CANADIAN POLICY AT HOME AND ABROAD

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5328, 14 February 1947, Page 2

CANADIAN POLICY AT HOME AND ABROAD

. » . . ... .. > • • 6 r-#. POINTS OF SPEECH BY GOVERNOR-G|E[NERAL. i " » Viscount Alexander opened the Canadian Parliament on January 30. . The speech from the throne declared that in making peace and in the tasks of world reconstruction, Canada had assumed a full .share of responsibility. Some points from His Excellency's speech foRow: — •It is„ the Governments' policy to give wholehearted support to the United Nations. Special attention is i being given to the problem of atomic energy in its international aspects and to the regulation and reduction of armaments. Parliament is to be asked to approve peace treaties with Italy, Finland, j Rumania, Hungary and Bulgaria, to ! which Canada becomes a signatory. | Canada has made clear her construcj tive attitude with regard to settle- | ments with Germany and Austria. The | Government intends to recommend the i appointment of a select committee of ! both Houses to consider and report on j hyman rights and fundamental freedoms. . * Canada's delegation to the World Conference on Trade and Employment [ is to he instructed to further to the I utmost the combined etfort on the part j of the United Nations to liberate 1 trade, therehy assisting in the main- ! tenance of high level employment.

Price ContrQls Policy. The Goyernment's policy is to maintain only su^h price and commodity eontrols as may be required to protect jonsumers from a sudden drastic rise in the cos't of living. Parliament is to be invited to conuder what m'easures niay be necessary to continue this policy afte/ the exj)iry of the National Emergency Transitional Powers Act. Tax agreements have now been i-eached with several provinces. The Government is prepared to conclude agreements on a similar basis with jther provinces. Once suitable finan•ial arrangements have been reached .vith the ^provinces, Ministers have undertaken to worlc out s'atisfactory arrangements with regard to public investment and social security meaures. Amendments to the old age pension are to be introduced. Parliament is to be invited to con;ider the readjustment of Commons representation in accordance with pro/isions of the recent amendments of .he British North American Act. | Amendments to the Domjnion Elec.ions Act are also to be submitted. Return to Civil Life. | Canada is joining with other nations in seeking to solve the perplexing ' iroblems of displaced persons in the ' development of international co-ope- ; I'ation in many fields. Almost all dependents" of veterans have now ar-' j rived in Canada. The three Armed I Forces have been brought under the j jurisdiction of one Minister and are j oeing reorganised on a post-war J basis. Induistry has been converted alj most entirely from wartime purposes ; to peacetime production. Over one mil- ' lion persons have been transferred ! t'rom the Armed Forces .and war in- ! dustry to regular civilian occupations. i Employment is higher than it has ever been; 30 per cent. higher than in 1939. | During 1946 Canada's extemal comj merce reached heights unprecedented j in peacetime. The national income ds at its highest peacetime level . The I outlook for trade and employment for I 1947 is most favourable. Despite the high volume of output I in all primary ind-ustries, the demand ! L'or natural products of farms, fisher- • ies, mines and forests continues to ! exceed production. Through marketing i agreements the Government is seeking i to give security and continuing sta- | bility to incomes of primary proi lucers.