Hon. James McCrae (Acting Government House Leader): Madam Speaker, would you be so kind as to call for second reading Bills 20 and 23.
SECOND READINGS
Bill 20--The Child and Family Services Amendment Act
Hon. Bonnie Mitchelson (Minister of Family Services): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Culture, Heritage and Citizenship (Mr. Gilleshammer), that Bill 20, The Child and Family Services Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur les services à l'enfant et à la famille, be now read a second time and be referred to a committee of this House.
Motion presented.
Mrs. Mitchelson: Madam Speaker, I am pleased to make a few brief comments this afternoon on Bill 20, The Child and Family Services Amendment Act.
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Madam Speaker, this amendment is necessary to enable The Child and Family Services Act to comply with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and with the recent decision of the Supreme Court of Canada.
On January 27, 1995, the Supreme Court issued a ruling on a case in Ontario relating to state intervention where parents deny their children lifesaving medical treatment. The court ruled that providing such care to children against the wishes of parents is a justified infringement on religious freedom provided that such medical treatment is justified before a judge. The Ontario legislation has this procedural requirement, but the Manitoba Child and Family Services Act does not.
We have been advised that our act must be changed if its provisions regarding authorization of medical treatment for all children in agency care are to remain in force.
The amendments in Bill 20 do two things, Madam Speaker. They will change The Child and Family Services Act to make it consistent with the requirement set down in the Supreme Court ruling. They will also bring the act's lifesaving medical care provisions into line with The Health Care Directives Act with respect to obtaining consent from a child 16 years of age or older.
With these brief comments, Madam Speaker, I recommend this bill for support and passage by all members of this House. Thank you.
Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): I move, seconded by the member for Kildonan (Mr. Chomiak), that debate be adjourned.
Motion agreed to.
Bill 23--The Health Services Insurance Amendment Act
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Minister of Family Services (Mrs. Mitchelson), that Bill 23, The Health Services Insurance Amendment Act (Loi modifiant la Loi sur l'assurance-maladie), be now read a second time and be referred to a committee of this House.
Motion presented.
Mr. McCrae: Madam Speaker, The Health Services Insurance Amendment Act deals solely with administrative provisions of The Health Services Insurance Act. It will provide protection from liability for members of the Manitoba Health Board, the Medical Review Committee and the Formal Inquiry Committee who carry out their responsibilities in good faith.
It will clarify the administrative provisions dealing with the investigation of irregular billing practices by practitioners and permit the Medical Review and Formal Inquiry committees to fulfill their mandate to ensure that appropriate billing practices are enforced.
This bill will also extend the time within which Manitoba Health can prosecute for offences committed under the act. The time will be increased from six months to two years from the time that the offence was committed or evidence of the offence became known.
Finally, the bill will clarify the regulatory powers respecting the maintenance of residents' trust funds by personal care homes to ensure our ability to continue enforcing the current regulation dealing with such matters.
I commend this bill to the attention and support of all honourable members.
Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): I move, seconded by the member for Kildonan (Mr. Chomiak), that debate be adjourned.
Motion agreed to.
House Business
Hon. James McCrae (Acting Government House Leader): Madam Speaker, on a matter of House business, by leave, the sequence for the consideration of Estimates to be discussed in Room 255 is to be amended as follows: Immediately following the completion of the consideration of the Estimates of the Department of Natural Resources, the Estimates of the Department of Housing and Home Renovation Program - Capital will be considered. The sequence for Room 255 will then be as follows: Natural Resources, Housing, Home Renovation Program - Capital, Status of Women, Energy and Mines.
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable acting government House leader have leave to change the sequence of House business for consideration of the Estimates? [agreed]
Mr. McCrae: Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Enns), 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.
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 Highways and Transportation, Community Support Programs, Employee Benefits and Other Payments, Canada-Manitoba Enabling Vote, Allowance for Losses and Expenditures Incurred by Crown Corporations and Other Provincial Entities, Allowance for Salary Accruals, Internal Reform, Workforce Adjustment and General Salary Increases, and Urban Economic Development Initiatives; the honourable member for Sturgeon Creek (Mr. McAlpine) in the Chair for the departments of Natural Resources and Housing; and the honourable member for St. Norbert (Mr. Laurendeau) in the Chair for the Department of Justice.