The Order was read for the second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Transport of Bill C–44, An Act for making the system of Canadian ports competitive, efficient and commercially oriented, providing for the establishing of port authorities and the divesting of certain harbours and ports, for the commercialization of the St. Lawrence Seaway and ferry services and other matters related to maritime trade and transport and amending the Pilotage Act and amending and repealing other Acts as a consequence.

Pursuant to Standing Order 73(1), Mr. Gagliano (Minister of Labour and Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) for Mr. Anderson (Minister of Transport), seconded by Mr. Mifflin (Minister of Fisheries and Oceans), moved, — That the Bill be referred forthwith to the Standing Committee on Transport.

Debate arose thereon.

Pursuant to Standing Order 31, Members made statements.

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

Ms. Catterall (Ottawa West), from the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented the 30th Report of the Committee, which was as follows:

In accordance with its mandate under Standing Order 92(1), your Committee has selected from among the items for which an order of precedence was established on or after Thursday, June 13, 1996, the following as votable items:

Bill C–236 — An Act to prevent the importation of radioactive waste into Canada. — Mr. Strahl (Fraser Valley East)

Bill C–266 — An Act to amend the Competition Act (protection of whistle-blowers). — Mr. Bonin (Nickel Belt)

Bill C–297 — An Act to revoke the conviction of Louis David Riel. — Mrs. Tremblay (Rimouski–Témiscouata)

Bill C–307 — An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (polling hours). — Mrs. Terrana (Vancouver East)

Motion M–31 — All proposed peacekeeping or peace enforcement commitments involving more than 100 Canadian personnel should be put to a free vote in the House for approval or rejection. — Mr. Mills (Red Deer)

Motion M–241 — The Minister of Transport should proceed rapidly to establish a Canadian test site for Operation Respond, a computerized database of hazardous materials that would improve safety for fire fighters and help save lives and property. — Mr. Robinson (Burnaby–Kingsway)

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence (Issue No. 2, which includes this Report) was tabled.

Pursuant to Standing Order 92(2), the report was deemed adopted.

Ms. Catterall (Ottawa West), from the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented the 31st Report of the Committee, which was as follows:

The Committee recommends, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, the following changes in the membership of Standing Committees:

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence (Issue No. 2, which includes this Report) was tabled.

By unanimous consent, Ms. Catterall (Ottawa West), seconded by Mr. Boudria (Glengarry–Prescott–Russell), moved, — That the 31st 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.

By unanimous consent, Ms. Catterall (Ottawa West), seconded by Mr. Boudria (Glengarry–Prescott–Russell), moved, — That, notwithstanding any Standing Order, the House shall not sit on Friday, October 25, 1996.

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 Mr. Bevilacqua (York North), one concerning government spending (No. 352-1038) and one concerning the economy and employment (No. 352-1039);
• by Mr. Duhamel (St. Boniface), one concerning Constitutional amendments (No. 352-1040).

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Anderson (Minister of Transport), seconded by Mr. Mifflin (Minister of Fisheries and Oceans), — That Bill C–44, An Act for making the system of Canadian ports competitive, efficient and commercially oriented, providing for the establishing of port authorities and the divesting of certain harbours and ports, for the commercialization of the St. Lawrence Seaway and ferry services and other matters related to maritime trade and transport and amending the Pilotage Act and amending and repealing other Acts as a consequence, be referred forthwith to the Standing Committee on Transport.

The debate continued.

The question was put on the motion and, by unanimous consent, the recorded division was deferred until Tuesday, October 1, 1996, at the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Marchi (Minister of the Environment), seconded by Mr. Goodale (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food), — That Bill C–29, An Act to regulate interprovincial trade in and the importation for commercial purposes of certain manganese-based substances, be now read a third time and do pass;

And of the amendment of Mrs. Guay (Laurentides), seconded by Mr. Fillion (Chicoutimi), — That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after the word “That” and substituting the following:

“Bill C–29, An Act to regulate interprovincial trade in and the importation for commercial purposes of certain manganese-based substances, be not now read a third time but that it be read a third time this day six months hence.”

The debate continued.

At 1:31 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(6), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members’ Business.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Szabo (Mississauga South), seconded by Mr. Lee (Scarborough–Rouge River), — That, in the opinion of this House, the government should consider amending the Income Tax Act to provide a Care-Giver Tax Credit for those who provide care in the home for pre-school children, the disabled, the chronically-ill or the aged. (Private Members’ Business M–30)

The debate continued.

Pursuant to Standing Order 93, the Order was dropped to the bottom of the order of precedence on the Order Paper.

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

At 2:30 p.m., the Acting Speaker adjourned the House until Monday at 11:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).