The Gerrard Report

Today is the last day of the Legislative Session.  Many bills were given royal ascent.  But at the same time there were remarkable problems with the way the PCs and NDPs managed the time of the Legislature.  As an example of the problems, we were unable to complete the 100 hours of time in estimates that is usually taken for this process.  Even more surprising is that many departmental estimates were never even considered.  Departmental estimates for Growth Enterprise and Trade, for Municipal Relations, for Sports, Culture and Heritage, for the Civil Service Commission, for the Legislative Assembly, for Employee Pensions and other costs and for the enabling and other appropriations were not considered at all.  It is in fact astonishing that the estimates for Growth Enterprise and Trade were never considered since this is the main economic department for the government.   How could such a thing happen?  Well, sad to say, it was terrible o...

On Monday this week, I received an email from Karen Dunlop, Chair of the Board of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.  In her email Ms Dunlop wonders if the decision to cut lactation (breastfeeding) services at the Health Sciences Centre "holds water", and whether the evidence really supports this decision.  Ms. Dunlop is a nurse herself, and a well respected one, so her concern has the weight of her professional background as well as her position as Chair of the WRHA.   I raised this issue with the Minister of Health on Tuesday.  As you will see in the Minister's response, he was not able to defend the WRHA's decision and in desperation he opted instead to blame the federal government, and to accuse me of come sort of conspiracy theory.  Below are my questions and the Minister's responses from Hansard.  Winnipeg Regional Health Authority - Response to Cuts to Lactation Services Hon. Jon  Gerrard  (River Heights):   Ma...

Dougald Lamont and I meet with Lindsey Mazur and Elaine Stevenson about Bill 200 Samantha Rayburn-Trubyk with Judy Klassen and me.   Samantha was in the gallery, along with Lindsey Mazur and Elain Stevenson, for the vote.  This morning the Pallister PCs voted against a much needed measure, Bill 200, to put physical size and weight as protected characteristics under Manitoba's Human Rights Code.  Over the course of the last two years I have met with many people who know of the critical need for this legislation.   The people include as examples, Samantha Rayburn-Trubyk, President of the Little People of Manitoba, Lindsey Mazur, with Manitobans Against Weight Stigma, and Elaine Stevenson, Co-administrator of the Alyssa Stevenson Eating Disorder Memorial Trust.  Discrimination against people based on their physical size or weight is a serious healthcare issue.    This issue is not currently adequately addressed under Manitoba's ...

Wes Elwick (photo above) was a 25 year old man with a lot of promise and a lot of potential. Today in Question Period I asked about the need for improvements in addictions services in Manitoba and the need to  prevent tragedies like the death of Wesley Elwick.   Below is from Hansard - sadly our Premier is doing everything he can to direct blame elsewhere instead of taking the situation seriously, taking responsibility and acting.    Addiction Services -  Access Options Hon. Jon  Gerrard  (River Heights): Madam Speaker, last Thursday, I asked in question period about crystal meth. The Premier (Mr. Pallister) did not take my question seriously and never even mentioned meth in his answer.       Twenty-five-year old Wesley Elwick died a year ago because the Main Street Project and the health-care system in general are not provided with adequate resources to give the services that addicts most need when they need ...

On Thursday, in Question Period I asked the government about their plan to address the crystal meth crisis in our province.   Recent reports have shown a staggering increase in meth use in Winnipeg and it is of great concern to me and many other Manitobans.   Sadly, the Premier's response was off topic.  Unfortunately, as you can see below, he is not taking the issue of the meth crisis in Winnipeg seriously. Below is the transcript from Hansard. Hon. Jon  Gerrard  (River Heights):   Madam Speaker, there's an explosion in crystal meth's use in Winnipeg with devastating effects on young people, on families and on children in child welfare.       In opposition, the current Minister of Health toured Manitoba and pronounced crystal meth a very, very significant issue, as I table.       Recent credible reports indicate that people with meth addictions are being told to get arrested because they'll...

With Samantha Rayburn-Trubyk after the resolution passed. Samantha celebrating Samantha and her family together with myself and Dougald Lamont, our new Manitoba Liberal Party leader. Samantha with Cindy Lamoureux, Judy Klassen and myself.  The reception There are in Manitoba about 30 people with dwarfism.  They are often stigmatized and discriminated against because of their short stature.   Yet, in all respects, except for their short stature, they are like other Manitobans.   The run businesses and work in jobs around the province.  They get married.  They have children.   They participate in our community volunteering and helping others.  To draw awareness to their condition and to seek to remove stigmatization and discrimination, I sponsored a resolution on October 24th, to have a Dwarfism Awareness Day on October 25th.  The resolution passed unanimously, being supported by all MLAs.  I want ...

Gerrard will create a task force to develop basic income program ready for 2020. Winnipeg , MB – Today Jon Gerrard announced together with David Northcott, a task force to develop a province-wide basic income program for all Manitobans. Jon Gerrard said, “Should I be elected leader of the Manitoba Liberal party on October 21, one of my first acts will be to appoint David Northcott as chair of a task force to develop the basic income program. He will utilize his experience with Winnipeg Harvest along with guidance from those with lived experience to create it." A basic income, or guaranteed minimum income program, has been talked about for years, and pilots are underway currently in Ontario . The plan to be developed by the Task Force chaired by David Northcott  will be a province-wide basic income program which uses the tax system to implement it, and will include supports for community and social engagement through volunteerism. The program w...

This leadership contest is about building the Manitoba Liberal Party and improving our province, Manitoba. See the videos of their comments by clicking on the links below: First Nation’s advocate Bertha Travers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=10&v=CW9m2PbJL0Y ,  former President of the Twin Lakes Beach Association Jack King   https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=1RkuyKeNv0s   and technology and community internet leader Clarice Leader -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBANpJYgE2o

On Monday the results of the first round in a national competition for funding for a supercluster were announced.  Manitoba was shut out.  Supercluster funding is designed to move a major effort forward to create national centres of innovation such as have happened in Silicon Valley in the United States. Nine superclusters have passed the first round.   Four of these superclusters were in western Canada, one in Saskatchewan, two in Alberta and one in British Columbia.  Manitoba should have had a proposal pass the first round but we did not. There were a number of important components in this major competition which were vital to success. 1) The Premier, if he is to be believed, did not take the time to understand the nature of the competition and the requirements for success.  He said yesterday that he was going to ask Ottawa for the criteria for the competition.  Asking after the competition is over is too late.  He should have found out be...

On October 21, I had the opportunity to talk with people at the North East Business Exchange at the L'Arche Tova Cafe in Transcona.   This is an important issue, because, as the Conference Board of Canada had found in a recent report, the yearly cost to Canada of depression and anxiety in the workplace is $50 billion.  We need to act to prevent mental illness and to help people keep their brains healthy.  My presentation is at the link below. Click on it to see the video.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hiyoF3q-M4