Manitoba Hansard — 5 March 1993 (Sitting 20, 35th Legislature, 4th Session)

35-4-20

Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

MG-8048 Fourth Session • Thirty-Fifth Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS {HANSARD) 41 Elizabeth II Published under the authority of The Honourable Denis C. Rocan Speaker VOL. XLII No. 20 ·10 a.m., FRIDAY, MARCH 5,1993 ISSN 0542-5492

MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thirty-Fifth Legislature Members, Constituencies and Political Affiliation NAME ALCOCK, Reg ASHTON, Steve BARRETT, Becky CARSTAIRS, Sharon CERILLI, Marianne CHEEMA, Guizar CHOMIAK, Dave CUMMINGS, Glen, Hon. DACQUAY, Louise DERKACH, Leonard, Hon. DEWAR, Gregory DOER, Gary DOWNEY, James, Hon. DRIEDGER, Albert, Hon. DUCHARME, Gerry, Hon. EDWARDS, Paul ENNS, Harry, Hon. ERNST, Jim, Hon. EVANS, Clif EVANS, Leonard S. FILMON, Gary, Hon. FINDLAY, Glen, Hon. FRIESEN, Jean GAUDRY, Neil GILLESHAMMER, Harold, Hon. GRAY, Avis HELWER, Edward R.

HICKES, George LAMOUREUX, Kevin LATHLIN, Oscar LAURENDEAU, Marcel MALOWAY, Jim MANNESS, Clayton, Hon. MARTINDALE, Doug McALPINE, Gerry McCRAE, James, Hon. MciNTOSH, Linda, Hon. MITCHELSON, Bonnie, Hon. NEUFELD, Harold ORCHARD, Donald, Hon. PALLISTER, Brian PENNER, Jack PLOHMAN, John PRAZNIK, Darren, Hon. REID, Daryl REIMER, Jack RENDER, Shirley ROCAN, Denis, Hon. ROSE, Bob SANTOS, Conrad STEFANSON, Eric, Hon. STORIE, Jerry SVEINSON, Ben VODREY, Rosemary, Hon. WASYL YCIA-LEIS, Judy WOWCHUK, Rosann Vacant CONSTITUENCY Osborne Thompson Wellington River Heights Radisson The Maples Kildonan Ste.

Rose Seine River Roblin-Russell Selkirk Concordia Arthur-Virden Steinbach Riel St. James Lakeside Charleswood Interlake Brandon East Tuxedo Springfield Wolseley St. Boniface Minnedosa Crescentwood Gimli Point Douglas Inkster The Pas St. Norbert Elmwood Morris Burrows Sturgeon Creek Brandon West Assiniboia River East Rossmere Pembina Portage Ia Prairie Emerson Dauphin Lac du Bonnet Transcona Niakwa St. Vital Gladstone Turtle Mountain Broadway Kirkfield Park Rin Ron La Verendrye Fort Garry St.

Johns Swan River Rupertsland PARTY Liberal NDP NDP Liberal NDP Liberal NDP PC PC PC NDP NDP PC PC PC Liberal PC PC NDP NDP PC PC NDP Liberal PC Liberal PC NDP Liberal NDP PC NDP PC NDP PC PC PC PC PC PC PC PC NDP PC NDP PC PC PC PC NDP PC NDP PC PC NDP NDP

807 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Friday, March 5, 1993 The House met at 10 a.m. PRAYERS ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS INT RODUCTION OF BILLS Bill 14-- The Personal Property security and Consequential Amendments Act Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Mr. Speak er, I mo ve, seconded by the honourable Minister of Finance (Mr.

Manness) , that Bill 14, The Personal Property Security and Consequential Amendments Act (Loi concernant les su retes relatives aux biens personnels et apportant des modifications correlatives a d'autres lois) , be introduced and that the sam e be now received and read a first time. His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, having been advised of the contents of this bill, recommends it to the House. Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the messa ge from the Lieutenant-Governor. Motion agreed to. Biii15-The Boxing and Wrestling Commission Act Hon. Jim Ernst (Minister of Urban Affairs): Mr.

Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism (Mr. Stefanson) , I move, seconded by the Minister of Govern ment Se rv ices (M r. Ducharme), that Bill 15, The Boxing and Wrestlin g Commissi on Act;

Loi sur Ia Commissi on de Ia boxe et de Ia lutte, be introduced and that the sam e be now received and read a first time. His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, having been advised of the contents of this bill, recomme nds it to the House. Motion agreed to. Mr. Speaker: The minister has also tabled a me ssa ge. Bi1116- The Public Schools Amendment Act Hon. Clayton Manness (Minister of Finance): Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Education (Mrs. Vodrey), I move, seconded by the Minister of Justice (Mr. McCrae), that Bill 16, The Public Schools Amendment Act (Loi modifiant Ia

Loi sur las ecoles publiques) , be introduced and that the sam e now be received and read a first time. Motion agreed to. * (1 005) Biii17-The Crown Lands Amendment Act Hon. Harry Enns (Minister of Natural Resources): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to move, seconded by the Minister of Labour (Mr. Praznik) , that Bill 17, The Crown Lands Amendment Act (Loi modifiant Ia

Loi sur les terres domaniales) , be introduced and that the same be now received and read a first time. Motion agreed to. ORAL QUESTION PERIOD Apotex Inc. Manitoba Plant Status Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Mr. Speaker, my question is to the First Minister. Mr. Speaker, on April 27 , 1992, the Premier stated that we are very happy to see Apotex mov ing ahead with a sta te-of-the-art, high-tech project. Commented Prem ier Film on, while unveilin g the artist's rendering of the new facilities, it will be very positive for Manitoba and western Canada.

We, too, were pleased with the announcement of the project in Manitoba and were very disappoi nted in the announcement of the cancellation or the delay of the plant in Manitoba. We were shocked to hear, a couple of weeks ago, and have confirm ed yesterday, thatApotex is now plann ing a multimillion dollar expansion of its generic drug developm ent in the province of Ontario. Can the Prem ier explain to the people of Manitoba where Apotex is with the province of Manitoba? What went wrong in terms of Apotex having that

808 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 5, 1993 multimillion dollar plant expansion in the province of Manitoba? Hon. Gary Fllmon (Premier): Mr. Spea ker , I, too, was surprised to hear the tenor of the news report. In checking into it this is not an announcement of a new expansion. This is one that has been constructed. In fact, what was announced was the ribbon cutting, so the investm ent commitment was made a couple of years ago and the official opening took place, or is taking place at the present time.

As the me mber knows full well, this governm ent was very instr umental in attracting Apotex to Manitoba. They invested som e $9 million to this point in their foundation of their plant. That matter was put on hold as a result of the federal le gislation on drug patents, le gislation which we have consistently fought, in fact, had the ministers appear at the federal parliam entary committee on this matter.

So we are as upset and continue to express that anger to the federal governm ent on that issue, but this one was som ething that amounts to the announcement of a ribbon cutting and opening of a facility that has been under construction well prior to this le gislation. Mr. Doer: Mr. Speaker, the Prem ier stated that the announcement this week was the continuation of an investm ent announcement that was made a couple of years ago. We are dealing with a company that is dealing with generic drugs.

We all agree, and certainly we have disagreed with the federal Conservative governm ent from Day One on their generic drug policy and their patent drug le gislation. We have not waive r ed for one moment on that, and we support the governm ent's position at the le gislative committee, the parliam entary committee on that issue. Can the Prem ier indicate to the people of Manitoba, in light of the investm ent announcement made last year by the Prem ier and the company, when we can expect the delay to end for Apotex inves tment in Manitoba?

When will the announcem ent that the Prem ier made and the company made come to fruition for the people of Manitoba? Mr. Filmon: As the me mber should know, that decision is made by the company, not by this provincial governm ent. This provincial governm ent obviously worked very dilige ntly. Dr. Sherm an has said publicly that they would not be here were it not for the efforts of this provincial gover nment and the competitive environm ent that we have put in place vis-a-vis business starts in this province.

The issue that they have is one of le gislation preventin g them from producing the particular product that was intended to be produced in this plant. That is the issue that they are still fighting with Ottawa. If that can be resolved to their satisfaction, then presum ably they will carry on with this plant, but they are, of course, becoming very, very political and intending to be involved in the next federal campaign to try. through the campaign, to convince all of the parties of Canada that this le gislation is inappropriate and is discriminatory to them. *

(1010) Mr. Doer: Mr. Speaker, I would point out to the Prem ier that the federal Conservative party intends on entrenching this le gislation in the NAFTA trade ag re em ent. in part of their continental trade agreem ent, which they plan on pass ing in the House of Commons prior to the next federal election, unfortunately. Red River Community College Course Cancellations Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Mr. Speaker, a final question to the Prem ier. We were quite shocked yesterday to hear the Minister of Education (Mrs.

Vodrey), in her defence of cutting courses on telecommunications in terms of the province, indicate the number of jobs each student was able to obtain follow ing the labour market demand for each of these courses-the cancellation of these courses was based on the future jobs in telecommunications. The Speech from the Throne in 1992, the Prem ier states: My gover nment has taken several steps to stren gthen the inform ation in the telecommunication industry.

Is there any co-ordinated stra tegy between the al le ged economic strategy of this governm ent and the alle ged educational and training strategy of this governm ent? How can the Prem ier allow courses to be cancelled in areas of the future for students when the Prem ier is saying two months earlier that that is one of the future areas of growth for the province of Manitoba? It does not fit.

March 5, 1993 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 809 Hon. Gary Fllmon (Premier): It may well be that the comments that were made were directed towards some of the other courses. The reductions in intake were on several course areas. I understand they included commercial cooking, refri geration and air conditioning and industrial electronics, so I would have to examine the comments and see whether they were to be applied to those areas. Red River Community College Course Cancellations Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Mr.

Speaker, in response to my question again yesterday on the cancellation of telecommunications courses, the minister did argue that one of the factors was the reduction of provision by the federal governm ent and also the absence of jobs. Indeed, her own tabled papers in this House, Manitoba job projections from 1990 to 2000, indicate that there will be a minus three loss in telecommunications jobs in Manitoba. Could the minister or the Premier (Mr. Film on), on her behalf, explain to us why there is this confusion in the labour force strategy of th"1s gover nment. Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Mr.

Speaker, I will take that question as notice on behalf of them inister. Ms. Friesen: Mr. Speaker, could I then ask the Prem ier to explain why another course was cancelled, the bakery course, when the most recent, I think last month's, publication of the Minister of Education's (Mrs. Vodrey) department, published in conjunction with the fe deral governm ent-which the minister also claims has reduced the payments for courses at Red River Colle ge-Prospects, a guide to training and employment, says that chef/cook is the hottest job, one of the hottest jobs of the '90s in Manitoba?

Could the Premier explain, on her behalf, where is the plan in this government? Mr. Fllmon: Given the confusion between the pream ble and the punch line of the mem ber for Wolseley, where she asks about bakery courses and then refers to chef/cooks, Mr. Speaker, I would have to take that as notice on behalf of the Minister of Education and Train ing to sort out the confusion that appears to be in the mind of the me mber for Wolseley. Ms. Friesen: Mr. Speaker, it is perhaps not my place to comme nt on how long it has been since the Premier has been in a kitchen, but I do believe that chefs have a-[interjection] *

(1015) Labour Force Development Government Commitment Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Could the Premier tell us then whether this lack of planning, this inability to produce a labour force stra tegy, the thre e-year delay in si gnin g a labour force dev elopment ag reement with the federal government, is a deliberate political strategy, or does it have anything to do with the loss of 1 ,300 jobs in the public service of Manitoba? Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): In response to the latter part of that question, the answer is, no, Mr. Speaker. I have to say, in response to the

preamble, that we have a sign on the fridge in our kitchen, and it says: This is an equal opportunity kitchen, help yourself. Mr. Speaker, with respect to the issue of the Canada-Manitoba Labour Force Development Agreement, I think the membe r knows quite well that that is an issue that we are very, very concerned about. It was one of the issues that I laid before the Prime Minister at a meeting that gained a little bit of publicity back in December. Mr. Speaker, we have been working very diligently on that.

In fact, the minister and I met with a federal minister and raised the issue again about 1 0 days ago, and I will be speakin g with yet another federal minister and raisin g that particular issue later today. Francophone Schools Governance Implementation Mr. Neil Gaudry (St. Boniface): Monsieur le president, rna question est pour le premier ministre et ministre responsable des Services en frangais. Suite a Ia decision de Ia Cour supreme rendue public hier, il n'y a plus d'equivoque possible quant au droit des Francophones du Manitoba de gerer leurs propres ecoles au travers d'une division scolaire autonome.

La Cour suprem e va aussi loin que de souli gner l'ur gence pour le gouvernement du Manitoba de passer immediatement a !'action et, Monsieur le president, perm ettez-moi de citer un court passa ge de Ia decision de Ia Cour, qui dit: ". .. les autorites manitobaines doivent, sans retard,

81 0 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 5, 1993 mettre en place un re gime et un systems qui permettront a Ia minorite francophone d'exercer pleinement ses droits .... " Et Ia Cour supreme continue en disant, et je cite encore: "Le nombre possible d'eleves de langue franc;aise justifie l'etablissement d'un conseil sc olaire de lan gue franc;aise autonome au Manito ba, dont Ia gestion et le controls appartiendront exclusivement a Ia minorit e linguistique francophone. " Fin de citation.

Monsieur le president, ma question au premie r ministre est Ia suivante: le premier ministre pou rrait -il annoncer au jourd'hu i dans cette Chambre si son gouvernement est pret a respecte r Ia decision de Ia Cour suprem e en modifiant le mandat du comite preside par !'h onorable Alfred Monnin d'un mandat de consultation par un mandat de mise en oeuvre de Ia gestion scolaire? [Translation] Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier and Minister responsible for French Language Services.

Following the Supreme Court decision released yesterday, there can no longer be any possible doubt as to the right of Manitoba Francophones to govern their own schools through an independent school division. The Supreme Court goes as far as to emphasize the urgency for the government of Manitoba to act immediately. Mr.

Speaker, allow me to cite a short passa ge from the Court's decisions, which reads: " ... the Manitoba authorities must, without delay, put into place a re gime and a system which permit the Franc ophone minority to exercise its rights effectively ... ." The Supreme Court continues: "The number of potential French-language students warrants the establishment of an independent French-l anguage school board in Manitoba under the exclusive management and control of the French-language minority. " Mr.

Speaker, my question to the Prem ier is as follows: Could the Prem ier announce today in this Chamber whethe� his governm ent is willing to respect the Supreme Court decision by amending the term s of reference of the group chaired by the Honourable Alfred Monnin from a mandate of consultation to a mandate of implem entation of school governance? Hon. Gary Fllmon (Premier): Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question.

I think he points out some of the frustrations that we as a government have because we accepted the decision of the Supreme Court with respect to the Mahe case when it came down and made a full commitment to implementation. We continue to acknowledge and be determined to implement the governance of French-language schools by the Francophone minority in our province.

What we are talking about and what there seems to be some disagreement about is how to implement it, because the committee that is headed by former Chief Justice Alfred Monnin is indeed an implementation committee, not a consultation committee, but in the process of implementation, they must consult the people as to how this will affect them and how it will be put in place.

The reality is that we are taking students out of a public school education sy stem and taking buildings and facilities out of a public school education system and putting them into a separate school system under the governance of the Francophone minority. In order to do that, there must be some consultation along the way to ensure that it is done in the best possible way for all people concerned. That is what the process is all about. That is what the commitment is all about. Nothing within the Supreme Court judgment has indicated that we ought not to proceed, and we are proceeding, Mr. Speaker.

The difficulty we have is that the Francophone minority parents' association is unwilling to co-operate and unwill ing to appoint their people to the committee. That is the only thing that is delaying the process. Mr. Gaudry: Ma question est pour le prem ier ministre. Monsieur le president, il est bien connu que quand un gouvernem ent ne veut pas agir, il consulte, il consulte.

Le prem ier ministre pourrait-il dire a cette Chambre quand son gouvernement va etablir un echeancier clair et precis afin d'indiquer aux Fr anco-Manito bains et aux Franco-Manitobaines si, oui ou non, leurs enfants iront a l'ecole de leur division scolaire de langue franc;aise, preferablem ent en 199 3 ou au plus tard en 199 4? [Translation] My question is for the Premier.

March 5, 1993 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 811 Mr. Speaker, it is well known that when a government does not want to act, it consults and consults. Could the Premier tell this Chamber when his government is going to establish a clear and precise time frame with a view to indicating to Franco-Manitobans whether or not their children will be going to a school in their French-language school division, preferably in 19 93 or at the latest, 19 94? Mr. Fllmon: Mr.

Speaker, as we have indicated before, because this process does take time to identify and separate out the students and the facilities from their current circumstances and put them under the aegis of a Francophone governance board, a separate board, in order to do it in a way that it can be accomplished properly, the target is that the elections will take place in September of this year and the students and facilities will be moved by September of '94. The only thing that can prevent that from happening is if we do not have the co-operation of the Francophone pa rents' association to accomplish that goal.

We are committed to it. We have the time

schedule set up, and it will be done, provided there is any degree of co-operation and willingness to act on the situation, Mr. Speaker. We are willing to act. It is not a matter of consultation. It is a matter of implementation, and we want to go ahe ad with it, Mr. Speaker. We implore the member, with his influence on the Francophone minority, to get them to the table to make sure that it happens. • (1 020) Mr. Gaudry: Ma question est pour le premier ministre.

La ministre de !' Education, qui apparaissait hier aux nouvelles de Ia television de Radio-Canada, a semble indiquer qu'il n'etait pas question que les Francophones monopolisent !'education en langue franqaise au Manitoba. Quelle explication le premier ministre peut-il donner a cette Chambre pour une telle contradiction qui est en conflit total avec Ia decision de Ia Cour supreme qui dit, et je cite: • ... l'etablissement d'un conseil scolaire de langue franqaise autonome au Manitoba, dont Ia gestion et le control e ap

part iendro nt ex cl usiv ement a Ia minor ite linguistique fra ncophone." Fin de citation. Comment le premier ministre peut-il se permettre de contredire le texte meme du jugement de Ia Cour supreme? [Translation] My question is for the Premier. The Minister of Education (Mrs. Vodrey), who appeared on CBC television news yesterday, seemed to be indicating that there was no question of Francophones monopol izing French-language education in Manitoba.

What explanation can the Premier give to this Chamber for such a contradiction, which is in total conflict with the Supreme Court decision which says: •. . . the establishment of an independent French-language school board in Manitoba under the exclusive manageme nt and control of the French-language minority. " How can the Premier allow himself to contradict the very text of the Supreme Court judgment? Mr. Fllmon: I in no way contradict the text of the Supreme Court, Mr. Speaker. We have many, many lawyers who work on the constitutional issues on behalf of this government. We have their assessment and

interpretation of what is a complex judgment but make some very, very basic points, and that is that the principles of the province's proposal respect both the Mahe decision and The Public Schools Act referenc e in this particular case, that the decision reinforces that

Section 23, parents are the ultimate decision-makers as to which system is best for their children. It did not endorse a top-down approach being advocated by the FPCP, Mr. Speaker. FPCP had argued for monopoly of a Francophone school board over all French-language instruction and facilities. The reference at the Supreme Court clearly contemplates the possibility of parental choice between systems, the Francophone board and the non-Francopho ne board. The only exclusive power is that the Francophone school board will be under the exclusive control of the minority Francophone community.

That is precisely what is provided for under our proposal, Mr. Speaker. We just want the Francophone minority to get to the table to work with former Chief Justice Monnin to implement that process. * (1 025) Health Care System Reform Impact on Employment Mr. Dave Chomlak (KIIdonan): Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health.

81 2 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 5, 1993 If the minister's multimillion-dollar consultant is going to save $65 million from the Health Sciences Centre and St. Boniface Hospital, as she proposes in her proposal, and since 70 to 80 percent of the costs of those institutions relate to personnel, will this not result in the loss of hundreds of jobs? Can this minister advise the House what his million-do!lar consultant has told him regarding the potential loss of jobs at the Health Sciences and St. Boniface centres? Hon. Donald Orchard (Minister of Health): Mr.

Speaker, I realize my honourable fri end is desperately trying to create an issue here. As I have said to my honourable friend, despite the fact that he has not had his information correct when he came to Question Period yesterday and before-1 accept that, because that seems to be the modus operandi. Mr. Speaker, I have indicated to my honourable friend that several things are in process. Approvals will follow if certain conditions and satisfactions are realized between the government, and very important to this equation, the two hospitals in question, namely St.

Boniface and Health Sciences Centre, that, I indicated to my honourable friend yesterday, should he phone them, he would find that they are encouraging government to retain this individual's service. In that regard, they have had substantia l discussion s internall y to their organizations with their respective employee representatives. Mr. Speaker, if my honourable friend could switch to some real issues in health care reform instead of trying to grab the glib headline, we would have a meaningful discussion, and we could then maybe discuss some of the suggestions he might want to- Mr. Speaker: Order, please.

Community-Based Services Mr. Dave Chomlak (KIIdonan): Mr. Speaker, will the minister make a commitment and a guarantee today that he will have in place community jobs, jobs in the community, to help those patients who .:.re going to be out there, I might add, by his own associate deputy minister, medically unstable patients on occasion, who will be removed and put into the community as a result of the loss of jobs and the cutbacks. Will he guarantee today that those jobs will be in place, those personnel will be in place prior to the massive cuts that he is contemplating? Hon.

Donald Orchard (Minister of Health): Mr. Speaker, my honourable friend's

preamble and question, of course is designed not to inform accurately but to raise fears, because my honourable friend is talking about medically fragile patients, hypothetical, third-party repeats of statements that are made. I have to tell you that from time to time, I get somewhat slightly ann oyed at the pol itical opportunism of the New Democrats in this province, because I looked forward to a refreshing new approach with the change of critic. I looked forward to my honourable friend the member for Kildonan sharing with us some of the ideas from New Democ rat- governed prov inces like B.

C. , Saskatchewan and Ontario- Mr. Speaker: Order, please. Mr. Chomlak: Mr. Speaker, I suggest the minister talk to his own associate deputy minister, Betty Havens, who said on February 18- Mr. Speaker: Question. please. Mr. Chomlak: -that medically unstable people, as a result of reform, will be put in the community.

My final supplementary to the minister, who has not talked to his own associate deputy minister, who is negotiating a contract with U.S. consultants: Will he guarantee that community services, jobs, caregivers will be in place prior to Connie Curran's multimillion-dollar shift that he is contemplating? Mr. Orchard: Mr. Speaker, my honourable friend might care to understand that one of the advantages of the restructuring proposal that Dr. Curran has discussed with St.

Boniface and with Health Sciences Centre is that the level of patient care, the amount of time that nurses can spend with patients delivering care within the facility, goes up by a minimum in most cases, of 50 percent, which translates into better patient care within the facility. Mr.

Speaker , the management process and structural reform that has been tested in other jurisdictions leads to not a decrease in the level of activity in any of these hospitals, despite significant budgetary savings, it increases the amount of time that caregivers get to spend with their patients, something that I think nurses have wanted, patients have wanted and we want. The obvious missing ingredient is the NDP do not want to care for people- Mr. Speaker: Order, please.

March 5, 1993 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 81 3 School Divisions Property Tax Cap Mr. John Plohman (Dauphin): Mr. Speaker, two and a half weeks ago, the Minister of Education announced a massi ve intrusion into the decisi on making of school boards by sayi ng that she would li mit the increase in the speci al requi rement to 2 percent that could be rai sed by school divisi ons. In the case of the St.

Vital School Divi si on and many other divi si ons that undertook large reductions and downsizing in their school divisi on in 19 92, this would mean an actual reduction in the speci al levy, or the amount rai sed per homeowner, in the case of St. Vital, by $43 per homeowner. In other words, the school divi sion that made large cuts last year would be punished for making those cuts this year as a result of the moves that are being announced by this minister. I want to ask the Minister of Finance this question because the Minister of Education will not be able to answer it.

Will the minister indicate to this House whether it is the poli cy of his government to cap the spe cial requi rement which results in these inequities at 2 percent? Hon. Clayton Manness (Minister of Finance): Mr. Speaker, certainly, as the acting Minister of Education, I am well aware the minister could answer this question much better than I, but let me say that the bill that gives effect to this capping has just been distri buted in the House. When the member takes time to digest the material contained within, I am sure it will be abundantly clear to him how the government is prepa ri ng to handle this is sue.

Mr. Plohman: It sounds li ke this minister does not know what his poli cy is . Is this minister, and I ask the Minister of Finance, if it is his poli cy and if he persi sts in capping the speci al requi rement at 2 percent, is he aware that his poli cy will result in huge inequities, additional inequities, because some school divi si ons will be able to increase their speci al levy by as much as $60 per homeowner, others by 1 C percent, 8 percent, and in the case of St. Vital and other school divisions which made cuts last year, they would have massi ve reductions?

Is this kind of inequity the poli cy of this government? • (1 030) Mr. Manness: Mr. Speaker, there is no inequity being practised with respect to the announcement of the 2 percent cap on speci al requi rement. Let me say, when the member reads the bill he will see that there is a

section in there that deals with an error provi si on. Indeed, at this point in time, government is determining whether or not that

section would provi de some element of relief to the circumstances that he has just brought forward. Mr. Plohman: Mr. Speaker, this epitomizes the confusion and chaos in the department. They do not seem to know what is going on. I would ask the minister, will the Minister of Finance declare today clearly, insofar as his poli cy is concerned, that if he insi sts on intruding in the local autonomy of school divi si ons in this way, that he will allow this cap to apply to the speci al requi rement or the speci al levy, whichever is the greater for school divi si ons? Mr. Man ness: What is obvious, Mr.

Speaker, is the NDP cannot stand the thought of the property taxpayers in this pro vi nce recei vi ng any type of a break. That is what is obvious. Let me say, Mr. Speaker, and I will reiterate again. If the member would talk to his long-standin g colleague the member for Fli n Flon (Mr. Storie) when he was the Minister of Education and has an understanding of how the financial formulas work within education, that at times there are fallouts and results that are not anticipated. There are times when some school divi si ons are impacted differently than one would expect.

That has happened, and I say that there is an opportunity within the bill, givi ng discretion to the minister, to deal with the St. Vital si tuation. Health Care System Reform Status Report Mr. Guizar Cheema (The Maples): Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health. Mr. Speaker, we have ha d an ex tensive consultation with health care prof ess ionals, consumers and patients, and our approach has been widely approved. There is a common concern throughout our discussi on, and that is the lack of information from the minister's office. The patients are very much concerned.

We have asked for a health care monitor report. The information even put by Bri tish Columbia on the health care reform package is almost the same as

814 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 5, 1993 in Manitoba. They are also asking for a specific report card per year. We ask the Minister of Health when he is going to have public information on the health care reform package. So far, we have not received that. Hon. Donald Orchard (Minister of Health): Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my honourable frien d's question. Mr. Speaker, I thought I had it in my briefing notes here. I fully understand the concern my honourable friend expresses because, after certain events are reported in the media, for instance, that all children's services would be curtailed at St.

Boniface Hospital, a statement made by someone who was viewed to have knowledge that was totally false caused a whole flurry of calls to the office. It is a confounding process in which we then have to go back and explain, the emergency services will be available at St. Boniface Hospital for your children. Do not listen to the inappropriate statements made by people who are either ill-informed or wishing to cause misinformation to be the trend in the syste m. Mr.

Speaker, to try to countervail that, I will make available for my honourable friend a list of the number of meetings that members of my senior staff and myself have had in terms of explaining the health care reform proces �; to boards, to administration, to staff, physician groups, professional groups across the length and breadth of Manitoba in an attempt to allay some of the concerns that have come forward because of direct misinformation from time to time, unfortunately, that is part of the process of information that goes public. Community-Based Services Mr. Guizar Cheema (The Maples): Mr.

Speaker, can the minister tell us exactly what new community services are put in place today that were not available nine months ago? Hon. Donald Orchard (Minister of Health): Mr. Speaker, the new community services that are in place today that were not in place nine months 2.go are $6. 5 million of additional home care services, for instance. [interjection] Now, my honourable friends the New Democrats say, oh, as if to say, that is not enough or that is too much, I do not know. But that is additional services that are in place.

I realize that my honourable friends the New Democrats do not nece ssarily believe budget increases, et cetera. In addition to that, Mr. Speaker, I simply indicate to my honourable friend that there are a number of processes, for instance, in community services dealing with mental health reform which will be in place prior to some of the reduction from services of mental health beds here and in Brandon. Mental Health Care System Community-Based Services Mr. Guizar Cheema (The Maples): Mr.

Speaker, can the Minister of Health tell us, because of the impending closure of psych beds at the Misericordia and Grace Hospital, what are the alternative community services that have bee n put in place? Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Health tell us how he is going to communicate with the patients who are very much concerned about these changes? Hon. Donald Orchard (Mi nist er of Health): Mr. Speaker, that was in part the issue that I attempted to answer last question.

There is a perce ption, and I had to deal with that earlier on this week, that psychiatric service beds are closed in fact at Misericordia, Grace and St. Boniface as we speak now. That is not accurate, Sir. Plans were anticipated that some of those closures would happen this month, but we are delayed in those closures because we have not got in place the community-based services. However, there will be an array of services in the mental health community from crisis stabilization beds and expansion of those, mobile crisis teams, case managers and a number of other initiatives to support community-based care.

Those, Sir, will be developed over the next two to three months in advance of the closure of those beds. Now, Mr. Speaker, the important question my honou ra ble fr iend asked is : How do we communicate with the patients? In that regard, we are relying very, very extens ive ly on the professional caregivers. the psychiatrists who deal with those patients to indicate what supports are available in the reformed mental health system. Grain Transportation Agreement Method of Payment Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Mr. Speaker, when I asked the Premier (Mr.

Film on) for his government 's position on the method of payment, he said, and I quote: We are going to want to keep an open mind and look at all

March 5, 1993 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 815 opportunities to increase the value of the individual producers. I want to ask the Minister of Agriculture what studies he has done that show that there will be an increased opportunity, an increased revenue for grain farmers? Has he looked at the results of deregulation in North Dakota, and will he admit that this has resulted in higher transportation costs, reduced services for farmers? The same thing is going to happen in Manitoba if we have a change in the method of payment. Hon. Glen Findlay (Minister of Agriculture): Mr.

Speaker, I would like the member to know that things are changing in the agricultural world. She attended the Agri-Forum in Portage about three weeks ago, and she heard the optimism in the minds of many people in the agriculture industry about adapting to change. There is more and more grain and livestock going south than east and west, and that is logical. There is more and more processed product when we ship south, and therefore, in those situations, we do not use WGTA benefit. We keep an open mind, as the Premier {Mr.

Filmon ) said, in terms of maximi zing our opportunities to export value-added agricultural food commodities through the markets that can pay the best price. The United States is a developing market. I have told the member that now a third of our total exports go there. As I said earlier, more processed goes there as opposed to unprocessed that goes east and west.

The WGT A benefit was set up to promote agricultural development in western Canada, and we keep an open mind as to how we promote the right kind of agricultural development that is good for Manitoba, Manitoba farmers and the economy of Manitoba. * (1 040) Ms. Wowchuk: Mr. Speaker, since farmers voted overwhelmingly against the change of the method of payment last winter at a series of meetings, the minister does not appear to be listening to them. He is not giving farmers a clear answer. Will the minister tell this House today and will he tell farmers his position?

Are you in favour of changing the method of payment or do you want it to stay the same? Mr. Findlay: This is rather phenomenal. This sounds like the member lives in Saskatchewan, where we argue and we fight over issues that have little or no bearing on the realities of today. The realities of today are that we need more livestock production in this province. She is arguing in favour of restricting and preventing that. She has listened to people talk about optimism at the Agri-Forum in Portage, and now she comes here with the old Saskatchewan ideology.

Out there where they have rallies to talk about gloom and doom, here we have meetings to talk about opportunity and development. Ms. Wowchuk: Mr. Speaker, this minister is not listening to grain farmers. They went to a series of meetings, they asked for a clear answer from the minister. Will the minister tell us today, is he supporting the change of method of payment or is he going the other way? He is just sitting on the fence. Mr. Findlay: Mr. Speaker, we have an Agri-Food Advisory Council to me, the minister, with broadly based representation from agribusiness and farmers.

We have done a number of studies, and all those studies and everything in industry shows that there is more and more development occurring in this industry. We ought to get on with the development and the opportunities that are created. All the member wants to do is talk about a political issue that will divide and conquer the agricultural community. Her ideology is, make the farmer pay more and more and not promote efficiency in the system and market access that gives us higher value. She does not want to talk about getting on with the future.

She wants to argue about issues that really are going to divide and conquer the agricultural industry. I would like that member to stand up and talk about the optimism, the opportunity and what is going on in the agricultural community in the province of Manitoba. Crown Corporations Reduced Workweek Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): Mr. Speaker, several weeks ago, the Minister of Finance announced the reduced work program to deal with the spiralling deficit that this government is facing in Manitoba.

There is a great deal of confusion about how the minister is going to implement that, what is the definition of essential services within the Civil Service and, in particular, how it is going to apply to Crown corporations. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance if he could clarify what the status is of Crown

816 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 5, 1993 corporations such as Manitoba Hydro and MTS. Will they be forced by this government to comply with this reduced workweek program? Hon. Clayton Manness (Minister of Finance): Mr. Speaker, we have asked the Crow n corporations within the province, within the spirit of the announcement made with respect to MGEU members. that their employees also be requested to reduce the total salary line by an amount equivalent. We have not forced the hard model on Crowns, although we suggest that they consider the model that the government is imposing upon itself. Mr. Ashton: Mr.

Speaker, there appears to be some confusion then, because· employees are being told by the presidency, for example, of MTS that they are being directed essentially by government. I would like to ask the minister, because there is a great deal of concern in the Crown corporations on how they can maintain service to Manitobans and particularly with MTS how they can compete with Unital, if they have to comply with this, I would like to ask the minister: Do the Crown corporations have any option in complying with this or are they being forced to go ahead with a reduced workweek program? Mr. Manness: Mr.

Speaker, I will reiterate what I said before. The government has made it known to the Crowns that we will expect the Crowns to adopt a model that does not necessarily have to be ours. It can be a variation of ours, but nevertheless there will be a bottom-line, salary-line savings equivalent to what the government is imposing upon itself. Crown Corporations Reduced Workweek Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): My final question then, Mr.

Speaker: If the intent was to be consistent with the Civil Service, why then is the Minister of Finance with the Civil Service creating the difficulty with many departments which have to provide essential services during this period? Why is it the Civil Service has no option and departments are being told they have to cut 1 0 or 12 days wortn of service to Manitobans in essential services, when in fact with Crown corporations he is now saying something quite different? Hon. Darren Praznlk (Minister of Labour): Mr.

Speaker, again, from the New Democratic Party we get the accusations or we get the comments that are just I think designed to create more confusion. We have plenty of time, as I have indicated on many occasions, before the first Friday on which this will be operative. We have asked each department to develop plans to deal with their operations and that is underway.

In fact, this has probably given us an opportunity to do it in a way that applies common sense, but one has to appreciate that if you are going to be reducing the workweek, we want to try to keep as close to the model so that the public is aware that services are not available on those particular days. Mr. Speaker: The time for Oral Questions has expired. * * * Mr. Speaker: As previously agreed, yesterday we agreed that after Question Period the House would now adjourn. I understand now, it appears that the honourable Minister of Finance is standing on his feet.

I also understand the honourable Leader of the Opposition wants to make a nonpolitical statement. I am asking, what is the will of the House right now? Hon. Clayton Manness (Government House Leader): Mr. Speaker, mine is House Business and, certainly, short nonpolitical statements I think we can- Mr. Speaker: That is agreed then. We will do this. Okay, there is leave to allow for nonpolitical statements. Nonpolitical Statements Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): thank you for leave of the House. I just want to pay tribute to the outgoing Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba George Johnson.

Today, we will witness the swearing in of the new Lieutenant-Governor Yvon Dumont whom we wish very well. I think it is import ant to pay tribute to the tremendous contributions that George Johnson has made to the province of Manitoba as a long-time citizen, born and raised in our beautiful province. Dr. Johnson has served as a doctor to our community. He has served in cabinet under the Roblin years; he as served as a deputy minister; he has served in medical servic es: he has now served as Lieutenant-Governor of the province of Manitoba. I have known Dr.

Johnson personally, particularly through Special Olympics as a volunteer, and I found him to be a person of dedication to our

March 5, 1993 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 81 7 province, an optimist about all of our futures and a very, very kind and considerate person. Mr. Speaker, I know we have a time limitation, but I just want to say that we wish him well. He has served his function as Lieutenant-Governor with dignity and grace, and we wish him and his family all the best. Mr. Speaker: Does the honourable First Minister have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? Leave. [agreed] Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

On behalf of all my colleagues in the government, I want to join enthusiastically with the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Doer) in paying tribute to a gentleman who has served in so many ways the people of Manitoba with great dignity and with great devotion. The roles that he played in the cabinet of the province of Manitoba or as a local community doctor, having delivered many, many of the babies in the Interlake district of Manitoba, have left him with a legacy of friends, admirers and supporters who cross all political lines and all economic circumstances.

He is a man who is admired and supported by all people who have known him. I know that as one who cherishes the opportunity to call him a friend, Mr. Speaker. I want to say that Dr. Johnson's legacy is not only in his personal contributions to Manitoba but indeed in the family that he has raised and been a part of to serve the province of Manitoba.

His wife, a very distinguished woman, Doris Johnson, has been at his side and has been a very, very equal partner in all of his endeavours, not only in his service in the government in the province of Manitoba, but as the spouse of a rural physician looking after, in many cases, the urgent calls that come into a doctor's office, then latterly, of course, as Her Honour, the wife of the Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba. She has indeed served in a very distinguished and dedicated manner as well. • (1 050) They have, of course, raised a family that has thrown itself into public service in so many ways.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Doer) refers to Special Olympics. That is led in Manitoba by one of Dr. Jo hns on's offspring. We know of the accomplishments of his other children in their own professional fields, one of them being currently a senator in the Government of Canada. So on all those counts we offer, not only our gratitude for the service that Dr. Johnson has given, but our respect and our best wishes for the future that we hope will be one of health and continued service to the people of Manitoba.

In that transition that takes place in just a very short while in this Chamber, I, too, want to express my very good wishes towards the new Lieutenant-Governor, Yvon Dumont. I had the special privilege of working with Yvon around the constitutional table for much of the past year. During that period of time, I gained a tremendous respect for Yvon as a representative of the Metis people of Canada.

He was a person who ser ved with tr emendous compassion, understanding and dignity the Metis people of Canada, but also with a tremendous determination to achieve better things, in a constitutional sense, on behalf of the Metis people. In taking on his new role, I know that he will be a great credit to the people of Manitoba, all the people of Manitoba, and a very dedicated public servant, as well, in that new role. I am certainly looking forward to the ceremony and to the welcoming to the position of our new Lieutenant-Governor, Yvon Dumont. Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker: Does the honourable member for St.

James have leave to make a nonpoliti cal statement? [agreed] Mr. Paul Edwards (St. James): Mr. Speaker, on behalf of our party, we want to join with the comments made by our colleagues in the other parties about Dr. Johnson and share with them in thanking him for his years of dedication, and that of his family, to the public good in this province. In addition to the sharing with the comments that they have made, I want to add one further personal note, and the one I think is shared by the members of our party, about the integrity of Dr. Johnson and what he has done for politicians and politics in this province.

As we live in this age of cynicism about politicians and about our elected officials generally, we have beacons of light to look to. Dr. Johnson has been one of those for me personally and, I think, for many in this House. He has sacrificed greatly in his career. He chose public service. He went to public service at the expense of his professional goals as a physician in our province.

818 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 5, 1993 He served his term in office with integrity and honesty and dedication, which is renowned from corner to corner in this province, Mr. Speaker, so he shows us surely the way of public service as elected officials. In this age of cynicism, to many who look and think that they might aspire to public office, I recommend him as a guide, as a person to look to who truly served the public good and at great cost to himself personally and his family. Mr.

Speaker, I want to thank then both he and his wife, Doris, for their many, many years of hard work, for the gentility with which they have served their roles in Government House. I also want to share with the Premier (Mr. Film on) and, I know, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Doer) in wishing our new Lieutenant-Governor and his family well in their term in office, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. House Business Hon. Clayton Manness (Government House Leader): On House business, Mr.

Speaker, the Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources will meet on Tuesday, March 9, 19 93, at 7:3 0 p. m. to continue to consider the 19 92 Annual Report of the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board. * * * Mr. Speaker: As previously agreed, this House is now adjourned and stands adjourned until1 :3 0 p. m. Monday.

Legislative Assembly of Manitoba Friday, March 5, 1993 CONTENTS ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Introduction of Bills Bill 14, Personal Property Security and Consequential Amendments Act McCrae 807 Bill 15, Boxing and Wrestling Commission Act Stefanson 807 Bill 16, Public Schools Amendment Act Vodrey 807 Bill 17, Crown Lands Amendment Act Enns 807 Oral Questions Apotex Inc.

Doer; Filmon Red River Community College Doer; Filmon; Friesen Labour Force Development Friesen; Filmon 807 808 809 Francophone Schools Governance Gaudry; Filmon Health Care System Reform Chomiak; Orchard School Divisions Plohman; Manness Health Care System Reform Cheema; Orchard Mental Health Care System Cheema; Orchard Grain Transportation Agreement Wowchuk; Findlay Crown Corporations Ashton; Manness; Praznik Nonpolitical Statements Change of Lieutenant-Governor Doer Film on Edwards 809 811 81 3 813 814 814 81 5 816 817 817

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	35-4-20
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	35th 4th hansardpdf 20.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	f93f882e3145a8cfd4ef42147c17a5c3bf0dbf11

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