2nd-36th, Volume 47 - Routine Proceedings

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

PRESENTING PETITIONS

Teachers--Collective Bargaining and Compensation Review

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Wayne Bradshaw, Hazel Hewitt, Wanda Austin and others urging the Minister of Education (Mrs. McIntosh) to recognize the true value of teachers and reject the recommendations made in the May 1996 paper entitled a report of the Teacher Collective Bargaining and Compensation Review Committee.

Mr. Neil Gaudry (St. Boniface): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Murray Schneider, Marlene Wylychenko, Jeff Milan and others urging the Minister of Education to recognize the true value of teachers and reject the recommendations made in the May 1996 paper entitled a report of the Teacher Collective Bargaining and Compensation Review Committee.

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Mr. Gary Kowalski (The Maples): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of L. Risbey, H. Wroblewski, J. Bilowus and others urging the Minister of Education to recognize the true value of teachers and reject the recommendations made in the May 1996 paper entitled a report of the Teacher Collective Bargaining and Compensation Review Committee.

Home Care Services

Mr. Stan Struthers (Dauphin): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Russ Panagapko, Trudi Gunia, Eleanor Crozier and others requesting the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and the Minister of Health (Mr.McCrae) to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Native Addictions Council of Manitoba Inc.

Mr. Eric Robinson (Rupertsland): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Steve Courchene, Robert Flett, Arnold Fontaine and others requesting that the revised Statutes of Manitoba entitled The Native Alcoholism Council of Manitoba Incorporation Act be amended to reflect the change in name to the Native Addictions Council of Manitoba Inc., a change to the head office location, the number of members of the board of directors and amendment to the quorum required.

Pharmacare

Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Earl Mauro, Doris Mauro, Leona Peluso and others requesting the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) to consider reversing their plan to cut Pharmacare in 1996.

READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS

Teachers--Collective Bargaining and

Compensation Review

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for The Maples (Mr. Kowalski). It complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

THAT the May 1996 report of the Collective Bargaining and Compensation Review Committee is a direct attack on the collective rights of all teachers and consequently will negatively affect the quality of education in Manitoba; and

THAT by pursuing the direction and recommendations suggested by this report teachers will be stripped of any powers they have with regard to collective bargaining; and

THAT teachers by educating our youth to compete successfully in the knowledge based economy of the 1990s are generators of wealth; and

THAT any changes to the teachers' compensation process only be undertaken with the idea of improving the present system and not by attacking teachers' ability to bargain.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the Minister of Education (Mrs. McIntosh) to recognize the true value of teachers and reject the recommendations made in the May 1996 paper entitled Report of the Teacher Collective Bargaining and Compensation Review Committee.

Home Care Services

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Selkirk (Mr. Dewar). 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: Yes.

Madam Speaker: Yes. The Clerk will read.

Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth:

THAT on at least six occasions during the 1995 provincial election, the Premier promised not to cut health services; and

THAT on December 16, 1995, a plan to privatize home care services was presented to Treasury Board; and

THAT this plan calls for the complete divestiture of all service delivery to nongovernment organizations, mainly private for-profit companies as well as the implementation of a user-pay system of home care; and

THAT previous cuts to the Home Care program have resulted in services being cut and people’s health being compromised; and

THAT thousands of caring front-line service providers will lose their jobs as a result of this change; and

THAT profit has no place in the provision of vital health services.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Point Douglas (Mr. Hickes). 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.

THAT on at least six occasions during the 1995 provincial election, the Premier promised not to cut health services; and

THAT on December 16, 1995, a plan to privatize home care services was presented to Treasury Board; and

THAT previous cuts to the Home Care program have resulted in services being cut and people’s health being compromised; and

THAT thousands of caring front-line service providers will lose their jobs as a result of this change; and

THAT profit has no place in the provision of vital health services.

Teachers--Collective Bargaining and

Compensation Review

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for St. Boniface (Mr. Gaudry). It complies with the rules and the practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

Some Honourable Members: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

THAT by pursuing the direction and recommendations suggested by this report teachers will be stripped of any powers they have with regard to collective bargaining; and

THAT teachers by educating our youth to compete successfully in the knowledge based economy of the 1990s are generators of wealth; and

THAT any changes to the teachers' compensation process only be undertaken with the idea of improving the present system and not by attacking teachers' ability to bargain.

PRESENTING REPORTS BY

STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections

Second Report

Mr. Jack Penner (Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections): Madam Speaker, I wish to present the Second Report of the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections.

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

Your Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections presents the following as its Second Report.

Your committee met on Tuesday, June 4, 1996, at 2:45 p.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Assembly to consider the report and recommendations of the Judicial Compensation Committee and to review the operation of the Children's Advocate section of The Child and Family Services Act.

At that meeting, your committee elected Mr. Dyck as its Vice-Chairperson.

Your committee adopted at its June 4, 1996, meeting the following recommendations:

MOTION:

THAT this committee recommend that the Judicial Compensation Committee report be referred to another sitting of this committee to be called as expeditiously as possible, and that the Provincial Court Judges be permitted to make a presentation at the sitting of the committee as they see fit and the committee shall advise of the meeting.

MOTION:

THAT the Committee on Privileges and Elections recommend to the House that this committee hold public hearings, including outside Winnipeg, on the Children's Advocate section of The Child and Family Services Act and report to the Legislature no later than the last day of the fall session of the Second Session of the 36th Legislature.

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

Motion agreed to.

Committee of Supply

Mr. Marcel Laurendeau (Chairperson of Committees): The Committee of Supply has adopted certain resolutions, directs me to report the same and asks leave to sit again.

I move, seconded by the honourable member for Emerson (Mr. Penner), that the report of the committee be received.

Motion agreed to.

Standing Committee on Law Amendments

Second Report

Mr. David Newman (Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Law Amendments): I beg to present the Second Report of the Committee on Law Amendments, by leave.

Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Riel have leave? [agreed]

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

Your Standing Committee on Law Amendments presents the following as its Second Report.

Your committee met on Wednesday, June 5, 1996, at 7:30 p.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building to consider Bills referred.

Your committee heard representation on bills as follows:

Bill 69--The Real Estate Brokers Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur les courtiers en immeubles

Cliff Palmer and David Deleeuw Winnipeg Real Estate Board

Your committee has considered:

Bill 7--The Medical Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi médicale

Bill 69--The Real Estate Brokers Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur les courtiers en immeubles

Bill 74--The Court of Queen's Bench Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur la Cour du Banc de la Reine

and has agreed to report the same without amendment.

Mr. Newman: I move, seconded by the honourable member for River Heights (Mr. Radcliffe), that the report of the committee be received.

Motion agreed to.

TABLING OF REPORTS

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, I would like to table copies of the communique issued by the Western Premiers' Conference yesterday at Dawson City, Yukon.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

Manitoba's Export House

Hon. James Downey (Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism): I have a statement for the House.

I thought it was appropriate to end this part of the session with some positive information for the House and the people of Manitoba.

In July of 1995, a number of key Manitoba building product manufacturers and related industries developed the concept of building a house for the Winter Cities convention which would assist them in promoting their products to export countries like Japan but which could also be utilized for delegations visiting throughout the year. These Manitoba companies were just beginning to export prefabricated houses to Japan, and this project was viewed as an opportunity to increase their exports.

The Export Building Products Initiative of Manitoba, as this group is now known, has completed construction of a 1,900 square foot model home to showcase Manitoba and other western Canadian products, service and expertise. The Export House is a co-operative effort of Manitoba's burgeoning building product manufacturers who see a very large and lucrative overseas market where housing technologies have been slow to emerge.

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The Export House was built at a cost of approximately $400,000, of which support was provided from Manitoba Trade and Western Economic Diversification. Manitoba Government Services provided a temporary site on a provincial parking lot. Approximately 40 Manitoba western Canadian companies supplied goods, services and additional funding.

The Export House was officially opened for the 7th International Winter Cities Conference held in Winnipeg from February 9 to 13. The house is located in the government parking lot across from the Convention Centre and will remain there until the close of the Pan American Games which are to be held in Winnipeg in the summer of 1999. The house is being used to showcase Canadian-made and particularly Manitoba-made building products for visiting trade delegations. It will also be open during the Home Expressions Show and other similar events held at the Convention Centre.

Since its opening in February of 1996, over 12,000 visitors have been through the house, including over 20 trade missions, the majority of which have been from Japan. There have been two requests to build identical homes in Japan to showcase Manitoba and the Canadian prefabricated house building products. The Export House has been such a success that the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia are planning to copy this initiative.

Since September of 1995, initiative member exports to Japan of prefabricated housing and building products have exceeded $8 million. Initiative members have also started exporting products and services to Germany, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Korea and Taiwan. As well, 12 initiative members will be exhibiting at Kobe Interhome Show in Japan in September.

Madam Speaker, the Export House has been featured in over a dozen foreign and domestic publications since it has been open. An added benefit for the construction of the Export House in downtown Winnipeg has been to increase export awareness among other Manitoba companies which are not currently exporting. We have also seen an increase in the number of visiting trade delegations to Manitoba who are primarily coming to visit the Export House. A major benefit of this initiative has been to bring together the various building product companies into one cohesive group to work co-operatively to secure additional export markets.

Madam Speaker, I would ask members to join me in congratulating the Export Building Products Initiative on behalf of all Manitobans because it is a very innovative and successful concept. Thank you.

Mr. Tim Sale (Crescentwood): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join in congratulating the Export Building Products Initiative which the minister has referred to in his press release. I have visited the home and it is an impressive showcase for Manitoba in its capabilities in the building products industry. It is also I think interesting to note that exports have gone to two of the hottest countries in the world, as well as some colder countries, proving that if you can keep it warm in the winter, you can keep it cool in the summer. So I think this is a very worthwhile initiative on the part of the export companies and Manitoba manufacturers concerned.

A problem, though, is that Manitoba had last year the worst record it has had in 40 years in housing starts. We can afford to apparently build very expensive houses to showcase our exports, but we are having difficulty providing housing for average Manitobans. In the 1980s, Madam Speaker, we had housing starts in excess of 6,000--

Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.

Madam Speaker: Order, please. I am experiencing difficulty hearing the honourable member for Crescentwood.

Mr. Sale: Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, our concern is that our exports be strong but that our domestic housing industry be equally strong and provide housing for low income, moderate income and all Manitobans in affordable and stable and safe neighbourhoods. I hope the government will turn their attention to those concerns, as well as supporting these very worthwhile initiatives in the export industry.

1996 Community Round Table Report

Hon. Leonard Derkach (Minister of Rural Development): Madam Speaker, I have a brief statement for the House along with the tabling. It gives me great pleasure today to table the 1996 report of Manitoba's community round tables.

Since 1991, the Community Choices program of the department has provided rural communities and municipalities with the opportunity to establish round tables so they may begin planning their future. I am happy to report that there are currently 71 community round tables that have been established, involving more than 130 municipalities. In the meantime, some 59 community round tables have progressed to the point where they have identified vision statements outlining the direction in which they would like to see their communities grow.

For its part, my department has provided round tables with grants totalling $230,000 towards the development of their vision statements. The report which I am tabling today offers a positive glimpse of how quickly and confidently communities are moving forward. The report contains the vision statements, goals, community accomplishments and proposed future actions of the round tables.

I encourage all members of the Legislature to read the round table report since it is a true insight into the creative and innovative spirit of rural Manitobans who have joined together to strengthen their communities. I would also like to offer my sincere thanks and my congratulations to all rural Manitobans involved in the round tables who are contributing to the growing optimism and success we are witnessing throughout rural Manitoba. Thank you.

Mr. Clif Evans (Interlake): I wish to acknowledge the minister's statement. I, too, here on this side of the House and members on our side wish to also offer our sincere thanks and congratulations to the many rural Manitobans who have been involved in round tables in the past little while and who will continue to be involved.

Round tables, as the minister has indicated, have provided communities with an incentive to develop their vision, and hopefully, through the round table discussions and all the necessary work that has to be done in rural Manitoba, we will soon see through the round tables discussions the vision of jobs, jobs that this government now has taken away from rural Manitobans, MTS being one of them.

Rural Manitobans are saying what is needed in rural Manitoba through the round tables, and I support them to continue to tell this government what the real vision of rural Manitoba is, is jobs, jobs, jobs.

TABLING OF REPORTS

Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): I am pleased to table the Quarterly Report for the Manitoba Telephone System for the first quarter, 1996.

Introduction of Guests

Madam Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would like to draw the attention of all honourable members to the public gallery where we have with us today visitors from Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, here on an environmental management initiative between Port-of-Spain and Manitoba Environment, Dr. Daniel Chang, public health medical officer; Mr. Sayad Ali, chief public health inspector; Mr. Derek Cadet, chief building inspector; and Mr. Ricardo Revenales, senior work supervisor.

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

We had a number of schools in the public gallery this afternoon, and in the interest, I think, of recognizing them and being a little uncertain as to which ones remain, I will quickly identify them even though they may already have departed.

We have twenty-four Grade 12 students from Maples Collegiate under the direction of Mr. Gord Boyko. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for The Maples (Mr. Kowalski).

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

We also had students here from Elmdale School in the constituency of the honourable Minister of Natural Resources (Mr. Driedger), and forty-nine Grade 5 students from Souris School. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Turtle Mountain (Mr. Tweed).

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