Teaching Profession--Legislation Protest
Mr. Peter Dyck (Pembina): Madam Speaker, I feel that I must rise today to address the unfortunate and regrettable actions that were taken by a small number of Manitoba's public school teachers in the Legislative Building last Thursday. Young Manitobans and their parents expect their educators to not only provide them with knowledge and skills but also to set forward an example for appropriate conduct and respect. Those individuals who came to the Legislature last Thursday to scream at elected officials, to run in the hallways, to interrupt the proceedings of the Legislature are not representative of the thousands of quality teachers who were in their classrooms that day teaching our young children.
Many teachers spoke with me personally or contacted me by phone this weekend to express their embarrassment and disgust at the actions taken by a small number of their colleagues. Those teachers I spoke with are the ones whom Manitobans feel confident to entrust the academic well-being of their children to, and they are the ones who are truly worthy of being called professionals.
The right to demonstrate is one which this government respects and it is part of what sets us apart from many other countries. Yet, Madam Speaker, along with that right comes a moral obligation to accord respect within that demonstration. We have seen groups ranging from home care workers to hog producers act in a responsible and reasonable manner in similar situations. It is regrettable that this small group of public school teachers was unable to follow their example.
I would like to make it clear to all Manitobans, on behalf of those teachers whom I spoke with this last weekend that I do not believe, nor do the members of this government believe, that the inappropriate actions taken by those few teachers last Thursday are representative of the majority of our teaching profession. I have always believed that our teachers are among the best in Canada in their conduct both in the classroom and beyond it. I continue to maintain that belief. Thank you.
Osvita Foundation Awards
Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): On May 22 I had the pleasure of attending, along with several other members of the Legislative Assembly, the Osvita Foundation banquet where Mr. John J. Nowosad, KSG, was honoured as the 1996 foundation honouree. Mr. Nowosad is a well- deserved recipient of this award, having been a teacher, a veteran of World War II, secretary of the Ukrainian Catholic Council of Canada, active in refugee resettlement, involved with restaurant, grocery and wholesale businesses, writer of rural communities histories, two-term president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, a founding member of the Catholic Foundation of Manitoba, a 25-year member of the board of St. Boniface Hospital and was made a Knight of Saint Gregory.
The Osvita Foundation was begun in 1982 by the Manitoba Parents for Ukrainian Education, of which I am a former board member. Two graduates of the English-Ukrainian bilingual program were awarded scholarships, Christina Pyra and Valerian Yereniuk. Christina was awarded numerous Grade 12 awards including Canada Scholar, a $10,000 four-year renewable science scholarship. She is now in fourth year chemistry at the University of Winnipeg. Valerian was also awarded a Governor-General award and several other scholarships in Grade 12 and is currently enrolled in engineering at the University of Manitoba.
On behalf of my colleagues in the Manitoba Legislature, I want to congratulate Mr. John Nowosad, the Osvita Foundation honouree, and wish continued success in their studies to Christina Pyra and Valerian Yereniuk.
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Teaching Profession--Legislation Protest
Mr. Ben Sveinson (La Verendrye): Madam Speaker, I believe in democracy, and I believe in freedom of speech. I also readily acknowledge that on various matters Manitobans will agree to disagree. Quite frankly, at times I think that is healthy. About the only constant in our society at this point in time is change. A very wise person said, change is inevitable, adaptation is optional. Some people willingly embrace change and others resist it as fiercely as they can. I can understand the hesitancy to change when the parameters of those changes are studied, examined and debated and still found wanting.
What I do have a problem with is those who resist change when they are not aware of what the changes are. This precisely is the case with the recent demonstrations we had at the Legislature last Thursday when quite a number of teachers converged to voice their opinion on legislation from the Minister of Education (Mrs. McIntosh). Actually, they did not voice their opinion, they shouted and screamed and did so with profanities and vulgarities that are unbecoming of anyone, let alone those who are shaping the minds of our youth.
This is very disturbing because, according to the Manitoba Teachers' Society 1995 policy handbook, and I quote: A teacher speaks and acts with respect and dignity and deals judiciously with others, always mindful of their rights.
But distressing as their antics were, even more disturbing was the uninformed nature of their protest. On the same day that these teachers protested in the Legislature, I was able to meet with a couple of them. They informed me that they were opposed to the report of the Teacher Collective Bargaining and Compensation Review Committee. Therefore, we proceeded to go through various aspects of the report, and upon doing so, their tone and attitude changed. All we ask is that these teachers take the time to read the report and to act in a manner more in keeping with their policy handbook.
Cec Muldrew Retirement
Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, May 22, over a hundred family members, friends and colleagues of Cec Muldrew met in the Riverview Community Centre in order to celebrate his life and work. All were adamant that this was not a retirement dinner but a renewal feast.
Cec Muldrew is a passionate witness for social justice, who through his commitments, principles and activities, exemplifies the spirit of social prophets and pioneers like Stanley Knowles and Tommy Douglas. After a distinguished career as a teacher and principal, Cec retired and wondered how he had found time to work for money. Following his pre- and post-teaching life is an education in the struggle for social justice. He has been an active member and officer of the World Federalists of Canada, the Winnipeg Co-ordinating Committee for Disarmament, Project Peacemakers, the United Nations Association, Veterans Against Nuclear Armaments, and the Unitarian Church. This list is not inclusive. He has worked tirelessly for the New Democratic Party. As a broadcaster and host of a series of television programs, he has sought to identify creative political solutions to the problems facing Canadians.
Cec Muldrew in his range and richness is a humanist and like the Renaissance humanists who believed in the possibilities and fullness of human life, Cec believes in Shakespeare's “brave new world, That has such people in't!” He believes with the Renaissance poet, John Donne, that “No man is an island entire of itself.” Indeed, he believes in a commonwealth of persons united in action, principle and community where the lives of all citizens, including the marginalized and most vulnerable, are respected. Cec is a family man, teacher, thinker, public speaker, community leader, scholar, broadcaster, church official, fundraiser and, of course, radical activist.
At his celebratory dinner, in love and solidarity, his family, friends and colleagues named him, in the grand style of the Renaissance, as our very own home-grown “man for all seasons.” Thank you.
Government Spending
Mr. Gerry McAlpine (Sturgeon Creek): Madam Speaker, members opposite have been critical of this government and especially as it pertains to our fiscal policy. Unlike the members opposite, this government believes that it must live within its means and that we will be judged harshly if we do not. Those across the way never came to grips with the reality and continued to spend more money than they had, and were it not for the prudent financial directives of this current Filmon government, our children would have been saddled with a debt that they could never hope to repay.
Members opposite have continually been challenging this government to spend more money, and this is in spite of the fact that we spend more on health and education than they ever did. We are simultaneously balancing our books, something which again was completely foreign to them while in government. We are not spending more than we have. Whether the opposition wants to admit it or not, our entire society and country are bound by fiscal realities which must be adhered to. By managing our financial house, we have to date--this government has earned the respect of those who determine interest rates. In fact, in today's Globe and Mail, it was reported that the spectacular performance of bond buyers is a direct reflection of the fiscal responsibilities such as is demonstrated by our government.
The members opposite missed the point altogether. These ratings are critical to our province and to our country. After all, the falling interest rates mean that the interest rates are also going down which, in the end result, is less money to taxpayers, monies being used to pay interest costs.
In the terms of the big picture, Madam Speaker, what this means is that business and the consumers who want to borrow money to invest or spend will be able to do so more cheaply. This means more money in the pockets of Manitobans. That is how we are making this province strong. Thank you.