I seek unanimous consent to conclude.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? I will ask again. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays?

Nay.

There is a nay. The request has been denied. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Dent.

Minister of Justice, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have been in continual contact with the Minister of Labour or his office since this labour situation began, considering that the jurisdiction is with the federal government and our government does not have the power to act to resolve this matter. To answer the Member's question, Mr. Speaker, I spoke to Mr. Danis late yesterday. He told me that the letter had resulted in a lot of effort on the part of his office; that he was going to be consulting with Cabinet colleagues and with the other political parties about our request since, as the Member is aware, if legislative action is to take place before the summer adjournment, it would require all-party consent. Mr. Danis assured me I would have an answer by late today, or tomorrow morning at the latest. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for mine safety. I would like to ask him whether he is aware that, as a result of a call from Giant Mine in the early hours today, the Fire Marshal, an officer, and Mr. Gould from mine safety visited the site and were refused entrance. Was he aware of that fact?

Mr. Patterson.

Yes, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Mr. Lewis, supplementary.

Mr. Speaker, since this Minister has a responsibility for mine safety, and since the call originated at the mine because there was a concern about mine safety, what does he intend to do to discharge his responsibility to make sure there is a safe working place out there for those people who are working?

Mr. Patterson.

I-

Mr. Speaker, the prevention of the Fire Marshal or of an officer in the Fire Marshal's department from exercising his authorities and doing his duties is a serious offence under the Fire Prevention Act. It is also serious in that it could jeopardize safety, as the Member has indicated. Mr. Speaker, the incident the Member refers to is being taken very seriously by my officials. I understand that following their denial of entry to the mine property by mine management this morning, the three members of my staff, after 40 minutes, left and returned to their offices. They are making another attempt to discharge their duties and to respond to the call from the mine management this afternoon, Mr. Speaker. If they are obstructed or hindered again in doing their duties, then my officials inform me they will certainly consider laying charges of obstruction under the Fire Prevention Act. Thank you.

Mr. Lewis, supplementary.

Mr. Speaker, that is not a very good answer. What the Minister is telling me is that there may be something very serious at that mine site of which he has no knowledge simply because the people who have the responsibility are not allowed to go in there to determine whether it is a safe place or not; so I would like to ask him, what is he prepared to do right at this minute to make sure he has the information so he can discharge his responsibility?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I have told the honourable Member that right now, at this very minute, three of my officials who have a lawful right under the Fire

Prevention Act to obtain access to the property are attempting to exercise that right. If they are once again obstructed, they will use all legal remedies available to gain access; that is, the provisions of the Fire Prevention Act which provide for serious penalties for anyone who disturbs them in the execution of their duties.

Mr, Speaker, we have some information about the nature of the concern. It has to do with the disruption of phone lines and other communications flowing from a power outage and concern over the operation of fire pumps. Thank you.

Mr. Lewis, supplementary.

Thank you. I would like to ask the Minister if he will make a commitment to get an answer to this question, before 6:00 p.m. today, as to whether or not he is convinced that what is going on out there does not constitute a breach of safety for the people who are working there.

A commitment like that might be out of the responsibility of the Minister. Mr. Patterson.