LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
OF
Friday, May 7, 1993
The House met at 10 a.m.
PRAYERS
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
Mr. Speaker:
I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member (Mr.
Maloway). 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]
Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): The petition of the undersigned citizens of
the
WHEREAS
WHEREAS over 55,000 children depend upon
the Children's Dental Program; and
WHEREAS several studies have pointed out
the cost savings of preventative and treatment health care programs such as the
Children's Dental Program; and
WHEREAS the Children's Dental Program has
been in effect for 17 years and has been recognized as extremely cost‑effective
and critical for many families in isolated communities; and
WHEREAS the provincial government did not
consult the users of the program or the providers before announcing plans to
eliminate 44 of the 49 dentists, nurses and assistants providing this service;
and
WHEREAS preventative health care is an
essential component of health care reform.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray
that the Legislative Assembly of
* * *
Mr. Speaker:
I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member (Mr.
Lathlin). 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]
Mr. Clerk:
The petition of the undersigned citizens of the
WHEREAS fisheries are a vital resource
industry in rural and northern
WHEREAS there are over 800 commercial
fishermen netting some 12 million pounds of fish each year on
WHEREAS the high costs of supplies and
shipping fish to market are putting ever more pressures on the commercial
fishing industry in this province; and
WHEREAS the provincial government reduced
the Northern Fishermen's Freight Subsidy Assistance Program for commercial
fishing by over $90,000 in 1991; and
WHEREAS this subsidy is vital to the
survival of the commercial fishing industry; and
WHEREAS restoring the Freight Subsidy to the
level of previous years would make fishing in northern
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray
that the Legislative Assembly of
Mr. Speaker:
I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member (Mr. Clif
Evans). 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]
Mr. Clerk:
The petition of the undersigned citizens of the
WHEREAS fisheries are a vital resource
industry in rural and northern
WHEREAS there are over 800 commercial
fishermen netting some 12 million pounds of fish each year on
WHEREAS the high costs of supplies and
shipping fish to market are putting ever more pressures on the commercial
fishing industry in this province; and
WHEREAS the provincial government reduced
the Northern Fishermen's Freight Subsidy Assistance Program for commercial
fishing by over $90,000 in 1991; and
WHEREAS this subsidy is vital to the
survival of the commercial fishing industry; and
WHEREAS restoring the Freight Subsidy to
the level of previous years would make fishing in northern
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray
that the Legislative Assembly of
* * *
Mr. Speaker:
I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member (Mr. Leonard
Evans). 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? [agreed]
Mr. Clerk:
The petition of the undersigned citizens of the
WHEREAS
WHEREAS over 55,000 children depend upon
the Children's Dental Program; and
WHEREAS several studies have pointed out
the cost savings of preventative and treatment health care programs such as the
Children's Dental Program; and
WHEREAS the Children's Dental Program has
been in effect for 17 years and has been recognized as extremely cost‑effective
and critical for many families in isolated communities; and
WHEREAS the provincial government did not
consult the users of the program or the providers before announcing plans to
eliminate 44 of the 49 dentists, nurses and assistants providing this service;
and
WHEREAS preventative health care is an
essential component of health care reform.
WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray
that the Legislative Assembly of
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 morning from the Teulon Collegiate
sixty‑six Grade 11 students under the direction of Mr. Ed Masters. This school is located in the constituency of
the honourable member for Gimli (Mr. Helwer).
On behalf of all honourable members, I
would like to welcome you here this morning.
* (1005)
ORAL QUESTION PERIOD
Federal Environmental
Review
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the
Opposition): Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier
(Mr. Filmon).
Today, 30 environmental organizations are
joining together to call on the federal government to have a federal
environmental assessment of the
We are now in receipt of a letter, which I
will table in the House, from Jean Charest, the federal Environment minister,
who now says that this decision to have the federal environmental assessment
will go to the minister responsible for the decision‑making authority,
the present Minister of Agriculture.
Now, the present Minister of Agriculture
is a
I would now like to call on the Premier
(Mr. Filmon) to take a leadership position on behalf of all Manitobans, all
Manitobans who are in a dispute on this issue, Mr. Speaker, and call on the
federal government to join the provincial government so we can have a basin‑wide
federal‑provincial review of the
Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister of
Environment): Mr. Speaker, the member knows full well that
the federal guidelines and the process under which they make a decision is one
where they have a screening process to decide whether or not federal
responsibility is being correctly dealt with.
They make a decision based on the
guidelines that have been in place for quite some time, and let me tell you,
Mr. Speaker, they have to take the responsibility for whichever way they decide
to deal with this program.
They will be looking at the process that
Federal Environmental
Review
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the
Opposition): Mr. Speaker, it has been documented with the
federal government with the Rafferty‑Alameda project that initially when
Tom McMillan indicated they would have a federal environmental assessment, that
was cancelled due to political pressure from Grant Devine from the Conservative
Party, Premier of
The same suspicions are here now in
The way to solve this, Mr. Speaker, is for
the Premier to take a leadership position and stop the fight between
* (1010)
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier):
Mr. Speaker, I know the member opposite is not clear on the way the
process works. He should know that the
federal government, in its screening process, places the onus on PFRA which is
the arm that would be responsible for this kind of work. They are, of course, under the federal
Minister of Agriculture. That is why the
decision comes under his jurisdiction.
Mr. Speaker, this matter will be handled by
the book. From our perspective, we will
apply absolutely no political pressure to keep them out. We encourage them to carry out their process
and to ensure that they abide by it to the letter. We have said that time and time and time
again. The entire process will be
carried out as it should be in conjunction with our legislation and as it
should be in conjunction with federal legislation, to the letter.
We will not conduct ourselves, Mr.
Speaker, like the New Democrats did‑‑because they wanted to force
through the development of the Limestone Generating Station‑‑when
they did not have any public hearing process, any complete environmental
assessment or review process. That will
never happen under this administration.
Mr. Doer:
I find it rather curious for a former Minister of Environment to talk
about the lack of environmental assessments in the '80s. Perhaps if the Premier had passed an
environment act when he was minister, there would have been the same kinds of
assessments that are required under The Environment Act that the New Democratic
Party passed in the '80s.
Federal Environmental
Review
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the
Opposition): Mr. Speaker, I have a document from the
federal Department of Fisheries that talks about an analysis of the proposed
It also goes on to say that there is a
risk in terms of the water flow for this river which is not considered by the
present environmental assessment of the project. It goes on to talk about the impact on fish,
on water flows: The degradation of water
quality could be an important factor in the future viability of this proposal.
It goes on to say that the project will
alter, significantly, the water flow in many river systems, and the Department
of Fisheries believes that the assessment does not fully identify and assess
the potential impacts on fisheries in that river system, and it does not
provide the best information in terms of that material.
I would like to ask the Premier (Mr.
Filmon), in light of the fact that Charlie Mayer is now responsible for
proposing to have an independent federal assessment in his own backyard and
that we have all these communities disagreeing about the process right now,
will the Premier go further than just encourage the process of a federal‑provincial
basin‑wide review? Will he ask the
federal government directly in writing to join and have a federal‑provincial
review as our provincial legislation allows and as the people of
Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister of
Environment): Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition
likes to choose his quotes rather selectively.
Let me read from the letter that he just tabled. It says: "Under the EARP Guidelines Order, the
Minister with the decision‑making authority for a proposal must ensure
that the environmental implications of the proposal have been assessed before
any irrevocable decisions are made."
The federal government will make that
evaluation. They will decide whether or not
they want to come in on a federal EARP or whether they believe, as it says in
the third paragraph following that, as to whether or not any potential adverse
effects can be mitigated.
They will make their decision. They will be responsible for it, and pending
that decision, we will make sure that our policy and our assessment is clear,
open to the public and, without question, make a decision that is based on the
facts.
Economic Growth
Employment Decline
Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East):
Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Finance.
It seemed as though the
Mr. Speaker, this is the largest increase
in the unemployment rate of any of the Canadian provinces. At the same time, our labour force has
dropped from March, while the Canadian labour force has increased.
Will this minister now acknowledge that
* (1015)
Hon. Clayton Mannes (Minister of
Finance): Mr. Speaker, I am delighted that the member
for Brandon East was able to move up on the roster, his Friday morning
roster. Quite often he is left to the
end by the Leader.
I would like to indicate to the member
that, as last month, he did not bring forward a question at the time when the
numbers, of course, were very encouraging and very supportive of government
policy. Today, he, of course, likes to
again bring the selective numbers forward.
I would cite for him, and I know he knows this,
that
Now, in the subsequent question, I am sure
the member will want to ask about manufacturing, and we will also share some
decent news with respect to manufacturing growth, given, Mr. Speaker, the
proper time frame. Again, selective
quoting of statistics, month over month, is for the opposition to do, but let
us put it over some decent trend of time.
Mr. Leonard Evans:
Mr. Speaker, it seems that the answer is based on very selective
statistics, as well. The fact is the
economy is stagnating.
My question to the minister is: Will the minister acknowledge that we are
again losing jobs in this province? We
lost 8,000 jobs between April and the previous month of March. The fact is we
are going backwards.
So are you going to continue to ignore
this matter, or are you going to take some action?
Mr. Manness:
Mr. Speaker, the action has been taken in the budget. As the Premier (Mr. Filmon) indicated the
other day, the Conference Board of Canada and other people recognize that through
the budgetary moves and the taxation moves in this province, rather than
attacking disposable income in the pockets of people, we have chosen
deliberately to leave a greater portion of people's earnings for the area of
disposable income. Indeed, we are
receiving acclaim for that across the land.
So I say to the member, you cannot have it
both ways. I know in opposition, he
likes to have it both ways, but the reality is you cannot, and we are leaving,
through our taxation measures, a larger proportion of the public earning
ability with Manitobans.
Mr. Speaker, that is auguring well. Our retail sales tax vis‑a‑vis
other provinces, although not increasing at significant amounts, still in
comparative terms, it is relatively well positioned.
Mr. Leonard Evans:
Mr. Speaker, this government‑‑we have fewer people working
today than when they were elected. There
are fewer jobs today than when they were elected.
Let us talk about the number of
unemployed. Why is the number of
unemployed increasing in this province, up from 5,000 from March to April? We are up to 51,000 seasonally adjusted. We
are up to 55,000 on an actual basis. We
have more people unemployed than we should have.
So, again, I ask this government to ask
this minister: Will he re‑examine
his policies, take some action and give a little hope to those thousands upon
thousands of Manitobans, including young people‑‑
Mr. Speaker:
Order, please. The honourable
member has put his question.
Mr. Manness:
Mr. Speaker, I am disappointed, again, that the member resorts to
selective statistics.
Why can the member not recognize that
Mr. Speaker, the member refuses‑‑he
is a doomer and gloomer, and he refuses to dwell on the positive. He just wants to wallow away in negative
news, and I say to him, he is doing a disservice indeed to all Manitobans and
certainly to the youth in our galleries today.
* (1020)
James Philip Bridson
Investigation Update
Mr. Paul Edwards (St. James):
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice.
A very serious tragic circumstance has
gripped the community of Flin Flon. It
continues to in our province, and as we all are aware by this point, it has
already claimed the lives of two and threatens another two. There is an ongoing investigation which I
know the Minister of Justice has been involved in and is aware of.
I am wondering if the Minister of Justice
today can tell members the progress of that investigation which has caused very
serious concerns throughout that community and indeed the province. I wonder if the minister has an update for
members of the House at this time.
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of
Justice and Attorney General): The honourable member is certainly correct when he refers
to the tragic nature of the circumstances in this situation in the Flin Flon
area. Our first thought, of course, is
to the grief, the horror and the shock that the families involved and the
community involved in this tragedy must surely be feeling, and I am sure the
honourable member and all honourable members would join me in extending
sympathy to all of those who are so deeply affected by this incident.
In terms of an update, basically the
investigation is ongoing. A search is
still being conducted, and I have nothing further than that at this point to
report.
Mr. Edwards:
Of course, we look forward to further information and hopefully the
successful conclusion of that investigation.
James Philip Bridson
Education Department
Involvement
Mr. Paul Edwards (St. James):
My further question is for the Minister of Education, Mr. Speaker.
As I know the minister will be aware, and
others in this House perhaps, this family, the Bridson family in Flin Flon, has
a long history of relationship with government officials and, in particular,
the Minister of Education. I know that
the minister did her best over a considerable period of time to deal with this
situation.
My question for the Minister of Education
is: Did she confer with the Minister of
Family Services (Mr. Gilleshammer) in the course of this investigation and this
dealing with this family to determine whether or not that department or other
departments could have taken a more proactive approach? I simply ask that because we have had other
tragedies in this province, and oftentimes have had government involved for a
long time, and then it results in a tragic incident.
I wonder if the minister can give us an
update as to what was done with this situation and, in particular, in
relationship to the Department of Family Services.
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of
Education and Training): I join with my colleague the
Minister of Justice (Mr. McCrae) and, I know, the members of this House in
expressing sympathy to the people of Flin Flon and to the young people who are
today trying to deal with the tragedy and the loss in their community and are
trying very hard to understand the issues that are affecting them.
We are looking at the matter, and I will
be more prepared to discuss this when some of the issues in the Flin Flon area
have been brought to a conclusion.
Government Departments
Service Co-ordination
Mr. Paul Edwards (St. James):
Well, Mr. Speaker, finally, for the Minister of Family Services
then: There has been a lot of discussion
in these last few years about co‑ordinating services within government to
deal with these types of situations.
There has yet to be a report issued, and there is a committee, I believe‑‑Family
Services, Education, Justice and Health are involved in that.
When can the people of this province
expect a report on the co‑ordination of services? We have a lengthy relationship with this
family. I am wondering if there is some
indication as to when government might be able to pull these together in a more
effective way which has been promised for some time now.
Hon. Harold Gilleshammer (Minister
of Family Services): Mr. Speaker, I think we have an investigation
ongoing in this community. I think it is
not responsible to speculate and discuss this case at this particular time.
I would say that on the issue of co‑ordination,
our work on that is ongoing.
Community Trauma
Support
Mr. Jerry Storie (Flin Flon):
Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by saying I appreciate the comments of the
Attorney General and the expressions of sympathy from both himself and the
Minister of Education with regard to the incident in Flin Flon early Thursday
morning.
Members in this Chamber, I think,
appreciate the difficult circumstances that exist in Flin Flon and the surrounding
communities as a result of economic circumstances and economic difficulties, as
well as the pressure that this brings to bear on families. Mr. Speaker, this tragedy is just that, a
tragedy, and no one may ever know the exact determinants, the root causes of
this tragedy.
Mr. Speaker, we have to look forward, and
it is not the time to begin making recriminations with respect to this
incident. However, we do know that the community of Flin Flon is in
crisis. The mayor and other community
leaders have been asking for assistance in dealing with the next 12 to 18
months.
Mr. Speaker, my question is to the
Minister of Family Services (Mr. Gilleshammer).
Will the minister now agree to co‑ordinate the activities within
his department, within the Mental Health Division of the Minister of Health's
(Mr. Orchard) department, perhaps bring other resources to bear, to ensure that
existing personnel in the school division in Flin Flon, in the community, are
prepared to deal with what is going to be a traumatic aftermath to this event,
but also to deal with the next 18 months of trauma for the community as it
adjusts to the new reality of fewer jobs and difficult circumstances?
* (1025)
Hon. Donald Orchard (Minister of
Health): Mr. Speaker, if I might assist my honourable
friend with the legitimate concerns he expresses on behalf of the community of
Flin Flon facing such an obvious tragic set of circumstances, I might indicate
that within my ministry, we are preparing and making efforts to assist the
community through my Mental Health Division.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time
my ministry has been involved in such a community event, and we will attempt to
provide the kind of support to the community, to the school system in Flin
Flon, so that the difficulties faced by that community will not be faced alone,
that we will provide them with support from within the Mental Health Division.
Community Trauma
Support
Mr. Jerry Storie (Flin Flon):
Mr. Speaker, my subsequent question is to the Minister of Education.
I know‑‑and I want to thank
the minister's staff for already responding to the incident in Flin Flon and
allocating a staff person to the community.
My question would be, however:
Will the minister also consider the trauma that has been inflicted on
the elementary school and the junior high school which is adjacent to this
family housing complex, as well as the students who are affected in the
collegiate, who knew the victims?
Mr. Speaker, will the minister be prepared
to send a team of counsellors and child psychologists, early childhood
specialists, to Flin Flon to deal with what will be several months of trauma
and adjustment for the students, the staff and the families in the community of
Flin Flon?
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of
Education and Training): Mr. Speaker, I have spoken with
the principals of both schools this morning and have had an opportunity to talk
with them about the needs of some of the young people in the school, and also
the staff. We have already sent, as the
member has said, a member of our Child Care Branch into Flin Flon, who is
currently now working with both schools.
I did speak with the principals who also
spoke about the community support team which they are currently working
with. We will most certainly have a look
at the needs of the young people in those schools in the coming months.
Family Dispute
Services
Mr. Jerry Storie (Flin Flon):
My final question is to the Minister of Family Services with respect to
the issue of maintaining some services to the families and the community with
respect to abuse and potential abuse, sexual abuse, other abuse that appears to
be a continuing problem in the region.
Will the Minister of Family Services be
allocating additional support through the department's Family Dispute Services
to the community of Flin Flon, as well?
Hon. Harold Gilleshammer (Minister
of Family Services): My senior staff have been in touch with the
regional office there and will be lending any support that we can to assist in
the situation along with staff from the Mental Health Division and the
Department of Education.
* (1030)
Ostomy Program
User Fees
Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan):
Mr. Speaker, last year in a letter the Minister of Health sent to the
Ostomy Association, he stated, and I quote:
This program is unique in
Not any more, Mr. Speaker, not since this
government introduced user fees on the ostomy program.
Will this minister reconsider his decision
to charge user fees on the ostomy and the other supply program?‑‑because
these people have no choice in their illness, and they have no choice but to
have these supplies.
Hon. Donald Orchard (Minister of
Health): Mr. Speaker, the decision, as I have
explained earlier to my honourable friend, was to have those Manitobans who
have been availing themselves of ostomy supplies internally to now contribute
half the cost of their supplies up to a maximum of $300 per year.
In arriving at that decision, as I have
explained earlier to my honourable friend, it makes us quite consistent and
probably at least as supportive as other provinces with which we made
comparisons. I think we are favourably
positioned. Although it is requiring a
contribution from these individuals, it still positions us as having one of the
more generous programs in this area of support in western
Mr. Chomiak:
My supplementary to the minister:
Mr. Speaker, we have user fees on northern transportation. We have user fees on supplies. We have user fees. Even the association wrote back to the
minister indicating that these are user fees.
Will the minister not reconsider his tax
on the sick? Will he not reconsider that
these people have no choice? The money
could easily come from Connie Curran's $3.9 million.
Mr. Orchard:
Mr. Speaker, from the luxury of opposition, New Democrats decry
decisions that governments make when they are not New Democratic
governments. However, from the reality
of government, New Democrats in
Now my honourable friend is wanting, of
course, to make out that New Democrats in opposition in
The example of that, Sir, is evident in
Mr. Chomiak:
Mr. Speaker, will the minister commit to reinstate this program if we
commit that we will fire Connie Curran and her $3.9‑million contract to
pay for the minister's tax on the sick?
Mr. Orchard:
Well, again, Mr. Speaker, when my honourable friend has the luxury from
opposition of finding fault with every single decision of this government,
would my honourable friend care to consider at some point in time as the new
critic for Health, setting out the policies of the New Democrats should they
ever, God forbid, govern this province, would my honourable friend, in one
simple sentence at one simple time in the next six months, care to tell us what
he is in favour of instead of always what he is against?‑‑because
what he is against in this province, Sir, New Democrats in
Emergency Room
Physicians
Patient Safety
Mr. Gulzar Cheema (The Maples):
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health.
We are into the 10th day of the strike by
EMOs, Mr. Speaker, and patients are very concerned and we are all very
concerned that the quality of health care may have been compromised over the
past 10 days.
I will ask the minister: Can the Minister of Health tell us if there
has been a major disaster for the last 10 days?
Hon. Donald Orchard (Minister of
Health): Mr. Speaker, no. As I have indicated to my honourable friend,
that despite the constraints of emergency services not being available for a
three‑day period of time at Grace while they were moving to the newly
opened emergency area and that Seven Oaks had not provided services, the 24‑hour
service available at
The system, clearly, is coping but one has
to understand, as I have said before, that in circumstances where you have a
strike and withdrawal of services, those remaining who are providing services
naturally are under increased demand and level of service requirement, and some
of the less urgent individuals presenting at emergencies may have to wait a
longer period of time.
That is less than optimal. That is why we hoped to have this
circumstance resolved. That is why we
have called in a mediator to try and bring a resolution.
Negotiations
Mr. Gulzar Cheema (The Maples):
Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Health give us an update about the
negotiations between the EMOs and the government of
Hon. Donald Orchard (Minister of
Health): I think probably as we speak, the hospitals
and the MMA are using the skills of Mr. Wally Fox‑Decent to try to
resolve the issue. I understand that
they are still in the process of discussion, and I have no progress
reports. They have decided, as part of
the process, that they would not engage in any statements, and I think that
would be an appropriate thing for me to likewise comply with.
Patient Safety
Mr. Gulzar Cheema (The Maples):
Mr. Speaker, we are approaching another weekend. Can the Minister of Health tell the people of
Hon. Donald Orchard (Minister of
Health): Mr. Speaker, I am hoping that the planning
and the contingencies that are being put in place for the weekend may well not
be required. In other words, I am
hopeful that we can achieve a resolution even today.
In the event that may not be achievable,
Sir, I indicated in an earlier answer that
Repap Manitoba Inc.
Negotiations
Mr. Oscar Lathlin (The Pas):
Mr. Speaker, my question will be directed to the First Minister.
Mr. Speaker, four years ago, the Premier
and his government announced a takeover of Manfor, promising some 500 new jobs
for The Pas and a billion dollars of new investment. Neither of those promises have yet to
materialize.
A year ago, the Minister of Finance (Mr.
Manness) announced that the original development plan was going to have to be
restructured, and a deadline of summer and then September of 1992 was then struck. That deadline passed, as did others, Mr.
Speaker.
Last October, the Minister of Finance
announced again that negotiations were not proceeding on schedule, and he was
getting frustrated but he was now going to get very aggressive on these
negotiations. Since then we have heard
less on those negotiations.
Mr. Speaker, could I ask the First
Minister to again advise the House today as to the status of those
negotiations?
* (1040)
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier):
Mr. Speaker, the member for The Pas, who has never really taken a
position as to whether or not he wants to have the ownership of that pulp and
paper mill and lumber operation under the hands of Repap‑‑I might
say that his predecessor did support that, the former New Democratic member for
The Pas.
Mr. Speaker, I might say that the member
opposite, I know, may take a very narrow perspective on this, but members on
this side of the House have to be able to watch what is happening in the pulp
and paper industry throughout
In fact, they are closing down pulp and
paper operations right across
If he is suggesting alternatively that the
government of
If he wants to have the jobs preserved for
The Pas‑‑
Point of Order
Mr. Steve Ashton (Opposition House
Leader): Mr. Speaker, Beauchesne is very clear that
answers to questions should relate to the matter raised and be brief. All I am hearing from the Premier is: if the member is saying this, if the member
is saying that.
The member is asking a very
straightforward question. What is the
status of the negotiations? I would ask
you to bring the Premier to order.
* * *
Mr. Speaker:
The honourable First Minister, to finish his response.
Mr. Filmon:
If it had been a straightforward question, it would not have required
three minutes of preamble.
The fact of the matter is if he is
suggesting that we take it back and own it and operate it as the New Democrats
did, it cost the taxpayer as much as $30 million a year to run it when the New
Democrats were owning and operating that.
We do not‑‑
Mr. Speaker:
Order, please.
Redevelopment
Mr. Oscar Lathlin (The Pas):
Mr. Speaker, I know the Premier is a little bit sensitive on the issue
of Repap because it represents a lot of broken promises‑‑
Mr. Speaker:
Order, please. I will remind the
honourable member this is not a time for debate. The honourable member for The Pas, with his
question, please.
Mr. Lathlin:
Mr. Speaker, my last question to the First Minister is: The mill manager, Paul Richards, it is his
last day in The Pas today. He is going
to
How much longer will the residents of The
Pas and the surrounding areas have to wait before they start seeing some
results of this redevelopment plan and that stability he instilled in the minds
of those people who are living in The Pas?
How much longer do we have to wait?
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier):
Mr. Speaker, I am not at all sensitive about this issue. I just want to ensure that the member for The
Pas has a lesson in what is going on in the pulp and paper industry in
I think it would help him in his
discussions with his constituents if he had a little understanding of what is
going on in the pulp and paper industry in
I can assure him that this government will
continue to work with Repap to ensure that not only do we have the things there
that we do have, but that Repap has invested in the total cleanup of the
environmental pollution and damage that was done under the New Democrats. That has been cleaned up. Millions have been invested in that.
Not only have they improved the operations
and made them safer, and made them, in fact, more productive, Mr. Speaker, but
we know that in the future, if we continue to have negotiation with them, with
the turnaround of the pulp and paper prices in
Intertribal Christian
Communications
PST Collection
Mr. Jim Maloway (Elmwood):
Mr. Speaker, I have a question to the Premier.
I would like to table a letter from a Mr.
Tim Nielsen, who is the general director of a nonprofit organization called
Intertribal Christian Communications at
Now, this nonprofit mails 25,000 magazines
a month to subscribers, and they received circular 9353 from the Taxation
department on April 28, giving them only three days notice of the 7 percent PST
that had to be collected on their subscriptions. Also, this amounts to a
$10,000 tax increase‑‑
Mr. Speaker:
Order, please. The honourable
member, with his question. Time is
extremely short.
Mr. Maloway:
In addition to that, they had to pay PST‑‑
Mr. Speaker:
Question, please.
Mr. Maloway:
Could the minister tell the House why circular 9353 was not even printed
until April 19 and was not received by this business until April 28, three days
before?
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier):
Mr. Speaker, I will be happy to take that as notice on behalf of the
Minister of Finance (Mr. Manness).
Mr. Maloway:
Mr. Speaker, since most periodicals need at least a month's notice about
tax changes in order to raise their rates, why did the minister make the tax
effective May 1? Why did he force them
to absorb the 7 percent for the first month?
Mr. Filmon:
Mr. Speaker, I will take that as notice, as well, on behalf of the
Minister of Finance.
Mr. Maloway:
Mr. Speaker, my final supplementary is that on May 1, leases of aircraft
are now exempt, while baby bottles‑‑