Debates Proceedings (Hansard)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Fourth Session -Thirty-Fifth Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS (HANSARD) 41 Elizabeth II Publishedunder the authorityof TheHonourable Denis C. Rocan Speaker VOL. XLII No. 27 • 1:30 p.m., TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 1993 MG-11048 ISSN 0542-5492 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thlrty·Fifth Legislature Members, Constituencies and Political Affiliation NAME CONSTITUENCY PARTY. ALCOCK, Reg Osborne Liberal ASHTON, Steve Thompson NDP BARRETT, Becky Wellington NDP CARSTAIRS, Sharon River Heights Liberal CERILLI, Marianne Radisson NDP CHEEMA, Guizar The Maples Liberal CHOMIAK, Dave Kildonan NDP CUMMINGS, Glen, Hon. Ste. Rose PC DACOUAY, Louise Seine River PC DERKACH, Leonard, Hon. Roblin-Russell PC DEWAR, Gregory Selkirk NDP DOER, Gary Concordia NDP DOWNEY, James, Hon. Arthur-Virden PC DRIEDGER, Albert, Hon. Steinbach PC DUCHARME, Gerry, Hon. Riel PC EDWARDS, Paul St. James Liberal ENNS, Harry, Hon. Lakeside PC ERNST, Jim, Hon. Charleswood PC EVANS, Clif Interlake NDP EVANS, Leonard S. Brandon East NDP FILMON, Gary, Hon. Tuxedo PC FINDLAY, Glen, Hon. Springfield PC FRIESEN, Jean Wolseley NDP GAUDRY, Neil St. Boniface Liberal GILLESHAMMER, Harold, Hon. Minnedosa PC GRAY, Avis Crescentwood Liberal HELWER, Edward R. Gimli PC HICKES, George Point Douglas NDP LAMOUREUX, Kevin Inkster Liberal LATHLIN, Oscar The Pas NDP LAURENDEAU, Marcel St. Norbert PC MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MANNESS, Clayton, Hon. Morris PC MARTINDALE, Doug Burrows NDP McALPINE, Gerry Sturgeon Creek PC McCRAE, James, Hon. Brandon West PC MciNTOSH, Linda, Hon. Assiniboia PC MITCHELSON, Bonnie, Hon. River East PC NEUFELD, Harold Rossmere PC ORCHARD, Donald, Hon. Pembina PC PALLISTER, Brian Portage Ia Prairie PC PENNER, Jack Emerson PC PLOHMAN, John Dauphin NDP PRAZNIK, Darren, Hon. Lac du Bonnet PC REID, Daryl Transcona NDP REIMER, Jack Niakwa PC RENDER, Shirley St. Vital PC ROCAN, Denis, Hon. Gladstone PC ROSE, Bob Turtle Mountain PC SANTOS, Conrad Broadway NDP STEFANSON, Eric, Hon. Kirkfield Park PC STORIE, Jerry Rin Ron NDP SVEINSON, Ben La Verendrye PC VODREY, Rosemary, Hon. Fort Garry PC WASYL YCIA-LEIS, Judy St. Johns NDP WOWCHUK, Rosann Swan River NDP Vacant Rupertsland 1027 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Tuesday, March 16, 1993 The House met at 1 :30 p.m. 45 jobs that were lost a couple of months ago, and it follows on another 45 jobs that were lost a year PRAYERS ago. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Ironically, when we were asking this government yesterday about tough choices, we asked questions TABLING OF REPORTS about the training grants and payroll deductions for Hon. James Downey (Minister of Northern corporations for training purposes. This company Affairs): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table the has received $65,000 from the provincial Northern Manitoba Economic Development government, which is the same amount of money Commission Northern Manitoba Draft Plan. this government is cutting from the Manitoba Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Justice and Anti-Poverty Organization. The Premier was wrong Attorney General): Mr. Speaker, I am tabling yesterday to say the Manitoba Anti-Poverty today the Annual Reportfor 1990-91 and 1991 -92 Organization did not provide any direct services to of the Seizure and Impoundment Registry, as well people. It is in fact on the ground level of providing as the Fifth Annual Report of the Victims Assistance services to the most vulnerable people in our Committee. society. In fact, sometimes they are the last place for people to get referrals for food banks, for clothing Introduction of Guests for children in winter and other vital services that are essential for our society. Mr.Speaker : Prior to Oral Questions, may I direct the attention of honourable members to the I would ask the Premier: Would he consider Speaker's Gallery, where we have with us this redeploying money that he has had for training afternoon Mr. William Witting, who is the Consul grants, particularly to companies that are laying General of the United States of America, and Ms. people offin the province and putting it to the vital Pamela Tremont, the Vice Consul. social services that the Premier has announced he cut yesterday? On behalf of all honourable members, I would like to welcome you here this afternoon. Hon. Gary Fllmon (Premier): Mr. Speaker, as I Also this afternoon, I would like to draw the said yesterday to the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. attention of honourable members to the public Doer), it is not just a question of whether or not gallery, where we have with us todayMiss Miranda services are provided; it is whether or not those Kowalec and her parents Alan and Christina services are available elsewhere. The ones that he Kowalec. Miranda is a Grade 6 student at Balm oral referred to are obviously available elsewhere. Hall, who is the Manitoba artist whose work The other aspect of his question, Mr. Speaker, represents our province in the 1993 Energy and again is wrongly put because we do not make grants Environment Calendar. to the businesses. In fact, what we do is provide On behalf of all honourable members, I would like them with a credit against their payment of their to welcome you here this afternoon. payroll tax. We reduce the amount that they pay on payroll tax in keeping with the amount that they ORAL QUESTION PERIOD spend on educating and training people, which is indeed a very much needed investment in our Manitoba Anti-Poverty Association economy, and we believe it is important. Even Funding though the New Democrats do not want to see Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Mr. investments in training and education, we do, and Speaker, my question is for the First Minister. We the program has proven to be a very successful one have learned today that 19 more employees have to encourage businesses to invest in training and been laid off at Northern Telecom. That follows on development of their human resources. 1028 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 16, 1993 * (1335) when they spent some $30 million on computers with Unisys. If he wants to call those grants to Aboriginal Friendship Centres corporations-thatwas a New Democraticpolicy-he Funding may do so. The fact is that the onesthat he refers Mr. Gary Doer {Leader of the Opposition): Mr. to are investments in technology development Speaker, that is why there were over 300 people which employ, I might say, many, many people in working at that plant when the NDP was in power, high technologyfields because of thefact thatthese and there is almost half that amount now with the investments are being made. Conservatives in power in terms of that very vital plant. Student Financial Assistance Program Yesterday, Mr. Speaker, the Premier defended Funding his cuts for people, for agencies when I asked him Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Mr. the question saying that these agencies that we Speaker, we did not cut back the grants to have cut do not provide services to the people of vulnerable peoplein our society. We had a balance Manitoba. between investments in corporations and I direct the Premier to the Indian and Metis investment in people. Friendship Centres across the province that provide This government is cutting all the grants to people housing counselling, that provide institutional and leaving in place all the grants to corporations, support. They provide drug counselling, cultural and that is clear from the Premier's answers here counselling, provide elders programming-again, this afternoon. inconsistent with the Premier's announcement Mr. Speaker, a final supplementary to the provide volunteer programming for aboriginal Premier: The government has announced the people, provide fine option programs, provide youth reduction in supportfor student social allowances. programs, provide income tax services for This program has been assistance to social aboriginal people and provide job counselling allowance recipients to get an education, to services for those people in the inner city and many hopefully get off of welfare, to get off social communities across Manitoba to get jobs. assistance,to get into meaningful employment. The government's announcement yesterday laid I would like to ask the Premier: How many people off some 33 people working all across the province will be cut off of their educational opportunities with with the people again who are some of the most the reduction from this government? What will be vulnerable in our society. At the same time, Mr. the long-term economic impact of it not allowing Speaker, the government has corporate grants to some individuals in our societyto get the education, Lin nett Graphics of over $1 million. It has corporate to get the trainingand to get offwelfare as they plan grants that they have announced with the Vision their life careers, Mr. Speaker? Capital Fund of $15 million. Hon. Harold Gllleshammer {Minister of Family Why does the Premier not cancel a few of those Services): Mr. Speaker, as the member for corporate grants and keep that $1 .3 million for those Concordia indicated yesterday, there are many people working with the most vulnerable people in difficult choices that have to be made in putting a Manitoban society? budgettoge ther. Hon. Gary Fllmon (Premier): Mr. Speaker, I I would take this opportunity to remind him of what repeat, the Leader of the Opposition is Premier Romanow said in January when he said, for misrepresenting what is happening. These are not a New Democrat who is used to being in grants to corporations. There are investments in government when the economy is expanding and the developments of technology, investments that who is used to redistributing wealth, the change to have been made by previous governments, creating wealth and to taking back concessions including New Democratic governments. given to people in better times is so darn difficult.