Mr. ROSS (Kingston):

For a copy of all correspondence, letters, telegrams, orders in council, reports, and all other documents, between the government of Canada or any representative of the government and any other persons or persons, having reference to the lower lakes transhipping terminal.

Mr. KENNEDY (for Mr. Garland, Bow River):

For a copy of all correspondence, letters, telegrams, and other documents, during the years 1928 and 1929, between the Board of Grain Commissioners and the Department of J ustice.

Mr. SMITH (Cumberland):

Whereas in the year 1870 the federal government appointed a canal commission to report on proposed canal works in Canada;

War Reparations

And whereas said commission reported in 1871 dividing the proposed works into four classes and set forth "that all the works under the head of first class are really of so great importance and so essential to the welfare and prosperity of the whole country that ^they should be undertaken and proceeded with";

And whereas the proposed canal across the isthmus of Chigneeto was placed in category of one of the first class projects;

And whereas the said proposed canal across the isthmus of Chigneeto is the only proposed canal undertaking of the first class that has not been proceeded with;

And whereas said undertaking is of great importance and essential to the welfare and prosperity of the whole of Canada;

Resolved, that in the opinion of this house, it is advisable that the government of Canada take immediate steps to further investigate said project as to feasibility, cost of construction, economic and national advantages to be gained by the construction of a ship canal across the isthmus of Chigneeto to connect the waters of the bay of Fundy with the waters of the gulf of St. Lawrence and further that the government be urged to make these surveys and investigations with the least possible delay.

And that when the surveys, estimates as to cost of construction and economic and national advantages are satisfactorily established the government take the necessary steps to proceed with the construction of said canal at the earliest possible date.

Mr. SPEAKER; I should like to have a word with the mover of this resolution, with a view to the alteration of its phraseology to bring it into conformity with the rules of the house.

Motion stands.

Hon. H. H. STEVENS (Vancouver Centre):

May I ask for your ruling, Mr. Speaker, whether this resolution is. debatable with the Speaker in the chair? .

Mr SPKAKFjR: Certainly.

Mr. STEVENS:

If the minister is going to make an explanation, all right, but I wish to say something on this question.

Mr. RINFRET:

My only purpose in

moving the resolution at this time was that I thought hon. members might not have any objection to adopting the resolution without committing themselves to the principle or to the method of payment. My intention is to introduce the bill to-morrow, which will explain fully what the government has in mind. In its present form the resolution is not very explicit, but of course I shall not press the motion if there is the least objection.

Mr. STEVENS:

I am not in a position to discuss the full subject matter of the resolution to-night because I have not any material with me, but I can say in a very few words most of what I desire to say.

The resolution merely provides for a sum not exceeding $2,500,000 to be paid to reparation claimants. This question has been before the house now for two sessions, indeed for longer than that, but specifically in the last two sessions. I think it was two years ago

War Reparations

that the minister assured us at the opening of the session that steps would be taken during that session to provide for the payment of such claims as had been passed by the commission, and they had all been passed at that time except a mere half a dozen or so, which were held over and which have subsequently been dealt with. Here are hundreds and hundreds of deserving people-I cannot say at the moment just how many-whose claims were adjudicated two or three years ago. I will mention one case I know of, that of a woman with a family, whose award amounts to $5,000. She is in an absolutely destitute condition, and has been kept during this winter by her church friends, yet there has been in the hands of the government fen years this award of $5,000, which the commission approved. Upwards of eleven million dollars is in the 'hands of the government now. I ask that this resolution shall not pass to-night, and that before it is brought to the attention of the house the government should consider amending it to provide for the complete disposal of all these claims, with the exception perhaps of some group or class upon which they may desire more time for consideration.