Thursday, December 8, 1994
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA
Thursday, December 8, 1994
The House met at 1:30 p.m.
PRAYERS
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
PRESENTING PETITIONS
Physical Education in Schools
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Mr. Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Herman Matharu, Rossanna Lumagbas, Joann Kellow and others urging the Minister responsible for Education (Mr. Manness) to consider reinstating physical education as a compulsory core subject area.
Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): Mr. Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Whitney Hill, Kathleen McNamara, Melissa Davidson and others requesting the Minister of Education (Mr. Manness) to consider maintaining physical education as part of the core curriculum from kindergarten to senior high.
READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS
Taxation on Gillam Housing
Mr. Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member (Mr. Robinson). It complies with the privileges and the practices of this House and complies with the rules. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?
Some Honourable Members: Yes.
Mr. Speaker: The Clerk will read.
Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba humbly showeth that:
WHEREAS due to a shortage of housing in Gillam and the high cost of living in that community, employees of Manitoba Hydro have lived in housing supplied by Manitoba for many years; and
WHEREAS this housing benefit has been a condition of employment; and
WHEREAS Revenue Canada proposes to tax this housing retroactive to 1991.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request that the Minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro consider reviewing the impact of this tax upon the workforce in Gillam on an urgent basis to ensure that Gillam residents are not impacted retroactively by this tax decision.
AND FURTHER your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly will request the Minister of Hydro to lobby the federal Minister of Revenue in regards to this tax decision.
AND FURTHER your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly will request the Minister of Hydro to consider guaranteeing that Manitoba Hydro will cover any retroactive taxes on housing should the federal government not reverse their decision.
Physical Education in Schools
Mr. Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member (Mr. Lamoureux). It complies with the privileges and the practices of this House and complies with the rules. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?
Some Honourable Members: Yes.
Mr. Speaker: The Clerk will read.
Mr. Clerk: The petition of the undersigned residents of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth:
THAT in July 1994, the Minister of Education introduced an action plan entitled Renewing Education: New Directions;
THAT this report will make physical education an optional course in Grades 9 to 12;
THAT the physical education curriculum should be regularly reviewed to ensure that it meets the needs of students;
THAT the government is failing to recognize the benefits of physical education such as improved physical fitness, more active lifestyles, health promotion, self-discipline, skill development, stress reduction, strengthened peer relationships, weight regulation, stronger bones, reduced risk of health diseases and improved self-confidence.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly urge the Minister responsible for Education to consider reinstating physical education as a compulsory core subject area.
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Mr. Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member (Ms. Cerilli). It complies with the privileges and the practices of this House and complies with the rules. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read? Do you want it read? Okay, the Clerk will read.
Mr. Clerk: The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth that:
WHEREAS the proposed changes to the Manitoba curriculum would have no physical education required for students after Grade 8; and
WHEREAS the social, intellectual, emotional and physical benefits of physical education have been proven through extensive research; and,
WHEREAS requiring physical education for high school sends a message that physical activity is important for life and encourages high school students to make life choices to stay active and it fits into a preventative health strategy; and,
WHEREAS many parents, students, medical professionals and educators, health and recreation specialists are urging that physical education be increased in schools.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Minister of Education to consider maintaining physical education as part of the core curriculum from kindergarten to senior high.
TABLING OF REPORTS
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table three reports: the Third Quarter Report for Manitoba Telephone System for 1994; the Report for The Manitoba Foundation for the fiscal year 1993-94; and the Report for the Fiscal Stabilization Fund for 1993-94.
Hon. James Downey (Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table the Report for the Manitoba Horse Racing Commission, the Annual Report for the Economic Innovation and Technology Council and additional information which is the State of Innovation Report for Manitoba.
Hon. Donald Orchard (Minister of Energy and Mines): Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the 43rd Annual Report for the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board for the year ending March 31, 1994.
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS
Bill 204--The Health Reform Accountability and Consequential Amendments Act
Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the member for Swan River (Ms. Wowchuk), that leave be given to introduce Bill 204, The Health Reform Accountability and Consequential Amendments Act; Loi concernant l'obligation redditionnelle en matière de réforme de la santé et apportant des modifications corrélatives, and that the same be now received and read a first time.
Motion presented.
Mr. Chomiak: Mr. Speaker, for the third session in a row, we will be introducing this particular new bill. It is a very positive suggestion, and I know that all members of the House who often speak of positive announcements in this regard will accept this bill in the light that it is given.
As indicated previously, this bill provides for real public input. It calls for the minister to table information that has not been available in the past, to table information in this House and through this House to the citizens of Manitoba. It calls for public hearings to be held by the minister regarding the government's health proposals. It calls for public hearings to be held by health care institutions and others to allow the public to have real and meaningful input into health in this province. It calls for an ombudsman or another third independent party to act as a spokesperson and to act as an advocate for people who feel they have been aggrieved or have difficulties with the health care system.
We feel this is a very positive pronouncement and we are certain that all members of the House will join us in supporting this positive measure to try to open up the process of health reform.
Motion agreed to.
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Bill 200--The Family Maintenance Amendment Act
Ms. Norma McCormick (Osborne): Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the member for The Maples (Mr. Kowalski), that leave be given to introduce Bill 200, The Family Maintenance Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur l'obligation alimentaire, and that the same be now received and read a first time.
Motion presented.
Ms. McCormick: Mr. Speaker, the purpose of Bill 200 is to amend ten sections of The Family Maintenance Act, to protect the rights of custodial parents, to resolve administrative impediments which frustrate the routine enforcement of child support orders, and to broaden the collection powers of the Maintenance Enforcement Program. Specifically, the amendments would remove the power of a judge to remit orders and require that information on default of child support obligations be registered with credit bureaus.
I recommend consideration of this bill to all members of the Legislature.
Motion agreed to.
Bill 205, The Health Care Records Act
Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the member for Wolseley (Ms. Friesen), that leave be given to introduce Bill 205, The Health Care Records Act; Loi sur les dossiers médicaux, and that the same be now received and read a first time.
Motion presented.
Mr. Chomiak: Mr. Speaker, this bill proposes to provide a right to Manitobans to have access and receive access to their public health records. It provides the public with the right which is not necessarily enjoyed by the public in law. It provides them with the right to have access to their records and for that access to not be reasonably withheld.
It is very important at this time of health care change that the public, who are increasingly aware of what is happening in the health care system, have access to their records. I am sure all members of the House will join us in supporting this progressive measure. Thank you.
Motion agreed to.
Bill 207--The Regulations Amendment Act
Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the member for Wolseley (Ms. Friesen), that leave be given to introduce Bill 207, The Regulations Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur les textes réglementaires, and that it now be read a first time.
Motion presented.
Mr. Ashton: Mr. Speaker, this bill will be familiar to members of the Legislature. It was moved by the former member for Flin Flon in the past session. It deals with the important area of regulations particularly as they affect small business and going beyond some of the activity that has taken place which involves discussion review of regulation to ensure that regulations are reviewed by the Standing Committee on Statutory Orders and Regulations.
Since 1972, this has in effect not happened, and we are increasingly finding that many of the regulations that are creating difficulties for businesses have never in fact been debated either by the Legislature itself or by a committee of the Legislature. We believe this particular bill in conjunction with The Small Business Regulation Relief Act which we will also be introducing in this session on a later day will go a substantial way to ensuring that some of the burden of red tape that many businesses face and some of the lack of accountability for regulations that we as members of the Legislature see on a regular basis, Mr. Speaker, will be taken care of by referring these to a Standing Committee on Statutory Orders and Regulations.
Motion agreed to.
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Bill 209--The Donation of Food Act
Ms. Becky Barrett (Wellington): Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the member for Radisson (Ms. Cerilli), that leave be given to introduce Bill 209, The Donation of Food Act; Loi sur le don d'aliments, and that the same be now received and read a first time.
Motion presented.
Ms. Barrett: Mr. Speaker, as we pledged last week, we are now introducing this legislation, The Donation of Food Act, which is based on legislation from Ontario which will protect donors of food from liability as long as the donations are given in good faith.
We applaud the government for having followed our lead and introduced Bill 5, and on a more serious note, Mr. Speaker, would hope that since the two pieces of legislation are virtually identical, all members of the Legislature would be able to pass this, either piece of legislation, prior to our rising for the Christmas season. I would recommend that.
Motion agreed to.
Bill 210--The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Amendment Act
Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East): Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the member for Swan River (Ms. Wowchuk), that leave be given to introduce Bill 210, The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur la Société d'assurance publique du Manitoba, and that the same be now received and read a first time.
Motion presented.
Mr. Leonard Evans: Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the no-fault program of MPIC which was introduced in March of this year. Our bill is based in part on proposals put forward by Manitobans at the committee hearings on Bill 37 in 1993.
Our amendments provide for more equitable and fairer treatment of victims of accidents including: 1) removal of discrimination against seniors; 2) payment of income replacement effective the day after the accident rather than one week so that claimants will not lose a week's wages or income; 3) improved and more generous benefits for spouses of deceased victims; 4) more generous benefits generally, including death benefits for other family members as well as improved benefits for those requiring personal home assistance; 5) provision for claimant advocates to assist persons who wish to appeal an award made by MPIC, and, very importantly, broadening the basis for appeal to the Court of Appeal which under the existing legislation has been limited to questions of law or jurisdiction only; and 7) provision for a comprehensive review of the no-fault program by the Public Utilities Board on or before June 1, 1997.
Mr. Speaker, there are many other amendments which are included in this bill; however, all of them are designed to make the no-fault insurance system fairer and more acceptable to Manitobans, at the same time maintaining the basic integrity of the no-fault system.
Motion agreed to.
Introduction of Guests
Mr. Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, may I direct the attention of honourable members to the gallery, where we have with us this afternoon from the Greenland School twenty-two Grades 8 and 9 students under the direction of Mr. Randy Warkentin. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for La Verendrye (Mr. Sveinson).
From the Red River Community College Language Training Centre we have twenty students under the direction of Karen Thorlakson. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Point Douglas (Mr. Hickes).
From Maples Collegiate we have eighteen Grade 12 students under the direction of Mr. Gordon Boyko. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for The Maples (Mr. Kowalski).
From Sisler High School we have thirty Grade 9 students under the direction of Mr. Richard Pesik. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Inkster (Mr. Lamoureux).
On behalf of all honourable members, I would like to welcome you here this afternoon.