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. Nos. 352-0260, 352-0324, 352-0612, 352-0679, 352-0680 and 352-0723 concerning the parole system. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-29C;
2. No. 352-0508 concerning the labelling of food products. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-54A;
3. No. 352-0516 concerning victims of crime. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-107;
4. No. 352-0659 concerning the Armenian genocide. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-108;
5. Nos. 352-0731 and 352-0777 concerning the appointment of justices. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-109;
6. No. 352-0741 concerning renewable alternative energy sources. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-110;
7. No. 352-0811 concerning illicit drug use. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-111;
8. No. 352-0831 concerning gun control. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-16B.

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. St-Laurent (Manicouagan), seconded by Mr. Nunez (Bourassa), Bill C–337, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code, 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. Nunez (Bourassa), seconded by Mr. St-Laurent (Manicouagan), Bill C–338, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code and the Public Service Staff Relations Act (scabs and essential services), 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. Milliken (Kingston and the Islands), seconded by Mr. Godfrey (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for International Cooperation), Bill C–339, An Act to permit descendants of United Empire Loyalists who fled the land that later became the United States of America after the 1776 American Revolution to establish a claim to the property they or their ancestors owned in the United States that was confiscated without compensation, and claim compensation for it in the Canadian courts, and to exclude from Canada any foreign person trafficking in such property, 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 Order 36, petitions certified correct by the Clerk of Petitions were presented as follows:

• by Mr. Frazer (Saanich–Gulf Islands), one concerning Canadian U.N. Peacekeepers (No. 352-1131);
• by Mr. Abbott (Kootenay East), one concerning national parks (No. 352-1132);
• by Mr. Strahl (Fraser Valley East), one concerning the Canada-United States tax convention (No. 352-1133).

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

Q–6 — Mr. White (North Vancouver) — What was the total number of full time employees at each job classification in the respective federal departments for fiscal 1995?

Mr. Zed (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) presented the Return to this Order. — Sessional Paper No. 8555-352-6.

The Order was read for the second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs of Bill C–63, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Referendum Act.

Mr. Gray (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada), seconded by Mr. Peters (Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)), moved, — That the Bill be referred forthwith to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

Debate arose thereon.

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

Accordingly, the Bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

The Order was read for the third reading of Bill C–5, An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and the Income Tax Act.

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

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the motion and, pursuant to Standing Order 45, the recorded division was deferred until Wednesday, October 23, 1996, at 5:30 p.m.

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.

The debate continued.

Mr. Fillion (Chicoutimi), seconded by Mr. Deshaies (Abitibi), moved the following amendment, — 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 be referred back to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development for the purpose of reconsidering the Bill in its entirety.”

Debate arose thereon.

Pursuant to Standing Order 31, Members made statements.

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

The Speaker informed the House that the Honourable the Deputy Governor General will proceed to the Senate today at 4:15 p.m. for the purpose of giving the Royal Assent to certain Bills.

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 Mr. Fillion (Chicoutimi), seconded by Mr. Deshaies (Abitibi).

The debate continued.

The question was put on the amendment and, pursuant to Standing Order 45, the recorded division was deferred until Wednesday, October 23, 1996, at the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Massé (President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure), seconded by Mr. Irwin (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development), — That Bill C–49, An Act to authorize remedial and disciplinary measures in relation to members of certain administrative tribunals, to reorganize and dissolve certain federal agencies and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations;

And of the amendment of Mr. Bélisle (La Prairie), seconded by Mr. Rocheleau (Trois-Rivières), — 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–49, An Act to authorize remedial and disciplinary measures in relation to members of certain administrative tribunals, to reorganize and dissolve certain federal agencies and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, because the principle of the said Bill does not allow for the possibility for any parliamentary mechanism governing the appointment or revocation of the appointment of members of administrative tribunals.”

The debate continued.

A Message was received from the Honourable Peter deC. Cory, Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, in his capacity as Deputy 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.

Whereupon, the Speaker reported that, when the Commons had been in the Senate, the Honourable the Deputy Governor General was pleased to give, in Her Majesty’s name, the Royal Assent to the following Bills:

Bill C–4, An Act to amend the Standards Council of Canada Act — Chapter No. 24;

Bill C–243, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (reimbursement of election expenses) — Chapter No. 26;

Bill S–7, An Act to dissolve the Nipissing and James Bay Railway Company.

The Speaker also reported that he had addressed the Honourable the Deputy Governor General as follows:

“May it please Your Honour:

The Commons of Canada have voted Supplies required to enable the Government to defray certain expenses of the public service.

In the name of the Commons I present to Your Honour the following Bill:

An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the public service of Canada for the financial year ending March 31, 1997.

To which Bill I humbly request Your Honour’s Assent.”

Whereupon, the Clerk of the Senate, by Command of the Deputy the Governor General, did say:

“In Her Majesty’s name, the Honourable the Deputy to His Excellency the Governor General thanks Her Loyal Subjects, accepts their benevolence, and assents to this Bill.”

Bill C–56, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the public service of Canada for the financial year ending March 31, 1997 (Appropriation Act No. 2, 1996-97) — Chapter No. 25.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Massé (President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure), seconded by Mr. Irwin (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development), — That Bill C–49, An Act to authorize remedial and disciplinary measures in relation to members of certain administrative tribunals, to reorganize and dissolve certain federal agencies and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations;

And of the amendment of Mr. Bélisle (La Prairie), seconded by Mr. Rocheleau (Trois-Rivières).

The debate continued.

At 5:30 p.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 Industry of Bill C–266, An Act to amend the Competition Act (protection of whistle-blowers).

Mr. Bonin (Nickel Belt), seconded by Mr. Harb (Ottawa Centre), moved, — That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Industry.

Debate arose thereon.

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), a paper deposited with the Clerk of the House was laid upon the Table as follows:

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

• by Mrs. Chamberlain (Guelph–Wellington), one concerning the Canadian Human Rights Commission (No. 352-1134);
• by Mr. Richardson (Perth–Wellington–Waterloo), one concerning the tax system (No. 352-1135), two concerning profits from crime (Nos. 352-1136 and 352-1137), one concerning veterans’ affairs (No. 352-1138) and two concerning the pharmaceutical industry (Nos. 352-1139 and 352-1140).

At 6:28 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 2:00 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).