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

I should like to lay on the table two copies of the first consolidated index and table of amendments of statutory orders and regulations published since the Regulations Act came into effect. Perhaps it would be useful if I gave a short word of explanation of the consolidated index and table of amendments.

Hon. members will recall that the consolidation of the statutory orders and regulations is as of the 31st of December, 1949. This index is an alphabetical index of all orders and regulations passed during the year 1950, with an indication of the publication and the page at which they are to be found.

There is also an index in the form that has become traditional in our statutes, of the orders and regulations themselves, in alphabetical order, with an indication of the amendments thereto made during the year 1950. It is the intention to have the consolidated index and table of amendments kept up to date quarterly. Therefore each quarter there will be a new edition which will enable those who wish to consult these orders and regulations to have in convenient form an indication of what is in the five volumes of consolidation, and an indication of what has been done with respect to any order or regulation since that time.

Mr. Knowles:

Does the index indicate as well the orders and regulations that have been cancelled?

Mr. St. Laurent:

Yes; it is a report of what has happened to what is in the consolidation since it was published as of the 31st of December, 1949.

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

I should like to inform the house that the royal commission on transportation handed its report to the Minister of Transport (Mr. Chevrier) late Friday night, that it was received in the privy council office Saturday morning, and that the usual minute with respect to it was adopted by council today transmitting it to His Excellency the Governor General. At the same time instructions were given to have it printed with all possible dispatch, and as soon as it is printed it will be tabled and published. It is a document of 693 typewritten pages. It is signed by the three commissioners, and includes an appendix of observations and reservations by Dr. H. F. Angus, and a memorandum on transportation by Dr. H. A. Innis.

Right Hon. C. D. Howe (Minister of Trade and Commerce):

I wish to make a brief statement on the supply situation affecting steel.

In my remarks in the house last Thursday I indicated that further orders might be necessary to protect supplies of steel for essential construction projects. Order No. 3 was issued on Friday last. This order restricts the use of steel for a wide range of construction projects. Order No. 1, which was issued last December, remains in effect until March 1, when order No. 3 becomes effective in its place.

This extension of restrictions to additional classes of construction has been made necessary by the increasing requirements of steel for urgent projects which are essential to our

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Restrictions on use of steel preparedness program. For instance, we must assure adequate supplies of steel for construction of radar stations, military barracks and other pi ejects which are required for the armed services. Also, we must assure a supply of steel for the construction of factories for the immediate production of aircraft, radar equipment and other military items. Equally important for the long pull to our joint defence efforts with other members of the United Nations is the expansion of Canadian capacity to produce strategic raw materials and to provide transportation and other essential services for the defence program. It has become apparent during recent weeks that in order to proceed with these urgent defence projects, restrictions must be placed on less essential types of construction.

My order No. 1 restricted use of steel for a few classes of construction, such as places of amusement, entertainment or recreation; construction for the merchandising, storage, manufacturing or processing of liquors, spirits, beers or wines; construction for the manufacturing or processing of tobaccos, cigarettes, cigars, carbonated beverages or confectionery; as well as use of steel for outdoor advertising signs. Order No. 3 adds to this list a wide range of other construction, including office buildings, hotels, printing establishments, banks, construction for the purpose of furnishing personal services, construction for the purpose of storing, distributing or displaying consumer goods, and construction of storage warehousing for personal effects.

The administration of this order has been delegated to the recently-established steel division of the Department of Trade and Commerce. Because of the critical supply situation for steel for construction projects, it will not be our policy to authorize projects on the restricted list where actual construction has not yet begun. In those cases where actual construction has begun and is well under way, it may be possible to authorize completion of the jobs, but each case will have to be considered on its own merits. It should be noted particularly that even where permission is given to complete a project on the prohibited list, this authorization does not assure availability of steel for the job, and it does not constitute any priority whatsoever for supply of the steel. It is most important that there be no confusion on this point.

Another point that probably requires some clarification is that order No. 3 restricts the use of steel materials for construction of a building. It does not restrict the use of steel for the manufacture of products such

as builders' hardware, doors, fixtures and mechanical equipment, even though such manufactured products may be incorporated in or installed in prohibited buildings. I understand that there has been a certain amount of misunderstanding on this point in connection with my order No. 1. The definitions in order No. 3 are intended to clarify this situation.

As I reported to the house last Thursday, a preliminary survey of investment intentions would indicate that private industry and government are aiming at a capital investment program in 1951 of $4,260 million, or thirteen per cent greater than in 1950. I might add that large projects are being announced almost every day, which will add to those figures. In my remarks I pointed out that it was unlikely that this objective could be attained, and that it would be necessary to restrict the use of steel and other strategic materials so that at least the more essential projects can be completed. Although order No. 3 certainly will help to assure supplies of steel for essential construction, it will not do the whole job. Further restrictions may be necessary, and I want to repeat my warning that those who contemplate construction projects, which do not relate closely to our defence effort but which are not yet on a prohibited list, should not commit themselves to building operations unless they know that they will be able to obtain the steel and other building materials needed to finish the project. It would be most unfortunate and a waste of valuable labour and materials for projects to be started and then have to be abandoned for lack of some vital material.

Because of the urgency of getting under way and completing projects that are essential to our defence preparedness program, it will be necessary to divert increasing amounts of steel and steel fabricating facilities to these top defence projects. We hope to accomplish this with a minimum disruption to less essential construction that is already under way, but it is unlikely that we can avoid altogether some hardships to those who badly need structures of the kind named in the prohibited list.

Mr. Macdonnell (Greenwood):

The minister referred to orders 1 and 3. Is there anything significant or that we should know about in order No. 2?

Mr. Howe:

Order No. 2 was issued last December. I have really forgotten its effect, but I think the only restrictive orders are orders 1 and 3.