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. 3 – 1:30 p.m., Thursday, November 22, 2007 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 Minto N.D.P. TAILLIEU, Mavis Morris P.C. WOWCHUK, Rosann, Hon. Swan River N.D.P. 29 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Thursday, November 22, 2007 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Mr. Speaker: Leave has been granted. PRAYER Introduction of Guests ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Mr. Speaker: Survivors of Holodomor Ukrainian famine of 1932-33 living in the province of INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Manitoba: Anastasia Kowalchuk, Halyna Panasiuk, Bill 2–The Public Schools Amendment Act Luba Perehinec, Anna Shewel; accompanied by (Trans Fats and Nutrition) Reverend Dr. Jaroslav Buciora, Leo Ledohowski, Cindy Carswell. These are the guests of the Hon. Peter Bjornson (Minister of Education, honourable Member for Russell. Citizenship and Youth): I move, seconded by the Minister of Healthy Living (Ms. Irvin-Ross), that Bill 217–The Ukrainian Famine and Genocide Bill 2, The Public Schools Amendment Act (Trans Memorial Day Act Fats and Nutrition); Loi modifiant la Loi sur les Mr. Leonard Derkach (Russell): Mr. Speaker, I écoles publiques (gras trans et nutrition), be now move, seconded by the Member for Burrows (Mr. read a first time. Martindale), that Bill 217, The Ukrainian Famine Motion presented. and Genocide Memorial Day Act, be now read for a first time. Mr. Bjornson: This bill requires every school to have a food and nutrition policy and to ensure that Motion presented. schools do not sell or distribute food containing trans fats. There is a significant body of evidence Mr. Derkach: Mr. Speaker, before I get to speak to indicating trans fats may do more harm than the intent of the bill, I, once again, rise in an saturated fats and, as such, this legislation is yet unprecedented way in the House. I know in my another step in promoting and ensuring healthy 20-some-odd years in the House I have not done this, choices for our children throughout Manitoba but today is kind of an unusual day, when we have schools. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. an opposition member's bill being seconded by a member of government. I think, in the true Mr. Leonard Derkach (Russell): Before I get to the non-partisanship, I would also ask leave of the House introduction of my bill, I am wondering if I could ask that the seconder of this motion be allowed to put a leave of the House– few comments on the record in the introduction of Mr. Speaker: I'm sorry. I have to put the question to this bill. the bill. Mr. Speaker: Is there leave for the seconder to put a Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the few comments on this bill that's being introduced? Is motion? [Agreed] there leave? Mr. Derkach: Thank you. Once again, I'm Some Honourable Members: Leave. wondering if prior to my introduction of this bill, if I Mr. Speaker: Leave has been granted. might ask for leave of the House for Mr. Speaker to alter the proceedings to introduce the guests who Mr. Derkach: Mr. Speaker, today the introduction have assembled here this afternoon to mark the of this bill is basically to commemorate an event that introduction of this bill and this important day. occurred 75 years ago, and the end of this month marks an occasion when we can all, in the world, in Mr. Speaker: Is there leave of the House for the Canada and in Manitoba, mark a horrific event that Speaker to introduce his guests that are in the occurred in the 1932 to 1933 year in the forced Speaker's Gallery? famine of Ukrainians in the Ukraine by the Soviet Some Honourable Members: Leave. Union's forced famine. 30 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 22, 2007 Tonight, Mr. Speaker, we also will be phosphorus load into Lake Winnipeg and helping, as celebrating, not celebrating, but commemorating this one part, in the clean-up and the reduction of the event with the Premier's (Mr. Doer) showing of a algal blooms in Lake Winnipeg. video that includes the members of our guests here Mr. Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt today, who will be telling their story in terms of the the motion? [Agreed] famine, who lived through the famine and immigrated to this country and to this province. To PETITIONS that, we have to thank Canad Inns, Leo Ledohowski, Crocus Investment Fund–Public Inquiry who sponsored this film and indeed have put this film together to commemorate this event. Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Mr. Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that we can join Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. hands together with opposition and all Manitobans to pass this bill in Manitoba to commemorate this event The background to the petition is as follows: and the horrific suffering and the tragedies that The 2007 provincial election did not clear the occurred as a result of the forced famine. There are NDP government of any negligence with regard to many people across this province whose families the Crocus Fund fiasco. were part of that genocide and it is time to mark that occasion. Mnohaya lita vichny iy pamyat to those The government needs to uncover the whole who perished in that famine. truth as to what ultimately led to over 33,000 Crocus shareholders to lose tens of millions of dollars. Translation Many happy years and everlasting memories. The provincial Auditor's report, the Manitoba Securities Commission's investigation, the RCMP Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): Mr. Speaker, I investigation, the involvement of revenue Canada thank the Member for Russell for asking me to and our courts, collectively, will not answer the second this bill and for asking for leave to speak. questions that must be answered in regard to the Crocus Fund fiasco. The purpose of this bill is to enshrine in legislation the same wording as my resolution of Manitobans need to know why the government 2004, namely, that the fourth Saturday of November ignored the many warnings that could have saved the in each year is known as Ukrainian famine genocide Crocus Investment Fund. memorial day. Vichny iy pamyat. [Everlasting We petition the Legislative Assembly of memories] Manitoba as follows: Mr. Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt To urge the Premier (Mr. Doer) and his NDP the motion? Agreed? [Agreed] government to co-operate in uncovering the truth in why the government did not act on what it knew and Bill 201–The Phosphorus-Free to consider calling a public inquiry on the Crocus Dishwashing Detergent Act Fund fiasco. Mr. Speaker, this is signed by E. Tangco, Fred Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Mr. Speaker, I Marasigan, D. Mendoza and many, many other fine move, seconded by the MLA for Inkster (Mr. Manitobans. Thank you. Lamoureux), that Bill 201, The Phosphorus-Free Dishwashing Detergent Act; Loi sur les détergents à Mr. Speaker: In accordance with our rule 132(6), vaisselle sans phosphore, be now read a first time. when petitions are read they are deemed to be received by the House. Motion presented. * (13:40) Dividing of Trans-Canada Highway Mr. Gerrard: Mr. Speaker, this bill is a Mrs.