Mr. Raymond Rock (Lachine):

Mr. Speaker, in the absence of the Minister of Manpower and Immigration I should like to direct a question to the right hon. Prime Minister concerning a statement made by an official government spokesman yesterday to the effect that the Canada manpower centres and the Unemployment Insurance Commission will mesh their activities across Canada. Is this being done because the government anticipates a greater increase in unemployment?

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

Mr. Speaker, I know that some measures have been taken to co-ordinate the services of these offices in order to help better those who are unemployed or who are looking for other jobs or retraining.

Mr. Lome Nystrom (Yorkton-Melville):

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice. In view of the statement a few weeks ago that Identseal, an American company, had announced plans to introduce a thumb printing system in food chain stores in Ontario and Quebec-the service is already operating in Alberta-and that the information derived from it will be stored in a Texas computer, can the minister say whether he has investigated the legality of such a practice since it would seem to be a violation of people's privacy? Is he considering prohibiting the introduction of the practice?

Hon. Otto E. Lang (Minister of Justice):

Mr. Speaker, as I understand it, the practice referred to is a voluntary one. I have not investigated the legality of it. The government generally is examining the whole question of information which may be involved in computer operations, but that is a fringe subject so far as the question the hon. member is raising is concerned.

Mr. Lome Nystrom (Yorkton-Melville):

Mr. Speaker, may I ask the Minister of Communications whether he has

July 7, 1972

Inquiries of the Ministry TRANSPORT

investigated the matter, and can he tell us when the government policy on data banks will be announced?

Hon. Robert Stanbury (Minister of Communications):

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Justice and the Department of Communications are working on a joint study of computers and privacy. I hope it will be completed during the summer and will be available for public discussion.

Mr. lack Marshall (Humber-St. George's-St. Barbe):

Mr. Speaker, I want to revert to the important province of Newfoundland and ask the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact there is evidence of delay in supplying support facilities to the important linerboard industry, the minister would indicate to the House, since this contract should be fulfilled by the end of July, if he would look into the matter, or has he ascertained whether we can provide the dredging facility so that the mill can go into production on schedule?

Hon. Donald C. Jamieson (Minister of Transport):

Mr. Speaker, I have looked into the matter and I have instructed that the work be done as rapidly as possible. I should point out to the hon. member, however, that we received this request only about a month ago, and also that the company involved was cautioned not to bring a ship of the current size to that area as early as this because the dredging could not be completed in time.

Mr. D. Gordon Blair (Grenville-Carleton):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to ask a question of the Minister of State for Science and Technology. Is the minister aware of concern caused to the National Research Council by persistent sniping in reports of parliamentary committees and other organizations and the resulting speculation about its future, and is he prepared to give an assurance that the important work of the council and its morale will not be detrimentally affected by these speculations?

Hon. Alastair Gillespie (Minister of State for Science and Technology):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to thank the hon. member for giving me notice of this question. I am aware and have been told of the concern of members of the National Research Council in respect of their future, based, I think, on their reading of reports and various suggestions from the Lamontagne Committee and from the recently retired chairman of the Science Council of Canada, as well as from NRC itself regarding various changes in their role. I should like to assure the hon. member that these suggestions are under study but that no decision has been made.

Right Hon. J. G. Diefenbaker (Prince Albert):

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Transport. With rapeseed today becoming a major element in the western economy, we find ourselves in a position where unfair freight rates against prairie processed finished products, such as oil and meal, make it virtually impossible for industries to be established on the Prairies. I would ask the minister whether, with the support of the Minister of Supply and Services, he would have a representative go before the Canadian Transport Commission to support the stand that western Canada deserves the opportunity to have these industries and that freight rates should be greatly reduced in order to aid the establishment of industries on the Prairies?