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

Whereupon, Mr. Milliken (Kingston and the Islands), Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees of the Whole, took the Chair, pursuant to subsection 43(1) of the Parliament of Canada Act.

PRAYERS

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The Order was read for the second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights of Bill S-10, An Act to amend the National Defence Act, the DNA Identification Act and the Criminal Code.

Ms. Caplan (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) for Mr. MacAulay (Solicitor General of Canada), 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 Justice and Human Rights.

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. Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) laid upon the Table, -- Document entitled "Tobacco Products Information Regulations" (SOR/JUS-601413), pursuant to the Tobacco Act, S.C. 1997, c. 13, s. 42.1. -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-362-12-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Health)

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) laid upon the Table, -- Proposed Tobacco (Reporting) Regulations (SOR/JUS-601036), pursuant to the Tobacco Act, S.C. 1997, c. 13, s. 42.1. -- Sessional Paper No. 8560-362-13-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Health)

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mrs. Parrish (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services) laid upon the Table, -- Government responses, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to the following petitions:

-- No. 362-0735 concerning Taiwan. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-362- 45-03;

-- Nos. 362-0862, 362-0869, 362-0870, 362-0924, 362-0935, 362- 0944, 362-0955, 362-0956, 362-0957, 362-0967 and 362-0995 concerning child poverty. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-362-16-15.

Presenting Reports from Committees

Mrs. Parrish (Mississauga Centre), from the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented the 30th Report of the Committee (Main Estimates 2000-2001 -- Vote 5 under PARLIAMENT). -- Sessional Paper No. 8510-362-51.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 41) was tabled.

Presenting Petitions

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

-- by Mr. Harb (Ottawa Centre), one concerning immigration (No. 362-1220);

-- by Mr. Pagtakhan (Winnipeg North -- St. Paul), one concerning marriage (No. 362-1221).

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. MacAulay (Solicitor General of Canada), seconded by Mr. Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), -- That Bill S-10, An Act to amend the National Defence Act, the DNA Identification Act and the Criminal Code, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

The debate continued.

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

Accordingly, the Bill was read the second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

The Order was read for the second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Finance of Bill S-3, An Act to implement an agreement, conventions and protocols between Canada and Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Algeria, Bulgaria, Portugal, Uzbekistan, Jordan, Japan and Luxembourg for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income.

Mr. Eggleton (Minister of National Defence) for Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance), seconded by Mr. Manley (Minister of Industry), moved, -- That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Finance.

Debate arose thereon.

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

Accordingly, the Bill was read the second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Finance.

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

At 12:48 p.m., by unanimous consent, the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Laliberte (Churchill River), seconded by Mr. Gruending (Saskatoon -- Rosetown -- Biggar), -- That, in the opinion of this House, the government should provide initiatives to deliver natural gas to unserviced regions and address environmental concerns and high energy costs. (Private Members' Business M-298)

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 Mr. Eggleton (Minister of National Defence) -- Response of the government, pursuant to Standing Order 109, to the Third Report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts "Other Audit Observations in the April 1999 Report of the Auditor General of Canada" (Sessional Paper No. 8510-362-17), presented to the House on Wednesday, December 15, 1999. -- Sessional Paper No. 8512-362- 17-01.

ADJOURNMENT

At 1:49 p.m., the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House until Monday at 11:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).