Mr. Hazen Argue (Assiniboia):

Mr. Speaker, we in this group welcome the statement that has been made by the minister this afternoon. With the hon. member for Laurier, we will study it carefully. It is a fact that because of the original form in which this census questionnaire appeared, certain difficulties have arisen and there have been certain criticisms. We hope that the suggestion made by the minister will in fact solve those difficulties, and that the government's suggestion will be acceptable to all Canadians. We in this group think that the form used in the taking of the census should be such as not to cause conflict and criticism, but that it should be a form to which all Canadians would very readily give their approval.

Mr. Hees:

Might I suggest, answering the hon. member for Laurier, that the intention of the government is not to confuse anyone but to clarify the mistake which Mr. St. Laurent and the Liberal government made in 1951.

Order.

Mr. Speaker:

Order. If the minister feels that something which has been said is in conflict with the truth, or gives a wrong impression of his announcement, he may, I think, properly explain what he thought was the misinterpretation, but if it is a question of answering along lines which I feel he should not pursue, I would ask him to leave it to a more appropriate occasion.

Mr. Winch:

Is there anyone here who objects to saying he is a Canadian in answer to a census question?

Mr. W. H. Jorgenson (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture):

I am

pleased to be able to report to the house that negotiations between the Canadian wheat board and the representatives of the China Resources Company, Hong Kong, who are in Canada, are continuing. The Canadian wheat board anticipates that 12 cargoes of feed barley, representing approximately 120,000 tons, will be booked within the next few days for nearby shipment out of our west coast ports.

Hon. Howard C. Green (Secretary of State for External Affairs):

On Friday next the Warsak hydroelectric project in Pakistan will be formally inaugurated, with the Minister of Veterans Affairs representing the government of Canada. This is the largest Colombo plan project in which Canada has participated. It is also the largest project of its kind in Pakistan. Warsak will produce 160,000 kilowatts of power and help irrigate 110,000 acres of virgin land. In the process of construction some 10,000 Pakistanis, mostly tribal people, have had training in modern trades and techniques.

In the course of his current visit to Pakistan the Minister of Veterans Affairs is also representing the Canadian government at the inauguration of two other projects in which Pakistan and Canada have co-operated under the Colombo plan. Yesterday the Shadiwal hydroelectric project in West Pakistan was inaugurated, and tomorrow there will be a similar ceremony at the Goalpara thermal power station in East Pakistan.

With the completion of these major projects we are now discussing with the Pakistan government other projects in which we might assist Pakistan to further its economic development. From the $50 million appropriated for Canadian aid under the Colombo plan in the fiscal year 1960-61, $15 million has been allocated for capital assistance to Pakistan. Discussions have been proceeding with the government of Pakistan on the projects to be financed out of this allocation, and I am now able to inform the house that Canada has agreed to provide the following goods and services to Pakistan in 1960-61: wheat to the value of $3,650,000; fertilizers to the value of $2 million; aluminum to the value of $1,140,000; wood pulp to the value of $1,300,000, and an aerial survey and forest inventory in the Chittagong area of East Pakistan at a cost of $500,000.

These grants total $8.6 million. We are continuing our discussions with the Pakistan government on projects which might be financed with the remainder of the $15 million. I will be making further announcements when we have reached agreement on other items in this year's Colombo plan program for Pakistan.

In the case of the wheat, fertilizers, aluminum and wood pulp, the government of Pakistan has agreed to set aside counterpart

External Affairs

funds in local currency equivalent to the value of the Canadian grant. The counterpart funds will be spent on economic development projects in Pakistan to be agreed upon between the two governments. The aluminum will be used to help maintain an adequate level of production and employment in Pakistan's metal working industries. The fertilizer is urgently needed for increased food production in Pakistan to meet the demands of the increasing population. The wood pulp will enable a new paper mill in East Pakistan to operate while adequate local supplies of pulp are being developed. These commodities will help provide imports essential for the maintenance of the Pakistan economy and the success of its development plans in the face of an acute shortage of foreign exchange.

The aerial survey and forest inventory will provide essential information on which Pakistan can base plans for a program of development of resources in a forested area of East Pakistan.

Hon. Paul Martin (Essex East):

Mr. Speaker, this is the second announcement made by the Secretary of State for External Affairs regarding assistance by Canada to an Asian member of the commonwealth during the last few days. The announcement the other day had regard to the completion of the atomic project at Bombay, and now this announcement with regard to Canada's assistance to Pakistan under the Colombo plan is further evidence of the interest which this country and all hon. members of this house take in the assistance that is provided under the Colombo plan.

The minister has mentioned a number of instances of gifts to Pakistan which Canada is continuing in one form or another. Among those mentioned today, of course, was that with regard to the Warsak dam, which is situated on the Khyber pass between Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is a matter that I know has engaged the special interest of the Leader of the Opposition. The Secretary of State for External Affairs will recall that not only was this project begun when the Leader of the Opposition was secretary of state for external affairs, but that hon. gentleman had the distinct honour of pushing the button which began the entire operation. Other hon. members of this party have had something to do with the Warsak dam. I, too, had the great honour of visiting this project, as did the hon. member for Ottawa West.

I hope that some time the Prime Minister, who evinces great academic interest, will also have the opportunity of seeing that the very worthy projects which hon. gentlemen of the

present government are carrying on were well founded by the administration of which the present Leader of the Opposition was the secretary of state for external affairs.

Mr. H. W. Herridge (Kootenay West):

Mr. Speaker, in view of the fact that this group have been longtime proponents of increased expenditures under the Colombo plan, we are naturally interested in and welcome the announcement made this afternoon by the Secretary of State for External Affairs. However, Mr. Speaker, the fact that during recent weeks the Secretary of State for External Affairs has taken the opportunity about once a week to announce some further development or expenditure under the Colombo plan indicates that the government's ear is attuned to the popular will in this case. In our view expenditures on behalf of countries within the commonwealth are a method for building peace.

Finally, I simply say on behalf of this group that we urge the government to transfer some of its expenditures on obsolete and useless weapons to the Colombo plan and greatly increase its expenditures under that plan at this time. I am sure that in so doing they will receive the approval of the vast majority of the Canadian people.

Mr. W. F. Matthews (Nanaimo) moved

for leave to introduce Bill No. C-59, to amend the Representation Act.

Explain.

Mr. Matthews:

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this bill is to change the name of the electoral district of Nanaimo to Nanaimo-Cowichan-The Islands.

Motion agreed to and the bill read the first time.