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. 70 - 1:30 p.m., Monday, July 8, 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 3195 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Monday, July 8, 2013 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Mr. Speaker: In accordance with our rule 132(6), when petitions are read they are deemed to have been Mr. Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, from received by the House. Whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled here before Thee to frame such laws as St. Ambroise Beach Provincial Park may tend to the welfare and prosperity of our Mr. Ian Wishart (Portage la Prairie): I wish to province. Grant, O merciful God, we pray Thee, that present the following petition to the Legislative we may desire only that which is in accordance with Assembly of Manitoba. Thy will, that we may seek it with wisdom and know it with certainty and accomplish it perfectly for the And these are the reasons for this petition: glory and honour of Thy name and for the welfare of The St. Ambroise provincial park was hard hit all our people. Amen. by the 2011 flood, resulting in the park's ongoing Good afternoon, everyone. Please be seated. closure, the loss of local access to Lake Manitoba, as well as untold harm to the ecosystem and wildlife in ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS the region. Mr. Speaker: Introduction of bills. Seeing no bills, The park's closure is having a negative impact in we'll move on to– many areas, including disruptions to the local PETITIONS tourism, hunting and fishing operations and diminished economic and employment opportunities, Provincial Sales Tax Increase–Referendum the potential loss of the local store and a decrease in Mr. Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach): Yes, good property values. afternoon, Mr. Speaker. I wish to present the Local residents and visitors alike want St. following petition to the Legislative Assembly. Ambroise provincial park to be reopened as soon as And these are the reasons for this petition: possible. The provincial government promised not to raise We petition the Legislative Assembly of taxes in the last election. Manitoba as follows: To request the appropriate ministers of the Through Bill 20, the provincial government provincial government consider repairing St. wants to increase the retail sales tax, known as the Ambroise provincial park and its access points to PST, by one point without the legally required their preflood condition so the park can be reopened referendum. for the 2013 season or earlier if possible. An increase to the PST is excessive taxation that This petition's signed by J. Lee, I. Patterson, will harm Manitoba families. J. Patterson and many, many more fine Manitobans. Bill 20 strips Manitobans of their democratic Municipal Amalgamations–Reversal right to determine when major tax increases are Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): I wish to necessary. present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: And the background to this petition is as follows: To urge the provincial government to not raise (1) The provincial government recently the PST without holding a provincial referendum. announced plans to amalgamate any municipalities with fewer than 1,000 constituents. And, Mr. Speaker, this petition is signed by B. Wiebe, D. Wiebe, D. Wiebe and many other (2) The provincial government did not consult Manitobans. with or notify the affected municipalities of this 3196 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA July 8, 2013 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 that the Minister of Local improvements in cost savings. Government afford local governments the respect (4) Local governments are further concerned that they deserve and reverse his decision to force amalgamation will fail to address the serious issues municipalities with fewer than 1,000 constituents to currently facing municipalities, including an absence amalgamate. of reliable infrastructure funding and timely flood This petition's signed by J. Douglas, L. Graham, compensation. S. Cook and many, many more Manitobans. Municipalities deserve to be treated with respect. Provincial Sales Tax Increase–Referendum 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 T. Richardson Mason, referendum. L. Murray, P. Murray and many, many more fine An increase of–to the PST is excessive taxation Manitobans, Mr. Speaker. that will hurt 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. The background to this petition is as follows: We petition the Legislative Assembly of The provincial government recently announced Manitoba as follows: 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. The provincial government did not consult with And this petition is signed by O. Bilec, or notify the affected municipalities of this decision C. Normand, S. Munson and many more fine prior to the Throne Speech announcement on Manitobans. November 19th, 2012, and has further imposed unrealistic deadlines. Mrs. Myrna Driedger (Charleswood): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative If the provincial government imposes Assembly. amalgamations, local democratic representation will be drastically limited while not providing any real These are the reasons for this petition: improvements in cost savings. The provincial government promised not to raise taxes in the last election. Local governments are further concerned that amalgamation will fail to address the serious issues Through Bill 20, the provincial government currently facing municipalities, including an absence wants to increase the retail sales tax, known as the of reliable infrastructure funding and timely flood PST, by one point without the legally required compensation. referendum. July 8, 2013 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 3197 An increase to the PST is excessive taxation that The provincial government promised not to raise will harm Manitoba families. taxes in the last election. Bill 20 strips Manitobans of their democratic Through Bill 20, the provincial government right to determine when major tax increases are wants to increase the retail sales tax, known as the necessary. PST, by one point without the legally required referendum. * (13:40) An increase to the PST is excessive taxation that We petition the Legislative Assembly of will harm Manitoba families. Manitoba as follows: Bill 20 strips Manitobans of their democratic To urge the provincial government to not raise right to determine when major tax increases are the PST without holding a provincial referendum. necessary. And this is signed by S. Fielding, J. McMorrow, We petition the Legislative Assembly of B. Alexander and many others, Mr. Speaker. Manitoba as follows: Hydro Capital Development–NFAT Review To urge the provincial government to not raise Mr. Cliff Cullen (Spruce Woods): I wish to present the PST without holding a provincial referendum.