Friday,7March 771, 1968

other offices in the Maritimes or Montreal. We have low farm prices, disasterously low in some instances. We have, I understand, a somewhat depressed situation in the fisheries. Markets for our products are depressed. We have, I understand, very

little sale for pulpwood in this Province at the present time. They can’t sell it up West; I don’t know what you are doing down East.

Hon. Keir Clark: A big mill over in Pictou will buy it all. Walter R. Shaw: How much?

Hon. Keir Clark: A good price.

L. George Dewar: We have a curtailment in the Winter Works program which provided a lot of employment in the wintertime for people that could not otherwise obtain employment. I mentioned this awhile ago where I thought it was a commendable action in using Winter Works. I see the Minister of welfare is back in his seat and I hope that he will use this project to help provide dwellings and housing for many of our socially lacking people in this Province.

We have a halt in the Causeway, number twelve. We have a closing down of

military installations, phasing out of operations in this respect. This will have a serious impact on the economy of this Province.

Some Member: They are not closing down.

L. George Dewar: Well, it sounds as if the one here was certainly closed down one hundred per cent, and we are told that there will be phasing out of the program in the other major installation in this province.

We have a decrease in subsidies for farm products and this is one that the Minister of Agriculture should be greatly concerned about and no doubt he is. I imagine that at night he loses some sleep over the situation. We have a decrease in the subsidy in hogs, We have a decrease on the subsidy on cheese, we have a de- crease on the subsidy on milk. Three very vital products in this Province, and the Minister should try and do something about this because this might be the straw that could break the camel’s back in a great many instances.

Hon. Robert E. Campbell: Pretty heavy straw that would break the camel’s back. (Laughter)

L. George Dewar: Now if the . . . . Well, it is a good thing there are two camels to bear the straw or it might be very fatal. (Laughter)

So this is the situation, Mr. Speaker, and I think it is a serious situation and I hope that the government is viewing it in this way and that they are taking steps and measures that will prove adequate to take care of this difficult situation in which we are in. It is to be hoped that it will not be too long delayed, because the matter is urgent. I do not think that We have years to consider it, to make plans and to make surveys; I think we need action now and we trust that the gov- ernment will do everything possible to get the ball rolling and get something done.

Thank you. (Applause) Hon. George J. Ferguson (Fifth Kings) Minister of Highways:

Mr. Speaker, on rising to participate in this Debate, before reporting on the activities of the Department of Highways and Public Works, I would like to make a few remarks.

First of all, I would like to say how pleased I am to see you back as Speaker in charge of the proceedings of this Chamber. I realize that this is a very difficult task. However, I am sure with the co-operation of the members, and this to date has been evident, that yours onerous duty can be lessened somewhat. I look for— ward, however, to you carrying out your duties in an efficient and impartial man— ner. Our Deputy Speaker, the senior member from Fourth Queens, will, I am

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