Mr. Frank Howard (Skeena):

Mr. Speaker, I seek the consent of the House to move a motion pursuant to Standing Order 43. The case of urgent and pressing necessity is the concern that secret negotiations may now be going on between the government and the owners of the Cassiar Cannery on the coast of British Columbia in an attempt to bring the cannery further under the control of Japanese interests. I therefore move, seconded by the hon. member for Comox-Alberni (Mr. Barnett):

That the government disclose forthwith the relationship it has with respect to the Cassiar Cannery near Prince Rupert, B.C., especially with reference to any current negotiations to purchase the said cannery.

Mr. Howard:

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased with part of the response. Am I to take it from that remark of the minister that the government is now going to withdraw the sell-out proposals it has made to the Americans and revert to the position of June 17 and 18, 1971, when we, as Canadians, agreed with the Americans that the fish of each nation belonged to the people of that nation? Is that going to be the position we will put forward?

Mr. Frank Howard (Skeena):

Mr. Speaker, I am tempted to say that that sort of exchange proves figures do not lie. I wish to direct a question to the Secretary of State for External Affairs regarding the position of Canada in its negotiations with the United States with respect to salmon stocks in each country. Has the government already reviewed or is it contemplating a review of the position Canada is taking in those negotiations? If so, can the minister tell the House what that new position is?

Mr. Howard:

Mr. Speaker, may I put the question more directly to the minister. Will the record of agreement reached between the United States and Canada in Seattle, Washington, on June 17 and 18, 1971, on salmon problems of mutual concern, which enunciated the principle of ownership of the salmon stocks by each country, be the basis of the position which the Canadian government now intends to present in these negptiations?

Mr. Frank Howard (Skeena):

Mr. Speaker, I rise pursuant to Standing Order 43 to seek the consent of the House to move a motion of urgent and pressing necessity concerning the catastrophic decline of halibut stocks off the Pacific coast and in the Bering Sea and the need for the government to make some public statement of its intentions. I would not intend to debate the motion if it is accepted and take up the time of the House. I therefore move, seconded by the hon. member for Comox-Alberni (Mr. Barnett):

That at eight o'clock this day the House revert to motions to provide an opportunity for the Secretary of State for External Affairs or another member of the government to make a statement regarding the government's position with respect to the halibut resource of the Pacific coast and the Bering Sea.