ORAL QUESTION PERIOD
Health Sciences Centre
Emergency Services Investigation
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Last night, in an open community meeting, a number of people were able to speak up and speak out about the Filmon government's decision to close the emergency wards from ten o'clock at night to eight o'clock in the morning, and, Madam Speaker, universally, the people at the meeting thought it was a very wrong decision and that the decision should be reversed.
We also heard a number of examples of people who had been put in jeopardy, in the opinion of the public, by the government's decision, and we heard further information about decisions that are made across the so-called integrated system now in place allegedly in Winnipeg.
One example that we were told about was a situation on Saturday night when seven ambulances were in line at the emergency ward at the Health Sciences Centre and an eighth ambulance had to be diverted from that centre. They were in line with patients who could not even be unloaded into the hospital because of the massive waiting lists of people, Madam Speaker, and the number of ambulances that had patients in them because they could not go to other hospitals.
Has the minister investigated this situation that took place last Saturday night, and what can he advise the public of Manitoba about the so-called integrated system?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, honourable members have brought to our attention, in the past, allegations of one kind or another, and when they were investigated they were not found to have been sustained by the facts of the case at hand.
If honourable members have concerns like this, I would be pleased to have them raise them with me with some detail. The honourable member for Kildonan (Mr. Chomiak) has raised matters with me in writing and surrounded it with very little detail. We had to do a real job of investigating the complaints and we did that, and we found that the honourable member's concerns were without the foundation that he suggests that they have.
Madam Speaker, I remind the honourable Leader--[interjection] Careful, David. The honourable member for Kildonan should be reminded from time to time about the parliamentary language that is allowed and unparliamentary language that is not allowed.
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Point of Order
Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): On a point of order, I believe Beauchesne indicates that ministers do not have to answer the questions, Madam Speaker, but they should not provoke debate, and I think the Minister of Health ought to be called to order. He is not even remotely dealing with the question that was posed by the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr. McCrae: On a point of order, Madam Speaker, if the honourable member for Kildonan does not want me to provoke debate, he ought not from his seat to call me a liar.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. On the honourable member's point of order regarding the response to the question, I would remind the honourable minister that his response should deal with the question asked and be as brief as possible.
On the allegation by the honourable Minister of Health on the same point of order, I would request the co-operation of all honourable members in paying courtesy to the member who has been recognized on the floor, and if there would be no bantering back and forth across the floor--I recognize emotions run high, but it is a courtesy to afford the member who has been recognized an opportunity to present his or her response or question.
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Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, I ask the minister to investigate the matter, which is quite appropriate for us to ask; in fact, it is our responsibility to ask these questions and I think it is a responsibility of the Minister of Health to investigate these matters. That is all we are asking for on behalf of the public and patients of Manitoba.
We were further informed, on this same Saturday night--and the minister has indicated before he is, quote, monitoring the situation of his so-called integrated service--that the eighth ambulance was diverted from the Health Sciences Centre because of the line-up of ambulances with patients in those ambulances because of using just the two centres, rather than seven centres in the city. That eighth ambulance, according to the first responding staff that were there, had to be diverted to the St. Boniface Hospital and unfortunately the patient in the ambulance died on transport to the St. Boniface Hospital.
Has the minister been made aware of that situation? Has he investigated it, and will he look at an independent investigation of this death and the system, whether it had anything to do, or not do, with this very tragic situation?
Mr. McCrae: There are times, Madam Speaker, in the city of Winnipeg and elsewhere where genuine emergencies do occur, and there are times, very tragically sometimes, when people lose their lives and everybody knows that.
Madam Speaker, indeed I have investigated all manner of things that have been raised in this House and elsewhere. Indeed, since the past weekend, I have met with a couple of the emergency doctors from Health Sciences Centre. I have also met with emergency nurses from Health Sciences Centre.
An Honourable Member: It is about time.
Mr. McCrae: It is not a question of about time. I have been doing this for two years, Madam Speaker, meeting with people like that, and I continue to do so.
Those same kinds of people are the people who are involved in the Integrated Emergency Services Delivery Steering Committee. Some 40 of them, hospital people, as well as hospital administrative people, as well as medical and nursing personnel, people representing consumers, people representing seniors and the various unions are represented on this committee. That is an appropriate place for these matters to be addressed as well, but indeed I have looked into the matters raised by the honourable Leader of the Opposition.
I think the best that can be said is that emergency services are hectic at the best of times, especially at busy and peak times, and there was a hectic weekend again at the Health Sciences Centre, but it was a question that the staff there were coping with.
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Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, the minister has not answered whether he would investigate the seven ambulances that were in line at the Health Sciences Centre last Saturday night. Was it due to the fact that other community hospital emergency wards were closed down, ordered by the Premier to be closed down, during those hours?
The minister did not answer whether he would have an independent investigation of the eighth ambulance that was sent to St. Boniface Hospital.
I would like to ask the Premier, would he allow an investigation to take place by the coroner's office or somebody else independent, Madam Speaker? Because the whole system has been told to play ball with the government.
There are a lot of individuals in this system who are very worried about the safety of patients, very worried that the word is not getting out to the public, and I would like the Premier to have an independent procedure to look at this tragic situation, so the public will know the full impact of the Filmon government's decision in this matter.
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, I know that the member opposite has difficulty confining himself to the truth, but he ought not put on the record a statement that I ordered the closure of those.
Health Care System
Emergency Services
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Is the Premier in this House today saying that the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) made the decision to close the community hospitals without the authority of the Premier and cabinet in the government of Manitoba? Is that what the Premier is saying?
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, decisions that have been made have been collectively taken by those involved, including the administrations of the various hospitals in following up on the withdrawal of services by emergency room doctors at five community hospitals.
I say to the member opposite that he has put on the record false information by way of his attempting to take some political advantage of this situation, Madam Speaker, rather than a concern for the well-being of the patients and the operations of the health care system in Manitoba.
Mr. Doer: A supplementary question. Is the Premier saying to the people of Manitoba that the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) worked alone with the Department of Health officials, and the Minister of Health did not take this decision to cabinet, and it was not approved by the Premier as the chair of cabinet, Madam Speaker?
Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, the member opposite said I ordered the closure of those. That is wrong. That is false, and that is not appropriate in this Chamber. That is what I said.
Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, I would ask the Premier, as chair of cabinet, did he approve the decision made by the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae), or did the Minister of Health act alone?
Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, that is the point. The Minister of Health never acts alone. He has been involved with the administrations and staff of not only the municipal hospitals, not only the community hospitals, but he has been involved with many different people who have done analyses of health care provision in this province and in this city.
He never acts alone. He acts in consultation with experts, with those involved who work in the hospitals, with those who have expertise to offer, with those who have studied the system, and that is the way in which decisions are made.
Mr. Doer: A new question to the Premier: Did the Premier approve the decision to close the community-based hospitals from ten o'clock at night to eight o'clock in the morning, yes or no?
Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, the decision was arrived at as a result of a consensus flowing from all of the various investigations, all of the various investigations that have been done into the operations of emergency rooms in this province and in this city, and under those circumstances, the minister, under his authority, makes the decisions based on the best available information and advice that is put forward to him.
Mr. Doer: A supplementary question. The Premier is saying the minister made the decision and the Premier did not approve it. Did the Premier approve the decision to close the emergency wards of the community hospitals? Did the matter go to cabinet? Did the Premier approve it, yes or no? It is a very simple question in a parliamentary democracy.
You are the head of government. Did you approve it or did you not, Madam Speaker?
Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, the decisions that are made collectively by government are made on the basis of the consensus that is arrived at by government.
The minister, like all ministers, has authority that is vested in him by virtue of his cabinet position, and the decisions that he makes are the decisions that are made under his authority that is collectively given to him on a consensus basis by cabinet, Madam Speaker.
This minister has taken the effort to have several major analyses done of the operations of emergency rooms in this province. That is based on expert advice. It is not based on some political decision-making process that the members opposite would invoke. It is based on the advice of those who work within the system, and that is why he is putting forward a new approach that involves all seven hospitals within greater Winnipeg working together, as opposed to seven operating independently when it comes to such a vital decision as the provision of emergency services in this city.
Mr. Doer: The Premier chairs cabinet. The Premier is the head of government.
An Honourable Member: Splitting hairs.
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Mr. Doer: Splitting hairs. My God, and you know that is not true, either.
Madam Speaker, was the Premier part of the consensus to close the community-based hospitals? Did he approve the closure of the community-based hospitals, yes or no?
Mr. Filmon: Community-based hospitals are not closed in Winnipeg, Madam Speaker.
Education System
Canadian History
Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Madam Speaker, this weekend many Manitobans are making the trek to Montreal to support the sense of a country they learned to love. They are fortunate to have grown up in a Manitoba where they had the opportunity as young adults to learn about the past and where Canadian history was valued. The Filmon government's education reforms will now make it possible for young Manitobans to graduate from high school with American history or European history but not Canadian history.
I want to ask the Premier (Mr. Filmon) today, will he reconsider that decision?
Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): Madam Speaker, the member is incorrect.
Ms. Friesen: Would the Minister of Education table any letter, any petition, any phone call that she has received from Manitobans which has asked for Canadian history in high school to become an elective, which might balance the hundreds of petitions that she has received from museum societies, from teachers, from students, from citizens, from seniors right across this province who have asked that she reconsider that decision?
Mrs. McIntosh: The member is trying very hard to imply that, because in the final year of high school we are now saying there will be two compulsory subjects, language arts and mathematics, all other subjects that are being taught to students are going to be ignored.
History is one that will be given renewed emphasis in the first 10 years of schooling.
The member knows we are moving to a model where content that was taught in 12 years will now be taught in 10 and that the increased emphasis on Canadian history and social studies will take place earlier, in more detail.
By the time they have completed Grade 10 they should have covered all of the subject area they currently cover by the end of Grade 12, leaving them available in the last two years of high school to take additional history over and above what they would be able to currently get.
As well, the member knows that there are six optional subjects, from which four must be chosen. One of those is history in the last two years of high school.
The member knows that, Madam Speaker. I think to take advantage of trying to make a political point because of a very sensitive situation in the history of this country is very, very unwise for the sake of this country.
Ms. Friesen: Would the Minister of Education at the very least agree to delay the elimination of senior level Canadian history until parents and teachers can examine the proposals for the new plan that the minister says she has from Kindergarten to Grade 10 but which, as I understand it would be, evidence for that, the curriculum for that, the plans for that will not even be available for anyone to look at for at least two more years?
So we are going to have years without Canadian history with nothing in place. Will she delay it?
Mrs. McIntosh: I do not know where the member is saying that there will be no Canadian history. There will be Canadian history with increased emphasis throughout the first 10 years and additional available options in Grades 11 and 12. It will be available.
The expectation we have is that of the six subjects from which four must be chosen, it is our expectation the vast majority of people will be taking this increased history in Grade 12. The students therefore will be ending up with more history than they would have been able to have under the current model.
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Given the premise upon which the member based her reason for raising this question today, that being the referendum that is going to take place in Montreal and the things that are going to happen this weekend, I would question the wisdom of her trying to leave the implication she is trying to leave on the record.
Madam Speaker: Order, please.
Point of Order
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): On a point of order, I think the minister should be very careful about imputing motives, particularly around a very important vote on Monday because, Madam Speaker, we have asked questions about Canadian history for the last two years, before the PQ was elected, after the PQ was elected.
We are asking Canadian history questions because we believe Canadian history should be taught in our schools, and we do not believe anything else.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. The honourable Minister of Education, on the same point of order.
Mrs. McIntosh: Madam Speaker, I was responding to the preamble in which the member very clearly said, given the emotion and the things that are going to be happening in Montreal because of the preparation for Monday, she clearly--I am paraphrasing--indicated that that was the reason, that was the motivation given by her for asking yet another question that implies that we are lessening an emphasis on Canadian history when we are not.
I am pleased to emphasize for all those people this weekend, which is why she said she asked the question, for all those people this weekend, this province is bringing in information on Canadian history--
Madam Speaker: Order, please. A point of order is a very serious matter.
On the honourable Leader of the official opposition's point of order, in my opinion there is no point of order. It was clearly a dispute over the facts.
Health Care System
Emergency Services
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, my question is for the Premier (Mr. Filmon).
Yesterday, when I asked a question about emergency health care services, I asked the Premier if, in his opinion, he would reconsider opening the emergency services in our community hospitals, given the fact that we have health care professionals and the public asking for this government to do that. He indicated that he would do that.
My question to the Premier is, does he not believe that the health care professionals are sincere when they say that it should be reopened? Does he not believe that the public in fact do want emergency services open?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, we are not questioning anybody's motivations or integrity or anything like that, because emergency services are a concern for everybody. There is no question about that.
The honourable member asks about changes in the future. We have been very clear since the end of the doctors' strike that we were embarking on an orderly reopening of emergency services and that as we work towards the end of the year, as suggested by Jack Chapman, the mediator in the dispute between MHO and the MMA, we will have an integrated emergency services plan in Winnipeg.
I ask the honourable member and all the people involved in the process to take a part and also to work with us as we develop emergency services for the long-term future of the city.
Mr. Lamoureux: Does the Premier (Mr. Filmon) have to wait for a by-election or a general election before he realizes what he has done is wrong and before he realizes that he has to reverse this decision?
Mr. McCrae: For the first time, the honourable member seems to be falling into the same trap as members of the New Democratic Party in attempting to raise his questions for the purpose of scoring some kind of political points.
Madam Speaker, what we need to do is score some points for patients in this province by creating the best emergency services system we can create. That is why we have some 40 people involved on the Integrated Emergency Services Delivery Steering Committee so that we can have the best input that we can possibly get as we develop this integrated system.
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Mr. Lamoureux: Will the Premier, today, score some points with the public, using the Minister of Health's words, and reopen community health care emergency services in our five community hospitals? Will he score the points, live up to his word that he made to the public of Manitoba?
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, my response to the member is the same as it has been before. We are engaged in a process of consultation with the experts and the stakeholders that flows from the Chapman mediation report. We will be guided by that consultation process, and that is the process that is designed to bring forth the best possible system of emergency care for the people of Winnipeg, and that is the system that we are engaged in reviewing.
So that is what we will be doing and, as I say, we will be guided by the process.
University of Manitoba
Labour Dispute
Mr. Daryl Reid (Transcona): Yesterday the Minister of Labour once again showed his political bias in an improper and ill-advised attempt to appoint a Tory management mediator in the U of M dispute. Fortunately, the parties in the dispute agreed on an independent third-party mediator from B.C. The government's handling of this matter from beginning to end has been a politically manipulated disaster with students paying the price.
My question is for the Minister of Labour. Can the Minister of Labour tell the students at the University of Manitoba why, after 10 months of conciliation and no progress, he failed to involve mediation last summer when he should have, and has he withdrawn his October 26 letter to the parties since the parties have accepted Mr. Monroe as the mediator?
Hon. Vic Toews (Minister of Labour): Madam Speaker, I welcome this opportunity to give the House a bit of an update in response to the question. It is in fact my understanding that the parties have agreed upon a mediator, and I have asked them to confirm whether in fact the condition and terms of my letter dated October 26 were being complied with and that it is being agreed with.
I continue in the same letter, which I am prepared to tender in this House, that, as a result of my understanding that UMFA negotiators specifically publicly committed to returning back to the classroom once negotiations commence, I understand that they will be going back to work.
That is their public commitment, and I see no reason to doubt that their public commitment will be honoured by them. I can tender this letter.
Mr. Reid: In light of the minister's statement here then, can the minister explain to the students, since he sent the letter to the parties yesterday at the University of Manitoba, asking only the Faculty Association to show good faith in returning to work during mediation, what show of good faith demands has either the Minister of Labour or the Minister of Education (Mrs. McIntosh) placed on the university administration respecting issues in dispute, or is this the bias or the unfair--
Madam Speaker: Order, please. The question has been put.
Mr. Toews: I think it would be very imprudent for me to interject into very delicate labour negotiations. The parties apparently have agreed to a mediator. I am pleased with that. UMFA, as a part of a public statement, indicated that they are willing to go back when negotiations commence. Negotiations commenced last night. I understand that they are continuing today, and I see no reason why UMFA will not respect what in fact they have stated earlier.
Mr. Reid: Madam Speaker, since the mediation process has started with the parties involved, can the minister explain what he meant in his letter of October 26 when he stated that, in the event that mediation is not successful, the parties would be free to revert to the traditional dispute settlement mechanisms.
What does the minister mean by this statement? Does he mean that the government--
Madam Speaker: Order, please. The question has been put.
Mr. Toews: The honourable member is quite familiar with our Labour Relations Act, what the parties are entitled to do once the mediation process is over.
Department of Natural Resources
Staff Biologist Transfer
Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, on October 12 I asked the Minister of Natural Resources to investigate why a wildlife biologist who was doing his job and putting forward recommendations to ensure that wildlife habitat was protected was being transferred from the Swan River area.
I want to ask the minister to tell this House if he has looked into the matter and what is the result of his investigation. Will Mr. Soprovich remain in Swan River?
Hon. Albert Driedger (Minister of Natural Resources): Madam Speaker, it is an illustration of what happens when we blow things out of proportion and make a mountain out of a molehill. It is not unusual within the Department of Natural Resources, we move people around all the time. From time to time, we have individuals who are not happy about that kind of move. We try to make it as painless as possible.
In this particular case, Madam Speaker, Mr. Soprovich, the individual who was transferred to Thompson, is a biologist. He is doing a good job for us, and I take some exception to the fact that people are saying, because he made certain statements related to LP, that he is being transferred for that reason. That is not the case. That is his responsibility in his job to make those kinds of comments to me and my department. So I wish the member would leave the issue alone.
Ms. Wowchuk: Madam Speaker, I am sure there are many issues that this government would ask us not to raise.
Louisiana-Pacific
Forest Management Plan
Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): I want to ask the minister how seriously he is taking the job of reviewing the forest management plan and the EIA put forward by Louisiana-Pacific when his staff in Swan River has been told to review the document, which is a huge document, some eight volumes, why they have been told to review it and have a report ready in two days and why these people have been told--
Madam Speaker: Order, please. The question has been put.
Hon. Albert Driedger (Minister of Natural Resources): Madam Speaker, I am very serious about it, and that is why the other day I was criticized for it having taken so long until we had agreements. It has taken a long time, and we work through these things on an ongoing basis with all the people whom we have available to us in terms of setting this up.
I find it interesting that the member keeps bringing up issues of this nature in an area where LP is going to be providing approximately 500 jobs in the area, a tremendous investment in there. I would hope that the member for The Pas (Mr. Lathlin), for example, and the member for Swan River will be very supportive of the issues with Repap and with LP, which creates a lot of jobs and economic spinoff in that area.
But, Madam Speaker, my responsibility and government's responsibility and my colleague the Minister of Environment (Mr. Cummings) are charged with making sure that things are done in a proper, sustainable way, and we are doing that.
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Department of Natural Resources
Staff Biologist Transfer
Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): I want to ask the minister, if he is so concerned about jobs, why he is transferring out a wildlife biologist who has been doing a good job, but giving a high-paying job to people such as Ivan Balenovic, who does not have a forestry degree but has been given a high position above forest people who have a degree.
Why are they paying Tory hacks who have been doing fundraising for them?
Hon. Albert Driedger (Minister of Natural Resources): Madam Speaker, I hope the member has a good weekend, too.
I just want to suggest, Madam Speaker, I am prepared to defend any of the positions that I have within my department and the work that they are doing, including the individual biologist from Swan River whom she keeps harping on. I am prepared to defend him, as well.
University of Manitoba
Labour Dispute
Mr. Tim Sale (Crescentwood): Madam Speaker, virtually all economic analyses point to the role of universities as economic generators, vital to any modern economy. Their pure research role coupled with academic development and graduate faculties bring expertise and excellence to every community in which a good university exists.
Around this excellence develops public and private sector investment in jobs. When you threaten academic excellence and freedom, Madam Speaker, you threaten our province's most vital economic resource.
My question is for the Premier, Madam Speaker.
Will the Premier meet with the government appointees to the University of Manitoba board and tell them that the labour dispute must be settled fairly, quickly and without compromising academic freedom?
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, nobody is threatening academic excellence. The issue is whether or not courses for which there is no demand, for which nobody wants to take the courses, whether or not that should entitle the university or require the university to insist on continuing to keep people on staff for whom there is no demand.
That would not happen in any other circumstance, in any other sector of society.
Mr. Sale: Will the Premier direct the government-appointed members of the board to honour their commitment to pay--and I will quote from a document, Madam Speaker: honouring the University of Manitoba's commitment to pay teaching assistants, graders, markers, lab demonstrators, tutors, lecturers and instructors and research assistants in virtually every faculty, as the university committed to do but has now said in an internal memo it will not do.
Will he direct his appointed members to honour their original commitment?
Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, the board of governors of the University of Manitoba is made up of a broad cross section of people, including representatives of the students, of the alumni association, of the community at large.
Those people make decisions within their jurisdiction. I know that they are people of competence. I know they are people of commitment to the university, and they are interested--[interjection] They will make competent judgments within their area of jurisdiction, Madam Speaker, and I know that their commitment to the university is a very serious commitment of desire for excellence, not just the kind of political showmanship of the member for Crescentwood.
Autopac
Income Replacement Waiting Period
Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East): I have a question for the Minister of MPIC.
I have a constituent who suffered injury in an automobile accident in Brandon preventing her from going to work and earning income to support her family. She is the only breadwinner. She was an innocent victim of this accident, and yet because of this government's legislation on no-fault insurance, she will be deprived of income replacement for the first seven days of her injury.
She asked, have we not suffered enough with personal injury and loss of our vehicle? Do you have to take a week of our wages away from us and make our family suffer?
I ask this minister, will he now do the right thing, bring forward an amendment to the legislation to eliminate the seven-day waiting period and eliminate this injustice?
Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act): We discussed this and other issues at some length yesterday in committee, and as I have said on a number of occasions when we brought this legislation in, supported, I might say, by the members opposite, we were very clear that we had vetted this against other programs around the world virtually in terms of availability of benefits, and this is viewed as being one of the most generous plans of this type, certainly in North America, and one which we committed ourselves to a three-year review, and we are still committed to that.
I think that while the member may raise certain specific issues, he leaves me at some disadvantage to discuss details of particular cases. I think there might be a few details missing in this case.
Mr. Leonard Evans: Madam Speaker, is this minister suggesting that there is not real hardship caused in this case by this government's failure to accept an amendment of this opposition to eliminate this seven-day waiting period? We made it very clear when the bill was brought in that this provision was not fair and should be eliminated.
Mr. Cummings: Madam Speaker, I categorically refuse to discuss individual cases, but in the broadest scope, let me remind the member that this is not universally a difficulty in having a seven-day waiting period, and one which we made a decision after some significant discussion and reviewing it in relationship to other plans, and this was seen to be a reasonable approach.
Taking Charge! Program
Implementation
Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): Madam Speaker, on September 9, 1994, amidst great fanfare at the chamber of commerce club, the Taking Charge! program was announced by the Minister of Family Services (Mrs. Mitchelson). This program is now the responsibility of the Minister of Education and Training.
Since there are 12,000 single parents on social assistance in Manitoba, and 65 percent of them do not have a high school diploma and therefore the need for this program is urgent, why has it taken so long to get this program up and running? There is an urgent need to have 4,000 single parents take advantage of this program. Where is it?
Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): I was not sure if the member wanted to direct his question to me or the Minister of Family Services because he did not indicate, and, also, he obviously does not realize that Taking Charge! is still under the leadership of Family Services.
Education will provide the training for the board. I can take the question as notice for the Minister of Family Services, but I can indicate that the Taking Charge! board has been struck. They have their staffing in place, they have their programming being developed, and I will take the question as notice for the Minister of Family Services, for whom we are providing staff available if they need it to do the training for that board.
Madam Speaker: Time for Oral Questions has expired.
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NONPOLITICAL STATEMENTS
Aboriginal Justice Inquiry Awards
Mr. Gord Mackintosh (St. Johns): May I have leave to make a nonpolitical statement, please?
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for St. Johns have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. Mackintosh: I want to take this moment to congratulate, on behalf of all members of the Legislature, the winners of the second Aboriginal Justice Inquiry Awards, which were given last night in the ceremony at which myself and the member for The Maples (Mr. Kowalski) were in attendance.
The awards are sponsored by the Aboriginal Rights Coalition. This year four winners were announced. These winners are chosen for their work in furthering the spirit of the recommendations in the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry report.
Rossbrook House received an award for its preventative programs and providing a safe place, particularly for inner-city youth and youth at risk. Hollow Water First Nation won for the second time for their advances in community-based justice. Mediation Services won for their work in conflict resolution, and Andrews Street Family Centre won for their work in community empowerment and providing programs and opportunities for youth and families, particularly in the inner city of Winnipeg.
I also want to pay tribute to the United Church young adult theatre group, which performed last night, a number of individuals who portrayed the difficulties that faced a young offender who was rejected not only by her family but then went on to rejection by both the community and the justice system.
I think the essence of the play was summed up by the young offender, whose key words were, when talking to the judge, all I am looking for is a family, all I need is someone to care about me and someone to love me, which I think speaks very profoundly of one of the great challenges underlying much of the youth violence that we are trying to deal with in our community and our province, in particular, today. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Gary Kowalski (The Maples): I ask permission to make a nonpolitical statement.
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for The Maples have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. Kowalski: I just wanted to add our acknowledgement of the recipients of the awards and congratulate the Manitoba Aboriginal Rights Coalition for putting on the awards and the Interchurch Committee on Youth Justice for sponsoring the forum, Youth Crime, A Positive Response.
I do not have too much more to add than what the member for St. Johns (Mr. Mackintosh) has already put forward. It was a wonderful evening and it continues on Saturday. I would encourage any members who have the time to attend the continuation of this forum on Saturday at Regents Park United Church. Thank you.
Ukrainian Canadian Veterans Branch 141--50th Anniversary
Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): Do I have leave to make a nonpolitical statement?
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Burrows have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. Martindale: Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to congratulate Ukrainian Canadian Veterans Branch 141 on their 50th anniversary, which they are celebrating this year, culminating in a banquet on October 29.
Branch 141, one of the largest Ukrainian Canadian Legion branches of the Royal Canadian Legion in Canada, currently has 1,400 members. For the past 50 years, Branch 141 has provided exemplary service to their members and to the community. They are to be congratulated for their volunteer work with veterans, youth and seniors, including cadets, Ukrainian dancing, the Legion Sports Camp and the Peace Gardens, baseball teams, the seniors club, taking part in parades, providing colour parties, visiting in nursing homes and hospitals and making large monetary donations to various hospitals, nursing homes, Deer Lodge Veterans Manor, the legion bus and numerous charitable organizations and worthy causes.
Once again, congratulations to 141 Legion on your 50th anniversary. May you continue to serve your members, particularly veterans, and the wider community for many more years.
Second Annual Manitoba First Nations Peoples Powwow International
Mr. Clif Evans (Interlake): Leave for a nonpolitical, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Interlake have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. Clif Evans: Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise this morning and offer our congratulations to some aboriginal honourees at last night's banquet at the Second Annual Manitoba First Nations Peoples Powwow International. Last night we were entertained by dance groups and by an entertainer and a fine actor by the name of Lightfoot who provided us with some rap music and rap singing, along with--
An Honourable Member: Do not forget the emcee.
Mr. Clif Evans: Yes, along with our colleague from Rupertsland who was the emcee of this very special event last night.
Last night was a dinner honouring nine First Nations people who have accomplished much, not only in their communities but in the province of Manitoba.
I would like to just express my congratulations and ours on this side, Madam Speaker, to the nine honourees: City of Winnipeg Police Constable Susan Swan from Lake Manitoba First Nations, RCMP Constable Sam Anderson from Dauphin River First Nations, Chief Louis Stevenson from Peguis First Nations, Adam Beach, an actor, who is from Lake Manitoba First Nations community, Dr. Marilyn Cook, who is from Grand Rapids and practises in Cross Lake, Betty Lou Halcrow, a firefighter from Cross Lake, Tomson Highway, a playwright from Brochet, Reverend Hagar Head from The Pas, and Morris Robinson Jr. from Grand Rapids First Nation.
Madam Speaker, last night was just the beginning of a weekend of international acclaim and international entertainment and competition from First Nations communities not only in Canada but from the United States. It starts today and goes the weekend. I encourage everyone to make an effort to attend and see the wonderful culture, the dancing, the drum playing and the singing that our First Nations people have in their culture. I wish to congratulate the honourees, congratulate the committee for the First Nations Peoples International Powwow and wish everyone well.
Committee Changes
Mr. George Hickes (Point Douglas): I move, seconded by the member for Broadway (Mr. Santos), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Law Amendments be amended as follows: Crescentwood (Mr. Sale) for Selkirk (Mr. Dewar); Wellington (Ms. Barrett) for St. Johns (Mr. Mackintosh); Radisson (Ms. Cerilli) for Rupertsland (Mr. Robinson) for Monday, October 30, 1995, for 10 a.m.
Motion agreed to.