Happy Diwali - the triumph of good over evil

For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most beautiful and festive times of the year. The celebration of Diwali at the Convention Centre certainly showed this. Congratulations to President Bhadresh Bhatt and the many, many volunteers who make this celebration such a success.

Diwali literally means a "Row of Lights". It is a time of light and love. It is the triumph of good over evil.

There are three main aspects of the Diwali holiday. The first is the celebration of light. The second is that Diwali marks the new year. Third, Diwali is the worship of Maha Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.

As my friend Madhav Sinha says "On Diwali, we must pray to Maha Lakshmi to bestow real prosperity upon us, the prosperity that brings light to our lives and sparkle to our eyes. We must pray for an abundance of faith, not money; we must pray for success in our spiritual lives, not a promotion at work; we must pray for the love of God."

The photos show the dancing and costumes of those at the Diwali festival.

Happy Diwali!

The health of mothers

This morning I spoke at a roundtable held to look at the millenium development goals of the United Nations. Taking place on the 60th anniversary of the United Nations, this roundtable was designed to get local input on the eight goals set by the United Nations for the new millenium. My task was to talk about the fifth goal - improving maternal health.

While part of the focus of the UN's goal is to reduce maternal mortality in childbirth, improving maternal health involves much more than this. A mother's health has a major impact on the health of her infant - both during development in utero and after birth. The impact of good nutrition and good health during pregnancy on the growing fetus is substantial, and the effects of poor nutrition and poor health during this period can have a major impact which may last a lifetime. It is time to pay more attention to maternal health.

Congratulations to Ashok Athavale, President of the United Nations Association of Canada (Winnipeg), and Margie Friesen, our branch coordinator for organizing this important roundtable. For more information about the UNAC - Winnipeg, visit their web site at
http://home.merlin.mb.ca/~unac

In the photo, I am shown with Ashok Athavale and Margie Friesen at the roundtable.

Sadly NDP policies are increasing crime in Manitoba

It is tough to accuse a government, our NDP provincial government, of carrying out policies which lead to increased crime, rather than decreasing it. But this is what they are doing.

On Monday, I pointed out that inadequate strategies to prevent, diagnose and treat individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, lead to more crime. Better prevention, early screening and diagnosis and better treatment are all effective strategies to help those with FASD do better and they lead to less crime.

On Tuesday, I pointed out that the lack of adequate transition programs for children in care in Manitoba when they reach 18 leads to poorly prepared youth being dumped on the streets on their eighteenth birthday. Many do poorly and the result leads to more crime.

On Wednesday, I reviewed the situation of the Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) (see also my blog for Oct. 26). The inadequate number of PACT teams in Manitoba means that many with serious mental illnesses cannot get appropriate treatment. The result, more crime.

Today, I questioned the government on its policies with respect to hotels in the Rosser Ward (downtown) of Brandon (see also my blog for Sept 27). The NDP policies have led to a situation where vulnerable people on social assistance (sometimes with physical or mental disabilities) literally have no other choice than to live in gambling and liquor establishments (the hotels where they stay have VLTs and serve liquor). As Curtis Brown, an investigative reporter with the Brandon Sun showed clearly in a series of articles, this situation is a set up for problems. The area near the hotels in question has an increased crime rate and many nearby shops are vacant as entrepreneurs choose other locations because of concerns about safety in the area.

It is a sad day when NDP government policies increase crime instead of decreasing it. But it does help to explain why we are having more problems with crime under the NDP rather than less. It also points to the importance of much better approaches to address the causes of crime if we are going to make Manitoba a safer place.

Changes in these policies can decrease crime. They will also provide an improved life and opportunities for our vulnerable citizens. If you wonder why I put a lot of effort into politics, it is through politics that we can make changes. And if the government won't make changes, we will have to change the government. It is one of the reasons I am working hard to elect Jean Paterson in the upcoming by-election in Fort Whyte. She will be a valuable asset in our efforts to hold this government accountable and in moving Manitoba forward.

Manitoba's Infrastructure

This afternoon, I stopped by at the Annual meeting of the Infrastructure Council of Manitoba. The Council was formed eleven years ago to look at the infrastructure needs of Manitoba and to provide advice to all levels of governments.

We were presented with documents which show significant concerns about the management and upkeep of our present infrastructure, let alone building new infrastructure (see also my blog for Sept 2). It was estimated that Manitoba's infrastructure investment debt is $7.4 billion, with $3.4 billion needed for Manitoba's highway system, $2 billion for rural municipal drainage, $1 billion for rural land drainage, and $1 billion for the City of Winnipeg. These numbers are staggering. But, they also point to the critical need to look after our infrastructure well, and for governments to set priorities well.

Ruth Sol provided a view of the situation across western Canada, and a list of prioirities agreed to already by western Premiers. Dr. Roger Gibbons gave a perspective on federal party approaches to supporting infrastructure. Ron Bell spoke from the municipal perspective.

Don Whitmore talked about the contributions of the ISIS (Intelligent Sensing for Innovative Structures) network which is centred in Winnipeg. Researchers at ISIS have developed uses for new fibre reinforced polymers which are lighter than steel, are stronger than steel and are non-corrosive in building the decks for highway bridges. Based on their work, at an international workshop held in Winnipeg on April 14-15, 2005, they developed a consensus on future design of bridge decks to provide leadership to the civil engineering design community. It is a major step forward and should allow for repair of some deteriorating bridge structures at much lower cost than previous. For more information you can visit http://www.isiscanada.com

Congratulations to Chris Lorenc and Tish Best for a well organized meeting.

The Art Expo

This Friday, Saturday and Sunday the Art Expo is on at Assinboine Downs. Featuring 51 of Manitoba's artists - from painters to sculptors to photographers - this show is fabulous. But, I had better acknowledge, I have a bias here. My wife, Naomi, is one of the artists.

The top photo shows Wendy Kroeker. She has dramatically changed her artistic style this year, and has some real winners. Well done Wendy!

In the bottom photo, I am standing with Glenn Hayes. The painting above us to the left is the Academy Road service station - in my consitituency of River Heights - where I stop in quite frequently. Above and to the right is a painting of Skinner's in Lockport.

If you would like to learn more about the Manitoba Art Expo, you can do so by visiting http://www.manitobaartexpo.ca

Good samaritans and legislation to protect them

Today, Kevin Lamoureux and I introduced legislation which will give legal protection to a person who voluntarily and gratuitously gives help to a victim at the scene of an accident or emergency. The legislation, Bill 202, that we introduced will prevent a rescuer who has voluntarily helped a victim in distress from being successfully sued for wrongdoing, except if the rescuer acted with gross negligence.

The purpose of this law is to encourage more people, especially those with some level of medical training, to provide assistance to individuals rendered ill, injured or unconscious by an accident or an emergency. This Good Samaritan legislation now before the Manitoba Legislature, will, if passed, encourage rescuers to assist victims.

Good Samaritan legislation like this bill now exists in 7 provinces and 2 territories in Canada, and in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. In other provinces, for example British Coumbia, incidents where people have been reluctant to assist victims have led to the passage of Good Samaritan legislation. In British Columbia, the support of the Registered Nurses Association of British Columbia arose from a single incident during which 12 people watched a young man die after two of the bystanders advised the others not to become involved. We should pass this legislation in Manitoba to prevent such incidents happening, rather than afterwards when it is too late.

A big thank you to Leah Ross who helped prepare this legislation.

The future African Canadian Cultural Heritage Centre

Tonight the African Canadian community of Winnipeg were out in force to raise funds for the future African Canadian Cultural Heritage Centre. It is an ambitious project. It is also a deserving one.

The top photo shows my son Charles and me with Michael Mayen who came to Winnipeg from the Sudan. The middle photo shows me with Stella Kankam, Sam Yeboah and Juanita Huletey at the dinner. The bottom photo shows Peter Koroma providing closing remarks and thanking everyone for their support. Congratulations to all who contributed to making the event a success. Thanks to Lloyd Axworthy for his moving keynote speech.

The Aboriginal Student Services Centre at the University of Winnipeg

About a year ago, the Aboriginal Student Services Centre officially opened its doors. Since then it has made a real difference in welcoming aboriginal students and in helping them feel at home at the University of Winnipeg.

In the bottom photo I am shown presenting a painting by aboriginal artist Elvis Antoine to Aboriginal Student President Jordan Fleury and members of his student council. In the top photo, I am shown with elder Linda McEvoy, who is a relative of the artist. Linda and Elvis Antoine are both from Sioux Valley First Nation in western Manitoba.

What happens when young people leave care at age 18?

Compared to their peers, young people who leave the care of child welfare agencies too often end up in a cycle of persistent poverty, are more dependent on adult social assitance, and too many end up in the mental health or criminal justice systems.

I have heard from many in Manitoba that there is a real problem with a lack of effective transition for children in care when they reach age 18. Children are all of a sudden put out on the street without adequate support. The result is that many such youth end up doing poorly and too many end up in the criminal justice system. It is time to change the approach taken in Manitoba. This change is one of the things that needs to be done to help these young people and to reduce crime.

I want to thank those at the Knowles Centre who raised this issue so passionately when I visited with them.

Those who are interested in more information can visit the following web sites:

http://laidlawfdn.org/files/Youth_Leaving_Care_report.pdf
http://www.torontoalliance.ca/tcsa_initiatives/income_security/press.asp?articleID=422
http://www.torontoalliance.ca/tcsa_initiatives/income_security/news.asp?articleID=421

Diabetes Awareness Month

We have an epidemic of diabetes in Manitoba. For six years the present NDP government has done too little about this epidemic. The epidemic continues. Diabetes is costing lots in the quality of people's health, and in the tax dollars spent on health care in Manitoba.

For more information visit the Canadian Diabetes Association's web site at http://www.diabetes.ca , or see the provincial Liberal report on Healthy Kids at http://www.manitobaliberals.ca The Liberal report deals with adult as well as childhood diabetes and emphasizes the need to change fitness and nutrition in childhood because of the large impact of childhood lifestyle choices on lifestyle choices in adults.

The charts above show the increase in diabetes in Manitoba. The incidence chart shows the increase in the number of newly diagnosed diabetics each year. The prevalence chart shows the percentage of Manitoba's population with diabetes increased from 4.7% in 1998 to 5.8% in 2002.

The Criminalization of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Too many individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) appear to be coming into conflict with the legal system, and end up in the criminal system. Diane Fast and co-workers in British Columbia studied 287 youth in the criminal justice system and found that 67 (23% of them) had FASD. This work was published in the Journal of Develpmental and Behavioural Pediatrics vol 20, in October 1999.

Today I asked Gord Mackintosh, the NDP Minister of Justice for the last six years, whether he was screening those charged with criminal code offences for mental health disorders including FASD, and how many individuals with FASD had been identified. His answer was weak, and unclear to what extent any screening is occurring, with the possible exception of a "pilot program" which he did not describe well.

Caron Byrne, a psychiatrist at the University of British Columbia, is unequivocal. She says "Mental health screening of persons charged with criminal code offenses, that would include screening for FAS is an absolute must." See http://www.asantecentre.org/pdf/Criminalization_of_FAS.pdf

Byrne says "The secondary disabilities that develop from the primary organic damage place persons with FAS/E at risk of victimization, criminalization, substance abuse and psychiatric illness." It is time to stop this victimization and criminalization. It is time to recognize that it is essential to screen persons charged with criminal offences and to use the results of this screen to better protect those with FASD, to decrease the number of criminals in Manitoba, and to provide better security and safety for all citizens.

Happy Halloween

A happy halloween to all. The photos above are from the front yard of Jeff Smith and his family on Enniskillen. They have done an incredible job of preparing for Halloween. Well done Jeff and family.

The India Canada Cultural Heritage Association

Tonight, at the dinner of the India Canada Cultural Heritage Association, Dr. Emoke Szathmary was honoured for her contributions. Dr. Szathmary, President of the University of Manitoba, gave a well crafted acceptance speech. Congratulations to Dr. Krishnamurti Dakshinamurti, Acting President of the Association and the many others who helped make this evening a success, and to Romel Dhalla who was a very good Master of Ceremonies.

In the photo I am shown with Piara Sharma and his son Raj at the dinner.