Hon. George A. Drew (Leader of the Opposition):

Mr. Speaker, I know that every hon. member of this house will join in the words of sympathy that have been expressed by the Prime Minister. We extend our sympathy to the members of the government with which Mr. Cote was associated and to all of his colleagues, because there had been that close association day by day which had brought him very much in contact with them.

I should like to emphasize, however, that Hon. Alcide Cote was a warm friend of every member of this house. I think it can be said without any question that there was not a single member of this house who had not responded to his genial and cordial approach to the problems that came up in discussion here. Naturally in a democratic chamber there was not always complete agreement about the manner in which things should be done, but it was always characteristic of him that the discussions which took place were carried on in the kindly and generous manner to which the Prime Minister has referred.

I perhaps have good reason to know something of what it means to be welcomed back by the members of this house, and I recall the time last year when we were all happy to welcome the Hon. Alcide Cote back into this house, thinking he was returning to his duties. It made it doubly tragic when we heard a short time afterward that he had suffered a heart attack and later was taken away very suddenly.

I simply wish to join fully, on behalf of myself and my associates, in the words of sympathy expressed by the Prime Minister and to extend to the members of his family the sincere sympathy that I know is felt by every hon. member of this house.

Mr. M. J. Coldwell (Roseiown-Biggar):

Mr. Speaker, I am quite sure the sentiments expressed by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition are indeed shared by all members of this house. Mr. Cote was a very charming personality, a very good friend and one who should have been able to look forward to a long career in this parliament and country. As has already been said, it is tragic to know that he was cut off in the

prime of life and has been lost to the country, the government, his party and the province where he lived.

My closest association with him was at the United Nations in the autumn of 1953, when in the absence of the Secretary of State for External Affairs he acted as chairman of the delegation. I am quite sure that those of us who were associated with him throughout the number of weeks we were in New York will recollect the fine personality that chaired our meetings, the genial comrade who in the evenings, when the day was over, sat around and proved himself to be a very fine companion.

We all join in the sympathy that has already been expressed to the members of his family, to his brothers and sisters. I wish also to extend to the government and to the members of the Liberal party our sympathy in the loss of one of their devoted colleagues. I am sure all members of the house feel that we have lost from among us one whom we regarded as a fine personality and a good friend.

Mr. E. G. Hansell (Macleod):

Mr. Speaker, we in this corner of the house wish to join those who have preceded me in expressing our respects to one of our departed members.

Every so often it becomes a rather trying duty for members of this house to rise and pay tribute to one of our colleagues who has departed this life. Our duties here and our lives and our associations in this house are, generally speaking, very pleasant. Sometimes our pleasant associations are marred by the departure through death of members whom we honour and respect as fellow workers for a better country and a greater nation. It is perhaps a double tragedy when we realize that one is taken from us at such an early age.

There is not much one can say apart from paying our respects and our tributes to a colleague well respected and well loved. Members of this group pay their respects to the memory of Mr. Cote and wish to extend their deepest sympathy to his near relatives and friends.

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

That a special committee be appointed to prepare and report, with all convenient speed, lists of members to compose the standing committees of this house under standing order 65, said committee to be composed of Messrs. Harris, Lapointe, Tustin, Quelch and Weir.

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

That Edward T. Applewhaite, Esquire, member for the electoral district of Skeena, be appointed deputy chairman of committees of the whole house.

Hon. George A. Drew (Leader of the Opposition):

Mr. Speaker, before the Prime Minister moves the adjournment I wish to direct a question to him through you. In view of the inclusion in the speech from the throne of a reference to the trans-Canada pipe line, I wonder whether the Prime Minister could make arrangements for the tabling tomorrow of the draft agreement between the government of Canada and the government of the province of Ontario as well as the draft agreement between the proposed crown company and Trans-Canada Pipe Lines Limited.

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

I will endeavour to ascertain if those documents can be tabled tomorrow.

On motion of Mr. St. Laurent the house adjourned at 4.25 p.m.

Wednesday, January 11, 1956

Mr. Speaker read a communication from the secretary to the Governor General, announcing that His Excellency the Governor General would proceed to the Senate chamber at three o'clock on this day, for the purpose of formally opening the session of the dominion parliament.

A message was delivered by Major C. R. Lamoureux, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, as follows:

Mr. Speaker, His Excellency the Governor General desires the immediate attendance of this honourable house in the chamber of the honourable the Senate.

Accordingly, Mr. Speaker with the house went up to the Senate chamber.

And the house being returned to the Commons chamber:

Mr. Speaker:

I have the honour to inform the house that during the recess I received communications notifying me that several vacancies had occurred in the representation, as follows:

Of L. Philippe Picard, Esquire, member for the electoral district of Bellechasr-e, by resignation.

Of J. Gaspard Boucher, Esquire, member for the electoral district of Bestigouche-Madawaska, by decease.

Of Jean-Frangois Pouliot, Esquire, member for the electoral district of Temiscouata, consequent upon his being summoned to the Senate.

Of Honourable C. G. Power, member for the electoral district of Quebec South, consequent upon his being summoned to the Senate.

Of David Arnold Croll, Esquire, member for the electoral district of Spadina, consequent upon his being summoned to the Senate.

Of Honourable Alcide Cote, member for the electoral district of St. Jean-Iberville-Napierville, by decease.

Accordingly, I addressed my warrants to the chief electoral officer for the issue of new writs of election for the said electoral districts.