Fifth Session- Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authorityof The Honourable Louise M. Dacquay Speaker _.·,·,:..·� •Oc Vol. XLIX No. 3 - 1:30 p.m., Thursday, April 8, 1999 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thirty-Sixth Legislature Memb-:r Constituency Political Affiliation ASHTON, Steve Thompson N.D.P. BARRETT, Becky Wellington N.D.P. CERILLI, Marianne Radisson N.D.P. CHOMIAK,Dave Kildonan N.D.P. CUMMINGS, Glen, Hon. Ste. Rose P.C. DACQUA Y,Louise, Hon. Seine River P.C. DERKACH,Leonard, Hon. Roblin-Russell P.C. DEWAR, Gregory Selkirk N.D.P. DOER, Gary Concordia N.D.P. DOWNEY,James Arthur-Virden P.C. DRIEDGER, Albert Steinbach P.C. DRIEDGER, Myrna Charleswood P.C. DYCK,Peter Pembina P.C. ENNS, Harry, Hon. Lakeside P.C. EVANS, Clif Interlake N.D.P. EVANS,Leonard S. Brandon East N.D.P. FAURSCHOU, David Portage Ia Prairie P.C. FILMON, Gary, Hon. Tuxedo P.C. FINDLAY,Glen Springfield P.C. FRIESEN, Jean Wolseley N.D.P. GILLESHAMMER, Harold, Hon. Minnedosa P.C. HELWER, Edward Gimli P.C. HICKES, George Point Douglas N.D.P. JENNISSEN, Gerard Flin Flon N.D.P. KOWALSKI, Gary The Maples Lib. LAMOUREUX,Kevin Inkster Lib. LATHLIN, Oscar The Pas N.D.P. LAURENDEAU,Marcel St. Norbert P.C. MACKINTOSH, Gord St. Johns N.D.P. MALOWA Y, Jim Elmwood N.D.P. MARTINDALE, Doug Burrows N.D.P. McALPINE, Gerry Sturgeon Creek P.C. McCRAE, James, Hon. Brandon West P.C. McGIFFORD, Diane Osborne N.D.P. MciNTOSH, Linda, Hon. Assiniboia P.C. MIHYCHUK, MaryAnn St. James N.D.P. MITCHELSON, Bonnie, Hon. River East P.C. NEWMAN, David, Hon. Riel P.C. PENNER,Jack Emerson P.C. PITURA, Frank, Hon. Morris P.C. PRAZNIK, Darren, Hon. Lac du Bonnet P.C. RADCLIFFE,Mike, Hon. River Heights P.C. REID, Daryl Transcona N.D.P. REIMER,Jack, Hon. Niakwa P.C. RENDER, Shirley, Hon. St. Vital P.C. ROBINSON, Eric Rupertsland N.D.P. ROCAN, Denis Gladstone P.C. SALE, Tim Crescentwood N.D.P. SANTOS,Conrad Broadway N.D.P. STEFANSON,Eric, Hon. Kirkfield Park P.C. STRUTHERS,Stan Dauphin N.D.P. SVEINSON,Ben La Verendrye P.C. TOEWS, Vic, Hon. Rossmere P.C. TWEED,Mervin, Hon. Turtle Mountain P.C. VODREY,Rosemary, Hon. Fort Garry P.C. WOWCHUK, Rosann Swan River N.D.P. Vacant St. Boniface Lib. 83 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Thursday, AprilS, 1999 The House met at 1:30 p.m. the Liberal Party requesting that the House deal with this matter and pledging his caucus to PRAYERS seeing that in fact happens. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS I only indicate that if members opposite are prepared to give leave today and have first TABLING OF REPORTS reading, we can distribute the bill this afternoon. I know the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Doer) Hon. Harry Enns (Minister of Agriculture): is quoted in the media as not having seen the Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table the 1997- bill. By allowing first reading today, the bill will 98 Annual Report fo r the Department of be distributed this afternoon-it cannot be Agriculture, copies of which have been distributed without first reading-and the member previously distributed. can see the bill. I would ask if there is leave. As well, I am pleased to table the 1997-98 Madam Speaker: Order, please. The Annual Report of the Manitoba Agricultural honourable member for Thompson. Are you on Credit Corporation, copies of which have also a point of order? been previously distributed. * (1335) As well, I am pleased to table the 1997-98 Annual Report for the Manitoba Farm Mediation Point of Order Board, copies of which have also been previously distributed. Mr. Steve Ashton (Opposition House Leader): On a point of order, Madam Speaker. As well, I am pleased to table the 1997 Annual Report for the Faculty of Agriculture and I think the government House leader did far Food Services, University of Manitoba. more than just ask for leave, and I am somewhat puzzled because I was contacted by the same As well, I am pleased to table the Annual government House leader, in fact, before the Report 1997-98 for the Manitoba Crop Insurance spring break in which he indicated that it was the Corporation, copies of which have been government's desire to proceed with the previously distributed. electoral boundaries bill fo llowing the throne speech and before the budget. I would like to In conclusion, I am also pleased to table the note for the record that that seemed to have 1998 Annual Report for the Prairie Agricultural changed on the basis of a matter of privilege Machinery Institute, affectionately known as moved by the member for The Maples (Mr. PAMI. Kowalski), and since that time the government House leader seems to have chosen to deal with House Business House business on the floor of the House, which is certainly not the practice fo llowed by previous Hon. Darren Praznik (Government House governmentHouse leaders. Leader): Madam Speaker, I am rising to ask if there would be leave of the House to allow fo r I want to indicate that when I spoke to the the first reading today of the Electoral government House leader I indicated more our Boundaries Commission legislation. willingness to talk to the government to arrange the business of the House, and we want to see I would like to table as well at this time a fair boundaries which will involve passage of the letter that we received today from the Leader of boundaries act and fair elections which will 84 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 8, 1999 involve dealing with the Monnin school is located in the constituency of the recommendations. would suggest that the honourable member fo r The Maples (Mr. government House leader might want to take Kowalski), and three Grade 9 students from less direction from the Liberal Party on this and Nelson Mcintyre Collegiate under the direction fo llow the processes of the House and his own of Mr. Elliott Drewiak. This school is located in word that he made to myself that he was willing the constituency of St. Boniface. to schedule this after the throne speech. It was his proposal. I would suggest that he go back On behalf of all honourable members, I and reflect on his desire to now raise the welcome you this afternoon. business of the House on the floor of the Legislature. Speaker's Statement Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Madam Speaker: Prior to recognizing the Leader of the official opposition, I wish to draw Madam Speaker: Order, please. On the point a matter of attention to the House. Yesterday I of order raised by the honourable member fo r was troubled by some of the language used, but I Thompson, I would agree to a degree that indeed did not address it then because I wanted to check the government House leader did go beyond the with the authorities to review past Manitoba request fo r asking fo r unanimous consent, but I practice. Having reviewed the transcript of also allowed the House leader of the official yesterday's Question Period and debate under opposition a lot of latitude in responding to the Orders of the Day, at this time fo r the benefit of honourable government House leader. I will all members I would like to make clarification of now ask the question that the request was made rules respecting unparliamentary language, fo r. Is there unanimous consent of the House to particularly quotations fr om other sources. allow the government House leader to introduce Bi11 2? Speaker Rocan on October 5, 1989, ruled that quoting words of another person which were Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. unparliamentary is out of order. He also ruled on December 12, 1994, that words may not be Madam Speaker: Order, please. I would used hypothetically or conditionally if they are remind all honourable members that this is not a plainly intended to convey a direct imputation, time fo r debate. We do have rules and as did Speaker Phillips on September 2, 1986. procedures that should be fo llowed. The request was made and asked and leave has been denied. * (1340) Introduction of Guests Speaker Graham in a statement on June 30 made reference to the parliamentary authority Madam Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, Erskine May which reads: A member is not would like to have all honourable members draw allowed to use unparliamentary words by the their attention to the public gallery where we device of putting them in somebody else's have a number of guests with us this afternoon. mouth. This quote is also contained in the Firstly, in the Speaker's Gallery we have three current edition of Erskine May. students who are returning from an exchange in Costa Rica with the operation World Mr. Ashton: I am wondering, Madam Speaker, Scholarship. They are Beth Bryson, Michele was that some advice or was that a ruling. Nychuk, and Niki Ashton from R.D. Parker I do not believe a point of order was raised on Collegiate in the constituency of the honourable that, and I would specifically like to know member fo r Thompson (Mr. Ashton). whether your ruling is suggesting that we cannot quote page 16 of the Monnin inquiry Also seated in the public gallery this which stated "In all my years on the Bench I afternoon we have twenty-two Grades 7 to 11 never encountered as many liars in one students from Maples Collegiate under the proceeding as I did during this inquiry."­ direction of Mr.