Lionel Chevrier (Official Opposition House Leader; Liberal Party House Leader)
Liberal
Hon. Lionel Chevrier (Laurier):
I should like to direct a question to the Minister of Public Works. The Financial Post of January 4 carries an article entitled, "Ottawa Wants to Improve Four Lake 'Seaway' Ports". The article, if I may just read the first paragraph, says:
Plans for improving four upper lakes ports in time for the opening of the seaway are now before the government. They concern the lakehead, Sault Ste. Marie, Sarnia and Windsor.
Inquiries of the Ministry
The biggest changes and the most extensive works will be required at Port Arthur and Fort William.
Then the article goes on to say that a very comprehensive plan has been submitted to the Minister of Public Works. If this is the case, I commend the government and the minister upon this forward-looking plan. My question is, has the government given any consideration to or has it any plans in mind for the improvement of lower St. Lawrence ports from, say, Seven Islands right up to Montreal in the province of Quebec where, according to seaway economists, more than 50 per cent of the traffic will emanate?
Subtopic: LOWER ST. LAWRENCE INQUIRY AS TO IMPROVE- MENTS IN PORT FACILITIES