LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY of ALBERTA [The House Met at 2:30 P.M.] PRAYERS [Mr. Speaker in the Chair] Head: INTRODUCTION of SPECIAL GU
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October 14, 1976 ALBERTA HANSARD 1459 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA MR. LOUGHEED: Mr. Speaker, I'd be doubtful whether or not there would be any such discussion, although events may alter that position. Title: Thursday, October 14, 1976 2:30 p.m. MR. CLARK: Mr. Speaker, a further supplementary question to the Premier. It flows from the question [The House met at 2:30 p.m.] period yesterday when the Government House Leader indicated, I believe the term was, there had been no representation from groups in Alberta, pro or con, on the continuation of the program after the end of PRAYERS March. Can I ask . MR. HYNDMAN: Mr. Speaker, on a point of order. I don't believe I said that. I think I said no official [Mr. Speaker in the Chair] communications were received from Ottawa on the matter. I believe that was the statement I made, but I'd have to check into it. head: INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS MR. CLARK: Following along the correction made by the Government House Leader, Mr. Speaker, is the MR. FLUKER: Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to Government House Leader or the Premier in a posi• introduce to you, and through you to this Assembly, tion to indicate what type of representation the some 42 Grade 8 students from the Racette Junior Alberta government has received from Albertans on High School in St. Paul. They are accompanied by the question: should Alberta continue after March their teachers, Mr. Leroux and Mr. Ouellet, parent '77 or not? aide Pat Foisy, and their driver Mr. Krawchuk. They are seated in the members gallery, and I would ask MR. LOUGHEED: As I said yesterday in the House, them to rise and be recognized by this Assembly. Mr. Speaker, I think this is clearly a matter for the Members of the Legislative Assembly. We'll be anxious to hear the views of members and are prepared to continue with Motion No. 2 as long as head: ORAL QUESTION PERIOD members desire. MR. CLARK: Mr. Speaker, a further supplementary Anti-Inflation Program question to either of the honorable gentlemen. Will the government outline to the Assembly what steps it MR. CLARK: Mr. Speaker, I'd like to direct the first plans to take in its canvassing and assessing of views question to the Premier and ask if there have been of organizations and individuals in this province any discussions between the province of Alberta and before arriving at a position as to whether to continue the federal government with regard to the federal our provincial program after March '77? government pulling out of the anti-inflation program prior to the three years initially announced, I believe, MR. LOUGHEED: I can only repeat again, Mr. Speak• a year ago last night. er, that the function or role of a Member of the Legislative Assembly is to have an assessment of the MR. LOUGHEED: Mr. Speaker, there were no such constituents at large. Public groups make their views discussions. known, and of course we will take them into consid• eration. But the basic views we will take into MR. CLARK: Mr. Speaker, a supplementary question consideration are those of the Members of the Legis• to the Premier. Is it the intention of the Government lative Assembly as discussed in this Chamber. of Alberta to make representation to the federal government in light of the Premier's comments yes• MR. R. SPEAKER: Mr. Speaker, a supplementary to terday concerning the economic well-being of the the Premier. Would the Premier indicate what type of province, and the effects of the anti-inflation formal monitoring mechanisms or internal structures program? the government may have to make the decision to 'de-control' or control, or continue the program in MR. LOUGHEED: No, Mr. Speaker, we're not going March? What is happening at the present time? Is to be making such representation. We expressed our there a formal structure to look after this matter? view when we were called on Thanksgiving Day a year ago and informed as to the federal program. MR. LOUGHEED: Mr. Speaker, I can think of no better formal structure than the Legislative Assembly: MR. CLARK: Mr. Speaker, a further supplementary the decision by the government caucus, bringing the question to the Premier. Is it the intention of the decision to this Assembly, and if necessary a division Alberta government to enter into discussions with the to that effect. federal government prior to Alberta's arriving at a decision as to whether it will continue its program at MR. NOTLEY: Mr. Speaker, a supplementary ques• the end of March 1977? What kind of consultation tion for clarification. Did I understand from the will take place between Alberta and Ottawa from now answer of the hon. Premier, Mr. Speaker, that it was until the end of March? not anticipated that the Alberta government would be 1460 ALBERTA HANSARD October 14, 1976 carrying on discussions with federal authorities con• actually made to the boys in the rent regulation cerning the extension of the temporary anti-inflation offices. measures beyond March 31? MR. CLARK: Mr. Speaker, a supplementary question MR. LOUGHEED: Mr. Speaker, my understanding of to the Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs. Is the situation is that the Prime Minister made it quite the minister in a position to indicate what is happen• clear to us on a number of occasions that he intended ing to the construction of rental accommodations in to carry on this program for some three years. We Alberta in the past year? What does the govern• are taking him on that basis. If he has made any ment's monitoring indicate? distinct change in his policy, no doubt he will let us know. MR. HARLE: Mr. Speaker, I would refer that question to the Minister of Housing and Public Works. MR. NOTLEY: Mr. Speaker, a further supplementary question to the hon. Premier. Bearing in mind the MR. YURKO: Mr. Speaker, in the whole area of hon. Premier's answer, is it the intention of the construction of housing accommodation we are in• Government of Alberta at this point in time to extend deed having a record year. The Temporary Anti-Inflation Measures Act beyond March 31 to coincide with the three-year period MR. CLARK: Rental accommodation. announced by the Prime Minister a year ago? MR. YURKO: Yes, rental accommodation. With re• MR. LOUGHEED: Mr. Speaker, I answered that pre• spect to apartments, I happen to have the latest data cise question. In addition it was answered yesterday released in front of me and can give the hon. by the Government House Leader. member the figures as of the end of August, in terms of the number of newly completed and unoccupied MR. R. SPEAKER: A supplementary to the Premier. row and apartments in Calgary and in Edmonton. In The Government House Leader indicated prior to the terms of houses and duplexes in Calgary, at the end opening of this session that the government would of August there were 301 newly completed and make an announcement in December. At that time unoccupied. There were 230 row and apartments. can we expect an indication as to whether the There were virtually zero in November of 1975, and controls will continue? Will there be a firm decision only about three row and apartment units newly at that time, so we will have an indication of where completed and unoccupied in March of this year. the government stands prior to the spring session of This has been gradually going up in Calgary from the Legislature? three in March, as I indicated, to 230 at the end of August. So the situation in Calgary is indeed improv• MR. HYNDMAN: Mr. Speaker, I believe I did indicate ing rapidly. there was a possibility, perhaps even a probability, of With respect to the Edmonton situation, the newly an announcement by the government prior to the end completed and unoccupied housing units, that is of December of this year as to its intentions with housing and duplexes, hit a low in March and started respect to anti-inflation in the year ahead. to increase since March of this year. There are now 158 new and unoccupied houses in the Edmonton area. The row and apartment situation in Edmonton Rent Control is still difficult. But indeed a lot of applications are coming forward at this time, and we expect the MR. MANDEVILLE: A supplementary question to the situation to improve within the next six months. hon. Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs. Has his department been doing any monitoring to see MR. CLARK: Mr. Speaker, a further supplementary what effect rent controls are having on rent increases question to the Minister of Consumer and Corporate and on the supply of rental accommodations? Affairs. Can the minister outline to the Assembly the procedure the government is going to use in arriving MR. NOTLEY: Graham, you're on. at a decision as to whether it continues rent control legislation past the time of the present legislation MR. CLARK: You're up. later next year? MR. NOTLEY: You're up, Graham. It's your turn. MR. HARLE: Well certainly, Mr. Speaker, a consider• able amount of time and effort is being devoted to MR. MANDEVILLE: Mr. Speaker, maybe I could just trying to determine what consideration should be repeat my question to the hon. Minister of Consumer used on that particular question. I'm sure that when and Corporate Affairs. As a result of rent controls, adequate information is available the right decision has his department been doing any monitoring of rent will be made.