Mr. HOWE:

I took the question up

seriously with the law officers of the crown and they assured me that an act is an act from the time it is enacted, whether it is operative or not. The act is part of the statutes of Canada and can be amended.

Mr. FINN:

Then, if it is an act, it must

be in force.

Mr. HOWE:

No, not necessarily.

Mr. FINN:

If it is not in force it is not

an act; it is merely something that is on the statute books. If it is of no force or effect it is not an act and cannot be until it is proclaimed. I submit, therefore, that you are amending something that is not an act, as we understand that word, that is, an enactment which is operative as a law of the country. However, if the law officers of the crown have so advised, then the responsibility rests with them. This is a voluminous act, and it seems to me that the proper thing to have done was to amend the interpretation clause, setting out what these waters in question are. What is the number of the bill?

The CHAIRMAN:

Number 53.

Mr. FINN:

In the interpretation clause

of the act there will be found a definition of every term used: "foreign voyage," "home trade voyage," "home trade ships," and so on. Then we come to the minor waters of Canada, which means all inland waters of Canada other than lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, including Georgian bay, Superior and Winnipeg, and all bays, inlets and harbours of or on the said lakes and Georgian bay.

The CHAIRMAN:

It is eleven o'clock. Progress reported.