LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY of MANITOBA Friday, 19 December, 1980
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LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Friday, 19 December, 1980 Time - 10:00 a.m. illustrates that 27 percent in April were able to enjoy apartment suites 250 and less compared to now 14 percent. This dealing with the lowest income, lowest OPENING PRAYER by Mr. Speaker. cost rental suites in the city of Winnipeg. Again my question to the First Minister, which again he may MR. SPEAKER, Hon. Harry E. Graham (Birtle wish to take as notice as apparently the government Russell): Presenting Petitions . Reading and hasn't been monitoring effectively what is taking Receiving Petitions ... Presenting Reports by place, hasn't been taking any action, again to the Standing and Special Committees . Ministerial First Minister is any plan of action intended? Statements and Tabling of Reports ... Notices of Motion. MR. LYON: The same reply, Mr. Speaker, with reiteration of the same caveats in accepting either INTRODUCTION OF BILLS the premise or the figures stated by the Leader of the Opposition. MR. SAUL CHERNIACK (St. Johns) introduced Bill No. 5, An Act to amend The Gasoline Tax Act, The MR. PAWLEY: Mr. Speaker, then further to the First Motor Fuel Tax Act, The Revenue Act, 1964, The Minister. Under present laws that exist in the Retail Sales Tax Act and The Tobacco Tax Act. province, if in a neighbourhood all the rentals increased by 20 percent can the First Minister advise INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS as to what action can be undertaken by tenants that are caught within that situation of having all rents go MR. SPEAKER: At this time I should like to up within a general neighbourhood by 20 percent, 9 introduce to the honourable members a Grade what steps can indeed take place under the present class from Shevchenko College under the direction legislation, under the portfolio of his minister, the of Mr. Ron Slezak. This school is in the constituency Minister responsible for Rent Stabilization? of the Honourable Member for Emerson. On behalf of all the honourable members, we MR. LYON: Mr. Speaker, the question is welcome you here this morning. hypothetical. We'll take whatever substantive part of it which is not hypothetical as notice. ORAL QUESTIONS MR. PAWLEY: Mr. Speaker, the First Minister MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Leader of the suggests that the question is hypothetical. If he Opposition. would refer to today's Winnipeg Sun he'll find that the official with his own department, Mr. Julius, has MR. HOWARD PAWLEY (Selkirk): Mr. Speaker, my confirmed indeed that a 20 percent increase would question is to the Acting Minister responsible for the be okay if matched by other market conditions in a Rent Stabilization Board. I'm not certain who he is or neighbourhood. Mr. Speaker, again I suppose we she is, quite possibly the First Minister could answer. have to leave it as notice with the First Minister, We've just received the Central Mortgage and whether or not there's anything that the government Housing Corporation survey data pertaining to rental proposes beyond a means test in order to permit information in the City of Winnipeg and that tenants to challenge substantial increases in rent that information is startling insofar as the contents of have been taking place recently. what has occurred during the six-month period April 1 to October 1, Mr. Speaker. It indicates that in one MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable First Minister. bedroom suites, for example, the rents have increased, 50 percent of all tenants are now paying MR. LYON: Mr. Speaker, the Legislature at the last more than 250 compared to 32 percent back last session dealt with this matter, if there are any further April, and 50 percent are paying more than 300 per suggestions or amendments they can be considered month compared to 35 percent last April I. So my at the forthcoming session when we reassemble. question to the First Minister is, does the government have any plans to deal with the MR. PAWLEY: Mr. Speaker, then am I to conclude, inflationary trends that are taking place in rents in by way of the First Minister's response, that the city of Winnipeg? amendments are being considered for the next sitting of the Legislature when we resume sitting in MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable First Minister. February or late January? HON. STERLING R. LYON (Charleswood): Mr. MR. LYON: No, Mr. Speaker, I said, that if Speaker, without in any way accepting the premise amendments were found to be necessary there or the figures upon which my honourable friend would be time to do them. bases his question, I'll be happy to take the question as notice on behalf of the minister responsible. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for St. Boniface. MR. PAWLEY: Mr. Speaker, further to the First Minister. In view of the rental accommodation MR. LAURENT L. DESJARDINS: Mr. Speaker, my families, families sharing rental accommodation question is to the Minister of Community Services. In three-bedroom suites and suite apartments, it view of the fact that under the CRISP Program, I 163 Friday, 19 December, 1980 believe that the cheques will be going out in early question. Does the Minister think it's fair to use the January, I wonder if the Minister can straighten funds from the taxpayers to make a misleading something out? According to the new service put out statement of doubling and talking about 5,000 when by the Information Services Branch of last December they're ready with that Sateway cart? Actually, what 18, it is stated here that a single parent with three the Minister is doing and the government is doing is dependants, that the benefit would cease when the increasing by 7.80 - probably buy a cauliflower, net income reached 11,772 a year. And in the budget three radishes and maybe green onions or last year the information is that this would cease - something. Now my question, Mr. Speaker, is not everything would cease - only when it reached asking tor a speech. If he wants to discuss the 13,000.00. Now has there been a change or is one of program of three or four years when conditions were this information that is not correct, and I wonder if different, this is something else. You ruled that I the Minister would want to correct it? can't discuss it with him at this time. My question was a very plain, very clear question. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Minister of Because of inflation and because those people are Community Services. suffering more than anybody else, does the Minister intend to look at the supplement with the intention, HON. GEORGE MINAKER (St. James): Mr. with the thought, the possibility of increasing it to at I Speaker, believe the comparison that the least keep up with inflation? Honourable Member for St. Boniface is using relating to the budget was a family of four children; the MR. MINAKER: Mr. Speaker, the Honourable comparison that he is referring to in the press Member for St. Boniface is fully aware that it's tied release is, I believe, a comparison of three children in with the guaranteed income supplement that the the family. I can advise the honourable member that federal government issues, and as they elevate the in actual fact we have increased the actual net salary qualifying income to qualify for the supplement, we that can qualify for the CRISP Program by some 6 automatically do the same. percent above what it was stated in the budget In regard to the advertising of the program I am address. happy to say, Mr. Speaker, that in the matter of three months we have almost got half of what we MR. DESJARDINS: Mr. Desjardins, I thought I was anticipate are qualifying for that program on the rolls referring to the same thing, maybe we can check this and it took the federal government five years to get after and get back to the Minister. the 95 percent of qualifying people on their While I'm on my feet, Mr. Speaker, to the same guaranteed income supplement. In a matter of three Minister. In view of the fact that there is so much months, by spending approximately less than 1/2 inflation, and the people of course that are suffering percent of a year's benefit of roughly 4 million, the for it are those that are getting less in revenue, for total program is roughly about 23,000 that we have instance, those that on a fixed pension, and that are been able to get out and on the rolls half of the receiving a supplement, a net increase of 7 and people that qualify. I might say that with the program some 80 cents a month, does the Minister and the we now have an additional 7,600 people receiving government intend to increase this amount of the these payments. supplement tor those people, to cover at least the inflation rate? MR. DESJARDINS: It's interesting to note, Mr. Speaker, that the Minister follows Ottawa now. I MR. MINAKER: Mr. Speaker, I'm quite surprised wonder if the Minister would think that maybe there that the Honourable Member for St. Boniface asked should be a little bit of leadership. The Minister that question, because when the government stated, I believe, that it depends what Ottawa will do, introduced their program, I believe it was back in then automatically they would do the same thing. 197 4, they did not increase it one iota but we Can't they lead once in a while instead of following doubled it, and the same Honourable Member for St.