Mr. T. G. W. Ashbourne (Grand Falls-While Bay):

I would like to direct a question to tne Minister of Fisheries. Is he in a position to report on the outcome of the meetings held in Ottawa with the Newfoundland and maritime salted fish trade?

Hon. R. W. Mayhew (Minister of Fisheries):

The hon. gentleman was good enough to let me have notice of his question, and I am pleased to make the following answer:

For the past two days, useful discussions have taken place in Ottawa with representatives of the maritime, Quebec and Newfoundland salted fish trade concerning all matters affecting the salted fish trade of the area.

For the past several years the financing of sales of Newfoundland salted fish to certain European markets has been handled through an arrangement with the United Kingdom, whereby payment could be made in sterling rather than in dollars. This arrangement, which has always been considered as a transitional measure, has now come to an end. Therefore consideration was given these changed circumstances so this trade can continue without interruption. The new situation is simply that from now forward the sale of salted codfish to these markets will be on the same basis as all other Canadian exports to such markets.

Fortunately this situation has arisen at a time when the salted fish marketing picture is sound. There is no carry-over of last year's fish in Canada or other exporting countries. Demand on importing countries is good and prices have been rising throughout the past year. The 1952 world supply gives every indication of being below that of 1951. Canada's codfish is highly regarded in the European markets and consumer demand is strong. There is no reason to expect, therefore, that the changed position respecting payment should affect the volume of shipments to these markets. Indeed, in 1951 a substantial proportion of Canada's sales of salted cod to Italy was paid for in dollars.

In the light of these market conditions, we are confident that the changed position in European markets will not affect prices to be paid to fishermen this year. Production and marketing trends of salt fish will be carefully watched and the trade kept informed.

Mrs. Ellen L. Fairclough (Hamilton West):

Has the Minister of Justice an answer to the question I asked on Monday of this week in reference to some Toronto employees of American Air Lines?

Hon. Stuart S. Garson (Minister of Justice):

I have made the investigation I mentioned then. Of course the Royal Canadian Mounted

Inquiries of the Ministry Police had no official notice of this matter, but on my instructions they made inquiries through their Toronto office, and the following are the facts they have gathered and reported to me.

American Air Lines found a shortage in a cash drawer to which only their office employees had access. The Toronto police were called in, but neither they nor the company's own detective were able to identify the person responsible for the shortage. The manager of American Air Lines in Toronto then called in the employees and asked them to submit to a lie detector test. All eight office employees went to Buffalo for that purpose and were subjected to this test, which did not reveal any employee as being responsible. The manager of the company then wrote a letter of apology to each of the employees involved. It was only after this letter of apology was written that any publicity was given to this matter.

I suggest, Mr. Speaker, that this is a problem affecting the administration of justice in the province of Ontario; and to the extent that it may involve possible claims by the employees against the employer company it is also a matter within provincial jurisdiction. Section 92 of the British North America Act reads in part as follows:

In each province the legislature may exclusively make laws in relation to matters coming within the classes of subjects next hereinafter enumerated; that is to say:

13. Property and civil rights in the province.

14. The administration of justice in the province, including the constitution, maintenance and organization of provincial courts, both of civil and criminal jurisdiction, and including procedure in civil matters in those courts.

It would seem that matters arising out of the relationship between an air line doing business in Toronto and its employees would fall under either or perhaps both of these heads. So the matters the hon. member for Hamilton West has raised would appear to come within these two classes of provincial jurisdiction and therefore are not within the matters assigned to this parliament. I think her question might more properly be asked in the legislature of the province of Ontario.

Mr. Drew:

Mr. Speaker, I must ask that I be permitted to point out what is really the effect of the statement made by the Minister of Justice. What happened in this case-

Mr. Garson:

Is my hon. friend asking me a question?

Mr. Drew:

Mr. Speaker, I submit it is time we took the muzzle off this parliament.

Mr. Chevrier:

Order. You can't get away with that.

Inquiries of the Ministry

Mr. Drew:

Oh, is that so?

Mr. Chevrier:

No, you can't.

Mr. Speaker:

Order. There is nothing before the house at the present time. The orders of the day have been called but have not been proceeded with. At this time it is permissible to ask questions of the ministry. I understand a question was asked by the hon. member for Hamilton West the other day, and today she asked the Minister of Justice if he had an answer. He has now given the answer.

Mr. Drew:

If it is not going to be possible to deal with a statement which disposes of something that could have very serious consequences, then I submit that to a substantial extent we should agree that questions and answers produce no result whatever. The suggestion that one could deal with statements of this kind by subsequent questions, by coming in through the back door as it were, simply disposes of the effectiveness of questions and answers of this kind.

Mr. Abbott:

A flagrant breach of the rifles.

Mrs. Fairclough:

May I proceed now to ask a supplementary question? In his answer, has the minister taken into consideration the fact that these employees were taken across an international boundary line and interrogated in a foreign court?

Mr. Garson:

In matters of this kind it is always difficult to get at the real facts. My information, and it may be inaccurate, is to the effect that when this suggestion was made to the employees they went voluntarily to receive this test.

Mrs. Fairclough:

No, Mr. Speaker; they were under the impression that this test was to be taken in the city of Toronto. It was not until after they had given their consent that they were aware they were being asked to go out of the country.

Mr. Garson:

All I can say is that the hon. member's source of information differs from my source of information.