Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform) laid upon the Table, — Government responses, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to the following petitions:

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mrs. Skelton (Minister of National Revenue) for Mr. Flaherty (Minister of Finance), seconded by Mr. Toews (President of the Treasury Board), Bill C-52, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 19, 2007, 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 33(1), Mr. Thompson (Minister of Veterans Affairs) made a statement.

Mr. Goodyear (Cambridge), from the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented the 39th Report of the Committee (item to remain votable). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-391-200.

Pursuant to Standing Order 91.1(2), the report was deemed concurred in.

Mr. Mills (Red Deer), from the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, presented the Third Report of the Committee (extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 97.1, to consider Bill C-298, An Act to add perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) to the Virtual Elimination List under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-391-201.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 49) was tabled.

Mr. Mills (Red Deer), from the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, presented the Fourth Report of the Committee (extension of time, pursuant to Standing Order 97.1, to consider Bill C-307, An Act to prohibit the use of benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) in certain products and to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-391-202.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 49) was tabled.

Mr. Mayes (Okanagan—Shuswap), from the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, presented the Seventh Report of the Committee (aboriginal housing in Canada). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-391-203.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings Nos. 34, 36 to 38, 40 and 42) was tabled.

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Williams (Edmonton—St. Albert), seconded by Mr. Hiebert (South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale), Bill C-421, An Act to provide for the evaluation of statutory programs, 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 Ms. Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan), seconded by Ms. Bell (Vancouver Island North), Bill C-422, An Act to amend the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act (members' staff), was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, in relation to its study on the role of a public broadcaster in the 21st century, six members of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage be authorized to travel to Winnipeg, Manitoba and Toronto, Ontario, from April 11 to 20, 2007, and that the necessary staff do accompany the Committee.

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

Pursuant to Standing Order 39(7), Mr. Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform) presented the return to the following question made into an Order for Return:

The Order was read for the second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on National Defence of Bill S-3, An Act to amend the National Defence Act, the Criminal Code, the Sex Offender Information Registration Act and the Criminal Records Act.

Ms. Verner (Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for la Francophonie and Official Languages) for Mr. O'Connor (Minister of National Defence), seconded by Mr. Hill (Secretary of State), moved, — That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on National Defence.

Debate arose thereon.

Pursuant to Order made Wednesday, March 28, 2007, the Bill was deemed read a second time, deemed referred to a Committee of the Whole, deemed considered in Committee of the Whole, deemed reported without amendment, deemed concurred in at report stage and deemed read a third time and passed.

The Speaker informed the House that Her Excellency the Governor General will proceed to the Senate today at 5:30 p.m., for the purpose of giving the Royal Assent to certain Bills.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Clement (Minister of Health), seconded by Ms. Verner (Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for la Francophonie and Official Languages), — That Bill C-42, An Act to amend the Quarantine Act, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Health.

The debate continued.

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

Accordingly, Bill C-42, An Act to amend the Quarantine Act, was read the second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Health.

The Order was read for the consideration at report stage of Bill S-2, An Act to amend the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act, as reported by the Standing Committee on Health without amendment.

Mr. Kenney (Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity)) for Mr. Clement (Minister of Health), seconded by Ms. Verner (Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for la Francophonie and Official Languages), moved, — That the Bill be concurred in at report stage.

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

Pursuant to Standing Order 76.1(11), Mr. Kenney (Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity)) for Mr. Clement (Minister of Health), seconded by Ms. Verner (Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for la Francophonie and Official Languages), 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.

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, the debate scheduled to take place later this day on the motion to concur in the Second Report of the Standing Committee on Health, be deemed to have taken place, all questions necessary to dispose of the motion be deemed put and a recorded division deemed requested and deferred until Wednesday, April 18, 2007, at the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders; and

A message was received from the Senate as follows:

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Clement (Minister of Health), seconded by Ms. Verner (Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for la Francophonie and Official Languages), — That Bill S-2, An Act to amend the Hazardous Materials Information Review 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 House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Flaherty (Minister of Finance), seconded by Mr. Paradis (Secretary of State (Agriculture)), — That Bill C-33, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act, including amendments in relation to foreign investment entities and non-resident trusts, and to provide for the bijural expression of the provisions of that Act, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Finance.

The debate continued.

A Message was received from Her Excellency the Governor General desiring the immediate attendance of the Commons in the Senate.

Accordingly, the Speaker, with the Commons proceeded to the Senate.

The Commons returned to the Chamber.

Whereupon, the Speaker reported that when the Commons had been in the Senate, Her Excellency the Governor General was pleased to give, in Her Majesty's name, the Royal Assent to the following Bills:

The Speaker also reported that he had addressed Her Excellency the Governor General as follows:

“May it please Your Excellency:

The Commons of Canada have voted Supplies required to enable the Government to defray certain expenses of the public service.

In the name of the Commons I present to Your Excellency the following Bills:

To which Bills I humbly request Your Excellency's Assent.”

Whereupon, the Clerk of the Senate, by Command of Her Excellency the Governor General, did say:

“In Her Majesty's name, Her Excellency the Governor General thanks Her Loyal Subjects, accepts their benevolence, and assents to these Bills.”

At 5:47 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(7), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Crête (Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup), seconded by Mr. Vincent (Shefford), — That, in the opinion of the House, the government should act on the motion proposing to help the textile and clothing industries adopted in the House on October 5, 2005, and worded as follows: “That, in the opinion of the House, the government should establish, in compliance with international agreements, a policy of assistance to the textile and clothing industries in order to enable the industries to compete throughout the world, particularly by allowing clothing made with Canadian textiles but manufactured abroad to be imported without customs duties and by creating an income support program for older workers.”. (Private Members' Business M-158)

The debate continued.

At 6:45 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 93, the Speaker interrupted the proceedings.

The question was put on the motion and, pursuant to Standing Order 93(1), the recorded division was deferred until Wednesday, April 18, 2007, immediately before the time provided for Private Members' Business.

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

At 6:47 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.

Accordingly, at 7:05 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).