Legislative Assembly

off financially than they were under the plan which was in operation a year ago. (Applause).

Leo F. Rossiter: Would you permit a question, Sir?

Honourable Gordon L. Bennett: Yes.

Leo F. Rossiter: Would they be fifteen more percent better off if there was one University, the two of them amalgamated into one University would they be better off ninteen percent plus?

Honourable Gordon L. Bennett: Mr. Speaker, that is a question I cannot answer. I doubt if the individual who raised the question can answer it, and I doubt if any- body in this province at the present time can answer that question.

Leo F. Rossiter: Well, I thought you might have some research done with regard to the overall cost, etc., and I thought you might have some figures on that.

Honourable Gordon L. Bennett: Mr. Speaker, many people in the province have said that one University will be less expensive to operate than two. Now I don’t know whether this is a true statement or not. No research, to my knowledge, has been made to substantiate such a statement, or to deny it. I don’t know which way it is, and it certainly would be a very interesting type of research for some individual to make. Of course, both these Universities are already established. I don’t think, Mr. Speaker, there would be any argument in the mind of any member of this Legislature if it were a case of either starting from scratch. Will we establish one University, will we establish two? Will one University serve the population of this province better than two? I would think that that question could be answered very simply, and I am sure everybody in this Legislature would answer it in the same way.

Fortunately, or unfortunately we don’t have that situation at the present time, and again, I cannot answer the question that has just been raised.

Leo F. Rossiter: The trend in other provinces are, of course, bigger units are they not?

Honourable Gordon L. Bennett: Well, this is a statement that will be argued and debated by a lot of people. We have several of them in Nova Scotia, we have several in the City of Halifax, and up in Ontario and Quebec the same proposal was

Leo F. Rossiter: (Remarks inaudible). Honourable Gordon L. Bennett: This is right. Leo F. Rossiter: (Inaudible).

Honourable Gordon L. Bennett: There is no question about that, but this same type of proposal as you probably are aware, was made both in Quebec and in Ontario this year, that there be one huge University of Ontario. This was not received with favour; I am not saying that it might not develop sometime, anymore than I am saying it might not develop in this province. But at least they have not shown any interest in it at the present time.

Walter R. Shaw: I wonder if I might ask the Minister a question? Honourable Gordon L. Bennett: You may, Sir.

Walter R. Shaw: He is dealing now with what the federal government put in. I wish he would tell us what they pulled out. I don’t know whether my honourable friend knows and I don’t think the Treasurer knows, but I am just asking the question to see what the reply is. It may not be fair to ask you that. A lot of changes . .. .

Honourable Gordon L. Bennett: Well, I realize this. Walter R. Shaw: And I know it is very difficult to assess these changes.

Honourable Gordon L. Bennett: I certainly can’t answer it in terms of dollars and cents.

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