Mr. Doug Rowland (Selkirk):

A supplementary to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce. In light of the fact that these lay-offs have been attributed in some part to the effect of imported automobiles on the market, has the minister taken steps to encourage Japanese, British, Italian and German manufacturers of automobiles to

Inquiries of the Ministry

establish assembly plants in Canada in a like manner to those of certain French and Swedish manufacturers?

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

There are already some assembly facilities in Canada owned by a Japanese group, the CMI and there is a full fledged operation of Swedish origin in Canada, the Volvo. These are the realities of the moment. I have personally brought to the attention of one foreign company that there are possibilities in Canada, but you cannot force companies to come and establish plants unless they have an advantage in doing so.

Mr. Speaker:

Order, please. It may be the sense of the House that perhaps the Chair might allow a last supplementary and then return to this subject later. The hon. member for Hamilton West might resume his seat for the moment. If he has a point of order I will hear him, of course. It is my thought that, unless hon. members think we should spend another five or ten minutes on this subject, in fairness to other hon. members who have been trying to ask their questions we might give them the opportunity to do so and return to this important matter. For the moment, I shall recognize the hon. member for Oshawa-Whitby on a supplementary.

Mr. Edward Broadbent (Oshawa-Whitby):

A supplementary question to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce. The minister has indicated that he has known about the lay-offs at Ste. Therese for some time and, to my knowledge, that time amounts to about three months. Can the minister inform the House what the government has done in that three month period concerning the announced lay-offs in the province of Quebec?

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

We have known about the possibilities of the lay-offs, Mr. Speaker. If I was not too precise, I apologize. The company was hoping there would be a pick-up in the market which would help them and make these possible lay-offs unnecessary.

Mr. Len Marchand (Kamloops-Cariboo):

I have a question for the Minister of Manpower and Immigration. I wonder if the minister can bring the House up to date on the case of Mr. Serge Kourdakov. I am particularly interested in finding out the status of this gentleman's request to stay in Canada.

Hon. Otto E. Lang (Minister of Manpower and Immigration):

Mr. Speaker, the government is employing the order in council power which is provided under the Immigration Act to overcome the various technical impediments to Mr. Kourdakov's admission to Canada. He is apparently otherwise eligible in accordance with our regulations for

September 21, 1971

Inquiries of the Ministry

landed immigrant status, and I should expect this to be granted him very shortly.

Mr. S. Perry Ryan (Spadina):

My question to the Prime Minister is with respect to the possible sale and windups of the Toronto Telegram. Would the Prime Minister consider trying to arrange a meeting with Mr. Bassett and representatives of all parties concerned with a view to arriving at a temporary moratorium in the hope that arrangements could be made to rescue the jobs of the 1200 employees involved and also to continue this paper in the public interest?

Right Hon. P. E. Trudeau (Prime Minister):

In view of Mr. Bassett's own statement and position, Mr. Speaker, I think I must answer that question in the negative.

Mr. Ryan:

A supplementary question. Does the Prime Minister not believe that it is never too late to mend and that this is a very serious situation in Toronto which involves political and social-

Mr. Speaker:

Order, please. The hon. member for Fundy-Royal.

A supplementary question directed to the Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs. When the Competition Act becomes law will rationalization of newspaper operations be less inhibited than is now the case under the Combines Act?

Mr. Bell:

Just the ones in the Maritimes.