Journals

Pursuant to Standing Order 31, Members made statements.

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

The Speaker laid upon the Table, — Report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada following the federal by-election held in the electoral district of Labrador on May 24, 2005, pursuant to the Canada Elections Act, S.C. 2000, c. 9, s. 536. — Sessional Paper No. 8560-391-4-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs)

The Speaker laid upon the Table, — Report of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal for the year 2005, pursuant to the Canadian Human Rights Act, S. C. 1998, c. 9, sbs. 61(4). — Sessional Paper No. 8560-391-661-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights)

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That the Standing Orders be amended as follows:

1. By replacing Standing Order 104(2) with the following:

104. (2) The standing committees, which shall consist of twelve Members, and for which the lists of members are to be prepared, except as provided in section (1) of this Standing Order, shall be on:

(a) Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development;

(b) Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics;

(c) Agriculture and Agri-Food;

(d) Canadian Heritage;

(e) Citizenship and Immigration;

(f) Environment and Sustainable Development;

(g) Finance;

(h) Fisheries and Oceans;

(i) Foreign Affairs and International Development;

(j) Government Operations and Estimates;

(k) Health;

(l) Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities;

(m) Industry, Science and Technology;

(n) International Trade;

(o) Justice and Human Rights;

(p) National Defence;

(q) Natural Resources;

(r) Official Languages;

(s) Procedure and House Affairs;

(t) Public Accounts;

(u) Public Safety and National Security;

(v) Status of Women;

(w) Transport, Infrastructure and Communities; and,

(x) Veterans Affairs.

2. By replacing Standing Order 106(2) with the following:

106. (2) At the commencement of every session and, if necessary, during the course of a session, each standing or special committee shall elect a Chair and two Vice-Chairs, of whom the Chair shall be a Member of the government party, the first Vice-Chair shall be a Member of the Official Opposition, and the second Vice-Chair shall be a Member of an opposition party other than the Official Opposition party. In the case of the Standing Committees on Public Accounts, on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, on Government Operations and Estimates and on the Status of Women, the Chair shall be a Member of the Official Opposition, the first Vice-Chair shall be a Member of the government party and the second Vice-Chair shall be a Member of an opposition party other than the Official Opposition. In the case of the Standing Joint Committee on Scrutiny of Regulations, the Joint-Chair acting on behalf of the House shall be a Member of the Official Opposition, the first Vice-Chair shall be a Member of the government party and the second Vice-Chair shall be a Member of an opposition party other than the Official Opposition.

3. By replacing Standing Order 108(3)(d) and 108(3)(e) with the following:

(d) Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities shall include, among other matters, the proposing, promoting, monitoring and assessing of initiatives aimed at the integration and equality of disabled persons in all sectors of Canadian society;

(e) Justice and Human Rights shall include, among other matters, the review and report on reports of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, which shall be deemed permanently referred to the Committee immediately after they are laid upon the Table;.

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

— by Mr. Savage (Dartmouth—Cole Harbour), one concerning a national child care program (No. 391-0001);

— by Mr. Silva (Davenport), one concerning immigration (No. 391-0002).

Pursuant to Standing Order 7(1), the Speaker proposed that Mr. Blaikie (Elmwood—Transcona) be appointed Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees of the Whole.

Pursuant to Standing Order 7(1.1), the motion “That Mr. Blaikie (Elmwood—Transcona) be appointed Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees of the Whole House” was deemed to have been moved and seconded.

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

Pursuant to Standing Order 8(1), the Speaker proposed that Mr. Galipeau (Ottawa—Orléans) be appointed Deputy Chair of Committees of the Whole.

Pursuant to Standing Order 8(2), the motion “That Mr. Galipeau (Ottawa—Orléans) be appointed Deputy Chair of Committees of the Whole House” was deemed to have been moved and seconded.

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

Pursuant to Standing Order 8(1), the Speaker proposed that Mr. Scheer (Regina—Qu'Appelle) be appointed Assistant Deputy Chair of Committees of the Whole.

Pursuant to Standing Order 8(2), the motion “That Mr. Scheer (Regina—Qu'Appelle) be appointed Assistant Deputy Chair of Committees of the Whole House” was deemed to have been moved and seconded.

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

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Lemieux (Glengarry—Prescott—Russell), seconded by Mr. Casson (Lethbridge), — That the following Address be presented to Her Excellency the Governor General:

To Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY:

We, Her Majesty's most loyal and dutiful subjects, the House of Commons of Canada, in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Excellency for the gracious Speech which Your Excellency has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.

The debate continued.

Mr. Graham (Toronto Centre), seconded by Ms. Robillard (Westmount—Ville-Marie), moved the following amendment, — That the motion be amended by adding the following:

“and, while this House acknowledges the broader agenda mentioned en passant in the Speech, it particularly looks forward to early and meaningful action on such promises as those respecting Aboriginal Canadians, new immigrants, greater security for seniors, improvements in the environment, and increased supports for farm families; and, given the strong economic and fiscal situation which the Government inherited, this House sees no reason for tax increases or a decrease in anticipated early learning and child care spaces in Canada.”.

Debate arose thereon.

Mr. Duceppe (Laurier—Sainte-Marie), seconded by Mr. Gauthier (Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean), moved the following subamendment, — That the amendment be amended by adding after the words “tax increases” the following:

“, for the lack of a strategy to help older workers who lose their jobs, a strategy that should include income support measures”.

Debate arose thereon.

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, on Thursday, April 6, 2006, a take-note debate will take place concerning agricultural issues and that this debate take place under the format established by Standing Order 53.1 except that the debate would begin at 7:00 p.m. and end no later than 11:00 p.m. and that the Chair would not receive any dilatory motions or quorum calls during the debate.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Lemieux (Glengarry—Prescott—Russell), seconded by Mr. Casson (Lethbridge), in relation to the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne;

And of the amendment of Mr. Graham (Toronto Centre), seconded by Ms. Robillard (Westmount—Ville-Marie);

And of the subamendment of Mr. Duceppe (Laurier—Sainte-Marie), seconded by Mr. Gauthier (Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean).

The debate continued.

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

— by Mr. Cannon (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities) — Reports of the Laurentian Pilotage Authority for the year ended December 31, 2005, pursuant to the Access to Information Act and to the Privacy Act, R.S. 1985, c. A-1 and P-21, sbs. 72(2). — Sessional Paper No. 8561-391-715-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights)

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