First 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. L No. 808- 1:30 p.m., Thursday, August 17, 2000 (REPRINT) ISSN 0542-5492 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thirty-Seventh 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. CERlLLI, 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 Ia Prairie P.C. FILMON, Gary Tuxedo P.C. FRIESEN, Jean, Hon. Wolseley N.D.P. GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib. GILLESHAMMER, Harold Minnedosa P.C. HELWER, Edward Gimli P.C. HlCKES, George 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. NEV AKSHONOFF, Tom Interlake N.D.P. PENNER, Jack Emerson P.C. PENNER, Jim Steinbach P.C. PITURA, Frank Morris P.C. PRAZNIK, Darren Lac du Bonnet 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 Ross mere N.D.P. SCHULER, Ron Springfield P.C. SELINGER, Greg, Hon. St. Boniface N.D.P. SMITH, Joy Fort Garry P.C. SMITH, Scott Brandon West N.D.P. STEFANSON, Eric Kirkfield Park P.C. STRUTHERS, Stan Dauphin-Roblin N.D.P. TWEED, Mervin Turtle Mountain P.C. WOWCHUK, Rosann, Hon. Swan River N.D.P. 5235 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Thursday, August 17, 2000 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Madam Clerk (Patricia Chaychuk): To the Legislature of the Province of Manitoba. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS The petition of the undersigned citizens of the PRESENTING PETITIONS province of Manitoba humbly sheweth: Gaming Licences THAT home education is a viable alternative to public education; and Mr. Jim Penner (Steinbach): I beg to present, Mr. Speaker, the petition of Brenda Lesage, THAT Bill 12 gives undefined powers to the Tessa Fehler, David Klassen and others praying Minister of Education which could adversely that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge affect the rights of the family; and the Government to hold plebiscites in affected communities before any new gaming licences THAT the convictions of parents/guardians are are issued in the province of Manitoba. not recognized and openly supported; and Mrs. Myrna Driedger (Charleswood): Mr. THAT the home-school organizations have not Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Ron been consulted regarding the best method of Phelps, Gerry Langhon, Richard Paetkau and facilitating the freedom and effectiveness of others praying that the Legislative Assembly of home-school families; and Manitoba urge the Government to consider holding plebiscites in affected communities THAT new policies and regulations have already before any new gaming licences are issued in the come into existence with the apparent province of Manitoba. anticipation of Bill 12 being passed, which home educators findto be intrusive and intimidating in Bi11 12-The Public Schools Amendment Act nature and which potentially reduces the freedoms of home-school parents; and Mrs. Joy Smith (Fort Garry): Mr. Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Juliana Cameron, THAT Bill 12 fails to provide a mechanism of George McCall, Carol McCall and others appeal for home-school families other than the praying that the Legislative Assembly of courts. Manitoba request that the Minister of Education (Mr. Caldwell) withdraw Bill 12, The Public WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUM­ Schools Amendment Act. BLY PRAY THAT the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Minister of Education and Training withdraw Bill 12, The Public READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS Schools Amendment Act. Bill 12-The Public Schools Amendment Act Mr. Speaker: The Honourable Member for Pembina (Mr. Dyck), I have reviewed the petition. It complies with the rules and practices Mr. Speaker: The Honourable Member for Fort of the House. Is it the will of the House to have Whyte (Mr. Loewen), I have reviewed the the petition read? petition. It complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have An Honourable Member: Dispense. the petition read? [Agreed] Mr. Speaker: Dispense. The petition of the undersigned citizens of the Will the Clerk please read. province of Manitoba humbly sheweth: 5236 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA August 17, 2000 THAT home education is a viable alternative to THAT the convictions of parents/guardians are public education; and not recognized and openly supported; and THAT Bill 12 gives undefined powers to the THAT the home-school organizations have not Minister of Education which could adversely been consulted regarding the best method of affect the rights of the family; and facilitating the freedom and effectiveness of home-school families; and THAT the convictions of parents/guardians are not recognized and openly supported; and THAT new policies and regulations have already come into existence with the apparent antici­ THAT the home-school organizations have not pation of Bill 12 being passed, which home been consulted regarding the best method of educators findto be intrusive and intimidating in facilitating the freedom and effectiveness of nature and which potentially reduces the home-school families; and freedoms of home-school parents; and THAT new policies and regulations have already THAT Bill 12 fails to provide a mechanism of come into existence with the apparent appeal for home-school families other than the anticipation oj Bill 12 being passed, which home courts. educators find to be intrusiveand intimidating in nature and which potentially reduces the WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY freedomsof home-school parents; and PRAY THAT the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Minister of Education THAT Bill 12 fails to provide a mechanism of and Training withdraw Bill 12, The Public appeal for home-school families other than the Schools Amendment Act. courts. Mr. Speaker: The Honourable Member for WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY Southdale (Mr. Reimer), I have reviewed the PRAY THAT the Legislative Assembly of petition and it complies with the rules and Manitoba request that the Minister of Education practices of the House. Is it the will of the House and Training withdraw Bill 12, The Public to have the petition read? Schools Amendment Act. Some Honourable Members: Dispense. Mr. Speaker: The Honourable Member for Springfield (Mr. Schuler), I have reviewed the Mr. Speaker: Dispense. petition, and it complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House The petition of the undersigned citizens of the to have the petition read? province of Manitoba humbly sheweth: THAT home education is a viable alternative to Some Honourable Members: Dispense. public education; and Mr. Speaker: Dispense. THAT Bill 12 gives undefined powers to the Minister of Education which could adversely The petition of the undersigned citizens of the affect the rights of the family; and province of Manitoba humblysheweth: THAT the convictions of parents/guardians are THAT home education is a viable alternative to not recognized and openly supported; and public education; and THAT the home-school organizations have not THAT Bill 12 gives undefined powers to the been consulted regarding the best method of Minister of Education which could adversely facilitating the freedom and effectiveness of affect the rights of the family; and home-school families; and August 17, 2000 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 5237 THAT new policies and regulations have already THAT the home-school organizations have not come into existence with the apparent antici­ been consulted regarding the best method of pation of Bill 12 being passed, which home facilitating the freedom and effectiveness of educators find to be intrusive and intimidating in home-school families; and nature and which potentially reduces the freedoms of home-school parents; and THAT new policies and regulations have already come into existence with the apparent antici­ THAT Bill 12 fails to provide a mechanism of pation of Bill 12 being passed, which home appeal for home-school families other than the educators find to be intrusive and intimidating in courts. nature and which potentially reduces the freedoms of home-school parents; and WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRA Y THAT the Legislative Assembly of THAT Bill 12 fails to provide a mechanism of Manitoba request that the Minister of Education appeal for home-school families other than the and Training withdraw Bill 12, The Public courts. Schools Amendment Act. WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY Mr. Speaker: The Honourable Member for PRAY THAT the Legislative Assembly of Charleswood (Mrs. Driedger), pursuant to Manitoba request that the Minister of Education authorities and practices of the House, I now and Training withdraw Bill 12, The Public report that I have examined the petition and find Schools Amendment Act.