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. 18- 1:30 p.m., Monday, May 1, 2000 ISSN 0542-5492 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. DACQUAY, 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 PortageIa 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. N.D.P. JENNISSEN, Gerard Flin Flon N.D.P. KORZENIOWSKI, Bonnie St. James LATHLIN, Oscar, Hon. The Pas N.D.P. LAURENDEAU, Marcel St. Norbert P.C. N.D.P. LEMIEUX, Ron, Hon. La Verendrye P.C. LOEWEN, John Fort Whyte N.D.P. MACKINTOSH, Gord, Hon. St. Johns MAGUIRE, Larry Arthur-Virden P.C. MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood N.D.P. N.D.P. MARTINDALE, Doug Burrows N.D.P. McGIFFORD, Diane, Hon. Lord Roberts N.D.P. MIHYCHUK, MaryAnn, Hon. Minto P.C. MITCHELSON, Bonnie River East N.D.P. NEVAKSHONOFF, Tom Interlake P.C. PENNER, Jack Emerson P.C. PENNER, Jim Steinbach P.C. 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 SANTOS, Conrad Wellington N.D.P. N.O.P. SCHELLENBERG, Harry Ross mere P.C. SCHULER, Ron Springfield N.D.P. SELINGER, Greg, Hon. St. Boniface SMITH, Joy Fort Garry P.C. 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, Rosano, Hon. Swan River 689 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Monday, May 1, 2000 The House met at 1:30 p.m. MOTION: PRAYERS THAT the second paragraph of the preamble be deleted and the following substituted: ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS AND WHEREAS six million Jewish men, women PRESENTING REPORTS BY and children perished under this policy of hatred STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES and genocide; Hon. Gord Mackintosh (Minister of Justice AND WHEREAS millions of others were victims and Attorney General): Mr. Speaker, is there of that policy because of their physical or mental consent of the House to present the report of the disabilities, race, religion or sexual orientation; Standing Committee on Law Amendments? On motion of Mr. Martindale, the report of the Mr. Speaker: Is there leave? [Agreed] committee was received. Standing Committee on Law Amendments Mr. Martindale: I move, seconded by the Second Report Honourable Member for Inkster (Ms. Barrett), that the report of the Committee be received. Mr. Doug Martindale (Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Law Amendments): Motion agreed to. Mr. Speaker, I beg to present the Second Report of the Committee on Law Amendments. MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Madam Clerk (Patricia Chaychuk): Your Manitoba Lotteries Corporation committee met on Monday, May 1, 2000, at 10 a.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building to Hon. Diane McGifford (Minister charged consider bills referred. with the administration of The Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act): Mr. Speaker, I An Honourable Member: Dispense. have a statement for the House. Mr. Speaker: Dispense. * (13:35) Your committee heard representation on bills as Today, I wish to share with the House follows: certain information regarding the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation. On January 7, 2000, when Bill 19-The Holocaust Memorial Day Act/Loi the new board pf Manitoba Lotteries sur le Jour commemoratifde l'Holocauste Corporation was constituted, a number of alleged financial irregularities and expenditures Michael Lazar- Canadian Jewish Congress and were brought to their attention. These allegations the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg were communicated to the Provincial Auditor, who called for an investigation. The Provincial Your committee has considered: Auditor originally intended to release the results of the investigation today, May 1, 2000. Bill 19-The Holocaust Memorial Day Act/Loi However, because the Chief Executive Officer sur le Jour commemoratifde l'Holocauste and of the Manitoba Lotteries commission has not has agreed to report the same with the following yet spoken with the Auditor, this date has been amendment: delayed to May 12. This delay is understandably 690 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 1, 2000 most frustrating to the Auditor, to Government, that is in regard to the demand for accountability to Manitoba Lotteries Corporation staff and to · in regard to the spending of public dollars. Manitoba citizens, all of whom demand accountability with regard to public money. I think that it is ironic that here we see a report that is coming out in another few days, One of the chief concerns is the cost of May 12, and we have these reports about recent expansions to the two casinos, Club accountability, the comment here about the Regent and the McPhillips Street Station. In public consultation, when we have a government 1997, the previous government announced that here that is going on a totally different direction these expansions would cost $50 million. In with casinos, and now they are bringing fo rth the March of this year, Lotteries officials informed sanctimonious statement of saying that these us that the current cost is $112 million, or over changes are made without public consultation, 100 percent more than 'was originally stated. and indeed is ironic where we see this flip-flop This Government deeply regrets that the Crystal going on with this Government. Casino was closed and the other two casinos expanded without the benefit of public The smokescreen that the Government is consultation. The huge overruns are certainly trying to bring fo rth right now to deflect some of cause for concern, and we sincerely hope that the comments and some of the areas of concern this figure will not fu rther escalate. in regard to the casinos in the so-called audit that is being taken is something that, I think, Concurrent with the Auditor's investigation, everybody is aware of, but the idea and the on February 15, the board called fo r an comment of bringing in public consultation fo r organizational review. An independent lawyer something like this is very ironic at this was hired to co-ordinate a team of human particular time. resource specialists who are conducting this review. This review will address concerns that Aboriginal Child and Family Services were raised about the general work environment at Manitoba Lotteries Commission and examine Hon. Tim Sale (Minister of Family Services issues of staff morale, equity and fai rness in the and Housing): Mr. Speaker, I have a statement workplace, harassment prevention, conflict fo r the House. As Minister of Family Services resolution processes and other fa ctors affecting and Housing, it is my pleasure to announce that the work environment. This review is expected the Province of Manitoba and the Assembly of to be completed on May 15. Manitoba Chiefs on behalf of southern chiefs have entered into a memorandum of under Clearly, the huge overruns and alleged standing regarding Child and Family Services. financial irregularities are distressing, especially in a Crown corporation which is responsible to On Thursday of last week my colleague Eric the public. The Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Robinson and I joined with representatives from board and this Government believe that a the Assembly in fo rmalizing a historic agree thorough investigation is necessary to ensure the ment based on the child welfare recommen integrity of the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation. dations contained in the AJI report. A similar We know that Manitobans benefit fr om the memorandum of understanding was signed with revenues generated by lotteries, and it is our the Metis Federation in February of this year. joint intention to behave responsibly by These agreements entered into represent our protecting the public trust. Government's commitment to begin a process that will lead to the establishment of province Mr. Jack Reimer (Southdale): I thank the wide First Nations and Metis mandates fo r the Honourable Member for bringing this forward to delivery of child and family services. The the House as an update as to the audit that is agreements will make it possible for First being currently undertaken by Manitoba Nations and Metis agencies to deliver the fu ll Lotteries Corporation. The Minister has pointed range of services under The Child and Family out a number of areas here in regard to what we Services Act as well as adoption services under too would hold to be very concerned about, and The Adoption Act. May 1, 2000 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 691 * (13:40) at this point in time forward a letter about t�e structure of the Aboriginal Child and Famtly It is important to recognize the experience in Services because I was not sure when I would leadership that aboriginal communities have get my response to that either. demonstrated with respect to child welfare.