Hon. R. B. HANSON (York-Sunbury):

If I am in order I should like to ask the chairman of the committee if a final report is in course of preparation and, if so, when it will be submitted to the house.

Mr. HOWDEN:

The report is being prepared and will be submitted during the course of the next two or three daj'S.

Hon. J. L. ILSLEY (Minister of Finance) moved:

That items Nos. 385, 38G, 405 and 406 of the estimates approved and reported upon by the standing committee on railways and shipping owned, operated and controlled by the government be referred to the committee of supply.

Mr. GRAYDON:

Will the hon. member explain?

Mr. HOWDEN:

The Felician Sisters is a religious organization formed for the purpose of teaching and doing missionary work, nursing the sick and so on. More recently they have desired to go into hospital management, and are in negotiation for the purchase of a hospital in Manitoba. In order to maintain hospitals they must be incorporated, and the bill is for the purpose of forming a corporate body so that they may proceed with this work.

Motion agreed to and bill read the first time. QUESTIONS

(Questions answered orally are indicated by an asterisk.)

1. Referring to the Prime Minister's statement at page 671 of the Hansard of December 5,

Questions

1940, after the governor general ceased to be, on July 1, 1927, "the channel of communication between the government of Canada and the government of the United Kingdom", how long was the government of Canada without "a channel of communication" between itself and the government of the United Kingdom?

2. Before July 1, 1927, to what British minister did the governor general report?

3. When was the first British high commissioner appointed to Canada?

4. Was he then and is he still "the channel of communication between the government of Canada and the government of the United Kingdom"?

5. To what British minister does the high commissioner report?

6. Did the British government transfer to the British high commissioner in Canada all such duties previously carried on by the governor general, and when?

7. If so, is there any other change in the relations between the government of Canada and the government of the United Kingdom?

8. Is it part of the duties of the British high commissioner in Canada to convey to the Canadian government the answer of the British government to the questions submitted by the Canadian high commissioner in London to the Secretary of State of Dominion Affairs on behalf of the Canadian government?

9. On the other hand, is it the practice for the Canadian government to submit to the British high commissioner in Canada questions or matters for transmission to the government of the United Kingdom and to be answered to the Canadian high commissioner in London?

10. With regard to immigration policies, was the matter ever discussed between the Canadian government and the British high commissioner in Canada or between the Canadian high commissioner in London and the Secretary of State for the Dominions or that for the colonies or both?

11. What are the duties of the British high commissioner in Canada and of the Canadian high commissioner in London and to what minister does each one report?

1. At no time.

2. Before 1925, the Governor General reported to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. From July, 1925, to July 1, 1927, His Excellency reported to the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs.

3. In 1928.

4. The United Kingdom High Commissioner in Ottawa is one channel of communication between the government of the United Kingdom and the government of Canada.

5. The United Kingdom High Commissioner in Ottawa reports to the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs.

6. No.

7. There are continual changes in the relations between the government of Canada and the government of the United Kingdom, as is the case in the relations between the government of Canada and any other government.

8. No.

9. No.

10. Immigration questions which concern both governments have, from time to time,, been discussed through the various channels of communication between the governments of the United Kingdom and of Canada.

11. It is for the government of the United Kingdom to define the duties of the United Kingdom High Commissioner in Canada; he reports to the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs. The duties of the Canadian High Commissioner in the United Kingdom are defined as follows by section 3 of the acts of parliament of Canada, 2 George VI, chapter 30:

(3) The High Commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom shall,-(a) act as representative and resident agent of Canada in the United Kingdom, and, in that capacity, execute such powers and perform such duties as are, from time to time, conferred upon and assigned to him by the governor in council; (b) carry out such instructions as he, from time to time, receives from the Secretary of State for External Affairs respecting the general interests of Canada in the United Kingdom; (c) subject to the provisions of the preceding paragraphs, supervise the official activities of the various agencies of the Canadian government in the United Kingdom.

1. Referring to the Prime Minister's statement at page 117 of Hansard of September 11, 1939, that "the high commissioner in London is in touch with members of the British government, particularly the Secretary of State for the Dominions", are the representative functions of Major-General Vanier distinct from those of the high commissioner?

2. If so, (a) what were they at the time of his appointment, and (b) what are they now?

3. Was the high commissioner in London or Major-General Vanier empowered at any time to get in touch (a) with the Right Hon. Anthony Eden, in his capacity as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and (b) with the ambassador of United States in London and the ambassadors of other countries who are accredited at the London foreign office, and whose governments have not been moved to London since the beginning of the war, while their countries are represented in Canada by legations and consulates-general?

4. If not, why?

5. Besides the Secretary of State for the Dominions, who are the members of the British government the Canadian high commissioner has authority to get in touch with?

6. Is the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the only member of the British cabinet whom neither the Canadian high commissioner in London nor Major-General Vanier ever had authority to get officially in touch with?

Questions

7. If so, does the Canadian government have in London other official representatives than the Canadian high commissioner and Major-General Vanier?

8. If so, who are they and what are their duties?

9. In matters of foreign policy, did ever the Canadian high commissioner in London get directly and officially in touch with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs or did he communicate with the foreign office only through the Secretary of State for the Dominions, since July 1, 1927?

1. Yes.

2. Major-General Vanier has not yet arrived in London. He has been appointed as [DOT]Canadian Minister to the allied governments in the United Kingdom (Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Yugoslavia) and as representative of the Canadian government to consult with the French National Committee in London on all matters of mutual interest relating to the conduct of the war.

3. The high commissioner in London has authority to get in touch with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and with the ambassador of the United States of America and other ambassadors and ministers of foreign countries accredited to the Court of St. James. Major-General Vanier will represent the government of Canada only in its relations with the allied european governments in the United Kingdom and the French National Committee in London.

4. Answered by No. 3. .

5. The high commissioner in London has the authority as the need may arise to get in touch with any member of the British government.

6. The high commissioner in London maintains official contact with the government of the United Kingdom through the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs. As stated, he has authority to get in touch with other members of the government of the United Kingdom as the need may arise. Major-General Vanier will not represent the government of Canada with respect to the government of the United Kingdom.

7. The high commissioner in London represents the government of Canada with respect to the government of the United Kingdom. Major-General Vanier will represent the government of Canada with respect to the allied european governments in the United Kingdom and the French National Committee. There are no other representatives of the government of Canada in London.

8. Answered by No. 7.

(Mr. Pouliot.]

9. The Canadian high commissioner from time to time discusses with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs matters of foreign policy. As stated in No. 6, the formal official channel of communication which he employs is through the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs.

1. Was section 6 of the Publication of Statutes Act (R.S.C., 1927, c. 2), in virtue of which the clerk of the parliaments shall deliver to the governor general one copy duly certified of the statutes of Canada passed during every session of parliament "for transmission to one of His Majesty's principal secretaries of state, as required by the British North America Act, 1867" (section 56), ever amended or repealed?

2. If so, by what statute or statutes?

3. If not, did the clerk of parliaments comply with that enactment?

4. If so, on what date after every session since July 1, 1927?

5. If not, why?

6. On and after July 1, 1927, did the clerk of the parliaments deliver to the governor general, after every session of parliament, one copy duly certified of the statutes of Canada passed during such sesison, without mentioning that it was "for transmission to one of his majesty's principal secretaries of state, as required by the British North America Act, 1867"?

7. If so, on what dates each year?

8. In virtue of what authority?