Mr. Mervin Tweed (Turtle Mountain): Trust is the lubricant for all social interactions. A contract is a form of trust, and our whole system is a result of people who are involved basically trusting each other. When that breaks we get situations like we have in the province of Manitoba. The irony of these words is probably lost to the speaker of those words, that being the member for Wellington (Ms. Barrett).
I ask, when is a contract a contract? Is a contract valid when a verbal agreement is reached, when hands are shaken or when signatures are made? The member for Wellington appears to have forgotten these words she spoke back in April of this year and, considering her party's obvious lack of commitment to an agreement signed last year, it is not surprising. The NDP appear to live in a world entirely to themselves, a world where the member for St. Johns (Mr. Mackintosh) describes referendums as expensive one day and the member for Thompson (Mr. Ashton) urges the spending of $40 million on a referendum the next day, a world in which the member for St. James (Ms. Mihychuk) states, would they, Manitobans, understand the complexities of a referendum--likely not. Yet in the same world their current leader, when calling for a referendum, indicates they trust the people--they trust the people when the cameras are on them but when the cameras are off they doubt the people's knowledge and grasp of issues--a world in which the member for Brandon East (Mr. Leonard Evans) describes governments as being in office with a mandate to make decisions under new and changing circumstances and the next day the definition changes.
Madam Speaker, the members opposite appear to have a very different view of referendums and trust depending on whether the audience is holding a camera or a microphone. Thank you.
Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): I think it will take some time to sink into the members opposite what the people of Manitoba are saying today and what they have been saying, and the fact the government will not listen to, is that this government made a promise in the election not to sell MTS, and they have no right to sell it. It does not belong to them; it belongs to the people of Manitoba. In fact, I want to suggest that when they do the top 10 political misstatements of all time, I cannot use stronger words than that, I think they are going to have to put terms like, your president is not a crook, read my lips, no new taxes--and the Premier's statement in the election--we have no plans to sell off MTS, because all of them were not true and we are seeing that on a daily basis.
What amazes me is that the Tories sit in this House, and they clap and they applaud each other; they pat themselves on the back. It has not dawned on them yet that probably the greatest support for what they are doing is in this caucus, the 30 of them who made this decision. Seventy-eight percent of rural Manitobans--to the minister responsible, the Deputy Premier, he calls me a socialist when I say I am opposed to the sale of MTS--are all 78 percent of rural Manitobans opposed to the sale socialists? That is a new stretch, but you know, I will tell you what, a lot of them are going to be New Democrats after the next election because we are the only party speaking for rural Manitoba. I know about urban members. We hear about urban members. You know what, 78 percent--the majority of urban dwellers do not support the sale. The bottom line is the people do not want MTS sold.
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To the government, I have one simple message. You do not have to take it from me. You do not have to take it from 23 NDP MLAs. Talk to the UMM. Talk to MAUM. Talk to any Manitoban. Go to any coffee shop in rural Manitoba. Go down the main street. Go down any place in Manitoba, and do you know what? They want one thing. They want Gary Filmon to live up to his word in the elections. Do not sell off our phone company.
Mr. Edward Helwer (Gimli): Madam Speaker, last Friday Elie realized its long-term, long-held dream of becoming the world's first major strawboard manufacturing site as Isobord Enterprises confirmed the plans to proceed with the construction of a $142-million plant that will generate hundreds of new jobs. The plant will be the first large-scale operation in the world to transform cereal straw, often considered as waste material, into a strong, moisture-resistant composite board using a patented process. In addition to being manufactured from a highly renewable resource, the particle board will be environmentally friendly and formaldehyde free. The plant will produce 144 million square feet of board annually, 75 percent of which will be sold to export markets.
The project will create 300 jobs during the construction phase and will employ 100 permanent staff. In addition, Isobord will contract 100 individuals for the massive straw collection operation each fall. More than 350 local farmers have already formed the straw co-op of Manitoba to supply the 200,000 tonnes of straw that will be required by the plant each year, adding hundreds of millions of dollars to Manitoba's annual farm gate receipts. Collecting and transporting the straw will create an entirely new industry that is expected to pump $6 million into the local economy each year.
Following harvest, contract employees will work around the clock to bale, load and transport the straw. About 15,000 semi-truckloads of straw will be delivered to the plant each year. In addition to creating hundreds of jobs in Manitoba, the plant will inject hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy. Isobord is expected to spend $57 million in Manitoba during the construction phase, and ongoing operating expenses are estimated to be $30 million per year.
Madam Speaker, we can all take pride in this development project, and we will see economic benefits for many years to come. Thank you.
Mr. Eric Robinson (Rupertsland): Madam Speaker, 25 years ago on this day, Helen Betty Osborne of Norway House was abducted, assaulted and brutally murdered in a racially motivated attack by four white men. Thanks to a code of silence and a cover-up, no charges were laid for over 16 years. In December of 1987 just one of the four was convicted and sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 10 years.
The obstruction of justice and the bungled trial, along with the murder of J.J. Harper, led to the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry. Regrettably, both volumes of the AJI have never seen substantive action by this government.
Using a variety of legal maneuvers, his lawyers have managed to obtain day parole on several occasions for Dwayne Johnston, several times in the past three years. Last year, when this became public, the Norway House women's wellness circle began a walk for justice from Norway House to Winnipeg, and thousands of Manitobans signed petitions in support while hundreds from across northern Manitoba joined the march. Following the march, a delegation travelled to the parole board's Pacific Regional Office to press for justice for victims of crime. In a historic first, the board agreed to review all evidence in the case, new and original, and to travel to Norway House to listen to victims and others concerned over this case.
Last month, there was a setback in this matter. However, the community and First Nations people are determined that justice will be done in this matter. We are committed to protecting the victims of crime. Later this month, Grand Chiefs Fontaine, George Muswagan, along with representatives of the Osborne family, will go back to the parole board to press their case. Tonight there will be a special service, a memorial service, that will take place in Norway House to honour the memory of Helen Betty Osborne.
The issues are not just justice for the Osborne family but justice for all families impacted by crime. Thank you.
Mr. Stan Struthers (Dauphin): On Saturday night the member for Swan River (Ms. Wowchuk) and I had the opportunity to attend the Manitoba Heritage Federation awards banquet held in Dauphin, Manitoba. I would like to put on record a few words of congratulations to the executive on the Manitoba federation for, first of all, planning and organizing such a wonderful evening based on the Ukrainian theme. The food and the dancing and all the costumes and everything was just great, well organized and planned.
I would also like to congratulate the Manitoba Heritage Federation in their ongoing work to preserve the rich cultural heritage of Manitoba and for keeping alive the history in the province of Manitoba. In particular, I would like to point out four people from Dauphin who received awards that night: Joe Robertson, who got an award in the area of archeology; Bob MacKenzie, who has worked a lot with our museum board and has done a lot of work at the Fort Dauphin Museum itself; Elsie Lesyk from Dauphin, who won an award for her book entitled Wings Over Dauphin which chronicled the events of World War II in Dauphin, where we trained many fighter pilots who defended the country in World War II, and Mr. Ray Storozinski, who is also a member of our museum board who has done a lot of work around our museum for a number of years making the Fort Dauphin Museum a great place for everyone to come and visit.
I want to just wrap up by again thanking the Manitoba Heritage Federation for keeping our Manitoba history alive and well and for keeping some of us younger folks interested in what has gone on in our province in the years gone by. Thank you.
Hon. Jim Ernst (Government House Leader): Madam Speaker, yesterday, I rose in the House to seek leave of the House to be able to continue the debate on Bill 67, The Manitoba Telephone System Act. Leave was denied by the members opposite. For whatever their reason is, they seem to be hiding behind procedural issues, but the government is prepared to debate Bill 67. The government is prepared to debate speaker for speaker with the members of the opposition with respect to Bill 67. Therefore, I seek leave of the House to bring forward report stage for consideration now.
Madam Speaker: Is there leave of the House to bring forward Bill 67 from report stage to deal with it now?
Mr. Steve Ashton (Opposition House Leader): Madam Speaker, I found it interesting that we are now having editorial comments on discussion of House business. I would like to indicate we were somewhat surprised yesterday when the government again tried to move ahead the process which is set out in our rules and then adjourn the House afterwards. They were so interested in debating MTS, they would not even debate the opposition motion.
Madam Speaker: Order, please.
Mr. Ashton: I would point out, Madam Speaker, that the rules, and they are not silly rules, do indicate, Rule 103(4) requires that the report stage be considered after notice of 48 hours following the presentation of the committee. The committee legally made its presentation today.
Madam Speaker: Order, please.
Mr. Ashton: We are not prepared to give leave to deal with this very detailed bill prior to the appropriate time and we are prepared to debate MTS today on the Opposition Day Motions, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. Leave has been denied.
I believe the honourable member for Thompson indicated that the opposition benches would not be prepared to give leave. Can I get a clarification from the honourable member?
An Honourable Member: Leave denied.
Madam Speaker: That is correct. Leave has been denied.
Mr. Ernst: Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Environment (Mr. Cummings), that the House do now adjourn. Agreed?
Madam Speaker: Moved by the honourable House leader, seconded by the honourable Minister of Environment, that the House be now adjourned. Agreed?
Some Honourable Members: No.
Madam Speaker: All those in favour, please say yea.
Some Honourable Members: Yea.
Madam Speaker: All those opposed, please say nay.
Some Honourable Members: Nay.
Madam Speaker: In my opinion, the Yeas have it.
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Mr. Ashton: Yeas and Nays, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker: A recorded vote has been requested. Call in the members.
The motion before the House is that this House do now adjourn.
A RECORDED VOTE was taken, the result being as follows:
Cummings, Downey, Driedger, Dyck, Enns, Ernst, Findlay, Gilleshammer, Helwer, Laurendeau, McAlpine, McCrae, McIntosh, Mitchelson, Newman, Pallister, Penner, Pitura, Praznik, Radcliffe, Reimer, Render, Rocan, Stefanson, Sveinson, Toews, Tweed, Vodrey.
Ashton, Barrett, Cerilli, Chomiak, Dewar, Doer, Evans (Brandon East), Evans (Interlake), Friesen, Hickes, Jennissen, Lamoureux, Lathlin, Mackintosh, Maloway, Martindale, McGifford, Mihychuk, Reid, Robinson, Sale, Santos, Struthers, Wowchuk.
Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): Yeas 28, Nays 24.
Madam Speaker: The motion is accordingly carried.
Mr. Neil Gaudry (St. Boniface): Madam Speaker, I was paired with the Premier (Mr. Filmon), who attended the funeral of the former Premier of Prince Edward Island this morning.
Mr. Gary Kowalski (The Maples): I was paired with the honourable Minister for Rural Development (Mr. Derkach).
Madam Speaker: This House is adjourned and stands adjourned until 1:30 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday).