Hon. H. A. Olson (Minister of Agriculture):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to make a brief statement regarding the action that has been taken and the action contemplated to deal with the serious situation in the corn marketing areas of Ontario.

As you will be aware, there have been a number of questions directed to me from both sides of the house during the past few days. In addition to that, I have received representations from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the Ontario Farmers Union and many other organizations representing corn producers in Ontario. They have suggested solutions, or partial solutions such as accelerated depreciation on storage, freight assistance, price support levels, extended research for some new and better varieties and restrictions on imports of com.

I have been discussing this matter with the Minister of Agriculture for Ontario because obviously some of the solutions suggested clearly lie within the jurisdiction of the province. I simply want to advise members now

September 25, 1968

Action to Help in Corn Marketing that as soon as possible, and this will be within a few days or perhaps early next week, as soon as the officials of my department and the officials of the Ontario department of agriculture can work out the details of what can be done, we intend to have a meeting of the two ministers and their officials to try and work out a solution that will be effective.

After examining the problem and the suggested solutions we hold the opinion as of this date that concurrent action by both levels of government within their jurisdiction is the only effective solution to the problem.

Mr. H. W. Danforth (Kenl-Essex):

Mr. Speaker, speaking as a representative of this party and of the farmers of this country I should like to say that the statement by the Minister of Agriculture today is in its entirety unacceptable to the farmers of this nation. For 18 months we have been pointing out to the government, as have the farm organizations, the state of the economic climate surrounding this great commodity. Many of the farm organizations have made at least four representations to this government in the last few months. At this time, when we are in the middle of the harvest for this year and when the market has collapsed already to such a degree it is quite apparent that the farmers of this nation will not recover their investments, the minister stands in his place and says this is a joint responsibility between the federal and provincial governments. At this late date he is suggesting that we call in the ministers of the provinces concerned to meet with the federal department to discuss this problem in order to see whether some solution can be found.

The minister has spoken of research in respect of new varieties, freight subsidies, and whether or not some restrictions can be placed on the importation of this commodity into this country. The farmers of this great nation expected concrete efforts on the part of this government, and an announcement today outlining the ways and means whereby a minimum price acceptable to the farmers would be established in order that advantage might be taken of that price during the current crop year.

The members of this party and the farmers of this nation will realize that the action taken by the government today will do nothing to alleviate the suffering and that it is an attempt to gain time. If this course is followed I doubt very much whether any action will be taken in time to help the farmers in

respect of the 1969 harvest, let alone the harvest about to take place.

[DOT] (3:20 p.m.)

Mr. A. P. Gleave (Saskaioon-Biggar):

Mr. Speaker, a few days ago I put a question to the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Olson) asking him whether some assistance would be given to farmers in the form of accelerated depreciation for grain storage in order to help them with storage problems, not only in the corn area of Ontario but also in the wheat area in western Canada. With regard to the second matter, regarding wheat, I did not hear him make any statement of the government's intention to assist the farmers there. We are faced with a very serious problem of grain storage in western Canada which, as has been pointed out with regard to corn, was evident six months ago. It has now been compounded by the extremely difficult harvesting conditions, and according to the latest report certain areas in western Canada may well be facing disaster for much of the harvest. I would appreciate an early statement as to the assistance which may be given with regard to storage and a clarification of the additional provision made for drying grain, because we will have a great deal of damp, tough and damaged grain, and I think we should have a statement in this regard very early.

Mr. Adrien Lamberi (Bellechasse):

Mr. Speaker, like the other members, I just took cognizance of the statement delivered by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Olson), concerning corn in the province of Ontario.

I should like to ask the parliamentary secretary to the hon. minister (Mr. Cote) whether similar steps have been taken in cooperation with the Quebec Agriculture Department authorities in order to find a solution to the same problem existing in that province. Corn growing in the province of Quebec is increasing from year to year and the Quebec producers are obviously more and more interested in getting subsidies from the federal government, through agreement. The problem lies obviously within the federal and provincial jurisdictions and concerns agriculture in the province of Quebec. Therefore, as a representative of the farmers in the eastern area of that province, I would suggest to the Parliamentary Secretary to the hon. Minister of Agriculture, if this has not been done yet, to enter into negotiations with the province of Quebec, for the benefit of the farmers in the eastern area of that province.

September 25, 1968

Mr. S. Perry Ryan (Spadina) moved

for leave to introduce Bill No. C-104, to provide for the length of sessions of parliament.

Explain.

Mr. Ryan:

Mr. Speaker, this bill would plan the sessions of parliament, and particularly the sittings of the House of Commons. I introduced a similar bill to this one in the last parliament and it was debated for an hour.

Motion agreed to and bill read the first time.

Norih Centre):

1. How many persons in Canada, by provinces, are in receipt of the Old Age Security pension?

2. Of the recipients of the Old Age Security pension, how many persons in Canada, by provinces, are in receipt of the Guaranteed Income Supplement?

3. Of those receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement, how many persons in Canada, by provinces, are receiving the full amount?

4. What is the average amount, in Canada and by provinces, being received as a Guaranteed Income Supplement by recipients of the Old Age Security pension?

5. Do the answers to the above questions take into consideration persons living outside of Canada who are in receipt of the Old Age Security pension and, if so, how many of such persons are there, and if they are considered as belonging to the various provinces what is the number for each province?

Hon. John C. Munro (Minister of National Health and Welfare):

1. As of July 31, 1968:

Newfoundland 26,012

Prince Edward Island 10,603

Nova Scotia 60,020

New Brunswick 44,857

Quebec 314,030

Ontario 506,714

Manitoba 78,936

Saskatchewan 78,507

Alberta 92,355

British Columbia 163,546

Northwest Territories }

Yukon ) 1,020

Total 1,376,600

Questions

As of July 31, 1968:

Newfoundland 21,222

Prince Edward Island 7,818

Nova Scotia 38,829

New Brunswick 28,732

Quebec 191,536

Ontario 230,712

Manitoba 43,932

Saskatchewan 40,661

Alberta 50,667

British Columbia 81,096

Northwest Territories i t

Yukon 1 760

Total 735,965

As of July 31, 1968:

Newfoundland 17,540

Prince Edward Island 5,310

Nova Scotia 25,763

New Brunswick 20,567

Quebec 133,060

Ontario 124,994

Manitoba 25,572

Saskatchewan 23,692

Alberta 30,810

British Columbia 47,613

Northwest Territories ]

Yukon 696

Total 455,617

As of July 31, 1968:

Newfoundland $28.69

Prince Edward Island 27.21

Nova Scotia 27.35

New Brunswick 27.70

Quebec 28.06

Ontario 25.88

Manitoba 26.62

Saskatchewan 26.69

Alberta 27.42

British Columbia 25.74

Northwest Territories )

Yukon \ 30.30

Canada $26.77

5. Yes.

Statistical records are maintained of the number of Old Age Security pensioners who are being paid while outside of Canada. These records include both pensioners permanently residing outside of Canada and pensioners visiting outside of Canada.

September 25, 1968

Questions

As of July 31, 1968:

Newfoundland 95

Prince Edward Island 49

Nova Scotia 307

New Brunswick 269

Quebec 2,227

Ontario 4,392

Manitoba 570

Saskatchewan 495

Alberta 611

British Columbia 2,860

Northwest Territories j

Yukon i 9

Total 11,884

North Centre):

1. How many retired Royal Canadian Mounted

Police personnel are receiving pensions of amounts within each of the following brackets: (a) less

than $20 per month (b) $20 to $29.99 per month (c) $30 to $39.99 per month (d) $40 to $49.99 per month (e) $50 to $59.99 per month (f) $60 to $69.99 per month (g) $70 to $79.99 per month (h) $80 to $89.99 per month (i) $90 to $99.99 per month (j) $100 to $149.99 per month (k) $150 to $199.99 per month (1) $200 to $249.99 per month (m) $250 to $299.99 per month (n) $300 per month and over?

2. How many widows of R.C.M.P. personnel or of retired R.C.M.P. personnel are receiving pensions of amounts within each of the brackets indicated in the above question?

3. What is the number of retired R.C.M.P. personnel and also the number of widows of R.C.M.P. personnel or of retired R.C.M.P. personnel presently residing in each province?

4. In respect of how many orphans of R.C.M.P. personnel are pensions being paid and what is the average amount thereof?

Hon. G. J. Mcllraiih (Solicitor General):

1. (a) Nil; (b) 1; (c) 5; (d) 8; (e) 18; (f) 40; (g) 51; (h) 45; (i) 54; (j) 401; (k) 387; (1) 336; (m) 279; (n) 597.

2. (a) 7; (b) 11; (c) 10; (d) 19; (e) 21; (f) 22; (g) 11; (h) 8; (i) 12; (j) 55; (k) 27; (1) 10; (m) 5; (n) 5.

3.

Province Retired Personnel WidowsNewfoundland 26 2Prince Edward Island 16 NilNova Scotia 179 10New Brunswick 78 6Quebec 168 7Ontario 494 51Manitoba 117 11Saskatchewan 139 5Province Retired Personnel WidowsAlberta 314 30British Columbia 593 92Northwest Territories 14 NilOutside Canada 84 94. 109, Average $21.72 per month.