Wednesday, September 27, 1995

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA

Wednesday, September 27, 1995

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

PRAYERS

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

PRESENTING PETITIONS

Federal Immigration Policies

Mr. Conrad Santos (Broadway): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Lourdes Troncillo, Louie T. Go, Amelia Garcia and others requesting the Legislative Assembly to request the Government of Canada cancel fee increases and instead institute policies that will encourage immigration to Manitoba.

READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS

Federal Immigration Policies

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Wellington (Ms. Barrett). It complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

WHEREAS Manitoba has been immeasurably enriched socially, economically and culturally by immigrants and their families, and;

WHEREAS it was for this reason that successive provincial and federal governments have encouraged immigration to Manitoba, and;

WHEREAS since 1993, the current federal Liberal government has reversed these policies by instituting a series of changes making immigration more difficult; and

WHEREAS the 1994 changes in quotas for family reunification class of immigrants were unfair and punitive; and

WHEREAS the fee increases for immigrants instituted in the 1995 federal Liberal budget are neither fair nor justifiable and border on racism, and;

WHEREAS the new $975 fee being imposed on adult immigrants is more than many immigrants make in their home country in an entire year, and will make it even more difficult for people from these countries to immigrate to Canada;

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request that the Government of Canada cancel these fee increases and instead institute policies that will encourage immigration to Manitoba.

PRESENTING REPORTS BY

STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources

First Report

Mr. Frank Pitura (Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the First Report of the Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources.

Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): Your Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources presents the following as its First Report.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

Your committee met on Tuesday, September 26, 1995, at 10 a.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building to consider the Annual Reports of the Manitoba Telephone System for the years ended December 31, 1993, and December 31, 1994.

At that meeting your committee elected Mr. Pitura as chairperson and Mr. Sveinson as vice-chairperson.

Mr. Tom Stefanson, chairman, Mr. Bill Fraser, acting president and chief executive officer and Mr. Barry Gordon, vice-president, network services, provided such information as was requested with respect to the annual reports and business of the Manitoba Telephone System.

Your committee has considered the Annual Report of the Manitoba Telephone System for the year ended December 31, 1993, and has adopted the same as presented.

Mr. Pitura: Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member for Sturgeon Creek (Mr. McAlpine), that the report of the committee be received.

Motion agreed to.

* (1335)

TABLING OF REPORTS

Hon. Harry Enns (Minister of Agriculture): Madam Speaker, I am privileged to present the Annual Report for the year 1994-95 of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Hon. Jack Reimer (Minister of Housing): I would like to table the Annual Report 1994-95 for the Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation and the Manitoba Housing Authority.

Hon. Albert Driedger (Minister of Natural Resources): I wish to table the Annual Report for the Department of Natural Resources for the year 1994-1995.

Hon. Vic Toews (Minister of Labour): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to present the Annual Report of the Department of Labour 1994-95.

Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): I am pleased to table the Quarterly Report for Manitoba Telephone System for the Second Quarter ending June 1995.

Hon. Leonard Derkach (Minister of Rural Development): I would like to table the Annual Report 1994-95 for Rural Development and also the Annual Report 1994-95 for the Manitoba Water Services Board.

Introduction of Guests

Madam Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would like to draw the attention of all honourable members to the Speaker's Gallery, where we have with us today a delegation from the Parliament of India led by the Speaker of that Parliament, the Honourable Shivraj Patil.

On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you this afternoon.

Also seated in the public gallery this afternoon, we have from Skownan School, twenty-eight Grades 4 to 6 students under the direction of Ms. Corrine Park. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Dauphin (Mr. Struthers).

On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you this afternoon.