PRAYERS

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The Order was read for the second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development of Bill C-30, An Act respecting the powers of the Mi'kmaq of Nova Scotia in relation to education.

Mr. Rock (Minister of Health) for Mrs. Stewart (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development), seconded by Mr. Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), moved, -- That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.

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.

VACANCIES

The Speaker informed the House that a vacancy had occurred in the House of Commons for the Electoral District of Sherbrooke, in the Province of Québec, by reason of the resignation of Mr. Charest, and that, pursuant to subsection 25(1)(b) of the Parliament of Canada Act, he had addressed, on May 1, 1998, his warrant to the Chief Electoral Officer for the issue of a writ for the election of a member to fill the vacancy.

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. 361-0446, 361-0640 and 361-0663 concerning the Canada Pension Plan.

-- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-5M;

-- Nos. 361-0469, 361-0481 and 361-0641 concerning the income tax deduction for volunteer firefighters. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-58;

-- No. 361-0519 concerning the Federal Public Service. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-59;

-- No. 361-0638 concerning the tax system. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-361-6G.

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 31st Report of the Committee (Main Estimates 1998-99 -- Vote 5 under PARLIAMENT). -- Sessional Paper No. 8510-361-55.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 23) was tabled.

Introduction of Private Members' Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Lowther (Calgary Centre), seconded by Mr. Epp (Elk Island), Bill C-397, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (prostitution), was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Questions on Order Paper

Mr. Adams (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) presented the answers to questions Q-53, Q-63 and Q-64 on the Order Paper.

Pursuant to Standing Order 39(7), the following question was made an Order for Return:

Q-51 -- Mr. Cummins (Delta -- South Richmond) -- With respect to aboriginal fishing activities in British Columbia during the period from March 31, 1992, to November 30, 1997, with the exception of salmon and herring fisheries: (a) which aboriginal groups received communal licences or other authorization to fish excluding commercial fishing licences of the same type issued to the all-canadian commercial fishing fleet in British Columbia; (b) what period did each licence include; (c) what species did each licence include; (d) what quantity of each species could be harvested under each licence; (e) what quantity of each species was reported as harvested under each licence; (f) what evidence does the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) possess to conclude that these aboriginal groups have an aboriginal right to harvest the species for which the licence was issued in the area in which the fishing activities take place; (g) what evidence of pre-contact harvesting of the species did the aboriginal groups provide to convince DFO such that they now ought to be awarded an aboriginal licence; (h) were any coastal waters of British Columbia closed either permanently or temporarily to fishing by other Canadians to accommodate these aboriginal fisheries; (i) if certain areas were closed, which areas, for what period and to accommodate which aboriginal group fishing and for which species; (j) what evidence does DFO possess to conclude that an area closure was necessary to protect the claimed aboriginal fishing right; and (k) in the absence of a proven aboriginal right to fish, on what grounds or on what basis does DFO close waters to fishing by Canadians other than those belonging to a designated aboriginal group?

Mr. Adams (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) presented the Return to this Order. -- Sessional Paper No. 8555-361-51.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mrs. Stewart (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development), seconded by Mr. Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), -- That Bill C-30, An Act respecting the powers of the Mi'kmaq of Nova Scotia in relation to education, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.

The debate continued.

MOTIONS

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, -- That the Members of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration and the necessary staff be authorized to travel to Toronto, Ontario, on May 7, 1998, in order to visit a Toronto Refugee Detention Centre.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mrs. Stewart (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development), seconded by Mr. Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), -- That Bill C-30, An Act respecting the powers of the Mi'kmaq of Nova Scotia in relation to education, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.

The debate continued.

The question was put on the motion and, pursuant to Standing Order 45, the recorded division was deferred until Tuesday, May 5, 1998, at the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders.

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

At 12:55 p.m., by unanimous consent, 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 Justice and Human Rights of Bill C-251, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (cumulative sentences).

Ms. Guarnieri (Mississauga East), seconded by Mr. Bélanger (Ottawa -- Vanier), 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 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), papers deposited with the Clerk of the House were laid upon the Table as follows:

-- by the Speaker -- Minutes of Proceedings of the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons for March 10, 1998. -- Sessional Paper No. 8527-361-22.

-- by the Speaker -- Amendments to the By-laws adopted by the Board of Internal Economy on April 28, 1998. -- Sessional Paper No. 8527-361-23.

-- by Mrs. Stewart (Minister of the Environment) -- Response of the government, pursuant to Standing Order 109, to the 1st Report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, "Harmonization and Environmental Protection" (Sessional Paper No. 8510-361-25), presented to the House on Thursday, December 4, 1997. -- Sessional Paper No. 8512-361-25.

-- by Mrs. Stewart (Minister of the Environment) -- Response of the government, pursuant to Standing Order 109, to the 2nd Report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, "Climate Change" (Sessional Paper No. 8510-361-28), presented to the House on Monday, December 8, 1997. -- Sessional Paper No. 8512-361-28.

-- by Mr. Vanclief (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food) -- Report of the Chicken Farmers of Canada for the year ended December 31, 1997, pursuant to the Farm Products Marketing Agencies Act, R. S. 1985, c. F-4, s. 30. -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-361-42A. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food)

-- by Mr. Vanclief (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food) -- Report of the Canadian Broiler Hatching Egg Marketing Agency for the year ended December 31, 1997, pursuant to the Farm Products Marketing Agencies Act, R. S. 1985, c. F-4, s. 30. -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-361-523A. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food)

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 Mr. Milliken (Kingston and the Islands), concerning international trade (No. 361-0849).

ADJOURNMENT

At 1:55 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until Monday at 11:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).