Fourth Session - Thirty-Eighth Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable George Hickes Speaker Vol. LVII No. 14B – 1:30 p.m., Thursday, November 17, 2005 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thirty-Eighth Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation AGLUGUB, Cris The Maples N.D.P. 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. BRICK, Marilyn St. Norbert N.D.P. CALDWELL, Drew Brandon East N.D.P. CHOMIAK, Dave, Hon. Kildonan N.D.P. CULLEN, Cliff Turtle Mountain P.C. CUMMINGS, Glen Ste. Rose 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. HAWRANIK, Gerald Lac du Bonnet P.C. HICKES, George, Hon. Point Douglas N.D.P. IRVIN-ROSS, Kerri 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. MARTINDALE, Doug Burrows N.D.P. McGIFFORD, Diane, Hon. Lord Roberts N.D.P. MELNICK, Christine, Hon. Riel N.D.P. MITCHELSON, Bonnie River East P.C. MURRAY, Stuart Kirkfield Park P.C. NEVAKSHONOFF, Tom Interlake N.D.P. OSWALD, Theresa, Hon. Seine River N.D.P. PENNER, Jack Emerson 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, Hon. Assiniboia N.D.P. ROWAT, Leanne Minnedosa P.C. 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, Scott, Hon. Brandon West 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. Vacant Fort Whyte P.C. WOWCHUK, Rosann, Hon. Swan River N.D.P. 455 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Thursday, November 17, 2005 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Mr. Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed] ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS PETITIONS INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Coverage of Insulin Pumps Bill 12–The Highways and Transportation Amendment Act Mr. Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Hon. Ron Lemieux (Minister of Transportation Manitoba. and Government Services): Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Water Stewardship (Mr. These are the reasons for this petition: Ashton), that Bill 12, The Highways and Transportation Amendment Act, now be read for the Insulin pumps cost over $6,500. first time. The cost of diabetes to the Manitoba government Motion presented. in 2005 will be approximately $214.4 million. Each day 16 Manitobans are diagnosed with the disease Mr. Lemieux: I am very pleased to introduce this compared to the national average of 11 new cases bill today. The proposed amendments address two daily. key issues, establishing a simplified administrative process for the removal of unauthorized signs, struc- Good blood sugar control reduces or eliminates tures and other objects for the provincial highways kidney failure by 50 percent, blindness by 76 system and updating antiquated penalty provisions percent, nerve damage by 60 percent, cardiac disease for violations committed under the act. Essentially, by 35 percent and even amputations. Mr. Speaker, this is also part and parcel of one of the key pillars with regard to transportation and that is Diabetes is an epidemic in our province and will safety. Thank you. become an unprecedented drain on our struggling health care system if we do not take action now. Mr. Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed] The benefit of having an insulin pump is it allows the person living with this life-altering disease Bill 15–The Emergency Measures to obtain good sugar control and become a much Amendment Act healthier, complication-free individual. Hon. Scott Smith (Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade): Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded We petition the Legislative Assembly of by the Minister of Conservation (Mr. Struthers), that Manitoba as follows: Bill 15, The Emergency Measures Amendment Act, To request the Premier (Mr. Doer) of Manitoba be now read a first time. to consider covering the cost of insulin pumps that Motion presented. are prescribed by an endocrinologist or medical doctor under the Manitoba Health Insurance Plan. Mr. Smith: Mr. Speaker, this bill clarifies the role of the Emergency Measures Organization. It requires Signed by Anna Robinson, Lynne Bosc, Lilia every government department to prepare an Merluza and many, many others. emergency management program and enables the Mr. Speaker: In accordance with our Rule 132(6), municipal authorities to issue an emergency when petitions are read they are deemed to be prevention order. It also has penalties for disobeying received by the House. an evacuation order which are increased in the language in several provisions as updated. * (13:35) 456 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 17, 2005 Crocus Investment Fund On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you here today. Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of ORAL QUESTIONS Manitoba. Child Adolescent Treatment Centre The background to this petition is as follows: Physician Shortage The Manitoba Government was made aware of Mr. Stuart Murray (Leader of the Official serious problems involving the Crocus Fund back in Opposition): Mr. Speaker, earlier this month the 2001. Child and Adolescent Treatment Centre in Brandon was forced to close its doors due to the departure of As a direct result of the government ignoring the yet another doctor from the Westman region. The red flags back in 2001, over 33 000 Crocus investors departure of the region's only child psychiatrist was a lost over $60 million. final blow to a unit that has been struggling to treat Manitoba's provincial auditor stated "We believe patients since the departure of the other child the department was aware of the red flags at Crocus psychiatrist in the summer. and failed to follow up on those in a timely way." Mr. Speaker, this Premier has turned a blind eye The relationship between some union leaders, to this increasing health care crisis in Brandon. Why the Premier (Mr. Doer) and the NDP seems to be the does he continue to put the health of children at risk? primary reason as for why the government ignored Why does he do that? the red flags. Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): Mr. Speaker, a number We petition the Legislative Assembly of of weeks ago, when the Department of Health Manitoba as follows: became aware of this situation, they provided replacement coverage for the children in the To request the Legislative Assembly of Westman and Brandon region, and the Department Manitoba to consider the need to seek clarification of Health is working on a more permanent solution. on why the government did not act on fixing the Crocus Fund back in 2001. Mr. Murray: Talk about cold comfort to children in Manitoba. Mr. Speaker, the Child and Adolescent Signed by Hermis Cabaniang, Ferdinand Juan Treatment Centre is only seven years old and has and Nelda Cabaniang. now been shut down as a result of this Doer NDP TABLING OF REPORTS government mismanagement. Hon. Dave Chomiak (Minister of Energy, Science The departure of the first child psychiatrist in the and Technology): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to summer should have been a wake-up call to this table the Quarterly Report for the three months Premier, but, as we have seen, Mr. Speaker, in the ending September 30, 2005, for the Manitoba Hydro- past, with the departure of three pediatricians from Electric Board, copies of which have been Brandon, this Premier continues to ignore the health distributed. care needs of children of Manitoba in the Westman region. Hon. Christine Melnick (Minister of Family Services and Housing): I am pleased to table the Children are not able to access the care they Manitoba Family Services and Housing 2004-2005 need in Brandon. Children in Manitoba are not able Annual Report. to access the care in their regions. They are being shipped on Manitoba highways. That is health care Introduction of Guests for children under this Premier. Can the Premier tell the people of Brandon why he continues to ignore Mr. Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would like this health care crisis? to draw the attention of honourable members to the public gallery where we have with us today members Mr. Doer: Well, Mr. Speaker, we do have an of the Aboriginal Council of Manitoba and additional, I think it is over 200 doctors now in Aboriginal Council of Winnipeg. These visitors are Manitoba we have as opposed to a reduction in the guests of the honourable Member for River doctors. We have a lot more people now in the Heights (Mr. Gerrard). medical school which, of course,– November 17, 2005 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 457 Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. My question is how many more doctors are going to have to leave the province of Manitoba.