June 3, 1938 (18th Parliament, 3rd Session)

Right Hon. R. B. BENNETT (Leader of the Opposition):

I should like to ask the
government whether or not we have transferred the seat of government from this parliament house in Ottawa to the province of Saskatchewan. I mean that very seriously; for the British North America Act provides that no money votes shall be dealt with until the approval of the governor general shall have been given, by message to the House of Commons, in which they must originate. Last evening in Saskatchewan it was announced by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Gardiner) that 850,000,000 was to be appropriated by this parliament for housing matters, and that the appropriate legislation would be passed by parliament this session. In view of the provisions of the British North America Act, and knowing as I do the ability of this government to undertake almost anything that is unconstitutional, 1 am desirous of knowing whether or not the government had been transferred to Saskatchewan during the evening in order that the announcement might thus be made. My second question is whether or not His Excellency the Governor General has given his approval to such a statement being made on the hustings in Saskatchewan rather than in the House of Commons, as provided by the constitution.