Mr. MITCHELL:
If my hon. friend had travelled as many miles as the hon. member in question has travelled, she would not be here either. There are people in the House of Commons who have something else to do besides play politics.
Mr. COLDWELL:
He was elected to do a job in the House of Commons.
Mr. KNOWLES:
Was he on government business?
Mr. MITCHELL:
You can't take it. You were in Winnipeg a week attending a convention.
Mr. SPEAKER:
Order. I would remind hon. members that an hon member who has the floor should not be interrupted without his permission.
Mrs. STRUM:
The minister is drawing a red herring across the trail.
Mr. MITCHELL:
There is an element of what we sometimes call British justice. I am convinced of this, when the hon. member is
here and after hon. members have listened to his side of the question they will not be so severe as they have been in the last few days.
My hon. friend talked of precedents. I do not think there is a precedent for the displaced persons camps in our lifetime. When we bring these people to Canada in large groups the government has some responsibility.
Hear, hear.
Mr. MITCHELL:
Wait a minute.
Mr. COLDWELL:
That is what we have been saying.
Mr. MITCHELL:
I am glad to hear my hon. friends say "hear, hear."
Mr. COLDWELL:
Assume that responsibility.
Mr. MITCHELL:
We have some responsibility in that regard.
Mr. NICHOLSON:
What are you doing about it?
Mr. IRVINE:
What are the responsibilities?
Mr. SPEAKER:
Order.
Mr. MITCHELL:
If my genial friend from Cariboo will keep quiet for five minutes we shall get along in what I am trying to do. I think we have some responsibility in this regard. Recently under the jurisdiction of my department there was a movement of Polish soldiers from Great Britain and Italy. In connection with that, of course, there was an understanding. You can call it a contract if you wish. There was an understanding. Why should there be an understanding? I do not know what this contract is at the moment.
Mr. COLDWELL:
You should.
Mr. MITCHELL:
I know I should know everything, but unlike the hon. member I do not. There was an understanding. When you bring people into this country in the mass or in large groups there is responsibility on the government of the day.
Take my hon. friend's province of Saskatchewan.
You take it.