Thirty-Eighth Legislature
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First Session - Thirty-Ninth Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable George Hickes Speaker Vol. LIX No. 16B – 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, October 9, 2007 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thirty-Ninth Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ALLAN, Nancy, Hon. St. Vital N.D.P. ALTEMEYER, Rob Wolseley N.D.P. ASHTON, Steve, Hon. Thompson N.D.P. BJORNSON, Peter, Hon. Gimli N.D.P. BLADY, Sharon Kirkfield Park N.D.P. BOROTSIK, Rick Brandon West P.C. BRAUN, Erna Rossmere N.D.P. BRICK, Marilyn St. Norbert N.D.P. BRIESE, Stuart Ste. Rose P.C. CALDWELL, Drew Brandon East N.D.P. CHOMIAK, Dave, Hon. Kildonan N.D.P. CULLEN, Cliff Turtle Mountain P.C. DERKACH, Leonard Russell P.C. DEWAR, Gregory Selkirk N.D.P. DOER, Gary, Hon. Concordia N.D.P. DRIEDGER, Myrna Charleswood P.C. DYCK, Peter Pembina P.C. EICHLER, Ralph Lakeside P.C. FAURSCHOU, David Portage la Prairie P.C. GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib. GOERTZEN, Kelvin Steinbach P.C. GRAYDON, Cliff Emerson P.C. HAWRANIK, Gerald Lac du Bonnet P.C. HICKES, George, Hon. Point Douglas N.D.P. HOWARD, Jennifer Fort Rouge N.D.P. IRVIN-ROSS, Kerri, Hon. Fort Garry N.D.P. JENNISSEN, Gerard Flin Flon N.D.P. JHA, Bidhu Radisson N.D.P. KORZENIOWSKI, Bonnie St. James N.D.P. LAMOUREUX, Kevin Inkster Lib. LATHLIN, Oscar, Hon. The Pas N.D.P. LEMIEUX, Ron, Hon. La Verendrye N.D.P. MACKINTOSH, Gord, Hon. St. Johns N.D.P. MAGUIRE, Larry Arthur-Virden P.C. MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood N.D.P. MARCELINO, Flor Wellington N.D.P. MARTINDALE, Doug Burrows N.D.P. McFADYEN, Hugh Fort Whyte P.C. McGIFFORD, Diane, Hon. Lord Roberts N.D.P. MELNICK, Christine, Hon. Riel N.D.P. MITCHELSON, Bonnie River East P.C. NEVAKSHONOFF, Tom Interlake N.D.P. OSWALD, Theresa, Hon. Seine River N.D.P. PEDERSEN, Blaine Carman P.C. REID, Daryl Transcona N.D.P. ROBINSON, Eric, Hon. Rupertsland N.D.P. RONDEAU, Jim, Hon. Assiniboia N.D.P. ROWAT, Leanne Minnedosa P.C. SARAN, Mohinder The Maples N.D.P. SCHULER, Ron Springfield P.C. SELBY, Erin Southdale N.D.P. SELINGER, Greg, Hon. St. Boniface N.D.P. STEFANSON, Heather Tuxedo P.C. STRUTHERS, Stan, Hon. Dauphin-Roblin N.D.P. SWAN, Andrew Minto N.D.P. TAILLIEU, Mavis Morris P.C. WOWCHUK, Rosann, Hon. Swan River N.D.P. 985 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Tuesday, October 9, 2007 The House met at 1:30 p.m. These are the reasons for this petition: ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS As a result of high traffic volumes in the region, there have been numerous accidents and near misses INTRODUCTION OF BILLS along Provincial Trunk Highway 2, near the village Bill 3–The Healthy Child Manitoba Act of Glenboro, leading to serious safety concerns for motorists. Hon. Kerri Irvin-Ross (Minister of Healthy Living): I move, seconded by the Minister of The provincial government has refused to Aboriginal and Northern Affairs (Mr. Lathlin), that construct turning lanes off PTH 2 into the village of Bill 3, The Healthy Child Manitoba Act; Loi sur la Glenboro and on to Golf Course Drive, despite the stratégie "Enfants en santé Manitoba," now be read a fact that the number of businesses along PTH 2 have first time. increased greatly in recent years. Motion presented. We petition the Manitoba Legislative Assembly Ms. Irvin-Ross: I'm proud to re-introduce a bill that as follows: sets out in formal legislation or strategy, to work To urge the Minister of Infrastructure and across government departments and with community Transportation (Mr. Lemieux) to consider partners, to put children and families first. implementing a speed zone on Provincial Trunk Bill 3 is based on our belief that all sectors must Highway 2 adjacent to the village of Glenboro. work together to support families and parents as they This petition is signed by Earl Malyon, Steve raise their children to reach their fullest potential. Collins, Armand Vallotton and many, many others. Mr. Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt Mr. Speaker: In accordance with our rule 132(6), the motion? [Agreed] when petitions are read, they are deemed to be Bill 7–The Insurance Amendment Act received by the House. Hon. Greg Selinger (Minister of Finance): I move, Provincial Nominee Program seconded by the Minister of Family Services (Mr. Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Mr. Speaker, I Mackintosh), that Bill 7, The Insurance Amendment wish to present the following petition to the Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur les assurances, be now Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. read a first time. The background to this petition is as follows: Motion presented. Immigration is critically important to the future Mr. Selinger: Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to introduce of our province, and the 1998 federal Provincial this bill today. This bill modernizes The Insurance Nominee Program is the best immigration program Act in order to improve governance requirements for that Manitoba has ever had. Manitoba insurers, provide more authority to the superintendent and the insurance councils, to deal The current government needs to recognize that with unlicensed activities and update provisions for the backlog in processing PNP applications is consistency with other jurisdictions. causing additional stress and anxiety for would-be immigrants and their families and friends here in Mr. Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt Manitoba. the motion? [Agreed] The current government needs to recognize the PETITIONS unfairness in its current policy on who qualifies to be Provincial Trunk Highway 2–Glenboro an applicant, more specifically, by not allowing professionals such as health care workers to be able Mr. Cliff Cullen (Turtle Mountain): Mr. Speaker, I to apply for PNP certificates in the same way a wish to present the following petition to the computer technician would be able to. Legislative Assembly. 986 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA October 9, 2007 We petition the Legislative Assembly of compared his decision on this issue to the Manitoba as follows: establishment of Assiniboine Park and to the building of the floodway. He's made this decision To urge the Premier (Mr. Doer) and his without regard to the finances of the province, government to recognize and acknowledge how without regard to the fact that he's going to leave a important immigration is to our province by legacy of massive debt to future generations and that improving and strengthening the Provincial Nominee he's making a decision that in the end will damage Program. Manitoba's environment. Mr. Speaker, this is signed by D. de Leon, Jay de Now, I know, Mr. Speaker, and his minister Leon and Jay Cruz and many, many other fine made it clear last week in the Winnipeg Free Press Manitobans. that the NDP does not believe that financial impact Thank you, Mr. Speaker. should be considered when government decisions are made. But I do want to say that we disagree that TABLING OF REPORTS financial impacts and future generations of Hon. Jim Rondeau (Minister of Science, Manitobans must be considered. Technology, Energy and Mines): Mr. Speaker, I'm Now, one of the key reasons the Premier's given pleased to table the following reports: the Annual for the decision to go with the far longer west-side Progress Report for the Canada-Manitoba Economic route is his desire to see a successful UNESCO Partnership Agreement 2006-2007. In addition, the World Heritage site designation, which is something Annual Report for the Manitoba Development that we commend. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, the Corporation. I'm also pleased to table the Annual Premier didn't research whether it would make more Report for the Manitoba Opportunities Fund Limited. sense to pursue both an east-side power line and a Hon. Nancy Allan (Minister of Labour and UNESCO designation for Manitoba. Immigration): Mr. Speaker, I'd like to table the Professor Bryan Schwartz, who is Manitoba's 2006-2007 Annual Report of the Manitoba Women's leading constitutional lawyer, has prepared an Advisory Council and the 2006-2007 Annual Report opinion that says that not only are the goals of an of the Department of Labour and Immigration. east-side power line and a UNESCO World Heritage Hon. Peter Bjornson (Minister of Education, site compatible, but from UNESCO's perspective, it Citizenship and Youth): Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased may even be desirable to run the line down the east to table the Annual Report 2006-2007, Manitoba side of Manitoba from an economic and Education, Citizenship and Youth. environmental and a social perspective, Mr. Speaker. Hon. Kerri Irvin-Ross (Minister of Healthy So, in light of the fact that the leading Living): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table the constitutional lawyer in Manitoba is taking the Healthy Child Manitoba Annual Report 2006-2007, position and has offered an opinion that both a as well as the Manitoba Seniors and Healthy Aging UNESCO site and an east-side line are not only Secretariat Annual Report 2006-2007. compatible but desirable from the perspective of the economics and the environment of our province, will Hon. Christine Melnick (Minister of Water the Premier today commit to doing a U-turn on his Stewardship): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table position and do the right thing for future generations the 2007-2008 Departmental Expenditure Estimates of Manitobans? Supplementary Information for Legislative Review * (13:40) for the Department of Water Stewardship. Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): Mr. Speaker, I will ORAL QUESTIONS check to see if the expert cited by the member Location of Hydro Power Line opposite is in fact employed by people on the east UNESCO World Heritage Site side that are proposing ownership of a line, but I want to double check that point.