Fourth Session - Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Louise M. Dacquay Speaker Vol. XLVIII No. 9 - 1:30 p.m., Thesday, December 9, 1997 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thirty-Sixth Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ASHTON, Steve Thompson N.D.P. BARRETT, Becky Wellington N.D.P. CERILLI, Marianne Radisson N.D.P. CHOMIAK, Dave Kildonan N.D.P. CUMMINGS, Glen, Hon. Ste. Rose P.C. DACQUAY, Louise, Hon. Seine River P.C. DERKACH. Leonard. Hon. Roblin-Russell P.C. DEWAR, Gregory Selkirk N.D.P. DOER, Gary Concordia N.D.P. DOWNEY, James, Hon. Arthur-Virden P.C. DRIEDGER, Albert Steinbach P.C. DYCK, Peter Pembina P.C. ENNS, Harry, Hon. Lakeside P.C. EVANS, Clif Interlake N.D.P. EVANS, Leonard S. Brandon East N.D.P. FAURSCHOU. David Portage Ia Prairie P.C. FILMON, Gary, Hon. Tuxedo P.C. FINDLAY, Glen, Hon. Springfield P.C. FRIESEN, Jean Wolseley N.D.P. GAUDRY, Neil St. Boniface Lib. GILLESHAMMER, Harold. Hon. Minncdosa P.C. HEL WER, Edward Gimli P.C. HICKES, George Point Douglas N.D.P. JENNISSEN, Gerard Flin Flon N.D.P. KOWALSKI. Gary The Maples Lib. LAMOUREUX, Kevin Inkster Lib. LATHLIN, Oscar The Pas N.D.P. LAURENDEAU, Marcel St. Norbert P.C. MACKINTOSH, Gord St. Johns N.D.P. MALOWA Y, Jim Elmwood N.D.P. MARTINDALE, Doug Burrows N.D.P. McALPINE, Gerry Sturgeon Creek P.C. McCRAE, James, Hon. Brandon West P.C. McGIFFORD, Diane Osborne N.D.P. MciNTOSH, Linda, Hon. Assiniboia P.C. MIHYCHUK, MaryAnn St. James N.D.P. P.C. MITCHELSON, Bonnie. Hon. River East NEWMAN, David. Hon. Riel P.C. P.C. PENNER, Jack Emerson P.C. PITURA, Frank, Hon. Morris PRAZNIK, Darren. Hon. Lac du Bonnet P.C. RADCLIFFE, Mike. Hon. River Heights P.C. N.D.P. REID, Daryl Transcona P.C. REIMER, Jack, Hon. Niakwa P.C. RENDER, Shirley St. Vital N.D.P. ROBINSON, Eric Rupertsland P.C. ROCAN, Denis Gladstone N.D.P. SALE, Tim Crescentwood N.D.P. SANTOS, Conrad Broadway P.C. STEFANSON, Eric, Hon. Kirkfield Park N.D.P. STRUTHERS, Stan Dauphin P.C. SVEINSON, Ben La Verendrye P.C. TOEWS, Vic, Hon. Rossmere P.C. TWEED, Mervin Turtle Mountain P.C. VODREY, Rosemary, Hon. Fort Garry N.D.P. WOWCHUK, Rosann Swan River Vacant Charleswood 311 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Tuesday, December 9, 1997 The House met at 1:30 p.m. and stable funding for the Evergreen Women's Resource Centre and other women's resource centres in PRAYERS the province to ensure that the vital services provided by these organizations are continued. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Mr. ClifEvans (Interlake): Madam Speaker, I beg to PRESENTING PETITIONS present the petition of Monica Sigurdson, Grace Fridfinnson, Susan L. Van Dreses and others praying Women's Resource Centres that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the Filmon government to consider providing long-term, Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Madam Speaker, adequate and stable funding the Evergreen Women's I would like to present the petition of Alice Riley, Resource Centre and other women's resource centres in Nancy McPherson, John Masson and others praying the province to ensure that the vital services provided that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the by these organizations are continued. Filmon government to consider providing long-term, adequate and stable fundingfo r the Evergreen Women's READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS Resource Centre and other women's resource centres in the province to ensure that the vital services provided Domestic Violence by these organizations are continued. Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the Mr. Gord Mackintosh (St. Johns): Madam Speaker, honourable member for Interlake (Mr. ClifEvans). It I beg to present the petition of Cece Hutchinson, complies with the rules (by leave) and practices of the Agusta Gudmunds, Shelly Bjarnsonand others praying House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the read? Filmon government to consider long-term, adequate and stable funding fo r the Evergreen Women's An Honourable Member: Yes. Resource Centre and other women's resource centres in the province to ensure that the vital services provided Madam Speaker: Yes. The Clerk will read. by these organizations are continued. Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): The petition of the Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba Speaker, I would like to present the petition of Marlene humbly sheweth: Stratton, Valdine Bjornsson, Harold Thorkelson and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of THAT domestic violence continues to be a serious Manitoba urge the Filmon government to consider problem in Manitoba that results in the injury and death providing long-term, adequate and stable funding for of women across this province; and the Evergreen Women's Resource Centre and other women's resource centres in the province to ensure that THAT certain initiatives such as the FamilyViolence vital services provided by these organizations are Court,the Women's Advocacy Program and mandatory continued. charging have been taken by the government; and Ms. Becky Barrett (Wellington): Madam Speaker, I THAT survivors of abuse, their families, service beg to present the petition of Maurice Sigurdson, Eric providers and the community at large recognize serious Sigurdson, Audrey Disbrowe and others praying that shortcomings in the response to domestic violence the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the Filmon which continues to threaten the lives of Manitoba governmentto consider providing long-term, adequate women and children; and 312 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA December 9, 1997 THAT a blueprint fo r an effective response to Langford, MLA fo r Saskatchewan Rivers; the domestic violence is being offered by several reports Honourable Andy Renaud, MLA fo r Carrot River including the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry, the Pedlar Valley; Mr. John Wall, MLA fo r SwiftCurrent. report and the Lavoie inquiry recommendations. On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY this afternoon. PRAY that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the provincial government to consider preparing an ORAL QUESTION PERIOD action plan in consultation with the community for the timely implementation of meaningful change as Education System outlined in the Lavoie inquiry, the Aboriginal Justice Funding Inquiry and the Pedlar report. Mr. Gary Doer (Leader ofthe Opposition): Madam * (1335) Speaker, over the last five years this government, this Premier, has cut public education by minus 2 percent, TABLING OF REPORTS minus 2 percent, zero prior to the election, minus 2 percent after the election, and again another zero Hon. Linda Mcintosh (Minister of Education and percent last year. Parents have talked to us about the Training): Madam Speaker, I would like to table difficultiestheir children are having with these cutbacks reports that have been fo rwarded to members' offices in their public schools. Taxpayers are concerned about prior to the House resuming, and I would like to the massive property tax increases based on these officially table at this point the fo llowing reports, which funding cutbacks, and of course kids fe el that this have three copies of each. The Report ofthe Manitoba government is robbing their future with a reduction in Textbook Bureau, 1996-97; the Education and Training their curriculum and opportunities in their schools. Annual Report, 1996-97. I would like to ask the Premier (Mr. Filmon): will he University of Manitoba Annual Financial Report, now agree to take some of the $600-million lottery 1997; University of Winnipeg Financial Statements fu nds and other fu nds that are in the fund that the ending March 31, 1997; Brandon University Annual government has and reinvest some of that money in Financial Report ending March 31, 1997; Universities public education and go beyond the zero percent Grants Commission Annual Report fo r 1996-97; fu nding commitment they have made so kids can have Assiniboine Community College Financial Statements a future again here in the province of Manitoba? ending June 30, 1997; Keewatin Community College Financial Statements ending June 30, 1997; and Red Hon. Linda Mcintosh (Minister of Education and River Community College Annual Financial Report, Training): Madam Speaker, the member refers to 1996-97. percentage cuts in a fe w select years of depression and transfer cuts from Ottawa. The member does not refer As indicated, these have been previously forwarded to the fa ct that this year we have put $115 million more to members' offices. into public schools alone than they put in when they were in office in their last year of office. Introduction of Guests The member also talks about increases in school Madam Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would taxes, not remembering that increases put in place by like to draw the attention of all honourable members to school boards during their tenure as governmentwere the loge to my leftwhere we have with us today five higher percentage increases than increases put in under members ofthe Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan: this governmentby school boards. Madam Speaker, we the Honourable Eric Upshall, Minister of Agriculture indicated, when we provided a slight increase to the and Agri-Food and MLA fo r Watrous; Mr. Dale Flavel, schools last year, that we would guarantee them a MLA fo r Last Mountain-Touchwood; Mr. Jack minimum amount this year. We were not able at that December 9, 1997 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 313 time, nor am I able at this time, to say what the amount Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, the Premier certainly has this year will be, but we indicated last year-and it was his talking points, but he has no action points for kids a great benefitto school divisions in terms of multiyear and their future.