By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That the recorded division at the second reading stage of Bill C–217, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (protection of witnesses), deferred to Thursday, May 2, 1996, at 10:00 a.m., be further deferred to Tuesday, May 6, 1996, at the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders.

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. 352-0014, 352-0051 and 352-0165 concerning abortion. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-26C;
2. Nos. 352-0017, 352-0160 and 352-0196 concerning euthanasia. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-19F;
3. No. 352-0112 concerning the labelling of food products. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-54;
4. No. 352-0139 concerning aid to Poland. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-55;
5. No. 352-0153 concerning employment. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-38A;
6. No. 352-0194 concerning the situation in Sri Lanka. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-352-20E.

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

• by Mr. Bryden (Hamilton–Wentworth), concerning the tax system (No. 352-0331).

Mr. Zed (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) presented the answer to question Q–24 on the Order Paper.

The Order was read for the consideration at report stage and second reading of Bill C–12, An Act respecting employment insurance in Canada, as reported by the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development with amendments.

Pursuant to Standing Order 76 (5), the Speaker selected and grouped for debate the following motions:

Group No. 2 — Motions Nos. 1, 2 and 3.

Group No. 3 — Motions Nos. 4, 5, 6, 200 and 201.

Group No. 4 — Motions Nos. 7 and 8.

Group No. 5 — Motions Nos. 10 and 10A.

Group No. 6 — Motions Nos. 17, 18, 20 to 25, 35, 36, 72, 73, 171, 173 and 189.

Group No. 7 — Motions Nos. 75 and 76.

Group No. 8 — Motions Nos. 80, 81, 92 and 93.

Group No. 9 — Motions Nos. 111, 112 and 113.

Group No. 10 — Motion No. 128.

Group No. 11 — Motion No. 188.

Group No. 12 — Motions Nos. 191 and 192.

Group No. 13 — Motions Nos. 214, 215 and 219.

Group No. 14 — Motions Nos. 216, 217 and 218.

Group No. 15 — Motions Nos. 9, 11 to 16, 19, 26 to 34, 37 to 71, 74, 77 to 79, 82 to 91, 94 to 110, 114 to 127, 129 to 170, 172, 174 to 187, 190, 193 to 199, and 202 to 213.

Group No. 2

Mrs. Lalonde (Mercier), seconded by Mr. Crête (Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup), moved Motion No. 1, — That Bill C–12 be amended by replacing the long title, on page 1, with the following:

“An Act to amend the Unemployment Insurance Act.”

Mrs. Lalonde (Mercier), seconded by Mr. Crête (Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup), moved Motion No. 2, — That Bill C–12 be amended by deleting Clause 1.

Mrs. Lalonde (Mercier), seconded by Mr. Crête (Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup), moved Motion No. 3, — That Bill C–12, in Clause 1, be amended by replacing lines 4 and 5, on page 1, with the following:

1. The Unemployment Insurance Act is amended by adding the following to paragraph 6(2)(a):

   “has, during the person’s qualifying period, held insurable employment or insurable employments numbering at least the number of weeks”

2. The Unemployment Insurance Act is amended by adding the following to paragraph 6(2)(b):

   “has had an interruption of earnings from his employment or employments”

3. The Unemployment Insurance Act is amended by adding the following to paragraph 6(3)(a):

   “has held twenty or more weeks of insurable employment or employments”

4. The Unemployment Insurance Act is amended by adding the following to paragraph 6(3)(b):

   “has had an interruption of earnings from his employment or employments.”

5. The Unemployment Insurance Act is amended by adding the following to paragraph 6(4)(c):

   “less than fourteen prescribed weeks that relate to employment or employments”.

Debate arose on the motions in Group No. 2.

Pursuant to Standing Order 31, Members made statements.

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

The House resumed consideration at report stage and second reading of Bill C–12, An Act respecting employment insurance in Canada, as reported by the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development with amendments.

And of the motions in Group No. 2 (Motions Nos. 1, 2 and 3).

The debate continued on the motions in Group No. 2.

At 5:30, pursuant to Standing Order 30(6), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members’ Business.

Mr. White (North Vancouver), seconded by, Mr. Breitkreuz (Yorkton–Melville), moved, — That, in the opinion of this House, the government should support the elimination of section 15(2) of the Constitution Act, 1982 as it derogates from the principle of equality enunciated by section 15(1) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and, that the government should work towards enhancement of equality in the workplace by ending the discriminatory hiring programs that have resulted from the affirmative action provisions of section 15(2). (Private Members’ Business M–141)

Debate arose thereon.

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

Pursuant to Standing Order 30(7), Mr. Johnston (Wetaskiwin), seconded by Ms. Bridgman (Surrey North), moved, — That, in the opinion of this House, the government should support the rights of all job applicants to be evaluated solely on the basis of merit. (Private Members’ Business M–154)

Debate arose thereon.

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

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–15, An Act to amend, enact and repeal certain laws relating to financial institutions, without amendment.

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

At 7:19 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.

At 7:25 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).