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

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The Order was read for the third reading of Bill C-66, An Act to amend the National Housing Act and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Act and to make a consequential amendment to another Act.

Mr. Gagliano (Minister of Public Works and Government Services), 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.

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

Mr. Anderson (Minister of Fisheries and Oceans) laid upon the Table, -- Response of the government, pursuant to Standing Order 109, to the 7th Report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, ``The Nunavut Report'' (Sessional Paper No. 8510-361-123), presented to the House on Tuesday, December 8, 1998. -- Sessional Paper No. 8512-361-123.

Mr. Anderson (Minister of Fisheries and Oceans) laid upon the Table, -- Response of the government, pursuant to Standing Order 109, to the 8th Report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, ``The Prince Edward Island Report'' (Sessional Paper No. 8510-361-127), presented to the House on Thursday, December 10, 1998. -- Sessional Paper No. 8512-361-127.

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

-- No. 361-2337 concerning parental rights. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-16T;

-- No. 361-2342 concerning marriage. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-80DD.

Presenting Reports from Committees

Mr. Cullen (Etobicoke North), from the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Government Operations, presented the 4th Report of the Committee (Bill C-78, An Act to establish the Public Sector Pension Investment Board, to amend the Public Service Superannuation Act, the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superannuation Act, the Defence Services Pension Continuation Act, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Pension Continuation Act, the Members of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act and the Canada Post Corporation Act and to make a consequential amendment to another Act, with amendments). -- Sessional Paper No. 8510-361-169.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings Nos. 64 to 68 and 70) was tabled.

Mr. St-Julien (Abitibi -- Baie-James -- Nunavik), from the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, presented the 7th Report of the Committee (Aboriginal Economic Development: Urgent issues arising from visits to Northern Quebec and Nunavut). -- Sessional Paper No. 8510-361-170.

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 (Meeting No. 62) was tabled.

Ms. Whelan (Essex), from the Standing Committee on Industry, presented the 17th Report of the Committee (Main Estimates 1999-2000 -- Votes 1, 5, L10, L15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115 and 120 under INDUSTRY). -- Sessional Paper No. 8510-361-171.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings Nos. 118 to 121) 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. 361-2382);

-- by Mr. Pagtakhan (Winnipeg North -- St. Paul), one concerning the Divorce Act (No. 361-2383).

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Gagliano (Minister of Public Works and Government Services), seconded by Mr. Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), -- That Bill C-66, An Act to amend the National Housing Act and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Act and to make a consequential amendment to another Act, 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 1:08 p.m., by unanimous consent, the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Gallaway (Sarnia -- Lambton), seconded by Mr. Steckle (Huron -- Bruce), -- That Bill C-393, An Act to amend the Competition Act, 1998 (negative option marketing), be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Industry.

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.

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 Examiner of Petitions for Private Bills -- 3rd Report, which was as follows:

Pursuant to Standing Order 133(2), the Examiner of Petitions for Private Bills has taken into consideration the petition from the Canadian Manufacturers' Association, received by the House on Thursday, May 6, 1999, and has the honour to report that the requirements of the Standing Orders regarding notice have been fully complied with.

-- by Mr. Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) -- Response of the government, pursuant to Standing Order 109, to the 51st Report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, ``The Business of Supply: Completing the Circle of Control'' (Sessional Paper No. 8510-361-131), presented to the House on Thursday, December 10, 1998. -- Sessional Paper No. 8512-361-131.

-- by Mr. Vanclief (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food) -- Response of the government, pursuant to Standing Order 109, to the 4th Report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food ``The Farm Income Crisis in Canada'' (Sessional Paper No. 8510-361-128), presented to the House on Thursday, December 10, 1998. -- Sessional Paper No. 8512-361-128.

ADJOURNMENT

At 1:46 p.m., the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House until Monday at 11:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).