2nd-36th, Volume 37 - Routine Proceedings

VOL. XLVI No. 37 - 1:30 p.m., TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1996

Tuesday, May 21, 1996

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA

Tuesday, May 21, 1996

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

PRAYERS

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

PRESENTING PETITIONS

Seasonal Camping Fees

Mr. Oscar Lathlin (The Pas): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Harold Lanings, Ken McMaster, Francis Asper and others urging the provincial government not to increase seasonal camping fees by such a large amount.

Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): I beg to present the petition of Audrey Sloan, Larry Hofmeister, Barbara Murray and others urging the provincial government not to increase seasonal camping fees by such a large amount--especially when it snows.

Home Care Services

Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Delores Faulkner, Andrea Kaston, T. Knight and others requesting the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) to consider reversing their plan to private home care services.

Mr. Gregory Dewar (Selkirk): I beg to present the petition of Bruce Clark, Gale Haines and Gary Lawlor requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Mr. Jim Maloway (Elmwood): I beg to present the petition of J.A. Goodwin, Bonnie Cham, Dawn Kidder and others requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of John Hryshko, Joseph Cloutier, Larry Gariepy and others requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS

Home Care Services

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Selkirk (Mr. Dewar). It complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

THAT on at least six occasions during the 1995 provincial election, the Premier promised not to cut health services; and

THAT on December 16, 1995, a plan to privatize home care services was presented to Treasury Board; and

THAT this plan calls for the complete divestiture of all service delivery to nongovernment organizations, mainly private for-profit companies as well as the implementation of a user-pay system of home care; and

THAT previous cuts to the Home Care program have resulted in services being cut and people’s health being compromised; and

THAT thousands of caring front-line service providers will lose their jobs as a result of this change; and

THAT profit has no place in the provision of vital health services.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Burrows (Mr. Martindale). It complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

THAT on at least six occasions during the 1995 provincial election, the Premier promised not to cut health services; and

THAT on December 16, 1995, a plan to privatize home care services was presented to Treasury Board; and

THAT previous cuts to the Home Care program have resulted in services being cut and people’s health being compromised; and

THAT thousands of caring front-line service providers will lose their jobs as a result of this change; and

THAT profit has no place in the provision of vital health services.

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Brandon East (Mr. Leonard Evans). It complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

THAT on at least six occasions during the 1995 provincial election, the Premier promised not to cut health services; and

THAT on December 16, 1995, a plan to privatize home care services was presented to Treasury Board; and

THAT previous cuts to the Home Care program have resulted in services being cut and people’s health being compromised; and

THAT thousands of caring front-line service providers will lose their jobs as a result of this change; and

THAT profit has no place in the provision of vital health services.

* (1335)

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Wolseley (Ms. Friesen). It complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

THAT on at least six occasions during the 1995 provincial election, the Premier promised not to cut health services; and

THAT on December 16, 1995, a plan to privatize home care services was presented to Treasury Board; and

THAT previous cuts to the Home Care program have resulted in services being cut and people’s health being compromised; and

THAT thousands of caring front-line service providers will lose their jobs as a result of this change; and

THAT profit has no place in the provision of vital health services.

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Swan River (Ms. Wowchuk). It complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

THAT on at least six occasions during the 1995 provincial election, the Premier promised not to cut health services; and

THAT on December 16, 1995, a plan to privatize home care services was presented to Treasury Board; and

THAT previous cuts to the Home Care program have resulted in services being cut and people’s health being compromised; and

THAT thousands of caring front-line service providers will lose their jobs as a result of this change; and

THAT profit has no place in the provision of vital health services.

PRESENTING REPORTS BY

STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Committee of Supply

Mr. Marcel Laurendeau (Chairperson of Committees): Madam Speaker, the Committee of Supply has adopted certain resolutions, directs me to report the same and asks leave to sit again.

I move, seconded by the honourable member for River Heights (Mr. Radcliffe), that the report of the committee be received.

Motion agreed to.

TABLING OF REPORTS

Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister of Environment): Madam Speaker, I would like to table the 1994-95 Annual Report of the Clean Environment Commission.

Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister responsible for the Status of Women): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table the Supplementary Information for Legislative Review for the Status of Women.

Hon. Jack Reimer (Minister of Urban Affairs): Madam Speaker, I would like to table the Supplementary Information for Legislative Review for 1996-97 for the Manitoba Seniors Directorate and also for Manitoba Urban Affairs.

Hon. Jim Ernst (Minister responsible for Sport): Madam Speaker, I would like to table the Supplementary Estimates for Sport.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

Bill 26--The Labour Relations Amendment Act

Hon. Vic Toews (Minister of Labour): I move, seconded by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Enns), that leave be given to introduce Bill 26, The Labour Relations Amendment Act (Loi modifiant la Loi sur les relations du travail), and that the same be now received and read a first time.

Motion agreed to.

Bill 57--The Public Sector Compensation Disclosure Act

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson), I move, seconded by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism (Mr. Downey), that leave be given to introduce Bill 57, The Public Sector Compensation Disclosure Act; Loi sur la divulgation de la rémunération dans le secteur public, and that the same be now received and read a first time.

Motion agreed to.

Bill 59--The Powers of Attorney and Mental Health Amendment Act

Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae), that leave be given to introduce Bill 59, The Powers of Attorney and Mental Health Amendment Act; Loi concernant les procurations et modifiant la Loi sur la santé mentale, and that the same be now received and read a first time.

Motion agreed to.

Bill 60--The Law Society Amendment Act

Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Environment (Mr. Cummings), that leave be given to introduce Bill 60, The Law Society Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur la Société

du Barreau, and that the same be now received and read a first time.

Motion agreed to.

Bill 61--The Statute Law Amendment Act, 1996

Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs (Mr. Ernst), that leave be given to introduce Bill 61, The Statute Law Amendment Act, 1996 (Loi de 1996 modifiant diverses dispositions législatives), and that the same be now received and read a first time.

Motion agreed to.

Bill 54--The Municipal and Various Acts Amendment Act

Hon. Leonard Derkach (Minister of Rural Development): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Highways and Transportation (Mr. Findlay), that leave be given to introduce Bill 54, The Municipal and Various Acts Amendment Act (Loi concernant les municipalités et modifiant diverses dispositions législatives), and that the same be now received and read a first time.

Motion agreed to.

* (1340)

TABLING OF REPORTS

(continued)

Hon. Leonard Derkach (Minister of Rural Development): Madam Speaker, may I ask leave of the House to revert to Tabling of Reports.

Madam Speaker: Is there leave of the House to revert to Tabling of Reports?

An Honourable Member: Leave.

Madam Speaker: Leave has been granted.

Mr. Derkach: Madam Speaker, I would like to table the Supplementary Information for Legislative Review for the Department of Rural Development Expenditure Estimates and also for the Decentralization Expenditure Estimates.

Introduction of Guests

Madam Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would like to draw the attention of all honourable members to the public gallery where we have this afternoon forty-six Grade 9 students from St. George School. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for St. Vital (Mrs. Render).

We also have twenty-five Grades 7, 8 and 9 students from Parkland Christian School under the direction of Dave Friesen. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable Minister of Rural Development (Mr. Derkach).

On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you this afternoon.