HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1949-06-08, Page 9Wednesday, .ihnle 8th, 1949
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Major Details of
The Progressive Conservative Party's Declaration of Policy
Drafted and Approved by Canadians from every Province—
Representing Every walk of Life.
I have now visited all ten provinces since Parliament was dissolved. In one
thing there is widespread agreement throughout the whole of Canada: it is time
for a change. The important thing for all Canadians to decide between now and
June 27th is what that change will be. On earlier occasions over the radio I have
put forward some of the reasons why a change is so necessary if we are to restore
Parliament to the people and lift the burden of taxation and arbitrary controls
from the shoulders of those who are doing the work of the nation in all their many
daily tasks. At this time, with the election four weeks away, I would like to review
some of the major details of the Declaration of Policy which was drafted and
unanimously approved by the delegatde of our Party from every eonstituency in
Canada and representing every occupation. I have already referred at different
George Drew times to many of its details. This is no hastily-drafted election manifesto. It is
not my statement of policy, or statement prepared by any group or committee.
It expressed the unanimous opinion of delegates from every province who met in Ottawa from September 30th
to October 2nd lasts year.
Details are embraced by the three words which interpret the purpose of the undertaking we give to
Canadians: Opportunity, Security, Freedom, Those words constitute no meaningless, time-worn slogan. They
represent the broad purpose of a dynamic and progressive plan of action which we have placed before you as a
convincing reason.why you should support the Progressive Conservative candidate in your own constituency,
no matter what party you have supported in the past.
May I quote the very first words contained in that Declaration of Policy: "Freedom is one and indivisible.
If economic freedom is lost, political freedom will be lost. Economic freedom is the essence of competitive
enterprise, and competitive enterprise is the foundation of our democratic system, All history shows that com-
petitive enterprise provides the maximum of production and therefore the maximum of social security. For
those reasons we affirm our belief in the principle of economic freedom. Economic freedom will promote thrift,
foster and encourage the qualities of self-reliance, industry, and initiative which have brought this nation to
its present enviable position? It will preserve and improve our standard of living."
With that statement, and believing in freedom as we do, we have also undertaken to make the necessary
amendments in our Criminal Code to deal effectively with those who are working to establish a Communist
dictatorship here in Canada. In the name of freedom we do not intend to permit treacherous, anti-Christian
agents of that evil tyranny to destroy the freedom for which Canadians paid 'so great a price. We also believe
that our constitution must be respected and observed to preserve national unity and also to make secure our
own freedom by those wise balances of authority between the dominion and the provincial governments which
were devised as a cheek on the concentration of power in the hands of the national government. Believing
that the strongest basis of freeddm is the encouragement offered free people to better their own conditiqn
by saving from what they earn and building a home as the centre of the family life, we are opposed to a system
of taxation which makes it difficult to save even with the present relatively high earnings.
I take this opportunity to review some of the major features of our policy with particular reference to
three words: opportunity, security and freedom.
I
monetary policy. As our trade with
Britain and other ,overseas markets
are lost, Canadians are being re-
assured by the volume of our exports
to the United States. We believe
in increasing our exports to the
United States to the highest possi-
ble levels We believe that all
Canada's exports can be, and should
be, tremendously increased. We
know, however, that disastrous
results would follow any attempt to
depend exclusively upon exports to
one nation no matter how friendly
that nation may be. The loss of our
trade in wheat, umber,'fish, apples,
dairy Products and the other things
that we have been shipping overseas
means more than a mere question
of dollars and cents. It means a
loss of business on the railways, in
the seaports, and on the ships which
have been carrying this trade to the
world. It would dislocate our whole
internal trading organization and
force serious readjustments of em-
ployment with our railways and
other transportation services. The
Progressive Conservative Party
pledges itself to adopt every prac-
tical means to expand our internal
trade with the United States and
with all other nations where we can
sell what we produce. By reciprocal
trade agreements we will promote
and expand our trade overseassand
also with the United States. Parti-
cularly 'we will (a) remove all
abnormal trade barriers imposed by
way of license, quota, or embargo;
(b) remove the arbitrary provisions
of the Foreign Exchange Control
Act; (c) re-value the Canadian
dollar within the limits permitted
by the Bretton Woods agreement
and seek such modification of those
agreements as are necessary to per-
mit our dollar to assist our external
trade in the normal way; (d) open
negotiations immediately for the
purpose of making the dollar and
pound convertible, so that we may
open and expand our lost overseas
markets in the sterling area.
Reduction of Taxes
The greatest encouragement to
work, production and trade is the,
opportunity to receive is fair return
from which money can be saved for
our families, our homes and pro-
vision for the future. Even with
high earnings today, our present tax
system is making it difficult to save
and is greatly increasing the cost of
everything we buy. Reduction of
taxes .and sweeping reforms in our
system of taxation are necessary
to encourage initiative and reward
hard work. With that in mind, the
Progressive Conservative Party has
undertaken to: (a) increase the
personal income tax exemption to
at least $2,500 for a married person,
and to at least $1,250 for single
persons; (b) increase the exemption
for dependent children by $200;
(c) lower the general rate of personal
income tax; (d) allow deductions to
farmers for work done by members
of the family who share the work of
the farm; (e).end the persecution of
our people by tax-collectors acting
under arbitrary power; (f) encour-
age development and improvement
of small businesses operated by the
owner by allowing proper exemp-
tion for money which is put into
the improvement of the business
and not paid gut in profits; (g) pro-
vide for a graduated reduction in
taxes on other small businesses upon
the portion of the income left in
the business for further development
and consequently for the increase
of employment; (h) abolish nuisance
taxes and make substantial reduc-
tions in general sales and excise
taxes on necessities.
SECURITY
Thee Progressive Conservative
Party assures security t6 all Cana-
dians by the following Declaration
of Policy.
Socurity of Employment
We believe that the greatest •
assurance of employment in Canada
is based upon the fullest develop-
ment of our resources Which will
create new employment across the
whole country and increase the
field by constitutional agreement
between the dominion, provincial
and municipal authorities who must
all play their part in solving this
very urgent problem.
Security for our Farmers
Our programme sets out a very
complete statement of policy in
regard to stability of income for our
farmers. I will refer to some of the
more important provisions: 1. We
undertake to enact fioor-price legis-
lation based on the following prin-
ciples: (a) A definite formula in the
Farm Prices Support Act for arriv-
ing at floor prices. (b) This formula
will allow for variation in produc-
tion and demand for individual
products. (c) Floor prices will be
," announced well in advance of the
production period. (d) The floor
price will be arrived at in consulta-
tion with representative producers.
We favour the restoration of the
.Canadian Wheat Board Act of 1935
to serve as a marketing agency for
wheat producers. We are in favour
of coarse grains as well as wheat
being handled on a voluntary basis
by the Wheat Board. We assure
that producers 'themselves will de-
cide the method by which their
wheat will be handled and sold. This
statement of policy, and it is an
emphatic statement of policy, is
based upon our belief that market-
ing boards, representative of pro-
ducer organizations should, and
will, determine their own method of
marketing. The Wheat Board and
all similar producers' boards, will be
made up of producers themselves
and not be mere agencies of some
department of government.
3. We will establish a board of
livestock commissioners.
4. We will extend the activities
of the Federal Farm Loan Board so
that farmers may take advantage of
long-term, low-interest rates in the
purchase and development of their
farms.
5. We will increase the facilities
for agricultural research to explore
new uses of agricultural products
for industrial purposes and in co-
operation with, provincial Depart-
ments of Agriculture conduct thor-
ough studies of contagious animal
and plant diseases to reduce the
heavy annual loss from this cause.
6. In determining agricultural
policy, we will enlist the co-opera-
tion of farmers' organizations
throughout Canada and those spec-
ializing in particular types of pro-
duction, so that all administrative
as well as advisory boards will have
representation of those with expert
knowledge of the subject upon which
they will be asked to deal. These and
the other provisions in our agricul-
tural programme are all based upon
the belief that the best interests of
agriculture throughout Canada can
be served under the guidance of
those with practical knowledge of
each agricultural activity.
Security for Labour
(a) Our national development
programme, our proposed tax
reform and our plans for the expan-
sion of trade offer the assurance of
expanding employment in the years
ahead. Good working conditions
and satisfactory terms of employ-
ment can be assured best by effec-
tive laws governing labour relations.
In the field of national jurisdiction,
the Progressive Conservative Party
puts forward a policy based upon
the belief that good working condi-
tions for our people and friendly
relations between workers and man-
agement are not only in the best
interests of our workers, but also in
the best interests of every Cana-
dian. We believe that the position
of labour must be constantly im-
proved and that the security and
happiness of all our workers must be
pro4cted by legislation which Will
provide for effective collective bar-
gaining, determination of the mut-
ual rights of workers and manage-
raent, as well as the conciliation
and Settlement of difficulties which
may arise. With this object in view,
we will establish a National Labour
Council Which will have equal num-
OPPORTUNITY
First let me refer to the word
'opportunity'. The Progressive Con-
servative Party will assure oppor-
tunity to all our people by:
A bold and progressive national
development programme
Canada is on the threshold of
her greatest period of development,
if a vigorous government, with faith
in the future is given the oppor-
tunity to bring into production the
immense resources which we possesk
in every part of Canada. While
the vast areas of the North challenge
our vision and our courage, there is
no part of Canada where there are
not new opportunities of develop-
ment if we provide the electric
energy and other sources of power
which will encourage new industries
and new types of agricultural pro-
duction which can make every part
of Canada more productive in the
years ahead.
Our national development pro-
gramme will cover the development
of power, oil, coal, mineral resources
and the transportation facilities
necessary for their full use. In
particular we will establish (a) a
National Development Advisory
Council in co-operation with the
provinces; '(b) establish a National
Power Authority to co-operate with
the provinces in the technical ex-
amination of possible power develop-
ment and in the actual development
of electric power at cost; (c) under-
take the commencement of a joint
conservation, irrigation and power
project on the Saskatchewan River;
(d) encourage the development of
power in the Maritime Provinces
from coal as well as by other means;
(e) promote the development of the
great iron ore resources of our
country and the establishment of
greatly expanded steel industry
within Canada; (f) stimulate the
development of petroleum and other
mineral resources in co-operation
with the provinces by taxation and
fiscal policies which will encourage
the investment of risk capital;
(g) institute a vigorous programme
of water conservation, reforestation,
flood ctritrol, irrigation and drain-
age schemes throughout the whole
of Canada for the reclamation of
unproductive land and the pre-
servation of our soil, and along with
other similar activities in co-opera-
tion With the provincial govern-
ments; (h) establish a positive pro-
gramme of marshland reclamation
and development; (i) take effective
steps at the earliest possible date to
co-operate with the provincial
governments in building the Trans-
Canada Highway and feeder' roads,
which will not only greatly increase
our transportation facilities, but
*Ado help to open out the vast possi-
bilities of the tourist business in
every part of Canada; (j) remove the
discrimination in freight rates be-
tween the several geographical areas
of Canada so that all sections of our
country may receive the full benefit
from the development of our great
resourcea'
'
(k) deal effectively with
the special transportation problem
of Prince Edward Island, New-
foundland, Cape Breton and Van-
couver Island; (1) take the necessary
steps to proceed with the develop-
ment of the power and waterways
project on the St, Latverence River.
Expansion of trade
The ultimate value of all our
development depends upon the dis-
tribution and sale of what we pro-
duce. Because of our tremendous
producing capacity we are one of
the world's great exporters. The
eXternal markets for our surplus
products contribute very largely to
the. pay envelopes which buy the
food, clothing and other necessities
in every Canadian home. Look
around you in your own home now.
The things you have depend upon
that overseas trade, no matter what
Your occupation may be. Overseas
markets have been lost, and our
trade is dangerously threatened by '
the government's foolish trade and
domestic markets for all that we
produce.' In addition to the dis-
covery and employment of new
resources, the remarkable scientific
developments of the past few years
have greatly widened the use we
can make of all the resources we
possess. In co-operation with the
various provincial governments we
will explore every possibility of
expanding the opportunities for
work by encouraging new types of
production.
Contributory Social Security
Programme
The Progressive Conservative
Party puts forward a contributory
social security programme providing
the following benefits amongst
others:
1. Believing that provision for our
senior citizens at a level of payment
which will give them a feeling of
independence in their retiring years
is essential, we have stated that we
do not believe that old-age pensions
should be regarded as a favour, but
should be a right and that no charge
should be made on such property
as has been saved during their work-
ing years, nor should there be any
enquiry vas to whether some money
is being earned by the person
receiving the pension. We believe
that the laws of the country. should
not discourage saving during the
working years and such work as our
people wish to do in their old age.
For that reason we provide for old-
age pensions at 65 without a Means
Test.
2. Unemployment Insurance
benefits will be extended to include
payments for time lost due to acci-
dent or sickness.
3. Adequate medical and hospital
care will be provided for our people
under a national health ,programme
which will also include the most ex-
tensive preventative health services.
4. The same family allowance
will be paid for every child, no
matter how many children are in
the family, and the nutritional and
other services for our children will
be greatly improved.
These, and other provisions in-
cluded in our programme, will be
worked out in co-operation with the
provinces, so that the highly-skilled
and experienced public welfare ser-
vices of the provincial governments
will be available.
An Effective Programme for the
Construction of Homes
1. Loans and priorities will be
made available to those who desire
to build their own homes. 2. Low-
cost housing can, and will be pro-
vided under plans approved by the
dominion, provincial and municipal
governments which will be adminis-
tered by the municipalities. 3. The
cost of building homes can be re-
duced by encouraging new types of
construction. What is causing so
much concern to our people at pre-
sent is not only the shortage of
housing accommodation, but also
the excessive cost of small homes,
particularly those required by our
young people starting out in life.
In this respect I might point out
that while I was Premier of Ontario
we introduced a Housing Act in
regard to which the official publicas
lion of the Canadian Legion had the
following to say and I quote from
their editorial: "Veterans every.
where will acclaim the new housing
legislation recently enacted in the
province of Ontario. In this new
housing legislation the Ontario
governMent is blazing new trails,
out of which might materialize the
long-awaited, over-all plan for the
successful solution of the housing
problem in every part of the
domiiiion, which the Legion has
been pressing for so hard' Over since
the war elided," The effect and
application of this Act was neces-
eerily limited by the overriding
authority of the dominion govern-
ment, Which restricted supplies for
building homes by their restrictive
regulations. We will remove those
restrictions and the principles of
that. Act to which I have referred
can be made effective in the wider
bers of representatives of labour
and management. This council will
examine and consider the causes of
labour disputes and propose satis-
factory solutions for such problems.
It will also conduct research into
the ways in which labour relations
can constantly be improved.
(b) We will provide for greater
representation of labour on govern-
ment boards, commissions, and
agencies.
(c) We will encourage profit-
sharing plans for the sharing of
profits of workers by such adjust-
ment in taxation and otherwise as
will encourage plans of this kind.
(d) We will constantly improve
the legislation providing for com-
pulsory collective bargaining, certi-
fication of labour organizations
after a majority vote, machinery for
conciliation of disputes, fair and
adequate wages, standard hours of
work having regard to the nature of
the industry concerned, and holi-
days with pay.
We have also an excellent pro-
gramme for Security for Veterans
-We believe that the government
of Canada has no greater responsi-
bility than to make adequate pro-
vision for the young men and women
who served Canada in two world
wars. Our Party has at all times
insisted that the promises made
during the war to those in service
should be carried out in the spirit as
well as the letter of the assurances
which were given. Our programme
therefore gives the following under-
takings to our veterans:
(a) To establish a standing com-
mittee of the House of Commons on
Veterans' Affairs which will regularly
review all veterans' problems;
(b) to retain and constantly
improve all existing veteran legis-
lation;
(c) to eliminate all unnecessary
delays in dealing with veterans and
to simplify procedure;
(d) to extend pension benefits to
the members of the merchant navy;
(e) to accept as the basis for all
decisions the medical category re-
corded on enlistment and to regard
physical condition below that stand-
ard during service as the actual
result of military service;
(f) to stabilize the pensions of
veterans of the First World War,
providing for upward revision where
the disability has increased;
(g) to increase and extend the
provision of war veterans' allow-
ances with an increase in the amount
that a veteran may earn over and
above the allowance paid.
FREEDOM
Our constitutional freedom is
based upon the democratic princi-
ple that the people's chosen repre-
sentatives in Parliament are
supreme, and have the final res-
ponsibility for all laws which affect
the rights of our people. This
principle is the corner-stone of all
our freedom. The Progressive Con-
servative Party pledges itself to put
and end to statism in Canada and
terminate bureaucratic action by
government order-in-council, minis-
terial proclamation, and depart-
mental regulation. We will restore
responsible government answerable
to the elected representatives of
the people, We believe in the widest
possible measure of personal liberty
consistent with law, order and the
general national welfare. We are
opposed to all powers which invest
in the government arbitrary control
over the rights of the individual.
We pledge ourselves to restore the
full supremacy of the law and the
equality of every citizen under the
law. , We believe that the closer
government is to the people, the
better government always is. We
are determined to conserve the
authority of the provincial and
municipal governments over those
local affairs which can best be dealt
with by men and women who are in
intimate contact with them. We
are strongly opposed to centralize-
tien of legislative and administras
Live power over local affairs, and to
any breach Of the constitutional
authority of any of the provinces
under the British North America
Act which made us one nation. On
assuming office we will arrange for
a dominion-provincial conference to
consider all aspects of dominion-
provincial relations and establish
an effective basis for close and con-
tinuing co-operation between all the
governments of Canada. We believe
that national unity depends upon
respect for our federal constitution
and the clear definition of the
responsibility of the dominion and
provincial governments, with assur-
ance of adequate financial resources
to carry out those responsibilities
and with adequate financial re-
sources to the municipalities to
carry out their many very important
responsibilities. In preserving our
freedom it is essential that freedom
of speech be fully protected. For
that reason, it must be a matter of
concern to all Canadians that the
government-owned radio system
which plays such an important role
in the exchange of ideas should
have become a propaganda agency
of the government. May I em-
phasize that in my belief the staff
and technical experts of the Cana-
dian Broadcasting Corporation are
trying to do a good job under
utterly impossible conditions. As
you know, any attempt on the part
of the employees of the Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation to im-
prove the organization only results
in immediate disciplinary action.
The summary dismissal, for in-
stance, of Mr. Joel Aldred, one of
the best known broadcasters of the
Canadian Broadcasting Corpora-
tion just the day before Parliament
dissolved, because he had publicly
suggested improvements within that
organization, is merely an indica-
tion of the extent to which front
speech is being restrained by the
present government. We undertake
to restore freedom of speech over
the radio as well as otherwise, and
to place the supervision of all
broadcasting in Canada under an
independent administrative body.
We further undertake to abolish the
license fee on radio receiving sets.
We do this because this license fee,
which is supposed to be for the
services given by the Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation, is un-
justified because there are many
parts of Canada where our people
receive no services from the publicly-
owned stations. All our freedom
and all our security depend upon
our national security and indepen-
dence. For that reason, one of the
first resolutions adopted unani-
mously by our delegates from every
province last October, was an
expression of unqualified support for
the establishment of a defensive
union of the Western Powers,
which has since taken form in the
North Atlantic Security Pact. Our
support of that policy has at all
times been stated in the same words
and with the same emphasis in
every part of Canada. The collec-
tive preservation of peace and the
combined strength of the free
nations now gives increased impor-
tance to national defence and the
,efficiency of our defence forces. We
undertake to set up a standing com-
mittee on national defence which
will keep Parliament and the people
informed regarding the state of our
defences and will also assure the
most effective use of the money we
spend for the purpose of providing
defence forces.
The points I have covered in
these remarks are only some of the
progressive, practical and construc-
tive policies which will be put into
effect by a Progressive Conservative
government. I believe this state-
ment will provide convincing reasons
why you should cast your ballot on
June 27th for the Progressive Con-
servative candidate in your own
constituency so that the public
business of this great country will
be handled by a strong, vigorous
and progressive government in the
years ahead.
George Drew
Victoria, B.C. May 30, IWO
6ersorloserinik.
IPS TIME FOR A CHANGE -14 YEARS IS TOO LONG
VOTE FOR YOUR' PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE
PUtU$HtD fly tat inio6OSSIVS tbNterivAlivs 'AR1Y O' CANADA,., IP LAUVER AVE: