Your Committee met on Monday, May 1, 2000 at 10:00 a.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building to consider Bills referred.

Your Committee heard representation on Bills as follows:

Bill (No. 19) - The Holocaust Memorial Day Act/Loi sur le Jour commémoratif de l'Holocauste

Michael Lazar Canadian Jewish Congress and the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg

Your Committee has considered:

Bill (No. 19) - The Holocaust Memorial Day Act/Loi sur le Jour commémoratif de l'Holocauste

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

MOTION:

THAT the second paragraph of the preamble be deleted and the following substituted:

AND WHEREAS six million Jewish men, women and children perished under this policy of hatred and genocide;

AND WHEREAS millions of others were victims of that policy because of their physical or mental disabilities, race, religion or sexual orientation;

On motion of Mr. Martindale, the report of the Committee was received.

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Hon. Ms. McGifford, the Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism made a statement regarding the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Reviews,

Mr. Reimer commented on the statement.

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Hon. Mr. Sale, the Minister of Family Services and Housing made a statement regarding a memorandum of understanding regarding child and family services,

Mrs. Driedger commented on the statement.

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By leave, the House reverted to "Ministerial Statements and Tabling of Reports".

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Hon. Mr. Lemieux presented:

Annual Report of The Public Utilities Board for the year ending December 31, 1999.

(Sessional Paper No. 118)

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By leave, Hon. Mr. Mackintosh introduced Bill (No. 8) – The Enforcement of Judgments Conventions and Consequential Amendments Act/Loi sur les conventions relatives à l'exécution des jugements et modifications corrélatives, and outlined the purposes thereof, it was read a First Time.

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By leave, Hon. Mr. Lemieux having introduced Bill (No. 10) – The Cooperatives Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur les coopératives, and outlined the purposes thereof, it was read a First Time.

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By leave, Hon. Mr. Lemieux having introduced Bill (No. 11) – The Winnipeg Stock Exchange Restructuring and Consequential Amendments Act/Loi sur la restructuration de la Bourse de Winnipeg et modifications corrélatives, and outlined the purposes thereof, it was read a First Time.

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By leave, Hon. Ms. Barrett having introduced Bill (No. 18) – The Labour Relations Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur les relations du travail, and outlined the purposes thereof, it was read a First Time.

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By leave, Hon. Ms. Wowchuk having introduced Bill (No. 20) – The Farm Machinery and Equipment Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur les machines et le matériel agricoles, and outlined the purposes thereof, it was read a First Time.

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During Oral Question, Mr. Cummings rose on a point of order regarding comments allegedly spoken by the Honourable Member for The Pas,

Hon. Mr. Lathlin voluntarily withdrew his remarks.

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Pursuant to Rule 20(1), Messrs. Jennissen, Dyck, Smith (Brandon West), Schuler and Ms. Asper made Members' Statements.

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By leave, Bill (No. 19) – The Holocaust Memorial Day Act/Loi sur le Jour commémoratif de l'Holocauste, as amended and reported from the Standing Committee on Law Amendments, was concurred in.

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By leave, Hon. Ms. Barrett moved:

THAT Bill (No. 19) – The Holocaust Memorial Day Act/Loi sur le Jour commémoratif de l'Holocauste, be now read a Third Time and passed.

And a debate arising,

And Hon. Ms. Barrett, Mr. Filmon, Hon. Messrs. Chomiak and Caldwell, Messrs. Jennissen and Laurendeau, Hon. Ms. Friesen and Hon. Mr. Mackintosh having spoken,

And the Question being put. It was agreed to.

The Bill was accordingly read a Third Time and passed.

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Hon. Ms. Wowchuk moved:

WHEREAS excess rainfall in the fall of 1998 and spring of 1999 resulted in over one million acres of land going unseeded, primarily in the southwest, but also in other areas of the province; and

WHEREAS the federal government has recognized the disaster situation and is compensating people for mould and other property damage under the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA); and

WHEREAS farmers lost chemical and fertilizer inputs and incurred extra costs to restore their land and for weed control, at the same time as they had no 1999 crop to sell; and

WHEREAS the Manitoba Government has repeatedly requested support from the federal government, which has the lead responsibility for disaster financing, for farmers who sustained damage to their land; and

WHEREAS the Manitoba Government pursued support for compensation under Section 25 of the DFAA, which specifies loss of applied fertilizer and land restoration and was turned down by the federal government; and

WHEREAS the Manitoba Government requested a Canada/Manitoba agreement for the provision of assistance similar to the levels provided in the 1996 Saguenay River Flood, the 1997 Red River Valley Flood and the 1998 Eastern Canada Ice storm, and the federal government has refused; and

WHEREAS there has been all-party cooperation on lobbying the federal government for assistance for Manitoba farmers.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the federal government to reconsider its position on funding for the 1999 flooding which occurred throughout the province, but specifically in the southwest, and include loss of applied fertilizer and land restoration as eligible costs under the DFAA; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the federal government to consider programs and assistance similar to that provided for disasters such as the 1996 Saguenay River Flood, the 1997 Red River Valley Flood and the 1998 Eastern Canada ice storm.

And a debate arising,

And Hon. Ms. Wowchuk having spoken,

And Mr. Penner (Emerson) speaking at 4:55 p.m.,

And the debate was allowed to remain in his name.

The Proceedings were interrupted at 4:55 p.m. by Mr. Speaker to permit for Royal Assent of Bill (No. 19) as previously agreed to.

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His Honour, PETER LIBA, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Manitoba, having entered the House at 4:58 p.m., and being seated on the Throne:

Mr. Speaker addressed His Honour in the following words:

May it please Your Honour:

The Legislative Assembly, at its present session, passed a Bill, which in the name of the Assembly, I present to Your Honour and to which Bill I respectfully request Your Honour's Assent:

(No. 19) – The Holocaust Memorial Day Act/Loi sur le Jour commémoratif de l'Holocauste

To this Bill the Royal Assent was announced by the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly as follows:

"In Her Majesty's Name, His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor doth assent to this Bill."

At 4:59 p.m., His Honour was then pleased to retire.

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Mr. Faurschou moved:

Resolution No. 3: Post Secondary Education – Accessibility & Affordability

WHEREAS investment in post secondary education results in higher skilled, higher paying, more rewarding careers; and

WHEREAS all Manitobans benefit from a vibrant economy provided by a highly productive workforce; and

WHEREAS post secondary education must be affordable and accessible to students from all regions of Manitoba; and

WHEREAS the previous Progressive Conservative Government had developed initiatives with the establishment of the Council on Post Secondary Education that supported Manitoba students from all regions of the province; and

WHEREAS the current Government has pledged to cut post secondary costs and double enrollment at Manitoba's three community colleges; and

WHEREAS rural students face additional financial constraints as compared to their urban counterparts that Campus Manitoba and satellite college campuses are addressing; and

WHEREAS it is imperative to retain our highly skilled and trained students; and

WHEREAS the current administration's plans, as revealed to date, fail to address the issue of ensuring all students including those from rural Manitoba continue to have access to affordable post-secondary opportunities in Manitoba as well as the issue of retaining our post-secondary graduates.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the Government of Manitoba to consider providing Manitobans with a detailed plan and timeframe outlining their commitment to ensure affordable and accessible post secondary education for all students as well as retaining our post-secondary students upon their graduation.

And a debate arising,

And Mr. Faurschou, Hon Mr. Caldwell, Messrs. Derkach and Rondeau and Mrs. Smith (Fort Garry) having spoken,

And Mr. Struthers speaking at 6:00 p.m.

The debate was allowed to remain in his name.

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The House then adjourned at 6:00 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, 2000.

Hon. George Hickes,

Speaker.