1962-09-27

HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATES


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27507-3-li

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queen's printer and controller of stationery OTTAWA, 1962
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Ho use of Commons; Befiates
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Speaker: THe Honourable Marcel Lambert

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The twenty fourth parliament having been dissolved by proclamation on Thursday, April 19, and writs having been issued and returned, a new parliament was summoned to meet for the dispatch of business on Thursday, September 27, 1962, and did accordingly meet on that day.
Thursday, September 27, 1962
This being the day on which parliament is convoked by proclamation of His Excellency the Governor General for the dispatch of business, and the members of the house being assembled:
Leon J. Raymond, Esquire, O.B.E., the Clerk of the House, read to the house a letter from the secretary to the Governor General informing him that the Honourable Patrick Kerwin, Chief Justice of Canada, in his capacity as Deputy Governor General, would proceed to the Senate chamber to open the first session of the twenty fifth parliament of Canada on Thursday, the twenty seventh day of September, at eleven o'clock.
A message was delivered by Major C. R. Lamoureux, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, as follows:
Members of the House of Commons:
The Honourable the Deputy Governor General desires the immediate attendance of honourable members in the chamber of the honourable the Senate.
Accordingly, the house went up to the Senate chamber, when the Speaker of the Senate said:
Honourable Members of the Senate, and Members of the House of Commons:
I have it in command to let you know that His Excellency the Governor General does not see fit to declare the causes of his summoning the present parliament of Canada until the Speaker of the House of Commons shall have been chosen according to law, but this afternoon, at the hour of three o'clock, His Excellency will declare the causes of calling this parliament.
And the house being returned to the Commons chamber:


Right Hon. J. G. Diefenbaker (Prime Minister):: Mr. Raymond, I know all hon.
members are awaiting the speech from the throne. However, until a Speaker is elected there is no one to speak for or communicate with Her Majesty's representatives. We have been advised by the Honourable the deputy Governor General that we cannot be informed of the reasons for convening parliament until a Speaker has been chosen. Indeed, the House of Commons does not come into existence until a Speaker has been chosen.
The office of Speaker is a position of high dignity, one of the great inheritances of British tradition and institutions. In the early days the Speaker had to face the King. That is one of the reasons that today we continue more or less to force him to take his position as Speaker when he is chosen. His office requires courage, tact and great wisdom. Indeed, the records of history are replete with the names of great commoners who took their stand on behalf of freedom and its implementation by the House of Commons. The Speaker continues to be the custodian of the privileges and the honour of parliament. His ancient title, of course, is based on the fact that he was chosen by his fellow members to speak for them either to the sovereign or generally. His fidelity to parliament and the things it stands for must be unquestioned, and in the dispatch of his duties his impartiality unquestionable. He must be one who understands human frailties, wise and above all he must be patient, and have high intellectual qualities.
Last evening I picked up two volumes by Lord Ullswater, for many years Speaker of the British House of Commons. I think in his concluding paragraph he has summarized the position of the Speaker. I will quote those words:
Upon the maintenance of order and decorum in any assembly the free expression of opinions depends. In a democratic assembly, where every

Election of Speaker
kind of view is represented, it is essential that the most extreme views, whether revolutionary or reactionary, heretical or orthodox, novel or commonplace, popular or unpopular, should be given an opportunity of making themselves heard. To allow clamour and disturbance to drown free expression of sentiment is to nullify the whole purpose of a deliberative assembly. Whatever the sentiments of the majority may be, the right of a minority, however small, to state its case and put forward its arguments, is undeniable. The House of Commons is not a public meeting, a conference or a convention, where opposition can be stifled by disturbance or silenced by shouting. History records many instances of the failure of representative assemblies to listen to the voice of reason and to be overborne by concerted, prearranged or even spontaneous, noise and violence. This is a danger from which our great assembly-
He is referring to Westminster.
-is not wholly free and it must be carefully guarded against as time goes on. Upon the Speaker of the House of Commons, this most important duty is specifically placed and in his hands, to that extent, rests the future destiny and usefulness of the oldest and greatest deliberative assembly of the world.
I apply those words to this house.
Now, sir, in the ordinary course of events the British system differs from ours in that there it is the custom that the same Speaker continues as long as he retains his seat in the house. I have not conducted any extensive research in this regard but as far back as 1922 the prime minister of that day, Right Hon. Mackenzie King, spoke of the possibility of there being a permanent Speaker. I think that has been a subject that has been discussed in successive parliaments. There has been some widespread support given to it. Had the last speaker, Hon. Roland Michener, been re-elected then the house might have felt the opportunity should have been given it to express itself in regard to this subject. However, in the light of the electoral results any suggestion of that kind becomes theoretical.
So far as the Speaker is concerned, his functions are to preside over this house, to be zealous in the maintenance of the privileges of parliament, and to ensure that the rights of minorities and individual members are preserved. The discharge of these functions requires fairness and tact, firmness and impartiality, and it will not be lost sight of that we do have a number of minorities in this parliament. The Speaker must maintain order amid the clashing sabres of debate. The Speaker must preserve inviolate the traditions of parliamentary government in principle as well as in spirit, for this is the traditional heritage of freedom.
A recital such as this has been made at the opening of all parliaments, and would almost lead one to believe that a paragon of all the perfections would have to be chosen. However, we try to secure unanimity of agreement in the choice of a Speaker, in the choice

of an hon. member who represents in his person these purposes and objectives.
It is traditional in our system to choose a Speaker of one parliament who is of English origin, alternating with a Speaker of French origin. Many descendants of the French race have gone to various parts of Canada where they made valuable contributions in local spheres. The man whose name I present for the consideration of the house is among these and also goes back in his roots to the province of Quebec. His father went west many years ago and, should the house accept this nomination, it will be the first time such recognition will have been given to one of French origin representing a constituency outside Quebec.
To meet these qualifications I propose that the House of Commons give consideration to accepting Marcel Joseph Aime Lambert as Speaker. He possesses qualifications similar to those held by the Speaker of the last parliament. He was bom in the province of Alberta. He is a Rhodes scholar and a barrister at law. He was first elected to parliament in 1957 and has since taken a prominent part in the deliberations of this house. I should also mention that he is a distinguished veteran of the second world war, who participated in the glory and grandeur of Dieppe where he was taken prisoner, and if he is chosen he will be the first of the veterans of the second world war to have attained so exalted a position.
Therefore, Mr. Raymond, I ask the house to accept the nomination of Mr. Marcel Lambert as an able and proper person to be Speaker of this twenty fifth parliament.
I move, seconded by the Minister of Transport (Mr. Balcer):
That Marcel Joseph Aime Lambert, Esquire, member for the electoral district of Edmonton West, do take the chair of this house as Speaker.
(Translation):


Hon. Leon Balcer (Minister of Transport):: Mr. Raymond, it gives me great pleasure to second the motion of the right hon. Prime Minister (Mr. Diefenbaker). In my opinion, Mr. Lambert is totally qualified to fulfil the important duties of Speaker of this house, in which he will be called upon to serve his country once again, if this house concurs in the Prime Minister's motion.
I am convinced, as every right-minded person in this place is, that, in this function, he will be a credit to the people of Edmonton West and to the French speaking Canadians, especially those living outside the province of Quebec.
In nominating Mr. Lambert, the Prime Minister is asking the house to maintain a tradition of the utmost importance to the full development of national unity in this

country, that of having in turn an English speaking and a French speaking member as Speaker of this house.
The Prime Minister's idea of proposing the appointment of a French speaking member from a province other than Quebec is indeed an excellent one, to which I, as a French speaking member from Quebec, am happy to subscribe. By electing Mr. Lambert, the house will give conclusive evidence that in Canada, whatever his language or religion, a Canadian is at home in all ten provinces and can aim at the highest offices.
Mr. Lambert is a capable parliamentarian and a well-known lawyer. His high sense of duty and the respect he bears to the constitutional function of this House of Commons in the life of the nation have brought unto him a reputation of high honour.
For all those reasons, it gives me pleasure to second the Prime Minister's motion.
(Text):


Hon. L. B. Pearson (Leader of ihe Opposition):: Mr. Raymond, we on this side support with pleasure the nomination that has been made to the house by the Prime Minister, seconded by the Minister of Transport, of Mr. Lambert, the member for Edmonton West, as the Speaker of our house.
We do so for more than one reason. One is that when it is possible-and it has nearly always been possible throughout our history -the nomination of the Speaker should be supported by all hon. members of the house. The Prime Minister has mentioned the desirability, in certain circumstances in the future, of arranging for permanency in the office of Speaker. I agree that if we could make arrangements in future which would provide for continuity in the holding of this very important office, having regard to our tradition that it should be held alternately by French speaking and English speaking Canadians, it might be a desirable thing to do.
We on this side support this nomination of one who has served his country with gallantry in war and distinction in peace, who has now had some years of experience in the house and who has the great advantage of being perfectly familiar with both of Canada's official languages.
The office of Speaker, as the Prime Minister has pointed out, is the foundation of our parliamentary institutions. He is the protector of our rights and our traditions; a protection which as we know, and as has already been mentioned this morning, was in the early days against a king, but in modern days it is protection against any effort, if effort is ever made, to violate our rules, our privileges and our rights; protection especially of the
Election of Speaker
rights of the minority in this house-and in the circumstances of today, that includes all parties.
The office requires, to the highest possible degree, as the Prime Minister has emphasized, qualities of wisdom and patience, of firmness and tact, with an unswerving regard for complete fairness and a total impartiality in presiding over the deliberations of this house. It is the duty of every hon. member of the house to support the Speaker as he displays these qualities in the discharge of his duties.
It gives me, as one member of this house, the greatest possible pleasure to join the Prime Minister in the tribute he has paid to the speaker of the last parliament who has shown these qualities to an exceptional degree.


Some hon. Members:: Hear, hear.


Lester Bowles Pearson: He displayed these qualities while he was speaker in a way which gained our support, our respect and indeed our affection. He has deserved well of his party, of this house, and indeed of his country. We hope and believe that the hon. member of the house who has been nominated to succeed him will display those qualities in the same way and receive, as he will deserve, the support of all hon. members of the house.


Mr. Roberi Thompson (Red Deer):: Mr. Raymond, on behalf of the Social Credit members and myself, it is my pleasure to associate ourselves with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the support of Mr. Marcel Lambert as Speaker of this twenty fifth parliament. While Mr. Lambert is not a personal acquaintance of long standing, I feel confident that he will uphold the traditions of this most important office in a manner befitting the dignity and responsibility which the position offers to him.
Mr. Lambert follows in the footsteps of a man who, through the very high standard with which he carried out his duties in the last parliament, gained the respect and admiration of every hon. member. I say this with a certain amount of pride because the former speaker is a native of my own city and we are proud of the record of achievement in public service that has been established by him and by his father before him.
I am confident that as an Albertan Mr. Lambert will prove his ability and good judgment and fairness. Mr. Lambert's military record, his academic achievements and his parliamentary experience have given him a background which fits him well into these new responsibilities.
While election campaigns often bring expressions and statements which may not be compatible with the position of neutrality

Election of Speaker
which a Speaker must hold if he is to maintain the confidence of all hon. members of this house, I am sure that each one of us understands that it is our responsibility as members of this parliament and as Canadians to put aside all such things in an effort to face up to the job which is before us.
I was interested in the remarks made by the Prime Minister and also by the Leader of the Opposition in regard to a permanent speaker. We trust that during this parliament we might give attention to the necessary action which would provide for this house a permanent speaker, and thus not only add to the respect of the office but also assist the holder of that office in the performance of his duties. Remembering that rules are made to be obeyed, we will to a man give Mr. Lambert our full support.
I am sure no one knows better than Mr. Lambert himself that the fulfilling of this office will not be easy in this house of minorities, but I assure him of the co-operation and support of all the members of our group.


Mr. H. W. Herridge (Kootenay West):: Mr. Raymond, according to long established custom, we join with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Transport and the leader of the official opposition in supporting the nomination of a Speaker for this parliament.
On this solemn but, I am sure it is correct to say, happy occasion I feel that the environs of this house are surrounded by the draperies of history and with recollections of what that history means to us all. This ritual without rule, this ceremony without catalogue, represents our witness to a thousand years of history that forged our parliamentary and democratic institutions. Throughout the centuries these have been threatened on numerous occasions, the last time by those exponents of despotic rule, Hitler and Mussolini. Fortunately for us and future generations, millions gave their lives in defence of these institutions. We express our gratitude and honour their memory in our allegiance to parliamentary institutions, practice and procedure. Election to the office of Speaker is the greatest honour and privilege within the gift of this house; a unique office, with a distinctive tradition.
At this point, Mr. Raymond, I wish to associate the occupants of this most important corner of the house with the tribute paid by the Prime Minister and the leader of the official opposition to the former speaker. I am sure he had the respect and affection of all of us, and we will long remember our association with him in this house. We trust that in the future we will see some improvement in the procedure with respect to the election of the Speaker of this house. I have often

thought, Mr. Raymond, that it was most inhuman to expect a person to practice impartiality in this house and then thrust him on the hustings to fight an election on a partisan basis. I hope we will become more mature and accept the British practice in a form acceptable to our Canadian procedures in this respect.
Election to the office of Speaker is a great honour and privilege. Today there is a house very different from those in which I have had the privilege of sitting since my election in 1945. Here we have a minority government, and I was very interested to hear the leader of the official opposition recognize the fact that there were a number of minority parties. Consequently our Speaker is presented with a situation that will require him to tax his wisdom and tether his impatience.
It is the responsibility and duty of the Speaker to protect the individual rights of each member of this house and the rights of all groups that are in a minority position. I think it is quite correct to say that this parliament represents a particular challenge to our Speaker and all the members of this house. However, we believe that in Mr. Lambert, the hon. member for Edmonton West, we have a Speaker who will endeavour to carry out his responsibilities with complete impartiality as the champion of this legislature, which is his prime function.
In conclusion, I join with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Transport and the leader of the official opposition in supporting the election of Mr. Lambert, the member for Edmonton West, as Speaker of this parliament, and extend to him the co-operation of this group in the practice of those parliamentary principles to which we all subscribe. We sincerely wish him every success, and trust that his term of office as Speaker will add lustre to the office and to our parliamentary history and Canadian traditions. (Translation):


Hon. Lionel Chevrier (Laurier):: Mr. Raymond, the Liberal opposition has no objection to the hon. member for Edmonton West (Mr. Lambert) being elected as Speaker of the House of Commons.
The Speaker's position is most important, as the Prime Minister just indicated, due to the nature of the function he has to fulfil in this house, because parliament itself may not operate without a Speaker. Indeed, that position is even more important than that of Prime Minister, because, if he thinks that the Prime Minister is infringing the rules of the house, the Speaker can and should call him to order.
There is also another point which should be brought to the attention of the house. The Speaker, as the Leader of the Opposition

said earlier today, has to be endowed with particular qualities of justice and fairness; he should know the rules of the house; he must use discretion and tact, and above all be able to interpret not only the letter but the spirit of the law. To this end it is essential to remember the rules of the house.
As was stated by those who spoke before me, the hon. member who holds the office of Speaker of the house must also be an able and experienced member of parliament.
We on this side remember how the predecessor of the hon. member for Edmonton West acted when we were but some fifty-odd Liberal members here. We seldom had to complain about the rulings made by the Hon. Mr. Michener, a calm, cool and competent man. The former speaker had never shown any partisanship before his election to that office; he had participated in several debates but he was never guilty of partisanship. Consequently, once he was in the chair he never had any trouble in upholding the rules of the house, and he was always tactful when making a ruling.
The member for Edmonton West has sometimes shown political partisanship in this house. As far as we are concerned it is a thing of the past, we have forgotten it and, as of now, we want to turn a new leaf in the history of our proceedings. I am convinced, therefore, that if the hon. member for Edmonton West will follow in his predecessor's footsteps, he will not only enjoy the admiration and respect of his colleagues in the house but will also discharge his duties to everyone's satisfaction.
I would be remiss in not congratulating warmly the hon. member on his nomination and offering him my best wishes in his new duties.


Mr. Real Caouelte (Villeneuve):: Mr. Raymond, in agreement with the leader of our party, the hon. member for Red Deer (Mr. Thompson), we readily support the appointment of Mr. Lambert as Speaker of the house.
I do not have the pleasure of knowing Mr. Lambert personally. However, after hearing everyone speak so well of him, I believe he will prove to be an impartial Speaker who will safeguard the rights of minorities and of every member of this house and who will probably protect also this august assembly against the infiltration of subversive ideologies, such as state socialism, for instance, and communism.
At all events, I can assure the house that we shall fully support the Speaker. We shall
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co-operate with him as much as possible so that this parliament may bring to the people the results they expect from every member elected by them.
(Text):
The Clerk of the House declared the motion carried in the affirmative, nemine contradi-cente, and Marcel Joseph Aime Lambert, Esquire, member for the electoral district of Edmonton West, duly elected to the chair of the house.
Mr. Lambert was conducted from his seat in the house to the Speaker's chair by Right Hon. J. G. Diefenbaker and Hon. Leon Balcer.
(Translation):


Mr. Speaker:: Hon. members of the House of Commons, may I first beg the house to kindly accept my humble thanks for the great honour conferred upon me in electing me as Speaker. As a token of sincere appreciation, may I simply say thank you for your courtesy and your generosity.
I feel embarrassed by the excessive praise bestowed upon me, not only by the Prime Minister (Mr. Diefenbaker), but also by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Pearson) and by the members for Red Deer (Mr. Thompson), Kootenay West (Mr. Herridge), Laurier (Mr. Chevrier) and Villeneuve (Mr. Caouette).
I assure you that you will not be disappointed and I do hope that our deliberations will achieve worth-while results, in keeping with the responsibilities imposed upon each and every member of the House of Commons and Canadian parliament by the people of Canada. If it can be said that a newly-elected Speaker takes a pledge, then I feel that I could do no better, to convey its meaning, than to repeat the words expressed by my renowned predecessor when he himself was elected Speaker on May 12, 1958, and I quote:
It will be my aim and my duty as the servant of the house, and with your approval, to uphold these principles and traditions, securing to each hon. member the right to express his opinions within the limits necessary to preserve decorum; protecting the recognized privileges of hon. members. of minorities and of the house itself; facilitating the transaction of public business in an orderly manner and with due economy of time and, above all, seeking to be fair and impartial in such decisions as you entrust to me.
If these are also your objectives, as I think they are, I ask for your patience and co-operation in approaching them.
Hon. members of the House of Commons, I thank you.
(Text):
Hon. members of the House of Commons, I beg to return my humble acknowledgements

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for the great honour you have been pleased to confer upon me in electing me as your Speaker. These are almost hallowed and traditional words directed to his colleagues by a member of the house when he is newly elected to this position. After listening to the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and those gentlemen who followed them speak with regard to the awesome requirements of this position, and having heard those things which have been said about me-or which I gather were being said about me, for I fail to see them-I wish to thank you one and all for this public expression of your confidence in me. May I simply say that I hope I merit this confidence. I wish to thank all those who privately have wished me well and have said so many nice things about me. I also wish to thank my family for having supported me in my career to date. I feel that this house has conferred a special honour upon my province, upon my city and upon my constituency in naming me the presiding officer of the House of Commons. On their behalf I wish to thank you.
If there can be said to be an undertaking or an engagement by a newly elected Speaker, I feel that I can do no better than to quote the words of my illustrious predecessor, who I am pleased to see in this house today, on the occasion of his re-election as speaker on May 12, 1958:
It will be my aim and my duty as the servant of the house, and with your approval, to uphold these principles and traditions, securing to each hon. member the right to express his opinions within the limits necessary to preserve decorum; protecting the recognized privileges of hon. members, of minorities and of the house itself; facilitating the transaction of public business in an orderly manner and with due economy of time and, above all. seeking to be fair and impartial in such decisions as you entrust to me.
I realize that the composition of this house has changed although, as may be recalled, in 1957 when I first entered it the general balance of members was not dissimilar. I am sure there may be some rather rapid exchanges and that the cross-fire may become rather acute at times but, of course, all within the rules. In these exchanges as, perhaps haltingly at times, I will deal with the business of the house, I would hope that you not make me your primary target and that if you have any sharpshooting to do you either pick on somebody else or, as the duck shooting season is now open, you practice your marksmanship outside the confines of this house.
I hope we shall have productive days ahead of us within the rules of the house, which I would commend to all hon. members, particularly those who have been elected for the first time, and I trust that we shall conduct the business of the house with dispatch and ef-

ficiency but with free and unfettered discussion.
Again I wish to thank you all for the honour which you have conferred upon me.



SITTING SUSPENDED

John George Diefenbaker: Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to address you for the first time in your new capacity in the high position to which you have been called, and to suggest that this sitting be now suspended, to resume at three o'clock this afternoon.


Mr. Speaker:: The house has heard the suggestion of the Prime Minister that this sitting be suspended until three o'clock this day. Is it the pleasure of the house to concur in this suggestion?


Some hon. Members:: Agreed.


Mr. Speaker:: I declare the sitting suspended until the ringing of the bells at 3 p.m. this day.
At 12.10 p.m. the sitting was suspended until 3 p.m. this day.



SITTING RESUMED

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The house resumed at three o'clock.

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Mr. Speaker read a communication from the Governor General's secretary announcing that His Excellency the Governor General would proceed to the Senate chamber at three o'clock on this day, for the purpose of formally opening the session of the dominion parliament.
A message was delivered by Major C. R. Lamoureux, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, as follows:
Mr. Speaker, it is the pleasure of His Excellency the Governor General that this honourable house attend him immediately in the chamber of the honourable the Senate.
Accordingly, Mr. Speaker with the house
went up to the Senate chamber. Then Hon. Marcel Lambert, Speaker of the House of Commons, said:
Then Hon. Marcel Lambert, Speaker of the House of Commons, said:
May it please Your Excellency:
The House of Commons have elected me their Speaker, though I am but little able to fulfil the important duties thus assigned to me.
If in the performance of those duties I should at any time fall into error, I pray that the fault may be imputed to me, and not to the Commons, whose servant I am, and who, through me, the better to enable them to discharge their duty to their Queen and country, humbly claim all their undoubted rights and privileges, especially that they may have freedom of speech in their debates, access to Your Excellency's person at all seasonable times, and that their proceedings may receive from Your Excellency the most favourable construction.

The Honourable the Speaker of the Senate, addressing the Honourable the Speaker of the House of Commons, then said:
Mr. Speaker, I am commanded by His Excellency the Governor General to declare to you that he freely confides in the duty and attachment of the House of Commons to Her Majesty's person and government, and not doubting that their proceedings will be conducted with wisdom, temper and prudence, he grants and upon all occasions will recognize and allow their constitutional privileges.
I am commanded also to assure you that the Commons shall have ready access to His Excellency upon all seasonable occasions, and that their proceedings, as well as your words and actions, will constantly receive from him the most favourable construction.
Then His Excellency the Governor General was pleased to open parliament by a speech from the throne.
And the house being returned to the Commons chamber:
Mr. Speaker:: I have the honour to report that, the house having attended on His Excellency the Governor General in the Senate chamber, I informed His Excellency that the choice of Speaker had fallen upon me, and, in your names, and on your behalf, I made the usual claim for your privileges, which His Excellency was pleased to confirm to you.



OATHS OF OFFICE

John George Diefenbaker: for leave to introduce Bill No. 1, respecting the administration of oaths of office.
Motion agreed to and bill read the first time.



SPEECH FROM THE THRONE

Mr. Speaker:: Speech from the Throne
Legislation respecting the Senate will be introduced.
To ensure that the redistribution of electoral districts is made objectively and impartially, you will be asked to approve a bill to establish an independent commission to recommend redistribution.
A measure will be placed before you to establish an Indian claims commission to investigate claims on the part of various tribes and bands that certain of their rights have been restricted or abrogated, and to make recommendations for the equitable and final settlement of such claims.
Economic activity in Canada has moved ahead sharply. This strong advance has resulted in more than 200,000 new jobs during the past twelve months. The objective of my government is to accelerate this pace of advance. This would mean the creation over the next five years of more than 1 million new jobs and a corresponding growth in gross national product and in production for both the export and domestic market, already at record levels.
Such high levels of activity have not prevented the emergence of foreign exchange difficulties similar to those which confronted Canada in crisis proportions in 1947, and to those which have affected other major trading nations more recently. In June my government found it necessary to put into immediate effect a comprehensive program to strengthen the country's exchange reserves. Since that time Canada's exchange reserves have increased substantially. It is my government's firm intention to remove the import surcharges included in this program as soon as circumstances permit.
My government will continue to take positive, constructive measures to strengthen Canada's balance of international payments. The recently stabilized exchange rate for the Canadian dollar has greatly helped Canadian producers in all parts of Canada both in the domestic and export markets. The new exchange rate is contributing as well to a large expansion in the Canadian tourist industry, which has also been aided by joint efforts of the federal and provincial governments.
Canada's development will continue to require imports of capital, and to this end my government will maintain a climate in Canada hospitable to foreign investment.
As one of my government's measures to develop the Canadian economy, maintain a high level of employment and strengthen the balance of payments, you will be asked to approve legislation establishing a national economic development board. This board would be broadly representative and would review and report upon the state of the economy and upon economic policies. It would also have the duty of recommending to the government particular projects or measures which it considers would be in the interest of national development, including projects which may require direct governmental participation by way of financial aid or otherwise.
The objective of my ministers is a balanced budget. This will require the exercise of restraint in respect of controllable spending and an increased concentration of available resources on essential national projects designed to ensure the expansion of the Canadian economy. Steps will be taken to improve further the efficiency of government operations. The report of the royal commission on government organization will be helpful in achieving this improvement of administration while maintaining the high status of the Canadian public service. A program of economies in government expenditures will be reflected in the revised estimates to be placed before you.
A royal commission has been established to review the whole field of federal taxation and its impact on the Canadian economy, and to recommend reforms and improvements.

The purposes of the fiscal measures to be placed before you at this session will be the creation of better employment opportunities for the Canadian people, the promotion of a high rate of economic growth, the strengthening of Canada's balance of international payments and the maintenance of stability in prices. New budget measures will be introduced to provide further solutions to long teirm problems.
My ministers will reintroduce the resolutions submitted in the last budget which had as its central purpose the encouragement of economic growth. This will include the production incentive provided to manufacturing and processing companies by cancelling one half of the tax on the first $50,000 of taxable income arising from increased sales and one quarter of the increased tax on any additional income arising from increased sales. It will also include the measure to grant to individuals and companies the right to charge petroleum drilling and exploration expenses against income from oil and gas production, and to permit certain expenditures made to acquire oil and gas rights to be deductible for tax purposes. The measure to allow a special tax credit in respect of provincial logging taxes will also be reintroduced in order to remove discrimination in the taxation of logging operations. Iron mining companies will be added to the list of companies which are exempt from the special tax on income earned in Canada by branches of non-resident corporations. The measure will also be reintroduced to increase by $50 per year the income tax deductions allowed for children.
My government intends to press forward in cooperation with Canadian industry to secure a greater and more rapid application of science to industrial production. You will be asked to approve the new tax incentive announced in the last budget for corporations undertaking increased expenditures on scientific research in Canada. Dramatic evidence of successful co-operation between Canadian science and industry has been given this week in the opening of Canada's first nuclear power generating station.
Canada's prosperity and growth must ultimately rest in large measure upon its exports. To achieve adequate export levels it will be necessary to increase further Canada's capacity to produce competitively and its ability to sell in export markets. The government's industrial programs are directed toward these ends. Its commercial policy negotiations have the objective of opening additional markets to Canadian producers in fair exchange for opportunities for others to sell in Canada. The vigorous campaign of export trade promotion will be expanded to enlarge the sales of Canadian products in foreign markets. You will be asked to provide the funds necessary for this increasing trade promotion work. Amendments to the Export Credits Insurance Act will also be placed before you, to double the insurance liability which the corporation may assume and to improve the arrangements for long term financing.
You will be asked to authorize the establishment of an Atlantic development board to advise on measures and projects that will promote the economic development of the Atlantic region of Canada.
Amendments will be requested in the Industrial Development Bank Act to enlarge still further this bank's important role in national development.
The prosperity of agriculture remains essential to the well-being of the entire Canadian economy. Canada is blessed this year with very large crops of good quality, and export markets for Canadian agricultural products have been greatly enlarged.
My ministers recognize that livestock is occupying a position of increasing importance in Canadian agriculture. They propose that a program

be instituted to ensure the availability of storage facilities and continuity of supplies of feed grain to match the expanding requirements for livestock production, particularly in the areas of British Columbia and eastern Canada where supplies of feed grain are normally deficient.
The program of rehabilitation and development of agricultural lands is proceeding actively and you will be asked to provide funds for it.
Legislation will be proposed to enlarge the funds of the Farm Credit Corporation, and allow greater flexibility in their use.
The need for training in agriculture and the present facilities have also been under review and as a sequel to these studies, a national conference on agricultural training is to be convened this fall.
The development and use of Canada's resources of energy must be a central feature of the program for national economic growth. The twenty fourth parliament has laid the groundwork for this in the National Energy Board Act and in other measures.
It is hoped that arrangements will soon be completed that will make it possible to submit for your approval the Columbia river treaty and the legislation required in parliament to implement it.
The national oil policy introduced by the government two years ago has brought about a gratifying increase in the production and sale of Canadian oil.
Studies will be continued, in co-operation with the provinces, in relation to the long distance high voltage transmission of electrical power and the development of potential sources of hydroelectric power with a view to the ultimate establishment of a national power grid, which will facilitate the orderly utilization of the hydroelectric potential of Canada in the interests of expanding Canadian development and progress. Discussions are in progress with the government of Manitoba in respect to studies of the Nelson river system.
My ministers have come to the conclusion that large scale, long term contracts for the export of power surplus to Canada's needs, present and potential, should now be encouraged in order to expedite the development of major power projects in Canada which are too large to be supported by the domestic market. Such exports can also strengthen our balance of payments.
In recognition of the important role of transportation in the Canadian economy, you will be asked to approve measures to give effect to recommendations of the royal commission on transportation which has now completed its comprehensive analysis of the Canadian railway problem. These changes are intended to remove the need for general horizontal freight rate increases which have borne so heavily in the past upon certain areas and groups of producers. You will also be asked to provide for an extension of the Freight Rates Reduction Act and the other interim railway subsidies provided by appropriation.
Amendments will be proposed to the Canada Shipping Act to preserve for Canadian vessels the coasting trade in the St. Lawrence and great lakes area. Funds will be requested to implement the program of shipbuilding subsidies announced some months ago.
You will be asked to provide for the continuation of the winter works program to assist municipalities in meeting seasonal unemployment.
Far reaching changes are taking place in manpower requirements in Canadian industries as a result of automation, other technological developments and world competitive pressures. A measure will be placed before you designed to assist employers, workers and their organizations in meeting the impact of industrial change.
My government will also place before you legislation to provide safeguards against accidents and hazards in works and undertakings within the federal fields of jurisdiction.
Speech from the Throne
The committee inquiring into matters relating to the unemployment insurance fund is expected to submit its report this autumn. Following consideration of this report, appropriate measures will be placed before you.
In order to permit the introduction of a national system of contributory old age pensions with disability and survivor benefits, an amendment to the British North America Act is required. The governments of all provinces except Quebec and Newfoundland have concurred in such an amendment. My government is prepared to recommend to you the approval of an address to Her Majesty requesting the amendment when the concurrence of these remaining provinces has been received.
As pension plans have become ever more widely extended in Canadian business, it has been increasingly recognized that measures are essential to protect the interests of those affected and in particular to ensure that the benefits earned are portable when workers move from job to job. Provincial legislation would be required for this purpose in most cases, and several provinces are considering proposals of this nature. My government will be prepared to place before you complementary legislation to deal with industries under federal jurisdiction when adequate progress has been made by provinces.
A measure will be placed before you to authorize the establishment of a national council of welfare to make more fully effective the action of both federal and provincial governments in this field.
You will be asked to approve amendments to the Food and Drugs Act to provide for more effective control of the distribution and sale of drugs in the interests of the public health.
You will be asked to enact legislation to provide for the establishment of a national medical research council.
Legislation will be reintroduced to authorize the payment by federal crown corporations of certain provincial commodity taxes and fees.
Legislation will be proposed on university grants which will include authorization of payment of the higher grants announced some months ago and will provide alternative arrangements where supplementary provincial grants are made in lieu of federal grants.
A bill will be introduced to authorize a revision and codification of all federal statutes.
Bills will be introduced to amend the Judges Act, the Aeronautics Act, the Bankruptcy Act, the Coal Production Assistance Act and the Currency, Mint and Exchange Fund Act, and other statutes.
Members of the House of Commons:
You will be asked to appropriate the funds required to carry on the services and payments approved by parliament.
You will be asked to abolish closure and to reestablish the special committee on procedure of the house.
Honourable Members of the Senate:
Members of the Commons:
I pray that God in His wisdom may enlighten you in the discharge of your duty toward our country.


John George Diefenbaker: That the speech of His Excellency the Governor General to both houses of parliament be taken into consideration at the next sitting of the house.


[Stage Direction]
Motion agreed to.
[Stage Direction]
House of Commons THE MINISTRY

John George Diefenbaker: Mr. Speaker, it is customary at this time to announce changes that have taken place in the ministry since the previous session. The following changes were made effective August 9, 1962:
Hon. Donald Methuen Fleming, Minister of Justice and Attorney General; formerly Minister of Finance.
Hon. Edmund Davie Fulton, Minister of Public Works; formerly Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
Hon. George Clyde Nowlan, Minister of Finance and Receiver General; formerly Minister of National Revenue.
Hon. Ellen Louks Fairclough, Postmaster General; formerly Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
Hon. Hugh John Flemming, Minister of Forestry and Minister of National Revenue; formerly only Minister of Forestry.
Hon. George Ernest Halpenny, Secretary of State for Canada, formerly Minister without Portfolio.
Hon. Paul Martineau, Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys.
Hon. Richard Albert Bell, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
Hon. Senator Malcolm Wallace McCutcheon, Minister without Portfolio.
I should like also to announce that the following have been appointed parliamentary secretaries as of August 17 last:
To
Theogene Ricard (St. Hyacinthe-Bagot)
G.	W. Baldwin, Q.C. (Peace River)	
H.	N. Macquarrie (Queens)	To
Thomas M. Bell (Saint John-Albert)	To
W. B. Nesbitt, Q.C. (Oxford)	To
J. A. McBain (Elgin)	To
H. F. Jones (Saskatoon)	To
R. J. McCleave (Halifax)	To
W. H. Grafftey (Brome-Missisquoi)	To
A. DeB. McPhillips (Victoria)	To
A. D. Hales (Wellington South)	To
Mrs. Jean Casselman (Grenville-Dundas) .. .To
W. H. Jorgenson (Provencher)	
L. J. Pigeon (Joliette-L'Assomption-
Montcalm)	
J. A. McGrath (St. John's East)	To
F. C. McGee (York-Scarborough)	To
To
Prime Minister
Secretary of State for External Affairs
Minister of Justice
Minister of Trade and Commerce
Minister of Transport
Minister of Veterans Affairs
Minister of Public Works
Minister of Finance
Minister of Fisheries
Minister of Labour
Minister of National Health and Welfare
Minister of Agriculture
Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys Minister of Citizenship and Immigration



INTERNAL ECONOMY COMMISSION

[Stage Direction]
Right Hon. J. G. Diefenbaker (Prime
Minister) presented the following message from His Excellency the Governor General:
The Governor General transmits to the House of Commons a certified copy of an Order in Council appointing the Hon. Leon Balcer, Minister of Transport, the Hon. Gordon Churchill, Minister of Veterans Affairs, the Hon. George Clyde Nowlan, Minister of Finance, and the Hon. Ellen Louks Fairclough, Postmaster General, to act with the Speaker of the House of Commons as commissioners for the purposes and under the provisions of chapter 143 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1952, intituled: An Act respecting the House of Commons.

[Stage Direction]
Right Hon. J. G. Diefenbaker (Prime
Minister): I should now like to place before the house the nomination for the chairmanship of the committee of the whole house. I therefore move, seconded by Mr. Churchill,
that Mr. Gordon Campbell Chown, member for the electoral district of Winnipeg South be appointed chairman of committees of the whole house.
Mr. Chown, a young man of 40 years of age, educated at the University of Manitoba and at Queen's University, is a lawyer by profession. In the last world war he enlisted in the army as a private and rose to the rank of captain. Before coming to the House of Commons he served in a civic capacity as an alderman of the city of Winnipeg for a period of three years. He has been a member of the House of Commons for a number of years during which time he discharged responsibilities akin to those which he would now assume if his nomination were accepted by the house. It can be said that in the discharge of those duties he showed those characteristics of fairness and impartiality needed and requisite of anyone occupying the important position of chairman of committees.
[Mr. Diefenbaker.)
Lester Bowles Pearson: I rise in order to express our entire approval of the nomination made by the Prime Minister. In the last parliament the hon. member for Winnipeg South served as chairman of committees. In that capacity he showed tact, fairness and complete impartiality. We are sure that in his more responsible position in this parliament he will show those same qualities, and we should like to support his nomination.


Herbert Wilfred Herridge: On
this occasion we can agree with the leader of the official opposition. There is no need for me to repeat what he has so well said. What he has said we support.


[Stage Direction]
Motion agreed to.

John George Diefenbaker: I should like now to nominate a deputy chairman of the committees of the whole. I place before hon. members of this house the name of Mr. Remi Paul, the hon. member for Berthier-Maskinonge-Delanau-diere.
Elected first in the general election of March, 1958, he has been an outstanding
Business of the House
member of the house. He is a member of the bar, well acquainted with the rules of parliament.
(Translation):
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by Mr. Churchill (Minister of Veterans Affairs):
That Remi Paul, member for the electoral district of Berthier-Maskinonge-Delanaudiere, be appointed deputy chairman of the committees of the whole house.


Lionel Chevrier: Mr. Speaker, the Liberal opposition is pleased to accept the Prime Minister's suggestion concerning this appointment, which is a very important one and in which we rejoice. May I only offer our best wishes to the new incumbent in the fulfilment of his new duties. (Text):


[Stage Direction]
Motion agreed to.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE Right Hon. J. G. Diefenbaker (Prime Minister): I think that concludes the business for today and I therefore move, seconded by Mr. Churchill:
That the house do stand adjourned until tomorrow at 2.30 p.m. notwithstanding the provisions of standing order No. 2 subsection 1.
Motion agreed to and the house adjourned at 5.02 p.m.
[Stage Direction]
Friday, September 28, 1962