Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): Madam Speaker, this is a very significant day, and this is a very significant year for those of us who are concerned about the human rights of people throughout the world. It is a very significant day because this marks the anniversary, in fact, on this day in 1961 that the first Amnesty International campaign was launched in Britain.
I would like to indicate that the year marks both the 25th anniversary of Amnesty International in Canada and also the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. The two are very much connected because Amnesty International works throughout Canada and throughout the world to ensure that the universal Declaration of Human Rights, which arose out of the terrible human rights violations that occurred in the Second World War--it is committed to the spirit, the application and the extension of human rights without any regard to borders, wherever those human rights are needed throughout the world.
I want to stress that Amnesty International Canada has grown the last few years--
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. I wonder if I might ask those members having private meetings to do so outside the Chamber, please. It is very difficult to hear the members during members' statements, and it is a very important part of our Routine Proceedings.
Mr. Ashton: Thank you, Madam Speaker. As I indicated, since 1973 we have had Amnesty International Canada established. In fact, one of the founders of Amnesty International Canada was Dr. John Humphrey, then a McGill University law professor who was one of the authors of the universal Declaration of Human Rights. Today, there are more than 70,000 members and supporters. In fact, I have been pleased to be part of Amnesty International in the past myself.
I want to let all members of this Legislature know that Amnesty International is asking people to pledge this year, in the 50th anniversary of the universal Declaration of Human Rights, to make a personal pledge to learn about human rights proclaimed in the universal declaration, to do everything people can individually to help others become familiar with and actively support these rights and to carry out during 1998 one special personal activity that strengthens the protection of human rights in their school, community, family, workplace, faith, committee or other organization.
I want to suggest, Madam Speaker, that we as MLAs, as community leaders, all pledge ourselves to defend human rights in whatever way possible and to work with Amnesty International in this very important year. Thank you.
Mr. Jack Penner (Emerson): Madam Speaker, today is indeed a momentous occasion for trade, international trade between Canada, United States and Mexico insofar that there are about 200 mayors and other officials meeting in the city of Winnipeg today, in the province of Manitoba, to discuss the furthering and expansion of the trade corridor between the United States, Canada, Manitoba and Mexico.
The potential of developing a trade corridor that is much larger than even today is very substantial, and it is noteworthy that a fellow by the name of Jerry Nagel, who was at the time in 1990 working for the University of Minnesota, came to see me when I was the Minister of Rural Development to--
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Madam Speaker: Order, please.
Mr. Penner: As I was saying, in 1990, a fellow by the name of Jerry Nagel came to see me from the University of Minnesota and suggested that Manitoba, Minnesota and North Dakota should start working together on developing an international trade corridor, realizing the potential between the United States or some of the states in the northern corridor and Manitoba in developing commerce and the traffic of commerce between the two or three jurisdictions.
That potential has grown dramatically now, including not only all of the states on the I-29 corridor and Highway I-75 corridor and right into Mexico. We believe that there will be a much greater degree of traffic created, adding to the already 750 trucks a day crossing the U.S. border at Emerson. The potential growth for Manitoba is very, very substantial. The growth in commerce, now a $5 billion annual export initiative for Manitoba, will be substantially increased by this initiative. We congratulate the mayors for being willing to sit down and further discuss the potential for growth in highway traffic and the creation of better traffic corridors even yet between Mexico, Manitoba and the rest of the United States.
* (1420)
Mr. Gord Mackintosh (St. Johns): It is my privilege to extend words of welcome and bitaemo to His Holiness the Patriarch of the Orthodox Christian Church, Patriarch Bartholomew I, of Constantinople on his current visit to our province.
Last night I had the distinct pleasure of attending a dinner in honour of His Holiness, along with several other members of the Assembly, including the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Doer), and we enjoyed the fellowship there. We certainly recognized that this was a once-in-a-lifetime event.
I was also impressed with the number of people who attended from across western Canada. We had some good exchanges of ideas and conversations with those individuals. The Orthodox Church has for centuries been the established church for millions of Greeks, Romanians, Russians, Ukrainians and others. The Patriarch is the current leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians around the world. His visit to our country and to this province in particular is a cultural and religious event of historical significance, of course, and especially for the 300,000 Orthodox Christians in Canada and the approximately 13,000 Orthodox Manitobans.
The Patriarch's visit to Manitoba is also the pinnacle event of celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Ukrainian branch of the Orthodox Church. So I would therefore like to extend congratulations to members of the Ukrainian Orthodox community as well, then, for reaching this significant milestone. I would ask that the Assembly join with me in welcoming His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew to Manitoba.
Mr. David Faurschou (Portage la Prairie): Madam Speaker, most Manitobans are shocked when they are made aware of this province's expenditure of over $500 million to service our debt annually. The Manitoba government's balanced budget legislation means living within our means, just as every Manitoba family must live within theirs. By balancing our budget and paying down our debt, we are using less money to service our debt, and these funds are now being made available towards education, health care and other funding priorities.
I am pleased this afternoon to make all honourable members aware of the introduction of a by-law by the City of Portage la Prairie to restrict the issuance of debt. By recognizing the value of balancing one's books and paying down one's debt, the City of Portage la Prairie has again proven itself as a leader among communities. The city's debt-management plan, when passed, will set the stage for the city to be debt free by the year 2012. Councils have succeeded in significantly improving the city's financial position over the last few years. In fact, the city has reduced its annual tax rate by 10 percent since 1991 and has eliminated that much maligned business tax, while maintaining the level of servicing and expanding services.
So, on behalf of all members here present, I would like to extend congratulations to Mayor Carlson and council for their foresight and willingness in this regard. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, I just wanted to once again comment on the Manitoba versus Winnipeg Hydro situation. Persistence is important when government totally ignores an issue which is important to all Manitobans. I do not believe the government is sincere in its attempts to acquire Winnipeg Hydro, and I do think that that is unfortunate. In the last 10 years this government has done nothing in order to look at acquiring Winnipeg Hydro, and I think, if we want to see hydro development that is consistent with sustainable development policies amongst other things such as consumer rates, that there is a need to see the two Crown corporations amalgamated. I would argue and emphasize to the minister that it does not make any sense to have two publicly owned Crown corporations providing electricity to the province.
It does not make any sense, and I would hope the government will indeed treat this issue much more seriously, address it, and the only other thing I would add to that is they also recognize the importance of Hydro remaining a publicly owned utility, that we do not move in the direction as we did with MTS. That is the one qualifier, of course, that I would put on it and hopefully we will see the day when it will be one publicly owned Crown corporation providing electricity and it will remain a publicly owned Crown corporation. Thank you, Madam Speaker.