Mr. Jean Lesage (Parliamentary Assistant to the Secretary of Slate for External Affairs):

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Secretary of State for External Affairs I beg leave to table the following diplomatic instruments, in English and in French:

Multilateral agreement:

I.L.O. convention (No. 88) concerning the organization of the employment service. Ratified by Canada on August 24, 1950. Bilateral agreements:

Ceylon - Exchange of notes (January 26 and April 24, 1951) constituting an agreement regarding the entry to Canada for permanent residence of citizens of Ceylon.

France - Exchange of notes (November 13 and December 8, 1951) constituting an agreement abrogating the agreement of March 22, 1946, concerning the release of certain private property from government control.

India - Exchange of notes (September 10, 1951) constituting an agreement giving formal effect to the statement of principles agreed between the government of Canada and the government of India for the co-operative economic development of India.

Pakistan:

(1) Exchange of notes (September 10, 1951) giving formal effect to the statement of principles agreed between the two countries for the co-operative economic development of Pakistan.

(2) Exchange of notes (October 23, 1951) between Canada and Pakistan constituting an agreement regarding the entry to Canada for permanent residence of citizens of Pakistan.

United Kingdom - Exchange of notes (July 27 and August 14, 1951) constituting an agreement extending to certain colonial territories the Canada - United Kingdom double taxation agreement of June 5, 1946.

United States:

(1) Convention modifying and supplementing the convention and accompanying protocol of March 4, 1942 for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion in the case of income taxes. Signed June 12, 1950.

(2) Convention modifying and supplementing the convention of June 8, 1944 for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion in the case of estate taxes and succession duties. Signed June 12, 1950.

Venezuela - Exchange of notes (October 10 and 11, 1951) constituting an agreement to renew the terms of the modus vivendi of October 11, 1950 for a further period of one year.

Mr. Stanley Knowles (Winnipeg North Centre):

May I direct a question to the Minister of Transport? Has the government given its approval to the new pension plan for the Canadian National Railways? Would the minister say when the details of the new plan will be made public? Can he say further whether anything is being done to increase the basic pensions of those already retired?

Hon. Lionel Chevrier (Minister of Transport):

In reply to the first question, the government has given consideration to revised rules for pensions to employees of the Canadian National Railways, and sees no objection to the plan submitted by the officers of the company. This plan, I understand, will bring about a considerable betterment in the terms now in existence.

As to the second question, I understand the details of the plan will be announced within the next few days by the president of the Canadian National Railways.

The third question is:

Can he say further whether anything is being done to increase the basic pensions of those already retired?

The answer to that question is that the revised pension rules, as submitted to us for approval, do not contain any provision for retired employees. [DOT]

84 HOUSE OF

Inquiries of the Ministry

Mr. Diefenbaker:

I should like to ask a supplementary question. Since it will be some days before the president of the Canadian National Railways makes an announcement as to policy respecting pensions for Canadian National employees, and since the minimum pension for those now retired is only $25 a month, would the minister make representations to the president that something be done to increase the present totally inadequate pension?

Mr. Chevrier:

I believe I indicated, Mr. Speaker, that an announcement would be made in the course of the next few days, I hope tomorrow or the next day. The announcement will indicate what the position is under the revised plan.

With reference to the question which the hon. member asks, I believed it has always been clearly indicated in the house, both by myself and by others who have taken part in debate, that it was for the management of Canadian National Railways to determine whether or not they wished to make representations to us. They did, after careful study of the revised rules, make certain representations to us. If they care to make additional representations, we shall be glad to look at them when the opportunity arises.

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

May

I direct a question to the Minister of Labour, of which I sent him notice earlier in the day? Has Toronto's serious unemployment problem received consideration by the government, and if so what relief does the government propose?

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

I thank the hon. member for sending me notice of the question. I should add that other members in the Toronto and greater Toronto area have brought this matter to my attention, both since the house opened and before it opened.

The situation in Toronto, as reported to me this morning, is showing definite evidence of improvement, which is indicated by a fall of 700 in the total number of applicants for jobs between February 21 and 28 last. The less buoyant situation in regard to the employment in Toronto and, indeed, in Ontario, has been receiving constant attention during the winter. While the seasonal dip has been much greater in this area during the past winter than in the immediately preceding winter, all the reports I have received indicate that the unemployment is to a very large

(Mr. Chevrier.]

degree seasonal, and I am confident that by early summer the demand will be for more workers.

Unemployment insurance regular benefits, plus supplementary allowances provided for two years ago by parliamentary action in amending the Unemployment Insurance Act, are alleviating the situation very greatly. During December, 1951, and January, 1952, the total insurance payments in the city of Toronto were $1,671,631.20. It is true that unemployment insurance benefits leave a problem for the city in caring for those who could not accept work if work were available, and a comparatively small number who are not entitled to unemployment insurance benefits for several reasons, including (1) having been paid all benefits to which they are entitled; (2) benefits not yet being due; (3) cases where the amount paid under the Unemployment Insurance Act is insufficient to meet the needs of the family.

I am happy to say that in Toronto the number in this fringe class has shown a considerable reduction in February as compared with January, the figures given me this morning by representatives of the city of Toronto being 295 families in February as compared with 517 families in January.

This morning my colleague the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (Mr. Harris) and I had a very helpful discussion with representatives from Toronto and Hamilton on this problem. Those attending on behalf of Toronto were Controller David Balfour, Controller Ford Brand; from Hamilton, Mayor Lloyd Jackson, Controller Samuel Lawrence and Controller H. Arnott Hicks.

Throughout the discussion both delegations expressed the belief that the unemployment insurance commission could, under its existing powers, do more to cope with the present situation than it is now doing. I therefore asked that a member of the commission go to these two cities to hold such hearings or investigations as are necessary to ensure that maximum benefits are being derived under the Unemployment Insurance Act and regulations, and to report thereon. This the commission has agreed to do at a very early date.

Mr. Fleming:

May I ask a supplementary question? Will the minister indicate what policy, if any, the government has worked out to provide for one particular class he has not yet mentioned, namely, the unemployed who flock into a metropolis like Toronto, who are not normally resident therein and who naturally make claims upon the city for support during their period of unemployment?

Mr. Gregg:

I shall look into that matter, Mr. Speaker.