IJN1/{EJ1S/TY liBRA;;, VTS DEPARTMENT AN OUTliNE OF PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT ACTION 1957 1962 THE GREATEST ERA OF EXPANSION IN CANADA'S HISTORY UP 26.6% UP 17.4% The plain fact of the matter is that the people of any community are divided into two main groups- those who are enabled to obtain a share of the fruits of private enterprise adequate to maintain a high UP standard of living for themselves and their dependents. 30.8% These are naturally the most fit, most aggressive, most skilled, most adapted by heredity and environment to find a place for themselves in a private enterprise economy. It is towards these active participants in the system that the growing social awareness of busi- ness has been mainly directed. But there is another group, not as large as the other, but equally as important and deserving. They are those who for reasons of one kind or another beyond their control are unable to fit into the highly competitive, efficiency-conscious, high-speed atmos- phere of the individual and corporate enterprise system. For the welfare of these, the business community as- sumes only a limited share of responsibility. In saying that, I do not overlook the very great contribution of business firms in the field of public charity. I use the word, charity, not in any derogatory sense, but to emphasize the point that the responsibility which Government must assume is something very different from charity. It is based on the assumption that every My own view is that the first responsibility of UP man, woman and child in the nation has the right as Government is to all the people. I reject Socialism, a citizen (indeed, as one of the co-owners of most of Communism, Fascism, or a dictatorship as a method UP 19.3% the land and most of the resources still, as we say, of discharging that responsibility. I believe it can best 70% "vested in the Crown") has the right to some share in be discharged, without interference with the basic indi- the national progress and prosperity. vidual freedoms, under the private enterprise system. It is my view that private enterprise must operate I believe, therefore, that it is a prime and proper at a level of efficiency which will provide the necessities function of Government to do everything within its of life for every Canadian. As a matter of fact, it is power to help make that system function in the general not going too far to say that its ability to do that is the interest. To do so Government must assume a full essential test of its social efficiency. measure of responsibility for those social requirements Now, what does all this mean in relation to the which, by their very nature, cannot be assumed by partnership between Government and business which business and the business community. I mentioned? This has been the basis of Government policy in UP the last four years. 63% ~~ On June 10th, 1957, the Canadian people voted Old age pensions were to entrust the responsibility of government to the increased by $9 to $55 Progressive Conservative Party of John Diefenbaker. a month. Residence At that time a major business recession was requirements were low- underway, unemployment was mounting steadily and ered from 20 to 10 inflation had reduced the purchasing power of the years. Length of tem- Canadian dollar to 68 cents. porary absences from Canada was increased Prime Minister John Diefenbaker and his team took from three to six months up the challenge. each year. New programs were immediately brought out to The Prime Minister announced $125 million increase production and job opportunities; taxes were plans for Maritime power development. cut; the important job-producing construction industry Regulations under the Une~ployment. Insurance was successfully revived by direct government assist- Act which discriminated agamst marrIed women ance; a massive push to recover lost markets and were revoked. expand Canadian exports was begun; pensions and other social benefits were increased; payments to the Blind pensions were increased by $9 to $55 a provinces were stepped up. month. Amounts of allowable income by recipi- ents were increased. Here is the record of the Diefenbaker team from 1957 to 1962 when Canada outstripped all other Disability pensions were increased by $9 to $55 nations of the world in rate of economic growth. a month. Amounts of allowable income were increased. Old age assistance payments were increased by $9 to $55 a month. Residence requirements were lowered from 20 to 10 years. Amounts of JUNE IP.P.!I The Honourable Ellen Fairclo~", allowable income were increased. ~ was appointed Secretary of State ~ •. War veterans' allowances were increased from Canada, the first woman to hold a portfolio $720 to $840 a year for single veterans. a Canadian Cabinet and the second wo Cabinet Minister in the history of the Co Permissible income ceilings for single veterans wealth. were increased from $960 to $1,080 a year and for married veterans from $1,620 to $1,740 a JULY IP.P.!I Salary increases amounting to mo year. World War I veterans. with at least 365 ••• than $110 million a year were a days service in the United Kingdom were made proved for over 100,000 Civil Servants. eligible for benefits. raises were made retroactive to May 1st, 1951.; Canadian residence requirements were lowered from 20 to 10 years for Imperial and allied Maximum assistance for Alberta and British veterans of World War I and other wars, and Columbia export coal increased to $2.25 per ton their widows. from $1.00. Increase was part of the govern- ment's effort to develop a substantial export Length of temporary absences from Canada was market in Japan. increased from three to six months each year. The period of seasonal benefits under the Un- AUGUST IP.P.!I Prime Minister John Diefenbaker employment Insurance Act was increased from ••• announced a $150 million loan 16 to 24 weeks. This action benefitted 250,000 program for low-cost housing. workers, including fishermen, to the extent of $13 million. NOVEMBER IP.'R For the first time, interest- ~ free cash advances for farm The amounts of weekly benefits were increased. stored grain were made available to farmers. To ~ Prime Minister John Diefen- date, almost $200 million has been advanced to DECEMBER ••• baker proposed at the NATO ~ million Canadian farmers - providing ready Heads of State Meeting in Paris that a World cash when it is needed most. Food Bank be established. -- , I Corporation taxes reduced from 47% to 20 % on aid. This action led to the extension of coverage corporate income between $20,000 and $25,000. to all ten provinces and both Territories. Since 1957 this program has provided increas- The Canadian and British Insurance Companies ingly for persons who are not in the labour force Act ~as amended to provide that a majority of all for reasons of age, disability and family respon- the directors be Canadian citizens ordinarily resi- dent in Canada. sibilities and who are experiencing greatest need. Federal contributions to the provinces have been The Canadian Vessel Construction Assistance Act increased from $8 million in 1956-57 to an esti- was amended extending benefits to give further mated $88 million in 1962-63. encouragement to construction and conversion of Sales tax was removed from a wide range of vessels in Canada. municipal purchases. New 52-mile railway to resources between Optic JANUARY ~ The Progressive Conservative Lake and Chisel Lake, Manitoba to assist in -.;IiI government more than doubled mineral and resource' development. hospital construction grants provided through the Excise tax on automobiles slashed by 25 %. provinces. Hospital construction grants were also extended to two new areas-renovation of exist- Amount of exports insurance for Canadian ex- ing hospital facilities and to residences for porters increased to $200 from $100 million. internes. $4 million provided to construct additional dock- Grants were raised from $1,000 to $2,000 per age and other facilities in Hamilton harbour. bed for active treatment beds. Grants were raised from $1,500 to $2,000 per 100,000 Canadians were bed for chronic, convalescent, mental and TB removed from income beds. tax rolls. Income taxes Grants were raised from $500 to $750 per bed were cut by $178 million. in nurses' residences. Personal income tax ex- New grants of $750 per bed were provided for emption for a child of. internes' residences. family allowance age, New grants for renovations were provided up to INCOME TAXES was increased to $250,' one-third of total cost. CUT from $150 and to $501:i: from $400 for others. "\ For the first time, effective price support legisla- '~;,. tion was passed. Rates of personal income taxes were cut fr The Agricultural Stabilization Act provides stable 13% to 11% and from 15% to 14%. prices for nine key commodities-cattle, hogs, The profit figure below which the corporation t sheep, cheese, butter, eggs and wheat, oats and rate of 20% applies was raised to $45,000 fr barley grown outside the Wheat Board area and $20,000. for other commodities that may be named from Down payments on houses were lowered for time to time. A fund of $250 million was set individuals and co-operative housing associations. up to ensure a fair return to the farmer. This Total federal mortgage lending was increased to fund is supplemented by receipts from the re-sale $400 million from $250 million. of commodities purchased under the Act. Seventeen commodities are presently receiving Increases in pensions were provided for former support assistance - butter, cheese, eggs, hogs, members of the armed forces and their depend- cattle, lambs, wool, Ontario wheat, oats and ants.