Fourth Session - Thirty-Seventh Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable George Hickes Speaker Vol. LII No. 12B – 1:30 p.m., Thursday, December 12, 2002 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY First Session–Thirty-Eighth Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation AGLUGUB, Cris The Maples N.D.P. ALLAN, Nancy St. Vital N.D.P. ASHTON, Steve, Hon. Thompson N.D.P. ASPER, Linda Riel N.D.P. BARRETT, Becky, Hon. Inkster N.D.P. CALDWELL, Drew, Hon. Brandon East N.D.P. CERILLI, Marianne Radisson N.D.P. CHOMIAK, Dave, Hon. Kildonan N.D.P. CUMMINGS, Glen Ste. Rose P.C. DACQUAY, Louise Seine River 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. ENNS, Harry Lakeside P.C. FAURSCHOU, David Portage la Prairie P.C. FRIESEN, Jean, Hon. Wolseley N.D.P. GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib. GILLESHAMMER, Harold Minnedosa P.C. HAWRANIK, Gerald Lac du Bonnet P.C. HELWER, Edward Gimli P.C. HICKES, George, Hon. Point Douglas N.D.P. JENNISSEN, Gerard Flin Flon N.D.P. KORZENIOWSKI, Bonnie St. James N.D.P. LATHLIN, Oscar, Hon. The Pas N.D.P. LAURENDEAU, Marcel St. Norbert P.C. LEMIEUX, Ron, Hon. La Verendrye N.D.P. LOEWEN, John Fort Whyte P.C. MACKINTOSH, Gord, Hon. St. Johns N.D.P. MAGUIRE, Larry Arthur-Virden P.C. MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood N.D.P. MARTINDALE, Doug Burrows N.D.P. McGIFFORD, Diane, Hon. Lord Roberts N.D.P. MIHYCHUK, MaryAnn, Hon. Minto N.D.P. MITCHELSON, Bonnie River East P.C. MURRAY, Stuart Kirkfield Park P.C. NEVAKSHONOFF, Tom Interlake N.D.P. PENNER, Jack Emerson P.C. PENNER, Jim Steinbach P.C. PITURA, Frank Morris P.C. REID, Daryl Transcona N.D.P. REIMER, Jack Southdale P.C. ROBINSON, Eric, Hon. Rupertsland N.D.P. ROCAN, Denis Carman P.C. RONDEAU, Jim Assiniboia N.D.P. SALE, Tim, Hon. Fort Rouge N.D.P. SANTOS, Conrad Wellington N.D.P. SCHELLENBERG, Harry Rossmere N.D.P. SCHULER, Ron Springfield P.C. SELINGER, Greg, Hon. St. Boniface N.D.P. SMITH, Joy Fort Garry P.C. SMITH, Scott, Hon. Brandon West N.D.P. STEFANSON, Heather Tuxedo P.C. STRUTHERS, Stan Dauphin-Roblin N.D.P. TWEED, Mervin Turtle Mountain P.C. WOWCHUK, Rosann, Hon. Swan River N.D.P. 465 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Thursday, December 12, 2002 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Madam Clerk (Patricia Chaychuk): Your Standing Committee on Law Amendments presents the following as its Second Report. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Meetings: PRESENTING PETITIONS Your committee met on Thursday, December 12, 2002, at 10 a.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Highway 276–Load Limits Building. Mr. Glen Cummings (Ste. Rose): Mr. Matters Under Consideration: Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Hal Hopfner, Tom McKinnon, Jim Smith and others Bill 10 - The Elections Finances Amendment praying that the Legislative Assembly of Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur le financement des Manitoba request the Minister of Transportation campagnes électorales and Government Services (Mr. Smith) to Committee Membership: consider the reduction or elimination of load limits on Highway 276 north of Ste. Rose to Substitutions received prior to commencement of permit grain farmers to haul their grain to market meeting: using long-haul trucks and to consider upgrading Ms. Cerilli for Hon. Ms. Barrett Highway 276 to enable farmers to drive long- Mr. Laurendeau for Mr. Loewen haul trucks on this highway and remain competitive. Bills Considered and Reported: PRESENTING REPORTS BY Bill 10 – The Elections Finances Amendment STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur le financement des campagnes électorales Standing Committee on Law Amendments Your committee agreed to report this bill without Second Report amendment. Mr. Doug Martindale (Chairperson): Mr. Mr. Martindale: Mr. Speaker, I move, Speaker, I beg to present the Second Report of seconded by the honourable Member for the Committee on Law Amendments. Interlake (Mr. Nevakshonoff), that the report of the committee be received. Mr. Speaker: Before recognizing the honourable member, the honourable member Motion agreed to. will have to seek leave. Does the honourable member have leave? TABLING OF REPORTS Some Honourable Members: Leave. Hon. Steve Ashton (Minister of Conservation): Pursuant to Section 6(10) of Mr. Speaker: The honourable member has The Environment Act, I am pleased to table the leave. Annual Report of the Clean Environment Mr. Martindale: I beg to present the Second Commission for 2001-2002. Report of the Committee on Law Amendments. Hon. Dave Chomiak (Minister of Health): I Some Honourable Members: Dispense. am pleased to table Manitoba's Health Indicators Report, which has already been distributed and Mr. Speaker: Dispense. is available on the Web site. 466 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA December 12, 2002 INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Bill 9–The Highways and Transportation Amendment Act Bill 5–The Manitoba Public Insurance (Trucking Productivity Improvement Fund) Corporation Amendment Act (Denial of Benefits for Offenders) Hon. Scott Smith (Minister of Transportation and Government Services): Mr. Speaker, I Hon. Gord Mackintosh (Minister charged move, seconded by the honourable Minister of with the administration of The Manitoba Family Services and Housing (Mr. Caldwell), Public Insurance Corporation Act): I move, that leave be given to introduce Bill 9, The seconded by the Minister of Finance (Mr. Highways and Transportation Amendment Act Selinger), that leave be given to introduce Bill 5, (Trucking Productivity Improvement Fund), The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation (and that the same be now received and read a Amendment Act (Denial of Benefits for first time). Offenders), and that the same be now received and read a first time. Mr. Speaker: The honourable minister, please table the message. Motion presented. Mr. Smith: Mr. Speaker, His Honour the Mr. Mackintosh: The bill limits entitlement to Lieutenant-Governor, having been advised of the certain insurance proceeds to persons convicted contents of this bill, recommends it to the House. of listed offences. I would like to table the Lieutenant-Governor's message. Motion agreed to. Motion presented. * (13:35) Mr. Smith: Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to Bill 8–The Amusements Amendment Act introduce this bill today. The proposed legislation will create a new highway- Hon. Eric Robinson (Minister of Culture, improvement fund through overweight permit Heritage and Tourism): Mr. Speaker, I move, fees and unique partnering agreements with the seconded by the Minister of Education and private sector. Youth (Mr. Lemieux), that leave be given to introduce Bill 8, The Amusements Amendment Motion agreed to. Act, and that the same be now received and read a first time. Bill 206–The Nellie McClung Foundation Act Motion presented. Mr. Stuart Murray (Leader of the Official Opposition): Mr. Speaker, I seek leave to Mr. Robinson: Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this introduce Bill 206, The Nellie McClung bill is to bring Manitoba in line with other Foundation Act. provincial jurisdictions and to continue to provide parents and guardians with information Mr. Speaker: Does the honourable member about the movies and videos their children view. have leave to introduce this bill? [Agreed] These changes reflect consultation over the last several years from parent and women's Mr. Murray: Mr. Speaker, I thank the House organizations. These new categories will bring for leave. us in line with what has been adopted in other jurisdictions. Manitoba will be one of six provinces that classifies films exhibited in I would move, seconded by the MLA for theatres and one of only four that classifies Charleswood (Mrs. Driedger), that leave be videos. given to introduce Bill 206, The Nellie McClung Foundation Act (and that the same be now Motion agreed to. received and read a first time). December 12, 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 467 Motion presented. when they need it and they should not be subject to the negative outcomes of labour-management Mr. Murray: Mr. Speaker, this bill creates a negotiations. foundation empowered to raise funds for the creation, erection and maintenance of a statue to I hope, Mr. Speaker, that all members of the commemorate Nellie McClung on the grounds Manitoba Legislature will support this bill. of the Manitoba Legislature. Motion agreed to. The work McClung carried out, not only during her years in Manitoba but throughout her Bill 203–The Highway Traffic Amendment lifetime as a teacher, writer, political activist and Act (Emergency Vehicle Personnel as a legislator, should serve as an inspiration to Liability Limit) us all. I hope that young women contemplating their future will look to Nellie McClung as an Mrs. Joy Smith (Fort Garry): I move, example of what any of us can achieve through seconded by the honourable Member for hard work, dedication and perseverance. I hope Pembina (Mr. Dyck), that leave be given to all members will support this bill. introduce Bill 203, The Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Emergency Vehicle Personnel Motion agreed to. Liability Limit), and that the same be now received and read a first time. * (13:40) Motion presented. Bill 202–The Essential Services Amendment Act Mrs. Smith: Mr. Speaker, in our alternative throne speech, we had made a commitment that Mrs. Myrna Driedger (Charleswood): I move, we would introduce a private member's seconded by the honourable Member for River resolution calling for the implementation of a East (Mrs. Mitchelson), that leave be given to separate class of driver's licence for full-time and introduce Bill 202, The Essential Services voluntary emergency personnel. Emergency Amendment Act, and that the same be now personnel, police officers, ambulance drivers, received and read a first time.