Right Hon. L. S. St. Laurent (Prime Minister):

Mr. Speaker, we are all conscious that today is the 88th anniversary of the birthday of the Canadian confederation, and we are also conscious that, by chapter 88 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, it is a legal holiday to be observed as such throughout Canada under the name of Dominion day. It was also the same situation in 1947 and in 1952 when this house happened to be in session on the 1st of July. I should like to suggest that we follow the precedent that was set on those occasions, and before entering upon the continuation of our legislative duties, we stand and sing together "O Canada" and "God Save the Queen".

Whereupon the members of the house rose and sang

O Canada and

Cod Save the Queen.

Mr. Pierre Gauthier (Portneuf):

May I

remind the house that July 1 is also the birthday of the hon. member for Portage-Neepawa (Mr. Weir). Although no one likes to be told that another year has been added to his life, I thought because of my close association with him that I could not let this day go by without expressing my best wishes for long life and good health to my colleague. I am positive that all hon. members, to whatever party they may belong, who have been in contact and association with him since he has been here, will join in wishing him the best of everything for years to come. 50433-350}

Before coming to this house he was directly interested in the welfare of the farmers. I would not want to be indiscreet, but I cannot close my remarks without mentioning that in a few weeks he will have given 25 years of his life for the benefit of his constituents and in an effort to make the best contribution he can to furthering the business of this house. I am sure that somewhere in Manitoba a venerable old lady, his mother, is expressing to her son the same wishes, but in a more tender way.

I want also to remind the house that the hon. member for Colchester-Hants (Mr. Purdy) is also celebrating his birthday. Let us join in wishing him good health and many many years to come.

Mr. Speaker:

May I on behalf of all hon_ members wish a most happy birthday to those hon. members who chose to be born on July 1.

Hon. W. E. Harris (Minister of Finance):

Earlier this week the hon. member for Maisonneuve-Rosemont (Mr. Deschatelets) inquired as to the daily cost of parliament. It is not possible to give a precise answer without making certain assumptions; that is, whether or not the salaries of members of parliament and the indemnity paid to them can be considered as a sessional cost; but I should like to table a breakdown of the cost during the last fiscal year of all the cost that may be attributed to parliament, showing a total cost of something in the order of $5,070,235, which works out to about $17,377 per day.

Mr. Fleming:

Is this to be treated as an intimation that parliament should go home before it has fully discharged its sessional duties?

Mr. Speaker:

Order.

Mr. Drew:

May I ask a supplementary question with regard to this? Has the computation been arranged in such a way that it would be possible to tell the amount of this money that could appropriately be allocated to the operation of the House of Commons and the part that could appropriately be allocated to the cost of the Senate?

Mr. Harris:

No, I do not think so, Mr. Speaker. But I have set out several details.

Committee on Sales Tax I do not have the data which has been omitted, and, as I indicated, it is a matter of opinion as to whether certain costs should be included in the total sessional cost.

Hon. W. E. Harris (Minister of Finance):

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of National Revenue (Mr. McCann) and I wish to inform the house that the small committee to review and advise upon certain technical questions relating to the administration of the sales tax, to which I referred in my budget speech, has now been appointed. The members of the committee will be Mr. K. Le M. Carter, C.A., of Toronto; Mr. Raymond Dupuis, Q.C., of Montreal; and Mr. A. E. McGilvray, of Oshawa.

Mr. Carter is a well known chartered accountant and a past president of the Canadian tax foundation. Mr. Dupuis is both a lawyer and a leading figure in Canadian retail trade and the financial world. Mr. McGilvray is an industrialist and a senior officer of General Motors of Canada.

The terms of reference of this committee are as follows:

1. To examine the problem arising under sales and excise taxes where manufacturers sell to customers at different levels in the marketing process and to make recommendations for a definition of a tax base or statutory method of administrative practice designed to equalize approximately the tax payable on goods of like value.

2. To examine the question of appeals from taxes imposed under the Excise Tax Act and make recommendations with regard thereto.

3. To examine the problem arising under sales and excise taxes with regard to the tax payable by importers of goods and that payable to manufacturers in Canada of goods of like value when sold to customers at different levels in the marketing process and to make recommendations with regard thereto.

4. To examine the system of exemptions for goods based upon the use of such goods and recommend any changes which may achieve greater simplicity and certainty without substantial loss of revenue.

Mr. J. M. Macdonnell (Greenwood):

Mr. Speaker, at first hearing it is hard to assess the full extent of such a statement, but I take it the intention is that this committee shall deal with the problem in its broad aspects.

Mr. Harris:

Right.

IMr. Harris.]

lLater:l

On the orders of the day:

Mr. Clarence Gillis (Cape Breton South):

May I direct a question to the Minister of Finance arising out of his announcement a few moments ago of the setting up of a committee to examine into the application of sales and excise taxes. I noticed that the people he mentioned were an accountant, an industrialist and a manufacturer, all from the central provinces; two from Ontario and one from Quebec. Has any consideration been given to representation on that committee of the people who pay the taxes generally? I suggest that at least a representative of the two congresses of labour should be added to that committee.