PRAYERS

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

At 11:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(6), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

The Order was read for the second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights of Bill C-237, An Act to provide for a national referendum to authorize the Government of Canada to negotiate terms of separation with a province that has voted for seperation from Canada.

Mr. Stinson (Okanagan -- Shuswap), seconded by Mr. Hoeppner (Portage -- Lisgar), moved, -- That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

Debate arose thereon.

Pursuant to Standing Order 96(1), the Order was dropped from the Order Paper.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mrs. Stewart (Minister of the Environment), seconded by Mr. Gagliano (Minister of Public Works and Government Services), -- That Bill C-32, An Act respecting pollution prevention and the protection of the environment and human health in order to contribute to sustainable development, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.

The debate continued.

STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Pursuant to Standing Order 31, Members made statements.

ORAL QUESTIONS

Pursuant to Standing Order 30(5), the House proceeded to Oral Questions.

DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS

Tabling of Documents

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Adams (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) laid upon the Table, -- Government responses, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to the following petitions:

-- No. 361-0564 concerning the Canada Post Corporation. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-57;

-- No. 361-0746 concerning nuclear weapons. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-46F.

Presenting Reports from Committees

Mr. Adams (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), from the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented the 29th Report of the Committee (Integrity of the House of Commons and its servant the Speaker). -- Sessional Paper No. 8510-361-51.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings No. 18, 19, 20 and 21) was tabled.

Introduction of Private Members' Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Gouk (West Kootenay -- Okanagan), seconded by Mr. Epp (Elk Island), Bill C-394, An Act respecting the commercialization of VIA Rail Canada Inc., was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Presenting Petitions

Pursuant to Standing Order 36, petitions certified correct by the Clerk of Petitions were presented as follows:

-- by Mr. Morrison (Cypress Hills -- Grasslands), five concerning gun control (Nos. 361-0785 to 361-0789);

-- by Mr. Mayfield (Cariboo -- Chilcotin), one concerning international trade (No. 361-0790);

-- by Mr. Adams (Peterborough), one concerning health care services (No. 361-0791);

-- by Ms. Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North Centre), one concerning international trade (No. 361-0792).

Questions on Order Paper

Pursuant to Standing Order 39(7), the following question was made an Order for Return:

Q-57 -- Mr. Breitkreuz (Yorkton -- Melville) -- When the Deputy Prime Minister, in a statement made outside the House on or before November 15, 1997, indicated that the government's land-mines initiative could be the start of a global movement to spur the development of an instrument to ban firearms worldwide, was the Deputy Prime Minister stating the policy of the government?

Mr. Adams (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) presented the Return to this Order. -- Sessional Paper No. 8555-361-57.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mrs. Stewart (Minister of the Environment), seconded by Mr. Gagliano (Minister of Public Works and Government Services), -- That Bill C-32, An Act respecting pollution prevention and the protection of the environment and human health in order to contribute to sustainable development, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.

The debate continued.

The question was put on the motion and, pursuant to Standing Order 45, the recorded division was deferred until Tuesday, April 28, 1998, at the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders.

The Order was read for the second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Finance of Bill S-9, An Act respecting depository notes and to amend the Financial Administration Act.

Ms. McLellan (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada), for Mr. Peterson (Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)), seconded by Mr. Normand (Secretary of State (Agriculture and Agri-Food, Fisheries and Oceans)), moved,

-- That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Finance.

Debate arose thereon.

QUORUM

The attention of the Speaker was drawn to the lack of a quorum and, fewer than 20 members having been counted, pursuant to Standing Order 29(3), the bells were rung to call in the Members.

After six minutes, a quorum was found.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Peterson (Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)), seconded by Mr. Normand (Secretary of State (Agriculture and Agri-Food, Fisheries and Oceans)), -- That Bill S-9, An Act respecting depository notes and to amend the Financial Administration Act, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Finance.

The debate continued.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Accordingly, the Bill was read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Finance.

RETURNS AND REPORTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(1), papers deposited with the Clerk of the House were laid upon the Table as follows:

-- by Mr. Collenette (Minister of Transport) -- Report of Marine Atlantic Inc. for the year 1997, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R. S. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 150(1). -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-361-622A. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Transport)

-- by Mr. Manley (Minister of Industry) -- Copy of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Rules amendments stated by the Order in Council SOR/98-240 dated April 6, 1998, pursuant to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, R.S. 1985, c. B-3, sbs. 209(2). -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-361-284. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Joint Committee on the Scrutiny of Regulations)

-- by Mr. Manley (Minister of Industry) -- Copy of the Regulations amending the Orderly Payment of Debts Regulations stated by the Order in Council SOR/98-239, dated April 6, 1998, pursuant to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, R.S. 1985, c. B-3, sbs. 209(2). -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-361-284A. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Joint Committee on the Scrutiny of Regulations)

-- by Mr. Pettigrew (Minister of Human Resources Development) -- Response of the government, pursuant to Standing Order 109, to the 9th Report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, "Chapter 17 of the September 1996 Report of the Auditor General of Canada" (Sessional Paper No. 8510-352-109), presented to the House on Wednesday, April 23, 1997. -- Sessional Paper No. 8512- 361-109.

-- by Mr. Pettigrew (Minister of Human Resources Development) -- Response of the government, pursuant to Standing Order 109, to the 3rd Report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, "Chapter 17 of the Auditor General's Report of April and October 1997" (Sessional Paper No. 8510-361-32), presented to the House on Thursday, December 11, 1997. -- Sessional Paper No. 8512-361- 32.

PROCEEDINGS ON ADJOURNMENT MOTION

At 5:21 p.m., by unanimous consent, the question "That this House do now adjourn" was deemed to have been proposed.

After debate, the question was deemed to have been adopted.

ADJOURNMENT

At 5:28 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).