Wednesday, November 6, 1996
The House met at 1:30 p.m.
Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Will Seymour, Jim Silver, Muriel Smith and others requesting that the Legislative Assembly urge the Minister of Family Services (Mrs. Mitchelson) to consider withdrawing Bill 36 and replacing it with improved legislation which provides for a guaranteed annual income that allows people to have adequate food, clothing, housing, child care and health care, that this annual income increases as prices increase and that this new legislation also provides for the creation of real jobs with a goal of creating full employment so that individuals on social assistance can find safe, meaningful work of their own choosing that allows them to meet their needs and the needs of their families.
(Mr. Marcel Laurendeau, Deputy Speaker, in the Chair)
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Ms. MaryAnn Mihychuk (St. James): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I beg to present the petition of D. Gillies, B. Hammond, Durwyn Davies and others requesting that the Premier (Mr. Filmon) withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.
Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Joseph Laubmann, Fred Johnson, Henry Laubmann and others requesting that the Premier (Mr. Filmon) withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.
Mr. Gregory Dewar (Selkirk): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Bessie Irvine, Louise Tataryn, Sharon Smith and others praying that the Legislative Assembly urge the Premier to halt the proposed nursing deletions at the Selkirk and District General Hospital.
Mr. Conrad Santos (Broadway): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Walter F. Latter, Julia Latter, Therese Wood and others requesting that the Premier (Mr. Filmon) withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.
Mr. Oscar Lathlin (The Pas): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Ray Temmerman, Joyce Potter and Celso Arevalo requesting the Premier withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Thompson (Mr. Ashton) 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.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The Clerk will read.
Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth:
THAT the Manitoba Telephone System has served this province well for over 80 years providing province-wide service, some of the lowest local rates in North America, thousands of jobs and keeping profits in Manitoba; and
THAT MTS contributes $450 million annually to the Manitoba economy and is a major sponsor of community events throughout the province; and
THAT MTS, with nearly 4,000 employees, including more than 1,000 in rural and northern Manitoba, is one of Manitoba's largest firms, headquartered in Manitoba and is committed to Manitoba; and
THAT the provincial government has no mandate to sell MTS and said before and during the 1995 election that MTS was not for sale.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier (Mr. Filmon) withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for St. James (Ms. Mihychuk) 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: Dispense.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Dispense.
THAT the Manitoba Telephone System has served this province well for over 80 years providing province-wide service, some of the lowest local rates in North America and thousands of jobs and keeping profits in Manitoba; and
THAT MTS contributes $450 million annually to the Manitoba economy and is a major sponsor of community events throughout the province; and
THAT MTS, with nearly 4,000 employees including more than 1,000 in rural and northern Manitoba, is one of Manitoba's largest firms, headquartered in Manitoba and is committed to Manitoba; and
THAT the provincial government has no mandate to sell MTS and said before and during the 1995 election that MTS was not for sale.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier (Mr. Filmon) withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Flin Flon (Mr. Jennissen) and it complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read? Dispense.
THAT the Manitoba Telephone System has served this province well for over 80 years providing province-wide service, some of the lowest local rates in North America and thousands of jobs and keeping profits in Manitoba; and
THAT MTS contributes $450 million annually to the Manitoba economy and is a major sponsor of community events throughout the province; and
THAT MTS, with nearly 4,000 employees, including more than 1,000 in rural and northern Manitoba, is one of Manitoba's largest firms, headquartered in Manitoba and is committed to Manitoba; and
THAT the provincial government has no mandate to sell MTS and said before and during the 1995 election that MTS was not for sale.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Rupertsland (Mr. Robinson) and it complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read? Dispense.
THAT the Manitoba Telephone System has served this province well for over 80 years providing province-wide service, some of the lowest local rates in North America and thousands of jobs and keeping profits in Manitoba; and
AT MTS contributes $450 million annually to the Manitoba economy and is a major sponsor of community events throughout the province; and
THAT MTS, with nearly 4,000 employees, including more than 1,000 in rural and northern Manitoba, is one of Manitoba's largest firms, headquartered in Manitoba and is committed to Manitoba; and
THAT the provincial government has no mandate to sell MTS and said before and during the 1995 election that MTS was not for sale.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Interlake (Mr. Clif Evans) and it complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read? Dispense.
THAT the Manitoba Telephone System has served this province well for over 80 years providing province-wide service, some of the lowest local rates in North America and thousands of jobs and keeping profits in Manitoba; and
THAT MTS contributes $450 million annually to the Manitoba economy and is a major sponsor of community events throughout the province; and
THAT MTS, with nearly 4,000 employees, including more than 1,000 in rural and northern Manitoba, is one of Manitoba's largest firms, headquartered in Manitoba and is committed to Manitoba; and
THAT the provincial government has no mandate to sell MTS and said before and during the 1995 election that MTS was not for sale.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Selkirk (Mr. Dewar) and it complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read? Dispense.
THAT on at least six occasions during the 1995 provincial election the Premier promised not to cut Health Care Services; and
THAT in the first issue of Health News the Minister of Health stated that they must continue to meet the needs of Manitobans and their families today, tomorrow and in the coming century; and
THAT the residents of the communities surrounding the Selkirk and District General Hospital vitally depend on the services at this hospital; and
THAT further nursing cutbacks to the Selkirk and District General Hospital will jeopardize the quality patient care and safety we are now receiving; and
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the Premier to halt the proposed nursing deletions at the Selkirk and District General Hospital.
Third Report
Mr. Mike Radcliffe (Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I beg to present the Third Report of the Committee on Privileges and Elections.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Dispense.
Your Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections presents the following as its Third Report.
Your committee met on Thursday, October 24, 1996, at 10 a.m. and on Tuesday, November 5, 1996, at 10 a.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Assembly to consider the Report and Recommendations of the Judicial Compensation Committee.
At the November 5, 1996, meeting, your committee elected Mr. Radcliffe as its Chairperson.
At the October 24, 1996, meeting, your committee heard representation on the Report and Recommendations of the Judicial Compensation Committee from Judge Robert Kopstein and Associate Chief Judge Murray Sinclair, representing the Manitoba Provincial Judges Association.
At the October 24, 1996, meeting, your committee agreed to defer consideration of the Report and Recommendations of the Judicial Compensation Committee until a future meeting of the committee.
At the November 5, 1996, meeting, your committee adopted the following motion:
THAT the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections adopt the proposal in Schedule A and recommend the same to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
RECOMMENDATIONS ON JUDICIAL COMPENSATION
2. That the additional remuneration for the Chief Judge and Associate Chief Judges remain $7,000 and $2,000 respectively.
3. That all other compensation including the Supplementary Judicial Pension Plan be continued in the same manner as currently exists.
Your committee reports that it has considered the Report and Recommendations of the Judicial Compensation Committee.
Mr. Radcliffe: I move, seconded by the honourable member for Morris (Mr. Pitura), that the report of the committee be received.
Motion agreed to.
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First Report
Mr. Mike Radcliffe (Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Industrial Relations): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I seek leave to present the First Report of the Committee on Industrial Relations.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Is there leave for the honourable member for River Heights to report the First Report of the Committee on Industrial Relations? [agreed]
Dispense.
Your Standing Committee on Industrial Relations presents the following as its First Report.
Your committee met on Monday, November 4, 1996, at 6:30 p.m. in Room 254 of the Legislative Assembly and on Tuesday, November 5, 1996, at 3 p.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Assembly to consider bills referred.
At the November 5, 1996, meeting your committee elected Mr. McAlpine as its Vice-Chairperson.
Your committee heard representation on bills as follows:
Bill 73--The Construction Industry Wages Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur les salaires dans l'industrie de la construction
Ken Emberley - Private Citizen
Dave Tesarski - Canadian Federation of Labour
Jack Cumming - Construction Association of Rural Manitoba, Inc.
Dave Martin - Manitoba Building and Construction Trades Council
Rob Hilliard - Manitoba Federation of Labour
Lance Norman - Manitoba Chamber of Commerce
Mike Evans - Private Citizen
Fred Wright - Private Citizen
Ed Gallos - Private Citizen
Peter Wightman - Construction Labour Relations Association of Manitoba
David Harrison and Ted Cook - Winnipeg Construction Association
Chris Lorenc - Manitoba Heavy Construction Association
Joe Bova - Private Citizen
Terry Dauphinais - Elevator Constructors
Patrick Martin - Carpenters' Union
Your committee has considered:
Bill 41--The Fisheries Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur la pêche
and has agreed to report the same, without amendment
Your committee has also considered:
Bill 73--The Construction Industry Wages Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur les salaires dans l'industrie de la construction
and has agreed to report the same, with the following amendments:
MOTION:
THAT clause 2(c) of the Bill be amended by adding "and" at the end of the proposed clause (c) of the definition "heavy construction employees" and by adding the following after the proposed clause (c):
(d) employees who perform construction and maintenance work on hydro-electric transmission lines;
MOTION:
THAT the proposed definition "heavy construction sector", as set out in clause 2(f) of the Bill, be amended by adding the following after clause (c):
(c.1) the removal of snow from and blading of highways, roads, railroads, runways or parking lots,
MOTION:
THAT clause 2(f) of the Bill be amended by striking out "sub-clauses (a) to (k) hereof" and substituting "clauses (a) to (k), (n) and (o)" in clause (l) of the proposed definition "heavy construction sector".
MOTION:
THAT clause 2(f) of the English version of the Bill be amended by striking out "demolition," in clause (a) of the proposed definition "industrial, commercial and institutional sector".
MOTION:
THAT clause 11(b) of the English version of the Bill be amended by striking out "clause (b)" and substituting "clause (1)(b)".
MOTION:
THAT the following be added after section 14 of the Bill:
14.1 Subsection 17(1) is amended
(a) by striking out "$100." and substituting "$250.";
(b) by striking out "$1000." and substituting "$2500.";
(c) by striking out "$500." and substituting "$1250." and
(d) by striking out "$10,000." and substituting "$25,000.".
MOTION:
THAT the proposed subsection 20(1), as set out in subsection 16(1) of the Bill, be amended
(a) by striking out clause (b) and substituting the following:
(b) defining a word or expression used and not defined in this Act, which may include "Winnipeg";
(b) by striking out clause (c) and substituting the following:
(c) specifying and defining classes of employees in the construction industry, which may include helpers, journeypersons, general construction labourers, unskilled labourers and students, and specifying the ratio of the different classes permitted to be employed in construction projects in the province or parts of the province;
(c) by striking out clause (d) and renumbering clause (e) as clause (d);
(d) by adding the following as clause (e):
(e) respecting any matter the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers necessary or advisable to carry out the intent and purpose of this Act.
(e) by striking out clause (f).
MOTION:
THAT the proposed subsection 20(2), as set out in subsection 16(2) of the Bill, be amended by striking out clause (f).
MOTION:
THAT Legislative Counsel be authorized to change all section numbers and internal references necessary to carry out the amendments adopted by this committee.
Mr. Radcliffe: I move, seconded by the honourable member for Morris (Mr. Pitura), that the report of the committee be received.
Motion agreed to.
Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister of Environment): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I would like to table the Waste Reduction and Prevention Strategy Report.
Hon. Leonard Derkach (Minister of Rural Development): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I would like to table the Annual Report of the Manitoba Municipal Employees Benefits Board and also the Annual Report for the Manitoba Surface Rights Board.