Wednesday, September 18, 1996
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA
Wednesday, September 18, 1996
The House met at 1:30 p.m.
PRAYERS
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
PRESENTING PETITIONS
Seasonal Camping Fees
Mr. Stan Struthers (Dauphin): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Al Neath, Christine Harapiak, Olive Leale and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the provincial government to review camping fees in line with cost-of-living increases and return to daily entrance permits to encourage the continued use and enjoyment of Manitoba's provincial parks.
Rail Line Abandonment
Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Christine Playfoot, David Gillies, Georgina Mosiondz and others requesting the Legislative Assembly to request the Transportation minister and federal Minister of Agriculture to ensure that communities currently using the Cowan Sub and Erwood Sub are able to continue shipping their grain to market.
READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS
Rail Line Abandonment
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. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?
An Honourable Member: Dispense.
Madam Speaker: Dispense.
WHEREAS rail access is vital for the shipment of grain and other farm commodities in rural communities; and
WHEREAS the proclamation of the Canada Transportation Act on July 1, 1996, gives railways the ability to abandon lines throughout Canada with minimum notice; and
WHEREAS on July 2, 1996, Canadian National announced that it plans to abandon four rail lines in Manitoba including the lines from Dauphin to Minitonas and Swan River to Birch River; and
WHEREAS the abandonment of these lines would put the future of grain elevators at Birch River, Bowsman, Ethelbert, and Fork River amongst others at great risk; and
WHEREAS the federal government sold CN without any conditions other than the headquarters of CN remain in Montreal; and
WHEREAS the loss of these rail lines will have a major negative effect upon the overall provincial economy; and
WHEREAS the provincial government has not made any plans to cover the costs of upgrading roads in the areas where rail lines are threatened with abandonment; and
WHEREAS the federal government has not committed any money from the Western Grain Transportation Adjustment Fund to upgrading roads in communities where rail lines are being abandoned.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Minister of Transportation and the federal Minister of Transport to ensure that the communities currently using the Cowan Sub and the Erwood Sub are able to continue shipping their grain to markets.
Teachers--Collective Bargaining and Compensation Review
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 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.
Seasonal Camping Fees
Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Dauphin (Mr. Struthers). 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.
WHEREAS seasonal camping has provided an affordable form of recreation for many Manitobans; and
WHEREAS the provincial government has announced increases in seasonal camping fees of up to 100 percent; and
WHEREAS this huge increase is far more than any cost-of-living increase; and
WHEREAS this increase will lead to many people being unable to afford seasonal camping.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly urge the provincial government not to increase seasonal camping fees by such a large amount.
TABLING OF REPORTS
Hon. James Downey (Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism): Madam Speaker, I have two reports to table, one from the Economic Innovation and Technology Council Annual Report, 1995-96 and the Annual Report for the Manitoba Horse Racing Commission, 1995-96. Thank you.
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): I am pleased to table the Annual Report for 1995-96 for The Manitoba Foundation.
* (1335)
INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS
Madam Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would like to draw the attention of all honourable members to the Speaker's Gallery where we have with us today Mrs. Titiek Suyono, Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia to Canada. On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you here today.
Also, seated in the public gallery, we have visitors from the Republic of Poland, Mr. Roman Kornacki, project manager of the Polish Agency for Foreign Investment; Mr. Stefan Zimmer, Adviser to the Minister of Trade and Industry; Mr. Witold Opasewicz, deputy director of the State Automotive Institute. On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you here today.