Hon. Ms. Wowchuk, the Minister of Agriculture and Food made a statement regarding the federal/provincial farm aid package or Canada-Manitoba Adjustment Program (CMAP2),

Mr. Penner (Emerson) and, by leave, Hon. Mr. Gerrard commented on the statement.

______________________________

Hon. Mr. Caldwell, the Minister of Education, Training and Youth made a statement regarding an update on the flooding conditions in southern Manitoba,

Mr. Enns commented on the statement.

Hon. Mr. Ashton, the Minister of Transportation and Government Services made a statement regarding an update on flooding in southern Manitoba including a Road Information Report as of April 17, 2001 at 10:00 a.m.,

Mr. Cummings commented on the statement.

Hon. Ms. Mihychuk presented:

Annual Report of the Manitoba Trade and Investment Corporation for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2000.

(Sessional Paper No. 98)

Pursuant to Rule 23(1), Messrs. Derkach, Rondeau and Gilleshammer, Ms. Allan and Mr. Penner (Steinbach) made Members' Statements.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed to proceed with the debate on the Proposed Agriculture Resolution as printed on the Notice Paper for Tuesday, April 17, 2001.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed that the length of speaking time allotted for each member would be set at 10 minutes for the debate on the Proposed Agriculture Resolution for Tuesday, April 17, 2001.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed that the vote on Proposed Agriculture Resolution would occur at 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17, 2001.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed to vary the membership of the Standing Committee on Agriculture, so that during the consideration of the Agriculture Resolution, the membership of the Agriculture Committee will be 14 instead of 11, and that of the three members being added to the committee, that one member come from the Government caucus, one member from the Official Opposition caucus, and the Honourable Member for River Heights be the third additional member of the committee. Once the committee has completed its consideration of this issue, the committee membership will go back to 11 members, with the three additional members to come off of the committee membership list.

On motion of Mr. Dyck:

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

Mr. Derkach for Mr. Dyck,

Mr. Pitura for Penner (Steinbach),

Mr. Cummings to fill vacancy,

Hon. Mr. Gerrard to fill vacancy.

By leave, Hon. Ms. Wowchuk moved:

WHEREAS increasing agricultural subsidies provided by the United States and the European Union federal treasuries continue to depress world prices for grains and oilseeds; and

WHEREAS Manitoba grains and oilseeds producers continue to have their margins decline because of low prices and rapidly increasing input costs, especially for fuel and fertilizer; and

WHEREAS the Manitoba government and producers requested immediate assistance for grains and oilseeds producers from the federal government for the 2001 crop year; and

WHEREAS the federal government responded with $500 million, dependent upon a provincial contribution of 40 per cent, which was denounced as inadequate by Canadian farmers and farm organizations; and

WHEREAS provincial agriculture ministers from Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec requested an additional $500 million in federal support to address the immediate crisis; and

WHEREAS the Manitoba government, despite limited financial resources; announced that it would provide $38 million toward the aid package; and

WHEREAS the Premier of Manitoba has written the Prime Minister, demanding that he be involved in this critical issue.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the Federal Government to recognize federal support supplied in other countries and immediately provide at least a further $500 million in assistance for grains and oilseeds producers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly urge the Federal Government be more aggressive on the international stage in fighting for the removal of foreign subsidies for agriculture; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be referred to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and that the Committee be empowered to make such changes to the wording of the resolution as the Committee deems advisable; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Standing Committee on Agriculture hold such meetings at such times and places as it may deem advisable to receive briefs and hear representations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Standing Committee on Agriculture report to the Assembly in a timely fashion.

(Recommended by His Honour, the Lieutenant Governor)

And a debate arising,

And Hon. Ms. Wowchuk, Mr. Derkach, Hon. Mr. Doer and Mr. Penner (Emerson) having spoken,

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

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Standing Committee on Agriculture study and make recommendations, including an examination of whether an additional $500 million federal expenditure would fulfill the needs of grains and oilseeds producers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Standing Committee on Agriculture study and make recommendations with regard to a meaningful, long-term, sustainable approach to agricultural programming that will allow Manitoba producers to be competitive with their counterparts in the rest of Canada; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Standing Committee on Agriculture study and make recommendations with regard to an approach to building and sustaining rural communities in Manitoba, 1including how to produce growth in value-added, higher-value agriculture and agrifood industries, as well as industrial and manufacturing opportunities; and

WHEREUPON Mr. Deputy Speaker ruled the amendment in order.

And the debate continuing on the amendment,

And Mr. Penner (Emerson), Hon. Messrs. Caldwell and Gerrard having spoken,

And Hon. Mr. Gerrard moved a sub-amendment as follows:

THAT the amendment be amended by adding the following in the fourth BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED clause after "the rest of Canada" the words "and the United States".

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

And the debate continuing on the amendment, as amended,

And Hon. Ms. Friesen, Mr. Praznik, Hon. Ms. Wowchuk, Messrs. Tweed, Struthers and Cummings, Hon. Mr. Smith (Brandon West), Mr. Maguire, Hon. Mr. Ashton, Messrs. Enns, Schellenberg, Pitura, Faurschou, Helwer and Dyck having spoken,

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

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

Hon. Ms. Wowchuk presented:

Message from His Honour, the Lieutenant Governor recommending the disposition of public revenue in the manner and for the purposes set out in the resolution that the Standing Committee on Agriculture hold meetings respecting federal support for agriculture.

(Sessional Paper No. 99)

On motion of Mr. Dewar:

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

Hon. Ms. Friesen to fill vacancy.

By leave, it was agreed to waive Private Members' Business for Tuesday, April 17, 2001.

The House then adjourned at 5:51 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, 2001.

Hon. George Hickes,

Speaker.