Right Hon. J. G. Diefenbaker (Leader of the Opposition):

Mr. Speaker, the press must be wrong in its description of the glacial nature of the meeting. I would like to ask the Prime Minister how many companies for the training of young Canadians are going to be set up.

Right Hon. L. B. Pearson (Prime Minister):

Mr. Speaker, that matter is under discussion now. The advisory committee which has been announced has already had two meetings, and it will be reporting shortly to the Government.

Mr. Diefenbaker:

I ask this question, Mr. Speaker, because when the Prime Minister was on his Santa Claus tour in the north he said Elliot Lake will become a training ground for the Company of Young Canadians. Did he make that statement or did he not?

Mr. Pearson:

No, Mr. Speaker. The right

hon. gentleman when he was up in the same area attempting to be Santa Claus-

Hear, hear.

Mr. Pearson:

-although he was not bearing many gifts-

Mr. Starr:

He wasn't giving any promises, anyway.

Mr. Pearson:

*-he must have misunderstood what was said because I mentioned to my constituents at Elliot Lake that I had already mentioned to the advisory committee dealing with this matter, the setting up of a

May 18, 1965

Inquiries of the Ministry Company of young Canadians, that Elliot Lake itself with all its capacity and the facilities which are available there-unfortunately not being used now-would make an admirable training base for the Company of Young Canadians if the executive of that organization so desired; and I hope they will.

Mr. Diefenbaker:

Mr. Speaker, might I say I was not in that area playing Santa Claus, but was advertising the natural resources of that particular part of the country.

Mr. Pearson:

I hope the right hon. gentleman was successful in his fishing.

Mr. Diefenbaker:

Mr. Speaker, ordinarily I do not answer questions, and it is not allowable, but in both fields I was successful.

Mr. R. N. Thompson (Red Deer):

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the right hon. Prime Minister. Would he confirm whether the federal-provincial conference planned for the end of the month has been postponed and, if so, could the Prime Minister tell us what are the reasons for this postponement?

Righi Hon. L. B. Pearson (Prime Minister):

No, Mr. Speaker, the conference has not been postponed; but as a result of the replies to the letter which we sent out some time ago with a draft suggested agenda and a date, we have written to the provinces asking if they would care to reconsider the date and a postponement because all the Premiers-at least the Premier of B.C.-cannot come on May 31, and also because several provinces have requested additional subjects, some very important ones, to be placed on the agenda, and they will require consideration before agreement can be reached on the agenda. In view of that we have written to the provincial Premiers to see if they would consider it wise to postpone the conference which was to have met on May 31.

Mr. Real Caouette (Villeneuve):

Mr. Speaker, my question was to the Minister of

National Revenue, but in his absence I will direct it to the right hon. Prime Minister.

Following complaints I received yesterday concerning the income tax division at the Jackson Building, could the Prime Minister tell us why there are no French speaking employees at the desk or general counter of that income tax division? I would also like to know if the Prime Minister can take steps so that French speaking persons can be answered in their own language when they apply at the income tax division at the Jackson Building?

Right Hon. L. B. Pearson (Prime Minister):

Well, Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of the facts as announced by my hon. friend, but I would point out to him for one thing that the newly appointed Deputy Minister of the Department is French speaking.