Mr. JEAN FRANCOIS POULIOT (Temis-couata) moved for leave to introduce Bill No. 30, to repeal the Employment and Social Insurance Act.
He said: Mr. Speaker, I am moving the introduction and the first reading of this bill to repeal the Employment and Social Insurance Act.. Last June this legislation was K.O'd by the Supreme Court of Canada and on January 28 the privy council gave it its coup de grace. Since February 1 this legislative corpse has been lying in state on the order paper. It is too late to revive it or even to embalm it. This bill is intended to be a grave digger as it is high time that this legislation was buried.
If I may be permitted, I should like to give a little experience I had just recently. Three commissioners were appointed under this act, and I was told the other day by the government that the judgment of the privy council
decided the status of these gentlemen. I drew your honour's attention to the fact that one of these commissioners had been canvassing from door to door among the members and I inquired if he had a licence as a parliamentary agent. I went up to my room and I saw him in the corridor speaking to a stenographer. He was probably trying to canvass her. He told me that he wanted to see one of my colleagues, whose office was beside mine. I happened to know from that hon. gentleman that this former commissioner, who had received a salary of $9,000 per year for doing nothing, was looking for another soft job paying at least $5,500. I called down to the main door to have a constable sent up. When the constable came up I asked him to ask this gentleman if he had a licence as a parliamentary agent. The gentleman gave no answer to the constable. I then went over myself and I said, "What are you doing here, bothering the members, running from room to room?" He saidi, "I want to see such and such a member." I said, "I know that is false because that member told me he wanted nothing to do with you, that you were just looking for a soft job." I said, "Have you a card as a parliamentary agent?" And he said, "No." I then asked the constable to escort him out of this parliamentary building, which he did. I had to do this thing myself, but I did it, and this gentleman is now out of the building. Therefore I want the commission put out of the picture also. I move the introduction of this bill, seconded by the hon. member for Hochelaga (Mr. St. Pere), the respected whip of Quebec.
