Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS
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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.8- 1:30 p.m., Thursday, December 14, 2000 • Q 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. 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. 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. 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.P. SALE, Tim, Hon. Fort Rouge N.D.P. SANTOS, Conrad Wellington N.D.P. SCHELLENBERG, Harry Rossmere N.D.P. 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.P. STEFANSON, Heather Tuxedo P.C. STRUTHERS, Stan Dauphin-Roblin N.D.P. TWEED, Mervin Turtle Mountain P.C. WOWCHUK, Rosann, Hon. Swan River N.D.P. 289 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Thursday, December 14, 2000 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Public Nurse consultations, Immunizations, Vaccinations, and Mental Health services; and PRAYERS THAT the said Health Centre also contains the ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS administrative support for home care in the area, with home care workers reporting in and out of PRESENTING PETITIONS the centre; and Health Centre THAT the loss of the Health Centre would be a major economic set back to the commercial well Mrs. Myrna Driedger (Charleswood): I beg to being of downtown Transcona and the entire present the petition of Mary Bodnar, Tony Transcona community; and Manitowich, Anne Peiluck and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba THAT the people of Transcona were not request that the Minister of Health (Mr. consulted prior to the Provincial Government Chomiak) and the First Minister (Mr. Doer) making the decision to relocate the Health instruct the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Centre and that the plan fo r its relocation to a to end its plans to remove the Health Centre at 'strip mall district' runs contrary to all concepts 108 Bond Street from Transcona and to consider of community development; and finding existing space in downtown Transcona. THAT there is plenty of space in downtown READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS Transcona fo r the construction of a permanent facility or fo r the leasing of new space or fo r the Health Centre expansion and renovation of the existing facility. Mr. Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS honourable Member fo r Charleswood (Mrs. HUMBLY PRAY THAT the Legislative Driedger), and it complies with the rules and Assembly of Manitoba request that the Minister practices of the House. Is it the will of the House of Health and the First Minister of Manitoba to have the petition read? immediately instruct the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority to end its plans to remove the Some Honourable Members: Yes. Health Centre at 108 Bond Street from Transcona and instead direct the WRHA to Mr. Speaker: Will the Clerk please read. consider finding existing space in downtown Transcona, since much space exists, fo r both Madam Clerk (Patricia Chaychuk): The their short term and long term facility needs. petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba, humbly sheweth: MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS THAT the Health Centre, located in downtown Flood Conditions-Roseau River Transcona at I 08 Bond Street, is an important government service to the community of Hon. Oscar Lathlin (Minister of Transcona and surrounding areas; and Conservation): I have a statement to make regarding the flooding on the Roseau River. I THAT the said Health Centre is centrally rise this afternoon to provide the House with an located, close to major bus routes, and therefore update on the situation on or near the Roseau convenient to the people, with its community River. As you know, heavy rains in early based services of Pre-natal and Post-natal care, November resulted in flows and levels in the 290 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA December 14, 2000 Roseau River that were record highs for this of time. It has caused a huge amount of anxiety time of the year. The river peaked in late amongst the farm community and indeed the November and had declined about one and a half residents of Stuartburn and many other residents feet earlier this month. along the river. * (13:35) The concernthat is there has been expressed time and time again by local councillors to the Unfortunately the continued high velocity of minister's office on various occasions. Again the the flow has resulted in unusual ice conditions. flooding was raised at the AMM meeting. The The firm ice is not able to form in certain areas. municipal councils have wanted to impress upon Instead, frazil or slush ice fo rms, and when this myself and others the importance of an answer meets solid sheet ice which has fo rmed at some from this Governmentregard ing remediation and locations, ice-jams occur. This is what has compensation. Mr. Speaker, the human element happened just downstream from the village of and the anxiety created amongst the community Stuartburn and has caused river levels in this members over there cannot be measured. vicinity to rise between two and three fe et. This Therefore, I think it is important that this exceeds the flood stage, and the basements of Government should immediately make known to two homes have been flooded. Additional homes those people and the municipalities what level of could be flooded if the level continues to rise. compensation will be offered and what the level of assistance would be. Although the level has only gone up a fe w inches overnight and our fo recasters feel that it Secondly, I think it is also important to note may not rise much further, there remains a that local governments and representatives in degree of uncertainty in predicting under these that area had recommended to the department circumstances. River flows are declining at the better than a week ago that they could alleviate international boundary so that within a week or the flooding by blasting the ice bridges that were so the potential fo r further problems should have fo rming as long ago as a week and a half. We are abated. In the meanwhile, the situation is being a bit disappointed in the minister and his lack of closely monitored so that if any further ice direction to the department in this regard. Had jamming occurs, it can be identified as early as immediate action been taken, we believe that possible. much of the floodingthat is occurring there now could have been alleviated. Mr. Speaker, the Manitoba Emergency Management Organization is working with the We thank the minister fo r this information. local municipalities to assist their response to We hope that he recognizes that, in future, this situation and to co-ordinate the input of actions can be taken and will be taken along the Manitoba Conservation and other provincial river to avoid this kind of a situation again. agencies. The local governments and riverbank property owners are on alert should conditions * (13:40) change. Thank you. Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Mr. Mr. Jack Penner (Emerson): I would like to Speaker, I ask leave to make a fe w comments on thank the honourable minister for providing this the minister's statement. information to the House today. It is noteworthy that this is indeed an unusual occurrence. The Mr. Speaker: Does the honourable Member fo r Roseau River has always been an unpredictable River Heights have leave? [Agreed] river, and we have seen much flooding go on on the Roseau River but mostly during the Mr. Gerrard: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank summertime and/or during the springtime of the the minister fo r his statement. I rise to express year. Never have we witnessed this kind of a concern fo r and sympathy with those who are in situation where ice buildup has occurred at this the area which is affected by this untimely time of the yearand the heavy floes thatwe have flooding, and to hope that the minister will have seen come down the Roseau River at this period in place in the future, plans fo r rapid action December 14, 2000 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 291 should this sort of ice-jam and problems arise at Introduction of Guests any time again.