Mr. Gordon:

I will have to take that supplementary question as notice.

Mr. P. V. Noble (Grey Norih):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to direct this question to the Minister of National Health and Welfare. Will the government give consideration to establishing statutory safety limits on the use of two specific pesticides, aldrin and dieldrin, so that foods produced with their use may not carry a residue above health safety levels?

Mr. Speaker:

Order, this question should be placed on the order paper.

Mr. H. W. Herridge (Kootenay West):

Mr. Speaker, I wish to address a question to the Solicitor General. My question is based on criticism and considerable annoyance expressed by some Canadians and in newspaper editorials with respect to the necessity for two carloads of F.B.I. men to come to Canada to protect United States Vice President Hubert Humphrey on his recent visit to Canada.

My question is this. Will the minister inform the house whether in his opinion it was necessary for the F.B.I. to come to Canada on this occasion? And would the minister inform the house whether he considers that our own R.C.M.P. are not just as capable of protecting any distinguished visitor to Canada as imported bodyguards?

Mr. Speaker:

Order, please. No doubt the Solicitor General would like the opportunity to reply at least to the second part of the question, but I suggest to the hon. member, with respect, that the question is not in order.

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

A supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. Arising out of that question I ask the minister this. Is it a fact that because of an unprecedented influx of mafia gangland thugs into Canada, at the present time United States officials and those of the R.C.M.P. are meeting with a view to arriving at some plan that will control this kind of immigration that Canada does not want?

Hon. L. T. Pennell (Soliciior General):

Mr. Speaker, I cannot accept as a fact the preliminary part of the question. I will say, however, that the R.C.M.P. are co-operating closely with law enforcement agencies in the United States to keep crime under control.

Mr. Diefenbaker:

I ask specifically whether at this very moment and in the last week there have been meetings between the R.C.M.P. and United States officials of the F.B.I. and the like, to prevent or do something to prevent the influx into Montreal and Toronto of United States mafia figures.

Mr. Pennell:

Mr. Speaker, if the right hon. gentleman is referring to a press report that appeared this week in one of the daily newspapers, I am informed that the reference was not to R.C.M.P. officials but, I believe, to

April 7. 1967

municipal officials who were visiting New York state.

Mr. Diefenbaker:

I am referring to the New York Times, which refers to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Mr. Pennell:

I thank the hon. gentleman for bringing to my attention the reference in the New York Times. I was also referring to the same press report. It is my understanding that the reference was to a municipal police force and not to members of the R.C.M.P., though the report referred to them as being of the R.C.M.P.

I wish to reassert my original statement, that the R.C.M.P. are in continuing close cooperation with law enforcement agencies in the United States. It is my understanding that there has been no significant increase in organized crime since I assumed my responsibilities. I say this being well aware of the serious nature of crime, but the fact is that crime has been held under control owing to measures which have been taken over the past 18 months.

Hear, hear.

Mr. Herridge:

As the right hon. Leader of the Opposition by an ingenious method has brought this topic to the attention of the minister, could the minister now answer my question which would appear to be in order?

Mr. Pennell:

If the answer to one question can bring the answer to another in order, I am pleased to say, first of all, that I have every confidence in the ability of the R.C.M.P. to discharge their duties in this and every other matter. The presence of persons accompanying distinguished visitors to Canada is a matter of liaison, and arrangements are reciprocal in visits of this kind.