1st-36th, Volume 55 - Routine Proceedings

VOL. XLV No. 55 - 1:30 p.m., WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1995

Wednesday, October 25, 1995

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA

Wednesday, October 25, 1995

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

PRAYERS

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

PRESENTING PETITIONS

Emergency Health Care Services--Seven Oaks General Hospital

Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Frances Spooner, Kathleen McCallum, Gerri Unwin and others requesting the Legislative Assembly to request the Premier (Mr. Filmon) to consider maintaining 24-hour access to emergency health care at Seven Oaks Hospital, as was promised in the 1995 general election.

Emergency Health Care Services--Community Hospitals

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Antonio Cesari, Klara Jarrin, Richard Vermette and others requesting the Legislative Assembly urge the Minister responsible for Health (Mr. McCrae) to consider making a commitment to the people of Manitoba that emergency health care services in Winnipeg's five community hospitals will remain open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS

Emergency Health Care Services--Seven Oaks General Hospital

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

Some Honourable Members: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

The petition of the undersigned residents of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth

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

THAT following the election the Minister of Health promised that emergency services would not be reduced at community hospitals in Winnipeg; and

THAT the Minister of Health on October 6 announced that emergency services at these hospitals would be cut back immediately; and

THAT residents of the Seven Oaks Hospital vicinity depend upon emergency service at this hospital.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba go on record requesting the Premier to consider maintaining 24-hour access to emergency health care at Seven Oaks Hospital as was promised in the 1995 general election.

Emergency Health Care Services--Community Hospitals

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. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Yes.

Madam Speaker: Yes. The Clerk will read.

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

THAT emergency health care services are the core of Manitoba's health care system;

THAT Manitobans deserve the greatest possible access to this care;

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly urge the Minister responsible for Health (Mr. McCrae) consider making a commitment to the people of Manitoba that emergency health care services in Winnipeg's five community hospitals will remain open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

PRESENTING REPORTS BY

STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Standing Committee on Economic Development

Fourth Report

Mr. Mike Radcliffe (Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Economic Development): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the Fourth Report on the Committee on Economic Development.

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

Your Standing Committee on Economic Development presents the following as its Fourth Report.

Your committee met on Thursday, October 24, 1995, at 10 a.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building to consider the Annual Reports of the Communities Economic Development Fund for the years ending March 31, 1994, and March 31, 1995; the Annual Report of A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd. for the year ending October 31, 1993; the Consolidated Financial Statements for A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd. for the year ending October 31, 1994, and the Annual Report for Manitoba Mineral Resources Ltd. for the year ending December 31, 1993.

Mr. Gerry Offet, general manager of the Communities Economic Development Fund, and Mr. Gord Wakeling, director of fisheries of the Communities Economic Development Fund, provided such information as was requested with respect to the Annual Reports and business of the Communities Economic Development Fund.

Your committee has considered the Annual Reports of the Communities Economic Development Fund for the years ending March 31, 1994, and March 31, 1995; the Annual Report of A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd. for the year ending October 31, 1993; the Consolidated Financial Statements for A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd. for the year ending October 31, 1994, and the Annual Report for Manitoba Mineral Resources Ltd. for the year ending December 31, 1993, and has adopted the same as presented.

Mr. Radcliffe: Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member for Morris (Mr. Pitura), that the report of the committee be received.

Motion agreed to.

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Standing Committee on Economic Development

Fifth Report

Mr. Mike Radcliffe (Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Economic Development): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the Fifth Report of the Committee on Economic Development.

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

Your Standing Committee on Economic Development presents the following as its Fifth Report.

Your committee met on Thursday, October 19, 1995, at 7 p.m., Friday, October 20, 1995, at 1:30 p.m., Monday, October 23, 1995, at 9 a.m. and Tuesday, October 24, 1995, at 2:30 p.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building, to consider bills referred.

At the meeting of October 19, 1995, your committee elected Mr. Newman to fill a vacancy for the position of vice-chairperson.

Your committee heard representation on bills as follows:

Bill 2--The Balanced Budget, Debt Repayment and Taxpayer Protection and Consequential Amendments Act; Loi sur l'équilibre budgétaire, le remboursement de la dette et la protection des contribuables et apportant des modifications corrélatives

Rob Hilliard President, Manitoba Federation of Labour

Rick Wiend CUPE Local 500

Gary Russell CUPE Manitoba

Peter Holle Manitoba Taxpayers Association

Maureen Hancharyk Manitoba Nurses Union

Diane Beresford Private Citizen

Ken Pearch and

Glen McRuer Manitoba Teachers' Society

Dr. John Loxley Choices

Mark Francis Private Citizen

Darrell Rankin Communist Party of Canada - Manitoba

Dan Kelly The Canadian Federation of Independent Business

Peter Olfert Manitoba Government Employees' Union

Ron Schmalcel Private Citizen

George Harris Private Citizen

Nancy Paterson and

Pat Issak Transcona/Springfield Teachers' Association and

Seven Oaks Teachers' Association

Claudia Sarbit and

John Wiens Seven Oaks School Division

Carl Ridd Private Citizen

Lance Norman Manitoba Chamber of Commerce

Written Submissions:

Victor Olson Private Citizen

Ian Fillingham Private Citizen

Your committee has considered:

and has agreed to report the same with the following amendments:

MOTION:

That section 9 be amended by striking out clauses (a) and (b) and substituting the following:

(a) the amount required to bring the Fiscal Stabilization Fund to its target level as described in section 3.1 of The Fiscal Stabilization Fund Act, or any greater amount that the minister, with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers appropriate, shall be transferred to the Fiscal Stabilization Fund;

(b) any amount remaining after a transfer under clause (a) may be left as a surplus of the operating fund or may, with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, be transferred to the Debt Retirement Fund.

MOTION:

That subsection 13(2) of the bill be amended, in the proposed subsection 3.1(2) of The Fiscal Stabilization Fund Act, by adding "at least" after "reaches".

Mr. Radcliffe: Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member for Morris (Mr. Pitura), that the report of the committee be received.

Motion agreed to.

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 with us this afternoon members of the Downtown Y Seniors Group.

We also have 28 adult students from the Global Connections Training Programme under the direction of Mr. Sharma and the members of the Community Legal Education Association.

Also with us are one hundred and sixty Grade 9 students from John Pritchard School under the direction of Mr. Murray Lampert and Mr. Tim Peachy. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable Minister of Family Services (Mrs. Mitchelson).

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