Mr. Clif Evans (Interlake): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Erika Dalki, Cliff Dalki and Catherine Argle requesting that the Premier (Mr. Filmon) withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.

Mr. Gregory Dewar (Selkirk): I beg to present the petition of Barbara Lavallee, Gale Cherpako, Al Godfrey requesting that the Premier withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.

Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): I beg to present the petition of Irene Stevens, Klaus Tibeluis and Louis Lucko requesting that the Premier withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.

Mr. Jim Maloway (Elmwood): I beg to present the petition of J. Thiessen, H.N. Ball, T. Rainey and others requesting that the Premier withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.

Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): I beg to present the petition of Ruth Breckman, Kris Breckman, F. Mooitroek and others requesting that the Legislative Assembly urge the Minister of Family Services (Mrs. Mitchelson) to consider withdrawing Bill 36 and replacing it with improved legislation which provides for a guaranteed annual income that allows people to have adequate food, clothing, housing, child care and health care, and that this annual income increases as prices increase, and that this new legislation also provides for the creation of real jobs with a goal of creating full employment so that individuals on social assistance can find safe, meaningful work of their own choosing that allows them to meet their needs and the needs of their families and that this new legislation also provides for adequate supports so that individuals with disabilities receive appropriate assistance in finding meaningful work.

Mr. Daryl Reid (Transcona): I beg to present the petition of Brian McKeehan Jr., Patricia Morris, Harry Ebbs and others requesting that the Premier (Mr. Filmon) withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.

Mr. George Hickes (Point Douglas): I beg to present the petition of Wendy Gerbrandt, Pete Dueck and Peter Ilchyna requesting that the Premier withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.

Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Zully Trucfille, Fagie Fainman, Marian Yeo and others requesting that the Premier withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.

Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): I beg to present the petition of Leon E. Boomershine III, Cindy Hanson, Doug Racing and others requesting that the Premier withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.

Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): I beg to present the petition of Susan Barnett, Kevin Dearing, Jennifer Howard and others requesting that the Premier withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.

Mr. Stan Struthers (Dauphin): I beg to present the petition of Fred Embryk, Ken Steven, Joan Kutzan and others requesting that the Premier withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.

Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Virginia Jamieson, Wilf Hudson and Charles Zimmerman requesting that the Premier withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.

Mr. Oscar Lathlin (The Pas): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Paul Plouffe, Ellen Plouffe, Tracey Kitchin and others requesting that the Premier withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.

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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 the Manitoba Telephone System has served this province well for over 80 years providing province-wide service, some of the lowest local rates in North America, thousands of jobs and keeping profits in Manitoba; and

THAT MTS contributes $450 million annually to the Manitoba economy and is a major sponsor of community events throughout the province; and

THAT MTS, with nearly 4,000 employees including more than 1,000 in rural and northern Manitoba, is one of Manitoba's largest firms, headquartered in Manitoba and is committed to Manitoba; and

THAT the provincial government has no mandate to sell MTS and said before and during the 1995 election that MTS was not for sale.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier (Mr. Filmon) withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Burrows (Mr. Martindale) and it complies with rules and 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: The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth:

THAT the Manitoba Telephone System has served this province well for over 80 years providing province-wide service, some of the lowest local rates in North America, thousands of jobs and keeping profits in Manitoba; and

THAT MTS contributes $450 million annually to the Manitoba economy and is a major sponsor of community events throughout the province; and

THAT MTS, with nearly 4,000 employees including more than 1,000 in rural and northern Manitoba, is one of Manitoba's largest firms, headquartered in Manitoba and is committed to Manitoba; and

THAT the provincial government has no mandate to sell MTS and said before and during the 1995 election that MTS was not for sale.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Premier (Mr. Filmon) withdraw Bill 67 and not sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private interests.

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 this afternoon 10 English as a Second Language students from the University of Winnipeg under the direction of Mrs. Shannon McFarlane. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Wolseley (Ms. Friesen). On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you this afternoon.