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

Whereupon, Mr. Milliken (Kingston and the Islands), Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees of the Whole, took the Chair, pursuant to subsection 43(1) of the Parliament of Canada Act.

PRAYERS

DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS

Tabling of Documents

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Knutson (Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister) laid upon the Table, -- Government responses, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to the following petitions:

-- No. 361-2228 concerning the regulation of food and drugs. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-25E;

-- No. 361-2264 concerning health care services. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-66S;

-- No. 361-2333 concerning the Divorce Act. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-34V.

Presenting Reports from Inter-parliamentary Delegations

Pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), Mr. Hanger (Calgary Northeast) presented the Report on the meeting of the Standing Committee and the Secretaries of National Delegations of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, held in Dresden, Germany, from March 26 to 28, 1999. -- Sessional Paper No. 8565-361-50H.

Presenting Reports from Committees

Mr. Bevilacqua (Vaughan -- King -- Aurora), from the Standing Committee on Finance, presented the 17th Report of the Committee (Bill C-72, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act, to implement measures that are consequential on changes to the Canada-U.S. Tax Convention (1980) and to amend the Income Tax Conventions Interpretation Act, the Old Age Security Act, the War Veterans Allowance Act and certain Acts related to the Income Tax Act, with amendments). -- Sessional Paper No. 8510-361-168.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings Nos. 181 and 185) was tabled.

Introduction of Private Members' Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Nystrom (Regina -- Qu'Appelle), seconded by Mr. Proctor (Palliser), Bill C-510, An Act to provide cost of production protection for the family farm, 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, petitions certified correct by the Clerk of Petitions were presented as follows:

-- by Mr. Stinson (Okanagan -- Shuswap), one concerning international trade (No. 361-2377) and one concerning sexual orientation (No. 361-2378);

-- by Mr. Lavigne (Verdun -- Saint-Henri), one concerning pesticides (No. 361-2379);

-- by Mr. Nystrom (Regina -- Qu'Appelle), one concerning the Senate (No. 361-2380);

-- by Mr. St-Julien (Abitibi -- Baie-James -- Nunavik), one concerning housing policy (No. 361-2381).

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The Order was read for the third reading of Bill C-71, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 16, 1999.

Mr. Dion (Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs) for Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance), seconded by Mr. MacAulay (Solicitor General of Canada), moved, -- That the Bill be now read a third time and do pass.

Debate arose thereon.

QUORUM

The attention of the Deputy Speaker was drawn to the lack of a quorum and, fewer than 20 members having been counted, pursuant to Standing Order 29(3), the bells were rung to call in the Members.

After two minutes, a quorum was found.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance), seconded by Mr. MacAulay (Solicitor General of Canada), -- That Bill C-71, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 16, 1999, be now read a third time and do pass.

The debate continued.

QUORUM

The attention of the Deputy Speaker was drawn to the lack of a quorum and, fewer than 20 members having been counted, pursuant to Standing Order 29(3), the bells were rung to call in the Members.

After five minutes, a quorum was found.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance), seconded by Mr. MacAulay (Solicitor General of Canada), -- That Bill C-71, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 16, 1999, 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.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance), seconded by Mr. MacAulay (Solicitor General of Canada), -- That Bill C-71, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 16, 1999, be now read a third time and do pass.

The debate continued.

The question was put on the motion and, pursuant to Standing Order 45, the recorded division was deferred until Monday, May 10, 1999, at the ordinary hour of daily adjournment.

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

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 Environment and Sustainable Development of Bill C-441, An Act respecting the protection of wildlife species in Canada from extirpation or extinction.

Mr. Caccia (Davenport), seconded by Mr. Lincoln (Lac-Saint- Louis), moved, -- That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.

Debate arose thereon.

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

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 Clerk of Petitions -- 3rd Report, pursuant to Standing Order 131, which was as follows:

The Clerk of Petitions has the honour to report that the petition from the Canadian Manufacturers' Association, praying for the passage of a private act, filed by Mr. Godfrey (Don Valley West) on Wednesday, May 5, 1999, meets the requirements of Standing Order 131.

-- by Mr. Collenette (Minister of Transport) -- Report of VIA Rail Canada Inc., together with the Auditor General's report, for the year 1998, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R. S. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 150(1). -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-361-128A. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Transport)

ADJOURNMENT

At 6:30 p.m., the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).