Monday, May 11, 1998
The House met at 1:30 p.m.
PRESENTING PETITIONS
Mr. Gregory Dewar (Selkirk): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of H. Nanocowy, R. Bouchie, E. Clarke and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik) to put an end to the centralization and privatization of Winnipeg hospital food services.
Mr. George Hickes (Point Douglas): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of M. Lentowich, L. Cann, R. Valez and others praying the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the Minister of Health to put an end to the centralization and privatization of Winnipeg hospital food services.
Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Flin Flon (Mr. Jennissen), and 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 mining is a billion dollar industry in Manitoba directly employing more than 4,300 people pumping more than $240 million in wages alone into the Manitoba economy; and
WHEREAS part of the mining taxes on operating mines goes into the Mining Reserve Fund; and
WHEREAS the Mining Reserve Fund was set up for the welfare and employment of persons residing in a mining community which may be adversely affected by the total or partial suspension or the closing down of mining operations attributable to the depletion of ore deposits; and
WHEREAS the provincial government has withdrawn $6 million from the Mining Reserve Fund and put this money into general revenue; and
WHEREAS many mining communities having contributed millions of dollars to the provincial economy for many years are now nearing the end of their known ore resources.
WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRAY that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Minister of Energy and Mines to consider immediately restoring the $6 million taken from the Mining Reserve Fund.
Madam 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?
An Honourable Member: Dispense.
Madam Speaker: Dispense.
THAT the Urban Shared Services Corporation (USSC) has announced plans to privatize laundry, food services and purchasing for the Winnipeg hospitals; and
THAT it is estimated that more than 1,000 health care jobs will be lost over the next year as a result, with many more privatized in the next two or three years; and
THAT under the terms of the contract, Ontario businesses will profit at the expense of Manitoba's health care system; and
THAT after construction of a food assembly warehouse in Winnipeg, chilled, prepared food will be shipped in from Ontario, then assembled and heated before being shipped to the hospitals; and
THAT people who are in the hospital require nutritious and appetizing food; and
THAT the announced savings as a result of the contract have been disputed, and one study by Wintemute Randle Kilimnik indicated that, "A considerable number of studies have compared costs of service delivery in health care between self-operation (public sector) and privatization. Invariably, privatization is more expensive."; and
THAT no one in Manitoba seems to benefit from this contract, especially patients.
WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRAY that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the Minister of Health to put an end to the centralization and privatization of Winnipeg hospital food services.