Hon. Robert L. Stanfield (Leader of the Opposition):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to direct a question to the right hon. Prime Minister. In view of the lapse of time since the Supreme Court rendered its decision relating to mineral rights off the coast of British Columbia, is the Prime Minister able to inform us whether it is the intention of the government to proceed with any further references to the Supreme Court relating to mineral rights off the coast of other provinces or is the government now prepared to engage in negotiations with the provinces regarding offshore mineral rights.

I believe there are two parts to the question. On the question of negotiation, Mr. Pearson had indicated that we did intend to reach equitable arrangements by negotiation with the provincial governments once the Supreme Court had established the law, as it has. These equitable arrangements will have to be found in negotiation with the provinces.

With regard to the position taken by other provinces in respect of Hudson Bay, our position is that the boundaries have been well defined by the 1912 act and that they follow the coast line of the provinces.

Mr. Stanfield:

My question relating to other provinces does not necessarily relate to Hudson Bay but rather to possible differences with regard to the legal proposition. In view of the questions I put to his predecessor, the former prime minister, last winter requesting a declaration of intention on the part of the government concerning whether it intended to proceed with further references regarding rights in other provinces or whether it was prepared to engage in negotiations, I should like to ask the Prime Minister whether in view of the lapse of time the government is now able to indicate to the house whether it intends to proceed by way of further legal proceedings or by negotiation.

Mr. Trudeau:

I understand the question. We do not intend to proceed by further references. We intend to proceed by negotiation, and I will have a proposition for the provinces very soon.

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

I should like to ask the Prime Minister a supplementary question which relates to the underwater resources of Hudson Bay and the agreement reached by the governments of Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba to divide those resources among themselves.

In view of the statement by one of the provincial ministers to the effect that the provinces had been led to believe that "if we agree, the federal government would withdraw", will the Prime Minister now confide to the house and to the country the nature of any negotiations or undertakings given by the federal government to these three provinces in this regard?

Mr. Trudeau:

No undertaking whatsoever has been given to these three provinces in this regard, but the offer to discuss the whole subject on an equitable basis is of course open to them. However, there has been no commitment by the federal government that it would do more than that.

Mr. David Lewis (York South):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to direct a question to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce on a subject which has been dealt with before. In view of the fact that the administration in Washington has objected to the price of Chrysler cars in the United States, has the minister made a similar objection to the company in Canada, or if not does he intend to do so?

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

Mr. Speaker, from the beginning of this questioning on automobile prices, I have been trying to differentiate the administration of the Canada-United States automobile agreement from the general pricing policy. I have been trying to give an account of the advantages of the agreement.

September 19, 1968

Inquiries of the Ministry The general pricing policy is one for which I am not individually responsible. The Prime Minister has already indicated what are his views and plans on that subject. This is the kind of division of subject that I have tried to convince the house should be made.

Mr. Lewis:

Mr. Speaker, may I rephrase my question and address it to the right hon. Prime Minister. I should like to ask him whether it is his or his government's intention to object to the increase in price which has been announced by the Chrysler corporation.

Mr. Speaker, I have not exactly followed all the context, but the hon. member knows the federal government has no control over contractual price setting between a consumer and a dealer in respect of automobiles or other similar types of goods.

Mr. Lewis:

I should like to ask a supplementary question. My question did not suggest that the Prime Minister or the government would impose any control. I asked whether he or his government as a whole intended to object to the increase in price as being unjustified, in the same way that Washington has objected.

Mr. Trudeau:

Mr. Speaker, could the hon. member explain the way in which he thinks we could object?

Mr. Speaker:

Order, please.

Mr. Max Salisman (Waterloo):

Mr. Speaker,

I should like to direct my question to the Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs. In view of the minister's responsibility for consumer prices, will he initiate an investigation into the increase of car prices in Canada?

Hon. Ron Basford (Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs):

Mr. Speaker, I said yesterday, in answer to a question asked by the hon. member for Vancouver-Kingsway (Mrs. Maclnnis), that I was considering the establishment of a committee in this area. The Prime Minister earlier said that we as a government were considering our position with regard to costs, and the publication of a white paper. All these matters are closely related to each other.