Sir HENRY DRAYTON:

What does that mean?

Mr. BELAND:

That means two grains of opium to the ounce, one-fourth of a grain of morphine to the ounce, one-eighth of a grain of heroin to the ounce, or one grain of codeine to the ounce.

Sir HENRY DRAYTON:

How is that defined?

Mr. BELAND:

It is defined in this bill in clause 9. When we come to clause 9, my hon. friend will find the exact description of preparations which, although they contain some of the drugs which are forbidden, can be lawfully sold because they contain only small quantities.

Mr. BELAND:

No change at all.

Mr. MANION:

The question of what is considered proper for medicinal purposes is left entirely in the hands of the physicians, is it not?

Mr. BELAND:

It is left altogether to the attending physician.

Mr. MANION:

For example, if a doctor considers that a man.who has been addicted to one of these drugs is in such a nervous condition that he requires some of the drug, that is left entirely to the physician?

Mr. BELAND:

You cannot prescribe smoking.

Mr. BELAND:

There are only a few words added to this clause. On page 5 in the first, second and third lines these words are added:

or to furnish to the Department of Health any information required by that department.

This is added to make the clause clearer.

Mr. STEVENS:

In connection with this clause, there is just one point as regards which I should like to ask the minister his opinion, because I know the point I raise is a very delicate one. If I read the clause aright, it means that physicians, dentists and such like are called upon to furnish information only when required to do so by the minister.

Mr. BELAND:

That is right.

Mr. STEVENS:

Has the minister considered the advisability of inserting in the bill a provision that they shall give information when asked to do so by the attorney general of a province or the Crown prosecutor or the police authorities? That may seem to be extending the matter too far; but there is no doubt great difficulty in getting proper information for the local authorities to prosecute and to carry out the provisions of the law satisfactorily. I am not prepared to press for this; but I submit it to the minister, and perhaps he can tell the committee whether it has been considered and what his opinion is.

Mr. BELAND:

There is in almost every province a provincial law covering this point. For instance, in Quebec, the College of Physicians and Surgeons and the College of Pharmacists have special legislation of their own which would meet exactly the object raised by, my hon. friend.

Mr. STEVENS:

I am glad the minister makes that statement, because I was not at all clear as to the advisability. If that is the case, then certainly it would be desirable that it should be made perfectly clear in this act that the police have the right to request the information, especially as this act is looked upon as perhaps, the most important piece of legislation, either provincial or Dominion, of its kind dealing with this class of offence. The suggestion is made that the doctor or the druggist can always be subpoenaed. That is not the point so much, nor is it sufficient that they can get this under some provincial act. The minister, I know,

Narcotic Drugs Act

will agree with me, and I am sure anyone in this House who has been watching the unfortunate progress of this evil, will also agree that everything possible must be done to suppress this traffic. I have noted in some articles and speeches and, I think, in statements by police authorities that there has been considerable difficulty with irresponsible practitioners, not necessarily physicians, but particularly veterdnaries. ,1 have heard on several occasions the opinion expressed, or, indeed, the assertion made positively that they were circumventing the law.

Mr. BELAND:

My hon. friend refers to practitioners regularly practising.

Mr. STEVENS:

What are referred to in this bill as physicians, veterinaries, dentists, druggists, and so forth. My suggestion is that we should enlarge this clause to provide that they shall give the information when requested to do so, not only by the minister, but by recognized police authorities-I am not particular as to the wording-administering the law in any municipality. I submit that to the consideration of the minister.

Mr. MacLAREN:

Would the minister explain a little more definitely what is meant by the words "giving information"? Before taking a step such as has been suggested by the hon. member for Vancouver (Mr. Stevens), we should consider very carefully the question of giving up professional secrecy unless the matter is properly safeguarded.