SQUIRE WARNS GOVERNMENT Labour Will Revolt Over CMA Medica By IWA REPORTER VICTORIA—John Squire, MLA (NDP - Alberni), a member of Local 1-85 IWA, warned the provincial ‘gov- ernment during the Throne Speech debate in the Legisla- ture that trade union mem- bers now covered by MSA would stage a revolt against the inclusion of MSA mem- bers in the proposed UMI plan advanced by the medical profession. His main objec- tions were that MSA mem- bers had not been fully ad- vised of the implications and that the inclusion of private insurance companies would, boost the rates for prepaid health insurance. He joined with other New Democratic Party members in declaring that the “hidden profit” scheme could not be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for genuine medicare. Premier Bennett interrupt- ed his Budget presentation to answer a question about medicare. He stated that “when this government intro- duces medicare, it will be without any increase in taxes.” He predicted that the Saskatchewan government would face ruin when pre- miums became due later this year. : ; Later, the Premier advised the press that Labour Minis- ter Peterson would state gov- ernment policy on the ques- tion on Tuesday, February 12. As no reference was made to medicare in the budget, his remarks were interpreted as meaning that the government approved the partial volun- tary plan Briroved by the doctors. The CU & C, Provincial Government Employees, CPR and Fraser Valley prepaid medical service plans are on record as opposed to their compulsory inclusion in the QUESTION: WWHAT'S THE CONNECTION BETWEEN Pat AND UMI with the private com- panies. The MSA directors are reported to be withhold- ing final judgment until legis- lation is tabled in the Legisla- ture. Statements made by mem- bers of the Legislature are summarized in part as fol- lows. Robert ahaa: MLA “The ‘pooled risk’ plan does involve handing over large sums from general revenue to private agencies to admin- ister and it leaves these agen- cies to decide what services are to be offered. Individual agencies will offer different services and means tests will be part and parcel of: the scheme. Premiums, deducti- bles and deterrent fees will also be left to the Bpencies to decide. “Administration costs will be exorbitant because of the numerous agencies involved, along with all their paper work and form-filling. “I have estimated that the saving in administrative costs in having one plan covering the whole province would be Z ) , ry 4 fy ap (G/F ( \A (3 eA ANSWER: in the region of at least three million alike per year. Un- less we have one overall scheme, an extra cost will be paid by the public, not for medical care, but for the sake of ‘featherbedding’ agencies. such as MSI, who have ad- mitted recently that their ad- ministrative costs are 9.57%, as compared with the govern- ment employees’ scheme of 5%. “T would like to kill, once and for all the ridiculous sug- gestion that the subsidy plan will cost six million dollars a year. What they mean is that it will cost an extra $6,000,- 000 per year over and above the approximately forty-five million dollars we are already spending on doctors’ Ip Rae Eddie, MLA “This scheme would con- ceivably be a happy one for the private insurance com- panies. It would increase their revenue without lower- ing their premiums. It cer- tainly would not be a happy one fox the people seeking services.” “While consumer prices in- creased 28% between 1949 Piewe Pass and 1960, health care costs in- pr 59% and doctors’ fees Oe “Health insurance should provide: (1) service to all citizens regardless of income, age, or ale (2) Costs should be spread over society as a whole rather than falling on those unfortunate enough to be ill; (3) It should provide all necessary services. Noth- ing short of such a plan will satisfy the people of this province. We want no patch- work plan.” Zz } \ | R - he | \ im = Randolph Harding, MLA “This is not a non-profit plan. It is a scheme to force UU mu = Socred | Views? =| = = = VICTORIA. — Social as- | E = = = INT sistance recipients should be denied the right to vote, said a Social Credit member of the Legislature during the Throne Speech debate a here. Stanley Carnell (SC- | Peace River) contended = that only the “right people” = should have the franchise. z lig Sm ) They both — one in fiction, the other in fact — share the same eternally youthful attitude to life. In the case of PIERRE PARIS this happens fo be the enduring satisfaction of founding a dynasty of shoe craftsmen that turn out the best boots this side of Bunyan. Three generations of PARIS boys have been creating these masterpieces in leather since 1907. WATCH OUT FOR THE LOGGER WITH PARIS . YOU CAN SPOT HIM BY THE BOOTS . GLEAM IN HIS EYE! The boy who wouldn’t grow up . #,ouhe fam- ous statue in Kensing= ton Gardens, London, : Entland. \ PIERRE PARIS & SONS 51 West Hastings Street Vancouver 3, B.C. Family Teamwork in Craftsmanship since 1907 John Squire, MLA “I think this House should know that the labour move- ment, who incidentally com- pose the bulk of the member- oe of MSA are opposed to this alleged pool plan. It might well be that Pit they were coerced into such a scheme, it would cause them to consider, as unions have done in other parts of the country, the setting up of union or cooperative clinics. We are not going to be used to further the ends of the in- surance companies in their attempt to defeat a proper medical plan.” “This draft agreement would force the reluctant plans into this phony pool. The government must inform the public whether it ap- ace of this private mono- poly approach oink includes profit-making insurance com- panies to the health care of our citizens.”