March 27, 1919

*SECOND READINGS.


Bill No. 34, respecting the Canadian Pacific Railway Company.-Mr. Thomson (Qu'Appelle). Bill No. 36, to incorporate Grain Insurance and Guarantee Company.-Mr. Blake.


FISH INSPECTION ACT AMENDMENT.


On motion of Hon. A. K. Maclean (Acting Minister of Marine and Fisheries) the House went into committee on the following proposed resolution.-Mr. Boivin in the Chair: Resolved, That it is expedient to amend the Fish Inspection Act, chapter forty-five of the statutes of 1914, and to provide that the said Act shall apply to pickled herring, alewives, mackerel, and salmon other than mild cured salmon, and the containers in which such fish are packed and marketed; that the Governor in Council may order that the provisions of the said Act shall extend and apply to any other kinds of fish, whether pickled or not, and the containers in which such fish are packed and marketed; excepting, however, fish packed in cans or other hermetically sealed containers, and fish packed by fishermen or others for their own use and not for sale or intended to he used for any other commercial purpose; that regulations may be made prescribing the size and make of such containers, and the manner in which and places where they shall be inspected and marked, and also prescribing how fish shall be graded, packed and inspected, and the place and manner and by whom fish are to be inspected, and other provisions relating thereto ; that no container shall be used unless inspected and marked in accordance with the regulations, and all fish shall be graded; that all fish imported into Canada from other countries shall be packed in containers of a similar character and equal quality to those required under the proposed legislation; and shall be clearly marked with the kind, grade and weight of fish they contain, and with the name of the country of origin, provided that when such fish are imported into Canada for exportation it shall only he necessary that the container in which such fish are packed be marked with the name of the country of origin; that with certain limitations an appeal to the minister may be made in case of disputes between an inspecting officer and the packer, owner or other person: that inspectors shall have the right to enter upon any premises, vessel or boat for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of the Act as amended ; that penalties may be imposed, and containers and fish forfeited and seized for violation of the Act or regulations ; and that the proposed legislation shall come into force with respect to fish caught on the Pacific coast on the first day of November, 1919, and with respect to fish caught on the Atlantic coast on the first day of April. 1920.


UNION

Alexander Kenneth Maclean (Minister Without Portfolio)

Unionist

Mr. MACLEAN (Halifax):

Substantially the proposal under this resolution is the compulsory inspection of fish. The subject of course will be controversial but I wish to promote the measure a stage so that it can be referred to the Fisheries Committee to be thoroughly inquired into. I assume that the committee will ascertain what public opinion is on the matter. I do not know if it has ever been discussed in the House before in the form of a resolution or a Bill.

Topic:   QUESTIONS.
Subtopic:   FISH INSPECTION ACT AMENDMENT.
Permalink
L LIB

Daniel Duncan McKenzie (Leader of the Official Opposition)

Laurier Liberal

Mr. McKENZIE:

There is a law now in connection with fish inspection, but it is not compulsory. This is compulsory inspection?

Topic:   QUESTIONS.
Subtopic:   FISH INSPECTION ACT AMENDMENT.
Permalink
UNION

Alexander Kenneth Maclean (Minister Without Portfolio)

Unionist

Mr. MACLEAN (Halifax):

The proposal contained in the resolution is that the inspection shall be compulsory. The legislation now in existence was passed in 1914 and it provides for a system of inspection upon the request of any applicant. It is not compulsory. The results under this system of permissive inspection are as follows:

Barrels No. of packers requesting

inspected. inspection.

1915 1,320 161916 7,213 731917 8,977 801918 16,667 103

Topic:   QUESTIONS.
Subtopic:   FISH INSPECTION ACT AMENDMENT.
Permalink
L LIB

William Duff

Laurier Liberal

Mr. DUFF:

Has the minister the localities in which this inspection took place?

Topic:   QUESTIONS.
Subtopic:   FISH INSPECTION ACT AMENDMENT.
Permalink
UNION

Alexander Kenneth Maclean (Minister Without Portfolio)

Unionist

Mr. MACLEAN (Halifax):

No, I have

not that information.

Topic:   QUESTIONS.
Subtopic:   FISH INSPECTION ACT AMENDMENT.
Permalink
L LIB

William Duff

Laurier Liberal

Mr. DUFF:

Are you referring to the Atlantic coast?

Topic:   QUESTIONS.
Subtopic:   FISH INSPECTION ACT AMENDMENT.
Permalink
UNION

Alexander Kenneth Maclean (Minister Without Portfolio)

Unionist

Mr. MACLEAN (Halifax):

It would all, apparently, be on the Atlantic coast, because I do not think there was any inspector on the Pacific coast. There an inspector was appointed in 1918. There are seven inspectors on the Atlantic coast. I give these figures to show the number of packers who availed themselves of the privilege of inspection year by year. I am informed by the officers of the department that there is quite a substantial demand throughout the country for compulsory inspection.

Topic:   QUESTIONS.
Subtopic:   FISH INSPECTION ACT AMENDMENT.
Permalink
L LIB

D50 COMMONS

UNION

Alexander Kenneth Maclean (Minister Without Portfolio)

Unionist

Mr. MACLEAN (Halifax):

Yes, we would have it.

Topic:   QUESTIONS.
Subtopic:   D50 COMMONS
Permalink
L LIB
UNION

Alexander Kenneth Maclean (Minister Without Portfolio)

Unionist

Mr. MACLEAN (Halifax):

Certainly, I

shall see that it is made available to hon. members. I do not know that I can say anything further on the resolution. I would

like to get it passed so that the Bill may be introduced and .printed. I admit that it is a highly controversial matter.

Topic:   QUESTIONS.
Subtopic:   D50 COMMONS
Permalink
L LIB

Rodolphe Lemieux

Laurier Liberal

Mr. LEMIEUX:

From whom did the request for this legislation come-boards of trade and merchants?

Topic:   QUESTIONS.
Subtopic:   D50 COMMONS
Permalink
UNION

Alexander Kenneth Maclean (Minister Without Portfolio)

Unionist

Mr. MACLEAN (Halifax):

The Canadian Fisheries' Association is one body that made a request for it. The department sent out 122 inquiries to fishermen, coopers, packers and dealers, of whom 117 replied in favour of compulsory inspection. However, that would not indicate a great volume of public opinion behind the proposal.

Topic:   QUESTIONS.
Subtopic:   D50 COMMONS
Permalink
L LIB

John Howard Sinclair

Laurier Liberal

Mr. SINCLAIR (Guysborough):

Were

they all favourable to it?

Topic:   QUESTIONS.
Subtopic:   D50 COMMONS
Permalink
UNION

Alexander Kenneth Maclean (Minister Without Portfolio)

Unionist

Mr. MACLEAN (Halifax):

Out of 122 inquired of, 117 were favourable.

Topic:   QUESTIONS.
Subtopic:   D50 COMMONS
Permalink

March 27, 1919