Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES
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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. 218- 1:30 p.m., Thursday, May 4, 2000 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thirty-Seventh Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation AGLUGUB, Cris The Maples N.D.P. ALLAN, Nancy St. Vital N.D.P. ASHTON, Steve, Hon. Thompson N.D.P. ASPER, Linda Riel N.D.P. BARRETT, Becky, Hon. Inkster N.D.P. CALDWELL, Drew, Hon. Brandon East N.D.P. CERILLI, Marianne Radisson N.D.P. CHOMIAK, Dave, Hon. Kildonan N.D.P. CUMMINGS, Glen Ste. Rose P.C. DACQUA Y, Louise Seine River P.C. DERKACH, Leonard Russell P.C. DEWAR, Gregory Selkirk N.D.P. DOER, Gary, Hon. Concordia N.D.P. DRIEDGER, Myrna Charleswood P.C. DYCK, Peter Pembina P.C. ENNS, Harry Lakeside P.C. FAURSCHOU, David Portage Ia Prairie P.C. FILMON, Gary Tuxedo P.C. FRIESEN, Jean, Hon. Wolseley N.D.P. GERRARD,Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib. GILLESHAMMER, Harold Minnedosa P.C. HELWER, Edward Gimli P.C. HICKES, George Point Douglas N.D.P. JENNISSEN, Gerard Flin Flon N.D.P. KORZENIOWSKI, Bonnie St. James N.D.P. LATHLIN, Oscar, Hon. The Pas N.D.P. LAURENDEAU, Marcel St. Norbert P.C. LEMIEUX, Ron, Hon. La Verendrye N.D.P. LOEWEN, John Fort Whyte P.C. MACKINTOSH, Gord, Hon. St. Johns N.D.P. MAGUIRE, Larry Arthur-Virden P.C. MALOWAY,Jim Elmwood N.D.P. MARTINDALE, Doug Burrows N.D.P. McGIFFORD, Diane, Hon. Lord Roberts N.D.P. MIHYCHUK, MaryAnn, Hon. Minto N.D.P. P.C. MITCHELSON, Bonnie River East N.D.P. NEVAKSHONOFF, Tom Interlake P.C. PENNER, Jack Emerson P.C. PENNER, Jim Steinbach PC. PITURA, Frank Morris P.C. PRAZNIK, Darren Lac du Bonnet N.D.P. REID, Daryl Transcona P.C. REIMER, Jack Southdale N.D.P. ROBINSON, Eric, Hon. Rupertsland P.C. ROCAN, Denis Carman N.D.P. RONDEAU, Jim Assiniboia N.D.P. SALE, Tim, Hon. Fort Rouge N.D.P. SANTOS, Conrad Wellington N.D.P. SCHELLENBERG, Harry Rossmere P.C. SCHULER, Ron Springfield N.D.P. SELINGER, Greg, Hon. St. Boniface P.C. SMITH, Joy Fort Garry N.D.P. SMITH, Scott Brandon West P.C. STEFANSON, Eric Kirkfield Park N.D.P. STRUTHERS, Stan Dauphin-Roblin ,, P.C. TWEED, Mervin Turtle Mountain N.D.P WOWCHUK, Rosann, Hon. Swan River 861 LEGI SLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MA NITOBA Thursday, May 4, 2000 The House met at 1:30 p. m. bring to your attention our Government's deep concern over recent media reports regarding the ROUTINE PROCEEDI NGS Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is our understanding that the Corporation will shortly MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS announce the cancellation, with few exceptions, of local and regional supper-hour news programs CB C "24 Hours" currently being produced on a provincial and/or regional basis across the country. Hon. Diane McGifford (Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism): Mr. Speaker, I have a "The Government of Manitoba considers statement for the House. CBC Winnipeg's local and regional news program, '24 Hours,' to be a valuable asset to the I would like to make a statement to the life of our community. We believe '24 Hours' House with respect to a matter of some concern contributes in a unique and substantive way to to this Government and to the citizens of Manitobans' knowledge about, and under Manitoba. It has come to the Government's standing of, their province. We trust that the attention that the Canadian Broadcasting fe deral Government shares our concern about the Corporation, the CBC, will shortly be future of programs such as '24 Hours' and that undertaking a restructuring of its local and you will undertake appropriate intervention on regional programming. This restructuring may behalf of these vital Canadian productions. involve changes which would jeopardize the future of supper hour regional news programs "It is our profound hope that the such as Manitoba's "24 hours". Because CBC's Corporation, as our national broadcaster, will "24 hours" is a valuable asset to the life of our honour its unique historic responsibilities and community, making a unique contribution to renew its commitment to regional programming, Manitobans' knowledge about and understanding including news productions such as '24 Hours.' of their province, the Government views any changes at the CBC which would compromise Thank you fo r your consideration of this the future of this program as a matter of concern. vital matter.'' Accordingly, I have written to my colleague Thank you, Mr. Speaker. the Honourable Sheila Copps Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible fo r Mr. Gary Filmon (Leader of the Official the CBC, to express Manitoba's concern and our Opposition): Mr. Speaker, I thank the Minister profound hope that, whatever the nature of for rising in the House today. I think it gives us internal restructuring undertaken by the an opportunity to point out that the last few days, Corporation, our national broadcaster should in fact since this session began, the ministers are honour its unique responsibilities to support and literally using the vehicle of ministerial provide programming reflective of all regions of statements to filibuster and fill in time in the Canada while continuing to serve the special House. When it comes to reading their needs of those regions. correspondence into the record for the sake of filling time here, it is getting to a bit of an Mr. Speaker, I would like to read that letter extreme. into the record. I am very pleased to table the letter as well as read it into the record: I am surprised, however, that the Minister did not get up to make a statement on the YM "Dear Ms. Copps: As Manitoba's Minister of YWCA Women of Distinction Awards last Culture, Heritage and Tourism, I am writing to evening, where some significant Manitobans 862 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 4, 2000 were honoured. I would have thought that that Motion presented. might have been a priority with her, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Mackintosh: This bill is an extensive revision of The Interpretation Act. Some of its new fe atures include the fo llowing: new rules of But, having said that, I will say that our interpretation fo r bilingual acts and regulations Government, on many occasions, wrote to both and a requirement that acts and regulations are to the CBC and the CRTC to emphasize the need be interpreted in a way that protects aboriginal for strong regional programming, including and treaty rights. There are a number of other news and local affairs, as part of its mandate. features, Mr. Speaker. We also recognize that a well-informed Motion agreed to. citizenry is the greatest protection that we have for a strong democracy. So it is in everybody's Bi1126--The Court of Queen's interest to ensure that our citizenry are well Bench Amendment Act informed on a daily basis. Certainly, vehicles such as the news broadcasts are very much a part Hon. Gord Mackintosh (Minister of Justice of that. So we thank the Minister for that and Attorney General): I move, seconded by statement, Mr. Speaker. the Minister of Health (Mr. Chomiak), that leave be given to introduce Bill 26, The Court of * (13:35) Queen's Bench Amendment Act (Loi modifiant Ia Loi sur Ia Cour du Bane de Ia Reine), and that Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): I ask fo r the same be now received and read a firsttime. leave to speak on the Minister's statement. Motion presented. Mr. Speaker, I rise to indicate that there is all-party support for the CBC in Manitoba and Mr. Mackintosh: Mr. Speaker, these amend for a strong CBC. I make the statement ments provide that mediators and parties in notwithstanding the recognition that there are family proceedings cannot give evidence huge changes in what is happening in regarding the mediation, with certain exceptions. broadcasting and the information world at the moment, as was indicated, for example, in a Motion agreed to. speech given yesterday at the Rotary Club by Leonard Asper, and it is natural that there would Introduction of Guests be some restructuring. Nevertheless, clearly, we would like as strong as possible a CBC presence Mr. Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would in Manitoba and emphasis on what is important like to draw the attention of all members to the fo r Manitoba local news as well as other gallery where we have with us from Darwin Manitoba programming. School 56 Grade 9 students under the direction of Mrs. Sandy Hirchak-Shuster. This school is INTRODUCTION OF BILLS located in the constituency of the Honourable Member fo r Riel (Ms. Asper). Bill25- The Interpretation and Consequential Amendments Act Also, we have with us seated in the gallery 25 Grade II History students from Warren Hon. Gord Mackintosh (Minister of Justice Collegiate under the direction of Mr. Jake Wiebe and Attorney General): Mr. Speaker, I move, and Mr. John Smith. This school is located in the seconded by the Minister of Finance (Mr. constituency of the Honourable Member fo r Selinger), that leave be given to introduce Bill Lakeside (Mr. Enns). 25, The Interpretation and Consequential Amendments Act (Loi d'interpretation et Also, we have with us from St. George modifications correlatives), and that the san1e be School 18 Grade 9 students under the direction now received and read a first time. of Ms. Julie Stewart. This school is located in May 4, 2000 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 863 the constituency of the Honourable Member fo r sites and deny those children the opportunity that St.