1962-01-19

Hon. Ellen L. Fairclough (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration):: Mr. Speaker, I should like to table copies of new immigration regulations approved earlier this week to take effect from February 1, 1962. The new regulations are in two parts, the first of which has been formally approved by the governor in council as P.C. 1962-86 of January 18, 1962, while the second part requires only the approval of the minister under section 62 of the Immigration Act. These new regulations consolidate, revise and replace the various regulations passed in previous years, including those issued under previous ministerial authority.
Part I of the new regulations deals with such important questions as visa requirements, admissible classes, the responsibility of transportation companies and most of the major administrative and policy matters dealt with in the present regulations.
Part II extends the field of jurisdiction of the immigration appeal board and ensures that all appellants will be given an opportunity to submit their appeals to an independent tribunal which is free to conduct its proceedings independently of departmental officials.
The most important provision of the new regulations is section 31 which is in fact the core of Canada's immigration policy. The new regulation 31, replacing section 20 of the former regulations, lays primary stress on education, training and skills as the main condition of admissibility regardless of the country of origin of the applicant. If a person can qualify on these grounds and has sufficient means to establish himself in Canada until he finds employment or, alternatively, is coming forward to approved employment or with suitable plans for self establishment in Canada, he or she is admissible subject only to the normal requirements of good health, good character and so forth. This means that any suitably qualified person from any part of the world can be considered for immigration to Canada entirely on his own merits without regard to his race, colour,
national origin or the country from which he comes. This is a substantial advance over the former regulations in that the selection of immigrants, in so far as selection on the basis of skills is concerned will be done without discrimination of any kind.
Likewise if a person has the requisite skills and potential ability to establish himself in Canada he or she may also be sponsored by a parent, parent in law or fiance already in Canada provided the sponsor is a Canadian citizen. The Canadian sponsor must be able to provide care and maintenance for such immigrant until the latter is able to look after himself. The sponsorship at the Canadian end takes the place of the requirement that the immigrant himself must have sufficient means or, alternatively, firm employment or self employment opportunities.
Subsection (c) of section 31 also provides for the admission of a somewhat wider list of immediate dependants and close relatives. It applies not only to sponsors who are Canadian citizens but also to persons other than Canadian citizens who have been legally admitted to Canada for permanent residence and who wish to bring forward a mother, father, husband, wife, grandparent, fiance or an unmarried minor child. This provision is of universal application; its principal effect will be to improve the position of persons from countries which have received less favoured treatment in the past, by the inclusion of grandparents and fiances in the admissible categories of dependents and by the elimination of age limits with respect to fathers and mothers.
Subsection (d) of section 31 continues unchanged the special provisions regarding the admissibility of certain classes of relatives such as brothers and sisters, adult sons and daughters, orphan nieces, etc., which applied to certain countries specified in former regulation 20(c). The reasons for the continuation of this special provision are essentially historical, based on the immigration patterns and policies that have been established over many years. This situation could only be changed by introducing restrictions and withdrawing privileges which have been enjoyed for many years by close relatives and sponsors from European and western hemisphere countries-those parts of the world from which Canada has traditionally derived the vast majority of its population. This the government does not deem wise or equitable

Citizenship and Immigration to do. To introduce restrictions at any point in the new regulations would have run counter to the government's basic objective which remains to foster and encourage, wherever possible, changes and improvements which will result in the immigration of larger numbers of suitably qualified immigrants to Canada.
The general effect of section 31, taken as a whole, is to improve the position of nationals of all countries, without weakening the position of any. The chief beneficiaries will be the Asians, Africans and nationals of Middle Eastern countries. Not only will sponsors in Canada be able to apply for a wider circle of relatives from these countries than formerly, but for the first time unsponsored applicants from these parts of the world with the necessary qualifications will be admissible to Canada. Heretofore, qualified persons from these areas without relatives in Canada could only be admitted by order in council.
Next to the Asians, Africans and nationals of Middle Eastern countries, persons from the Central and Latin American countries, including the West Indies, stand to benefit. Nationals of these countries will for the first time come within the admissible classes on the basis of their education, training and skills.
To a less significant extent, the nationals of European countries will also derive additional advantage from the new regulations. In the past, persons from continental European countries other than Britain and France could be admitted if they came to Canada to enter approved employment or to establish themselves in approved business, trade or proi'ession, or in agriculture. Henceforth, they will come within the admissible classes if they have the necessary training and skills to qualify and have sufficient means to maintain themselves in Canada pending their successful establishment.
The new regulations make no mention of the special agreements which are in effect with India, Pakistan and Ceylon, formerly referred to in section 21. This does not mean that the agreements do not continue in full force and effect. Quite the contrary, the enlarged provisions of the new regulations bring directly into the admissible classes those qualified but unsponsored immigrants from these three countries who formerly were covered by the agreements and make it unnecessary to have a special regulation to provide for them. It is in fact the view of the government that the agreements with India, Pakis-stan and Ceylon will no longer be necessary, and it is the intention to arrange discussion on this point at an early date with the

representatives of the governments concerned. Until such time, however, as these discussions have been completed to the mutual satisfaction of the governments directly concerned, these agreements will remain in effect without change.
Less important revisions of the new regulations include an extended definition of "child". The new definition makes provision for illegitimate sons or daughters under 21 years of age in cases where the mother herself is a legal resident of Canada or an immigrant to Canada. The literacy test in the former regulations, which was not satisfactory and, in fact, rarely used, has been abolished. The requirement of education, training and skills contained in the new regulations will, to a large extent, take the place of any formal requirement concerning literacy. The provisions of the former regulations dealing with passport and visa requirements have been reorganized and developed in more orderly fashion.
Part II of the regulations, made by the minister under section 62 of the act deal entirely with the jurisdiction of the immigration appeal board and appeals procedure. Under the former legislation the general board of immigration appeals, as it was then known, was given only a limited measure of jurisdiction to hear certain classes of appeals; the remaining classes of appeals were being dealt with by the minister or by the local, regional or headquarters appeal boards consisting entirely of departmental officials. This practice has been subject to criticism on the grounds that no opportunity was given for an appeal presented to a tribunal free to conduct its proceedings independently of departmental officials.
The assignment of all appeals to an independent board is further evidence of the government's desire to have all matters relating to appeals from deportation dealt with in the most impartial manner possible.
For the first time also the regulations codify and clarify the procedures and the rights and privileges of persons subject to deportation in so far as questions relating to the conduct of inquiries under the act are concerned.
The provisions of part II of the regulations safeguard the interest of the individual and ensure that he will receive a fair hearing. These provisions follow the principles of natural justice and are in line with the spirit of the bill of rights.
It is my hope that the new immigration regulations will commend themselves to all members of parliament, regardless of party, to all Canadians and to prospective immigrants around the world. They represent a conscientious and sincere effort on the part

of the government of Canada to enshrine the principles of equity and justice which will guide responsible officials in the discharge of their difficult and complex duties.


Hon. J. W. Pickersgill (Bonavisia-Twillin-gaie):: I notice, Mr. Speaker, that the hon. lady indicated that the order which she has tabled was dated January 18. I congratulate her upon having chosen that day to give a more liberal interpretation to the regulations.


Mr. Chevrier:: That is well said.


John Whitney Pickersgill: I did not attempt, of course, to follow all of the details although I listened attentively to the outline contained in the hon. lady's speech, but there are one or two observations I should like to make. Of course the hon. lady has done the best she could to indicate that the tribunal would be independent, but she knows that without an amendment to the Immigration Act the final decision in all these cases is vested by parliament in the minister and cannot be transferred by order in council to anybody else. All the appeal board can do is act in an advisory capacity to the minister, however much she may seek to bind herself to accept its advice. That is the law and that, of course, was one of the things members on the opposite side of the house objected to when they were over here, and which they were going to change five years ago.
The hon. lady has said that the new section 31, which is substituted for section 20 of the existing regulations, abolishes discrimination. Of course it does nothing of the kind. It substitutes one set of criteria for discrimination for another. I am one of those who think that the words "discrimination" and "selection", as any dictionary shows, mean precisely the same thing, and they cannot mean anything different.
The hon. lady is well aware, as she has said previously in the house, that there is in the existing regulations no racial or other similar discrimination, and I am glad there is not going to be any such discrimination now. But I suggest that what the hon. lady has done is to make it necessary to look at every individual case and compare it with every other case, and that, by abolishing some of the convenient general categories she is going to create an administrative problem that it will be absolutely impossible to cope with if we are to have any substantial immigration. Of course, if the pattern of 1961 is to be followed, when we had a net emigration from this country, it is probable that the new regulations are well designed to serve that end.
Finally, I should like to point out that what the government undertook to do five years
Citizenship and Immigration ago was, not to change the regulations but to change the act, and that has not been done.


Mr. Harold E. Winch (Vancouver East):: Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (Mrs. Fairclough) has now given to the House of Commons a most important statement on a most important matter. Through you, Mr. Speaker, I can say to the minister how much we regret that it was not possible to give the other members and parties of the house a preview of the regulations and the changes about which she has now given us notice. I say this because I am certain everybody will understand that, even with all we have been told in this statement, the implications and the interpretations are of such a nature that it is not possible at this time to make any major comment upon them.
However, we welcome at long last some official statement from the government and I am certain it will be understood when I say, with all due respect, that after all the vituperation we heard on immigration policy and other matters when certain hon. members sat on this side of the house-


Mr. Speaker:: Order. I think the hon. member is going outside the scope of the statement that was made. I am not restricting him in commenting on the views the minister has expressed, but this is not a debate and he should keep himself to the matter which was announced by the minister.


Harold Edward Winch: At this stage, Mr. Speaker, I am certainly not entering into a debate, because that would take much longer than you would allow at this time. I am pointing out that at long last we have something that we understood was to come in by way of legislative enactment and which after five years the government has discovered can be carried out by regulation.
We welcome anything, whether it be by legislative enactment or regulatory change, that is going to mean the placing of the citizenship and immigration laws of Canada on a basis which will better demonstrate what democracy means to our country, our peoples, our governments and legislative bodies. We welcome anything that will demonstrate to the world that we are completely honest in our position on immigration; that it should be on a non-discriminatory basis and not influenced by colour, sex, creed or the country from which these people come.
We have heard only very briefly of the new principles of immigration under section 31, I believe it is, based on education and skills primarily. We hope that when we have had a chance to study what the minister has
12	HOUSE OF
Inquiries of the Ministry told us this afternoon we shall find that as an immigration policy carried out by regulation in Canada it will be determined by the status of the economy of this country and the ability of Canada to absorb immigrants without detriment to those who are already resident here. We hope it will place those who come into our country in positions of employment with facilities for education which will enable them, immediately, to become first class citizens.
It was difficult to follow the whole of the announcement, but we also hope there will be no repetition of difficulties which have been felt so severely by some of those who are already citizens of this country, such as the Chinese and the East Indians. We appreciate the fact that an announcement has been made and trust that a full interpretation of the statement will be given at a later date and that all of us will have an opportunity to go thoroughly into the entire question of immigration and the granting of Canadian citizenship.



EUROPEAN COMMON MARKET


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Hon. L. B. Pearson (Leader of the Opposition):: I should like to ask the Prime Minister if he can inform the house whether the negotiations between Canada and the European common market for the removal of obstacles to trade are being conducted at the present time along the lines of those which have recently resulted in an important agreement on these lines between the United States and the European common market.


Right Hon. J. G. Diefenbaker (Prime Minister):: Our negotiations in GATT have been proceeding. In so far as the general import of the question is concerned, I think that at a very early opportunity the house will be made fully aware of what is being done in connection with this matter.


Mr. G. J. Mcllraith (Ottawa West):: I should like to direct a question to the Prime Minister, in the absence of the Minister of Finance, and ask him if he would table a copy of the document forwarded by the United Kingdom to the Canadian government described as a summary of the speech made by the Lord Privy Seal of the United Kingdom on October 10 in Paris on the subject of the common market and referred to by him, according to the United Kingdom Hansard, as a full summary of that speech.


John George Diefenbaker: I will look into the question asked by the hon. gentleman to determine whether or not an affirmative answer can be given.


George James McIlraith: I wonder whether the Prime Minister would also look into the question of tabling the full text of the speech as well.



URANIUM


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. Walter Pitman (Peterborough):: Mr. Speaker, I should like to direct a question to the Minister of Trade and Commerce.
Would the minister comment on a report in the London Economist to the effect that Britain and Canada have reached a tentative agreement on the sale of 12,000 tons of uranium at a price of $5.25 a ton and that the agreement will be signed by the end of January?


Hon. George H. Hees (Minister of Trade and Commerce):: Mr. Speaker, I would say that the report is purely speculative. I should like to report to the house that the British and ourselves are making progress in this matter and I hope it will not be long before we reach a satisfactory conclusion.


Lester Bowles Pearson: Mr. Speaker, may I ask the minister a supplementary question. Can he give the house an assurance that immediately this contract is signed the government will take steps to allocate a contract to the producing companies?


George Harris Hees: As soon as the agreement is signed with the British government, Mr. Speaker, the Canadian government will certainly see to it that as soon as possible after that the mines are notified of the quantities that would apply to them.



INQUIRY AS TO FINAL PAYMENT ON 1961 CROP

[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. Hazen Argue (Assiniboia):: I wonder if I might direct a question to the Prime
Minister, in the absence of the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Hamilton). In view of the continuing need for additional payments to western producers is the Prime Minister in a position to say when the final payment on last year's wheat crop may be made? Will it be made at an early date?


John George Diefenbaker: That matter is before the wheat board. Naturally, the payment will be made

at the earliest possible date consistent with the completion of the accounts. I do not have the actual information but I believe the payment will be made before very long. Assuredly it will be made in advance of seeding, which is one of the occasions most important to the western farmer.


Hazen Robert Argue: A further point in order to clarify the Prime Minister's answer. Will this be the final payment or a supplementary payment in view of the increased price for wheat?


John George Diefenbaker: My understanding is that it would be a final payment.
(Translation):



SECRETARY OF STATE


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Lionel Chevrier: Mr. Speaker, I wish to direct a question to the Secretary of State. In view of the statements made by Mr. Lucien Tremblay and Dr. Poirier, which were quoted in newspapers, has the minister any statement to make concerning the activities of Quebec liquor police officers in Bellechasse county during the last general election.
(Text):


Mr. Speaker:: Order. If I understand the hon. member's question correctly it relates to a matter which, having taken notice of in the press, I would say was not part of the administrative responsibility of the minister who is Secretary of State but is a matter which relates, rather, to his conduct outside the ministerial field. I would suggest to the hon. member for Laurier that, such an inquiry is not appropriate to be introduced in this way as a question.


Lionel Chevrier: May I bring two things to Your Honour's attention-first, the fact that this is a matter which comes under a division of the chief electoral officer and election matters affecting a constituency; second, the fact that the minister has already made a number of statements dealing with the matter. I should therefore think a question as to the statement which he has made would be appropriate.


Mr. Speaker:: If the minister volunteers to make a statement on the matter raised, well and good; but I would not find the subject matter to be within the scope of proper questions relating to the administrative responsibility of the government. It is a subject which could be raised in the house in other ways but not by questions relating to the administrative responsibility of the government.
Inquiries of the Ministry NATIONAL DEFENCE



BOMARC BASES


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Hon. Paul Hellyer (Trinity):: I wish to direct a question to the Minister of National Defence. Can the minister advise the house when the Bomarc squadron at North Bay and the Honest John battery in Europe will become operational?


Hon. D. S. Harkness (Minister of National Defence):: As far as the dates on which units of this kind become operational are concerned, it has never been the practice to advertise beforehand when those dates would be, and I do not see any good reason for departing from that practice at the present time.


Paul Theodore Hellyer: Mr. Speaker, a supplementary question. Would the minister advise the house when either of these units will be armed with either a conventional or a nuclear warhead?


Douglas Scott Harkness: Mr. Speaker, when a decision has been made in that regard, as was indicated in the house last year, the house will be informed of it.



TRANSPORT


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. H. W. Herridge (Kootenay West):: Mr. Speaker, I wish to direct a question to the Minister of Trade and Commerce. For the information of the house let me say that my question is based on a rather intriguing newspaper report in the Gazette of January 15 which bore the headline "Ottawa Advises B.C. to Purchase Domestic Engines for Ferries".


Some hon. Members:: Order.


Herbert Wilfred Herridge: I am trying to be helpful. In view of the fact that according to this report the lowest tender for these ferry engines was submitted by Ruston and Hornsby, Limited, England, and in view of the fact that this action has caused a protest from the United Kingdom trade commissioner who said that this was unfair to British firms and that the Canadian firm would import many of the parts for the engines from the parent company in the United States, is the minister in a position to inform the house of all the circumstances surrounding this report?

Inquiries of the Ministry


George Harris Hees: Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the hon. member for Kootenay West for giving me notice of his intention to ask this question.
This matter concerns the proposed construction of a ferry for the British Columbia government, and an application for the government's recently introduced shipbuilding subsidy which is providing so many jobs for Canadians in shipyards all across Canada.
Whether or not Canadian engines will be used in this proposed ship, let me say in answer to the hon. member's question that the purpose of the government's shipbuilding subsidy is to assist Canadian shipyards and Canadian workmen, a purpose with which I feel sure all hon. members agree.



TRANSPORTATION


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Lionel Chevrier: Mr. Speaker, may I direct a question to the Prime Minister and ask him when the oft promised and long delayed report of the royal commission on transportation will be tabled in the house?


John George Diefenbaker: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to say we received the report a few days ago. The reason the hon. gentleman was not notified is that the house was not sitting, and out of deference to it we decided to wait until it met so that the hon. gentleman would have no cause to complain that the government was acting in a way detrimental to parliament.


Lionel Chevrier: A supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. Has the Prime Minister forgotten that he indicated to the house on several occasions that the report would be tabled?


John George Diefenbaker: Yes, Mr. Speaker, it will be tabled, and if the hon. gentleman would like to have it tabled early next week it will be done. I shall do my best to have it here at the earliest possible date.


Hazen Robert Argue: I wish to direct a question to the Prime Minister. Can he inform the house when the government anticipates receiving the second and third reports of the royal commission on transportation?


John George Diefenbaker: As the hon. gentleman must recollect, Mr. Speaker, because it is just a matter of half an hour ago, that question
[Mr. Herrldge.l	J

was asked by the hon. member for Laurier regarding when the second report would be received. It has been received and it will be tabled early next week.



AGRICULTURE


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. John R. Maiheson (Leeds):: Mr. Speaker,
I wish to direct a question to the Prime Minister in the absence of the Minister of Agriculture.
Will the Prime Minister advise the house whether a request has been received from farm representatives for a consumer butter subsidy of 14 cents a pound in order to dispose of the large stocks of butter?
If so, would the Prime Minister indicate whether any action is intended by the government to meet the problem of this record butter surplus?


John George Diefenbaker: Mr. Speaker, I read in the press that the dairy council had made a recommendation along that line. Unfortunately the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Hamilton) is absent through illness. However, as soon as he returns, which I expect will foe shortly, this matter will be answered.


Paul Theodore Hellyer: A supplementary question to the Prime Minister, Mr. Speaker. Would the Prime Minister say whether this is the only surplus the government has with which to butter up the electors?



LABOUR CONDITIONS


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. J. R. Tucker (Triniiy-Conception):: Mr. Speaker, I should like to direct a question to the Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys, his first question.
In view of the recent statements made by officials of the Dominion Steel and Coal Corporation that a scheduled shut-down at the Wabana iron ore operations at Bell Island, Newfoundland, affecting some 500 miners is soon to take place, would the minister advise the house whether the government contemplates any action to avert this lay-off?


Hon. Jacques Flynn (Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys):: Mr. Speaker, because the hon. gentleman did not give me notice of his intention to ask this question, I think he will understand if I say that I shall take it as notice.



LIVESTOCK


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. E. A. Winkler (Grey-Bruce):: Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Agriculture and, in his absence, for the acting minister. Inasmuch as I have sent him notice of my intention to ask this question perhaps I could expect an answer.
Due to the increased incidence of rabies in Grey and Bruce counties as well as in other sections of Ontario, would the acting minister say whether the Department of Agriculture will again co-operate in the payment of compensation to farmers for losses of livestock through this disease?


Douglas Scott Harkness: Mr. Speaker, I shall be very glad as acting minister of agriculture to look into that matter and give the hon. member an answer as soon as possible.



ONTARIO


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Hon. Paul Martin (Essex East):: Mr. Speaker, I should like to ask the Prime Minister a question based upon a statement which appeared in the Toronto Telegram of January 15 and, I believe, made in the presence of the Prime Minister by the Minister of Finance to the effect that the by-elections in Ontario were little general elections the importance of which is paramount. In view of this statement-


Mr. Speaker:: Order. I have not heard the hon. member's question but the factual basis clearly indicates it does not involve the administrative responsibilities of the government.


Paul Joseph James Martin: Well, Mr. Speaker, I thought the fact that this was a statement made by one of Her Majesty's ministers of the crown gave the question the required validity. However, I shall bow to Your Honour's ruling and simply ask the Prime Minister who is in a very happy mood today whether the cataclysmic events of yesterday have caused him to give any consideration as to when the next federal general election will take place?


John George Diefenbaker: When a question is asked in such a mellifluous way, naturally it demands an answer. I remember when the hon. gentleman was sitting over here on this side of the chamber and the then government lost nine,
Inquiries of the Ministry ten or eleven federal byelections. When we asked a similar question, they said, "Wait until the general election". We waited and the government went back.



WATER RESOURCES


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. Hubert Badanai (Fort William):: I wish to direct a question to the Secretary of State for External Affairs. It has been reported that Governor Kerner of Illinois has been pressing President Kennedy's administration for a deal with Canada for diversion of more water from the James bay watershed into the great lakes system. Can the minister inform the house whether a deal has been made or whether such negotiations are now in progress?


Hon. Howard C. Green (Secreiary of Stale for External Affairs):: No, Mr. Speaker; there are no negotiations in progress between Canada and the United States on any such plan.



COMBINES


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. Frank Howard (Skeena):: I wish to direct a question to the Minister of Justice. Can he say what progress is being made by the restrictive trade practices commission with regard to hearings into the production, sale and distribution of raw fish in British Columbia, which hearings have been postponed by a number of court injunctions.


Hon. E. D. Fulton (Minister of Justice):: checked on that matter, Mr. Speaker, two days or so ago. My information is that one of the injunction proceedings restraining the commission with respect to a certain course was disposed of in British Columbia the other day. There is therefore now just one further stage with respect to one of these injunction proceedings to be settled or disposed of in the Supreme Court of Canada. As soon as that has taken place, the hearings can and will be resumed.



AIR TRANSPORT


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Lionel Chevrier: I wish to direct a question to the Minister of Transport. Can he say whether the announcement he made on behalf of the government toward the

Inquiries of the Ministry end of the last session to the effect that Canadian Pacific Airlines were authorized to fly a route from western Canada to London has received the approval of the United Kingdom government as to landing rights in London?


Hon. Leon Balcer (Minister of Transport):: The answer is not yet, Mr. Speaker.



COLUMBIA RIVER-STATUS OP NEGOTIATIONS WITH B.C.

[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. Lucien Cardin (Richelieu-Vercheres):: I wish to direct a question to the Minister of Justice. Can he report any progress in his negotiations with the province of British Columbia on the Columbia river project which was described in the speech from the throne on November 17, 1960, as the largest of Canada's national developments but which was not mentioned in the speech from the throne delivered by His Excellency yesterday.


Edmund Davie Fulton: As I think the hon. gentleman knows, Mr. Speaker, my colleague the Minister of Finance has asked the premier of British Columbia to name a day or days when it might be convenient for him to meet with the Minister of Finance in order to discuss this matter further.



COLUMBIA RIVER


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Lester Bowles Pearson: May I ask the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of the government to submit the Columbia river treaty to a committee of the house for examination during the present session of parliament.


John George Diefenbaker: I think that question was dealt with at the last session, Mr. Speaker. There is no intention of submitting the treaty to a committee of the house for examination.



BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
John Whitney Pickersgill: I wish to direct a question to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. In the absence of any reference in the speech from the throne to amendment or revision of the Immigration Act, I wonder whether the
[Mr. Chevrier.l

government has abandoned its declared intention to put such legislation before parliament and is now content to legislate by order in council.


Ellen Louks Fairclough: The answer to the last part of the question is no. After very careful study it was felt that the proper procedure would be to pass the regulations first and give them an opportunity to work, consult with the various groups who are interested, seeking their advice and co-operation and then, after that has been done, to make the necessary amendments to the act.


John Whitney Pickersgill: Would the hon. lady describe the undertaking with respect to the Immigration Act as one of the twelve?



INDIAN AFFAIRS


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Frank Howard: I have a supplementary question. I wonder whether the course which the hon. lady just outlined with respect to the Immigration Act is the one that is going to be followed with respect to the Indian Act?


Ellen Louks Fairclough: After the recommendations of the joint committee of both houses have been fully digested and discussed with the interested parties I expect that in due time there will be amendments to the Indian Act.



ADVISORY COUNCIL


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. D. M. Fisher (Port Arthur):: I should like to direct a question to the Minister of National Health and Welfare. The question is based upon the presumption that some confusion still exists about the advisory sports council. To whom should an organization apply for funds or assistance under this legislation? Should it apply to the minister or to the chairman of the council? If it should apply to the chairman, where is he?


Hon. J. W. Monleifh (Minisier of National Healih and Welfare):: Application can be made through either party. The chairman will be in Ottawa frequently. Any communications will, of course, be going forward to him. Application can be made to the minister or to the chairman, whichever is convenient to the person making the application. Either course is perfectly satisfactory. The information is passed on to the council.



HEALTH AND WELFARE


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Paul Joseph James Martin: May I ask
the Minister of National Health and Welfare whether he is in a position to advise the house whether the royal commission inquiring into medical care insurance will report to the government before the dissolution of parliament.


Jay Waldo Monteith: I am not in a position to say.



UNITED NATIONS


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Hubert Badanai: I have a question for the Secretary of State for External Affairs. It has been reported that a reign of terror is being conducted in the northern borders of Angola by Portuguese troops against pastors, deacons and known Protestant Christians-


Mr. Speaker:: Order. While the hon. member is dealing with a matter of international interest, I think he is getting beyond the scope of any of the ministers of this government.


Hubert Badanai: Speaking on a point of order, sir, I beg to submit that I merely wished to ask the minister whether he is aware of this fact and whether a protest has been made on behalf of Canada against the atrocities.


Mr. Speaker:: If the hon. gentleman will refer to the precedents, I think he will find that while external affairs may be proper subjects for inquiry by oral questions before the orders of the day, the details of what goes on in various foreign countries could not very readily be handled in this way.



AIRPORTS


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. G. E. Nixon (Algoma West):: I should
like to ask the Minister of Transport whether he is in a position to say when a start will be made on a permanent terminal at the Sault Ste. Marie airport and whether any consideration has been given to starting this project as a winter works program.


Léon Balcer: I will be in a position to answer that question on Monday or Tuesday.
Inquiries of the Ministry



WINDSOR


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Paul Joseph James Martin: In view of the announcement of Canadian Pacific Airlines that it is going to have a run from Windsor to Mexico, can the minister say whether the Department of Transport proposes to enlarge the runway in order to take care of the aircraft in question?


Léon Balcer: The Department of Transport is doing an extremely efficient job in keeping all our airports right up to date and well prepared to receive all the necessary transports.



IMMIGRATION


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
John Whitney Pickersgill: Mr. Speaker, I wonder whether I could ask the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration if the government has abandoned the investigation into the alleged irregularities in Chinese immigration?


Ellen Louks Fairclough: Mr. Speaker, I think that question might more properly be directed to the Minister of Justice because the responsibility of my department is now the regularization of the status of those persons who make voluntary statements and apply for adjustment of their status.


John Whitney Pickersgill: Mr. Speaker, I am most happy to direct the question to the Minister of Justice.


Edmund Davie Fulton: am afraid the hon. member will have to repeat it if he wants an answer.


John Whitney Pickersgill: For the benefit of the Minister of Justice I will repeat the question, sir. The question was, has the government abandoned the investigation that was being conducted into the alleged irregularities in Chinese immigration into this country?


Edmund Davie Fulton: The answer, Mr. Speaker, is no.



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.
[Stage Direction]
The Address-Mr. Bourdages (Translation):
Mr. Rodrigue Bourdages (Laval):: Mr. Speaker, on the second day of this session of the 24th parliament, my first words are intended directly for the Prime Minister of our country (Mr. Diefenbaker).
I want to tell him how deeply touched I am that he should have chosen me to move the address in reply to the speech from the throne. I want to thank him sincerely. I also wish to offer him the thanks of the people of the constituency of Laval, who, I am sure, were very flattered by this great honour. Today, Laval is certainly the most densely populated constituency; French Canadians make up almost 95 per cent of its population.
I think that the Prime Minister has proved once more his sincerity and his honesty toward the French Canadians of the country by asking one of their own to move the address in reply to the speech from the throne.
At this time, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to the Secretary of State (Mr. Dorion) who was recently appointed chairman of the privy council by our Prime Minister.
Quite recently, the Prime Minister asked a very talented colleague, the hon. member for Quebec South (Mr. Flynn), who has now been appointed Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys, to join his cabinet. I am sure that he will render most valuable services to this country.
Mr. Speaker, Providence has been kind to hon. members of the house in many respects. Among others, we are happy to see you back in the chair, radiant with health and always ready to preside in all dignity and fairness over the numerous debates which take place in this house.
To assist you in that difficult task, the Prime Minister suggested, which was by no means easy, considering the question which had to be put yesterday, the member for Pontiac-Temiscamingue (Mr. Martineau), who has none but friends among us and whose kindly disposition has become a byword, as Deputy Speaker of the house.
At this time, I would like to tender my congratulations to all parliamentary secretaries who have been reappointed, and I also want to express my best wishes to the two new ones.
Mr. Speaker, as I am unable to greet each hon. member individually, may I tender them, without forgetting anyone, my best wishes for a happy new year and the best of health.
(Text):
As every member already knows, Mr. Speaker, the very talented member for Van-couver-Kingsway (Mr. Browne) has been

rightly chosen by the Prime Minister (Mr. Diefenbaker) to deliver a speech in approval of the speech from the throne. My colleague was bom in Vancouver and I was born in Halifax. We now meet in Ottawa today with the same kind of spirit. It is a coast to coast parley, if one may put it that way. May I congratulate him and wish him all kinds of success.
(Translation):
May I add that, after hearing the speech from the throne read by His Excellency the Governor General of Canada, every hope is possible. Indeed, every Canadian has strong sentiments of pride and gratitude towards His Excellency.
As for my compatriots, they are rejoicing that one of them, a prominent figure, is in this country the representative of Her Gracious Majesty the Queen.
At the outset of this fifth regular session of the 24th parliament, it is important to draw a picture of the events of the last four years on the federal stage. One can thus see *he extraordinary improvements in the national life of Canada brought about by a Conservative administration under the able direction of the right hon. the Prime Minister.
As soon as it came into power, the new government was faced with problems of capital importance that were almost insoluble.
The economy was marking time, if not in recession. The price of Canadian commodities was on the rise; our products could not be sold on foreign markets. The building industry was almost at a standstill; moreover, competition from foreign products was taking away from us not only our export markets, but was also threatening our own domestic markets.
What were the consequences of this unfortunate situation? Unemployment was ever increasing in our country; Canada seemed doomed to an economic recession for an indefinite period. Prompt and effective action was necessary. Therefore, the Prime Minister and his lieutenants earnestly set themselves to the task. They united their efforts and their talents. In this way, the disaster that was imminent in 1958 could be avoided; Canadian economy took a new turn. It now seems to be on the way to set new records.
Strong action was taken in all sectors of our economy and, as a result, the Canadian people have enjoyed increased purchasing power in the past four years.
What problems were we faced with? First, there was social security. The Conservative government gave to the aged, the disabled, the blind and the veterans of world wars

I and II and of Korea allowances and pensions large enough for their daily subsistence.
The unemployed needed generous assistance. The government gave them enough money to keep the wolf from the door. Their hopes were renewed and they soon found employment.
That is concrete evidence, Mr. Speaker. It is obvious that increased purchasing power in Canada largely contributed to the continuous flow of business and to the recovery of our economy.
Since 1957, the building program was intensified to provide our citizens with modern and comfortable homes at a price proportionate to their income. Thus, thanks to the steps taken by the federal government, half a million new houses were built in this country. The C.M.H.C. lent the sizeable amount of $2 billion to various building contractors. According to forecasts, an equal number of new homes will be erected within the next four years.
The campaign for the sale of Canadian manufactured products led to an important increase in our export trade. According to the figures released by the dominion bureau of statistics at the close of 1961, our exports have exceeded our imports for the first time in 25 years. This policy had a most fortunate result, namely the balancing of our international trade.
Here is where the union of the vital forces of the Canadian nation is to be noted with pride. Private enterprise did not remain at a standstill. It gained strength. It was encouraged from all sides. Every industrialist, every businessman, big or small, received the same welcome, the same enthusiastic encouragement.
The Conservative government has always believed in the necessity of private enterprise, for private enterprise is the very essence of democracy. It gets its inspiration from work seriously accomplished, from a desire to improve one's lot. Why, indeed, is Canada the pride and joy of the United Nations? Because Canada is a free nation, a nation where one finds joy in thinking for one's self, where one may make his savings grow, where one may think of his children. A good father wishes to live on through his family. For his offspring, he not only wants welfare, he wants a life of well-being. For his children, he will build an industrial enterprise, a business enterprise. In short, he wants to enjoy to the fullest the pleasures of family life.
Canada, under the Conservative regime, is living its finest hours of freedom. There is
The Address

Mr. Bourdages here a place in the sun for everybody. Each is entitled to live his own life, to have his own means of subsistence, even to enjoy luxuries. Private enterprise and the state are two great friends who, provided they keep on understanding and helping each other, will never see hovering above them the dark cloud of doubt and suspicion. For man is not made for the state; it is the state that is made for man. That is how the present government thinks and acts.
International trade is based on private enterprise. In Canada, it reveals impressive figures which reflect a great improvement.
On January 12, 1962, Time magazine had this to say:
Exports have increased by per cent to a record of 5.8 billion: and even if imports have gone up by 3 per cent, the value of imported products amounts to 5.7 billion.
These results substantiate the forecasts of the Minister of Trade and Commerce (Mr. Hees), who, in a memorable gesture, sent all his salesmen abroad in order to find new and broader markets for our products. The experiment was conclusive. In common market countries, our sales went up by 16 per cent; in Japan, by 38 per cent; and in Asiatic countries, Canadian exports, having increased by 61 per cent, reached $312 million for the first eight months of the year.
In eastern Europe, the increase is about 90 per cent; in Latin America, approximately 36 per cent. As for China, that country will accept delivery of 233.5 million bushels of wheat between the years 1961 and 1963.
In the Saturday, December 9, edition of the Financial Post, the following appeared:
(1)	1962 will be a year of prosperity and progress for the whole Canadian nation;
(2)	business firms are expecting an increased turnover and much larger profits;
(3)	those forecasts are the result of an elaborate survey made by experts in the fields of finance, economy and industry and thousands of businessmen were polled in every province of the country.
Here are, in short, the conclusions of the survey I have mentioned:
(a)	At least 75 per cent of the Canadian companies expect a boost in the sale of their products; the remaining 25 per cent forecast about the same turnover as in 1961 which was already large; consequently, a widespread optimism prevails in the business world;
(b)	The volume of export sales will be improved for almost all companies; this is the result of the sales campaign undertaken by the trade and commerce department, ably supported by all federal government departments;
(c)	Corporation and individual profits will be considerably increased, in 60 per cent of cases; they will be similar to those of 1961 in 25 per cent of cases, and 15 per cent only of the people polled expected a slight decrease in profits;
20	HOUSE OF
The Address-Mr. Bourdages
(d)	Three companies out of four expect that commodity and export prices will remain as they are;
(e)	Salary levels in general will continue to increase, according to at least 75 per cent of the people polled;
(f)	At least half of the Canadian enterprises of large or medium importance which have been polled have well defined plans for the improvement of their plants, and intend to develop new industrial plants in 1962. Such are the extraordinary results of the industrial and commercial activities of the country, which constitute the best evidence that the economic recession which plagued Canada over the last three years is now definitely a thing of the past.
This is obviously only the first step in the expansion of our international trade. We have reason to hope that other markets will soon be opened for our products and that the efforts of free enterprise ably seconded by the officials of the trade and commerce department will be successful.
Barely a year ago a far too large number of Canadians were dispirited by the climate of depression. The reason was that several prophets of doom and gloom were predicting that the worst disasters would befall the Canadian nation, while strangely ignoring the effort made to effect a recovery in all sectors of our national economy.
Such a pessimistic approach to our problems could have been nefarious for many. Perturbed by the climate of depression foreseen by the members of that gloomy caravan, they could have cancelled all their plans for development and exports, which were essential to the development of the economic life of the nation.
It is certain that businessmen from abroad, concerned over the bad news from Canada, delayed and even cancelled their plans for investment in this country. One has to admit that some foreign newspapermen, influenced by the constantly pessimistic statements of the government's opponents, expressed their misgivings in articles published in French and British newspapers.
Fortunately however, facts have confirmed the success of the steps taken by the Conservative government, which in time created an atmosphere of irresistible confidence among businessmen. The economy of Canada is definitely launched on the road of progress and prosperity.
The Conservative government opens new economic vistas. It promised, for instance, that it would take dynamic steps to offer direct assistance to industries. It built paved roads in inaccessible areas in order that the products of the soil and the sub-soil may reach the heart of the country. It built wharves, enlarged harbours and facilitated the entrance of cargo-carrying ships. It built railways that link the spur lines to mines of


all kinds. Thanks to its efforts, the farthest corners, the most forsaken places are open to the benefits of civilization.
A start has been made. We will go farther into the interior, mountains will be levelled, if necessary, bridges will span gullies. But Canada will go forward. Canada's future is most promising. The Conservative government will see to it. It has made promises. It has kept them. It even wants to go beyond its promises and, consequently, give to the people so long neglected in those remote regions, a true, realistic hope, not the visionary hope of the previous administrations, of having at last the right to live like everybody else.
The Conservative party is the friend of the underprivileged, of the poor. It wants to help them, to grant their every wish, if possible. The happiness of all is the key to its success.
Today we can state strongly that Canada is living in an era of prosperity. Industry, trade, business hire more and more people. In fact, the number of Canadians at work has increased from 6,029,000 in August 1957 to 6,381,000 in August 1961, which represents a total of 352,000 new jobs created by the party in power during those four years.
The experts predict that the gross national product will go up 6 or 7 per cent in 1962. Unemployment will decrease and employment will rise. The purchasing power of Canadians will have no equal.
These wonderful successes are the doing of shrewd and intelligent administrators who have retained the unlimited confidence of the people.
Confidence of the people is the strength of a people. The whole story of these last four years is one of common efforts, of mutual help. Canada is made up of ten provinces, all have their part to play within confederation.
Each has its own characteristics. Each is beautiful in its own way. They make up a magnificent display. They need one another. It is much more than a good neighbour policy. It is close unity. In a few words, it is a profound national unity, well understood and respectful of vested rights. Alone, man would perish. United, he sets up what we call a society. Canada is strong because it is united, because we have the feeling that its unity will develop into a closer and more efficient association. From Halifax to Vancouver, Canada is a great and grand country. Certainly in its geography, but even more so

in its citizens. To them indeed, Canada is a nation with two splendid cultures, a nation which commands respect, because it is a self-respecting nation.
Such is the thinking of this government, Mr. Speaker. In this society, various classes live together without any clash between one another. That is because they are not so unhappy after all. Man is the basis of every society. He has certain duties of course, but he also has certain rights. Our Prime Minister has sealed them forever in a masterly way in his bill of rights. Let praise be given to whoever deserves it.
The speech from the throne read by His Excellency the Governor General has pleased all Canadians. The new measures which this government intends to introduce prove in a tangible way and unequivocally that, it definitely intends to improve the standard of living of all citizens in the ten beautiful provinces forming this nation whose future looks brighter and brighter. By his brilliant leadership and, above all, his foresight and the clearness of his judgment with which he leads the Conservative team, our present Prime Minister has proven one of the greatest prime ministers in the history of the Canadian confederation.
One of the most popular measures announced by the government is that concerning the construction of a railroad from Ma-tane to Ste. Anne des Monts in the province of Quebec. Ever since the last century, the Gaspe peninsula, left to her own means, in spite of a generous and resourceful population has been economically isolated from the rest of the province of Quebec and even from the country. Previous administrations repeatedly deceived the people of Quebec. Because of their inconsistency, they have lost'the confidence of Quebec.
It is only after the Conservative party led by a great Prime Minister had taken over that the Gaspe peninsula could hope for something. Only a Prime Minister who has modern and dynamic ideas could, in less than four years, do what generations had not been able to achieve.
I already see mines being developed, industries being built up. I can see carload after carload of all kinds of products coming from that land with a promising future. That measure is both a tribute to and the recognition of the gigantic job done by the untiring member for Gaspe (Mr. English). Before long, Mr. Prime Minister, we shall be able to say, thanks to you: "Gaspe peninsula, the land of tomorrow, because it is the land of today".
The pensioner, who has given his best years to his country and who, on account of his
The Address-Mr. Bourdages age, must withdraw from the workers' front line, the man or woman who is perhaps alone in this world, those are the ones whom the Conservative government did not forget. It looks with sympathy upon the situation of those wonderful people who are the wisdom of this nation. It wants, in a noble gesture, to give them hope for a happy old age.
So, our invalids, our veterans, and the blind, and all those who are in a sad plight, will know better days and, thanks to a measure taken by a Conservative government will have brighter days in their ill-fated lives. The Conservative government's action, it can readily be seen, indicates clearly that it is bringing to Canadians of all age groups, and especially to those who are less fortunate, better days, greater comfort and a most promising future.
The Conservative government, fully conscious of its role in the continuing betterment of the comfort of all Canadians, will see to it that a Canadian welfare council be created. I am delighted with this news, which represents a very important step, taken by the Conservative government, toward a better life. Although the structure of that council will only be discussed at a later date, I am convinced that the Conservative government, thanks to that measure, will improve the fate of all Canadians. May I be allowed to express the hope, Mr. Speaker, that our young people will also benefit from such a measure.
Our young people in fact-the hope of our nation-form a class on which are focused all the objectives aimed at by a people that wants to be great and strong. Our young people, I am sure, have not been forgotten by the Conservative government. Hardly a month after the setting up of the sports council-an initiative which has been so widely acclaimed across the country-the Conservative government is not sitting back. It has already announced the setting up of a welfare council. I welcome this measure, Mr. Speaker, which, again I hope, will, through its results, pave the way to a still better future, in giving our young people the ideal which must be the shining beacon of the coming generation. I strongly hope that this measure will also contribute to stop juvenile delinquency, which is not without causing some concern to our psychiatrists and educators.
Ever since May 14, 1930, when the Jacques Cartier bridge was inaugurated, its users have been forced to pay substantial sums to cross over that bridge which connects Montreal with the south shore. As for Victoria

The Address-Mr. Bourdages bridge, it is one hundred years old. Both bridges are a bane to greater Montreal motorists; they are a constant nuisance, morally and financially.
We had to have a wise and enlightened administration-to put it briefly, the present government-to take steps to put an end to this toll system.
The legislation which the Conservative government will introduce will be a highly popular one. Besides filling with joy the people of the Montreal metropolitan area, it will assist business on both shores. This legislation will thus prevent those traffic jams which have become so notorious. It will bring relief to the workingman who needs all his money for his family's livelihood. This Conservative government measure, I know, will fill with joy the Associate Minister of National Defence (Mr. Se vigny), the member for Longueuil, who has always had at heart the removing of the tolls on the Jacques Cartier and Victoria bridges.


Mr. Deputy Speaker:: I am sorry to interrupt the hon. member, but I have to advise him that his time has expired.


Mr. Dupuis:: It is most interesting. Carry on.


Some hon. Members:: Carry on.


Rodrigue Bourdages: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
So, I must say, bravo, well done, Mr. Prime Minister.
One sentence from the speech from the throne which particularly impressed me was that which referred to the recommendation of a number of measures that will constitute further steps in working out the purposes of confederation and identifying more clearly the definition of Canadian nationality.
Mr. Speaker, these aims will no doubt help to instil in both French and English speaking Canadians, a greater feeling of national pride. In turn, this will add to the joy, which we all share, of being part of a nation whose strength is based on two languages and on two cultures which must blend and work side by side more than ever, so that the economic and cultural strength of our dear Canada can be proclaimed all over the world.
Our country believes in justice. It believes that the past is a guarantee for the future. The Conservative government strongly abides by these principles and has wanted to adopt them as its own. The government has served with devotion the cause of the citizens of the country, in keeping with the life of its peoples and of history. Its ideal is to strive ever more so that the light of freedom, which makes citizens happy, prosperous and productive, will shine throughout Canada.
Mr. Speaker, the year 1867 knew great men who were given the name of fathers of confederation. Today, close as we are to cele-
[Mr. Bourdages.}
brating the centennial of that great event, the whole population of our country can be proud of its Prime Minister, one who because of his energetic action deserves the title of father of modern Canadianism.
(Text):
Mr. Speaker, the year 1867 knew great men who were given the name of fathers of confederation. Today, close as we are to celebrating the centennial of that great event, the whole population of our country can be proud of its Prime Minister, one who because of his energetic action deserves the title of father of modern Canadianism.
(Translation):
Mr. Speaker, it is a great honour to move, seconded by my colleague from Vancouver-Kingsway (Mr. Browne):
That the following address be presented to His Excellency the Governor General of Canada:
May it please Your Excellency:
We, Her Majesty's most loyal and dutiful 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):


Mr. J. F. Browne (Vancouver-Kingsway):: Mr. Speaker, it has always been considered a tribute to the people of a particular area when the Prime Minister chooses their representative in parliament to second the address in reply to the speech from the throne. I should like to thank the Prime Minister (Mr. Diefenbaker) for recognizing the people of Vancouver-Kingsway in this way and to say that I know of no time in our history when such a tribute would have been more appropriate. I think it can truly be said that the people of Vancouver-Kingsway are Canadians of average circumstance and it has, indeed, been to the welfare of the average Canadian that the Prime Minister has chiefly devoted himself.	.
Before I begin my remarks in connection with the speech from the throne I should like to extend my best wishes to all hon. members as we enter upon this new session and to congratulate all those who have received new appointments during the recess. This has already been very well done by the hon. member for Laval (Mr. Bourdages) and I am sure I do not need to refer to each of them individually because the warm applause which greeted their names when they were outlined by the hon. member for Laval indicated clearly the degree of approval felt by the house at these appointments all of which, I am sure, will prove to be very popular. It also gives me a great deal of satisfaction to have this first opportunity to congratulate the mover of the address (Mr. Bourdages) on the truly fine

speech he has just made. I know the people of his riding will be justly proud of him and will feel, as I do, that his remarks reflect very accurately the strong sense of national unity and the feeling of confidence in the future felt by Canadians generally in the leadership of the Prime Minister.
I wish to say something about this feeling of confidence because it is so important to us both as individuals and as a nation. I am sure we have all learned from experience that when we approach any job or any problem with the idea that we may not have the right solution or that things are not going to go very well we inevitably end in failure. This is just as true of a nation as it is of an individual and I raise the matter at this time not only because of the extreme importance I attach to it at any time but because of the unprecedented and unwarranted attempts on the part of some people in this country to promote feelings of pessimism and gloom. Not only is there no reason for such feelings but any such attempt is not in the best interests of this country. I know that those which preach gloom and despair are only sealing their own fate. However, these pessimistic utterances must be recognized for what they are and the best way to do that is to examine some of the outcries that have been raised and then to look at the facts.
I think we should first look back to some of the major problems which were facing us at the time of the last election. We should recall what was promised by the Prime Minister in relation to them, and consider where those problems stand now. The time has long passed when during the course of a single speech one could begin to recite all the accomplishments of the present administration because they are far too numerous. It is interesting to note, however, that notwithstanding the serious problems which were facing us at that time this government has succeeded in carrying out its election undertakings to a degree never before seen in this country. Mr. Peter C. Newman writing in Maclean's magazine of September 23, 1961, stated that 50 of the 62 specific promises made had already been carried out or were in the process of being discharged. Then there is the article in the Executive magazine of January, 1962 by Mr. John D. Harbron in which the author after outlining the major appeals to the electorate by the Prime Minister goes on to say: "all of which he was to keep". It is evident from independent reports such as these that with the fulfilment of the measures outlined in the present speech from the throne the government will not only have kept its promises but it will have gone far beyond them.
The Address

Mr. J. F. Browne
Now let us consider some of the specific problems. First, the question of trade. This is one of the fields in which attempts have been made to promote gloom and despair. There might have been some reason for gloom and despair in 1956. At that time we had a trade deficit amounting to $713 million. In other words we had an excess of imports over exports to that amount. We had a huge grain surplus which could not be disposed of, and markets were being lost throughout the world. Since the present government came to office our exports have increased steadily each and every year. Our grain surplus has been disposed of. We have strengthened our position in old markets and gained new ones. By the end of 1960 our trading deficit had been reduced to a small fraction of what it was in 1956, and for the first ten months of 1961, the latest figures which I have been able to obtain from the dominion bureau of statistics, we had a trading surplus of $52 million. There is every reason to believe that when the final figures are published we shall have had an excess of exports over imports for the first time since 1952.
Before I go any further, I should like to say something about the use of statistics in a speech such as this. I know that statistics are sometimes hard to follow and that sometimes they seem dull and uninteresting. For this reason I should like to say a few words to show how the improvement indicated by these statistics concerns the average man. Let us consider grain, for instance. In the first place, disposing of our surplus has helped the farmer in several ways. There have been cash returns from the sales. Moreover, the prospects for future sales have been improved, and because there is no longer a huge surplus prices have improved. Much of this grain, because of its ultimate destination, moved through the port of Vancouver, the largest grain shipping port in the world. It provided jobs for people in the transportation industry there. It provided jobs for grain handlers in Vancouver. It brought ships to the port of Vancouver, and this in turn provided business for our merchants and jobs for our people. It is not possible to follow through each of the statistics I intend to use in this way but I can assure hon. members that each of them is just as vital and alive as the example I have used.
This vast improvement was not brought about by pessimism. It was brought about by confidence and constructive action on the part of the government. It was brought about by such actions as bringing our trade commissioners home to meet with our businessmen and helping them to sell their products; by sending numerous trade missions

The Address-Mr. J. F. Browne abroad; by our ministers getting out and selling grain to China, Poland, Czechoslovakia and other countries; by providing long needed credit facilities for exports. We now find a further expansion of these successful policies outlined in the present speech from the throne. We also saw the elimination of the premium on the Canadian dollar-a step which some people felt was in itself a solution to our trade problems-and we saw an improvement in the facilities of the industrial development bank in order that our businesses might expand more readily. The results obtained from these policies have shown clearly and conclusively that the policies of the government were correct and that the criticism and pessimism of the opposition was wrong and unjustified.
Closely related to the general field of trade is our relationship to the other members of the commonwealth not only with regard to trade specifically but in connection with other matters. It will be recalled that when this government took office our trading relationship with the commonwealth was not in a satisfactory condition. Shortly after taking office the Prime Minister was instrumental in bringing about a commonwealth trade and economic conference just as he had promised he would during the election campaign. Since that time our trade with commonwealth countries has increased by 19 per cent. It is little wonder, then, that the government should have expressed concern, just as other commonwealth governments have expressed their concern, when there arose the possibility of these gains being upset by the decision of the United Kingdom government to begin negotiations with a view to joining the European common market. Naturally, no one disputes the right of the United Kingdom to join or not to join the European common market. That is their decision and their decision alone. By the same token we have a responsibility to protect Canadian interests and safeguard the interest of the commonwealth. By expressing our views we have accomplished two things. First, Prime Minister Macmillan has stated that if the United Kingdom does enter the common market, commonwealth interests will be protected. Naturally, we rely on that statement. Second, the commonwealth governments by making their views known have brought clearly to the attention of the six nations of the common market the difficult problem with which the United Kingdom is faced and this will strengthen the ability of the United Kingdom government to protect commonwealth interests during the negotiations.
In the light of these facts I can only describe as fantastic the position taken by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Pearson)

that expressing our views was squealing before we were hurt. This is the same type of unjustified criticism used by the opposition in the field of general trade and will prove once again the policy of the government to be right and the pessimism of the opposition to be wrong.
Another closely related problem is that of domestic trade and the position of the proprietors of small businesses. In this field the government has been extremely active in assisting this part of our economy and has brought before parliament approximately fifty measures designed to stimulate business in Canada. Among them were the setting up of the small business branch of the Department of Trade and Commerce, the reduction in taxation and the making available of loans up to $25,000 on a long term basis, all of which had been needed for many years.
Once again we see the government not content with all that it had done. It has brought before this session of parliament, as foreshadowed in the speech from the throne, an extension of these measures which have already proven successful. I have the utmost confidence that these measures will prove to be just as effective as those already implemented.
Dominion-provincial relations is another of those fields which needed attention by the federal government. When the present government took office the financial arrangement was governed by the Federal-Provincial TaxSharing Arrangements Act of April 1, 1957. The provincial governments were not satisfied with this arrangement even though its terms were binding upon them until March 31, 1962.
The present administration called a conference to discuss the matter in November, 1957 and following that conference, although they were under no obligation to do so, they increased the provincial share of the yield from personal income tax from 10 per cent to 13 per cent. They also initiated the Atlantic provinces adjustment grants, providing a total of $100 million over a four year period, again without any obligation to do so but because it is the policy of this government to provide equality of opportunity to all Canadians.
In the over-all picture there are two types of grants which the federal government makes to each of the ten provinces. First are the unconditional payments such as statutory subsidies, tax abatements and things of that nature. In 1956-57 these amounted to $552.6 million dollars. In 1961-62 they are estimated at $876 million. Then there are conditional grants which include such matters as health, hospital insurance, welfare, vocational training, highways and transportation, resources development and many others. In 1956-57

they amounted to $111 million. In 1961-62 they are estimated at $550 million or five times as much.
The total of all payments to the provinces in 1956-57 was $689 million. In 1961-62 they are estimated at $1,470 million. In other words they have more than doubled since the present government came into office.
But the startling thing about these figures, Mr. Speaker, is that notwithstanding the vast increase in payments to the provinces by the federal government, the average Canadian pays a lower rate of income tax to the federal government than he did when this government came into office. When one takes that in consideration, I am sure all will agree that I was not unjustified in stating at the outset of my remarks that the Prime Minister (Mr. Diefenbaker) had devoted himself to the welfare of the average Canadian.
Hon. members will recall that at the last session I placed on the record of Hansard copies of the actual income tax forms for 1956 and 1959. These documents showed quite clearly that the average Canadian was indeed paying a lower rate of tax.


Paul Joseph James Martin: That is not accurate.


John Ferguson Browne: The
documents are on the record of Hansard and will speak for themselves a lot more accurately than the-


Edmund Davie Fulton: Martin bureau of statistics.


John Ferguson Browne: They will speak a lot more accurately than the hon. member for Essex East.
In considering the welfare of the average Canadian it must be recognized that the most important thing is that he has to be in a position to obtain gainful employment in order to provide security and happiness for his family. Indeed the greatest threat to the peace of mind and security of the average man throughout the world has been recurring periods of unemployment. It is in trying to ensure the opportunity of employment for all of our people that the government has made its most strenuous efforts.
Limitations of time will not permit me to recite all of the vast array of measures taken by the government in this field. I can honestly say, however, that in my opinion its efforts in this regard have far exceeded those of any previous government in our history. It is unfortunately a problem which short term measures alone cannot entirely cure although the government's actions have considerably improved the situation. The government has, of course, long since commenced a number of long term measures the results of which will become increasingly apparent.
The Address-Mr. J. F. Browne
During the last five years the total Canadian labour force has grown almost twice as fast as in the preceding five years making it necessary to create a tremendous number of new jobs. At the same time technological improvements have made it necessary for those in the labour force to have a far higher degree of education and skill than has been the case in the past.
As a result of a survey of the dominion bureau of statistics it was shown that almost half of those without jobs were young single persons between the ages of 14 and 19 most of whom needed further training in order to find suitable employment. Further training is also required by many of those in the older age groups also because their jobs have been made obsolete by rapid technical change.
Education has, of course, always been a responsibility of the provincial governments. The federal government, however, recognizing the urgency and the immensity of the problem, has stepped in to help solve it as soon as possible without infringing in any way on provincial rights, by paying to the provinces 75 per cent of the cost of building new vocational and technical training schools and 50 per cent of the cost of operating them after construction. This will be of tremendous assistance in fitting people for jobs particularly among the younger people who, as I have pointed out, need it so urgently. For those older workers who are unemployed and need retraining because of changing conditions the government pays 75 per cent of the cost.
For those who have unfortunately been unemployed the government has made substantial increases in benefits available under the Unemployment Insurance Act, both in regular and seasonal benefits. Not only have the amounts been increased but also the maximum period during which benefits may be drawn was increased from 36 to 52 weeks. The formula under which benefits may be drawn has also been made considerably easier.
Then, too, the government has set up a commission to inquire into the Unemployment Insurance Act. It is my hope that they will recommend changes which will provide a greater measure of security for the workingman and I have forwarded to them my own suggestions in this regard.
We have contained in the speech from the throne which is now before us an outline of the steps that will be taken by the government. This is a genuine indication that the government does intend to implement the measures that are necessary to protect the interests of the working people until such time as this commission can report and its recommendations be implemented.
26	HOUSE OF
The Address-Mr. J. F. Browne
While unemployment has proven to be a long lived and difficult problem, we should not lose sight of the fact that more Canadians are working than ever before, and that labour income in total has risen very substantially as have average weekly wages.
In 1956 the average Canadian workman earned $69.44 per week, and in 1960, the last year for which complete figures are available, he earned $75.83 per week or a gain of 17.1 per cent.
The cost of living during the same period rose by 8.3 per cent and, as I have previously pointed out, income tax rates have declined for the average Canadian, so that a substantial improvement in our standard of living has been achieved during this period of time.
In providing for the general welfare the government has also passed a number of measures to assist people in special circumstances. Since the present administration came into office we have seen hospital insurance brought into being on a national scale. Hospital construction grants have been increased and a fund set up to aid in research on children's diseases. Pensions for blind persons and for disabled persons have been increased. Old age assistance payments and unemploy-fnent assistance payments have been increased. And, once again, in the present throne speech, we have heard announced further increases proposed in these fields.
To encourage amateur athletics and to improve physical fitness an annual amount of $5 million has also been made available.
Old age pensions were increased from $46 to $55 per month and again in the present speech from the throne we have further increases announced. Residence requirements were reduced from 20 years to 10 years and for the first time pensioners who meet the necessary residence requirements can travel to any part of the world for an unlimited length of time and still draw their pensions. Then too, the commission of inquiry was set up to make recommendations on how to implement a contributory system of social security over and above what we already have. This has led to the present announcement in the speech from the throne of the government's intention to seek those constitutional amendments which are necessary to bring such a scheme into being.
It is perhaps in the field of veterans affairs that the greatest improvements of all have been made. Veterans pensions and payments under the War Veterans Allowance Act were increased by substantial amounts in both 1957 and 1961. There have, of course, been many other improvements to these acts such as the easing of the eligibility requirements, the raising of total allowable income and others.


Unfortunately time does not permit me to deal with them in detail. However, I should like to give you just one or two examples of what this increase has meant to veterans. A married 100 per cent disability pensioner with two children now receives $287 per month. The comparable rate in effect five years ago was $144. When hon. members of this house stop to consider what this means to one of our veterans who served his country so faithfully, they will realize that he is now receiving in this instance double what he was receiving five years ago. I am sure that we sometimes do not stop to consider what vast improvements have been made in the last few years in this regard. In the case of a married veteran on war veterans allowance, the monthly payment prior to 1957 was $108 per month. It has now risen to $144 per month. The Veterans Land Act and many other pieces of veterans legislation have also been substantially improved. Then in the present speech from the throne we have placed before us further improvements in that regard. If any proof were needed of the sincere concern of this government for the welfare of the average person in this country, their actions in this field alone would provide it.
As I said at the outset of my remarks, Mr. Speaker, it is not possible during the course of one speech to deal with more than a small portion of the outstanding record of the government and its plans for the future. Before this debate is concluded, however, I am sure that my colleagues will have brought every aspect clearly before this house and the Canadian people.
In summing up, Mr. Speaker, may I say this. It is quite clear that there is no cause for pessimism in this country. Our world trade which is so important to us is at an all-time high, and by the very nature of the problems which it has overcome during the past four years the government has proved that it has the necessary energy and ability to overcome those which will face us in the future.
More Canadians are working and are earning more than at any other time in our history. While we are still faced with unemployment the improvements already made have been heartening and there is every prospect that, when the full benefit of the long term legislation already enacted by the government is felt, we shall be in a position to provide full employment for all our people. Our standard of living is at an all-time high. More has been accomplished in the field of social justice from the period of June, 1957, to the present time than at any previous time in our history.


Some hon. Members:: Hear, hear.


Paul Joseph James Martin: That is wholly inaccurate.


John Ferguson Browne: By any
analysis of the government's record there is no cause for fear now or in the future. By any analysis of our economy and its future prospects there is no cause for pessimism. By any analysis whatever there is every reason
The Address

Mr. J. F. Browne for all Canadians to move forward to a greater and brighter future under the brilliant leadership of the Right Hon. John G. Diefenbaker, one of the world's outstanding leaders.
On motion of Mr. Pearson the debate was adjourned.
On motion of Mr. Diefenbaker the house adjourned at 4.28 p.m.

Monday, January 22, 1962