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 response, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to the following petition:

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Strahl (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development), seconded by Mr. Van Loan (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform), Bill C-47, An Act respecting family homes situated on First Nation reserves and matrimonial interests or rights in or to structures and lands situated on those reserves, was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Mr. Merrifield (Yellowhead), from the Standing Committee on Finance, presented the Fifth Report of the Committee (extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 97.1, to consider Bill C-305, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (exemption from taxation of 50% of United States social security payments to Canadian residents)). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-392-74.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 27) was tabled.

Pursuant to Standing Order 97.1(3), the motion to concur in the Report was deemed moved, the question deemed put and a recorded division was deemed requested and deferred until Wednesday, March 5, 2008, immediately before the time provided for Private Members' Business. (Concurrence in Committee Reports No. 10)

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Bagnell (Yukon), seconded by Mr. Breitkreuz (Yorkton—Melville), Bill C-522, An Act to establish a National Fish and Wildlife Heritage Commission and to re-establish the Survey on the Importance of Nature to Canadians, 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. Alghabra (Mississauga—Erindale), seconded by Mr. Wrzesnewskyj (Etobicoke Centre), Bill C-523, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (certificate and special advocate) and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, 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 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. Van Loan (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform), — That this House approve in general the budgetary policy of the government. (Ways and Means No. 6)

The debate continued.

Pursuant to Standing Order 31, Members made statements.

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

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Flaherty (Minister of Finance), seconded by Mr. Van Loan (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform). (Ways and Means No. 6)

The debate continued.

At 5:15 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 84(6), the Speaker interrupted the proceedings.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following division:

At 5:43 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(7), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Ms. Thibault (Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques), seconded by Mr. Pearson (London North Centre), — That, in the opinion of the House, the government should review the Old Age Security program with a view to: (a) reduce the program’s operational costs by ceasing to pay benefits that subsequently have to be repaid; (b) allocate these savings first to single, divorced and widowed Guaranteed Income Savings recipients, specifically to people who did not have an opportunity to prepare for their retirement; (c) improve the Guaranteed Income Savings benefits for elderly single, divorced and widowed individuals; and (d) increase the other income threshold so that Guaranteed Income Savings recipients may receive the equivalent of 15 hours per week of work at minimum wage in their province of residence without penalty. (Private Members' Business M-383)

The debate continued.

Mr. Silva (Davenport), seconded by Mr. Pearson (London North Centre), moved the following amendment, — That the motion be amended by deleting sections (a) and (b) from the text.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the amendment and, pursuant to Standing Order 93(1), the recorded division was deferred until Wednesday, March 5, 2008, immediately before the time provided for Private Members' Business.

A message was received from the Senate as follows:

At 6:29 p.m., by unanimous consent, the question “That this House do now adjourn” was deemed to have been proposed.

After debate, the question was deemed to have been adopted.

Accordingly, at 6:49 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 2:00 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).