Hon. LIONEL CHEVRIER (Minister of Transport):

I desire to lay on the table the annual report of Canadian National (West Indies) Steamships Limited for the calendar year 1945, in English and French. Copies of this report are being distributed to hon. members this afternoon.

By leave of the house I wish to move:

That the annual report for 1945 of the Canadian National (West Indies) Steamships Limited, tabled this day, be referred to the sessional committee on railways and shipping owned, operated and controlled by the government.

Explain.

Mr. PICARD,: Mr. Speaker, at the moment the Food and Drugs Act provides, under section 3, subsection (b) of chapter 3 of the statutes of 1939, that the department shall have the right to make regulations concerning the labelling and packaging of foods and drugs. The aim of that section as it stands is to prevent the public or the purchaser, according to the text of the subsection, from being "deceived or misled" as to the character, strength, quality or quantity of the article, and so on. Uhder the Opium and Narcotic Drug Act there is a subsection providing that whenever there is any drug marketed there shall be printed on the wrapper or label the following words:

It is unlawful to administer this preparation to a child under two years of age as it contains (insert name of drug) and is dangerous to its life.

The object of the present bill is to provide, for people who understand only the French language, the same protection as is provided for those who speak English, under the Food and Drugs Act ' and under the Opium and Narcotic Drug Act, by providing that the labelling shall be printed both in English and in French.

Mr. POULIOT:

Jan de Kuyper gin should

be described as poison.

Motion agreed to and bill read the first time.

Hon. J. J. McCANN (Minister of National Revenue) moved:

That a select committee, the members thereof to be later named, be appointed on radio broadcasting to consider the annual report of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and to review the policies and aims of the corporation and its regulations, revenues, expenditures and development, with power to examine and inquire into the matters and things herein referred to and to report from time to time their observations and opinions thereon, and to send for persons, papers and records.

Mr. T. L. CHURCH (Broadview):

I wish to ask the mover of this resolution a question. This committee has been appointed periodically for many years, in fact since the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has been in existence, and it seems to me that its meetings have been held to too great an extent in camera. Moreover, the reports presented to the house are never considered by the house. When the committee was appointed last year it was supposed to report on the question whether the $2.50 fee should be abolished, having regard to changed conditions. I would like to find out from the minister whether, when the present committee is appointed, it will meet in Ottawa, whether its proceedings will be open to the public, and whether its reports will be presented for consideration by the house, and presented in time to allow of such consideration.

Mr. McCANN:

The committee is being set up at this time for the purpose of expediting the business of parliament, and we invite the cooperation of members of the opposition and of other parties in naming members who will constitute the committee in order that its work may begin immediately after the recess. In answer to the hon. member for Broadview, may I assure him that the sittings of the committee are not held in camera. They are open to the public, and the reports submitted are brought down in sufficient time to be acted upon by parliament if parliament so desires. It is within the province of any member of parliament to move that a report be concurred in, with a view to having discussion. The recommendations and reports of the committee for 1942, 1943 gnd 1944 have

Radio-Special Committee

in the main been aeted upon, and the government has put into operation as a matter of policy almost all the recommendations which these committees throughout the several years have submitted to parliament.

Mr. 'E. G. HANSELL (Macleod): I do not rise, to speak against the motion, because I am in favour of it. I simply wish to point out that the motion is for a select committee, and of course a motion is necessary if the committee is to be set up. But the select committee is to deal only with the annual report, and not "annual reports," in the plural. I am at a loss to know why the committee should be set up to deal with just one report. I presume that is not particularly what is in the minister's mind. What I wish to emphasize is my belief-and I shall present to you, Mr. Speaker, and your committee who are now revising the rules and regulations of the house, a submission in this regard-that a committee of this kind should be a standing committee in order that it may meet every year to consider not only a particular matter but other subjects which should be brought before it. In fact, I believe that all government institutions should come under review of this parliament annually and not merely when something may have arisen to necessitate a special sitting of a committee. I emphasize this at the present time. At a later date I shall discuss matters affecting radio.

Mr. MoCANN: It is not the intention of the government to have the committee confine its investigation to one single report. All the policies, the financial operations and the obligations of the organization may be reviewed by the committee when it sits, as has been the practice in former years in respect of the policies and operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Mr. BRACKEN:

We are agreeable to the passage of the motion.

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

May I say I received a note from the leader of the Social Credit group asking me to clarify the last part of the statement I made as to the members being free to choose their method of travel at the Easter recess. My hon. friend asked if that means by plane. It will be for hon. members to decide; they are free so to travel if they wish.