Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Gimli, with committee changes.

Mr. Edward Helwer (Gimli): I move, seconded by the member for Charleswood (Mrs. Driedger), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Law Amendments be amended as follows: the member for Morris (Mr. Pitura) for the member for Pembina (Mr. Dyck); the member for Gimli (Mr. Helwer) for the member for Brandon West (Mr. McCrae); the member for Fort Garry (Mrs. Vodrey) for the member for Lac du Bonnet (Mr. Praznik); the member for Portage la Prairie (Mr. Faurschou), for the member for Rossmere (Mr. Toews); and the member for Kirkfield Park (Mr. Stefanson) for the member for Lakeside (Mr. Enns).

I move, seconded by the member for Pembina (Mr. Dyck), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Municipal Affairs be amended as follows: the member for Roblin-Russell (Mr. Derkach) for the member for River Heights (Mr. Radcliffe).

I move, seconded by member for Charleswood (Mrs. Driedger), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts be amended as follows: the member for Minnedosa (Mr. Gilleshammer) for the member for Kirkfield Park (Mr. Stefanson); the member for Arthur-Virden (Mr. Downey) for the member for La Verendrye (Mr. Sveinson).

Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.

Madam Speaker: Order, please. I recognize it is Thursday, but I would really like to be able to put the motion on the floor and ensure–

An Honourable Member: It is Wednesday, Madam Speaker.

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Madam Speaker: I apologize. You are right. It is Wednesday, but you are acting in the same manner as most members act on Thursdays. What can I say? I would appreciate your co-operation so I could quickly get these motions moved and ensure that all members can hear who will be on the committee and when.

Mr. George Hickes (Point Douglas): I move, seconded by the member for Broadway (Mr. Santos), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Law Amendments be amended as follows: Swan River (Ms. Wowchuk) for Thompson (Mr. Ashton); Kildonan (Mr. Chomiak) for Wolseley (Ms. Friesen); Dauphin (Mr. Struthers) for Selkirk (Mr. Dewar) for Monday, July 5, 1999, for 10 a.m.

I mover, seconded by the member for Broadway (Mr. Santos), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Municipal Affairs be amended as follows: Interlake (Mr. C. Evans) for Burrows (Mr. Martindale); Radisson (Ms. Cerilli) for Crescentwood (Mr. Sale) for Monday, July 5, 1999, for 7 p.m.

Hon. Darren Praznik (Government House Leader): Madam Speaker, if I may indulge the House and ask if we could revert to tablings, I have lottery tablings to do.

Madam Speaker: Is there unanimous consent of the House to revert to Routine Proceedings and Tabling of Reports? [agreed]

Hon. Darren Praznik (Government House Leader): Madam Speaker, I would like to table the Second Quarter Report for the period April to September 1998 of the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation as well as the Third Quarter Report for the period April to December 1998 for the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation.

Mr. Praznik: Madam Speaker, one announcement, I would like to announce that Bill 14, which was to be considered by the Committee on Law Amendments on Monday morning, is now being referred to the committee on Municipal Affairs which will be meeting Monday evening at 7 p.m.

Madam Speaker: For the benefit of the members of the House, Bill 14, previously referred to the Standing Committee on Law Amendments, has now been moved to the Standing Committee on Municipal Affairs scheduled for Monday at 7 p.m.

Mr. Praznik: Madam Speaker, if I could ask if you could please call for second reading, Bill 28.

Hon. Darren Praznik (Government House Leader): Madam Speaker, I would move, seconded by the honourable Minister of Rural Development (Mr. Derkach), that Bill 28, The Legislative Assembly Amendment Act (2); Loi no 2 modifiant la Loi sur l'Assemblée législative, be now read a second time and referred to a committee of this House.

Mr. Praznik: This particular piece of legislation is one that was discussed by all House leaders and parties. It allows for amendment from time to time to be made with respect to the MLAs. We no longer have, as members know, a pension plan, but we do have a matching RRSP plan as part of the remuneration package. From time to time, the Government of Canada makes changes in income tax law respecting pensions, payments, et cetera, that require a variety of changes in order to bring our particular plan in line with federal law to ensure that our existing pension plan is not decertified or whatever the correct term is.

I understand we have a number of members of this House who, because of their age, et cetera, there are some issues around recent changes that were made in pension law. Just to clarify, again, it is not just our matching program, it is really our old pension plan that is still in effect in which members are entitled to benefits. That current pension plan must comply with federal law to continue to be registered. From time to time there are changes in federal law. They require us to make appropriate changes in order to maintain the compliance with the existing pension plan. This particular set of amendments to The Legislative Assembly Act allows for that kind of change to accommodate changes in The Income Tax Act to ensure our plan is not deregistered.

So there have been discussions between House leaders. As government House leader, I bring this bill for consideration of the Assembly.

Mr. Steve Ashton (Opposition House Leader): Yes, we are in agreement with this bill that really just gives us the ability to bring our practices in line with federal legislation. We believe it is important to get this through, and we are prepared to pass this to committee and deal with it on an expedited basis.

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): We, too, do not have problems in terms of the bill passing into committee, but just the one note in terms of saying that the pension plans that MLAs have here in the province of Manitoba I think are quite just, and it would nice to see other provinces, other jurisdictions emulate in fact the type of pensions that we as MLAs have. I think it is a good way to do it. Having said that, I understand that these are some of the amendments that will just allow us to comply.

Madam Speaker: Is the House ready for the question? The question before the House is second reading, Bill 28, The Legislative Assembly Amendment Act (2). Is it the will of the House to adopt the motion?

Some Honourable Members: Agreed.

Madam Speaker: Agreed and so ordered.

Mr. Praznik: Madam Speaker, I would like to announce then that Bill 28 is being referred to the Standing Committee on Law Amendments, which will be sitting Monday next at 10 a.m.

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Madam Speaker: To repeat the announcement by the government House leader, Bill 28 will be moved to the Standing Committee on Law Amendments on Monday next at 10 a.m.

Mr. Praznik: First of all, I would ask if you could canvass the House to see if there is a willingness to waive private members' hour.

Madam Speaker: Is there unanimous consent of the House to waive private members' hour for today? [agreed]

Mr. Praznik: Madam Speaker, I would like you to canvass the House to see if there are the requisite agreements to have the Department of Urban Affairs considered in Room 254, the Department of Government Services to be considered in 255 until 4 p.m., after which the Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs will have their Estimates considered in Room 255 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and for the Department of Justice to be considered in the Chamber until 4 p.m., followed by the Department of Finance.

Madam Speaker: Order, please. There are three separate unanimous consents required. First of all, is there unanimous consent of the House for the Estimates of the Department of Urban Affairs and Housing to be considered in Room 254? [agreed]

Is there unanimous consent of the House for the Estimates of the Department of Justice to be considered in the Chamber until 4 p.m. and then followed by the Estimates of the Department of Finance in the Chamber from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.? [agreed]

Is there unanimous consent of the House for the Estimates of the Department of Government Services to be considered in Room 255 until 4 p.m. and then followed by the Estimates of the Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.? [agreed]

Mr. Praznik: Madam Speaker, before I move the motion to go into Estimates, I just want to wish all members of the Assembly a fine Canada Day back home in their constituencies.

I would move, seconded by the Minister of Rural Development (Mr. Derkach), that Madam Speaker do now leave the Chair and that this House resolve itself into a committee to consider of the Supply to be granted to Her Most Gracious Majesty.