The Order was read for the consideration at report stage of Bill C–75, An Act to amend the Farm Improvement and Marketing Cooperatives Loans Act, as reported by the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food without amendment.

Mr. Rock (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada) for Mr. Goodale (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food), seconded by Mr. Gagliano (Secretary of State (Parliamentary Affairs) and Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), moved, — That the Bill be concurred in at report stage.

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

Accordingly, the Bill was concurred in at report stage.

Pursuant to Standing Order 76.1(11), Mr. Rock (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada) for Mr. Goodale (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food), seconded by Mr. Gagliano (Secretary of State (Parliamentary Affairs) and Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), 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. Gagnon (Parliamentary Secretary to the Solicitor General of Canada) laid upon the Table, — Government responses, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to petitions Nos. 351-2866, 351-2888, 351-2898, 351-2901, 351-2905 and 351-2906 concerning the Canadian Human Rights Act. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-351-3AA.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Gagnon (Parliamentary Secretary to the Solicitor General of Canada) laid upon the Table, — Government response, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to petition No. 351-2421 concerning the parole system. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-351-10W.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Gagnon (Parliamentary Secretary to the Solicitor General of Canada) laid upon the Table, — Government responses, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to petitions Nos. 351-2867, 351-2868 to 351-2870, 351-2891 to 351-2894 and 351-2896 concerning gun control. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-351-16T.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Gagnon (Parliamentary Secretary to the Solicitor General of Canada) laid upon the Table, — Government response, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to petition No. 351-2890 concerning abortion. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-351-30JJ.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Gagnon (Parliamentary Secretary to the Solicitor General of Canada) laid upon the Table, — Government response, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to petition No. 351-1601 concerning the utilization of the Port of Churchill. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-351-40B.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Gagnon (Parliamentary Secretary to the Solicitor General of Canada) laid upon the Table, — Government response, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to petition No. 351-2889 concerning the definition of family. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-351-98E.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Gagnon (Parliamentary Secretary to the Solicitor General of Canada) laid upon the Table, — Government response, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to petition No. 351-2903 concerning sexual orientation. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-351-111G.

Ms. Copps (Minister of the Environment) laid upon the Table, — Documents entitled:

1. Toxic Substances Management Policy
2. Persistence and Bioaccumulation Criteria
3. Report on Public Consultations. — Sessional Paper No. 8525-351-33.

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

Mr. Keyes (Hamilton West), from the Standing Committee on Transport, presented the 4th Report of the Committee (Bill C–89, An Act to provide for the continuance of the Canadian National Railway Company under the Canada Business Corporations Act and for the issuance and sale of shares of the Company to the public, without amendment). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-351-121.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence (Issue No. 41, which includes this Report) was tabled.

Mr. Nault (Kenora–Rainy River), from the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, presented the 6th Report of the Committee (Bill S–7, An Act to accelerate the use of alternative fuels for motor vehicles, with amendments). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-351-122.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence (Issue No. 40, which includes this Report) was tabled.

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Murray (Lanark–Carleton), seconded by Mr. O’Reilly (Victoria–Haliburton), Bill C–329, An Act to provide for the recognition of the Canadian Horse as the national horse of Canada, 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 Order 36, petitions certified correct by the Clerk of Petitions were presented as follows:

• by Mr. Szabo (Mississauga South), one concerning the income tax system (No. 351-3340);
• by Mr. Schmidt (Okanagan Centre), one concerning radio and television programming (No. 351-3341), one concerning euthanasia (No. 351-3342), one concerning gun control (No. 351-3343) and one concerning the Canadian Human Rights Act (No. 351-3344);
• by Mrs. Hayes (Port Moody–Coquitlam), one concerning the parole system (No. 351-3345);
• by Mr. Shepherd (Durham), one concerning the Divorce Act (No. 351-3346);
• by Ms. Meredith (Surrey–White Rock–South Langley), three concerning gun control (Nos. 351-3347 to 351-3349);
• by Mr. Fewchuk (Selkirk–Red River), one concerning euthanasia (No. 351-3350) and one concerning the Canadian Human Rights Act (No. 351-3351);
• by Mr. Breitkreuz (Yellowhead), seven concerning gun control (Nos. 351-3352 to 351-3358), two concerning the Canadian Human Rights Act (Nos. 351-3359 and 351-3360) and two concerning euthanasia (Nos. 351-3361 and 351-3362).

Mr. Gagnon (Parliamentary Secretary to the Solicitor General of Canada) presented the answer to question Q–139 on the Order Paper.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Goodale (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food), seconded by Mr. Gagliano (Secretary of State (Parliamentary Affairs) and Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), — That Bill C–75, An Act to amend the Farm Improvement and Marketing Cooperatives Loans Act, be now read a third time and do pass.

The debate continued.

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

Accordingly, the Bill was read the third time and passed.

The Order was read for the second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Transport of Bill C–81, An Act to amend An Act respecting the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Company.

Mr. Massé (President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs) for Mr. Young (Minister of Transport), seconded by Mrs. Stewart (Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa)), moved, — That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Transport.

Debate arose thereon.

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

Accordingly, the Bill was read the second time and, by unanimous consent, referred to a Committee of the Whole.

The Committee considered the Bill and reported it without amendment.

Pursuant to Standing Order 76.1(12), Mr. Massé (President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs) for Mr. Young (Minister of Transport), seconded by Mrs. Stewart (Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa)), moved, — That the Bill be concurred in at report stage.

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

Accordingly, the Bill was concurred in at report stage.

By unanimous consent, Mr. Massé (President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs) for Mr. Young (Minister of Transport), seconded by Mrs. Stewart (Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa)), moved, — That the Bill be now read a third time and do pass.

Debate arose thereon.

Mrs. Stewart (Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa)) gave notice of 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 and hours for the consideration and disposal of the report stage and third reading stage of Bill C–76, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 27, 1995.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Young (Minister of Transport), seconded by Mrs. Stewart (Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa)), — That Bill C–81, An Act to amend An Act respecting the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Company, be now read a third time and do pass.

The debate continued.

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

Accordingly, the Bill was read the third time and passed.

At 1:25 p.m., by unanimous consent, the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members’ Business.

Mr. Ringma (Nanaimo–Cowichan), seconded by Mr. Schmidt (Okanagan Centre), moved, — That, in the opinion of this House, and as the anniversary of the original Official Languages Act approaches (1969-1994), the government should thoroughly assess the way the Act is applied in Canada, by appointing some individual to carry out a detailed and balanced review of the work done so far, and reaffirm Parliament’s commitment to a just and adequate policy on official languages. (Private Members’ Business M–381)

Debate arose thereon.

Mrs. Tremblay (Rimouski–Témiscouata), seconded by Mr. Laurin (Joliette), moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “adequate policy on official languages” the following:

“and that the Act be strengthened and applied in full from coast to coast to coast.”

Debate arose thereon.

Pursuant to Standing Order 93, the time provided for consideration of Private Members’ Business expired and the Order was dropped to the bottom of the order of precedence on the Order Paper.

At 2:25 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until Monday at 11:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).