Mr. W. G. Weir (Porlage-Neepawa) moved:

That the name of Mr. Noseworthy be substituted for that of Mr. Maclnnis on the standing committee on external affairs.

Mr. W. G. Weir (Porlage-Neepawa) moved:

That the name of Mr. Cannon be substituted for that of Mr. Gingues on the joint committee on old age security; and that a message be sent to the Senate to inform Their Honours thereof.

Mr. Speaker:

I have the honour to inform the house that I have received from Hon. Mr. Justice Belleau and Hon. Mr. Justice Savard, two of the judges of the Superior Court of Quebec selected for the trial of an election petition pursuant to the Dominion Controverted Elections Act, the report and judgment rendered by the said judges relating to the election for the electoral district of Dorchester.

1. Has the government made proposals to the provinces, seeking their co-operation for the establishment of a contributory scheme of old age pensions without a means test?

2. If so, on what date were the proposals made?

3. Have replies been received from any of the provinces, and what was the nature of such replies?

1. In 1945 the government of Canada, as part of the general proposals put before the dominion-provincial conference on reconstruction, proposed that the government establish a system of national old age pensions entirely financed and administered by the federal government and paid at the uniform rate of 55946-1081

$30 per month, regardless of means, to men and women aged seventy and over in all parts of Canada. Reference to this specific item will be found on pages 37 and 38 of the book entitled "Proposals of the Government of Canada" and commonly referred to as the green book. On page 42 of the green book, under the heading "Implementation and Financing of Old Age Pensions and Health Insurance", further reference was made to pensions payable without a means test, as follows:

"The proposed system of old age pensions payable as of right without means test to persons seventy or over would be instituted and administered by the dominion government and specific agreements with provincial governments would not be essential to its implementation.

"It is within the power of the dominion to finance its share of the combined cost of health insurance and of old age pensions out of the consolidated revenue fund with such modification of taxation as would be justified, in the opinion of parliament, by the universal benefits of health insurance and old age pensions and by the other purposes of dominion expenditure.

"There are, however, some definite advantages in terms of administrative efficiency, compliance, and popular understanding of the plans, in introducing features more specifically contributory in nature and tied up more closely with the provisions of health insurance and old age pension legislation. These additional and desirable features would be helpful in the early and effective inauguration of the plans and the dominion government asks that they be provided for in specific agreements with the provincial governments".

2. In 1945.

3. As the proposal of the federal government regarding national old age pensions was made as part of the general proposals put before the dominion-provincial conference, the replies of the provinces dealing with the general proposals embraced the proposal dealing with national old age pensions.

1. During each of the years 1946, 1947, 1948 and 1949, how many applications were received for assistance in the construction and operation of fishermen's bait-freezing and storage plants?

Questions

2. In each of these years, how many applications were (a) approved; (b) refused; (c) are still under consideration?

3. To whom, and in what amounts was assistance given during each of these years?

Mr. MacNaughl:

1 and 2. 1949 1948 1947 1946Applications for assistance . . 5 4 2 3Approved . . 1 3 - -Refused .. 2 - 2 1Under consideration 2 1 - 2

3.

E. E. Cunningham & Sons, Clark's Harbour, N. S., $900, payment not yet completed.

Cheticamp Cold Storage, Cheticamp, N.S., $10,000, owned and operated by Nova Scotia government.

Eastern Packing Co., Souris, P.E.I., $4,100, payment completed in 1949.

P.E.I. Industrial Corporation (plants at Charlottetown and Tignish), $30,000, payment completed in 1950.

N. B.: In addition to above items, a number of inquiries concerning assistance have been received, and it is anticipated that some of these will lead to formal applications being received in the near future.