Tuesday, May 14, 1996
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA
Tuesday, May 14, 1996
The House met at 1:30 p.m.
PRAYERS
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
PRESENTING PETITIONS
Home Care Services
Mr. Gregory Dewar (Selkirk): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Carole Lobos, Diane Scott, L.R. Fardoe and others requesting the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) to consider reversing their plans to privatize home care services.
Mr. Jim Maloway (Elmwood): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Vivian L'Henaff, Maureen Onofreychuk, Vicki Rinn 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 Tanya Harrap, Karin West, Marilou Atrienza and others requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Rachelle Todd, Gordon Clark, S. Schmidt and others requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.
READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS
Home Care Services
Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Point Douglas (Mr. Hickes). 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 nongovernment 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 service 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 Selkirk (Mr. 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 this plan calls for the complete divestiture of all service delivery to nongovernment 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 service 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 read 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: Yes.
Madam Speaker: Yes? The Clerk will read.
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Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): The petition of the undersigned citizens 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 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 nongovernment 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 service 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 Broadway (Mr. Santos). 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: Yes.
Madam Speaker: The Clerk will read.
Mr. Clerk: The petition of the undersigned citizens 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 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 nongovernment 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 service 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 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: Yes.
Madam Speaker: The Clerk will read.
Mr. Clerk: The petition of the undersigned citizens 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 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 nongovernment 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 service 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.
PRESENTING REPORTS BY
STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES
Committee of Supply
Mr. Marcel Laurendeau (Chairperson of Committees): Madam Speaker, the Committee of Supply has adopted a certain resolution, directs me to report the same and asks leave to sit again.
I move, seconded by the honourable member for Emerson (Mr. Penner), that the report of the committee be received.
Motion agreed to.
TABLING OF REPORTS
Hon. Jim Ernst (Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs): I am pleased to table the Supplementary Estimates for the Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs.
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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 thirty-five Grades 7 and 8 students from River Heights Middle School under the direction of Mrs. Mary Kirk and Mrs. Louise Gaston. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for River Heights (Mr. Radcliffe).
Also, we have 20 adult ESL students from Sir William Osler School under the direction of Irene Halgren. This school is also located in the constituency of the honourable member for River Heights.
On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you this afternoon.