Legislative Reports

Legislative Reports • Additional tools to be introduced faults with the government’s per- to provide police and prosecutors formance, including the failure to: with a stronger edge to fight gang • provide meaningful tax changes crime; and such as elimination of the payroll • Changes to the Payday Loans Act tax that would make Manitoba and new legislation to prevent more economically competitive; identity theft, regulate pawn • resolve the underlying causes of shops and provide RRSP creditor the unprecedented number of protection. children in care; In his non-confidence amend- • provide a stable policy environ- Manitoba ment to the Address in Reply mo- ment to promote growth in Mani- tion, Official Opposition Leader toba’s agricultural sector; Hugh McFadyen identified a num- n November 15, 2006 Lieuten- • legislate a legal right to timely ac- ber of government shortcomings, ant Governor John Harvard cess to quality health; O including their failure to: delivered the NDP government’s • provide meaningful and compet- • facilitate the creation of an ninth Speech from the Throne. The itive tax relief for Manitobans; agri-industrial park outside of address conveyed a range of gov- the city of Winnipeg; and • provide foster placements for the ernment proposals and commit- unprecedented number of chil- • commit to a process leading to ments, including: dren in care housed in hotels; meaningful electoral reform and • $4-billion plan to modernize improved democracy in Mani- highways over the next 10 years; • address the critical shortage of toba. health care professionals; • University and college graduates Mr. Gerrard’s sub-amendment to receive 60 per cent tuition re- • call an independent public in- was defeated on division, while Mr. bate; quiry into the Crocus Investment McFadyen’s amendment was de- Fund scandal, which resulted in • feated on a recorded vote of 18 yeas Manitoba seniors to save $11 mil- 34,000 Manitobans losing more lion annually through pension than $60 million; and 29 nays. On November 29, 2006 splitting; the main motion carried on a re- • ensure prudent expenditure of • corded vote of yeas 33, nays 20. Corporate tax rates to fall to 14 taxpayers’ dollars, spending mil- per cent and small business rates lions of dollars on rebranding In addition to 11 bills carried over to three per cent campaigns and pre-election ad- from the previous session, the gov- • A new immigration target to dou- vertising; ernment introduced 15 bills during ble the current levels; • implement a long-term provin- this fall sitting, with 12 completing • $42 million in additional funding cial strategy to recruit and retain the legislative process and receiv- for child protection services in re- police officers: ing Royal Assent. This legislation sponse to recommendations • ensure the promised level of addressed a variety of governance made by the provincial ombuds- flood protection for the people of areas, including: man and the children’s advocate; the City of Winnipeg; and • Bill 2 – The Employment Standards • More training for emergency • Code Amendment Act. In addition address the out-migration of to adding provisions for unpaid medicine physicians and initia- Manitobans, especially youth. tives to recruit oncologists; family leave and unpaid bereave- ment leave, Bill 2 also brought in • Continuing moves forward on In his sub-amendment to Mr. extensive revisions to the Code in additional wait-list priorities in- McFadyen’s amendment, Jon a wide range of subjects includ- cluding pediatric dental, pain ing: standard hours of work and management and sleep therapy; Gerrard (Independent Liberal – overtime; notice of termination River Heights) identified further and wages payable in lieu of no- 46 CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW / SPRING 2007 tice; the employment of children; tive process on the last day of toba PAC continues to refine its rel- and orders for the payment of session, December 7, 2006. atively new process of calling wit- wages and the recovery of unpaid On November 20, 2006, Govern- wages. nesses before the committee. Other ment House Leader Dave Chomiak procedural issues, such as the fre- • Bill 4 – The Consumer Protection interrupted the Throne Speech de- quency of committee meetings, con- Amendment Act (Prepaid Purchase bate to allow the House to consider tinue to be the topic of discussion Cards), which prohibits expiry two government resolutions re- dates on most gift cards and other both in the Committee and in the prepaid purchase cards, and also garding the future of the Canadian House. In related events, this ses- requires information about the Wheat Board. The first resolution, sion the government introduced Bill use of these cards to be provided moved by Minister of Agriculture, 8–The Public Accounts Committee to consumers. Food and Rural Initiatives Rosann Meeting Dates Act (Legislative Assem- • Bill 41 – The Pharmaceutical Act, Wowchuk called for the Assembly bly Act Amended). The Bill, which which defines the practice of to “make clear its support for the passed second reading on Decem- pharmacy and provides for the Canadian Wheat Board’s single ber 6, would require the Standing regulation of the profession. Key desk.” After an hour and a half of differences from the original Act Committee on Public Accounts to (which this Bill replaces) include debate, this resolution passed on a hold at least six meetings annually allowing for the expansion of recorded vote of yeas 34, nays 15. at regular times. pharmacists’ scope of practice, al- The second resolution requested While the House is expected to re- lowing pharmacy operations to that the Assembly “call on the fed- include licensed off-site facilities sume sometime in the spring of as part of their pharmacy prac- eral government to hold a fair pro- 2007, there is also speculation in the tice, and requiring the College to ducer plebiscite on the future of the media about a general election this submit an annual report to the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly year. The last Manitoba general Minister of Health. for both wheat and barley.” This election occurred on June 3, 2003. Additionally, two Private Mem- resolution held the House’s atten- The current standings in the Mani- ber’s Bills received Royal Assent tion for several hours, ultimately toba House are 35 NDP, 19 Progres- during the fall sitting. leading to an unscheduled evening • sive Conservative, 2 independent Bill 214 – The Good Samaritan Pro- sitting. During this debate, Ralph tection Act, which protects a per- Liberals, and one vacancy. son who voluntarily provides Eichler (PC – Lakeside) moved an medical services, aid or advice to amendment to the resolution, ulti- Rick Yarish a victim of an accident or medical mately resolving that the Assembly Clerk Assistant / emergency. The person will not “make clear its understanding that Clerk of Committees be liable to pay damages in a law- the federal government has sole au- suit started by the victim unless the person was grossly negligent. thority for changes to the Canadian This legislation first emerged in Wheat Board Act. In recognition of the previous session in the form federal authority in this area, we in- of two similar Bills from NDP and dicate our support for the federal Independent Liberal Members. government’s decision to hold a In the current session bill sponsor Bonnie Korzeniowski (NDP – St. plebiscite for the marketing of bar- James) joined with Mr. Gerrard ley and call on them to hold a plebi- who seconded the Bill motions – scite in advance of any changes to to finalize the current legislation. the marketing of western Canadian Northwest Territories • Another example of legislative grain, including wheat.” The cooperation, Bill 215 – The Liquor amendment was defeated on a re- Control Amendment Act (Helping to corded vote of yeas 15, nays 30, s a result of the involvement of Prevent Date Rape), amends The while the resolution passed on a re- Athe Legislative Assembly in an Liquor Control Act to allow a per- corded vote of yeas 31, nays 14. ongoing legal matter, Speaker Paul son in licensed premises to carry Delorey temporarily suspended his or her drink to the washroom The Manitoba Public Accounts as a measure to prevent date rape. Committee (PAC) held two meet- public distribution of Hansard on Due to the House’s unanimous ings in December of 2006. Ques- October 25, 2006. This action was approval of this bill, Myrna taken to ensure compliance with a Driedger (PC – Charleswood) re- tioning focused on a pair of topics, the Auditor General’s Reports on Court ruling relating to the distribu- ceived leave to move the bill tion of Hansard in both English and through all stages of the legisla- the Crocus Investment Fund and Environmental Audits. The Mani- French. Both parties to the proceed- SPRING 2007 /CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW 47 ings are negotiating towards the Bill 14, An Act to Amend the Legis- ties and Minister Responsible for terms of a Stay of Proceedings, lative Assembly and Executive Council Seniors. The Motion to revoke the pending the hearing of an Appeal Act, No. 2, was enacted as a result of appointment was made by David launched by the GNWT and the the Electoral Boundaries Commission Ramsay after rising in the House on Legislative Assembly. The Assem- Report, tabled in the House in the a Point of Privilege relating to a per- bly continues to make audio and spring of 2006. This Act adopts the ceived attempt by the Minister to video recordings of the daily pro- Commission's recommendation to threaten or intimidate him follow- ceedings available by means of amend the electoral boundaries in ing a Member's Statement. Speaker Internet live web casting and por- the towns of Hay River and Inuvik Paul Delorey ruled that a prima facie tions of the proceedings are also to achieve more equitable represen- breach of privilege had occurred.

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