Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES
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Third 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. XLVII No. 51 -1:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 27, 1997 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thirty-Sixth Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ASHTON, Sieve Thompson N.D.P. BARRETT, Becky Welling1on N.D.P. CERILLI, Marianne Radisson N.D P. CHOMIAK, Dave Kildonan N.D.P. CUMMINGS, Glen, Hon. Sle. Rose P.C. DACQUA Y, Louise, Hon. Seine River P.C. DERKACH, Leonard, Bon. Rob I in-Russell P.C. DEWAR, Gregory Selkirk N.D.P. DOER, Gary Concordia N.D.P. DOWNEY, James, Hon. Arthur-Virden P.C. DRIEDGER, Albert Sreinbach P.C. DYCK, Pe1er Pembina P.C. ENNS, Harry, Hon. Lakeside P.C. ERNST, Jim Charleswood P.C. EVANS, Clif Inlerlake N.D.P. EVANS, Leonard S. Brandon Easl N.D.P. FILMON, Gary, Hon. Tuxedo P.C. FINDLAY, Glen, Hon. Springfield P.C. FRIESEN, Jean Wolseley N.D.P. GAUDRY, Neil S1. Boniface Lib. GILLESHAMMER, Harold, Bon. Minnedosa P.C. HELWER, Edward Gimli P.C. HICKES, George Poim Douglas N.D.P. JENNISSEN, Gerard Flin Flon N.D.P. KOWALSKI, Gary The Maples Lib. LAMOUREUX, Kevin Inks1er Lib. LATHLIN, Oscar The Pas N.D.P. LAURENDEAU, Marcel Sl. Norbert P.C. MACKINTOSH, Gord Sl. Johns N.D.P. MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood N.D.P. MARTINDALE, Doug Burrows N.D.P. McALPINE, Gerry S1urgeon Creek P.C. McCRAE, James, Bon. Brandon Wesl P.C. McGIFFORD, Diane Osborne N.D.P. MciNTOSH, Linda, Hon. Assiniboia P.C. MIHYCHUK, MaryAnn Sl. James N.D.P. MITCHELSON, Bonnie, Hon. River Easl P.C. NEWMAN, David, Hon. Riel P.C. PENNER, Jack Emerson P.C. PITURA, Frank, Hon. Morris P.C. PRAZNIK, Darren, Hon. Lac du Bonne! P.C. RADCLIFFE, Mike, Bon. River Heighls P.C. REID, Daryl Transcona N.D.P. REIMER, Jack, Hon. Niakwa P.C. RENDER, Shirley Sr. Viral P.C. ROBINSON, Eric Rupertsland N.D.P. ROCAN, Denis Gladslone p C. SALE, Tim Crescenlwood N.D.P. SANTOS, Conrad Broadway N.D P. STEFANSON, Eric, Hon. Kirkfield Park PC. STRUTHERS, Sian Dauphin NDP SVEINSON, Ben La Verendrye P.C. TOEWS, Vic, Bon. Rossmere PC TWEED, Mervin Turlle Mounlain PC VODREY, Rosemary, Hon. Fort Garry p C. WOWCHUK, Rosano Swan River N.D.P. Vacam Ponage Ia Prairie 3997 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Tuesday, May 27, 1997 The House met at 1:30 p.m. request that the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik) consider stopping the closure of the obstetrics program PRAYERS at Winnipeg's Grace Hospital. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Kildonan (Mr. Chomiak), and READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS it complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read? Obstetrics Closure-GraceGeneral Hospital Dispense. Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for St. James (Ms. Mihychuk), and The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province it complies with the rules and practices of the House of Manitoba humbly sheweth: (by leave). Is it the will of the House to have the petition read? THAT the obstetrics program has always been an important part of the Grace Hospital's mandate; and An Honourable Member: Yes. THAT both people in the community and a number of Madam Speaker: Yes. The Clerk will read. government studies have recommended against the further closure of community hospitals' obstetrics Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): The petition of the programs; and undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth: THAT as a result of federal and provincial cuts in the THAT the obstetrics program has always been an health budget, hospitals are being forced to eliminate important part of the Grace Hospital's mandate; and programs in order to balance their own budgets; and THAT both people in the community and a number THAT the closure of the Grace Hospital obstetrics of governmentstudies have recommended against the ward will mean laying off54 health care professionals, further closure of community hospitals' obstetrics many of whom have years of experience and dedicated programs; and service in obstetrics; and THAT as a result of federal an� ?rovincial cuts in the THAT moving to a model where more and more births health budget, hospitals are being forced to eliminate are centred in the tertiary care hospitals will be more programs in order to balance their own budgets; and costly and decreases the choices for women about where they can give birth. THAT the closure of the Grace Hospital obstetrics ward will mean laying off54 health care professionals, WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRAY many of whom have years of experience and dedicated THAT the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request service in obstetrics; and that the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik) consider THAT moving to a model where more and more stopping the closure of the obstetrics program at births are centred in the tertiary care hospitals will be Winnipeg's Grace Hospital. more costly and decreases the choices for women about where they can give birth. Mobile Screening Unit fo r Mammograms WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the PRAY TI-IAT the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba honourable member for Swan River (Ms. Wowchuk), 3998 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 27, 1997 and it complies with the rules and practices of the Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for St. House (by leave). Is it the will of the House to have the James have leave to revert to Presenting Petitions? petition read? [agreed] Dispense. Ms. Mihychuk: I beg to present the petition of Shirley Ferguson, Shirley Pooke, Lis Gray and others praying WHEREASmedical authorities have stated that breast that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that cancer in Manitoba has reached almost epidemic the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik) consider stopping proportions; and the closure of the obstetrics program at the Winnipeg Grace Hospital. WHEREASyearly mammograms are recommended for women over 50, and perhaps younger if a woman feels * (1335) she is at risk; and PRESENTING REPORTS BY - WHEREAS while improved surgical procedures and STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES better post-operative care do improve a woman's chances ifshe is diagnosed, early detection plays a Committee of Supply vital role; and Mr. Ben Sveinson (Acting Chairperson of the WHEREASManitoba currently has only three centres Committee of Supply): Madam Speaker, the where mammograms can be performed, those being Committee of Supply has adopted certain resolutions, Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson; and directs me to report the same and asks leave to sit again. WHEREAS a trip to and from these centres for a mammogram can cost a woman upwards of$500 which I move, seconded by the honourable member for is a prohibitive cost for some women; and Turtle Mountain (Mr. Tweed), that the report of the committee be received. WHEREAS a number of other provinces have dealt with this problem by establishing mobile screening Motion agreed to. units; and INTRODUCTION OF BILLS - WHEREASthe provincial government has promised to take action on this serious issue. Bill 205-The Dutch Elm Disease Amendment Act WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRAY that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Madam Speaker, I pleased to request the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik) move, seconded by the member for Selkirk (Mr. to consider immediately establishing a mobile Dewar), that leave be given to introduce Bill 205, The screening unit for mammograms to help women across Dutch Elm Disease Amendment Act, Loi modifiant Ia the province detect breast cancer at the earliest Loi sur Ia thyllose parasitaire de l'orme, and that the possible opportunity. same be now received and read a first time. PRESENTING PETITIONS Motion agreed to. Obstetrics Closure-Grace General Hospital Introduction of Guests Ms. MaryAnn Mihychuk (St. James): Madam Madam Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would Speaker, may I have leave to revert to Presenting like to draw the attention of all honourable members to Petitions? the public gallery where we have with us today a group May 27, 1997 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 3999 of seven educators and civic officials from Manchester, concerned about that issue. We have stated our England, and representatives from the South Winnipeg position very, very clearly. We have communicated our Technical Centre. These visiting individuals are position over and over again to the police forces. The affiliatedwith the Technical and Vocational Education police forces have indicated that they accept that policy Initiative of the Trafford Education Committee. and they carry that policy out. On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, it is one thing to state the this afternoon. policy; it is another matter, as Dorothy Pedlar stated, to implement the policy. What we are asking for from this Also seated in the public gallery we have this government is not a restatement of the policy, which afternoon twenty-two Grade 9 students from Kelvin everybody in this Legislature supports, but rather a High School under the direction of Mr. Tony Lopez and review of the alleged incident to ensure that the policy Ms. Lorna Olafson. This school is located in the direction as articulated by the Premier (Mr. Filmon) of constituency of the honourable member for the province and restated by the Minister of Justice Crescentwood (Mr. Sale). yesterday was in fact followed through in the case. What we are calling on this government to do is to On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you provide some degree of support to the domestic here this afternoon.