Hon. Ms. McGifford, the Minister of Advanced Education made a statement regarding Domestic Violence Prevention Month including a Public Opinion Survey on Domestic Violence Issues in Manitoba,

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

Hon. Mr. Selinger presented:

Return under section 20 of The Public Officers Act dated November 21, 2001.

(Sessional Paper No. 63)

Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board, Quarterly Report, Six Months, April 1 - September 30, 2001.

(Sessional Paper No. 64)

By leave, Hon. Ms. Wowchuk for Hon. Ms. Friesen introduced Bill (No. 7) – The Local Authorities Election Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur l'élection des autorités locales, and outlined the purposes thereof, it was read a First Time.

Pursuant to Rule 23(1), Mr. Maguire, Ms. Asper, Messrs. Cummings and Jennissen and Hon. Mr. Gerrard made Members' Statements.

The House resumed the Interrupted 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 Third Session of the Thirty-Seventh Legislature of Manitoba.

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

THAT the Motion be amended by adding to it, after the word "Manitoba" the following words:

But this House regrets

(a) the government's inability to fulfill the promises outlined in its Throne Speech of November 13, 2001, including the following failures: not ending hallway medicine; not addressing the province-wide shortage of health care professionals; not reducing waiting lists for health care services; not providing adequate resources to Manitoba's justice system, including a commitment to maintain a minimum of 1180 police officers in the City of Winnipeg; rejecting compulsory standards testing in Grade 6, Senior 1 and Senior 4, while at the same time announcing annual reports on student achievement outcomes across subject and grade levels; not ensuring a viable future for the family farm in Manitoba; failing to adequately promote rural economic diversification; failing to secure adequate levels of income loss compensation for Manitoba farmers; and, not forging a new strategy for economic development; and

(b) the government's failure to address the challenges facing the province's health care system; and

(c) the government's failure to bring Manitoba Hydro before the Public Utilities Board, despite the government's commitment to projects that may potentially cost the Province of Manitoba $10 billion; and

(d) the government's failure to release long-term strategies for economic growth which include meaningful tax reductions, thereby making Manitoba less able to compete in the national and global economy; and

(e) the government's failure – in this time of a slowing economy -- to provide any meaningful measures to maintain economic growth and stimulate job creation, thereby making Manitoba a less attractive place in which to live, work, invest and raise families; and

(f) the government's failure to back up the Member for Concordia who earlier this spring made a commitment to the citizens of Manitoba that there will be "no forced amalgamation (of school divisions). It is not the Manitoba way."; and

(g) the government's failure to arrive at a national farm safety net program that adequately addresses the needs of the province's agricultural producers; and

(h) the government's failure, as promised by the Member for Concordia, as promised in the Legislative Assembly on May 9^th, 2001 to arrange a meeting -- 'any day, any place, any time' -- between the Prime Minister and a delegation of farm, business and municipal leaders in order to address the challenges facing the agriculture sector; and

(i) the government's failure to address the issues raised by its complete mismanagement of the expansion of gaming through the creation of five First Nations casinos; and

 

(j) the government's failure to address issues pertinent to seniors; and

(k) the government's failure to address issues pertinent to women.

AND has thereby lost the trust and confidence of the people of Manitoba and this House.

And the debate continuing on the amendment,

And Hon. Ms. Wowchuk, Messrs. Schuler and Schellenberg, Mrs. Smith (Fort Garry) and Hon. Mr. Smith (Brandon West) having spoken,

And Mr. Reimer speaking at 6:00 p.m. The debate was allowed to remain in his name.

The House then adjourned at 6:00 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. Thursday, November 22, 2001.

Hon. George Hickes,

Speaker.