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Votes and Proceedings

  Monday, December 1, 2003

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA

PRAYERS                                                                                                       1:30 O'CLOCK P.M.

The following petitions were presented:

Mr. Dyck – Legislative Assembly of Manitoba to request the Minister of Transportation and Government Services to consider honouring the previous commitment and complete the four-laning of highway 32 through the City of Winkler, absorbing all costs related to the construction, as previously agreed; to consider the responsibility of the Department of Transportation and Government Services for the construction of rural highways; to consider the significant and strategic importance of the completion of four-laning highway 32 through the City of Winkler, especially as it relates to the economic growth and development of the City of Winkler and its trading area; and to consider the valuable contribution of the City of Winkler and its trading area to the provincial economy, and re-prioritize the four-laning of highway 32 for the 2004 construction season. (R. Braun, D. Thiessen, H. Janzen and others)

Mrs. Driedger – Legislative Assembly of Manitoba to consider supporting the proposed Co-op program. (G. Thompson, E. LaPlante, D. San Diego and others)

Mrs. Mitchelson – Legislative Assembly of Manitoba to request that the Premier of Manitoba notify the City of Winnipeg that the Provincial Government will not allow an increase of the sales tax without a referendum being held as required under Balanced Budget legislation. (M. Prymak, K. Brown, W. Green and others)

Hon. Mr. Gerrard – Legislative Assembly of Manitoba to request the Minister of Finance and Auditor General to consider undertaking a thorough investigation of the provincial management of the walleye fishery on Lake Winnipegosis. (L. Thompson, G. Thompson, H. Thompson and others)

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Hon. Mr. Rondeau, the Minister responsible for Healthy Living made a statement regarding today, December 1, 2003, being Worlds AIDS Day.

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

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The following Bills were respectively read a First time and had their purposes outlined:

(No. 11) – The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Amendment Act (Protection of Crown Assets)/Loi modifiant la Loi sur la Société d'assurance publique du Manitoba (protection des biens de l'État)

(Hon. Mr. Mackintosh)

(No. 16) – The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Amendment Act (Denial of Benefits for Offenders)/Loi modifiant la Loi sur la Société d'assurance publique du Manitoba (refus de versement de prestations aux contrevenants)

(Hon. Mr. Mackintosh)

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Pursuant to Rule 26(1), Messrs. Martindale, Penner, Schellenberg and Eichler and Ms. Irvin-Ross made Members’ Statements.

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

THAT the following address be presented to His Honour the Lieutenant Governor:

We, the Members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba thank your Honour for the gracious speech addressed to us at this Second Session of the Thirty-Eighth Legislature of Manitoba.

And the proposed amendment moved by Mr. Murray as follows:

THAT the Motion be amended by adding at the end of the sentence the following words:

But this House regrets

(a) the government’s inability to fulfill the promises outlined in its Throne Speech of November 27, 2002, including the following failures: failing to build the economy, failing to enhance health care, and failing to open 1,000 new cottage lots and 1,000 new camp-sites; and

(b) the government’s failure to meaningfully address the growing concerns related to organized crime including the fact that since November 2000 Manitoba has been the scene of 37 biker-related murders and attempted murders; and

(c) the government’s failure to develop a long-term economic strategy to address anaemic job growth; and

(d) the government’s failure to adequately address the BSE crisis and to provide workable programs for producers, thereby threatening not only the stability of the livestock sector but all those other sectors in Manitoba’s economic that are so reliant on its well-being; and

(e) the government’s failure to recognize and encourage the important role private sector involvement has in growing Manitoba’s economy; and

(f) the government’s failure to acknowledge that balanced budgets have only been achieved through significant raids on Manitoba Hydro and the Fiscal Stabilization Fund; and

(g) the government’s failure to initiate a review of health care regionalization; and

(h) the government’s failure to develop a long-term economic and taxation strategy to address Manitoba’s uncompetitive personal and business tax levels; and

(i) the government’s failure to provide a strategy ensuring two-thirds of all nursing positions in Manitoba are full-time by the spring of 2004 as previously committed; and

(j) the government’s failure to follow through on their commitment to ensure access to education for special needs students.

AND HAS THEREBY lost the trust and confidence of the people of Manitoba and this House.

And the debate continuing on the amendment,

And Mr. Aglugub, Mrs. Stefanson, Hon. Mr. Bjornson, Mr. Tweed, Ms. Irvin-Ross, Mr. Schuler and Hon. Mr. Smith having spoken.

And Mr. Hawranik speaking at 5:30 p.m.  The debate was allowed to remain in his name.

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            The House then adjourned at 5:30 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 2, 2003.

Hon. George Hickes,

Speaker.