The Spirit of Winnipeg Photography Exhibit

Lieutenant Governor John Harvard was on hand to officially open the Spirit of Winnipeg Photographic Exhibit at the Carol Shields Auditorium in the Millenium Library today.

Brook Jones, Vice-President of the Manitoba Camera Club was Master of Ceremonies (middle photo). Tony Brookes, a Past-President of the Manitoba Camera Club (bottom right) was clearly the driving force behind the development of the concept for the Exhibition. Congratulations to Tony Brookes and all the members of the Manitoba Camera Club for a successful exhibition. Thanks are also due to Bruno Legal of the Winnipeg Public Library.

Photographers who are featured include Tony Brookes, John Buchanan, Elaine Delannoy, Kenn Green, Brook Jones, Garry Shaefer, Vic Shertow, Jim Simpson and Barry Streimer. There are fifty excellent photographs - and among them are a series of stunning pictures by John Buchanan.

Promoting Breast-Feeding

This morning at the Legislature more than 60 women came out to breast-feed their children (top photo). It was part of a challenge to have as many mothers as possible breast-feeding at the same time. It was also part of an effort to promote breast-feeding.

There was a time in the 1950s and 1960s when breast-feeding was often discouraged, and formula feeding was encouraged. But accumulating evidence has shown very clearly that breast milk better protects infants from infections and reduces problems with cow's milk allergies. For a whole variety of reasons it is now very clear that breast milk is incredibly well designed as a food for human infants.

In the 1960s and 1970s my father, a pediatrician, was a strong advocate for breast-feeding. He worked closely with members of the La Leche League to advocate for more breast-feeding. In 1974, he wrote an article entitled "Breast-feeding: Second Thoughts" which appeared in the journal Pediatrics (volume 54 pages 757-764) in which he carefully reviewed the evidence which showed that breast feeding is optimum for almost all mothers. It was an important influence in changing the view that was often being promoted at the time - that formula was as good as breast milk. In the years since, there has been a substantial increase in the proportion of mothers in Canada who breast feed and this is good.

Tree Planting along the Assiniboine River - and the City of Winnipeg Living by Water Program

This morning I was out along the Assiniboine River at Fountain House helping to plant trees (Green Ash, Willows and Bear Berry) to improve the stability of the bank and improve the quality of the riparian habitat. There was an energetic group and when we were finished there were many new trees.

Among the many who came out to help were Jeff (left - second photo) from the Naturalist Services Branch of the City of Winnipeg, Jennifer Lukovich and Helen Fabbri (third photo - centre), and Don Woodstock (bottom right).

Manitoba Home Builders Association Gala Awards Night Dinner

Friday evening this week was the Gala Awards Night for members of the Manitoba Home Builders Association.

This year saw the 26th Annual Fall Parade of Homes built by members of the Manitoba Home Builders Association. We were shown video footage of many of the attractive and elegant homes, and gold and silver Awards were handed out in each price category. There were some dazzling homes!!!

M.C. Joanne Kelly of Shaw Cable and President Garth Steek combined to make it a memorable evening. Congratulations to Chairman Garry Dueck, Past Chairman Brian Contant, the Board of Directors and the Parade of Homes Committee for the successful event.

Sage House and Mount Carmel Clinic

Friday saw the official opening of Sage House - at 422 Dufferin Ave - an outreach home run by Mount Carmel Clinic. This is a new location - and from what I heard at the opening - a better location.

Executive Director Brenda Slobozian (top left) spoke about the need for the house and the health care and other services to be provided. Mae Louise Campbell (middle photo), a Metis elder, spoke of the importance of providing services for women, particularly aboriginal women. Harry Lazarenko (bottom photo) spoke passionately of the need and the importance of Sage house to provide a refuge for women as well as to provide access to health care and social services.

Access to Information is priority number 351 (or lower) for the NDP

This week is Right to Know Week. Thursday evening at the Press Club, I joined a panel discussion with Gord McIntosh (representing the NDP) and Hugh McFayden (representing the Conservatives).

Half way through the Thursday afternoon, the NDP, desparate to try to show that they might consider doing something, released a press release indicating they were considering legislation to improve access to information when the legislature resumes sitting this fall. The wording of the Press Release was vague and tentative, and it was readily apparent that they were "considering" measures, and were not themselves even sure what changes they are actually going to bring forward.

In the 1999 election the NDP made a whole series of promises about increasing access to information. One of these was to follow the lead of almost all other provinces to create an Office of the Privacy Commissioner. But in more than seven years there has been no action. In those seven years we have seen about 350 pieces of legislation from the NDP. Clearly Access to Information is Priority Number 351 or lower. Sad.

While Gord McIntosh hummed and hawed at the microphone and talked about what his government might consider, I presented our Liberal approach.

Our Liberal approach to improving access to information is as follows:

1) We need real time access to real information. For example, a patient (or a family of a patient) who request access to medical information for someone in hospital or in a personal care home should be able to get access within 24 hours rather than in the present 30 days. The medical charts are in the institution and must be kept up to date. There is no longer any reason to withhold this information for more than 24 hours. On the other hand providing the information promptly will allow the patient and family a much better ability to participate in decision around their own care - an important step to improving the quality of health care.

2) We need to have a Privacy Commissioner who has the power to overrride the government, when the government refuses to provice information. The role of the Privacy Commissioner is to balance the pubic interest in making the information available, with the interest of the government, an individual or a business in keeping the information secret. Presently, the ombudsman deals with access to information issues, but the Ombudsman does not have the power to overrride the government, only to "negotiate" with the government. In several other provinces the Privacy Commissioner has the power to override the government when the government says it will not make the information available. We need the same power in Manitoba to ensure a more open and responsive government.

3) Citizens need better access to the courts to allow the courts to make a decision when citizens are denied access to information which they see is essential to them.

If you have additional comments, please send me an email at jgerrard@leg.gov.mb.ca

Hybrid Fuel Cell Bus

Thursday afternoon, I had the opportunity to check out the new hybrid fuel cell bus at the Legislature. The bus is a hybrid which uses hydrogen as the fuel to provide power.

Hydrogenics Corporation (of Mississauga) worked with New Flyer Industries of Winnipeg and Kraus Global of Winnipeg to develop and install the hybrid fuel cell technology in this bus.

It is quiet up front, though in its present version a bit noisy at the back. The ride, however, is smooth - but it was only travelling around the Legislative Building and not on cratered highways like highway 2 (http://www.manitobaliberals.ca/2006/09/why-is-highway-number-2-not-priority.html )

In the photo below, I am sitting in the driver's seat.

Why is highway number 2 not a priority for the NDP? And where has Gary Doer been?

On Monday this week, Gary Doer and his NDP Party made it very clear where their highway priorities are. We got a clear list of their highway priorities (Highway 75, Highway 1, Highway 59, Highway 16, Highway 9 and the Perimeter Highway). It was made very clear that their priorities do not include fixing Highway 2.

I travel highway 2 fairly regularly, and it is in bad shape. Frustrated travellers have taken to putting up large signs calling attention to the major deficiencies in the Gary Doer's NDP who perhaps have not travelled this road in some time. You do not have to look far for the problem areas. Right below the sign is a gouge in the highway. And similar deep holes are to be found every few feet along this section of the highway. It is curious that there are no orange markers calling attention to the problems in the road. Many other roads would have orange "alert for bad road" markers at such sites. But on highway 2, it would need a huge number of markers to note all the problem areas. The question many are wondering - why are these deep craters not a priority for Gary Doer? He surely can not have travelled this highway in a long time.

Thomas Greenway - Crystal City - and the roots of the provincial Liberal Party in Manitoba

Thursday morning I had the opportunity to visit with some of the students and staff at the Thomas Greenway School in Crystal City.

Greenway was the Premier of Manitoba from 1888 to 1900. A Liberal, he focused his efforts on improving immigration to Manitoba, on improving competition in railway service, on improving conditions for farmers (for example undertaking the first major drainage programs), and on developing a province-wide education system.

A good fiscal manager, Greenway reduced the size of government administration and increased spending on health and education. He was a visionary who had led many to come from Ontario to southern Manitoba, he worked closely with Clifford Sifton who served as the provincial Justice Minister and later the federal minister responsible for immigration federally.

For more about Thomas Greenway see Battling for a Better Manitoba ( http://www.hrtlandbooks.com/books/battling.htm)


In the photo, I am standing with Bill Harding, Principal of the Thomas Greenway Middle School (grades 5-8) and Bev Leadbeater (our Liberal candidate in Turtle Mountain in 2003). Behind is a portrait of Thomas Greenway found in the entrance to the school.

Sunrise over southern Manitoba

One of the joys of being Liberal leader is the ability to take in the beauty and majesty of Manitoba. I was fortunate, on Thursday morning this week to watch the sun come up over the Pembina Valley (top photo) and the wind turbines of St. Leon (bottom photo). It was impressive.

John Myers, Mark Gray and Allan Becker - Teddy Awardee 2006

Congratulations to John Myers, Mark Gray and Allan Becker recipients of the Teddy Awards from the Children's Hospital Foundation for 2006.

John Myers has contributed in many, many ways to improving the health of children in Manitoba, and most specifically he was the moving force behind the Teddy Bear's Picnic for its first seven years. I know it has been a labour of love, for I have seen John at the picnic - and been constantly amazed at his energy and his ability to bring together an incredible team to make this a success year after year. John has helped in so many different ways - and in recent years as Chair of the Development Committee of the Manitoba Institute of Child Health.

Mark Gray, a lawyer and a chartered accountant, has brought his substantial talents to help improve the health of children in Manitoba. Serving as President of the Children's Hospital Foundation in the 1990s and in many other roles, Mark Gray has helped substantially with the development of the Manitoba Institute of Child Health. He was also instrumental in starting the Foundation's Planned giving Program - a program which has been very successful.

Dr. Allan Becker is a leader in asthma and allergy research in Canada. He spent a number of years in family practice in Dauphin, Manitoba before focusing on allergies and asthma in children. In recent years he has been the co-principle investigator of a large effort to find ways to prevent the develoment of asthma - the Canadian Asthma Primary Prevention Study, and a leader in research looking at roles of the environment, of genetic predisposition and of factors like obesity in the development of asthma.

Well done John, Mark and Allan - and thank you.

French for Life

The launch of French for Life - Say oui to opportunity - was on Wednesday afternoon at the Collegte Universitaire St. Boniface.

For me, I grew up in a home where both parents spoke English and neither parent ever spoke more than the rare word of French.

I did not have the advantage of a French Immersion education, but by continually working and using every opportunity I managed to pick up sufficient French to be able to hold conversations, give speeches, participate in meetings and to do media interviews in French. It has been a life-long endeavor, and it has opened doors for me at various points in my life - doors that probably would not have been opened for me otherwise.

Learning to speak French is also about learning about French and French-Canadian culture. It has also been important to me in sensitizing me to other languages and other cultures. Indeed, I see an important role of the French language in Canada has been, not only to allow those who speak French to feel at home in all parts of Canada, but to enable a wonderful flowering of varied languages of cultures across Canada - and giving rise to exciting cultural events like Folkorama in Winnipeg.

Thus, it was that Naomi and I chose with our children to enroll them in French Immersion programs. Each had a slghtly different course. Charles was in French Immersion from Kindergarten to Grade 11. Pauline started in English and moved to a French Immersion programming for grades 7-12. Tom started in French Immersion and then took a break for several years, returning again for Grades 7-9. All have been able to make use of their ability to speak French. Pauline has used her French in Laos, and her ability to learn French has made it easier to learn the Loatian language. Charles has used his French on numerous occasions to make friends and in his snowboarding teaching. Tom has often used his French, most recently in a visit to Senegal one of the french speaking countries in Africa.

I was honoured to be able to speak during the launch of French for Life - and so I had an opportunity to share my experiences in offering continued supports for the efforts of Canadian Parents for French - Manitoba, the Manitoba Association of Teachers of French and L'Association manitobaine des directeurs et directrices d'immersion francaise to open doors for young Canadians.

An Alternative Summit for the City of Winnipeg

Former Mayor Glen Murray (top photo) was among a number of speakers at Winnipeg's alternative summit. On the left of the photo, David Northcott and Leslie Hughes pay close attention.

Glen Murray spoke about the need to build a creative community in Winnipeg - to build a city where there are truly beautiful places and spaces open to everyone. Beauty uplifts the spirit, improves our mood and our health. It is hard to put a price on beauty - but it can make a difference in the feel of a city and in the spirits of the people. The Norwood Bridge and the Esplanade Riel are now featured on many pamplets and stories about Winnipeg. They are part of what makes Winnipeg an attractive city.

Glen Murray also spoke about the need to address our approach to garbage in the City of Winnipeg. He quoted statistics showing that the methane being produced from the Brady Landfill site produces the equivalent in greenhouse gases of 35,000 cars. It is time to address this issue.

Congratulations to Rhonda Gordon, Glen Cochrane and Glenora Molnar (bottom photo) and many others who were involved in organizing the alternative Summit.

Standing with the First Nations of Manitoba for better health, health care, and health management

At a large rally at the Legislature on Wednesday, I stood side by side with aboriginal leaders such as Grand Chiefs Ron Evans, Sydney Garrioch and Chris Henderson to speak out for better attention to the health needs of aboriginal people.

For many years, as a physician and a politician, I have worked with and for aboriginal people in Manitoba to address health concerns. As a recent example, twice this year I have visited Cross Lake First Nation because they have a health care crisis in their community. They have had a huge shortage of nurses and there has been an totally inadequate response from the federal and provincial governments (see also http://www.manitobaliberals.ca/2006/09/health-care-in-cross-lake-and-four.html).

It is in the interest of all Manitobans that the health and health care needs of First Nation communities be addressed more than they are today. Poor health, whether from diabetes or any other condition, is associated with greater difficulties in achieving the highest possible quality of life. With poor health comes escalating health care costs for both federal and provincial governments. It is time to change our approach and do much better than we have done.

For years the mantra of successive provincial Conservative and NDP governments has been that First Nations health is primarily or solely a federal issue, and to use this as an excuse to avoid acting. The truth is that the health of First Nations is an issue for everyone and certainly an issue for both federal and provincial governments. Yes, part of the provincial role is to help hold the federal government accountable. But the provincial government must do much more than this. Under current agreements there are many areas of health care delivery to First Nations people which fall under provincial responsibility, even when there is a federal responsibility to cover some or all the costs.

Enough is enough. It's time the provincial government took a stand with Manitoba First Nations instead of avoiding the issue.

Drinking, driving and littering - we need a new approach

Wednesday morning this week, there was a large pile of beer cans, beer bottles and other liquor containers in front of the Manitoba Legislature.

All of this - including 177 beer cans! - was collected alongside just 3 kilometers of Highway 59 north of Highway 44. The number of liquor containers thrown out of car windows and into the ditch has increased significantly this year compared to last year. This is a very troubling sign that we may be moving backward on tackling the dangers of drinking and driving. We need to re-examine how we are doing in the fight against this deadly behaviour.

Liquor bottles are not the only items thrown into the ditch by drivers and passengers in cars. In total, members of the Winnipeg Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (with me in photo above), picked up 50 garbage bags of litter. Clearly, both in terms of liquor container litter and overall litter, there is much room for improvement in Manitoba.

In terms of roadside litter, I think we need a new new approach. In 1970, British Columbia became the first jurisdiction in North America to establish a mandatory refundable deposit system for soft drink and beer containers for litter control. Since then, the deposit system has been graudually expanded to all sorts of containers, including plastic bottles, glass bottles, and even the "tetra-pak" juice containers. The idea is simple. When you purchase a container and its contents, you automatically are charged a small but noticeable recycling deposit. When you return the empty container to a point-of-purchase, you get the bottle deposit back. Since it was introduced in 1970, the BC system has been a model for similar systems because of its high rate of effectiveness.

Perhaps it is time to look at an expanded container deposit-refund system for Manitoba.

Gary Doer and highways - scrambling, scrambling, scrambling

After seven years, Gary Doer has finally grasped that people are for good reason upset with the state of our province's highways. So, with his new conversion to infrastructure, he has been announcing all sorts of new money for highways. But in doing so he says: "Those roads have deteriorated quicker than we thought."

Now, most roads are built to a particular quality standard to give them a certain life expectancy. Is Gary Doer saying that something was wrong with the quality of the roads built? If so, one has to ask which government was supposed to monitor the quality of the construction?

In fact, Gary Doer was presented with a report over four years ago - his very own 2020 Transportation Vison Report - which said in April 2002 that there was a major problem with Manitoba highways and he needed to address it. But instead of acting when he should have acted in 2002, Gary Doer sat back and waited - and waited - and waited. Now his inaction and indifference is coming back to haunt him as he desparately promises piles of money to be spent without even presenting a budget.

Then it gets even worse. Doer is on record saying he "hopes" the extra $300 million he's announced for highways will be found somewhere in general revenue, but if it is not, he will dip into the province's rainy day fund - the emergency money we set aside that's supposed to help keep basic services running in case of serious economic downturns.

What kind of planning is this? Ordinarily, this kind of spending would be part of the normal budget process with debate. This time it was not - and we have no indication of the fiscal impact or soundness of all these sudden promises. If the NDP was going to do this, why not bring down a mini-budget rather than trying to scramble around without knowing where they are going.

Sorry Gary, but this is no way to run a province.

Why has Gary Doer not funded assisted living spaces for Concordia Hospital?

There is a clear need for assisted living spaces associated with hospitals like Concordia Hospital and the Boundary Trails Hospital near Winkler. That is what I have been hearing.

In essence, we have patients who are in an acute care hospital because they are too sick to be in a personal care home. But, they could be cared for in an assisted living environment at a higher quality of life and lower cost than in an acute care hospital setting. Why are we not moving forward on having more assisted living spaces when they offer higher quality and lower cost than using high cost hospital beds designed for acute care delivery rather than high end chronic care.

Yet in seven years as Premier, Gary Doer has not supportted 10 assisted living spaces at Concordia Hospital. This shows how short-sighted the Premier is.

Today, I met Leslie Worthington (photo above) who is on a campaign to improve the quality of care at Concordia Hospital. She is a strong advocate for improved quality including the assisted living spaces that are badly needed.

Bicyclists come to the Legislature

At noon today, a keen group of cyclists led by Molly McCracken (top photo) came to the Legislature to bring attention to the needs for a much better environment for cyclists in Manitoba. I agree.

The Cyclists are asking the provincial government to 1) make changes to the Highway Traffic Act to better meet the needs of cyclists, 2) offer incentives to encourage cycling and 3) develop a bicycle policy in the new Infrastructure Ministry. In my view, we also need a dedicated provincial fund for supporting the development of bake paths and bike ways in communities (and in some places between communities) around the province. Let's make Manitoba a bicycle friendly province!

I talked to a number of the cyclists. One told me she had already been hit by a car (twice) and that on a third occasion, she had hit a car. Enough is enough! It is time to make Manitoba a more bicycle friendly place.

If you have any questions for Molly McCracken regarding the Bike to the Future report please contact her via email biketothefuture@gmail.com

Gerard Kennedy - The first Liberal Party of Canada leader born and raised in Manitoba?

Continuing with my profiles of the various candidates running for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada, I'd like to say a few words about Gerard Kennedy. He was in Winnipeg on Sunday to gather support.

Gerard is originally from The Pas and is generally considered to be among the top four contenders in a battle that will not be decided until the Convention in Montreal in early December.

After growing up in the The Pas and taking three years of high school in Winnipeg, Gerard went on to attend Trent University and the University of Alberta, where he gained a better understanding and appreciation of the diversity that is Canada. Gerard then went on to become the Executive Director of the Edmonton Food Bank and later the Toronto Food Bank, living his personal committment to social justice.

Still, he has always maintained strong family ties to Manitoba. His parents still live in The Pas and he has returned to Manitoba regularly to visit them and his sisters and brothers in both Winnipeg and The Pas.

Gerard certainly has a broad vision of change and he is determined in his rejection of the status quo. He sees the need to constantly challenge ourselves as Canadians to improve and grow. He is seeking to lead the Liberal Party not only to strive for the very best for Canadians, but so we can play a clear and independent role on the international stage.

It is time to elect school trustees again - and guess who is running

It is that time of the cycle. The time to vote for our School Trustees will be soon upon us. I met one of the new crop of candidates today - Cindy Gilroy-Price - running in ward 2 in Winnipeg School Division One.

The St. Rita fall supper

Saturday evening was the occasion of the fall supper put on by the Manitoba Metis Federation local in St. Rita. I was invited to come by my good friend Dan Benoit (bottom photo) who is the vice-chair of the St. Rita Local.

After a wonderful fall supper which included a variety of standard and some unusual exquisite dishes, we had excellent entertainment from Orval and Marcella Vezina, Beryl Boisvert, Joe Smith and Tom Knott (top photo). (Orval had just stepped out of the picture so he is missing in this photo).

The Annual General Meeting of the Manitoba Chapter of the Canadian Deafblind and Rubella Association

Few organizations have their Annual General Meeting at 7:45 a.m. on a Saturday morning - but the Manitoba Chapter of the Canadian DeafBlind and Rubella Association (CDBRA) did this weekend - and there was a good turnout.

I was there to support the CDBRA and its President Marilyn Robinson and Executive Director Gitta Schwartz and all the others who were there. They are having a difficult time with budgetary cutbacks under the NDP - but they are determined and persistent. Those who are deaf and blind need full time assistance - and the CDBRA works very hard to provide this. My personal best wishes and thanks to all those who work so hard as staff or volunteers with the organization to work for a better life for those who are deaf and blind.

A forum for those with concerns about what is happening at Child and Family Services in Manitoba

Kim Edwards, foster mother to Phoenix Sinclair for part of her life, remains very distressed about what happened to Phoenix after she left Kim.

She put a lot of effort into organizating a forum to allow people with concerns about Child and Family Services and the deaths of children to come forward. Sadly, the forum was poorly attended. Largely, I suspect this was because many are afraid to come forward in public with their stories given the rules surrounding Child and Family Services which drastically limit people from speaking openly.

There is much that needs to be brought forward. Indeed, we have been promised that the external review report on Child and Family Services will be made available by the end of September (this week).

Doug Tizya, Melvin Swan and the Bold Eagle program

For many years Melvin Swan (beside me) has been involved with the Bold Eagle program which combines cultural and military training for aboriginal youth. Doug Tizya (far right), recently returned from Afghanistan, went through the program and speaks highly of the Bold Eagle program for aboriginal youth.

Doug Tizya and Melvin Swan were both at the 5th Annual gathering of the Bear Clan, and Doug Tizya spoke of his recent experiences in Afghanistan. His return was so recent that his military uniform has not yet arrived.

The 5th Annual Bear Clan Gathering

Thursday September 21 was the gathering of the Bear Clan at the Behavioural Health Foundation in St. Norbert. It was an occasion to salute and to celebrate the Bear Clan - the clan concerned with protecting others. The clan traditionally included both the policemen and the healers, and there were representatives from the police and the armed forces as well as from the healing professions.

There was a grand entry parade - and much dancing (see photos).

A featured guest was David Tizya, an aboriginal member of Canada's armed forces recently returned from Afghanistan (see also http://www.manitobaliberals.ca/2006/09/david-tizya-melvin-swan-and-bold-eagle.html).

Congratulation to the graduates of the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development of the Neeginan Institute of Applied Technology

Rachael Privee, from Fairford, is one of almost one hundred graduates this year of the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development (CAHRD). The graduates were celebrated at the 2nd Annual celebration of the Autumn Equinox on Thursday September 21 this week. The event at the Aboriginal Centre in Winnipeg drew a large crowd.

Among the graduates were welders, carpenters, medical lab assistants, practical nurses and early childhood educators. Rachael Privee graduated as a licensed practical nurse. She has faced numerous challenges, and she has succeeded. She is now setting her sights on her job at a personal care home and at the next steps in her career. Congratulations to Rachael and to all the other graduates.

Rhonda McCorriston, Director of CAHRD, has built numerous partnerships with businesses and educational institutions in Manitoba to make this effort possible. Congratulations Rhonda McCorriston!!

The Doer NDP cabinet shuffle - a pre-election gimmick

Thursday this week, Gary Doer shuffled his cabinet. In my experience, both in Ottawa and in Manitoba, and both inside government and in opposition, it is very useful to have people with some background experience or connection in the field they are exerting ministerial responsibility. Sadly, too often Mr. Doer has stocked his cabinet with people with little or no experience in the field for which they are responsible.

In fact, in some cases, there were better choices for a portfolio. For example, we all know Child and Family Services has been plagued with serious problems for years now and is in need serious attention. So why didn't Mr. Doer put Greg Selinger in charge of the Family Services department? Unlike other NDP MLAs, Mr. Selinger actually has previous experience as a social worker and probably some understanding of what is needed to provide optimum and safe care for children.

Or, as another example, take the Transportation file. Ask anyone who is not a member of the NDP government what they think about the state of our province's roads and you always get the same answer: our roads are in the worst shape any one can remember. Our roads and highways are certainly worse than our neighbouring provinces. The minister who has been mishandling this file for years now is of course Ron Lemieux. So what did Mr. Doer do? He "rewarded" Mr. Lemieux for his bungling as highways minister by putting him in charge of almost all of Manitoba's infrastructure! The Doer tradition of rewarding neglect continues.

This make no sense at all since Mr. Doer has an MLA - Darryl Reid - who spent an entire year studying the problems of Manitoba's roads and bridges and bringing forward a report. Why did Mr. Doer not make use of Darryl Reid's knowledge? Why not reward work instead of neglect?

I'll end this post with one more glaring example: health care. Here, we have a file that definitely needs a lot of work, but Mr. Doer has a major problem in that he really doesn't have anyone in his caucus with the background or experience to make the changes needed in the delivery of health care in Manitoba. I say this goes right to Mr. Doer's inability to recruit capable candidates. He clearly should have found someone to run in the last provincial election in a safe NDP seat with the expertise he needs.

Today's NDP - lacking competence, rewarding incompetence.

It is time for Mr. Doer to say goodby as Premier.

Dr. Catherine Cook and the new Centre for Aboriginal Health Education

Wednesday September 20 saw the official opening of the Centre for Aboriginal Health Education to be run by Dr. Catherine Cook (top photo in red). This centre, at the Bannatyne Campus of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Manitoba, will help support aboriginal students during their training in medicine and other health fields. With Dr. Cook, in the top photo is Courtney Love a second year medical student who will be one of the beneficiaries of the new centre. It is expected the new centre will help make the Bannatyne Campus a more appealing place for aboriginal students and help with student recruitment as well as student success during their studies.

In the bottom photo, Dr. Cook receives a gift in honour of the opening of the centre from Dr. Bruce Martin director of the Northern Medical Unit, a framed art piece by an Inuit artist.

Congratulations to Antoine Hacault, the new President of the Manitoba Bar Association

Congratulations to Antoine F. Hacault, partner in the Winnipeg law firm of Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP, for becoming the new President of the Manitoba Bar Association. I attended a reception at Fort Gibraltar on Wednesday in Antoine Hacault's honour.

In Selkirk, Manitoba planning is going forward for a new Learning Centre and a new Library

In Selkirk, Wednesday morning, I had the opportunity to discuss plans for the new Selkirk and District Community Learning Centre, and for a new Library. It is good to see initiative occurring in the community. Photos above are the existing facilities.

Fish Die Off in Boundary Creek by Winnipeg Beach

Wednesday morning I was in Gimli and heard about a fish die off which had occurred on Monday at Boundary Creek which enters Lake Winnipeg at Winnipeg Beach. There is a marina at the mouth of the creek, and when we stopped there during the morning, there were still a lot of dead fish (photos above).

Apparently on Monday there was almost a "carpet" of small fish on Boundary Creek. Most of these were quickly scooped up by gulls. But the many dead fish still present show the fish kill was extensive.

The reason for the die off is unknown, but needs to be investigated. Could the rains on the weekend have washed some toxins into the creek and caused the die off? If so what were the toxins and where did they come from? If not, what caused the die off?