Mr. Speaker:

I have the honour to inform the House that the petition presented by the Hon. Member for Surrey-White Rock-North Delta (Mr. Friesen) does not meet the requirements of the Standing Orders as to form.

Mr. Bob Ogle (Saskatoon East):

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition given to me by mothers and children from Ontario and other parts of Canada to the Honourable the House of Commons of Canada in Parliament assembled. The petition of the undersigned residents of Canada, who now avail themselves of their ancient and undoubted right thus to present a grievance common to your petitioners in the certain assurance that our Honourable House will therefore provide a remedy, humbly sheweth that at this critical period in a new cycle of nuclear weapons which could be unverifiable, Canada must give strong support to those parties in European governments who are refusing to accept the Cruise and Pershing missiles.

Wherefore the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the Parliament of Canada to cancel any agreements for testing US nuclear devices or their delivery systems.

And as in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.

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Mr. John Evans (Parliamentary Secretary to President of the Privy Council):

Mr. Speaker, the following questions will be answered today: Nos. 293, 294, 448, 474, 518 and 542.

1. With reference to the answer to question No. 4,706 of the First Session of the 32nd Parliament, in relation to Venezuelan Canadian Oils, C.A. and Venezuelan Pacific Petroleums, C.A. (a) on what date was each acquired by Petro-Canada, from whom, at what cost and for what reason (b) for what reason are the Corporations "inactive"?

2. Are G.M.I. Co. (Bahamas) Ltd., Pacific Petroleums (Overseas) Ltd., and Petro-Canada (Norway) A/S in any way associated with Petro-Canada and, if so (a) what is that relationship in each instance (b) for what reason is Petro-Canada unable to provide the information requested in question No. 4,706 (c) how can the information be obtained and on what date will that information be available?

3. In respect of Merit Oil Co. Ltd. (a) what was that Company's relationship to Petro-Canada prior to October 1, 1981 (b) what was the extent of Petro-Canada's interest in that Company prior to October 1, 1981 (c) for what reason was the relationship changed and what happened to Petro-Canada's interest in the Company (d) into what form was the Company changed and at whose instance?

4. In respect of Pacific Petroleums Inc. (a) what was that Company's relationship to Petro-Canada prior to April 8, 1982 (b) what was the extent of Petro-Canada's interest in that Company prior to April 8, 1982 (c) for what reason was the relationship changed and what happened to Petro-Canada's interest in the Company (d) into what form was the Company changed and at whose instance?

Mr. Leonard Hopkins (Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources):

Petro-Canada reports as follows:

1. (a) Venezuelan Canadian Oils, C.A. and Venezuelan Pacific Petroleums, C.A. were both acquired by Petro-Canada as part of its purchase of Pacific Petroleums Ltd. in April, 1979. The cost of acquiring these two subsidiaries was subsumed in the aggregate cost of acquiring Pacific Petroleums Ltd., i.e. $1,496,389,000 and the reason was because these subsidiaries constituted parts of a larger purchase.

(b) These subsidiaries have been "inactive" since their purchase by Petro-Canada.

2. Yes. (a) G.M.I. Co. (Bahamas) Ltd. and Petro-Canada Norway A/S are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Petro-Canada Inc. which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Petro-Canada. G.M.I. Co. (Bahamas) Ltd. has recently disposed of its assets and is now inactive. Petro-Canada Norway A/S is active. Pacific Petroleums (Overseas) Ltd. is a holding company acquired in the takeover by Petro-Canada of Pacific Petroleums Ltd.; it was formed to hold permits in the North Sea but has never been activated.

2. (b) and (c)

Date of last

Company Board meeting

G.M.I. Co. (Bahamas) Ltd. February 25, 1982

Pacific Petroleums (Overseas) Ltd. January 4, 1977

Petro-Canada Norway A/S September 6, 1983

3. (a) and (b) Prior to October 1, 1981, Merit Oil Co. Ltd. was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Petro-Canada Exploration Inc. (since renamed Petro-Canada Inc.).

(c) and (d) At the direction of Petro-Canada Exploration Inc., the assets of Merit Oil Co. Ltd. were transferred and Merit Oil Co. Ltd. was dissolved.

4. (a) and (d) Prior to April 8, 1982, Pacific Petroleums Inc. was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Petro-Canada Exploration Inc. (since renamed Petro-Canada Inc.).

(c) and (d) An offer to purchase Pacific Petroleums Inc. was received by Petro-Canada Exploration Inc. and accepted. On April 8, 1982, Pacific Petroleums Inc. was sold to Zapata Exploration Company.

With reference to the revised answer to question No. 4,751 of the First Session of the 32nd Parliament, on the subject of the BP reidentification program (a) what amount constitutes "a standard agency commission" (b) apart from insertion and design costs, what costs were incurred in running the "series of advertisements designed to inform the public of the BP reidentification program"?

Mr. Leonard Hopkins (Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources):

Petro-Canada reports as follows:

(a) The requested information is proprietary to Petro-Canada.

(b) Apart from insertion costs of $483,845.74 and production and design costs of $25,116.96, which amounts included the standard agency commission, no other costs were incurred.

The figures provided in the revised reply to question No. 4,751 of the First Session, 32nd Parliament answered September 23, 1983 were cost estimates whereas the above-mentioned figures are actual costs.

Does the Department of Fisheries and Oceans have any plans for the replacement or acquisition of new seagoing vessels in the calendar year 1984 and, if so, what are they?

Hon. Pierre De Bane (Minister of Fisheries and Oceans):

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) intends to continue with the orderly replacement and acquisition of new seagoing vessels in 1984. The program includes the five vessels currently under construction, two of which are expected to enter service this year. In addition in 1984 DFO intends to: (a) start the conversion of a large stern trawler into a fisheries research vessel; (b) acquire approximately 25 launches and small craft; and, (c) initiate contracts for the design of four new vessels and the mid-life refit of two vessels.

March 16, 1984

What is the contemplated completion date of the Royal Commission Inquiry into the loss of the Ocean Ranger and what is the estimated cost of the inquiry?

Mr. Leonard Hopkins (Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources):

The contemplated completion date of Part I of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the loss of the Ocean Ranger dealing with causes of the loss is June 30, 1984.

The contemplated completion date of Part II of the Inquiry into related safety and other matters connected with eastern offshore drilling is the spring of 1985.

The estimated cost of the whole Inquiry is $13,500,000.

Since January 1, 1983, did the Department of the Environment announce any grants, contributions or assistance for the Chatham-Newcastle area in New Brunswick and, if so, what grants, contributions or assistance was announced?

No.

As of the last date for which information was available, what proportion of the employees of the Department of the Environment were women?

There are 28.25 per cent.