Mr. H. Russell MacEwan (Pictou):

Mr. Speaker, this question is for the Solicitor General. It follows a question asked by my colleague the hon. member for Cape Breton North and Victoria on March 1. Has the Solicitor General had an opportunity to talk with the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development regarding the Cape Breton Indian, Stephen Marshall, who at his trial according to reports was not represented by counsel and could not speak English? Is the minister's department doing anything to assist this man in an appeal by way, for instance, of providing defence counsel?

Hon. L. T. Pennell (Solicitor General):

Mr. Speaker, I have had an opportunity to discuss the matter with my colleague the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Every effort is being made to give assistance to this individual on his appeal.

Mr. P. B. Rynard (Simcoe East):

Mr. Speaker, I wish to direct this question to the Minister of National Health and Welfare. In view of the great shift in opinion from universality to selectivity in welfare, and in view of our present financial situation, does the minister plan further talks with the provinces before implementing his universal medicare bill?

Hon. Allan J. MacEachen (Minister of National Health and Welfare):

No, Mr. Speaker.

March 12, 1968

Mr. L. M. Brand (Saskatoon):

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of National

Health and Welfare which is in a sense supplementary to one asked a few minutes ago. Can he state whether money to be sent to Saskatchewan under the medicare program beginning July 1 will be designated for use for medicare only, in order in this way to help alleviate the catastrophic deterrent fees soon to be introduced in Saskatchewan in respect of the medical and hospital care plan?

Mr. Speaker:

Order. I suggest to the hon. member that his question cannot be asked at this time. If there is some immediate urgency he may wish to discuss the matter on the adjournment motion.

Mr. Gilles Gregoire (Lapointe):

Mr. Speaker, I wish to direct a question to the Minister of Transport (Mr. Hellyer).

In view of the urgent need to settle the serious situation now prevailing in the port of Montreal, does the Minister of Transport intend to appoint, after consultation with the local authorities, a special administrator whose authority and jurisdiction would be all-encompassing over the port of Montreal?

Hon. Paul Hellyer (Minister of Transport):

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated earlier this question of the management and control of port facilities is being studied by the government. I would not wish to prejudge the results of that study, because no comprehensive look has been taken at this question for many years. I hope it will not take too long to have the inquiry completed. In the meantime we have problems at the port of Montreal, and I am sure my colleague the Minister of Labour is doing everything possible to see that the labour situation there is ameliorated.

Mr. Gregoire:

Mr. Speaker, I wish to put a further question to the hon. minister.

In view of the fact that he is not too sure when the investigations concerning the port of Montreal will be completed, and since

Inquiries of the Ministry there are not only labour relations problems in the port of Montreal, could the minister inform the house whether, pending completion of these studies, he could not, together with the authorities of the city of Montreal, appoint a special manager who would at least deal temporarily with the problems of the port of Montreal?