,Izegislative eswmbly

ing of French in Grade I in the schools. Of course some difficulties are connected with doing that but I would suggest that the Minister endeavour to have that done because I feel that is the age or even before that when they can most easily pick up facility in other language. If it is left too late it becomes more difficult.

He mentions the School Act, but they are working on the revision of the School Act. This is a hardy perennial. It comes up every year and we never get it. Now I am not blaming the present Minister, because I had my own dif- ficulties in this respect. I had hoped to have that done too, but there was always some reason, some excuse or some obstacle to prevent it being completed. I had two very capable gentlemen hired to do it one year and I had great expectations that we would have a new Act before the Legislature was over. However, one of them became a member of the House of Commons, and the other chap got involved in other activities so it went out the window again. I thought when I read in the paper that the present Minister had a capable gentleman in charge of the project that we would certainly have it for this Session of the Legislature, and I am rather disappointed that it is not ready for presentation. It is an Act which needs tidying up, one which is very difficult to understand, and which certainly needs to be modernized with respect to present day conditions.

It is certainly worthwhile to see that a building for the mentally handicapped people is going to be provided. This is a group that deserves every social con- sideration that can be given, and there are possibilities in the training of these people to make them more self-reliant, self-sufficient and less dependent upon society.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I have a few words to say about health also. This has been relegated to the third priority. Now whether it should have been or not I don’t know but the Premier seems to think it is of third~rate importance. Probably from the standpoint of individual consideration it is the most important item, be— cause without good health you cannot achieve very much. I see we are going to have a new Mental Health Act. This is all to the good and we certainly need every assistance in the matter of providing improved mental health services in the Pro- vince. I am not criticising the present services; it is not a matter of quality, it is a matter of quantity, and there is great need of more people in this field of mental health. It is becoming an increasing problem as time goes by. The Minister, of course. is not in his seat, but he mentions in the Speech from the Throne that they are actively engaged in a Joint Committee study in the City of Charlottetown with respect to health facilities. This is very good; I have always felt that the City of Charlottetown had very good hospital facilities. Of course there is always room for improvement, but I think there are other areas in the Province that are badly in need of consideration at the present time. and 1 would mention perhaps our own community and I trust that the Minister will see that something is done in this respect.

The Premier took up the matter of Medicare to some extent. I don’t think the situation is very good with respect to this program. I do not think that the gov- ernment here or the government in Ottawa should be very proud of theiir conduct 01' actions in this respect.

The Premier tried to intimate that the Opposition, or the Conservative Party \\'(I‘(‘ against li'ledicare. Now certainly nothing could be farther from the truth. How he ever got that idea I don't know, because the evidence is all to the con- trary. Mr. Speaker. The Hall Commission which investigated this matter and which presented the report on Medicare was appointed by the Conservative Gover- nment in Ottawa. They brought in the report upon which the act involving Medicare was presented to the House of Commons. This was a program that was initiated by a conservative government in Ottawa, and the Medicare that is available in this Province today, and I should mention, of course, the great program that has been carried on for years by the Blue Shield-Blue Cross people, as a program of Medi- care and one which has helped a great many people to cope with the problem of medical expenses. This program has always been supported by both parties at all times. and I would like to commend the former Minister of Health who has pro— vided the only social medicare that is provided in this Province today. The govern- ment offices had nothing to do with that; that was a policy and a plan of the former

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