Tuesday, March 12,‘196§

I_ would also like to extend my sympathy to the family of the former Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable C. C. Baker, who passed away during the last sum— mer, very suddenly, in Kensington.

I would also'like to extend my sympathy to the Minister of Labour for the loss of his father Just recently. His father was one of my professors at Prince of Wales College.

I would like at this time as well to welcome the students from Crapaud and Hunter River, and the Rangers from Charlottetown to our Assembly. And I would like to suggest, particularly to those people from Crapaud, that their good member was on his feet tonight so that you would all know that he was here doing his duty as your representative. (Applause)

\Valter R. Shaw: Remember they have two members up there. Some Member: Just one.

Hon. M. Lorne Bonnell: The other member doesn’t live in your district and I don’t think he was worrying too much whether you vote for him or not — he is not going to run any more. (Laughter)

W'alter R. Shaw: How do you know? Hon. Alex 13. Campbell: He is always on his feet.

Hon. M. Lorne Bonnell: But the young people from Crapaud, those of you who are of the same political faith as my good friend, Mr. Myers, I would suggest that you do all you can to support him for that leadership. (Applause) Because he is one of those on the Conservative side of the House who has been here a long time and who has always represented his district to the best of his ability, and I know that if you young Conservatives from the Crapaud area would give him your support he would represent you in the Opposition for many years to come. (Laughter) (Applause)

Now, Mr. Speaker, there are a few remarks that are made in this Assembly concerning my Departments that I would like to comment briefly on before giving you a resume of the work that was done in my two Departments.

Someone suggested that we cut the senior citizens $1.50 to $23.50 and they didn’t think we should do that. They thought these poor people were in great need and they should receive $25.00.

Now, Mr. Speaker, the promise made by our Premier was that our senior citizens would be guaranteed $1100.00 per month. They are now receiving $76.50 from the Federal —— or more, and those that receive $76.00 will receive $23.50 from the provincial government to guarantee them $100.00 a month.

Now, these people who are receiving the $23.50 from the provincial govern- ment, most of them are not in great need. These people, some of them have large incomes, some of them have large savings, but the promise was that no one would receive less than $100.00 per month and therefore, since the Federal is now paying $76.50, the province pays $23.50 as was promised by this administration.

Hon. Robert E. Campbell: Nothing like keeping your promises.

Hon. M. Lorne Bonnell: There was some suggestion by the former Minister of Health and the former Minister of Welfare that the allowances in the Department of Wel- fare were not distributed fairly. I can assure you, Mr. Speaker, that nothing could be further from the truth. Those who apply for welfare in this Province are all treated the same, and they are treated on the basis of need, regardless of thir re- ligion, their district, their creed, their colour or anything else. (Applause)

J. David Stewart: What about their politics? Hon. M. Lorne Bonnell: Or their politics, that is under everything else.

The Honourable Member from the Third District of Prince stated that his dis- trict was not getting as much as the First District of Prince. Naturally so, because the First District of Prince has about three times as many people in it.

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