1. On what date was Mr. G. Labrecque appointed returning officer for the electoral district of Belle-chasse?

2. Who recommended his appointment? (Translation):

Mr. Dorion:

1. Mr. G. Labrecque was appointed returning officer for the electoral district of Bellechasse by P.C. 1958-189 dated February 5, 1958, and was reappointed as returning officer for the same electoral district by P.C. 1960-1206 dated August 31, 1960.

2. In accordance with the terms of section 8 of the Canada Elections Act, returning officers are appointed by the governor in council. It has long been the custom that the recommendation to the governor in council is made by the Secretary of State. As to such suggestions as may be made to the Secretary of State of names for incorporation in his recommendation, these are made on a confidential basis and it has never been the practice of any government to reveal the source or identity of such suggestions as may be made.

(Text):

1. How many copies of the Canadian Bill of Rights have now been printed, and at what expense?

2. How many copies have been (a) sold (b) distributed free; and what Is the legal authority for the free distribution?

Answer by: Mr. Dorion:

1. 20,000 copies at a cost of $6,000.

2. (a) 14,500 copies, (b) 178 individual copies to members of parliament on request; 225 copies to the press, school commissions, boards of trade, etc., for publicity purposes.

Authority for distribution to members of parliament is TB minute 477983. Distribution for publicity purposes is chargeable to the vote for that purpose of the Department of Public Printing and Stationery.

1. Were tenders called during 1961 for the Installation of 22, more or less, warning signals in the Halifax-Dartmouth, N.S., area; and, if so, on what date?

2. What was the medium, or media, used in advertising the tender call; and what are the names, with addresses, and amounts, of parties submitting tenders?

3. To whom was the contract awarded, and in what amount?

Answer by: Mr. O'Hurley:

1. Yes, on September 29, 1961, tenders were invited for the installation of twenty-two (22) attack warning sirens in the Halifax perimeter area in accordance with specifications and drawings provided by the Department of National Defence.

2. The Halifax district office of the Department of Defence Production mailed invitations to tender to thirteen (13) regional firms considered capable of handling the contract. Two tenders were received as follows:-

Arthur & Conn Limited,

P.O. Box 34, Halifax, N.S $18,398

Canadian Comstock Co. Ltd.,

12 Queen st., Dartmouth, N.S. . $19,413

3. On October 13, 1961, the contract in the amount of $18,398 was awarded to the lower tenderer, Arthur & Conn Limited. On March 1, 1962, this contract was amended to provide for the following additional work at the prices indicated:-

(a) Supply and installation of metering facilities for twenty-two (22) sirens, $1,226.72 lot.

(b) Supply and installation of 1" x 1J" x 72" slats spaced approx. 1J" apart around poles #35, 36, 37, 42, 44, 45, 46, 48 and 52, $225.00 lot.

Questions

Was an independent valuation obtained by crown assets disposal corporation of the 3.10 acres of land in lot 19, Junction gore, Gloucester township, which was sold to Principal Investments Limited, as appears in sessional paper 194, tabled February 14, 1962; and, if so, what firm or firms made the independent valuation, and what is the amount of such valuation and the date of its receipt by the department?

Answer by: Mr. O'Hurley:

1. No. Principal Investments Limited first offered to pay $10,000 per acre but after

negotiations agreed to pay $15,000 per acre which, bearing in mind the limitations of the site, namely its triangular shape and the special conditions of the sale was considered in line with the current value of land in that area, as confined by consultation with officers of the national capital commission.

What was the quantity and value of livestock exported during the fiscal year 1960-61?

Answer by: Mr. Morris:

Quantity and value of livestock exported during the fiscal year 1960-61:

Class Class Unit No. in No. in of 1960 1961 Description Qty. Quantity Value(2010) (1-19) Cattle, purebred No. 22,738 $ 7,833,505(2040) (1-49) Dairy cattle n.e.s., weighing 200 lbs. and over No. 16,507 4,041,598(2045) (1-70) Cattle n.e.s., weighing less than 200 lbs No. 31,118 764,434(2050) (1-80) Cattle n.e.s., weighing 200 lbs. to 700 lbs. . . No. 116,237 10,828,920(2055) (1-90) Cattle n.e.s, weighing over 700 lbs No. 55,113 10,676,424(2020) (2-19) Sheep, purebred No. 1,052 56,718(2075) (2-49) Sheep n.e.s No. 1,999 34,622(2025) (3-19) Swine, purebred No. 5,073 361,033(2080) (3-49) Swine n.e.s No. 4,839 169,868(2057) (4-25) Horses for slaughter No. 6,927 557,624(2060) (4-49) Horses n.e.s No. 1,961 383,963Total 263,564 $35,708,709* VANCOUVER PROTESTS RESPECTING RENT IN- * ABOLITION OF TOLLS, JACQUES CARTIER ANDCREASES FOR ELDER CITIZENS ^ VICTORIA BRIDGES

Question No. 366-Mr. Herridge:

Question No. 371-Mr. Fisher:

Has the Prime Minister received a letter dated March 23 from Mr. J. W. Chesterman, secretary of the federated legislative council, elder citizens association of Vancouver, B.C., protesting the increases in rents of the C.M.H.C.-administered housing projects in Vancouver, B.C.; and, if so, what answer has been made?

Mr. Diefenbaker:

The letter was received and acknowledged. As stated therein, I brought the matter to the Minister of Public Works, who is responsible to parliament for Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation. My information in connection with this matter is, as I am informed by the corporation, that it has not issued any instructions to the administrators of these projects to increase the rents. These two projects are administered by a local housing authority pursuant to an agreement entered into between the local housing authority and the federal-provincial partnership.

1. Has the national harbours board made representations to the Minister of Transport within the past eighteen months asking the government to proceed with the abolition of tolls on the Jacques Cartier and Victoria bridges?

2. If not, has the national harbours board made representations to the Minister of Transport within the past 18 months asking the government not to proceed with the abolition of tolls on the Jacques Cartier and Victoria bridges?

3. Has the national harbours board given the government an estimate of the total cost to the taxpayer of the abandonment of tolls on the Jacques Cartier and Victoria bridges; and, if so, what is the estimate?

Mr. Martini:

The answers are as follows:

1, 2 and 3. Under the long established practice of the house, departmental or interdepartmental communications are considered as privileged and in accordance with that practice it would not be proper to deal with

1. Has the national harbours board, the Department of Transport, the Montreal harbour commission, or the Department of Finance negotiated with the Canadian National Railways for the price at which the C.N.R. is willing to relinquish its running rights or railway right of way on the Victoria bridge in Montreal, in connection with the government's announced intention of abolishing tolls on the Victoria and Jacques Cartier bridges?

2. If so, has any contribution to these negotiations or discussions been made by the city of Montreal or the province of Quebec?

3. Has the C.N.R. indicated the basis upon which it determines the money it will require to relinquish its rights and income from Victoria bridge?

4. If no negotiations have taken place by any agency with the C.N.R., how does the government intend to end the present integration of the Victoria bridge within the C.N.R. operating structure?

Mr. Martini:

The answers are as follows:

1. Preliminary negotiations with Canadian National Railways do not contemplate the railway relinquishing its running rights or railway right of way on the Victoria bridge.

2. No.

3. Yes.

4. Not applicable.

1. Has a survey been undertaken of the engineering feasibility of a causeway across Northumberland strait from New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island: and, if so, has it been completed, and what are its findings?

2. If the survey has not been completed, when is it expected to be completed?

Answer by: Mr. Green:

1. Yes; it has not been completed.

2. No definite date for completion can be given at this time. The duration of the survey is dependent on the outcome of investigations still underway.

Mr. McWilliam:

1. Has the national research council undertaken a model study of a proposed crossing of the Northumberland strait between New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island?

2. If completed, what is the result of the model study; and if not, when will it be completed?

Answer by: Mr. Green:

1. No model study has been made of a proposed crossing; two dimensional model studies of cross sections of a causeway have been carried out.

2. It has indicated a satisfactory cross section based on calculated wave heights. These results will be rechecked on the model when

Questions

actual wave heights in the strait are determined. (Delay has been due to damage of equipment by ice as indicated in answer to question No. 377.)