Winnipeg Jets
Keith Tkachuk Contract
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Madam Speaker, my question is to the First Minister (Mr. Filmon).
The Premier knows that we have raised the issue of his signing of the operating-loss agreement with the Winnipeg Jets hockey team in 1991, a document he said would provide us peace in our time with the professional hockey team.
Madam Speaker, we have asked the Premier a number of times and on a number of occasions questions about his signature and our commitment as taxpayers to fund the losses of a privately owned hockey team through public commitments that the Premier made, especially at a time when we have cutbacks in health care--Dauphin was announced yesterday--cutbacks in education, when we see special needs kids being cut off in our public school systems.
Many people believe that the government has lost its sense of priorities. The most recent announcement, Madam Speaker, is that a hockey player will sign for some $17 million U.S. with close to $6 million U.S or $8 million Canadian at the front end, at the taxpayers' end of that contract.
I would like to ask the Premier (Mr. Filmon), does he agree with the signing of Keith Tkachuk and the amounts of money that have been agreed to, Madam Speaker, for that contract?
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): Actually, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for that question, because there are some very, very pertinent pieces of information which should be put on the record. First and foremost, as the Leader of the Opposition knows, the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club has to operate in the bottom one-third of all hockey teams in the NHL, so that is an overall parameter around the kind of budget, the amount of money, that they can spend.
Secondly, once it was determined that the team would not be able to stay in Manitoba, discussions with the current owners is that we would not accept any front-end loading of any contracts, that depending on cash flow requirements or whatever, that any contracts would be dealt with on prorating the contract over the term of the contract, that for the upcoming hockey season, we would only be responsible for that portion of the contract.
I guess the best way, Madam Speaker, to outline that is in the case of the hockey player that the Leader of the Opposition is referring to. It is a five-year contract, and the responsibility for the upcoming hockey season will be no more than one-fifth of the value of that contract. Any residual over and above that will be the responsibility of the current owners or the prospective owners whom they are currently negotiating with.
In fact, Madam Speaker, we do expect this one-fifth value of the contract to probably be reduced, and I believe the Leader of the Opposition has followed this issue, that there is now an equalization formula in place with the NHL that provides for compensation for exchange rates, so the one-fifth that will be allocated for the upcoming season will actually be reduced by an equalization return here to Manitoba.
So in the final analysis, the team has to operate in the bottom one-third. The contract has to be prorated, so only one-fifth is applied to this year.
At the end of the day, Madam Speaker, it is important for all of us that this asset be maintained, because we and the City of Winnipeg will receive 36 percent of the value of the hockey team which today is based on a value of some $90 million, so we expect that at the end of the day, we will receive probably $10 million or $12 million net returned to our Treasury, plus the net benefit that our Treasury will have had over the course of this agreement, a net benefit of some $8 million or $9 million on top of that.
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Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, one fifth of $17 million U.S. is still an obscene amount of money for the taxpayers to pick up. The Premier and his minister responsible for the Jets are now saying that they support the decision, and they want to match the deep private pockets of Chicago with the very, very nondeep public pockets of Manitoba. That is what they are basically telling the people.
We can cut health care. We can cut education. We can cut food for kids, but we can support this contract for a hockey player, Madam Speaker.
I would like to ask the Premier--it is his signature--when is he going to start saying no to the priorities of paying for millionaire hockey players and say yes to health care, education and food here in Manitoba?
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): The point that has to be made is that by maintaining the Jets here, we have been able to keep some $8 million or $9 million more in the Treasury of the Province of Manitoba to pay for health, for education, for social services and everything else.
Madam Speaker, the maintenance of the hockey team here maintains a revenue flow, a cash flow, to the Treasury that over the period of the agreement has exceeded any money that we have put out, No. 1, and, No. 2, by maintaining the value of the franchise, which is the players who are contained within that franchise, as the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson) says, we will get an additional $12 million or so as well for the Treasury so that we can pay for health, so that we can pay for education, so that we can pay for social services.
Operating-Loss Agreement
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Two weeks ago, when the Premier, as he has done in the past, painted this rosy picture on the operating-loss agreement that he signed--I recall when the Premier signed it, he said, oh, this will only cost us about $5 million over the next six or seven years, and we will be able to keep the team here.
Of course, the Premier promised to cancel this operating-loss agreement. His minister responsible for this fiasco promised to cancel it prior to the election campaign, another broken promise.
Madam Speaker, in the Auditor's Report, Volume 1, released last Friday, there is a contingent liability in the private sector fund of some $8 million, half of which is the responsibility of the provincial government; in other words, another $4 million. When the Premier answered the question about how much money under the operating-loss agreement we would lose this year, he failed to mention this amount of money as a contingent liability.
I would like to ask the Premier, how much money will be in that fund when the team leaves, and what will we be responsible for on top of the other commitments that this government has made on our behalf?
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): Well, Madam Speaker, I am surprised at that question from the Leader of the Opposition. At times, I wonder where he has been the last several months, because it has been perfectly clear, I think, to most Manitobans that the private sector notes are the first element to be paid out of the proceeds coming to the City of Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba, that if the team sells for approximately $90 million Canadian, which has been a suggested figure, that the gross proceeds back to the City of Winnipeg and the province are going to be in the vicinity of $30 million, that the first payback is the payback of the private sector notes, with the residual $22 million to $24 million being split between the City of Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba. That is how we get down to a net proceed to our Treasury of approximately $10 million to $12 million.
That will be the net return after the disposition of the hockey team, along with the return to date of some $8 million to our Treasury, so over the term of the interim agreement and the disposition of the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club, our Treasury, the Province of Manitoba's Treasury, will be ahead by approximately $20 million.
I wish the Leader of the Opposition would purely listen to the facts and take them into consideration when he deals with this issue, Madam Speaker.
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Emergency Physicians' Strike
Mediator's Report--Recommendations
Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker, from the very beginning of the doctors' strike, we have stated that the government has been slow to act.
According to the mediator's report, the failure of the government to act on previous recommendations of previous reports may well have been the reason for the strike, Madam Speaker.
Since the minister now has in his hands a letter from the doctors agreeing to the recommendations of the mediator's report and since the minister now knows the doctors are prepared to go back to work, will the minister instruct both his department and MHO, which is funded 100 percent by the government, to agree to the recommendations and immediately cease and end this strike?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, not only do I have an indication from the Manitoba Medical Association that they are prepared to accept the terms of the report of the mediator, I also have similar information coming to me from the Manitoba Health Organizations stating the same thing.
I would like to thank both of those organizations for their prompt response to the mediator's report and the recommendations in it. I have asked them already to meet immediately to finalize an agreement within the framework of the mediator's report.
I am delighted that we have reached this juncture without imposing on unwilling parties binding arbitration, as suggested by the honourable member for Kildonan, and without imposing on everybody a legislated settlement, as suggested by the honourable member for Inkster (Mr. Lamoureux).
Yesterday, the honourable members asked for me to table the report of the mediator, Madam Speaker. I had not completed my review of that report at that time. I have now, and I now table this document for the honourable member in case he has not seen it yet.
Health Care System
Emergency Services Review
Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): I think all members of the House are very pleased, and it only took a month for the government to act.
My supplementary to the minister: Will the minister who has said he is monitoring the strike situation on a regular basis and, in accordance with a review of emergency services that he is mandated to do under the mediator's report, will the minister do a review of several incidents of death during the course of this strike? I am prepared to share with the minister the specifics that I have of at least three instances and a fourth incident that occurred last night.
Will the minister undertake to do a review of those particular instances for all members of this Chamber?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): I told the honourable member and members of this House that while this disruption was in progress, we were monitoring the situation very, very carefully. The honourable member for Inkster (Mr. Lamoureux) raised a matter with us which we followed up and made certain findings as a result of that review.
If the honourable member has some other cases that we have not looked at, I would like to know about those. We may already, but if we do not, I would like to know about it. Certainly, the one he refers to relating to last evening, I would like to know more details from the honourable member's point of view on that particular matter.
Mr. Chomiak: Madam Speaker, will the minister, when he does his review of the emergency services, as outlined in this mediator's report, which obviously has been agreed to by the government, also undertake prior to the implementation to provide to this House information concerning these recommendations and to the public of Manitoba, so they will have an opportunity to comment prior to the government closing emergency wards, as well as dealing with the serious issue of recruitment of and retaining emergency physicians at emergency wards?
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Mr. McCrae: Madam Speaker, I neglected again to offer thanks to Mr. Jack Chapman, the mediator who has ultimately rendered a valuable service to all the parties in this matter, and, certainly, his second recommendation is that we forthwith instruct members of Manitoba Health staff in conjunction with the appropriate officials of each facility and the MMA and its members to immediately commence a full and complete review of the provision of emergency medical care.
Madam Speaker, we fully intend to do that, and the things the honourable member says are helpful, I believe, in that we need as much public participation and understanding of the issues that we are all facing together as possible. I would encourage as much of that as we can have.
This is necessitated all the more so by the very radical cuts to social programs from Ottawa. Certainly, Health is not spared the federal knife in this regard.
While the honourable member for Inkster (Mr. Lamoureux) is urging certain actions upon us, I urge him to raise the issues with his colleagues and friends in Ottawa so that we can have a rational planning and policy-making and decision-making process for the future of health care in this country.
Dauphin Regional Health Centre
Hemodialysis Services
Mr. Stan Struthers (Dauphin): Madam Speaker, there is a very great need for hemodialysis services in the Parkland area. The Dauphin Regional Health Centre has had the capability to offer full-time hemodialysis services but has not received funds from this minister to fill this need.
Given this government's cutbacks yesterday of the Dauphin hospital, can the minister tell the House whether or not the Dauphin hospital still has the capability to offer full-time hemodialysis now that this government has reduced the number of nurses in our hospital?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, one area of health care that has required attention each and every year from the government of Manitoba has been the dialysis program in the province of Manitoba. Unlike some other aspects of health care delivery, hemodialysis and the need for it has been growing at alarming rates over the years, and our response to it has been there as well, as can be evidenced through a review of the Estimates of the various years expenditures.
We work with health centres like the Dauphin Regional Health Centre and others in the delivery of dialysis services to Manitobans throughout the province.
Mr. Struthers: Given those words then, will the minister make a commitment today to the expansion of daily hemodialysis at the Dauphin Regional Health Centre?
Mr. McCrae: The commitment I make, Madam Speaker, is the same commitment I have been making, and my predecessor before me, and that is to continue to provide appropriate resources to meet the needs that exist in the various areas of our province.
Mr. Struthers: Madam Speaker, given what is happening with the regionalization of health care decisions, will the minister make it clear to the boards that he is appointing that strengthened dialysis services to the Parkland region should form a part of the essential core services?
Mr. McCrae: I thank the honourable member for raising the issue of the development of regional boards throughout Manitoba, and I would be putting that and other issues to those boards to assist us in planning for program delivery in the various regions for the future.
I see an enhanced opportunity for improvement of service delivery, not only at the acute end of health care but also in the areas of health promotion and in community programming that we can expect to see enhanced through the process of the regionalization in our province.
Vehicle Safety Inspections
Random Program
Mr. Jim Maloway (Elmwood): Madam Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Highways.
Madam Speaker, a year ago, this government ended a very successful random motor vehicle inspection program and replaced it with a private sector garage program which has numerous flaws.
Now, given that unsafe vehicles will now only be caught when vehicles are sold, and, recently, police found 50 percent of vehicles checked to be unsafe, I would like to know, will the minister now look at bringing back and expanding the random government inspection program?
Hon. Glen Findlay (Minister of Highways and Transportation): Madam Speaker, we are all concerned about the safety of vehicles on the road so that persons driving them and persons approaching them are not involved in accidents due to mechanical failure.
For the member's information, in the random inspection approach, about 25,000 vehicles a year were inspected. It just was not catching those that maybe we should have been catching. The current program will probably inspect about a third of the vehicles per year. Anywhere from 150,000 to 200,000 of the vehicles will be inspected. This is at time of sale.
What this means is that many vehicles that might have been put up for sale are not, because they know they will not pass safety or that the cost of bringing them up to spec will be too high, so they are now off the road.
That has been a statement from the industry in general, that many vehicles deemed unsafe have come off the road simply because the cost of bringing them up to spec is too high, plus the high level of inspection that is going on will definitely increase the safety of the vehicles on the road.
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Mr. Maloway: This current program is a mess and this minister knows it. There are many cases of documented abuse.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. Would the honourable member for Elmwood please pose his question now?
Mr. Maloway: Madam Speaker, why is it that a person can now drive a vehicle in an unsafe state for many years, and only when it is sold does it require a safety check?
Mr. Findlay: Madam Speaker, any vehicle is subject to being spot-inspected on the road by my officials or if the RCMP decide to pull one off the road, they have the opportunity to inspect it.
That has been an ongoing process, but I caution the member, a third of the vehicles each year will be going through this process. It will catch an awful lot of the vehicles that are unsafe.
Mr. Maloway: Madam Speaker, my final supplementary is to the same minister.
I would like to ask the minister, should the police be using their limited resources conducting safety checks?
Mr. Findlay: Madam Speaker, both the City of Winnipeg Police and the RCMP across the province have responsibility for safety on the road in many respects, and I do believe that where there is incidence of a vehicle that is obviously in disrepair, they should take appropriate action.
Whether it is a small vehicle or a large vehicle on the road, that is part of their responsibility, and various officers in both police forces are trained to do that.
Health Care System
Emergency Services
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health.
We in the Liberal Party are quite pleased that it appears as if the strike might come to an end in emergency health care services, but this government, through this strike, has clearly demonstrated that, in fact, the patient was not their first concern, and we are disappointed in that.
Now that it appears that the strike might be over, Madam Speaker, a lot of the concern that Manitobans are going to have is on the community health care hospitals and their hours of operation.
I have asked this question before, and I would ask the Minister of Health to give a straightforward answer. Is this minister going to be reducing emergency health care services in our community hospitals from 24 hours a day to 12 hours a day?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, I believe what we have been doing in Manitoba right from the beginning of the efforts on our part in government has been to put the patient first and to make the patient the focus of all health care decisions.
It is not good for the patient, Madam Speaker, to have a climate in health care that is poisoned by precipitous actions of the kind recommended by the honourable member for Inkster when he suggests we force emergency doctors and pathologists back to work, when we have found that through the help of a mediator we have been able to resolve the issues. It appears we have been able to resolve the issues in a far more amicable way.
I will tell the honourable member, as I told the honourable member for Kildonan (Mr. Chomiak), that we will follow the direction of the mediator and that I will forthwith instruct the appropriate members of Manitoba Health in conjunction with the appropriate officials of each facility and the MMA and its members to immediately commence a full and complete review of the provision of emergency medical care.
That is a position agreed upon by the Manitoba Medical Association, by MHO, by us at Manitoba Health.
Mr. Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, our community health care emergency services have been tracking referrals that have been sent over to the hospitals.
I would ask the Minister of Health if, in fact, he has some form of a summary that he would be able to share with us to indicate just what sort of an impact it has had.
One would argue that you could ask those patients whether or not this particular minister had their concerns first and foremost in terms of patient care.
Mr. McCrae: Madam Speaker, I have to admit that during this work stoppage, a patient waiting extended periods of time for assistance at an emergency room because the doctors decided to withdraw their services, that patient would indeed be wondering, well, who is putting my interests first?
I think that for the long term however, the outcome that we are expecting to arrive at will indeed be for the longer term best interests of the patient.
The honourable member asks about information being shared with respect to our monitoring of emergency rooms, and I expect that as we go forward with the review that we have been talking about, there will be plenty of opportunity for discussion and debate and for information sharing.
Mr. Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, long-term best interests of the patients are, in fact, what the Liberal Party is attempting to achieve.
I would pose the question either to the Premier (Mr. Filmon) or to the Minister of Health and put it very simply, Madam Speaker, and that is, can either minister indicate or confirm publicly to Manitobans that emergency health care services will be made available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, under a Filmon administration?
Mr. McCrae: Madam Speaker, I have committed to an immediate review working with all the parties involved. I hope the honourable member will put his demands on paper and put a carbon copy of it to the Honourable Diane Marleau, Minister of national health and welfare and the Honourable Paul Martin, Minister of Finance for Canada.
Infrastructure Works Agreement
Selection Criteria
Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East): Madam Speaker, in a memo dated February 16, 1990, from Don Leitch, the Clerk of the Executive Council, referring to decentralization of civil servants, I quote: On the last occasion when the matter was discussed at cabinet, Honourable J. Downey brought a provincial map showing locations of decentralized operations. Please prepare a similar map using a provincial constituency map as the basis and showing the proposed decentralization moves.
I will table this if you wish.
My question to the Minister of Finance: Did the minister or cabinet use a provincial constituency map in this case in its decision-making process on infrastructure approvals?
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): No, Madam Speaker.
Report Tabling Request
Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East): Well, will the minister give a firm commitment to this House to provide the Legislature with a copy of the comprehensive report which he has on this program showing the distribution of money by constituency?
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): Madam Speaker, I will provide the member and this House with a summary of all of the projects approved, and I believe in that summary it shows the communities. It is not by constituency, but if the member wants to plot those communities on a constituency map, he can certainly do that.
Madam Speaker, I would think by providing them with a summary of all of the projects by communities, if they want to undertake to plot them on a provincial constituency map, they could certainly do that.
Mr. Leonard Evans: Madam Speaker, will the minister acknowledge that he has this data in a computer and provide this House with any kind of analysis using constituencies, communities, infrastructure versus noninfrastructure projects?
Will he at least do the courtesy to the people of Manitoba and this Legislature to make that analytical material available so that all of us can see it?
Mr. Stefanson: Madam Speaker, I have already indicated I will undertake to provide as much information on the projects, on communities, on distribution throughout the province as is available. I am certainly prepared to provide information on all of the projects, where they are located, and I will undertake to do that very soon.
Winnipeg Jets/Arena
MEC Proposal
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): While I have the floor, Madam Speaker, I took part of a question as notice last week from the member for Crescentwood (Mr. Sale). He asked me to table a copy of communication between the provincial government and the Manitoba Entertainment Complex, and I am providing a copy of that letter at this time.
An Honourable Member: Is there a contract with that?
Mr. Stefanson: I am tabling what was asked for.
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Women's Directorate
Financial Planning Seminars
Ms. Becky Barrett (Wellington): Madam Speaker, the fall 1995 newsletter About Women, which is published by the Manitoba Women's Directorate, devotes two of its eight pages to a book entitled Becoming the Wealthy Woman and a workshop being sponsored by the Women's Directorate, the Junior League of Winnipeg and the Royal Bank on, quote, Money Matters--The A to Z of Finances for Women Explained.
I would like to ask the Minister responsible for the Status of Women if she could explain the relevance to the many women on social assistance, the many women working for minimum wage or working only part time, of workshop topics such as Unravelling the Mysteries of RRSPs or Financial Planning--Making Your Money Work for You.
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister responsible for the Status of Women): Madam Speaker, the issue of economic security for women and how they plan for that economic security, how they develop that economic security was one of the No. 1 issues agreed upon by the Ministers responsible for the Status of Women at our most recent meeting in June.
One of the other parts that we realized is that governments cannot do this alone, and individuals cannot do this alone. We require partnership, so, Madam Speaker, we are very pleased to be in partnership with the groups mentioned by the member for Wellington, sponsoring a seminar which will deal with women's economic security.
Madam Speaker, economic security for women, economic planning for women, is relevant to all women in Manitoba.
Ms. Barrett: Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the minister responsible for the Status of Women how she can prioritize a workshop for women who should be able on their own to plan and develop for their economic security from the local financial advisers available throughout the communities in Manitoba rather than spending the very limited resources of this province and the Women's Directorate on providing information and assistance so that the women who are at minimum wage, on social assistance and in part-time jobs can also plan and develop for their social and economic development, so that they can actually have some money so they can plan for their future.
Mrs. Vodrey: Madam Speaker, as the member for Wellington knows, a number of women have not had the opportunity to interact with bankers, to understand the importance of credit ratings, to understand the importance of investing.
The member has referenced women who earn a minimum wage. Many women, Madam Speaker, are only entering into planning for themselves. In the past, many women have not done that.
We recognize the economic security of women both now and for the future is one of the most important issues that we can deal with across this country, and, Madam Speaker, we are very pleased to have partnership from within our community to assist women as they look at planning for their own economic security. That is all women.
Highway Maintenance/Upgrading
PR 391
Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): Madam Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Highways and Transportation.
On Friday, the minister admitted that over 125 construction employees of Manitoba Highways category A2 are being laid off for the first time in history.
Given the terrible conditions of many northern provincial roads, can the minister tell the House whether he will be following the recommendations of the Leaf Rapids community and make improvements on PR 391 from Leaf Rapids to Thompson a priority in the upcoming budget?
Hon. Glen Findlay (Minister of Highways and Transportation): Madam Speaker, I want to remind the member that because of weather conditions in '94 and concerns raised by the northern communities over the past winter, we did make some extraordinary considerations for the North, and in last spring's budget, in committed programs for the future, it was a 14 percent commitment to the North which was more than it has been in the past, recognizing the severe conditions they face.
We will use the same process for that and every region of the province in upcoming Capital budget expenditures that we will commit to.
PR 373
Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): Madam Speaker, will this minister be increasing maintenance on PR 373 this year, given the fact that poor conditions forced the closure of that road at least once last year?
Hon. Glen Findlay (Minister of Highways and Transportation): Madam Speaker, the department has certain standards of maintenance it uses for every road, but it always responds to emergencies that happen, weather conditions that are unpredicted. Certainly, when there are more wet conditions than normal, the standard is raised, so they always respond to the circumstance of the road to the best of their capability.
I want to remind the member, sometimes the weather can be pretty severe in a short period of time and can make it difficult for the department to respond to the full expectation of the public, but our intention is continually to improve that expectation level.
Highway Maintenance/Upgrading
Northern Manitoba
Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): Madam Speaker, I too have a question on roads. We have been saying for quite some time that northern roads are in terrible shape.
I would like to table letters written by the minister to the federal Minister of Transport in which he states that air transport provides the vital transportation link which is denied them--this is the residents of Lynn Lake--by unreliable road conditions and actual road closures, and a further letter written by the same minister in which he indicates, and this is a quote, the undisputable fact that Lynn Lake's 322 kilometres of road access is unreliable and a further quote, that much of it is still far below provincial road standards.
I have a very simple question, and it is to the Premier (Mr. Filmon). I would like to ask the Premier, given the fact that this government has not put adequate resources in place--in the past years, it has cut the northern share of roads to its lowest level--and given the fact that the amount of money that is being contributed now is still not going to bring it up to basic provincial road standards, when will the Premier step in and treat northern Manitobans fairly and give them decent road conditions?
Hon. Glen Findlay (Minister of Highways and Transportation): Madam Speaker, the federal government, in its cutback approach, is certainly going to impact many airports in the North, particularly at Lynn Lake, because of their inability likely to be able to fund the continued operation of that. The federal government is just walking away from those airports.
Certainly, we recognize that the roads in the North were initially built to a pioneer standard, nothing close to the expectation level of people using those roads today. We responded on that particular road by a gravel project of some 99 kilometres, a half-million dollars of expenditure, to bring it up along with the ongoing projects, of which there are many, that are in the committed program for '95 and '96.
The expectation is we will continually elevate the standard of that road to the best of our ability, but at the same time, we do not intend to let the federal government off the hook of walking away from airport responsibilities in the North.
Mr. Ashton: Madam Speaker, I have a supplementary.
I would like to table a copy of a Manitoba highways map for 1995 which lists 373 and 391 as provincial roads, and since in the minister's own words, the condition of 391 is below provincial road standards, will he now do the proper thing and advise motorists of the fact that this government has not maintained those roads in an appropriate condition, perhaps, Madam Speaker, because as the Deputy Premier (Mr. Downey) once said, northerners do not know how to vote right?
Will he come clean with Manitobans and other tourists, travellers, et cetera, and tell them just how bad the roads are in northern Manitoba?
Mr. Findlay: Well, Madam Speaker, I want to remind the member that we are here to serve all of Manitoba, as we always have been. I hear delegations from all over the province. Always they say, I want my road treated as No. 1. I have heard that so often my head spins.
Madam Speaker, we will continually evaluate all the input from my staff, from communities, from municipalities, from individuals and make assessments to try to continually elevate the quality of our roads to serve the travel needs of all Manitobans.
Port of Churchill
Status Report
Mr. Eric Robinson (Rupertsland): Madam Speaker, my questions are also for the Minister of Highways and Transportation.
During the last federal election, and we have talked about this over and over again in this House, the current government that is in power in Ottawa promised to ship one million tonnes of grain through the Port of Churchill. Instead, shipments over the past two years have been some of the lowest on record with millions of dollars lost last year and expected again this year.
I would like to ask the minister if he has had any correspondence with the federal government, what he can report to the House and whether or not six ships this year are good enough through the Port of Churchill.
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Hon. Glen Findlay (Minister of Highways and Transportation): Madam Speaker, we are very disappointed at the federal government's follow-up to their commitment during the 1993 election that a million tonnes should go through the Port of Churchill. Since then, they have actually shipped less through there than had been in the previous years, a significant shortfall in terms of their commitment.
We continue to write letters. We have meetings with federal ministers. I will meet again with the federal Minister of Transportation at the end of this month. We continue to raise the issue of the economic importance of the bayline, the Port of Churchill for the grain industry, for the mineral industry, for resupplying to Keewatin, for Akjuit, for tourism, but, unfortunately, we do not see the level of action from that end that is appropriate.
Certainly, the member also knows that the Wheat Board, which is responsible for moving grain out of western Canada to various markets, has a lot to say on whether grain goes through there or not; again, totally and 100 percent a federal jurisdiction.
Churchill Airport
Terminal Construction
Mr. Eric Robinson (Rupertsland): Madam Speaker, I have another question to the same minister.
I would like to ask the minister what action he has taken on the broken promise of a new $7-million air terminal building at Churchill which was supposed to be built there this year.
Hon. Glen Findlay (Minister of Highways and Transportation): Madam Speaker, in the context of the federal airport policy, which is to reduce the subsidies to northern airports over five years, effectively walk away from commitments, at least in the case of Churchill, they identified it as an isolated airport and would maintain support there.
In terms of their commitment to get on with projects that they have already committed, we continue to ask them to do it. The time has come, and I think it is important for the tourism industry, Akjuit and all the other activities there that this airport be maintained to an acceptable standard for the travelling public.
Madam Speaker: Time for Oral Questions has expired.
NONPOLITICAL STATEMENTS
Standard Knitting Ltd.--Export Award
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, I would ask if I can have leave to make a nonpolitical statement.
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Inkster have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, it is with great delight that I acknowledge a very prosperous business in the community which I represent, that being Standard Knitting or most people might know it as Tundra.
Just the other day, they were acknowledged as one of 12 Canadian companies to receive an export award, and I think that speaks very clearly to other industries throughout the province of Manitoba that there are many opportunities to be had for those who are prepared to invest in the province of Manitoba and to sell their merchandise abroad.
I know I have had the pleasure of touring this particular facility, compliments of Domenico Sacco, who is an absolute delight. I believe this is, in fact, one company that does not have a union in it. I think that speaks positively about--it is not an anti-union saying that I am trying to talk about. I do not want anyone to misinterpret my remarks. This is nonpolitical.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. I would remind the honourable member for Inkster that he was recognized to make a nonpolitical statement, and I would appreciate it if he would quickly complete his remarks.
Mr. Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, the reason I make mention of that is because there is a definite positive relationship that is there, that is assisted in terms of productivity out of this particular unit.
Well, I do not want the spirit of the nonpolitical discussion to drop, Madam Speaker, so suffice to say I give my congratulations to all the employees and the employer on a job well done in terms of representing this province.
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): May I have leave to make a nonpolitical statement, as well, Madam Speaker?
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable First Minister have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, I want to join with the member for Inkster in expressing my congratulations to Standard Knitting, the makers of Tundra sweaters, as well, on their tremendous achievements.
I have been very interested in their progress ever since I met with a prospective buyer, Mr. Wang, in Hong Kong in April of 1989. At that time, Mr. Wang was interested in investing in Manitoba. He ultimately bought Standard Knitting and along with son, Michael, has been successfully operating and expanding that operation. They have invested, I believe, something in the range of $7 million over the course of the last seven years in that facility and have expanded its employment base and expanded tremendously its markets. I mean, they have had in the past five years alone almost a 500 percent increase in their exports.
I was in New York to visit the financial community but happened to spend some time with the Canadian consul there and his staff in talking about continuing to promote Manitoba exports in their market, and they were, of course, telling me about several of the very extensive export operations from Manitoba that are featured very prominently in the New York market, one of the top fashion markets of the world, one of which is Standard Knitting, the second of which is Nygard fashions that are sold at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York.
The record of the expansions and the tremendous quality of merchandise of both of those operations, both of which I believe are in the constituency of the member for Inkster (Mr. Lamoureux)--perhaps one is in the member for The Maples' (Mr. Kowalski) constituency, but they are truly a credit to all of the members of that company, not only the management and ownership who saw the opportunity but particularly the staff that are turning out a quality product that is essentially taking away market from competitors all over the world in the biggest consumer market of the world.
So I certainly join with the member for Inkster in extending sincere congratulations to Standard Knitting.
National Award--Communities in Bloom
Mr. Frank Pitura (Morris): Madam Speaker, I beg leave of the House to make a nonpolitical statement.
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Morris have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. Pitura: Madam Speaker, on September 30, the National Capital Commission played host to over 200 mayors, dignitaries, national and local government representatives, participants, organizers and sponsors at the first national awards of Communities in Bloom, Canada's beautification competition.
The awards ceremony was the finale of the summer-long competition with communities representing every province competing in one of four categories, one for provincial capitals and three based on population size. Four panels of expert judges travelled tens of thousands of kilometres crisscrossing Canada to judge each participating municipality on beautification, environmental awareness and the level of participation by all levels of the community.
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House that the town of Morris received the award in the less than 5,000 population category for most colourful tourist appeal. In capturing this award, Morris won out over seven other provinces from the Maritimes, Ontario, Quebec and the West.
While the people of Morris have always had a tremendous pride in their community and their province, this national recognition is certainly a welcome acknowledgement of their efforts. It is with a great deal of pride that I congratulate the people of Morris on this outstanding accomplishment. Thank you.
* (1430)
Yom Kippur
Mr. Mike Radcliffe (River Heights): Madam Speaker, do I have leave of this Chamber for a nonpolitical statement?
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for River Heights have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. Radcliffe: Madam Speaker, I rise today to advise the honourable members of this Chamber that today is Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur is the most holy day of the year in the Jewish religious calendar and many of the constituents in River Heights are people of this faith. They are joining Jewish people all over the world attending religious services today. This is the Day of Atonement where each individual reflects upon the activities of the past year and resolves to go forward into the new year.
I would ask that we all join with these people and wish them best wishes for their activities in the next year. I thank you, Madam Speaker.
Winnipeg Television Series, Baby & Me
Mr. David Newman (Riel): On this very busy day, do I have an opportunity, Madam Speaker, to make a nonpolitical statement?
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Riel have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. Newman: I am pleased to make a statement about parenting. Today Baby & Me, a 13-week television series on parenting begins airing nationally on television. Baby & Me is made in Winnipeg, a coproduction of the Victoria General Hospital Foundation and Buffalo Gal Pictures. My wife and I saw the premiere of the first show on breast-feeding last night. I commend this series to all new parents and parents-to-be.
The Victoria General Hospital Foundation conducted extensive research of parents who made it loud and clear that a program like Baby & Me was definitely needed, and now. Victoria General Hospital, with their nationally recognized family birth centre and their mandate for public education and community outreach, took on the challenge.
The stars of Baby & Me are real parents who candidly discuss life changes a new baby brings. Health care experts from Winnipeg and across Canada provide information and advice on topics such as colic, breast-feeding and balancing careers and parenthood. This is an excellent example of how the public and private sectors can work in partnership to the benefit of the community as a whole. Parents everywhere will now be beneficiaries of the support of the generous corporate sponsors, service providers and volunteers.
Baby & Me will appear seven times per week on the Women's Television Network, WTN, beginning today, and throughout Manitoba on CKY television commencing in 1996. Thank you.
Committee Changes
Mr. Edward Helwer (Gimli): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the member for St. Vital (Mrs. Render), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Economic Development be amended as follows: the member for Arthur-Virden (Mr. Downey) for the member for Kirkfield Park (Mr. Stefanson); the member for Emerson (Mr. Penner) for the member for St. Vital (Mrs. Render); and the member for St. Norbert (Mr. Laurendeau) for the member for La Verendrye (Mr. Sveinson).
Motion agreed to.