Search this site

Hon. Ms. Barrett presented:

Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation, Quarterly Report, Nine Months, March 1, 1999 to November 30, 1999.

(Sessional Paper No. 119)

Annual Report of the Appeal Commission of the Workers Compensation Board for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1999.

(Sessional Paper No. 120)

Annual Report of the Workers Compensation Board for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1999.

(Sessional Paper No. 121)

______________________________

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

______________________________

Hon. Ms. Barrett, the Minister of Labour made a statement regarding May 2, 2000, being Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, in Manitoba,

Mr. Filmon and, by leave, Hon. Mr. Gerrard commented on the statement.

______________________________

Hon. Mr. Lemieux, the Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs made a statement regarding Manitoba Telecom Services Inc.,

Mr. Filmon commented on the statement.

______________________________

Hon. Mr. Sale, the Minister of Family Services and Housing made a statement regarding Healthy Child Initiative,

Mrs. Mitchelson and, by leave, Hon. Mr. Gerrard commented on the statement.

______________________________

By leave, Hon. Mr. Ashton introduced Bill (No. 14) – The Provincial Railways Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur les chemins de fer provinciaux, and outlined the purposes thereof, it was read a First Time.

(Recommended by His Honour, the Lieutenant Governor)

______________________________

By leave, Hon. Mr. Lathlin having introduced Bill (No. 15) – The Water Rights Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur les droits d'utilisation de l'eau, and outlined the purposes thereof, it was read a First Time.

______________________________

By leave, Hon. Mr. Lathlin having introduced Bill (No. 21) – The Water Resources Administration Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur l'aménagement hydraulique, and outlined the purposes thereof, it was read a First Time.

______________________________

Hon. Mr. Ashton presented:

Message from His Honour, the Lieutenant Governor recommending the disposition of public revenue for Bill (No. 14).

(Sessional Paper No. 122)

______________________________

Pursuant to Rule 20(1), Mrs. Dacquay, Hon. Mr. Sale, Messrs. Gilleshammer, Dewar and Pitura made Members’ Statements.

______________________________

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

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 the debate continuing,

And Mr. Penner (Emerson) concluding his remarks,

Mr. Penner (Emerson) moved an amendment as follows:

THAT the motion be amended by adding the following after the first "BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED" clause:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the current Government of Manitoba acknowledge that, to date, the assistance it has provided to farmers affected by the 1999 flood has been insufficient, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if the Manitoba Government is unable to secure support for 1999 Manitoba flood victims under the DFAA, that the Manitoba Government consider negotiating a 50-50 cost-shared program with the Federal Government; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that should the Manitoba Government fail to come to agreement with the Federal Government on a cost-shared disaster assistance program, that the Manitoba Government ensure all Manitobans that the monies required to alleviate the disaster will be included in the 2000/2001 Budget.

WHEREUPON Mr. Speaker ruled the amendment in order,

And the debate continuing on the amendment,

And Hon. Messrs. Ashton and Gerrard having spoken,

And Mr. Maguire speaking at 5:00 p.m.

The debate was allowed to remain in his name.

_____________________________

Mrs. Mitchelson moved:

Resolution No. 4: Nurse Recruitment and Retention

WHEREAS the previous Progressive Conservative administration worked aggressively to recruit, train, and retain health care staff; and

WHEREAS $32.5 million was allocated in the April 1999 Budget to fund 650 new and existing nursing positions; and

WHEREAS a $7 million fund was created in 1999 to recruit, train and retain nurses in Manitoba utilizing the exchange of information in the nursing community both locally, through a toll-free telephone number and as part of the Progressive Conservative Government’s web site; and

WHEREAS Manitoba Health, in partnership with Manitoba Education and Training, has more than doubled enrolment in the Licenced Practical Nursing program for 1999/2000; and

WHEREAS a "fast-track" nursing degree program was implemented to provide nursing students with the option of graduating from the baccalaureate program one year earlier, a program that has already benefited approximately 100 students; and

WHEREAS the Faculty of Nursing has begun to offer a joint bachelor of nursing program with Red River College in Winnipeg and Keewatin Community College in The Pas and Thompson; and

WHEREAS there is on-site distance education at Brandon and Norway House Cree Nations, along with discussions for further efforts with other First Nations and Metis leaders to increase enrolment of nursing students; and

WHEREAS enrolment for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nursing program has increased, and the program expects to graduate 45 more ICU nurses in 1999-2000; and

WHEREAS Manitoba compares very well to the rest of Canada in terms of nursing supply, particularly in comparison to the other western provinces.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge Today’s New Democratic Government to consider continuing with these proactive measures for the recruitment and retention of nurses for the benefit of the people and Province of Manitoba.

And a debate arising,

And Mrs. Mitchelson, Hon. Mr. Chomiak, Mr. Aglugub and Ms. Korzeniowski having spoken,

And Hon. Mr. Ashton speaking at 6:00 p.m.

The debate was allowed to remain in his name.

_____________________________

The House then adjourned at 6:00 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, 2000.

Hon. George Hickes,

Speaker.