Second Session - Thirty-Eighth Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable George Hickes Speaker Vol. LV No. 3 – 1:30 p.m., Monday, November 24, 2003 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thirty-Eighth Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation AGLUGUB, Cris The Maples N.D.P. ALLAN, Nancy, Hon. St. Vital N.D.P. ALTEMEYER, Rob Wolseley N.D.P. ASHTON, Steve, Hon. Thompson N.D.P. BJORNSON, Peter, Hon. Gimli N.D.P. BRICK, Marilyn St. Norbert N.D.P. CALDWELL, Drew Brandon East N.D.P. CHOMIAK, Dave, Hon. Kildonan N.D.P. CUMMINGS, Glen Ste. Rose 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. EICHLER, Ralph Lakeside P.C. FAURSCHOU, David Portage la Prairie P.C. GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib. GOERTZEN, Kelvin Steinbach P.C. HAWRANIK, Gerald Lac du Bonnet P.C. HICKES, George, Hon. Point Douglas N.D.P. IRVIN-ROSS, Kerri Fort Garry N.D.P. JENNISSEN, Gerard Flin Flon N.D.P. JHA, Bidhu Radisson N.D.P. KORZENIOWSKI, Bonnie St. James N.D.P. LAMOUREUX, Kevin Inkster Lib. LATHLIN, Oscar, Hon. The Pas N.D.P. 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. MELNICK, Christine, Hon. Riel N.D.P. MIHYCHUK, MaryAnn, Hon. Minto N.D.P. MITCHELSON, Bonnie River East P.C. MURRAY, Stuart Kirkfield Park P.C. NEVAKSHONOFF, Tom Interlake N.D.P. OSWALD, Theresa Seine River N.D.P. PENNER, Jack Emerson P.C. REID, Daryl Transcona N.D.P. REIMER, Jack Southdale P.C. ROBINSON, Eric, Hon. Rupertsland N.D.P. ROCAN, Denis Carman P.C. RONDEAU, Jim, Hon. Assiniboia N.D.P. ROWAT, Leanne Minnedosa P.C. SALE, Tim, Hon. Fort Rouge N.D.P. SANTOS, Conrad Wellington N.D.P. SCHELLENBERG, Harry Rossmere N.D.P. SCHULER, Ron Springfield P.C. SELINGER, Greg, Hon. St. Boniface N.D.P. SMITH, Scott, Hon. Brandon West N.D.P. STEFANSON, Heather Tuxedo P.C. STRUTHERS, Stan, Hon. Dauphin-Roblin N.D.P. TAILLIEU, Mavis Morris P.C. TWEED, Mervin Turtle Mountain P.C. WOWCHUK, Rosann, Hon. Swan River N.D.P. 39 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Monday, November 24, 2003 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Rural highways are part of the mandate of the Province of Manitoba. PRAYERS Under the previous commitment, the Prov- ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS ince of Manitoba would be covering the costs of four-laning that portion of Highway 32 that runs PETITIONS through Winkler, Manitoba. Provincial Road 313 The Department of Transportation and Gov- ernment Services has altered its position and will Mr. Gerald Hawranik (Lac du Bonnet): I now undertake the project only if the City of wish to present the following petition. The Winkler will pay half of the total cost of con- background of this petition is as follows: struction. The provincial government's offload- ing of its previous commitment will cost the City Provincial Road 313 to the east of Provincial of Winkler several million dollars. Road 315 is the only road connecting Pointe du Bois with Lac du Bonnet to the west. The City of Winkler has now been informed that it will have to wait several years before this The 19 kilometres of Provincial Road 313 to project could be undertaken. the east of Provincial Road 315 is in very poor condition, has narrow shoulders and winds We petition the Legislative Assembly of among granite outcroppings and through swamp, Manitoba as follows: creating very dangerous and very treacherous conditions for residents who live in Pointe du To request the Minister of Transportation Bois, for Hydro employees and others who work and Government Services to consider honouring in Pointe du Bois, and for visitors and tourists the previous commitment and complete the four- who frequent the area. laning of Highway 32 through the city of Winkler, absorbing all costs related to the con- We petition the Legislative Assembly of struction as previously agreed. Manitoba as follows: To request the Minister of Transportation To request that the Minister of Trans- and Government Services to consider the re- portation and Government Services consider sponsibility of the Department of Transportation rebuilding and reconstructing the 19 kilometres and Government Services for the construction of of Provincial Road 313 east of Provincial Road rural highways. 315 to Pointe du Bois at the earliest opportunity. To request the Minister of Transportation Signed by S. Stewner-Pruden, J. Duffield, and Government Services to consider the signifi- Rick Armstrong and others. cant and strategic importance of the completion of four-laning Highway 32 through the city of Mr. Speaker: In accordance with our Rule Winkler, especially as it relates to the economic 132(6), when a petition is read it is deemed to be growth and the development of the city of received by the House. Winkler and its trading area. Highway 32 To request the Minister of Transportation Mr. Peter Dyck (Pembina): I wish to present and Government Services to consider the the following petition. These are the reasons for valuable contribution of the city of Winkler and this petition: its trading area to the provincial economy and 40 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 24, 2003 reprioritize the four-laning of Highway 32 for November 7, 2003, he graciously sent a repre- the 2004 construction season. sentative who restated Mr. Chomiak's position to work with the students to reach a creative solu- These are submitted by Bill Unrau, Lloyd tion. Groening, James Wall, Travis Friesen and others. Several Canadian universities have success- fully implemented nursing co-op programs. Mr. Speaker: In accordance with our Rule Several faculties within the University of Mani- 132(6), when a petition is read it is deemed to be toba have such a program available to their received by the House. students. Therefore, students within the Faculty of Nursing should have equal opportunity and Co-op Program for Nursing Students access to a co-op program. Mrs. Myrna Driedger (Charleswood): I wish This program will offer students valuable to present the following petition to the Leg- experience and provide the confidence and islative Assembly of Manitoba. The background strength they will need in the future. to the petition is as follows: We petition the Legislative Assembly of * (13:35) Manitoba as follows: A co-op program for nursing students at the To request the Legislative Assembly to con- University of Manitoba was approved by the sider supporting the proposed co-op program. Senate and the Board of Governors. Signed by Ruth Dean, Carolyn Vogt, Marion This program will provide the opportunity McKay and others. for students to apply their theoretical knowledge in the workplace through supervised work terms Mr. Speaker: In accordance with our Rule for which they are paid. 132(6), when a petition is read it is deemed to be received by the House. Students are hired by participating agencies under supervision of a workplace employee who Walleye serves as a mentor. Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Mr. Students assume responsibilities suitable for Speaker, I wish to present the following petition. their level of knowledge and expertise and will The background to this petition is as follows: provide patients with much-needed nursing. Fish stocks in Lake Winnipegosis began to The co-op program will enable nursing stu- decline in the 1960s. The walleye fishery on dents to acquire valuable experience by working Lake Winnipegosis has been in serious trouble with a seasoned mentor, become more proficient for many years. and better able to handle heavier workloads and increase their knowledge, skills and confidence. A similar situation happened in Lake Erie, but it was handled much more effectively. In This program will enable students to earn Lake Erie, a sound science-based management income to help reduce their debt load. program was implemented and the stocks re- bounded. As a result, production of walleye on The Department of Health will benefit Lake Erie for 1980 to 2001 averaged 182 percent through reduced orientation costs for new gradu- of the estimated sustainable yield. ates and an increased likelihood that new gradu- ates will remain in the province. In contrast from 1980 to 2001, the average annual harvest of walleye on Lake Winnipegosis Although the Honourable Dave Chomiak was about 14 percent of the estimated sus- was unable to attend the round table held on tainable yield for the lake. November 24, 2003 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 41 Much better management of a walleye fish- The Doer government has been silent on ery on Lake Erie shows that good management whether they will make the necessary legislative of a walleye fishery is possible. changes required to give the City of Winnipeg additional taxing powers. The fishermen on Lake Winnipegosis have been deprived of an estimated 72 million of in- Taxpayers deserve to have a say before come between 1980 and 2001. having any major new taxes imposed upon them. Economic models of the effects of such We petition the Legislative Assembly of primary income loss usually estimate a signifi- Manitoba as follows: cant multiplier effect and that may well mean a loss of several hundred million dollars in eco- To request that the Premier of Manitoba nomic activity for the region. (Mr. Doer) notify the City of Winnipeg that the provincial government will not allow an increase *(13:40) of the sales tax without a referendum being held as required under balanced-budget legislation.