Mr. Denis Rocan (Gladstone): I would like to take this opportunity to raise an issue which is important to all members of this House, and that is youth employment. All of us have a vested interest in ensuring that our youth are happy and prosperous. Happy young people obtaining summer employment is one way of achieving this goal. Right now, Manitoba's unemployment level is the lowest across Canada at 5.2 percent, and our youth unemployment rate is the second lowest across the country.
In an effort to further reduce our youth unemployment rate, I urge everyone to remember that now is the time when university and high school students are searching for summer employment. I want to encourage all business operators who may be in need of summer employees to register with the Youth Employment Service on Donald Street. Any students in need of summer employment should contact this office and should also be sure they check the job postings at the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg.
I understand that there is an abundance of opportunities available to students who do not shy away from hard work. There are engineering and management jobs, as well as tree-planting and truck-driving jobs. Moreover, the provincial government is once again sponsoring the summer Green Team initiative in both rural and urban areas. Employers wishing to receive assistance employing a student under The Green Team program should contact the Department of Natural Resources for a sponsorship application.
Making sure that our young people find summer employment is a priority which all of us should take seriously. The future of Manitoba is in the hands of these young people, and we need to give them every opportunity to succeed.
Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): The provincial government recently announced that a special fund of $300,000 was being set up to assist 30 small southern airports. The minister rightly stated capital projects improving lighting, navigational aids, runway rehabilitation and improvements to terminals are important at such airports.
The NDP is pleased that the minister acknowledges that, in light of the abandonment of airports by the federal government, action had to be taken to ensure that safety standards are maintained at all airports.
That being said, northerners and the NDP are rightly disappointed and concerned that not one additional cent is being dedicated to ensuring that the 22 northern airports operated by the province are also up to modern standards. The northern airports are vital for most of the communities. Most have daily scheduled flights, and in many cases they are the only way in and out of the area. At times like this year, when the winter roads were cut short by warm weather, the airports are even more important.
Following the tragic air crash at Little Grand Rapids, there was unanimous desire for airport improvement. Even the minister agreed that Little Grand Rapids' airport needed to be replaced. Following our call for a task force to review the status of all northern airports, the province agreed to work with airlines, MKO and AMC. While there have been two meetings of the committee, no commitment has been made by the minister to spend additional funds this year, and no commitment has been made to act on even the Little Grand Rapids' airport. This is not what we expected last December and not what northerners need now.
Apart from Little Grand Rapids, other airports need major work. Not only must this government get active on improving northern airports but also the federal government must be brought to the table and provide assistance under the airports capital assistance program. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Peter Dyck (Pembina): April 13 through 17 has been designated as Education Week in our province. It is a time for all of us to celebrate the positive happenings in our public schools.
I was read a remark that has long stayed with me, and I quote: It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken the joy in creative expression and knowledge.
These words by Albert Einstein remain as true today as they were when spoken. This is a time when we all focus on our common goal, the successful awakening of the joy in learning that resides within each child. Despite our different approaches and backgrounds, we all recognize the changing world our children live in. The current communication/information revolution has so shrunk our globe that every economic market is in some sense a global market. It is not surprising then that education is seen as a key to unlock the door to prosperity. The success of awakening the joy in learning is the result of wonderful teachers, supportive parents, committed students and hardworking administrators. Each plays a direct or indirect role in teaching and learning or in creating the conditions for these activities to occur. Their contributions must be acknowledged, and I am pleased that in my constituency the Garden Valley School Division will, on April 24, celebrate Education Week at the Southland Mall in Winkler. I would like to thank the organizers for creating this opportunity to celebrate Education Week. Thank you.
Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): I am pleased to draw the attention of members of this House to a national magazine, Canadian Gardening, which this month has published an article on part of my constituency of Wolseley. Canadian Gardening has published an excellent illustrated article by Wolseley writer Eva Weidman on the Wolseley Gardening Society which, with its regular summer garden tours, has become an important element in our community's institutions.
The article notes that this is a community where left-leaning politics are evident and that environmental issues and matters of the spirit are still preeminent. The article goes on to say that the gardens are unique, blending colourful annuals with dependable perennials, shrubs and large shade trees that compliment the architectural details of the homes built at a time when mouldings, frames and even window boxes were custom built. There are tiny yards that have been transformed into scented retreats, meditation gardens and public spaces that invite strangers to become neighbours. Welcome to Wolseley where residents are planting the seeds of a thriving community.
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The author goes on to note the work of Val Perry, Marilyn Craggs, Carrie and Tom Yudai, Liz Wolff, Sally Papso, Terie Langen, Gayda and Karl Loepp, John Lepp, Eleanor Thompson and indeed all the residents of Garfield Street.
Madam Speaker, there are many more, perhaps too many to mention, such as Mr. Barchett, Kathy McIlroy and Jan Dalmyn. They know their work is much appreciated and much loved in the community. What we see in Canadian Gardening is a national recognition. It is really the bloom on the rose. Thank you.
Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East): I rise to urge the government and the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik), in particular, to provide money to the Brandon General Hospital and/or the regional health authority in Westman or in the Brandon area to provide a bone scanning machine referred to as a densitometer.
The minister may have received correspondence on this. I have received letters from many, many women in the Westman area who have indicated that there are waiting lists and there is a great need for this particular machine.
I raised this matter last year with the minister, about waiting lists and people having to go to Minot to get service, and at that time I was assured that the government would eliminate the waiting list, but I understand today the waiting list has grown again, and people are waiting as many as two years, I understand, for this kind of diagnosis.
The fact is, Madam Speaker, osteoporosis is a very serious disease, and the use of a bone scanning machine can help to detect and therefore prevent this dreaded disease that affects women in particular.
I have a letter from many people, including Miss Helen Riesberry of Brandon, and I would just read a couple of paragraphs from her letter very quickly: I am one who would benefit. I am in my 82nd year, have already broken a hip, a wrist, and a rib, three different falls, but so far no test facility is available. Brandon has a large population of seniors in need of this program. Current waiting time, I understand, is up to two years, and some patients have been advised to go to Minot. Please give consideration to our hospital's request for this equipment and its operation. Yours sincerely, Helen Riesberry.
So I take this opportunity to urge the minister to pay attention to this matter, address the matter and provide the needed money so that this vital service can be provided to help the women in Westman detect osteoporosis and hopefully prevent that dreaded disease from occurring. Thank you.