Evening star., 1943-10-03
Highway Title.
By B. T. Richardson,

OTTAWA.-The part Of the Alaska
highway that lies In Canada will be
Canadas property after the war and will
become part of this country's highway
system. The Fort Norman pipeline to
bring oil from Mackenzie River oil fields
to Alaska will also become Canadian gov
ernment property.
Prime Minister Mackenzie King made
these things clear in Parliament re-
Gently when opposition members closely
questioned the government regarding the
status of immense projects undertaken
as defense measures in Northwest Cam
ada by both Canada and the United
States.
The full text of agreements between
Canada and the U. S. A. regarding these
projects could not be made public with
out giving vital information away to the
japanese. These agreements are In the
form of an exchange of notes
Regarding the Alaska highway Mr..
King said: "At the conclusion of the
war that part of the highway which.
lies in Canada shall become In all re-
spects an integral part of the Canadian
highway system, subject to the under
standing that there shall at no tina
be imposed any discriminatory condi-
tions in relation to the use of the road
as between Canadian and United States
civilian traffic" --
Questions Pipeline
A leading opposition member, r. B..
Hanson, asked, will the Prime Minister
make similar statement or table ths
agreement as to the ownership, the in
terest in and use Of, the pipeline from
the Fort Normal oil fields to the refinery,
at White Horse and in the refinery. the
amount of money involved in the con-
struction of the pipeline and the oil
refinery?"
Mr.. King replied: Under the terms of
an agreement between the Canadian and
United States Governments, the complete
text of which cannot yet be made public
for security reasons, the United States
is paying the costs of the project and
the Canadian government is providing
sites for structures and rights of wav
essential to the project, and it is also
making oil rights available under proper
regulations
The Canadian government also has
agreed during the war to facilitate the
entry into Canada of equipment. labor
and personnel for the construction and
maintenance of the project and to waive
import duties, taxes, license fees. etc,
royalties on oil produced under this
project are also waived for the duration
of the war
Held to War End.
The United States Government re-
tains ownership of the pipeline and
refinery until the end of the war. at
which time they will be offered for sale
with the Canadian government being
given the prior right of purchase. Fail
ing a satisfactory sale being made, the
disposition of the pipeline and refinery
will be referred to the permanent joint
board on defense. 1t is impossible at this
time to estimate the amount of money
involved in the construction OF the pipe
line and refinery"
Mr. Hanson had a third question which
was:
Will title to the land through which
the pipeline runs be alienated to the
United States or TO any company. or will
it remain the property of Canada?"
Mr. King: Title to the land Though
which the pipeline runs remains in the
crown in the right of Canada"
Option to Purchase.
The last question of Mr.. Hanson was:
will individuals or companies other
than Imperial Oil have the use of the
pipeline after the War?"
Mr.. King: Under the agreement be-
tween the two governments the pipeline
and refinery will be offered for sale at
the conclusion of the war a a valuation
set by two appraisers. one named by
Canada and one named by the United
States The Canadian government will be
given the first option to purchase If
the option is not exercised within three
months the facilities may be offered for
sale by public tender with the amount
Of the valuation as the reserved price"