Hon. Mr. Lathlin presented:

Five Year Report on the Status of Forestry for the period April 1, 1996 to March 31, 2001.

(Sessional Paper No. 140)

By leave, Hon. Mr. Caldwell introduced Bill (No. 22) – The Public Schools Amendment Act (Francophone School Division Governance Structure)/Loi modifiant la Loi sur les écoles publiques (structure de gestion de la division scolaire de langue française), and outlined the purposes thereof, it was read a First Time.

Pursuant to Rule 23(1), Mr. Hawranik, Ms. Allan, Messrs. Penner (Emerson) and Nevakshonoff and Hon. Mr. Gerrard made Members’ Statements.

The House resumed the Adjourned Debate on the Proposed Motion of Hon. Ms. Barrett:

THAT Bill (No. 5) – The Workers Compensation Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur les accidents du travail, be now read a Second Time and be referred to a Committee of this House.

And the debate continuing,

And Mr. Laurendeau, Hon. Mr. Ashton, Mr. Murray, Hon. Mr. Caldwell, Messrs. Schuler, Reid and Enns, Hon. Mr. Smith (Brandon West), Mrs. Smith (Fort Garry), Hon. Mr. Gerrard, Mr. Hawranik, Mrs. Driedger, Messrs. Tweed and Derkach having spoken,

And the Question being put. It was agreed to unanimously.

The Bill was accordingly read a Second Time and referred to a Committee of this House.

By unanimous consent, the sequence for consideration for estimates, as outlined in Sessional Paper No. 124 tabled on April 30, 2002, was amended in order that the estimates of Consumer and Corporate Affairs be considered in the Chamber following Culture, Heritage and Tourism.

By unanimous consent, the sequence for consideration for estimates, as outlined in Sessional Paper No. 124 tabled on April 30, 2002, was further amended in order that the estimates of Justice be considered in the Chamber following Civil Service Commission.

Bill (No. 3) – The Highway Traffic Amendment and Summary Convictions Amendment Act/Loi modifiant le Code de la route et la Loi sur les poursuites sommaires, as amended and reported from the Standing Committee on Law Amendments, was concurred in.

Bill (No. 8) – The Limitation of Actions Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur la prescription, as amended and reported from the Standing Committee on Law Amendments, was concurred in.

Bill (No. 7) – The Local Authorities Election Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur l'élection des autorités locales, as reported from the Standing Committee on Law Amendments, was concurred in.

Bill (No. 10) – The Environment Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur l'environnement, as reported from the Standing Committee on Law Amendments, was concurred in.

Mr. Derkach moved:

Resolution No. 6: Moratorium on Gambling

WHEREAS the Provincial Government is in the process of establishing four aboriginal casinos and has revealed plans for even more casinos in the future; and

WHEREAS the hours of operation of video lottery terminals were expanded in August 2001, with VLT operators now permitted to turn on the machines at 9:00, rather than 11:00 am; and

WHEREAS in Canada in 1992 casinos and VLTs accounted respectively for only 1% and 9% of gross gambling profits, but by 2000 those figures had grown to 29% and 27%; and

WHEREAS a report released by the University of Manitoba found that 85% of problem gamblers use VLTs; and

WHEREAS The Addictions Foundation of Manitoba has stated that the extended VLT hours may be cause for concern with regard to the problem gamblers in the province; and

WHEREAS a report on gambling in Canada by the Canada West Foundation released in August 2001 estimated that in the mid 1990's approximately 3-5% of Canada’s adult population were experiencing multiple problems with their level of gambling, and that Manitoba was ranked among the provinces with the highest percentage of problem gamblers; and

WHEREAS the report concluded that gambling has expanded at a rate that surpasses the ability of government regulators to assess its consequences; and

WHEREAS according to the Manitoba Gaming Control Commission, reliable information as to the social impact of gambling is at least 5 years away.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the Provincial Government, upon completion of the four new aboriginal casinos, to consider placing a moratorium on the expansion of gambling in the province for five years in order for the social impact of these new casinos and increased VLT hours to be accurately assessed.

And a debate arising,

And Mr. Derkach, Hon. Ms. McGifford, Mr. Loewen and Hon. Mr. Smith (Brandon West) having spoken,

And Hon. Mr. Ashton 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 10:00 a.m. Thursday, May 16, 2002.

Hon. George Hickes,

Speaker.