Capt. Nichola Goddard

Today we mourn the loss of Capt. Nichola Goddard. She has been in Afghanistan with our Canadian forces trying to help people have a more peaceful and democratic society.

Two exerpts from Nichola's letters home provide a fitting tribute.

1) This exerpt is taken from the end of a letter describing her visit to a small Afghan village.
"the interpreter came up and had a 2-3 minute conversation in Pashtu with the 5 men who were watching me. Then he turned to me and said, 'Please excuse their staring. They are just very surprised that you are a woman working with all of these men. I have told them that you climbed over the mountain with us with your heavy bag and that you had no problems. [her bag weighed about 100 lbs] They think that you must be very strong. I explained to them that you are just like the men, and that you can do everything that they can do the same as them.' It was perhaps the greatest statement of equality that I have ever heard - and it was given by a Pakistani raised, Afghan male in the middle of an Afghan village that is only accessible by a 5 km walk up a mountain. It just goes to show that anything is possible and that stereotypes are often completely wrong."

2) This second exerpt is a quote from Theodore Roosevelt which came at the end of a second letter, this one written March 4, 2006
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how a strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly...who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring so greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have never known neither victory or defeat."
Nichola was a person who strove valiantly. I am sure her impact in Afghanistan and in Canada will be large.

My condolences to Nichola's husband Jason and to other family and friends.

The NDP government is having trouble with its legislative agenda because it is not calling an inquiry into the Crocus Investment Fund

According the rules of the legislature, today was an important milestone. Bills which received second reading by today, and a select few additional bills which have a few more days to get second reading will be certain of passage by the end of our spring session on June 13.

Bills which did not get second reading by today may not get passed by June 13. This means the government may have difficulties in completing its spring agenda.

The only reason the government is having trouble with its agenda is the government's failure to call a public inquiry into the Crocus Investment Fund. Kevin and I will keep the pressure on the government to call the inquiry.

First Annual Walk for Survivors of Child Rape and Abuse in Foster Care

Today, Kevin and I joined in the First Annual Walk for Survivors of Child Rape and Abuse in Foster Care.

At the legislature, Sherri McQueen spoke movingly about the situation of survivors and the devastating after effects of abuse while in foster care

We heard many stories of abuse from the survivors who participated in the rally. It reinforced our view that there needs to be a proper judicial investigation into what has happened.

Many of the survivors also had some suggestions for making changes. Clearly the system needs changes and Kevin and I will be working with the survivors to do what we can.

MKO call for public inquiry into sexist and racist comments

The MKO (Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak) which represents tens of thousands of northern Manitobans, yesterday called for a public inquiry into sexism and racism within the provincial government.

This is their resolution which passed unanimously:

WHEREAS, Racist and sexist remarks made by senior Transportation and Government Services officials during a telephone conversation regarding winter road construction contracts that was conducted while serving in their capacities as employees of government were caught on a taped vocie message and;

WHEREAS, The response of the Minister of Transportation and Government Services have not addressed these matters to the satisfaction of the MKO Chiefs in Assembly.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That Manitoba immediately

a) initiate a formal independent inquiry into racism in the Manitoba public service, and;
b) conduct an immediate investigation to identify all provincial employees who are directly and indirectly connected with the incident and to confirm the extent of their involvement, and;
c) implement immediate disciplinary action in respect of all involved provincial employees and senior officials commensurate with the serious nature of the misconduct;
d) provide appropriate and adequate compensation to the affected victims and First Nations for any and all damages incurred and experienced, whether directly or indirectly, arising from this matter, and;
e) immediately initiate an appropriate healing process for the victims, including the application of restorative justice mechanisms;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That Manitoba immediately initiate a formal independent inquiry into;

a) Manitoba's business dealings with winter road contractors from the MKO First Nations, particularly in respect of the manner in which Manitoba approves or disapproves work and the related claims for payment of costs submitted to the province by contractors, and;
b) all outstanding unpaid contracts and claims of the Sayisi Dene First Nation, the Bunibonibee Cree Nation and No-Win Construction regarding prior year winter road construction costs.

NDP fails to have senior public health spokesperson make presentation on new Public Health Act, but Lyme Disease advocate does come

Last night at the Legislative Committee hearings into Bill 21, the NDP's new Public Health Act, I witnessed something rarely seen: there was not one person from the province's public health sector present to speak to the proposed bill.

I was shocked. In almost all cases when a new act comes before a legislative committee there is at least one presenter (and usually several) from groups or organizations who are proponents or supporters of the legislation. They attend hearings to help explain the purpose and often some of the technical aspects of what is being proposed. This is important to me as an MLA because I place a good deal of weight on stakeholder feedback.

Further, the total absence of senior officials and other individuals from the larger public health community was shocking when you consider the significance of the proposed legislation. This isn't just some routine housekeeping bill.

For me this is just another demonstration of the sheer arrogance of the Doer government and its contempt for democracy. It is the responsibility of the NDP govenrment, and more specifically the Minister responsible for this bill, to ensure there is at least one presented who is knowledgeable on public health issues and public health administration who is ready to speak at committee on the merits of the bill and prepared to answer questions from MLAs.

The absence of a knowledgeable senior public health spokesperson at the committee last night spoke volumes. Do people in public health care in Manitoba think this bill is unimportant? I doubt it. The more logical explanation is that the NDP are trying to rush this bill quickly through committee while few people are looking. And it is exactly that NDP arrogance that often gets us into trouble.

Of note, one of the people who did come out to present on the Public Health Act was Elizabeth Wood, a strong advocate for better testing and knowledge about Lyme disease in Manitoba. She has been advocating for this for many years. At last, an effort is underway to better understand the distribution of ticks carrying the bacteria causing Lyme disease in our province, and to improve the diagnosis and treatment of this condition here.

Lyme disease is fairly easy to treat when detected and diagnosed early on. It can be very difficult to treat if it is not diagnosed are treated early. It will be good to have much better information , better diagnosis and treatment for Lyme disease infections in Manitoba.

Pigs Don't Stink and the Earth is Flat

Pigs don't stink and the Earth is flat was the notice on a sign at the rally this evening in opposition to the Olywest Hog Processing and Rendering Plant being located at the St. Boniface Industrial Park.

Many local residents came out to listen to presentations by Craig Sangster and Lawrence Toet. Many commented, almost without exception speaking in opposition to he Olywest plant being located in the St. Boniface Industrial Park.

Craig Sangster, of Vita Health, emphasized that the concerned citizens group is not against the plant or the hog industry, only against the proposed location. For Vita Health, their concerns are of such significance that if the Olywest Plant comes close to their location (as proposed) they will be forced to consider moving elsewhere, likely to Ontario. Vita Health now employs about 400 people and is hoping to expand to four times this number in the next decade. Losing Vita Health would be a major loss for Winnipeg.

Craig Sangster, speaking for the whole group of businesses in the area who are opposed to the Hog plant being located nearby said the Premier had refused to meet with their group. He also emphasized that they are concerned about the undemocratic way that decisions have been made to date.

Manitoba Liberals have taken a position in support of that of the Concerned Citizens in opposition to the St. Boniface Industrial Park as the site of the hog processing plant. See http://www.manitobaliberals.ca/2006/04/liberal-policy-and-proposed-olywest.html
I spoke at the meeting to state our support for the Concerned Citizens Coalition. I also mentioned my visit to Neepawa where problems with the sewage treatment from the hog plant are still not fully resolved many years after the plant was built.

Manitoba Housing at 170 Hendon- concerns over drugs and prostitution

Last Friday I met with residents of the Manitoba Housing units at 170 Hendon. They gave me an earfull.

The discussion during our meeting surrounded the major safety concerns that plague the residents of 170 Hendon Avenue.

During my visit I was very troubled by what I heard. Gunfire in the parking lot, crack cocaine available, prostitution, theft, physical assaults, verbal assaults, even suite doors lit on fire.

Of further concern drug dealers and troublemakers are getting into the building because doors have been propped open.

Every tenant voiced the need for on-site security. Clearly a huge step to address their safety is to add on-site security. There is certainly a cost to supplying on-site security; however I would argue that the social costs that are being incurred right now are far larger than that of on-site security.

A majority of these tenants are good people. They are trying to lead good, productive, healthy lives. It is our responsibility to give them every possibility to do so.

Manitoba Housing Authority employees work very hard for the best interests of the people. Still the province’s approach needs to improve to address the very serious safety concerns of the people at 170 Hendon and all others living with the help of the Manitoba Housing Authority.

But, the Manitoba government should be THE model landlord, and lead the way for the sake of the people at 170 Hendon, and for the betterment of Manitoba. This will need political will.

At the moment the NDP are talking about reducing crime, but the reality is that Manitoba Housing establishments too often are problem locations rather than exemplary locations for tenants. The NDP should be doing better than this.

Health Care and Health Care Aides at St. Boniface

For months members of UFCW Local 1869 have been trying to let the government know that the plans at St. Boniface Hospital are fraught with problems.

As their flyer points out "Believe it or not the NDP government has approved a plan to have St. Boniface Hospital proceed to cut a net 25 caregivers from the bedside in the Woman/Child and Medicine wards. Frontline caregivers, Nurses and Health Care Aides have reacted angrily to these cuts and have universally condemned them as devastating to patient care. Newborn babies, women who have just given birth and people in the last days of their lives will have to wait longer for care. "

The NDP have been told but they don't care. As the Health Care Aides have told me "Patients are already waiting too long for toileting, feeding, bathing, turning, ambulating and bed changing. Caregivers are already burning out and that's before the cuts."

Yesterday I was at St. Boniface Hospital together with Jim Sanford and other members of UFCW Local 1869. They are very angry at Gary Doer and his NDP government and rightfully so. They have tried to raise their concerns with the NDP but they have not been listened to. I have visited with health care aides who are members of the union previously, and I came back yesterday for a Press Conference to lend them my support. In order to get our health care system working properly, we need to consider the input from frontline workers. Frontline workers at St. Boniface are seeing the problems first hand. They have some ideas to fix the problems. But the plan which will be implemented in June was designed by St. Boniface Hospital management, approved by the WHRA, approved by the Minister of Health, with NO input or consultation from health care providers or patients.

I have also heard concerns that St. Boniface Hospital has been receiving comparatively less in annual increases in funding that the average of acute care programs across Manitoba. This may also be contributing to the problem.

The Seine River - Ron Lemieux slips up

When I was visiting with Roland Chaput, Lawrence Lacoste and Richard Gregoire last Sunday, one of the issues that was brought up was concerns over illegal drainage.

In this area there is apparently a very considerable amount of illegal drainage occurring and it is contributing to the increased runoff and to the water problems and flooding which has occurred at Lake Riviera and along the Seine River.

The issue here that was brought up with me was a lack of provincial enforcement. Ron Lemieux is the local MLA and he has been ineffective in this matter. Indeed, Roland Chaput told me he has tried on numerous occasions to meet with Ron Lemieux and he eventually gave up. He would still like to meet with Ron Lemieux - so Ron if you read this blog - you might consider giving Roland Chaput a call and arrange to meet with him about the situation. Roland is after all, one of your constituents! Ron - you might also consider making sure that provincial laws on draining in this area are enforced. Your government lacks credibility on the environment because it is not doing its job on environmental issues along the Seine River.

The Neepawa Hog Processing Plant

This monday I was in Neepawa and I took the time to talk with people about the Hog Processing Plant there.

It is located two kilometers east of the nearest residential district in Neepawa. It is thus some distance from the urban area of Neepawa.

In discussing the hog plant I was soon hearing about the sewage lagoon which needs upgrading to meet the needs of the hog plant. Indeed, the sewage lagoon has needed this upgrade for many years - going back at least to when the Tories were in power in the late 1990s. All through the six and a half years of the NDP there has been no progress, and the lagoon still needs upgrading. It is no wonder that people in Winnipeg are skeptical about the provincial NDP commitment to ensuring sewage treatment is at the standard it needs to be.

The photo shows the cell of the Neepawa sewage lagoon which is very close to the Whitemud River which is seen in the foreground.

Should provincial government Ministers be protected from liability when they perform acts which are grossly incompetent or grossly negligent?

The NDP are proposing to put a clause into a wide variety of bills which will protect Ministers of the Crown from liability under a wide variety of circumstances.

The clause (106(1) in Bill 21: The Public Health Act reads as follows:

106(1) No action or proceeding may be brought against the minister, the chief public health officer, a director, a medical officer, an inspector, a health officer, a public health nurse or any other person acting under the authority of this Act, the regulations or a municipal by-law for anything done or not done, or for any neglect, a) in the performance or intended performance of a duty under this Act, the regulations or a municipal by-law; b) in the exercise of a power under this Act, the regulations or a municipal-by-law; unless the person was acting in bad faith.

This clause protects the minister from liability even in the case of gross incompetence or gross neglect provided the minister was not acting in bad faith.

This clause provides rather extraordinary protection to the minister. Is this justified? Is this reasonable? What is your view? You can reach me at jgerrard@leg.gov.mb.ca or you can come and present at committee stage on this bill. To present on this bill, you need to call the office of the clerk of the legislature at 204-945-3636. The Bill will be discussed at the Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development which meets Wednesday May 17, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. in room 255 of the Manitoba Legislature.

Erna Kimmel is recognized by the Winnipeg Associates of Ben-Gurion University

Monday at noon, Erma Kimmel was recognized for her contributions to the Ben-Gurion University, to higher education, to the Sarah Sommer Chai Folk Ensemble and the Winnipeg Arts Community. Congratulations to Erma Kimmel.

Passion about our Community Centres

The meeting last night at the Lipsett Hall on Kenaston Boulevard just off Grant Avenue was full with people discussing the future of the River Heights, Sir John Franklin and Tuxedo Community Centres. There was lots of passion - which is a good thing - people are concerned about the community centres.

The boards of the three centres have explored the possibility of amalgamating the three centres to have one larger centre at the Lipsett Hall site. This is still very early on in discssions and there is plenty of time for input. Take a close look and provide your input.

Each of the community centres plan to have material on their web sites soon with additional meetings coming to discuss options for the future.

For the Sir John Franklin Community Centre you can go to http://sjf.ca/ and send emails to office@sjf.ca - attention President Naomi Patey.

Water problems along the Seine River from its origin to Ste Anne.

Today, Roland Chaput, Lawrence Lacoste and Richard Gregoire took me to see the situation along the Seine River from its origins to Ste. Anne.

There are several small streams which join to form the Seine River. One of these is shown in the top photo. The water here was pretty clear when we were there today.

However, because of major increases in the amount of the watershed that has been drained, the runoff now occurs much faster than before. The result is much more flooding along this section of the river than before. For example, Roland Chaput and his family farmed along the Seine River for many years. For 36 years they did not have problems, and then starting in 1997 there has been flooding every year since then except 2003. It is also easy to see the increase in sand and silt deposited in places along the river (middle photo).

Others like Hubert and Joan Chaput now, with high water, have to take a boat to get to their home which they never had to do before.

One of the problems is severe erosion and significant widening of the river in places. One such place is near Richard Gregoire's home. Here there was fifteen feet in front of this building (bottom photo) and the river. Now, the river has moved to undercut the building and the building is only present where it is because of extensive joisting to prop it up near the river. As it is, many trees along this bank have been falling into the river as it erodes the shore.

Of note, because phosphorous is sediment associated, the erosion and increased peak flows shown here are associated with higher phosphorous loading of the river and as a result increased phsophorous going toward Lake Winnipeg. Poor water management under Tory and NDP stewardship has been contributing to the phosphorous loading and algal blooms on Lake Winnipeg.

Lake Riviera, just east of Ste. Anne, Manitoba is an example of the problems. When it rains, the water accumulates too quickly, and sometimes flows over the road. This did not used to be a problem as it is now. It has got worse becasue major drainage efforts result in the water arriving more quickly at Lake Riviera and causing high peak water levels. There have been a series of culvets controlling flow out of the lake for some time. However in recent years, becuase the water rises so rapidly after a rain, more culverts have been put in. Although this may have somewhat improved the situation upstream, it has results in flooding downstream. This is no good and is not a long term solution. There needs to be an effort make to hold back or retain water (as along the South Tobacco Creek), so that the peak flow is less and the peak water levels are not as high. Laurie Evans, the local councillor, is working on this. But a combination off insufficient provincial funding and insufficient provincial enforcement of existing rules in relation to drainage efforts in the area are slowing progress.

As Liberals, we have been talking for some time about the need for a more balanced approach to water managemetn in which investments are made in small dams to create small water bodies holding back water, as is happening along the South Tobacco Creek near Miami. This approach has been shown to decrease peak flows, to decrease farmland flooding and to decrease damage to road and culvert infrastructure. It is time to make the investments needed, and to have the water management policy to support this approach.

[Follow up note - April 2010. I was in the Seine River area and chatted with Roland Chaput. The situation appears to have improved somewhat in part because of some efforts to hold back water, and in part because of efforts by people like Hubert Chaput to remove trees which fall into the Seine River so that additional debris does not build up there and hold back water in the river itself in a way that can contribute to flooding.]

The future of Winnipeg - Scientists and Engineers

There was disturbing news this last week. Winnipeg has not done as well as other centres in attracting scientists and engineers, an important measure of our ability to achieve innovation and economic growth.

In 1981, Winnipeg was ranked 131st in North America for the precentage of engineers and scientists within the population. Twenty years later, Winnipeg has fallen to 132nd while Kitchener which was at 132nd place has now moved up to 80th.

We clearly need to do better.

Le Concours d'art oratoire, Canadian Parents for French and the summit of La Francophonie in Winnipeg

Winnipeg attracted the summit of La Francophonie because we have a strong french-speaking presence in our province. Some 300 delegates from 60 countries were here. The conference focused on peace, poverty and human security. I had a chance to meet a number of the delegates at receptions on Friday and Saturday. It reminded me of a meeting of the La Francophonie that I attended in 1995 in Bennin (see below).

While meetings of La Francophonie delegates were occurring at Le College Universitaire St. Boniface, in the same building students were gathered as part of Le Concours d’art oratoire involving all students in Immersion, Basic French and French first-language grades 3-S4.

Each year, Canadian Parents for French Manitoba http://www.cpfmb.com/index.htm organizes this public speaking contest as part of an effort to develop and promote the ability to speak french. Students from all over Manitoba arrive to compete and show their abilities.

I was there to join several other dignitaries in presenting awards. One award I presented was the Gildas Molgat Award to Zafar Sacranie (top photo). This award is in honour of the former provincial Liberal leader and later Senator Gildas Molgat, one of the most gentlemanly politicians in the history of our province. Congratulations to those who won awards and indeed to all the students who participated.

When Manitoba became a province in 1870, half of all Manitobans primary language was french. Today it is much less. But the impact of the struggle of french-speaking Manitobans to maintain their language and culture has been enormous. Not only are we now able to host major international events like the summit of La Francophonie, but we benefit in many other ways. One of the benefits, is that the efforts of french-speaking Manitobans to keep their language and culture have been of major help to Manitobans of many other cultures, because it has provided the social and political environment where diversity of languages and cultures can flourish.

Congratulations to President Bill Younger, Executive Director Catherine Davies and the many others at Canadian Parents for French Manitoba who made Le Concours d'Art Oratoire possible.

Back to Bennin. In the fall of 1995, I was the Canadian Minister for Science, Research and Development. In this capacity, I represented Canada at a meeting of the Ministers of Science and Technology for La Francophonie in Bennin. When I grew up, there were no french immersion programs, there was not even core french as we have it now. I had to learn my french the hard way - in my early twenties on the streets of Montreal when I was going to medical school at McGill. But, I was certainly fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn some french because it enabled me to travel and participate in francophone conferences like the one in Bennin in 1995.

Blaine's bookstore in Selkirk

Saturday from noon to 2 p.m., I was at Blaine's bookstrore in Selkirk signing copies of Battling for a Better Manitoba. Blaine (top photo) runs a busy book and music store.

Dropping by to visit were Dick and Gale Piasecki and Marie Hooker (middle photo), and Chief Roland Hamilton and his daughter (bottom photo).

Sex, Violence and Architecture

Ron Keenberg, outspoken former Winnipeg architect, was at the Faculty of Architecture on Friday evening. Front and Centre was his new book Sex, Violence and Architecture.

Known for designing the National Archives in Ottawa, and many Winnipeg buildings, Ron has filled his book with photos of many outstanding buildings, commentary on his own career and on architectural practice and intrigue.

In talking with Ron and those who worked with him, I was struck by his understanding of the importance of historic buildings and their architecture, and his ideas for refurbishing them. I was also struck by his understanding of how to produce forward thinking architectural designs while at the same time managing costs.

Ron Keenberg will be at McNally Robinson 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday May 17 to talk about and to sign copies of his book - see http://www.mcnallyrobinson.com/event.php?txtEventID=5313&PHPSESSID=01e68d62269060c771323fdfd9ceca7b.