Manitoba Hansard — 27 February 1984 (Sitting 184, 32nd Legislature, 2nd Session)

32-2-184

Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

ISSN 0542-5492 Second Session - Thirty-Second Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS 33 Elizabeth II Published under the authority of The Honourable D. James Walding Speaker VOL. XXXI No. 184 - 2:00 p.m. , THURSDA Y, 16-27 FEBRUARY, 1984. Prmted by the Off,ce of the Queens Prmter. Province ol Manitoba

MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thirty-Second Legislature Members, Constituencies and Political Affiliation Name ADAM, Hon. A.R. (Pete) ANSTETT, Hon. Andy ASHTON, Steve BANMAN, Robert (Bob) BLAKE, David R. (Dave) BROWN, Arnold BUCKLASCHUK, Hon. John M. CARROLL, Q.C., Henry N. CORRIN, Q.C., Brian COWAN, Hon. Jay DESJARDINS, Hon. Laurent DODICK, Doreen DOERN, Russell DOLIN, Hon. Mary Beth DOWNEY, James E. DRIEDGER, Albert ENNS, Harry EVANS, Hon. Leonard S. EYLER, Phil FILMON, Gary FOX, Peter GOURLAY, D.M. (Doug) GRAHAM, Harry HAMMOND, Gerrie HARAPIAK, Harry M. HARPER, Elijah HEMPHILL, Hon.

Maureen HYDE, Lloyd JOHNSTON, J. Frank KOSTYRA,Hon. Eugene KOVNATS,Abe LECUYER, Hon. Gerard LYON, Q.C., Hon. Sterling MACKLING, O.C., Hon. Al MALINOWSKI, Donald M. MANNESS, Clayton McKENZIE, J. Wally MERCIER, Q.C., G.W.J. (Gerry) NORDMAN, Rurik (Ric) OLESON, Charlotte ORCHARD, Donald PAWLEY, Q.C., Hon. Howard R. PARASIUK, Hon. Wilson PENNER, Q.C., Hon. Roland PHILLIPS, Myrna A. PLOHMAN, Hon. John RANSOM, A. Brian SANTOS, Conrad SCHROEDER, Hon. Vic SCOTT, Don SHERMAN, L.R. (Bud) SMITH, Hon. Muriel STEEN, Warren STORIE, Hon. Jerry T. URUSKI, Hon. Bill USKIW, Hon. Samuel WALDING, Hon. D. James Constituency Ste.

Rose Spring field Thompson La Verendrye Min nedosa Rhineland Gimli Brandon West Ell ice Churchill St. Boniface Riel Elmwood Kildonan Arthur Emerson Lakeside Brandon East River East Tuxedo Concordia Swan River Virden Kirkfield Park The Pas Rupertsland Logan Portage la Prairie Sturgeon Creek Seven Oaks Niakwa Radisson Charleswood St. James St. Johns Morris Roblin-Russell St. Norbert Assi niboia Gladstone Pembina Selkirk Transcona Fort Rouge Wolseley Dauphin Turtle Mountain Burrows Rossmere lnkster Fort Garry Osborne River Heights Flin Flon Interlake Lac du Bonnet St.

Vital Party NDP NDP NDP PC PC PC NDP IND NDP NDP NDP NDP NDP NDP PC PC PC NDP NDP PC NDP PC PC PC NDP NDP NDP PC PC NDP PC NDP PC NDP NDP PC PC PC PC PC PC NDP NDP NDP NDP NDP PC NDP NDP NDP PC NDP PC NDP NDP NDP NDP

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Thursday, 16-27 February, 1984. Time - 2:00 p.m. OPENING PRAYER by Mr. Speaker. MR. SPEAKER, Hon. J. Walding: Presenting Petitions ... Reading and Receiving Petitions ... Presenting Reports by Standing and Special Commit tees . . Mi nisterial Statements and Tabling of Reports . NON-POLITICAL STATEMENT MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Mini ster of Health. HON. L. DESJARDINS: Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask for leave to make a short non-political statement. (Agreed) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm sure that all the members of the House, as well as indeed all Manitobans, would like to join me in congratulating Mr. Gaetan Bouc her, who won a gold medal in the 1500-metre speedskating, and this is to add to the gold medal that he won a few days ago in the 1000 metres, and of course, the bronze in the 500. This is a record indeed. He's the first one to win a third medal with his two golds, and he participated, I think, in his third Olympics and he won a silver in 1980. I understand that he will take up bicycle racing seriously and he might be back.

Again, for all Manitobans, all the members of the House, we'd like to congratulate him and tell him how proud we are. MR. SPEAKER: The Hono ur able Leader of the Opposition. MR. G. FILMON: Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the members of the opposition we're delighted to particip ate in the congratulations and words of encouragement that have been uttered by the Mini ster of Health to Mr. Boucher on his marvellous achievement. MR. SPEAKER: Mi nisterial Statements and Tabling of Reports . . . Notices of Motion . . . Introdu ction of Bills .. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS MR.

SPEAKER: Before we reach Oral Questio ns, may I direct the attention of honour able members to the gallery. We have 50 students of grade 6 standing from the Niverville Elementary School. They are under the dir ection of Mr . Klassen. The school is in the constituency of the Honourable Member for Emerson. On behalf of all of the members, I welcome you here this afternoon. ORAL QU ESTIONS Jobs Fund MR. SPEAKER: The Hono urabl e Leader of the Op position. MR. G. FILMON: Mr. Spea ker, my question is to the Minister responsible for the Jobs Fund.

In view of the recent information to the effect that the jobs that are being created under the aegis of the Jobs Fund are costing the taxpayer of the Province of Manitoba $10,0 00 per job; is it the government's intention to change the focus of job creation activities off the public sector where it appears to be very costly and results in only short-term job creation for the most part and onto the stimulation of the private sector where we can have some real long-term, posi tive effects for our province at less cost to the taxpayer? MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Minister of Culture. HON. E. KOSTYRA: Thank you, Mr.

Speak er. I think it's well known that the Manitoba Jobs Fund has had a significant impa ct on the situation with respect to unemployment in the Province of Manitoba. The recent statistics indicate that Manitoba, in areas of employment creation and in unemployment, is amongst the highest and the best of those ind icators of any provinces in all of Canada. So while we're still concerned about the level of unemployment in the province, it is certainly indi cated by those statistics that the Jobs Fund has had a significant impact on the rate of unemployment in the Province of Manitoba. MR. G. FILMON: Mr.

Spea ker, with 46,000 Manitobans still unemployed, I'm not sure that many Manitobans agree with the statement. But my question, Sir, is to the Premier; when did he relinquish responsibil ity for the Jobs Fund to his colleague, the Minis ter of Culture? MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable First Mi nister. HON. H. PAWLEY: Mr. Speak er, quite some time ago. But if the honourable Leader of the Opp osition would like me now to speak about the Jobs Fund I would be delighted to do so. I would encourage the Leader of the Op position to ask me some questions specific ally. MR. G. FILMON: Mr.

Speaker, I regret that I wouldn't want to in any way bend the Rules of the House because we want to keep our questions to those things that are within the competence of the Mini ster responsible. Mr. Spea ker, a second question to the Minister responsible for the Jobs Fund.

In view of the fact that these expensive jobs that have been created with taxpayer dollars have lasted on average only three months; will the government now admit that its efforts in this regard have been a failure and start working towards the attraction of long-term investment, long term private sector capital investment, and start working on efforts to stimulate the private sector so that we'll have some positive effects and not just use taxpayers' dollars for the shor t-term, make-work endeavours of the Jobs Fund? 6084

Thursday, 16-27 February, 1984 HON. E. KOSTYRA: I'm not quite certain where the Leader of the Oppo sitio n, the Member for Tuxedo, has been for the last while - (I nterjection) - but the kinds of things he's talking about - someone said he's busy on the campaign trail - but that's precisely the kind of activity this government has been concerned about, that this government has been moving on with respect to job creation in the province.

We would see a greater focus on working co-operatively with the private sector with respect to job creation, but to suggest quite simply that the job creation activities of this government, the Manitoba Jobs Fund, have been strictly of the so-called make -work nature does inj ustice to the truth. The facts of the matter are that there has been significant input and involvement from the private sector through a number of the Jobs Fund programs and it has had impact with respect to a number of businesses in the Province of Manitoba. MR. G. FILMON: Mr.

Speak er, a further question to the Min ister responsible for the Jobs Fund. In view of the fact that informa tion is that the jobs created by the Jobs Fund cost $950 per week to create, would the government now stop fighting the private sector with measures like the 1.5 percent payroll tax, the 53 percent increase in Workers Com pensation, and using their tax dollars to create these jobs that cost $950 per week and instead, turn their efforts to encouraging and stimulating private investment and the creation of real jobs in this province? HON. E. KOSTYRA: The member quotes figures with respect to job creation.

I guess one of the problems has been the manner in which we've portrayed the amount of jobs that have been created through the Jobs Fund and what we've done, Mr. Speaker, is indi cate those jobs that were created directly as a result of the Jobs Fund projects. We did not include in that any of the spin off jobs that were created through the purchasing materials, through other benefits that have accrued through doing business on Jobs Fund projects.

We intend to continue to tackle what we feel is the most important task facing this government, and that is to continue to work to improve the situation with job creation, economic development in the Province of Manitoba because as I said earlier, the level of unemployment, while it is decreasing in the Province of Manitoba and while it is in a relative position better than most other provinces in the country, for this government it is still unacceptable, Mr. Sp eaker, and we continue to work in that regard .

In response to an earlier comment, the member also indi cated that no one in Manitoba would agree with that statement. I suggest that he contact and discuss that with some people in com munities like Deloraine who have written to us, and indi cated that they are pleased with the work that the Jobs Fund is doing; from Carman; from the City of Flin Flon; from Morden and other com munities that have written to us and said that yes, the Jobs Fund is working, that they're providing in some cases much-needed comm unity infrastructure in those communi ties, and more impo rtantly, jobs in those commu nities.

So Manitobans are appr eciating the interest in the Jobs Fund, Mr. Speaker. Manitoba's place in Confederation MR. G. FILMON: Mr. Sp eaker, my question is for the First Mi nister and it has to do with the publication entitled, "Canadian Legislatures, a 1983 Compara tive Study", and it's accompanied by a very fine photograph of the Premier - at least he photographs well. MR. SPEAKER: Question. MR. G. FILMON: Mr.

Speak er, my question is, in view of the fact that the Premier is quoted in this publication as saying: "M anitoba used to be a significant province in Confederation," will he then call an election and step down so that Ma nitobans can elect a new government which will once again restore Manitoba to a significant place in Confederation and restore confidence in our province, and a positive outlook for all of Canada on a national basis, so that people know that Manitoba is indeed, and can indeed once more be a good place? MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable First Mi nister. HON. H. PAWLEY: Mr.

Spea ker, unfortunately there was a period of time from 1977 through to 1981 in which Ma nitoba was relative performance-wise to other provinces in this country, was losing its significance as a provincial jurisdiction. It was losing its position relative to other pr ovinces by way of most important economic indicators. Mr. Speak er, yes, I was disappointed as a Manitoban during that period of time, as I believe were the vast majority of Manitobans, that we were slipping in our position in relationship to other provinces, including provinces like New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and other parts of this country. Mr.

Spea ker, I am pleased that indeed under this admi nistration during the past two years - and that's the context of the statement - we are returning Manitoba to its rightful position within Confederation. We are returning this province to a position of economic relative importance, of social importance, of good quality care in respect to education and health facilities and, Mr. Speaker, for the first time in . . . A MEMBER: No, you're doing that. HON. H.

PAWLEY: ... and most important, been judged by others from outside this province by the fact that our population increased by some 12 ,000 last year, the largest increase that has taken place in the Province of Manitoba in 20 years. MR. SPEAKER: Order please, order please. The Honourable Leader of the Oppo sition. MR. G. FILMON: Mr.

Spea ker, in view of the fact that the First Mini ster's comments that Manitoba used to be a very significant province in Confederation came two years after his government assumed office, and in view of the fact that in that two-year period of time private capital investment in Manitoba declined to a greater extent than in any other province in this country, and also manufacturing output declined to a greater extent than other provinces in this country, were his comments designed to make Manitobans or others feel 6085

Thursday, 16-27 February, 1984 good ab out our province and go od ab out our opportunities when he speaks in these negative terms about his own government's abject failures? HON. H. PAWLEY: Mr. Speaker, let the Honourable Leader of the Opp osition not mi sunderstand or purposely misunderstand the period, from 1977-1981 I' ve already dea lt with in clud ing the unfortuna te perform ance by the former head of the pr evious go vernment in this pr ovince at cons ti tut ional conferences in which he fought to the end against the entrenchment of a Charter of Rights for Canadians in the Constitution. Mr.

Spea ker, I ask the Leader of the Opposition what province led the national average by way of housing starts last year by four times? Wha t province enjoyed an incr ease in population of 12,000, the largest such increase in 20 years? What province saw such a large increase by the number that were employed last month compared to a month a year earlier, 19,000? What province had 9,000 additio nal workers in its work force, Mr. Speaker? Yes, this government is ind eed returning this province to an important and right ful position with in Confederation, Mr. Sp eaker. In fact, Mr.

Spea ker, with the co-operation, with the assistance of Manitobans, whether it be in the North, whether it be in rural areas, or whether it be in the City of Winnipeg, Manitoba is taking its lead again as a province in the forefront of all other provinces in this country. MR. G. FILMON: Mr.

Sp eaker, I ask this First Mi nister wha t pr ovince ha s had more than 20,00 0 more unem ployed today than it did two years ago when his government was first elected; which province has had to im pose a 1.5 percent payroll tax on job creation in this province; which province has had to increase its sales tax by 1 percent; which province has had a drop in its credit rating? Which province am I speaking of now, Mr. Speaker? HON. H. PAWLEY: I am saddened by the compl ete and total lack of information that the Honourable Leader of the Opposition is possessed of.

I simply refer the Leader of the Opposition to the Budgets that have been br ought down in the pa st two years by other adminis trations. I refer the Leader of the Opposition to major tax increases that have taken place in other provincia l jurisdictions. I refer th e Leader of the Opposition to the hefty, sharp and often cruel increases in per diem fees on health care. - (Interjection) The Honourable Leader of the Opposition says what about Manitoba. Then why, Mr. Sp eaker, did he rise in his place but a few moments ago and ask about other provincial jurisdictions?

If it is getting too hot for the Leader of the Opposition, then let him acknowledge it is getting too hot for the Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Sp eaker, what has happened to credit ratings of other provinces such as British Columbia and Nova Scotia and other jurisdictions in this province during the last - and Quebec - in the last two years? Mr. Speaker, what provinces have done as well in relative provincia l performance in respect to employment than has the Province of Manitoba? Mr.

Spea ker, is there another province that has done better by way of housing starts, has done better by way of creation of additional employment? Mr. Speaker, I must admit at times I become frustrated because this is a government of doers on this side. We don't hear any cons tructive pro po sals from honoura ble memb ers across the way. We have an opposition of knockers. Let them continue to knock . We are a government of doers. MR. SPEAKER: Order please, order please. May I remind hon ourable mem bers that we are in Ora l Questions, and the latter statements have become more or less debate rather than questions.

May I ask all members to respect the item which we are now in, which is Oral Questions? K-Cycle Engines MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Fort Garry. MR. l. SHERMAN: Thank you, Mr. Spea ker.

In pursuit of action and initiat ives by doers, I wonder if I could add ress a question to the Honourable Min ister of Indu stry and Techno logy and follow up on some questions that he took as notice the other day relative to the K-Cycle Engine situation, and ask him, Sir, whether he has received any information or any response as yet from the Federal Government as to what it might be prepared to do vis-a-vis the K-Cycle's pro blem and vis-a-vis the pressure being exerted on K-Cycle Engines by the Federal Business Development Bank? MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Min ister of Culture. HON. E. KOSTYRA: Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. I have not received any reply to the telex that I sent to the Federal Min ister. Once I receive that information and that reply, I'll share it with the honourable member. MR. L. SHERMAN: Mr. Speaker, can the Minis ter advise the House whether he has received any indication, information or confirmation that, as current reports have it, the debenture at K-Cycle is to be sold to two other purchasers other than th ose principa ls who have heretofore been associated with K-Cycle? HON. E. KOSTYRA: No, Mr.

Speaker, I haven't received any further information with respect to that other than that which has been reported in the media. As I indi cated, there is a difficulty in our staff receiving information from the Federal Business Development Bank because of their concern, as I understand it, over confidentiality of matters of a commercial nature. MR. L. SHERMAN: Mr.

Speaker, in the same subject area, I'd like to dir ect a question to the Honourable Minis ter of Consumer and Corporate Affairs and ask him whether some steps or action is contemplated or has been taken to appris e the 2, 10 0 mi nori ty shareholders in K-Cycle Engines fully of the current situation and also to advise them of what may be done or is being done to protect their positions? MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Attorney-General. 6086

Thursday, 16-27 February, 1984 HON. R. PENNER: I wish to thank the Member for Fort Garry for that question, because it does give me an opportunity perhaps to, in this way, respond to the question so that it might be brought to the attention of the shareholders. I think the shareholders are not without remedy.

The debenture holder, in a case such as this, does have a common- law duty with respect to all interests including those who hold equity in one form or another and cannot act carelessly or negligently in the dealing with that debenture, although of cou rse they have the primary right to attempt to realize on that debenture in the best possi ble way. There has to be, one would expect at a minimum, an attempt at least to accurately evaluate the worth of that debenture.

Certainly one would expect that the value of the patents alone are such as to raise some question about the reported value that is being placed by either the debenture holder or receiver acting for the debenture holder on those assets.

The only other thing that I would note, but it can only be noted at this stage as a matter of concern, is that as reported, and that may not necessarily be the case, the purp orted sale or inte nde d sale of the debenture is to two persons; one of whom was an undis charged bankrupt, and if still an undis charged bankrupt, it raises serious questions about whether or not that person in fact can be the purchaser of the debenture. So the common shareholders, I hope, would seek recourse through legal counsel. Unfortunately, there's no legislation which would permit this government to intervene as a government.

If there was, we would be glad to do so. MR. L SHERMAN: Mr.

Sp eaker, I thank the Minis ter for that information and conclude my line of questioning on this subject area with one further supplementary, Sir, and that is to ask him whether there is a possibility of obtaining an injunction against sale of the debenture at the present time, until the discussions with the Federal Government and the Federal Busine ss Development Bank are concluded , with a view to protecting the technical and developmental expertise that has accrued thus far at K-Cycle, with a view to protecting that expertise and insuring that it is neither lost nor exported out of the province? HON. R.

PENNER: In responding to the question, I have to be very careful here not to be seen as attempting to give legal advice in an area that is, at this juncture, prima rily one of civil action. I can only answer therefore by generalization; namely, that where an action such as that apparently contemplated could, if carried out, do irr eparable dam age to an individua l or a group of ind ividua ls that is normally the field in which an injunction can be obtained. TABLING OF DOCUMENT MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable First Mi nister. HON. H. PAWLEY: Mr.

Sp eaker, I'm just wondering in view of the fact that the Leader of the Opposition was posing some questions that appear to ind icate that he had not been informed of some impo rtant information, I'd like to table, just so we can ensure that the Honourable Leader of the Opposition has a chance to read the background information that was tabled by the Honourable Min ister of Finance, re the pre-Budget consultations. MR. G. FILMON: Mr. Sp eaker, on the same point, I'd just like to inform the Premier that that was tabled by the Mi nister of Finance a few days ago. He may not have been aware of it.

SOME HONOURABLE MEMBERS: Oh, oh! ORAL QU ESTIONS Cont'd Bilingualism in Manitoba MR. SPEAKER: Order please, order please. Order please. The Honourable Member for Elmwood. MR. R. OOERN: Mr. Speak er, a couple of days ago the Leader of the Opposition released a poll which was then com mented on by the House Leader. I wanted to dir ect a question to the House Leader and ask him what the basis of his objection to the Conservative poll was? Was it the methods and techniques of the survey or was it the results, which indicated that 76 percent of the peo ple of Manitoba were op posed to the government measure?

Was that his objection that that figure was too low and should have been 86 or 96 percent? MR. SPEAKER: Order please. The honourable member should restrict his remarks to seeking information which is in the admin istrative juri sdiction of the Treasury Bench. The Honourable Member for Elmwood. HON. A. AN STETT: Perhaps he could rephrase that because I really would like to answer him. SOME HONOURABLE MEMBERS: Oh, oh! MR. SPEAKER: Order please. MR. R. DOERN: Mr.

Speak er, I would then like to ask a question of the First Min ister, who has made a number of statements both inside the House and outside the House on the question of free vote. I really would like him to clarify precisely what he means. Can he indic ate whether by a free vote he means that each and every member is free to vote as they please on the basis of what they believe, or is he now defining or redefi ning free vote as meaning that the government cannot force any particular member to support the government, and if they break ranks, then the government cannot coerce them.

Can he give us a definition of free vote? MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable First Min ister. HON. H. PAWLEY: The Honour ab le Me mb er for Elmwood can do whatever he wishes. MR. R. DOERN: Mr. Sp eaker, I appreciate that. Mr. Spea ker, is the First Min ister's position as follows - I 6087

Thursday, 16-27 February, 1984 ask him again, because he has expressed his view - does he define a "free vote" in terms of the fact that on any government matter, any question of confidence, the government cannot coerce every member to vote the way they wish and that therefore, by free vote, he simply meant that an ind ividual member might not vote with the government even on a matter of confidence. HON. H. PAWLEY: Mr.

Speaker, I dealt with that question several times already, but I would not want to leave the Honourable Member for Elmwood with any im pression that anyone on this side of the Cham ber requires any coercion. Everyone knows where they are going in respect to this subject. The Ho nourable Member for Elmwood may still be having some problem but that is his problem, not our problem. MPIC - customer complaints MR. SPEAKER: Order please, order please. The Honourable Member for Min nedosa. MR. D. BLAKE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My question is to the Ho nourable Min ister res ponsi ble for the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation. In view of the large number of complaints about the delays in settlement of claims, I wonder if the Min ister could advise the House if he has given the Corporation any dir ection in settling claims with a little more dispatch than has been the case in the past. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Min ister of Housing. HON. J. BUCKLASCHUK: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not prepared to accept the assumption that the Member for Minn edosa has just made.

As a matter of fact, following the comments that were made in the media last week, I did ask for a report from MPIC particularly with the allegations made by a number of Winnipe g solicitors. I was informed that a review of MPIC files reveals that, of about 9,000 injury claims settled during the past year, only eight resulted in trials. They have also checked the number of writs issued and find that in 1983 there were something like 1,274 as opposed to 1,461 in 1982 which in fact demonstrates there is a decrease in the extent of litigation.

I have not any great number of complaints about delays in settlement of claims. Invariab ly, when I do follow up letters of complaints from complainants, I find that in most occasions it is because there has been a delay in receiving some information, whether it be from the medical profession, or there has been a delay on the part of the solicitor for the claimant. MR. D. BLAKE: I wonder if the Min ister might advise the House, Mr. Spea ker, what is the average time for settlement of claims in Autopac? HON. J. BUCKLASCHUK: Mr. Speaker, I didn't request that specific information.

That would be very difficult to answer because every claim is quite unique and some are certainly much more complex than others. MR. D. BLAKE: That is straight forward and easy to understand, but I wonder if the Min ister might take that question as notice, Mr. Speake r, and get that information for the House. I am sure he could come up with an average time for settlements of claims. HON. J. BUCKLASCHUK: Yes, I will gladly take that as notice and bring the answer back to the House. Bilingualism in Manitoba MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Wolseley. MS. M. PHILLIPS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to ask the Government House Leader, in view of the new Tory polling information, is the government analyzing those results and do they in any way influence the government's position on the issue? MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Government House Leader. HON. A. ANSTETT: Yes, Mr. Speake r, I appr eciate the question from the Honourable Member for Wolseley. The government has examined the information provided to the House by the Hono urable Leader of the Opposition.

Going beyond the information that was provided to the House was not something that was easily done, and trying to analyze the information provided to five out of six numb ered questions - the first question didn't appear - was not considered warranted for several reasons, Mr. Spea ker. In answer to the member's question, we have not done that analysis because a preliminary review of the information provided ind icated that there was absolutely no reason to consider it reliable. Those were three in number initial ly; the first one being the sample size.

The Member for Sturgeon Creek, having some knowledge of marketing, should be aware of that. The second, Mr. Speake r, no reputable polling organization would predict any reliability in a sample size of the size tabled by the Member for Tuxedo, particularly the cell sizes projected on a gross basis, 335, would have a large sampling error, but the cell sizes which he pr esented to the House being well below that, the rural size being 110, the sample of error is beyond anything that would be considered reliable. But, Mr.

Speaker, more impo rtantly, the wording of the question, particularly the first question, talked about a non-existent plan to "entrench French," and members opposite have agreed that that is not what is proposed, and the question itself. Mr. Speaker, the third point is tha t in the sample itself, in the answers to Question 6, if we assumed any reliability to the data . . . MR. SPEAKER: Order please. The Honourable Member for Lakeside on a point of order. MR. H. ENNS: I raise a question of order, Mr. Spea ker. I understood the question from the Member for Wolseley clearly.

The question was whether or not the government has made an analysis of the poll. The answer is yes or no, Mr. Speaker. It is out of order then to proceed to deliver hims elf of an analysis of that poll. That is another question, Mr. Speaker. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Wolseley to the same point. 6088

Thursday, 16-27 February, 1984 MS. M. PHILLIPS: Mr. Speaker, on the point of order. I would like an answer to that question, and I think the answer would not be that long if the Honourable Mini ster did not have so many interruptions from the opposition who do not want an answer to that question. MR. SPEAKER: Order please. Has the honourable member finished his answer? HON. A. ANSTETT: I just have one other point, Mr. Spea ker. I said there were th ree points: sample size, questionnaire design and third, Mr.

Speak er, by its own admission in Item 6, an unrepresentative sample both in terms of age distribution, sex distribution and 1981 vote distribution, none of them being in conformity with the distributions that obtain in the real population and in fact in two instances being the exact reverse. Mr. Speaker , the sample on tha t basis is totally un rep resentative. I could go on in terms of the questionnaire design. I won't do that. So, Mr.

Speaker, the shor t answer to the honourable member's question is that the government did not analyze the poll results because on our analysis of the conduct of the survey, it was not worthy of analysis. Mantario Rally MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Emerson. MR. A. DRIEDGER: Thank you, Mr . Sp eaker. My question is to the Min ister of Natural Resources. I wonde r if the Min ister could ind icate whether he received an invitation from the Eastern Manitoba Tourist Association to attend the Mantario rally this coming Sunday and, if so, whether he's planning to attend that rally. MR.

SPEAKER: The Mi nister of Natural Resources. HON. A. MACKUNG: Mr. Sp eaker, I have invitations from time -to-time to attend various functions. Some of those attendances are required by arrangements that I try to make. I am trying, for example, to confirm arrangements with Her Majesty's Official Opposition in this House so I can attend in Ottawa on Mond ay, on official business. I'm advised that there's some difficulty in doing that because the honourable members refuse to pair. SOME HONOURABLE MEMBERS: Oh, oh! MR. SPEAKER: Order please. The Honourable Mini ster of Natural Resources. HON. A. MACKLING: So, Mr.

Speake r, it is very difficult for me and my colleagues to commit ourselves to any specifics outside of this Ho us e because of the intransigence of Her Majesty's Official Opposition. Mining industry study MR. A. DRIEDGER: Mr. Speaker, that actually was not what I asked him initial ly. I asked him whether he was planning to attend a function in Manitoba where there are going to be 1,400 people and he goes on a tirade about Ottawa. Further to the same Min ister.

According to this government's Summa ry Report, dated August, 1983, the Whiteshell Ma ster Plan on Page 6 of that report states, "Pr oposals for the development of mineral resou rces will only be app roved when it can be demonstrated that the benefits far exceed potential loss of inherent values in the zone." Will the Min ister please inform us as to how one would determine whether the benefits of developing mineral resources is more important than loss of wildlife and natural resources in that same zone? HON. A. MACKUNG: Well, Mr.

Speaker, within the master planning pro cess, we ha ve taken into considera tion economic dev elopment and, as the honourable knows, we have considered the needs of the areas of natural resource activity, including trapping, forestry and minin g and the harvest of wild rice and we are assured that these developments can continue in an organized but in a planned fashion and not take away from the utility of the park. As a matter of fact, there is economic activity in the nature of a potential mine development in the Whiteshell that is under consideration at the present time. MR. A.

DRIEDGER: To the same Min ister, the Whiteshell Master Plan Report on Page 6 goes on to say, ''The development of all-weather roads will not be permitted in the Mantario wilderness zone." Can the Min ister please inform us how construction equipment can carry out mining of resources in that zone if all-weather roads are not permitted? HON. A. MACKLING: Mr.

Speaker, in respect to the Mantario wilderness zone, we are assured by our Mines Branch that there is not likely any great potential for mineral activity in that area; and that information was taken into consideration when the classification of the zoning was made. However, as the plan ind icates, if there is significant mineral potential, then there will be consideration of that question. It is certainly not antici pated that it will be a problem. Bilingualism in Manitoba MR. SPEAKER: The Honour able Member for St. Norbert. MR. G. MERCIER: Mr. Sp eaker, I have a question for the Government House Leader.

In view of the fact that obviously very shortly closure will be imp osed upon the House and there will only be one further day of debate with respect to the government resolution and in view of the concerns exp ressed on this side of the Hous e with respect to Se ction 23. 1, could the Government House Leader ind icate whether he will be proposing any amendments to the wording contained in his present amendment to

Section 23. 1? MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Government House Leader. HON. A. ANSTETT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Clearly the member anticipates the results of several votes which have to be held in this House. 6089

Thursday, 16-27 February, 1984 I do not presume to anticipate those results. If and when they are held, then the deba te that is scheduled will proceed. I do not even make the assumption that it will proceed with a time allocation, although I certainly have, in numerous offers to members opposite, tried to find an accommodation on that basis. Mr. Speaker, I do not prop ose, nor do I think it would be appropr iate on the floor of this House, to try to discuss with the member the substance of any proposed amendments or changes that the member wishes with regard to 23. 1 or any other section.

I have made numerous offers to members opposite to engage in those kinds of dis cussions since the first week of December. Every single one has been rebuffed. Now, at what the member opposite calls the eleventh hour, he fina lly seems concerned. Well, Mr. Sp eaker, if he's concerned, let's sit down and talk about it, but I've been waiting since the first week of December. MR. G. MERCIER: Mr.

Speaker, without assuming how the government's motions to have the question put, etc., will be decided, will the Government House Leader just indic ate whether or not he will be proposing any amend ments to Sect ion 23. 1 un der his pr esent propo sal? Wil l he be sugges ting any further amendments, in view of the concerns exp ressed on this side of the House? HON. A. ANSTETT: Mr. Speaker , I believe I did answer that question. If the member has specific concerns with regard to 23. 1, I would be happy . MR. SPEAKER: Order please. HON. A. ANSTETT: ... Mr . Sp eaker, when the Member for St.

Norbert can control his House Leader, I'll try to answer his question. At this point, we have not even heard, in terms of an amendment, the position of the opposition with regard to

Section 23. 1. Instead, what we have is a suggestion that the whole clause be wiped out. Well, Mr. Spea ker, if that is their position, then that is the question before the House at this time and after that question is dealt with, the question of any further subamendments will be dealt with. Mr. Speaker, the introduction of those is appropria te at the appropr iate time in debate and it's not appropr iate for those kinds of policy announcements to be made dur ing question period. MR. SPEAKER: Order please. The time for Ora l Questions has expired. HANSARD CORRECTION MR SPEAKER: Order please, order please.

The Honourable Leader of the Opposition. MR. G. FILMON: ... the right-hand side of the page, Sir, there is a whole

section that is attributed to me. It occurs in the middle of the speech of the Member for Turtle Mountain. I believe, Sir, it should rightly be attributed to him. MR. SPEAKER: Order please. I thank the honour able member for that correction. MATTER OF PRIVILEGE MR. SPEAKER: On the prop osed motion of the Honourable Government House Leader, and the motion pertaining thereto by the Honourable Min ister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Member for Emerson has 27 minut es remai ning. MR. A. DRIEDGER: Thank you, Mr. Spea ker. I find it a bit unfortunate possibly that my remarks have to be split in two.

I started making my remarks yesterday and after 13 minu tes the House adjourned and as a result, what happens in a case like that is you maybe disrupt your train of thought to some degree. I would like to maybe repeat some of the remarks that I put on the record yesterday and indi cate that giving it some thought over last night, it is with sadness that actually I stand here today and wind up the debate on this question.

It's very unfortunate - I think it is historic - it's also very unfortunate that it should have to end this way, tha t after my remarks have been concluded today that we will have no alternative but to vote on an issue I think that is, as ind icated yesterday, the most dra matic th at we've experienced in this House ever, possibly ever will again. I'm trying to establish why there was such a problem in dealing with this yesterday.

One of the comments I made was "What a tangled web they weave when first they practice to deceive," and established to some degree the deception of this government from the time tha t th ey got elec ted. They go t elected on false prom ises, and from that time on have continued to move in that dir ection of breaking their faith with the people of Manitoba, and one issue after the next, from the issue of promising a turnaround in economics, which was beyond their control, but they prom ised that. From there on, the thing has been going from bad to worse. They've done the same thing with the language issue.

The deception, from the time that this resolution was introduced in this House, they have had to change and change and squirm in their position time and time again. If we had stood and let it be passed the way it was introduced, as I ind icated last time, the damage would have been done. Except for the alertness of the opposition to catch exactly what was happening, that is why we're still her e tod ay. The Mem ber for Charleswood indicated that this government has already swung almost 170 degrees from where they were initially.

It has ind icated exactly what has happened; that they did not know what they were presenting; they still do to this day, I do not think, know necessarily what they're presenting and have created major pro blems and concerns. They've created concerns in the eyes of Manitobans. The question they asked just this morning as I was leaving home to come in, they said, certainly this government must realize that 70-80 percent of the people are opposed to what they're bringing forward.

If that is the case and the government knows that - they made fun about the poll that our Leader presented to them the other day and they already today issued a release under the New Democratic Party caucus head ing, trying to tear apart that poll; always on the negative; always trying to destroy, never listening. The people don't trust this government anymore. They say, why if this government knows that that many people 6090

Thursday, 16-27 February, 1984 are against them and against this proposal, why are they pushing forward on it? They hold you suspect, they hold this government suspect. They say, did they make a private deal? There must be money involved through the back door somewhere. I'm not saying there is, but in the eyes of the public there is something why this government would force ahead against the kind of opposition that has come forward, why they would push ahead and try and bring this onto the heads of the people of Manitoba.

There are many concerns out there, many concerns that were not there six months ago because people didn't realize at that time. I have to compliment the Attorney-General. He's the one that initially brought this forward and very few people realized what he was bringing forward. It took a lot of flack and heat.

Then, when we finally took them, made them, dragged them screaming and struggling down to have hearings, and then during the hearings, we had an interim while they were doing an assessment on the thing, they tried to play political games while we were having our leadersh ip, and the Attorney General, the instigator of the whole problem got himself removed from the scene. You have lo compliment him, that is shrewdness. Instead, what have we got? We got a young upstart there who compro mises principl es for anything, just to be there. The Attorney-General has been removed from the scene of criticism.

I want to compliment him, he's looking well and fit ever since he's been removed. I think the little break that he had probably had some bearing on it as well. I was fortunate to have the same thing. One of the things that it has created now in the minds of the people of Manitoba is mi strust. I said this yesterday, there's mis trust of this Premier and his government because they've broken their word too often; they've compromi sed themselves too often. The people don't trust them.

No matter what you do at this stage of the game, the people of Manitoba do not trust this government anymore and will not for years to come. I' ve had, Mr. Sp eaker, people come to me in the streets of my little town and say, if this goes through - knowing full well that it's getting towards the latter days of the debate because closure is being put on us - people have come up and said, if this goes through, do we have to learn French? You know, it's funny bu t many people don't understand what it is all about, they don't understand.

They say, if this government passes it do we have to learn French, do we have to have all our things in biling ual language, French and English? People are conc erned . Our sen ior citizens do not kn ow the workings of this House, they do not neces sarily un derstand the workings of this House, but the conception left . . . SOME HONOURABLE MEMBERS: Oh, oh! MR. SPEAKER: Order please. MR. A. DRIEDGER: . . by this go vernment, a gover nment that has continually broken and comprom ised its position on this issue from the time that it was presented.

The original resolution actually is a shambl es by way of amend ments. Now, gr an ted that they hav e a 6091 packaged it into a bill and removing some of the aspects of it out of the enshrinement aspect of it. They are creating a problem and one almost has to agree with some of the concerns expressed. Why would they pursue and push forward on an issue - rememb er, it wasn't that long ago when we had a deadline of December 31 st. Remember in August when we debated, they said we have to have this in Ottawa before December 31 st.

Then we compromis ed when it looked like it couldn't happen and they said, well, by January 5th at the latest. Here we are, February 16th; there are no deadlines any more. Why do they want to push ahead at this stage of the game? I think the majority of the members across the House, if they followed their heart and their minds, would like to have this issue out of the way and not have to vote on it. The majority of them feel uncomfortable with it, but they haven't got the intestinal fortitude to stand up and fight against a few people who are pushing it.

A few indiv iduals are creating the problems right now; everybody's uncomfortable. The majority of people in Manitoba are putting the heat and I think the Premier - he can yell from his seat if he likes - he is a weak Premier because if he was a strong indi vidual, a principl ed individual, we would not be in this position and neither would the people of Manitoba. He has not got the intestinal fortitude to lead his party properly. There's only a few indi viduals there that really want this issue. I could go through the members one by one and it shows how they feel about it.

It shows by the fact that you refuse to deba te this issue; it shows by the fact that you have promoted closure on this issue. Why closure on a thing tha t is so fundamental ly im portant as a constitutional change? Why closure? Mr. Spea ker, on January 14th in the paper, "Tories ready to compromise on language bill." That's a month ago. It app eared , acco rding to the minds of the government at that time, that we were making progress. Why the need for closure?

There's so many things, when we come to the conclusion of this performance here in this House on this issue before us right now that a person would like to - like our leader spoke the other day, and very capably so for four hours - there's so many things that come to mind that a person would want to present. Our arguments have been logical, presented one after another. You would think that the quality of debate after all this time would maybe be sagging on our side; it is not. It has been improving, but there has been no debate coming from the members from the government side to defend their position.

The odd indi vidual we've been able to sort of coax, tease into getting up for five or ten minu tes and speaking, the odd one, but the majorit y of them are not comfortable to even defend their position because they know they're wrong. Mr. Speaker, there's been so much ink spent on this in terms of our Hansard, in terms of the papers, not just in Manitoba, across the country. When I had the oppor tunity to be on holid ays for awhile, even in Honolulu they were highli ghting this issue here - they were. So it has been receiving so much attention and somehow this government is not listening.

This is the government that got elected because they would listen to people. They've illustrated how they're listening.

Thursday, 16-27 February, 1984 Concern has been exp ressed about ringing of the bells and I want to come back to the suggestion by our House Leader the other day: why don't we adjourn for two weeks, everybody go home, cool off things here a little bit and let every one of us go out and talk to our people and gather a consensus? SOME HONOURABLE MEMBERS: Oh, oh! MR. A. DRIEDGER: The Member for The Pas is quite vocal about saying, yes, we should do that. Many of the members oppo site have been hiding in this House.

They don't want to go out to their constituencies and get a consensus from their people because they already know. If this government felt they were on the right track for one minut e, they would be doing their own polling. If they have done their polling, they're not letting us know the results and certainly an issue of this magnitude would be worth polling. A government would poll on anything less than that. I know the Premier polled on seat belts. They polled on everything else. Why would they not poll on the most important issue, Mr. Speaker? I think they might have, but they know they're wrong.

Why then would the y not go ba ck, take an adjournment for two weeks? There's an old saying that goes - maybe somebody can help me with this - "It takes a wise man to admit he's wrong." Would they ever admit that they'd made a mistake with this issue? They have grudgingly made amendments and admit ted that they were wrong. Why not continue a little further? In some of the speeches that have taken place it has been indi cated that we're close to consensus.

The House Leader - such as he is, and I have very very strong concerns about his ability - has ind icated that we're relatively close to arriving at a consensus. The Member for Turtle Mountain the other day said we're not that far apart. Remove 23. 1 and we've got ourselves a ball game. We'll accept all the rest of it; and all th ese concerns ha ve been rais ed by the members opposite somewhere along the line with the few that have spoken. Why? Why will they not speak? Why will they not speak and defend their position? The ones that have gotten up and spoken - the Member for St.

Johns spoke about all kin ds of divine guida nce that he got, in his speech; the Member for Ste. Rose says the falling of this country is in our hands if we oppose this. Stupid, stupid statements! That is the defence we've gotten. Who on the front bench, of any magnitude, has spoken? Just to illustrate the fact that there's uneasiness there, we see that by what happened yesterday when the Min ister of Agriculture signed a document trying to weasel out of the pressure from the muni cipal people, and every one of them is getting that kind of pressure; and you have the options, you can do it.

Are you just an arrogant, conceited government who doesn't care or is there really a payolf behind the scenes? I don't know. The Attorney-General is the one that initially has been involved in all these deals. He should know whether there's been a payoff or not. I don't know . MR. SPEAKER: Or der please, order please. The honour able member should choose his words with care to ensure that he does not impu te motives to other members of the House. The Honour able Member for Emerson. MR. A. DRIEDGER: Thank you, Mr. Spea ker. I will heed your warning.

What I'm doing though is illustrating some of the concerns that are being exp ressed to me and I don't want to imput e motives on the Attorney-General, but the thought is there for the people of Manitoba; the thought is there. Mr. Sp eaker, if there's some concern about what the people of Manitoba think, I have reams of material here, reams of material here that was forwarded initially way back last spring when we started off. I even had one here with a picture of a person that looked very unusual, unless he's aged that much since that time, a picture of our Premier .

It's signed by him at least, a very youthful looking picture. It certainly doesn't do any justice to him the way he looks right now. I don't know whether this issue itself has created that many problems for him but from that time on, when they forwarded this kind of material, when they did the propaganda pitch, and since that time the comprom ises that they've made - Mr. Speak er, if you feel that I'm getting a little close with my language in terms of making accusations, there is reason for that, because there has been a major deception going on for the people in Manitoba by this government.

There has, and they cannot deny that and they feel uncomfortable. The Min ister of Finance feels uncomfortable. The Attorney-General, as I ind icated , he's very lucky. He's out from under the hot box right now, the hot seat. He's the one that has instigated all this and has created the doub t in people's minds. No matter what you do at this stage of the game, this is going to hang over your heads, not just this year, not just in the next election, but for many years to come. A MEMBER: A long time. A MEMBER: You bet. MR. A.

DRIEDGER: A long time, because I doubt if in our time whether there will ever be the opportunity to change the Constitution again. This is history in the making. I wish that we were not in a position where we had to do it under these conditions. Why can't there be a compromi se arrived at? Why can't we arrive at some comprom ise? They do not listen to what the desires or the wishes of the people are. Are you as government saying that you know better than everybody else? That was the attitude of the Attorney-General at one time - people don't understand - but I know best what's best for Manitoba.

That is the Premier out there. Now they're fighting a rear-guard action. Everytime we suggest something, they attack the individual. They attack the poll that our leader presented the other day and it's surprising how they attacked that; that it does not qualify; that it's a bia sed thing. The sample is much smaller than was ever advised for a poll which seeks reliable information about Manitobans and seriously overrepresents two groups who seemed particularly hostile in October surveys. As if the polling organization would take and pick on males, specifically, or senior citizens. I suspect, Mr.

Speaker, that they have done a poll. I suspect they've done a poll because even dur ing the 6092

Thursday, 16-27 February, 1984 seat belt and helmet legislation they did a poll that ind icated that so many people were in favour or against. With an issue of this magnit ude they will not have done a poll? I cannot accept that. I cannot accept that. They have done a poll and that is why there's discomfort on their side. That is why there's tremendous di scomfort on their side. A MEMBER: It just confirms ours, that's all. It confirms ours, Albert. MR. A. DRIEDGER: It is an embarrassment.

It's an embarr assment to the opposition as well as to the go vern ment because some of the people don't understand what this ringing of the bells is all about. Do you know how I explain it? We're ringing them for freedom. We're ringing them for freedom and for the democratic syst em. There's one in di vidual , a conceited, arrogant individual, that I consider deceitful and on the principle of Judas who would sell anything, do anything for his personal gain of this House; the House Leader would do anything for personal gain in this House.

I just indi cated that I felt our House Leader was arrogant, conceited, that he was an unprincipled indi vidual . MR. SPEAKER: Order please. MR. A. DRIEDGER: ... because of the way that he's dealing with this. MR. SPEAKER: Order please, order please. I heard the honourable member say that another member of this House would do anything for personal gain. That is surely unparliam entary and the honourable member should withdraw those words. MR. A. DRIEDGER: Mr. Speaker, I will withdraw those remarks because they are unparliamentar y.

There are other adjectives also that I would like to use that are unparliamentary and I cannot use so wi ll refrain from that. But I feel very strongly about the way the Rules of the House do not allow us to always speak the things that we'd iike to say in this House and that is how strongly I feel about the House Leader that is running this thing. The people opposite, most of them know, they do not believe what he is doing but they allow this ind ividual because a few indi viduals have the strength to run their caucus, that is why we're in this kind of a situation right now.

It is with sadness and with pain that I have to stand here and make those kind of statements. I do that because the majority of the people of Manitoba feel the same way about that. That is why we're having the fight on the issues that we have before us, Mr. Speak er. I don't like to get involved in those kind of issues really, but the ind ividual has prompted that kind of action because most of the members oppo site don't feel that way. It is one ind ividual that is running this show and it is because we have a Premier who is a weak Premier, who will not stand up and do what the people of Manitoba want.

That is why the request that's been made many times, has been to call an election. Let's resolve it once and for all. It is acrimonio us. Things are not functioning properly in this House and will not as long as this government is there. Let them call an election. Let them call an election. The people of Manitoba are asking for an election. The issue is serious enough. They've tried to camouflage it and run from everything under the sun. They do not respect the people of Ma ni tob a. - (I nterjection) They do not. If I have made some statements, Mr.

Speake r, that are very marginal, I feel very strongly on this issue and many people do. That is why I say, go home, let's adjourn this House for two weeks. Go home, talk to your people. Don't hide in this House here. Very few of you are getting out there and getting the message from your people. It is unfortunate what is going to be happening in this House. It's unfortunate what is happening in this House, Mr. Speak er. It's going to be on the heads of this government but it also will be on the heads of ourselves as opposition for the rest of histo ry.

I still maintain it is because of a few ind ividuals on that side of the House we are in this dilemma, that we are in here now, and a certain ind ividual - (I nterjection) - Mr. Spea ker, that's fine. The Premier just indi cated that I had an oppor tunity to be in Hawaii, yes, but if we want to pursue that kind of a discussion here then I want to talk about the Attorney-General having been gone for three weeks and the Member for St. Johns having been gone for two weeks in Hawaii, and the Mi nister of Tourism and Busi ness is in Hawaii right now.

If we want to get into that kind of discussion, then we will do that because there are three of the their members that have been in Hawaii already, and one is there right now. MR. SPEAKER: Order please, order plea se. The honourable member knows that he should not comment on the presence or the absence of members from this House. The honourable member has five minu tes remaining. A MEMBER: It applies to the Premier as well. MR. A. DRIEDGER: Mr. Speaker, the only reason why I'm involved in that is because the Premier of this province accused me of being in Hawaii.

I was there and I just defended my position stating if I was there, there were others as well. But he's the one that started at that level. I'll accept that. Mr. Speaker, actually I had anticipated by the time that I came back that this issue would have been resolved. I can see now that it is going to be a long time before this gets resolved. A MEMBER: You're right. MR. A. DRIEDGER: It's going to be a long time before this gets resolved and it is my hope that over the next few days ... MR. SPEAKER: Order please. MR. A. DRIEDGER: ... There's three options that the government can look at very easily.

Basically three options. You can be an arrogant government and go against the wishes of Manitobans and push it through; 6093

Thursday, 16-27 February, 1984 or you can accept our amendment which removes

Section 23. 1 and make everybody happy and then we have consensus; or you can do what I think the Premier already had hoped to do at one time, withdra w the whole thing itself. Withdraw it. There is no need, Mr. Speaker, to continue with this because under policy direction they can do anything they want with the language issue. As I indicated yesterday in my remarks, that in March of'82, they already had policy direction for all the changes they were going to make. There is no need for this legislation at this stage of the game, there is no need for all the time and all the money that's being spent.

Ironi cally, the defence that they're using now, people like the Mini ster of Hig hways and others are now saying, well the cost factor. They're flanked about everything they could and have been thwarted at it. It's tragic when a government does not listen anymore, and that's what we have. Mr . Sp eak er, we will have the oppor tun ity, just because we have been thwarted by this government that we cannot speak any further on this issue, that it is not over yet totally, that we will be here to debate some more, but it is shameful that the people of Manitoba have to be exposed to this kind of a situation.

A MEMBER: Simply ignore it. MR. A. DRIEDGER: There are requests for an election. They have been sincere. Why don't we do it? Because if you are right and if you would win the next election, we would have to accept that, we would have been proven wrong. Why don't you do that? Let's clear the air once and for all. We'll come back, you will have defeated us - maybe. - (I nterjection) That was two years ago and not on these issues. You never had the manda te to go on this issue. We've let all kinds of controversial legislation go to deal with this issue, that was never approached. Call an election now on this issue.

It is an important issue, call it now. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately I don' t know what course of action is going to remain to the opposition from hereon in, but whatever course of action the democratic system allows us we will take, to stop the activity of this government in this direction on this issue. I hope when they get a chance to associate with their people in the next few days - I understand they're having a convention - that possibly there will be some seeing of the light. Maybe they will listen to their own people if they will not listen to the people of Manitoba.

I know for a fact that many of them are deserting the ship. Mr. Sp eaker, it is with sadness that I, as the last speaker on our side, close the debate, I suppose. They have refused to debate it. I don't know whether they will de fend their po sition at all. I feel it is very unfortunate. I know my time is running out. If the people of this government will not listen, they will listen two years from now when they call an election. Thank you. MR. SPEAKER: Are you ready for the question? The Honourable Government House Leader. HON. A. ANSTETT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker . MR. SPEAKER: Order please. HON. A.

AN STETT: . . for members opposite . MR. SPEAKER: Order please, order please. A MEMBER: The resolution ordinarily is entitled to close. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Government House Leader. HON. A. ANSTETT: Mr. Sp eaker, I have but a few bri ef comm ents on the motion and the debate which we've seen for the last week on this subject. For those members oppo site who have some concern that my few brief comm ents are in any way inappropri ate, I would remind them that it is normal procedure in this House, on bills and on resolutions, that the member who moves them closes them.

That opportun ity does not exist - (I nterjection) - I'm about to acknowledge that. If you' ll just cool your heels for 10 seconds, I'll get to your point. I was about to say, Mr. Speaker, that the purpose of the previous question was to allow all members to de bate, but to pr eclude amend ment s and subamendments, etc.

Matters of privilege, as I understand the rule, only afford one opp ortunity for each member to speak unless amendments are moved, and since I'v e raised the matter I believe I was considered as having spoken on it and, therefore, could not normally close debate even though that is the practice under our rules with regard to all other forms of motions. The fact that the Member for St. James is choosing not to close debate and will not be speaking after me, I am taking that oppo rtunity to make a few bri ef closing comments on a matter which I first raised in the House.

Now since that conforms with our normal parliamentary practice in allowing that kind of closing remark, I take some offence at the remarks of some members who yelled as they were walking out of the Cham ber. Nevertheless, Mr. Sp eaker, I remind members opposite who have remained, that for five days we on this side - and myself in particular - have been challenged to reply to some of the statements that have been made. Mr. Speaker , there haven't been very many that I deem worthy of reply but there are a few remarks that I think ought to be made.

One of the ma tters whi ch ha s been raised by honourable members and, Mr. Sp eaker, I regret that I will deviate slightly from debating strictly the matter of privilege because if I were to reply to members opposite on that item there would be nothing at all to which I should reply, because very few add ressed that issue. But, Mr.

Sp eaker, one honourable member opposite suggested during the debate - and it was confirmed by several of his colleagues - that mem bers opp osite never really endorsed the entrenchment of Sections 23.2-23.9, tha t their request that the govern ment proceed only with validation was not really a request, it was really a statement that if we really felt we had to do something, we should do that. It was the Member for Turtle Mountain, he said that yesterday, Mr. Speaker, and the Member for Turtle Mountain also said it a week ago yesterd ay. 6094

Thursday, 16-27 February, 1984 Mr. Speaker, more importantly it was an attempt to recover some ground that was lost to him some time earlier. Mr.

Speake r, he said, "Let me say just once again to clear up the record" - I'm reading from the 25th of January Hansard "from some of the comments that the government members have been making in that they have been misrepresenting the position I took on this issue earlier, again the Attorney-General today did the same thing again when he said tha t I'd acknowledged that we would see the need for validation, and the need to validate, we should seek validation if at all possible and that it would be a better solution if we could attain it." Mr.

Speaker, a little bit of backped alling there because of the concern of members opposite that any possible attempt to be part of the solution would separate them from the extremists with whom they have associated themselves; the people with whom they have - and I refer them to yesterday's Globe and Mail editorial because I want to be short today and I won't even ask the Leader of the Opposition to put it in the same file with his London Free Press articles - but, Mr.

Sp eaker, I remind him that the im pression of the Conservative Party both in Manitoba and in the rest of Canada is that of inglorious blackguards who have associated thems elves with everyt hing tha t is mean and meanspirited, and some of the things that have been the meanest and most mean-spirited in the last century of this province's hist ory. Mr. Spea ker, that is a sad commentar y. MR. F. JOHNSTON: What do you know about the last century? HON. A. ANSTETT: Mr.

Speaker, for the benefit of the Member for Sturgeon Creek, the last century of this province has been a century on which we should take pride rather than dredge from the very bottoms of the extreme right of this province sentiments that should have stayed buried, and that only people like the Member for Sturgeon Creek; that only people who are of the mental frame of mind and emotional instabil ity of the Member for Sturgeon Creek would deem worthy of abusing a modern, cultured, tolerant province. Mr. Sp eaker, that's what's been happened. Mr.

Spea ker, I refer to the comments of the Member for Turtle Mountain because I think it's important to put two things - one from the Official Leader of the Opposition and one from his House Leader - on the record with regard to their suppor t for the proposal which is before this House. Mr. Sp eaker, I refer to the speech of the Member for Turtle Mountain of Thu rsday, January 12th.

He says, despite his speech on Wednesday the 25th of January in which he was rapidly backpedalling - he obviously had been repudiated in the same way that his leader was repud iated a week ago today when he offered to vote im mediately in this House - Mr. Speaker, the Member for Turtle Mountain was also repudiated. The only two possible leaders on that side, both of them repudia ted by a caucus which is obviously more in tune with the Member for Sturgeon Creek. Mr.

Speaker, on Page 5545 of Hansard, dated January 12th, Thu rsday, right at the end of his speech at 10:00 p.m., his concludin g remark, the thrust of his speech as he summarized to say that he would be going on again the next day, he said: "That is the issue to which we'll return when the House meets again and I would hope to be able to convince the honourable members oppo site to some extent that, based on their own reasons, that they should in fact be dropping all of this resolution except those sections that deal with the validation of the laws." Mr.

Speaker, he wants to be able, the next day - and he goes on the next day to try and do it - to convince us that we should be dropping everything except those sections that deal with the validation of our laws. Two weeks later, he repudia ted that. Then, Mr. Speaker, the Member for Tuxedo, the Leader of the Opposition, sent a letter to the membership of his party. Mr. Sp eaker, I don't think it was on flash paper but it seems to have disappeared. The Honourable Leader of the Opposition said to his members, after describing the proposed subamendment to the Member for Fort Garry which would remove

Section 23. 1: "This leaves in place the sections which confirm the validity of our English-only laws, thus eliminating the possibility of 'legal chaos' in the Supreme Court decisions on the Bilodeau case." SOME HONOURABLE MEMBERS: Oh, oh! HON. A. ANSTETT: Mr. Speaker, only the Member for Sturgeon Creek can have it both ways, but the Member for Turtle Mountain and the Member for Tuxedo, the Leader of the Opposition, cannot. They cannot be both part of the solutions and remain entrenched with the 19th Century attitudes, emotions and fears of members like the Member for Sturgeon Creek.

I want to read a short quote - (I nterjection) - Mr. Sp eaker, the Member for St. Boniface, the Honourable Min ister of Health, says all kinds of things that I consider terms of endearment. He even, Mr. Speaker, sometimes makes me want to dump a glass of water on his head because I hold him so dearly as well. But I know that when the Member for St. Boniface speaks, he speaks both with his head and with his heart. He speaks out of principle; he speaks out of dedication to the spirit, history and future of this province.

He is not a prisoner of everything that has been disru ptive to the cultural harmony and future of this province. He is a not a prisoner the way the member opposite is. Mr. Spea ker, I prom ised members opposite I was going to be short. I will try not to reply any further to the Member for Sturgeon Creek. I am now convinced it is not the fault of the Min ister of Health. It has something to do with the chair . Mr. Speaker, on Page 27, 8:20, Commons Debates, October 6, 1983, a member of the House of Commons said as follows: "Mr.

Justice Hand referred to it as 'the spirit of liberty.' He told the group of immigr ants that the spirit of liberty is the spirit that is not too sure that it is right. The spirit of liberty seeks to understand the minds of other men and other women. The spirit of liberty weighs their interests alongside its own, without bias. The spirit of liberty knows that not even a sparrow falls to the earth unheeded. "The spirit of liberty", he said, "is the spirit of him who nearly 2,000 years ago taught mankind a lesson that it is never quite learned and never quite forgotten; 6095

Thursday, 16-27 February, 1984 that there may be a ki ngdom where the least shall be heard and conside red side by side with the greatest." That is what this resolution is all about today. Mr. Sp eaker, some members oppo_site are crying with derision. Let me finish - there are only two sentences left - before you decry this great principled statement. "This resolution is about fairness. It is about decency. It is an invitation for co-operation and understanding. It speaks to the finest qualities in this nation.

I say to you on behalf of my entire party, on this or any great issue that affects this nation, that we stand before you, Madam Speak er, united in the sunlight, ready to work for a better Canada." Mr. Spea ker, that speech, the end, the last two paragraphs of that speech, members opposite just decried, called it a great performance, spoke derisively of it, just now in this House. Mr. Speaker, that was the last two paragraphs of the spe ech on this same reso lution by the Leader of the Pr og ressive Conservative Party of Canada, the Honourable Brian Mu lroney. Mr.

Speaker, some members opposite are calling out that it was not the same resolution. I should point out to the Leader of the Opposition, although I am going on long er than I thought in replying to the misinformation he provides to this House, that the resolution on which that leader was speaking contained in its final operative paragraph the statement that ". . .

The House endorses, on behalf of all Canadians, the essence of the agreement reached by the Government of Canada and the Government of Manitoba with the participation of the Societe franco-manitobaine on May 16th, 1983 to modif y The Manitoba Act 1870; (2) the Hous e invites the government and the Leg islativ e Assembly of Manitoba to take action as expeditiously as pos sible in or der to fulf il! their constitutional obligations and to protect effectively the rights of the French-spe aking mino rity of the province ... " Mr.

Speaker, I endorse completely support and accept the support of the statements of the Honourable Brian Mu lroney, Leader of the Official Opposition in Ottawa. Mr. Speaker , sometimes for the benefit of minds like those of the Member for Sturgeon Creek, I am forced to go back into a time period with which many of us are not fam iliar. I go back to quote a great statesman and parliamentarian, Lord Salisbu ry, from the 19th century. Lord Salisbury was talking about political parties and their nature. Mr. Speaker, in Manitoba today, I think this statement by Lord Salisbury is entirely appropria te.

He said, "Combinations there must be. The only question is whether they shall be broad parties based on the compr ehensive ideas and guided by men who have a name to stake on the wisdom of their course, or obscure cliques with some narrow crochet for a policy, some paltry, yelping shibb oleth for a cry." Mr. Spea ker, we have been hearing the paltry, yelping shib boleth as a cry from members opposite for nine months.

They have, with only a few exceptions, really add ressed the fundamental question about the future of this province and about the character of this province and about its role in the future of this nation. Mr. Sp eaker, there's one other minor point that I think should be made and it relates to a letter received by the Honourable Min ister of Labour recently with regard to the St. Boniface Museum, the curator of which is one Mau rice Prince, who is also the President of the Asso ciation pro-can adiene. Mr . Sp eak er, tha t association is currently fighting the certification of a union of its employees. Mr.

Speak er, upon completion of read ing this I'd be happy to table the letter as is normally required in such circumstances. I wish to read just one paragraph, Mr. Speaker. "The language of operation in our establishment is French. We wish to assure the Honourable Min ister we will comply with a request of the Manitoba Labour Board as soon as we receive the official French translation of the act in the bilingual form." This, Mr.

Spea ker, over the signature of a man who said the documents which he now requests were not warranted; over the signature of a man who held an association meeting of less than a dozen people and had his position endorsed .in this House a week ago last Monday by members opposite asking questions. Mr. Speaker , what a sad commentary on the position of members opposite when they real ize to whose star they have tied themselves. Mr. Spea ker, I'll table this letter for the benefit of members oppo site who may wish to consult it. Mr.

Speak er, for the record, I think it should be noted, since members on this side appear to know and therefore want me to put it on the record, the lawyer for the St. Boniface Museum is one Sid ney Green who I understand is a . . . MR. SPEAKER: Order please. HON. A. ANSTETT: . . . is a supporter of bilingualism in both Manitoba and Canada, but one who does not see merits in the government's current proposal. I think that's perhaps the fairest description. What I would like to say in closing, Mr.

Sp eaker, very briefly is that I listened closely to the two speeches opposite which dealt very directly with the question of bell ringing. The Honourable Member for Tuxedo, the Leader of the Opposition, who claimed that he'd spoken on over half the bills in this Session - out of a 114 bills that would imply 57. Mr. Speak er, he actually spoke only on 22, less than 20 percent - not half. Mr. Sp eaker, I checked the other facts in his speech and I could go through the whole speech and repudia te factually, virtally every statement he made but I really don't have time.

The fact of the matter is, the credib ility of members opposite to justify the kind of parliamentary obstruction which you, Sir, ruled was an abuse of the rules; which you, Sir, in quoting Erskine May, said was a contempt of Parliament. Mr. Speaker, that obstruction cannot be justified. Those who seek to justify by the most erudite reasoning, something that is unjustifiable, Sir, can never succeed and for me to try and defend, even for them, the indefensible would be foolish and I won't engage in that exercise. Mr.

Spea ker, I believe that the only way a Parliament can operate is if it has the authority to make decisions, and, Sir, no parliamentarian who believes in the British parliamentary tradition will say otherwise. If the Member for Sturgeon Creek believes otherwise, Sir, I believe he challenges the princip les of the system to which he pledged allegiance when he took his oath of office. Mr. Sp eaker, I honestly tell you, I do not believe that is the case. I belie ve mem bers oppo site ha ve a 6096

Thursday, 16-27 February, 1984 fundamental respect for the parliamentary tradition, for the British traditions of Westmin ster. I believe they respect the rules and precedents, not only of this House, but of the House of Commons in Ottawa and of the Mother of Parliament, and I will believe that until they prove me wrong.

They have, on occasion, given me cause to doubt - the belief has quivered on occasion - but funda mentally I believe tha t the gentlemen opposite are, as members on this side are - sorry, ladies and gentlemen opposite - as members on this side are, people who ha ve a funda mental respect for the parliame ntary tradition and will not abuse it or hold it in contempt. Mr. Sp eaker, members oppo site have at times talked about closure, doubl e closure, triple closu re. Mr .

Speak er, I point out to those who I believe, in taking an oath of office of allegiance to Her Majesty and to the people of this province and to this Assemb ly, pledge thems elves to respect the Britis h parli amentary tradition. This government has, throughout its term to date, at all times observed the rules of this Cham ber, the precedents of this Chamber and the rules and precedents and spirit of parliamentary law. Mr. Speaker, I challenge any member oppo site to tell us wherein we did not do so.

For those who say that the use of the rules, whether it be by closure, by previous question, by the placing of a motion, or the raising of a matter of privilege is not within the rules of this House, then the y don't kn ow wha t they'r e talkin g about. Everything that's been done in this House with regard to this question by both myself and my colleague, the Attorney-General, has been in strict adherence with the rules, not just to accommodate members opposite, but because this is a very important question, because it must be done correctly and in accordance with the rules. But mo st imp ortantl y, Mr .

Speak er, mo st importa ntly, because members on this side respect the rules and respect British parliamentary tradition. This debate and the test of this vote is whether or not that respect is shared on the other side. I believe it is. I ask honourable members opposite not to shake that belief because they will not just trouble me - I can get over that, I'm used to some of the things said by the Member for Sturgeon Creek - but, Mr.

Speak er, they will shake the parliamentary traditions of this province to its foundation but, more importa ntly, they will shake the faith of the people of this province in the parl ia mentary pro cess. Mr . Spea ker , that is something which is our overriding concern. We have two concerns, Mr. Spea ker, the question of minor ity rights and the protection thereof, the British parliamentary tradition and the foundation it has in this province. That's what's at issue in this matter of privilege and for that reason I ask all mem bers to vote, and vote in support of the motion. MR.

SPEAKER: Are you ready for the question? The question before the House is that this question be now put. Those in favour, please say aye. Those opp osed please say nay. In my opinion, the ayes have it and I declare the motion carried. The Honourable Member for Lakeside. MR. H. ENNS: Yeas and nays, Mr. Speaker. 6097 MR. SPEAKER: Call in the members. Order please. I have been advised by the Official Opposition Whip that the Official Opposition will provide me with not less than two hours prior notice of their intention to return to this House.

In view of this advice, I have informed Chamber staff that they will not be required to remain on duty outside normal working hours. I have made arrangements to secure the Chamber and the sounding of the bells will be minim ized to the greatest extent possible. I am accordingly leaving the Chair to return when the Opposition advises me of their intention to return. (And the division bells having rung from 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, February 16th, 1984 to 2:45 p.m. on Monday, February 27th, 1984.) DEPUTY SERGEANT-AT-ARMS (Mr. Myron Mason): Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor. Her Honour, P.

McGonigal, Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Manitoba, having entered the House and being seated on the Throne: HON. P. McGONIGAl: Mr. Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly: The work of the Second Session of the Thi rty-Second Legislature has now been completed. I wish to commend the members for their faithful attention to their duties, including many hours devoted to consideration of Bills and Estimates, both in the House and in the Comm ittee. I convey to you my appreciation of your concern for the public interest and for the general welfare of our province.

Monsieur l'Orateur et messieurs, mesdames, les Membr es de I' Assemblee legislative: les travaux de la deuxieme session de la trente-deuxieme legislature sont maintenant !ermines. Je desire teliciter les Membr es pour le temps qu'ils ont consacre a l'etude des projets de loi et des previsions bud getaries, tant en Chambre qu'en Comite. Je vous remercie du souci que vous avez demontre pour l'inten�t publique et le bien-etre general de la province. I thank you for providing the necessary sums of money for carrying on the public busi ness.

It will be the intention of my Min isters to ensure that these sums will be expended with both efficiency and economy by all departments of the government. En vous dechargeant de vos obligations actuelles, au terme de la deuxieme session parlementaire de la trente-deuxieme legislature, je vous transmets mes meilleurs voeux et souhaite que la province puisse, avec !'aide de la Divine Providence, continuer a travailler a la sante, au bonheur et au bien-etre de tous.

In relieving you now of your present duties and declaring the Second Session of the Thir ty-Second Legislature prorogued, I give you my best wishes and pray that under the gui dance of Divine Providence, our province may continue to provide the things which are necessary for the health, the happi ness and the well being of our people. HON. R. PENNER: It is the will and pleasure of Her Honour the Lieutenant-Governor that this Legislative

Thursday, 16-27 February, 1984 Assembly be prorogued until it shall please Her Honour to summon the same for the disp atch of business, and the Legislative Assembly is accordingly prorogued. God Save the Queen was sung. 6098

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	32-2-184
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	32nd 2nd hansardpdf 184.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	4284cd8a72432fd7b922f081998d421e76748666

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