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Ms. Korzeniowski, Deputy Chairperson of the Committee of Supply, reported progress having been made on July 18, 2000. Report was received and the Committee of Supply obtained leave to sit again.

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Ms. Asper, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources, presented its Fourth Report, which was read as follows:

Your Committee met on Tuesday, July 11, 2000 at 10:00 a.m. and Monday, July 17, 2000 at 7:00 p.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building to consider Bills referred.

Your Committee heard representation on Bills as follows:

Bill (No. 15) – The Water Rights Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur les droits d'utilisation de l'eau

Wayne Motheral Association of Manitoba Municipalities

Bill Hildebrandt Private Citizen

Bill Hildebrandt for Private Citizen

Michael Waldron

Edward Hiebert Private Citizen

Ralph Gowan Private Citizen

Rae Park Private Citizen

Sergio Fanzago Private Citizen

Lawrence Dyck Keystone Agricultural Producers

Jake Voth Private Citizen

Edwin Peters Orthez Channel Committee

David Oster Reeve of West St. Paul

Michael Waldron Private Citizen

Your Committee has considered:

Bill (No. 15) – The Water Rights Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur les droits d'utilisation de l'eau

and has agreed to report the same without amendment.

On motion of Ms. Asper, the Report of the Committee was received.

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Pursuant to Rule 23(1), Messrs. Schuler, Struthers, Helwer, Rondeau and Hon. Mr. Gerrard made Members’ Statements.

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On motion of Mr. Dewar:

ORDERED that the composition of the Standing Committee be amended as follows:

Privileges and Elections:

Hon. Mr. Doer for Hon. Mr. Caldwell,

Hon. Ms. Barrett for Hon. Mr. Mackintosh,

Mr. Dewar for Mr. Struthers.

Public Utilities and Natural Resources:

Thursday, July 20, 2000 at 6:30 p.m.

Ms. Cerilli for Mr. Struthers.

Law Amendments:

Tuesday, July 25, 2000 at 6:30 p.m.

Ms. Allan for Mr. Jennissen,

Hon. Ms. Barrett for Hon. Mr. Mackintosh,

Mr. Smith (Brandon West) for Mr. Maloway,

Hon. Mr. Caldwell for Hon. Mr. Lemieux,

Mr. Reid for Mr. Rondeau.

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By leave, Mr. Penner (Emerson) moved:

WHEREAS excess rainfall and flooding in the years 1998, 1999 and 2000 has resulted in hundreds of thousands of acres of farm land going unseeded or seeded crops and forage crops being damaged, and livestock being placed in peril, not only in southwestern Manitoba, but in a wide geographic area of the province; and

WHEREAS Manitoba’s farmers have also been subjected to problems arising from low commodity prices and stiff competition in the global market place, resulting in dramatic and often unpredictable reductions in their income; and

WHEREAS Manitoba’s agricultural community has a critical role to play in the overall health of the provincial economy, contributing millions of dollars annually to the economy and creating thousands of jobs; and

WHEREAS all Manitobans have a vested interest in ensuring that the province’s agricultural sector continues to thrive; and

WHEREAS all sides of this House have agreed that the 1999 flood constitutes a disaster, yet the federal and provincial governments have failed to come to terms on a comprehensive assistance package; and

WHEREAS all sides of this House agree that the problems arising from excess rain in 1999 and 2000 are creating problems in the agricultural community, for homeowners and for businesses and for municipalities alike.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the federal government to immediately revisit its stance on providing some form of financial assistance for the 1999 flooding that affected large areas of the province, and to consider supplying an aid package similar to that historically provided for major Canadian natural disasters, including floods, forest fires and ice storms; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly urge the Government of Manitoba to consider examining all the applicable programs, services and financial options – including budgetary surpluses and fiscal stabilization funds – available at both the federal and provincial government levels in order to consider providing assistance to the agricultural community, to homeowners, to businesses and to municipalities affected by both the excess rains and flooding of 1999 and the impending disaster of 2000.

By unanimous consent, the motion was amended in the second WHEREAS clause by adding "farm" before "income" and in the third WHEREAS clause by adding "indeed hundreds of" before "millions"

And a debate arising,

And Mr. Penner (Emerson) and Hon. Mr. Ashton having spoken,

Hon. Mr. Ashton moved an amendment as follows:

WHEREAS in January 2000, the Government of Manitoba announced excess moisture insurance under the Crop Insurance Program to address future problems such as those which occurred in 1999; and

(b) by adding the following after the second WHEREAS clause:

WHEREAS the current Government of Manitoba was successful in getting a one-time payment of $100 million, cost-shared, for Manitoba farmers in recognition of the negative effects of federal government cutbacks in agriculture; and

(c) by striking out the fifth WHEREAS clause and substituting the following:

 

WHEREAS all sides of the House agree that the 1999 flood constitutes a disaster but the federal government has failed to provide compensation for conditions that are clearly recognized as compensable under the Disaster Financial Assistance Act (Canada); and

WHEREAS the current Government of Manitoba contributed $20 million to the 1999 crisis which the federal government has refused to cost-share on any basis; and

(d) by striking out the BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED clause and substituting the following:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the federal government to work cooperatively with the province to pursue any option that will provide funding as identified in the Disaster Financial Assistance Act for municipal, agricultural, commercial and personal losses incurred as a result of flooding in 1999 and 2000.

By unanimous consent, the amendment was amended in the WHEREAS clause as set out in clause (b), by striking out "cutbacks in agriculture" and substituting "cutbacks to transportation assistance".

WHEREUPON Madam Acting Deputy Speaker ruled the amendment in order.

And the debate continuing on the amendment,

And Mrs. Mitchelson, Hon. Ms. Wowchuk, Messrs. Cummings, Aglugub, Enns, Struthers, Tweed, Rondeau and Penner (Emerson) having spoken,

Mr. Penner (Emerson) moved a sub-amendment as follows:

THAT the amendment be amended by adding in clause 3 of the amendment after the word "for" in the 2^nd line "flooding in Manitoba" and by adding to the end of clause 3 "as agreed to under the CFIP Program"; and

THAT the final clause of the amendment be amended by striking out the word "identified" and replacing it with the word "including".

WHEREUPON Mr. Speaker ruled the sub-amendment in order.

And the debate continuing on the sub-amendment,

And Messrs. Pitura, Rocan, Faurschou and Gilleshammer, Hon. Mr. Gerrard, Messrs. Struthers and Penner (Emerson) having spoken,

By unanimous consent, the sub-amendment was amended in the first clause by striking out "CFIP Program" and substituting "new programs".

And the Question being put on the sub-amendment. It was agreed to.

And the Question being put on the amendment, as amended. It was agreed to.

And the Question being put on the main motion, as amended. It was agreed to.

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The House then adjourned at 5:23 p.m. until 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 20, 2000.

Hon. George Hickes,

Speaker.