Mr. Gerard Duquet (Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Transport):

1. No consideration has been given to this activity as a specific program. As a general rule, in the case of disused rights-of-way the railway attempts to dispose of them in as large blocs as possible by offering them first to provincial departments of highways for road purposes, then to Hydro for power transmission line purposes. If there is no interest on the part of these agencies, local municipal governments are then approached; piecemeal disposal to adjoining owners is used as the last resort.

2. As property released from active use for railway purposes is subject to local ordinance where weed control is concerned, it is not contemplated that direct federal action will be taken with respect to weed and brush cutting on such lands.

Mr. Gerard Duquet (Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Transport):

The management of Canadian National Railways advises as follows: Yes. (a) 22; (b) one; (c) six; (d) Estimated damage to railway property: $2,381, $39,958, $1,549, $110,800, $2,704, $14,680, $219,016, $201,000, $40,000, $12,325, $12,050, $3,208, $4,231, $6,114, $16,938, $162,000, $91,835, $88,941, $505,064, $121,674, $2,608, $4,497.

Mr. Duquet:

Mr. Speaker, I shall not be in a position to answer that question until we have received the reports of the investigators.

Mr. Gerard Duquet (Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Transport):

Mr. Speaker, officials of my department are already on the scene of that unfortunate accident to look into the various aspects of the matter. Having occurred in American waters, the accident as such will require an inquiry; there is also the matter of pollution. Those two aspects are now being studied by the people who are on the spot.

Mr. Gerard Duquet (Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Transport):

1. The MV John Hamilton Gray is currently on the Borden-Cape Tormentine service and will be remaining there until May 23 when she will be withdrawn from service for refit.

2. No new ships are being constructed for this service at the present time. However, sufficient capacity to meet the anticipated demands is being assured through the interchange of vessels between the Gulf service and the PEI service and through the addition of two new vessels last year.

3. Not applicable in view of the answer to No. 2.

4. Washrooms are being installed on the lower car deck of each of these vessels and these will be ready in time for the return of the vessels to service this spring.