Mr. KNOWLES:
For a copy of the survey of fluid milk distribution in Canada, prepared by the accounting division of the wartime prices and trade board, for the year 1941, and any similar reports prepared for any subsequent period.
The documents asked for in this motion are interdepartmental documents which are privileged. I must ask that this motion be dropped.
Mr. KNOWLES:
May I ask the parliamentary assistant one question? Is he aware of the fact that some twenty copies of this report were made available to the counsel of the milk distributors of Ontario?
Mr. MAYHEW:
I made inquiry as to that report and I find that, so far as the department
Motions for Papers
is concerned and so far as the government is concerned, there has been no official report circulated. If any has been released, it has been without the authority of the government.
Mr. COLDWELL:
May I ask the parliamentary assistant if copies of the report were provided unofficially to the milk distributors, or got into their hands unofficially? If so, I think the house is entitled to what the milk distributors had.
Mr. MAYHEW:
Not so far as we know. We have not recognized anything.
Mr. Knowles: Is it true that they got them?
Mr. SPEAKER:
Order. Motion dropped.
Mr. CHURCH:
For a copy of all correspondence, letters, telegrams, reports and other documents exchanged between the government of Canada or any department or officer thereof and any officer of the Beauharnois Light, Heat and Power Company regarding the company's application for the right to use additional water from the St. Lawrence river for light and power purposes of the said company, also a copy of all correspondence exchanged between the government of Canada and any of the provinces or the state of New York or the federal government of the United States of America, or any officer thereof with reference to the matters herein.
Mr. CHURCH:
For a copy of all telegrams, cables and other correspondence exchanged since the last great war, between the government of Canada and the governments of Great Britain and the other dominions or crown colonies of the empire, regarding a common defence policy for the defence of the empire in the future.
Mr. ST. LAURENT: Mr. Speaker, there has been no correspondence since the great war between the government of Canada and the government of Great Britain and the other dominions or crown colonies of the empire regarding a common defence policy for the defence of the empire in the future. There are constantly exchanges between governments with respect to their respective defence forces, but none of this correspondence could be published without the consent of the other governments. It is the view of the Canadian government that it would not be in the public interest to publish these exchanges at this time and that we should not request the consent of the other governments to do so. I would ask the hon. gentleman if he would not withdraw his motion.
Mr. CHURCH:
May I say to the right hon. gentleman that I think we should have some papers connected with it. There are no meetings and no defence policies of any kind.
Mr. SPEAKER:
Dropped.
Mr. COLDWELL:
For a statement showing the number of farmers filing income tax returns and the number assessed for the fiscal year 1945-1946, together with the number of farmers, by provinces, assessable, non-assessable, and assessed for the same year; and also the number of farms in Canada according to the 1941 census, together with the percentages, by provinces, of farmers filing returns and farmers assessable.
Mr. CHURCH:
For a copy of all letters, telegrams, reports and other documents exchanged during the years 1946 and 1947 between the government of Canada or any officer thereof and the provisional government of Newfoundland and Labrador or their trustee and the government of Great Britain, with respect to the Quebec North Shore and Labrador railway company.
Mr. ST. LAURENT: There has been, no correspondence between the government of Canada or any officer thereof and the government of the United Kingdom during the years mentioned. 1946 and 1947, with respect to the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway Company, or between the government of Canada and the government of Newfoundland or any officer thereof. The only thing that is on the file is a request from Canada's high commissioner in Newfoundland communicating to us a request made to him for a copy of Bill 106, which was passed as Bill "H" of the senate. I shall be glad to table a copy of the portion of the communication from our high commissioner dealing yvith that request.
Mr. SPEAKER:
Carried with the reservation made by the minister.