PRAYERS

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

At 11:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(6), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

Mr. Riis (Kamloops, Thompson and Highland Valleys), seconded by Ms. Lill (Dartmouth), moved, -- That, in the opinion of this House, the government should give consideration to exempting up to $30,000 of income from income tax as a gesture of support for those artists, writers and performers who work in Canada's cultural industry. (Private Members' Business M-259)

Debate arose thereon.

Pursuant to Standing Order 93, the Order was dropped to the bottom of the order of precedence on the Order Paper.

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The Order was read for the second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration of Bill C-31, An Act respecting immigration to Canada and the granting of refugee protection to persons who are displaced, persecuted or in danger.

Ms. Caplan (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), seconded by Mr. Vanclief (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food), moved, -- That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.

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.

DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS

Tabling of Documents

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Lee (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) laid upon the Table, -- Orders in Council approving certain appointments made by the Governor General in Council, pursuant to Standing Order 110(1), as follows:

-- P.C. 2000-498. -- Sessional Paper No. 8540-362-3-11. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(6), referred to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage)

-- P.C. 2000-491. -- Sessional Paper No. 8540-362-14-10. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(6), referred to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration)

-- P.C. 2000-490, P.C. 2000-501, P.C. 2000-502, P.C. 2000-503 and P.C. 2000-504. -- Sessional Paper No. 8540-362-16-11. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(6), referred to the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities)

-- P.C. 2000-532. -- Sessional Paper No. 8540-362-22-09. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(6), referred to the Standing Committee on Industry)

-- P.C. 2000-500 and P.C. 2000-529. -- Sessional Paper No. 8540- 362-6-10. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(6), referred to the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Government Operations)

-- P.C. 2000-489. -- Sessional Paper No. 8540-362-5-07. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(6), referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs)

-- P.C. 2000-510. -- Sessional Paper No. 8540-362-20-03. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(6), referred to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts)

-- P.C. 2000-493, P.C. 2000-494, P.C. 2000-495, P.C. 2000-496, P.C. 2000-497, P.C. 2000-528 and P.C. 2000-531. -- Sessional Paper No. 8540-362-24-09. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(6), referred to the Standing Committee on Transport)

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Lee (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. 362-0129, 362-0139, 362-0166 and 362-0179 concerning telephone service. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-362-84-01;

-- No. 362-0308 concerning Bell Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-362-85-01;

-- No. 362-0314 concerning gasoline pricing. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-362-86-01;

-- No. 362-0535 concerning the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-362-18-24;

-- Nos. 362-0600, 362-0601, 362-0621, 362-0681 and 362-0682 concerning the official languages of Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-362-68-02;

-- No. 362-0633 concerning pornography. -- Sessional Paper No. 8545-362-81-04.

Presenting Petitions

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

-- by Mr. Riis (Kamloops, Thompson and Highland Valleys), one concerning the highway system (No. 362-1087);

-- by Mr. Szabo (Mississauga South), one concerning breast cancer (No. 362-1088);

-- by Mr. Solberg (Medicine Hat), two concerning marriage (Nos. 362-1089 and 362-1090);

-- by Mr. Jackson (Bruce -- Grey), one concerning breast cancer (No. 362-1091), one concerning marriage (No. 362-1092), one concerning the former Yugoslavia (No. 362-1093) and one concerning child poverty (No. 362-1094);

-- by Mr. Rocheleau (Trois-Rivières), one concerning the labelling of food products (No. 362-1095);

-- by Mr. Harvard (Charleswood St. James -- Assiniboia), one concerning nuclear weapons (No. 362-1096);

-- by Mr. Crête (Kamouraska -- Rivière-du-Loup -- Témiscouata -- Les Basques), two concerning the labelling of food products (Nos. 362-1097 and 362-1098);

-- by Mr. Adams (Peterborough), one concerning the labelling of food products (No. 362-1099) and one concerning gasoline pricing (No. 362-1100);

-- by Mr. Schmidt (Kelowna), two concerning marriage (Nos. 362- 1101 and 362-1102);

-- by Ms. Carroll (Barrie -- Simcoe -- Bradford), one concerning breast cancer (No. 362-1103), two concerning pornography (Nos. 362-1104 and 362-1105) and one concerning marriage (No. 362-1106);

-- by Ms. Davies (Vancouver East), four concerning housing policy (Nos. 362-1107 to 362-1110) and one concerning child poverty (No. 362-1111);

-- by Mr. Elley (Nanaimo -- Cowichan), one concerning marriage (No. 362-1112);

-- by Mr. Epp (Elk Island), one concerning pornography (No. 362- 1113);

-- by Mr. Solomon (Regina -- Lumsden -- Lake Centre), one concerning the highway system (No. 362-1114);

-- by Mr. Brison (Kings -- Hants), one concerning marriage (No. 362- 1115);

-- by Mr. Doyle (St. John's East), one concerning pay equity (No. 362-1116), one concerning pornography (No. 362-1117) and one concerning the Canada Post Corporation (No. 362-1118).

GOVERNMENT ORDERS

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Ms. Caplan (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), seconded by Mr. Vanclief (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food), -- That Bill C-31, An Act respecting immigration to Canada and the granting of refugee protection to persons who are displaced, persecuted or in danger, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.

The debate continued.

PETITIONS FILED WITH THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE

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

-- by Mr. Sekora (Port Moody -- Coquitlam -- Port Coquitlam), two concerning marriage (Nos. 362-1119 and 362-1120).

PROCEEDINGS ON ADJOURNMENT MOTION

At 6:30 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 6:49 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).