1. No complete official records are available. Many of these companies operate under provincial charters.

2. (a) The Canadian Pacific Railway, for the operation of the Victoria and west coast-Vancouver island service.

(b) Union Steamships Limited, for the operation of services between Vancouver, northern British Columbia ports and Queen Charlotte islands.

3. (a) $100,000 per annum; (b) $345,000 per annum.

4. It is not the policy to disclose financial information which is provided confidentially by companies operating subsidized services.

Mr. Calherwood:

What Is the total amount of government annuities purchased by the people of Canada during the years 1949 and 1950?

Mr. Gregg:

Amount of annuity contracted for:

Calendar Year Individual Contracts Group Registration Certificates1949 $3,956,357.00 15,234 *1950 3,807,253.00 12,965 ** These figures represent the new employees registered under number of group contracts during each of the calendar years 1949 and 1950. The amount of annuity which will ultimately be purchased by these employees cannot be determined at this time, since it depends on length of service with their company, age, and amount contributed on their behalf during the period of employment. The average amount of annuity already being paid under group contracts is approximately $500.

1. What financial assistance, if any, was given by the federal government to Massey-Harris Company, John T. Hepburn Company, Dominion Radiator Company and Dominion Bridge Company, during the years 1939 to 1945 inclusive, in the form of subsidies, loans and special depreciation for buildings and equipment?

2. What is the total value of government contracts awarded to each of these companies during the years 1939 to 1945 inclusive?

Mr. Bradley:

Return tabled.

1. What countries maintain trade offices in Canada?

2. In what countries does Canada maintain trade offices?

Mr. Lesage:

Return tabled.

Mr. J. G. Diefenbaker (Lake Centre):

should like to direct a question to the Minister of Transport, on a matter which has been up before. Today I received several strong representations from several towns in Saskatchewan, asking whether the minister is in a' position to say what has been done since he last reported on the question of the securing of necessary cars to move the wet and damp wheat. The situation is very serious in certain places where the elevators are congested and marketing is at a standstill.

Hon- Lionel Chevrier (Minisier of Transport): The hon. gentleman was good enough to advise me that he would ask this question, and I have prepared a statement which I think covers the position as of today.

On April 9, when I placed on Hansard a summary of the situation as it was then, I stated that the last date for which data were available was April 6, and that indicated an unfavourable balance to Canadian lines of 10,805 box cars. On April 13 there were 18,129 United States box cars in Canada and 28,620 Canadian box cars in the United States, leaving an unfavourable balance of 10,491, or a reduction of some 300 cars from the previous report. One week later, on April 20, there were in Canada 18,882 United States cars, while Canadian cars in the United States had dropped to a total of 26,315, leaving an unfavourable balance of only 7,433. This indicates, therefore, that between the height of the unfavourable balance of

18,000 in early March to April 20 there has been an improvement of some 11,000 cars.

As to the problem of the movement of grain in western Canada, the committee to which I referred during the discussion of my estimates held a meeting early this week, and it gave to the situation full consideration. I was advised this morning by the deputy minister of transport that grain is moving rapidly from the head of the lakes to eastern Canada, and that at the end of this month it is expected that 27 million bushels of grain will have moved. In other words, we shall be ahead of shipments by that amount over 80709-152

Inquiries of the Ministry last year, in that at this time last year navigation had not yet opened.

The situation in Vancouver is not quite as favourable as the chairman of the wheat board would like to see it, and that is without doubt the most pressing problem at the moment. We have, however, the assurance from our two major railways that an improvement should take place within the next few days, as more and more box cars are being diverted to grain traffic. From 350 to 400 empty box cars are moving west from the east each day, and that will continue until the full quota necessary to move the wheat crop is on western lines. My last information indicates that there are nearly 45,000 box cars in western Canada at the present time, which is still some 4,000 less than last year. Some three weeks ago, however, the figure stood at 9,000 cars less than last year.

The box car shortage in the western United States has eased up considerably, and Canadian cars will now return directly to western Canada. This will also contribute to improving the situation generally and relieve the railways of a long haul in the movement of empty cars from eastern Canada.

Consideration is also being given by the railways and the wheat board to the operation, if necessary, of special trains on branch lines when there is sufficient traffic to warrant their operation. In any event, I can assure the house that every aspect of the problem is being carefully looked into by the committee to which I referred, and any measure which will help to improve the utilization of box cars in western Canada will be taken.

Mr. Argue:

May I ask a supplementary question? Is it the opinion of the minister, on the basis of the information he has, that the situation will improve to the extent that all of the 1950 crop may be moved off the farms?

Mr. Chevrier:

The report which I have made indicates that a great deal of progress has been made, and beyond that I would go no further.

Mr. Fraser:

I should like to ask the Minister of Transport a question. In order to keep this grain moving by water, what steps are being taken to eliminate the constant delays on the Lachine canal such as we have had since the canal opened this season? Ships were tied up-

Mr. Chevrier:

Any repairs which have been made to the locks on the Lachine canal would not in any way impede the movement of the 27 million bushels of wheat to whi"h I referred a moment ago.

Inquiries of the Ministry

Mr. Fraser:

A number of ships were held up for many hours this month in the Lachine canal owing to power break-down. I should like an answer.