LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF
Friday, April 8, 1994
The House met at 10 a.m.
PRAYERS
Speaker's Statement
Mr. Speaker:
I have a statement for the House.
I must inform the House that Judy Wasylycia‑Leis, the honourable
member for
I
am pleased to inform the Assembly that the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
has received from the chief electoral officer a notice respecting the election
of Harry Schellenberg as the member for the constituency of Rossmere, Eric
Robinson as member for the constituency of Rupertsland, Gord Mackintosh as the
member for the constituency of St. Johns, Norma McCormick as the member for the
constituency of Osborne, and Gary Kowalski as the member for the constituency
of The Maples. I hereby table the notice
respecting these elections.
Introduction of New Members
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the
Opposition): Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present to
you Harry Schellenberg, member for the electoral division of Rossmere, who has
taken the oath, has signed the roll and now claims the right to take his seat.
Mr. Speaker:
Congratulations, Harry. On behalf
of all honourable members, I would like to welcome you to the Legislative
Assembly of Manitoba and wish you well in your parliamentary career. Good luck, sir.
Mr. George Hickes (Point Douglas):
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present to you Eric Robinson, member
for the electoral division of Rupertsland, who has taken the oath and signed the
roll and now claims the right to take his seat.
Mr. Speaker:
On behalf of all honourable members, I would like to welcome you, sir,
to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and wish you well in your parliamentary
career. All the best, Eric. Congratulations.
Ms. Becky Barrett (
Mr. Speaker:
On behalf of all honourable members, I would like to welcome you to the
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and wish you well in your parliamentary
career. Good luck. All the best.
* (1005)
Mr. Paul Edwards (Leader of the
Second Opposition): Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present to
you Norma McCormick, member for the electoral division of Osborne, who has
taken the oath and signed the roll and now claims the right to take her seat.
Mr. Speaker:
Congratulations, Norma. On behalf
of all honourable members, I welcome you to the Legislative Assembly of
Manitoba and wish you well in your parliamentary career. Good luck.
All the best.
Mr. Edwards:
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present to you Gary Kowalski, member
for the electoral division of The Maples, who has taken the oath and signed the
roll and now claims the right to take his seat.
Mr. Speaker:
Congratulations, sir. Welcome to
the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, and I wish you well in your parliamentary
career.
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
TABLING OF REPORTS
Hon. Darren Praznik (Minister of
Labour): Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to table at
this time the 1992‑93 Annual Report of the Civil Service Commission as
well as the Actuarial Report on the Public Service Group Insurance Fund as at December
31st, 1991, as well as the Actuarial Report on The Civil Service Superannuation
Fund as at December 31st, 1992.
Mr. Speaker:
I am also pleased to table the Annual Report of the Chief Electoral
Officer on The Election Finances Act for the year 1992.
I
am also tabling the Statutory Report for September 21, 1993, by‑elections
in the electoral divisions of Osborne, Rossmere, Rupertsland,
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 this morning Senator
JoAnn Morford‑Burg and her husband Quinten from the state of
On
behalf of all honourable members, I would like to welcome you here this
morning.
* (1010)
ORAL QUESTION PERIOD
Health Care System
Staffing‑‑Status Report
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the
Opposition): Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier.
In
1992 I asked the Premier a number of questions about staffing and patient care
at a number of the hospitals, particularly the Health Sciences Centre and
Subsequent
to that date, in 1993 we had the health reform fanfare of the government. Of course, this fanfare is now noticeably
missing from the words of the Speech from the Throne that was tabled by the
government yesterday, and we had the hiring of a person named Connie Curran to
implement the plans of the Minister of Health in terms of health care
reductions and cutbacks to the people of
Mr.
Speaker, after the Premier (Mr. Filmon) changed his cabinet in the middle of
the by‑elections and changed his Minister of Health, we heard four days
later that there would be a "health care pause" so we can reflect and
evaluate the impact of the Curran and government cutbacks that were being
implemented by his government, the Conservative government.
I
would like to ask the Premier today:
What is the status of the so‑called pause that was announced on
September 14, and what is the status of employment and patient care at
hospitals, particularly our two teaching hospitals in
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of
Health): Mr. Speaker, the pause to which the
honourable Leader of the Opposition refers had to do with staffing guidelines
being reviewed by my department, by the Manitoba Association of Registered
Nurses, by the Manitoba Association of Licensed Practical Nurses, by the
College of Physicians and Surgeons and by the Registered Psychiatric Nurses'
Association of Manitoba so that we could be sure that any staffing changes in
hospitals in Manitoba would not have a negative impact on patient care.
That,
Mr. Speaker, is our bottom line. That is
our bottom line at Health Sciences Centre.
That is our bottom line at St. Boniface Hospital.
As
you know, the work restructuring project at those two tertiary hospitals has
generated hundreds and hundreds of ideas, generated by hundreds and hundreds of
our fellow Manitobans, professionals and workers who work in these hospitals‑‑nurses,
dietitians, technicians‑‑and those ideas are presently under review
by myself.
I
expect in a short time to be able to announce the government position on those
recommendations.
Mr. Doer:
Well, I am very disappointed the Premier is not taking control of this
issue, Mr. Speaker. It is the largest
area of spending in the government.
During
the last session and the session before, the Premier sat on his hands, said
nothing about health care, obviously does not care about health care. He does not even stand up on the first
question in this Chamber, and in the last Question Period last year, he would
not answer about health care either.
Mr.
Speaker, the Minister of Health is working with a management‑labour
committee along with his Minister of Labour (Mr. Praznik). The Minister of Health met with this
committee in December of 1993.
Finally,
for the first time, we have in writing in January of 1994 that in addition to
all the reductions in staff and all that impact on patient care, an additional
1,500 people will lose their jobs at St. Boniface Hospital and the Health
Sciences Centre if the so‑called government agenda continues to roll
through those hospitals.
I
would like to ask the Premier: What is
the status of those additional 1,500 people who will lose their jobs, and what
will be the impact on patient care in the
Mr. McCrae:
One of the reasons to have a pause last fall, Mr. Speaker, was that
changes in health care would indeed have an impact on employment in
There
is an exciting future in health care, not only for those who need health care
services, but also those who provide them.
* (1015)
Mr. Doer:
I am pleased to see the minister confirming what we have said during all
last year's session, that there was no plan, there was no sensitivity to patients
and staff, there was no agenda for government.
There were just ad hoc decisions and ad hoc rhetoric in this Chamber,
with no sensitivity to the patients and people of
I
ask the Premier (Mr. Filmon) a very direct question: After he has changed his ministers and after
being in government now for close to six years, what is the status of the
recommendation on 1,500 people losing their jobs at St. Boniface and Health
Sciences Centre? What is the status? Are they going to implement those 1,500
reductions, and what will be the impact on patients? Where are these changes going to take
place? Where are these layoffs going to
take place? What will be the impact on
the facilities that already have people in the hallways, have patients waiting
for services?
The
system is quite stretched, Mr. Speaker, based on the Tory agenda on health
care.
Mr. McCrae:
Mr. Speaker, the honourable member uses a number that is extremely
exaggerated because, if he talks to our fellow Manitobans who are involved in
the generation of these recommendations‑‑after all, you know, we
have been asked: You want some ideas,
ask us, we work in the system.
That
is exactly what we did, and the people who work at those hospitals generated
the ideas that do talk about improvements to patient care and changes to the
labour situation.
The
honourable member's question also fails to mention that‑‑I do not
know if he showed up that day or not, but we have been opening personal care
home beds in Manitoba‑‑oh, yes, I remember he sent a colleague for
that. We are providing alternative
services in the community through long‑term care, so the honourable
member in his question does not remember to mention that part of it.
The
number that he uses is grossly, grossly exaggerated. Because of labour adjustment, because of
vacancy rates, because of careful use of attrition and all of those things, we
are going to be able to provide improved care to patients with a much reduced
impact in terms of labour, as might have been expected previously.
As
I said, hospitals do not have the same labour adjustment strategies as this
government has had over the last six years.
We are now going to be able to have that, and it is going to make it
much better for the people who work there.
Mr. Doer:
Mr. Speaker, this report follows a meeting the minister had with
management and labour in all the hospitals.
The report sent to the government from these experts, working, as the
minister has indicated, at the bedside, indicates fully that‑‑and I
will quote from page 2‑‑these numbers will get larger as reform
rolls over the months and years ahead.
It
is projected that if fully implemented, proposed additional budget cuts‑‑that
is budget cuts made by this government‑‑at
Now,
will the minister, if he says this number is exaggerated‑‑and this
is already in addition to the number of cuts they have already made with the
line‑ups that have already taken place in the hospitals‑‑will
the Premier (Mr. Filmon) today tell us what is the numbering?
They
have been in office six years. What is
it?
Mr. McCrae:
Mr. Speaker, I have asked that same question of the management of the Health
Sciences Centre and St. Boniface and, unfortunately, because of the way the
union agreements work with respect to bumping, they are not even able to tell
how many jobs will be affected in the future.
As
I have said, with labour adjustment, we expect that to be minimized, but I am
also asking for the honourable member's support as I approach the unions to
say, let's do away with this bumping business, because that does not work when
we are in a reform mode. That works
perhaps in the annual operation of a hospital where you might have to make
adjustments, but we are talking about larger adjustments now and bumping does
not work well.
So
I am asking the unions and I am asking the members of the opposition to help
us, not just to help the honourable member, but to help the people who work in
these hospitals who have given us so much service over the years.
By
the way, Mr. Speaker, bumping can be dangerous to patients, and our honourable
members opposite interested in joining me in asking for that kind of a change,
so that as change happens, we do not have to have that kind of negative impact
on patients. I do not want that. I do not think the honourable member does.
Work
with us, please, on that point.
* (1020)
Mr. Doer:
I would go back to the Premier (Mr. Filmon), Mr. Speaker. The minister did not answer the
question. He was talking about how he
was going to fire people or lay them off, rather than how many there will be
and what will be the impact on patients.
Now,
if the number of 1,500 is exaggerated, and this number comes from management
and from workers based on government budget decisions, their decisions, your
decisions, this Premier's decisions, I would just like to know‑‑and
I think the people of Manitoba are entitled to know from the Premier, who has
two ministers working on this committee and a previous minister that started
these cuts, all of which he approved:
How many people will be reduced and what will be the impact on patients?
A
very simple question‑‑six years in office, you should have the
answer.
Mr. McCrae:
Mr. Speaker, the intention, my clear intention, as stated many, many
times, is to keep that number to the absolute minimum. It is impossible because of bumping for me to
answer the honourable member's question directly, but his number is greatly
exaggerated.
The
document the honourable member is flourishing today is not a new thing. This has been a very transparent process, Mr.
Speaker. Hundreds and hundreds of people
know exactly what is going on in those hospitals because hundreds and hundreds
of people have been involved in generating the ideas for improved patient care.
I
hope the honourable Leader of the Opposition is not opposed to improving
patient care and I hope he is not opposed to treating the people who work in
those hospitals as compassionately as we can.
Health Care System
Staffing‑‑Status Report
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the
Opposition): The only bumping that has gone on is the bumping
of the former Minister of Health to the present Minister of Health by the
Premier, Mr. Speaker, and we still cannot get any answers from the person who
is supposed to be in charge of this thing‑‑the Premier.
I
have asked the question four times now:
How many people are going to be laid off at the two teaching hospitals,
and what will be the impact on the patients in
Surely
the Premier can answer the question: Is
it 1,500, is it 1,400, is it zero, have they frozen it till past the election?
Please
tell the people of
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier):
Mr. Speaker, I am sure that it will not go unnoticed by all those who are
observers of this Legislature Question Period the cheap politics that the
Leader of the Opposition is attempting to play.
When
he is asking questions of detail on the Department of Health, those questions
are most appropriately answered by the Minister of Health. When he wants to talk about specific reports
generated within the hospital system to do with decisions made and their policy
issues and reviews being made within that, those are most appropriately answered
by the Minister of Health.
The
kind of cheap gamesmanship that he wants to play, Mr. Speaker, will not benefit
him and certainly will not benefit the people of
Unemployment Rate
Provincial Comparisons
Mr. Paul Edwards (Leader of the
Second Opposition): Mr. Speaker, today the people of this country
received some good news about the unemployment rate nationally for the last
month, and I for one want to say that I think we are all pleased to see that
trend starting to occur nationally as, hopefully, the country pulls out of this
dark and deep recession.
I
do want to point out to the Premier and ask the Premier today about the
My
question to the Premier: Given that for
the last six years, as reiterated yesterday, the key platform is job creation,
why are we third worst in the country on that particular point this last month?
* (1025)
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier):
Mr. Speaker, I know that the member opposite studied long and hard to
try and find a dark cloud behind the silver lining that was contained within
the unemployment figures. That, of
course, is his normal attitude toward these kinds of things. I would have thought that he would have risen
and said that he was very happy that the unemployment rate in
Mr. Edwards:
I did not say that.
An Honourable Member:
What were you saying about cheap politics?
Mr. Filmon:
No, no, he referred to the national rate, tried to cozy up and toady up
to his federal Liberal government. He
was very specific as to how he phrased it.
I know that he likes to try and bask in the glow of his federal Liberal
counterparts, but it was the
In
addition to that, of course, he declined to congratulate the government for the
fact that last year we had the third best job creation growth of any province
in
I
think that if he looks at the trends, if he looks at the way in which things
are being announced these days, that he will find that Manitoba is on a very
positive path, and I look forward to debating these issues and comparing these
numbers with him as time goes on throughout the course of the year.
Mr. Edwards:
Mr. Speaker, let me assure the Premier, it did not take long to see the
trend that I pointed out to him. It is
on the first page of the labour statistics.
I
want to ask the Premier again: Why, of
the 7,000 people who got jobs in this province in the last month, 6,000 of them‑‑86
percent, third worst in the country‑‑why were 6,000 as a result of
out‑migration, were people leaving their jobs?
Why
is job creation in this province, when it has been the lead priority for six
years, still third worst in the country, Mr. Speaker? I would like an answer from the Premier.
Mr. Filmon:
Mr. Speaker, the interesting thing is that the member opposite wants to
try and selectively choose from one month's statistics the worst circumstances
that he can put together.
I
point out to him that last year the
I
point out to him that in terms of job creation our statistics for full‑time
jobs being created in '93 were actually the second best in
Now,
I know he is going to ask another question, Mr. Speaker, so I will wait until
after to talk about the improvement as well in the manufacturing employment
statistics that are shown in these figures.
Mr. Edwards:
Mr. Speaker, talk about being selective.
Yes, 6,000 new jobs last year. That
is because we lost 10,000 the year before in 1992.
Mr.
Speaker, when they got the majority government in 1990, there were 15,000 more
Manitobans working than today. That is
the bottom line. The bottom line is that
Manitobans are not working, not getting back to work at the same rate as the
national level.
He
wants to talk about the manufacturing investment. Overall capital investment is down half a
billion dollars a year since he got his majority government.
My
question for this Premier: Why are we
not keeping up? Why are Manitobans still
in the doldrums of the national economy?
Why are we not joining with the national recovery to the same extent
that all Manitobans would like to, that the federal government would like us
to?
* (1030)
Mr. Filmon:
That is the point, that if you want to selectively take one month's
stats out of a whole continuum of figures, you can try and prove anything, but
if you look at the whole picture, Mr. Speaker, 1993 as a whole, we had the
third best overall job creation rate of any province in
So
the growth that is taking place is taking place in areas in which we shared the
concerns a year or two ago as we went through the combination of a recession
and a restructuring of the economy. That
is taking place worldwide.
These
figures not only are more than competitive in
That
is what the member opposite does not recognize, and this kind of narrow focus
on selective statistics to try and make a political hit in Question Period does
not, I think, befit the status of a Leader of a party.
Health Care System
Staffing‑‑Status Report
Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan):
Nothing is more strategic than the health care system, Mr. Speaker, and
the 1,500 jobs referred to this morning by my leader were not recommendations
of the union, they were not recommendations of management, they were not
recommendations of the hospital. Those
were the guidelines and the recommendations of the government of this
minister. The government is recommending
1,500 more layoffs in the next several years.
Will
the minister categorically today refute those figures? Will he categorically today say no to the
1,500 additional layoffs and directives that the minister has given to his own
committee to determine?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of
Health): The answer is yes. I will not be favouring any approach that
results in 1,500 people leaving their jobs in hospitals in
The
honourable member and his Leader are wrong in what they are saying. They are grossly exaggerating the numbers.
I
again ask the honourable member for his support to get rid of bumping, and I
would ask him today to express publicly his support for getting rid of that,
because it is not good for people who work in hospitals and it is not good for
patient care.
Do
I have the honourable member's support, please?
Mr. Chomiak:
I would like to indicate to the minister, he has my support if the
minister will give me his support in getting rid of the layoffs.
Will
he refute the 1,500 layoffs that his government is projecting in his own
government's committee report? Will he
refute the 1,500 layoffs? It is not
bumping, Mr. Speaker, it is the layoffs that are the problem.
Mr. McCrae:
I just did that, Mr. Speaker. I
just refuted those numbers. I do not
accept them, I will not agree with them.
I do not know whose recommendations the honourable member is saying they
are, but I will not accept 1,500 layoffs.
I
hope that answers the question, but I hope the honourable member will also put
the situation we find ourselves in in a national context. Look at our country, look at our health care
system.
The
honourable member would like us to go back to the way it was 20 years ago. We cannot do that. That system is not sustainable. It leaves nothing for our children. They deserve better than what the honourable
member and his Leader are offering.
We
stand for that better system of the future, a sustainable health care system,
and it does not include the layoff of 1,500 people.
Mr. Chomiak:
Mr. Speaker, the minister did refute it in December when he met with his
own hand‑picked committee.
Will
the minister today write to the 28 members of the management‑labour
committee that they set up in order to deal with labour adjustment and tell
them categorically that there will not be 1,500 layoffs in the system in the
next several years and tell them how many layoffs they are supposed to deal
with in setting up the recommendations for the labour‑management
committee?
How
many layoffs are they supposed to deal with in the system for the committee
that the government set up comprised of labour and management?
Mr. McCrae:
Mr. Speaker, I think the committee the honourable member refers to knows
that they do not have that kind of a job to do, to lay off 1,500 people. The honourable member knows that. I have already answered the question four
times. I do not know what else I can say
to the honourable member.
War on Drugs Committee
Report Tabling Request
Mr. Gord Mackintosh (
The
Minister of Justice, formerly a backbencher, led the war on drugs by having 26
hearings across the
When
will this minister table the report of the war on drugs?
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of
Justice and Attorney General): Mr. Speaker, this
government has spoken with action.
Perhaps this member should find out about the action that has already
taken place.
The
Minister of Education (Mr. Manness), the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae), the
Minister of Family Services (Mrs. Mitchelson) all have initiatives operating
within their departments as a result of the recommendations of the war on
drugs.
Mr. Mackintosh:
Well, the indication of action is the inaction in tabling the war on
drugs.
Will
this minister confirm to this House that this government has no war on drugs at
all? It has a surrender.
Mrs. Vodrey:
This member, Mr. Speaker, has indicated that what he would prefer then
is to look at some papers, and he has told the people of Manitoba in his
question that he would prefer to look at something on paper rather than see the
action that this government has already taken and that ministers of this
government can speak about on the War on Drugs.
Mr. Mackintosh:
My question to the First Minister (Mr. Filmon) then: Will he now stand up and fulfill his election
promise from August 16, 1990, and demand that the Minister of Justice table the
report of the war on drugs and advise the House of the cost of this failed war
and confirm that this government has no war at all?
Mrs. Vodrey:
Mr. Speaker, I will not presume to speak on behalf of my colleagues, but
I am sure the member will have the opportunity in the coming weeks and months
to question individual ministers‑‑the Minister of Education (Mr.
Manness), the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae), the Minister of Family Services
(Mrs. Mitchelson)‑‑and they will be able to provide and speak about
initiatives.
Just
by way of example, the Minister of Education might speak about the health
education, drug education program that is taking place within the health
curriculum now. There are a number of
initiatives.
I
think the member across the way just needs to have a little bit more
opportunity in this House to question members and find out about the action that
has taken place.
Gillam/Bird Crisis Centre
Opening‑‑Minister's Attendance
Mr. Eric Robinson (Rupertsland):
Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Justice.
Given
the new interest in working with community‑based groups that the throne speech
talked about yesterday and assuming that is now government policy, will the
minister be attending the official opening of the Gillam/Bird Crisis Centre
this weekend?
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of
Justice and Attorney General): Mr. Speaker, the
member will know I do receive a number of invitations. I make every effort to attend as many
openings and as many opportunities to visit areas within this province and
particularly areas which are my responsibility as Minister of Justice and
Minister responsible for the Status of Women.
Domestic Violence
Northern Resource Centres
Mr. Eric Robinson (Rupertsland):
Mr. Speaker, this proposal has been on the minister's desk for the past
six months. Why did she not make it a
priority instead of making endless efforts for photo opportunities?
Further,
surely a zero tolerance policy in terms of domestic violence must include the
existence of resource centres and crisis centres for women and families at risk
like the one in Gillam and Bird.
Does
this minister believe that facilities are only necessary in
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of
Justice and Attorney General): Mr. Speaker, our
commitment to zero tolerance extends across this province. The Minister of Family Services (Mrs.
Mitchelson) has, I know‑‑certainly operational across this province‑‑shelters
for women, and this government has operationalized a number of areas of
assistance for Manitobans, but we do receive a number of proposals. All of those proposals have to be weighed
against the criterion of fairness for all proposals which this government
receives.
* (1040)
Mr. Robinson:
Mr. Speaker, will the Minister of Justice simply tell this House that
she will assist crisis centres in northern
Mrs. Vodrey:
Mr. Speaker, I make the commitment now, and have certainly made it in
the past, that I will be working with all Manitobans, make every effort to do
so.
Education System
Parental Involvement
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (
Some Honourable Members:
Oh, oh.
Mr. Lamoureux:
Well, they do not know what he has been doing. I do not know why they would be applauding,
Mr. Speaker.
Since
December of last year, the Minister of Education has been talking to his partners‑‑educators,
school trustees, school superintendents and teachers‑‑concerning
education and reform of our education.
Finally,
after four months, in yesterday's throne speech, we hear that the government
now wants to start talking to the parents of the students.
Does
this mean that now the input of parents will be a part of this minister's
blueprint for reform, or are parents only being consulted after this blueprint
has received the minister's rubber stamp?
Hon. Clayton Manness (Minister of
Education and Training): Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to
rise to answer a question from my honourable friend. Through all the dealings of being House
leaders in the past, I enjoy his questions.
Unfortunately,
with this one he is about a million miles off base because, of the virtually 40
meetings I have had with parent groups over the last four months, I do not
think the member for Inkster has been in attendance at even one of them.
So
I think it is only rightful to point out to all the members of the House, Mr.
Speaker, that I have had a large number of meetings with parent groups over the
course of the last four months.
I
am prepared to share the chronology with respect to those meetings with the
member in due course, and I ask him to support, with all of his vigour, the
parents' forum that is going to be coming up later this month.
I
will be making an announcement sometime today with respect to the date and the
location, and I would ask for his full support in respect to that parents'
forum.
Curriculum Standards
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (
This
statement comes from the same government that forced many school divisions to cancel
professional development days, dismissed curriculum branch staff and lowered
standards of language arts and social studies in senior highs. Just what does this minister mean?
Hon. Clayton Manness (Minister of
Education and Training): Mr. Speaker, I am going to have
to correct the record. This government
did not force one school division, did not force one teacher to take off the
professional development day.
As
a matter of fact, as the author and indeed the person who brought forward Bill
22, I pleaded with representatives of the Manitoba Teachers' Society to
voluntarily take a reduction in salary so that those professional days did not
need to be taken off. That was the
approach. So the member again misspeaks
himself and makes a mistake.
With
respect to standards, standards are standards, Mr. Speaker, and the government
will be in dialogue with all of the groups, with all of the community, will be
giving greater detail with respect to the standards. Again, I ask for support from the member for
Mr. Lamoureux:
Mr. Speaker, it is absolutely ludicrous for the Minister of Education to
believe that he has had no impact on the professional development days being
lost to teachers. It is absolutely
ludicrous to believe something of that nature and to state something inside
this Chamber.
Is
the minister telling us that he plans to rebuild the decimated curriculum
development branch? Will he make that
commitment today to reinstate and to live up to some of the commitments that he
made yesterday in the throne speech?
Mr. Manness:
Well, Mr. Speaker, certainly once we move into an opportunity to
dialogue in much greater detail with respect to all education reform issues, I
look forward to the representation from the member with respect to the
curriculum development branch.
His
short question is, are we going to rebuild it?
The short answer is, yes, of course we are, and it will deal with a
number of issues, not the least of which is distance education.
A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd.
Privatization
Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East):
Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the minister responsible for A.E.
McKenzie Co. Ltd. of
The
president of McKenzie Seeds has announced that he is now in negotiation with
some large American corporations to either enter into a partnership or to sell
the company.
Given
the fact that a privately owned or controlled company would move the operation
to central Canada to maximize profits, would move the company out of Manitoba
to maximize profits, why has this government, why has the minister authorized
these negotiations, which will lead to the eventual removal of this company
from Brandon because of the location economics of this industry?
Hon. Harold Gilleshammer (Minister
responsible for A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd.): The member for
Brandon East, of course, knows better than anyone in the House the dark days of
McKenzie Seeds in the early '80s and the mid‑'80s, and I am not sure he
shares the pride that we do with the tremendous turnaround that has taken place
with that company.
I
want the member to know that there are six preconditions, and I hope that I
only have to tell him once so he will listen carefully.
No
strategic alliance or partnership will be entered into unless these
preconditions are met: The unconditional
employment security for the employees of McKenzie Seeds; that the operations
remain in Brandon; that the union remains intact; that there is an enhancement
and expansion of the business through an upgrade of the facility's technology;
that we maintain and increase the market share; and, finally, that we provide
an unconditional commitment to the future of McKenzie Seeds in the community of
Brandon.
Mr. Leonard Evans:
I remember the dark days of 1969 when the Conservative government was
going to sell McKenzie Seeds. I remember
the dark days of Sterling Lyon when they advertised coast to coast to sell
McKenzie Seeds, and I remember in '82 when we refinanced it to keep it alive.
My
question to this minister is: How can
this government even pretend to secure any meaningful guarantee to keep the
operation in
Mr. Gilleshammer:
I would simply point out to the honourable member for Brandon East that
McKenzie in recent years has taken over a firm in
We
have clearly set down six preconditions which will maintain the employment in
I
know that all Manitobans will join with us in looking at these preconditions
and understanding that the priority of this government is to maintain that
operation in the city of
* (1050)
Impact of Trade Agreements
Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East):
If the company is doing so well, I do not know why it is engaged in
these kinds of negotiations, Mr. Speaker.
Will
the minister acknowledge that the Free Trade Agreement and NAFTA, the North
American Free Trade Agreement, have created an environment whereby major
Hon. Harold Gilleshammer (Minister responsible
for A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd.): The member for
Brandon East knows that in his tenure in government the future of McKenzie
Seeds was threatened when there were millions and millions of dollars put in
there by government. We are very proud
in the last three, four years there has been in excess of a million‑dollar
profit. Some of that money has returned
to government.
Our
preconditions that I have enunciated for the member, and I know he did not
listen very carefully because he is busy talking, but he can read the record on
Monday and those six preconditions will ensure the future of McKenzie Seeds in
Brandon.
Mr. Speaker:
The time for Oral Questions has expired.
Speaker's Statement
Mr. Speaker:
Prior to recognizing the honourable member for Kildonan (Mr. Chomiak), I
have some more introductions for the House.
As
members know, the Manitoba Legislative Internship Program has been in operation
since 1985 and each year a total of six interns are chosen for the
program. Again this year, two interns
have been assigned to each of the three caucuses. Their term of employment is 12 months. During their term, interns perform a variety
of research and other tasks for private members as distinct from ministers.
My
purpose today is to announce the names of the six young people who are serving
as
Working
with the government caucus are Mr. Stephane Dorge of the College Universitaire
de Saint Boniface at the U of M and Mr. Jeff Goodyear of the
Working
with the caucus of the official opposition are Ms. Karla Hilton of the
Working
with the caucus of the second opposition party are Ms. Melanie Bejzyk of the
On
behalf of all honourable members, I would like to welcome you.
Introduction of Guests
Mr. Speaker:
We have, seated in the public gallery from
From
the
On
behalf of all honourable members, I would like to welcome you all here this
morning.
MATTER OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan):
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the member for St. Johns (Mr.
Mackintosh), that under Rule 27.(1) that the ordinary business of the House be
set aside to discuss a matter of urgent public importance, namely, that
contrary to the promises made last fall that a pause would be placed on all
health care changes. These cuts are
continuing, causing unnecessary hardship to Manitobans.
Mr. Speaker:
Before recognizing the honourable member for Kildonan, I believe I
should remind all honourable members that under our Rule 27.(2) the mover of
the motion on a matter of urgent public importance and one member of each of
the other parties in the House is allowed not more than five minutes to explain
the urgency of debating the matter immediately.
As
stated in Beauchesne Citation 390, "urgency" in this context means
the urgency of immediate debate, not of the subject matter of the motion. In their remarks, members should focus
exclusively on whether or not there is urgency of debate and whether or not the
ordinary opportunities for debate will enable the House to consider the matter
early enough to ensure that the public interest will not suffer.
Mr. Chomiak:
Mr. Speaker, quite clearly in terms of the first condition that we must
satisfy, this is our first opportunity.
After eight long months of the government stalling in calling the
session, after eight months of the government sitting and trying to determine
what its agenda will be, after eight months after by‑elections, the
government finally called the session to order.
The members were finally prepared to appear before us and answer
questions about the state of health care.
Based
on the fact that this is the first day of debate in this session, Mr. Speaker,
this is my and our first opportunity to raise this matter before the
Chamber. So with respect to the first
condition, I think it is quite clearly satisfied by virtue of that.
Mr.
Speaker, with respect to the second condition, that question had been basically
that there is no other opportunity in which this kind of debate would take
place. We will put forth the arguments
that health care is so crucial to Manitobans that the eight months delay has
been intolerable by members of the opposite side of the House. We cannot go on another day, we cannot go on
another week, we cannot go on indeed any more hours in limiting the debate and
not having an opportunity to call to task the very undesirable changes that
this government has implemented in the health care system.
I
know that we will be going to the throne speech debate. I will not have an opportunity. We will not have an opportunity to discuss the
matter today. I dare say, if anyone had
the opportunity of listening to the documentary done on CJOB last week as to
the state of our health care system, Mr. Speaker, Manitobans have stated
categorically they do not want to wait another minute, another week, another
hour for this government to try to do something to the health care system. They spoke loud and clear in the by‑elections.
The
Premier attempted to shuffle the deck in terms of the by‑elections, but
it is still the same cabinet making the same decisions. Connie Curran still rolls on, rolling up the
dollars and cutting the jobs.
Home
care continues to be cut. As we speak,
people are being cut off home care and continuing to be cut off home care. As we speak, people are paying the user fees
on the home care supplies and the home care equipment and the ostomy supplies,
Mr. Speaker, and this cannot go on one minute longer under this government.
We
cannot go on further increasing the Pharmacare as the ministers have done,
botching the implementation of the Pharmacare card which the members have
botched, keeping reports hidden, like the Bell‑Wade (phonetic) Report
that had to be leaked and Frank Manning's report on obstetrics that had to be
leaked and the midwifery report that has been made public‑‑they
have all been on the desk of the minister‑‑and this morning a
report of the government's own recommendations to its own adjustment committee
to lay off an additional 1,500 people in the health care system.
In
addition, one talks about timing, Mr. Speaker.
As the Canadian dollar falls, Connie Curran's salary goes up. Members of this Chamber ought to be aware
that the contracts, very ably negotiated by Connie Curran and her lawyers, had
a provision for as the Canadian dollar drops‑‑and it is dropping.
Do
the members of this House and the members of the public of Manitoba know that
Connie Curran's fees, those intolerable, disgusting fees‑‑$4
million plus $800,000 in expenses, tax free‑‑are going up as we
speak because of the Canadian dollar going down? There is a provision in that contract, built
in, that provides for Connie Curran.
As
we speak, if we do not have an opportunity to deal with this issue, the
Canadian dollar continues to drop and that means Connie Curran's salary
continues to go up.
In
addition, there is a holdback provision negotiated in the Connie Curran
contract, where the minister any day now is going to release to Connie Curran a
big bundle with dollar signs all around it and he is going to release that to
Connie Curran.
So,
Mr. Speaker, the urgency of this matter cannot be overstated. As we speak, the Canadian dollar goes down,
Connie Curran's contract goes up, we lose money in this province and the
disgusting spectacle and what has happened to our health care system cannot
continue. The layoffs cannot continue.
* (1100)
The
minister has on his desk recommendations for layoffs. Perhaps he will make them today. Perhaps he will make them tomorrow. Perhaps he will make them on a day when he
wants to make a good news announcement so it gets lost. We need to discuss that before those layoffs
take place. He has on his desk right now
recommendations for over 200 cuts at Health Sciences Centre, over 100 cuts at
St. Boniface alone, and both institutions are awaiting his announcement of
whether those cuts proceed.
Mr.
Speaker, hundreds of jobs are in the waiting as we speak, so I hope members
will recognize the urgency and debate this matter today. Thank you.
Ms. Avis Gray (Crescentwood):
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this urgent public debate.
I
think there is no question that public interest would be served today if all
members of this House have an opportunity to debate health care and to debate
the issues which are now not only affecting health care workers in our
hospitals, but health care workers in the community who are affecting‑‑these
health care changes are affecting consumers, are affecting patients and I think
it is very important that we have an opportunity to debate the issue of what is
going on in the two hospitals.
Mr.
Speaker, I have had an opportunity over the last number of months to meet with
various people in St. Boniface Hospital, in Health Sciences Centre‑‑front‑line
workers, administration. I have had the
opportunity to meet with people who work in nonprofit health care organizations
and the one theme that seems to be consistent throughout is that in fact people
are concerned about where health care reform is going with the advent of the
new minister.
One
of the real concerns is that some of the good work that has been done will in
fact not proceed and that that can be worse for staff morale, particularly in
the hospitals than anywhere else. There
is a lot of concern from staff in regard to what exactly is going on and not
knowing if you are going to have a job tomorrow and not knowing if you are
going to have a job next week. So that
is a concern. I think it would serve
this House well and would serve Manitobans well if we had an opportunity to
debate it.
Mr.
Speaker, we have not had the opportunity for debate in some eight long
months. It has been a very long time
since we have had an opportunity to hear from this government on where they are
going with health care. I would like
that opportunity today. I think people
in our constituencies are very concerned and would like to know where is health
care going. We have had a throne speech
document yesterday which really does not provide us with any information as to
what this government is doing, what their direction is in health care reform,
and I think we have a responsibility to Manitobans to discuss that issue today.
Hon. Jim Ernst (Government House
Leader): Mr. Speaker, when you cautioned the Chamber
with regard to this proposal, this motion put forward by the member for
Kildonan (Mr. Chomiak), you readily pointed out that urgency as defined in
Beauchesne is in fact urgency of debate and whether there is an opportunity to
debate this issue soon in this Legislature or whether it is a matter of such
urgent public importance that it needs to be debated today.
Over
the next eight days in the Throne Speech Debate, members of this Chamber will
have ample opportunity to debate this issue.
Every day, all day long and into the night on Monday, we will have an
opportunity to debate this issue over and over and over again. Every member in the Chamber will have an
opportunity to speak at one point or another for 40 minutes ad nauseam on this
particular issue as opposed to the limited time permitted under a matter of
urgent public importance. Following
that, on the 20th of April the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson) has indicated
he will introduce his budget, and we will have eight more days of wide‑ranging
public debate on any issue that members opposite wish to raise. Mr. Speaker, 16 days, the next 16 sitting
days, members of the opposition and members of the government will have an
opportunity to talk about those issues that the member for Kildonan and the
member for Crescentwood have raised here today.
So
I offer, Mr. Speaker, that what is being put forward by the member for
Kildonan, that is, a matter of urgent public importance that would give them a
little more than an hour of debate, is merely political posturing and not a
question of urgent and public importance, because for the next 16 days there
will be ample opportunity for all to debate that issue.
Speaker's Ruling
Mr. Speaker:
I would like to thank all honourable members for their contribution to
the argument of whether the motion proposed by the honourable member for
Kildonan (Mr. Chomiak) is in order as a matter of urgent public importance.
Our
subrule 27.(1) states that I must receive notice of such a motion at least one
hour in advance of the House sitting, and I did receive that notice.
Our
Rule 27 and Beauchesne Citations 389 and 390 tell us that two conditions must
be met before a matter of urgent public importance can proceed. First, that the subject matter must be so
pressing that the ordinary opportunities for debate will not allow it to be
discussed early enough and, second, there must be evidence that the public
interest will suffer if the matter is not given immediate attention. In short, is the matter urgent? In this context, urgency does not apply to
the matter itself. It applies to how
quickly can the issue be discussed in the ordinary proceedings of this House.
There
are other opportunities for debate available, in my opinion. This is the second day of a new legislative
session, and we have before us up to eight days of debate on the Speech from
the Throne during which time the member who raised this matter, and indeed any
other member wishing to, may address the subject of health care.
Right
after the vote and the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne, we will
be moving into the Budget Debate and again honourable members will have a
chance to debate questions relating to health care. In addition, there are the Estimates of the
Department of Health where this subject can be debated, as well as the
opportunity the member for Kildonan will have to use his right to grieve.
Further,
I am not satisfied that the public interest will suffer if the issue is not
debated today. Therefore, I am ruling
the motion out of order because it does not meet the criteria established by
this House. That is, there are other
opportunities for debate and because the public interest will not suffer if the
issue is not debated today.
Mr. Steve Ashton (Opposition House
Leader): Mr. Speaker, with all due respect, I
challenge your ruling.
Mr. Speaker:
The ruling of the Chair having been challenged, all those in favour of
sustaining the Chair, please say yea.
All those opposed, please say nay.
In my opinion, the Yeas have it.
Mr. Ashton:
Yeas and Nays, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker:
A recorded vote having been requested, Deputy Sergeant‑at‑Arms,
call in the members, please.
Division
A RECORDED VOTE was taken, the result being as
follows:
Yeas
Cummings, Dacquay, Derkach, Downey,
Driedger, Ducharme, Enns, Ernst, Filmon, Findlay, Gilleshammer, Helwer,
Laurendeau, McAlpine, McCrae, McIntosh, Manness, Mitchelson, Orchard,
Pallister, Penner, Praznik, Reimer, Render, Rose, Stefanson, Sveinson, Vodrey.
Nays
Ashton, Barrett, Carstairs, Cerilli,
Chomiak, Dewar, Doer, Edwards, Evans (Brandon East), Evans (Interlake),
Friesen, Gaudry, Gray, Hickes, Kowalski, Lamoureux, Lathlin, Mackintosh,
Maloway, Martindale, McCormick, Plohman, Reid, Robinson, Santos, Schellenberg,
Storie, Wowchuk.
Mr. Clerk (William Remnant):
Yeas 28, Nays 28.
Mr. Speaker:
The vote having been tied, I am voting to sustain the ruling of the
Chair. I had already given my decision
on the matter by providing a ruling. I
am now upholding that decision.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
THRONE SPEECH DEBATE
(First Day of Debate)
Mr. Speaker:
Consideration of the speech of His Honour the Lieutenant‑Governor.
Mr. Gerry McAlpine (Sturgeon Creek):
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member for St. Norbert
(Mr. Laurendeau), that an humble address be presented to His Honour the
Lieutenant‑Governor as follows:
We,
Her Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba,
in session assembled, humbly thank Your Honour for the gracious speech which
Your Honour has been pleased to address us at the opening of the present
session.
Motion presented.
Mr. McAlpine:
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to move the acceptance of the throne speech
and I would like to thank the Premier (Mr. Filmon) for giving me the honour of
doing that and the confidence that he and his colleagues have shown in me in
allowing me to move the throne speech.
I
would like to welcome back all the members to the Legislature and especially
those who are with us for the first time:
the honourable member for The Maples (Mr. Kowalski), the member for
Rossmere (Mr. Schellenberg), the member for St. Johns (Mr. Mackintosh), the
member for Osborne (Ms. McCormick) and the member for Rupertsland (Mr.
Robinson). I welcome you to this
Legislature and I wish you well.
A
special welcome to our new Pages, Mr. Speaker.
They have a wonderful task ahead of them and I hope that they will find
it to be a great learning experience as other Pages have had over the years.
Also,
I welcome you back, Mr. Speaker, and once again we look forward to your wisdom
and guidance in the House as you have done so well over the years. There has been considerable attention, given
your position going into this session, and I commend you and appreciate the
effort and the sincerity and that you will undoubtedly carry out your
responsibilities in the best interests of all Manitobans.
I
am also pleased to see that my colleague the honourable member for Seine River
(Mrs. Dacquay) is once again the Deputy Speaker. You too have also done an admirable job in
serving all Manitobans and I wish you continued success.
This
is also an opportunity for me to thank the residents of my constituency, Sturgeon
Creek, who have given me their input and their support as I have asked them for
their opinions to help guide us in governing our province. I want to take this time to thank them for
that input on behalf of the government of Manitoba.
Mr.
Speaker, it is the valued opinion and the ideas of constituents like Sturgeon
Creek and all Manitobans that I would like to discuss for a moment. It is something that this government holds in
high esteem, the opinions of those who have trusted us with the task of governing
the province of Manitoba. Obviously
there is a great diversity of opinions on almost any topic.
* (1130)
Our
goal is to listen to what people say as part of the decision‑making
process. I submit that this government has
made listening to Manitobans a priority.
I commend our Premier (Mr. Filmon) in always communicating that
message. I have found that apparent in
the years that I have had the privilege of serving in this House. Much may have changed since we were first
elected in 1988, but I can assure you that one thing has remained
constant. This government is doing the
right things for the people of Manitoba and for the future of this great
province. This throne speech is an
illustration of our goals for Manitoba.
It is a road map of our plans for the coming months.
One
of the things that this government has shown in the past throne speeches is
that we outlined our plans for all Manitobans to see, and I am pleased to say
we have remained consistent.
Mr.
Speaker, in order for us to know where we are going, we have to recognize where
we have been. For example, since
Manitoba joined Confederation in 1870, our province has had 19 Premiers,
Premier Filmon, our present Premier, being the 19th Premier. In this period of time, the governments of 17
Premiers, including Premier Schreyer, created a debt of just under $4 billion
from 1870 until 1981. During that period
of time, our province built universities, colleges, hospitals, dams, floodways,
our entire infrastructure and more. All
of these things have served our province well.
(Mrs.
Louise Dacquay, Deputy Speaker, in the Chair)
Madam
Deputy Speaker, that brings to me the period of 1981 to 1988. Premier Howard Pawley, with this government,
and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Doer), who served in his government at
that time, spent in the area of $6 billion to increase our debt to what it is
today. It should also be known that
during that time annual revenue growth in our province reached a high of 16 to
17 percent. It is because of that
fiscally irresponsible government that we are left today spending a large
portion of our budget financing the debts of the NDP.
Now
that I have been giving some of the bad news in the past, let me give you some
of the good news, in addition to what has been referred to in the throne
speech. There have been a great number
of items in our throne speech over the years, and I would like to mention some
of the major accomplishments of our Premier (Mr. Filmon) and government.
Despite
the recession and the difficulties of global restructuring, this government has
frozen taxes since 1988. No increase in
personal income tax, no increase in corporate tax and no increase in the sales
tax. These are great accomplishments in
what have been difficult times.
Manitobans are benefiting from these achievements. What this means is that we have gone from the
second highest combined federal‑provincial tax rate to the fourth lowest
in the country. If you look at our sales
tax rate, you will find that we are the second lowest in Canada. It seems that our Liberal and New Democrat
colleagues in other provinces are in a battle to be No. 1; that is, of course,
No. 1 for the highest tax rate. I remind
all Manitobans to seriously consider these accomplishments and put them against
the have‑nots of the Liberal and NDP provinces.
Madam
Deputy Speaker, our throne speech shows that we are not straying from our
course of creating a better environment for both business and indeed all
Manitobans.
One
of our highest priorities is reforming the health care system. Manitobans have told us that we want new
ideas and that they are looking for leadership.
That is exactly what we are doing.
The
throne speech outlines priorities to improve the overall organization of the
health care system. We are making every
effort to make the system more responsive to public needs and far more cost‑effective. Right now we are spending a huge portion of
our budget on health care. Hundreds of
millions of dollars are being spent on the treatment of disease and illness,
and very little on creating health.
We
are also looking to not only treat the ill but to create healthier
Manitobans. This will be achieved only
when the health care professionals and every Manitoban realizes that we must
create health rather than just treat symptoms and disease. Prevention is the best medicine, and it is my
hope that those in the medical community will help meet this fight. We have to get away from the mentality of
filling our hospitals with the sick.
Healthier lifestyles, good individual management of ourselves and
individual responsibility is the only way to overcome the terrible imbalance in
our health care system, not like the honourable member for Concordia, the
Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Doer).
He
stands at his chair today and he references the fact that he is showing so much
interest in our health care system. I
submit to all Manitobans the only thing that he is interested in is dealing
with the unions with the people who are serving the health care system in this
province. He does not care about the
health care in this province; he only is interested in serving the union. That is the mentality of the leader and the
members of the opposite, the NDP.
I
am also concerned about the effect of cigarette smoking on our young children
and what that can lead to down the road.
Young children can quickly become addicted to cigarettes, and that
bothers me, because once addicted to nicotine, the addictions to others like
hard drugs and alcohol happen more readily.
This is part of a drug and alcohol and substance abuse presentation that
I have emphasized to students in my constituency. I can assure you that although I do not
profess to be an expert, I have acquired considerable knowledge on this topic
of alcohol and substance abuse.
That
is why I speak out about the federal government's stand on tobacco taxes. It seems to have been merely a move to boost
the Province of Quebec and the Parti Quebecois.
To our Liberal friends across the way who seem to be hanging on the
coattails of their federal counterparts, shame on you for not standing up for
Manitobans.
As
Harold Macmillan once said, and I quote:
As usual, the Liberals offer a mixture of sound and original ideas. Unfortunately, none of the sound ideas is
original, and none of the original ideas is sound.
As
noted in the throne speech, we must create a health care system that is
equitable and fair, a system that is responsive. I applaud this move, because with the health
care budget that is approaching $2 billion and rising, all Manitobans must
support this move. They must do this in
the interests of the best health care system in the country and in the world.
I
propose that we must teach Manitobans how to create health and I believe that
giving people right information of thought, they will make the right choices of
creating health. They will either do it
willingly or be forced to for fear of death.
This can be achieved with the implementation of, for example, well‑run
wellness centres, centres that teach people how to attain health rather than a
crisis centre based on a symptom‑oriented mentality. Throwing more money into this system will not
work. It has been failing us for
decades. We had the resources here in
Manitoba and the people to help implement this.
Of the health care reform, this is the opportunity that is waiting for
us and all Manitobans. All we need is
the will to do it.
* (1140)
Also
important to creating good health is creating a healthy economic
environment. That goes hand in hand with
attracting more jobs and investments in Manitoba. I could list the jobs created through
ventures involving Unitel, an example of 400 jobs; CP National Call Centre, 210
jobs; Canada Post's Call Centre, 100 jobs; a directed marketing company called
Connexions, four jobs; International Game Technologies, 26 jobs; Monsanto in
Morden, 15 jobs; Ayerst expansion in Brandon, 1,000 jobs; GWE in Brandon, 100
jobs; Net Links in Sturgeon Creek with 40 jobs; and another company that I have
been involved with in Sturgeon Creek over the last couple of years, Infocorp,
have created 20 new jobs and growing. As
a matter of fact, within a year they have outgrown their facilities and are
expanding and adding more people to their employment ranks.
I
am sure my honourable friends in the NDP will join me in welcoming Louisiana
Pacific in Swan River with between 275 and 300 jobs. Every one of these and others that I have not
mentioned means growth in the Manitoba economy, an economy that is healthy and
strong.
Something
our Liberal friends do not understand is that you build an economy a few jobs
at a time. That is why they did a
disservice to all Manitobans by failing to speak out when their federal
colleagues decided to by‑pass Manitoba with the environmental office in
Montreal. My friends across the floor
did not see the significance of the move because it was only about 10
jobs. I am sure I could find 10
Manitobans and their families who would have welcomed those jobs.
Then,
Madam Deputy Speaker, let us not also forget about the cancellation of the EH‑101
contract. One company, Paramax, in my
constituency was forced to lay off 150 high‑tech workers as a result of
this irresponsible move on the part of Liberal strategists who cancelled this
agreement.
Right
or wrong, it did not matter to them that‑‑
Madam Deputy Speaker:
Order, please. I am having great
difficulty hearing the honourable member for Sturgeon Creek (Mr. McAlpine), and
I am certain all members would share in the appreciation of having their speech
listened to.
Mr. McAlpine:
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.
Right or wrong, it did not matter to them, to our Liberal friends across
the way. Their only response was: What?
There will be other jobs.
Where
was our honourable member for St. James (Mr. Edwards) when I was trying to
fight for the jobs in Sturgeon Creek?
Many people in the St. James area, in his constituency, work in the
aerospace industry and are affected by this.
They work in such places as Bristol Aerospace, Standard Aero. Certainly many businesses would be interested
to know that their member of the Legislature from St. James sat quietly while
all this was going on. Is this the kind
of representation the people of St. James deserve? I think not.
They need a member who is prepared to speak out for them regardless of
what his federal friends want to do.
Also
the member of Parliament for Winnipeg‑St. James, who should have had the same
concerns, was nowhere to be seen. Where
was he, and what did he have to say about the government's decision to strip
Manitobans of their jobs?
Madam
Deputy Speaker, another important area outlined in the throne speech was jobs
and economic security. In the coming
weeks, this government will outline initiatives to encourage more small
business expansion. It is a way to
improve the climate, to help people to help themselves.
Governments
should certainly not have a hand in every job created because the business
community do it better and are more efficient.
That I say from experience. That
responsibility lies best with the expansion by small business.
Madam
Deputy Speaker, I would like to read a quote to the House that illustrates some
of what I have been saying. The author
for the moment is unknown, but it goes like this: Man is made or unmade by himself. In the armoury of thought, he forges the
weapon by which he destroys himself. He
also fashions the tools with which he builds heavenly mansions of joy, strength
and peace. By the right choice and the
true application of thought, man ascends to divine perfection. By the abuse and the wrong application of
thought, he descends below the level of the beast. Between these two are all the grades of
character. Man is their maker and
master. Of all the beautiful truths
pertaining to the soul, none is more gladdening or fruitful of divine promise
and confidence than this. That man is
the master of thought, the molder of character and the maker and shaper of
condition of environment and destiny.
This
sentiment applies also to workers and that is why a major set of welfare‑to‑work
initiatives will be unveiled. We will
also continue to strengthen our position in the global marketplace and enhance
trade with the United States and Mexico.
One
of the issues that I personally feel strongly about is our commitment to
personal and community security. I am
pleased that a number of initiatives will tackle the issue of youth crime and
violence through the establishment of wilderness camps.
Of
course, we will continue the Justice minister's effort to toughen the Young
Offenders Act. Young people must be held
more accountable for their actions.
We
will also have to toughen licensing restrictions for motor vehicles for those
who have had convictions.
We
can also give more authority to our teachers in disciplining young
offenders. We can also give more credit
and responsibility to parents of young offenders.
Our
government is also committed to giving parents a greater opportunity to take
part in all aspects of their children's education through a parents'
forum. The Minister of Education has
announced the forum as a way of further consulting Manitobans about making the
education system more relevant and adapting it as the workforce changes. We will also enhance the distance education
program to ensure that no Manitoban is denied the benefits of programs located
in other areas.
Madam
Deputy Speaker, I would like to extend my thanks to the Minister of Justice for
quickly acting upon my concern for our children in the area of the Linwood
School. As you may know, this is an
issue that I feel quite strongly about and have worked to ensure the safety of
residents of Sturgeon Creek.
Now,
on the issue of auto insurance, I have been told that the Liberals hope to make
one of their goals getting rid of no‑fault insurance. Let me give you some friendly advice, and I
will be the first to stand in my place and say that I have had difficulty with
no‑fault insurance to a degree too, but let me give this advice to my
colleagues across the way. High Autopac
rates and the failure to listen to Manitobans got the NDP government of Howard
Pawley in hot water with Manitobans.
Well, if no‑fault auto insurance is thrown out, those Autopac
rates would have to increase substantially.
I am afraid the Liberals would not find that a popular move with most
Manitobans. Madam Deputy Speaker, it is obvious
to me that Manitobans need our government to protect them from the NDP and the
Liberals, who do not care how much people have to spend for insurance.
This
government is also committed to our environment and to promoting sustainable
development.
* (1150)
Madam
Deputy Speaker, while on that topic I would like to phrase and mention an
organization in Sturgeon Creek that I have had the privilege of working with
for the past few years. The Friends of
Bruce Park came to me early in my tenure in this Legislature for support in
making Bruce Park in Sturgeon Creek a better place for the enjoyment of all
users. It was particularly gratifying to
me to work with them in planting trees to stabilize the creek bank and make
plans together for sustained improvements that will hopefully last for
generations to come.
These
Friends of Bruce Park and their organization are a committed and focused group
of families and individuals. They want
to do what is right in the enhancement of the grounds and I am proud and
committed to help them achieve their goals.
This commitment and focus I see in the Friends of Bruce Park I have also
witnessed with this government in making Manitoba a better place to live and to
be enjoyed by all.
Further
to the things that we have done in the past, we are committed to introducing a
major new sustainable development act which will lead the way in North
America. Like the Friends of Bruce Park,
this government will lead by example and be the envy of many communities and
jurisdictions.
Madam
Deputy Speaker, as noted in the throne speech, we will also discuss a proposed
act for dealing with contaminated sites, an act that has become necessary with
time with the emphasis and importance we place on the environment. I commend our government on this initiative.
There
are a number of other issues that I would like to discuss, Madam Deputy
Speaker. Airport noise is a concern that
I have had to deal with on behalf of the residents in the Deer Lodge area of
Sturgeon Creek. Because of a discussion
that was made two years ago, airplanes were directed resulting in planes like
Air Canada, Northwest, Canadian and some military to fly over Deer Lodge
Centre. This decision, I was told, was
sanctioned by no other than the airport advisory committee made up of some 20
residents in St. James, River Heights and Charleswood, including no other than
the honourable member for St. James (Mr. Edwards), now the Leader of the
Liberal Party, and the member of Parliament for Winnipeg‑St. James, I am
advised.
When
questioned, I am told by a resident in this area of the Liberal M.P. for
Winnipeg‑St. James, they were directed to take this matter up with their
local MLA. Can you believe an elected
official like this member would not have jumped at the opportunity to help a
constituent in need? I have made it my
responsibility to work with the airport authority management, and I must say
that although this problem is not yet completely corrected from all accounts, I
will continue to answer the call from these constituents.
Another
call that my wife Jeanie and I have been interested in along with other
volunteers and having worked with a group of these volunteers is helping to
provide a youth drop‑in centre in the area. This drop‑in centre has been operating
for several years but for the past two years has been in a vacant school in my
constituency. This centre is open most
Friday and Saturday nights from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., and as a matter of interest
to my colleagues, that is where I will probably be tonight between 7:30 and 10:30.
We
hope to provide this facility over the summer months to include afternoons and
evenings six days a week. With some help
from service organizations and the business community, we expect that that will
happen.
The
youth in the community appreciate the need for this centre and the support we
give them. It is an alternative to the
streets and the hangouts that subject our youth to many undesirable
opportunities they could experience if the drop‑in centre did not
exist. Our philosophy, Madam Deputy
Speaker, if we help one person to stay out of trouble, it is worth it.
I
want to congratulate the Alliance of Scottish Clans and the St. Andrews Society
for the third successful Tartan Day, April 6.
I also want to thank these Scottish men and women for their support of
me in hosting the celebration in this Legislature. Although we could not introduce these people
to the Chamber as in the previous years, the celebration was a success. On behalf of these organizations, I would
like to thank our Premier (Mr. Filmon) once again for proclaiming April 6 as
Tartan Day in Manitoba. The Scots have
appreciated that. Thank you very much,
Mr. Premier.
Madam
Deputy Speaker, I want to also pay tribute to another person who has been
working with me to make Sturgeon Creek a better community. I want to thank Mr. Jim Rowson, Manager of
the Courts of St. James IGA. Two years
ago, he came to me and asked for my help as Canada Post were removing the
postal service out of the drug store and the residents, many of whom are
seniors in the Courts of St. James, would be terribly inconvenienced by this
move.
Initially,
Canada Post said there was nothing that could be done, that the decision had
been made. After working on this for
some time, I am now happy to share with the House the official opening of the
post office outlet will be forthcoming in a few weeks. I want to thank Canada Post for reconsidering
this decision. I know it is the right
one for all the people in the Courts of St. James and in this community.
It
was interesting to see how our Liberal opportunists handled this concern. I am told that about a year ago in this
process my friend and the manager of the Courts of St. James suggested to me: We must be getting close to a favourable
decision because our Liberal friend in the federal government is now showing
some interest. This appears to be
typical. They run from the problems, but
will always be there to bask in the glory of a success. They might want to bear this in mind when
they attend these celebrations from now on.
I ask my honourable friends across to bear that in mind and to remember
this.
Madam
Deputy Speaker, to sum up, I would submit that this throne speech is a well‑thought‑out
blueprint for Manitoba. There are initiatives
that will be presented more before this House for consideration, and I ask my
friends across the floor to consider these items carefully for the good of all
Manitobans. Too often, the opposition
takes on a role of criticism for the sake of rhetoric. We heard that this morning in Question Period
with the honourable member for Concordia, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr.
Doer).
Rather
than any constructive purpose offering to the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae),
he stands up there, in an attempt to protect his interests with the union
members, suggesting that he is interested in health. Too often the opposition takes on the role of
this criticism and for the sake of rhetoric rather than for constructive purpose. We suggest to the opposition it is time to
now look at the positive things that we are doing here in Manitoba and to
support the interests of all Manitobans, not just for the sake of rhetoric.
We,
of course, welcome input on our initiatives with the goal of strengthening our
province not just for us, but for our children.
Madam
Deputy Speaker, our Premier (Mr. Filmon) said that we will strive to achieve
the most important goals of all Manitobans.
Those include reasonable employment and satisfying jobs, a strong
educational foundation that we can build upon, safe streets for our families
and our neighbours.
With
regard to our education foundation, we can improve on it by providing quality
teaching time and creating an environment that stimulates both teaching and
learning.
Madam
Deputy Speaker, I would like to share with this House and propose that we look
at creating this environment in our education system by looking at the
opportunities that are offered in year‑round education. By at least looking at year‑round
education in some of our schools, I am sure there are schools and communities
where this would be suitable and appropriate.
I
had the privilege of attending such a conference recently and learned that
although one of the main reasons for going to year‑round education in
some schools was to deal with overcrowding the other benefits were
endless. Listing only a few, Madam
Deputy Speaker, it was found that such things as bigger bangs for the buck,
improved attendance, lower discipline problems, higher test scores, less teacher
and student burnout, less violence to mention but a few. It was interesting that these tests and
statistics were provided in areas where schools were serving children in the
ghettos.
The
month of June also, in terms of our education system here in Manitoba and
across this country, is wind‑down time and the month of September is used
for review. Both of those months the
students do not experience any teaching and learning that they should be in the
system that should be looked on like year‑round education.
Madam
Deputy Speaker, our government has worked diligently to create also a climate
of confidence in our future. For the
most part, considering the difficult times we have had to endure, I would
believe most Manitobans are comfortable with our direction.
* (1200)
We
are committed to responsible government.
It has brought our province through some extremely difficult times, but
importantly, it is also setting the stage for a bright future for all
Manitobans.
I
urge all my colleagues in this Legislature to join me in supporting this throne
speech and the initiatives that will be coming from this government in the
coming weeks. Thank you, Madam Deputy
Speaker.
(Mr.
Speaker in the Chair)
Mr. Marcel Laurendeau (St. Norbert):
Mr. Speaker, it is a great day to be a Tory in the province of
Manitoba. As a man I greatly respect
once said, a majority is a majority is a majority.
Mr.
Speaker, I would like to start by thanking you and this House for the
opportunity to speak today and to second the Speech from the Throne. I regard the challenge of seconding the
throne speech as both a privilege and an honour. I would like to thank our Premier (Mr.
Filmon) for providing me with this opportunity and placing his faith in me.
I
would also like to welcome all members back to the Chamber. To the newly elected members, I extend a
special greeting and wish you all the best in your deliberations over the next
number of months.
Equally,
I am sure all members will join me in congratulating our new Pages. I know they will find their time here in the
House both rewarding and exciting, hopefully not too exciting.
Mr.
Speaker, I would like to praise the good people of my constituency, St.
Norbert, who have been supportive and helpful to me over the years I have had
the pleasure of serving as their elected member and it is indeed an
honour. Clearly, without them I would
not be here today.
There
have been many positive developments in St. Norbert. I feel very fortunate to represent an area
that has so much to offer. Having been a
lifelong resident of St. Norbert, I am proud of my constituency and the people,
culture and quality of life within.
Mr.
Speaker, we have beautiful parklands, a number of historical sites, rich
culture and, perhaps most importantly, residents who are dedicated to a
stronger community. In St. Norbert you
can feel you are living in a quiet rural community without leaving the city of
Winnipeg.
Mr.
Speaker, I very much appreciate the close‑knit community that has developed
in St. Norbert. The St. Norbert
Children's Centre and the Chalet St. Norbert are two prime examples. With the children's centre, we now have a
facility that is a model for other daycare centres across Manitoba. It provides a full slate of child care
services, as well as working with the residents to support the development of a
community‑based family resource centre.
This resource centre is striving to enhance the quality of living for
individuals, families and teens in the area.
The
Chalet St. Norbert allows seniors to stay in the community which they helped to
build and make it strong. It has become
a central meeting place for seniors in St. Norbert.
Mr.
Speaker, I am extremely proud that the Filmon government has assisted in
funding both of these very worthy projects.
This government has shown that it is committed to making our communities
a better place for our residents.
Two
very important transportation projects receiving millions of dollars from the
Manitoba government are improvements to Pembina Highway and the commitment to
an overpass at Waverley Street and the Perimeter. These major projects, Mr. Speaker, will
certainly benefit the residents of the St. Norbert constituency.
Our
government announced last summer the four‑lane reconstruction work on the
urban section of Pembina Highway from the south limit of the city of Winnipeg
to Rue Des Trappistes, and this project has ensured that this very important
transportation route is now safer for St. Norbert residents and all Manitobans
who use it on a daily basis.
The
new interchange at Waverley Street and the Perimeter Highway is another
initiative which I am very proud of.
This proposed overpass will mean safer travel for motorists and truckers
using the Brady Landfill. This interchange
will significantly reduce the traffic problems for the local residents.
I
adamantly agree that 1994 represents many challenges, but I know that by
working together with local residents, the St. Norbert constituency will
continue to grow and become stronger.
Mr. Speaker, I would invite my constituents and all Manitobans to join
this government in our renewed efforts to build long‑term economic growth
and development in Manitoba, for this is the only path to secure futures for us
and our generations to come.
Mr.
Speaker, fiscal responsibility is the only route we can take to accomplish this
goal. Our government has been the leader
in creating the climate to achieve this end.
This is confirmed by the fact that other provinces across Canada, regardless
of their political stripe, have followed our lead.
In
the past, excessive public spending has led to high debt, which in turn led to
high personal and corporate taxes, two things that are not consistent with our
vision. Hence, our government has not
increased major taxes for the last six budgets.
Personal income taxes have actually seen a decrease. Manitoba has the second lowest sales tax rate
in Canada, and the tax incentives have been introduced to encourage small
business.
We
have held the line on taxes, government spending and the deficit for two
reasons: to reduce the burden on
taxpayers and to keep building a competitive climate for job‑creating
investment and renewal in our province.
Collectively,
we have all had to make some tough choices with respect to our financial
affairs, so I believe, Mr. Speaker, that we are cognizant of the fact that
governments also had to make tough decisions.
Therefore, in order to ensure that Manitoba is strong and competitive,
we must have the courage to make difficult decisions as well as the wisdom and
the skill to ensure the most positive results as possible.
These
sacrifices are not without benefits. As
we heard yesterday in the throne speech, Manitoba added 6,000 jobs in the
private sector in 1993. Winnipeg has
been recognized as one of the best places in Canada to do business. The proof is in the pudding. Saskatchewan Premier Romanow, recent NDP
study states that Manitoba is the best place for a family that earns $25,000 a
year to live, the second best place for a family that earns $50,000 per year,
and third best place for a family that earns $75,000 a year.
Our
province has very favourable bond ratings, Mr. Speaker, and it also has very
favourable responses from other Premiers in other provinces. We had the third highest job creation rate in
all of Canada.
Our
government believes in jobs for Manitobans.
We will continue to build through recent innovations such as the
Economic Development Board, the Economic Innovation Technology Council, rural
Grow Bonds, the Crocus Fund, the Vision Capital Fund, tax initiatives and
credits in mining and telecommunications, and manufacturing investment. We will also continue to improve the way
government does business by reviewing and updating important components and
programs.
Mr.
Speaker, our government realizes that taxpayers of Manitoba are not in a
position to satisfy all the demands being placed on government. At the same time, we want to preserve and
protect the vital services all Manitobans depend on like health care and
education for today and for the future generation of Manitobans.
Education
and training are the keys that unlock opportunity. Our government recognized this and initiated
programs, such as payroll tax credits and initiatives like CareerStart, to
stimulate education and training. Skills
training is too important to our future.
We will continue to bring forward initiatives that encourage us to constantly
improve our education and skills training base.
It is essential that Manitobans are equipped with the knowledge and
skills needed to compete in the next century.
It is for this reason, Mr. Speaker, that our government has made a
commitment to fundamental reforms in this area.
These reforms will help to instill in our children the strong base they
require to become contributing members to our changing world.
* (1210)
There
are many examples, Mr. Speaker, of new initiatives already happening in our
province. One such initiative by Seine
River School Division is their Project Partners, an alternative high school
program at the St. Vital Center. This
program was a recent winner of the Conference Board of Canada's "National
Awards for Excellence in Business‑Education Partnerships." This program has been offered since 1986 by
Seine River School Division in conjunction with Famous Players Inc. Our government celebrates this example of a
sound business‑education partnership and will continue to provide the
ongoing encouragement to further develop partnerships such as this.
Our
students are also very valuable partners in the future direction of education
in our province. I recently read a
school division newsletter on how a group of high school students, teachers and
school administrators held a two‑day retreat to create a vision for their
division's high schools. This
initiative, Mr. Speaker, must be congratulated.
This group realized that the education community is in a period of
transition, that the factory model of teaching is no longer valid. They further felt that we are moving towards
an information society where it is increasingly important to be skilled in
problem‑solving and in manipulating information.
Society
is changing. They realize that the
challenge for educators is to identify how we are adapting to these
changes. Yes, the face of education is
changing and will continue to change in the foreseeable future, but we will as
a government strive to support and enhance and further develop all possible
partnerships within the education community.
In
addition, the new program and policies will encourage our teaching
professionals to excel in their efforts to provide the highest standard of
education possible. It will provide an
opportunity for the different levels of government to develop avenues to assist
Manitobans in investing in lifelong learning.
Our
government has expressed an equally firm commitment to strengthening and
supporting Manitoba families, caring for those less fortunate and protecting
Manitoba's vulnerable and disadvantaged citizens. Initiatives we have outlined in this area
include legislation and measures to enhance the well‑being of children,
seniors and disabled persons as well as the pursuit of the ongoing reforms of
the Child and Family Services system.
My
government has placed paramount importance on the family. Mr. Speaker, 1994 has been designated by the
United Nations General Assembly as the International Year of the Family. Manitoba has followed the U.N.'s lead by
establishing the International Year of the Family Secretariat. Through the effort of the secretariat, the
family will be promoted and celebrated as it is our basic unit of society. Every one of us in this Legislature has a
family. We all understand the importance
of the family unit and its role that it plays in society.
Mr.
Speaker, we also believe in protecting the family. The safety and security of our families and
homes are of vital importance. Our
government believes that the youth crime has affected every Manitoban in every
neighbourhood of the province in some way.
What
is needed is a partnership approach and consultation. We have initiated that process. The report from last year's youth summit
entitled Community Voices, Community Action, proposes a nine‑point plan
to deal with young offenders which includes the introduction of wilderness
camps, a new antiviolence program for the schools, increased police
surveillance of gang members and a youth violence contact line.
Our
government, Mr. Speaker, will continue to strive for the toughening of the
Young Offenders Act. I, as a concerned
parent, am concerned for the welfare and well‑being of my children. I feel it is a responsibility that cannot be
taken lightly. We care and we are the
caretakers of the next generation.
Therefore, we are responsible. We
must ensure that parental responsibility is directly related to the actions of
our youth. Clearly, our government is
moving in this direction.
Our
overall strength and well‑being as a province is due largely to our
health and well‑being as individuals and as families. One of the fundamental values that unites us
as Manitobans and as Canadians is a universal access to the quality of health
care. In order to ensure the
availability of quality care, our government will continue to implement its action
plan, Quality Health for Manitobans.
This approach will see many beneficial changes and advances in delivery
and the focus of our health care system.
Mr.
Speaker, we are not like the NDP in Saskatchewan. We do not go out and close all the hospitals
and say we are doing what is right. We
work within the system.
I
sincerely hope that this session will be different. The members opposite must realize that ideas
cannot be fought except by means of better ideas. The battles consist not of opposing but of
exposing, not of denouncing but of disapproving, not of evading but of boldly
proclaiming a full and consistent alternative.
Clearly, this logic cannot be found in the opposition.
The
past few months have seen announcements that are positive proof that
initiative, innovation, flexibility and sheer determination results in
successfully turning challenges into opportunities.
Mr.
Speaker, in closing, I want you to know, I want this House to know, and above
all I want all Manitobans to know, that I believe in this government, I have
trust in this government. This is the
government we deserve as a province.
This is the government that the people of Manitoba demand, and I fully
support this government and our Premier the Honourable Gary Filmon. Thank you.
* (1220)
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the
Opposition): Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the member
for Thompson (Mr. Ashton), that debate be adjourned.
Motion agreed to.
Mr. Speaker:
Is it the will of the House to call it 12:30? [agreed]
The
hour being 12:30 p.m., this House is now adjourned and stands adjourned until
1:30 p.m. Monday.