LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
OF
Tuesday, December 1,
1992
The House met at 1:30
p.m.
PRAYERS
Speaker's
Statement
Mr.
Speaker: Prior to Routine Proceedings, I have a
statementfor the House.
I must inform the House that Elijah Harper, the honourablemember for
Rupertsland, has resigned his seat in the Houseeffective November 30, 1992. I am therefore tabling hisresignation
and my letter to the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Counciladvising of the vacancy thus
created in the membership of theHouse.
ROUTINE
PROCEEDINGS
PRESENTING
PETITIONS
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux
(
Mr. Gulzar Cheema (The
Maples): Mr. Speaker, I beg to presentthe
petition of Marie‑Jeanne Buccini, Alice Szarkiewicz, MaureenMonk and others
urging the government of
Mr. George Hickes
(Point
Ms. Judy
Wasylycia‑Leis (
Mr. Steve Ashton
(Thompson): Mr. Speaker, I beg to present
thepetition of Monica Linklater, Sylvia Spence, Eileen Moody andothers
requesting the government of
*
(1335)
TABLING OF
REPORTS
Hon. Jim Ernst
(Minister of Urban Affairs): Mr. Speaker, I wouldlike to table the
Annual Report of the Department of UrbanAffairs.
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey
(Minister of Education and Training): Mr.Speaker, I am pleased to table the
report of the Teachers'Retirement Allowances Fund Board, the Annual Report,
1991.
Introduction of
Guests
Mr.
Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, may I direct
the attentionof honourable members to the gallery, where we have with us
thisafternoon, from the
Also, from the
On behalf of all honourable members, I would like to welcomeyou here this
afternoon.
ORAL QUESTION
PERIOD
Poverty
Rate
Provincial
Increase
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader
of the Opposition): Mr. Speaker, we havebeen saying for some
time now that the government is out of touchand this Premier is out of
touch. Unfortunately, today
thepoverty figures have been released for the
Mr. Speaker, the Premier stated two weeks ago, in a speech hemade to his
own faithful, that all Manitobans are better offunder Conservative
government. Given the fact that the
number ofpeople in poverty between 1988 when this Premier took office and1990
has grown by 10,000 Manitobans, can the Premier pleaseexplain to us and to all
Manitobans, if they are better off, whythere are 10,000 more people
unfortunately in poverty today?
Hon. Gary Filmon
(Premier): Mr. Speaker, certainly we as
agovernment, as I believe all people in elected office ought tobe, are concerned
about the trends for continued poverty in oursociety, and we as a government
have taken some very determinedaction since these figures, which relate to 1990,
have indeedbeen collected.
I am sure that the member opposite knows that we continued toincrease our
social allowance rates at, for instance, 3.6 percentlast year, which was the
second highest rate of increase in thecountry, and this year again at the rate
of inflation. We addedincome
assistance for disabled at $60 per month, which is risingto $70 per month as of
next month, and a monthly supplement toreplace the provincial tax credit. It is also one of the reasonswhy we are
placing great emphasis on economic priorities to getthe economy rolling
again.
Mr. Speaker, we take no solace in these figures. In fact, weare very, very
concerned. I would say that I would
hope themember opposite would recognize that this is not a partisanissue. If it were so, it would have been
settled and it wouldhave been addressed during the time when the member
opposite'sadministration was in government, because the figure that ispublished
in this report for 1990 is lower than it was in 1982,'83, '84, '85 and '86 and
at the same level that it was in '87.
That is not good news, but we are doing things that arewithin our power,
and we would hope that the members oppositewould continue to work with us to try
and improve the lot ofthose who indeed have to live in poverty in this province
andright across the country.
Mr. Doer:
Mr. Speaker, I would ask the Premier to
look at thetrends and look at the numbers.
The amount of people thatdecreased in the poverty list between '82 and
'88 was a 40,000decrease in the number of people living below the poverty line
inthe previous government, and now we see a 10,000‑person increasein people
living in poverty in the
Mr. Speaker, the government said that they remain committedto
strengthening and supporting
*
(1340)
Mr.
Filmon: Mr. Speaker, the figure is 17.8 percent
of peopleliving below the poverty line.
In 1982 it was 20.5 percent in
We are working as well on the economic side because we knowthat
ultimately, as the report indicates, that the ultimatesolution to this, of
course, is to ensure that we restore theeconomy to economic health, because that
is the long‑termsolution that we have to address in this issue. That is why thethrone speech deals with
the economy as the central focus,because it is jobs, it is a healthy economy
that is the long‑termsolution to improving the lot of these
people.
Poverty Rate
Provincial
Increase
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader
of the Opposition): Mr. Speaker, thePremier is right. It was 20 percent in 1982, and it went
down to16.6 percent in '88, a decrease of 40,000 people. From 1988 to1990, it went up to 17.8
percent, an increase of 10,000 people inthe poverty rate. That is exactly the point. You know, you donot have to listen to
these statistics. The Premier could
go 200yards across from his office, across the street, to really seewhat is
going on in this province, and we have been saying thatthis Premier and this
government are totally out of touch withwhat is going on in terms of the
realities of people in thisprovince.
Mr. Speaker, in the last couple of months, this governmentchose to
offload millions of dollars on social assistancepayments to municipalities or
the larger
Hon. Harold
Gilleshammer (Minister of Family Services): Mr.Speaker, I would like to point out to
the Leader of theOpposition that the number of recipients on social allowances
isa small component or a partial component of the people living inpoverty that
this study reflects, and I think that what happenswith statistics like this is
that you draw a national povertyline based on the cost of living in some of the
urban centreslike
Manitoba Public
Insurance Corporation
Autopac Rate
Increase
Mr. Leonard Evans
(Brandon East): Mr. Speaker, I would like toaddress a
question to the minister responsible for Autopac (Mr.Cummings). The Conservative‑appointed Public
Utilities Board hasnow approved the request of the Conservative‑appointed board
ofMPIC for the highest real increase of Autopac rates in thehistory of this
province. Non‑merit private
passenger vehiclesapproval is 13.5 percent which is 10 times the rate
ofinflation. The average increase
of 9.7 percent is about seventimes the rate of inflation.
Mr. Speaker, how can this minister who led the charge a fewyears ago, how
can this minister sit there complacently andjustify these unconscionable
increases?
Hon. Glen Cummings
(Minister charged with the administration ofThe Manitoba Public Insurance
Corporation Act): First of all,Mr. Speaker, I reject the
member's reference to the quality andthe standard of the work being done by the
PUB. We deliberatelymade sure that
the Public Utilities Board was given theopportunity to look at the rate
structure and make sure that itwas properly reflecting the costs and the real
cost of coveragethat the corporation was taking on.
Mr. Speaker, in looking at the recommendations of the PublicUtilities
Board, it very clearly demonstrates to us why it wasthe proper thing to do in
referring these types of rates to thePublic Utilities Board, because it clearly
references the factthat we need to make sure of what is required, that the level
ofcoverage in this province is correct and adequate and make surethat no
increases are brought forward that do not reflect theactual costs of the claims
that have been incurred.
*
(1345)
Mr. Leonard
Evans: Mr. Speaker, my next question is,
talkingabout costs, why did the government interfere in the MPIC requestto limit
agency fees? How can you interfere
on behalf of thebrokers, but not on behalf of the consumers of
Mr.
Cummings: Mr. Speaker, the fact is that the
corporation isundergoing a major review of the Autopac agents
compensationpackage as we bring forward Autopac 2000. That is the fair andpractical manner in
which they have brought forward theirpresentation to the agents, so that as they
review thatcompensation package and as they change the entire method ofwhich we
do business with the public and with the agents, thosechanges will be
incorporated.
Mr. Leonard
Evans: Mr. Speaker, my final question is for
theMinister of Consumer Affairs (Mrs. McIntosh). I would ask theMinister of Consumer
Affairs if she at least will act on behalfof the consumers of
Mr.
Cummings: Mr. Speaker, that demonstrates the lack
of acumenon that side of the House.
They are asking that we now run thecorporation into the ground in order
that we not reflect the realcost of insurance.
Poverty
Rate
Provincial
Increase
Mrs. Sharon Carstairs
(Leader of the Second Opposition): Mr.Speaker, I want to ask some questions
on behalf of those peoplewho cannot afford an automobile, the genuine poor of
the provinceof
On December 13, 1991, the Premier, in his speech to thisHouse, said that
he was willing to work co‑operatively with alllevels of government on any
programs designed to eradicatepoverty with respect to the children of our
province, anyprograms whatsoever.
Can the First Minister of the province tell us, if that washis genuine
desire less than a year ago, why was child poverty,which for two years in a row
is worst in this province of anyother province in this nation, including
(1350)
Hon. Gary Filmon
(Premier): Mr. Speaker, I would point out thatthe
figures which the Leader of the third party is referring toas being for two
years in a row date back to 1990, before thespeech that I gave that she
references. As I said earlier,
thisgovernment took action during the past year and raised welfarerates in this
province at a rate of 3.6 percent last year, whichwas greater than any province
but one in the country and, inaddition to that, brought in additional income
assistance fordisabled, $60 a month, which is rising to $70 a month
inJanuary. In addition to that, we
used a monthly supplement toreplace the provincial tax credit, but we know that
this is notenough, and we have said‑‑[interjection]
Mr. Speaker, the member for
We on this side have indicated that we must continue tosearch for ways to
improve the economy so that we do not justhave people relying on government
social programs for support,and that is in the report that was released that she
is quotingfrom the newspaper article on, the report by the National Councilof
Welfare that the long‑term goal has to be work on the
economy.
That is what the throne speech is all about, is improving theeconomy so
that people do not need only to be dependent onwelfare, social allowances and
provincial government for theirsubsistence, that they must have the opportunity
to go andimprove their own circumstances, and only through a healthiereconomy
will we be able to accomplish that.
Social
Assistance
Food
Allowance
Mrs. Sharon Carstairs
(Leader of the Second Opposition): Mr.Speaker, the Premier likes
projections. Well, I think that
heshould take a look at the projection of the National Council onWelfare. The projection of the National Council
on Welfare isthat the figures on poverty will be worse for '91 and worse againin
1992 than they were in 1990. At the
same time, thisgovernment has made it an unfortunate circumstance that
foodbudgets will be cut for those 93 percent more people on welfarein the city
of
How can this Premier justify less money for food for thechildren already
suffering and living below the poverty line?
Hon. Gary Filmon
(Premier): As I indicated, our provincialgovernment
increased welfare rates by some 3.6 percent, which wasthe second highest in the
country last year, and again by therate of inflation this year. In addition to that, the member maybe
aware of the national program, the federal program, entitled:Brighter Futures,
which is to add support to the children.[interjection]
Mr. Speaker, the member for Osborne (Mr. Alcock) is on hiscampaign box,
and perhaps he would like to give the answer to hisLeader because he does not
seem to want to listen to my answers.
Social
Assistance
Food
Allowance
Mrs. Sharon Carstairs
(Leader of the Second Opposition): Mr.Speaker, the government's offloading
to the City of
How does the Premier of this province think that singleparent moms, who
suffer from the greatest poverty levels in thisnation and in this province, are
supposed to feed their kids?
Hon. Bonnie Mitchelson
(Minister responsible for the Status ofWomen): I would really like to respond and ask
the Leader of theSecond Opposition party to get her facts
straight.
There is not one single mom who will receive any less underthe new system
that has been put in place than before.
Allsingle mothers in the
Bill 70 Impact on the City of
Mr. Doug Martindale
(Burrows): Mr. Speaker, there is no limit tothe
hypocrisy of the Filmon government who in their throne speechcriticized the
federal government for offloading expenses to theProvince of
Now that the minister has announced the regulations to Bill70, will this
minister admit that is the effect of Bill 70,offloading millions of dollars of
expenses to the City of
Hon. Harold
Gilleshammer (Minister of Family Services): Theintent of Bill 70 is to standardize
the intake procedures and therates across this province. We have many municipal corporationswhere
the rate was below the provincial rate.
We had twomunicipal jurisdictions where the rate was higher. Bill 70 willallow for one rate across
the province, and municipalcorporations at their own expense have the ability to
give higherrates if they wish.
I would like to point out the many other enhancements that wehave added
to the social allowances program in addition to the3.6 percent. Recently we announced the ability for
certainrecipients to keep their health card as they make their way fromsocial
assistance into the work force, I think a very progressiveway of allowing people
to leave social allowances and get intothe work force, something that my
honourable friend has failed tocomment on.
We have also increased the supplement for the disabled. Thiswas a new initiative last year. We have been able to increasethat by $10
a month this year. These are just
two of the manyreforms that we have brought in in the last two
years.
Mr.
Martindale: Mr. Speaker, why has this minister
offloadedexpenses and forced the City of
How can this minister offload millions of dollars of expensesto the City
of
Mr.
Gilleshammer: Mr. Speaker, the number of people living
indifficult circumstances in
Again I would point out that we have the third lowestincidence of
citizens accessing social allowances across thecountry. We also have the sixth highest social
allowance ratesacross the country.
If the member is suggesting that Manitobashould have the highest rate,
that is not in keeping with thecost of living across this country.
At the same time, we have also addressed many other issuesthat the member
has raised in the last two years.
We haveincreased the liquid assets exemption, something that has
beendiscussed by poverty groups and something we were able to act onlast
year. As well, we have dealt with
the head of the householdissue, something that was a long‑standing issue that
had not beendealt with through the '70s or the '80s, but something that wehave
been able to deal with in recent months.
Those are againtwo more of the reforms that we have brought in in the
last twoyears.
Mr.
Martindale: Why has this Minister of Family
Services, byoffloading $5.6 million of expenses, forced the City of Winnipegto
choose between cutting rates, especially for people infamilies, many of their
rates were higher, especially forinfants, or to increase property taxes when
everyone knows thatproperty taxes are a regressive form of
taxation?
Why is this minister forcing the City of
Mr. Gilleshammer:
I can tell you that this government has
haddifficult choices on raising taxes, and we have made thosedifficult decisions
over the last five budgets. I think
that theCity of
Again, I would point out that besides increasing the rates by3.6 percent
we have also dealt with a tremendous volumeincrease. Last year we put an additional $40
million into oursocial allowances budget which we expended, and we
overexpendedthat by another $40 million.
The rates would seem to be appropriate when you compare themwith other
provinces across
(1400)
Grain Transportation
Proposal
Tabling
Request
Mr. John Plohman
(Dauphin): Mr. Speaker, the Crow benefit
hashistorically been put in place to provide a level playing fieldfor producers
to ship their grain to export markets, but thereare enemies to this proposal,
some of them right here in thisLegislature. The latest effort to dismantle this
historicbenefit was made in an alarming proposal by the federalgovernment at the
Agriculture ministers' meeting in
I want to ask the Minister of Agriculture whether he receiveda copy of a
draft proposal on grain transportation reform and, ifso, will the minister table
that proposal in this Legislature sothat we all can see what is being proposed
by the federalgovernment on this important issue?
Hon. Glen Findlay
(Minister of Agriculture): Mr. Speaker, thequestion the member
raises is an issue of grave importance to thegrain industry of western
Certainly we also have issues like the pooling of the costson the
A proposal was brought to the Ministers of Agriculture acrossthe country
called the Whithers proposal, commissioned by thefederal government, which we
received at a meeting not too longago in
Government
Support
Mr. John Plohman
(Dauphin): This minister continues to use GATTas an
excuse for change, Mr. Speaker. The
fact is that we have acopy of that draft and he should have tabled it in this
Housewith the opposition in this House as well. If he is going toconsult, consult with
the opposition in this Legislature.
I havea copy to table.
Does the minister support the proposal that would see thelifting of
protection on the branchlines according to thatproposal and a tripling of the
grain transportation rates on railover the next four years? Does the minister support thoseproposals
in that draft that was proposed to the ministers?
Hon. Glen Findlay
(Minister of Agriculture): As I indicated, Mr.Speaker, in my first
response, we have asked our stakeholders,many and varied across
We have grave concern about what that impact will be, so weare in due
process of analysis and the discussion will continue.We will continue to consult
with the stakeholders in the provinceof
Consultations
Mr. John Plohman
(Dauphin): Mr. Speaker, the minister talksabout due
process. Then will he support the
government of
Hon. Glen Findlay
(Minister of Agriculture): Mr. Speaker, as Ihave indicated in both
my answers previously, we are involved inextensive consultations in an ongoing
way and many groups havethanked us for that opportunity. We do not take a knee‑jerkreaction this
way or that way. We are in
continuousconsultation. That
process will not stop. We will not
take aknee‑jerk reaction like that member would like us to
take.
Health Care
System
Community-Based
Services
Mr. Gulzar Cheema (The
Maples): Mr. Speaker, my question is forthe
Minister of Health. When the
minister released the ActionPlan for Health Reform last May, we said it was
better late thannever. We supported
that plan in principle. We in this
partywanted the health care reform to succeed and therefore we wantedthe
minister to succeed. The progress
has been very slow and wehave many more questions for the minister. In fact, we gave theminister an advance
copy of a question last week when we releasedthe report to the
media.
My first question is: Will
the minister provide more detailson the new community‑based services that will
replace the bedswhich are going to be closed at St. Boniface as well as
HealthSciences Centre?
Hon. Donald Orchard
(Minister of Health): Mr. Speaker, I verymuch appreciate my
honourable friend's continued support for theprocess of change in the health
care system of
Mr. Speaker, my honourable friend makes the case thatprogress to date has
been quite slow. I simply say that
that isa matter of perspective, because in fact I have been buffeted atrecent
occasions that the process is moving much too quickly bysome of those involved
in the shift of services from our teachinghospitals to the community. So I take my honourable
friend'sobservation seriously, but I would suggest to him that theprocess of
change is on target as we had announced May 14 in thetabling of our action plan
document.
The announcement 10 days ago of the 246 beds and theidentification of
those beds at our two teaching hospitalsinvolve a process of retirement from
service over the next fourmonths approximately, with replacement services being
enhanced inthree community hospitals and the concurrent provision
ofcommunity‑based services which my honourable friend I will sharewith him as
they are in place and as the beds are retired fromservice.
Mr.
Cheema: Mr. Speaker, the health care reform has
to succeed,because in this province and in this country we have no choicethan to
have the health care reform. The
question is that tohave that success, we have to have an alternate way of
services.
Can the minister tell this House exactly what new servicesare going to be
put in place to make sure those patients who aredisplaced will be provided care
in the community?
Mr.
Orchard: Mr. Speaker, depending on the type of
service beingprovided, the new services range from a reinforcement of
ourContinuing Care program, a reinforcement of mental health serviceprovision in
the community through enhancement to the crisisstabilization unit which is
proposed for early next year, anincrease in the number of mobile crisis team
individuals inservice to provide early intervention at the place of
residencerather than admission to an acute psychiatric
facility.
Those types of services, although new to the system, are notnew in
concept and build upon a success that we know is availablefrom a community‑based
services basis, the redirection of somemillion dollars from our departmental
expenditures in mentalhealth services three years ago to invest in
community‑basedsupports which we know work and will serve the system well as,for
instance, it changes to more community‑based,
orientatedservices.
Obstetric
Services
Mr. Gulzar Cheema (The
Maples): Mr. Speaker, one of the majorconcerns
from the parents as well as the physicians and the otherhealth care providers is
that when you are transferring servicesfrom the teaching hospital to a given
community hospital whatback‑up services for neonatal, for anesthesiology, for
emergencytransfers will be put in place to make sure, for people who needthese
services in their teaching hospital, they will beprovided? Finally, who will be paying for those
transfers?
Hon. Donald Orchard
(Minister of Health): Mr. Speaker, I presumemy honourable
friend is referring primarily to the issue ofobstetrics. I think there has been a substantial
amount of quiteopen discussion around the safety of obstetrics, both within
ourteaching hospital environment and in the three communityhospitals, the
Victoria, Grace and Misericordia.
Mr. Speaker, I can say it no more eloquently than theadministration of
The second piece of information that I know my honourablefriend will want
and I will share with him is the review of theLDRP program at
Mr. Speaker, the important point to remember here with
*
(1410)
Tourism
Promotion
Mr. Gregory Dewar
(Selkirk): Mr. Speaker, my question is for
theMinister of Industry, Trade and Tourism (Mr.
Stefanson).
It now appears that the
My question to the minister is:
What action is he preparedto take to promote the tourism industry in the
Hon. Albert Driedger
(Minister of Highways and Transportation):Mr. Speaker, I want to
indicate to the member that we are stillproceeding with negotiations with the
federal government in termsof seeing whether we can get a plan in place. The problem thatwe have faced as a
province is that Public Works Canada has notapprised us of all the information
that we require and certainlythat the merchants' association requires out
there.
We have ongoing meetings that are taking place as of todayand some more
following this week, and we will try and resolvethe issue.
Tourism
Promotion
Mr. Gregory Dewar
(Selkirk): Mr. Speaker, my question was to
theMinister of Industry, Trade and Tourism.
What is he prepared to do to help the tourism industry in
Hon. Eric Stefanson
(Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism):Mr. Speaker, obviously
the honourable member did not listen tothe answer from the Minister of Highways
as it relates to theprospect of the bridge closing.
In terms of particular programs that are available to theindividuals and
businesses in the
Mr. Dewar:
The government has already failed Selkirk
very, verymiserably, Mr. Speaker.
Bridge
Closure
Mr. Gregory Dewar
(Selkirk): Will this minister then demand,
incabinet, that his colleague the Minister of Highways (Mr.Driedger) meet soon
with the Minister of Public Works to resolvethis issue?
Hon. Albert Driedger
(Minister of Highways and Transportation):Mr. Speaker, not to
belittle the concern that the member has forhis constituents, but if he had
really checked this out, two ofmy colleagues, along with representatives from
the merchants'association, flew to
Mr. Speaker, further to that, I thought that the member mighthave gotten
up and sort of given accolades to my department fordoing the bridge job in his
town of
As we did with Selkirk, we will try and do with
Education
System
Program Reduction
Criteria
Ms. Avis Gray
(Crescentwood): Mr. Speaker, my question is forthe
Premier.
The throne speech said that education and training are thekeys to unlock
a world of opportunities and a future of economicgrowth and prosperity. Yesterday on a TV news program,
thePremier was justifying the proposed cuts to the Educationdepartment with the
argument that he had not cut anything inEducation for five years. Mr. Speaker, one can only assume
thatthis is the serious discussion that goes around the cabinet tablein
determining the priorities for cuts.
My question is straightforward.
What is the criteria thecabinet is using to determine which programs and
services will becut?
Hon. Gary Filmon
(Premier): Mr. Speaker, the‑‑[interjection] Iwonder
if the member for
Some Honourable
Members: Oh, oh.
Mr.
Speaker: Order, please.
Mr.
Filmon: Mr. Speaker, I am just trying to answer
thequestions. The members opposite
do not show a great deal ofrespect for their colleague and her question. It is a legitimatequestion, and I would
like to answer it.
The fact of the matter is that my response was that thisgovernment has
not cut in Education, that despite all of thestatements to the contrary by
members opposite we haveconsistently given increases to Education that are well
beyondincreases in inflation even, that we have consistently shown thatEducation
is a priority in our administration, and that when welook at serious financial
issues as we do with lowering transfersfrom
Nobody has suggested at this point that any figures that havebeen put out
in a speculative story are accurate, and trying toanswer a question based on
inaccurate speculation is not the wayto try and develop policy. So the point that I was making andthe
point that I will make is that until we come forward with atotal and complete
analysis and review of all governmentdepartments, it is very foolish to
speculate about cuts which arenot necessarily what the policy of this government
will be.
Mr. Speaker:
Time for Oral Questions has
expired.
NONPOLITICAL
STATEMENTS
Mr. Gulzar Cheema (The
Maples): Mr. Speaker, may I have leave tomake a
nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
December 1 is World AIDS Day.
Mr. Speaker, this year theWorld Health Organization has declared the
theme for the WorldDay, A Community Commitment, to stress the need for
communityaction in response to HIV infection and AIDS.
It was only 10 years ago when HIV infected about nine to 11million people
worldwide. Mr. Speaker, by the year
2000 at least30 to 40 million persons will be infected with HIV infection. Itis a very, very serious threat to the
health of all the nations.
Mr. Speaker, I would encourage all the members to getinvolved and do
whatever they can to make sure that this reallybecomes a community involvement
and make sure that the people whohave this disease and their families and their
friends and theirhealth care providers are given their due respect to make
surethat we can achieve the real commitment, and also that willjustify the team
for the WHO. Thank
you.
Ms. Judy
Wasylycia‑Leis (
Mr. Speaker, I too would like to acknowledge on behalf of ourcaucus that
today is World AIDS Day and ask all members to joinin publicly declaring our
resolve to increase public awarenessabout HIV and AIDS and to strengthen our
commitment to fightagainst this devastating epidemic.
The red ribbon I am wearing today, Mr. Speaker, is anacknowledgment of
today's special occasion, and it demonstrates acommitment to work with
caregivers, community organizations andpeople with AIDS. We know about the worldwide
figures. Here in
*
(1420)
Mr. Speaker, HIV and AIDS continue on an increasing basis toaffect people
of all ages from all walks of life and to haveprofound implications for
individuals, their families andfriends, communities and the full range of health
and humanservices.
Mr. Speaker, community commitment, the theme of World AIDSDay, is alive
and well here in