ORAL QUESTION PERIOD
SmartHealth
Contract Tabling Request
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Mr. Speaker, about a week and a half ago, we asked questions to the government concerning the Royal Bank's SmartHealth $100-million health proposal. At the time, the government indicated that they had not signed the contract, but they were developing the contract and would make it available to all members of the public.
Since this issue has been raised in the public, we are getting considerable feedback from citizens who are very opposed to the government proceeding with this proposal with the Royal Bank.
Yesterday, on a national radio show, the Privacy Commissioner from British Columbia said: I regard the Manitoba example of the Royal Bank as a thin edge of the wedge because of all of the power of technology and technocracy and the cost-efficiency of bigger and bigger databases in both the public sector and the private sector and then interlinking of those databases so the distinction between the private and public sector disappears.
I would like to ask the government today, will they table their proposed contract, so that all of us can be assured of the validity of the comments made by members opposite about the privacy of the public dealing with their own health records and the Royal Bank proposal?
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Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Mr. Speaker, the honourable Leader of the Opposition has referred to comments made by the Privacy Commissioner for the province of British Columbia, I believe.
I would invite the Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia to make himself or herself aware of the opportunity that I have made available to the honourable member for Kildonan (Mr. Chomiak), and I repeat it for the Leader of the Opposition. We would be pleased to offer honourable members and the Privacy Commissioner any kind of a briefing that is necessary to provide assurances for them and for members of the public.
The public health information system is going to be implemented in such a way that the privacy we guarantee today, to the extent that we can, will remain the highest priority or, I would say, more than likely be enhanced.
I do not think the honourable Leader of the Opposition realizes that when he takes the position he takes, he defends the kind of system where people's health records are found in the back alleys of Winnipeg.
I do not support that. We want to put an end to that, Mr. Speaker--
Mr. Speaker: Order, please.
Mr. Doer: Mr. Speaker, this is a hundred-million dollar agreement that this government is entering into with a subsidiary of a private bank dealing with the health records of all Manitobans.
We do not need the political rhetoric from the minister. Either he has the intestinal fortitude to table the draft document or he does not. And it appears to us that he will not table the document.
I would like to ask the Deputy Premier (Mr. Downey), will he table today the draft contract for all Manitobans to see, and will this government allow the public to debate this issue of where they want their health care records to go, and hold off signing this $100-million six-year agreement until after the election so the public can have a say on this agreement rather than the Tories signing away our health records on the dying days of their mandate?
Mr. McCrae: I think, Mr. Speaker, what is becoming clearer and clearer with every day that New Democrats and their friends get involved in the debate about health care improvements in Manitoba is that they want to preserve a status quo about which they complain all the time.
Our mission here in Manitoba, as it is elsewhere in this country, is to make improvements so that we can generate the kind of outcomes that we should be looking for with the expenditure of funds and all of the expertise that is put to work in Manitoba to create a healthy environment and to work with those who require health care services.
Honourable members opposite, in every utterance, it does not seem to matter whether it is an improvement or if it is a problem, they want to preserve what we have had which was dying and which would have died if it had been left in the hands of New Democrats.
We were spending $500 million less six, seven years ago, Mr. Speaker, on health care than we are today. Members of the opposition seem to want to take us back to those days. I do not want to go there.
Mr. Doer: Mr. Speaker, I can only assume that the minister is hiding the proposed contract and is unwilling to provide it to the public.
Desktop Management System
Request for Proposals
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): I have a final question to the acting Premier.
In June and July of this year the government developed a proposal to commercialize or move into the private sector the desktop computer systems in Manitoba. Now you would think after the Wang fiasco that this government had learned that they are not very good at doing this in terms of the costs to the taxpayer and the ineffectiveness of their technology.
This proposal is selling all the government inventory in the desktop information system and the technology assets which of course is information to the public.
I would like to know whether the government is proceeding with this proposal. I will table a copy of it. The target date is January of 1995, and again, what will the impact of this be on the confidentiality of citizens on their tax information and other information in light of the fact the government has no privacy information in this province?
Hon. James Downey (Deputy Premier): Mr. Speaker, unlike the opposition members who want to leave all kinds of accusations and inaccurate information in the public, Mr. Speaker, the project which the member refers to is in the process of being discussed with the managers within the system. There has not been a final decision made, but we are looking at better ways of operating a more efficient government, as we have demonstrated in many areas.
I am extremely surprised at the Leader of the Opposition, whose members raised a matter of privilege today on McKenzie Seeds and he does not even ask a question on it, Mr. Speaker. So much for how mixed up that party is.
A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd.
Sales Agreement Tabling Request
Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East): Mr. Speaker, in the dying days of this government, with no moral authority, with no authorization from the Legislature, with no mandate from the people, the government has sold a multimillion-dollar public asset. In privatizing McKenzie Seeds, it has transferred control of the company to Toronto and opened the door of uncertainty with the possibility of jobs being eventually transferred out of Brandon.
Will the minister now table the agreement of sale as a courtesy to the Legislature and in the interests of open government? What has this minister been hiding? What has he got to hide?
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Hon. Harold Gilleshammer (Minister responsible for A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd.): Mr. Speaker, one of the most telling comments that has been made during this debate was a letter written by an employee of McKenzie Seeds who says: Stop playing politics with my job, please.
Just a little background on this. When that member was minister in charge of McKenzie Seeds, he says: Frankly, the seed business is the last industry that we want to be in. He says that the deal fell through because Ferry Morse was unwilling to guarantee that the Brandon plant would keep operating for more than two years. He said, if the U.S. company had agreed to remain in Brandon, we would have approved the sale and possibly assisted them to put up a new plant.
This is the same member who cast aspersion on the MDC company. He says he has no documentation on this, but they were having a problem with its bankers. He says, I have not seen the agreement, and he condemns it. This led, of course, to the characterization of that member as a rumourmonger.
Point of Order
Mr. Steve Ashton (Opposition House Leader): Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, this is absolutely pathetic. The member has asked the question; the government does not have to answer, but if they do not want to answer, they should sit down and not waste the time of this Legislature. We would prefer that they answer the question. Where is the contract?
Mr. Speaker: Order, please. I think I had better advise all honourable members, we have a matter of privilege under advisement at this point in time. I have done it in the past. The only reason I allowed the honourable member to put his question was because you were being taunted by the Deputy Premier (Mr. Downey) for a question, so when I allowed the question, we have an answer.
Now, unless you have another question on a nonrelated department, I will accept that question. Do you want to try another one?
Crown Corporations
Privatization
Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East): Well, Mr. Speaker, I wonder whether the government will be engaged in selling other companies in the same way, without giving information to the public in Manitoba, without tabling any reports? What do you have to hide? Tell the people what you are hiding.
Hon. Harold Gilleshammer (Minister of Culture, Heritage and Citizenship): Mr. Speaker, I submit that the only reason there is some uncertainty surrounding this issue is the inaccurate information that the member for Brandon East has put out in the public and in the press, indicating items like 80 percent of their market is in eastern Canada, indicating that Brandon is not a good place to do business, which led the--
Point of Order
Mr. Leonard Evans: Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, you just ruled that because of the matter of privilege being taken by yourself as notice, I was not to ask questions on this particular company. Now the honourable minister is getting up, talking about the company that he is not supposed to be talking about. So I say he has no business getting up here and making snide remarks.
Mr. Speaker: Well, the member for Brandon East does have a point of order, so I caution you, sir, in your answer.
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Mr. Gilleshammer: Mr. Speaker, this would apply to any questions the members might ask, and it led the Brandon Sun to conclude, while there is a need for prudence, there is some need for factual accuracy and there is no need for hysteria.
Mr. Speaker, it is very important, I think, that as a member of the Legislature, every member has a responsibility of putting accurate information out in the public.
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Mr. Leonard Evans: Mr. Speaker, I have a general question to ask this minister and indeed to ask the government.
Is it this government's position that they are selling profitable Crown corporations for purely ideological reasons? It does not matter how practical it is to maintain them in the public sector, but on principle, they are going to dispose of everything because of their ideology.
Mr. Gilleshammer: Mr. Speaker, a former minister once said that a government has no business owning certain companies, and this government looked at some opportunities, unsolicited opportunities that came forward, put out some guidelines for that, and this is a tremendous opportunity for a former Crown corporation to take advantage of some of the synergies that are involved with partnering with other companies across this country.
A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd.
Sales Agreement Tabling Request
Mr. Paul Edwards (Leader of the Second Opposition): I want to respect your caution on the issue of privilege which has been put before you, Mr. Speaker. Nevertheless, I believe it will be within the confines of what you have said to reflect on what the minister has said, which is that he is concerned that the member for Brandon East (Mr. Leonard Evans) and others are putting inaccuracies on the record and are speaking about this deal in inaccurate ways.
He has a way to remedy that within his own power, and aside from the issue of whether we have a right to that document, which I leave to you to decide upon, my question for this minister is, what is the reason that that contract is not being made public?--because we have a letter of rejection from the Freedom of Information officers. I am sure the members do. Ours is dated September 30. I understand that. I understand that in the context of the negotiations of the fall.
We now have a press release from this government heralding the conclusion of that agreement.
My question for the minister: Given that the negotiations are over, what is his remaining reason for not allowing the release publicly to members of this Legislature of the contract that this government has signed?
Hon. Harold Gilleshammer (Minister responsible for A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd.): I know the Leader of the Liberal Party will be consistent with the previous Leader, and I would suggest that perhaps he read her comments when we had our last meeting on the annual report who wholeheartedly supported government's divesting of Crown corporations.
This has been a very open process in that we submitted preconditions that helped to answer questions that came about as a result of some unsolicited bids. We will make public all that we are legally able to make public. There is some third-party confidentiality around some of the information we have. This has been a very open process in terms of public meetings, press conferences that have taken place. The CEO of the particular Crown appeared before city council in Brandon, answered any and all questions, appeared on open-line radio shows, met with the chamber of commerce. This has been a very open process.
We will commit to making public all that we are legally able to.
Mr. Edwards: Mr. Speaker, the minister indicates that the press conferences and press releases of his government should satisfy us. Well, they do not. He goes on to say that they will release all that they are legally able to release. This request for information is now three months old.
Can the minister table the legal opinion he has received as to what part of the contract he can release and what he cannot, because we have received contracts in the past, particularly the Repap deal and others where parts were blanked out, and we accept that. There are certain confidences which must be respected.
Where is the contract so that we can do our job other than through press conferences and press releases from the government?
Mr. Gilleshammer: I do not accept that the member indicates part of my answer. I also said that there has been a public meeting with the chamber of commerce, with the city council, open-line radio shows, meetings where many people from within the community were present, including the member for Brandon East (Mr. Leonard Evans).
I have indicated that this has been an open process. We will release all that we are legally able to release.
Faneuil Corporation
Contract Tabling Request
Mr. Paul Edwards (Leader of the Second Opposition): Mr. Speaker, I will eagerly await the minister releasing the contract, because there is no substitute for the release of the agreement to which we are legally bound.
My final question, in the same vein, is to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism on the Faneuil deal.
A second Freedom of Information request was placed by our office. A rejection was received October 5 to any of the terms and conditions of the Faneuil deal which this government signed, a $47.2-million contract with MTS, as well as over $17 million in loan guarantees to that company.
My final question for the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism is: Why can the people of this province not have access to the contract that was signed between this government and Faneuil representing close to $70 million of obligations on behalf of the taxpayers?
Hon. James Downey (Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism): Mr. Speaker, first of all on the McKenzie contract and arrangements, the minister has clearly said that we are prepared to provide what we are able to do legally so it does not impact on the company which has been purchased in good faith, which we believe will continue on not only to guarantee the jobs in Brandon but a major expansion in job opportunities better off for it.
As far as the other contract the member refers to, it is the telephone corporation that in fact has that contract with the work that is being done. Any information again that is able to be provided will be provided. [interjection]
Mr. Speaker, he keeps asking questions from his chair. We will be as co-operative as possible to make sure that the public are clearly brought up to full speed as it relates to the information with the deals this government carries out.
SmartHealth
Contract Tabling Request
Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Mr. Speaker, while line-ups grow in our health care system and while the health care system deteriorates, what does this government do?--they are entering into a hundred-million-dollar contract with the Royal Bank for computers. How do we know about it?--from a two-page press release.
Will the minister, today, categorically assure this House that they will table the contract with Royal Bank for computers prior to spending one cent of taxpayers' money on this?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Mr. Speaker, initially the concern raised by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Doer) had to do with the information that is important that it not be shared with the wrong people. I accept that.
I want the honourable member and his Leader to understand and look back on the Drug Program Information Network which came into effect in July. The honourable members will be aware that privacy was an issue in that regard, and we put together a committee composed of various people representing the community and the population. We have every intention of doing the same thing with respect to the public health information system.
With regard to information that we can make available to the honourable member, just as soon as we are able to do so we will make that information available.
APM Management Consultants
Contract Tabling Request
Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Mr. Speaker, how does this government expect us to have any confidence in the process they are putting in place, because we requested details on the Connie Curran contract and her living expenses of $130,000 and, yes, we got back invoices, but on this contract, censored out is information as to how this $130,000 was spent.
How can we have confidence in information on the $100-million contract when they will not give us information about the Connie Curran contract that is already concluded?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): I do not think there has ever been a time when there has been more openness in the relationship between the Department of Health and the people of this province when it comes to the health system and the system that we want to build together in this province.
You cannot move as far as we have without the consultation and the input that we have had from people right across this province from corner to corner.
The honourable member asks how he should have any confidence. There is not a thing that I remember announcing in the last year--and there have been many very positive things that have been brought forward--there is not one time that I have heard the honourable member say that he is confident in what we are doing. So it is very hard for me to answer him and say, well, you are going to be confident, because that honourable member never is.
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Mr. Chomiak: Mr. Speaker, we have a consistent pattern, not just in today's Question Period but throughout the entire year, of a reluctance of this government to provide information to the public.
My final question: Can the minister explain why, on the details of this $130,000 in living expenses for Connie Curran, the government censored out information on this document, why they would not provide information as to how this money was spent? Why did they censor the information?
Mr. McCrae: The honourable member refers to information he has no doubt obtained under The Freedom of Information Act and the mechanisms under that act. I will take the honourable member's question as notice and contact him further with respect to details.
Winnipeg Development Agreement
Arena Funding
Mr. George Hickes (Point Douglas): Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the minister responsible for the Winnipeg Development Agreement. Constituents have called me voicing their concern that dollars for the inner city will be going to the arena.
I would like to ask the minister if she will guarantee that Winnipeg Development Agreement dollars will go towards long-term jobs for the people and not for a new arena.
Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Urban Affairs): Mr. Speaker, I indicate to the member that we have had no discussions about Winnipeg Development Agreement money going towards an arena. The whole purpose of the program is to address the areas the member has identified: community development, labour force development, strategic initiatives for the city of Winnipeg. Nothing about the arena has been discussed in that agreement.
Consultations
Mr. George Hickes (Point Douglas): Mr. Speaker, I would like the minister to guarantee that there will be no dollars going to the arena and also, will the minister ensure community groups such as Point Douglas Residents' Association, Turtle Island Residents' Association, Gilbert Park Residents' Association, CEDA, Social Planning Council and other organizations are consulted and have input in prioritizing dollars spent under the Winnipeg Development Agreement?
Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Urban Affairs): Mr. Speaker, I am very happy that the member has identified certain groups that I have a special interest in and that I know he has a special interest in as well. By all means, we intend to stay in touch with those groups, make sure they have access to us to providing ideas. We already have some projects going on in the initial stages with certain of those groups. They have contributed ideas to this point. We welcome their ideas in the future.
That area of the city will certainly be considered as part of the agreement as are other parts of the city, because we are not limited to just one geographical area this time which is good because Gilbert Park, for example, is outside the original limited geographical area.
I reassure him again that we have had absolutely no discussions on an arena as part of this agreement.
Employment Creation
Mr. George Hickes (Point Douglas): Mr. Speaker, in my first question I was asking for a simple yes or no, that there be no money going to the arena under this agreement. It was just a yes-or-no answer that I was looking for.
Also, will the minister develop a partnership with business and labour to ensure long-term jobs are obtained for graduates for many training programs?
Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Urban Affairs): Mr. Speaker, one of the aspects of this agreement that we hope to see come to fruition is the ability to have partnerships with business, with labour, with nonprofit groups, community organizations, as well as the three levels of government, of course, which are the three levels putting the project together.
So I can say to the member that we will make every effort to ensure that we have that kind of input depending upon the willingness of groups to co-operate, and I reassure him again that the Winnipeg Arena debate is not part of this agreement debate.
Tender Process
114 Garry Street
Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): Mr. Speaker, over the last number of years, we have raised numerous questions about contracts entered into by this government.
I would like to ask a question to the Premier related to another contract, this to do with 114 Garry Street, a tender for 65,000 square feet of space which was awarded to Marvin Investments. I would like to ask the First Minister if, once again, as was the case with 280 Broadway, whether the government has moved away from the process of looking only at the lowest tender and why this particular contract was awarded to Marvin Investments.
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Mr. Speaker, firstly, if 280 Broadway is the old Investors building, then that was the lowest tender that was accepted. So we have moved away from no principle.
Mr. Ashton: Mr. Speaker, it was not the lowest the first time around. It was not the second. It was not even the third lowest. The government reheld the tenders.
My question again is in regard to 114 Garry Street and what the circumstances are and why Marvin Investments Limited of which Barry Shenkarow is a partner just happens to have been awarded this particular contract, despite the fact there were a number of other bids--there was at least one which put in a lower price--and also the fact that government is now leaving space in Eaton Place which is at a lower rate than what they have awarded this particular contract at, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Filmon: I want to just correct the member opposite. On 280 Broadway, as in any tender, the government always puts in a clause that says the lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted, and by retendering, we saved a million dollars for the taxpayers of Manitoba.
He is opposed to that, Mr. Speaker, and that is why the New Democrats have left this province with billions of dollars of--because of their stupidity, because they believe that you ought to just throw money away. We do not believe that, and we do not accept his solution that we ought to pay a million dollars of taxpayers' money more than necessary for any property.
Mr. Ashton: We do not accept sweetheart deals and changing the process--280 Broadway, Mr. Speaker, and I am asking now for 114 Garry Street.
I would like to ask the Premier, since the question was on 114 Garry Street, why the contract was awarded to Marvin Investments. Are we not paying enough to Mr. Shenkarow through the management fees for the Winnipeg Jets, sharing the cost of the Winnipeg Jets, or is this another way of indirectly funnelling taxpayers' money to support the Winnipeg Jets deal that this government signed?
Mr. Filmon: I repeat, Mr. Speaker, this member for Thompson would prefer the government to pay a million dollars more in lease fees than necessary for building space. I do not accept that solution. I do not accept anything that he brings to the table because usually it is factually wrong.
Immunization
Nurse-Managed Program
Ms. Avis Gray (Crescentwood): Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health.
It would appear that the Manitoba Medical Association has been hard at work trying to come up with ideas on how to save dollars in the health care system, and the formal Manitoba Medical Services Council, which has been established by this government, has representatives on it from the minister's office.
One of the innovative ideas that this council should be looking at in terms of saving money in the health care system and not jeopardizing quality of care is the idea of having nurses giving immunizations for children, not the physicians.
Will the minister ensure that this particular idea is brought forward to the Manitoba Medical Services Council and is discussed and debated fully as to the merits of the idea?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Mr. Speaker, aside from the suggestion being made, which I will pass along, I am pleased to point out to the honourable member that earlier this year, the Premier (Mr. Filmon) announced to the annual nurses' meeting that we would be engaging with the Manitoba Association of Registered Nurses in the establishment of nurse resource centres in Manitoba.
Work is underway in that regard. We have been working with Dr. Helen Glass's implementation committee, and I expect in the very near future to see some proposals, so that we can get going on that proposal, but I will pass on the member's suggestion to the Manitoba Medical Services Council.
Ms. Gray: Mr. Speaker, with a supplementary to the same minister. The Manitoba Nurses' Union did a survey this fall, a survey of the public, and it said that 86 percent of Manitobans felt that having nurses giving vaccinations to children was appropriate.
Will the minister not only pass that idea along, but, in fact, ensure that that particular issue gets on the next agenda at the next meeting of the Manitoba Medical Services Council?
Mr. McCrae: I do not think there is any question but that Manitobans very much support the appropriate use of nursing professionals in our communities. You know, this is the 150th anniversary of the Grey Nuns in Manitoba. Ever since the beginning of nursing in Manitoba, nurses have been playing a role.
We talked about the Home Care program starting about 20 years ago here in Manitoba, when in reality the Grey Nuns started the Home Care program 150 years ago in our province. I think all honourable members have already joined with me in calling attention to that particular event in Manitoba's history.
As I say, we intend to continue working with the Manitoba Association of Registered Nurses to assure them and to assure Manitobans that we are using the skills that are there to the maximum extent possible.
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Manitoba Medical Services Council
Agenda Items
Ms. Avis Gray (Crescentwood): Mr. Speaker, my final supplementary is to the minister.
Can the minister indicate to us if other organizations and groups such as MARN and the MNU are allowed to present agenda items to the Manitoba Medical Services Council?--because I get the distinct impression from my first two questions--with answers that have nothing to do with the issue--that I am not sure this minister is going to pass that on. Can he indicate today if organizations and groups involved in health care can present agenda items to the Manitoba Medical Services Council for full debate?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Mr. Speaker, there is nothing stopping the honourable member or anyone else in Manitoba from presenting their ideas to the Manitoba Medical Services Council. There are two co-chairs, and it can also be done through my office. If anybody has a suggestion they want to bring to the attention to suggest that something go on the agenda of the Manitoba Medical Services Council, they need only get that done through the co-chairs or through my office.
As I have already said to the honourable member, I would be pleased to pass on the suggestions she has made.
Forage Producers
Compensation
Mr. Clif Evans (Interlake): Mr. Speaker, last year the Manitoba Forage association, with support from Keystone Agricultural Producers, presented resolutions to the Minister of Agriculture requesting compensation for producers province-wide for losses incurred during the inclement weather in 1993.
Can the minister tell this House what response these producers received from the minister and what support for their requests?
Hon. Harry Enns (Minister of Agriculture): Mr. Speaker, I will take that question as notice.
I am aware that some of the leaf-cutter bees have in fact received support from the Disaster Assistance Board. I have advised the remaining members, some of whom have written directly to my office, to make the appropriate claims.
The issue seems to be that not all parties affected filed the necessary documents claiming support from the Disaster Assistance Board.
Mr. Clif Evans: Mr. Speaker, the minister indicates that other producers were provided compensation.
Can the minister tell this House why 40 producers to this point in the Lac du Bonnet area have received in excess of $560,000 when the proposal made by the forage association province-wide was a million dollars? Why $560,000 here when a million dollars by the forage association was asked for?
Mr. Enns: Mr. Speaker, I can only repeat the answer that I just gave him principally because these producers filed and filled the appropriate forms out. I might also say, and I say this without fear of favour, that the producers were aided and provided these forms to fill out and they made their claim to the Disaster Assistance Board.
I am aware of the fact that not all producers of alfalfa seed have made their claims. I have asked Mr. Sid Reimer the director of the Disaster Assistance Board to reopen the file, if you like, and consider any additional claims.
Mr. Clif Evans: Mr. Speaker, just speaking to the forage association yesterday, there is no response from this government whatsoever through the disaster relief fund for any other producers in this province. There is not any.
Can this minister assure that these forms and applications will be provided to all the producers such as they were to the producers in the area of the member for Lac du Bonnet (Mr. Praznik)?
Mr. Enns: Mr. Speaker, in the well-established pattern, when the Manitoba Disaster Assistance Board examines disastrous situations, whether they are flood or wind or storm, it is up to the citizens of the area to file with the Disaster Assistance Board for the assistance program. The issue that the honourable member from the Interlake brings up is a simple fact of the matter that a number of alfalfa producers failed to file the necessary forms with the Disaster Assistance Board.
Forest Management Agreement
Louisiana-Pacific
Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Mr. Speaker, we often hear this government in forms of brochures and pamphlets making a strong commitment to sustainable development. We on this side of the House want to ensure that all new jobs are sustainable and in a sustainable community. In the Forest Management Agreement signed by the province and Louisiana-Pacific, the government agreed to an annual allowable cut of 900,000 cubic metres of hardwood in the Manitoba forest section in western Manitoba. However, the province's own five-year plan indicates there are only 578,290 cubic metres.
Will the Minister of Natural Resources or the Minister of Environment (Mr. Cummings) indicate what studies have been done to indicate that there actually is the additional amount of wood that is required and that the harvest we are going to have in that area will be sustainable and we will have long-term jobs--
Mr. Speaker: Order, please. The honourable member has put her question.
Hon. Albert Driedger (Minister of Natural Resources): Mr. Speaker, I very rarely thank members when they ask a question, but in this case, I want to thank the member for asking that question.
It is most appropriate because we are sending out letters to thousands of people starting as of today. I am having a press release, as well, indicating that we will be making information available to all the people throughout Manitoba, and that we will also be having open houses. We will be having all the technical information in terms of how allowable cuts get arrived at. So it is most timely that you asked the question.
I want to give the member assurances that all that information is going to be made available.
Ms. Wowchuk: Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the fact that they are communicating because there is a concern as to how this goal will be achieved.
Mr. Speaker, another group of people is the independent loggers who met with the minister asking for some long-term supply of wood. I know there are 50,000 cubic metres that have been set aside, and we are assuming it is for independent loggers, but they have not heard from this minister.
Can the minister indicate clearly when these independent loggers are going to be given assurances that they will have a long-term wood supply, rather than applying for the 150 cubic metres?
Mr. Driedger: Mr. Speaker, I do not know when the member has last spoken to some of the permit holders, but I have asked my staff from time to time whether there has been any further concern expressed. To date, after we have given the assurances to the operators that we have adequate supply for them, there has been no further concern.
This also will be dealt with at the time that we have the open houses, when we will be going out and explaining exactly what is available, for whom, to whom, the allowable cuts.
Mr. Speaker, I am anticipating that we should be in a position to have the open houses and all this information available by the end of January, and it will be ongoing from there on.
Ms. Wowchuk: Mr. Speaker, I want to let the minister know that there are people who are still asking questions. I am in contact with them.
Can the minister indicate whether, at these hearings, he will be addressing the concerns that are raised by people who use the mountain for a recreational facility?
This is a tremendous amount of wood that is going to be taken out of the mountain areas. Can the minister give assurances that there will still be the recreational areas around the lakes and that they will be protected?
Mr. Driedger: Mr. Speaker, in the Forest Management Licence that I have signed together with Louisiana-Pacific, these issues are all addressed in there, but this information is also going to be made available.
In the Forest Management Licence, we address the area of sustainable allowable cut. We address the area of wildlife. We address the area of fisheries. We address the area of recreation. All of these things are part and parcel of what is happening there. So if the member has a little bit of patience, all this information will become available.
Manitoba Product Stewardship Program
Board Representatives
Ms. Norma McCormick (Osborne): Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Environment.
The Manitoba Product Stewardship program the minister has announced will be administered by a corporation established for this purpose.
Can the minister advise this House what groups or interests will be represented and when he intends to make announcement of the composition of the board?
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Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister of Environment): Mr. Speaker, in a general sense, we will have representation from consumer organizations, from industry that is affected by the recycling regulations, by municipal governments and the Province of Manitoba. Those will be the general categories.
Mr. Speaker: Time for Oral Questions has expired.