Has the Department of National Health and Welfare received any requests from the British Columbia division of the Canadian Medical Association to assist in the establishment, at the University of British Columbia, of a research program in physical fitness?

Mrs. Casselman:

A letter was received on November 9 from the executive director of the British Columbia division of the Canadian Medical Association, in support of an application which he understood would be made by the University of British Columbia for a research grant for 1963-64. No formal application has been received from the University of British Columbia.

1. When was Mr. Stephen Wheatcroft engaged to make a study for the Minister of Transport of the desirability and economic consequences of competition in Canadian transcontinental air services?

2. How long did it take to prepare his report and when was it made?

3. What was the total cost to the government of this report by fees paid, travel expenses, secretarial and stenographic assistance, and miscellaneous?

Mr. McBain:

1. February 4, 1958.

2. (a) Four months; (b) May 30, 1958.

3. $7,971, as follows: Retainer, $3,500; travel expenses, $1,686; living allowance, $2,375; secretarial, stenographic and miscellaneous, $60; printing and distribution of the report, $350.

Have any vessels been assigned to shipbuilding facilities in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia by the maritime commission under the recent subsidy program and, if so, (a) where are the shipyards located (b) what is the total amount of money paid or authorized under the subsidy program in each location in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia?

Mr. McBain:

Vessels being built under the ship construction subsidy plan are not assigned to shipbuilding plants by the Canadian maritime commission but are built in yards of the owner's selection. Up to the present subsidy agreements amounting to $2,397,261.10 have been signed in respect of four ships at Bathurst and Saint John in New Brunswick, and in respect of 16 ships, amounting to $2,052,458.17, at Day Spring, Lunenburg, Meteghan River and Shelburne in Nova Scotia.

Questions

Does the government intend, in the interest of public safety, to regulate sales of electrical equipment and appliances not certified for safety requirements?

Mr. Nesbitt:

The certification of electrical equipment and appliances for safety requirements, and the regulation of sales are responsibilities of the respective provinces.

Is Canada committed in any way to any other country or countries to take any military action or to provide armed forces and, if so, by what convention or other means has each such commitment been created?

Mr. Green:

As a signatory to the North Atlantic treaty, Canada has agreed in article 5 that an armed attack against one of the members of the alliance in Europe or North America constitutes an attack against them all, and has undertaken to assist the party or parties attacked "by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the north Atlantic area".

The Canada-United States region is an integral part of the north Atlantic area. The air defence of the region is provided for in the NORAD agreement under which a Canada-United States integrated command was established and to which both countries contribute air defence forces.

By virtue of article 43 of the United Nations charter, Canada has undertaken to make available to the security council such assistance, including armed forces, as may be necessary for the purpose of maintaining international peace and security.

1. Who owns the property known as the University avenue armouries in Toronto?

2. Have any of the reserve regiments using these armouries requested that other armouries be provided for their use?

3. Has any decision been made to discontinue the use of the University avenue armouries and, if so, (a) what are the reasons for this decision (b) what are the locations of the armouries which will replace the University avenue armouries (c) what is the total estimated cost of replacing the University avenue armouries by such other armouries?

Mr. Sevigny:

1. The property is owned by Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada and is under the administration and control of the Department of National Defence.

2. No.

3. Yes. (a) In 1958, an agreement was made with the municipality of metropolitan Toronto to sell this property to it for the sum of $2,000,000 for a new court house to accommodate the courts and administrative offices of the supreme court of Ontario, the county court of the county of York, and courtroom facilities for the Exchequer Court of Canada and the board of transport commissioners.

(b) and (c) An armoury has been constructed in the township of North York, adjacent to and immediately south of Downsview airport at a cost of $989,867. This provides approximately one third of the replacement accommodation required. The site or sites of the remaining accommodation have not been finally settled. The estimated costs of such accommodation will depend on the location and whether one large or two smaller armouries are built.

1. What is the total number of inmates in federal penitentiaries as of the last date for which the annual report was prepared?

2. What is the total staff employed in these penitentiaries and, of these, how many are guards, teachers, psychologists, psychiatrists, etc.?

3. What qualifications are required for the professional staff?

4. What are the minimum qualifications for guards employed in penitentiaries?

5. Is there a compulsory training course for people hired as guards and, if so, what type of course, and how long does it take to complete this course?

6. How many penitentiaries are there in Canada?

Mr. Bell (Saint John-Alberl):

1. 7,039.

2. Total staff establishment for the federal penitentiaries is 2,953 comprised as follows:

Custodial 1,488

Teachers 43

Vocational training instructors 68

Psychologists 19

Psychiatrists 8

Physicians 11

Dentists 8

Chaplains 19

Hospital staff 99

Farm staff 19

Service and maintenance officers 631 Industrial instructors 135

Administrative and clerical

officers 405

Total 2,953

3. The professional staff are required to be graduates from universities of recognized standing with specialization in their own particular field. Teachers are required to be graduates of a recognized high school and have had normal school training with a teacher's certificate for the province concerned and some practical teaching experience.

4. The minimum qualifications for guards in the penitentiaries are at least grade X education or equivalent, age 23 to 40 years, satisfactory physical condition, at least 5'8" in height, additional credits for military or police experience.

5. Every person hired as a guard in the Canadian penitentiary service must undergo probationary training, which begins at the initial appointment and continues to the end of the probationary period (6 months under penitentiary service regulation 1.36), before he is considered for permanent employment. This probationary training includes an initial orientation program and an induction training program of formal and on the job training. This probationary training is conducted at every institution.

6. 25.