DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS
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Second Session - Fortieth Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Daryl Reid Speaker Vol. LXV No. 69B - 1:30 p.m., Thursday, July 4, 2013 ISSN 0542-5492 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Fortieth Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ALLAN, Nancy, Hon. St. Vital NDP ALLUM, James Fort Garry-Riverview NDP ALTEMEYER, Rob Wolseley NDP ASHTON, Steve, Hon. Thompson NDP BJORNSON, Peter, Hon. Gimli NDP BLADY, Sharon Kirkfield Park NDP BRAUN, Erna Rossmere NDP BRIESE, Stuart Agassiz PC CALDWELL, Drew Brandon East NDP CHIEF, Kevin, Hon. Point Douglas NDP CHOMIAK, Dave, Hon. Kildonan NDP CROTHERS, Deanne St. James NDP CULLEN, Cliff Spruce Woods PC DEWAR, Gregory Selkirk NDP DRIEDGER, Myrna Charleswood PC EICHLER, Ralph Lakeside PC EWASKO, Wayne Lac du Bonnet PC FRIESEN, Cameron Morden-Winkler PC GAUDREAU, Dave St. Norbert NDP GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Liberal GOERTZEN, Kelvin Steinbach PC GRAYDON, Cliff Emerson PC HELWER, Reg Brandon West PC HOWARD, Jennifer, Hon. Fort Rouge NDP IRVIN-ROSS, Kerri, Hon. Fort Richmond NDP JHA, Bidhu Radisson NDP KOSTYSHYN, Ron, Hon. Swan River NDP LEMIEUX, Ron, Hon. Dawson Trail NDP MACKINTOSH, Gord, Hon. St. Johns NDP MAGUIRE, Larry Arthur-Virden PC MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Flor, Hon. Logan NDP MARCELINO, Ted Tyndall Park NDP MELNICK, Christine, Hon. Riel NDP MITCHELSON, Bonnie River East PC NEVAKSHONOFF, Tom Interlake NDP OSWALD, Theresa, Hon. Seine River NDP PALLISTER, Brian Fort Whyte PC PEDERSEN, Blaine Midland PC PETTERSEN, Clarence Flin Flon NDP REID, Daryl, Hon. Transcona NDP ROBINSON, Eric, Hon. Kewatinook NDP RONDEAU, Jim, Hon. Assiniboia NDP ROWAT, Leanne Riding Mountain PC SARAN, Mohinder The Maples NDP SCHULER, Ron St. Paul PC SELBY, Erin, Hon. Southdale NDP SELINGER, Greg, Hon. St. Boniface NDP SMOOK, Dennis La Verendrye PC STEFANSON, Heather Tuxedo PC STRUTHERS, Stan, Hon. Dauphin NDP SWAN, Andrew, Hon. Minto NDP WHITEHEAD, Frank The Pas NDP WIEBE, Matt Concordia NDP WIGHT, Melanie Burrows NDP WISHART, Ian Portage la Prairie PC Vacant Morris 3047 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Thursday, July 4, 2013 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Through Bill 20, the provincial government wants to increase the retail sales tax, known as the Mr. Speaker: Good afternoon, everyone. Please be PST, by one point without the legally required seated. referendum. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS An increase to the PST is excessive taxation that Mr. Speaker: We'll move on to– will harm Manitoba families. PETITIONS Bill 20 strips Manitobans of their democratic right to determine when major tax increases are Provincial Sales Tax Increase–Referendum necessary. Mr. Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach): Good afternoon, We petition the Legislative Assembly of Mr. Speaker. I wish to present the following petition Manitoba as follows: to the Legislative Assembly. To urge the provincial government to not raise And these are the reasons for this petition: the PST without holding a provincial referendum. (1) The provincial government promised not to And this petition is signed by F. Petrie, raise taxes in the last election. D. Meunier, J. Huggard and thousands of other (2) Through Bill 20, the provincial government Manitobans. wants to increase the retail sales tax, known as the St. Ambroise Beach Provincial Park PST, by one point without the legally required referendum. Mr. Ian Wishart (Portage la Prairie): Mr. Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the (3) An increase to the PST is excessive taxation Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. that will harm Manitoba families. And these are the reasons for the petition: (4) Bill 20 strips Manitobans of their democratic right to determine when major tax increases are The St. Ambroise provincial park was hard hit necessary. by the 2011 flood, resulting in the park's ongoing closure and loss of local access to Lake Manitoba, as We petition the Legislative Assembly of well as untold harm to the ecosystem and wildlife in Manitoba as follows: the region. To urge the provincial government to not raise The park's closure is having a negative impact in the PST without holding a provincial referendum. many areas, including disruptions to the local tourism, hunting and fishing operations, diminished And, Mr. Speaker, this petition is signed by economic and employment opportunities and the L. Sawatzky, E. Flores, M. Banman and many other potential loss of the local store and decrease in Manitobans. property values. Mr. Speaker: In accordance with our rule 132(6), Local residents and visitors alike want St. when petitions are read they are deemed to have been Ambroise provincial park to be reopened as soon as received by the House. possible. Mrs. Bonnie Mitchelson (River East): I wish to We petition the Legislative Assembly of present the following petition to the Legislative Manitoba as follows: Assembly. To request the appropriate ministers of the And these are the reasons for this petition: provincial government consider repairing St. Ambroise provincial park and its access points to The provincial government promised not to raise their preflood conditions so the park can be reopened taxes in the last election. for the 2013 season or earlier if possible. 3048 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA July 4, 2013 This petition's signed by C. Sinclair, E. Purdy The provincial government did not consult and S. Flanagan and many, many more fine with or notify the affected municipalities of this Manitobans. decision prior to the Throne Speech announcement on November 19th, 2012, and has further imposed Municipal Amalgamations–Reversal unrealistic deadlines. Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): I wish to If the provincial government imposes present the following petition to the Legislative amalgamations, local democratic representation will Assembly. be drastically limited while not providing any real The background to this petition is as follows: improvements in cost savings. (1) The provincial government recently Local governments are further concerned that announced plans to amalgamate any municipalities amalgamation will fail to address the serious issues with fewer than 1,000 constituents. currently facing municipalities, including an absence of reliable infrastructure funding and timely flood (2) The provincial government did not consult compensation. with or notify the affected municipalities of this decision prior to the Throne Speech announcement Municipalities deserve to be treated with respect. on November 19th, 2012, and has further imposed Any amalgamations should be voluntary in nature unrealistic deadlines. and led by the municipalities themselves. (3) If the provincial government imposes We petition the Legislative Assembly of amalgamations, local democratic representation will Manitoba as follows: be drastically limited while not providing any real To request the Minister of Local Government improvements in cost savings. afford local governments the respect they deserve (4) Local governments are further concerned that and reverse his decision to force municipalities with amalgamation will fail to address the serious issues fewer than 10,000–or, sorry, 1,000 constituents to currently facing municipalities, including an absence amalgamate. of reliable infrastructure funding and timely flood This petition's signed by M. Ramsey, D. Glenn, compensation. D. Kotch and so many more Manitobans. (5) Municipalities deserve to be treated with Provincial Sales Tax Increase–Referendum respect. Any amalgamations should be voluntary in nature and led by the municipalities themselves. Mr. Blaine Pedersen (Midland): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: These are the reasons for this petition: To request that the Minister of Local The provincial government promised not to raise Government afford local governments the respect taxes in the last election. they deserve and reverse his decision to force Through Bill 20, the provincial government municipalities with fewer than 1,000 constituents to wants to increase the retail sales tax, known as the amalgamate. PST, by one point without the legally required This petition is signed by B. Hainiy, K. Grover, referendum. N. Guttormson and many, many other fine An increase to the PST is excessive taxation that Manitobans. will harm Manitoba families. Mrs. Leanne Rowat (Riding Mountain): I wish to Bill 20 strips Manitobans of their democratic present the following petition to the Legislative right to determine when major tax increases are Assembly of Manitoba. necessary. And these are the reasons for this petition: We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: The provincial government recently announced plans to amalgamate any municipalities with fewer To urge the provincial government not to raise than 1,000 constituents. the PST without holding a provincial referendum. July 4, 2013 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 3049 And this petition is signed by H. Thiesen, To urge that the Minister responsible for M. Thiesen, J. Fenske and many more fine Manitoba Hydro create a complete and transparent Manitobans. needs-for-and-alternatives-to review of Manitoba Hydro's total capital development plan to ensure the Mrs. Myrna Driedger (Charleswood): I wish to financial viability of Manitoba Hydro. present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. * (13:40) These are the reasons for this petition: This petition is signed by L. Berry,