The Order in Council^*

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P.C. 1786

Certified to be a true copy of a Minute of a Meeting of the Committee of the Privy Council, approved by His Excellency the Governor General on the 8th April, 1949.

The Committee of the Privy Council have had before them a report dated 7th April, 1949, from the Right Honourable Louis S. St. Laurent, the Prime Minister, submitting:

That it is desirable that the Canadian people should know as much as possible about their country, its history and traditions; and about their national life and common achievements;

That it is in the national interest to give encouragement to institutions which express national feeling, promote common understanding and add to the variety and richness of Canadian life, rural as well as urban;

That there exist already certain Federal agencies and activities which contribute to these ends; including the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the National Film Board, the National Gallery, the National Museum, the Public Archives, the Library of Parliament, the National War Museum, the system of aid for research including scholarships maintained by the National Research Council and other governmental agencies; and

That it is desirable that an examination be conducted into such agencies and activities, with a view to recommending their most effective conduct in the national interest and with full respect for the constitutional jurisdiction of the provinces.

The Committee, therefore, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister advise that:

1. The Right Honourable Vincent Massey, P.C., C.H., Chancellor of the University of Toronto.
2. Arthur Surveyor, Esq., B.A.Sc., C.E., D.Engn., LL.D., Civil Engineer, Montreal.
3. Norman A. M. MacKenzie, Esq., C.M.G., K.C., LL.D., President, University of British Columbia.

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4. The Most Reverend Georges-Henri Lévesque, O.P., D.Sc.Soc., Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Laval University.
5. Miss Hilda Neatby, M.A., Ph.D., Professor of History and Acting Head of the Department, University of Saskatchewan.

be appointed Commissioners under Part I of the Inquiries Act (Chapter 99 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1927) to examine and make recommendations upon:

1. the principles upon which the policy of Canada should be based, in the fields of radio and television broadcasting;
2. such agencies and activities of the government of Canada as the National Film Board, the National Gallery, the National Museum, the National War Museum, the Public Archives and the care and custody of public records, the Library of Parliament; methods by which reserach is aided including grants for scholarships through various Federal Government agencies; the eventual character and scope of the National Library; the scope or activities of these agencies; the manner in which they should be conducted, financed and controlled, and other matters relevant thereto;
3. methods by which the relations of Canada with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and with other organizations operating in this field should be conducted;
4. relations of the government of Canada and any of its agencies with various national voluntary bodies operating in the field with which this inquiry will be concerned.

The Committee further advise:

1. That the Commissioners be authorized to exercise all the powers conferred upon them by Section 11 of the Inquiries Act and be assisted to the fullest extent by the officials of all appropriate departments and agencies;
2. That the said Commissioners adopt such procedure and methods as they may, from time to time, deem expedient for the proper conduct of the inquiry and sit at such times and in such places in Canada as they may decide from time to time;
3. That the Commissioners submit interim reports from time to time as they see fit or as they may be directed by the Governor in Council;
4. That when, pursuant to the powers conferred by Section 11 of the Inquiries Act, the said Commissioners have authorized and deputed any qualified person as a special Commissioner to inquire into any matter within the scope of the aforesaid inquiry as may be

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directed by the said Commissioners, any person so deputed, when authorized by Order in Council, shall exercise the same powers which the Commissioners have in accordance with the Inquiries Act (Chapter 99 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1927);

5. That the Commissioners be empowered to engage such counsel, staff and expert assistance as may be required for the proper conduct of their inquiry;
6. That the said Commissioners be directed that a record should be made of all the evidence given before them or before any special Commissioner in the course of the inquiry;
7. That the Commissioners be directed to report to the Governor in Council; and
8. That the Right Honourable Vincent Massey, P.C., C.H., be chairman of the Commission.

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^* From: Canada. Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters, and Sciences. Report. Ottawa : King's Printer, 1951. By permission of the Privy Council Office.