Mr. Churchill:
I have given a proper answer to this question.
Hon. L. B. Pearson (Leader of the Opposition):
May I ask the minister under what authority Mr. Bracken is to conduct his inquiry?
Mr. Churchill:
Mr. Speaker, that will appear when the order in council is tabled.
Contempt of parliament.
Mr. H. A. Bryson (Humboldl-Melfori):
Is
the minister able to say whether he has directed Hon. John Bracken to investigate the proposition of producers being given the opportunity of delivering grain to the elevator of their own choice?
Mr. Churchill:
I have announced, Mr. Speaker, that the terms of reference will be made public in due course, which means very shortly, and I can assure the hon. member that all matters which have been drawn to my attention to date by individual farmers and by farm organizations, including the question he has raised, will constitute part of the inquiry.
Mr. M. J. Coldwell (Roseiown-Biggar):
Is
it not usual when an appointment of this description is made by order in council to have the terms of reference tabled and given to parliament? Is this not a most unusual
procedure, showing entire disregard for the regular parliamentary procedure?
Mr. Churchill:
I do not think there is any disregard for the rights of parliament whatsoever-
Mr. Coldwell:
I am sure there is.
Mr. Churchill:
The rights of parliament are being recognized as they have always been by this party. I have indicated that an inquiry into this question will be conducted and that Hon. John Bracken has consented to conduct that inquiry. That is information which I am sure this house has been eagerly awaiting, and it will satisfy certainly those in western Canada who want this question investigated. The normal procedures of parliamentary practice have been followed and will be followed in the future.
Mr. Pearson:
No, they have not.
Mr. Tucker:
A supplementary question-
Mr. Speaker:
I think the matter has been sufficiently dealt with. There have been five or six questions to which replies have been given.
Mr. Pearson:
But no information.
Sit down.
Mr. Speaker:
It seems to me that any further questions tend to be argumentative and in the nature of debate rather than a search for information. The minister has indicated that he will table an order in council.
Mr. Knowles (Winnipeg North Centre):
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I do not think I need to turn up the citation because it is familiar to all of us, but it is a rule of this house that if an official document has been cited it must be laid on the table of the house. The Minister of Trade and Commerce has made reference to an order in council but has refused to give any further information about it. I think the least he should do is forthwith to table that order in council.
Mr. Churchill:
Mr. Speaker, I submit that I have not cited any official document.
How was the appointment made, by telegram?
Mr. Speaker:
The minister in his reply indicated that he was announcing a policy that had been approved, and that he would table the order in council in due course.