Lake Winnipegosis - a sorry tale

Yesterday, at the University of Manitoba, I talked about the environment and the economy for a lecture which was part of the Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of the Environment, Earth and Resources Seminar Series. . Sadly there are instances of poor environmental stewardship which have had large economic costs to Manitobans. One of these is on Lake Winnipegosis. The graph above shows the pickerel (walleye) catch on Lake Winnipegosis from 1931 to 1998 as reported in a third party review of the fishery. The walleye fishery on Lake Winnipegosis crashed in the early 1960s.

A very similar crash occurred on Lake Erie in Ontario. For Lake Erie, a science-based management regime was introduced to normalize the walleye fishery starting in the early 1970s. By 1980, the walleye production on Lake Erie had been returned to historic levels or above historic levels (which for Lake Erie were 3.6 million kg per year) .

For Lake Winnipegosis, sadly, a similar effort was never adequately instituted by either Tory or NDP governments and the fishery has stayed depressed, producing far less than the historic catch of 1.15 million kg per year. Because the fishery has never been returned to historic levels there has been a large shortfall in income to fishermen on this lake. For the period 1980-2001, this was more than $72 million dollars of primary production lost. Based on the normal multiplier effect to the local economy from such primary production, the loss to communities around Lake Winnipegosis is in fact much higher than this.

As Liberals we believe such poor stewardship of our fisheries resources is unacceptable, and we are dedicated to efforts to bring in much better stewardship than has occurred under successive Tory and NDP governments.

The Better Business Bureau - 75 years

Wednesday evening this week I joined more than 200 others to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in Manitoba. The BBB movement began in the second and third decade of the twentieth century in the United States. It moved to Canada and Manitoba with the incorporation, in June 1930, of the Better Business Bureau of Winnipeg (now the BBB serving Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario). Established to improve truth in advertising and to set high ethical standards for businesses, the BBB has played a very important role in improving business practices. Congratulations to BBB President Brian Garagan, BBB Executive Director Amaro Silva, Co-chairs for the 75th Anniversary Dinner Bob Cunningham and Klaus Lahr and many others who helped make the event a success.

Water for Life and the Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation

2005-2015 is the Water for Life Decade. This morning at the Water for Life conference in Winnipeg, I met students from the Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation (Jackhead First Nation). Under the tutelage of their teachers including Len Van Roon, Anne Schuster and others at the Lawrence Sinclair Memorial School, the students are involved in project R.E.D. (Researching, Exploring and Discovering) the Red River Watershed. Kinonjeoshtegon is on Lake Winnipeg, and many in the community fish on the lake. This project is a spiral curriculum in which the students' "journey on the Red" is interwoven in various subjects. The students learn about the Red River and Lake Winnipeg in class, and are also engaged in physical activity (canoeing as an example) where they learn about the Red River and Lake Winnipeg first hand. In this photo you can see me with Darlene Thompson, Chaniece Patchinos, Nicole Thomas, Precious Muswagon and Tamara Osborne. Edward Ross and Mary Travers were also part of the team at the conference but are not in the picture. Above us is "the eagle and the fish". The students are excited about what they are doing, and as an added benefit, today and tomorrow they get to learn more from being at the Water for Life conference.

My greetings and congratulations to all those at the Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation. I have visited your community on more than one occasion, the last time being a number of years ago. I can attest to the fact that you live in a beautiful location on the shore of Lake Winnipeg.

The Year of the Veteran - Paul Kolodziej

There is a story that has never been adequately told. I am going to tell it here. It is fitting, because this is the Year of the Veteran.

Paul grew up in Poland. In the early days of the Second World War, he was taken prisoner (in September 1939). He escaped in March 1940. He had a long journey through France, Spain, Gibraltar, Brazil, and Halifax, Canada before he ended up in Scotland. After D-day, Paul, now lieutenant in a Polish unit, was part of the First Canadian Army as it liberated France.

After fierce fighting in the Falaise Gap (another story for another time), Paul, now a captain, was in St. Omer, in northern France. He and three others were ahead of the main part of their unit as they entered Hazebrouck. As they entered the main square of the town, they discovered it was occupied by German troups. Logic said Paul and his two companions should have retreated, and then come back with the rest of their unit. But, instead, Paul posted each of the three others at strategic corners. He himself picked up a bullhorn. In a booming voice, in German, he called out to the German forces in the square to tell them they were surrounded. On cue, his companions poked their rifles (all one had was a broomstick) around the edges of the buildings where they were standing so they were very visible to the Germans. Moving into the open so he could be seen, Paul cried out in German "Throw down your arms, and surrender. " The one hundred and twenty-seven Germans hesitated but a moment, and then laid down their arms. Paul and his three comrades had saved blood and lives through their ruse and they had been successful. Well done Paul.

It was not long after that Paul himself was severely wounded. After a long time in hospital he recovered.

Paul later was decorated for his bravery receiving, among other awards, the Croix de Guerre, the Croix de Valeur and the Croix de Combatants from France for what he did in Hazebrouck.

Paul today lives in Winnipeg. He and his wife have made many contributions to Manitoba over the years they have lived here. We thank you Paul. And we remember you and other Veterans in this Year of the Veteran.

Today, Paul and his wife, Marie, came in to see our new Governor General. Afterwards, they stopped in to visit me in my office where they told me this story. The photo above, taken last summer, shows me with Paul and Marie.

The Responsibility to Protect

The concept of the "Responsbility to Protect" was developed in an international context in the aftermath of the international intervention to prevent widespread slaughter in Kosovo. Briefly, in part the concept deals with the idea that governments lose their legitimacy when they are unable to protect the citizens they represent. Under such circumstances, internationally, there may be a need for international intervention to protect individuals.

In the wake of the murder of an innocent bystander in Winnipeg last week, there has been a similar loss of legitimacy in the case of our present provincial government which has been unable to provide basic human security and protect citizens in Manitoba. In this case, there is a need, not for international involvement, but rather for a a recognition that we need to make some fundamental changes in Manitoba in order to ensure Manitoba citizens can feel secure.

The changes needed are not solely a "crackdown" on gangs and violence, but also a major reform of our current social assistance system, measures to directly address the poverty which drives involvement in gangs and drugs, and measures to provide positive and productive alternatives for youth who feel they have little in the way of opportunity.

At the Annual Meeting of the Mount Carmel clinic at noon today, Lloyd Axworthy was at his best discussing the concept of the Responsibility to Protect, and its possible application in Winnipeg. Whatever, one may think about this, Lloyd was right about one thing - we need to do more than hang our heads in shame at being the murder capital of Canada. We need to recognize that when there are so many problems, something is wrong with the "architecture". We need fundamental system wide changes.

Raking Leaves

We are lucky to have had good weather this weekend. It was an opportunity, today, for some yard work. It was good to be outside and to have several of our neighbours stop by to chat.

The Hundredth anniversary of the Belgian Club

This afternoon, we celebrated the 100th Anniversary of Le Club Belge. It is quite an achievement for the Belgian Club to have existed and to continue to do well for a hundred years. Congratulations to President Albert Delbaere and to club members like Susan Spelier, Jean Marie DeClercq (also Belgian Consul), Julia Van De Spiegle, Emma Shwaykosky and Pierre Saelens (also President of the Belgian Veterans Association Branch #107 of the Canadian Legion) on the anniversary. I wish you all the very best for your next 100 years.

Thank you to the Belgian Ambassador, His Excellency Daniel LeRoy and his wife for coming to Manitoba to celebrate this occasion.

The bottom photo shows Pierre Saelens speaking with members of the Belgian Concert Band in the foreground. In the top photos, I am shown with Emma Shwaykosky (left) and Julia Van De Spiegle (right) during the celebrations.

Philippe Haiart

It hurts terribly. The tragic loss of Philippe Haiart touches all of us. Words seem so insufficient at times like this.

There have been far too many young lives lost in Manitoba.

Though I have not heard this said publicly, the site where Philippe lost his life is, I believe, not far from where Preston Martin, a 15 year old from Moose Lake, was shot earlier this year.

Philippe lost his life, the innocent victim who was in the wrong place - caught in a gang related battle. Preston died from an accident when a 13 year old who was in care was handling a gun that he should never have had in his possession.

Safety for our youth is far too important. It has been given, sadly, too little attention. This must change. But it is not just words that are needed. It is effective action.

Naomi and I extend our condolences to the family and friends of Philippe Haiart.

Fort Whyte - Jean Paterson and a linear green space

Jean Paterson and I were at the Fort Whyte Centre a few days ago. While we were there Jean showed me the map there with a plan showing a possible linear park going all the way from the Assiniboine River to the Perimeter highway. The concept map was developed by Mike Scatliff and Bill Elliot and is on display at the centre. Have a look and give us some feedback. What do you think about this idea? Send me an email at jgerrard@leg.gov.mb.ca

The photo shows Jean Paterson, our Liberal candidate in the upcoming provincial by-election pointing to the proposed linear park.

Provincial Council of Women blast the NDP government for breaking the law

This last week, I received a report by the Provincial Council of Women of Manitoba, from their president Mary Scott. There are many very valuable points raised in this report. One immediately leapt off the page. The report says "As of May 2005, this Government is in violation of the Act [the Sustainable Development Act] and has been for some time as there are no members or meetings scheduled. The public is misled into thinking there is meaningful sustainable development legislation being enforced when, in fact, the government is in breach of the law." This is a terrible state of affairs when the NDP government thinks so little of provincial laws that it does not follow them itself. The NDP are setting a horrible example. A government should lead by example. Is it any wonder we have problems with lawbreakers and crime in Manitoba when the NDP government itself proceeds so callously to break the provincial laws!

Clinician Scientists

Yesterday, I was at a meeting of the Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Program in St. John's Newfoundland. I was inivited to give a keynote address and I talked about "The Central Role of Clinician Scientists in Improving Child Health: the View from the perspective of a clinician-scientist and a politician". Clinicians are those who directly provide health care. They include not only doctors but nurses and many related health fields. Clincian Scientists are those whose job is both to provide care and to do scientific research.

For several years in the last 1980s and early 1990s, I served as the Responsible Investigator for Manitoba for the Children's Cancer Study Group - a North America wide group from many centres which was particularly effective in combining the care of children with cancer with research to improve the care provided. In 1971, when I graduated from McGill Medical School, it was not certain that children with leukemia could be cured. In 1993, when I entered politics, we were at the point where 75-80% of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were being cured. This dramatic improvement was only possible because of the close integration of care and research.

Today, we need similar efforts in areas like the prevention and treatment of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, in the prevention of childhood and adult type 2 diabetes, and in the prevention of early childhood tooth decay. Clinician scientists have central roles in these efforts, along with many others in a multidisciplinary team, if we are to be successful.

One of the clinician scientists from Manitoba presenting his work at the conference was Dr. Robert Schroth. He has done some impressive work in the area of early childhood tooth decay. His efforts stand out in a field which deserves much more attention given the public health issues involved and the significant public health care dollars being spent to provide dental surgery to children at age 2, when this condition is preventable.

Another Manitoba clinician scientist presenting was Dr. Alison Elliot. Her work concerns a rare skeletal condition. Sadly, the Fetal Anomalies Registry, which was operative in Manitoba up until about 1993, had its funding cancelled (shortsightedly) by the Conservative government of the day. The funding for this registry has still not been restored even after 6 years of NDP government. It is sad, because the Registry, fully operational, would have been very helpful to Dr. Elliot's work, as well as providing an ongoing means of understanding the situation for many conditions in Manitoba - conditions as diverse as rare skeletal conditions and as common as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Indeed, because the funding for this registry was cancelled, we do not know accurately the incidence or prevalence of FASD in Manitoba. I have raised this issue several times in the legislature, but apparently the NDP do not think it is important. Sad.