LEGISLATIVE
ASSEMBLY OF
Thursday,
April 9, 1992
The House met at 1:30
p.m.
PRAYERS
ROUTINE
PROCEEDINGS
PRESENTING
PETITIONS
Ms. Judy Wasylycia-Leis
(
Ms. Becky Barrett (
Mr. Conrad Santos
(Broadway): I beg to present the petition of M.E.
Graveline, E.K. Larsen, M. Brodsky and others requesting the government show its
strong commitment to dealing with child abuse by considering restoring the
Fight Back Against Child Abuse Campaign.
Mr. Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable
member for Burrows (Mr. Martindale), and it complies with the privileges and
practices of the House and complies with the rules (by leave). Is it the will of the House to have the
petition read?
The petition of the undersigned citizens
of the
THAT the bail review provisions in the
Criminal Code of
The problem of conjugal and family
violence is a matter of grave concern for all Canadians and requires a
multifaceted approach to ensure that those at risk, particularly women and
children, be protected from further harm.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray
that the Legislature of the
I
have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Transcona (Mr. Reid),
and it complies with the privileges and practices of the House and complies
with the rules. Is it the will of the
House to have the petition read?
The petition of the undersigned citizens
of the
THAT the bail review provisions in the
Criminal Code of
The problem of conjugal and family
violence is a matter of grave concern for all Canadians and requires a
multifaceted approach to ensure that those at risk, particularly women and
children, be protected from further harm.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray
that the Legislature of the Province of Manitoba may be pleased to request that
the Minister of Justice (Mr. McCrae) call upon the Parliament of Canada to
amend the Criminal Code of Canada to permit the courts to prevent the release
of individuals where it is shown that there is a substantial likelihood of
further conjugal or family violence being perpetrated.
I
have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Radisson (Ms. Cerilli),
and it complies with the privileges and practices of the House and complies
with the rules. Is it the will of the
House to have the petition read?
The petition of the undersigned citizens
of the
THAT the bail review provisions in the
Criminal Code of Canada currently set out that accused offenders, including
those suspected of conjugal or family violence, be released unless it can be
proven that the individual is a danger to society at large or it is likely that
the accused person will not reappear in court; and
The problem of conjugal and family
violence is a matter of grave concern for all Canadians and requires a
multifaceted approach to ensure that those at risk, particularly women and
children, be protected from further harm.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray
that the Legislature of the Province of Manitoba may be pleased to request that
the Minister of Justice (Mr. McCrae) call upon the Parliament of Canada to
amend the Criminal Code of Canada to permit the courts to prevent the release
of individuals where it is shown that there is a substantial likelihood of
further conjugal or family violence being perpetrated.
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(1335)
Introduction
of Guests
Mr. Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, may I direct the
attention of honourable members to the gallery, where we have with us this
afternoon 28 seniors from Hamilton House.
These visitors are under the direction of Mary Wilkonski. Hamilton House is located in the constituency
of the honourable Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs (Mrs. McIntosh).
Also this afternoon, we have 45 students
from Grade 4, from the
On behalf of all honourable members, I
welcome you here this afternoon.
ORAL
QUESTION PERIOD
Economic
Growth
Government
Strategy
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of
the Opposition): Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Finance
(Mr. Manness) stated that we were being selective in quoting the most recent
statistics in terms of growth for the province of Manitoba, a growth rate that
declined by some 25 percent since the government has tabled its budget in this
Chamber.
Today, we have a second set of predictions
on the growth in
These are very important numbers, Mr.
Speaker. They have an impact on our
jobs, on our social assistance. They
have an impact on our services and the quality of life in the
I would ask the Deputy Premier, what
impact will these changed forecasts downward have on the programs and services
of
Hon. James Downey
(Deputy Premier): Mr. Speaker, again let
me respond to the member by saying that he is, of course, always prepared to
bring to this House the negativism of the New Democratic Party and to continue
to work on the negative side of what is going on.
Let me say that our government is
committed to health care, to education, to family services, as has been
demonstrated in our budget. There is no
change. There are increases in our
budget to look after those essential services.
Out-Migration
Statistics
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of
the Opposition): Well, you have a 50 percent decline in the
growth rate of this province from an independent agency, not the New Democrats,
but from two banks and for two days in a row, and this government just
continues to whistle past the economic graveyard of this province.
Mr. Speaker, last month we saw 8,000 fewer
people in the labour force than a year ago.
Last month, in February,
My question to the Deputy Premier is: What is he going to do to stop Manitobans
from leaving this province and leaving us 10 out of 10 in terms of people
staying in the
Hon. James Downey (Deputy
Premier): Mr. Speaker, one of the
things that we have done is to stop putting intolerable taxes on the backs of
those taxpayers like the New Democratic Party did for the last six years of
their administration, spending $27 million in
Mr. Doer: I thank the Deputy Premier for his tirade, Mr.
Speaker.
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(1340)
Employment
Creation Strategy
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of
the Opposition): Again, let us look at the facts in terms of
what is happening to this province. Mr.
Speaker, we are suffering the worst bankruptcy numbers, personal and corporate,
since the 1930s. We are suffering out‑migration
and net migration worse than any other province in
I have another question to the Deputy
Premier. Would it not make a lot more
sense to have employable people who are now forced onto social assistance in
the
For example, would it not be better to
have some of our young people who are on social assistance, who are employable
today, have some of that money from the social assistance budget of $90 million
placed in a working program to have projects like Dutch elm disease working in
our communities, working across the province, rather than people being
unemployed?
Hon. James Downey
(Deputy Premier): Mr. Speaker, the member
made reference to bankruptcies.
Secondly, Mr. Speaker, one thing we have
done as well, as a government, is try to remove some of the payroll tax‑‑the
job‑prohibitive tax that was introduced by the former New Democratic
Party‑‑and introduce a job partnership program for the youth and
carry on with some of the youth employment programs for summer activity. There will be many activities that they will
be employed in through government support.
Child and
Family Services
Response
Time
Ms. Becky Barrett (
Since the minister's office was also
notified of this situation this morning, what action has the minister
taken? Can he confirm that the delay was
due to the recent recentralization and lack of adequate resources faced by the
caseworkers in Child and Family Services?
Hon. Harold Gilleshammer
(Minister of Family Services): Mr.
Speaker, I will take the specifics of that as notice and get an answer for the
honourable member.
What I can tell you, as far as the centralization
of Child and Family Services, we have seen no diminishing of services in
The Child Advocate legislation is before
the House. The automation of the record
keeping within Child and Family Services is underway, and we should have a
portion of that program up and running probably late spring and early
summer. The high‑risk indicators
are being used with the front‑line workers in the field, so there are
reforms going on.
If the member chooses to bring specific
cases to the floor of the House, this is not the appropriate place to‑‑
Mr. Speaker: Order, please.
Ms. Barrett: Mr. Speaker, this minister's office was
notified this morning‑‑
Mr. Speaker: Order, please.
This is not a time for debate.
Resources
Ms. Becky Barrett (
Hon. Harold Gilleshammer
(Minister of Family Services): I remind
the member that the resources that have gone into the Child and Family Services
agencies within the province have virtually doubled in the last four to five
budgets. The issue is not one of
resources.
I have already indicated that I would take
the specifics of her question as notice.
I have every confidence in the professional social workers and the
administration who are in charge of the Family Services agencies within the
province to react appropriately.
Ms. Barrett: Given that there is a continuing lack of
adequate resourcing to the Child and Family Service agencies and an enormous
two to three to four times increase in caseload above what should be in place
to allow for and provide for protection of children, what assurances can the
minister give this House and the children of Manitoba that this situation and
situations like it, which have happened many times in the past and will happen
again unless something is done about it, will not be repeated and that all
children in Manitoba will be assured at least of the bare first minimum of
basic protection of their lives?
*
(1345)
Mr. Gilleshammer: I have already indicated that in the new
resources that have gone into Child and Family Service agencies over the last
few years, this government has dedicated almost 9 percent of new funding to
Family Services in this budget, far outstripping the budget that the member
worked on and that they released the day before our budget calling for a 5
percent increase in Family Services budget.
We have dedicated consistently over the
last five budgets more resources to this department, and the Family Services
are seeing an increase in the amount of funds that they will be able to use for
their work in the next budget year.
Child and
Family Services
Communication
Process
Mrs. Sharon Carstairs
(Leader of the Second Opposition): Mr.
Speaker, I got the same phone call as the member for
I have learned that in fact the Child and
Family Services agency attended the apartment block within 25 minutes of having
been called and that the situation was resolved. I am very pleased to know that, but I want to
know why the minister would not have some action in his department that he
would not be immediately alerted to this kind of case which was reported to his
office this morning.
Hon. Harold Gilleshammer
(Minister of Family Services): Well, I
thank the member for the comments, and I think this clearly illustrates the
type of information that members bring to the House for political reasons. I have every confidence that the agency, the
administration of the agency and the staff there respond to these issues on a
daily basis.
Some of the information the department has
about specific cases is not information that we are going to share in the House
or with the public. Some of the cases
that individuals deal with are incredibly complicated and incredibly sad.
I say to you and I have said before that I
have the utmost respect for those front‑line workers and those
administrators who, daily and on a 24‑hour basis, seven days a week, deal
with some of the very sad cases in society.
It does not serve anyone well to bring information here in a fashion
that while it is not hysterical, it is certainly clearly there to misrepresent
the facts.
Mrs. Carstairs: Mr. Speaker, with the greatest respect, the
minister did not address what I think is a very fundamental question.
He is the minister responsible for an
extremely sensitive department, a department which deals with children, in this
case, a two‑year‑old. I
would like to know why someone on his staff did not notify him immediately that
there was a breakdown in communication, because when the reporter called the
agency, the reporter was informed it was none of his business, but it is every
person's business in our community that a two‑year‑old child would
be outside in a diaper at minus 8 degrees.
It is everybody's business.
I want to know from the minister why he
would not have that kind of alert team in his office that would make him aware
of that kind of difficulty so that he can ensure that the processes were in
place to look after this child.
Mr. Gilleshammer: Mr. Speaker, we have hundreds of workers and
thousands of cases that are active across this province. Again, the agencies that we fund, whether it
be the Winnipeg agency, the Central Manitoba agency, the Westman agency, the native
agencies in the areas of the province where our department does that work, they
deal with these cases on a daily basis.
Some of these cases are brought to the minister's attention and the
department's attention on an ongoing basis.
This is the work that those people do.
We hear from time to time of specific cases that are ongoing that take
some time to solve.
I think that when cases are put in the
hands of those agencies, agencies that we fund, agencies that work under
provincial legislation, we allow them to do that work, that the minister's
office and the senior staff do get involved with these agencies on an ongoing
basis, but we also allow them to do the work that they are entitled to do.
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(1350)
Child
Advocate
Reporting
Process
Mrs. Sharon Carstairs
(Leader of the Second Opposition): Mr.
Speaker, it is clear that the agency in this case acted. It is equally true that in other cases, the
agency does not act. We have also seen
an example today where the minister's department did not act.
Will the minister now tell this House why
he is requiring the Child Advocate to report to him? What is wrong with a model that would have
the Child Advocate report to this Legislative Assembly so that children would
not fall between his department and the agency?
Hon. Harold Gilleshammer
(Minister of Family Services): Mr.
Speaker, I am very pleased the member has raised that question. Her acting
critic raised that question the other day, and I am on the record with the
answers to those questions.
We are setting up a Child Advocate in this
province based on models that exist in
We were going to have an advocate in
Lakes and
Rivers
Copper
Sulphate Buildup
Ms. Marianne Cerilli
(Radisson): Mr. Speaker, the federal government released
today its second State of the Environment Report, which raised concerns about
the water quality in lakes and rivers in the
More specifically, I have a letter from
the Department of Environment which states that copper sulfate is no longer a
registered substance to be used to eliminate algae in lakes in
Hon. Glen Cummings
(Minister of Environment): By not permitting,
Mr. Speaker.
Ms. Cerilli: Mr. Speaker, there are still communities that
are bulletining their intention in the local newspapers to use this substance.
Will the minister make a commitment to
implementing more inspection of those communities that have used this in the
past so it will not be used this summer?
Mr. Cummings: Mr. Speaker, the bulletining that the member
refers to, the community, I believe, was somewhat in error in the format that
they used in their bulletining, and certainly it was not the intention of the
department to permit the use of the material, as was advertised in that
bulletin.
Ms. Cerilli: Mr. Speaker, one of the communities in
question‑‑or one of the lakes in question is
Mr. Cummings: Mr. Speaker, it is confirmed that we are now
talking about the same bulletin. As a
matter of fact, we are, as I said, not willing to permit the use of the copper
sulfate, and we have very good reasons for not doing that, one of which is that
we do not want any buildup.
I do take objection, however, to the
member referring to the pollution in the lake.
The last time it was brought to our attention that there was
considerable amount of bacterial lode in the lake, it was found that low water
volumes in that lake, which are now being addressed by the structures that have
been put in place combined with the high numbers of ducks and geese on the
lake, was what was giving the high bacterial reading in the water.
*
(1355)
Health
Care Facilities
Bed
Closure Proposal
Ms. Judy Wasylycia-Leis
(
Will the Minister of Health share that
information with the people of
Hon. Donald Orchard
(Minister of Health): Mr. Speaker, after
yesterday, when my honourable friend brought not one, not two, but three pieces
of incorrect information to this House, it almost seems as if it is epidemic
that they have what I have come to affectionately know for the New Democratic
Party as the "leader's disease."
I will not reflect on that bad information that my honourable friend
brought to the House yesterday.
What my honourable friend is correct about
is, yes, the Health Sciences Centre and other hospitals have been developing
their operational plans to meet their budget allocations for this fiscal
year. The process has been one of
feeding back into
Mr. Speaker, those plans are under active
consideration by the department. I would
hope that when my honourable friend chooses to move along the Estimates process
so that we reach the hospital line in the Estimates, as I have urged her to do
now for 12 hours, we will have a full and complete discussion of the issues
with my appropriate staff there.
Ms. Wasylycia-Leis: Mr. Speaker, if we cannot get information
about this government's plans for our hospitals, could we at least get from
this minister the plans of facilities, tabled with this minister, in response
to this government's directives?
Mr. Orchard: Mr. Speaker, the plans of government and the
respective hospitals will be abundantly clear, as I have indicated several
times in the Estimates process, over the next ensuing several weeks.
I just want to note to my honourable
friend that when she is making these sorts of requests of government, one would
assume from casual observation that those would then become policy that a New
Democratic Party would put in place.
I want to remind my honourable friend that
any budgetary plans from hospitals to the Department of Health have never been
shared by New Democrat, Liberal, Conservative government in the
Ms. Wasylycia-Leis: Mr. Speaker, never before have we had a
government which has refused to provide information about‑‑
Mr. Speaker: Order, please.
This is not a time for debate.
Ms. Wasylycia-Leis: Would the Minister of Health not now agree
that it is time to end the fears and concerns and confusion in our health care
system and provide, for all of us here in this Chamber and for the public at
large, details of this government's plans for hospital beds and budgets?
*
(1400)
Mr. Orchard: Mr. Speaker, I have told my honourable friend
for the last 12 hours in Estimates that when we get to the hospital lines,
those kinds of details on this year's budget can be made available with the
appropriate staff. My honourable friend
wants to chew away on phantoms. That is
her privilege.
Mr. Speaker, I reject totally and
completely the false accusation by my New Democrat friends where they say that
this is a secretive government. This
government has opened up the discussion process more than any other government
in the history of the
That is why we have tabled Centre for Health
Policy and Evaluation studies on the health care system, to enlighten my
honourable friend to the challenges facing all Canadians in reforming the
health care system. That is why we have
tabled, for my honourable friends, the Health Advisory Network reports as I
have received them and made them public.
Mr. Speaker, this is the most open government that the province has ever
had in its history, and my honourable friend persists in‑‑
Mr. Speaker: Order, please.
Point of
Order
Ms. Wasylycia-Leis: This is a very serious matter. The minister has five advisory network
reports since last summer, and he has not tabled one or made any of them public‑‑
Mr. Speaker: Order, please.
The honourable member does not have a point of order. It is a dispute over the facts.
Economic
Growth
Mr. Reg Alcock
(Osborne): Mr. Speaker, I was interested in some of the
information that the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Doer) brought forward today
because I think it does underline the very difficult position that this
province finds itself in, in part, as a result of changes in federal policy
that have I think served to weaken the ties that bind the prairie region
together.
On February 13 and 14, a number of people
met in this city to look at some ways in which we can build some strength back
into the prairie economy.
Representatives from all three provinces were there. The Minister of Trade is aware of the outcome
of that meeting, which was an attempt to look at the ways in which the
I would like to ask the Minister of Trade
if he has had an opportunity to discuss these proposals with his provincial
counterparts.
Hon. Eric Stefanson
(Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism): Mr. Speaker, I have received some of the
information from that conference that took place in
In other areas of co‑operation
recently, in the environmental field on the environmental industry side, we are
co‑operating, so there is extensive co‑operation to build on
already, and we agreed that the idea of continued co‑operation and
potential enhancement would be a very useful topic of discussion at our next
meeting.
Mr. Alcock: I am very pleased to receive that answer from
the minister.
Can the minister tell me whether or not
the suggestions about creating greater co‑operation and perhaps joint
research among the prairie telephone systems is one of the items that will be
up for discussion at those meetings?
Mr. Stefanson: The honourable member for Osborne refers to
one specific recommendation out of, I believe, 12 or 14 or 16 recommendations
that flowed from that conference. As I
have indicated, at this stage, discussions would be at a preliminary stage in
terms of the whole issue, the areas of co‑operation. We are already doing some that I have
outlined.
I think there is opportunity for
more. At what stage we would get to
dealing with the specific recommendations would remain to be seen. Obviously, they also impact on other
departments within our government that would require review. Once we have had
an opportunity to go through the documentation that flowed from that particular
conference in
Mr. Alcock: I wonder if the minister can tell us whether
he or the Minister of Finance (Mr. Manness) have had discussions with the other
two provinces about creating a pension pool for the three provinces to provide
capital for the development of projects in the prairie region.
Mr. Stefanson: At this stage, Mr. Speaker, no, we have
not. I think most members of the House
will recall from the western Premiers' meetings that took place in Nipawin last
year, what flowed from that was the concept of the code of conduct in terms of
investment promotion to halt, we will call them, the bidding wars that occur
occasionally amongst provinces, certainly in western Canada and across all of
Canada. That is certainly going to be a
topic of discussion.
What the honourable member for Osborne
refers to ultimately might be something that certainly as a topic of discussion
could flow from that very issue because the whole issue of us competing as
provinces for investment, the cost to the taxpayers and so on, is one that is
very timely and is actually to be discussed by all internal Trade ministers
here in Winnipeg at the end of the month.
Protection
Mr. Doug Martindale
(Burrows): Mr. Speaker, last year, over the objections of
the Minister of Transport, the Minister of Housing (Mr. Ernst), with the
support of the Premier (Mr. Filmon), approved funding for the Rotary Pines
project, thus potentially jeopardizing 130 jobs at
Does the Minister of Transportation still
support airport protection legislation as he did last year and as he did as
early as 1989?
Hon. Albert Driedger
(Minister of Highways and Transportation): Mr. Speaker, most definitely.
Mr. Martindale: Has the Minister of Transport brought to cabinet
the pressing need for airport protection legislation on the
Mr. Driedger: I want to indicate that I am working closely
with my colleague, as well as my Premier and the City of
Also, at the same time, there is federal
legislation being developed that will also tie into that. I am confident that by the time we are
through with this, during the course of this summer, the protection will be in
place.
Mr. Martindale: The real question is whether the minister is
going to rely on the City of
Will this minister bring in provincial
legislation to do what the city is now requesting so that the province can have
some control both in the city and outside the city?
Mr. Driedger: Mr. Speaker, I want to indicate that the
authorities who have power to make certain decisions at the present time, if
they will not adequately address the protection of the
55 Plus
Program
Indexing
Mr. Neil Gaudry (St.
Boniface): Mr. Speaker, it is now clear that the 55 Plus program
will again not be indexed to inflation. As a result, those already recognized
in law as living below the poverty line will be forced to accept an even lower
standard of living.
Can the Minister responsible for Seniors
tell this House why his government has chosen to deprive seniors in this way?
Hon. Gerald Ducharme
(Minister responsible for Seniors): Mr.
Speaker, I almost lost a bet when I saw seniors up in the audience and I bet
that I would have a question.
Mr. Speaker, to the member for St. Boniface,
at a time of difficult times, our government has kept payments equal. We are looking after our seniors both in the
health field and the family services.
This government has its pride to work with the seniors throughout the
province with our senior abuse, our financial abuse system, throughout all our
portfolios, and will continue to benefit the seniors of this province.
Mr. Gaudry: Mr. Speaker, I thank the minister for the
cheap shot.
Can the Minister responsible for Seniors
tell us how the seniors are to pay increased costs of hydro, telephone, food,
clothing, all of which are increasing, many above the rate of inflation, when
this government refuses to provide any help?
Mr. Ducharme: Mr. Speaker, we are‑‑not a cheap
shot‑‑increasing through our health services, through our many
benefits. Unlike the previous
administration, they taxed those seniors who were at the low level at a percent
of 2 percent on the net tax.
Mr. Gaudry: Mr. Speaker, can this minister tell this House
the cost of Seniors Day here at the Legislature, and will they consider using
these dollars to provide for indexing the 55 Plus?
*
(1410)
Mr. Ducharme: Mr. Speaker, we have different seniors groups
who have come forward to us. We sit down
with those seniors groups, and they tell us the different ways they would like
their money spent. For instance, on
continuing care, we are increasing it on all personal care homes. If they are concerned about the health care
in personal care homes, for instance, as announced by the Health minister, we
are going to establish 600 personal care homes shortly in this province. That is the way we will benefit the seniors.
Efficiency
Mr. John Plohman
(Dauphin): Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Agriculture's
position on the transportation talks is now abundantly clear. His April 4 letter to the Free Press
demonstrates that he has swallowed hook, line and sinker the federal position
with regard to Churchill rail line abandonment and method of payment. He says it is all in the name of
efficiency. He says the federal
government has conducted an internal review of transportation efficiencies to
make the transportation system from farm to port more efficient.
Since it is well known that Churchill has
a $20, at least, advantage in shipping over St. Lawrence ports, I want to ask
the Minister of Transportation why he has not informed his Minister of
Agriculture (Mr. Findlay) of that fact and whether he agrees with his Minister
of Agriculture that in fact shipping more grain through Churchill would not
make the system more efficient rather than less efficient.
Hon. Albert Driedger
(Minister of Highways and Transportation): Mr. Speaker, since I took office as
Minister of Highways and Transportation in May of '88, many versions and many
figures have been thrown about in terms of the advantage or disadvantage of
shipping through Churchill. The member
well knows that there are opponents to the
We have the assurance that somewhere along
the line, when that information comes forward, we will be able to have a chance
to dialogue and check, and we will scrutinize very closely that kind of
information that is being brought forward.
Mr. Plohman: Mr. Speaker, it is clear that that
information is already there, and this minister fails to recognize it.
Why has this minister failed to ensure
that the transportation talks, $1.1‑million consultative sham by the
federal government, did not include balanced information, accurate information,
on the efficiencies of a greatly expanded role for Churchill? Why did he not make sure that information was
in those hearings?
Mr. Driedger: Mr. Speaker, I have the same information that
the member had when he was the minister, but I have to indicate to you that
there has been lots of additional, which I consider, wrong information that has
been out on the hustings and for the public of Manitoba as well as for the
federal government in terms of I do not believe that we have accurate
information. I believe we have accurate
information, but I believe there is a lot of inaccurate information that is out
there.
I am hoping that within the next three,
four, six months, we will be able to establish precise figures that are going
to be not just beneficial to us, that we use, but that everybody will be able
to make themselves available of that, which will show that there can be
viability in Churchill and that Churchill should stay for the benefit of the
people of Manitoba.
Mr. Plohman: Mr. Speaker, this minister has the accurate
information. Why is he not putting it
out there? He knows it is accurate
information.
I ask him whether he will ensure that his
Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Findlay), his colleague, travels to the Hudson Bay
Route Association next week with him so that he too can learn the facts about
Churchill.
Mr. Driedger: Mr. Speaker, I am not going to be taking the
Minister of Agriculture along, but I want to indicate that I am prepared to take
the member for Rupertsland (Mr. Harper), the member for Thompson (Mr. Ashton)
and whoever else‑‑if they want a member from the Liberal
Party. Not all of them, but certainly I
am prepared to take‑‑
Some Honourable Members:
Oh, oh.
Mr. Speaker: Order, please.
Mr. Driedger: Mr. Speaker, let me rephrase that. I am prepared to take members of the
opposition along, as I did last year, to the Hudson Bay Route Association
meeting that is taking place on Monday.
We will again have a chance to discuss this, where I will raise serious
concerns about the future of Churchill, where I think it is very important that
all members of the House are speaking from the same song sheet when we deal
with this issue.
Public
Schools
Enrollment
Decline
Mr. Dave Chomiak
(Kildonan): Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister
of Education.
We have learned that since coming to
office, this government has seen enrollments at private schools increase by 13 percent
or 1,245 students while, in the same period of time, enrollments at public
schools have decreased 1 percent, or down 1,907.
Can this minister advise the House what
steps this government is going to take to prevent the creation of a two‑tiered
education system in the
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey
(Minister of Education and Training): Mr.
Speaker, I would like to remind the honourable member that in the independent
school system, some schools set up for many reasons. Some of them are for
religious reasons in this province, and parents in fact have the opportunity of
free choice.
Mr. Chomiak: Mr. Speaker, the minister is well aware that
these schools have been in existence for 75 years. Can the minister answer the question and
indicate why the increase, since the Conservatives came to office, is 13
percent in the private schools in enrollment, and it is down 1 percent in
public schools? Has it something perhaps
to do with government funding at a windfall basis to many schools?
Mrs. Vodrey: I certainly hope that my honourable friend is
not indicating that he considers that there are some extremely drastic
difficulties within the public school system, because we on our side of the
House, Mr. Speaker, recognize that the public school system is in fact doing an
extremely good job. There are many hard‑working
teachers and administrators and trustees working in that system.
Mr. Speaker: The time for Oral Questions has expired.
ORDERS OF
THE DAY
Hon. Jim Ernst (Acting
Government House Leader): Mr. Speaker, I would
move, seconded by Minister of Environment (Mr. Cummings), that Mr. Speaker do
now leave the Chair and the House resolve itself into a committee to consider
the Supply to be granted to Her Majesty.
Motion agreed to, and the House resolved
itself into a committee to consider of the Supply to be granted to Her Majesty
with the honourable member for St. Norbert (Mr. Laurendeau) in the Chair for
the Department of Health, and the honourable member for
COMMITTEE
OF SUPPLY
(Concurrent Sections)