Third Session·Thirty-Fifth Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS (HANSARD) 39-40 Elizabeth II Publishedunder the authority of The HonourableC. Denis Rocsn Speaker VOL. XLI No. 91A -1:30 p.m., MONDAY, JUNE 22, 1992 ISSN 0542-5492 Printedby the Office of the a-s Printer. Province of Manitoba MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thlrty·FifthLegislature Members, Constituencies and Political Affiliation NAME CONSTITUENCY PARTY ALCOCK, Reg Osborne liberal ASHTON, Steve Thompson NDP BARRETT, Becky Wellington NDP CARSTAIRS, Sharon River Heights liberal CERILLI, Marianne Radisson NDP CHEEMA, Guizar The Maples liberal CHOMIAK, Dave Kildonan NDP CONNERY, Edward Portage Ia Prairie PC CUMMINGS, Glen, Hon. Ste. Rose PC DACOUAY, louise Seine River PC DERKACH, leonard, Hon. Roblin-Russell PC DEWAR, Gregory Selkirk NDP DOER, Gary Concordia NDP DOWNEY, James, Hon. Arthur-Virden PC DRIEDGER, Albert,Hon. Steinbach PC DUCHARME, Gerry, Hon. Riel PC EDWARDS, Paul St. James liberal ENNS, Harry, Hon. lakeside PC ERNST, Jim, Hon. Charleswood PC EVANS, Clif Interlake NDP EVANS, leonard S. Brandon East NDP FILMON, Gary, Hon. Tuxedo PC FINDLAY, Glen, Hon. Springfield PC FRIESEN, Jean Wolseley NDP GAUDRY, Neil St. Boniface liberal GILLESHAMMER, Harold, Hon. Minnedosa PC HARPER, Elijah Rupertsland NDP HELWER, Edward R. Gimli PC HICKES, George Point Douglas NDP LAMOUREUX, Kevin Inkster liberal LATHLIN, Oscar The Pas NDP LAURENDEAU, Marcel St. Norbert PC MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MANNESS, Clayton, Hon. Morris PC MARTINDALE, Doug Burrows NDP McALPINE, Gerry Sturgeon Creek PC McCRAE, James, Hon. Brandon West PC MciNTOSH, linda, Hon. Assiniboia PC MITCHELSON, Bonnie, Hon. River East PC NEUFELD, Harold Rossmere PC ORCHARD, Donald, Hon. Pembina PC PENNER, Jack Emerson PC PLOHMAN, John Dauphin NDP PRAZNIK, Darren, Hon. lac du Bonnet PC REID, Daryl Transcona NDP REIMER, Jack Niakwa PC RENDER, Shirley St. Vital PC ROCAN, Denis, Hon. Gladstone PC ROSE, Bob Turtle Mountain PC SANTOS, Conrad Broadway NDP STEFANSON, Eric, Hon. Kirkfield Park PC STORIE, Jerry Ain Ron NDP SVEINSON, Ben La Verendrye PC VODREY, Rosemary, Hon. FortGarry PC WASYLYCIA-LEIS, Judy St. Johns NDP WOWCHUK, Rosann Swan River NDP 5167 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Monday, June 22,1992 The House met at 1 :30 p.m. WHEREAS the Dutch elm disease control program is of primary importance to the protection PRAYERS of the city's many elm trees; and WHEREAS the Minister of Natural Resources ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS himself stated that, "It is vital that we continue our READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS active fight against Dutch elm disease in Manitoba, " and Mr. Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the WHEREAS, despite that verbalcommi tment, the honourable member for Brandon East (Mr. Leonard governmentof Manitoba has cut its funding to the Evans), and it complies with the privileges and city's OED control program by haH of the 1990 level, practicesof the House and complieswith the rules. a move that will jeopardize the survival of Is it the will ofthe House to have the petitionread ? Winnipeg's elm trees. The petition of the undersigned citizens of the WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that province of Manitoba, humbly sheweth that: the government of Manitoba may be pleased to The Brandon General Hospital is themajor health request the Minister of Natural Resources (Mr. care institution for southwesternManitoba ; and Enns) to consider restoring the full funding of the Dutch elm disease control program to the previous The citizens of Brandon and southwestern level of 1990. Manitoba are deeply concerned and disturbed about the downsizing of the hospital andview it as As in duty bound your petitionerswill ever pray. a threat to the quality of health care in the region; and Introduction of Guests The Manitoba government has chosen not to Mr. Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, may I direct review the current budgetto ensure that cutbacks to the attentionof honourable members to thegallery, vital services do not occur; and where we have with us this afternoon, 85 students of the Atlantic High SchoolBand from Atlantic,Iowa. The administration of the hospital has been forced They are underthe direction of Brettlee. to take drastic measures includingthe elimination of On behaHof all members, I would like to welcome the Palliative Care Unit and gynecological wards, you here this afternoon. along with the layoffof over 30staff, mainly licensed practical nurses, to cope with a funding shortfall of ORAL QUESTION PERIOD over $1 .3 million; and Aboriginal JusticeInquiry WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislature of the Province of Manitoba may be Recommendations pleasedto request thatthe governmentof Manitoba Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Mr. consider reviewing the funding of the Brandon Speaker, my question is to the Deputy Premier and General Hospital. Minister responsible for Native Affairs. *** The Aboriginal Justice Inquiry has been in the government's hands for close to 12 months now, an I have reviewed the petition of the honourable inquiry that stated that the justice system has failed member for Wolseley (Ms. Friesen), and it complies Manitoba aboriginal people on a massive scale. It with the privileges and practices of the House and has been insensitive and inaccessible, and it has complies with the rules. Is it the will of the House to arrested and imprisoned aboriginal people in have the petition read? grossly disproportionate numbers. The petition of the undersigned citizens of the The report went on further to state, in its province of Manitoba humbly sheweth that: conclusions, that governments and others must now 5168 LEGISLATIVEASSE MBLY OF MANITOBA June 22, 1992 accept the responsibility to make the changes that office. They have developed over hundreds of cry out for action. By acting now, governments can years in Canada. We all accept collective give positive expression to the public support and responsibility for the justice system that we have left good will we have encountered from Manitobans behind and which has been so beautifully during the past three years of our inquiry. commented on and graphically commented on by I would like to ask theDeputy Premier: Why have the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry, Justices Sinclair and we waited virtually a year for any action from the Hamilton. government? Why do we not see positive and Mr. Speaker, the government again says we will strong action to implement the very, very many be doing something. The government has had this recommendations of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry reportfor a year. It has put $1 million into a budget. and return justice to Canada's first peoples in All it does is go from press conference and press Manitoba? release to press release saying it will do something * (1335) some day. Hon. James Downey (Deputy Premier): Mr. I would like to ask the government: When is it Speaker, first of all, one should recognize that these going to establish a legitimate partnership as problems did not just develop in the last four years. recommended in the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry? They have been somewhat during the term of office When is it going to take the real action that has been of the members opposite and previous recommended in the recommendations of the governments. Therehas been a long-term problem Aboriginal Justice Inquiry? Are we going to wait which the members are acknowledging. anotheryear, and anotheryear afterthat? When is What we have done is to assemble the different it going to take action on these great departments and jurisdictionsthat are responsible recommendations for the people of Manitoba? for justice in the nativecomm unity, the Department Mr.Downey : Mr. Speaker, the other thingthat has of Justice, the Department of Family Services, the taken place is there have been some proven Department of Native Affairs, to sit together in mechanisms that are working. My colleague, the working committees to implement some of the Minister of Justice (Mr. McCrae), just recently recommendations that are within the responsibility announceda $1 00,000 program for the YouthCourt of the province. system in the Island Lake community which is very I can report,Mr. Speaker, thatwe have had these well received. I would call that action, working committees now working for some time. demonstrated action and commitment, by this There was some reluctance on behalf of the government to assist in areas of Justice. aboriginal community to join with us. We are Mr. Speaker, as well, I have said we have proceeding regardless of whether or not the established our working committees to work in aboriginal community joins. partnership with the communities. We have We believe there are someinitiatives that have to recently met with the Indigenous Women's be carried out. We will carry them out, and we want Association of this province and have indicated to the support of the aboriginal community to do so. themthat we are prepared to assist with the meeting Meetings have taken place. I think, Mr. Speaker, activities that are to take place. What we do not we will see some positive initiatives flow from the want to do is put the scarce government resources process that has been established. in the establishment of committees and reviewing Mr. Doer: A year and half ago, when we asked and reviewing. We want to provide action. The whether, in fact, the government's only response to monies that we have available we want to put into the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry would be to internal programs, not further bureaucratic and/or global committees of government, the government said no, umbrella organizations that do not get on with the they would look forwardto a new partnership arising delivering of services. We want to get on with some out of the recommendations of the Aboriginal action. That is what we are doing. Justice Inquiry. Mr. Doer: The minister will note that the Island Yes, the Deputy Premier is absolutely correct.