Madam Speaker: I have a ruling for the House.
A point of order was raised by the government House leader (Mr. Ernst) during Question Period on April 12, 1996, about the preamble to a question by the honourable member for Kildonan (Mr. Chomiak). In doing so, the government House leader cited portions of Beauchesne Citation 409.(1) and (2) which read: A question “ . . . must be a question, not an expression of an opinion, representation, argumentation, nor debate.” . . . “The question must be brief. A preamble need not exceed one carefully drawn sentence. . . . A supplementary question should need no preamble.”
I have reviewed the Hansard of April 12 and find that the preamble of the honourable member for Kildonan was not unduly long in light of Manitoba’s Question Period practices. Further, in my opinion, the question did not constitute an argument or debate which would have been contrary to our Question Period guidelines.
Therefore, I rule that the government House leader did not have a point of order.
MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS
Flooding--St. Norbert
Mr. Marcel Laurendeau (St. Norbert): Madam Speaker, once again I am proud to stand up and say that I am a Manitoban, and I am proud to say that Manitoba has lived up to its motto of Friendly Manitoba.
Madam Speaker, last week I had the opportunity of working with the community in St. Norbert and many volunteers from across the city in holding back the ravaging Red River, and let me say that the volunteers that came out were very much appreciated. It was interesting to see the varying people that came out. We had people on social assistance; we had people from the banks; we had people from Richardson Greenshields, the stockbrokers; we had some firemen. There were just so many of them that it is hard to list, but most of all the students. The students from the schools--[interjection]
Madam Speaker: Order, please.
Mr. Laurendeau: Thank you, Madam Speaker. But most of all it was the students from the schools, and it was not just St. Norbert Collegiate and FRC. It was schools from throughout Winnipeg that came out, and a number of the students made the comment to me that it gave them a feeling of being needed. It felt good to just be able to help out. They worked side by side for a common good.
I was proud to be part of this group, and I am proud to say today that all Manitobans should be proud of our youth and all those who go out and help volunteer within society today.
Social Assistance--Policy
Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): Madam Speaker, this is my second instalment in a series of dumb policy ideas which discourage individual initiative.
If you were a high school student with very low income would it make sense to apply for a bursary from your school division? Not in Manitoba. One of my constituents applied for the Margaret Crawford bursary. Since the combined income of her and her spouse for the previous year was only $6,000, she qualified and was awarded the bursary in the amounts of $275 and $250. Guess what happened next? Was she better off for having received the bursary? Did it help her to buy bus fare and school supplies? Did it encourage her to continue working hard at her studies and stay in school so she could obtain a decent job? None of the above. Why? She reported the bursary as income, as she is obliged to do. She was allowed to keep the first instalment, but the second will be deducted dollar for dollar from her social assistance cheque.
Was this a mistake? No. I checked with the assistant deputy minister for Income Security and bursaries are not exempt as income. Revenue Canada, though, exempts the first $500 of income for bursaries and scholarships, but The Social Allowances Act in Manitoba does not allow for that. This is a dumb policy which discourages individual initiative. That bursary, which could have been a hand up for that student, was instead an insult.
The Margaret Crawford bursary was established by Margaret Crawford for the purpose of assisting low income students attending vocational schools in Winnipeg No. 1 Division. She would be appalled; I am. So should the Minister of Family Services (Mrs. Mitchelson).
Manitoba Government Employees’ Union Strike Vote Rejection
Mr. Mike Radcliffe (River Heights): Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the members of the Manitoba Government Employees’ Union for their decision to reject the union leader’s effort to create confrontation.
When you live in a time of change, as we certainly do, it is easy to choose confrontation rather than co-operation--[interjection] Now, I acknowledge my honourable friends on the other side of the House who are not listening today. They have trouble listening, Madam Speaker, but really we do live in a time of change. It is easy to confront rather than co-operate in dealing with the ramifications of that change. Yet the members of the MGEU have recognized the need to work with government to achieve a common goal. As governments at all levels attempt to deal with the fiscal challenges they face, it is more important than ever there be a willingness to negotiate reasonable and level-headed solutions to problems.
Madam Speaker, the MGEU members have sent a clear message to their union leaders and to the members opposite that they understand the challenge this government must deal with and that they wish to do so in a co-operative and consultative manner.
Manitoba government workers have shown us the true understanding of today’s fiscal environment, and they are to be congratulated. They have set the example for all groups and sectors that are facing change. While it must be frustrating for the members to be represented by leaders out of touch, they should take heart with the actions yesterday.
I thank the members of the MGEU who placed a vote of confidence with this government. We look forward to continuing to work together to achieve our common goal. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
* (1440)
Regional Health Boards--Appointments
Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, when the government announced their concept of regionalization in health, we raised many concerns. We were concerned that the regional health boards would end up doing the cutting in rural areas that we know is going to come under this government when we see the cuts they are proposing to health care. We were also concerned that the public was not well enough informed about the appointments to regional boards. I, in fact, asked the minister to delay that process because many people were not aware that they could run for boards or what the job would entail, but the government made their appointments.
Since they are doing this, we have to ensure that all regions of the area have representation, and I want to speak specifically about the Parkland Region. The minister is well aware of the concerns of the people in that area, that there is not representation from two communities, namely, Winnipegosis and Grandview. In fact, in Winnipegosis there was a meeting on March 19, where my colleague the member for Dauphin (Mr. Struthers) represented me when I was unable to attend, where over 300 people came out to raise their concerns about the lack of representation on this board. I want to encourage the minister to use his authority; he has the ability to appoint two people to the board. I would ask that he would recognize that there are two communities, Winnipegosis and Gilbert Plains, that need representation. They both have hospitals.
I would also ask that the minister consider the third position that has to be appointed, and it is the board that has the opportunity to appoint, that we are looking for representation from the aboriginal community. There is a very large aboriginal community. We also have to recognize, the minister has to recognize, that there have not been enough women appointed on these boards. So I would urge the minister to listen to the people of the region, look at the many petitions that were presented and ensure that there is representation from all areas on these boards, as they will have to make decisions on health care in the region.
Anniversary--Menno Simons
Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): Madam Speaker, I hope you will indulge me by allowing me to put a few sentences on the record in one of my first languages, Dutch. I would be happy to translate these sentences.
Dutch spoken.
Madam Speaker, I just stated that 1996 is the anniversary year of the birth of a great Christian reformer, Menno Simons. Menno Simons was born in 1496 in the small town of Witmarsum, which is located in the Dutch province of Friesland. The ideas of my compatriot Menno Simons had a profoundly positive effect not only upon the scattered Anabaptist followers he organized and led after 1536, but upon all Christians.
His major work, Dat Fundament des Christelyken Leer--The Foundation of Christian Teaching--is still very significant for our world, and although Mennonites were at first persecuted by both the Crown and church in Holland, their spirituality and peace-loving principles were soon recognized, and they contributed enormously to the golden age of Holland in the 17th Century.
Madam Speaker, I do not have time to chronicle the many, many positive contributions that hard-working Mennonites have also made in the last 100 years in Manitoba, and Manitoba was not always appreciative. I mention only the regressive 1916 school act that drove 5,000 Mennonites away from this province into Mexico and Paraguay.
There is a higher percentage of Mennonites living here in Manitoba than in any other jurisdiction in the world. To us, that is a source of great pride and bodes well for Manitoba’s future. On the anniversary year, I salute the spiritual descendants of Menno Simons who live not only in Altona, Steinbach, Gretna, Winkler, Morden and East and North Kildonan, but all over this province, this country, this world.
Over 75 years ago, the Mennonite Central Committee was formed to feed the hungry in Russia. MCC has become one of the most efficient and effective church-connected service and aid agencies in the world. It deserves our total support. In fact, I urge all honourable members to participate in the MCC relief sale and auction to be held at The Forks on June 15 and 16. Serving God by helping others is the Mennonite way. The light Menno Simons kindled for us 500 years ago shines now as bright as ever. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
House Business
Hon. Jim Ernst (Government House Leader): Madam Speaker, I wonder if I might have leave to introduce a motion respecting the rules.
Madam Speaker: Is there leave for the government House leader to introduce a motion respecting the rules? [agreed]
Mr. Ernst: I move, seconded by the Minister of Family Services (Mrs. Mitchelson), that the rules of the House be amended as follows:
THAT paragraph (b) of sub-rule 74.(16) be repealed and the following substituted:
“(b) notwithstanding sub-rule (12), one Member may demand that a formal vote be taken and where such a demand is made the Chairperson of the committee, or a section thereof, shall defer the vote on the motion until the next sitting of the Committee of Supply in the Chamber; and”
Motion agreed to.
Mr. Ernst: Madam Speaker, on a matter of House business. It almost slipped my mind. I believe there is a will of the House to adjourn at 4:30 today because of the visit of His Royal Highness.
Madam Speaker: Is it the w ill of the House to adjourn at 4:30 p.m. today in honour of the visit of His Royal Highness? [agreed]