Document Information

Date: 1980-05-15
By: Canada (Parliament)
Citation: Canada, Senate Debates, 32nd Parl, 1st Sess, 1980 at 297.
Other formats: Click here to view the original document (PDF).

SENATE DEBATES — May 15, 1980

[Page 297]

LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

RECONSTITUTION OF SUBCOMMITTEE ON OFF-TRACK BETTING

Hon. Louis-J. Robichaud: Honourable senators, I should like to ask a question of the Leader of the Government in the Senate. About a year and a half or two years ago the then Minister of Agriculture for Canada requested a committee of the Senate to make an in-depth study of off-track betting. A subcommittee was then formed under the distinguished chairmanship of Senator Buckwold and the work was started, but it was interrupted because of certain political events that took place. I am wondering if the Leader of the Government would inquire of the Minister of Agriculture if it is still his wish to have that study made, and if the subcommittee of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs on off-track betting will be reconstituted.

Hon. Raymond J. Perrault (Leader of the Government): Honourable senators, let me say at the outset that I appreciated having notice of this question given to my office this morning. I do not have a definite and final answer as to the view of the minister with respect to the possibility of the Senate assisting his thinking by reconstituting the Subcommittee on Off-track Betting.

Senator Flynn: Very well said.

Senator Perrault: That is a personal view, so I wouldn’t bet on it. The minister has indicated that he is examining and pursuing various initiatives that would assist the industry and which are within the present legislative mandate governing pari—mutuel betting. Whether or not these initiatives are such that they will make unnecessary the reconstitution of that subcommittee is yet to be determined. In the ultimate, that would be a matter for the Senate to decide.

Senator McElman: All bets are off.