Manitoba Hansard — Sitting 44 (37th Legislature, 1st Session)

37-1-44

Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

First Session -Thirty-Seventh Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable George Hickes Speaker Vol. L No. 44 - 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 13, 2000 ISSN 0542-5492

Member AGLUGUB, Cris ALLAN, Nancy ASHTON, Steve, lion. ASPER, Linda BARREn·, Becky, lion. CALDWELL, Drew, lion. CERILLI, Marianne CIIOMIAK, Dave, lion. CUMMINGS, Glen DACQUA Y, Louise DERKACII, Leonard DEWAR, Gregory DOER, Gary, lion. DRIEDGER, Myrna DYCK, Peter ENNS, Harry FAURSCIIOU, David FILMON, Gary FRIESEN, Jean, Hon. GERRARD, Jon, lion. GILLESI-IAMMER, Harold IIELWER, Edward IIICKES, George JENNISSEN, Gerard KORZENIOWSKI, Bonnie LATHLIN, Oscar, lion. LAURENDEAU, Marcel LEMIEUX, Ron, Hon. LOEWEN, John MACKINTOSH, Gord, Hon. MAGUIRE, Larry MALOWA Y, Jim MARTINDALE, Doug McGIFFORD, Diane, lion.

MIIIYCHUK, MaryAnn, lion. MITCIIELSON, Bonnie NEVAKSHONOFF, Tom PENNER, Jack PENNER, Jim PITlJRA. Frank PRAZNIK, Darren REID, Daryl REIMER. Jack ROBINSON, Eric, lion. ROCAN, Denis RONDEAU, Jim SALE, Tim, Hon. SANTOS, Conrad SCIIELL.ENBERG.IIarry SCIIUI.ER, Ron SELINGER, Greg, lion. SMITII, Joy SMITH, Scott STEFANSON, Eric STRIJTIIERS, Stan TWEED, Mervin WOWCIIUK. Rosann, l-Ion. MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thirty-Seventh Legislature Constituency The Maples St. Vital Thompson Riel Inkster Brandon East Radisson Kildonan Ste.

Rose Seine River Russell Selkirk Concordia Charleswood Pembina Lakeside Portage Ia Prairie Tuxedo Wolseley River I [eights Minnedosa Gimli Point Douglas Flin Flon St. James The Pas St. Norbert La Verendrye Fort Whyte St. Johns Arthur- Virden Elmwood Burrows Lord Roberts Minto River East Interlake Emerson Steinbach Morris Lac du Bonnet Transcona Southdale Rupertsland Cannan Assiniboia fort Rouge Wellington Rossmere Sprmgfield St. Boniface fort Garry Brandon West Kirkficld Park Dauphin-Roblin Turtle Mountain Swan River Political Affiliation N.D.P. N.D.P. N.D.P. N.D.P. N.D.P. N.D.P. N.D.P. N.D.P. P.C. P.C. P.C.

N.D.P. N.D.P. P.C. P.C. P.C. P.C. P.C. N.D.P. Lib. P.C. P.C. N.D.P. N.D.P. N.D.P. N.D.P. P.C. N.D.P. P.C. N.D.P. P.C. N.D.P. N.D.P. N.D.P. N.D.P. P.C. N.D.P. P.C. P.C. P.C. P.C. N.D.P. P.C. N.D.P. P.C. N.D.P. N.D.P. N. D.P. N.D.P. P.C. N.D.P. P.C. N.D.P. P.C. N.D.P. P.C. N.D.P.

2541 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Tuesday, June 13,2000 The House met at 1:30 p.m. PRAYERS ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS PRESENTING REPORTS BY STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES Committee of Supply Mr. Conrad Santos (Chairperson): Mr. Speaker, the Committee of Supply has adopted certain resolutions, directs me to report the same and asks leave to sit again. I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Selkirk (Mr. Dewar). that the report of the committee be received. Motion agreed to. TABLING OF REPORTS Hon.

Ron Lemieux (Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs): I am pleased to table a Supplementary Information for Legislative Review year 2000-2001. Mr. Speaker: The Honourable Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, could you please rise and indicate which department it is for. Mr. Lemieux: Sorry, Mr. Speaker. For Con sumer and Corporate Affairs. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Bill 34-The Statute Law Amendment Act, 2000 Hon. Gord Mackintosh (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): I move, seconded by the Minister of Finance (Mr.

Selinger), that leave be given to introduce Bill 34, The Statute Law Amendment Act, 2000; Loi de 2000 modifiant diverses dispositions legislatives, and that the same be now received and read a first time. Motion presented. Mr. Mackintosh: Mr. Speaker, this bill corrects minor errors in the statutes and makes amendments required as a result of changes to the names of various government departments. Motion agreed to. Bill 35- The Planning Amendment Act Hon. Jean Friesen (Minister of Intergovern mental Affairs): I move, seconded by the Minister of Agriculture (Ms.

Wowchuk), that leave be given to introduce Bill 35, The Planning Amendment Act; Loi modifiant Ia

Loi sur l'amenagement du territoire, and that the same be now received and read a first time. Motion presented. Ms. Friesen: The main purpose of this bill is to deal with applications for conditional uses that relate to proposed livestock operations beyond a certain size. The Bill requires an application received by a municipal council to be reviewed by a technical review committee appointed by the Minister and requires the council to make the report of the committee available to the public.

The Bil l contains a number of additional requirements relating to such applications, including the manner in which the council is to fix a hearing date and to give notice of it. It also prohibits any development until all approvals are obtained. Motion agreed to. * (13:35) Introduction of Guests Mr. Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, may I draw the attention of all honourable members to

2542 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA June 13, 2000 the gallery where we have with us from Mason School 19 kindergarten to Grade 6 students under the direction of Mrs. Renee Klassen. This school is located in the constituency of the Honourable Member for Pembina (Mr. Dyck). Also with us from J.R. Walkof Elementary School are 49 Grade 5 students under the direction of Mr. Gerald Letkeman. This school is located in the constituency of the Honourable Member for Pembina. On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you here today. ORAL QUESTION PERIOD Fiscal Stabilization Fund Agricultural Disaster Assistance Mrs.

Bonnie Mitchelson (Interim Leader of the Official Opposition): My question is for the Premier. Yesterday we know that the Premier and the Prime Minister had an opportunity to meet and discuss the aid package for Manitoba farmers and their families who were devastated by the flooding last year. Unfortunately, it appears that the requests by the Province fell on deaf ears. I know that all members of this House are extremely disappointed that the federal government and the Prime Minister do not seem to be listening to Manitoba farmers.

But, given the comments by the Prime Minister yesterday that all but shut the door on helping farmers and their families recover from a terrible natural disaster, can the Premier please inform the House if he is g1vmg any consideration to using the Fiscal Stabilization Fund, or the rainy day fund, so that producers and their families can at least get some assistance? Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): The Member raises a number of issues in her

preamble to her question. The Prime Minister and I did meet on a number of issues yesterday. Certainly the issue of the disaster assistance arose at the meeting. At the press conference later when the issue was raised again, it was confirmed that we did raise it and we are not satisfied with the federal government's response to this. The Prime Minister in fact said that the federal government did not consider this a matter to be covered under the federal disaster assistance plan.

Regrettably, that is in error, because I have a letter dated February 16, which I will table in this House, which basically-from the federal minister, Mr. Eggleton-points out that not only has Manitoba been deemed to be covered under the disaster assistance for financial assistance purposes, but we have the Order-in-Council, the Privy Council note that basically says and confirms in both languages, in fact, the province should be treated under the Provincial Emergency Financial Assistance Order. Order No. 35. So, Mr.

Speaker, I have written to the Prime Minister today, and I will table that letter-! should keep a copy of it actually. but I have tabled that letter-and here is the great confusion we have at all times lately on this issue. In February we hear this confirmation. We hear the other federal ministers and members of the federal Liberal caucus say, yes, they are now eligible, so the matter should then appear to be what is the difference of opinion on 90-10 versus 50-50.

Then. a couple of weeks later, we get a reversal. and a couple of weeks later. we get from the Prime Minister that it was never considered by the federal Cabinet when in fact we have a letter to the opposite. So we are going back again to the federal government because we believe that a disaster in Quebec and Ontario in the ice storm, a disaster in the Red River Valley, and a disaster in southwest Manitoba should be treated in the same way. That is why we are going to go back at it again. I do not believe the Prime Minister was given accurate information by his officials, and we are going to go back at it, Mr.

Speaker. Mrs. Mitchelson: Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Premier for those comments in sharing with us the information that does really tell us that the federal government has absolutely neglected its responsibility to Manitoba farmers and rejected, in several different ways, support for our Manitoba farmers. Obviously the federal government does not believe that they are important enough in the overall bigger picture in Canada.

June 13, 2000 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2543 Mr. Speaker, I again would like to ask the Premier, given that there has been over a year that has passed since farmers and their families were so devastated by the flood, whether, you know, we sort of stopped talking about blame but show some compassion and look to the Fiscal Stabilization Fund or the rainy day fund to ensure that farmers get some form of assistance. Mr. Doer: Mr.

Speaker, we honoured the payment made out of the Fiscal Stabilization Fund last year by the previous government, and we corrected what we considered to be an error on the part of the previous government by not having long-term crop insurance in place for unseeded acreage based on moisture. Mr. Speaker, we want to design programs- * (13:40) Some Honourable Members: Oh. oh. Mr. Speaker: Order. Mr. Doer: The best compassion this Legislature can have is having long-term programs in place to give farmers and producers and farm families predictability before an incident takes place, before a disaster takes place.

That is why we amended, with co-operation from the federal government, the Crop Insurance Program. Long term compassion means long-term programs to provide long-term predictability, and that is what we have done. We have taken some of the uncertainty out of the situation for unseeded acreage. That is the way we want to act in government is long-term programs for long-term predictability to deal with the unpredictability of weather. Mrs. Mitchelson: Mr.

Speaker, but the Premier certainly, with that answer, has not taken the uncertainty away from those families that today are having to put food on the table and look after their immediate needs. That answer does absolutely nothing to address the issue that is facing those farm families in Manitoba that were devastated by the flood last year. Again, Mr.

Speaker, we all know that the federal government has shirked its responsibility in this respect, and we can all condemn them for that, but I ask, again, the Premier, the First Minister of this province whether he would look very seriously at using the Fiscal Stabilization Fund, not to contribute to farm families what the federal government should be contributing, but the 50-cent dollars that the province has responsibility for under programs like JERI that were provided during the 1997 flood that could be available to Manitoba farmers that were devastated in 1999.

Will he put those 50-cent dollars on the table and show some compassion to those farm families in Manitoba today? Mr. Doer: Mr. Speaker, this Legislature has put in 100-cent dollars when it put in $70 million last year. They put in 1 00-cent dollars for the purposes of putting that forward with the previous government, and that money in essence, if it had not been paid out last summer, would be there in the Fiscal Stabilization Fund. Manitoba, through two different govern ments, has already exceeded way beyond any national disaster assistance program.

The real issue here is are we as a province now going to assume total responsibility for 1 00-cent dollars in Manitoba and allow Quebec and Ontario to be 90-10 on an ice storm or the Saguenay to be 90- 10 on a flooding or some other project, the Red River Valley, to be 90-10 and 50-50? We cannot, Mr. Speaker, in our view, budget on the basis of, oh, if the federal government does not meet their federal obliga tions, we are going to go from 70 million to 80 million to 90 million. I would like to say though that we believe the people in southwest Manitoba have been- Mr. Speaker: Order. Point of Order Mr.

Jack Penner (Emerson): The Premier is putting incorrect information on the record. The Premier knows full well that there was an agreement that part of the payment that was made to farmers last spring would come out of the AIDA program through the federal government. That was the federal government's portion, and it was an agreed-to program between the federal and provincial governments.

2544 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA June 13, 2000 Part of it, 50 percent of it, would come directly out of the provincial Fiscal Stabilization Fund, 50 percent of it would come through the AIDA program, and thereby the federal contribution would be recognized. Mr. Speaker: The Honourable Government House Leader, on the same point of order? Hon. Gord Mackintosh (Government House Leader): On the same point of order, Mr. Speaker. We lament that interruption, because I believe just in the last day or so you reminded members what a point of order is.

I believe that one of the appendices in the rule book of the Assembly, page 65, was put there for the purpose of reminding members what a point of order is for. It says: "Points of Order are questions raised with the view of calling attention to any departure from the Standing Orders or the customary modes of proceeding in debate or in the conduct of legislative business." It goes on to say: "If a Point of Order consists of putting a question to the Member speaking. if it is a mere interruption, or if it is defective for other reasons. the Speaker will rule it out." Mr.

Speaker, I wonder if you could remind the Member to obey not only the written rules but the spirit of the rules and not interrupt members when they speak on a matter of debate. A point of order must be to draw the attention of the House to departure from the rules of proceeding. Thank you. * (13:45) Mr. Speaker: On the point of order raised, the Honourable Member does not have a point of order. It is a dispute over the facts. * * * Mr. Doer: I also recall being in Melita last June, and the former Minister of Agriculture I believe said: We will go $50 an acre, $60 an acre, $70 an acre, $90 an acre if we have to.

Mr. Speaker, I think everybody in this House understands and supports the fact that the people in southwest Manitoba have been treated in a very un-Canadian way relative to the people in the Red River Valley, the Saguenay, the Quebec and Ontario situations. The fact that the Prime Minister thought yesterday that it was not eligible for disaster assistance and the fact that his federal Minister of Defence said in a letter that it was, means that we are going to keep going at it, but we believe in a national disaster assistance program, not just a provincial program. Flooding Agricultural Disaster Assistance Mr.

Larry Maguire (Arthur-Virden): Well, Mr. Speaker, we know, farmers know out there that we need a long-term safety-net solution, and for the Premier to indicate that crop insurance is a long-term solution shows his lack of understanding of the agricultural industry. Crop insurance is an annual program that comes forward on an annual basis to deal with annual concerns. We need a long-term solution to agriculture's problems. But. Mr. Speaker, yesterday's attempts to secure flood aid with the Prime Minister seemed to have been a complete failure.

This does not change the fact that there is still land in southwest Manitoba that even yet has not been seeded because of the 1999 flood. Point of Order Hon. Gord Mackintosh (Government House Leader): Two or three weeks ago, the Opposition House Leader rose on a point of order when a question was being posed from this side of the House and I made a point that we strongly agreed with. and that is that a

preamble should consist of no more than one carefully drawn sentence. Given this concurrence across the House, given the rules in the book and in Beauchesne's, Mr. Speaker, would you please direct the Member to put his question. Mr. Speaker: The Honourable Opposition House Leader, on the same point of order. Mr. Marcel Laurendeau (Opposition House Leader): Mr. Speaker, rules have been written in this House for one reason, and that is to see that we respect the views of all Manitobans. The

June 13, 2000 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2545 Member has risen today to put forward his position and a question to the Minister on an important issue to Manitobans, an issue that the federal Liberals will not respond to and do not care and show their disrespect for all Manitobans. All this member is doing is attempting to put across his point to the First Minister (Mr. Doer) to see if he recognizes the importance of this issue to southwestern Manitoba. I do believe that it is important that he get across how important it is to the people within his constituency. Mr.

Speaker: The Honourable Government House Leader does have a point of order. May I remind the Honourable Member that according to Beauchesne's Citation 409(2): A

preamble should not exceed one carefully drawn sentence. * * * Mr. Speaker: would ask the Honourable Member to please put his question. Mr. Maguire: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will try to be more to the point, but it is a serious issue, as our House Leader has just pointed out. Mr.

Speaker, I want to ask the Premier: Given the fact that there is still land out there that has not been seeded since the '99 flood, even in this year 2000, and the fact that there has been no change from the fact that there has not been one thin dime spent by this government because of that disaster region, my question is: Did the Premier offer any new money yesterday as part of that shared aid package before the Prime Minister said no to the flood aid? Hon.

Gary Doer (Premier): We have in this House and before and at other meetings, with all sorts of representatives of the federal govern ment, offered our money as part of the 90-10, and the portion that would be 50-50 we have also offered that as part of the solution. Mr. Speaker, I certainly support the representation of the Member opposite, and I understand how serious it is, but I am surprised that he is opposed to the crop insurance changes that we made in January this year. I thought they were an improvement, and I am disappointed the Member opposite does not support those changes.

Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. * (13:50) Mr. Speaker: Order. Point of Order Mr. Maguire: Clearly the Premier is putting false information on the record again. Nowhere did I ever say that we did not support the Crop Insurance program, and we do support the fact we are glad to see his government actually implemented the program that the former Minister of Agriculture was going to put forward in regard to crop insurance. Mr. Speaker: The Honourable Member does not have a point of order. It is a dispute over the facts.

I would like to take this opportunity to draw to the attention of all honourable members the purpose of points of order. A point of order is to be used to draw to the Speaker's attention any departure from the rules or practices of the House, or to raise concerns about unparlia mentary language. A point of order should not be used to ask a question, to dispute the accuracy of facts, to clarify remarks which have been misquoted or misunderstood, to move a motion, to raise a point of order on a point of order. I would ask the co-operation of all honourable members. *** Mr.

Speaker: Would the Honourable Member for Arthur-Virden, please put your question. Mr. Maguire: Mr. Speaker, given that in the 1997 flood of the Red River Valley the lost inputs clearly were under a 50-50 cost-shared mechanism with the federal government, will the Minister of Agriculture (Ms. Wowchuk), as she indicated in Estimates yesterday, confirm that she still has the support of her Cabinet to provide financial aid to the victims of the Manitoba 1999 flood?

2546 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA June 13, 2000 Hon. Steve Ashton (Minister of Highways and Government Services): Mr. Speaker, I think it is really important for the Member opposite-! appreciate he is raising concerns on behalf of his constituents-to recognize that this Province, by the way, supported by all parties, has put $70 million on the table, $20 million of which is stand alone, 100% provincial dollars, not creditable under AIDA. In terms of other assistance, there is approximately $23 million which we will be getting under 90-10.

To put it in contrast, in the Red River, under the JERI program, the Province at that time put in $11.3 million. So this province has already put more money in, in this case hundred cent dollars, than were put up under the JERI program before. We called on the federal government to match this province's commit ment. That offer still stands, and we say to the federal government there is still time for them to get back to the table and deal with the Province of Manitoba, which has been in there and has been providing support to southwest Manitoba. Mr. Maguire: Well, Mr.

Speaker, given the fact that the farmers of southwest Manitoba were lobbying for $85 million to start with and that the provincial government has come forward with the idea of $43 miilion, will the Premier now put new money on the table, the new needed money on the table, and be prepared to negotiate the federal share, as Alberta Premier Ralph Klein is successfully doing with the disaster relief program that was put on under the CMAP mechanism? Hon.

Gary Doer (Premier): As I understand it, the Alberta Premier is taking crop insurance surpluses and allocating it to a disaster assistance program and trying to get agreement from the federal government. Again, I do not think the Member opposite is suggesting we take money from the Crop Insurance fund and allocate it to disaster assistance, unless I am mistaken, because we understand from producers, the advice we received is that is not the best way to proceed with money in a crop insurance fund. I may be wrong, and please correct me ifi am.

Having said that, I said to the Prime Minister, the Minister said to the federal Defence Minister, our Agriculture Minister said to the federal Agriculture Minister, every member on this side has said to every member of the Liberal caucus, our money is there for a 90- 10 program, and our money is there for a 50-50 program, and we reiterated that again yesterday. * (13:55) Teaching Profession Collective Bargaining Legislation Mrs. Joy Smith (Fort Garry): Mr. Speaker, yesterday in Estimates I asked the Minister of Labour (Ms. Barrett) about the NDP's hasty scrapping of Bill 72.

I made the Minister aware of a number of organizations and individuals who believe that the NDP are rushing through these changes to legislation that will signifi cantly impact every Manitoban in terms of their property tax bill. When will the Minister of Education provide Manitobans with an opportunity to see his legislation, given that he wants all teacher collective bargaining after June 30 to fall under this new legislation? Hon.

Drew Caldwell (Minister of Education and Training): As the Member knows, there has been extensive consultation for a number of months now with the Manitoba Association of School Trustees and the Manitoba Teachers' Society, and in due course legislation will be tabled in this Legislature. Mrs. Smith: Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Education if he will commit today to more broad-based public consultation, which the public is demanding, before he passes this legislation in this House this year. Mr. Caldwell: Mr.

Speaker, the degree of consultation between the interested parties in this particular case has been quite extensive. It has been going on since January. I know that all members of the Legislature have had dialogue with a variety of groups that are interested in the legislation, and I expect that consultation in this matter will take place up until it achieves royal assent. Mrs. Smith: Mr. Speaker, in view of the fact that there is a public outcry about the lack of

June 13, 2000 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2547 consultation across Manitoba, I would ask the Minister of Education if he would commit today to a more broad-based consultation before this goes any further. Mr. Caldwell: Mr. Speaker, the Member knows well that this was an election commitment that was made in 1996, in fact, when this side of the House was in opposition. The consultation that has taken place in this matter has been extensive with the parties that are interested.

Manitobans know that, over the course of the last decade, the extraordinary cuts to public education made by the members opposite have been the driver of the extraordinary property tax increases that all Manitobans have been confronted with over the last decade. Manitobans also know that in this year's budget this government provided the single largest injection of funds into the public school system in decades. Manitobans also know that we provided for property tax credit this budget, so we need no lecture from the members opposite. Education System Standards Testing-Grade 3 Mr.

Peter Dyck (Pembina): Manitoba teachers and parents are well aware of the NDP's Grade 3 guarantee election promise. What they do not know, however, are the specifics of this promise and how it will be carried out. Since students are going to be breaking for the summer in a few weeks, it is time the Minister of Education provide parents and teachers with specifics on this guarantee. Mr. Speaker, can the First Minister (Mr.

Doer) explain what he meant when he said that it would be a policy of the Department of Education and Training that students will be writing and reading fluently by the end of their Grade 3 year? Hon. Drew Caldwell (Minister of Education and Training): Of course, members opposite might not be familiar-they should be familiar, but they may not be familiar with the fact that over 1 0 000 consultation documents were given to the field about 6 weeks ago.

We are still awaiting the full total reply from those consultative documents from teachers, parents and school divisions on the Grade 3 skills assessment that will be implemented in the fall of 2000. We are committed to our commitment to the Grade 3 guarantee that students will be fluent, literate in Grade 3, and if they are not this is a phrase that is conveniently forgotten by the members opposite all the time-a program of action will be put into place to assist those students. Mr. Dyck: Mr.

Speaker, will the Minister tell parents today if their child will have to repeat Grade 3 if that child is not able to fluently read and write by the end of their Grade 3 year? Mr. Caldwell: As I indicated in my first answer, a program will be developed, in consultation with the field, with teachers and parents. Mr. Dyck: Mr. Speaker, what province-wide assessment tool will teachers be using to ensure that students will be reading and writing fluently after Grade 3? Mr. Caldwell: Of course, Mr. Speaker, the Member did not pay attention to my first answer. There will be a number of protocols available.

The consultation process is underway right now. * (14:00) Education System Standards Testing-Grade 3 Mrs. Joy Smith (Fort Garry): Mr. Speaker, we and Manitoba teachers and parents are fully aware of the consultation process. This is the 10 000 reading and writing educator consultation documents that have gone out. There is grave concern all across the province because now there are numerous questions from teachers, from parents and from taxpayers across this province about the validity of this document.

Can the Minister tell Manitobans if each teacher across Manitoba is responsible for designing his or her own assessment tests or if there will be a standard, province-wide assessment test designed by Manitoba Education and Training? Hon. Drew Caldwell (Minister of Educ ation and Training): Of course, Mr. Speaker, as the Member may be aware, when you have a consultation, you have an exchange of ideas and a dialogue that often involves-

2548 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA June 13, 2000 An Honour able Member: A novel idea. Mr. Caldwell: As the Member is no doubt aware, a dialogue is underway with the teachers and parents of the province of Manitoba with regard to the Grade 3 skills assessment.

The purpose of the assessment: to enhance children's literacy skills in the province of Manitoba; the purpose of this assessment: not to have an end of-year exit test with no opportunity for remediation and skills development but rather a beginning-of-the-year assessment whereby teachers and parents can work with children in the province of Manitoba to enhance literacy skills. A novel idea. Mrs. Smith: Mr.

Speaker, in view of the fact that the teachers are obviously expected to be responsible not only for designing, admin istrating and analyzing their own student assessments, can the Minister explain to teachers across Manitoba how they are expected to accomplish this feat and follow up with indi vidual student learning plans on top of it and accomplish it between September and November of this coming school year? Mr. Caldwell: Of course, the Member's

preamble is factually incorrect, I suppose, to be polite about it. The assessment of the protocol is underway right now. We are in the middle of the consultation process with teachers, parents and educators in the province of Manitoba geared around designing an appropriate skills assess ment regime for the beginning of the school year. In due course, once that consultation process is completed, there wiii be protocols that will be made public and in this House. Mrs. Smith: Mr.

Speaker, can the Minister, in view of the fact that he is talking about a consultation process on one hand that involves teachers and a consultation process on the other hand that guarantees that parents will have a full accountable report- Mr. Speaker: Order. Point of Order Hon. Gord Mackintosh (Government House Leader): The Member is raising her second supplementary question and has an extensive

preamble. Beauchesne's Citation 409 says the

preamble need not exceed one carefully drawn sentence; 410 says supplementary questions require no

preamble. Mr. Speaker, would you please direct the Member to formulate a question and put her question. Mr. Speaker: The Honourable Official Oppo sition House Leader, on the same point of order? Mr. Marcel Laurendeau (Opposition House Leader): Mr. Speaker, it was clear that this was a question. The Honourable Member for Fort Garry started her question with will the Minister confirm. I think it was important that the information that she was asking confirmation of be explained to the Member. We would not want him to answer incorrectly as usual. Mr.

Speaker: On the point of order raised, the Honourable Member does have a point of order. Beauchesne's Citation 409(2) advises that a supplementary question should not require a

preamble. * * * Mr. Speaker: I would ask the Honourable Member for Fort Garry to please put your question. Mrs. Smith: Mr. Speaker, can the Minister advise Manitobans and Manitoba teachers what additional resources will be put in place to ensure that the front-line teaching staff wiii not be forced to neglect classroom time while they develop and implement all these individual learning plans following all the test design analysis? Mr. Caldwell: Well, Mr.

Speaker, all of the individual misconceptions of the Honourable Member opposite, it is very entertaining in the House of course, but as I mentioned in my first, I guess, few responses, an active consultation process is underway with educators in the province of Manitoba right now. That consultation process will be concluded in the future. The results of that consultation process will be something that revolves around skills

June 13, 2000 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2549 development for young Manitobans in this province. The Government on this side of the House is committed to the children of Manitoba. We are committed to excellence in education. As for resources provided, this year's budget an nouncement for public school alone was $4 million-in the last four years combined. So the members opposite have nothing to offer us in terms of suggestions for providing resources to the public school system. Sustainable Development Strategy Legislative Requirements Hon.

Jon Gerrard (River Heights): First I want to compliment the Premier for his vigorous "yes" in response to my asking him to provide the assurance that he will be ready with the Government's full strategy on sustainable development by July 1, and to compliment him for his expanding, yesterday, on some of the elements of the Government's strategy and his commitment to recharge the environmental commission. My question for the Premier: Will the Premier confirm today that he will release pub licly the Government's sustainable development strategy by July 1 of this year? Hon.

Gary Doer (Premier): I believe the previous government passed

an act on the sustainable development in Manitoba, and I believe that the two-year period expires July 1, 2000, as indicated by the Member opposite, and therefore we have had the stewardship of this file for the last number of months since taking office. We have been working very hard on the COSDI response, the committee on Sustainable Development Implementation. We have been working very hard on that, and I do expect we will have not only the response but the general principles of our sustainable development policy in government. J. M. Schneider Inc. Environmental Assessment Hon.

Jon Gerrard (River Heights): I am encouraged by the Premier's response. I note yesterday he talked about his approach to environmental assessment at the Schneider's plant. I was out there this morning, and there was some earth moving. I would ask: Has the environmental assess ment been done, or what is happening with this construction? Hon.

Gary Doer (Premier): As I recall it, there was some earth that was moved, and when we were alerted to that a couple of months ago, I believe, at least two months ago, if I recall, the Department of Conservation did indicate that even the earth moving could not proceed without a licence and that work was stopped. Stop-Work Order Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): My supplementary to the Premier: Does he think a stop-work order is sufficient or does there need to be a stronger message to people in this province that the environmental laws of this province will be enforced? Hon.

Gary Doer (Premier): One would be tempted to comment on earth moving, but I will be very careful. I think it is important. We supported the Maple Leaf development-well, we had one criticism of it. We thought the extraction of water in the sewage treatment operation should have proceeded to public licensing. We made that statement publicly before the plant.

We tried then, in dealing with Schneider's, to follow through on our comments in the past, and we did, in requiring, as a condition of the agreement that was released by Schneider's in January, by the City of Winnipeg and ourselves, that it have an environmental licence. We also promised at that point, Mr. Speaker, to proceed with a public strategy on livestock industry, which report we prepared and released last week.

We promised to amend the planning regulations because we said, and I said yesterday in the Chamber, that we believe the technical treatment of the sewage and its impact on water, those technical findings, in other words, the issue of our environment in terms of the back end of a bam should be dealt with at the front end of the approval process. The Minister today indicated in the introduction of the Bill-1 think it

2550 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA June 13 , 2000 is Bill 35 -that we are going to amend the planning process to make sure the Bill components are part of the Manitoba decision making in the future. Letter to the Prime Minister Tabling Request Mrs. Bonnie Mitchelson (Interim Leader of the Official Opposition): Mr. Speaker, I believe that in one of the Premier's answers to questions, he indicated he would be tabling a letter that he has written to the Prime Minister. I have not, as yet, received a copy of that.

I was just wondering if he might indicate to me when that might be tabled and when I might receive that. Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): Yes, we have, and I have drafted a letter this morning which we have sent or are sending to the Prime Minister. I said I would table the letter that we had received fr om Mr. Eggleton on being confirmed on disaster assistance. I would like, as a matter of prot ocol, for the Prime Minister to receive the letter first, and I would like to pursue his comment with his senior staff.

The letter will say-no big surprise you said this, this is what your minister said. is there a way to get this resolved. So that is the essence of the letter. * (14 :10 ) First Nations Casinos Alternate Proposals Mr. Leonard Derkach (Russell): Mr. Speaker, Fir st Nations people throughout our province, who are not part of the select few, have been left with a feeling of fr ustra tion and despair with regard to the Native casino expansion and the sharing of revenues.

Recently in The Brandon Sun, The Brandon Sun reported, and I quote: Gaming minister Ron Lemieux did not rule out replacing any failed casino propos al. As well, government officials have told the chief of Waywayseecappo not to abandon his casino plan. Can the Minister advise Manitobans if his government has created a short list of alternative Fir st Nations casino proposals if any of the current ones should fail to receive government approval? Hon. Ron Lemieux (Minister charged with the administration of The Gaming Control Act): Mr. Speaker, thank you for the question fr om the Member for Russell.

I am real ly pleased to see that they are in favour. I think he said they were in favour of Fir st Nations casinos and gaming. Thank you. But this is consistent with their statements before. There was certai nly a committee fr om Cabinet; Mr. Newman and others recommended that they thought that it was very impor tant to create jobs and economic development. So I thank the Member opposite for supporting casinos. Mr. Derkach: Mr. Speaker, the tw1stmg and turning of ministers of this government is abso lutely appalling to people who are trying to get some informati on fr om them.

My question to the Minister was: Is there an alternative list of First Nations proposals that will be put forward should any of the ones that have been selected not be approve d? Will the Minister please answer that question? Mr. Lemieux: Mr. Speaker, the five recommendations or proponents that have been recommended to the Government are certa inly going to be looked at, and an impl ementation committee will certainly be in place to look at that and make sure that they address all the conditions for success.

Those five, as we made a promise in the election that we would certa inly look up and use Bostrom to look at up to five First Nations casinos, and that is cert ainly what we are going to look at. Mr. Derkach: Well, Mr. Speaker, has the Minister respon sible for gambling or gaming in this province given any information to Fir st Nations people, besides Waywayseecappo, that should any of the approved proposals not go ahead, their proposals will be considered as proposals for additional casinos in the province of Manitoba? Mr. Lemieux: Mr. Speaker, I would just like to correct the Member opposite.

He stated that I spoke to Waywayseecappo in some way. I cert ainly did not speak to Waywayseecappo.

June 13, 2000 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2551 Secondly, I would like to try to address the question that the simple answer is no, absolutely clear no. We are looking at the five recommended proponents or proposals, and that is what we are looking at. So the answer to his question is no. First Nations Casinos Gaming Legislation Compliance Mr. Jack Reimer (Southdale): Mr. Speaker, in the last published report of the Fir st Nations Native Gaming Agreement Compliance Report, 12 of the 29 First Nations were not in compliance of reporting to the Manitoba Gaming Commission.

The RFP clearly states the proponents must be in compliance with The Gaming Control Act and its regula tions. Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister of gaming: Are all the Fir st Nations proponents in compliance with the current gaming agreements? Hon. Ron Lemieux (Minister charged with the admini stration of The Gaming Control Act): The Member opposite is certai nly correct in what the RFP stated, and that was one of the criteria that was there.

All proponents, before they receive a go-ahead to proceed with their casino pro ject, cert ainly must satisfy all the regula tory and compliance requirements of the Manitoba Gaming Control Commission. Mr. Reimer: Mr. Speaker, further to the Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs. He is quoting the conditions of now, but with the selection committee, they had to be in com pliance at that time. My question to the Minis ter is: Those who made submissions to the selection committee, were they in compliance with the Manitoba Gaming Commission regulations, when the submission was made at the selection com mittee?

Mr. Lemieux: The Manitoba Gaming Control Commission will continue to be respons ible and has the respo nsibility to regula te gaming in the province, including Fir st Nations casinos. The same laws of the land will apply to Fir st Nations casinos as well as they do to Regent and McPhillips and other gaming. Mr. Reimer: Mr. Speaker, then maybe I will ask the Fir st Minister (Mr. Doer): To the best of his knowledge, were all the applications that were put forth to the selection committee in com pliance with the Manitoba Gaming Commission for their rules and regulations and their admissions of audited statements?

Mr. Lemieux: I thank the Member opposite for the supplementary . The Gaming Control Commission, as I had mentioned before, is resp onsible to make sure that all gaming is cert ainly within the regulations prescribed. I think that something that really is being missed here is the economic and employment opport unities that lay ahead for First Nations proponents. It is no secret that the unemploy ment rates in Fir st Nations communities are much higher than other communities, as much as 50 percent or more, and levels of income are as low as $7,000 or so a year. So, Mr.

Speaker, it is important that we join together, and I want members opposite to join together with us. We want to share with First Nations people and give them an opportunity to be successful, as anyone else in this Chamber would be with regard to their family and members of their family. Some Honou rable Members: Oh, oh. Mr. Speaker: Order. Point of Order Mr. Reimer: Mr. Speaker, I know that it is very hard for that government to answer questions. If the Member would like, I will make it a very short question so they understand it.

Were the selection committee, the ones that put forth their proposals, in compliance? Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Mr. Speaker: Order. The Honou rab le Govern ment House Leader, on the same point of order. Hon. Gord Mackintosh (Government House Leader): Well, I do not know if it is a point of order, Mr. Speaker. We could ask you to rule on that. Is it a point of order? Is it a question? What

2552 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA June 13, 2000 does the Member want? We are confused on this side now. * (14: 20) Mr. Speaker: On the point of order raised, the Honourable Member does not have a point of order. It is a dispute over the facts. * * * Mr. Speaker: Does the Honourable Member have a question? Question Period is still going. Mr. Reimer: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. On a new question. I will continue that line of questioning to the Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs because I think it is very impor tant.

One of the things that was required was a compliance and an audited statement put forth with the applications for considera tion for the casinos. I want to ask the Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs whether the submissions were in total compliance and that audited statements were included in the application. Mr.

Lemieux: I just want to state, in my quote on page 9, item I: The proponent and any par ticipants must be in compliance with all gaming laws and reg ulations, including the Criminal Code of Canada, The Gaming Contro l Act, and The Manitoba Lotteries Corpora tion Act in order to be considered for selection. Mr. Speaker: Time for Oral Questions has expired. MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Back 40 Folk Music Festival Mr. Peter Dyck (Pembina): On Sunday, I had the great pleasure of going to the Back 40 Folk Festival in Morden. The daylong event featured a dozen very talented acts that perf ormed a wide variety of musical styles.

Jazz, blues, folk and trad itional dance were among the featured venues. All of the perf ormers were home-grown talent, with several fr om the Winkler area as well as entrants fr om Winnipeg and Carman . The festival was a real showcase of Manitoba excellence, displaying the unique and refined talents of acts like Mark Reeves, the J. P. LePage Blues Band, Richard Moody, and Winkler's own Sonia Marie, whose musicianship and song writing has won national acclaim. As a music lover, I want to say how impr essed I was with the perf ormances I took in and extend warm compliments to each of the perf ormers.

Folk music festivals like the Back 40 are held in a number of communities across the province and are a great opportunity for musicians and fans. I encourage all of you who have similar events in your area this summer to go out and enjoy the great talent Manitoba has to of fer. Not only do these festivals give budding musicians a chance to show off their skills, they also help build community spir it and pride. Thank you very much. Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Mr. Speaker: Order. It is very difficult to hear the Honourab le Member. Very, very difficult.

I would ask the honourab le members. if you want to carry on a conversa tion, to please do it in the loges. Ness Middle School Mr. Jim Rondeau (Assiniboia): Good day, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to bring the attention of the House to a wonderful extra curricula r program that is being operated in Ness Middle School. This program , which involves the choir and choral groups, is run by Charles Mittemdorf er, who is the band teacher, and Ed Reynolds, who is the choral teacher. These gentlemen took a group of Grade 7s and 8s to Min neapolis, U.S .A.

There were 25 kids in the Grade 7 jazz band and 60 kids in the Grades 7 and 8 concert band. This festival had kids fr om all over the U.S. competing fr om May 5 to 8. This school brought a total of 120 kids, counting the band kids and the choral people. There were eight chaperones involved, and I am pleased to say that they won gold medals in both the band competition and the choral competition.

June 13, 2000 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2553 In the adjudicated festival, they won the best performance in the festival. Anyhow, their mission project involves students who practise at lunch and before school. So does the other program. The Project and Mission kids practise before school. They donate their time all the time. The kids also competed in the Optimist Music Festival in March and won gold medals for band and choral and are invited to compete in the nationals in Ottawa next May. These kids are outstanding in the performing arts. They are committed very heavily.

The parents are committed very heavily, and I would like to commend the administration, the staff, the students and the people who commit the hundreds and hundreds of hours of volunteer time to make this program possible. I would like to congratulate everyone- Mr. Speaker: Order. Walkathon Fundraising Events Mr. Jack Reimer (Southdale): Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to the House's attention three important events that took place in Winnipeg on June 11, Sunday.

Hundreds of Manitobans participated in three different walkathons for charity last Sunday, braving the cool rainy weather to mingle with their community, get some great exercise and raise money for very important Manitoba charities. More than 800 people took

part in the annual Walk For The Cure in support of juvenile diabetes. Manitobans raised about $60,000 for diabetes research. The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation of Canada was hoping to raise $6 million nationally through their annual Walk For The Cure. This event has helped raise money for research towards a cure for juvenile diabetes while also raising public awareness about this disease. The Rehabilitation Centre for Children also held a walkathon last Sunday.

Participants walked, ran, cycled, skated and wheelchaired from the Centre to Assiniboine Park and back to raise money for the purchase of special equipment for children with special needs. Many Manitobans participated in the walkathon and helped the Rehabilitation Centre for Children come closer to making this goal a reality. As well, the Friends of the Winnipeg Humane Society held its fifth annual Pace Your Pooch Day Walk on June 11. Through this walkathon, money was raised to go towards the purchase of a newly outfitted van for the Humane Society's cruelty inspector.

All of these charities do fantastic work for all Manitobans, and I congratulate all Mani tobans who participated in these three events and who donated to these charities. By supporting Manitoba charities, we help improve our province and help the life of all Manitobans. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. India School of Dance Music and Theatre Ms. Nancy Allan (St. Vital): I had the pleasure of attending the India School of Dance Music and Theatre's 20th anniversary year-end recital on Sunday, June 11.

Their mandate is to promote the East Indian visual and performing arts in Manitoba From a small beginning of only 25 students, this school now accommodates well over 150 students. This school provides instruction in bharata natyam, Hindustani vocal music/ harmonium, Hindustani flute, sitar, tabla and camatic vocal music. I would like to congratulate Pam Rebello, the executive director of the school, who received the Order of Manitoba for her commit ment and dedication to the India School of Dance.

I would like to recognize the contribution she and the students have made in sharing their culture and traditions with Manitobans. This sharing of traditions, customs and beliefs truly embodies the spirit of multiculturalism. Manitoba's unique mix of cultures brings home the realization that people coming from many places can live together in harmony and peace and pursue their dreams and a brighter future for all. Thank you.

2554 LEGI SLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA June 13 , 2000 Virden CP Railway Station Mr. Larry Maguire (Arthur-Virden): Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of all members the efforts made by the Virden Community Arts Council to restore the hundred year-old Canadian Pacific railway station in Virden. After 15 years of planning and hard work, the restoration has just recently been completed and the new tenants, including the Virden Community Arts Council, have moved into their new home. * (1 4:3 0) This restoration was Virden's millennium project.

More than $3 00,000 was raised in order to restore the CP station to its former glory, and all the work that was done was in keeping with a heritage building. The Town of Virden owns the station, purchasing it following the station's designation as a heritage site in 1988. The Canadian Pacific Heritage Fund donated $32,000 in the form of a grant to help with the work on the station. This in itself is impressive, since Virden's grant was one of only 20 approved out of 19 2 applications as first-ever recipients of the Canadian Pacific Heritage Fund grants.

The Virden Community Arts Council also implemented a Buy a Stone fundraising campaign to raise funds for the project. As well, other funds came from the Virden Area Foundation, the Town of Virden, Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Tourism, the Canadian Millennium Partnership Fund, and donations from the Virden Lions Club. Not only has the Virden Community Arts Council restored the building to its original glory, they have also added a new boardwalk around the station, and gardens are in the planning.

Through their hard work, this council has provided the citizens of Virden with a new tourist attraction and focal point for the community. The grand opening of the station is planned for July 19 of this year. I commend all the members of the Virden Community Arts Council who worked so diligently to protect and restore one of Virden's landmarks, and I wish them all the best in their future endeavours. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. ORDERS OF THE DAY Hon. Gord Mackintosh (Government House Leader): Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs (Ms. Friesen), that Mr.

Speaker do now leave the Chair and the House resolve itself into a committee to consider of the Supply to be granted to Her Majesty. Motion agreed to. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY (Concu rrent Sections) CULTURE, HERITAGE AND TOURISM * (1 4:4 0) Mr. Cha irperson (Harry Schellenberg): Will the Committee of Supply please come to order. This

section of the Committee of Supply will be considering the Estimates of the Department of Culture, Heritage and Tourism. Does the Honourable Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism have an opening statement? Hon. Diane McGifford (Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism): Yes, Mr. Chair. Today it is my privilege to submit Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Tourism's Estimates for 2000-2001 to this committee for review. Last fall, when the Department was reorganized and renamed, its mandate changed.

The Citizenship and Multiculturalism Division was transferred to Manitoba Labour, and the Tourism Division moved from Industry, Trade and Tourism to join Culture and Heritage. This mandate has further broadened with the recent addition of the Manitoba Seniors Directorate.

Included in my department's mandate is the responsibility for support to Manitoba's culture community, arts funding, the operation of Manitoba's public libraries, the management of the Government's Web site, the preservation of our province's historic resources, film and video classification, the promotion of recreation and wellness opportunities, provision of access to

June 13, 2000 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2555 government's archival library resources and numerous tourist initiatives. Each of the department's many programs and services contributes to the quality of life Manitobans enjoy, to our sense of place and our identity, to the health and well-being of Manitobans and to the richness of our cultural heritage. The Department comprises the following divisions: Administration and Finance; Culture, Heritage and Recreation Programs; Information Resources; Provincial Services and Tourism, as well as the Manitoba Seniors Directorate.

I am going to begin by talking about the Cultural, Heritage and Recreation Programs Division. My department works in partnership with the community and other funding agencies and levels of government to play a supporting role on the cultural stage. Since assuming my portfolio, I have met with close to a hundred groups and organizations from Manitoba's cultural and heritage communities. These sectors continue to make tremendous social, cultural and economic contributions to Manitoba in every comer of the province. We celebrate the community's achievements.

I would like to begin by sharing with my colleagues in the Legislature some recent achievements of my department's clients. Manitoba Theatre for Young People opened its new theatre on October 13 , 1999; the Canwest Global Performing Arts Centre, a $5. 1-million facility, is the company's new home at The Forks. The Manitoba Chamber Orchestra travelled to Italy for a successful two-week performing tour in August of 19 99.

Maestro Bramwell Tovey, artistic director of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, was one of 19 winners of the 19 99 Chalmers A wards for artistic direction and one of the first recipients of the Order of Manitoba. The Chalmers A wards recognize excellence in theatre, dance, music, visual arts, documentary, film and video, artistic direction and arts administration. The first Prairie Music A wards Gala was held on October 17, 19 99, during Prairie Music Week. The awards recognized the work of mustctans from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Winnipeg author, Alissa York won the 19 99 Bronwen Wallace Award for her first book, Any Given Power, a collection of short stories. I might add, parenthetically, that Bronwen Wallace was one of my favourite poets, and I was pleased to be a member of a poetry collective that published Bronwen Wallace for the first time in Canada. The Winnipeg International Writers' Festival attracted record crowds to their October 1999 festival. Over 6500 people attended a variety of book readings by local and national authors.

The Manitoba Association of Playwrights celebrated their 20th anniversary by inviting drama tour groups from across the country to work with Manitoba playwrights Dale Lakefold, Elise Moore, Michael Bell, Henry Ritou and James Durham. Cercle Moliere celebrated its 75th anniversary with the year of Artistic Renewal for Francophone Theatre and Culture in Manitoba. On November 27, 19 99, the Centre Culture! franco-manitobain celebrated its 25th anniver sary with the official opening of the Culture! Centre's Hall of Fame.

The CBC has recently announced that they will produce a new series based on Manitoba playwright Ian Ross's character show from Winnipeg. Manitoba-born artist, Robert Houle, a professor of Aboriginal art at the Ontario College of Art held exhibits in the Pool of the Black Star and the Winnipeg Art Gallery to commemorate the Pan Am Games. Recently I had the opportunity to participate in the opening of the Hudson's Bay Collection Gallery at the Manitoba Museum. It is a stunning new facility that houses a fascinating collection of artifacts.

This collection, in conjunction with the Hudson's Bay's gift to the Manitoba Archives, will catapult the museum and Manitoba into the limelight as a leading tourism attraction and international research centre. I encourage you to visit both sites. * (1 4: 50) These events are just a sampling of activities that reflect the diversity in Manitoba's arts and cultural community. Manitoba is recognized as a leader in Canada for our quality of cultural activity and for our high level of participation in the arts. I am pleased to advise you that our government is maintaining its operating funding

2556 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA June 13 , 2000 for Manitoba's major arts and cultural institu tions. We recognize that a stable fiscal environ ment will allow the cultural sector to continue to operate at the highest levels. My department is again providing a special award to the Manitoba Arts Council. In 199 9-2000, the Council established a special fund known as Bridges which has awarded 23 grants to individual artists and arts organizations in Manitoba for special projects designed to stabilize, promote and further artistic efforts.

In partnership with the Manitoba Arts Council, the Department is working closely with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Manitoba Opera on strategies to ensure the long term financial health of these important organizations. Since the demands for capital repairs and constructions place significant strains on the province's resources, my department intends to continue to place a high priority on the maintenance of the capital infrastructure for Manitoba's cultural and heritage communities.

Capital projects for 2000-2001 include major roof repairs to Le Centre Culture) franco manitobain, replacement of the freon-based chiller system at the Winnipeg Art Gallery with a system which meets current environmental standards, completion of cladding repairs at the Manitoba Museum and upgrades to the Cen tennial Concert Hall, Manitoba Theatre Centre and Manitoba Theatre Centre Warehouse. I would like now to highlight other activities my department's Arts branch will undertake in 2000-2001. Community-based arts activity is continuing to grow throughout Manitoba.

My department is responding to this growth with increased support for programs that enable rural community arts councils and provincial arts development organizations such as the Manitoba Band Association and Dance Manitoba to continue their work. Our support to these and other community arts organizations will result in the annual delivery of over 800 000 student hours of community-based arts instruction throughout our province and over 800 performances and exhibits in rural Manitoba alone.

We are particularly pleased to assist the Manitoba Arts Network sponsorship of a tour by local professional musicians to 16 northern and remote Manitoba communities this fall. The tour is also sponsored by the Performers Trust Fund in New York. In 2000-2001, my department will continue to assist the arts and cultural industries' growing contribution to the economic well-being of our province. We will support innovative marketing initiatives by local art galleries.

We are pleased to increase our annual commitment to the Manitoba Crafts Council to assist its exceptional work in promoting and developing Manitoba artisans and craft people. Our ongoing support to the Manitoba Film and Sound Recording Development Corporation, the National Screen Institute and the Manitoba Motion Picture Industries Association will increase Manitoba's potential as an important film production centre in western Canada. The Manitoba Film and Video Production Tax Credit program provides necessary resources and incentives for increased production by Manitoba film companies.

It is estimated that in 2000-2001 the tax credit program will return approximately $5 million to Manitoba film production companies for reinvestment in future projects. Through the tax credit, Manitobans have access to film training opportunities provided by the most qualified training staff and mentors. My department is also working to ensure that the Francophone segment of Manitoba's film and video industry is well positioned for growth. In April, I had the pleasure of announcing the province's support to a new IMAX project currently in development by la Societe de communication du Manitoba.

The film Voyageurs: Legend of the Paddle is a $7.2- million film that will begin shooting this summer. Manitoba's literary arts sector is another positive contributor to our cultural industries and to Manitoba's unique cultural identity. Book publishing is firmly established as a $3- million industry, and the sector continues to grow. My department's book publisher support programs help Manitoba book publishers expand mar keting, improve operations and develop new product lines.

June 13, 2000 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2557 Recently, at the annual literary and publishing awards gala, Brave New Words, I had the honour of announcing two new provincially sponsored annual book awards, the Margaret Laurence Award for the best work in fiction, and the Alexander Kennedy Isbister Award for the best work in nonfiction. These awards offer tangible evidence of the government's respect for Manitoba's wealth of literary talent. Manitobans value their libraries as community centres that support the open com munication of ideas and information.

Libraries provide materials and services for all, imaginative story books for the youngest child, literacy materials for adults seeking to change their lives, Internet access to an incalculable range of information worldwide and practical information that helps people make good choices in their everyday lives. Our Public Library Services branch works to strengthen the delivery of library services through the Province. I would like to tell you about some of their recent activities and accomplishments.

Public Library Services successfully negotiated with the Bill and Melinda Gates Learning Foundation and secured a grant of $1 .1 4 million for computer equipment, software, training and technical support to enhance public access to the Internet. Forty-six Manitoba public library branches met the eligibility requirements for the program which began implementation on April 1, 2000. Installation will be complete by September of this year.

The Manitoba Public Libraries Information Network known as MAPLIN is now accessible via the Internet to all 52 of Manitoba's municipal and regional public libraries-open shelf, books by mail, clients and the general public. Public Libraries Services staff recently developed a program called Cataloguing Robot that searches the Internet for library cataloguing records. This program is expected to produce considerable cataloguing cost saving for Manitoba's public libraries.

Public Library Services and the Winnipeg Public Library have developed an electronic link that will allow them to share resources and reduce cataloguing costs. I am very proud to say that Public Library Services was awarded Industry Canada's Literary Net Best Practices 1999 award for innovative use of the Internet by the Canadian public libraries. My department, through the Public Library Services branch, is taking a leading role in developing programs and technology that will facilitate the imple mentation of the Manitoba library, a province wide library resource-sharing network.

Now to Historic Resources, the Historic Resources branch. The citizens of Manitoba are keenly interested in their heritage. They demonstrate their commitment daily through volunteer work, educational pursuits, donations, and through the organizations and institutions that safeguard and promote the province's rich legacy. There is a unifying belief that heritage can be a source of pride for all people, irrespective of race, religion, language or social position. By sharing our achievements, we build community pride and provincial cultural identity.

We also provide a firm base for sharing with visitors and celebrating with one another Manitoba's unique quality and character.

Receiving support from my department for their conservation and heritage awareness work are over 15 municipal heritage advisory committees established under The Heritage Resources Act, over a hundred community museums and more than 200 active heritage organizations in Manitoba My staff offer technical services to community groups and individuals undertaking heritage projects ranging from architectural restoration to historical research, archaeological assessments, legal protection of sites, commemorative celebrations as well as museum conservation and heritage awareness activities. * (1 5:00) On Manitoba Day, May 12 , I was pleased to launch the Historic Resources branch Web site, which makes information about our provincially and municipally protected heritage sites available to the world.

The heritage site also includes useful how-to information for many individuals and organizations involved in identifying, protecting and interpreting our province's heritage.

2558 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA June 13, 2000 Shortly, archaeological staff from my department will begin the fifth year of the Department's current five-year agreement with Manitoba Hydro. The agreement is to assess the effects of flooding along the Churchill River diversion system where fluctuating water levels have a severe impact on archaeological and gravesites. I am pleased to report that the work of the tripartite committee on the Exchange District in Winnipeg is progressing well.

The unique commemorative qualities of Manitoba's only nationally recognized historic district have been identified to guide future development decisions. Currently under discussion is the sharing of data base information on specific buildings, funding and interpretive programming. We are also exploring potential world heritage site designation.

Another significant opportunity for heritage conservation and development is Manitoba's Red River Valley where there is the highest concentration of earliest authentic heritage resources from the fur trade, early European and Metis agriculture settlement area in Manitoba, western Canada and the northwestern United States. These resources create an opportunity for a unique tourism marketing destination: the Red River corridor river cities linking communities from Emerson to Lake Winnipeg.

My staff is working with other departments, the City of Winnipeg, as well as federal and local governments to develop this exciting concept into a reality. We will support heritage organizations funded by the Department to develop leadership and identify opportunities for co-operative action. We will encourage sus tainability for all heritage projects undertaken by provincial agencies or cost-shared with other levels of government and partnerships with the heritage community. Heritage is a shared responsibility involving individuals, organizations, communities, and all levels of government.

My department through the Hi storic Resources branch seeks to integrate heritage planning and good conservation practices into economic development and quality of life objectives pursued by the public and private sectors. Another active component of the Depart ment this year has been a Recreation and Wellness Promotion Branch. I have had the opportunity to meet with representatives of provincial recreation and fitness organizations, recreation practitioners and community leaders.

They have discussed with me the benefits of healthy, active lifestyles and their positive impact on individual Manitobans and on communities. They have also emphasized the importance of maintaining and developing recreational facilities. Active involvement in recreation and community activity helps people live longer and better. In addition, it contributes significantly to the development of leadership skills and self-esteem on the part of young people, while reducing self-destructive be haviour and negative social activity, such as smoking, substance abuse, gang activity, crime. teenage pregnancy, and suicide.

With the benefit of recreation in mind, my department remains committed to reducing the numbers of physically inactive Manitobans, a goal shared by my colleagues across this country. In February 2000, winter active events were held at The Forks in Winnipeg, highlighting winter activities, demonstrations, and exhibits. During SummerActive 2000, approximately 15 00 children participated in various recreation activities at the Harbour View Recreation Complex in Winnipeg. A major component of Summer, Winter Active is the distribution of information to com munity organizations and schools throughout Manitoba.

These resources encourage organiza tions and leaders to organize events and activities that promote healthy, active living. Young people are a high priority of my department. A workshop resource kit entitled "Workshop Resources on Chil dren and Youth" was developed and distributed to all recreation directors in rural and northern Manitoba. The kit encourages the delivery of many different workshops including some on the issues of at risk children and youth. The prevention of harassment and abuse in sport and recreation is also a vital concern. My department is committed to safe, welcoming

June 13, 2000 LEGI SLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2559 environments for participation in recreational opportunities. We are working with a collective of concerned agencies and government depart ments to address this issue and will be involved in a series of regional workshops on this topic over the coming months. Barriers to recreation opportunities for Aboriginal people are a serious concern. My department supports the Manitoba Aboriginal Sport and Recreation Council's efforts to address issues in recreation and sport for Aboriginal people in Manitoba.

As we celebrate the new millennium, my department is working closely with the Manitoba Recreational Trails Association and local trail associations on a project that will see the completion of the Trans Canada Trail in Manitoba. We have provided a millennium grant of $2. 125 million to the trails association towards the development of pavilions, trail markers, interpretive materials, signage, and to assist in the monumental task of developing trails. A component of this project will develop multipurpose trails that are not a part of the Trans-Canada Trail. Tourism Division.

Our province's tourism industry is very successful largely due to Manitoba's cultural assets, natural beauty, and Manitobans' welcoming spirit. The industry currently provides more than 57 000 jobs annually, or approximately 3000 full-time equivalent positions, and brings in an estimated $990 million in tourist dollars. This industry generates over $3 50 million in taxes annually for the three levels of government. Tourism is also one of Manitoba's strong export industries insofar as over $400 million in annual tourism expenditures come from outside the province.

A growing number of visitors are travelling to and within Manitoba each year. The Division is committed to encouraging even more visitors to come to the province to explore Manitoba's eight tourism regions. I would now like to highlight some recent accomplishments of our tourism industry. On April 28, 2000, two Manitoba tourism attractions were national winners at the Attractions Canada Awards 2000. Oak Hammock Marsh was chosen as a national award recipient in the outdoor site category and Asessippi Ski Hill and Winter Park was the national award recipient in the new attractions category.

Attractions Canada Awards recognize and promote the unique character of Canada's many attractions. Manitobans will play host to a number of major events this year. These include the AT&T Canada Senior Golf Open in August 2000. This is the only foreign national golf championship on the Senior PGA Tour. It will be held here in Winnipeg at the St. Charles Golf and Country Club. Over 50 teams from across Canada will compete in the Aboriginal Sport and Recreation softball tournament in July. As well, Winnipeg will host the AAA Senior Softball World Championships in August.

The Division continues to work with Manitoba's tourism industry to promote Manitoba as a four season destination, encourage new and improved tourist product development and provide timely information to our visitors. Tourism is a priority area for economic development, with a focus on the areas of eco tourism, outdoor adventure, Aboriginal tourism, major events, culture heritage attractions, and agritourism. Adventure, travel and ecotourism have been identified as primary growth areas in the next century by the World Tourism Organization.

Manitoba is developing an adventure travel and ecotourism policy framework strategy in consultation with an interdepartmental working group. This strategy will enhance tourism opportunities from the Red River Valley to the Churchill basin. * (1 5: 10) We are also working with local communities to develop a network of trail initiatives to develop opportunities for ecotourism. These projects will expand opportunities for hiking and cycling in the summer, and skiing and snowmobiling in the winter.

Work is well underway on a provincial trails policy to address all matters related to trail development, including acquisition, maintenance, conversion of rails to trails, and liability insurance. The abundance of wildlife in natural areas in Manitoba creates opportunities to promote environmental education and appreciation for the

2560 LEGI SLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA June 13, 2000 variety of species and habitat found in the province. Ecologically sensitive wildlife corridor tours showcasing mule deer, bison, and other wildlife would also meet these objectives. Opportunities to experience Aboriginal culture are also plentiful in the province. Working with First Nations organizations, such as the Manitoba Aboriginal Tourism Associ ation, we will help expand this promising sector. Efforts in tourism and research will be expanded to gain further insight into market demands and travel trends.

We want to ensure that our marketing efforts and product develop ment activities reflect growth opportunities in the marketplace. The Tourism Development branch leads and co-ordinates tourism develop ment in the province. Branch consultants assist the industry in planning new and expanding tourism facilities, accommodations, attractions and services, and in ensuring quality service standards and improved marketing strategies.

The Tourism Product Development Program provides grant support to Manitoba's tourism industry for new capital and market development projects, strategic studies, and regional develop ment.

Financial support is available to help foster tourism development, focussing on increasing the number and type of viable tourism experiences available, based on Manitoba's assets of regional and/or community strengths and evolving markets, generating new tourism revenues for the province, communities and local businesses, and creating long-term tourism job opportunities, and ensuring that Manitoba's tourism products are of a standard and quality to compete effectively in the world marketplace.

A regional tourism program has been established to stimulate tourism growth in Manitoba's rural and northern tourism regions. The program provides for 50% matching funds for rural initiatives that result in new partner ships, stimulate local investment, and support strategic planning and marketing activities. The marketing branch of the Tourism Division, known by the industry as Travel Manitoba, will continue to promote Manitoba aggressively in our primary and secondary markets in partnership with the tourism industry and other government departments.

A strong multimedia advertising campaign focusses on a call to action by using the 1- 800 toll free number and the Travel Manitoba Web site address. Travel Manitoba's Web site www.travelmanitoba.com has become a major marketing tool, reflecting the new consumer preference for on-line travel information. The site will be strengthened to offer a guided tour to Manitoba's tourism sites, festivals, and natural and historic corridors, and to encourage visitors to come to our province and prolong their stays, as well as to provide a direct service to visitors to the site.

The Travel established links Manitoba site has also to hundreds of tourism operators' sites, successfully directing visitors to Manitoba businesses. With site traffic exceeding I 00 000 hits per month, Travel Manitoba's Internet presence has further enhanced ongoing support of the tourism sector. We have also initiated a major research study of our primary markets of Minnesota and North Dakota in the U.S . and of Saskatchewan and Ontario in Canada.

The aim is to get better information on visitors and potential consumers from those markets, including their product attraction, destination and activity preferences, likes and dislikes, modes of travel. This will help us better target our future marketing campaigns in those markets as well as in our market development activities. In addition to advertising, Travel Manitoba undertakes a number of other marketing activities. These include the media tour program, which brings in over $6.61 million worth of advertising value a year.

Media tours focus on all facets of Manitoba's tourism industry, including hunting and fishing destinations, Churchill, Winnipeg, festivals and events, parks and outdoor adventure. Trade shows. Travel Manitoba participates in over 50 trade shows across Canada and the Un ited States each year. Fam tours. In co-operation with industry partners, Travel Manitoba hosts travel/trade familiarization tours which generate hundreds of trade leads and facilitate the development of new package tours.

June 13 , 2000 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2561 Master Angler Program. Manitoba's world famous Master Angler Program keeps anglers coming back year after year to catch and release one of 28 qualifying fish species. Approximately 12 000 anglers register with the program each year. Travel Values program, offered in partner ship with tourism operators, Imperial Oil, Esso, and Travel Manitoba involves distribution of an annual coupon book offering visitors savings on accommodations, attractions, and dining.

In addition, the Tourism Division operates three year-round and four seasonal visitor information centres at major points of entry to the province, including our flagship, Explore Manitoba centre, at The Forks. As well, the Division operates a toll-free telephone centre and fulfilment centre that distributes 1. 3 million pieces of tourism marketing material each year. Information Resources Division. I would like to address the work of the department's Information Resources Division.

Information Resources continues to work with the govern ment departments to manage government com munications, budgets effectively. It continues to reduce cost by blanket tendering for standard printing services and annual media rate contracts. The Division also offsets the cost of government publications by including paid advertising and sponsorships where appropriate. The Information Resources Division works with the Office oflnformation Technology to manage the content of the Government of Manitoba Web site.

The site has grown in popularity and size during the past year, receiving over ten million hits, and making over 30 000 pages of on-line public information available to Manitobans. The Division has also worked with all government departments to implement a new Web design that is formatted by topic rather than by department. The new design allows Web browsers to find government information more quickly. The new design has portals that feature government Web pages in five basic themes: Travel and Immigration, Business, Government, Living in Manitoba, and Working in Manitoba.

As the number of people using the World Wide Web continues to grow, the expectation for more on-line government services also increases. IRD is working with the Office of Information Technology and all government departments to increase the on-line services available on the Manitoba Web site. This past year several new on-line services have been introduced, including new map sales, campsite reservations, on-line access to the Statutes of Manitoba, and distribution of other government publications. Further expansion of on-line services is planned for the coming year.

I am pleased that my department is a strong participant in the current on-line service offerings through statutory publications, Travel Manitoba, the government news release site, and the wealth of information provided by the Provincial Archives. * (1 5:20) Provincial Services. The Freedom of Infor mation and Protection of Privacy Act now applies to all public bodies in Manitoba. The City of Winnipeg carne under the Act at the end of August 19 98, and all municipalities, school divisions, health authorities, and other designated public bodies on April 3, 2000.

Departmental staff travelled throughout the province to deliver information sessions or training workshops to more than 4000 elected and appointed officials prior to proclamation. Extending The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act to all public bodies has made it possible for Manitobans to a ccess information held by local governments, school, and health authorities, and to know that their personal information is protected by these same authorities.

Having established these basic principles within local public bodies in Manitoba, we have recently announced that we will be undertaking a legislative review of the Act. We want to hear from Manitobans to understand from their perspective what these principles mean to them, and how in their view this legislation supports those principles. As part of its responsibility to manage corporate records, the Provincial Archives is addressing the issue of how to identify, capture, and preserve documents created or received by government offices in electronic formats.

With the Office of Information Technology, the Archives is currently leading a pilot in my

2562 LEGI SLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA June 13, 2000 department that will contribute to the definition of government policy on managing electronic records. This work is at the forefront of concern in many public jurisdictions, as day-to-day business transactions are carried out using computer technology. In June of this year more than a hundred international librarians, archivists, and circum polar scholars wiii attend a week in Winnipeg as part of the 18th biennial meeting of the Polar Libraries Colloquy. In fact, it began yesterday and will continue this week.

This year the Hudson Bay Company's Archives wiii host the colloquy where research opportunities for studying life in polar regions wiii be explored. The company archives, which have been in Winnipeg since 1974 and owned by Manitoba since 19 94, is a rich resource of historical information on northern lands since the late I 7th century. Culture, Heritage and Tourism continues to pursue initiatives that respond to the recom mendations of the Cartier report on French Language Services. Productions of translated materials rea ched a record level last year.

Manitoba's Francophones are increasingly accessing service in the official language of their choice through translations of public information and government Web sites as well as educational materials. They are able to view with optimism the progress being made in government's response to their needs. The Film Classification Board classifies films and videos in order to make information available on the viewing choices available to parents and their families.

The Board has been working closely with other jurisdictions to develop standard classification categories that are the same or very similar from province to province. As well, the Board has been developing an Internet Web site that wiii allow Manitobans using a public access or home computer to search the title of a film or video to find its Manitoba classification and other information that the Board provides about its content. Next I would like to turn attention to the Manitoba Seniors Directorate, my department's newest member.

The number of Manitoba seniors is now over 15 6 000 and is expected to increase dramatically in the years to come. By 2021 our seniors population is projected to increase to 231 200. Due to this increase it is important to provide more information and education to seniors and the community regarding their changing needs and expectations. As the Minister responsible for Seniors, I feel that now more than ever before it is important that seniors issues be discussed and taken into account at the Cabinet table.

The Seniors Directorate works closely with seniors in the community as well as government departments to ensure that policies and programs reflect changing individual and societal needs. The Seniors Directorate activities take many forms. The Seniors Information Line continues to be well used by Manitoba seniors and their families, who view it as a convenient way to access information and assistance. Last year there were 5500 calls from seniors and their families. Directorate staff support the Manitoba Council on Aging and its function as an advisory body to the Minister responsible for Seniors.

The Council is a vital link between older Manitobans and government. The Council has been re viewing such important issues as telemarketing fraud, medicine use, housing and caregiving. The Directorate continues to take the lead in addressing elder abuse. To date our Elder Abuse line has received 119 calls. It has provided confidential information and referral not only to victims but to families and professionals. Our elder abuse consultant continues to work with regional health authorities and the community in order to provide education and training to both seniors and service providers.

Thus far, 49 communities, including Winnipeg, have met to look at possible elder abuse strategies. Abuse of the elderly is a multifaceted problem which we will continue to work on within our communities. The Directorate continues to provide Through Other Eyes, a training workshop designed to foster increased interaction between generations and to promote a better under-

June 13, 2000 LEGI SLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2563 standing of the needs of older people. We have delivered workshops to retail banking and government departments who have identified extensive interaction with seniors. This two-hour workshop has recently been adopted for use in training health care students and high school students who work with seniors in the community. As part of its education mandate, the Seniors Directorate offers training, workshops and presentations.

Money Matters is a training session designed by seniors and personnel of financial institutions regarding the financial abuse of older seniors. The Directorate is working with the Canadian Bankers Association to provide training to financial institution personnel that serve a high number of senior clientele. This new initiative is targeted to provide direct financial service providers with information to assess, plan, and intervene on behalf of senior clients.

A safety and security workshop for seniors raises their awareness about safety issues such as cons and frauds, elder and financial abuse, and safety in the home, car, and on the street. Another workshop, Older Workers in the Workplace, deals with the value of older workers and the issues they face. It is facilitated for employers, older workers, professionals interested in an aging work force, and also unions. The Directorate also provides workshops on options for retirement and positive aging.

Older and Wiser Driver workshops are being given in co-operation with the Division of Driver and Vehicle Licencing at senior centres and senior housing throughout Manitoba. The Directorate develops and distributes educational materials in both official languages about services, resources, and issues identified as important by seniors, their families, seniors organizations, and the community.

These include such publications, videos, workshops, and conferences designed for seniors and service providers as the Manitoba Seniors Guide, Legal Information Guide for Seniors, Safety and Security guide for seniors, Questions to Ask Your Doctor & Pharmacist, Older and Wiser Driver, Respect for Seniors, Seniors Source Newsletter; fact sheets including Powers of Attorney, Manitoba's Council on Aging, Apartment Security, Replacing Lost J.D.

Cards, Seniors and Active Living; a biannual update of the seniors programs and policy data base; bimonthly and monthly ministerial newspaper columns in the MSOS Journal and Prime Time; educational initiatives for school age students, for example, Seniors Are Cool; and video training to financial institutional personnel that serve a high number of seniors. June is seniors month. It gives an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of older Manitobans, and to recognize the extent to which their contributions have shaped our lives.

My columns in Prime Time and the MSOS Journal continue to receive positive responses from seniors, who tell me they find these articles a good way to obtain information about programs and initiatives. In celebration of the International Year of the Older Person, a special edition of the Seniors Guide was produced. Over 30 000 copies were distributed. The $1 25,000 in grant funding provided in recognition of the International Year of the Older Person was used for projects such as international workshops, seminars, forums and conferences, self-help, peer-support, and lifestyle projects, and celebration activities.

There were 274 applica tions submitted, and 204 Manitoban com munities benefited from this initiative. The projects were varied with many leaving a lasting legacy for future generations. People all over the world celebrated and promoted the indepen dence, participation, care, self-fulfilment, and dignity of older persons. In September 19 99, a community-based committee known as Active Living Coalition for Older Adults in Manitoba hosted the Active Living summit. The purpose was to develop a model to promote healthy, active living for older adults in Manitoba.

More than 15 0 key provincial seniors leaders expressed an interest in practising and promoting healthy activity living in their areas. * (1 5: 30) One of the projects, which promotes intergenerational respect and support, is the Council on Aging's video, Seniors Are Cool. It is aimed at students Grades 5-8. It tackles four of the most prevalent myths about aging:

(1) Older people are slow, boring, and, most of all, helpless; (2) all older people retire at 65;

(3) 2564 LEGI SLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA June 13, 2000 older people are too old to contribute to the community; and (4) older people are grouchy and do not like children. Through the use of this video, students have gained more insight and respect for older people. Through federal, provincial, territorial initiatives, the Seniors Directorate tries to ensure that national policies and programs meet the needs of our seniors.

The Directorate has an active role on the following federal, provincial and territorial policy and review development committees: technology, International Year of the Older Person, safety and security, older women, national framework on aging, and telemarketing fraud. Additional initiatives are required to help ensure a better quality of life for older women, those who are over 75 years of age, more than likely widowed, and on a limited income. We see more frail, elderly women with more complex health problems at these lower income levels, who need assistance to improve the quality of their lives.

Aging is a normal part of the life process. A number of factors, such as social-economic status, biological and genetic facts, and lifestyle determine health status. Over 50 percent of Manitoba seniors report that their health status is good or excellent. On the other hand, about the same percentage have chronic health problems that are not necessarily life threatening. Conditions such as arthritis, hearing loss, back problems and cataracts limit the quality of life. The Seniors Directorate continues to play an important role in helping seniors maintain their independence and quality of life.

In conclusion, I hope you can see from the examples I have presented today that Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Tourism plays a vital role in the lives of Manitobans and makes an enormous contribution to their quality of life. I am proud of my department's ability to produce positive results by working in partnership with so many different members of the community. We will continue to do so in the years to come and well beyond, so we can remain proud of our province's rich and diverse culture, our historic resources, our public library system, tourism opportunities and programs and services offered to seniors.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chairperson: We thank the Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism for those comments. Does the Official Opposition critic, the Honourable Member for Seine River, have any opening comments? Mrs. Louise Dacquay (Seine River): Yes, Mr. Chair, I do. I do have some opening remarks that I would like to place on the record, and I would like to thank the Minister responsible for Culture, Heritage and Tourism, as well as the Seniors Directorate and Status of Women for her opening comments.

The Department of Culture, Heritage and Tourism, as the Minister has alluded, provides a broad range of services to Manitobans. Some of them include: funding of the arts, the provision of the Community Places Program, film classification, protecting and preserving our heritage resources, supporting our diverse cultural community and promoting recreation and wellness opportunities. It is a department that is responsible for enhancing the high quality of life we often take for granted as Manitobans. There are a number of issues that I am looking forward to touching upon during the Estimates process.

Some of these include: the preservation of our considerable historic resources such as the Exchange District, the issue of development at The Forks, the creation of the Trans-Canada Trail and other millennium projects, the continuation of the Community Places Program, expanding tourism oppor tunities throughout the province, and promoting our arts and cultural communities. During the 1999 election, the new NDP party made a number of promises in the areas of culture, heritage and tourism.

Some of them included promoting Winnipeg as a main tourism designation, as well as new ventures in ecotourism, Aboriginal tourism, snowmobile tourism, wildlife tourism and strengthening the tourism industry overall with dedicated new college spaces for tourism training. To date, I have heard little from this government in terms of how it intends to fulfil all of these promises. As an example, some of

June 13 , 2000 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2565 the things I will be questioning are: What measures has this government taken in the areas of wildlife tourism or ecotourism? I commend this government for announcing the creation of two new literature awards, but I would also like to hear some announcements about how this government intends to stimulate tourism opportunities for Aboriginal peoples beyond the creation of casinos.

The Passport to Adventure 19 99 Tourism Conference was held in Winnipeg in November, but I have heard virtually nothing about how this government intends to build on the many creative ideas put forward at this conference. The Minister has also made changes to the membership of a number of organizations including: the Manitoba Heritage Council, the Film Classification Board, and the Women's Advisory Council. Whether these changes were needed is certainly open to debate, given the high calibre of people who had worked on these boards and councils in years past.

June is the time of the year when funding is announced for the Community Places Program. This initiative supports facility renewal and development initiatives of community organi zations, and I know the program has proven to be very beneficial in the past. I am hopeful that this government will recognize the strengths of this program and continue to support it. Community Places Program projects provide not only long-term cultural, recreation and social benefits, but they also stimulate the economy through direct job creation.

Our former government was proud to support the province's vibrant arts and cultural communities. The achievements of individual Manitobans and cultural organizations over the years has earned our province a global reputation for excellence in many disciplines. This diverse field also contributes significantly to Manitoba's strong economy at the local, the regional and the provincial levels. I am certain that this government recognizes the importance of this and will be developing new initiatives to increase this sector's viability. Manitoba has a rich artistic and cultural life.

The province's art community continues to demonstrate its tremendous social, cultural and economic value to the citizens of our province. It is critical that this government work in conjunction with community institutions to ensure the continuation of this vibrant legacy well into the 21 st century. I trust this government will find ways to help our arts and cultural institutions take their product to Manitobans whether they live in Winnipeg, Waskada, or Wabowden. You will also need to cultivate a good working relationship with the federal govern ment on issues related to arts, culture and heritage.

Manitoba is home to a number of unique attractions that are of interest both at home and at a national level. For example, the historic elevator row in Inglis comes to mind. Oak Hammock Marsh also has a reputation for attracting birders from afar. So too does the presence of the polar bears in Churchill draw visitors from around the world. It is important that we not only protect these resources but that we find sustainable ways to share them with other Canadians. Government assistance to the arts and cultural industries has paid dividends in recent years.

Programs aimed at stimulating the growth and development of the film and sound industry have been particularly successful. I am pleased that this government recognize the importance of the Manitoba Film And Video Production Tax Credit, but I would caution this government to be vigilant. Manitoba has much to offer film producers, but other provinces are also looking for their share of the burgeoning film production industry. * (1 5:40) The recent concern over the filming of the movie Ogopogo and New Brunswick's attempts to court this production certainly points out the highly competitive nature of this industry.

Manitoba may have prevailed, and I say "may have" after reading today's

article in the Winnipeg Free Press; however, the industry and the province must be prepared to adjust accordingly. I am looking forward to a discussion of the province's historic resources. Manitoba com-

2566 LEGI SLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA June 13 , 2000 munities certainly recognize the exciting potential of these assets as a resource of sustainable tourism development and economic growth. There has been considerable debate in recent months about the best ways to develop areas such as the Exchange District and The Forks, to mention only two. I am interested to hear what this government plans to do to preserve these resources for future generations. I was pleased to see the announcement regarding the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation regarding the province's library system.

The installation of additional publi c Internet computers within public libraries serving lower income areas will certainly prove beneficial. It is important that government continue to explore partnerships such as these to ensure that information technology is made available to all Manitobans, regardless of where they are geographically situated. I also recognize that the Government is continuing to provide support to Recreation and Wellness initiatives such as WinterActive and SummerActive.

The promotion of healthy and active lifestyles provides immeasurable benefits to both individuals and to our society as a whole. We know that physical activity is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways of improving the health of Manitobans, and government can play a very important role in promoting health and wellness initiatives. We are now a half-year into the new millennium. The dawning of the 21 st century creates a tremendous opportunity for Manitobans to celebrate our unique achievements to honour the pioneers past and present who have made this province such a rich and dynamic place to live.

All around the province, Manitobans continue to plan diverse and broad-ranging millennium projects. Manitobans have devoted a considerable degree of energy to these projects, and they do deserve recognition. I look forward to discussing millennium projects and this government's involvement in them. Government support for these valuable projects is not transpiring as was originally planned under the previous administration, and I am sure this government will be able to explain the rationale for the changes.

In years past we heard a lot from the Opposition about The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act or FIPPA. This legislation was designed to address the concerns of Manitobans about the privacy and protection of personal information held by government or other public bodies. It was also designed to provide a balance between the right of individuals to have their privacy respected and the right to access information held by government and other public bodies.

In recent months we have heard from a number of groups that the legislation is not being administered by this government as was intended by the previous administration. This no doubt will be an interesting area for discussion as well during these Estimates process. I have briefly outlined with these opening remarks that there are many areas to explore in the Department of Culture, Heritage and Tourism. I look forward to a thoughtful discussion of the Estimates of the Department of Culture, Heritage and Tourism, and I would like to thank the Minister in advance for her co operation.

I would also like to thank the departmental officials who will be called upon to supply their expertise to these discussions. Mr. Chairperson: We thank the Critic of the Official Opposition for those remarks. Under Manitoba practice, debate of the Minister's salary is traditionally the last item considered for the Estimates of a department. Accordingly, we shall defer consideration of this item and now proceed with the consideration of the next line. Before we do that, we invite the Minister's staff to join us at the table, and we ask that the Minister introduce her staff present. Ms. McGifford: Mr.

Chair, I am pleased to introduce the staff who have joined us at the table. First of all, on my immediate left Tom Carson, who is the Deputy Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism, and on Tom's left, Dave Patton, who is the Executive Director of Administration and Finance.

June 13, 2000 LEGI SLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2567 An Honourable Member: Hear, hear. Ms. McGifford: Exactly. Hear, hear. Mr. Chairperson: We thank the Minister for those introductions. We will now proceed to line 14 .1 . Administration and Finance (

b) Executive Support (1 ) Salaries and Employee Benefits $463, 100 on page 51 of the Main Estimates book. Shall the item pass? Mrs. Dacquay: We are on subappropriation 14 . Mr. Chairperson: We said page 51. We follow the Main Estimates book. The Supplementary book is for information only. Line l.( b). Mrs. Dacquay: I am not the only one who is going to be wanting to ask questions on some of these areas from the Opposition.

So my preference would be, if everybody is in agree ment, that I would like to speak and ask my questions on certain topics and then maybe defer to my colleagues before I actually pass those lines. I honestly do not know how in-depth their questions are going to be, and I just wonder if the Minister would be willing. I mean, I will go through the way they are listed here, but I would prefer not to pass them in case some of my colleagues have questions on those same lines. Mr. Chairperson: Is it the will of the committee to do a global di scussion on these topics and then pass all lines in Estimates at the end?

Ms. McGifford: Mr. Chair, we would prefer to go through the materials in the order in which it is listed. I can assure the Member that I will agree to answer questions after a line has been passed. One of the problems with going wiily nilly is we do not have all our staff here, as you can understand. So I think we are here in the spirit of co-operation, and we will try our best to answer our needs and your needs. Okay? * (15: 50) Mrs.

Dacquay: All right, and I will try to communicate with my colleagues to see specifically what areas, because I recognize that you do not have specific staff for each component of the Department here until that part appears in the supplementary report. So I would just ask if the Minister would today give me a little bit of latitude, so I can speak to my colleagues who I know want to ask questions so that I do not do anything untoward. This is a whole new experience for me, as well. Ms. McGifford: Certainly, Mr. Chair, I can agree with that.

I have been in that position, and I know that it can be somewhat di scom bobulating. So, yes, of course. Mrs. Dacquay: Under No. I, under the Managerial I, I assume that that is the salary line for the Deputy Minister. Is that correct? Ms. McGifford: Mr. Chair, excuse me for speaking before you called my name. Yes, the critic is right, that is the Deputy Minister. Mrs. Dacquay: I guess I will be a little facetious with this next question, but why does the newly appointed minister of Tourism, why is he taking a reduction in salary, not a large reduction, but a small reduction? Ms. McGifford: Mr.

Chair, I would like to assure the critic that she does not need to worry about the Deputy Minister for Culture, Heritage and Tourism. He is indeed not taking a reduction in salary. It is due to the fact that the way the calendar falls, there are actually I believe two fewer days that all employees in the civil service receive money for this year. So that is the explanation, but we do appreciate your concern. Mrs. Dacquay: Mr. Chair, I would be prepared to pass that line. I do not envision that my colleagues will have a lot of hard, fast questions on that. Mr. Chairperson: Line I4. l .(

b) Executive Support (

I) Salaries and Employee Benefits $463, 100. Mrs. Dacquay: Could the Minister please identify who the three individuals are who are identified under Professional/Technical, and, also, on that same line of questioning, if she could explain why there is a slight increase, year over year, for that line? Ms. McGifford: Yes, the Professional/Tech nical persons are my Special Assistant Judith

2568 LEGIS LATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA June 13 , 2000 Baldwin, Executive Assistant Doreen Wilson, as weB as the Administra tive Assistant to the Deputy Minister Laura Shwetz. As to why there is an increase in salary, I wilJ confer. The difference is apparently attr ibuted to merit. Mrs. Dacquay: Yes, and likewise under the Administra tive Support, five employees identi fied. Ms. McGifford: Excuse me again, those employees would be Ros alie Pra wdzik, Linda Kuhn, Rema Chandran, Bev Beck and Sheilagh Hooper. Mrs. Dacquay: I assume that those are a11 employees in the Minister' s office? Ms.

McGifford: Three of those individuals work in the Minister's office and two in the Deputy Minister's office. Mrs. Dacquay: That ends my line of questioning under that

Section I, and I would be prepared to pass that line. Mr. Chairpersoa: I4 .l .(

b) Executive Support (

I) Salaries and Employee Benefits $463,I OO pass. Line I4 .l .(

b) Executive Support

(2) Other Expenditures $74,200. ShaH the line pass? Mrs. Dacquay: Under Transporta tion, I noticed there is a slight increase. Could the Minister explain the reasoning for the increase? Ms. McGifford: Apparent ly the tra nsportation costs increase is based on the actual increase fr om last year, as opposed to the budgeted increase fr om last year or the estimated expenditure fr om last year. Mrs. Dacquay: I am wondering why there has been a decrease m the line reading Communications. Ms. McGifford: Again, the answer is the same.

They are actual costs based on last year' s, as opposed to what was budgeted last year. Perhaps that might be attri butable to the fact that I am an urban minister, so that there may be less long distance costs, et cetera. Mrs. Dacquay: I am prepared to pass the next line, Mr. Chair. Mr. Cha irperson: I4. l .{

b) Executive Support

(2) Other Expenditures $74,200-pass. We have next 14.I .(

c) Financial and Administra tive Services

(1) Salaries and Employee Benefits $I ,324,000. ShaH the line pass? Mrs. Dacquay: Under

(1) Salaries, once again the question is rela ted to the increase under Prof essional/Technical. I assume it is just changes in classification, but I would just like confirmation of that. Ms. McGifford: Again. those are merit in crea ses. Mrs. Dacquay: Mr. Chair person, I am prepared to pass that section. Mr. Chairperson: J.(

c) Financial and Administra tive Services

(1) Salaries and Employee Benefits $I ,324 ,000-pass. 1. ( c )

(2) Other Expenditures $323, I 00. Shall the line pass? Mrs. Dacquay: Under this

section there is a line identified as Other Opera ting. I know that there is a substantial increase year over year. I have two questions. What is included under Other Opera ting, and what is the explanation for the increase? Ms. McGifford: Well, perhaps I could first explain the increase. I understand the increase results fr om an increase in desktop management charges fr om the prov incial data network and that the worksta tion and the basic per seat costs have increased. Although this is partly offset by a reduction in electr onic mail charges, it still is an increase.

What else is included under Other Expenditures? Perhaps I could refer the member to page 76 at the back of her publication. She could see that under Other Operati ng it is defined and the various things that are included in that budget line are explained there . That might be helpful for when that term recurs.

June 13, 2000 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2569 * (16: 00) Mrs. Dacquay: This is specifically, though, for the Financial and Administra tive Services component of the department. Is that accura te? Ms. McGifford: Yes. That is accurate . Mrs. Dacquay: Do all of those items that could be identified as components under Other Opera ting apply to that branch? Ms. McGifford: Not all of them apply, I would like to tell the critic. For example, people in Financial and Administra tive Services, as the Member can deduce, do not have uniform s. Mrs.

Dacquay: So am I to understand that the bulk of the increase there was specifically due to computerization and desktop management? Ms. McGifford: Yes. That is the explanation. Mrs. Dacquay: Did that have anything to do with moving to the Better Systems computer method? Ms. McGifford: I understand that it is not BSI, but it is desktop management charges which are across government. Mrs. Dacquay: Mr. Chair, I am prepared to pass that line. Mr. Cha irperson: l. (c)

(2) Other Expenditures $323, I 00-pass. I. (

d) Manitoba Film Classification Board (

I) Salaries and Employee Benefits $I 57,900. Shall the line pass? Mrs. Dacquay: Yes, Mr. Chair, I have a question under this section. There is one individual identified under the Manitoba Film Classification Board in a managerial capacity. Could the Minister please identify who that individual is? Ms. McGifford: Thank you for the question. The individual is Ken Rodeck. Mrs. Dacquay: The Prof essional/Technical component there, I assume that includes clerical and other support to the Film Classification Board? Ms.

McGifford: I am advised by my officials that there are three positions, and that is clear in the text of the document. They are the video program co-ordinator, the inspector and the film pro jectionist. Mrs. Dacquay: I am prepared to pass that line. Mr. Chairperson: Line l. (

d) Manitoba Film Classification Board (

I) Salaries and Employee Benefits $I5 7,900-pass.

(2) Other Expenditures $279,400. Mrs. Dacquay: Under personnel services, is that the stipend that is paid to the Board? Ms. McGifford: Yes, I am advised that that is the stipend that is paid to the Board. Mrs. Dacquay: Could the Minister tell me the total composition of the Board in terms of -I do not need the names, I am more interested in the number. Ms. McG ifford: Mr. Chair, there are 2I member s of the curr ent Film Classification Board. Mrs. Dacquay: Mr.

Chair, under this same section, the Communications budget, I assume the reducti on there is pro je cting more actual figure year over year as opposed to pro jection. Ms. McGifford: The Member is right. I am advised that these are pro jected costs based on last year. Mrs. Dacquay: I am just going to back up for one minute. I have an additional question. Has the total number of members of the Board changed fr om the prev ious year? Ms. McGifford: I think that when I assumed office there were I9 or 20.

There had been, I believe, a complement of 22, but one or two individuals had resigned because of employment oppor tunities or other concerns. I do not mean concerns with their work on the Film Board, personal matters et cetera.

2570 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA June 13, 2000 If I could just add, Mr. Chair. I think that the Film Classification Board recommends appro xi mately 22 members on the Board, and that I am sure government s do their best to keep up with that, but people r esign for one reason or another, and so we are not always at 22. Mrs. Dacquay: I can appreciate that, and I thank the Minister for her response. Mr. Chair, I am prepared to- Mr. Chairperson: Pass lines? Mrs. Dacquay: I guess, did the Minister wish to add something further to that? * (16: 10 ) Ms. McGifford: Mr.

Chair, it has just been pointed out to me by the Executive Director of Finance and Administra tion that we are, according to the Amusement Act, to have not fewer than 16 members of the Film Classification Bo ard. So there is that figure, but there is not in fact a top figure. It is just recommended by the people who are very familiar with the work that we have 22. In fact, I think, the Act itself allows us to have as many as we want, but of course we are modest. Mrs. Dacquay: Mr. Chair, I am prepared to pass that line. Mr. Chairperson: Line l. (d)

(2) Other Expenditures $279,400-pass. Next we will move on to resolution 2.(

a) Executive Administra tion ( 1) Salaries and Employee Ben efits $285,10 0. Mrs. Dacquay: May I ask why we jumped fr om page 26 and 25, I next have page 27, the Culture, Heritage and Recrea tional Progra ms? Mr. Chairperson: I would like to inform the Member for Seine River that we cannot finalize the final line here, which is the total, until all these the lines below have been passed. Member for Seine River, what is your question? Mrs. Dacquay: Well, my question was I have some general questions. Am I not allowed to?

On page 27, rela tive to the totals, I recognize that there is furth er breakdown that ensues on pages 29, 31, 33, et cetera. Ms. McGifford: Per haps I could explain to the Member that the material on page 27 in her book is a congregate or a synopsis of information that is broken down on the succeeding pages so that Executive Administra tion, 14 .2.(a), is the informa tion. The figure of 366.3, for example, occurs at the bottom of the subappropriation 14 .2.(

a) on the next page. Mrs. Dacquay: Then under subappropriation 14 .2.(a)(

l) Salaries, my question is: Who is the manager of this

section of the Executive Administra tion, please? Ms. McGifford: Before answering the question, perhaps I could introduce Ann Hultgren-Ryan, who is Acting Assistant Deputy Minister today. In fact, our Assistant Deputy Minister Lou-Ann Buhr is the manageri al position that you asked about. She is not with us today. Mrs. Dacquay: The next line, the Prof essional/ Technical, could I please ask the Minister to explain the differenti al and the justification for the increase? I think I know the answer. but I will ask it anyway. Ms. McGifford: Once again, the reason for the difference is because of merit increases.

Mrs. Dacquay: I have no furth er questions under that line, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chairperson: Line 14 .2. Culture, Heritage and Recrea tion Progr ams (

a) Executi

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	37-1-44
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	37th 1st hansardpdf 44.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	d9064209ae70abdb34bc7feeb4d2a08b10199121

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