PRAYERS

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

At 11:19 a.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. Riis (Kamloops, Thompson and Highland Valleys), seconded by Mr. Laliberte (Churchill River), -- That, in the opinion of this House, the government should consider making employer-provided transit passes an income tax-exempt benefit. (Private Members' Business M-360)

The debate continued.

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

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The Order was read for the second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Finance of Bill C-65, An Act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act.

Mr. Gagliano (Minister of Public Works and Government Services) for Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance), seconded by Mrs. Stewart (Minister of the Environment), moved, -- That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Finance.

Debate arose thereon.

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. Adams (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:

-- Nos. 361-1843 and 361-1853 concerning children's rights. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-18O;

-- No. 361-1844 concerning sentences in the Criminal Code. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-53E;

-- No. 361-1845 concerning pay equity. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-39D;

-- No. 361-1846 concerning health care services. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-66K;

-- Nos. 361-1847, 361-1857, 361-1858, 361-1859 and 361-1860 concerning gun control. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-67U;

-- No. 361-1848 concerning the Young Offenders Act. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-45S;

-- No. 361-1849 concerning pornography. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-49F;

-- Nos. 361-1850, 361-1851 and 361-1854 concerning marriage. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-80O;

-- No. 361-1852 concerning parental rights. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-16O;

-- No. 361-1855 concerning the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-64H.

Presenting Reports from Committees

Mr. Adams (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), from the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented the 56th Report of the Committee, which was as follows:

In accordance with its mandate under Standing Order 92(1), the Committee has selected from among the items for which an order of precedence was established on or after Thursday, December 3, 1998, the following as votable items:

Bill C-260 -- Mr. Cadman (Surrey North)

Bill C-306 -- Mr. Discepola (Vaudreuil -- Soulanges)

Bill C-393 -- Mr. Gallaway (Sarnia -- Lambton)

Motion M-265 -- Ms. Hardy (Yukon)

Motion M-381 -- Mr. Bigras (Rosemont)

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 47) was tabled.

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

Ms. Whelan (Essex), from the Standing Committee on Industry, presented the 13th Report of the Committee (The Year 2000 Problem: Canada's State of Readiness). -- Sessional Paper No. 8510-361-134.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government was requested by the Committee to table a comprehensive response.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings Nos. 50, 51, 53, 55, 59, 69, 71, 72, 73, 75, 80, 82 and 84) was tabled.

Presenting Petitions

-- by Mr. Szabo (Mississauga South), one concerning human rights in Indonesia (No. 361-1978);

-- by Mr. Epp (Elk Island), one concerning the income tax system (No. 361-1979);

-- by Ms. Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North Centre), one concerning health care services (No. 361-1980);

-- by Mr. DeVillers (Simcoe North), one concerning marriage (No. 361-1981);

-- by Mr. Riis (Kamloops, Thompson and Highland Valleys), one concerning international trade (No. 361-1982);

-- by Mr. Ritz (Battlefords -- Lloydminster), one concerning banks (No. 361-1983);

-- by Mr. Thompson (Wild Rose), one concerning marriage (No. 361-1984);

-- by Mrs. Ur (Lambton -- Kent -- Middlesex), one concerning gasoline additives (No. 361-1985);

-- by Mr. Solomon (Regina -- Lumsden -- Lake Centre), one concerning international trade (No. 361-1986).

Questions on Order Paper

Mr. Adams (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) presented the answer to question Q-133 on the Order Paper.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance), seconded by Mrs. Stewart (Minister of the Environment), -- That Bill C-65, An Act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Finance.

The debate continued.

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. Axworthy (Minister of Foreign Affairs) -- Report of Operations under the Export and Import Permits Act for the year 1997, pursuant to the Export and Import Permits Act, R.S. 1985, c. E-19, s. 27. -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-361-137A. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade)

-- by Mr. Pettigrew (Minister of Human Resources Development) -- Report on the Administration of the Labour Adjustment Benefits Act for October 1 to December 31, 1997, pursuant to the Labour Adjustment Benefits Act, R.S. 1985, c. L-1, sbs. 36(1). -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-361-456E. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities)

-- by Mr. Pettigrew (Minister of Human Resources Development) -- Report on the Administration of the Labour Adjustment Benefits Act for the Fourth Quarter and Total Fiscal Year 1997-1998, pursuant to the Labour Adjustment Benefits Act, R.S. 1985, c. L-1, sbs. 36(1). -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-361-456F. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities)

-- by Mr. Pettigrew (Minister of Human Resources Development) -- Report on the Administration of the Labour Adjustment Benefits Act for April 1 to June 30, 1998, pursuant to the Labour Adjustment Benefits Act, R.S. 1985, c. L-1, sbs. 36(1). -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-361-456G. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities)

-- by Mr. Pettigrew (Minister of Human Resources Development) -- Report on the Administration of the Labour Adjustment Benefits Act for July 1 to September 30, 1998, pursuant to the Labour Adjustment Benefits Act, R.S. 1985, c. L-1, sbs. 36(1). -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-361-456H. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities)

PROCEEDINGS ON ADJOURNMENT MOTION

At 6:30 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 38(1), the question "That this House do now adjourn" was deemed to have been proposed.

After debate, the question was deemed to have been adopted.

ADJOURNMENT

At 6:48 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).