Madam Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would like to draw the attention of all honourable members to the public gallery where we have this afternoon thirty Grades 11 and 12 students from Minnedosa Collegiate and also from Baie-Comeau, Quebec, under the direction of Mr. Daniel Kiazyk. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable Minister of Labour (Mr. Gilleshammer).
On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you this afternoon.
Government Action
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Madam Speaker, the government has commissioned a report dealing with students at risk, and the participants were members of the government Department of Education, principals, superintendents, school administrators and others. Regrettably, the findings are devastating in terms of the status of students at risk and their situation in our education system. The findings have the system overwhelmed; they have the resources as inadequate and state that students are becoming casualties of this system.
Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the Premier (Mr. Filmon) today: what action is his government taking and going to take to deal with the report on students at risk in Manitoba?
Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): Madam Speaker, we have spoken often recently in this Chamber and in government and to the wider public about students at risk and the various ways in which their needs can be addressed. Through the Children and Youth Secretariat, we have come together as departments to co-ordinate activities between and amongst the Departments of Education and Training, Health, Family Services, Justice and Native Affairs. With my colleague the Minister of Family Services (Mrs. Mitchelson), we are embarking upon initiatives for early intervention that take place prior to the school years beginning, so that students begin school ready to learn as opposed to beginning school disadvantaged, and they will take a wide range of initiatives ranging from nutrition to reading readiness and a whole series of other interventions.
As well, once students begin school-members will recall in this year's budget that we have set aside a fair amount of money for early intervention and literacy, primarily through the Reading Recovery Program and things of that nature.
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Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, I would like to table a report conducted for the minister from Lindberg Consulting, where they conclude that the current resources in the education area are inadequate, that schools are investing more and more costs and resources to deal with the social needs at their doorstep, and there is a widespread belief that the provincial public policy is not-and the best interests of the students are moving in the opposite direction.
Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the Premier (Mr. Filmon): why has his government and the Department of Education introduced policies that are moving in the opposite direction of what is in the best interests for students at risk here in Manitoba?
Mrs. McIntosh: I obviously do not accept the preamble in the member's question, because the initiatives we are putting in place are being put in place designed to address some of the problems that we are able to identify. We have spent a lot of time trying to identify what the risk factors are and how they should be addressed. We just recently have begun some initiatives. The Minister of Family Services (Mrs. Mitchelson) recently, just last week, presented funding for a side-by-side program in one of the schools in Winnipeg whereby we are working with people who are not necessarily educators but housing them in schools to begin to address some of the societal needs that children at risk experience.
We have an urban aboriginal strategy which is coming into being. We are working with a wide range of community groups to deal with literacy problems that begin to show in early years. A lot of these things are things that need to be done preschool, and we have identified and are beginning to implement initiatives in that arena.
Mr. Doer: It is no wonder that the report talks about the lip service given to these issues by the ministry and the Minister of Education, regrettably. The report on page 12 goes on to say that at-risk students currently in the system at junior and senior high schools will continue to be casualties for at least five more years. The field and students cannot be left with this pain on their own.
I would like to ask the Premier (Mr. Filmon), instead of just providing lip service to the students at risk in our schools, some 20 percent of our students in Manitoba schools, what real action will he take to deal with this devastating report that was commissioned by the minister's own department? It had people from the minister's own department in it and still condemned the minister for lack of action for students at special risk.
Mrs. McIntosh: Again, I do not accept the preamble the member insists on putting on the record. In putting forward ideas as to how to deal with students at risk, it is necessary first of all to identify what those risk factors are. We have had many and numerous experts in to the government to talk to the Children and Youth Secretariat and various ministries involved in it to identify the risk factors, identify the target groups to whom we need to address our efforts. We have begun putting forward both programs and funding to identify these as they are identified.
Madam Speaker, it is much more beneficial to take aim at specified targets than to do the wild, random shotgun approach of the members opposite and just aim at everything and anything without knowing if you are going to achieve good results, so we have a concentrated effort. We have funding in programs currently being put in place to deal with these factors that have now been identified for us, confirming that which we knew and bringing to our attention things that we sought answers for.
Government Action
Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Madam Speaker, after 10 years of the revolving door of Tory education policy, we seem to have a minister who has not read the report, who has not understood the issues that people across Manitoba, 18 focus groups, are saying to her. I wanted to ask the minister: what is her response going to be to those 18 focus groups of principals, superintendents, teachers, student service advisers who are saying that all these groups, and I quote from the report, all the groups agree that Manitoba Education and Training should repair the breakdown in communication and trust? That is what has happened in Manitoba education. What is the minister's response to that?
Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): Of course, the member quotes selectively again, out of context again. Madam Speaker, as I indicated, we need to identify first what our target is and then take solid aim at it. We are doing that. This year alone we have had a large amount of money being put into schools for students at risk, specifically in the city of Winnipeg alone, some $6 million for students at risk targeted specifically to key areas of concern. Those kinds of initiatives need to be dealt with in an orderly way and we are doing that, notwithstanding the rhetoric of the members opposite who never did take a look at trying to identify what the risk factors were or make any attempt to try to address them when they were in government.
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Ms. Friesen: Could the minister tell us what her response is-and I can assure her I am not quoting out of context-to people across the province who have told her, and I quote, there is an overwhelming number of students who are currently in the system who are behind grade level expectations who have come into the grade without the prerequisite skills. I can tell you they came in in 1998 and 1999 when this government came to office. These students currently in the system are and will continue to be casualties for the next five years. The field and the students cannot be left to deal with this pain on their own. Will the minister respond to that?
Mrs. McIntosh: The member can take a look then, for example, at recommendation one which says that we need an integrated approach. We need an integrated approach, Madam Speaker, and we have formed an integrated entity, the Children and Youth Secretariat. It has begun to do some of the other things that are mentioned in here. The integrated approach also indicated that they needed a school-linked service delivery program-[interjection]
Madam Speaker: Order, please. The honourable Minister of Education and Training, to complete her response.
Mrs. McIntosh: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Also in that first recommendation, it indicated a need for a school-linked service delivery and, as I indicated in one of my earlier responses, the Minister of Family Services (Mrs. Mitchelson) just last week was over presenting a cheque for a side-by-side program in a school that would address this type of initiative. The member will recall, as it talks in here about some of the things that are needed to be done in a preschool way, initiatives announced in the Minister of Finance's (Mr. Stefanson) budget about early intervention and early child care and nutrition programs, teenage pregnancy and a number of those other issues. The member will note in the few weeks ahead other announcements coming in this area.
Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Wolseley, with a final supplementary question.
Ms. Friesen: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Could the minister tell us why the report says that principals were the most vocal regarding the pressure on schools and the widespread impact on students at risk? They tell us that many schools are actually pushing these students at risk out for fear of pulling down school results, and they, the principals, mistrust the political agenda and do not feel supported.
Mrs. McIntosh: I know the member is opposed to standard exams and assessment but, Madam Speaker, I can assure her that the vast majority of the public and educators in the classrooms support the kind of rigorous curricula and testing that is coming in place. It does not push students out. We have indicated emphasis on students at risk in terms of reading recovery, in terms of literacy intervention, in terms of funding that we are putting in place for literacy groups outside the school system for those who have been a long time out of school and need to equip their literacy skills. We are taking a serious look at the present time at the aboriginal education to ensure a higher graduation rate. We put in place Partners for Careers that assures that those aboriginal students who do graduate can obtain jobs and serve as role models to inspire other students to remain in school and acquire the education that will launch them to success and the like. So most of these recommendations are already having initiatives towards them to be addressed.
First Nations Schools
Mr. Oscar Lathlin (The Pas): My questions are also for the Minister of Education, and that is: given the fact that First-Nations-operated schools still fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Education with regard to standards even though they are federally funded and are being managed by the First Nations people, I want to ask the minister to give us one good reason why this study which was commissioned by this government did not include any First Nations schools.
Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): This speaks about students at risk, and we know that in various parts of Manitoba a large number of those students at risk are of aboriginal ancestry. Madam Speaker, they do in fact refer to aboriginal students. It talks about the ability to recognize and protest subtle yet powerful attitudes of bias and racism towards our aboriginal people needing to be addressed at all levels of the system. That is precisely what-
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Madam Speaker: Order, please.
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Mrs. McIntosh: That is a document tabled by the member opposite. That is precisely what our new curricula is doing. We are threading through new curricula at all levels and in all subject areas, the aboriginal awareness perspectives precisely addressing this very point in very clear terms. We are doing it in partnership with other provinces in the western part of Canada, and we are seeing this as something that will address not just aboriginal students but all students, that all students should be aware of aboriginal perspectives, and cross-cultural awareness will lead to greater understanding and success for all.
Madam Speaker: The honourable member for The Pas, with his supplementary question.
Mr. Lathlin: Madam Speaker, I feel like I should ask the minister that question over again because she never answered the question.
I recognize that there are aboriginal students in towns and city schools, and they are under the jurisdiction of the provincial government. My question to the minister is: why did this study, which was commissioned by her government, not include those schools that are situated on First Nations territory?
Mrs. McIntosh: I say to the member that students at risk, be they aboriginal or nonaboriginal, will have certain key things that need to be addressed, those being early intervention, those being identification of the factors that may inhibit their learning once they reach school. It does need to be a joint effort between the community, the home, the school and government.
Madam Speaker, that is what we are trying to address. Federally run schools-and many of the schools the member is referring to are federally run, not provincially run-
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. The honourable Minister of Education and Training, to complete her response.
Mrs. McIntosh: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. In Estimates over the last day and probably again today, we have been delving very deeply into this particular issue of the specific needs of Manitoba's aboriginal students and the ways in which the province is addressing those needs. I would invite the member- he may wish to attend the Chamber this afternoon and sit in on Estimates of Expenditures and get detailed answers to those specific questions to enlighten him on our initiatives.
Madam Speaker: The honourable member for The Pas, with a final supplementary question.
Mr. Lathlin: Madam Speaker, my final question to the Minister of Education is: given that this government has a Native Education branch, which incidentally has been slashed from 12 to three, how can this branch be expected to bring forward relevant aboriginal curriculum which this government has failed to do but is being recommended by this study?
Mrs. McIntosh: Again, the member would be well advised to attend the Chamber and sit in on Estimates because he could then-we have already answered that question for him. He speaks about a branch that has gone from 12 to three. I tell you that we now have a department-wide initiative that involves many, many more than 12 people. We have a new directorate, reporting directly to both ministers of Education, of three people who are co-ordinating throughout government all aspects of the Department of Education, aboriginal initiatives and perspectives. So far from having gone from 12 to three, it has gone from 12 to every person involved in the curriculum writing, in all of the aspects of programming for schools. That directorate is now reporting directly to the deputies and the minister as opposed to simply being a branch of the School Programs Division. So it has been definitely expanded in terms of its scope and its nature, and the number of people involved is much greater than before.
Budget Surplus
Mr. Daryl Reid (Transcona): Madam Speaker, the 1997 Annual Report of the Workers Compensation Board indicates that the Workers Compensation Board now has a $54-million surplus. I want to quote from the Workers Compensation Board's annual report of 1991 that says that the Workers Compensation Board's financial position and prospects have improved significantly as a result of the proclamation of Bill 59. The immediate financial effect of this bill was to reduce the expectation as to further costs attributed to past and future claims.
I want to ask the minister responsible for the Workers Compensation Board to explain why his government gave 15 percent premium reductions to the employers of this province as a result of the 1996 surplus, and there were no benefits accrued to the injured workers of this province because you have penalized them, as is stated in your annual report in this province.
Hon. Harold Gilleshammer (Minister charged with the administration of The Workers Compensation Act): Those of us on this side of the House, and I am sure most Manitobans, are very proud of the fact that we have eradicated a $234-million deficit, an accumulated debt that was put in place in about six short years, from 1981 to 1987. Prior to that, there was no debt. As a result, rates went up dramatically in the 1980s and early 1990s. We are very proud of the fact that the board has made decisions that have allowed them to be rid of this debt. They no longer have to pay off that debt; they no longer have to pay off that interest and, in fact, have been able to reduce the rates to all of the employers across this province, and we are very proud of that.
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Mr. Reid: You cut the widows' and children's benefits as a result of your Bill 59.
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. Would the honourable member for Transcona please pose his question now.
Mr. Reid: I want to ask the minister to explain the statement from another of his annual reports that says: the liability for short-term disability was significantly reduced in 1992 as a result of changing from a payment system of 75 percent gross to 90 percent net after income tax for claims incurred subsequent to December 31, 1991, by virtue of legislation enacted by this government.
I want to ask the minister: how many people have been affected as a result of your changes? How many widows have been shortchanged as a result of your cutbacks, and how many dependent children have been shortchanged as a result of your legislative changes in this House?
Hon. James McCrae (Government House Leader): Madam Speaker, on a point of order. I know the honourable member for Transcona feels strongly and passionately for the matter that he brings forward, but there are rules in this House that his House leader often reminds us all that we have to obey. There is a rule that we ought to address our comments through the Chair. Any comments made in the second person directly to a member on either side are out of order and unparliamentary, and I would ask the honourable member to remember to speak through the Chair when he puts his questions in Question Period.
Madam Speaker: On the point of order raised by the honourable government House leader, indeed the honourable government House leader does have a point of order, and I would remind the honourable member for Transcona to direct his questions through the Chair.
Mr. Gilleshammer: Madam Speaker, in addition to reducing that long-term debt and reducing the rates that employers have to pay annually, we have also brought in many service enhancements so that individuals who need to access the services of the Workers Compensation Board can get their cases heard and adjudicated in a timely fashion. The remuneration that recipients receive is indeed equal to if not higher than it was previously.
I would remind my honourable friend that we do have a board who makes these decisions. The board consists of public interest individuals, individuals from labour nominated by labour and also those that are nominated by employers. I know last year, when we had an opportunity to discuss this in committee, my honourable friend said: I have trust and confidence in members of the board and in Mr. Fox-Decent. These are the same people that he appears to be criticizing today.
Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Transcona, with a final supplementary question.
Mr. Reid: Madam Speaker, I want to ask the minister responsible for the Workers Compensation Board, since the number of reported accidents have increased by over 2,200 in this past reporting year up to over 43,000 reported workplace injuries in this province of Manitoba, how he can sit there, how his government can sit there and say that they can give rebates back to employers in this province. He knows full well that the legislative act that he brought into this House prohibits the Workers Compensation Board from sharing those surplus benefits with the injured workers of this province. Why will he not do the right thing and share those surplus benefits with the injured workers of this province as well?
Mr. Gilleshammer: Madam Speaker, the member seems to be troubled by the fact that the Workers Compensation Board that he praised last year in committee has been able to rid themselves of the debt, have paid off the accumulated debt and are now offering premiums at a lower level. There are rebates and lower levels of payments required by employers. At the same time, the board has seen fit to introduce last year and again this year a million dollars which is dedicated towards research and education grants. I know that the labour community has been particularly pleased by the fact they have had a tremendous amount of input into how this money is going to be spent. I certainly look forward to getting into that committee with my honourable friend so that we can get into these issues in more detail.
Community Referendums
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Lotteries. The Gaming Commission is one of the groups that suggested that there is a need for referendums. Yesterday, we understand it was raised in Question Period that the Conservative candidate in Charleswood also sees the benefit and actually is saying communities should be allowed to decide if they want to ban VLTs.
My question to the government: when you have a by-election going on and you have a candidate that is talking about allowing communities to decide whether or not VLTs should be banned, is there not an obligation on the government to come clean with the electors in Charleswood in terms of what is this government's position? Are they in favour of allowing communities to decide whether or not they can have VLTs?
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act): Madam Speaker, I think it is very important in any election campaign that candidates who put their names forward to represent people express their views, their beliefs, issues that they will fight on behalf of the citizens that they represent. Our candidate has certainly done an excellent job of doing that in the constituency of Charleswood, and I am sure as a result of that will deserve the kind of support that should follow.
In terms of the issue, the very specific question, Madam Speaker, we responded to it yesterday. The independent Gaming Control Commission, which was one of the recommendations from the Desjardins committee, has been implemented here in Manitoba. It has several issues to address, and one of the very important issues that it is currently addressing is the entire issue of referendums here in the province of Manitoba. We await their process and the final report that we will receive from them.
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Mr. Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, will the Minister of Lotteries come clean and indicate to this Chamber that it is not the Gaming Commission's responsibility to determine the referendums, it is this government's responsibility? It is the people of Manitoba who hold this government accountable.
The question to the Minister of Finance or the Minister responsible for Lotteries: does he or does he not support referendums for VLTs?
Mr. Stefanson: Madam Speaker, I think somebody should check the mike for the member for Inkster to make sure that it is on and working. We had no difficulty hearing him; he does not have to shout.
We have already indicated very clearly that there is a process. The independent Gaming Control Commission is going through a review; it is doing some research on the issue. It will potentially hold some public meetings on the issue. It is obviously looking at other jurisdictions. We have always said in terms of the gaming issues, the policy issues, they will be decided by government, but we certainly have in place with the independent Gaming Control Commission a body that will do an independent assessment, will do the kind of research and will have consultations with Manitobans.
Mr. Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, a jellyfish comes to mind. My question-
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. I would remind the honourable member for Inkster that this is not a time for debate. He was recognized to pose his third and final question.
Mr. Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, will the Minister responsible for Lotteries at least admit to this House that if in fact there is going to be any chance of a referendum, that decision has to be made well in advance so that at least we could have it done this year when we have municipal elections coming up this fall? If it is going to be past the fall, the referendums are not necessarily going to work for the next few years. Will he acknowledge that fact?
Mr. Stefanson: No, I will not, Madam Speaker, because different jurisdictions have had different approaches with referendums. One option is to have a referendum at the same time as municipal elections, which are currently held every three years in Manitoba. There are other options. Some jurisdictions have looked at having referendums based on a certain number of citizens coming forward calling for a referendum on a particular issue, so there are various ways to trigger a referendum without them necessarily only being at the time of municipal elections. Having said that, that certainly is one option, and that is one option that will be reviewed as part of this entire process.
Compensation
Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Madam Speaker, yesterday we introduced a motion into committee recommending that the Legislature and the House of Commons hold their free vote on extending compensation to all victims who have contracted hepatitis C from contaminated blood.
I would like to ask the Premier (Mr. Filmon) today if he will support this motion.
Hon. Darren Praznik (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, the motion moved by the member for Osborne, which is certainly a very appropriate motion, is resulting in a very good debate and discussion of this issue in the Committee of Supply, and I look forward to continuing that debate this afternoon.
Construction Contracts-Bidding Process
Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East): The first construction contract awarded for the Maple Leaf hog plant in Brandon involves excavation and earth moving which is one type of work that any of the five Brandon-based companies can handle. This may not be the case in subsequent portions of the construction. Unfortunately, it provided no job opportunities for local workers, and also the contract was awarded on a closed or secretive basis.
I would ask the Minister of Industry: given the fact that millions of public dollars are involved, would the minister take steps to have the bids for this particular tender award made public so that the taxpayers can be assured of the fairness of the process and of the decision?
Hon. James Downey (Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism): Madam Speaker, let me say at the outset that I am extremely pleased and proud that Manitobans were able to attract a plant of that magnitude to add to the overall economic base and 2,200 jobs to the province of Manitoba in the long term.
Our participation as a province was to support the infrastructure and training but not to get involved in the private development of this initiative which in fact is carried out by contractors from the private investor.
Mr. Leonard Evans: Would the minister use his good offices to persuade the construction company and others involved to use an open-bidding system in the future so that contract boards will be made public and everyone, including the taxpayers who do have a vested interest in this, not only from the city of Brandon but from the province of Manitoba-that everyone is fully informed?
Mr. Downey: Madam Speaker, again, I could reiterate my first answer, but I think it is certainly the company that is doing the development to purchase the services, to purchase the goods in a manner which gives them the best product for probably the lowest price. I would leave it to them to answer to the member for Brandon East if he feels that he would like to ask them that question. We are extremely pleased that the plant is being developed in the province of Manitoba.
Mr. Leonard Evans: Madam Speaker, is the minister telling the House that he is not prepared to go to bat for the taxpayers in Manitoba to assure that there is an open-
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. The honourable member for Brandon East, to pose his question.
Mr. Leonard Evans: The minister knows that we are fully supportive of the government's move in this respect. We are fully supportive of the plant, including everyone in the community. That is not the issue.
Simply put, Madam Speaker, will the minister use his good offices to ensure that all awards of tender in the future, and including this one, are made public so that the taxpayers of this province who do have a vested interest in this project and who welcome the project by and large, I believe, are fully informed? That is a straightforward request of a noncontroversial nature of this minister.
Mr. Downey: Madam Speaker, I certainly am interested in the interests of the taxpayers. That is why I have supported this government and worked very hard for 10 years to bring forward balanced budgets and pay off the excruciating debt that was imposed upon them by the NDP in the province when they had their chance to be in government.
Madam Speaker, this is a private sector business initiative that is building a hog plant in Brandon. We are supporting the training and the infrastructure. They are free to carry out their activities in a way which will accomplish a world-class plant creating 2,200 jobs for the long term for this province. [interjection]
Madam Speaker, the member says I am not interested. Yes, I am interested in the development of this plant and maximizing the employment of the people of Manitoba.
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Departmental Review
Mr. Gord Mackintosh (St. Johns): To the Minister of Justice: Manitobans today are hearing of a travesty of justice in the case regarding the slaying of 14-year-old Amanda Cook, where the Crown has sought and the court has ordered a stay of proceedings, a stay of the charges on the basis that the evidence gathered by the RCMP had serious shortcomings. Indeed, a tape recording apparently had been tampered with. The judge had serious questions about the credibility of the investigation and, as well, the procedures and the interviews that took place of the accused.
My question to the minister is: in addition to the internal RCMP investigation, what does this minister propose to do to reduce the risk of this kind of thing happening again? What is he going to do differently now?
Hon. Vic Toews (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Well, Madam Speaker, the first thing that I will not do is interfere with what is now an ongoing investigation. I did have the opportunity to meet with both Chief Clearsky and with Councillor Tim Cloud in respect to this issue. During the course of that meeting, both the chief and the councillor were very complimentary of the Crown attorney in that particular case who is a very experienced Crown attorney.
I am not about to second-guess what the Crown attorney is doing in this case, but I know that he has the interests of the people of Manitoba at heart, and he is doing the right thing, I believe, in staying the charges at this time so that the investigation can proceed and that ultimately the culpable party will be brought to justice.
Mr. Mackintosh: Would the minister address the question, which was not about the Crown attorney, but why does he not feel it necessary to review the police procedures here, and will he not ensure that there is a review by his department? After all, it is his department and this minister that is responsible for the contracting with the RCMP at a cost of about $50 million or more every year for the people of Manitoba. It is procedures. Will he review them?
Mr. Toews: Madam Speaker, I do not want to say anything that will prejudice any ongoing investigation, but I can assure the member that I have raised this particular case with the appropriate individuals. It is not for this department to tell that federal police agency, although they are under contract to us, how it is to conduct its affairs. At this time I am advised by senior prosecutors that this is an ongoing matter and that the investigation is continuing.
Mr. Mackintosh: Would the minister possibly explain then, why, in his talk about what his department is responsible for, he goes on to talk about monitoring the services provided by the RCMP, making recommen-dations about their policies and procedures while on the other hand saying that he will not do anything? When is the last time he reviewed the policies and procedures of law enforcement agencies in Manitoba? When is the last time his department had seminars about the proper legal procedures to be followed in investigations and what instructions has his department given to law enforcement agencies? I am talking about general procedures.
Mr. Toews: I can indicate, on another matter which we will be announcing very shortly, that our department has had very extensive discussions with the Winnipeg city police, with the RCMP and with other municipal forces in respect of the way in which certain legal issues are approached.
We realize that, even though I do not have direct control over the RCMP, it is in fact very important that both the Attorney General's department and the Department of Justice and the municipal police forces, including the provincial police, act in a co-ordinated fashion in the best interests of the people of Manitoba.
Madam Speaker: Time for Oral Questions has expired.