Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of S. Strome, M. Preston, Mona Eden and others requesting that the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik) consider stopping the elimination of LPNs from the staffing complement of our health care facilities and recognize the value and dedicated service of LPNs across the province.

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 (by leave). Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

WHEREAS medical authorities have stated that breast cancer in Manitoba has reached almost epidemic proportions; and

WHEREAS yearly mammograms are recommended for women over 50, and perhaps younger if a woman feels she is at risk; and

WHEREAS while improved surgical procedures and better post-operative care do improve a woman's chances if she is diagnosed, early detection plays a vital role; and

WHEREAS Manitoba currently has only three centres where mammograms can be performed, those being Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson; and

WHEREAS a trip to and from these centres for a mammogram can cost a woman upwards of $500 which is a prohibitive cost for some women; and

WHEREAS a number of other provinces have dealt with this problem by establishing mobile screening units; and

WHEREAS the provincial government has promised to take action on this serious issue.

WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRAY that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik) to consider immediately establishing a mobile screening unit for mammograms to help women across the province detect breast cancer at the earliest possible opportunity.

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Osborne (Ms. McGifford). 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: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

THAT the obstetrics program has always been an important part of the Grace Hospital's mandate; and

THAT both people in the community and a number of government studies have recommended against the further closure of community hospitals' obstetrics programs; and

THAT as a result of federal and provincial cuts in the health budget, hospitals are being forced to eliminate programs in order to balance their own budgets; and

THAT the closure of the Grace Hospital obstetrics ward will mean laying off 54 health care professionals, many of whom have years of experience and dedicated service in obstetrics; and

THAT moving to a model where more and more births are centred in the tertiary care hospitals will be more costly and decreases the choices for women about where they can give birth.

WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRAY THAT the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik) consider stopping the closure of the obstetrics program at Winnipeg's Grace Hospital.

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Osborne (Ms. McGifford). 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: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

WHEREAS medical authorities have stated that breast cancer in Manitoba has reached almost epidemic proportions; and

WHEREAS yearly mammograms are recommended for women over 50, and perhaps younger if a woman feels she is at risk; and

WHEREAS while improved surgical procedures and better post-operative care do improve a woman's chances if she is diagnosed, early detection plays a vital role; and

WHEREAS Manitoba currently has only three centres where mammograms can be performed, those being Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson; and

WHEREAS a trip to and from these centres for a mammogram can cost a woman upwards of $500 which is a prohibitive cost for some women; and

WHEREAS a number of other provinces have dealt with this problem by establishing mobile screening units; and

WHEREAS the provincial government has promised to take action on this serious issue.

WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRAY that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik) to consider immediately establishing a mobile screening unit for mammograms to help women across the province detect breast cancer at the earliest possible opportunity.

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Inkster (Mr. Lamoureux). 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: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

THAT many LPNs have been eliminated from most acute care facilities in Manitoba, including the St. Boniface, Health Sciences Centre, Seven Oaks, Concordia, and Victoria hospitals; and

THAT the LPNs of this province are valuable members of the health care system, providing professional, competent, skilled and cost-effective services; and

THAT staffing cuts will only result in declining quality of health care and potentially tragic outcomes; and

THAT it will not be long before the negative results of this shortcut effort are realized, just as they were in Alberta; and

THAT the elimination of LPNs in Manitoba's health care facilities will lead to higher costs and poorer patient care.

WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRAY THAT the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik) consider stopping the elimination of LPNs from the staffing complement in our health care facilities and recognize the value and dedicated service of LPNs across the province.

Mr. Jack Penner (Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Agriculture): I beg to present the Report of the Committee on Agriculture.

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

Your Standing Committee on Agriculture presents the following as its First Report.

Your committee met on Monday, June 16, 1997, at 7:30 p.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Assembly to consider bills referred.

Your committee has considered:

Bill 18--The Emergency 911 Public Safety Answering Point Act; Loi sur les centres téléphoniques de sécurité publique - service d'urgence 911

Bill 54--The Animal Husbandry Amendment and Consequential Amendments Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur l'élevage et modifications corrélatives

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 has agreed to report the same without amendment.

Your committee has also considered:

Bill 31--The Livestock and Livestock Products and Consequential Amendments Act; Loi sur les animaux de ferme et leurs produits et modifications corrélatives

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

MOTION:

THAT subsection 6(5) be amended by striking out "this section" and substituting "subsections (2) to (4)".

MOTION:

THAT section 12 be struck out and the following substituted:

Livestock products on premises

12 For the purposes of any prosecution for a violation or contravention of any provision of this Act or of the regulations, proof that a livestock product was

(a) found on the business premises of a person who owns or operates a retail sales business or wholesale distribution business and who sells or offers to sell that kind of livestock product in the ordinary course of his or her business; or

(b) found in a public market in the possession of a person who is selling or offering to sell similar kinds of livestock products in the public market;

shall be, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, proof that the livestock product was for sale, whether or not that person is the owner of the livestock product.

Your committee has also considered:

Bill 37--The Highway Traffic Amendment Act; Loi modifiant le Code de la route

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

MOTION:

THAT subsection 3(2) of the Bill be amended

(a) by striking out "Subsections 4.2(2), (3) and (4)" and substituting the following "Subsections 4.2(2) and (3)"; and

(b) by striking out the proposed subsection 4.2(4).

MOTION:

THAT the proposed subsection 21.12(1), as set out in section 15 of the Bill, be amended

(a) in clause (a), by striking out "clause 319(1)(1.5)" and substituting "clause 319(1)(1.6); and

(b) in clause (c), by striking out "clause 319(1)(1.5), (1.7) to (1.10) or (1.12)" and substituting "clause 319(1)(1.6), (1.8) to (1.10) or (1.12)".

MOTION:

THAT clause 35(a) of the Bill be amended

(a) in the proposed clause 319(1)(k), by striking out "clauses (1.7) to (1.10)" and substituting "clause (1.6) and clauses (1.8) to (1.10)"; and

(b) in the proposed clause 319(1)(l), by striking out "clauses (1.6) to (1.9)" and substituting "clause (1.6) and clauses (1.8) to (1.10)".

Mr. Penner: I move, seconded by the honourable member for St. Norbert (Mr. Laurendeau), that the report of the committee be now received.

Motion agreed to.