 
760in the rum-running days, in the days of Al Capone. Thank goodness we don’t have that any more. But two 
761other officers were involved in a high-speed chase. The car they were chasing side swiped them. They went 
762end over end twice. They had their seat belts on, walked away from the accident and are now members of the 
763seat belt survivors’ club. 
764 
765Possibly, you might have even noticed that well-known personalities, Bruce Phillips and Don McQueen, 
766during the federal election on February 17 in Ontario, were in a serious accident. They gave a statement on 
767CTV on the night of February 17. If it had not been for their seat belts they probably would not have been 
768there. 
769 
770Traffic safety is a major challenge facing society in this decade ahead and 5,000 to 6,000 people in Canada, 
771dying each year is just too much for us to put up with. That epidemic loss is far, far more serious. I would 
772like to see some of these people who are waxing emotional about supposed problems in uranium mining take 
773a look at what is really happening — where people are dying and where the real problems are. It seems to me 
774that these agitators and political opportunists say nothing when it comes to where the real action is in saving 
775lives. We must not rest on past accomplishments. 
776 
777For instance, in Saskatchewan, we must find ways and means of getting total acceptance of seat belt use by 
778all people, even 75 per cent is not enough. Right now in the front seats, 75 per cent are using them; for rear 
779seats, only 10 per cent comply with the law and only 6 per cent of children riding in automobiles are 
780confined in a safety seat. That is why we are proceeding with mandatory child safety seats in Saskatchewan 
781immediately. We might also find ways for more financial and technical guidance for traffic safety programs 
782in urban areas. There was a 50 per cent increase last year in urban accidents. That is just not acceptable. 
783 
784Mr. Speaker, I say we need more help. We need more acceptance. We really need those people across the 
785way who are representatives of the public. They represent the constituencies. I say to them that they are 
786contributing to deaths as long as they continue to say it’s wrong to have compulsory legislation. There are 
787people who would 
788
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792March 18, 1980 
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798be alive today if it had not been for the leadership of these people opposite in their own communities. I 
799challenge their minds to get on stream and do what is right, rather than what is political. 
800 
801Mr. Speaker, I want to say that the people in Canada, in Saskatchewan, have never faced a greater challenge. 
802We need a firm national transportation policy. Increased traffic volumes, change of vehicle types, expanding 
803industrialization, have created unprecedented demand on our transportation system. That is why this year 
804over $165 million is being provided by the Saskatchewan taxpayers and resources to provide the budget that 
805I am in charge of in 1980. 
806 
807This year the department will devote $105 million for capital projects. Efforts will continue to upgrade 
808secondary highways and to continue to work on major bridges and other projects in Saskatchewan. We’ll 
809complete the Gronlid bridge . . . (inaudible interjection) . . . We’ll complete the new bridge at Buffalo 
810Narrows. We’ll complete work and commence studies on actual construction on both the airport and 
811Highway 17, the bridge on Highway 17 north of Lloydminster. We will nearly finish another north-south link 
812on Highway 35 and provide another link north and south in Saskatchewan. Highway 13 west from 
813Govenlock. I have mentioned already. We will complete the paving work on the angled grid road at Maple 
814Creek and that will be taken into the highway system. 
815 
816Here I want to give a bouquet to the recent minister, the Hon. Mr. Fraser, who was in charge of DREE 
817(Department of Regional Economic Expansion) in the Conservative government. I had worked and pled with 
818Otto Lang and others in Ottawa prior to this to do what they should do, and to accept their responsibilities to 
819provide an access road to the Fort Walsh historic site. They agreed, reneged, went back. I want to say this, 
820Mr. Speaker, it only took one visit in late June at which I discussed the problem with the Hon. Mr. Fraser. 
821Within a few weeks we got the money and the agreement to do the capital work on that road from Maple 
822Creek to Fort Walsh. I told the minister that he would receive my personal congratulations if he had the 
823foresight to do this. I want to put it on the records of this House that he was able to see what the late and 
824unlamented Otto Lang could not see, for the benefit of Canadians — not just Saskatchewanians, but 
825Canadians and even Americans who wanted to visit it. 
826 
827Continue grading and paving on No. 2 as well, from Rockglen to Assiniboia and on to Imperial; Highway 5, 
828and then north of La Ronge and other valuable north-south arteries. Shoulder widening on the Yellowhead 
829between Radisson (it’s all finished between Saskatoon and Radisson) and Lloydminster. Many other projects 
830as well you will read in the project array. 
831 
832I want to say a word about the contracting, the heavy duty construction industry. They are doing a 
833tremendous job for us. They are providing work, both paving and earth work for less per yard, in spite of 
834inflation. A great deal of this budget will go into the coffers to pay the men, the contractors, the 
835businessmen. Despite the tremendous increase in costs we are still going to be providing 115 highway 
836projects this year. Approximately $47.7 million will be provided out of that $165 million for maintenance. 
837Department staff deserve a tremendous amount of credit, Mr. Speaker, because year by year these people are 
838finding ways and means to do a better job not only with less money but also with fewer people. In spite of 
839the fact that we have expanded programs these people are still providing better service each year. I could go 
840on. I wish I could but I just got a signal from the whip that I have gone beyond my allotted half-hour. 
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845March 18, 1980 
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852There are many other things that we could do, and I’ll table the speech so you’ll have the full benefit of it, 
853Mr. Speaker. It’s all the facts and all the figures. I don’t think there’s any doubt in anyone’s mind that I will 
854be supporting the budget. I want once again to congratulate the Minister of Finance for the tremendous job. I 
855want to say how proud I am to be part of this government that keeps its promises and continually keeps 
856coming forward with constructive and sensitive programs for the people of Saskatchewan. It is my pleasure, 
857Mr. Speaker, to support the motion. 
858 
859SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
860 
861MR. G.M. McLEOD (Meadow Lake): — Mr. Speaker, I want to begin my participation in this debate with 
862a few words of appreciation to you, and to all members of the House on both sides for the encouragement 
863you gave me during my lengthy disability and my absence from this House, and also for your warm welcome 
864back here when we resumed sitting. 
865 
866SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
867 
868MR. McLEOD: — I would also like to express my appreciation to the great number of people from all parts 
869of my constituency of Meadow Lake who expressed their encouragement to me. I assure all residents of that 
870constituency that I am now ready and able to get on again with the job of representing them properly in this 
871House. 
872 
873Before I proceed further I would like to say a few words of congratulations to our new leader, Mr. Grant 
874Devine, on his election to the leadership of our Progressive Conservative Party. 
875 
876SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
877 
878MR. McLEOD: — I have been personally impressed with Mr. Devine’s ability for some time. As I work 
879with him and observe his talents day to day, I can honestly relate to the people of Saskatchewan that they are 
880led by a home-grown young man with exceptional intelligence, integrity and undisputed ability. I look 
881forward to the day when he takes his seat in this House. 
882 
883SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
884 
885MR. ROMANOW: — So do I. I don’t think I’ll ever see it. 
886 
887MR. McLEOD: — You will see it Mr. Attorney General, let me assure you. 
888 
889As of yesterday, Mr. Speaker, I have been appointed opposition critic for the Department of Highways and 
890Transportation so I was listening with some interest to the minister who just preceded me. I thank our leader 
891for that appointment since there is no department which has been more negligent in that portion of the 
892province which I represent in this House. 
893 
894SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
895 
896MR. McLEOD: — I was also interested in listening to some of the remarks by the Minister of Highways. 
897Last Tuesday, March 11 to be exact, the Minister of Highways used the flag of our nation in a show of 
898shoddy partisanship under the guise of patriotism. Such a blatant misuse of our flag, Mr. Speaker, is not only 
899shameful but it is a cheap use of 
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904March 18, 1980 
905 
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910one of the sacred symbols of this nation. I seriously wonder what the motives of the Minister of Highways 
911were in draping our nation’s flag over his desk. Is he that insecure about his record as a defender of this 
912country? 
913 
914It was interesting to listen to him trying to tie his socialist ideas to the late Rt. Hon. John G. Diefenbaker. 
915That, Mr. Speaker, was a sad and unfortunate example of blatant, political posturing. 
916 
917We in the Progressive Conservative Party do not have to drape flags over our desks because we believe in 
918the traditions of the late Rt. Hon. John Diefenbaker who was one of the greatest defenders of one Canada 
919and one nation. We don’t have to prove our heritage because those of us in the PC party sand behind the 
920concept of one Canada and one nation. 
921 
922SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
923 
924MR. McLEOD: — Mr. Speaker, I would hope that all members of this Assembly would follow the heritage 
925and love of Canada which was so eloquently espoused by John Diefenbaker. In all his years in Canada’s 
926parliament the former member for Prince Albert did not have to drape a flag over his desk. I say shame to the 
927Minister of Highways, the so-called dean of this Assembly, for lowering the decorum of this House by using 
928our flag, a flag men have died for; in an attempt to score a few partisan political points. 
929 
930SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
931 
932MR. McLEOD: — While I am speaking about the Minister of Highways, let me relate a particular concern 
933which I have. On several occasions we heard the hon. member for The Battlefords, the Minister of 
934Highways, refer to himself as the dean of this House. That is a tragic misrepresentation of the term when one 
935considers the meaning of the honour of being referred to by others as the dean, when we consider what it has 
936meant in the House of Commons of Canada, for example, where the term has been used in reference to great 
937parliamentarians such as the late John Diefenbaker or Stanley Knowles of the NDP. These were men who 
938earned the respect of their peers from all political persuasions. Mr. Speaker, the self-proclaimed dean of our 
939Chamber does not even command the respect of his own government colleagues in his vindictive, 
940pork-barrelling brand of politics. It certainly has earned him no respect from this side. 
941 
942SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
943 
944MR. McLEOD: — Mr. Speaker, for many years. . . (I hear one of the members say no highways up there for 
945you — I will get to that in a minute) . . . the people of large areas of northwest Saskatchewan have been 
946hearing the Minister of Highways tell us about the highway programs of this government. We have been all 
947too patient in waiting for his promised development of top-grade grid highways in our area. Certainly we 
948have seen the propaganda, the huge signs bragging about the highway improvement and the maps and 
949statistics boasting about the miles of dust free roads. Mr. Speaker, the tar paper thin layers of asphalt apply to 
950many of our rural highways. They may be dust free initially, but they certainly aren’t free of big potholes. 
951 
952Now what are we told by this budget? Capital expenditure by the Department of Highways and 
953Transportation for rural surface transportation — that’s the highway’s budget the minister was just referring 
954to — is to be reduced by $6,659,000, almost a 
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959March 18, 1980 
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964707 
965
966$7 million reduction in the construction of actual roads. the same department is estimating an increase of 
967$3,212,110 in program services, which no doubt includes the propaganda machine that erects those huge 
968signs about what the department is doing for the people of Saskatchewan, and splashing the name of the 
969Minister of Highways and Transportation all over posters and tourist brochures, a practice that was 
970questioned last week by my colleague, the member for Rosetown-Elrose. 
971 
972Reducing the expenditure on construction of rural highways by almost $7 million, while at the same time 
973increasing expenditures on the bureaucracy and propaganda programs of the department by almost $3.25 
974million. Mr. Speaker, that kind of priority is unacceptable. I know the hon. member for Turtleford and the 
975hon. member for Redberry, both members of the government opposite and both representing northwest 
976Saskatchewan ridings, will agree with what I say if they are at all honest with themselves — and what is 
977more important, if they are honest with their constituents. Gentlemen, stand up and be counted! Stand up and 
978admit that the northwest’s representative on the front benches of that government, the Minister of Highways 
979and Transportation, the self-proclaimed dean of this House, has been moved to the back of the class in 
980cabinet. The myth that we once heard in the northwest about this minister’s clout in cabinet is obviously just 
981that — a myth. 
982 
983Mr. Speaker, let me give you a couple of examples of the kinds of vengeful, pork-barrelling, blatant practices 
984of this Minister of Highways and Transportation that offend me so much as an elected member of this 
985Chamber, and indeed, should offend every citizen of this province and every member of this House. 
986 
987Last spring in committee of finance, during consideration of the estimates of the Department of Highways 
988and Transportation, the Minister of Highways referred to a list he had of the work done in the various 
989constituencies. Now, Mr. Speaker, the citizens of Saskatchewan need assurance that their Department of 
990Highways is setting its priorities without political consideration, on the basis of the well-established highway 
991districts that bear no relation whatsoever to the electoral boundaries of this province. 
992 
993It has come to my attention, Mr. Speaker, that there is a story which is very widespread in the Meadow Lake 
994area. The story allegedly attributes the following remarks to the Minister of Highways and his special 
995assistance, who, I might add, is a former member of this Chamber from the riding that I now represent. The 
996alleged remarks were in this vein, Mr. Speaker: you people here will get nothing from this government, and 
997especially from the Department of Highways, until you learn how to vote. Now, that story is widespread. 
998That is an insult to my constituents and a sad commentary on the attitude of that minister and his government 
999toward the democratic process. 
1000 
1001Several years ago I had the honour of serving on a town council in Meadow Lake and we invited the 
1002Minister of Highways and his officials to a meeting of council and Chamber of Commerce representatives, to 
1003show us plans for the highway development in our corner of the province. Well, Mr. Speaker, the actions of 
1004the minister that night did nothing to enhance the image of his government or of himself. He walked into that 
1005council chamber and, to the embarrassment of his own officials, promptly demonstrated his contempt for 
1006local government and for everyone in attendance by leaning back in his chair and clumping those big 
1007cowboy boots on the council table. That type of action clearly demonstrates what the dean of this House 
1008thinks of local elected governments and of local input into the needs of particular areas. 
1009 
1010Mr. Speaker, let me on behalf of the people I represent here, make a request to the new 
1011
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1015March 18, 1980 
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1020
1021Minister of Tourism and Renewable Resources that he use any influence he may have with the Minister of 
1022Highways — and that influence seems to be considerable in view of the surveys and the possible rerouting of 
1023Highway 43 in the Morse constituency, right by the farm belonging to the Minister of Tourism. Would the 
1024Minister of Tourism please explain the need for Highways 21, 26, 55, and 4? These are all major access 
1025routes to the most beautiful tourist areas now administered by the department — areas like the Bronson 
1026forest region north of Paradise Hill and the Loon Lake area, and the Meadow Lake Provincial Park. 
1027 
1028Mr. Speaker, last summer the Minister of Tourism expressed concern about the number of Alberta people 
1029making use of the outstanding facilities his department is providing. Well, Mr. Minister, you convince your 
1030colleague to get his highways act together and I know more of our southern Saskatchewan citizens will 
1031discover the great Northwest. 
1032 
1033Mr. Speaker, last year in this House I requested that the government opposite recognize the special 
1034transportation needs of the agricultural sector in northwest Saskatchewan and of all farmers throughout the 
1035province. I ask them again, why will this government not recognize that farmers who must haul their grain, 
1036their beef, and other products long distances need good, top-grade roads and that because of long hauls, they 
1037need larger trucks and they need the right to license those larger multi-axle trucks as farm trucks so they are 
1038not doubly penalized? 
1039 
1040My colleague, the member for Bengough-Milestone, raised this in question period today. The answer from 
1041this government, from that Minister of Highways was no. 
1042 
1043Let me move to another topic that concerns me greatly, Mr. Speaker. It has become self-evident that the 
1044Premier and his ministers have consistently undermined and eroded the role of the backbench NDP MLAs. 
1045Indeed, Mr. Speaker, they have virtually been relegated to the role of being trained seals and parrots to be 
1046used when necessary. I can appreciate the utter frustration of individual MLAs on the opposite side who are 
1047not in cabinet. I can somewhat sympathize with the hon. member for Turtleford who said, at a news 
1048conference called by the Mayor of Spiritwood last summer, to call for an investigation into a Saskatchewan 
1049housing fiasco in that town, and I quote the hon. member: 
1050 
1051
1052It’s a waste of time for an MLA on the government side to contact the cabinet minister. 
1053 
1054And out of that, Mr. Speaker, comes the question. Is that an isolated incident or are the backbench MLAs on 
1055the opposite side being ignored by their cabinet colleagues? From the nods of approval over there I gather, 
1056sir, that this is a syndrome that affects all of those on the opposite side. Their input, their ideas, their 
1057suggestions, their very reason for being in this Legislative Assembly are being ignored by the Premier and 
1058his ministers. It is very clear that backbench government MLAs have little or no influence on the policies 
1059and decisions of the current administration, that their role as MLAs has been reduced to being bench 
1060warmers for the select few. That concept, Mr. Speaker, threatens the whole idea of parliamentary 
1061representation. That whole attitude maligns this Legislative Assembly. The rights of the people, the 
1062constituents of each MLA, are cut off when ministers of the Crown ignore the input of other MLAs. That, 
1063sir, is a dangerous precedent. 
1064
1065
1066
1067 
1068March 18, 1980 
1069
1070 
1071
1072 
1073709 
1074
1075Mr. Speaker, last Tuesday, March 11, my colleague the hon. member for Kindersley, spoke in this Chamber 
1076about the need to reform our parliamentary system. I believe the present government could set an example by 
1077expanding the role of their handcuffed and muzzled backbenchers to give them significant input and thus 
1078make their role in this assembly more meaningful, not a frustrating experience as the member for Turtleford 
1079expressed it. 
1080 
1081I would like to conclude my remarks in this debate by re-emphasizing a point I made earlier. We, in the 
1082Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan, stand for the concept of one Canada and one nation. We 
1083know that this province and the other western provinces are going to feel the effects of pressure from central 
1084Canada not to allow the West to become economically dominant in this country. And we believe very 
1085strongly that the opportunity for western Canada to take a strong position within confederation is here now, 
1086if, and only if, the Government of Saskatchewan will join with Premier Lougheed of Alberta and the other 
1087western governments in a concerted and collective effort to ensure that our resources remain just that, our 
1088resources. 
1089 
1090SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
1091 
1092MR. McLEOD: — That the destiny of western Canada will remain strong because we will have full control 
1093of our own resources. That is the key to our future, Mr. Speaker. As we celebrate our 75th anniversary in 
1094confederation, Saskatchewan can ill afford a government that would squander away our future heritage. In 
1095the final analysis we can do better than that and a Progressive Conservative government would. Mr. Speaker, 
1096I will be opposing the motion and supporting the amendment. 
1097 
1098SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
1099 
1100MR. SPEAKER: — I am becoming concerned about the decorum of this Chamber. I was, during the latter 
1101part of the last member’s comments and I wonder if the members can join with me in a spirit of co-operation 
1102and raise the level of the decorum in the Chamber so that we can all hear what the member is saying. 
1103 
1104MR. A.W. ENGEL (Assiniboia-Gravelbourg): — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I was saying I was 
1105disappointed in the remarks for the member for Meadow Lake, and the shallow pledge he made that their 
1106party is supporting a one-Canada concept and then he turns around and qualifies it if we support the stance 
1107that Peter Lougheed is taking. I want to warn that member that recent elections have indicated that you better 
1108be very careful how you make these shallow allegations because Doug Anguish indicates that your seat isn’t 
1109that safe. When I entered this House, Mr. Speaker, for the second time . . . 
1110 
1111AN HON. MEMBER: — How about your seat? 
1112 
1113MR. ENGEL: — I’m very pleased to say I’m proud of the oath that I took and that I would swear that I will 
1114be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty. Mr. Speaker, that is a serious path and I am proud to 
1115stand behind a Canadian flag and a flag of Saskatchewan and I am not ashamed of my Minister of Highways 
1116who has seen fit to drape a flag of Canada over his desk. 
1117 
1118The finance minister, Mr. Speaker, in his speech last Thursday afternoon said that this is the ninth budget 
1119which has been presented by the Blakeney government since taking office in 1971. I was here in this 
1120Assembly to support the very first budget of the New Democratic Party during the 17th legislature. I recall 
1121the bold moves that were made in 
1122
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1126March 18, 1980 
1127 
1128
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1130710 
1131
11321972 and every year since to revive the Saskatchewan economy. Slowly and steadily a new economic course 
1133was charted for the province of Saskatchewan. The iron grip of the international pulp and paper companies, 
1134the iron grip of the oil companies and the mining industry was broken and the charting of a new economic 
1135destiny for our province was returned to the citizens of Saskatchewan. 
1136 
1137Mr. Speaker, the citizens of Saskatchewan have done a magnificent job as the profit figures for the potash 
1138corporation or the exploration record of the Saskatchewan Mining Development Corporation, or the 
1139successful drilling record of Saskatchewan Oil demonstrate. Saskatchewan is in sound economic condition 
1140and a comparison with other provinces puts us out front of the rest. Saskatchewan cities have lower electrical 
1141rates than any city in Canada, with the exception maybe of Montreal. Montreal, it should be pointed out, gets 
1142much of its power from Churchill Falls in Newfoundland under a deal signed by the former Smallwood 
1143government. Montreal’s gain is Newfoundland’s loss. The electrical rates for the small communities and 
1144farms are difficult to compare because some provinces have mountainous terrain, or vast stretches of forest, 
1145but I think, Mr. Speaker, it is fair to compare the three prairie provinces and when you do you find 
1146Saskatchewan Power’s electrical rates for small cities, towns, villages and farms are well under the rates 
1147charged by Calgary Power in Alberta or Manitoba Hydro, just to name two. 
1148 
1149Natural gas rates are another area where Saskatchewan comes out ahead of all the Canadian provinces from 
1150British Columbia through to Quebec that use natural gas. Only Alberta which sits on top of 80 per cent of 
1151this country’s supply has lower natural gas rates than ours. And if the last right wing government we had in 
1152Saskatchewan hadn’t sold off the Hatton gas fields for a fraction of their real value we would have the lowest 
1153gas rates in the nation. 
1154 
1155Telephone rates, Mr. Speaker, are another service Saskatchewan people get at a very reasonable price. Only 
1156Manitoba has lower rates than Saskatchewan, and that is a result of a very progressive policy of 
1157modernizations undertaken by the Schreyer government in the early ’70s. In some Conservative provinces in 
1158eastern Canada telephone rates are double our Sask Tel rates. 
1159 
1160Car insurance is another real bargain Saskatchewan citizens enjoy. It does not matter what age group or what 
1161type of automobile you choose, the insurance premiums set by Saskatchewan Government Insurance are well 
1162under those paid by residents of any other province. 
1163 
1164For the young drivers, the saving is particularly valuable. In many cases a 20 to 25 year old man or woman 
1165buying car insurance in Saskatchewan saves over $1,000 annually simply by living here instead of Calgary, 
1166or Toronto, or Halifax. 
1167 
1168Our health care and social services provide a much more thorough level of care than in any other province. 
1169You only have to look at a recent year-long freeze of all hospital construction in Alberta, or the decision by 
1170the Davis government to eliminate 900 hospital beds across Ontario by the end of 19809, and cut another 
11711,100 hospital beds in Metropolitan Toronto alone, over the next three years. 
1172 
1173From the four year old child who is enrolled in the dental plan to the senior citizen who gets a $650 grant 
1174under the senior citizens’ home repair program, Saskatchewan provides its citizens with the best, most 
1175comprehensive health and social service of any province or state in North America. 
1176
1177
1178
1179 
1180March 18, 1980 
1181
1182 
1183
1184 
1185711 
1186
1187SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
1188 
1189MR. ENGEL: — And that is far from being out in the dark. 
1190 
1191Mr. Speaker, those additional services and universal programs we have here in Saskatchewan are delivered 
1192in a very efficient way. The budget speech points out that the civil service of Saskatchewan has not increased 
1193in number in the last six years. In fact, Statistics Canada figures record that if you take the number of 
1194provincial government employees as a percentage of the total provincial population, you get a lower number 
1195in Saskatchewan than you do in five of the provinces with Conservative governments — that includes 
1196Alberta, Mr. Speaker. The Conservative government of Alberta has 2.5 per cent of the provincial population 
1197on the public payroll — 2.6 per cent, Mr. Speaker. What have we got here in Saskatchewan? Only 1.9 per 
1198cent of the population. 
1199 
1200Right wing politicians can talk all they like about the massive size of government bureaucracy and civil 
1201servants and red tape, but they will be talking about some place other than Saskatchewan, because, as with so 
1202many other things, Saskatchewan has been leading the way in building a slim, trim and efficient civil service. 
1203 
1204Another area that some provinces seem to find difficult to handle is public borrowing. Now, as you know, 
1205Mr. Speaker, all governments borrow money to finance certain projects or in some cases even to finance the 
1206day to day operation of government. Some provinces, however, let their borrowing get out of hand and build 
1207up a huge provincial debt worth hundreds and even thousands of dollars for every man, woman and child in 
1208the province. 
1209 
1210I am pleased, Mr. Speaker, to be able to say that the provincial per capita debt of Saskatchewan is the second 
1211lowest in Canada — second only to Prince Edward Island whose borrowing needs are not that great. 
1212 
1213Saskatchewan’s per capita debt is much lower than Alberta’s, or Ontario’s, or New Brunswick’s, or Nova 
1214Scotia’s. It is less than half as large as the public debt in Manitoba or in Newfoundland. All of those 
1215provinces have Conservative governments, Mr. Speaker, arranging their financial affairs. 
1216 
1217Another area, Mr. Speaker, where our province has been putting the others in the shade is in the area of job 
1218creation. Over 90,000 new jobs have been created in this province since the New Democratic Party took over 
1219the reins of government in June of 1971. That has very important side effects, Mr. Speaker, because it means 
1220that Saskatchewan, month after month, records the lowest, or the next to the lowest unemployment figures in 
1221the nation. These low unemployment figures are maintained month after month, year after year, despite the 
1222fact that our provincial population has been growing in the last five or six years by about 10,000 people 
1223annually. Young people from Tory provinces have given up looking for jobs at home and have headed for 
1224Saskatchewan to find work. 
1225 
1226Mr. Speaker, let me say a few words on the subject of our provincial population because it has become an 
1227issue of late. Recently the Leader of the Conservative Party, Mr. Devine, has been using as a topic for his 
1228speeches the them: Bring the kids home. It was difficult to turn on the radio or the television, or to pick up a 
1229newspaper for a while 
1230
1231
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1233 
1234March 18, 1980 
1235 
1236
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1238712 
1239
1240without hearing Mr. Devine in a sombre tone talk about the terrible decline in our provincial population, 
1241about the horrible toll this was taking among our young people, and how a Conservative government would 
1242bring the kids home. 
1243 
1244I would like to give Mr. Devine a brief history lesson using Statistics Canada census figures. Between 1900 
1245and the great depression of the 1930s the population of Saskatchewan grew every year; by 1936 the 
1246population had reached 931,500 people. Then it went into a sharp decline as families moved out of the dust 
1247bowl. In the 1940s the decline continued as segments of the population left to go to war or to work in 
1248defence plants in the East. It was not until the postwar years under the CCF government of Tommy Douglas 
1249that people began to move back to Saskatchewan. That trend continued until 1968 when the provincial 
1250population had reached an all-time high of 961,000. Then the economic policies of the Thatcher government 
1251began to have their greatest impact on Saskatchewan. In 1969 and 1970 more people left Saskatchewan than 
1252during any two of the worst years of the great depression. It took until 1974 to reverse the flow of people out 
1253of the province, but since 1974 there has been a steady increase in population of almost 10,000 new arrivals 
1254annually — some years as high as 14,000. Mr. Speaker, I think it is important to take note that the 
1255Saskatchewan Bureau of Statistics estimates that sometime this spring the population of Saskatchewan will 
1256surpass the 961,000 mark setting an all-time record high. 
1257 
1258SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
1259 
1260MR. ENGEL: — Mr. Speaker, I think it’s pretty clear that the New Democratic Government of 
1261Saskatchewan has been bringing the kids home. I’m not one who thinks we should aim to have a two million 
1262or three million population in our province. That would adversely affect our environment and our quality of 
1263life. I do, however, want to see enough people come to Saskatchewan to keep our rural communities viable 
1264and to help maintain the social fabric of our province. That is something that all of us believe in. 
1265 
1266Before I leave the topic, I would like to provide Mr. Devine with one more bit of information. Between the 
1267years 1944 and 1964, the CCF years, the population of Saskatchewan increased by 106,000 people. In the 
1268Thatcher years from 1964 to 1971 the population fell by 15,800. In the NDP years from 1971 to the present 
1269day the population of Saskatchewan has increased by more than 35,000. In fact from 1974 until today the 
1270increase was 61,000 people. Again I say the Blakeney government has kept the kids at home and has brought 
1271them back. Perhaps Mr. Devine should spend less time trying to construct phony issues and a little more time 
1272in keeping his own MLAs at home because the only population decline I have heard of recently is the one 
1273taking place in the Conservative caucus. 
1274 
1275Mr. Speaker, because I like to see the strong economic growth and sound financial management continued in 
1276the province of Saskatchewan, I will be voting against the amendment and supporting the budget. 
1277 
1278SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
1279 
1280HON. D.F. McARTHUR (Minister of Education): — Mr. Speaker, I would first wish to congratulate the 
1281Minister of Finance on the budget that he has presented to this Assembly. It is, first of all, a sensitive budget 
1282responsive to the economic and social needs of Saskatchewan people. It is also a responsible budget, Mr. 
1283Speaker, provide as it does a balance between revenues and expenditures while providing 
1284
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1287 
1288March 18, 1980 
1289
1290 
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1293713 
1294
1295for a reserve in the heritage fund. This reserve will be used to reinvest in resource development and they will 
1296extend ownership by our people in resource industries. 
1297 
1298That, Mr. Speaker, is what this country needs today. All across this country, Mr. Speaker, we see Liberal and 
1299Tory governments, mostly Tory, but some Liberal, cutting social programs while at the same time letting 
1300government deficits increase because they will not demand of multinationals that they pay their full share. 
1301On top of this, Mr. Speaker, these same governments are letting more and more of our resources and 
1302industries fall into the hands of foreign owners, further weakening our national economy. Not so here in 
1303Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker. Our approach demands a fair return for our resources — Saskatchewan and 
1304Canadian ownership of resources and industry and responsible fiscal management. 
1305 
1306The rewards for sound management are obvious. We are able, here in Saskatchewan, to provide our people 
1307with the finest, most comprehensive array of social programs existing in any industrial country of the world 
1308today. Mr. Speaker, I know that all members will agree with me that our province is entering an important 
1309stage in its history. This year we, as a people, are assessing our past achievements, examining where we are 
1310today and why, and looking forward to a future built upon the rich, shared experiences of the past. Any 
1311review of our history in assessment of where our province stands today can only result in a sense of profound 
1312optimism about the future of Saskatchewan. I say this knowing full well that these are difficult times, 
1313difficult times generally for economies, governments and peoples throughout the world, but I nevertheless 
1314say it with conviction. 
1315 
1316We in Saskatchewan have a proud history of facing difficult times. We have a proud history of taking 
1317courageous steps to control our own destiny so that our people, our communities and our governments 
1318continue to build secure and rewarding lives for each other in a co-operative commonwealth, here in this 
1319province. And, Mr. Speaker, our social and economic prospects for the 1980s are testimony to the fact that 
1320we, as Saskatchewan people, have done an excellent job in laying a prosperous foundation for our future. 
1321 
1322The NDP government of Premier Blakeney has provided courageous and determined leadership in laying 
1323that foundation. But, of course, with the blessings of a resource-rich province and a ground work of excellent 
1324social and economic legislation come responsibilities. We are duty-bound to use our rich human and 
1325financial resources to build in Saskatchewan a society which offers equal opportunity and guarantees human 
1326dignity to all citizens and it is our intention to do so. We will continue to devote the fruits of our progressive 
1327resource revenue policies to this job. 
1328 
1329Mr. Speaker, others in this House and across the country suggest that we take too much from our resources 
1330and leave too little for multinational corporations. They would take more from individuals and families, the 
1331common everyday working people of our province, while leaving the rich returns from our non-renewable 
1332resources to a few private outside interests. We believe, on this side of the House, Mr. Speaker, that 
1333Saskatchewan’s resources belong to all the people of Saskatchewan and that the benefits should go to the 
1334people and not to a wealthy and powerful elite. And we intend to see that resource earnings are kept here in 
1335Saskatchewan to be used to invest in future developments owned by our people and to provide improved 
1336social programs and reduced taxes for our people. That is what this government is all about. Mr. Speaker, in 
13371978 the people of Saskatchewan strongly supported this direction for our 
1338
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1342March 18, 1980 
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1346714 
1347
1348province. They believed in our program for economic and social progress — the foundations of which this 
1349government laid in the 1970s. They gave us a strong mandate to carry on this development for the benefit of 
1350the people into the 1980s. 
1351 
1352As I mentioned, Mr. Speaker, we are now entering not just a new decade, but a new stage in our history with 
1353the full expectation of rapid and diversified economic development through the 1980s. This new stage 
1354promises to be one which presents us increasingly with the challenge of adapting to rapid technological and 
1355social change. If we plan appropriately and govern our affairs properly, this new decade can truly be a decade 
1356of economic and social progress unparalleled in our history. To bring this about we must learn not to just live 
1357alongside rapid change but to truly live with it, making people and their interests the masters of change. In 
1358order to do so we must have progressive social programs and adaptability and change in our social 
1359institutions in order to meet the challenges we will face in Saskatchewan in the 1980s and beyond. 
1360 
1361I can think of no time in Saskatchewan’s history when it could be more exciting to be Minister of Education 
1362and Minister of Continuing Education. The role of education in helping society control and manage change 
1363and development is central. Our education programs from preschool right through to adult training will have 
1364a profound effect on the kind of society we build for ourselves in this next stage of growth. As with all 
1365aspects of our social and economic life, planning will be important. We must anticipate and respond to the 
1366demands which will be placed on our education system by new economic and social conditions. In so doing 
1367we must be sure to adhere to basic principles which put children first. 
1368 
1369What are some of these principles, Mr. Speaker? First we must assure that there is full and universal 
1370accessibility. No one can or should be denied a quality education because of personal circumstances, because 
1371of where they live or because of their social-economic background. 
1372 
1373Second, Mr. Speaker, we must assure quality. Education has the power to create opportunity in a way that no 
1374other aspect of social experience does. Education must create these opportunities equally for all people, 
1375regardless of class, sex, race or socio-economic background. 
1376 
1377Education must play a fundamental role in attacking poverty and discrimination. That, Mr. Speaker, is the 
1378most sacred of trusts. If education fails in this respect, then education fails in its most important social 
1379responsibility. Poor people, people living in rural and remote areas, native people, women, handicapped 
1380people, minority groups — all have the right to expect that education will meet this responsibility. 
1381 
1382Third, Mr. Speaker, the system must be flexible and adaptable to change. Needs and circumstances differ 
1383greatly for different people and different communities and also change as circumstances change. We must 
1384constantly guard against placing institutions and their needs and aspirations ahead of the people they serve. 
1385 
1386Fourth, Mr. Speaker, is the principle of public participation. Education is everyone’s business. It is not the 
1387private preserve of anyone, whether it be government, trustees, teachers or whoever. Everyone has an interest 
1388and everyone who wants to must have an opportunity to be heard. 
1389 
1390Fifth, Mr. Speaker, is the principle of planning. The world around us is changing rapidly, scientifically, 
1391technologically, economically and socially. In all these ways our 
1392
1393
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1395 
1396March 18, 1980 
1397
1398 
1399
1400 
1401715 
1402
1403provincial society is undergoing rapid change. Education must not only react to such change but it must 
1404anticipate such change. That cannot be done without effective planning. 
1405 
1406Sixth, Mr. Speaker, education must contribute to a deeper and richer understanding of the unique heritage 
1407and special nature of our country and province. If we, as a people, lose our sense of pride and self-worth 
1408because we do not understand what it is which makes us unique and special, then all of the immense 
1409possibilities which the future holds will never be realized. All of our energies will be spent on tearing 
1410ourselves down, other than on creating and building the bright new future that is clearly within our grasp. 
1411 
1412During my tenure as Minister of Education and Continuing Education, I intend to be guided by these 
1413principles. It is my conviction that these principles, infused into each aspect of our education system, will 
1414provide us with a series of co-ordinated educational services in Saskatchewan which will help build a free 
1415and just society, a society committed to human rights and equal opportunity. 
1416 
1417This budget, Mr. Speaker, contains many important provisions that will help translate these principles into 
1418reality. 
1419 
1420Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment now to summarize for this Assembly the actions my two 
1421departments will be taking this year to promote these principles. 
1422 
1423To counteract the barriers to accessibility and equality of opportunity which stem for the urban poverty and 
1424cultural alienation of our native people, the departments will embark on an ambitious an comprehensive set 
1425of programs. These will include a community schools program to improve relationships between parents and 
1426their schools, an off-campus native teacher training program, development of special and related curriculum 
1427and teaching materials, and a native job training and placement program. 
1428 
1429Besides the urban barriers to overcome, Mr. Speaker, there are rural barriers, such as distance from 
1430educational services, sparsity of population and for adults’ lifestyles which do not always allow time or 
1431mobility to enroll in traditional educational programs. To begin to overcome these obstacles to accessibility 
1432in our rural areas, Mr. Speaker, my departments will undertake, first, to develop a vocational outreach 
1433program designed to decentralize the delivery of vocational training programs and make them available to 
1434people all around the province; secondly, to present post-secondary courses in a modular format so people 
1435can study part time or on a flexible basis and thus not be forced to disrupt their work or home situations to 
1436take on full-time study; thirdly, to devote special funds to support small rural high schools to ensure a quality 
1437educational program even though enrolments may reach very low numbers ins some of these schools. 
1438 
1439Mr. Speaker, in recognition of the rich variety of minority cultures in Saskatchewan, my department will 
1440increase its program assistance in the areas of French language and multi-cultural education. It will also take 
1441steps to improve the education system’s support of a more positive role for women in our society. My 
1442Department of Continuing Education will introduce a number of new training programs in the province. We 
1443will provide increased financial assistance to post-secondary students to ensure financial obstacles to higher 
1444learning are kept to an absolute minimum. We will increase our funding for special education services for 
1445the handicapped students of Saskatchewan, 
1446
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1450March 18, 1980 
1451 
1452
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1454716 
1455
1456continuing our leadership role in Canada in this very important educational field. We will increase our 
1457funding for school divisions, universities, community colleges and technical and vocational institutes, 
1458ensuring that, as we work to make these educational institutions more responsive to the needs of 
1459Saskatchewan people, we will continue to provide them with the funds needed to carry out their high-quality 
1460programs and services. 
1461 
1462Mr. Speaker, my two departments plan other measures as well to make this first year of the 1980s one which 
1463continues the development of an educational system which truly serves the people in every sense of that 
1464word. 
1465 
1466These are the highlights, Mr. Speaker. I would now like to turn to speak in more detail about some of the 
1467challenges ahead related to these things and some of the programs we have planned for this year to meet 
1468these challenges. Let me speak first of elementary and secondary education. 
1469 
1470Let me reiterate something I have already said — namely, that as we chart new directions and approaches, 
1471we must have a high level of public participation in planning an education. Underlying all that we do in 
1472education in the 1980s, Mr. Speaker, must be these commitments: to discuss with the public the problems we 
1473face; to involve them in the development of the programs we intend to undertake; and to make sure they are 
1474part of the delivery of these programs wherever possible. This attitude in our part can help immensely to 
1475improve the design of our programs and to increase the likelihood of them being accepted and effective. 
1476Many of the programs I will describe later include special provisions to increase public involvement in 
1477educational planning and decision making. 
1478 
1479I should like to inform this Assembly, Mr. Speaker, that I have recently taken steps to create a planning 
1480capacity in the Department of Education to assist in developing and making work the kind of participatory 
1481planning I consider so essential. The budget estimates for this year reveal a new division within the 
1482department to be responsible for policy, planning and the initiation of special projects. This division will, in 
1483consultation with teachers, trustees, parents and other interested parties, help to plan new educational 
1484strategies to respond to some of the difficult questions that will be facing us. As will be seen from the new 
1485programs I will talk about today, this new planning and consultation capacity in my department is already 
1486demonstrating its worth. 
1487 
1488Mr. Speaker, the programs in elementary and secondary education which I will announce today address three 
1489aspects of today’s situations: (1) the need for special measures to deal with special problems of our rural 
1490areas associated with declining enrolments and sparse population, (2) the need for special measures to deal 
1491with poverty and discrimination, (3) the need to anticipate and respond to change. 
1492 
1493The economic and social development of Saskatchewan in the 1970s has inevitably included a continuation 
1494of the trend toward larger cities. Our government has developed many programs to enhance the fabric of 
1495rural life and which have been, in large part, very successful. However, stresses continue to be placed on 
1496smaller rural schools because of the sharp decline in family size since the mid-1960s and the consequent 
1497decline in student numbers within our school system. Therefore, I intend to introduce a significant change to 
1498our foundation grant payment system to school boards this year in order to help accommodate the trend to 
1499smaller schools in some rural areas. I will explain this in more detail in a moment. 
1500
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1504March 18, 1980 
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1506 
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1509717 
1510
1511In addition, we intend to proceed with a comprehensive program designed to assist Saskatchewan’s urban 
1512poor, particularly native people, through improved education. In addition to native people we recognize that 
1513there are a number of other minority cultures in our society that demand and deserve positive government 
1514programming. The education system has a key role to play in this process. Our programs during 1980-1981 
1515will have us taking an active part in the support of this province’s many cultural minorities. 
1516 
1517I would like now, Mr. Speaker, to outline in more detail the programs and activities of my Department of 
1518Education. First of all, native education programs. My department will begin a series of long-term programs 
1519costing a total of $1.45 million this year to combat alienation and high drop-out rates on the part of native 
1520students in our urban schools. We must conclude that the current education program is not serving the native 
1521child when we note that statistics show native children are generally one to two years behind their non-native 
1522counterparts, with a drop-out rate of more than 90 per cent. 
1523 
1524A fundamental change must take place in the relationship between the school system and the community, 
1525particularly in urban areas, if this cycle of alienation, underachievement and poverty is to be broken. It is my 
1526belief that the three main aspects of the schooling process — school environment, school curriculum, and 
1527community school relationships — must be restructured to deal with this situation. 
1528 
1529Regarding school environment, we must change the hidden curriculum which subtly shapes children’s sense 
1530of self and their social values and attitudes. This unspoken model now tells children that textbooks and 
1531certified teachers and the like, not community people or resources, constitute the things we learn from. Much 
1532of our school curriculum content is currently biased in favour of the non-native world. It too often either 
1533distorts or omits mention of the contributions, realities and position of the native community as well as of 
1534other minority groups. Insufficient contact between the school and community, particularly the native 
1535community, contributes to a situation of misunderstanding and lack of sensitivity. Without an understanding 
1536of a child’s family and community life many teachers experience difficulty in the diagnosis of the student’s 
1537learning situations. For students, the lack of continuity between their home and school worlds makes the 
1538transition between the two extremely difficult. 
1539 
1540Learning new things should be based upon what is already known. Insufficient school and community 
1541contact often leads to a counter-productive separation of living and learning for native children. To help 
1542reduce this whole system of self-perpetuating alienation, I am pleased to announce the following new 
1543activities; first, the piloting of a community school program. I have undertaken consultations with the school 
1544boards in Saskatoon, Prince Albert and Regina and am pleased to announce support, in principle from these 
1545school divisions for a new community school program that will be piloted this year in our major urban 
1546centres. My department will provide a total of $654,000 this year in additional funds to help operate 
1547community schools. These will be special schools with high native student enrolment which are designated 
1548by the participating urban school boards for participation in the community school program. 
1549 
1550Each school selected to take part in the program will employee a community school co-ordinator and four 
1551pari-professional native teaching associates, in addition to its regular teaching and administrative staff. The 
1552program will also provide for new approaches to be developed within the school through the use of local 
1553school curriculum grants supervised by school-parent committees. We will also experiment 
1554
1555
1556
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1558March 18, 1980 
1559 
1560
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1562718 
1563
1564on a pilot project basis with a school nutritional program. The community school program will provide the 
1565basis for increasing the knowledge and leadership potential of many local residents and the means for 
1566increased participation of the school in the affairs of the community. 
1567 
1568Mr. Speaker, a major aspect of the solution to native student alienation must be an increase in the ability of 
1569parents to define the kind of education their children receive — its environment, personnel, curriculum and 
1570community relations. The community school co-ordinator will act as the catalyst between the school and the 
1571community to initiate this kind of involvement. 
1572 
1573Two programs complementary to the community school program are the native teacher associates’ program, 
1574and a school nutrition program. The native teaching associates’ program, designed to increase the presence 
1575of community people within the classroom setting, will significantly alter the cultural environment of the 
1576classroom and through the teaching team method, will also alter the teaching model students experience. It 
1577should also bring an important source of knowledge about the local community into the classroom. 
1578 
1579Due to the close relationships between poverty and undernourishment, and between undernourishment and 
1580learning problems, a school nutrition program will be tried on an experimental basis this year in a few 
1581selected schools. The program will encourage the community and the school to share in a solution to that 
1582shared problem of poor nutrition and lack of nutritional education and understanding on the part of many 
1583students. 
1584 
1585Mr. Speaker, I am looking forward to further consultations with the school boards and native organizations 
1586in our major cities over the next few months. If the discussions proceed well, which I am confident they will, 
1587we may see the implementation of the community school program in as many as 10 community schools in 
1588this province this fall — perhaps four in Saskatoon, four in Regina, and two in Prince Albert. 
1589 
1590I want to turn now to the question of teacher training. My officials are in the process of planning, with native 
1591organizations and the two universities, the establishment of an off-campus native teacher training program. 
1592This program, to be known as SUNTEP (Saskatchewan Urban Native Teaching Education Program) has the 
1593major objective of ensuring that native people are adequately represented in urban teaching positions. It will 
1594be allocated funding this year of approximately $312,000 from the Department of Education, and $165,000 
1595from the Department of Continuing Education. 
1596 
1597I expect the program to begin this fall at off-campus centres in Saskatoon and Regina with about 30 students 
1598in total, and a similar number of students each succeeding year. The program may expand at some future 
1599time to a location in Prince Albert. 
1600 
1601My officials and I have worked closely with the Association of Metis and Non-status Indians of 
1602Saskatchewan in developing this program, and with native people through the Gabriel Dumont Institute, 
1603which I will describe in more detail later and which will also play an important role in it. 
1604 
1605At present, Mr. Speaker, there are few trained teachers of native ancestry, especially in urban areas, and 
1606natives face physical, financial and psychological barriers to enrolling in the traditional teacher training 
1607programs in our province. In addition to 
1608
1609
1610
1611 
1612March 18, 1980 
1613
1614 
1615
1616 
1617719 
1618
1619academic instruction leading to a standard A teaching certificate, the SUNTEP centres will provide native 
1620students with counselling, classroom experience, and a wide range of resources. SUNTEP will enable native 
1621teacher-training graduates to combine their technical and professional expertise with an intimate knowledge 
1622of cultural and community values. It will also provide the basis for strengthening community school 
1623relations, and for developing an improved curriculum for native students all over Saskatchewan. 
1624 
1625Mr. Speaker, the final new native education initiative I have to report for the Department of Education is 
1626establishment by September of a native education branch in the department. The purposes of this branch, to 
1627be allocated about $480,000 this year, will be to co-ordinate the development of programs and teaching 
1628materials for native students. It will undertake the research, planning and policy development necessary for 
1629the implementation and administration of programs for native students throughout the province. One of the 
1630main tasks will be the development of curriculum and resource materials in native studies and languages. 
1631Native culture and history has been misrepresented in the school curriculum in the past largely because of 
1632lack of instructional resources developed by and for native people. As part of our overall program to assist 
1633native education we have to work seriously to correct this misrepresentation and to develop resources which 
1634will enhance the pride of native students in their own culture. 
1635 
1636Mr. Speaker, these are the programs to be undertaken by my Department of Education this year in an effort 
1637to work with native people to counteract the cultural and social alienation and urban poverty which has been 
1638developing in our major cities. These programs, together with another program I will announce for the 
1639Department of Continuing Education and with the other government programs related to native people will, I 
1640am confident, stimulate the kind of social development we will need in Saskatchewan in the 1980s if we are 
1641to have a truly progressive co-operative society. 
1642 
1643SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
1644 
1645MR. McARTHUR: — Mr. Speaker, I mentioned earlier that we recognize and will attempt to strengthen 
1646our province’s multicultural heritage. We will do this in a number of ways. 
1647 
1648AN HON. MEMBER: — Co-operative society is your goal? 
1649 
1650MR. McARTHUR: — Co-operation is our goal — co-operation in all respects. 
1651 
1652In the area of French language education, Mr. Speaker, my Department of Education is establishing an 
1653official minority language office to work with Saskatchewan Francophones and schools in order to improve 
1654French language education in the province. The office will develop policies, curriculum, resource materials 
1655and professional support programs to assist French language education and particularly education taking 
1656place in the designated French language schools. 
1657 
1658Mr. Speaker, this new service continues our commitment to improve the school system’s support of this 
1659important aspect of Saskatchewan culture. We have already made headway in this area. In 1970-71 there 
1660were 628 students enrolled in designated French language programs. Today there are 2,364. Our education 
1661act recognizes this commitment and extends to all residents the right to have their children educated in either 
1662English or French. This new office will immensely strengthen such educational programs. 
1663
1664
1665
1666 
1667March 18, 1980 
1668 
1669
1670 
1671720 
1672
1673Mr. Speaker, this commitment extends to all Saskatchewan minority cultures. For this reason we will 
1674establish a new full-time position in the department for a multicultural consultant to work to promote the 
1675study of languages other than English and French and to improve multicultural programming in our schools. 
1676The department has had a multicultural consultant through a seconding arrangement but to ensure ongoing 
1677programming in this area it is time to make the position a permanent part of the department establishment. 
1678 
1679Multicultural programming will be improved in the school curriculum generally so all students can become 
1680more aware of Saskatchewan’s rich ethnic heritage. 
1681 
1682Mr. Speaker, I mentioned in my earlier remarks that education has played a key role in the further 
1683development of women’s active role in society. I am pleased to state my department will be taking positive 
1684steps in this direction in the coming year as well. We will be looking at further methods of eliminating the 
1685sex bias from school resource materials and of helping teachers become more aware of and sensitive to this 
1686problem. Mr. Speaker, as part of the process of planning and dialogue in this regard I am pleased to inform 
1687you the Department of Education and the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation are planning a provincial 
1688conference on women and the education system to be held in Regina in late April This will provide 
1689educators with an opportunity to discuss this important issue and it will be the impetus for further action in 
1690this area from all sectors of the education system. 
1691 
1692This government firmly believes in developing and preserving a strong sense of awareness and pride among 
1693our people of their Saskatchewan and Canadian identity. As Canadians we recognize the special role which 
1694education has to play in ensuring our culture does not get swallowed up by the culture of our huge neighbour 
1695to the South. We must recognize and pass on to our children those things which make us Canadian, Mr. 
1696Speaker. 
1697 
1698SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
1699 
1700MR. McARTHUR: — To make certain we fulfil that role as best we can, I have directed we undertake a 
1701systematic review of the Kindergarten to Grade 12 social studies curriculum in our schools. The new 
1702program when completed will significantly extend Canadian and Saskatchewan content and provide an 
1703opportunity to study relevant, current issues. It will also extend the understanding of our students of 
1704significant social themes. 
1705 
1706Mr. Deputy Speaker, I would like now like to review for this House the highlights of the 1980-81 foundation 
1707grants to school boards. 
1708 
1709The foundation grants formula, as it has been developed by this government, is a calculation based upon 
1710many factors in order to get the appropriate operating grants to each school division in the province. The 
1711formula is primarily geared to enable every school jurisdiction in Saskatchewan to provide a quality school 
1712program without requiring an unduly high local tax rate. It respects the local autonomy and responsibility of 
1713school boards by providing unconditional grants with no penalties for boards achieving economy and no 
1714penalties for boards offering a reduced level of programming and lower taxation rate, if that is their choice. 
1715 
1716We also recognize that no formula contains every imaginable contingency so we have 
1717
1718
1719
1720 
1721March 18, 1980 
1722
1723 
1724
1725 
1726721 
1727
1728provided special factors as part of the foundation grants formula to provide for hardships due to 
1729circumstances beyond school boards’ controls. These special factors include a sparsity factor for 
1730geographical hardships, an enrolment decline factor and this year, a new factor — a small rural high school 
1731factor. 
1732 
1733Mr. Deputy Speaker, the grants formula provides that school boards, with the ability to pay more because of 
1734their higher local assessments, should pay their fair share of education costs. Conversely, the formula ensure 
1735that school divisions with a lack of locally raised funds, because of lack of assessment wealth in the area, do 
1736not have to suffer unduly and thus are still able to maintain a quality educational program. 
1737 
1738It also provides, in cases where the local assessment base grows rapidly — as is the case in some of our 
1739major urban cities — that more provincial grants can be devoted to those boards with smaller assessment 
1740bases and smaller growth in such assessments. 
1741 
1742The aspect of the grants formula is displayed in this year’s estimates by a greater increase in funding to rural 
1743boards than to urban boards. Rural school divisions have, for the most part, been more severely affected by 
1744the decline in school enrolments. 
1745 
1746Overall, the operating grants to be paid to school boards in 1980-81 will total $236.6 million, which 
1747represents an increase of 9 per cent per student from last year. This year our government will pay 55.7 per 
1748cent of the cost of school operation in Saskatchewan. Compare that, Mr. Deputy Speaker, to 45.8 per cent in 
17491971 when this government took office. 
1750 
1751Looking into percentage increases, based on the type of school division, there will be a 10.5 per cent increase 
1752in the per pupil grant for rural divisions, a 7.49 per cent increase for town, village and small city divisions, 
1753and a 5.65 per cent increase for major urban divisions. 
1754 
1755These differences in funding partially recognize the special attention we are giving to the needs of rural 
1756areas. They also result from the fact that the urban tax base is growing rapidly in our cities at present thus 
1757providing urban school boards with more locally raised money for education spending. 
1758 
1759Our foundation grants system has worked very well. The previous Liberal government based its grants 
1760largely on the pupil-teacher ratio. Our foundation grants system provides the basic level of funding in 
1761relation to the number of students in the system. We have increased grants to school boards sufficiently 
1762during this period of declining enrolment to provide a much improved ratio of teachers to students, thus 
1763greatly enhancing the quality of our educational system. Indeed, had the old system of funding been 
1764maintained, as hon. members on the other side of the House have sometimes seemed to indicate that they 
1765would advocate, we would likely have more than 2,000 fewer teachers in Saskatchewan today compared to 
1766eight years ago. But, indeed, the facts today show that the number of teachers under our foundation grants 
1767system has remained constant and has grown slightly. 
1768 
1769I am convinced, Mr. Deputy Speaker, that our foundation grants system does an excellent job of preserving a 
1770high quality educational program for Saskatchewan students. 
1771 
1772A most pressing concern, in terms of educational funding, as we enter a new decade of change in our 
1773province, is the effect that declining enrolments could have on small 
1774
1775
1776
1777 
1778March 18, 1980 
1779 
1780
1781 
1782722 
1783
1784rural schools. School enrolments are declining in most jurisdictions in this province as the baby boom works 
1785its way past the higher grades. The total provincial enrolment dropped to 199,874 this year from 203,806 a 
1786year ago. But enrolments are declining much more rapidly in certain rural schools and this is giving rise to 
1787special concerns. 
1788 
1789The conventional wisdom says that when a school population gets so low that it becomes economically or 
1790educationally untenable, we should close that school and bus those students to another school. This 
1791particular wisdom breaks down when we are dealing with rural areas with some small high schools so far 
1792from another high school that busing is out of the question. Mr. Speaker, this government will not let the 
1793quality of education in our rural high schools suffer. I am therefore pleased to announce a new school 
1794payment that will be introduced this year. We have committed $1.5 million this year in special funding for 
1795school divisions facing special difficulties because of small schools. This, Mr. Speaker, is another 
1796Saskatchewan first, and it is an extension of our continuing commitment to support quality programs without 
1797creating inequitable local tax burdens. 
1798 
1799Turning to the specific grants to school boards, Mr. Speaker. Enrolment drop and sparsity factors combined 
1800will be maintained at the current level of $11.1 million providing for enrolment drop funding to urban boards 
1801at $1.4 million and enrolment drop and sparsity factor funding for rural boards of $9.7 million. The estimates 
1802provide $35.6 million for continuing support for rural student transportation — an increase of 11 per cent 
1803over last year, and nearly $0.5 million for urban transportation — and increase of 13.5 per cent. For special 
1804education services we are providing $18.3 million — an increase of 18.8 per cent over 1979-80. The 
1805conditional high-cost grant for severely handicapped students has increased by 10 per cent to a rate of $5.493 
1806per student. Since we have increased the number of students receiving this funding by more than 400 
1807students this year, our total spent in this area will increase by 38 per cent. Low-cost grants for mildly 
1808handicapped students, up nearly 9.2 per cent this year to a total of $10.5 million, will continue to be provided 
1809unconditionally. 
1810 
1811I am aware, Mr. Speaker, of a growing concern expressed by some school boards and public groups that all 
1812educational special funding should be made conditional upon the provision of specialized programs and 
1813services. My department will be giving serious study to this possibility during the year, and if it is 
1814determined that the conditional grant approach would be in the best interests of all handicapped students, it 
1815will be introduced in 1981 which is, by the way, the International Year of the Disabled person. The 
1816department will increase funding of second language programs to $1.31 million this year from $1.16 million 
1817last year, and will extend the second language grants program to include the teaching of English as a second 
1818language. 
1819 
1820You will recall, Mr. Speaker, that during the last sitting of this session this Assembly passed two bills 
1821respecting superannuation and insurance benefits for teachers. Under The Teachers’ Superannuation Act, a 
1822new annuity plan was created. The new fully funded plan consisting of matched contributions by teachers 
1823and the government, together with matching contributions to the existing teachers’ superannuation plan and 
1824the continuing provision of cost of living adjustments for pensions now being paid, will result in a 
1825government expenditure of $38.7 million in 1890-81. This is an increase of 56 per cent over 1979-80. Mr. 
1826Speaker, I am pleased to indicate that the Department of Education will extend $8.8 million in 1980-81 for 
1827capital construction by school boards. This figure represents a 20 per cent increase over last year’s capital 
1828grants total and will allow the construction of 34 high priority school projects. Mr. Speaker, I should point 
1829out that though this capital grant figure amounts to just 30 per cent of the 
1830
1831
1832
1833 
1834March 18, 1980 
1835
1836 
1837
1838 
1839723 
1840
1841total of the value of school construction and repairs to be undertaken in Saskatchewan this year, the 
1842provincial government does eventually assume about 90 per cent of the total costs, the further 60 per cent 
1843coming through the recognition of debt retirement expenditures by boards in future operational grants. 
1844 
1845Mr. Speaker, with regard to elementary and secondary education in Saskatchewan this year I have outlined 
1846major new initiatives in combating the difficulties of the urban poor, especially native people, experienced in 
1847our schools. I have announced a new funding program aimed at preserving the quality of education in small 
1848rural high schools. I sincerely believe, Mr. Speaker, that these and other initiatives are important and that 
1849they will make our educational system serve the people well in Saskatchewan as we move into a new decade. 
1850In the area of continuing education I am pleased to be able to inform members of this Assembly that a 
1851number of major new initiatives will be undertaken this year. We will be pursuing a greater integration of 
1852educational services to achieve maximum cost-efficiency and also to reach out and be more flexible in 
1853responding to people’s needs. And we will work toward the development of a co-ordinated yet diversified 
1854outreach or decentralized system for all types of education including vocational and job-related training. 
1855 
1856Saskatchewan is growing and developing rapidly. Training needs likewise are growing and developing 
1857rapidly. If we are to meet the challenge of development and give all people a chance to share equally in the 
1858bounty of a prosperous Saskatchewan in the 1980s and beyond, we must concentrate on taking more 
1859educational services to people where they work and live, whatever their age and background. This will mean 
1860taking these services to some people who have not been as well served as they might to date: rural people 
1861distant from institutions of learning, working men and women who cannot take two years off their work, for 
1862instance, to move to Regina or Saskatoon or Moose Jaw to study, and native people whose economic and 
1863social circumstances have not encouraged them to become involved in the educational process. 
1864 
1865If people are to control their own destinies they must have access to learning opportunities throughout their 
1866lives. The issue of accessibility must be central to our planning. In the field of adult education barriers 
1867associated with poverty, race, sex and rural living must be broken down. We have to consider access in its 
1868full sense. Also flexibility must be expanded to allow the system to truly serve people. This includes 
1869flexibility of programming, scheduling, design and criteria for participation. 
1870 
1871Mr. Speaker, this fiscal year the Department of Continuing Education will pursue the development of two 
1872new approaches to training needs, first, a new system of outreach vocational training and education and 
1873second, a flexible new modular approach to many vocational training programs. In addition, the Department 
1874of Continuing Education will develop and implement a number of specific new training programs with an 
1875emphasis on utilizing these approaches. These will include a new native job training and employment 
1876program, a new day care worker training program, a new home care training program, a new emergency 
1877medical technician program, a new special care aide training program, development and expansion of 
1878existing office education programs and a new telecommunications technician program. As the Minister of 
1879Finance says, it is a tremendous budget. 
1880 
1881The emphasis on outreach and decentralization in no way detracts from the need for continued improvement 
1882in our technical institutes and universities. Thus, we will be embarking on a $5 million expansion program at 
1883STI (Saskatchewan Technical Institute) at Moose Jaw (much to the pleasure of the member for Moose Jaw 
1884North), a 
1885
1886
1887
1888 
1889March 18, 1980 
1890 
1891
1892 
1893724 
1894
1895$17 million capital program at our universities and an increase in operating grants for our universities which 
1896is the highest of any announced increase in Canada to date. 
1897 
1898Let me now turn, Mr. Speaker, to the new native job training and employment program. I’ve already 
1899described new programs in elementary and secondary education aimed at overcoming some of the cultural 
1900and economic barriers to education faced by urban poor and especially native children. But the social and 
1901economic plight of our urban poor and native people requires an integrated approach by all agencies and 
1902groups of people involved. This 1980-81 budget contains support for a comprehensive program of native job 
1903training and employment. 
1904 
1905AN HON. MEMBER: — Where? 
1906 
1907MR. McARTHUR: — In the estimates, if the hon. member will take time to study his estimates and see 
1908what is there he will find there are programs there. When estimates are considered in detail I will be pleased 
1909to explain where they are located. Mr. Speaker, the hon. members are not favourable to working on these 
1910kinds of programs, but we are committed to this kind of programming. It is difficult; it is hard; but it is 
1911important. 
1912 
1913In implementing this determined program to overcome problems of native poverty, lack of training and 
1914unemployment, this government is going to use a sensible approach, involving the full participation of 
1915employers, native organizations, native people, unions and all interested parties. Far too many Saskatchewan 
1916native people face a severe crisis of poverty, unemployment and underemployment. The average 
1917province-wide rate of native unemployment is reported by some studies to approach 50 per cent, this in a 
1918province with an unemployment rate among the lowest in the country. We must address this problem. 
1919 
1920In this regard three things are worth noting: 
1921 
19221. Absolute rates of unemployment are high and where employment exists, it is too often short term, unstable 
1923and low paying. 
1924 
19252. Clearly there are educational and racial barriers in terms of access to the job market. 
1926 
19273. There is not enough co-ordinated effort today, involving governments, employers, native people and 
1928unions which includes recruitment, placement, training and other supports required to develop an effective 
1929employment program. 
1930 
1931Mr. Speaker, we are proposing to deal with this situation through a phased developmental approach with the 
1932following characteristics. 
1933 
19341. It will have a real effect on the development of working skills and job acquisition by native people. 
1935 
19362. It will involve the native community itself in both the planning and operating of the program. 
1937 
19383. It will ensure the full participation of those who currently offer the jobs in Saskatchewan’s economy, with 
1939emphasis on both the public sector of Crown corporations, government departments and the private sector. 
1940
1941
1942
1943 
1944March 18, 1980 
1945
1946 
1947
1948 
1949725 
1950
1951Through my Department of Continuing Education the province will implement the native training and job 
1952placement program in 1980-81, with the prime focus on Crown corporations and the private sector. We are 
1953proposing that the program include three components. 
1954 
19551. A native-operated recruitment or intake service, having store-front offices in the three cities of Regina, 
1956Saskatoon and Prince Albert; 
1957 
19582. Training services which will work closely with employers in identifying jobs, the skills needed to perform 
1959those jobs and the development of those specific skills; 
1960 
19613. A special commission which will serve a co-ordinating role over the program, including securing the 
1962participation of employers, unions, native groups and government officials. 
1963 
1964Nothing with respect to this program is finally settled, Mr. Speaker. I want the Assembly to know that. We 
1965are committed to full and complete consultation with native people in developing these programs. As late as 
1966yesterday, Mr. Speaker . . . 
1967 
1968MR. ROUSSEAU: — When are you going to start? 
1969 
1970MR. McARTHUR: — . . . if the hon. member for Regina South would care to listen, there have been 
1971numerous consultations with native organizations. As late as yesterday I met with the Association of Metis 
1972and Non-Status Indians of Saskatchewan and we have agreed to co-operative procedures to further develop 
1973this program. Our objective in this program, Mr. Speaker, is nothing short of ensuring a well-trained and 
1974fully employed work force with the full co-operation and commitment of all involved. I will be the first to 
1975admit this is an ambitious goal and a difficult goal. But it is one we must strive for if we are going to follow 
1976through with our commitment to a society of real, equal opportunities for all of our citizens. 
1977 
1978The role of education in training and social development is critical, Mr. Speaker, and the native job training 
1979and employment program will be an important new venture within this framework regardless of what the 
1980hon. members feel about this kind of programming. 
1981 
1982Mr. Speaker, recently I had occasion to announce initial funding for the development of the Gabriel Dumont 
1983Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research. This institute, the structure of which is being developed by 
1984the Association of Metis and Non-Status Indians with a $51,000 start-up grant, will receive further operating 
1985support this year. It is a further link in the comprehensive set of programs through which we hope to help 
1986overcome many of the social problems currently facing the urban poor and native people. 
1987 
1988Mr. Speaker, I would now like to turn to our new vocational outreach training approach. I have been 
1989emphasizing the need for more accessibility and more equality of opportunity with respect to our education 
1990programs in general. In the area of vocational education and training in our province I intend immediately to 
1991develop new approaches to meet these needs. One result this year will be the study and development of a 
1992new vocational outreach program which will result in a whole new approach to take training to people. I am 
1993pleased to report our estimates allocate $60,000 to carry out development and implementation work. 
1994
1995
1996
1997 
1998March 18, 1980 
1999 
2000
2001 
2002726 
2003
2004If we are to open up access and meet rapidly growing needs we must shape our educational services to the 
2005educational needs of those people who are less mobile than the traditional 18 to 24 year old group but who 
2006are likely to be called upon to train or retrain during the coming decade. Because of age, family 
2007responsibilities or many other factors, the target group tends to be less able to move to centralized 
2008institutional-based centres. With an outreach approach, Mr. Speaker, distance need no longer be a barrier to 
2009vocational training. This is an important new development, Mr. Speaker. If we can take education to the 
2010people in this critical field of vocational training with the specialized teaching resources and sometimes 
2011specialized equipment, then I can see no reason why we cannot generalize the outreach principle to most 
2012areas of education in Saskatchewan. 
2013 
2014Hand in hand with the outreach program will go a stepped up emphasis on the modular approach to 
2015vocational training. These two trends are complementary. Where the outreach program takes the educational 
2016services to the communities and the people, the modular approach goes further and presents the vocational 
2017training in smaller working packages. This can provide working adults with the training they might need 
2018right in their communities without requiring them to enroll in full-time programming which may run for 
2019weeks or months in an urban centre. 
2020 
2021To respond to the dramatically growing needs for day care services in the province caused by society’s 
2022changing pattern of work, home and family, my department will develop and implement a new day care 
2023worker training program. This program will help us to develop well-qualified staff members to operate the 
2024growing number of day care centres in this province. This should result in a superior quality of service and a 
2025greater stability of day care staff. To achieve the same, we will put into place a new two-year program. The 
2026program will be developed in close consultation with an advisory committee including representatives of day 
2027care centres, the Department of Social Services day care division, former instructors of the current 40-hour 
2028training program and a variety of child development specialists. 
2029 
2030In addition, Mr. Speaker, in response to needs identified by the Department of Social Services, my 
2031department will establish a visiting homemaker training program this year. Similarly, in answer to requests 
2032from special-care homes and level IV care facilities in the province, we will be establishing a new, 
2033special-care aide training program. 
2034 
2035Another new training program which has been introduced to meet a foreseen need in the community is the 
2036recently announced emergency medical technician program at the Wascana Institute of Applied Arts and 
2037Sciences. We will fill a current gap in the provision of office education programs in Saskatoon by 
2038establishing a new one-year secretarial and typist program at Kelsey Institute. 
2039 
2040In addition, Mr. Speaker, in response to the provincial telecommunications industry’s real need for 
2041sufficiently trained technicians, my department will introduce a telecommunications technicians’ program 
2042with the capacity of 30 students at Wascana Institute this September. 
2043 
2044Mr. Speaker, I’m also extremely pleased to inform this Assembly that I will allocate a substantial increase to 
2045financial assistance for post-secondary students this year. This means that we are targeting to spend $7.1 
2046million for student assistance. Mr. Speaker, the hon. member will well understand that the people of 
2047Saskatchewan understand what this government is all about when they hear these kinds of programs and the 
2048kinds 
2049
2050
2051
2052 
2053March 18, 1980 
2054
2055 
2056
2057 
2058727 
2059
2060of things we are doing within a well-managed, well-balanced budget. 
2061 
2062Mr. Speaker, we are targeting to spend $7.1 million for student assistance this year. Only $4.2 million of this 
2063will be for Saskatchewan student bursaries not requiring repayment under the federal-provincial student aide 
2064program. This compares to about $3 million this fiscal year. Though the consolidated fund contribution to 
2065the ongoing student assistance fund will be down a bit this year from last, the fund has healthy reserves and 
2066thus will be able to finance increased assistance by adding substantial accumulated interest earned to the 
2067allocation from the consolidated fund. The increase from current student assistance levels will be made 
2068possible by changing some of the allowances for assistance and by encouraging more participation. But even 
2069while we increase our support to the student assistance program, I am aware that there are shortcomings in 
2070the federal-provincial system governing student assistance. In this regard, I am pleased to report success in 
2071initiating a review of the Canada Student Loan Plan by a task force set up jointly by the Council of Ministers 
2072of Education, Canada, and the federal Secretary of State. This task force will look into problems encountered 
2073by students such as student debt load and limitations on access to student assistance as well as other topics. 
2074 
2075Mr. Speaker, we will continue to grant many proficiency awards, language bursaries, teacher education 
2076bursaries, as well as scholarship and fellowships. I am also pleased to inform the Assembly of a new $1,000 
2077award, the Edward Schreyer Multicultural Scholarship which will be awarded . . . 
2078 
2079SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
2080 
2081MR. McARTHUR: — . . . to each of two full-time graduate students at either university studying history, 
2082arts, archaeology, or anthropology of a Saskatchewan ethnic group. 
2083 
2084Mr. Speaker, I would now like to outline the specific allocations provided for in this year’s provincial budget 
2085for the various institutional components of Saskatchewan’s continuing education system. I am pleased to 
2086indicate, Mr. Speaker, our allocation to the community college sector for 1980-81 will be $5.5 million. This 
2087represent a 7 per cent increase over the current year. 
2088 
2089Mr. Speaker, in the 1980-81 year, our allocation for the three technical institutes for operations will be $25.5 
2090million. This represents an increase of approximately 10 per cent. Mr. Speaker, the three provincially funded 
2091federated colleges will receive an increase of 8.5 per cent in operating grants in the government’s 1980-81 
2092fiscal year. St. Thomas Moore College, located on the campus of the University of Saskatchewan in 
2093Saskatoon, will receive $1.1 million. Campion College, on the campus of the University of Regina, will 
2094receive $782,000. Luther College, also on the campus of the University of Regina, will receive $396,000 — 
20958.5 per cent up, the highest increase of any college of this sort, anywhere in Canada. 
2096 
2097I would like to turn now to the universities, the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina. 
2098The hon. members know the Saskatchewan Universities Commission was established to rationalize planning 
2099and co-ordinate development of the university sector while protecting the autonomy of our universities. The 
2100commission is the liaison between the government and each university, and at the same time maintains a 
2101proper distance between them. Part of the commission’s job is to make specific allocations to the University 
2102of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan out of the total operating grant and the total capital 
2103construction grant 
2104
2105
2106
2107 
2108March 18, 1980 
2109 
2110
2111 
2112728 
2113
2114provided by our government. But that should not be too difficult a task this year, Mr. Speaker, since both of 
2115our universities deserve and will get from this government, a strong vote of support. 
2116 
2117For the next fiscal years, our estimates will provide the two universities with an operating grant of $90 
2118million. On the basis of the government’s fiscal year, that represents an increase of 8.5 per cent which 
2119translates into an 8.9 per cent increase for the university fiscal year. That is the highest announced rate of 
2120increase to date for any province in Canada. The hon. member for Regina South should compare this 
2121increase to Ontario’s announced increase, after years of squeezing of an operating grant for the next year of 
21227.2 per cent for universities. 
2123 
2124AN HON. MEMBER: — What kind of government is that? 
2125 
2126MR. McARTHUR: — A Tory government. That indicates the kids of commitments of Tory governments to 
2127university education compared to this government’s commitment. And there is more, Mr. Speaker. I am 
2128pleased to report to the hon. members, and I hope the hon. members opposite will listen and compare this to 
2129their Tory counterparts, the 1980-81 capital construction grant to our universities will total $17 million, the 
2130highest by far of any capital grant ever granted to universities in Saskatchewan. Of this year’s construction 
2131grant, $7 million is for continued construction of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, 
2132an indication of our continuing commitment to the agricultural industry and the farmers of this province. 
2133This expansion will allow for an annual intake of 70 students per year, up from the present capacity of 50 
2134students, and it will provide for much needed classroom and clinical space. 
2135 
2136Another $6 million is to be committed to the continued construction of the engineering building at the 
2137University of Saskatchewan. Needless to say, this project will greatly enhance the teaching and research 
2138facilities of the university, adding much things as a soundproof chamber for applied and fundamental 
2139research and a high-voltage testing laboratory. 
2140 
2141Mr. Speaker, the total of $13 million allocated to these two major projects will be appropriated from the 
2142heritage fund. Another $3.5 million has been allocated from the consolidated fund for capital construction at 
2143our universities. A major portion of this will be spent on renovations. Following the Canada-wide trend, 
2144enrolments at our two universities are projected to decline by about 2 per cent over the next university year. 
2145But our continued solid funding of these two institutions demonstrates our belief that our universities are an 
2146important investment in our future. With that I conclude my outline to this Assembly of plans for the 1980s 
2147and initiatives during this fiscal year. Mr. Speaker, I wish to end my address this afternoon by saying I 
2148believe we have a tremendously good system of education here in Saskatchewan. 
2149 
2150SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
2151 
2152MR. McARTHUR: — Indeed, Mr. Speaker, I firmly believe it is the best in Canada . . . there are at least 
2153two hon. members opposite who want to listen to what I’m going to say here . . . and that, Mr. Speaker, is a 
2154tribute to the leadership and the hard work of teachers, educators, trustees and government over many years 
2155in this province. All of those people have made a strong and effective contribution to building what is clearly 
2156the best education system that exists anywhere in Canada. I have indicated, Mr. Speaker, without intending 
2157to criticize anyone that I believe many improvements are 
2158
2159
2160
2161 
2162March 18, 1980 
2163
2164 
2165
2166 
2167729 
2168
2169still possible. That is the way it should be, Mr. Speaker. Our work will never be completed until each and 
2170every citizen of Saskatchewan has available a full range of high quality educational opportunities suited to 
2171his or her particular needs. That of course is Utopian, but we must never cease to strive for that kind of 
2172Utopian goal. Only with that kind of target will we continue to strive to reach the highest standards of 
2173excellence. Education is too important and we cannot afford to strive for less. 
2174 
2175SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
2176 
2177
2178MOTION 
2179 
2180
2181By-law of Professional Societies 
2182 
2183HON. R.J. ROMANOW (Attorney General): — Mr. Speaker, before the orders of the day, I move, 
2184seconded by the hon. member for Regina Centre, by leave of the Assembly 
2185 
2186
2187That the by-laws of the professional societies and amendments thereto tabled after March 6, 1979 as 
2188addenda to the sessional paper number 3, 1979, and the by-laws tabled the sessional paper number 7, 
21891979-80 plus addenda tabled to date be referred to the special committee on regulations. 
2190
2191 
2192Motion agreed. 
2193 
2194
2195Budget debate continues 
2196 
2197MR. H.J. SWAN (Rosetown-Elrose): — Mr. Speaker, I am pleased this afternoon to have the opportunity 
2198of entering into this budget debate. I’ve listened to a lot of statements made in the last year and some today. I 
2199wait and watch in vain for the action that’s to follow the statements but it just doesn’t seem to come through. 
2200There are promises but very little more than that. 
2201 
2202It becomes very evident to me that the arrogance of this government is starting to be felt out in the country 
2203and the people out in the country are concerned. They’re starting to register that concern and they’re 
2204registering it all over. They’re listening to what you’re saying but they don’t believe it anymore and I can 
2205certainly understand why. 
2206 
2207A good example of the things that I’m concerned about is the $2.5 billion investment that you’re proposing 
2208in the potash expansion. Yes, it sounds great. But when this government goes out and promises a $2.5 billion 
2209expansion in the potash industry without ever bringing that to the legislature, then I think the function of this 
2210legislature is being by-passed. Watch, come this summer after the session is closed . . . the big blow is made 
2211that we’re going to spend $2.5 billion. In the wintertime, six, eight months later, it comes to the legislature to 
2212form another Crown corporation to deal with this issue. 
2213 
2214I don’t believe, Mr. Speaker, that that’s the way government should operate. Government should bring its 
2215proposals before the legislature for approval before it makes its announcement. 
2216 
2217And, Mr. Attorney General, I have a comment for you. You know, you called this legislature into session and 
2218on Monday we came in prepared to go to work. What does your government do? They only have enough 
2219business to last for an hour and a half and 
2220
2221
2222
2223 
2224March 18, 1980 
2225 
2226
2227 
2228730 
2229
2230the Attorney General adjourns the session. I just don’t quite believe that the people of the province 
2231appreciate that . . . (inaudible interjection) . . . That could be but if you had enough business we’d have been 
2232here all day . . . (inaudible interjection) . . . 
2233 
2234MR. SPEAKER: — Order, order! I wonder if we can just allow the member for Rosetown-Elrose to make 
2235his remarks and perhaps if we have something to add, we can add it afterwards at an appropriate time. 
2236 
2237MR. SWAN: — I’d like to raise another point . . . (inaudible interjection) . . . I guess he didn’t hear Mr. 
2238Speaker ask for order, did he? I’d just like to raise another point to substantiate my claim that this 
2239government has no respect for the legislature. 
2240 
2241Last summer, shortly after the legislature adjourned, this government entered into an agreement to purchase 
22421,000 hopper cars at a cost of some $55 million. Now we see, coming before the legislature, the bill that will 
2243form this into another Crown corporation. You know, it’s an after the fact issue. We don’t object to 
2244purchasing hopper cars but we object to the method that you used to purchase hopper cars. I believe that 
2245someday you’re going to have to start to deal here in the House instead of behind our backs. 
2246 
2247I believe that any government that is operating in good faith, would have brought that issue before this 
2248legislature and had it debated before it was proceeded with. No, we haven’t seen very many major 
2249expenditures in the agricultural field for quite awhile. This is the major expenditure for agriculture in the last 
2250number of years. And then to have the Minister of Agriculture do it behind the backs of the public and out of 
2251the legislature is something we can’t forgive him. The agriculture industry still generates the most revenue of 
2252any industry in this province. I believe it deserves more care and more attention from this government than it 
2253has been receiving. 
2254 
2255I was completely amazed when I read the Minister of Agriculture’s statement that Saskatchewan should turn 
2256to a straight grain industry in the agricultural field. I believe that the Minister of Agriculture, perhaps in his 
2257own operation as a farmer, proved he didn’t know how to raise livestock and he didn’t know how to farm so 
2258he went into politics. If he had stayed with farming he’d likely be broke. I can tell you that this province has 
2259some of the best land for grazing of any province in Canada. The livestock industry could be a good and a 
2260viable industry if this government had a little foresight. When we take a Minister of Agriculture who has 
2261very little vision and we see him crawling into his shell and pulling his shell in after him, then indeed we do 
2262have an industry that’s on shaky ground. 
2263 
2264SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
2265 
2266MR. SWAN: — We talked about having a pasture allocation that would meet the needs of Saskatchewan 
2267people. They were telling you just yesterday and some of you didn’t agree, that there are pastures in this 
2268province not being fully utilized and it’s fact. Those pastures are not being utilized because of the 
2269agricultural policies you have implemented in this province. You gave FarmStart loans to young people, 
2270encouraging them to get into the livestock business, then you take your pasture allocation and you tie it to a 
2271person having $15,000 assessment or less. Those are the only people you are allowing to put cattle into your 
2272pastures. As the land assessment increased you forgot to adjust your policy. It immediately affected many of 
2273the same young people you gave FarmStart loans to and they have had to go out of the livestock business. 
2274Let me tell you, when we look at the FarmStart program this year, we see about $2.5 million being 
2275
2276
2277
2278 
2279March 18, 1980 
2280
2281 
2282
2283 
2284731 
2285
2286spent to cover the FarmStart loans that have gone bad. Yes, $2.5 million are being spent to cover the 
2287FarmStart loans of the farmers who have gone broke and had to get out of the business — indeed a very poor 
2288record for this government. 
2289 
2290I have listened, as well, with interest as the Premier of this province went around the country extolling the 
2291virtues of the NDP government of Ed Broadbent. He spoke of all the great things that Broadbent could do for 
2292people. Most of us haven’t seen any of them. When we come back to this province and we hear the 
2293statements that NDP government is good government and Saskatchewan is a wealthy province, and then we 
2294see time after time the costs of operation of our province are turned back to the taxpayers of our province, it 
2295starts to make me wonder, are we indeed a wealthy province, or is it again just a statement that is not going 
2296to be followed through with dollars? 
2297 
2298I’d like to outline for you some of the things that don’t look quite as rosy in this province as the Premier has 
2299been trying to paint them. Let me give you some examples of just how rosy it is when we touch the area of 
2300education — and the minister has just given a glowing speech on education. The Rosetown school system in 
23011979 got a decrease in its grants of $46,000. They had to increase their mill rate by 9 mills. It doesn’t sound 
2302like a very profitable thing to me. The Eston-Elrose School Division, also in my district, had a $61,000 drop 
2303in their grant, and again, a huge mill increase to cover the cost of educational operation. The Outlook School 
2304Division has fared a little better and they did get a grant increase, but again, not enough to cover costs and 
2305they had to increase by 5 mills. This just doesn’t sound like a province that’s wealthy; it sounds like a 
2306province that’s on the downhill slope. 
2307 
2308And if I were to go on and go around to each of the municipalities in my constituency, and I haven’t touched 
2309them all, but I have a good sampling . . . Every municipality I contacted increased the mill rates from 5 mills 
2310to 9 mills in the last year — more and more taxes reverting back to the local taxpayer. When I talk to the 
2311people operating the small hospitals in our district, every one of them without fail has had to increase the 
2312mill rate in order to operate their hospitals. You talk about a good record. It doesn’t sound good from this 
2313side of the House. 
2314 
2315This year the provincial debt is going to be very close to $3 billion. Most of that money is being borrowed on 
2316the money markets in New York and is repayable in American dollars, plus interest, and the interest will also 
2317have to be calculated in American dollars. I believe as long as we’re going in that direction, we’re not going 
2318to be a wealthy province. We’re going to be a province slipping backward. Today the province of 
2319Saskatchewan is paying excess of $270 million on interest alone before it even begins to start to repay the 
2320debt of the province. 
2321 
2322I believe this government has spent beyond its ability for a number of years and is continuing to do so. If 
2323they proceed with the $2.5 billion expansion in potash, that you are speaking of, it is not going to be a 
2324profitable area for many, many years. It’s going to take literally longer than your lifetime or mine before 
2325we’re going to see that real profit coming back out of the potash corporation. I don’t believe a province can 
2326operate any differently than any other business. A province has to pay its way. We’re not paying our way but 
2327rather we’re going to leave a heritage of debt for the young people who come to take our place. I believe that 
2328as we live in this province, we should pay out own way and we should leave the province in good financial 
2329position for the generation to come. 
2330 
2331When we look at the utility rate, it was mentioned yesterday that in your budget a year 
2332
2333
2334
2335 
2336March 18, 1980 
2337 
2338
2339 
2340732 
2341
2342ago you promised us utilities would not increase beyond 7.5 per cent, again, a promise that was broken. 
2343Instead of 7.5 per cent you increased it by a full 15.5 per cent, more than double what you had promised to 
2344the people of this province. This doesn’t sound like a government that’s in good financial shape. If they were 
2345in good financial position they would not increase in this form. 
2346 
2347I enjoyed the comments being made about the government insurance rates this afternoon by your member. 
2348He was telling us about how good the rates were. If you look at the rates as he is looking at them, through 
2349rosy glasses, yes, perhaps they look fairly good. But you did not include, when you were saying that we had a 
2350good rate, the 5 cents on every gallon of gasoline that goes in to pay the cost of government insurance. You 
2351didn’t include the $4 million that comes straight from the treasury across to government insurance. These 
2352items soon change the picture and instead of being one of the more beneficial provinces we find that our rate 
2353is indeed more than it is in other provinces. I think it is time that you start to include all of the costs and not 
2354just a portion when you’re giving these rates. 
2355 
2356When you spoke of telephone rates in our province and how good they were, and you compared in your 
2357‘NDP government is good government’ booklet with the city of Edmonton, you didn’t compare to the 
2358province of Alberta but you compared only to the city of Edmonton. Now the people in Edmonton without 
2359paying any long distance calls have access to something in excess of half-a-million people. In the province of 
2360Saskatchewan you don’t get very many blocks away from home before you start to pay long distance calls. If 
2361you had compared to the whole province of Alberta, including the city of Edmonton, the province of Alberta 
2362has a beneficial rate compared to this province. They are in a much better position. You know, I think you 
2363should start to take a look around you. You get in your little offices and you forget to look outside and 
2364realize that people outside are doing better than we’re doing in this province. I enjoy, very much, travelling 
2365in Alberta and getting into the company of a number of other Conservative people who have a bit of 
2366foresight. It’s a nice change from being around and associating with some of the people on the opposite side. 
2367 
2368Today this province has an income tax rate of 53 per cent, that is a very high rate indeed. The province of 
2369Alberta is at 38.5 per cent; British Columbia is at 43 per cent; Manitoba is 1 per cent above us at 54 per cent; 
2370Ontario is at 44 per cent. Now, I start to look at these rates and I think it is time that you start taking a look at 
2371what is happening in our province. One of my close neighbours moved to Alberta just before Christmas, 
2372found employment in Alberta . . . (inaudible interjection) . . . No, it was a young girl who didn’t have 
2373anything to buy for your information. She moved to Alberta; she had her income tax prepared in the province 
2374of Saskatchewan and the man told her she should use Alberta rates because she is now a resident of Alberta. 
2375She experienced a net saving of a little over $500 on her income tax. Kind of nice for young people, $500 
2376can mean quite a bit to them. This is just one of the other reasons why young people leave Saskatchewan. 
2377There are many other things I could explain to you but I don’t know if you would understand. 
2378 
2379I would just like to mention the sales tax. That 5 per cent sales tax which is being charged in this province 
2380goes a long way towards paying the costs of many of the things you are introducing, that you count so great 
2381in this province. Alberta doesn’t charge that 5 per cent rate and yet it provides good opportunities for its 
2382residents and I believe it is time that this government started looking at some of these items and providing 
2383better opportunities in our province to encourage people to stay here. 
2384
2385
2386
2387 
2388March 18, 1980 
2389
2390 
2391
2392 
2393733 
2394
2395Mr. Speaker, I would like to touch on a few other areas. I would like to speak briefly on the active campaign 
2396that Premier Blakeney went out on, and encouraged people to vote for Mr. Broadbent. 
2397 
2398SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! 
2399 
2400MR. SWAN: — I think people knew when they were voting that they were indeed voting for a majority 
2401Liberal government by voting for Broadbent. I think that when the Premier supported Mr. Broadbent, he 
2402must have supported his programs — he should start to back up some of those programs. He’s in power here 
2403in this province and I think he should provide some relief for the high interest rates that are being charged in 
2404this province for small business and for farm people . . . (inaudible interjection) . . . Yes, I supported Joe 
2405Clark and I supported him proudly. He did a good job while he was there. Oh, don’t worry about it, it will be 
2406costing a lot more than that by next time around. 
2407
2408 
2409I’d like to refer to a few items out of this year’s budget. I listened with interest as the Minister of Finance 
2410delivered his budget address. I watched as the government members thumped their desks and cheered 
2411different announcements being made by the Minister of Finance. I wonder if many of you understood what 
2412he was saying. You know, this budget shows a total increase of approximately 8 per cent. When you take an 
24138 per cent increase on a year when inflation has exceeded 9 per cent by quite a bit, then really you haven’t 
2414come up with any increase for most programs in the province. It doesn’t keep pace with inflation. It doesn’t 
2415provide very much in any area that people are going to be able to say, yes, we’ve gained. It’s really a 
2416hold-the-line budget, a budget that has provided very few new opportunities for Saskatchewan citizens. 
2417 
2418You know when we look at education this afternoon, the minister is talking about a 20 per cent increase in 
2419the capital portion of the education budget — sounds great, 20 per cent. What he didn’t tell you was that the 
2420budget for the capital expenditures of education dropped from $11 million to down around $7.3 million, and 
2421then this time you have just brought them back 20 per cent. This is still about $3 million below what if was 
2422three years ago. So it’s no great increase; it’s a cutback. I think there are areas where you spend too much but 
2423there are many areas where you spend too little. It’s your priorities that are not straight. 
2424 
2425I looked as well as the Minister of Finance gave his great address on the budget, and he referred to the senior 
2426citizens’ school tax rebate. I was our around the province through the summer and through the fall and 
2427through the election campaign and I talked to a lot of senior citizens. Those senior citizens tell me they feel 
2428completely deceived by your government. At the time of the election you promised you were going to return 
2429to them the education portion of their property tax but you didn’t tell them you were going to take away their 
2430property improvement grant first and just return to them the difference. Most of those senior citizens 
2431received a mere $50 increase and they feel betrayed. You can ask them. They feel completely betrayed. 
2432 
2433MR. SPEAKER: — Order, order. It being 5 o’clock I will leave the chair until 7 o’clock this evening. 
2434 
2435The Assembly recessed until 7 p.m.