The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
I traveled to Ottawa and met with my fellow NDP MPs to discuss our overall agenda for the new Parliament in October. During the three days, we decided to work towards presenting a votable motion to Parliament on democratic reform that would require a national referendum on the citizens' reform recommendations within two years of the assembly being created. Careful consideration of reform of the status quo needs to happen; after 137 years of the exact same voting system, I believe the time for change is now, and it should be up to all of us to determine how we want our democracy to work. From September 13 to 15, the First Ministers met in Ottawa to discuss the future of our health care system. At the conclusion of three days of mostly closed-door meetings and negotiations, the First Ministers arrived at a deal called "A Ten Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care." The deal was made only after the premiers fought successfully to pry more investment from a very reluctant federal government. The federal government has agreed to increase health spending by $41.2 billion over the next 10 years of which $18 billion will come in the first six years. The agreement fails to address the issue of privatization in any meaningful way; indeed the word "privatization" does not appear anywhere in the text of the agreement. As Roy Romanow noted, it would have been better for Canadians to see their premiers have an open discussion of the balance of public and private health care. The agreement also fails to strengthen the Canada Health Act in any meaningful way. It only reaffirms at two-year-old agreement on a dispute resolution mechanism and provides no new mechanisms that might have allowed for better prevention of for-profit health care providers. Around the Riding The RCMP Musical Ride came to the Churchill Riding this summer with stops in Flin Flon and The Pas. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend both shows, but I have heard that the day in Flin Flon was fabulous with family activities during the day and a terrific turnout for the ride. I can report, firsthand, that the ride was very well received in The Pas and that children and adults and a certain MP were thrilled to visit the horses and the riders in the stables before and after the ride. It is wonderful, thanks in large part to the efforts of local volunteers, that this world-famous display of Canadian heritage can be seen by people in all parts of our country; truly a national treasure. In August, I met with Stan Struthers, Manitoba's Minister of Conservation, to discuss several issues raised by constituents. It is important that the current provincial government has always been very open to discussing issues of importance to the constituents of the Churchill Riding; this positive relationship allows us to cooperatively resolve problems of federal and provincial natures. On August 18 I joined the Honourable Oscar Lathlin, MLA The Pas, in the Opaskwayak Indian Days parade at Opaskwayak Cree Nation. The weather didn't cooperate but I saw many familiar faces braving the elements along the parade route. Oscar and I also attended the opening ceremonies. As well, as the opening ceremonies, I was given the honour of shooing one of the four arrows. On September 20, the people of Cross Lake celebrated the official opening of the Kichi Sipi Bridge, providing all-weather access to the community. I was to travel to Cross Lake for the opening with Transportation and Government Services Minister, Honourable Ron Lemieux, as well as Steve Ashton, MLA Thompson; however, weather did not permit our plane to land. I applaud the Manitoba government for this major investment. For too long, the considerable population of Cross Lake have had to rely on seasonal ferry service and a winter road for access to their community. I am looking forward to returning to the House of Commons on October 4 and raising the issues of the constituents in the Churchill Riding. If you need to contact me, or any of my staff please to not hesitate to call 1-888-260-2231.9/29/2004
