The Gerrard Report

  On Wednesday  May 12, I   asked the Premier in Question Period whether he will, after 45 years, finally work with the people of O-Pipon-Na-Piwin and Tataskweyak Cree Nations to   address the damage to their fisheries and to   their communities which have resulted   from building the Churchill River Diversion.   Whitefish Fishery on Southern Indian Lake  Request for Fish Ladder at Missi Falls Hon. Jon  Gerrard  (River Heights):   The historically crystal-clear waters of Southern Indian Lake, Manitoba's fourth largest lake, are cloudy and turbid from extensive erosion. Whitefish, which once flourished there, are few. The sturgeon downstream are almost extinct.       These horrific changes were caused by actions of the NDP 45 years ago which were never mitigated. The whitefish fishery, which sustained 140 fishers and their families, is gone, through no fault of theirs.       I ask: Will the Premier make changes in the oper­a­tion of the Churchill River diversion and put in

 On Wednesday May 12,,  I had the opportunity to wish the Muslim community  in  Manitoba  well on the Festival of Eid-al-Fatr, a festival  which marks the end of Ramadan.  Eid al-Fitr Mr. Gerrard:   The festival of Eid or Eid al-Fitr is today, the end of Ramadan, a very important Muslim festival.       The Muslim community in Manitoba is growing and is now about 17,000 strong. Muslims are con­tributing in so many ways to our province.       Several years ago now, we had many, many refugees who arrived from Syria and now call Manitoba home. It was an initiative of the Liberal government of Justin Trudeau to accept people who are refugees and from a country which was and still is experiencing a very difficult period.       But we now have in Manitoba young people who came from Syria who are graduating from high school and university and getting jobs and helping to build our province.       Among the many Muslims who have come to Manitoba are about 4,000 whose family originally ca

 On Tuesday May 11, in Question Period, I  asked the Premier why he was  leaving 900,000 rapid test kits unused, and why he did not have  a COVID-19  research  advisory  committee to help him in the fight against COVID.  My questions and the Premier's response are below.  Of note,  it  is not Dr. Roussin's responsibility to have a research advisory committee, as the  Premier suggests, it is the responsibility of the Premier and his Minister of Health.    They are falling short.  Rapid Test Kits for COVID‑19 Use of Research for Spread Prevention Hon. Jon  Gerrard  (River Heights):   Mr. Deputy Speaker, the government has more than 900,000 rapid test kits still unused. These tests should be used now to prevent spread in daycares, schools or businesses or to protect individuals with disabilities.       I also note that the government doesn't have an organized approach to COVID‑19 research. The FIPPAs I table show that there's no COVID research advisory committee, nor

On Thursday, April 29, I spoke in response to a Minister's statement about Heart Failure - to recognize that May 3rd to May 9th is heart failure awareness week.  My comments are below:  Hon. Jon  Gerrard  (River Heights):   Mr. Deputy Speaker, your heart pumps blood around your body so that your tissues can get oxygen and so that you can live.       Based on national numbers, it's estimated that about 20,000 Manitobans live with heart failure. It's an important condition to be aware of. I join others today to raise awareness of heart failure. Its major causes include coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, faulty heart valves, cardiomyopathy   and arrhyth­mia, among others.       Important risk factors for the development of heart failure include, as examples, having a heart attack, having sleep apnea, having obesity. Prevention of heart failure is primarily about reducing risk fac­tors, including reducing smoking, controlling high blood pressure, preventing dia

On Wednesday, April 28th,  asked in Question Period about the status of an application to build a quarry (gravel pit) on ecologically sensitive land near Rivers, Manitoba.   The Minister, Blaine Pedersen, was very  clear the  quarry  permit application has  been denied.  My question and the Minister's response are below: Gravel Pit in Riverdale, Manitoba Request for Update on Proposal Hon. Jon  Gerrard  (River Heights):   Mr. Deputy Speaker, I have raised concerns about a proposal to put a gravel pit in the centre of an ecologically sensitive area in the RM of Riverdale just south of Rivers.       In early April, using careful COVID precautions, I visited the area to meet people who have great concerns about this proposal. I've been working on their behalf since then. The area has native forest and prairie and is incredible wildlife habitat, including for endangered and threatened species. The area also has important archeological sites. The gravel pit would have a signi

 On  Tuesday April 27, I read a petition in the Legislature which calls on the provincial government to deny a request to put a gravel pit on land which is ecologically  sensitive, has endangered and threatened wildlife species, significant archeological findings and is on an important wildlife corridor.  The petition is below.  Riverdale Aggregate Quarry–Request to Deny Conditional-Use Application Hon. Jon  Gerrard  (River Heights):  Mr. Deputy Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly.       The background to this petitions is as follows:       A conditional-use application has been filed in relation to a proposed gravel pit, or aggregate quarry, located at SW 11-12-21 west of the primary meridian in Riverdale municipality. Many local resi­dents have concerns about the proposed gravel pit, which are not being addressed.       The site has an extensive forest of oak, ash, poplar, saskatoon, chokecherry, pin cherry and two kinds of hazelnut t

 On Tuesday April 27, I spoke in the Legislature on a Members Statement about Two Ten Recovery  - a program which has been effective in helping individuals with addictions return to the community sober and employed.   My statement is below: Hon. Jon  Gerrard  (River Heights):   Mr. Deputy Speaker, in 2007, an organization was founded in Winnipeg to provide safe transitional housing to in­dividuals who've completed an addictions treatment program. Help is provided for individuals to achieve a sustainable recovery with paid employment and suc­cessful reintegration into the community.       The program, Two Ten Recovery, uses trad­itional–transitional housing and an abstinence-based approach developed after consultation with groups focusing on prevention, treatment and re­covery for individuals and for families.       It has successfully served over 700 men and women. Residents stay for three to 12 months. They attend anywhere from one to 10 meetings per week with sponsors or supp