Hon. Ms. Barrett, the Minister of Labour and Immigration made a statement recognizing April 28^th as the National Day of Mourning for those who have died in the workplace,

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

By leave, the House reverted to "Ministerial Statements and Tabling of Reports".

Hon. Mr. Caldwell presented:

Annual Report of the Manitoba Text Book Bureau for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2001.

(Sessional Paper No. 110)

Annual Report of The Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Board for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2001.

(Sessional Paper No. 111)

Annual Report of the Manitoba Education Research Learning Information Networks (MERLIN) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2001.

(Sessional Paper No. 112)

Annual Report of The Public Schools Finance Board for the year ending June 30, 2001.

(Sessional Paper No. 113)

Pursuant to Rule 23(1), Mr. Helwer, Hon. Mr. Lathlin, Messrs. Dyck, Jennissen and Dyck made Members’ Statements.

The House resumed the Interrupted Debate on the Proposed Motion of Hon. Mr. Selinger:

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 offer Manitobans any vision for an innovative, successful and sustainable future;

 

(b) failing to provide a long-term personal income tax reduction strategy that addresses the fact that middle-income Manitobans are the highest taxed west of Quebec;

 

(c) failing to provide a sustainable provincial spending plan;

 

(d) failing to provide Manitobans with timely disclosure of the $150 million retroactive tax imposed on Manitoba Hydro in order to avoid a deficit in the 2001/02 budget year;

 

(e) failing to provide an economic development plan to provide sustainable economic growth for Manitoba;

 

(f) failing to provide any incentive for young people to remain in Manitoba despite recent information showing that Manitoba suffered a net inter-provincial migration loss of 4,549 people in 2001, up 47 percent from the previous year; and

 

(g) failing to provide adequate supports to Manitoba’s agricultural sector.

 

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 Messrs. Schellenberg and Loewen having spoken,

And Mr. Rondeau speaking at 12:30 p.m. The debate was allowed to remain in his name.

The House then adjourned at 12:30 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. Monday, April 29, 2002.

Hon. George Hickes,

Speaker.