Hon. George H. Hees (Minister of Transport):

Mr. Speaker, recently the hon. member for Fort William (Mr. Mclvor) and the hon. member for Port Arthur (Mr. Fisher) both asked me about the proposed icebreaking program my department has in mind for this year. I would like to make a very brief statement on this. Departmental officials have been maintaining daily contact with the situation at the lakehead in this regard over the last few days. The contract was awarded last week to the Hindman Transportation Company of Owen Sound, the lowest tenderer when tenders were called for this purpose, for the normal end of the season icebreaking at the lakehead; and the first of two tugs to be provided for this purpose was dispatched to the lakehead over the week end and is due to arrive some time today. The second tug is presently having an ice plow fitted and is expected to be available at the lake-head by the end of the week.

Mr. Mclvor:

Thank you.

1508 HOUSE OF

Inquiries of the Ministry WATER RESOURCES

Mr. G. W. McLeod (Okanagan-Revelsioke):

I have a question for the Minister of Public Works, of which he was given notice last Friday. A wing dam built on the Columbia river, within the city limits of Revelstoke, B.C., by the federal government in 1907 is now in such disrepair that river bank property is suffering serious erosion. Has the department given any consideration or formulated any plans to rebuild this dam?

Hon. Howard C. Green (Minister of Public Works):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to thank the hon. member for giving me notice of this question. The answer has not yet been prepared. We are checking old files of the department, and I hope to be able to give the hon. member his answer in a day or two.

Mr. W. H. Jorgenson (Provencher):

I

should like to direct a question to the Minister of Agriculture. In view of the serious problem existing in Provencher due to crop losses caused by excessive rains, would the minister say if a start is to be made this fall on the St. Malo dam project in order to provide some employment for the farmers in that area this winter?

Hon. D. S. Harkness (Minister of Agriculture):

Yes, Mr. Speaker, a start will be

made on that project. As a matter of fact, I received information either yesterday or today from the director of the P.F.R.A. that the brushing operation for the reservoir was to start today, I think.

Mr. Louis Denisel (St. Boniface):

I should like to direct a question to the Minister of Agriculture in view of his reply to the hon. member for Provencher (Mr. Jorgenson). Is work on the dam at Rivers, Manitoba, also going to be started soon?

Hon. D. S. Harkness (Minister of Agriculture):

There are no immediate plans for starting work on the dam at Rivers. Surveys are still going on, and as yet the surveys have not reached a point where work could be started.

Mr. Louis Lewry (Moose Jaw-Lake Centre):

I should like to direct a question to the Minister of Justice. Notice has been given. Has the minister's attention been drawn to the existence of a bread price war in western Canada being carried on by the Weston company, with the apparent purpose of eliminating competition and thereby creating a monopoly? Will the minister consider having action taken immediately under the Combines Investigation Act?