1950-06-30

Right Hon. L. S. St. Laurent (Prime Minister):: Mr. Speaker, I should like to make a further brief report to the house with regard to our relationship to the present situation in Korea.
As the Secretary of State for External Affairs (Mr. Pearson) said yesterday, our responsibility in this matter arises entirely from our membership in the United Nations and from our support of the resolution of the security council passed on Tuesday last, part of which reads as follows:
The security council . . . Recommends that the members of the United Nations furnish such assistance to the republic of Korea as may be necessary to repel the armed attack and to restore international peace and security in the area.
Any participation by Canada in carrying out the foregoing resolution-and I wish to emphasize this strongly-would not be participation in war against any state. It would be our part in collective police action under the control and authority of the United Nations for the purpose of restoring peace to an area where an aggression has occurred as determined under the charter of the United Nations by the security council, which decision has been accepted by us. It is only in such circumstances that this country would be involved in action of this kind. The house, I think, has already approved this position.
I would add, however, that if we are informed that a Canadian contribution to aid United Nations operations, under a United Nations commander, would be important to achieve the ends of peace, which is of course our only purpose, then the government wishes parliament to know that it would immediately consider making such a contribution. It might, for instance, take the form of destroyers to operate with other naval units of the United Nations, though our destroyers could not in any event reach Korean waters in less than about three weeks' time, because after all it is more than six thousand miles from Esquimalt.
Hon. members will recall that our naval units there were to proceed to European waters for summer exercises. These arrangements will be suspended, and the move will now be made into western Pacific waters, where the ships would be closer to the area where they might be of assistance to the United Nations and Korea if such assistance were required. If the situation in Korea or elsewhere, after prorogation, should deteriorate and action by Canada beyond that which I have indicated should be considered, parliament will immediately be summoned1 to give the new situation consideration.
Meanwhile the government, within the mandate which the attitude of the house in the last two days has given it, will do its full duty, within the measure of its power and ability, as a member of the United Nations, in common with other members, to make the collective action of the United Nations effective, and to restore peace in Korea. If this can be done-and it can-then the chances of preserving and strengthening peace over far wider areas of the world than Korea will be immensely increased.


Mr. George A. Drew (Leader of the Opposition):: The house will welcome the assurance by the Prime Minister (Mr. St. Laurent) that in the event of deterioration of the situation which would call for action, parliament will immediately be summoned. It is particularly appropriate that on the day we prorogue there should be a further opportunity to discuss this subject in the light of the statement which the Prime Minister has made.
As the Prime Minister has pointed out, we are now seeing the first real effort to make the collective principle of the United Nations charter effective in the form of sanctions, in an instance in which there has been clear-cut aggression such as has occurred within the past week in Korea. Far from feeling depressed about the gravity of the events, it seems to me that all of us should be greatly encouraged by the hope this offers that the steady wave of aggression which has spread over many parts of the world in these past few years may at last be stemmed by the vigorous and effective joint action of free men throughout the world.
I think the sentiment of this house has been clearly demonstrated within the past
^460	HOUSE OF
External Affairs-Korea few days. What is important is that there seems little doubt that the sentiment expressed in this house is the sentiment of the people of Canada whom we represent. That sentiment seems to be unreservedly behind such collective action at this time as will offer the one hope of peace that is before us. This being so, I do not think we should leave this house today with any lack of appreciation of the full seriousness of the events of those past two days.
The United States, as the only nation with effective military forces within the area where aggression has occurred, has taken action which has already produced significant results. That action, however, has been action on behalf of the United Nations, which is represented in that area through a commission which was charged with the responsibility for administering the area. Anything that is done there will be action on behalf of the United Nations, as pointed out by the Prime Minister in the remarks he has just made. What is of vital importance and vital concern to every one of us is that more than the use of military force has been committed within these past few days. The whole prestige of the United Nations has been committed. Our prestige and the prestige of every member nation are committed by these events. On the outcome of this issue in Korea depends the future effectiveness of the United Nations. For that reason it is not only the fate of South Korea that hangs in the balance; it is the fate of the United Nations, the fate of that organization upon which the hope of peace in the years ahead now rests.
Had it been necessary, any of us could have made these remarks in discussing the supply bill this morning. For that reason I should like to point out that we shall presently be dealing with a supply bill which includes very large sums for national defence. Under the terms of that bill additional expenditures can be made and additional commitments undertaken if that becomes necessary. Before we leave here today I think it should be said in this chamber that in the light of world events every hon. member, I feel sure, will support such action as is necessary to bring our defence forces to the highest state of effectiveness.
This morning I saw in a press report from Korea a short statement which, it seems to me, casts a warning light upon the consideration of defence measures in times like these. There was in that statement a tragic explanation of the rapid advance of the North Korean forces. It explained that the morale of the southern troops was excellent, but that having regard to the mountainous nature of the country, interspersed with paddy fields, it had


been not thought practicable or necessary to supply the southern forces with tanks and other heavy equipment. This report emphasized that the psychological effect of heavy tanks in the possession of the northern forces had a great deal to do with the sudden weakening of the southern line. It then went on to say that one division of Southern Koreans had dealt effectively with that situation. They had suddenly organized suicide squads. Volunteers had gone into action against the tanks with dynamite strapped to their bodies. By these supreme acts of heroism, the tanks had been stopped by units of that division. With all the lessons of the past few years, and with all the courage of our people, neither here in Canada nor elsewhere do we want to see the necessity arise for suicide squads to replace armoured equipment which could be produced by the greatest industrial nations of the world. For that reason I urge that every step now be taken to equip with the most modern aircraft, the most modern armour and the most modern weapons those gallant young men and women who wear the uniform of Canada, There are ways in which this can be done.
While we are waiting for production to give us the arms, the equipment and the armour that we need, it should be possible for us to make arrangements with the United States or Great Britain for certain types of equipment which we then could replace at a later date. But, Mr. Speaker, it seems to me that, in the light of events as they are before us today, the one thought that must be in the minds of all of us is that every step that can be taken by this government to bring our armed forces up to a state of effective organization, in being, for whatever situation we might be called upon to face, is the number one priority of the government in the days and weeks ahead.
When we shall not be meeting in this House of Commons the people of Canada should be kept fully informed from day to day by the government as to events which may affect the lives of every one of us. I hope that the people of Canada, because they are the ones who will be directly concerned, will be fully informed by the government, and particularly by the Department of National Defence, as to steps which have been taken to bring to the greatest measure of effectiveness the highly disciplined and highly skilled units which we possess.
Once again I emphasize what I said before; that the preparations we are making today, the collective action which is taking place in Korea, is for the purpose of preserving peace; and everything we do to increase the effectiveness of our defence forces in Canada

and elsewhere is the one real guarantee of peace that exists for us in the troubled world of today.
In taking whatever steps may be necessary to preserve the peace, I am sure that the government of Canada will have the wholehearted support of all the people of this country.


Mr. Stanley Knowles (Winnipeg North Centre):: Mr. Speaker, we regard it as fitting that the Prime Minister (Mr. St. Laurent) should have taken the house into his confidence as he did this morning. We are gratified by the two assurances he has given us, and the two points he has emphasized. On the one hand he has assured us that Canada will live up to her obligations under the United Nations charter, and that any action taken by Canada will be taken under the auspices of the United Nations. With that emphasis we are in complete accord. On the other hand the Prime Minister has given us the assurance that if there is any deterioration in the situation, parliament will be summoned. We are grateful for that assurance. It is as it should be; nevertheless it is good to have it on the record.. We feel that the way of collective security on the international front and strict adherence to the principles of democracy in our own affairs is the one way that offers hope and peace in this troubled world.


Mr. Solon E. Low (Peace River):: Mr. Speaker, I just wish to say a word to commend the Prime Minister (Mr. St. Laurent) upon having made the statement he did this morning, and upon having given us the assurance that, in the event of its being necessary, this parliament will be called to consider further measures that may have to be taken to fulfil our commitments.
I stated the other day, and I am emphasizing it now, that the cost of being unprepared to meet the dangers that are extant may be far greater than the cost of being fully prepared. For that reason I join with the leader of the opposition (Mr. Drew) in saying: Let us be as fully prepared as we possibly can be for the days to come.


Mr. Jean Francois Pouliol (Temiscouala):: Mr. Speaker, if I did not rely upon the wisdom and the foresight of my leader, the Prime Minister (Mr. St. Laurent) I would make now a longer speech than that of the leader of the opposition (Mr. Drew).


REPORTS AND PAPERS
Hon. F. G. Bradley (Secretary of State):: Mr. Speaker, I wish to lay on the table of the house parliamentary return, reference No. 145, moved by the hon. member for Wentworth (Mr. Lennard). May I add that I am expect-
Supply Bill
ing another return this morning, which has not yet arrived. I would ask leave to hand it in when it comes.


TRADE WITH BRITAIN
[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. G. F. Higgins (St. John's East):: I should like to ask the Minister of Trade and Commerce a question, of which he has been given notice. On Monday, June 26, the minister stated that, as a result of the talks he had while in England and subsequent talks that are now current in England, before the end of this week he hoped to be able to announce the sale of 300,000 tons of iron ore to the United Kingdom for delivery this year, coupled with 700,000 tons of iron ore for delivery in 1951. He also stated that, with respect to new markets for salt codfish, he expected to make an announcement also before the end of this week. Would the minister inform the house if he is now ready to make this announcement, and if not, when does he expect it will be made?


Righi Hon. C. D. Howe (Minister of Trade and Commerce):: I am not in a position at the present time to extend the remarks I made last Monday. If the hon. member will keep a watchful eye on the daily press, I think he will be informed shortly.


Mr. Fulton:: As soon as prorogation takes place.



SUPPLY BILL

["I have the honour to inform the house that I have received the following communication:\nOttawa, June 30, 1950\nSir:\n1 have the honour to inform you that the Honourable Patrick Kerwin, acting as Deputy of His Excellency the Governor General, will proceed to the Senate chamber at 11.30 o'clock for the purpose of proroguing the present session of parliament.\nI have the honour to be, sir,\nYour obedient servant,\nJ. F. Delaute,\nAssistant Secretary to the Governor General"]
Hon. Stuart S. Garson (Acting Minister of Finance) moved: the second reading of Bill No. 319, for granting to His Majesty certain sums of money for the public service of the financial year ending the 31st March, 1951.


[Stage Direction]
Motion agreed to, bill read the second time and the house went into committee thereon, Mr. Dion in the chair.
On section 1-Short title.
['the second reading of Bill No. 319, for granting to His Majesty certain sums of money for the public service of the financial year ending the 31st March, 1951.']
Stanley Howard Knowles: Does this bill differ in any
particular from the appropriation bills usually brought before the house?


Stuart Sinclair Garson: It does differ in one particular, in that it increases the amount of the borrowing authority referred to in section 5 of the bill from $200 million to $500 million. As hon. members, particularly those who have been here longer, will recall, the authority to borrow money for refunding purposes is usually contained in the first appropriation bill passed each year. The authority to borrow money for other than refunding purposes

Supply Bill
is contained in the final appropriation bill which in the present case is the one we are now considering.
The amount so authorized started out in 1931 as $150 million; it was raised in 1932 to $200 million, and remained at that figure until the present time, when it is being increased to $500 million. This is made necessary because each year latterly we have been issuing Canada savings bonds in amounts in excess of $300 million per year. In addition at certain times it is necessary to raise money temporarily to meet extraordinary payments. This is often a question of timing. It is possible that at certain times our cash position is such that instead of refunding maturing issues we are able to pay them out of cash on hand. When this is done it may later become necessary that we replenish our cash by new borrowings, which, since they are not refundings, cannot be issued under the authority contained in the Appropriation Act No. 1. Thus as long as we are following the present financial policy it is necessary for us to increase our borrowing authority in the manner indicated, although this increase in borrowing authority does not mean that we shall use it to increase the public debt any rnore than we would have done under the $200 million borrowing authority.


Mr. Macdonnell (Greenwood):: If we could consider section 5 I should like to ask the minister to give us assurance on one point. The wording of the section is:
. . . not to exceed in the whole the sum of five hundred million dollars, as may be required for public works and general purposes . . .
My understanding is that that is merely a phrase which somehow or other has crept in and is used, but that in fact this borrowing will not increase the public debt in any way but will be expended purely for financial operations of the type indicated.


Stuart Sinclair Garson: I am not just sure what meaning my hon. friend has in mind to attribute to this phrase but as I understand the operations of this matter, it works in this way: We borrow money for public works and general purposes, which is the phrase used in the section. The necessity for increasing this borrowing authority arises from the fact that if in following out our policy to encourage savings we should issue $300 million per year in Canada savings bonds, it puts us in a cash position at various times which is not necessarily related to our borrowing needs. We sometimes have to use that cash for paying off rather than refunding an issue, and when we do that it creates the necessity of having greater borrowing powers later on.


James MacKerras Macdonnell: I am satisfied with that explanation. I raised the point

simply to draw attention to the somewhat unusual words and to be assured just what was meant by public works.


[Stage Direction]
Section agreed to.
Sections 2 to 6 inclusive agreed to.
Schedules A, B and C agreed to.
Title agreed to.
Bill reported.
['I am satisfied with that explanation. I raised the point\n\nsimply to draw attention to the somewhat unusual words and to be assured just what was meant by public works.']
Stuart Sinclair Garson: the third reading of the bin.


Stanley Howard Knowles: By leave.
Motion agreed to and bill reported, read the third time and passed.



Mr. Speaker:: I have the honour to inform the house that I have received the following communication:
Ottawa, June 30, 1950
Sir:
1 have the honour to inform you that the Honourable Patrick Kerwin, acting as Deputy of His Excellency the Governor General, will proceed to the Senate chamber at 11.30 o'clock for the purpose of proroguing the present session of parliament.
I have the honour to be, sir,
Your obedient servant,
J. F. Delaute,
Assistant Secretary to the Governor General



BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

Mr. SI. Laurent:: May I suggest that the sitting be suspended until we receive a message from the other place?;
I should like to take just a moment to express on my behalf, and on behalf of my colleagues, appreciation of the manner in which the matters brought before the house by the government, in the discharge of which it considered to be its responsibilities, have been dealt with by all hon. members. At the same time I should like to extend to all hon. members our best wishes for a restful holiday, which will enable them to return whenever the occasion requires in the mood that has been displayed throughout the whole of this session.



SITTING SUSPENDED

[Stage Direction]
At 11.10 p.m. the sitting was suspended until twelve^ o'clock noon this day.

[Stage Direction]
The house resumed at twelve o'clock noon.

[Stage Direction]
A message was delivered by Major C. R. Lamoureux, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, as follows:
Mr. Speaker, the Honourable the Deputy of His Excellency the Governor General desires the immediate attendance of this honourable house in the chamber of the honourable the Senate.
Accordingly the house went up to the Senate chamber.
In the Senate chamber, the Deputy Governor General was pleased to give, in His Majesty's name, the royal assent to the following bills:
An act for the relief of Marilyn Ruth Cohen Novak.
An act for the relief of Mary Elizabeth Bernatchez Russell.
An act for the relief of Winnifred Evelyn Thompson Clift.
An act for the relief of Maida Maria Howard Martin.
An act for the relief of June Hedy Leshynska Thompson.
An act for the relief of Rosemary Smalley Carrier.
An act for the relief of Arthur William Goodson.
An act for the relief of Dorothy Melbourne Davis Wand.
An act for the relief of Frank Lear Rogers.
An act for the relief of Roma Leduc.
An act for the relief of Edna Rosaline Casavant Dufresne.
An act for the relief of Leo Berger.
An act for the relief of Katherine Madge Sam-worth Monty.
An act for the relief of Clara Rosen Freedman.
An act for the relief of Frances Berman Mellor, otherwise known as Sharie Sinclaire.
An act for the relief of Rodolphe Durand.
An act for the relief of Helen Leek Karaszi.
An act for the relief of Sadie Chernin Petruska, otherwise known as Sadie Chernin Prince.
An act for the relief of Audrey Phyllis Angela Blom Rochfort.
An act for the relief of Patricia Ruth Segall
Wener.
An act for the relief of Sophie Piatkowski Demyk.
An act for the relief of Hilda Brooks Nangreaves.
An act for the relief of Zemelia Katrina Ayoub MacDonald.
An act for the relief of Margaret Mary Hamel Whittaker.
An act for the relief of Lewis Benjamin Wyman.
An act for the relief of Edna Dora Tucker Conley.
An act for the relief of Dorothy Marguerite Lester McBride.
An act for the relief of Josephine Rood Trottier.
An act for the relief of Margaret Irene Sinden Brown.
An act for the relief of Camille Poulin.
An act for the relief of Elisa Macdonald Mitchell Brock.
An act for the relief of Theodore Levasseur.
An act for the relief of Mary Marguerite Harvie Fine.
An act for the relief of Joseph Lucien Andre Bergeron.
An act for the relief of Thelma Leggo Chicoine.
An act for the relief of Anna Kathleen Olga McCone Shaw.
An act for the relief of Martin Luke Marlow.
An act for the relief of Helena Wilhelmina Thornburg Lawton.
An act for the relief of Bonnie Ruth McNab Sarrasin.
The Royal Assent
An act for the relief of Lyndia Betsy Mayes Bernier.
An act for the relief of Sarah Modlinsky Markis.
An act for the relief of Anna Patiris Sarakinis.
An act for the relief of Julia Ann Ramsell Blane.
An act for the relief of Cyrile-Orance-Horence Presseau.
An act for the relief of Paul Edmond Meerte.
An act for the relief of Charles George Storey.
An act for the relief of Mary Muriel Inez Larman Jarry.
An act for the relief of Mary Zilda Alix Runcie.
An act for the relief of Aili Esteri Kankaanpaa Toebben.
An act for the relief of Pierre Bouchard.
An act for the relief of William Aubrey Ricardo Aird.
An act for the relief of Marguerite Carmen Samson Wrigglesworth.
An act for the relief of Andrew Cerat.
An act for the relief of Marie Lucille Giselle Roy Veilleux.
An act for the relief of Mabel Pearl Speirs Lazor.
An act for the relief of Lena Grace Connolly Hibberd.
An act for the relief of Lilian Ferguson Gardner.
An act for the relief of Marion Leonard Ryan.
An act for the relief of Joseph Georges Neville Poirier.
An act for the relief of Marie Gisele St. Laurent Therrien.
An act for the relief of Norah Nichol Meighen Allan.
An act for the relief of Dora Eleanor Chalmers Grisley.
An act for the relief of Ruth Desiree Morrissette Chevalier.
An act for the relief of Richard Martello Johnston.
An act for the relief of Ernest Beliveau.
An act for the relief of David Allan Ferguson.
An act for the relief of Ann Louise Fuller Brais.
An act for the relief of Helen Leola Davidson Hunter.
An act to amend the Aeronautics Act.
An act to amend the Tariff Board Act.
An act to amend the National Parks Act.
An act to amend the Electricity Inspection Act, 1928.
An act to amend the Gas Inspection Act.
An act respecting the units of electrical and photometric measure.
An act to amend the Income Tax Act.
An act to provide for the publication of statutory regulations.
An act to amend the Department of Transport Stores Act.
An act to provide for the payment and distribution of prize money.
An act to amend the Militia Pension Act and change the title thereof.
An act to amend the Prairie Farm Assistance Act, 1939.
An act to amend the War Veterans' Allowance Act, 1946.
An act to amend the Canadian Wheat Board Act, 1935.
An act to amend the Foreign Insurance Companies Act, 1932.
An act to amend the Canadian and British Insurance Companies Act, 1932.
An act respecting defence supplies and projects.
An act respecting national defence.
An act to amend the Trust Companies Act.
An act to amend the Loan Companies Act.
An act to amend the Canada Grain Act.
An act to provide for the operation and maintenance of a residence for the Prime Minister of Canada.
An act to authorize the provision of moneys to meet certain capital expenditures made and capital
[Stage Direction]
Prorogation of Parliament
indebtedness incurred by the Canadian National Railways System during the calendar year 1950, and to authorize the guarantee by His Majesty of certain securities to be issued by the Canadian National Railway Company.
An act to amend the Judges Act, 1946.
An act to amend the Dominion Elections Act, 1938.
An act to amend the statute law.
An act to incorporate the Association of Kinsmen Clubs.
An act to amend the Canada-United States of America Tax Convention Act, 1943, and the Canada-United States of America Tax Convention Act, 1944.
An act to amend the Canadian Citizenship Act.
An act to amend the Canada Shipping Act, 1934.
An act to amend the Official Secrets Act.
An act respecting the national film board.
An act to amend the Prisons and Reformatories Act.
To these bills the royal assent was pronounced by the Clerk of the Senate in the following words:
In His Majesty's name the Deputy Governor General doth assent to these bills.
Then the Speaker of the House of Commons addressed the Deputy Governor General as follows:
May it please Your Honour:
The Commons of Canada have voted supplies required to enable the government to defray certain expenses of the public service.
In the name of the Commons, I present to Your Honour the following bill:
An act for granting to His Majesty certain sums of money for the public service of the financial year ending the 31st March, 1951.
To which bill I humbly request Your Honour's assent.
To this bill the Clerk of the Senate, by command of the Deputy Governor General, did thereupon say:
In His Majesty's name, the Honourable the Deputy of His Excellency the Governor General thanks his loyal subjects, accepts their benevolence, and assents to this bill.

[Stage Direction]
After which the Deputy Governor General was pleased to close the second session of the twenty-first parliament of the Dominion of Canada with the following speech:
Honourable Members of the Senate:
Members of the House of Commons:
The North Atlantic council has made a significant forward step by the formulation of the principle of balanced collective forces as the basis of the defence of the Atlantic community. The govern^ ment welcomes the decision to have deputies of the foreign ministers appointed to maintain continuity in the work of the council.
In order to further the economic co-operation of north Atlantic nations, Canada, along with the United States, has accepted an invitation to become associated on an informal basis with the work of the organization for European economic co-operation.
Canada was also represented at the commonwealth meeting held in Australia to consider the means of assisting in the economic development of south and southeast Asia.
The United Nations has recently been called upon to deal with a serious threat to peace in Korea. Though the situation emphasizes the grave concern which has long been felt over the failure of the security council to arrange for the provision of forces to implement its decisions in such cases, the prompt and energetic measures taken by individual members on its behalf and in conformity with its resolutions to restore and maintain peace in that area have met with general approval in all the free nations and will, I am sure, dispose them all to supply such form and degree of co-operation as may be required.
The government remains convinced that until there is genuine good will among all nations, the maintenance of peace will continue to depend upon the unity and strength of the free nations.
The government is continuing to give close attention to the development of our defence forces. Measures have been enacted to provide for the consolidation of existing legislation with respect to the armed forces including a purely Canadian disciplinary code; and to provide for the procurement of munitions and defence supplies. The government was gratified by the announcement of the United States government that a program for the purchase of defence supplies in Canada on a reciprocal basis was being developed for the year beginning on July 1.
Our external trade remains at a high level despite difficulties arising out of the world-wide shortage of United States dollars which continues to affect overseas markets for certain of our export products. My ministers are giving constant attention to the removal of obstacles to the free flow of trade between our country and our traditional customers overseas.
Satisfactory discussions have been held with the government of the United Kingdom concerning the sale of wheat after the completion of the present contract.
A measure has been enacted to bring the powers of the Canadian wheat board into conformity with the provisions of the international wheat agreement.
You have renewed the Agricultural Products Act and have provided legislative authority for continuing the support of prices of agricultural and fishery products where such support may be required to reduce the impact of price adjustments.
Legislation was enacted early in the session to bring additional workers under the protection of the Unemployment Insurance Act and the protection itself was extended by supplementary winter benefits.
A joint committee of both houses of parliament has examined carefully the whole question of security for the aged with a view to providing an essential background of informed opinion in advance of the forthcoming general conference of the federal and provincial governments.
During the session agreements were concluded with several of the provincial governments to implement the legislation with respect to housing and also the legislation with respect to a transcontinental highway enacted at the last session.
The Niagara diversion treaty between Canada and the United States to provide for the permanent regulation of the diversion of water from the Niagara river for hydroelectric power has been approved and it is the hope of the government that, in the interests of both countries, it will receive the early approval of the Senate of the United States.
A uniform and systematic procedure has been provided for the publication and tabling in parliament of regulations and orders made by the governor in council or ministers or other agents of the crown in the exercise of powers conferred by

statute. You have also approved a measure to enable corporate crown agencies to sue and to be sued in the ordinary courts.
The consideration of the measure to revise the Indian Act has not been completed. This measure will be reintroduced at your next session. In the meantime, among other amendments to the Dominion Elections Act, 1938, provision has been made to extend the rights of Indians to vote in federal elections.
During the session measures have been enacted respecting the national research council; prize money; the inclusion of veterans of British and allied forces within the scope of the War Veterans Allowance Act; prairie farm assistance, and the national film board.
Bills have also been passed to amend the Canadian Citizenship Act; the Customs Act; the Income Tax Act; the Excise Tax Act; the Tariff Board Act; the Judges Act; the Trust Companies Act; the Loan Companies Act; the Foreign Insurance Companies Act, 1932; the Canadian and British Insurance Companies Act, 1932; the Railway Act; the Canada Shipping Act, 1934; the Aeronautics Act; the National Parks Act; the Northwest Territories Power Commission Act; the Official Secrets Act, and the Criminal Code.
The Transitional Measures Act has been extended to provide for the orderly decontrol of rents.
The spontaneous and tangible expressions of sympathy for the victims of the Manitoba floods and the fires at Rimouski and Cabano have been a gratifying demonstration of national unity. My ministers felt they were acting with the unanimous approval of our people in providing immediate assistance in fighting the floods and fires and in applying to the disasters of 1950 the principles and considerations applied in the Fraser river valley flood of 1948. As on that occasion the work of the
Prorogation of Parliament armed forces was most effective. Joint federal-provincial commissions of investigation were appointed, and as soon as they could report, an announcement was made of substantial national financial assistance for rehabilitation and reconstruction of the devastated areas.
The Canadian section of the international joint commission has been requested to expedite the investigation into measures required for the future control of the Red river.
The greater Winnipeg diking board appointed jointly by the federal and provincial governments is proceeding with the work of providing flood protection for the Winnipeg area.
The prairie farm rehabilitation administration has been instructed to complete the compilation of data, much of which has already been gathered, with respect to flood control in the Assiniboine river.
The splendid manner in which our people met these disasters, the efforts and endurance of those who fought the flood and the fires, and the response from all parts of Canada and abroad to appeals for assistance have provided heart-warming evidence of the feeling of common humanity which exists in many other countries as well as our own.
Members of the House of Commons:
I thank you for the provision you have made for all essential services for the current fiscal year.
Honourable Members of the Senate:
Members of the House of Commons:
As you return to your homes, I express the hope that Divine Providence will continue to bless our people with peace, prosperity and happiness.
This concluded the second session of the twenty-first parliament.

[Stage Direction]
h