Mr. CHURCH:
I may have to move the
adjournment of the house in order to present the facts on this matter.
Mr. SPEAKER:
The hon. gentleman cannot move the adjournment of the house at this stage; it is against the rules.
Mr. McGIBBON:
Will the minister be
good enough to give us the reason for this action?
Mr. CHAPLIN:
Will the minister be good enough to tell us why these licenses were cancelled?
Mr. SPEAKER:
Order.
Mr. McGIBBON:
Will the minister be kind enough to give his reasons for that action?
Mr. CARDIN:
After considering all the explanations which have been made we thought it advisable to refuse a renewal of the license. The information is contained in numerous letters and protests which are on the departmental files.
Mr. McGIBBON:
I submit that is no reason at all.
Mr. SPEAKER:
Order. This is what
Bourinot says at page 314:
While explanations of the intentions of the government or of a minister may be asked, their opinion on a matter of policy or of law is not a proper subject of inquiry.
Mr. ARTHURS:
On a point of order, I submit that the minister has given no reason at all. I tihink we should be given the reasons for his decision.
Mr. MACKENZIE KING:
I suggest that the question be put on the order paper and the answer thereto and the reasons can be given. .
Mr. GARDINER:
I suggest that the minister lay the correspondence on the table so that hon. members may become acquainted with the facts.
Mr. PARENT:
Let the hon. member put his question on the order paper.
Immigrants at Kingston
On the orders of the day:
Hon. FERNAND RINFRET (Secretary of State):
The hon. member for Acadia (Mr. Gardiner) asked yesterday what is the intention of the government concerning the Friel report on reparations. I may say in reply that the government is not in a position to submit any legislation on the matter during the course of the present session. Pending the consideration of possible legislation at a later date, the government thinks it would be inadvisable to have the report tabled at present.
On the orders of the day:
Mr. W. J. ERNST (Queens-Lunenburg):
On several occasions I have asked the Minister of Marine and Fisheries if he is able to give the house any informaton as to when the report of the royal commission investigating the fisheries of the maritime provinces will be tabled. I should like to ask the question again to-day.
Hon. P. J. A. CARDIN (Minister of Marine and Fisheries):
I am not in a position to give any definite answer. The commissioners are preparing the report and I expect to be in a position to table it after Easter.