Immediately following Prayers, Hon. Mr. Sale rose on a point of order regarding his comments spoken during Oral Questions on April 18, 2001 and voluntarily retracted and withdrew his remarks.

WHEREUPON Mr. Speaker ruled there was no point of order.

Subsequently following Prayers, Mrs. Mitchelson rose on a matter of privilege and moved:

THAT the Minister of Family Services did break the privileges of all Opposition members by accusing those MLAs of condoning and participating in one of society's most heinous crimes, that being the physical assaulting of women and that this House finds the Minister of Family Services in contempt of this House for casting aspersions against members of the Opposition; and furthermore that this Minister be directed to withdraw his comments and apologize; and that this matter be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections for the Committee's consideration.

And Hon. Mr. Mackintosh, Messrs. Laurendeau and Enns having spoken,

WHEREUPON Mr. Speaker informed the House he would take the matter under advisement.

The following petition was presented:

Mr. Schuler – Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro consider alternative routes for the additional 230KV and 500KV lines proposed for the RM of East St. Paul (L. Becker, H. Oleschuk, W. Burokas and others)

Hon. Mr. Lathlin, the Minister of Conservation made a statement regarding an update on the flooding conditions in southern Manitoba,

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

Hon. Ms. McGifford presented:

Manitoba Lotteries Corporation, Quarterly Report, Three Months, April 1, 2000 to June 30, 2000.

(Sessional Paper No. 103)

Manitoba Lotteries Corporation, Quarterly Report, Nine Months, April 1, 2000 to December 31, 2000.

(Sessional Paper No. 104)

Annual Report of the Assiniboine Community College for the year ending June 30, 2000.

(Sessional Paper No. 105)

Annual Report of the Keewatin Community College for the year ending June 30, 2000.

(Sessional Paper No. 106)

Hon. Mr. Caldwell presented:

Annual Report of The Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Board for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2000.

(Sessional Paper No. 107)

Annual Report of the Public Schools Finance Board for the year ending June 30, 2000.

(Sessional Paper No. 108)

By leave, Hon. Mr. Smith (Brandon West) introduced Bill (No. 12) – The Real Property Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur les biens réels, and outlined the purposes thereof, it was read a First Time.

Pursuant to Rule 23(1), Ms. Cerilli, Mrs. Dacquay, Mr. Schellenberg, Mrs. Stefanson and Mr. Martindale made Members' Statements.

THAT this House approve in general the budgetary policy of the government.

And on the Proposed Amendment of Mr. Murray:

THAT the Motion be amended by deleting all the words after "House" and substituting the following:

therefore regrets this budget ignores the present and future needs of Manitobans by:

(a) failing to work hard today, to adequately prepare Manitoba for the challenges of tomorrow;

(b) failing to address very real concerns about the sustainability of the high level of expenditures built into this budget;

(c) failing to provide a vision or plan for Manitoba's economy;

(d) failing to protect the strong economic climate established in Manitoba during the last decade;

(e) failing to provide meaningful tax cuts to Manitobans;

(f) failing to recognize the importance of tax competitiveness so Manitoba can continue to prosper;

(g) failing to create an economic climate that will draw investment to Manitoba;

(h) failing to provide any incentive for our young people to stake their futures in Manitoba;

(i) failing to address the serious socio-economic crisis facing rural communities due to the crisis in the grains, oilseeds and specialty crops sector;

(j) failing to provide assistance to agriculture producers still affected by severe flooding in southwestern Manitoba in 1999;

(k) failing to properly priorize the highways and infrastructure needs of Manitoba;

(l) failing to end hallway medicine as promised;

(m) failing to address the growing shortage of health care professionals;

(n) failing to address health care waiting lists; and

(o) failing to address the critical shortage of teachers at all levels across the province.

As a consequence, the Government has thereby lost the confidence of this House and the people of Manitoba.

And the debate continuing on the amendment,

And Mr. Schuler, Ms. Asper, Mrs. Smith (Fort Garry), Messrs. Nevakshonoff and Helwer having spoken,

The debate was allowed to remain open.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed that the Standing Committee on Agriculture considering the provincial government resolution on federal support for agriculture be authorized to make committee membership substitutions by leave and that the substitutions be reported to the House by way of the committee report.

The House then adjourned at 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 a.m. Friday, April 20, 2001.

Hon. George Hickes,

Speaker.