Third 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. LII No. 64- 1:30 p.m., Monday, July 15, 2002 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 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. FRIESEN,Jean, Hon. Wolseley N.D.P. GERRARD,Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib. GILLESHAMMER, Harold Minnedosa P.C. HAWRANIK, Gerald Lac du Bonnet 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. MURRAY, Stuart Kirkfield Park P.C. NEV AKSHONOFF, Tom Interlake N.D.P. PENNER, Jack Emerson P.C. PENNER, Jim Steinbach P.C. PITURA, Frank Morris 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 Ross mere N.D.P. SCHULER, Ron Springfield P.C. SELINGER, Greg, Hon. St. Boniface N.D.P. SMITH,Joy Fort Garry P.C. SMITH, Scott, Hon. Brandon West N.D.P. STEFANSON, Heather Tuxedo P.C. STRUTHERS, Stan Dauphin-Roblin N.D.P. TWEED, Mervin Turtle Mountain P.C. WOWCHUK, Rosann, Hon. Swan River N.D.P. 3325 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Monday, July 15, 2002 The House met at 1 :30 p.m. THAT this decision was not preceded by adequate public consultation as outlined in sec­ PRAYERS tion 7 of The Public Schools Act; and ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS THAT this decision would result in signifi­ cant hardships for the students in both Transcona PRESENTING PETITIONS and Springfield that would affect the quality of their education; and Transcona-Springfield School Division THAT the proposal by the Minister of Edu­ Mr. Ron Schuler (Springfield): Mr. Speaker, I cation on February 12, 2002, neither alleviates beg to present the petition of Ashton Raitt, nor remedies these hardships; and Connie Bredin, Cheryl Bredin and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of Mani­ THAT this decision results in an increased toba request the Minister of Education (Mr. financial burden on the taxpayers of both the Caldwell) to reverse the decision to split the Transcona-Springfield School Division and the Transcona-Springfield School Division and province of Manitoba; and allow it to remain as a whole or to consider immediately convening the Board of Reference THAT on March 13, 2002, the number of to decide the matter. resident electors required by The Public Schools Act requested the Minister of Education to con­ READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS vene a Board of Reference to decide the matter. Transcona-Springfield School Division WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRAY THAT the Legislative Assem­ Mr. Speaker: The honourable Member for bly request the Minister of Education to reverse Springfield (Mr. Schuler), I have reviewed the the decision to split the Transcona-Springfield petition and it complies with the rules and prac­ School Division and allow it to remain as a tices of the House. Is it the will of the House to whole or to consider immediately convening the have the petition read? Board of Reference to decide the matter. An Honourable Member: Yes. PRESENTING REPORTS BY STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES Mr. Speaker: The Clerk please read. Standing Committee on Madam Clerk (Patricia Chaychuk): The peti­ Privileges and Elections tion of the undersigned citizens of the province Third Report of Manitoba humbly sheweth Mr. Conrad Santos (Chairperson): Mr. THAT on November 8, 2001, the Minister Speaker, I beg to present the Third Report of the of Education (Mr. Caldwell) announced a split in Committee on Privileges and Elections. the Transcona-Springfield School Division but despite repeated requests has been unable to Madam Clerk (Patricia Chaychuk): Your identify any benefits of this decision to the stu­ Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections dents and taxpayers of said school division; and presents the following as its Third Report. 3326 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA July 15, 2002 An Honourable Member: Dispense. Your committee agreed to report this bill without amendment. Mr. Speaker: Dispense. Mr. Santos: I move, seconded by the honour­ Meetings: able Member for Selkirk (Mr. Dewar), that the report of the committee be received. Your committee met on Wednesday , July 10 , 2002 , at 6:3 0p .m. in Room 255 of the Legis­ Motion agreed to. lative Building. TABLING OF REPORTS Matters Under Consideration: Bill 9-The Canadian Forces Personnel (A mend­ Hon. Gord Mackintosh (Minister charged ments Relating to Voting Rights and Driving with the administration of The Manitoba Privileges) Act!Loi sur le personnel des Forces Public Insurance Corporation Act): I am canadiennes (modifications relatives au droit de pleased to table the Quarterly Financial Report vote et aux privileges rattaches a Ia conduite des of Manitoba Public Insurance for the three w}hicules) months ended May 31, 2002. Committee Membership: ORAL QUESTION PERIOD Substitutions received prior to commencement of Dakota Tipi First Nation meeting: Women's Concerns Hon. Ms. Ba"ettfor Mr. Dewar Mrs. Bonnie Mitchelson (River East): Mr. Ms. Asper fo r Mr. Nevakshonoff Speaker, my colleagues and I recently had the Ms. Korzeniowskifo r Mr. Aglugub opportunity to meet with women from Dakota Mr. Rondeau fo r Hon. Mr. Smith (B randon Tipi First Nation, accompanied by the Provincial West) Council of Women of Manitoba, who shared Mrs. Mitchelson fo r Mr. Loewen with us issues regarding financial accountability Mr. Hawranikfor Mr. Penner (E merson) and transparency of gaming revenues, gasoline Mr. Laurendeau fo r Mr. Tweed tax, cigarette tax, as well as issues of safety and security for women and children. Public Presentations: * (13:35) Your committee heard two presentations on Bill 9-The Canadian Forces Personnel (A mend­ Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister ments Relating to Voting Rights and Driving responsible for the Status of Women. I know she Privileges) Act!Loi sur le personnel des Forces was looking to set up a meeting with these canadiennes (modifications relatives au droit de women. Has she set that meeting up and could vote et aux privileges rattaches a Ia conduite des she confirm for us today what day that would vehicules) , from the fo llowing individuals and/or be? organizations: Hon. Diane McGifford (Minister responsible for the Status of Women): As the member Colonel Doug Mc Lennan, Department of opposite knows, she wrote to me. I have written National Defence to her saying we are setting up a meeting. My Nicole Johnson, Private Citizen office was in touch with women from Dakota Tipi this morning. There was a conflict of a date Bills Considered and Reported: with one of my staff members. I will let the Bill 9-The Canadian Forces Personnel (A mend­ member know what the date is once it has been ments Relating to Voting Rights and Driving determined. Privileges) Act/Loi sur le personnel des Forces canadiennes (modifications relatives au droit de Mrs. Mitchelson: Yes, I know the minister was vote et aux privileges rattaches a Ia conduite des looking at a date fo r a meeting. Since the vehicules) Premier (Mr. Doer) and the Government of July 15, 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 3327 Manitoba have known about the issues and Hon. Eric Robinson (Minister of Aboriginal concerns raised by the Provincial Council of and Northern Affairs): As the member knows, Women since April 15 and we have not seen any the issue on Dakota Tipi is quite complex. There action, will the minister now today indicate to us are different factions in the community. I would what course of action she might be taking on venture to say there are at least four factions in behalf of the women of Dakota Tipi when she the community I am aware of that are in support meets with them? of the current chief. Ms. McGifford: I thank the member for the It is really difficult for us. We want the question, Mr. Speaker. As I have indicated I will matter to be settled. We want the people to live be meeting with the women. I need to first hear in safety and in comfort for their families in the what the women have to say to me. community of Dakota Tipi. We have no alter­ native but to recognize the current chief and The member has written to me. I would pre­ council as they exist, and that is Chief Dennis fer to operate on first-hand information, and I Pashe and the current council that exists in the will be meeting with the women.