1. Since 1968, did the Ministry of State for Multiculturalism finance projects in the Constituency of Richmond and, if so (a) what were the projects (b) what was the (i) total amount (ii) amount in each case (c) what were the areas?

2. Is the Ministry planning to do so in the near future and, if so (a) what will be the amount (b) in which areas?

Mr. Leonel Beaudoin (Richmond):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to direct a question to the Minister of Transport.

Can the minister tell us whether he has reached a decision about the offers received a few days ago for the sale of Nordair?

Mr. Beaudoin:

Mr. Speaker, on a supplementary.

Would the minister tell us whether his decision will also take into account the recommendations of Quebec and Ontario which, according to the information we have been getting at our offices, would like to have a strong regional carrier for the greater well-being of each of those provinces?

1. Since 1968, did the Department of the Secretary of State finance projects in the Constituency of Richmond and, if so (a) what were the projects (b) what was the (i) total amount (ii) amount in each case (c) what were the areas?

2. Is the Department planning to do so in the near future and, if so (a) what will be the amount (b) in which areas?

Mr. Leonel Beaudoin (Richmond):

Mr. Speaker, under the provisions of Standing Order 43, I ask for the unanimous consent of the House to move a motion dealing with an important matter of pressing necessity.

March 14, 1979

There is a shortage of building steel with low carbon content in eastern Canada at the present time. The supply difficulties related to a tendency of some companies to set quotas on their existing stocks have led suppliers to increase their prices. Since such behaviour erodes the purchasing power of consumers in the regions involved at a time when they can hardly cope with the new inflationary push, while some companies are making record profits, I move, seconded by the hon. member for Bellechasse (Mr. Lambert):

That the House forbid those companies to set such quotas on existing stocks so that they may not take advantage of a temporarily reduced production to increase uselessly their prices without reason and boost their profits.