ORAL QUESTION PERIOD
VLT Revenues
Information Release
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): My question is to the Acting Premier.
Madam Speaker, for a number of years now we have been asking the government to release information pertaining to Lotteries in terms of revenue and expenditures by the provincial government.
Madam Speaker, last year we introduced The Lotteries Accountability Act, and we were informed by articles that the Ombudsman had stated material was available to be released publicly but the government had chosen not to release the information to the public.
The government refused to release this information until after the election campaign and today has released some information to the public, but the information in rural Manitoba is after the public hearings that have been scheduled by the government, by the Desjardins committee that they created, and the information for the city of Winnipeg is incomplete insofar as it is a year out of date, and, of course, it coincides very nicely with the timing and introduction of VLTs in Winnipeg for lack of information.
I would like to ask the Deputy Premier, in light of the lack of information, the secrecy of this government, will they release all the information in the city of Winnipeg before the public hearing date of Monday, Madam Speaker, as they should have done before the election, during the election and before the public hearing dates across rural and northern Manitoba?
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act): The information released today does cover the year-end March 31, 1994. That is the last audited financial statement of the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation. Their year-end is the end of March. They are now working on this year-end.
The member refers to some delays. It did take some time, there was time required to provide the details on not only where the revenue comes from, Madam Speaker, but if he looks at the table that was released today, it also shows very clearly where the revenue flows to as well, what the allocations are back to communities in terms of direct program support, in terms of province-wide program support and in terms of support towards eliminating the deficit here in Manitoba.
We will be providing the same kind of information for March 31, 1995. As I said, the corporation itself has not concluded its audited financial statement. As soon as all information is available for that year-end it will be released, but we are pleased to release this information here today.
* (1340)
Distribution
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Of course, with the way the government has calculated the material on a pro rata basis, it makes a real mockery of their argument for the last year that they had this great computer programming challenge and that is the reason for this secrecy. They could not provide this information to Manitobans because they had to reprogram the computers when they did a simple arithmetic calculation which they held till after the election--shame on the government, Madam Speaker.
I would like to ask the Deputy Premier, in light of the fact that he stated in his press release of July 31, 1991, that all money would be returned to rural Manitoba for economic development--and of course, those signs were over lottery machines throughout Manitoba in rural hotels where some of them are still up--how can the government justify prorating Connie Curran's $4.8-million U.S. grant and calculating that contribution to Connie Curran's business? How could they justify calculating that as rural economic development consistent with the Deputy Premier's comments?
Hon. James Downey (Deputy Premier): Madam Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition never ceases to amaze me in what he tries to get away with in this Assembly. For a member of a government that would not proclaim The Freedom of Information Act, and it took the election of the Filmon government, the Progressive Conservative government to proclaim The Freedom of Information Act which allows the public the information which falls within the act that they passed but would not proclaim, I find it strange that he is now extremely critical of any government that has moved in as responsible a way as we have.
Madam Speaker, we are, I believe, the only jurisdiction that returns the monies that we return, some 35 percent, I believe it is, to our rural communities. As well, it is clearly understood that the money that goes to deficit reduction allows us to put money into health care facilities, into education facilities and those things that the government are clearly responsible for. We, I think, have been very open and honest with the people of Manitoba, and I think it was demonstrated on the 25th of April of this year.
Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, the Deputy Premier, whose press release I could read back to him if he chose to hear it, but I will send him a copy of it, indicated that all proceeds from VLTs would go for rural economic development, a sign of which was in every hotel at one point across rural Manitoba.
Can the Deputy Premier indicate today why his government would prorate grants like Connie Curran's contract to all of rural Manitoba under the breakdown they have provided today? Does the Deputy Premier really believe that rural communities should have paid, in terms of their calculations and their grants, for the $4.8 million U.S. that this government signed with Connie Curran and consultants?
Mr. Downey: Madam Speaker, I am not going to get into a debate in Question Period. I will clearly state that this government, I believe, lived up to and made sure that the commitments that were made to the people of rural Manitoba have clearly been made as it relates to funding from our Lotteries program, as it relates to living up to a commitment of making sure we live within our means and use the amounts of money that we have taken from Lotteries to help balance the books of this province so that we can have a climate where investment takes place and jobs are created.
That is what the people of Manitoba asked us to do. That is what we did. They demonstrated their support on the 25th of April of this year.
* (1345)
VLT Revenues
Information Release
Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): Madam Speaker, it is becoming increasingly clear that, while the Conservative Party may have won the election on April 25, they have lost pretty well any integrity they ever had on issues such as this.
I would like to ask the Minister responsible for Lotteries, when he releases this so-called information, 14-month outdated information, conveniently after all three hearings in rural and northern Manitoba and conveniently two months after the election, why the information does not identify the community in which more than $24 million in VLT revenues has come from?
In fact, why does this information only identify where half the VLT revenues come from in rural Manitoba?
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act): Madam Speaker, I would just encourage the member for Thompson to read the document that he has in his hand and he will clearly see that releasing site-by-site revenue figures would contravene The Freedom of Information Act by jeopardizing the financial confidentiality interest of individual siteholders.
That has been agreed to by the Ombudsman, that has been the approach used by the Statistics Canada model and it is for that very reason that we do not provide communities that have three sites or less the detailed breakdown. That is in the other categories. Communities that have four sites or more are broken down. All of the revenue sources are outlined. All of the expenditures that go back to those communities are also summarized in the document.
Distribution
Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): Madam Speaker, will the minister perhaps explain further some of the other questionable techniques in this document in terms of revenue identification, including some of the rather bizarre numbers that were used for population in terms of the access of the deficit which, particularly in the case of the town of Selkirk, puts it as being bigger than the city of Portage?
Also, will the minister indicate how he can justify saying that such things as the Connie Curran contract are benefits to rural Manitobans, figures such as the Connie Curran contract and the Winnipeg Jets and a whole series of other things which northern and rural Manitobans are supposed to accept as a benefit for what they pay in VLTs?
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act): Madam Speaker, the distribution of the lottery funds--and we show a program distribution in Manitoba of $86 million of lottery funds throughout Manitoba--those are in terms of direct supports. It will be Community Places, the Rural Economic Development Initiative. Those kinds of direct support programs are charged very directly to those communities, but at-large programs, whether it is support for health research in Manitoba, whether it is support for amateur sport or other areas of large program support in our province, we have allocated those on a per-capita basis. I believe that all Manitobans benefit from all of those broad programs that are provided here in our province.
Clearly, the allocation to deficit is something that Manitobans have told us--Canadians are telling governments right across this country, stop deficits, stop running deficits, balance your budgets. That is partly where this money has gone, and that is clearly shown, the support that has come from each and every community in our province, Madam Speaker.
Gaming Commission
Additional Hearings
Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): My final question to the Minister of Finance who is also Minister responsible for Lotteries: Will he now do the right thing and in terms of the current hearings that are taking place with the working group that is accessing Lotteries, contact the head of the commission and ask that there be hearings rescheduled in rural and northern Manitoba, now that this only partial information is finally available?
Will he make sure that rural and northern Manitobans finally get a say on VLTs and lotteries?
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act): Madam Speaker, I like to think that we always do the right thing on behalf of Manitobans.
In terms of this issue, there is absolutely nothing stopping each and every Manitoban from writing the commission and putting forward their concerns on this issue. Any Manitoban who wants to communicate with the commission can do that. The commission is having public hearings. There is one in Winnipeg this Monday night. The commission itself has indicated that if it feels there is a need for more public hearings, it will do that.
There are all kinds of vehicles to communicate, and anybody who has a concern about this information or any other lottery issue should be communicating either through the public hearings, through contacting the commission, through writing to the commission or whatever. There are all kinds of avenues available to Manitobans to do just that, Madam Speaker.
Personal Care Homes
Report Release
Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health.
As a result of a major documentary done approximately a year ago, the Minister of Health set up yet another commission to study conditions in personal care homes. During the course of the Estimates debate, the minister indicated he had on his desk a final copy of this report.
Can the minister outline and indicate to this House when this report and its recommendations will be made public, so the citizens of Manitoba who have to participate in personal care homes can have some idea about what changes the government is going to introduce?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, because of changes in care levels being experienced in personal care homes and because of concerns arising respecting extended care homes in Manitoba, the Seniors Directorate headed up a review of these residences.
That had participation in it from the Health department as well as the Family Services department, and it will be very, very soon that that report will be made public.
Mr. Chomiak: Madam Speaker, will the minister also indicate whether or not that report will deal with the fact that since 1992-93 government grants to personal care homes have decreased? In fact, funding levels to personal care homes in Manitoba today are $3 million less than they were in 1992-93?
Can the minister explain whether or not it will deal with those decreasing funding levels as well?
Mr. McCrae: Without accepting anything the honourable member has said in his preamble, Madam Speaker, the report will deal with what it deals with, and it will not be very long before it will be released.
* (1350)
Mr. Chomiak: Can the minister also explain why it is that Manitobans are now paying $13.8 million more per year out of their own pockets for personal care homes while government grants to personal care homes have dramatically declined?
Can the minister explain, and will that be outlined in the report, as to why Manitobans are paying more while they are getting less from the government?
Mr. McCrae: Madam Speaker, over the years the per diem rates for personal care homes have been adjusted by successive governments. The one thing that I have found is that the Manitoba Health Board has been very responsive to people and their families filing appeals with respect to assessed per diem rates. A number of adjustments have been made, many of them in favour of the resident. That system seems to be working based on an ability to pay for one's care. That system based on a sliding scale seems to be working.
Maintenance Enforcement Act
Amendments
Mr. Gord Mackintosh (St. Johns): Madam Speaker, until the wee hours yesterday several members of this House heard public presentation after public presentation detailing how the government is failing single mothers and their children who rely on the Minister of Justice's department for support payments from noncustodial parents.
My question to the minister is, would she tell Manitobans, especially our single parents and their children, whether it will now immediately reverse its policy to reject the advice of many, including the Coalition of Custodial Parents, that the cancellation of support arrears be stopped and that interest be applied to arrears of support payments?
That is a simple notion, a common right, regarding other debts and court orders.
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): I am very pleased that we were able to sit and work into the very early hours of the morning to actually pass into third reading what I believe is good news for the women and children of Manitoba. That is the maintenance enforcement bill that this government put together.
That bill, Madam Speaker, was put together based on consultation with representative groups within Manitoba, including representatives from the custodial parents' groups. It was borne of consultation, and it is the toughest legislation in all of Canada.
It is the toughest legislation because it puts together penalties that are not together in any other legislation, penalties such as the revocation of a driver's licence, penalties such as increased jail terms, also penalties in the area of resources. We are able to attach pension benefit credits, Madam Speaker. So this is good news.
The member asks about a very specific amendment, and that is being able to look at interest on arrears. As I said to him this morning in Estimates, as I said on the evening that we were looking at the bill, we have a situation where an individual is failing to pay maintenance, is failing to pay arrears on maintenance and then fails to pay interest.
We decided that we wanted to put together a good law and so what we did was we put in together enhanced penalties not available for other civil debts in this province.
Mr. Mackintosh: That is quite a speech, Madam Speaker. Would the minister explain then why it is this government's policy to reject making the needs of children the first and foremost consideration for the courts when awarding support payments, which was the chief recommendation of the report of the Manitoba Association of Women and the Law?
Mrs. Vodrey: Madam Speaker, some of these issues were raised for consideration. They are, in fact, very significant and complex possible amendments to the legislation.
What I did on the evening that we heard presentations from the public and what I have said all along is this. We can wait forever to pass this bill if that is what the member wants to do. We can wait forever while additional information is brought forward and is investigated to look at the total effect of that investigation, or, Madam Speaker, what we can do is move ahead with the toughest legislation available in Canada now and leave the door open for future consideration.
That, Madam Speaker, is exactly what this government has done.
* (1355)
Mr. Mackintosh: Well, would the minister explain, after waiting seven years for some action and then only getting a half-hearted effort, why it is this government's policy to further disempower single parents by taking away their right to appeal decisions of court officials on how much and when support payments are to be made by defaulting spouses?
Mrs. Vodrey: Madam Speaker, this question shows the member's complete lack of understanding that it is, in fact, the maintenance enforcement officer who has carriage of this case now when individuals choose to enroll.
Where individuals choose not to be enrolled in the Maintenance Enforcement Program, they have complete carriage of their own case, but when they decide to enroll in the program, it is to remove from them a sense of vulnerability from perhaps the payer who could exercise a pressure on the payee to take certain actions.
That action--
Madam Speaker: Order, please. The honourable Minister of Justice, to quickly complete her response.
Mrs. Vodrey: That action might, in fact, cause the payee or the recipient to ask for reductions. This now gives the power to the maintenance enforcement officer who right in the legislation will receive information from the recipient.
But, Madam Speaker, I just have to make some comments on the record, because this government did bring forward--
Madam Speaker: Order, please.
Point of Order
Mr. Mackintosh: Madam Speaker, you have been very diligent in ensuring that the rules are followed by members on this side when asking a question.
I ask that you also look to the minister when she is answering the questions and enforce Beauchesne's. This is no time for making speeches or engaging in political posturing and raising arguments.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. On the point of order, indeed the honourable member for St. Johns does have a point of order. I was on my feet reminding the minister that, indeed, I felt the response to the question had been put.
Gaming Commission
Additional Hearings
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance.
Finally, we see the veil of secrecy is starting to be lifted. The community-by-community breakdown is absolutely vital information, and I am sure that the Minister of Finance would agree that this is very important information that has finally been released to the public. So is the unedited version of the Volberg report, also the Clients of the AFM Gambling Program and Callers to the Provincial Problem Gambling Help Line: A Statistical Profile.
These are absolutely vital pieces of information that this government has to present to Manitobans--
Madam Speaker: Order, please. I would remind the honourable member for Inkster, this is not a time for debate. Would the honourable member please pose his question now?
Mr. Lamoureux: Can the Minister of Finance indicate to us that the gambling committee will have the resources necessary if they so desire to have additional public hearings in rural Manitoba given that this information is just starting to be released?
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act): Madam Speaker, we have not put any restrictions on the commission in terms of financial support at this time, or in terms of any direction on the public hearing issue.
As the member knows, we have commented in this House that those kinds of decisions are being left to the commission. We have a lot of confidence in the people on that commission, the 14 individuals who make up a broad cross-section of organizations and communities from within Manitoba, and clearly they will make the decision whether or not they feel they need to have any more public hearings, and that will not be because of any budgetary restraints imposed by this government.
Access to Information
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, to the Minister of Finance: Does the minister think information like you have released earlier today would have had influence on presentations, in particular from rural Manitobans, given the fact that the rural presentations are currently over? Does he not believe that that would have had an impact on the presentations?
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act): Madam Speaker, I am not sure that question is in order, but if his point is access to information, I have reminded some members in this House before, there is an awful lot of information about lottery dollars, gaming dollars, how they are utilized here in Manitoba, and I would encourage the honourable member to look at documents like the Public Accounts that shows where lottery dollars are utilized. It shows the listing of all of the recipient organizations.
I would encourage him to look at the information published by the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation that shows where the lottery dollars are utilized.
So, Madam Speaker, there is an awful lot of information. There is the annual report of the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation. The Auditor herself commented on the quality of the information provided by the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation as being reliable and of high quality and so on.
This is just one other element of information that is now available to Manitobans in terms of this entire issue of gaming, and I am sure some individuals and some organizations will find it of some assistance as they move forward with this issue.
* (1400)
Mr. Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, the Minister of Finance is correct. This is one element of very important information that is out there.
My question to the Minister of Finance: Is he prepared today to ensure that additional information that this government does have access to, such as the report from the Addictions Foundation in which the Premier (Mr. Filmon) himself cited when he made reference to the number of suicides as a cost because of the gambling--is the Minister of Finance--
Madam Speaker: Order, please. The question has been put.
Mr. Stefanson: Madam Speaker, in response to the identical question, the Premier the other day said we are not imposing any limitations on the access to information by the Desjardins commission, and the feedback that we have had very directly from the commission is that they are extremely pleased with the co-operation they are receiving from the Manitoba Lotteries commission, from the Addictions Foundation, from any organization that they require information from.
So far, that has been the mood of everybody, to provide as much information as possible to this commission so they can come up with the best recommendations they possibly can. We will follow that approach, the Lotteries Corporation will, the Addictions Foundation will. I would encourage the honourable member to do the same thing. Thank you.
Child Prostitution
Procurement Penalties
Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Madam Speaker, the document entitled The Filmon Vision, Manitoba Strong promises that, and here I quote: Anyone convicted of soliciting sex from a prostitute where the person solicited is under the age of 16 will be deemed to be a child abuser and will be required to undergo similar treatment required of other child abusers.
Yet, despite this government's tough talk on child prostitution, on June 20 a Winnipeg man was fined only $400 after he was caught having sex with a 14-year-old prostitute and as well a charge of procuring a juvenile for sex was stayed by the Crown.
My question to the Minister of Justice is, does the minister consider a stay of charges and a $400 fine to be adequate treatment for child abuse?
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Madam Speaker, this government will continue to take a very strong position against prostitution.
I will not comment on the specific case, but, as you know, the penalties or the sentencing, the consequences are provided for by the court. However, I have made it clear in this Chamber and in many other places actually across the country that we consider prostitution, the procurement of a prostitute, particularly with an underage young person, to be such a serious offence that I have asked the federal Minister of Justice to make changes in the Criminal Code for life imprisonment.
Ms. McGifford: How can the minister justify the Crown's staying these serious charges of soliciting sex from juveniles given the rhetoric and promises in her government's election literature?
Mrs. Vodrey: Madam Speaker, again, I will not comment on the specific case other than to say that all cases are judged on their facts and also, as I have said, sentencing is the responsibility of the judiciary.
However, I can say that this government has made a very serious promise to the people of Manitoba, and we are now in the process of working as a government and co-operating departments to look at how we can now exactly bring that forward and give it effect within the province of Manitoba. I will remind the member of this government's position on procurement of a young person for the purposes of prostitution. We have asked for a life sentence.
Ms. McGifford: Will the minister immediately instruct her department to appeal this sentence? Will she issue a directive to Crown attorneys to ensure that soliciting sex from juveniles is indeed treated seriously in Manitoba courts?
Mrs. Vodrey: Madam Speaker, I will make it clear again to the member that as Attorney General I will not be speaking on any--[interjection] The member seems to be asking a very disrespectful question in the House, and she does not have the courtesy to put it on the microphone.
I have made it clear--
Point of Order
Mr. Steve Ashton (Opposition House Leader): On a point of order, Madam Speaker, I am just wondering whether it is in order for the Minister of Justice to talk about members who are asking questions are disrespectful to the House.
The member asked a question about a very serious case. If the minister does not wish to answer, she does not have to, but she should not be in any way making any accusation towards the propriety of the question asked by our member. She is doing her job as an opposition member. It is time the government minister did the same thing.
Mrs. Vodrey: On the same point of order, it was not the question the member asked into the microphone. It was the question the member asked when she sat down, not into the microphone, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. On the point of order by the honourable member for Thompson (Mr. Ashton), in my opinion, there is no point of order. I did not hear what the reference was made to. There is nothing on the record.
The honourable Minister of Justice likewise does not have a point of order.
Point of Order
Ms. McGifford: On a new point of order, I wish to make the point that I did not say anything when I sat down, not a word.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. The honourable member for Osborne does not have a point of order. I have ruled that neither of the previous members had a point of order.
Winnipeg Police Services
Additional Officers
Ms. MaryAnn Mihychuk (St. James): Madam Speaker, the minister has now received a response from the chief of police from the City of Winnipeg, Dale Henry, regarding the province's offer for $2 million for 40 additional police officers to be in our communities.
My question to the Minister of Justice: Can she guarantee that the province's annual block grant to the city will not be affected, that the program will be continued and that there will be initial start-up expenses included?
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): I will be happy to try and answer the three questions that were put by the member for St. James.
In Estimates yesterday, I made it very clear that this government is committed to $2 million, 40 additional police officers for the City of Winnipeg, and we have, in fact, had meetings with the city and Chief Henry to deal with that. There is also an agreement that these 40 officers will be above the complement of officers which are currently there.
However, she asks about the budget line in a grant to the City of Winnipeg. That question is more properly asked to my colleague the Minister of Urban Affairs (Mr. Reimer).
Crime Rate
Reduction Strategy
Ms. MaryAnn Mihychuk (St. James): Does the Minister of Justice believe that the city plan to place an additional two patrol cars and an eight-person crime unit will be enough to curb the increasing crime in Winnipeg?
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Madam Speaker, the chief of police who was mentioned in the member's previous question is the person responsible for the deployment of officers and also the deployment of resources. What we are doing as a provincial government is making every effort to continue to assist the Winnipeg Police Services.
That is why we came forward, not with the kind of a grant that the NDP were interested in bringing forward--and that was a conditional contingent grant on the city providing money also--this government came forward with money which we have provided and it was not conditional on the city providing a matching grant.
Ms. Mihychuk: Can this minister guarantee efforts will be increased to halt the escalating youth crime--and we have seen that the degree of youth crime is both increasing in intensity and in number--and like the community police programs in school--
Madam Speaker: Order, please. The question has been put.
Mrs. Vodrey: Madam Speaker, we certainly are very interested and concerned about any rise in youth crime in the province and have taken very specific steps to deal with it.
I am very happy to say to the member that there is a very significant decease in the area of crime in general and youth crime since that party was in government. When that party was in government there was the highest level of crime, of property crime and youth crime, 1987, Madam Speaker, and in fact there has been a decrease since this government with its policies have been in power.
* (1410)
Canada-U.S. Grain Commission
Canadian Wheat Board
Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, the preliminary report of the Canadian-U.S. joint commission was released today. We on this side of the House are very concerned with the recommendation that states the Canadian Wheat Board should be placed at risk of profit and loss in the marketplace and conduct itself in an equivalent manner. This is a clear indication of the beginning of the dismantling of the Canadian Wheat Board.
I want to ask the Minister of Agriculture what action he is going to take to ensure that the commission and the federal government realize that this is not what the western Canadian farmers want and that this move is going to be devastating for western Canadian farmers.
Hon. Harry Enns (Minister of Agriculture): Madam Speaker, I reconfirm the statements that have been made in the past with respect to the Canadian Wheat Board, both by myself and the Premier (Mr. Filmon). The specific reference in the report alluded to by the honourable member for Swan River simply means what we have all known for a long time in Canada.
The American chief complaint about the operations of the Canadian Wheat Board has to do with transparency. They maintain that their prices are Minneapolis-based. You look up at the board and you know what wheat is selling for, you know what corn is selling for, you know what durum is selling for. They maintain, wrongly, I might add, that under our system which is a monopoly and secretive, they maintain and what the Americans fear, quite frankly, is significant and ongoing governmental support that supports those prices from time to time.
So when they refer that the operations of the Wheat Board should be more at a risk of profit and loss, it means that there ought to be transparency that can be readily seen for what grain is trading for and how they are achieving their markets, Madam Speaker.
Recommendations
Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, I want to ask the minister if he agrees with the recommendation that says we should allow voluntary producer participation in the Wheat Board and allow Canadian firms to trade on nonwheat and barley under domestic and global contact. This is moving towards a--
Madam Speaker: Order, please. The question has been put.
Hon. Harry Enns (Minister of Agriculture): Madam Speaker, there has been a relative degree of dual marketing, if you like, in existence for a number of years, but, again, allow me to remind the official critic of the New Democratic Party on this particular subject, these are recommendations that are being made by this blue-ribbon commission consisting of five eminent Canadians, knowledgable in grain, five Americans. It is now up to governments to respond to them, both in Washington and in Ottawa.
Mr. Goodale was quoted yesterday as saying very clearly that he is continuing support for the Canadian Wheat Board.
Ms. Wowchuk: Madam Speaker, I want to ask the minister if he accepts the recommendation that programs such as the Gross Revenue Insurance Program and the Canadian Wheat Board initial payment guarantees should also be eliminated. Does he accept this? What steps is he going to take to get the message to the federal government that this is not what western Canadian farmers have asked for?
Mr. Enns: Madam Speaker, I want to assure the honourable member that, having had the privilege of being briefed by one of our Canadian commissioners Dr. Clay Gilson late yesterday afternoon on the release that was made today, I am very comfortable that the Canadian Wheat Board, as such, is simply not on the table for any negotiating position. Furthermore, some of the issues that she refers to, we regard and will continue to regard as purely domestic matters, and it is for us to make our decisions on these matters.
However there are linkages. If the Americans move on their E program, the Export Enhancement Program, we are prepared to move on certain programs. We all would benefit and the taxpayers in all our countries, not just in this country, in Canada and in Europe, would benefit if we downsized the rate of subsidization.
Forest Fires
Leaf Rapids Evacuation
Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): Madam Speaker, my question is for the Acting Minister responsible for EMO and the Manitoba Disaster Board.
The residents of Leaf Rapids were forced to evacuate this week. Some residents were evacuated to Lynn Lake and over 500 were evacuated to Thompson. Now that the fire appears to be contained and the Leaf Rapids residents will likely be returning home in a day or two, will the government consider allowing some of the Leaf Rapids evacuees now in Thompson to remain in Thompson rather than asking them to travel to The Pas, which is an extra eight hours driving?
Hon. James Downey (Deputy Premier): Madam Speaker, I want to, first of all, clearly indicate that the minister, the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and the Minister of Northern Affairs (Mr. Praznik) are making sure today that the people who have had to be evacuated--are involved in a one-on-one basis to make sure the people and the residents who have been affected are being looked after adequately and that any concerns they may have can be dealt with directly.
I thank the member for the opportunity to put that on the record.
I will take the specifics of the question as notice for my colleague, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Jennissen: Madam Speaker, my supplementary question to the same minister is, are the agreements with municipalities flexible enough to deal with the rapidly changing weather conditions in the North and the need to minimize the shifting around of the evacuees?
Hon. Albert Driedger (Minister of Natural Resources): Madam Speaker, we have a committee set up, basically government has, of our top officials who meet at ten o'clock every day and assess the situation in terms of weather conditions, which way the winds are going, where the fires are. They then make a decision and recommendation as to whether there should be a red alert in terms of communities that could be affected adversely or not. They also at the same time assess for the communities that have been evacuated, whether there is a possibility that it is safe enough for them to go back.
Certainly it would be irresponsible if they allowed people to go back before the situation was well in hand.
This is an ongoing process. They meet every day at ten o'clock in the morning, do an assessment and make their recommendations based on that.
On top of that, we have people who are very much involved with the whole process out there, are on top of it. If the circumstances change within the 24 hours, they address that as well.
Highway 391
Dust Control
Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): Madam Speaker, my last supplementary is to the Minister of Highways.
Since Highway 391 was so dusty this week that residents evacuating Leaf Rapids had some trouble getting out, will the Minister of Highways ensure that proper dust control will be in place in time to benefit the evacuees returning home to Leaf Rapids and South Indian Lake?
Hon. Glen Findlay (Minister of Highways and Transportation): Madam Speaker, I will inquire with the department about the current dust-control operations they are doing and determine if it is adequate for the circumstance. We will probably talk about it this afternoon again in Estimates.
Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Rupertsland, for one very short question.
Fire Prevention Fund
First Nations Communities
Mr. Eric Robinson (Rupertsland): I would like to ask the Minister of Labour why, when the property insurance premiums are collected from all Manitobans, including First Nations facilities and people's homes, is none of that 1.25 percent designated for the fire prevention fund used to assure the access to these same services by the First Nations communities of this province?
Hon. Vic Toews (Minister of Labour): Thank you very much for that question. I will take that question as notice.
Mr. Robinson: Madam Speaker, my second question I would like to ask the minister is: Property insurance premiums paid by Manitoba First Nations councils and residents are pooled with those of all non-First Nations people, and the Department of Labour receives that 1.25 percent towards the implementation of The Fires Prevention Act.
I would like to ask the Minister of Labour why the government is prepared to accept and use this hidden tax paid by First Nations for which they receive no benefit.
Mr. Toews: The question is an interesting one, and I will take that as notice.
Madam Speaker: Time for Oral Questions has expired.
* (1420)
Speaker's Ruling
Madam Speaker: I have a ruling for the House.
On Friday, June 9, 1995, during a point of order raised about a nonpolitical statement being made, the Leader of the official opposition (Mr. Doer) raised another point of order claiming that I had recognized the honourable member for St. Johns (Mr. Mackintosh) on the original point of order.
I undertook to review Hansard and report back to the House. Hansard does not show that I recognized the member on a point of order. I have listened to the audio tape, and it does indeed show that I recognized the honourable member for St. Johns, but I did not indicate that I was recognizing him on a point of order. I did not hear the member say that he was seeking the floor on a point of order which may have been due to the general disorder in the House at the time.
I would ask all honourable members who are seeking the floor on a point of order to so indicate when they are recognized. This would be sincerely appreciated by the Chair and would help in the smooth functioning of the House.
NONPOLITICAL STATEMENTS
Popular Theatre Alliance
Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): I ask leave to make a nonpolitical statement.
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Osborne have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Ms. McGifford: On Saturday, June 24 at 3 p.m. in Cinematheque, 100 Arthur Street, the Popular Theatre Alliance is launching its new video entitled The Waiting Room. The subject of the video is women and mental illness, and it features the theatre troupe Acting Out. The public is welcome.
Personally, I encourage members of the Assembly to attend the performance to support the Popular Theatre Alliance and the troupe Acting Out.
Secondly, on Sunday, June 25 at 3 p.m., again in Cinematheque, 100 Arthur Street, the Popular Theatre Alliance will launch a second video, this time on the immigrant experience entitled How Do You Do. The video explores the immigrant experience and employment. The theatre group is Dreamsharers.
Again, I encourage members to attend the performance, support these dedicated artists and their contribution to our cultural community. Thank you.
43rd Annual Negev Dinner
Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker, may I have leave to make a nonpolitical statement?
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Kildonan have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. Chomiak: I am very pleased to rise today to make a nonpolitical statement. I should have done it yesterday, but I was unable because of illness to actually speak.
I wanted to commemorate the outstanding success of the 1995 Negev Dinner that was held recently, the 43rd such dinner.
Wednesday's dinner which was attended by the member for Tuxedo (Mr. Filmon), myself, as well--the member for St. Johns (Mr. Mackintosh) was forced to stay in the Chamber because of other commitments.
The 1995 Negev Dinner was dedicated to the survivors of the holocaust, the 50th anniversary. It was a very moving occasion as it generally is. I wish to commemorate the organizers of the dinner. I wish to commemorate all of the survivors--there was an outstanding booklet published that had individual biographical accounts--who live in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, of the holocaust--I believe they number something like 275 survivors, 400-and-some-odd children as well as a number of grandchildren--as well as commemorate a ceremony where there was a lighting of a candle to commemorate the survivors of the holocaust by the grandchildren and the great-grandchildren of the holocaust victims.
There was also an outstanding presentation by an individual who represented the survivors of the holocaust, Mariam Spinak who came to the podium and delivered a most moving discussion about her experiences. I just want to quote from the dinner program what it says about her. Mariam's efforts and contributions reflect her feelings of appreciation for having found peace. Were it not for the memories, life would be perfect.
I also would like to quote an outstanding presentation made by Mr. Arnold Frieman with respect to this program where he very eloquently described his life as a survivor and some of the efforts that have subsequently followed and ended with the phrase--we hear it over and over again at events like this: never again.
I would like to commemorate all of the organizers of this particular event for the outstanding work they have done in the community as well as their contributions to the Jewish National Fund which goes to projects in Israel, as well as the head table for their contribution, Joe Schlesinger who provided a very moving testimonial speech and to all of the organizers and, most particularly, to the survivors, children of the survivors and the grandchildren of the survivors and for the memory that will live on hopefully forever so that an event like this will never have to be celebrated again. Thank you.
Retirement--Brandon Police Chief
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, I would also seek leave to make a nonpolitical statement.
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Brandon West have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. McCrae: Thank you, Madam Speaker, and to my colleagues.
It is not so often that we rise under the order of business for nonpolitical statements to express a level of disappointment, but I am disappointed today to pass on to honourable members that Chief Brian Scott of the Brandon police service is retiring. We have been extremely fortunate in the city of Brandon to have the services of Chief Scott over the past seven and a half years.
Chief Scott has demonstrated a strong sense of responsibility to his duty and to our community, and that has been demonstrated in his commitment. Chief Scott demonstrates every day that he goes to work a high standard of achievement and expects high standards of all of the members of the Brandon police service. Indeed, that has resulted in the accreditation of the Brandon police service by an international accreditation agency, thanks to the initiative of Chief Brian Scott.
In a word, Chief Scott is a professional, Madam Speaker. He has worked well not only with myself as a Justice minister. When I became Justice minister, it was around the same time as Chief Scott became the chief of police, and we had a very, very cordial and fruitful working relationship.
My colleague the honourable Minister of Justice (Mrs. Vodrey) advises me that that tradition has continued under her leadership as Minister of Justice with such things, for example, Madam Speaker, as the significant enhancement of services to victims in the city of Brandon.
So I think all of the people of Brandon and far beyond and certainly myself and members of my family, when Brian and Marilyn Scott retire to British Columbia, we will have all had to say goodbye and bon voyage to some very, very good friends.
* (1430)