Wednesday, March 13,W_1968_

Medicare Act was passed and since then has been twice postponed because of lack of finances, and lack of provincial co-operation. The provinces object to it, and quite rightly so. This matter of medical care insurance is a matter which comes under provincial jurisdiction and Quebec has already indicated that it will not co-operate under any circumstances. Our own Minister of Health has said that we cannot afford to participate, and I am inclined to agree with him. It will be necessary for the Province to raise an additional $2,000,000 to supply medical care to all people. many of whom (10 not need it. The problem of course in all of this is the Federal Liberal principle of universal application of welfare benefits which they insist upon applying to all welfare measures. This principle of universal application has been the bane of our existence in Canada for the past twenty-five years. Most people agree that those measures that have been instituted in the Department of Health and Welfare are good in themselves, but they should be directed to the people who need them. If this could be done we could embrace these measures and Medicare itself. But no, it must be given to everyone. The principle of universal application has got us into such trouble that it is nearly impossible for the smallest welfare measure to be given to anyone who needs it. It is as if one wanted to buy a pair of shoes for a needy child. and then the Federal Government tells you it is necessary

to buy shoes for every child. This is a ridiculous situation and that is what is wrong with the Federal Medicare Act.

I agree with our Minister of Health, and all of the Conservatives in Ottawa, as well as all the members of the medical profession that Bill 0227 is a poor piece

of legislation, and nearly impossible for this Island to accept, if only for financial reasons.

This principle of universal application of welfare benefits also has a wider application. It seems to me that this principle of universal application, in which everyone participates in a welfare measure whether it is Old Age Pension, or Un- employment Insurance or Family Allowance and so on, is a welfare measure which is directed primarily at the middle-class of society. The poorer classes who need it don’t get the benefits they deserve and the people who are well off get benefits to which they have no right, in my opinion, and which they do not need. It is the question of the Federal Government taking money from one of their pockets and putting it back in the other pocket, less a generous discount.

In regard to Medicare, Mr. Speaker, I do have a couple of suggestions for the Minister of Health. I think that the government should consider expanding the pre- sent government Blue Shield programs to include people who need medical care insurance, and who cannot afford to purchase it. This can be done quite easily with

the Old Age Security Group, and the identification of other needy people in the Province should not be difficult.

I, with the Minister of Health, object to the government giving medical care insurance to people who do not need it. It is a waste of public funds. I, for example, do not need medical care insurance, and I object to public funds being used to insure for example, most of the members of this House.

It is regrettable that the conditions of the federal act are so stringent that this Province is unable to participate at this time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no more observations to make on the question of Medical Care Insurance. but since the Minister of Labour seems to think that I am quite re-

actionary in this respect, I would be glad to answer any questions that anyone wants to direct my way.

I want to speak for a moment about the plight of the City of Charlottetown. The Assemblyman from the Sixth District of Queens has already mentioned this. the Councillor from the Sixth District of Queens has already mentioned it also. I haven’t heard any complaints yet from the members for the Fifth District of Queens, but it is in regard to the plight of the City with their tax problem. Most of the cities in Canada, I don't know the names, but most of the cities in Canada receive from their provincial governments a grant in lieu of taxes. The City of Charlottetown already receives a grant in lieu of taxes from the Federal Government because of their properties here. As I understand it the properties of the Provmcial Govern- ment in Charlottetown approximate half the total city assessment, and it has been

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