PRAYERS

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The Order was read for the consideration at report stage of Bill C-18, An Act to amend the Customs Act and the Criminal Code, as reported by the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights without amendment.

Mr. Chan (Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific)) for Mr. Dhaliwal (Minister of National Revenue)), seconded by Mr. Anderson (Minister of Fisheries and Oceans), moved, -- That the Bill be concurred in at report stage.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Accordingly, the Bill was concurred in at report stage.

Pursuant to Standing Order 76.1(11), Mr. Chan (Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific)) for Mr. Dhaliwal (Minister of National Revenue)), seconded by Mr. Anderson (Minister of Fisheries and Oceans) 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, -- Copies of letters addressed to the Honourable David Anderson, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, regarding the Pacific Salmon Treaty negotiations (English text only). -- Sessional Paper No. 8530-361-9.

Mr. Gagliano (Minister of Public Works and Government Services) laid upon the Table, -- Copy of a letter addressed to the Honourable Andy Scott, Solicitor General of Canada, concerning the military bunker at former CFB Penhold (English text only). -- Sessional Paper No. 8530-361-10.

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:

-- No. 361-0219 concerning East Timor. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-30;

-- Nos. 361-0317 and 361-0323 concerning Canada's railways. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-29A;

-- Nos. 361-0318, 361-0327 and 361-0328 concerning national unity. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-27D;

-- No. 361-0321 concerning rural communities. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-31.

Presenting Reports from Committees

Mr. Adams (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), from the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented the 20th Report of the Committee, which was as follows:

The Committee recommends, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, the following change in the membership of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage:

Jim Pankiw for Eric Lowther

The Committee recommends, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, that the following Member be added to the list of Associate Members of the Standing Committees:

Canadian Heritage

Eric Lowther

Natural Resources and Government Operations

Maurice Vellacott

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings was tabled.

Introduction of Government Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) for Mrs. Stewart (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development), seconded by Mr. Vanclief (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food), Bill C-30, An Act respecting the powers of the Mi'kmaq of Nova Scotia in relation to education, was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Introduction of Private Members' Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Ménard (Hochelaga -- Maisonneuve), seconded by Mr. Marceau (Charlesbourg), Bill C-309, An Act providing for equal treatment for persons cohabiting in a relationship similar to a conjugal relationship, 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. Bailey (Souris -- Moose Mountain), seconded by Mr. Hoeppner (Portage -- Lisgar), Bill C-310, An Act to require special interest groups that receive grants or loans from public funds to submit for tabling in Parliament a report on the purposes to which the funds were put, 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. Sauvageau (Repentigny), seconded by Mr. Marceau (Charlesbourg), Bill C-311, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (reimbursement of costs following a free pardon), was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Motions

By unanimous consent, Mr. Adams (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), seconded by Mr. Clouthier (Renfrew -- Nipissing -- Pembroke), moved, -- That the 20th Report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented earlier today, be concurred in.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Presenting Petitions

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

-- by Mr. Thompson (Wild Rose), one concerning young offenders (No. 361-0375);

-- by Dubé (Madawaska -- Restigouche), two concerning pay equity (Nos. 361-0376 and 361-0377);

-- by Mr. Stoffer (Sackville -- Eastern Shore), one concerning international trade (No. 361-0378).

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Dhaliwal (Minister of National Revenue), seconded by Mr. Anderson (Minister of Fisheries and Oceans), -- That Bill C-18, An Act to amend the Customs Act and the Criminal Code be now read a third time and do pass.

The debate continued.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on division.

Accordingly, the Bill was read the third time and passed.

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

At 12:57 p.m, by unanimous consent, the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

Mr. White (North Vancouver), seconded by Mr. Epp (Elk Island), moved, -- That, in the opinion of this House, the practice of vote pairing should be abandoned and the Standing Orders be amended to establish an absentee proxy voting system which would permit a party to cast properly authorized proxy votes for no more than 25% of its Members. (Private Members' Business M-28)

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 Ms. Fry (Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)) -- Report on the Operation of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997, pursuant to the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, R. S. 1985, c. 24 (4th Supp.), s. 8. -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-361-577. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage)

ADJOURNMENT

At 1:58 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until Monday at 11:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).