1968-11-26

[Stage Direction]
SECOND REPORT OF STANDING COMMITTEE Second report of permanent committee on health, welfare and social affairs-Mr. Gaston Isabelle (Hull).
[Editor's Note: Text of foregoing report appears in today's Votes and Proceedings.]

[Stage Direction]
REQUIREMENT THAT HEALTH WARNING APPEAR ON CIGARETTE PACKAGES Mr. Antonio Yanakis (Berthier) moved for leave to introduce Bill No. C-134 intituled "An Act to amend the Tobacco Restraint Act".
Some hon. Members:: Explain.


Mr. Yanakis:: Mr. Speaker, last week in a news release, the hon. Minister of National Health and Welfare (Mr. Munro) drew the attention of Canadians to the health hazards of tobacco and published, for information purposes, a table of 85 brands of cigarettes giving their nicotine and tar contents.
Reports published recently by prominent chemists such as Dr. N. F. Forbes, professor at the Waterloo University, and other doctors throughout the world, have proved beyond a doubt that cigarettes can cause cancer, respiratory ailments, emphysema, coronary and other diseases.


Mr. Speaker:: I must remind the hon. member that the provisions of standing order 71 allow him only a brief explanation at this time.


Antonio Yanakis: I therefore ask the house to give priority to this bill so that it may be referred as soon as possible to the committee on health, welfare and social affairs for consideration and immediate steps to be taken in the interest of the citizens of the country in order to force the cigarette companies to print on the packages: "Warning-Smoking is a-
Motion agreed to and bill read the first time.



THE CANADIAN ECONOMY


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Hon. Robert L. Stanfield (Leader of the Opposition):: Mr. Speaker, I should like to direct a follow up question to one I asked the Prime Minister a number of weeks ago. It relates to a promised or indicated white paper or statement regarding measures the government proposes to take to support its anti-inflationary program. My recollection is that the Prime Minister indicated that within a relatively short period of time he would be in a position to state the intention of the government in this regard. Can he tell me when we might expect such a statement?


Right Hon.   P.-E. Trudeau@Prime Minister: Mr. Speaker, I believe the Leader of the Opposition is referring to a white paper on stabilization, or a board to stabilize prices and incomes. The Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs indicated in his speech to the house of about ten days ago, I believe, that this white paper would be in before the end of the year. That is as close a commitment as I can now give to the Leader of the Opposition.


Robert Lorne Stanfield: A supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. Is it proper to assume that the concept announced by the former prime minister last February with regard to the role of a prices and review board has been dropped, or at least very substantially changed, and a new concept adopted?


Mr. Trudeau:: No, Mr. Speaker, I do not think there will be any fundamental departure from what was indicated by the then prime minister. As a matter of fact some of the plans he set forth have been followed by me in the sense that I have had meetings with leaders of labour and industry and have discussed these plans with them. I have also had several meetings with responsible people in the area of finance. I have asked advice of people who have looked at this kind of experiment in the United Kingdom, and the Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs has done a great deal of work on it. I believe all this is in the general direction indicated earlier last year by Right Hon. L. B. Pearson.
31.88	COMMONS
Inquiries of the Ministry COMMUNICATIONS



SATELLITE DESIGN STUDIES COMMISSIONED BY GOVERNMENT

[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. David Lewis (York South):: Mr. Speaker, I should like to address a question to the Postmaster General. In light of press reports of designs of and plans for a communications satellite, publicized by Northern Electric, can the minister inform the house whether the government commissioned any firm to make a feasibility study, for a fee, on this subject; and if so, has he received any report?


Hon. Eric W. Kierans (Postmaster General):: Mr. Speaker, I regret to have to inform this house that the first I learned of the results of two studies that were commissioned by the government on May 1, was last night after one of the firms had held a press conference.
In answer to the hon. member's question I may say that in May through the Department of Industry the government had commissioned two studies respecting the design, development and supply of a domestic satellite communications system. The contracts were let at a cost of approximately $550,000. The part that bothers me is that neither I nor my colleague the Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce has yet received such reports.
I see that one of the companies, and the other company this morning, are prepared to launch satellites of a certain size and design. This has not been decided by the cabinet, nor has my department made any recommendations to my colleagues in the cabinet. At the present time my office is in touch with the two companies concerned. I expect to see them. I expect to receive copies of the reports, at which time I think I will make the point that such studies, when commissioned by the government, are the property of the government-


Some hon. Members:: Hear, hear.


Eric William Kierans: -and are not to be used as springboards for public relations circuses or in an attempt to sell their other wares.


David Lewis: Mr. Speaker, my supplementary question arises out of the commendable indignation of the Postmaster General, which I share. I ask the Postmaster General whether when he receives those reports he will study them to see how much of the publicity derives from them and from the information in them, and assure the house that he will take the necessary action against the companies for using information and reports which

DEBATES	November 26, 1SS8
are the property of the government and for which the government has paid.


Eric William Kierans: One thing I intend to make sure of, Mr. Speaker, is that the cost of the two press conferences will not be chargeable to the government.


David Lewis: That is not very much
consolation.


Eric William Kierans: Certainly my officers are very anxious also to see and evaluate the two reports, and to make such recommendations as may then seem to them to be appropriate.


Mr. A. D. Hales (Wellington):: I have a supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to ask the minister responsible for communications if it is his intention to improve communications between the departments.


David Lewis: I have a further supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. I do not know whether the Postmaster General did not hear my question or deliberately thought it unwise to answer it, but I would like to ask whether he would assure the house that he will take action against these companies if they have used any information in any parts of the report for which the government has paid.


Eric William Kierans: Mr. Speaker, I do not think they have used any information. If they have, of course we will take steps to safeguard the interests of the government and the people of Canada. Of that I can assure the hon. member. I think they were probably very proud of their work and wanted to boast about it before they informed the people who had commissioned the work.


Mr. Ed Schreyer (Selkirk):: I have a supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. Can the Postmaster General assure the house that the firms which were commissioned to do this research study will not necessarily be called upon to involve themselves in the development of the satellite?


Eric William Kierans: I can give no such assurance because obviously we have a tremendous capability within the department itself, that is within the defence research telecommunications establishment. They are the ones who will direct the work leading to the placing in orbit of the first operational satellite of any western country. I will be guided by their advice, Mr. Speaker.
November 23, 19S8



INQUIRIES OF THE MINISTRY

[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. Rene Matte (Champlain):: Mr. Speaker, I wish to direct a question to the Prime Minister.
Did he send a message of congratulations to the president of the French republic about his decision not to devaluate the franc, as did the President of the United States?
Right Kon. P.-E. Trudeau (Prime Minister):
Mr. Speaker, I did not send any telegram, but Canada did send France $100 million.


Mr. Donald Maclnnis (Cape Breton-East Richmond):: Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister explain the mission undertaken by the government leader in the other place?


Right Hon.   P.-E. Trudeau@Prime Minister: Will I explain what, sir?


Mr. Speaker:: Order. The hon. member realizes that the Speaker has to make a ruling on questions, and I suppose they should be just a little clearer than this so he can determine whether it is a matter of urgency, or a matter of national importance, and whether the question can be asked at this time.


Donald MacInnis: With all due respect I will forgo the opportunity, since it is not clear to the Prime Minister who is running the government.


Mr. Speaker:: Order, please.


Mr. Ambrose H. Peddle (Grand Falls-White Bay-Labrador):: Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Prime Minister. In view of a report in today's Globe and Mail to the effect that the government is giving some $75,000 to a manufacturer to investigate three proposals for the modernization of bathrooms-


An hon. Member:: For the Privy Council.


Some hon. Members:: Hear, hear.


Mr. Speaker:: Order, please. Will the hon.
member kindly ask his question?


Ambrose Hubert Peddle: -and in view of the avowed intention of the Prime Minister and his government to stay out of the nation's bedrooms, 29180-2011
Inquiries of the Ministry would it not be wise for the Prime Minister and his government also to stay out of the nation's bathrooms?


Donald MacInnis: It really does not matter who answers this question, but I would appreciate it very much if the Prime Minister could be recognized. He is beginning to look like a yo-yo.


Mr. Speaker:: Order, please. The Prime Minister.


Some hon. Members:: Hear, hear.


Hon. W. G. Dinsdale (Brandon-Souris):: Because of the prevailing good mood of the house perhaps I might be allowed to direct a question to the Postmaster General. In his i ecent comments on defence matters was the hon. gentleman speaking as a leadership candidate or was he merely flying a satellite?


Mr. Speaker:: Order. In spite of the good mood of the house, the hon. member cannot ask that question.


Mr. Frank Howard (Skeena):: My question is prompted by the declaration of the Prime Minister concerning the independence of cabinet ministers when commenting on various items. I should like to direct a question to the Solicitor General and ask him whether he has read and would care to comment upon the derogatory and slighting remarks made about him by the Prime Minister.


Mr. Speaker:: Order, please.



THE MINISTRY


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. G. W. Baldwin (Peace River):: I have a question for the Prime Minister. Would he confirm to this house that he has authorized, as a matter of government practice in respect of policies in the process of formulation, ministers of the crown to express their personal opinions, as for example ministers to whom the reports of the companies referred to by the Postmaster General were given? Would these ministers be free to express their

3188	COMMONS
Inquiries of the Ministry opinions about these reports once they had received them?


Right Hon.   P.-E. Trudeau@Prime Minister: Mr. Speaker, I fail to get the point of the question.


Gerald William Baldwin: I will put it more simply, Mr. Speaker. Will the Prime Minister confirm that as a matter of government practice he has authorized ministers of the crown to express their personal opinions in respect of policies being formulated?


Pierre Elliott Trudeau: Mr. Speaker, I think this government encourages ministers and members of its caucus to express opinions in as wide an area as possible. The only prudent thing for a minister or for a member of parliament-especially for a minister-to do is to make sure he does not place himself in an irrevocable position which might be contrary to that which the government might eventually take.


Gerald William Baldwin: I have a supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. Will the Prime Minister confirm that ministers will be free to do this in the House of Commons as well as outside it, and in general debates during which future policies are being formulated?


Pierre Elliott Trudeau: I suggest the hon. member should listen to more of our ministerial speeches in the house, Mr. Speaker.


Gerald William Baldwin: I have a supplementary question, Mr. Speaker.


Mr. Speaker:: Order, please. I doubt very much that this type of question can be asked at this time. This is certainly changing into a debate or even an argument between the hon. member and the Prime Minister.


Gerald William Baldwin: Mr. Speaker, I have one more supplementary question which I think is essential on this matter, and I would like leave to put it. Has the Prime Minister not considered the very serious problems this would pose, having in mind how difficult it is to find out what is government policy?


Mr. Speaker:: Order, please. This is precisely what I had in mind. The original question and the supplementary questions have turned into debate and argument, and should not be asked at this time.

DEBATES	November 26, 1968



NATIONAL SECURITY


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Right Hon. J. G. Diefenbaker (Prince Albert):: My question is directed to the Solicitor General. I am glad he is here, but we always knew where he was. In view of the large influx of good representatives, properly interspersed with revolutionaries, who are en route to Montreal or already there, I should like to ask the minister if he is now in a position to answer the question I asked him on October 28. At that time I was referring to Rubin and other revolutionaries of the kind who advocate bloody revolution in Canada. Everybody knows they are endeavouring to foment revolution-


Mr. Speaker:: Order, please. Would the right hon. gentleman kindly ask his question?


John George Diefenbaker: Well, Mr. Speaker, I have to identify what the question was. As long as the minister has it before him I ask him now, in view of the statement that he would take the matter as notice and secure information thereon, whether he is now able to tell us what is the attitude of the government toward putting out the welcome mat for those who are coming into this country to advocate open revolution.


Hon. G. J. Mcllraifh (Solicilor General):: The question referred to appears at page 2084 of Hansard. It occupies rather more than a column of Hansard, and I feel I should read to the house what I said on that occasion:
Mr. Speaker, I should be very glad to take the question as notice, because as it is posed it is really a statement giving a lot of information certain parts of which I did not have before. I will be glad to look at the whole form of the question and bring forward an answer on the part of it which relates to this department.
I did that very carefully and thoroughly, and no part of the question relates to this department.


John George Diefenbaker: That, Mr. Speaker, is not an unexpected answer because that government does not know what its responsibilities are.


Mr. Speaker:: Order, please.


John George Diefenbaker: I would then direct the question to the Prime Minister who, with the all-seeing eye, will be able to give an answer.


Right Hon.   P.-E. Trudeau@Prime Minister: Mr. Speaker, this is a matter for the Minister
November 26, 1968	COMMONS DEBATES
of Manpower and Immigration. If you look at the relevant page in Hansard you will find that he stated government policy on this question.


John George Diefenbaker: The Prime Minister's
answer is that the government is afraid to answer.


Hon. Marcel Lambert (Edmonton West):: have a supplementary question. I would then repeat my question, why is it that the Minister of Manpower and Immigration and the Secretary of State continue to deny applications for citizenship by residents of Canada for 30 years who at one time were related to so-called communist front organizations?


Mr. Speaker:: Order, please. The question is clearly argumentative.


Mr.   J.-A. Mongrain@Trois-Rivieres: Mr. Speaker, speaking of revolutionary agents, I wish to direct a supplementary question to the Prime Minister.
Could the Prime Minister inform the house of the whereabouts of another revolutionary agent who has been missing for a few hours and whose name is Dalton Camp?



INDUSTRY


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. Randolph Harding (Kootenay West):: should like to direct my question to the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources or in his absence to the acting minister. In view of the two deaths which occurred near Natal as a result of slides from mine waste heaps, and in view of the statement by the chief mining inspector for British Columbia that these mine waste heaps are not the responsibility of anybody, is the federal government prepared to assume responsibility in this matter?


Hon. Arthur Laing (Minister of Public Works):: Mr. Speaker, I shall endeavour to obtain a comment from the minister on this matter, which might be made tomorrow.



NATIONAL DEFENCE


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Hon. D. S. Harkness (Calgary Centre):: Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of
Inquiries of the Ministry National Defence. Arising out of a report that nearly all of the Hercules planes used by the Americans in Viet Nam have been found to have wing cracks and have been recalled for an $11 million repair job, can the minister say whether there is similar danger to Canadian Hercules planes and, in particular, to the one which is now in use by the Internationn* Red Cross to take relief to Biafra?


Hon. Leo Cadieux (Minister of National Defence):: Mr. Speaker, we are aware of what has happened to the American planes in Viet Nam. We are keeping a very close watch on our planes and nothing of that sort has developed so far.



NATIONAL REVENUE


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. Steven E. Paproski (Edmonton Centre):: Mr. Speaker, I wish to direct a question to the parliamentary secretary to the Minister of National Revenue. Would the minister undertake to provide an adequate customs staff and personnel at the Edmonton international airport in order to relieve the single official presently performing this function?


Mr. Speaker:: Order. This question could be placed on the order paper.



AIR CANADA


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. W. B. Nesbitt (Oxford):: Mr. Speaker, I wish to direct a question to the right hon. Prime Minister. Has the appropriate authority communicated to the Prime Minister the name of the new president of Air Canada?


Right Hon.   P.-E. Trudeau@Prime Minister: No, Mr. Speaker, but it was my understanding that it would be announced at 1.30 today. I have not been listening to the radio.


Wallace Bickford (Wally) Nesbitt: As a supplementary question, would the right hon. Prime Minister be good enough to ascertain who this person may be and revert to motions so he can make a statement thereon?


Pierre Elliott Trudeau: I shall be glad to attempt to do that, Mr. Speaker, if the announcement has been made by Air Canada people. I would be most anxious to hear about it and to announce it to the house.
November 28, 1363



INDIAN AFFAIRS


[Stage Direction]
Inquiries of the Ministry
[Later:}
Pierre Elliott Trudeau: I suppose I ought to revert to motions; there is a fairly long release from the board of directors of Air Canada. But the essence of the reply to the question which was asked a few minutes ago is that the board of directors of Air Canada today at 1.30 announced the appointment of Mr. Yves Pratte, Q.C. of Quebec as chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the company, and of Mr. J. R. Baldwin of Ottawa as president. These appointments are effective December 15.


Mr. Stanley Knowles (Winnipeg North Centre):: Mr. Speaker, may I direct a question to the Prime Minister supplementary to his announcement about Air Canada appointments, and supplementary also to the question asked by the hon. member for Lisgar. Now that the appointments to the two most senior positions in Air Canada have been made, will the government discuss once again with that organization the whole question of the overhaul and maintenance base at Winnipeg in the hope that it may be settled favourably and at an early date?


Pierre Elliott Trudeau: The hon. member will have noted that the appointments are effective December 15, and we do not think the question should wait that long to be discussed, Mr. Speaker.


Stanley Howard Knowles: Hear, hear.



FISHERIES


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. Lloyd R. Crouse (South Shore):: Mr. Speaker, I wish to direct a question to the Secretary of State for External Affairs. In view of the fact that over-fishing by foreign nationals in Canada's territorial waters has caused a serious decline in our fisheries resources, would he inform the house whether any progress has been made in his discussions with other countries to reach agreement on geographical co-ordinates from which base lines for the 12-mile limit will be drawn?


Hon. Mitchell Sharp (Secretary of State for External Affairs):: Mr. Speaker, I would like to take notice of that question.

On the orders of the day:


Frank Howard: Mr. Speaker, in the absence of the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development may I direct a question to the hon. member for Port Arthur in his capacity, I assume, of acting minister, and ask when the house and the public might expect to receive the remainder of the Hawthorn report relating to Indian affairs?


Hon. Robert K. Andras (Minister without Portfolio):: Mr. Speaker, I shall take notice of the question and advise the hon. member as soon as possible when the rest of the report will be released.



CANADIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. Lincoln M. Alexander (Hamilton West):: Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct a question to the Secretary of State, who I see is not present in the house; therefore perhaps his parliamentary secretary can take notice of it. I would like to ask the minister whether a tentative agreement has been reached between negotiators for the C.B.C. and the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians. I ask this question, Mr. Speaker, because apparently if such an agreement has not been reached we cannot avert a blackout of television and radio programming.


Mr. Speaker:: Order. I would think this question should be placed on the order paper.



COMMONWEALTH CONFERENCE


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. Don Mazankowski (Vegreville):: Mr. Speaker, may I direct a question to the Prime Minister. Can he say how many people he is taking to the Commonwealth prime ministers' conference in London, and what is the purpose of the 26 rooms reserved for this delegation at the posh Claridges Hotel in London?


Mr. Speaker:: Order. It seems to me this is a repetition of a question that was asked yesterday.
November 23, 1938



AGRICULTURE

[Stage Direction]
STEPS TO MEET INCREASES IN COSTS On the orders of the day:
Mr. A. P. Gleave (Saskaloon-Biggar):: Mr. Speaker, in the absence of the Minister of Finance may I direct my question to the Prime Minister. Since the outlook conference on agriculture stated that the price index of cost of goods and services used by farmers rose by 6.4 per cent in the 1966-67 period, and since that same conference forecast a similar increase-


Mr. Speaker:: Order, please. The hon. member has to ask a question. He cannot seek to give information but must ask for information.


Alfred Pullen Gleave: Mr. Speaker, my question is this. What does the government intend to do to check this fantastic cost increase, which will amount to something like 13 per cent in the two-year period for agriculture?


Right Hon.   P.-E. Trudeau@Prime Minister: I wonder if the hon. member would mind directing his question to the minister when the minister is supposed to be in the house.


Stanley Howard Knowles: He
is supposed to be here now, isn't he?



TELEVISION


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Hon. Martial Asselin (Charlevoix):: Mr. Speaker, I wanted to put a question to the Secretary of State, but in his absence, I will direct it to the Prime Minister.
Following the statement of the Quebec premier on educational broadcasting, will the government decide to issue licences for educational broadcasting to provinces wishing to operate their own system?


Right Hon.   P.-E. Trudeau@Prime Minister: We will, Mr. Speaker, apply the constitution which gives to the federal government jurisdiction on broadcasting.


Martial Asselin: I would like to ask a supplementary question, Mr. Speaker.
Will educational broadcasting be on the agenda of the next federal-provincial conference to be held in Ottawa in December? Will it be considered?
Inquiries of the Ministry


Pierre Elliott Trudeau: Mr. Speaker, the question of the distribution of jurisdictions between the two levels of government is in fact on the agenda and the provinces might wish to discuss it.


Martial Asselin: I have a further supplementary question, Mr. Speaker.
I think it should be easy for the Prime Minister to answer yes or no to my question whether that will be on the agenda.


Pierre Elliott Trudeau: Yes and no, Mr. Speaker.



NATIONAL DEFENCE


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. J. M. Forresiall (Darimouih-Halifax East):: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the
Minister of National Defence. Could he shed some light on a serious and growing problem that is of concern to civilian employees of his department who still have not been classified? There are thousands of such employees, and they want to know whether action with regard to their pay increases will be taken before the end of the current year.


Léo Alphonse Joseph Cadieux: Mr. Speaker, I understand that in the case of these people to whom the hon. member refers the classification process has not yet terminated, and that is probably why there is a delay.


J. Michael Forrestall: A supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. Will the minister please find out whether the process has even begun? These people are complaining that the process has not yet begun.


Léo Alphonse Joseph Cadieux: I will undertake to do that, Mr. Speaker.



FISHERIES


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Edward Richard Schreyer: Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Fisheries and arises from a news report that the Fisheries Research Board will, for purposes of experimenting, artificially pollute 100 lakes near the Ontario-Manitoba border. Did the department or the board consult with the two affected provinces before making this decision?
November 26, 1968

Inquiries of the Ministry Hon. Jack Davis (Minister of Fisheries):	to the Prime Minister. Will he tell the house
Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of the press what commitments he made yesterday to the report the hon. member refers to. I will look Canadian Chamber of Commerce that made into the matter and report back to the house. them so jubilant about their visit with him?



WATER RESOURCES


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. George Muir (Lisgar):: Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Secretary of State for External Affairs. He may want to take it as notice. Will he look into the present status of the Pembina river development, which has been approved by the International Joint Commission? Probably the minister will want to report to the house on negotiations between the Manitoba government and the United States authorities.


Mr. Speaker:: Order, please. I should think that question could be asked by putting it on the order paper.



HEALTH AND WELFARE


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. Paul Yewchulc (Athabasca):: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Health and Welfare. Would he consider the establishment of a special medical research grant above the usual research grants for the purpose of stimulating and increasing much needed Canadian research and allowing Canada to take the lead in research pertaining to heart transplants and associated problems?


Mr. Speaker:: I doubt whether this is a matter of urgency, but perhaps the minister might be allowed to answer.


Hon. John C. Munro (Minister of National Health and Welfare):: Mr. Speaker, I shall be pleased to have this matter referred to the Medical Research Council. As the hon. member knows, that is an autonomous body reporting to parliament through me.



THE MINISTRY


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Stanley Howard Knowles: Mr. Speaker, may I direct a question


Right Hon.   P.-E. Trudeau@Prime Minister: Mr. Speaker, I told them that this was a good government and likely to remain in power for some time.


Some hon. Members:: Hear, hear.


Stanley Howard Knowles: supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. My leader suggests that I ask the Prime Minister what truthful thing he told them, but I would not do that. Instead, may I ask the Prime Minister if he made commitments to the Chamber of Commerce in relation to their objections to medicare?


Pierre Elliott Trudeau: Mr. Speaker, the Minister of National Health and Welfare made the statement on this aspect. I cannot say that the Chamber of Commerce was extraordinarily happy with what he had to say.


Stanley Howard Knowles: Then I had better leave it at that.


George Robson Muir: A supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. When the Prime Minister finished bragging to the Chamber of Commerce did he tell them that he intended to maintain the Air Canada overhaul base in Winnipeg?


Mr. Speaker:: Order, please.



NATIONAL DEFENCE


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. Henri Latulippe (Compton):: Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of National Defence.
Is it the intention of the government to maintain and even increase its forces in NATO, in view of the pressure exerted by member countries?
Hon. Leo Cadieux (Minister of National
Defence): That is precisely a question to which the cabinet has been giving its constant consideration, Mr. Speaker.
November 26, 1388	COMMONS



EXTERNAL AID


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. Lome Nystrom (Yorkion-Melville):: Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Prime Minister. In reply to one of my questions and a similar question asked by the hon. member for Halifax-East Hants (Mr. McCleave), the Prime Minister said yesterday in the house that we were still awaiting a reply from the Red Cross as to whether they can or cannot use our Caribou aircraft that were destined for relief work in Nigeria. Has the Prime Minister received a reply on this subject as yet?


Mitchell William Sharp: Mr. Speaker, may I be permitted to reply to this question. We have not yet received a reply.


Lorne Edmund Nystrom: A supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. Has the Canadian government made a request to the Nigerian Red Cross with respect to the use of the aircraft.



POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Mr. Gordon Ritchie (Dauphin):: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Postmaster General. Has the minister received representations from farm magazine publishers to the effect that many of them may have to cease publication after the new postal rates come into effect? If so, has the minister considered the situation.


Eric William Kierans: Mr. Speaker, I received a number of such representations prior to the adoption of the bill. I pointed out to those making representations that in most cases they could cover the increased cost simply by increasing their subscription rates by as little as 35 cents a year.



NATIONAL PARKS


[Stage Direction]
On the orders of the day:
Randolph Harding: Mr. Speaker, I wish to direct a question to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development or in his absence to the acting
DEBATES	3193
Inquiries of the Ministry minister. Has the government, through the national parks board, announced that logging operations will be allowed in Glacier National Park, and particularly in that section bordering the trans-Canada highway through Rogers pass. If so, when will logging operations begin?


Mr. Speaker:: Order, please. I wonder whether this is a matter of urgency. If it is the hon. member may wish to give the Chair notice to have the question debated at the time of adjournment.