Mr. David Faurschou (Portage la Prairie): Madam Speaker, all honoured and distinguished members of this Legislature, men and women That statement could not have been made in the year of which I speak, that being the year 1912. Sir Rodmond Roblin, having just adjourned the Second Session of the 13th Legislature, the 41 members had been adjourned for their summer recess, and Manitoba had 461,394 souls. This year was 87 years ago today, and April 15 was also known for the anniversary of that fateful sinking of the Titanic.

Manitoba has very strong ties to the Titanic, having lost six Winnipeggers on that fateful evening, also Charles Hays, president of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad, having recently commissioned the Hotel Fort Garry, which we all today still appreciate.

I stand here today, in authentic dress of 87 years ago, in honour of the opening today of the Manitoba Museum of the Titanic in Portage la Prairie.

Ms. Vera Hermanns, sponsor, and Mr. Steve Santini, curator, are well known across the nation as Canada's foremost Titanic authorities. In fact, this couple is recognized by the Canadian-born director and producer of the recent big budget film, Titanic, as being Canada's authority on the Titanic. This couple is now responsible for a museum which offers excellent presentations of artifacts exhibited in educational and historic fashion. The museum features chronological structure of story; a number of interactive displays are also available; and set props are also available detailing the 1912 style.

The museum has drawn distinguished international attention from the National Post and USA Today. I invite all members to take a moment to attend to the museum proudly located in Portage la Prairie. Thank you.

Ms. Becky Barrett (Wellington): Madam Speaker, last night at the annual general meeting of Rossbrook House several awards were given out. First to Carl Ridd, a former Olympian and community activist who won the Kateri Award for his work with Rossbrook House over many years, especially with the basketball teams. And, secondly, two young people, who make Rossbrook House one of their special places, Terrance Olson and Brian Mink for their energy and involvement with the programming and activities of Rossbrook House.

I would like to acknowledge the work that has been undertaken for over 20 years by all the people who have been involved with Rossbrook House, particularly Sisters Lesley Sacouman, Margaret Hughes and Bernadette O'Riley, the many volunteers, and the literally thousands of young people who have made Rossbrook House the safe haven it has been for over 20 years, and for thousands of kids who have gained a sense of identity, cultural identity and empowerment.

I know all honourable members will join in congratulating all those who have made Rossbrook House a beacon of hope for the thousands of young people for over 20 years. Thank you.

Mr. Peter Dyck (Pembina): I am pleased to stand in the House today and speak about the seventh annual Sustainable Development Awards of Excellence dinner that I, along with several of my colleagues, had the pleasure of attending last night. The awards honoured those who have made significant contributions to sustainable development in Manitoba. They are all fine examples which other individuals and companies should strive to follow.

Madam Speaker, I would like to name the recipients of those important awards, so they will be entered into the public record. They are ISIS Canada for their research and development into the use of new composite materials, the Town of Roblin for their creation of an environmentally sustainable wastewater treatment system, the Marquis Project for establishing an educational organization which supplies information about global issues and draws links between life in the North and in the South, Isobord Enterprises for their innovative strawboard production plant, Western Profiles Ltd. for the development of a product manufactured from recycled polyvinyl chloride, the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources for developing an educational program for aboriginal youth, the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association for the development of an environmental program and the adoption of the Manitoba government's Principles and Guidelines for Sustainable Development, Sarah Bector for the establishment of the Pritchard Park Literacy and Youth Drop-In Centre, Kelsey Porter for the development of the composting log book.

As well, Premier Filmon presented Alice Chambers the lifetime achievement award. Ms. Chambers has been involved with numerous organizations that work to protect our forested areas and our endangered species. Her efforts to these causes have been tremendous.

I would like to congratulate all the award recipients for their commitment to maintaining our environment. Their accomplishments in the area of sustainable development enrich the health and well-being of all Manitobans. Thank you.

Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Madam Speaker, the 1994 throne speech pledged a Cervical Cancer Screening Program. Various ministers have reiterated this promise in '95, '97 and '98. On April 8, 1998, a year ago and after the tragic and premature death of a Manitoba woman, I asked the then Minister of Health, to establish the registry immediately. After much bafflegab he made a commitment, but a year has passed and there is no registry. Once again, this government which claims to value women's lives has broken its word.

I repeat again that cervical cancer is among the most treatable of cancers, but treatment of the cancer depends on sound screening and diagnosis. Sadly, these programs are still not in place and approximately 20 Manitoba women die each year of cervical cancer, an eminently diagnosable and treatable cancer. These women are not merely numbers but real people with real families whose lives are shattered by these unnecessary deaths.

Today, I ask the Minister of Health to honour the government's five-years-ago commitment to Manitoba women and institute a central registry for cervical cancer. I ask him to give us dates and locations. He has had five years to plan, and if there is no clear plan yet, then I ask the minister to show some courage, admit the whole sorry mess and start over, for as I remind the minister, women's lives are more important than Tory ego.

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Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, just very briefly we want to re-emphasize a point that we started at the beginning of the session with respect to the boundary redistribution. There has been a great deal of concern. The party has believed that that issue should have been dealt with prior to the debate on the throne speech. There are some fundamentals in democracy, we believe, as cornerstones.

There has been disappointment in terms of the lack of sitting time inside this Chamber which, in our opinion, is an assault of democracy. Another assault is the challenge and the high disregard towards the need to see these new boundaries put in place in case there is an election. We look for the government not to call an election until those boundaries are in fact put in place. Failing the government's willingness to give that commitment, we look to the official opposition to stop playing politics as they are doing. They are playing just as much politics as the government on this particular issue, and we ask that the official opposition do the responsible thing and allow for the leave to take place so that Manitobans will indeed see the new boundaries, so we will not see the type of inequities such as a 30,000 population in one riding versus a 17,000 in other, amongst many other inequities that are there.

So we give a plea, in particular, to the New Democratic Party today in accepting the government's will to pass the necessary legislation in order to implement those new boundaries. We hope to see--[interjection] You have too, we all have—that those boundaries are in fact passed before the budget. Thank you.