THE CONSTITUTION  The vast majority of Canadians are agreed that after one hundred years of experience, we should review our constitutional arrangements to see how they can be improved and made to better meet the aspirations of all Canadians and the requirements of a modern federal state.  The Progressive Conservative Party was pleased with the progress that had been made in bringing about mutual understanding and in starting a dialogue in an atmosphere of understanding by the Confederation of Tomorrow Conference convened by Prime Minister Robarts of Ontario, and by the federal-provincial conference of February, 1968.  We were pleased that a continuing committee of Prime Ministers and Premiers had been established. We were also pleased that this committee had placed before it the question of constitutional equality for the French and English languages being provided so that French-speaking Canadians all across Canada be entitled, where practicable, to education in their own language, to the use of the French language in the Legislatures, in the courts, in the same manner that these rights are enjoyed by the English-speaking residents of Quebec.  We had hoped that the committee would proceed to consider these and other matters with all convenient speed.  However, we deplore the fact that the necessary atmosphere of mutual trust and progress has now been totally destroyed by the leader of the Liberal Party for partisan political ends. The patient work of Mr, Robarts and Mr. Pearson has been reduced to a shambles.  A Progressive Conservative Government would place a high priority on restoring an atmosphere of trust in which the continuing committee of Prime Ministers and Premiers could continue their work. We would hope that this work would eventually lead to a constitutional conference.  Such a conference should examine each area of governmental responsibility to determine in the interest of the individual citizen which level of government should exercise authority. This having been done, the sources of the revenue should be apportioned in line with these responsibilities.  The guidelines for such a conference should be:  That Canada is, and should be, one country.  Canada is, and should be, a federal state.  Canada is composed of the original inhabitants of this land and the two founding peoples with historic rights to maintain their language and culture, who have been joined and continue to be joined by people from many lands who have a right to play a full part in Canadian life.  That the constitution should be such as to permit and encourage a full and harmonious growth and development in equality of all Canadians.  The objectives of the conference should be:  A constitution which is a Canadian document capable of amendment only in Canada.  That a Bill of Rights should be entrenched in the constitution.  The sole objective of a Progressive Conservative Government in the constitutional area would be a strong united Canada where all citizens, regardless of their background, would have as equal opportunity to play a full role in the building of Canada and in return have the right to pursue their legitimate aspirations in freedom and dignity.  EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AND DEFENCE  Canada's Foreign Policy has not changed in principle since the immediate post war years. The Progressive Conservative Party believes that the time has come for a complete review in the light of changed world circumstances. Among the many things that have happened since our basic policy was adopted twenty years ago is the emergence of China as a nuclear power; the growing antagonism between China and Russia and the new softer line being adopted in Moscow, and in the Eastern European countries. Then too, there is the emergence of the many so-called third force countries of Africa and Asia whose development problems and whose presence at the United Nations have given world affairs a new dimension. Canada's need to look for trading partners other than our traditional ones, particularly in view of the eventual entry of Great Britain into the European Common Market, is another reason for a comprehensive review of our relations with other countries.  This re-assessment should be made on several levels. First of all, at the level of government itself. Secondly through a vastly increased use of the House of Commons Committee on External Affairs. And thirdly, through the encouragement of independent, non-government agencies comparable to the Institute of Strategic Studies in London.  A review of our Foreign Policy by a Canadian equivalent of this organization could bring a fresh approach to our problem. Its views would of course be submitted to the House of Commons Committee.  There can be no question that Canada's influence in the world has decreased in recent years and a Conservative government would seek to restore Canada as a significant influence in international affairs.  The United Nations  Canada should continue its support for the United Nations and its agencies, and strengthen the United Nations' capacity for peace-keeping and peace-making. Canada should assert a strong initiative to establish in the United Nations a committee with the following objectives:  (a) The examination and assessment of the shortcomings of the Charter and structure of the United Nations.  (b) The submission of recommendations to the General Assembly.  NATO  The Progressive Conservative Party does not believe that Canada can increase its prestige and influence with its allies by threatening to withdraw its forces unilaterally from Europe, as the liberals recently proposed. We believe in the principle of collective security. This principle can only be followed if we consult with our allies before committing ourselves to changes.  A Progressive Conservative Government would therefore suggest to Canada's NATO partners a comprehensive review of the purpose of the organization in the light of the new Europe. First, we believe, consideration should be given to a new Atlantic alliance based on a broader concept and with greater emphasis on trade and economic cooperation. Secondly, the necessity for the maintenance of Canadian forces on European soil should be reconsidered. In today's circumstances it may well make more sense to deploy Canada's NATO forces in this country with air transport arrangements that permit them to respond to a threat either in the European area or, should it become necessary, in other parts of the world. Finally, the review should be directed to bringing about simultaneous decreases in the armed forces of both the NATO nations and the Warsaw Pact Group. We must aim at the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons in Europe.  NORAD  The Liberal government's recent action in renewing the NORAD treaty for five years by Orderin-Council-without permitting any debate or explanation in the House of Commons or before the External Affairs Committee-is a prime example of arrogance and contempt for Parliament. In the ten years since this agreement was originated there have been great changes in the circumstances of continental defence. Canadians have a right to know whether their tax dollars are being well spent on the maintenance of Bomarc bases and CF-101 Voodoo aircraft. A Progressive Conservative government would bring the NORAD treaty before the External Affairs Committee of they House of Commons and negotiate any suggested  changes with the United States.  The Commonwealth  The Progressive Conservative Party believes in the value of the Commonwealth of Nations as an inter-racial forum which can do much to decrease tensions in the world. We would encourage the activities of the Commonwealth Secretariat, particularly in its attempt to find solutions to such problems as Nigeria and Rhodesia. We would increase our technical, scientific and industrial assistance to the under-developed nations of the Commonwealth.  Francophonie  The Progressive Conservative Party believes that Canada, as a country whose population is onethird French-speaking can make a useful contribution to the development of the new countries of Africa and Asia whose language is French. The French culture in Canada can gain enormously from a continuous and growing contact and interchange with other French-speaking countries. We would therefore, enlarge and extend our relations with these countries on the diplomatic, cultural and trade levels. We would encourage co-operation between educational and cultural authorities in Canada and their counter-parts in other countries of the French world while safeguarding the federal government's sovereignty in the field of Foreign Affairs.  Foreign Aid  The Progressive Conservative Party believes that Canada has an obligation to share its material advantages, its scientific and industrial knowledge and its managerial skills with the new nations of the world.  One of the greatest dangers to the prospect for world peace lies in the enormous disparity between the standards of living in the developed and undeveloped parts of the world. As long as millions of people in the world live in conditions of want,  political stability can never be established.'  As the Canadian economy grows and expands we would aim to increase that portion of our gross national product devoted to these ends. We think that Canada's contribution in this area can be most effective if it is concentrated in a reasonably small number of areas where its impact can be great enough to be really useful and where we can develop long term relationships with other countries. Such an approach would also further the creation of new markets for Canadian products  as the economies of the new countries grow in'  strength.  NATIVE PEOPLES  One of the greatest blots on Canada's reputation for fairness and equity is the condition of the Indians, Metis and Eskimos who are the descendants of the original inhabitants of this land. It is a problem that should touch the conscience of all Canadians. A few statistics will give the dimension of the problem. In 1966, 40% of Canadian Indians were living on relief. Nearly half of all Indian families earn less than a thousand dollars per year. In 1966 fully 75% earned less than two thousand per year. Indians are hospitalized twice as often as other Canadians. Their mortality rate is higher. Among pre-school children the mortality rate is eight times the national average, among adults three and a half times the national average.  With these facts before them, the Liberal government decided to save 20,000 dollars per year by reducing health services to Indian and Eskimo people. While we believe that the government should cut down on unnecessary expenditures, this cut was not only cynical and cruel but wasteful of human resources.  People are also a national resource. The Canadian Indian people today number 250,000. The Metis number another 250,000. Half a million human beings, a human resource that remains neglected and feels unwanted.  A Progressive Conservative government would move speedily to get at the roots of this problem. We would undertake an immediate reassessment and reorganization of the Indian Affairs Branch, to revitalize its functions and to replace a spirit of caretaking with a progressive spirit of compassion and development.  A Progressive Conservative government would appoint a task force to conduct an immediate examination of the community development program which the government has all but abandoned. This task force would lay the groundwork through discussions with Indian communities, provincial authorities, etc., for a new Indian development program.  We would promote a continuing series of discussions between federal and provincial ministers and Indian representatives aimed at a wider use of the full range of services and developmental programs which could be made available with the cooperation of the provinces.  A Progressive Conservative government would expand the program designed to recognize, encourage and develop Indian cultural expression. To do so we would modify the existing educational services and establish an Indian college. We would recommend that departments of Indian culture and research be instituted at selected Canadian universities. All of these would tend to elevate and encourage the aspirations of the Indian people.  We must find a more effective means to ensure that the resources of both federal and provincial governments are made available to the Native Peoples.  INCOMES AND OPPORTUNITY  The Progressive Conservative Party believes that every citizen should have a reasonable standard of living, including adequate food, clothing and shelter, education to the level of ability and the best medical care that science can provide.  We believe that it is the duty of government to provide and maintain an economic environment wherein the individual can attain these things for himself.  Whenever through circumstances beyond his control, disability, sickness, age or economic conditions, he is unable to do so, the state must provide.  Robert Stanfield has committed the Progressive Conservative Party to the goals of a decent life and equal opportunity for all Canadians. It is simply not acceptable, in this affluent age, for children in Canada to be raised in a virtual prison of poverty, where they are exposed to bad health and bad habits and where they have neither an incentive to learn nor a real chance to live.  And it is simply not acceptable for Canadians who are old or severely handicapped or chronically ill to live on a pittance that buys less every day.  The Liberal government established a special secretariat for the War on Poverty. It has now disappeared into obscurity and has effectively lost its impact and identity.  The poverty aspects of the Manpower Program were cut back virtually before they began. This is the record of a careless thoughtless government. Ministers who were committed to eliminating poverty instead eliminated the attack on poverty. When they were forced to cut back expenditures, they first cut the appropriations to the poor.  A Progressive Conservative government will establish a Guaranteed Annual Income for all those Canadians who cannot earn for themselves and who live today below the poverty line. This is our firm objective although it cannot be accomplished overnight.  It will involve a complete rationalization of our present fragmented system of social payments, and a reduction of frustrating paperwork for the aged and the handicapped.  We will ensure that programmes are administered in a humane and compassionate manner that neither diminishes the dignity of the individual nor erects artificial barriers to his enjoyment of an adequate income.  For those who are physically able to earn their living but are handicapped by a lack of training in modern skills, we will institute effective consultation and cooperation with the provinces to step up our manpower training and retraining programs and make them more effective. We will also consult with the provinces on manpower mobility programs and increase the effort to bring industry to areas of surplus labour, and surplus labour to areas of labour shortage.  WESTERN AGRICULTURE  A Progressive Conservative government believes that a strong and healthy agriculture is vital to the well-being of this Nation and that the government has a clear responsibility to ensure that a proportionate share of the national income be directed there to maintain a viable and productive food plant.  Wheat Policy  The Progressive Conservative Party believes in the Wheat Board system of marketing wheat produced on the Prairies, but also believes that government policy should be directed towards assisting the Board in finding and maintaining markets.  1. The future prospects for wheat markets are good. Wheat sales will soon bring the price up close to the maximum under the International Grains Agreement (two dollars and thirty-five cents basis Fort William.)  2. We will restore the Stabilization Agreement on Prices with the United States that prevented price wars from 1957 to 1963.  3. We will restore an aggressive sales policy using the technique of long term contracts and reciprocal trade encouragement to countries that wish to trade with us.  4. Five years of Liberal neglect have made it necessary to adopt policies that will protect the farmer against rapidly rising farm costs. As a short term measure, steps will be taken to institute a program of floor prices on wheat during the life of the present International Grains Agreement, based on the costs of things the farmer buys.  5. In co-operation with the Wheat Board, a new quota plan will be devised to ensure full delivery by efficient small farmers.  6. We will improve the present program of cash advances to help meet the present crisis by increasing the amounts per bushel to one dollar for wheat, thirty-five cents for oats, and fifty cents for barley and by increasing the total amounts available proportionate to farm size.  7. We will tailor our grain handling and grading system to meet current as well as anticipated customer demand.  8. Steps will be taken to implement a system of farm storage involving accelerated depreciation on multiple-use farm buildings, and in consultation with the Wheat Board, a system of farm storage payments which will ensure that deliveries will be made upon request by the Board.  9. A Progressive Conservative Government will ensure that grain growers will be able to maintain their competitive advantage by a vastly improved program of research. New high yielding varieties will help meet increased demand and lower per unit production costs.  Livestock Policy  10. We will assist in a program of improved land utilization to encourage growth of Canada's livestock program as well as its participation in the total agricultural market available. This involves the Federal Government in water conservation projects, the development of pasture programs and the building of roads to open up bushland for pasture and settlement.  11. We will speed the development of a modern communications service for the farmer to provide him with full range of technical information necessary to conduct a successful farming enterprise.  12. In co-operation with the provinces, a program of national guidelines will be instituted to assist farmers in determining the direction their industry should be moving to fully utilize the land, financial and human resources that are available.  13. Use will be made of inland terminal elevators as delivery points for special grain storage purposes.  14. a) Improvements in our rail and port facilities will be undertaken to accommodate an increased volume of grain and other products such as potash, moving into international markets from the Prairies.  b) We will encourage long term agreements between labour and management to ensure uninterrupted movement of grain out of Canadian ports.  c) We will foster further development of port facilities at Prince Rupert, Fraser River and Vancouver Island.  d) Greater use of the Port of Churchill will be made by extending the period during which insurance is available.  e) Improvement of productivity of St. Lawrence Ports, will be pushed.  15. There will be greater initiative and direction to the use of the A.R.D.A. program to improve the use of marginal land and in those areas where income levels require the attention of the government.  16. In co-operation with the provinces we will amend the Farm Credit legislation to ensure that young people wishing to become engaged in agriculture have an opportunity through an extended farm credit program.  17. We will amend the Crop Insurance Act, providing for insurance on livestock.  18. As in Eastern Canada, effective antidumping measures will be applied to ensure continued growth of a viable vegetable and fruit growing industry.  EASTERN AGRICULTURE  A Progressive Conservative Government will introduce a major, co-ordinated plan for development of eastern agriculture. Liberal indifference towards the eastern farmer for five years has worked to make him a poor cousin of his western counterpart. Low incomes, uncertainty as to price and markets, and a failure to act to reclaim submarginal land have destroyed incentives for many farmers and their sons. The average income per farm in eastern Canada is less than $1,600. per year. There has not been enough done by the present administration to encourage young farmers to increase farm productivity and to form more economic production units.  The Liberal record has been one of promisesnot performance. Take the promise of an expansive Mr. Pearson, who, when seeking election in 1963, promised a Minister of Agriculture for eastern Canada. Nothing has ever come of this promise.  A Progressive Conservative Government will work, however, to afford eastern farmers a strong voice within government.  Organization  A Progressive Conservative Government will establish a permanent bureau of Eastern Agriculture. The aim will be to ensure an adequate return for efficient farm operations. The family farm is still a cornerstone of eastern agriculture. But if agriculture in eastern Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces primarily, is to become viable, there must be improvements.  Feed Grain  Federal assistance for transport of feed grains to the east is still of vital importance to the future of beef, dairy, hog and poultry fanning. But this is not a complete answer in itself. At present, by far the major portion of beef consumed in eastern Canada is imported. If eastern Canada is to better serve eastern consumers, it is imperative that there be federal assistance for forage and grain crops. A Progressive Conservative Government will provide such federal incentives as low interest rates for farmers wishing to extend their feed grain acreage. This would be possible under a revitalized ARDA program. And, to make this a better coordinated program, ARDA would be regionalized, enabling it to better deal with the particular provincial agriculture agencies.  Coupled with increased federal emphasis on feeder lots and community pasturage would be a program a Progressive Conservative Government would work out with the provinces to provide better fertilizer subsidies, and improve acidic soils and thereby gain in a better production per acre.  A Progressive Conservative government would also encourage co-ordination of farm organization presentations to government to make agriculture's voice more effective.  Dairy  Eastern dairy farmers have been adversely affected by non-marketable surpluses in recent years. Surpluses of butter, eggs, milk and skim milk powder have hurt the return to the farmer. Surpluses have occurred in industrial milk because there are too few plants in eastern Canada to handle dairy production.  A Progressive Conservative government would place particular priority on assisting industries which would utilize dairy products.  Surpluses  At present only three per cent ($10,000,000.00 of $300,000,000.00) of the foreign aid programs is devoted to farm products. This figure should be increased by another two per cent at least, an increase which would also help guard against the individual farmer being hurt.  Another step to safeguard the eastern farmer would be the initiation of effective anti-dumping measures. This would have to be worked out both on a national and international scale (ie: Western honey in Eastern Canada; Mexican tomatoes in Eastern Canada), and such a program should be tied in with another international and national system of negotiations to establish voluntary quotas on agricultural products imports.  Farm Credit  A Progressive Conservative government would update farm credit by amending the Farm Improvement Loans Act and Farm Credit Loans Act to make both once more available to the agricultural industry. At present banks are uninterested in extending credit through the Farm Improvement Loan Act because of the low interest rate of five per cent. A Progressive Conservative government would work to extend the term of repayment from three to five years and increase the total amount available from $14,000. to $20,000. in return for a reasonable increase in interest rates. Such a program would be tied in with provincial farm improvement funds.  Crop Insurance  A Progressive Conservative government would extend crop insurance to cover livestock.  Tax Incentives  A Progressive Conservative government would undertake a study of the tax load farmers have to bear, with an eye to accelerated tax depreciation on farm storage facilities, and on additional production, buildings and future land development.  Seasonal duties  A Progressive Conservative government would review and update the whole procedure of seasonal duties. The present federal and provincial and agricultural commodity methods of protecting markets by tariff, subsidy, quota, acreage control and licence to produce are in many instances ineffective, due to being dated. A whole new approach is necessary on this key principle. A Progressive Conservative Government would establish agencies patterned after successful producer organizations such as the Western Wheat Board, D.C. Tree Fruits, etc. with a joint responsibility with producers for sales distribution and price.  Reorganization of Department  A Progressive Conservative Government would establish within the Department of Agriculture a Board with access to the facilities of all governmental agencies not only to provide current basic information, but to recommend speedily implemented courses of action to government whenever a farm commodity is referred to it as facing economic difficulties either from surplus production, lack of markets, or intrusion of manufactured substitutes. This would be immediately applicable to the dairy industry, food processing industry and vegetable industry.  FISHERIES  Our Nation has been blessed with many natural resources. Among them, our Canadian fisheries are of major importance, in their wealth and potential. The Progressive Conservative Party feels that the fishing industry must be given a high priority for, beyond a doubt, prosperous fisheries contribute to a healthy Canadian economy.  Canadian fishermen stand in real need of more modern and up-to-date research and technology. We cannot continue to rely solely on the will and spirit of our fishermen to struggle with well equipped foreign competitors. The Progressive Conservative Party will therefore accelerate our research and development program, designed to furnish the fishing industry with improved facilities and techniques.  Canadian fishing now faces a serious lack of skilled and trained personnel. Yet at the same time, in many fishing areas, unemployment rates are among the highest in Canada. The Progressive Conservative Party resents this wastage of human resources and proposes a revitalized program of on-the-job training. We will encourage the de velopment of training facilities required by those fishermen who wish to up-grade their skills in the industry.  The Atlantic  1. In the Atlantic Coast area, priority must be given to the surplus of fish products which now exists. Indifference of the Liberal government has meant that our Maritime fishermen are now plagued with a surplus of 9-10 million pounds of salt cod fish. The government has offered to purchase these products at the end of the season. This is no solution to the problem. Deterioration through months of storage and a lack of storage facilities for the new catch will result.  A Progressive Conservative Government will take immediate action to solve this problem by offering this surplus to the World Food Bank.  2. New markets must be found at an early date. A Progressive Conservative Government will, as soon as possible, convene a meeting of Canada's trade commissioners from abroad to mobilize their efforts to bring about an expansion of markets for these products.  3. The fresh and frozen ground fish fillet industry can be accelerated by increasing the domestic demand by an extensive consumer oriented promotional campaign. This campaign would be designed to increase individual consumption by approximately one-half pound per year and provide a market for an additional one hundred and ten million pounds of ground fish products in North America.  The Pacific  The Western fishing industry must deal with several crucial problems.  1. Competitive markets have forced British Columbia fishermen into a second place position in the world salmon market. For example, in 1966 the Japanese were able to sell a single carton of salmon for $20.00. Due to higher costs and less advanced techniques, British Columbia fishermen were forced to sell salmon at $25.00 per carton. In order that the market can be regulated in an organized way, a branch of the Prices Support Board should be established on the West Coast. As a result, salmon could be sold at a fixed price during profit and loss years and the Canadian fishermen would be able to compete for domestic and foreign markets.  2. There has been a rapid reduction of the salmon catch due to overfishing, principally by foreign vessels. Our government will accelerate the duties as may be assigned to it, and oversight of international waters where no agreement exists.  d) Co-ordination of pollution control in interprovincial waters on which federal-provincial agreements exist, acting as adviser to the boards administering such agreements, and oversight of inter-provincial waters where no agreement exists.  e) Co-ordination of pollution control in all federal departments and agencies in which pollution is being dealt with.  f) Acting as the federal agent in all dealings with the provinces on pollution matters.  g) Provision of technical and financial assistance to industry in the conduct of waste treatment measures.  h) providing financial assistance by way of grant and loan to any public body, commission, authority or municipality in Canada which is engaged in anti-pollution works. Assistance to public bodies such as are set out in parts 4 and 5 of the schedule attached, and come under provincial jurisdiction shall be given direct, after verification that the project is consistent with the provincial program and priorities.  i) To undertake and finance clean water demonstrations or pilot projects, with provincial co-operation where required.  To carry out this program prior consultations with provincial authorities and the representatives of industry should be undertaken.  While air pollution control has been undertaken in large part by the various Departments of Health, and soil pollution control by Departments of Agriculture and Health, they are inter-related closely with water pollution, and should not be treated separately. In line with the philosophy of the approach taken in this proposal, no change is recommended in the administration of these programs, but responsibility for co-ordination of research, and technical and financial assistance would be given to the new Commission.  In addition to the foregoing program for coordination of anti-pollution measures, other action should be taken, either by the federal government or in consultation and agreement with the provinces.  The work of the Canadian Council of Resource Ministers should be enlarged to give the council federal support in formation of a national pollution advisory council to deal with interprovincial and federal-provincial matters.  More funds should be provided for the antipollution work of the Department of Fisheries.  The National Research Council, already well launched on pollution studies, should be encouraged to enlarge their work.  The Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 Should be re-negotiated to add control of pollution to the federal jurisdiction over boundary waters between Canada and the United States.  This proposal does not discount nor impede the urgent need for a more clearly defined water policy in Canada, the need for consolidation of responsibility for water resources in the federal government nor the fact that provincial governments in Canada all have legislation to enforce pollution control measures. This proposal can proceed outside and beyond administrative changes, and supplements and makes use of the various federal and provincial enforcement laws, which together cover the entire field. It is designed to provide an immediate base from which all pollution control in Canada can operate and become effective.  HOUSING  A Progressive Conservative government will undertake in cooperation with the provinces and municipalities, a new national direction in housing and urban development. This involves better planning and organization, but it also involves money. So, the programme outlined below is not one that can be completely implemented as soon as we take office. It is predicated, first of all on restoring growth and confidence in the Canadian economy. We must get Canada moving forward again so that we can generate the necessary funds for the housing programme.  New Department  The consolidation of the other departments will allow a Progressive Conservative Government to create a Department of Housing and Urban Development with a Minister who will coordinate all federal activity in the urban planning area. He will meet with the provinces and through them with the municipalities to more clearly define the role of each level of government in achieving Canada's total housing objectives. Housing requirements vary in kind, and quality in the different regions of Canada. Therefore our approach to Federal Provincial cooperation will be a flexible one. It will not be our purpose to tell the provinces what they should do, but rather to make the federal effort fit in to the particular requirements of each province and region.  Task Force  One thing that is lacking in our housing and urban planning programme is sufficient data on our urban areas. We have figures on gross national product, growth rate and so on for Canada as a whole but not sufficient information on the same things for the cities of Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, etc. We will establish a task force composed of government experts from the federal level, provincial government officials whose cooperation we will seek, and people from the housing industry and universities to develop the necessary background information and statistics that are required for a comprehensive urban planning approach.  Industrial Methods in Housing Construction  One of the high priority projects given to the task force will be to recommend methods of increasing the amount of mass production techniques used in the housing industry. To encourage an increased use of technical know-how and preassembly of components in the housing field, we will accelerate research and development being done in the entire area of construction.  Land Bank  We will establish a revolving land bank fund initially of a hundred million dollars to purchase land in those areas where research indicates our cities will expand. One of the factors in the high cost of housing today is land speculation on the outskirts of our cities. Not much can be done about land that is now in the hands of the speculators. But if this problem is not to grow and become more serious the government will have to step in and keep land prices within reach of our people. Another function of a land bank fund will be to make financial assistance available on a longterm loan basis for the servicing of land.  Sales Tax  A Progressive Conservative Government will immediately remove the 11 % sales tax on building materials. If it is necessary to replace the revenue lost in whole or in part, this will be done with taxation in other areas that are less damaging to our social progress. But this is a bad tax. Its social effects in creating a shortage in housing and fostering unemployment in the construction industry are too serious to let it continue. It is estimated that removal of this tax will reduce the cost of the average new house by at least $500 dollars.  Housing for people with Lower Incomes  The rate at which housing is being provided for people on lower incomes must be speeded up. One method a Progressive Conservative Government would use would be to encourage proper authorities, such as municipalities, to take over some existing older housing, to renovate and modernize it and to offer it to people at subsidized rents in the same manner as is now done for new low income  . housing. This should, on a temporary basis, speed  up the process of getting people out of substandard, unsanitary conditions and into acceptable housing. Particularly in those areas where slum clearance and rebuilding programmes, while necessary, will take a considerable period of time to complete. The need is there now, and steps should be taken at once to meet it.  Limited Dividend Housing  Since 1964 limited dividend housing has been inactive. The reason is that the allowable dividend of 5% is well below current interest rates and no investors can be found who will accept this rate. A Progressive Conservative Government would amend the regulations to permit a dividend of 8 % and thus encourage people to put up funds and provide rental housing for low income groups and especially for the aged, students and other similar groups.  Condominium Housing  We must make housing available to those who fall between the lower annual income bracket at which subsidized housing is available and those whose income is $8,000 and above and who can possibly today afford to buy houses. A Progressive Conservative Government would make C.M.H.C. mortgage loans available to owners of the units in condominium buildings such as duplexes, triplexes, and multiple unit buildings. The condominium principle which allows people to own rather than rent units in a multiple occupancy building, permits a lower cost per unit for land and services and can provide satisfactory accommodation at lower costs than detached single family houses. If the legal problems of cooperative ownership of such buildings can be solved at the provincial level, and mortgage money is made available, this should provide homes on an ownership basis for large numbers of people who are now unable to afford them.  [Robert L. Stanfield, News Releases from the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, Ottawa, April-Tune 1968)  REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT  The key is to recognize that inequality in the Maritimes is not a temporary or an isolated problem. It affects the whole region-and it can be relieved only by national policies which assist the whole region. Too often in Canada, national policy has had the effect of imposing special hardships on regions which already have more than their share of hardship. The most recent example was the elimination of less-than-carload rates-which eroded the ability of industry in these provinces to compete.  So the first step to real reform must be to ensure that all the national policies of goverament---fiscal, transportation, manpower training and so ontake account of the requirements of this and other slow-growth regions. That is essential--because it is simply pointless to devise special programs of assistance, if the total effect of national policy is to add to the burden.  Our aim will be to recognize the special requirements of each region of Canada, and to make regional development a high and consistent priority of overall national policy.  REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT: ATLANTIC PROVINCES  First of all, I would establish offices of the A.D.B. in the Atlantic Region. It just doesn't make sense to have the Board concentrated in Ottawa.  Second, I would give the A.D.B. responsibility not only for co-ordinating but for tailoring and adapting programs such as ARDA, FRED and A.D.A. to the needs of this region.  Third, I would put the Atlantic Development Board-with its personnel and resources strengthened-to work on an overall development strategy for the whole Atlantic region. It is a fact that the A.D.B. has been in existence for five years and has not yet come up with a comprehensive plan for development of the region. A new Progressive Conservative government would seek to have such a plan prepared in consultation with the provinces and published within 12 months.  Newfoundland  We are interested in several specific proposals which have been made for the development of Newfoundland.  First, the Progressive Conservative government you are going to help elect on June twenty-fifth will allocate funds to assess the value and feasibility of constructing a direct ground communications link between the island of Newfoundland and the mainland portion of the province, Labrador. The transmission of Labrador power to Newfoundland is just one example of the kind of problem which would be solved by a tunnel or causeway linking the island and the mainland. This is a project which has vast economic and social implications both for this province and for Canada as a whole. With the rapid growth of Labrador and the development of its great natural resources I think it is appropriate that the feasibility of this proposal be studied now.  Second, a Progressive Conservative government will investigate the need for and the feasibility of establishing an air trans-shipment port at Gander. Such a port would be designed, as I understand the proposals which are being put forward, to facilitate the full utilization of air cargo capacity in trade between Europe and North America. Its location at Gander would provide a stimulus to the development of the whole of central Newfoundland.  MEDICARE  This is a government which has complicated and reduced the effectiveness of economic and social programs by its failure to cooperate with other levels of government. The federal government has caused bitterness and confusion among even its political friends, and the people of Canada are the victims.  A case in point is Medicare. The federal government drew up its own version of a Medicare program, placed it in front of the provinces, and said "take it or else."  Eight of the ten provinces of Canada, including New Brunswick, could not take it. Could not take it because they felt they could not raise the money from their taxpayers to pay their 50 per cent of the program insisted upon by the Liberal government at Ottawa.  The provinces asked for a reconsideration, which would permit the two levels of government to work out a medicare program that could be financed and put into operation this year. The Liberal government again turned them aside.  As a result, a medicare program will go into effect on July 1st in perhaps two of the 10 provinces of Canada. In the other eight provinces, there will be no federally sponsored medicare plan in effect, certainly not this year. Those Canadians whose need for a medicare program is greatest, and in parts of the country that need it most, will go without it.  This is the high price Canadians have to pay for the arrogance and the stubbornness of the Liberal government in Ottawa.  It is my intention as leader of the Government of Canada to get together with the provinces and try to work out a medicare plan that the provinces can implement and put it into effect.  'THE CANADIAN ECONOMY  The first instruction I would give would be to the most senior officials of the Department of Finance, Revenue and the Treasury Board to meet with representatives of the Economic Council of Canada and the central Bank to give the new government immediately, a full assessment of where we stand, and of what, in their view, must be done. This would be as useful for the country as it would be novel for the officials, whose advice -when they have had a chance to give it-has been largely ignored for the past five years.  We would go to work at once to establish a coordinating framework with the provinces. It is time we recognized that it is simply not possible for a national economic policy to be effective in Canada unless there is some commitment on the part of the provinces to the measures and the objectives of that policy. Therefore, the framework of federal-provincial co-ordination that we set up must do three things:  One, it must establish a basis of consultation so that we may integrate, as much as we can, our revenue and expenditure programs. We must undertake with the provinces a thorough review of the effect upon the economy of the various operations of government and its agencies. Each program of each government-whether it is a tax or a tariff, a transportation subsidy or a new expenditure-each has an effect upon other programs, and upon the economy as a whole. We do not know enough about the effects of government spending in Canada, and we must know more before we embark upon new programs of taxation or expenditure.  Two, it must develop joint policies to stabilize the process of growth and particularly to isolate the causes and sources of inflation, and correct these sources of inflation. My own view is that, if we demonstrate that we at the federal level are prepared to do our part fully to eliminate inflation, the pressure from labour for high wage gains to offset the rising cost-of-living, and from industry on prices to offset the increase in costs, will quick ly moderate. But we in Government must demonstrate the example.  Three, this co-ordinating framework must commence to work together to stimulate the economic growth process. I have often mentioned the priorities of productivity, training and education, and technology. We shall have to stimulate applied research, and the application of this research. We must make the training and education we require available. We must induce, and not impede, a new thrust in productive development and capital investment.  This is not very exciting work. It is concerned primarily with putting the house in order, and keeping it that way. But it is essential if we are to establish an effective and integrated national economic policy.  It is the only way a federal state can agree on goals, and reach them. It is the way we must begin if we are serious about controlling costs, and containing unemployment, and achieving an adequate rate of growth.  Development  This is a young country, and requires development. We will encourage the development activities of the extractive industries by positive tax incentives, despite the contrary recommendation of the Carter Commission. I do not want this to be taken as a general comment upon the recommendation of the Commission to be unacceptable.  In addition, we will revitalize the National Energy Board, and charge it with the responsibility of undertaking in concert with the provinces and representatives of the petroleum and scientific communities, extensive studies into three major areas of resource policy.  The first will be to review and bring up to date a National Oil Policy.  The second will be to review the role of the independent producer, and consider the feasibility of measures to encourage Canadian initiative in energy development.  The third would be to consider means to coordinate and strengthen petroleum research programs, as a means of encouraging Canadian scientists and technicians to stay in Canada.  A Progressive Conservative Government will develop and pursue a National Science Policy, to assist in industrial and resource development in particular, and to assist generally in the solution of modern social and economic problems.  At present, a great many departments and agencies of the Federal Government are involved in aspects of scientific and technological research. These include the National Research Council, the Medical Research Council, the Defence Research Board, and numerous research divisions within many different government departments. A beginning has been made, with the Science Council and the Science Secretariat, upon the coordination of the work of these many separate agencies. But a great deal more could and should be done. We must ensure that we are making the most of our opportunities, that we are making the best possible use of our national manpower and financial resources; and that the Government's manifold interests in science and technology are planned and coordinated in such a way as to promote the national interest and national objectives.  To this end, both the Science Council and the Science Secretariat should be strengthened, their terms of reference redefined and amplified.  It was one of the major recommendations of the Glassco Commission that there should be someone at the cabinet level to speak for scientific policy and to co-ordinate existing activities in the fields of research and development. Ibis recommendation recognized not only the fact that the federal government already has a role to play in this area, but recognized as well the fact that science and technology now affect major decisions in all of the major departments of the federal government.  We consider this proposal to be of great merit and of considerable importance. Science and technology ought not to be an annex or an adjunct or an afterthought in the responsibilities of a Minister so busy with other duties that considerations of science and technology receive inadequate attention.  HOUSING  A Progressive Conservative government would allow Canadians to deduct from their income tax 90 percent of all mortgage interest payments above the level of seven percent.