Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES
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Fourth Session - Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Louise M. Dacquay Speaker Vol. XLVIII No. 52- 1:30 p.m., Monday, May 25, 1998 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY - Thirty-Sixth Legislature Member 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 DP. DOER, Gary Concordia N.D.P. DOWNEY, James, Hon. Arthur-Virden p C. DRIEDGER, Albert Steinbach P.C. DRIEDGER, Myrna Charleswood PC. 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, Hon. Springfield P.C. FRIESEN, Jean Wolseley N.D.P. GAUDRY, Neil St. Boniface Lib. 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. LA THLIN, Oscar The Pas N.D.P. LAURENDEAU, Marcel St. Norbert P.C. MACKINTOSH, Gord St. Johns N.D.P. MALOW AY, 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 St. Vital P.C. ROBINSON. Eric Rupertsland N.D.P. ROC AN, 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. p TOEWS, Vic. Bon. Rossmere C. TWEED, Mervin Turtle Mountain P.C. VODREY, Rosemary, Bon. Fort Garry P.C. WOWCHUK. Rosano Swan River N.D.P. 3343 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Monday, May 25, 1998 The House met at 1:30 p.m. economy for many years are now nearing the end of their known ore resources and as such this fund is PRAYERS extremely important to the future of these communities in northern Manitoba; and ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS WHEREAS in order for a new banking service to READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS establish a branch at Lynn Lake it has been suggested that they would need a minimum of $12 million on Mining Reserve Fund account. Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRAY honourable member for Flin Flon (Mr. Jennissen.) It that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is pleased to request the Mi nister of Energy and Mines to it the will of the House to have the petition read? consider transferring the account of the Mining Reserve Fund to a banking service in Lynn Lake should An Honourable Member: Dispense. such a facility meet provincial standards. Madam Speaker: Dispense. PRESENTING REPORTS BY STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES WHEREASmining is an annual billion-dollar industry in Ma nitoba concentrated almost entirely in northern Committee of Supply Manitoba; and Mr. Marcel Laurendeau (Chairperson): Madam WHEREAS the Manitoba mznzng in dustry directly Speaker, the Committee of Supply has adopted certain employs more than 4,300 people pumping more than resolutions, directs me to report the same and asks $240 million in wages alone into the provincial leave to sit again. economy; and I move, seconded by the honourable member for La WHEREASpart of the mining taxes on op erating mines Verendrye (Mr. Sveinson), that the report of the goes into the Mining Reserve Fund; and committee be received. WHEREAS the Mining Reserve Fund was set up for the Motion agreed to. welfare and employment of persons residing in a * (1335) mining communitywhich maybe adversely affected by the total or partial suspension, or the closing down, of MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS mining op erations attributable to the depletion of ore deposits; and World Trade Conference WHEREAS the Mining Reserve Fund had more than Hon. James Downey (Minister of Industry, Trade $15 million on account as of April 1998, despite and Tourism): Madam Speaker, I have a statement to withdrawals by the provincial governmentof more than make and copies for distribution. $6 million which was put into revenue; and I appreciate members bearing with me. The state WHEREAS many mining communities having ment may be a little long, but I think it is an important contributed millions of dollars to the provincial subject. 3344 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 25, 1998 Madam Speaker, I would like to takethis opportunity declaration confinnthat all countries remain committed to infonn the House of the important developments to the WTO and the process of further opening world regarding the efforts to further liberalize world trade markets. The conference also witnessed a celebration this past week at the meeting of the world's Trade of 50 years that have elapsed since the establishment of ministers under the World Trade Organization. the multilateral trading system. Distinguished world leaders included the United States President, Bill At the personal invitation of Canada's federal Trade Clinton, Prime Minister Tony Blair-you would have minister, the Honourable Sergio Marchi, I was able to been proud of his speech, I am sure, to the member participate as a member of the Canadian delegation to opposite; not very much along the lines-of the United these meetings. These meetings provided an important Kingdom, and President Nelson Mandela of South opportunity for Trade ministers to reflect upon the Africaspoke with eloquence and conviction of the need implementation of the results of the Uruguay round of fo r renewed commitments to the multilateral trade multilateral trade negotiations and to discuss plans fo r system and to engage all segments of society in our future trade negotiations under the WTO. efforts to fu rther advance toward open markets and liberalized trade. I took the opportunity at these meetings to put forward Manitoba's desire for continued opening of I would like to table copies of the remarks from these world markets and in particular the fu rther opening of world leaders fo r the infonnation of fe llow members of importantexport markets in Europe, Latin America and this House. Madam Speaker, I will table these Asia-Pacific. I would also underline the particular following my remarks. These remarks also reflect the importance of Manitoba places on continuing the importance of consulting with all interested Manitobans process of integrating agriculture intothe world trading from the critical issues under discussion at the WTO. system by further opening markets and disciplining My colleague the honourable Minister of Agriculture hannful subsidy practices. Manitoba's views were (Mr. Enns) and his staff have already begun a process faithfullyreflected in the interventions by Canada, and of consulting with interested groups in Manitoba's I would like to table in the House a copy of remarks by agriculture community. It is my intention to directly federal Minister Marchi, as well as remarks tabled by engage other interested Manitobans in discussions Prime Minister Chretien to this World Trade through the course of 1998 and early 1999 and our conference. interest in fu rther multilateral trade negotiations. In that context, I also took the occasion to meet with the The conference culminated very successfully from Honourable Bob Speller, chainnan of the House of Manitoba's and Canada's perspective. I would like to Commons Standing Subcommittee on Trade, Trade table a copy of the Ministerial Declaration approved at Disputes and Investment of the Standing Committee on this conference. This declaration calls for a work Foreign Affairs and International Trade and to urge him program to make the necessary preparations fo r to conduct hearings in all regions of Canada to directly ministers to re-engage in the multilateral trade gather the views of Canadians on this issue, and I am negotiations meeting in the United States in late 1999. sure the member fo r Crescentwood (Mr. Sale) will be pleased with that commitment. The built-in work program under the WTO calls for negotiations on agriculture and services to restart prior * (1340) to the year 2000. World Trade ministers exchanged views on what other issues should be added to these Madam Speaker, I would like to extend my thanks to negotiations to achieve a balanced package reflecting fe deral Minister Marchi for extending the invitation to the interests of all countries and promising a provincial trade ministers to participate in this event as substantive and expeditious outcome. a member of the Canadian delegation. As trade negotiations evolve, they are impacting more and more While views differed on the best manner in which to on areas under provincial jurisdiction, and provinces achieve this balanced package, my discussions with must be able to directly participate in these discussions. members of other delegations and the successful Minister Marchi has made every effort to allow such May 25, 1998 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 3345 participation. I commend him fo r recognizing the need and South American countries. It is not at all unusual for fu ll provincial participation.