Second Session - Thirty-Ninth Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable George Hickes Speaker Vol. LX No. 40A – 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 13, 2008 ISSN 0542-5492 MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thirty-Ninth Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ALLAN, Nancy, Hon. St. Vital N.D.P. ALTEMEYER, Rob Wolseley N.D.P. ASHTON, Steve, Hon. Thompson N.D.P. BJORNSON, Peter, Hon. Gimli N.D.P. BLADY, Sharon Kirkfield Park N.D.P. BOROTSIK, Rick Brandon West P.C. BRAUN, Erna Rossmere N.D.P. BRICK, Marilyn St. Norbert N.D.P. BRIESE, Stuart Ste. Rose P.C. CALDWELL, Drew Brandon East N.D.P. CHOMIAK, Dave, Hon. Kildonan N.D.P. CULLEN, Cliff Turtle Mountain 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. EICHLER, Ralph Lakeside P.C. FAURSCHOU, David Portage la Prairie P.C. GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib. GOERTZEN, Kelvin Steinbach P.C. GRAYDON, Cliff Emerson P.C. HAWRANIK, Gerald Lac du Bonnet P.C. HICKES, George, Hon. Point Douglas N.D.P. HOWARD, Jennifer Fort Rouge N.D.P. IRVIN-ROSS, Kerri, Hon. Fort Garry N.D.P. JENNISSEN, Gerard Flin Flon N.D.P. JHA, Bidhu Radisson N.D.P. KORZENIOWSKI, Bonnie St. James N.D.P. LAMOUREUX, Kevin Inkster Lib. LATHLIN, Oscar, Hon. The Pas N.D.P. LEMIEUX, Ron, Hon. La Verendrye N.D.P. MACKINTOSH, Gord, Hon. St. Johns N.D.P. MAGUIRE, Larry Arthur-Virden P.C. MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood N.D.P. MARCELINO, Flor Wellington N.D.P. MARTINDALE, Doug Burrows N.D.P. McFADYEN, Hugh Fort Whyte P.C. McGIFFORD, Diane, Hon. Lord Roberts N.D.P. MELNICK, Christine, Hon. Riel N.D.P. MITCHELSON, Bonnie River East P.C. NEVAKSHONOFF, Tom Interlake N.D.P. OSWALD, Theresa, Hon. Seine River N.D.P. PEDERSEN, Blaine Carman P.C. REID, Daryl Transcona N.D.P. ROBINSON, Eric, Hon. Rupertsland N.D.P. RONDEAU, Jim, Hon. Assiniboia N.D.P. ROWAT, Leanne Minnedosa P.C. SARAN, Mohinder The Maples N.D.P. SCHULER, Ron Springfield P.C. SELBY, Erin Southdale N.D.P. SELINGER, Greg, Hon. St. Boniface N.D.P. STEFANSON, Heather Tuxedo P.C. STRUTHERS, Stan, Hon. Dauphin-Roblin N.D.P. SWAN, Andrew, Hon. Minto N.D.P. TAILLIEU, Mavis Morris P.C. WOWCHUK, Rosann, Hon. Swan River N.D.P. 2063 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Tuesday, May 13, 2008 The House met at 10 a.m. public areas, brought it forward, government saw the benefits of it and, very quickly, it became apolitical. PRAYER The reason why I believe it became apolitical, Mr. ORDERS OF THE DAY Speaker, is because people, every one of us, saw the strength and the merit of doing what it is that we can PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS to decrease the amount of smoking in our province. SECOND READINGS–PUBLIC BILLS It gained wide support, not only inside this Chamber but beyond this Chamber. Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Mr. Speaker, I'm sure if you canvass the House you'll see that there's Bill 223 is a bill that, actually, I heard about leave to go directly to Bill 223 this morning. through media outlets when they were talking about second-hand smoke in motor vehicles. There are Mr. Speaker: Is it the will of the House to go organizations that have been talking about it for a directly to Bill 223? [Agreed] long time, Mr. Speaker. No one owns the idea. All Bill 223–The Non-Smokers Health Protection I've done is provided a vehicle, in the form of Amendment Act (Protecting Children From Bill 223, to be able to be presented to us this Second-Hand Smoke in Motor Vehicles) morning so we as legislators can choose what we would like to do in regard to second-hand smoke in Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Mr. Speaker, I vehicles. would move, seconded by the Member for River Heights (Mr. Gerrard), that Bill 223, The Non- There is a great deal of material, and when I had Smokers Health Protection Amendment Act first started talking about this particular bill, the type (Protecting Children From Second-Hand Smoke in of support that I had received in encouragement was Motor Vehicles) be now read a second time and very overwhelming. It ranged from individual phone referred to a committee of this House. calls to e-mails, to letters, to just discussions. I've had offers to print brochures and circulate brochures. Motion presented. I've had individuals write letters that included Mr. Lamoureux: Mr. Speaker, first off, I'd express materials that were talking about second-hand my appreciation for Murray Gibson from MANTRA smoke. It has broken all the different generations of and Mark McDonald from the Cancer Society and young people to our seniors who have talked to me others that have actually come here this morning to and given me, again, words of encouragement, hear the debate on Bill 223. As for all of us inside the believing that there is a chance that the government Chamber, it is a very important bill. might do what's right in regard to Bill 223. At the very least, allow it to go to committee where they In fact, it was the other day, inside the Chamber, will witness firsthand the type of support that is there we were talking about a private member's resolution for Bill 223. where the subject of the matter was that of cancer. There is a certain amount of passion whenever Mr. Speaker, in going through some of the debating or dealing with the issue of cancer because material, there was one in particular that I want to it affects each and every one of us directly and share with members. It's actually published by the indirectly as we all know people that have had to go Canadian Cancer Society, and there's a couple of through this devastating illness, many of whom pieces that I'd like to refer to but this one to start off. never survive it. It's on page 10 in one of their brochures, on Clear the Air. It deals with protect children from second-hand At times, I believe that there are things that we smoke. I would like to quote directly from the can do with the support of all political parties that brochure where it states, and I quote: "If you do can really make a difference. smoke, consider quitting. Your children will be What I wanted to make reference to is the efforts healthier if you do. Even if you don't smoke around of the former member from Carman, Denis Rocan, your children, smoke can still cling to your hair, when he had the idea in terms of banning smoking in clothing, furniture and the inside of your car. If you 2064 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 13, 2008 have to smoke, always smoke outside far from there, I am sure, who would get behind the principle children. Never smoke in the car. Opening a window of banning second-hand smoke. does not protect children from smoke. Smoke before you begin your journey. On long car trips, stop and My appeal to all members of this Chamber is in smoke outside away from children." And it goes on. a very apolitical fashion. I was just fortunate enough to be the one to provide the vehicle, that being Mr. Speaker, I truly believe that the Cancer Bill 223. I am hoping that all members will get Society has put it in a very simple way. We all know behind it. At the very least, let's allow it to go to the dangers of second-hand smoke. We all know the committee where we can have public presentation. confinement that we put our children in when they're sitting inside a vehicle, and having the windows open I look forward to members' comments on the just doesn't cut it. We know that. The stats and the bill, Mr. Speaker. If there are more members than facts are there. time allows, I would suggest that it is a bill that is worthy of getting the leave required to allow us to go * (10:10) past 11 o'clock, because it's a bill about something that touches each and every one of us and, I believe, We have seen other jurisdictions move towards is something that we could do, and have this be the looking at banning. Some have legislation in law in Manitoba by the end of the month, if the drafting. Manitoba is in a unique position where we political will was there. could be one of the two or three provinces leading the country in passing this type of legislation. I do With those few words, Mr. Speaker, we're believe that it's not an issue of education. I believe prepared to–hopefully, we'll see the bill go to that it's an issue of good will, understanding the committee this morning. issue, as I believe we all do, and allowing for the bill, at the very least, to go to committee. Hon. Jim Rondeau (Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mines): I thank the There are Web sites that are out there. I went to member opposite who just spoke on this. the Canadian Lung Association Clean Air for Kids campaign. I can quote directly from their Web site, Mr.