Health Care System
Capital Projects
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Madam Speaker, my question is to the First Minister (Mr. Filmon).
Madam Speaker, a week before the election campaign, the Minister of Health announced the government's capital programs for health care, some $191 million in projects. A couple of weeks ago, we asked about some specific projects and their status because we have been hearing from a number of sources that many of these projects have been put on postelection hold.
Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the Premier, could he table today the status of the capital reports and the status of the approvals and the go-forward dates insofar as the same capital projects were listed in the Premier's (Mr. Filmon) promise during the election campaign?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, proponents of projects under our capital program are indeed interested in knowing the current status, and as we reported last week, capital projects in Manitoba are currently under review.
Projects are being reviewed this year as they are every year as we move through the budgetary process, and this is all happening against the backdrop, as the honourable member knows, of the federal government taking $220 million in funding from the Province of Manitoba.
The honourable member also is aware that we have before us balanced budget legislation, and we continue to look at each capital project on its merits.
Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, the federal budget was tabled at the end of February. The provincial budget was tabled March 9. I asked the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson) on March 10 whether any government spending decisions would be affected by the federal budget cutbacks in health and post-secondary education, and he said, no, they would go back to the federal minister.
Madam Speaker, the document that I referred to in the capital budget was also contained within the Conservative Filmon Vision promise.
I would like to ask the Premier (Mr. Filmon), in light of the fact that the capital projects are contained on page 53 of the government's promises during the election campaign, can the Premier account for the promises? Which ones are going ahead and which ones are not?
These are his words during our campaign, Madam Speaker. I think he should account back to the public on where they stand.
Mr. McCrae: The honourable Leader of the Opposition would, no doubt, recognize that within a budget of $1.85 billion on an annual basis, which, incidentally, is at 34 percent of budget, the highest level anywhere in the country, as part of a budget like that, there would, of course, be capital considerations to be taken into account as we go forward, and that is exactly what is happening, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the Premier, how can he go from $10 million of capital expenditure--promise, limit, bottom line, limit by the government, go no further for the arena--and how can he go from $191 million to a questionable amount now on health care?
Is it going one way on hockey and another way on health care, Madam Speaker? What are the priorities of this government, and why is he not fulfilling his promise that was contained, long after the federal budget, on page 53, his word in his election document called his vision of Manitoba? Do not break your promise.
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, as the member knows, we are no longer spending the $10 million on an arena. That has changed, obviously.
We would be irresponsible not to review all of our plans, all of our abilities, to fulfill any commitments in light of the loss of $147 million of transfer payments from Ottawa this coming budget and $220 million the following budget.
Madam Speaker, we have to be realistic. That is what the public expects of us.
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Health Care System
Board Appointments
Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker, the regional health board system is not set up, and already the minister is using that as an excuse as to why the capital plans have been stalled and terminated by this government.
My question is to the Minister of Health, Madam Speaker. The minister is going to be appointing all of the boards in Manitoba by ministerial decree, not elected. The minister is going to be appointing boards, and my question for the minister is, why are these board appointments going to be for periods of two to four years? Because the public is very concerned about the kinds of appointments this minister is going to make and the decisions his appointees make, decisions in rural Manitoba that may adversely affect the health care of Manitobans in rural Manitoba.
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, as no legislative framework exists for the first elected boards and as there is a need to have boards in place to assist in the implementation of the new system of regionalized health boards, as all of those things are before us, the honourable member would realize the necessity to get on with the process.
We are on time, Madam Speaker. We are on target in terms of the work. It is taking longer in Manitoba and it is deliberately so. In our neighbouring province to the west, of course, they reduced from 300 hospital districts to 30 by the stroke of a legislative pen. This is in Saskatchewan.
The honourable member should recognize that the consultative approach whereby we consult some thousands and thousands of Manitobans in the development of the health care system that we will have for future generations seems to be a better way to proceed.
Legislation
Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker, will the minister who has indicated that the process is on time indicate to members of this House whether or not we will be seeing legislation?
Because this is calling for a massive change in health care, will we see the legislation that according to his own study committee is to be in effect by April 1 of next year? Will we and Manitobans have an opportunity to see the legislation that is going to massively affect changes in rural Manitoba prior to the minister going in and making those changes?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Well, Madam Speaker, we hope that the legislation could be ready for next spring, but if that cannot happen, it would be the following legislative session, and the reason if it was not to be, it would be because of the work being done by the interim boards that are being set up.
By the way, Madam Speaker, those appointed members, 12 of 15 in each case, are from nominations received from the community, so the honourable member ought to make it a little clearer when he asks his questions in this House what he is talking about.
This is not the kind of process that he or his colleagues would have done had they been in office where it is all done in the back rooms. That is not the way we do things on this side of the House, Madam Speaker.
Regionalization
Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker, my final supplementary to the Minister of Health who suggests back-room politics, and I think it is beneath the dignity of a minister to suggest that, but my final question to the minister is, can the minister confirm what his musings were at the mental health coalition meeting last week when he said that Winnipeg would maybe not be a region but would have a centralized governing authority dealing with all health care matters?
Are we looking at Winnipeg as a region with a central board, probably run out of the minister's office, I might suspect, but are we looking at a region for Winnipeg?
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Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Before the honourable member refers again to something being beneath me, Madam Speaker, I suggest he read Hansard for today and his own questions as to what motivation he suggests might be actuating me.
Madam Speaker, I had a very interesting and open discussion the other day--the honourable member and a couple of his colleagues attended--with the mental health coalition, and I think it was a very useful dialogue, the sort of thing that goes on quite often with respect to Manitoba Health in general and me in particular working with the various people who have an interest in health care in our province.
Indeed, when we talk about integration of services in the city of Winnipeg, we are finding that when we can bring the various elements of the system together, we get better results, Madam Speaker. We get better patient care, and we also get a more effective use of health care dollars which the honourable member knows are going to be under great pressure as a result of federal action.
In the future in Winnipeg, we would like to see more of an integrated planning approach that would include people from the various facilities and services presently provided independently and autonomously here in the city of Winnipeg.
Health Care System
Regionalization
Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, the Women's Institute in the Parkland Region held their meeting, and at that meeting they raised concerns about the move to regional health authorities and the impact that this change is going to have on small community hospitals, and they worry about the loss of services in smaller facilities.
The Women's Institute in the statement also said that the recommendations were very idealistic, but the council that is supposed to be representing the grassroots has very little power.
I want to ask the minister what steps he will take to ensure that smaller facilities are not marginalized under this system and that district health councils which are supposed to be the grassroots representation do have some power.
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): I believe, Madam Speaker, that the process itself will assist in achieving what it is the honourable member wants to see achieved in rural regions of Manitoba.
By asking that decision making rest with the regional and district authorities as opposed to the so-called ivory towers here on Broadway in Winnipeg, I see a real potential for better grassroots input into health care decision making in the future.
Ms. Wowchuk: Since it is the district health councils which are supposed to be the vehicles through which communities' residents have their input and these councils have no funds attached to them, will the minister address that issue and attach funds to the community health councils so that they can be a real voice for the communities?
Mr. McCrae: There certainly is a wish to ensure that there is a real voice for the communities, as the honourable member points out, and as the regional boards are implemented before the end of this year, I would like to impress upon those regional associations the requirement for as much local input as we can possibly achieve.
Ms. Wowchuk: I want to ask the Minister of Health if he recognizes that aboriginal people in rural Manitoba have been blocked from participating on existing health boards, and since aboriginal people are a large percentage of the population in rural areas and are large users of health facilities, will he give his assurance that there will be the opportunity for aboriginal people to have a place on these district health councils and that there will be funds attached to these councils so that they can operate properly?
Mr. McCrae: No, I do not recognize that aboriginal people have been blocked, but should there be evidence of that, I would like to know about it.
Aboriginal people are frequently invited to participate, to send representatives, and if the honourable member has information about someone having been blocked, I would like to know about it.
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Youth Crime
Gang Reduction Strategy
Mr. Gord Mackintosh (St. Johns): My question is for the Minister of Justice.
This weekend, we found out that one of the minister's own probation staff and this person's family were forced to leave their home by a street gang.
During the minister's tenure, the number of street gang members in Winnipeg has more than doubled while this minister talked about imaginary interagency surveillance and talked about an unresponsive gang hotline.
My question for the minister is, when will she finally get beyond talk and walk the walk and take some meaningful action to deal with street gangs?
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): The member tends to put on the record information that I am not sure where he gathered it. I think it is very important to say that there is an incident which has been reported which is currently under investigation, and so that issue I do not think the member--unless, as he often does, he wants to go ahead and just convict before any evidence is presented. I think he should be very careful about the information that he is trying to put on the record here.
Madam Speaker, in the area of youth crime and violence, youth gangs and street gangs, let me say that this government was, I believe, the first province in this country to take a stand on the Young Offenders Act, the strongest stand in this country.
I wonder why it took the other side so very long, if, in fact, we even now have a clear message from the NDP as to whether or not they are supportive of strengthening the Young Offenders Act. When this government moved towards rigorous confinement in our correctional institutions, the other side opposed it. Madam Speaker, the member is wrong again.
Street Peace
Status Report
Mr. Gord Mackintosh (St. Johns): Would the minister who has publicly said that her youth gang hotline, which is just a little, old, lonely answering machine, is so vital, would she explain why, according to the officer assigned to this phone line, Sergeant Ron Hodgins of the Winnipeg Police Services, that hotline's messages are only being checked every couple of days?
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): The youth gang line, Street Peace, is a very important tool in dealing with information about youth gangs, and the member continues to minimize any steps that have been taken in any part of this province to deal with youth crime and violence.
I have explained before, Madam Speaker, that in studies dealing with information to be received about youth gangs and violence, the individuals who are using the line have, in fact, indicated a preference to have their anonymity protected and to use the voice mail or mechanical device. The member continues to minimize that, but that has been found to be the most effective.
Madam Speaker, the information that I have is that this information is taken off the youth gang line very, very regularly. I wish the member would perhaps elaborate to me if he has any other information. That is not what I understand from Winnipeg Police Services.
Point of Order
Mr. Mackintosh: The minister is saying I am minimizing the answering machine being used here. Perhaps I am just guilty of believing what the minister tells Manitobans because 100,000 wallet cards said, your call will be answered by a police officer.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. The honourable member for St. Johns does not have a point of order. It is clearly a dispute over the facts.
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Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. Johns, with a final supplementary question.
Mr. Mackintosh: A final supplementary to the minister: If the hotline's little answering machine is so vital, would she explain to the youth and parents who are forced to bang their heads against this impossible barrier and being unable to speak with a human being knowledgeable on youth issues, even when they press zero in an emergency--is this why the Salvation Army had to establish its own effective gang hotline?
The hotline has gone cold, Madam Speaker.
Mrs. Vodrey: There we have a perfect example of the member across the way minimizing a tool that the Winnipeg Police Services indicated that for their benefit has been very useful.
Individuals using this tool, that among others, this in specific, have found this to be, in fact, very useful--very useful in the giving of information and very useful in the following up of information.
Madam Speaker, there is contact, with an officer following up. Sometimes individuals just wish to deliver information. Other times, there is a requirement for follow-up where families wish to get additional information.
Madam Speaker, that most certainly happens, and, again, we have the member across the way making it very difficult for Manitobans to take advantage of all the tools available to them due to his minimization continually of everything available. When will he stand up and take a position that will help the people of Manitoba?
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Hecla Island Resort
VLTs/Casino
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Lotteries.
Gambling policy from this government has been one of revenue generation, and you can tell that in the sense that when you look anywhere in the city of Winnipeg--you can go to The Maples and the local high school there, Madam Speaker, and you can have VLTs right across the street from there. [interjection]
Madam Speaker: Order, please. I am experiencing great difficulty hearing the honourable member for Inkster's question.
The honourable member for Inkster, to pose his question now.
Mr. Lamoureux: My question to the Minister responsible for Lotteries is, we believe that it should be tourism driven. The Crown Corporations Council, in talking to the Hecla Island resort states: The council recommended that the resort be sold. If a buyer cannot be found, consideration should be given to closing the resort or converting it to alternative use.
My question to the minister is, will he recognize and support the reallocating of VLT machines from the city of Winnipeg over to Hecla Island resort?
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act): If I understand the member correctly, he seems to be suggesting that we treat the resort at Hecla Island differently, provide it with more VLTs than is the case with any other business establishment across Manitoba, and he also rolled that into questions about casinos, and I do not know whether he is suggesting that a casino be located at that Gull Harbour Resort or where he is heading with his question.
The issue is that the Gull Harbour Resort qualifies for VLT machines in their licensed establishment, the same as any other licensed establishment, and as a result of that, they do have some VLT machines, Madam Speaker, and that is the extent of gaming at the Gull Harbour Resort. There are certainly no plans to convert that facility to a casino.
We have a moratorium in place here in Manitoba right now. As the member knows full well, we are expecting that report by December 15 from Mr. Desjardins and his commission, and we will await that report for any future gaming decisions, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, can the Minister responsible for Lotteries tell me how, on one day, Mr. Sparrow from Venture Manitoba Tours in his report will say that the corporation is not having anything to do with consideration of the gambling casino, and then only two days later from the Crown Corporations Council, it was indicated to me that, in fact, there was discussion about gambling casinos at Gull Harbour?
Can the minister clarify that discussion?
Mr. Stefanson: Madam Speaker, I hate to see the member for Inkster making more of this issue than is really the case. I was at the Crown Corporations Council when this whole discussion came up about Gull Harbour Resort. The CEO, Mr. Sherwood, indicated that, amongst many issues, there was some brief discussion about casinos at Gull Harbour Resort, but it was acknowledged, Mr. Sherwood himself acknowledged to the member for Inkster that that was the extent of it.
They recognize that there are no plans to expand casinos. They recognize there is a moratorium, so other than a very brief discussion about the future viability of Hecla, along with a whole range of issues, that was the extent of the discussion.
I cannot speak for Mr. Sherwood, but I think I can paraphrase what he said at committee, and it seems as though the member for Inkster is making an awful lot more of a very insignificant comment from Mr. Sherwood amongst a whole range of issues that Hecla was looking at.
As I clarified for the member for Inkster at that committee, I want it to be perfectly understood that there are no plans to put any casino at Hecla. There are no plans to expand casinos or gaming in Manitoba, and we currently have a moratorium in place, for which we expect a report from Mr. Desjardins and his commission by December 15.
Mr. Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, can the minister responsible for Venture Manitoba then tell this House--given the recommendation either to close down, moth-ball the casino or find an alternative use, or, of course, allow Manitoba taxpayers to continue to subsidize this operation, as they have done for over a decade--what is this government's intentions with Hecla Island?
Hon. Albert Driedger (Minister of Natural Resources): Madam Speaker, the member attended the committee hearing where we went through the three yearly reports of Venture Manitoba Tours Ltd., and at that time I made a very definitive statement that we were not going to be looking at selling Gull Harbour at this time, that the financial picture had increased favourably by quite a degree and that we are looking at further improvements in that Gull Harbour operation out there.
We are working together with the board, and we feel very positive about it, and the member had all these answers about two weeks ago.
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University of Manitoba
Labour Dispute
Mr. Daryl Reid (Transcona): On several occasions the Minister of Labour has stated that it would be very imprudent for him to interject into very delicate labour negotiations at the University of Manitoba. All the while his actions belied his words. Finally, last Monday, the Minister of Labour met and agreed to let the parties decide on a mediator by Saturday, no strings attached, and to pay for the mediator. Now the minister has broken his word, poisoning the negotiations and costing more class time.
Can the Minister of Labour, who says he will not interfere in negotiations and then does, explain why he went back on his word to the U of M parties last Monday night to allow the parties to agree on a mutually acceptable mediator, which they have, and to set their own terms of reference?
Is it true that this government does not want mediation or arbitration to work?
Hon. Vic Toews (Minister of Labour): If the two parties have, in fact, agreed to a mediator and the terms of reference, I have no choice but to appoint that mediator. That is what the law is.
Mr. Reid: Can the Minister of Labour, Madam Speaker, who has a double standard in labour relations, explain why he is trying every available way to prevent a mediator from assisting the U of M parties, when it is our understanding that the parties have agreed to monetary items and could conclude an agreement if a mediator was involved?
Why is the minister throwing roadblocks in the way of these parties in concluding an agreement?
Mr. Toews: I am not sure what roadblocks the honourable member is referring to. As I indicated, if the two parties have agreed upon a mediator, the law mandates that I appoint that mediator.
Mr. Reid: Will the Minister of Labour set aside his own bias, remove the roadblock conditions which he does not have specific legislative powers to impose and immediately appoint Owen Shime as the mutually agreed-upon mediator who was prepared, Madam Speaker, to start mediation services yesterday?
Mr. Toews: Madam Speaker, it is my information that the parties have not, in fact, agreed upon a mediator or the terms of reference of that mediator.
I continue to be disappointed that the negotiations have commenced and that UMFA has apparently retracted its public position that it would, in fact, return to the bargaining table when those negotiations commenced.
Now if, in fact, there is a mediator and if that mediator has been agreed upon and the terms of reference have been agreed upon, I will appoint that mediator, Madam Speaker.
Manitoba Housing Authority
Committee Schedule
Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): This government has centralized the management and governance of public housing, eliminating community-based housing authorities and essentially shutting out tenants in local communities from having a say in how their housing is governed.
They did not establish in 1991, as they said they would, social housing advisory groups, which according to their own terms of reference were to provide necessary input so that housing stock would be managed in a manner that was sensitive to local concerns.
I want to ask the Minister of Housing, given that he has replaced these social housing advisory groups with the Manitoba Housing Authority board-appointed committee that was to hold meetings outside of Winnipeg and provide advice to the board, how many committee meetings has this committee had, and what recommendations have they made to the board?
Hon. Jack Reimer (Minister of Housing): One of the greatest assets that can come out of the localization of housing and housing positions is the creation of a local authority board, an advisory council, an advisory board, within that system.
That has been an ongoing commitment through this government. There is an allocation of funding regarding the amount of money that is put towards this association and the creation of it.
The board does go out into the area, also, as the member has referenced, to rural areas for advice and commentary. The numbers of meetings they had, I do not have that particularly on hand, but I can get that information for the member, but one of the things that is stressed is the openness and the willingness to meet with people.
Tenant Representation
Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): I would ask if the minister agrees that tenant involvement would help fill the vacancies in public housing units--in 14 complexes in Winnipeg, there is a vacancy rate of more than 10 percent--if he would agree that tenant involvement would help solve the social problems that are creating the vacancy problem, and if so, why there is no plan from this government to involve tenants in the management and delivery of public housing.
Hon. Jack Reimer (Minister of Housing): Madam Speaker, one of the things that is very, very important, and I will repeat again, is the fact that tenants associations will form and do form a very vital point in making any type of decisions within the framework of the complex.
A very good example is the tenants association that has formed at Gilbert Park. They have shown the initiative, they have shown the ingenuity to be involved with the tenants, be part of the decision making, to keep the minister and keep the department informed of what they might have as objectives, and working together on some of these things makes it much better in trying to come to a mutual agreement on the objectives for everybody who is involved with public housing.
Social Housing Advisory Councils
Establishment
Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): Madam Speaker, my final question for the minister is, why for five years going on six years has this government not established social housing advisory groups, which would have provided the support for tenants associations and ensured that the community was involved in solving problems in and around public housing? Why have they not followed through with the recommendations from 1991?
Hon. Jack Reimer (Minister of Housing): Madam Speaker, this government has had a commitment, and there has been a continual commitment, to try to work and to encourage--and, in fact, I would believe that almost every housing authority does have an advisory committee within their conference.
There are very few that do not have it. The ones that do not have it are in the process of working towards that through the tenant relations officer and through the department in trying to foster this. It forms a very, very important part of the communications and the ongoing dialogue between public housing and the Manitoba Housing Authority.
Election Campaigns
Contributions--Tax Deductibility
Mr. Marcel Laurendeau (St. Norbert): Madam Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Urban Affairs.
Seeing as we have just gone through a city-wide election, Madam Speaker, there was a Q and A put forward by City Hall that went out to all their candidates, both those for council as well as trustees.
If I may, Madam Speaker, the questions were very simple. Number 15 was, can a registered political party make contributions towards a candidate's campaign, and No. 16 was, can I get an income tax receipt for contributions to a candidate?
Could the minister responsible give me the answers to those two questions?
Hon. Jack Reimer (Minister of Urban Affairs): Madam Speaker, as anyone would know and in particular even in this House, everybody who runs for public office has the responsibility of knowing the rules, the regulations and the parameters within what is and what is not allowable within The Elections Act.
The individuals who are running for elections actually in Winnipeg operate under The City of Winnipeg Act, The Local Authorities Elections Act, the Canada Elections Act and also The Elections Finances Act.
Contributions are defined within The City of Winnipeg Act, and a contributor means an individual, an organization, corporation or trade union, but it does not include a political party registered under the Canada Elections Act or a constituency association of such a registered party or a political party registered under The Elections Finances Act or a constituency association of a registered political party.
I would hope that everybody who is involved with any type of election campaigning would be aware of the contributions and the parameters of what it all entails, Madam Speaker.
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Mr. Laurendeau: I would like to thank the minister for that answer.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. The honourable member for St. Norbert has been recognized for a supplementary question.
Mr. Laurendeau: Madam Speaker, for the Minister of Urban Affairs, seeing as there is a double standard here, will he look into getting the--
Madam Speaker: Order, please.
Point of Order
Mr. Steve Ashton (Opposition House Leader): Madam Speaker, I hesitate to rise on a point of order when the member is also the Deputy Speaker, but I do know the member does know our rules in terms of preambles, and we are often reminded on this side of the House in terms of Beauchesne.
I would ask if perhaps you might also wish to remind the member about our rules in terms of questions.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. The honourable member for Thompson indeed does have a point of order. I had already cautioned the honourable member for St. Norbert that he was recognized for a supplementary question that requires no preamble or postamble.
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Mr. Laurendeau: Madam Speaker, will the minister responsible take note and ask the City of Winnipeg then to clarify their Q and A's, so that we do not have a double standard at the next election before City Hall and the school trustees?
Mr. Reimer: I would hope that anybody who is running for political office in any venue would have the wherewithal to try to make sure they are falling within the parameters of the contributions that are involved with their campaign.
In regard to The City of Winnipeg Act, I can ask for some sort of clarification, so that by the time the next election does come around, that possibly the contributor's kit is more informed, has more parameters, is more definitive as to what is and what is not eligible for contributions.
Post-Secondary Education Council
Establishment
Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): My questions are for the Minister of Education.
Madam Speaker, the Roblin commission on post-secondary education reported in 1993 and made 41 clear recommendations to the minister. Seventeen of those recommendations require the prior establishment of a post-secondary education council, but the government has not yet established such a council, and the earliest date it can begin its work now is summer '96, fully 31 months after the Roblin report was tabled.
Could the Minister of Education tell us why the Roblin commission has received such low priority in her department?
Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): Madam Speaker, the member assumes because no public announcement is made that nothing has been done, and that is an incorrect assumption.
I do not come every day and make announcements every day of the week as to the work that is going on in the department. I can indicate to the member that the work is very much underway towards the establishment of a post-secondary education council for Manitoba and that she can expect to hear some more formal announcement of that shortly.
Ms. Friesen: Could the minister list for the House the membership of the interim committee she intends to establish to examine the possible composition of a potential post-secondary education council?
Mrs. McIntosh: Madam Speaker, I continue to be constantly amused by the question that usually comes first, followed by my answer, followed by a second question which indicates the member had an answer in mind for the first question.
It is not only amusing but--
Madam Speaker: Order, please.
Point of Order
Mr. Steve Ashton (Opposition House Leader): On a point of order, Madam Speaker, I do not think there is any reference in Beauchesne to ministers being able to provide play-by-play commentary on Question Period, and I would ask that you call the minister to order, please.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. On the point of order by the honourable member for Thompson, indeed the honourable member for Thompson does have a point of order.
I would remind the honourable Minister of Education that answers should be as brief as possible and should speak to the question raised.
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Madam Speaker: The honourable Minister of Education, to quickly complete her response.
Mrs. McIntosh: Madam Speaker, I appreciate the point of order. I continue to be amused, but I appreciate the point of order.
Madam Speaker, shortly.
Aboriginal Veterans Day
Government Recognition
Mr. George Hickes (Point Douglas): Madam Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Northern and Native Affairs.
Last year, this Legislature unanimously passed a resolution endorsing November 8 as Aboriginal Veterans Day.
Can the minister tell the House what plans the government has for recognizing November 8 this year?
Hon. Darren Praznik (Minister responsible for Native Affairs): Madam Speaker, I believe last year we had a request through normal process for a proclamation to that effect, and to my knowledge, I have not seen a similar request. I will check after Question Period.
Whether it has come to my department or not, it has not made it up to my desk at this time. I will check on it for the member.
Mr. Hickes: Madam Speaker, the resolution reads: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba support the designation of November 8 as Aboriginal Veterans Day. There is no year attached to this, so this should be ongoing year after year, year after year, automatically.
Madam Speaker, will the minister do the honourable thing and make arrangements for this event, similar to the Seniors Day and Christmas open house that we have every year, ongoing, continuously?
Mr. Praznik: Madam Speaker, now I understand a little more clearly the member's question.
Last year, an organization of aboriginal veterans--in fact, I think they are a formal organization--took it upon themselves to arrange that day.
We participated as a government in the province of Manitoba on behalf of the people of Manitoba, and we would be most pleased to do the same again if that organization, just like the Royal Canadian Legion and the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans and other organizations take it upon themselves to organize November 11 ceremonies across this province--we will participate in that event, as we do in others, recognizing the veterans, but at no time do we as a Legislature or a government organize specifically Remembrance Day services on November 11.
The veterans organizations themselves take it upon themselves to do so, and there is an aboriginal veterans organization that, if I remember correctly, last year wanted to take on the responsibility to organize those activities.
Mr. Hickes: Madam Speaker, will the minister contact representatives of the Manitoba Aboriginal Veterans Association, along with representatives of the Canadian Armed Forces, to discuss November 8 for the possibility of activities to be held for the Aboriginal Veterans Association? [interjection]
Mr. Praznik: Madam Speaker, the member for Transcona (Mr. Reid) from his seat asks why I wear a poppy. I wear a poppy because I respect the sacrifice of all of the veterans of Canada who served this nation, and on this particular day of any, we should be honouring that contribution of all Canadians who served this country.
Madam Speaker, in the discussions that I had last year with the very vibrant committee of the Aboriginal Veterans Association, who organized that event, they were very willing, they were prepared and very interested in carrying on that event on November 8, recognizing aboriginal Canadians who served this country, which allowed, of course, those veterans to spend November 11 in their home legions across our province, and just like every other veterans group, we will co-operate with them if they take the initiative to recognize that day.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. Time for Oral Questions has expired.
* (1420)
Speaker's Rulings
Madam Speaker: I have three rulings for the House.
On October 19 during debate on Resolution 31, the honourable Minister of Highways and Transportation (Mr. Findlay) on a point of order asked that the honourable member for The Pas (Mr. Lathlin) be directed to withdraw the words "and the minister can sit there and laugh and ridicule and say we are trying to score political points." The minister indicated he was listening intently.
I took the matter under advisement to check Hansard. What we have here is a dispute over the facts. The member for The Pas said one thing and the Minister of Highways said another. There is no point of order.
* * *
Madam Speaker: I took under advisement on October 17, 1995, during debate on private member's Resolution 29, a point of order raised by the honourable Leader of the official opposition about words used by the honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism (Mr. Downey).
Having examined Hansard, I find the words in question were "we heard the arsonists today trying to put out the fire. The Leader of the New Democratic Party is trying to put out the fire."
In my opinion, the minister did not make a personal charge. Therefore, I find there is no point of order.
* * *
Madam Speaker: Order, please. On October 18 during Question Period, a point of order was raised by the honourable member for Kildonan (Mr. Chomiak) about words spoken by the honourable First Minister (Mr. Filmon). The words were, "I know that the member for Transcona (Mr. Reid) takes great glee in having this kind of major public issue."
There is no point of order as I do not believe unworthy motives, as contemplated in Beauchesne's Citation 481.(e), were ascribed to the honourable member for Transcona.
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 Municipal Affairs be amended as follows: Radisson (Ms. Cerilli) for Dauphin (Mr. Struthers); Burrows (Mr. Martindale) for Wellington (Ms. Barrett) for Monday, October 30, 1995, for 8 p.m.
I move, seconded by the member for Broadway (Mr. Santos), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources be amended as follows: Transcona (Mr. Reid) for Brandon East (Mr. Leonard Evans); Interlake (Mr. Clif Evans) for Broadway (Mr. Santos) for Tuesday, October 31, 1995, for 10 a.m.
I move, seconded by the member for Broadway (Mr. Santos), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Law Amendments be amended as follows: Flin Flon (Mr. Jennissen) for Burrows (Mr. Martindale); The Pas (Mr. Lathlin) for Crescentwood (Mr. Sale); Swan River (Ms. Wowchuk) for Radisson (Ms. Cerilli); Selkirk (Mr. Dewar) for Wellington (Ms. Barrett) for Tuesday, October 31, 1995, for 10 a.m.
Motions agreed to.
NONPOLITICAL STATEMENT
Winkler and Morden Community Activities
Mr. Peter Dyck (Pembina): I would ask leave to make a nonpolitical statement.
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Pembina have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. Dyck: Madam Speaker, on Friday, October 27, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra performed in Winkler. This exciting and music-filled evening was highlighted by a stirring rendition of O Canada!, our nation's official anthem.
Also on Friday I attended the press conference and official signing of the contract in Morden which was hosted by the 1997 Morden Safeway Select host committee and the Manitoba Curling Association. As many of you may be aware, Morden has secured the right to host the 1997 Safeway Select curling tournament. The host committee is to be congratulated on this achievement. It is due to their hard work and efforts that the town of Morden has received this honour.
Finally, I would like to mention the Miracle of Life Trust Fund which was recently established in Morden. When I heard about the organization and its purpose, I was both excited and encouraged. What a tremendous cause and great idea. I strongly support this undertaking and believe that all communities need to take this kind of initiative to help their neighbours.
All of the organizers of this fund and all those who have contributed donations have again shown what makes Morden and area such a wonderful place to live, the love that people have for their neighbours and their willingness to help one another. Thank you very much.