Gambling
Social Costs
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier.
Over the weekend, Judge Dubienski commented on the tragedy of an individual who was cited and convicted of theft of $35,000 and commented about society's dependency upon gambling to balance its budgets. This falls upon other reported incidents and other incidents that we have been told about with gambling, VLTs, I think, with a pharmacy theft in December of 1994, other situations in terms of gambling, which no one in this House, I know, feels very good about.
Mr. Speaker, the government has created a committee to study the issue of gambling. At the same time, the government has put massive amounts of money and revenue into this budget and future years' budgets from gambling, well over $380 million this year in their budget, and in future years, obviously, it has to be a very high amount of money.
I would like to ask the Premier, is there any latitude, given the tight financial situation and the cutbacks from the federal government in health and post-secondary education, to decrease the amount of gambling activity if the committee so finds that it is contributing to crime here in our province?
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Mr. Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. I, too, noted the comments in the newspaper on the weekend and certainly am concerned about the potential and the reality of side effects of gaming within our province, as I would expect people are in all jurisdictions.
I know that the New Democrats who were responsible for the formation of the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation, who were responsible for bringing in the first lotteries into Manitoba, who were responsible for opening the first casino in Manitoba, who were responsible for setting up the two big bingo parlours in Manitoba, I am sure that they had concerns in their day about the impacts of gaming in our province.
Mr. Speaker, I note that next door to us, in neighbouring Saskatchewan under a New Democratic administration, they have not only allocated $95 million of revenues from their VLTs in their budget this year, they have also committed to setting up four casinos on First Nations reserves in that province.
One of the things our province has done--and I know that when I was in Saskatchewan a couple of months ago to speak to the Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, I was engaged in discussion by the media about this, because they were interested in the commitment that our government has made through the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba to the support, education and other services to people who may suffer a gambling addiction.
I would say to the Leader of the Opposition that despite the fact that there is a projection in this year's budget of $220 million of revenues from gaming, we are prepared for future years. We are prepared, Mr. Speaker, to listen to the advice that is given to the Desjardins commission, and we are prepared to take advice from them in the future as to their views as to what ought to be done with respect to all of these issues that surround gaming in our province.
* (1350)
Manitoba Lotteries Corporation
Revenue Projections
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): As the Premier would know, the revenue from gambling has gone from $52 million to well over $240 million on a yearly basis, plus the one-time-only payment in the budget, and the Premier did not answer the question about how dependent are they on lottery revenue in light of the commission that has been established by the government and in light of Judge Dubienski's statements and other statements that have been made by other judges in the past dealing with this issue.
Mr. Speaker, over the weekend, the Conference Board official, Mr. Darby [phonetic] indicated, and I quote: It seems that everyone but Mr. Stefanson is predicting the economy is going to crash in '97 and that weaker revenues are expected than what is in the budget.
Given the fact, Mr. Speaker, that we have zero percent increased spending in the next three years, the government has admitted that they have not built in the $240 million in health and post-secondary cuts from the federal Liberal government, I would like to ask the Premier, what are the projections for revenue increases in the Lotteries Corporation vis-à-vis the rest of the economy?
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Mr. Speaker, I found it interesting that a federal bureaucrat who obviously had not read our budget had made those comments, because in comparing the projections of what is contained within the federal budget, the basis on which they made their revenue projections, in 1995 their basis is substantially higher. They are expecting substantially higher growth than we are in Manitoba as the basis for their revenue projections. The same thing in 1996, their projections for revenue growth are substantially higher than Manitoba's are.
So, obviously, he did not have any part to play in the development of the federal budget, or else he would have known that our projections for revenue growth are more conservative than theirs are. That is part of it, Mr. Speaker.
The answer with respect to the question on gaming revenues is the one that was given by the Finance minister, and that is that they represent between 3 and 4 percent of our total revenues in that respect. They are not by any stretch of the imagination the major source of revenues. They are not by any stretch of the imagination a revenue that is the only source that we are depending upon or even the major source. They represent between 3 and 4 percent. You do not balance a budget on 3 or 4 percent of your revenues. You do not make all your critical decisions based on 3 or 4 percent of your revenues.
It is the expenditure controls that we have put in for seven years in office. It is the growth of the economy that is producing the balanced budget, and, Mr. Speaker, that compares, I might say, to a Saskatchewan balanced budget in which they have over $180 million as a one-time transfer out of GRIP that will disappear next year, and they face the same kinds of massive federal cutbacks in transfer payments that we do.
Report Release
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): The Premier will acknowledge that no other source of revenue that the government has gone from $50 million seven years ago to $240 million and climbing, Mr. Speaker, with this government.
Mr. Speaker, the government has quoted other reports, and the government has the option of releasing information to the public. Last week, I asked the Premier why we have page after page censored in the government report dealing with lotteries and demographics, lotteries and issues like the profile of people so we could look at the issue of potential crimes--page after page of blank pages.
I would like to ask the Premier why in the province of Manitoba do we have withholding of information, censored information in terms of the public of Manitoba, and why do we have uncensored reports in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia dealing with this whole issue of gambling? What is this government hiding here in the province of Manitoba?
* (1355)
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Mr. Speaker, we had, of course, instances under New Democratic administrations in which we found out about the major sources of revenue and how they increased under New Democrats--a $200 million increase in the payroll tax, from zero to $200 million under a New Democratic administration, fleeced out of the pockets of all the small businesses in Manitoba that condemned and killed jobs in this province. That is the kind of treatment that Manitobans do not want any part of.
I will repeat for the Leader of the Opposition what I told him last Friday, and that is that we have abided by the requirements of the act, The Freedom of Information Act that was passed by the NDP government of this province, and that is what was produced in accordance with The Freedom of Information Act. If they did not like the act, they should not have passed it. You had a choice to pass an act that would have required that information if you saw it as necessary.
Pediatric Cardiac Care Program
Inquest
Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Mr. Speaker, the government and minister appear to be changing their minds with respect to the inquiry concerning the deaths at Children's Hospital, and I would like to ask the minister today, can he outline specifically what the government's position is with respect to a public inquiry into the pediatric deaths at Children's Hospital, and when might that inquiry commence?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Mr. Speaker, from the very beginning, it has been my position that what the families of the deceased children and what the general public needs is the truth surrounding all of the matters related to the pediatric cardiac program at Health Sciences Centre, not only in the recent past but going further back to the '80s, as well, when there were very high mortality rates reported in those days.
All of those matters need to be looked at, Mr. Speaker, and the position I have taken in discussions with the families is that I feel that the inquest route, as ordered by the Chief Medical Examiner, is the route that is there. It is for this purpose. It is set out in The Fatality Inquiries Act, but I will be consulting with the families after the inquest is over to inquire as to whether all of the questions that they need to have answered are indeed answered.
Mr. Chomiak: Mr. Speaker, that appears to be backwards. Will the minister today give assurances that the effects of government cutbacks, the role of the Department of Health under various ministers, the role of the Chief Medical Examiner, the systematic approach to surgery at the hospital, the way that information is provided to parents, the ability to retain doctors and other specialists in the province and the way that programs are decided upon and determined at our hospitals--will all that be part of the inquest the minister is ordering?
Mr. McCrae: The assurance I have asked for and received, Mr. Speaker, is yes.
Mr. Chomiak: Mr. Speaker, my final supplementary to the minister: Will the minister, in the interim--and he did not indicate when the inquest will commence--until some kind of conclusion comes out of this inquest, perhaps followed by an inquiry process, will the minister give assurances to this House that any deficiencies that have thus far been identified in the system, including perhaps staff shortages at the Chief Medical Examiner's office and perhaps of pathologists at the Health Sciences Centre, that extra resources will be put in to ensure that the checks and balances that are now in place will be effectively in place until we finally have a conclusion to any inquiry or inquest in this matter?
Mr. McCrae: Well, the one thing I will not do, Mr. Speaker, is speculate on what the inquest hearing officer, what his or her findings will be, nor will I speculate on what the recommendations are, but I can tell you one thing, we want to leave no stone unturned in arriving at a thorough understanding of the program, and whatever improvements might be recommended would be followed.
Of course, Mr. Speaker, the highest priority, as I have said, is to ensure that the families of deceased children are properly dealt with by all of the various authorities and that we have the safest possible system available for Manitoba children in the future.
* (1400)
Pediatric Cardiac Care Program
Western Canadian Consolidation
Mr. Paul Edwards (Leader of the Second Opposition): Mr. Speaker, let me say that I am pleased that the Minister of Health is starting this process with that attitude of a very full, thorough review, including the government itself. Let me simply say that I hope that gets started as soon as possible, as I think we all do.
Mr. Speaker, five years ago in June of 1990, Dr. John Wade, who is now the Deputy Minister of Health, took on the task of travelling across western Canada on behalf of the Western Council of Teaching Hospitals, the Western Deans of Medical Schools and the western Canada Deputy Ministers of Health.
He published a report in June of 1990 recommending a western Canadian health consortium, and the study concluded in part--and I am going to just read one sentence from that report, and I will table a copy of it. It is dated June 1990 and it states in part: Clinical programs such as organ transplantation or pediatric cardiac surgery were cited as areas where some rationalization may occur and indeed that these programs might be linked to residency education and to highly developed research programs.
My question for the minister: Given that the minister's office had this back in 1990, five years ago, what did the ministry do, what did the government do to work towards the consortium, the consolidation of cardiac pediatric surgery across western Canada in view of this recommendation?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): That report, along with recommendations made by a number of physicians in 1991 and other advice received, led to the chief executive officer of the Health Sciences Centre working with the medical people involved to address some of the concerns they had. It also led to the Bell-Wade review of tertiary care in Manitoba. It also led to a Memorandum of Understanding between the Health Sciences Centre and St. Boniface Hospital with respect to the future of tertiary care programs in Manitoba. It also led to the recruitment of and the arrival of Dr. Bill Lindsay who is here in Manitoba to head up our cardiac program.
With Dr. Wade as deputy minister, Dr. Lindsay in place and others, and with whatever benefit we receive in the future from an inquest into all of these matters, we can move forward hopefully to improved and the safest kinds of practices that we can bring about for the benefit of young cardiac patients.
I am sure everyone would agree with me, Mr. Speaker, if I were to say that if Winnipeg is the safest place for us to provide this kind of service, that would be great, but if that cannot be and ought not to be, then we have to seek the safest and the best that we can for the children of Manitoba.
Mr. Edwards: Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the summation by the minister of what was done in the wake of this report internally in Manitoba. I acknowledge that those things certainly were done. What this report recommends is a western Canadian approach to cardiac pediatric surgery.
My question again for the minister: Given that that was the recommendation, that this was a clinical area where consolidation and rationalization across the region may well make sense, and that was after many site visits and travelling across western Canada, what did the government do, if anything, to try to pursue a western Canadian approach to this area of surgery?
Mr. McCrae: I believe the cardiac community in Canada engages in a fair amount of discussion and planning and talking and recommending. The report to which the honourable member refers would be one of many pieces of advice received by any number of people over the years.
As I say in response not only to this but to many other comments made along the way, Mr. Speaker, the matters I mentioned in my last answer is the way that things have unfolded.
Mr. Edwards: Mr. Speaker, we will look forward to more detailed answers regarding what discussions ensued between western provinces in the wake of this, if any.
Mr. Speaker, my final question for the minister: This report also indicates, and I am going to quote: Under the aegis of the health advisory network of Manitoba, a teaching hospital survey is underway by Michael Lloyd and Associates. Although these results are not now available, they may provide an inventory of the teaching and clinical programs delivered in western Canada.
Was, in fact, the Lloyd report done? It is not a report that I am familiar with under that title. Was that report done? Is the minister prepared to table that, which clearly appears to be something that Dr. Wade, at the time he wrote this, was pointing to in the area of clinical consolidation across western Canada.
Mr. McCrae: I will review the last question and get back to the honourable member.
Restorative Resolutions
Funding
Mr. Gord Mackintosh (St. Johns): Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Justice. This follows my correspondence to the minister last month.
In two weeks time, the Restorative Resolutions project sponsored by the John Howard Society sees its funding expire. The unique project finally makes offenders face up and make up to the victim and to the community and actually seeks to change behaviour for the better. It is tough in the real sense.
My question is, would the minister finally agree to continue funding this project so that a conclusive evaluation can be done?
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Mr. Speaker, the member should know that in December of 1994, our government made the commitment to continue the project for another year at the level of funding which we have been providing, that is, seconding a member of our Probation staff and also providing funding.
As the member knows, the federal government indicated that they were not prepared to continue participating in this project, so we look to the federal government to pick up what they have decided again to leave, leaving victims in this province just waiting.
Mr. Mackintosh: Well, given that the federal government initially offered to fund this project for three years, but the province said, no, 18 months is all the funding we require, how can the minister blame the federal government, especially when the benefits both in terms of public safety and cost benefit reap to the province?
Mrs. Vodrey: Mr. Speaker, the province funded this program for 18 months and has extended it another year, but again, we have the federal government who is refusing to continue the project for the purposes of evaluation and put their money on the table.
This is really a concern to us because the federal government has indicated that they are looking for methods to deal with offenders outside of our institutions. This government has supported this project. It certainly deals with a category of offenders who admit to their guilt and who satisfy certain criteria before the court.
So I say again to the member in answer, the same answer that was given earlier, we are prepared to continue our commitment. We have communicated that. We look for the federal government to now continue their commitment.
Mr. Mackintosh: Mr. Speaker, how can a government that has worsened all the conditions to breed the worst crime in Canada explain the record 13,000 victims of break and enter in Winnipeg alone last year, why this minister is walking away from a project that will likely make Manitobans safer and give a real role for the victim?
Mrs. Vodrey: Mr. Speaker, let me just begin by recounting to the member all of the initiatives that this government have put forward to make Manitoba safer.
We have taken the toughest stand on the Young Offenders Act all across Canada. We have moved both our youth institutions and our adult institutions into rigorous confinement to make sure that there are, in fact, consequences. We introduced, approximately 10 days ago, a program called "No Need to Argue," which encourages young people to become involved in finding the solutions to youth crime and violence.
We announced the first program across Canada that will release the names of sexual predators where they continue to pose a risk to Manitobans.
We have taken the toughest stand on antistalking. We have requested that the federal Minister of Justice make changes in the Criminal Code in the area of antistalking that will benefit the victim, and, in fact, we believe will keep the victim safer.
We have increased the number of youth justice committees in this province. We continue to make Manitoba a safer place.
Budget
Revenue Projections
Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East): Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Finance, who has brought in a rather surrealistic VLT budget for the people of Manitoba.
This budget and its forecast of future surpluses is based on a number of unrealistic assumptions, including revenue growth projections that are based on overly optimistic forecasts of future economic growth. Economists are predicting an economic slowdown in Manitoba before 1997, which will cause revenues to decline.
My question to the minister is, how can the Minister of Finance, therefore, in all seriousness, project this kind of future revenue increases in this province?
* (1410)
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): I am glad the member for Brandon East asked that question, Mr. Speaker. He is obviously responding to a comment made by a fellow from the Conference Board of Canada in the Free Press, I believe on Friday, but I wish that individual had taken the time to contact myself or officials in my department because what he would find is that the economic assumptions used in our budget are amongst the most conservative in all of Canada. They are lower than the economic assumptions for the Conference Board for which he works, the Conference Board of Canada, the economic assumptions that we are using in this budget.
I think unfortunately what happened--and I will point this out for the member for Brandon East--is in the appendix in the budget that deals with the economy, we show the economic projections as an average of the seven forecasters, but those are not the projections that we use in preparing our own financial information, Mr. Speaker. We take much more conservative numbers.
We took the numbers from Informetrica. They are significantly lower than the projections of the seven forecasters, and they are lower than the Conference Board of Canada. We do that to be cautious and to be conservative, so that when things unfold, they tend to unfold in a much more positive sense for us, as is the case in 1994-95, where we are going to have $140 million more of own-source revenue than we were budgeting a year ago. That is because we are cautious, we are conservative.
The forecast in here, if he wants to take the time and compare them to other provinces and the federal government, he will find that they are very conservative in relationship to every other one and at the lower end in terms of the assumption, not the higher end.
Mr. Leonard Evans: Mr. Speaker, Statistics Canada has just said that for 1993, we had negative 0.2 percent growth in Manitoba, whereas the budget document is telling us we had 2.8 percent positive growth. You are saying one thing and Stats Canada has just come out with figures saying we have had negative growth in 1993, so I do not know how much of this material we can believe.
Will the minister acknowledge that his budget projections over the next three years of no increases in spending is equivalent to real cuts in spending when inflation is taken into account, and therefore will the minister acknowledge that this means that there will be additional cuts to health care, to education and social services in years ahead?
Mr. Stefanson: Mr. Speaker, it is the typical attitude across the way that got us into the financial difficulties that we have been dealing with for the last several years. The answer is always spend more money and tax Manitoba's citizens more.
We do not do that. We have held the line on spending. We have not increased taxes in Manitoba, but at the same time we have shown our priorities as being health care, education and support for families. Today, we are spending 72 cents out of every program dollar in those three areas alone. When we took office in 1988, it was 66 cents. Today, Mr. Speaker, there is over a billion dollars more being spent in those three areas of health, education and support to families than when we took office back in 1988. Over 90 percent of the expenditure increases during those eight budgets are in those three areas.
I think the facts speak for themselves in terms of the commitment we make to those very important areas, while at the same time controlling overall spending and keeping taxes down in Manitoba, which is what Manitobans want, not the kinds of tax increases they had during the early '80s under the NDP.
Payroll Tax
Elimination
Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East): I recall the Premier of Manitoba on this side saying that when they are elected, there will be absolutely no payroll taxes. They will disappear completely, absolutely, totally.
Yet, Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the minister, will the Minister of Finance acknowledge--[interjection] Yes, we took out a lot of the small businesses. We have eliminated most of the small businesses, and you did it a bit more, but will this minister acknowledge that this government will never ever eliminate the payroll tax, as promised by its Leader and that in this budget, itself, he is showing payroll taxes on business in Manitoba of $193 million. It is still here. Will you admit that you will never get rid of it?
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): Mr. Speaker, today, under our government, 90 percent of the businesses in Manitoba do not pay the payroll tax, and we will continue to improve on that outstanding record, unlike the kinds of tax policies that we saw under the NDP which was introducing and increasing a payroll tax, increasing personal income tax, increasing the sales tax, and the list of tax increases under their administration go on and on.
Those are not the kinds of policies you have under this government. Eight budgets with no increase in major taxes here in Manitoba, a record unmatched probably anywhere in the world, certainly anywhere in North America--quite a contrast to the kind of tax-and-spend policies that Manitoba had to live through under the NDP in the early '80s.
Public Housing
Federal Funding Reduction
Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): My question is for the Minister of Housing.
Over the past few years, we have had many commitments from the federal Liberal government about the importance of public housing for the working poor and low-income Manitobans. However, it appears the federal budget has virtually wiped out all funding for social housing with a cut of $270 million over three years plus $36 million eliminated for administration.
I want to ask the minister, what is the expected provincial impact here in Manitoba from these cuts, and will we see another substantial increase in the rents for those in public housing in Manitoba?
Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Housing): I thank the member for the question. I say more in sorrow than in anger that we have been devastated in this budget by the federal Liberal government. We knew last year that they, in January '94, cut off all funding for construction of new social housing. I now have in my possession a letter from the Minister of Housing indicating that they will cut the overall social housing budget by $270 million over the next three years.
Also, they are indicating they are looking for further opportunities for savings and efficiencies in social housing. They are also going to close 20 of the 48 field offices across the country, reducing the administration budget by $36 million, and it is devastating. There is no other word for it.
We, last time when the federal minister encouraged all provinces to go to 30 percent RGI, refused to do that. We remained at 27 percent. We will do everything within our power to try to ameliorate the effects of what the federal Liberals are doing to public housing across the country in the next three years.
I share the member's concern. It will be very difficult. Any suggestions or help that the NDP can offer, I would be most pleased to listen to and work together to try to still provide for the working poor who really are going to be very badly impacted by this.
Gilbert Park
Renovation/Maintenance Funding
Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): I met this morning with the tenants' association from the Gilbert Park housing complex, who were expecting $3.6 million in renovation money which is much needed. They have not had renovations there for some 20 years.
I want to ask the minister if she has information that the maintenance money for public housing is going to be reduced so that we are going to see unsafe, unhealthy dilapidated housing for people across Canada and Manitoba based on this federal Liberal government's budget. [interjection]
Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Housing): Mr. Speaker, I am really offended that the Leader of the Liberal Party would even have the gall to heckle from his seat on this kind of topic. How dare he, after all his party is doing to us, his party, the record that he ties himself to because he has no record of his own. He borrows their record and ties himself to it, and he will live by it and he will die by it, and I do not wish to hear another word from him about the federal Liberals in this House.
Mr. Speaker, I share the member's concern about Gilbert Park, and I would hope that the Liberal Party would, as well, because their member for Inkster (Mr. Lamoureux) has been working with Gilbert Park. The people in that particular housing complex have formed an association, are working with the Department of Housing to assume some of the control of property management and that type of thing in that complex. They have done wonderful things in terms of bringing that project up to snuff.
I do not wish to see any cuts occur there. I do not intend to have any cuts occur there, but we will have to be very creative in how we manage the problems and the expenses that come down the tubes over the next three years.
Public Housing
Federal Funding Reduction
Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): Mr. Speaker, it seems like the minister is agreeing with me that the federal offloading in the budget is going to be balancing the budget on the backs of the poorest people in Manitoba.
Will she ensure that we are not going to see the federal Liberal proposal go forward, so that the rent geared to income for public housing is 30 percent, which is going to wipe out public housing in this country? Will she ensure that there is a ceiling introduced and that public housing is not a thing of the past in Manitoba and in Canada? [interjection]
* (1420)
Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Housing): Mr. Speaker, the member is chirping away in his seat telling them to wind me up. I am saying, wind him down.
The member raises a point that I will do everything in my power to address. We had, under the previous administration, been told that if the provinces across the nation could generate savings in public housing, we would be allowed to use those savings for new housing projects. Indeed, the savings that were supposed to have come from all the provinces going to 30 percent were to be turned back to the provinces to utilize.
That commitment has also been withdrawn. The savings the provinces generated over the last year are now going to be taken by Ottawa and not returned to the provinces, so I am very dubious about raising the RGI up to 30 percent in case we see no benefit back from it.
I do not know yet what the results will be. I know the Housing ministers across the nation will be meeting to talk about this calamity and try to come up with an action that will help protect housing for the working poor.
Hazardous Waste Management Corporation
Divestiture
Ms. Norma McCormick (Osborne): Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Environment.
Continued uncertainty with respect to the future of the Manitoba Hazardous Waste Management Corporation has produced an era of predatory pricing and disruption in the marketplace.
What is the status of the government's plans with respect to the sale of the corporation? Have local companies come forward to express an interest in the purchase?
Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister of Environment): Yes, Mr. Speaker, both local and national interests are being expressed in the corporation.
Competition
Ms. Norma McCormick (Osborne): I have a supplementary for the same minister.
The pricing structures have caused the market prices to be driven down by 30 percent. The companies in the business report that their revenue volumes are down an equal amount. Over the past two years, Laidlaw's workforce has gone from a high of 21 to less than half, now 10 people employed there today.
My question for the minister: Does the government intend to continue to subsidize this corporation as it competes in this marketplace?
Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister of Environment): Mr. Speaker, I reject the implication that the member is making that somehow this corporation is being subsidized to compete in the marketplace. On the other hand, if she is suggesting that a 30 percent reduction in cost to the companies that are operating in this province is somehow wrong, then I suggest she check her priorities.
Mandate
Ms. Norma McCormick (Osborne): I have a final supplementary.
Does the minister sanction the corporation operating outside its mandate by selling recycled industrial chemicals produced in Wisconsin at close to half the local market price?
Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister of Environment): Mr. Speaker, I made inquiries this morning as to the veracity of that issue.
Let me assure you that it is not the corporation's intention to be competing in any way that is seen to be unfair or unreasonable in the marketplace, but when you look at the Manitoba marketplace, between Laidlaw's and the Manitoba Hazardous Waste Management Corporation, they are, in fact, managing over 90 percent, I believe, of Manitoba's hazardous waste between those two companies, and, Mr. Speaker, I would suggest that given the pricing structure that is available in this province, it makes Manitoba a highly competitive place to do business.
Employment Creation Strategy
Summer Youth Programs
Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education.
Over the last two years, this government has systematically cut support for students. They eliminated Student Social Allowances. They eliminated Manitoba bursaries. They have frozen student loans at a period when student fees have increased over 54 percent in Manitoba institutions.
Will the minister explain why he chose this year in the budget to cut by up to 30 percent all but one of the summer youth programs of his department which had enabled students to find summer work?
Hon. Clayton Manness (Minister of Education and Training): Mr. Speaker, I have to take a little bit of issue with the member's preamble.
There has been no province in Canada that has attempted to hold down student tuition fees like the province of Manitoba over the last three years. We have taken the lead with respect to capping those fees at increases of no greater than 5 percent. Other provinces have now followed us, so I reject what the member says with respect to tuition increases being of the magnitude of 54 percent, I think, using her terms.
So, with respect to the student youth programs, some of the funding has been decreased because there has not been, in spite of what the member wants to believe, an uptake totally in some of those programs.
Mr. Speaker: Time for Oral Questions has expired.
Speaker's Ruling
Mr. Speaker: Order, please. I have a ruling for the House.
On December 20, 1994, I took under advisement a matter of privilege raised by the honourable member for Thompson (Mr. Ashton). The matter concerned the sale of A.E. McKenzie Seeds. I believe the main points raised by the honourable member for Thompson were that the corporate privileges of the House had been breached by the way in which the sale was handled, specifically by the announcement of the sale by press release, by the government's refusal to provide a copy of the agreement for sale, by the government's refusal to call the standing committee to review the annual report of McKenzie Seeds and by the failure of the government to make a statement in the House respecting the sale.
Let me move to the heart of the matter. This is not a matter of privilege. Ministers are not required to make announcements and communications to the public through the House--Beauchesne Citation 31(10)--and statements made outside the House may not serve as the basis for privilege--Beauchesne Citation 31(3).
The government has not disobeyed the authority of the House, nor do the collective or corporate privileges of the House require a debate on the sale of a Crown corporation. The government can be held accountable through Question Period, through the Estimates process and by the standing committee process.
What the honourable member for Thompson has is a complaint or grievance, and as I referenced in my ruling of June 13, 1991, a complaint that a minister has made a statement outside the House rather than in the House may amount to a grievance against the government, but without an order of the House forbidding such activity, there is no personal or corporate privilege breached, and it does not constitute a contempt of the House in the "privilege" sense.
Therefore I regret to advise the honourable for Thompson that there is no prima facie case.
NONPOLITICAL STATEMENTS
Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union Championship
Mr. Speaker: Does the honourable member for Sturgeon Creek have leave for a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. Gerry McAlpine (Sturgeon Creek): Mr. Speaker, the past weekend the University of Manitoba's men's track and field team won the second straight Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union championship at Manitoba's Max Bell Centre.
I would like to congratulate Kelly Crerar, Anthony Davis, Simon Trepel, Jeff McMillan, Byron Goodwin, who was named the CIAU's most outstanding athlete of the meet, and Tom Bima, Daryl Fillion, Derek Kroeker, Martin Miller, Mike Laberge, Kevin Sylvester, Jeff Schmidt, Mel McManus, Pete Hargraves, Frank MacLean, Peter Kilbourne, Andre Couture, Nicolas Pauletto; coaches: Bruce Pirnie, Claude Berube, Witek Ziendalski, Ming Pu No, Tico Cornejo, Ron Melnichuk, Keren Smith, George Tanner, John Iwanski, Wayne McMahon, Terry Armstrong and Lorne Hilton; managers: Pat Alexander and Trevor Neumann; and athletic therapists: Jeannie Yip, Charlene Hustabault, Laurie Penton and Tony Tetrault.
I know and many members in the Legislature know what it takes to reach the calibre of the people that compete in these competitions. On behalf of everybody here, Mr. Speaker, I would just like to congratulate and join all Manitobans in congratulating these athletes for their outstanding achievements and thank them for making Manitoba the home of champions.
Mr. Speaker: I would ask the honourable member for Sturgeon Creek to provide Hansard with a copy of that so we get the correct spelling.
Now, the honourable member for Wellington was up. Were you not up? Oh, Radisson, then, I guess. I am sorry. Radisson, to make a nonpolitical statement. Does she have leave? Leave. [agreed]
* (1430)
Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): Mr. Speaker, I just want to join in the congratulations to the university athletes that have performed so well over the past weekend--the University of Winnipeg women's basketball team for their third win of a national women's basketball championship for Canada. This university has such a strong history in basketball. They have excellent coaches. They have benefited from excellent athletes that have come, of course, from the variety of wonderful high school athletic programs. The basketball programs across Manitoba at the high school level have produced many, many national champions.
I want to also recognize the University of Manitoba women's basketball team in their second-place finish. This has provided Manitoba an exciting home-grown sports contest throughout the year. We had the 88 streak for winning streak that was broken by the University of Manitoba, and I think that they can be proud of their efforts as well.
I also want to echo the compliments to the University of Manitoba team for their strong showing at the CIAU track and field championship. That is a team that I had the honour of being part of in past years, Mr. Speaker. I want to recognize the managers and the coaches and the various athletes that have worked so hard at the university to represent the province and the University of Manitoba. I wish them continued success.
Mr. Speaker: Does the honourable member for St. Vital have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? Leave. [agreed]
Mrs. Shirley Render (St. Vital): Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the University of Winnipeg Lady Wesmen three-peated as the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union women's basketball champions. This capped an outstanding year for the Lady Wesmen as they were recognized for their success throughout North America.
This year's team consists of Pam Flick, Jody Rock, Heather Corby, Marnie Nechwediuk, Sandy Corby, Andrea Hutchins, Sandra Carroll, who was named the CIAU Basketball Player of the Year and the tournament's most valuable player, Nichole Jonker, Natalie McVicar, Lara Asplin, Tracey Peter, Lynette Lafreniere, Anna Weber. The CIAU Coach of the Year was Tom Kendall; his assistants: Gail Kendall, Craig Kennedy, Carla Lenz; team doctors: Mitch Cosman and Neil Craton; athletic therapist: Ben Trunzo; manager: Jennifer How; and trainer: Keri Knight.
I join all Manitobans in thanking these athletes and recognizing their achievements in making Manitoba the home of champions. Thank you.
International Women's Day
Mr. Speaker: Does the honourable member for Wellington have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Ms. Becky Barrett (Wellington): Mr. Speaker, I would like to rise today to pay belated but heartfelt recognition to International Women's Day which was held last Wednesday.
International Women's Day celebrates the lives and achievements of women throughout Manitoba, Canada and the world. Some women are leaders of government. Some women are members of Legislative Assemblies. Some are leaders in corporations. Some are leaders in small businesses. Some are leaders in rural farming and agricultural and nonurban endeavours.
Women are succeeding in all of these areas. Women are succeeding in every area of the world. For other women, however, success and achievements are measured in the simple act of surviving, of surviving poverty, surviving abuse, surviving lack of opportunities.
We are here today and I would hope every day of the year to celebrate women's achievements. We must also pledge ourselves to work towards enabling all women to achieve to the utmost of their abilities wherever they live. All our lives and the entire world will be the richer for it. Thank you.
Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union Championship
Mr. Speaker: Does the honourable member for Niakwa have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. Jack Reimer (Niakwa): Mr. Speaker, earlier this month the University of Manitoba men's volleyball team won the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union championship in Sudbury for the sixth time.
Their coach Garth Pischke is one of the winningest coaches in Canadian sports. His 81 percent winning percentage is admirable indeed with 814 match wins. The 1995 team's record was 45 and one loss--it must be 1994.
The team consists of Michael Oste, Daniel Hunnie, Trevor Dmitruk, Garrett Kot, Ken Krahn, Jules Martens, Erick Smith and Scott Koskie, who was named the CIAU volleyball athlete of the tear.
Winning the TSN award and the tournament's most valuable players were Michael Leonard, Stephen Welch, Andrew Zurawsky, Ryan Ratushniak; manager: Bruce Kent; athletic therapists: Mikey Mark and Melissa Davidson; and of course the coach: Garth Pischke.
I congratulate these athletes and thank them for their outstanding achievements and for making this the home of champions. Thank you.