John Bracken (Leader of the Official Opposition)
Progressive Conservative
Mr. BRACKEN:
Perhaps the minister
would permit one other question. From his answer are we to understand that at the moment we are not in the position of having agreed to remove this embargo? And further are we to understand that the minister is not in a position now to say what the final effect of the signing of these agreements is with regard to the embargo on oleomargarine? Is that a correct interpretation of what the minister had to say?
Mr. ST. LAURENT: I would prefer to put it this way. An agreement has been signed which has not yet come into force. Certain portions of it are being applied under a protocol of provisional application. None of the things which are required by the protocol of provisional application makes it necessary for us to modify any of our legislation. The Department of Justice is studying the question whether, when it does come into effect, the general trade agreement would require us to modify the Dairy Industry Act which deals with oleomargarine or certain tariff provisions which exclude secondhand machinery or commodities. These questions are being studied at the present time by the Department of Justice.
Subtopic: INQUIRY AS TO REMOVAL OF EMBARGO UNDER GENEVA AGREEMENTS