4th-36th Vol. 71B-Petitions

VOL. XLVIII No. 71B - 1:30 p.m., THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 1998

Thursday, June 25, 1998

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA

Thursday, June 25, 1998

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

PRESENTING PETITIONS

Mining Reserve Fund

Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): I beg to present the petition of E. Fox, D. Scott, B. Fox and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Minister of Energy and Mines (Mr. Newman) to consider transferring the account of the Mining Reserve Fund to a banking service in Lynn Lake should such a facility meet provincial standards.

Community VLT Plebiscites

Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): I beg to present the petition of T. Bode, A. Peeling, D. Finnigan and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the Premier (Mr. Filmon) to consider permitting communities to hold plebiscites on VLTs, reducing gambling advertising and increasing funding for treatment of problem gamblers.

READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS

Community VLT Plebiscites

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for St. James (Ms. Mihychuk), and 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 in 10 years the current government has increased gambling revenues from $55 million to more than $220 million annually; and

THAT the introduction and the proliferation of video lottery terminals in virtually every licensed premises across the province has resulted in Manitoba having nearly 5,000 VLTs, the most per capita in the country; and

THAT gambling is now the Manitoba government's third largest revenue source behind only income tax and sales tax; and

THAT the provincial government doubled lottery advertising in 1996; and

THAT the Manitoba government has become more dependent upon gambling revenues than any other province; and

THAT the number of the tragedies involving people who have lost their savings homes and in some cases their lives following gambling addiction continues to grows; and

THAT the provincial government spends less than 1 percent of its VLT profits on gambling treatment programs; and

THAT the Manitoba Lottery Policy Review Working Group, amongst many others have requested that communities be allowed to hold plebiscites on banning VLTs as is allowed in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRAY THAT the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the Premier (Mr. Filmon) to consider permitting communities to hold plebiscites on VLTs; reducing gambling advertising and increasing funding for treatment of problem gamblers.

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Burrows (Mr. Martindale), and it complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read? No. Dispense.

THAT in 10 years the current government has increased gambling revenues from $55 million to more than $220 million annually; and

THAT the introduction and the proliferation of video lottery terminals in virtually every licensed premises across the province has resulted in Manitoba having nearly 5,000 VLTs, the most per capita in the country; and

THAT gambling is now the Manitoba government's third largest revenue source behind only income tax and sales tax; and

THAT the provincial government doubled lottery advertising in 1996; and

THAT the Manitoba government has become more dependent upon gambling revenues than any other province; and

THAT the number of the tragedies involving people who have lost their savings homes and in some cases their lives following gambling addiction continues to grows; and

THAT the provincial government spends less than 1 percent of its VLT profits on gambling treatment programs; and

THAT the Manitoba Lottery Policy Review Working Group, amongst many others have requested that communities be allowed to hold plebiscites on banning VLTs as is allowed in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRAY THAT the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the Premier (Mr. Filmon) to consider permitting communities to hold plebiscites on VLTs; reducing gambling advertising and increasing funding for treatment of problem gamblers.

Independent Judicial Review Committee

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

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

THAT an independent judiciary does not justify a total lack of public accountability; and

THAT the lack of public confidence and the level of frustration in our judicial system continues to grow.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to advise the minister of the need to consider establishing an independent judicial review committee to report to the Legislature on ways in which our judicial system may better serve the public of Manitoba.

Petition