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

Thereupon, Mr. McClelland (Edmonton Southwest), Deputy Chairman of Committees of the Whole, took the Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 8.

PRAYERS

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

Pursuant to Order made Monday, February 23, 1998, the House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance), seconded by Mr. Gray (Deputy Prime Minister), -- That this House approves in general the budgetary policy of the Government; (Ways and Means Proceedings No. 5)

And of the amendment of Mr. Manning (Calgary Southwest), seconded by Mr. Solberg (Medicine Hat), -- That the motion be amended by replacing all the words after the word ``That'' with the following:

``the House of Commons reject the Budget statement by the Minister of Finance because it denies Canadians debt and tax relief by spending away the federal budget surplus, thus killing opportunities for job creation and economic growth; it leaves Canadians saddled with the highest personal income tax rates in the G-7 countries, resulting in systematic brain drain to jurisdictions with lower taxation levels; it allows interest charges on the national debt to consume one third of every tax dollar collected by the federal government and to exceed spending on health care, education, and old age security combined; it continues the steady decrease in real disposable income for the average Canadian through tax hikes and it does not keep the government's promise of committing 50 percent of the surplus to new spending and the remaining 50 percent to some combination of debt reduction and tax relief.'';

And of the sub-amendment of Mr. Loubier (Saint- Hyacinthe -- Bagot), seconded by Mr. Perron (Saint-Eustache -- Sainte-Thérèse), -- That the amendment be amended by striking all words following the words ``Minister of Finance'' and replacing them with the following:

``because he has, by creating the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation, broken his promise to respect provincial jurisdiction over education; he has provided nothing to stimulate job creation; he has not provided for adequate income-tax reductions for middle-class families; he has continued to appropriate the huge employment insurance fund surplus; he has obstinately refused to table anti- deficit legislation and he has not returned to the provinces the money he cut from their transfer payments, while pursuing his planned cuts up to the year 2003.''

The debate continued.

DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS

Tabling of Documents

Pursuant to Standing Order 79(3), the Acting Speaker read a Message from His Excellency the Governor General, presented by Mr. Massé (President of the Treasury Board).

Message on Estimates

His Excellency the Governor General transmits to the House of Commons Main Estimates of sums required for the service of Canada for the fiscal year ending on March 31, 1999, and in accordance with section 54 of the Constitution Act, 1867, recommends these Estimates to the House of Commons.

Mr. Massé (President of the Treasury Board) laid upon the Table, -- Document entitled "1998-99 Estimates, Parts I and II: The Government Expenditure Plan and Main Estimates".

-- Sessional Paper No. 8520-361-83.

Presenting Reports from Inter-parliamentary Delegations

Pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), Mr. Maloney (Erie -- Lincoln) presented the report of the Canadian delegation of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group respecting its participation at the 6th Annual Meeting with Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum held in Seoul, Republic of Korea, from January 7 to 10, 1998. -- Sessional Paper No. 8565-361-57A.

Presenting Reports from Committees

By unanimous consent, Ms. Whelan (Essex), from the Standing Committee on Industry, presented the 5th Report of the Committee (Bill C-21, An Act to amend the Small Business Loans Act, without amendment). -- Sessional Paper No. 8510- 361-40.

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 Mr. Goodale (Minister of Natural Resources), seconded by Mr. Massé (President of the Treasury Board), Bill C-31, An Act respecting Canada Lands Surveyors, was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Recommendation
(Pursuant to Standing Order 79(2))

His Excellency the Governor General recommends to the House of Commons the appropriation of public revenue under the circumstances, in the manner and for the purposes set out in a measure entitled "An Act respecting Canada Lands Surveyors".

Introduction of Private Members' Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Fournier (Manicouagan), seconded by Mr. Asselin (Charlevoix), Bill C-364, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code and the Public Service Staff Relations Act (scabs and essential services), was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Motions

Pursuant to Standing Order 81(6), Mr. Massé (President of the Treasury Board), seconded by Mr. Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), moved, -- That the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999, laid upon the Table on February 26, 1998, be referred to the several Standing Committees of the House, as follows:

(1) to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development

-- Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Votes 1, 5, 10 15, L20, L25, 30, 35, 40 and 45

(2) to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food

-- Agriculture and Agri-Food, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25

(3) to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage

-- Canadian Heritage, Votes 1, 5, 10, L15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 135 and 140

(4) to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration

-- Citizenship and Immigration, Votes 1, 5, 10 and 15

(5) to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development

-- Environment, Votes 1, 5, 10 and 15

-- Privy Council, Vote 30

(6) to the Standing Committee on Finance

-- Finance, Votes 1, 5, L10, L15, 20, 25, 35 and 40

-- National Revenue, Votes 1, 5 and 10

(7) to the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans

-- Fisheries and Oceans, Votes 1, 5 and 10

(8) to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade

-- Foreign Affairs, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, L30, L35, 40, 45, 50 and 55

(9) to the Standing Committee on Health

-- Health, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25

(10) to the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities

-- Human Resources Development, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35

(11) to the Standing Committee on Industry

-- Industry, 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

(12) to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights

-- Justice, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50

-- Privy Council, Vote 40

-- Solicitor General, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50

(13) to the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs

-- National Defence, Votes 1, 5 and 10

-- Veterans Affairs, Votes 1, 5 and 10

(14) to the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Government Operations

-- Canadian Heritage, Vote 130

-- Governor General, Vote 1

-- Natural Resources, Votes 1, 5, 10, L15, 20, 25, 30 and 35

-- Parliament, Vote 1

-- Privy Council, Votes 1, 5, 10 and 35

-- Public Works and Government Services, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25

-- Treasury Board, Votes 1, 2, 5, 15 and 20

(15) to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs

-- Parliament, Vote 5

-- Privy Council, Vote 20

(16) to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts

-- Finance, Vote 30

(17) to the Standing Committee on Transport

-- Privy Council, Vote 15

-- Transport, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35

(18) to the Standing Joint Committee on Library of Parliament

-- Parliament, Vote 10

(19) to the Standing Joint Committee on Official Languages

-- Privy Council, Vote 25

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. Dubé (Lévis), one concerning VIA Rail (No. 361-0507);

-- by Mr. Riis (Kamloops), one concerning the tax system (No. 361-0508) and one concerning the Canada Pension Plan (No. 361-0509).

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance), seconded by Mr. Gray (Deputy Prime Minister), -- That this House approves in general the budgetary policy of the Government; (Ways and Means Proceedings No. 5)

And of the amendment of Mr. Manning (Calgary Southwest), seconded by Mr. Solberg (Medicine Hat);

And of the sub-amendment of Mr. Loubier (Saint- Hyacinthe -- Bagot), seconded by Mr. Perron (Saint-Eustache -- Sainte-Thérèse).

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. Gray (Deputy Prime Minister), -- That this House approves in general the budgetary policy of the Government; (Ways and Means Proceedings No. 5)

And of the amendment of Mr. Manning (Calgary Southwest), seconded by Mr. Solberg (Medicine Hat);

And of the sub-amendment of Mr. Loubier (Saint- Hyacinthe -- Bagot), seconded by Mr. Perron (Saint-Eustache -- Sainte-Thérèse).

The debate continued.

At 4:47 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 84(4), the Acting Speaker interrupted the proceedings.

The question was put on the sub-amendment and it was negatived on the following division:

(Division--Vote N^o 95)

YEAS-POUR

Members--Députés

-- Alarie -- Asselin -- Bachand --  (Saint-Jean) -- Bellehumeur -- Bergeron -- Bernier --  (Bonaventure -- Gaspé -- Îles-de-la-Madeleine -- Pabok) -- Bigras -- Canuel -- Crête -- Dalphond-Guiral -- Debien -- Desrochers -- Dubé --  (Lévis) -- Dumas -- Fournier -- Gagnon -- Gauthier -- Godin --  (Châteauguay) -- Guay -- Guimond -- Lalonde -- Laurin -- Lefebvre -- Loubier -- Marceau -- Ménard -- Mercier -- Perron -- Picard --  (Drummond) -- Plamondon -- Sauvageau -- St-Hilaire -- Tremblay --  (Lac-Saint-Jean) -- Tremblay --  (Rimouski -- Mitis) -- Turp -- 35

NAYS-CONTRE

Members--Députés

-- Adams -- Alcock -- Anders -- Anderson -- Assad -- Assadourian -- Augustine -- Axworthy --  (Winnipeg South Centre) -- Bachand --  (Richmond -- Arthabaska) -- Bailey -- Baker -- Bakopanos -- Barnes -- Beaumier -- Bélair -- Bélanger -- Bellemare -- Bennett -- Benoit -- Bernier --  (Tobique -- Mactaquac) -- Bertrand -- Bevilacqua -- Blondin-Andrew -- Bonin -- Bonwick -- Borotsik -- Boudria -- Bradshaw -- Brison -- Brown -- Bryden -- Bulte -- Byrne -- Caccia -- Cadman -- Calder -- Cannis -- Caplan -- Carroll -- Casson -- Catterall -- Cauchon -- Chamberlain -- Chan -- Charbonneau -- Charest -- Chatters -- Chrétien --  (Saint-Maurice) -- Clouthier -- Coderre -- Cohen -- Collenette -- Copps -- Cullen -- Cummins -- Desjarlais -- DeVillers -- Dhaliwal -- Dion -- Discepola -- Doyle -- Dromisky -- Drouin -- Dubé --  (Madawaska -- Restigouche) -- Duhamel -- Easter -- Eggleton -- Epp -- Finestone -- Finlay -- Folco -- Forseth -- Fry -- Gagliano -- Gallaway -- Gilmour -- Godfrey -- Godin --  (Acadie -- Bathurst) -- Goldring -- Goodale -- Graham -- Gray --  (Windsor West) -- Grewal -- Grey --  (Edmonton North) -- Grose -- Guarnieri -- Harb -- Harvard -- Harvey -- Herron -- Hill --  (Macleod) -- Hubbard -- Ianno -- Iftody -- Jackson -- Jaffer -- Jennings -- Johnston -- Jones -- Jordan -- Karetak-Lindell -- Karygiannis -- Keddy --  (South Shore) -- Kenney --  (Calgary-Sud-Est) -- Keyes -- Kilger --  (Stormont -- Dundas) -- Kilgour --  (Edmonton Southeast) -- Knutson -- Konrad -- Lastewka -- Lavigne -- Lee -- Leung -- Lincoln -- Longfield -- Lowther -- MacAulay -- MacKay --  (Pictou -- Antigonish -- Guysborough) -- Mahoney -- Malhi -- Maloney -- Manley -- Manning -- Marchi -- Marleau -- Martin --  (LaSalle -- Émard) -- Martin --  (Winnipeg Centre) -- Massé -- Matthews -- Mayfield -- McCormick -- McDonough -- McKay --  (Scarborough East) -- McLellan --  (Edmonton West) -- McNally -- McTeague -- McWhinney -- Meredith -- Mifflin -- Milliken -- Mills --  (Broadview -- Greenwood) -- Minna -- Mitchell -- Muise -- Murray -- Myers -- Nault -- Normand -- Nunziata -- Nystrom -- O'Brien --  (London -- Fanshawe) -- O'Reilly -- Pagtakhan -- Paradis -- Parrish -- Patry -- Peric -- Peterson -- Pettigrew -- Phinney -- Pickard --  (Kent -- Essex) -- Pillitteri -- Power -- Pratt -- Price -- Proctor -- Proud -- Provenzano -- Ramsay -- Redman -- Reed -- Richardson -- Riis -- Ritz -- Robillard -- Rock -- Saada -- Scott --  (Fredericton) -- Serré -- Shepherd -- Solberg -- Solomon -- Speller -- St. Denis -- Steckle -- Stewart --  (Brant) -- Stewart --  (Northumberland) -- St-Jacques -- St-Julien -- Strahl -- Szabo -- Telegdi -- Thibeault -- Thompson --  (Charlotte) -- Thompson --  (Wild Rose) -- Torsney -- Ur -- Valeri -- Vanclief -- Vellacott -- Volpe -- Wappel -- Wasylycia-Leis -- Wayne -- Whelan -- White --  (Langley -- Abbotsford) -- Wilfert -- Williams -- Wood -- 209

Paired Members--Députés Pairés

-- Brien -- Comuzzi -- de Savoye -- Duceppe -- Fontana -- Girard-Bujold -- Kraft Sloan -- Marchand -- McGuire -- O'Brien --  (Labrador)

ADJOURNMENT

At 5:25 p.m., pursuant to Orders made Tuesday, February 17, 1998, and Monday, February 23, 1998, the Acting Speaker adjourned the House until Monday, March 9, 1998, at 11:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Orders 28(2) and 24(1).