The acting clerk informed the House of the unavoidable absence of the Speaker.

Whereupon, Mr. d'Entremont (West Nova), Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees of the Whole, took the chair, pursuant to subsection 43(1) of the Parliament of Canada Act.

At 11:03 a.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 Mrs. Vecchio (Elgin—Middlesex—London), seconded by Mrs. Vien (Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis), — That Bill S-210, An Act to restrict young persons’ online access to sexually explicit material, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security.

The debate continued.

The question was put on the motion and, pursuant to Standing Order 93(1), the recorded division was deferred until Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions.

At 11:42 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:00 p.m., the sitting resumed.

The order was read for the third reading of Bill C-56, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act and the Competition Act.

Mr. MacAulay (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food) for Ms. Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance), seconded by Ms. Martinez Ferrada (Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec), moved, — That the bill be now read a third time and do pass.

Debate arose thereon.

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. Lamoureux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) laid before the House, — Government responses, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to the following petitions:

— Nos. 441-01820, 441-01824, 441-01829, 441-01830, 441-01833, 441-01835, 441-01836, 441-01840, 441-01843, 441-01846 and 441-01848 concerning justice;

— Nos. 441-01821, 441-01826 and 441-01844 concerning transportation;

— No. 441-01822 concerning social affairs and equality;

— Nos. 441-01823, 441-01834, 441-01842 and 441-01851 concerning the environment;

— Nos. 441-01825, 441-01827 and 441-01845 concerning public safety;

— Nos. 441-01828, 441-01839 and 441-01849 concerning health;

— Nos. 441-01831, 441-01838 and 441-01847 concerning civil and human rights;

— Nos. 441-01832 and 441-01841 concerning foreign affairs;

— No. 441-01837 concerning business and trade;

— No. 441-01850 concerning government services and administration.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Oliphant (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs) laid before the House, — Copy of the Convention Establishing the Square Kilometre Array Observatory, done at Rome on March 12, 2019, and the Agreement between Canada and the Square Kilometre Array Observatory concerning the Accession of Canada to the Convention Establishing the Square Kilometre Array Observatory, done at Ottawa on October 13, 2023, and at Lower Withington, United Kingdom, on October 30, 2023, and Explanatory Memorandum. — Sessional Paper No. 8532-441-42.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Oliphant (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs) laid before the House, — Copy of the Agreement on Air Transport between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Dominican Republic, done at Santo Domingo on February 2, 2023, and Explanatory Memorandum. — Sessional Paper No. 8532-441-43.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Oliphant (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs) laid before the House, — Copy of the Exchange of Letters constituting an agreement amending the Agreement for Co-operation Concerning Civil Uses of Atomic Energy between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America, done at Washington on 15 June 1955, as amended, done at Washington on June 26, 2023 and at Ottawa on July 7, 2023, and Explanatory Memorandum. — Sessional Paper No. 8532-441-44.

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Ms. Hajdu (Minister of Indigenous Services), seconded by Mr. Anandasangaree (Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations), Bill C-61, An Act respecting water, source water, drinking water, wastewater and related infrastructure on First Nation lands, was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Mr. Blois (Kings—Hants), from the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, presented the 15th report of the committee, "Protecting Against Animal Biosecurity Risks: The State of Canada's Preparedness". — Sessional Paper No. 8510-441-361.

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

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings Nos. 61, 66, 77, 81, 83 and 84) was tabled.

Mr. Blois (Kings—Hants), from the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, presented the 16th report of the committee, "Striking a Balance: Electronic Logging Device Requirements Impacting Animal Transportation". — Sessional Paper No. 8510-441-362.

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

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings Nos. 78, 80, 82, 84 and 86) was tabled.

Mr. Ehsassi (Willowdale), from the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, presented the 21st report of the committee, "Current Human Rights Situation in Iran". — Sessional Paper No. 8510-441-363.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 87) was tabled.

Mr. Ehsassi (Willowdale), from the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, presented the 22nd report of the committee, "The Rights and Freedoms of Women and Girls Globally, and in Afghanistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia". — Sessional Paper No. 8510-441-364.

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. 82) was tabled.

Mr. Chahal (Calgary Skyview), from the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, presented the 12th report of the committee (Bill C-50, An Act respecting accountability, transparency and engagement to support the creation of sustainable jobs for workers and economic growth in a net-zero economy, with amendments). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-441-365.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 80) was tabled.

Mr. Genuis (Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan), seconded by Mr. Scheer (Regina—Qu'Appelle), moved, — That the 12th report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, presented on Monday, June 5, 2023, be concurred in. (Concurrence in Committee Reports No. 48)

Debate arose thereon.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Ms. Khera (Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities) laid before the House, — Answers to questions Q-1861 to Q-1942 on the Order Paper. — Sessional Paper No. 8530-441-32.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Genuis (Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan), seconded by Mr. Scheer (Regina—Qu'Appelle), — That the 12th report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, presented on Monday, June 5, 2023, be concurred in. (Concurrence in Committee Reports No. 48)

The debate continued.

At 6:15 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 66(2), the Deputy Speaker interrupted the proceedings.

The question was put on the motion and, pursuant to Standing Order 45, the recorded division was deferred until Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions.

Pursuant to order made Thursday, November 23, 2023, the House resumed consideration of the motion of Ms. Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance), seconded by Ms. Martinez Ferrada (Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec), — That Bill C-56, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act and the Competition Act, be now read a third time and do pass.

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

At 7:00 p.m., pursuant to order made Thursday, December 7, 2023, and Standing Order 53.1, the House resolved itself into a committee of the whole for the consideration of the following motion, — That this committee take note of Indigenous services. (Government Business No. 32)

At 11:06 p.m., pursuant to order made Thursday, December 7, 2023, the committee rose.

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

— by Ms. Joly (Minister of Foreign Affairs) — Copy of the Regulations amending the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Regulations (P.C. 2023-1192), pursuant to the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law), S.C. 2017, c. 21, s. 5. — Sessional Paper No. 8560-441-1140-02. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development)

— by Mr. Vandal (Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency) — Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy, pursuant to the Building a Green Prairie Economy Act, S.C. 2022, c. 21, sbs. 4(1). — Sessional Paper No. 8560-441-1379-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology)

Accordingly, at 11:06 p.m., the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).