PRAYERS

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Pursuant to Standing Order 30(6), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

Mr. Duhamel (St. Boniface), seconded by Mr. Reed (Halton -- Peel), moved, -- That, in the opinion of this House, the government should consider the advisability of introducing legislation that would insure:

(a) that any person who was once entitled to receive a monetary benefit from the federal government and did not make an application to receive such benefit, is allowed to file an application to receive the benefit, notwithstanding any limitation period affecting the application;

(b) that, upon receipt of the application, the federal government shall grant such benefit to that person where it is satisfied that the person would have received the benefit had the person applied within the limitation period; and

(c) that the monetary benefit bears interest as determined by regulation of the Governor in Council. (Private Members' Business M-195)

Debate arose thereon.

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

INTERRUPTION

At 11:39 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:00 noon, the sitting resumed.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The Order was read for second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs of Bill C-18, An Act to suspend the operation of the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act.

Mr. Gray (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), seconded by Mr. Robichaud (Secretary of State (Parliamentary Affairs)), moved, -- That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

Debate arose thereon.

Mr. Harper (Calgary West), seconded by Mr. Hermanson (Kindersley -- Lloydminster), moved the following amendment, -- That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after the word ``That'' and substituting the following:

``Bill C-18, An Act to suspend the operation of the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, be not now read a second time but that it be read a second time this day six months hence.''

Debate arose thereon.

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.

TABLING OF DOCUMENTS

By unanimous consent, Mrs. Brown (Calgary Southeast), laid upon the Table, -- Copies of documents relating to Ginn Publishing (English Text). -- Sessional Paper No. 8530-351-6.

DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS

Tabling of Documents

Mr. Milliken (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), for Mr. Dingwall (Minister of Public Works and Government Services), laid upon the Table, -- Government responses, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to petitions Nos. 351-0066 and 351-0072 concerning the Canada Post Corporation. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-351-7C.

Mr. Milliken (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), for Mr. Gray (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), laid upon the Table, -- Government response, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to petition No. 351-0078 concerning the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-351-15.

Statements by Ministers

Pursuant to Standing Order 33(1), Mr. Ouellet (Minister of Foreign Affairs) made a statement.

Introduction of Private Members' Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. de Savoye (Portneuf), seconded by Ms. Gagnon (Québec), Bill C-227, An Act to amend the Interest Act (calculation of credit card interest), 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. de Savoye (Portneuf), seconded by Ms. Gagnon (Québec), Bill C-228, An Act to provide for the limitation of interest rates and fees in relation to credit card accounts, 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. Adams (Peterborough), three concerning taxes on tobacco (Nos. 351-0150 to 351-0152).

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

Debate resumed on the motion of Mr. Gray (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), seconded by Mr. Robichaud (Secretary of State (Parliamentary Affairs)), -- That Bill C-18, An Act to suspend the operation of the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

And on the amendment of Mr. Harper (Calgary West), seconded by Mr. Hermanson (Kindersley -- Lloydminster).

In accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 26(1), Mr. Robichaud (Secretary of State (Parliamentary Affairs)), seconded by Mr. Kirkby (Prince Albert -- Churchill River), moved, -- That the House continue to sit beyond the ordinary hour of daily adjournment for the purpose of consideration of Bill C-18, An Act to suspend the operation of the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act.

And more than fifteen Members having risen to object, pursuant to Standing Order 26(2), the motion was deemed withdrawn.

Debate resumed on the motion of Mr. Gray (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), seconded by Mr. Robichaud (Secretary of State (Parliamentary Affairs)), -- That Bill C-18, An Act to suspend the operation of the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

And on the amendment of Mr. Harper (Calgary West), seconded by Mr. Hermanson (Kindersley -- Lloydminster).

PROCEEDINGS ON ADJOURNMENT MOTION

At 6:42 p.m., pursuant to Standing Orders 33(2) and 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 7:03 p.m., the House adjourned until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).