§ Sir D. Gunstonasked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has any statement to make as to the grant by the Newfoundland Government of a lease of Goose Bay Airport in Labrador to the Canadian Government.
§ Petty-Officer Herbertasked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has any statement to make concerning the grant by the Newfoundland Government of a lease of Goose Bay Airport in Labrador to the Canadian Government.
§ Mr. Emrys-EvansAs the House is aware, the airport at Goose Bay was constructed by the Canadian Government, entirely at Canadian expense, on land in Labrador, previously undeveloped, which the Newfoundland Government agreed to lease to them. The Canadian Government have spent some $25,000,000 on the construction of the airport, and there is no doubt that this large undertaking on Newfoundland territory will be of great benefit to Newfoundland in the future. An Agreement has now been concluded between the Newfoundland and Canadian Governments under which, in pursuance of the understanding reached between the two Governments in 1941, the Canadian Government is granted a lease of the site 1813W of the Goose Bay airport for 99 years. This lease is for defence purposes only, and the question of post-war civil and commercial uses has been reserved for discussions which are to take place between the Newfoundland, Canadian and United Kingdom Governments after the war. A copy of the signed Agreement will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as it is available.