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. 59- 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 11, 2000 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. FILMON, Gary Tuxedo P.C. FRIESEN, Jean, Hon. Wolseley N.D.P. GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib. GILLESHAMMER, Harold Minnedosa P.C. HEL WER, 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. LA THLIN, 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. 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, Eric Kirkfield Park P.C. STRUTHERS, Stan Dauphin-Roblin N.D.P. TWEED, Mervin Turtle Mountain P.C. WOWCHUK, Rosann, Hon. Swan River N.D.P. 3817 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Tuesday, July 11,2000 The House met at 1:30 p.m. raising the levels of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, all major waterways in the province are PRAYERS within their banks and no communities are being threatened. Staff at Manitoba Emergency Mea­ ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS sures Organization are also working with other departments to ensure a capability to respond to PRESENTING REPORTS BY this issue on a co-ordinated basis if there is need STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES fo r emergent action. Thank you. Committee of Supply Mr. Harry Enos (Lakeside): Mr. Speaker, we on this side appreciate the Minister's statement Mr. Conrad Santos (Chairperson): Mr. of concern. I think that is the best way you can Speaker, the Committee of Supply has adopted describe it. We also take note, and I would ask certain resolutions, directs me to report the same all members of the Chamber to take note, that and asks leave to sit again. while the inconvenience and the cost of flooded basements can be pretty onerous on too many of I move, seconded by the Honourable Mem­ our citizens, add to that the loss of income if it ber fo r Selkirk (Mr. Dewar), that the report of involves agricultural land and farmlands, which the Committee be received. all too many farmers are also experiencing at the same time. Motion agreed to. I only want to encourage the Government, MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS through his agencies, Emergency Measures Or­ ganization, to work in concert with the muni­ Flood Forecast cipalities to the best of their ability. It is a dif­ ficult situation when Mother Nature turns on the Hon. Steve Ashton (Minister of Highways and tap. Government Services): I have a statement, Mr. Speaker. TABLING OF REPORTS Manitoba has experienced some very heavy Hon. Greg Selinger (Minister of Finance): Mr. rains during this month. This is of concern to all Speaker, I rise today to table the June 2000 Manitobans, especially fo r those who have been Provincial Auditor's Report to the Legislative directly affected by residential flooding. To date, Assembly on Value-for-Money Audits as re­ there have been four resolutions passed by muni­ quired by sections 52.27(1) of The Legislative cipal governments requesting provincial support Assembly Act. as a result of these heavy rains. These munici­ palities are Lac du Bonnet, La Broquerie, Stuart­ Hon. Becky Barrett (Minister of Labour): Mr. bum and Springfield. In addition, I am advised Speaker, today I am pleased to table the 2000- that a number of other municipalities are con­ 200 I Departmental Expenditure Estimates fo r sidering similar resolutions. Legislative Review for the Manitoba Civil Ser­ vice Commission. Staff from the Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization are in contact with local Hon. Jean Friesen (Minister of Intergovern­ governments to monitor the impact the heavy mental Affairs): Mr. Speaker, I would like to rains have had and are having across the pro­ table the Financial Statement fo r the year ending vince. While the significant precipitation has March 31, 1999, fo r the Leaf Rapids Town increased saturated groundwater levels and are Properties. 3818 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA July 11, 2000 I would like to table the Supplementary Esti­ homes were flooded based on backup of sewers, mates for the Department of Intergovernmental which would be legitimately covered by in­ Affairs, 2000-2001. surance and which homes were flooded by overland water damage, so the answer to the *(13:35) question is yes. Information Briefings ORAL QUESTION PERIOD Mrs. Bonnie Mitchelson (Interim Leader of Flooding the Official Opposition): Mr. Speaker, I thank Disaster Assistance the Premier fo r the answer. The custom in the past when natural disasters hit the province has Mrs. Bonnie Mitchelson (Interim Leader of been fo r the Government to provide timely the Official Opposition): Mr. Speaker, I know briefings to members of the Opposition. I would that the Minister responsible for disaster assis­ ask the Premier if he would be able to set up tance did make a statement in the House and some briefings fo r members of our caucus, talked about the communities that had flooding, specifically cnt1cs fo r Agriculture, Inter­ did not mention the homes in the city of governmental Affairs, Conservation and others Winnipeg that have had their basements flooded, that might be appropriate, so we could be up to but I think significant issues right across the date on the information that is coming fo rward, province with the heavy rains need to be and that we also might understand and know addressed. I would like to ask the Premier if his what measures the Government is putting in government has put in place the proper supports place to address the issues. necessary fo r those homeowners, businesses and Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): Yes, Mr. Speaker, farmers affected, and do those individuals have we did appreciate in the flood of '97, the fo rmer access to information that tells them what minister of Natural Resources providing daily programs might be available to them? updates, and as well the fo rmer minister res­ ponsible fo r Emergency Measures providing Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): Mr. Speaker, the updates often. Sometimes there were two up­ Emergency Measures Organization, the Depart­ dates with ministerial statements in the same ment of Agriculture, the Department of Con­ pre-Question Period item on the order of busi­ servation and the Crop Insurance indirectly ness. affected or potentially affected by the water We wiii continue that practice and have damages have all been working fu ll out. The fu rther information fr om our ministers on the Department of Conservation last week put out an status. We are certainly prepared. This is an alert on flooding fo r streams and an alert on the issue that is not partisan. The rain is not partisan. rather dramatic saturation of the basin that is The policy diffe rences, when we are dealing taking place and has taken place, particularly in with people in need, are real across all consti­ the storm of last Friday morning. We are cer­ tuencies, and we are certainly willing and able to tainly monitoring the situation today with put fo rward our ministers, not only to give you weather fo recasts for potential hail in some agri­ advice on what we are hearing from our experts cultural parts of our province that we are in our departments but also to listen to the advice watching very carefully for its impact on pro­ you are getting fr om your constituents. ducers. We are also very concerned and have on alert the Department of Agriculture and the Mrs. Mitchelson: I thank the Premier again fo r Department of Conservation, particularly in the that answer. We would look fo rward to those La Broquerie area, fo r livestock and potential regular updates and briefings. damage there with the very, very high water levels in some of those regions. Agricultural Income Disaster Assistance Shortfall The specific requests from different municipalities and particularly flooding in the Mrs. Bonnie Mitchelson (Interim Leader of Capital Region-I believe there were over 300 the Official Opposition): Mr.