Pursuant to Standing Order 79(3), the Speaker read the following Message from Her Excellency the Governor General, presented by Mr. Toews (President of the Treasury Board):

Mr. Toews (President of the Treasury Board) laid upon the Table, — Document entitled "Main Estimates for the year 2009-10". — Sessional Paper No. 8520-402-3.

Pursuant to Standing Order 81(4), the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010, were deemed referred to the several Standing Committees of the House as follows:

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Nicholson (Minister of Justice), seconded by Mr. Hill (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), Bill C-14, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (organized crime and protection of justice system participants), was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Ms. Fry (Vancouver Centre), from the Standing Committee on Status of Women, presented the Second Report of the Committee (recommendations contained in the 11th Report of the Committee presented to the House during the Second Session of the 39th Parliament). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-402-24.

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

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 2) was tabled.

Mr. Sorenson (Crowfoot), from the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, presented the First Report of the Committee (findings contained in the Tenth Report of the Committee presented to the House during the Second Session of the 39th Parliament). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-402-25.

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

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 2) was tabled.

Mr. Sorenson (Crowfoot), from the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, presented the Second Report of the Committee (findings contained in the Sixth Report of the Committee presented to the House during the Second Session of the 39th Parliament). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-402-26.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 3) was tabled.

Mr. Sorenson (Crowfoot), from the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, presented the Third Report of the Committee (findings contained in the Seventh Report of the Committee presented to the House during the Second Session of the 39th Parliament). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-402-27.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 3) was tabled.

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Ms. Savoie (Victoria), seconded by Mr. Marston (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek), Bill C-328, An Act to ensure that the laws of Canada are consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Ms. Demers (Laval), seconded by Mrs. Lavallée (Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert), moved, — That the First Report of the Standing Committee on Status of Women, presented on Wednesday, February 11, 2009, be concurred in. (Concurrence in Committee Report No. 1)

Debate arose thereon.

Ms. Fry (Vancouver Centre), seconded by Ms. Neville (Winnipeg South Centre), moved, — That the debate be now adjourned.

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

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, at the conclusion of today's debate on the opposition motion in the name of the Member from Parkdale—High Park, all questions necessary to dispose of the motion be deemed put and a recorded division deemed requested and deferred to Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at 3:00 p.m..

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

The Order was read for the consideration of the Business of Supply.

Mr. Kennedy (Parkdale—High Park), seconded by Mr. Garneau (Westmount—Ville-Marie), moved, — That, in the opinion of this House, and as experience has demonstrated, the most efficient, expeditious and stimulative method of transferring federal funding for municipal infrastructure projects is by means of mechanisms similar to those put in place, beginning in 2005, to share with municipalities on a per capita basis a significant and growing portion of the federal excise tax on gasoline; and the House calls upon the government to transfer at least half of its proposed new infrastructure funding in this manner over the next two years, with no requirement that these additional federal funds be matched by the municipalities with which they are shared.

Debate arose thereon.

Pursuant to Standing Order 31, Members made statements.

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

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology create a subcommittee whose membership will be composed of five (5) members, with two (2) from the Conservative Party, one (1) from the Liberal Party, one (1) from the Bloc Québécois, and one (1) from the New Democratic Party, and that the Chair be from the Conservative Party; that the subcommittee have all the powers and authority of the Standing Committee to undertake a study of the crisis faced by certain industrial sectors in Canada such as aerospace, energy, forestry, high-tech, and manufacturing, with the understanding that any legislation referred to the full committee take precedence over the work of the subcommittee, that the subcommittee not meet at the same time as the full committee, that the subcommittee report its findings and recommendations to the main committee, and that the main committee present the report to the House within ten sitting days.

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology create a subcommittee whose membership will be composed of five (5) members with two (2) from the Conservative Party, one (1) from the Liberal Party, one (1) from the Bloc Québécois, and one (1) from the New Democratic Party, and that the Chair be from the Conservative Party; that the subcommittee have all the powers and authority of the Standing Committee to undertake a study of the crisis faced by the automotive industry in Canada, with the understanding that any legislation referred to the full committee take precedence over the work of the subcommittee; that the subcommittee not meet at the same time as the full committee; that the subcommittee report its findings and recommendations to the main committee no later than March 24, 2009, and that the main committee present the report to the House no later than March 31, 2009.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Kennedy (Parkdale—High Park), seconded by Mr. Garneau (Westmount—Ville-Marie), in relation to the Business of Supply.

The debate continued.

The Speaker informed the House that Her Excellency the Governor General will proceed to the Senate today at 5:30 p.m., for the purpose of giving the Royal Assent to a Bill.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Kennedy (Parkdale—High Park), seconded by Mr. Garneau (Westmount—Ville-Marie), in relation to the Business of Supply.

The debate continued.

At 5:15 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 81(16), the Speaker interrupted the proceedings.

Pursuant to Order made earlier today, the question was deemed put on the motion and the recorded division was deemed requested and deferred until Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at 3:00 p.m.

At 5:15 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 Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities of Bill C-241, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (removal of waiting period).

Mr. Ouellet (Brome—Missisquoi), seconded by Mrs. Beaudin (Saint-Lambert), moved, — That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.

Debate arose thereon.

A message was received from the Senate as follows:

A message was received from Her Excellency the Governor General desiring the immediate attendance of the Commons in the Senate.

Accordingly, the Speaker, with the Commons, proceeded to the Senate.

The Commons returned to the Chamber.

Whereupon, the Speaker reported that he had addressed Her Excellency the Governor General as follows:

“May it please Her Excellency:

The Commons of Canada have voted Supplies required to enable the Government to defray certain expenses of the public service.

In the name of the Commons I present to Her Excellency the following Bill:

To which Bill I humbly request Her Excellency's Assent.”

Whereupon, the Clerk of the Senate, by Command of Her Excellency the Governor General, did say:

“In Her Majesty's name, Her Excellency the Governor General thanks Her Loyal Subjects, accepts their benevolence, and assents to this Bill.”

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Ouellet (Brome—Missisquoi), seconded by Mrs. Beaudin (Saint-Lambert), — That Bill C-241, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (removal of waiting period), be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.

The debate continued.

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 6:32 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 38(1), 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 7:01 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).