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. 56- 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 5, 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, Bon. 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. HELWER, 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. LATHLIN, 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. 3491 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Wednesday, July 5, 2000 The House met at 1:30 p.m. business of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation. PRAYERS Your committee has considered the Annual ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Report of the Workers Compensation Board for the year ended December 31, 1999, the Annual PRESENTING REPORTS BY Report of the Appeal Commission for the year STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES ended December 31, 1999, and the 1998 and 1999 Five-Year Operating Plans for the Workers Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Compensation Board and has adopted the same Natural Resources as presented. Second Report Ms. Asper: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Rossmere (Mr. Ms. Linda Asper (Chairperson of the Schellenberg), that the report of the Committee Standing Committee on Public Utilities and be received. Natural Resources): I beg to present, Mr. Speaker, the Second Report of the Committee on Motion agreed to. Public Utilities and Natural Resources. Introduction of Guests Madam Clerk (Patricia Chaychuk): Your Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Mr. Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would Natural Resources presents the fo llowing as its like to draw the attention of all honourable Second Report. members to the loge to my left where we have with us Mr. Brian Pallister, the fo rmer Member Your committee met on Tuesday, July 4, for Portage Ia Prairie. 2000- On behalf of all honourable members, I An Honourable Member: Dispense. welcome you here today. Your Standing Committee on Public Utilities and * (13:35) Natural Resources presents the following as its Second Report. ORAL QUESTION PERIOD Your committee met on Tuesday, July 4, 2000, at First Nations Casinos 10 a.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building Public Consultations to consider the Annual Report of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation for the year ended Mrs. Bonnie Mitchelson (Interim Leader of February 29, 2000, the Annual Report of the the Official Opposition): Mr. Speaker, my Workers Compensation Board for the year question is fo r the Premier. We have several ended December 31, 1999, the Annual Report of quotes over the years in Hansard regarding the the Appeal Commission for the year ended new Minister of Gaming's comments about December 31, 1999, and the 1998 and 1999 gaming in the past when they were in opposition. Five-Year Operating Plans for the Workers I want to specifically refer to one quote on June Compensation Board. 17, 1993, and he stated: "I would say given the significance of the concerns, we should have Mr . Jack Zacharias, Chief Executive Officer and decisions made involving the people of the President, provided such information as was province. That is the position of our party, by the requested with respect to the annual report and way, and it has been very consistent." 3492 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA July 5, 2000 We welcome the very strong convictions of happened since Howard Pawley was the Premier the new Minister of Gaming, especially when he of this province. And now the Premier has was in opposition, and his clear position on the appointed a new Minister of Gaming who has importance of public consultation and refer­ clearly outlined his views against the expansion endums before casinos are built. of gaming without public consultation. My question to the Premier is: Is this still Will the Premier now do the right thing and the consistent position of his party? hold public consultations, hold referendums on First Nations casinos, given that 65 percent of Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): Mr. Speaker, as I Manitobans believe that this government has recall in the election campaign, we placed the bungled this issue? recommendations of the Bostrom committee which we adapted, adopted prior to the Mr. Doer: Mr. Speaker, there has already been a campaign- plebiscite in Headingley. There is one that is now proposed in Thompson. There is more An Honourable Member: Adapted. consultation going on with the public today with the proposals to implement the commitments we Mr. Doer: Well, members opposite are fo reign made in the election campaign than ever to the idea of promising something in the happened with members opposite. It is election campaign and keeping their word after unfortunate that members opposite who knew the campaign. I am proud of the fact that the about a cost overrun of some $70 million did not Member fo r Thompson (Mr. Ashton) was able to consult the public and let the public know during point out that the members opposite did not the election campaign in 1999. promise to sell the telephone system in 1995 in the campaign and did not consult the people of First Nations Casinos Manitoba after. Community Plebiscites/Referendums We made our commitment during the Mr. Jack Reimer (Southdale): Mr. Speaker, election campaign. It was public. It was in both my question is to the Minister responsible fo r newspapers. It was before the people in a couple Gaming. When the new Minister of Gaming was of television discussions on the issue of discussing the expansion of gaming here in gambling, and it is part of the mandate we Manitoba on July 8, 1999, almost a year ago received from the public during the election exactly to the date: "I think that it is a legitimate campaign on September 21, 1999. decision that needs to be made by the communities and should be their choice." Does Mrs. Mitchelson: Mr. Speaker, and the the new Minister of Gaming stand by those Premier's slip of the tongue, certainly in our comments, and will he let communities decide if minds and in the minds of Manitobans, does they want a casino in their community through a indicate that they did adapt, and they also referendum? manipulated the process. Hon. Steve Ashton (Minister charged with the The First Minister, the Premier of this administration of The Gaming Control Act): province, certainly did not answer the question Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to respond to the that I asked. In his government's efforts to fa st­ question. Before I do, I would like to commend track five new casinos in the province of the fo rmer Minister of Gaming who I think did a Manitoba, we have seen that the criteria fo r the terrific job in a very difficult situation, who put request for proposals has been ignored. Some of the word "honourable" in honourable member. the partners that were selected as proponents for these projects were not in compliance with I want to answer the member's question by gaming laws. Community support does not seem saying that what we said when we were in to matter to this government. The fo rmer opposition is consistent with what we are doing Gaming Minister resigned because of allegations in government. That government expanded of conflict of interest, something that has not Regent and McPhillips without any consultation Ju1y 5, 2000 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 3493 with the community, waited until the last couple First Nations Casinos of years before even considering the question of Public Consultations the expansion ofVLTs. Mr. Harold Gilleshammer (Minnedosa): Mr. What we did is we ran on the election on Speaker, on June 17, 1993, the new Minister this issue.