Legislative Aiwrnbly service because they are just not available at the present time. I could inform the House.... Some Member : (Remark inaudible). (Laughter). L. George Dewar : No I think politics would lose a great deal and it would be much less interesting if that should happen. (Laughter) After all, all citizens have an obligation to do a certain amount of community service and that is one way this can be done. So we are looking forward to action from the Minister of Health with respect to these matters in the not too distant future. Now I am sorry to see that the other medical man in the House is not in his seat because I had some matters to point out to him as Minister of Welfare. I know that he has many problems too and probably at times he sighs for those nice green stretches of territory down in the Brudenell River where he has dug a hole to institute a golf course for the people of Kings County. You know, medical welfare or social welfare, is one great problem. A great deal of this trouble that he has in looking after people in social welfare is due to selfishness. The social conscience, which is not too active at times, requires a certain amount of pricking in order to get people to make a sufficient contribution to their fellow man. This has gone on for generations, for hundreds and perhaps thousands of years. The Minister of Welfare of course has been having problems implementing all the promises that have been made with respect to providing social assistanc and pensions for citizens. I am afraid that there is a bit of equivocating going on and I don't think it shows a very great appreciation for the intelligence of the people, this type of propaganda that is being put out with respect to people qualifying for pen¬ sions. We are told that so much will be paid on a "needs-test" without a "means- test". If there was ever quibbling over words or an equivocation, that is one of the greatest that I have ever heard. I think it is an insult to the intelligence of the people of the country to speak in such terms. In fact we were told that under The Canada Assistance Act everybody was going to receive $105.00 a month without a "means-test", but, lo and behold, the mails were flooded a short time ago with docu¬ ments that had to be filled out and these were blatantly nothing less than "means- test" papers. Then to add insult to injury, of course, the Minister of Welfare for the province was in a rattier difficult situation in a way. I appreciated his difficulties but he had to add insult to injury and cause further consternation in the homes of a great many of the people of the province by sending out a second form which they had to fill out, and a great many of these elderly people were completely at sea as to what they should do. They brought them in for me to see and I tried to explain to them what it meant but they are always a little dubious that somebody is — after all, the wolf may be at the door still. However, I believe, I understand that a good many of them took a chance and sent it back into the Department of Welfare which will assist the provincial government somewhat in financing. This is a good thing. I know the Provincial Treasurer appreciates the fact that he needs every cent he can get but I think they should be more forthright with people in this regard. Tou know, I am a little concerned about some of the provisions of this Can¬ ada Assistance Act . They are going to do away with the Mother's Allowance Act ; they are going to do away with The Disabled Pensions Act ; and they are going to institute The Canada Assistance Act which states that it will provide a certain amount to every individual as required, but I have my reservations about that matter. This will have to be decided by a Committee and these Committee men are hard¬ hearted people. I know, because I served on the Committee. (Laughter) Some Member : Are you hard-hearted? L. George Dewar : I used to try to stand up for some of these poor people but it was difficult at times to see that they got their rights. Here is the Minister of Welfare. Tou just arriving? Honourable M. Lome Bonnell : No I was here all the afternoon, but I beard you wanted some questions answered and I came in to answer them. L. George Dewar : Oh, well welcome back. I have been giving some good advice for the Minister of Welfare. —120—