Mr. Knowles:
Will the parliamentary assistant explain that answer?
Mr. Benidickson:
It is a new machine.
Will it make any more dimes in the dollar?
Mr. Benidickson:
It is a new machine and it is a machine that is also used in the United States.
Mr. Hodgson:
That does not make it any better.
Mr. Benidickson:
In the greater quantity of production with this machine it has been found, both in the United States and in Canada, that this new degree of tolerance must be accorded.
Mr. Macdonnell:
May I ask the parliamentary assistant whether or not these coins are legal tender?
Mr. Knowles:
Or are they just tender?
Mr. Macdonnell:
I am quite serious in that question. My understanding is that these coins are legal tender up to a point; and I do not believe that their being legal tender depends on anyone coming along and weighing them. I would think it depends on the imprimatur of the government of Canada.
Mr. Benidickson:
I think the point is that there is a committee, as I have said, which from time to time inquires about the efficiency of the mint. This bill will indicate that this committee will disregard a tolerance of the nature referred to in the bill.
Mr. Fulton:
May I ask the parliamentary assistant this question since he has told us- and the bill also tells us-that this machine is in operation in the United States and that the same degree of inaccuracy is found there. Might that be one reason why on the United States coins we find the words "In God we Trust"?
Mr. Hansell:
I just want to ask one simple question. Has the government considered throwing out all the machines that mint nickels because there is nothing left in Canada that a nickel will buy? As for pennies, yes; chain stores and supermarkets use them for advertising 99-cent bargain sales.
Prairie Farm Assistance Act
Mr. Green:
May I point out that a nickel pays the 5 per cent sales tax in British Columbia on a dollar purchase.
Clause agreed to. Clause 2 agreed to. Title agreed to. Bill reported.
The Acting Speaker (Mr. Applewhaile):
Shall this bill be read a third time now?
Mr. Fulton:
By leave.
Mr. Pickersgill (for Mr. Harris) moved
the third reading of the bill.
Motion agreed to and bill read the third time and passed.
Mr. Pickersgill:
Mr. Speaker, I have consulted with hon. gentlemen opposite and I understand that there would be no objection to proceeding now with the amendment to the Prairie Farm Assistance Act. The minister is here. It is No. 1 on today's order paper.