PRAYERS

DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS

Tabling of Documents

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:

-- Nos. 352-1562 and 352-1573 concerning housing policy. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-95C;

-- No. 352-1568 concerning the income tax system. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-28HH;

-- No. 352-1601 concerning the tax on gasoline. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-44V;

-- Nos. 352-1604 and 352-1605 concerning the fishing industry. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-149.

Presenting Reports from Committees

Ms. Clancy (Halifax), from the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs, presented the 1st Report of the Committee (Bill C-300, An Act respecting the establishment and award of a Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal for Canadians who have served with an international peacekeeping force, with amendments). -- Sessional Paper No. 8510-352-85.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Issue No. 3, which includes this Report) was tabled.

Introduction of Private Members' Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Breitkreuz (Yorkton -- Melville), seconded by Mr. Frazer (Saanich -- Gulf Islands), Bill C-388, An Act to establish a Canadian Charter of Duties and Responsibilities, 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. Szabo (Mississauga South), seconded by Mr. McCormick (Hastings -- Frontenac -- Lennox and Addington), Bill C-389, An Act to amend the Divorce Act (marriage counselling required before divorce granted), was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Presenting Petitions

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

-- by Mr. Fillion (Chicoutimi), one concerning the highway system (No. 352-1949) and one concerning the tax on gasoline (No. 352-1950);

-- by Mr. Szabo (Mississauga South), one concerning police and firefighters' death benefits (No. 352-1951) and one concerning the income tax system (No. 352-1952).

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance), seconded by Mr. Gray (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada), -- That this House approves in general the budgetary policy of the Government; (Ways and Means Proceedings No. 15)

And of the amendment of Mr. Loubier (Saint-Hyacinthe -- Bagot), seconded by Mr. Pomerleau (Anjou -- Rivière-des-Prairies), -- That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after the word ''That'' and substituting the following:

``the budget statement by the Minister of Finance be rejected by the House of Commons because it:

unilaterally maintains major reductions in transfer payments to the provinces in the fields of postsecondary education, health and social assistance, while intruding in areas of exclusive provincial jurisdiction, particularly by creating the Canada Foundation for Innovation from money earmarked for the provinces, introducing a national child tax benefit system, and setting up pilot projects filled with national unity propaganda in the field of health and social programs;

proposes no tangible job creation measures, does not substantially reduce Unemployment Insurance contribution rates, or improve protection for unemployed persons, which has been greatly reduced by Employment Insurance;

conceals its lack of action in creating jobs and fighting poverty, knowingly reducing effectiveness in these areas and distributing electoral gifts around Canada and Quebec;

does not include an in-depth reform of the tax treatment of businesses or individuals, for example, by maintaining benefits for large corporations and rich Canadians; and

introduces no measures to compensate the Quebec government for the 1991 harmonization of its sales tax with the federal GST, although Quebec would be eligible for this compensation in light of the $1 billion being paid to the maritime provinces.''

The debate continued.

STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Pursuant to Standing Order 31, Members made statements.

ORAL QUESTIONS

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

BOARD OF INTERNAL ECONOMY

The Speaker informed the House that, pursuant to the Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act, Chapter 42 (1st Supp.), Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Mrs. Tremblay (Rimouski -- Témiscouata) has been appointed a member of the Board of Internal Economy to replace Mr. Duceppe (Laurier -- Sainte-Marie).

NOTICE OF MOTION

Mr. Gray (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada) gave notice of the intention to move a motion at the next sitting of the House, pursuant to Standing Order 78(3), for the purpose of allotting a specified number of days or hours for the consideration and disposal of the consideration of the Senate amendment stage of Bill C-70, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act, the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act, the Income Tax Act, the Debt Servicing and Reduction Account Act and related Acts.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance), seconded by Mr. Gray (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada), -- That this House approves in general the budgetary policy of the Government; (Ways and Means Proceedings No. 15)

And of the amendment of Mr. Loubier (Saint-Hyacinthe -- Bagot), seconded by Mr. Pomerleau (Anjou -- Rivière-des-Prairies).

The debate continued.

QUORUM

The attention of the Speaker was drawn to the lack of a quorum and, fewer than 20 Members having been counted, pursuant to Standing Order 29(3), the bells were rung to call in the Members.

After two minutes, a quorum was found.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Martin (Minister of Finance), seconded by Mr. Gray (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada), -- That this House approves in general the budgetary policy of the Government; (Ways and Means Proceedings No. 15)

And of the amendment of Mr. Loubier (Saint-Hyacinthe -- Bagot), seconded by Mr. Pomerleau (Anjou -- Rivière-des-Prairies).

The debate continued.

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

The question was put on the motion and, pursuant to Standing Order 45, the recorded division was deferred until Wednesday, March 19, 1997, at the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders.

MOTIONS

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, -- That the period reserved for Private Members' Business on Wednesday, March 19, 1997, be extended by 30 minutes;

That the first 30 minutes of Private Members' Business on Wednesday, March 19, 1997, be for the purpose of completing all remaining stages of Bill C-300, that during the said 30 minutes one speaker per party be allowed a maximum of 10 minutes to speak and that at the end of the 30-minute period all questions to dispose of the stages shall be deemed to have been put and carried;

That at the completion of Bill C-300 the House will complete the remaining 45 minutes of Private Members' Business item M-277 and that at the completion of the said debate all questions be deemed put, divisions thereon deemed requested and deemed deferred to Monday, April 7, 1997, at the end of the time provided for Government Orders.

INTERRUPTION

At 6:20 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 6:25 p.m., the sitting resumed.

MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE

A Message was received from the Senate as follows:

-- ORDERED: That a Message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that House that the Senate has passed Bill C-23, An Act to establish the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, without amendment.

RETURNS AND REPORTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE

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

-- by the Examiner of Petitions for Private Bills -- 3rd Report, which was as follows:

Pursuant to Standing Order 133(2), the Examiner of Petitions for Private Bills has taken into consideration the petition from the Bishop of the Arctic of the Church of England in Canada, received by the House on Monday, March 17, 1997, and has the honour to report that the requirements of the Standing Orders regarding notice have been fully complied with.

PETITIONS FILED WITH THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE

Pursuant to Standing Order 36, a petition certified correct by the Clerk of Petitions was filed as follows:

-- by Mr. Fontana (London East), concerning the highway system (No. 352-1953).

PROCEEDINGS ON ADJOURNMENT MOTION

At 6:25 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.

ADJOURNMENT

At 6:32 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 2:00 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).