Mr. SPEAKER:

I have the honour to inform the house that I have received communications from several members notifying me that the following vacancies have occurred in the representation, viz:

Of Right Hon. Ian Alistair Mackenzie, member for the electoral district of Vancouver Centre, consequent upon his being summoned to the senate.

Of William Edmund Newton Sinclair, Esquire, member for the electoral district of Ontario, by decease.

I have accordingly issued my warrants to the chief electoral officer to make out new writs of election for the said electoral districts respectively.

Right Hon. W. L. MACKENZIE KING (Prime Minister):

Mr. Speaker, at the close of last year I received a letter signed by the high commissioners in Canada for the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, informing me that the governments of their respective countries jointly desired, as a permanent memorial of the British commonwealth air training plan, to present a gift of wrought iron gates for the entrance to the air station at Trenton, Ontario. Attached to the letter was a preliminary sketch of the proposed memorial gates.

An earlier proposal was an avenue of English oak trees terminated at either end by pavilions of native timbers from Australia and New Zealand. In due course the oak trees wTere planted. On reconsideration it was felt that, due to impermanence, wooden pavilions would not be entirely suitable. The governments of the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand accordingly decided that wrought iron gates for the entrance to the air station, where they would be in line with the oak trees already growing there, would be a more suitable gift.

It is with warm appreciation of its value and significance that the government of Canada, on behalf of the Canadian people, has accepted this memorial gift. We in Canada, in common with free peoples the world over, will ever remember the contribution to victory which resulted from the British commonwealth air training plan. The young men of the nations of the commonwealth who trained in Canada will long be gratefully remembered. Their residence in our homeland served to strengthen the bonds of kinship which unite the peoples of our respective countries. These beautiful gates will serve not only as a memorial of efforts made in the common cause, but as an enduring symbol of the unity of the peoples of the British commonwealth.

Mr. JOHN BRACKEN (Leader of the Opposition):

Mr. Speaker, according to the order paper, the debate on the address in reply to the speech from the throne appears at the very end of the proceedings, which means that hon. members will be denied an opportunity to express their views on current problems until some indefinite time in the future. In the press the other day I noticed that the Prime Minister has a new plan for meeting the urgent problem which is before the public today, namely the rising cost of living. In view of the fact that this question is not before us, and since apparently we are to be denied the right to continue immediately the debate on the speech from the throne, I wish to move, seconded by-

Mr. SPEAKER:

Order. May I suggest to the hon. gentleman that he wait until we are through with the routine proceedings.

Mr. BRACKEN:

If you will assure me, Mr. Speaker, that it will not then be too late, that is quite acceptable.

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

I had one or two other matters on which I thought the house should have immediate information, and I hoped to have an opportunity of making a statement to the house on what the government proposes with regard to the program for this portion of the session. At this moment, however, I should like to make a

53S

The Ministry

statement with respect to the changes that have taken place in the ministry during the course of the adjournment.

Right Hon. W. L. MACKENZIE KING (Prime Minister) :

As hon. members are aware, on January 19 the Minister of Veterans Affairs, the Right Hon. Ian A. Mackenzie, resigned. Mr. Mackenzie was later appointed to the senate. I hold in my hand copies of the letters which were exchanged between Mr. Mackenzie and myself. I could read them to the house, but perhaps hon. members would give their consent to have them appear in Hansard.

(The correspondence follows):

Canada

Minister of Veterans Affairs

Ottawa, January 15, 1918.

My dear Prime Minister:-

At various times during the last two years I brought to your attention medical certificates indicating that my health was somewhat impaired. Although the condition is now greatly improved, I feel it my duty to separate myself, for the time being, at least, from administrative duties.

Therefore, now, before the session resumes, I, with deep regret, submit my resignation from your able administration.

May I take this opportunity of tendering to you. sir, my very deep appreciation for many kindnesses and much encouragement during the time I served with you. and also to ask you to thank my colleagues for unfailing courtesy in our united service to our country.

I am proud to say that the Department of Veterans Affairs, over which I have presided for eight years, is in an excellent state of efficient organization. It has rendered and is rendering noble service to those who served and saved Canada in the dark days.

Yours sincerely,

(Sgd.) Ian A. Mackenzie The Right Honourable W. L. Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada,

Ottawa, Ontario.

Office of the Prime Minister Canada

Ottawa, January 16, 1948.

The Right Hon. Ian Mackenzie, P.C., M.P., Minister of Veterans Affairs,

Ottawa.

My dear Mackenzie:

I have received your letter of yesterday, in which, because of impaired health, you ask to be relieved of your present administrative duties as Minister of Veterans Affairs over which department you have presided since its inception. _

In the light of the circumstances you mention, I feel I have no alternative but to submit your resignation to the Governor General and to

[Mr. Mackenzie King.)

advise His Excellency's acceptance of it. Before, however, submitting your resignation to His Excellency, may I say how greatly I regret the circumstances which render that step advisable, and how sincerely I trust that freedom from the responsibilities of office will afford just what is required to effect a further restoration of your health and strength.

May I also say how very much I shall miss the close association we have enjoyed over many years in the cabinet, and your helpful co-operation in the work of the administration. I know these feelings will be shared by all our colleagues.

While I realize that freedom from administrative duties will afford opportunity for further improvement in your health. I should be sorry ' if the severance of your relations with the Department of Veterans Affairs were to mean that parliament, at any future time, would lose the benefit of your knowledge and understanding of the problems of Canada's veterans, and of your wide and long experience in public affairs.

To ensure your continued membership in the parliament of Canada, I should, with the consent of our colleagues, be prepared to recommend to His Excellency your immediate appointment to the Senate of Canada, to fill one of the vacancies at present existing in the representation of British Columbia in the upper house.

As appointment to the Senate would involve your giving up your seat in the House of Commons, I should be grateful if, before I speak of the matter in council, you would let me know of your willingness to accept an appointment to the Senate, should the appointment be recommended by the cabinet and approved by His Excellency.

With kindest personal regards,

Yours very sincerely',

(Sgd.) W. h. Mackenzie King.

On the resignation of the Right Hon. Ian Mackenzie, as Minister of Veterans Affairs, the Hon. Milton Gregg, who had been Minister of Fisheries, was appointed to the portfolio of Veterans Affairs. He resigned the portfolio of Fisheries. The Hon. James A. MacKinnon was appointed Minister of Fisheries and resigned as Minister of Trade and Commerce. The Right Hon. Clarence Howe was appointed Minister of Trade and Commerce. Mr. Howe will continue to hold the portfolio of Minister of Reconstruction and Supply, which he has held for some time past. The affairs of the Department of Reconstruction and Supply are being gradually wound up. The work of the Department of National War Services has 'been completed. The department itself having ceased to exist, Hon. James J. McCann's resignation as minister of that department has been accepted.

I desire to table the orders in council with respect to the portfolios I have mentioned. They include the appointment of Mr. Howe as Minister of Trade and Commerce, of Mr. MacKinnon as Minister of Fisheries, and Mr. Gregg as Minister of Veterans Affairs, and

Business of the House

the acceptance of the resignation of Mr. McCann as Minister of National War Services.

Right Hon. W. L. MACKENZIE KING (Prime Minister):

Mr. Speaker, as the Right Hon. Ian A. Mackenzie was a member of the internal economy commission and is no longer a member of this house, it is necessary that Mr. Mackenzie's place on that commission be filled. I hold in my hand a communication from His Excellency the Governor General, signed by his own hand, with respect to the appointment of the Right Hon. J. L. Usley to replace Mr. Mackenzie on that commission.

Mr. SPEAKER:

I have the honour to inform the house that a message has been received from His Excellency the Governor General, as follows:

Alexander of Tunis.

The Governor General transmits to the House of Commons a certified copy of an approved minute of council amending the composition of the commission appointed to act, with the Speaker of the House of Commons, for the purposes and under the provisions of chapter 145 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1927, intituled An Act Respecting the House of Commons. to read as follows: The [Right Honourable James Lorimer Ilsley. Minister of Justice; The Honourable J. A. MacKinnon, Minister of Fisheries; the Right Honourable Louis S. St. Laurent, Secretary of State for External Affairs; the Honourable D. C. Abbott, Minister of Finance.

Government House, Ottawa,

January 26, 1948