PRAYERS

DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS

Tabling of Documents

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Adams (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. 361-0127 and 361-0128 concerning nudity. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-7C;

-- No. 361-0135 concerning the income tax system. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-10C.

Statements by Ministers

Pursuant to Standing Order 33(1), Mr. Scott (Solicitor General of Canada) made a statement.

Presenting Reports from Committees

Mr. Williams (St. Albert), from the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, presented the 1st Report of the Committee (4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th Reports of the 2nd Session, 35th Parliament). -- Sessional Paper No. 8510-361- 20.

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. 10) was tabled.

Mr. Williams (St. Albert), from the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, presented the 2nd Report of the Committee (Chapter 12 of the April and October 1997 Report of the Auditor General of Canada). -- Sessional Paper No. 8510-361-21.

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 (Meetings Nos. 5 and 10) was tabled.

Mr. St. Denis (Algoma -- Manitoulin), from the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Government Operations, presented the 1st Report of the Committee (Issues surrounding the Kyoto Conference). -- Sessional Paper No. 8510-361-22.

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 (Meetings Nos. 10 and 11) was tabled.

Introduction of Private Members' Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Marceau (Charlesbourg), seconded by Mr. Godin (Châteauguay), Bill C-292, An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Marceau (Charlesbourg), seconded by Mr. Godin (Châteauguay), Bill C-293, An Act to amend the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act (Review Committee), 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. Szabo (Mississauga South), concerning the tax system (No. 361-0249).

Questions on Order Paper

Mr. Valeri (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance) presented the answer to question Q-24 on the Order Paper.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration at report stage of Bill C-2, An Act to establish the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and to amend the Canada Pension Plan and the Old Age Security Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, as reported by the Standing Committee on Finance with amendments;

And of the motion in Group No. 3 (Motion No. 8).

Group No. 3

Motion No. 8 of Mr. Dubé (Madawaska -- Restigouche), seconded by Mr. Jones (Markham), -- That Bill C-2, in Clause 53, be amended by adding after line 15 on page 28 the following:

``(1.1) A regulation made under paragraph (1)(b) must reflect the objects of the Board as set out in section 5.''

The debate continued on the motion in Group No. 3.

The question was put on Motion No. 8 and, pursuant to Standing Order 76.1(8), the recorded division was deferred.

Group No. 4

Mr. Nystrom (Qu'Appelle), seconded by Mr. Solomon (Regina -- Lumsden -- Lake Centre), moved Motion No. 9, -- That Bill C-2 be amended by adding after line 29, on page 28, the following:

``53.1 Notwithstanding any provision in this Act or any other Act, a provincial government is entitled to borrow funds from the assets managed by the Board at the lowest rate of interest available to the federal government.''

Debate arose on the motion in Group No. 4 (Motion No. 9).

The question was put on Motion No. 9 and, pursuant to Standing Order 76.1(8), the recorded division was deferred.

Group No. 5

Mrs. Ablonczy (Calgary -- Nose Hill), seconded by Mr. Epp (Elk Island), moved Motion No. 10, -- That Bill C-2 be amended by deleting Clause 58.

Mr. Dubé (Madawaska -- Restigouche), seconded by Mr. Jones (Markham), moved Motion No. 12, -- That Bill C-2, in Clause 59, be amended by adding after line 33 on page 30 the following:

``(3) Any increase in the contribution rate referred to in subsection (2) for the year 1997, 1998, 1999, or 2000 shall not come into effect unless the cumulative increase in anticipated revenues under the Canada Pension Plan resulting from the changes in the contribution rate after December 31, 1996 are offset by at least a cumulative decrease in anticipated combined employer and employee contributions under the Employment Insurance Act for the years 1998, 1999, and 2000.

(4) The contribution rate for self-employed persons shall not exceed 10.25 per cent even if the Chief Actuary of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, in preparing the report under section 115, is of the opinion that a higher contribution rate is warranted.''

Debate arose on the motions in Group No. 5 (Motions Nos. 10 and 12).

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 at report stage and second reading of Bill C-2, An Act to establish the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and to amend the Canada Pension Plan and the Old Age Security Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, as reported by the Standing Committee on Finance with amendments;

And of the motions in Group No. 5 (Motions Nos. 10 and 12).

The debate continued on the motions in Group No. 5.

MOTIONS

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, -- That the Standing Committee on Finance be permitted to make its report pursuant to Standing Order 83.1 on December 1, 1997.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration at report stage and second reading of Bill C-2, An Act to establish the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and to amend the Canada Pension Plan and the Old Age Security Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, as reported by the Standing Committee on Finance with amendments;

And of the motions in Group No. 5 (Motions Nos. 10 and 12).

The debate continued on the motions in Group No. 5.

ROYAL ASSENT

The Speaker informed the House that the Honourable the Deputy Governor General will proceed to the Senate today at 4:00 p.m. for the purpose of giving the Royal Assent to certain Bills.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration at report stage and second reading of Bill C-2, An Act to establish the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and to amend the Canada Pension Plan and the Old Age Security Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, as reported by the Standing Committee on Finance with amendments;

And of the motions in Group No. 5 (Motions Nos. 10 and 12).

The debate continued on the motions in Group No. 5.

The question was put on Motion No. 10 and, pursuant to Standing Order 76.1(8), the recorded division was deferred.

The question was put on Motion No. 12 and, pursuant to Standing Order 76.1(8), the recorded division was deferred.

Group No. 6

Mr. Nystrom (Qu'Appelle), seconded by Mr. Solomon (Regina -- Lumsden -- Lake Centre), moved Motion No. 11, -- That Bill C-2 be amended by deleting Clause 59.

Mr. Nystrom (Qu'Appelle), seconded by Mr. Solomon (Regina -- Lumsden -- Lake Centre), moved Motion No. 13, -- That Bill C-2, in Clause 61, be amended by

(a) replacing line 3 on page 31 with the following:

``20. The amount''

(b) deleting lines 8 and 9 on page 31.

Mr. Dubé (Madawaska -- Restigouche), seconded by Mr. Jones (Markham), moved Motion No. 14, -- That Bill C-2, in Clause 61, be amended by replacing lines 8 and 9 on page 31 with the following:

``(2) For each year beginning in 1997 and ending in 2006, the amount of a Year's Basic Exemption is $3,500.''

Mr. Nystrom (Qu'Appelle), seconded by Mr. Solomon (Regina -- Lumsden -- Lake Centre), moved Motion No. 15, -- That Bill C-2, in Clause 67, be amended by adding after line 36 on page 36 the following:

``(4.2) Employer contributions for a self-employed person earning less than the prescribed threshold income shall, for the years 1999, 2000 and 2001, be calculated on a progressive scale based on annual income in accordance with the regulations.

(4.3) Every regulation made pursuant to subsection (4.2) shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament within the first fifteen days of the next session after the date it is made, and the regulation shall remain in force until the day immediately succeeding the date of prorogation of that session of Parliament and no longer unless during the session it is approved by resolution of both Houses of Parliament.''

Mr. Nystrom (Qu'Appelle), seconded by Mr. Solomon (Regina -- Lumsden -- Lake Centre), moved Motion No. 16, -- That Bill C-2 be amended by deleting Clause 68.

Mr. Nystrom (Qu'Appelle), seconded by Mr. Solomon (Regina -- Lumsden -- Lake Centre), moved Motion No. 17, -- That Bill C-2 be amended by deleting Clause 69.

Mr. Nystrom (Qu'Appelle), seconded by Mr. Solomon (Regina -- Lumsden -- Lake Centre), moved Motion No. 18, -- That Bill C-2, in Clause 71, be amended by adding after line 23 on page 41 the following:

``(4) For the purposes of subsections (1) and (2), the Year's Maximum Pensionable Earnings for the years 1999, 2000, and 2001 shall be two times the amount calculated under this Act.''

Mr. Nystrom (Qu'Appelle), seconded by Mr. Solomon (Regina -- Lumsden -- Lake Centre), moved Motion No. 19, -- That Bill C-2 be amended by deleting Clause 76.

Mr. Nystrom (Qu'Appelle), seconded by Mr. Solomon (Regina -- Lumsden -- Lake Centre), moved Motion No. 22, -- That Bill C-2, in Clause 94, be amended by replacing lines 35 to 45 on page 73 with the following:

``year being generally constant.''

Debate arose on the motions in Group No. 6 (Motions Nos. 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 22).

MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE

A message was received from the Senate as follows:

ORDERED: That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that House that the Senate has passed Bill C-22, An Act to implement the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti- Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, without amendment.

ROYAL ASSENT

A Message was received from the Honourable Peter deC. Cory, Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, in his capacity as Deputy Governor General, desiring the immediate attendance of the House in the Senate.

Accordingly, the Speaker, with the House, proceeded to the Senate.

The Commons returned to the Chamber.

Whereupon, the Speaker reported that, when the Commons had been in the Senate, the Honourable the Deputy Governor General was pleased to give, in Her Majesty's name, the Royal Assent to the following Bills:

Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act -- Chapter No. 32;

Bill C-22, An Act to implement the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction -- Chapter No. 33.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration at report stage and second reading of Bill C-2, An Act to establish the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and to amend the Canada Pension Plan and the Old Age Security Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, as reported by the Standing Committee on Finance with amendments;

And of the motions in Group No. 6 (Motions Nos. 11, 13 to 19 and 22).

The debate continued on the motions in Group No. 6.

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

At 6:15 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(7), 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 Finance of Bill, C-214, An Act to allow taxpayers to inform government of their views on levels and priorities for the expenditure of tax revenues and to provide for parliamentary review of the results.

Mr. Breitkreuz (Yorkton -- Melville), seconded by Mr. Lowther (Calgary Centre), moved, -- That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Finance.

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), a paper deposited with the Clerk of the House was laid upon the Table as follows:

-- by the Speaker -- Amendments to the By-laws adopted by the Board of Internal Economy on November 4, 1997. -- Sessional Paper No. 8527-361-8.

PETITIONS FILED WITH THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE

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

-- by Mrs. Stewart (Brant), concerning parental rights (No. 361-0248).

ADJOURNMENT

At 7:14 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).