PRAYERS

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The Order was read for the third reading of Bill C-2, An Act respecting the election of members to the House of Commons, repealing other Acts relating to elections and making consequential amendments to other Acts.

Mr. Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), seconded by Mr. Pettigrew (Minister for International Trade), moved, -- That the Bill be now read a third time and do pass.

Debate arose thereon.

Mr. White (North Vancouver), seconded by Mr. Martin (Esquimalt -- Juan de Fuca), moved the following amendment, -- That the motion be amended by replacing all the words after the word "That" with the following:

"Bill C-2, An Act respecting the election of members to the House of Commons, repealing other Acts relating to elections and making consequential amendments to other Acts, be not now read a third time, but that it be referred back to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs for the purposes of:

(a) reconsidering clause 350, in light of the British Columbia Supreme Court ruling of February 9, 2000, that struck down gag law provisions in the British Columbia Elections Act, and prior similar rulings of the Alberta Court of Appeal, with due regard for the constitutional right of Canadian citizens to free expression;

(b) reconsidering clause 370, in light of an Ontario court ruling that struck down provisions requiring political parties to endorse a minimum number of candidates in a general election in order for the party to be registered, with due regard for the right of small, regional and nascent political parties not to be disadvantaged such as by having their names excluded from the ballot;

(c) reconsidering clauses 324 to 328, in light of the British Columbia Supreme Court ruling of February 9, 2000, that struck down provisions in the British Columbia Elections Act imposing a blackout on the publication of poll results and requirements for the publication of methodological information, with due regard for the constitutional right of Canadians to free expression;

(d) reconsidering clause 13, with due regard for the democratic principle that the Chief Electoral Officer should be selected in a non-partisan and democratic fashion, rather than being unilaterally and arbitrarily appointed by the government of the day;

(e) reconsidering clause 24, with due regard for the entreaties of the Chief Electoral Officer that he be allowed to hire Returning Officers according to merit as determined through competitions open to all qualified Canadians, to insulate the appointment process from partisanship;

(f) reconsidering clause 26, with due regard for the principle that the electoral system and all of its agents constitute the very foundation of the democratic process in Canada, and as such the appointment of Assistant Returning Officers should be free of real or perceived political bias;

(g) reconsidering clause 34, with due regard for the importance of insulating the process for appointing deputy returning officers from patronage, nepotism and partisanship;

(h) reconsidering clause 35, with due regard for the principle that poll clerks should be hired impartially on the basis of merit rather than being appointed by the government of the day according to political affiliation;

(i) reconsidering clause 57, with due regard for the danger that the timing of general elections could be manipulated for reasons of political opportunism by the government of the day;

(j) reconsidering clause 59, with due regard for the right of Canadian citizens who are afflicted by natural or man-made disaster to have full and fair opportunity to participate in the electoral process;

(k) reconsidering clause 67, with due regard for the constitutional right of all Canadians, regardless of wealth, to be qualified for membership in this House; and

(l) reconsidering clause 143, with due regard for the potential for abuse of the electoral process such as the casting of multiple ballots by a single voter on behalf of imaginary friends or the registration of household pets as voters.»

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

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Lee (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. 361-2118, 361-2119, 361-2120, 361-2122 and 361-2475 concerning gun control. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-362-27-03;

-- Nos. 362-0137, 362-0465 and 362-0466 concerning the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-362- 18-17;

-- No. 362-0140 concerning the Divorce Act. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-362-42-04;

-- Nos. 362-0165, 362-0282, 362-0330, 362-0342, 362-0350 and 362- 0362 concerning the official languages of Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-362-68-01;

-- No. 362-0300 concerning the economy and employment. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-362-69-01;

-- No. 362-0467 concerning the agricultural industry. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-362-11-04;

-- No. 362-0480 concerning parental rights. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-362-31-11;

-- No. 362-0482 concerning national parks. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-362-70-01;

-- No. 362-0488 concerning the labelling of food products. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-362-29-06;

-- No. 362-0490 concerning the Food and Drugs Act. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-362-61-03;

-- Nos. 362-0476, 362-0477, 362-0486 and 362-0491 concerning the Canada Post Corporation. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-362-6-06.

By unanimous consent, Mr. Bellemare (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for International Cooperation) laid upon the Table, -- Copy of a list of partners supported by CIDA between April 1, 1996, and March 31, 1999. -- Sessional Paper No. 8530-362-10.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Cannis (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry) laid upon the Table, -- Report of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, together with the Auditor's Report, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1999, pursuant to the Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 18, 1997, R.S. 1997, c. 26, s. 29(3). -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-362-116-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Industry)

Presenting Reports from Committees

Mr. Milliken (Kingston and the Islands), from the Legislative Committee, presented the Report of the Committee (Bill C-20, An Act to give effect to the requirement for clarity as set out in the opinion of the Supreme Court of Canada in the Quebec Secession Reference, without amendment). -- Sessional Paper No. 8510-362-26.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings Nos. 2 to 10) was tabled.

Mr. Williams (St. Albert), from the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, presented the Fourth Report of the Committee (Chapter 1 of the April 1999 Report of the Auditor General of Canada). -- Sessional Paper No. 8510-362-27.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee requested that the government table a comprehensive response.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Nos. 6 and 13) was tabled.

Mr. Williams (St. Albert), from the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, presented the Fifth Report of the Committee (Public Accounts of Canada 1998-99). -- Sessional Paper No. 8510-362-28.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee requested that the government table a comprehensive response.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Nos. 3, 10 and 13) was tabled.

Introduction of Private Members' Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Breitkreuz (Yorkton -- Melville), seconded by Mr. Epp (Elk Island), Bill C-437, An Act to amend An Act for the Recognition and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and to amend the Constitution Act, 1867, 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 Mrs. Redman (Kitchener Centre), seconded by Mr. Murray (Lanark -- Carleton), Bill C-438, An Act to amend the Competition Act (game of chance), 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. Pankiw (Saskatoon -- Humboldt), seconded by Mr. Breitkreuz (Yorkton -- Melville), Bill C-439, An Act to amend the Members of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act (rights ceasing to accrue after the end of 2000), 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. Pankiw (Saskatoon -- Humboldt), seconded by Mr. Breitkreuz (Yorkton -- Melville), Bill C-440, An Act to provide for a referendum to determine whether Canadians wish medically unnecessary abortions to be insured services under the Canada Health Act and to amend the Referendum 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. Pankiw (Saskatoon -- Humboldt), seconded by Mr. Breitkreuz (Yorkton -- Melville), Bill C-441, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (consecutive sentence for use of firearm in commission of offence), was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Motions

Mr. Hill (Prince George -- Peace River), seconded by Mr. Penson (Peace River), moved, -- That the First Report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, presented on Tuesday, February 22, 2000, be concurred in.

Debate arose thereon.

Mr. Williams (St. Albert), seconded by Mr. Hill (Prince George -- Peace River), moved, -- That the Member for Esquimalt -- Juan de Fuca be now heard.

At 1:15 p.m., the Speaker declared that the motion had lapsed.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

Pursuant to Order made Tuesday, February 22, 2000, under the provisions of Standing Order 78(3), the House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), seconded by Mr. Pettigrew (Minister for International Trade), -- That Bill C-2, An Act respecting the election of members to the House of Commons, repealing other Acts relating to elections and making consequential amendments to other Acts, be now read a third time and do pass;

And of the amendment of Mr. White (North Vancouver), seconded by Mr. Martin (Esquimalt -- Juan de Fuca).

The question was put on the amendment and, pursuant to Standing Order 45, the recorded division was deferred until Monday, February 28, 2000, at the ordinary hour of daily adjournment.

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

At 1:28 p.m., by unanimous consent, the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Thompson (Wild Rose), seconded by Mr. Stoffer (Sackville -- Musquodoboit Valley -- Eastern Shore), -- That Bill C-222, An Act to establish the office of First Nations Ombudsman to investigate complaints relating to administrative and communication problems between members of First Nations communities and their First Nation and between First Nations, allegations of improper financial administration and allegations of electoral irregularities, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.

The debate continued.

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 the Speaker -- Minutes of Proceedings of the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons for November 30, 1999. -- Sessional Paper No. 8527-362-11.

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. Jordan (Leeds -- Grenville), concerning the Canada Post Corporation (No. 362-0656).

ADJOURNMENT

At 2:30 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until Monday at 11:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).