Mr. Randolph Harding (Kootenay West):

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of the Environment. In view of the reported grounding of a Canadian National cruise ship off the northern tip of Vancouver Island with a resulting oil spill, will the minister advise the House whether he has information as to the extent of the oil spill, the cause of the accident and what action is being taken to contain the oil?

Hon. Jack Davis (Minister of the Environment):

Mr. Speaker, I can tell the House that the spill is not serious. I

2098

May 7, 1974

Oral Questions

do not know the cause of the accident. Staff of several departments are on the spot and oil containment efforts are under way.

Mr. Harding:

Who will be responsible for the clean-up costs of this spill and for the clean-up costs of a similar grounding in the St. Lawrence River recently which I understand resulted in a very costly clean-up operation?

Mr. Davis:

In the first case, Mr. Speaker, Canadian National Railways; in the second case, Imperial Oil.

Mr. David MacDonald (Egmont):

Mr. Speaker, I wish to direct a question to the Minister of Finance. In light of the fact that Canada's areas of regional disparity, particularly the Atlantic region, have had high unemployment rates together with an increasingly tight money situation, has the minister assessed the impact his budget will have on these regional economies, particularly in lignt of the forecast downturn for the latter part of this year?

Hon. John N. Turner (Minister of Finance):

Mr. Speaker, I tried to make it clear last night when I referred to the policies to eliminate regional disparity or to enhance equality of economic opportunity in Canada that the budgetary thrust of the government would continue to try to spread expansion of the economy into the Atlantic and western provir ces. I took some encouragement last night, as I hope the hon. gentleman did, from the fact that despite the high unemployment figures, which I regret as much as he, the rate of growth in the Atlantic provinces and Quebec in 1973 exceeded the rate of growth for the country as a whole.

'

Mr. MacDonald (Egmont):

Since the minister referred to the fact that he expected the banks would continue giving preference with regard to loans to small businesses, mortgage financing for housing and other borrowers, is the minister now prepared to indicate the exact capital targets that have been arrived at? Is the minister prepared to report to the House the extent to which the banks will enter into some arrangement, in view of the fact that unemployment is in fact increasing on an over-all basis in the Atlantic provinces and that often inflation is greater there than in the more affluent parts of the country?

Mr. Turner (Ottawa-Carleton):

Mr. Speaker, I recognize that while monetary policy has a uniform national rate which may have different effects, depending on the strengths of different parts of the economy, our fiscal policy has a regional differentiation. I have asked the governor of the Bank of Canada, through the Canadian Banking Association, to arrange to have figures compiled on a more regular basis indicating the rate of authorization of loans of $200,000 and under and $200,000 and over, regionally differentiated. I will see what I can get for the hon. gentleman.

Mr. Jacques Olivier (Longueuil):

Mr. Speaker, I wish to direct a question to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce concerning the strike of United Aircraft employees, in the constituency of Longueuil. Since this strike has been going on for 19 weeks now, can the minister tell the House whether he was assured by United Aircraft officials that all subcontracts given in the United States will cease as soon as the strike is over?

Hon. Alastair Gillespie (Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce):

Mr. Speaker, I am very concerned about the prolongation of this strike, its effects on employment and its effects, both present and future, on supplying our customers throughout the world. My department has registered our concern and we are monitoring the situation very closely. We have received written assurances from the company that, immediately following the end of the strike, any work which has been shifted temporarily from the plant will be returned immediately to United Aircraft Limited.

Mr. Elmer M. MacKay (Central Nova):

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Acting Minister of Transport, of which notice was given the minister's office this morning. Can the acting minister say whether or not the recently appointed president of Air Canada has the same duties and functions as his predecessor, or have his responsibilities and duties been lessened or diminished in any way?

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

Mr. Speaker, I regret that I did not get the notice ahead of time. I am sure it is my own fault, but I did not get an opportunity to read this question. I will make inquiries. I think a written answer would probably be the most appropriate because the answer would be fairly lengthy.

Mr. Speaker:

The Chair will recognize the hon. member for a supplementary and will then recognize the hon. member for Lisgar before calling orders of the day.

Mr. MacKay:

Very briefly, Mr. Speaker, may I thank the minister and ask him whether, when he is investigating this matter, he will also determine if fewer vice-presidents or departments within Air Canada report directly to the president than was formerly the case?

Mr. Jamieson:

Mr. Speaker, I will do my very best to have that included in the answer.

May 7, 1974

Mr. Jack Murta (Lisgar):

Mr. Speaker, may I direct my question to the Minister of Finance. On April 30 last I asked him whether or not he would undertake discussions with officials of the banks with a view to ensuring that under the Farm Improvement Loans Act money would be available to farmers for use this spring. At that time he said he would do so. Would the minister now tell the House what has now transpired since his discussions with the banks?