LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Mr. Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, from Whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to the welfare and prosperity of our province. Grant, O merciful God, we pray Thee, that we may desire only that which is in accordance with Thy will, that we may seek it with wisdom and know it with certainty and accomplish it perfectly for the glory and honour of Thy name and for the welfare of all our people. Amen.
Morning, everyone. Please be seated.
Point of Order
Mr. Speaker: The honourable Minister of Mineral Resources, on a point of order.
Hon. Dave Chomiak (Minister of Mineral Resources): Mr. Speaker, just on a point of order on this, the very auspicious occasion of condolences in the Legislature, which is something that all members of this Chamber take very seriously, and I just want to point out that simultaneous to this particular–these measures going on today, there's a significant memorial event taking place in recognition of the tragedy in Moncton, and I just wish all members of the Chamber and visitors will know that simultaneous to this event, as we carry on these motions in the Chamber, that there's a very significant event going on. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker: The honourable member for Spruce Woods, on the same point of order.
Mr. Cliff Cullen (Spruce Woods): I thank the member for his comments, and I think as we have our condolence motions this morning, too, our hearts will be thinking of those people in Moncton and, really, across Canada. Certainly, the members of the police forces across Canada, we quite often take them for granted, and it's something that I think on this day we will hold our thoughts with the family and friends of those that were so tragically lives were taken last week.
So with that, I just want to thank and acknowledge the member's comments, and I think we'll be thinking of others this morning. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker: The honourable member for Brandon East, on the same point of order.
Mr. Drew Caldwell (Brandon East): Yes, Mr. Speaker, I wonder if we may canvass the House for a moment of silence.
Mr. Speaker: First off, I have to rule on the point of order.
While I thank the honourable members for their advice on the point of order, I must respectfully rule that there is no point of order.
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Mr. Speaker: But if there's will of the House to observe a moment of silence for our slain RCMP officers, yes, if the House is prepared to do that, we can have that occur. [Agreed]
Please rise for a moment of silence, please.
A moment of silence was observed.
Mr. Speaker: Thank honourable members.
Mr. Speaker: As previously agreed, we'll move directly into condolences.
Hon. Dave Chomiak (Minister of Mineral Resources): I move, seconded by the member for Agassiz (Mr. Briese), that the House convey to the family of the late James Robert Ferguson, who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, its sincere sympathy in their bereavement and its appreciation of the devotion to duty in a useful life of active community and public service, and that Mr. Speaker be requested to forward a copy of this resolution to the family.
Motion presented.
Mr. Chomiak: Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of one of the members of this Legislature to thank the family and to recognize the contribution of James "Jim" Robert Ferguson, who had a very long period of service in this House and, tellingly, with respect to his background and service in this House, was the fact that he served under four separate leaders, served as government–as whip, which I know from my experience in this Chamber is an–requires an exceptional ability to be both disciplined and to both be a–and to be a somewhat of a social worker with respect to keeping your party members onside and happy and in attendance on a regular basis, and there's–one of the unheralded jobs in this Chamber is that of the whip, and anyone who has served in that capacity–anyone who served in that capacity deserves a special recognition for the activities.
I didn't know Mr. Ferguson personally, Mr. Speaker. I do note that he had a very strong background and a very strong background in farming and community life. He had the ability–he was fortunate to, I believe, leave the Chamber on his own terms, which is something that not many of us get to choose. I think, tragically, he was predeceased by both a wife and a son, which is a–which, as we all know in this Chamber–we all know is a very hard reality and a hard issue to deal with.
I think in light of so much that we're seeing in the world today, with elections in Egypt and elections in Ukraine and movements across the world to democratize, I don't think any of us should downplay the importance of representation in this Chamber and the wisdom and the ability and the public commitment that everyone makes to serve in this Chamber. And it's usually, as was with the case of Mr.–with Mr. Ferguson, it just isn't a case of serving in this Chamber, because generally you accumulate knowledge and you accumulate community experience and you accumulate wisdom from your community which you bring to this Chamber, which then adds to the process.
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And Mr. Ferguson, as I understand, was president of the curling club, a founding member of the auction mart, president of the Gladstone Conservative association, was civically involved, worked on the board of the Farm Debt Review. And while he received recognition for those in his lifetime, I think we, in the Chamber, ought to recognize all of those who served in this Chamber to preserve democracy and to move democracy forward.
And with those few words, Mr. Speaker, I look forward to other comments in the Chamber by members of this House. Thank you.
Mr. Stuart Briese (Agassiz): It is my honour to rise and pay tribute to James Ferguson today. He was a community leader, a former MLA and a farmer and a dedicated family man. He was born on August 19th, 1925, into the–into a farming family in the Mekiwin district near Gladstone, and he passed away on February 26, 2013.
Jim attended school, an–Ayr school at Mekiwin, Preston School and then in high school where he boarded with his uncle and aunt while attending school. Jim was passionate about agriculture and its value to the province of Manitoba. He started farming in the early '40s with his brother Lawrence, and then started his own mixed farm in 1957. He–the Fergusons always–by the way, the Fergusons lived probably 15 to 20 miles straight east of where I live, so I–well aware of the family, and it's a very large extended family, and they always had a mixed farm, livestock, a lot of cattle around the Ferguson farm, and crops and a very extended family. Jim had other–his brother, who farmed with him for many years, and several cousins and second cousins that farmed in that area, and Jim was the proud patriarch of that whole family. And always a family man, that was the basis of Jim.
And I welcome one of his sons into the gallery today, Robert Ferguson is here. Robert is a retired schoolteacher from Neepawa, and I've known Robert for a lot of years too.
Jim spent three terms, I believe, in the Legislature, and served in many capacities in this Legislature. And he probably would've spent more time, but in 1981 Jim left the Legislature, and at that time his son Errol was very ill. And Errol and Craig were the two brothers that were on the farm, and Errol was very ill. Errol eventually passed away in 1982, and Jim, as a family man, placed his priorities on the family, moved back out of the Legislature and went back to the farm and carried the farm forward for many years there.
He did, as the member opposite mentioned, serve on quite a few community organizations, was one of the founders of the Gladstone Auction Mart which continues to operate to this day, and after he left politics he also served on the Farm Debt Review Board. So the lessons Jim learned in politics carried forward after he was out of politics, and the lessons he learned in agriculture were certainly ones that carried a lot of weight in Jim's life all the way through.
I found it interesting when we were doing some of the research that the actual homestead of the Ferguson family was homesteaded in 1871, and the Manitoba Historical Society presented Jim and his family a plaque honouring their 110 continuous years of farming in 1982. That was 110 years in 1982; we're quite a few years past that. So this is one of the older homesteads in the Gladstone area. And I think that's–they're into the sixth generation on that farm. And Jim was certainly a key player in keeping that family farm together and keeping it operational.
You know, Jim had a very, as I mentioned, a very extended family, and he leaves behind his sons Robert and Craig and his daughter Gwen and his all‑important grandchildren, Tammy, Leita, Travis, Brad, Scott, Myles, Arron, Candice, Michelle, Lynn, Mark, Kristyn, Adam and Kathryn, as well as many grandchildren. But even beyond that, Jim's sister-in-law passed away at a very young age, and they had two children, and those two children were taken in by Jim and his wife, June; Scott and Laurynne became part of that family. So he expanded his basic family to six children at that time and raised two of his–a nephew and a niece along with his own children.
The–some of the stories about Jim are quite legendary. He was known as definitely always a strong Conservative presence in that area, in an area that is fairly strongly Conservative, but he was a strong presence there. And I recall when Bob Sopuck, who is now the MP for the area, was seeking the nomination and seeking his first ticket to Ottawa, I guess, he said to me, I want to pick you up and I want to go see Jim Ferguson. And I said, we can do that. I said, I know Jim fairly well. We'll go see Jim. And I said, what's it all about? He says, I need to go and kiss the ring. And so we went and visited Jim. And Jim's eyes always lit up when politicians walked into the room. He loved his politics and he loved to talk to you about politics.
I recall being at a luncheon–you know, the cake and ice cream line of things–and I can't remember whether it was one of Jim's birthdays or whether it was an anniversary of Jim and June's, but Jim didn't have much use for tea and crumpets. Jim, when I walked in there–and I believe Glen Cummings went with me that time–and Jim dearly wanted to get us back into his apartment and maybe get a little shot of scotch going and really have a discussion. He didn't want to sit around with the tea and cake too long. But we managed to keep him there for the other guests, but he was bound and determined. It was quite a procedure.
Jim's fishing trips were legendary. Jim was a hunter and a fisherman and loved his fishing trips. And I know many years ago some of his colleagues from the Legislature went on those fishing trips for–with him, and they would go to fly-in fishing trips in the North. And I recall from Jim's funeral one of the grandsons talking about when they–it was usually four went, and if there was not a fourth, one of the grandsons would be deemed an acceptable person to attend that fishing trip along with Jim and a couple of his friends. And I recall the grandson saying it was the most traumatizing experience he'd ever encountered. He said, just think for a moment about three old, fat men swimming naked in the lake, and think what it could do for the grandsons growing up. But they always spoke fondly of Jim, and Jim was always a mentor to all generations of his family.
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Jim had such a love of farming. It was the centre of his life, but his greatest life was his wife, June, who unfortunately predeceased him by a couple of years. She passed away in 2011 after 64 years of marriage, and that's a milestone that few people get to reach, and Jim, with his dedication to June and that family, it was marvellous to behold.
He always–I can think of another couple of occasions when we went down to visit with Jim on various things, but I recall the last time I guess I really saw Jim was when he was presented with a Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal. He also won the–or was presented with the one prior to that, the other Queen's medal. I'm trying to think, the Golden Jubilee, I guess it was, and Jim–by that time, his health was failing quite badly. But once again, the eyes lit up when the politicians showed up, and he wanted to talk a little bit about politics, and it was always a treat to meet with Jim.
One of the other stories that I heard many times about Jim–and I actually only managed to be there once– was the shed gatherings at the end of the day, and everybody knew at the end of the day on the farm, there'd be a gathering at Jim's shed, the farm shed, and the day's business would be discussed along with many other things. And I think it was an area where most of the–Jim's children and grandchildren got their interest in a great many things and will carry on the traditions that Jim established for years and years to come.
I know there are others wishing to speak to this motion, and there are several other motions to come up, so I would just like to thank you for the opportunity to reflect on Jim's life and his nature and the legacy that Jim has left behind with his large, extended family and the lessons he taught them in his life. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Ian Wishart (Portage la Prairie): It's a pleasure to rise and put a few words on the record in recognition of the service of Jim Ferguson, many years in the House here. And, of course, I'm another generation removed from that; he's more a peer of my father than my generation, but his love of farming was well recognized. And I did have a chance, before my political career, I guess if you want to put it in that timeline, to meet Jim one day. I was involved with Keystone Ag Producers, not the president at the time but certainly part of the executive, and I was up in that area with a neighbour up in that area by the–his last name was Broadfoot, who was also a very long-standing family in the area.
They didn't share politics so you have to keep that in–sort of in perspective, but we did end up in the evening going to one of the shed gatherings that was talked about, and Jim was pretty elderly by that stage but still as sharp as anyone could be. So we had a chance to sit down and talk about a few things and, as I said, Duncan Broadfoot, who was with me, and Jim didn't share exactly the same political outlook on life so we stayed away from politics in the discussion that day, so you could tell that certainly was an area that he wanted to talk about.
We talked mostly about agriculture and the future of agriculture, and I was quizzed heavily on what my family background in agriculture was and, being as our family had been in the Portage area roughly the same vintage as they had been, I was acceptable as someone who had the right pedigree in agriculture, and we had a really good discussion.
In fact, he loved his plants of all descriptions, and mention is made of his love of gardening, and I have a solid area–I have a background in that area, so we spent a fair bit of time talking about other types of agriculture than field crops and livestock. And he had, actually, a lot of interest in various trees and that's something I have done quite a bit with as well, and so it was certainly very interesting to have that discussion.
So I have a lot of respect from–and I only ever met Jim the once–a lot of respect for his ability and certainly his knowledge, and there's no question in anyone's mind either–in the area or who had met Jim in the process–that he had a real focus on his family. He actually stepped back in his career here at the Legislature to help with the family back on the farm when his son was not well and eventually passed, and that type of commitment to a family situation is something I think we should all respect and try and emulate.
And, certainly, I appreciated the chance I got to meet Jim. He was well-known not only in his community, but in other communities for his contributions. He either was–he was always one of the gentlemen who was there to, if there was a new initiative needed in the community–such as the auction mart development at Gladstone because it had been there and failed and had gone back and forth a few times, and what it needed was farmer ownership in many people's estimation and Jim was the–one of the gentlemen who stepped up and made that happen and that business continues to this day. It's an essential part of that community, in fact, one of the mainstays in that community and certainly has been very valuable not only to the community, but to all of the people in the area that have livestock. I've taken livestock there myself and certainly benefited from the work that Jim put into that community in that respect. So, certainly, he contributed in many ways.
Clearly, he valued his family probably more than many and certainly made major contributions. It's a large family, an extended family, kind of a clan situation that you hear about, but they all focus together and he would be the patriarch of that family for many, many years. So I appreciate the fact that his son Robert is in the gallery today, and I welcome him to this Legislature.
Certainly, he–Jim–made a very major contribution in that area in particular. But beyond that area, in both through the Legislature here and serving on some other committees afterwards, Farm Debt Review, which in the '70s and '80s was an important element to many farmers in Manitoba. It was tough times in agriculture and there were a number of people that had to go through Farm Debt Review, and I know that Jim would have been involved in that, and it was always tough, tough work to do to deal with those situations.
And so it is a very traditional lifestyle that Jim had led, you know, other than the period of time when he sat in the Manitoba Legislature here–which is a unique opportunity for anyone who gets that chance to serve–but Jim always had his feet on the ground. His roots went deep in the family farm back in the area there. He represented Gladstone, but the area that he–where he came from was a little bit removed from Gladstone, but it was still part of the constituency. But his roots went strong into the community.
He had a very basic education, but he never quit learning. He was always very engaged with what was going on, and even the time I did meet him, he was certainly very focused. He knew what was going on on all farm issues of the day probably far better than many farmers, much younger farmers that weren't engaged in agriculture. He was very engaged.
So I appreciated my opportunity to meet him; I certainly honour and respect the man, and I think that we should all join in recognizing the contribution he made during his time here in the Manitoba Legislature.
Mr. Cliff Cullen (Spruce Woods): I thank you for the opportunity to speak this morning in this condolence motion to Mr. Jim Ferguson.
Although I didn't know Jim personally, I did take the opportunity to attend the funeral in Gladstone and got to know Jim through that service, and it was pretty clear that Jim was a real passionate community man and quite involved over the years in his community in a lot of different areas and pretty clear he was one of those go-to guys in the community that people looked up to for trying to resolve different issues.
And, certainly, he was looked forward to in a leadership capacity in a lot of different organizations, including the auction mart that was talked about, the curling club, the Preston School and, certainly, to the Progressive Conservative association in that Gladstone area.
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Of course, Jim served here in the Legislature from 1969 to 1981. Interestingly, he served under four different leaders: Walter Weir, Sterling Lyon, Sid Spivak and Gary Filmon, which I'm sure was an interesting time for those folks that served back at that point in time.
He also defeated an incumbent by 417 votes. Clearly, that's–as we know as politicians, that can be quite a challenge to take on an incumbent, and Jim did that in 1969.
I did get to know Jim's family though, and I do want to welcome Robert here this morning and just make mention of how we got to know his family. Jim's granddaughter Tammy actually came to teach in Glenboro School, so we got to know Tammy that way, and she taught with my wife, Marilyn, for a number of years. She's now teaching over in Alexander, and we still keep in contact with Tammy there and had an opportunity to visit with her in the school just a couple of weeks ago.
Interesting how it can be a pretty small world. We–our family was vacationing in Cuba a couple of years ago, and, lo and behold, we're at this resort and I look over and in the door comes Tammy. And, good Lord, it is a small world because we didn't know that they were going to be vacationing there as well, and Tammy had her entire family there. Tammy and Todd were there, her sister Leita and her husband, Ray, and, of course, Robert and Yvonne were there. So we had an opportunity to visit with them for a week and really got to know the family quite well during that time. And certainly we keep in contact since then, and we've got to know them quite well over the years and really appreciate to have those [inaudible] friendships.
And certainly, Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to mention those few words. Certainly Jim was one of those people in the community that people really looked up for–up to, and we just want to pass on our condolences to the family of Jim Ferguson.
Thank you very much.
Mr. Ralph Eichler (Lakeside): Just very briefly, Mr. Speaker, I want to welcome Bob here to the Assembly this afternoon, of course, like the others have done, but I just wanted to put on the record how much we appreciate those MLAs that have served in this great Chamber and how much respect they deserve and should have as representatives of that area, and we know that–the commitment that it takes, not only from the individuals that serve but from their family as well, for the children and so on.
And I have the tendency to acquaint myself with the auction marts, being in the livestock business for a number of years, and we built an auction mart in Inwood and we used to trade cattle back and forth with Gladstone. And I can remember many a late night, and I know that obviously those members that were involved also had a lot of late nights. And I know many a time we had cattle sales 'til 2, 3 in the morning, and now we relate back to it in committee because sometimes we do that, too, but not near as lively as I could say as an auction mart is. But it does get pretty lively and lots of things happen in those establishments, that when you're buying cattle or selling cattle it's pretty intact and what really we have to try and focus on at that time.
But I know that when you're a leader in a community, and obviously Jim was–he can be proud of his legacy that he left, not only for himself but for the family and for the betterment of his community. So we want–certainly want to wish the family all the best and pass on our condolences to them.
So, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Mr. Speaker, I also want to extend condolences to the family of Jim Ferguson and to acknowledge his contributions in the Legislature and his contributions in the agricultural community and in the area around Gladstone.
I think it's notable that his family had a tremendously long and significant history in farming in the community, going back to 1871, and have been recognized for this. Agriculture being so critical to Manitoba, this is something that, you know, the family and we should be proud of, when we have families farming for this length of time.
Jim was–brought his knowledge and his wisdom into the Legislature. It's said that he spoke very wisely in the Legislature, and, of course, speaking wisely, it didn't usually get recorded, but, you know, that's the way it goes. But upon that wisdom a lot of good things have been built, and I'm sure there were many good things that happened in Jim Ferguson's constituency as a result. His contributions after he was MLA to the Farm Debt Review Board, important contribution to help farmers who were struggling and to try and see a path going forward that was positive.
I want to thank Robert, Bob, for coming here today on behalf of the family and keeping the tradition and the interest in politics alive in that area.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker: Any further debate on this condolence?
Would the honourable members rise for a moment of silence.
A moment of silence was observed.
Hon. Dave Chomiak (Minister of Mineral Resources): I move, seconded by the member for River Heights (Mr. Gerrard), that this House convey to the family of the late Steve Patrick, who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, its sincerest sympathy in their bereavement and its appreciation of his devotion to duty in a useful life of active community and public service, and that Mr. Speaker be requested to forward a copy of this resolution to the family.
Motion presented.
Mr. Chomiak: It's with a great deal of honour that I rise today to speak to the legacy of Mr. Patrick. Mr. Speaker, there will be as I–both in my comments and in many people's comments, some very–because of his varied and very great accomplishments in this province, there'll be a lot of very kind and positive things said about Mr. Patrick. I think when all of us have our turns to be spoken of in the Legislature, I think we'd rather have, and we could not better encapsulate what should be–could be said about us as was said in the obituary about Mr. Patrick, and that is: "Thank you Dad for all the experiences and opportunities you made possible. We were blessed to have you as our husband, father and grandfather."
There's a book that I have called famous Ukrainian Canadians, and Mr. Patrick is listed in that book. I'm not sure if most people know that. There's others that are listed in that book that would probably be surprised. But it's–I think it's a little-known fact that for all of his accomplishments, in my very thick book of famous Ukrainian Canadians, Steve Patrick figures very prominently in there.
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And, of course, I mean, everyone knows No. 64. You don't have to tell anyone growing up in Manitoba. You know, there's Kenny Ploen in 11; Ernie Pitts, 88; Farrell Funston, 77. We could go on, but 64? It is notable, it's very rare, I think, for someone to have been accomplished in both as a family person, a successful business person for 50 years, a award-winning football player and a eminent legislator. It's a very, very significant legacy and life.
There will be much said in this Chamber about Mr. Patrick's legacy. I note something very, very, I think interesting and important. It's said many times that he was the king of resolutions in this Chamber. And we have a few others here now that are trying to follow in that wake. But I think what's significant about the resolutions that Mr. Patrick brought forward is that virtually every single one that I have in my notes has been accomplished, Mr. Speaker. It has been accomplished.
Now, many of us in this Legislature talk a lot. Sometime we're able to accomplish, but to have accomplished the distinction of bringing in a resolution to increase income supplement program for seniors 65 and over, done; modernize property laws and legislation that would allow for the creation of condominiums, done; establishment of Manitoba Bill of Rights to protect rights and freedoms of individuals in our society through the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, I'd say done; the use of Breathalyzer devices to discourage impaired driving and identify offenders, done; lowering the legal voting age for provincial elections from 21 to 18, done.
Mr. Speaker, that, in a very short list, is a significant recognition of accomplishment. It's a recognition of a job well done. And it's a recognition of words and actions being executed. Clearly, on the football field or in business, you have to execute, but you have to execute in this Chamber, as well, on behalf of your constituents. And those few examples in itself are significant.
My memories of Mr. Patrick are mostly on film or in person–two bucks Touchdown Club in the end zone, Mr. Speaker–but I also remember him sitting in this Chamber as well. And I do recall a very congenial and a very co-operative individual, which, as has been stated previously, is really the essence of accomplishment in political life, and that is the art of co-operating and getting things done, as opposed to taking strong positions and accomplishing nothing. And I recall that in the debate and thrust for the sessions that I used to watch from the gallery as a–just as an interested person.
I know there's family members here today, and I welcome them and I thank them. And I hope that–I don't think I could say much better than was said in the obituary–but I hope that in these few moments in the Chamber you can recognize the great admiration that we have for Steve Patrick, and our best wishes that you, and I'm sure you will, can carry on the legacy of a very fine and gifted and well-loved man.
Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Mr. Speaker, I rise to second the motion of condolences to family and friends of Stephen–Steve Patrick.
Steve Patrick was a football hero, and these were, you know, the golden days of the Blue Bombers. I mean, let's think about it. He was a defensive middle guard for 13 seasons. He was a member of four Grey Cup championship teams in that time. He played a significant role. Not only did they win four Grey Cups, but they were in six Grey Cup finals out of 13 years. That's pretty impressive.
He was a two-time all-star in 1958 and 1959. He was the Bombers' top lineman in 1958, the team's Schenley Award nominee as the best Canadian in 1957. He played in CFL all-star games in '57 and '58. He was the Bombers' captain from 1961 to 1964.
The last couple of years, well, he was an MLA. And, you know, he was, you know, remarkable on the football field and he was remarkable off the football field. But, you know, he accomplished a lot and now as we've got a new Bombers stadium and the team is getting reorganized and rejuvenated, we can hope that there's more Stephen Patricks and more Grey Cups on the way. But certainly we can look back to that time when Stephen Patrick was there and when the Bombers were an incredible football team and winning Grey Cup championships.
As an MLA first elected in 1962 and serving for many years after that, as has already been mentioned, Steve Patrick found a way to get things done. And one of things that he chose and recognized, that in opposition you could bring forward resolutions, and those resolutions would send a message. They were prescient, they were forward-thinking, they were objectives which, you know, were needed, but they were also achievable and have in large part been achieved. So, you know, his–he may not have been in Cabinet, he may not have been, in some ways, the stature, the leader of the party or anything like that, but he was effective in bringing forward resolutions and getting things done. And I think that's how we need to remember Steve Patrick for when he was here.
He was a businessman for many years, and an effective one, and a contributor in his community. And right to the end, I saw him–oh, I forget, it was not all too long before he died–and, you know, he was not as good shape physically, he had a fair bit of pain and so on, but he was still very, very interested in politics. And you could tell, just the glint in his eyes and the smile on his face, that, you know, when it came to politics, he was still right on top of what was going on and concerned about the future of Manitoba.
So I just want to join others today in extending condolences to the family and friends of Steve Patrick and remembering a great Manitoban. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker: The honourable member–Minister of Healthy Living.
An Honourable Member: It is with great sadness–
Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Order, please. We usually have a rotational cycle in the House, so I've recognized the honourable Minister of Healthy Living.
Hon. Sharon Blady (Minister of Healthy Living and Seniors): It's a pleasure today to take the opportunity, while it is a moment of sadness, to recognize a wonderful man from our community.
I'd like to welcome his sons, Stephen Jr. and James, here. I know that his–that there's–I know that their sister Carolyn was hoping to make it in from Kelowna, and I cannot imagine the loss that you and Kim and Sandra and Lisa and Tara and your mother, June, are feeling and have felt since the loss of your father.
I know that growing up in the neighbourhood, the Patrick name loomed large. It was something that–whether it was the sign on the Patrick building and the real estate business that your father established and that you now, Stephen Jr., maintain, but also what he did.
I was–as some in this Chamber know, I was raised by a very Liberal father, and the–having your father as our MLA was something that I was reminded of, I mean, the fact that I was literally born into a Liberal constituency and having a Liberal father. My father now claims that that has something to do with the line of work that I went into. I'm not so sure about that, but he also wonders where I took a little bit of a left turn.
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But I want to say that your father has had so much of an influence. And I think one thing for all the–we've talked about–you know, other members have mentioned his football career, what he did in this Chamber, as a businessman. What I don't know if some folks realize is how much those three career paths overlapped, the fact that he had simultaneously going on after coming out of teaching a business college just to go into football, to start a realty business and then also be elected into this Chamber. And so when any of us, you know, sits there and talks about what kind of a busy schedule we have, I think we can look to your father and say, well, he managed that and a household of kids with your mom. Heavens, apparently we're all chronic underachievers, and he did it with a grace that everyone in the neighbourhood is aware of.
And I think that's the other reason why I said his name loomed large, because he was known as a consummate gentleman. I knew him mostly through, in the most recent years through the rotary club and it was–there was always a time when, I guess, you could best say that he was holding court, and I understand that he did the same thing at Rae & Jerry's and then when the Perkins moved into the neighborhood. There was no shortage of folks that wanted to sit there and sit there and sit with Steve Patrick and solve the woes of the day, discuss politics, discuss a variety of things, and I think what made him so approachable that way and why so many folks wanted to spend time with him was because of what a grounded individual he was.
And it was interesting because James just mentioned to me recently that part of what, I guess you could say he was proud, is your father's accomplishment–I hope I'm getting this right–the proudest he was of his accomplishment was where he came from. And I think that's where he came from, that idea that having grown up in Glenella, a child of immigrants and, you know, going up and sort of being very grounded, very hard-working, the dedication that he showed to your grandparents. That's something that Carolyn had also mentioned, was his devotion. So to be this very grounded, devoted person that was connected to the community, whether it was through all the different organizations and philanthropic work that he did, whether it was the community connection that his business had.
I see today that even in the advertisement for–is–you still have a picture of Grant's mill up there–and I know that your connection into Woodhaven. And we all know that with your own NHL careers that all that time spent on the Woodhaven hockey rinks, and I don't think there's anybody in the neighbourhood that wasn't familiar with the time when the Patrick family was on the rinks at Woodhaven that it clearly paid off.
And I know that as much as your father accomplished, that his pride probably came more from the accomplishments of his children and the fact that you are part of the living legacy that he leaves for all of us, and to see your community devotion speaks well to, again, the gracious, wonderful, grounded man that your father was and that in a sense his legacy lingers on throughout the neighborhood in so many different ways and that you are very much a part of that.
Again, it's one of those things that you sit there and you think about what has been accomplished in one man's lifetime and, like I said, I just sit here and I look at all of the different things, whether it's the Order of the Buffalo Hunt, whether it's his involvement, like I said, with the Canadian Paraplegic Association, having been a part of the Winnipeg Big Brothers association, having been on the Misericordia hospital foundation, the work that he did continuously throughout his life. Again, I sit here in awe, and I also understand Carolyn's comment that apparently at home your father didn't let you sit still and do nothing for very long, that he kept you all going, and I think he pretty much was doing a lead by example.
And I know that our neighborhood was very much blessed and fortunate to have him serve in this Legislature on our behalf because of his community-mindedness, because of the fact that he did all of these different things simultaneously and, again, did them with a grace and a humbleness that I think we should all aspire to.
And it was interesting to see that one of the comments that was made in about–about him in the obituary had to do with the fact that he embraced the personal qualities of honour, warmth, good nature and fair play, and you can tell that those as qualities served him well in so many aspects of his life. It obviously served him well in terms of his athletic career and then raising the next generation of professional athletes, because we see just how far it not only took him, but it also meant that he was a good, solid player that believed in supporting his colleagues, and that's true leadership.
It also did wonderful things in terms of what he did in this Chamber, the resolutions that were mentioned before and, again, the idea of going back to his roots. So it's nice to see that someone that was so humble, so grounded, so fair-minded, and that, I think, in many ways, when again I think back to Rotary, is how he sought to bring out the best in others, that when he held court it was just as much about making sure that everyone got to say things and that the conversation flowed and that he loved to listen to others not just, again as others might often do in holding court, be the one that controls the conversation.
So I have to say that there are many people in our neighbourhood that will miss your father, and we are very thankful and very grateful for the legacy that he left and, again, as I said before, you and your siblings are part of that legacy, and it is so wonderful to have you connected in the neighbourhood the way you are and maintaining that. I think the Patrick name will always be something associated very proudly with our part of town, so thank you so much for sharing your father with us for all of those years, and I know the loss that you feel is greater than anything that we here in this Chamber can comprehend. So thank you so much for sharing your dad.
Mrs. Heather Stefanson (Tuxedo): Again, it's with sadness that I rise in the House today to offer the condolences–my condolences, and on behalf of our party as well, condolences to the family and friends of Stephen Patrick.
I know that Stephen–the Patrick family–is well known in the St. James and Assiniboia community. My husband grew up there and often spoke of the Patrick family. My sister-in-law Teresa McDonald also grew up in St. James and knew the Patrick family well and she spoke–I spoke to her just a little while ago and she passes on her condolences as well. Of course, Sandra was a maid of honour at my brother and Teresa's wedding and so the history goes way back with my sister-in-law with the Patrick family.
And I know that Stephen Patrick had seven children: Kim and Carolyn, who were twins; Sandra, who was, of course, close to my sister-in-law; Stephen Jr. and James, who are with us in the gallery today, and I want to thank them for being here; and, of course, Lisa and Tara. It was a big family. I'm sure lots of great family dynamics that took place over the years, and he was a great father, a great mentor to the family. He was a great community activist.
He was a great businessman, a very successful businessman, and I know that that lives on through his family, through Stephen, who is running the company now. And he was also an athlete, which I know is also carried on throughout the family as well. He was very active in hockey and football and a number of things. And so he is to be commended for all that he did for his community as a politician, as a businessman, as an athlete. He set a great example to all the people in his community and to his family–his family, of course, whom he loved dearly.
And so, Mr. Speaker, just on behalf of my sister and brother Don and Teresa McDonald, on behalf of our caucus, I just want to pass on our sincere condolences to all the family and friends of Stephen Patrick. He will be greatly missed in the community.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Jim Rondeau (Assiniboia): I welcome the guests in the gallery.
I'd like to put a few words on the record for Stephen Patrick. First, I'd like to give a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, which says, the most important legacy we can leave is a human one, not necessarily a financial one. I truly believe that he left a huge human legacy in Assiniboia, west Winnipeg and, indeed, the province.
It's interesting, the first thing I'd like to say is thank you to Steve Patrick basically because he softened up the Tories. He was the first Liberal who won. He won and he was very, very impressive as far as political advice, and he took it personally. He really believed in giving it everything he got. I am sorry I wasn't around when he was playing football, sorry.
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I did know him through the real estate career. I did get a lot of political advice from Mr. Patrick, and it was very interesting advice because, basically, the first piece of advice was, well, actually he called me Jimmy, he says, Jimmy, he says, you don't work for the party; you don't work for the government; you work for the people. Don't forget it. Typical Steve Patrick advice. He basically told you exactly what it was, and I understand from his career as a politician, that's what he did. He actually worked for people and really believed in the greater good.
So I'm not going to talk about his football career but I will talk about the things that he cared about. One is the St. James Cancer Society. I understand that he raised money as far as many good projects like the Canadian Paraplegic Association and the Cancer Society. He also was one of the founding members of the Winnipeg Big Brothers Association and that's an organization that exists now that does huge good and really has made a difference throughout the entire province.
He also served on the Misericordia hospital board foundation for 10 years and was a member of the Winnipeg-Assiniboine Rotary Club. I actually helped do some fundraising events. He put out the arm to me to make donations. He's one of the few people that I couldn't say no to on a regular basis. When he called, you gave, and that was very, very good. And the reason why you gave is because he did too. He was truly–showed how we should live our life.
Finally, I want to talk a little bit about the fact that he really cared about others, and if you see the resolutions what he did in this Chamber, increasing the income supplement program for seniors 65 and over. That's really important. And I look at Assiniboia now at 35 per cent of the seniors. I look at the fact that it's what people need and so I really appreciate that.
Being a gentleman. He was always a gentleman when he dealt with people out there, no matter what. He listened to them.
Number 2, modernizing the laws that would talk about the creation of condominiums. Many people don't know this, but the first condo development, condo No. 1, was done in Assiniboia and along with No. 3, et cetera. So a lot of the first condos were developed in his area.
He established a bill of rights to protect rights and freedoms for individuals in society. He truly believed that all people were equal, and he treated everyone with dignity and respect.
The breathalyzer, of course, made sense, and he really talked about that. He pushed it, I believe, because he wanted to protect all people in society, and, of course, the legal age from 21 to 18; that's a given, and I think that's because he thought that 18‑year-olds who were able to contribute to society effectively should be able to vote.
And, finally, I want to say thank you to the Patrick family. I know they contribute a lot to our community. They continue to do that through businesses and personal activities. I know that they're tied to the West End. I live in Woodhaven. I know that I spend a lot of time out there and hear lots about the family, and I would like to say thank you for the legacy. I know that he was busy. He was always busy, and the time that he didn't spend with his family, he was out there doing things for the community. So it's not–I don't believe that Assiniboia was his constituency; I think it was his extended family. So thank you for sharing your father with us. Thank you for making a difference, and you know what? If we all had legacy like that, we'd have a great society.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker: Is there any further debate on the motion?
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed]
Will the honourable members please rise for a moment of silence.
A moment of silence was observed.
Mr. Speaker: Just prior to recognizing the honourable minister, in 'clase' I had neglected to ask the House if–is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion for the James Robert Ferguson motion, is it the pleasure of the House to adopt that motion? [Agreed]
Thank honourable members.
Harvey Patterson
Hon. Dave Chomiak (Minister of Mineral Resources): I move, seconded by the member for Fort Garry-Riverview (Mr. Allum), that this House convey to the family of the late Harvey Patterson, who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, its sincere sympathy in their bereavement and its appreciation of the devotion to duty in a useful life of active community and public service, and that Mr. Speaker be requested to forward a copy of this resolution to the family.
Motion presented.
Mr. Chomiak: Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the Legislature to offer condolences and to reflect on the very significant impact that the life of Mr. Patterson has had on all Manitobans.
And I want to start off by, because of the timing of our particular condolence motion, to recognize the fact that Mr. Patterson was part of what had been termed by some and what I believe to be the greatest generation, and that is those men and women who went to fight in World War II to protect and to preserve so much of the values and the blessings that we have here in our democracy. There, I think, is probably a special place reserved in heaven for those men and women who sacrificed so much, who, like Mr. Patterson enlisted at the age of 19, went off to the front, was wounded and while recovering–and this is the really sweet part–while recovering met a woman who ultimately he brought back to Canada and became his wife. So both with the sacrifice and with the magic of a relationship, he goes into that very significant group of men and women who we've been honouring the past week for their incredible, incredible devotion, commitment, the heroes who have made so much of what we enjoy here in Winnipeg and Canada.
Born on the farm, wasn't a member of the Legislature for a significant period of time, but, nonetheless, served in the Legislature, served actively in the labour movement, committed to the labour movement, committed to the concept that every man, woman, and child deserved to be treated fairly, deserved a decent life, and spent his life working on behalf of that cause.
I know that there's other members that are going to speak specifically about his career, but I just want to go back again to that pivotal aspect of his life, which is enlisting, serving, being wounded, being married, coming back, and then, at that time in life, completing his GED to get his–after all of that, to complete his high school education, and it's there where he participated in the Canadian labour of congress summer school and became politically active.
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I can think of no better acknowledgement to someone who's both served actively, who served politically, who served in the labour movement and who was a father, grandfather and husband, than to commend and to honour his service to the community and to his family and to all Canadians, being one of those who we recognize as the greatest generation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Hon. James Allum (Minister of Education and Advanced Learning): I'm deeply honoured to get up and speak to this condolence motion today honouring Harvey Patterson. I have to say that I didn't know Mr. Patterson at all, but I do know that we stand on the shoulders who–of those who came before us in this House, and so it's a great honour and privilege for me to stand and pay tribute to a former MLA for Crescentwood, a great leader within the labour movement, a wonderful family man and, of course, a great contributor to this city and to this province.
Mr. Patterson was born September 12th, 1924, on the family farm in the RM of Roland. And like so many of his generation, of course, the first thing he would have encountered was the Great Depression. He stayed at home and worked on the farm–on the family farm with his father and–his mother, Isabell Baker, and his father, Norman Clifford. He did go to school in his early days, but for the most part, as the oldest of five children, his obligation, of course, was to the family economy and to contributing to the well-being of the family farm.
He left school in grade 8, Mr. Speaker, but I would dare say earned a full education on that family farm, making sure that during some of the hardest years in Canadian history, making sure that his family was secure and making sure that the farm remained a successful farming operation.
As the member from Kildonan previously mentioned, Mr. Patterson enlisted in the army at the age of 19, and that would have been 1943, right in the middle of the Second World War. And I think it needs to always be suggested and remembered that we're talking here about a boy of 19 going to war.
An Honourable Member: It's hard to believe.
Mr. Allum: It really is hard to believe. I'm echoing the comments of my sister from St. Vital in saying that.
I have a 21-year-old, Mr. Speaker, at home. He's a man in pretty much every way, but to his dad, he's still a boy. And to think of someone of that age or younger even, at 19, going to serve in the war, does indeed, as the member from Kildonan suggested, make him part of the greatest generation.
He had–one would have to have enormous courage, enormous conviction and enormous commitment to freedom and democracy here in our great country. And so I pay tribute to him on that one small item–not small, huge–but that one small element of his incredible career for having enlisted at the age of 19 and going to serve his province and his country with great honour.
He was a member of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders and remained a proud member of the QOCH throughout his life. And he was known to have displayed great bravery in the war, as well, Mr. Speaker. He was wounded and was recovering from a shrapnel wound when he met his wife while he was convalescing in Edinburgh. And he went on to marry Margaret Plunkett Black, and–in September 1946, and his courtship was one of chocolate and cigarettes, which–an interesting combination if ever there was one, something maybe wouldn't go over as well today as it might have in a generation past. But I have to admire someone who has that great panache to go out and woo a partner based on chocolate and cigarettes.
Once they were married, Mr. Speaker, the couple returned to Manitoba, moving to Morden where Harvey continued to work on various farm operations before they later moved to Winnipeg where Harvey worked as a truck driver hauling gravel and then later with CP Express. And so we know him in the first instance to be a hero and more, to be a servant of his family and working on the family farm, and then he finds himself working in the–on behalf of workers, and I'll talk about his work in the labour movement in a moment. But we see this narrative among so many of Manitoba citizens born to humble origins, serving with great courage and conviction not on his own behalf, but on behalf of his country and then working later in life to work on behalf of working people here in Manitoba. And on this side of the House especially that's something that is the origins of our party, whether it's the CCF or the NDP, and something that still resonates very strongly with us even now in 2014.
My friend from Kildonan mentioned that Mr. Patterson made education a priority for himself and then for his family thereafter. It's worth pointing out that when soldiers returned from World War I, their country wasn't there for them, not in terms of housing, not in terms of education and, as you know, in 1919 a tremendous outbreak of public health took the lives of those who had survived the war thereafter.
After the Second World War the context was much different for those who had served. Government began to recognize that we had a debt of obligation to those folks and it was in terms of housing, so much of our housing built in that generation right after the Second World War that still stands today. I, myself, both in Kingston and when I moved to Winnipeg lived in housing that was built immediately after the war to serve those veterans coming back from war to make sure that they knew that their service was not in vain, but that their country cared for them. Housing was a primary aspect of that, but so was education for returning soldiers.
Mr. Patterson went on to obtain his GED from the Province by attending evening courses while no doubt working during the day. But more than that, he went on, Mr. Speaker, in a number of really interesting manners to pursue his education. He attended the Canadian Labour Congress summer school where he was instructed in political science, and you have to think, when you're going to the Canadian Labour Congress summer school to take a course in political science you're getting the real meat of politics in a way that, I think, on our side of the House anyways would bring us great pride.
He was the first to graduate from the University of Manitoba's three-year labour certificate course which included courses in economics, Canadian government, industrial relations and labour–no small undertaking there, I might say–and then afterwards Mr. Patterson continued to study English in the evenings at the University of Manitoba. And having taught evening courses in my own life, the best courses were always those–or the best students were always those who had come back to school after being away for a while. They did the work. They engaged in the material, and I have no doubt, no doubt at all, even though I don't know him, that Mr. Patterson was a outstanding student who actually had his education extended well beyond the corridors of the ivory tower out into the–out into his working life.
And so Mr. Patterson, in addition to being elected in 1973 for the NDP in the riding of Crescentwood which touches on my riding and touches on my friend from Fort Rouge's riding, certainly, my predecessor's riding in Lord Roberts and Osborne also touched on areas of Crescentwood, so I know he represented a beautiful area of Winnipeg, a character neighbourhood in Crescentwood if ever there was one, a very humble neighbourhood as well with great working-class origins. And so it makes sense to me to think of Mr. Patterson as the MLA for Crescentwood, advocating on behalf of his constituents with great vigour and acting as a strong voice, no doubt, for the labour movement while he was here in the Manitoba Legislature.
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It will surprise no one that Mr. Patterson was president of the Winnipeg Labour Council in the early 1970s. He was chairman of the Province's 1970 panel on labour relations and its 1971 panel on human rights and consumer affairs. And I take that to suggest that Mr. Patterson was a man of many talents, with many interests, and that it should extend from the workers of Manitoba right into the human rights of Manitobans surprises me not at all.
In 1978 Mr. Patterson became the executive secretary of the Winnipeg Labour Council and he retired in fullness in the mid-1980s, though I dare say, Mr. Speaker, that I doubt a man of Mr. Patterson's character, his integrity and his activism ever actually truly retired. I'm sure that's probably not true.
I will say that Mr. Patterson left belong–behind a number of relatives, a number of close personal friends. He died at Deer Lodge on April 8th, 2014, and he was predeceased by his wife, as I mentioned earlier, Margaret Plunkett Black.
But he leaves behind, I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, a tremendous legacy, something to which I know the remaining members of his family and his friends will take great pride in, and I have to say, as the member for Fort Garry-Riverview, as the Minister of Education and as a staunch New Democrat, I'm proud to stand here, stand on his shoulders and recognize a truly great Manitoban and a great Canadian.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker: Is there any further discussion on the motion?
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed]
Will the honourable members please rise for a moment of silence.
A moment of silence was observed.
Mr. Chomiak: Mr. Speaker, I wonder if you might canvass the House to see if there's leave to call it 12 o'clock.
Mr. Speaker: Is there leave of the House to consider it 12 noon? [Agreed]
The hour being 12 noon, this House is recessed and stands recessed until 1:30 p.m. this afternoon.