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. 19- 1:30 p.m., Thesday, May 2, 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. BARRETI, 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 Portage Ia 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. JENNISSEN, Gerard Flin Flon N.D.P. KORZENIOWSKI, Bonnie St. James N.D.P. LATHLIN, 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. MALOWA Y, Jim Elmwood N.D.P. MARTINDALE, Doug Burrows N.D.P. McGIFFORD, Diane, Hon. Lord Roberts N.D.P. MIHYCHUK, MaryAnn, Hon. Minto N.D.P. MITCHELSON, Bonnie River East P.C. 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.DP. ROCAN, Denis Carman P.C. RONDEAU, Jim Assiniboia N.D P. SALE, Tim, Hon. Fort Rouge N.D.P. SANTOS, Conrad Wellington N.D.P. SCHELLENBERG, Harry Rossmere N.D.I'. SCHULER, Ron Springfield P.C. SELINGER, Greg, Hon. St. Boniface N.D.P. SMITH, Joy Fort Garry P.C. SMITH, Scott Brandon West N.D.I'. STEFANSON, Eric Kirkfield Park P.C. STRUTHERS, Stan Dauphin-Roblin N.D.P. TWEED, Mervin Turtle Mountain P.C. WOWCHUK, Rosano, Hon. Swan River N.D.P. 739 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Tuesday, May 2, 2000 The House met at 1:30 p.m. May 2, 2000, as the day of remembrance for this year. After reading the proclamation, I would PRAYERS like to ask all members of the Legislature to observe a moment of silence in honour of those ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS who died and in solemn commitment that we will work to ensure nothing like the Holocaust TABLING OF REPORTS ever happens again. Hon. Becky Barrett (Minister of Labour): Mr. The proclamation reads Holocaust Memorial Speaker, I am pleased today to rise to table the Day fo llowing report, copies of which have previously been distributed: the Quarterly WHEREAS the Holocaust was the deliberate Financial Report for the Nine Months ended and planned destruction of European Jews by the November 1999 for the Manitoba Public Nazis and their collaborators during World War Insurance Corporation. II; and I would also like to table the fo llowing WHEREAS six million Jewish men, women and reports: first, the Workers Compensation Board children perished under this policy of hatred and Appeal Commission Annual Report fo r 1999 genocide; and and, second, the Workers Compensation Board 1999 Annual Report. WHEREAS we must never forget the terrible destruction and pain of the Holocaust; and Mr. Speaker: Notices of Motions, Introduction of bills. WHEREAS Holocaust Memorial Day, Yom Hashoah, was established to remember, honour Hon. Becky Barrett (Minister of Labour): Mr. and commemorate the victims of that genocide; Speaker, I wonder if I might have leave of the and House to revert back to Ministerial Statements? WHEREAS this day shall also provide an Mr. Speaker: Is there leave of the House to opportunity to consider other instances of revert back to Ministerial Statements and systemic destruction of peoples and human Tabling of Reports? [Agreed} rights issues; MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS NOW LET IT THEREFORE BE KNOWN THAT we do hereby proclaim May 2, 2000, as Yom Hashoah determined by the Jewish lunar calendar, as Holocaust Memorial Day, Yom Hashoah, and do Hon. Becky Barrett (Minister of Labour): Mr. commend its thoughtful observation to all Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to announce citizens in our province. today, May 2, 2000, is Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Memorial Day in Manitoba. The Legislature * (13:35) yesterday unanimously approved Bill 19, which created Yom Hashoah as a day of remembrance Mr. Gary Filmon (Leader of the Official fo r the victims of the Holocaust. Opposition): Mr. Speaker, my colleagues on this side of the House and I would like to join As the first act of Yom Hashoah, I would with the Minister and her colleagues in like to read the proclamation, signed by the recognizing, for the first time officially in our Premier (Mr. Doer) and myself, acknowledging province, Yom Hashoah, the Holocaust 740 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 2, 2000 Memorial Day, a day that results fr om the reporting that Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. passage yesterday of Bill 19, a bill that received has applied to the CRTC requesting average rate unanimous consent to pass through the House in increases of $3 per month. This increase is being speedy passage so that this day could be requested to support a portion of MTS's new tax recognized officiallyfo r the firsttime this year. burden. That means the company is asking the CRTC to allow it to flow its new tax burden to As I said yesterday in my comments on third consumers in the fo rm of increased rates. reading of the bill, I believe that this legislation and the Memorial Day that it creates is important The present request of $3 will have serious to all Manitobans because it requires us all to consequences fo r Manitoba consumers. These remember the terribly barbaric acts and atrocities increases would be especially onerous fo r those that were committed by the Nazis, acts of hatred of limited means and on fixed incomes. Because and genocide against not only 6 million Jews but MTS already has asked for increases associated approximately 5 million others with various with inflationary fa ctors, Manitobans could end physical and mental characteristics and up paying even more than $3. Rate increases in infirmities, human characteristics that were seen rural and northern areas will be proportionately to be unacceptable to the Nazis, such that they higher than fo r urban users. Because of the proceeded to try and exterminate all those in the CRTC's decision to have people in high-cost various categories that were listed in the act that serving areas bear a larger share of the costs of we passed yesterday. service in the future, consumers in rural and northern communities are likelier to see even This act of remembrance is our way of higher rates. saying, Mr. Speaker, that we want never to see these kinds of things ever happen again. That dark period of time in this century, perhaps the I am advised that MTS's application darkest that we have experienced in modem day provides a strong signal indicating that the history is something that can only be prevented company will be asking fo r additional increases by people all over the world making a to cover its tax expenses in future years. Because commitment to remember and commit to not in 1998 MTS asked fo r rate increases of up to $8 happen again. fo r its then-future tax expenditure requirements, it is possible that another $5 could be requested Mr. Speaker: Does the Honourable Member for fo r the year 200 1 and beyond. Therefore, if the River Heights have leave? [Agreed] requested rates are approved, the CRTC's decision could set a precedent whereby MTS's Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Mr. fu ture tax-related rate requests could be more Speaker, I rise in support of the motion we have easily adopted by the Commission. just passed and in support of the commemoration today of Yom Hashoah. I rise to say in Because we do not believe this application is remembering the Holocaust that we must all in the best interests of Manitoba consumers, dedicate ourselves on an ongoing basis, not only especially those who will be hard pressed to pay to eliminate any future potential of genocide but more fo r this essential service, we will be willing to be constantly aware of the need to fight to voice our concerns directly and clearly to the racism in all its fo rms and to create a tolerant CRTC. We will be asking the Commission to society. Thank you. ensure that Manitoba consumers are not asked to bear the weight ofMTS's tax burden. Telephone Rate Increases In addition, Mr. Speaker, we do not want the Hon. Ron Lemieux (Minister of Consumer CRTC to make its decision on this critical matter and Corporate Affairs): Mr. Speaker, I have a sitting in its offices in Hull, Quebec. We want statement for the House. Manitobans to be given an opportunity to be heard; therefore, we are calling upon the Mr. Speaker, members of the House will Commission not only to hold full and complete have read an article in the press this morning public hearings in Manitoba but in fact to hold May 2, 2000 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 741 them in a number of locations, including ones in * * * rural and northernManitoba.