Friday, June 30, 1995

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA

Friday, June 30, 1995

The House met at 10 a.m.

PRAYERS

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

PRESENTING PETITIONS

Canada Post--Unsolicited Mail

Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Sheila Page, Shaun Lucash, J.C. Van Buren and others requesting the federal minister responsible for Canada Post to consider bringing in legislation requiring all unsolicited mail and flyers to use recycled materials.

READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS

Funding Model for Quality Public Education

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Thompson (Mr. Ashton). It complies with the principles and the practices of the House. Is it the pleasure of the House to have the petition read?

Some Honourable Members: Yes.

Madam Speaker: The Clerk will read.

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

WHEREAS funding for public schools by the provincial government has been cut twice in the past three years; and

WHEREAS provincial funding for the School District of Mystery Lake has dropped by nearly $2 million over the same period, more than 10 percent; and

WHEREAS funding for private schools has increased by over 110 percent under the same provincial government; and

WHEREAS Thompson was faced with a 48 percent increase in the Education Support Levy tax as a result of reassessment in 1993 resulting in $500,000 leaving our community; and

WHEREAS the Thompson School District is also now faced with a massive $1.8-million deficit the equivalent to a 48 percent increase in local school taxes; and

WHEREAS unless the minister reviews this funding the Thompson School District will be forced to consider both a $500,000 tax increase and severe program cuts totalling over $1.3 million.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly request the Minister of Education and Training (Mrs. McIntosh) to reconsider the funding model to ensure that Thompson and other communities in this province are able to maintain quality public education.

* (1005)

TABLING OF REPORTS

Madam Speaker: I am pleased to table the 25th Annual Report of the Provincial Ombudsman for the period January 1, 1994, to December 31, 1994.

Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table two reports, the first one being the Quarterly Report for March 31, 1995, for the Manitoba Telephone System, and the second one being the Report of Amounts Paid to Members of the Assembly for the year ended March 31, 1995.

Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table the 1994 Annual Report of the Teachers' Retirement Allowances Fund.

Introduction of Guests

Madam Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would like to draw the attention of all honourable members to the loge to my left where we have with us this morning the Honourable Howard Pawley who was the member for Selkirk from 1969 to 1988 and the Premier of Manitoba from 1981 to 1988.

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

Additionally, seated in the public gallery we have 15 visitors from the Global Connections Training Program under the direction of Mr. Sam Koshy.

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