Honourable Members of the Senate:
Members of the House of Commons:
The first concern of government in world affairs is to ensure peace and security. To this end, Canada continues to support the principles of the united nations charter. Our foreign policy is based on the realities and dangers of the existing situation. One of these is the communist menace. Until the united nations are able to provide an adequate guarantee of peace and security, peace-loving nations will also be obliged to seek security by combining their strength. The North Atlantic nations, including Canada, are negotiating a security pact. The treaty when concluded will be laid before you for approval. The North Atlantic treaty will supplement the treaty of mutual guarantee signed by the western European nations at Brussels last year. Such regional arrangements are provided for in the united nations charter.
Despite unsettled conditions and the disruptive activities of international communism, the nations of western Europe are making progress toward recovery. Aid from North America is contributing
substantially to the restoration of economic activity, thereby increasing their ability to resist internal and external aggression.
At home we have been blessed with good crops. Industrial expansion is taking place at an unprecedented rate. There have been few differences between employers and employees leading to stoppages in work. Inflationary pressures are less pronounced. Employment is at higher levels than ever before. In striking contrast with communist countries, the free economy of our country is demonstrating its ability to provide for all a high standard of living, social justice and individual freedom. It is the view of my ministers that a steady advance toward the goal of social justice for all is an effective safeguard against the influence of subversive doctrines.
The people of Newfoundland, by a majority vote in a referendum, expressed their desire to enter confederation. The precise terms of union were subsequently negotiated with an authorized delegation from Newfoundland. You will be asked without delay to approve the agreement, signed on December 11, and to make provision for the entry of Newfoundland as a province of Canada on March 31. I am confident the union will be of mutual advantage to Newfoundland and Canada.
Amendments to the Supreme Court Act to make the Supreme Court of Canada the court of last resort for Canada will be submitted for your consideration. i
You will be asked to approve, subject to the approval of the United States authorities, the agreement concluded in 1941 for the development of navigation and power in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence basin.
You will be asked to make the further legislative provision necessary to implement the agreements for the sale of agricultural products to the United Kingdom.
With a view to assisting in the restoration of world trade, so vital to general security and our own prosperity, Canada participated in formulating the charter for the international trade organization and the general agreement on tariffs and trade, which will be submitted for your approval. Within the next few months Canada will engage in further negotiations with thirteen other countries to broaden the scope of the tariff concessions which we obtained at Geneva in 1947. The government will continue to press vigorously for the lowering of tariff and other barriers and, as quickly as possible, the expansion of trade on a multilateral basis.
Meanwhile the government is seeking to remove specific obstacles to the continued sales of Canadian products in our traditional export markets, and to that end is co-operating closely with the nations concerned in the implementation of the European recovery program.
The continuing committee established by the governments of Canada and the United Kingdom to review the progress of trade between the two countries is presently meeting in London.
In the interests of both domestic and foreign trade, legislation will be introduced with the object of promoting extensive and adequately safeguarded use of the national trade mark "Canada Standard" associated with goods which conform to prescribed standards, and of requiring proper labelling of goods to prevent deception of the public.
Improvement in our United States dollar position has resulted in the removal of certain restrictions imposed in November, 1947. Further restrictions will be removed as the position improves. So long as trading and financial conditions remain unstable, a degree of control over foreign exchange will be
required. You will, accordingly, be asked to extend the Foreign Exchange Control Act for a further period.
The report of the royal commission on prices will be laid before you as soon as it has been submitted to the government.
Your approval will also be sought for legislation to continue in force steel control and a limited number of price controls, including control over the rental of housing accommodation.
You will be asked to make legislative provision for governmental assistance by loan to the producers of basic steel for the purpose of increasing production.
The governments of the provinces have been advised that the federal government is prepared to discontinue rent control in any province in which the government expresses the desire to assume the jurisdiction.
The provision of housing has received and continues to receive close attention. More new housing units were provided during the last calendar year than ever before.
Your approval will be sought for the establishment of a department of reconstruction and development to continue the functions now vested in the Department of Reconstruction and Supply, including the ministerial responsibility for the Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
A measure for assistance in the provision of a transcontinental highway will also be laid before you.
A royal commission has been appointed to inquire into and report upon all questions of economic policy within the jurisdiction of parliament arising out of the operation and maintenance of national transportation. Together with the findings of the investigation by the board of transport commissioners, the report of the royal commission should furnish parliament and the government with the basis for a sound transportation policy.
The national health program, inaugurated by the government last year, is receiving co-operation from all the provinces. In supplementing provincial health measures, the program has already made a contribution to the health facilities of Canada and will thereby bring increasing benefit to our people.
A bill will be introduced to broaden the scope of the Family Allowances Act, as a further instalment of the policy of the government to provide a national standard of social security and human welfare designed to assure the greatest possible measure of social justice for all Canadians.
The organization of the armed forces to provide for unification and co-ordination has been pressed forward. Steady progress has been made in the recruitment and training of officers and men of the active and reserve forces, so that the navy, army and air force may be in a position to meet the defence needs of Canada as these may change from time to time.
Conditions of service in the armed forces are being further improved, and as rapidly as the results of research can be adequately tested, additional equipment is being made available. Amendments to existing legislation with respect to the armed forces will be recommended for your consideration.
Other measures to which your attention will be directed include bills respecting forest conservation, overseas telecommunications, the control and regulation of interprovincial and international pipe lines, and assistance for the Canadian shipbuilding industry. Your approval will be sought for measures to amend the Industrial Development Bank Act, the Emergency Gold Mining Assistance Act and the Prairie Farm Assistance Act.
Speech from the Throne
It is the view of my ministers that there should be an examination of the activities of agencies of the federal government relating to radio, films, television, the encouragement of arts and sciences, research, the preservation of our national records, a national library, museums, exhibitions, relations in these fields with international organizations, and activities generally which are designed to enrich our national life, and to increase our own consciousness of our national heritage and knowledge of Canada abroad. For this purpose, the government intends at an early date to establish a royai commission.
Members of the House of Commons:
You will be asked to make the customary provision for essential services.
Prosperous conditions now prevailing are being, reflected in the buoyant level of national revenues; a condition to which due consideration is being given by my ministers in the preparation of forthcoming budgetary proposals.
Honourable Members of the Senate:
Members of the House of Commons:
The birth of a son to Their Royal Highnesses Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh has been the occasion of widespread rejoicing. Happiness over the birth of the Royal Prince has been tempered by regret over the indisposition of His Majesty the King. The people of Canada hope and pray for the complete recovery of the King's health.
Since the close of your last session, Mr. Mackenzie King has retired as Prime Minister. I feel it is the hope of all Canadians that Mr. King will be spared, over a long period and with less exacting responsibilities, to continue his distinguished and devoted service to Canada and the free world.
May Divine Providence bless your deliberations.
