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. 13- 1:30 p.m., Monday, December 13, 1999 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. DACQUA Y, 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 Charleswoo d P.C. DYCK, Peter Pembina P.C. ENNS, Harry Lakeside P.C. FAURSCHOU, David Portage Ia Prairie P.C. FILMON, Gary Tuxedo P.C. FRIESEN, Jean, Hon. Wolseley N.D.P. GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib. GILLESHAMMER, Harold Minnedosa 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. MALOWA Y, 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. 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. N.D.P. REID, Daryl Transcona 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 Rossmere N.D.P. SCHULER, Ron Springfield P.C. SELINGER, Greg, Hon. St. Boniface N.D.P. SMITH, Joy Fort Garry P.C. N.D.P. SMITH, Scott Brandon West STEFANSON, Eric Kirkfield Park P.C. N.D.P. STRUTHERS, Stan Dauphin-Roblin TWEED, Mervin Turtle Mountain P.C. WOWCIIUK, Rosann, Bon. Swan River N.D.P. 485 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Monday, December 13, 1999 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Agriculture (11) Messrs. Dewar, Dyck, Han. Mr. Lemieux, PRAYERS Messrs. Maguire, Nevakshonoff, Penner (Emerson), Penner (Steinbach), Schellenberg, ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Smith (Brandon West), Struthers, Han. Ms. Wowchuk PRESENTING REPORTS BY STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES Economic Development (11) Mrs. Dacquay, Messrs. Derkach, Dewar, Han. Hon. Drew Caldwell (Minister of Education Ms. Friesen, Mr. Jennissen, Han. Mr. Lemieux, and Training): Mr. Speaker, I would like to Mr. Loewen, Hon. Ms. Mihychuk, Hon. Mr. table the Annual Report of the Manitoba Robinson, Messrs. Schuler, Smith (Brandon Education and Research Learning Information West) Networks fo r the period 1998-1999. Industrial Relations (11) Mr. Speaker: For the information of the Han. Mr. Ashton, Han. Ms. Barrett, Mr. Dewar, Minister of Education and Training, we are Ms. Korzeniowski, Messrs. Laurendeau, Loewen, presenting reports by standing and special Nevakshonoff, Pitura, Reid, Schuler, Smith committees. We will come to Ministerial State­ (Brandon West) ments and Tabling of Reports. Special Committee of Seven Persons Law Amendments (11) Second Report Han. Mr. Ashton, Ms. Asper, Han. Mr. Chomiak, Mrs. Dacquay, Han. Mr. Mackintosh, Messrs. Hon. Gord Mackintosh (Chairperson of the Penner (Emerson), Penner (Steinbach), Special Committee of Seven Persons): Mr. Rondeau, Schellenberg, Mrs. Smith (Fort Speaker, is there leave of the House to present Garry), Mr. Struthers the report of the Committee of Seven Persons? Municipal Affairs (11) Some Honourable Members: Agreed. Mr. Aglugub, Han. Ms. Barrett, Ms. Cerilli, Mrs. Dacquay, Mrs. Driedger, Han. Ms. Friesen, Mr. Mr. Speaker: Agreed. Loewen, Han. Mr. Mackintosh, Messrs. Martindale, Penner (Emerson), Smith (Brandon Mr. Mackintosh: Mr. Speaker, I would like to West) present the Second Report of the Committee of Seven Persons. Private Bills (11) Mr. Aglugub, Mrs. Dacquay, Mr. Jennissen, An Honourable Member: Dispense. Han. Messrs. Lath/in, Mackintosh, Messrs. Reimer, Rocan, Santos, Schellenberg, Mrs. Mr. Speaker: Dispense. Smith (Fort Garry), Mr. Smith (Brandon West) Your Special Committee of Seven Persons, appointed to prepare a list of members of the Privileges and Elections (11) standing committees ordered by the House, Han. Messrs. Ashton, Caldwell, Ms. Ceri/li, Mrs. presents the following as its Second Report. Dacquay, Han. Mr. Mackintosh, Han. Ms. Mihychuk, Mrs. Mitchelson, Messrs. Penner Your committee prepared the following list of (Emerson), Rocan, Santos, Struthers members to compose the standing committees ordered by the House: Public Accounts (11) 486 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA December 13, 1999 Ms. Allan, Han. Mr. Gerrard, Messrs. Loewen, Manitoba, copies of which have been previously Ma/oway, Penner (Steinbach), Reid, Reimer, distributed. Rondeau, Han. Messrs. Sale. Selinger, Mr. Stefanson I would also like to table the 1998-99 Annual Report of Sport, copies of which have Public Utilities and Natural Resources (11) been previously distributed. Ms. Asper, Messrs. Derkach, Dyck, Jennissen, Han. Mr. Lath/in, Mr. Ma/oway, Han. Ms. Finally, I am pleased to table the Annual McGifford, Messrs. Penner (Emerson), Praznik, Report of the Health Information Services of Reid, Han. Mr. Selinger Manitoba Corporation fo r the year ended March 31, 1999. Rules of the House (12) Han. Mr. Ashton, Mrs. Dacquay, Mr. Dewar, Han. Mr. Gerrard, Ms. Korzeniowski, Mr. Hon. Ron Lemieux (Minister of Consumer Laurendeau, Han. Mr. Mackintosh, Messrs. and Corporate Affairs): Mr. Speaker, I have Martindale, Nevakshono.ff, Praznik, Reid, Rocan the honour to report that no Orders-in-Councils have been made pursuant to Section 114 of The Statutory Regulations and Orders (11) Insurance Act, R.S.M. 1987. c. 140, since the Ms. Allan, Ms. Cerilli, Messrs. Cummings, last session of the Legislature. Dewar, Helwer, Korzeniowski. Han. Mr. Lemieux, Mr. Rocan, Han. Mr. Sale, Mr. Tweed, Introduction of Guests Han. Ms. Wowchuk Mr. Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, may I Mr. Mackintosh: I move, seconded by the direct the attention of honourable members to honourable member for St. Norbert (Mr. the gallery where we have with us today from St. Laurendeau), that the report of the committee be Francois Xavier Community School fifteen received. Grade 5 students under the direction of Mrs. Motion agreed to. Betty-Ann Tiltman. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for * (1335) Morris (Mr. Pitura). TABLING OF REPORTS Also, from Daniel Macintyre School, Hon. Drew Caldwell (Minister of Education twenty-five Grade 11 students under the and Training): Mr. Speaker, I would like to direction of Mrs. Connie Baker. This school is table the Annual Report of the Manitoba located in the constituency of the honourable Education Research and Learning Information Minister fo r Industry, Trade and Mines (Ms. Networks for the period 1998-1999. Mihychuk). Hon. Dave Chomiak (Minister of Health): With us from Landmark Collegiate are Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the 1998-99 twenty Grade 11 students under the direction of Annual Report for Manitoba Health which Mr. Greg Sawatzky. This school is located in includes the Annual Report of the Manitoba the constituency of the Honourable Minister of Health Services Insurance Plan, copies of which Consumer and Corporate Affairs (Mr. Lemieux). have been previously distributed. With us from Morden Collegiate are forty I would also like to table the 1998-99 Grade 9 students under the direction of Mr. Ron Annual Report for the Manitoba Health Peters. This school is located in the constituency Research Council, copies of which have been of the honourable member for Pembina (Mr. previously distributed. Dyck). I would like to table the 1998-99 Annual On behalf of all honourable members, I Report for the Addictions Foundation of welcome you here today. December 13, 1999 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 487 ORAL QUESTION PERIOD refers to the fact that after the election they met with all these different groups. He made Chemotherapy Treatment commitments about this issue during the Hours of Operation election, but this is seven weeks after they took office. November 22 he said effective immedi­ Mr. Gary Filmon (Leader of the Official ately these beds would be open. We are Opposition): Mr. Speaker, last week in response infonned by Cancer Care Manitoba that that has to a number of questions by members on our not happened. So my question is: when will it side, the Minister of Health referred on happen? Is this just another one of these broken numerous occasions to his government's news promises? Effectively immediately, not seven release of November 22. He said it had the weeks from now, not four weeks from now, not answers to all of the questions that we might ask. after I have a chance to take a look. When is it So we took the time to just review it thoroughly going to happen? and on the second page it says: Effective immediately the number of chemotherapy treat­ Mr. Chomiak: Mr. Speaker, for a government ment hours offered per month by Cancer Care that did not live up to any of its 1995 election Manitoba's oncology day program will be promises and was involved in some of the doubled. biggest fiascos that have ever been seen in this province, not only SmartHealth which was a In calling-not that we did not trust his cover-up by members opposite, I find it very word-Cancer Care Manitoba, we find that this strange that the fonner Premier did not have an has not happened, and so I ask the minister to opportunity to question us on that.