First Session- Thirty-Seventh Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authorityof The Honourable George Hickes Speaker Vol. L No. 58- 1:30 p.m., Monday, July 10, 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 PC. DACQUA Y, 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 PC. DYCK, Peter Pembina P.C. ENNS, Harry Lakeside P.C. FAURSCHOU, David Portage Ia Prairie P.C. FILMON, Gary Tuxedo PC. FRIESEN, Jean, Hon. Wolseley N.D P Lib. GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights GILLESHAMMER, Harold Minnedosa P.C. HELWER, Edward Gimli PC. 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 V erendrye 1\/.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. 371 1 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Monday, July 10, 2000 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Expenditure Estimates for the Manitoba Status of Women. PRAYERS ORAL QUESTION PERIOD ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Government of Manitoba PRESENTING REPORTS BY Respect for the Law STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES Mrs. Bonnie Mitchelson (Interim Leader of Committee of Supply the Official Opposition): Mr. Speaker, my question is fo r the First Minister, and I am not Mr. Conrad Santos (Chairperson): Mr. sure where I begin. Speaker, the Committee of Supply has adopted certain resolutions, directs me to report the same Under the leadership or lack thereof, the an d asks leave to sit again. First Minister, over the last nine months, has proven that Today's NDP is just like yesterday's I move, seconded by the Honourable NDP. We are seeing this Premier fo llow in the Member fo r Selkirk (Mr. Dewar), that the report fo otsteps of his mentor, Howard Pawley, and we of the Committee be received. all know what happened to Howard Pawley. Specifically, under this Premier's leadership, we Motion agreed to. have seen staff break the law, and he has done nothing about it. TABLING OF REPORTS Mr. Speaker, we have seen under his Hon. Greg Selinger (Minister of Finance): leadership a fiasco created in the aboriginal would like to table the 2000-2001 Revenue casino issue, which has done a disservice not Estimates Supplementary Information for Legis­ only to aboriginals but to all Manitobans. Under lative Review fo r the Department of Finance. his leadership, he has embarrassed his own Minister responsible for Gaming (Mr. Lemieux), Hon. Dave Chomiak (Minister of Health): Mr. and he has had to resign. Under his leadership, Speaker, I would like to table the Supplementary we have seen a new minister appointed for Information fo r Legislative Review of 2000- gaming, who has public opinions, has stated time 2001 for Community Support Programs; and in and time again that he is opposed to gambling. addition, I would like to table the Supplementary Under his leadership, he has allowed his Information for Legislative Review 2000-2001 Minister of Conservation (Mr. Lathlin) to break Departmental Expenditure Estimates fo r Sport. the law and then to break his commitments to Manitobans by not allowing for consultation Hon. Oscar Lathlin (Minister of Conser­ regarding Bill 5. vation): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table the 2000-2001 Department Expenditure Estimates Under his leadership, Mr. Speaker, we have fo r the Department of Conservation. seen very regressive labour legislation intro­ duced that has said to small business owners in Hon. Diane McGifford (Minister responsible Manitoba that Manitoba is closed fo r business. fo r the Status of Women): Mr. Speaker, I am Under this Premier's leadership, we have seen, in pleased to table the 2000-2001 Departmental the first budget, that Manitobans now have the 3712 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA July 10, 2000 distinction of being the highest taxed citizens Mr. Doer: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We came across the country. forward with five commitments. We are continuing to implement those five commitments Mr. Speaker, under this Premier's leader­ for the people of Manitoba. The fe edback we ship, he has allowed his Minister of Education have is obviously from the public of Manitoba: (Mr. Caldwell) to create anxiety and "Stay the course," unlike the previous apprehension in the education system by, government, "keep your promises." We plan on without consultation, threatening forced amal­ keeping our promises. We are working on gamation on school divisions. Under this keeping our promises, and we are very delighted, Premier's leadership, we have seen his Minister in spite of the criticisms of the members of Health (Mr. Chomiak) break election opposite, to see, on Friday, a 4.4 percent promises that he made. unemployment rate. We think that is in the right direction. Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Mrs. Mitchelson: The First Minister certainly has taken no responsibility with that answer. Mr. Speaker: Order. Premier of Manitoba Apology Request Mrs. Mitchelson: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, for calling members of the Government Mrs. Bonnie Mitchelson (Interim Leader of to order. These are very important and very the Official Opposition): Quite frankly. the serious issues, and I would hope that they would arrogance that is displayed by this Premier want to listen very carefully to the comments speaks to his governmentand his actions. that are being made, because Manitobans are concerned. My question for the Premier is: Given that he is the First Minister of this province and has * (13:35) responsibility fo r managing the affairs of this province and showing some leadership, will he Under this Premier's leadership, we also­ apologize to Manitobans for the arrogance that this will be my last point, Mr. Speaker-have they have displayed and the lack of leadership seen no assistance whatsoever to Manitoba farm that he has shown? fam ilies that were devastated in 1999. Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): Mr. Speaker, this I would like to ask the Premier (Mr. Doer): is a government that keeps in tune with the When will he, his ministers and his staff begin to people of this province, works tirelessly on their show some respect for the laws of this province behalf. We will ensure that the policies that we and for the citizens of Manitoba? develop are consistent with the hopes, desires, dreams of Manitoba fam ilies around the Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): Mr. Speaker, the community clubs of Manitoba, not around the people of Manitoba showed respect fo r the law Manitoba Club. and the outcome of the Monin inquiry when they changed the Government on September 21. The Government of Manitoba people of Manitoba are appalled to hear that Respect fo r the Law members opposite, who promised us a new regime of ethics, are back in alleged glue again Mrs. Bonnie Mitchelson (Interim Leader of with what has happened again allegedly in the the Official Opposition): Well, Mr. Speaker, Interlake, and we await the final report of the again, I am sure that Manitobans do not agree Chief Electoral Officer. that this government is keeping in line with the wishes of Manitobans when they continually Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. flout and break the law, when we have seen a minister of this Crown have to resign fo r the first Mr. Speaker: Order. time in over a decade, for the firsttime - July 10, 2000 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 3713 Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Agricultural Disaster Assistance Cost-Sharing Program Mr. Speaker: Order. Mr. Jack Penner (Emerson): Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to welcome back the Minister Mrs. Mitchelson: Thank you very much, Mr. of Agriculture from her trip to negotiate a new Speaker. We all know that there has not been a safety net program for farmers in western minister in this province that has had to resign Canada. I understand that she and her colleagues since this Premier sat around the Cabinet table met in the Maritimes, and they came up with a with his mentor Howard Pawley. new agreement. I was wondering whether the Minister would be able to inform this House as to the specifics ofthe enhanced agreement that I would ask this First Minister, this Premier, she has negotiated for farmers in this province.