Monday, September 30, 1996
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA
Monday, September 30, 1996
The House met at 1:30 p.m.
PRAYERS
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS
Rail Line Abandonment
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?
An Honourable Member: Dispense.
Madam Speaker: Dispense.
WHEREAS rail access is vital for the shipment of grain and other farm commodities in rural communities; and
WHEREAS the proclamation of the Canada Transportation Act on July 1, 1996, gives railways the ability to abandon lines throughout Canada with minimum notice; and
WHEREAS on July 2, 1996, Canadian National announced that it plans to abandon four rail lines in Manitoba including the lines from Dauphin to Minitonas and Swan River to Birch River; and
WHEREAS the abandonment of these lines would put the future of grain elevators at Birch River, Bowsman, Ethelbert and Fork River amongst others at great risk; and
WHEREAS the federal government sold CN without any conditions other than the headquarters of CN remain in Montreal; and
WHEREAS the loss of these rail lines will have a major negative effect upon the overall provincial economy; and
WHEREAS the provincial government has not made any plans to cover the costs of upgrading roads in the areas where rail lines are threatened with abandonment; and
WHEREAS the federal government has not committed any money from the Western Grain Transportation Adjustment Fund to upgrading roads in communities where rail lines are being abandoned.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Minister of Transportation and the federal Minister of Transport to ensure that the communities currently using the Cowan Sub and the Erwood Sub are able to continue shipping their grain to markets.
PRESENTING REPORTS BY
STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES
Standing Committee on Municipal Affairs
First Report
Mr. Mervin Tweed (Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Municipal Affairs): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the First Report of the Standing Committee on Municipal Affairs.
Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): Your Standing Committee on Municipal Affairs presents the following as its First Report.
Madam Speaker: Dispense.
Your committee met on Wednesday, September 25, 1996, at 7 p.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building to consider bills referred.
Your committee heard representation on bills as follows:
Bill 2--The Municipal Assessment Amendment and Assessment Validation Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur l'évaluation municipale et validant certaines évaluations
David Sanders - Colliers Pratt McGarry
Deputy Mayor Jae Eadie & Councillor Garth Steek - City of Winnipeg
Charles Chappell - Private Citizen
Guy Whitehill - Centra Gas
Lance Norman - Manitoba Chamber of Commerce
Dr. Barry Prentice - University of Manitoba Transport Institute
Written Submission
John Nicol - Union of Manitoba Municipalities
Bill 43--The Municipal Assessment Amendment, City of Winnipeg Amendment and Assessment Validation Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur l'évaluation municipale et la Loi sur la Ville de Winnipeg et validant certaines évaluations
Rhine Olynick - Canadian National Railways
John Nicol - Union of Manitoba Municipalities
David Sanders - Colliers Pratt McGarry
Henry Dupont - Rickard Realty
M.S. Khan - Westcan Property Tax Consultants
Jack Nelson - Professional Property Managers Association
Paul Moist & Richard Weind - CUPE, Local 500 and Regional Technical Operations Unit
Michael Mercury - Private Citizen
Deputy Mayor Jae Eadie & Councillor Garth Steek - City of Winnipeg
Charles Chappell - Private Citizen
O. William Steele - Private Citizen
Dr. Barry Prentice - University of Manitoba Transport Institute
Dan Kelly - Canadian Federation of Independent Business
Ken Wong - Hong Kong-Canada Business Association
Lance Norman - Manitoba Chamber of Commerce
Ike Zacharopolous - Canadian Pacific Railway
Thomas Frohlinger - Private Citizen
Don Smith - Private Citizen
Joe Diner - Private Citizen
Warren Baldwin - Private Citizen
Written Submission
Ian Ford - City of Brandon
Your committee has considered:
Bill 3--The Surface Rights Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur les droits de surface
and has agreed to report the same without amendment.
Your committee has also considered:
Bill 2--The Municipal Assessment Amendment and Assessment Validation Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur l'évaluation municipale et validant certaines évaluations
and has agreed to report the same with the following amendments:
MOTION:
THAT subsection 6(1) of the Bill be amended by striking out “1994, 1995 and 1996” and substituting “1994 to 1997.”
MOTION:
THAT subsection 6(2) of the Bill be amended by striking out “1994, 1995 and 1996” and substituting “1994 to 1997.”
Your committee agreed to not proceed with the clause-by-clause consideration of:
Bill 43--The Municipal Assessment Amendment, City of Winnipeg Amendment and Assessment Validation Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur l'évaluation municipale et la Loi sur la Ville de Winnipeg et validant certaines évaluations
at this meeting of the committee, but to defer such consideration to a future meeting of the committee.
Mr. Tweed: Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member for Sturgeon Creek (Mr. McAlpine), that the report of the committee be received.
Motion agreed to.
Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources
First Report
Mr. Frank Pitura (Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the First Report of the Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources.
Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): Your Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources presents the following as its First Report.
Madam Speaker: Dispense.
Your committee met on Wednesday, September 25, 1996, at 7 p.m. in Room 254 of the Legislative Building to consider bills referred.
Your committee heard representation on bills as follows:
Bill 16--The Charleswood Bridge Facilitation Act; Loi facilitant l'application de l'entente sur le pont Charleswood
Paul Moist - CUPE Local 500
Bill 19--The Dangerous Goods Handling and Transportation Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur la manutention et le transport des marchandises dangereuses
Written Submission
John Nicol - Union of Manitoba Municipalities
Bill 34--The Contaminated Sites Remediation and Consequential Amendments Act; Loi concernant l'assainissement des lieux contaminés et apportant des modifications corrélatives
John Stefaniuk - Canadian Bankers Association
Bill Ryall - Union of Manitoba Municipalities
Lance Norman - Manitoba Chamber of Commerce
Bill 44--The City of Winnipeg Amendment and Consequential Amendments Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur la Ville de Winnipeg et apportant des modifications corrélatives
Councillor John Angus - City of Winnipeg
Written Submission
Valinda Morris - Provincial Council of Women of Manitoba and The Council of Women of Winnipeg
Bill 56--The Manitoba Investment Pool Authority Act; Loi sur l'Office manitobain de mise en commun des placements
Rochelle Zimberg - Manitoba Association of Urban Municipalities
Jerome Mauws - Union of Manitoba Municipalities
Your committee has considered:
Bill 16--The Charleswood Bridge Facilitation Act; Loi facilitant l'application de l'entente sur le pont Charleswood
Bill 19--The Dangerous Goods Handling and Transportation Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur la manutention et le transport des marchandises dangereuses
Bill 44--The City of Winnipeg Amendment and Consequential Amendments Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur la Ville de Winnipeg et apportant des modifications corrélatives
and has agreed to report the same without amendment.
Your committee has also considered:
Bill 34--The Contaminated Sites Remediation and Consequential Amendments Act; Loi concernant l'assainissement des lieux contaminés et apportant des modifications corrélatives
and has agreed to report the same with the following amendments:
MOTION:
THAT section 3 be amended
(a) in subsection (1), by striking out “This Act” and substituting “Subject to subsection (3), this Act”; and
(b) by renumbering subsection (3) as subsection (5) and adding the following after subsection (2):
Application to sites under Oil and Gas Act and Mines and Minerals Act
3(3) Except as otherwise provided in the regulations, this Act does not apply to a site to which the provisions of The Oil and Gas Act or The Mines and Minerals Act respecting the rehabilitation of land apply.
Obligations under Oil and Gas Act and Mines and Minerals Act
3(4) Where this Act applies to a site because of a regulation referred to in subsection (3), a person who satisfies all of his or her obligations under this Act and the regulations in respect of the site is deemed to have satisfied every obligation he or she has in respect of the rehabilitation of the site under The Oil and Gas Act, The Mines and Minerals Act and the regulations under those Acts.
MOTION:
THAT subsection 60(1) be amended by adding the following after clause (j):
(j.1) respecting the application of this Act or the regulations to one or more sites or classes of sites to which The Oil and Gas Act or The Mines and Minerals Act applies;
MOTION:
THAT clause 60(2)(b) be amended by striking out “, and the fee payable for,”.
MOTION:
THAT clause 60(2)(d) be amended by striking out “on other potentially responsible persons” and substituting “or 12(1)”.
MOTION:
THAT Legislative Counsel be authorized to change all section numbers and internal references necessary to carry out the amendments adopted by this committee.
Your committee has also considered:
Bill 56--The Manitoba Investment Pool Authority Act; Loi sur l'Office manitobain de mise en commun des placements
and has agreed to report the same with the following amendment:
MOTION:
That section 22 be struck out and the following substituted:
Coming into force
22 This Act comes into force on the day it receives royal assent.
Mr. Pitura: I move, seconded by the honourable member for Sturgeon Creek (Mr. McAlpine), that the report of the committee be received.
Motion agreed to.
TABLING OF REPORTS
Hon. James Downey (Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism): Madam Speaker, I have several reports to table: Manitoba Industry, Trade and Tourism for 1995-96; Manitoba Trading Corporation Annual Report for 1995-96; Manitoba Development Corporation, March 31, 1996; the Cooperative Promotion Board for 1995-96; and the Co-operative Loans and Loans Guarantee Board for 1995-96. Thank you.
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Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, I am tabling today the Annual Report for 1995-96 of the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba; the Annual Report of the Health Information Services of Manitoba for the fiscal period ending March 31, 1996; the Annual Report for 1995-96 of Manitoba Health; and the Annual Report for 1995-96 of the Manitoba Health Research Council.
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): Madam Speaker, I have several reports to table. The first one is the Annual Report for 1995-96 for the Department of Finance. The second one is the Annual Report for 1995-96 for the Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Works. The next one is the Annual Report for 1995-96 for the Community Support Programs. The next one is the Annual Report for 1995-96 for Other Appropriations. The next one is the Annual Report for 1995-96 for the Special Operating Agencies Financing Authority. I also have the Annual Report for the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation. I also have the First Quarter Report for the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation. I also have the Financial Report, first quarter, for the Province of Manitoba for April to June 1996. I also have the Public Accounts for 1995-96, Volumes 1 and 2.
Hon. Harry Enns (Minister of Agriculture): Madam Speaker, I have the pleasure of tabling the Annual Report for the year '96-96 of the Manitoba Agricultural Credit Corporation.
Hon. Jim Ernst (Minister responsible for Sport): Madam Speaker, I have the report of the Fitness and Sport Directorates for '95-96 to table, and also, on behalf of my colleague the Minister of Rural Development (Mr. Derkach), the Annual Report of the Conservation Districts of Manitoba.
Hon. Harold Gilleshammer (Minister of Culture, Heritage and Citizenship): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table the Annual Report 1995-96 for the Manitoba Centennial Centre Corporation.
Hon. Jack Reimer (Minister of Urban Affairs): Madam Speaker, I would like to table the reports for the Department of Housing; Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation; the Manitoba Housing Authority; the Department of Urban Affairs; the Manitoba Seniors Directorate; North Portage Development Corporation 1994 Annual Report; also the North Portage Development Corporation Consolidated Financial Statements for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1996; also The Forks Renewal Corporation Financial Statement for March 31, 1995.
Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister of Environment): Madam Speaker, I would like to table the Annual Report for 1995-96 for the Department of Environment.
Hon. Darren Praznik (Minister of Energy and Mines) Madam Speaker, I would like to table today the 1995-96 Annual Report for the Department of Energy and Mines; as well, the 1995-96 report for the Department of Northern Affairs; as well, and finally, the 45th Annual Report of the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board for the year ended March 31, 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 twenty-five Grade 9 students from Elm Creek School under the direction of Mr. Dave McGill. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Enns).
On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you this afternoon.