Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Burrows (Mr. Martindale). 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: No.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

THAT in 1976 Canada signed the United Nations Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which recognized the right of everyone to make a living by work which is freely chosen, recognized the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living, including adequate food, clothing and housing, recognized the right of everyone to enjoy a high standard of physical and mental health, and provided for the widest possible protection and assistance to the family; and

THAT poor children and adults in Canada continue to die at a higher rate and earlier age than people with adequate incomes; and

THAT Bill 36, The Social Allowances Amendment Act, will create even greater poverty among the poor in Manitoba by eliminating government responsibility to ensure that everyone who lacks adequate food, clothing, housing and health care has these needs met; and

THAT the bill proposes to punish people by cutting them off from social assistance or reducing their benefits if they fail to meet employment expectations; and

WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRAY that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the Minister of Family Services to consider withdrawing Bill 36 and replacing it with improved legislation which provides for a guaranteed annual income that allows people to have adequate food, clothing, housing, child care and health care and that this annual income increases as prices increase and that this new legislation also provides for the creation of real jobs with the goal of creating full employment so that individuals on social assistance can find safe, meaningful work of their own choosing that allows them to meet their needs and the needs of their families.

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Interlake (Mr. Clif Evans). 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.

THAT the Manitoba Telephone System has served this province well for over 80 years providing province-wide service, some of the lowest local rates in North America and thousands of jobs and keeping profits in Manitoba; and

THAT MTS contributes $450 million annually to the Manitoba economy and is a major sponsor of community events throughout the province; and

THAT MTS, with nearly 4,000 employees including more than 1,000 in rural and northern Manitoba, is one of Manitoba's largest firms, headquartered in Manitoba and is committed to Manitoba; and

THAT the provincial government has no mandate to sell MTS and said before and during the 1995 election that MTS was not for sale.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier (Mr. Filmon) withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.

* (1350)

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Selkirk (Mr. Dewar). 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.

THAT the Manitoba Telephone System has served this province well for over 80 years providing province-wide service, some of the lowest local rates in North America and thousands of jobs and keeping profits in Manitoba; and

THAT MTS contributes $450 million annually to the Manitoba economy and is a major sponsor of community events throughout the province; and

THAT MTS, with nearly 4,000 employees including more than 1,000 in rural and northern Manitoba, is one of Manitoba's largest firms, headquartered in Manitoba and is committed to Manitoba; and

THAT the provincial government has no mandate to sell MTS and said before and during the 1995 election that MTS was not for sale.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier (Mr. Filmon) withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Swan River (Ms. Wowchuk). 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.

THAT the Manitoba Telephone System has served this province well for over 80 years providing province-wide service, some of the lowest local rates in North America and thousands of jobs and keeping profits in Manitoba; and

THAT MTS contributes $450 million annually to the Manitoba economy and is a major sponsor of community events throughout the province; and

THAT MTS, with nearly 4,000 employees including more than 1,000 in rural and northern Manitoba, is one of Manitoba's largest firms, headquartered in Manitoba and is committed to Manitoba; and

THAT the provincial government has no mandate to sell MTS and said before and during the 1995 election that MTS was not for sale.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier (Mr. Filmon) withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Point Douglas (Mr. Hickes). 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.

THAT the Manitoba Telephone System has served this province well for over 80 years providing province-wide service, some of the lowest local rates in North America and thousands of jobs and keeping profits in Manitoba; and

THAT MTS contributes $450 million annually to the Manitoba economy and is a major sponsor of community events throughout the province; and

THAT MTS, with nearly 4,000 employees including more than 1,000 in rural and northern Manitoba, is one of Manitoba's largest firms, headquartered in Manitoba and is committed to Manitoba; and

THAT the provincial government has no mandate to sell MTS and said before and during the 1995 election that MTS was not for sale.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier (Mr. Filmon) withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.

Mr. David Newman (Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Law Amendments ): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the Sixth Report of the Committee on Law Amendments.

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

Your Standing Committee on Law Amendments presents the following as its Sixth Report.

Your committee met on Monday, October 21, 1996, at 7 p.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building to consider bills referred.

Your committee has considered:

Bill 12--The Barbers Repeal and Hairdressers Repeal Act; Loi abrogeant la Loi sur les coiffeurs et la Loi sur les coiffeurs pour dames

and has agreed to report the same without amendment.

Mr. Newman: Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member for Pembina (Mr. Dyck), that the report of the committee be received.

Motion agreed to.

Mr. Peter Dyck (Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Economic Development): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the Seventh Report of the Committee on Economic Development.

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

Your Standing Committee on Economic Development presents the following as its Seventh Report.

Your committee met on Tuesday, October 22, 1996, at 10 a.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building to consider bills referred.

At that meeting, your committee elected Mr. Laurendeau as its Vice-Chairperson.

Your committee heard representation on bills as follows:

Bill 52--The York Factory First Nation Northern Flood Implementation Agreement Act; Loi sur l'accord de mise en oeuvre de la première nation de York Factory relatif à la convention sur la submersion de terres du Nord manitobain

Chief Eric Saunders - York Factory First Nation

Valerie Matthews Lemieux - Nelson House and York Factory First Nations

Bill 53--The Nelson House First Nation Northern Flood Implementation Agreement Act; Loi sur l'accord de mise en oeuvre de la première nation de Nelson House relatif à la convention sur la submersion de terres du Nord manitobain

Chief Jerry Primrose - Nelson House First Nation

Marcel Moody - Nelson House Trust Office

Valerie Matthews Lemieux - Nelson House and York Factory First Nations

Your committee has considered:

Bill 52--The York Factory First Nation Northern Flood Implementation Agreement Act; Loi sur l'accord de mise en oeuvre de la première nation de York Factory relatif à la convention sur la submersion de terres du Nord manitobain

and has agreed to report the same with the following amendment:

MOTION:

THAT section 2 be struck out and the following substituted:

Settlement of claims

2 A claim respecting an issue or matter in dispute which may be advanced under both the Northern Flood Agreement and the Implementation Agreement by

(a) the council of the York Factory First Nation;

(b) the York Factory First Nation;

(c) any person who is a member of the York Factory First Nation;

(d) any group or unincorporated association, whose membership or shareholding is wholly or substantially comprised of members of the York Factory First Nation;

(e) any unincorporated association or corporation established by the council of the York Factory First Nation;

(f) any share capital corporation, the shares of which are wholly or substantially owned, both legally and beneficially, and controlled by the York Factory First Nation or members of the York Factory First Nation; and

(g) any corporation without share capital, the membership of which consists wholly or substantially of the York Factory First Nation or members of the York Factory First Nation

shall be resolved in accordance with the Implementation Agreement and not in accordance with the Northern Flood Agreement, except where the Implementation Agreement otherwise provides.

Your committee has also considered:

Bill 53--The Nelson House First Nation Northern Flood Implementation Agreement Act; Loi sur l'accord de mise en oeuvre de la première nation de Nelson House relatif à la convention sur la submersion de terres du Nord manitobain

and has agreed to report the same with the following amendment:

MOTION:

THAT section 2 be struck out and the following substituted:

Settlement of claims

2 A claim respecting an issue or matter in dispute which may be advanced under both the Northern Flood Agreement and the Implementation Agreement by

(a) the council of the Nelson House First Nation;

(b) the Nelson House First Nation;

(c) any person who is a member of the Nelson House First Nation;

(d) any group or unincorporated association, whose membership or shareholding is wholly or substantially comprised of members of the Nelson House First Nation;

(e) any unincorporated association or corporation established by the council of the Nelson House First Nation;

(f) any share capital corporation, the shares of which are wholly or substantially owned, both legally and beneficially, and controlled by the Nelson House First Nation or members of the Nelson House First Nation; and

(g) any corporation without share capital, the membership of which consists wholly or substantially of the Nelson House First Nation or members of the Nelson House First Nation

shall be resolved in accordance with the Implementation Agreement and not in accordance with the Northern Flood Agreement, except where the Implementation Agreement otherwise provides.

Mr. Dyck: I move, seconded by the honourable member for Riel (Mr. Newman), that the report of the committee be received.

Motion agreed to.

Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table Volume 1 of the Provincial Auditor's Report for 1995-96.

Madam Speaker: I am pleased to table the 1995 Annual Report of the Provincial Ombudsman.

Madam Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would like to draw the attention of all honourable members to the public gallery, where we have this afternoon 13 students from the Applied Linguistics Centre under the direction of Mrs. Margo James. This group is located in the constituency of the honourable member for St. James (Ms. Mihychuk).

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