At 11:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(6), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members’ Business.

Mrs. Tremblay (Rimouski–Témiscouata), seconded by Mr. Landry (Lotbinière), moved, — That, in the opinion of this House, the government should amend its Direction to the CRTC (Eligible Canadian Corporations) in order to authorize the CRTC to grant Québec-Téléphone a broadcasting license under the Broadcasting Act, so as to permit competition in distributing broadcasting signals in the territory served by Québec-Téléphone. (Private Members’ Business M–102)

Debate arose thereon.

Pursuant to Standing Order 96(1), the Order was dropped from the Order Paper.

At 11:49 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:00 noon, the sitting resumed.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Dingwall (Minister of Health), seconded by Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance), — That Bill C–18, An Act to establish the Department of Health and to amend and repeal certain Acts, be now read a third time and do pass.

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. Zed (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:

1. Nos. 352-0055, 352-0062, 352-0092, 352-0131 and 352-0135 concerning sexual orientation. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-45;
2. Nos. 352-0076 to 352-0078 concerning the nuclear industry. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-46;
3. No. 352-0091 concerning sentences in the Criminal Code. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-22C;
4. Nos. 352-0105, 352-0106, 352-0110, 352-0121, 352-0133 and 352-0134 concerning the tax on gasoline. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-44C;
5. Nos. 352-0117 and 352-0127 concerning the income tax system. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-28E;
6. No. 352-0122 concerning the tax system. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-24C;
7. No. 352-0126 concerning capital punishment. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-30A;
8. No. 352-0128 concerning the mining industry. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-9A;
9. No. 352-0129 concerning Christianity. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-47.

Pursuant to Standing Order 33(1), Mr. Marchi (Minister of the Environment) made a statement.

Mr. Zed (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), from the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented the 14th Report of the Committee, which was as follows:

The Committee recommends, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, the following changes in the membership of Standing Committees:

The Committee also recommends, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, that the following Members be added to the list of Associate Members of Standing Committees:

The Committee further recommends, that where a Member is appointed as permanent member to a Committee in accordance with this report and to which he was previously appointed Associate Member, that the name of the Member be struck from the list of Associate Members of the said Committee.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence (Issue No. 1, which includes this Report) was tabled.

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Marchi (Minister of the Environment), seconded by Mr. Irwin (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development), Bill C–29, An Act to regulate interprovincial trade in and the importation for commercial purposes of certain manganese-based substances, was introduced, read the first time and ordered to be printed.

Pursuant to Order made Monday, March 4, 1996, the Bill (previously Bill C–94, 1st Session, 35th Parliament) was deemed to have been read the second time, considered by the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, reported without amendment and concurred in at report stage with amendments.

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Marchi (Minister of the Environment) for Mr. Gray (Solicitor General of Canada), seconded by Mr. Irwin (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development), Bill C–30, An Act to amend the Public Service Staff Relations Act and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act, was introduced, read the first time and ordered to be printed.

Pursuant to Order made Monday, March 4, 1996, the Bill (previously Bill C–58, 1st Session, 35th Parliament) was deemed to have been read the second time, considered by the Standing Committee on Government Operations and reported without amendment.

By unanimous consent, Mr. Zed (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), seconded by Ms. Catterall (Ottawa West), moved, — That the 14th Report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented earlier today, be concurred in.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

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

• by Mr. Laurin (Joliette), one concerning banks (No. 352-0275);
• by Mr. Fillion (Chicoutimi), one concerning immigration (No. 352-0276);
• by Mr. Guimond (Beauport–Montmorency–Orléans), one concerning the detention of Mr. Tran Trieu Quan in Vietnam (No. 352-0277);
• by Mr. Cummins (Delta), one concerning euthanasia (No. 352-0278) and one concerning the tax on gasoline (No. 352-0279);
• by Mr. Mills (Red Deer), one concerning impaired driving (No. 352-0280);
• by Mr. Harper (Simcoe Centre), one concerning euthanasia (No. 352-0281), one concerning the sexual exploitation of minors (No. 352-0282) and one concerning sexual orientation (No. 352-0283);
• by Ms. Catterall (Ottawa West), one concerning the National Capital Region (No. 352-0284), one concerning the tax system (No. 352-0285) and one concerning the situation in Sri Lanka (No. 352-0286);
• by Mr. Szabo (Mississauga South), one concerning the income tax system (No. 352-0287) and one concerning alcoholic beverages (No. 352-0288).

Mr. Zed (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) presented the answer to question Q–7 on the Order Paper.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Dingwall (Minister of Health), seconded by Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance), — That Bill C–18, An Act to establish the Department of Health and to amend and repeal certain Acts, 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 Tuesday, April 23, 1996, at 5:30 p.m.

The Order was read for the third reading of Bill C–19, An Act to implement the Agreement on Internal Trade.

Mr. Irwin (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development) for Mr. Manley (Minister of Industry), seconded by Mr. Gerrard (Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development)), moved, — That the Bill be now read a third time and do pass.

Debate arose thereon.

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

At 6:50 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).