Thursday, September 26, 1996

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA

Thursday, September 26, 1996

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

PRAYERS

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

PRESENTING PETITIONS

Rail Line Abandonment

Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Jake Buhler, K. Fullerton and Mervin Holinaty and others requesting the Legislative Assembly to request the Minister of Transportation (Mr. Findlay) and federal Minister of Transport to ensure that communities currently using the Cowan Sub and Erwood Subline are able to continue shipping grain to market.

READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS

Manitoba Telephone System

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Swan River (Ms. Wowchuk). It complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read? Dispense.

THAT the Manitoba Telephone System has served this province well for over 80 years providing province-wide service, some of the lowest local rates in North America and thousands of jobs; and

THAT MTS has made over $100 million since 1990 and this money has stayed in Manitoba; and

THAT MTS contributes $150 million annually to the Manitoba economy and is a major sponsor of community events throughout the province; and

THAT MTS, with nearly 4,000 employees including more than 1,000 in rural and northern Manitoba, is one of Manitoba’s largest firms, headquartered in Manitoba and is committed to Manitoba; and

THAT the provincial government has no mandate to sell MTS and said before and during the 1995 election that MTS was not for sale.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier (Mr. Filmon) not sell the Manitoba Telephone System.

TABLING OF REPORTS

Hon. Harold Gilleshammer (Minister of Culture, Heritage and Citizenship): Madam Speaker, I have three annual reports to table for 1995-96: the Annual Report for Culture, Heritage and Citizenship; also for the Franco-Manitoban Cultural Centre; and the Annual Report of The Freedom of Information Act.

Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table the Annual Report of Civil Legal Services for the year ending March 31, 1996, and also the Annual Report 1995-96 of the Department of Justice.

Hon. Leonard Derkach (Minister of Rural Development): Madam Speaker, I would like to table the financial statements for the Leaf Rapids Town Properties Ltd., and also the Annual Report for Manitoba Decentralization.

Hon. Harry Enns (Minister of Agriculture): Madam Speaker, I have several annual reports to table: firstly, for the Ministry of Agriculture, the Annual Report covering the years 1995-96; the Annual Report from the Manitoba Farm Mediation Board covering the years '95-96; the Annual Report from the Manitoba Crop Insurance Corporation for the years '95-96.

I have the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences Annual Report from the University of Manitoba, and on behalf of my colleague the Minister of Highways and Transportation (Mr. Findlay), the Annual Report for the Ministry of Highways and Transportation for the year '95-96.

Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): I have three reports to table. The first one is the Annual Report for 1995-96 for the Fiscal Stabilization Fund. The second one is the 1995 Annual Report for the Crown Corporations Council, and the third one is the Report of Amounts Paid to Members of the Legislative Assembly for the year ending March 31, 1996.

Hon. Jim Ernst (Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs): Madam Speaker, on behalf of the honourable Minister of Natural Resources (Mr. Driedger), I would like to table the Annual Report and Financial Statements of Venture Manitoba Tours Ltd. to March 31, 1996.

Hon. Brian Pallister (Minister of Government Services): Madam Speaker, I would like to table the Annual Report for the Department of Government Services, including emergency expenditures for the fiscal year 1995-96.

Hon. Bonnie Mitchelson (Minister of Family Services): Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to table the Annual Report for 1995-96 for Manitoba Family Services.

Hon. Vic Toews (Minister of Labour): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to present the report of the Department of Labour for 1995-1996.

Introduction of Guests

Madam Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would like to draw the attention of all honourable members to the public gallery where we have this afternoon fifty-three Grades 5 and 6 students from William S. Patterson School under the direction of Mrs. Gwen Streich. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Gimli (Mr. Helwer).

On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you this afternoon.

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