Mr. Speaker:

The hon. member for Hamilton-Went-worth.

Mr. Colin D. Gibson (Hamilton-Wentworth):

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for recognition of this great national party. I have a question for the right hon. Prime Minister. Will there be special celebrations in Ottawa on July 1 to celebrate our national holiday, sometimes known as Canada Day?

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

Yes, Mr. Speaker. I do not have the details of such celebrations, but I know that plans are well in hand to mark this day as befits such an important Canadian occasion.

Mr. Roch La Salle (Joliette):

Mr. Speaker, I wish to put a supplementary question to the Prime Minister.

Since St. Jean-Baptiste Day falls on a Saturday this year, will the House of Commons take a holiday to celebrate that day as it does Canada Day?

Mr. Les Benjamin (Regina-Lake Centre):

Mr. Speaker, may I ask the right hon. Prime Minister a supplementary regarding another celebration. In view of the 100th anniversary of the RCMP can he say whether or not an invitation has been issued to the Queen or to any other member of the Royal Family to participate in these celebrations?

Mr. Speaker:

Order. The hon. member has asked a supplementary and the Prime Minister, of course, will have an opportunity to reply, but I take exception to hon. members asking supplementaries which I believe they themselves suspect are not true supplementaries. We have to try to recognize members in some order. One question could always be linked with another, and we could go through 35 supplementaries during a question period. That is not a proper way to proceed, but in this case the question has been asked and as it is important the Prime Minister may reply.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Solicitor General held a press conference to indicate the arrangements that would be made to celebrate appropriately the 100th anniversary of the RCMP. I might add that as head of the government I frequently receive requests from provincial governments, municipal govern-

Inquiries of the Ministry

ments and other organizations to have the Queen present in Canada. Out of respect for her health the government cannot always accede to these demands, but each one is taken into consideration.

Mr. Gilbert Rondeau (Shefford):

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Labour.

Due to the fact that the longshoremen's strike has stopped every activity in Quebec harbours for several weeks now, could the minister inform us of the progress of the negotiations being carried out at present and when we can expect the end of this dispute since it is hurting trade as a whole in Quebec.

Hon. Martin P. O'Connell (Minister of Labour):

Mr. Speaker, there are no additional facts that I can give the House at this time.

Mr. Georges Valade (Sainte-Marie):

Mr. Speaker, I have a supplementary for the hon. Minister of Labour.

Is he aware of a telegram sent to the right hon. Prime Minister of Canada yesterday or this morning by the Quebec Association of Teamsters, expressing concern over the situation which may jeopardize the 1,000 jobs of those involved with the trucking industry? If so, what reply does the hon. Prime Minister intend to give the

June 1, 1972

Inquiries of the Ministry

association, or what action does he intend to take to prevent such an eventuality?

Hon. Martin P. O'Connell (Minister of Labour):

Mr. Speaker, I have not yet personally seen that telegram. I could reiterate that there is a procedure available to both parties, jointly or singly, to have this dispute between them settled. That procedure is laid out in the Labour Code and is provided for in the collective agreement which was signed six or eight weeks ago.