Ontario Community Newspapers

Ontario Scrapbook Hansard, 25 Feb 1944, p. 2

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"This cannot be a minority Gov- ernment. You have the power to move a want-of-contidence motion which we will be glad to accept as an issue. If this is not done, we must imply you have confidence in the continuance of our work as the Government of this Province. No Thought of Dictatorship. "This is not a minority Govern- ment." said the Premier. "It is the Government called to give executive direction to the affairs of this Legislature. It may be a healthy thing to see members tree to express their own opinions and vote in accordance with their own views. "As for the terms on which we will govern," the Premier told the House, "there are no terms and no thought of dictatorship. Even a hint of dictatorship is a reflection on the man who makes it," said Mr. Drew. "We are in the position Jsrhere we must depend entirely on your sup- port of what is done. "We do not intend to govern in a spirit of fear," he made plain. "We assume full responsibility, and as soon as you feel we have not con- fidence, the democratic test is there." DREW PREPARED TO ACCEPT TEST (hltihlfllyNT The question was raised by C.C.F. Leader E. B. Jolliffe, who invited the Premier to say at the first opportunity what circumstances would be interpreted by him as giving rise to a question ot confi- dence or no confidence. As far as the C.C.F. was concerned. he said, defeat of a Government bill would not constitute defeat of the Gov- ernment. Analyzes Points. As soon as Mr. Jollifte concluded his address on the Speech from the Throne. Premier Drew rose and answered points raised by the Op- position Leader. The Premier spoke for 30 minutes and adjourned the debate at 6 pan. He will con- tinue his address next Tuesday. The Premier said he agreed with the Opposition Leader that there was no reason why a wide spirit of co-operation could not be achieved by those who believed in the wel. fare of the Province and not "party expediency." He would welcome support of measures on the widest possible basis, he said, and promised "tull discussion," and that all bills would "go through the democratic mill of this Legislature." Giving emphatic denial to the Opposition claim that the present Government is a minority one. Premier George A. Drew told the Legislature yesterday that he was prepared to accept. at any time a want-of-confidence motion as a test of the Government's right to con- tinue executive direction of Pro. vincial affairs. Failure to bring in a want-0M confidence motion would be taken! by the Administration as express- ing confidence in the continuance! of the Government's work, he de- dared. iytiJiijjiiiljq) LEGITIMACY ACT Mr. Blackwell introduced a bill to amend the Abitibi Moratorium Act, explaining that it is an extension of a previous act. purpose of which is to prevent the Abitibi Power and Paper Co. property from being "sold under the hammer." To date the result of the moratorium had been, he said, that bondholders now getting 36 cents on the dollar appear likely to receive 100 cents. Asserting that the present Legiti- macy Act is "back in the Middle Ages" as regards inheritance, Attorney-General Leslie Blackwell introduced in the Legislature yes- terday a bill to amend the act. so that mothers could inherit, property of illegitimate children and vice- versa. Premier Drew also announced his plan for stenographie reports. of de. hates, copies of which will be sup- plied to party leaders, the clerk and the Legislative library. There was no thought of establishing a Han- sard as at Ottawa, but merely a record, and the heavy expense of Hamard would not apply. The mow was commended by C.C.F. and Liberal party leaders. Februbm.\ 2.5 In a question on the Legislature order paper, William Dennison (C.C.F.. Toronto-St. David) asks if James Franceschini, Italian-born contractor, interned after Italy en. tered the war and later released, owns the Royal Cecil Hotel, Toron- to; on what date he first obtained a hotel license, when a beer license was issued and whether the prem- ises were operated under the con- trol of the custodian of enemy alien property, and, if so, for how long. Seeks Dafa on Hotel

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