ORDERS OF THE DAY

Hon. Jim Ernst (Government House Leader): Madam Speaker, would you call for second reading of Bill 4 and Bill 17. I erred. It should have been Bill 12 and Bill 17.

SECOND READINGS

Bill 12--The Louis Riel Institute Act

Hon. Darren Praznik (Minister responsible for Native Affairs): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Enns), that Bill 12, The Louis Riel Institute Act; Loi sur l'Institut Louis Riel, be now read a second time and be referred to a committee of this House.

Motion presented.

Mr. Praznik: Madam Speaker, I rise today to move second reading of The Louis Riel Institute Act. This was a bill which died at the prorogation of the Thirty-fifth Legislature just prior to the election. We reintroduce this piece of legislation today for second reading and debate of the Assembly and hopefully move it towards passage.

This piece of legislation in essence is simply an incorporation of the institute. I think if members read through the bill clause by clause they will find that it does nothing more, quite frankly, than establish the Louis Riel Institute, set out the structure, the framework, the powers and parameters of that particular organization.

The reason why we are introducing this as a piece of legislation as opposed to incorporation of this body through The Corporations Act is because we believe and feel very strongly that it is important to recognize the role of Louis Riel in the founding of Manitoba, as Manitoba's father of Confederation, and to create this institute with an act of the Legislature as we have done on many other occasions for various worthwhile organizations and institutes in our province.

The aims of this institute are rather broad, Madam Speaker. One which I believe very strongly in is it becomes in essence--if its board of directors are able to put together the people and the financial resources, as I believe they will be able to do--a place for continuing and expanding the study of Manitoba history.

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One complaint that we get from time to time, I think in all of our constituencies, is that there really has not been done a great deal of work on the early history of Manitoba, that our school students, our young students, are not always fully aware of the very interesting and exciting early history of our province. So certainly this institute has as one of its powers and one of its reasons to exist to become, to the best of its ability, a place to further the study of Manitoba history and act as a vehicle for expanding not only the study but interest in the history of our province. Certainly, in this our 125th anniversary of Confederation, it becomes an even greater significance.

Another role of this particular institute is to work among Manitoba's Metis community to encourage, foster a love of education and educational opportunities for Metis students across the province.

By way of history, Madam Speaker, I can tell you that this particular institute has been the subject of a great deal of discussion and debate over the last number of years as to how it should actually be formulated. There were a host of different proposals in the early days when this concept came forward, with a variety of different purposes and a variety of different powers.

I am pleased to report that the results of many discussions and debates have led to the creation of an institute with this incorporation bill. The strength of this institute will be the fact that it has to go out and raise its resources, it has to build its board of directors and it has to take on the projects it wishes to take on with its own ability. I, quite frankly, believe that it has the potential to be a very interesting and significant institute in the life of our province. I look forward, after its incorporation by this Legislature, to see it go on to do many good things within the provincial community.

I am very honoured, in this the 125th year of our Confederation, to be the minister sponsoring this bill that recognizes, through its name, the importance of Louis Riel in the founding of our province.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the Metis member for Selkirk (Mr. Dewar), that debate be adjourned.

Motion agreed to.

Bill 17--The City of Winnipeg Amendment Act (2)

Hon. Jack Reimer (Minister of Urban Affairs): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs (Mr. Ernst), that Bill 17, The City of Winnipeg Amendment Act (2); Loi no 2 modifiant la Loi sur la Ville de Winnipeg, be now read a second time and be referred to a committee of this House. [interjection]

Madam Speaker: Order, please. I wonder if I might request the co-operation of all the small meetings that are taking place throughout the Chamber that the members either move to the loge or outside the Chamber.

Motion presented.

Mr. Reimer: Madam Speaker, I am pleased to introduce for second reading, Bill 17, to amend The City of Winnipeg Act.

The main components of the bill include new legislation to enable council to regulate the use of pellet weapons, new legislation which permits council to establish a program of tax credits and grants for renovations to heritage buildings, and amendments to the planning and development legislation. Other amendments in the bill are minor and of a housekeeping nature.

I would like to describe each of the substantive changes in turn.

Regulating the use of pellet weapons, Winnipeg City Council has requested an amendment which would permit them by by-law to regulate the sale and use of pellet guns, BB guns and air guns. The city's intent is to address the problem of young people misusing pellet weapons.

Several municipalities in Canada like Calgary, Ottawa and Toronto have by-laws making powers to regulate the use of pellet weapons. The province is committed to reducing violence and increasing public safety in our communities. Accordingly, we support the city's request and efforts to find opportunities to reduce violence. Bill 17 contains an amendment which would permit council by by-law to prohibit and regulate the sale and possession of weapons other than weapons regulated by the Criminal Code of Canada.

Tax release for heritage buildings. One of Winnipeg's greatest assets and legacies is its large collection of heritage buildings. Winnipeg City Council recognizes the tremendous value of these heritage resources. It has therefore requested legislation which would permit tax credits and grants for major renovations to heritage buildings as an incentive for such renovations which are typically very expensive in the case of these buildings. The bill contains legislation which allows City Council to establish by by-laws a program of tax credits and grants for renovations to heritage buildings and to determine by by-law eligible renovation work, the amount of credits and grants and the terms and conditions for participation in the program.

Planning amendments. Bill 17 contains a number of minor planning amendments which City Council has requested, such as the ability to terminate obsolete variances and conditional uses with the written consent of a property owner and also the ability to be able to determine if a proponent's application is the correct one relative to an undertaking before referring it to the appropriate hearing body for a decision on the application.

There is, however, one significant change to the planning legislation which concerns the granting of land use variances. Where the proposed use of land is not permitted under a zoning by-law but its use which is substantially the same as those uses allowed in the zoning by-laws for that site, the city will be permitted through Bill 17 to grant a land use variance instead of rezoning the property. This amendment is intended to address those situations where zoning may not be appropriate. Let me give you an example.

A parcel of land may be zoned as C1 limited commercial district and a property owner may seek a relatively minor variation from the permitted land uses in this zone that does not justify rezoning the site to a C2 general commercial use. In fact, rezoning the property to C2 may meet with more resistance from adjacent property owners than granting a land use variance because a C2 rezoning would permit greater densities, a taller building and a whole new range of land uses not allowed under C1. As such, the potential impact of a rezoning on the property and on the character of the neighbourhood could be far more significant than the impact for the use of a variance.

I have described for members in the House the main features of Bill 17. Essentially, the bill provides opportunities for enhanced local government autonomy and accountability.

In conclusion, I would recommend Bill 17 to the honourable members of the Legislature for their consideration and their adaptation.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr. Daryl Reid (Transcona): I move, seconded by the member for Wellington (Ms. Barrett), that debate be adjourned.

Motion agreed to.

House Business

Hon. Jim Ernst (Government House Leader): I move, Madam Speaker, seconded by the Minister of Culture, Heritage and Citizenship (Mr. Gilleshammer), that Madam Speaker do now leave the Chair and the House resolve itself into a committee to consider of the Supply to be granted to Her Majesty.

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Motion agreed to, and the House resolved itself into a committee to consider of the Supply to be granted to Her Majesty, with the honourable member for La Verendrye (Mr. Sveinson) in the Chair for the Department of Culture, Heritage and Citizenship; the honourable member for Sturgeon Creek (Mr. McAlpine) in the Chair for the departments of Education and Training, and Northern and Native Affairs; and the honourable member for St. Norbert (Mr. Laurendeau) in the Chair for the departments of Health and Justice.