2nd-36th, Volume 7 - Routine Proceedings

VOL. XLVI No. 7 - 1:30 p.m., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1995

Wednesday, December 13, 1995

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA

Wednesday, December 13, 1995

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

PRAYERS

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

PRESENTING PETITIONS

Emergency Health Care Services--

Community Hospitals

Mr. Gary Kowalski (The Maples): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Keith Wilding, Sherry Bohonos, Gilles Piechette and others urging the Minister responsible for Health 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.

Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Janice S. Thomson, Rosemary McEvoy and M. Bergman praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba go on record requesting the Premier (Mr. Filmon) to consider maintaining 24-hour access to emergency health care at community hospitals, as was promised in the 1995 general election.

Ms. MaryAnn Mihychuk (St. James): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of D. Brown, I. McKenty, G. Morhun and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba go on record requesting the Premier (Mr. Filmon) to consider maintaining 24-hour access to emergency health care at community hospitals, as was promised in the 1995 general election.

Liquor Store Closure--

Winnipegosis

Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Tom Bratko, Betti Ann Lucas, Debbie Lucas and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request that the Manitoba government instruct the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission to reverse the decision to close the Winnipegosis liquor store.

Emergency Health Care Services--

Concordia Hospital

Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Catherine Dowling, Norman Dowling, Gord Davis and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba go on record requesting the Premier (Mr. Filmon) to consider maintaining 24-hour access to emergency health care at Concordia Hospital, as was promised in the 1995 general election.

Mr. Jim Maloway (Elmwood): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Annie Jantz, Pat Steventon, Gladys Urias and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba go on record requesting the Premier (Mr. Filmon) to consider maintaining 24-hour access to emergency health care at Concordia Hospital, as was promised in the 1995 general election.

Emergency Health Care Services--

Community Hospitals

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Inkster, I beg to present the petition of Kris Klymchuk, Bruce Stefansson, Charles H. Cameron and others urging the Minister responsible for Health 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.

Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of K. Wynnytzka, H. Danowski, Helen LeBlanc and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba go on record requesting the Premier (Mr. Filmon) to consider maintaining 24-hour access to emergency health care at community hospitals, as was promised in the 1995 general election.

READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS

Emergency Health Care Services--

Community Hospitals

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 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 Winnipeg and surrounding communities depend on emergency service at these community hospitals.

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 community hospitals in Winnipeg as was promised in the 1995 general election.

* (1335)

Emergency Health Care Services--

Concordia 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.

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 Concordia 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 Concordia community 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 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?

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 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 Winnipeg and surrounding communities depend on emergency service at these community hospitals.

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 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 Winnipeg and surrounding communities depend on emergency service at these community hospitals.

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Osborne (Ms. McGifford). 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 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 Winnipeg and surrounding communities depend on emergency service at these community hospitals.

Retention of Hogs Single-Desk Selling

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

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

WHEREAS the provincial government has made an arbitrary decision to move to a dual marketing system for hogs in Manitoba; and

WHEREAS Manitoba Pork is a democratically elected board, composed of producers who act in the best interests of all producers; and

WHEREAS a majority of hog producers have told the Minister of Agriculture that they support the single desk selling function of Manitoba Pork, the marketing board; and

WHEREAS the government has failed to demonstrate that this decision will benefit either Manitoba's 2,200 independent producers or processors who have publicly stated support for single-desk selling; and

WHEREAS evidence from the United States indicates that open marketing has a negative effect upon smaller operations, where a majority of family farms have disappeared.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Minister of Agriculture reverse his decision and retain single desk selling for hogs in Manitoba under Manitoba Pork.

Emergency Health Care Services--

Community Hospitals

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Radisson (Ms. Cerilli). 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 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 Winnipeg and surrounding communities depend on emergency service at these community hospitals.

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 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 Winnipeg and surrounding communities depend on emergency service at these community hospitals.

TABLING OF REPORTS

Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table the report of the Chief Medical Examiner for 1994.

Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): Madam Speaker, I am tabling three reports: the 1994-1995 Annual Report of Assiniboine Community College; the 1994-95 Annual Report of Keewatin Community College; and the 1994-95 Annual Report of Red River Community College.

* (1340)

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

Bill 200--The Health Services Insurance Amendment Act

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the member for The Maples (Mr. Kowalski), that leave be given to introduce Bill 200, The Health Services Insurance Amendment Act (Loi modifiant la Loi sur l'assurance-maladie), and that the same be now received and read the first time.

Motion presented.

Mr. Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, this is a bill in which the provincial Liberal Party has on numerous occasions attempted to pass inside this Legislature. Our intentions are to continue to lobby this government to support Bill 200.

In essence, what it does is it takes the five fundamental principles of the Canada Health Act, and we are saying let us pass it into provincial law so that Manitobans can rest assured that those five very important principles for health care will be maintained well into the future for the province of Manitoba.

That is something which the provincial Liberal Party stands for and believes has to ultimately be passed by this government if this government is sincere when it talks about health care reform. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Motion agreed to.