Mr. Speaker:
Order. The member's question, if in order, should be put on the order paper.
October 2, 1968 COMMONS
On the orders of the day:
Mr. Gordon Rilchie (Dauphin):
Mr. Speaker, may I direct a question to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce. Would the minister comment on the significance of the unusual policy of the wheat board of having lower grades of wheat predominate at export outlets, and say whether it indicates a change in the export pattern?
Mr. Speaker:
I wonder if the hon. member would not agree that the question as asked is not in order. The hon. member cannot ask a minister to comment about a statement such as the one to which he referred.
On the orders of the day:
Mr. Lincoln M. Alexander (Hamilton West):
Mr. Speaker, I wish to direct a question to the Minister of Labour. I believe the matter is urgent. It arises as a result of the many statements evolving around the Panarctic Oil project. Would the minister undertake to commence an investigation for the purpose first of determining whether the government has been guilty of or has condoned discriminatory practices against Eskimos, as recently alleged; and second, ascertaining the benefits or otherwise derived by Eskimos in the Northwest Territories from the Panarctic Oil project and whether such persons have been affected by discriminatory practices?
Hon. Bryce S. Mackasey (Minister of Labour):
I think the suggestion of the hon. member is very commendable. I will refer the matter immediately to the fair employment practices branch of my department for investigation.
On the orders of the day:
Mr. Barry Mather (Surrey):
Mr. Speaker, I wish to direct this question to the attention of the Minister of Forestry and Rural Development. Is he prepared today to make a report to the house which he indicated last week that he hoped to be in a position to make about this time in respect of the setting up of a parliamentary committee on the national capital?
DEBATES 705
Inquiries of the Ministry
Hon. Jean Marchand (Minister of Forestry and Rural Development):
No, Mr. Speaker, I am not ready.
On the orders of the day:
Mr. P. B. Rynard (Simcoe North):
Mr. Speaker, I should like to address this question to the Minister of Manpower and Immigration. Would the minister advise the house whether any further consideration is being given to the plight of over 300 Chrysler workers who have been denied the opportunity to upgrade their education or to complete grade 12?
Hon. Allan J. MacEachen (Minister of Manpower and Immigration):
Mr. Speaker, as you know we are undertaking quite an ambitious training and retraining program in the province of Ontario. In the first six months of this year we have put several thousand persons in place for training. I shall be happy to consider this request in the light of the over-all program.