Mr. Tim Sale (Crescentwood): Madam Speaker, pursuant to a matter of privilege raised in the House last week and to the material tabled by the honourable Minister of Natural Resources (Mr. Driedger) yesterday, I wish to table this information.

Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Henryk Sinora, Sharon Mistelbacher, Leonice Delorme and others requesting that the Legislative Assembly urge the Minister of Family Services (Mrs. Mitchelson) 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, that this annual income increase as prices increase and that this new legislation also provide for the creation of real jobs, with the goal of creating full employment so that individuals on social assistance can find meaningful work of their own choosing that allows them to meet their needs and the needs of their families.

Mr. Clif Evans (Interlake): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Mickey Obrodovich, Mike Mychreschuk and Steve Krawchuk requesting 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 Thompson (Mr. Ashton). It complies with the rules and practices of the House (by leave). Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Yes.

Madam Speaker: The Clerk will read.

Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth:

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, 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.

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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.

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: Dispense.

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 St. James (Ms. Mihychuk). 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 Broadway (Mr. Santos). 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 Seventh 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 Seventh Report.

Your committee met on Monday, October 21, 1996, at 7 p.m., Wednesday, October 23, 1996, at 7 p.m., and on Saturday, October 26, 1996, at 10 a.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building to consider bills referred.

At the October 21, 1996, meeting, your committee agreed, by motion, on a counted vote of 6 Yeas, 3 Nays, to establish a time limit of 10 minutes per presentation, with five minutes for questions and answers.

At the October 23, 1996, meeting, your committee elected Mr. Laurendeau as its Vice-Chairperson.

At the October 26, 1996, meeting, your committee elected Mr. Laurendeau as its Vice-Chairperson.

Your committee heard representation on bills as follows:

Bill 33--The Education Administration Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur l'administration scolaire

Betty Green and Betty Ann Watts - Manitoba Association of School Trustees

John Weins and Ben Zaidman - Seven Oaks School Division

Barry Hammond - Choices

Derwyn Davies - Private Citizen

Diane Beresford - Manitoba Teachers' Society

Ben Hanuschak - Private Citizen

Dee Gillies - Coalition Against Standard Testing

Kenneth Emberly - Private Citizen

Candice Stearns - Private Citizen

Written Submission

Edward Lipsett - Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties

Bill 47--The Public Schools Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur les écoles publiques

Betty Green and Betty Ann Watts - Manitoba Association for School Trustees

Howard Friesen - Garden Valley School Division No. 26

Edward Lipsett - Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties

John Weins and Ben Zaidman - Seven Oaks School Division

Barry Hammond - Choices

Derwyn Davies - Private Citizen

Diane Beresford - Manitoba Teachers' Society

Ben Hanuschak - Private Citizen

Dee Gillies - Coalition Against Standard Testing

Kenneth Emberley - Private Citizen

Candice Stearns - Private Citizen

Tom Barker - Private Citizen

Written Submission

Ed Klassen - The Manitoba Association of School Business Officials, Inc.

Your committee has considered:

Bill 33--The Education Administration Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur l'administration scolaire

and has agreed to report the same, without amendment.

Your committee has also considered:

Bill 47--The Public Schools Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur les écoles publiques

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

MOTION::

THAT the proposed section 42.1, as set out in section 8 of the Bill, be amended by adding "collection," before "storage".

MOTION:

THAT the proposed section 42.2, as set out in section 8 of the Bill, be amended by striking out "this section" and substituting "sections 42.3 to 42.6, 58.6 and 58.9".

MOTION:

THAT the proposed heading for Part III.1, as set out in section 10 of the Bill, be amended by striking out "CHILDREN" and substituting "PUPILS".

MOTION:

THAT the proposed section 58.5, as set out in section 10 of the Bill, be amended

(a) in the English version of clause (a), by striking out "parent" and substituting "parents"; and

(b) in clause (b), by striking out "subsection 58.3" and substituting "section 58.3".

MOTION:

THAT the proposed section 58.10, as set out in section 10 of the Bill, be amended by striking out "must" and substituting "is responsible for".

And THAT

(a) in clause (a), "attend" be struck out and "attending" be substituted;

(b) in clause (b), that "comply" by struck out and "complying" be substituted;

(c) in clause (c), that "complete" be struck out and "completing" be substituted;

(d) in clause (d), that "treat" be struck out and "treating" be substituted.

MOTION:

THAT the proposed clause 201(2)(a), as set out in subsection 16(1) of the Bill, be amended by adding "trust company" after "bank".

MOTION:

THAT the title of the French version of the Bill be amended by striking out "PUBLICS" and substituting "PUBLIQUES".

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.

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Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table the Public Accounts for 1995-96, Volume 3, Summary Financial Statements.

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 Dr. Paul Cappon, Director General of the Council of Ministers of Education Canada.

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

Also, seated in the public gallery, we have forty-five Grades 8 and 9 students from Victor Mager School under the direction of Mr. Larry Pattrick and Mr. Allen Vilar. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Riel (Mr. Newman).

We also have seated in the public gallery 18 Canadian Law Class students from the Red River Community College under the direction of Mr. Clint Wilmot. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Wellington (Ms. Barrett).

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