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

It gives me great pleasure to

lay on the table the first annual report of activities under the Maritime Marshland Rehabilitation Act, and special provisions for emergency protection and reclamation of maritime dikelands, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1950.

Mr. Black (Cumberland):

May I ask the

minister if these reports are being distributed to hon. members?

Mr. Gardiner:

I will have them distributed as soon as enough copies can be made.

Hon. Robert H. Winters (Minister of Resources and Development):

Mr. Speaker,

hon. members may be interested to learn of certain steps the government proposes to take to co-operate with provincial governments under the Canada Forestry Act, 1949.

With certain exceptions, such as the Northwest Territories, the Yukon Territory, national parks, federal forest experimental stations and Indian lands, the responsibility for forest resources falls within the jurisdiction of provincial governments. However, forests do not stop at provincial boundaries. When dealing with the Canada Forestry Act, parliament recognized the national importance of our forest assets, and through this legislation enabled the federal government to help co-ordinate, where feasible, and otherwise assist the efforts of provincial governments and others in the field.

Accordingly, early last year I wrote to the appropriate ministers of all ten provincial

governments, seeking their views and suggestions as to how we might co-operate under the terms of the new act so that the maximum long-term benefits might be derived from our valuable forest assets.

From subsequent conversations it seemed clear that all concerned were of the opinion that the goal must be sustained yield; that is, the rate of depletion-by cutting and by loss from fire and disease-must not exceed the rate of replacement by natural growth and reforestation. I believe it is the general view that federal government participation should be with the understanding that any assistance given would be used to further progress toward the goal of sustained yield.

Most provincial governments, and indeed many private operators, are working toward sustained yield. I have no doubt that in some instances it has been achieved. It may well be, however, that on a national basis annual depletion exceeds regeneration in such of our forest areas as are now accessible for practical exploitation. But in the absence of reliable and complete forest inventories, it has not been possible accurately to assess the true situation. It is most important, then, that a nation-wide forest inventory should be completed at an early date.

Another important step is to encourage greater efforts in reforestation. Many cutover areas regenerate themselves naturally, but for others steps must be taken to start and stimulate new growth. Forest cover on these areas is necessary, not only for the development of forest products but in the interests of soil conservation, flood control, cover for wildlife, etc.

There are, of course, many other aspects of a successful forestry program. Protection from fire is one of the most important and expensive. By and large, provincial governments are placing on this phase of the problem the emphasis it merits. Research is also of major importance, and in this field the federal government is already carrying out a well-rounded program.

As hon. members know, the defence program must now take priority, both as regards efforts and funds. The government considers, however, that some steps are warranted at this time to stimulate progress toward sustained yield of this resource, which is vital to our economy, both in peace and in war.

Canada Forestry Act

Accordingly, I communicated with all provincial governments again recently and informed them that the federal government is prepared to share with them on a fifty-fifty basis the cost of completing their forest inventory. This assistance will apply for this fiscal year and succeeding years until the inventories are completed. It is expected that this can be done within five years.

Moreover, I informed the provincial governments that the federal government will contribute twenty-five per cent of the cost of reasonable programs of reforesting provincial crown lands, providing the amount expended each year by the provincial governments is not less than the average expenditure of the last three years.

Parliament will be requested to vote funds for this purpose in the supplementary estimates.

So that the details of the programs may be discussed, I have invited each provincial minister and/or his representative to come to Ottawa at an early date for a conference.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am sure that all members will welcome the evidence offered by this statement by the minister of the measure of co-operation that is being established in the conservation of our forest resources. The protection of the forests is something which is particularly suitable for effective co-operation across provincial boundaries. As the minister has emphasized, fire is one of the great dangers. Actually there is greater wastage from fire than from cutting in a year when fires reach any substantial proportion.

In view of the fact that the dominion government is now undertaking to carry out such extensive plans for the supervision of the forests in co-operation with the provinces, I would again make a suggestion which I made on an earlier occasion. In the United States they are meeting with great success in tackling certain types of forest fires by dropping highly trained fire fighters by parachute from aeroplanes. These paratroopers-or, shall I say parafirefighters- have been successful in extinguishing many fires in remote hillside and mountain areas that otherwise could not have been stopped until they reached major proportions.

A large measure of success has been achieved also in fighting incipient fires in remote areas by the use of chemical bombs dropped from helicopters. At a time when air training is being extended as part of our general defence program, part of the training

[Mr. Winters.)

might be devoted to activities of this kind, for the purposes both of defence and of fire protection.

I make this suggestion again, in all earnestness, because a substantial amount of success has been achieved in other jurisdictions in fighting fires by these methods.

Mr. J. L. Gibson (Comox-Alberni):

May I

suggest to the minister that when these provincial representatives come to Ottawa he try to make arrangements with the Department of Finance and the Department of National Revenue for a discussion of some of the aspects of the problems that are connected with investment in growing timber. In Canada, as I am sure the minister appreciates, one of the great difficulties has been in inducing private capital to invest money in the planting of trees that will not be used for the next hundred years. Some consideration must be given by the Department of Finance to making it attractive to make such an investment, and I suggest that the minister have that subject on the agenda as well as the other matters. I understand he has a special committee set up which is studying the problem now.

Mr. M. J. Coldwell (Rosetown-Biggar):

Mr. Speaker, one is often called upon to criticize government policies from this side of the house, but I believe this is one occasion upon which one can commend the government for the statement just made by the minister. There is nothing more important than the conservation of our natural resources. The manner in which our forests have been denuded and wastefully used in the past is something for which future generations may suffer. This is a policy which should conserve the great forest resources of Canada. Some of the provincial governments are already worried about the manner in which our forest resources are being used up, and, speaking for myself and I am sure those who are with me, the government is to be commended for the policy which is foreshadowed by the minister's announcement to the house.

Mr. J. W. Murphy (Lambton West):

wonder if I am in order, Mr. Speaker, and if I am not I know you will call my attention to it. On page 2599 of Hansard of May 1 the Minister of National Revenue (Mr. McCann) said:

You must be acquainted with Dr. Shute.

Perhaps the minister could tell us to whom he was referring, and at the same time, explain the reference.

Hon. J. J. McCann (Minister of National Revenue):

In order not to take up the time of the house now, I shall make a statement later.