Mr. Real Caouetle (Temiscamingue):

Mr. Speaker, I had the pleasure yesterday of being in the small but most beautiful province in Canada, namely Prince Edward Island, and I should like to direct a question to the Prime Minister.

The government has spoken of a causeway, an access road, from the mainland to Prince Edward Island, but the province is hearing nothing more about it. Does the government intend to proceed with the causeway, and could the Prime Minister tell the house whether this project appears on the list of government priorities?

Mr. Speaker:

I believe I should remind the honourable member that this question was asked last week, and I do not believe it is in order at this time.

Mr. G. W. Baldwin (Peace River):

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the President of the Privy Council in his capacity as government house leader. Would the hon. gentleman be good enough to indicate the earliest possible date at which the house could discuss interim procedural arrangements to cover the first part of this session, including the means to bring forward reforms of a permanent nature?

Hon. Donald S. Macdonald (President of the Privy Council):

Well, Mr. Speaker, it would be our wish and indeed we would be quite agreeable to the suggestion that the provisional interim rules be brought forward for application at an early date and subject to an earlier time limit as suggested by the hon. member. I have been considering the proposals we have made, and also considering the hon. member's reply to my proposal. I hope to have an opportunity to discuss with him and other house leaders a regime for dealing with both the interim and long range rules.

Inquiries of the Ministry

Regime?

Mr. Stanley Knowles (Winnipeg North Centre):

As a supplementary question, Mr. Speaker, do I take it from what the President of the Privy Council has just said that there will be an early resumption of meetings of the house leaders to deal with this matter?

Mr. Macdonald (Rosedale):

I am looking forward to that possibility, Mr. Speaker.

Hon. D. S. Harkness (Calgary Centre):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to direct this question to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce or to the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, whichever may be in a position to answer it. Has the government investigated the possible serious consequences to the Canadian petroleum industry which will result from the operation of the projected refining complex of the Newfoundland government and the Shaheen company at Come-By-Chance?

Hon. Jean-Luc Pepin (Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce):

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance has just given an indirect answer to this question.

Mr. Harkness:

Mr. Speaker, the answer given by the Minister of Finance had to do entirely with the loss of income tax. My question is in regard to the very serious disruption to the Canadian petroleum industry which this could cause.

Mr. Pepin:

He will look at both sides of the question.

Mr. Harkness:

As a further supplementary question, if it has been the subject of investigation, what action does the government propose to prevent these serious consequences? Is there no answer?

Hon. E. J. Benson (Minister of Finance):

answered.