Bob Nero - a celebration

Thursday evening this week, there a celebration of the achivements of Bob Nero and the late Lady Gray'l. I was at another event, but my wife Naomi was there to join in the celbration (top photo shows Bob Nero and Naomi).

Bob is a good friend who I first met in the 1950s in Saskatoon. His achievements since then are legendary. One of the most notable stories he has written - is a book entitled Lady Grayl: Owl with a Mission. Bob and Nero travelled together to more than 200 classrooms and to countless malls and other places to enable people to appreciate first hand our provincial bird - the Great Grey Owl. Bob and Lady Grayl together have taught many, many Manitobans about our the life and habits of our provincial bird.

Years ago, I accompanied Bob Nero to south-eastern Manitoba to catch and study Great Grey Owls. It was quite an experience watching the Great Grey Owls in their natural habitat, hunting for mice in snow-covered ground.

Congratulations Bob Nero. You and Lady Grayl have made a major contribution to our province. The bottom photo shows Bob with friends Thursday evening.

A fair price for milk in northern Manitoba

On Friday this week Kevin Lamoureux and I introduced a bill to set a single price for milk across Manitoba.

A year ago, when I visited northern communities as part of the Healthy Kids Task Force, we heard again and again about the high price of milkin northern communities. In God's River for example, the price of a four liter container of Milk was $10.29, while in Winnipeg the same four liter container of milk cost about $4.00.

The problem with the situation is the effect on the health of children. Too many children are being given pop instead of milk. We found this starting very early after birth. Clearly in these circumstances we need to make milk more affordable in the north in order to improve the health of children in northern Manitoba.

The costs of not making milk more affordable in northern Manitoba are large. All of us contribute to the additional health costs imposed by the present circumstances, and the children suffer in many ways including in having major problms with their teeth.

As Kevin said when he introduced this legislation, "If the price of beer can be the same across Manitoba, so can the price of milk"

Gary Doer's NDP edge close to Steven Harper's Conservatives

We had a most unusual week in the legislature with Gary Doer and his provincial NDP edging up to Steven Harper. It began with Gary Doer expressing "general satisfaction" with the Harper Conservative's federal budget - an unusual move since the budget raised taxes on those in the lowest income bracket (basically those with low and middle incomes). The federal Liberals and NDP, in contrast, labelled the Harper budget as bad for workers, the environment, for child care and for students.

As the week progressed we saw the NDP Minister of Highways - Ron Lemieux saying how pleased he was that the federal Conservatives had seen the light. Next, the NDP Minister of Agriculture, Rosann Wowchuk was a cheerleader for the Conservative agriculture budget and said she was looking foward to her meetings with the federal agriculture minister. Finally, the NDP Minister of Justice, Gord McIntosh, led the parade in support of Vic Toews and the federal justice minister's efforts to build bigger jails.

May is Multiple Sclerosis Month

May is a month to pay attention to Multiple Sclerosis. There are over 3,000 Manitobans living with multiple sclerosis. This condition is more common in the prairie regions of Canada than in most other parts of the world. We need to better understand why this is so we can better prevent and treat it.

During this month, the following events are planned.

Wednesday May 10 - Achieving Independence: Discover the Possibilities - 6-8 p.m. in he MS Society Program room on the main floor at 141 Bannatyne Ave - there will be a series of displays of various aids devices and equipment to help those with multiple sclerosis.

Friday May 12: On Loss and Grief - a workshop from 1-3 p.m. in the MS Society Program Room, on the main floor at 141 Bannatyne Ave. The workshop is designed to help people with MS cope with their disease.

Monday May 22: Display at St. Vital Shopping Centre. Noon - 5 pm.

Tuesday May 30: Heath Care Professional Breakfast - 7:45-9:30 a.m. at the Norwood Hotel, 112 Marion Street. Guest Speaker is Dr. Dessa Sadovnick who will discuss genetic susceptibility related to MS.

Tuesday May 30: MS: The Genetic Connection 6:30-8:30 pm.. at the Winnipeg Convention Centre - Guest speaker Dr. Dessa Sadovnick will speak about the role of genetics in multiple sclerosis.

For more information email to info.manitoba@mssociety.ca or phone 943-9595 (or toll free 1-800-268-7582).

In the photo above, I am wearing a red carnation in the legislature in order to remember MS month.

The YMCA-YWCA Women of Distinction Awards

It was an exciting evening.

Mary Burrows, age 100, stole the show. Mary was nominated and received the award for this year's woman of distinction in Media and Public Relations. Mary walked to the podium and got the whole room laughing. It was an incredible example of grace and style. Well done Mary!

My congratulations to all the nominees and to the award winners.

Photos show (from the top), nominee Cecile Fortier, award winner Marileen McCormick and her family (Education and Training), nominee Raven Thudersky with her daughters Robynne and Kakeka, nominee Kathleen Huggins and nominee Joan Spencer.

Winnipeg City Summit 2006

Last night was the start of the Winnipeg City Summit. A highlight was a combined presentation by Michael Nava and Maureen Cruz.

These two had hosted a get together of young Winnipeggers to get their opinions.

The reported their results:

They said we need to
1) Say yes to rapid tranit
2) Say yes to bike paths
3) Say yes to more skywalks

They want Winnipeg to be more livable for people. These are good ideas. I agree with Michael and Maureen that we need to move forward in these areas to make Winnipeg a more livable city for all of us.

Shortcomings in the federal budget

The federal budget that raises some real concerns with respect to the interests of Manitoba. The cancellation of the Kelowna Accord and cuts to child care spaces will create difficulties. The increase in income taxes for those in the lowest income bracket is bad public policy. It is also of concern that the federal budget failed to touch on the clean up of Lake Winnipeg, the Canadian Centre for Public Health, the construction Canadian Museum for Human Rights, and the Floodway expansion project, all projects which are vital to Manitoba.

Hugh McFadyen cuts and runs on Day 1

On his very first day in the Legislature as the new leader of the provincial Conservative party, Hugh McFadyen broke off his party's support for pressuing the NDP for a public inquiry into the Crocus Investment Fund.

Until this week, the Conservatives had been working with Kevin Lamoureux and me to frustrate the NDP goverment's legislative agenda until we get a public inquiry into the Crocus fiasco. We were definitely making process, casting a bright light on Gary Doer's stubborn refusal to stand-up for Crocus shareholders and Manitoba taxpayers.

But that cooperation came to an end on Monday when the Tories decided to abandon the fight. This is the second time that the provincial Conservatives have cut and run from getting to the bottom of Crocus Investment Fund. A pretty sad record on Crocus.

Crocus shareholders and Manitoba taxpayers will be happy to know, however, that Manitoba's Liberals won't cut and run. We are in this fight for the long-haul.

Asperger Syndrome

Congratulations to the pioneers who have formed Asperger Manitoba Inc. (AMI), to provide a better understanding of and treatment for those with Asperger Syndrome.

Asperger syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder which is included in the autism spectrum disorders. Individuals with Asperger Syndrome often need extra support in achieving their potential within the educational system.

People with Asperger Syndrome have many positive gifts to contribute. As the AMI brochure points out, individuals with Asperger Syndrome are:
- Creative thinkers with exceptional skills or talents in specific areas such as memory, art, music, or math.
- Have great attention to detail and often thrive on routine and repetitious tasks
- Have unconventional problem solving abilities
- Have an ability to focus on topics of interest for extended periods of time
- Are punctual, reliable and have low sick time.

For more information visit www.asperger-manitoba.ca or email to info@asperger-manitoba.ca

Joe Volpe - champion of environmental economic development

Joe Volpe, a Member of Parliament since 1988 and former Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, was in Winnipeg yesterday to talk about his efforts to seek the leadership of the federal Liberal Party (photo above).

Joe, in the remarks I heard, is emerging as a champion of environmental economic development.
As Joe pointed out, environmental industries are fast growing and offer much opportunity for growth. Indeed, increasingly, industries need to develop products in ways that are environmentally better. People are looking for and will increasingly purchase products which are produced in environmentally better ways. Economic growth is increasingly limited by the environmental effects or side effects of the products. As Joe Volpe pointed out, it is time to understand the emerging world in which environmental aspects are increasingly important.

As Joe Volpe pointed out it has been Liberals in Canada who have been at the forefront of developing the efforts and the innovation needed to advance environmental industries and the environment.

War brides

War brides have made a major contribution to Manitoba and to Canada. Some 45,000 women married Canadian soldiers during or shortly after the Second World War. This occurred in many countries, though primarily in England. These women were courageous in coming to a new and far away land. Yesterday at the Legislature, we celebrated the war brides, their courage and their many contributions.

In the photo, I am shown with Jean Holm, one of the war brides, and her niece Karen Keppler.

The Missing Terms of Reference

For over a month, we Liberals have been asking for the Terms of Reference for the external review the government is going to conduct into Manitoba's Child and Family Services. To date, all we have received is a press release. This is spin taken to an absurd extent.

This is a very important issue. Some 31 children have been killed while in the care of Manitoba Child and Family Services, or shortly after leaving care. I have been asked repeatedly by people who would like to present to the review for the terms of reference. I have asked the government repeatedly for the terms of reference, but each time I have been refused, or have been given a press release. This is an outrageous way for the government to operate.

Common Ground

Today I was the proud husband of Naomi Gerrard the artist. It was the opening of the art show titled Common Ground at the Legislature. This art show is a joint effort of the Alberta Society of Artists and the Manitoba Society of Artists. It is a juried art show - which means that art experts get to look over submissions by many artists and choose the very best.

Twenty-five artists from Manitoba were chosen based on art they each submitted. A similar twenty-five artists were chosen from Alberta. The show will tour three locations in Manitoba (Winnipeg, Boissevain and Thompson) and several locations in Alberta over the course of the next 12-18 months.

The top photo shows Gerald Folkaerts, one of Manitoba's premier artists, speaking at the podium with many of the artists with works in the show behind him.

The second photo shows the brochure for the Common Ground exhibition. Imagine Naomi's surprise when her work was chosen (by the Alberta Society of Artists) to be featured on the cover of the show's brochure.

In the third photo, Naomi is shown with Barb Enders with Naomi's art - The Heart of the Prairies behind them.

The fourth photo shows Calgary artist Liz Sullivan with her work Journey West.

The bottom photo shows Kathy Hehn from Brandon and her painting Morning Has Broken.

Naomi has come a long way in the years since she completed a degree in fine arts in the 1970s. Many years, many workshops and much effort later, it is exciting to see her art being featured in this way.

Health Care - Harry Lahotsky is one more example of why we need to change the government

In Today's Winnipeg Sun, Harry Lahotsky tells his personal experience with the NDP health care system. He concludes "It seems part of this government's strategy on getting people our of hospital hallways is to leave them on the street in pain."

In my experience, the number of problem stories, like Harry's, are increasing not decreasing. The really unfortunate aspect is that not only is Harry's story an example of poor health care, it is also an example of the reality that waiting is not only bad for people who are not well, it is bad for the costs of our health care system. All too often, problems fester and get worse if not diagnosed and treated promptly. It is one of the reasons we need to change this government. It is one of the reasons I moved into provincial politics to change things. Neither the Tories nor the NDP have been able to manage health care well.

Manitoba Liberals can do better.

Inherit the Wind

Last night, at the Warehouse Theatre, members of the Manitoba Bar Associaion presented Inherit the Wind a play written by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. It was a really excellent performance, and it emphasized the importance of freedom of speech and the importance of helping students learn to think for themselves. Well done to all the actors, and to all those who helped behind the scenes.

This play is an important reminder that conservative governments in the United States and Canada have often tended to restrict or repress new ideas and decrease access to information. In this respect the report by Information Commissioner John Reid to Parliament last week is timely. He warns that the Conservative proposals to revise access to information will limit access to information rather than expanding it. As Reid said "No previous government since the Access to Information Act came into force in 1983, has put forward a more retrograde and dangerous set of proposals."

Global Night Commute

Every night in Uganda some 45,000 children commute to try to protect themselves by walking into the nearest towns each night where they sleep in the streets because it is not safe for them to stay in their own homes.

Northern Uganda is today the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Some 20,000 to 50,000 children have been abducted to fight as soldiers. This is the longest running war in Africa.

In order to bring more international attention to northern Uganda, Rachel Heinrichs (top photo), together with Rebecca Maclean, Adrienne and Giles (middle photo) organized a night commute from the Legislature to the University of Manitoba.

I joined the group to say a few words at before the commute started. Ray Simard (bottom photo) was also there - and he is shown with some of the walkers just before the walk got underway. I was fortunate to meet a number of people who have come to Manitoba from Uganda, Kenya or Ethiopia who could talk about the situation and the urgent need for action to end the conflict.

For more information, go to:

Invisible Children - Winnipeg
http://www.myspace.com/icwinnipeg

Invisible Children International
http://www.invisiblechildren.com

Civil Society Organizations for Peace in Northern Uganda (COSPNU)
http://www.nrc.no/UgandaKeyFacts.doc

Rural Forum - and there is much more

There was lots and lots to see at the Rural Forum. I will give three more examples.

The top photo shows Kyla Wiebe and Jacqueline VanDenBussche with their display about Place Louis Riel in Winnipeg. For more information see their website www.placelouisriel.com

The middle photo shows Angela Burnside with the Canadian Agricultural Skills Service. For more information email to southwest@agskills.mb.ca

The bottom photo shows Al Bartlett with a book about all the golf courses in Manitoba. If you are a golfer, this is a great book. For more information email manitoba_links@shaw.ca

The Manitoba Food Charter

The Manitoba Food Charter was released on Friday at the rural forum. This charter emphasizes the need for changes to have a just and sustainable food system in Manitoba. Many individuals put efforts into making the charter a reality. In the photo above, are Pat Lachance, Kreesta Doucette, Patti Ellis and Laurel Gardiner holding up a copy of the food charter. For more information email to mbfoodcharter@yahoo.ca

The Rural Forum

The rural forum is a good place to meet interesting people, and a good place to learn more about Manitoba.

This year's high school Youth Business Award winners were students from Reston (top photo). Congratulations to all the students who participated.

The featured entertainer on Friday night was Alana Levandoski (second photo). Well done Alana!

Economic Development and Tourism from Dauphin were featuring their festivals and their Red River Cart (third photo).

Heartland Books were there with their books, which include Battling for a Better Manitoba. In the bottom photo, I am standing with Peter St. John, of Heartland in front of the display.

By the way, if you go to page 38, of Battling for a Better Manitoba you will see the story of the building of the rail line to Dauphin in 1896, and how this 100 miles of track was a critical point in the development of the CNR.

Jane Jacobs

Jane Jacobs died earlier this week. I spoke briefly about her contributions on Wednesday in the Legislature. It is too bad that her views have not been more listened to in Manitoba. More attention to her views could have made a big and positive difference in the way Winnipeg has developed.

"Mr. Speaker, I rise to say a few words about Jane Jacobs, who passed away yesterday.
Jane Jacobs, one of the great urban thinkers of our time, put forward novel concepts which have led to a much better understanding of the nature of the dynamic and creative forces which are the basis for the growth and well-being of our cities. She identified the economic basis for the growth of villages into towns, of towns into cities and of small cities into large cities. Her analysis described in depth the importance of exports, of import substitution, of innovation, of creativity and of diversity in the growth of the economy of cities and the role of cities in the growth of nations.
But she did more. Jane Jacobs talked about families, communities and safety. She observed that areas were safe when there were vigilant eyes on the street all the time, and when there are people living and working in diverse multi-use neighbourhoods. It is worthy of note that Harvard economist, Edward Glaeser, analyzed various models of economic growth. He concluded that Jane Jacobs' views on economic growth, which recognized the complexity of economic, social and ecological systems, were the only ones which held up under examination. He commented: 'The amazing thing is the extent to which the data bear her out.'
Today, I pay tribute to the life and the contributions of Jane Jacobs in improving the circumstances of communities in Manitoba. We would do well to learn from and to follow the teachings of Jane Jacobs.