2nd-36th, Volume 14 - Routine Proceedings

VOL. XLVI No. 14 - 1:30 p.m., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1996

Wednesday, April 10, 1996

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA

Wednesday, April 10, 1996

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

PRAYERS

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

PRESENTING PETITIONS

Retention of Hogs Single-Desk Selling

Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Dan Klippenstein, Gerhard Friesen, Gord Blatz and others requesting that the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Enns) consider reversing his decision and retaining a system of orderly marketing of hogs in Manitoba under Manitoba Pork.

Home Care Services

Mr. Clif Evans (Interlake): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Florence Lamoureux, Dianne Johannson, Esther Revet and others requesting the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Kim Morrison, Jaime Carrasco, Collette Aubin and others requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Mr. Conrad Santos (Broadway): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Irv Riskin, Debby Paradoski, Dianne Riskin and others requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Mr. Jim Maloway (Elmwood): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of D. Gorrell, D. Courage, S. Kelly and others requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Mr. George Hickes (Point Douglas): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Sylvia Fediuk, Sandy Schechter, Augustine Ziffle and others requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Bill Bilawka, Karen Advent, Grace Kusie and others requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Stacey Pinnock, Maureen Pinnock, Beryl Juzda and others requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Jared Winters, Troy Scott, Mona Chappellaz and others requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Ms. MaryAnn Mihychuk (St. James): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Donna Green, Louise McQuade, Vicki Cook and others requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Mr. Gord Mackintosh (St. Johns): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Carolyn Buffie, Jennifer Cote, and Yvonne Chartrand requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Bruce Tynes, Carri McCormick, Janice Tynes and others requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Mr. Tim Sale (Crescentwood): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Judy Drabik, Raymond Sharp, Iva Sharp and others requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Mr. Daryl Reid (Transcona): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Kim Marcyniuk, Trudy Walski, Janice Goodman and others requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

* (1335)Retention of Hogs Single-Desk Selling

Mr. Gregory Dewar (Selkirk): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Paul Kolmatiski, Leo Wnuk, Darren Kryschuk and others requesting that the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Enns) consider reversing his decision and retain a system for the orderly marketing of hogs under Manitoba Pork.

Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Rick Vaags, Bill Vaags, Michel Gauthier and others requesting that the Minister of Agriculture consider reversing his decision and retain a system for orderly marketing of hogs in Manitoba under Manitoba Pork.

Mr. Stan Struthers (Dauphin): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Karl Kynach, Ron Froese, Harvey Harms and others requesting that the Minister of Agriculture consider reversing his decision and retain a system for orderly marketing of hogs in Manitoba under Manitoba Pork.

Home Care Services

Mr. Eric Robinson (Rupertsland): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Carl Porteous, Mary Thiessen, Doug Blaschuk and others requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Ms. Becky Barrett (Wellington): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Eleanor Brownlee, Judy Chirsky, Brenda Dozenko and others requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of E. Rae Hatherly, R. Hamilton, J. Fedorn and others requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Vicki Holmes, Rosalie Mazur, Pat McCormack-Speatznr and others requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Mr. Oscar Lathlin (The Pas): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Louise Gaba, Jaroslaw Gaba, Pauline Mirus and others requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS

Retention of Hogs Single-Desk Selling

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Swan River (Ms. Wowchuk) 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: The Clerk will read.

* (1340)

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

WHEREAS the provincial government announced its intention to move to an open marketing system for hogs in Manitoba without consulting producers as it promised during the last election; and

WHEREAS a majority of hog producers support single-desk selling under Manitoba Pork, the marketing board; and

WHEREAS the hog industry in Manitoba has doubled under an orderly marketing system; and

WHEREAS processors who will contribute to Manitoba’s value-added industry have publicly expressed their preference for orderly marketing because it is easier to deal with one agent rather than 2,300 producers.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Minister of Agriculture consider reversing his decision and retain a system for orderly marketing of hogs in Manitoba under Manitoba Pork.

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Interlake (Mr. Clif Evans). 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.

WHEREAS the provincial government announced its intention to move to an open marketing system for hogs in Manitoba without consulting producers as it promised during the last election; and

WHEREAS a majority of hog producers support single-desk selling under Manitoba Pork, the marketing board; and

WHEREAS the hog industry in Manitoba has doubled under an orderly marketing system; and

Licensed Practical Nurses

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Inkster (Mr. Lamoureux). 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.

THAT many LPNs have been eliminated from most acute care facilities in Manitoba, including St. Boniface, Seven Oaks, and most recently HSC; and,

THAT the LPNs of this province are valuable members of the health care system, providing professional, competent, skilled and cost-effective services; and

THAT staffing cuts will only result in declining quality of health care and potentially tragic outcomes; and

THAT it will not be long before the negative results of this shortcut effort are realized, including higher costs and poorer services.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the Minister of Health to recognize the value of LPNs and to consider reversing the decision to cut LPNs in Manitoba.

* (1345)

Home Care Services

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for St. James (Ms. Mihychuk). 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.

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

THAT on December 16, 1995, a plan to privatize home care services was presented to Treasury Board; and,

THAT this plan calls for the complete divestiture of all service delivery to non-government organizations mainly private, for-profit companies as well as the implementation of a user pay system of home care; and,

THAT previous cuts to the Home Care Program have resulted in services being cut and people’s health being compromised; and,

THAT thousands of caring front line providers will lose their jobs as a result of this change; and,

THAT profit has no place in the provision of vital health services.

WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRAY that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Wolseley (Ms. Friesen). 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.

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

THAT on December 16, 1995, a plan to privatize home care services was presented to Treasury Board; and,

THAT previous cuts to the Home Care Program have resulted in services being cut and people’s health being compromised; and,

THAT thousands of caring front line providers will lose their jobs as a result of this change; and,

THAT profit has no place in the provision of vital health services.

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Selkirk (Mr. Gregory Dewar). 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.

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

THAT on December 16, 1995, a plan to privatize home care services was presented to Treasury Board; and,

THAT previous cuts to the Home Care Program have resulted in services being cut and people’s health being compromised; and,

THAT thousands of caring front line providers will lose their jobs as a result of this change; and,

THAT profit has no place in the provision of vital health services.

* (1350)

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Elmwood (Mr. Maloway). 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.

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

THAT on December 16, 1995, a plan to privatize home care services was presented to Treasury Board; and,

THAT previous cuts to the Home Care Program have resulted in services being cut and people’s health being compromised; and,

THAT thousands of caring front line providers will lose their jobs as a result of this change; and,

THAT profit has no place in the provision of vital health services.

TABLING OF REPORTS

Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): I am pleased to table the Annual Report of the Public Schools Finance Board for the year ended June 30, 1995. As well, I am pleased to table the Annual Report of the Collective Agreement Board for the school year 1994-95.

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 twenty-three Grades 9 and 10 students from Fairholme Colony School and Baker Colony School under the direction of Mrs. Maendel. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Gladstone (Mr. Rocan).

We also have sixteen Grade 9 students from Faith Academy under the direction of Mrs. Jodi Daly. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Kildonan (Mr. Chomiak).

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

* (1355)