Wednesday, April 17, 1996
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA
Wednesday, April 17, 1996
The House met at 1:30 p.m.
Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): I must inform the House that Madam Speaker has been unavoidably detained and therefore I would request, in accordance with the statutes, that the Deputy Speaker take the Chair.
(Mr. Marcel Laurendeau, Deputy Speaker, in the Chair)
PRAYERS
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
PRESENTING PETITIONS
Seasonal Camping Fees
Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Sheila Nelson, Lois Kinsman, Dolores Cabernel and others urging the provincial government not to increase seasonal camping fees by such a large amount.
Home Care Services
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Percy Bird, June Doblyn, Linda Brazeau and others requesting the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.
Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Robert Hnatiuk, Cathy Walters, M. Feliksiak and others requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.
Mr. Tim Sale (Crescentwood): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Dorothy Glover, Marion Marks, Alex Marks and others requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.
READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS
Seasonal Camping Fees
Mr. Deputy Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Thompson (Mr. Ashton) and find that it complies with the rules and practices of the House (by leave). Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?
Some Honourable Members: Yes.
Mr. Deputy 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 seasonal camping has provided an affordable form of recreation for many Manitobans; and
WHEREAS the provincial government has announced increases in seasonal camping fees of up to 100 percent; and
WHEREAS this huge increase is far more than any cost-of-living increase; and
WHEREAS this increase will lead to many people being unable to afford seasonal camping.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly urge the provincial government not to increase seasonal camping fees by such a large amount.
Home Care Services
Mr. Deputy Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Elmwood (Mr. Maloway) and 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.
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 on at least six occasions during the 1995 provincial election, the Premier promised not to cut health services; and
THAT on December 16, 1995, a plan to privatize home care services was presented to Treasury Board; and
THAT this plan calls for the complete divestiture of all service delivery to nongovernment organizations, mainly private for-profit companies as well as the implementation of a user-pay system of home care; and
THAT previous cuts to the Home Care program have resulted in services being cut and people’s health being compromised; and
THAT thousands of caring front-line service providers will lose their jobs as a result of this change; and
THAT profit has no place in the provision of vital health services.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.
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Mr. Deputy 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?
An Honourable Member: Yes.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Yes. The Clerk will read.
Mr. Clerk: The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth:
THAT on at least six occasions during the 1995 provincial election, the Premier promised not to cut health services; and
THAT on December 16, 1995, a plan to privatize home care services was presented to Treasury Board; and
THAT this plan calls for the complete divestiture of all service delivery to nongovernment organizations, mainly private for-profit companies as well as the implementation of a user-pay system of home care; and
THAT previous cuts to the Home Care program have resulted in services being cut and people’s health being compromised; and
THAT thousands of caring front-line service providers will lose their jobs as a result of this change; and
THAT profit has no place in the provision of vital health services.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.
Mr. Deputy 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.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Dispense.
THAT on at least six occasions during the 1995 provincial election, the Premier promised not to cut health services; and
THAT on December 16, 1995, a plan to privatize home care services was presented to Treasury Board; and
THAT this plan calls for the complete divestiture of all service delivery to nongovernment organizations, mainly private for-profit companies as well as the implementation of a user-pay system of home care; and
THAT previous cuts to the Home Care program have resulted in services being cut and people’s health being compromised; and
THAT thousands of caring front-line service providers will lose their jobs as a result of this change; and
THAT profit has no place in the provision of vital health services.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.
Mr. Deputy 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?
An Honourable Member: Yes.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Yes. The Clerk will read.
Mr. Clerk: The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth:
THAT on at least six occasions during the 1995 provincial election, the Premier promised not to cut health services; and
THAT on December 16, 1995, a plan to privatize home care services was presented to Treasury Board; and
THAT this plan calls for the complete divestiture of all service delivery to nongovernment organizations, mainly private for-profit companies as well as the implementation of a user-pay system of home care; and
THAT previous cuts to the Home Care program have resulted in services being cut and people’s health being compromised; and
THAT thousands of caring front-line service providers will lose their jobs as a result of this change; and
THAT profit has no place in the provision of vital health services.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Inkster (Mr. Lamoureux). 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: Yes. The Clerk will read.
Mr. Clerk: The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth:
THAT on at least six occasions during the 1995 provincial election, the Premier promised not to cut health services; and
THAT on December 16, 1995, a plan to privatize home care services was presented to Treasury Board; and
THAT this plan calls for the complete divestiture of all service delivery to nongovernment organizations, mainly private for-profit companies as well as the implementation of a user-pay system of home care; and
THAT previous cuts to the Home Care program have resulted in services being cut and people’s health being compromised; and
THAT thousands of caring front-line service providers will lose their jobs as a result of this change; and
THAT profit has no place in the provision of vital health services.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.
* (1340)
Mr. Deputy Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Crescentwood (Mr. Sale). 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: Yes. The Clerk will read.
Mr. Clerk: The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth:
THAT on at least six occasions during the 1995 provincial election, the Premier promised not to cut health services; and
THAT on December 16, 1995, a plan to privatize home care services was presented to Treasury Board; and
THAT this plan calls for the complete divestiture of all service delivery to nongovernment organizations, mainly private for-profit companies as well as the implementation of a user-pay system of home care; and
THAT previous cuts to the Home Care program have resulted in services being cut and people’s health being compromised; and
THAT thousands of caring front-line service providers will lose their jobs as a result of this change; and
THAT profit has no place in the provision of vital health services.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.
PRESENTING REPORTS BY
STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES
Committee of Supply
Mr. Ben Sveinson (Deputy Chairperson of Committees): Mr. Deputy Speaker, the Committee of Supply has considered certain resolutions, directs me to report progress and asks leave to sit again.
I move, seconded by the honourable member for St. Vital (Mrs. Render), that the report of the committee be received.
Motion agreed to.
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS
Bill 201--The Aboriginal Solidarity Day Act
Mr. Eric Robinson (Rupertsland): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I move, seconded by the member for The Pas (Mr. Lathlin), that leave be given to introduce Bill 201, The Aboriginal Solidarity Day Act (Loi sur le jour de solidarité à l’égard des autochtones), and that the same be now received and read a first time.
Motion presented.
Mr. Robinson: Mr. Deputy Speaker, June 21 has long been regarded by the first peoples of this continent as being a very sacred day. I know in other cultures it is regarded as the longest day of the year, the summer solstice.
I know that in a time to come I will have an opportunity to speak about the meaning of this to First Nations people and other aboriginal people, and I will be calling upon colleagues from all sides of this House to support this bill. I believe that it will do all Manitobans proud, especially aboriginal people in this province, by being the first group of legislators to acknowledge and recognize the contributions that have been made by Canada’s original inhabitants and also taking into consideration their history, their language and their aspirations. Perhaps other provinces and, hopefully, our national government will also follow our lead. Thank you very much.
Motion agreed to.
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Mr. Deputy Speaker: I inadvertently missed Notices of Motion so I will just return to that.
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Introduction of Guests
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Before we proceed, I would like to draw the attention of the honourable members to the loge to my right where we have with us today the Honourable Harry Graham who was former Speaker and member for Birtle-Russell.
I would also like to bring to your attention that in the public gallery we have seated today from River Heights Middle School thirty-five Grades 7 and 8 students under the direction of Mrs. Mary Kirk and Mrs. Louise Gaston. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for River Heights (Mr. Radcliffe).
We have seated in the public gallery from the Red River Valley Junior Academy twenty-two Grade 8 students under the direction of Mr. Landry. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Concordia (Mr. Doer).