Madam Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would like to draw the attention of all honourable members to the public gallery where we have with us today a group of seven educators and civic officials from Manchester, England, and representatives from the South Winnipeg Technical Centre. These visiting individuals are affiliated with the Technical and Vocational Education Initiative of the Trafford Education Committee.

On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you this afternoon.

Also seated in the public gallery we have this afternoon twenty-two Grade 9 students from Kelvin High School under the direction of Mr. Tony Lopez and Ms. Lorna Olafson. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Crescentwood (Mr. Sale).

On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you here this afternoon.

Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Madam Speaker, my question is to the First Minister (Mr. Filmon). Yesterday, his Minister of Justice restated the zero tolerance policy of the provincial government, and we were asking the government whether in fact the public incident reported in the Legislature here yesterday was dealt with in a way consistent with the Premier's statement on zero tolerance in his promise to the people of Manitoba. The minister restated the policy but did not give this House or the people of Manitoba any indication that an investigation would take place to ensure that the Premier's words were in fact implemented in the public case.

I would like to ask the Premier: Who will be investigating the incident referred to yesterday in Question Period, and who will determine whether the alleged victim of this physical abuse case was in fact dealt with fairly and consistently with the policy stated by the Premier in the '95 election?

Hon. Vic Toews (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Madam Speaker, as indicated yesterday, it has been one of the primary policies of this government to ensure that domestic violence is minimized. We are concerned about that issue. We have stated our position very, very clearly. We have communicated our position over and over again to the police forces. The police forces have indicated that they accept that policy and they carry that policy out.

Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, it is one thing to state the policy; it is another matter, as Dorothy Pedlar stated, to implement the policy. What we are asking for from this government is not a restatement of the policy, which everybody in this Legislature supports, but rather a review of the alleged incident to ensure that the policy direction as articulated by the Premier (Mr. Filmon) of the province and restated by the Minister of Justice yesterday was in fact followed through in the case. What we are calling on this government to do is to provide some degree of support to the domestic violence policy and domestic abuse policy by ensuring that an investigation will take place by the Department of Justice on this case to ensure that the zero tolerance case was in fact implemented.

I would like to ask the government again: Who will be investigating this matter to ensure public credibility on the stated policy of the provincial government?

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Mr. Toews: Madam Speaker, perhaps the Leader of the Opposition could be excused for these irresponsible statements that he is making in the Legislature today. This is a person who has no concern about due process that may be occurring in the courts. He feels that he can comment about matters that are before the courts. I am satisfied that the appropriate steps are being taken at this time, and if any other steps are required, this government will take those steps.

Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, again, for the legal niceties of the Minister of Justice, it is our responsibility to ensure that the due process as committed by the Premier (Mr. Filmon) to the public of Manitoba is followed through. It is our responsibility to ensure that the public words of the Premier are followed through with public policies of the Department of Justice. That is the due process in this Legislature, and I wonder why the Minister of Justice is ducking his responsibilities to ensure that an investigation takes place to ensure that Manitobans-that the Premier's words were implemented.

All we are asking for is an investigation to ensure that a woman who was a victim, allegedly a victim of physical abuse, was given the same protection as all citizens of Manitoba deserve under the zero tolerance policy. Will the Premier ensure that that investigation takes place?

Mr. Toews: Madam Speaker, it is interesting enough that this Leader of the Opposition would refer to the legal process, the justice system, as a legal nicety. I am surprised at the member of the opposition. You know, maybe I should not be so surprised, because he was a member of the government when the policy was to throw women in jail who refused to testify in court cases. That is the kind of justice that he understands.

I am proud to stand with the former ministers of Justice, the member for Fort Garry (Mrs. Vodrey), the member for Brandon West (Mr. McCrae), and say that we have brought one of the most progressive policies in respect of defending women in domestic disputes, and we will stand by that policy. If there are any steps that need to be taken, we will take those steps.

Mr. Gord Mackintosh (St. Johns): Madam Speaker, to the Minister of Justice. Recently we have become aware of at least two domestic violence cases going to trial, yet with no witnesses-Crown prosecution errors: Robert Guiboche, mistakenly released from the Remand Centre, largely due to a prosecution error; yesterday we heard of a Crown's opinion that there was not enough evidence to proceed on a domestic violence charge against a police officer. That was apparently in error and against policy and was later rejected. Now a Crown prosecutor has given an inaccurate, a faulty opinion on whether the Nancy Friday book is obscene, which has become a national story.

My question for the minister is this: Would the minister admit that the Prosecutions branch, yet comprised of dedicated and excellent prosecutors and staff, is overworked, understaffed to the point that the Manitoba justice system is again coming into disrepute?

Hon. Vic Toews (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Madam Speaker, I note how the member, on the one hand, slams the professional people who are working in our public service and that he in fact seems to derive a certain amount of pleasure out of criticizing public servants.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Thompson, on a point of order.

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Mr. Steve Ashton (Opposition House Leader): Yes, Madam Speaker, Beauchesne is very clear both in regard to the need for ministers to respond to the matter raised and also not to attribute motives. It has been very clear that the minister is doing that. If the minister would have only listened to the preamble of the member, he would have noticed that the only criticism levelled was not against the Prosecutions branch but the staffing level, which is a decision that is made by government. So the minister should accept responsibility for it.

Madam Speaker: On the point of order raised by the honourable member for Thompson, I will take the matter under advisement to research the comments made by the minister in Hansard and report back.

Madam Speaker: The honourable Minister of Justice, to complete his response.

Mr. Toews: Madam Speaker, I am very proud of the staff that I have who serve the public of Manitoba, who are concerned about justice issues, who deal with the very difficult legal system. We in this government have made repeated attempts to have the Criminal Code amended. Unfortunately, the Liberal government in Ottawa has seen fit not to amend many of the sections that we would like to see brought about so as to reduce some of the technical legal requirements that, in my opinion, are not necessary for the due administration of justice.

So, rather than criticizing public servants, I would ask the opposition to stand together with me to ensure that the federal Liberal government brings about appropriate legislative policies.

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

Mr. Mackintosh: Would the minister, who has ignored the issue raised in my question, tell us who Manitobans are to believe, the minister who said in extensive questioning in the House just last Thursday about the Nancy Friday book's opinion that, and I quote: There was a very strong network and supportive system with appropriate resources and backup for Crown prosecutors, or the Assistant Deputy Attorney General who says, and I quote: It is embarrassing that we did not have the kind of infrastructure in place to support the Crown attorney who was asked to give the opinion?

Mr. Toews: Madam Speaker, I am certainly- [interjection] Well, the member for The Pas (Mr. Lathlin) has something to say. Maybe he could get up on his feet and talk once in awhile, but he certainly seems to take a lot of pleasure just sitting in his seat and spouting off. Anyway, I certainly have discussed the issue with-

An Honourable Member: Another third minister to strike three.

Mr. Toews: Well, you guys never stay in power long enough to keep three ministers.

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

Mr. Toews: Madam Speaker, I have certainly had discussions with the Crown attorneys involved in this matter, and I was certainly very pleased to see the prompt manner in which the Crown attorneys assisted the police in their request for not only one, but two opinions. I note, indeed, that the Assistant Deputy Attorney General indicated that he would be implementing a policy which would, in fact, ensure that opinions are provided in a prompt fashion to the police with a minimum of administrative concerns so that police were not dissuaded from requesting Crown opinions. I think the actions of the Deputy Attorney General are very, very responsible.

Mr. Mackintosh: Would this rattled minister at least, a person who repeatedly told this House that everything was just fine in providing the legal opinion regarding the Nancy Friday book, not face up to the shortcomings in Prosecutions and take some meaningful action to assure Manitobans, notably the police, that the Justice department knows what it is doing?

Mr. Toews: Well, Madam Speaker, there the member goes again criticizing the prosecutors. I want to say that, of the hundreds and thousands of cases that they deal with, they deal with these matters in a very, very professional way. I am proud of the prosecutors in my department. Indeed, I am proud of all the staff.

You know, the government reviews periodically what resources are required, and this was one of the difficult choices that you make. For example, we indicated that we wanted more resources in the area of public safety rather than in the Law Reform Commission. It is a difficult choice, but that is a choice that this government made, and I am proud to stand with this government and the prosecutors in dealing with issues such as crime.

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Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker, nursing is a responsibility of the provincial government. The government is training baccalaureate nurses, LPNs and nurses' aides and have laid off over a thousand nurses in hospitals in Manitoba. We have numerous studies over the past few years about the nursing situation in Manitoba, and at the same time nurses are leaving the province to seek employment elsewhere.

Can the Minister of Health specifically outline what the government's strategy and plan is for nurses in Manitoba, what the nursing component will be comprised of, and can he please outline that for the House and for the nurses and public of Manitoba?

Hon. Darren Praznik (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, first of all, I think the member for Kildonan has part of his equation wrong. Although the province has a very significant role to play, there are also professional organizations involved in nursing that have a legislated responsibility for setting standards and doing a number of things that ultimately affect the mix of caregivers in our institutions and our various programs.

I look forward to getting into this discussion. It is obviously too large an issue to deal with in a 15-second or 30-second answer in Question Period. I look forward to getting into that kind of detail with him when we reach our line in Estimates.

Mr. Chomiak: Will the minister not admit that it is in fact government policy to follow the recommendations of the very unlamented but well-remembered Connie Curran, who visited this province and who recommended the structure that is being put in place of a nurse administrator and nurses' aides in all of our hospital and acute care facilities? Is it not in fact government policy that they are following to the very "t" the recommendations of the very unlamented Connie Curran when she came to Manitoba on that disastrous exercise?

Mr. Praznik: Madam Speaker, I believe the member is referring to Connie Curran who hired Michael Decter who used to set policy for the New Democrats in Manitoba. I think that is the same Connie Curran to which he refers.

First of all, within every group of caregivers or professionals in health care, change is inevitable. The nursing profession for many, many years, going back even before this administration was in power, worked very hard at changing and seeing a new role in their training programs that would result ultimately in a different role for different parts of the nursing profession in the health care system. So that has been happening for a long time, long even before this administration came into power.

I think what you see in many, many facilities across the province is the desire to have the appropriate staff delivering appropriate services and ensuring that we can get more hands in basic patient care in our facilities, which I think no one would disagree is very important.

Mr. Chomiak: Will the minister outline what the government policy is with respect to the 23 LPNs who will be given notice by Victoria Hospital with respect to losing their jobs, in conjunction with the LPNs who have lost their jobs at St. Boniface, Health Sciences Centre, Concordia Hospital, Seven Oaks Hospital? Will the minister not admit that it is provincial policy that is driving these decisions, and will he tell us what the government position is in this regard since they fund the program entirely. The minister is hiding behind the boards and not taking responsibility.

Mr. Praznik: Madam Speaker, I have sat in this Chamber for many years and I have listened to the debate about nursing. The member for Kildonan very well knows that there are a lot of factors that fit into the equation when one is looking at which group of professionals are providing what work. One of them is the professional standards set by organizations; another is the cost of those particular people in delivering service. There are also changes in services that an institution may require. These are all very legitimate factors that fit into the patient mix decisions that administrations, that facilities make.

If the member is attempting to express concern for the future of the LPN profession, I can tell him the former minister had concerns about that; I share some of those. I have had meetings with representatives of the LPN professional body. I have also discussed this matter with their union, the Manitoba Nurses' Union, and we have to find a way that realistically fits them into the system. I am prepared to do that, not engage in rhetoric with the member.

Mr. Daryl Reid (Transcona): Madam Speaker, 77-year-old Jessie Chornick fell and broke her hip in November 1996. Surgery was performed for a partial replacement which is now failing, causing intense pain and further health risks for Mrs. Chornick. She has been advised by her doctor to have a complete hip replacement, but the waiting list is over one year.

My question for the Minister of Health is: Since many people who have fractured their hips or broken their hips die prematurely, I want to ask the Minister of Health to explain why Mrs. Chornick and many other Manitobans should have to wait more than one year to have what could be life-saving surgery.

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Hon. Darren Praznik (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, in fairness to the member, I am not aware of all the specific details. I think he flags some specific difficulties or complications in that case but to his specific question-and it is a very legitimate question about one-year waiting lists for these types of surgeries. We on this side recognize that is a very long time to wait for people who require that type of replacement. I know we are doing more in the province today than we have done in the past. That is not yet good enough, and we are looking at ways of being able to perform more surgery. It is not always just a matter of more money; it is the way we organize the system. It is having time available in operating rooms; it is how doctors prioritize people on lists. Those are all very legitimate parts of fixing the problem. The member flags a very legitimate problem. We are working at resolving that or at least getting that waiting list down.

Mr. Reid: The minister received a letter on May 7, so this should be an issue that is familiar to him. I want to ask the Minister of Health: Since the orthoplasty program is already short of funds by some $200,000 and is projected to be short of funds by up to half a million dollars by the end of this year, what plan does the minister have to prevent a total shutdown of this surgical program, forcing our doctors to leave the province of Manitoba? What plan or policy do you have in place to address that short fund?

Mr. Praznik: One of the concerns that was expressed to my predecessor and to me as the new Minister of Health is that one of the difficulties in the way in which we budget for certain programs is on the institutional basis. Often, Madam Speaker, they do not allow us to recognize or to put resources in high-priority areas because they are carried in institutional budgets. That is a difficulty we are trying to address with the Winnipeg Hospital Authority. It may require-and I admit this-additional resources to be put into that area. I know, working with Treasury Board now, we are looking at identifying some resources to reduce waiting lists in a variety of areas.

Mr. Reid: Since one doctor at least that I have spoken to has over 70 cases waiting and since this government put in an extra half a million dollars just prior to the 1995 election to address the long waiting lists, will this minister now take similar steps so that people like Jessie Chornick and other Manitobans who are waiting on the waiting lists now do not have to have that surgery postponed, possibly risking their lives? Will you put that extra funding in there now?

Mr. Praznik: Madam Speaker, one of the factors that fits into long waiting lists-and I know from my work as an MLA prior to becoming Minister of Health when I had similar cases brought to my attention in my constituency, one of the factors that fits in is the popularity of the particular physician who is doing the work. There are cases where physicians, because they are noted as being experts in their particular field, have waiting lists that are significantly longer than others. That is one factor that fits into the mix.

I appreciate the concern that the member has addressed. I just flag with him that sometimes in certain cases the particular popularity, professionalism, expertise, et cetera, of a physician will result in longer waiting lists for patients who wish to be serviced by that physician or treated by that physician.

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

I have a son who happens to be in Grade 3 and like hundreds of other-

Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.

Mr. Lamoureux: There is a reason why I say that.

Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Inkster, to pose his question, please.

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Mr. Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, hundreds of Grade 3 students today for the first time are writing the standard exams, and the question I have for the Minister of Education: Given the cutbacks and the freezes that this government has put onto public education, is this the best way to be spending tax dollars-for Grade 3 standard exams? One might be able to justify it for the latter years but for Grade 3-is this in fact a good priority?

Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): Madam Speaker, the member has mentioned two points that warrant response. One is the cutbacks, and I have to indicate, particularly to this father of a Grade 3 student, that his party in Ottawa in 1994, '95 was giving this province $741 million in transfer payments, and this year we are going to be getting $499 in transfer payments-a huge, huge, huge cut that we have to deal with here for education for our students.

Having said that, I can think of no better way to help prepare my friend's son for a good learning experience and good mathematical abilities and to build a firm foundation that has been properly assessed, properly diagnosed. The Grade 3 exams are diagnostic exams to make sure that his little boy knows the fundamentals and the prerequisites for the next level of learning before he proceeds on-money very well spent, an essential part of the learning process.

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

Mr. Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, the Minister of Education's response with respect to the federal government I would question. Does the Minister of Education realize that the block funding that comes from Ottawa is for post-secondary education and that, in fact, equalization payments are up tremendously from the year previously? So the minister should not be confusing those numbers with her department's responsibilities. Will she acknowledge that she has to take the responsibility for financing K to 12 and set the priorities right?

Mrs. McIntosh: Madam Speaker, when a cut comes through to the provincial government that is roughly the equivalent of the operating budget of our largest university, $220 million, the operating budget of the University of Manitoba-the cut that we received from Ottawa is bigger than that-and that block funding is for Health, Education and Family Services, perhaps the member could tell me how he would make the adjustment. Shall we take more from French Immersion, which they have also cut on top of the block grant? Shall we take more from St. Boniface College? Shall we take more then from Health? That is also the equivalent of several community hospitals in the City of Winnipeg operating budget. Shall the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik) close those hospitals so that I do not have to take money from Education as a whole to make sure I do not have to close the University of Manitoba?

Do not tell me that equalization makes up for it. Do not give me that line. Maybe he can talk to the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson) here and understand the impact of those federal cuts, and perhaps then he would be more understanding of the dilemma his federal cousins have put us in.

Mr. Lamoureux: Maybe the Minister of Education could talk to the Minister of Finance-

Madam Speaker: Order, please.

Mr. Lamoureux: My question to the Minister of Education: Can she confirm to this House that the costs of administering the standard exams for Grade 3 students is more than the increase that this government has given public education in the last couple of years?

Mrs. McIntosh: I can and I will get the exact figures for the member, but I can tell you that overall our whole process of assessment and testing in all categories works out to about $50 or $60 a student. When I consider all of the other things that this member and the other members in the other party in opposition would spend money on, that amount per pupil to make sure that there has been a proper assessment, that it is a standard and the outcome that has been desired has been met, that children can add and subtract before they go on to multiply and divide, that we know that, we ascertain that, and there is a standard across the province that is known and understood, that is money well spent. It is an integral part of the learning process. Without it, you are missing a very vital component of education anywhere in the world.

Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, farmers across the Prairies were very frustrated this last winter when the two major railways did not provide adequate services and, as a result, Canada's reputation as an exporter was put at risk and farmers lost millions of dollars in sales and demurrage. The Canadian Wheat Board has brought complaints to the Canadian Transportation Agency against the railways, and they are supported by farmers. As well, they are supported by the Saskatchewan government which has applied for intervener status in this case.

Can the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Enns) indicate whether the Manitoba government will be standing with the farmers as well and applying for intervener status on this issue?

Hon. Glen Findlay (Minister of Highways and Transportation): Madam Speaker, the member certainly highlights a very significant problem that has happened in terms of grain transportation in western Canada over the last, probably fair to say, eight-month period of time. Recent indications are the problem still continues.

The position we take as the Manitoba government is not to point fingers or to find fault, because we believe there are many parties involved in trying to find a resolution here. Our mission-and the Minister of Agriculture and I have written several letters to our federal counterparts advocating that they bring all the players together with the mission to find a resolution to the problems so they do not reoccur again in the next crop year or the next winter or anywhere in the near future.

There are a multitude of problems in the industry. Yes, the railways and the weather played a major factor, but they were not the only factors, particularly when you look at the fact that some of the problems still exist.

Bring all the players around the table and resolve the problems for the long-term betterment of the farmers and the industry in western Canada, not take sides and point fingers. We do not think that is the right solution.

Ms. Wowchuk: Certainly we have to find solutions to resolve these, but would the minister not agree that this government should also be standing with farm organizations like KAP and the National Farmers Union that have applied for intervener status to deal with this case? Why will this government not apply for intervener status as well to show farmers their support?

Mr. Findlay: Madam Speaker, the member did not listen to the previous answer, because I said very clearly we want to support the farmers by finding a resolution. We have written several letters, and I have talked to the federal Minister of Transport, David Anderson, about bringing the appropriate players around the table with a neutral chairman and a consensus builder to find resolutions so that it does not repeat. That is how we can help the farmers in the future.

If we are going to draw lines and decide which enemy camp we are going to join, it does not resolve the problem. Let us get at the issue, get resolution that will involve all the players. We have very actively taken that position-direct contact with the federal Minister of Transport, numerous letters and in talking with people in the industry. The broad acceptance is we have to find resolutions, which the member also indicated, find resolutions, so that is how we will stand with the farmers of Manitoba.

Ms. Wowchuk: Madam Speaker, since this is an important issue to Manitobans, will the Premier indicate whether this issue will be on the table at the Premiers' conference this week? If it is not, will he ensure that there is discussion on the transportation of grain to market so that Canadian farmers do not face the same problems that they faced last winter?

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Yes, Madam Speaker.

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Ms. MaryAnn Mihychuk (St. James): Madam Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Education.

The issue of students being charged user fees to cover teachers' salaries for students who are participating on school teams was raised by the Metro Community Newspaper on April 23, raised in this House by myself on April 28, and it continues even to today. I ask the minister: In light of the fact that this government does not support team sports or team athletics in any way, will the minister recognize that these types of user fees being charged to students discriminate against student athletes with limited financial resources? This is a direct discriminatory practice.

Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): Not accepting any of the preamble-and I think it is important to state that I am not accepting any of the preamble. I will accept that there was a newspaper article in the local community newspaper with allegations but, Madam Speaker, I say to you that user fees in schools have always been with us. I warrant when the member opposite was a student that she probably paid user fees for locker-

Ms. Mihychuk: No.

Mrs. McIntosh: You paid no locker fee. The member opposite, Madam Speaker-

Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.

Madam Speaker: Order, please. The honourable Minister of Education, to quickly complete her response.

Mrs. McIntosh: The member made reference to user fees, and then she made specific reference to the fact that in some divisions collective agreements now give teachers instructional days off in exchange for extracurricular hours worked. In those instances, some school divisions then are asking for fees for registration for team sports, but those are things that teachers have asked for and bargained in collective agreements. There is a whole host of new things.

The member opposite, I know, when she was in school had to pay locker fees, student fees, et cetera. Those things have not changed, but there are new items that do warrant extra costs to school divisions that were never there in years past.

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

Ms. Mihychuk: Madam Speaker, can the minister or this government tell us how many potential world-class athletes will never get the chance to develop in their sport because of the growth of this type of user fee, and when will this minister do her job on behalf of students in Manitoba and stop the practice of user fees being charged for teachers' salaries?

Mrs. McIntosh: Madam Speaker, the member the other day rose in the House and alleged that students were being charged to walk through the door of a classroom. I have asked her twice to give me specific information. She has not done that. We have contacted schools. We have not found any school that charges a fee for students to walk through the door.

I also indicate that I have received no complaints from the Manitoba athletic association, from high school teachers, et cetera, about the fact that teachers who are now getting instructional time off, days off school for having taught extracurricular time as part of new collective agreement arrangements, I have not heard any complaints from those teachers about their students at risk. I do not think I will either.

Mr. Jim Maloway (Elmwood): Madam Speaker, my question is to the Deputy Premier. The question concerns the TeleSend Gateway project that this minister recommended for funding.

In Estimates, the minister said he thought Shalesa Charron was the president at TeleSend Gateway Inc., and stated that he sent the three cheques totalling $200,000 to TeleSend Gateway Inc. However, company records show that Shalesa Charron is not the president of TeleSend Gateway Inc. but that Helen T. Ishmael is the president.

Can he confirm that he gave all three cheques to TeleSend Gateway Inc. and Helen T. Ishmael, and why did he say in Estimates, "There may be some confusion as to the makeup of the company and the family."?

Hon. James Downey (Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism): Madam Speaker, again, I want to inform the member that the initial negotiations and discussions-I am informing him that there was the involvement of a person by the name of Robert Lee, as well, in checking the records, who was also involved at that particular time.

Mr. Maloway: Madam Speaker, can the minister confirm that the money, the $200,000, was used for its intended purposes?

Mr. Downey: Madam Speaker, I am informed by the department that, yes, it was used for the purposes for which it was intended to be used.

Mr. Maloway: Madam Speaker, I do not know how he knows the money was used properly when he does not know who he gave the money to in the first place.

Mr. Jim Maloway (Elmwood): My final supplementary to the same minister is this. In Estimates, the minister stated that he checked the credit histories and backgrounds of the principals and shareholders of TeleSend Gateway Inc. Can he tell us what he found out?

Hon. James Downey (Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism): Madam Speaker, probably more importantly, what was discovered was the people who were part of the overall company that were doing the project, like AT&T, Mr. Robert Lee, they were the individuals that were the main participants at that particular time, so fairly credible individuals who we were dealing with.

Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): Madam Speaker, I can see that the Minister of Finance and Sport and the Minister of Education and Training (Mrs. McIntosh) are finally conferring on this issue of the fees being paid by student athletes and teams in our school system. When I raised this issue yesterday in the Sport Estimates, the Minister of Finance claimed that he knew nothing of it, but I have today with me the article from the Metro Newspaper which stated that it was Oak Park High School where there were letters that were sent to athletes participating on teams that were going to have to miss school and that the school team would have to raise the funds to pay for the substitute teacher.

I want to ask him now today, since he has had a chance to verify the information as we have raised it in the House, if this is not a violation of the Manitoba sport policy which states that they have a mandate to develop appropriate mechanisms and programs to assist educators involved in sport, and will he not now see how this policy will be implemented so that young athletes in Manitoba will not be discriminated against in school divisions?

Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister responsible for Sport): Madam Speaker, no, it is not in violation of the Manitoba sport policy as outlined. It is nice that for a change a member opposite brought a little bit of specific information. Yesterday she had absolutely none in Estimates. As I indicated to her yesterday and I have confirmed again this morning, this issue has not been brought to the attention of the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association. They certainly have not brought it to our attention. No individual teachers have brought it to my attention, no individual schools, no school divisions. So at this particular point in time, it is not an issue that is being raised as a concern within the sport community. As well, in discussion with Sport Manitoba, it is not an issue that has been raised by Sport Manitoba.

So, finally, the member has brought a little bit of specific information, and we will look into that issue.

Madam Speaker: Time for Oral Questions has expired.