Madam Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would like to draw the attention of all honourable members to the public gallery where we have this afternoon nineteen Grade 6 students from Salisbury Morse Place School under the direction of Mr. James Warkentin. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable Leader of the official opposition.

Also, twelve Grade 11 students from Nelson McIntyre Collegiate under the direction of Mr. Jim Ruel. This school is situated in the constituency of St. Boniface.

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

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Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Madam Speaker, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business in Manitoba rated Manitoba amongst provinces as having the most acute shortage as a problem of any province in Canada to deal with skilled workers and trained workers in this province. KPMG has a study that said there is a serious and growing shortage of skilled people for high-tech industries here in Manitoba.

I would like to ask the Premier, who is responsible for the training strategies of the province: why are these skilled workers and training programs not meeting together in a co-ordinated strategy under his government?

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): I think that the Leader of the Opposition should first give credit to the fact that we have this incredible demand in our province because of all the jobs that are being created as a result of the policies of our government.

It is because of the policies of this government that we have been able to attract investment and job creation at a rate that far exceeds many provinces in Canada, particularly those with New Democratic administrations. I am sure that is one of the reasons why the Leader and his party voted for our budget in the recent vote, Madam Speaker, because they recognize the tremendous work that has been done to build that base for the future for our young people.

I might tell him that our young people, when they were in office, had an unemployment rate that was 3 percent above Canada's youth unem-ployment rate. Today, youth in our province, of course, have an unemployment rate that is more than 4 percent below Canada's, and that has a lot to do with the policies of this administration. That puts pressure obviously on the side of ensuring that we have people with the skills to meet the needs, and we, through the Economic Innovation and Technology Council, have people who are working together with representatives of industry to ensure that we are going to be providing and meeting the needs over a period of time for those skills. We are also, of course, working on immigration because we realize that we can bring in people with those skills as well to fill some of the needs.

It is a wonderful problem to have, Madam Speaker. Probably any government in Canada would give their right arm to have that challenge.

Mr. Doer: We have obtained results of the latest '97-98 Canadian Labour Force Development Board human resource study on training and community college investment and technical institutions in Canada. Manitoba, regrettably, spends the lowest amount of money per capita on these training community college programs. Those are the facts. I would like to ask this Premier: why is he not investing in a high-skilled economy of the future rather than rhetoric of the past?

Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Education and Training): Again, Madam Speaker, we are very glad to have the enthusiastic support of our colleagues in the New Democratic Party for budget initiatives that do indeed go some distance toward meeting the challenges that a new and buoyant economy in Manitoba is presenting us with. I am glad the honourable Leader of the Opposition so enthusiastically supported the $4 million college development fund in this year's budget. I was so glad for the enthusiastic support of the honourable member and his colleagues for the $1.3 million strategic fund that is designed to get colleges and universities working more closely together along with the private sector to bring about the trained people that we need for the expanding markets that we have to serve. In addition to that, changes in the apprenticeship arrangements in the province of Manitoba are all designed to meet the demand that the honourable member has set out in his question and which I agree with the Premier when he says it is a nice problem to have. It is still a problem, but it is certainly different from the problems that were left to us some years back when the New Democrats left this province on its knees basically.

Mr. Doer: On his knees with 6,000 housing starts per year compared to one-quarter of that now, Madam Speaker. Give me a break. KPMG, many–[interjection] Well, I hope so. They will come back after an election when we have the high-skilled, high-wage jobs of the future.

Madam Speaker, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, the manufacturing association, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, the KPMG study are all saying the same thing. We are not training our people, we are not having the skilled jobs of the future because we lack the skill, training and development in our infrastructure in our training programs today.

I would like to ask this Premier: why is Manitoba spending the lowest amount in Canada on training? Why is he not providing hope for our young people in the future, and why is Manitoba spending $100 per capita in western Canada, Saskatchewan $138 per capita, Alberta $180 per capita and B.C. $224 per capita on community colleges, vocational training, appren-ticeship programs and training for the skilled jobs of the future?

Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, I am glad that the member opposite is finally zeroing in on a situation which is foremost in the minds of most Manitobans, and that is the availability of job opportunities. We remind him that when they were in office, the youth unemployment rate was 3 percent above Canada's; that is what they left this province with. Today, it is over 4 percent below Canada's. That is why in the recent news that I am sure he has been reading, it says: TD forecasts sun for Manitoba. Manitoba headed for a brain gain, talking about youth staying here because of the opportunities created. On the other hand, and this is from the Regina Leader Post, it says: Saskatchewan loses jobs.

Now that is the difference between the policies of this administration and the policies of the New Democrats. They brought the economy of British Columbia to its knees in less than five years, and even in Saskatchewan, Madam Speaker, Saskatchewan loses jobs. That is what New Democrats stand for, is no jobs. In fact, the issue of the future is that under New Democrats, there is no hope for the future for young people. Under our administration, we have the challenge, the very pleasant challenge of being able to find enough skilled people to meet the job needs that we have created in this province.

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Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): My question is for the Minister of Education. Madam Speaker, not only has the Filmon government got the lowest per capita investment in training of any province in Canada, it is a government which has failed to produce specific strategies to deal with present and future training needs in Manitoba.

I would like to ask the Minister of Education and Training to offer any explanation as to why his government has ignored the consistent reports of a decade on the skill needs of the future and the outmigration of Manitobans, including the two reports from Winnipeg 2000, the Canadian Federation of Business every year, the information highway report of two years ago, the emerging skill needs task force of last year, as well as the Roblin report of 1993, all of them sounding an alarm of lack of skills training in Manitoba and outmigration of young people.

Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Education and Training): Madam Speaker, if the honourable member feels this way, it is hard to explain then why she would be on her feet so vigorously supporting the budget brought forward by the honourable Minister of Finance (Mr. Gilleshammer) just a short time ago. In fact, I think honourable members opposite are going to have quite a job explaining that particular situation which Frances Russell described as a tactically stupid and dishonest approach by honourable members opposite. Be that as it may, we appreciate the support because it tells us that, at least in the opinion of the members of the New Democratic Party, we are on the right track.

I am glad for the honourable members' support for initiatives that Morris-Macdonald School Division is undertaking, for example, with Anukiiwin school here in Winnipeg to bring students, predominantly aboriginal students, to the levels of high school graduation so that they can go further and take part in other opportunities that are made available. Certainly, the additional $4 million this year for the college growth fund is going to help by putting 1,000 additional students into classrooms in the Manitoba community colleges.

Ms. Friesen: Madam Speaker, could the Minister of Education explain why he has so far ignored the emerging skills task force report which asked the government to take leadership in a training plan in the information technology sector, to produce an annual report on the labour market supply–that is after 11 years, and they have not done it–and to develop a training plan for human resources and information tech-nology? Those are clearly specific proposals. What is the government doing?

Madam Speaker: Order, please. The question has been put.

Mr. McCrae: In addition to the large sums of money being made available for school divisions with respect to technology, technological advances are happening at other levels as well, as pointed out by the honourable member. We are pleased that she supports us in our budget in addressing technological challenges and opportunities that are presented to our post-secondary sector, as well as our trades and apprenticeship sector. We appreciate the support of honourable members opposite.

Ms. Friesen: Madam Speaker, can the minister confirm that the higher per capita funding for skills training in other provinces could be one part of the reason that we in Manitoba are losing pharmaceutical investments to Quebec, and we are losing the research in agriculture and agri-cultural diversity programs to Saskatchewan?

Mr. McCrae: Madam Speaker, we have an excellent education system in Manitoba, and our graduates are indeed sought after by other jurisdictions. We also see graduates from other jurisdictions migrating into Manitoba as well. That is a cycle that is not an unusual thing, but it is true that Manitoba competes very well in research. It competes very well with respect to any high-tech area of endeavour because Manitoba graduates and Manitoba workers are in demand not just in Manitoba.

The one thing that I notice about the honourable member's approach is that she forgets that we are dealing in a global economy. This government does not forget that and has been making preparations and taking a leadership role in the business community with respect to making sure Manitobans are prepared to compete and to compete effectively. Honourable members opposite tend to be somewhat selective when they are dealing with various reports, but I think that the major indicators indicate that what the Premier (Mr. Filmon) said earlier is very correct. When we compare ourselves with our most immediate partners to the east and to the west, we compare rather favourably indeed.

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Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): Madam Speaker, the death of Erica McEvoy in front of Club Regent, last May 4, by a speeding driver, is a tragedy that has shaken her family. The facts show that the victims of this crime have been unjustly treated by our justice system.

I want to ask the Minister of Justice to consider that the family did not know who the Crown prosecutor was until May 17, over a year later, even though there were 11 months of delays and six remands. They were not encouraged to file a victims impact statement; they were not encouraged to use the Victims Assistance Program. They were not aware of a plea bargain and reduction of the charges and to have no trial. I want to ask the minister, in view of his victims assistance legislation, can he tell the House what kinds of victims' rights are these?

Hon. Vic Toews (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): I appreciate the question from the member. Without accepting the preamble of what the member has stated because just last week she brought some very false information to this House and we, in fact, had to correct her, the Minister of Housing (Mr. Reimer) had to correct her, so I do not necessarily accept that, but I can say that the Ontario court in a very recent decision, in listening to some of the witnesses there, indicated that Manitoba's Victims' Rights Act is the only act that has an effective victims complaint mechanism to ensure that if there are victims who are not satisfied with the treatment that they received at the hands of the justice system, there is an effective complaint mechanism. So I certainly will look into the particular case, but I certainly would not accept the member's comments at face value.

Ms. Cerilli: I would ask the minister if he would consider what I am bringing to the House, as asked by me for the family, and if he would explain to the family why they were not asked to prepare a victim impact statement as his legislation requires. Why were they not even given this pamphlet?

Mr. Toews: Madam Speaker, I would certainly, in speaking to the members of that particular family, listen very closely and carefully to their concerns. I would certainly ensure that my staff respond in an appropriate fashion. Unfor-tunately, I do not have the same level of trust in the comments that this member has brought to this House. So I do in fact take very seriously any accusation that is brought forward like that, but I know from last week and the types of comments she made that they simply were not accurate.

Ms. Cerilli: Madam Speaker, I want to ask the minister to explain why this family did not even know who their Crown prosecutor was, who the Crown prosecutor was in the case, and why they were not advised to use the Victims Assistance Program. They have had delays for over a year; there were six remands; they went to–

Madam Speaker: Order, please. The question has been put.

Mr. Toews: As indicated, I will certainly look into that particular case, and I will take the particulars of that case as notice. I know that I spoke very recently to the administrator of the victims complaint mechanism, and I know that there has not been a complaint filed in that particular case. So I am just wondering why the member would not advise the family to take advantage of the mechanism that is there already unless she is bringing it to this House for some particular political purpose.

Mr. Gord Mackintosh (St. Johns): To the Minister of Justice. When we have another conditional sentence in such a serious and violent crime as the killing of 21-year-old Erica McEvoy, I suggest, Madam Speaker, that the minister is obliged not just to point fingers at Ottawa or to tell the victims and the survivors just to complain to the same department that breached their rights but to examine the role of his own department.

My question to the minister is: will the minister not admit that the seriousness of this crime was downplayed by his own department when it reduced the charge in a plea bargain from the most serious charge of criminal negligence causing death, which can attract up to life imprisonment, to the lowest charge of dangerous driving? Did his department not risk–

Madam Speaker: Order, please. The question has been put.

Hon. Vic Toews (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Madam Speaker, as you are well aware, the political office does not get involved in any particular charges. I know that the Crown attorneys have an ethical duty to ensure that, in the case that is brought forward to the court, there is sufficient evidence, evidence that is acceptable in a court, not evidence according to my standards or evidence according to the member for St. Johns. I know that Crowns often have very difficult issues and struggles in respect of particular cases, and I know that they have executed that responsibility in a very diligent fashion in the vast majority of cases. But, if there is an issue on this particular case, I will have my department look at that, and I will, as indicated, take the particulars of the matter as notice.

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Mr. Mackintosh: How can this minister explain, this minister who made a big to-do about a so-called Victims' Rights Act last year which promised helpful information about criminal matters that affect victims and their rights about courtesy, compassion and respect, why the survivors, who we understand, on top of waiting over a year for a very unjust outcome, were never involved in a plea bargain, let alone told about it or told about the right to prepare a victim impact statement, were not told by his department about the right to victim compensation. They did not know who the Crown was till last week. His Victims' Rights Act is a big–

Madam Speaker: Order, please. The question has been put.

Mr. Toews: Well, Madam Speaker, I am sorry that the member feels that way, because I do not think that accords with the facts. In fact, it has been recognized in testimony in a court in Ontario that Manitoba's act is in fact the only one in Canada with an enforceable mechanism in order to ensure that victims in fact are heard.

Our government does not simply pass legislation in order to ensure that victims are compensated in an appropriate fashion; we put the taxpayers' money where our mouths are, and that is that the current compensation budget in Manitoba is $2.6 million, compared to the Saskatchewan NDP government of $300,000. Madam Speaker, who is it that speaks for victims? It is not the NDP government in Saskatchewan; it is this government here in Manitoba.

Mr. Mackintosh: Would this minister, instead of listening to somebody in Ontario in the court system, listen to the victims in Manitoba and explain why the McEvoy family survivors were never told of their right and their ability to prepare in advance a victim impact statement, as he promised last September would be their right? Why the accused was given the right–

Madam Speaker: Order, please. The question has been put.

Mr. Toews: Madam Speaker, the answer to that is quite simple. The last week, when members on the opposite side brought forward information, it was simply incorrect. For example, they indicated that the rate of recovery in maintenance enforcement in British Columbia was higher than it was in Manitoba, and that was clearly false. Manitoba has the highest degree percentage of recovery in Canada of any province.

So all I am saying, Madam Speaker, is that the facts that are brought forward by this individual have consistently been wrong.

Mr. Steve Ashton (Opposition House Leader): Madam Speaker, on a point of order, the minister violates two provisions of Beauchesne: 417, answers to questions should be as brief as possible and deal with the matter raised and should not provoke debate; also, the provisions referring to members, 481.(e), in which he is clearly imputing motives.

We had a very serious question asked about victims' rights in this province, and for the minister to get up and not even attempt to answer the question and attempt to get into a debate-related matter that was raised last week, another issue this government has failed miserably with, is totally out of order. It is an insult to the family, the victims in this case who did not get the kind of victims' rights that this government said they would get and that those victims deserve. His conduct, his answers were an insult to that family. It is unacceptable.

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Madam Speaker: The honourable Minister of Justice, on the same point of order.

Mr. Toews: Madam Speaker, the question that was put to me is why I answered a question in a certain way. I answered that quite directly. It was simply because the information that members opposite have consistently brought to this House has been incorrect. So I know that our government and I personally feel very, very deeply for victims. That is why in fact we have been fighting for victims. But the fact is I answered the question that he put to me.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. Johns, on the same point of order.

Mr. Mackintosh: On the point of order, when there is such a serious issue raised that puts a test to the minister's rhetoric, given that last September he announced a victim impact state-ment program and here we have facts that are brought to this House, we understand, from the family that they were– after having to hear extensive input on behalf of the accused of the impact of the crime on him, the family and the father of the accused were simply asked–

Madam Speaker: Order, please. With the greatest respect, the honourable member for St. Johns is now debating the issue, not speaking to the point of order.

On the point of order raised by the honourable member for Thompson, he cited two violations of our rules. I indeed will research Hansard to confirm the accuracy of the state-ments made and bring a ruling back to the House.

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, my question is for the Premier. Whether it is Manitoba Lotteries or Manitoba Hydro or Workers Compensation, these particular boards and others are held accountable through the Legislature when we go through standing committees. This government's past record clearly demonstrates gross neglect in terms of not bringing forward those boards to our standing committees. The question, very simply, to the Premier: how does this govern-ment try to come across as an accountable government when in fact they do not even have the courage to call standing committees to deal with these vitally important Crown corporations on expenditures and revenues that are very important to all Manitobans?

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, I could be wrong, but I do not recall boards having been brought forward to committee in the past, so I think the member is confused. If he means the annual reports of the Crown corporations being brought to committee for debate and discussion, I can tell him that this government prides itself on its accountability and that this government–

Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.

Madam Speaker: Order, please.

Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, we obviously have an accountability to the public, and the public has watched over the last 11 years how Crown corporations now operate in a very business-like fashion, how Crown corporations under the New Democrats used to traditionally lose millions and tens of millions of dollars every year, taxpayers' money, whose rates were set in the cabinet room are now being done in a very open and democratic fashion with competent boards who operate at arm's length from government, who are running those corporations in manners that are seeing us have some of the lowest utility rates in the country, some of the best profitability in the country and some of the best accountability because they are accountable ultimately to the public. We take great pride in their achievements.

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Mr. Lamoureux: My question for the Premier is: how does he tell Manitobans that his Crown corporations or the government's Crown corporations are being held accountable when in fact they might spend one or two hours a year in committee with staff people here to answer questions from opposition, even government backbenchers? How does that account for accountability?

Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, you have corporations like MPI and Hydro being examined firstly by the Crown Corporations Council and being given a very, very thorough external examination by experts in the field. Our current Auditor used to be the former financial person at the Crown Corporations Council. They get a very rigorous examination each and every year. More particularly, those two corporations go before a thorough long-ranging examination by the Public Utilities Board.

We have people from all different–the Consumers' Association, the Manitoba Society of Seniors, we have political representatives, we have many, many people come before that Public Utilities Board process, a process that did not exist under the New Democrats. They used to simply make those decisions in cabinet, which is why they lost millions and tens of millions of dollars that they added to the rates and ultimately impacted to the detriment of the public of Manitoba. We take great pride in all of the various steps of accountability that have been introduced by our government to ensure those Crown corporations are much better off today than they ever were under the New Democrats.

Mr. Lamoureux: Can the Premier then tell us: why does this Premier not recognize the benefits of having our Crown corporations being held, in part, accountable through our standing com-mittees? That is why we have the standing com-mittees in part. Why does this Premier not support accountability of our Crown cor-porations here in the Manitoba Legislature?

Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, our Crown corporations are accountable and will be held accountable, not only by Crown Corporations Council, not only by the Public Utilities Board in many instances, but they will be as well by the committees of this Legislature.

Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, when the Minister of Agriculture signed the final agreement on AIDA just a few weeks ago, the flooding situation in western Manitoba was already developing. I would like to ask the Minister of Agriculture if he can tell this House what efforts he made to have disasters such as flooding as a criteria to receive assistance under the AIDA program before he signed the agreement.

Hon. Harry Enns (Minister of Agriculture): Madam Speaker, my friend from Swan River has advanced the season somewhat in terms of what occurred on the landscape.

But to answer her directly, the AIDA program is an income support price for farmers essentially developed for the poor prices in commodities, wheat, barley and grains, as well as pork. Certainly the problem facing the farmers in southwestern is an income problem, or potentially will be an income problem this fall if significant acreage is not seeded. It is my expectation that the AIDA program will be very helpful under these circumstances.

Ms. Wowchuk: Given the crisis farmers are facing in the southwest part of the province, I would like to ask the Minister of Agriculture to explain the comments made by his colleague the member for Arthur-Virden (Mr. Downey), who says that funds from AIDA should be redirected to help farmers who are in this situation right now. Is there criteria to redirect these funds, the funds from AIDA, to help farmers in a disaster situation? [interjection]

Madam Speaker: Order, please. The honour-able minister was not recognized because I feared I might not be able to hear him, given the disruption in the Chamber.

Mr. Enns: I was simply putting on the record that I was always prepared to take good advice from my good friend the honourable member for Arthur-Virden. I only regret that I do not have that advice right now on the cabinet table with him from time to time on these issues.

But be that as it may, what the honourable member referred to and what I am prepared to accept is to examine seriously whether or not a modification of the AIDA program can be applied to make an interim payment. As the honourable member knows, this program is based on income tax documentation which would not be filed till the months January, February 2000. No money from AIDA would flow to the southwestern, the flood-stricken farmers, till about this time in the year 2000, and that is a long time. I am trying to see whether there are some opportunities to provide some of that assistance on perhaps an interim payment earlier.

Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Given that farmers are facing a crisis and expect leadership from government, and given that they cannot access AIDA funds from last year's income, can the minister indicate when we are going to finally see a disaster assistance program that farmers can count on rather than ad hoc programs that they do not know whether they will cover the disasters that they are in?

Hon. Harry Enns (Minister of Agriculture): I am fully cognizant of the risks involved in agriculture, but I can say without fear of contradiction, no other government in the history of Manitoba has provided more support for agriculture than the government that I have the privilege of serving.

Mr. Conrad Santos (Broadway): My question is directed to the honourable Minister responsible for the Seniors Directorate. The regulatory and licensing powers of government are exercised either to regulate the behaviour of citizens or to raise revenues. Since the last three years, this government, this party in power, has not only forced senior citizens to get entry passes to public parks and licence fees, they also increased these fees consistently throughout the last three years. What is the purpose of this regulatory or licensing power, to raise revenue or to regulate the behaviour of citizens?

Hon. Jack Reimer (Minister responsible for Seniors): Madam Speaker, one of the things this government has tried very, very diligently and consistently with is to try to make life not only better for the seniors of Manitoba but for all Manitobans. One of the ways that we have looked at is to make this economy of Manitoba vibrant, aggressive and growing so that there are revenues that can be shared through all aspects of our society.

One of the things that we are very proud of is our parks, our recreation areas, and our ability to have people use these facilities. The charges against these are of a minor nature in regard to some of the seniors passes and the fishing licence, but it is the enhancement for all Manitobans that a lot of these amenities are there for. As I stated earlier, it is our commitment that the economy of this province and the growing and the revenues that are generated are shared by all Manitobans, including seniors.

Mr. Santos: Supplementary, Madam Speaker. Since the institution of these park entry licensing fees, how much revenue has the government raised?

Mr. Reimer: Madam Speaker, the issuance of licence and the fees that are collected are I believe controlled through the Department of Natural Resources, and I believe that is a question that should be directed towards that minister and his department in their Estimates. We do not have that access through my department.

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Mr. Santos: Another supplementary, Madam Speaker. Contrasting and upsetting the revenue received in terms of the psychological lack of opportunities for senior citizens to enjoy the public facilities of the parks and the fishing opportunities, does this government wish to reconsider this unpopular policy and practice regarding our seniors?

Mr. Reimer: Madam Speaker, I must remind the member, too, that in the support of the budget that was just passed, there was reference to the costs and the associated facts. I find it ironic that in supporting the budget, they are now criticizing part of the revenues that are created by that, but at the same time–

Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.

Madam Speaker: Order, please. The honour-able Minister responsible for Seniors, to complete his response.

Mr. Reimer: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. As I was saying, I find it ironic that the member there that voted for this budget, that voted for these types of fees, is now criticizing and wanting accountability.

As I mentioned earlier, the parks and the recreation areas for all Manitobans are set out for their enjoyment. I would say that the main-tenance of them and the participation and the involvement by peoples of Manitoba in our parks is something that is very, very enviable in all areas of Canada. I would think that these can be enjoyed by not only Manitobans but seniors throughout Manitoba also.

Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): If members had taken the time to talk to physical education professionals outside the building today at noon, they would have found that these people are very concerned about the lack of leadership by this government encouraging physical education and that school divisions are now following their lead and are reducing lower than the curriculum requirements the amount of physical education time.

I want to ask the Minister of Education if he is aware that the proposal that was defeated in Brandon School Division would have eliminated four teaching positions. Does he think it is acceptable for school divisions to save money by eliminating physical education and physical education positions?

Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Education and Training): Madam Speaker, I was pleased to join with my colleague the Minister of Culture, Heritage and Citizenship (Mrs. Vodrey) today and spend a little time on the grounds of the Legislature with hundreds and hundreds of Manitoba school kids and their teachers and engage in a little physical activity and some fun. It was a wonderful occasion this afternoon, and my compliments to all of those who were involved in its organization. I was honoured to be able to take part in the presentation of the Toba Award just before resuming my work getting ready for the Legislature this afternoon.

I think the honourable member raised the question of physical education in the Brandon School Division in the past. I think I made the point at that time that parents, physical education teachers and others were making their views known to the school division in their planning process. The system indeed works, and again I think honourable members, by their repeated questioning, are very, very loudly hinting that it is their intention, if they were ever given the opportunity–I do not think that will ever happen–but if they ever had the opportunity, they would get rid of school divisions, and that is not the policy of this government.

Ms. Cerilli: Madam Speaker, I want to ask the new minister responsible for fitness and recreation if she has pleaded with the Minister of Education to understand that his curriculum requirements not being met in Manitoba schools is going to jeopardize her agreement and this government's agreement to reduce by 10 percent inactive Manitobans in the next number of years. Has the minister asked him?

Mr. McCrae: Madam Speaker, you just need to look at the successful students in our system to know that those are the students who are also engaged in regular physical activity. The Department of Education and Training certainly supports that and wants to see an appropriate level of physical education and physical activity undertaken by students right across the province. With the New Directions, we are asking that certain standards be met, and I think that in some cases they are more rigorous than they were in the past, and I think this is something that students can benefit from. In order to meet those requirements, a healthy body also allows a healthy mind to do a better job. So I am very much in line with the suggestions being made by the honourable member.

Madam Speaker: Time for Oral Questions has expired.