Pursuant to Standing Order 31, Members made statements.

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

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Zed (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:

1. No. 351-3809 concerning the Criminal Code of Canada. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-15;
2. No. 351-3871 concerning sex offenders. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-2B;
3. Nos. 351-4015, 351-4024, 351-4071, 351-4081, 351-4091 and 351-4098 concerning hormone use in livestock. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-14A;
4. No. 351-4051 concerning gun control. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-16;
5. No. 351-4075 concerning the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-17;
6. No. 351-4090 concerning the Canadian Wheat Board. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-18;
7. No. 351-4107 concerning euthanasia. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-19.

Mr. Zed (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), from the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented the 3rd Report of the Committee, which was as follows:

The Committee recommends, pursuant to Standing Order 104 and 114, the following change in the membership of the Standing Committee:

The Committee also recommends, pursuant to Standing Order 104 and 114, that the following Members be added to the list of Associate Members of Standing Committees:

The Committee further recommends, that where a Member is appointed as permanent member to a Committee in accordance with this report and to which he was previously appointed Associate Member, that the name of the Member be struck from the list of Associate Members of the said Committee.

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

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Ms. Marleau (Minister of Public Works and Government Services), seconded by Mr. Dingwall (Minister of Health), Bill C–7, An Act to establish the Department of Public Works and Government Services and to amend and repeal certain Acts, was introduced, read the first time and ordered to be printed.

Recommendation
(Pursuant to Standing Order 79(2))

His Excellency the Governor General recommends to the House of Commons the appropriation of public revenue under the circumstances, in the manner and for the purposes set out in a measure entitled “An Act to establish the Department of Public Works and Government Services and to amend and repeal certain Acts”.

Pursuant to Order made Monday, March 4, 1996, the Bill (previously Bill C–52, 1st Session, 35th Parliament) was deemed to have been read the second time, considered by the Standing Committee on Government Operations, reported with amendments and concurred in at report stage with further amendments.

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Dingwall (Minister of Health), seconded by Ms. Marleau (Minister of Public Works and Government Services), Bill C–8, An Act respecting the control of certain drugs, their precursors and other substances and to amend certain other Acts and repeal the Narcotic Control Act in consequence thereof, was introduced, read the first time and ordered to be printed.

Recommendation
(Pursuant to Standing Order 79(2))

His Excellency the Governor General recommends to the House of Commons the appropriation of public revenue under the circumstances, in the manner and for the purposes set out in a measure entitled “An Act respecting the control of certain drugs, their precursors and other substances and to amend certain other Acts and repeal the Narcotic Control Act in consequence thereof”.

Pursuant to Order made Monday, March 4, 1996, the Bill (previously Bill C–7, 1st Session, 35th Parliament) was deemed to have been adopted at all stages and passed by the House.

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Gagliano (Minister of Labour and Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) for Mr. Rock (Minister of Justice), seconded by Mr. Dingwall (Minister of Health), Bill C–9, An Act respecting the Law Commission of Canada, was introduced, read the first time and ordered to be printed.

Recommendation
(Pursuant to Standing Order 79(2))

His Excellency the Governor General recommends to the House of Commons the appropriation of public revenue under the circumstances, in the manner and for the purposes set out in a measure entitled “An Act respecting the Law Commission of Canada”.

Pursuant to Order made Monday, March 4, 1996, the Bill (previously Bill C–106, 1st Session, 35th Parliament) was deemed to have been read the second time, considered by the Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs and reported with amendments.

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Allmand (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce), seconded by Mr. Anawak (Nunatsiaq), Bill C–223, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (oath of allegiance), was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Thompson (Wild Rose), seconded by Mr. Chatters (Athabasca), Bill C–224, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (arrest without warrant), was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Duncan (North Island–Powell River), seconded by Mr. Ramsay (Crowfoot), Bill C–225, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act (Indian Act), was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mrs. Venne (Saint-Hubert), seconded by Mr. Marchand (Québec- Est), Bill C–226, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (self- defence), was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

By unanimous consent, Mr. Zed (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), seconded by Mr. Boudria (Glengarry–Prescott–Russell), moved, — That the 3rd Report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented earlier today, be concurred in.

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

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

• by Mrs. Ur (Lambton–Middlesex), one concerning the Young Offenders Act (No. 352-0070);
• by Mr. Szabo (Mississauga South), two concerning alcoholic beverages (Nos. 352-0071 and 352-0072);
• by Mr. Bernier (Gaspé), one concerning Québec-Téléphone (No. 352-0073);
• by Mr. Landry (Lotbinière), one concerning Québec-Téléphone (No. 352-0074);
• by Mr. Harb (Ottawa Centre), one concerning the situation in Sri Lanka (No. 352-0075);
• by Mr. Iftody (Provencher), three concerning the nuclear industry (Nos. 352-0076 to 352-0078);
• by Mr. Johnston (Wetaskiwin), one concerning the Divorce Act (No. 352-0079);
• by Mr. Solomon (Regina–Lumsden), one concerning gasoline pricing (No. 352-0080) and one concerning the tax on gasoline (No. 352-0081);
• by Mr. Adams (Peterborough), one concerning the imprisonment of Leonard Peltier in the United States (No. 352-0082);
• by Mr. Bernier (Beauce), one concerning Québec-Téléphone (No. 352-0083);
• by Mrs. Tremblay (Rimouski–Témiscouata), two concerning Québec-Téléphone (Nos.–352-0084 and 352-0085);
• by Mr. Maloney (Erie), two concerning the tax on gasoline (Nos. 352-0086 and 352-0087) and two concerning the tax system (Nos. 352-0088 and 352-0089);
• by Mrs. Payne (St. John’s West), one concerning veterans’ affairs (No. 352-0090);
• by Mr. Gallaway (Sarnia–Lambton), one concerning sentences in the Criminal Code (No. 352-0091), one concerning sexual orientation (No. 352-0092) and one concerning Bell Canada (No. 352-0093);
• by Ms. Cohen (Windsor–St. Clair), one concerning corporal punishment (No. 352-0094);
• by Mr. de Savoye (Portneuf), one concerning Québec-Téléphone (No. 352-0095);
• by Mr. Langlois (Bellechasse), one concerning Québec-Téléphone (No. 352-0096);
• by Mr. Canuel (Matapédia–Matane), one concerning Québec-Téléphone (No. 352-0097);
• by Mr. Paré (Louis-Hébert), one concerning the tax on gasoline (No. 352-0098);
• by Mr. Rocheleau (Trois-Rivières), one concerning Québec-Téléphone (No. 352-0099);
• by Mr. Asselin (Charlevoix), one concerning Québec-Téléphone (No. 352-0100);
• by Mr. St-Laurent (Manicouagan), one concerning Québec-Téléphone (No. 352-0101);
• by Mr. Sauvageau (Terrebonne), one concerning the tax on gasoline (No. 352-0102);
• by Mr. Frazer (Saanich–Gulf Islands), one concerning hormone use in livestock (No. 352-0103);
• by Mr. Epp (Elk Island), one concerning the tax on gasoline (No. 352-0104);
• by Mrs. Hayes (Port Moody–Coquitlam), one concerning the tax on gasoline (No. 352-0105);
• by Mr. Ringma (Nanaimo–Cowichan), one concerning the tax on gasoline (No. 352-0106);
• by Mr. Chatters (Athabasca), three concerning the tax on gasoline (Nos. 352-0107 to 352-0109);
• by Mr. Forseth (New Westminster–Burnaby), one concerning the tax on gasoline (No. 352-0110).

The Order was read for the second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs of Bill C–2, An Act to amend the Judges Act.

Mr. Peters (Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)) for Mr. Rock (Minister of Justice), seconded by Mr. Gerrard (Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development) and Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification)), moved, — That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs.

Debate arose thereon.

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

Accordingly, the Bill was read the second time and, by unanimous consent, referred to a Committee of the Whole.

The Committee considered the Bill and reported it without amendment.

Pursuant to Standing Order 76.1(12), Mr. Peters (Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)) for Mr. Rock (Minister of Justice), seconded by Mr. Gerrard (Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development) and Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification)), moved, — That Bill C–2, An Act to amend the Judges Act, be concurred in at report stage.

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

Accordingly, the Bill was concurred in at report stage.

By unanimous consent, Mr. Peters (Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)) for Mr. Rock (Minister of Justice), seconded by Mr. Gerrard (Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development) and Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification)), moved, — That the Bill be now read a third time and do pass.

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

Accordingly, the Bill was read the third time and passed.

At 3:51 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:30 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Pursuant to Standing Order 83(2), the House proceeded to the consideration of Ways and Means Motion No. 1 for the Budget presentation.

Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance), seconded by Mr. Gray (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada), moved, — That this House approves in general the budgetary policy of the Government. (Ways and Means Proceedings No. 1)

Debate arose thereon.

Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance) laid upon the Table:

1. Notice of Ways and Means Motion to amend the Income Tax Act. — Sessional Paper No. 8570-352-1;
2. Notice of a Ways and Means Motion to amend the Excise Tax Act. — Sessional Paper No. 8570-352-2;
3. Budget Speech. — Sessional Paper No. 8570-352-3;
4. Budget in Brief. — Sessional Paper No. 8570-352-3A;
5. Budget Plan. — Sessional Paper No. 8570-352-3B;
6. The New Child Support Package. — Sessional Paper No. 8570-352-3C;
7. The Seniors Benefit Securing the Future. — Sessional Paper No. 8570-352-3D.

Pursuant to Standing Order 83(2), at the request of Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance), an Order of the Day was designated for the consideration of each of the Ways and Means motions, notice of which was laid upon the Table today.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance), seconded by Mr. Gray (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada), — That this House approves in general the budgetary policy of the Government. (Ways and Means Proceedings No. 1)

The debate continued.

By unanimous consent, on motion of Mr. Gray (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada) for Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance), seconded by Ms. Copps (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Canadian Heritage), Bill C–10, An Act to provide borrowing authority for the fiscal year beginning on April 1, 1996, was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Recommendation
(Pursuant to Standing Order 79(2))

His Excellency the Governor General recommends to the House of Commons the appropriation of public revenue under the circumstances, in the manner and for the purposes set out in a measure entitled “An Act to provide borrowing authority for the fiscal year beginning on April 1, 1996”.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance), seconded by Mr. Gray (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada), — That this House approves in general the budgetary policy of the Government. (Ways and Means Proceedings No. 1)

Mr. Loubier (Saint-Hyacinthe–Bagot), seconded by Mr. Duceppe (Laurier–Sainte-Marie), moved, — That the debate be now adjourned.

Pursuant to Standing Order 83(2), the motion was deemed adopted.

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

At 6:04 p.m., pursuant to S.O. 83(2), the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).