LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF
Wednesday,
May 3, 2006
The House met at 1:30 p.m.
PRAYER
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
Funding for New Cancer
Drugs
Mrs. Heather Stefanson (Tuxedo): Mr. Speaker, I wish to present the following petition.
These are the reasons for this petition:
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death of Manitobans.
Families are often forced to watch their loved ones suffer the devastating consequences of this disease for long periods of time.
New drugs such as Erbitux, Avastin, Zevalin, Rituxan, Herceptin and Eloxatin have been found to work well and offer new hope to those suffering from various forms of cancer.
Unfortunately, these innovative new
treatments are often costly and remain unfunded under
Consequently, patients and their families are often forced to make the difficult choice between paying for the treatment themselves or going without.
CancerCare
Several other provinces have already approved these drugs and are providing them to their residents at present time.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To request the Premier (Mr. Doer) of
To request the Premier of Manitoba and the Minister of Health to consider accelerating the process by which new cancer treatment drugs are approved so that more Manitobans are able to be treated in the most effective manner possible.
This petition is signed by T.J. Burnett, Maureen Houston, Betty Dawson and thousands of others.
Mr. Speaker: In accordance with our Rule 132(6), when petitions are read they are deemed to be received by the House.
Mrs. Myrna Driedger (Charleswood): Mr. Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
These are the reasons for this petition:
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death of Manitobans.
Families are often forced to watch their loved ones suffer the devastating consequences of this disease for long periods of time.
New drugs such as Erbitux, Avastin, Zevalin, Rituxan, Herceptin and Eloxatin have been found to work well and offer new hope to those suffering from various forms of cancer.
Unfortunately, these
innovative new treatments are often costly and remain unfunded under
Consequently, patients and their families are often forced to make the difficult choice between paying for the treatment themselves or going without.
CancerCare
Several other provinces have already approved these drugs and are providing them to their residents at present time.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To request the Premier (Mr. Doer) of
To request the Premier of Manitoba and the Minister of Health to consider accelerating the process by which new cancer treatment drugs are approved so that more Manitobans are able to be treated in the most effective manner possible.
Signed by Carly Harasymchuk, Leyna Macovichuk, Garret Klos and many others.
* (13:35)
Mr. Jack Reimer (Southdale): Mr. Speaker, I ask leave to present the petition on behalf of the Member for Minnedosa.
Mr. Speaker: Does the honourable member have leave? [Agreed]
Grandparents' Access to
Grandchildren
Mr. Reimer: Mr. Speaker, these are the reasons for this petition:
It is important to recognize and respect the special relationship that exists between grandparents and grandchildren.
Maintaining an existing, healthy relationship between a grandparent and a grandchild is in the best interest of the child. Grandparents play a critical role in the social and emotional development of their grandchildren. This relationship is vital to promote the intergenerational exchange of culture and heritage, fostering a well-rounded self-identity for the child.
In the event of divorce, death of a parent or other life-changing incident, a relationship can be severed without consent of the grandparent or grandchildren. It should be a priority of the provincial government to provide grandparents with the means to obtain reasonable access to their grandchildren.
Therefore we petition the Manitoba Legislative Assembly as follows:
To urge the Minister of Family Services and Housing (Ms. Melnick) and the Premier (Mr. Doer) to consider amending legislation to improve the process by which grandparents can obtain reasonable access to their grandchildren.
This is signed by Cherokee Mendrikis, Lori McMillan, Cal Frost and many, many others.
Mrs. Mavis Taillieu (Morris): Mr. Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
These are the reasons for this petition:
The RCMP investigation of allegations of criminal activity in the former Morris-Macdonald School Division has been completed and has found no evidence to substantiate criminal charges.
In the wake of the Auditor General's 2001 report, the provincial government fired the board of trustees of the former Morris-Macdonald School Division. As a result, residents were without an elected board for nearly a year.
The RCMP investigation and the firing of the board have irreparably tarnished the reputations of many citizens in the former Morris-Macdonald School Division.
When the provincial government insisted that the school division reimburse the Province for the overpayment of funds, the government-appointed trustee of the school division increased local ratepayers' school taxes by 28 percent to be implemented each year for four consecutive years.
This action imposed a significant burden on farmers and other faultless citizens in the former Morris-Macdonald School Division. To date, $1.4 million have been paid out of the citizens' pockets for actions that, as the RCMP have recently acknowledged, were not criminal in nature.
Residents of the former Morris-Macdonald School Division are angered and frustrated by the provincial government's lack of acknowledgement of its mistake, refusal to apologize to those involved and failure to reimburse the additional tax dollars that blameless citizens have been forced to pay.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To strongly urge the provincial government to consider apologizing to citizens of the former Morris-Macdonald School Division for firing the school board, launching a criminal investigation and tarnishing their reputation.
To request that the provincial government consider reimbursing blameless Morris-Macdonald citizens who have paid the Province $1.4 million in additional school taxes over the last three years.
This is signed by Scott Dunn, Veronica Dunn, D. Pollhammer and many, many others.
* (13:40)
Crocus Investment Fund
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (
The background to this petition is as follows:
The
As a direct result of the government not acting on what it knew, over 33,000 Crocus investors have lost tens of millions of dollars.
The relationship between some union leaders, the Premier (Mr. Doer) and the NDP seems to be the primary reason as for why the government ignored the red flags.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To request the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba to consider the need to seek clarification on why the government did not act on fixing the Crocus Fund back in 2001.
To urge the Premier and his government to co-operate in making public what really happened.
Signed by David Lumgair, A. Smirl, C. Allen and many, many other Manitobans, Mr. Speaker.
Introduction of Guests
Mr. Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I
would like to draw the attention of honourable members to the loge to my right
where we have with us Levi Barnabas who is an MLA in the
[Inuktitut was spoken]
In other words, I said, I welcome them on behalf of all honourable members.
Also in the public gallery we have a former page, Amos Wiebe. I would like to welcome you here today.
We also have seated in the public gallery from Steinbach Christian High School 36 Grade 9 students under the direction of Mr. Curt Plett. This group is located in the constituency of the honourable Member for Steinbach (Mr. Goertzen).
Also in the public gallery we have from Minitonas Middle Years School 31 Grade 9 students under the direction of Mr. Mel Lausman. This group is located in the constituency of the honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food (Ms. Wowchuk).
On behalf of all honourable members, I also welcome you all here today.
Point of Order
Mr. Speaker: The honourable Official Opposition House Leader, on a point of order or a matter of privilege?
Mr. Leonard Derkach (Official Opposition House Leader): Mr. Speaker, on a point of order.
Mr. Speaker: On a point of order.
Mr.
Derkach: Mr. Speaker, I would like the House to
know that Mr. Levi Barnabas was the first Speaker of the
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Assembly,
and it certainly was a historic day that we were able to be with their
government on that first day and with his premier on that first day. I just
want to welcome Mr. Barnabas to our Legislature on behalf of our caucus, but
also extend our sympathies on the loss of the Speaker of the Legislature of
Nunavut, who was Mr. Nutarak. I hope that message is conveyed to not only the
Legislature but to the people of
Mr. Speaker: The
honourable Member for
Hon. Jon Gerrard (
Hon. Eric Robinson (Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism): Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the same point of order, I, too, would like to extend sincere condolences to our friends from Nunavut, our brothers from the northern part of our country, and, through them, extend to the family of the late Speaker our sincere condolences on behalf of your friends here in the province of Manitoba.
Mr. Speaker: On the point of order raised, well, it is not a point of order, but I thank all honourable members for their comments on behalf of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly.
Reduction Strategy
Mr. Glen Cummings (Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition): Mr. Speaker, yesterday we saw a very family-friendly budget brought down in the federal government. We saw a $1,200 child day-care benefit for those who have children under six years of age. Apparently there is some ambiguity or some confusion about how the Premier intends to treat this within this province. At 7 a.m. it seemed that perhaps he was prepared to tax this benefit back and by 9 a.m., he decided that would not be likely.
But, I am wondering if he was, in fact, deciding not to tax it or has he got another means by which he would be clawing back this benefit?
* (13:45)
Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): Well, Mr. Speaker, there may be some confusion because I believe some federal officials were talking about no taxing of the benefit and others in the budget documents clearly state that this is a taxable income under the federal government's budget.
Mr. Speaker, we will not be clawing it back. We are not the party of clawback, members opposite are.
Mr. Cummings: Well, now that we have that resounding commitment from the Premier, Mr. Speaker, there is another area that may well be a grey area for the Premier, and that is the $1,000 grant for people who are involved in apprenticeship programs. The Premier, you know, he is Prime Minister Harper's new best friend, I believe, because he keeps saying that there are interesting parallels with his own government.
So I would ask that the Premier might identify what his final decision will be on whether or not this will be taxable in his regime.
Mr. Doer: Well, many of the items under $3,000 for students are non-taxable.
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Mr. Speaker: Order. The honourable Member for Ste. Rose has the floor.
Mr. Cummings: Well, Mr. Speaker, the Premier, unfortunately, has a way of shading his remarks so I will be quite happy to let him defend his comments.
Mr. Speaker, the Premier has said also that the Conservative tax cuts complement those that his government have brought in. Well, I do not see how it is very complementary when the federal tax saving for an elderly couple on $30,000 worth of income, and that is a pretty modest income, they will get a $330-saving by the changes that were introduced yesterday and his government will save them $22. Where is the parallel?
Mr. Doer: I know the members opposite have not considered in their calculation the increase in tax in the middle-income tax bracket proposed by the federal government.
Mr. Speaker, he will not find any members on this side increasing any tax.
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Mr. Speaker: Order.
Mr. Doer: Secondly, Mr. Speaker, you will see the elimination of the second tax on residential homeowners, the ESL of $34 million. I am sure the member opposite did not calculate that in his question.
Thirdly, Mr. Speaker, it is interesting that the small business tax now has been reduced by the federal government from 12 percent to 11.5 percent, and the threshold over three years is going up to $400,000. We actually raised the threshold to $400,000 three years ago, and we are lowering the small business tax from 4.5 percent to 3 percent. So our small business tax is 3 percent; their Tory small business tax is going down to 11.5 percent.
So I would point out that because we have
made progress every year, that is why we have done so well. I would also point
out that there is no shading with members opposite on children's benefits. They
clawed back $19 million from the lowest-income children in
* (13:50)
Reduction Strategy
Mr. Gerald Hawranik (Lac du Bonnet): Mr. Speaker, the way this government increases taxes is through the sneaky, backdoor way.
Our Conservative federal
Finance Minister has implemented massive federal tax reductions in yesterday's
budget because he believes that
So I ask the Minister of
Finance: Why does he refuse to make
Hon. Greg Selinger (Minister of Finance): Mr. Speaker, let us just do some comparisons. In '06, the general corporate tax rate that the federal government has is over 22 percent; ours is 14.5 percent. The first bracket in the federal government has been raised from 15 to 15.25; ours is 10.9. The second bracket is 22 percent; ours is 13.5. The third bracket is 26 percent; ours is 17.4. They have a fourth bracket of 29 percent and we have nothing there. They are higher. That is your government. Ours is more cost effective.
Mr. Hawranik: Mr. Speaker, if the Finance Minister wants to make proper
comparisons, the federal government has a personal deduction a thousand dollars
higher than
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Mr. Speaker: Order.
Mr. Hawranik: Mr. Speaker, our Conservative federal Finance Minister has presented a budget with twice as much tax relief for Canadians as new spending. Let us compare our NDP government. This Finance Minister has presented a budget with eight times more new spending than tax relief. What is the difference? A Conservative government believes you know how to spend your own money better than government does. This NDP government believes that government knows how to spend our money better than we can.
So I ask the Minister of Finance: Why does he believe that he can spend Manitobans' money better than we can?
Mr. Selinger: Mr. Speaker, it was just yesterday in this House that virtually every question from members opposite was asking why we are not spending more on health care. It is the members opposite who seem to have very specific ideas. The members opposite have a huge wish list of things they want to spend money on until they come to the next day when they want tax reductions. I am sure by tomorrow we will be back into spending priorities for the members opposite.
The facts are this: The federal small business tax rate goes from 12 percent to 11 percent. We are already at 4.5 percent; we are going to 3. Their threshold goes to $400,000. We have been there for three years. Who is more competitive? The facts are clear.
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Mr. Speaker: Order.
Mr. Hawranik: Mr. Speaker, our only wish list is that this government spend with some results. That is our only wish list.
Our Conservative federal Finance Minister presented a budget which provides relief for families. A two-earner family of four earning $60,000 with two children and one child under the age of six years is given $981 in tax reductions and savings. That is $981 more in their pockets. In contrast, our NDP Finance Minister just presented a budget that will offer that very same family a total of $44 in tax relief, a whopping $981 from the federal government and a meagre $44 from this NDP government.
So I ask the Minister of
Finance: When will he offer meaningful tax reductions for
* (13:55)
Mr. Selinger: It is amusing that the member opposite is defending an increase in the lower tax bracket in the federal budget. He seems to be comfortable with that. I know if I would have done that he would have been having conniptions for sure.
Now, Mr. Speaker, the member opposite says there is no value for the money in the money we are spending. Well, I can tell you that the members of his constituency appreciate the new school we built out there. I can tell the member opposite that his constituents appreciate the health care spending that we put out there. I can tell you also that the members of his constituency, the citizens of his constituency, know that he voted against all those things which are making a meaningful difference in the lives of those citizens.
Wait List Guarantees
Mrs. Heather Stefanson (Tuxedo): Mr. Speaker, on the one hand the Minister of Water Stewardship (Mr. Ashton) likes to refer to the Stephen Harper Conservatives as, and I quote, out of touch with mainstream Canadians. On the other hand, the Premier (Mr. Doer) likes to refer to Stephen Harper, our Conservative Prime Minister, as his good friend. Which is it? Which hat are they wearing today? Is it cozy up to Harper day or is it bash Harper day?
Patients in
Hon. Tim Sale (Minister of Health): Mr. Speaker, I notice that this is federal budget day in the provincial House, and I just remind the member opposite that there was not one nickel of money for health care in the federal budget. So, if they are very concerned about health and health spending, they might speak to their federal minister and say where was the money for Infoway? Where was the money for increased information technology so we can manage our system more effectively?
I would also tell the member opposite through you, Mr. Speaker, that this year we will do approximately 1,000 more hips and knees than we did last year. We are making great progress in regard to the hips and knees issue, and you will see those wait lists start to come down very quickly.
Mrs. Stefanson: Mr. Speaker, there actually is more money for cancer care in the budget, and I hope this minister steps up to the plate and starts offering those cancer drugs that people are waiting in pain for in Manitoba. Shame on him.
First, the NDP says the Harper Conservatives are out of touch with Canadians, then the Premier calls Stephen Harper his good friend. You know, Mr. Speaker, they cannot have it both ways. They are either for wait list guarantees or they are against them. It is a sad day for Manitobans waiting in pain when this minister stands before them and tells them that he is not willing to commit to wait list guarantees.
Manitobans wants a guarantee, Mr. Speaker. Why is this Minister of Health not prepared to give it to them?
Mr. Sale: Well, Mr. Speaker, I have some very good friends who are somewhat out of touch so I do not think those two things are incompatible at all. It is quite possible to be out of touch with reality and still have a good friend. I do not see those things as a problem whatsoever.
Mr. Speaker, we are moving in a very significant way towards meeting the benchmark. Like some of the members opposite are out of touch, but they are still my friends.
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Mr. Speaker: Order. Just to remind members, I need to be able to hear the questions and the answers in case there is a breach of a rule or departure from our practices.
Mr. Sale: Mr. Speaker, we set a target this year for doing approximately 800 more hips and knees. We have done more than 110 percent of that target, including procedures being done in Boundary Trails hospital where I was just able to be there in announcing the placement of a new MRI in that hospital.
We are making great progress, and we will continue to make great progress due to the hard work of our doctors and nurses, Mr. Speaker.
Mrs. Stefanson: He is right about one thing, he has about 33 friends across the way that are perhaps out of touch with reality.
Mr. Speaker, let us not forget–
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Mr. Speaker: Order.
Mrs. Stefanson: And
speaking of out of touch, Mr. Speaker, let us not forget this same Premier who,
seven years ago misled Manitobans just to get elected, told them that if
elected he would end hallway medicine in six months with $15 million. Well,
here we are seven years later and $1.5 billion later and hallway medicine is
alive and well in
Mr. Speaker, why are they saving hallway
medicine instead of saving patients' lives? Why will he not commit to a wait
list guarantee for the sake of patients in
* (14:00)
Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): Mr. Speaker, I know members opposite believe in the divine right of the Conservatives to be elected forever, but, you know, it is a funny thing in democracy. In 1999, the people did have the wisdom to get rid of the dismal years of the Conservative government and replace the pessimistic, negative nabobs who were in government with a positive, optimistic can-do team.
You are able to say there are 33 friends of this government because we actually increased the number of members in government in 2003 because we are positive and a can-do government, and we are going to do it again whenever the Premier calls the next election.
Officer Shortage
Mr. Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach): We applaud the federal Conservative government for walking the walk when it comes to safety and not just talking the talk like this NDP government does.
The federal government
has taken real steps in putting in place a training and recruitment strategy
for 1,000 new RCMP officers which will help
Can the Minister of
Justice confirm today that in
Hon. Gord Mackintosh (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Mr. Speaker, I note that the federal government committed new dollars for police and prosecutions, which we commend them for, but if you look at the first fiscal year, this year, that works out on a per capita basis to 1.3 million in new funding. We are pleased that as a provincial government we have committed $8 million in new funding for this province.
Mr. Goertzen: I gather the minister then is confirming that they are 10 percent
short in every uniform patrol division here in
We also learned today that the class of
Why are there 18 missing officers in the training program today, Mr. Speaker?
Mr. Mackintosh: Mr.
Speaker, earlier the Member for Steinbach, he sounds like a councillor for
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Mr. Speaker: Order.
Mr. Mackintosh: I recall hearing the Member for Steinbach question the veracity of the mayor and chief of police earlier in some questions in this House which I think is regrettable.
But, Mr. Speaker, his questions about the
management of Winnipeg Police Service is an issue, of course. That is the
responsibility of a municipal government, the City of
Mr. Goertzen: It is passing strange because when the Minister of Justice wanted to announce the expansion of new officers, he did not mind standing up and putting out a press release saying that it was his responsibility. When he wanted to announce these phantom officers, he did not mind standing at a podium and making that announcement saying, it is my responsibility. Now, when they are 18 short in the training program, he says, oh, I am sorry, it is not my responsibility. Well, he cannot have it both ways. He can try to take credit one day and not try to take blame the next day.
Why are there 18 officers short in the training program when he said they would be in place, Mr. Speaker?
Mr. Mackintosh: Mr.
Speaker, in the best of my recollection, the member opposite voted against the
funding of 23 officers in the last budget. I take it from what he is saying
that he will support this budget because of its commitment, the policing, on a
priority basis like never seen in the history of this province. I also take it
from the member's question that he is actually suggesting that the Province
take over the management of the City of
Federal Funding
Mr. Larry Maguire (Arthur-Virden): Mr. Speaker, the federal government has realized highways are a
priority in this country. In yesterday's budget the federal Conservative
government committed over $100 million to improve
Will the minister today commit that these
intended federal funds will be committed to his already announced previous
funding to build safer roads in
Hon. Ron Lemieux (Minister of Transportation and Government Services): I am pleased to see the federal government has finally seen the light in this country and is looking forward to putting forward a vision with regard to transportation.
Having said that, Mr. Speaker, last year the opposition voted against a $15-million increase in the transportation budget. This year we have increased the transportation budget by $29 million. I am certainly looking forward to see how they are going to vote on a $29-million increase to the transportation budget in this province.
Mr. Maguire: Mr. Speaker,
Manitobans are waiting for this minister to see the light. Yesterday's federal
commitment to
Will the minister commit today that this
newly committed federal cash will be used to improve
Mr. Lemieux: I am glad to
see the conversion from members opposite. The Member for Arthur-Virden should
either jump on the paving wagon or get out of the road because we are paving
Highway No. 1 to the
Mr. Maguire: Mr. Speaker,
Manitobans can well see how the minister protests too much. He does not even
know where the road wagon is. There are hundreds of miles of roads in
This minister, even in spite of
yesterday's new financial commitment from the federal government, has not
committed that he will spend these funds over and above his previously
announced funding in
Will he commit today that these funds will not be lapsed?
Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): Mr.
Speaker, we are pleased that the federal government has allocated some money
for the highways in
* (14:10)
Amendments-Minister's Support
Mr. Ralph Eichler (
Mr. Speaker, given the support of the
federal government in this federal budget, can the Minister of Agriculture
assure
Hon. Rosann Wowchuk (Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives): Of course, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we will.
Mr. Eichler: Her actions speak louder than words, Mr. Speaker. I hope she will honour that.
The federal government also announced
yesterday that it will commit to changing the CAIS program to make it more
responsive to the needs of farmers. What the NDP has done for farmers of
Mr. Speaker, will the Minister of Agriculture now accept changes to the CAIS program being put forward and finally work with farmers and not against them?
Ms. Wowchuk: Well, I would encourage the member opposite to make a phone call and get his facts right. I would encourage him to read the federal-provincial press release that came out of the federal-provincial meeting, where federal and provincial governments said they were going to work together to change CAIS to meet the needs of the producers. The recommendations that came out from provincial governments, Mr. Speaker, recommendations that came from Kananaskis before the Conservatives were in power, are some of the things that were announced in yesterday's federal budget. We look forward to the federal Conservative government implementing some of it.
Mr. Eichler: Mr. Speaker, the federal budget is bringing forward increased funding for investment and new agricultural opportunities and value added. It is also providing for disaster assistance and green cover programs. Meanwhile, the NDP government continues to provide more regulatory hurdles and administrative costs.
Mr. Speaker, in light of the federal
budget, can the minister assure
Ms. Wowchuk: Mr. Speaker, the changes that the federal minister proposed yesterday on inventory evaluations is a change that was recommended and proposed by provincial governments along with the federal government. The CAIS Negative Margins Program is one that was proposed and the plan was put in place at Kananaskis. It is not something new that is happening here.
The creation of a federal disaster
assistance program and cover crop program are programs that
Impact on
Hon. Jon Gerrard (
Mr. Speaker: Order. The
honourable Member for
Mr. Gerrard: The Premier has said he is generally satisfied with the budget of yesterday from the federal government, and the minister of highways is so enthusiastic that he says the Conservatives have seen the light.
For the record, Mr. Speaker, the budget
did not mention Lake Winnipeg, the
My question is to the Premier: Can the Premier tell us why he is generally satisfied with a budget like this?
Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): Conservatives being absolute surrogates for the budget and the Liberals being, like Pavlov's dog, opposed to the budget; the NDP government is the only one balanced enough to say what is positive in the budget and what is lacking in the budget.
We have opposed the fact that the member
opposite did not raise in his first question yesterday the Kelowna Accord. We
believe a long-term investment in
But, we also recognize fitness tax credits, seniors tax credits. Some other provisions in the budget are positive. We are balancers. Some things we like in the budget, we said so; and areas where they are deficient, we also said so. We are not going to be extreme in one way in doing the Hallelujah chorus, and we are not going to be extreme in the other way by just being negative. We are going to be balanced about what has to be done for this country, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Gerrard: Mr. Speaker, the Premier is saying once again that he is supportive, generally positive of this budget, a budget, I would note that his federal leader, Jack Layton, calls a betrayal of working families.
There are many Manitobans today who want to
know why the Premier is not standing up for working people and standing up for
Mr. Doer: Mr. Speaker, I
would point out that the health care cut made by the member opposite when he
was in Cabinet was the equivalent–[interjection]
He has been in the federal Cabinet. It was the equivalent of closing down
every hospital in rural and northern
We have already stated that we are opposed
to the deletion of the Kelowna Accord, and we have already said that items like
fitness programs for children we would support. There are still 11 months to
deal with the child care spaces issue. We again need no lecture from the member
opposite who did not put one child care space in
In terms of the
Mr. Gerrard: Mr. Speaker, I am proud of a lot of things that we did which were very positive for Manitoba and we are ready to stand up for Manitobans.
What I would ask the Premier is: Many Manitobans want to know why the Premier is so satisfied with a budget that does so little to address many of the vital concerns of Manitobans; an east-west power grid, the lack of support, the cutting in half of the support for environmental programs and greenhouse gas emissions, the cancelling of $396 million for rural and Aboriginal broadband Internet access. All of these are important to Manitobans.
Why is the Premier not standing up strongly and speaking up for Manitobans? Why is he saying he is generally satisfied? Why are his ministers saying the Conservatives have seen the light?
Mr. Doer: Well, Mr.
Speaker, first of all, we have stated this latter day program that was
developed in
Mr. Speaker, there is $2 billion in the
budget for renewable energy. We will be proposing an east-west grid which was
never built by the former Liberal government to be part of the vision of
Lastly, we have said and committed in our budget that he is voting against, that we will put in and expand broadband to remote and Aboriginal communities in our budget over the next two years. Vote for the budget, or if you vote against it, you are voting for broadband for Aboriginal communities.
* (14:20)
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Mr. Speaker: Order. Before recognizing the honourable member, I want to remind all honourable members that questions and answers should go through the Chair.
Low-cost Helmets
Ms. Kerri Irvin-Ross (
Can the Minister of Healthy Living tell us
what our government is doing to ensure that children in
Hon. Theresa Oswald (Minister of Healthy Living): I am very pleased to announce that when we travelled the province as an all-party entity to speak to Manitobans about their health and their children's health, we heard Manitobans say loud and clear that they wanted to ensure they had affordable helmets for their children to wear while riding their bikes.
I am happy to announce that we have instituted a program in school, Mr. Speaker, where children and their parents can order these helmets at a very affordable cost. Not only that, but these helmets will be delivered to the school before the end of this school year to ensure that our children in our beautiful spring weather, when it comes, will indeed have an opportunity to be fit, to be safe and to be healthy.
Apprenticeship Training
Mr. Cliff Cullen (
What immediate action is this government taking to ensure that more young people will not flee our province in search of other opportunities?
Hon. Greg Selinger (Minister of Finance): Mr. Speaker, if the member would have listened carefully to the budget, we expanded the co-op education tax credit which will give a tax credit to employers over two years for hiring people in an area where they are training. If the members had not held up the budget for the last month and a half, we could have been on to that now and making progress.
Mr. Cullen: Mr. Speaker,
we have learned that at least eight students have been turned away from the
Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic Apprenticeship Program at
This federal government recognizes the
value of apprenticeship programs. When will this government get its act
together?
Hon. Diane McGifford (Minister of Advanced Education and Training): It certainly is a pleasure to have a question on advanced education and training. It gives me the opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to make the point that this government's funding to colleges this year is 5.8 percent, as well, to be followed by 5 percent and 5 percent.
It also gives me the opportunity to bring the members' attention to the College Expansion Initiative and make the point that, since this government has been in power, we have increased enrolment in colleges–[interjection] I beg your pardon? We have increased enrolment–
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Mr. Speaker: Order.
Mr. Speaker: The honourable Official Opposition House Leader, on a point of order or a matter of privilege?
Mr. Leonard Derkach (Official Opposition House Leader): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
Point of Order
Mr. Speaker: The honourable Official Opposition House Leader, on a point of order.
Mr. Derkach: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker, it appeared that the minister did not hear what I had asked her. I just asked her to answer the question and she said, "pardon me." So if she would get on with answering the question that was asked we would all appreciate it.
Mr. Speaker: The honourable Government House Leader, on the same point of order.
Hon. Gord Mackintosh (Government House Leader): Usually the skins get thicker around here over the years, not thinner.
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Mr. Speaker: Order. On the point of order raised by the honourable Official Opposition House Leader, he does not have a point of order.
* * *
Mr. Speaker: The honourable minister, to continue her answer.
Ms. McGifford: Yes, just to complete my answer, Mr. Speaker, I was making the point that we have increased enrolment in our colleges by 33 percent. That includes great advances in apprenticeship. We have doubled, for example, the number of Aboriginal apprenticeships in this province and we have more work to do and we will be doing that work.
Mr. Speaker: The time for Oral Questions has expired.
Julianna Rhymer
Mrs. Mavis Taillieu (Morris): Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge Miss Julianna Rhymer, a
young woman from Morris who won the Canada Day Poster Challenge in
I recall last year her poster, along with
other students from the school at Morris Collegiate, were on display here at
the Legislature, Mr. Speaker. That was part of the Community Newspaper Day
celebration, and certainly set up by Mr. Doug Penner of the
The theme of this year's Canada Poster
Challenge was images of
Along with the other provincial winners, Julianna will have her poster displayed in a Canadian Children's Museum from June to September, and from April 11 to May 5 the CBC will display the posters on their Web site to have people vote for the national winner, which will be announced this month.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate
Julianna Rhymer on her accomplishment and wish her the best of luck in
Channel Development
Corporation
Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform all members of the recent
success of Doug Eryou and Channel Development Corporation of
Doug Eryou started
Channel Development Corporation in 2003 with the intention of creating
sustainable natural resource products with the value-added component occurring
in northern
Tansi is only the
beginning of Channel Development Corporation's ambitious plans to create
made-in-Manitoba products that will bring economic benefits to the North. They
recently purchased a 33-litre steam distillation unit to investigate the
potential of producing essential oils and hydrosols from the northern
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I congratulate Channel Development Corporation on the success of Tansi. Their entrepreneurship and commitment to developing the northern economy are a credit to our province. Whenever a new quantity of the birch wine becomes available, I encourage Manitobans from across the province to pick up a bottle of Tansi and taste the flavours and natural goodness of the northern forest and in so doing bring economic development to the region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Bonnie and John Buhler
Mr. Peter Dyck (Pembina): I am pleased to announce and excited to indicate to the House that we had another private-public partnership take place this morning within our health care system at Boundary Trails in the southern part of the province.
Mr. Speaker, I was delighted to be at this event together with the Minister of Health (Mr. Sale) as they recognized the contributions of Bonnie and John Buhler for their contribution of $1.5 million towards an MRI. They were given the mandate to raise the added $1.5 million which would allow the Boundary Trails Health Centre to put the MRI in place. I think it is again an example of how we can work together with the community.
I want to thank the chair of the fundraising committee for specifically the MRI who was John Kuhl. He, together with his committee, went and raised the $1.5 million within several months. Secondly, I want to also thank Ivadell Sigurdson for the work that she did. She is the chair of the foundation.
Mr. Speaker, it was wonderful to see the enthusiasm that this generated within our community. The way it appears, and if everything will be on schedule, within one year we should be able to open the MRI. The funding that is being given by Manitoba Health is the operation of this machine.
So, again, I want to thank those who were involved in garnering the money, collecting it from within the community and, again, John and Bonnie Buhler for instigating this event.
Mr. Speaker, from this event we went down to Tabor Home and had an opportunity to tour their facilities. Again, the minister had a first-hand opportunity to see how desperately we are in need of a new personal care facility within the area. The administration helped us tour the facility and, consequently, this gave us the opportunity to see the desperate need that they are in. I must indicate to you that there is a waiting list of people, and I want to thank you for this opportunity to bring these events to the attention of the House. Thank you.
Selkirk Mental Health
Centre
Mr. Gregory Dewar (Selkirk): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House that construction
site preparation is underway for the new Selkirk Mental Health Centre. This
$23-million investment is one of the three capital health projects that our
government is undertaking. The other two projects, of course, are at the
Mr. Speaker, our government recognizes that the development of the centre is long overdue. Selkirk residents, of course, recall only too well that the previous Conservative government ignored the needs of the patients and their families for decades. Plans are underway to fast-track the construction of this new facility.
Mr. Speaker, the centre will be a major improvement over the old facility. It will feature a 30-bed acquired brain injury unit, a living room, quiet lounge, a central kitchen area, spiritual space and new space for occupational, physio and speech therapy. New programs will be on offer in the new facility such as services for those with acquired brain injuries, a psycho-geriatric program and rehabilitation to assist individuals in returning to the community.
The redevelopment is expected to be completed by 2008. I want to thank the Minister of Health (Mr. Sale), the former Minister of Health, the Minister of Energy, Science and Technology (Mr. Chomiak) and centre staff on partnering to provide a healthier, more enjoyable environment for staff, patients and their families. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Federal Budget
Hon. Jon Gerrard (
They have cut new funding
for child care spaces, clearly not concerned that there will be enough spaces
for people in
The Conservative government dramatically reduces the funding for environmental programs and dramatically reduces funding for any efforts which would reduce greenhouse gases. It signals the approach that the Conservatives will take to the Kyoto Accord, that they have abandoned any objective of trying to achieve the goals of the Kyoto Accord within a reasonable time.
This Conservative government has increased taxes on those with low income. This is a rather curious move, but it clearly signals that the Conservatives know where their voters are, in the medium and upper incomes. They are not concerned about those with lower income, and they are not concerned about good public policy which would ensure that those with low incomes are well supported.
The budget abandons the approach to ensure
we have strong innovation and research and development in our position to be
the future. The budget has no mention of Lake Winnipeg, the
(Fifth Day of Debate)
Mr. Speaker: On the
proposed motion of the honourable Minister of Finance (Mr. Selinger) and the
proposed motion of the honourable Member for
Hon. Theresa Oswald (Minister of Healthy Living): Although there is so much good news in this budget that I could speak about for some time to come, out of respect for the members of the House and their interest in speaking to this great budget, I will say that I have concluded my remarks.
Mr. Ralph Eichler (
Manitobans are not and should not be
satisfied with last place, so why is this government? Manitobans are demanding
better. When is this government going to deliver? This government has no
long-term strategy to revitalizing
Mr. Conrad Santos, Deputy Speaker, in the Chair
In respect to finance, debt, based on the province's own numbers, will accumulate $618 million in new long-term debt this year alone. At this rate the Province's long-term debt will be almost $21 billion by the end of this year. The NDP has run up 4.5 billion in dollars in new long-term debt since it took power in 1999.
With respect to revenue, Mr. Deputy
Speaker, the Province has now taken in $2.57 billion in new revenue since 1999.
This year the Province will take in $8.651 billion in new revenue. This year
alone we will see a $486-billion increase in provincial revenue. Of this year's
revenue $3 billion is coming from the federal government, or 35 percent of all
revenue of the Province's budget comes from the federal Treasury. In 1999
federal transfers to the Province accounted for 28 percent of the revenue for
the
In expenditures, the Province is now spending $2.6 billion more than it did in 1999, or 42.6 percent. This year the Province will spend $8.68 billion, an increase of $555 million over last year.
Personal income taxes:
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The Fiscal Stabilization Fund this year will see a $69-million decrease in the balance of the rainy day fund. This is the second withdrawal the NDP has made in the last two years; $123 million has been withdrawn over the last two years.
With respect to health care, the Budget
'06 increases the health budget by $217.6 million. Health budget accounts for
42 percent of
Rural health care: This budget does little
to address the health care needs of rural
Interfacility ambulance
transfers: This budget did not address the need for funding of interfacility
ambulance transfers. This government must stop offloading their failure to
retain doctors in rural
CancerCare drugs: Budget '06 did not address the need of funding for drugs that can significantly prolong lives of cancer patients, many of which are funded by other Canadian provinces.
Budget '06 increased the Pharmacare deductible for the fifth straight year. This government continues to offload costs onto seniors and low-income Manitobans.
With respect to education, Mr. Deputy Speaker, this budget fails to eliminate education taxes off residential property and farmland. The Minister of Education (Mr. Bjornson) recently told the media that he has absolutely no problem with school boards raising property taxes this year. This attitude toward taxpayers is completely unacceptable and offensive. At a time when public school enrolments are dropping in many areas, this budget does nothing to encourage young people, families, to stay or move into our province.
Advanced education and
training: This budget falls short in providing the universities with the
operating grants they are requesting. Universities are still going to have to
play catch-up. The
Also, we hope post-secondary education
institutes are given autonomy, flexibility in terms of where the best use is of
this funding. We would like to see a well-defined, accessible, result-based
approach to post-secondary education skills and training. There are many
partners, individuals, employers and businesses, communities, education and
training institutes. The government's role is to facilitate, not assume, this
partnership. The move to
With respect to justice, we made suggestions seven months ago for legislation providing parents the right place for their drug-addicted teens to detox facilities. We are glad to see the NDP has taken advantage of our plan and our suggestion. In order for this to be effective, there have to be adequate resources in place for detox facilities. This budget will not provide for those resources.
The budget does nothing to lighten the load for overburdened probation officers. In our action plan, Enough is Enough! Standing Up for Safe Communities, we promised to work for reduced average caseloads of probation officers as well as put in place a team of individuals to randomly check on high-risk gang offenders to ensure compliance with probation orders. Moreover, in the fall, we were told that statistics regarding probation breaches did not exist. It is impossible for government to keep tabs on how well probation works and how well court orders are being enforced if statistics are not kept.
This budget fails to address the issue of court backlogs. We have seen several examples, one as recently as December of 2005, since the NDP government, of criminal charges being stayed due to unacceptable court delays. Furthermore, if the accused is awaiting trial in the Remand Centre and if the accused can serve time in the Remand Centre, it is considered double time.
The announcement of new police officers is simply a re-announcement from the November Throne Speech. Furthermore, there is no plan in place to ensure that recruitment of officers is keeping pace with retirement.
The Hydro issues, Mr. Deputy Speaker, there needs to be a cost-benefit analysis as to whether Wuskwatim is economically viable when we keep hearing of the escalating costs. Furthermore, we never went before the Public Utilities Board, which determines muddies in the waters and the terms of costs.
The Finance Minister said we are not going to take a dividend from Manitoba Hydro. However, Bill 11 would effectively allow them to take a dividend from Manitoba Hydro.
The MLCC increased $9 million in projected revenues from MLCC over last year. MPI transfers almost $100 million to the Province annually in money collected for driver's licence and administration fees. With respect to the WCB, the amount of levy revenue transferred from the WCB to the Department of Labour has increased from $7 million last year to $7.28 million in the year 2006.
With respect to Culture, Heritage and
Tourism, spending is up $1.2 million, 1.8 percent from last year. There is
decreased tourism within the
Government Services: Funding from the MDC is coming with this department, although funding for Child and Family Services for people with disabilities had increased over 8 percent from last year. EMO has increased approximately $120,000. Family Services spending crossed the benchmark of a billion dollars, approximately a $30-million increase from last year, almost a 5 percent increase in administration spending. Family Violence Prevention programs increased $300 million, a significant amount over last year.
Concern about overspending programs
without getting any results for
In the transportation sector there is $29
million of highway expenditures. That probably will not be enough to address
the problems with respect to 75, never mind the rest of the province. We know
that the highways within the
Manitobans are sick and tired of the roads they cannot drive on. There is likely more spring road restrictions, and earlier, because of the state of the roads, currently a $7-billion deficit. A $30-million addition is insignificant. This is according to Chris Lorenc from the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association.
The NDP cannot manage their finances when they are increasing funding without using all the funds from last year despite a lapse of between $37 million and $59 million into the general revenues.
Agriculture in rural
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This government is all
talk and no action when it comes to providing a long-term economic strategy for
the revitalization of rural
This budget is simply a
re-announcement of previous commitments, including a further reduction of
farmland school tax from 50 percent to 60 percent.
The Province should be taking steps in developing plans to extend its riparian tax credit, further biodiesel fuel development and increase the number of wind farm projects.
The City of
But, Mr. Deputy Speaker, the meetings that
are going on with respect to the $2 levy that is being proposed by the
provincial government to increase slaughter capacity within the
They had an opportunity to move forward. They neglected to do that, Mr. Deputy Speaker. It is time to move on and get the job done. Thank you.
Mr. Tom Nevakshonoff (Interlake): Indeed, it is a pleasure to rise to speak to the budget today. In fact, I am happy to see that the members opposite have finally come to their senses and stopped wasting the time of the Legislature and the money of the people of Manitoba by ringing the bells incessantly for no reason really whatsoever. So, with a change in leadership, maybe they are going to be improving their course of action here.
I do want to congratulate
the Member for
I do want to also
acknowledge the former leader over there, the Member for Kirkfield Park (Mr.
Murray), who certainly did his best and was, in typically Tory fashion, treated
most shabbily by members opposite, stabbed in the back as happens to so many
Conservative leaders, most unfortunate for him. He had done relatively well, I
thought, in achieving 20 seats in the last election when the people of
I would like to address
some of the issues of the budget, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and I would start with
infrastructure, something that is near and dear to our hearts out in rural
The Interlake was a true hinterland when it came to highways capital development. Since 1999, I am proud to say that has changed considerably. We are awaiting Mr. Harper to step up to the plate. He certainly talked the talk in the election campaign.
I
really hope that he does recognize that there is a place for the federal
government when it comes to our highways. We have a number of highways that
they could address. Some help with 75 or with the
This government has also stepped up to the
plate on another major infrastructure front, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and that is
drainage. We have doubled the budget this year. We have made incremental
increases to this budget in the seven previous years, and this year, in
recognition of the hard times that our farmers have experienced due to
inclement weather, we have certainly stepped up to the plate and not just
incrementally increased it but actually doubled the entire budget in contrast
to what members opposite did while they were in office. It was exactly the opposite.
Incremental decreases to the budget. Here the party that supposedly represents
rural
I might suggest that Mr. Harper might also consider getting involved on that front as well. There was a time when national governments cared in this regard. I think back to the time when the Right Honourable Ed Schreyer was the premier of this province, and Pierre Elliott Trudeau was the prime minister. There were federal dollars that came into this province to address drainage needs. I know that because a lot of the drains dug in the Interlake were dug under the old FRED Program. That put in place a lot of the main trunk lines that so greatly improved agriculture in our province.
Leadership of men like Mr. Schreyer and
Mr. Trudeau is sadly lacking in members opposite, and we really do hope that
Mr. Harper will make a change in that regard and step up and try and help
farmers in rural western
I always like to take the opportunity when I speak about conservation districts to call upon members on the west side of the Interlake to join us as well in conservation district programs. So I hope that they will consider that. The program adds a lot more capital resources into the system, and it also focusses on a more holistic, comprehensive approach to water management because it is not just drainage. The old saying, "Drain, drain, drain; put in the crops and pray for rain," I think, is appropriate. We have to look at more than just getting the water off the land. There are dry spells in this province as well as wet spells, so we have to look at storage of water. We have to look at retention. We have to look at staged release, and we also have to look at other areas as well.
* (15:00)
There is a lot of potential for tourism in our province. It is something that this government certainly has put a lot of focus on, in particular ecotourism and, in this regard, we have to maintain our natural resources, our wild lands and so forth. There is a lot of that in the Interlake. We have probably in excess of 25 wildlife management areas in the Interlake, again, put in place when Mr. Schreyer was the premier. It is a treasured resource in our region and we want to maintain that, and proper, well-thought-out water management is a major component of that.
In terms of infrastructure, I think of our farming community and the fact that, when Filmon was the premier here, the old mentality that we were the hewers of wood and carriers of water was the way they did business. We on this side of the House think differently. We want to stop just being producers of primary products. We want to start moving toward processing and so forth, and I think in terms of our clean energy initiatives as something that will be a legacy of our government.
I was a member of the
biodiesel task force and I am pleased to see that we will be moving forward on
this front. We have developed a lot of wind potential in this province, Mr.
Deputy Speaker. A 100-megawatt wind farm is now in place in St.
On the livestock front
this government has certainly taken action as well. We have attracted OlyWest
to our province, and if everything passes the Clean Environment Commission
hearings, we will soon be processing a lot more hogs in this province instead
of merely shipping them south to the
I just have to look over at members opposite and shake my head in disbelief because this is something that we should be moving forward on. We have gone through this crisis, and time and again we have asked members opposite to put aside their partisan politics and be a part of the solution instead of being a part of the problem, but, sadly, their baser instincts rose to the surface and now they are opposing the $2 checkoff which will play such a vital role in expanding slaughter facilities in this province.
What was their approach,
Mr. Deputy Speaker? What was their approach? They wanted the government to
just build it, to just spend all the money and put a plan in place without any
participation of the industry, which is in direct opposition to exactly what
the industry has been telling us since the beginning of this crisis in May of
2003. They want to play a role. They want to own these facilities, not the
government, but members opposite, in true Soviet style, want to go ahead with
big state plants in direct contravention of their ideology, it would seem, but
I guess when you are on the opposition bench you can propose practically
anything. To move forward on the old Soviet-style state enterprises that the
Member for
We hope that they change their tune on this, that they start speaking in favour of producer-owned slaughter facilities, and that they speak to their friends in the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association to try and get the message across to them as well, because we would rather work with groups such as the MCPA, and we are willing to join them in administering the collection of the checkoff. We know that members opposite have great influence over this organization, so I would hope for the sake of our producers, for the sake of our ranchers, for the sake of the cow-calf people in our province, that members opposite would put aside their partisan politics for once and be, as I said earlier, a part of the solution as opposed to typically being a part of the problem.
On the water front, that would segue into
that, because, here again, we need a united front in this House, Mr. Deputy
Speaker. This is a critical problem that we are facing here with the diversion
of water out of
So we have to remain united on this front
and, once again, in typically Conservative style, members opposite have chosen
politics over what is right for the people of
I was in
I know that, when I was preparing to run
as the MLA in the Interlake, one of the questions I asked was about
* (15:10)
For the Member for Emerson to suggest, for
example, that there was no testing done, we know that there was a team of
scientists that went out there. The water was–[interjection] Exactly, on that lake, they were definitely on the
lake, and yet the Member for Emerson and his cohorts over there, it is just
silly how they would even suggest that that never took place. But, obviously,
it is not important to them. The quality of water in our province plays a
distant second fiddle with members opposite. That is backed up by their record
while they were in office and continues today on the opposition benches. The
people of
Now, we are looking to
add value in rural and northern
Again, the Minister of Agriculture, Food
and Rural Initiatives (Ms. Wowchuk) has taken action on this front. She created
a new committee called the Creating Opportunities committee, and I am honoured
to be one of the four task force members. I would just like to take a moment to
acknowledge the other members of the task force: the chair, Susan Proven; Gaye
Lenderbeck; and Paul Gregory from Fisher Branch. These people have worked very
hard over the last couple of months. We have toured across the province doing
consultation which is something that we do a lot of. We believe in hearing what
people have to say and then acting on their recommendations. So we have had
ample opportunity to hear what our constituents in rural and northern
One of the things I hope that we move on is on the Aboriginal front. It is unfortunate, but there are very high unemployment rates in Aboriginal communities. This is something that I hope we will address in terms of education, vocational training and so forth.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, there is a lot more in
this budget that I would like to comment on. For example, opportunities for
youth is something that we have addressed as well. Of course, the 10 percent
reduction and then tuition freeze for another budget year is remaining in
place, and this dovetails well with the expansion of training positions in our
province with the new
We have made considerable movement on the
taxation front, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Again, I would refer to some of our actions
in rural
Now, members opposite on the opposition bench, they claimed that they would just eliminate all these taxes whatsoever. They have not really fleshed out how that would be effected, probably $700 million, $800 million, I believe, that they would have to scrape up somewhere. But, you know, it is easy to promise things like that but actually delivering on them is much more difficult.
But I do remember back in the last election, I think it was, the Member for Russell (Mr. Derkach) may have let slip what their plans actually were going to be, and that was reducing the delivery of services in education. It was going to be back to the three Rs basically. They would, instead, have a few select centres of excellence, no doubt in places like Steinbach or in good Conservative ridings, where education would be delivered at a higher level in comparison to other regions of the province. Again, I think of the Interlake because that really was the hinterland when these members opposite formed government, which is the reason why this seat has been held for over 40 years by the New Democratic Party.
So, Mr. Deputy Speaker,
in conclusion I want to once again take my hat off to the Minister of Finance
(Mr. Selinger) and the Executive Council of the NDP government for putting
forth, once again, a very good budget for the people of Manitoba, a budget that
is balanced, not only under the Filmon balanced budget legislation, but also
according to the generally accepted accounting principles as was recommended to
us by the Auditor General. It is a budget that receives raves, not just here in
I know my colleagues want to speak on the budget as well, Mr. Deputy Speaker, so I thank you for this opportunity.
Mr. Cliff Cullen (
Today is very special. We did see a government bring forward a budget yesterday, a Conservative federal budget that really speaks to the wishes of all Canadians, a very good family budget that all Canadians will find something of value in. I think it is an opportune time for us to really contrast what the NDP government has proposed in terms of their 2006 provincial budget.
I think when we review the 2006 budget it is clearly a budget of spend more, get less. It is something that Manitobans have become used to with this NDP government. They know the government can spend money, and to finance their habit they have to tax Manitobans more. So it is just a matter of spend more and get less in terms of services that Manitobans are finding out about. It really speaks about accountability to Manitobans. I think Manitobans recognize this type of budget that is being brought forward, and they are demanding accountability on behalf of this government.
Before I get too far into my discussions,
I do want to make a comment. It has been an interesting time for our party on
this side of the House over the last couple of weeks. I do want to congratulate
Stuart Murray for all the work he has done on behalf of our party and all
Manitobans. I think for the accolades that have been brought forward over the
last week, we recognize Stuart as a very honest, hardworking individual that
has really put forth a lot of work on behalf of Manitobans. Certainly, I want
to thank Stuart for all his hard work. He was certainly a good friend over the
years, and I know he will be here for some more time, the Member for
I do want to commend our new leader, the
Member for
It has also been a bit of a pleasure for
me, not just to get to know our new leader, but also his family. His parents,
Ralph and Leyah McFadyen, actually
reside in the fine constituency of
* (15:20)
When I think of Cartwright, the community of Cartwright is facing a crisis in terms of their school. It was just found out and determined last week that they have a severe mould problem in the school. The section of the school that has been impacted has been an older building. It is about 55 years old and we found a serious mould problem there. The kids had to be actually physically moved to the other end of the building so the elementary kids from K to 6 are now in the school with the high school kids. So it has certainly been a very stressful situation for not only the kids there but the families of those kids and also the teaching staff. They have had to deal with this very significant issue, and it has been very stressful and it is a real crisis in that particular community.
Clearly, the community needs to bring this issue forward with the minister, and I do want to commend the Minister of Education (Mr. Bjornson) for allowing us the opportunity to discuss the situation with them on a very timely basis. We do appreciate that. I know the community appreciates that gesture.
So we are looking forward to having a positive discussion with the minister's office and the Public Schools Finance Board, so hopefully we can move this particular issue forward. I know it is a very serious issue there. Of course, we can get through the spring session with the school, but coming forward in September we are going to have to have some provisions and some options put forward for the community. So, as I say, it is a very important issue for the community of Cartwright and they do really value their school.
When we look at the big picture of
education and we look, I guess. in particular at what really impacts Manitobans
in the rural area, it is the tax structure and how we handle the taxes on
property tax to pay for schools. So I think it is important that we have a look
at how that process has been developed over the years. We on this side of the
House obviously recognize there have to be changes in the structure of the
property tax and how we fund education in
As you know, this government is tinkering
with that, but, unfortunately, the way the system has developed, I know this
government has come forward and said they are spending more and more money on
education in
Mr. Deputy Speaker, this
is, of course, exactly opposite of what the government is saying. So what has
happened in reality is, in the Prairie Spirit School Division they have had to
increase their property taxes to the tune of about 5 percent. So what happens
is the local ratepayers now are actually paid more money in education tax than
they were before, contrary to where this government thinks they are headed. So
I think it is important to get the facts on the record. Clearly, the government
needs some vision when it comes to how we fund education tax in
Another important issue
for the people in
We have a crisis in
health care in rural
I want to refer, and I
will quote from a letter that I received from a chairman of the Rock Lake
Health District, which covers
The letter goes on to say: On February 27, 2006, we were forced to close our emergency and acute care services as we did not have a doctor that was qualified under the rules under the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba. We have been actively recruiting a second doctor for several months and are faced with the same roadblocks of finding a practice-ready physician for our facility.
It goes on to say: Our citizens deserve
better than this. The people that live south of
I know that, when we raise the issue in
Question Period, the government comes back and says, oh, there are more doctors
practising in
In regard to
They go on to say: We cannot idly sit by and watch our services disappear without a fight. We are in crisis, is what the letter says. This is signed on behalf of the unions that are trying to get something done in their local communities.
When we look at what we are doing in
The other issue that has been very important
to my constituents is the idea of wait lists. It is one call after another, in
terms of people being backlogged on these wait lists. The knees and hips in
particular are a very important concern. I think it is time for us to have a
look at how we are delivering that health care dollar in
Another important issue that keeps being
brought forward by rural Manitobans is the idea of highways and roads
throughout
I refer to Highway No. 2. If anyone
happens to have an opportunity to take Highway No. 2 from Oak Bluff out to
the western part of
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Another government road we have been talking about is Provincial Road 340, which runs south of Shilo. There is a gap in the hard surface of that particular road of 13 kilometres. It is a very strange thing where the government has paved one end and they have paved the other end, but for some reason they left 13 kilometres unpaved. It is a very important road for the communities there because obviously there are a lot more people working in Shilo now, and it is a fairly important economic area for the farm community as well. There is a provincial park located right on that road, so you would think the government of the day would spend a few dollars and finish the hard surfacing of that road so that Manitobans would have access to the newest provincial park in Manitoba. But we have not seen the government move forward on that. We do need a long-term vision when it comes to infrastructure in Manitoba, and I think it is important that we lay those plans out so Manitobans have a bit of a concept of where the government is headed in the long term.
One thing I do want to point out as a critic for Manitoba Public Insurance, we recognize that Manitoba Public Insurance is collecting close to $100 million out of the pockets of Manitobans, collected on behalf of Manitobans on their driver licence fees and their vehicle registration fees to the tune of up to $99 per vehicle. So that $100 million is getting turned back into general revenue and we have no idea why. We think that particular money that is collected from Manitobans–and Manitobans believe that that money is going back into the roads–should in fact be used to go back into the roads. So I think that is a very important issue that the government of the day should certainly have a look at.
The other issue which is very important to
not only Turtle Mountain but all over rural Manitoba, and certainly impacts
Winnipeg as well, is the whole agricultural issue and the crisis we are facing
in agriculture. I was happy to see the federal Conservative government
recognize the importance of agriculture, recognizing the crisis that
agriculture is in, and they are prepared to put forward a billion-and-a-half-dollar
investment in agriculture. Hopefully, that will translate to about $150
million here in
A quote here is from the president of the Keystone Agricultural Producers, David Rolfe: Farmers are going from one crisis to another. This statement is backed up by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada where they say that the farm income forecast for 2006 indicates Manitoba's net cash income, and this includes program payments, will suffer a 67 percent drop in 2006, adding up to a $194-million loss across the province.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, this falls on the
heels of four years in a row of declining revenue on behalf of Manitobans. So,
when you put all those factors together, it is a very, very serious situation
in rural
Mr. Deputy Speaker, look
at what kind of a crop you need to actually break even, because the farmers are
now facing record-high input costs and at the same time they are facing
record-low commodity prices. Just for example, red spring wheat, and this is
the government's own guidelines for estimating crop reduction costs, the
break-even yield for red spring wheat is 47.3 bushels per acre; the probable
average yield on hard red spring wheat in Manitoba, 37 bushels. You have to
have a bumper crop to actually break even in
Let me give you an
example. Manitoba Agriculture Services Corporation, the former
I think the federal
government recognizes that it is not working, and just tinkering with the
program probably is not going to address it, so it is time that we took a
really hard look at that particular program, have a look forward in how we are
going to design a very effective program because, quite frankly, this program
of CAIS is not predictable. It is not something producers can take to the bank.
The whole process is flawed, and you could potentially be looking at up to a
two-year time period before you get money back out of the program. It has
proven to be a very ineffective insurance program so I think it is time we had
a look at how we develop a real, plausible program throughout all of
Mr. Deputy Speaker, we
are still feeling the fallout from the BSE crisis here in
Again, the CAIS program does not work. The Keystone Agricultural Producers are saying the same thing. The CAIS program is flawed. It is time to have a look–[interjection]
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order,
please. The honourable Member for
Mr. Cullen: Thank you, Mr.
Deputy Speaker, for that. As I spelled out, there are very serious issues in
agriculture, and the government of the day is now looking at imposing another
two dollar tax, if you will, on the heads of cattle producers which we know
will negatively impact the entire cattle business in
We need a long-term vision for how
agriculture is going to work and some of the economic development that can take
place in
We need, and farmers are saying we need,
an effective program. We do not want bailouts. We just want an effective
insurance program that we think will work, and the government of the day has to
be there to provide that sort of vision, that sort of hope for them so that
they can be engaged in agriculture and be engaged in some kind of economic
development. I think there is a lot of opportunity for that but, unfortunately,
what we are seeing is more and more young people moving to greener pastures.
They are looking for work out in
A lot of our agricultural producers have
decided to turn it in, take the keys back to the banker and say, I have had
enough; I am moving on. I can get a job out in
At the same time as this goes on, we see the government bringing forward regulations, and I am thinking particularly of the water stewardship regulations and the water quality management zones. We all believe as Manitobans in clean water, but we have a different vision of how we get there compared to the NDP government. We believe there should be incentives. We should be working with our producers to make things happen. We do not believe in ruling by regulation and the hard hand of government.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, we have tremendous environmental farm plans that have been brought forward, and producers are working with those federal environmental farm plans to be good stewards of the land. They are working with the federal government in bringing forward initiatives, and they are using some of that federal money to be good stewards and increase and enhance their own property.
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Mr. Deputy Speaker, we look at this
government here and how they deal with water quality issues. We look at the
issue that happened with the spillage of sewage into the Red River on behalf of
the city of
Mr. Deputy Speaker, I do believe that
there are opportunities for rural
The other issue, too, is the biodiesel
ethanol projects. We think there is tremendous opportunity there for
value-added production in terms of economic development in rural
I look at another
specific development proposal, and this is actually a company that will bring
money to Manitobans. This particular proposal is a horse park outside of
So we are just, quite
frankly, asking why either the Minister of Industry (Mr. Rondeau) would not be
involved, why the minister of gaming would not be involved in having direct
discussions with the proponents as opposed to negotiating through the media. If
we have a company coming to
We are not saying on this
side of the House more VLTs. We are not saying more VLTs. We can say that this
can be done with the redistribution of VLTs. [interjection] The MTS Centre, was it 40 or 50 new VLTs? The Canad
Inn in
This government is trying
to single-handedly kill the horse race business in
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order, please. The recording will be interrupted. [interjection] Your voice is louder than the one who is speaking.
Mr. Cullen: I would be
happy to have the minister of gaming set up a meeting with the proponents any
time at his leisure. [interjection]
Well, I do not know if he knows his way to
While I am talking about the minister of gaming who is also responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs, we have had quite a dealing with EMO and the Disaster Financial Assistance program last year. I have tried to encourage the minister to have a look at a lot of changes that have to be undertaken on that particular program. I hope that he will really address those because there are a lot of things that are falling through the cracks. In particular, a lot of farmers are not being covered for the disaster they have faced, and there is a lot of the business community that has not had their issues addressed. So certainly that should be brought forward.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, I realize that my time is short here. There are still a lot of other issues to talk about but I would be remiss if I did not talk about the debt of the province and where this government is taking us. We are now close to $21 billion in total debt. We are paying interest on $21 billion. It is hard for the government of the day to ignore that fact, but I think the other thing too, and it really boils down, this budget, to accountability. Manitobans have lost faith that this government is actually accountable to all Manitobans. We look at the scandalous action of this government over the last number of years, the latest scandal, obviously, the Crocus scandal. We have had the Hydra House and we have the Seven Oaks scandal coming forward. In the end the list is endless.
When you look at the Crocus Fund scandal in particular it is amazing to see the government has their fingerprints on all of these scandals. They are associated with the Workers Compensation Board, the Teachers' Retirement Fund, they talk about the Manitoba Property Fund, and they even wanted to get their hands on the public employees' funds. Mr. Deputy Speaker, we have seen the other issue too is with whistle-blowers. You know this government is not handling whistle-blowers, people that bring forward suggestions, and they fire them.
I see my time is out. We are looking forward to having a public inquiry on the Crocus Fund. If the government of the day does not want to do that, let us call an election and clear the air. Thank you.
Hon. Rosann Wowchuk (Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives): Mr. Deputy Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to finally have the opportunity to speak on the budget, a budget that has been delayed by the members opposite for some time now. It is regrettable that when we have such important issues here they chose to play games and ring bells and refuse to address the issues that are important to Manitobans.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, just before getting
into the budget I want to talk about this flooding that just happened in
southern
In my constituency we had the one
community in
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Mr. Deputy Speaker, we have heard members opposite criticize this budget. I am not prepared to speak on it, but I would just like to take this opportunity to just put a few quotes on the record about what people in the public have said about this budget. Mr. Dave Angus, Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce says: We are a little bit surprised in terms of some moves on capital tax and, of course, the elimination of the ESL is very impressive. But we do not hear members opposite talk about the elimination of the ESL. Jim Carr, Business Council of Manitoba: Competitiveness is now at the top of the government's agenda. That is a good thing and we congratulate them for that. Very interesting, members opposite do not quote that one. Toronto Dominion Financial Group: Tax incentives are front and centre in this budget.
So, Mr. Deputy Speaker, as you look at the comments that people outside of government have made, I would encourage members opposite, instead of being so negative on this budget, instead of delaying as they have–I am glad they are finally talking about it–I am encouraging members opposite to look at some of the good things that are in this budget. The good things in this budget are certainly significant.
Another quote: With regard to co-op education credits for graduates, that is really a great one. That will bring graduates back into the province and keep them here in the province; 5 percent of wages up to the maximum of $2,500. That is from Evelyn Jacks, The Knowledge Bureau. She made that statement shortly after the budget.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, this
budget is built on three pillars: growing green, growing smart, healthy
families, healthy communities; saving taxes for
I heard the opposition
talking about the wind farms, the importance of biodiesels, the ethanol energy.
Well, you know, members opposite never moved in any of those directions when
they were in government. They never even thought of doing anything like looking
for an alternate green energy. Members opposite never moved in those directions
at all, but our government recognizes the importance of having green energy in
this province and we have moved on it. I hope everyone gets a chance to travel
to St.
Mr. Deputy Speaker,
biodiesel is another opportunity and one that we have moved forward on by
reducing the tax on biodiesel that is produced, and that, too, has a tremendous
amount of interest in rural
The ethanol plant in Minnedosa is certainly significant, and we now hear the members opposite saying we had nothing to do with that plant coming here, but it is this government that is committed to alternate energies and greening our environment, and we will continue to do that.
The proposed Conawapa generation station is also going to be very important in the economy. It will be important for the revenues of this province, but it will have enormous impact in community economic development in northern communities that members opposite have always ignored. This is a government that is prepared to work with all sectors of the province, and certainly the development of the Conawapa dam has to move forward and will be a great opportunity for economic growth.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, we hear people talking
about opportunities for
Just a few of those programs: A new
three-year $60-million fund being made to universities and colleges. This is
the largest commitment in the history of
Mr. Deputy Speaker, all of these issues
are very important. The investments, the recent announcement at
I heard the member opposite talking about
water and the environment. I am very proud of the record that we have and the
awards this province has received for the work in protecting the environment
and high recognition. Who gave us that award? Where did that award come from?
Remember that award we got? [interjection]
Oh, yes, the member opposite asked, it was the international business magazine that recognized
Of course, the members opposite are not always very interested. They talk the talk, but I have not seen them walk the walk when it comes to delivering on protecting the environment and putting in those kinds of resources that are needed to ensure that we are in fact doing the right thing to protect our environment.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, I want to, of course, take a little bit of time to talk about the agriculture industry and the challenges that we are facing in this industry and there certainly are many of them. Low grain prices, high input costs are putting a tremendous amount of pressure on our producers. I want to wish all of our producers the very best. We all hope as farmers that we will have good weather for planting, the right amount of sunshine and moisture so that the crop will grow and, of course, a bountiful harvest. That is always the dream because farmers would much rather get their money from the marketplace than have to come to government for support.
The member opposite talks about the price of fuel. Indeed, that is the other challenge: the high input costs that producers are challenged with. Producers will have to make some difficult decisions in this planting year as to how they will do their operations because of these challenging costs.
But, Mr. Deputy Speaker, a very important issue for producers is drainage. It is not only about drainage, it is about managing our water because I relate this to the Member for Interlake (Mr. Nevakshonoff) talking about running the water off and then being worried about droughts. I think there is much more work that has to be done. But there was a severe neglect by the members opposite when they were in power with the way that they cut the drainage budgets. I remember the Member for Emerson (Mr. Penner) admitting himself that that was a serious mistake on their part, that they had indeed cut drainage.
So we are working toward increasing that capital funding for drainage projects across the province, but we are also working on a water strategy. One part of the water strategy has to be the management of how we store water, how we manage it properly.
I heard the member opposite talk about the environmental farm plans, talking about the federal government. I want to correct the record for the member opposite because the environmental farm plans are funded partly by the federal government, but it is the provincial MAFRI staff that works with those farmers to put the environmental farm plans together. So it is a plan that is in conjunction with the federal and provincial government. Those farm plans are very important because it helps us, again, do the proper planning, points difficult challenging areas and environmental issues that farmers may have to address. These farm plans are very, very important.
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Along with environmental farm plans and
water management, there is a need to do more soil survey so that we have more
detailed farm maps. That is why, Mr. Deputy Speaker, we put new staff in last
year. In this budget that the members opposite have been delaying and do not
intend to support, there is new money that will double the number of
Of course, I will also remind members opposite that they talk about reducing taxes, and, in fact, this budget does reduce taxes in many areas, but in particular for farmers, it reduces the farmland education property tax by 60 percent in 2006. Again, members opposite talked about reducing taxes, but when they were in government, they did none of that. In fact, they increased the portioning in farmland, increased taxes for farmers. We decreased the portioning and then we moved forward and reduced it first by 33 percent, then by 50 percent. In this budget, when it passes, we will be reducing education tax on farmland to 60 percent, a significant reduction.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, members opposite also talked about crop insurance and the levels of crop insurance being decreased. The member opposite has to understand that the level of coverage on crop insurance is set by the federal government, and the federal government gives us a price of what we should be insuring for, based on world prices. If world prices go down, as they have now, then the level of coverage that is offered by crop insurance decreases because the prices have decreased. That is why the level of coverage is decreased. The member opposite also talked about the farmers not recovering their costs of production. Crop insurance does not cover costs of production. Crop insurance covers losses of crop.
But I tell you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, we do listen to farmers, and they talked about the excess moisture insurance which this government introduced. Farmers asked us for change, to go from 50 percent to 70 percent and, in fact, we have now put in another option to crop insurance to allow farmers to buy up to 70 percent. Of course, we have also put in incentives for better management practices in nutrient management zones to help protect our soil and water.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, those are all very important issues and I am very proud of the steps that we have taken here.
We talk about the importance of biodiesel and looking at ways of alternate energy. In this budget we are eliminating the fuel and sales tax to 100 percent on biodiesel, and this is really to allow the industry to expand.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, there are a couple of
areas I just want to mention. I want to talk about the consultation that we did
this year. The Member for Interlake (Mr. Nevakshonoff), along with three
private-sector members, businesspeople, travelled around rural
It is very interesting that you can hear
the members opposite quietly nattering about the pork-processing facility that
is proposed for
So, Mr. Deputy Speaker, as a government, we have stated very clearly that this issue will be handled through the Clean Environment Commission, and we look forward to the company filing for their environmental licence so all of the proper steps can be taken to have a decision based on science.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, in another area, I want to talk about the beef industry where we have been talking about the need to increase slaughter capacity in this province. We have had members opposite tell us that we should be doing something to increase slaughter capacity. Then, when we come up with a proposal of how we could help producers fund slaughter capacity, they tell us that we are interfering in the marketplace. Imagine that. On one hand, when they are in trouble they say, put more money in, keep the industry alive. Then when we start to come up with solutions the members opposite say, oh, you are interfering, let the free marketplace work.
Well, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I am very proud of the position that we have taken, that we have found a way to allow producers to contribute and the government will contribute and we will create a fund that will then have funds where the livestock council can take equity positions in those facilities that are short of equity. Because that is the real problem: the people who are looking to increase slaughter capacity in this province have not been able to raise enough equity. We have found a way to do it. Members opposite choose to criticize rather than to work with the industry.
An Honourable Member: Call an election.
Ms. Wowchuk: Mr. Deputy Speaker, the Member for Kildonan (Mr. Chomiak) talks about running in an election. I tell you, I would be very happy to run in an election on the budget that has been brought forward by our Minister of Finance (Mr. Selinger). This is a budget that each one of us should be very proud of, a budget that leads to a green and growing economy, a budget that creates opportunities for young Manitobans, a budget that has sections in it that will protect our water and environment, a budget that is balanced, a budget that builds strong and safe communities and at the same time has $99 million in new tax savings.
There are many aspects of this budget that
the members opposite should look at carefully and should consider supporting
because it is a good budget. It meets balanced budget legislation and it allows
Mr. Jack Reimer (Southdale): It is a bit of an anomaly. Usually, in my speaking order that I speak either in the Throne Speech or the budget I am following, you know, my colleague from Elmwood. It just seems coincidental that it is always him. But this time I have the honour of following the Minister of Agriculture. Prior to that it was one of our rural colleagues and I think prior to that it was another rural colleague.
So you are going to get maybe a little bit of a different perspective, Mr. Deputy Speaker, because my constituency is an urban riding. It is in the city here, and as much as I appreciate the comments made the Minister of Agriculture, I have to remind her of her Premier (Mr. Doer), though.
Her Premier was talking about certain things about the rural community and things like that, and I remember him saying, I believe he was saying at the NDP convention just a while ago that they had here, and they were ballyhooing about their great efforts and everything. He was talking about the rural voters. He was saying that the rural voters, he could not believe that they would be voting for the Conservatives. In fact, what he said was, and I had to keep the quip, he says: I do not know why farmers vote for Tories. It is like chickens voting for Colonel Sanders.
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Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Mr. Reimer: That is the mentality of the NDP. In fact, they were saying the quote–I
am glad the members were clapping because it is insulting farmers in accusing
them of being birdbrains, but they will applaud that because they feel that the
rural vote is not important. They are not going after the rural vote. They
treat them as a different type of individual out there because you can see what
is happening in the rural economy here in
We know that through some of the farm programs–I am not familiar with all of them, Mr. Deputy Speaker, so I cannot really pontificate on them, but I do know that we hear a lot because of the emerging prices in health care in the rural area where so many ERs are closing down and people have to travel to different areas. [interjection] One of the members says that we should name where the ERs are closed, and I just happen to have the list, so I appreciate the question from the member of the opposition. In the past three years, ERs that have been closed, we are talking about the ones in Rivers, Erickson, Glenboro, Wawanesa, Treherne, Boissevain, Deloraine and Rossburn. I understand that even Gimli had a closure for a while. It may still be closed. I am not totally sure.
So, I mean, these are some of the things
that are happening in the rural area. There has been more and more concern by
the people. We saw how in Brandon the pediatric doctor–I said doctor because I
believe there may be only one there now. The people have to drive into
In fact, Mr. Deputy Speaker, if you
recall, the foundation of the New Democratic Party came from the rural roots.
It was actually the CCF. The CCF was formed in the rural community. What is
happening is that the government that we have here in
Mr. Deputy Speaker, I am reminded of a former MLA for the NDP. I believe that she was at one time the Member for Radisson, and then she decided to move on to other areas. She was criticizing the other day in the paper about this NDP government making tax cuts. This is ironic. Here one of their former members, a long-time–[interjection] Yes, former member of the caucus–because she could not take the infighting. We saw that she mentioned in the newspaper article how she could not get along with the caucus and everything. They were sort of ostracizing her, so she decided that she was going to write this article and I read the article. Initially it was about crossing the floor and that, but there was also the comment in there about her NDP government being involved with tax cuts and how she did not really appreciate that that was the way the NDP government was going.
You know, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I will not say I sympathize with her because of a lot of her comments and her dealings. In fact, she and I used to share a community centre when she was representing Radisson and my constituency was Southdale. One of the community centres that we both served was Winakwa Community Centre, a very, very vibrant, very energetic community centre. We both participated in a lot of events, and we both sponsored functions and events at that community centre so we got to enjoy a lot of the events together.
There are so many things that you could talk about this budget here that I feel that I should make comment about. One of the things naturally is the fact that we have been trying to get this government to call an inquiry into Crocus. I hear on the other side that this call of an election that they are calling for, and we must remember that we on this side are ready for an election. It is the people on that side and the Premier (Mr. Doer) himself is the one who has to make that decision. I would think that the members that are calling for an election on that side, maybe they should talk to their Premier. Maybe they get close to him in caucus. Whether he comes to caucus, I do not know because naturally caucus confidentiality we both adhere to. But maybe if some of the members on the other side in the NDP caucus now that are calling for an election, if they maybe talk to their Premier, well, maybe he might abide by what they are advising for him. That would be different, especially if it came from a backbencher.
Anyway, we were calling for an inquiry on
the Crocus Fund because of the fact that there were so many things that were
brought to light by the Auditor General that deserve to be cleared. The air
deserves to be cleared, and if the Premier does not have anything to hide, then
he should call it. Now I do not think he has anything to hide. I do not think
he has anything to hide, so I think that he should do it. I am on his side. You
know, he should call it because he says that he wants to clear the air, and I
agree with him. He should do it. I am sure that what he has said, he is an
honourable man. He is a man that is a Premier for all of
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The Auditor General will
be retiring from his position I guess very shortly. This summer I believe his
tenure is up as the Auditor General for
Unfortunately, his time, his tenure as the Auditor General expires very shortly. He was on a 10-year contract, if you want to call it. It expires. But the new Auditor General that is going in there is going to have automatically–automatically, Mr. Deputy Speaker–10 years in front of him or her. What a legacy this government is handing over to the Auditor General, and the Auditor General, as has been mentioned by some of my colleagues, he has asked for more people. He has asked for more money. But why should he not? I mean, why would he not, when he is swamped like that? The gentleman is overwhelmed with all the work that he has to do. So, you know, the Auditor General is very astute in his awareness of what this government is doing.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, when we talk about the budget and what this government has brought down, we have to be very serious about where this government is going and the debt that it is accumulating. The amount of debt that this government is accumulating is at an all-time high. It is climbing and climbing. It is up to almost $21 billion of debt that has come up. In fact, since 1999, it has run up to $3.5 billion in new debt or obligations since it took office in 1999. Instead of the debt going down, when we have looked at this tremendous increase in transfer payments that this government has anticipated, they are spending that money as fast as they can get it and they are spending more. They have gone into the rainy day fund. They have gone after Hydro, took Hydro for a bunch of money. They keep going to any place, any of the Crown corps that have got money and in some way or another are trying to get money. They keep talking about wanting to get more money. They are using user fees and incremental fees that they have added on to various services that they provide. So it is just a matter of their saying that they are not increasing taxes, but they are increasing the user fees.
One of the things that my
colleagues have talked about is the amount of money that is spent on roads. Mr.
Deputy Speaker, here in
The Minister of Transportation (Mr. Lemieux) gets up and he talks about all the increase in funding, but he forgets to mention the carryover. He says, we increased it by $29 million; $29 million. How much was it? How much was the carryover? Thirty-five million. So, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I think there is a little bit of shady interpretation there by the Minister of Transportation. He will not tell us that, though. He never admits that. He does not admit that, but he will stick up and he says, we increased it by $29 million; we did this, but we did not spend it and we did not spend any extra on it. But that is just something that we will bring to his attention. I am sure he recognizes that in a different venue.
So there are many other things that I feel that I would like to talk about. One of the things I do have to talk about, one more thing that I would like to talk about is balanced budget legislation that we brought in. [interjection] We hear applause on the other side now for that balanced budget legislation.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, they voted against it. When it was introduced, the Member for Kildonan (Mr. Chomiak), the Member for Thompson (Mr. Ashton), voted against it. I remember the Member for–I am sorry, the Minister of Health (Mr. Sale), I forget his constituency, saying this is a foolish thing, a foolish thing, this balanced budget legislation. Now? Oh, it is a different thing.
Anyway, Mr. Deputy Speaker, what I am saying is they will vote against things and then they embrace them, the good things that we have brought in, and now they are taking credit for all the things that we have brought in, and bring it in.
So, with those short words, I know that there are other people who are wanting to get some other words on the record. So thank you very, very much for the time, Mr. Deputy Speaker.
Mr. Bidhu Jha (Radisson): I rise today to speak in support of this Budget 2006 minted by our Minister of Finance (Mr. Selinger). I believe, Mr. Deputy Speaker, this budget will make all Manitobans very happy, pleased and be supportive of the same.
It is about three years, Mr. Deputy
Speaker, that I have been elected as an MLA from Radisson. I will share this
once again, what made me to fight this last election and future. I think it was
one afternoon around late 2002 that I was flipping the Free Press and I read that a health activist was nominated as a
Tory candidate in Radisson. I read a little bit more about this activist and
found out the name, and then it triggered me, and I was very uncomfortable that
evening of that person being called a health activist. So I decided next day,
and I went and talked to some people, and I said, I am going to fight the
election on that particular issue because this particular candidate was an
associate of a person called Connie Curran, who is well known in
I will share with you once again. I have
talked about this many times that fixing health care is a very tough task. It
is a task the entire world is facing. It is a global issue. Health care is a
very big challenge, but, fundamentally, there are two ways one can look at it.
One way is simply to pay by those who are wealthy, who can afford; they are
okay. Those who cannot afford, those who are weak in society, let them die.
Forty million Americans do not have health insurance in the
What was done, as I said several times, that we look at ideology. I have heard members from the opposite side talking about ideologies. Mr. Deputy Speaker. That is the difference it makes between two parties. Ideologies are very dear to us. I am very proud of our ideology. Ideology makes a difference in raising your family. Ideology makes a difference in raising a community. Ideology makes a difference in running a country. Ideology makes a difference in running the whole world. Depending on what kind of world we want, it depends on the ideologies, and we are very fortunate to have an ideology which is for all people. It is not for a select group of people who are privileged. It is for all, and that is the ideology that the entire world is changing now intellectually and thereinto.
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So I am very happy, Mr. Deputy Speaker, to speak. I am proud of our government, and I may take back again, in 2003, one of the platforms that the members opposite should perhaps–I am positive they will be careful this time, because one of their supporters told me while I was campaigning in Windsor Park, he said, come here, put your sign, because the Tory platform was to take music, art and physical education out of the curriculum from school divisions. That was a very, very sad platform that, again, speaks of the ideology that party tries to build. See something which is universal, dismantle it. Make it a two-tier system and education need not address the issues of music, art and physical education, which, I think, are fundamentally very, very important part of society and our future children who will be the citizens of this country.
So people of Radisson said no, and I am thankful to them for saying no to that platform of dismantling health care, dismantling the education system, and making the society go back to the dark days of 11 years under Mr. Filmon. I think, you know, this is the idea that we looked at in Question Period.
At times I am suspicious.
I get very concerned about the U.S. Republican style of government being
thought to be installed in
Mr. Deputy Speaker, health care: again, I would go back and say that it takes seven years for a medical student from the day he or she gets into the college to graduate. It takes 10 years for a specialist like a radiologist, cardiologist and surgeon to be trained.
Now, my children have
left; they have been driven out from here during those nineties because there
were jobs being cut. Now we have installed more seats into the medical colleges
seven years back. So now and a few years from now, you will see these doctors
graduating from the medical schools. They will be serving our communities, and
we will be much happier, much better because they will be
So, Mr. Deputy Speaker, the several programs on health care: the Transcona Health Access Centre, which my colleague Daryl Reid and I are very proud to share, is an example of how health care is being deliverable in the communities.
Colleges: In Steinbach,
there is a satellite
It is what we look for now versus the future. That is what makes the difference between, again, our approaches. If you want to build a future, you may have to sacrifice a little bit now. The present versus future versus sustainable future makes the difference in economic platforms and ideologies and other agendas, which is the planning.
I am also very proud, Mr. Deputy Speaker,
to share with the House that the largest-ever
One of the things that excited them was this Business Week award given to our Premier. By the way, Business Week is not a union-endorsed magazine; it is an international business magazine widely read and respected by the business community. When they read that our province and Premier Doer were considered one of the best in the world on climate changes strategies, we felt very proud.
The very large commercial body called CII, which is Confederation of Indian Industry, at their luncheon we spoke, and we spoke about why we are so good, about our future of energy, future of science and technology, future of research, hybrid buses, hydrogen buses, new fuel technology, biotechnology. We talked about these signs, the research centre for nutraceutical studies at St. Boniface. All these things make them feel futuristic, and they feel that there is an abundance of resources in Manitoba, there is an abundance of knowledge here, and we will bring that knowledge with industries, we will go together, and we will work with those investors that are looking to find a home for investment and grow their own investment and opportunities. Naturally, that will create a lot of jobs, Mr. Deputy Speaker.
Looking at the vision, you want to build your society on a vision. You do not want to build a society, somehow, to live today and then a dark future tomorrow. I am very, very disappointed with Mr. Harper's budget, where he has killed the Kyoto Accord and Kelowna Accord. These two were very, very important accords. The Premier said that he was not happy with both of these accords. Kyoto Accord, our Premier was the one in the whole country to get there first. That was the reason he was declared the international leader on climate change.
Mr. Harper has short vision. He has killed the Kyoto Accord. It is not good. That is typical Conservative vision. Kelowna Accord, also very important, killed. That is a thing I personally take very serious objection to, this kind of thinking coming.
So I think that we have to understand that, if you want to build a future, you have to be visionary. You have to see ahead. You have to think not about today; think about your grandchildren. Then you build a better society.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, I have, in my constituency, visited seniors; I have visited high schools; I have visited junior schools; I have visited parents and workers, and I find the vibration, excitement amongst all looking at today compared to seven years back. They are far better off today than they were seven years back.
So this speaks for itself. What we have been doing is progressive. We are not perfect. We have not achieved everything that we ought to, but we are progressing in the right direction, and I take great pride that we are on the right track.
I have received several e-mails from young people from my constituency, particularly one young high school student who wrote to me, congratulating me that I was doing a great job for Radisson. He said: Make sure, Mr. Jha, that Manitoba Hydro is not sold. I think I made this misstatement once in the past, and I am repeating that this is a fear, my fellow friends on that side, that people think you sold MTS. They think that, if you come in power, you will sell Hydro. People do not want that. This is dear to them, and they do not want this to happen, so they are giving me advice saying, do not let this happen, Mr. Jha. I have told them, yes, as long as I am elected MLA, I will not let that happen. I do not want to use any words that may not be proper here, but, come high water, I will not let that happen.
Now, these young guys, when they write to me, I feel like an academy award winner. These are the letters from young citizens–
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order, please.
Mr. Jha: –leaders of tomorrow. They may be premier; they may be prime minister; they may be the builders of society. They write to me. I feel very, very excited about their notes.
* (16:40)
So, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I think that the 2006 budget has a lot of ingredients that are worth knowing. Particularly, I am very thankful, too, because it does not lead to some of the cases in my constituency. Those issues like crystal meth strategy, auto theft, family violence prevention, Aboriginal justice committee prevention, and other justice issues are given full support. I see health care highlights in reducing wait lists, investing in health capital, training more health care professionals, chronic disease prevention and treatment, and healthy living.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, let
me again tell this to my wonderful friends here, honourable members, that
Thank you very much, Mr. Deputy Speaker.
Mrs. Mavis Taillieu (Morris): Well, I was interested to hear the comments of the Member for Radisson (Mr. Jha) announcing that he would be supporting the budget that supports hog plants in his constituency. I know that it would be a difficult decision because he is a man of honour. I know that he stands with his constituents, stood for them, and now he is going to have to stand in a different place. So it is going to be a difficult decision for him, but I think he has made it.
Mr. Deputy Speaker,
Manitobans are in trouble if this NDP government is allowed to continue their
spending ways. This budget does little to lead us into the future, into a
vision for the future for Manitobans. Here we are as a have-not province, and
what vision is there to get us into a situation where we are a have province?
Why do we want to stay on bended knee with our hands out to
We have seen it time and time again with this government, it is always spend more, get less. Now it is spend more, get last. This government continues to spend every single penny that they get. Even when they get–[interjection] and more. We get more. We see unprecedented amounts of money coming from the federal government year after year, more and more. This government is getting more money so they spend more, but what are we getting? What are we getting for this? We are getting less, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and Manitobans want more than this.
Manitobans do not want to be last. Manitobans want to be first, I would suggest. There is no long-term strategy for revitalizing this province. We see billions of dollars going into waste–
Point of Order
An Honourable Member: Point of order.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Point of order being raised.
Hon. Dave Chomiak (Minister of Energy, Science and Technology): Point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker.
I know that all members would want me to note that in the gallery we are joined by Dilan Rocan who is up there with his father, Shaun, visiting us in the gallery, and I want to acknowledge them.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: It is not a point of order, but it is a point.
* * *
Mrs. Taillieu: Certainly, I could see the attention drawn to the gallery behind me. I did not want to turn around and have a look, but welcome to the gallery.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, where are our young
people going? They are leaving this province. They are voting with their feet. [interjection] They are going. They are
leaving. I can tell you that my own son has gone to
Not like
Personal taxation: We are one of the highest taxed provinces in the West, Mr. Deputy Speaker. In fact, for a one-earner family of four earning $40,000 to $60,000, we are the highest taxed. We are the highest taxed west of Québec.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, thinking about the jobs here. There is no vision when you think about what is happening with the floodway expansion project. We have opportunities here, but, instead, what we have is a government that wants to force unionization on to workers to work on this project. This, in itself, has raised the cost of the project. I would like to have any one of the members on the opposite side of this House stand up and say that this budget for the floodway project is on budget. I would love to have someone–I would dare someone to stand up and say that that project is on budget.
Mr. Speaker in the Chair
An Honourable Member: Ask the question in Question Period.
Mrs. Taillieu: The Minister of Water Stewardship (Mr. Ashton) says, ask the question in Question Period. If I ask a question in Question Period, I do not get any answers. I do not get any answers.
Certainly, there are concerns about the
floodway from people that are south of the floodway. Certainly, Mr. Speaker, we
saw flooding this spring. We had a large flood event in the
For one thing, they are told that they will be compensated; on the other hand, they are told that it is going to be compensated through the province. But the province cannot both work for the the adjudicator and work for the claimant; there is a conflict of interest there, Mr. Speaker.
Certainly, we need to look at the artificial flooding that happens south of the floodway all the way down through Morris, through Emerson, where there is a lot of farmland that is flooded, and farmers themselves will say–some of them will say that, yes, after the flood is gone, some of that land is good agricultural land, and they have good crops. But that depends on how close you are to the river, Mr. Speaker. Those people closer to the river that have been flooded still will have a significant amount of time needed to clean away the debris, to get the land in proper working condition, before they can plant their crops.
* (16:50)
So there are many concerns from the valley
still. I know that Highway 75 is now open, and the dike has been taken off the
north end of the town of
An Honourable Member: Order a cup one size too big. That is what I do.
Mrs. Taillieu: Well, the suggestion is to order a cup one size too big. I guess that will be the next road sign along Highway No. 75. Instead of "reduce speed because of bumps," we will have further warnings as to what we need to do to travel along these terrible highways, Mr. Speaker.
An Honourable Member: Find an alternate route.
Mrs. Taillieu: Well, that has been said too; find an alternate route. Do not take this highway, because it is in total disrepair.
I mean, you just have to look at some of the headlines: Road repair dollars fall short–half of what is needed, say truckers.
I mean, the minister is proud to say that he has put $29 million more into roadways, but, you know, you talk to people that are in the industry and they say, and I would like to quote a good friend of mine, Chris Lorenc, who says: It is not even a drop in the bucket; it is not even a ripple.
Mr. Speaker, we need $500 million to fix
the roads in this province. Certainly, I have several in my own constituency:
Highway No. 75, Highway No. 1, Highway No. 2, Highway No. 3, Highway No. 59–all
major roads and highways, all economic drivers leading into the capital city
here in
Mr. Speaker, I want to talk a little bit about the scandals that we have seen in this government. I mean, when you talk about the number–and I think it was the Member for Southdale (Mr. Reimer) talking about 45 people employed in the Auditor General's office with a backlog of 10 years of work given to them by the actions of this NDP government over the last six years. That is outrageous. We have government by auditor in this province. We have the Crocus Fund fiasco, and that has tentacles that are so far-reaching we have not gotten to the ends of them yet. We have Workers Compensation Board. We have the TRAF, teachers' retirement fund.
What a tangled web they weave, Mr. Speaker. All the players are so interconnected and so connected to this government that only a full public inquiry, where people can come forward, put their hand on the Bible without fear of reprisal and tell what the truth is about Crocus, then will we find out the details of how involved this NDP government has been in these scandals.
We also have had the Hydra House, and, in talking about issues in Family Services and Housing, we also had an Auditor's report on the Aiyawin housing. That was scathing, to say the least, when all of the red flags that were raised in that Auditor General's report went unnoticed and unheeded by this government for 18 months, while they continued to fund the organization and do nothing and say nothing, Mr. Speaker.
I do want to also talk about the child
welfare system and the need to look at how we deliver child welfare in the
There certainly are some good things happening, and I know that there are many people working within the system, Mr. Speaker, that do and go to their jobs every day, not because they do not care, but because they care more than anyone else about the welfare of children. But, if you do not provide the ways and means for people to do their jobs, if you do not provide them with the risk assessment tool, if you just tell them to go out and do their job, there are certainly going to be some problems. We have seen it with tragic numbers of deaths that have occurred, and specifically I think what has grasped the attention of Manitobans, grabbed their hearts, is that a child could have died and been dead for nine months before anyone even noticed, even though she had had extensive involvement with Child and Family Services.
Mr. Speaker, I wanted to talk a little bit about health care as well. The Member for Radisson (Mr. Jha) spoke about his ideology on health care, and certainly we on this side believe that it is most important to look after patients first, get rid of this ideology, and put patient care first. What we see is people that are trying to get health care because they cannot wait in pain on these long wait lists, so they want to choose to go to other places, to other provinces, or to other countries to get attention to their medical needs because they cannot sit and wait in pain. What are we doing? Are we telling people that it is not important, that you all have to wait in pain?
Certainly, we need to allow people to take care of their health, and we should be encouraging people to take care of their own health, Mr. Speaker. When you look at the unprecedented amount of dollars that are going into health care, the budget for health care goes up and up every year, certainly we will see nothing left but an entire government with one ministry, and that will be Health, because there will be no money left for anything else.
Yes, we do need money in health care, but money has to go to care of patients and not to administration and boards and needs to go to reduce the wait times and get people the care, the surgery, that they need, Mr. Speaker.
An Honourable Member: Justice?
Mrs. Taillieu: Well, shall
we talk about justice? We hear all the time from this government that there are
going to be more training spots and new positions, but, Mr. Speaker, they are
not there. There are not enough trained people in the training centres and not
enough on the streets to protect us. Further, we know that they cannot train
them fast enough because they are going out the other end in retirement. We
need to provide safe, healthy communities for our young people to remain here
so that they are not afraid to go out on the streets. We need to provide that
safety element. We need to get rid of the culture that we have in this
province: it is easy on crime here, so let us bring the gangs all into
Mr. Speaker, we cannot
allow that to happen in this province. We need to take this province back, and
we need a strong justice system to do it. We cannot allow the Hells Angels to
take over
So, Mr. Speaker, this budget does nothing for our province's future or for our children's future. This government should admit that they have failed; they should admit that they are old, they are tired. Why do we not call an election? We are refreshed, and we are ready, and we will win.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Hon. Jim Rondeau (Minister of Industry, Economic Development and Mines): I am very pleased to speak–
Mr. Speaker: Order. When this matter is again before the House, the honourable member will have 29 minutes remaining–30 minutes remaining.
The hour being 5 p.m., this House is adjourned and stands adjourned until 1:30 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday).