Friday, June 16, 1995
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA
Friday, June 16, 1995
The House met at 10 a.m.
PRAYERS
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
PRESENTING REPORTS BY
STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES
Committee of Supply
Mr. Marcel Laurendeau (Chairperson of Committees): Madam Speaker, the Committee of Supply has adopted certain resolutions, directs me to report the same and asks leave to sit again.
I move, seconded by the honourable member for Riel (Mr. Newman), that the report of the committee be received.
Motion agreed to.
TABLING OF REPORTS
Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister of Environment): Madam Speaker, I would like to table the 1994 Annual Report for the Manitoba Hazardous Waste Management Corporation.
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS
Bill 23--The Health Services Insurance Amendment Act
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Minister of Family Services (Mrs. Mitchelson), that leave be given to introduce Bill 23, The Health Services Insurance Amendment Act (Loi modifiant la Loi sur l'assurance-maladie), and that the same be now received and read a first time.
Motion agreed to.
Bill 19--The Intercountry Adoption (Hague Convention) and Consequential Amendments Act
Hon. Bonnie Mitchelson (Minister of Family Services): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Justice (Mrs. Vodrey), that leave be given to introduce Bill 19, The Intercountry Adoption (Hague Convention) and Consequential Amendments Act (Loi concernant l'adoption internationale (Convention de La Haye) et apportant des modifications corrélatives), and that the same be now received and read a first time.
Motion agreed to.
Bill 20--The Child and Family Services Amendment Act
Hon. Bonnie Mitchelson (Minister of Family Services): I move, seconded by the Minister of Justice (Mrs. Vodrey), that leave be given to introduce Bill 20, The Child and Family Services Amendment Act (Loi modifiant la Loi sur les services à l'enfant et à la famille), and that the same be now received and read a first time.
Motion agreed to.
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Bill 22--The Municipal Amendment and Brandon Charter Amendment Act
Hon. Leonard Derkach (Minister of Rural Development): I move, seconded by the Minister of Culture, Heritage and Citizenship (Mr. Gilleshammer), that leave be given to introduce Bill 22, The Municipal Amendment and Brandon Charter Amendment Act (Loi modifiant la Loi sur les municipalités et la Charte de Brandon), and that the same be now received and read a first time.
Motion agreed to.
Bill 21--The Rural Development Bonds Amendment Act
Hon. Leonard Derkach (Minister of Rural Development): I move, seconded by the Minister of Highways and Transportation (Mr. Findlay), that leave be given to introduce Bill 21, The Rural Development Bonds Amendment Act (Loi modifiant la Loi sur les obligations de développement rural), and that the same be now received and read for a first time.
His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, having been advised of the contents of this bill, recommends it to the House. I have a message from His Honour.
Motion agreed to.
Bill 24--The Tobacco Tax Amendment Act
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): I move, seconded by the Minister of Justice (Mrs. Vodrey), that leave be given to introduce Bill 24, The Tobacco Tax Amendment Act (Loi modifiant la Loi de la taxe sur le tabac), and that the same be now received and read a first time.
His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, having been advised of the contents of this bill, recommends it to the House, and I would like to table the Lieutenant-Governor's message.
Motion agreed to.
MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS
Hon. Leonard Derkach (Minister of Rural Development): Madam Speaker, may I seek leave of the House to revert back to Ministerial Statements and Tabling of Reports?
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable Minister of Rural Development have leave to revert back to Ministerial Statements and Tabling of Reports? [agreed]
Meeting the Challenges of Local Government
Report
Mr. Derkach: Madam Speaker, I am pleased today to present the report entitled, Meeting the Challenges of Local Government. This report is a culmination of more than two years of hard work and diligence. I am pleased to be able to present this document today because of the hard work of scores of Manitobans who care deeply about local government. They took the time to review the initial discussion document, make presentations and, again, to review the draft report. In many ways, this document was written by them.
The final report is also possible because of the diligence of the five-member review panel that was appointed in the spring of 1993, who were charged with providing this government with valuable advice needed to overhaul The Municipal Act and other provincial statutes that affect local government.
This review panel consisted of Mr. Henry Wiebe, who served as the chairman, Mrs. Margaret Hodgson, Mr. Jack Nicol, Ms. Susan Shineton and Mr. Gil Strachan, whom I am pleased to recognize today, Madam Speaker, as they join us in the Speaker's Gallery.
I would also like to thank everyone who contributed to this 164-page report, from the Manitobans who attended one of the numerous public meetings held throughout the province or those who took time to submit a written presentation. I would also like to extend my warm thanks to the panel members and the government staff who assisted them in this task. Meeting the Challenges of Local Government is a tribute to the consultation process used to develop this report.
Panel members toured Manitoba twice to listen to the concerns and desires of Manitobans. They also received hundreds of written presentations that they had to consider when they wrote this report. Without the participation of Manitobans, this report would not have been possible. This report will serve as an invaluable resource for this government as we update the legislative framework which governs the operations of municipalities. The importance of this report can best be appreciated only if we understand the subject matter of its discourse.
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The Municipal Act regulates virtually all aspects of operations of local government in Manitoba. This report will also allow us to bring The Municipal Act up to date with modern realities and to address the issues and concerns facing Manitobans today. An updated Municipal Act will enable municipalities to govern themselves more efficiently and to specifically address the issues that affect those living within their jurisdictions and to be accountable to them. Not only will new legislation be reflective of the times but it will also be adaptable to future needs of municipalities and Manitobans. Therefore, it has a profound effect on the lives of thousands of people in the province and this government is committed to helping them build a strong province while preparing for tomorrow. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Clif Evans (Interlake): Madam Speaker, we, too, on this side of the House wish to offer our congratulations and good work in the diligence that the committee has put forward to put together the Meeting the Challenges of Local Government study. We on this side of the House want to indicate that we do want to see a stronger rural Manitoba and, hopefully, with the hard work and diligence of the committee, the chair and the people of Manitoba, we can accomplish this.
I would like to personally thank the chairman, Mr. Henry Wiebe, Mrs. Margaret Hodgson, Mr. Jack Nicol, Ms. Susan Shineton and Mr. Gil Strachan.
Madam Speaker, we hope to be working with everybody on this--with the government, with the people of Manitoba, and, hopefully, rural Manitoba becomes strong here as it is in other parts of this country. Thank you very much.
Introduction of Guests
Madam Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would like to draw the attention of all honourable members to the public gallery where we have 45 adult students from Sir William Osler School under the direction of Irene Halgren, Sondra Hochman and Sherna Posner. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for River Heights (Mr. Radcliffe).
We also have 20 adult students from Continuing Education for Adult Education under the direction of Ms. Frances Molaro. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Burrows (Mr. Martindale).
On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you this morning.