Confidence Shaken

Canada's durable and confident Liberal government was in deep political trouble last week, its confidence shaken, its durability in doubt. For the first time since their long term in power began in 1935, the Liberals were genuinely worried about the outcome of the next election. Practically every major newspaper in the country, Liberal and Tory alike, condemned them. Tory Leader George Drew and CCF (Socialist) Leader M. J. Coldwell openly dared them to call an election, and the challenge was weakly declined. Gloom had spread even to the Liberal Cabinet. Said a top Liberal minister: "This could destroy the government."

Arrogant Closure. The issue that shook the Liberals was the government's measure to advance up to $80 million to the U.S.-controlled Trans-Canada Pipe Lines, Ltd. to build a natural-gas pipeline from Alberta to eastern Canada (TIME, May 21). Not only was the loan itself unpopular, because of growing Canadian concern about U.S. investors' control of national resources, but the heavy-handed way in which the Liberals attempted to ram the measure through Parliament stirred up the entire country. As soon as Trade & Commerce Minister C. D. Howe introduced it to Parliament, he immediately announced that he would enforce closure of the debate within 48 hours.

Cries of "guillotine" and "dictatorship" rang through the chamber as Howe made his closure notice. It meant that all speeches were cut to 20 minutes and that the entire debate on the bill's first reading would be ruthlessly shut off at 1 o'clock the following morning. With angry arguments over procedure, the opposition managed to prolong the debate until 4:42 a.m., but in the end the inevitable happened: the massive Liberal majority steamrollered the measure through, 156 to 55.

Forgive and Forget. In the Liberals' defense, Minister Howe claimed that the Trans-Canada firm, which was organized by Texas Oilman Clint Murchison, was the only one with the necessary pipe and equipment to begin building the long-delayed pipeline this year. Said Howe: "Nothing that can be said in this house can change those facts." The Tories demanded that the loan be made to a Canadian company and they ridiculed the government for lending tax money to a foreign firm. Said Tory Leader Drew: "Any such proposal before the Congress of the United States would be greeted with laughter that would be heard by the Americans on the D.E.W. line."

But Drew's and all other opposition objections were overruled. The Liberals now are desperate to get at least a part of the pipeline laid before they are forced to call an election next year. If necessary, they said, they will apply three more closure motions to speed the bill through its final stages, so that the pipelaying can begin this summer. Once the pipeline is in operation, the Liberals hope that the voters will be in a mood to forgive and forget.

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