Tuesday, September 26, 1995

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA

Tuesday, September 26, 1995

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

PRAYERS

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

PRESENTING PETITIONS

Federal Immigration Policies

Ms. Becky Barrett (Wellington): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Walfredo Burtudez, Teodora Burtudez, Mike Legaspi and others requesting the Legislative Assembly to request the Government of Canada that they cancel the fee increases and instead institute policies that will encourage immigration to Manitoba.

READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS

Federal Immigration Policies

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: 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:

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 nor 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.

Point of Order

Hon. Jim Ernst (Government House Leader): Madam Speaker, not disagreeing for a moment with the substance of the petition, I ask your consideration. This is petitioning the Government of Canada, not the government of Manitoba.

We have had, I think, two or three similar types of petitions coming forward, and you say, well, while certainly you do not disagree with the substance of the issue particularly related to the matters raised within the petition, I ask for your consideration with regard to the appropriateness of being presented here in this House.

Mr. Steve Ashton (Opposition House Leader): On the same point of order, it is an area of joint jurisdiction, and I believe that is why it has been tabled in this House.

I would certainly await your ruling in terms of whether there are any difficulties in terms of the wording, but it is a matter that does affect both levels of government, although I do appreciate the comments of the government House leader.

* (1335)

Madam Speaker: As I indicated earlier in my remarks, I have reviewed the petition, and perhaps yesterday I did not hear all of the appropriate wording.

I have researched it and checked it, and perhaps for the benefit of the government House leader and all other members, I will just quickly read the WHEREFORE portion of the motion which is basically a request of this government to request that the Government of Canada cancel--

So with your indulgence, I will quickly review the wording: "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."

Therefore I rule that there was no point of order, that indeed the petition is in order.

Federal Immigration Policies

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

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

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 nor 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.

TABLING OF REPORTS

Hon. Jim Ernst (Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs): Madam Speaker, I would like to table the Annual Reports for 1994 for the Residential Tenancies Branch and the Residential Tenancies Commission.

Introduction of Guests

Madam Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would like to draw all members' attention to the loge to my right, where we have with us Mr. Harold Neufeld, the former member for the constituency of Rossmere.

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