Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS
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Fifth Session -Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Louise M. Dacquay Speaker Vol. XLIX No. 388- 1:30 p.m., Thursday, June 3, 1999 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thirty-Sixth Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ASHTON,Steve Thompson N.D.P. BARRETT,Becky Wellington N.D.P. CERILLI,Marianne Radisson N.D.P. CHOMIAK,Dave Kildonan N.D.P. CUMMINGS, Glen,Hon. Ste. Rose P.C. DACQUA Y, Louise,Hon. Seine River P.C. DERKACH,Leonard, Hon. Roblin-Russell P.C. DEWAR, Gregory Selkirk N.D.P. DOER, Gary Concordia N.D.P. DOWNEY,James Arthur-Virden P.C. DRIEDGER,Albert Steinbach P.C. DRIEDGER, Myrna Charleswood P.C. DYCK, Peter Pembina P.C. ENNS, Harry, Hon. Lakeside P.C. EVANS,Ciif Interlake N.D.P. EVANS,Leonard S. Brandon East N.D.P. FAURSCHOU, David Portage Ia Prairie P.C. FILMON, Gary,Hon. Tuxedo P.C. FINDLAY, Glen Springfield P.C. FRIESEN,Jean Wolseley N.D.P. GILLESHAMMER,Harold, Hon. Minnedosa P.C. HELWER, Edward Gimli P.C. HICKES, George Point Douglas N.D.P. JENNISSEN, Gerard Flin Flon N.D.P. KOWALSKI, Gary The Maples Lib. LAMOUREUX,Kevin Inkster Lib. LATHLIN,Oscar The Pas N.D.P. LAURENDEAU,Marcel St. Norbert P.C. MACKINTOSH,Gord St. Johns N.D.P. MALOWA Y, Jim Elmwood N.D.P. MARTINDALE,Doug Burrows N.D.P. McALPINE,Gerry Sturgeon Creek P.C. McCRAE,James, Hon. Brandon West P.C. McGIFFORD,Diane Osborne N.D.P. MciNTOSH, Linda, Hon. Assiniboia P.C. MIHYCHUK, MaryAnn St. James N.D.P. MITCHELSON, Bonnie, Hon. River East P.C. NEWMAN,David, Hon. Riel P.C. PENNER, Jack Emerson P.C. PITURA, Frank, Hon. Morris P.C. PRAZNIK, Darren, Hon. Lac du Bonnet P.C. RADCLIFFE, Mike, Hon. River Heights P.C. REID,Daryl Transcona N.D.P. REIMER,Jack, Hon. Niakwa P.C. RENDER, Shirley, Hon. St. Vital P.C. ROBINSON, Eric Rupertsland N.D.P. ROCAN, Denis Gladstone P.C. SALE,Tim Crescent wood N.D.P. SANTOS, Conrad Broadway N.D.P. STEFANSON,Eric, lion. Kirkfield Park P.C. STRUTHERS,Stan Dauphin N.D.P. SVEINSON, Ben La Verendrye P.C. TOEWS,Vic, Hon. Rossmere P.C. TWEED, Mervin,Hon. Turtle Mountain P.C. VODREY,Rosemary, Hon. Fort Garry P.C. WOWCHUK, Rosano Swan River N.D.P. Vacant St. Boniface 2217 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Thursday, June 3, 1999 The House met at 1:30 p.m. government hastily closed the Misericordia Hospital and thereby closed the comprehensive ROUTINEPROCEEDINGS breast program and services at the Misericordia Hospital. In May of '98, the chattering minister, PRESENTINGREPORTS BY the fo rmer minister, indicated that the program STANDINGAND SPECIAL COMMITTEES would be transferred, the whole comprehensive program would be transferred and women in Committee of Supply Winnipeg and Manitoba could receive those services. He further announced on November 6, Mr. Marcel Laurendeau (Chairperson): 1998, that we would be up and running in April Madam Speaker, the Committee of Supply has of 1999 with the transfer of this program, the adopted certain resolutions, directs me to report whole comprehensive program, to the St. the same, and asks leave to sit again. Boniface Hospital. I move, seconded by the honourable I would like to know in June of 1999: was member for Steinbach (Mr. Driedger), that the that commitment that was made a year ago and report of the committee be received. six months ago, is that open and running now in June of 1999, as promised six months ago? Motion agreed to. Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Health): Introduction of Guests Well, Madam Speaker, our government has announced and committed $5.6 million in Madam Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, funding for the development, and the Leader of would like to draw the attention of all the Opposition indicates he knows that, which is honourable members to the public gallery where encouraging, that he is aware that we have we have this afternoon ninety-five Grade 5 committed $5.6 million for the development of a students from Edward Schreyer School under the comprehensive breast health program. The direction of Ms. Lianne Shume. This school is program, I think, as most members know, will be located in the constituency of the honourable located at 400 Tache Avenue, and it provides Minister of Highways and Transportation (Mr. obviously fo r the development of this new site Praznik). and the rapid access diagnosis centre. The information I have is that site will be open, I Also, eleven Grades 6 to 9 students from believe, as of September 1 of this year. Countryview School under the direction of Mr. Sid Barkman. This school is located in the Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, the date keeps constituency of the honourable member for changing and changing. Steinbach (Mr. Driedger). The staff and nurses at Misericordia On behalf of all honourable members, I Hospital have been informed that the program welcome you this afternoon. will be shut down at that site, the program for diagnostic testing, biopsies, counselling, both ORAL QUESTION PERIOD presurgical and post-surgical. This is fo llowing on a decision where surgery was closed down in Breast Care Clinic December. These programs are going to be Status Report closed down on June 15. Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): I would like to know where Manitoba Madam Speaker, in the '98 budget the women will go on June 16 fo r those services. 22 18 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA June 3, 1999 Mr. Stefanson: Well, Madam Speaker, where Mr. Stefanson: Well, Madam Speaker, by Manitoba women will go will be to the same putting the patient first, that is why we doctors who are providing the services today. introduced the Manitoba breast screening Those doctors will still be available. They will program in I995, under this government, that be available at their individual clinics, their today on the mobile basis and the combined individual facilities and at other hospitals as basis is screening some 33,000 women in this well. By September of this year, the province. As I say, from last year alone, an comprehensive facility on Tache A venue will be increase of II ,000 additional women to a total open. now of 33,000 annually; over and above that, 30,000 screens performed, as I have indicated, I think it is important to acknowledge the under diagnostic mammography, a total significant strides and improvements we made in screening program of 63,000 women, programs this whole area of testing fo r women, in the area put in place by this government that recognized of potential breast cancer. Not only does our that very important service that had to be mobile unit now screen some 33,000 women provided. So again, it is through the annually right across Manitoba, an increase of commitment of our resources and the various II,000 screenings this year alone, partly through requirements to put these programs in place to the additional money we put in, in this I999 deal with this very important health matter. budget that the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues have voted fo r and supported, but, as *(1335) well, there are an additional 30,000 screens done under the diagnostic mammography program. Breast Care Clinic So, in total, on an annual basis, we are having Status Report some 63,000 Manitoba women screened for breast cancer, significant improvements over Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Madam where we were several years ago because of the Speaker, the Misericordia breast program closes dedicated resources that we put into this very on June 15. Nurses have had their notices, important area. meaning that doctors will have to book summer surgeries through their own offices. There will Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, fo r once, just once, not be an education program. Referrals to can this government not keep a program going surgeons will be delayed, and I could go on for Manitoba patients before their changed discussing the problems in service. Frankly, the program starts up? You know, the personal care whole thing is a mess. I would like to ask this home beds are promised, they are cancelled; the Minister of Health, and I am not asking him hospital beds are closed down before the about breast screening, I would like to ask him personal care beds are open, and then we have exactly and specifically: what does this closure the Filmon hallway medicine because of it. Can mean fo r a woman who discovers a lump on we not fo r once have a program continue fo r June 15, exactly and specifically? Manitoba women before the other program starts? Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, here we go again with Now I would like to ask a simple question. members opposite. I got called on a point of Why does the government not look at some of order once before when I suggested what they the new bureaucracy they have created and are trying to do with their approach when they reallocating those funds fo r one of the vice come to this House in terms of their motives. presidents they have hired in the regional health They have the same services available to them. authority, look at moving some of the money These doctors are still in these provinces, they from the bureaucracy to this program and keep are still in their clinics, they are still in hospitals the comprehensive program open at the and the services are available to get the various Misericordia Hospital fo r diagnostic tests, fo r treatments.