Mr. Stanfield:

Oh, no he doesn't!

Oh, oh!

March 11, 1977

Oral Questions

Mr. Mazankowski:

Well, he may not, but he is supposed to-will the Minister of Agriculture undertake to ensure that the views and opinions of the producers, the grass roots producers in this country, will be taken into consideration since there is a strong desire by the producers of this country to maintain the bushel and the acre? Will he urge his colleague in charge of this bill to see that those views are taken into consideration? Would he impress upon him the importance of accepting the amendment advanced from this side of the House?

Hon. E. F. Whelan (Minister of Agriculture):

Mr. Speaker, I am in favour of the metric system which the government is proposing and in answering every letter I am getting from anyone I am explaining the advantages of the system. I will even have a meeting with the hon. member and try to explain the advantages to him so that he can explain them to the producers in his area.

Hon. Stanley Haidasz (Parkdale):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to ask the Minister of Finance whether he is in a position this morning to give some information about any merger or take-over involving the Unity Bank?

Hon. Donald S. Macdonald (Minister of Finance):

1 cannot make a comment in this regard. As the hon. gentleman may have read, there have been discussions between the Provincial Bank of Canada and the Unity Bank about a possible merger. At this stage, proposals are being put to the respective shareholders of the two companies. I cannot give any indication this morning whether or not they have been accepted. I have indicated in a preliminary way that, subject to further examination and the approval of the shareholders, that kind of merger would be approved by myself as Minister of Finance.

Mr. Lome Nystrom (Yorkton-Melville):

Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Agriculture. On several occasions we have asked the hon. gentleman about a school milk program. I should like him to note that the government of Quebec in the inaugural speech announced the other day the introduction of a school milk program in that province. Would the minister meet with his provincial counterparts and set up a program under which the federal government would jointly finance school milk programs?

Hon. E. F. Whelan (Minister of Agriculture):

The hon. member has stated what is being done. I hope he realizes it is the governments that are doing this, it is not the farmers or the ministers of agriculture who are doing it. It is the governments under the leadership of the Liberal leader of Nova Scotia which was one of the first provinces to initiate such a program; it has been very successful in the province of Nova Scotia. The Province of Quebec announced a similar program in the speech from the throne. It is a social program which the province intends to instal. As I said the other day, the farmers of Canada have proven their ability to produce if somebody wants to pay for the product.

Mr. Nystrom:

As usual, the minister has missed the point of my question. I asked whether he will make a commitment that the government of Canada will co-finance or jointly sponsor such a program. I ask this in view of the fact that the consumption of milk has dropped in Canada while the consumption of soft drinks is rising.

Mr. Whelan:

We are sharing with the industrial milk producers of Canada the cost of a program of advertising as a result of which the consumption of cheese rose by 15 per cent last year while the consumption of fluid milk in Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia has been maintained at a steady level, indeed, consumption has actually increased. These programs are in place. Yes, I do support a school milk program. I think it is a wonderful idea.

Mr. Doug Neil (Moose Jaw):

A question to the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, Mr. Speaker. In view of the fact that the question of a pipeline to transport natural gas from the Arctic is of such importance to the people of Canada, would the minister take into consideration the possibility of arranging a full-scale debate on the subject in this House before a final decision is taken?

Hon. Alastair Gillespie (Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources):

I have indicated that there will be plenty of opportunity in committee for debate. I hope there will also be an opportunity in the House, but that is a matter which the House leader would have to arrange. I stated in another answer earlier that I would refer this matter to him.

Mr. Doug Neil (Moose Jaw):

My supplementary question is directed to the Minister of Transport. Can the minister con-

March 11, 1977

firm that his department has commissioned a study of the costs involved in developing the LNG tanker system to transport natural gas from the Arctic and, if so, when does he expect such a study to be completed? Is he prepared to table the results of the study in this House?

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

Work is being done on the feasibility of this form of transportation. I am not sure at this point whether this is the kind of study the results of which could be tabled, but I will look into that aspect.

Mr. W. C. Scott (Victoria-Haliburton):

Mr. Speaker, may I direct a question to the Minister of National Defence? 1 should like to ask him whether the department has awarded a contract for new uniforms to replace the uniforms traditionally worn by cadets of the three armed service elements.