Mr. ILSLEY moved:

Resolved that a sum not exceeding $148,S45,-000.59, being five-twelfths of the amount of each of the several items to be voted as set forth in the main estimates for the fiscal year ending 31st March, 1946, laid before the House of Commons at the present session of parliament, and in addition thereto the sum of $437,749.83, being one-twelfth of the amount of items 10. 23. 24. 27, 141, 146. 148. 151. 152, 171 and 267, and the sum of $862,958.33. being one-sixth of the amount of items 29, 133. 134. 142. 153, 158, 160, 161, 162, 269, 270. 271, 276. 277. 278, 279, 280, 282, 283. 286. 287, 289 and 290 as set forth in the several schedules to The Appropriation Act No. 1, 1945, be granted to His Majesty, on account, for the fiscal juar ending 31st March, 1946.

Mr. HAZEN:

Would the minister explain

what this proceeding is? What is the Chairman reading from?

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

The Chairman has just read a resolution of the committee of supply providing the sum of S148,845,000.59-

Mr. HAZEN:

Where is it found?

Mr. ILSLEY:

It is not found anywhere; it has just been read. This is the usual procedure in committee of supply, but I had better explain to the committee just what the government is asking it to do.

The resolution is passed by the committee of supply, and then a subsequent resolution by the committee of ways and means, preparatory to the introduction of a bill, which will be an appropriation bill. That appropriation bill is to provide (a) five-twelfths of all the items to be voted in the main estimates for the fiscal year 1945-46; (b) an additional one-twelfth for certain services detailed in schedule A to the bill; (c) an additional one-sixth for certain other services detailed in schedule B to the bill, and (d) borrowing power to raise sums required for redeeming loans or obligations maturing or callable during the new fiscal year.

The proportion of five-twelfths for all services is intended to provide for ordinary requirements to the end of August.

The additional proportions requested for certain special items are necessary on account of the seasonal nature of the services affected,

Interim, Supply Bill

such as certain, agricultural services; surveys and other activities of the Department of Mines and Resources, and certain public works projects including dredging and completion of contracts already under way.

The proposed procedure is the same as that followed each year with respect to interim supply; the passing of the bill to be founded on the resolution will not in any way prejudice the rights and privileges of members to criticize and discuss any item in the estimates which will come up for discussion at the next session, and as far as this government is concerned, the usual undertaking is hereby given that such rights and privileges will be respected and will not be curtailed or restricted in any way as a result of the passing of this measure.

The form of the bill differs from that passed at the beginning of the last fiscal year. At that time, on account of the short period covered, it was not necessary to ask for additional proportions on special services. At this time we are asking for five months' supply, and this involves additional proportions for certain specified services which are covered in sections 3 and 4 and supported by the schedules to the bill. The form of the present bill in this respect is the same as that followed in the past where such additional proportions were necessary.

In fact, I think it is usual in interim supply bills to secure a somewhat larger proportion for certain special services than the proportion asked for respecting the main estimates as a whole. Very often the Minister of Finance has come into the house and asked for one month's supply or two month's supply applying to all the main estimates, and then he might ask for an additional two month's supply for a few services. That is the case here. We are asking for five-twelfths applicable to all, and for a few services we are asking for an additional one-twelfth and for a few other services an additional one-sixth. These special amounts are not large in amount. The five-twelfth amounts to $148,845,000.59; the additional one-twelfth amounts to $437,749.83 and the additional one-sixth amounts to $862,958.33.

Section 5 of the bill is new. It is to authorize the refunding of Dominion of Canada securities maturing or callable in the current year. At present the only authority available for refunding purposes is the Loan Act, 1944, of which only $10,298,387.45 remains unborrowed and negotiable.

Mr. STIRLING:

Am I right in believing

that the five-twelfths plus the one-sixth plus the one-twelfth, plus the items that have been

passed already, bear a distinct relation to the total estimates of over $1,000,000,000? I should have thought that as we were proposing to vote five-twelfths of the amount required for the civil estimates there would be an exact relation between that sum and this total of $1,023,621,597.

Mr. ILSLEY:

A large number of items are statutory and do not have to be voted by the house. They are included in the main estimates simply for purposes of record and to provide a complete picture.

Mr. STIRLING:

That would be a proportion of $301,138,000?

Mr. ILSLEY:

It is five-twelfths of the nonstatutory items, which I presume is the figure the hon. gentleman has stated. Then the one-sixth and the one-twelfth would be in addition to that.

Mr. STIRLING:

What about the items

that were passed some weeks ago in committee of supply?

Mr. ILSLEY:

Those were supplementary

estimates for the fiscal year now passed, the fiscal year ended March 31, 1945.

Resolution reported and read the first time.

Mr. ILSLEY moved that the resolution be read the second time and concurred in.

Mr. POULIOT:

Before this resolution is

carried I want to tell you, Mr. Speaker, that it would have been impossible to reach this stage of the proceedings on the eighteenth day of this session if you had not shown a spirit of justice and fairness to all members of this house. In 1940 I said to you that you were honouring the Chair and five years afterward it is my duty to say the same thing. Your difficulties have been great at certain times but you have shown wisdom and fairness; at all times you have followed the true parliamentary traditions of Westminster. Being Speaker during five years of war is a most strenuous task but you have accomplished that in a marvellous way. I cannot congratulate you, but I can tell you of my admiration and gratitude.

Mr. ILSLEY moved:

Prorogation

Resolved that a sum not exceeding $148,845,000.59, being five-twelfths of the amount of each of the several items to be voted as set forth in the main estimates for the fiscal year ending 31st March, 1946, laid before the House of Commons at the present session of parliament, and in addition thereto the sum of $437,749.83, being one-twelfth of the amount of items 10, 23, 24, 27, 141, 146, 148. 151, 152, 171 and 267, and the sum of $862,958.33, being one-sixth of the amount of items 29, 133, 134, 142, 153, 158. 160, 161. 162, 269, 270, 271, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 282, 283, 286, 287, 289 and 290 as set forth in the several schedules to The Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1945, be granted to His Majesty, on account, for the fiscal year ending 31st March, 1946.

Mr. STIRLING:

I just want to record the fact that while we give acquiescence readily to the passage of this bill we look upon it as interim supply and we do not thereby give acquiescence to either the policy or the amounts covered by this measure.