Mr. A. J. P. Cameron (High Park):

Mr. Speaker, if that is the way my hon. friend feels about it I think it should go to the bottom of the list.

Mr. Cameron (High Park):

There was the suggestion of the hon. member for York East. We did not vote on it. I want to say a few words on this clause because I support what the minister is trying to do. The thinking of the committee is well set forth on page 153 of the report in the following words:

However, it is to be hoped that conscientious lawyers would do this without official urging.

Sometimes reconciliation is impossible. If a lawyer loses a case, so what? Every conscientious lawyer takes on that responsibility. The law is a profession; it is not a mercenary trade. The responsibility of the lawyer is to see that the law is carried out. That was the thinking of the committee.

Mr. Cameron (High Park):

If it is appropriate and in order may I say a few words on this bill? As the hon. member for Kootenay West has indicated, this amounts to a demonstration of the worth and merit of joint committees of this house and of the Senate.

There were 24 members from the house and 12 from the Senate represented on the special committee. Many of the representatives from the house were members of the justice committee and they included some of the brightest legal minds among us. I have no doubt at all as to the efficiency of the committee. Added to that, we had the experience of the senators from the other place, and I refer in particular to my co-chairman, Senator Roebuck.

Senator Roebuck has been chairman of the divorce committee for many years and has heard some 15,000 cases. He is a master of the law on divorce. As co-chairman it was easy for me to assist in the organization and in the work of the committee and to preside at some of the meetings. The real work was done by him. I think we should all congratulate him and pay tribute to him for what he has done-a 90-year-old Senator who is 90 years young, a (9:40 p.m.)

The report which the minister has been kind enough to indicate has been the basis for the bill emanated largely from the work of Senator Roebuck of the other place. Some members of the committee made contributions in the nature of suggestions, and other members of the committee took an active part in the discussion when the report was finally considered and settled. I do not wish to praise the members of the committee unduly, but may I refer to a comment which appeared in the Globe and Mail and ask hon. members to take their praise, in place of what I might say:

In many respects, the bill is as broad and liberal a piece of divorce legislation as any western nation has written. Yet it will still maintain some unjustified matrimonial prisons and it will still contribute to perjury in the courts.

I should like to congratulate the minister for the very able way in which he has presented the bill to the house.

Mr. Cameron (High Park):

I take it as a tribute to the committee that the bill as drafted was largely founded on the report of the joint committee. I hope that the prison

December 19, 1967

doors that will be opened as a result of this bill will be sufficient reward to the members of the committee for the many long hours and very determined concentrated studies they put into this subject.

Mr. Chairman, I think when this bill becomes law the parliament of Canada will have a bill to be proud of.

Mr. A. J. P. Cameron (High Park):

Mr. Speaker, by leave, I move:

That order numbered 7 under the heading "Private Bills" appearing on this day's order paper, for resuming debate on the motion standing in my name for the second reading of Bill S-15, an act to incorporate Seaboard Finance Company of Canada, be discharged and the said bill be withdrawn.