March 11, 1938 (18th Parliament, 3rd Session)

Mr. PELLETIER:

It concerns the payment of rates, taxes, insurance, et cetera, by the board in case of default on the part of the settler. Last year, if my memory is correct, the government brought in a measure by which through agreement with the government of Saskatchewan some $18,000,000 of taxes and various charges due by farmers on their lands was wiped out by the federal and provincial governments. Is the minister in a position to tell us exactly how much benefit was derived by the Soldier Settlement Act administration because of that measure? If there were old taxes accrued against these lands and they were wiped out, the board must have received some material advantage. I should like to know what advantage has been received.