Pierre-Joseph-Arthur Cardin (Minister of Marine and Fisheries)
Liberal
Hon. P. J. A. CARDIN (Minister of Marine and Fisheries):
A few days ago the hon.
member for Cumberland (Mr. Smith) referred to certain information he had obtained in regard to the use of American coal for bunker purposes on Canadian vessels. I promised to make inquiry into the matter and I am now in a position to state that the information submitted is absolutely incorrect. The policy of the department has always been to use Canadian coal for bunker purposes on Canadian vessels, and this policy has been followed more particularly in connection with the steamships Lady Laurier and Arleux, to which reference was made in the despatch in the newspaper and in the telegram read by my hon. friend. These two vessels have been using Canadian coa! for bunker purposes and were so doing at or about the date indicated in the telegram and in the reference contained in the newspaper.