Legislative reports: Manitoba.

Since the last report, Manitoba has been in the midst of a busy legislative session.

Privilege

On May 1, 2001, Darren Praznik (Lac du Bonnet) rose on a matter of privilege alleging that the Minister of Health had mislead the House on the purchase of the Pan Am Centre. Deputy Speaker Conrad Santos (Wellington) took the matter under advisement. On May 14, Speaker George Hickes (Point Douglas) delivered a ruling indicating that "a Member raising a matter of privilege which charges that another Member has deliberately misled the House or a committee must support his or her charge with proof of intent". It was ruled that the matter raised by the Member for Lac du Bonnet did not satisfy the criteria of a prima facie case of privilege.

On May 10, 2001, Speaker Hickes delivered another ruling regarding a matter of privilege, raised by Bonnie Mitchelson (River East) on April 19, 2001. The matter of privilege concerned comments spoken by Minister of Family Services and Housing, Tim Sale (Fort Rouge). The motion stated that the Minister of Family Services and Housing had breached the privileges of members of the opposition and requested the withdrawal of the words by the Minister and an apology to the House. Prior to the raising of this matter of privilege, Mr. Sale had risen on a point of order and voluntarily withdrew the comments he had spoken in the previous question period. Speaker Hickes ruled that, although Members may have a grievance or a complaint or a point of order, a prima facie case of privilege had not been established. The ruling of the Chair was challenged and sustained on a recorded vote.

Provisional Rules

The First Report of the Standing Committee on Rules of the House implemented provisional changes were concurred in by the House on May 16. The provisional rules will be in effect until March 31, 2002 at which time there will be an assessment of them.

The most significant change had to do with the Committee of Supply. Previously, 240 hours were allotted for the consideration of ways and means and supply resolutions respecting main, interim, capital and supplementary estimates and for the consideration in the Committee of the Whole of the relevant Supply Bills. The hours have now been reduced to 140. As well, the Committee of Supply will sit on Friday mornings.

Private Members' Business was previously held each sitting day from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Private Members' Business is now being held on Thursday mornings from 10:00 a.m. to...