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

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Secretary of State. It arises out of a report this morning emanating from "Canada A.M.", which I did not hear but which has been reported to me. It has to do with the Queen's Jubilee on June 6. On that date in the United Kingdom and in the self-governing dominions that acknowledge her as Queen, there will be satellite broadcasting of bonfires that will be lighted. Is it a fact, as stated this morning, that when a request by the CBC was made to the hon. gentleman's protocol office, the reply was that it could not be done because of a shortage of funds?

Oh, oh!

Hon. John Roberts (Secretary of State):

Mr. Speaker, 1 did not hear the broadcast either. I remember that we did have some discussion on the feasibility of lighting bonfires. How-

March 11, 1977

ever, I will have to check to see exactly what decision was taken and the reasons for it. I will report to the right hon. member.

Mr. Diefenbaker:

Mr. Speaker, I know that the question of cost and the reducing of expenditures is something that worries this government tremendously. However, to have a bonfire on Parliament Hill on that date would be the first time in history that Parliament Hill has been so lighted up. Surely, the government is not going to follow so niggardly policy like this and place Canada in the invidious position of being the only country acknowledging the Queen as Queen which in order to save a few dollars, will not put on a celebration on that date.

Mr. Roberts:

Mr. Speaker, when the right hon. member talked about bonfires, I had a hard time envisaging him as a latter day Guy Fawkes, particularly when he talked about bonfires on Parliament Hill. I will have to consider not only the cost of starting the fires, but the cost of putting them out. I will look into the question and report back.

Hon. Alvin Hamilton (Qu'Appelle-Moose Mountain):

Mr. Speaker, my question is addressed to the Minister of State in charge of small business. 1 have already provided him with the document and I think he has the answer to this question. Did the minister receive a letter from the secretary of the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool dated February 25, signed by J. O. Wright, secretary, stating that, and I quote:

-no resolutions were received from the 800 active Wheat Pool local committees or from annual meetings held, or from other membership meetings held throughout the province to discuss issues dealing with the operations or farm policies-

That is referring to Bill C-23, the metric bill.

Hon. Len Marchand (Minister of State (Small Businesses)):

Mr. Speaker, I did receive this letter from the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool. However, there is perhaps some discrepancy in the interpretation. If you read the particular paragraph which the hon. member quoted, it starts:

During all this period, no resolutions were received-

If you go to the top paragraph on page two of the same letter, you will find that "during this period" referred to the period, meetings held and so on during 1974, 1975 and 1976. This particular letter was dated February 25, 1977.

[DOT] (U30)

Hon. Alvin Hamilton (Qu'Appelle-Moose Mountain):

In

view of the fact that this letter is dated February 25, and since the minister now has in his possession official copies of the resolution sent in by members of the Saskatchewan Wheat

Oral Questions

Pool to their Board of Directors, would the minister consider, in his reply inquiring whether the locals themselves have sent any letters opposing the metric system?

Hon. Len Marchand (Minister of State (Small Businesses)):

I would hope to do that. I know there has been a good deal of concern among farm groups about this program but I also believe there has been a lot of misinformation, too. I hope that when giving information to farm groups hon. members will point out that Bill C-23 has nothing to do with land measurement. Land measurement is in the hands of the provinces. Anything having to do with changes in land measurement is in the hands of the provinces.

Mr. Hamilton (Qu'Appelle-Moose Mountain):

Mr. Speaker, I shall raise this further as a question of privilege at the time set for that purpose.

Mr. Don Mazankowski (Vegreville):

In view of widespread and growing protest among rank and file producers in Western Canada regarding metric conversion and the failure of producer organizations to consult with the actual producers, would the minister be prepared to reconsider his intention to proceed with this bill and has he given any thought to accepting the amendments which have been advanced by members on this side of the House to preserve the acre and bushel?

Hon. Len Marchand (Minister of State (Small Businesses)):

We have heard the representations which were made in committee and the representations made by the organizations which appeared before us. The advice I have received is that if we are to go metric we must do so in its pure form. If we mix it, we would be creating unnecessary confusion. Either we go metric, or we don't, and the advice I am getting is that we should go forward with the system in its pure form.

Mr. Mazankowski:

Might I preface my supplementary question by stating there is not a pure metric system in the world of which I am aware.

Hear, hear!

Mr. Don Mazankowski (Vegreville):

My supplementary is directed to the Minister of Agriculture. In view of the fact that he speaks for the producers of Canada-