Mr. Real Caouette (Villeneuve):

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a question of privilege.

Since the news writer of Le Devoir reports on the front page today that:

Last night, Mr. Caouette contributed to save the government-

I wish to set the facts in their true light and make clear that I voted last night against the government, that is for the amendment of the Conservative leader, and that if the news writer of Le Devoir always informs his readers as he did today, he is completely misleading them.

1. How many bushels of potatoes were purchased for the Royal Canadian Navy between March 31, 1964 and April 1, 1965, and March 31, 1965 and April 1, 1966?

2. What was the total cost of such purchases for each year?

3. What was the total number of personnel on strength in the Royal Canadian Navy (a) on April 1, 1965 (b) on March 31, 1966?

Hon. Leo Cadieux (Minister of National Defence):

1.

31 Mar. 64 31 Mar. 65

1 Apr. 65 1 Apr. 66

Fresh potatoes 46,329 bushels 43,169 bushels Instant potatoes 17,243 lbs. 15,070 lbs.

2. $105,857; $124,366.

3. (a) 19,756; (b) 18,439.

1. Since November 1965, how many contracts for the carriage of mails into and within the Yukon have expired?

2. How many of such expired contracts have been renewed without calling for public tenders?

3. What contracts were so renewed, at what contract price, and to whom was each granted?

4. How many of such expired contracts went to public tender call?

5. For what contracts were public tenders called, who was the lowest tenderer and to whom was the contract awarded in each case?

Hon. Jean-Pierre Cote (Posimasier General):

1. In each of the calendar years 1960 to 1966 inclusive, how many medical officers in the Royal Canadian Medical Corps or in each of the navy, the army or the air force, as the case may be, were sent on courses of postgraduate specialist medical study and how many did complete such studies?

2. On return to full time duty, how many of the above officers completed their terms of duty to comply fully with the conditions applicable to post graduate study and of these how many have since (a) retired or (b) left on voluntary request?

3. Of the remainder, how many since their return to duty have retired (a) on voluntary request including those making reimbursement for undischarged balances of fees and expenses (b) for other reasons?

4. How many formal applications for release or retirement were pending as at October 1, 1967 from (a) any in the above group (b) any who have returned to duty since January 1, 1967?

5. What are the criteria being used for the granting or rejection of any such applications for release?

Hon. Leo Cadieux (Minister of National Defence):

Mr. Speaker, the answer to this question is rather long and includes many figures. I understand that the hon. member

November 22, 1967

Questions

for Edmonton West would agree to consider the answer as read and have it printed in Hansard.

Mr. Speaker:

Agreed?

Agreed.

[Editor's note: The answer is as follows.]

1. Post graduate courses for medical officers in the Canadian Forces Medical Service vary in length from one to four years dependent upon the requirements of the service, and may be undertaken in civilian training hospitals, accredited D.N.D. and D.V.A. hospitals, U.S. naval and military hospitals as well as at selected university centres.

In 1960, there were 29; 1961, 37; 1962, 36; 1963, 33; 1964, 45; 1965, 38; 1966, 30 undergoing such training. So far, 58 medical officers have successfully completed post graduate training and examination to the fellowship, certification or diploma level.

2. Of this 58, 57 have, or are in the process of completing the term of duty applicable to the training received, (a) five, (b) three.

3. (a) one, (b) none.

4. (a) four, (b) none.

5. Criteria used for granting or rejecting an application for release by a medical officer is as follows: (a) medical officers undertaking post graduate training outside service resources are obligated to serve for a period of five years for each year of training, including the training year. The period of obligated service commences from the date of enrolment if the medical officer is a direct entry, or from the date the officer has completed the initial obligatory service required under the terms of the undergraduate subsidization plan applicable to him; (b) a medical officer who is granted release "on request" prior to three years from date of completion of post graduate training, is required to refund full pay and allowances, less income tax, received during the period of training and any fees or other costs directly attributable to his training. If release "on request" is granted after three years but prior to the officer concerned having completed the period of obligatory service, he is required to refund that part of the cost incurred that is equivalent in ratio of the number of years still to be served to the total number of years of obligated service; (c) each request for voluntary release is considered on its merit and, as a policy, release is granted only when "special and unforeseen circumstances" prevent the officer concerned from continuing to serve.

In considering voluntary release requests under these circumstances every effort is made to give a fair and just decision that is consistent with the needs of the service and with the welfare of the officer concerned.

1. Is the rank of senior corporal or its equivalent in use in the navy, the army or the air force and, if so, since what date?

2. Have effective promotions or appointments to this rank been made in all three branches of the armed services and, if not, in which ones?

3. What are the significant responsibilities of the rank to classify it ahead of the rank of corporal and what is the pay differential?

Hon. Leo Cadieux (Minister of National

Defence): 1. Senior corporal is an appointment, not a rank. It is held by an incumbent "whilst so employed", and is relinquished when the appointment is vacated. The appointment is applicable to members of the navy, army and air force, effective from 1 October, 1966.

2. No, up to the present time only army establishments have been allotted such positions. Studies are in progress to ascertain which establishment positions within the navy and air force can be designated senior corporal.

3. The appointment, senior corporal is for the purpose of designating a corporal with responsibility to exercise command over men in an operational or combat situation. The pay differential between corporals and senior corporals is $10 per month.

1. Was a change made In the method of allocation of permanent married quarters on Canadian forces bases for armed services personnel and, if so, what was the effective date of such change?

2. Why was the points system based on the number of dependents, among other criteria, abandoned and a first come first served system instituted?

3. Have protests been received from the affected personnel and of what nature?

4. What is being done to rectify the alleged inequities of the new system?