§ 83. Mr. HURDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the statement issued by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in London to the effect that, officially, Canadians are classed as foreigners in the United Kingdom, and that if a Canadian company wishes to establish its own branch in this country it must register under Section 274 of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908, thereby accepting classification as a foreign country, and effectually barring itself from competing for Government contracts; and what measures it is proposed to take to remove this barrier to inter-Imperial commercial relations?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe answer to the first part of this question is in the negative. A company incorporated in Canada which establishes a place of business in this country is required to file with the Registrar of Companies the documents mentioned in the Section referred to by the hon. Member, but it does not thereby accept classification as a foreign company. So far as I am aware, a Canadian company which has complied with the Section is not debarred from competing for Government contracts.