Government Motions
Hon. Jim Ernst (Government House Leader): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Education (Mrs. McIntosh),
That notwithstanding any rule or practice of this House the steps or segments of the financial process introduced and concluded during the sixth session of the Thirty-fifth Legislature be forthwith reinstated in this the first session of the Thirty-sixth Legislature as follows:
The introduction, debate and adoption of the budget motion, the establishment of the Committee of Supply, the establishment of the Committee of Ways and Means, the tabling of the messages of His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor and the Estimates attached thereto and the referral of the said messages and the attached Estimates to the Committee of Supply
Shall be deemed to have been introduced, considered and concluded during the first session of the Thirty-sixth Legislature and that the ensuing steps of the financial process be continued at this or any subsequent sitting of this House in the current session.
Motion agreed to.
Mr. Ernst: I move, Madam Speaker, seconded by the Minister of Education (Mrs. McIntosh),
That notwithstanding any rule or practice of this House for the duration of the first session of the Thirty-sixth Legislature the following shall apply to sittings of the Committee of Supply:
the following shall be substituted for subrule 65.(5): The Committee of Supply, unless otherwise ordered, may sit in three separate sections, one section in the Chamber and two sections outside of it to consider the Estimates of separate government departments;
in subrules 65.(7.1) and (7.2) and rule 65.1(1) the words "all three" shall be substituted for "both";
in subrules 65.(8), (9) and (10) the words "Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Assistant Deputy Chairperson" shall be substituted for "Chairman and Deputy Chairman";
the Estimates of new departments may be introduced when the Committee of Supply is sitting after ten o'clock p.m.; and
the rules respecting votes in the Committee of Supply after ten o'clock p.m. shall apply.
Motion agreed to.
Mr. Ernst: Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Education (Mrs. McIntosh),
That the Rules, Orders and Forms of Proceeding of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba be amended by adding the following new rules after 69.(3):
69.(4) Each standing or special committee shall elect a permanent chairperson and a permanent vice-chairperson at its first meeting in each Legislature, and in the case of a vacancy of either the chairperson or and vice-chairperson by reason of the incumbent dying, resigning his or her seat in the Assembly, becoming disqualified from sitting or voting in the Assembly, or resigning from the committee, the committee shall forthwith elect a successor.
69.(5) If at any meeting of the committee, the chairperson is not present, the vice-chairperson shall act in the place of the chairperson.
Madam Speaker, after you have called for that motion, I would like to briefly address it.
Motion presented.
Mr. Ernst: I just want to address this particular motion. This comes as a result of the Fox-Decent commission which established permanent chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of the committees. As a requirement of that commission report, we are obliged to take this action.
Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): I move, seconded by the member for Wolseley (Ms. Friesen), that debate be adjourned.
Motion agreed to.
Mr. Ernst: Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Education (Mrs. McIntosh),
That for the duration of the first session of the Thirty-sixth Legislature Rule 9 be amended by adding to it immediately after subrule 9.(3) the following new subrule:
9.(3.1) At the commencement of this session, or from time to time as the necessity may arise, the House shall appoint an Assistant Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House whose duties shall be the same as those of the Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House.
Motion agreed to.
Mr. Ernst: Madam Speaker, I would like to seek leave of the House to introduce a motion respecting the appointment of the Assistant Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House.
Madam Speaker: Is there leave of the House for the honourable government House leader to move a motion to appoint the Assistant Deputy Chairperson? [agreed]
Mr. Ernst: Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Education and Training (Mrs. McIntosh), that Mr. Gerry McAlpine, honourable member for the Electoral Division of Sturgeon Creek, be Assistant Deputy Chairperson of the Committees of the Whole House.
Motion agreed to.
Mr. Ernst: I would seek leave of the House to move a motion to establish the Estimates order for today.
Madam Speaker: Is there leave of the House to permit the honourable government House leader to move the sequence of the Estimates for today? [agreed]
* (1450)
Mr. Ernst: Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Education and Training (Mrs. McIntosh), that, by leave, for today, when the House resolves itself into Committee of Supply to consider spending Estimates, that Executive Council will be in the Chamber chaired by the Chairperson (Mr. Laurendeau); Health will be considered in Room 255 chaired by the Assistant Deputy Chairperson of Committees (Mr. McAlpine); and Rural Development in Room 254 will be chaired by the Deputy Chairperson of Committees (Mr. Sveinson).
Motion agreed to.
Mr. Ernst: I move, seconded by the Minister of Education and Training (Mrs. McIntosh), 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 Rural Development; the honourable member for Sturgeon Creek (Mr. McAlpine) in the Chair for the Department of Health; and the honourable member for St. Norbert (Mr. Laurendeau) in the Chair for Executive Council.