Hansard Shows the Leader of the Opposition of That Day

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SASKATCHEWAN First Session — Eighteenth Legislature 32nd Day Thursday, January 8, 1976 The Assembly met at 10:00 o'clock a.m. On the Orders of the Day QUESTIONS 1976 PRICES OF FERTILIZER MR. R.A. LARTER (Estevan): — Mr. Speaker, the Minister in charge of potash is not here so I will direct my question to the Attorney General. Is the Attorney General aware that the 1976 prices of fertilizer are now being quoted in the USA? HON. R. ROMANOW (Attorney General): — Well, Mr. Speaker, I am generally aware of them, I can put it in that term. What is the first supplementary? MR. LARTER: — First supplementary, Mr. Speaker, 20-20-0 fertilizer will sell this year in the United States at the prices now being quoted at $85 a ton; 26-14-0 is $95 a ton, approximately one-half the price of 1975 prices. My question is: with the sudden drop in fertilizer prices, which is made up mostly of Saskatchewan potash does not the Minister feel a little concern with such fluctuations in prices that nationalization at this time is a risky venture? MR. ROMANOW: — No, Mr. Speaker, the Government does not believe that nationalization is a risky venture for that reason or that set of reasons that are implied in the question. The marketing of potash and the price of potash will, like in a lot of commodities, have occasional downswings and occasional upswings. From the best observations and studies by the Government on this matter, the price for potash in the long run will continue its upward climb and we believe that the future for the price of Saskatchewan potash will continue to be generally very bright. To remind the Member that the prices for 1974 and part of 1975 were at an all time high and it may be only natural that the price per ton will decrease. But to answer the Member's question, no, that does not cause concern with respect to the nationalization move. MR. LARTER: — A second supplementary, Mr. Speaker, when I was entering business, a fellow going into business, Mr. Attorney General, that you kind of look for a couple of good years when you are first starting off and I think that we are really starting off bad here. All the fertilizer suppliers in the United States are stocked right to the ears with fertilizers and I literally mean that because it has been proven in the last few days. Therefore, will the Minister and his Government now withdraw this Bill or call a general election. SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! MR. ROMANOW: — Mr. Speaker, I would again answer the Hon. Member that 1767 January 8, 1976 there is no intention on the part of the Government to withdraw this Bill. I will say, if I can, in answering the question that I realize the Opposition's game. If there is any new angle that can be prefaced by the previous question, will the Bill be withdrawn it will be thought of and will be asked. The fact is that even in the advertising by the potash producers during the course of this debate that has been going on in the Province of Saskatchewan, they admit the need for expansion. They admit the potential continued growth of the potash product. There will be the ups and the downs but the overall curve will continue to go upwards. That is I think common ground by all the potash producers and by the Government and I think everybody even in this House. What the Hon. Member is pointing to is what may be a temporary low which we have experienced in the past and will experience in the future, that the private industry would experience whether it was nationalized or not nationalized. The question is whether or not, in the long run (depending on your definition of that) this is a move which is to the advantage and the interest of all the province and all the people in Saskatchewan. And for that I think the answer is, Yes. SOME HON. MEMBERS: — Hear, hear! MR. SPEAKER: — I don't think the Minister is answering the question, will you withdraw the Bill. I think you were enlarging on it to the extent that it was becoming a debate. I think that the questioner is also out of order in placing this question because he was giving far more information than was necessary when in fact he should be seeking information. SCHOOL GRANTS MR. G.H. PENNER (Saskatoon Eastview): — Mr. Speaker, I had occasion last night to note the third page in the Leader-Post and I note, for example, that property tax rate increases are expected in Yorkton and Swift Current and Weyburn and I suppose that the same situation is likely to be the case in other centres. I am relatively familiar with Saskatoon. It's going to happen with school units. I was going to direct a question to the Minister of Education, Mr. Speaker. I notice that he is not here. There are only four Members of the Cabinet present this morning and I will direct it to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and ask: have discussions begun with local government people as yet with regard to grants for 1976? HON. G. MacMURCHY (Minister of Municipal Affairs): — I have had discussions with SUMA and SARM. MR. PENNER: — I guess then the answer in terms of specific local governments would be no, Mr. Speaker, at least that's the way I take it. I wonder if the Minister could give us any indication of any changes in the grant structure which might occur in 1976 to assist local governments which are going to have a very difficult time meeting their financial commitments? MR. MacMURCHY: — Mr. Speaker, grants to both the boards of education and school units and to municipal governments whether it be municipal or urban will be announced when the Budget comes down. 1768 January 8, 1976 MR. PENNER: — A second supplementary, then, Mr. Speaker, if we might ask, when this is likely to take place? The Minister says when the Budget comes down. There are many very anxious local government people who are concerned about when they are going to get this kind of information. I wonder too, Mr. Speaker, if the Minister might like to comment about how the Government intends to assist financially starved local governments during an inflationary time, when at the same time they are prepared to go out and spend hundreds of millions of dollars in potash and oil and whatever? MR. MacMURCHY: — Mr. Speaker, I am sorry that the Member for Saskatoon doesn't listen. I indicated to him that we would announce our grant program to municipal governments whether it be education or municipal government, when the Budget comes down. We are well aware as he well knows, that mill rates have to be struck by school units about April 1st. We will have the Budget prior to that time, in time for boards to meet and set mill rates. MEETING IN CREIGHTON MR. R.L. COLLVER (Leader of the Progressive Conservatives): — Mr. Speaker, before the Orders of the Day I should like to direct a question to the Premier but in his absence I will direct it to the Attorney General. Has a meeting been scheduled by the Premier and/or the Minister for Northern Saskatchewan, who also is not in his chair this morning, for January 17th in Creighton? And if so, what is the purpose of this meeting? MR. ROMANOW: — Mr. Speaker, I will have to take notice of that question. I do not know what the agenda of the Premier and the Minister for Northern Saskatchewan is on that time. I will take note of it and give the Member the answer tomorrow. MANY ISLANDS PIPELINE MR. E.F.A. MERCHANT (Regina Wascana): — Mr. Speaker, I note that the Minister in charge of Sask Power isn't in the House and I am not particularly critical of that because he is a reasonable attender although I note that very few of the Cabinet Ministers have bothered to show, much less the backbenchers. Perhaps I could again direct a question to the Hon. the Attorney General. It is a matter of such seriousness that I assume it has come up in Cabinet. Would the Minister confirm that Many Islands Pipeline, the Sask Power vehicle for exploration in the creation of jobs in Alberta, has applied for a pipeline from the Saddle Lake gas field in Alberta to the central part of Saskatchewan so that we will have a second pipeline as well as the TransCanada? Would the Minister indicate the progress of that application and perhaps the payout? I think that the people are interested in why this pipeline is going ahead for perpetual dependence upon Alberta gas. MR. ROMANOW: — Mr. Speaker, I will take notice of that question. 1769 January 8, 1976 FEMALE APPOINTMENTS TO SENIOR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS MR. J.G. LANE (Lumsden): — Mr. Speaker, before the Orders of the Day I should like to direct a question, in the absence of the Minister of Finance, and in the absence of the Premier and in the absence of the Minister of Highways and in the absence of the several other Ministers, I should like to direct a question to the Attorney General, the Deputy Premier. MR. SPEAKER: — I would suggest that we have had four questions. MR. LANE: — Well, we haven't had any answers. First of all, Mr. Speaker, I believe the Member for Nipawin (Mr.

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