Second 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. LI No. 36 - 1:30 p.m., Monday, May 28, 2001 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thirty-Seventh Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation AGLUGUB, Cris The Maples N.D.I'. ALLAN, Nancy St. Vital N.D.I'. ASHTON, Steve, lion. Thompson N.ll.l'. ASPER, Linda Riel N.D.I'. BARRETT, Becky, lion. Inkster N.D.I'. CALDWELL, Drew, Hon. Brandon East N.D.I' CERII.LI, Marianne Radisson N.D.I'. CIIOMIAK, Dave, Hon. Kildonan N.D.I'. CUMMINGS, Glen Ste. Rose l>.c. DACQUA Y, Louise Seine River I'.C. DERKACH, Leonard Russell I'.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 Portage Ia Prairie P.C. FRIESEN, Jean, lion. Wolseley N.D.P. GERRARD, Jon, Bon. River Heights Lib. GILLESHAMMER, Harold Minnedosa P.C. HELWER, Edward Gimli P.C. HICKES, George Point Douglas N.D.P. JENNISSEN, Gerard Flin Flon N.D.P. KORZENIOWSKI, Bonnie St. James N.D.P. LATIILIN, Oscar, Hon. The Pas N.D.P. LAURENDEAU, Marcel St. Norbert P.C. 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. MIIIYCHUK, MaryAnn, Hon. Minto N.D.P. MITCHELSON, Bonnie River East P.C. MURRAY, Stuart Kirkfield Park PC. NEVAKSHONOFF, Tom Interlake N.D.P. PENNER, Jack Emerson P.C. PENNER, Jim Steinbach P.C. PITURA, Frank Morris P.C. PRAZNIK, Darren Lac du Bonnet 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 Assiniboia N.D.I'. SALE, Tim, lion. Fort Rouge N.D.P. SANTOS, Conrad Wellington N.D.I'. SCHELLENBERG, Harry Rossmere N.D.I'. SCHULER, Ron Springfield P.C. 1'. SELINGER. Greg, lion. St. Boniface N.D SMITH, Joy Fort Garry P.C. N.D.P. SMITH, Scott, lion. Brandon West P.C. STEFANSON, Heather Tuxedo N.D.I'. STRUTHERS, Stan Dauphin-Roblin P.C. TWEED, Mervin Turtle Mountain N.D.P. WOWCIIUK, Rosann, Hon. Swan River 2331 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Monday, May 28, 2001 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Wilson, Pat Spiring, William Crew and others, praying that the Premier (Mr. Doer) of Manitoba PRAYERS consider reversing his decision to not support construction of an underpass at Kenaston and ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Wilkes. PRESENTING PETITIONS The Jewish Foundation of Manitoba Kenaston Underpass Ms. Linda Asper (Riel): Mr. Speaker, I beg to present the petition of the Jewish Foundation of Mrs. Heather Stefanson (Tuxedo): I ask for Manitoba praying that the Legislature of the leave today to present the petition on behalf of province of Manitoba introduce an act amending the Member for Fort Whyte (Mr. Loewen). The Jewish Foundation of Manitoba Incorpo­ ration Act. Mr. Speaker: Does the honourable member have leave? [A greed] READINGAND RECEIVING PETITIONS Mrs. Stefanson: Mr. Speaker, I beg to present Manitoba Hydro Lines Routes the petition of Wayne Linton, Geoff Vandal, D. Chan and others, praying that the Premier of Mr. Speaker: The honourable Member for Manitoba (Mr. Doer) consider reversing his Springfield (Mr. Schuler), I have reviewed the decision to not support construction of an under­ petition, and it complies with the rules and pass at Kenaston and Wilkes. practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read? Mr. Frank Pitura (Morris): Mr. Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Lisa Shaubroeck, Ted Some Honourable Members: Yes. Seniuk, M. Dewey and others, praying that the Premier of Manitoba (Mr. Doer) consider Mr. Speaker: Clerk, please read. reversing his decision to not support con­ struction of the an underpass of Kenaston and Madam Clerk (Patricia Chaychuk): The Wilkes. petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth: Manitoba Hydro Lines Routes THAT the R.M. of East St. Paul has the Mr. Ron Schuler (Springfield): Mr. Speaker, I highest concentration of high voltage power beg to present the petition of Doreen Lozinski, lines in a residential area in Manitoba; and Gerald Rattai, Elsie Harkness and others, praying that the Legislative Assembly of THAT the R.M. of East St. Paul is the only Manitoba request that the Minister responsible jurisdiction in Manitoba that has both a 500kV for Manitoba Hydro (Mr. Selinger) consider and a 230kV line directly behind residences; and alternative routes for the additional 230kV and 500kV lines proposed for the R.M. of East St. THAT numerous studies have linked cancer, Paul. in particular childhood leukemia, to the proxi­ mity of power lines. Kenaston Underpass WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS Mrs. Myrna Driedger (Charleswood): Mr. HUMBLY PRAY THAT the Legislative Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Arlene Assembly of Manitoba request that the Minister 2332 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 28,2001 responsible fo r Manitoba Hydro consider Some Honourable Members: Yes. alternative routes fo r the additional 230kV and SOOkV lines proposed fo r the R.M. of East St. Mr. Speaker: Clerk, please read. Paul. *(13:35) Kenaston Underpass Madam Clerk: The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba humbly Mr. Speaker: The honourable Member fo r sheweth: Morris (Mr. Pitura), I have reviewed the petition, and it complies with rules and practices of the THAT the intersection at Wilkes and House. Is it the will of the House to have the Kenaston has grown to become the largest petition read? unseparated crossing in Canada; and Some Honourable Members: Yes. THAT the volume of traffic fo r this railroad crossing is twelve times the acceptable limit as Mr. Speaker: Clerk, please read. set out by Transport Canada; and Madam Clerk (Patricia Chaychuk): The THAT vehicles which have to wait fo r trains petition of the undersigned citizens of the at this intersection bum up approximately $1.4 province of Manitoba humbly sheweth: million in fuel, pollute the environment with over 8 tons of emissions and cause approxi­ THAT the intersection at Wilkes and mately $7.3 miilion in motorist delays every Kenaston has grown to become the largest year. unseparated crossing in Canada; and WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS THAT the volume of traffic fo r this railroad HUMBLY PRAY THAT the Premier of crossing is twelve times the acceptable limit as Manitoba consider reversing his decision to not set out by Transport Canada; and support construction of an underpass at Kenas­ ton and Wilkes. THAT vehicles which have to wait fo r trains at this intersection bum up approximately $1.4 TABLING OF REPORTS million in fu el, pollute the environment with over 8 tons of emissions and cause approxi­ Hon. Scott Smith (Minister of Consumer and mately $7.3 million in motorist delays every Corporate Affairs): Mr. Speaker, it is my year. pleasure to table the Annual Report of the Auto­ mobile Injury Compensation Appeal Com­ WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS mission fo r the fiscal year 2000-200 1. HUMBLY PRAY THAT the Premier of Manitoba consider reversing his decision to not support construction of an underpass at Ken­ INTRODUCTION OF BILLS aston and Wilkes. Bill 27-The Manitoba Hydro Amendment Act (2) Mrs. Heather Stefanson (Tuxedo): Mr. Speaker, I ask fo r leave again to call fo r the Hon. Greg Selinger (Minister of Finance): reading and receiving petitions on behalf of the move, seconded by the Minister of Trans­ Member fo r Fort Whyte (Mr. Loewen). portation and Government Services (Mr. Ashton}, that leave be given to introduce Bill 27, Mr. Speaker: Does the honourable member The Manitoba Hydro Amendment Act (2); Loi have leave? [A greed} no 2 modifiant Ia Loi sur !'Hydro-Manitoba, and that the same now be received and read a first I have reviewed the petition. It complies time. with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read? Motion presented. May 28,2001 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2333 Mr. Selinger: I am pleased today to rise to give April 11, that it involved something like 10 000 first reading to this bill. This legislation will litres of premium gasoline, that it was the largest require Manitoba Hydro to charge its customers spill in memory? Could the Minister of Con­ connected to the provincial power grid the same servation explain why his Government did not rate for electricity service regardless of where tell Manitobans about this major gas spill, a spill people live in Manitoba. dangerously close to residents' homes? Motion agreed to. Mr. Caldwell: As I indicated in the first answer, I am unaware of this, and I will take it under Introduction of Guests advisement. Mr. Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would Mr. Schuler: Can the Minister of Conservation like to draw the attention of all honourable tell Manitobans when his Government learned members to the public gallery, where we have about the spill and can he tell us what the with us Miss Kate Donetz from Ecole Henri­ Department of Conservation has done about it? Bergeron. She is the guest of the honourable Member for St. Vital (Ms. Allan). Mr. Caldwell: Mr. Speaker, I see that my response did not deter the member from his Also in the public gallery we have with us prepared text, but the same answer is in place.