Tuesday, October 31, 1995
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA
Tuesday, October 31, 1995
The House met at 1:30 p.m.
PRAYERS
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
PRESENTING PETITIONS
Emergency Health Care Services--Seven Oaks General Hospital
Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Earle Laveman, Phyllis Laveman and Theresa Livingston requesting the Legislative Assembly to request the Premier (Mr. Filmon) to consider maintaining 24-hour access to emergency health care at Seven Oaks Hospital as was promised in the 1995 general election.
Emergency Health Care Services--Community Hospitals
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Matt Clindel, Gary Welz, L.M. Tougas and others requesting the Legislative Assembly urge the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) consider making a commitment to the people of Manitoba that emergency health care services in Winnipeg's five community hospitals will remain open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS
Emergency Health Care Services--Seven Oaks General Hospital
Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Kildonan (Mr. Chomiak), and it complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?
An Honourable Member: Dispense.
Madam Speaker: Dispense.
The petition of the undersigned residents of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth
THAT on at least six occasions during the 1995 provincial election the Premier promised not to cut health care services; and
THAT following the election the Minister of Health promised that emergency services would not be reduced at community hospitals in Winnipeg; and
THAT the Minister of Health on October 6 announced that emergency services at these hospitals would be cut back immediately; and
THAT residents of the Seven Oaks Hospital vicinity depend upon emergency service at this hospital.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba go on record requesting the Premier to consider maintaining 24-hour access to emergency health care at Seven Oaks Hospital as was promised in the 1995 general election.
Emergency Health Care Services--Community Hospitals
Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Inkster (Mr. Lamoureux), and it complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?
An Honourable Member: Yes.
Madam Speaker: Yes. The Clerk will read.
Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): The petition of the undersigned residents of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth
THAT emergency health care services are the core of Manitoba's health care system;
THAT Manitobans deserve the greatest possible access to this care;
THAT the government is considering reducing access to emergency services.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly urge the Minister responsible for Health consider making a commitment to the people of Manitoba that emergency health care services in Winnipeg's five community hospitals will remain open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
PRESENTING REPORTS BY
STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES
Standing Committee on Law Amendments
Fifth Report
Mr. David Newman (Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Law Amendments): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the Fifth Report of the Committee on Law Amendments.
An Honourable Member: Dispense.
Madam Speaker: Dispense.
Your Standing Committee on Law Amendments presents the following as its Fifth Report.
Your committee met on Monday, October 30, 1995, at 10 a.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building to consider bills referred.
At that meeting, your committee heard representation on bills as follows:
Bill 20--The Child and Family Services Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur les services à l'enfant et à la famille
Allan Ludkiewicz and Donald Kirkland, Jehovah's Witnesses
Your committee has considered:
Bill 19--The Intercountry Adoption (Hague Convention) and Consequential Amendments Act; Loi concernant l'adoption internationale (Convention de La Haye) et apportant des modifications corrélatives
and has agreed to report the same without amendment.
Your committee has also considered:
Bill 23--The Health Services Insurance Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur l'assurance-maladie
Bill 32--The Proceedings Against the Crown Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur les procédures contre le Couronne
and has agreed to report the same without amendment, on division.
Your committee has also considered:
Bill 20--The Child and Family Services Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur les services à l'enfant et à la famille
and has agreed to report the same with the following amendments:
MOTION:
THAT the proposed subsection 25(3), as set out in section 2 of the Bill, be amended in the part preceding clause (a) by striking out ", on a form which may be prescribed,".
MOTION:
THAT section 2 of the Bill be amended by adding the following after the proposed subsection 25(5):
If court documents not filed before hearing
25(5.1) A judge may hear an application referred to in subsection (3) even though the agency has not filed documents initiating the application in the court if
(a) the judge is satisfied that the life or health of the child would be seriously and imminently endangered by waiting for the necessary court documents to be filed before the application is heard; and
(b) the agency undertakes to file the necessary documents in the court within 24 hours after the hearing.
MOTION:
THAT Legislative Counsel be authorized to change all section numbers and internal references necessary to carry out the amendments adopted by this committee.
Mr. Newman: Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member for Pembina (Mr. Dyck), that the report of the committee be received.
Motion agreed to.
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MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS
Quebec Referendum
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, I have a brief statement and copies for the House.
Madam Speaker, I rise to comment briefly on the events of last night, and the last 30 days in Canada. Members of this House--like all Manitobans--watched with interest and indeed suffered moments of anguish as we saw the results of the referendum unfold last evening. I know we are all pleased that a majority of the residents of Quebec voted in favour of remaining a part of Canada. We cannot repeat too often what the United Nations has said: Canada is the greatest country in the world.
As recently as last Sunday, thousands of Manitobans demonstrated their love and commitment to our country with a huge Canada rally at The Forks. In keeping with a nonpartisan commitment that people of our province and members of this House have taken, I was pleased that the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Doer) was able to join with me on the stage along with the federal minister Mr. Axworthy to speak out in favour of Canada, one Canada, a great Canada.
It is a little early yet to be able to advise members of the House precisely how events are likely to unfold in the coming weeks and months. I can advise members, as I stated publicly, that I had a conversation with the Prime Minister yesterday and I impressed upon him the importance of the federal government involving premiers and provincial governments in the process from here on in. The matter of national unity is too great for the Government of Canada to assume that it alone can speak for all Canadians, given the shared responsibilities and jurisdictions within our federal system.
In keeping with our tradition of a nonpartisan approach to national unity and the Constitution, I assure members that I will, as I have done in the past, continue to keep them and all members of this House and the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the Liberal Party, in particular, advised of developments. This nonpartisan approach will seek to maintain a united front on behalf of all Manitobans as we approach these sensitive and important discussions.
Madam Speaker, we should be pleased that a majority have voted in favour of Canada, but we have much work ahead of us to protect, secure and build our Canada. Thank you very much.
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Madam Speaker, I want to thank the Premier for his statement this afternoon and join with him in congratulating the people of Quebec who have voted yes to Canada, no to separation and have voted to stay with the greatest country in the world. That is, of course, the country Canada.
There is, as the Premier indicated, a great deal of work ahead but that work will start from unity and from tolerance. I know that the comments of the Premier of Quebec do not reflect the values of tolerance and respect that we have in this province, and I think we should say that very clearly today.
I was proud to join the Premier and the federal minister at The Forks rally in a nonpartisan way. I was also proud to listen to Jennifer Gilles, from Elie, Manitoba, speaking about the need for unity of our country. I was absolutely delighted to hear the exchange students at The Forks, the exchange students from Quebec. Pascale Bélanger, who spoke about the fact that when she was young she was a separatist, but when she came to Manitoba and experienced our great diversity, our great tolerance, our great community of friendly Manitoba that she had changed her mind and she now believed in a strong and united Canada with Quebec in Canada, Madam Speaker. I was proud to hear her words. That pride also was tempered with some of our challenges, as the Premier has indicated.
At The Forks, we were celebrating the joy of our province, but that is also the location where 6,000 years ago our First Nations settled first in Manitoba at that location, and just down the riverbank from our great joy and unity was a group of Manitobans who were worried about their housing, about their health, about their children's future, people from the Mathias Colomb Band, so we know we have lots of challenges ahead of us, as the Premier has indicated.
I also believe strongly, Madam Speaker, that in a nonpartisan way we must remember the task force reports that we have produced, the Meech Lake task force report, the Charlottetown task force report that not only talked about aboriginal people in Manitoba, but also talked consistently throughout those presentations from Manitobans about the desire that Manitobans have for a strong national government, with strong national programs that are provided to all Canadian citizens from coast to coast to coast. I think that is very important. As we move into the needs for modernization of our country, we have to remember the words of one presenter that I listened to at Meech Lake, in the Meech Lake presentation, that we must strengthen and unite Canada; by strengthening the parts of Canada, we will remain strong as Canada, messages that we got loud and clear.
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The big winner, I guess, in this debate in the last week and a half were the people of Canada. They were the ones who ultimately, I believe, made a difference and, Madam Speaker, whether it was the people here in Manitoba or the people right across this country who spoke out in a positive way about this great country Canada, we all have to remember as political people that we have to find a way to empower the people of Canada to determine our future together, rather than just political people and others who may be in this Legislature.
The people of Canada have a strong vision of a united Canada, and we must use that to keep our country together as we modernize for the next century.
Madam Speaker: Is there leave to permit the honourable member for St. Boniface to speak to the ministerial statement? Leave?
Some Honourable Members: Leave.
Madam Speaker: Leave has been granted.
Mr. Neil Gaudry (St. Boniface): Merci, Madame la présidente. Merci à la chambre de me permettre de dire quelques mots pour me joindre au message qu'on veut transmettre ici aux Canadiens aujourd'hui.
C'est en effet un honneur pour moi d'adresser quelques mots à cette auguste assemblée à un tournant important de l'histoire de notre pays. L'unité canadienne est le bastion fondamental de notre nation et nous devons le déclarer avec force et pertinence.
Il me fait plaisir d'adresser l'assemblée aujourd'hui en français. Cela démontre que depuis plusieurs années, nous avons fait des avances ici au Manitoba et peut démontrer que notre appui du Québec est important pour les Francophones du Manitoba.
Le Canada est perçu par plusieurs autres pays, et notamment par l'organisation des Nations Unies, comme un pays privilégié où il fait bon de vivre. Le Canada est également considéré sur le plan international comme un exemple concret de la démocratie occidentale avec qui il est stimulant d'engager un échange commercial dans divers secteurs de l'économie mondiale.
L'histoire du Canada, nous la connaissons; l'histoire du Manitoba, nous la connaissons; l'histoire du Québec, nous la connaissons. Ce que nous ne connaissons pas, que nous ne connaissions pas hier, c'était l'avenir, mais on l'a prouvé: les Canadiens et les Québécois ont voté pour garder notre Canada uni.
Lors de son allocution à la nation le Premier ministre du Canada a illustré de façon claire la gravité des enjeux. Seuls les Québécois et les Québécoises ont décidé de leur destin. Or, ce sont tous les Canadiens et toutes les Canadiennes qui ont à coeur l'avenir de notre pays, car ils l'ont démontré lorsqu'ils ont fait un voyage à Montréal vendredi dernier et le rassemblement qui a eu lieu à la Fourche dimanche dernier est encore un exemple de la force des Canadiens.
En s'adressant à la nation canadienne, Monsieur Jean Chrétien s'est déclaré, de façon juste, très préoccupé pour l'avenir de notre pays, et nous en sommes conscients. Nous avons vu un premier ministre du Canada qui s'est adressé aux Canadiens et aux Canadiennes en homme d'état dont le patriotisme envers sons pays fut affirmé par des paroles d'inquiétude mais de certitude quant à l'enjeu de la question référendaire.
Madame la présidente, je pense que le patriotisme du Premier ministre du Canada rejoint en plein ce que nous a légué le fondateur du Manitoba, Louis Riel. En fondant notre province, Louis Riel voulait non seulement stabiliser la vie économique chez nous, mais il voulait surtout assurer une place de choix au Manitoba dans la Confédération canadienne. Le petit-fils de La Vérendrye avait en lui la même ferveur de l'identité canadienne que l'on peut ressentir chez Monsieur Jean Chrétien.
Personnellement, je définis l'identité canadienne au travers de l'existence même des peuples autochtones, du peuple métis, du peuple québécois et du peuple qui immigre dans notre vaste pays au fil des années, de génération en génération, afin de renforcer les richesses politiques, économiques, culturelles et sociales de la société canadienne. Merci, Madame la présidente.
[Translation]
Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I thank the House for allowing me to say a few words to add to the message that we want to transmit here to Canadians today.
It is indeed an honour for me today to address some words to this august Assembly at an important turning point in our country's history. Canadian unity is the fundamental bastion of our nation and we must declare it with force and relevance. I am pleased to address the Assembly today in French. This demonstrates the advances made over several years here in Manitoba and can demonstrate that our support of Quebec is important for Manitoba Francophones.
Canada is perceived by many other countries and particularly by the United Nations as a privileged country that is a good place to live. Canada is also considered at the international level as a concrete example of western democracy with which it is stimulating to engage in commercial exchange in various sectors of the world economy.
We know Canadian history, we know Manitoba history and we know Quebec's history. What we do not know, what we did not know yesterday, was the future, but it has been proven: Canadians and Quebecers voted to maintain our Canada united.
In his speech to the nation, the Prime Minister of Canada illustrated clearly the seriousness of what was at stake. The people of Quebec alone decided what would be their destiny, although it is all Canadians who have the future of our country at heart. They demonstrated this by making trips to Montreal last Friday, and the rally that took place at The Forks on Sunday is another example of the strength of Canadians.
In addressing the Canadian nation, Mr. Jean Chretien rightly declared that he was very concerned over our country's future, and we are aware of this. We saw a Prime Minister of Canada who addressed the nation as a statesman, whose patriotism to his country was was affirmed by his words of concern but also of certainty as to what was at stake in the referendum issue.
Madam Speaker, I believe that our Prime Minister's patriotism is altogether comparable to what the founder of Manitoba, Louis Riel, has handed down to us. In founding our province, Louis Riel wanted not only to stabilize our economic life, but above all to ensure a place of choice for Manitoba in the Canadian Confederation. La Verendrye's grandson was possessed of the same fervour for the Canadian identity that we could feel in Mr. Jean Chretien.
Personally, I define the Canadian identity through the very existence of the aboriginal people, the Metis people, the Québécois people and all the immigrant peoples who over the course of many years, from generation to generation, have reinforced our political, economic, social and cultural wealth. Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.
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Introduction of Guests
Madam Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would like to draw the attention of all honourable members to the public gallery, where we have with us this afternoon forty-five Grade 9 students from Chief Peguis High School. These students are under the direction of Mr. Will Barmeir. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable Minister of Family Services (Mrs. Mitchelson).
Additionally, we have thirty-five Grades 9 and 11 students from Springs Christian Academy under the direction of Mr. Dowler and Mrs. Stephens. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for St. Boniface (Mr. Gaudry).
On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you this afternoon.