Mr. Lloyd R. Crouse (South Shore):

Mr. Speaker, I wish to direct my question to the Secretary of State for External Affairs. The closure of La Have, Browns and Georges Banks for February, March, April and May eliminates the inshore ground fishermen's most productive season by closing off a 500 square mile area off southwestern Nova Scotia. Since this section of South Shore has no mining or steel or other major industrial complexes, and one fish plant, Swim Brothers, in Lockeport has already closed its doors, indicating that the economy is heavily dependent on the fishing industry, will the minister take steps to request ICNAF member nations to permit the opening of La Have, Browns and Georges Banks to Canadian inshore fishermen using boats 65 feet or less in length before the entire economy of this area collapses?

Hon. Allan J. MacEachen (Secretary of State for External Affairs):

Mr. Speaker, in light of the hon. member's representations I will discuss this matter with the Minister of State (Fisheries) and reach some conclusion on the point.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have a supplementary for the Minister of State (Fisheries). In view of the fact that many areas in Newfoundland were excluded from the compensation program announced by the minister in consultation with the provincial government of Newfoundland, and in view of the widespread reaction and protest at some of the areas which were excluded, I wonder if the minister has investigated the situation and if he would advise the House what action he will be taking to reverse this discriminatory position and include those areas mentioned.

Hon. Romeo LeBlanc (Minister of State (Fisheries)):

Mr. Speaker, I have to ask the hon. member to clarify if the compensation program he refers to is the program we announced before Christmas.

Mr. Marshall:

Yes.

Mr. LeBlanc (Westmorland-Kent):

If it is, it was quite obvious at the time that the intent of this program was to keep the offshore fishery in operation during the winter, and where there has been offshore fishery in operation, the program has applied. There were two other segments of the program, one was to provide fish for world food aid programs, and the other to help the industry which was affected by ice during the spring. I understand that those two programs are ongoing. If there are local situations which are not covered by these programs, I would be very happy to look into this matter.

Mr. Sinclair Stevens (York-Simcoe):

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport. In view of the Airport Inquiry Commission recommendation that if the proposed Pickering airport is built, the government of Canada should acquire additional land surrounding the

18,000 acres now owned by the government in that area, including offering to buy out the approximately 3,000 or more homeowners of Stouffville, Claremont and other areas in Whitchurch and Markham, would the minister give his assurance to this House that if the cabinet decides to proceed with the Pickering airport development, the government will offer to purchase such properties which may be worth up to $200 million and which to date have been frozen without compensation?

Hon. Jean Marchand (Minister of Transport):

Mr. Speaker, as I said last week, the cabinet has not made a decision on Mr. Justice Gibson's report. Even when a decision is made, we are not bound to all the recommendations of Mr. Justice Gibson. There are things in it with which we may not agree, and the opposition has underlined a viewpoint, too, which may be completely correct. I cannot say anything else, except that the report has to be studied by the cabinet. It is being studied, and I hope we will soon reach a decision.

Mr. Sinclair Stevens (York-Simcoe):

Mr. Speaker, may I direct a supplementary question to the Minister of Transport. The minister suggested that the cabinet is still deliberating on what its decision will be on Pickering. I hope the decision will be negative. Will the minister indicate to the House the total current estimate, now before the cabinet, of the cost of the construction of this airport to the federal government.

Hon. Jean Marchand (Minister of Transport):

Mr. Speaker, an estimate was made at the beginning, when this process began. I think, after what has happened in Canada, we will have to revise the figures.

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

Mr. Speaker, may I direct a supplementary question to the jovial minister who has just answered a question. My question has to do with the unanimous recommendation of the City of Toronto Executive Committee. It recommended that under no circumstances should the Pickering airport be proceeded with. I read the report and the recommendations, and the longer I read the more apparent it is that the writer of the Gibson report was uncertain. In view of the unanimous recommendation of the City of Toronto Executive Committee, will the government reconsider, in the interests of the country as a whole and the

February 10, 1975

Oral Questions

city of Toronto in particular, proceeding with the Pickering airport and bring an end to this question.

Hon. Jean Marchand (Minister of Transport):

Mr. Speaker, I think the right hon. gentleman knows how this country works.

Hear, hear!

Mr. Fairweather:

Explain.

Mr. Marchand (Langelier):

Yes, I will explain. Airports are under federal jurisdiction, but that does not mean that we should not take into account the recommendations made by an important body in the city of Toronto. I know very well that in Toronto there are many other institutions which support the airport, and the federal government will have to make up its own mind. I know that in Quebec, for example, there was a fight as to whether the new airport was to be in the south or the north part of the province, and we had to decide. It is our responsibility to take all these factors into consideration, but we are not ready, and I think the right hon. gentleman would not have been ready, to switch the responsibilities of the federal government to any of the municipalities in Canada.