Mr. Edward Helwer (Gimli): With yesterday's passage of Bill 22, Manitobans will see the results of lower provincial taxes beginning July 1. Reducing provincial income tax while increasing spending on priority programs was a major part of our recent budget. By keeping our taxes competitive, we are continuing to make Manitoba an attractive location for investment and job creation.

With the passage of Bill 22, Manitoba's personal income tax rate will be cut by three full percentage points by January 2000, saving Manitobans some $70 million this year and $112 million in the year 2000. The changes will be reflected on pay cheques starting July 1, and I know that Manitobans will certainly appreciate this.

Our government believes the way to achieve a strong economy is to provide responsible leadership, remove barriers to economic growth, keep taxes competitive, and look for strategic opportunities which build upon the province's natural strength. Balanced budgets, lower taxes and debt repayment all stimulate the economy by making the province more attractive to business.

Our government will continue to look at ways to keep the province's taxes competitive while ensuring sufficient revenue to support important programs. Our government knows that lower taxes create jobs and provide the economic growth that supports our province. We also know that is what Manitobans want from their government. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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Mr. Stan Struthers (Dauphin): I would like to say a couple of words about an educational issue in this province that needs some strong leadership but is not getting it from this minister.

Madam Speaker, the Athena Educational Partners are encouraging schools in our province to sign agreements in which they show the Youth News Network to students in our high schools. What this does simply is increase the amount of time our students watch commercials. This is the same government who, on the one hand, wants to increase the amount of time that students watch commercials, who wants to also decrease the amount of time that students spend in phys ed and decrease the amount of time that students spend in Canadian history.

Madam Speaker, let us be clear what this means for students. The students are a captive audience for commercials and this company's idea of what is important in the news. That is it. Where is the leadership on this issue from our minister?

Madam Speaker, three provinces have had the good common sense to say no to this company's proposal. This minister gave us the lame answer in Question Period that he did not want to dictate to trustees. Well, I would suggest to this minister that maybe he should talk to his party's candidate in the Springfield constituency, who is also the chair of the River East School Division, and tell him that Manitobans do not want this for their students, tell him that this is wrong to subject our captive students to these commercials and not sell students against the parents' wishes. Thank you.

Mr. Peter Dyck (Pembina): I would like to take a few moments to recognize the efforts of local police forces as they combat crime in southern Manitoba. The Pembina Valley and Red River Valley RCMP detachments, along with the Morden, Winkler and Altona police services, have been busy investigating a number of business break-ins in the region. Since January 1999, the police services had received several reports of business break, enter and thefts, including six cases where safes were attacked. The total loss to area business from theft, vandalism and wilful damage was estimated at approximately $70,000.

The local police forces knew the importance of dealing with these cases quickly. A joint task force was established consisting of three RCMP officers and one member of the Morden police service. I am pleased to report that the task force has already cleared 23 of these cases and laid 46 criminal charges. Their ongoing investigation may result in additional charges being laid. This project stands as a fine example of how groups can work together to build safer, healthier communities.

Partnerships between different police agencies, citizen groups and government are proving effective in preventing crime. It is important that we acknowledge and support the innovation and commitment of the many Manitobans who actively work in their communities to increase safety and prevent crime.

Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Last week we learned that federal Minister Collenette has appointed Arthur Kruger to make changes to the grain handling system based on the report put forward by Justice Estey. This report is basically the wishes of the grain companies and the railways, and the wishes of the majority of farmers are being ignored. If this is implemented, we will see that farmers' wishes are completely being ignored. We will see the rate cap removed, we will see the role of the Canadian Wheat Board diminished, and this will pave the way for massive branch line abandonment across Canada.

For a fair process to take place, we should have a grain freight costing review done. This was a request that was made of the federal government. The federal government rejected that request despite the fact that all farm organizations have been calling for it. We called on this government to do a pricing review for Manitoba with the hope that other provinces would get on the bandwagon with us, but this Conservative government has also refused to take those steps to have the costing review done so that farmers could be treated fairly in this whole process, because it is our understanding that CN and CP are having a great increase in their returns. Over $200 million is being drained out of the farming economy, and this should go back to the communities.

This review is taking place during the farmers' busiest season, and we must ensure that farmers have a fair say in this process and that they are represented. I would hope that this government will ensure that Manitoba farmers have a say and ensure that farmers do not lose all that they stand to lose if the Estey report is implemented.

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): The member for The Maples (Mr. Kowalski) and I have had the opportunity to talk about an issue that has been somewhat frustrating. We talked about it the other day while we were in committee, that being the issue of property tax.

We do feel that the government has not gauged what the public opinion really is on this very important issue. Therefore, I know for me and the member for The Maples (Mr. Kowalski), we are going to do what we can to enlighten the current government as to what we believe many, in particular Winnipeggers, and ultimately Manitobans, want to see, and that is more attention given to the issue of property tax. It is something in which no doubt we will be working over the next little while on trying to get a better gauge. Once we get that gauge, we will be sure to pass on the information to the Minister of Finance (Mr. Gilleshammer).