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. 53 - 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 28, 2000 ISSN 0542-5492 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, lion. Thompson N.D.P. ASPER, Linda Riel N.D.P. BARRETT, Becky, lion. Inkster N.D.P. CALDWELL, Drew, lion. 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, Bon. Concordia N.D.P. DRIEDGER, Myrna Charles wood P.C. DYCK, Peter Pembina P.C. ENNS, Harry Lakeside P.C. FAURSCIIOU, David Portage Ia Prairie P.C. FILMON, Gary Tuxedo P.C. FRIESEN, Jean, Hon. Wolseley N.D.P. GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib. GILLESBAMMER, Harold Minnedosa P.C. IIELWER, 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, Bon. The Pas N.D.P. LAURENDEAU, Marcel St. Norbert P.C. LEMIEUX, Ron, Bon. 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. MALOWA Y, Jim Elmwood N.D.P. MARTINDALE, Doug Burrows N.D.P. McGIFFORD, Diane, Hon. Lord Roberts N.D.P. MIHYCIIUK, 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.I'. REIMER, Jack Southdale P.C. ROBINSON, Eric, lion. Rupertsland N.D.P. ROCAN, Denis Carman I'.C. RONDEAU, Jim Assiniboia N.D.I'. SALE, Tim, lion. Fort Rouge N.D.I'. SANTOS, Conrad Wellington N.D.I'. SCIIELLENBERG, !larry 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 I'.C. STRUTHERS, Stan Dauphin-Roblin N.D.P. TWEED, Mervin Turtle Mountain P.C. WOWCHUK, Rosano, Hon. Swan River N.D.P. 33II LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Wednesday, June 28, 2000 The House met at 1:30 p.m. His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, having been advised of the contents of this bill, PRAYERS recommends it to the House. I would like to table the Lieutenant-Governor's message. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Motion presented. PRESENTING REPORTS BY STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES Mr. Mackintosh: The main fo cus of this bill is, first, to lengthen impoundment periods fo r motor Committee of Supply vehicles driven by disqualified drivers and those involved in alcohol-related offences when Mr. Conrad Santos (Chairperson): Mr. blowing over 0.16 and fo r repeat offenders; Speaker, the Committee of Supply has con­ second, to extend the time within which one is sidered certain resolutions, directs me to report considered a repeat offender; and third, to sus­ progress and asks leave to sit again. pend the licence of a person convicted of fleeing a police officerby vehicle. I move, seconded by the Honourable Mem­ ber fo r Selkirk (Mr. Dewar), that the report of Motion agreed to. the committee be received. Introduction of Guests Motion agreed to. Mr. Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would TABLING OF REPORTS like to draw the attention of all honourable members to the Speaker'sGalle ry where we have Hon. Gord Mackintosh (Minister of Justice with us today His Excellency Dirk Jan Van and Attorney General): Mr. Speaker, I would Houten, Ambassador of the Netherlands. like to table the Annual Report of the Seizure and Impoundment Registry fo r I999-2000. On behalf of all honourable members, welcome you here today. I would also like to table the 29th Annual Seated in the public gallery from Netley Report I999-2000 of the Manitoba Law Reform School 25 Grades I to 9 students under the di­ Commission. rection of Ms. Kelly Eckford. This school is located in the constituency of the Honourable INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Member fo r Gimli (Mr. Helwer). Bill 33-The Highway TrafficAmendment Also seated in the public gallery from and Consequential Amendments Act Wingham School 20 kindergarten to Grade 8 students under the direction of Mrs. Joan Wood. Hon. Gord Mackintosh (Government House This school is located in the constituency of the Leader): Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member fo r Carman (Mr. Rocan). Minister of Finance (Mr. Selinger), that leave be given to introduce Bill 33, The Highway Traffic Also in the gallery we have from Henry G. Amendment and Consequential Amendments Izatt Middle School I 08 Grade 5 students under Act; Loi modifiant le Code de Ia route et modifi­ the direction of Mrs. Joann Eliuk, Miss Kristin cations correlatives, and that the same be now Wyant, Miss Barbara Young and Miss Heather received and read a first time. Wood. This school is located in the constituency 3312 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA June 28, 2000 of the Honourable Member for Fort Whyte (Mr. to one of the questions after the questions Loewen). yesterday and the impressions that were left-I went back and inquired. I want to ask the First On behalf of all honourable members, I wel­ Minister then: Did he make a legal inquiry as to come you here today. the position of his minister or was this just an inquiry back to his communicators or his spin * (13:35) doctors? ORAL QUESTION PERIOD Mr. Doer: No, Mr. Speaker. Minister Responsible fo r Mr. Reimer: Mr. Speaker, the matter of conflict The Gaming Control Act is a very, very serious matter. I want to ask the Conflict of Interest First Minister: Wiii he do the right thing? Wiii he clear the air in regard to the perception of a Mr. Jack Reimer (Southdale): Mr. Speaker, conflict of interest in regard to his Minister of over the last fe w days there has been a fa ir Consumer and Corporate Affairs in the handling amount of comment and questions from both of the awarding of a proposed casino to Thomp­ sides of the House here in regard to the son for the Nelson House First Nations where definition of conflict of interest in our pursuit of his wife acts as a lawyer? Will he ask fo r an asking the Minister of Consumer and Corporate outside legal opinion to clear the air? That is all Affairs (Mr. Lemieux) to step aside to get an we are asking. outside legal opinion. Mr. Doer: Mr. Speaker, we believe the Minister I just want to remind the First Minister in in all the actions and decisions he has been regard to the conflict of interest and the per­ conducting himself with has disclosed properly, formance and the responsibilities of the Minister, and when there was a matter that required with­ and I would like to just quote: "Where, during drawal, it was fo llowed properly under the Act. the exercise of any official power or the performance of any official duty or function by a Minister Responsible for minister... there arises a matter involving the The Gaming Control Act direct or indirect pecuniary interest of any per­ Conflictof Interest son, corporation, subsidiary of a corporation, partnership, or organization to whom or which Mr. Mervin Tweed (Turtle Mountain): Mr. the Minister or any of his dependants has a direct Speaker, the issue of a conflict of interest is a or indirect pecuniary liability; the Minister shall very serious matter, and indeed the mere . refrain at all times from attempting to in­ perception of a conflict of interest is a serious fluence the matter;" situation. Just last week the First Minister him­ self said that democracy is improved by ensuring I want to ask the First Minister whether he that a good perception is maintained in has sought or whether the Minister of Consumer government. and Corporate Affairs has sought an outside legal opinion as to their position in regard to the Again, Mr. Speaker, through you, I would manner of the selection of the casinos. ask the First Minister is he prepared to seek an outside legal opinion in regard to the Minister of Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): Mr. Speaker, gaming's perceived or real conflictof interest. certainly the Minister is aware of those pro­ visions of the Act and he has used them properly Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): Mr. Speaker, we in the past. have dealt with issues in the past dealing with perceptions. Certainly one thinks about Mr. Mr. Reimer: I just want to ask the First Minister Cubby Barrett, who was able to obtain a hotel then: I believe there was even a doubt or an that was denied a liquor licence three or four innuendo in his mind because in yesterday's times in the past and just happened to obtain a comments, and I want to ask him why he replied hotel and happened, as a new owner, to get a June 28, 2000 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 3313 liquor licence contrary to the views of the First the realities. Now we are faced with the situation Nations community in that area. That is a per­ where perception and reality are one and the ception that I think that people of Manitoba want same.