ORAL QUESTION PERIOD

VLT Revenues

Information Release

Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Madam Speaker, last Friday I asked the Premier questions about the release of public information dealing with the hearings and revenue, community by community, for purposes of the Lotteries public hearings.

Madam Speaker, the public hearings have now taken place in Brandon, Dauphin and this morning in Thompson, and the people there were denied the information that the Lotteries commission has in its possession.

I would like to ask the Premier, when is he going to keep the promise he made in the election campaign, and when is the government going to keep the promise it made last December with the former Minister of Lotteries and release that information to the public of Manitoba, the breakdown of the information to the people of Manitoba, as they are entitled?

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, in accordance with the requests of members of the opposition, the Desjardins commission is going throughout the province listening to people talk about the social, economic and other political aspects of gaming in Manitoba. They are there listening to people's stories about their views on gaming, about how it affects their communities and so on and so forth.

These are hearings that can avail people of that opportunity, with or without the information that the Leader of the Opposition is speaking of.

The fact of the matter is I have indicated to him publicly, and I said so on Friday, that we will have that information out as soon as possible, and that continues to be the position that we take on it.

Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, on Friday in Question Period, the Premier stated to the members of this Chamber and the public, as soon as the information is available, we will be able to provide it publicly.

Madam Speaker, I would like to table information from a hotel. I was in contact with three hotel owners over the weekend. They all informed me that the hotels in Manitoba, since 1992, have a breakdown by machine, by week, by hotel, by community.

Madam Speaker, the Premier and the government has this information. Will he please stop the secrecy and release the information that is quite available in data sheets that I will make available to him today?

Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, I have said before, and we will keep our word, that this information will be released.

Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, I have talked to a number of people who are involved in programming, and they indicate, along with the hotel owners and sources in the Lotteries commission, that this information which has been made available week by week, machine by machine, community by community since 1992 could have easily been fulfilled and made public from the promise the former Minister of Lotteries made in December of 1994. The present Minister of Lotteries (Mr. Stefanson) should be making this information available. The Premier made that promise in a debate in the election campaign.

Will the Premier stop the secrecy and provide this information to the public? They are entitled to it. The Premier said he will give it to the public when it is available. It is available. Let us get on with it.

Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, members on this side need no lessons from this Leader of the Opposition about secrecy.

His government passed freedom-of-information legislation and then refused to proclaim it, so they would not have the scrutiny of the public on anything in government. For almost three years, they did not proclaim the legislation.

This government needs no instruction about how to release information from that member who covered up everything in government by keeping The Freedom of Information Act from being proclaimed for three years, Madam Speaker.

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Pharmacare

Double Doctoring

Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker, in February, the case of a man who had filled almost a hundred prescriptions over the course of a year came to light, raising serious doubts about the government's new DPIN system, its card system.

Despite the fact it has been known for years that some people whose medications are covered by the federal government are not part of the provincial Pharmacare system, the DPIN system was implemented without looking into this matter.

My question to the minister is, will the minister today not place the blame on the shoulders of the federal government but admit it is a failure on the part of his department to do adequate research prior to the implementation of the $5-million DPIN system.

Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Certainly not, Madam Speaker. Immediately after we became aware of the Leon matter, we brought the various players together, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association, our government representatives and the Medical Services Branch of the federal government.

It is not telling any secrets, Madam Speaker, to say we have not been able to get co-operation from the federal government throughout the review process. I am today addressing a letter to Minister Irwin and Minister Marleau in Ottawa to demand their co-operation for the protection of aboriginal people in Manitoba.

SmartHealth

Double-Doctoring Safeguards

Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker, what assurances can the minister give this House today that the new hundred-million-dollar smart-card system that the government is going to bring in will not have similar problems, especially since the government is keeping secret the negotiations concerning the implementation of this program.

Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): The best assurance I can give is the methodology used in both of these situations, whereby we consult with the stakeholders, with the consumers and with those who deliver services.

It is the consultation with groups like the Manitoba Society of Seniors, the Manitoba Consumers' Association, the Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties, the Manitoba Association of Registered Nurses, the Manitoba College of Physicians and Surgeons and various other stakeholders involved in putting the whole process together and implementing it.

Contract Tabling Request

Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker, my final supplementary is, since this is such an open consultation process, will the minister at least today commit to bring the contract before this Legislature and the people of Manitoba, so we will know we will not have serious problems in the system, like we did with the Pharmacare drug system.

Will he bring this contract before us and allow us to review it prior to the implementation of this $100-million contract with the Royal Bank, Madam Speaker?

Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, as I told the honourable member repeatedly during our examination of the Health department's Estimates, the concerns that he and others have raised are shared by us. They are legitimate concerns, that there be quality built into the product, that the issue of confidentiality of patient records be of paramount importance.

I think the secret here is that we are listening to the honourable member; we are listening to the stakeholders, listening to all of those organizations I mentioned and more in the design and development of the system.

There is a lot of support for it. The government is moving in this direction as a result of requests of organizations like the ones I mentioned, so that we could move forward and make a better health care system. All of those concerns are going into the negotiations leading up to the signatures on a contract.

Forest Fires

Firefighting Resources

Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): Madam Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Natural Resources.

I want to begin by thanking everyone who is working to contain the fires and the volunteers helping out.

With the evacuation of South Indian Lake and potentially Leaf Rapids, does the province still have enough equipment and fire crews to cope with the rapid increase in serious forest fires in the last few days?

Hon. Albert Driedger (Minister of Natural Resources): Madam Speaker, I just circulated the information as to the latest forest fire update with some of my colleagues in the Legislature here.

We have 81 active fires burning as of yesterday and another 40 to 50 new starts, which makes it approximately 130 fires that we have going at the present time. We do have adequate manpower, and we have adequate equipment at this time. The people are doing a yeoman's job out there.

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Evacuation Process

Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): Madam Speaker, my supplementary question is, does the province have a backup plan if both Leaf Rapids and Lynn Lake have to be evacuated?

Hon. Brian Pallister (Minister of Government Services): Madam Speaker, as was mentioned and for the information of the House, as of this morning at 8:35 a.m., there were 116 people evacuated from South Indian Lake to Thompson. We have been proceeding this morning to continue with the evacuation, and there will be approximately another 550 people evacuated from the community of South Indian Lake to Thompson.

The balance of people normally resident in the community, some are away and were away prior to this situation as it unfolded. Others are staying back to work with the firefighting people who are actively engaged at this time in the region.

Emergency Measures is working in full co-operation with local officials, both in that area and throughout the province, in fact, to develop the best strategy for protecting all Manitobans who are facing this formidable problem that Mother Nature has presented us with this year.

Firefighting Costs

Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): Madam Speaker, my final supplementary question to the Minister of Natural Resources: Does the province have any idea, let us say a ballpark figure, about how much the fires have cost so far and how much damage has been done?

Hon. Albert Driedger (Minister of Natural Resources): I do not know whether it would be productive to even venture a figure because it keeps changing on an hourly basis, but we are well in excess of $10 million and climbing.

Red River Community College

Space Reductions

Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Madam Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education.

Last week, Red River Community College announced cuts of 26 jobs, the ending of two clear programs and 327 fewer spaces for students in a province where there is already a very small proportion of students in community colleges.

I would like to ask the minister if she could tell us today what her timetable is now for fulfilling her commitment to the Roblin committee recommendations of doubling the places in community colleges.

Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): It is, indeed, a shame that the federal government has chosen to proceed in the way they have chosen. I should indicate, though, what the member is aware of, I believe, and that is that last year and again next year, we have had a 6 percent increase in funding to Red River. For our part, we have created additional spaces which will now, of course, be jeopardized because of federal action.

The federal government has been written to by me, by a number of people, requesting that they not proceed in this particular direction. We, for our part, have increased funding, have created new spaces and continue to support the expansion of the colleges in terms of support from the provincial government.

Community Colleges

Impact of Funding Reduction

Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Would the minister prepare on an emergency basis, and I suggest it is, an emergency evaluation of the impact of these cuts at Red River, the cuts at KCC and the restructuring at ACC, on the opportunities that are going to be available for this graduating class of young Manitobans in 1995?

Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): My department, of course, is extremely interested in this new development, one that was expected, one that we did contact the federal government about in terms of federal actions in terms of post-secondary educational institutions right across this nation.

The colleges have been given self-governance. The employees have been given the right to free collective bargaining. We have a number of factors at play here.

We know that the college governance and the board members at the universities, along with the presidents, are taking a very serious look at the very item the member has identified.

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Funding

Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Would the minister be prepared, under these circumstances, to reconsider the training grants to the larger corporations, whether it is IBM or Safeway or Centra Gas, in order to provide some help for community colleges and young Manitobans in a very serious situation?

Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): The member is aware, from discussions at Estimates and from a variety of other sources, that the federal government, in offloading onto the provinces, is hoping that the provinces across this nation will pick up federal responsibilities and take the people of Manitoba off the agenda that is good and right for them provincially. The member is also aware that the community colleges, themselves, have partaken of Workforce 2000 programs. Indeed, she asked me some detailed questions on that in Estimates.

So we have been working with community colleges in terms of that type of training, and at the same time, we believe very strongly in the merits of onsite training to upgrade people in the workforce at the same time that we make those same opportunities available to community colleges, along with our increase in funding, along with the creation of new spaces this year and next year.

We would encourage all members of the Legislature to use whatever influence they might have with the federal government to ensure that it does its part for post-secondary education in Canada and in this province.

Sexual Harassment

Public Education Program

Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Sexual harassment continues to be a problem in all our institutions, including publicly funded ones, making it apparent that current mechanisms to stop harassment are not working. At a time of backlash, leadership and vigilance are necessary.

My first question is to the Minister of Justice.

Will the minister consider creating a public education program targeting sexual harassment?

Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): The whole issue of sexual harassment is a very serious one. We were very pleased, as a Department of Justice and many other departments within our provincial government, to participate with the federal government, as another large employer, to look particularly at the issue of sexual harassment among other types of harassment in the workplace and to have co-sponsored a conference earlier this year in the early part of 1995.

It is important that individuals recognize what, in fact, is behaviour which may be harassing and that there be a way for people to deal with that, and so we have been very happy to begin that process and continue that process as very active participants.

Ms. McGifford: My second question is to the Minister of Education.

Has the minister ever considered direct funding for sexual harassment programs in Manitoba's universities?

Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): I think the member may be referring to a particular situation that is occurring at the moment and is aware that there is an inquiry right now at the university by the university to look at the university's methods of procedure, and that inquiry should bring forth points that the university, itself, can consider in that particular arena.

Victims' Services

Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): My third question is for the Minister of Family Services.

Where can the victims of sexual harassment receive prompt and professional services?

Hon. Bonnie Mitchelson (Minister of Family Services): I thank my honourable friend for the question. I will take it as notice and get back to her with an answer.

Gaming Commission

Research Staff Resources

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, my question is for the Premier.

We have seen a report from the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba in which, in addressing the issue of problem gamblers, approximately out of 300 clients, 32 percent of them have attempted suicide.

The social costs of gambling are very, very high, yet one student researcher has been assigned the responsibility to come to grips with just the actual size of the social program costs. Madam Speaker, that is virtually a whitewash of this whole system that the Premier has put together.

How can this government, and I pose the question to the Premier, say that this gambling committee has the resources to do a credible job, rather than more of an exercise in public relations?

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Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, the Desjardins commission has been given the widest possible mandate to investigate any and all things to do with gaming in this province. They are prepared to look at any issues that are raised to them.

They have, in fact, the executive director of the AFM, Mr. Thompson, as part of their group. They have the resources of the AFM to look into issues of this nature. There is no reason to believe that they will not investigate thoroughly and completely any and all issues to do with gaming in this province.

Mr. Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, I would ask the Premier, how is it possible that one student researcher is going to be able to do the work that is necessary in terms of providing information on the social cost of gambling, when the Premier likely knows full well that it is just not possible, and when is the Premier going to take some real action on this issue?

Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, Mr. Thompson of the AFM was in attendance in Estimates last week, and he was certainly available to respond to this kind of question. I am sure he could have adequately given the information to the member for Inkster.

The fact of the matter is it is not just the one student researcher whom they have access to. I said they have the entire resources of the AFM to seek out greater information.

The member knows full well that a great deal of money was spent on two studies by Rachel Volberg, first a major study and then a follow-up which is being done, so, as a result, certainly there is sufficient information and sufficient access to information, and the committee is in no way prevented from doing the work that they wish to do.

Mr. Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, given that the research assistant does not even have a copy of the Volberg report, will the Premier ensure that, in fact, the research office will be given a copy of the Volberg report that is, in fact, not whited out?

Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, I am confident that the Desjardins commission--and I think that Mr. Desjardins is somebody who has demonstrated in the past that he will get the job done, that he is committed to getting all the information that is required in order for him to do a thorough report.

I have great confidence in Mr. Desjardins, and I invite the member to go before his committee to find out whether or not Mr. Desjardins feels that he can do a good job on this issue.

Pediatric Cardiac Care Program

Inquest--Legal Counsel

Mr. Gord Mackintosh (St. Johns): Madam Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Justice (Mrs. Vodrey).

Despite our call for an independent inquiry into the role of the government and the circumstances around the tragic infant deaths at the Health Sciences Centre, this government announced an inquest which the government promised would be just as impartial. We have now learned who is being appointed as legal counsel to the inquest.

My question to the minister is, would the minister explain how this inquest can be impartial, as promised, when it will depend on evidence gathered and brought out at the hearing by two employees of the very government that is being investigated?

Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, I seek clarification. I wonder, is the honourable member suggesting that Judge Sinclair is unable to handle the issues that come before the inquest?

Mr. Mackintosh: My question is to the Minister of Justice (Mrs. Vodrey), Madam Speaker.

In light of the appointment as legal counsel two Crown attorneys, two government lawyers, would the minister now appoint independent counsel to the inquest, rather than the employees who report to her, to avoid any suggestion that evidence of government negligence or misplaced political priorities might be suppressed if the government investigates itself?

Mr. McCrae: Madam Speaker, I think that if the honourable member has some suggestion to make about the abilities or qualifications of members of the prosecution staff in this province who handle thousands and thousands of investigations and prosecutions and various hearings of different kinds representing the people of Manitoba, if he has some concern, let him put on the record what those concerns are.

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Mr. Mackintosh: To the Minister of Justice, Madam Speaker, would the minister now appoint outside counsel to the inquest, which it is her legal mandate to do under The Fatality Inquiries Act, so there is no conflict of interest, no apparent conflict of interest or actual conflict of interest, regarding an inquest which will look at the priorities of this particular government?

Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Madam Speaker, the member continues to persist. He made it clear that he would not be satisfied with an inquest, but the inquest is the way that we are proceeding.

The parameters will be wide. The people who will be acting in the inquest are people whom we believe have excellent records and certainly can do the job, which we believe will be a very wide job in a very important matter and situation, Madam Speaker.

GM Franchise

Oakville, Manitoba

Mr. Jim Maloway (Elmwood): Madam Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs.

Last week, the minister expressed no interest or knowledge, in fact, of franchise legislation or the situation in Oakville, Manitoba.

I would like to know, will the minister now admit the situation is serious and schedule meetings with General Motors officials to discuss the Oakville situation, and will he set up a meeting with GM and residents of Oakville?

Hon. Jim Ernst (Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs): Madam Speaker, I can indicate to the member that, yes, I will be trying to set up meetings with General Motors.

Franchise Legislation

Introduction

Mr. Jim Maloway (Elmwood): Madam Speaker, what response is the minister preparing for the requests of the residents of Oakville, along with groups such as the Motor Dealers Association of Manitoba, who have all written to him requesting franchise legislation?

I would like to know when he is going to stop his delaying tactics and introduce some legislation.

Hon. Jim Ernst (Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs): Madam Speaker, I was not aware that the member for Elmwood was now the mail clerk in my office, to determine who has written to me and who has not.

I can indicate that there has been limited contact with my office with respect to this issue. I have had some discussions with some people, Madam Speaker, and we are taking a look at the situation.

Mr. Maloway: Madam Speaker, my final supplementary to the same minister is this.

I did not see the minister in Oakville on Saturday. How many more small towns will be turned into ghost towns before this minister decides to act?

Mr. Ernst: Madam Speaker, let this member across the way here not cry about the interests of this government. This government has done more for rural Manitoba than any government in the history of this province.

This was the government, Madam Speaker, that introduced a Decentralization program that they opposed, that put 700 new jobs into rural Manitoba. This government introduced Grow Bonds, introduced the REDI program, introduced a number of other issues that have tried to grow small business in rural Manitoba and not throw roadblocks in its way, such as the member and their philosophy would have.

Manitoba Housing Authority

Amalgamation

Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): Madam Speaker, when I asked on Friday about the government's plans to change the structure and the roles of the Manitoba Housing Authority and the Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation, the minister said there was always the possibility for looking at where direction is placed, but he said they would not abandon their responsibility to ensure that there is social housing for low-income Manitobans.

I want to ask the minister if he will clarify what the government's plans are with respect to the Manitoba Housing Authority and the Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation in terms of their relationship, their structure and their role for the province of Manitoba.

Hon. Jack Reimer (Minister of Housing): Madam Speaker, I can reiterate to the member for Radisson that there are absolutely no plans to do away with the services that are provided by the Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation.

It is an entity of this government, and the analysis and the redirections of talking to the department to look at the best efficiencies, the accountability and the client services that are necessary in any aspect of government that is supplying a service have to be looked at and directed from time to time.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Role

Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): I am wondering if the minister could clarify or tell me if he is concerned that the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation is abandoning its responsibility for social housing across the province, since they have changed the rent geared to income for these low-income renters to 30 percent and reduced over the next three years $270 million that is coming to social housing across the country.

Hon. Jack Reimer (Minister of Housing): Madam Speaker, the member for Radisson is absolutely correct in her analogy that the federal government has cut back significant amounts of monies from the housing market, and it is, indeed, a concern that this government has been faced with.

It is the position of the federal government, as she mentioned, to try to increase the rental to a 30 percent level. At the present time, we are at 27 percent of the net income for the occupants of the housing, but as she has pointed out, it is of deep concern, the federal offloading of housing and their apparent abandonment of increasing funding in this particular area.

Ms. Cerilli: Can the minister then confirm that the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation is looking to abandon its responsibility in this area, and what message has the minister taken to Ottawa with respect to the impact this will have on Manitoba?

Can he tell the House what effect this is going to have on Manitoba's Housing Corporation?

Mr. Reimer: Madam Speaker, I can reiterate to the member for Radisson that this is a high priority within this department, and it will be one of the items on the agenda that I have instructed staff to make sure--there is a ministerial-level meeting with the federal government at the beginning of July of this year, and that will definitely be a topic that we will bring forth on behalf of Manitobans.

Rural Hotels/Motels

Telephone Switchboard Purchases

Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, two years ago, many small hotel and motel owners were given the opportunity to purchase their switchboard equipment along with a contract to have 24-hour repair service. What the motel owners were not told was that this equipment was obsolete, and they would not be offered repair service after August 1995.

I want to ask the Minister responsible for Manitoba Telephone why he allowed this equipment to be sold without telling the motel owners that this was obsolete equipment they were purchasing and that they would not be able to have this service after this August.

Hon. Glen Findlay (Minister responsible for the administration of The Manitoba Telephone Act): Madam Speaker, I will ask MTS that question myself. It is an interesting question. I hope the member realizes that MTS is a Crown corporation. They run their business with their customers.

I will inquire, on behalf of the member, about that particular incident.

Ms. Wowchuk: Madam Speaker, I would like to remind the minister that he is responsible for that Crown corporation.

Madam Speaker: Order, please. I would remind the honourable member for Swan River that a supplementary question requires no preamble or postamble. The honourable member, to pose her question now.

Ms. Wowchuk: Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the minister if it is his government policy to ask Crown corporations to recoup their cost on obsolete equipment by selling it to motel owners and hotel owners without telling them the real facts.

Is it their policy to recoup costs on the backs of hotel owners?

Mr. Findlay: Madam Speaker, the Manitoba Telephone System's mission is to supply quality service to all Manitobans at the lowest possible price, and they run their business on that basis, to gain profit at the end of the year, to have money to invest back in more capital infrastructure for delivering quality, low-cost telecommunications service to all Manitobans, and they do a very good job of it.

I have already said to the member I will inquire about the particular incident she has raised. I have not heard about it before from any of the affected operators or from MTS.

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Ms. Wowchuk: I would like to ask the minister, since the information was available for some time and they knew that the changes were going to be very expensive, why did this government delay providing the information to the hotel and motel owners until after the election and now is only giving them 90 days to make the changeover?

Mr. Findlay: Madam Speaker, there is a distinct difference between the way the NDP operated MTS and the way we do. We allow the Crown corporations to run their businesses day to day.

We do not interfere with every particular decision that they make, and while we have been running the corporation, we make money every year. We average about $20 million a year. Two years previously, they lost $27 million in the sands of Saudi Arabia.

Winnipeg Arena

Environmental Assessment

Mr. Gregory Dewar (Selkirk): Madam Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Environment.

Given that the proposed arena project is on a flood plain and has massive socioeconomic impacts and is clearly a class 2 project under the environmental guidelines, Madam Speaker, my question is, will the minister designate the project as a class 2 project and establish a timetable for CEC hearings on the project?

Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister of Environment): Madam Speaker, we are currently working with the proponents and with the federal authorities to gather the information to put it through the screening process.

Mr. Dewar: Madam Speaker, has the Department of Environment received the required business plan, construction drawings and environmental impact statements from MEC Spirit?

Mr. Cummings: I believe the information that he is talking about was requested by the federal authorities, and we are co-operating with them.

Mr. Dewar: My final question: Has the site been tested for PCB contamination and the required measures taken to mitigate this condition, so that PCBs will not seep into the water table and further contaminate the Red River?

Mr. Cummings: Madam Speaker, as part of our responsibilities, we intend to make sure that if there is contamination onsite, it is properly dealt with.

Whiteshell Provincial Park

Private Road Approval

Mr. Stan Struthers (Dauphin): My question is for the Minister of Natural Resources (Mr. Driedger).

We have recently received the Order-in-Council for the environmental licensing of a private-gated road in the Whiteshell Provincial Park.

Park users and conservation groups have raised several questions regarding this proposal. These include the fact that the proposed road would cross over the nationally recognized Mantario Trail, that it would cross through a leased timber area, that it would come within a few kilometres of the wilderness zone and that financing for the road may come from the public purse.

Can the minister explain why this decision was made not to hold public hearings on a private road going into a public park, despite submissions from the Manitoba Naturalists', the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and concerned park users?

Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister of Environment): It sounds to me like the member wants to go back and start over again. We went through that process and made sure that due diligence was done and appropriate process was followed.

Mr. Struthers: To the Minister of Natural Resources, can the minister tell the House roughly what the capital and maintenance costs will be for this road, and when is construction expected to begin?

Hon. Albert Driedger (Minister of Natural Resources): Madam Speaker, I am not aware that there is any financial participation that is going to take place from the government side.

Mr. Struthers: Madam Speaker, can the minister inform the House, given that the environment proposal calls for tripartite financing and given that the federal government has stated that it will not fund the road, whether there will be any provincial money going into this project?

Mr. Driedger: Madam Speaker, the member is correct when he makes some reference to responsibility for the federal government, because it is the federal government that withdrew the service to people in that area when they withdrew the services from VIA Rail.

That is basically what triggered the interests of the people who were sort of isolated in terms of going to the federal government asking whether there would be some financial participation.

What the provincial government's responsibility has basically been is to give some advice to the group that is looking at getting some access to their cottages. The process that they have gone through has been a pretty extensive one, through the environmental process, and, ultimately, I believe a licence has been issued for a road to go through there.

My department has had the opportunity to put their information on the record that was requested by the environmental people, and the financial end of it is something that is not within my purview to answer and to make a commitment on.

Winnipeg Jets

Endowment Fund

Mr. Tim Sale (Crescentwood): Madam Speaker, the minister has repeatedly assured the House that the public sector is protected from future losses in the Jets deal.

In theory, the endowment fund of $60 million is supposed to protect the public sector, yet in statements to the press, counsel for the Spirit last week stated that the only conditions from Revenue Canada they were looking for had to do with the value of the partnership units.

Is the endowment fund still part of the Jets-Spirit deal in your understanding?

Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): Madam Speaker, my understanding is, yes, that the Spirit of Manitoba continues to deal with Revenue Canada on the issue of the limited partnership and on the issue of the endowment fund.

They continue also to look at all avenues that they might have or might be able to pursue, subject to whatever ruling might ultimately come down from Revenue Canada, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Time for Oral Questions has expired.

Committee Changes

Mr. George Hickes (Point Douglas): I move, seconded by the member for Burrows (Mr. Martindale), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Law Amendments be amended as follows: St. Johns (Mr. Mackintosh) for Kildonan (Mr. Chomiak); Wellington (Ms. Barrett) for The Pas (Mr. Lathlin); Osborne (Ms. McGifford) for Transcona (Mr. Reid), for Tuesday, June 20, 7 p.m. [agreed]

Mr. Edward Helwer (Gimli): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the member for Sturgeon Creek (Mr. McAlpine), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Law Amendments be amended as follows: the member for Gimli (Mr. Helwer) for the member for La Verendrye (Mr. Sveinson); the member for Niakwa (Mr. Reimer) for the member for Ste. Rose (Mr. Cummings). [agreed]