First Session - Thirty-Fourth Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS (HANSARD) 3 7 Elizabeth 11 Publishedunder the authorityof The Honourable DenisC. Rocan Speaker VOL. XXXVII No. 62 - 10 a.m., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1988. MG-8048 ISSN 0542-5492 Printed by the Office of the Queens Printer, Province of Manitoba MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thirty-Fourth Legislature Members, Constituencies and Political Affiliation NAME CONSTITUENCY PA RTY ALCOCK, Reg Osborne LIBERAL ANGUS, John St. Norbert LIBERAL ASH TON, Sieve Thompson NDP BURRELL, Parker Swan River PC CARR, James Fort Rouge LIBERAL CARSTAIRS, Sharon River Heights LIBERAL CHARLES, Gwen Selkirk LIBERAL CHEEMA, Gulzar Kildonan LIBERAL CHORNOPYSKI, William Burrows LIBERAL CONNERY, Edward Hon. Portage la Prairie PC COWAN, Jay Churchill NDP CUMMINGS, Glen, Hon. Ste. Rose du Lac PC DERKACH, Leonard, Hon. Roblin-Russell PC DOER, Ga ry Concordia NDP DOW NE Y, James Hon. Arthur PC DRIEDGER, Albert, Hon. Emerson PC DRIEDGER, Herold, L. Niakwa LIBERAL DUCHARME, Gerald, Hon. Aiel PC EDWARDS, Paul St. James LIBERAL ENNS, Harry Lakeside PC ERNST, Jim, Hon. Charleswood PC EVANS, Laurie Fort Garry LIBERAL EVANS, Leonard Brandon East NDP FILMON, Gary, Hon. Tuxedo PC FINDLAY, Glen Hon. Virden PC GAUDRY, Neil St. Boniface ! IBERAL GILLESH AMMER, Harold Minnedosa PC GRAY, Avis Ellice LIBERAL HAMMOND, Gerrie Kirkfield Park PC HARAPIAK, Harry The Pas NDP HARPER, Elijah Rupertsland NDP HELWER, Edward R. Gimli PC HEMPHILL, Maureen Logan NDP KOZAK, Richard, J. Transcona LIBERAL LAMOUREUX, Ke vin, M. lnkster LIBERAL MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MANDRAKE, Ed Assiniboia LIBERAL MANNESS, Clayton, Hon. Morris PC McCRAE, James Hon. Brandon West PC MINENKO, Mark Seven Oaks LIBERAL MITCHELSON, Bonnie, Hon. River East PC NEUFELD, Harold, Hon. Rossmere PC OLESON, Charlotte Hon. Gladstone PC ORCHARD, Donald Hon. Pembina PC PA NKRATZ, Helmut La Verendrye PC PAT TERSON, Allan Radisson LIBERAL PENNER, Jack, Hon. Rhineland PC PLOHMAN, John Dauphin NDP PRAZNIK, Darren Lac du Bonnet PC ROCAN, De nis, Hon. Turtle Mountain PC ROCH, Gilles Springfield LIBERAL ROSE, Bob St. Vital LIBERAL STORIE, Jerry Flin Flon NDP TA YLOR,Har old Wolseley LIBERAL URUSKI, Bill lnterlake NDP WAS YLYCIA-LEIS, Judy St. Johns NDP YEO, lva Sturgeon Creek LIBERAL LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Friday, October 21, 1988. The House met at 10 a.m. their case, $6,800 on a deposit when a sunroom builder, Omega Leisure Room, went bankrupt and did not build PRAYERS the room. The price of the sunroom was about $12,000.00. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Mr. Victor Pagsuyuin of 38 Dzyndra lost $6,500, his PRESENTING PETITIONS deposit on a $15,500 sunroom. Mr. Elijah Harper (Rupertsland): Mr. Speaker, I beg Mr. Tom and Mavis Bleasdale of 3486 Henderson to present the petition of Paul McKay and Guy Highway lost $4,200 on a $12,200 sunroom. The McPherson, Roy Harper and others calling upon the legislation would have limited a deposit in the Bleasdale Attorney-General (Mr. McCrae) to consider the case to $2,400 and- submission made by the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and others for funding to make presentations before Mr. Speak er: Order, please; order, please. The the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry. Honourable Member has made his brief statement. 11 MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS has been moved by the Honourable Member for Elmwood (Mr. Maloway), seconded by the Honourable AND TABLING OF REPORTS Member for Concordia (Mr. Doer), that leave be given to introduce Bill No. 36, The Consumer Protection Act Hon. Donald Orchard (Minister of Health): Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the Annual Report 1987-88 of (2); Loi No. 2 modifiant la Loi sur la protection du the Alcoholism Foundation of Manitoba. consommateur, and that the same be now received and read the first time. Agreed and so ordered. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS ORAL QUESTIONS BILL NO. 36-THE CONSUMER PROTECTION AMENDMENT ACT (2) MPlC PUB Rate Setting Mr. Jim Maloway (Eimwood) introduced, by leave, Bill No. 36, The Consumer Protection Amendment Act (2). Mrs. Sharon Carstairs (Leader of the Opposition): My question is to the Premier (Mr. Filmon). Mr. Speaker, .. (1005) the flip flop continues on M PlC. The Government twists one way and then it twists another. The Deputy Premier Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Before I recognize the (Mr. Cummings) says one thing, the Premier says Honourable Member for Elmwood, I would like to remind another, but the citizens of the Province of Manitoba Honourable Members of our Rule 85, where a Bill is feel betrayed. If we count just one Cabinet meeting a introduced by a Member upon motion for leave. The week, this Cabinet has met at least 27 times since May mover of the motion may give such explanation as would 9 and yet the Premier stated on CKY last evening, enable the House to understand the purport of the Bill. much to Manitoba's astonishment, that the Cabinet But the question that this Bill be now read a first time has not gotten around to the details of this particular shall be decided without amendment or debate. This issue. This Government was elected to ensure that M PlC rule is also reinforced by Beauchesne's 717 which rates would be set by the Public Utilities Board. When reinforces our Rules at this stage. At this stage, it is will this begin? not permissible to argue the Bill. Discussion of the Bill's merits may take place on the motion for the second * (10 10) reading. The Member is only permitted to explain the provisions of this Bill in order that the House will lt is quite evident that understand its purport. The Honourable Member with Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): a brief statement. the Member does not know what goes on at Cabinet meetings. The Cabinet meetings are not a free-for-all Mr. Maloway: This second amendment to The in which people present things on an ad hoc basis . Consumer Protection Act will limit the amount of There is a responsibility for one Minister responsible deposits that businesses can take to 20 percent of the for Crown corporation accountability to have a Bill selling price of goods in any retail sale of goods in this prepared that will set the details of our accountability province. Furthermore, all deposits in excess of $500 process. per transaction must be held in a trust account. This I will say in very short form, as I did yesterday, that will protect consumers of high-ticket items when the the Government's commitment to the people of deposit exceeds $500.00. Manitoba is to ensure that all Crown corporations come Tom and Elsie Mclellan of 121 Margate Street, who before the Public Utilities Board for approval of any are retired, were one of 16 homeowners who lost, in applications for rate increases. 2335 Friday, October 21, 1988 Legislation Request was the issue, and the people of the province have been badly misled. My question to the First Minister Mrs. Sharon Carstairs (Leader of the Opposition): is why has he broken faith with the people of this Mr. Speaker, I have to say that I am somewhat province? astonished that the primary issue of the election campaign could be referred to as an ad hoc issue. This Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Mr. Speaker, no one on Government has failed after three months of sitting in this side has broken faith with the people of Manitoba. this House to introduce legislation making it possible I say that if the Leader of the Opposition believes that for MPIC rates to be set by the PUB. When will they M PlC was the only issue upon which people voted, then introduce that legislation? she is doing a disservice to the people of Manitoba because they considered many, many things. Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Mr. Speaker, I did not She has indicated that she believes that this say that the issue was an ad hoc issue. I said that Government has not been acting in a proper people did not bring forward issues on an ad hoc basis. management form. I think the people of Manitoba were I said there was a plan whereby each Minister took misled when she put herself forward as somebody with responsibility for his area and sought about with his competence, somebody with integrity, somebody of staff, with his advisors, with the legal draftsmen, to put principle. We have seen many things with respect to together a Bill that carried through the commitments her principles over the last few months, and people and the principles that the Government wants to embed know what they can expect from the Leader of the in law. That is indeed what will happen, Mr. Speaker, Opposition. They are expecting from us that we will and it will happen in due course. make calm, rational decisions and that we will make those decisions based on solid review and analysis of Decision Consensus the situation. I can tell her that no decision has been made with respect to Autopac increases for this coming Mrs. Sharon Carstairs (Leader of the Opposition): year, and none can be made until the corporation has Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Premier said he would do its year-end and a full year of experience upon which everything in his power, and he repeated that today, to base its judgment for next year. to get the 1988-89 rates before the Public Utilities Board. The Deputy Premier said it was impossible. Who We still intend to ensure that all Crown corporations will make the final decision on this issue? Will it be must go before the Public Utilities Board for any made by the Premier or will it be made by the Deputy approval of rate increases.