Wednesday, March 15, 1995
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA
Wednesday, March 15, 1995
The House met at 1:30 p.m.
PRAYERS
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
PRESENTING PETITIONS
Physical Education in Schools
Mr. Oscar Lathlin (The Pas): Mr. Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Mark Sokolowski, Maurice Blanchette, Bernard Dyrkacz and others requesting the Minister of Education (Mr. Manness) to consider maintaining physical education as part of the core curriculum from kindergarten to senior high.
Public Housing Rent Hikes
Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): Mr. Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Antonio Castro, Filomena Castro, Fel Rodriguez and others praying that the government cancel the proposed rent hikes for 1995.
Communities' Public Education
Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): Mr. Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Robert Obleman, Wendy Mann, Jody Templeton and others requesting the Minister of Education and Training (Mr. Manness) to reconsider the funding model to ensure that Thompson and other communities in this province are able to maintain quality public education.
Physical Education in Schools
Mr. Jim Maloway (Elmwood): Mr. Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Stan Sirdar, Lynne Strome, Michael Dunbar and others requesting the Minister of Education (Mr. Manness) to consider maintaining physical education as part of the core curriculum from kindergarten to senior high.
Canada Post--Unsolicited Mail
Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Mr. Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Linda Landry, Anna Haynes, Frederick Stevent and others requesting the federal minister responsible for Canada Post to consider bringing in legislation requiring all unsolicited mail and flyers to use recyclable materials, and amending the Canada Post Act so that Canada Post would have to comply with no-flyer signs at personal residences.
Physical Education in Schools
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Mr. Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Darren Porter, Adam Richard, Robert Canning and others urging the Minister responsible for Education (Mr. Manness) to consider reinstating physical education as a compulsory core subject area.
READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS
Physical Education in Schools
Mr. Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member (Mr. Lamoureux). It complies with the privileges and the practices of this House and it complies with the rules. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?
An Honourable Member: No.
Mr. Speaker: Dispense.
The petition of the undersigned residents of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth:
THAT in July 1994, the Minister of Education introduced an action plan entitled Renewing Education: New Directions;
THAT this report will make physical education an optional course in Grades 9 to 12;
THAT the physical education curriculum should be regularly reviewed to ensure that it meets the needs of students;
THAT the government is failing to recognize the benefits of physical education such as improved physical fitness, more active lifestyles, health promotion, self-discipline, skill development, stress reduction, strengthened peer relationships, weight regulation, stronger bones, reduced risk of health diseases and improved self-confidence.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly urge the Minister responsible for Education to consider reinstating physical education as a compulsory core subject area.
Mr. Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member (Ms. Barrett). It complies with the privileges and the practices of this House and it complies with the rules. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?
An Honourable Member: Dispense.
Mr. Speaker: Dispense.
The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth that:
WHEREAS the proposed changes to the Manitoba curriculum would have no physical education required for students after Grade 8; and
WHEREAS the social, intellectual, emotional and physical benefits of physical education have been proven through extensive research; and,
WHEREAS requiring physical education for high school sends a message that physical activity is important for life and encourages high school students to make life choices to stay active and it fits into a preventative health strategy; and,
WHEREAS many parents, students, medical professionals and educators, health and recreation specialists are urging that physical education be increased in schools.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Minister of Education to consider maintaining physical education as part of the core curriculum from kindergarten to senior high.
TABLING OF REPORTS
Hon. Harry Enns (Minister of Agriculture): Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the Annual Report of the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute, known as PAMI, and the Annual Report of the Manitoba Farm Mediation Board.
Hon. Leonard Derkach (Minister of Rural Development): Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the 1993-94 Annual Report for the Conservation Districts of Manitoba.
Hon. Gerald Ducharme (Minister responsible for Seniors): Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the report of the Seniors Directorate 1993-94.
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INTRODUCTION OF BILLS
Bill 15--The Balanced Budget, Debt Repayment and Taxpayer Protection and Consequential Amendments Act
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to move, seconded by the Minister of Environment (Mr. Cummings), that leave be given to introduce Bill 15, The Balanced Budget, Debt Repayment and Taxpayer Protection and Consequential Amendments Act (Loi sur l'équilibre budgétaire, le remboursement de la dette et la protection des contribuables et apportant des modifications corrélatives), 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, and I would like to table the Lieutenant-Governor's message.
Motion presented.
Mr. Stefanson: Mr. Speaker, this is genuinely an historic bill. It requires that governments of this province in the normal course of events spend no more than what is available to be spent from current revenue. This requirement is backed up with financial penalties for all members of cabinet. Thus the legislation will put a halt to the growth of the provincial debt and also a halt to the rise in interest payments, which have become such a burden for Manitobans.
Future governments of Manitoba will have to do what this administration has done for these past seven years, develop spending priorities, seek out and achieve economies and efficiencies and provide the vital services Manitobans really need and want in the most cost-effective way possible.
This bill is also historic because for the first time it enshrines in law the principle that has guided this administration. Manitobans already pay all the taxes that are necessary to fund the services they expect from their governments. There have been no increases in the major taxes for eight straight budgets, and this bill ensures that there will be no increase in those taxes in the foreseeable future unless the taxpayers give their approval in a referendum.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, this bill is historic because it goes beyond just halting the increase in the debt. It sets out a reasonable plan to repay the debt and thereby reduce the huge burden of interest payments. For this reason I urge all members to support this bill in the interests of all Manitobans but especially for the children of Manitoba--
Mr. Speaker: Order, please. The honourable minister will have an opportunity to finish his response.
Motion agreed to.
Introduction of Guests
Mr. Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, may I direct the attention of honourable members to the gallery, where we have with us this afternoon from the Calvin Christian School, twenty-eight Grade 9 students under the direction of Mr. Buikema. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable Minister of Family Services (Mrs. Mitchelson).
Also this afternoon from the Isaac Newton School, we have seventy Grade 9 students under the direction of Mr. Jerry Watson. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Burrows (Mr. Martindale).
On behalf of all honourable members, I would like to welcome you here this afternoon.
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