LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA

Thursday, June 23, 1994

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

PRAYERS

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

PRESENTING PETITIONS

Pharmacare Benefit Levels

Mr. Paul Edwards (Leader of the Second Opposition): Mr. Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Henrique Rigatto, Don Cates, Kim Kwiatkowski and others requesting the Legislative Assembly urge the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) to consider restoring Pharmacare benefits to their previous levels.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS AND

TABLING OF REPORTS

Hon. Clayton Manness (Minister of Education and Training): Mr. Speaker, I would like to, firstly, table the Teachers' Retirement Allowances Fund Board, 1993 Annual Report.

Capital Construction Program

Hon. Clayton Manness (Minister of Education and Training): I would like to make a ministerial statement, please.

It gives me great pleasure to rise in the House today to announce an $18.3 million capital construction program for '94‑95 that includes 15 initiatives for Manitoba's public school system as recommended by the Public Schools Finance Board.

The projects range from roof repair and replacement projects to the construction of three new schools and the planning of a fourth.

The capital construction program includes these projects identified in previous budgets to be started in this fiscal year, Mr. Speaker, firstly, construction of a new N‑6 school in Winnipeg School Division No. 1 to replace two schools that no longer meet either educational or building standards. Completion date for construction of Greenway School is December 1997.

The replacement of an old section of Foxwarren School in Birdtail River School Division No. 38 with predesigned classrooms, the construction of a new administration area and minor renovations to the gym, completion date December '94.

The new projects include, Mr. Speaker, replacement of the older section of the Hazel M. Kellington School in Beautiful Plains School Division No. 31, the construction of a 2,200 square foot addition to the physical education multipurpose room at Crystal City Elementary School in Pembina Valley School Division, the construction of a new K‑8 French immersion school in St. Vital School Division No. 6, and completion date for the construction of the École Ashworth School is September '95.

I will let the members read the rest of the list on their own. The $18.3‑Million Capital Construction Program is expected to create 365 jobs. I would like to say that these capital construction projects have been carefully considered, and priorities have been chosen on the basis of school board requests and long‑range capital plans. They are an indication of this government's commitment to improving the public school system by ensuring that students have the facilities they need for their education. Thank you.

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Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Mr. Speaker, I thank the minister for his statement.

I believe that we completed the Education Estimates a couple of weeks ago, and it is rather typical that we are seeing the capital vision of this government well after the budget Estimates have been completed. This is a similar situation to what we had in the Department of Health. We would like, at some point, to have a discussion of capital decisions that the government is making in the overall context of the total Estimates so that we can have a comprehensive review of these proposals.

Secondly, Mr. Speaker, we are aware that the public education system has been decimated by the provincial government. For two years in a row, the public education system has been reduced by this government, so for this minister to stand up in this House and feign his commitment to the public education system runs hollow in terms of the spending priorities.

On the specific proposals, Mr. Speaker, we are pleased after six years in government that the Greenway School has been approved. I know that the Winnipeg School Division has pushed for this for the last few years. I am pleased that the minister and the chair of the Winnipeg School Division have proceeded with this project, although it is a little later than we would have wanted and I am sure the chair of the Winnipeg School Division would have preferred.

I would also caution members opposite. I recall in July of 1990, there was a major announcement of capital expenditures in the Department of Health. I also recall shortly after the September date of 1990, after the unfortunate majority government was obtained, that many of these capital decisions evaporated and disappeared. So we will judge the capital decisions of this government brick by brick. We will judge their commitment to the public education system dollar by dollar. We will not judge them by press release alone.

Thank you very much.

Mr. Paul Edwards (Leader of the Second Opposition): Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to see this Capital Construction Program come forward, albeit I asked the minister some time ago for it and I know that in the Estimates process the minister had indicated that he did not want to come forward with it. He called it privileged, and I think that we have some concern over perhaps the timing, as the Leader of the Opposition has indicated.

However, having said that as the Leader of the Opposition has referred to‑‑although I think he has a bit of the historical synopsis wrong‑‑it is very good to see that listed No. 1 is the construction of a new Greenway School. That has been a long time coming for the residents of the west end area who also happen to be my constituents.

Through that experience, I have seen this school ride literally the top priorities of the capital schools finance board for a number of years. There were, let us say, some difficulties, I think, and delays in dealing with the school board. However, we were very pleased to see that resolved recently and happy to see this included in this project.

I can assure the minister it will be very well received indeed from those parents, many of whom started this discussion and this effort when their children were first entering that school. The children are now graduating, and we are just now seeing this project come to fruition.

I am sure that equally meritorious are the other projects in this announcement, Mr. Speaker, and I do want to congratulate the minister on coming forward with this level of capital projects in this coming year. As well, I am sure there are many others that are deserving and that there may in fact be some disappointment today around the province.

I think it behooves us as members of this Legislature to make a continuing commitment to public education and a critical part of that is a continuing commitment to adequately fund the construction of facilities in the public school system to properly educate our children. Thank you.

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Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table the 1994‑95 Revenue Estimates.

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PRESENTING REPORTS BY

STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Committee of Supply

Mr. Speaker: Is there leave to revert to Presenting Reports by Standing and Special Committees? [agreed]

Mrs. Louise Dacquay (Chairperson of Committees): The Committee of Supply has adopted certain resolutions, directs me to report the same and asks leave to sit again.

I move, seconded by the honourable member for La Verendrye (Mr. Sveinson), that the report of the committee be received.

Motion agreed to.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

Bill 28‑‑The Off‑Road Vehicles Amendment Act

Hon. Jim Ernst (Government House Leader): Mr. Speaker, would you seek leave of the House to introduce for first reading today, Bill 28, The Off‑Road Vehicles Amendment Act.

Mr. Speaker: Is there leave of the House to introduce Bill 28, The Off‑Road Vehicles Amendment Act, as I understand it? Is there leave? [agreed]

Hon. Glen Findlay (Minister of Highways and Transportation): I thank members of the House, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to move, seconded by the Minister of Natural Resources (Mr. Driedger), that leave be given to introduce Bill 28, The Off‑Road Vehicles Amendment Act (Loi modifiant la Loi sur les véhicules à caractère non routier), and that the same be now received and read a first time.

Over the course of Question Period, I will distribute to my critics the spreadsheets for the bill.

Motion agreed to.

Introduction of Guests

Mr. Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, may I direct the attention of honourable members to the Speaker's Gallery, where we have with us today Her Excellency Lillie Chitaura who is the High Commissioner of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

On behalf of all honourable members, I would like to welcome you here this afternoon.

Also with us this afternoon in the gallery to my left, we have Chief Ralph Caribou of the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation in Pukatawagan. Accompanying Chief Caribou is Elizabeth Bear who is a government liaison officer. These are guests of the honourable member for Flin Flon (Mr. Storie).

Also, we have from the Andrew Mynarski School thirteen Grades 8 and 9 students under the direction of Mr. Lebar. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Inkster (Mr. Lamoureux).

From the Van Walleghem School, we have seventy Grade 5 students under the direction of Ms. Kim Peppler. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable First Minister (Mr. Filmon).

On behalf of all honourable members, I would like to welcome you here this afternoon.

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ORAL QUESTION PERIOD

Kenaston Underpass

Justification

Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the Premier again about the Kenaston underpass, a project, of course, that we raised on May 26, and a project and an area of the city that the Premier has dealt with for a number of years, even going back to his City Hall days when, at that point, he was opposing the federal Liberal government in placing the trucking centre in the area where it is now located.

When I raised this question on May 26, 1994, I was raising the whole issue of the $30‑million expenditure as the largest amount of money in the whole infrastructure program going to a very questionable project with very little, in our opinion, cost benefits and with very little anticipation of the future.

The Winnipeg transport study was not completed. The whole issue of relocating rail, truck and air sites to the vicinity of the airport had not been completed and, of course, the whole situation with the CN and CP merger was still raising numbers of questions about the long‑term viability of the proposed $30‑million expenditure.

I would like to ask the Premier: In light of the fact that at City Hall, in 1993, the administration requested that the city look, examine and explore, in consultation with the railway, the trucking industry and the residential neighbourhoods, the feasibility of relocating the CN intermodal terminal vis‑à‑vis the site at Kenaston, and in light of the fact that we are all working towards a plan to go closer to the railway for trucking sites, why are we proceeding with the $30‑million proposal underneath the railway track whose future we do not know?

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Mr. Speaker, normally when one is speculating on the future of a particular facility such as a rail line, the first people you should ask are the people who own that rail line what their intentions are. Since that question has been asked, and asked publicly, and since the answer has been unequivocally that that CN main rail line will remain there, I find it difficult to understand why the Leader of the Opposition would perpetrate some false expectations or false hopes about relocation, when CN itself says that the rail line will remain there as its main line.

That is the only information on which we have to go. It is not speculative. It is not something fabricated by the Leader of the Opposition. It is fact.

Secondly, Mr. Speaker, that grade separation is the No. 1 priority grade separation in the City of Winnipeg's transportation plans. So why would they not want to see a grade separation there when there is indeed‑‑there have been many accidents, collisions and other things in and around that intersection, and all of that is rationale behind why that was chosen.

I might say, Mr. Speaker, that three levels of government, in a co‑operative effort to try and meet the needs, the highest priority needs of the infrastructure of Winnipeg and this entire province, have agreed on that particular project as part of the infrastructure needs, and I might say that the project also, of course, includes the twinning of Kenaston between Wilkes and Scurfield Road, and if anybody has driven in that area and does not believe that that is a hazardous route with the tremendous volume of traffic it takes, then I would say that that person is irresponsible.

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Cost‑Benefit Analysis

Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Neither is it a fabrication to note that the $30 million is the most amount of money that the federal, provincial and civic governments and municipal governments all across this province have allocated to a project that they are now putting on the fast track, Mr. Speaker.

There are a number of citizens in the Premier's own riding who are quite concerned that they are the David fighting against the Goliath with the federal government and the Premier and the city all against their concerns about their local issues.

Mr. Speaker, we are spending $30 million on this project. We have designated $30 million for this underpass, and the City of Winnipeg planner of transportation and research indicates that there has been no detailed benefit, cost and prioritization analysis, that it was not undertaken for the Kenaston underpass project.

Would the Premier now stop this project and have the cost‑benefit analysis and prioritization analysis of this project?

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Mr. Speaker, when the Leader of the Opposition was the Minister of Urban Affairs, he did not cause a cost‑benefit analysis to be done when he chose to build a bridge over the Red River, a Chief Peguis Trail, a bridge that was not the city's No. 1 priority at the time, but he put $10 million of provincial money on the table as the carrot in order to force the city government at the time to build that bridge which was not its No. 1 priority.

It was not its No. 1 priority, but he said, we want this to go to the top of the list, because it services the East Kildonan‑North Kildonan area he represented and that others represented. That is the kind of politics he played, Mr. Speaker.

We are not playing politics with this. This is three levels of government, three levels of government that are building a project that has been on the books for a long time. It is the No. 1 priority grade separation for the City of Winnipeg's transportation plans. That is why it is going ahead.

Independent Review

Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): The Premier will find a cost‑benefit analysis, Mr. Speaker, before we did match the city grants as part of the $100‑million city capital project, but even if there was not, two wrongs do not make a right. There was an analysis, and I would ask the Premier to review it.

There is no cost‑benefit analysis, Mr. Speaker, and the citizens of that area believe their own MLA is not representing their interests in terms of the people adjacent to the Kenaston area. They believe that the politicians, the Premier, the south end federal M.P.s have stacked the cards against them, and they cite as evidence the fast‑track process that is outlined in the project guideline.

Mr. Speaker, will the Premier then grant his own constituents and the people in his own community, along with the people of Manitoba that are concerned about this $30‑million expenditure, will the Premier grant an independent review of this process as these people have asked, so that they can have an objective review, and we as taxpayers can get an objective review of this $30‑million expenditure?

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Mr. Speaker, this evening there will be a public forum for people to make their views known, for people to express their concerns and put on the table legitimate issues to do with that particular project.

Those people will be able to do so in a public forum, and not try and do what the Leader of the Opposition is doing, making cheap politics out of this to try and pit one area of Manitoba against another area of Manitoba.

We know what motivates and drives the Leader of the Opposition, and we know that there are opportunities in place for the people to make their legitimate concerns heard, and they will be listened to.

Pukatawagan, Manitoba

Public Health Emergency

Mr. Jerry Storie (Flin Flon): Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Health.

The community of Pukatawagan has been facing a health emergency for approximately six months. During that time, the community has been forced to boil all of its water, a community of approximately 1,700 or 1,800 people because of the inadequacy of the water treatment plant, and the consequences‑‑and I want to table this‑‑are some 1,100 cases of skin disease in a population of 1,700. Intestinal diseases, as well, are rampant.

Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Health. Will the Minister of Health use his office and the public health office representative to attend Pukatawagan to determine the scale of the health emergency in that community and perhaps outline some remedial measures that should be taken to resolve that problem?

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Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Mr. Speaker, I thank the honourable member for the question. He has raised this with me previously and outlines to me what I believe to be a matter of serious importance for the people in the region to which he refers.

I have had discussions, through my office, with Dr. Guilfoyle, Chief Medical Officer of Health, to find out what he thinks about this particular matter. We really ought to engage the local member of Parliament in this discussion, as well, as well as the representatives of the band and the Swampy Cree Tribal Council.

I understand that the federal government makes some dollars available to the tribal council for the purpose of looking after medical health issues in those regions, and Swampy Cree has not used the dollars made available, I understand, for that purpose to this point. Now, that does not mean they have not done anything, because I have not ascertained what else they might have done.

Certainly, this matter should be raised at the band level and also with the federal government. Our government is responsible for issuing those kinds of orders to ensure immediate safety, but other levels of government are responsible for remediation of the problem.

Mr. Storie: The community understands that the federal government, who is responsible for the infrastructure, would be responsible for remediation.

Mr. Speaker, the community has been without safe drinking water, safe water to use for household purposes, for bathing, for more than six months.

My question to the minister is, if the Health department officials are prepared to declare a health emergency in the community of Pukatawagan, will the minister agree to meet with the federal minister of health and welfare of Canada and the federal Minister of Indian Affairs to push for a solution to this long‑standing and unsatisfactory situation?

Mr. McCrae: I believe the suggestions the honourable member makes are worthwhile and are certainly worth considering very seriously. Whether we do all of those things or some of them, I will report back to the honourable member. I intend to follow this matter up.

The relationship of the community with the federal government I did not think was so terrible, but something is going on in the sense that they are not getting the job done, and it needs to get done. The honourable member's concern is very well placed, and I am sure it is shared by all of the people in the community.

Mr. Storie: Mr. Speaker, it is somewhat ironic that the Mathias Colomb Band is the only Manitoba band that is the signatory to Treaty 6, which specifically references the federal obligation to health, the medicine chest.

My question to the minister is, will the minister authorize staff to travel to Pukatawagan today or at the earliest opportunity to begin the process of assessing the health risk first‑hand from a provincial point of view?

Mr. McCrae: The honourable member's suggestion about the declaration of a health emergency is certainly something I will follow up with Dr. Guilfoyle's office and Health staff, if that is the appropriate thing, according to their advice. Of course, the honourable member's urgings and my own are now on the record, so we will make sure that the concern is understood.

Burns Committee

Report Tabling Request

Mr. Paul Edwards (Leader of the Second Opposition): Mr. Speaker, this morning, we have had confirmed by two members on the Burns committee that the report has, in fact, been completed. I would ask the First Minister if, in fact, he is aware of that, if he has received the report and will he be tabling it today.

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Mr. Speaker, I have not yet received the report, and I am still awaiting the results from the Burns committee.

Mr. Edwards: Well, Mr. Speaker, I trust that the First Minister will, in fact, seek his own confirmation that it has been completed and seek to receive that report as soon as possible, given the time constraints that the entire situation is currently under.

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Winnipeg Jets

Bond Issue

Mr. Paul Edwards (Leader of the Second Opposition): My second question for the First Minister: This morning in the Department of Finance Estimates, there was a lot of discussion about the success that the province has had in bond issues, whether it be the Grow Bonds Program, the Hydro and Builder Bonds, as a means of raising local capital and retaining that capital in the province of Manitoba.

I have raised this previously with the First Minister. Has the First Minister spoken to the Minister of Finance or his department officials and prepared that as an option for the raising of capital for the Winnipeg Jets, potentially a new arena, private money through a bond issue?

Has that option been pursued so that it can be put forward in a relatively short time span in the event that that is seen as a way to raise capital to preserve the team and, in fact, potentially finance a new arena?

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Clearly, the government of Manitoba can issue bonds to raise money for any particular purpose. In that particular case, though, it costs the people, the taxpayers of Manitoba the interest on those bonds. Secondly, the full cost of the loss of that capital, if the team loses money, is totally then the responsibility of the government.

My understanding, No. 1, is that people are not likely to put equity investment in an investment that is guaranteed to lose money, so who is going to take the responsibility for the losses of putting in the capital? So the government then guarantees the bonds, pays the interest and, finally, is responsible for losses beyond that. I do not see how that solves the problem, Mr. Speaker.

Financial Status

Mr. Paul Edwards (Leader of the Second Opposition): The very losing investment that the First Minister says the people of this province would never invest in, he on their behalf has invested heavily in and has committed us to a long‑term commitment to that very losing venture that he has just talked about.

Mr. Speaker, the issue of a guarantee, the issue of interest payments, are not issues that are necessary to a bond issue.

My final question is for the First Minister.

Many weeks ago, I believe three weeks ago, I raised with the First Minister the issue, and I cast it as what remains today, which is the suggestion that, in fact, some of the initial capital which was used as the buy‑in to the NHL by this franchise, approximately $5 million, I am led to believe, which has simply been financed in the interim period, was, in fact, being paid down. At this point, the principal was being paid down. It was raised as a suggestion which I felt needed clearing up. The First Minister indicated that he had no knowledge and that he would look into it.

Does he have information today, Mr. Speaker, about whether or not that allegation, in fact, has any validity?

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): I am told that the allegation has no validity.

In response to the member's preamble, I want to say that he is critical of us taking responsibility for team losses. He now not only wants to take responsibility for team losses, but he wants to take responsibility for $150 million to buy the team and the arena and the interest on that annually. That is why he is taking a leap of faith well beyond anything that he has been critical of.

Point of Order

Mr. Edwards: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker, the First Minister's response is spurious and misguided. There has never ever been a suggestion that it necessitated a guarantee or‑‑

Mr. Speaker: Order, please. The honourable member does not have a point of order. The honourable member clearly has a dispute over the facts. There is no point of order.

Northern Fly‑in Sports Camps

Lottery Revenues

Hon. Jim Ernst (Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Lotteries Foundation Act): Mr. Speaker, I took as notice, on, I believe, Tuesday last, questions from the member for Rupertsland (Mr. Robinson).

The member for Rupertsland questioned why the number of communities served by the Northern Fly‑In Sports program had dropped from 16 to six in just the past two years.

I can advise the member that the program will operate with six communities this year, as it did in 1993. In 1992, the program did not have 16 communities, Mr. Speaker; it had four. In 1991, it had seven, and in 1990, it had eight. The member would have to go all the way back to 1989 before there were 16 communities in the program.

The second question I took as notice was why there has not been an increase of the $50,000 currently committed. The member should be aware that government officials met frequently with Northern Fly‑In Sports Camps last year to develop an appropriate level of funding.

Against the budget of $182,000, the Department of Northern Affairs has contributed $50,000, not from Lotteries but from the AJI fund. The Manitoba Community Services Council also allocated $50,000 in lottery funding. CareerStart has contributed $8,400, and the Manitoba Telephone System has also made a corporate contribution. That represents a total provincial commitment of $108,600, representing 60 percent of the camp's budget.

The province has been the most reliable funder of this project and has met the expectations of the board of the Northern Fly‑In Sports program. There is also a complementary program run through the Department of Recreation providing another $150,000 for training of northern recreation directors, providing long‑term community‑based funding and community‑based leadership.

Port of Churchill

Grain Exports

Mr. Eric Robinson (Rupertsland): Mr. Speaker, I will have further discussions with the minister with respect to my previous questions on the Northern Fly‑In Sports Camps.

Today my question is for the Minister of Transportation.

The situation facing the Port of Churchill is becoming increasingly serious, as it does about this time of the year each year. This week, town officials met with the Director General of Ports Canada, Mr. Bob Tytanec. Mr. Bob Tytanec also met with the Wheat Board officials this week, yesterday, in fact, and the report that he brought back was there was nothing new to report. While grain could and should be shipped out of the port now, as of this morning, no commitment has been made, and just 15 people are working at the port.

What commitment has the Minister of Transportation had from the Wheat Board or CNR concerning the port this year?

Hon. Glen Findlay (Minister of Highways and Transportation): Mr. Speaker, I can inform the member that we do not have any additional information on what he has brought to the House today. Again, we refer back to Manitoba Liberal M.P.s in terms of their commitment that a million tonnes should go through the Port of Churchill. The season is now very close to being upon us. Next month, the ships should be coming in.

We now have a federal Liberal government in place in Ottawa which is responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board, responsible for following up on that commitment they made to the citizens of Manitoba that a million tonnes should go through there. I fully expect them to follow up on that commitment, and we expect announcements from them at any time to fulfill the commitment they have made to the citizens of Manitoba.

Mr. Robinson: Mr. Speaker, has the minister received any response from the federal Transport minister concerning the opposition of Manitoba to the elimination of the grain transportation subsidies? I am referring directly to the letter that was signed by this honourable minister and the honourable Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Enns).

Mr. Findlay: Mr. Speaker, we sent a letter on June 19 to the honourable Doug Young, the Minister of Transport in the federal Liberal government. To this date, we have no acknowledgement of his receiving the letter or any response to it.

Mr. Robinson: Mr. Speaker, my final question is to the same minister.

Considering the seriousness of the situation, is the minister prepared to consider sending an all‑party delegation to Ottawa to press the federal government to live up to their commitment of one million tonnes of grain this year?

Mr. Findlay: Mr. Speaker, we certainly expect the federal Liberal government to respond to a number of issues in front of us. I think I have told the member that we have sent some 14 letters and got response to four.

I can tell the member that provincial ministers across the country are meeting in Calgary on July 7. We fully expect Mr. Young to be there, and we have brought a number of issues to his attention, including the ones raised by the member here and which are also of equal concern to other Transport ministers across western Canada. We expect Mr. Young to start consulting with us and talking to us directly about what his plan is and how he plans to fulfill the promises made by his peers during the course of the last election.

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Unemployment Insurance Commission

Training Freeze

Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Mr. Speaker, last year, the federal government had spent all of its training allocations for Manitoba by July. This year, the monies were frozen by the beginning of June, and at KCC, for example, I believe that this has meant the reduction of UIC‑supported training by about 50 percent.

Will the Minister of Education tell us what the impact of this has been on Manitoba? Could he tell us whether he has met or spoken with the federal minister since I first raised this issue with him last week?

Hon. Clayton Manness (Minister of Education and Training): Mr. Speaker, I have not met with Mr. Axworthy since that point in time, but we will be having an internal meeting today, preparing for the national meeting with respect to all the ministries, and in our government, there are three that are involved, as Mr. Axworthy brings forward his blueprint for social reform.

Ms. Friesen: Mr. Speaker, could the minister tell us what advice he would give to those 50,000 unemployed Manitobans who have no UIC training support in Manitoba and who face diminishing opportunities for training as a result of the actions of this government in ACCESS programs, in New Careers and in adult basic education?

Where do disadvantaged and unemployed Manitobans turn for training?

Mr. Manness: Mr. Speaker, if the member is asking me to reply to a question that should more legitimately be directed towards a federal member or the federal minister, then I suggest the member put that question to either Mr. Axworthy or, indeed, the Liberal government.

Let me point out, however, though, this government recognizes the impact on those who are unemployed who have been drawing support through that insurance program and, of course, who will be caught in some of the changes, but, Mr. Speaker, being mindful of that statement, I also recognize that the fund has to continue to be supportable, that there have to be changes considered, although we will do the best we can to ensure that those in Manitoba who are impacted are impacted in the least negative fashion.

Ms. Friesen: Mr. Speaker, adult basic education, New Careers and ACCESS are clearly provincial programs. That was what I was asking the minister.

Worker Adjustment Branch

Training Programs

Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): I would like to ask the Minister of Labour a final supplementary question, to explain why his department has changed the programs under the worker adjustment section of his department to reduce the number of training opportunities for individuals from an estimated 275 to an estimated 125.

Hon. Darren Praznik (Minister of Labour): Mr. Speaker, I think the key to the answer to this question lies in some of the wording of the question itself; that is, the estimate.

The reduction that is shown in our budget is reflective of actually what our draw was on that particular fund, and I look forward to discussing this further with her, in greater detail in Estimates, which I understand we will be into this afternoon.

Health Care Facilities

Rape Assessments

Ms. Becky Barrett (Wellington): Mr. Speaker, a woman is raped in Canada every six minutes. Currently there are in Manitoba no standardized protocols to deal with these victims in emergency rooms, and only the Health Sciences Centre and St. Boniface Hospital do rape assessments.

Will the Minister of Health ensure that when the Departments of Health, Justice, the major police forces and the Manitoba hospital organizations meet, as he said they would yesterday, to establish a protocol, that they set uniform standards in all Manitoba hospitals which include the training of all medical staff, as recommended in the Pedlar report?

Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Mr. Speaker, yesterday, when I commented on this particular matter, I made it clear that criminal activity is criminal activity, and if we appropriately deal with victims coming into our hospital system and if there is a reporting mechanism that can be used to protect other potential victims and to deal with the offenders, then we should be doing that.

I will take what the honourable member is saying as a good suggestion for the meeting that we are arranging with the various agencies she referred to.

Ms. Barrett: Mr. Speaker, will the minister, when this group meets, also ensure that the group investigates the possibility of instituting mobile crisis teams so that rape victims and other victims of abuse, assault and neglect have access to trained medical and social services personnel wherever they live in Manitoba, even if they do not have immediate access to a hospital?

Mr. McCrae: Mr. Speaker, I do not understand what the mobile crisis team to which the honourable member refers would look like. I would be interested in hearing further from her as to how such teams should be put together and so on.

We do have various services available now, but mobile crisis teams in this area are not something I think we have developed to the extent that the honourable member is suggesting, but I would like to know more about what she is suggesting.

Ms. Barrett: Mr. Speaker, I will provide some information that I have to the honourable minister.

Nurse‑Managed Care Committee