Mr. Martin (Essex East):

Hon. gentlemen say "why?" It is because in the judgment of those of us who belong to this party the state of the fund is such that parliament should examine into its condition at the earliest possible moment.

(Translation):

Mr. Theogene Ricard (St. Hyacinlhe-Bagot):

Mr. Speaker, following the remarks made by the hon. member for Essex East (Mr. Martin), I should like to say a few words about what took place this morning during the meeting of the committee in question.

It was understood that this morning's sitting was only for organization purposes and it was agreed that the question raised by the hon. member for Essex East would not be considered on that occasion. It is simply a recurrence of what happened last year. The hon. member for Essex East wants to make the headlines and it is only a big flare-up he staged in the house.

(Text):

Mr. M. W. Martin (Timmins):

I do not intend to get involved in the debate as to what happened in the committee meeting this morning, because I was not there.

Oh.

Mr. Martin (Timmins):

That is my complaint. The hon. member for Peterborough and myself are members of that committee but we did not receive notice of this morning's meeting. That is the reason I was not there this morning. As far as the hon. member's speech is concerned, I think we could deal with that at a more appropriate time.

Mr. Speaker:

Is the house ready for the question?

Mr. Pickersgill:

No, Mr. Speaker-

Mr. Speaker:

Before any other member enters into the discussion may I point out that although this motion is debatable, the subject before the house is only the report itself. Hon. members are not supposed to go behind or beyond the report; it is irregular to refer to what transpired in the committee. An hon. member may express opposition to the report, of course, and say it is not complete, but this is not the time to debate what went on in the committee.

Hon. J. W. Pickersgill (Bonavisla-Twillin-gale):

I was rising merely to take exception to something said by the hon. member tor St. Hyacinthe-Bagot which was inaccurate. The hon. member said there was a repetition of what took place last year. I just want to remind the house of what did happen last year. This has nothing to do with the proceedings of the committee reported in the motion now before us, but it has to do with the report. What happened last year was this. An attempt to investigate unemployment was defeated in the committee and the investigation took place in another place. I hope we are not going to have a repetition of that this year.

Mr. Arnold Peters (Timiskaming) moved

for leave to introduce Bill No. C-64 to establish the office of parliamentary proctor and to regulate taxation of costs.

Explain.

Starred Questions

Mr. Peters:

The first purpose of this bill is to establish the office of a proctor to examine into parliamentary divorce proceedings. This is particularly essential because this house has passed a bill which eliminates all effective appeal procedures. If this bill were passed people would be able to appeal to the proctor, and I believe the other place is very interested in that.

Second, this bill would allow the Minister of Justice to refer appeals to the proctor rather than to his own department because, as he himself has said, constitutionally these appeals are probably not within his jurisdiction. Third, this bill would establish a joint committee of the two houses which would have the right to set up rates to be charged by the various people concerned with divorce petitions such as lawyers, parliamentary agents, detectives and others, with a view to lowering the cost of parliamentary divorce proceedings.

Motion agreed to and bill read the first time.

1. Is cement imported from Japan being used in works undertaken for the federal government in the Yukon Territory?

2. Is cement imported from Japan being used in works in the Yukon Territory undertaken under the federal winter works program?

Mr. Speaker:

The hon. member for Sudbury?

Hon. W. G. Dinsdale (Minisier of Northern Affairs and National Resources):

Mr. Speaker, could this question stand?

Mr. Chevrier:

We would like an answer to this question, Mr. Speaker.