VOL. XLVI No. 59 - 1:30 p.m., THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1996

Thursday, October 3, 1996

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA

Thursday, October 3, 1996

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

PRAYERS

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS

Pharmacare

Madam 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.

Madam Speaker: Yes. The Clerk will read.

Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): The petition of the undersigned citizens of the Province of Manitoba humbly sheweth:

THAT during the 1995 provincial election, the Premier (Mr. Filmon) promised not to cut health services; and,

THAT the Pharmacare program brought in by the former NDP government was the first in Canada and has served as a model for pharmacare programs in Canada; and,

THAT the Manitoba Pharmacare program has enabled thousands of Manitobans over the years to be able to stay out of costly institutions and to avoid financial ruin due to the high cost of necessary pharmaceuticals; and,

THAT previous cuts to Pharmacare have reduced the budget from $60 million to less than $50 million over the past two years; and,

THAT as of April 1996 the provincial government is slashing benefits, effectively putting a tax on the sick and reducing the Pharmacare budget by $20 million; and,

THAT these cuts more than double the deductible for most Manitobans to over $1,000 for most families, effectively ending Pharmacare for the vast majority of the population regardless of health.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to cut Pharmacare in 1996.

PRESENTING REPORTS BY

STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Standing Committee on Agriculture

First Report

Mr. Peter Dyck (Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Agriculture): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the First Report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture.

Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): Your Standing Committee on Agriculture presents the following as its First Report.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

Your committee met on Tuesday, October 1, 1996, at 7 p.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building to consider bills referred.

At the meeting of October 1, 1996, your committee elected Mr. Tweed as vice-chairperson.

Your committee heard representation on bills as follows:

Bill 24--The Agricultural Credit Corporation Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur la Société du crédit agricole

Mr. Ken Fegol - Private Citizen

Bill 31--The Livestock Industry Diversification and Consequential Amendments Act; Loi sur la diversification de l'industrie du bétail et apportant des modifications corrélatives

Gary Stott - Manitoba Elk Growers' Association

Brion Whitford - Keeseekoowenin First Nation

Ronald Mentz - Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association

Vicki Burns - The Human Society

Tracy Hughes - Private Citizen

James Pearson - People Acting for Animal Liberation

John Rutley - Private Citizen

Your committee has considered:

Bill 5--The Horticultural Society Repeal Act; Loi abrogeant la Loi sur les associations horticoles

Bill 6--The Veterinary Science Scholarship Fund Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur le fonds des bourses d'études vétérinaires

Bill 24--The Agricultural Credit Corporation Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur la Société du crédit agricole

Bill 30 --The Dairy Act; Loi sur les produits laitiers

and has agreed to report the same without amendment.

Your committee has also considered:

Bill 23--The GRIP and Related Programs Termination and Consequential Amendments Act; Loi abolissant le régime RARB et des régimes connexes et apportant des modifications corrélatives

and has agreed to report the same with the following amendment:

MOTION:

THAT the title of the bill be struck out and the following substituted:

“THE GRIP AND RELATED PROGRAMS TERMINATION AND CROP INSURANCE AMENDMENT ACT”

Your committee has also considered:

Bill 31--The Livestock Industry Diversification and Consequential Amendments Act; Loi sur la diversification de l'industrie du bétail et apportant des modifications corrélatives

and has agreed to report the same with the following amendments:

MOTION:

That the following be added after section 37:

The Veterinary Medical Act

Consequential amendments, C.C.S.M. c. V30

37.1 Subsection 20(1) of The Veterinary Medical Act is amended by adding “or” at the end of clause (f) and by adding the following after clause (f):

(g) an activity carried out by a person who is not a qualified veterinarian if

(I) the activity if authorized in a regulation made under The Livestock Industry Diversification Act, and

(ii) the person carrying out the activity has received training in the activity that is acceptable to the Director of Veterinary Services;

MOTION:

THAT the title of the French version be amended by striking out “sur” and substituting “concernant”.

MOTION:

THAT Legislative Counsel be authorized to change all section numbers and internal references necessary to carry out the amendments adopted by this committee.

Mr. Dyck: I move, seconded by the honourable member for Riel (Mr. Newman), that the report of the committee be received.

Motion agreed to.

TABLING OF REPORTS

Hon. Harold Gilleshammer (Minister responsible for Multiculturalism): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table the Annual Report, 1995-96, for the Multiculturalism Secretariat.

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