LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA
Thursday, September 18, 2008
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
Bill 48–The Animal Care Amendment Act
Hon. Rosann Wowchuk (Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives): I move, seconded by the Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs (Mr. Lathlin), that Bill 48, The Animal Care Amendment Act, be now read a first time.
Motion presented.
Ms. Wowchuk: Mr. Speaker, for the past decade, The Animal Care Act has helped us to protect animal welfare in Manitoba. However, experience has shown us where the act can and should be improved to be strengthened to enable more proactive and efficient protection of animals that are in distress.
The Animal Care Amendment Act will accomplish this and will ensure that Manitoba continues to lead the way in protecting animal welfare and strengthening animal protection in this province.
Mr. Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed]
Pharmacare Deductibles
Mrs. Leanne Rowat (Minnedosa): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
These are the reasons for this petition:
The NDP government has increased Pharmacare deductibles by 5 percent each year for the past seven years, with the curious exception of the 2007 election year.
As a result of the cumulative 34 percent hike in Pharmacare deductibles by the NDP government, some Manitobans are forced to choose between milk and medicine.
Seniors, fixed and low-income-earning Manitobans are the most negatively affected by these increases.
We petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:
To urge the Premier (Mr. Doer) of Manitoba to consider reversing his decision to increase Pharmacare deductibles by 5 percent in budget 2008.
To request the Premier of Manitoba to consider reducing health-care bureaucracy, as previously promised, and to consider directing those savings into sustaining Pharmacare and improving patient care.
This petition is signed by Audrey Wilton, Marguerite Cory, Mr. Atkinson and many, many others.
Mr. Speaker: In accordance with our rule 132(6), when petitions are read they are deemed to be received by the House.
Long-Term Care Facility–Morden
Mr. Peter Dyck (Pembina): Mr. Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly.
The background for this petition is as follows:
Tabor Home Incorporated is a time-expired personal care home in Morden with safety, environmental and space deficiencies.
The seniors of Manitoba are valuable members of the community with increasing health-care needs requiring long-term care.
The community of Morden and the surrounding area are experiencing substantial population growth.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To request the Minister of Health (Ms. Oswald) to strongly consider giving priority for funding to develop and staff a new 100-bed long-term care facility so that clients are not exposed to unsafe conditions and so that Boundary Trails Health Centre beds remain available for acute-care patients instead of waiting placement clients.
This is signed by Maria Martens, Sheldon Penner, Arlene Hildebrand and many, many others.
Hard Surfacing Unpaved Portion–
Provincial Road 340
Mr. Cliff Cullen (Turtle Mountain): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly.
These are the reasons for this petition.
All Manitobans deserve access to well-maintained rural highways as this is critical to both motorist safety and to commerce.
Provincial Road 340 is a well-utilized road.
Heavy vehicles from potato and livestock operations, agricultural-related businesses, Hutterite colonies and the Maple Leaf plant in Brandon use this road.
Vehicles from Canadian Forces Base Shilo also travel this busy road.
Commuter traffic from Wawanesa, Stockton, Nesbitt and surrounding farms to Shilo and Brandon is common on this road.
Provincial Road 340 is an alternate route for many motorists travelling to Brandon coming off Provincial Trunk Highway 2 east and to Winnipeg via the Trans-Canada Highway No. 1. An upgrade to this road would ease the traffic congestion on PTH 10.
Access to the Criddle-Vane Homestead Provincial Park would be greatly enhanced if this road were improved.
The hard surfacing of the unpaved portion of PR 340 south of Canadian Forces Base Shilo towards Wawanesa would address the last few neglected kilometres of this road and increase the safety of motorists who travel on it.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To request the Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation (Mr. Lemieux) to consider hard surfacing of the unpaved portion of Provincial Road 340 south of Canadian Forces Base Shilo towards Wawanesa.
This is signed by Gail Campbell, Bonnie Campbell, Brett McGregor and many, many others.
Provincial Nominee Program–Applications
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Mr. Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
The background to this petition is as follows:
Immigration is critically important to the future of the province, and the 1998 federal Provincial Nominee Program is the best immigration program that Manitoba has ever had.
Lengthy processing times for PNP applications causes additional stress and anxiety for would-be immigrants and their families here in Manitoba.
The government needs to recognize the unfairness in its current policy on who qualifies for a Provincial Nominee Certificate.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the provincial government to consider establishing a 90-day guarantee for processing an application for a minimum of 80 percent of applicants that have family living in Manitoba.
To urge the provincial government to consider removing the use of the restrictive job list when dealing with the family sponsor stream.
This is signed by Y. Paguio, Q. Paguio, M. Hayag and many, many other fine Manitobans.
Mr. Stuart Briese (Ste. Rose): Mr. Speaker, I ask leave to read the petition from the Member for Emerson (Mr. Graydon).
Mr. Speaker: Does the honourable member have leave? [Agreed]
Recovery Strategy–Manitoba Farmers
Mr. Briese: I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba:
These are the reasons for this petition.
Several regions of Manitoba have been hit by repeated heavy rains since spring of 2008.
This has created serious challenges for farmers, including hay and straw shortages, damage to bales, forage and pasture, barns and corrals, crop losses and lost inputs, among others.
The excess moisture has also caused other problems, including the flooding of homes and outbuildings, sewage backups and septic field saturation.
Local governments have been hit with road washouts and other infrastructure damage.
People affected by the excess moisture and flooding are very concerned that the provincial government has not responded quickly enough and that they are being left to deal with this disaster on their own.
There is fear that, without a comprehensive strategy to address these challenges, there will be serious and lasting economic consequences in the affected regions.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the provincial government to consider developing a comprehensive recovery strategy aimed at addressing both the immediate and the long-term effects of this year's excessive moisture conditions and flooding.
To urge the provincial government to consider examining all types of programming to help producers recover from this disaster, including emergency one-time programs, as well as improvements to the crop insurance program to address its shortfalls.
To urge the provincial government to consider addressing shortcomings with drainage and the processing of drainage permits.
This petition is signed by Wayne Shewchuk, Carol Sraybash, Gale Huhtala and many, many others.
Mr. Blaine Pedersen (Carman): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly:
These are the reasons for this petition.
Several regions of Manitoba have been hit by repeated heavy rains since spring of 2008.
This has created serious challenges for farmers, including hay and straw shortages, damage to bales, forages and pasture, barns and corrals, crop losses and lost inputs, among others.
The excess moisture has also caused other problems, including the flooding of homes and outbuildings, sewage backups and septic field saturation.
Local governments have been hit with road washouts and other infrastructure damage.
People affected by the excess moisture and flooding are very concerned that the provincial government has not responded quickly enough and that they are being left to deal with this disaster on their own.
There is fear that, without a comprehensive strategy to address these challenges, there will be serious and lasting economic consequences in the affected regions.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the provincial government to consider developing a comprehensive recovery strategy aimed at addressing both the immediate and the long-term effects of this year's excessive moisture conditions and flooding.
To urge the provincial government to consider examining all types of programming to help producers recover from this disaster, including emergency one-time programs, as well as improvements to the crop insurance program to address its shortfalls.
To urge the provincial government to consider addressing shortcomings with drainage and the processing of drainage permits.
This petition is signed by Gudjon Sigurdson, Vern Klein, Viola Klein, and many, many other fine Manitobans.
* (13:40)
Education Funding
Mr. Rick Borotsik (Brandon West): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly.
The background to this petition is as follows:
Historically, the province of Manitoba has received funding for education by the assessment of property that generates taxes. This unfair tax is only applied to selected property owners in certain areas and confines.
Property-based school tax is becoming an ever-increasing burden without acknowledging the owner's income or owner's ability to pay.
The Provincial Sales Tax was instituted for the purpose of funding education. However, monies generated by this tax are being placed in General Revenues.
We petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:
To request the Minister of Education, Citizenship and Youth (Mr. Bjornson) consider removing education funding by school tax or education levies from all property in Manitoba.
To request that the Minister of Education, Citizenship and Youth consider funding a more equitable method of funding education such as general revenue following the constitutional funding of education by the province of Manitoba.
This petition, Mr. Speaker, is signed by Cindy Poirier, Denis LeGros, Deanna Lounsbury and many, many other Manitobans.
Pharmacare Deductibles
Mrs. Mavis Taillieu (Morris): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly.
These are the reasons for this petition:
The NDP government has increased Pharmacare deductibles by 5 percent each year for the past seven years, with the curious exception of the 2007 election year.
As a result of the cumulative 34 percent hike in Pharmacare deductibles by this NDP government, some Manitobans are forced to choose between milk and medicine.
Seniors, fixed and low-income-earning Manitobans are the most negatively affected by these increases.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the Premier (Mr. Doer) of Manitoba to consider reversing his decision to increase Pharmacare deductibles by 5 percent in budget 2008.
To request the Premier of Manitoba to consider reducing health-care bureaucracy, as previously promised, and to consider directing those savings into sustaining Pharmacare and improving patient care.
This is signed by Kristin Flattery, E. Caron, R. Taillieu and many others.
Ms. Jennifer Howard (Chairperson): Mr. Speaker, I wish to present the First Report of the Standing Committee on Private Bills.
Madam Clerk (Patricia Chaychuk): Your Standing Committee on Private Bills presents the following as its First Report.
An Honourable Member: Dispense.
Mr. Speaker: Dispense.
Your Standing Committee on PRIVATE BILLS presents the following as its First Report.
Meetings
Your Committee met on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 in Room 255 of the Legislative Building.
Matters under Consideration
· Bill (No. 232) – The Public Schools Amendment Act (Anaphylaxis Policies)/Loi modifiant la Loi sur les écoles publiques (politiques sur l'anaphylaxie)
· Bill (No. 300) – The Royal Lake of the Woods Yacht Club Incorporation Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi constituant en corporation « The Royal Lake of the Woods Yacht Club »
Committee Membership
· Mr. DEWAR
· Mr. FAURSCHOU
· Mr. GOERTZEN
· Ms. HOWARD
· Ms. KORZENIOWSKI
· Ms. MARCELINO
· Mr. MARTINDALE
· Mr. PEDERSEN
· Mr. SARAN
· Ms. SELBY
· Mrs. STEFANSON
Your Committee elected Ms. HOWARD as the Chairperson.
Your Committee elected Ms. MARCELINO as the Vice-Chairperson.
Bills Considered and Reported
· Bill (No. 232) – The Public Schools Amendment Act (Anaphylaxis Policies)/Loi modifiant la Loi sur les écoles publiques (politiques sur l'anaphylaxie)
Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment.
· Bill (No. 300) – The Royal Lake of the Woods Yacht Club Incorporation Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi constituant en corporation « The Royal Lake of the Woods Yacht Club »
Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment.
Ms. Howard: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Wellington (Ms. Marcelino), that the report of the committee be received.
Motion agreed to.
Hon. Andrew Swan (Minister of Competitiveness, Training and Trade): Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to table the following annual reports: The Manitoba Opportunities Fund Limited Annual Report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008, and the Manitoba Development Corporation Annual Report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008.
Hon. Oscar Lathlin (Minister charged with the administration of The Communities Economic Development Fund Act): Mr. Speaker, I'd like to table the Third Quarter Financial Statements for the Communities Economic Development Fund.
Introduction of Guests
Mr. Speaker: Prior to oral questions, I'd like to draw the attention of honourable members to the loge to my right where we have with us Harry Van Mulligen who is the MLA for Regina Douglas Park from the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly.
On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you here today.
Provincial Ranking
Mr. Hugh McFadyen (Leader of the Official Opposition): In these uncertain economic times, Manitobans are looking for comfort that their government is doing everything in its power to protect them against the risk of declining incomes and job losses.
As we look backward on the record of this government, we know that Stats Canada has said that Manitoba's private sector job growth was the lowest in Canada from the period 2003 to 2007 at 0.66 percent, stagnant private sector investment and stagnant private sector job growth. What we have in Manitoba, Mr. Speaker, is a situation where economic activity is increasingly dependent on lavish expenditure of tax dollars. We've seen companies lay off workers in the last two years, including Loewen Windows, Motor Coach, Air Canada, DeFehr, Perth's, Viterra, Western Glove and Nygård, to name just a few. [interjection] I hear the Member for Kildonan (Mr. Chomiak) saying that these are made up, and I defy him to say that these job losses for these employees are made up, Mr. Speaker. We've seen head offices leave Manitoba: HudBay, Standard Aero, Agricore and Meyers Norris Penny.
What we have, Mr. Speaker, is an economy that is built on spending tax dollars lavishly and not one that is built on encouraging private sector investment and genuine job growth that can sustain a public sector into the future.
Mr. Speaker, will the Premier admit that spending dollars from Ottawa is not an economic strategy; in fact, it is a recipe for making Manitoba jobs and incomes dangerously dependent on policy decisions made in Ottawa?
Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): Mr. Speaker, the private sector job situation from the last 12 months, according to Stats Canada, was a 3.9 percent improvement in private sector jobs in the province of Manitoba. The Canadian average was 1.2. Where I come from, that's three times greater than the Canadian average.
But, you know, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank–not thank but congratulate the private sector entrepreneurs and the workers in those companies. They've been facing challenging times with the dollar going from 62 cents–when we were first in office, the dollar was 62 cents. Manufacturing has even had a situation where the dollar was above parity for a while. It's below it now, but it's still well over 90 cents. Energy prices went to $147 a barrel. That represented a real challenge for many manufacturers and many other private sector employers.
Last month's numbers were 12,000 more people working than a year ago. The last month numbers were the most current numbers, a couple of weeks ago were 9,000 more people working than 12 months ago. So, within the statistical variations of month-to-month, we're averaging two to three times growth greater in the last decade than we had in the 1990s.
Are there challenges ahead of us? Yes. I would say to the members opposite, they're the ones that subscribe to the ideology of unfettered financial markets that we saw in the United States. We are always the ones that believe that the financial institutions in Canada should [inaudible] be regulated [inaudible]. There should be protection for public investments, public pension plans, for banking decisions. So you have the ideology with their kissing cousins in the United States, Mr. Speaker, that we don't subscribe to. We don't tip our forelock to that kind of ideology. We believe in a regulated financial sector, and, yes, there are challenges ahead of us.
Are we happy with what's happened in the U.S. financial sector? No. Are we happy with what's happened in the U.S. financial sector with mortgages that were issued without any equity to back it up? We're not happy with that. We prefer a regulated system in Canada, and that's what we believe in, Mr. Speaker.
* (13:50)
Government Projects
Mr. Hugh McFadyen (Leader of the Official Opposition): Mr. Speaker, he's been known to stretch the truth, and, previously, to suggest that the opposition in Manitoba is in any way responsible for the American financial crisis is beyond bizarre. But that's typical of the sort of arguments that he makes. It's why his comments are increasingly met with scepticism around the province, such as when he goes and speaks to northern leaders and slams people who want to do work in the southern part of the province. When he speaks to one group in Winnipeg he attacks agriculture, rural Manitoba. That's the way he plays politics. Unfortunately, eventually all of these things begin to catch up.
The fact is that the growth recently off of a weak base is nothing to be proud of. The relatively small amount of growth when you're in 10th place may show a number that he thinks is outstanding at just over 3 percent, but to measure your success when you're in a 10-province race and you're in 10th place and the nine provinces ahead of you slow down, to take credit for the fact that you're catching up by doing exactly the same thing is exactly the sort of mediocrity that we're used to from this government.
I want to ask the Premier: Given that it's Stats Canada who said that we went four years with the worst private sector job growth in Canada at less than 1 percent and given that he's built his economic strategy on debt, which is what is creating the crisis in the United States today, I want to ask him as he's brought forward the bill related to tax incremental financing, I want to ask the Premier: How many projects currently under discussion will depend on the redirection of education tax dollars in order to get them off the ground given his track record of using tax dollars to try to prop up the economy?
Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): The whole reason for tax increment financing is not to redirect education tax or municipal tax but rather to create taxes that are deferred for a period of time to have private sector growth in a particular sector.
You have a situation where tumbleweeds are blowing in the northwest quadrant of the city adjacent to the airport. There's a proposal for the private sector to develop that as an inland port.
Yes, we have to respect the people in the Rosser area, the 20 or so or more people that are in the Perimeter and outside of the city of Winnipeg planning district.
The whole purpose of the TIF proposal for rapid transit is to take hubs that are now abandoned parts of rail lines, and other areas, and have housing and economic development. It's not to redirect existing tax policy or taxes. It's actually to create a tax but have a deferral of that tax to get the private sector growth and public sector investment.
I would point out that none of these proposals will proceed without the mayor of the City of Winnipeg, a person who I believe the member opposite has worked with in the past, and I would point out that the–actually, there hasn't been a proposal lately that the private sector supports that the members opposite have supported.
I noticed his negative comments after the press conference. We had the Chamber of Commerce there. We had the Winnipeg Airports Authority there. We had Mr. Silver there as a co-chair, or one of the members of the Manitoba Business Council. We had the Trucking Association there. We had the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce here. When will you ever support a proposal from the private sector to move Manitoba forward?
Mr. McFadyen: It was the foot-dragging on the inland port that we had raised concerns about, the fact that Alberta is six months ahead of us and the fact that it took questions in this House before the government started to act on the inland port that we had concerns about. But that's okay, Mr. Speaker. At the end of the day, it is the result that counts even if the government needs to be dragged kicking and screaming into doing things.
I want to ask the Premier, given that his economic strategy to date is taking tax dollars from one place, mostly from Ottawa, and spending them lavishly, I want to ask the Premier–and I want to be clear on this. The principle of TIF financing we support. We view it as an opportunity to regenerate growth in areas that have had a history of not being successful in generating economic growth, but we are concerned about him attempting to use it as a Trojan horse or as a Crocus "Mach II" to spend on every project that comes in front of his desk by building up debt currently with the anticipation of potential revenue in the future that would otherwise flow to school boards and schools.
He's indicated so far that the inland port and rapid transit are on the table as projects that could potentially use TIF financing. I want to ask him: Are there any other projects currently under discussion that he intends to use TIF financing to move forward with?
Mr. Doer: Well, first of all, Mr. Speaker, if the member opposite reads the report that was conducted by the mayor's trade office dealing with the proposal for an inland port, it talked about a tax status that would be competitive with places like Dallas Fort Worth, competitive with places like Kansas City, places that are competitive with places like Joliet. So this is not something that was invented by the government. It was actually ideas from the private sector that has been incorporated in his proposal.
And, Mr. Speaker, we are not redirecting tax money. We are deferring tax money to have economic growth. This is a model that has been used in places like Chicago. It's been recommended by experts on urban planning, like Mr. Barber [phonetic] and others on urban planning. The City has choices in this matter. They don't have to proceed in this regard.
I would point out that the first question I got asked by the media when the legislation was introduced on the inland port was, is this going to be another Winnport? The first question we have to deal with in Ottawa with Transport Canada and the federal government is the fact that you struck out with Winnport.
Now, we're not perfect but we plan on getting it right. The Tories struck out. We plan on getting it right. We plan on building the inland port. Get onside with the private sector here in Manitoba, Mr. Speaker.
Fiscal Strategy for Potential Downturn
Mr. Rick Borotsik (Brandon West): Mr. Speaker, they haven't got anything right yet and I don't understand how they're going to get this right either.
Mr. Speaker, we should all recognize that the global financial house of cards is collapsing. The province of Manitoba has been put in a similar situation by the NDP government by too much debt and depending too much on federal equalization. The Minister of Finance (Mr. Selinger) is living in the past. He's unprepared, unwilling and incapable of grasping the urgency of the current economic downturn.
Manitoba is not immune. Ordinary Manitobans are seeing their investments bleed, seeing their costs rise and seeing their jobs lost. Motor Coach Industries, Loewen Windows, Air Canada, Shape Foods, Western Glove, Nygård and many more private companies are shedding private sector jobs.
What is the Finance Minister's plan of action? What is the contingency plan to be able to deal with the serious, serious downturn in the economy?
Hon. Andrew Swan (Minister of Competitiveness, Training and Trade): You know, the question asked by the Member for Brandon West is how is Manitoba going to deal with economic turbulence elsewhere in North America. Well, we've done a number of things. As the Premier (Mr. Doer) and the Minister of Finance have pointed out, we have an unprecedented amount of money in the rainy day fund which can be used. If there is going to be turbulence, it is going to affect Manitoba's markets. As the Minister of Finance has pointed out many times, our debt-servicing costs are less than half of what they were in 1999 when the NDP formed government in this province.
We are helping our manufacturers. For example, just this past summer we struck out the capital tax. [inaudible] so we struck out the capital tax, did away with the manufacturers' capital tax in the budget which the Progressive Conservatives voted against.
Mr. Borotsik: Well, Mr. Speaker, it does seem that this minister particularly is still living in the past and is afraid to deal with the present and certainly can't deal with the future. His head is firmly stuck in the sand and he won't tell Manitobans what the fiscal strategy of this government is, but let me tell Manitobans what it is.
The fiscal strategy is to get rid of the balanced budget, borrow more money and put it on the backs of Manitobans. The Minister of Competitiveness, Training and Trade is going to prepare Manitobans for a fiscal rocky road. How is he going to do it? Not balancing the budget–Bill 38 speaks to that, Mr. Speaker. Will he run a deficit? Will he borrow more money or is he maybe going to create more public service jobs like he did for Scott Smith?
Will the minister stand today and confirm that the only misguided financial plan that this government has is to do away with balanced budgets?
Mr. Swan: Well, Mr. Speaker, I'm not sure where the Member for Brandon West has been, but if he'd been reading the papers over the past couple of days, he'd know that in July of 2008, the most recent figures we have, Manitoba manufacturers had their best ever year in history with a monthly sales record of $1.4 billion.
Of course, Manitoba, from month to month, had the highest increase in manufacturing sales in the entire country, and over the past 12 months Manitoba's manufacturers have increased their sales by about 3.4 percent, again well above the national average and a leader in the country. As well, we've assisted our manufacturers by becoming more lean and more competitive through the Advanced Manufacturing Initiative. Mr. Speaker, we've helped them to invest in new processes, new training for their employees. They can become more efficient and, as well, we've helped them invest in–
Mr. Speaker: Order.
* (14:00)
Mr. Borotsik: I have to admit that last comment by the Minister of Competitiveness, Training and Trade had to make me laugh, that we've become more competitive, Mr. Speaker. We've got the highest taxes west of Québec. We've got a payroll tax that the private sector detests in this province, and this minister says we're going to be competitive.
Mr. Speaker, if he read the financials–I'm sure he can read; I know he can read–he knows that living in the past and those statistics that he's claiming right now, Mr. Speaker, they are not going to be the statistics that he'll face in the future.
What's he going to do to prepare us for an economic downturn, Mr. Speaker?
Mr. Swan: Mr. Speaker, I hope the Member for Brandon West can turn down his rhetoric long enough to listen to the answers. Certainly what we're also doing is investing in people, and I think it's very important that there are now more than 33 percent of young people in Manitoba–
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Mr. Speaker: Order. Let's have a little decorum. We have guests in the gallery that came here to hear the questions and the answers, so let's have a little decorum here.
The honourable minister, to continue.
Mr. Swan: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I was trying to say, there are 33 percent more young Manitobans at post-secondary institutions in Manitoba than there were in 1999, unlike the loss of people in post-secondary institutions when the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. McFadyen) was Gary Filmon's lapdog at the University of Manitoba.
Right now, in Manitoba, we have 78 percent more Manitobans in apprenticeship programs than there were in 1999. We're investing, we have invested and we'll keep investing in outcomes in our schools for a higher rate of completion, for better outcomes, more essential skills, more opportunities for Manitobans.
Federal Funding
Mrs. Leanne Rowat (Minnedosa): I was contacted this summer by communities in desperate need of support from this provincial government. Residents from Duck Bay, Waterhen, Manigotagan, off-reserve Aboriginal communities are living in conditions that can only be defined as poverty while the provincial government sits on $61.5 million transferred by the federal government for the sole purpose of off‑reserve Aboriginal housing.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs (Mr. Lathlin): Why is he not advocating for these families who have such desperate housing needs?
Hon. Gord Mackintosh (Minister of Family Services and Housing): Well, just as a preamble, Mr. Speaker, to have Conservatives interested and advocate in social housing is a real chestnut after they killed all the social housing in Manitoba, a decision they made every day for years and years that has a long tale and a serious impact on communities and families.
Having said that, Mr. Speaker, I would expect a question, actually, from them more in tune of saying, when it comes to the six units that the member is talking about, actually, at Duck Bay and Waterhen, asking why the government would ignore taxpayer and consumer protection and agree to fund $100,000 at least over the lowest bid, why the government wouldn't demand a performance bond, wouldn't make sure there was a warrantee program in effect. We're going to make sure families are dealt with, but fairly.
Mrs. Rowat: Mr. Speaker, one of the residents in Duck Bay uses an oil drum to cook his meals. Two and a half years this government has sat on approval for these six pilot projects and has done nothing. Bare wires, paper-thin plywood walls, no running water, dirt floors; these conditions are some of the worst I've seen in my entire life. These homes are in such poor condition they don't even qualify for RRAP which is the Residential Repair Assistance Program.
Mr. Speaker, the NDP has had the money for two and a half years. Will the minister show some leadership? Will he take the Premier (Mr. Doer)? Will the Housing minister go? Will the Minister of Agriculture (Ms. Wowchuk), who is the Deputy Premier and the MLA for Duck Bay and Waterhen? She should be ashamed for her inaction on this file. These communities deserve to have their houses.
Mr. Mackintosh: Well, Mr. Speaker, I'm sure the members would–first of all, there is deplorable housing in Manitoba. It must be tackled. It must be tackled by both levels of government. I ask the members opposite to join us with that.
Second of all, Mr. Speaker, it would be the opposition that would be up in this House saying, get the Auditor General in here because they've just agreed to build some social housing at Waterhen and Duck Bay for $100,000 over the lowest bid, without a performance bond, without a warranty program, without meeting the criteria for taxpayer and consumer protection.
Those houses could be built in three months if the criteria would be met. There have been questionable dealings with the consultant involved. There've been delays, unacceptable. We want those houses built for Manitobans.
Mrs. Rowat: Mr. Speaker, $61.5 million from the federal government has been sitting with this government for over two years. They didn't get it done. They didn't get it done.
Mr. Speaker, this government is a disgrace allowing the level of poverty to exist within our borders. Families are losing hope of ever receiving this assistance. Get the players at the table. Deal with it. What type of a minister are you? You have people that are living in houses that do not have–
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Mr. Speaker: Order. I understand some issues get heated once in a while but we still have to maintain respect for one another, and I think you came very, very close there. So I would give you a caution, and I hope that action is not repeated again.
The honourable member has the floor.
Mrs. Rowat: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The minister is talking about red tape. We're looking at action. This government is failing to do that. Two and a half years they've had the money; they've done nothing. These people are now facing another winter in harsh conditions, another winter with no action from this MLA who is the Deputy Premier. The minister, the Premier, they've done nothing so I ask the minister: When will this Province face the shame and build these houses that they promised these families years ago?
Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): Well, Mr. Speaker, I want to say that we're pleased that the provincial government has announced $180 million of social housing, including two-thirds of it to go to–
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Mr. Speaker: Order. The honourable Member for Minnedosa has asked a question. She has a right to hear the response. I'm asking the co-operation of members.
The honourable First Minister has the floor.
Mr. Doer: –including a major project, the Neeginan village in the Point Douglas area, some 25 social housing programs.
But, Mr. Speaker, the government will not build homes, social homes without insurance, without proper bonding, without proper registration. Members opposite would be hypocrites, would be the first ones standing up and asking the Auditor General to come in if we built those homes without those conditions. We want to build homes, but we want to make sure taxpayers' money is being properly spent with proper due diligence.
I'm shocked the members opposite want us to build homes with no insurance, no bonding and no registration. I don't think that's a proper housing policy either, Mr. Speaker.
Federal Funding
Mrs. Bonnie Mitchelson (River East): Mr. Speaker, we don't need any lectures from a government that's had scandal after scandal in the Department of Housing under their watch.
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Mr. Speaker: Order. The honourable Member for River East has the floor.
Mrs. Mitchelson: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and announcements don't build houses. We've had this government that has announced time and time again housing programs and housing projects when we know full well that $61.5 million came over two years ago from the federal government for off-reserve Aboriginal housing.
I'd like to ask the Minister of Housing: How many of those houses have been built?
Hon. Gord Mackintosh (Minister of Family Services and Housing): And thank God for Jack Layton, I'd say.
Mr. Speaker, thank goodness the federal government did put some money in, and along with the federal government we were pleased to report publicly that the three-year HOMEWorks! program that was launched in April of '07, in its first year has committed $39 million to build, to repair and to rehabilitate 1,366 units all across this province.
I might remind Manitobans that for the first time in a long, long time, Manitoba Housing will actually be getting back in the housing business at The Pas, Thompson and Brandon. We're back in business.
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Mrs. Mitchelson: Well, Mr. Speaker, I'm glad to hear they're back in business in The Pas, Thompson and Brandon, but we have people sitting in the gallery today that are living in third-world conditions right here in our own province under this minister's watch.
When is he going to put his money and the money that's been provided from the federal government into place to ensure that these families live in safe homes?
Mr. Mackintosh: Well, it's a question about credibility here, Mr. Speaker. When you have a member from the opposition get up and ask about social housing–they killed it. They don't like it. They don't want it. They won't advocate for it. When Ottawa is not committing to furthering off-reserve Aboriginal housing, there's a serious issue that Conservatives all across this country are concerned about, except here–except here–because there are Conservative Housing ministers and premiers and Finance ministers asking Ottawa to please commit to off-reserve Aboriginal housing, let alone on-reserve Aboriginal housing.
What ever happened to Kelowna and what was promised there? Would the members stand up and stand up for Aboriginal Manitobans for a change?
Mrs. Mitchelson: Mr. Speaker, my colleague the Member for Minnedosa (Mrs. Rowat) took the time to go and visit the communities that are living in third-world conditions that are represented by members of the NDP government. The NDP didn't have the courtesy to go and visit those communities themselves. The Minister of Housing hasn't seen first-hand the kinds of conditions that those individuals are living in.
Mr. Speaker, if there's an issue between the bureaucracy in his department and the community that needs the housing, will he show political leadership, sit down with the individuals today and mediate a solution so that they can get the housing they need before the snow flies?
Mr. Mackintosh: Of course, Mr. Speaker, it's important that these houses be built, and it's important that taxpayers and consumers be protected at the same time. We're going to make sure that all of that is achieved. It's been a sordid history with these houses involving the consultants in question.
In terms of the strategy, I just recall during the last election that–let's put it this way. If members want to drive down through south Point Douglas, drive down Higgins, they'll see one of the first announcements under HOMEWorks!, Aboriginal off-reserve housing by Neeginan, 28 units, Mr. Speaker. That's our answer to south Point Douglas. What's their answer to south Point Douglas, everybody? It's the beach club.
Provincial Funding for Nitrogen Removal
Mrs. Heather Stefanson (Tuxedo): Mr. Speaker, despite the Minister of Conservation's announcement yesterday to have the Clean Environment Commission review its decision to include the removal of nitrogen from Winnipeg's waste water, it seems millions of dollars have already been spent on nitrogen removal. According to information we obtained this morning from a meeting of the Standing Policy Committee on Finance in the City of Winnipeg, dated September 11, 2008–and I'll table that for the House today–$30.4 million has already been spent in the upgrade of the City of Winnipeg's North End waste-water treatment facility, and $31.1 million has already been spent on the City's West End treatment upgrades, specifically on the removal of phosphorus and nitrogen.
Mr. Speaker, my question for the minister is: How much of the more than $60 million that has already been spent on these upgrades is attributable specifically to the unnecessary removal of nitrogen?
Hon. Stan Struthers (Minister of Conservation): The Member for Tuxedo is telling me to ignore what the 2003 Clean Environment Commission had recommended. That, Mr. Speaker, is consistent with what the Tory party has been saying since 1992, when they could have done something about this, and they sat on the CEC report back then too, did nothing about it, did nothing to protect the water in this province, and now they're feigning some kind of interest in this.
The Member for Tuxedo may think that she is an expert enough to decide which science is good and bad. Mr. Speaker, it's much more prudent for this government–
Mr. Speaker: Order.
Mrs. Stefanson: Mr. Speaker, for years and years now, scientists like Dr. Lyle Lockhart and Dr. David Schindler and others have been saying it is not necessary to remove nitrogen and, in fact, may even have a negative impact on Lake Winnipeg, yet today we learn that millions of dollars have already been spent on the removal of nitrogen. I refer back to the minutes from that meeting where it says that the nitrogen removal facility from the North End treatment facility, as of July 31, expenditures of $23.6 million have been expended on a nitrogen removal facility, whereas a phosphorus removal facility, $2.2 million.
I suggest, where are these government's priorities if it's not for phosphorus? Why has this already gone ahead, and how has this government allowed millions of dollars to be expended on unnecessary removal of nitrogen, Mr. Speaker?
Mr. Struthers: So her party has sat on this through the '90s. Her party is now saying, ignore what the Clean Environment Commission said in 2003. Her party is saying, ignore what is worked into the licences that the City of Winnipeg are working under, that we've worked with them on.
Mr. Speaker, this is the same party that would gut Bill 17 which also provides protection for water in this province. The party across the floor has said no to every single measure that has to do with water protection that has been brought forward in this province. I think they got to get their priorities straight.
Mrs. Stefanson: The person who needs to get his priorities straight is the minister opposite, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, why didn't they listen to scientists years ago? This didn't just happen a month ago or two months ago, where scientists suddenly came out of the thin air and said that nitrogen removal may actually do harm to Lake Winnipeg. That didn't just happen yesterday; it happened years ago. Scientists have been warning this government years ago.
Why didn't they listen to it years ago and refer it back to the Clean Environment Commission years ago before unnecessary millions of taxpayer dollars in this province were spent unnecessarily, Mr. Speaker?
Mr. Struthers: First of all, Mr. Speaker, I'm not going to take the arrogant kind of approach that the Member for Tuxedo is taking. She can substitute herself in for some kind of an expert on this if she likes. I think it's much more prudent, given the fact that Regina has made a decision, given the fact that Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary, all down the line, scientists on both sides of this issue have come forward and have spoken recently. I think it's the prudent thing to do: 1) Get associate engineering to look at what the actual numbers are, instead of trusting her or anybody else across the way; and 2) Have the CEC look at their recommendation from 2003.
It's okay for the members opposite to suggest we shouldn't follow those recommendations, but I think they do so at their own peril, Mr. Speaker.
Scientific Advice for Nutrient Reduction
Mr. Ralph Eichler (Lakeside): This minister will not listen to science. He won't listen to the people that know a little bit more than he does. I say shame on this minister.
Mr. Speaker, the Clean Environment Commission did not recommend a moratorium on hog production. Dr. Michael Trevan, Dean of Agriculture, stated, and I quote: What really troubles me is that the minister, pretending he's working on the basis of the recommendations of the Clean Environment Commission, implies that science is supporting his case, and it doesn't, end of quote.
The government has conceded it has to take another look at the nitrogen removal issue. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister of Conservation today admit that he needs to take another look at the science behind Bill 17 and withdraw the bill?
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Hon. Stan Struthers (Minister of Conservation): There hasn't been a single water-protection measure that has been brought forward that either the leader or his followers over there haven't said no to. They've said no one time after another to every single common-sense scientifically-based measure that has come forward, whether it be the old regulations, the new regulations or, I suspect, any kind of further regulations that would serve to protect Lake Winnipeg.
And you don't think that you're trying to gut Bill 17? Well, the zero percent solution as put forward by the Tories and by Manitoba Pork, as admitted by Manitoba Pork themselves–they say, if the government allows this, this would effectively gut the bill. That's what you want to do.
Mr. Eichler: If that's his true words, listen to the science that's been presented time and time again. Mr. Speaker, this government refuses to listen to the science, based on amendments on 17.
As the Winnipeg Free Press editorial stated on March 27, and I quote: The public expects politicians to play politics, but to use his power to play games is [inaudible] disregard for scientific reports on the back of an industry that they want to be good environmental citizens.
Mr. Speaker, will the Minister of Conservation admit today that Bill 17 is not about science but about politics, and they are damaging the industry. Shame on this minister. Withdraw the bill.
Mr. Struthers: Let me say that again so the Member for Lakeside would understand. Manitoba Pork has indicated to us that if the government accepted the zero percent solution, it would gut the bill. The Member for Tuxedo (Mrs. Stefanson), yesterday, was very clear saying that it's not going to gut the bill. At least Manitoba Pork is being forthright with this, not trying to hide like the members opposite are.
Mr. Speaker, it makes eminent sense that we put in place Bill 17 so that we can provide protection for land that is sensitive in the Interlake, that is prone to flooding in the Red River special management area, and where it makes sense, as Terry Sargeant has very clearly said, the line drawn from his report to Bill 17 because there's simply no more room to spread manure–
Mr. Speaker: Order.
Mr. Eichler: I have a minister that won't listen to his own CEC report. He won't listen to the business community. He won't listen to the citizens of Manitoba. Obviously, he's not getting it.
I'm going to ask the Minister of Agriculture (Ms. Wowchuk): Will she stand up for her farmers today and withdraw this bill? Is she for the farmers or is she against the farmers? Get up and tell the Minister of Conservation, enough is enough.
Mr. Struthers: Mr. Speaker, I don't know how much clearer we can make this for the members opposite. I don't think they want to understand because very ideologically they're opposed to any kind of regulation that would help Lake Winnipeg or any of the water that we are trying to protect here in Manitoba.
We have a comprehensive plan dealing with agriculture, dealing with municipal effluent, dealing with cottagers, dealing with golf courses, dealing with the whole gambit of all the point sources that are involved. Everybody who contributes to this problem needs to contribute to the solution, and the zero percent solution contributes zero to water protection.
You know what? I'm not surprised that members opposite would get in bed and support a zero percent solution which is only, and according to Manitoba Pork, there to gut Bill 17.
Guardianship
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Mr. Speaker, there's a little girl in Tyndall Park who's unable to go to school unless her grandparents are prepared to pay thousands of dollars. I raised the issue with the Minister of Education last week, and unfortunately, the Minister of Education has failed to get behind this little girl, four-year-old girl, in ensuring that she's in the school. I find that that's completely unacceptable and irresponsible.
I'm going to ask a direct question to the Minister of Education: Will he support the four-year-old and ensure that she can attend public education at Tyndall Park School today?
Hon. Peter Bjornson (Minister of Education, Citizenship and Youth): Thank you very much for the question.
Mr. Speaker, I recall when the question was asked, the member said that he had just found out about it. That's why he thought it was prudent to raise it in the House. However, he handed me a letter that said he had met with the parents in August of this year. So he was aware of the situation in August. It could have been dealt with in August.
Another point, Mr. Speaker, he's talking about a four-year-old who wouldn't be eligible to go to school, but preschool.
As far as the tuition agreements and arrangements are concerned, we look at these cases individually when they come to our attention. I have been looking into this situation and will continue to look at what is in the best interests, but, Mr. Speaker, quite frankly, he's talking about a situation that isn't even within my jurisdiction when it's a four-year-old who wouldn't even be going to kindergarten.
Mr. Lamoureux: Mr. Speaker, think of Jordan's Principle here, putting the child first. He is the Minister of Education. He's supposed to be putting the child first. We're talking about a four-year-old who should be attending nursery school. Every other child that's four years old in Winnipeg 1 has the right to attend nursery school, and grandparents are not being billed nor are parents.
This is a grandparent that's already paying school taxes on his own property bill, Mr. Speaker. I'm asking the Minister of Education to do the right thing, either resign or get that child into our public school system.
Mr. Bjornson: Well, Mr. Speaker, if the member was really interested in putting the child first he would have brought this to my attention in August instead of making it a political issue here in the Chamber. So I would ask–
Mr. Speaker: Order.
Point of Order
Mr. Speaker: The honourable Member for Inkster, are you up on a point of order?
Mr. Lamoureux: Yes, on a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, Beauchesne's is fairly clear in terms of indicating that you are not to impute the motives of members, and the Minister of Education is indicating that I could have conveyed this message to the minister back in August.
Mr. Speaker, back in August the schools were not even convening or they weren't–the school session hadn't even begun. I don't believe the Minister of Education should be trying to impute motives; rather he should be trying to get a child into school.
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Mr. Speaker: Order. On the point of order raised by the honourable Member for Inkster, he does not have a point of order. It's a dispute over the facts.
* * *
Mr. Speaker: The honourable Minister of Education, to conclude.
Mr. Bjornson: Yes, and once again, Mr. Speaker, the letter that the member handed me clearly stated that he had had a meeting with these constituents in August, August 25 I believe was the date of the letter and advised me that the first he heard of this was when he raised it in the House. So people can draw their own conclusions about the honourable member's motives in this case.
Mr. Speaker: Time for oral questions has expired.
Mr. Lamoureux: Mr. Speaker, I would ask for leave in order to finish my second supplementary question.
Mr. Speaker: Does the honourable member have leave to finish his final supplementary? [Agreed]
Mr. Lamoureux: Mr. Speaker, I'm going to appeal to the Minister of Education to do the right thing here. He can call into question the actual day. The reality is that the Minister of Education and I are both aware of a four-year-old child who wants to be able to attend Tyndall Park School and that child cannot attend that school unless the grandparent is prepared to pay money.
I believe that the Minister of Education has a moral obligation as the Minister of Education to put the child first and ensure that that child is in the school. Does the Minister of Education not agree that as the Minister of Education you do have a responsibility to get that child in given that universal nursery program is provided to all children in Winnipeg School Division No. 1?
Mr. Bjornson: Mr. Speaker, that's why we're working on the file. He continues to choose to make it a political issue. We're working on the file.
Mr. Speaker: Okay, as agreed, that ends question period.
Introduction of Guests
Mr. Speaker: Before moving on to members' statements, I'd just like to draw the attention of honourable members to the loge to my left where we have with us Mr. Harold Gilleshammer who's the former Member for Minnedosa.
On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you here today.
Brandon Family YMCA
Mr. Drew Caldwell (Brandon East): Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to advise the Legislature today of the Doer NDP government's full support for the development of a new family YMCA in downtown Brandon.
Earlier this month, I was privileged to be on hand as Premier Gary Doer announced the allocation of $6.9 million–
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Mr. Speaker: Order. Members will be recognized by their constituencies and ministers by the portfolio they hold, not by their names. So I ask the honourable member to change that to the First Minister.
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Mr. Caldwell: Earlier this month, I was privileged to be on hand as the Premier (Mr. Doer) announced the allocation of $6.9 million to the Canada-Manitoba Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund and a further $1.7 million to the Building Manitoba Fund towards the construction of this new facility.
Mr. Speaker, the YMCA has been a fixture in downtown Rosser ward for as long as Brandon has existed. Generations of Brandonites, young and old, male and female, singles and family have benefited from the services offered by the Brandon YMCA throughout the years.
The new downtown family YMCA taking shape today builds upon this proud history. The new facility, besides meeting the silver standard for the leadership in energy and environmental design LEED protocols, will include a six-lane competitive swimming pool, a leisure pool with waterslide, hot tubs, fully accessible change rooms, a fitness centre, multi-purpose rooms, a studio, a gymnasium, children's day-care space and a teen zone. With so many options for healthy lifestyle and leisure activities under one roof, the new downtown family YMCA will serve Brandon well for decades to come.
On behalf of the NDP government of Manitoba, I would like to congratulate all members of the Brandon YMCA for their work in making this new centre reality. Together we are building stronger kids, stronger families and a stronger community.
Binney Siding Nature Preserve
Mr. Peter Dyck (Pembina): I rise today to recognize the distinction that Binney Siding Nature Preserve has received from Ducks Unlimited Canada. Binney environmental classroom, commonly referred to as Binney, is a 12-hectare environmental classroom located 3.2 kilometres west and 3.2 kilometres north of Nellie McClung Collegiate near Manitou.
Ms. Bonnie Korzeniowski, Deputy Speaker, in the Chair
As a result of the valuable educational service, Binney has been awarded the distinction of being a wetland centre of excellence and will receive Ducks Unlimited funding for current projects. Binney environmental classroom has been providing meaningful learning experiences for students through engagement with the environment.
The site provides an area where many curricular areas can be taught, particularly in the subject of science. The wetland centre of excellence designation will allow students to collect real and relevant data. Binney is a unique area as it includes three major prairie plant communities: aspen forest, grassland and marshland.
The aspen trees have created a home for many prairie animals. Plants and animals are preserved in the original prairie grassland. Marshland is observed thanks to the beavers who, while making a home themselves, create standing water and another distinct environment. A 30-metre floating boardwalk connects a stream and a marshland with the aspen forest and open grassland. There are three kilometres of hiking trails which include limited wheelchair accessibility. Nature lovers enjoy seeing and learning about native prairie flowers, grasses and animals in their natural environment.
I congratulate the members of Binney Corner Nature Preserve Committee, which includes teachers, representatives from the Pembina Valley Conservation District and community members from the area. The nature preserve is managed by a committee which provides direction as to how to improve the nature preserve.
I would like to thank all the volunteers that worked to maintain and develop this educational site. Thank you.
Alyssa Bird
Mr. Mohinder Saran (The Maples): Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise today to speak about the achievements of a young lady from my constituency, Ms. Alyssa Bird. Alyssa is currently a grade 11 student at Maples Collegiate.
In the last school year, Alyssa wrote an 800‑word story for a creative writing assignment in her Native Awareness class. Her story, entitled Frustration, went on to place in the top 10 of the 14‑to-18 age category of the Canadian Aboriginal Writing Challenge. The contest received over 200 entries from across the country.
Frustration is a short story about a young Aboriginal writer who suffers from writer's block. He believes that no one wants to know his story, so he tries to tell the story of others. He tried to write about the Oka standoff that occurred in 1990, residential schools and gang involvement. In the end, the young man decided that the best story is his own and that what he has to say does matter.
Alyssa's achievements have drawn the attention and support of her community. Peguis First Nation is nominating her for the Manitoba Aboriginal Youth Achievement Award. These awards are a tribute to outstanding Manitoban Aboriginal youth who exhibit high standards of excellence, dedication, leadership and accomplishment in a variety of fields.
Madam Deputy Speaker, Alyssa currently spends her time being a full-time student. In the summer she volunteers with Rec and Read as a mentor. She plans on attending university after she graduates high school. It is young citizens like Alyssa that remind us of the great potential we have here in Manitoba.
Mr. Speaker in the Chair
I ask the House to join me, her mother, Romona Bird Billy and her Kookum, Kathy Bird, in congratulating Alyssa on her success. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Rivers Train Station
Mrs. Leanne Rowat (Minnedosa): The 91-year-old Rivers train station is back in use. The national heritage site has sat vacant in recent years, but as of September 8, 2008, is again ready to be utilized as a VIA rail station. The heritage building will replace the isolated VIA rail station at Brandon North. Both VIA Rail customers and the Rivers residents are pleased with this decision as the 2,000-plus yearly passengers can enjoy the historic surroundings and town residents can enjoy increased revenues in the community. The station is planned to hold a restaurant and shops in the future.
The heritage train station complements Rivers' enjoyable railway-themed Millennium Park. Fifty spruce trees planted by Manitoba Hydro enhance walking paths, a winter ice-skating rink, a picnic gazebo and railway cars. The rail cars, an arbor made of train rails and benches constructed with train wheels add a visual railway theme to the park and to the town.
The railway theme is very fitting for the town of Rivers. In fact, the name of the town is in honour of Grand Trunk Pacific Railway president, Sir Charles Rivers-Wilson. The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway helped create a booming little community around the building of the rail station in the year 1907. The two-storey train station was then considered a centrepiece of the town. I wish the town of Rivers and the train station this bustling activity once again.
The Rivers Train Station Renovations Project has been working diligently to achieve the goal of opening the station. I congratulate them and their achievement, and encourage them to continue to develop the train station into the envisioned commercial area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Community Generosity
Mr. Rob Altemeyer (Wolseley): Mr. Speaker, today I get to share a story with this House about an amazing gift of kindness that has taken place in my constituency of Wolseley and the people who made it happen.
Mr. Speaker, Mahmed and Sophia Jemei are refugees from Sudan who have been living in Winnipeg for the last five years. Last year they were living with their seven children in a two-bedroom apartment. In an attempt to better provide for their family, the Jemeis approached their local church, Young United, for some assistance, and a lady named Marjorie Dunderdale heard the family's story and decided that she wanted to help.
Mr. Speaker, you have to appreciate that Mrs. Dunderdale is 98 years old, but she had a house on Simcoe Avenue that she decided that she would transfer to the family. She approached Kikinaw Housing Project, which is a not-for-profit agency, who then in turn agreed to purchase, renovate and then rent the house back to the Jemei family. Mrs. Dunderdale then took the additional step of donating $30,000 back from the sale of her home to Kikinaw Housing to finance the renovation and upgrade the home to provide more bathrooms and bedrooms for the large family. In addition, our government has provided $10,000 towards the renovation of the windows in this home through the Neighbourhood Housing Assistance program.
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to report that the Jemei family will be moving into their newly renovated home in a few days, on October 1 this year. The rent that they will be paying is simply going to be the cost of the interest and the property taxes for the next five years. Following that, if the family decides to purchase the home, Kikinaw will sell it to them at the current market price.
Mr. Speaker, this is clearly a story of the thoughtful and compassionate nature that Manitobans are capable of and about our willingness to work together to build our city and our communities. The generosity of Mrs. Dunderdale, Kikinaw Housing Project and Young United Church has allowed the Jemei family to find a footing in Winnipeg as they work to build a life for themselves here. It is stories like this that inspire all of us to be the best citizens that we can be.
I would ask the House to join me today in welcoming the Jemei family to Canada, to Manitoba, to Winnipeg and, in particular, to their new home and to applaud Marjorie Dunderdale, Kikinaw Housing Project and Young United Church for making this dream a reality. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
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House Business
Hon. Dave Chomiak (Government House Leader): Mr. Speaker, I was tempted to almost do a grievance on the fact that honourable Mr. Gilleshammer's joining us and he looks younger now than he did when he was in this Chamber. But I won't reflect on that.
Mr. Speaker, I'd like to announce that the Standing Committee on Public Accounts will meet on September 23 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. to review the following reports: Auditor General's Report, Investigation of Hecla Island Land and Property Transactions, dated August 2003; Auditor General's Report, Review of the Workers Compensation Board, dated January 2006; Auditor General's Report Review of the Unauthorized Release of the Workers Compensation Board Report, March 2006.
Mr. Speaker: It has been announced that the Standing Committee on Public Accounts will meet on September 23 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. to review the following reports: Auditor General's Report, Investigation of Hecla Island Land and Property Transactions, dated August 2003; Auditor General's Report, Review of the Workers Compensation Board, dated January 2006; Auditor General's Report Review of the Unauthorized Release of the Workers Compensation Board Report, March 2006.
Mr. Chomiak: The parties have agreed this afternoon that the House will consider condolences motion. For the information of the House, these are the names of the former members of this Assembly whose passing this House will acknowledge, recognize today: Norma Heeney Price, George Lindsay Henderson, Derek James Walding, Arthur A. Trapp, David Robert Blake, Albert Vielfaure. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker: The parties have agreed that this afternoon the House will consider condolence motions. For the information of the House, these are the names of the former members of this Assembly whose passing this House will be taking note of today: Norma Heeney Price, George Lindsay Henderson, Derek James Walding, Arthur A. Trapp, David Robert Blake, Albert Vielfaure.
So we'll now start off with the honourable First Minister.
Norma Heeney Price
Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): I move, seconded by the honourable Leader of the Official Opposition (Mr. McFadyen),
THAT this House convey to the family of the late Norma Heeney, who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, its sincere sympathy in their bereavement and its appreciation of her devotion to duty and a useful life of active community and public service, and that Mr. Speaker be requested to forward a copy of this resolution to the family.
Motion presented.
Mr. Doer: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory of Norma Heeney Price, the former MLA for Assiniboia.
Norma Price was born in Winnipeg in 1920, educated at Immaculate Conception primary school and St. Mary's Academy. Norma began her career in the hospitality industry, working at the Viscount Gort where she eventually became the first woman in Canada to be the general manager of a major hotel.
She then spent 10 years working as a sales and public relations manager at the International Inn. She became the sixth person or woman to ever be elected to the Manitoba Legislature when she ran as a Progressive Conservative candidate in 1977, and she was the only woman to win a seat in that election.
Norma continued to break down the barriers for women by being appointed to Sterling Lyon's Cabinet as Minister of Labour, the first female in the history of Manitoba to hold that esteemed position. As minister from 1977 to 1978, she was responsible for The Civil Service Act, The Civil Service Superannuation Act, The Public Servants Insurance Act and The Pension Benefits Act.
From '78 to '81, Norma served as Minister of Tourism, Cultural Affairs and Historical Resources in addition to her other duties.
Mr. Speaker, on a personal note, I never did serve with Norma Heeney. I always had the pleasure of knowing her from her experience as the Minister of Labour. I was a volunteer in the Manitoba Government Employees' Association during her period of time as Minister of Labour. I attended meetings with her with Don Craik, in the old joint council operations of government, and I always found Mrs. Price at the time, Mrs. Heeney, to be a person of dignity. She was very straight-shooting in the sense of being very, very, up front about the position of the government, and I always found dealing with her and Minister Craik to be a positive and constructive experience when I was, as I say, a vice-president as a volunteer years ago. Certainly, there were many contracts that were negotiated at that time. There were predictions of negative labour-management relationships, and generally most of the public affairs and public labour-management relations were fairly positive in the public sector and certainly in the private sector.
Outside of public office, Norma continued to overcome obstacles for women. In the 1970s she began a career as an underwriter for Sun Life Assurance where she again played a key role in revising the human resources manuals to be gender neutral.
In recognition of all her work on behalf of women in Manitoba and in Canada, Norma received one of the Women of the Year awards from the YWCA in 1977, and in 1996 she was inducted into the Women Business Owners, Manitoba Hall of Fame.
She was a dedicated philanthropist as chair of the Prison Chaplain's Volunteers group for 10 years. She took charge of the home visitation program and she sought to enable prisoners to manage their own relationships outside of the prison. She also donated her time to Meals on Wheels, United Way and various church fundraisers.
It has been my experience over the years, both in opposition and then in government, that Norma Heeney and John were at many, many events. They always supported fundraising activities and many other events in our community. She was there all the time. I think she and John both golfed. If my recollection is right, I do remember her mentioning golf to me, but I also remember her saying you should do this for Grace Hospital, you should do that for this program, you should do this for that other program.
She always had a smile and some advice. She never lost her community roots in west Winnipeg. She never lost her roots when she travelled for the people of Manitoba, and she never stopped believing in the empowerment of women through her role as a minister of the Crown in the Lyon government and then later on in her activity in the community. She served her fellow citizens, as I say, very, very, admirably and honourably both inside and outside of public life.
Norma is survived by her husband, John, and her three children, Linda, Randy and Donna, and I certainly would want to say to her children, her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren, that the people of Manitoba respect the life and contributions to this Legislature and to her community that Norma Heeney performed on behalf of the citizens of this province. For that, we'll be forever thankful, and I want the family to know that with our condolences this year with her passing.
Mr. Hugh McFadyen (Leader of the Official Opposition): I want to thank the Premier for those very fitting comments in tribute to Norma Heeney, who is somebody who is and always was a role model for many people within our party over many years.
I recall, as a younger volunteer years ago in the party, Norma Heeney being somebody who was universally respected and somebody who we looked up to as a great public servant, a great Progressive Conservative, and somebody who really dedicated her life to the betterment of the whole province of Manitoba in a whole variety of ways, both partisan and non-partisan in nature.
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She had a lifelong commitment to Winnipeg, was educated originally at Immaculate Conception parochial school and then went on to attend St. Mary's Academy. She was extremely intelligent and articulate, somebody who approached complex problems and challenges with a clarity of thought and an articulateness that is something that we all respect and admire.
She had success in virtually everything she touched, starting in business with the Viscount Gort Hotel, as the Premier (Mr. Doer) mentioned, rising to become the first woman in Canada to be a general manager of a major hotel.
She translated the success that she had in the private sector to success in public life when she was elected as the MLA for Assiniboia in 1977 and went on to serve within the Lyon government with distinction. She certainly advanced issues that were important to workers and important to women. Some of them were controversial, but she always advanced those issues in a way that was honest, forthright and very direct.
There was another great leader in another country, a Conservative by the name of Margaret Thatcher, who used the phrase, the lady's not for turning. That's a phrase that I could imagine Norma Heeney using when faced with a difficult situation where she was of the view that there was the right course of action to be taken and not being one to back down in the face of adversity or controversy.
I had the pleasure of a long conversation with Norma Heeney when I was running in the Fort Whyte by-election in 2005. She was fully engaged in the issues of the day and the campaign, very supportive and very much full of sound advice, very graciously and gently offered, but very clear and very direct and very much coming from the heart with a view toward what she felt would ultimately be best for our province.
So I have had that great experience of that long conversation with her, and it's one that will stay with me for as long as I am in public life and for as long as I am on this earth.
I want to just point to a couple of other highlights of her distinguished career. She was the only woman elected to the Legislature in the year of the 1977 election. She was the sixth woman ever elected to the Manitoba Legislature and the second to serve in an executive role in the Cabinet.
All of her great contributions to our province were acknowledged when she was named the YWCA Woman of the Year in 1977. As indicated earlier, her contributions to our province came in many different forms–a tremendous leader of a private-sector organization, a distinguished public servant and also somebody who gave time to not-for-profit activities within the community.
She had an optimistic view of human nature. She believed that even those who had made mistakes and committed wrongs in life had an opportunity for redemption and an opportunity to continue to contribute to our province, which is why she took it to heart to get involved with the Prison Chaplains' Volunteers as the chairwoman of that organization. I think that sense of optimism about the capacity of the human spirit was something that drove her and was very much part of the person that she was.
So I want to say to her family that we have lost a great Manitoban, somebody who meant a lot to our province generally, somebody who was generous with me, for which I will always be grateful. So, to her husband, John, and children, Linda, Randy and Donna, her stepdaughters, Jacquelyn and Jocelyn, her five grandchildren, Lisa, Jay, Greg, Brett and Blake, and her many great-grandchildren, I want to second the motion, extend my personal condolences and simply indicate my appreciation for what she has done for our great province of Manitoba to get us where we are today.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Hon. Jim Rondeau (Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mines): I'm pleased to rise today to say a few words to pay tribute to the memory of Norma Heeney.
She was the former MLA for Assiniboia. When we all enter the House, we often try to make a difference, and I can honestly say after knowing of some of her accomplishments, knowing of her impressive legacy, not just in this House, because she did leave a good legacy in this House and in government, but she also left one as far as business and also as far as breaking down gender behaviours and barriers. She also made a big difference in the constituency itself. So, often, irrespective of party or politics, you look at a person's true contributions to the province, to the citizens of Manitoba, and I really pay tribute to Norma Heeney for making that difference.
When you start thinking about what she's done, she's the sixth woman ever to be elected, second woman to be appointed as a Cabinet minister. The difference, I believe, in many cases, is that she served the role well, broke down the barriers, not only in government but even in business where she started to change the whole role of gender. She made gender-neutral policies in the companies that she was working in and she led. She actually looked at all of the contributions a person could make into society.
So, although she worked from 1978 to '81, served as the Minister of Tourism, Culture Affairs and Historic Resources, she also broke down barriers in many other ways. In 1970, she began her career as an underwriter for Sun Life Assurance Company. She played a key role in revising the human resource manuals to be gender-neutral. She was a successful businesswoman. She received a Woman of the Year award from the YM-YWCA in 1977. She was inducted as a Women Business Owners of Manitoba Hall of Fame in 1996. She was a volunteer in many, many different areas of the community, as was mentioned. She also did Meals on Wheels, United Way, various church fundraisers, and she really did take her role as MLA in Assiniboia very active, she was everywhere, and she was a good constituency MLA and that really made a difference.
I also look at it, and say, did she represent the area well? It's funny, because sometimes people wonder whether you'll be remembered when you leave public office. I had been talking to some of the seniors in the constituency, and not only did they remember, but they really had a lot of respect for her work and her work in the constituency.
So I really am happy that I am able to express my condolences to her family, friends and colleagues. Because when you look at the legacy she's left, she's left a wonderful legacy in business, in government, in the community, and what's different is that she made a difference not just for her but for future generations. So I thank her very much.
Mrs. Myrna Driedger (Charleswood): I'm honoured to stand today and speak about Norma Price Heeney and express my condolences and those of her neighbours to the south of her in Charleswood.
She is remembered by her husband, John, of 26 years. I'd like to acknowledge that he is here today in the gallery with us. Two of her children, Linda and Donna, I have spoken with on the phone, and they wish they could have but were unable to be here today but, certainly, are very grateful for us doing what we are doing here in the Legislature. As has been mentioned, she is survived by three children, two stepchildren, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
For me, it's a particular honour to speak about her because she was a trailblazer for women in many different areas. In business, she started in the hospitality industry at the Viscount Gort Hotel in Winnipeg and quickly became the first woman in Canada to be a general manager of a major hotel. Later, she was the sales and public relations manager at the International Inn, a position she held for 10 years. She owned and operated a day-care centre for five years. She switched careers and became an underwriter for Sun Life Assurance Company in the 1970s and was instrumental in having Sun Life's human resource manuals revised to make them gender-neutral. She was the first woman director of the Better Business Bureau.
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In politics, as a Progressive Conservative candidate, Norma Price advocated for a starter-home program for young families and proposed mortgage assistance to make homes easier to buy for first-time buyers. A woman of many firsts, Norma Price was the first woman elected in the provincial riding of Assiniboia, and was only the sixth woman ever elected to the Legislature, and only the second female Cabinet minister in the 111-year history. Mrs. Price became Manitoba's first woman Labour Minister under the premiership of Sterling Lyon, and in 1978 she was transferred to the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs.
I was told that, despite her sometimes controversial point of view, she held fast to her convictions and was a pioneer for women's equality in the workplace. As Minister of Labour, she fought for the best interests of workers even if her arguments were considered questionable by others. Her innovative approach gave a fresh outlook to the issues of the day, and Mrs. Price had the gift of being able to see the big picture, something that was very, very well appreciated. Mrs. Price was an advocate for women's issues in a time when women fought to be recognized as equals in the workplace as well as in the arts community, something she championed during her time as Minister of Culture.
In volunteer work, she also received a lot of accolades and awards. She was chairman of the home visiting program for the Prison Chaplains' Volunteers for 10 years. She volunteered for the United Way, Meals on Wheels and various church fundraisers. She spent three years as a director of Pathway group homes which provides group homes and parents for homeless Métis children. She received many awards in her life. In 1976, she was the first woman to receive the annual distinguished salesmen's award and she also received a Woman of the Year Award in 1977, presented by the YWCA.
Norma Heeney was honoured in 1996 as one of the first inductees in Manitoba's Hall of Fame of pioneering businesswomen, along with other notable women, including journalist Cora Hind, social activist Nellie McClung, Reader's Digest co-founder, Lila Bell Acheson Wallace, and fellow politician Sigrun Martin.
Mr. Speaker, when you hear all of these accomplishments of hers, you could certainly see where she was very committed to what she did, and she was one of the women that was out there in the early days trying to break the glass ceiling for other women. I think she succeeded in many ways by continuing to open the door in that direction.
There are two comments from constituents in Assiniboia who wanted to pass this on to the family. One is Councillor of St. Charles ward, Grant Nordman. This is what he said about her. Norma was a classy lady who was everything you could ask for in a friend, a neighbour and a candidate, a great mom, a savvy businesswoman, and terrific Labour Minister in Premier Lyon's Cabinet. She could beat them at the door and on the golf course. She was always calm but tough as they come in a time when not many women were in business or politics. She was a terrific role model and mentored many of us to be our best. She represented the big Assiniboia before Kirkfield Park was created. She paved the way as the first woman to represent the area that later elected Gerrie Hammond and Linda McIntosh.
And from Daryl Kataychuk [phonetic], who was a young boy at the time she was in politics, he said, she visited Alexander Ross School during my grade 8 class and gave us a lecture about politics during one election. I believe this was the year the school was opened. She left us with a thought that it was important that one day we would become voters.
I'm sure there are many, many other stories out there that probably a lot of people could say, and certainly I'm honoured to have had the chance to make comment about Norma Heeney and to express condolences to her family. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my condolences and those on behalf of the Manitoba Liberal Party to the family and friends of Norma Heeney and to pay tribute to Norma, a career in which, although she was in the Legislature for only four years, she was a Cabinet minister. She had some significant achievements, probably achieved more in four years than a lot of people did in a lot longer in the Legislature.
I think it is notable that she went to St. Mary's Academy and got quite a start there, that of all the achievements in business and the Legislature, I think one of the things that's the most remarkable is the time that she spent chairing the home visiting program for the prison chaplains, helping prisoners get along and connect, reconnect sometimes with their families. I think it says a lot about Norma and her life and her career, that she was able to dedicate so much to other people as well as to public service.
Mr. Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed]
Would honourable members please rise and remain standing to indicate their support for the motion.
A moment of silence was observed.
George Lindsay Henderson
Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): I move, seconded by the honourable Leader of the Opposition (Mr. McFadyen),
THAT this House convey to the family of the late George Lindsay Henderson, who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, its sincere sympathy in their bereavement and its appreciation of his devotion to duty and a useful life of active community and public service, and that Mr. Speaker be requested to forward a copy of this resolution to the family.
Motion presented.
Mr. Doer: Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the memory of George Lindsay Henderson and to offer our condolences to his family and friends.
Mr. Henderson was the MLA for the Pembina riding from 1969 to 1977, having won in the election of '73. He was a member of the Progressive Conservative Party. He was born in Homewood, Manitoba, in 1916.
In his early life, George was a farmer and a real estate agent. He believed in agriculture; he believed in community service; and he was a major of Manitou, the president of the Chamber of Commerce in that community, a major leader in that community, and he was a leader in the co-op elevator in Manitoba Co-operative in his agricultural area.
In his spare time, George enjoyed curling and golf and was again an active member of the Manitou Agricultural Society. He was, as I said, elected twice in this Legislature and he did not seek re-election in 1977. The Hansard and speeches that Mr. Henderson was involved in demonstrate a strong support for agriculture and for his constituents. He was a person who represented the agricultural interests that were so vital to his constituents in the Legislature, and he certainly was a person that was respected throughout his riding and throughout the broader agricultural community here in Manitoba.
He is survived by his wife, his four children, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. I'd ask members of the House to join me in expressing our condolences to the family and friends of George Lindsay Henderson.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Hugh McFadyen (Leader of the Official Opposition): I am pleased to extend the condolences on behalf of our caucus to the family of George Lindsay Henderson and to thank him by way of tribute for the years of contributions that he made to our province of Manitoba.
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He was not somebody that I had the privilege of knowing personally, but he was somebody that, by reputation, was known to me. His reputation was that of an honest, direct and genuine person who believed strongly in serving those around him, took good care of his family and was always ready to go to bat for his community.
He was born in the great town of Homewood, Manitoba, in a part of the province that I know well. He was raised and educated in the province of Manitoba and maintained a lifelong commitment to this great province.
He was an MLA in this House in opposition as a Progressive Conservative from 1969 to 1977 during the years of the Schreyer administration. He was a strong advocate during those years for agriculture, for rural communities and for rural life and rural values. He chose not to let his name stand in 1977, was replaced and succeeded in his constituency by Don Orchard, who, I know, had and has great respect for him.
He was known in his farming life as being a very progressive farmer. He was close to the land. He believed in understanding the science of farming and employing the most cutting-edge techniques to ensure both good yields and high productivity, but also good stewardship of the land for future generations, and in that sense, in many ways is representative of the type of values that are held by farmers throughout our province and have been for many years.
He spent time, as well, as a real estate appraiser and a broker in addition to his time as a farmer and an elected member of this Chamber. He served in many other ways. In addition to his time as an MLA he served his community in a variety of capacities. He was the president of the Chamber of Commerce, he was the mayor of Manitou and he oversaw several important projects and works for the community of Manitou, including the waterworks, and many events that led to just a better life for those residents of that community.
He played a role in the creation of the rodeo in Manitou which was even prior to the creation of the Morris Stampede. He was president of the Pembina Hills Co-op, a member of the Manitoba Pool Elevators board, president of Kaleida Pool Elevators board, a member of the school board, a member of the finance committee of St. Andrew's United Church during a time of building for that church which included overseeing the construction of the new Christian education building. He was a member of the Pembina Valley Development Corporation board, the Targets for Economic Development board and the Land Value Commission.
It is hard to imagine anybody who could have had a fuller life of giving back to his community and to his province, somebody who is a great member of this Chamber, a great Progressive Conservative and somebody that we all respect and admire. I just want to take this opportunity to express our gratitude for his many contributions to the communities he represented as well as to our province as a whole.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Peter Dyck (Pembina): Mr. Speaker, the first time that I met Mr. Henderson was in February of 1995 at the Manitou coffee shop. I was running for the nomination to become the candidate for the Progressive Conservative party in the Pembina constituency. A group of people had met there over coffee for a question-and-answer time.
You could tell that he had been an MLA by the questions that he asked. He was not going to let me off easy. He indicated that others were pursuing the nomination as well and he needed to decide who could represent the constituency the best. He was somewhat concerned that I came from the east part of the constituency, the Winkler-Morden area, which at that time was just starting to boom and would possibly forget the western part, of Manitou and beyond. I assured him that I would represent the total constituency to the best of my ability. Yet, I must indicate that he was very probing and he would not let me off easy. He continued to question as we went on.
Once I had received the nomination, Mr. Henderson was one of my best supporters. Whenever I came to an event and Mr. Henderson was present, he would introduce me to the people that he knew in the area and would show his support in his kindness to me. A lot of the times were the public events, the ag fairs, which he always attended. As has already been indicated, he started the rodeo. Now that disappeared, but, on the other hand, the agricultural fairs took over and were a very prominent part of the Manitou fairs.
Mr. Henderson also told me numerous stories of his time as the MLA for the area. As has already been stated, he served as MLA for Pembina constituency from 1969 to 1977. In those days, MLAs would go to Winnipeg and at a time stay for the duration of the session. It is interesting to see how things have changed in the last 39 years, and I remember him telling me that there was no way that he was going to have his vehicle take those bumpy roads all the way to Manitou just to come home for the weekend.
I went to Hansard and found a number of speeches that Mr. Henderson made during his time in office. Mr. Henderson did not have the privilege of being in government and, on numerous occasions, he indicated that this was a great regret to him. Mr. Henderson would have been a good Cabinet minister and would have made wise decisions for the province of Manitoba.
He took great pride in representing the constituency of Pembina and, in Hansard, recorded speech of June 8, 1976, they were debating Bill 82, an act to amend The Highway Traffic Act. Several issues were addressed in this bill and I will touch on just a few of them. This, of course, was the debate that was taking place there as we have debate on our bills today.
Now, the transportation of pupils on school buses and the definition of a school bus was being debated. In those days, students were allowed to take their own vehicles, and his argument was that if they could not in rural Manitoba–as they didn't have buses all over–if they could not use a school bus that they should be paid in lieu of, and so this was part of the debate that he was involved in.
Another issue that Mr. Henderson addressed–and it appears that nothing has changed today–the NDP were in government at that time, as we were told, and they were looking at more ways to collect taxes. I want to just give a quotation that Mr. Henderson gave at that speech, and the quotation is as follows: They're also having the registration of slide-in campers and charging them a license fee and also there is a sales tax they're adding. What comes to my mind when I see this part of the bill is that the government is trying to get more money out of the public again in form of a license fee. It goes to show that this government is trying to get all the dollars they can. That's the end of quote.
I found that somewhat interesting because we debate and argue the same nowadays.
He argued vigorously that the enforcement of tarps on trucks, whether hauling grain, gravel or other produce, would place an added burden and cost to the people affected by this legislation. He was always concerned about the added costs to his constituents.
To show his support and passion for rural Manitoba, Mr. Henderson argued that decisions regarding the changing of speed limits in rural Manitoba should not be made by city folk, but rather through consultation with rural Manitoba and those affected by it.
Mr. Henderson was a very interesting man, and I had many an opportunity to talk and visit with him.
I would just read a few of things that he was involved in, and I know that our leader has already indicated that, but I do want to highlight a few of them.
As was indicated, he was the MLA for Pembina from 1969 to 1977. He served in the official opposition during this time in the Legislature and, as was indicated, he chose not to let his name stand for election 1977 and was succeeded by Don Orchard.
George Henderson was known as a very progressive farmer and his son carries on that tradition today. I just want to remark on the fact that they have excellent land in the Manitou area and they do an excellent job of looking after it and maintaining it.
Also, during the time, he spent some time as a real estate appraiser, and I'm also told by visiting with people in the coffee shops that he loved trading land. He would buy a section of land or a piece of land in one area, and then he would trade it for another, and that's how he was able to develop the farm that his son has today.
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During his time, and this is the other part, in visiting with the councillors in Manitou, the fact that he oversaw Manitou's waterworks and made sure that this was a project that was completed. I know that later on in life, in fact, in the last two years, they developed and they built condominiums in Manitou. He spearheaded that as well. So he was a very strong supporter of things taking place within his area, and I can only commend Mr. Henderson's commitment to public service and hope that others will follow his outstanding example. He proudly served as mayor of Manitou and went on to represent the constituency of Pembina for eight years as an MLA from 1969 to '77. He was a strong voice and dedicated statesman for the people of Pembina.
George Henderson will be remembered as a loving family man, pillar of his community, and a giving individual. For those who knew him, his legacy will not only be the inspiration of his public and community service but also the countless fond memories we have of him.
I know he would be proud if I rose in the House today and simply said, George Lindsay Henderson was a good caring man who always did the best he could for those he loved and those Manitobans who elected him. Our condolences to his family on behalf of Irene and myself, and the constituency of Pembina. Thank you.
Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer condolences to the friends and family of George Henderson on behalf of the members of the Manitoba Liberal Party and our caucus.
George Henderson clearly was a significant contributor to the community of Manitou and to Manitoba. He contributed as a farmer, as a businessman, as president of the Chamber of Commerce, as mayor of Manitou and, of course, as member of the Legislature for eight years.
I think it's fitting that we are paying this tribute today honouring him and remembering him. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt this motion? [Agreed]
Would honourable members please rise for a moment of silence.
A moment of silence was observed.
Derek James Walding
Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): I move, seconded by the honourable Minister of Labour (Ms. Allan),
THAT this House convey to the family of the late Derek James Walding, who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, its sincere sympathy in their bereavement and its appreciation of his devotion to duty in a useful life of active community service and public service, and that Mr. Speaker be requested to forward a copy of this resolution to the family.
Motion presented.
Mr. Doer: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory of Derek James Walding and to offer our condolences to his family and friends, his wife, Val, and his children, his sons, Andrew, Phillip, and his daughter, Christine.
As many of you know in this Legislature, Mr. Walding was elected in 1971 in a by-election. He was re-elected in 1973, re-elected again in 1977, re‑elected again in 1981 and re-elected again by the good people of St. Vital in 1986. He did not seek re‑election in the 1988 election. Certainly, we know that Mr. Walding had a tremendous amount of credibility in the St. Vital constituency and the people of southeast Winnipeg. He certainly was a very effective representative for his constituents.
Jim was born in 1937 in Rushden, England. After serving in the military in his duties in Ireland, he went on to be a graduate with top honours from the London School of Optometry. In 1957, he married his wife, Val, and they moved to Winnipeg in 1961, where Jim worked as an optician for 10 years before his election in 1971.
Certainly, I know that he had a great, great reputation in his constituency and that's evidenced by the fact that he won the by-election in 1971. It was the former mayor of St. Vital that had stepped down when Ed Schreyer was premier and Mr. Walding won that by-election in 1971, which was a very important win at the time for the Schreyer government that had just been elected in 1969.
He was a person I met personally in 1973. I was working as a volunteer canvasser in the Riel constituency in that quadrant of the city, and there was some sharing of resources between the constituencies in that 1973 election. There was an interesting campaign. It was sort of an anybody-but-the-NDP campaign, as I recall it. The Liberal and Conservatives had a kind of a group that had decided which candidate to put their hand on their forehead and then the rest, the other party was supposed to stay out of the way and the anointed one would run against the NDP candidate of the day. This was an interesting political process. I think for those people who believe in strategic voting are still cold to that idea. It failed miserably in 1973 because you know what? People make up their own minds and they don't like anybody else making up their minds for them. Of course, Mr. Walding won that election and Mr. Craik beat Mr. Parasiuk in that Riel election as I recall it in that period of time.
Mr. Walding was obviously a very supportive member of the Schreyer government for his time in that caucus. Then in the 1981 election, when–or '77 election when the government was defeated, he became a very strong and dedicated critic in the areas of Crown corporations, in the telephone systems, Hydro, Manitoba Liquor Commission and other areas. I certainly remember his speeches and his questions being covered in the media. I think it's safe to say that anytime any of us heard Mr. Walding speak, he was a very articulate speaker. He was very knowledgeable of the English language and knew how to use the English language, particularly in opposition to twist his opponent across the aisle in a very, very effective way.
Mr. Walding was Speaker of this House upon the election of Howard Pawley as premier following the Lyon years. He was selected Speaker in '82 and remained in that office until the election of 1986. I think it's safe to say from people that worked with him in this Chamber and knew him, that in terms of his public persona, he had a calm to his style, an eloquence to his demeanour and he had a fairness in his duties as the chair and as the final arbiter between all the parties. Those were feisty times with some interesting legislation as I understand it. It was before my time in this House, but, of course, there were many very, very passionate debates that took place as history will record.
I also had the experience of being elected in '86 and meeting Mr. Walding again in caucus. He was articulate, he was thoughtful, he was knowledgeable. He was obviously very experienced, and I found his interventions, as a rookie, to be useful at the caucus table. He was a very articulate man, both in the House and in the caucus.
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I know that he died too young, in my view. Sixty-nine is a relatively young age with a person of his intelligence and with his interest in public affairs and interest in his community. I want to say to his wife, Val, his sons, Andrew and Phillip, and his daughter, Christine, and all their other relatives and friends, that we thank Jim Walding for his contributions to Manitoba. We thank him for his eloquence in this Chamber, and we commemorate his life today, a life that ended too early in terms of his overall knowledge and ability to deliver to the people of this province.
Mr. Hugh McFadyen (Leader of the Official Opposition): I'm pleased to second the motion to extend the condolences of this House to the family of the late Jim Walding and, in particular, to his wife, Val, sons, Andrew and Phillip, daughter, Christine, and granddaughters, Kimberley and Rachel. As I understand it, he's also survived by two sisters, Jill and Joy.
I began my involvement in politics during the 1980s, during a very interesting era in Manitoba politics. Jim Walding, as all Manitobans know, played a pivotal role in the history of politics in Manitoba in 1988 but, prior to that, also played a substantial role in contributing to public life in our province in a variety of ways.
He was certainly known as being articulate, independent, tough-minded and intelligent. His background, having been schooled in England and serving in the British Army in Ireland before coming to Canada, forged a character that would be one of independent thought and toughness in a gentle way. I recall his style, as the Premier has said, being one of being gentle in his tone, but very articulate and clear in his thoughts.
His background was as an optician. He was a distinguished student in his studies in England. He then moved to Manitoba, Canada, and from there made a substantial contribution to our province. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly and served as a member in the caucus of the government of Ed Schreyer and then, from 1982 to 1986, presided over this Chamber as Speaker of the House and was one who stuck, in a very principled way, to the traditions and rules of this House, understood them well, was a student of Parliamentary history and certainly was committed to upholding the traditions that had been imported from England and evolved over many years here in Canada.
He understood the basis for the rules that he was upholding and was, first and foremost, a democrat in addition to being a New Democratic. He believed in democracy with a small "d" and somebody who was very vigilant in upholding the rights of all members to express views in this Chamber and then, ultimately, for the majority to decide the issue.
He was somebody who was a loyal and determined member of the New Democratic Party and, as we know from history, in the end distinguished himself as somebody who put his own principles and his commitment to democracy and his constituents above partisan considerations. He is known as having voted against a budget that he was deeply concerned about, one that would have increased substantially the financial burden on average Manitobans, the very people that he had spent his career fighting on behalf of. So he did something that was certainly controversial, but demonstrated an independence of thought and a commitment to his constituents that, I think, all members of this Chamber can respect and admire.
As a party leader, I am as every bit as committed to the idea of caucus discipline as any other party leader would be, but there are times when individuals in the Chamber do have to stand up and do what they believe is right, and Jim Walding did that when he thought that it was important to do so. We know that the course of politics and history in Manitoba changed as a result of his singularly courageous decision.
I just want to commend him for his years of service, extend condolences to his family, and certainly support the motion of the Premier (Mr. Doer) that this House convey our thoughts and condolences to those members of the Walding family who have been left behind. Thank you.
Hon. Nancy Allan (Minister of Labour and Immigration): It is a privilege to rise today to pay tribute to the memory of Derek James Walding and to offer, on behalf of my colleagues, our condolences to his family and friends. Jim, as he was known, served as MLA for St. Vital from 1971 to 1988. He was born May 9, 1937 in Rushden, England. After serving his military duties in Ireland, he graduated with top honours from the London School of Optometry. He married his wife, Valerie, on November 16, 1957, and they moved to Winnipeg in 1961.
After 10 years working as an optician, Jim entered public life, winning the by-election in St. Vital in 1971. I, unfortunately, never had the privilege of working with him, so I consulted with George Schamber, who was a close friend of the Waldings, a long-time community member of St. Vital, and also a member of the NDP executive still to this day, and he remembers Jim fondly.
George recalls Jim made a conscious commitment to be a full-time MLA. With the modest MLA salary of that time, Jim supported a young family and served his entire time as MLA in accordance with that commitment. Providing for his family on a single salary required sacrifice and commitment, and Jim did so willingly. He often said an MLA should not expect more than the average earnings of his constituents. Jim had high ideals and lived his life accordingly. He was principled and decent.
Jim set the standard for constituency work in St. Vital. He cared deeply for his constituents and was always available to help them. He did his work quietly and effectively. He often worked long hours into the night for his constituents, writing letters, filling out tax forms and sometimes just listening. He had a constituency office at the St. Vital city hall on Saturdays so he could meet personally with his constituents. Jim and Val also loved to attend community events in St. Vital, and they were known to attend as much as three events in one evening. Jim stated on several occasions a person has one mouth and two ears, therefore, listen at least twice as much as you talk.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the legacy that I inherited in St. Vital when I became the MLA in 1999–a very important tradition because of Jim and Val Walding–the famous NDP St. Vital dinners. The dinner is a heartwarming event with home-cooked food and inexpensive ticket price to encourage attendance held in a community club hall in St. Vital and has always attracted a full house because of the delicious food and casual atmosphere. I'd like to thank Val who, I believe, is in the gallery today, for all those years she cooked for the dinner and contributed to its success.
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While in opposition, Jim served as critic to Crown corporations, including Manitoba Telephone System, Manitoba Hydro and the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission. He served as Speaker of the House from 1982 to 1986. Jim retired from politics in 1988 and moved to Victoria with his wife, Val. He returned to Winnipeg in 1994. After a brief battle with cancer, Jim passed away April 23, 2007. He is survived by his wife, Valerie; their two sons, Andrew and Phillip; his daughter, Christine; and two granddaughters, Kimberly and Rachel.
I ask the members of the House to join me in expressing our condolences to the family and friends of Jim Walding as we commemorate his life today.
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to put a few comments on the record in regard to the passing of Mr. Walding, and on behalf of the Manitoba Liberal Party, to extend our condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Walding.
I, personally, never had the privilege of meeting with Mr. Walding, but it was a time the Leader of the Official Opposition (Mr. McFadyen) made reference that he had a very significant impact on the province of Manitoba in 1988. At that time we had an election in which my leader, Sharon Carstairs, and our caucus grew considerably. One of the things that would come up at the time was, what was Mr. Walding like, and so forth. Mrs. Carstairs, the leader at the time, had nothing but positive praise for Mr. Walding. Positive in the sense that Mr. Walding was in a very difficult situation, and many MLAs, I don't think, would have been able to have digested everything that was happening in the environment around them and have the courage to make what was a good decision. I think through time all members will acknowledge that it is important for us not to take others for granted, that it's important that we recognize that we serve first and foremost our constituents, and then the province as a whole. As I say, I never had the privilege to know Mr. Walding, but I do know, based on what I've been told from individuals like my former leader, Sharon Carstairs, that he was a man with great integrity and a deep amount of respect from individuals of all political parties.
So it's with some sadness that we express condolences. As the Premier has pointed out, Mr. Walding died at far too young of an age. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed]
Would honourable members please rise.
A moment of silence was observed.
Arthur A. Trapp
Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): I move, seconded by the honourable Leader of the Opposition,
THAT the family of the late Arthur A. Trapp, who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, convey its sincere sympathy in their bereavement and its appreciation of the devotion to duty in the useful life of active and community public service, and that Mr. Speaker be requested to forward a copy of this resolution to the family.
Mr. Speaker: It's been moved by the honourable First Minister, seconded by the honourable Leader of the Official Opposition,
THAT this House convey to the family of the late Arthur A. Trapp, who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, its sincere sympathy in their bereavement and its appreciation of his devotion to duty in the useful life of active, community and public service, and that Mr. Speaker be requested to forward a copy of this resolution to the family.
Mr. Hugh McFadyen (Leader of the Official Opposition): My understanding is that the Member for River Heights (Mr. Gerrard) as the Leader of the Liberal Party had wished to second the motion.
Mr. Speaker: Is it the will of the House to change the seconder from the honourable Leader of the Official Opposition to the honourable Member for River Heights? Is there agreement? [Agreed]
That will be changed. The honourable First Minister has the floor.
Mr. Doer: I apologize for that indiscretion. I was reading the party affiliation of Liberal-Progressive, so I made a mistake.
Certainly, I want to pay tribute to the life and memory of Mr. Arthur A. Trapp and to offer his family my deepest condolences. Arthur or Archie, as he was called by many, was born in Brokenhead, Manitoba, on November 7, 1918. He was married to his wife, Juliana, for 66 years and they had a daughter, Lyla McLean.
He served as a reeve for the R.M. of Brokenhead. In 1958, he became the MLA for Lac du Bonnet and served until 1959. This was a tradition in their family. His father, Albert, served as an MLA for St. Clement from 1950 to 1952.
Archie believed very strongly in rural and northern economic development. In one of his first debates, he challenged the government to invest in rural and northern Manitoba by purchasing materials from inside Manitoba when expanding hydro and telephone systems in the north. He wanted the people of Manitoba to have every opportunity to gain employment so that, as in his words, they can meet their obligations with their heads up. Fellow MLA, W.B. Scarth, commended Archie for his exceptional speech and support for rural and northern areas of the province.
Archie's love of the north was evident in his work as a community development officer for Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. He later became manager for the department's office in Thompson. When Archie retired from managing the Thompson office, he was able to fulfil his aspiration to own and operate a fishing lodge. The Cochrane River Fishing Lodge in northern Manitoba was realized. Even in his retirement, he worked tirelessly for his community and worked very effectively with many service organizations including serving with the Canadian Executive Service Organization. He did a lot of feasibility studies for Aboriginal programs including fishing lodges, tourism, sawmills and wild rice harvesting.
I'd like to ask the members of this House to join me in expressing our condolences to the family and friends of Arthur Trapp and to take the time to remember his contributions to so many communities, both in terms of his work as the MLA for his constituents and as a individual that was elected as a Liberal-Progressive in the 1958 election and the work he did on behalf of his constituents in Brokenhead and Lac du Bonnet before and after his service to this Legislature.
Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): I rise to pay tribute to Arthur Trapp and to offer condolences to the friends and family of Arthur Trapp.
Art was a MLA for all too brief a period of time, but he spent his life and his work, really, for the people of Manitoba and, indeed, not just in the area of Lac du Bonnet, but all over the province. He had a wonderful heart and a raft of stories.
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He was full of advice to a whole stream of Liberal leaders including, particularly, Sharon Carstairs and myself. When Sharon was the Leader of the Liberal Party, for a least a number of those years, Arthur was up in Thompson, and he had weekly coffee meetings with Liberals there and got quite a group going. He did the same later on in Selkirk and up until the last day that he could possibly move around. Whenever he could, he was there and had many loving friends who got together with him on a very regular basis.
People really admired and loved Archie, and there is just no doubt that he was an incredible individual. He had a vision for Manitoba and for northern Manitoba that was expansive. He was always talking about new ideas and new opportunities and economic opportunities to build.
He worked for many years on behalf of Aboriginal people, was in the Northern Affairs office of Indian and Northern Affairs in Pukatawagan, in Grand Rapids, in Thompson. Even after he retired, he served with the Canadian Executive Service Organization helping and providing advice on the proposals, on ideas for people in many, many different Aboriginal communities. Of course, as a strong believer in the economic future of the North and the fishermen, he had the Cochrane River fishing lodge for a number of years.
There are many stories that are told and can be told about Archie. Let me give just a little hint with several stories. He was precocious. At age 10 he was already driving and hauling logs, as he did, to Pine Falls working closely with his father who, I believe, had been an MLA before him. When he was in Grand Rapids and he was out one day hunting–and this story really is about a dog named George who he had acquired sometime before and trained and had ready to hunt with him. Archie took him out one day hunting. They were hunting ducks and the first group of ducks flew over and Archie shot and he missed them all and the dog looked at him in dismay. So the next flock of ducks came over and he missed again and this happened again and again and finally the dog got so disgusted he just turned around and away from him and said, you know, that's enough, you're not much of a hunter.
Archie loved telling this story. He never was afraid to tell stories about himself and he did that on many occasions. On one occasion he was out, as he loved to do, to pick berries. He found a wonderful field of blueberries or area of blueberries as he was driving by one day, but there was a bear there, but that didn't deter Archie. He went out and chased the bear away and the bear went away and Archie picked lots of blueberries. But it wasn't all that long till the bear decided that it was hungry and so it came back, and this time the bear wasn't going to be chased away. It was Archie who ended up getting chased away.
One time, I think, when Archie was in his 40s, you know, every once in a while, instead of a bear being born in the spring, a bear, for whatever reason, is born later in the season and, of course, this is a bit problematic because, when a bear is born in the spring, you know, a bear is growing up when there are lots of blueberries and lots of food and so on, but if a bear is born later on, there's not the same degree of nourishment. I knew it was Archie and several others who had been out at a campsite and in walked this bear, young bear. This was in the fall. It was cold. As they were sitting around, they could see that this bear was really just trying to get warm and that the feet were sort of partly frozen. So they weren't sure what to do initially, but they decided to wrestle this bear down. There were some young fellows there and they brought him into the camp, and they fed and looked after this young bear. For quite some time afterwards, Archie would be going out with a dog on one side and the bear on the other side as he walked around, and the bear and the dog got along very well, so that when, finally, the bear was getting bigger, they handed the bear over to be looked after elsewhere, and the dog got very morose. They eventually had to take the dog into where the bear was in order for the dog to get happy again.
These sorts of stories Archie would tell time after time. He never tired, and his friends never tired in listening or telling the stories about Archie. So it is wonderful to have so many people here today at the time of the day when we have condolences, and recognizing, respecting and honouring Archie. So thank you all for coming as we pay tribute to a Manitoban who made a major contribution over many years.
Mr. McFadyen: I am pleased to support the motion of the Premier (Mr. Doer), seconded by the Member for River Heights (Mr. Gerrard), to extend condolences to the family of Archie Trapp.
I'm particularly appreciative of the time that the Member for River Heights put into gathering and sharing some anecdotes about his life. I think this is a tradition in this House that allows all of us, particularly those of us who are newer members, to get to know something more about the personalities of those who have served here before us. In that sense, it's an opportunity to, I think, learn and also to appreciate the substantial personalities and characters of those who have served in all kinds of different ways, for different parties, in this Chamber.
Archie Trapp is somebody who embodied a lot of the qualities of Manitobans, rugged and independent, and somebody committed to community. The Member for River Heights has made reference to his commitment to the North. We're certainly aware of his contributions through government in the Department of Indian Affairs, in the Thompson office where he served for many years, but also his many other contributions outside of the day-to-day working responsibilities to northern Manitoba, in particular, but also to our entire province.
I know the Member for Lac du Bonnet (Mr. Hawranik) is going to offer some comments about the substantial contributions made by Mr. Trapp to that part of the province. I know that he served as the reeve of the R.M. of Brokenhead, contributed substantially to the local farm movement co‑operative, to 4-H, and to other organizations that provide, to our communities, a better future, 4-H in terms of offering skills and values to young people as they relate to stewardship of the land and protection of rural communities and rural values.
I want to also say that it impresses on me the willingness on the part of people to make contributions in different ways selflessly. Mr. Trapp did so in a variety of areas, pushing for better infrastructure, better conditions for the communities that he represented, and a better life for those in the North. He was a friend of the Aboriginal people in Manitoba, who appreciated the advocacy that he provided on their behalf, and his very progressive views on how to develop the North and provide a better life for First Nations people here in Manitoba.
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He is somebody who grew up in the era of the Depression, and those of us who have never lived through such an event, I think, would have a hard time appreciating the challenges of living in those difficult economic circumstances. My understanding is that he had to leave school at a young age, at the age of 14, in order to work full time. That was a story that was played out in many families throughout our province, and he is somebody who left school at a young age to work in order to support himself and his family, and then went on to make very substantial contributions in a variety of ways to our province, serving very briefly in this House, but in very lengthy and substantial terms to the rest of the province.
So I'm very pleased to offer my condolences to the family who are present today, to thank the Premier (Mr. Doer) for the motion, and the Member for River Heights (Mr. Gerrard) for seconding this motion of condolence.
Mr. Gerald Hawranik (Lac du Bonnet): Arthur Trapp, who, in our area, is more commonly known as Archie Trapp, was a descendant of one of the many pioneer families who settled in the Rural Municipality of Brokenhead. His political career started when he became elected as reeve of the R.M. of Brokenhead, the Rural Municipality of Brokenhead, in 1952 and again, after receiving the confidence of residents in the area, he was re-elected in 1956. In 1958, he ran for election as an MLA in the Lac du Bonnet constituency for the Liberal Progressive Coalition Party, and he was successful in that election and served residents of the constituency until the next provincial election in 1959.
Archie's father was active in municipal work in the 1920s, and the Trapp family's background in agriculture and municipal politics served Archie well when he became reeve and also when he became an MLA. He was a fierce advocate for improvements to infrastructure in the constituency and across the province such as roads, bridges, and drainage works. Archie grew up during difficult times. He grew up having to endure the Great Depression. He was only 12 years old at the beginning of the Great Depression, and he was no stranger to hard work. At that age, he was expected to do the work of an adult. The Depression years were years of work and worry, but with Archie's help, his family was able to make a living without assistance or handouts.
By 1932, Archie was 14 years of age and out of school, and while education was desirable, that didn't rank high on the list of priorities in the 1930s. This meant that he had to leave school and it meant full-time farm work in the summer and bush camps in the winter. Along with the farm work and the winter roads operation, Archie and his wife still found time to contribute to the community in the farm movement co-operative retail organization and in 4‑H work in the community.
During the time that Archie was reeve and MLA, there was unprecedented expansion in Manitoba including the electrification of rural Manitoba, the construction of roads and highways, telephone services, and drainage systems. None of this came easy and it took endless meetings, endless negotiation, planning, and leadership to accomplish this orderly expansion. The constituency of Lac du Bonnet and the Rural Municipality of Brokenhead were in very good hands during that period of expansion and during the time that Archie was reeve and MLA.
On behalf of my family and all residents of the constituency of Lac du Bonnet, I, too, offer my sincere condolences to the family of Archie Trapp.
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to put a few comments on the record on the passing of Archie Trapp. The Premier and the Member for Lac du Bonnet talked about some of the things that Archie was able to do, whether it was as MLA or as a reeve, and my leader talked in terms of some of the personal stories that Archie had conveyed. There is maybe something else that I would like to kind of bring to light and, of course, offer my condolences to the family and friends of Archie.
It was in, I guess it would have been the early '90s, when I first recognized who Archie Trapp was. At the time, I was only a Liberal MLA for a couple of years, and I didn't really have a good appreciation of former Liberal MLAs. It wasn't until I had this discussion with Archie and I found out that Archie was this Liberal MLA and was someone that I could talk to, that actually had some history in terms of the party. He always was an individual that I had thought very highly of in the sense that when I could talk about the Liberal Party and the Liberal Party having a tradition, or a recent history here inside the Legislature, I could make reference to individuals like Archie. I say that because after the '99 election, I became party manager shortly, or some time after that, and what I found very interesting was in trying to better organize the party, is that I had to go into different regions. One of those regions was in the Selkirk area. I was so pleased and amazed in terms of, you have this wonderful group of people that would meet on a regular basis in a local restaurant just to make sure that there were Liberals that were getting together talking about issues and providing forums and discussions and dialogue.
Back then, you know, I often thought, if we had those types of Liberals in all 57 constituencies, we would be winning 57 constituencies, or have a fairly good shot at winning all of those 57 constituencies, and when you take a look in terms of participation, as party manager I did talk to Archie and he was someone that wanted to be involved and that was a time when the party provincially and federally was splitting apart. Archie took an interest in the provincial party. There was that special group of individuals from Selkirk that really made a difference and I suspect that Archie's role in that, as I know, was no doubt very, very critical.
So his contributions to the Liberal Party have been immense, and I truly believe that. I know that they will continue well into the future and it's especially pleasing to see so many of Archie's family and friends that have joined us here in the gallery.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt this motion? [Agreed]
Would you please rise.
A moment of silence was observed.
David Robert Blake
Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Leader of the Official Opposition (Mr. McFadyen),
THAT this House convey to the family of the late David Robert Blake, who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, its sincere sympathy in their bereavement and its appreciation of his devotion to duty and a useful life of active community and public service, and that Mr. Speaker be requested to forward a copy of this resolution to the family.
Motion presented.
Mr. Doer: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a person who was a long-standing member of this Legislative Assembly, and a pillar of strength in the community and in the province of Manitoba.
David Robert Blake was born in 1925. He grew up in his family farm area of Rapid City, Manitoba. He joined the Royal Bank of Canada in 1941, and then enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a navigator. He did not serve overseas, but he was a champion of the war effort, as we all know. He continued his military service after the war as captain and paymaster with the Armed Forces 6th Field Engineer Regiment in Winnipeg.
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He returned to the bank and, in a career that spanned 41 years, he served many communities throughout Manitoba, most notably Glenboro, Selkirk, Swan River and Minnedosa.
Posted to Flin Flon in 1948, he met Gwen Bergman, the boss's daughter, I understand, and after a two-year courtship they married on August 16, 1951, and began their life together. Dave and Gwen have five wonderful children, three girls and two boys, to which Dave was a wonderful father.
He moved to Selkirk in 1960 and, eventually, after his community service as a Mason and a Shriner, as a curler and skeet shooter, and as a Rotarian and dedicated member of Duck's Unlimited, he ran at the request of former Premier Walter Weir in 1971 in a by-election. He was elected the MLA for Minnedosa and entered the very public life of this Legislature.
Before that, he had had the experience of being the chair of the Industrial Commission in Selkirk. He was past-president of the Royal Canadian Legion branches in both Selkirk and Minnedosa, the Kiwanis Clubs in Selkirk and Swan River and, after several years, he was Manitoba Chamber of Commerce president from 1970 to '71.
So he came to this House with a lot of experience, a lot of knowledge, a lot of–what could I say? He had a definite style to him. I was elected in 1986, and it's like hockey: you always got to watch out for certain people on the ice at all times. You always were careful in government when David Blake was around, because he had a certain twinkle in his eye and an ability to be very, very effective, as I remember Mr. Blake.
I certainly know that his colleagues in the Legislature, his Progressive Conservative caucus, had a–they worked very hard, but they did have the odd hour to enjoy themselves in the evening, telling stories, singing songs, having some refreshments. It was a time when other members at other parties of the Legislature would be invited to those events, and what happened in the room stayed in the room. It was actually a lot of fun in terms of the stories that people could tell, especially Mr. Blake.
Mr. Blake was elected, as I say, in 1971. He was re-elected in 1973, re-elected again in 1977, '81, re‑elected in '86 and he did not run as a candidate in '88. I understand his successor was Harold Gilleshammer who was in the loge and I want to pay tribute to him. Of course, Harold stood on Mr. Blake's shoulders all the way through his political career with the great constituency that David Blake had built for a very credible member, I might say, that received the torch from Mr. Blake in the constituency of Minnedosa.
Mr. Blake, as I say, was the first member of the Royal Bank, I understand, to be elected to the provincial Legislature, and I understand he was the first banker in Canada–this is what my notes tell me; I did not know that–to be elected to this Legislature, but certainly he had a tremendous reputation of service to his constituents. Whether he was in government on the government's side or in opposition, he had that kind of respect and credibility and love from the people he served. He was a caucus chair. He was a chair of the Public Accounts Committee. He was on the board of directors of MPI or Autopac at the time and Mackenzie Seeds.
Apparently, after his retirement in 1988, this retirement did not slow him down. His love of people, his respect of people, his love of wildlife and landscape in this province allowed him to participate more in wilderness fishing camps, spend time more with his buddies hunting for deer, and training any one of the laddies to retrieve a targeted fowl.
He had a great sense of humour, as we all know. As I say, some people walk in the room, you don't notice them; some people walk in the room and you pay attention from the moment they get there. David Blake was one of the people you always knew was in the room, and you never quite knew what he was going to say, but you always enjoyed what he said and how he said it. He certainly had an infectious personality, an absolutely larger-than-life persona. Certainly, he not only worked hard, but, as I say, he golfed, he hunted, he fished, played a little crib, apparently gambled a little, liked the odd rum and coke press, and he had a great large circle of friends and family.
I just want to say to his wife, Gwen, and all his children that Mr. Blake has touched many lives. His warmth, his humour, his energy, his integrity, his dedication to the Canadian military, have left a lasting legacy and for his selfless contributions to his community, to his province, to his country and to this Legislature, I want to thank him for that on behalf of the members of this Legislature.
Mr. Hugh McFadyen (Leader of the Official Opposition): I thank the Premier (Mr. Doer) for those comments. I'm pleased to second this motion and just to convey directly to the family of Dave Blake our condolences. There are members of the family that are present with us today in the galleries: daughter Naomi and her husband Garry Marshall, and his son Dylan. Darren is here, his daughter, Colleen, and her daughter, Jordan; his son, Chris, his wife, Lisa, and as well, of course, Harold Gilleshammer is here as Dave Blake's successor. Dave's wife, Gwen, is also here as well–the most important person, last but not least, as we extend our condolences.
As the Premier has said, Dave Blake was larger than life. One of my few regrets is not having been elected about 20 years sooner to this Chamber because I have had the benefit of being able to hear these stories about serving with Dave Blake, and there are many of them. All of them are great stories not all of which are perhaps appropriate to be told right at the moment. But I will say that the common theme that comes from all of them is that Dave Blake was somebody who was generous, was absolutely committed to the people that he served, was a great father and husband, and somebody who was a lot of fun with a larger-than-life personality and a positive spirit.
He was somebody who, as the Premier has mentioned, was, I think, responsible for establishing a lot of practices and traditions here in this building and in this Chamber which made service in this Chamber, which could sometimes involve long hours, considerably more enjoyable than would have been the case otherwise.
I know that, without naming names, that there are many protégés of Dave Blake, and there's a whole group of people who I think acquired a taste for rum and coke presses that wouldn't have otherwise, continue to enjoy them and very often will use the opportunity to toast Dave for his great support of his friends and his contributions to our province.
His biography is well known. He enlisted in the RCAF as a navigator during the Second World War. He was determinedly committed to the service of our country and its values. He carried on in his military service after the war and then went into a very long and illustrious career as a banker before getting into politics.
I think the Premier has noted the fact that he was the first banker elected to this Chamber, and I would say that is perhaps something that it should not surprise us. A banker representing farmers is not something that you might expect, as the fact is that there hasn't always been a closeness of affinity between bankers and farmers over the years. But the fact that Dave was able to represent so many different people and interests so effectively is a testament to the fact that his personality and his commitment to his community was so incredible and so outstanding. I don't want to make any suggestion that could be interpreted as denigrating bankers, many of whom have facilitated the economic activity that takes place in their communities, but it's not always an easy relationship, as we know, particularly during difficult times.
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Dave Blake was a Mason and a Shriner. He was a sportsman. He was a community activist, president of the Legion in both Selkirk and Minnedosa. Elected in 1971, serving here for 17 years until 1988 and, during that time, served a variety of functions with great distinction. He served as the chair of the Progressive Conservative caucus. He chaired the Public Accounts Committee, was on the boards of Autopac and Mackenzie Seeds and made contributions in a whole variety of other ways to the life of our province and the life of this Legislature.
I know that both MLAs who have had the privilege of serving in the Minnedosa constituency since Mr. Blake have talked about the great groundwork that he laid for our party in that area of the province, the great respect that all whom he represented had for him and the great advice and lessons that he was able to hand down.
I had the privilege of meeting Dave a number of times since my involvement as a member of the party. I had the opportunity to get his advice a lot at various stages along the way, which was always offered vigorously and freely. Some of that advice I took, and I'm glad I did. Some of it I didn't take, and I'm glad I didn't, but all of it was offered with generosity and with tremendous good humour and good nature. So I know Dave Blake was not just respected, but adored by his friends and all of those who had the opportunity to serve with him.
I want to just provide an opportunity for others to make comments, but I'm honoured to have an opportunity to pay tribute to Dave Blake. I do extend our condolences to members of his family.
Mrs. Leanne Rowat (Minnedosa): It's an honour to rise today to speak to the condolence motion in respect to the passing of Mr. Dave Blake.
Mr. Blake was a very familiar face to this building as he diligently served as the MLA for the Minnedosa constituency for 17 years. I believe, from what some members have told me–I think this was his seat, and I don't know if Gwen remembers or not–that he sat very close to where I am sitting, and I feel honoured and I feel his presence.
I want to recognize Gwen, and I want to recognize also her daughter, Naomi, and her husband, Garry, and their son, Dylan. I want to recognize Darren; I want to recognize Colleen and her daughter, Jordan. I want to recognize Chris and his wife, Lisa, and I know that Kelly is here in spirit. I know that, when I was visiting Dave in the hospital, he had pictures of Cape Cod, and I know that Kelly is with us today.
So I want to let the family know that Mr. Blake was an incredible human being. As a first-time MLA, his advice was always interesting, and I always appreciated his comments and his encouragement. I know that in the last election he helped in the office, and I'd love to come in and sit down and have coffee with him and say, okay, Mr. Blake, what are we doing right? What are we doing wrong? He had answers to all of that. He definitely had answers and some really good advice.
But I do recall–and I want to thank the member, our leader, for providing the comments that he did because he really, really, really liked Hugh McFadyen, and he said he was going to make a great premier, and I agree. When that happens, I will definitely be thinking of Mr. Blake at that period.
In November, just a month shy of his 83rd birthday, Mr. Blake passed away in Minnedosa, which is the community he called home for many years. He was born and raised in Rapid City and, often when I went to events in Rapid City at a tea, Mr. Blake would be there and he'd be sitting with his friend, Timer Hyndman. So I always liked to sit down and listen to some of their stories because I always got a good sense of what times were like when Mr. Blake served in this Legislature and how he was very inclusive to the constituents that he represented and included them in a lot of opportunities that he saw within the Legislature.
His work with the Royal Bank spanned 41 years and took him and his family to many communities throughout Manitoba. I believe in 1948 he met Gwen Bergman and, as the Premier had indicated, the boss's daughter, which I'm not surprised. That's Mr. Blake. I believe that they courted for two years and married, and from that have five beautiful children and wonderful grandchildren to share.
In 1970, they moved to Minnedosa, the family of five and Gwen and Mr. Blake, and after the retirement of the Premier and local MLA, Walter Weir, he had the honour to be asked to consider the Progressive Conservative nomination and was the candidate for the constituency in 1971. The by-election victory saw, as I said earlier, 17 years of Mr. Blake's service to the public in this Chamber.
At the time, he was one of the first few bankers elected and, we understand, possibly the first. He received many accolades within the Canadian financial institution for these achievements. Just a comment regarding his years as a banker. He was always a diplomat, and as a banker I heard him say many times when people were in financial trouble, there was just too much month left at the end of the money, and I think that gave a sense of his compassion and his understanding that when times were tough he understood that and he would work really closely with the individuals that he was trying to help.
During his time in the Legislature here, he provided a strong voice on issues important to his constituents and there was always value in the experiences that he brought to the legislative process. I know that today there are a number of people who also want to speak and put words on the record of their memories of Mr. Blake. I think that's a testament to how much he loved people and was very inclusive with not only members within the Legislature, but people throughout the constituency.
He was a man that could make friends easily and in a non-partisan way. I know that he just loved to talk and he loved to learn and he loved to engage in conversation and debate. I think that when Mr. Blake retired from politics in 1988, I think he was sad about that, but I think he understood it was time to let the next generation come forward. I'm so pleased to see Harold Gilleshammer in the Chamber today, coming to show his respect because I think that Dave Blake appreciated Harold taking over the Minnedosa constituency, and I think that having you here today is something that the Blake family do appreciate and I think it's important.
He gave me guidance and he provided me with support and he certainly set a fine example for us to follow, both Harold and I, in taking on the Minnedosa constituency and I was honoured, as I'm sure Harold was, to continue the legacy that he nurtured and supported.
As a colleague and a caucus chair, I've been told that he was always able to take the chill off a room and I think the Premier sort of alluded to that earlier today. He could pour oil on water and make the tenses of times become a time for fellowship, and I think that's needed in this building. Sometimes we get so caught up in the politics and in what we're trying to put forward that we forget that there are people and that we have general and common interests. I think Mr. Blake understood that and really nurtured that.
He loved his province and his community and was a proud member of the local legion. Besides his time in public office, he was also very active in many organizations and clubs. Prior to becoming an MLA, he was president of the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce. He served as the president of the Royal Canadian Legion in both Selkirk and Hugh Dyer branches. I had a few beverages with Mr. Blake in the legion and I enjoyed those moments and I enjoyed those times.
He was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to fish and hunt. He also loved to golf and I know that before he became extremely ill, he had the opportunity to go up to the hunting cottage with some family. There was a picture of him sitting with his, I think his gun, or sitting just outside the cabin and he pointed that picture out and was so proud that he had that opportunity to go up there. Even though he couldn't hunt, he was still part of the group and I think that said a lot about his personality.
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Golf was another passion of Mr. Blake's, and I believe he was always at the golf course. He was golfing, he was coffeeing it up with the group, and he was just a great community person.
He had the commitment and the ability to make a difference in the world around him, and he certainly left a mark wherever he went. The people who knew Dave Blake would affirm that he was never a glass-half-empty kind of a guy; he wasn't the kind of a guy with a half-empty glass. He was always a guy with a half-full glass.
In closing, as the member for the Minnedosa constituency representing a community that loved him, I want the family of Mr. Blake to know that what I admired most about this man is that he was true to his principles; his beliefs were strong and he lived by them.
So please accept the condolences from the Minnedosa constituency, from the members of the Manitoba Legislature, past and present, and please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you, Gwen, and your family. We will miss Dave. I always call him Mr. Blake. We will miss him and will fondly remember him. Thank you.
Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): I rise to offer condolences to the family and friends of David Blake on behalf of the Liberal caucus and the Liberal Party. I also want to pay a tribute to David Blake, who served in this Legislature for 17 years. Interestingly, 17 years, which corresponded very closely to those of Jim Walding, whom we paid tribute to earlier on.
Certainly, he is remembered here very fondly for his contributions here. I think he made many important contributions not just within the Legislature, but to the various communities that he lived in: Glenboro, in Selkirk, in Minnedosa–he was born in Rapid City–Swan River. He was a banker, but he knew enough about farming and cared enough about farmers that, when he ran for office, he was elected. I think that says a whole lot.
I offer condolences and pay tribute to a man who contributed a lot to Manitoba. Thank you.
Mrs. Bonnie Mitchelson (River East): I want to take just a few moments to put a few words on the record about a colleague of mine, Dave Blake, and to extend my condolences to his family, but also to say to them we do want to celebrate his life and the years that he spent here in the Legislature.
I was a rookie back in 1986 and only had the opportunity to serve with him for two years. I was certainly welcomed into the Conservative caucus with open arms by many of those that had been here for a fairly long time and certainly knew the ropes of this Legislature and took me under their wing and helped me learn about legislative process.
Those were in the days when we sat three evenings a week until 10 p.m. There was a lot of time over the supper hour and into the evenings where we had the opportunity to talk and to have fellowship. I want to indicate that those days were very different from the days that we see in the Legislature today. Dave was a very instrumental part in me becoming familiar with this place.
I have just a couple of stories, I guess, I would like to share because I remember hearing many. Of course, as has been said, there are many that couldn't be shared and put on the record today. There are a few that I would like to share with members of the Legislature today and with Dave's family.
When he was the bank manager in Selkirk–you know, it just speaks to Dave Blake's commitment to community and commitment to people and always wanting to try to serve and help people to the best of his ability–there was a gentleman that walked into the bank and into his office. He needed a loan. It was somewhere around $40,000. You know, Dave, as the bank manager, had a personal limit of $10,000 that he could approve. So he thought a bit about how he might be able to accommodate and to help this man that he really believed in and believed that he had a business opportunity that needed to be supported. So he said to him, well, I can give you $10.000; he said, but are you married? The gentleman said, yes. And he said, well, I could probably find $10,000 for your wife, too. Then he said, do you have a brother? The man said, yes, I have a brother. He said, well, I could probably find $10,000 for him. And, by the way, is your brother married? The man said yes. He said, well, I think that we could probably find $10,000 for his wife, too. So he was able to accommodate this man, and that just speaks to the type of person that Dave Blake was. He believed in this individual. He had a reputation to put on the line as the bank manager. He made the right decision for the right reasons and he never lived to regret that decision, Mr. Speaker. So I think that speaks volumes to the kind of person that Dave Blake was, and it just speaks to everything that we know about him and the way he treated people, the way he loved people and really cared about his community and those that lived in his community, and that bode well for him in public office as he moved forward.
One other little story I'd like to talk about. From time to time, MLAs retire of their own accord or retire for other reasons, but I know that the Blakes had a little jewellery store in Minnedosa, too. So it was a standing practice around this place–and we do know that the Blake family had the monopoly on the parting gifts for those MLAs that were leaving the Legislature, and it was a silver tray that was lovingly presented to all of our colleagues as a result of the entrepreneurial spirit that Dave Blake brought to this Legislature and to the community.
He served his community well. He had two wonderful people that followed in his footsteps, both Harold Gilleshammer and Leanne Rowat. I know he was very proud of his community, very proud of his family and loved life. We will remember Dave Blake as that happy-go-lucky person who added something to the room, in every room that he was in.
So, to the family, I know that you have many, many memories, and good memories. Gwen, Naomi, whom I know personally, to all of you as family, remember all of the good things that he did for his family, for his community and for the people of Manitoba, which he served so well in every capacity that he served through his life. Thanks, Mr. Speaker.
Mrs. Myrna Driedger (Charleswood): I have just a few comments to put on the record. When I became a MLA in 1998, there were certainly some wonderful stories around this building and, certainly, Dave Blake was part of that history of great stories. I, too, like our leader, was thinking I'm about 20 years too late. I really would have enjoyed being around in those days to hear a lot of the stories, or be part of the stories and part of the activity, because I think they really worked hard, but they certainly knew how to enjoy each other's company as well. I think, as some others have said, that we don't quite have that same kind of thing happening anymore. I miss it when I hear those wonderful stories of many, many years ago.
I just want to indicate from myself and from my husband, Hal, sincere condolences to the family. Naomi, we've known you for a long time, and from Hal and I sincere sadness in your loss, and to your mom and to the rest of your family. I still remember our days from Job's Daughters. I remember high school and lot of things since. I just want to say that there are some great memories of him and, certainly, a dad and a husband to have been very, very proud of. So all the best from Hal and me and from the people of Charleswood.
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Mr. Larry Maguire (Arthur-Virden): Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to add my tribute to David Blake. To Gwen, I know that it's been a pleasure meeting you through all of these years. I know how much you've supported both Mr. Gilleshammer and the present Member for Minnedosa (Mrs. Rowat) constituency, because I've had the opportunity of being at some of those delectable breakfasts and many of the golf tournaments that have been held in that constituency. It's always a pleasure to be there. They're not quite the same without Dave being there, of course. He was always the guy that came up to me and said, how are things going, Larry? In fact, the reason I wanted to be here today to pay tribute to him was because of the beginnings of politics that I had, as well, in this room.
I had been elected to the Canadian Wheat Board Advisory Committee in 1986, began that process in January of 1987, and I was in Winnipeg in May of 1988, I believe it was, when there was a news item on the TV. I'd finished the Canadian Wheat Board meeting that I'd been at that day, and I was diligently writing a report that I wrote for every one of those meetings to the Manitoba Co-operator. I turned on a television, and there was a news flash there, something about a change of government coming, and I phoned the member that I was represented by at the time, Mr. Jim Downey, and he indicated to me that if I was in the city anywhere I should probably come over to the Legislature and he would explain what had just happened.
So I finished my report, diligently came over to the Legislature about a quarter to 7, or 7 o'clock in the evening, and one of the first people that I met that evening was David Blake. He indicated to me that I should get involved in politics, and then he reminded himself that I was already involved in politics as a farm representative for the western half of Manitoba. In that Canadian Wheat Board realm, I'd had the opportunity of seeking and having his support as a member of the Manitoba Farm Business Association and his banking background in the farm community. Only every time I met him in those areas, he confirmed how important business was in agriculture, and with his banking background it showed through every time.
I just want to say that he was a very strong supporter of the constituency of the people that he represented, and a great help to many of us that never had the opportunity to live in the constituency that he represented as well. I didn't have the opportunity to be at his funeral this spring, because I was out of the country, and so I want to take this opportunity to extend my condolences from both Beryl and me to the family of David Blake today and wish them all the best in their future. But just to say that I will always miss the camaraderie and friendship of Dave Blake at many of the constituency events that will continue to take place in the future and all of the friendly advice that he gave me as a member of this Legislature.
Thank you very much.
Mr. Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt this motion? [Agreed]
Please rise for a moment of respect.
A moment of silence was observed.
Albert Vielfaure
Hon. Gary Doer (Premier): I move, seconded by the Member for River Heights (Mr. Gerrard),
THAT this House convey to the family of the late Albert Vielfaure, who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, its sincere sympathy in their bereavement and its appreciation of his devotion to duty in a useful life of active community and public service, and that Mr. Speaker be requested to forward a copy of this resolution to the family.
Motion presented.
Mr. Doer: I rise to mark the passing of a committed member of the community and a former member of this House. Albert was born in La Broquerie, April 6, 1923, where he resided all his life. He was predeceased by his parents and his wife, Solange, in 2006, after 55 years of marriage. Albert was known in his community as a strong family man. Everyone knew there was nothing he loved more than to be with his family and gatherings, and everybody got wrapped up in discussion and exchanges with Albert. Those family get-togethers were probably where he honed what has been well observed as his oratorical skills.
Albert was elected in 1962 and he was re-elected in 1966 to this Legislature. That in itself demonstrates the credibility he had with his constituents because during that period of time former Premier Roblin had a very, very, popular government, a very popular administration and had great electoral success. So for Albert to have sustained that Conservative wave throughout the '60s as a Liberal representative indicates clearly to all of us his great credibility in the constituency and his deep roots in the southeast portion of the province, which, of course, is so very, very, important in terms of agriculture, but also an extremely important component of the Francophone community here in Manitoba–the southeast portion–La Broquerie and Lorette and Ste. Anne and other communities that flow from the St. Boniface area of this province.
He was a well-known farmer and a very talented producer in Manitoba. He was given by his peers the prestigious title of Farmer of the Year in 1979. He also received the Prix Riel in 2001 and was inducted into the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2002. He received the Queen's Jubilee Medal in 2002 and also was awarded the Prix Entrepreneur in 2003. He represented the constituency as I said before in 1962 with his election to 1969.
Certainly, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of this Chamber, on behalf of the people of Manitoba, I want to pay tribute to Albert's life, to his contributions to Manitobans. Albert Vielfaure was a very, very, important person in Manitoba, and his legacy and his reputation, I know from people I've talked to, live on through his great contributions to this Legislature and to the people of Manitoba.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the late Albert Vielfaure, who served as an MLA here from 1962 to 1969, and to offer condolences to his family and friends who mourn the loss of a great man.
Albert Vielfaure était un homme extraordinaire. Il a beaucoup contribué à sa communauté de La Broquerie, et aussi partout au Manitoba.
Translation
Albert Vielfaure was an extraordinary man. He contributed greatly to his community of La Broquerie, and also throughout Manitoba.
English
Let me talk a little bit about Albert. Born in 1923, he married his wife, Solange Desrosiers, in 1951. In 1962, along with his brother Aimé and two of his brothers-in-law, they built one of the first hog barns in the area of La Broquerie, a hog barn housing 1,000 feeder pigs. They were pioneer farmers, pioneers in the hog industry. Albert and his brother had grown up on the farm. They took over the farm originally from their father, who operated it until about 1946, and then the brothers bought La Broquerie Transfer in 1946. They hauled milk in cans to Winnipeg, brought back freight for merchants and area farmers, hauled livestock, hay and wood. Then, after selling the trucking business, Albert returned to farming with his brother, raising dairy and beef cattle.
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As I said, he then became involved as an MLA in the Legislature, and, with his brother Aimé, they started into the hog business and the hog industry. They've pioneered in a number of other ways as well. They were among the first in southeastern Manitoba to grow corn for grain, and it's not only in his farming area–and I'll come back to this in a little bit–that Albert Vielfaure contributed. He was an extraordinary family man, a real gentleman in every sense of the word.
He served his community in many, many roles, including as a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the co-operative store, the co-op store, the caisse populaire, the church board, and he served from 1970 to '75 on the Manitoba Hog Marketing Commission with the first Canadian producer group to sell chilled pork to Japan. From 1970 to 1979 he was appointed as a member of an advisory board to the federal Minister of Agriculture.
In 1972 the federal government appointed Albert a founding member of the National Farm Products Marketing Council, a supervisory body of the national supply management agencies. He served on this board with distinction for 21 years, and, appropriately, in 1979 the Vielfaure family received the Red River Exhibition's farmer of the year award, and he received a number of other honours and prizes. The Vielfaures were the honorary family of the year in 1994. In 2000, Albert received the Prix Riel, an award recognizing his numerous and lifelong contributions to the Francophone community. He contributed to the advisory board for farm programming on the CBC French network. For four years he was a member of the Fédération des caisses populaires du Manitoba. From 1971 to 1982 he was a member of the French foundation, Francofonds, and I think that if one wanted to delve further, one would find that there were probably many, many more contributions by Albert to his community, La Broquerie.
I want also to acknowledge the incredible role that he has played as an entrepreneur in Manitoba. Here was a man, a family, who started the small family farm, and the interesting thing is that that family farm grew over the years and became Hytek, a corporation, an extension of the family farm operating all over Manitoba, building, in partnership with people in many areas of Manitoba, hog barns, contributing to many communities' employment and helping the growth in a very substantial way of rural Manitoba.
The other interesting thing is that as the transition occurred from family farm to Hytek, and they spread and got involved in a larger way in the hog industry, the economies of scale worked not only to help in the expansion of the hog industry, but the economies of scale also helped in improving, addressing the many concerns of the environment, because with a larger family hog operation, then they were better able to address the environmental concerns which were being increasingly raised. It always amused me to hear New Democrats railing against these huge, horrible, terrible industrial corporations who were doing terrible things for Manitoba. You know, I thought about the Vielfaure family. They're a family farm operation and what they were contributing not only in terms of economic stewardship, but in terms of environmental management, and they paid a lot of attention to the environment as well as to the hog business.
One of the most difficult meetings that I had with Albert and his family was at the time when there was a concern over the OlyWest plant. You may remember, Mr. Speaker, that that was the time when Hytek and Olymel were working together and had proposed a–come to the Premier (Mr. Doer) and the Province and said, well, you know, we want to build this plant, where should we build it? The Premier and the City of Winnipeg said, well, you should build it in Winnipeg and you should talk to the people in the city of Winnipeg. It was on the table and I had talked to various people in the farm community and met with people in the area that the plant was being proposed and talked to the people who were involved with Vita Health and many other businesses in that area. I had to be honest. We were in a difficult position in the Liberal Party because I had, coming up shortly, our annual general meeting and there were resolutions coming forward with regard to the OlyWest plant and I didn't know how this was going to, when it came to a vote, exactly what was going to happen.
I had to be honest and convey the situation to Albert and the others there, talk about what I understood in terms of what was happening in the area of Transcona where the plant was being proposed. You know, it would have been very easy to come and just listen, but I had to be forthright in providing advice. I said, one of the problems–and I remember this meeting just like it was yesterday–with the Doer government is that when they have worked with entrepreneurs–they worked with entrepreneurs in the First Nations community and Thompson and Brandon and Swan River and Headingley, and, sadly, these worked in ways that they were set up to fail. We've seen this also, of course, with the Ranchers Choice more recently, so I had to tell Albert, look, the concern here is that the Premier is right behind you now. He's putting $27 million on the table, but I got to tell you I got a concern here that there is tremendous opposition in the area of Radisson and Transcona. I am very concerned that this, in the final analysis, the NDP government will back down from this. Indeed, over time, that's what happened.
But I got to tell you that Albert Vielfaure, no matter the discussion, no matter where we were on particular issues, was a gentleman. He was an incredible individual. He was very concerned about his family.
J'ai une très grande admiration pour M. Albert Vielfaure et les contributions qu'il a faites dans la communauté de La Broquerie. J'ai une très grande admiration pour ce qu'il a fait pour le Manitoba comme député de la Législature, comme entrepreneur et comme membre d'une grande famille de notre province.
Translation
I have great admiration for Mr. Albert Vielfaure and the contributions he made in the community of La Broquerie. I have great admiration for what he did for Manitoba as a Member of the Legislature, as an entrepreneur and as one member of a large family in the province.
English
Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I remark today on the passing of Albert Vielfaure and talk about the contributions–the many and extraordinary contributions–that he has made, both in the Legislature and into the province of Manitoba and into our agriculture in this province. Thank you.
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Mr. Hugh McFadyen (Leader of the Official Opposition): Mr. Speaker, could I ask leave of the House to not see the clock at 5 o'clock so that we can complete this resolution?
Mr. Speaker: Is it the will of the House for the Speaker to not see the clock until we finish with the condolence motion? [Agreed]
Hon. Ron Lemieux (Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation): It's an honour to be able to stand today on behalf of my constituents of La Verendrye and my family, myself, to express our condolences to Albert Vielfaure and his family. Many things have been said about this gentleman, and yet many of us don't really know him. He only spent a short period of time in this Legislature, a couple of terms, approximately eight years, but how many of us in the southeast part of the province as well as in the Francophone community know him as a real outspoken advocate for the Francophone community?
Part of the reason why he wanted to become a member of this Chamber was to make change, and when he grew up, in his life he always felt that the Francophone community was not treated with fairness. This is something that he fought for all of his life, and I'm not going to repeat many of the things that have been said already with regard to his achievements. He was known, of course, for his agricultural expertise, and that has been spoken about. I'm certainly not going to delve into the politics of his differences and others in this Chamber. I am going to speak about a gentleman, a true gentleman, that many politicians should aspire to.
He was a gentleman that wanted and treated others like he wanted to be treated. He felt that politics was an honourable profession. He came from a day and an age where he felt each and every politician, whether you were on the government side or opposition, could make a difference. He was all about building relationships, friendships and partnerships, and he showed that as a true entrepreneur. He did this throughout his life.
He felt that, as a Francophone, as an advocate for the French population, the best way to do that was not to fight with others, but to educate people, to try to have people understand from where he was coming from, and how, as a society, we would be better off by showing respect to each other, whether that be part of a Ukrainian community, Mennonite community, French, Anglophone community, and he did a great job of it.
In those days, I believe Steinbach might have been a part of La Verendrye. La Verendrye's boundaries have changed many times, and so it shows you, as this gentleman, as was mentioned before, represented that particular constituency in a time where it took a lot of work for a Liberal to be elected, quite frankly, in that constituency, but he did such a great job on a personal level that he had a great deal of respect from people from all walks of life and all political backgrounds.
I don't want to spend too much time with regard to making comments about Albert that have already been made, but I just wanted to put on the record that the Francophone community knows this gentleman. Many others in this Chamber, because he spent such a short time here, may not know him, but in the Francophone community of Manitoba, in the southeast, he is a champion and always has been and will be truly missed.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. McFadyen: I am pleased to support the motion of condolence to the family of Albert Vielfaure and to pay tribute to his many contributions to our province.
As it has been said by previous speakers, Mr. Vielfaure had distinguished himself for several contributions. He was well known as a great father and husband and somebody who was very dedicated to his family, but he was also known for his contributions to his community. Those contributions came in a variety of forms.
He was outstanding in the field of agriculture, which is well known. He was a lifelong farmer involved in hog and corn production, and he was a pioneer in establishing farming operations that were on the cutting edge in terms of their use of technology and productivity and environmental stewardship. He was somebody who was enlightened on all of those various issues and was able to balance those various objectives to a high degree of success.
He was an adviser to the federal Minister of Agriculture in the 1970s, in recognition of his outstanding knowledge of both the practicalities of agriculture, as well as the complex policy issues that govern that very important activity for our province and our country.
He also served in the Manitoba Hog Marketing Commission. He was named the province's Farmer of the Year in 1979, which was a great distinction in a province that has very, very many, very fine farmers. He became a member of the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame. He was somebody who has left his mark in the southeastern part of the province, in particular in La Broquerie and that area. I've had the privilege of meeting some members of his family, some descendants of his who continue to be involved in agriculture and in the pork industry particularly, and I know of their tremendous commitment to their community, to our province and to the success of the business enterprise that he worked so very hard to establish and build up.
As has been noted previously, he was elected as a Liberal in La Verendrye during the dominance of Premier Roblin, and so, in that sense, the constituency bucked a trend in electing a Liberal in a time of dominance by the Progressive Conservative Party under the leadership of Premier Roblin. That was a result of the fact that Albert Vielfaure was regarded with, or was placed in such high esteem by the communities that he represented. He was known to be a man of drive and intelligence and integrity. He was a champion of the rights of the Francophone community and he advanced that cause very, very strongly for his entire life. He believed that the preservation of French language, culture and rights was fundamental and was very a important part of the fabric of our province of Manitoba, important as an indicator of the extent to which we as a province were prepared to be sensitive to the rights of minorities, in particular minority Francophone language rights.
So I am honoured to support the resolution and the motion to convey our condolences to the family of Albert Vielfaure, to acknowledge the very many tremendous contributions he's made to our province and business agriculture, Francophone rights, and in politics more generally. I know that there are others who would like to put words on the record as well, but just let me say on behalf of the Progressive Conservative caucus that we acknowledge his very many, tremendous contributions and extend our condolences to his family.
Mr. Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach): It's also a pleasure on behalf of the residents of the Steinbach constituency to pay tribute and offer condolences to the family of Mr. Albert Vielfaure, who served in this Legislature for seven years.
Certainly, the Vielfaures and the Vielfaure name are closely associated with the community of La Broquerie, but throughout southeastern Manitoba and in the areas that I represent–the city of Steinbach, the R.M. of Hanover and the town of Niverville–the Vielfaure family and Albert Vielfaure, in particular, are respected and admired for what they have done for southeastern Manitoba more generally.
Specifically, of course, as has been mentioned by the Leader of the Liberal Party and the leader of my party, the contributions to agriculture that Mr. Vielfaure and his family made and continue to make in our region through Hytek–there are many people in the area, many of them new Canadians, who owe their employment, their occupation to Hytek and to other subsidiaries that Mr. Vielfaure, of course, helped to found and was a key driver in over his years in business.
Through sheer personality–and there are some people that we meet in our life who have a personality that transcends themselves, and we remember those individuals when we come into contact with them. Some of them have served here in the Legislature. Sometimes people speak of Izzy Asper or Harry Enns, and I think that Albert Vielfaure, for those who know him, would put him, in terms of personality, into that category because you remember him after you met him. That's probably one of the reasons why communities that aren't naturally Liberal in terms of how they vote still remember Mr. Vielfaure as a good representative for them. It's often with some question and maybe some concern that Conservatives wonder how Albert Vielfaure ever got elected in that area and how he represented many Conservative communities, but he did it because of his passion for people, because of his personality and because it transcended politics. People saw very clearly that that was an individual who wasn't just there representing a political party but that he cared deeply about individuals.
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I remember about three years ago when I was hosting a breakfast here at the Legislature that involved a number of seniors from my community. It was an annual event that I held here for these seniors. I met Mr. Vielfaure, and he was part of this breakfast group, even though he didn't live in my constituency. He said, Kelvin, would you mind if I would come to the breakfast? It would mean a lot to me. But he said, I need to remind you that I don't live in your riding and, of course, I was a Liberal representative when I was in the Legislature. I said, well, I would, of course, be honoured and would feel that I'd miss something if you didn't come to the breakfast, Mr. Vielfaure. His personality and his reputation transcended boundaries, and they weren't tied to specific political parties, because he was one of those individuals.
I think that the Member for La Verendrye (Mr. Lemieux) said it well when he said that he was able to reach across a number of different areas and cultures and communities to bring people together, and he's right. That was certainly my experience in the many times that I had a chance to meet Mr. Vielfaure.
On behalf of all of the communities that he did represent that I currently represent, and on behalf of the many residents who had a contact with him either through his business or through his political life, I want to offer my sincere condolences to the Vielfaure family and thank them for sharing this strong and dedicated man with Manitobans.
Mr. Cliff Graydon (Emerson): Mr. Speaker, as I rise today to pay my respects to a former MLA of the House here today and the MLA of the Emerson constituency, who Albert was a member, in his passing. I didn't Albert when he sat in this Legislature. I only got to know him five years ago. I had formed a partnership in a consulting company with another former MLA from here, Albert Driedger, and we went to meet with Mr. Vielfaure. Immediately, it was obvious that Mr. Vielfaure was a perfect gentleman, and not only that, he was a statesman.
He greeted us with open arms, sit down, have a discussion, and you could see that he had great respect for Albert Driedger, as well as Albert's respect for him, Mr. Driedger's respect for Mr. Vielfaure. As time progressed and I started my own consulting company, of course, my relationship with Mr. Vielfaure progressed as well. I did some consulting work for one of his sons, for his oldest son, Paul. Often Paul and his dad and his uncle Aimé would come to my house, and they would enjoy whatever fare we had at lunch time or breakfast time sometimes, but particularly lunch times. As I got to know him, I had a great deal of respect.
The accolades have been laid out very clearly here today by many other people here. The side of Albert that I got to know was that he was a very, very strong family man. So, in saying that and seeing the accolades that he had–and I knew these as well before–you can see how he passed that on to his family. You can see how his sons think the same way that he did. His daughter, one daughter I know very well, who is the head of the southeast RHA, thinks exactly the same way, and as our colleague here today from La Verendrye pointed out, what Albert has done for the Francophone community probably cannot be matched by anyone else in the southeast. But he did that with co-operation; that was his key. You can get way more by co-operation than you can by anything else. You need to co-operate with people and you'll get to the goal. So, for that, I can see that has passed on to his family as well.
When we talk about Hytek, it was his son, Paul, who has the same moral standards and the same high standards that his father had that formed a partnership with a Mr. Janzen to form first Tritek and then into Hytek, but it was family. It was always family. Albert preached family. Paul preached family. Mr. Janzen preached family. That's how Hytek was built: by a number of families. It may be viewed as a huge corporation, but they're families. There are many, many families, farm families that run a business, and they work with Hytek in co‑operation to better market, better purchase, and so the company became progressive.
Just for your information, when he started his trucking business in 1946, that was a great year. That was the year I was born, so he was an entrepreneur for as long as I've been alive. I mean, that is remarkable because I'm probably one of the oldest people in here, so at any rate, as time went on and I had the opportunity to go into politics myself, I went and visited with Albert many times, because in his last few years he had ups and downs with his health. So I asked him, in one of the conversations, I said, you know, with your attitude and the way you run your business, surely by now you're a Conservative. He said no, but he said, I've been known to vote for Jack Penner. So I don't know exactly what that meant, but Jack was very fortunate to have a supporter such as him if in fact it was true.
I know him as a very humble man. The accolades that have been attributed to his many years of service, they weren't as important to him as his family. So, when I asked him for advice of running as an MLA, he said to me, don't ever forget your family. They're first. Be true to yourself. Be true to your principles. He said that those are important. He said, co-operate with people to get the job done. He said that decisions were made in that House before you go there, and they'll be made again when you leave. You're not the most important person there nor is anyone else. The decisions can all be made in co‑operation. That type of advice goes a long way, although sometimes we don't notice it as much here as we would like. It's still, I believe, we all have certain goals, and when we are here, our goals are to represent our constituents, and that was his goal when he was here.
Mr. Speaker, I'd like to express my condolences to a great man and to the family and friends of Albert Vielfaure and thank you very much.
Mr. Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt this motion? [Agreed]
Please rise.
A moment of silence was observed.
As previously agreed, the hour being past 5 p.m., this House is adjourned and stands adjourned until 1:30 p.m. on Monday.