Mr. ROBB:
I fear I must be dense, but I do not understand my right hon. friend. If he proposes to ask me again on Monday whether I am prepared to go further than I have gone to-day, he surely would not expect me to be able to answer to-day.
Mr. MEIGHEN:
The minister does not understand my point. The question I put to-day was whether the minister intended to alter the budget proposals before the close of the debate. He asks me to wait for an answer until Monday. I am asking him- because I think we have a right to know in advance-whether or not any changes are proposed. Consequently he must defer any changes until after Monday, or we will not know in advance. I am prepared to wait and renew my question on Monday, if he will tell me the changes will not be made then. If he can tell me on Monday that there will be changes made at a later time I will be satisfied.
Mr. ROBB:
I will not make any change until I have given my right hon. friend a fair intimation of such proposed change.
Budget Changes
Mr. MEIGHEN:
One day's notice?
Mr. ROBB:
I will not say that.
Mr. MEIGHEN:
The minister may give me a half minute's notice, on this understanding, and I think I am entitled to more than that. I am only asking for one day's notice.
Mr. ROBB:
When does my hon. friend intend to speak?
Mr. MEIGHEN:
I will know better when I know what the budget is. I would like to speak on the budget as it is to be, and that is why I am asking this question, which I think is only fair.
Mr. ROBB:
I can make my right hon. friend clear on that. In general what has my hon. friend in mind? Is it the tariff or the income tax?
Mr. MEIGHEN:
Mostly the tariff, but I want the minister's answer to cover everything.
Mr. ROBB:
I told my hon. friend yesterday that there would be no substantial changes in the tariff.
Order.
Mr. SPEAKER:
Order.
Mr. MEIGHEN:
I am not doing this to delay the House, Mr. Speaker, but it is a matter of extreme importance. Leading a party, as I do, I think I should not be put off with a mere evasion. The question is most simple and clear, and I want the Minister of Finance to tell me to-day whether there are to be any changes made before the debate closes or, if I must wait until Monday to renew my question, will he then undertake that the proposed changes will not be announced until Tuesday at least?
Mr. ROBERT FORKE (Brandon):
Mr. Speaker, I would like a little information in regard to this matter. I suppose all hon. members want to know if there is to be any change in the budget. I do not exactly understand this situation. The budget has been brought down; why is it necessary to interrogate the Minister of Finance every day as to whether or not there will be any changes? I want to know the reason; I want to know why there is special privilege. The House is entitled to all the information the right hon. leader of the opposition may leceive.
Mr. MEIGHEN:
I am trying to get that information for the hon. member, if he will permit me. Perhaps the government would
prefer that I ask the hon. member himself. Now I will repeat my question. The minister will not give me any notice whatever, on his answers so far; I ask him again if he will undertake that there will be no changes announced in the budget until we are given notice. I did not understand my hon. friend's answer, if he gave one.
Mr. ROBB:
My recollection is that I answered that question.
Mr. MEIGHEN:
Will the hon. gentleman repeat it? It was an evasion; it did not answer the question at all. Does he undertake that there will be no changes until we get into committee?
Mr. ROBB:
I think I made it clear to my right hon. friend that we would follow parliamentary procedure. I told him that if changes were made before parliament generally, before we go into committee, they would be considered, but that on the general principle this budget will go through as it is.
Mr. MEIGHEN:
In the minister's opinion are there changes proposed which should be made before we go into committee?