The following petition was presented:

Mr. Schuler – Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request the Minister of Education to reverse the decision to split the Transcona-Springfield School Division and allow it to remain as a whole or to consider immediately convening the Board of Reference to decide the matter. (J. Holland, V. Boileau, G. Brown and others)

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The following petition was read and received:

Mr. Schuler – Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Minister of Education, Training and Youth consider halting plans to place portions of the Rural Municipality of Springfield into separate school divisions and to request that the Minister of Education Training and Youth recognize that dividing the RM of Springfield will result in a lower quality of education for all of the students involved. (D. Brook, D. Colbert, N. Capner and others)

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Hon. Mr. Ashton, the Minister responsible for Emergency Measures made a statement regarding the flooding caused by heavy rains in the southern part of Manitoba and on the light aircraft crash that happened this morning on Logan Avenue in Winnipeg,

Mr. Penner (Emerson) and, by leave, Hon. Mr. Gerrard and Mr. Faurschou commented on the statement.

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Hon. Mr. Mackintosh presented:

Annual Report of The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2002.

(Sessional Paper No. 162)

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By leave, Hon. Mr. Chomiak introduced Bill (No. 13) – The Medical Laboratory Technologists Act/Loi sur les technologistes de laboratoire médical, and outlined the purposes thereof, it was read a First Time.

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Pursuant to Rule 23(1), Messrs. Dyck, Jennissen, Enns and Rondeau and Mrs. Smith (Fort Garry) made Members’ Statements.

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During Members' Statement, Mr. Nevakshonoff rose on a point of order regarding comments spoken by the Honourable Member for Lakeside and by the Honourable Member for Springfield and requested they be withdrawn.

And Mr. Laurendeau having spoken to the point of order,

WHEREUPON Mr. Deputy Speaker informed the House he would take the matter under advisement.

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

THAT Bill (No. 14) – The Public Schools Modernization Act (Public Schools Act Amended)/Loi sur la modernisation des écoles publiques (modification de la Loi sur les écoles publiques), be now read a Second Time and be referred to a Committee of this House.

And on the Proposed Amendment of Mr. Hawranik,

THAT all the words after the word "THAT" be deleted and the following substituted therefore:

this House declines to give Second Reading to Bill (No. 14) – The Public Schools Modernization Act (Public Schools Act Amended)/Loi sur la modernisation des écoles publiques (modification de la Loi sur les écoles publiques), until such time as the Minister of Education, Training and Youth undertakes meaningful consultations with all effected stakeholders within Manitoba's education system.

And the debate continuing on the amendment,

And leave having been denied to have the matter remain in the name of Hon. Mr. Gerrard,

And Messrs. Tweed, Cummings and Schuler having spoken,

And Mrs. Stefanson speaking at 5:00 p.m. The debate was allowed to remain in her name.

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Mr. Jennissen moved:

Resolution No. 14: Phone Coverage in the North

WHEREAS in our modern society, access to a telephone is a necessity; and

WHEREAS cell phones are vitally important to those who live in remote areas such as in the North; and

WHEREAS currently there are many Manitobans who live hundreds of miles from areas where cell phone service is available; and

WHEREAS cell phone service is not even available for larger communities such as Snow Lake, Leaf Rapids, Lynn Lake, Pukatawagan, South Indian Lake, Cranberry Portage, Garden Hill, Shamattawa, Cross Lake, Norway House and others; and

WHEREAS this creates a serious risk for the Manitoba citizens living in those communities who have no way of accessing emergency services in a time of crisis, or automotive help should they experience car troubles; and

WHEREAS due to the previous government’s short sighted decision to sell MTS, the phone inequalities across the province have been exacerbated and the North and rural Manitoba is paying the price.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to require that telecom providers extend adequate cellular telephone coverage to those remote, rural and northern communities which presently have inadequate or no cellular telephone services.

And a debate arising,

And Messrs. Jennissen, Rocan, Rondeau and Loewen having spoken,

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

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The House then adjourned at 6:00 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 12, 2002.

Hon. George Hickes,

Speaker.