Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Fourth 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. XLVIII No. 24 - 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 25, 1998 ISSN 0542-5492 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thirty-Sixth Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ASHTON, Steve Thompson N.D.P. BARRETI, Becky Wellington N.D.P. CERILLI, Marianne Radisson N.D.P. CHOMIAK, Dave Kildonan N.D.P. CUMMINGS, Glen, Hon. Ste. Rose P.C. DACQUAY, Louise, Hon. Seine River P.C. DERKACH, Leonard, Hon. Rob lin-Russell P.C. DEWAR, Gregory Selkirk N.D.P. DOER, Gary Concordia N.D.P. DOWNEY, James, Hon. Arthur-Virden P.C. DRIEDGER, Albert Steinbach P.C. DYCK, Peter Pembina P.C. ENNS, Harry, Hon. Lakeside P.C. EVANS, Clif 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, Hon. Springfield P.C. FRIESEN, Jean Wolseley N.D.P. GAUDRY, Neil St. Boniface Lib. GILLESHAMMER, Harold, Hon. Minnedosa P.C. HEL WER, 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. MALOWAY, 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. N.D.P. REID, Daryl Transcona REIMER, Jack, Hon. Niakwa P.C. RENDER, Shirley St. Vital P.C. ROBINSON, Eric Rupertsland N.D.P. P.C. ROCAN, Denis Gladstone N.D.P. SALE, Tim Crescentwood N.D.P. SANTOS, Conrad Broadway P.C. STEFANSON, Eric, Hon. Kirkfield Park N.D.P. STRUTHERS, Stan Dauphin P.C. SVEINSON, Ben La Verendrye P.C. TOEWS, Vic, Hon. Rossmere P.C. TWEED, Mervin Turtle Mountain P.C. VODREY, Rosemary, Hon. Fort Garry N.D.P. WOWCHUK, Rosann Swan River Vacant Charleswood 1055 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Wednesday, March 25, 1998 The House met at 1:30 p.m. THAT afterconstruction of a food assembly warehouse in Winnipeg, chilled, prepared food will be shipped in PRAYERS from Ontario, then assembled and heated before being shipped to the hospitals; and ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS THAT people who are in the hospital require nutritious PRESENTING PETITIONS and appetizing food; and Women's Resource Centres THAT the announced savings as a result of the contract have been disputed, and one study by Wintemute Ms. Rosano Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Randle Kilimnik indicated that, "A considerable Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Nora number of studies have compared costs of service McDermid, Yvonne Dola, Chantal Chudd and others delivery in health care between self-operation (public requesting that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba sector) and privatization. Invariably, privatization is urge the Filmon government to consider providing more expensive. "; and long-term, adequate and stable fu nding for Evergreen Women's Resource Centre and other women's resource THAT no one in Manitoba seems to benefit from this centres in the province to ensure that the vital services contract, especially patients. provided by these organizations are continued. WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERSHUMBLY PRAY READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the Minister of Health to put an end to the centralization Winnipeg Hospitals Food Service-Privatization and privatization of Winnipeg hospital food services. Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Flin Flon (Mr. Jennissen). It honourable member for Selkirk (Mr. Dewar). It complies with the rules and practices of the House (by complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is leave). Is it the will of the House to have the petition it the will of the House to have the petition read? read? An Honourable Member: Dispense. An Honourable Member: Dispense. Madam Speaker: Dispense. Madam Speaker: Dispense. THAT the Urban Shared Services Corporation (USSC) THAT the Urban Shared Services Corporation (USSC) has announced plans to privatize laundry, food services has announced plans to privatize laundry, food services and purchasing for the Winnipeg hospitals; and and purchasing for the Winnipeg hospitals; and THAT it is estimated that more than 1,000 health care THAT it is estimated that more than 1,000 health care jobs will be lost over the next year as a result, with jobs will be lost over the next year as a result, with many more privatized in the next two or three years; many more privatized in the next two or three years; and and THAT under the terms of the contract, Ontario THAT under the terms of the contract, Ontario businesses will profit at the expense of Manitoba's businesses will profit at the expense of Manitoba's health care system; and health care system; and 1056 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 25, 1998 - THAT after construction of a food assembly warehouse from Ontario, then assembled and heated before being in Winnipeg, chilled, prepared food will be shipped in shipped to the hospitals,· and from Ontario, then assembled and heated before being shipped to the hospitals; and THAT people who are in the hospital require nutritious and appetizing food,· and THAT people who are in the hospital require nutritious and appetizing food; and THAT the announced savings as a result of the contract have been disputed, and one study by Wintemute THATthe announced savings as a result of the contract Randle Kilimnik indicated that, "A considerable have been disputed, and one study by Wintemute number of studies have compared costs of service Randle Kilimnik indicated that, "A considerable delivery in health care between self-operation (public number of studies have compared costs of service sector) and privatization. Invariably, privatization is delivery in health care between self-operation (public more expensive. "; and sector) and privatization. Invariably, privatization is more expensive. "; and THAT no one in Manitoba seems to benefit from this contract, especially patients. THAT no one in Manitoba seems to benefitfrom this contract, especially patients. WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRAY WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERSHUMBLY PRAY that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the Minister of Health to put an end to the centralization Minister of Health to put an end to the centralization and privatization of Winnipeg hospital food services. and privatization of Winnipeg hospital food services. * (1335) Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Elmwood (Mr. Maloway). It TABLING OF REPORTS complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read? Hon. Harold Gilleshammer (Minister charged with the administration of The Civil Service Act): An Honourable Member: Dispense. Madam Speaker, today I would like to table the Supplementary Information for Departmental Madam Speaker: Dispense. Expenditure Estimates for the Civil Service Commission and the Employee Benefits and Other THAT the Urban Shared Services Corporation (USSC) Payments. has announced plans to privatize laundry, foodservices and purchasing for the Winnipeg hospitals; and Hon. Bonnie Mitchelson (Minister of Family Services): Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to table THAT it is estimated that more than 1,000 health care the Supplementary Information for Legislative Review jobs will be lost over the next year as a result, with fo r the 1998-99 Expenditure Estimates for the many more privatized in the next two or three years; Department of Family Services. and Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): Madam THAT under the terms of the contract, Ontario Speaker, I am pleased to table, first of all, the Third businesses will profit at the expense of Manitoba's Quarter Report for Manitoba Lotteries Corporation, as health care system; and well as Supplementary Information for Legislative Review, 1998-99 fo r Manitoba Community Support THAT afterconstruction of a food assembly warehouse Programs, and the same information for 1998-99 for in Winnipeg, chilled, prepared food will be shipped in Manitoba Sport. March 25, 1998 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1057 Madam Speaker: I am pleased to table this afternoon, Motion agreed to. the Statutory Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the Portage la Prairie By-Election September 30, 1997. Introduction of Guests Madam Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would INTRODUCTION OF BILLS like to draw the attention of all honourable members to the public gallery where we have this afternoon Bill 27-The Manitoba Employee Ownership seventeen Grades 6 to II students from Riverbend Fund Corporation Amendment Act Colony School under the direction of Mr. Robert Dyck. This school is located in the constituency of the Hon. James Downey (Minister of Industry, Trade honourable member for Gladstone (Mr. Rocan). and Tourism): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson), Also, we have twenty Grade 9 students from that leave be given to introduce Bill 27, The Manitoba Westdale Junior High School under the direction of Mr. Employee Ownership Fund Corporation Amendment Michael Greenaway. This school is located in the Act �Loi modifiant la Loi constituant en corporation le constituency of Charleswood. Fonds de participation des travailleurs du Manitoba), and that the same be now received and read a firsttime.