PRAYERS

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

At 11:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(6), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

Mr. Mancini (Sydney -- Victoria), seconded by Mr. Stoffer (Sackville -- Eastern Shore), moved, -- That, in the opinion of this House, the government should consider the advisability of taking into account safety concerns and local economic spin-offs before proceeding with any further privatisation of Marine Atlantic services between Cape Breton and Newfoundland. (Private Members' Business M-101)

Debate arose thereon.

Pursuant to Standing Order 96(1), the Order was dropped from the Order Paper.

INTERRUPTION

At 11:49 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:00 p.m., the sitting resumed.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

Mr. Chan (Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific)) for Mr. Dion (Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs), seconded by Mrs. Stewart (Minister of the Environment), moved, --

That a Special Joint Committee of the Senate and the House of Commons be appointed to consider matters related to the proposed resolution respecting a proposed Amendment to Term 17 of the Terms of Union of Newfoundland with Canada concerning the Newfoundland school system;

That sixteen Members of the House of Commons and seven Members of the Senate be members of the Committee;

That the Committee be directed to consult broadly and review such information as it deems appropriate with respect to this issue;

That the Committee have the power to sit during sittings and adjournments of the House;

That the Committee have the power to report from time to time, to send for persons, papers and records, and to print such papers and evidence as may be ordered by the Committee;

That the Committee have the power to hear witnesses via video conferencing;

That the Committee have the power to retain the services of expert, professional, technical and clerical staff;

That the quorum of the Committee be twelve members whenever a vote, resolution or other decision is taken, so long as both Houses are represented, and that the Joint Chairpersons be authorized to hold meetings, to receive evidence and authorize the printing thereof, whenever six members are present, so long as both Houses are represented;

That the Committee have the power to appoint, from among its members, such sub-committees as may be deemed advisable, and to delegate to such sub-committees all or any of its power, except the power to report to the Senate and House of Commons;

That the Committee have the power to authorize television and radio broadcasting of any or all of its proceedings;

That the Committee present its final report no later than December 5, 1997;

That, notwithstanding usual practices, if the House or the Senate are not sitting when the final report of the Committee is completed, the report may be deposited with the Clerk of the House which is not sitting, or the Clerks of both Houses if neither House is then sitting, and the report shall thereupon be deemed to have been presented in that House, or both Houses, as the case may be; and

That a Message be sent to the Senate requesting that House to unite with this House for the above purpose, and to select, if the Senate deems it advisable, Members to act on the proposed Special Joint Committee. (Government Business No. 5)

Debate arose thereon.

Mr. Manning (Calgary Southwest), seconded by Miss Grey (Edmonton North), moved the following amendment, -- That the motion be amended

(a) by replacing the words: ``Special Joint Committee of the Senate and the House of Commons'' in the first paragraph with the words: ``Special Committee of the House of Commons'';

(b) by adding immediately after the words: ``concerning the Newfoundland school system;'' the following: ``more specifically, the matter of applying the following three tests for such a proposed constitutional amendment:

1. The Test of Democratic Consent,

2. The Test of Canadian National Interest, and

3. The Test of the Rule of Law;''

(c) by deleting the words: ``and seven Members of the Senate'' in the second paragraph;

(d) by inserting after the word ``Committee'' in the sixth paragraph the words: ``be directed and authorized to hold hearings in Newfoundland and'';

(e) by replacing all the words in the eighth paragraph with the following: ``That the quorum of the committee be nine members whenever a vote, resolution or other decision is taken, and that the Chairperson be authorized to hold meetings, to receive evidence and authorize the printing thereof, whenever six members are present;'';

(f) by deleting the words ``Senate and'' in the ninth paragraph;

(g) by replacing all the words in the twelfth paragraph with the following: ``That, notwithstanding usual practices, if the House is not sitting when the final report of the committee is completed, the report may be deposited with the Clerk of the House, and the report shall thereupon be deemed to have been presented to the House;''; and

(h) by deleting all the words in the last paragraph.

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

Introduction of Private Members' Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Hill (Prince George -- Peace River), seconded by Mr. Ramsay (Crowfoot), Bill C-266, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (alcohol-sensing ignition control for automobiles), was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Presenting Petitions

Pursuant to Standing Order 36, a petition certified correct by the Clerk of Petitions was presented as follows:

-- by Mr. Rocheleau (Trois-Rivières), concerning the Canada Labour Code (No. 361-0117).

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Dion (Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs), seconded by Mrs. Stewart (Minister of the Environment); (Government Business No. 5)

And of the amendment of Mr. Manning (Calgary Southwest), seconded by Miss Grey (Edmonton North).

The debate continued.

Motions

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, -- That, at the conclusion of today's debate on the amendment to Government Business No. 5, the Speaker shall put the question on the amendment and a recorded division shall be deemed requested and deferred until Tuesday, October 28, 1997, at the expiry of Government Orders; and

That, on Tuesday, October 28, 1997, immediately following the recorded division on the amendment to Government Business No. 5, the Speaker shall put the question on the main motion without further debate or amendment.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Dion (Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs), seconded by Mrs. Stewart (Minister of the Environment); (Government Business No. 5)

And of the amendment of Mr. Manning (Calgary Southwest), seconded by Miss Grey (Edmonton North).

The question was put on the amendment and, pursuant to Order made earlier today, the recorded division was deferred until Tuesday, October 28, 1997, at the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders.

PROCEEDINGS ON ADJOURNMENT MOTION

At 6:21 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 6:39 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).