Flin Flon General Hospital
Budget Reduction
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): My question is to the Premier.
Before the election campaign, Madam Speaker, we raised a number of concerns about cuts in northern health care staffing and its impact on patient services. In fact, the day before the election was called, we asked the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) about the specific cuts to the Flin Flon Hospital to which the Minister of Health in a very cavalier and hands-off way said that there are no concerns about these reductions at the Flin Flon facility.
We have since learned, Madam Speaker, that there is $1.4 million scheduled to be cut from that northern health care facility. Some 14 percent of the budget will be cut by the government after the election campaign.
I would like to ask the Premier, what is the impact of these cuts on emergency services, on patient care, on the length of the period of time it will be required for operations in that hospital, on pediatric care and other very important vital services for the people and residents of the adjacent and Flin Flon area?
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, I will take that question as notice for the Minister of Health.
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Mr. Doer: My question again is to the Premier.
Madam Speaker, I will table a memo for the Premier from the Flin Flon Hospital that deals with the 14 percent cut and the $1.4-million reduction. In that memo, it states--[interjection] It is not very funny to the people of Flin Flon. If the Premier does not care, that is one thing. It is not very funny for those people.
Madam Speaker, in the memo it states that the ultimate decisions on health care impacts will be reviewed at a meeting of October 4 at the Compensation Committee of Cabinet.
Now, we have been concerned for some time now that the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) is not on top of his portfolio. I would like to ask the Premier, is the system in place that his government has to deal with these cutbacks, are all those decisions being made by the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson) and the Secretary of Treasury Board, Mr. Jules Benson, the former treasurer of the Conservative Party?
Are all these decisions being made by that committee of government, or are those decisions being made by the Premier, who promised the people of Manitoba that he would be there to take care of their health care after the election campaign, Madam Speaker?
Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, without accepting any of the preamble of the Leader of the Opposition as fact, I will take that as notice on behalf of the Minister of Health, as well.
Point of Order
Mr. Steve Ashton (Opposition House Leader): On a point of order, Madam Speaker, the normal custom is that matters are taken under notice when a minister is not present. I believe the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) is here.
Now, if the Premier does not wish to answer the question, he should say so. It does, however, provide great difficulty for those of us in the opposition in Question Period when what the Premier is essentially doing is allowing this matter to come back in an open-ended manner.
If the Minister of Health has information, he should answer that now. If the Minister of Health needs to bring it back, Madam Speaker, he should take it as notice. What we are having from the First Minister I think really does not help our procedures, and I would ask that you advise us on the proper customs in this House and procedures on when matters should be taken under advisement.
Mr. Filmon: On the same point of order, Madam Speaker, that is precisely the point. There is a Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) here. The questions have to do with the Minister of Health. Rather than playing games for his own political purposes, the Leader of the Opposition ought to ask the questions of the Minister of Health.
Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the official opposition, on the same point of order?
Mr. Doer: Well, on a new point of order, Madam Speaker, the Premier in his point of order imputed--
Madam Speaker: No. Order, please. I have not dealt with the first point of order, and they must be disposed of individually. I will recognize the Leader of the official opposition on the same point of order.
Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, I asked the Premier (Mr. Filmon) a question dealing with the system in government between the cabinet Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) and the cabinet Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson) in the Compensation Committee, and for the Premier to allege that that is not his responsibility gives me a great deal of concern that nobody is in control of health care over on the other side.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. On the point of order raised by the honourable member for Thompson (Mr. Ashton), the honourable member for Thompson does not have a point of order.
I refer to Beauchesne's 416: "A refusal to answer cannot be raised as a question of privilege, nor is it regular to comment upon such a refusal."
I also will recite Beauchesne's 420: "the Chair will allow a question to be put to a certain Minister; but it cannot insist that that Minister rather than another should answer it."
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Mr. Doer: I would like to ask the Premier, who is responsible for making decisions in health care?
Last week, we had a number of questions about vital drugs for children that were being withdrawn from the government until we raised those questions in the House. We have asked questions about LPNs at Seven Oaks Hospital, and the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) could not answer those questions.
This memo states that the Compensation Committee of Cabinet will be asked to deal with these matters on October 4, 1995. I would like to ask the Premier, are these decisions being made at cabinet to implement the 14 percent cut? Are they being made by the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson) and the secretary of the Treasury Board? Are they being made by the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae)?
Who in government is making these decisions, given it was the Premier who promised the people of Manitoba that he would make sure that health care services would not be reduced after the election campaign, Madam Speaker?
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Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, as a former member of the Executive Council of a former government of Manitoba, the Leader of the Opposition ought to know full well that some decisions by cabinet are deferred to the ministers responsible, that they are within the purview and within the accountability structure, that in the course of approval of budgets, for instance, this Legislature approves Estimates of Expenditure which were approved collectively by this Legislature effective June 30 of this year, and then the budgets are then allocated and distributed by the government, by departments. In some cases, they require Treasury Board approval; in other cases they do not.
One of the issues that he referred to in his preamble, the issue of the removal of coverage for drugs, was made by an independent organization, the Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation, as their response to what they considered a budget imperative. The Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) has addressed that as a result of the Leader of the Opposition raising the issue here, which was not known to him because it was not a matter that had been decided by cabinet or the Health minister.
Madam Speaker, all of these issues have different parameters and different areas of decision making and judgment. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to pursue this, he can ask questions directly of the Minister of Health, or he can engage in discussion on this in other ways, but they are not going to be solved by grandstanding and political gamesmanship here in this Legislature.
Health Care System
Emergency Services
Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health, although the Premier (Mr. Filmon) could answer because he likes to--
Madam Speaker: Order, please.
Mr. Chomiak: My question for the Minister of Health is, prior to the election campaign and during the election campaign, the minister categorically stated there would be no closure of emergency rooms in the city of Winnipeg, nor would the hours be reduced.
Can the minister advise this House today, because we have heard that some emergency rooms and hours are going to be closed during the nighttime at the community hospitals, that the announcement will be made this week or it has been decided to be made this week, will the minister categorically confirm that he will not allow that to happen in fulfilment of his election promise both before and during the election that no emergency hours would be reduced or any emergency wards closed?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): The honourable member has a different view of history than I do, obviously, and his Leader, as well, when his Leader suggests that I would ever say that I had no concerns in health. I hope the honourable member can show where I would have made the suggestion that nobody need have any concerns about health in Manitoba or anywhere else in this country. It is one of the chief concerns on a daily basis, Madam Speaker, of this government and any responsible government in this country.
Madam Speaker, as to the present difficulties in emergency rooms in the city of Winnipeg, the honourable member will recall about a year ago, a little more than a year ago, the emergency services task force--we made that report known to the public, and in that report were suggestions of various changes at emergency rooms in this city.
I made the point at that time that I was not prepared at that time to accept some of those recommendations. We certainly have been monitoring very carefully the performance of emergency services in Winnipeg during the last four weeks, during the term of the present disruption, and we have made the point that we are learning from that experience, and discussions are underway, this afternoon as a matter of fact, with the parties in an effort to continue to try to resolve the dispute.
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Mr. Chomiak: Madam Speaker, can the minister, who has raised some very serious concerns in that answer, provide this House with assurances that they are not using this artificial strike situation as a justification for the government--[interjection] Perhaps if the Premier (Mr. Filmon) wants to answer, he can answer, because he is trying to.
My question: Will the minister confirm that they are not using this artificial strike situation as justification for announcements of the closure of either emergency wards or the reduction of emergency hours, which is contrary to what the minister said on July 14 and during the election?
Mr. McCrae: Madam Speaker, I would like the honourable member to explain the expression "artificial strike" to me and to all of those people who have been inconvenienced by the fact that 42 emergency physicians and 14 pathologists walked off the job four weeks ago, leaving us to do the best we could with our contingency plan. I would like to know what is artificial about that.
Mr. Chomiak: Madam Speaker, do I have leave to answer the minister's question?
Some Honourable Members: Leave.
Madam Speaker: No. Order, please. I have recognized the honourable member for Kildonan for a final supplementary question.
Mr. Chomiak: Madam Speaker, will the minister confirm further that Dr. Moe Lerner was brought in as a consultant in an untendered contract dated and signed July 5 of this year in the sum of $52,500 to specifically earmark and work on this entire strike situation, this entire emergency situation, I should say, and was brought in to implement the recommendations to close or downsize emergency rooms? I will table the contract.
Mr. McCrae: Madam Speaker, the honourable member is or should be aware that Dr. Moe Lerner has been working with our department for some considerable period of time, and the contract that he refers to today is simply an extension of the previous arrangements. The honourable member is totally misleading everybody when he suggests that there was some earmarked strategy to deal with a labour disruption. That would be incorrect.
Domestic Violence
Rhonda Lavoie Inquiry
Mr. Gord Mackintosh (St. Johns): Madam Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Justice.
We all recall when Rhonda Lavoie, a mother of three young children, was murdered by her husband Roy in a garage north of Gimli on January 20, Roy's second attempt. Roy was on bail for the second time, another example of violent men being released time and time again on conditions they have just broken. Roy had been denied treatment, Rhonda denied social assistance, and there are many questions about police procedures. The minister has received many requests for an inquiry, and as early as January 23 the Manitoba Association of Women's Shelters wrote to the minister.
My question to the minister is, so the justice system will not continue to fail other women as it failed Rhonda, will the minister now, after sitting on this for over eight months, respond to the ongoing pleas for action, including those from survivors of Rhonda who are here today, and finally appoint an independent inquiry? Time is up, Madam Speaker.
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Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Madam Speaker, the member suggests that nothing has been done in this matter. He knows very well that there is a process in place where the Chief Medical Examiner looks at each case. However, he is also aware that the Chief Medical Examiner, to avoid any difficulty, any questions of conflict, has referred this matter to Ontario.
However, Madam Speaker, let me say that the stand that this government has taken on other issues raised by the member across the way, matters such as bail, this government has taken a position to the federal government to say that in cases of stalking, for a very specific, there should be reverse onus in the matter of bail, that bail should be presumed to be denied in cases where there is a continued threat to the victim. That case has been made strongly by this government. I have not had any support from the other side.
Mr. Mackintosh: That is misleading, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. I would ask that the honourable member for St. Johns withdraw the word "misleading."
Point of Order
Mr. Mackintosh: Madam Speaker, on a point of order, the word "misleading" is an important part of debate in this bastion of free speech.
The word "misleading," I am sure you will find on checking Beauchesne's, Madam Speaker, was carefully chosen and is parliamentary.
Mr. Steve Ashton (Opposition House Leader): Madam Speaker, I think, if I might be of assistance, as the member pointed out, "misleading" does appear. In fact, it appears on both lists.
The key element, to my mind, Madam Speaker, has always been the question of whether the member was making the accusation that comments were deliberately misleading. I believe the member, through his explanation, has indicated that the intent of his statement to indicate that the minister was being misleading was within the parliamentary bounds.
I would submit to you that he was not using an unparliamentary term, not only based on that element of Beauchesne's which deals with the word itself but also the fact that we also accept the word of honourable members in this House, and I know the member for St. Johns (Mr. Mackintosh) would be stating very clearly, with his own knowledge, too, of Beauchesne's, that it was not said in an unparliamentary way. I would submit that we should accept that, Madam Speaker.
Hon. Jim Ernst (Government House Leader): Madam Speaker, on the same point of order, while the word "misleading" does appear on both lists, I think what was more out of order was the fact that the word "misleading" was used in the preamble to a supplementary question. Preambles, of course, are not required and not deemed so in Beauchesne's with respect to subsequent questions.
Madam Speaker: I thank all honourable members for their advice, and I will take the point of order under advisement.
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Mr. Mackintosh: Well, would the Justice minister then confirm to Manitobans that the Chief Coroner of Ontario, in fact, recommended that there be an inquiry, a conclusion the minister should have come to months ago, and would she table in this House the recommendations of the coroner for the people of Manitoba?
Mrs. Vodrey: Madam Speaker, I have not received any such communication myself. If that communication has been forwarded to the Chief Medical Examiner, it has not yet been forwarded to me.
So I would have to tell the member I do not have knowledge of what the province of Ontario, what the Chief Coroner of Ontario has, in fact, recommended to our Chief Medical Examiner who, I will remind the member, sought advice in this matter to make sure that any decision that was reached was reached in a very fair way.
Mr. Mackintosh: Would the minister explain to Manitobans why she is not on top of this and why she is dragging her feet for over eight months on this inquiry, an inquiry so the government can answer a question for the women of Manitoba: Is there zero tolerance against domestic violence in this province or not?
Mrs. Vodrey: Madam Speaker, the zero tolerance policy which this government brought forward is most firmly in place. If the member has some knowledge of some communication, perhaps he should very specifically say.
But what I would like to tell the House and the people of Manitoba, Madam Speaker, about this most serious case is that there is a process in place. The process was one which was to be reviewed by the Chief Medical Examiner of Manitoba who, in his view, wanted to make sure there was no conflict. Therefore, he referred this to the province of Ontario for its advice. There is a process in place. Yes, it does take some time.
Now, if the member is suggesting, as he has not once but other times within this House, that the minister should somehow step in over the process and become involved and not respect the process, I think that would certainly be reason for concerns and complaint.
There is a process in place. At this moment, Madam Speaker, we do not have any reason to believe that the process is not working. In fact, I believe it is.
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Domestic Violence Review Committee
Status Report
Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Madam Speaker, my questions are also for the Minister of Justice.
I want to return to questions regarding the Domestic Violence Review Committee. I understand that not only have members of this committee not met for two years, but that despite specific requests from the committee, they have never met with this particular minister. Because the committee has neither been formally disbanded nor allowed to fulfill its mission, members feel that the committee has been transformed into a front for government, that the committee exists in phantom form but not in actuality, so gives the appearance but not the reality of consultation.
My question for the minister is this. Does the minister intend to disband this committee as was implied by her Assistant Deputy Minister Theresa Harvey, who was quoted in the Winnipeg Free Press, August 28, as having stated that the committee, quote, had outlived its usefulness?
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Madam Speaker, the committee that the member is speaking about was a committee which was formed to deal with matters of domestic violence, and particularly around the Pedlar report.
There is also another committee which exists. It is the committee of the chief judge, which is dealing very specifically with recommendations, with the process, with how the courts are dealing with the issues of domestic violence.
The quote that the member brings forward, which to my memory was part of an article by a columnist who seemed to--I found the article extremely difficult to follow and was not sure in what context that question had been asked of the assistant deputy minister, if, in fact, that was a reliable quotation from the assistant deputy minister, if, in fact, it was placed in any context whatsoever.
So the member's research is, as usual, done simply through a newspaper article, Madam Speaker, and through a quote that she read, which I am not sure if it was in context at all.
Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Osborne, with a supplementary question.
Point of Order
Ms. McGifford: Madam Speaker, actually, I rise on a point of order.
I feel that the minister's comments on my research methods are personal attacks and have nothing to do with the question.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. On the point of order, I will take the point under advisement, and, if necessary, report back to the House.
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Ms. McGifford: Back to the Domestic Violence Review Committee, does the minister agree with Ms. Harvey's assessment, or does she intend to convene a meeting of the Domestic Violence Review Committee and finally consult with these people?
Mrs. Vodrey: Madam Speaker, I only raised where the member did her research because that is what she said, so it is simply a reflection on her own preamble to the question.
Point of Order
Mr. Steve Ashton (Opposition House Leader): On a point of order, Madam Speaker, you just took the matter under advisement, and the proper time for the minister to make editorial comments on the point of order was during the point of order, not now when she is supposed to be answering the very serious question put forward by the member for Osborne.
Madam Speaker: Order please. On the honourable member for Thompson's point of order, it is clearly a dispute over the facts. There is no point of order.
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Madam Speaker: The honourable Minister of Justice, to quickly complete her response.
Mrs. Vodrey: Yes, I do have plans to be meeting with that committee. I will have some very specific issues which I would like to address with them.
The broad issue, though, which I am very pleased to indicate to the member is the whole matter of domestic violence and how this government, Madam Speaker, has taken the issue so seriously that we have, in fact, established a Domestic Violence Court, that we have designated Crown attorneys to deal with the matter of domestic violence, that we have training for members across the Department of Justice in the area of domestic violence, and it was this government that brought forward zero tolerance policy.
Pedlar Report
Recommendations
Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Madam Speaker, will the minister table in this House documents detailing which of the Pedlar recommendations have been implemented, along with the schedule for the implementation of the remainder?
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): I will be providing a report that speaks about the implementation of the recommendations from the Pedlar report which, as the member well knows, I think she should know anyway, Pedlar had said that the recommendations were to be viewed in a holistic way, that they pointed to initiatives which were to be dealt with.
In fact, Madam Speaker, this government, I believe, has gone further than the Pedlar report, has taken a very proactive stand in the whole area of domestic violence, and I look forward to discussing that and making sure the people of Manitoba are well aware of the strides that this government has made in that area.
Health Care System
Emergency Services
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health.
This is, in fact, no artificial strike. It is very real and it is the patient who is losing out. That is why later this week I will be introducing a bill entitled the emergency physicians' labour dispute settlement act, in hopes to get all members supporting it.
Madam Speaker, what else is very real is the fact that health care professionals are concerned that it is this government's intention to reduce emergency service hours by half, from 24 hours seven days a week to 12 hours seven days a week.
This is this government's real intention, so I am asking the Minister of Health if, in fact, this is the case.
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): I certainly agree with the honourable member that what we have been experiencing is not an artificial strike, and in that context, again, I would like to offer thanks to those people who have extended themselves during the last four weeks, Madam Speaker, to make sure that Winnipeg residents and others who use emergency services are not left in the lurch, as could have happened if no contingency plan had been put into effect.
Again, the honourable member hints at his support for legislation, the legislative option, Madam Speaker, to deal with the present circumstances. I understand the parties are in discussions again today, and it is my hope that those discussions will bear fruit.
Mr. Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, will the Minister of Health commit today to ensuring that the five community hospitals in the city of Winnipeg will, in fact, be open seven days a week, 24 hours a day, for emergency services?
Will the Minister of Health give us that commitment today?
Mr. McCrae: I commit, Madam Speaker, to working with the partners in delivery of emergency services to see that we have a co-ordinated, integrated and appropriate use of resources to provide the best quality emergency services possible to Winnipeggers and other Manitobans, and while we are speaking of commitments, I would like very much for the honourable member to make a commitment to the rest of us in this House that he will use his considerable influence with the federal Liberal Party to ensure that actions taken by the federal Liberals in Ottawa do not force us to take actions which are not in the best interests of Manitobans.
Mr. Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, Manitobans have a right to emergency services in our community hospitals in the city of Winnipeg.
My question is for the Premier. Will the Premier, in fact, today make the commitment that community health care hospitals in the city of Winnipeg will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, into the future in the province of Manitoba?
Will the Premier today make that commitment?
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Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, given that the federal government, of which the member for Inkster is a very large supporter and apologist for, is going to be reducing transfers to the Province of Manitoba by $220 million per year--
Madam Speaker: Order, please.
Point of Order
Mr. Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, Beauchesne's will, on numerous occasions, point out that a minister should respond to the question that is being asked.
It is not the federal government's responsibility to ensure that emergency room services are remaining open for Winnipeggers. It is this Premier's, it is this government's, and the question was, will this Premier give confidence in our Winnipeg community hospitals to ensure that they are going to be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week?
Madam Speaker: Order, please. The honourable member for Inkster does not have a point of order. It is clearly a dispute over the facts.
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Madam Speaker: The honourable First Minister, to complete his response.
Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, given that the federal Liberal government, of which the member for Inkster is a strong supporter and apologist, is successively reducing its transfers to the Province of Manitoba such that over a three-year period we will be reduced by $220 million per year for health care in this province, we have an obligation to do all things possible to review and reorganize our health care system to ensure that we can continue to provide the vital services that Manitobans look to this government for.
Madam Speaker, that means that we have an obligation to review the manner in which we do all things because the federal government is imposing such tremendous impacts on us in the way of reductions to our transfers.
The member opposite ought to go to his federal cousins and ensure that we get the money that we require to run the system, instead of coming here and trying to pick holes in what is being done by the provincial government.
Infrastructure Works Agreement
Project Selection Criteria
Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East): I have a question for the Minister of Finance.
The infrastructure program, Madam Speaker, was supposed to be about job creation, and yet we find that many areas of Manitoba, including northern Manitoba and certain rural areas, where unemployment is extremely high and where there is a serious need for basic water and sewer services, have not received a fair share of infrastructure money.
The government on one hand used $1.1 million for the planning of facilities for the Winnipeg Jets while denying approval for many worthwhile infrastructure projects throughout Manitoba.
Can the minister explain why the level of unemployment was not the key factor in decision making with this program, instead of this political approach that obviously was used?
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): I want to remind the member for Brandon East of the approach that has been utilized here in Manitoba, and it is a similar approach that many provinces have now since adopted.
We have a total infrastructure program of $204 million, and we basically divided that into three elements. We allocated $60 million for the city of Winnipeg, and in that area we have accepted all of the recommendations of the City of Winnipeg Council, the elected body here in Winnipeg.
We allocated $60 million for outside of Winnipeg. In those instances, Madam Speaker, we have accepted all of the recommendations of representatives from the Union of Manitoba Municipalities and the Manitoba Association of Urban Municipalities, the elected representatives from across this province of Manitoba who represent municipalities across Manitoba, and we have allocated $84 million for strategic initiatives that are ultimately decided on by the federal government and by the provincial government and are meant to enhance economic development opportunities right across our province. I believe it is doing that.
So we have struck a process that is all-inclusive. It includes other elected representatives. It is one that is being modelled elsewhere in Canada, and I would suggest that it has served us very well, and it does exactly the opposite of what the member is talking about. It is all-inclusive and it avoids the kind of political interference that he is suggesting is occurring.
It is not occurring. It might have been the way he governed when he was a part of government. It is certainly not a part of how we govern, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Leonard Evans: Well, I would like to ask the Minister of Finance then, was it simply a sheer coincidence that Conservative constituencies received by far the lion's share of infrastructure money, in fact, per capita, 52 percent higher than those in NDP ridings, or is the minister suggesting that Conservative constituencies have more unemployment problems than other constituencies in Manitoba?
Mr. Stefanson: Madam Speaker, I have already outlined in detail for the member the process of including elected representatives from municipal bodies here in Manitoba, obviously the role of the federal government, and I had the opportunity of talking to the same--[interjection] If the analysis that the member is using is the one that was prepared by a reporter that he and I both talked to, I want to point out to him what I think are some flaws in the approach that that reporter used, and I will give you an example.
That reporter took the agricultural building which is a $6.7-million project, and he allocated it to the constituency of Fort Garry because the University of Manitoba happens to be in the constituency of Fort Garry.
I would suggest to everybody that enhancements to the Faculty of Agriculture benefit Manitobans right across our province, so, Madam Speaker, if that is the kind of simplistic analysis that is being relied on for this question, I would suggest that the member go back and do an awful lot more homework.
Mr. Leonard Evans: Will this government, will this minister, come clean and provide an analytical report?--because this Legislature has received no reports to date, no comprehensive analysis.
Will this minister have the guts to provide an analytical report? [interjection] Okay, I will withdraw that statement, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker: I thank the honourable member.
Mr. Leonard Evans: The minister is a very nice man, and I appreciate that.
Will the minister have the courage to table a report in this Legislature, so that the people of Manitoba can get a comprehensive picture on where these monies were spent, by riding and by type of facility, the kinds of structure, whether we are spending it on recreational facilities or whether we are spending it on water and sewer facilities, so we have an idea and we can analyze this?
Mr. Stefanson: Madam Speaker, I have never hesitated to provide information on the infrastructure program. In fact, I would suggest that my friend the member for Brandon East talk to his Leader, because just last week his Leader stands up when he is asking questions about the Winnipeg Jets and accuses us of issuing press releases on every single infrastructure project that took place throughout the whole province, so he cannot have it both--[interjection]
Madam Speaker, my point is very simple. You cannot have it both ways. You cannot stand up one day and say there is all kinds of information, all kinds of press releases, and come in here a week later and say, we need more information.
There are all kinds of information on the infrastructure program, and I will gladly provide more information if the member for Brandon East requires such, Madam Speaker.
Infrastructure Works Agreement
Rural Gasification
Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, over a year ago, the government made announcements that infrastructure money would be going to expand natural gas in rural Manitoba. Unfortunately, over a year has passed, but the promises have not been kept.
Can the minister responsible for the infrastructure program tell this House if money promised to communities such as Swan River and Gladstone and many other communities is still in place, or has that money been taken back?
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): Madam Speaker, the rural gasification initiative has come out of the strategic element, the $84 million I referred to. A certain portion was set aside for rural gasification projects throughout Manitoba. Some of those projects are taking place right now. As we stand here today, activity is taking place throughout Manitoba, but to date all of the allocation within that pool of money has been allocated to projects.
The specific request about one region, about the Swan River region, at this particular point in time, all of the dollars are allocated, and that application continues to be set aside to be dealt with.
Madam Speaker, I should point out that the infrastructure program is a $204-million program, and to date we have had in excess of $900 million of requests for projects here in Manitoba.
Ms. Wowchuk: If I understood the minister right, he said that the money was gone. I want to ask then why his government will not respond to the people of Swan River, the Swan River Town Council, which has phoned many times and has tried to set up meetings to find out if the $2.4 million is still in place, so that they can proceed with their proposal to expand natural gas since this government's proposal has failed?
Mr. Stefanson: Madam Speaker, I would suggest the rural gasification program has been a very successful program. As I have said, there is activity taking place in parts of Manitoba right now as a result of that program. In fact, it is so successful, there have been more requests for the amount of money allocated than there is money available.
The community has been notified, I understand, from the infrastructure secretariat in terms of that very issue, that at this point in time, there is no money available in--[interjection] Yes, they have been notified, Madam Speaker, to the best of my knowledge, that there is no money available within the allocation for rural gasification in the infrastructure program at this time.
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Ms. Wowchuk: Madam Speaker, since the expansion of rural gasification is important to all economic development right across this province, and there are many people looking at it, will this government give a commitment that they will work with various communities, whether it is co-ops as in Gladstone, whether it is the community of Swan River that is trying to attract another company or with Centra Gas, but that they will work to see the expansion of natural gas to various communities in rural Manitoba?
Mr. Stefanson: We are doing exactly what the honourable member refers to. In part of Manitoba, there is an initiative in conjunction with Centra Gas. In another part of Manitoba, there is a co-op initiative that I believe is going forward this week to the Public Utilities Board that has support. We have worked with the communities of Swan River and so on, so we are doing exactly what the honourable member is referring to.
There are different approaches to different regions of our province, and we will continue to work with the Swan River region, as we have done in the past. We will continue to do that, and we are having very successful projects proceeding right now in southwestern Manitoba and in the Gladstone region, Madam Speaker.
Fishing Industry
Whitefish Quotas
Mr. Stan Struthers (Dauphin): Madam Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Natural Resources, and it is on behalf of fishermen who are trying to make a living in the northern region of Lake Winnipeg, who have contacted this minister in regard to opening up whitefish quota within their fishing jurisdiction. These fishermen are concerned with the lack of any long-range strategy regarding fish resources and the negative economic and environmental consequences arising from such an approach.
Given this, will the minister tell this House how his department has responded to the concerns raised by the north shore fishermen of Lake Winnipeg in meetings held over the summer regarding issues such as whitefish quotas, fishing boundaries and the potential for the co-management of the resources found in the lake?
Hon. Albert Driedger (Minister of Natural Resources): Madam Speaker, I thank the member for that question.
The issues that are facing the commercial fishermen not only on Lake Manitoba or Lake Winnipeg or Lake Winnipegosis are many, but on Lake Winnipeg, specifically, we have had various requests from various groups and organizations in terms of changing boundaries, changing quota systems.
In order to deal with this in an impartial and fair basis, we have hired a consultant who will be doing a study and will be able to make recommendations to the government and to myself within the next few months, at which time decisions will be made as to how we deal with them.
Mr. Struthers: Madam Speaker, will the minister assure the House and northern fishermen that he will commission an independent third-party review of Lake Winnipeg, which this will be, which will include examining mesh size, fishing areas, with the ultimate goal of providing fairness for all the fishermen on the lake, and will he commit that this review will contain representation from northern fishermen living in the communities?
Mr. Driedger: Madam Speaker, it would be my hope and desire, and the terms of reference are outlined that way, that it will deal with specifically exactly the things that the member has brought forward.
In order to make it fair and impartial, I would certainly hope that all stakeholders are going to have a role to play in terms of having their views known so that a proper decision can be made.
Mr. Struthers: Madam Speaker, will the minister make a commitment in the House to open up the whitefish quota immediately, so as not to repeat the same mistake his department made last year by opening the quota up too late in the season?
Mr. Driedger: Madam Speaker, I think it would be irresponsible to make that kind of a commitment at this point in time when we are trying to decide exactly what would be a fair and equitable way to do it.
Flin Flon General Hospital
Budget Reduction
Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): My questions are for the Minister of Health.
Although the Premier (Mr. Filmon) may not know exactly what cuts are on the table this week regarding the Flin Flon General Hospital, I think the Minister of Health does know, and certainly the citizens of Flin Flon know, and they are very much concerned about the effect of these cuts.
My question to the minister is, how does the minister think that the proposed budget cuts to the Flin Flon General Hospital of three-quarter million dollars this year and half a million dollars next year will not affect patient care, considering the shortage of medical staff already?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, the honourable member probably is aware that the process that brings us to the present situation has been a long one. It has been an extremely consultative process, and staff people from hospitals in The Pas, Flin Flon, Thompson and elsewhere have been involved in the review of staffing guidelines that have led to the present situation.
It is not my opinion. It is not the honourable member's opinion. It is the opinion of the caregivers who were involved in recommending the decisions in the first place; organizations like the Manitoba Association of Licensed Practical Nurses, organizations like the Manitoba Association of Registered Nurses, staff at the hospitals involved.
So I am not going to replace my judgment for the judgment of the hands-on caregivers who have been involved in the staffing guideline review, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Jennissen: How does this minister, considering the severity of the proposed cuts, expect northern hospitals such as the Flin Flon General Hospital to attract and keep doctors, nurses and other professionals?
Mr. McCrae: Madam Speaker, this question has been raised a few times and the issue is not new. As the honourable member will recall, it was fully two years ago that I put on hold layoffs and reductions at hospitals that were overstaffed in Manitoba.
After a very thorough review of the guidelines that were leading in that direction, we are now moving forward to implement those staffing guidelines. They are being done, I am assured, by the committee involved with due regard for patient care which, I am sure, the honourable member will agree is what is uppermost in the minds of doctors, uppermost in the minds of all caregivers.
Madam Speaker: Time for Oral Questions has expired.
Committee Changes
Mr. George Hickes (Point Douglas): I move, seconded by the member for Broadway (Mr. Santos), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources be amended as follows: Interlake (Mr. Clif Evans) for Selkirk (Mr. Dewar); St. James (Ms. Mihychuk) for Swan River (Ms. Wowchuk) for Tuesday, October 3, 1995, for 10 a.m.
Motion agreed to.
NONPOLITICAL STATEMENTS
Western Canada Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Mr. Edward Helwer (Gimli): Madam Speaker, do I have leave to make a nonpolitical statement?
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Gimli have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. Helwer: Madam Speaker, Webster's dictionary defines entrepreneur as one who organizes, manages and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise. However, my personal dictionary simply states that, please see Ken Church.
This morning, Madam Speaker, I, along with the Honourable Jim Downey and also the Honourable Eric Stefanson had the privilege to attend a reception for Mr. Ken Church, who is the president and general manager of Faroex Limited. Mr. Church was recently honoured at the Western Canada Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, where he received an award in the manufacturing category.
Some 14 years ago, Mr. Church, armed with only an idea and $5,000 began a plastics manufacturing firm in Gimli. His idea has grown into a company with yearly sales in excess of $8 million exports to locations around the world and has become the Interlake's largest private-sector employer with over 80 employees. Mr. Church's award is a testament to 14 years of hard work and perseverance. I am especially proud that he chooses Gimli as his place of business and his award is an achievement to both Mr. Church and his workers.
I therefore urge all members to join with me in congratulating Mr. Church on his award and once again illustrating that a good idea coupled with a determined Manitoban is virtually unstoppable. Thank you.
Monument to Monsignor Noel-Joseph Ritchot
Mr. Marcel Laurendeau (St. Norbert): May I have leave for a nonpolitical statement, Madam Speaker?
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for St. Norbert have leave for a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. Laurendeau: Madam Speaker, I rise today in tribute to Monsignor Noel-Joseph Ritchot, a politician priest who played an important role in the founding of our province and to many a father of Confederation. Earlier today, Father Ritchot was recognized as a person of national significance by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada in a ceremony held here in the Manitoba Legislature.
Monsignor Ritchot has been described as a person filled with useful and fruitful works. In addition to helping to found the province of Manitoba, Monsignor Ritchot made major contributions to our social, religious and political development of our province.
Monsignor Ritchot was born on Christmas Day 1825 to a farming family at L'Assomption, Lower Canada and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1855. After serving six years in Lower Canada, he volunteered as a missionary to the Red River Settlement and was sent by Bishop Taché to serve the community of St. Norbert, a parish Father Ritchot continued to serve for over 40 years.
In 1869, Monsignor Ritchot played a critical role in the Metis growing resistance to the proposed transfer of the Northwest to Canada, recording the Metis deliberations and giving counsel to Louis Riel and other leaders in the movement. During this period Father Ritchot proved himself to be a very able negotiator and, as a delegate negotiating Manitoba's entry into Confederation, helped to secure acceptance of many of the demands of Riel's provisional government in attaining provincial status for the colony and in having 1.4 million acres of land set aside for the Metis as part of this agreement. Father Ritchot continued to work for his community within the province of Manitoba, receiving from the church the title of Monsignor in 1897.
Father Noel-Joseph Ritchot died in St. Norbert on March 16, 1905. Madam Speaker, thank you.
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for St. Boniface have leave for a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. Neil Gaudry (St. Boniface): Merci, Madame la présidente, il me fait plaisir de me joindre au député de Saint-Norbert cet après-midi--[interjection] collègue, oui, c'est ça--afin de reconnaître, de rendre hommage comme on a fait ce matin dans la Législature à la réception. Sans doute, bien des bonnes choses ont été dites ce matin et il était grand temps qu'on le reconnaisse tel qu'il a été reconnu ce matin. Il y avait beaucoup de gens présents pour la réception; il y avait de la famille, le petit-neveu de Monseigneur qui est présent ici cet après-midi, qui a aidé les députés de la Chambre des communes à dévoiler le monument qui sera érigé ici au Palais législatif de la province du Manitoba. Il faut reconnaître ce que Monseigneur Ritchot a fait pour l'entrée de la province du Manitoba dans la Confédération. Ce matin, le Docteur Mailhot, administrateur du Musée de Saint-Boniface, a rendu hommage à Monseigneur Ritchot. Il a fait un très beau discours, et la réception qui a suivi, avec tous les gens qui étaient là, c'est un hommage qu'on ne peut pas passer aujourd'hui sans reconnaître que le Manitoba a eu des grands hommes dans la personne de Monseigneur Ritchot et de Louis Riel, le fondateur du Manitoba, qui ont travaillé très fort afin de nous faire entrer dans la Confédération du Canada. Merci beaucoup, Madame.
[Translation]
Thank you, Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join with the member for St. Norbert (Mr. Laurendeau) this afternoon--[interjection] colleague, yes--to pay homage as was done this morning at the reception in the Legislature. Many good things were undoubtedly said this morning and it was high time that he be recognized as he was this morning.
There were many people present for the reception. There were family members, including Monsignor Ritchot's great-nephew who is present here this afternoon and who assisted the members of the House of Commons in unveiling the monument that will be erected here at the Legislative Building of Manitoba.
We must recognize what Monsignor Ritchot did for the province of Manitoba's entry into Confederation. This morning, Dr. Mailhot, the administrator of the St. Boniface Museum, paid homage to Monsignor Ritchot. He made a very fine speech and the reception following, with all the people who were there, was a very fitting homage to him and to the fact that Manitoba has had very great men in the persons of Monsignor Ritchot and Louis Riel who worked very hard to enable us to join the Canadian Confederation.
Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.
Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): I request leave to make a nonpolitical announcement.
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Osborne have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Ms. McGifford: I, too, was pleased this morning to join in the national recognition of a great Manitoban, Father Noel-Joseph Ritchot, sometimes hailed as an unofficial father of Confederation.
One of the speakers spoke of Father Ritchot's fiery eyes, reminding me of the Renaissance dictum that the eyes are the windows of the soul. In the intensity of his vision, Father Ritchot looked into the future, becoming in his own time a practitioner of liberation theology and a champion of political, social and economic justice.
Manitobans are justly proud of him and pleased that he has been formally honoured. Thank you.
* (1430)
City of Winnipeg--1995 Most Beautiful Capital City
Mr. Gerry McAlpine (Sturgeon Creek): May I have leave for a nonpolitical statement?
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Sturgeon Creek have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. McAlpine: Madam Speaker, on Saturday the city of Winnipeg received a very prestigious award in Ottawa. The city of Winnipeg was chosen the most beautiful capital city in Canada. This announcement was made during the ceremony on Parliament Hill where Winnipeg was announced over other capital cities such as Toronto, Edmonton, Regina, Halifax and St. John's. This award is a credit to the residents of Winnipeg and all those who give their extra time and effort to make our capital city a great place to live, work and raise a family.
Through the presence of the group such as the Take Pride Winnipeg and successful government initiatives like the Winnipeg Development Agreement, we have managed to work in co-operation with the community in building rewarding and successful partnerships. The urban Green Team initiative which employed almost 700 students has resulted in the beautification of our parks, community centres and neighbourhoods.
By providing meaningful employment and experience to our youth, we have managed to make great strides in making Winnipeg Canada's most beautiful city for 1995. Madam Speaker, I think that all men, woman and children in the city of Winnipeg as residents can take pride in this award and be proud of the city that they live in and in helping to make this the city that it is in the most beautiful country and the most beautiful city in Canada. Thank you.
Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University
Mr. Mike Radcliffe (River Heights): Madam Speaker, do I have leave for a nonpolitical statement?
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for River Heights have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. Radcliffe: Madam Speaker, I rise today to advise the honourable members in this Chamber that I had the distinct honour this weekend to represent the Manitoba government at a luncheon hosted by the Winnipeg Chapter of the Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University.
This luncheon was attended by Doctor Fargahl, Egypt's Ambassador to Canada, Mr. Yerushalmi, Israel's Acting Ambassador to Canada, and Dr. Munem, the official PLO representative to Canada.
This was the first event of its kind in Canada and a premier world event. The symposium and a luncheon was to celebrate the peace initiative on the West Bank of Israel, and the Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University are to be commended for contributing to and celebrating this world peace initiative. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Manitoba Sports Federation--Used Equipment
Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): I, too, would like leave for a nonpolitical statement.
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Radisson have leave for a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Ms. Cerilli: Today the Winnipeg Free Press reported that one of the ways we can help kids from low-income families is to assist them with the expenses for equipment and fees so they do not miss out on opportunities that other children have.
One of these opportunities is playing sports, organized sports, and taking up this challenge is the Manitoba Sports Federation to ensure that more kids from low-income families have the chance to participate.
The Manitoba Sports Federation should be commended for working with the City of Winnipeg Police, the Manitoba RCMP, the Brandon Police, the Manitoba Regional Sports Association and even Laidlaw Waste Systems, who are all working together to collect used sports equipment for kids that otherwise would not have access to playing organized sports.
This is a new program. It is only two years old, and the kickoff was this weekend at The Forks. Residents of Manitoba can contribute used sports equipment until the end of October, and I would encourage all members of the House to support this very worthwhile endeavour and support the Manitoba Sports Federation in ensuring that more children in Manitoba can participate and benefit from being part of a team on organized sports.