Mr. George A. Drew (Leader of ihe Opposition):

Mr. Speaker, I realize of course the reason for the beautiful flowers in front of the Prime Minister. This is a date which the Prime Minister has every reason to remember with satisfaction. I would point out that it is particularly appropriate that red flowers should have been chosen, because it is a colour I am sure he will remember for some time.

Right Hon. L. S. St. Laurent (Prime Minister):

Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the leader of the opposition for associating himself with members on this side of the house in this anniversary.

Hon. Stuart S. Garson (Minister of Justice):

Mr. Speaker, some time after the appointment of Mr. T. D. MacDonald, K.C., as the present commissioner of the Combines Investigation Act, he requested that a committee be convened for the purpose of studying the act and recommending whether it could be made a more effective instrument. I have agreed with his request, and a committee has been set up accordingly comprising the following members: Hon. Mr. Justice J. H. MacQuarrie, Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, Halifax; Dr. W. A. Mackintosh, vice-principal of Queen's university, Kingston; Professor Maurice Lamontagne, assistant director of the department of economics, Laval university, Quebec; and Mr. George F. Curtis, dean of the university of British Columbia law school, Vancouver.

The terms of reference are to study, in the light of present day conditions, the purposes and methods of the Combines Investigation Act and related Canadian statutes, the legislation and procedures of other countries, in

so far as the latter appear likely to afford assistance, and to recommend what amendments, if any, should be made to our Canadian legislation in order to make it a more effective instrument for the encouraging and safeguarding of our free economy.

To avoid any possible misunderstanding, I desire to emphasize that no suggestions of amendments are being made to the committee for its consideration. It is the practice, however, to take stock of such acts from time to time to see whether any modifications should be considered in the light of administrative experience, changed conditions or otherwise. It is for such a purpose that this study has been arranged.

Mr. Drew:

May I ask whether what the Minister of Justice has just read incorporates the actual wording of the terms of reference; or have the terms of reference already been stated?

Mr. Garson:

What I have read certainly incorporates the whole substance of the terms of reference. As formally submitted they may differ in a word or two, but there will be no significant difference in the substance.

Mr. Drew:

Then I suggest that the terms of reference should include a request to the commission to ascertain what steps should be taken to deal with any member of a government who breaks a law of this parliament.

Mr. Paul E. Cole (Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Labour):

In conformity with the provisions of article 19 of the constitution of the international labour organization, I desire to lay on the table the authentic text of the conventions and recommendations adopted at the thirty-second session of the international labour conference at Geneva last June and July.

Mr. E. D. Fulion (Kamloops):

Has the

Minister of Agriculture yet received a report on flood conditions in the valley of the Lillooet river at Pemberton, British Columbia,

Inquiries of the Ministry where it was reported that dikes constructed under P.F.R.A. had been breached in one or two places and many acres flooded? I was in touch with the minister's office last week, but have not since heard from him.

Right Hon. J. G. Gardiner (Minister of Agriculture):

The report concerning this matter came to me last week, when I was in the west. I discussed the present position with with Mr. L. B. Thomson, the commissioner under P.F.R.A., who informed me that he had been in touch with people at Lillooet and that all necessary work had been done in order to minimize the damage from flood conditions.