ISSN 0542-5492 Second Session - Thirty-Second Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba STANDING COMMITTEE on PRIVILEGES and ELECTIONS 31-32 Elizabeth 11 I Chairman Mr. A. Anstett of Springfield I Constituency VOL. XXXI No. 36 - 10:00 a.m., MONDAY, 26 SEPTEMBER, 1983. Printed by the Office of the Queens Printer. Provmce ot Manitoba MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thirty-Second Legislature Members, Constituencies and Political Affiliation Name Constituency Party ADAM,Hon. A.R. (Pete) Ste. Rose NDP ANSTETT,Andy Springfield NDP ASHTON,Steve Thompson NDP BANMAN, Robert (Bob) La Verendrye PC BLAKE, David R. (Dave) Minnedosa PC BROWN,Arnold Rhineland PC BUCKLASCHUK,Hon. John M. Gimli NDP CARROLL,Q.C., Henry N. Brandon West IND CORRIN,Brian Ellice NDP COWAN,Hon. Jay Churchill NDP DESJARDINS, Hon. Laurent St. Boniface NDP DODICK, Doreen Aiel NDP DOERN, Russell Elmwood NDP DOLIN, Hon. Mary Beth Kildonan NDP DOWNEY, James E. Arthur PC DRIEDGER,Albert Emerson PC ENNS, Harry Lakeside PC EVANS,Hon. Leonard S. Brandon East NDP EYLER,Phil River East NDP FILMON,Gary Tuxedo PC FOX, Peter Concordia NDP GOURLAY, D.M. (Doug) Swan River PC GRAHAM, Harry Virden PC HAMMOND,Gerrie Kirkfield Park PC HARAPIAK, Harry M. The Pas NDP HARPER,Elijah Rupertsland NDP HEMPHILL,Hon. Maureen Logan NDP HYDE, Lloyd Portage la Prairie PC JOHNSTON,J. Frank Sturgeon Creek PC KOSTYRA,Hon. Eugene Seven Oaks NDP KOVNATS, Abe Niakwa PC LECUYER,Gerard Radisson NDP LY ON,Q.C., Hon. Sterling Charleswood PC MACKLING, Q.C., Hon. AI St. James NDP MALINOWSKI,Donald M. St. Johns NDP MANNESS,Clayton Morris PC McKENZIE,J. Wally Roblin-Russell PC MERCIER,Q.C., G. W..J. (Gerry) St. Norbert PC NORDMAN,Rurik (Ric) Assiniboia PC OLESON,Charlotte Gladstone PC ORCHARD,Donald Pembina PC PAWLEY, Q.C., Hon. Howard R. Selkirk NDP PA RASIUK,Hon. Wilson Transcona NDP PENNER,Q.C., Hon. Roland Fort Rouge NDP PHILLIPS,Myrna A. Wo lseley NDP PLOHMAN, Hon. John Dauphin NDP RANSOM,A. Brian Tu rtle Mountain PC SANTOS,Conrad Burrows NDP SCHROEDER,Hon. V.c Rossmere NDP SCOTT, Don lnkster NDP SHERMAN,L.R. (Bud) Fort Garry PC SMITH, Hon. Muriel Osborne NDP STEEN, Wa rren River Heights PC STORIE, Hon. Jerry T. Flin Flon NDP URUSKI,Hon. Bill lnterlake NDP USKIW, Hon. Samuel Lac du Bonnet NDP WA LDING,Hon. D. James St. Vital NDP LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON PRIVILEGES AND ELECTIONS Monday, 26 September, 1983 TIME - 10:00 a.m. On my far left, Harry Enns, Member for Lakeside; beside Harry, Abe Kovnats, City of Winnipeg Member LOCATION - Arborg, Manitoba for the riding of Niakwa; beside him, Arnold Brown, Member for Rhineland, and last but not least, Harry CHAIRMAN - Mr. Andy Anstett (Springf ield) Graham, the Member for Virden. My name is Andy Anstett, I'm the MLA for Springfield and Chairman of your committee. AT TENDANCE - QUORUM - 6 Gentlemen and ladies on the committee, before we Members of the committee present: go any further, I should advise the committee that I've Hon. Mr. Bucklaschuk, Hon. Mrs. Smith, and received the resignations of Messrs. Evans, Penner, Hon. Mr. Uruski Plohman, Lecuyer, Mackling, Orchard and Mrs. Oleson. Messrs. Anstett, Brown, Enns, Graham, I understand the replacements are Messrs. Kovnats, Malinowski and Scott Bucklaschuk, Scott, Uruski, Enns, Kovnats, Ms. Dolin and Mrs. Smith. Could I have a motion to that effect WITNESSES: Reeve Edward Peltz, R.M. of please? - (Interjection) - So moved. Is that agreed? Woodlands (Agreed) Reeve Harold Jones, R.M. of Woodlands I'd like to bring it to the attention of members and members of the public that simultaneous translation Councillor Ve rnon Sund, R.M. of Woodlands is being provided at these hearings. Immediately prior Mr. Rens Renooy, South lnterlake Planning to any brief which will be done in French, you will be District able to pick up a radio receiver from the technician at the desk beside the translation booth. Members already MATTERS UNDER DISCUSSION: have them. You 'll sign them out and that way you'll be Proposed Resolution to amend Section 23 able to listen to the interpretation of that brief. of The Manitoba Act If anyone does have a brief that they wish to present in French, we would appreciate it if you would provide a copy to the Clerk at the Clerk's table on my left in advance so that the interpreter can have a look at it prior to the actual presentation. Ladies and gentlemen, in addition, there is a Hansard MR. CHAIRMAN: Meeting come to order. Good transcript available of all the meetings, that's why the morning, ladies and gentlemen. The purpose of this recording equipment at all of our hearings. If you would hearing is provided for in a resolution passed by the like to receive a transcript of this meeting or any or Legislative Assembly of Manitoba on the 18th of August. all of the other meetings of this committee during this lt reads in part: month, please register with the Clerk at the conclusion WHEREAS the Government of the Province of of either of today's hearings, either at noon or at supper Manitoba has proposed a resolution to amend Section time or this evening, if it's necessary to be here this 23 of The Manitoba Act, which amendment concerns evening. Leave your name and mailing address with a translation of the Statutes of Manitoba, or some of the Clerk, let her know whether you wish to receive them, and the question of government services in the only today's hearing or all of the hearings on this subject French as well as the English language; and and you'll be placed on the mailing list. WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba Unless there's any further business from members, deems it advisable to hear the views of Manitobans Mr. Bucklaschuk. on the subject matter of this resolution. HON. J. BUCKLASCHUK: Mr. Chairman, with respect In accordance with that resolution, this committee, to the briefs that are being submitted this morning, the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, I'm wondering if Mr. Rens Renooy, who is representing is holding a series of hearings throughout Manitoba the South lnterlake Planning District, could be allowed I on this question. to present his brief this morning. I understand he has Before we begin, I'd like to introduce the members a funeral to attend this afternoon. of the committee who are here today. On my far right, Donald Malinowski, Member for St. Johns in the City MR. CHAIRMAN: What is your will and pleasure? lt's of Winnipeg; beside Donald, your local member here, been suggested that No. 16 be heard this morning for the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. Billie Uruski, personal reasons. Is it your will and pleasure to Member for lnterlake; beside Billie, John Bucklaschuk, accommodate that request? Is it suggested that we Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs and hear that brief first or that we ensure that it is heard Member for Gimli; beside him, the Hon. Muriel Smith, this morning? Minister of Economic Development and Member for Osborne, a City of Winnipeg seat; and beside Muriel, HON. J. BUCKLASCHUK: As long as it's heard this Don Scott, also a City of Winnipeg Member for lnkster. morning. 665 Monday, 26 September, 1983 MR. CHAIRMAN: Is that agreed then? (Agreed) Thank In the Town of Beausejour, at that time, there were you. people who spoke many different languages. Mr. Pitch The list I have contains a total of 24 names. If there's who was Jewish spoke nine languages, Mr. Duggard anyone in the audience who has not yet registered with and Mr. Bethel who were English, spoke seven, and the Clerk and wishes to make a presentation to the Mr. John Schreyer, the father of our Governor-General committee, please register with the Clerk sometime and a neighbour of ours, spoke seven languages. He this morning. was a very intelligent man and yet none of these people For members of the committee, the typed list you asked for any special privileges, they learned these have contains 23 names. I have received the addition languages on their own because it was beneficial to of a 24th, Mr. Lesley Osland, private citizen - sorry, their business and to Mr. Schreyer, it enabled him to Miss. I saw Mr. Les Osland here a few minutes ago. I learn all about the people who lived in his community. assumed that's who it was. lt seems odd that people who have been born and The first name on our list then is Mayor K.N. Reid raised in this country should want special rights so that of the Village of Arborg. Mayor Reid, please. Is Mayor they can be spoken to and receive services in French, Reid here? Reeve Edward Peltz, R.M. of Woodlands. and then they expect someone else to pay for the cost. Reeve Peltz, please. If mistakes were made in regard to language rights, Reeve Peltz, before you begin, I see that the next I would have to go back in history to a battle fought three individuals on our list, including yourself, are all on the Plains of Abraham near Quebec almost 200 representing the R.M. of Woodlands or are from the years ago. If the history books are correct, the French R.M. of Woodlands. - (Interjection) - But you're lost the war and that should have ended any disputes representing the official brief for the R.M.? - about which language should be spoken in Canada. (Interjection) - There'll be three official briefs from Kedish pzadji czaz ze Canada znouf poidja do wiona the R.M.