Wednesday, July 4, 2001

Mr. Loewen – Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier of Manitoba consider reversing his decision to not support construction of an underpass at Kenaston and Wilkes (J. Kitchen, G. Peterson and C. Girard and others)

Mrs. Driedger – Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier of Manitoba consider reversing his decision to not support construction of an underpass at Kenaston and Wilkes (M. Williams, J. Sokal, L. Noseworthy and others)

The following petitions were read and received:

Mr. Loewen – Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier of Manitoba consider reversing his decision to not support construction of an underpass at Kenaston and Wilkes (J. Florentino, M. Stabene, R. Florentino and others)

Mrs. Driedger – Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier of Manitoba consider reversing his decision to not support construction of an underpass at Kenaston and Wilkes (G. Dunn, R. Cook, R. Snitynsky)

Pursuant to Rule 23(1), Mr. Reimer, Ms. Cerilli, Messrs. Faurschou, Reid and Enns made Members' Statements.

Mr. Reimer moved the following Opposition Day Motion:

WHEREAS Manitobans desire an open, honest and accountable government; and

WHEREAS the Premier of Manitoba did state on May 10, 2001 on CBC - TV news that, "The VLT money is up to $1.5 million a year" in the proposed arena project; and

WHEREAS the Premier of Manitoba, to date, refuses to acknowledge he made this commitment to Manitobans; and

WHEREAS on June 27, 2001 the Premier of Manitoba did state in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba that, "We feel that the term sheet is very, very consistent with what we have said verbally."

WHEREAS on page 8 of the True North Entertainment Complex Limited Partnership and the Government of Canada, the Government of Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg Term Sheet it indicates that the True North L.P. will be allocated 75% of the first $2.0 million of annual gross revenues from the VLTs; and

WHEREAS in the event that annual gross revenues exceed $2.0 million the revenue allocation formula may be adjusted downward to provide 20% of gross revenues to the True North L.P.; and

WHEREAS according to the criteria for VLT distribution, the coin in threshold for a single VLT in an establishment in the City of Winnipeg is $432; and

WHEREAS 50 VLTs in the City of Winnipeg must, according to the criteria for VLT distribution, take in a minimum coin threshold of $7,884,000 per year to avoid redistribution; and

WHEREAS according to page 8 of the Term Sheet, the Siteholder Agreement shall be 25 years; and

WHEREAS the True North L.P. may realize $2,676,800 annually in VLT revenues; and

WHEREAS these numbers directly contradict the Premier of Manitoba's statement that, "The VLT money is up to $1.5 million a year"; and

WHEREAS Winnipeg Liberal MP, Anita Neville was reported on June 24, 2001 in the Winnipeg Sun to have expressed an interest in seeing the project's business plan; and

WHEREAS Ms. Neville further advised that the federal government's proposed $10 million contribution to the building was definitely not a done deal; and

WHEREAS the Provincial Auditor has publicly stated in the Winnipeg Sun on June 27, 2001 that, "There seems to be a general concern about the project in the community…We could add confirmation in our report to citizens"; and

WHEREAS under Section 15(1) of The Provincial Auditor Act, …" the Lieutenant Governor in Council or the member of the Executive Council charged with the administration of The Financial Administration Act, may, at any time, direct the Provincial Auditor to make an examination and audit of the accounts of any person, branch, commission, board, department or agency of the government, in any way receiving, paying, or accounting for, public moneys and report thereon to him, and the Provincial Auditor shall forthwith make the examination, audit and report as directed, if in his opinion the making of the examination, audit and report does not interfere with his primary responsibilities; and

WHEREAS the True North Entertainment Complex Limited Partnership is, under the Term Sheet dated May 14, 2001, to be the recipient of a minimum $13 million from the Province of Manitoba; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this Legislative Assembly urge the Manitoba Government to consider requesting the Provincial Auditor to make an examination and audit of the True North Entertainment Complex Limit Partnership including all aspects of public moneys allocated to the project; and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Legislative Assembly urge the Manitoba Government to consider providing all necessary financial documentation related to the project including a business plan to the Provincial Auditor as soon as possible.

And a debate arising,

And Mr. Reimer and Hon. Mr. Lemieux having spoken,

Hon. Mr. Lemieux moved an amendment as follows:

(a) by deleting the third WHEREAS clause; and

(b) by deleting everything after the sixth WHEREAS clause and substituting the following:

WHEREAS all the accurate details of the True North Entertainment Complex proposal are contained in the Term Sheet provided to this Legislature.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly support the Manitoba Government's decision to provide all financial documentation, including the Term Sheet, to the Provincial Auditor should he decide to make an examination and audit of the True North Entertainment Complex; and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba supports the True North Entertainment Complex proposal as set out in the Term Sheet.

WHEREUPON Mr. Deputy Speaker ruled the amendment in order.

And the debate continuing on the amendment,

And Mr. Tweed, Hon. Mr. Doer, Mr. Loewen, Hon. Ms. Friesen, Mrs. Mitchelson, Mrs. Dacquay, Mr. Gilleshammer, Mrs. Smith (Fort Garry) and Mr. Praznik having spoken,

Mr. Praznik moved a sub–amendment as follows:

(a) by deleting the first WHEREAS clause; and

 

(b) by deleting the first THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED clause; and

(c) by deleting the second THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED clause and substituting the following:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba support the True North Entertainment Complex as set out in the Term Sheet, subject to the following:

1. All appropriate financial documents, including the Term Sheet and the business plan, be provided to the Provincial Auditor for review and comment.

2. A full environment impact review of the project be conducted by the Clean Environment Commission and that this review include the effects of the project on vehicular and pedestrian flows in downtown Winnipeg as well as the impact of the project on the residents of downtown. That adequate intervener funding be provided by the proponents to downtown residents and other concerned citizens to allow their full and meaningful participation in the environmental review.

3. The government explore options for an alternative downtown site for the True North Project while actively encouraging development opportunities for the valuable Eaton's Building which may result in two significant development projects for Winnipeg's Downtown thereby creating a win, win situation for all.

4. All appropriate due diligence reviews be undertaken by the government.

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

And the debate continuing on the sub–amendment,

And Hon. Messrs. Ashton, Gerrard and Lemieux, Messrs. Derkach, Laurendeau and Cummings and Hon. Ms. Friesen having spoken,

And the Question being put on the sub–amendment. It was negatived, on the following division:

And the Question being put on the amendment. It was agreed to, on the following division:

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

The Bills:

(No. 7) – The Manitoba Hydro Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur l'Hydro-Manitoba

(No. 21) – The Manitoba Ethnocultural Advisory and Advocacy Council Act/Loi sur le Conseil ethnoculturel manitobain de consultation et de revendication

(No. 22) – The Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation Amendment and Consequential Amendments Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur la Fondation de traitement du cancer et de recherche en cancérologie et modifications corrélatives

as reported from the Standing Committee on Law Amendments, were severally concurred in, read a Third Time and passed.

Bill (No. 26) – The Winnipeg Commodity Exchange Restructuring Act/Loi sur la réorganisation de la Bourse des marchandises de Winnipeg, as reported from the Standing Committee on Economic Development, was concurred in, read a Third Time and passed.

Hon. Mr. Mackintosh moved:

THAT Bill (No. 27) – The Manitoba Hydro Amendment Act (2)/Loi n^o 2 modifiant la Loi sur l'Hydro-Manitoba, reported from the Standing Committee on Law Amendments, be concurred in and be now read a Third Time and passed.

And a debate arising,

And Hon. Mr. Mackintosh, Mr. Laurendeau and Hon. Mr. Gerrard having spoken,

And the Question being put. It was agreed to, on the following division:

The Bill was accordingly concurred in, read a Third Time and passed.

Bill (No. 40) – The Podiatrists Act/Loi sur les podiatres, as amended and reported from the Standing Committee on Law Amendments, was concurred in, read a Third Time and passed.

Bill (No. 42) – The Regulated Health Professions Statutes Amendment Act/Loi modifiant diverses lois sur les professions de la santé réglementées, as reported from the Standing Committee on Law Amendments, was concurred in, read a Third Time and passed.

By leave, it was agreed to waive Private Members' Business for Thursday, July 5, 2001.

The House resumed the Adjourned Debate on the Proposed Motion of Hon. Mr. Mackintosh:

THAT Bill (No. 10) – The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods and Consequential Amendments Act/Loi visant à accroître la sécurité des collectivités et des quartiers et modifications corrélatives, be concurred in and be now read a Third Time and passed.

And the debate continuing,

And Hon. Mr. Gerrard having spoken,

And the Question being put. It was agreed to.

The Bill was accordingly read a Third Time and passed.

______________________________

The House resolving into the Committee of Supply.

And the House continuing in Committee.

The House then adjourned at 10:00 p.m. until 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 5, 2001.

Hon. George Hickes,

Speaker.