Abraham Albert Heaps
Labour
Mr. HEAPS:
A very important point has
been raised by the hon. member for Vegre-ville. Cases have come to my attention of people who have been in the country twenty-five or thirty years, have attained the age of forty-five or fifty, but have lived in scattered districts where it has been practically impossible for them to become familiar with either the French or the English language. When they reach the age of seventy, without having obtained naturalization papers, and make applications for old age pensions, because of their inability to speak English they are practically barred from the benefits of the Old Age Pensions Act. These people have given good service to the country, and through no fault of their own find themselves unable to obtain naturalization. I wonder if it would not be possible in such instances, where a person has been a good citizen and has all the other qualifications to receive old age pension, that some discretionary powers might be vested in the minister whereby such people could become Canadian citizens and eligible for old age pension.