Hon. Alphonse Fournier (Minister of Public Works):

Mr. Speaker, may I announce to the house that, after consultation with Your Honour, it was decided that the members of the staff of the House of Commons would be given a holiday on May 24.

Hon. Brooke Claxton (Minister of National Defence):

Yesterday the hon. member for Calgary West (Mr. Nickle) asked about an order issued by the general officer commanding western command under which, it was said, all ranks of the Princess Patricia's based at Calgary had been required to move from their homes into barracks. I find this is not the case. During the period from May 17 to September 13, units in this command will be undergoing intensive training. Married officers and men can live out after duty hours, but must be back for the first parade.

1. What was the total amount paid to General Howard Kennedy as chairman of the eastern Rockies forest conservation board, for (a) salary; (b) expenses or other allowances, for each of the years 1947 to 1951, and to date in 1952?

2. How many days in each year since 1947 did General Kennedy devote to duties in connection with the eastern Rockies forest conservation board?

3. Is General Kennedy employed on a full-time basis, or in a consultant capacity only?

4. Did General Kennedy hold any other position during the period January 1, 1947, to date?

5. If so, what position or positions (a) with the federal government; (b) other than with the federal government?

1. Fiscal year (a) Salary (b) Expenses

1947- 48

$ 8,484.00 $2,588.531948- 49

12,000.00 3,718.661949- 50

12,000.00 3,327.431950- 51

333.00 Nil1951- 52

7,806.45 1,032.501952-53 (1 month) 625.00 Nil

2. General Kennedy combines work of and for the eastern Rockies forest conservation board with that of operating a private practice as consulting engineer. Some portion of virtually every day is devoted to work of the board. This varies from interviews with personnel of the Department of Resources and Development, the Auditor General's department or u.e treasury department, to correspondence and preparation of material for reports, study of legislation, etc.

Orders for Returns

In addition to the foregoing, General Kennedy devoted his full time to the work of the board on the following number of days:

Fiscal Year Days

1947- 48

841948- 49

1051949- 50

1021950- 51

71951- 52

571952- 53

8

(He was on leave of absence without pay from April 1, 1950, to August 7, 1951, but nevertheless attended and served as chairman at board meetings in June and October of 1950.)

3. The basis of General Kennedy's agreement with the Department of Mines and Resources in 1947 was that he would serve as chairman of the eastern Rockies forest conservation board and give as much time as was necessary to carry out the work of the board and to direct its affairs. He serves as chairman and in the formative stages of the board he acted in the capacity of both chief engineer and chief forester.

4. Yes. General Kennedy served as director of the United Nations relief and works agency for Palestine refugees from April 1, 1950, to June 30, 1951. During this period he was on leave of absence without pay from the eastern Rockies forest conservation board.

5. (a) In addition to the position with United Nations, General Kennedy has served as chairman of the forest insects control board. He also served as chairman of the associate committee in forestry of the national research council. No remuneration was paid for these two positions, (b) Not available except for No. 4.

1. What was the total amount spent by the federal government on new public buildings in Ontario and Quebec, in the year 1951?

2. What was the total amount spent by the federal government on wharves and harbours in Ontario and Quebec, during the year 1951?

Mr. Fournier (Hull):

Mr. Speaker, may we have this passed as an order for return. I understand that the information requested by these questions is all contained in the report of the public works department, the only difference being that my officials will have to get to work and prepare that. Perhaps the hon. member could easily find those details in the report.

Mr. Green:

May I ask the minister whether the departmental report does not go only to the end of March, 1951, whereas this question is for the whole calendar year.

Mr. Fournier (Hull):

That is where the difficulty will start. We do not keep the books open that way. We follow the fiscal year, so that is still more work, but I shall try to get the staff to do it.