The Manitoba Legislature Session - Week One

Sept 25-27, 2007 Week One of the Manitoba Legislative Session (See details by going to Hansard at http://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/hansard/1st-39th/calendar.html

1) Violence Against Women:
Tuesday, I introduced as a Matter of Urgent Public Importance - a request that there be a discussion in the legislature of the problem of Violence Against Women and the recent unsolved homicides of at least 19 sex trade workers, including most recently Fonessa Bruyere. This resolultion was accepted by the other parties and the full debate and discussion is available in Hansard. At the very least we have exposed the fact that the government's approach - to wait for a federal report due next year - is not good enough, and more immediate attention is needed.

2) The Environment:
Lake Winnipeg: Thursday, I introduced for second reading Bill 203 - The Phosphorous-Free Dishwashing Detergent Act. This bill is designed to ensure automatic dishwasher detergents used in Manitoba after January 1, 2009 will have very low levels of phosphorous. Phosphorous in these products contributes significantly to the amount of phosphorous in Lake Winnipeg - which is a major cause of the algal blooms plaguing the lake. Sadly, the Government moved immediately to adjourn debate rather than discuss this urgent issue. Paradoxically, it was the MLA for Selkirk - who should have been most concerned about the health of Lake Winnipeg - who moved the adjournment. We immediately tackled the government on this - and by the end of the day Gary Doer himself had reversed direction and was agreeing to support our efforts to drastically reduce the phosphorous in automatic dishwasher detergents in Manitoba.
In a Member's statement on Wednesday, I acknowledged the efforts of Halli Jonasson in bringing forward concerns about the Hecla Island Causeway and the impact it may have had on Lake Winnipeg.
Killarney Lake: On Thursday, I questioned Agriculture Minister Rosann Wowchuk about the problems of algal blooms on Killarney Lake - which like Lake Winnipeg are due to excess phosphorous in the lake. I suggested that Killarney Lake would be ideal to study and make changes to improve the situation - because by cleaning up Killarney Lake we can not only improve Killarney Lake, we can learn a lot about what is needed to reduce phosphorous going into Lake Winnipeg. By the end of my questioning, Minister Wowchuk was ready to indicate she would be receptive to a proposal from the people of Killarney and the surrounding area.

3) Health Care: Kevin Lamoureux and I introduced, for second reading, three bills to improve health care in Manitoba:
Bill 200: The Health Services Amendment and Health Services Insurance Amendment Act: This bill will introduce the principle of accountability as a fundamental principle in the delivery of health care in Manitoba. The bill is based on the recommendations of Roy Romanow in his report of 2002. This is the fifth time I have introduced this bill into the legislature. For the first time, by the end of the week, there was an acknowledgement by Gary Doer that he is looking seriously at this.
Bill 201: The Liquor Control Amendment Act: This bill will require labels on alcoholic beverages to indicate the risks of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) when a mother who is pregnant drinks alcohol. It is an important measure to provide for more awareness of FASD. Finland has already moved in this direction. In Manitoba we have too many children with FASD and we need this measure. There is not yet any sign of support in this direction by the NDP in Manitoba.
Bill 202: The Apology Act: This bill will allow physicians and other health care providers to say "I am sorry" when a medical error has occurred without having legal liability. It represents an important step in helping deal with medical errors and in moving to a system which is much more effective in identifying, reporting and preventing medical errors.