Legislative Assembly

Study Group taken in this province. I was very pleased that they looked at the O’Igary hospital.

L. George Dewar: Thank you.

Honourable M. Lorne Bonnell: I am very pleased that they looked at the Hinge County Hospital, and they have recommended some renovations and some We for both these hospitals. I think that this is something worthwhile and I that it is something that O’Lea should have had years ago, as well as Montague. I think that every effort shou d be made by this Legislature and this Gova to try to give these two areas the expansion that they have needed for so long and so well. (Applause).

J. Cyril Sinnott: Would you permit a question in this regard?

Honourable M. Lorne Bonnell: Certainly.

J. Cyril Sinnott: (Remark inaudible.)

Honourable M. Lorne Bonnell: Has who any observations?

1. Cyril Sinnott: Have you any observations to make?

Honourable M. Lorne Bonnell: Any observation to make on Charlottetown? J. Cyril Sinnott: Charlottetown Hospital.

Honourable M. Lorne Bonnell: I always felt that Charlottetown was fairly well represean on the Hospital Services Commission and it was the rural areas of O’Leary and Montague that needed the special attention, and therefore, I leave that to the Chairman of the Board who I feel sure will have great interest in the Charlottetown area. I didn’t go into much detail about that. But I did have great interest in O’Leary. I went up to the hospital and saw that they were certainly overcrowded. I hope that they are making every effort to proceed with this new expansion.

L. George Dewar: And your name is on the cornerstone too.

Honourable M. Lorne Donnell: I hope so and it will be there a long time, I know, if you have anything to do with it.

Several Members: Remarks inaudible.

Honourable M. Lorne Bonnell: Another thing which has very little to do with my Department and which I would like to comment on and that is low-rental housing. As I have mentioned before in this House. Mr. Speaker, and I have been criticised because perhaps I didn’t go along with the way it was financed. I say that the present government passed an Order-in-Council paying off the bank in O’Leary for money which they had loaned to purchase these houses. Then I took the matter up legiti- mately with the Federal Minister of Welfare, and I asked that they pay half the cost of this low-rental housing for people who should be getting Canada Assistance. We are getting very favourable response from the Federal Department of Health and Welfare. I think we will get half of it through Canada Assistance and pay for these buildings in a legitimate manner rather than giving welfare pensions to the Bank of Commerce in O'Leary.

L. George Dewar: Remark inaudible.

Honourable M. Lorne Bonnell: Very few banks that I know of need welfare assistance cheques. Also, while we are talking about this, I would like to state that I was very pleased to see a new Home for Special Care going to the big Town of Alberton, and also to the Town of Montague. I think that these buildings are cer- tainly worthwhile for the Senior Citizens of this province and I must congratulate the former government for building one in Summerside, Somerset Manor, which I feel will be a monument to one of the former Ministers of Welfare. (Applause). The people in that area are very proud of Somerset Manor.

It is not my intention to go on at any great length in this debate other than to say as the House is drawing closer to an end, and. having sat in this Assembly for quite a few years it is interesting to note the actions and the remarks made by

—446—