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

Whereupon, Mr. Blaikie (Elmwood—Transcona), Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees of the Whole, took the Chair, pursuant to subsection 43(1) of the Parliament of Canada Act.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Flaherty (Minister of Finance), seconded by Mr. Toews (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada), — That Bill C-28, A second Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on May 2, 2006, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Finance.

The debate continued.

Pursuant to Standing Order 31, Members made statements.

Pursuant to Standing Order 30(5), the House proceeded to Oral Questions.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform) laid upon the Table, — Government responses, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to the following petitions:

Mr. Tonks (York South—Weston), from the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, presented the First Report of the Committee (EnerGuide for Houses Program). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-391-86.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings Nos. 17 and 18) was tabled.

Mr. Tonks (York South—Weston), from the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, presented the Second Report of the Committee (Wind Power Production Incentive Program). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-391-87.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings Nos. 17 and 18) was tabled.

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. St-Cyr (Jeanne-Le Ber), seconded by Mr. Bellavance (Richmond—Arthabaska), Bill C-372, An Act to amend the Canada Post Corporation Act (property), was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, in order to gain better understanding of the service and care provided to Canadian veterans, twelve members of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs be authorized to travel to Montréal, Québec, and Ottawa, Ontario, to visit hospital facilities, on November 20, 2006, and that the necessary staff do accompany the Committee.

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, in relation to its study on refugee issues, twelve members of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration be authorized to travel to Kingston, Ontario, on October 30 and 31, 2006, and that the necessary staff do accompany the Committee.

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, in order to attend the Fall Consultation of the Canadian Council for Refugees, twelve members of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration be authorized to travel to Montréal, Québec, from November 22 to 25, 2006, and that the necessary staff do accompany the Committee.

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, in relation to its study on the vitality of official language minority communities, seven members of the Standing Committee on Official Languages be authorized to travel to Vancouver, British Columbia, Edmonton, Alberta, Regina, Saskatchewan, and Saint Boniface, Manitoba, from December 4 to 8, 2006, and that the necessary staff do accompany the Committee.

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, in relation to its study of oil sands, twelve members of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources be authorized to travel to Calgary, Alberta, and Fort McMurray, Alberta, on November 19 and 20, 2006, and that the necessary staff do accompany the Committee.

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

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Flaherty (Minister of Finance), seconded by Mr. Toews (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada), — That Bill C-28, A second Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on May 2, 2006, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Finance.

The debate continued.

At 1:30 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(6), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

Mr. Scott (Fredericton), seconded by Mr. Stoffer (Sackville—Eastern Shore), moved, — That, in the opinion of the House, the government should create a national strategy for autism spectrum disorder that would include: (a) the establishment, in cooperation with provincial governments, of national standards for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder and the delivery of related services; (b) the study, in cooperation with provincial governments, of the funding arrangements for the care of those with autism spectrum disorder, including the possibility of transferring federal funds to assist provincial governments to provide no-cost treatment, education, professional training and other required supports for Canadians with autism spectrum disorder without unreasonable wait times; (c) the creation of a national surveillance program for autism spectrum disorder to be managed by the Public Health Agency of Canada; and (d) the provision of funding for health research into treatments for autism spectrum disorder. (Private Members' Business M-172)

Debate arose thereon.

Pursuant to Standing Order 93(1), the Order was dropped to the bottom of the order of precedence on the Order Paper.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(1), papers deposited with the Clerk of the House were laid upon the Table as follows:

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