IMPORT RESTRICTIONS—PLANS FOR SPRING
PLANTING
On the orders of the day:
Mr. G. K. FRASER (Peterborough West): I should like to
direct a question to the Minister of Agriculture or the Minister of
Finance. Does the government intend to announce the future plans regarding
the importation of lettuce, celery and vegetables, so that
the vegetable growers and hothouse men can plan for the future and the needs
of the Canadian people? Their vegetable seeds for the spring planting
must be ordered at once.
Mr. FRASER: Mr. Speaker, this is a very important
question because the vegetable men have to order their vegetable seeds within
the next month.
Mr. GRAYDON: These people are not interested in the
vegetable growers; one can easily see that.
Mr. FRASER: Mr. Speaker, may I not have an answer to
that question?
Mr. GRAYDON: He should have an answer to the question.
It has to do with urgent business of everyone.
Hon. DOUGLAS ABBOTT (Minister of Finance): I always like
to answer questions. A delegation from the vegetable growers came to see
me this morning. That may be what has prompted my hon. friend's
question.
Mr. ABBOTT: I discussed the matter of fresh vegetables
with them. I pointed out that the import restrictions on these vegetables
are part of our exchange conservation program, essentially temporary ID.
their nature, but that for obvious reasons it was impossible for me or
for anyone else to say how long it would be necessary to keep these
restrictions on.
Mr. FRASER: My question was prompted by a letter which I
wrote the Department of Agriculture on January 5.
CANADA—NEWFOUNDLAND
REQUEST FOR STATEMENT ON ACTION OF
NEWFOUNDLAND NATIONAL CONVENTION
On the orders of the day:
Mr. GORDON GRAYDON (Peel): I should like to direct a
question to the Secretary of State for External Affairs. In view
of the interest across Canada in our negotiations
with Newfoundland, and the fact that yesterday its national convention opposed the
submission of the
confederation plan to the people of Newfoundland, would the government
through the Prime Minister or the Secretary of State for External Affairs
make a statement to the house so that the country will understand from parliament,
rather than from the press so far away, just how the
situation now stands, whether or not the door is closed to further
negotiations, and the prospect of further confederation discussions?
Right Hon. L. S. ST. LAURENT (Secretary of State for
External Affairs): I will examine carefully the terms of the question that
has just been asked by -the hon. member and endeavour to have some
statement made. The hon. member will realize that the Canadian
government stated terms which in its opinion would be fair for union and is
taking no part whatsoever in presenting those terms to the people of
Newfoundland, nor would it venture to do or say anything which might be
regarded there as trying to influence the decision of the free people of
Newfoundland.
The information we have is that there was
a vote against recommending to the government of the United Kingdom the inclusion
on
the ballot of any question about union with
Canada. The information we have is that
this national convention was an advisory body
and that its decisions were not binding either
on the people of Newfoundland or on the
United Kingdom government. We have not
received any information of decisions taken
since the report in the newspapers of the vote
in the national convention.
Mr. GRAYDON: I take it from the minister's
remarks that the door to further negotiations is not definitely
closed.
Mr. ST. LAURENT: No. The offer is still before the
people of Newfoundland and before the commission government of
Newfoundland.
The national convention has expressed by
vote its views, but it is only, as I said, an
advisory body and the matter still has to be
dealt with by those who have the constitutional
responsibility for a decision.
