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) laid upon the Table, — Government responses, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to the following petitions:

Mr. Stanton (Simcoe North), from the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, presented the First Report of the Committee (Bill C-5, An Act to amend the Indian Oil and Gas Act, with an amendment). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-402-44.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings Nos. 7, 8, 10 and 11) was tabled.

Ms. Fry (Vancouver Centre), from the Standing Committee on Status of Women, presented the Third Report of the Committee (Fourth Report of the Committee presented to the House during the First Session of the 38th Parliament). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-402-45.

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.

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Ms. Bonsant (Compton—Stanstead), seconded by Mr. Lessard (Chambly—Borduas), Bill C-343, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code and the Employment Insurance Act (family leave), 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. D'Amours (Madawaska—Restigouche), seconded by Mr. Russell (Labrador), Bill C-344, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (elimination of waiting period), 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. Casey (Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley), seconded by Mr. Stoffer (Sackville—Eastern Shore), Bill C-345, An Act to amend the War Veterans Allowance Act (allied veterans), 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. Davies (Vancouver Kingsway), seconded by Ms. Savoie (Victoria), Bill C-346, An Act respecting Country of Origin Labelling, 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. Davies (Vancouver Kingsway), seconded by Ms. Savoie (Victoria), Bill C-347, An Act respecting the Labelling of Fish, 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, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, on Monday, March 30, 2009, at 2:00 p.m., or when no Member rises to speak to the third reading stage of Bill C-2, An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the States of the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland), the Agreement on Agriculture between Canada and the Republic of Iceland, the Agreement on Agriculture between Canada and the Kingdom of Norway and the Agreement on Agriculture between Canada and the Swiss Confederation, whichever comes first, the Speaker shall put all questions necessary to dispose of the third reading stage of this Bill; if a recorded division is requested, it shall be deemed deferred to the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders on that day; and

that a take-note debate on the International Conference on Afghanistan hosted by The Hague be deemed to have been designated pursuant to Standing Order 53.1 for Thursday, March 26, 2009, provided that during the take-note debate no quorum calls, dilatory motions or requests for unanimous consent shall be received by the Chair.

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, in relation to its study of veterans services offered by members of the Commonwealth and the G8, 12 members of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs be authorized to travel to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, in April 2009 and that the necessary staff do accompany the Committee.

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, in relation to its study of veterans services offered by members of the Commonwealth and the G8, 12 members of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs be authorized to travel to Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, in spring 2009 and that the necessary staff do accompany the Committee.

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, in relation to its review of key elements of Canadian foreign policy, 12 members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development be authorized to travel to Washington, D.C., in April 2009 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. Baird (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities), seconded by Mr. O'Connor (Minister of State), — That Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992, be now read a third time and do pass.

The debate continued.

The question was put on the motion and, pursuant to Standing Order 45, the recorded division was deferred until later today, at the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Prentice (Minister of the Environment), seconded by Mr. O'Connor (Minister of State), — That Bill C-16, An Act to amend certain Acts that relate to the environment and to enact provisions respecting the enforcement of certain Acts that relate to the environment, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.

The debate continued.

The question was put on the motion and, pursuant to Standing Order 45, the recorded division was deferred until later today, at the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders.

At 5:24 p.m., by unanimous consent, the sitting was suspended.

At 5:30 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Pursuant to Standing Order 45, the House proceeded to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion of Mr. Baird (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities), seconded by Mr. O'Connor (Minister of State), — That Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992, 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:

Pursuant to Standing Order 45, the House proceeded to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion of Mr. Prentice (Minister of the Environment), seconded by Mr. O'Connor (Minister of State), — That Bill C-16, An Act to amend certain Acts that relate to the environment and to enact provisions respecting the enforcement of certain Acts that relate to the environment, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.

By unanimous consent, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Accordingly, Bill C-16, An Act to amend certain Acts that relate to the environment and to enact provisions respecting the enforcement of certain Acts that relate to the environment, was read the second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.

At 6:02 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(7), 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 Veterans Affairs of Bill C-201, An Act to amend the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superannuation Act (deletion of deduction from annuity).

Mr. Stoffer (Sackville—Eastern Shore), seconded by Mr. Gravelle (Nickel Belt), moved, — That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs.

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 7:01 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 7:20 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).