PRAYERS

NATIONAL ANTHEM

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

Presenting Reports from Inter-parliamentary Delegations

Pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), Mrs. Finestone (Mount Royal) presented the report of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union respecting its participation at the International Conference on Governance for Sustainable Growth and Equity, held at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, from July 28 to 30, 1997. -- Sessional Paper No. 8565-361-60B.

Presenting Petitions

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

-- by Mr. Szabo (Mississauga South), one concerning the tax system (No. 361- 0195) and one concerning alcoholic beverages (No. 361-0196);

-- by Mr. Strahl (Fraser Valley), one concerning sexual orientation (No. 361- 0197), three concerning the sexual exploitation of minors (Nos. 361-0198 to 361-0200), fourteen concerning the regulation of food and drugs (Nos. 361-0201 to 361- 0214) and three concerning parental rights (Nos. 361-0215 to 361-0217);

-- by Mr. Lowther (Calgary Centre), one concerning the protection of the environment (No. 361-0218);

-- by Mr. Duncan (Vancouver Island North), one concerning East Timor (No. 361- 0219);

-- by Ms. Hardy (Yukon), one concerning weather services (No. 361-0220) and one concerning violence in society (No. 361-0221);

-- by Ms. Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North Centre), one concerning the Canada Pension Plan (No. 361-0222).

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The Order was read for the consideration at report stage and second reading of Bill C-4, An Act to amend the Canadian Wheat Board Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, as reported by the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food with amendments.

Pursuant to Standing Order 76(5), the Speaker selected and grouped for debate the following motions:

Group No. 1 -- Motion No. 1.

Group No. 2 -- Motions Nos. 2, 31 and 41.

Group No. 4 -- Motions Nos. 4 to 19.

Group No. 5 -- Motions Nos. 20 to 30, 32 to 34, 45 and 47.

Group No. 6 -- Motions Nos. 35 to 40.

Group No. 7 -- Motions Nos. 42 to 44, 46 and 48.

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, -- That Motion No. 5, standing on the Notice Paper in the name of Mr. Hill (Prince George -- Peace River), be withdrawn, and the following new Motion No. 5 be substituted therefor, -- That Bill C-4, in Clause 3, be amended by replacing lines 7 to 14 on page 3 with the following:

``3.02(1) Fifteen directors are elected in accordance with sections 3.06 to 3.08 and the regulations. The president shall be appointed by the board in consultation with the Minister.''

Group No. 1

Mr. Breitkreuz (Yorkton -- Melville), seconded by Mr. Hill (Prince George -- Peace River), moved Motion No. 1, -- That Bill C-4 be amended by adding before line 4 on page 1 the following:

``0.1 The Canadian Wheat Board Act is amended by replacing the enacting phrase with the following:

WHEREAS agriculture is a basic foundation stone of the Canadian economy; and

WHEREAS interprovincial and export trade in grain produced in Canada is an essential element of the agricultural sector of the economy, and

WHEREAS it is necessary to establish an organization to coordinate such trade; and

WHEREAS such an organization will have a very significant effect on the producers of grain and must therefore have the securing of the best financial return to them as its object and first priority and must be accountable to them for its performance.

THEREFORE Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:''

Debate arose on the motion in Group No. 1 (Motion No. 1).

QUORUM

The attention of the 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 one minute, a quorum was found.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration at report stage and second reading of Bill C-4, An Act to amend the Canadian Wheat Board Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, as reported by the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food with amendments;

And of the motion in Group No. 1 (Motion No. 1).

The debate continued on the motion in Group No. 1.

QUORUM

The attention of the 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 one minute, a quorum was found.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration at report stage and second reading of Bill C-4, An Act to amend the Canadian Wheat Board Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, as reported by the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food with amendments;

And of the motion in Group No. 1 (Motion No. 1).

The debate continued on the motion in Group No. 1.

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

At 5:30 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(6), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

Ms. St-Jacques (Shefford), seconded by Mr. Dubé (Madawaska -- Restigouche), moved, -- That, in the opinion of this House, the government should review the level at which the child benefit is indexed. (Private Members' Business M-198)

Debate arose thereon.

Mr. Crête (Kamouraska-Rivière-du-Loup-Témiscouata-Les Basques), seconded by Mr. Bernier (Bonaventure -- Gaspé -- Îles- de-la-Madeleine -- Pabok), moved the following amendment, -- That the motion be amended by deleting all of the words after the word ``review'' and substituting the following:

``the possibility of fully indexing the child benefit.''

Debate arose thereon.

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

RETURNS AND REPORTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(1), a paper deposited with the Clerk of the House was laid upon the Table as follows:

-- by Mr. Gagliano (Minister of Public Works and Government Services) -- Report of Queens Quay West Land Corporation, together with the Auditor General's report, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R. S. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 150(1). -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-361-607. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Government Operations)

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 6:44 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).