Friday, September 22, 1995

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA

Friday, September 22, 1995

The House met at 10 a.m.

PRAYERS

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS

Mr. Conrad Santos (Broadway): I beg to present the First Report of the Committee on Public Accounts.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Broadway was recognized for Reading and Receiving Petitions. I believe the papers got mixed up and you did the standing committee report.

* * *

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member (Mr. Santos), and it complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

Some Honourable Members: No.

Madam Speaker: Dispense?

Some Honourable Members: Dispense.

Federal Immigration Policies

WHEREAS Manitoba has been immeasurably enriched socially, economically and culturally by immigrants and their families, and;

WHEREAS it was for this reason that successive provincial and federal governments have encouraged immigration to Manitoba, and;

WHEREAS since 1993, the current federal Liberal government has reversed these policies by instituting a series of changes making immigration more difficult; and

WHEREAS the 1994 changes in quotas for family reunification class of immigrants were unfair and punitive; and

WHEREAS the fee increases for immigrants instituted in the 1995 federal Liberal budget are neither fair not justifiable and border on racism, and;

WHEREAS the new $975 fee being imposed on adult immigrants is more than many immigrants make in their home country in an entire year, and will make it even more difficult for people from these countries to immigrate to Canada;

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request that the Government of Canada cancel these fee increases and instead institute policies that will encourage immigration to Manitoba.

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PRESENTING REPORTS BY

STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Standing Committee on Public Accounts

First Report

Mr. Conrad Santos (Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the First Report of the Committee on Public Accounts.

Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): Your Standing Committee on Public Accounts presents the following as its First Report.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

Your committee met on Thursday, September 21, 1995, at 10 a.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building to consider the Public Accounts for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1993, Volumes 1, 2 and 3, the Public Accounts for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1994, Volumes 1, 2 and 3, the Provincial Auditor's Report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1993, the Provincial Auditor's Report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1994, and the Provincial Auditor's Report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1995, Volumes 1 and 2.

At that meeting your committee elected Mr. Santos as chairperson and Mr. Helwer as vice-chairperson.

Also at that meeting your committee passed the following motion on a counted vote:

THAT the committee pass the 1992-1993 reports at the end of the meeting and allow for a crossover of discussion on issues pertaining to the previous years and further debate.

Your committee received all information desired by any member at the meeting from the Minister of Finance and from Ms. Carol Bellringer, Provincial Auditor. Information was provided with respect to the receipts, expenditures and other matters pertaining to the business of the province.

Your committee finds that the receipts and expenditures of the monies have been carefully set forth and all monies properly accounted for.

Your committee has considered the Public Accounts for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1993, Volumes 1, 2 and 3 and the Provincial Auditor's report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1993, and has adopted the same as presented.

Mr. Santos: Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the member for Point Douglas (Mr. Hickes), that the report of the committee be received.

Motion agreed to.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

Bill 201--The Health Services Insurance Amendment Act

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the member for St. Boniface (Mr. Gaudry), that leave be given to introduce Bill 201, The Health Services Insurance Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur l'assurance-maladie, and that the same be now received and read a first time.

Motion presented.

Mr. Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, this particular private member's bill takes into account what members from the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae), the NDP critic talked about, and that was the five fundamental principles of health care. That is already incorporated in Canadian law, if you like, through the Canada Health Act. What we are saying is we are going to reinforce it by bringing it and making it a part of legislation here in the province of Manitoba to reinforce how important it is to have a health care system that is one tier and is here to serve all Manitobans.

I request all members to support this piece of legislation and look forward to it going into second reading and ultimately to committee. Thank you for the opportunity to say a few words.

Motion agreed to.