LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF
Wednesday, December 16,
1992
The House met at 1:30 p.m.
PRAYERS
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
PRESENTING PETITIONS
Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (
Mr. Speaker: I
have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Osborne (Mr.
Alcock). It complies with the privileges
and the practices of the House and complies with the rules (by leave). Is it the will of the House to have the
petition read? [agreed]
To the Legislature of the
WHEREAS each year smoke from stubble burning
descends upon the
WHEREAS the Parents Support Group of Children
with Asthma has long criticized the harmful effects of stubble burning; and
WHEREAS the smoke caused from stubble burning
is not healthy for the general public and tends to aggravate the problems of
asthma sufferers and people with chronic lung problems; and
WHEREAS alternative practices to stubble
burning are necessitated by the fact that the smoke can place some people in
life‑threatening situations; and
WHEREAS the 1987 Clean Environment Commission
Report on Public Hearings, "Investigation of Smoke Problems from
Agriculture Crop Residue and Peatland Burning," contained the
recommendation that a review of the crop residue burning situation be conducted
in five years time, including a re‑examination of the necessity for
legislated regulatory control.
THEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that
the Legislative Assembly will urge the government of
* (1335)
* * *
Mr. Speaker: I
have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Thompson (Mr.
Ashton). It complies with the privileges
and the practices of the House and complies with the rules. Is it the will of the House to have the
petition read? [agreed]
The petition of the undersigned citizens of
the
WHEREAS the provincial government has not
implemented the major recommendation of the Kopstein report which was to bring
in no‑fault auto insurance; and
WHEREAS over four years ago, the Kopstein
report found that if
WHEREAS over two years ago, a second
government report found that over $63 million could be saved if
WHEREAS the provincial cabinet this year after
being extensively lobbied, rejected a business plan that would have saved
WHEREAS the rates for auto insurance are now
being raised on average by 9.5 percent to 14.5 percent when the inflation is
less than 1.3 percent making this the highest actual increase in the history of
this province; and
WHEREAS one in five car drivers in this
province will now face increases of 13.5 percent; and
WHEREAS the provincial government has not
implemented other aspects of the implementation of the Kopstein report.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that
the Legislative Assembly of
* * *
Mr. Speaker: I
have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for the Maples (Mr.
Cheema). It complies with the privileges
and the practices of the House, and it complies with the rules. Is it the will of the House to have the
petition read? [agreed]
The petition of the undersigned residents of
the
WHEREAS the principles of health care, namely
the universality and comprehensiveness, should apply to the Pharmacare program;
and
WHEREAS the Pharmacare program's effectiveness
is being eroded; and
WHEREAS in the most recent round of delisting
of pharmaceuticals, approximately 200 have been delisted by the government of
WHEREAS the strict submission deadline for
Pharmacare receipts does not take into consideration extenuating circumstances
which may have affected some people; and
WHEREAS pharmaceutical refunds often take six
weeks to reach people; and
WHEREAS a health "smart card" would
provide information to reduce the risk of ordering drugs which interact or are
ineffective, could eliminate "double prescribing," and could also be
used to purchase pharmaceuticals on the Pharmacare program, thereby easing the
cash burden on purchasers.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that
the Legislative Assembly urge the government of
* * *
Mr. Speaker: I
have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for
To the Legislature of the
WHEREAS each year smoke from stubble burning
descends upon the
WHEREAS the Parents Support Group of Children
with Asthma has long criticized the harmful effects of stubble burning; and
WHEREAS the smoke caused from stubble burning
is not healthy for the general public and tends to aggravate the problems of
asthma sufferers and people with chronic lung problems; and
WHEREAS alternative practices to stubble
burning are necessitated by the fact that the smoke can place some people in
life‑threatening situations; and
WHEREAS the 1987 Clean Environment Commission
Report on Public Hearings, "Investigation of Smoke Problems from
Agriculture Crop Residue and Peatland Burning," contained the
recommendation that a review of the crop residue burning situation be conducted
in five years' time, including a re‑examination of the necessity for
legislated regulatory control.
THEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that
the Legislative Assembly will urge the government of
TABLING OF REPORTS
Mr. Speaker: I
am pleased to table the report of the Chief Electoral Officer on The Election
Finances Act 1991. Also, I am tabling
the Ombudsman's Annual Report dated 1991.
Hon. Darren Praznik (Minister of Labour): Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the Annual
Report for 1991‑92 of the Department of Labour.
Hon. James Downey (Minister of Energy and
Mines): Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the
Manitoba Energy Authority Tenth Annual Report for the year ended March 31,
1992, together with the Financial Statements for the 15 months ended June 30,
1992.
Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Consumer and
Corporate Affairs): Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the Report
on the Administration of the Rent Regulation Program for the fiscal year ended
March 31, 1992. As well, I would like to
table the
Hon. Bonnie Mitchelson (Minister of Culture,
Heritage and Citizenship): Mr. Speaker, it is
my pleasure to table the Annual Report for 1991 for The Freedom of Information
Act, the Annual Report 1991‑92 for the
Hon. Harry Enns (Minister of Natural Resources): Mr. Speaker, I would like to on this occasion
now table the annual report of Venture Manitoba Tours Ltd. Financial Statements
as at March 31, 1992 and 1991, together with the Auditor's Report.
Hon. Glen Findlay (Minister of Agriculture): Mr. Speaker, I would like to table two
reports: first, the Report of the
Agricultural Producers' Organization Certification Agency respecting the
determination of a certified organization; and secondly, a report from the same
agency respecting the maximum membership fee of the certified organization.
* (1340)
Hon. Jim Ernst (Minister of Urban Affairs): Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the Annual
Report '91‑92 of the Fiscal Stabilization Fund, the report under the
Financial Administration Act Relating to Supplementary Loan and Guarantee
Authority and the 1991‑92 Annual Report of The
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 15 visitors from
the Constable Development Program. They are under the direction of Mr. Brian
Norris. They are guests of the
honourable Minister of Justice (Mr. McCrae).
Also, this afternoon we have 18 adults from
the English Language Program from the
On behalf of all members, I would like to
welcome you here this afternoon.
ORAL QUESTION PERIOD
Immigrant Investor Fund
Application Approval
Process
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier
(Mr. Filmon).
Yesterday, in answers to questions, and in
past occasions on questions we have posed to the government on the Immigrant
Investor fund, the government has portrayed itself as removed from the process,
distant from the process, kind of a technical bystander to the process, and has
named the federal government and officials in their own department as the key
decision makers in the process.
I would like to ask the Premier directly: Are ministers of his government directly
involved in various projects that are before the federal government for
immigrant investment projects for the
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Industry, Trade
and Tourism): Mr.
Speaker, yesterday in some detail, both inside and outside of this House, I
outlined the procedure for the approval of Immigrant Investor Programs, whether
they are a project specific fund or a syndicated fund.
As I outlined yesterday, the fund request
originally came in to the provincial government. All of the necessary information is attached,
draft prospectuses, financial information, business plans and so on. Our administration reviews that. If they make a positive recommendation, that
then goes forward to the federal government, then they do their analysis and
they have the final authority to decide whether or not a fund is in fact
approved or not approved. They can
either accept the recommendation and approve it or they have the authority to
reject it, because they have all of the ultimate clout in terms of the issuing
of the visas and the necessary regulations and control on the ultimate plan.
So we make a recommendation; if it is positive
that is the process. If it is negative, it
goes back into the system and the people making the application deal with any
concerns. If they can address them, they
can bring it forward again.
Mr. Doer:
Mr.
Speaker, the minister and the Premier did not answer the question again, as
they did not answer on six occasions yesterday.
Immigrant Investor Fund
Application Approval
Process
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Mr. Speaker, I have a copy of the letter from
one Mr. Ernst, the minister responsible for Industry, Trade and Tourism, to one
Honourable Barbara McDougall, on February 6, 1991, wherein the minister asks
the federal government, and I would quote, the
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the
Premier: What is the involvement of his
cabinet ministers in the Immigrant Investor fund. He is carbon copied on this letter. This letter was written and carbon copied to
the Premier before he answered questions in the House in his own Estimates
saying, oh, we are not involved in this, the cabinet is not involved.
I would like to know the direct political
involvement of the Conservative government.
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Mr. Speaker, the member opposite seems not to
want to understand or listen to the response of the Minister of Industry, Trade
and Tourism (Mr. Stefanson). He said
precisely that. He said it is reviewed
by the department as to the job creation benefits for the
Immigrant Investor Fund
Review
Terms of Reference
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Mr. Speaker, a final question to the Premier.
Mr. Speaker, the government has had two
different reviews that they have announced publicly and now they are on their
third review, a so‑called internal audit, that they have commissioned under
the Immigrant Investor fund. We would
like those terms of reference tabled.
Do the terms of reference include the
political decision making in the Filmon government at the deputy minister level
and the ministerial level? Has that
audit been completed yet? Has it been
forwarded to the Attorney General's department yet, and will we see an expanded
terms of reference dealing with the political involvement of the Filmon
government in this process?
* (1345)
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Industry, Trade
and Tourism): Mr.
Speaker, I outlined yesterday in this House, the current audit that is in
process by an independent public accounting firm, a reputable firm here in
But I do take exception, Mr. Speaker, to once
again the approach and style of the Leader of the Opposition in terms of the
kinds of innuendoes and suggestions he makes about political interference in a
program that we have put in place regulations and guidelines to address when it
was introduced in 1986 when the Leader of the Opposition was part of a
government when it was introduced. They
did not bring in any rules and regulations to deal with it. They did not show any concern about this
particular program. We put in the
regulations to address potential problems.
Health Care System
Reform
Dr. Connie Curran
Contract
Ms. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (St. Johns): Mr. Speaker, according to December 7
documents entitled Health Reform Update in which very specific details are
enclosed about this Minister of Health's contract and contractual arrangements
with one person by the name of Connie Curran with a firm called APM
Consultants, according to documents provided by this own minister, the goal of
APM associates is to help clients create the best market positions and
defensible competitive advantages for their clients and later on in the
document says, we will do whatever it takes for our clients.
I would like to ask the Minister of
Health: What is the value of the
contract with Connie Curran and APM Consultants? Will he table the contract
with this firm and tell us why a Manitoban or Canadian organization was not
qualified to assist this government on health care reform issues?
Hon. Donald Orchard (Minister of Health): Mr. Speaker, I am quite pleased my honourable
friend is posing this question. The
individual who is referenced in my honourable friend's question is Dr. Connie
Curran who by all reports is probably the pre‑eminent nursing specialist
in
Now, Mr. Speaker, I simply want to tell my
honourable friend how the province first came to know of Dr. Curran and her
credibility in the nursing profession in the
It is nurses in
Ms. Wasylycia-Leis: Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the Minister of
Health why he has employed an American firm located in
Mr. Speaker:
Order, please.
* (1350)
Mr. Orchard: Mr. Speaker, I will provide my honourable friend
with those details when they are concluded because that is exactly the nature
of Dr. Curran's presence in
I sense from my honourable friend's question
(a) that there is something the matter with Dr. Curran, not because of the
knowledge she can bring, but by the fact that she is American, and I find that
offensive.
I further find it offensive that my honourable
friend the New Democratic Health care critic would find fault with a
recommendation and with an endorsement by nurses in
Ms. Wasylycia-Leis: My question, Mr. Speaker, is why this
government has chosen to work very closely with a firm whose bottom line is to
create competitive advantage to turn our hospital system into a market‑driven
system. It is the Americanization of our
system, and I want to ask the Minister of Health why he has chosen to do this
major consulting work with an American firm when in fact the
Mr. Speaker:
Order, please.
Mr. Orchard:
Sir, for the third time, I want to indicate to my honourable friend that
despite the fact that the member for St. Johns, as the New Democratic Party
Health critic, does not believe Dr. Curran has the credentials to provide
advice, to provide us with information on how nursing's role can be enhanced in
the Canadian health care system, in the
Mr. Speaker:
Order, please.
Education System Reform
Advisory Board
Ms. Avis Gray (Crescentwood): Mr. Speaker, teachers, students, parents and
school trustees are anxious that there be educational reform in
Can the minister tell this House why the
advisory board has not met since 1989, and why is the law being ignored?
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Education and
Training): Mr. Speaker, yes, there is an advisory board
which may be active for the minister. However,
I think the important point for me to make to my honourable friend and to
Manitobans is that a wide variety of Manitobans have wanted to be involved in
the educational reform process and in particular, parents have asked to be a
part of that process as well as educational stakeholders, business, industry
and labour, and so our reform process will make sure and include all Manitobans
who have expressed this interest.
Framework Tabling
Request
Ms. Avis Gray (Crescentwood): Mr. Speaker, can the minister then table a
document which will outline the framework as to what this educational reform
will consist of, and will she be using such established groups as the advisory
boards?
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Education and
Training): Mr. Speaker, our process of reform is one in
which some very central ideas have been put forward in the throne speech. However, one thing that Manitobans and
particularly stakeholders in education including business, industry, labour and
parents have asked is that they be in on the details of the process and that a
process not then be imposed upon them, a fully developed process then given to
Manitobans. Instead they have asked to
be a part of the process.
Ms. Gray: Mr. Speaker, members of The Manitoba Teachers'
Society, school trustees, and other organizations do not feel that the throne
speech, that document, gives them enough information on educational reform.
Is the Minister today prepared to table a
document which will outline to these groups what her framework is, the reform,
how it will take place, so that in fact these people can then give their ideas
to the minister so that the process will be a success, which is the goal for
all‑‑
* (1355)
Mr. Speaker:
Order, please.
Mrs. Vodrey:
Mr. Speaker, of course, a meeting has already taken place. A meeting took place the day after the throne
speech with representative members of all of those organizations to make sure
that those organizations had a chance to begin an exchange of ideas and a flow
of ideas to begin to answer questions, put questions on the table as they
arose.
So, Mr. Speaker, I think it is very important
for the member to know that process of consultation has already begun and began
immediately following the throne speech.
Labour Force Development
Minister's Comments
Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the Minister of
Education why she misled the House on December 3, when she explicitly denied,
following the
I want to table, Mr. Speaker, a memo of
October 30 where the Deputy Minister of Education and Training committed to
make an interim agreement with
Mr. Speaker, whom do we believe, the minister
in the House or her deputy minister acting with
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Education and
Training): Mr. Speaker, an important feature that
Government Commitment
Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Mr. Speaker, will the minister now, in the
midst of the worst recession since the 1930s, make a commitment to developing a
labour force development agreement with
It has been three years, Mr. Speaker, that
this government has given lost years to Manitobans.
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Education and
Training): Mr. Speaker, I can tell the member that, very
personally as minister, I have been working very hard over this past week to
bring some closure to the signing of that document. I look forward to be able to sign it in the
near future. Within that document, I
look for representation of Manitobans on the board, but the member seems to
have not completely understood that the signing of the document is one part and
the setting up of the board is done in co‑ordination with the Canada
Labour Force Development Board. That is somewhat different.
Manitoba Public
Insurance Corporation
No-Fault Insurance
Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East): Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the
minister responsible for increasing Autopac rates in
Mr. Speaker, the past year, MPIC lost over $25
million, largely as a result of increases in bodily injury claims of
approximately $33 million. Before we sit
again next year, there will be thousands of very unhappy Manitobans facing
heavy increases in their Autopac premiums.
Will this minister finally change his position
and take steps now to implement the no fault system strongly recommended by
Judge Kopstein, which offers MPIC the greatest opportunity to reduce costs and
also increase benefits?
Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister charged with the
administration of The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act): Mr. Speaker, let the member not leave the
impression on the record that he did not involve politically the setting of the
rates back four years ago. That has now
been turned over to the Public Utilities Board, so it is done in a public
fashion. The losses occurred as a result
of bodily injury claims and a rather dramatic increase in hailstorm and
accidents as a result of very treacherous driving conditions, but the major
portion of that loss is driven by increased bodily injury claims.
I suggest that the member also might wonder
how happy those people who received those settlements would be if they were
unavailable.
* (1400)
Agents' Fees
Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East): Mr. Speaker, regrettably, the minister did
not address the question. The Kopstein
report recommendation has to be implemented.
When are we going to get some action from this
minister? Let me ask him though
specifically‑‑one small step:
Will this minister reconsider and now allow MPIC to cap insurance
brokers' fees at 3 percent and save at least a million dollars in Autopac
hikes? How about some tangible‑‑
Mr. Speaker: Order, please.
Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister charged with the
administration of The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act): The second bench is going to applaud that.
Mr. Speaker, the corporation is actively
pursuing all avenues of containing its costs.
When we compare the costs across the country and the motorists of this
province look at the relationship between Autopac insurance and the cost of
insurance in many of the other jurisdictions, we are still within a reasonably
competitive range, but the fact is, the corporation is moving into the rate‑setting
period for the coming year, and they will be taking measures to contain their
costs.
Sex Offender Program
Mr. Paul Edwards (St. James): Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister
of Justice.
Mr. Speaker, approximately three weeks ago,
the Department of Justice effectively cancelled the sex offender program at
Agassiz Youth Centre in
Mr. Speaker, my question: Given that the only other sex offender
program is at Manitoba Youth Centre, which is presently overcapacitated and has
too many to handle in that program, where are the 24 young offenders, who have
already been assessed as requiring that therapy, going to get the therapy now
that the program has been cancelled at Agassiz Youth Centre in
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Justice and
Attorney General): As usual, Mr. Speaker, with a question of
this nature and coming from where it is, I shall ascertain the veracity of the
preamble to the honourable member's question.
Mr. Edwards:
Mr. Speaker, I am sure the people of
In any event, let me ask the minister if he
has received any assurance or opinion from the federal Solicitor General
responsible for the Young Offenders Act as to whether or not he is even legally
allowed to have both open and secure custody offenders in the same cottage now
that that program has been cancelled, because the only way that they were
allowed to do that previously was because they had the program. Now that there is no program, there is no
distinction in how those offenders are being treated in that cottage. Yet, the judge has‑‑
Mr. Speaker:
Order, please. The honourable
member has put his question.
Mr. McCrae: It
is completely understandable that the honourable member would like to have an
answer to a question in this regard, because the issue of violent offenders is
one that this government views very seriously.
The honourable member knows that the federal
corrections people, supported by myself, have taken a position that violent
offenders ought to be treated somewhat differently from the other kind of
offenders, the property offenders. So I
think it is quite consistent with this government's program respecting zero
tolerance, not only in relation to violence generally, but sexual violence as
well.
So the honourable member's question may indeed
have some elements of truth in it, and if it does, then I will be pleased to
ascertain that and answer the honourable member's question.
Mr. Edwards:
My final question for the minister, Mr. Speaker. Prior to cancelling the
program at
Mr. McCrae:
This question will also be answered when I answer the other ones, Mr.
Speaker.
Indigenous Women's
Collective
Funding
Mr. George Hickes (Point Douglas): Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister
for Native Affairs.
On August 27 of 1991, the minister announced
that his government was going to be providing $70,000 in funding to the
Indigenous Women's Collective. The
minister stated his government's commitment that quote, native people and
native women especially should have an organization that serves as an effective
unifying force within the community.
Is this government still committed to this
objective of providing
Hon. James Downey (Minister responsible for
Native Affairs): Mr. Speaker, unlike the New Democratic Party
that preceded us, where they got absolutely nothing, we, in the budgetary
process, will give fair consideration to all groups.
Mr. Hickes:
Mr. Speaker, that fair consideration that the minister is stating, I
will table a letter that he has written to the organization which clearly shows
that their funding is in jeopardy.
Mr. Speaker, when you announce a program
speaking to the future on one hand and then on the other hand start cutting off
the funding‑‑so could the Minister of Native Affairs confirm to the
House that the full funding will be there for the organization?
Mr. Downey:
Mr. Speaker, I am sure the member would appreciate there is a process
that has to be gone through as it relates to the development of budgets for
next year's expenditures, and details of those decisions will be answered when
it comes to the Estimates process of next year.
Mr. Speaker, I think it is fair that this
government approached it in an open and honest way, that we have got a
situation where our revenues basically have not increased for the
Gross Revenue Insurance
Plan
Interest Charges
Mr. John Plohman (Dauphin): Mr. Speaker, as we approach the end of this
year, farmers continue to be in difficult financial straits in this province,
yet this Minister of Agriculture is still charging farmers over 8 percent on
unpaid premiums on GRIP and crop insurance even while this minister continues
to owe those same farmers millions of dollars in initial GRIP payments, and he
is not paying interest on those unpaid GRIP payments that are coming to the
farmer.
I want to ask the Minister of
Agriculture: Will he now do the right thing,
stop this insensitivity and unfairness by this minister and immediately stop
charging interest to these farmers while he continues to owe them millions of
dollars in GRIP payments?
Hon. Glen Findlay (Minister of Agriculture): Mr. Speaker, that member fails to realize we
are talking about a joint federal‑provincial program. Two or three months ago, I wrote the federal
minister if we could have a consideration for not charging interest during this
period of time. He reported back, said
no.
Mr. Plohman:
This minister cannot get any results with the federal government and for
himself.
I want to ask this minister: Will he now ensure that this GRIP payment is
made immediately so that this interest charge that he is making on farmers
right now will not eat away as it is doing right now on these GRIP payments
that are coming to farmers.
Mr. Findlay:
Mr. Speaker, it is rather interesting.
This member spoke against GRIP; he hated GRIP. He said it is no good, the farmers of
The cheques have started to go into the mail
early this week if not late last week.
Those cheques, those interim cheques are on the way, and they will be
receiving many of them before the end of this year.
Sunday Shopping
Public Hearings
Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (
I want to ask the minister responsible: Are we going to have a vote on this bill
today? Is this government going to
proceed to public hearings across rural
Mr. Speaker:
Order, please.
* (1410)
Point of Order
Hon. Jim Ernst (Acting Government House Leader): Mr. Speaker, the question is out of
order. The question is a matter of House
business; it will be dealt with by House leaders later today.
Mr. Steve Ashton (Opposition House Leader): If the minister is raising this as a point of
order, Mr. Speaker, the minister should be aware that it is quite common to ask
questions. In fact, we have been asking,
since this bill was tabled, whether this government would have the courage to
take this bill to public hearings throughout the
Mr. Speaker:
We have consistently said that matters dealing with House business
should be dealt with by House leaders, so I would ask the honourable member for
* * *
Ms. Wowchuk:
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the minister responsible for the
legislation on Sunday shopping whether or not we are going to have public
hearings in rural
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Industry, Trade
and Tourism): In
response to the question, Mr. Speaker, that bill will be called later today, I
understand. We have a process here, as
part of our parliamentary process, in terms of committees which we have,
amongst the most open process in all of
Unemployed Help Centre
Funding
Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): Mr. Speaker, in the throne speech only a few
short weeks ago, the government made no recognition of the serious situation in
terms of jobs in this province. Since
that time, we have had the action of the federal government on unemployment
insurance, which according to statistics we have obtained, will result in 183
I would like to ask the First Minister whether
he has raised this matter with the federal government in this horrendous attack
on working people, more specifically, whether he will now reinstate, as both
opposition parties have been saying repeatedly for the last three years, the
funding for the unemployed help centres, to at least have someone in there
fighting on behalf of working Manitobans.
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Even since the throne speech, there have been
a number of announcements that have been positive announcements with respect to
job creation in
Mr. Speaker:
Order, please.
Point of Order
Mr. Steve Ashton (Opposition House Leader): Mr. Speaker, I realize that the government is allowed to filibuster its own bills, but it is not allowed to filibuster Question Period. I asked a specific question about unemployment insurance and about the government reinstating unemployed help centre funding.