LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF
Friday, March 12, 1993
The House met at 10 a.m.
PRAYERS
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
Mr. Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for The
Maples (Mr. Cheema), and 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?
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
TABLING OF REPORTS
Hon. Bonnie Mitchelson (Minister of
Culture, Heritage and Citizenship): Mr. Speaker, I would like to table
the report from the Manitoba Arts Council for the year 1991‑1992.
Hon. Glen Findlay (Minister of
Agriculture): I would like to table the Annual Report of
Manitoba Agriculture 1991‑92.
Mr. Speaker: I am also tabling the statutory report of the
Chief Electoral Officer on the conduct of the September 15, 1992, by‑elections
in the electoral divisions of Crescentwood and
ORAL QUESTION PERIOD
North American Free Trade Agreement
Government Action
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition):
Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Deputy
Premier.
We have been concerned on
this side about the proposed and signed, initialled, Canada‑U.S.‑Mexico
Free Trade Agreement for some time.
We know this will affect jobs
in the apparel industry in
If the Minister of Health
wants to give us honest answers in this House, it would be better than his
statement.
I withdraw my comments.
Mr. Speaker:
I would like to thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition.
Mr. Doer: Mr. Speaker, NAFTA is a very important issue to this
province. The labour standards issue has
been raised and opposed by this provincial government. The lack of any environmental standards has
been raised and opposed by this Conservative government, yet we see the federal
Conservative government planning on passing and ratifying the NAFTA agreement. At the same time, the American trade
representative, Mickey Kantor, the trade secretary, is saying they are not
going to pass it in its present form.
The many Congress people of the
I would like to ask the
government: What action is it going to
take to stop the federal Conservative party from passing an agreement that may
not even be an agreement and certainly is not an agreement in terms of the best
interests of
* (1005)
Hon. James Downey (Deputy
Premier): Mr. Speaker, I find it somewhat
strange that the Leader of the opposition party, in his questioning and concern
about dealing with
Until the negotiations on
labour and environmental standards are dealt with and enforced and adjustment
programs are put in place as far as the labour force is concerned, this
province's position has been one of not agreeing to proceed until those factors
are looked after, Mr. Speaker. That has
been our position. We have tabled a
document which clearly expresses the position of this government, and it
stands.
Mr. Doer: I ask the government what action it would take to put into
play the document that they tabled in this House.
Mr. Speaker, we now have a
situation where the federal Conservative Party of Canada, under the guise of
the federal government, is going to proceed to ratify a trade agreement on the
basis of electoral considerations to try to get this issue behind them before
June.
Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker,
at the same time‑‑or fortunately, in my belief‑‑the
Mr. Speaker, what action is
this Conservative government going to take to get the federal Conservative
government to stop their electoral timetable and oppose this trade agreement
for Manitobans and stop them passing this agreement and ratifying it by June of
1993?
Mr. Downey:
Mr. Speaker, unlike the New Democratic Party which is all over the map
when it comes to trading and political posturing for their own political
benefit‑‑I want them to get sincere‑‑this government's
position is consistent. It has been put
forward in a consistent, well‑thought‑out and planned manner. There has been ongoing communication and
discussion with the federal government.
They well know our position, and if there are further activities that
are going to be taken, I will report them to the member.
Mr. Speaker, it is my
understanding as well that the Industry and Trade ministers will be meeting in
the near future to discuss some of the issues which are on the minds of those
individuals.
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Mr. Doer: Mr. Speaker, we are proud of the fact that the
member for Brandon East (Mr. Leonard Evans) saved the privatization and sale of
McKenzie Seeds when Sterling Lyon and that minister were part of the government
in 1978.
Mr. Speaker, it is hard for
us to take lectures from the Deputy Premier opposite when on the one hand he says
he is opposed to the Tory federal trade agenda and on the other hand he breaks
bread with the Prime Minister at Tory fundraising events.
Motor Coach Industries
Job Relocation
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the
Opposition): Mr. Speaker, there is a parent company that is
now holding the shares in Motor Coach Industries, that has bought a new plant
in
Can the government advise us
of the status of that change in investment with the parent company and the
status of those very, very important manufacturing jobs in the
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of
Industry, Trade and Tourism): Mr. Speaker, we are in ongoing contact with Motor
Coach. There is nothing to substantiate
any suggestion that jobs will be transferred out of
They do have an investment
proceeding on urban bus manufacturing, I believe, in
Mr. Speaker, we have
absolutely no indication that the decision of Motor Coach and the parent
company to make an investment in
* (1010)
Consolidation of Health Services
Justification
Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Mr. Speaker, for some time, we on this side of
the House have been critical of what the government is doing regarding
children's services at hospitals. Not
only are we hearing different statements from the minister, but different
statements from his own department.
Today another doctor went
public with his concerns about the minister's handling of children's services.
Can this minister table the
studies that justify his decision to move all children's services to one
hospital, and to justify his claim that it will improve the care of children
and decrease costs?
Hon. Donald Orchard (Minister of
Health): Mr. Speaker, yes, I can provide my
honourable friend with a number of the discussions that have taken place. First of all, my honourable friend might
recall that the Urban Hospital Council, which represents all of the hospitals
in
My honourable friend maybe
plays a little quick with his allegations as to what is behind the decision
making. This decision was not taken
lightly. It was recommended and agreed
to at the Urban Hospital Council, No. 1.
Number 2, my honourable
friend might do himself very well to speak to the head of Children's Hospital,
Dr. Aggie Bishop, and understand the kind of development around program to make
this consolidation happen.
Furthermore, my honourable
friend might try to avoid confounding his researchers who immediately start to
question what he says publicly when he says that St. Boniface Hospital will
close completely to children, which is the kind of allegation that leads to
phone calls in my office to understand what is going on and confusion in the
general public.
Before my honourable friend
makes accusations which are not accurate, which do a disservice to children and
their families, maybe he should take time to talk to Dr. Agnes Bishop, head of
Children's Hospital, to understand how the program can and will work.
Mr. Chomiak: Mr. Speaker, I guess responsibility for these decisions has
been abdicated to Agnes Bishop over at Children's Hospital.
Mr. Speaker, the minister's
own interim urban council recommended that the pediatrics at St. Boniface stay
open. Why is the minister consolidating
all children's care to Children's Hospital when
Mr. Orchard: Mr. Speaker, I cannot answer for those cities,
other than the fact that they may not have the opportunity, the size and the
excellence of facility that we have in
Mr. Speaker, my honourable
friend very quickly said an interim report from the Urban Hospital Council
recommended the potential for certain beds to remain at St. Boniface General
Hospital. What my honourable friend did
not mention to those who are listening is that the final recommendation of the
Urban Hospital Council was to make a complete consolidation, and that
recommendation was made at the end of November last year and duly announced.
If my honourable friend wants
to talk about interim recommendations, maybe my honourable friend would have the
integrity to deal with the final recommendation, which was, Sir, complete
consolidation.
Mr. Chomiak:
I would like to ask the minister how he can justify moving surgery beds
from community hospitals which by the minister's own action health plan cost in
the neighbourhood of $400 per day, to the Health Sciences Centre which by the
minister's own action plan cost over $700 a day. How is that justified on an economic basis,
or should I phone Aggie Bishop to find that out?
Mr. Orchard: Mr. Speaker, my honourable friend would certainly be a lot
wiser on the issue than he has been if he did phone Dr. Bishop. I know that my honourable friend is fearful
of change, fearful of facts and fearful of opportunity to make the system
better.
Mr. Speaker, let me deal with
my honourable friend's concern about costs in terms of this circumstance,
because it seems as if now my honourable friend is fixed on costs. It has been he has tried to make a case on
quality of care which cannot be made; now he seems to be switching to costs.
Mr. Speaker, over the 10
years that Children's Hospital has been operating, significant levels of
service have moved from the community hospitals to Children's Hospital because
of excellence of program. It has left the
circumstance where you have children's wings in a number of our hospitals
occupied at 35 percent and less. That,
Sir, is not an effective use of program resource, nor the opportunity to
promote program excellence. Both cases are being met in this circumstance. My honourable friend would do himself well to
stop misleading the public on this and get on with the reform and change‑‑
Mr. Speaker: Order, please.
* (1015)
Clinician Hiring School Division Costs
Ms. Avis Gray (Crescentwood): Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister
of Education. In this House the minister
stated that, and I quote: Through our
funding formula we will provide both the operating and the administrative costs
for school divisions to hire clinicians.
She has also stated in this
House, and I quote: We have ongoing
discussions on a regular basis with school divisions across this province.
Can the minister tell this
House, has she consulted with rural and northern school divisions to determine
what the actual costs are to hire these clinicians, or is she just guessing?
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of
Education and Training): Mr. Speaker, we provide through
our funding formula an element of fairness across this province, so through our
funding formula, we have provided an enhanced grant for clinician
services. The grant was enhanced one
year ago when the new school funding formula came into place, and it does
provide fairness across the province.
Formal Consultations
Ms. Avis Gray (Crescentwood): Mr. Speaker, with another question for the
Minister of Education: Her idea of
fairness is $45,000 which will not cover the cost of hiring clinicians.
Can the minister tell this
House, why do the school divisions indicate to us that formal consultations
have not occurred with the minister or her staff?
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of
Education and Training): Mr. Speaker, I can say to the
member, in all meetings with school divisions, agendas are prepared. School divisions are free to raise issues
that are important within their school divisions, as we in government are also
able to bring forward agendas to discuss with school divisions.
We do discuss issues which
are of concern and are of interest.
Those meetings do take place as requested, and also during visits that I
make on behalf of this government to school divisions across this province.
Ms. Gray:
Mr. Speaker, this minister is not taking a leadership role when in fact
she is only meeting with school divisions after it is requested. She should be out there initiating the
meetings.
Department of Education
Reform Philosophy
Ms. Avis Gray (Crescentwood): Can the minister tell us and give us an answer
which is not contradictory, as we have seen in the past from this minister,
what exactly is her reform philosophy? Can she let us know? Manitobans want to know, and we want to know.
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of
Education and Training): Mr. Speaker, I guess the honourable
member has not had the time to follow me around to see the number of divisions
that I have gone out to visit and have made a point of going to visit and not
wait for a request for the divisions to come in to see me. The philosophy of this government is that we
do not just have to wait for people to come in here into our offices. In fact, the ministers in this government,
and in Education, go out and visit with school divisions in the field.
On those visits, one of the
areas of discussion is the issue of education reform. The process of education reform for this
government has been based on consultation.
It has been based on discussion through those visits where school
divisions raise their issues of concern, where they would like to see the
reform, school divisions as trustees, teachers and parents.
* (1020)
Breast Cancer Screening
Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East):
I have a question for the Minister of Health.
Mrs. Margaret Borotsik of
She has asked me to present
these to the Minister of Health. I would ask the Page at this time if the Page
would deliver this material, plus the letter to the Minister of Health from
Mrs. Margaret Borotsik.
In the name of fairness, will
the minister now agree to the request of these concerned women and provide what
amounts to a relatively modest increase in the
Hon. Donald Orchard (Minister of
Health): Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased my
honourable friend has posed this question, because if we were to go back two
and a half to three years ago, one would have recalled from a throne speech
that we intended, as government, to bring into the
Let me differentiate between
screening program as a method of early detection versus diagnostic mammography,
which is an investigative test where a physician makes the assessment that a
woman may be at risk or may need to have a mammography to determine whether in
fact there is the presence or the risk of breast cancer.
Mr. Speaker, the issue was
turned over to an expert committee in
That committee came back
recommending to the province‑‑and it was accepted by my honourable
friends in the New Democratic Party‑‑that we should proceed with
caution and not implement province‑wide screening because of conflicting
national and international investigation and researches to the benefit and to
the potential risk of screening mammography.
That caution we have taken,
but I want to reinforce to my honourable friend and to those women in
What we are talking about
here is routine screening which originally we were recommending once every two
years, Sir, not once every seven months as my honourable friend alleges the
waiting list to be.
Mr. Evans:
Mr. Speaker, this routine screening that the minister talks about is
still done at the request and on the basis of a doctor's recommendation for the
woman to have an elective mammography test.
So, my question is to the
minister. In all fairness, why is the
minister denying women in the Westman area of this province a level of service
that is available now to the women in the
Mr. Orchard:
With all due respect to my honourable friend, any woman under a
physician's care in the Westman region can receive a mammography if the
physician considers her health to be at risk, within days, not the waiting
period of time.
What my honourable friend is
referring to is women who are put on an elective list for a routine screening,
a substantial difference from trying to determine whether a woman has a problem
which may involve cancer of the breast.
There is a significant difference, and, Sir, the waiting list that
exists in
To date we have absolutely no
evidence that there is any risk to women who need a diagnostic mammography as
recommended by a physician. It does not
exist, Sir‑‑
Mr. Speaker: Order, please.
Mr. Leonard Evans: Well, I would refer the honourable minister
to Dr. Kindle who has evidence to the contrary.
I admit that this is a very‑‑
Mr. Speaker: Order, please.
I would remind the honourable member for Brandon East (Mr. Leonard
Evans), this is not a time for debate.
The honourable member for Brandon East with his question.
Mr. Evans:
Let the minister answer this:
What criteria is the minister using to maintain the level‑‑you
are maintaining this service that you think is not necessary. It is being maintained in the
What criteria are you‑‑
Mr. Speaker:
Order, please. The honourable
member has put his question.
Mr. Orchard: My honourable friend is touching upon an issue which causes
a great amount of concern and fear to women.
Women hear television ads from the
National study after national
study has cautioned governments about no benefit on screening mammography, and
in fact some studies have demonstrated a risk.
Now my honourable friend should surely read those studies before he now
makes the case that we are putting women at risk in western
Now, Mr. Speaker, I want to
tell another side of this story‑‑
Mr. Speaker: Order, please.
* (1025)
Unlicensed Wheat Varieties
Coverage Policy
Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (
Mr. Speaker, I want to ask
the Minister of Agriculture to tell us whether he is going to change the
coverage on unlicensed wheat varieties or whether he is going to cancel the
coverages on these varieties of wheat that are not licensed.
Hon. Glen Findlay (Minister of
Agriculture): Well, I have to assume what the
member is talking about. She is talking
about unlicensed wheat variety coverage under what?
An Honourable Member:
GRIP.
Mr. Findlay: Okay, okay.
I would ask the member to be careful when she writes her question that
she puts the whole facts out.
I would like to tell the
member that because of the openness of this government and the openness of this
minister, a meeting was held at
Ms. Wowchuk: Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the minister
whether these varieties, which are illegal varieties, they are not licensed,
are going to be covered under GRIP.
These are the varieties that are lowering our standards around the
world, a reputation that
Mr. Findlay:
Mr. Speaker, for years and years, Manitoba Crop Insurance board, by
board order, determined what varieties will be covered year in and year out,
and that process has not changed one iota.
All the appropriate decisions have been made, and yes, unlicensed
varieties, certain varieties, will be covered as they have been for years by
board order. They are designated feed
wheat varieties that play a very important role in terms of supplying feed
wheat to the people who are in the livestock business in this province. I wish she would wake up and understand what
is really going on.
Ms. Wowchuk: Mr. Speaker, it appears that the minister is not concerned
about our reputation around the world on milling wheat.
Meeting Confirmation
Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Mr. Speaker: Order, please.
Hon. Glen Findlay (Minister of
Agriculture): Mr. Speaker, it will take half an
hour to answer all the ambiguities and misinformation that member has put on
the record. She totally disregards the
livestock industry in this province, which is the major element of income for
farmers in this province. She totally
disregards them. She says we should not
grow grain to supply that market. The
biggest market for people who grow feed grains in this province is the
livestock industry; she wants to throw them out.
She names
Personal Care Homes
Quality of Health Care
Hon. Donald Orchard (Minister of
Health): Mr. Speaker, yesterday I took a question from
the member for The Maples regarding some layoff notices at Central Park
Lodge. I would like to provide my
honourable friend in the House with information that I have received on the
issue.
I am informed that the
administration of Central Park Lodge issued layoff notices to 25 registered
nurses, three full time, 14 part time and eight casual, and have indicated that
there will be a new staffing mix instituted at Central Park Lodge which will
involve three full‑time registered nurses, three part‑time
registered nurses, four full‑time licensed practical nurses, four part‑time
licensed practical nurses and three part‑ or full‑time nursing aide
positions with the opportunity that they meet the staffing mix criteria of the
Ministry of Health.
The advantage to patient care
of this change in mix at Central Park Lodge is that, in fact, residents of that
facility will receive 2,600 hours more hands‑on care per year, seven
hours per day, for greater, not lesser, involvement with the patients by staff,
Sir.
* (1030)
Centralization of Health Services
Government Policy
Mr. Gulzar Cheema (The Maples): Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health.
Part of this minister's
health reform package has been the decentralization of services, and we believe
that decentralization of services is a necessity to improve the efficiency in
the system and spend our health care dollar more effectively. Can the Minister of Health tell this House
whether decentralization of services is still the policy of this
administration?
Hon. Donald Orchard (Minister of
Health): Mr. Speaker, decentralization of services is,
yes, a part of the restructuring and reform process in the health care
system. There are several agendas which,
of course, are as well part of the reform and restructuring process, such as
the concept of centres of excellence in terms of our
A third area, Sir, that my
honourable friend I know was interested in, that we hoped to see some progress
on this year is, of course, the movement of services from, say, the urban
environment of
Mr. Cheema: Mr. Speaker, we have learned that the cytology
work from the Manitoba Clinic is being sent to a private lab instead of the Health
Sciences Centre. Can the Minister of
Health explain how this fits with this policy of centralization of services?
Mr. Orchard: Mr. Speaker, I have to take that question as
notice because I am not aware of the details of the program. I will provide him with those kinds of
details.
Mr. Cheema: Mr. Speaker, the Health Sciences Centre has
been providing these cytology and Pap smear services in their centre of
excellence. Can the minister tell this
House, once he has inquired about this situation, will he reverse that decision
to make sure that the policy is consistent with the health care package?
Mr. Orchard: Mr. Speaker, I cannot give my honourable
friend either a yes or no answer to that until I know the details of this
particular test shift as indicated by my honourable friend and the rationale
behind it. I will say to my honourable
friend that I hope to be able to provide him with that kind of detail on
Monday.
Tourism Promotion
Mr. Gregory Dewar (Selkirk): As members of the Legislature are aware, the
Mr. Speaker, my question is
to the Minister of Tourism. Has he
reconsidered his position on tourism promotion in the
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of
Industry, Trade and Tourism): Mr. Speaker, at the outset there was no reconsideration of
any position by this minister or this government. We have a request from the community to
support some tourism initiatives in the
We met with them on the
issue. We are looking at the kinds of
things we can do and most likely will end up jointly supporting an initiative
in the tourism area to promote that aspect of their economy.
Mr. Dewar: I would thank the minister for responding
positively to my request for tourism promotion.
Ferry Proposal
Mr. Gregory Dewar (Selkirk): My next question is to the Minister of Highways.
Since the deadline for
tenders of reconstruction of the bridge is the end of this month, and there is
a possibility that the winter road will close at any time, is the minister
prepared to assist with putting a temporary ferry to link east Lockport and
west
Hon. Albert Driedger (Minister of
Highways and Transportation): Mr. Speaker, I am not sure what kind of contact the member
has with his constituents out there, but I had the privilege of meeting with a
group from
Government Action
Mr. Gregory Dewar (Selkirk): The residents of the
Hon. Albert Driedger (Minister of
Highways and Transportation): I do not know whether it is proper to call a member in this
House naive, but I would suggest that this member acquaint himself with the
fact that this is a federal responsibility.
We, as a province, have been working very closely together with my
colleagues in terms of trying to alleviate the hardship that is being created
by the closing of the bridge, but ultimately it is a federal
responsibility. We have been bending
over backwards to try and help whichever way we can and will continue to do
that. He should try and acquaint himself with the facts before he makes
statements about six months of inaction by this government.
Private/Independent Schools
Funding Levels
Mr. John Plohman (Dauphin): The Minister of Education says that she is broke. She has no more money for the public
education system. Well, the public
education system, which she says is a priority‑‑there is just no
more money in this government.
We want to ask the Minister
of Education: Will the minister
acknowledge today that the government of which she is a part has increased the
spending to the private, independent and elite schools in this province by more
than $60 million above the formula which was in place when they came to the
government, part of the time that she was in government, a cumulative amount
over those five years of an additional $60 million to those private and
independent schools? Will she
acknowledge that today?
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of
Education and Training): Let me clarify any
misunderstanding which my friend may be attempting to stir up. The independent schools of this province in
the funding announcement that was made this year received the same 2 percent
reduction as all other schools. In addition,
through the letter of comfort, though they were to receive an incremental
phased‑in increase, they did not receive it.
Mr. Plohman: It certainly was a letter of comfort for a
number of years. Will the minister‑‑
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Mr. Speaker:
Order, please.
Mr. Plohman: Mr. Speaker, this minister has not disputed
the $60‑million figure, additional increase of funding. Will the minister acknowledge that that same
$60 million, if this government had chosen different priorities, could have
been used at the current rate of inflation to fund at inflation, as the Premier
(Mr. Filmon) promised, the public schools for the next five years? Will she acknowledge that as well?
Mrs. Vodrey: I cannot accept the preamble that the member
has attempted to put into this question by any means. I will tell you that this government has
continued its commitment to education in this province. We have continued to fund it in a way that
has been fair and equitable.
This year, we have now asked
the educational system to look very carefully at its own budget on behalf of
all Manitobans. In examining their
budgets, we have asked them also to consider first and foremost the students
and the integrity of the classroom.
* (1040)
Mr. Plohman: Mr. Speaker, it is a matter of
priorities. You had a choice, and you
chose to put it into the private and elite schools.
Special Needs Children
Mr. John Plohman (Dauphin): Will this minister also tell this House how
many children requiring the special services of the Diagnostic Centre, which
she cut this last week, and of the speech pathologist and psychologists who
help special needs kids in this province, attend these private, elite schools
such as St. John's‑Ravenscourt and Balmoral Hall?
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of
Education and Training): Well, let us speak about the
areas of priorities and a bridge that my honourable friend felt was important
and a priority for his government that did not go into educational funding of
that government. The Diagnostic Centre
has provided support for school divisions, particularly school divisions
outside of
In addition, through our
Diagnostic Centre, however, we have maintained two positions, one position that
will assist across this province for the emotionally behaviourally disordered
children and another for the severely learning disabled young person.
Mr. Jerry Storie (Flin Flon): Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Northern Affairs
and the Minister responsible for
The government of
There are two Metis
communities, one in
Mr. Speaker, my question to
the minister is: Will the government of
Hon. James Downey (Minister of
Northern Affairs): Mr. Speaker, the issue which the member raises
is not a new one for the communities that fall along the Reindeer river system,
of which is the joint water system between
Mr. Speaker: Time for Oral Questions has expired.
NONPOLITICAL STATEMENTS
Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Mr. Speaker, might I have leave to make a
nonpolitical statement?
Mr. Speaker: Does the honourable member for Kildonan have
leave to make a nonpolitical statement?
[agreed]
Mr. Chomiak: Mr. Speaker, tonight at the Winnipeg Arena, a
young man will be honoured for his magnificent achievements as a member of the
Mr. Speaker, I would like to
deal with that young man from a bit of a different perspective. Teemu Selanne‑‑my wife always
corrects me on the pronunciation of his name‑‑is going to be
honoured tonight. This young man comes
from a country which is very similar to ours.
Mr. Speaker, as a result of
the accomplishments of this young man, people in