Mr. Eric Robinson (Rupertsland): Madam Speaker, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples tabled its report in Ottawa, and it gives hope to the First Nations in this province and also in this country. Considering that Manitoba and Winnipeg have the highest percentage of its population of aboriginal ancestry than any other city and province throughout this country, this report also gives the federal government an opportunity to establish a true partnership with First Nations. Having said that, it also gives the provincial government an opportunity to establish a working relationship with First Nations people as the federal government is calling on provinces to do.

I would like to ask the Premier this afternoon if he will immediately strike a cabinet committee to review the report and ensure that the report is taken into consideration in all departments before the next budget is determined.

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): I thank my honourable friend for the question. Indeed, I believe that the report, that has been five years in the developing that has resulted from extensive consultations right across Canada, including two lengthy meetings that I had with the commissioners along with members of my cabinet, is one that we are all looking forward to receiving. I have not had an opportunity to see the report. Quite honestly, with it being more than 4,000 pages, it will take quite some time for review.

I believe that it is important that we get a review underway as quickly as possible. I would be having our policy staff do that as quickly as we receive it and commence a process that may well lead to our having cabinet discussions and decisions made about future directions.

I concur with the member's statement about the need for partnership. Indeed, when I was at the meeting of some Premiers with our aboriginal leaders in Calgary less than a month ago, that was the key recommendation that we shared at that meeting, the fact that the impacts of the various challenges that face aboriginal peoples in Canada are ones that cannot be solved solely by aboriginal peoples or their leaders nor probably solely by the federal government but rather by all levels of government and indeed leaders from the aboriginal community and the broader community.

I believe that there are many things we will want to work on that will come forward from this review, and I believe that we will want to give it careful consideration. I am disturbed when I hear comments about it gathering dust on shelves in the minister's office. I, for one, believe, given the fact that Manitoba has the highest percentage of aboriginal population of any province in Canada, we ought to be giving it serious review and consideration.

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Mr. Robinson: Today the national leader, Ovide Mercredi, and others said, failure to act on these recommendations will condemn another generation of aboriginal people to lives of poverty and frustration.

I would like to ask the Premier if he would make that commitment today to make action on this report a priority of this province.

Mr. Filmon: As I have indicated, there are some 4,000 pages and, I gather, hundreds of recommendations. I am not sure which recommendations might call for action from the provincial government. Until I receive the report, I cannot say what actions can be taken, Madam Speaker, but I will say this, that I believe that the report does deserve serious consideration from our government in the context of what we might be called upon to do by way of partnership with others, and we certainly will give that very serious consideration.

Mr. Robinson: In many ways the report that was tabled in Ottawa this morning could be compared to the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry report of 1991. Its goals are far-reaching and comprehensive in recommending new powers of self-government and economic development.

I would like to ask the Premier today if he will today contact the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, MKO and other aboriginal organizations in this province to set up an early meeting to plan how the government can work in partnership with First Nations and other aboriginal people on this landmark report.

Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, yes, indeed, our government was pleased to act on many of the recommendations of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry and has been pleased to invest considerable dollars in the accomplishment of many of the goals that were put forward in the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry.

Madam Speaker, I believe that it will be important for us to partner with the leadership of the aboriginal community, indeed, many people throughout the aboriginal community and leaders throughout our society, in addressing many of the challenges that face us as a province and face the aboriginal people of this province.

I can tell the member opposite that it has been our habit to meet periodically with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, together with cabinet, and to take a look at the challenges that face us and to try and take on a number of the issues that we believe we could productively work on and solve by working together. This report will be no different. As soon as we have an assessment of the report and an evaluation of what areas call for our participation, I am sure that we will want to contact the AMC and others who are identified as important to the solution of our aboriginal challenges in Manitoba.

Mr. Oscar Lathlin (The Pas): Madam Speaker, of all the provincial governments across Canada, this government here in Manitoba has the worst record when it comes to the treatment that it gives aboriginal people in Manitoba, and we have all kinds of evidence to prove that.

One needs only to look at the way fishing and hunting have been treated by this government, the Access programs, the friendship centres and all the aboriginal program funding that has been eliminated. My question to the First Minister is, will this Premier finally get on board with others and get serious and take this report as an opportunity, finally, to develop an implementation plan and show Canadians that he is, indeed, genuinely interested in doing something positive?

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, the blind rhetoric that is put forth by the member for The Pas shows how he is more interested in partisan politics than he is in solving the real challenges that face aboriginal people in this province.

While his government was in office, they gave nothing but lip service to all the major issues that faced and challenged aboriginal people in this province. We have absolute confirmation. We had the Northern Flood Agreement that sat on their table, not being acted on for more than a decade with absolutely no commitment for them to solve the challenges of the Northern Flood Agreement.

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Since we have been in office we have conducted negotiations in good faith; we have settled with three of the five First Nations or are coming very close to settling with them. Outstanding for a century was the issue of treaty land entitlement--absolutely zero commitment made by the members opposite, nothing but empty rhetoric. This government finally, after eight years of hard work, has brought together an agreement in principle on treaty land entitlement. This government--while that administration, the NDP, sat there and did zero on the northeast transmission line--worked on it, committed to it and has committed significant funds, the better part of $100 million for the northeast transmission line in this province. This government with no help, with no action from members opposite, has entered into an agreement exempting the First Nations from paying taxes on areas like cigarettes, fuel and other matters. That is the kind of nonsense we get if we listen to the empty rhetoric of the member for The Pas.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for The Pas, with a supplementary question.

Mr. Lathlin: Madam Speaker, I would be sensitive too if I had a record like that--

Madam Speaker: Order, please. I would remind the honourable member for The Pas he was recognized for a supplementary question that, accordingly to our rules, requires no postamble or preamble.

Mr. Lathlin: Madam Speaker, given that the so-called Working in Partnership: The Manitoba Policy on First Nation Government inherently contradicts the goals of the commission by suggesting that the province has no role to play whatsoever, will the Premier withdraw that policy and for the first time work with First Nations in this province?

Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, as I have indicated in the lengthy answer that I gave earlier to the member opposite, all of these areas that we have worked on in partnership have been to the tremendous benefit of the aboriginal people of Manitoba. They have involved hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in our aboriginal communities by this administration, investments that were talked about by members opposite but never, ever implemented because all they got was a lot of lip service and empty rhetoric and he can talk all he wants about the kinds of things that he stands for, but he stands for talk and we stand for action.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for The Pas, with a final supplementary question.

Mr. Lathlin: Madam Speaker, I am going to table this document, Working in Partnership: The Manitoba Policy on First Nation Government.

My final question to the First Minister is that I would like to ask him, since he has spent $250,000 on an urban aboriginal policy since 1988 and no results coming from that study, I wonder if the First Minister can tell the House today whether he will use the opportunity of this report to finally decide to take action on that policy and maybe act on it this year.

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Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, more particularly we have been investing hundreds and millions of dollars in the various programs I spoke about, the Northern Flood Agreement settlement, treaty land entitlement, the rebate of taxes to aboriginal First Nations, the north-central transmission line. These are all significant major impacts in a positive way on the economic lives of the First Nations of Manitoba. But I tell the member opposite that, with respect to urban aboriginal actions and policies, we have that as an issue that is now being led by the Round Table on Environment and Economy in Manitoba and he will indeed see some very positive programs and policies developed and come forward from that initiation.

Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Madam Speaker, I am very disappointed in the answers and the rhetoric of the Premier today about the questions being posed by members in the Chamber dealing with aboriginal people in this province and the aboriginal inquiry.

Madam Speaker, recommendation No. 1 proposed to this provincial government recommends a joint commission between aboriginal people in Manitoba and the provincial government to implement the recommendations of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry. That recommendation was made to this Premier and this government some four or five years ago. We had fancy press conferences and no action. When is the Premier going to implement recommendation No. 1 of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry and have a joint commission with First Nations people to implement the AJI report as they recommended year after year?

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, I repeat for the member opposite that this government has implemented many of the recommendations that were contained in the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry. I could have the Minister of Justice (Mrs. Vodrey) go through chapter and verse listing many of the major recommendations and other recommendations of the inquiry.

This government is committed to do the things within its power that it can in partnership with the aboriginal community, and we will continue to do so.

Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): In the early '70s this Legislature introduced programs called Access and New Careers. It was a way of having training for people in First Nations communities to be nurses, to be teachers, to be social workers, to be professionals in their own communities. It was also a way to have training and education programs in our urban communities, to give people hope and to give people an opportunity.

This government has cut funding to Access and has cut funding to New Careers. It has bombed the bridges of opportunity for many First Nations people. I would like to ask the Premier in the spirit of his first answer today, to working in partnership in the future, will he allow people to get education and training and Access programs and New Careers training programs so people can have opportunity in the future? Will he reinstate the funding and reinstate the investment in First Nations people in partnership, like his words today?

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Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, I remember this government in The Pas announcing the Northern Nursing Program with the member for The Pas (Mr. Lathlin) who was then the Chief of the Opaskwayak Cree nation, and I remember him complimenting us about that program and talking about what a great thing this was for the North and what a great thing it was for his people. This government, despite massive cuts from Ottawa with respect to the Access program, has maintained funding for Access. It continues to put significant funds into the Access program in Manitoba because we acknowledge--I have met with students who are taking engineering, students who are taking law and various other degrees through the Access program, BUNTEP. I have been with BUNTEP students both in Brandon and in northern communities. This government continues to invest in those things for the future--

An Honourable Member: We set it up.

Mr. Filmon: --because we believe that it is a good thing. Yes, and the member for Brandon East (Mr. Leonard Evans) says, we set it up. Absolutely, absolutely. We will give him credit for it, and this government has continued to provide it because we believe it is a good program, and we continue to invest in it, Madam Speaker.

Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Madam Speaker, this government has cut Access opportunities; this government has cut New Careers programs. Even Sterling Lyon would not cut New Careers. This Premier was so callous that he cut programs that allowed people to get jobs and opportunities for First Nations people. He knows it, I know it and First Nations people know it, and he should not deny the truth.

I would like to ask the Premier, why did the government cut money and support for friendship centres that allowed people to get vocational training, allowed people to get hooked up to jobs and opportunities, in fact, even had youth crime prevention workers in the inner city--eight youth crime prevention workers--cut by this Premier and this government? Will he reinstate the support for friendship centres so those centres can support First Nations people both in our urban settings and in our First Nations communities?

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, there is no one right answer to dealing with some of the challenges that are faced by our aboriginal people, particularly the two-thirds in Manitoba who now live off reserve and in our cities and towns and villages. This government continues to look for new and better ways to ensure that the money that we invest in our aboriginal people goes to lifting them up and giving them greater opportunity and giving them pride in their heritage and opportunities to be--[interjection]

Madam Speaker: Order, please.

Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, I cite but one example: Our New Directions in education contains, for instance, courses which will give students a better understanding of the history of aboriginal people and of their contributions to Manitoba society.

I quote from a letter from the United Church of Canada complimenting us for putting that in. They say: In learning the true story of aboriginal people, we believe that students will come to a better understanding and appreciation through the differences and contributions of all of the diverse peoples of their country.

This government continues to find ways to try and include aboriginal people to do more things for education, training and all of the things that will help them meet the challenges of tomorrow.

Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): The way in which the government is dealing with the sale of the Manitoba Telephone System is arrogant, it is incompetent and it is also raising many questions about legality as well as ethics.

Our legislation in terms of securities makes it very clear that no one can trade in any security prior to the filing of a prospectus, and that includes solicitation.

I would like to table a letter I have written to the Manitoba Securities Commission with two solicitations from financial firms and also one I just received a few minutes ago from an individual who had received something from Wood Gundy.

I would like to ask the Premier if he can indicate what action he will be taking to deal with the situation we find ourselves in now where many brokers, including Wood Gundy which is dealing with the sale of MTS as one of the lead brokers, are sending out letters soliciting on the sale of MTS, something that is clearly illegal under our legislation.

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, I am sure that the member opposite would not want me to intervene or interfere with a quasi-judicial tribunal such as the Manitoba Securities Commission. So I say to him he has done the right thing by bringing that information forward, by sending it over to the Securities Commission. I am sure that they will treat it seriously, as they ought to.

Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): I would like to ask, as a supplementary, whether the Premier will deal with something that is within his direct control and that is the appointment of the lead brokers, Wood Gundy, which also by the way is one of the brokers that recommended the sale, and whether in particular he will raise concerns about one of the letters which states that we do not know the details--and it is in brackets next to it, it says "officially"--and then goes on to suggest that it has information from press reports on the sale.

How does he feel that it is appropriate for the brokers that are drafting the prospectus to be issuing statements in advance of the sale when clearly there is a potential for them to have information that should not be available to them, which should not be involved in any solicitation to the public?

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Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): The correct process, obviously, is to find out through the Securities Commission investigation whether or not they have information that is not available to other people and whether or not the information that they have available or are willing to share contravenes any aspect of the legislation that governs the Securities Commission. So that is the process obviously that will be followed. I commend him for following that process, and clearly we will be guided by the findings of the Securities Commission on the matter.

Mr. Ashton: As a final supplementary, I would like to ask the Premier again, will he not deal with the fact that the lead brokers in this particular case are also sending out solicitations? Will he not withdraw their position as the two lead brokers who are drafting the prospectus? Clearly, there is at least a conflict of interest and there is a distinct possibility and concern that many people have that these lead brokers have inside information which should not in any way, shape or form be put out in the kind of document we are receiving for Manitobans today.

Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, I see various names, from Rice Financial, Summit Securities and so on here, so there are a number of different issues that have been raised. I said earlier that I am not in a position to judge whether or not something contravenes Securities Act legislation, only that quasi-judicial body, the Manitoba Securities Commission, can make that judgment. So before I go and hire or fire or do anything on this issue, I would obviously have to take my lead from the Manitoba Securities Commission.

Mr. Gary Kowalski (The Maples): Madam Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for the Liquor Control Commission.

In the most recent report of the Liquor Control Commission--and I will table a section today in the Chamber--it indicates that the number of inspections of licensed premises was 27,931 in 1992. In 1996, it had decreased to 27,284. Recently, the chief of the Winnipeg Police Services stated that his job would be made easier if there was a co-ordinated effort between the Winnipeg Police Services and the Liquor Control inspectors to restrict overservice in bars.

My question is, what is the minister doing to enforce The Liquor Control Act to prevent overservice?

Hon. Harold Gilleshammer (Minister charged with the administration of The Liquor Control Act): Madam Speaker, I, too, was made aware of the comments by the police chief of the City of Winnipeg and in discussions with the chair of the board from the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission. Certainly, they have offered the services of their inspectors to work with the city police to act appropriately to look at any of the cases that they want to point out, and I think through the efforts of the chairman and the board that a good and valuable partnership is being established.

Mr. Gary Kowalski (The Maples): Is the minister going to respond to requests from the Winnipeg chief of police and increase the number of liquor inspectors to do this work?

Hon. Harold Gilleshammer (Minister charged with the administration of The Liquor Control Act): Madam Speaker, in discussions with the board chair and people at the commission, they take their responsibilities very seriously in regard to inspections. I think it is an issue of a more appropriate deployment of the inspectors that we have. The commission is working very closely with Winnipeg city police to be sure that that takes place.

Mr. Kowalski: I will ask again, is the minister going to respond to requests for more liquor inspectors and continue a co-ordinated working with the Winnipeg Police Services?

Mr. Gilleshammer: Madam Speaker, I think if the member will look carefully at the comments made by the chief of police, it was more inspections in a particular area of the city that he was calling for. That does not necessarily translate into more inspectors as it would be a redeployment of the existing inspectors.

Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): Madam Speaker, my question is to the Premier.

Many Manitobans were shocked to learn today that the government, after requiring that 650 VLTs be taken out of Manitoba hotels and other establishments, was at the same time adding 496 machines to its own facilities here in Winnipeg. I would like to ask a question to the Premier (Mr. Filmon) because I know he has stated already publicly that this was slipped in.

I am wondering if he will perhaps instruct his Minister of Lotteries and Finance to make sure that those machines are slipped out and that we have the bottom line of what the Desjardins commission and what the government itself said would happen, a reduction in numbers of machines and not this unfair situation where rural hotel owners are being treated one way and the government itself is being treated another.

Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act): Madam Speaker, some time ago the Manitoba Lotteries Commission did a customer survey and found that many of their customers, in fact the majority of their customers, preferred the electronic bingo as opposed to the paper bingo, so what is being done over the course of the next short period of time is Manitoba Lotteries Corporation is installing some new machines in the two gaming facilities, but they will provide electronic bingo services only. There will be no other gaming. There will be no poker, there will be no keno, there will be no break-opens or whatever. It will be only substituting some of the paper bingo for some of the electronic bingo. If the member saw the comments of one of the senior executives from the Manitoba Hotel Association, they themselves indicated they had no problem with substituting electronic bingo for paper bingo, and that is all that will happen in the gaming facilities.

Mr. Ashton: Madam Speaker, I want to clarify this because the Lotteries Commission itself stated publicly that these machines will be used for purposes, including VLTs, not strictly for bingo. If that is the case, and I accept the minister on this, will he instruct the Lotteries Commission to perhaps get its act together because the Lotteries Commission has also extended the hours at its facilities which again is in contradiction of what the government said, when it said it would reduce the level of gambling in this province. Will it get its act straight with the Lotteries Commission?

Mr. Stefanson: Madam Speaker, the Lotteries Corporation today is saying exactly what I am saying. I believe they have been contacted by some media outlets and others about this issue. They are saying exactly the same thing, that it will be electronic bingo substituting paper bingo, but the reason for these kinds of machines is they are compatible with the system that is already in place, and the electronic bingo is exactly compatible with the paper bingo, so that is the reason for those machines. But the only service that will be offered will be electronic.

He mentions the hours, and again if he goes back to the independent review done by the Larry Desjardins committee, they suggested turning over the hours to the Lotteries Commission, to give them complete autonomy. When they did a survey across Canada, many of the casinos operate 24 hours a day. We do not think that is appropriate in Manitoba. We looked at our neighbouring province, Saskatchewan, and the hours in the gaming facilities in Manitoba are literally identical to the hours in the gaming facilities in our neighbouring province of Saskatchewan.

Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): A final supplementary, and since the minister is now correcting Lotteries, or vice versa, I am wondering if he will perhaps correct that hour extension because it is in complete contravention of the Desjardins commission which wanted to reduce gambling, and why will they not refer that issue to the commission to let them make the recommendation rather than slipping it in before they set up the independent commission?

Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act): Madam Speaker, I am not convinced that member read the Larry Desjardins committee report, or read our response to it, because if he did he would notice that the commission recommended no adjustment in gaming in Manitoba. This government took the initiative to recommend and to follow through with a reduction of 650 machines, so I encourage that member to--

Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.

Madam Speaker: Order, please. The honourable Minister of Finance, to complete his response.

Mr. Stefanson: I think I have to point out to the member the independent committee recommended no adjustment in the number of gaming devices. The chairman put it in his own report and suggested some kind of meaningful adjustment. We followed through on that, in light of both his comments and other research that we did, and we did put in place a meaningful reduction of 15 percent of VLTs, 10 percent of gaming machines in Manitoba, 650 machines, so we went further than the gaming commission in that area.

But the issue of hours, the Desjardins committee recommended turning it over to the Lotteries Corporation. If they had their way and compared their facilities to all those across Canada, as I have already told the member, most facilities are operating 24 hours a day in other provinces in Canada. We do not think that is appropriate in Manitoba. We modelled the hours in place in Saskatchewan and that is more in keeping with what should be in place in our province.

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Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): Madam Speaker, with the shell game that the government is playing with VLTs in this province, some of the real losers could be the sport bodies and other community groups that rely on the paper bingo for revenue. The government is eliminating one-quarter or up to 312 tables for bingo and replacing them with gaming machines. Since the Premier (Mr. Filmon) said on the radio this morning that this was authorized by the government, I want to ask him, what is the impact going to be of losing this number of tables for paper bingo on the sport groups that rely on it for funding?

Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act): Madam Speaker, those groups are funded on the basis of per event that they participate in and, therefore, there will no change in the opportunity for funding for those organizations.

Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): I would like to ask the Minister of Sport what he is going to tell the representatives tonight at the meeting of the game plan with all the sport governing bodies when they ask the same questions, what they have been concerned about for a number of years now, that the VLTs are taking over the paper bingo. It is going to be phased out. They now are only required to have 10 volunteers. They are concerned that they are going to lose this source of revenue. What can the minister tell the House and what will he tell those groups tonight?

Hon. Jim Ernst (Minister responsible for Sport): Madam Speaker, the first thing I would tell them is that we fund sport on a per capita basis in the top two in Canada. So that is the first thing I will tell them.

Madam Speaker, the Minister responsible for Lotteries has just explained to the member for Radisson that there is no change. They have and will continue to get lottery dates and the funding attached to those lottery dates is also unchanged, so I think their fears perhaps are unfounded.

Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): Can the minister assure the House that the $2.2 million to sports from these bingo games will not be reduced next year, and can he confirm that the number of tables for bingo in the Club Regent and McPhillips Street Station will not be continued to be reduced so that this money is eroded to the sports?

Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act): Madam Speaker, they will have exactly the same opportunities to provide the services at events and generate approximately the same amount; whether it is exactly the same remains to be seen, but certainly it will be in the similar vicinity. It will be in the same vicinity as what it is because there is no change in the process, no change in the funding level. They do get funded on the basis of per event so the entire process, the entire funding mechanism will all remain unchanged. So the total level of funding should be approximately the same.

Ms. MaryAnn Mihychuk (St. James): Madam Speaker, during the recent blizzard that Winnipeg faced, several sections of Winnipeg, including Riverbend and River Park South, experienced extended periods of power outage, and many then experienced a massive power surge resulting in damage to many electrical appliances and mechanisms. Manitoba Hydro has apparently rejected all compensation.

Will the Minister responsible for Hydro tell the House whether he concurs with Manitoba Hydro's interpretation that system line resetting, which was the result of the power surge, is an act of God?

Hon. Darren Praznik (Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Hydro Act): Madam Speaker, I may have some training in the laws of this earthly world, but I would not for one moment want to be accused of having the ability to judge on the laws of heaven and of God.

I would like to say that I have read the same report that I am sure the member has that was covered in today's news media. I know from time to time we have had these issues come forward to my office's attention as to whether or not Hydro's position in the matter is a correct one. I, certainly, in reading the same story, want to ensure that Hydro is acting in a fair manner to those who were involved, and I will certainly endeavour to investigate the matter.

Ms. MaryAnn Mihychuk (St. James): Will the minister, in his review of the situation, include the emergency response times and units available, customer service and the compensation policy so that the residents of families that were affected will be properly and fairly treated?

Hon. Darren Praznik (Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Hydro Act): I noticed in the member's comment that she asked for me to ensure that the people involved are fairly treated, and I respect that question. I did not hear her asking that they receive compensation, and she, like myself, has not made a judgment, I think, on the situation.

I think it is important to remember that there are certain matters that a hydro utility or an electrical utility or service cannot control. Perhaps there are ways. I know there are many industrial users from time to time who face these with large costs. Some of my colleagues have brought those situations to my attention.

Perhaps it is time for Hydro to look at their whole policy, given the amount of electrical equipment that is on-line that severe damages that can result, who should cover that, what kind of schemes should be in place to ensure that damage is collected. Yes, it is time for a look at that, and I certainly would ask the Hydro board to have a look at it.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Kildonan, with one very short question.

Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker, this government brags about finally producing the capital plan for the Cancer Treatment Centre, but they did that after we called a press conference and showed the Premier (Mr. Filmon) promising the plan during the election campaign and shaming them into doing the capital.

Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.

Mr. Chomiak: Maybe the Premier will answer the question, Madam Speaker, since he is speaking from his seat.

Madam Speaker: Order, please. The honourable member for Kildonan, to quickly pose his question.

Mr. Chomiak: Since the accreditation, people are coming back to the Health Sciences Centre. Since this plan has been promised by the government but now cancelled by the government to renew the operating rooms, and since the hospital says they fear what might happen in the accreditation when the accreditation committee comes back, will the minister finally, after eight years in office, after promising this plan over and over again, today outline for the people of Winnipeg and Manitoba--

Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.

Madam Speaker: Order, please. The honourable member for Kildonan, to quickly pose his question.

Mr. Chomiak: Will the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) today assure this House that the capital required for Health Sciences Centre operating rooms will immediately go ahead so the hospital is not faced with accreditation problems by the Canadian council who have said that they do face those problems and that the city of Winnipeg and the people of Manitoba deserve first-class operating rooms at the Health Sciences Centre?

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Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): The honourable member ought not to delude himself about the role that he might have played in getting the Manitoba Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation project on the tracks. In his efforts at self-aggrandizement, the honourable member simply makes a fool of himself.

The people at the Manitoba Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation, working very co-operatively with Manitoba Health, we have come together to a point where we are able to put that project into operation and get on with that project. It will be that same kind of spirit which will bring about other projects in Manitoba, an ability to work co-operatively with the government and with the people of Manitoba.

We are looking to communities for their input with respect to capital projects throughout the province, but again I say, the honourable member ought not to delude himself about any positive role he has played.

Madam Speaker: The time for Oral Questions has expired.