VOL. XLVII No. 59 - 1:30 p.m., WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 1997

Wednesday, June 11, 1997

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA

Wednesday, June 11, 1997

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

PRAYERS

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

PRESENTING PETITIONS

Obstetrics Closure--Grace General Hospital

Ms. MaryAnn Mihychuk (St. James): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Tracie Johnson, Ian Burron, M. Ewatsik and others requesting that the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik) consider stopping the closure of the obstetrics program at Winnipeg's Grace Hospital.

Mobile Screening Unit for Mammograms

Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Helen Luce, Edwin Luce, Lon Luce and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik) to consider immediately establishing a mobile screening unit for mammograms to help women across the province detect breast cancer at the earliest possible opportunity.

Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Eva Jeffrey, Joyce Kulbaba, Myrna Beals and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request the Minister of Health to consider immediately establishing a mobile screening unit for mammograms to help women across the province detect breast cancer at the earliest possible opportunity.

Montreal Trust--Transfer

Mr. Marcel Laurendeau (St. Norbert): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of the Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Company and Montreal Trust Company of Canada and Montreal Trust Company praying for the passing of an act to transfer the personal trusteeship and personal agency of Montreal Trust Company of Canada and Montreal Trust Company to the Bank of Nova Scotia.

Licensed Practical Nurses

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Denise Sookram, Dawn Paul, Debbie Sookram and others praying that the Legislative Assembly request that the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik) consider stopping the elimination of LPNs from the staffing complement in our health care facilities and recognize the value and dedicated services of LPNs across the province.

Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Shirley Sookram, Brian Allden, Robert Hollins and others praying that the Legislative Assembly request that the Minister of Health consider stopping the elimination of LPNs from the staffing complement in our health care facilities and recognize the value and dedicated service of LPNs across the province.

READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS

Obstetrics Closure--Grace General Hospital

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for St. James (Ms. Mihychuk). It complies with the rules and practices of the House (by leave). Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Yes.

Madam Speaker: Yes. The Clerk will read.

Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth:

THAT the obstetrics program has always been an important part of the Grace Hospital's mandate; and

THAT both people in the community and a number of government studies have recommended against the further closure of community hospitals' obstetrics programs; and

THAT as a result of federal and provincial cuts in the health budget, hospitals are being forced to eliminate programs in order to balance their own budgets; and

THAT the closure of the Grace Hospital obstetrics ward will mean laying off 54 health care professionals, many of whom have years of experience and dedicated service in obstetrics; and

THAT moving to a model where more and more births are centred in the tertiary care hospitals will be more costly and decreases the choices for women about where they can give birth.

WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRAY THAT the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik) consider stopping the closure of the obstetrics program at Winnipeg's Grace Hospital.

* (1335)

Mobile Screening Unit for Mammograms

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Swan River (Mrs. Wowchuk), and it complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read? Dispense.

WHEREAS medical authorities have stated that breast cancer in Manitoba has reached almost epidemic proportions; and

WHEREAS yearly mammograms are recommended for women over 50, and perhaps younger if a woman feels she is at risk; and

WHEREAS while improved surgical procedures and better post-operative care do improve a woman's chances if she is diagnosed, early detection plays a vital role; and

WHEREAS Manitoba currently has only three centres where mammograms can be performed, those being Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson; and

WHEREAS a trip to and from these centres for a mammogram can cost a woman upwards of $500 which is a prohibitive cost for some women; and

WHEREAS a number of other provinces have dealt with this problem by establishing mobile screening units; and

WHEREAS the provincial government has promised to take action on this serious issue.

WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRAY that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik) to consider immediately establishing a mobile screening unit for mammograms to help women across the province detect breast cancer at the earliest possible opportunity.

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Kildonan (Mr. Chomiak), and it complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

WHEREAS medical authorities have stated that breast cancer in Manitoba has reached almost epidemic proportions; and

WHEREAS yearly mammograms are recommended for women over 50, and perhaps younger if a woman feels she is at risk; and

WHEREAS while improved surgical procedures and better post-operative care do improve a woman's chances if she is diagnosed, early detection plays a vital role; and

WHEREAS Manitoba currently has only three centres where mammograms can be performed, those being Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson; and

WHEREAS a trip to and from these centres for a mammogram can cost a woman upwards of $500 which is a prohibitive cost for some women; and

WHEREAS a number of other provinces have dealt with this problem by establishing mobile screening units; and

WHEREAS the provincial government has promised to take action on this serious issue.

WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRAY that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik) to consider immediately establishing a mobile screening unit for mammograms to help women across the province detect breast cancer at the earliest possible opportunity.

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Osborne (Ms. McGifford), and it complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

WHEREAS medical authorities have stated that breast cancer in Manitoba has reached almost epidemic proportions; and

WHEREAS yearly mammograms are recommended for women over 50, and perhaps younger if a woman feels she is at risk; and

WHEREAS while improved surgical procedures and better post-operative care do improve a woman's chances if she is diagnosed, early detection plays a vital role; and

WHEREAS Manitoba currently has only three centres where mammograms can be performed, those being Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson; and

WHEREAS a trip to and from these centres for a mammogram can cost a woman upwards of $500 which is a prohibitive cost for some women; and

WHEREAS a number of other provinces have dealt with this problem by establishing mobile screening units; and

WHEREAS the provincial government has promised to take action on this serious issue.

WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRAY that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik) to consider immediately establishing a mobile screening unit for mammograms to help women across the province detect breast cancer at the earliest possible opportunity.

* (1340)

Central Guaranty Trust Company--Transfer

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for St. Norbert (Mr. Laurendeau), and it complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

Praying for the passing of an act to transfer the trusteeship and agency business of Central Guaranty Trust Company to TD Trust Company.

PRESENTING REPORTS BY

STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Committee of Supply

Mr. Marcel Laurendeau (Chairperson of the Committee of Supply): Madam Speaker, the Committee of Supply has adopted certain resolutions, directs me to report the same and asks leave to sit again.

I move, seconded by the honourable member for Turtle Mountain (Mr. Tweed), that the report of the committee be received.

Motion agreed to.

Standing Committee on Law Amendments

First Report

Mr. Mervin Tweed (Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Law Amendments): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the First Report of the Committee on Law Amendments.

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

Your Standing Committee on Law Amendments presents the following as its First Report.

Your committee met on Tuesday, June 10, 1997, at 10 a.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Assembly to consider bills referred.

At that meeting, your committee elected Mr. Tweed as its Chairperson.

Your committee heard representation on bills as follows:

Bill 23--The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur la Société d'assurance publique du Manitoba

Lyn Charney, Private Citizen

Florence Fabbro, Private Citizen

Terry Sansom, Private Citizen

Lorie Dwornick, Private Citizen

Your committee has considered:

Bill 8--The Real Property Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur les biens réels

Bill 13--The Insurance Amendment Act: Loi modifiant la Loi sur les assurances

Bill 23--The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur la Société d'assurance publique du Manitoba

Bill 24--The Personal Property Security Amendment and Various Acts Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur les sûretés relatives aux biens personnels et d'autres dispositions législatives

and has agreed to report the same without amendment.

Your committee has also considered:

Bill 6--The Natural Gas Supply Repeal and Public Utilities Board Amendment Act; Loi abrogeant la Loi sur l'approvisionnement en gaz naturel et modifiant la Loi sur la Régie des services publics

and has agreed, on division, to report the same with the following amendment:

MOTION:

THAT section 1 of the Bill be amended by striking out "c. N65" and substituting "c. 65".

Your committee has also considered:

Bill 26--The Corporations Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur les corporations

and has agreed to report the same with the following amendment:

MOTION:

THAT the proposed subsection 349.2(4) as set out in section 23 of the Bill be amended by striking out "subsection 248(3)" and substituting "subsection (5)".

Mr. Tweed: I move, seconded by the honourable member for St. Vital (Mrs. Render), that the report of the committee be received.

Motion agreed to.

Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources

Sixth Report

Mr. Gerry McAlpine (Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources): I beg to present the Sixth Report of the Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources.

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

Your Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources presents the following as its Sixth Report.

Your committee met on Tuesday, June 10, 1997, at 10 a.m. in Room 254 of the Legislative Assembly to consider bills referred.

Your committee has considered:

Bill 3--The North American Environmental and Labour Cooperation Agreements Implementation Act; Loi sur la mise en oeuvre des accords nord-américains de coopération dans les domaines de l'environnement et du travail

and has agreed, on a counted vote of 4 Yeas, 3 Nays, to report the bill without amendment.

Your committee has also considered:

Bill 4--The Steam and Pressure Plants Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur les appareils sous pression et à vapeur

and has agreed to report the same without amendment.

Mr. McAlpine: I move, seconded by the honourable member for Pembina (Mr. Dyck), that the report of the committee be received.

Motion agreed to.

* (1345)