LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA
Thursday, April 7, 1994
The House met at 1:30 p.m.
At 1:30 p.m., all members and guests standing, the Sergeant‑at‑Arms,
carrying the Mace shoulder high and followed by the Speaker and the Clerks of
the Legislative Assembly, entered the Chamber and proceeded along the west
side. The Speaker took post on the east
side of the Chamber, the Clerks took post on the west side of the Chamber and
the Sergeant‑at‑Arms returned along the east side of the Chamber to
the main entrance where he stood and awaited the arrival of His Honour the
Lieutenant‑Governor.
The Premier, members of the Executive Council, military and civil aides,
and officers comprising the officer escort met in the Lieutenant‑Governor's
reception room.
The Premier, members of the Executive Council, military and civil aides,
and officer escort accompanied His Honour from the reception room to the
Chamber in the following order:
The civil aide on the right;
the military aide on the left;
the officer escort;
the members of the Executive Council;
the Premier; and then
the Lieutenant‑Governor.
At the main entrance, the military and civil aides, the officer escort,
members of the Executive Council and the Premier halted and turned inward to
allow the Lieutenant‑Governor to advance to the head of the officer
escort, where His Honour was met by the Mace.
Acting Deputy Sergeant‑at‑Arms
(Garry Clark): His Honour the Lieutenant‑Governor.
The Lieutenant‑Governor then,
preceded by the Mace carried shoulder high, and followed on his left by the
military aide and on his right by the civil aide, proceeded along the west side
of the Chamber to the throne. The
Premier proceeded along the east side and stood on the floor on the east side
of the Chamber. The members of the
Executive Council took their places.
The military aide took up his
position on the right of the throne and the civil aide took up his position on
the west side of the Chamber.
The officer escort was positioned to
the left of the throne.
The Lieutenant‑Governor seated
himself on the throne; the Mace made obeisance and retired to the east side of
the Chamber.
The civil aide advanced from the
position he had taken on the west side of the Chamber and, after the usual
obeisance on each step, handed the Lieutenant‑Governor the Speech from
the Throne.
The civil aide then retired, step by
step, and took up his position on the west side of the Chamber.
The Lieutenant‑Governor seated
the House.
SPEECH FROM THE THRONE
Hon. W. Yvon Dumont (Lieutenant‑Governor
of the Province of Manitoba): Mr. Speaker and
members of the Manitoba Legislature.
I
welcome you to the Fifth Session of the Thirty‑fifth Legislature of the
Province of Manitoba.
C'est
pour moi un grand honneur d'agir en qualité de représentant de la Reine dans
notre province. Je me réjouis à l'idée
de travailler en étroite collaboration avec les membres de cette Assemblée pour
les années à venir.
[Translation]
It
is an honour for me to serve as the Queen's representative in our
province. I look forward to working
closely with the members of this House in the years to come.
[English]
Canada
is a nation in transition; everywhere, profound and rapid changes are reshaping
our economy and our society. The effects
can be seen across the country, in every province, in every community.
Past
generations built our country and our province with hard work, based on hope
and on the promise of better opportunities for those who would follow. We who inherited that hope and that sense of
promise now must face the questions of what we, ourselves, can achieve, and
what we can leave as our own legacy. The
defining challenge for our generation, our most important responsibility to our
own children, is to provide security in our lives and theirs, and to build
confidence in our future.
For
six years, my government has made this responsibility its fundamental guiding
principle. My ministers have worked hard
to help revitalize our economic base, to renew the social programs which we all
value so highly, and to place Manitoba's finances on a sound footing and keep
them there.
That
commitment to responsible government brought our province through the recession
without the massive disruptions felt elsewhere, and it has positioned us well
to adjust, to adapt and to confront change as a positive opportunity.
My
ministers have also worked hard to consult Manitobans on the many vital policy
choices that will shape our future, to ensure our citizens have a full
understanding of those choices. That
commitment to accountability and citizen involvement is one more essential key
to confidence and solid public policy.
Manitobans
are much like other Canadians.
We
want secure and satisfying jobs, not only for ourselves, but for everyone who
is able to work and who values the dignity of employment.
* (1335)
We
want our children to be taught the fundamentals and the new skills they will
need in the next century.
We
want our health care system to be high quality, accessible and fair, and we
want it to be protected as one of our most important assets.
We
want our cities and our rural communities, our farms and our businesses, all
those who create jobs, to prosper and grow, and to do so in ways which are
consistent with the principles of sustainable development.
We
want our streets and our neighbourhoods to be safe, day and night, for young
and old alike.
We
want our heritage as a multicultural province to be honoured and respected.
We
want our public business to be conducted with integrity, efficiency and
accountability.
We
want our governments to be responsive and to work in partnerships with the
community, listening to new ideas and acting to meet Manitobans' priorities.
Nous
voulons que notre contribution aux progrés du Canada soit reconnue avec
justesse, et nous voulons, avec toutes les provinces et toutes les régions,
adopter les politiques et prendre les initiatives dont notre pays a besoin pour
renforcer l'unité nationale et pour placer le Canada en meilleure position
économique à l'echelle mondiale.
[Translation]
We
want our contribution to Canada's advancement to be recognized fairly and we
want to co‑operate with all provinces and regions in developing the
policies and initiatives our country requires to strengthen national unity and
to compete more successfully in the global economy.
[English]
Few
of these goals are new, but in today's circumstances none can be taken for
granted. Every one of these goals is
legitimate and realistic and consistent with our values and our traditions as a
sharing community. Every one of them is
worthy of our full commitment. In a time
of change and scarce resources, it is imperative that we rededicate all our
energies to fulfilling them.
Jobs and Economic Security
Our
top priority must continue to be jobs and economic growth: secure jobs and a sound economy to support
those jobs and the public services Manitobans require.
In
1993, Manitoba was strengthened by the net addition of approximately 6,000 new
jobs in the private sector compared to the previous year. Our rate of job creation in 1993 was the
third highest in Canada. As our recovery
continues, current forecasts indicate that Manitoba's real economic growth in
1994 will exceed 3 percent, placing us in line with the national average.
At
the same time, unemployment has remained at unacceptable levels in our
province, across Canada and indeed throughout most of the developed world. As that trend has continued, those who have
advocated quick fixes have lost more and more credibility, leaving a record of
failure and debt.
Last
year, following consultations with Manitobans, my government presented our
Framework for Economic Growth, a comprehensive strategy aimed directly at long‑term
job and wealth creation and which stresses the importance of strong public
sector leadership, coupled with strong partnerships with the private sector.
The
foundation of our province's economic strategy is the principle of fiscal
responsibility. Jobs and investment
depend on a competitive economic climate.
In the past six years, my government has succeeded in making Manitoba
significantly more competitive by keeping government expenditures in line and
by freezing or reducing all major taxes.
The provincial budget for 1994 will continue that record of
responsibility, despite continuing constraints on federal transfers and the
growing burden of federal offloading.
* (1340)
The
most important source of new jobs in our economy and throughout North America
is small business. Manitoba's small‑business
sector is particularly critical to our future growth. In the coming session, new initiatives will
be announced to encourage small‑business expansion and to build on the
successes of past initiatives such as Business Start, Rural Entrepreneur
Assistance, Vision Capital, taxation incentives, Grow Bonds and the Rural
Economic Development Initiative.
My
ministers look forward to the recommendations of the Task Force on Capital
Markets and the Advisory Panel on Business Regulations, both of which will
focus further attention on the importance of small business to our economy.
CareerStart,
Partners with Youth, and the REDI initiatives for young people will also
provide valuable work experience again in 1994.
These programs created employment for over 4,000 young Manitobans last
year.
Trade
means jobs, thousands of them, now and in the future. Since 1990, Manitoba's exports to the United
States have increased by some 40 percent.
These export gains have been broadly based: in key resource sectors, in manufacturing,
and in strategic, emerging sectors, such as information and telecommunication
industries, health care products and agri‑food processing. Last year, investment in manufacturing in
this province grew by 35 percent, by far the best rate in Canada.
My
government is committed to reinforcing these important trends with an
aggressive campaign, in co‑operation with the private sector, other
provinces and the federal government, to strengthen our export position in
international markets. The Asia‑Pacific
region and Mexico offer major new opportunities, as do our traditional markets
in the United States and Europe. In
1993, Manitoba's exports to Mexico increased by more than 30 percent over the
previous year.
Manitoba
will continue to press strongly for the elimination of trade barriers between
Canadian provinces and for an end to artificial competition for new
investment. For the past few years,
Manitoba has co‑chaired the Committee of Ministers of Internal Trade, the
group charged with developing a comprehensive agreement to bring down trade
barriers in this country. The provinces
have agreed to work toward a target date of June of this year for completion of
such an agreement. My government will
report to the House as those negotiations progress.
Besides
establishing a favourable climate for private sector expansion and job
creation, governments can also play a positive role through direct capital
investment. In the current fiscal year,
my ministers propose to enhance capital expenditures to historically high
levels.
The
government of Manitoba is also an enthusiastic partner, with the federal and
municipal governments, in the new national infrastructure program. My ministers argued strongly for such a program
for several years and, as a result, our province was among the first to sign a
formal agreement with the federal government and was the first to start
implementing it. The two‑year
Canada‑Manitoba Infrastructure Works Agreement will direct $205 million
toward a balanced set of projects which will create jobs and strengthen our
economic base for long‑term development.
Because
expectations for the program and infrastructure development needs have far
exceeded available resources, my ministers have appreciated the co‑operation
they have received from local government representatives in selecting
priorities which will benefit all parts of our province. My ministers remain fully supportive of the
efforts of local governments to obtain a long‑term federal commitment to
assist in infrastructure renewal.
* (1345)
In
addition to traditional projects, the new infrastructure program will support
major strategic investments, such as the extension of natural gas service for
home heating and industrial uses in rural Manitoba. Major investments will also be made in
information technology, the "electronic highway."
Mon
gouvernement a été le premier à proposer le développement encore plus poussé
des infrastructures nationales de l'information qui peuvent contribuer à une
décentralisation de l'activité économique et donner une orientation nouvelle au
travail, à la vie et aux interactions des membres de notre société dans
l'avenir.
[Translation]
My
government has led the call for the further development of national information
infrastructure which can enable decentralization of economic activity and shape
the way people work, live and interact in the future.
[English]
Improved
links among air, truck and rail transportation will also be an important
strategic focus for the infrastructure program as we work with our partners to
enhance the position of Winnipeg International Airport as a key generator of
jobs and economic growth.
Later
this year, my government expects to enter into a new Winnipeg Development Agreement
with the federal government and the city.
Public consultation on the design of the new agreement will begin
soon. All three partners believe that
the principal focus of the new agreement should be the strengthening of
Winnipeg's economic position.
To
complement the new Winnipeg agreement, my ministers will also work toward new
or renewed agreements for rural and northern development, including initiatives
to ensure the long‑term viability of the Port of Churchill. In this connection, my government is
committed to working closely with the private sector and other jurisdictions to
strengthen Manitoba's transportation sector.
Transportation services are a central force in our economy, and
transportation jobs remain vital to our province. My ministers have called on the federal
government to ensure the maintenance of adequate rail freight and passenger
service in Manitoba and to introduce a new National Highways Policy to promote
trade and tourism. They are also working
closely with several states to the south of us to ensure that our highway links
to the United States and Mexico are improved, and with other jurisdictions in
support of improved domestic and international air services.
The
completion of the lengthy and difficult round of GATT negotiations should
improve the long‑term prospects and open new opportunities for farmers in
Manitoba and across the country.
My
ministers will work closely with farm leaders to combat renewed agriculture
trade harassment from south of the border and to design needed adjustments to
safety‑net programs to reflect the GATT changes. My government will focus our agri‑food
efforts to take advantage of new opportunities and work with industry in
setting targets. For example, my
government will work with participants in the pork industry to expand
production, processing and exports. This
year, my government will also assist in a Manitoba Food Products campaign to
improve awareness and market made‑in‑Manitoba food products to
consumers at home and abroad.
My
ministers will also work with rural communities on a variety of other
initiatives based in part on the Rural Development Forum process. These efforts include a comprehensive review
of The Municipal Act, targeted to ensuring that local government can operate
more effectively and efficiently and will have the authority and tools
necessary to foster sustainable growth.
My
government's economic initiatives will focus on other resource development
priorities as well. In forestry, a co‑operative,
federal‑provincial management plan provides a comprehensive 20‑year
strategy in support of the sustainable development of Manitoba's forest resources. In mining, changes to our province's tax
policies and exploration incentives have made Manitoba one of the most
attractive locations in Canada for mineral development investment.
* (1350)
Mining
claims and oil exploration have also increased dramatically in the past
year. We are very encouraged by the
recent opening of the gold mine in Lynn Lake and the significant potential of
two new gold developments in the North.
Last month, the largest single mining claim in Manitoba history was
announced, which will begin exploration for diamonds, gold and base metals in
southeastern Manitoba. My ministers will
continue to assist and encourage exploration, development and production in the
mining and petroleum industries and will actively pursue new projects,
including those related to a vanadium‑titanium deposit, a kaolin deposit,
and two new world‑class nickel deposits.
Each
of these important sectors is essential for security and stability in our
economy and for new job creation in the years ahead. They are also essential for generating the
financial resources we must have to pursue our social policy priorities and to
protect the social programs which themselves are so important to our economy
and to our quality of life.
Manitoba
will host the 1994 Western Premiers' Conference in mid‑May in Gimli. One of the most important priorities for that
conference will be an extension of co‑operative initiatives by the
western and territorial governments to improve services and reduce duplication
and overlap. Similar efforts to improve
the efficiency of government are underway on a national basis.
Within
the province's own jurisdiction, my government has instituted a service
management improvement initiative, building on the capabilities and dedication
of our public service. This initiative,
building on the ideas of civil servants themselves, will enhance service and
reduce the costs of government.
The
western Premiers are also expected to discuss such issues as the federal
government's decision to reduce tobacco taxation, a policy which my ministers
continue to believe was ill‑advised and inappropriate, and which they
will continue to oppose.
Personal and Community Security
Manitobans
place a high value on the safety and security of their homes and families. They have every right to do so, and every
right to expect their government to take a strong stand against those whose
actions threaten public safety and make some Manitobans afraid to venture onto
our streets.
This
year, my government will help address youth crime and violence by acting on a
comprehensive, nine‑point plan which was developed through an extensive
consultation process. That plan includes
the establishment of wilderness and boot camps for young offenders. My ministers will also continue to press the
federal government to toughen the Young Offenders Act and include stronger
links to parental responsibility.
In
addition, my government will bring forward legislative amendments making young
offenders more responsible for their actions by denying drivers' licences to
individuals under the age of 18 who have had any convictions.
Manitoba
has been a Canadian leader in advocating aggressive action to combat stalking
and in offering further protection for victims.
My ministers will build on their efforts by increasing emphasis on
maintenance enforcement and by introducing further measures to compel
delinquent parents to honour their responsibilities. As well, my ministers will continue to
challenge the federal government to increase its role in interprovincial
enforcement.
Judicial
accountability is as essential as legislative accountability. Members will also be asked to consider changes
affecting The Provincial Court Act at this session.
Social
justice and our traditional values of sharing and fairness require that our
most vulnerable citizens be protected through income support and social
services. The social safety net which federal
and provincial governments have developed over the years is one of the most
important distinguishing features of our Canadian way of life. At the same time, there is a growing
recognition in our province and across the country that some of the component
programs are flawed and can increase the vulnerability and dependency of people
instead of helping them overcome their difficulties.
A
key step in mending our social safety net must be a shift in focus toward
programs that incorporate skills and workplace training for Manitobans on
welfare, initiatives that can provide vital tools to aid in the drive for
financial independence and self‑esteem.
My
government will introduce a major set of welfare‑to‑work
initiatives. These initiatives will
strengthen incentives to work, remove some disincentives, and increase work
expectations and economic independence for employable welfare recipients, while
maintaining basic income supports for the most vulnerable Manitobans. This summer, in co‑operation with the
federal government, my ministers plan to begin pilot projects across Manitoba
aimed at providing increased job and training opportunities.
* (1355)
One
of the first pilots will focus on single mothers. Many of Manitoba's single parents are
young. Some have no high school
education and little training. For these
reasons, they are seriously disadvantaged in the job market. Under the new pilot project, their
participation in the workforce will be assisted through new, more effective,
community‑based approaches.
We
also plan to work with the federal government to develop other major pilot
projects designed to test promising options.
Developing new ideas in consultation with the private sector and
community organizations will be a major task of a Partnership to Independence
Forum to be held in early May.
En
cette Année internationale de la famille, mon gouvernement confirme
l'importance de la responsabilité familiale et renouvelle son engagement envers
le famille. Pour mettre l'accent sur
cette responsabilité, ainsi que sur la prévention et l'intervention précoce,
nous adopterons des méthodes nouvelles au sein des services à l'enfant et à la
famille.
[Translation]
In
this International Year of the Family, my government renews its commitment to
supporting the family and to the importance of family responsibility. New approaches will be introduced in Child
and Family Services to emphasize that responsibility, as well as early
intervention and prevention.
[English]
A
key goal of the current national review of labour market development and
training is to streamline existing programming, to improve co‑ordination,
and to eliminate duplication and overlap.
In line with those goals, my ministers will be working with their
federal counterparts to initiate a one‑stop, single‑window Centre
for Employment Development.
Building
a secure future for our children and our province requires a solid educational
foundation. My ministers are working
closely with parents and professionals in the field to make sure our children
receive the education they need to compete successfully in today's very
competitive world. An important part of
that consultation will be a Parents' Forum on Education, which will recognize
the integral role of parents in all aspects of their children's
development. The forum will provide
parents with a further opportunity for direct input in designing my
government's blueprint for education.
My
ministers believe Manitobans want their children's education to be more closely
related to the rapidly changing demands of the job market. To that end, they believe consideration
should be given to the establishment of a province‑wide system of uniform
standards of achievement, and benchmarks in the core subjects of language arts,
mathematics, science and social studies.
Curriculum development will be guided by standards to be established, and
actions will be taken to improve the relevance and quality of teacher training
and to enhance certification requirements.
Effective learning environments will be created by addressing school
violence.
In
addition to refining Manitoba's blueprint for education from kindergarten
through high school, my government will also strengthen key elements of our
province's post‑secondary education system by implementing important
recommendations contained in the recent report of the University Review
Commission chaired by former Premier Duff Roblin. The role of community colleges will be
enhanced through increased capacity and more courses linked to labour market
demand. Universities will be challenged
to streamline and make more focused choices.
Apprenticeship will be revitalized and updated to meet current industry
needs and standards. Rebuilding will be
based on direct linkages with Workforce 2000 and youth initiatives, and
restructuring sectoral committees, to focus on priority sectors of the
provincial economy as well as high‑demand occupational needs and trades.
To
ensure that all Manitobans have comparable access to education, my government
will take immediate action to expand distance education opportunities. By September 1994, several more school
divisions will be in a position to offer distance education services. By the fall of next year, it is expected that
a province‑wide system involving interactive television, video
conferencing and library access will be in place.
The
pace of change has taught us that education and training cannot be focused
solely on children and young adults. Job
security and our economic competitiveness depend on a commitment to lifelong
learning. This commitment is the
responsibility not only of government but of everyone with an interest in
Manitoba's future.
My
ministers will initiate special measures to make training options more
accessible, relevant and effective for women.
The government will also continue its efforts to encourage women's entry
into nontraditional fields of study and occupations.
* (1400)
Our
health care system remains the largest and, in many ways, our most important
social program. One of the fundamental
values that unites us as Manitobans is our commitment to the health and well‑being
of our citizens. Manitobans want to
protect and preserve medicare, but they also want a more responsive system that
emphasizes prevention and a better balance of community‑based and
institutional services.
Replacing
high‑cost institutional beds with expanded numbers of personal‑care‑home
beds is a major priority.
Bringing
health care closer to home means better care.
Expansion of community‑based health, including support services
for seniors in Winnipeg and self‑managed home care in rural and northern
Manitoba, will be confirmed this year. To
help ensure that Manitobans receive the long‑term care they need, my
government will establish an Appeal Panel on Home Care and an Advisory
Committee on Continuing Care. These new
groups will help improve the operation of these important services, as well as
access to them.
Health
care options for women will be increased with the implementation of regulated
midwifery and enhanced breast cancer and cervical cancer screening.
Il est
prévu d'étendre et de perfectionner les projets pilotes de soins prénataux à
domicile et d'aiguillage en matière de soins post‑partum pour les femmes
à risque élevé. Ces projets pilotes, mis
sur pied dans les collectivités rurales et le Nord, ont en effet remporté un
grand succès.
Mon gouvernement continuera aussi à
renforcer les services de santé mentale offerts au sein des communautés.
[Translation]
The
successful pilot projects for high‑risk, antenatal home care and
postpartum referrals will be expanded and enhanced in rural and northern
communities.
My
government will also continue to improve community‑based mental health
services.
[English]
The
overall organization of the health care system will be improved as well. The streamlined drug programs information
network will be implemented as soon as possible, as the initial step toward
developing an integrated Smart Health System.
Pharmacare claims will be settled more expeditiously, with faster cash
flows and less paperwork. The effective
use of computer networks and technology will improve service access, discourage
abuse and aid important health research.
My
ministers will also continue to be active in forging new, co‑operative
partnerships with users and the full range of health care professionals.
Environmental Security
Our
province's history and geography help explain Manitobans' commitment to
environmental security. Our ancestors
respected nature and understood, better than some who followed, the importance
of our resource endowment. It is not
surprising, then, that Manitoba has led all provinces in establishing and
advocating the principles of sustainable development, and in encouraging
environmental co‑operation both in Canada and across North America.
As
a result, we were also the province which worked most actively for an
environmental side agreement under the North American Free Trade
Agreement. My government felt those
efforts, coupled with our position as Canada's centre of excellence for
sustainable development, made us the best possible choice to be the
headquarters location for the North American Commission on Environmental
Cooperation. Regrettably, despite strong
support from a wide range of leaders in our community and elsewhere on the
continent, the federal government chose another location. Disappointing as it is, that decision will in
no way lessen my government's commitment to sustainable development and
environmental protection.
Later
in the session, my ministers plan to introduce a major new sustainable
development act, the first of its kind in North America. The act is being developed through the
Manitoba Round Table on Environment and the Economy and may well be a model for
other jurisdictions in Canada and the United States.
My
ministers will also introduce a discussion paper on a proposed new contaminated
sites liability act. The paper will
propose a legislated comprehensive approach to the cleanup of contaminated
sites, and would authorize the Clean Environment Commission to apportion
liability for site cleanup based on the degrees of responsibility of the
parties involved. The paper has been
developed in consultation with a broad‑based advisory committee on a set
of principles endorsed unanimously last year by the Canadian Council of
Ministers of the Environment.
During
the current fiscal year, my ministers will release their third biennial State
of the Environment Report as required by the Environment Act. State of environment reporting is a new and
emerging field, and is recognized as a valuable way of providing public
information on the environment as a whole.
Manitoba is one of only four provinces which have reported to date.
My
government will also continue to develop its partnerships with industry and
municipal governments to provide recycling opportunities to 75 percent of
Manitoba households within the next three years. This year, a city‑wide recycling
program, funded by industry and operated by municipal government, will begin in
Winnipeg. The program will be extended
to other communities throughout this year and next. These initiatives are part of a made‑in‑Manitoba
system that is based on a strong commitment from industry and that will
fundamentally change the way our province deals with waste from the plant to
the store shelf to the home and, ultimately, to disposal.
More
dedications to the Endangered Spaces Program will be made in the coming months.
My
government will continue as well to work in partnership with the aboriginal
community to resolve longstanding treaty entitlements. It will also implement resource co‑management
agreements to provide communities with a more direct role in the day‑to‑day
management of the resources which are essential to their livelihoods.
Securing Our Future
In
a time of rapid change, people often seek guidance from their past experience
to apply proven and positive lessons from those who came before. In June of this year, Manitobans will join
other Canadians in commemorating the 50th anniversary of D‑Day, the
beginning of the end of the war in Europe and the finest hour for a great many
men and women from across our country who fought for their families and their
birthright. Later in the year, we will
remember the courageous stand taken by Louis Riel in defence of his ideals, and
then in 1995 we will all join in celebrating our 125th anniversary as a
province.
These
events serve to remind us, again, of how much we owe to the work, the
commitment and the responsibility of those who built Manitoba. They established the path we now follow, and
we owe it to them to continue on that path.
As
we know, there can be no guarantees for our generation or any other. No individual, no province, no country is
immune to global competition and new technologies and the stresses of change
and the consequences and costs of past decisions which have burdened us all
with an onerous debt.
Manitobans
are fortunate to have established a path to long‑term security which has
spared us the severe adjustments faced by many of our neighbours and which has
strengthened our resolve to conserve our resources, to safeguard our services
and secure our foundation for the future.
We
have learned much from our proud history of achievement. Generations of our ancestors‑‑native
born and drawn to the promise of Manitoba from around the world‑‑have
worked hard to build our community. They
fashioned the essential consensus that unites our province, based on hope, on
optimism, on ambition, on caring for our fellow citizens and on the other
values that we share. That consensus is
still strong among the women and men of Manitoba, and my government hopes that
it will be reflected throughout all of the proceedings of this Legislative
Assembly.
In
the course of this session, my ministers will lay before this Legislature a
number of specific proposals for review.
Members will also be asked to consider estimates for the requirements
for the public services of the province for the current fiscal year, as well as
the most recent Public Accounts.
Je vous
laisse maintenant aux nombreuses tâches que vous allez être appelés à accomplir
fidèlement. Que la divine Providence
vous éclaire au cours des délibérations nécessaires à l'exécution de ces
tâches.
I leave you now to the faithful performance of your many
duties and trust that, in meeting them, you may benefit from the guidance of
Divine Providence in all your deliberations.
* * *
* (1410)
The civil aide advanced and, after
obeisance, received the speech from the Lieutenant‑Governor and retired
to the west side of the Chamber.
The Mace then made obeisance before
the Lieutenant‑Governor and preceded him along the east side of the
Chamber to the main entrance, accompanied by the Premier, the aides and the
officer escort. All members and guests
stood.
God Save the Queen was sung.
The Speaker proceeded to the Chair
after His Honour retired from the House.
The Premier proceeded to his seat in
the Chamber.
The Sergeant‑at‑Arms
proceeded to the Speaker who was standing before the Chair. The Mace made obeisance and returned to the
table.
Mr. Speaker:
O Eternal and Almighty God, from Whom all power and wisdom come. We are assembled here before Thee to frame
such laws as may tend to the welfare and prosperity of our province. Grant, O Merciful God, we pray Thee, that we
may desire only that which is in accordance with Thy Will, that we may seek it
with wisdom, know it with certainty and accomplish it perfectly, for the Glory
and Honour of Thy Name and for the welfare of all our people. Amen.
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS
Bill 1‑‑An Act respecting the
Administration of Oaths of Office
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier):
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Minister of Industry,
Trade and Tourism (Mr. Downey), that Bill 1, An Act respecting the
Administration of Oaths of Office; Loi sur la prestation des serments d'entrée
en fonction, be introduced and that the same be now received and read a first
time.
Motion agreed to.
House Business
Mr. Speaker:
I wish to inform the House that in order to prevent mistakes, I have
received a copy of the Address of His Honour which was read.
I
am pleased to introduce to the House the six young people who have been
selected to serve as Pages at this session.
They are, beginning at my right:
Anthony Augustine, from the Agassiz School Division No. 13; Shannon
Summerfield, from the Assiniboine School Division No. 3; Jean LaFrance, from
the Red River School Division No. 17; Joanne Jacyk, from the St. Boniface
School Division No. 4; Norman Young, from the St. Boniface School Division No
4; and Karla Hinojosa, from the Winnipeg School Division No. 1.
Mr. Filmon:
I move, seconded by the honourable Minister of Environment (Mr.
Cummings), that the Votes and Proceedings of the House be printed, having first
been perused by the Speaker, and that the Speaker do appoint the printing
thereof, and that no person but such as the Speaker shall appoint do presume to
print the same.
Motion agreed to.
Mr. Filmon:
I move, seconded by the honourable Minister of Justice (Mrs. Vodrey),
that the speech of His Honour the Lieutenant‑Governor be taken into
consideration tomorrow.
Motion agreed to.
Mr. Filmon:
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Leader of the Opposition
(Mr. Doer), that the House do now adjourn.
Mr. Speaker:
Before putting the motion to the House, may I inform all present that a
receiving line composed of Their Honours, the Lieutenant‑Governor and
Mrs. Dumont, the Premier and Mrs. Filmon, and the Speaker and Mrs. Rocan will
form shortly in Room 200 at the north end of the building and that refreshments
will be served in Room 254 at the south end of the building in five minutes
time.
Motion agreed to and the House adjourned and stands
adjourned until 10 a.m. tomorrow (Friday).