The Clerk informed the House of the unavoidable absence of the Speaker.

Whereupon, Mr. Kilgour (Edmonton Southeast), Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees of the Whole, took the Chair, pursuant to subsection 43(1) of the Parliament of Canada Act.

PRAYERS

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

By unanimous consent, Mr. Boudria (Glengarry -- Prescott -- Russell), seconded by Mrs. Dalphond-Guiral (Laval Centre) and Mr. Ringma (Nanaimo -- Cowichan), moved, -- That a Bill entitled "An Act establishing the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians" be now deemed adopted at all stages without debate or amendment.

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

Accordingly, the Bill was deemed to have been introduced, read a first time and printed, deemed read the second time and referred to a Committee of the Whole, deemed reported without amendment, deemed concurred in at report stage and deemed read the third time and passed.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance), seconded by Ms. McLellan (Minister of Natural Resources), -- That Bill C-31, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 6, 1996, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Finance;

And of the amendment of Mr. Silye (Calgary Centre), seconded by Mr. Thompson (Wild Rose), -- That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after the word "That" and substituting the following:

"this House declines to give second reading to Bill C-31, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 6, 1996, since the principle of the Bill does not seek to abolish the Goods and Services Tax.";

And of the sub-amendment of Mr. Leblanc (Longueuil), seconded by Mr. Dumas (Argenteuil -- Papineau), -- That the amendment be amended by adding after the word "Tax" the following:

"as promised before and after the October 1993 federal election".

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. Richardson (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs) laid upon the Table, -- Government responses, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to the following petitions: (1) Nos. 352-0015 and 352-0058 concerning the Criminal Code of Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-15B; (2) Nos. 352-0026, 352-0050 and 352-0151 concerning the parole system. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-29A; (3) No. 352-0048 concerning national unity. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-33A; (4) Nos. 352-0167, 352-0176, 352-0188 and 352-0199 concerning alcoholic beverages. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-41C; (5) No. 352-0201 concerning the tax on gasoline. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-44E; (6) Nos. 352-0202 and 352-0203 concerning the tax system. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-24D; (7) No. 352-0204 concerning the income tax system. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-28H.

Statements by Ministers

Pursuant to Standing Order 33(1), Mr. Axworthy (Minister of Foreign Affairs) made a statement.

Pursuant to Standing Order 33(1), Mr. Gagliano (Minister of Labour) made a statement.

Presenting Reports from Committees

Mr. Bevilacqua (York North), from the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development, presented the 3rd Report of the Committee (Bill C-12, An Act respecting employment insurance in Canada, with amendments). -- Sessional Paper No. 8510-352-4.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceeding (Issues Nos. 75 and 76 of the 1st Session of the 35th Parliament and Issues Nos. 1 to 3 and 4, which includes this Report) was tabled.

Mr. Bonin (Nickel Belt), from the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, presented the 1st Report of the Committee (Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, L20, L25, L30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 under INDIAN AFFAIRS AND NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT -- Main Estimates 1996-97). -- Sessional Paper No. 8510-352-5.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Issue No. 1, which includes this Report) was tabled.

Introduction of Private Members' Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Assadourian (Don Valley North), seconded by Mr. Shepherd (Durham), Bill C-276, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (registration of political parties), 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 Ms. Meredith (Surrey -- White Rock -- South Langley), one concerning the tax on gasoline (No. 352-0302) and one concerning the parole system (No. 352-0303);

-- by Mr. Discepola (Vaudreuil), one concerning national unity (No. 352-0304);

-- by Mr. Harper (Simcoe Centre), one concerning sexual orientation (No. 352-0305) and one concerning the sexual exploitation of minors (No. 352-0306);

-- by Mr. Speaker (Lethbridge), one concerning impaired driving (No. 352-0307).

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance), seconded by Ms. McLellan (Minister of Natural Resources), -- That Bill C-31, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 6, 1996, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Finance;

And of the amendment of Mr. Silye (Calgary Centre), seconded by Mr. Thompson (Wild Rose);

And of the sub-amendment of Mr. Leblanc (Longueuil), seconded by Mr. Dumas (Argenteuil -- Papineau).

The debate continued.

At 1:35 p.m., pursuant to Order made Thursday, April 25, 1996 under the provisions of Standing Order 78(3), the Deputy Speaker interrupted the proceedings.

The question was put on the sub-amendment and, pursuant to Standing Order 45, the recorded division was deferred until Monday, April 29, 1996, at the ordinary hour of daily ajournment.

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

At 1:37 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(7), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Gallaway (Sarnia -- Lambton), seconded by Mr. English (Kitchener), -- That Bill C-216, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act (broadcasting policy), be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.

The debate continued.

The question was put on the motion and, pursuant to Standing Order 45, the recorded division was deferred until Monday, April 29, 1996, at the ordinary hour of daily adjournment.

RETURNS AND REPORTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE

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

-- by Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance) -- Report of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal entitled "Requests for Tariff Relief by Parapad Inc. regarding certain man-made nonwoven and needled felt fabrics", dated April 1, 1996, pursuant to the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, 1988, c. 65, sbs. 21(2). -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-352-572J. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Finance)

ADJOURNMENT

At 2:20 p.m., the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House until Monday at 11:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).