Wednesday, October 2, 1996

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA

Wednesday, October 2, 1996

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

PRAYERS

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

PRESENTING PETITIONS

Pharmacare

Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Terry Orlow, Adam Orlow, Adolph Baraschuk and others requesting 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 cut Pharmacare in 1996.

READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS

Pharmacare

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Burrows (Mr. Martindale). 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: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

THAT during the 1995 provincial election, the Premier (Mr. Filmon) promised not to cut health services; and,

THAT the Pharmacare program brought in by the former NDP government was the first in Canada and has served as a model for pharmacare programs in Canada; and,

THAT the Manitoba Pharmacare program has enabled thousands of Manitobans over the years to be able to stay out of costly institutions and to avoid financial ruin due to the high cost of necessary pharmaceuticals; and,

THAT previous cuts to Pharmacare have reduced the budget from $60 million to less than $50 million over the past two years; and,

THAT as of April 1996 the provincial government is slashing benefits, effectively putting a tax on the sick and reducing the Pharmacare budget by $20 million; and,

THAT these cuts more than double the deductible for most Manitobans to over $1,000 for most families, effectively ending Pharmacare for the vast majority of the population regardless of health.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to cut Pharmacare in 1996.

TABLING OF REPORTS

Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table the Seventh Annual Report of the Victims Assistance Committee; the Annual Report of the Public Trustee, '95-96; and the Twenty-fourth Annual Report of Legal Aid Manitoba.

Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table the report of the Statement as to the Fidelity Bonds on Deposit with the Minister of Finance, prepared pursuant to Section 20 of The Public Officers Act.

Introduction of Guests

Madam Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would like to draw the attention of all honourable members to the Speaker's Gallery, where we have with us this afternoon visitors from South West Africa: Mr. Motsepe, Government House Leader, Northwest Provincial Legislature; Dr. Phaahla, Government House Leader, Northern Province Provincial Legislature; Ms. Boczak, Government House Leader, Northern Cape Provincial Legislature; Mr. Pule, Standing Committee Administrator, Northwest Provincial Legislature; Mr. Mabelane, Head of Committee Services, Northern Province Provincial Legislature; and Mr. Ngwevu, Head of Parliamentary Committees and Proceedings, Northern Cape Provincial Legislature.

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

Also, seated in the public gallery this afternoon, we have twenty-five Grade 5 students from Angus McKay School under the direction of Mr. Greg Holowka. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Elmwood (Mr. Maloway).

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

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