Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):
Very good. Will there be any difference as to the amount of revenue received?
Mr. ILSLEY:
No.
Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):
Nothing
more than that is implied in the section?
Mr. ILSLEY:
That is all.
Mr. HARRIS (Danforth):
Were not representations made to the department with regard to this item?
Mr. ILSLEY:
No.
Mr. HARRIS (Danforth):
What is the
annual value of the sugar to which this item relates?
Mr. ILSLEY:
The hon. gentleman wants the total sugar tax? I have it here.
Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):
That would give us approximately the number of pounds.
95826-116J
Mr. ILSLEY:
The total sugar tax for
1939-40 was 812,084,484.92.
Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):
The consumption is going up; is that right?
Mr. ILSLEY:
Yes. In the previous year it was 810,797,453.42.
Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):
Would it be permissible at this point to ask the minister anything about sugar prices in Canada? We have a sugar controller in the person of Mr. S. R. Noble of Montreal, who is an old friend of mine from Fredericton. He is in control of the sugar situation, and arrangements have been made, with the British government, I believe, for an adequate supply of sugar-I refer now not to beet but to cane sugar-for Canada. The price to the importing refiners has been fixed by the British government, I assume after negotiations through the sugar controller with the refineries. I was told recently that on the last occasion upon which the price was fixed the refiners were allowed an extra profit of 35 cents per hundred pounds, which has been passed along to the consumer and which is in addition to the profits they previously had. I should like to know if there is any truth in that report. I do not affirm it, allege it, or deny it. I want information on the subject. If it is true, I should like to know what the justification has been.
Mr. ILSLEY:
I have no information for the hon. gentleman.
Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):
Where
can I get the information?
Mr. ILSLEY:
It can be obtained from
the war-time prices and trade board.
Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):
So far as I am concerned they are practically nonexistent. I have to get my information here. At what stage of the estimates can I get it?
Mr. ILSLEY:
On the estimates of the
Minister of Labour.
Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):
All right.
Mr. COLDWELL:
I want to support the leader of the opposition in asking for this information. I have been doing a little study on the sugar situation; and I submit that at the appropriate time information should be brought to this house as to why, having regard to the stocks of sugar at present in the country and the prices which are fixed by the British board, the price of sugar went up 35 cents a hundred wholesale and one cent a pound in the local stores early in May. I have been waiting for a suitable opportunity
Special War Revenue Act
to raise this whole question, and I support the leader of the opposition in asking that when the time comes the minister in charge be prepared to answer some of these questions.