FEDERAL CANADA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22853, 7 October 1937, Page 8

FEDERAL CANADA

INQUIRY INTO BASIS ! CHANGES WITH THE YEARS COMMISSION APPOINTED [from our own CORRESPONDENT] ' OTTAWA, Sept. 15 The relations existing between th« Dominion of Canada and the nine pro. vinces are to he the subject of inquiry by a Royal Commission recently ap. pointed, with wide powers and author, ity. The chairman is the Hon;' X, \\ Rowell, Chief Justice of Ontario, antl the members are Mr. J. W. Dafoe. Editor-in-Chief of the Winnipeg (Manitoba) Free "Press and one of Canada's most distinguished the Hon. T. Rinfret, a member of the Supreme Court of Canada, Professor It. A. MaoKay of Dalhousie University and Professor H. F. Angus, of the University of British Columbia. The chief purpose of the Commission is to provide "for a re-examination of the economic and financial basis of Confederation and of the distribution of legislative powers in the light of the economic and social developments of the past 70 j'ears" since the union of the provinces. - Provinces' Responsibilities It is pointed out in. the order of reference that Dominion and provinces have found it necessary to accept responsibilities not foreseen in that there is overlapping and duplication of services, that the provinces claim their sources of revenue are inadequate for their responsibilities and a similar claim is made on behalf of municipal governments.

Fiually, says this document, "it has been represented that unless appropriate action is taken the set-up of governmental powers and responsibilities devised at the time of Confederation will not be adequate to meet the economic and social changes and the shifts in economic power which are in progress, without subjecting Canada's governmental structure to undue strains and stresses." Lengthy Inquiry Expected It is expected that the inquiry will occupy several months, and if its recommendations would alter the division of powers between federal and provincial authority as laid down in the British North America Act there will ensue a long period of negotiation among the governments concerned. The provinces, gravely concerned with the cost of the new social services, still are jealous of their rights under the act of Confederation. Mr. Dafoe's appointment in particular was welcomed by the press of Canada. Editor of the Winnipeg Free Press for many years, he also is the author of several books on historical subjects, is a recognised authority on the problems of the Canadian West, a speaker and writer of note on international affairs.

He was a delegate to the Imperial Press Conferences of 1909, 1920, 1925 and 1930, was attached to the Canadian delegation to the Peace Conference of 1919, and is Chancellor of the University of Manitoba.