The following petitions were 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. (D. Mercier, L. Campbell, D. Panchyshyn and others)

Mrs. Smith (Fort Garry) – Government of Manitoba consider ensuring that local property and education taxes do not rise as a result of the offloading of provincial responsibilities onto the City of Winnipeg, the City of Brandon, the Fort Garry, Assiniboine South, Winnipeg No. 1, St. Boniface and St. Vital school divisions. (B. Juskow, J. Pennington, J. Pennington and others)

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The following petitions were read and received:

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. (G. Williams, C. Meyer, D. Kumhyr and others)

Mrs. Smith (Fort Garry) – Government of Manitoba consider ensuring that local property and education taxes do not rise as a result of the offloading of provincial responsibilities onto the City of Winnipeg, the City of Brandon, the Fort Garry, Assiniboine South, Winnipeg No. 1, St. Boniface and St. Vital school divisions. (L. Lemoine, J. Lawe, L. Friesen and others)

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Hon. Mr. Lathlin, the Minister of Conservation made a statement regarding an update on the flooding that continues to affect areas of southern Manitoba,

Mr. Penner (Emerson) commented on the statement.

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By leave, Hon. Mr. Chomiak introduced Bill (No. 36) – The Drinking Water Safety Act/Loi sur la qualité de l'eau potable, and outlined the purposes thereof, it was read a First Time.

(Recommended by His Honour, the Lieutenant Governor)

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Hon. Mr. Chomiak presented:

Message from His Honour, the Lieutenant Governor recommending the disposition of public revenue for Bill (No. 36).

(Sessional Paper No. 163)

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During Oral Questions, Mr. Laurendeau rose on a point of order regarding comments spoken by the Honourable Member for St. Vital and requested that all Members should be referenced as Honourable Members,

WHEREUPON Mr. Speaker ruled that there was a point of order and requested the Honourable Member for St. Vital to withdraw the words "doom and gloom Members for Fort Garry and Tuxedo",

Ms. Allan withdrew her remarks.

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Following Oral Questions, Mr. Speaker made the following ruling:

During Members' Statements on June 11, 2002, the Honourable Member for Interlake raised a point of order regarding comments said by the Honourable Member for Lakeside while speaking on a Members' Statement. The Honourable Member for Interlake asserted that the Honourable Member for Lakeside had called him a Neanderthal, and also asserted that the Member for Springfield had referenced the Member for Interlake as being the Member from Albania. The Honourable Official Opposition House Leader also spoke to the point of order. The Deputy Speaker took the matter under advisement in order to peruse Hansard.

On page 2399 of Hansard, the Honourable Member for Lakeside is recorded as stating the following words during his Members' Statement: "to forget about the Neanderthals in her party, like the Member for Interlake and others who are there trying to scare the general public." I would note that the Honourable Member for Lakeside, in speaking in debate on June 13, voluntarily withdrew the words complained of, so I believe this concludes that part of the point of order.

Also on page 2399 of Hansard, the words "the Honourable Member from Albania" do appear in Hansard, however the comments are not attributed to any particular Honourable Member. Given that the words were not attributed to a particular Member, and given that the Member for Springfield did not identify on the record whether he did or did not say those words, I cannot call upon the Honourable Member for Springfield to withdraw. I would however, like to remind all Honourable Members that we should be temperate in our choice of language, particularly when referring to other Members.

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Pursuant to Rule 23(1), Mrs. Smith (Fort Garry), Ms. Korzeniowski, Messrs. Dyck, Jennissen and Penner (Emerson) made Members' Statements.

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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 Messrs. Laurendeau, Penner (Steinbach) and Derkach having spoken,

And Mr. Penner (Emerson) speaking at 5:00 p.m. The debate was allowed to remain in his name.

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Mr. Rondeau moved:

Resolution No. 17: Property Taxes

WHEREAS the reduction of property taxes was a key election promise by the Provincial Government; and

WHEREAS the Provincial Government's $75.00 dollar reduction last year, and the subsequent $75.00 reduction this year for a combined $150.00 over the last two budget years represents an average property tax reduction of 6.0% in Winnipeg and 9.4% in the rest of the province; and

WHEREAS Manitoba's Provincial-Municipal Tax Sharing program, the only such arrangement in the country, helps to curb the reliance on property taxes by municipalities by providing a share of corporate and personal income taxes to local governments; and

WHEREAS this property tax reduction affords a greater level of security to fixed income families, particularly seniors, by assisting them to remain in their homes.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the Provincial Government to consider continuing its efforts to provide fair and significant property tax relief; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Assembly urge the Provincial Government to consider continuing to provide meaningful property tax reductions to Manitobans.

And a debate arising,

And Messrs. Rondeau, Penner (Steinbach), Dyck and Pitura 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 19, 2002.

Hon. George Hickes,

Speaker.