Friday, March 1, 1968 Unknown Voice: Perhaps Dr. Sinnott would answer it. L. George Dewar : Dr. Sinnott will have his day in court before long. He can speak for himself and he will. Hon . J. Elmer Blanchard : You criticize us, yet you won't tell us whether you are in favor of it or not. L. George Dewar : Look up the records. Look up the records. Before we conclude .... Unknown Voice: There is no record. L. George Dewar : I would like to mention tht fact that I see by the Speech from the Throne that the Government is going to buy school and municipal bonds. Now, I presume that this is a good thing. I'm a little concerned that perhaps it has become a necessity because, perhaps, many of the school bond municipal issues are a little difficult to sell on the market and if the Government can ease the situa¬ tion, then it is probably wise to do so. The rates of interest, of course, have be¬ come quite high. I think of the days back in 1960 when we were floating the bonds for our high school and I often think that it was a providential thing that we went ahead as rapidly as we did with that program because many of those bond issues at a low rate of interest at the present time, such as a little over five percent, five and a half percent, money which today would cost seven and a half or more per¬ cent. The Province is saving considerable money on this financing. Hon . Robert Campbell : Mr. Speaker , would my Honourable friend permit a ques¬ tion? L. George Dewar : I would consider it. Hon . Robert Campbell : A few minutes ago you mentioned that the Board was favoring some people and wasn't favoring others. Did I get that right? Is that what you said, Sir? If you did it's kind of a reflection on me because I happen to be a member of that board and I will say there has never been anybody favored. Now, was that what you said, Sir? L. George Dewar : I made the statement that I don't think that there is any criteria of uniform claims and conditions upon which this coverage is being provided. That's what exists and I would rather feel that there might be some discrimination occurring on account of this and I, of course, have had instances where I believe this might have happened. I can't possibly, at the present time, give any specific instances but I am pleased that the Minister is concerned and that he will look into the matter and if there are any iniquities that he will see that they are righted in due course. (Applause) Before I conclude I would like to make a few remarks with respect to the urgent problems of transportation. The matter of freight rates is, I think one of the greatest concerns to this Province at the present time. It is unfortunate that the Committee of the House of Commons wasn't able to stay here and hear our briefs. It is actually more serious, I think, than most of our citizens realize, the changes made last fall in the freight rates structure. I had a few figures to show that the rate has gone up on less than carload lots between here and Toronto . In many instances the rate has gone up as much as three hundred percent. I had one instance where a person had paid, on a shipment of freight from Toronto to O'Leary , previously ten dollars and something. Under the new rate when they got the bill it was forty-eight dollars and something for the same amount of freight. Another inequity. I think this is a serious matter, the freight rate to Prince Edward Island from Toronto is greater than the freight rate from here to Toronto . Now, of course, that may be due to the fact that we benefit somewhat under the Maritime Freight Rates but that doesn't help the consumer on Prince Edward Island . The con¬ sumer who is least able to pay has to pay more in order to get his goods here and, of course, ordinarily pay more for the goods than the consumer in Toronto , who may be twice as well able to pay for them. The 300 lbs. of freight to Toronto ; the rate is $10.74. The same rate from Toronto to here is $13.20, almost $3.00 more —105—