LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA
Monday, September 23, 1996
The House met at 1:30 p.m.
PRAYERS
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
PRESENTING PETITIONS
Rail Line Abandonment
Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Jerry Boychuk, Garfield Lowe, Denis Beaudry and others requesting the Legislative Assembly to request the Minister of Transportation (Mr. Findlay) and federal Minister of Transport to ensure that communities currently using the Cowan Sub and the Erwood Sub be able to continue shipping their grain to market.
Manitoba Telephone System
Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): I beg to present the petition of Elin Hood, Dora Scott and M. Earlsson praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier (Mr. Filmon) not sell the Manitoba Telephone System.
Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Colleen Seymour, Susan Dobson and Denise Cox praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request the Premier to not sell the Manitoba Telephone System.
Mr. Gregory Dewar (Selkirk): I beg to present the petition of Jennifer Howard, Wynn Fordyce, Marcia Hamm Wiebe and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request the Premier not to sell the Manitoba Telephone System.
Mr. Clif Evans (Interlake): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of M.E. Clendenning, Laurie Cline and Pam Cline praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier not sell the Manitoba Telephone System.
Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Karen Shanks, Irene Peters, K. McKee and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier not sell the Manitoba Telephone System.
Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Sarah Harpe, Julie Haslen, Russell Coeur and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier not sell the Manitoba Telephone System.
Mr. George Hickes (Point Douglas): I beg to present the petition of M.R. Moore, Maurie Currie, B. Meakin and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request the Premier not to sell the Manitoba Telephone System.
Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): I beg to present the petition of Gary H. Nyto, Nelson Hrysak, Cal Minaker and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier not sell the Manitoba Telephone System.
Mr. Gord Mackintosh (St. Johns): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Christine Smith, G. Thompson and A. Reid praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier not sell the Manitoba Telephone System.
Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Wendy Boyd, Monique Boulet, G. Roth and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier not sell the Manitoba Telephone System.
Mr. Jim Maloway (Elmwood): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of V. Johnson, Ray Wood, Claire Goldstone and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier not sell the Manitoba Telephone System.
Ms. MaryAnn Mihychuk (St. James): I beg to present the petition of John McKenzie, Caroline McPhail, C. Neufeld and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier not sell the Manitoba Telephone System.
Mr. Eric Robinson (Rupertsland): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Ian Douglas, Robert Thompson, Harvey Purvis and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier not sell the Manitoba Telephone System.
Mr. Stan Struthers (Dauphin): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Alvin Hansen, P. Guyson, Marge McAllister and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier not sell the Manitoba Telephone System.
* (1335)
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.
TABLING OF REPORTS
Hon. Albert Driedger (Minister of Natural Resources): Madam Speaker, I have two reports that I would like to table, the first one being the Pineland Forest Nursery Annual Report for the year ended March 31, 1996, and the next one being the Annual Report of the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation for the year 1995-1996.
Hon. Jim Ernst (Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs): Madam Speaker, I would like to table the report of the Automobile Injury Compensation Appeal Commission for the year 1995-96.