LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Mr. Speaker: Good afternoon, everyone. Please be seated.
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
Bill 55–The Environment
Amendment Act
(Reducing Pesticide Exposure)
Hon. Gord Mackintosh (Minister of Conservation and Water Stewardship): I move, seconded by the Minister of Education and Advanced Learning (Mr. Allum), that Bill 55, The Environment Amendment Act (Reducing Pesticide Exposure); Loi modifiant la Loi sur l'environnement (réduction de l'exposition aux pesticides), be now read a first time.
Motion presented.
Mr. Mackintosh: Mr. Speaker, it's estimated about 80 per cent of Canadians live in provinces or municipalities where laws restrict exposure to lawn pesticides, particularly for children. Today we're introducing legislation to replace the sale and use of synthetic chemical pesticides used for non-essential purposes on lawns and associated walkways and patios with effective, federally approved, lower risk products.
We're also introducing protections for the first time in Canada for all school and child-care centre and hospital grounds.
Mr. Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed]
Any further introduction of bills?
Mr. Speaker: Seeing none, we'll move on to petitions.
Provincial Sales Tax Increase–Reversal and Referendum Rights
Mr. Ralph Eichler (Lakeside): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
The background for this petition is as follows:
(1) The Balanced Budget, Fiscal Management and Taxpayer Accountability Act is a law that guarantees Manitobans have a right to vote in a referendum either to approve or reject increases to the PST and other taxes.
(2) Despite the fact that the right to vote is enshrined in this legislation, the provincial government hiked the PST to 8 per cent as of July the 1st, 2013.
(3) The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba has asked the courts to rule on whether or not the government broke the law failing to address the referendum requirement before imposing the PST tax increase on Manitoban families.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
(1) To urge the provincial government to reverse the PST.
(2) To urge the provincial government to restore the right of Manitobans to vote in a referendum on increases to the PST.
This petition is submitted on behalf of D. Fleury, R. Johannesen, R. Biel and many other fine Manitobans.
Mr. Speaker: In keeping with our rule 132(6), when petitions are read they are deemed to have been received by the House.
Mr. Cliff Cullen (Spruce Woods): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly.
The background to the petition is as follows:
(1) The Balanced Budget, Fiscal Management and Taxpayer Accountability Act is a law that guarantees Manitobans the right to vote in a referendum to either approve or reject increases to the PST and other taxes.
(2) Despite the fact that the right to vote is enshrined in this legislation, the provincial government hiked the PST to 8 per cent as of July 1st, 2013.
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba has asked the courts to rule on whether or not the provincial government broke the law by failing to address the referendum requirement before imposing the PST tax increase on Manitoba families.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
(1) To urge the provincial government to reverse the PST increase.
(2) To urge the provincial government to restore the right of Manitobans to vote in a referendum on increases to the PST.
This petition is signed by B. Gosselin, J. Dearsley, J. Dikhazyl and many other fine Manitobans.
Beausejour District Hospital–Weekend and Holiday Physician Availability
Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly.
And these are the reasons for this petition:
(1) The Beausejour District Hospital is a 30-bed, acute-care facility that serves the communities of Beausejour and Brokenhead.
(2) The hospital and the primary-care centre have had no doctor available on weekends and holidays for many months, jeopardizing the health and livelihoods of those in the northeast region of the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority.
(3) During the 2011 election, the provincial government promised to provide every Manitoban with access to a family doctor by 2015.
(4) This promise is far from being realized, and Manitobans are witnessing many emergency rooms limiting services or closing temporarily, with the majority of these reductions taking place in rural Manitoba.
(5) According to the Health Council of Canada, only 25 per cent of doctors in Manitoba reported that their patients had access to care on evenings and weekends.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the provincial government and the Minister of Health to ensure that the Beausejour District Hospital and primary-care centre have a primary-care physician available on weekends and holidays to better provide area residents with this essential service.
This petition is signed by G. Lange, C. Rosche, E. Newton and many, many more fine Manitobans, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker: Is there any further introduction of petitions? Seeing none, we'll move on to committee reports?
Hon. Ron Lemieux (Minister of Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Sport and Consumer Protection): Mr. Speaker, I'd like to table the Supplementary Information for Legislative Review 2014-15 and the Departmental Expenditure Estimates.
Mr. Speaker: Any further tabling of reports?
Mr. Speaker: Seeing none, ministerial statements.
Flooding Update
Hon. Steve Ashton (Minister responsible for Emergency Measures): Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to give an update on the evolving flood situation.
The initial river crest passed Winnipeg last night. The crest, combined with ice jamming, will continue to move north past Selkirk and into the Interlake. The rain we received over the weekend, combined with expected rain and snow in the coming week, will have an effect on water levels. The 2014 flood fight is not yet over, and we remain vigilant.
The rain, spring runoff and crest from the water coming from North Dakota added to a layer of ice over the water within Winnipeg and led to a crest of 19.2 feet James Avenue. South Winnipeg families were protected–in fact, there were three at-risk homes.
The weather forecast calls for heavy rains in the next 24 hours to the west of Winnipeg along the Assiniboine. The impacts of rainfall will be assessed and updates issued as appropriate.
A flood watch has been issued for the upper Assiniboine River from the Shellmouth Dam to Brandon. Water levels are approaching bank full in many areas, and there is a chance that low-lying land adjacent to the river may be flooded. However, the Brandon area will be well below the flood protection level.
As we saw in 2009, thick ice and a late melt can quickly change the face of the flood threat we are facing with ice jams. As such, we are very closely monitoring the movement of the ice and the potential implications on the flood situation. It is important we stay alert and react to changing situations as they occur.
Mr. Speaker, as always, we will continue to update the Assembly and all Manitobans on these developments as they unfold. The severity of the flood through the Interlake and Manitoba's North is dependent on the ice thickness and rain levels.
We will continue to incorporate the changing weather information into our flood forecasts and communicate that information to Manitoba families and communities.
* (13:40)
Mr. Reg Helwer (Brandon West): Thank you to the minister for his update, and we'd also like to thank all the municipalities that are working hard to keep Manitobans and their properties safe, and all the workers that are involved in this situation as well. We know that things can change very quickly, and I'm sure the minister will keep this House updated as to the issues as they occur.
On us–this side of the House would also like to say we mourn the loss of Mr. Kurt Penner, who helped many members of this House, and our thoughts are with the family.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): I ask leave to speak to the minister's statement.
Mr. Speaker: Does the honourable member for River Heights have leave to speak to the ministerial statement? [Agreed]
Mr. Gerrard: Mr. Speaker, I join others in mourning the passing of Kurt Penner, and I am sure that there will be further statements from various people over the course of the next little while.
With regard to the flood situation, I want to say thank you to the minister for providing the update and for having regular updates. The situation, for the most part, seems reasonably good this year because of the slow melt. Heavy rain, which are forecast west of Winnipeg along the Assiniboine River, is of some concern and clearly bears watching.
It is a little worrisome that we're three years after the flood of 2011 and the plan and the updating of the dikes along the Assiniboine River are still not as far along as, you know, I and many others believe them to be, but maybe the minister will have a report of that in due course.
I think all of us need to continue to be watchful, but I think, by and large, we can be pretty thankful that the melt has been as slow as it has.
Thank you.
Mr. Speaker: Are there any further ministerial statements?
Introduction of Guests
Mr. Speaker: Seeing none, prior to oral questions, I'd like to draw the attention of honourable members to the public gallery where we have with us this afternoon from Bothwell School 23 grade 9 students under the direction of Mr. Johnathan David. This group is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Steinbach (Mr. Goertzen).
On behalf of honourable members, we welcome you here this afternoon.
Nurse Employment Security
Mrs. Myrna Driedger (Charleswood): Mr. Speaker, headlines are screaming out today that the WRHA bureaucratic costs have skyrocketed, even though this government and this Minister of Health (Ms. Selby) tries to string us along that they are reducing these costs.
It was also through the media, Mr. Speaker, that psychiatric nurses found out that their mental health ward at the Grace Hospital is closing.
I would like to ask the Premier to tell these nurses: Why were they not told face to face that their ward is closing? Why did they have to find out this unsettling information through the media?
Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): I want to start by acknowledging the words put on the record about Kurt Penner. He was indeed a fine member of the government and worked with all members of the Legislature, particularly after the 2011 flood to address many of the public concerns that were coming in. He always responded with humanity and timeliness to address the needs of Manitobans, and so he will be sorely missed.
And I thank the member opposite for raising the issue about health-care efficiencies. Mr. Speaker, there have been additional resources put into recruitment and retention of front-line staff for the health-care system in Manitoba. There has been money put into health and safety to ensure that the work environment is safe for the people that provide the front-line service, and there has been additional resources put into quality assurance to ensure that the services that are offered to Manitobans are of a high degree of excellence.
And, on the other hand, the corporate side, the expenditures have been shrunk from 2.99 per cent of total costs down to about 2.56 per cent. So corporate costs have been shrunk as resources have been allocated to those functions that will increase the ability to deliver good quality front-line service to people.
And with respect to the question, Mr. Speaker, about mental health services at the Grace Hospital, the member will note that there was an announcement last week to launch a PACT program, a community-based program to help–
Mr. Speaker: Order, please. The honourable First Minister's time has expired.
Mrs. Driedger: Mr. Speaker, the minister–the Premier did not answer the question, and the issue is that nurses found out that they were going to lose their jobs through the media and not that anybody had courtesy to tell them face to face.
The nurses are saying that eight of them are going to be fired when that ward closes.
So I'd like to ask the Premier to confirm that the nurses on the psychiatric ward at the Grace Hospital are going to be losing their jobs.
Mr. Selinger: I thank the member for the question.
On the contrary, there will be no job losses. I want to repeat that: There will be no job losses. Those nurses will be retained in the system. They have provided very valuable service to the patients at the Grace Hospital.
And we will, in addition, be launching a program to provide more intensive and timely and responsive services in the community through what they call the PACT program, a program that is highly regarded in Manitoba.
There will be no job losses with respect to the nurses at the Grace Hospital.
Mrs. Driedger: The eight nurses on the ward are saying they will all be fired from the jobs that they are in.
And when reorganization was happening under a Tory government, the NDP accused us of firing nurses. Now, Mr. Speaker, when reorganization is now happening under their watch, they are calling it something else. Well, they can't have it both ways. What's the difference, reorganization 10 years ago or reorganization today? It's the same thing. The same things are happening.
Why is he not acknowledging that they are going to be firing, pink-slipping those eight nurses?
Mr. Selinger: I do thank the member for the question because it allows me to put on the record definitively there will be no job losses. Those nurses will be retained, and there is a difference.
Mr. Speaker, when the members opposite were in office the number of nurses in Manitoba shrunk over 1,000. Since we've been in office the number of nurses has increased by over 3,500.
I remember very clearly, Mr. Speaker, when they wiped out the licensed practical nurse program; LPNs were eliminated as a category of nurses in Manitoba. We've brought the program back. We've expanded the program. We've expanded the RN program. We've expanded the school of nursing program with more programs at the advanced level for Ph.D.s and master's level.
We have 3,500 more nurses in Manitoba. We value nurses. Nurses have a good place to work in Manitoba. They make a big difference in health care and we support them; they fire them.
Physician Access (Arthur-Virden)
Mr. Doyle Piwniuk (Arthur-Virden): Mr. Speaker, Virden area lost a doctor in February and is going to lose another doctor later this month. Virden area has been booming thanks to the hard-working industry of people of the oil and agriculture industry.
How is this Health Minister going to ensure the safety of my constituents in my growing community that keeps losing its doctors under her watch?
Hon. Erin Selby (Minister of Health): As I told the member when we discussed this, certainly, we do want to make sure there are more doctors practising in Virden. The funding is still there to hire those doctors and we have had a lot of success in hiring doctors around this province. I'd like to point out that we have a net gain of 562 more doctors practising in Manitoba, including 124 of them–more than 120 of them working in rural Manitoba.
Certainly, we know that there are two physicians in Virden who have left Virden. They have not left the province, but they have relocated and it does mean that we are down a couple of physicians in Virden. And we need to make patient safety first, so we need to make sure that we have enough people to cover those shifts.
But, Mr. Speaker, we're going to keep recruiting more doctors as we've been doing, and the funding is still on the table because we want that ER open as well.
Mr. Piwniuk: Are those 500 doctors that we hired, are they 100 doctors in five years?
Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago Virden was told that once we lose a doctor later this month our emergency room is going to be closed for two days a week. Now we are finding out that the emergency room is going to be closed more than three days a week. With the high risk of industry that–in our riding and the emergency room is closed for three days a week, the safety of the people in my constituency could be put at risk.
This is unacceptable, and how is this minister going to ensure the safety of my constituents?
Ms. Selby: Well, as I said, we are going to continue working with the RHA and with the community to get more doctors because we agree there need to be more doctors in Virden, and that's why we're still recruiting more doctors, why we're training more doctors and why we have more rural residencies.
* (13:50)
But, of course, we do have to follow patient safety to make sure we have people there when needed. The doctors had recommended that the ER is the most busy on the weekends and they had suggested to try to fill those hours. In the meantime, there is still 911 and, of course, MTCC in Brandon will route people to where they need to be. And I expect people to communicate with the communities so that they know exactly what's going on.
But that funding remains there and we will keep working to bring more doctors to Virden.
Mr. Piwniuk: The minister says that she hired 100 doctors in the rural areas. Where are they?
Every community that we been talking about have been losing doctors, and Virden's the last full‑time ER in Arthur-Virden constituency. Every other hospital in the region is sharing ER services between communities.
This minister pledged that the–Manitobans will be–have access to health care regardless of where they live, yet in many of the constituents who are almost an hour and a half away from Brandon, with shortage of ambulance services in rural Manitoba, why is this minister breaking her–breaking health promises to provide access to doctors in my constituency and for Manitobans?
Ms. Selby: As I said, we have not cut the funding to keep those ERs open, and we're going to keep recruiting to get doctors there just like we've done in Minnedosa.
We saw a new physician start in Minnedosa on March 17th. We also saw a new nurse practitioner recruited to the area. They are working in Minnedosa as well.
We brought in a new physician to Killarney. Unfortunately, that doctor had a personal injury, but they will be back up and practising very soon, Mr. Speaker.
And we're going to keep working with Virden and other rural municipalities as well to make sure they have the coverage they have. And I can guarantee we won't do what they did when they were in office and cut $37 million from rural doctor [inaudible]
Southwestern Manitoba
Mr. Cliff Cullen (Spruce Woods): What the minister fails to mention is that 2,200 doctors have left the province under their watch.
Manitobans in southwestern Manitoba are still facing a crisis in health care. The communities of Deloraine, Boissevain, Killarney continue to rotate on-call emergency services. This is causing many Manitobans to travel over 100 miles to access an open emergency room.
This government promised the community of Killarney would have a full-status emergency room for the month of April. This has not transpired. In fact, the community is nowhere near its full complement of five and a half doctors.
Why has this government broken their promises to the people of southwestern Manitoba?
Hon. Erin Selby (Minister of Health): Again, the member ignores the fact that we have a net gain of 562 more doctors working in Manitoba.
And I can let the member know, as I was mentioning in my last answer, that a new physician has been hired in Killarney. Unfortunately–and this one will be providing ER coverage, but, unfortunately, the physician had a personal accident and is unable to work until May. The mayor of Killarney is aware of that, and I look forward to the recovery of this particular physician.
We do have a local physician include–agreeing to do some locum coverage at the time. It won't mean 24-7 coverage in Killarney right now, but once we get that other physician healed and back up and working, the people of Killarney will be able to count on having their ER.
Mr. Cullen: Well, Mr. Speaker, we've heard these promises from the NDP before.
Mr. Speaker, with only one and a half doctors out of a full complement of five and a half, it appears it will be some time before the ER in Killarney is fully operational.
Not only is the ER open only occasionally, but people cannot get an appointment at the clinic to see a doctor. Through the month of April, no appointments were available for patients. There's no sign that May is going to be any different. In fact, the situation will even get worse for the area as many Manitobans are moving to lake country for the spring and summer.
So I ask, Mr. Speaker: What promise is this minister going to make to the area residents this time?
Ms. Selby: We know Manitobans want more doctors and we want to bring them to them.
People want health care closer to home, and that's why in the last commit–election we committed to hiring 200 more doctors and 50 more physician's assistants; we're about halfway there now, and we're going to keep working. That's why we've got 110 medical spots in the University of Manitoba. It's why we offer residency exchanges for people who want to practise in rural Manitoba. It's why we have more residencies in rural Manitoba so that doctors will put down roots.
We know we have more to do, but we're on the right track.
Mr. Cullen: The more the minister talks about the situation, the worse it gets out there.
We've had 2,200 doctors have left the province under their watch. They have not demonstrated the ability to recruit and to retrain doctors. As a result, many communities have undertaken their own recruiting. They are endeavouring to find their own locums for the short term as well.
Mr. Speaker, will the government consider financially assisting those communities that have expenses incurred in trying to retain their own doctors and to recruit their own doctors?
Ms. Selby: The first member got up and talked about wanting to cut the funding that goes to the recruitment and retention of doctors and nurses. Mr. Speaker, I can tell you that doesn't bring more doctors into the province. And I know their advice has been to cut half a billion dollars from the medical system right across the board. That also isn't going to help us recruit any more doctors or nurses. I know when they were in government they cut the medical training spots down to 70 seats. We brought them up to 110, and as we did that they had voted against those measures every single time.
So I'm not going to take advice from people who think that cutting $37 million from rural health care makes improvements. Bringing more doctors, like we've been doing, to rural Manitoba makes improvements.
Patient Case Concern
Mr. Cliff Graydon (Emerson): Mr. Speaker, one of my constituents arrived at St. Boniface hospital on March 17th for an appointment. He was referred for an ultrasound and then a CT scan and then a procedure to open up a bile duct, as the doctors found a tumour on his pancreas.
He waiting in emergency from noon 'til 6:30, when he was finally put on a stretcher. The CT scan and a procedure took place late the next day, and 36 hours later he left St. Boniface. In those 36 hours he was offered only clear liquids, which is dangerous for a diabetic.
Mr. Speaker, why did it take 36 hours for this man to receive anything to eat or drink?
Hon. Erin Selby (Minister of Health): I thank the member for raising this in the House. If he could please pass on some details of this case to myself or to my office. I would like to be able to get some more information to the family. I know that they're looking for some answers.
I certainly would like to hear what happened as well and learn a little bit more about it. If the member would please talk to me or share that information with my office, we could look into that.
Mr. Graydon: Well, Mr. Speaker, for 36 hours this man received no food and nothing to drink. Diabetics have to constantly monitor their blood sugar at the risk of running too high or, in this case, too low.
On March 18th he was told that 90 per cent of the tumours like his turn out to be cancer. On April 14th his cancer had progressed to the point that he needed a blood transfusion. The family is then told that they have to drive to Winnipeg and get the blood themselves.
Mr. Speaker, why are the families in this province, particularly those that are dealing with circumstances such as this, expected to be delivery drivers for medical services?
Ms. Selby: Again, I would ask if the member could bring forward some more information so we could look into this specific case. As described, it does sounds like a very unfortunate situation and I'd like to learn more about it.
But one of the commitments we've made to cancer patients is our Cancer Patient Journey, which is going to not only help bring cancer patient treatment closer to home, as we've done with 16 cancer hubs around the province, but also to make that time from suspicion of cancer until treatment becomes much shorter. Until we can actually get rid of cancer–and I wish I could make that promise–but until we can, we are going to try to make that cancer patient journey a little bit easier for families.
Mr. Graydon: Mr. Speaker, I sincerely hope that she does not have to take the treatment under her watch that the rest of Manitobans are taking today.
Mr. Speaker, on April 16th, a full month after his initial tests, the man is diagnosed with cancer. For the appointment, the ambulance transports him from Morris to the cancer care at Victoria. That's a two-hour appointment. The ambulance is to wait. They told him he was too weak for chemo, as the cancer has progressed a great deal in a month. The ambulance was supposed to wait for him, but was nowhere to be found when he was done. A full two hours after the appointment, another ambulance shows up to transport him.
Mr. Speaker, on three occasions the Minister of Health dropped a ball. Will she apologize to this family, and when will she ensure that families–other families never have to go through this same situation under her watch?
Ms. Selby: The circumstances as described by this member sound very unfortunate, and I do urge him to contact my office or to have the family to contact my office so we can look into what happened. I'm sure they would like to have a little more information and some answers, as would I.
But I have to say, Mr. Speaker, the people who work in our CancerCare hubs, whether around the province or at CancerCare here in Winnipeg, do a very good job. They work with compassion, they work with a lot of knowledge, and they do the best they can. Sometimes they can't do everything we would like and sometimes the patient journey can be more difficult than we would want any of our loved ones to go through, but we are working to make that patient journey a little bit easier for families, a little bit easier for patients, and I know that our front-line staff are a huge part of providing the best care they can.
* (14:00)
Case Concern
Mr. Ralph Eichler (Lakeside): Recently I had a constituent, a cancer patient, receive notice that he was to go to the Victoria hospital for an urgent procedure at 8 a.m. Upon arrival the family presented the request to the front desk. They waited, they waited, and finally, after hours, they were called.
I ask the minister: How is it this government cannot manage their Health Department?
Hon. Erin Selby (Minister of Health): Again, I would urge this member to bring that information forward to me or to my office so we could look into it, because that isn't the experience that we want for patients.
Mr. Speaker, the reason why we're investing in the first-in-Canada Cancer Patient Journey is to make that journey a little bit easier. We aren't going to be able to get rid of cancer anytime in the near future. I sure wish I could make that commitment, but what we can do is commit to making that journey a little bit easier.
We know that we have the shortest wait time in Canada for radiation therapy at one week or less, according to CIHI.
And we want to do better at every stage of it, from suspicion until treatment, because we know that that is probably one of the hardest parts that cancer patients go through is thinking they have cancer until treatment begins. And if we can make that a little bit shorter and support people on the way, well, that's what we're working to do.
Mr. Eichler: Mr. Speaker, obviously, this tells us a story. This minister is either incompetent, not doing her job or maybe both. We really don't know.
What we have learned, that a letter means nothing, even if it's marked urgent. For over eight hours, a cancer patient waited in a wheelchair to get the urgent procedure that he needed and even soiled himself while waiting.
I ask the minister: Is this the new norm that her and her department have set for cancer patients, for all Manitobans?
Ms. Selby: Absolutely not, Mr. Speaker.
We are committed to trying to make that journey a little bit easier. It's why we've opened the urgent cancer clinic at the Health Sciences Centre so that cancer patients don't have to go to the regular ER where they may have had to wait or they may have been exposed to other germs. We now have that Urgent Cancer Care centre with people who know how to deal with–sometimes the symptoms that can come up with treatment, which we know can be very difficult to live with, and we want to get people in as quickly as possible.
We've also hired cancer patient journey navigators in many areas around the province to help avoid problems like missed appointments or people having to come in on several days. I know the navigators will work with people in rural Manitoba to try to line up their appointments on one day so that people don't have to come in too often.
Mr. Speaker, going through cancer is a very difficult journey for the patient and for their families. We know that. It's why we're committed to the Cancer Patient Journey, to try to make that journey a little smoother and a little shorter.
Mr. Eichler: Mr. Speaker, the care that my constituent received, when he finally received it, was outstanding. In fact, he was treated quickly, recovered and sent home in a very timely manner.
The problem is the mismanagement of this minister, of this government.
Mr. Speaker, I ask this government: Why do they feel that Manitobans should have to suffer for this government's total mismanagement? That's what it boils down to. Either she has a handle on her department or she don't.
Ms. Selby: We know how difficult this journey is for families. It's not just the patient who goes through it; it's the families, the loved ones. And in many cases the community in rural Manitoba is helping the patient, as well, to support the treatment.
One of the things that we know is difficult, particularly for people in rural Manitoba, is to come into Winnipeg for treatments. It's why we've expanded our 16 rural chemotherapy sites into cancer hubs around the province. It's why we have the patient navigator to help co-ordinate those appointments so that the people don't have to come in as often as they might. It's why we have radiation in Brandon as well as in Winnipeg to help make that journey a little bit easier. We now know that 25 per cent of our chemotherapy treatments in Manitoba are done outside of Winnipeg because we are doing what we can.
Whether it's a family doctor for all, whether it's a mobile clinic to bring somebody a nurse practitioner or a CancerCare hub or dialysis, we're doing what we can to bring health care closer to people.
Holiday Closures
Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): Mr. Speaker, the Lac du Bonnet constituency is a beautiful area of the province, and as such, its population triples, if not quadruples, during the upcoming summer months.
Given that Beausejour, Pinawa, Powerview-Pine Falls ERs have been closed on many occasions, should residents and tourists expect that the emergency rooms are to be closed when the next holiday rolls around?
Hon. Erin Selby (Minister of Health): As a girl who grew up in Pinawa, you don't have to convince me that it's one of the best parts of this province.
Mr. Speaker, I know that residents in Beausejour and surrounding areas are concerned about their ER. Certainly, we'd like to see all doctors in the Beausejour 'resion' taking on-call to ensure that we have enough physicians. The ones that are doing it are working quite a bit of hours, and we'd like to be able to relieve the burden of those doctors who are doing on-call by ensuring that all doctors work on‑call.
But the most important thing is we have not stopped trying to recruit more doctors to areas and we definitely have the funding on the table. That we will keep in place.
Rural Manitoba
Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): Mr. Speaker, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, Manitoba has one of the lowest doctor retention rates in Canada. Of new physicians that first registered in Manitoba between 1995 and 1999, only 32.1 per cent were still practising in Manitoba 10 years later. The Canadian average is 58.1 per cent.
This minister has failed to retain doctors in rural Manitoba. In fact, she's allowed our province to slip to the bottom of the barrel.
Why should the Lac du Bonnet constituency residents and other Manitobans have any confidence in this Health Minister to fix the serious problems facing emergent care in Manitoba today?
Hon. Erin Selby (Minister of Health): Again, Mr. Speaker, we have a net gain of 562 more doctors practising in Manitoba; 120 of those are practising in rural Manitoba.
But we know we need more. It's why we've committed to bringing in more doctors. It's why we've committed to hiring more nurses.
And I talk often about the $37 million that they cut to rural health when they were in office, but I don't know if the member's aware of it that for the Lac du Bonnet personal-care home, that was nearly $150,000 cut. To the Pine Falls health-care centre, that was almost $800,000 cut.
Mr. Speaker, we're not cutting health care. We're giving more money to health care because we know that we need more front-line workers. We're doing it, we're bringing in more, and we're going to keep working on it.
Mr. Ewasko: The fact is, Mr. Speaker, this new Health Minister doesn't know the difference between gross and net.
Another fact: The Powerview-Pine Falls and Pinawa areas have lost, Mr. Speaker, five doctors in the most recent time, and they're going to be losing another one.
So, again, why should the Lac du Bonnet constituency residents have any confidence in this new Health Minister to fix any of the problems or believe anything that she's saying in regards to any promises due to health care in this province?
Ms. Selby: Mr. Speaker, we know that 86 per cent of Manitobans do have a family doctor, but we want everyone who wants a family doctor to have one by 2015.
The way we're doing that is by training more doctors. They cut the medical seats down to 70. We brought them up to 110. They've voted against those every single time.
We're training more doctors. We've got more rural residencies. We're bringing in more doctors. We're keeping more doctors.
And, Mr. Speaker, the net gain is the important part: 562 more doctors are working in Manitoba than when they were in government.
Cleanup Timeline
Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Yes, Mr. Speaker, the Province says it has allocated $45 million for the cleanup of orphaned mines in 2014-2015, yet there is still no actual plan in place to remove acid tailings from the town of Lynn Lake itself. The Province is also denying that there are an increased number of cancer cases in Lynn Lake.
I ask the Premier: Why in 15 years has there been so little progress? Why is the cleanup of Lynn Lake not happening or proceeding so slowly when the government says it has invested some money and when the health and lives of Manitobans are at stake?
Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): I thank the member for the question. There never were any resources allocated to orphaned mine cleanup until we came into office, put them on the books, and we have spent tens of million dollars every year cleaning up orphaned mines in Manitoba with very significant progress.
With respect to the issue raised–with respect to the issue that the member raises on the specific community of Lynn Lake, there is a group that is studying the specific epidemiological impact of cancer in that community. They are collaborating together to identify whether there are issues there that need to be addressed.
Certainly, the recommendations on cleaning up that orphaned mine are followed based on professional advice. We want to ensure that orphaned mines are dealt with in such a way that communities are safe, and there is a group of health-care professionals, in collaboration with the local people, looking at the incidence of cancer in that area and whether there are a higher rate of cancer incidents in that area that need to be addressed and whether there's a link to the orphaned mine.
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Request to Table Report
Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Mr. Speaker, peatlands have been scientifically proven to be an invaluable component of the environment and the economy. They filter out water pollutants. They aid in flood protection and do all sorts of things that are good.
In 2009 the Premier announced that his NDP government would implement a provincial boreal peatland strategy, yet five years later this government still has not released this strategy. Was the 2009 press release just a photo op before the Copenhagen summit and ultimately just another broken NDP promise? It's time this NDP government takes Manitoba's environment seriously.
Will the Premier table the boreal peatland strategy today? If not, why not?
Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): I thank the member for the question.
It is true that we, in 2009, took action to reduce the amount of peat mining occurring in the province of Manitoba, and there have been many follow-ups since. The member is correct in asking for where the overall strategy is. He will–I ask him to stay tuned. That strategy is imminent, Mr. Speaker.
As a matter of fact, we will be doing much more both–legislatively to protect peat in Manitoba. There will be some very significant changes which protect that valuable resource for all the reasons the member from River Heights indicated. It does filter water. It does have–store carbon not only for Manitobans but for all the citizens of the planet. It is a very important resource and it will be appropriately protected in Manitoba.
Government Funding
Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): We heard that word imminent five years ago. We're still waiting.
Today being global Earth Day, this NDP government should ensure Manitoba waters are well looked after. This applies whether we're considering the waters in regions where there are old mine sites or, indeed, in areas where the government may allow new peat mines. And yet the budget this year for Water Stewardship was reduced by more than 10 per cent.
I ask the government and the Premier: When will his government adequately fund the stewardship of our waters?
Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): There is about $1 billion of investment being leveraged to protect Lake Winnipeg. That's the most significant investment in the history of the province, and a good deal of that investment is related to infrastructure: better sewer, cleaner water, stronger regulations with respect to septic fields.
The Save Lake Winnipeg Act, which focuses on point-specific and non-point-specific phosphorus drainage into Lake Winnipeg, those measures are being put into place and have been put into place by regulations and law.
There's new experiments being done with respect to cattails and the role they can play in attracting and retaining phosphorus in the lakes and then allowing it to be recycled.
So we have tough laws, we have investments in research, we have more investments in infrastructure, and all of those are intended to protect clean water in Manitoba–clean water in Manitoba–and in particular, a healthy Lake Winnipeg.
Safety Regulations
Mr. Dave Gaudreau (St. Norbert): This weekend St. Norbert got lucky and dodged a bullet. A train derailed inside of my constituency, but, luckily, the cars that jumped the track were not hazardous. The oil tankers stayed on the tracks.
This very rail line that helped to serve the settle–and settle St. Norbert in the beginning now runs beside many schools and homes and carries much more dangerous goods than it has in the past. Firefighters have been advocating for changes and our Province has been a leader on the charge for rail safety.
Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation please inform the House on Manitoba's push for the need for stronger rail safety regulations to protect communities and families in Manitoba and in Canada?
Hon. Steve Ashton (Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation): I thank the MLA for St. Norbert for raising this issue on behalf of his constituents.
It's very clear as Canadians that we have to do a lot more in terms of rail safety. That was what we said when we hosted federal-provincial-territorial ministers from across Canada back in October.
We've said that we need much greater safety when it comes to hazardous goods. We need the ability for emergency responders to know what is in those trains. And, certainly, it's fortunate there were not flammable substances in this derailment, Mr. Speaker, but we have to rededicate ourselves to that. We will be raising this issue with CN, particular concerns in that area.
While I'm on my feet, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to also pass on my condolences to Kurt Penner's family. Had the opportunity, as many of us did, to work with him, and he was a true public servant, the kind of people that often are in–not in the lime like those of us in the House, and I want to really pass on how much he will be missed by all members of the Legislature.
Housing for Evacuees
Mr. Stuart Briese (Agassiz): Close to three years have passed since 2011 Lake Manitoba, Lake St. Martin flooding; 1,800 people are still displaced from their homes.
When will the NDP government actually do something that will allow flood victims to return to their homes?
Hon. Steve Ashton (Minister responsible for Emergency Measures): Well, there's a multi-faceted approach we've taken right from day one, not the least of which is the emergency outlet from Lake St. Martin we put in place in months during the 2011 flood, a tremendous achievement for everyone involved.
And I want to put on the record that we've also precommitted to $250 million for both the Lake Manitoba and the Lake St. Martin outlet. That is absolutely critical because that's the first [inaudible] to provide flood protection to people in around that area.
The second has been to our–in many cases, relocate housing to flood-protected area.
We've been working with the federal government and the First Nations under leadership of our Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and, I want to indicate, Mr. Speaker, making significant progress. But we will not stop until every member of those communities has a place to go that's flood-protected, but we're making significant progress towards that goal.
Mr. Briese: So far all they've made is announcements.
They talk about putting a new outlet into Lake Manitoba seven years down the road. Does that mean that these people are going to stay homeless for another seven years, making 10 years in total?
Eighteen hundred people are still out of their homes three years after the flood of 2011. People are being moved from temporary residence to temporary residence. Children are being moved from one school to another school.
I ask again: When do the empty promises end? When can the flood victims expect to return to their homes?
Mr. Ashton: Well, we are making progress. Lake St. Martin, land has been selected on higher ground.
Little Saskatchewan is in the process of converting land to reserve status. We're providing 39 homes to the First Nation to be installed in their new flood-protected community.
In Pinaymootang we're providing funding to construct 50 new homes, and we provided additional funding, it's for a replacement band office.
In Dauphin River First Nation, we're working on a development plan to refer–repair flood-damaged homes.
And I want to stress again, we are committed to the long-term flood protection. It's unfortunate that the member opposite voted against the budget to put in place that.
Mr. Briese: The levels of Lake St. Martin are still about two feet over what's supposed to be the maximum there, and this is three years after the flood. And he says he's taking action.
The 2011 man-made flood caused devastation to the families, disruption to thousands of people. Three years later, 1,800 people are still out of their homes. Many promises have been made and many promises have been broken.
When will the minister commit to a time frame to get the flood victims back to their homes and their communities?
Mr. Ashton: I think it's important to put on the record the member's incorrect. In fact, the technical analysis of the flood of 2011 showed that levels were about two feet below normal when the most significant damage occurred in around Lake Manitoba.
And what we've identified with Lake St. Martin is the fact that there was never an artificial outlet constructed from Lake St. Martin. We did it on an emergency basis in 2011. This government is committed to do it permanently, and I put on the record, we've taken the courageous decision with the 1 cent on the dollar to do the–what we have done for Manitobans and Winnipeg with one-in-700-year flood protection. That compares to one-in-25-year flood protection in Calgary, where, by the way, they don't have a sales tax.
I want to put on the record, we're there for Lake Manitoba, Lake St. Martin. It's too bad members opposite aren't there, Mr. Speaker.
Housing for Evacuees
Mr. Ralph Eichler (Lakeside): I'd like to correct the record. The minister has several times over the past number of months when we've been asking questions about the 1,800 residents been relocated out of Lake St. Martin. Why not he won't stand up for those people and tell them when they're going to be able to go back to their homes?
This minister and this government and the Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs has not stood up once for these people. It's a shame that this minister won't do so.
Hon. Eric Robinson (Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs): Well, I'll gladly stand up if I were asked a question.
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Let me point out to the member that negotiations, in fact, are proceeding to reach a final resolution program or package with each of the four First Nations that have been affected by the flood of 2011, and discussions are occurring between our government and the federal government, the federal government represented by Mr. Sid Dutchak and our government being represented by Harold Westdal. And the status of the dialogue is that each of the First Nations are being dealt with equally, equitably and in fairness, and I believe that we're going to find a just resolution for those four First Nations.
Mr. Eichler: Mr. Speaker, I'd say it's high time. Three years these folks have been out of their homes, moved from place to place. Their school kids been moved from place to place, and finally they have the magic bullet, the one that's going to solve the problems.
I would ask the minister to table that so all members of the House could see exactly when these folks will be allowed to go back to their homes.
Mr. Robinson: Mr. Speaker, it's a little more difficult than the way the member describes. There has to be land that has to be converted to reserve status. The federal minister and I have worked with each other in trying to find a resolution to this.
What I would like to do, what I did previously, is offer a briefing for the members opposite by our negotiators, and I–that offer has stood open, Mr. Speaker, you will recall, back in 2013, and it remains open.
Mr. Eichler: Mr. Speaker, I think that maybe we should take the minister up on that. Obviously, we'll have a–[interjection] Absolutely–absolutely. We'll take any type of help for the people that have been mislocated out of their homes through no fault of their own.
This government intentionally flooded those folks, and now they're going to say, we'll talk about it. We'll talk about it with some dignity, and we finally got resolution with the federal government because they were to blame all along.
Take responsibility, yes or no?
Mr. Robinson: You know what, Mr. Speaker, the responsibility has been assumed by all parties, the federal government and the provincial government who have taken equal responsibility. And you know what, it's not simply just sending home the Indians; it's rebuilding communities in their entirety.
Currently, we are embarking upon discussions and negotiations with each of the four First Nations, and we have a letter of understanding with Dauphin River so far, one pending with Little Saskatchewan, the work along at Pinaymootang has gone well, and we are working with Lake St. Martin as well to develop a letter of understanding.
And as I said previously in my response, I gladly will be, again, inviting my colleagues across the way for a briefing to get first-hand the challenges we have faced in trying to get the people to their homelands.
Mr. Speaker: Time for oral questions has expired.
Mr. Speaker: It's time for members' statements.
Earth Day
Mr. Shannon Martin (Morris): Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate this year's Earth Day. Every year on April 22nd we mark this occasion by raising awareness about environmental causes and showing appreciation for our natural environment.
Founded in the US in the 1970s, Earth Day was meant as a nationwide environmental teach-in that would raise awareness of climate change, among other environmental challenges. Within 10 years, the idea of Earth Day Canada caught on when a small group had a vision to engage Canadians in the most pressing environmental issues of our time. Events like Earth Day have since transformed the way we live our lives and how we interact with our natural environment.
Environmental sustainability has become an integral part of how we do business here in Manitoba. Farmers and other members of the ag community have also implemented green practices, Mr. Speaker, like environment farm plans and manure management practices to provide ecological goods and services for all people in this province. Environmental education programs have been launched in our universities, high schools and elementary schools, educating the next generation of students about climate change.
Today a group of local media and sport celebrities will join the Downtown BIZ's ninth annual Earth Day Clean-Up of Winnipeg. These are just some of the great examples of inspiring activity that are taking place across our province to preserve our environment.
While there is much to celebrate in the progress we have achieved, there is still much more work to do in the land of 100,000 lakes. Manitoba's in need of measures to protect our environment which are based on science and not on political partisanship. Furthermore, this government has not only failed to meet our climate target changes in 2008, threatening not only our environment but our future economic prosperity. We can and must do better.
I would encourage everyone this Earth Day to reflect on the progress we've made so far but to commit to taking new concrete actions that will preserve our natural environment both now and for future generations.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Dr. Jack Fainman
Ms. Christine Melnick (Riel): I rise today to pay tribute to a great Manitoban and an outstanding humanitarian, Dr. Jack Fainman. He has been described as one of the most gentle, lovable people you could ever know. In short, Jack was a mensch.
Born in 1931, Jack Fainman grew up in the North End of Winnipeg in a family of very modest means. He was a first-generation North American Jewish male, very tied to the traditions of the rich Yiddish life of the shtetl while at the same time reaching out to the modern world. Jack's grandmother entered him into school a year early and he thrived on the scholastic environment, eventually choosing a career in medicine, specializing in obstetrics and gynecology.
His specialization took him to Chicago where he moved with his wife, Fagie, and three small children to Chicago's south end, a tough neighbourhood. During his residency there, he witnessed women bleed to death in the emergency room after they had performed self-induced abortions, as legalized abortion did not exist at that time.
As a result, Dr. Fainman became medically politicized into supporting women's choice for abortion. He would support women's reproductive rights, administer the birth-control bill and perform abortions. He believed women should choose in safety and with dignity. Jack said, I'm a very strict pro-choicer. I think women absolutely should do what they want with their bodies and I just resented other people who wanted to take this privilege away.
His high standards of practice and gentle manner saw Jack rise to the position of head of obstetrics and gynecology at Victoria hospital. During his years of practising medicine Jack would deliver 5,000 babies. This was one of his greatest joys.
This practice came to an end on Remembrance Day, November 11th, 1997, when Jack was shot in his home in Riel. He would never practise medicine again. He was 66 years of age.
Dr. Fainman devoted his life to his career and his family, most notably to his deeply loved wife, Fagie, who has joined us in the gallery today. This is quite a legacy, and one that not only his immediate family but that we as fellow Manitobans are privileged to inherit.
May Dr. Jack Fainman rest in peace while his legacy lives on. Thank you, Jack.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Shirley Kernaghan and Betty Miller
Mr. Doyle Piwniuk (Arthur-Virden): It's my pleasure to rise today to honour and commend two women from Waskada, Manitoba, Shirley Kernaghan and Betty Miller, who preserved through the thick and thin to see the Coulter bridge built as soon as possible. The local residents are–nicknamed the bridge the Shirley Kernaghan bridge.
Since the 2011 flood, Shirley and Betty had led the way for their constituents in their area to make sure government did not forget them and that they were determined to use every means possible to make sure that this happened. Many emails and letters from Shirley and Betty were sent out to all levels of government, newspapers, radio stations and even contacted an Alberta company to put a temporary bridge in place. They even went as far as putting an ice shack on the frozen river so that they can drive across to eliminate the extra 40-minute travel time during the winter months.
Well, almost three months–three years have passed. On March 31st, 2014, quietly the Coulter bridge finally opened, but Shirley and Betty were not going to let this one be as quiet opening of the bridge. They had their grand opening on the Waskada bridge on April 12th, 2014, with over 100 people in attendance. People came from many surrounding communities to see the opening and they even made the sign calling the bridge the Shirley Kernaghan bridge. For now it's called the Coulter bridge on Highway 251.
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Waskada is a thriving community with many people like Shirley and Betty and their–with their determination is a testament to all of us on how a small community survives.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I'm again taking this time to congratulate Shirley and Betty for their courage in taking on the task and making sure that the Coulter bridge was rebuilt in their community.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Road Renewal in The Maples
Mr. Mohinder Saran (The Maples): Here in Manitoba many people think of April as the start of dreaded pothole season. However, our provincial government is ready to work with the City of Winnipeg to tackle troublesome streets. That is why Manitoba recently announced the largest ever amount of provincial funding to renew our roads.
Mr. Speaker, we are investing $250 million over the next five years to fix Winnipeg roads, sidewalks and other projects. This translates into $50 million a year, an investment that creates good jobs for Manitobans in construction, engineering and everything in between. It will make a huge difference, not only in our city but also right here in The Maples.
Mr. Speaker, we can all agree that investing in new infrastructure is important for many reasons. Some infrastructure is simply aging. In other areas of the city, we need new infrastructure to meet the needs of our growing population. Another reason to invest is to ease the consequences of severe Winnipeg winters that destroy roads.
Mr. Speaker, here in The Maples, we are tackling large potholes in our neighbourhoods and main roads. Work on residential streets will begin on Manila Road, Garton Avenue, Rose Hill Way and Altamont Street. We will then continue our road renewal mission by asphalting Altamont Street, Chochinov Avenue and Foxwarren Drive. Many of you will also be happy to hear that Pipeline Road, from north of Templeton to the Perimeter Highway, will also have work done on it.
Mr. Speaker, these are some of the reasons why we are taking on one of the most aggressive road‑renewal projects in the history of our province, and I'm looking forward to seeing the difference this makes in The Maples. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Kara Dennis
Mr. Cliff Graydon (Emerson): Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise in the House today and congratulate Kara Dennis, a teacher at Roseau Valley School in Dominion City, for her work with students on new programs in environmental education.
Ms. Dennis was nominated for the work she does at Roseau Valley School in the area of outdoor environmental education. She was nominated based on the initiative she has incorporated into classrooms at RVS and the work that she has done to extend the borders of the classroom to places like Tourond Creek Discovery Centre and A Rocha.
Ms. Dennis received an honourable mention for Manitoba Round Table for Sustainable Development award for education for sustainability. The award was given out in an award ceremony honouring the recipients of the 2013 Manitoba Excellence in Sustainability Awards on March 17th, 2014, at the Manitoba Legislature.
The purpose of the 2013 Manitoba Excellence in Sustainability Awards is to recognize Manitobans who embrace the spirit and the principles of sustainable development. The awards recognize and honour people, projects and ideas that successfully translate the principles and the guidelines of sustainable development into concrete and lasting achievements.
The environment and ecosystems are an important part of the science curriculum, and it is very important for students to be able to experience the world around them without having to only read about it in textbooks. Projects like these are important to giving students a well-rounded education and are important in teaching students all about the environment that they are a part of.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my constituents and all the members of this House, I would like to congratulate Kara Dennis on all her work to expand the walls of the classroom by teaching her students all around the world–all about the world around them. This is very important work, and it's great to see it being done in my constituency.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker: Grievances?
Mr. Speaker: Seeing none, orders of the day, government business.
House Business
Hon. Andrew Swan (Government House Leader): Yes, on House business, Mr. Speaker, pursuant to rule 31(8), I'm announcing the private members' resolution to be considered next Tuesday will be one put forward by the honourable member for St. Norbert (Mr. Gaudreau). The title of the resolution is Rail Safety in Manitoba.
Mr. Speaker: It has been announced that, pursuant to rule 31(8), that the private members' resolution to be considered next Tuesday will be the one brought forward by the honourable member for St. Norbert, and the title of the resolution is Rail Safety in Manitoba.
* * *
Mr. Swan: Mr. Speaker, could you please call Committee of Supply.
Mr. Speaker: We'll now resolve into the Committee of Supply.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, will you please take the Chair.
HEALTH, HEALTHY LIVING AND SENIORS
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Mr. Chairperson (Mohinder Saran): Order. Will the Committee of Supply please come to order. This section of the Committee of Supply will now resume consideration of the last item, resolution 21.1 of the Estimates of the Department of Health, Healthy Living and Seniors.
Our first item of business today is to deal with the amendment moved by the honourable member for Steinbach (Mr. Goertzen), then followed by the motion moved by the honourable member for Charleswood (Mrs. Driedger), on April 16, 2014, which deals with the line item 21.1.(a) minister's salary. Therefore, the amendment currently before us reads that the motion be amended to replace $15 with $10.
Are there any questions?
Seeing none, shall the amendment pass?
Some Honourable Members: Yes.
Some Honourable Members: No.
Mr. Chairperson: I heard a no.
Voice Vote
Mr. Chairperson: All those in favour of the amendment, please say aye.
Some Honourable Members: Aye.
Mr. Chairperson: All those opposed to the amendment, please say nay.
Some Honourable Members: Nay.
Mr. Chairperson: In my opinion, the Nays have it.
Recorded Vote
Mr. Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach): A recorded vote, Mr. Chairperson.
Mr. Chairperson: A formal vote has been requested by two members. This section of the Committee of Supply will now recess to allow this matter to be reported and for members to proceed to the Chamber for the vote.
The committee recessed at 2:43 p.m.
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The committee resumed at 3:56 p.m.
Mr. Chairperson: Order. I would like to call the Committee of Supply back to order.
We will resume with [inaudible] business and now deal with the main motion that the two ministerial salaries set out in line item 21.1.(a) be reduced to $15 each.
Are there any questions? Seeing none, shall the motion pass?
Some Honourable Members: Pass.
Some Honourable Members: No.
Voice Vote
Mr. Chairperson: Okay, hearing no, all those in favour of the amendment, please say aye.
Some Honourable Members: Aye.
Mr. Chairperson: All those opposed to the amendment, please say nay.
Some Honourable Members: Nay.
Mr. Chairperson: In my opinion, the Nays have it.
Recorded Vote
Mr. Goertzen: Recorded vote, Mr. Chairperson.
Mr. Chairperson: A formal vote has been requested by two members. This section of the Committee of Supply will now recess to allow this matter to be voted and for members to proceed to the Chamber for the vote.
The committee recessed at 3:57 p.m.
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The committee resumed at 5:01 p.m.
Mr. Chairperson: Order. This section of Supply, committee rise.
CONSERVATION AND WATER STEWARDSHIP
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Mr. Chairperson (Rob Altemeyer): Will the Committee of Supply please come to order. This section of the Committee of Supply will now resume consideration of the Estimates for the Department of Conservation and Water Stewardship.
As had been previously agreed, questioning for this department will proceed in a global manner and the floor is now open for questions.
Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Yes, a question to the minister.
We have a new provincial Hudson's Bay polar bear park, as I understand it, which will surround Wapusk National Park, and I'm just wondering what the status of this provincial park is?
Hon. Gord Mackintosh (Minister of Conservation and Water Stewardship): Following the announcement of the concept of a polar bear park for Manitoba, we shared with the stakeholders a study area that sets out potential lands to be considered by a consultation process. One of the first meetings that were held was at the town of Churchill. We had given a heads up earlier to the mayor and the CEO of Churchill because they are most directly impacted, and then a lot of ideas and concerns and points of view were shared with the department at that consultation as well.
Communications have been launched with other stakeholders. It's our intention, over the course of the next few months, to conclude consultations with the area First Nations, with other resource developers whether it's Hydro or the mining industry, for example, that's expressed an interest and the Port of Churchill and MIT.
The department then has been tasked with the job of coming back with a recommendation in terms of how to reconcile all the different views with an objective of attaining a robust protected area and it may be that there are different approaches for different areas. It's a huge, huge swath of land, and we'll certainly want to ensure that everyone knows they've been listened to but that we can come back with what I think will be an internationally renowned new park.
The member may well know, too, that some parts of the park will comprise what is currently a wildlife management area. And I'll also just put on the record that, while we have proposed the name polar bear park, the area has many other features that are of great significance, whether it's the Tyrrell beach area, for example, whether it's the birds that–the bird habitat, whether it's, you know, there may be impacts even on the beluga population and we talked about a beluga strategy in here a few days ago.
Mr. Gerrard: Yes, who in the department has the lead on this strategy?
Mr. Mackintosh: Yes, Parks has the lead.
Mr. Gerrard: Is there a person within Parks who has the lead or is it just a broad designation?
Mr. Mackintosh: Yes, the lead project officer is Jessica Elliott from our department, who, by the way, doesn't come new to this area. I think she grew up in Churchill, actually, and her father was the former superintendent of Wapusk National Park.
The other matter that I should put on the record is that the tourist operators are a very important part of our consultation population, and I understand that the department has begun to reach out or invite discussions. The member may be aware that there's been some ongoing controversy over some period of time about the–what is objectively the proper carrying capacity in the area. We have tendered–we have asked for proposals as a result of a tender for a consultation on that.
There was a decision made in the 1990s about what should be the capacity for tundra buggies, and there's been a lot of questions since about whether that's enough or whether it's too much, and we're going to try and take a stab at an objective measure as best we can and ensure that, as well, mitigation measures are well in place and see where that takes us in terms of both protecting the population and ensuring the sustainable tourist business, which is also very, very important, we think, for the area and for Manitoba and for the message on climate change. It is, I think, a critical match to the very significant investments we've made at Assiniboine Park in terms of both the Polar Bear Conservation Centre and Journey to Churchill.
Mr. Gerrard: What is the budget for the development of the park and for the consultations and so on?
Mr. Mackintosh: Yes, I'm advised it's about $50,000.
Mr. Gerrard: You know, in the consultations which are coming up, does the minister have dates and places for the consultations yet?
Mr. Mackintosh: Yes, the first round of consultations directly at Churchill were last fall and the next round will be the summer. The specific dates haven't been set yet but that is all part of the work plan, and I expect that there'll be finer final details in the near future.
And it was planned that consultations would occur in both Churchill and in Winnipeg, and it may be that First Nations will invite consultations in their community but we'll wait to see. That is yet to be determined.
Mr. Gerrard: And which First Nation communities are–will be involved?
Mr. Mackintosh: Yes, there are five First Nations that are potentially interested in this one, and we can get the names to the member.
By the way, I think it's important to note, too, that we are familiar with the management model of Wapusk National Park, and we are similarly interested and are offering that as a management model whereby First Nations would become partners in the oversight of the park.
Mr. Gerrard: What about the consultations–there's a number of people of Inuit background living in Churchill and I suspect that there may be Metis interests. Will there be consultations involving Inuit and Metis people as well?
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Mr. Mackintosh: In terms of Inuit in the area, if there are any living in Churchill, then they would be part of the Churchill consultations, but it's my understanding from staff that the Inuit population would be further to the north. The First Nations populations would be more–would be closer.
But, we should also remember that protected areas like this would have no impact on treaty and Aboriginal rights to start with. That has to be made clear.
Mr. Gerrard: Yes. While we're on parks, there's been, as the minister knows, discussion about whether parks should be free of mining, or whether there should be mining in parks, and maybe the minister can provide an indication of what his plans are in this respect.
Mr. Chairperson: Order, please. A formal vote has been requested in another section of the Committee of Supply. I am therefore recessing this section of the Committee of Supply in order for members to proceed to the Chamber for a formal vote.
The committee recessed at 2:52 p.m.
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The committee resumed at 3:59 p.m.
Mr. Chairperson: Will the Committee of Supply please come to order. This section of the Committee of Supply will now resume consideration of the Estimates for the Department of Conservation and Water Stewardship.
When we were last in progress, the minister was about to provide an answer. So I'll give the floor to the honourable minister.
Mr. Mackintosh: Well, actually, just going back, there was a question about First Nations consultations on the park–Fox Lake, War Lake, Split Lake, York Factory, Shamattawa, Tadoule, Fort Severin–that's on the Ontario side. And there was two specific requests: Satchigo, on the Ontario side, and Peguis.
Mr. Gerrard: Yes, there was–when we left, I had asked a question about the minister's plans with regard to mining in parks, whether the minister was, you know, looking to remove mines, whether the minister was looking to have mines in provincial parks, or what's the status?
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Mr. Mackintosh: Well, peat extraction was historically classified as mining in Manitoba, which was rather an odd characterization but nonetheless, and it continues to be under the mining act, but so that was removed, but there are over 1,600 mining interests in our large, remote parks. And indeed the mining interests, by and large, predated the development of our provincial parks. I think it was back in the day of Duff Roblin or whatever, but many of the greatest Manitoba parks are on very important mining belts, whether it's Nopiming, for example, Grass River come to mind or Atikaki.
And so that was the unique history of Manitoba parks that, you know, distinguishes us from the development of parks in some other jurisdictions. So, at the same time, there have been ongoing mining developments in our parks, particularly in the North, and it does provide jobs for northern and Aboriginal Manitobans.
The hundreds of millions of dollars that would be required to expropriate the mining interests from our parks would really not withstand the support of Manitoba taxpayers, I'm confident, and so while we would like to address the issue in some way, it won't be through the wholesale ending of mining interests in parks. That's just not on; that's just not possible. It's not feasible and indeed, currently, there is a proposal for mine development at Grass River, at Reed, and that will provide great opportunities for northern residents so that is proceeding on the basis of the checks and balances that go with an environmental assessment.
Nonetheless, though, there are two activities that are under way. We are making best efforts to reduce or to avoid mining in new park developments as we go ahead but that, you know, that depends and we'll–but that's what we have tried to priorize. But we're also looking to ensure a stronger balance between park values and mining, currently, looking to see how we can reduce conflict in areas where that might arise. But, as well, the Manitoba mining association has been looking at best practices and, as well, there's developments or there's consultations with the Petroleum Branch in terms of what the plans are longer term for Turtle Mountain Provincial Park where there's a lot of gas and oil potential.
So we're looking to see how we can provide some certainty, both in terms of conservation values and development values, when it comes to mining in parks. So that was committed to in the park strategy, and work is under way between two departments, our department and Mineral Resources.
Mr. Gerrard: It's been said, but I don't know whether there's any accuracy to it, that the government is going to look at removing peat mining from Mines and move it into another jurisdiction.
Mr. Mackintosh: I think one of the fundamental changes in peat regulation in Manitoba that will be tabled in the coming days will be to create free‑standing peat management legislation, and that would be the first of its kind in the country, but it recognizes that peat is neither mining nor is it forestry nor is it–[interjection] there's another one–mining, forestry or agriculture.
And it is dealt with in different ways all across the country, by the way. We think it's very unique and so the legislation will address peat as a stand-alone issue that deserves its own management practices and strategy, and we've been working hand in hand with the industry as we've developed this and, of course, listening very carefully to the views of Manitobans I heard even just in the last several days. And we hope to bring in legislation that will put Manitoba at the forefront of recognizing peat as a resource that has to be managed and both in terms of conservation values once again and for resource development.
Peat does have an important role in horticulture, and it does disproportionately provide jobs in what would otherwise be areas that are very difficult to attract jobs to.
So we see the need to reconcile and to provide the balance and really deliver on what, I think, was contemplated when the term sustainable development was coined and has been defined.
Mr. Gerrard: Maybe the minister can tell us what the economic value of the peat industry is in Manitoba.
Mr. Mackintosh: As I recall, I think that while the sector is seasonal in some of its operations, I think–[interjection] They say it's like being on Cloutier, you know, there's an ad that comes on every five seconds.
Mr. Chairperson: Well, it's Groundhog Day, apparently. Order, please.
A formal vote has yet again been requested in another section of the Committee of Supply. I am, therefore, recessing this section of the Committee of Supply in order for members to proceed to the Chamber for a formal vote.
If the bells ring past 5 o'clock, this section will be considered to have risen for the day.
Stay tuned, true believers.
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Mr. Chairperson (Tom Nevakshonoff): Good afternoon. This section of the Committee of Supply will continue with the consideration of the Estimates of the Department of Municipal Government. Would the minister's staff and opposition staff please enter the Chamber.
As previously agreed, questioning for this department will proceed in a global manner. The floor is now open for questions.
Mr. Ralph Eichler (Lakeside): And just the waving was pretty exciting there for a few minutes, but we're ready to proceed now. And I want to come back to the staffing assessment branch questions, and we had talked about the number of positions that were open and the government filling those positions.
I would ask the minister if there's any updates or corrections he would like to put on the record at this point in time from our discussions last week.
Hon. Stan Struthers (Minister of Municipal Government): And, yes, as a matter of fact, we do have some, a couple of updates, for members opposite. First of all, last week I said there were two positions in Dauphin that were vacant; there's actually three in Dauphin that are vacant. In Portage la Prairie, as of this morning–the bad news first, the good news now–in Portage, we've made offers to people on two positions there that we, as I said, we've been working to fill. Whether it's Portage or Dauphin or any of these other offices, we're hopeful that those positions will be–those offers will be accepted, we'll fill those positions, vacant positions, in Portage.
As the member knows, as I explained last week, we–whether–whatever office it is in whatever region of the province, we work to make sure we fill those vacancies when they come forward. In the meantime, we have protocols that we follow in terms of making sure that we can shift people from one office to the next as we monitor the workload levels in each of our offices right across the province.
So, yes, three positions in Dauphin. And in Portage, we've offered positions to two more people to fill up some vacancies there.
Mr. Eichler: I thank the minister for those updates, and we know that there'll probably be more to come in the days ahead, I'm sure. It's kind of like a revolving table.
We know that May 1st is the finance period for mayors and reeves, and of course, general council. What is the department's plans in regards to helping those that have not yet amalgamated in order to achieve the same opportunity to run for mayor, reeve or council once those amalgamations take place? Because obviously we know there's a number of them that haven't taken place, and they need some assurances that they'll have the same opportunities as those that have already amalgamated.
Mr. Struthers: I'm glad that the member opposite understands that we will continue to keep hiring into those vacancies. He's right. There will be more to come. We had a good discussion last week, I think, about turnover and retirements and how we have to have succession plans in place. Our commitment is that we would do it in such a way that that information that the retiree has is transmitted to somebody coming in to that position. But he's right. We will keep–we'll keep advertising and keep hiring and keep offering positions to people so that we can maintain that presence in communities like Portage la Prairie and Dauphin and others, where these offices exist.
He had asked about elections coming up this fall. Of course, October is election time at the municipal level. He knows, too, that we've been working very hard, the department and many leaders in rural Manitoba, towards amalgamating a number of RMs. We've had some very good success: 30–I believe 37 amalgamations, partnerships, have been approved. And that's some that are two-way amalgamations, some with three-way amalgamations. They've been approved by Cabinet and are in place and will be ready to go for this year's municipal elections.
Our intent is to have all of these amalgamations wrapped up this month because May is a very important month in preparation for the municipal elections coming up in October. There's a number of logistical things that municipalities need to have in place, and our department, as always, and especially this year, will be ready, willing and able to assist in having municipalities that have been amalgamated ready to go for their elections.
And I want to be clear, that goes for any other municipality, whether they're amalgamating or not. Our department will be there in support of making sure that the elections are run properly and fairly. Our goal is to make sure that we have as much participation as we can, lots of interest in running for reeve or for mayor, for any number of council positions, whether it's an amalgamated municipality or one that was not impacted by amalgamations directly.
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We–as I said, these have been moving along through our system. We intend to have them completed in time to be ready for a lot of things that need to happen starting in May, which is right around the corner. Traditionally, May is the time that things really start to heat up, especially in terms of elections, financing and preparation for these municipal elections. The department has put out a candidates' manual to be of assistance to people that are running and are hopefuls in that election process.
The–as I've said, department staff will be ready to support amalgamating municipalities in whatever form that may take. One of the things that these amalgamating municipalities have been talking about, and one of the things that's required in terms of putting an amalgamation together, is the choice of who's actually going to run their elections locally.
The SEO, in each case, needs to be named, and then that person works with our department. We've had sessions already to make sure that the person running the municipal election locally is in a good position to make those decisions and make sure that municipalities are well served in the lead-up to the elections that will take place October 22nd, I believe.
An Honourable Member: Correct.
Mr. Struthers: Thank you. We agree on that much, anyway.
Report
Mr. Mohinder Saran (Chairperson of the section of the Committee of Supply meeting in room 254): Mr. Chairperson, in the section of the Committee of Supply meeting in the room 254, considering the Estimates of the Department of Health, Healthy Living and Seniors, the honourable member for Steinbach (Mr. Goertzen) moved the following motion on April 16, 2014: that the motion be amended to replace $15 with the $10.
Mr. Chairperson, this motion was defeated on a voice vote. Subsequently, two members requested that a counted vote be taken on this matter.
Mr. Chairperson: A recorded vote has been requested.
Call in the members.
All sections in Chamber for recorded vote.
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Recorded Vote
Mr. Chairperson: Order, please. As the 60 minutes allotted for the ringing of the division bells has run out, I'm ordering them to be shut off, and we'll proceed to the vote.
In the section of the Committee of Supply meeting in room 254, considering the Estimates of the Department of Health, Healthy Living and Seniors, the honourable member for Steinbach (Mr. Goertzen) moved the following amendment: that the motion be amended to replace $15 with $10.
The amendment was defeated on a voice vote, and, subsequently, two members requested a formal vote on this matter.
The question before the committee, then, is the amendment of the honourable member for Steinbach.
A COUNT-OUT VOTE was taken, the result being as follows: Ayes 17, Nays 33
Mr. Chairperson: The motion is accordingly defeated.
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Mr. Chairperson: The sections of the Committee of Supply will now continue with consideration of the departmental Estimates.
Will the staff for the minister and opposition please join us in the Chamber.
Okay. The floor is now open for questions.
Mr. Eichler: Still staying on the amalgamation plans by the department, would the minister outline for us the number of municipalities that are not close, or they have not submitted a plan for amalgamation, and what municipalities have applied for exemptions under the amendment brought forward in the fall of 2013?
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Mr. Struthers: Well, the–there's been a lot of work that has been done by all kinds of municipal leaders; they've–the ones who are impacted and they're in the–within the threshold of 1,000, which the member's party established back in 1997–the ones who were caught in that net have been talking to their neighbours. They've been working through plans; they've been putting them forward.
As I said earlier, 37 out of a possible 47 amalgamations, and, as I say, those are amalgamations that could be two partners or three partners. The–there–so there's 37 of those 47 have been approved; there are some more that are ready to be approved and that will go to Cabinet for approval.
We–there are some municipalities that have still some questions to be clarified that we're working with to make sure they do. So I wouldn't say that they're–that any of them are far apart in where they're at. There's these last 10 that we do have to deal with, and I'm confident that we will be able to accomplish that goal, that we'll be ready for the elections that are coming up in October.
As I've indicated before, a very key time in that is May when a whole number of decisions get made in terms of campaign financing for the municipal folks, and we–our intent is to make sure that all of these are taken care of by then.
I want the member to know that we met with a lot of municipalities back in November at the AMM convention; I've been meeting with municipalities from that time right through and very specifically with a number of amalgamating partners more recently to work out some of the differences that they have. Our plan is–and the vast majority of these amalgamations have–while we initiated–and I've made that clear in our Throne Speech–not the last one but the one before–we initiated this initiative; we got the ball rolling. I accept responsibility for that. But the vast, vast majority of local leaders have stepped up; they've worked out plans based on local interest. And we have accepted that local advice in the specific amalgamations.
The member opposite will know that there was a court case based on a letter that I–my–an October letter that I sent out as minister. He will know that that letter was designed to move things along, help municipalities who were struggling at that time to get together and get their plans moving forward. That letter did serve a purpose in helping municipalities sit down and talk with their neighbours. That letter indicated who dance partners were going to be and it indicated what a plan could look like, but it made it very clear–and this was pointed out in the court case–that the local officials could alter that plan, that letter that was sent out.
And, in each and every case, that's the kind of information that we've got back from local decision makers where they have understood that it's in their best interest for the communities to decide on how their communities are going to look, how they're governed and those sort of things, which are decisions quite properly to be made at the local level. So we've been following through on that.
So I expect the–over the next little while there will be more meetings with municipalities. I don't mind attending and helping. We have been doing that, and I've been doing that as minister. And that's going to continue for the next couple of weeks right up to kind of the beginning of the time when we need to be looking at election financing and getting some things in place so that all these folks can get elected or re-elected in the fall elections that are just around the corner.
Report
Mr. Mohinder Saran (Chairperson of the section of the Committee of Supply meeting in room 254): Mr. Chairperson, in the section of the Committee of Supply meeting in room 254, considering the Estimates of the Department of Health, Healthy Living and Seniors, the honourable member for Charleswood (Mrs. Driedger) moved the following motion on April 16, 2014: that the two ministerial salaries set out in line item 21.1.(a) be reduced to $15 each.
Mr. Chairperson, this motion was defeated on a voice vote. Subsequently, two members requested that a count-out vote be taken on this matter.
Mr. Chairperson: A recorded vote has been requested.
Call in the members.
All sections in Chamber for recorded vote.
Recorded Vote
Mr. Chairperson: Order, please.
In the section of the Committee of Supply meeting in room 254, considering the Estimates of the Department of Health, Healthy Living and Seniors, the honourable member for Charleswood moved the following motion: that the two ministerial salaries, set out in line item 21.1.(a), be reduced to $15 each.
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This motion was defeated on a voice vote, and, subsequently, two members requested a formal vote on this matter.
The question before the committee, then, is the motion of the honourable member for Charleswood.
A COUNT-OUT VOTE was taken, the result being as follows: Yeas 18, Nays 30.
Mr. Chairperson: The motion is accordingly defeated.
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Mr. Chairperson: The hour being past 5 p.m., committee rise.
Call in the Speaker.
Mr. Speaker: The hour being 5 p.m., this House is adjourned and stands adjourned until 1:30 p.m. tomorrow.