April 15, 1935 (17th Parliament, 6th Session)

Right Hon. W. L. MACKENZIE KING (Leader of the Opposition):

Mr. Speaker, this might be an appropriate moment to refer again to the designation of the introducer of this bill. This bill appears on the order paper in the name of the Prime Minister (Mr. Bennett) and my right hon. friend who has just introduced the bill (Sir George Perley) is either the Prime Minister or the acting Prime Minister, he cannot be both. I see no reason why bills should not appear on the order paper in the name of whoever may be the acting Prime Minister if he is responsible for the measure so that the records may be complete. I looked up the votes and proceedings of the house to see what had been done in 1919 when Sir Robert Borden was unfortunately indisposed and unable to be present in the house for a time. Sir George Foster was the acting Prime Minister at the time and I notice that bills and resolutions were introduced in Sir George's name when he was the acting Prime Minister. It may be the modesty of my right hon. friend which has caused him to omit putting in his own name when acting as Prime Minister, I have no doubt he has been appointed acting Prime Minister by order in council of the cabinet and that he is the acting Prime Minister. Measures that are brought in by my right hon. friend should be in his name. Further on, on the order paper, we have a notice for adjournment and it again is in the name of the Prime Minister. My right hon. friend did tell us the other day that the Prime Minister was keeping in touch with matters in the house, but I submit that that is not sufficient. The procedure with respect to public measures where it is of permanent record should not be designated otherwise than as is strictly accurate. I mention this again though I do not want to make any particular point of it except to see that the proceedings of parliament and particularly of this house are kept and of record in the regular way.