Mr. H. O. White (Middlesex East):

Mr. Speaker, I intended to direct this question to the Minister of Labour, but in his absence the Minister of Finance might possibly answer the question. Are there any further developments regarding the robbery yesterday at Oshawa involving unemployment funds?

The second question is this. Is it the standard practice to pay unemployment insurance funds in cash?

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

Mr. Speaker, I regret to say that I am not familiar with what occurred in Oshawa yesterday and I shall have to get an answer. Perhaps the Minister of Labour could make it on his return.

Mr. J. Watson MacNaught (Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Fisheries):

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Esquimalt-Saanich (Mr. Pearkes) yesterday directed to me the following question:

Does the government propose to enforce closure on the sockeye salmon fishing on the Canadian side of the strait of Juan de Fuca this year? If so, what steps are being taken to ensure that Canadian fishermen are assured of their fair share of the catch?

To the first part of the question the answer is that sockeye salmon fishing in the strait of Juan de Fuca is regulated by the international sockeye salmon commission. The government is only called upon to enforce the regulations adopted in accordance with the authority invested in the commission under the sockeye salmon convention between Canada and the United States.

186 HOUSE OF

The Address-Mr. Robichaud

The commission is composed of three representatives from each country, and no regulation can be adopted unless it is voted affirmatively by at least two commissioners from each country.

No regulation of a nature referred to by the hon. member has been adopted by the commission.

To the second part of the question the answer is that the same convention provides for an equal division in so far as possible of the catch between the fishermen of Canada and the United States. In the past this provision of the convention has been given due effect by the commission in adopting any regulations, and there is no reason to think that the commission would propose to adopt any regulation in the future which would have a different effect.

Mr. G. R. Pearkes (Esquimalt-Saanich):

Mr. Speaker, might I ask a supplementary question? Could the parliamentary assistant inform me as to the date of the next sitting of the commission?

Mr. MacNaughf:

Saturday of this week.

Mr. H. J. Robichaud (Gloucester):

Mr. Speaker, before the house adjourned last evening, I advocated that it was the duty of the government to provide our mining companies with relatively cheap power, which is the key to a balanced economy for the future, so earnestly desired by our entire Canadian population. Should it be found that a full-scale development of the Saint John river is not the logical answer to our power problem in New Brunswick, we have other alternatives to offer. Hydroelectric alone may not be sufficient to supply New Brunswick's industries with their power requirements. Construction of high pressure steam electric plants using large turbine generators will have to compensate for our limited sources of water supply available for generating power. We have in New Brunswick, and more so in Nova Scotia, huge coal deposits which could be used advantageously for generating power provided its production cost could be reduced and assurance of low cost money could be provided during the initial stage of development.

I do not advocate a give-away policy by any government whether federal or provincial, but this may be a case where the federal government would be well advised to subsidize as a maritime project the water transportation of coal from the Cape Breton coal mines to a large generating plant located somewhere along the northeastern shore of New Brunswick. After all, is not the federal government actually subsidizing the transportation of coal to a maximum of $2.50 per ton for straight all-rail movement to points in central Canada, and this for the benefit of local industries there? I feel quite confident that if the government were prepared to subsidize the transportation of coal to a large generating plant located in the mining area of northern New Brunswick to an amount equal to $2.50 per ton the cost of generating power could be reduced to a level acceptable to our mining industries.

Canadian National Railways now have under construction a new line which will cost over $35 million to serve the mining district of Chibougamau. Would it not be logical to ask the federal government to do as much to assure the development of New Brunswick mining resources by helping to finance power generating plants? I must also not disregard the major role which will be played by atomic energy in the future of our economic growth and expansion. We should have soon, even now, the assurance from the Minister of Trade and Commerce (Mr. Howe) that the first practical atomic reactor to be used to produce electric energy for commercial purposes in Canada will be built in New Brunswick. This assurance would be a stimulant to our mining companies which are now investing millions of dollars and would give hope of retaining in New Brunswick the milling, refining and complete utilization of sulphur and other associated chemical industries which would necessarily follow.

The sharing or participation of the federal government in the cost of financing an adequate source of power for New Brunswick's mining industries should be regarded as a special circumstance and as part of a policy which can be justified on national grounds. Such a decision will strengthen our entire economy and provide the balanced rate of economic growth within Canada which is essential to assure unity in our population and unity in our economy.

I realize that the hon. member who preceded me last night is far from being satisfied with the policy adopted by the present government in order to help the New Brunswick potato farmers-

Mr. Van Horne:

That is right.

Mr. Robichaud:

-in disposing of their crop.

Mr. Van Horne:

That is very true, sir.

Mr. Robichaud:

It may be true that the price offered is lower by far than the $5 per barrel promised to the farmers of his constituency by the hon. member during his election campaign last fall.

Mr. Van Horne:

That is wrong, sir. You are a liar.* That is not correct.

Mr. Robichaud:

It is correct. Every farm had a poster out in front of it with the candidate's name on it and promising $5 per barrel for potatoes. The hon. member is asking the federal government to build the Cross Point-Campbellton bridge. The hon. member should be made aware that last March the Minister of Public Works (Mr. Winters) made an announcement in the house to the effect that the federal government would pay its share of the construction of this interprovincial bridge.

The hon. member should address his request to the government of the province of Quebec and to the premier of New Brunswick and ask them if they are prepared to come across with their share of the project as they promised so often before the federal Minister of Public Works (Mr. Winters) made the announcement that the federal government was prepared to pay its share.

Mr. Ferguson:

It does not hurt to lose his seat. Of all the cry-babies I have ever heard, the hon. member is the worst.