INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

Bill 57--The Highway Traffic Amendment, Summary Convictions Amendment and Consequential Amendments Act

Hon. Glen Findlay (Minister of Highways and Transportation): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Urban Affairs (Mr. Reimer), that leave be given to introduce Bill 57, The Highway Traffic Amendment, Summary Convictions Amendment and Consequential Amendments Act (Loi modifiant le Code de la route et la Loi sur les poursuites sommaires et modifications corrélatives), and that the same be now received and read a first time.

Motion agreed to.

Bill 58--The Law Reform Commission Amendment Act

Hon. Vic Toews (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): I move, seconded by the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson), that leave be given to introduce Bill 58, The Law Reform Commission Amendment Act (Loi modifiant la Loi sur la Commission de réforme du droit), 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. I would table the message of the Lieutenant Governor.

Motion agreed to.

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Bill 59--The Conservation Agreements Act

Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister of Natural Resources): I move, seconded by the Minister of Environment (Mr. McCrae), that leave be given to introduce Bill 59, The Conservation Agreements Act (Loi sur les accords de conservation).

His Honour the Lieutenant Governor, having been advised of the contents of this bill, recommends it to the House. I would like to table his message.

Madam Speaker: It has been moved by the honourable Minister of Natural Resources, seconded by the honourable Minister of Environment, that leave be given to introduce Bill 59, The Conservation Agreements Act; Loi sur les accords de conservation, 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. Agreed? Agreed and so ordered.

Bill 60--The Elderly and Infirm Persons' Housing Amendment Act

Hon. Jack Reimer (Minister of Housing): I move, seconded by the Minister of Government Services (Mr. Pitura), that leave be given to introduce Bill 60, The Elderly and Infirm Persons' Housing Amendment Act (Loi modifiant la Loi sur le logement des infirmes et des personnes âgées), 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. I would also like to table a message.

Motion agreed to.

Bill 203--The Privacy Protection Act

Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): I move, seconded by the member for St. James (Ms. Mihychuk), that leave be given to introduce Bill 203, The Privacy Protection Act; Loi sur la protection des renseignements personnels, and that the same be now received and read a first time.

Motion presented.

Ms. McGifford: I am pleased today to introduce The Privacy Protection Act, which is designed to protect the records of Manitobans so essential, especially in light of the information age, the complexities of rapidly changing technology, and in the introduction of SmartHealth into the province of Manitoba without adequate legislation and adequate administrative procedures in place for the protection of individual privacy.

The bill reflects the belief that the key to contemporary privacy legislation is a privacy commissioner and recognizes that neither civil actions nor criminal penalties provide adequate or practical privacy protection.

Finally, the bill makes provisions for a privacy commissioner, who is an independent officer of the Legislature, appointed by an all-party committee of the Legislature for a fixed term and gives the privacy commissioner the power to issue binding orders. Most Canadian jurisdictions agree that a privacy commissioner is essential, and this concept is at the centre of the proposed legislation and so addresses the inadequacies of the government's proposed legislation.