1960-01-15

Right Hon. J. G. Diefenbaker (Prime Minister):: Mr. Speaker, I should like to move, seconded by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Pearson):
That the speech of His Excellency the Governor General, Major General Georges Philias Vanier, D.S.O., M.C., C.D., together with the address of welcome made by the Prime Minister in the Senate chamber on September 15, 1959, be printed as an appendix to the official report of debates of the House of Commons, and form part of the permanent record of this parliament.
I might add in this connection that similar action was taken on April 12, 1946, when Right Hon. Mr. King made the same motion concerning the induction ceremony of Right Hon. Viscount Alexander of Tunis. I should in fairness point out that apparently the same course was not followed in connection with Mr. Massey, but on previous occasions it has taken place. I thought I ought to place that point before the house, and hope that this motion should be accepted.


[Stage Direction]
Motion agreed to.
[For text of addresses above referred to, see appendix to today's Hansard.]


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Hon. L. B. Pearson (Leader of the Opposition):: Mr. Speaker, I should like to ask the Prime Minister whether the government proposes to provide during the present session for an examination of defence policy through the appointment of a small special committee for that purpose.


John George Diefenbaker: Mr. Speaker, when the debate opens on Monday the government's views in general will be discussed, and defence policies will be one of those matters that will be dealt with. In the meantime I suggest that the question remain until Monday, at which time, having regard to press references, I take it, that the hon. gentleman is going to have something to say on this subject.



REQUEST FOR SPEED-UP OF SHIPMENTS THROUGH VANCOUVER

[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. Frank Howard (Skeena):: I should like to direct a question to the Acting Minister of Trade and Commerce or perhaps to the parliamentary secretary to the minister. Will the minister undertake to speed up the shipment of grain through Vancouver harbour so the 39 ships at present tied up there may be loaded with grain for export?


Hon. D. S. Harkness (Acting Minister of Trade and Commerce):: I will be very glad to look into that matter and give the hon. member an answer on Monday.



UNITED NATIONS


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. John Drysdale (Burnaby-Richmond):: I should like to direct a question to the Secretary of State for External Affairs. Can the minister advise the house whether the Canadian delegation to the second United Nations conference on the law of the sea has been named and, if so, who are its members?


Hon. Howard C. Green (Secretary of Slate for External Affairs):: Mr. Speaker, I should like to thank the hon. member for giving me notice of this question. On March 17 the second United Nations conference on the law of the sea will be convened in Geneva. Canada, together with over 80 member countries of the United Nations and its specialized agencies, will take part in this conference, which is regarded by the Canadian government as of the utmost importance to the peace of the world and the development of international law.
Hon. George Drew, Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, who headed the Canadian delegation to the first conference in Geneva in 1958, will once again assume the leadership of the Canadian delegation to the forthcoming conference. The delegation will also include three vice chairmen; Mr. M. H. Wershof, permanent representative to the European office of the United Nations; Mr. Marcel Cadieux, legal adviser and assistant under secretary of state, Department of External Affairs; and Mr. S. V.
8	HOUSE OF
Inquiries of the Ministry Ozere, assistant deputy minister, Department of Fisheries. We are also fortunate in having the services of a distinguished member of the academic world, Professor George Curtis, dean of the school of law, University of British Columbia, who will be a member of the delegation.
The first conference approved 113 articles under four conventions, on the territorial sea, the high seas, high seas fishing and the continental shelf. Agreement at the forthcoming conference on the breadth of the territorial sea and the fishing jurisdiction of coastal states in the contiguous zone would complete the codification of the law of the sea and thereby mark a tremendous stride forward by the international community in the direction of international order based on international law. As the sixth largest fishing nation in the world and the country with the largest coastline, the forthcoming conference is of particular importance to Canada. It is the intention of the government to take an important initiative at the conference by putting forward a proposal for a six-mile territorial sea and for a twelve-mile fishing zone reserved exclusively for the fishermen of the coastal state.
During the past year Canada has been actively seeking support for this proposal. The government has held discussions in a large number of capitals and has engaged in a series of exchanges of views with countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe. We will continue a vigorous effort in the weeks before the conference and at the conference itself to seek support for this proposal, which we believe is a practicable and workable compromise between the positions of those states, the Soviet bloc and others, on the one hand, which favour a twelve-mile territorial sea, and those maritime states, the United Kingdom, the United States and others, on the other hand, which are seeking to preserve a narrow territorial sea and historic fishing rights.
As a part of these activities the Canadian government has distributed a pamphlet printed in our two official languages and also in Spanish, which has been made available to all members of the United Nations and its specialized agencies. This pamphlet explains the Canadian proposal and, we believe, demonstrates that it would now seem to offer the best hope of reaching agreement at the conference. Because of its general interest and importance, I now wish to table this pamphlet in English and in French, copies of which will be distributed to hon. members.


Hon. Paul Martin (Essex East):: May I ask
the Secretary of State for External Affairs a supplementary question. In view of the wide divergence that prevailed between the positions taken by the government of Canada and the governments of the United Kingdom, France and the United States on this matter, can the minister say whether or not these have been reconciled since the last conference?


Howard Charles Green: Mr. Speaker, we are figuring out these things for ourselves, arriving at our own conclusions and taking action accordingly. In this case we hope to be able to convince some of these western countries and also some of the eastern countries that the Canadian plan is the best plan.


Paul Joseph James Martin: Mr. Speaker, I was not asking the Secretary of State for External Affairs whether or not his arm had been twisted. I was simply asking, for purposes of clarification-


Some hon. Members:: Order.


Paul Joseph James Martin: -whether or not the gap had been narrowed between the views held by the government of Canada at the last conference and those held by the governments of the United Kingdom, the United States and France. I am sure the minister would want, on the occasion-


Some hon. Members:: Order.


Paul Joseph James Martin: -of the first statement to be made by him in the house this session, to give a reply consistent with the kind of attitude he wishes to take so far as the foreign policy of this country is concerned.


Howard Charles Green: There is some divergence of opinion between the different countries. It is not a case of one country adopting one formula and a lot of other countries lining up behind it. Different interests arise, as the hon. member will appreciate. We are hoping it will be possible to get the support of two thirds of the countries represented at the conference for the Canadian formula.
The same formula was put forward at the conference in 1958, along with several other proposals; and, as the hon. member knows, at that time it was impossible for any of the proposals to get a two thirds majority. The result was that on this particular question, which really is the most important question having to do with the law of the sea, the 1958 conference failed.
We believe that the Canadian proposal, which the hon. member will see in the pamphlet, is a reasonable compromise. We already have a great deal of support, but we are hoping to be able to obtain sufficient additional support to win a two thirds majority.



IS, 1960 TRADE PARIS CONFERENCE-INSTRUCTIONS TO MINISTERS

[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Hon. Lionel Chevrier (Laurier):: Mr. Speaker, may I address a question to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister tell the house what instructions or advice, if any, were given to the two ministers who attended the meeting in Paris with the members of the
13	countries forming the two regional trading blocs?


John George Diefenbaker: Mr. Speaker, both hon. gentlemen will be in the house on Monday. On that occasion they will give a report of what took place in Paris, the nature of the views they expressed there and the decisions that were made at that conference.



TRANSPORTATION


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. J. F. Browne (Vancouver-Kingsway):: Mr. Speaker, I should like to direct a question to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister give the house any information concerning the present position of the royal commission on transportation, and when we may expect a report from the commission?


John George Diefenbaker: Mr. Speaker, I looked into this matter today because I expected that it would be one of the questions that would be asked. I communicated with the chairman of the royal commission and, with the leave of the house, I will place before the house the information he gave me.
As hon. members know, some months ago the then chairman of the commission, Hon. Charles McTague, retired as the result of a serious illness and Mr. M. A. MaePherson was appointed in his place. I have this report from the present chairman.
A schedule of meetings has been arranged for western Canada commencing in Winnipeg on February 8. On Monday next the commission will commence to hear submissions in Ottawa in connection with grain rates, and it is expected that the cross-examination in that regard will conclude by the 28th of this month. Then, following that western trip meetings will be held in Toronto on March
14	to 16 and on March 23 public hearings will resume in Ottawa.
Having regard to the issues that are being discussed before the commission it is not expected that the cross-examination by the several counsel engaged upon the commission 79951-0-2
Inquiries of the Ministry will be particularly short. Following the completion of the hearings to which 1 have referred there will, of course, have to be consideration given to the report and to those matters to be included in the report. I might add in that connection that the commission felt it might be a good idea, in response to the requests from the various provinces, that meetings be held in the capital cities of each of the provinces, and that procedure was going to be followed, except in British Columbia, where the request was for a short hearing in Victoria and the main hearing in Vancouver, and in Quebec, where the wish was expressed that evidence be taken in both Montreal and Quebec city.
That is the agenda; there is the future course to be followed by the commission in connection with the hearing of evidence. Hon. gentlemen will be able to deduce therefrom that there is no early possibility of a report being handed down.


Mr. Hubert Badanai (Fort William):: Following the Prime Minister's statement regarding the sittings of the royal commission on freight rates, I should like to ask if he received a request from the lakehead to hold sittings there?


John George Diefenbaker: Mr. Speaker, there were requests from various cities, including Fort William, for hearings, but the attitude taken by the commission was that, consistent with its announced policy, the commission would not decide to go to any other cities than those to which I have already alluded.



MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS MADE ON ORDERS OF THE DAY

[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. G. J. Mcllrailh (Ottawa West):: Mr. Speaker, I wonder if I might raise a point of order at this stage of the proceedings and ask for your direction on it, either now or later if you wish to let the matter stand for further consideration. We have had two quite lengthy statements made in answer to questions on very important matters, one by the Secretary of State for External Affairs (Mr. Green) and the other by the Prime Minister (Mr. Diefenbaker). It seems to me that these were in the nature of statements rather than proper answers to questions, and as such they should have been made under the item of motions in the routine proceedings.
It will be recalled that during the first answer a motion was made and a document tabled. Surely this document should have been tabled under the item of motions, and the statement made at that time. The same

Inquiries of the Ministry remarks apply to the answer given by the Prime Minister. I raise the question now merely in an attempt to try to keep the proceedings of the house on an orderly basis. This is the first day on which these matters can be raised, and the question period can sometimes get a bit out of order.


Mr. Speaker:: Does any hon. member from the other side of the house wish to comment on the point of order? The hon. member for Ottawa West (Mr. Mcllraith) does have a point when he draws attention to the fact that rather lengthy replies, in the nature of statements, have been initiated by way of questions. Having expressed that view, I think we might leave the matter there for the time being and follow the course of events.



TELEVISION


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. H. W. Herridge (Kootenay West):: As
he is the target for all questions, queries and quibbles with respect to the C.B.C., I wish to address a question to the Minister of National Revenue. In view of growing dissatisfaction with the unexpected delay in the provision of C.B.C. television facilities for the Rossland-Trail area, occasioned by the inability of the C.B.C. to purchase the required terra firma from the provincial government, is the minister now in a position to publicly unveil this unique constitutional and administrative mystery for the information of the house and the many others concerned?


Hon. George C. Nowlan (Minister of National Revenue):: After the circumlocutions as well as the poor Latin used by the hon. member, I simply want to say I am instructed and advised that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation desires to purchase a piece of property adjacent to the constituency of the hon. member and in which he has a natural interest. However, this property is owned by the crown in the right of the province of British Columbia. Discussions are taking place between officials of the government of British Columbia and officials of the C.B.C., and I have great hope and expectation that the problem can be solved within a very short time.



IMMIGRATION


[Stage Direction]
whether or not Mr. Weldon Chan, who is now under order of deportation, will be permitted to remain in Canada to complete the legal proceedings already instituted if he surrenders to authorities of the immigration department?
Hon. Ellen L. Fairclough (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration):: I am unable
to answer any questions in regard to Mr. Chan because he has taken legal proceedings and the matter is now before the courts.


Hon. J. W. Pickersgill (Bonavista-Twil-lingate):: May I direct a supplementary question to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister give the house the same assurance which his predecessor gave in response to a question of his in the Hanna case, that this man will not be spirited out of the country while any legal proceedings are under way?


John George Diefenbaker: The legal proceedings in the
previous case to which the hon. gentleman refers were legal proceedings under the Immigration Act.


John Whitney Pickersgill: Oh, no, they were not.


John George Diefenbaker: The hon. gentleman should know because he was the minister at the time, but my recollection is that the proceedings were those arising under the act. I can assure him of this; that when any proceedings under the act are taken, so long as this government is in power there will be no spiriting out of the country.


John Whitney Pickersgill: May I ask the Prime Minister whether, if legal proceedings similar to those which were taken in that case, which had nothing to do with the Immigration Act but were habeas corpus proceedings, are instituted, the Prime Minister will give a similar assurance to this house that the man will not be spirited out of the country?


John George Diefenbaker: The habeas corpus proceedings were in respect of the Immigration Act and the procedure taken thereunder. If any proceedings are launched by way of habeas corpus nobody will leave Canada, regardless of what the circumstances are.


John Whitney Pickersgill: May I ask the Prime Minister a further supplementary question. Is the Prime Minister aware of the fact that the minister has indicated precisely the contrary in a telegram to the lawyer in question?


John George Diefenbaker: Under habeas corpus?



INQUIRY AS TO REVISION OF ACT DURING PRESENT SESSION

[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:	On the orders of the day:
Mr. L. D. Crestohl (Cartier):: I should like Mr. L. B. Crestohl (Cartier): I have another to address a question to the minister of im- question to ask the Minister of Citizenship migration. Will the minister inform the house and Immigration. Can the minister tell the 

house whether the Immigration Act will be reviewed and revised during the present session of parliament?


Ellen Louks Fairclough: I am not in a
position at the moment to answer that question. The matter has been under review, as the hon. member knows, for some time and progress is being made.



SAINT JOHN, N.B.  STATUS OF AGREEMENT RESPECTING THERMAL PLANT

[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. H. J. Robichaud (Gloucester):: I should like to direct a question to the Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources. Since construction of the East Saint John thermal plant is now well under way, will the minister advise the house whether, after two long years of negotiation, a specific agreement has now been signed between the federal and provincial governments for the financing of this project?


Hon. Alvin Hamilton (Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources):: Mr. Speaker, the answer is no.


Hédard-J. Robichaud: May I ask a supplementary question. In view of the minister's regrettable reply, will he at least inform the house precisely why there has been such a delay in the signing of this agreement, or if this agreement will ever be signed?


Some hon. Members:: Order.



CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAYS


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. H. J. Michaud (Kent, N.B.):: Mr. Speaker, I should like to direct a question to the Minister of Transport. Has the minister received a telegram from the mayor of the city of Moncton protesting against the proposed layoff of over 100 men in the C.N.R. shops there; if so, what action is envisaged by the minister concerning this matter?


Hon. George H. Hees (Minisier of Transport):: I personally have not received such a telegram although one may be in my office at the present time. I think I can answer the hon. member's question best by quoting a reply which was reproduced in this morning's press by the Canadian Press:
C.N.R. vice president W. T. Wilson said today there is nothing unusual about changes in the size of the railway's staff.
79951-0-2J
Inquiries of the Ministry
"The current reductions are part of the normal continuing process of adjusting the size of the work force to meet various employment requirements," Mr. Wilson said.
Then he went on to say this:
"Generally speaking, railway employment rises and falls in accordance with the work load resulting from such facts as seasonal needs, weather conditions and the operating requirements for keeping rolling stock in condition to meet traffic demands."
He said that no management is insensitive to the hardships caused by lay-offs. "Unless operating costs are kept under control, the company's competitive position would be jeopardized and, along with it, the continuing livelihood of all its employees."
He added that the C.N.R. is making every effort to place the employees in other jobs.


Lionel Chevrier: May I ask
a supplementary question. Does the minister agree with the statement that there is nothing unusual in the lay-off of 600 men?


George Harris Hees: I say that there is nothing unusual in a variation in the work force of the C.N.R., as the former minister knows very well.



NORTHERN AFFAIRS


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. M. A. Hardie (Mackenzie River):: should like to direct a question to either the Prime Minister or the Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources. Did the government request the Federal Electric Company to issue orders under threat of dismissal to D.E.W. line personnel against fraternizing with Eskimos? If not, can the Prime Minister tell me under what statute a foreign company can prevent Canadians from such fraternizing?


Francis Alvin George Hamilton: Mr. Speaker, in view of the nature of the question I will take it as notice.



CANADIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Hubert Badanai: Mr. Speaker, I have two questions for the Minister of National Revenue. The first one is this. What was the cost to the C.B.C. of the "Shadow of a Pale Horse" program? The second question is this. Is it the policy of the C.B.C. to proceed with the televising of a program which for any reason has been turned down by a designated sponsor?

Inquiries of the Ministry


Mr. Speaker:: Order. The hon. member is asking for statistical information. I suggest that he might properly put the question on the order paper, or at least the first part of it.


George Clyde Nowlan: Mr. Speaker, I am not in a position to answer the first part of the question; and even if the statistics were available I am not sure that it is one to which consideration should be given. As to the second part with regard to programming, I shall be glad to refer the hon. member's question to the corporation and obtain a reply.



&quot;VIEWPOINT&quot;


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. D. M. Fisher (Pori Arthur):: Mr. Speaker, I should like to direct a question to the same minister in his role as happy interlocutor between the C.B.C. and parliament. I sent him some warning of this question. It relates to the interview on the January 1 program of "Viewpoint" where a Professor Fox talked with "the hon. member from Kicking Horse pass". My question is this. In view of the clear but partisan nature of this member's statements in support of the government, would the minister consider asking the C.B.C. to give comparable time to the official opposition?


George Clyde Nowlan: Mr. Speaker, from having heard reference to that program-unfortunately I did not hear it but was told about it- I understood that the reference was to the hon. member for Port Arthur and that therefore he had a full chance to reply. If I was misinformed I shall be glad to get further information and let him know.



COMBINES INVESTIGATION ACT


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Frank Howard: Mr. Speaker, I wish to ask the Minister of Justice a question of which I gave notice earlier today. Can the minister give the house any information with regard to the investigation by the combines investigation branch into the operations of Pacific Press Limited of Vancouver?


Hon. E. D. Fulton (Minister of Justice):: Mr. Speaker, I am not in a position to add anything to the answer I gave to a similar question on April 30 of this year.



BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Lionel Chevrier: I wish to direct a question to the Prime Minister, in view of the fact that some intimation has been given with regard to interruption of the business on Tuesday. May I ask the Prime Minister, whether he can tell the house now what the intention of the government is in that respect?


John George Diefenbaker: Mr. Speaker, the intention is this. In view of the fact that urgent legislation will have to be considered at this session arising out of the unusually early snowfall in western Canada, we would expect on Tuesday-and I trust that we have the cooperation of hon. members everywhere-to introduce two resolutions preparatory to the introduction of two bills, one dealing with the matter of cash advances on unthreshed grain and the other with government guaranteed bank loans. If it is at all possible, after the resolutions have received the attention of the house I would hope that it might be agreed by hon. members in all parts of the house that we then proceed by way of second reading and to a conclusion at the earliest possible date.


Lionel Chevrier: I should like to ask a supplementary question. Is it the intention to continue with the two resolutions until they have been passed, even though they take up more than one day?


John George Diefenbaker: I would say so; yes.


Lionel Chevrier: May I ask this further question. May we expect a copy of the bills for the week end?


John George Diefenbaker: Yes, at once. Copies will be made available to the official opposition and to the C.C.F. group.


Lionel Chevrier: Today?


John George Diefenbaker: Yes, today.


Lionel Chevrier: The first part of the question dealt with the matter of whether the government intends to go on with this legislation until it has been completed.


John George Diefenbaker: Yes, I said that. I interrupted the hon. gentleman when he was speaking, and I said yes.



PUBLIC WORKS


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Hon. D. J. Walker (Minister of Public
Works): Mr. Speaker, may I correct the annual report of the Department of Public Works which was filed yesterday. There is a printer's error at page 17. 1 should like to make a correction by inserting the figure "2" before the figures-
Mr. Speaker:: Order. I take it that the hon. member is asking to correct a paper which has been filed?


Mr. Walker:: Yes. I am writing the clerk asking that the correction be noted. I was under the impression that I was obliged to bring the matter to the attention of the house.


Mr. Speaker:: I am not sure whether the minister needs leave to make a statement in order to make such a correction, because I do not recall a correction of a departmental paper having been made in the past. Otherwise it is by way of statement or information. Has the minister leave to make the statement in question?


Some hon. Members:: Agreed.


David James Walker: Thank you. On page 17 of the annual report of the department I am asking to have inserted before the figures $263,744.56, the figure "2" so that it will read $2,263,744.56. It makes a substantial difference.


John Whitney Pickersgill: May I ask the Minister of Public Works whether this report was printed by the printing bureau?


David James Walker: I am happy to say that it was printed by the printing bureau, Mr. Speaker, and also that the French version is correct.



REQUEST FOR UP-TO-DATE GOVERNMENT TELEPHONE BOOK

[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. J. T. Richard (Otiawa East):: Mr. Speaker, I should like to ask the Minister of Public Works when we may expect to get a telephone book that is up-to-date. The last one is for 1958.


David James Walker: Mr. Speaker, I can assure the hon. member that the matter will be attended to at the earliest possible moment.



PUBLIC SERVICE


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Lionel Chevrier: May I ask
not the Minister of Public Works but the Prime Minister when he expects to appoint a queen's printer?
The Address-Mr. Morissette


John George Diefenbaker: That matter is receiving the fullest consideration.


Lionel Chevrier: It has been doing so for some time.



SPEECH FROM THE THRONE


[Stage Direction]
The house proceeded to the consideration of the speech delivered by His Excellency the Governor General at the opening of the session.
(Translation):
Mr. Emilien Morissette (Rimouski):: I am
hardly in the habit of making speeches, especially speeches requiring the degree of eloquence which befits momentous occasions. It was not therefore without some misgivings that I accepted the honour which the Right Hon. Prime Minister saw fit to bestow on the people of my riding, by inviting their representative to move the address in reply to the speech from the throne.
It is therefore on behalf of those people that I wish to express my appreciation to him and recall his triumphal visit in our district last fall, a visit which clearly showed the high esteem enjoyed by him and his government.
My task in moving the address is made easier for I shall merely have to state facts and figures that will reveal the meaning of the enthusiastic demonstrations which greeted the Hon. Prime Minister in our province. And, since I have referred to my province, may I mention at this point that it has twice been cruelly stricken since the end of the last session.
Last September, the province of Quebec lost in the person of the Hon. Maurice Duplessis, a chief whose undeniable worth will henceforth place him among the political men who have left their mark on Canadian history. The province of Quebec, for its part, owes him its industrial development, the reorganization of its agriculture, the drawing up of its labour legislation, the establishment of its social security measures and the gigantic advance of its education at all levels.
History will recognize that he gave our province its true political stature and placed it among the economically powerful provinces. This alone entitles him to our gratitude. For

The Address-Mr. Morissette my part, I can say that his influence will continue to be felt through those who will have benefited from the examples of industry, loyalty and foresight which he set for our country.
But, Mr. Speaker, hardly had we recovered from the sorrow of that great loss when death deprived our province of another premier, the Hon. Paul Sauve, who passed away in his prime, at the outset of a most promising career. The designs of Providence are unfathomable, that is the only answer that I and thousands of people from Quebec could find to this tragic event. The man has passed on, but his work remains and it constitutes an imposing sum of wise measures, good decisions and positive action, which set a new landmark and the resurgence of a political system already credited with many achievements.
We had to accept this new blow which, fortunately, was softened by the accession to power of a man formed in the tradition of his predecessors and who, I am sure, will follow in their footsteps and carry on their work. That is what makes us look to the future with confidence, indeed with assurance. We are justified in this attitude by unmistakable signs of our country's march towards economic prosperity. And that will be the subject of my remarks, after I have paid tribute to you, Mr. Speaker, and congratulated you on the admirable and wise manner in which you preside over our discussions. You will surely be assisted in this task by the wisdom, shrewdness and distinction of the new deputy speaker whom the Hon. Prime Minister has just appointed. With all my colleagues, I rejoice at the honour being bestowed upon the member for Quebec South (Mr. Flynn) an honour which redounds on the city and which the members of the province of Quebec deeply appreciate. Blood will tell, and we know that this outstanding man who, in addition, is a grandson of one of the premiers of our province, will preserve for his name the prestige it has had in the past.
As for the hon. member for Longueuil, he possibly feels some regret at leaving the post he has so ably filled during the last two sessions. We like to think that he will gradually become reconciled to the change, as he comes to appreciate the honour of sitting in the cabinet.
Personally, we are happy over his accession to the cabinet. We feel sure that he

will co-operate all the better with his colleague from Toronto-Rosedale in the interest of the whole nation. It is, therefore, with deep joy that we offer our two new ministers, whom we associate in our esteem and affection, our most cordial congratulations.
Just as sincerely, we congratulate all the hon. members who, for various reasons, were appointed to the exacting position of parliamentary secretary. We will soon be able to see them at work. The qualities which called them to the Prime Minister's attention will undoubtedly make them excellent auxiliaries.
Noblesse oblige. Those colleagues, more than the rest of us who are devoid of either title or glory, will have to set a good example to the new members who enter this house.
I should like to take this occasion to offer my most sincere congratulations to the hon. member for Russell (Mr. Tardif) and the hon. member for Hastings-Frontenac (Mr. Webb).
Now, Mr. Speaker,-and this will be the subject of my speech,-I want to make a brief survey of the economic situation in Canada and to point out the beneficial effects of the budgetary and fiscal policies of the present government. I will also have occasion to tell how much I admire the wisdom of the government's economic and fiscal policies.
The Liberals had predicted that the election of a Conservative government would be followed by a depression. Actually, the position is far different. Having come to power under extremely difficult circumstances, and being confronted with a disturbing economic situation, the Conservative government had the courage and the ability to adopt the financial and budgetary measures required in such circumstances. We must keep in mind that the Liberals themselves had failed in their task at the beginning of 1957 and, inspired solely by electoral considerations, they had not been frank enough to tell the people of this country that Canada's economy had already begun to weaken dangerously. The Conservatives were elected in 1957 after committing themselves to reduce taxes and to improve social security measures. Those promises, in 1957 were not made merely to attract votes, but because they were required by our economic situation. The Liberals claimed that those Conservative promises could not be carried out. The Conservatives have fulfilled them all.


An hon. Member:: You are not in Quebec to be making such a statement.


Émilien Morissette: In 1956-57-and I am referring of course to the financial year-Canadians paid in taxes to the federal government the sum of $321.14 per capita. During the same period, the federal government paid to Canadian citizens, in the form of social security benefit, the sum of $86.00 per capita. Those figures are those of the last full year of Liberal administration.
In 1958-59, the first full year of Conservative administration, Canadian taxpayers paid into the federal treasury the sum of $271.16 per capita. During the same period, the federal government increased its social security payments to an average of $120.00 per capita. That is an increase of 39.5 per cent. For the present year, it can be expected that the taxes which Canadians will have to pay to the federal treasury are going to be again materially lower than those for 1956-57.
We now have proof that, more than anything else, the government's policy of relaxing monetary restrictions at the end of 1957 helped to check the recession and to cause the business recovery. The drastic anticyclic measures adopted by the government at that time in order to increase public expenditure, the tax cuts, the heavy increase of what are known as federal government transfer payments, all of them measures which tended to strengthen the purchasing power and the demand for consumer goods, have allowed us to offset the bad effects of a decline in private enterprise investments.
Last year, when I spoke on the budget, I had occasion to show that the recession had been neither as deep nor as long as some people had expected. I was able to show that, thanks to the wisdom of the government's budgetary and monetary policy, our Canadian economy was relatively buoyant during a situation which was extremely difficult in North America. In nearly all fields of economic activity the slump was never as pronounced in Canada as it was in the United States, while the recovery here was faster and stronger.
In 1959, the Minister of Finance continued to apply a realistic fiscal policy and refused to give in to all manifestations of pessimism or panic. Confronted by what he personally described as an economic paradox, and anxious to adopt a policy which would both encourage full employment and stop inflation, the Minister of Finance recommended to parliament a slight increase in taxation. The Minister of Finance's optimism was justified
The Address-Mr. Morissette by a general business improvement. Today we have evidence that the policy adopted by the government at the beginning of 1959 was a wise one.
I remember that last year the financial critic for the official opposition, the member for Kenora-Rainy River (Mr. Benidickson) expressed strong doubts about the hon. Minister of Finance's forecasts regarding our economic position in 1959-60. The first of these forecasts which the opposition found fault with was that there would be a 7 per cent increase in the gross national product. Speaking for the opposition, the hon. member for Kenora-Rainy River had this to say, and
I	quote from page 2614 of last year's Hansard:
I said the other night, and I think it is worth emphasizing, that in looking at this all-important figure of the gross national product it is very difficult to be as optimistic as one would want to be, because of two particular elements that are essential to a steady rise in the gross national product. One of these elements is exports; the other is capital investment. Since the budget speech we have received the most recent issue of the Financial Post, a very reliable newspaper indeed. The Financial Post of April 11, 1959, has this to say about these elements:
I am still quoting the statement made by our hon. colleague in the opposition.
Exports are giving more indications of receding from last year's high levels. In February, for example, Canadian goods sold abroad were off
II	per cent, after taking into consideration seasonal influences. It is unlikely that the full year will be down this much, but it is still hard for many producers to see any sudden upsurge in foreign demand for most Canadian source-related products.
Again quoting from the same issue of the Financial Post, the member for Kenora-Rainy River had this to say;
There is still no sign of a turnaround in capital spending by business. Year-to-year decrease for Canada for 1959 will be about 5.5 per cent.
And the member added the remark that such figures were not very encouraging. The member for Kenora-Rainy River also suggested that any increase in the gross national product might be attributed to inflationary prices. Let us look at the facts.
During the first nine months of 1959, according to the dominion bureau of statistics, the gross national product actually did increase by 7 per cent. But as prices went up only 2 per cent, the actual increase was at least 5 per cent. Dominion bureau of statistics calculations eliminating the price increase factor have shown an actual increase of 4.8 per cent in the physical volume of personal expenses during the first nine months of 1959. Expenses for new machinery and equipment have increased 10.1 per cent.

The Address-Mr. Morissette According to the member for Kenora-Rainy River, such expenses, as I have just said, should have decreased by 5.5 per cent.
The opposition had predicted the break down of our export trade. There again, the facts have not borne out their forecast. The approximate value of our exports for the present year has reached the unprecedented figure of $5,200,000,000. More exactly, for the first ten months of 1959, our exports amounted to $4 billion 194 million compared to $4 billion 72 million the previous year. In October alone, they amounted to $471.9 million, an increase of 3.6 per cent over the corresponding month last year. That upward trend is reported to have increased during the last two months of the year.
Therefore the financial policy applied by the government in 1959 has not impeded our economic progress. Let me add, to round off the 1959 picture, that industrial production increased by 8 per cent. Figures of wholesale and retail sales for the first ten months in 1959 show a considerable increase. Retail sales reached an all-time high of $13 billion during the first ten months of the year, an increase of 5.4 per cent. In October alone, the increase was 7.8 per cent over the figure for the corresponding month last year. Wholesale sales for the first ten months in 1959 amounted to the incredible figure of $7 billion, an increase of 9.5 per cent over 1958. In October alone, the increase was 6 per cent. Substantial increases were recorded in most businesses.
For example, in the sale of automobile parts and accessories, the increase was 11.7 per cent. In industry and transport, equipment increased by 10.6 per cent. Sales of domestic electrical appliances increased by 9 per cent.
Shipments to market of manufactured goods for the first ten months of the year are estimated at $19 billion 198 million. That is an increase of 6 per cent over 1958. In October alone, those shipments are estimated at $2 billion 34 million, that is 5 per cent more than the corresponding month last year. Manufacturers' backlogs at the end of October 1959 amount to $2 billion 225 million, that is 5 per cent more than at the same date last year.
The Liberals had made other sinister forecasts. They had said that the additional sales tax on motor vehicles would seriously affect that industry. Again their pessimism was unjustified.

According to the dominion bureau of statistics, the number of motor vehicles manufactured in Canada and marketed during tlie first ten months of 1959 reached 319,282 units. For the corresponding period of last year, the figure was 285,361. This is quite an increase, and it is all the more impressive when you remember that the automobile industry was affected by the steel strike in the United States.
The employment picture has likewise improved in 1959. According to D.B.S. figures, and those of the Department of Labour, Canada's labour force in November 1959 had reached 6,247,000, an increase of 1.8 per cent over 1958. The number of gainfully employed people reached 5,951,000, as compared with 5,777,000 last year. There was a reduction of 65,000 in the number of people seeking employment, notwithstanding the increase in our labour forces, which I have just mentioned.
I said earlier that 1959 had been a year of price stability. Indeed the consumer price index increased only slightly, from 126.1 in December 1958, to 127.9 in 1959, which is considerably less than 2 per cent.
Wholesale prices in 1959 were relatively stable, as shown by the index relating to those prices. From November 1958 to November 1959, there was an increase of only 6 per cent. Prices of finished and semifinished manufactured products remained just about the same.
Another opposition prediction was that there would be a drastic decrease in the volume of home construction. If I remember correctly, the hon. member for Nipissing had taken upon himself the special task of transmitting this Liberal forecast to the house. If there were less house starts, the number of houses finished has increased by 98,131, which is just about the same figure as last year. I might point out here that, because of recent government action in this regard, the number of house starts increased considerably during the last months of the year, as compared with the previous months.
The year 1959, as we have seen, has been a year of great prosperity. The credit for this goes primarily to the government which gave our country the economic leadership required by circumstances. It should also be recognized that, thanks to government policy, the new prosperity has not taken the form of a disastrous inflation. No later than yesterday, Mr. James Muir, president of the

Royal Bank of Canada, paid to the government in general and to the Minister of Finance in particular, a tribute which is worth noting. Mr. Muir stated, in eifect, that the government policy in the matter of credit and money availability was in keeping with the facts and with our actual needs, and that it was exactly the right answer to our present difficulties. He thus publicly endorsed the measures taken by the hon. Minister of Finance and thus supported, with all the authority of a distinguished financier, the general policy of our government. That should be enough to reassure us as to the future and, especially, to put back in their places members of the opposition who had set themselves up as economists and financiers.
Those facts, Mr. Speaker, I repeat, inspire a wholesome confidence. And it is on the basis of those facts that I move, seconded by the hon. member for Grenville-Dundas (Mrs. Casselman):
That the following address be presented to His Excellency the Right Honourable Georges Vanier, Governor General:
May it please Your Excellency:
We, Her Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the House of Commons of Canada, in parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Excellency for the gracious speech which Your Excellency has addressed to both houses of parliament.
(Text):


Mrs. Jean Casselman (Grenville-Dundas):: Mr. Speaker, may I be the first to congratulate the hon. member for Rimouski (Mr. Morissette) for the very able manner in which he fulfilled the honour given him this afternoon.
May I extend to you, Mr. Speaker, the pleasure felt by the house in seeing you returned to your seat of honour and dignity in such good health after your strenuous travels. We followed you with interest and we thank you for the friendship and understanding you earned for Canada.
May I extend, too, my warmest and heartiest congratulations to your newly appointed deputy, the popular hon. member for Quebec South (Mr. Flynn).
We are fortunate that all hon. members of this house have returned and may the coming months not weigh too heavily upon the good health which the members of the cabinet, the leaders of the opposition and all hon. members appear to enjoy today.
We are fortunate that the Prime Minister (Mr. Diefenbaker) and his charming wife enjoy excellent health and are especially
The Address-Mrs. Casselman endowed with a sense of duty which enables them to bear their onerous positions with such efficiency, grace and warmth.
We extend a warm welcome to the new members, the hon. member for Hastings-Frontenac (Mr. Webb) and the hon. member for Russell (Mr. Tardif) who were introduced yesterday. May their work here be rewarding.
All of Canada has been saddened since we left here last July by the loss of two very great Canadian personalities. We extend our deepest sympathy to the people of the province of Quebec on the tragedy they have suffered and we extend warm and sincere wishes for good health and success to the new premier of that province.
I wish to warmly thank the Prime Minister for his confidence in inviting me to second the address in reply to the speech from the throne. I am fully conscious of the advantageous position he has given me from which to make my maiden speech. The two counties that I represent have shown a unique loyalty to the person of the Prime Minister, to the party he represents and to the government of Canada. On their behalf I gratefully and respectfully acknowledge this honour.
The counties of Grenville and Dundas were settled nearly 200 years ago by a combination of British, Dutch and German pioneers. Nearby were French speaking settlements and in the early rigours of physical hardships and the first problems of government and education those groups learned to respect one another, to like one another and the absolute necessity of unity for their very existence. We, therefore, join with all Canadians in rejoicing at the degree of unity we have achieved in this country amongst all classes, creeds and races of our people and between the federal and provincial governments. Those admirable characteristics of our people were displayed in the last five years when they accepted the disruptions and the changes brought about by the astonishing St. Lawrence seaway development. They overcame daily irritations and considerable heartache to adopt a forward looking and enthusiastic realization of what this would mean to Canadian development.
As you travel through the county of Dundas -and I hope that those of you who have not done so will be doing so in the near future -you will see homes and buildings that are now pictured in volumes of Canadian history. In those historic buildings live some of the most modern thinking Canadians. We have preserved the best of the past and we are always looking for the best of the future.

The Address-Mrs. Casselman It is small wonder that this district has consistently followed the party to which I belong.
We are pleased to note that the cargo moved through the St. Lawrence seaway last year, 1959, showed an increase of 71 per cent over that moved through the old St. Lawrence canals in 1958. In other words, we had a gain of 8,300,000 tons over the 11,800,000 tons moved in 1958. We commend the Department of Transport and the Department of Public Works for the very fine committee of their best officials which they set up to study the possibilities and the problems in the municipalities involved in the changed conditions. In the future any municipality which shows a rapid increase in development will be assisted accordingly. It is to be a gradual development which the municipalities understand and approve and this, I submit, is a practical common sense policy in the best ideal of federal and municipal relations.
From the windows of my home I can watch the ships of many nations passing, as do many of my constituents from their homes. The increase in the numbers of those ships denotes expanding trade and we are happy at the expanding economy of the free world. However, all observers cannot help but notice that incoming tonnage has increased twice as rapidly as the tonnage of our exports. We must beware and try to balance the great increase of foreign products coming up the St. Lawrence to our home markets with a comparative increase of our Canadian products going down the St. Lawrence to foreign markets. The balancing of trade is not a simple task, but I am optimistic when I observe the unselfish devotion with which the hon. members of this government face long hours of work and study, and remember that we belong to a party whose traditional principles laid the foundation of our great industrial structure.
In Grenville-Dundas we have followed the pattern of most Canadian communities in changing from a completely rural community to one where we now have 490 licensed employers. Amongst those we have eight manufacturers of food and dairy products employing about 1,000 people; one manufacturer of chemicals, employing about 1,000; six manufacturers of textiles, employing about 600; five manufacturers of wood and paper products, employing nearly 200; four manufacturers of metal products, employing over 200; one manufacturer of electronics employing about 500; two manufacturers of cement products, employing about 40; and four manufacturers of mill feeds and grain storage, employing nearly 200. On the accepted theory that four people depend on every person in industry this means that we have

about 16,000 people, or about half of the population of our two counties, depending closely on the industrial health of our nation. Our municipalities welcome industries and we have facilities and natural resources to offer. The reeves and councils of our municipalities have worked unselfishly and have put in extra hours during the disruption of the seaway building, and they are fully aware of the need of industrialization.
Again we follow the Canadian pattern in having many farmers struggling with nonproductive farm units through no fault of their own. The above-mentioned industrial growth does not entirely accommodate them. They deserve respect and consideration for the honesty and reasonable patience with which they face their problems. The Minister of Agriculture has mentioned some type of reconversion farm plan now being studied by his department whereby these people will be offered training and assistance. I am sure this meets with the approval, not only of those directly dependent on and interested in agriculture but of all Canadians.
In Grenville-Dundas we are fortunate in that steps have already been taken in this regard. At the Kemptville agricultural school many courses are offered at the present time. At the moment there is a three-month course in dairying and cheese-making which is most helpful, particularly to our two counties and the neighbouring counties of Leeds, Lanark, Carleton, Stormont, Glengarry and Prescott. This course is approved by the Department of Labour which means that any student interested can still collect unemployment insurance while improving his knowledge and his employment possibilities. This is the type of government assistance which helps young people and people of all ages to help themselves and the type of assistance that I particularly like. I trust that these approved courses will be increased and extended to many fields in all parts of Canada as rapidly as facilities can be arranged.
Canada has been chosen as the site of the United Nations economic, social and cultural organization world conference on adult education to be held in Montreal next August. It is interesting to hear from the director of this organization that one of the reasons for Canada being chosen as the site is the fact that we are well ahead in adult education and we might well act as an inspiration to other nations. Scientific discoveries and technical changes make adult education extremely important.
I should like to see all Canadians take for granted continuous education and enjoying the satisfaction and the security of continued learning. We would thereby assist our

The Address-Mrs. Casselman
productiveness in every way, encourage our children to better attitudes to education and certainly cut down the percentage of mental illness, which decreases our national energy and is so often brought about by stagnation, boredom or fear of not being able to cope with the modern world.
It is recognized that the export of our raw products to older countries that need them so badly is indeed important business, but it is equally important to face the changing patterns brought about by increased population and increasing mechanization. It is estimated that the present 15 per cent of our population who can supply us with food will possibly in the future be decreased to as low as 7 per cent.
Last year 2,508,800 horsepower were brought into operation, an all-time record growth of harnessed water power. The Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources estimates that although the water power plants in Canada now produce nearly 25 million horsepower we still have twice that amount not yet harnessed. As a member of the press gallery pointed out in an interesting article this week:
The Immense amount of cheap hydroelectric power available to our industry and the willingness of capital to buy the costly modern equipment which can use this abundant power together offer Canada the great opportunity of cheap mass production. Our industry and our labour force are taking advantage of this opportunity, but only in part.
He continues by comparing Canadian industrial workers' output with that of Japanese workers and suggests that ours might be greater in view of the electrical assistance that we in Canada have.
In Grenville-Dundas we look forward to a steady growth of efficient industries as essential to maintaining our standard of living. We approve the government's attitude that industrial growth should be orderly and in no way inflationary or unduly sudden or disruptive to our present economy. The Minister of Finance (Mr. Fleming) has taken a firm stand against inflation. It is encouraging indeed to hear him recommend thrift, hard work and saving so that we may look forward to the time when there will be more Canadian savings to be invested in our own development.
Our government is taking steps to meet the new demands of industrialization by pointing out the need for the highest degree of efficiency in production, by these approved courses, by encouraging programs to allay seasonal unemployment and by more advertising of employment possibilities. I respectfully submit that a great deal more could be done in this regard through our schools in guiding students toward preparing themselves for such open fields.
In this connection I should like to suggest at this time the advisability of greater utilization of the benefits that could accrue to this nation from a more extensive effort than exists at present in the field of research in Canada. This suggestion has been made in the house before and similar proposals have been made in the fields of industry and education. As an initial step in this direction I should like to see a committee of the house set up this session to study existing research facilities in Canada, both government and private, and to recommend action that could be taken by the government to accelerate our activities as a nation in this regard.
I should like to commend the Minister of Labour (Mr. Starr) for the sincerity of his interest in employment problems right down to every individual case that comes to his attention. He stresses that this consideration for individuals be observed by unemployment insurance offices throughout the country, and certainly his policy is ably and conscientiously carried out by the manager and staff of the office in my district.
I would be remiss if I did not point out the tremendous job being done by the province of Ontario through the St. Lawrence parks commission. The parks along the St. Lawrence promise to compare favourably with any beauty spot in the world. The international bridge at Johnstown soon to be completed will bring motorists from the United States directly into this area. Admiring pageantry as they do, they will be encouraged to make a round trip to our capital city and enjoy the changing of the guard on parliament hill. I am sure that last year's 250,000 spectators will very soon be at least doubled. This is the type of government assistance that means very much to our infant tourist industry. We have a wealth of Canadianism not yet properly displayed to visitors and not at all properly appreciated by our own citizens. The beautiful new national gallery and the expected generous purchasing fund are additional assists in this regard.
In eastern Dundas county the Ontario parks commission is undertaking its most expansive project. I have watched my good friends on the commission led by the former provincial representative of our two counties as chairman, and from the beginning they have been fired with enthusiasm. Now everyone who sees Upper Canada village envisions one of the most interesting historical reconstructions in North America. I am thrilled by the possibilities of this accurate living record of Canadian history which will be open to the public and in full operation well in advance of our 1967 centennial celebration.
20	HOUSE OF
The Address-Mrs. Casselman May I commend the Prime Minister for the encouragement he is giving to planning for 1967. The roads to resources program will by then serve a double purpose and will carry visitors as well as Canadians into our glamorous north country about which they have read so much. In addition to roads into our northern regions in order to make accessible for development the rich resources which we have reason to believe exist, considerable progress has been made in the last several years in the field of water transportation and the provision of airport facilities. Water transportation in the far north for the season just closed exceeded 100,000 tons compared with a total of 8,000 tons five years ago, clearly indicating the increased activity in this area of Canada. The construction of a major airport at Frobisher on Baffin island is another indication of the progress being made in the development of the northern regions of Canada. We must have facilities ready for tourists and others who are showing more and more interest in our country.
When the hon. member for York-Humber (Miss Aitken) and I visited the Orient last summer we found the most abounding and lively interest in Canada shown by the Japanese. We were impressed by the royal reception given to us by their government and by their astonishing recovery since the war. Still more, we were impressed by their obvious interest in improving the mechanics of their representative government and improving the understanding between our two countries.
Our Department of Trade and Commerce has watched carefully, with fine results, our over-all trade with Japan, and it is my hope that we may continue to look for opportunities particularly with respect to the development of a market there for Canadian cheddar cheese. I had the honour of speaking at the 27th annual convention of the cheese producers' association in Toronto this month. Although the number of cheese factories in Ontario has decreased drastically in the last few years, there is still a strong determination to uphold the standard of Canadian cheddar which has made it world recognized and popular in the English market. I sympathize with and support this determination and I hope to see the English market increase and other markets opened up.
The riding I represent has enjoyed this last year fine returns on its dairy products. We sympathize with our Minister of Agriculture in the problems of surpluses which many conditions have thrust upon him, and we are glad to know of his interest in keeping farm income reasonable in comparison with the overall economy. The new farm credit legislation 

is designed to assist young farmers to set up units of economic size and is expected to be another effective and practical means by which this government assists Canadians to assist themselves. We are watching with much interest the present meeting in Paris where we are represented by two of our senior ministers and have hopes for results which will be beneficial to our Canadian agricultural interests.
We are proud of the stature enjoyed by our ministers in world meetings, and particularly must we thank the Secretary of State for External Affairs for his significant contribution. We are fortunate indeed to be represented by a man of his experience and integrity in a world so pressed by aggression in devious forms. It is disturbing enough to hear of these forces, and from personal experience it is even more disturbing to see them in actual operation. I heartily compliment the Secretary of State for External Affairs for the progress he has made, and for his clear, straightforward attitude, which all who know him would expect and which I am sure will lead to increasing respect for him and for Canada in world affairs. Happily the contributions of strong individuals are still admired, and we have those of the calibre which creates public confidence.
Canadians are proud people and have been happy reaping the rewards of their own efforts. We have made great strides in social progress and we must not turn back. The inequalities amongst our people must be considered and met as more or less fixed obligations in our modern concept of human relations. Necessary welfare expenditures which will rise accordingly with our increasing population must not be interpreted by our young people as a replacement for the satisfactions and security of their own efforts. The dignity and responsibility of each individual must continually be revitalized. The enterprise of the individual measures the only degree of security he can attain.
Security must be produced by somebody's toil and sweat even though much of it has been proudly and popularly distributed by governments. Whether it is called free enterprise, private enterprise or individual endeavour, it only describes that vital pioneer spirit and pride of achievement that has made this young country the greatest for its age in modern civilization. Our vision must not be befogged, nor our initiative bewildered by those who try to make it popular for the state to dominate enterprise and ration security.
The degree of difference between dictatorship and democracy can only be maintained by the initiative, enterprise and self-respect of the individual. No government, which after all is only human effort,

can make life completely certain and secure. This is the tragedy and the horror of communism, that it makes the state god. It denies the spiritual and expects the superhuman of humans. There is no wisdom in this. Surely faith in the honesty and effort of the individuals we elect to our governments is more realistic and reliable than desperate hope of their infallibility. Our strength is that we do not think our form of government is perfect. It has been developing, maturing, correcting itself ever since Magna Carta and, God willing, it will continue this growth and improvement for seven times 700 years.
Let us-and who better than members of this house who should understand democracy -produce some propaganda of our own to offset the constant stream of communistic propaganda. Communism may at first glance appear impressive and efficient to some young people, but it certainly has not yet proven the depths of human strength, the individual thinking and individual organization and God-inspired courage that produced a Battle of Britain in our pages of history.
If I sound hackneyed to my more seasoned colleagues, forgive me. It does seem to me that these things should be said and I appeal to those who can say them with authority to remember that people want and need to have their faith renewed in the democratic system. Fear of repetition should not deter us from pointing out its strength and its advantages.
Mr. Speaker, may I thank the house for its courteous attention to this, my first speech in this chamber, which has on occasion heard some of the best orators that Canada has
Business of the House
produced. May I thank the house, too, for the warmth of the reception extended to me upon my entry this time last year and for the generous friendship and assistance that I was offered by hon. members individually and by departmental officials when I began my duties. I appreciate the amount of good will bequeathed me by the former hon. member for Grenville-Dundas and the present hon. member for Dufferin-Simcoe (Mr. Rowe). Whether God wills that my years in this chamber be few or many, I hope to earn the same reputation for honesty, fair play and congeniality.
(Translation):
And now, Mr. Speaker, I am very sorry I am unable to speak French perfectly, but I do wish to improve my knowledge of French. In this connection, I thank my distinguished and charming French colleagues for their friendship.
On motion of Mr. Pearson the debate was adjourned.



BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

Mr, Diefenbaker moved: the adjournment of the house.
He said: On Monday, we will proceed with this debate.


Mr. Speaker:: I think it is clearly understood that the adjournment is until 2.30 o'clock on Monday afternoon.
Motion agreed to and the house adjourned at 4.10 p.m.



APPENDIX


[Stage Direction]
Your Excellency:
It is my privilege as Prime Minister to extend to you with pleasure and pride, on behalf of the government and people of Canada, best wishes as you assume office as Her Majesty's representative in Canada, the nineteenth governor general since confederation.
May I suggest to you, sir, that your first act be to express to Her Majesty, the Queen of Canada, the heartfelt fidelity, devotion and loyalty of the Canadian people, the evidence of which was so apparent during the recent visit of Her Majesty and Prince Philip to Canada.
Votre Excellence,
Ce m'est un privilege agreable et une source de fierte comme premier ministre de vous exprimer au nom du gouvernement et du peuple canadien des voeux sinceres au moment meme ou vous assumez les respon-sabilites de representant de Sa Majeste au Canada pour devenir le dix-neuvieme Gou-verneur general depuis la Confederation.
Comme votre premier geste, puis-je vous demander de transmettre a Sa Majeste la Reine du Canada l'assurance des plus fideles et loyaux sentiments et du devouement de la population canadienne, sentiments qui se sont d'ailleurs manifestos de fagon si evi-dente lors de la visite memorable de la Reine et du prince Philippe il y a a peine quelques semaines.
Les ceremonies d'aujourd'hui marquent un nouveau jalon et un nouveau progres vers l'unite. Ces ceremonies soulignent l'unite es-sentielle, sans consideration de race ou de croyance, non seulement des races qui ont fonde notre pays, mais de tous les Canadiens quelle que soit leur origine ou leur croyance religieuse.
This ceremony today marks another milestone in Canadian history and emphasizes the essential unity, without regard to race or creed, not only of the founding races, but also of the many other peoples who have come to our country.
I would like to say a word, too, about your gracious wife, Madame Vanier, whose devotion has meant so much, and whose grace is known to all of us.
As we meet here today, a meeting is taking place in Washington, D.C. the outcome of
which causes mankind to build its hopes for new understanding, leading to the attainment of world peace with justice. Canadians have a message for mankind. We have been able to achieve national peace and wellbeing in Canada without regard to race because of our adherence to the traditions and the tried institutions of freedom, and the spiritual things without which nations no less than individuals cannot achieve greatness.
As we meet today and as one looks back in the retrospect of two centuries, one sees something of the great statesmanship and the wisdom of Great Britain. By the Quebec Act of 1775 she granted religious freedom to Canada

incidentally Your Excellency, the first time this was achieved among the countries now joined in the present commonwealth of nations-and as a result of that act she mobilized the hearts and devotion of French Canadians to the crown and thereby contributed in such large measure to the maintenance and preservation of the crown, and provided for your opportunity to serve as her representative.
I think today of the tremendous developments that have taken place in our institutions, from Governor de Vaudreuil to you, sir. Our system of government, developed to meet the changing needs of a new country were graphically described by Sir Robert Borden when accepting the Speaker's chair from Westminster in 1921, epitomizing by his words the contribution of the French and the English to the building of our country. Sir Robert said:
The parliamentary institutions which we hold as of right and not of grace were won by a common ancestry and through gradual evolution and development during the past five or six centuries. The man who summoned the first gathering that might be regarded as the forerunner of the commons house of parliament.. . was a Frenchman, born in France. Thus we can look back with satisfaction upon the fact that Saxon and Norman five or six hundred years ago stood side by side in the assertion of liberties that are ours today.
Out of the co-operation of the two founding races came responsible government and the development of the federal system. It also made possible the unity of different races and religions in varying geographical areas, not only in our own country but also as a basic foundation of the commonwealth of nations.

Your Excellency, we recognize your capacity to be Her Majesty's representative. You are fitted by years of eminence, by great talents, and by vast experience. In the field of diplomacy you have given long service to Canada as representative to the League of Nations and to other international conferences, as a secretary to the high commissioner in the United Kingdom, and as ambassador to France.
But I think of another group across Canada today, the veterans, "the old soldiers" of more than two score years ago, to whom you have become, while living, a legendary figure
as the gallant commanding officer of the famed
Van Doos, the Royal 22nd regiment, the lustre of whose achievements is undimmed in the passing years.
With such a record, marked by consecration to the service of the crown and to Canada, I can apply to you what was spoken of another by Lord Tennyson when he said, "great in council; great in war."
Your Excellency, you have always answered the roll call of duty. You are doing it again. I know I speak for Canadians in every part of this country that in the discharge of the high responsibilities of being the personal representative of Her Majesty the Queen you will do so with that distinction, devotion, and loyalty that have characterized your life.

[Stage Direction]
Prime Minister,
My first words are a prayer. May Almighty God in His infinite wisdom and mercy bless the sacred mission which has been entrusted to me by Her Majesty the Queen and help me to fulfil it in all humility. In exchange for His strength, I offer Him my weakness. May He give peace to this beloved land of ours and to those who live in it, the grace of mutual understanding, respect and love.
I shall have the honour to convey to Her Majesty the message of devotion and loyalty to which you have given expression on behalf of the people of Canada. The recent visit of our sovereign to this country, with His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, has made of the word loyalty a synonym of affection. The queen has established with Canadians a bond personal rather than formal. Aptly does Shakespeare evoke this feeling in Henry VI: "My crown is in my heart, not on my head". Is it surprising that such a crown should find its way into our hearts as well?
We are deeply grateful, my wife and I, for the generous terms and the charming way in which you have welcomed us.
I am happy to pay tribute to my predecessor, the first Canadian governor general. He had to blaze a new trail and well has he done it. During seven and a half years, never sparing himself, he has laboured with fortitude and devotion in the service of his sovereign and his country. His place is very high in the list of those who have had the honour to represent the crown in
Canada. From the bottom of my heart I thank him for the assistance and advice he has given me. I have no illusions about being able to equal his achievement.
We are indeed fortunate in being attached to the crown which holds for the world a promise of peace. It is well to recall that the queen is the symbol of the free association of member nations of the commonwealth and as such is accepted as its head. The total area of the commonwealth is estimated to be about fourteen and a half million square miles and its population something in the neighbourhood of six hundred and fifty million.
Canada forms part of this mighty far-flung commonwealth, which is composed of many races and creeds. What a power is there for good in the world, what a power to right many wrongs, to solve many problems, in amity, without recourse to arms. Does not the very thought of the commonwealth's potential action conjure up a vision inspiring in scope and grandeur?
You have drawn attention, Prime Minister, to the significance of this day. How right you are. Two hundred years ago, a certain country won a battle on the plains of Abraham; another country lost a battle. In the annals of every nation, there is a record of victories and defeats. The present sovereign of the victorious country, sovereign also of Canada now, returns to the same battlefield, two centuries later, and presents colours to a French speaking regiment, which mounts guard over the citadel of Quebec, a regiment of which Her Majesty is colonel in chief.
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And how is the battle of 1759 commemorated? By a monument, erected in 1828, to the memory of both commanding generals, who died in action. It bears the inscription in Latin: "Valour gave them a common death, history a common fame, posterity a common monument". Is there a better way to heal the wounds of war, to seal the bonds of peace?
The sixty thousand French Canadians of 1759 have become several millions. For two thousand years, more or less, the annals of history proclaim the fame and glory of Great Britain and France. The future of Canada is linked with this double fabulous heritage. Canadians of Anglo-Saxon and French descent, whose two cultures will always be
a source of mutual enrichment, are an inspiring example of coexistence. They go forward hand in hand to make Canada a great nation, hand in hand also with Canadians of every origin, with their heritages, irrespective of race or creed. We are all God's children.
Each one of us, in his own way and place, however humble, must play his part towards the fulfillment of our national destiny. To realize how mighty this destiny will be let us lift our eyes beyond the horizon of our time. In our march forward in material happiness, let us not neglect the spiritual threads in the weaving of our lives. If Canada is to attain the greatness worthy of it, each one of us must say "I ask only to serve".
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Monday, January 18, 1960