2nd-36th, Volume 25 - Routine Proceedings

VOL. XLVI No. 25 - 1:30 p.m., MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1996

Monday, April 29, 1996

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA

Monday, April 29, 1996

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

PRAYERS

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

PRESENTING PETITIONS

Home Care Services

Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Gertrude Firth, Dorothy Carter and C. Saunders requesting the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Mr. Clif Evans (Interlake): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Colleen Alecci, Michel Levesque, Philip Malzensky and others requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of J. Jorundson, E. Jorundson, L. Millar and others requesting the Premier and the Minister of Health to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

READING AND RECEIVING PETITIONS

Home Care Services

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Inkster (Mr. Lamoureux). It complies with the rules and practices of the House (by leave). Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Yes.

Madam Speaker: Yes. The Clerk will read.

Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth:

THAT on at least six occasions during the 1995 provincial election, the Premier promised not to cut health services; and

THAT on December 16, 1995, a plan to privatize home care services was presented to Treasury Board; and

THAT this plan calls for the complete divestiture of all service delivery to nongovernment organizations, mainly private for-profit companies as well as the implementation of a user-pay system of home care; and

THAT previous cuts to the Home Care program have resulted in services being cut and people’s health being compromised; and

THAT thousands of caring front-line service providers will lose their jobs as a result of this change; and

THAT profit has no place in the provision of vital health services.

WHEREFORE your petitioners humbly pray that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) to consider reversing their plan to privatize home care services.

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Burrows (Mr. Martindale). It complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

Some Honourable Members: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

THAT on at least six occasions during the 1995 provincial election, the Premier promised not to cut health services; and

THAT on December 16, 1995, a plan to privatize home care services was presented to Treasury Board; and

THAT previous cuts to the Home Care program have resulted in services being cut and people’s health being compromised; and

THAT thousands of caring front-line service providers will lose their jobs as a result of this change; and

THAT profit has no place in the provision of vital health services.

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Elmwood (Mr. Maloway). It complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

Some Honourable Members: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

THAT on at least six occasions during the 1995 provincial election, the Premier promised not to cut health services; and

THAT on December 16, 1995, a plan to privatize home care services was presented to Treasury Board; and

THAT previous cuts to the Home Care program have resulted in services being cut and people’s health being compromised; and

THAT thousands of caring front-line service providers will lose their jobs as a result of this change; and

THAT profit has no place in the provision of vital health services.

* (1335)

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Osborne (Ms. McGifford). It complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

Some Honourable Members: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

THAT on at least six occasions during the 1995 provincial election, the Premier promised not to cut health services; and

THAT on December 16, 1995, a plan to privatize home care services was presented to Treasury Board; and

THAT previous cuts to the Home Care program have resulted in services being cut and people’s health being compromised; and

THAT thousands of caring front-line service providers will lose their jobs as a result of this change; and

THAT profit has no place in the provision of vital health services.

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for St. James (Ms. Mihychuk). It complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

THAT on at least six occasions during the 1995 provincial election, the Premier promised not to cut health services; and

THAT on December 16, 1995, a plan to privatize home care services was presented to Treasury Board; and

THAT previous cuts to the Home Care program have resulted in services being cut and people’s health being compromised; and

THAT thousands of caring front-line service providers will lose their jobs as a result of this change; and

THAT profit has no place in the provision of vital health services.

PRESENTING REPORTS BY

STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Committee of Supply

Mr. Marcel Laurendeau (Chairperson of Committees): Madam Speaker, the Committee of Supply has considered certain resolutions and directs me to report progress and asks leave to sit again.

I move, seconded by the honourable member for La Verendrye (Mr. Sveinson), that the report of the committee be received.

Motion agreed to.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

Headingley Correctional Institution--Uprising

Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Madam Speaker, I have a statement for the House.

I want to take this opportunity to report to all members of the Legislature and to the citizens of Manitoba on the major uprising which occurred last week at Headingley jail.

As you know, due to a series of circumstances which have yet to be ascertained, inmates at the medium-security facility overpowered corrections officers and took control of the institution. I can tell you today the full weight of the law will be brought to bear on those responsible, and we will take steps to ensure that it does not happen again.

Thankfully, there was no loss of life during the event. In fact, I have been told that loss of life may have been prevented in no small way by the heroic efforts of provincial corrections officers who put their own safety aside to take steps to protect their colleagues and some inmates. I believe it was only through the efforts of corrections staff, the RCMP and others who handled the situation in a professional and expert manner that we were able to take control of the jail in as short a time as we did.

My thanks go out to all of the officers involved, and I am sure that I am joined by all those in the House wishing for a speedy recovery for those injured. My thanks also extend to the Headingley fire department, the people of Headingley, and all those who co-operated with us to bring this situation under control.

Madam Speaker, we are still piecing together what may have precipitated this uprising. To the best of our knowledge at the moment, it was not a planned event. Early reports suggest that during a routine search for contraband, several officers were overpowered by inmates and the violence spread throughout the institution. Throughout the night and during the day on Friday inmates surrendered to authorities. Finally, at approximately 5 p.m. on Friday, RCMP and corrections officers moved into the facility to regain control and to take any remaining inmates into custody.

My staff informs me the staffing levels at the institution are not in question and were not the cause of this riot. The inmate-to-staff ratio at Headingley is on a level or better with other institutions across the country. I can also tell the House that we do not believe that the living conditions at Headingley or the way in which inmates were treated was the cause of the incident. I want to remind members of this House, Headingley is a jail. It is not a resort or a place for a holiday. Inmates at the institution have left victims behind. There have been numerous improvements undertaken at the facility over the past few years. For security, we have upgraded fencing, installed TV cameras and installed other systems to protect both officers and inmates. We have improved windows, showers, water quality, educational and program areas and the kitchen.

Along with the Minister of Government Services (Mr. Pallister), I inspected Headingley jail on Saturday and I can tell you I was appalled at the level of widespread destruction. Though some areas of the facility were left virtually untouched, what could be smashed or broken was. We are not yet able to put a dollar figure on the damage, but it is extensive. In consultation with my colleague the Minister of Government Services, we will put together a plan for the cleanup and the rebuilding process. However, to the extent possible, we will minimize the cost to the taxpayer by having those responsible for the destruction participate in the cleanup and the rebuilding of the facility as long as the work does not compromise the safety and the security of officers, the public or inmates.

* (1340)

This incident will be investigated from several aspects. The RCMP and ultimately the courts will deal with all criminal matters and, in fact, the RCMP have been in the institution all weekend to further their investigation. My department will also conduct a thorough review and investigation to determine why this happened and how it can be prevented in the future. My department has asked the federal corrections service to participate in this internal review of the matter which will look into all practices and procedures underway at Headingley up to the point where the RCMP took control on Thursday night.

Madam Speaker, I am committing today to an independent review of the circumstances, to ascertain if anything could have been done to prevent the riot and how we may be able to prevent future occurrences. I can also tell the House we will soon be implementing new procedures at Headingley to assist in reducing inmates' access to drugs while incarcerated. Some of the proposals we are currently reviewing include random urinalysis testing, reducing drug dealing and intimidation through the interception of phone calls and other procedures which will reduce the possibility of visitors bringing drugs into the jail.

Madam Speaker, the 24 hours of the riot were an extremely difficult and serious time for all involved. Lives were in jeopardy. Fortunately, there were no deaths, and I want to again thank all of the officers for the way they handled this extremely volatile situation.

Mr. Gord Mackintosh (St. Johns): Madam Speaker, this is indeed a difficult time for too many Manitobans, with the ongoing strike and the flood and now a riot, and we too join with the minister in extending our sympathies to those who have suffered injury, particularly to the correctional officers who in the course of duty were exposed to a terrible, terrible tragedy. We wish them full recovery and, as well, to the families, extend our best wishes, our condolences as they recover from this terrible tragedy in their particular families.

I also want to acknowledge the role of correctional staff throughout Manitoba who are now responding to new inmate populations that have arrived from Headingley. I spoke to one senior correctional officer on the weekend who had to work 36 hours just to deal with this crisis. These are difficult times. As well, we extend appreciation to the role of the police and the RCMP, in particular to the correctional officers who assisted and to the health care professionals who attended to those who were injured.

This is a very, very serious matter. This is an affront to security in this province, to law and order in our province and the consequences that must follow to those responsible must reflect the rebuke that is needed. We hope that the minster, in the course of the plea bargaining and even the positioning on sentencing, will reflect that rebuke.

However, Madam Speaker, we also must talk about who is accountable for what occurred. We are aware certainly of very serious questions having been raised, apparently over some period of time, about the security measures that are in place particularly at Headingley, but which bear a close resemblance to concerns that have been expressed by individuals employed at the Sheriff's office. We cannot have individuals who are employed in the highest-risk situations in this province exposed to questionable procedures or lack of following a protocol, and serious questions must be raised beyond internal assurances from the minister's department about staffing levels and protocol.

The minister said today, after some pressuring, that she would agree to an independent review. We question when that review will take place and whether that review will be public, will be under The Evidence Act as a commission of inquiry. We expect no less and will demand no less for the staff and families and the taxpayers to ensure this never happens again. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

* (1345)

TABLING OF REPORTS

Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table the Provincial Auditor's Report for 1994-95, Volume 4.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

Bill 11--The Court of Queen's Bench Surrogate Practice Amendment Act

Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson), that leave be given to introduce Bill 11, The Court of Queen's Bench Surrogate Practice Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la Loi sur la pratique relative aux successions devant la Cour du Banc de la Reine, and that the same be now received and read a first time.

Motion agreed to.

Bill 12--The Barbers Repeal and Hairdressers Repeal Act

Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs (Mr. Ernst), that leave be given to introduce Bill 12, The Barbers Repeal and Hairdressers Repeal Act; Loi abrogeant la Loi sur les coiffeurs et la Loi sur les coiffeurs pour dames, and that the same now be introduced and read a first time.

Motion agreed to.

Introduction of Guests

Madam Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would like to draw the attention of all honourable members firstly to the loge to my right where we have with us this afternoon Gerry Ducharme, the former Minister of Urban Affairs, Housing and Government Services and member for Riel.

Also in the public gallery this afternoon, we have twenty-six Grade 12 students from Morden Collegiate under the direction of Miss Andrea Petkau. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Pembina (Mr. Dyck).

On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you this afternoon.