CHARLES CANNON WANTS RATE RAISED Speaking in the House of Commons, on January 17, Mr. Charles Cannon, Liberal Member for Magdalen Islands, Que., said:
"Family allowances are one of the greatest measures of social security in our country. But over ten years have gone by, and family allowances have not been increased. As everyone knows, the cost of living has increased enormously during that time, while the needs of children have not decreased. The means of meeting the needs of the children should be increased to keep pace with the cost of supplying them...
"I have received representations, both verbally and in writing, from my constituents to the effect that they think it is time the family allowances would be increased. These people point to the increase in the cost of living since 1945 and the fact that Government income available for purposes other than war purposes has greatly increased since that time. I agree with them, and I make an appeal to the Government to increase family allowances. "If they cannot double them, as requested in some quarters, they should at least increase them 25 per cent or 50 per cent. If it is impossible for the Government to increase family allowances all along the line, they should this is the minimum they should do increase the monthly allowances of $5, $6 or $7 for the younger children to the $8 given to the older children, so the same scale would apply to all. This modification would not only benefit the children, but would greatly simplify the administration of the act."
On unemployment insurance :
Mr. Cannon also asks for an improvement in the Unemployment Insurance act. As the rules are now, a person must have worked and paid contributions for at least 30 weeks within the last 52 weeks (one year) before his claim. This rules out a great number of people in the Islands he represents, many being unable to find employment for 30 weeks during the short period of activity in the fish plants in one only summer. The member for Magdalen Islands suggests : "That the act be amended to lengthen the period in which the 30 weeks of contributions are to be made. This should be lengthened from one year to 18 months. Then, if a worker applied for unemployment insurance on November 1, when most of the local plants are closed, he would have not only the immediately preceding summer seasons, but also the summer season before that, in which to find his 30 weeks of contribution."
Towards the end of his speech, Mr. Cannon insisted again :
"Before leaving this subject, I again urge the Government most earnestly to enact legislation at this session of Parliament to improve, as above outlined, these two great social security measures unemployment insurance and family allowances."
Well done, Mr. Cannon. We would like to hear more many Liberal members use the same language, "urge most earnestly the Government", i. e. the leaders of the Liberal party, to improve these acts, to raise the family allowances, "at this session of Parliament".
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Leg amputated - yet no pension
On rural route No. 3, in Maximeville, Prince County, Prince Edward Island, there's a shanty measuring 9 feet by 12. Mr. Charles Barriault inhabits this hovel.
Mr. Barriault is 61 years old. He lost a leg at the age of 18. He hobbles about, thanks to a stick of wood (not a wooden leg, mind you !) which completes the missing part of the leg. He receives no assistance, no pension. Despite the weight of his years and the magnitude of his infirmity he must work as a fisherman to ward off starvation.
If a farmer dared work an old, three-legged horse he'd be hauled into court and fined or imprisoned; and be threatened with worse if the offence were repeated.
There doesn't seem to be any such consideration for a human being!
"Oh yes! Canada's a rich country!" But for whom? For Mr. Barriault, perhaps?