Mr. Gerald Richard Cobbe (Parliamentary Secretary to Postmaster General):

Mr. Speaker, the proposal is under consideration.

1. When was Fort Amherst National Historical Park established?

2. In each of the succeeding fiscal years, what was the amount of money expended upon this Park?

3. What plans are envisaged for restoration of the original fort?

4. What historians, archaeologists, architects or engineers have studied or surveyed the site?

5. Apart from a visitor centre, what other improvements or additions to the park are in contemplation?

Hon. lean Chretien (Minister oi Indian Affairs and Northern Development):

1. February 2, 1967.

2. 1967-68, $38,249; 1968-69, $39,737; 1969-70, $68,612; 1970-71, $40,823; 1971-72 (to Feb. 19, 1972), $59,173.

3. Restoration or any form of reconstruction of the original fort is not possible as the physical remains are scanty and archaeological investigation suggests that the site had been stripped shortly after the fort was abandoned in 1775.

4. Mr. Brock Hornby then a staff historian with this Department and Mr. John Rick, than a staff archaeologist with this Department.

5. Improvements to picnicking facilities, parking areas, installation of an instructive display in the visitors centre, and ground interpretive signs are contemplated.

1. What was the total cost of the hydrofoil HMCS Bras d'Or project?

2. What is the present status of this project?

Mr. J. R. Comtois (Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of National Defence):

1. The cost has been $51,722,000.

2. As announced on November 2, 1971, the hydrofoil, HMCS Bras d'Or, has been laid up for a five-year period because a reassessment of Maritime Command's requirements has scaled down its priority. However, research into hydrofoils will be continued by the Defense Department, and the Bras d'Or could be reactivated at any time should circumstances alter. For more detail, see Hansard for Tuesday, November 2, 1971, p. 9239.

As of January 31, 1972, who were the top ten senior military officers in the Armed Forces?

General F. R. Sharp, Lieutenant General E. M. Reyno, Vice Admiral J. C. O'Brien, Lieutenant General M. E. Pollard, Lieutenant General G. A. Turcot, Lieutenant General M. R. Dare, Lieutenant General J. A. Dextraze, Vice Admiral H. A. Porter, Major General R. C. Stovel, Rear Admiral J. A. Charles.

What was the strength of the Armed Forces on March 31 for the years 1966 to 1971 inclusive?

March 31, 1966, 107,467; 1967, 105,584; 1968, 101,572; 1969, 98,340; 1970, 93,353; 1971,89,563.

Does the government intend to cease publishing the French version of Native Trees of Canada and (a) if so, for what reason (b) if not, has the French version been sold out and when will it be available again?

Mr. Eymard Corbin (Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of the Environment):

The French version of "Native Trees of Canada" (1970 edition) is still under preparation; the government intends to publish it as soon as possible.

1. What percentage of farmers having loans with the Farm Credit Corporation have been unable to meet their obligations to the Corporation during the past two years?

2. Of those farmers who have successfully met their obligations, what percentage have been forced to borrow money from other sources in order to make their payments to the Farm Credit Corporation?

3. If the information requested in part 2 is not now available, is any attempt being made by the Farm Credit Corporation or any other government department or agency to obtain such information?

Mr. Marcel Lessard (Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Agriculture):

The Farm Credit Corporation advises as follows: 1. The percentage of all borrowers in arrears increased from 6.4 per cent in 1968 to 9.9 per cent in 1969 and to 15.1 per cent in 1970.

2. Information not available.

3. No. The Corporation does not believe it should, nor does it have the power to, require borrowers to declare the source of funds with which they make their payments.