Mr. T. L. CHURCH (Broadview):

Mr. Speaker, I ask for leave to move, seconded by the hon. member for Davenport (Mr. Mac-Nicol), the adjournment of the house under standing order 31 to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the United States embargo placed on coal and fuel on the great lakes, and the grave peril of Canadian homes being without any supply during next fall and winter, and as to the announcement on 63260-153

June 11 by the Ore and Coal Exchange of Cleveland of said embargo in view of the Canadian lake shipping strike.

This is a very grave emergency, as grave as in 1917. A year ago we had a coal pile of

800,000 tons in the ship channel in my constituency. On Sunday I visited it and it was down to 10,000 or 12,000 tons, and the coal piles of other municipalities are down in about the same proportion.

I understand that the Minister of Reconstruction and Supply (Mr. Howe) is away today. I do not wish to interfere with the business of the house, but perhaps I might be allowed to speak for three or four minutes.

I am doubtful, however, whether in that case the discussion could be revived to-morrow because of standing order 31 (6) (c). But as there is a grave national emergency, the worst in our history, I suggest that I might be allowed to speak for a few minutes.

Mr. SPEAKER:

The hon. gentleman has asked for leave to move the adjournment of the house under standing order 31 to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the United States embargo placed on coal and fuel on the great lakes, and the grave peril of Canadian homes being without any supply during next fall and winter-I emphasize those words, "during next fall and winter"-and as to the announcement on June

II by the Ore and Coal Exchange of Cleveland of said embargo in view of the Canadian lake shipping strike.

I wish to make a comment, for the benefit of the house more especially, on one point made by the hon. gentleman on the question of urgency. Urgency within the meaning of the rule is not a question whether a matter proposed to be discussed is of urgent importance. It may be of infinitely urgent importance to those affected. The question is whether it is urgent within the meaning of citation 239, Beauchesne's Parliamentary Rules and Forms; in other words whether it is a matter of such urgency that harm would be caused to the public interest if by the ordinary opportunity provided by the rules of the house an hon. member were not able to bring the subject before the house soon enough. In the present case I am of the opinion that there is no urgency to adjourn the house today to discuss the subject, because the minister of the department concerned is not in the house this afternoon. Consequently I would rule the motion of the hon. gentleman out of order.

Mr. CHURCH:

Mr. Speaker, in reply I would like to say that we get our coal very largely

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from lake Erie ports, from Buffalo, Cleveland and others, and as a result the situation of our people is a matter of great urgency.

Mr. SPEAKER:

Order. I would suggest that the hon. gentleman, if there is no other opportunity to discuss the matter, should wait until the minister is back in the house.

Mr. CHURCH:

Under the rules, Mr. Speaker, you have the responsibility of deciding whether a matter is urgent or not. Surely, in view of the condition prevailing in Toronto, and all Canada, the urgency is more important than adherence to some rule made three hundred years ago, particularly in view of some of the secondary subjects with which we have dealt since the beginning of the session.

Mr. SPEAKER:

Order. I have explained why in my opinion the motion of the hon. gentleman is out of order, and I would ask that the house proceed with its business.

Mr. CHURCH:

I understand from Your Honour's statement that I may bring the matter up to-morrow when the minister returns. That is satisfactory to me.

1. On what date was it decided that class 1-A wave lengths now being used by privately-owned broadcasting stations would be reserved^ for the ultimate use of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation?

2. Were the privately-owned stations operating on such wave lengths advised of this decision? If so, when?

3. Do licences of such private stations carry an endorsation to that effect? If so, since when?

Mr. McILRAITH:

In so far as the Department of Transport is concerned:

1. April 16, 1937.

2 and 3. When the North American regional broadcasting agreement came into force on March 29, 1941, three of the six class 1-A channels assigned thereunder to Canada were already in use by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

The remaining three class 1-A channels were assigned provisionally to station CFRB at Toronto, station CKY at Winnipeg, and station CFCN at Calgary.

The licences issued for these stations for the fiscal year 1941-42, which were dated April 1,

1941, and were forwarded to the respective licensees under covering letters dated May 15, 1941, bore the following endorsation:

"This frequency is assigned subject to the provisions of regulation 15 of part II of the radio regulations issued by the minister in accordance with section 4 of the Radio Act, 1938."

Regulation 15 provides as follows:

"The allotment of a frequency or frequencies to any station does not confer a monopoly of the use of such frequency or frequencies, nor shall a licence be construed as conferring any right or privilege in respect of such frequency or frequencies."

Licences issued for these stations for the fiscal years 1942-43, 1943-44, and 1944-45 carried the same endorsation.

Licences for these stations dated April 1, 1945, bore the following endorsation:

"The frequency of _______Kc/s per second

being a clear channel is definitely reserved for the national system of broadcasting and this station is authorized to use this frequency provisionally until such time as it may be required for and assigned to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation."

1. What different types of houses are being built in the city of Yorkton by Wartime Housing Corporation?

2. How many of each different type will be built under the present contract?

3. What will be the cost to the government of each tyne of house?

4. How many of these houses are being built with basements?

5. Has any arrangement been made whereby these houses will be exempted from municipal taxation?

6. If so, for what period of time?

1. Three types: 4-room, 5-room and 6-room

houses.

2. Type Number of houses

Project No. 1 Project No. 2

4-room 23 95-room 21 126-room 6 450 25Type Estimated unit priceProject No. 1 Project No. 24-room S3,671 44 $4,090 485-room 4,720 42 5,250 576-room 4,812 95 5,360 16

4. None.

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5. These houses are the property of His Majesty the King in the right of Canada and therefore exempt from taxation. Under agreement between the municipality and Wartime Housing Limited, however, the latter agrees to make annual payments in lieu of taxes of $24 for each 2-bedroom house and $30 for every house with more than 2 bedrooms; also $1 per house per annum for street lighting.

6. For project No. 1, period is to March 31, 1960; for project No. 2, period is to October 31, 1961. Both projects numbers 1 and 2 are subject to the following provision made in the escalator clause:

"Should the cost of construction of each house exceed or be less than $4,000 the period provided in the agreement shall be increased or decreased by one year for each full amount of $200 by which the said cost exceeds or it lessens $4,000."

1. Did the National Film Board send a party including a M. Andre de Tonnaneour to South America to make a film?

2. If so, how many were in the party and what are their names and their duties for that trip?

3. What is the approximate mileage to be covered, and expected duration of the trip?

4. What is the estimated cost of this trip, and of the film when it is completed exclusive of salaries of those who are engaged in making it but including any expense accounts arising by virtue of the voyage?

Mr. CLAXTON:

The information asked for is as follows:

1, 2, 3 and 4. No. Arrangements are under consideration to send a cameraman, M. Andre de Tonnaneour, on a 7,000 mile trip in a schooner which is sailing from Gaspe to Rio de Janeiro at an expense of $125 per week for not more than 20 weeks. This would result in a coloured film on the voyage and places visited at a cost of approximately $6,500, besides several thousand additional feet for use in future films for the cost of film stock and processing.