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

Mr. Speaker, 1 have already discussed this matter with the Secretary of State for External Affairs, and I hope the House will give its unanimous approval. I rise under the provisions of Standing Order 43.

With Canadians being dedicated to the achievement of international peace, I move:

That this House commends United States President Carter for his courageous initiative in going personally to Egypt and Israel in his continuing endeavour to bring about peace between these two countries, and supporting his objectives, expresses the hope that through his unusual and statesmanlike endeavours a just and lasting peace will have been achieved.

Hear, hear!

Mr. Speaker:

Order, please. In order for this motion to be presented at this time pursuant to Standing Order 43 the unanimous consent of the House would be required. Is there unanimous consent?

Agreed.

Mr. Speaker:

The House has heard the terms of the motion by Mr. Diefenbaker, seconded by Mr. Jamieson. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the said motion?

Agreed.

Mr. Elmer M. MacKay (Central Nova):

Mr. Speaker, my motion under Standing Order 43 involves a matter of great urgency and has reference to orders in council of this government which permit Canadian corporations to alter the basis of

pension funding by employers in this country by increasing assumed interest rates, thereby permitting a reduction of their liabilities to their own pension funds.

The Canadian Railways Employees Pension Association yesterday brought this urgent matter before a committee of the other place, and keeping in mind that the matter of integrity of pensions is one of the most important issues facing the country today, I move, seconded by the hon. member for Vegreville (Mr. Mazankowski):

That the Minister of Transport or the Minister of Finance, or both, on motions, before the dissolution of this parliament make a statement explaining and justifying, if they can, the situation which does not require Canadian corporations to show on their balance sheets the very substantial sums of money owed to their employees' pension funds, and to explain, for the benefit of the House and the country, the justification for the substantially different approach taken since 1966 involving the procedures of the Pension Benefit Standards Act and regulations.

Mr. Speaker:

Such a motion can be presented for discussion at this time only with the unanimous consent of the House. Is there unanimous consent?

Agreed.

No.

Mr. Fonse Faour (Humber-St. George's-St. Barbe):

Mr. Speaker, I rise, under the provisions of Standing Order 43, on a matter or urgent and pressing necessity.

In view of the current uncertainty of oil supplies for Newfoundland and other parts of eastern Canada, coupled with the recent experience of Canada being held to ransom by multinational oil corporations like Exxon, and the prospect of the Canadian government importing oil directly from Mexico and Venezuela, I move, seconded by the hon. member for Nanai-mo-Cowichan-The Islands (Mr. Douglas):

That this House instruct the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources to have Petro-Canada purchase the Come-By-Chance oil refinery so that Canadians in eastern Canada can be confident of adequate supplies of petroleum products at a reasonable price.

Mr. Speaker:

Pursuant to Standing Order 43, such a motion can be presented for debate at this time only with the unanimous consent of the House. Is there unanimous consent?

Agreed.

No.

March 7, 1979