Thursday, March 9, 1995

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA

Thursday, March 9, 1995

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 Jay Sullivan, Mark Matyra and Connie Zolondek and others requesting the Legislative Assembly urge the Minister responsible for Education (Mr. Manness) to consider reinstating physical education as a compulsory core subject area.

READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS

Physical Education in Schools

Mr. Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member (Mr. Lamoureux). It complies with the privileges and practices of this House and complies with the rules. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: No.

Mr. Speaker: Dispense.

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.

Improvement of Highway 391

Mr. Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member (Mr. Ashton). It complies with the privileges and practices of this House and complies with the rules. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Read it.

Mr. Speaker: The Clerk will read.

Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth that:

WHEREAS the state of Highway 391 is becoming increasingly unsafe; and

WHEREAS due to the poor condition of the road there have been numerous accidents; and

WHEREAS the condition of the road between Thompson and Nelson House is not only making travel dangerous but costly due to frequent damage to vehicles; and

WHEREAS this road is of vital importance to residents who must use the road.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislature of the Province of Manitoba may be pleased to request that the government of Manitoba consider reviewing the state of Highway 391 with a view towards improving the condition and safety of the road.

PRESENTING REPORTS BY

STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources

First Report

Mr. Marcel Laurendeau (Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources): Mr. Speaker, I beg to present the First Report of the Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources.

Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): Your Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources presents the following as its First Report.

Mr. Speaker: Dispense.

Your committee met on Thursday, January 5, 1995, at 10 a.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building to consider the annual report of the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board for the year ended March 31, 1994.

On the morning of January 5, 1995, your committee accepted resignations of Mr. Ashton and Mr. Pallister as members of the committee and elected Mr. Robinson and Mrs. Dacquay to replace them. During the afternoon of January 5, 1995, your committee accepted resignations of Mr. Hickes and Mr. Robinson as members of the committee and elected Mr. Martindale and Mr. Schellenberg to replace them.

On January 5, 1995, your committee passed the following motion:

"THAT this Committee recommend that at the conclusion of these hearings, it vote consecutively on both the 1992/93 Annual Report of the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board, and the 1993/94 Annual Report of the Manitoba Hydro Electric Board, voting first on the 1992/93 Report."

As well, on January 5, 1995, your committee passed the following motion:

"THAT this Committee strongly support the residents of Gillam in their battle with the Federal Government over retroactive taxation of housing benefits for the years from 1991 to 1993."

Mr. John McCallum, Chairperson, and Mr. Robert Brennan, President and Chief Executive Officer, provided such information as was requested with respect to the annual report and business of the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board.

Prior to passing the annual report of the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board for the year ended March 31, 1994, your committee agreed, by leave, to also pass the annual report of the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board for the year ended March 31, 1993. The annual report for 1993 had been considered at a previous meeting of your committee on Tuesday, June 21, 1994, at 10 a.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building, but had not passed at that time.

Your committee has considered the annual reports of the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board for the year ended March 31, 1993, and for the year ended March 31, 1994, and has adopted the same as presented.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

Mr. Laurendeau: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member for Turtle Mountain (Mr. Rose), that the report of the committee be received.

Motion agreed to.

Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources

Second Report

Mr. Marcel Laurendeau (Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources): I beg to present the Second Report of the Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources.

Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): Your Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources presents the following as its Second Report.

Mr. Speaker: Dispense.

Your committee met on Thursday, January 12, 1995, at 10 a.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building to consider the Annual Report of the Workers Compensation Board for the year ended December 31, 1993.

At that meeting, your committee accepted the resignations of Hon. Mr. Orchard, Mr. Lamoureux, Mr. Schellenberg, Mr. Martindale, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Helwer, and Ms. Barrett as members of the committee. Your committee elected Hon. Mr. Praznik, Ms. McCormick, Ms. Barrett, Mr. Reid, Mr. Gaudry, Mr. Penner and Mr. Ashton to replace them.

Your committee also agreed by leave to consider the 1994 Five Year Operating Plan of the Workers Compensation Board.

Mr. Wally Fox-Decent, Chairperson, Mr. Alex Wilde, Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Terry Edgeworth, Executive Director of Assessments, Mr. Sid Rogers, Senior Director of Claims, Ms. Karn Sandy, Executive Director, Corporate Services and Research, and Mr. Don Paul, Senior Director of Claims, provided such information as was requested with respect to the Annual Report of and the business pertaining to the Workers Compensation Board.

Your committee reports that it has considered the December 31, 1993, Annual Report of the Workers Compensation Board and the 1994 Five Year Operating Plan of the Workers Compensation Board and has adopted the same as presented.

Mr. Laurendeau: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member for Turtle Mountain (Mr. Rose), that the report of the committee be received.

Motion agreed to.

Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources

Third Report

Mr. Marcel Laurendeau (Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources): Mr. Speaker, I beg to present the Third Report of the Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources.

Mr. Speaker: Dispense.

Your Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources presents the following as its Third Report.

Your committee met on Tuesday, January 24, 1995, at 10 a.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building to consider the Annual Report of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the year ended October 31, 1993. Your committee had previously met on Tuesday, May 24, 1994, at 10 a.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building to consider the same Annual Report of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation.

At the January 24, 1995, meeting, your committee accepted the resignations of Mr. Gaudry, Hon. Mr. Praznik, Mr. Reimer, Mr. Rose, Mr. Penner and Mr. Ashton as members of the committee. Your committee elected Mr. Lamoureux, Hon. Mr. Cummings, Mr. McAlpine, Hon. Mr. Ernst, Mr. Sveinson and Mr. Evans (Brandon East) to replace them.

Mr. Jack Zacharias, president and general manager, provided such information as was requested with respect to the annual report and business of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation at the January 24, 1995, meeting.

Mr. Walter Bardua, the then-president and general manager, provided such information as was requested with respect to the Annual Report and business of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation at the May 24, 1994, meeting.

Your committee reports that it has considered the October 31, 1993, Annual Report of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation and has adopted the same as presented.

Mr. Laurendeau: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member for Turtle Mountain (Mr. Rose), that the report of the committee be received.

Motion agreed to.

TABLING OF REPORTS

Hon. Leonard Derkach (Minister of Rural Development): Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the Annual Report 1993-94 for the Manitoba Water Services Board and the Annual Report 1994 for the Municipal Board.

Hon. Jim Ernst (Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Lotteries Foundation Act): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table the Third Quarter Report of the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation.

Hon. Bonnie Mitchelson (Minister of Family Services): Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the First Annual Report of the Children's Advocate, ending March 1994.

Hon. Darren Praznik (Minister of Labour): I would like to table today the 1993-94 Annual Report of the Department of Labour, as well as the 1993-94 Annual Report of the Department of Northern Affairs.