Fourth Session- Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Louise M. Dacquay Speaker Vol. XLVIII No. 70- 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 24, 1998 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY � Thirty-Sixth Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ASHTON, Steve Thompson N.D.P. BARRETT, Becky Wellington N.D.P. CERILLI, Marianne Radisson N.D.P. CHOMIAK, Dave Kildonan N.D.P. CUMMINGS, Glen, Hon. Ste. Rose P.C. DACQUA Y, Louise, Hon. Seine River P.C. DERKACH, Leonard, Hon. Roblin-Russell P.C. DEWAR, Gregory Selkirk N.D.P. DOER, Gary Concordia N.D.P. DOWNEY, James, l-Ion. Arthur-Virden P.C. DRIEDGER, Albert Steinbach P.C. DRIEDGER, Myrna Charleswood P.C. DYCK, Peter Pembina P.C. ENNS, Harry, Hon. Lakeside P.C. EVANS, Clif Interlake N.D.P. EVANS, Leonard S. Brandon East N.D.P. FAURSCHOU, David Portage Ia Prairie P.C. FILMON, Gary, Hon. Tuxedo P.C. FINDLAY. Glen, Hon. Springfield P.C. FRIESEN, Jean Wolseley N.D.P. GAUDRY, Neil St. Boniface Lib. GILLESHAMMER, Harold, Hon. Minnedosa P.C. HELWER, Edward Gimli P.C. HICKES, George Point Douglas N.D.P. JENNISSEN, Gerard Flin Flon N.D.P. KOWALSKI. Gary The Maples Lib. LAMOUREUX, Kevin Inkster Lib. LATHLIN, Oscar The Pas N.D.P. LAURENDEAU, Marcel St. Norbert P.C. MACKINTOSH, Gmd St. Johns N.D.P. MALOW A Y, Jim Elmwood N.D.P. MARTINDALE. Doug Burrows N.D.P. McALPINE, Gerry Sturgeon Creek P.C. McCRAE, James, Hon. Brandon West P.C. McGIFFORD, Diane Osborne N.D.P. MciNTOSH, Linda, Hon. Assiniboia P.C. MIHYCHUK, MaryAnn St. James N.D.P. MITCHELSON, Bonnie, Hon. River East P.C. NEWMAN, David, Hon. Riel P.C. PENNER. Jack Emerson P.C. PITURA, Frank, Hon. Morris P.C. PRAZNIK, Darren, Hon. Lac du Bonnet P.C. RADCLIFFE, Mike, Hon. River Heights P.C. REID, Daryl Transcona N.D.P. REIMER. Jack, Bon. Niakwa P.C. RENDER, Shirley St. Vital P.C. ROBINSON, Eric Rupertsland N.D.P. ROCAN, Denis Gladstone P.C. SALE, Tim Crescentwood N.D.P. SANTOS, Conrad Broadway N.D.P. STEFANSON, Eric, Hon. Kirkfield Park P.C. STRUTHERS, Stan Dauphin N.D.P. SVEINSON. Ben La Verendrye P.C. TOEWS, Vic, Hon. Rossmere P.C. TWEED, Mervin Turtle Mountain P.C. - VODREY. Rosemary, lion. Fort Garry P.C. WOWCHUK, Rosann Swan River N.D.P. 4791 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA VVednesday, June24,1998 The House met at 1:30 p.m. THAT people who are in the hospital require nutritious and appetizing food; and PRAYERS THAT the announced savings as a result of the contract ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS have been disputed, and one study by Wintemute Randle Kilimnik indicated that, "A considerable PRESENTING PETITIONS number of studies have compared costs of service delivery in health care between self-operation (public Community VLT Plebiscites sector) and privatization. Invariably, privatization is more expensive. "; and Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of C. Milan, D. Chorney, S. THAT no one in Manitoba seems to benefitfrom this Andersen and others praying that the Legislative contract, especially patients. Assembly of Manitoba urge the Premier (Mr. Filmon) to consider permitting communities to hold plebiscites WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PR AY on VLTs, reducing gambling advertising and increasing that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the funding fo r treatment of problem gamblers. Minister of Health to put an end to the centralization and privatization of Winnipeg hospital food services. READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the VVinnipeg Hospitals Food Services-Privatization honourable member fo r Elmwood (Mr. Maloway), and it complies with the rules and practices of the House. Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the Is it the will of the House to have the petition read? honourable member fo r Broadway (Mr. Santos), and it No? Dispense. complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read? THAT the Urban Shared Services Corporation (USSC) Dispense. hasannounced plans to privatize laundry, food services and purchasing for the Winnipeg hospitals; and THAT the Urban Shared Services Corporation (USSC) has announced plans to privatize laundry, food services THAT it is estimated that more than 1, 000 health care and purchasing for the Winnipeg hospitals; and jobs will be lost over the next year as a result, with many more privatized in the next two or three years; THAT it is estimated that more than 1, 000 health care and jobs will be lost over the next year as a result, with many more privatized in the next two or three years; THAT under the terms of the contract, Ontario and businesses will profit at the expense of Manitoba's health care system; and THAT under the terms of the contract, Ontario businesses will profit at the expense of Manitoba's THAT after construction of a food assembly warehouse health care system; and in Winnipeg, chilled, prepared food will be shipped in from Ontario, then assembled and heated before being THAT after construction of a food assembly warehouse shipped to the hospitals; and in Winnipeg, chilled, prepared food will be shipped in from Ontario, then assembled and heated before being THAT people who are in the hospital require nutritious shipped to the hospitals; and and appetizing food; and 4792 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA June 24, 1998 THAT the announced savings as a result of the contract sector) and privatization. Invariably, privatization is have been disputed, and one study by Wintemute more expensive."; and Randle Kilimnik indicated that, "A considerable number of studies have compared costs of service THAT no one in Manitoba seems to benefitfrom this delivery in health care between self-operation(public contract, especially patients. sector) and privatization. Invariably, privatization is more expensive. ": and WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRAY that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the THAT no one in Manitoba seems to benefitfrom this Minister of Health to put an end to the centralization contract, especially patients. and privatization of Winnipeg hospital food services. WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PR AY Community VLT Plebiscites that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the Minister of Health to put an end to the centralization Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the and privatization of Winnipeg hospital food services. honourable member fo r Burrows (Mr. Martindale), and it complies with the rules and practices of the House. Madam Speaker:: I have revi ewed the petition of the Is it the wiil of the House to have the petition read? honourable member fo r Selkirk (Mr. Dewar), and it No? Dispense. complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read? No? THAT in I0 years the current government has Dispense. increasedgambling revenuesfrom $55 million to more than $220 million annually; and THAT the Urban Shared Services Corporation (USSC) - has announced plans to privatize laundry, food services THAT the introduction and the proliferation of video and purchasing for the Winnipeg hospitals; and lottery terminals in virtually ev ery licensed premises across the province has resulted in Manitoba having THAT it is estimated that more than I, 000 health care nearly 5, 000 VL Ts, the most per capita in the country; jobs will be lost ov er the next year as a result, with and many more privatized in the next two or three years; and THAT gambling is now the Manitoba government's third largest rev enue source behind only income tax THAT under the terms of the contract, Ontario and sales tax; and businesses will profit at the expense of Manitoba's health care system; and THAT the provincial gov ernment doubled lottery advertising in I996; and THAT afterconstruction of a food assembly warehouse in Winnipeg, chilled, prepared food will be shipped in THAT the Manitoba government has become more from Ontario, then assembled and heated before being dependent upon gambling revenues than any other shipped to the hospitals; and province; and THAT people who are in the hospital require nutritious THAT the number of the tragedies involv ing people and appetizing food; and who hav e lost their savings, homes and in some cases their lives following gambling addiction continues to THAT the announced sav ings as aresult of the contract grows; and have been disputed, and one study by Wintemute Randle Kilimnik indicated that, "A considerable THAT the provincial government spends less than I number of studies have compared costs of service percent of its VL T profits on gambling treatment delivery in health care between self-operation(public programs; and - June 24, 1998 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 4793 THAT the Manitoba Lottery Policy Review Working Bill 31-The Regulated Health Professions Statutes Group amongst many others have requested that Amendment Act; Loi modifiant diverses lois sur les communities be allowed to hold plebiscites on banning professions de Ia sante reglementees VL Ts as is allowed in Alberta and Saskatchewan. David M Sanders, Private Citizen WHEREFORE YOURPETITIONERS HUMBLYPRAY THAT the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the Bill 35-The Mental Health and Consequential Premier (M r. Filmon) to consider permitting Amendments Act; Loi sur Ia sante mentale et communities to hold plebiscites on VL Ts; reducing modifications correlatives gambling advertising and increasing funding for treatment of problem gamblers. Ken Melnyk, Private Citizen Carlyn Mackey, Families Advocating Timely and PRESENTING REPORTS BY Appropriate Care and Treatment for Serious Mental STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES Disorders Dorothy Weldon, Private Citizen Standing Committee on Law Amendments Connie Krohn, Private Citizen Fifth Report Colleen Cawood, Private Citizen Theresa Wayne, Private Citizen Mr.