Manitoba.

• Author: Yarish, Rick
• Position: Legislative Reports

The Manitoba Legislature resumed the Fourth and final Session of the 37th Legislature on April 22, 2003. The House sat for two weeks dealing exclusively with the debate on Finance Minister Greg Selinger's (St. Boniface) fourth budget.

The total operating expenditure for the 2003-2004 Budget came in at $7.3 billion with a positive balance of $10 million in accordance with balanced budget legislation. The budget committed $96 million to pay down the debt and pension liability while drawing $48 million from the Fiscal Stabilization Fund. The government allocated $3 billion for health care and also provided support for a range of programs including a new Red River Floodway Authority to oversee expansion of the floodway around the city of Winnipeg.

The leader of the official opposition, Stuart Murray (Kirkfield Park), moved an amendment to the main motion expressing regret that the Budget ignored the present and future needs of Manitobans and failed to offer any vision for the province. The non-confidence motion was defeated at the end the eight day debate on May 1, 2003 while the main budget motion was carried that same day.

All-Party Task Force

With the intention of soliciting opinions and input from Manitobans on the issue of smoking in public places, Minister of Health Dave Chomiak (Kildonan) recently struck an AU-Party Task Force to examine how to deal with environmental tobacco smoke in public and work places. The Committee will conduct public hearings, accept written submissions and analyze policies aimed at reducing exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

This initiative grew out of a Private Member's Bill introduced last session by Denis Rocan (Carman). With the unanimous consent of the House, the Bill was held over from the third to the fourth session of the 37th...