Hon. T. A. CRERAR (Minister of Mines and Resources):

Mr. Speaker, I should like

to inform the house that the Prime Minister (Mr. Mackenzie King), at the invitation of President Roosevelt, left to-day for Washington to attend a meeting to-morrow of the

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Pacific council at which Mr. Churchill will also be present. During his visit the Prime Minister will also have an opportunity for further conferences with Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill. I should perhaps add that Mr. Churchill had also expressed a desire to confer, during his brief visit to this continent, with the Prime Minister.

1. What is the total enlistment from the province of Quebec in the Royal Canadian Air Force?

2. Of these, how many are, (a) of French-Canadian origin, (b) of origin other than French Canadian?

3. Of each of the above categories, how many have (a) enlisted for actual flying duties as air crew, (b) enlisted as mechanics for ground crew duties, (e) enlisted for general duties?

1. Recruiting centres in the province of Quebec are located in Montreal and Quebec city, and the enlistments from these two centres as at June 3, 1942, totalled 12,513 (including 352 Women's Division).

2. Where an officer or airman or airwoman does not indicate in his application or attestation papers that he is of French-Canadian origin the following points are taken into consideration in making the assessment:

(i) If he or she has a French-Canadian name as determined by a French-Canadian clerk.

(ii) If he or she completes in French the necessary information on an attestation paper printed in French.

(iii) If he or she makes the declaration on the attestation paper that he or she speaks French fluently and/or speaks very little or no English.

(iv) If he or she was born of French-Canadian parents in any part of Canada which is populated by French Canadians (Quebec, Gravelbourg, Sask., St. Boniface, Man., etc.).

(v) If the mother is definitely French Canadian, and the father is of French-Canadian extraction (even though the name may be "MacKinnon"),-especially if living in the eastern townships of Quebec.

Subject to the foregoing assessment the total enlistments indicated in 1 above are divided (a) 5,110, (b) 7,403 (including 867 U.S. citizens).

3. (a) French, 1,041; other than French, ?,231 (incl. 807 UJS. citizens), (b) French,

2.402; other than French. 3.305. (c) French,

1,582; other than French, 600. French. 85 (airwomen); other than French, 267 (airwomen).

1. What is the total enlistment from the province of Quebec in the Canadian army?

2. Of these, how many are, (a) of French-Canadian origin, (b) of origin other than French Canadian?

3. Of each of the above categories, how many have, (a) enlisted for active service anywhere, (b) enlisted for service in Canada only?

1. It is not possible without an examination of over three hundred thousand records to segregate the total enlistments of residents of the province of Quebec. It is assumed that this question refers to the total number of enlistments which took place in the province of Quebec. The whole of the province of Quebec except four counties (Gatineau, Hull, Pontiac and Temiscamingue) is contained in military district No. 4 and military district No. 5. These four counties are included in military district No. 3 with headquarters at Kingston, Ontario. The total enlistments actually taking place in military district No. 4 and military district No. 5 in active units and formations of the Canadian army from 1st September, 1939 to 6th June, 1942 were 56,722.

2. Records of enlistments by racial origin are not kept, so that the question can not be answered accurately. The method of taking the names as indicating racial origin has been urged. This method is obviously open to the objection that French names are borne by those of other than French origin. On the other hand, those of French origin bear names which are other than French. However, a compilation has been made using this method, from which it is ascertained that the number of those enlisting from the province of Quebec (without counting the three counties above mentioned) who bear names which are generally considered to indicate French origin, whether French Canadian, French Acadian, or otherwise, is 29,651, and the number enlisting from the province of Quebec (without counting the three counties above mentioned) who bear names which are generally considered to indicate other than French origin, whether French Canadian, French Acadian, or otherwise, is 27,071.

3. All of the above have enlisted for active service anywhere. There is no provision for

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voluntary enlistment in active units and formations of the Canadian army for service in Canada only.

1. What is the total enlistment from the province of Quebec in the Royal Canadian Navy?

2. Of these, how many are, (a) of French-Canadian origin, (b) of origin other than French Canadian.'

3. Of each of the above categories, how many have, (a) enlisted for active service anywhere, (b) enlisted for service in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve?

1. (Approximate)

Royal Canadian Navy 153

Royal Canadian Naval Reserve 521 Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve 4,506

Total 5,180

2. (a) (Approximate) 1.474.

(b) (Approximate) 3,706.

It should be stated that all recruiting for the Naval Service in the province of Quebec is done at one or other of the three R.C.N.V.R. divisions. One of these is in the city of Quebec and two are in the city of Montreal. At one of the Montreal divisions most of the recruiting is from the English population. In the city of Quebec, the division enlists both English and French recruits. In compiling the above figures an account was taken of the enlistments from the city of Hull which are dealt with at the Ottawa R.C.N.V.R. division.

3. All personnel joining the naval forces whether in the Royal Canadian Navy or reserve-forces enrolled for active service where required.

1. How many railway tank ears are owned and operated by the Canadian railways?

2. How many railway tank cars are owned by private companies?

3. How many railway tank cars are leased from outside oi Canada and operated in Canada?

1. The board of transport commissioners reports that Canadian railways have about 400 tank cars on the books but it is not known how many of these are in service. The board states that these cars are used in company service for various purposes including transportation for water and fuel oil services in connection with oil burning locomotives and for other services.

2. Information not of record with the Department of Transport, the board of transport commissioners or the transportation and public utilities branch of the Dominion Bureau of Statistics. Tank cars of oil companies and other private companies are leased to shippers for the transportation of commodities as required, and the railways have no control over the movement of these cars except as they are billed from loading points to destination. This applies not only to Canadian private car companies but also to United States private car companies. Consequently, additional cars belonging to United States companies might be just as numerous on Canadian lines as cars belonging to Canadian car companies.

3. Information not of record in Department of Transport, Board of Transport Commissioners or Dominion Bureau of Statistics.

1. Have the professional services of Mr. F. Leduc, C.E., of Montreal, been engaged by the government to make a survey into silk intended for use in parachute construction?

2. If so, when was Mr. Leduc appointed and for what length of time?

3. How much has been paid to Mr. Leduc to date for his professional services in this connection?

4. Has the government entrusted to Mr. F. Leduc other surveys or analyses into chemical products intended for use in war industries?

5. If so, when and for what period?

6. How much has been paid to Mr. Leduc to date in payment for his professional services in each case?

1. No.

2 and 3. Answered by 1.

4. No.

5 and 6. Answered by 1.