1963-05-16

HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATES


[Stage Direction]
House of Commons debates
[Stage Direction]
Speaker: The Honourable Alan A. Macnaughton

[Stage Direction]
The twenty fifth parliament having been dissolved by a proclamation on Wednesday, February 6, and writs having been issued and returned, a new parliament was summoned to meet for the dispatch of business on Thursday, May 16, 1963, and did accordingly meet on that day.
Thursday, May 16, 1963
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 assistant secretary to the Governor General informing him that the Honourable J. R. Cartwright, M.C., puisne judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, in his capacity as Deputy Governor General, would proceed to the Senate chamber to open the first session of the twenty sixth parliament of Canada on Thursday, the sixteenth day of May, at 10.30 a.m.
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 the Honourable the Deputy 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, the administrator of the government of Canada will declare the causes of calling this parliament.
And the house being returned to the Commons chamber:


Right Hon. L. B. Pearson (Prime Minister):: Mr. Raymond, it is a source of some encouragement to me to feel that the first words I utter from this side of the house may, I believe will, receive more approval, indeed I hope unanimous approval, than some I may be uttering as the session continues. We have just been reminded, in a ceremony that goes to the very roots of our parliamentary history and emphasizes the continuity of that history, that we will not be in a position to receive the speech from the throne, indeed we will not be in a position to take any action-in fact I am not sure that we are constituted as a House of Commons at all

until we choose a Speaker. It is my duty to begin the process of rectifying this omission, and for that purpose it is my privilege to nominate the hon. member for Mount Royal, Mr. Alan Aylesworth Macnaughton.
Mr. Macnaughton was born in Ontario and was educated in Ontario, Quebec and the United Kingdom. He is a Queen's counsel learned in the law, and he has had experience and success in business. He has been a member of the house since 1949 and has made distinguished contributions to the work of parliament during that period.
Perhaps I might be permitted to mention particularly his work during the twenty fourth parliament as chairman of the public accounts committee, when he showed those qualities

Election of Speaker
of impartiality, objectivity, a sense of proportion and f airness which I believe make him eminently suitable for the high office of Speaker of this house. In that office he will be the guardian of the rights and privileges of the house and of all the hon. members of the house in accordance with the historical and valued traditions of our parliamentary system inherited from the mother of parliaments at Westminster.
His functions, of course, will also include presiding over the deliberations of the house, not always the easiest responsibility to discharge and one requiring both judicial fairness and impartial firmness.
Perhaps the qualities that are required for a Speaker of the House of Commons were never better described than by the Greek philosopher Socrates when, referring to the qualities that are required for a judge, he said, "four things belong to a judge; to hear courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly and to decide impartially." I believe the hon. member for Mount Royal has these qualities to a very unusual degree; therefore I take great pleasure in moving, seconded by the Minister of Justice (Mr. Chevrier):
That Alan A. Macnaughton, Esquire, member for the electoral district of Mount Royal, do take the chair of this house as Speaker.
(Translation):


Hon. Lionel Chevrier (Minister of Justice):: Mr. Raymond, it gives me great pleasure to second the motion of the Prime Minister (Mr. Pearson) for the nomination of Mr. Alan Macnaughton, member for Mount Royal, as Speaker of this house.
As the Prime Minister pointed out a while ago, we have known Mr. Macnaughton for many years. In fact, not only do we know him for his qualities as member of the House of Commons, but more particularly for the talent he has shown as chairman of the public accounts committee.
As I recall, the task of that committee was both difficult and delicate, and when the then prime minister suggested that Mr. Macnaughton be appointed chairman of that committee, I must tell the house that each and every one of us entertained some misgivings as to the manner in which both the members and the chairman of the said committee would behave. However, Mr. Macnaughton discharged his duties in brilliant fashion and also with a sense of fairness to all members regardless of their political affiliation.
I am pleased, therefore, to second the motion of the Prime Minister and wish to add that Mr. Macnaughton, who already has the required qualifications, will show wisdom, intelligence, patience and calm in the performance of his important functions.
IMr. Pearson.]
(Text):


Right Hon. J. G. Diefenbaker (Leader of the Opposition):: Mr. Raymond, my first words as Leader of the Opposition will be in full agreement with what the Prime Minister has said regarding the qualifications of Mr. Macnaughton. I am sure this will not be one of those occasions that will be taken as a precedent for the days ahead, in that my first words are of agreement with the leader of the government. As he said, the Speaker of the House of Commons has a high and exalted position, one revered in the history and the traditions of British parliamentary government and, as the Prime Minister has said, a position that commands high qualities, knowledge of parliament and its traditions, recognition of the rights of minorities and the preservation of the ancient privileges of parliament. He needs tact and, as one British Speaker said, the ability to hear when it is appropriate to do so and not to see when it is appropriate not to see. In other words he needs to have that tact which maintains the traditional atmosphere of parliament, which maintains decorum in the thrust of debate, and above all assures that of which the famed Speaker of the British House of Commons, Mr. Lowther, has said:
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 and prearranged, or even spontaneous, noise and violence.
In other words, if this and all other parliaments are to be effective there must be that co-operation among hon. members to assure that the institution shall be preserved as a deliberative body wherein free speech is the right, not the privilege, of every hon. member of the house.
The Speaker is the custodian of the rights of parliament. He has great rights and great privileges. In the United Kingdom he enjoys freedom from income tax. That is one of the rights that we have not brought to this country for the Speaker, but in these 60 days of decision the Speaker who is chosen may live in hope that this will be included in the promised beneficence of those who now hold office.
Mr. Clerk, I noted in the remarks of the Prime Minister that he did not make any reference to bringing about that of which he spoke on a number of occasions, the permanence of the Speaker, making it possible even under our system for a Speaker to have that authority which comes through permanence. In that connection I would point out that in 1957 I endeavoured to take a step in that direction, but it was not effective. The Prime

Minister of today has often spoken in favour of this, and I would have thought this would be an occasion when he would have been able, in his position of responsibility, to give his views thereon. In point of fact it has been debated recently in the British House of Commons, the mother of parliaments. There, on April 23, a bill came before the house which would have provided for the setting up of a special constituency known as the electoral district of St. Stephen.
It is of interest that a similar view has been expressed in our parliament. In the course of the debate, limited as it was, it was pointed out that it is better to have a permanent Speaker who is a member of the House of Commons, rather than one set apart through a medium other than election. In other words, the first commoner should be one of us, and I would hope that we, in the days ahead, will be able, in the setting up of the Speaker's committee, to deal with this question in order to assure that we in our country, recognizing the constitution as it is and the inherent bilingualism of our country, will be able to achieve the strength and authority that comes from permanence of this office.
Now, speaking of the nominee may I say this. The Prime Minister referred to the fact that Mr. Macnaughton had been chairman of the public accounts committee. That was a step we took in order to make that body effective, strong and efficient. He discharged his responsibilities there with ability, capacity and impartiality.


Some hon. Members:: Hear, hear.


John George Diefenbaker: Mention was made of the fact that he was raised in Ontario and had gone to Quebec. There are other instances among the members of this house in which that has been an effective result. I congratulate the Prime Minister upon his nomination of Mr. Macnaughton, and in a spirit of co-operation which I hope will be effective in all parts of this house we will endeavour to do our part, if he is chosen, to make him the great Speaker for which his experience as chairman of that committee indicates he has the talents and capacity.


Mr. R. N. Thompson (Red Deer):: Monsieur Raymond, it would be repetitious to again go over the importance which the position of Speaker holds in this House of Commons and the necessity of having in this position a man who can, in fairness, chair the proceedings of the house and give the stability which only the Speaker can give the house. We do agree with the remarks which have been made by the Prime Minister (Mr. Pearson) and by the leader of the official opposition (Mr. Diefenbaker) in this regard.
Election of Speaker
I believe it is our responsibility to consider carefully during the days ahead-and I believe this responsibility falls particularly on the Prime Minister-those reforms which will make the position of Speaker permanent in our midst. It is not an easy task that we are asking the hon. member for Mount Royal to perform, if we give our approval, which I trust we will. It would add much to the efficient carrying out of his responsibilities if he were to have the permanence about which the Leader of the Opposition has just spoken.
I trust that the Prime Minister will have more success in the months ahead in establishing the permanency of the Speaker than did the leader of the official opposition when he was prime minister. It is something that we all talk about being in agreement with, but it seems it is very difficult to produce the necessary action to bring in those reforms. We in our group are in favour of action being worked out in the necessary committee, and proposals being studied and put through to effect such a reform.
We as a group do not know Mr. Macnaughton, the hon. member for Mount Royal, so well personally, but last year we were impressed with the manner in which he carried out his responsibilities as chairman of the public accounts committee. If he carries that same ability and fairness into this position, I am sure he will prove himself an able Speaker of this house, if he is given our confidence. For our group it is with a great deal of pleasure that I state we will give our support to his nomination. Certainly the country needs a responsible attitude in this House of Commons toward the needs of our country, and this is a very good way in which it can begin.


Mr. T. C. Douglas (Burnaby-Coquitlam):: Mr. Raymond, the New Democratic party members of this house are happy to support the motion which has been moved by the Prime Minister.
We feel that the nominee, Mr. Macnaughton, the member of parliament for Mount Royal, is eminently suited to occupy this high post. In spite of the unanimity which has greeted his nomination we shall witness in a few moments the hon. gentleman having to be dragged to the Speaker's chair. This is part of a long tradition by which members always express great reluctance to occupy this post. This was understandable in days gone by, when it meant the possible loss of your head by an irate monarch, but I am sure that even now the reluctance is not completely feigned. To leave the floor of the House of Commons and accept this exalted position does imply some hardship and some surrender of the things one would like to do, for

Election of Speaker
when a man occupies the Speaker's post he ceases to be the servant of a party or of the government and becomes a servant of this House of Commons. It is his task to see that the rights of all members are protected and maintained, and particularly the rights of minorities and the rights of the House of Commons itself.
Every member of parliament remembers with some pride the words of an earlier speaker of the mother of parliaments, Speaker Lenthall, who said to a monarch, King Charles I, "I have neither ears to hear nor eyes to see but such as this house shall command me". It is this tradition which has made our parliamentary institutions possible, that we have a member who is set aside to be the servant, not of parliament, not of the government, not of the opposition, but of the house itself.
We sir, will be very glad to support this motion and to co-operate with the hon. gentleman when he occupies this post, in order that this twenty sixth parliament may be useful and effective.
(Translation):


Mr. Georges Valade (Si. Mary):: Mr. Raymond, it is with great pleasure that I join with the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Diefenbaker) to support the nomination of the hon. member for Mount Royal (Mr. Macnaughton) as Speaker of the house.
I feel it is appropriate that, as a member of a Montreal riding, I should be asked to support the nomination of a fellow member from the metropolis of Canada.
That this agreeable task should have been entrusted to a backbencher makes me feel very proud and shows that the Leader of the Opposition gives to ordinary representatives of the people as much importance as to members of the cabinet.
Mr. Macnaughton's personal qualities are well known by the members of the house, where he has friends only.
He showed impartiality-a sine qua non condition to hold the office of Speaker- when he presided over the deliberations of the public accounts committee, of which I had the honour to be a member.
Mr. Macnaughton is loyal, straightforward and honest. He will undoubtedly fill his post with dignity, as did his predecessors.
Therefore, Mr. Raymond, I am very happy to support his nomination and to wish him health and success in his new functions.


Mr. Real Caouetle (Villeneuve):: Mr. Raymond, on behalf of the French speaking Social Credit members, I am happy to second the earlier statement of our leader, to the effect that we shall support Mr. Speaker in the discharge of his duties. We want to assure

him of our fullest co-operation, while stressing that we shall not try to elude our own responsibilities as representatives of the people.
It was mentioned earlier today that the rights of minorities in this house must be protected. We shall, indeed, demand justice for each and every member of the house.
We have not been elected to play politics, but for serious reasons of administration. National affairs are not the concern of a single group, but of the whole nation and its representatives. We must therefore stress the need of affirming a living democracy, which means the freedom of expressing our thoughts and ideas, and also full freedom so that each group in the house may raise its voice loudly and firmly in saying "Long live Canada; long live the two races which are the cornerstone of confederation, and long live all Canadians."
(Text):
The Clerk of the House declared the motion carried in the affirmative, nemine contra-dicente, and Alan A. Macnaughton, Esquire, member for the electoral district of Mount Royal, duly elected to the Chair of the house.
Mr. Macnaughton was conducted from his seat in the house to the Speaker's chair by Right Hon. L. B. Pearson and Hon. Lionel Chevrier.


Mr. Speaker:: Hon. members of the House of Commons, may I express to you my humble acknowledgement of the great honour which you have conferred upon me by choosing me to be your Speaker.
I wish to express my gratitude to the Prime Minister (Mr. Pearson) for his generous words in proposing my name. May I digress just for a moment and say to the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Diefenbaker) that during the last five years while I was chairman of the standing committee on public accounts I appreciated very much-and I wish to testify in public to this fact-that at all times I had the active friendship and support which on more than one occasion was sorely needed. I wish to take this opportunity of thanking the right hon. gentleman publicly for his kind consideration and for his trust.
My thanks also go to the leaders of the Social Credit party and the New Democratic party for their most generous endorsations, and to the seconder of the motion, the Minister of Justice (Mr. Chevrier). I also appreciate very much the remarks of other hon. members. I hope I may be worthy of the high honour of this expression of your confidence.
It will be my duty to preserve the precious heritage of this historic chamber, to maintain decorum and order in debate and above all to exercise fairness and impartiality in

protecting the rights of every individual member. I ask for your patience and cooperation in our joint endeavours, and pray that I may be guided in fulfilling my duties in such a way that I may do justice to all hon. members and to this house whose servant I am.
(Translation):
Hon. members of the House of Commons, I thank you most sincerely for the honour you are conferring upon me and for the great token of esteem and confidence you are giving me. I must admit most humbly that I do not possess all the qualities that you were good enough to see in me. I shall strive nevertheless to act in all circumstances with the same dignity, firmness and fairness shown by my predecessors in the chair.
I shall always keep in mind that the fruits of freedom have matured, so to speak, with the help of tradition in the flowery garden of parliamentary procedure whose origin goes back to the Anglo-Norman monarchy. Inherited from our common ancestors, the duality of language and culture which proceeds naturally and normally from this tradition and this freedom is nowhere more evident than in the Canadian parliament. And furthermore, we must remember also that it is enshrined forever in our constitution.
As for the future, I sincerely hope that with your co-operation, I shall succeed in maintaining in this house the proprieties, rights and privileges that we have inherited from the past.
Hon. members of the House of Commons, I thank you once again from the very bottom of my heart.
(Text):



SITTING SUSPENDED

Lester Bowles Pearson: Mr. Speaker, before making the suggestion which I wish to make I should like to congratulate you on your selection as Speaker of this house. I feel certain that you will conduct yourself in such a way as to strengthen the feeling of the desirability of permanence in the speakership to which the right hon. gentleman opposite referred this morning with such great approval, and which is a matter which can be discussed in the committee on procedure which I hope the house will be setting up without any delay. But I cannot hold out any hope to you for any move by this government which will exempt you from income tax, because of the terrific deficit which we have inherited from the last government.
Mr. Speaker, I suggest that the sitting be suspended until 3 p.m. this day.
Opening of the Session


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 11.35 a.m. the sitting was suspended until 3 p.m. this day.



SITTING RESUMED

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

[Stage Direction]
Mr. Speaker read a communication from the Governor General's secretary announcing that His Excellency the Administrator of the government of Canada 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 Administrator 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. Alan Macnaughton, 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 Administrator 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.
[Stage Direction]
Speech of the Throne
Then His Excellency the Administrator 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 Administrator 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

Lester Bowles Pearson: for leave to introduce Bill No. C-l, respecting the administration of oaths of office.
Motion agreed to and bill read the first time.



SPEECH FROM THE THRONE

Mr. Speaker:: I have the honour to inform the house that when the house did attend His Excellency the Administrator this day in the Senate chamber, His Excellency was pleased to make a speech to both houses of parliament. To prevent mistakes, I have obtained a copy, which is as follows:
Honourable Members of the Senate:
Members of the House of Commons:
I welcome you to the first session of the twenty sixth parliament of Canada.
X am honoured today to act for His Excellency the Governor General, whose place in the respect of the Canadian people is second only to that of Her Majesty the Queen and whose early recovery to full health is sincerely wished by us all. I know that all members of this parliament would wish to join in expressing to Her Majesty the sentiments of loyalty which were recently conveyed to her by the Prime Minister.
You are deliberating the course of our country in times of great change throughout the world. These are times that test old virtues. They are times that open up new opportunities. Familiar ways of thought and action are becoming less certain guides. Many old paths are no longer open to us. The task before us is to seek out, with wisdom and imagination, those new paths that will lead us surely forward.
As Canadians we can work with hope. Our country has a proud history. Now there are expanding opportunities open to us. But they depend on our overcoming serious problems. It is only with courage and perseverance and hard work that we will achieve the better life that is within our power, for ourselves and for our children.
Our progress is the work of all the people. In a free country, we are all responsible. The determination of my ministers is that the government through its policies will contribute the leadership, the purpose, the decision that are its responsibilities to the people.

The character and strength of our nation are drawn from the diverse cultures of people who came from many lands to create the Canada that is ours today. The greater Canada that is in our power to make will be built not on uniformity but on continuing diversity, and particularly on the basic partnership of English speaking and French speaking people. My ministers are determined that the partnership shall be truly equal. For that high purpose they are establishing, in consultation with the governments of the provinces, a commission charged to study, thoroughly but urgently, how the fundamentally bicultural character of Canada may best be assured and the contribution of other cultures recognized.
To make us a more united people, the government will in all things strive to strengthen and to give new direction to our Canadian confederation. It will foster the spirit of co-operative federalism, fully respecting the rights of the provinces while safeguarding and extending the equality of opportunity which properly belongs to all Canadians in all parts of our country. In these purposes, as in others, my ministers will seek frequent consultation with the governments of the provinces.
The principles of Canadian external policy are those of the United Nations charter, to maintain peace with justice and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; and to promote the welfare of all peoples by international co-operation. My ministers will seek solutions to international problems by diplomacy and negotiation. In particular, my ministers will strive to lessen international tensions and halt the arms race by seeking measures of controlled disarmament, including a treaty to end nuclear tests under reasonable safeguards.
Meantime, my ministers believe that there is no alternative to the maintenance of the defences of the free nations as a deterrent to war. In particular, a strong North Atlantic Treaty Organization, including adequate defence on the north American continent, remains essential to Canada's security. For this purpose, the armed forces of Canada should have available the modern weapons necessary to perform effectively the defensive tasks which Canada has undertaken in the alliance. Next week, we will take pleasure in welcoming to Ottawa the ministerial council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. My government is convinced that on the foundation of the present alliance a true community of the Atlantic peoples will one day be achieved.
In recent weeks the Prime Minister has had friendly and constructive discussions with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and with the President of the United States of America. By such visits and other means the government will continue to improve political and economic relationships with other countries. It is my ministers' intention to assist in enhancing the unique value of the commonwealth partnership in international relations.
Canada's economic progress is vitally dependant on vigorous economic expansion throughout the world. We must expect continuing rapid changes in international trading relationships, changes that face Canada both with problems of adjustment and with new opportunities. My ministers believe that the nations can best achieve economic progress through policies that steadily reduce the barriers limiting trade. It is equally important to pursue active policies for the economic development of the newer nations, for the expansion of trade in primary commodities at reasonably stable prices, and for the improvement of international payments.
Canada will take a constructive part in trade and other economic negotiations. In order to increase employment and production in Canada, it is the purpose of my ministers to expand Canada's export

trade, to strengthen our payments balance with other countries, and to ensure increasingly high confidence in our economy and currency.
Steady work is the basic need on which men and women depend for the well-being of themselves and their families. Unemployment, on the serious scale of recent years, is therefore the most urgent of our domestic problems. To provide the many new jobs that are needed every year, we must create new industries. The fiscal and monetary policies of the government will give priority to the encouragement of soundly based industrial expansion.
Provision will be made to assist labour and management to make manpower adjustments required by technological and other industrial changes. The special assistance for technical training will be extended in co-operation with the provinces.
Other measures will be put before you to assist in increasing production and employment in Canada.
You will be asked to provide for the early establishment of a department of industry, which will foster industrial expansion and provide a central point to which industry can look for consultation, stimulus and assistance. It will be proposed that, within the new department, there will be established an area development agency. This agency will work with the provincial governments and other organizations to co-ordinate programs for parts of the country where, because of chronic unemployment, a special thrust for development is needed.
Amendments to the Atlantic Development Board Act will be proposed, to strengthen the board and to provide for a capital assistance fund through which it can promote basic projects in the Atlantic region.
You will be asked to establish a municipal development and loan board, through which municipalities may obtain, with the approval of the provinces, loans and grants to carry out projects which will increase employment and improve services. Amendments to the National Housing Act will also be proposed.
A measure will be placed before you to establish a Canada development corporation, by means of which Canadians can more readily direct their savings to the building of new Canadian industries and to increasing the Canadian ownership of existing industries, which is one of the important objectives of the government.
A measure will be placed before you to establish an economic council of Canada, in order to assist the government, industry and labour to develop means of ensuring in Canada the highest possible levels of employment, of efficient production, and of sustained growth for our economy.
My ministers will pursue constructive policies for the development of Canada's great resources for the benefit of Canadians.
The government will undertake discussions with the government of British Columbia and with the United States, aimed at securing action on the development of the Columbia river.
A new Department of Agriculture act will be placed before you, to provide for two ministers in order that the needs of agriculture in both eastern and western Canada may receive closer attention. My ministers will institute new programs to make farming as a whole more stable and more prosperous. They will strive to expand markets for Canadian farm products both at home and abroad, with special attention to dairy products.
The government is initiating consultation with the provinces to work out a program for national fishery development. My ministers intend to secure the establishment of a twelve mile limit for the use of the Canadian fisheries, taking proper account of treaty and historic rights.
Internal Economy Commission
You will be asked to continue the existing payments to the railways, pending the approval of long-term measures concerning transportation. You will be asked to provide additional assistance for the completion of the trans-Canada highway.
My ministers have undertaken to establish a comprehensive system of contributory pensions. The new pensions will be co-ordinated with the existing provisions for old-age security, for the purpose of enabling all Canadians to retire in security and with dignity. While the arrangements required for this great advance in the social security of our people are necessarily complex, the legislation submitted to you will be designed to make the new pension plan operative as soon as possible.
Legislation on unemployment insurance is under consideration and in the meantime you will be asked to ensure that the fund is sustained to meet the claims on it.
The redistribution of electoral districts is overdue. You will be asked to authorize the establishment of a commission to undertake this important task.
A change in the Citizenship Act will be proposed to ensure full equality of rights for all Canadian citizens wherever they were bom. Immigration policy will be reviewed.
Members of the House of Commons:
You will be asked to appropriate the funds required for the services and payments authorized by parliament.
You will be invited to establish a special committee of the house to examine defence problems.
It will be proposed that the standing committee on privileges and elections review the Canada Elections Act.
You will be asked to agree to the establishment of a committee on procedure, over which the Speaker will preside, with the aim of strengthening parliament and making it more effective.
Honourable Members of the Senate:
Members of the House of Commons:
In addition to the measures already specified, you will be asked to consider other legislative proposals.
May divine Providence guide you in your deliberations.
Right Hon. L. B. Pearson (Prime Minister)' moved:
That the speech of His Excellency the Administrator, delivered this day from the throne to the two houses of parliament, be taken into consideration at the next sitting of the house.


[Stage Direction]
Motion agreed to.

[Stage Direction]
Right Hon. L. B. Pearson (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. Lionel Chevrier, Minister of Justice, the Hon. J. W. Pickersgill, Secretary of State, the Hon. W. L. Gordon, Minister of Finance, and the Hon. Judy LaMarsh, Minister of National Health and Welfare, 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.

Lester Bowles Pearson: That a special committee be appointed to prepare and report, with all convenient speed, lists of members to compose the standing committees of this house; the said committee to be composed of Messrs. Caron, Churchill, Knowles, Leboe, Pickers-gill and Winkler, and that the provisions of standing order 65(1) be suspended in relation to the number of members thereon.


[Stage Direction]
Motion agreed to.

Lester Bowles Pearson: Mr. Speaker, I wish to make a motion regarding the appointment of the chairman of committees of the whole house. For that purpose I wish to submit the name of Lucien Lamoureux, Esquire, the hon. member for Stormont. Mr. Lamoureux is a young man who has been in this house for only a short period of time, but who has many years of public service both in Ottawa and in the civic affairs of his own city of Cornwall. He is a barrister, and he possesses qualities which I think will commend him to the house for the position to which I am nominating him. He is fluent in both languages. I am sure he will prove to be a worthy and respected occupant of the important office to which I now have the privilege of proposing his appointment.
I therefore move, seconded by the hon. member for Laurier (Mr. Chevrier), that Lucien Lamoureux, Esquire, member for the
electoral district of Stormont, be appointed chairman of committees of the whole house.


[Stage Direction]
Motion agreed to.

Lester Bowles Pearson: Mr. Speaker, I should like to move that Mr. Herman Maxwell Batten, the hon. member for Humber-St. George's, who has been a member of this house since 1953, be chosen as deputy chairman of committees of the whole house.
Mr. Batten has been in the house for a good many years. He is known to a great many members of this house and of previous parliaments. He is a man of quiet friendliness and tolerant understanding, and he has won the respect of all members who know him. He has qualities which, along with his knowledge of the rules and procedures of this house, would in my opinion make him a very acceptable and worthy deputy chairman of committees.


[Stage Direction]
Motion agreed to.

Lester Bowles Pearson: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the hon. member for Laurier (Mr. Chevrier):
That when this house adjourns this day it shall stand adjourned until tomorrow at 2.30 p.m., and that the provisions of section 1 of standing order 2 be suspended in relation thereto.


[Stage Direction]
Motion agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Pearson the house adjourned at 4.20 p.m.
[Stage Direction]
Friday, May 17, 1963