__ TuesdayLMarch"12,3068

Hon. M. Lorne Bonncll: The original authorization to this expenditure came from the previous government just prior to the election. I might say that the previous government not only didn’t vote the amount of money in the 1966 Session of the Legislature, but ordered it paid by an Order-in-Council. They also made no effort whatsoever to make any claim on behalf of this payment from the Federal Govern- ment, and I am pleased to say that after considerable work and negotiations with Ottawa we were able to recover from Ottawa the sum of $424,102. (Applause)

I was very surprised to hear the former Minister of Welfare and the former Minister of Health state that certain districts in the Province were getting pre-

ference, which is absolutely false. Payments are made on the basis of need. I men- tioned this before so I will leave it out.

Blue Cross - Blue Shield. Our Department continues the policy of free inedi— cal care to recipients of welfare assistance, and their dependents, and at this time approximately 8,755 people are enrolled in our Welfare Blue Cross — Blue Shield Plan.

I might state that our present contract with the Blue Cross-Blue Shield, and the Prince Edward Island Medical Society ends on April 30, 1968. We are presently negotiating with both the Prince Edward Island Medical Society and the Maritime Blue Cross-Blue Shield with a view to signing a new contract for the new fiscal year.

We also find that about 23% of those covered, or 2,027, are over 65 years of age, and this age group utilizes the plan to the extent of 151% of the cost.

We also find that the Prince Edward Island Medical Society fees have been increased as of January 1, 1968, so the new negotiations with the Medical Society

and the Blue Cross-Blue Shield is liable to cost the Department a substantial in- crease from that of the previous contract.

I might state at this time that the negotiations with the Medical Society of Prince Edward Island and the Blue Shield—Blue Cross Association of Moncton have been making favourable progress and I think an agreement will be reached very soon for the signing of new contracts for the next fiscal year.

During the last year our Department paid $25,000 towards the salaries for the operation of alcoholics Half-Way House. I am quite pleased with the operation of this treatment centre for alcoholics and would like to express my thanks to the voluntary agencies, organizations, and people who are taking part in this very worthwhile treatment centre for the rehabilitation of alcoholics.

The Child Welfare Division has looked after more neglected children than ever before, and with the increased costs these problems are becoming more and more important to our Department. As in other years, Child Welfare officials spent a lot of time counselling unmarried mothers, looking after adoptions, supervising neglected children in foster homes, and helping out with juvenile delinquent children.

All Mothers’ Allowances were discontinued, and our mothers with families wcre given “needs tests” and transferred to the General Welfare Assistance Act. Their allowances now under the New Canada Assistance Arrangement are much more gen- erous than before. Approximately 95% of the mothers in this Province received a $30.00 a month increase in their allowance.

About the same number of blind individuals receive allowance from the De- partment as last year. In order to get more assistance from the Federal Govern- ment these blind persons were left under The Blind Person’s Allowance Act, rather than transferred to the General Welfare Assistance Act. Under the Blind Person’s Allowance Act we are able to claim 75% of the payments from the Federal Govern- ment, whereas if we had transferred them to the General Welfare Assistance Act we would have only been able to claim 50% of the cost from the Federal Depart— ment of Health and Welfare.

Disabled Persons Allowances. Most of those who had been receiving Disabled Persons Allowances have been transferred to the General Welfare Assistance Act. The reason for this was that under the Disabled Persons Allowance Act the max1— mum that could be paid to a recipient was $75.00 per month. Whereas you can transfer them to the General Welfare Assistance Act and give them an allowance

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