Second Session - Thirty-Ninth Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable George Hickes Speaker Vol. LX No. 39 – 1:30 p.m., Monday, May 12, 2008 ISSN 0542-5492 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thirty-Ninth Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ALLAN, Nancy, Hon. St. Vital N.D.P. ALTEMEYER, Rob Wolseley N.D.P. ASHTON, Steve, Hon. Thompson N.D.P. BJORNSON, Peter, Hon. Gimli N.D.P. BLADY, Sharon Kirkfield Park N.D.P. BOROTSIK, Rick Brandon West P.C. BRAUN, Erna Rossmere N.D.P. BRICK, Marilyn St. Norbert N.D.P. BRIESE, Stuart Ste. Rose P.C. CALDWELL, Drew Brandon East N.D.P. CHOMIAK, Dave, Hon. Kildonan N.D.P. CULLEN, Cliff Turtle Mountain 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. EICHLER, Ralph Lakeside P.C. FAURSCHOU, David Portage la Prairie P.C. GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib. GOERTZEN, Kelvin Steinbach P.C. GRAYDON, Cliff Emerson P.C. HAWRANIK, Gerald Lac du Bonnet P.C. HICKES, George, Hon. Point Douglas N.D.P. HOWARD, Jennifer Fort Rouge N.D.P. IRVIN-ROSS, Kerri, Hon. Fort Garry N.D.P. JENNISSEN, Gerard Flin Flon N.D.P. JHA, Bidhu Radisson N.D.P. KORZENIOWSKI, Bonnie St. James N.D.P. LAMOUREUX, Kevin Inkster Lib. LATHLIN, Oscar, Hon. The Pas N.D.P. LEMIEUX, Ron, Hon. La Verendrye N.D.P. MACKINTOSH, Gord, Hon. St. Johns N.D.P. MAGUIRE, Larry Arthur-Virden P.C. MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood N.D.P. MARCELINO, Flor Wellington N.D.P. MARTINDALE, Doug Burrows N.D.P. McFADYEN, Hugh Fort Whyte P.C. McGIFFORD, Diane, Hon. Lord Roberts N.D.P. MELNICK, Christine, Hon. Riel N.D.P. MITCHELSON, Bonnie River East P.C. NEVAKSHONOFF, Tom Interlake N.D.P. OSWALD, Theresa, Hon. Seine River N.D.P. PEDERSEN, Blaine Carman P.C. REID, Daryl Transcona N.D.P. ROBINSON, Eric, Hon. Rupertsland N.D.P. RONDEAU, Jim, Hon. Assiniboia N.D.P. ROWAT, Leanne Minnedosa P.C. SARAN, Mohinder The Maples N.D.P. SCHULER, Ron Springfield P.C. SELBY, Erin Southdale N.D.P. SELINGER, Greg, Hon. St. Boniface N.D.P. STEFANSON, Heather Tuxedo P.C. STRUTHERS, Stan, Hon. Dauphin-Roblin N.D.P. SWAN, Andrew, Hon. Minto N.D.P. TAILLIEU, Mavis Morris P.C. WOWCHUK, Rosann, Hon. Swan River N.D.P. 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Monday, May 12, 2008 The House met at 1:30 p.m. These are the reasons for this petition: PRAYER Manitoba's provincial government has a responsibility to provide quality long-term care for ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS qualifying Manitobans. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Personal care homes in the town of Virden Bill 232–The Public Schools Amendment Act currently have a significant number of empty beds (Anaphylaxis Policies) that cannot be filled because of a critical nursing shortage in these facilities. Ms. Erin Selby (Southdale): I move, seconded by the Member for Kirkfield Park (Ms. Blady), that Bill In 2006, a municipally formed retention 232, The Public Schools Amendment Act committee was promised that the Virden nursing (Anaphylaxis Policies); Loi modifiant la Loi sur les shortage would be resolved by the fall of 2006. écoles publiques (politiques sur l'anaphylaxie), now Virtually all personal care homes in be read for the first time. southwestern Manitoba are full, yet as of early Motion presented. October 2007, the nursing shortage in Virden is so severe that more than one-quarter of the beds at Ms. Selby: This bill requires each school board to Westman Nursing Home are sitting empty. develop an anaphylaxis policy to meet the needs of Seniors, many of whom are war veterans, are pupils who have serious allergies. therefore being transported to other communities for Mr. Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt care. These communities are often a long distance the motion? [Agreed] from Virden and family members are forced to travel for more than two hours round trip to visit their Bill 300–The Royal Lake of the Woods Yacht loved ones, creating significant financial and Club Incorporation Amendment Act emotional hardship for these families. Mrs. Heather Stefanson (Tuxedo): Mr. Speaker, I Those seniors that have been moved out of move, seconded by the Member for Charleswood Virden have not received assurance that they will be (Mrs. Driedger), that Bill 300, The Royal Lake of the moved back to Virden when the beds become Woods Yacht Club Incorporation Amendment Act; available. Loi modifiant la Loi constituent en corporation « The We petition the Legislative Assembly of Royal Lake of the Woods Yacht Club », be now read Manitoba as follows: a first time. To request the Minister of Health (Ms. Oswald) Motion presented. to consider taking serious action to fill the nursing vacancies at personal care homes in the town of Mrs. Stefanson: This bill is just to change the Royal Virden and to consider reopening the beds that have Lake of the Woods Yacht Club from a for-profit been closed as the result of this nursing shortage. organization to a not-for-profit organization. Mr. Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt To urge the Minister of Health of Manitoba to the motion? [Agreed] consider prioritizing the needs of those seniors that have been moved out of their community by PETITIONS committing to move those individuals back into Virden as soon as the beds become available. Personal Care Homes–Virden Mr. Larry Maguire (Arthur-Virden): Mr. Mr. Speaker, this petition is signed by Terry Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to Johnson, Bonnie Zubrecki, Rhonetta Brown, Myrna the Legislative Assembly. Orr and many, many others. 2026 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 12, 2008 Mr. Speaker: In accordance with our rule 132(6), To urge the Minister of Family Services and when petitions are read they are deemed to be Housing to consider the development of a received by the House. governance body that would provide direction and support to the volunteer boards of child-care centres Child-Care Centres and to consider the development of regionalized Mrs. Myrna Driedger (Charleswood): I wish to central wait lists for child care. present the following petition to the Legislative To encourage all members of the Legislative Assembly. Assembly to consider becoming more closely These are the reasons for this petition: involved with the operations of the licensed day-care facilities in their constituencies. There is an ongoing critical shortage of child- care spaces throughout Manitoba, particularly in fast- This is signed by Carla Firman, Lorene Belows, growing regions such as south Winnipeg. Amanda Currette and many, many others. The provincial government has not adequately Long-Term Care Facility–Morden planned for the child-care needs of growing Mr. Peter Dyck (Pembina): Mr. Speaker, I wish to communities like Waverley West where the present the following petition to the Legislative construction of thousands of homes will place Assembly. immense pressure on an already overburdened child- care system. The background for this petition is as follows: The severe shortage of early childhood educators Tabor Home Incorporated is a time-expired compounds the difficulty parents have finding personal care home in Morden with safety, licensed child care and has forced numerous centres environmental and space deficiencies. to operate with licensing exemptions due to a lack of The seniors of Manitoba are valuable members qualified staff. of the community with increasing health-care needs Child-care centres are finding it increasingly requiring long-term care. difficult to operate within the funding constraints set The community of Morden and the surrounding by the provincial government to the point that they area are experiencing substantial population growth. are unable to provide wages and benefits sufficient to retain child-care workers. We petition the Legislative Assembly of As a result of these deficiencies in Manitoba's Manitoba as follows: child-care system, many families and parents are To request the Minister of Health (Ms. Oswald) growing increasingly frustrated and desperate, to strongly consider giving priority for funding to fearing that they will be unable to find licensed child develop and staff a new 100-bed long-term care care and may be forced to stop working as a result. facility so that clients are not exposed to unsafe In an economy where labour shortages are common, conditions and so that Boundary Trails Health Centre the provision of sustainable and accessible child care beds remain available for acute-care patients instead is critical. of waiting placement clients. We petition the Legislative Assembly of This is signed by Mary Gerbrandt, Lucy Destoop, Manitoba as follows: Ann Halabicki and others. To urge the Minister of Family Services and * (13:40) Housing (Mr. Mackintosh) to consider addressing the shortage of early childhood educators by enabling Lake Dauphin Fishery child-care centres to provide competitive wages and Mrs. Heather Stefanson (Tuxedo): Mr. Speaker, I benefits. wish to present the following petition to the To urge the Minister of Family Services and Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Housing to consider adequately planning for the These are the reasons for this petition: future child- care needs of growing communities and to consider making the development of a sustainable Fishing is an important industry on Lake and accessible child-care system a priority. Dauphin. May 12, 2008 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2027 To help ensure the sustainability of the Lake to consider calling a public inquiry on the Crocus Dauphin fishery, it is essential that spawning fish in Fund fiasco.