Hon. Ms. McGifford presented:

Annual Report of The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the year ending December 31, 1998.

(Sessional Paper No. 25)

Annual Report of the Department of Culture, Heritage and Citizenship for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999.

(Sessional Paper No. 26)

Annual Report of the Manitoba Centennial Centre Corporation for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999.

(Sessional Paper No. 27)

Annual Report of the Manitoba Film and Sound Recording Development Corporation for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999.

(Sessional Paper No. 28)

Annual Report of the Manitoba Arts Council for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999.

(Sessional Paper No. 29)

Annual Report of Le Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999.

(Sessional Paper No. 30)

Annual Report of the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999.

(Sessional Paper No. 31)

Annual Report of the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999.

(Sessional Paper No. 32)

Manitoba Lotteries Corporation, Quarterly Report, Three Months, April 1, 1999 to June 30, 1999.

(Sessional Paper No. 33)

Annual Report on the Status of Women for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999.

(Sessional Paper No. 34)

Manitoba Lotteries Corporation, Quarterly Report, Six Months, April 1, 1999 to September 30, 1999.

(Sessional Paper No. 35)

______________________________

Hon. Ms. Wowchuk presented:

Annual Report of the Manitoba Agricultural Credit Corporation for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999.

(Sessional Paper No. 36)

Annual Report of The Manitoba Farm Mediation Board for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999.

(Sessional Paper No. 37)

Annual Report of the Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999.

(Sessional Paper No. 38)

Annual Report of the Manitoba Crop Insurance Corporation for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999.

(Sessional Paper No. 39)

Report of the Agricultural Producers' Organization Certification Agency dated April 6, 1999.

(Sessional Paper No. 40)

_____________________________

Hon. Mr. Selinger presented:

Public Accounts of the Province of Manitoba for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999 (Volumes 1, 2 and 3).

(Sessional Paper No. 41)

______________________________

Pursuant to Rule 23(1), Mrs. Smith (Fort Garry), Messrs. Aglugub and Dyck, Ms. Cerilli and Mr. Loewen made Members’ Statements

______________________________

The House resumed the Interrupted Debate on the Proposed Motion of Hon. Ms. Wowchuk:

WHEREAS Manitoba’s Total Net Farm Income is projected by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to drop by at least $287 million below the previous 5 year average; and

WHEREAS low commodity prices, caused by export subsidies in the United States and the European Economic Community, have made it difficult for our producers to make a living on the farm; and

WHEREAS Canadian farmers only receive 9% subsidy on wheat, compared to 38% received by American farmers and 56% received by European farmers; and

WHEREAS the loss of national supports over the last few years has cost Manitoba farmers $350 million every year; and

WHEREAS the cancellation of the Crow rate subsidy alone has caused the transportation costs of Manitoba farmers to triple; and

WHEREAS our producers are some of the most efficient and technically up-to-date in the world; and

WHEREAS the crisis faced by Manitoba’s agricultural producers will continue to have an effect on the entire Manitoba economy, including communities, businesses and services which rely on a healthy farm economy; and

WHEREAS a Manitoba delegation consisting of representatives from producer organizations and elected members of all three provincial parties met with federal cabinet ministers and made a joint request for an immediate $300 million in bridge funding; and

WHEREAS this request has not been satisfied.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this Legislative Assembly continue to work in a non-partisan way to make the federal government aware of our serious farm crisis and the urgent need for federal government action;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba strongly urges the federal government to take immediate action and grant our request for $300 million for Manitoba’s farm families.

And on the Proposed Amendment of Mr. Penner (Emerson):

WHEREAS farmers are the primary source of food production; and

WHEREAS the European Economic Community has decided to produce enough food to ensure starvation will never again occur in their countries; and

WHEREAS the European Economic Community ensures an adequate income for its farmers while at the same time maintaining low food prices at the grocery store counter through direct commodity supports and acreage payments to its producers; and

WHEREAS surplus European production is exported using price reduction incentive programs (export subsidies); and

WHEREAS the United States government, without individual state support, is using similar methods of support for its farm community to ensure the survival of its agricultural sector and low food prices for its citizens; and

WHEREAS this food price war has caused huge reductions in commodity prices, thereby reducing Manitoba farmers' incomes to a level that farms and food production cannot be maintained; and

WHEREAS Canadian farmers must compete with the government treasuries of European nations and the treasury of the United States federal government; and

WHEREAS the federal Liberal Government in Ottawa has constantly insisted that the provincial governments must bear a large part of the cost of food price reduction programs; and

WHEREAS there is a huge difference in ability to pay for these measures among individual provinces; and

WHEREAS the federal Liberal Government in Ottawa has removed virtually all levels of support to its farmers; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba strongly urge the federal Liberal Government in Ottawa to assume its responsibility to the food producers not only in Manitoba, but the rest of Canada; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the federal Liberal Government be urged to mirror the level of support to its farmers as provided by the European Economic Community and the United States government; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that through this action, the people of Canada are assured a continuation of a quality food supply.

And the debate continuing on the amendment,

And Mr. Pitura concluding his remarks,

And Messrs. Smith (Brandon West) and Tweed, Hon. Mr. Lemieux, Messrs. Derkach, Schellenberg and Rocan, Hon. Mr. Gerrard, Mr. Schuler and Hon. Mr. Doer, Messrs. Enns, Maguire, Faurschou, Loewen and Praznik and Mrs. Smith (Fort Garry) having spoken,

WHEREUPON Mr. Penner (Emerson) withdrew his amendment,

And by leave, Mr. Penner (Emerson) moved an amendment as follows:

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba strongly urge the Federal Liberal Government to work with the National Safety Net Committee and Provincial Agriculture Ministers to develop a long-term safety net program to provide stability for producers to deal with supports provided to Canada's trading partners.

And the Question being put on the amendment,

It was agreed to, on division.

And the Question being put on the main motion,

It was agreed to on the following division:

Aglugub Allan Ashton Asper Barrett Caldwell Cerilli Chomiak Cummings Dacquay Derkach Dewar Doer Driedger Enns Friesen Faurschou Filmon Gerrard Gilleshammer Jennissen Korzeniowski Laurendeau Lemieux Loewen

Mackintosh Maguire Maloway Martindale McGifford Mitchelson Nevakshonoff Penner (Emerson) Penner (Steinbach) Pitura Praznik Reid Reimer Rocan Rondeau Sale Santos Schellenberg Schuler Selinger Smith (Fort Garry) Smith (Brandon West) Struthers Tweed Wowchuk 50

0

Pairs: Mr. Dyck stated that he was paired with Hon. Ms. Mihychuk; had he voted, he would have voted in the affirmative.

______________________________

By unanimous consent, it was agreed that the vote on the Proposed Motions would occur at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 30, 1999.

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The House then adjourned at 6:08 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 1, 1999.

Hon. George Hickes,

Speaker.