Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): I move, seconded by the member for Thompson (Mr. Ashton), that leave be given to introduce Bill 207, The Protection for Persons in Care Act; Loi sur la protection des personnes recevant des soins, and that the same be now received and read a first time.

Motion presented.

Mr. Chomiak: Madam Speaker, we are introducing this bill as part of our responsibility to the people of Manitoba to ensure that people who are in personal care homes and other institutions are safely protected. Events of the past few months have indicated there are some serious gaps in the system. What we propose by this bill is to make it a reportable offence and make it mandatory that any kind of abuse or form of abuse in any of these institutions is reportable abuse so that those that do not have access to a complaint structure that has finally now been put in place by the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik) and all those who do not fall within the ambit of that and all people who are inside these facilities will have an opportunity to have their rights looked after and protected.

As well, it will deal with the difficulty of situations where employees and staff can be intimidated by management, as was the case at Holiday Haven, from reporting events and will ensure that they can come forward in good conscience and ensure that the best care is provided to those people in our homes, which is what all of us wish for in this Chamber. Thank you.

Motion agreed to.