On a

question of privilege, Mr. Speaker, I hold in my hand a copy of the New Liberty magazine for October, 1951. On page 69 I notice that the Canada Post Office has a large advertisement over the name of the Hon. G. E. Rinfret, K.C., M.P., which is captioned "Building Canada by Making Her Smaller".

The objection I take to this advertisement is that the cradle of confederation, Prince Edward Island, has been left off the map of Canada. Even if the Post Office Department does not recognize Prince Edward Island as a separate postal district, as it should under the agreement of 1873, the Post Office Department has no right to get rid of Prince Edward Island by leaving it off the map. I hope that the Postmaster General (Mr. Rinfret) will correct this and not allow any more of these advertisements to be published.

Hon. Milton F. Gregg (Minister of Labour):

Yesterday the hon. member for York South (Mr. Noseworthy) asked me the following questions:

Are the employees of the national employment service in Ontario protected by the Ontario Fair Employment Practices Act, as are other employees in that province? If not, will the minister explain why not?

The answer to the first question is no. The answer to the second question is that the employees of the national employment service are federal civil servants employed through the Civil Service Commission of Canada in the manner provided by law. Provincial legislation of this nature is not applicable to them.

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

That the name of Mr. Whiteside be substituted for that of Mr. Stewart (Yorkton) on the special committee on railway legislation.

Mr. J. W. Noseworthy (York South):

I ask

leave, seconded by the hon. member for Cape Breton South (Mr. Gillis), to move the adjournment of the house under standing order 31 for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the critical unemployment situation in the industrial areas of Ontario, particularly in Toronto and district, now authentically reported to be worse than it was even before the outbreak of hostilities in Korea. If Your Honour will permit me to debate that question, I may say that I have the figures to substantiate my claim.

Mr. Sinnott:

Has that anything to do with the Ontario election?

Mr. Fraser:

That is entirely a federal matter.

Mr. Speaker:

Order. The hon. member for York South (Mr. Noseworthy) moves, seconded by the hon. member for Cape Breton South (Mr. Gillis), the adjournment of the house under standing order 31 to discuss a matter of urgent public importance. Under this standing order it is provided:

The member desiring to make such a motion rises in his place, asks leave to move the adjournment of the house for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, and states the matter.

The hon. member has done that. The motion must be made after the ordinary daily routine of business has been concluded and before notices of motions or orders of the day are entered upon. Accordingly, the motion has been made at the correct time. The rule goes on to say:

He then hands a written statement of the matter proposed to be discussed to Mr. Speaker, who, if he thinks it in order and of urgent public importance, reads it out . . .

Labour Conditions

And so on. It is my duty to determine whether or not this matter is of urgent public importance in accordance with the rules of this house. May I say that according to Beauchesne, third edition, paragraph 174:

"Urgency" within this rule does not apply to the matter itself, but it means "urgency of debate," when the ordinary opportunities provided by the rules of the house do not permit the subject to be brought on early enough and public interest demands that discussion take place immediately.

It is also provided in Beauchesne, in paragraph 173, that the matter raised must not be one that has already been discussed during the current session. It seems to me that this matter has been discussed from time to time this session during the debate on the speech from the throne. That may or may not be correct, but it occurs to me that it has already been discussed.

It is also provided in Beauchesne, in paragraph 176, that the matter must be of recent occurrence. This unemployment situation, according to the motion, has apparently been in existence for some time but is now authentically reported to be worse than it was even before the outbreak of hostilities in Korea. The recent occurrence would be with regard to the fact that it is authentically reported to be worse. My difficulty, however, in allowing the motion would be because the debate on the speech from the throne is still in progress; it will be resumed on Monday of the coming week and, if it is not concluded then, it will continue on Wednesday. I would remind the house that at the present time there are two amendments before the house. It is true that a number of members have spoken on one of the amendments hut on the other amendment I believe only one or two members have spoken. It therefore occurs to me that there will be opportunities in the near future for the hon. member and others to discuss the question stated in this motion. I feel sure that it would not be in accordance with the rules of the house for me to put the motion at this time.

Hon. Alphonse Fournier (for the Minister of Finance) moved

that the house go into committee at the next sitting to consider the following resolution:

That it is expedient to introduce a measure to consolidate and revise the Department of Finance and Treasury Board Act and the Consolidated Revenue and Audit Act, 1931, and certain other acts; to provide for the organization and functions of the treasury board1 and the Department of

Finance, and the appointment and functions of the comptroller of the treasury; to regulate the collection, management and disbursement of public money, public borrowing, the management of the public debt, and the acquisition, recording and issue of public stores; to provide for the keeping of adequate public accounts, the audit thereof, and the appointment, salary and functions of the Auditor General of Canada; to provide for the control of the financial affairs of crown corporations; to regulate the terms and conditions upon which contracts may be made on behalf of His Majesty; to provide a procedure for the write-off of debts owing to His Majesty that have become uncollectible; and to provide for the management of the consolidated revenue fund and for the making of certain payments therefrom.

He said: His Excellency the Governor General, having been made acquainted with the subject matter of this resolution, recommends it to the consideration of the house.