March 22, 1990 Alberta Hansard 213 Legislative Assembly of Alberta MRS. HEWES: Mr. Speaker, it's my pleasure to introduce to you and through you to other members of the Assembly Ms Title: Thursday, March 22, 1990 2:30 p.m. Molly Anderson, who is a teacher from the state of Florida who is here on a Fulbright exchange. Ms Anderson tells us she is Date: 90/03/22 very impressed with the education system in Alberta. [The House met at 2:30 p.m.] head: Oral Question Period [Mr. Speaker in the Chair] Meech Lake Accord head: Prayers MR. MARTIN: Mr. Speaker, to the Premier. Yesterday we learned that the Premier and his western counterparts have MR. SPEAKER: Let us pray. agreed to set up a task force that will try to develop a common front among western provinces to deal with the constitutional Lord, forgive our excessive busyness as we seek to do our crisis. I'd say to the Premier that we welcome this initiative business. because we've watched with growing alarm the constitutional Grant us an awareness of these moments of life that we might crisis developing and the thought that our country could break take on a renewed sense of commitment as we seek to serve all up from lack of unity. At the same time, we are concerned that Albertans. the formation of this common front does not lead to a hardening Amen. of positions and that the committee will explore all avenues that head: Notices of Motions might lead to a solution to this current constitutional crisis. My MR. BRUSEKER: Mr. Speaker, I rise today under Standing question flowing from that is: will the task force that's being set Order 30 to present notice of motion that today I intend to rise up be as open as possible, and would this task force be prepared after question period to move to adjourn the ordinary business to meet with interested citizens in the western provinces who of the Assembly to discuss the urgent matter related to the sale might have some useful ideas on how to end this deadlock? of General Systems Research and the loss of $31 million of taxpayers' money. MR. GETTY: Mr. Speaker, I wouldn't want the hon. member head: Tabling Returns and Reports to go too far along the lines of crisis in referring to the Meech Lake accord and the various discussions going on with regard to MR. ELZINGA: Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the it. But I do respect and certainly heartily endorse his view that response to Motion for a Return 235, which was accepted on we need to give serious and open consideration with a generosity August 17 of '89. of spirit and special tolerance of the views of other provinces. The task force is not set up in order to have public hearings head: Introduction of Special Guests or that type of thing. The task force is representing the four western provinces and would be looking at the recent move of MR. SCHUMACHER: Mr. Speaker, it's my pleasure this New Brunswick, because what it has introduced is a new factor afternoon to introduce to you and through you to all members in the entire Meech Lake matter, and that is a companion of the Assembly 13 students from the Carseland elementary resolution. That's what the task force will be working at. school. They are grade 6 students and very enthusiastic and interested in the processes they're observing around these MR. MARTIN: Mr. Speaker, following along, then, from the environs. They're accompanied by their teacher Rudy Luttmer Premier's answer. The government of New Brunswick has and parents Grant and Lee Wrathall. I'd ask them to rise in the suggested a compromise: a companion resolution dealing with members' gallery and receive the traditional warm welcome of among other things gender equality, dealing with making it the Assembly. easier to have new provinces join Confederation, and highlight­ ing aboriginal rights. My question to the Premier. In the spirit MR. SPEAKER: Redwater-Andrew, followed by Edmonton- of compromise would the Premier be amenable to these changes Avonmore. in a companion resolution? MR. ZARUSKY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's my pleasure MR. GETTY: Mr. Speaker, I would assure the hon. Leader of today to introduce to you and through you to the Assembly four the Opposition that the government of Alberta will consider Mr. outstanding senior citizens from the town of Bruderheim. They McKenna's and the province of New Brunswick's initiatives very, are Mr. and Mrs. Bill Ungeran and Mr. and Mrs. Walter Gabert. very seriously and will also look at them in the context of the They're just visiting here to find out about some senior citizen actions of the province of Newfoundland and the province of programs. I ask that they rise and receive the warm welcome of Manitoba. As well, since this idea of a companion resolution is the Assembly. a different initiative, we want to make sure that if such a thing is being developed, the interests and needs of western Canada MS M. LAING: Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure today to are seriously considered as that development takes place. introduce to you and through you to members of this Assembly 47 students from Lee Ridge school seated in the public gallery. MR. MARTIN: Mr. Speaker, part of the dilemma seems to be They are accompanied by their teachers Mrs. Olga Severin and the increasing pressure, because we feel we have to secure Mr. Barry French. I would ask that they now please rise and agreement to the accord by the first ministers' perceived receive the warm welcome of this Assembly. deadline, I believe of June 23, 1990. As the Premier is well aware, there's some evidence put forth by constitutional lawyers 214 Alberta Hansard March 22, 1990 and scholars and others that this deadline may have, in fact, no occasions already. But I want to suggest to all of you and to basis in law. My question to the Premier. Given the urgency of announce that the company has agreed today to stop production. the matter, would the Premier agree to have cabinet send this I want to table with the House four copies of that release. matter to the Alberta Court of Appeal for reference, as allowed Occupational Health and Safety will continue to work with the by section 27 of the Judicature Act? That may give us some employer, will continue to provide information to the workers more time to solve the problem. and the employer, and we will not allow that plant to reopen until all measures of safety and health are installed. MR. GETTY: Mr. Speaker, I would say no to the hon. member. As a matter of fact, I want him to know I personally and my MR. MARTIN: Mr. Speaker, it's nice that it's happening now. government feel that too much is being now passed to courts to But again, there are three children in the hospital and 10 make decisions or to govern. We want the act of governing to workers that were lead poisoned. I guess we want to know: why be in the hands of those who are elected by the people of wasn't this done before? That's what we've been trying to get Alberta. from this minister. The question I would ask, flowing from that, is: does the minister have any idea at all how many other MR. MARTIN: Trying to get some more time, Mr. Premier. industries might be in the same position and how many other workers may be facing similar problems? Lead Poisoning in Medicine Hat MR. TRYNCHY: Mr. Speaker, it's difficult for me to know if MR. MARTIN: My second question, Mr. Speaker, is to the there are other industries, but I would encourage those in­ minister of Occupational Health and Safety and the Workers' dustries, those workers, and those MLAs that know of instances Compensation Board. Finally, yesterday after question period such as that to notify us. the minister did admit that in fact showers were not in place at I might say, Mr. Speaker, that I look at the questions pre­ Alberta Recoveries & Rentals, where workers got lead poison­ sented to me by the Leader of the Opposition on two occasions ing. I think that matter itself should show that his department in Hansard on page 154. The question was: was negligent in this matter. Workers from the shop have also There are 10 workers and three children in the hospital. I don't denied that they were ever given instructions on the use of care how many times you visited [the site]. Why didn't you shut protective equipment and special safety procedures. My them down? Why didn't you shut them down? question to the minister is this: now that he has acknowledged The second question that day is: in this Legislature that his department's instructions were not Why is it, then, that 10 workers and three children are in the enforced, is he prepared here in this Legislature to apologize to hospital in very serious condition? Maurice Gauthier for implying that Gauthier was to blame for the lead poisoning suffered by himself and his children? SOME HON. MEMBERS: Answer it. MR. TRYNCHY: I will answer it. Mr. Speaker, we went there MR. TRYNCHY: Mr. Speaker, at no time did I blame anybody. to see if we could do something. There were no workers in the I will not apologize to anyone because I laid no blame on hospital on that date.