Parliament having been convoked by Proclamation of the Governor General for the despatch of business, the Members of the House assembled.

PRAYERS

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

A Message was received from His Excellency the Governor General desiring the immediate attendance of the House in the Senate.

Accordingly, the Speaker, with the House, proceeded to the Senate.

The Commons returned to the Chamber.

TABLING OF DOCUMENTS

The Speaker informed the House that, in accordance with the representation made by the government under the provisions of Standing Order 55(1), he had caused to be published a special Order Paper giving notice of a Government motion.

The Speaker laid upon the Table, -- Letter from the Government House Leader, dated February 23, 1996, concerning a notice of a Government motion. -- Sessional Paper No. 8530-352-1.

PRO-FORMA BILL

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Chrétien (Prime Minister), seconded by Mr. Gray (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada), Bill C-1, An Act Respecting the Administration of Oaths of Office, was introduced and read the first time.

SPEECH FROM THE THRONE

The Speaker reported that, when the Commons was in the Senate, His Excellency the Governor General was pleased to make a speech to both Houses of Parliament.

The Speaker laid upon the Table, -- Copy of the Speech from the Throne. -- Sessional Paper No. 8525-352-1.

Mr. Chrétien (Prime Minister), seconded by Mr. Gray (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada), moved, -- That the Speech of His Excellency the Governor General, delivered this day from the Throne to the two Houses of Parliament, be taken into consideration later this day.

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

VACANCIES

The Speaker informed the House that a vacancy had occurred in the House of Commons for the Electoral District of Lac-Saint-Jean, in the Province of Québec, by reason of the resignation of Mr. Bouchard, and that, pursuant to subsection 25(1)(b) of the Parliament of Canada Act, he had addressed, on January 15, 1996, his warrant to the Chief Electoral Officer for the issue of a writ for the election of a member to fill the vacancy.

The Speaker informed the House that a vacancy had occurred in the House of Commons for the Electoral District of Papineau -- Saint-Michel, in the Province of Québec, by reason of the resignation of Mr. Ouellet, and that, pursuant to subsection 25(1)(b) of the Parliament of Canada Act, he had addressed, on January 25, 1996, his warrant to the Chief Electoral Officer for the issue of a writ for the election of a member to fill the vacancy.

The Speaker informed the House that a vacancy had occurred in the House of Commons for the Electoral District of Etobicoke North, in the Province of Ontario, by reason of the resignation of Mr. MacLaren, and that, pursuant to subsection 25(1)(b) of the Parliament of Canada Act, he had addressed, on January 25, 1996, his warrant to the Chief Electoral Officer for the issue of a writ for the election of a member to fill the vacancy.

The Speaker informed the House that a vacancy had occurred in the House of Commons for the Electoral District of Humber -- St. Barbe -- Baie Verte, in the Province of Newfoundland, by reason of the resignation of Mr. Tobin, and that, pursuant to subsection 25(1)(b) of the Parliament of Canada Act, he had addressed, on January 25, 1996, his warrant to the Chief Electoral Officer for the issue of a writ for the election of a member to fill the vacancy.

The Speaker informed the House that a vacancy had occurred in the House of Commons for the Electoral District of Saint-Laurent -- Cartierville, in the Province of Québec, by reason of the resignation of Mrs. Maheu, and that, pursuant to subsection 25(1)(b) of the Parliament of Canada Act, he had addressed, on February 1, 1996, his warrant to the Chief Electoral Officer for the issue of a writ for the election of a member to fill the vacancy.

DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES OF THE WHOLE HOUSE

Mr. Chrétien (Prime Minister), seconded by Mr. Gray (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada), moved, -- That Mr. Kilger (Stormont -- Dundas) be appointed Deputy Chairman of Committees of the Whole House.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following division:

(Division--Vote N^o 1)

YEAS-POUR

Members--Députés

-- Adams -- Alcock -- Anderson -- Arseneault -- Assadourian -- Augustine -- Axworthy --  (Winnipeg South Centre/Sud-Centre) -- Baker -- Bakopanos -- Barnes -- Beaumier -- Bélair -- Bélanger -- Bertrand -- Bevilacqua -- Blondin-Andrew -- Bodnar -- Bonin -- Boudria -- Brushett -- Bryden -- Calder -- Campbell -- Cannis -- Catterall -- Cauchon -- Chamberlain -- Chan -- Chrétien --  (Saint-Maurice) -- Cohen -- Collenette -- Collins -- Comuzzi -- Copps -- Cowling -- Crawford -- Culbert -- DeVillers -- Dhaliwal -- Dingwall -- Dromisky -- Duhamel -- Dupuy -- Easter -- Eggleton -- English -- Finestone -- Finlay -- Flis -- Fontana -- Fry -- Gagliano -- Gagnon --  (Bonaventure -- Îles-de-la-Madeleine) -- Gallaway -- Gerrard -- Godfrey -- Goodale -- Graham -- Gray --  (Windsor West/Ouest) -- Grose -- Guarnieri -- Harb -- Harper --  (Churchill) -- Harvard -- Hickey -- Hopkins -- Hubbard -- Ianno -- Irwin -- Jackson -- Jordan -- Keyes -- Kirkby -- Knutson -- Lavigne --  (Verdun -- Saint-Paul) -- LeBlanc --  (Cape/Cap Breton Highlands -- Canso) -- Lee -- Loney -- MacAulay -- MacDonald -- Malhi -- Manley -- Marchi -- Marleau -- Martin --  (LaSalle -- Émard) -- Massé -- McCormick -- McGuire -- McLellan --  (Edmonton Northwest/Nord-Ouest) -- McWhinney -- Mifflin -- Milliken -- Minna -- Mitchell -- Murphy -- Murray -- Nault -- O'Brien -- O'Reilly -- Pagtakhan -- Paradis -- Parrish -- Patry -- Peric -- Peters -- Peterson -- Phinney -- Pickard --  (Essex -- Kent) -- Pillitteri -- Proud -- Reed -- Regan -- Richardson -- Rideout -- Ringuette-Maltais -- Robichaud -- Robillard -- Scott --  (Fredericton -- York -- Sunbury) -- Shepherd -- Sheridan -- Simmons -- Skoke -- St. Denis -- Steckle -- Stewart --  (Brant) -- Stewart --  (Northumberland) -- Szabo -- Telegdi -- Terrana -- Thalheimer -- Torsney -- Ur -- Valeri -- Vanclief -- Verran -- Volpe -- Walker -- Wappel -- Wells -- Whelan -- Wood -- Young -- Zed -- 143

NAYS-CONTRE

Members--Députés

-- Abbott -- Althouse -- Asselin -- Bachand -- Bélisle -- Bellehumeur -- Bernier --  (Gaspé) -- Bernier --  (Mégantic - Compton - Stanstead) -- Bhaduria -- Blaikie -- Breitkreuz --  (Yellowhead) -- Breitkreuz --  (Yorkton -- Melville) -- Bridgman -- Brien -- Canuel -- Caron -- Charest -- Chatters -- Chrétien --  (Frontenac) -- Crête -- Cummins -- Dalphond-Guiral -- de Jong -- de Savoye -- Debien -- Deshaies -- Dubé -- Duceppe -- Dumas -- Duncan -- Fillion -- Forseth -- Gagnon --  (Québec) -- Gauthier -- Gilmour -- Godin -- Gouk -- Grey --  (Beaver River) -- Grubel -- Guay -- Guimond -- Hanrahan -- Harper --  (Calgary West/Ouest) -- Harper --  (Simcoe Centre) -- Harris -- Hart -- Hayes -- Hermanson -- Hill --  (Macleod) -- Hoeppner -- Jacob -- Johnston -- Lalonde -- Landry -- Langlois -- Laurin -- Lavigne --  (Beauharnois -- Salaberry) -- Lebel -- Leblanc --  (Longueuil) -- Lefebvre -- Leroux --  (Richmond -- Wolfe) -- Leroux --  (Shefford) -- Loubier -- Marchand -- Martin --  (Esquimalt -- Juan de Fuca) -- Mayfield -- Ménard -- Mercier -- Meredith -- Morrison -- Nunez -- Penson -- Picard --  (Drummond) -- Plamondon -- Pomerleau -- Ramsay -- Riis -- Rocheleau -- Sauvageau -- Schmidt -- Solberg -- Speaker -- St-Laurent -- Stinson -- Strahl -- Tremblay --  (Rimouski -- Témiscouata) -- Tremblay --  (Rosemont) -- Venne -- Wayne -- 89

ASSISTANT DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES OF THE WHOLE HOUSE

Mr. Chrétien (Prime Minister), seconded by Mr. Gray (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada), moved, -- That Mrs. Ringuette-Maltais (Madawaska -- Victoria) be appointed Assistant Deputy Chairman of Committees of the Whole House.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the motion and, pursuant to Standing Order 45, the recorded division was deferred until Wednesday, February 28, 1996, at 6:30 p.m.

BUSINESS OF SUPPLY

Pursuant to Standing Order 81, Mr. Massé (President of the Treasury Board), seconded by Mr. Gray (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada), moved, -- That the Business of Supply be considered at the next sitting of the House.

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

The Speaker informed the House that, pursuant to Standing Order 81(8), a total of four days will be allotted for the Supply period ending March 26, 1996.

ADDRESS IN REPLY TO THE SPEECH FROM THE THRONE

The Order for the consideration of the Speech from the Throne delivered by His Excellency the Governor General of Canada to both Houses of Parliament was read.

Mrs. Sheridan (Saskatoon -- Humboldt), seconded by Mr. Bélanger (Ottawa -- Vanier), moved, -- That the following Address be presented to His Excellency the Governor General of Canada:

To His Excellency the Right Honourable Roméo A. LeBlanc, a Member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY:

We, Her Majesty's most loyal and dutiful subjects, the House of Commons of Canada, in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Excellency for the gracious Speech which Your Excellency has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.

Debate arose thereon.

Mr. Gauthier (Roberval), seconded by Mr. Duceppe (Laurier -- Sainte-Marie), moved, -- That the debate be now adjourned.

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

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. Anderson (Minister of Transport) -- Report on the financial operations of Harbours and Ports for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1995, pursuant to the Public Harbours and Port Facilities Act, R.S. 1985, c. P-29, s. 26. -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-352-171. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Transport)

-- by Mr. Anderson (Minister of Transport) -- Report of the Canadian Coast Guard (Ship Safety) on exemptions issued to Masters, Mates and Engineers for the year 1995, pursuant to the Canada Shipping Act, R.S. 1985, c. S-9, sbs. 132(2). -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-352-239. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Transport)

-- by Mr. Anderson (Minister of Transport) -- Summaries of the Corporate Plans for 1996 to 2000 and the Capital Budgets for 1996 of Canada Ports Corporation, Halifax Port Corporation, Montréal Port Corporation, Prince Rupert Port Corporation, Port of Québec Corporation, Saint John Port Corporation, St. John's Port Corporation and Vancouver Port Corporation, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4). -- Sessional Paper No. 8562-352-805. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Transport)

-- by Mr. Axworthy (Minister of Foreign Affairs) -- Copy of Order in Council P.C. 1996-80, amending the United Nations Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) Regulations, made by Order in Council P.C. 1992-1167 of June 2, 1992, pursuant to the United Nations Act, R.S. 1985, c. U-2, sbs. 4(1). -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-352-592. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade)

-- by Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance) -- Report of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal concerning certain combed, ring-spun, polycotton, blended yarns dated January 22, 1996, pursuant to the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, 1988, c. 65, sbs. 21(2). -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-352-572. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Finance)

-- by Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance) -- Report of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal entitled "Request for Tariff Relief by Peerless Clothing Inc. regarding woven fabrics of flax" dated January 17, 1996, pursuant to the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, 1988, c. 65, sbs. 21(2). -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-352-572A. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Finance)

-- by Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance) -- Report of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal entitled "Request for Tariff Relief by Sunsoakers Inc. regarding C-Tex and C-Tex "Sport" fabrics" dated January 17, 1996, pursuant to the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, 1988, c. 65, sbs. 21(2). -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-352-572B. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Finance)

-- by Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance) -- Report of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal entitled "Request for Tariff Relief by Hi Fibre Textiles (Sugoi) Ltd. regarding Polyester Knitted Jersey Fabric" dated January 29, 1996, pursuant to the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, 1988, c. 65, sbs. 21(2). -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-352-572C. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Finance)

-- by Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance) -- Summaries of the Corporate Plan for 1996 to 2000 and the Capital Budget for 1996 of the Canada Development Investment Corporation, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S. 1985, c. F-11, s. 125(4). -- Sessional Paper No. 8562-352-831. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Finance)

-- by Mr. Massé (President of the Treasury Board) -- Report on the receipts and disbursements of the Office of the Auditor General for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1995, pursuant to the Auditor General Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-17, s-21(2). -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-352-100. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts)

ADJOURNMENT

At 6:30 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 2:00 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).