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

Whereupon, Ms. Thibeault (Saint-Lambert), Assistant Deputy Chairman of Committees of the Whole House, took the Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 8.

PRAYERS

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The Order was read for the third reading of Bill C-27, An Act to amend the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act and the Canada Shipping Act to enable Canada to implement the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks and other international fisheries treaties or arrangements.

Mr. Anderson (Minister of Fisheries and Oceans), seconded by Mr. Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), moved, -- That the Bill be now read a third time and do pass.

Debate arose thereon.

MOTIONS

By unanimous consent, it was resolved, -- That this House recognizes the outstanding contribution that Wayne Gretzky has made to Canada's national sport.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Anderson (Minister of Fisheries and Oceans), seconded by Mr. Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), -- That Bill C-27, An Act to amend the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act and the Canada Shipping Act to enable Canada to implement the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks and other international fisheries treaties or arrangements, be now read a third time and do pass.

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. Alcock (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. 361-2133, 361-2139, 361-2140, 361-2155, 361-2156, 361-2158 and 361-2162 concerning pay equity. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-39J;

-- Nos. 361-2138 and 361-2141 concerning the Divorce Act. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-34P;

-- Nos. 361-2147 and 361-2157 concerning international trade. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-54T;

-- No. 361-2161 concerning nuclear weapons. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-46R;

-- No. 361-2163 concerning gun control. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-67AA;

-- No. 361-2172 concerning euthanasia. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-20H.

Presenting Reports from Committees

Mr. Murray (Lanark -- Carleton), from the Standing Committee on Industry, presented the 16th Report of the Committee (Bill C-235 (former title: An Act to amend the Competition Act (protection of those who purchase products from vertically integrated suppliers who compete with them at retail)), with amendments). -- Sessional Paper No. 8510-361-155.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings Nos. 106 to 111) was tabled.

Presenting Petitions

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

-- by Mr. Harb (Ottawa Centre), one concerning the Divorce Act (No. 361-2285);

-- by Mr. Mark (Dauphin -- Swan River), one concerning marriage (No. 361-2286), one concerning the Young Offenders Act (No. 361-2287), one concerning the Port of Churchill (No. 361-2288), two concerning gun control (Nos. 361-2289 and 361-2290) and two concerning the Senate (Nos. 361-2291 and 361-2292);

-- by Mr. Szabo (Mississauga South), one concerning human rights in Indonesia (No. 361-2293).

Questions on Order Paper

Mr. Alcock (Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada) presented the answers to questions Q-197 and Q-206 on the Order Paper.

MOTIONS

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, -- That no later than the expiry of Government Orders today, all questions necessary to dispose of the motion for third reading of Bill C-27, An Act to amend the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act and the Canada Shipping Act to enable Canada to implement the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks and other international fisheries treaties or arrangements, shall be deemed put and a recorded division deemed requested and deferred until Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Anderson (Minister of Fisheries and Oceans), seconded by Mr. Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), -- That Bill C-27, An Act to amend the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act and the Canada Shipping Act to enable Canada to implement the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks and other international fisheries treaties or arrangements, be now read a third time and do pass.

The debate continued.

Pursuant to Order made earlier today, the question was deemed put and a recorded division was deemed requested and deferred until Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at the expiry of the time provided for Government Business.

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

At 1:29, by unanimous consent, 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 Justice and Human Rights of Bill C-440, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (flight).

Mr. McTeague (Pickering -- Ajax -- Uxbridge), seconded by Mr. Jordan (Leeds -- Grenville), moved, -- That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

Debate arose thereon.

By unanimous consent, the question was put on the motion and agreed to.

Accordingly, the Bill was read a second time and referred to the the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

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 the Acting Speaker -- Minutes of Proceedings of the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons for March 2, 1999. -- Sessional Paper No. 8527-361-45.

-- by the Acting Speaker -- Amendments to the By-laws adopted by the Board of Internal Economy on April 13, 1999. -- Sessional Paper No. 8527-361-46.

ADJOURNMENT

At 2:22 p.m., the Acting Speaker adjourned the House until Monday at 11:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).