Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS
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Third 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. LII No. 21 - 10 a.m., Friday, April 26, 2002 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 Portage Ia Prairie P.C. FRIESEN, Jean, Hon. Wolseley N.D.P. GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib. GILLESHAMMER, Harold Minnedosa P.C. HAWRANIK, Gerald Lac du Bonnet 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. MALOWAY,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. MURRAY, Stuart Kirkfield Park P.C. NEV AKSHONOFF, Tom Interlake N.D.P. PENNER, Jack Emerson P.C. P.C. PENNER,Jim Steinbach P.C. PITURA, Frank Morris REID, Daryl Transcona N.D.P. P.C. REIMER, Jack Southdale ROBINSON, Eric, Hon. Rupertsland N.D.P. 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. N.D.P. SCHELLENBERG, Harry Rossmere P.C. SCHULER, Ron Springfield N.D.P. SELINGER, Greg, Hon. St. Boniface P.C. SMITH, Joy Fort Garry N.D.P. SMITH, Scott, Hon. Brandon West P.C. STEFANSON, Heather Tuxedo N.D.P. STRUTHERS, Stan Dauphin-Roblin P.C. TWEED, Mervin Turtle Mountain N.D.P. WOWCHUK, Rosann, Hon. Swan River 809 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Friday, April 26, 2002 The House met at 10 a.m. pay our respects to their memories and the memories of those who preceded them. Our PRAYERS hearts go out to their families and friends. Though we can never truly share their feelings ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS of pain and loss, it is important that they be acknowledged and respected. MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS On Friday, April 26, a moment of silence at National Day of Mourning 11 a.m. is being requested of all government Workplace Accidents and Deaths departments, and on Sunday, April 28, flags at all government buildings will be lowered to half Hon. Becky Barrett (Minister of Labour and mast. I am asking all Manitobans to honour the Immigration): Mr. Speaker, I have a statement memories of individuals injured or killed in a for the House. workplace accident this past year by observing a Sunday, April 28, is the National Day of moment of silence at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Mourning for workers killed and injured on the April 28, 2002. I would like to ask that at the end job. It was officially proclaimed 11 years ago. of this statement and any responses that On this day, workers across Canada set aside members may have for all members to stand for time to mourn the individuals who have died or a moment of silence in the Chamber today. have been injured on the job over the past year. It is also a time to recognize injured workers for Mr. Stuart Murray (Leader of the Official their contributions to society prior to their Opposition): Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank accident and their ability to contribute after their the minister for her statement and join with her accident. It is through a relatively small gesture on behalf of members on this side of the House of proclaiming a day of commemoration and in honouring those who have been killed or recognition that we may truly convey our injured in the workplace. To remember Canadian gratitude to these people. We believe that they workers killed, disabled or injured in the have made a difference to the health and safety workplace and workers afflicted with industrial of future workers and can continue to contribute disease, the federal Conservative government to society and its well-being. passed the Workers Mourning Day Act in 1991. This Day of Mourning is also a reminder to all Canadians of the tremendous challenges we Each day millions of Canadians go to work. still face in eliminating death and injury in the Sadly, some of them do not make it home safe workplace. It motivates us to work even harder and sound. On occasion, the events responsible to reduce the number of workplace-related for workplace injury or deaths are preventable. injuries and death. However, even one injury or Other times unforeseeable events take life and death is too many. limb. The tragic events of September 11 in which 3112 people, most at work in New York, The Manitoba government remains commit Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania, perished in ted to doing all we can to improve safety and unconscionable acts of terror remind us now that health in Manitoba workplaces. We share this no matter how safe we feel in the workplace the considerable responsibility with Manitoba em unthinkable can happen. Some 343 firefighters ployers and workers. We must all do our part to and 23 police officers were killed at the W odd eliminate death and injury in the workplace. Trade Centre while serving and saving the lives April 28 is a day of mourning, an oppor of others. We should always remember the risks tunity for all Manitobans to pause in remem that police officers and firefighters take in order brance of those whose lives were cut short. We to do their jobs to keep us safe and protected. 810 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 26, 2002 On behalf of my caucus colleagues, I would last year there were seven suicides in the like to thank Manitoba's finest for the job that community of Pukatawagan and that this is not they do. We should also take this opportunity to an isolated incident. Here again, one death is far remember the four members of Canada's Armed too many. This is something that needs the Forces who were tragically killed in the line of attention of this Legislature, just as the attention duty, serving their country and fighting to of this Legislature should be brought to bear on preserve the freedom we cherish and hold dear. injuries and deaths which occur in the Our condolences and thoughts are with their workplace. Thank you. families. Mr. Speaker: Please nse for a moment of * (10:05) silence. I would also like to extend our sincere A moment of silence was observed. condolences to the family members and loved *** ones of workers who have been injured or killed. As members of the Legislative Assembly, we Hon. Gord Mackintosh (Government House must ensure that all Manitobans take workplace Leader): Mr. Speaker, is there leave of the health and safety seriously and work to ensure House to revert to Ministerial Statements and that the number of workers we remember on this Tabling of Reports? day of mourning ceases to grow. Mr. Speaker: Is th1�re leave of the House to Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): I ask leave revert back to Minist�:rial Statements? [Agreed] to speak on the minister's statement. TABLING OF REPORTS Mr. Speaker: Does the honourable member have leave? [Agreed] Hon. Drew Caldwell (Minister of Education, Training and Youth): Mr. Speaker, I would Mr. Gerrard: Mr. Speaker, as the minister and like to table the folllowing reports, copies of the Leader of the Opposition have indicated, which have been distributed intersessionally: workplace safety is important, and it is very Manitoba Text Book Bureau Annual Report important that we recognize where injuries and 2000-2001; Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifi death have occurred and that we do whatever we cations Board Ammal Report 2000-2001; can to prevent this. It is time to reflect on the Manitoba Education Research Learning Infor events of the last several years and the injuries mation Networks, MERLIN, Annual Reports and the deaths that have occurred in the 2000-2001; and The Public Schools Finance workplace, to offer our condolences to those Board report for the year ending June 30, 2001. who are affected and to think not only of those injuries and deaths which have occurred in ORAL QUESTION PERIOD accidents like the mining accidents but injuries and death which have occurred because of things Chiropractic Care like smoking in the workplace. Covera1ge Reduction Mrs. Myrna D1riedger (Charleswood): Smoking was brought to our attention in the Mr. Speaker, the Doer government has overspent Workers Compensation Board study. It has been their Health budget by millions of dollars in only the subject of debate from time to time in this two and a half years of government, and now Legislature, and clearly, in terms of numbers, is Manitobans are going to have to pay for their probably one of the major contributors to poor spending spree.