Manitoba Hansard — 9 April 1985 (Sitting 22, 32nd Legislature, 4th Session)

32-4-22

Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANI TOBA Tuesday, 9 April, 1985. Time - 2:00 p.m. OPENING PRAYER by Mr. Speaker. MR. SPEAKER, Hon. J. Walding: I regret to inform the House that I have been informed of the death this morning of a member of this Assembly, Mary Beth Dolin. Presenting Petitions . . . Reading and Receiving Petitions ... Presenting Reports by Standing and Special Committees ... Ministerial Statements and Tabling of Reports . . Notices of Motion ... Introduction of Bills . . . INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS MR.

SPEAKER: Prior to Oral Questions, there are 52 students of Grades 9 to 12 standing from the Gordon Bell High School, accompanied by a number of exchange students from the Samuel Hearne School in lnuvik, Northwest Territories. They are under the direction of Messrs. Taylor, Kowalchuk and Dyke and Ms. Minhas. The school is in the constituency of the Honourable Member for Wolseley. On behalf of all of the members, I welcome you here this afternoon. Oral Questions . . . MOTION OF CONDOLENCE MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable First Minister. HON. H. PAWLE Y: Mr.

Speaker , I beg to move, seconded by the Member for Wolseley, THAT this House convey to the family of the late Mary Elizabeth Dolin, who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, its sincere sympathy in their bereavement, its appreciation of her 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. SPEAKER: The Honourable First Minister. HON. H. PAWLEY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At 6:30 this morning the Province of Manitoba lost a truly outstanding citizen.

Mary Beth Dolin's fight with cancer ended. She did not lose that fight, but rather gained the peace deserved by a woman who has fought hard, always with pride and always with dignity. On behalf of the government, the people of Manitoba and myself, I extend to her family the deepest and most heartfelt sympathy. You've lost a daughter, a loving wife, a caring mother, and a proud grandmother.

But just as you have lost the most in her death, you have gained the most from her life - a life of giving, of caring, of dedication; a life based on an unrelenting hope for the future and a belief in a society based upon justice and 681 fairness and equality for all. Mary Beth spent her life working with and working for people. She was born in 1936 in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, and has worked as a mother, as a teacher, and as a school administrator. She served as a member of the Provincial Executive of the Manitoba Teachers' Society and on the Executive of the Seven Oaks Teachers' Association.

Her community activity was extensive, ranging from the arts to human rights. Every task that she undertook, she did so in the belief that individuals united in a fair and a just cause can make a difference. On resigning from Cabinet she spoke of life as a series of challenges and struggles. "We all struggle," she said. "We try to leave the world a little better for ourselves, our families, our friends, our neighbours." Mary Beth struggled more than most, and we, the people of Manitoba, in generations to come are the beneficiaries of her battles fought and battles won.

As Premier I'm proud to have sat at the Cabinet table with her and will be forever grateful for the work she did. The decision to bring Mary Beth into Cabinet with respo nsibility for Labo ur, for Status of Women, eventually Urban Affairs, was one I will always be proud of. I'm proud, as was she, of her ministerial record of commitment to the people she served. Due to the work of Mary Beth Dolin, this province has the fairest pension legislation in the country. Our city is a better place to live. There's more justice and more dignity in the workplace.

There's greater pride and more hope for the women of Manitoba and of Canada. If there is a group in Manitoba that has today lost more than any other, it is the women of this province. They've lost a sister that suffered with them and fought with them and celebrated with them; their pain was her pain; their battles, her battles; their victories, her greatest joy. We are all deeply saddened today at the death of Mary Beth Dolin. Her sense of humour, her wit, her cheer will be sadly missed. To have met Mary Beth Dolin was to have been touched by her. Her battle is over, but the struggle continues.

It remains for all Manitobans dedicated to fairness, to equality, and to justice, to pick up the challenge she has left us and to fight, as she did, with dedication, with dignity, with compassion. Thank you to a fine woman, a mother, a wife, a colleague, a dear friend. Thank you, Mary Beth. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Wolseley. MS. M. PHILLIPS: Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to second the motion by my leader and offer my sincere condolences to Mary Beth's family. Mary Beth was one who never resorted to self-pity ever since her cancer was diagnosed, nor would she tolerate self-pity from us today.

In the best sense of the word, she was what I would proudly call a "gutsy" woman. She was a role model for us all. She proved

Tuesday, 9 April, 1985 to us that one did not have to be a plain, quiet, traditional kind of woman to be successful in a political world. In fact, what she gave for us is a new role model for women in politics. Here was a woman who was not afraid to examine every institution in our society, whether it was the school system, whether it was her church, whether it was the political system or society as a whole. Every single one of those institutions, over time, she examined and analyzed and made her own determination of what exactly needed to be changed. And set out to change it, she did.

And once she made a decision, she never once waffled, in fact, would heartily have agreed with Charlotte Whitton who said, "Ne ver apologize, get the job done and let them howl. " I don't think that she would today like us to talk about her in gentle, endearing tones. I think she was the kind of person who was never afraid to challenge. In fact, I would like to quote from a speech that she made outside of this Chamber to put some of her thoughts on the record, because they are not in the least bit timid thoughts.

She was talking about the media and its effect on women, as well as some of the other institutions in our society and she said, "Now if someone can just get the word to Madison Avenue, we will be able to watch television without seeing women talking to washing machines, weeping over tough pie crusts, or attending gala social events, simply to show off their new pantyhose.

" But she was concerned that the media stereotype was also evolving to show that somehow women had to be superwomen, and again I quote, "$30,000 a year job, evening courses at university, two fitness classes a week, plenty of time for travel, a contemporary and supportive spouse, and two children at the top of their French Immersion class. " She said after talking about what the actual reality for women in our society is, "We have a female Governor General and a Lieutenant-Governor. We have seen a woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada and to the presidency of large Crown corporations.

We have seen a record number of women appointed to Federal and Manitoba Cabinets. These are important developments, but we are fooling ourselves if we think they have already had a major impact on the lives of ordinary Canadian women.

" She goes on to talk about that reality; how Canadian women still earn 60 percent of what Canadian men earn; how over half of the elderly women in our country are living in poverty; how one in three Canadians living on welfare is a single mother; how one in 10 women is beaten by her spouse, and ends by saying it's important that those of us who have "made it, " don't forget about those realities or the work still required to change them. She said, "I believe it's not enough to talk about evolving attitudes or commitments to equality. I believe those commitments have to be reflected in law.

" She said, "I believe it can work and must work, and that women should not be satisfied until it is law. " None of these important changes just happened or came about as a result of good will. She said, "As a woman, I am outraged that such fundamental rights were so long in coming; as a politician I am frustrated by the reality that progress is slow.

As a female politician, I can tell you the big battles are yet to come. 682 Equal pay for work of equal value, for example, attacks the very principle of the free market system, but don't let that frighten you, " she says, "so did the institution of minimum wage, the outlawing of child labour and the eight-hour day. Canadian society survived and flourished despite those interventions in the marketplace, just as it will survive legislative equal pay for work of equal value. " "Economic, social and political equality before the law is a just cause. It is your cause, " she challenges us.

"Those of us who have enjoyed some success or made signific ant advancement in traditional male sectors of society have a responsibility to use whatever power and influence we have attained to work for the equality of women. It is not enough that we simply replace men in the current system. It is the system that ultimately needs replacement. " She throws that challenge to us, Mr. Speaker. She throws that challenge that we must and have to uphold and deliver, not just for Mary Beth, but for all the women that she stands for.

As the women in our caucus, on every special occasion, have worn the yellow rose in tribute to the suffragettes that made it possible for us to be in the Chamber today, we are proud today in tribute to Mary Beth Dolin to wear the yellow rose in her honour. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Leader of the Opposition. MR. G. FILMON: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the motion of the Premier. On behalf of members on this side of the House join in the expression of condolence to the family, friends and loved ones of our late colleague, Mary Beth Dolin.

We were both shocked and saddened at her untimely passing and add our expressions of sympathy in condolence to all who share in her loss. We wish her husband, her family and her many friends to know that our thoughts and our sincere sympathies are with them. We, on this side, recognize that while we had many disagreements, on serious and fundamental issues, politically and philosophically with Mary Beth, we were able to express that disagreement and debate the issues on which we differed, strongly but without acrimony, because Mary Beth's personal warmth and good cheer did not allow acrimony to prevail.

From the day I met her on a Town Hall Forum at Joseph Wolinski Collegiate in the fall of 1981, I enjoyed her company and her pleasant outgoing manner. I came to appreciate the strength of her commitment to her philosophy and her political beliefs as well as her determination to succeed in her chosen career and her determination to achieve the goals that she had set forth for herself in public life.

You come to understand and appreciate an individual's character and personality more in a social setting where you can exchange thoughts and ideas without the imposition of the partisan commitments that we have in this forum, and I can recall a number of occasions in which we sat and enjoyed each other's company. She once told me how she was responsible for raising in the Legislature the issue of the bedsheet changing matter, I believe it was in 1978, as a result

Tuesday, 9 April, 1985 of a visit to her in the hospital by the former Premier, Ed Schreyer, and I think other members of this Chamber. She always, in these discussions, expressed openly and with candor, her thoughts about our responsibilities here, about her individual colleagues on both sides of the House and life in general, and I have to say that, at all times, I enjoyed Mary Beth's company. I like her as a colleague; I admired her determination and her ability.

I'll miss her very very much and I'm pleased on behalf of the members of the opposition to speak in support of the motion of condolence and to extend our deepest and most heartfelt sympathies to her family and her friends. Thank you. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Minister of Community Services. HON. M. SMITH: Mr. Speaker, I too rise in my place to pay tribute to a very dear friend, a colleague, a seat mate in the House and in the Cabinet, a very special and spirited woman.

I first met Mary Beth socially over 10 years ago and was struck then with her vitality and her spirit, her warmth and her sparkling, slightly wry sense of humour. I later worked with her on a provincial committee in the Manitoba Teachers' Society. She chaired that committee with an efficiency and a commitment that kept us all focused on the work at hand, while at the same time punctuating the meeting with her witty comments, her hearty laughter, so that we always ended the meeting, not only with our work done, but with that lightheaded feeling of having had a great time doing it.

I next worked closely with Mary Beth in the period leading up to the 1981 election. We helped one another with nomination strategies. We were both into contested races. We shared a concern to increase the representation of women in this House, in the Provincial Legislature, our purpose being to achieve for all women the justice that has been described so eloquently by the Member for Wolseley. It was during the election campaign that followed in the fall that Mary Beth first discovered she had cancer and underwent surgery. More about that later.

With a third colleague we travelled throughout the province during the spring and summer, hearing presentations from Manitobans on the economic plight of the family. As so often happens on such task forces, the members share not only common perceptions of problems, possible solutions, but they become close personal friends as well and that certainly happened to us.

It was at that time that I learned more about Mary Beth's personal history, her growing up in Milwaukee; her marriage; the birth of her three children, even closer together in age than my own four; her subsequent stretch as a single-parent mother, where she drew great strength and support from her own parents. She lost her father just last year and leaves to mourn her death, her mother, Sally, who, in spite of her own health problems, has been helping the family here in Winnipeg through these last few weeks.

The sympathy and affection of all of us is extended at this time to Sally; to her husband, Marty; to her 683 children, Tony, Betsy and Michael, and grandson, Alexander; and to Marty's sons, Benjamin and Jonathan, our heartfelt sympathy. May you take some solace from the knowledge of how deeply those of us who worked with Mary Beth loved her and respected her. A final word about Mary Beth as a colleague in the House and in Cabinet.

Mary Beth was undergoing chemotherapy throughout her sojourn in the House and later in Cabinet, yet I never heard her, until the past few months, ever complain about the workload or ttie intense debate that, as necessity, goes on in Cabinet and caucus. She carried her load; she accomplished much; she inspired and challenged all of us. We shall not forget her. Her spirit will live on. I know I shall carry her voice, her commitment, and her wonderful laughter with me throughout my life. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Kirkfield Park. MRS. G.

HAMMOND: I, too, wish to add my condolences to Mary Beth Dolin's family, her husband and her children. Hanging in my office is a poster entitled, "The Significant Seven." It's a poster of the seven women who were elected to the Manitoba legislature in 1981. Mary Beth Dolin was a very significant member of this House. She was a fighter for her caucus, her party, and a strong advocate for women. She proved her advocacy by action. · As Minister of Labour she hired a woman as her Deputy Minister, one of only two in the Manitoba legislature. Mary Beth achieved goals few women in this province have attained.

She will be missed, but her fight for women's issues will go on. There are six of us left and we will keep up the fight. I am pleased today to wear the yellow rose to honour Mary Beth Dolin. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Rupertsland. MR. E. HARPER: I would like to offer my sincere condolences. I would also like to extend on behalf of my constituents and the Aboriginal people of Manitoba the sympathy and grievance to the family.

Just a couple of weeks ago at the Aboriginal Women's Conference here in Winnipeg, I was approached by one of my women constituents from Garden Hill Reserve enquiring about the health and the status of Mary Beth. At that time I explained to her she was receiving treatments for cancer. Mary Beth Dolin loved the North. She also taught at Garden Hill Indian Reserve School. This was at Island Lake, Manitoba, where I grew up. Mary Beth Dolin's work and commitment to enhance the quality of life for many Manitobans, especially women, have made us walk tall and with each step taller. Mary Beth Dolin has left us.

She has left her imprints, a direction we should follow. We will all miss her dearly. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Elmwood. MR. R. DOERN: Mr. Speaker, my remarks are brief and mainly addressed to her children. I think, like

Tuesday, 9 April, 1985 everyone else, I was impressed with this bright, intelligent, likeable and respected woman. I think that if one were to focus upon the important characteristics of her personali ty, it would be that she was likeable and respected. Intelligence comes to many, but to be well liked and well thought of, I think, is a rarer thing. Mr. Speaker, I met Mary Beth Dolin eight or ten years ago as a member of the Legislature when she was a Member of the MTS executive. I was immediately impressed with her vitality and her charm. I sat with her in caucus and across the Chamber.

It was a pleasure to know her. Mr. Speaker, her charm and vitality will live on in her children. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Minister of Labour. HON. A. MACKLING: Mr. Speaker, it gives me great honour to address a few words of appreciation to our departed colleague. As members know, she was Minister of Labour. I want to say that in my brief term of office as Minister, I have come to know through staff, my deputy minister, assistant deputy minister, directors of the department, how sincerely our late colleague was appreciated for her dedication, for her sincerity.

I believe that that appreciation is reflected in all the workers of Manitoba. I also came to know, Mr. Speaker, that the sincerity of her convictions and her determination to do right was respected by people in business as well. Mary Beth was a fighter for social justice. She fought hard without ranc or, without malice. Hers was a deeply held conviction that we can and must strive to make life on earth better, fuller and fairer for all. Mr. Speaker, Mary Beth was one of the women who has given me a fuller understanding, appreciation, and acceptance of the issues with whic h women are particularly concerned. Mr.

Speaker, I don't think I could do better but to quote from Mary Beth's statement of January 7, in which she said, and I quote: "My entire life has been a series of challenges and struggles. But I am not unique. We all struggle. Life is a series of struggles. We try to leave the world a little better for ourselves, our families, our friends and our neighbours. For the most part, this is the reason for public service and for the much maligned profession of politics.

Particularly since the Nixon era in the United States, the public - and often the press - have viewed politics as a dirty game played by tawdry people for personal power, influence and gain. This is not only wrong, it demeans the best of us who wish to make personal sacrifices for the greater good. Politicians of all political stripes, with the odd unusual exception, do not sacrifice their privacy, their personal relationships, their professions and their personal capital for ignoble motives.

They do it because they believe that by the judicious use of power, conferred upon them by the electorate in a free society, they can make the decisions: decisions which will establish an appropriate balance between competing interests; decisions which will benefit the majority, protect the minority and allow each individual to play his and her maximum role in weaving our social fabric. " Those are words, Mr. Speaker, which I think we can all embrace. 684 Mr.

Speaker, we have lost a fighter for social justice, one who fought the good fight, who set an example of courage and determination that is an example for us all. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for St. Norbert. MR. G. MERCIER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to make a few brief comments on the motion before the House. Mr. Speaker, I do so because I had the privilege of serving as the Urban Affairs critic and the Labour critic while Mary Beth Dolin held those posts in Cabinet. Mr.

Speaker, what I will remember about her most is that while we often disagreed strenuously on a number of issues, after the debate was over, she was a person who was friendly, affable, and very personable, a person with whom you could joke about the debate that had taken place, kid each other, and, Mr. Speaker, I think set an example for all of us in the House as a person who could separate the debate from the kind of personal relationships that should exist between members on both sides of the House. She had a real joy for living, I believe, Mr.

Speaker, and it is tragic that she's been taken away from us in the prime of her life and her career. My sympathies sincerely go to her family and to her friends. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Concordia. MR. P. FOX: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to associate myself with the expressions of condolences to Mary Beth's family, to the children, and to her husband Marty. Having represented the constituency of Kildonan for some 15 years, I felt it was incumbent upon me, even though I no longer represent Kildonan and it's now on the other side of the river, to say a few words about our colleague.

It has indeed been my honour and privilege to have known someone as dedicated as Mary Beth. In my opinion, Mr. Speaker, there are many dedicated people, but few as dedicated as Mary Beth has been. In spite of all her trials and tribulations with her health, she was a hard worker, completely involved and immersed in her work. She served her community, her constituency and her profession in an exemplary fashion. I think we could all take a lesson from that. Mr. Speaker, it's indeed my honour and sincere wish to offer my sincere condolences tp the family, and I thank you for having the pleasure to say this. MR.

SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Pembina. MR. D. ORCHARD: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to take this opportunity to offer my condolences to the children, to the husband, to the family of Mary Beth Dolin. I have not known Mary Beth as long as a number of the speakers h<-cre today. My first oppor,.inity to meet her was after the election when she spent first Session occupying a seat in the backbench prior to being elevated to Cabinet. It was during that time and at a social event that all members of the Chamber

Tuesday, 9 April, 1985 have attended over the past few years that I came to have a number of discussions with Mary Beth Dolin and although I can say unequivocally that we may not have agreed philosophically on a number of issues, that the discussion and the debate we would have one on-one in some of priva te dis cussions was representative of the strong will, the strong principle and the strong feelings she held on the topics we discussed.

On her elevation to Cabinet, she neither asked for nor received any quarter in the debate and that, I believe, was the true nature of Mary Beth Dolin, that she would advance only what she believed in and would see that project, that process, that idea pursued to its logical conclusion. For that, I have very fond memories. I want to offer once again my condolences to her children, to her husband, to her family and to her many friends on her untimely death. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Minister of Education. HON. M. HEMPHILL: Mr.

Speaker, I am also honoured to rise and pay tribute to what we all know was a very gutsy lady called Mary Beth Dolin, and I do that in several ways, Mr. Speaker.

I do it as a nurse and I do it as a woman and as a colleague, and I suppose, to talk first about being a nurse and having nursed for 14 years and having helped many people through very difficult, very serious illness, I can only say that I don't believe I have ever seen anybody in all that time ever go through such a difficult illness with such courage, dignity, grace, hope and humour, because it didn't matter what either the illness threw at her - and the illness is a difficult one that throws many difficult things at people - and it didn't matter what the treatment threw at her, because the treatment is a very difficult treatment to take, she never lost any of those things at any time that I saw her, and I last saw her on Friday.

She still had hope; she still had the spirit; she still had the courage and she still had the dignity and the grace. The one thing that she did for all of us - and there were many things that have been mentioned here today - but one of the things that she did is that she decided to stand up publicly and speak out very openly about a very difficult personal struggle that she was facing and dealing with and talk to us about how she was dealing with it. I suppose, as politicians, we're known for possibly saying more words or using more words to say less than any other people in society.

I don't happen to think that's true, but it's part of our reputation. I think that with Mary Beth, that her commitment to serving the public and to public office was so high that when she started to speak publicly about the illness, she did two things. She gave us the courage to be a little more open about things that are the real issues and that are the real problems and not just talk about superficial things, but to really be willing to stand up.

As a result of that, I was able to talk in some of my speeches to some of our young people about real struggles in life and how you get through them and how we all face them, in a way that I don't think I'd have been able to do if I hadn't seen Mary Beth speaking so openly about her struggle.

The other thing that she did for us is that she raised the public image and the public feeling about public 685 service and about the people who serve in it, because when she left she not only talked about the job, but she talked about how much it meant to her to be able to serve in this way and how it was, in her words and in my thoughts has always been, the most honourable of professions and that, in serving, the people that serve really do have a real commitment and a caring and that their intention is to serve their fellow man and woman.

She believed that and when she said it when she resigned, people across this country had an increased, I think, respect for Mary Beth and for representative public service and for people that serve in public office. So she did something for us that we should maintain because we should remember that it is a high calling and it is an honourable profession and she showed us that.

She also was with me two years ago and we announced the opening and, symboli cally, the opening was today, of a beautiful new facility at Red River Community College that is going to put us in the forefront, I think, in this country in automotive and manufacturing training. She would have loved to be there and I think she was there in spirit. One of her fights was to improve accessibility for women, for disadvantaged people and for all those to give them opportunities to learn and grow and for training and education. That was the fight that she never lost.

She was an ambitious woman, because you don't get here unless you've taken many steps and you have that ambition; but her ambition was not just for herself. It was to say that we that are here are representing all of those that will come behind us and all of those who can't be here today. When we ran in our nominations - and one of my colleagues made reference to it - a number of women decided to come out of the back room, about five or six or seven of us at the same time and to go on the front lines and those were tough battles. It's one of Mary Beth's tough battles and we were in that together.

I guess what we need to say is that every woman that is here, as well as Mary Beth, only got here because of the hundreds and hundreds of steps and difficult battles that they fought along the way and because of the support of other women and families and friends that held you up and helped you get there. If I could think of two words to describe her, in ending my tribute to Mary Beth, I would say, courage and grace. She's an example for all of us when we carry on our own personal struggles and the efforts in our jobs, that we carry them out with such dignity, such courage and such grace. MR.

SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for St. Johns. MR. D. MALINOWSKI: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to also express my deepest words of sympathy to Mary Beth Dolin's family, especially her husband and children, in addition to those of our Premier and my colleagues on both sides of this Chamber. Knowing her for many years, especially in the last four years, it happens that I am living in Kildonan constituency which she was representing. It was a great honour for me to have such a dedicated and devoted representative in the Legislature. Mr. Speaker, I was

Tuesday, 9 April, 1985 pleased to have had the late Mary Beth Dolin as my family's MLA and mine. Her background and her interest in the field of education proved her to be a conscientious and responsible individual. She was a teacher to both of my children, not only in the field of education, but also as a Minister of Labour and Manpower , Minister responsible for the Civil Service Commission and Minister responsible for the Status of Women, positions which she represented very well.

I recall a story from history when a king was passing by a certain village and he noticed that an elderly man was planting trees; and he ordered that elderly man to be brought to him and asked him, how old are you. And he looked at him and said, Your Majesty, I finished 105 years. So he looked at him and said, do you believe that you will use those fruits from those trees which you are planting now? The elderly gentleman just looked around and said, Your Majesty, can't you see these trees around here, I didn't plant them, but I ate the fruits of them but somebody else did it, so I am sort of a continuation.

That was her philosophy. Being sick, she knew that that statute, that law that she's putting through, probably she'll be unable to use it, but with her dedication, with her belief, she knew that she's not doing it for herself, she's doing it for future generations. So, Mr. Speaker, it was an honour to have had Mary Beth Dolin and her contributions to the government, to our society, and to the people not only in Manitoba, but I believe that many other provinces will take an example from her dedication. I must say we will miss her all very much and in our prayers, we'll remember her. Mr.

Speaker allowed me to dedicate to her a verse from the Old Testament, well-known, Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in fields of green grass and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water. He gives me new strength; he guides me in the right paths, as he has promised. Even if I go through the deepest darkness, I will not be afraid or lured, for You are with me, Your shepherd's rod and staff protect me. " Dear Mary Beth Dolin, let your body and your soul rest in peace. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Minister of Culture. HON. E.

KOSTYRA: I, too, rise to support the resolution, Mr. Speaker, and to join in at this time of sorrow and honour of our colleage, Mary Beth Dolin. Much has been said about Mary Beth's unending commitment to the needs of working people and women in the province. I, as a member of the government caucus and Executive Council, and particularly as Minister of Industry, worked very closely with Mary Beth Dolin on many of the issues of major concern to her, as Minister of Labour and as Minister responsible for the Status of Women, and much has been said of her accomplishments in that area by other of my colleagues.

I would like for a moment to talk about her constituency and how she represented that part of the City of Winnipeg.

Mary Beth Dolin and I shared a common boundary, the CPR Selkirk subdivision tracks was the common boundary between her constituency and mine, an area of the city known as the West Kildonan area. 686 As was mentioned earlier, Mary Beth Dolin was a teacher and a vice-principal in the Seven Oaks School Divisio n and taught and was responsible for the education of children, both in her constituency and mine and was well liked and well respected by children, parents and her colleagues in the teaching profession.

She also represented well the r.ieeds of the teachers in that school division, as the representative of the Manitoba Teachers' Society for the Seven Oaks School Division. She also did work very hard on behalf of her constituency, the constituency of Kildonan, which is a newer part of the North End of Winnipeg, an area of Winnipeg, an area of our province that has been a traditional place for new immigrants to this province to settle and her riding - I think more than most other ridings in this province - is really a riding that represents the multicultural mosaic, the multicultural nature of our province.

Her riding has a great number of people who immigrated some time ago, who are second, third generation of immigrants to Manitoba, the English, German, Ukrainian, early Jewish settlers.

But her riding also has many of the most recent immigrants to Manitoba, people from the countries of the Philippines, Portugal, the East Asian countries, Italy, the Caribbean countries, to name a few, and she understood the needs of that rather diverse group of constituents and worked hard as a MLA and as Minister of Labour and as Minister responsible for the Status of Women to represent the needs of those people in her constituency.

Mary Beth Dolin herself said that one of the roles of people who have the privilege of representing people in Legislatures or in other levels of elected office have a commitment to make this world a better place in which to live, a better place from that which one entered. I think in the case of Mary Beth Dolin, particularly for her constituents, for working people in this province, for women, the elderly, and for her family, she has left this world a much better place in which to live. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Thompson. MR. S.

ASHTON: I, too, would like to express my condolences to the family, also to the many people that she touched throughout her life, and certainly there were many. I had the opportunity to work very closely with Mary Beth Dolin as her Legislative Assistant for nearly two years. During that period I was very privileged to come to know Mary Beth as a person. Lwas always struck by her incredible spirit, her wit, her incredible joy of life. I was always struck by her strong views on social issues, on the rights of working people, the rights of women.

I think it's a tribute to her unique personality and her unique outlook on life that she was able to accomplish so much in such a short political career. As a northern MLA, I think I would like to hif11h11.oht one particular item of the unique outlook of Mary and that was her love of the North. Perhaps the best way of doing that would be just to indicate her own words. She said , "Some thin gs come from life experience. Howard Pawley listens to me when I tell him I love the North. I think I know and I understand

Tuesday, 9 April, 1985 the North. Living the life of a northerner makes the North your own. " And that was a deep-felt commitment of hers that came from her life experience of living in Island Lake in Northern Manitoba, and one which she certainly carried to her political career later. If there was one phrase I would like to use to describe her political career from having had the opportunity to serve with her, I think I would describe it and her, as an individual, as someone who fought the good fight. I think that's a political adage that she would have been proud to accept, for certainly she fought.

She had many successes, but in the true spirit of fighting the good fight, even when she was frustrated by not being able to implement all the changes she would like to have seen in the many areas that she was committed to, she recognized the importance of the ongoing struggle to improve human existence. Mr. Speaker, I think perhaps even more importantly, she fought the good fight, not just as a politician but in her personal life as well. When she became aware that she had cancer, she met that challenge, that struggle head on.

When recently she found that she was again faced with that challenge, I think the only words to describe her approach to that challenge was that she approached it with tremendous courage and determination. She knew how difficult was the challenge she was faced with. She knew that the odds were against her, but still she fought the good fight. I'd hope when we look at her life, short as it was, that we would recognize that tremendous spirit and not view her death today, her passing, as a defeat because I don't think she would have liked us to view it in that way. She fought the good fight politically.

She fought the good fight personally. I would just like to say, having known her, thanks, Mary Beth, for fighting the good fight. We're going to miss you. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Minister of Energy and Mines. HON. W. PARASIUK: Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a good friend, a strong colleague, and a person who made a tremendous contribution to her chosen country, to her chosen province.

The best description of Mary Beth Dolin, in my estimation, is contained in the statement she made to the public when she resigned in January, and I certainly hope that in the next few days all of us find a quiet time and take a few minutes to read this. If I might, Mr. Speaker, without going through it all, I would like to ask that the statement which I can have given to Hansard be, in fact, read into the record as part of my statement, because I do think it personifies her better than any of our statements could. At a mature age, Mary Beth chose to come to this country, and how lucky we were.

She chose to go up North. Again, not the easy way. But, that was not her way to choose the easy way throughout her life. She chose to go and work in a remote and isolated community as a teacher. She came to Winnipeg and worked here, decided to run for office because she cared very passionately about greater equality of the human condition, especially in relation to women. Mary 687 Beth was a determined person. She had a strong, strong will. That will sustained her through difficult times in her past.

She did have difficult times because she did say that her life has been a series of challenges and struggles, but she didn't see that as unique and she didn't see that as exceptional. In fact, that will would sustain any hurdle that came in her path. It was especially necessary when she was striking off in a new path as a politician, because, at that time, she was stricken with what can be a very terrifying disease, namely, cancer.

Here she was, she had just experienced the joy of win nin g a nomination and she was facing the exhilaration of running for political office for the first time, and that is a very exhilarating experience. All of us who have run for political office know that one cannot sustain that marathon unless that adrenalin is pumping very hard. Yet, at that time, she was jolted by this disease, but she persevered through that marathon and she won that election.

She served in this Legislature; she served as a legislative assistant; she served as a Labour Minister, as an Urban Affairs Minister, and what I think was her love, Minister responsible for the Status of Women. All the while, while she was serving in a full capacity, she was undergoing treatment: treatment which can be physically trying; treatment which can be emotionally trying with its ups and downs. Yet, through this, with her spirit, with her courage, she saw life as a set of exciting opportunities. She wanted to bring about greater equality for people - especially for women.

I think she's done that in a major way with respect to pension reform, with respect to labour legislation, with respect to the work on women's issues generally. I think we, in this Legislature and in this province, celebrate with thanks for her contribution of those areas. At the same time, while we're all saying nice things about her, one should probably bring a touch of the other side of the coin in. Frankly, in the early days of my acquaintance with her, and even from time to time latterly, she could get under my skin.

She could be very picky about many of the subconscious things that men do or say regarding women. You know us men, we hate being corrected, even when we're wrong. I must say that she succeeded in at least partly raising my consciousness and the consciousness of many others in this House regarding the way in which one should act and talk about other people in this world. So, I'll miss that, just as I will miss her spirit and her vitality, but I certainly will remember what she taught me and what she stood for.

I obviously shared some fears, some uncertainty, a type of companionship, bonded by duress over the last year and a third, but throughout that period, she provided me with a great deal of comfort and inspired me because of her continued desire for public service. As she said in her statement and others have commented, she did want to leave the world a better place than she found it. She certainly put all else aside to try and accomplish that.

Although she faced the very difficult and, in some senses, humbling decision in having to give up public service in January to try and conserve all of her energy for the fight that she knew she was desperately waging, she did so with the spirit that one had to try and not just live for oneself but to live in order to care for others.

Tuesday, 9 April, 1985 I saw Mary Beth three days ago. She was in serious physical condition at that time. She understood that she was in serious physical condition at that time, but her spirit was very strong and her compassion was awesome. She spent most of her time talking about other people, about their cares or concerns; what might be done to do with this person or that person, and she had a very deep concern for people within her constituency. She had a very deep concern for what might be done in the future in an ongoing evolutionary way with respect to women's issues.

She had this will not to feel sorry for herself and not to dwell on herself, but indeed, to look at what might be done for others. So through all her struggles and challenges. her spirit prevailed. Although she lost that battle that she talked about in January to remain in the race, her spirit and ideals will indeed prevail. Thank you. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Mini s•er for the Environment. HON. G. LECUYER: Merci, M. le president. Je voudrais a mon tour ajouter quelques mots a ceux de mes collegues a la douce memoire de notre amie, notre collegue, Mary Beth Dolin, depute de Kildonan.

Comme nous tous, ce fut un choc d'apprendre ce depart si soudain et je voudrais dire a tous les membres de sa famille que nous l'aimions bien et que nous sommes profondement attristes de son depart. J'ai connu Mary Beth, ii y a 7 ou 8 ans, peut-etre un peu moins deja, lorsqu'elle etait sur l'executif de la Manitoba Teachers' Society et que je travaillais au ministere de !'Education alors que nous avions collabore a un meme comite sur l'enseignement en franc;:ais.

Dans cette meme veine, j'ai pu beneficier de son encouragement a maintes reprises lors de la deuxieme session de noire mandat lorsque nous discutions chaudement parfois dans des debats envenimes cette question de I'

article 23. Mary Beth Dolin, tu es une femme de grand courage, une femme d'un grand coeur et beaucoup ont pu en beneficier. Une famille nombreuse car elle etait non seulement epouse, mere et meme aussi grand-mere. Elle etait aussi une femme engagee, engagee dans tout ce qu'elle a entrepris. Et elle a entrepris beaucoup. Comme ministre, les dossiers dont elle etait responsable, elle les a poursuivis avec ce meme engagement total pour faire avancer justement le statut de la femme. les conditions de travail pour travailleurs ici au Manitoba et dans quantile d'autres domaines.

Ceux qui l'ont connue et qui ont pu travailler avec elle, comme nous avons tous pu le faire ici, sommes d'autant meilleurs aujourd'hui pour autant. Et ce voeu qu'elle exprimait lorsqu'elle demissionnait de son poste de ministre en janvier demontre sa maturite, son courage, sa dignite. Et elle a etabli pour nous, je crois, un exemple que nous pouvons tous poursuivre et, en ce faisant, nous contribuons done a faire cheminer l'ideal dont elle etait rempli. Et je temoigne done a sa famille nos condoleances et nos sentiments les plus profonds.

Et je leur dis done que nous partageons leur chagrin aujourd'hui, en ce jour, et que nous ferons tout dans noire possible pour continuer les oeuvres et les travaux qui lui tenaient a coeur. 688 (Translation will appear in Vol. 24, 2:00 p.m., 10 April, 1985) MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Burrows. MR. C. SANTOS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to join my colleagues in e�pressing my feelings about this event that we have witnessed. We do not often appreciate the value of persons who are with us until the time comes that we've lost them forever.

We often sometimes take for granted people who are close to us in our lives and who will suffer for us and do not miss them until they have finally departed forever. But that, Mr. Speaker, is not an unnatural thing. It as natural as our own birth. In fact we can say that the moment we are born we begin to die, because every day of our life is a step towards our ultimate end. It is as certain as we are born that we shall die. The only thing that is uncertain is the time when it shall come. Our life is not only short, it is also full of miseries and happiness, as well as challenges.

There are moments of triumphs and moments of defeat. Sometimes we strive for those things that we thought are important in life and yet we fail to understand that we are like grass and we are like flowers of grass. So soon we will come; so soon we'll go away. Riches have wings, and grandeur and power is but a dream. La mort nous acquitte de toutes nos obligations. It is death that relieves us from our many obligations. Sometimes we long for that deep rest; we lay aside all our problems, our worries, our pains, our anxieties, our troubles. We welcome the event.

Good people do not feel death; good people are not afraid to die. In fact, good people dedicate their lives so that they may serve others because that is the meaning of life for them. Mary Beth is one of those. There is no greater love than that a person lay down his or her life for that of his or her friend. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Minister of Health. HON. L. DESJARDINS: Mr. Speaker, I've known Mary Beth for barely five years.

I met her a few months before the election of 1981, and the members from this side of the House know that Mary Beth and I had some pretty heated arguments and some strong disagreements. Whe never I think ol Mary Beth, there's always two words, and whenever somebody mentions the name of Mary Beth there's two words that .come to my mind - impression and fight. There is no doubt, in these arguments, I was pretty well disarmed because it was obvious that she was certainly as sincere as I was in my beliefs. Fight - because she took advantage of everything.

She felt that she was fighting terrific odds and if the break came her way, she didn't apologize, she took everything that could help her in her fight. Impressed - because she was dedicated. She was sure that she was right and nothing was going to get in her way. She certainly taught me a lesson in that she was much more graceful than I was. After an argument you

Tuesday, 9 April, 1985 couldn't stay mad at her, because she'd disarm you with a smile. She was always friendly and ii was obvious that she didn't carry a grudge. I remember the day that she had received a box of homemade candies from her mother, sent from the States, and she passed it around and, of course, as usual when there's food around, I told her how good that candy was, but I let her know that I certainly would like another piece and so on.

Since then, whenever she received a box from her mother, she always put a piece aside and she'd send it to me although my office wasn't in the building, always with a joke or some kind of a poem of some kind, but always in a friendly way. Impressed mostly the way she fought this most crippling and most cruel of all diseases. I never heard her, in all the time that I sat with her and we discussed different things, talk about her sickness or how bad she felt. She once in a while mentioned that she'd been at St.

Boniface Hospital for treatment and she'd met somebody that talked about me and so on, but that was just a normal thing that was happening. The only time she really talked about her disease is when she resigned from the Cabinet, and there again - I don't know exactly how to explain the way I felt at the time - but there was no false modesty, there was no feeling of a complex. She said it the way it was. I think that probably there are not too many of us who thought like she did, that she would come back, but I'm sure she was convinced that she would be back.

I also would like to join the members from both sides of the House to offer condolences to her family and to assure them, and give them these words of encouragement - her children, her husband, her mother - that the members of this House and the people of Manitoba are not about to forget Mary Beth Dolin. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Attorney-General. HON. R. PENNER: Mr. Speaker, my remarks will be brief. My colleagues on both sides of the House have spoken with such feeling and eloquence that there's very little I can add other than a personal touch.

As one goes through this life, particularly I suppose, if you are involved in public life, you meet many, many people who touch you in one way or another, instruct you, set an example, but one meets very few people who inspire. Mary Beth Dolin was one of those very few people who inspired and she inspired because she was, in the best sense of that word, a visionary.

In the words of the song, "She had a glowing dream of how fair this world can seem, when each person shall live his life secure and free." And she never pursued that dream with anything less than dedication and honesty and openness of the kind that one meets all too rarely, whether in the world of politics or in the world at large. I feel that in a very deep way, I've been fortunate enough to have met such a person, to have been inspired by her, and I hope to have learned from her.

I do then add my deep sympathies for her family, for Marty, the boys, and for all of those who have lost so much in the loss of Mary Beth Dolin. Thank you. 689 MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for lnkster. MR. D. SCOTT: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to add my condolences to Mary Beth's family, to her mother who has gone through a very difficult number of years; to her husband, Marty, who worked alongside Mary Beth in the development of her political career and as well alongside her in their family; to her children, both children that she herself gave birth to and those whom she took in as if her own, upon both marriage to Marty and as well at the passing of his previous wife, the mother of his children.

For those boys who had, just about two years ago, lost their mother through cancer as well and had so openly been welcomed by Mary Beth into their household today, this has been a most trying time.

Mary Beth gave me a great deal of leadership when I began in the political process, first in the old Seven Oaks Constituency Association, and then setting the example when she went off to run in Kildonan constituency, by her covering most of the constituency well before the election was called, with the strength and determination she showed during the campaign when she was aware that she had cancer; and that even in a time and under medical treatment, that her campaign workers knew that she was still very much there and that she wanted to win more than ever.

Upon being elected to office, Mary Beth showed each and every one of us the strength and determination a person has and can have to improve the lot of humankind. She was, to say the very least, courageous. She was most determined to succeed in bettering the lot of the average person in Manitoba. She fought battles extremely toughly. She had gone through many personal battles previously in wrangling to develop positions that she felt would better the lot of all Manitobans. She was also one of the wittiest persons in our caucus.

There was seldom a meeting that Mary Beth did not break up at one point or another with a comment. One was most happy to hear the comments if she was on your side of the debate and if she was on the opposing side of the debate, sometimes her comments were not necessarily quite as appreciated, but welcome, nonetheless.

One of the wonderful parts, be it with members of the Legislature or in her public dealings, be it with the City of Winnipeg, with Labour unions, with the civil servants, with the Status of Women and with businesses in Manitoba, she could also follow up immediately afterwards with a friendly chat, for her wit was made without malice, but with determination to improve the people whom she felt needed help, to improve the lot of Manitobans. She was greatly honoured at being an elected member of this Legislature, a member chosen by her constituents to represent them in this Legislature.

She felt public life was a life of honour, a life of respect. She wanted, as was mentioned so often before, to improve the lot of Manitobans. She had lived a life of many contrasts; as a young woman growing up in not exactly an affluent family, but not a poor family; of having been deserted as a young mother; of having struck out on her own to move to Manitoba; to move into a small reserve in a northern

Tuesday, 9 April, 1985 community, Island Lake; to work with the people in that community to better the education and their chances for success in our society; and then finally to be elected as a leader in society, a leader not just of women but of all members of society, in shaping and forming a better society. Mr. Speaker, in closing I certainly owe a great debt to Mary Beth. I think each and every one of us in this Chamber does, for she has enlightened this Chamber in the past three and a half years of her service.

She earned great respect in the public service and from the public she dealt with, be it within the labour circles, be it within business, or on urban issues. We can all only wish to achieve heights that she had achieved. Finally, to her family, we once again express our most sincere condolences. I wish them well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. MR. SPEAKER: Would members please rise for a moment of silence to show their support for the motion. (A moment of silence was observed) MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Government House Leader. HON. A. ANSTETT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr.

Speaker, I beg to move, seconded by the Opposition House Leader, that the House do now adjourn and as a tribute to the memory . MR. SPEAKER: Order please. Before the honourable member puts his motion, I wonder if I might refer to - a member had requested that a certain document be read into Hansard. It is a long-standing principle that Hansard only contain those words which are spoken within this House. I would not like to see any sort of precedent made that any document be simply printed in Hansard because that member requests it.

I notice Beauchesne does refer to the matter in saying that the House may give its consent to have documents or exchanges of letters printed as a formal Appendix to Hansard for the use and information of members. MR. H. ENNS: Mr. Speaker, if it's of any assistance, by leave, it certainly could be done. MR. SPEAKER: If the House wishes to give its consent that can be arranged. The Honourable Government House Leader. HON. A. ANSTETT: Mr. Speak er, I anticipated a possible concern about that request and I had already passed a note to the Clerk suggesting that it could be done as an Appendix.

I thought that he might consult with you, and I would consult with the Opposition House Leader after the adjournment. I recognize your concern. I believe there would be agreement, rather than setting a precedent, have it printed as an Appendix as we do with our committee transcripts if that's agreed. MR. SPEAKER: It should be done with the consent of the House. HON. A. ANSTETT: I believe we have that. 690 MR. SPEAKER: As long as we have consent, it can possibly be done. (Agreed) Does the Honourable Minister wish to move his motion? The Honourable Government House Leader. HON. A. ANSTETT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speak er, I beg to move, seconded by the Opposition House Leader, that this House do now adjourn, and as a tribute to the memory of Ms. Mary Elizabeth Dolin, the late Honourable Member for the Constituency of Kildonan, this House do stand adjourned until this evening at 8:00 p.m. MOTION presented and car ried and the House adjourned and will stand adjourned until this evening at 8:00 p.m. APPENDIX By Leave of the House A Public Statement by The Hon. Mary Beth Dolin January 7, 1985 I have cancer. I have known I had cancer since October 19 81 .

Terry Fox, Steve Fonyo, myself and millions of others are running in the cancer marathon. Many win, some lose, but the majority of us just struggle to remain in the race. We all carry burdens: family responsibilities, financial problems, and often the decreasing usefulness of our bodies. We must make choices to remain in the race. We try to lighten the load to continue to strive for the goal. The goal is cure. The reality is another day, another month, another year. I have now reached the point where I must make a choice. My entire life has been a series of challenges and struggles. But I am not unique.

We all struggle. Life is a series of struggles. We try to leave the world a little better; for ourselves, our families, our friends and our neighbors. For the most part, this is the reason for public service and for the much maligned profession of politics. Particularly since the Nixon era in the United States, the public - and often the press - have viewed politics as a dirty game played by tawdry people for personal power, influence and gain. This is not only wrong, it demeans the best of us who wish to make personal sacrifices for the greater good.

Politicians of all political stripes, with the odd unusual exception, do not sacrifice their privacy, their personal relationships, their professions and their personal capital from ignoble motives. They do it because they believe that by the judicious use of power, conferred upon them by the electorate in a free society, they can make the decisions: decisions which will establish an appropriate balance between competing interests; decisions which will benefit the majority, protect the minority and allow each individual to play his or her maximum role in weaving our social fabric.

In my own case I have progressed from my training and work as a teacher, school administrator, Member of the Legislature, to Cabinet Minister - each role

Tuesday, 9 April, 1985 allowing me a greater potential for service to the society in which I live. I have been daughter, sister, mother, wife and friend, and I have learned from my education and experience. I have tried to put all of this experience and education to the best possible use in my most recent and most demanding role as Minister of the Crown for the Province of Manitoba. I am thankful to Premier Pawley for having had the faith to entrust me with these respons ibilities, and am gratified by his assurance that a place awaits me around that table whenever I feel able to rejoin them.

In the meantime, I want to say that I am proud of my belief in socialism, of my party - the New Democrats - and of this government - its achievements, its goals, and its unrelenting hope for the future in a world that seems to be circling its wagons against a fear of the unknown. I am proud of the

part I have had to play, and the assistance I have been able to give in accomplishing pension reform that is quickly becoming the standard in Canada, sensible progressive labour legislation, fuller participation of women, including legislated insistence on fair treatment as members of society; an Affirmative Action Program that is "built-in", not a veneer over our Civil Service; assistance, too numerous to mention, 691 to groups wishing to better the lives of those living and working in our capital city's core area; a review of the act that establishes and governs Winnipeg; and the foundation of plans toward equal pay for work of equal value in our province.

It is this last, unfinished work, that probably saddens me the most - but, as with all of the other advances, there are wonderful, dedicated people who have been working with me, and who I know will carry this dream to its fulfillment. I shall continue to work with my colleagues, my friends, and my constituents in all these areas, but I must, temporarily I hope, lessen my present load, and relinquish my mini sterial resp onsibilities to other colleagues. When these people are named by the Premier, I will do my utmost to ensure a smooth transition of respons ibilities.

I shall remain an active member of caucus and continue to serve my constituents and neighbors as long as they wish me to do so. I hope to be more available to them now that I will have a little more time. It may be a short step back, but it is a long road ahead. Thank you all for helping me along the way.

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	32-4-22
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	32nd 4th hansardpdf 22.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	af9652b907136da851e5e94d572797b85253fa86

Source file is stored in the law ingest library (pdf).