Mr. David Faurschou (Portage la Prairie): Madam Speaker, this past weekend as MLA for Portage la Prairie I had the opportunity to attend the official opening of the new exhibition office building of the Portage Industrial Exhibition Association at Island Park. I also had the pleasure of representing the Minister of Culture, Heritage and Citizenship, the Honourable Rosemary Vodrey, who, I am very proud to say, supported this particular project. The Portage Industrial Exhibition has provided a valuable service to Portage la Prairie and surrounding area for over 125 years; in fact, this year will be the 127th consecutive exhibition, which is the longest–

Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): On a point of order, Madam Speaker. The member for Assiniboia has been heckling all Question Period, and she does not even have the good sense not to heckle during her own member's statement. Perhaps you could call her to order, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: Order, please. The honourable member for Assiniboia, on the same point of order.

Hon. Linda McInosh (Minister of Environment): My heckling was always in response to things said to me from the other side during Question Period. So, Madam Speaker, if I point, it is to show him how silly he looks pointing, and I do enjoy what my member is saying. I wish they would be quiet so we could hear him.

Madam Speaker: Order, please. On the point of order raised by the honourable member for Concordia, I would like to remind all honourable members to listen attentively, as I have requested on several occasions, and to pay due respect to members when they are making their members' statements. It is far too noisy in this Chamber when individual members are recognized to speak.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Portage, to complete his member's statement.

Mr. Faurschou: Madam Speaker, do I have the permission of the House to start over again, please?

Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Portage have leave to–

Mrs. McIntosh: On a point of order, Madam Speaker. It is against the rules to heckle, and the Leader of the Opposition, after getting up and making a self-righteous speech about other people heckling, starts in heckling the minute we all sit down to start these proceedings over again. If they would just not set the standard. They can set a standard; we will respond accordingly.

Madam Speaker: The Leader of the official opposition, on the same point of order.

Mr. Doer: On the same point of order, the member for Portage correctly asked for leave, and we gave leave with reason. I apologize for giving our reasons; leave is granted to the member from our side.

Madam Speaker: I thank the Leader of the official opposition.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Portage, to start his member's statement again with the co-operation of all members on both sides of the Chamber.

Mr. Faurschou: Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I appreciate leave as provided to me by the Chamber.

Madam Speaker, this past weekend I had the opportunity as MLA for Portage la Prairie to attend the official opening of the new exhibition office at the Portage Industrial Exhibition Association's facilities at Island Park. I also had the privilege of bringing greetings on behalf of the honourable Minister of Culture, Heritage and Citizenship, the Honourable Rosemary Vodrey, who, I am very pleased to say, supported this program.

I would like to congratulate all organizers, directors, volunteers and sponsors who played a part in this project in making it a reality. I would like to draw a special note to Mr. Marvin McCallister and Mr. Don Coubrough, who were co-chairs of the building committee, for their outstanding accomplishment. Best of luck. Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

Ms. Becky Barrett (Wellington): Madam Speaker, I am concluding the letter from Lorrie Roulette from Brandon that I began yesterday, outlining the problems that she and her family have had with the health care system.

I quote: You are scared but also want this surgery over and done so you can begin the healing process. It will save his life, but Manitoba Health does not seem to care. So sorry, an emergency arose; let us try Monday. So sorry, another emergency; let us try Friday. So sorry, there are no beds today; let us try Monday. So sorry, you have a cold now plus there are no beds in intensive care. No beds, no nurses, no doctors. This is health care?

With each new date of surgery you have prepared yourself emotionally and physically just to be put off again and again. The mental anguish is incredible, the upheavals in your life unbelievably stressful. How are you coping with this situation? How are you avoiding another heart attack from the stress that you must be going through? What has happened to the Manitoba health care system? Why can Manitoba Health no longer take care of Manitobans' health? Why can a scheduled surgery no longer take place on schedule? What happened to our efficient, compassionate and smooth-running hospitals of 10 years ago? What is the cause of this bedlam, government cutbacks or inept health authorities? Who is going to not only address but mend the many problems before patients die? How many already have?

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

* (1420)

Mr. Marcel Laurendeau (St. Norbert): This morning I had the pleasure of attending, along with our Premier (Mr. Filmon) and the Minister of Family Services (Mrs. Mitchelson), an announcement at the St. Norbert Foundation. Our government will provide an additional $500,000 annually to create additional spaces to help addicted parents on welfare receive treatment. This new initiative is one more way we are working to improve the lives of all Manitobans. This morning's announcement will encourage people on social assistance with dependency problems to seek assistance to overcome their addictions.

When a one-tier social assistance program was implemented in April, the Department of Family Services adopted the City of Winnipeg's policy of obliging childless people with chemical dependency problems to seek treatment. This government is taking it a step further to ensure that we are encouraging addicted clients to get treatment. Treatment options vary, depending on the needs of each client. Parents with addictions will also be aggressively encouraged to take part in addiction treatment programs; however, their benefits will not be terminated for noncompliance. Since my government always concerns itself with the welfare, safety and security of children, we will put the necessary safeguards in place to ensure that the children are not placed at risk in these instances where their parents continuously refuse treatment.

This new approach will help Manitobans with addictions to become healthy and productive members of society. This will help them achieve personal goals and lead more fulfilling lives, and it will provide substantial benefits for their families.

Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): The planned May election was cancelled, but round two of questionable health care ads by the provincial government has now begun. According to the latest advertising campaign, the Manitoba government now has a health plan. A large part of that plan clearly involves using tax dollars to try and re-elect a government mired by hallway medicine, frozen food in hospitals and vote-splitting schemes.

Apparently the Health minister (Mr. Stefanson) learned nothing from public opposition to the $500,000 wasted in health care ads of March and April. Once again taxpayers are paying for ads promoting the Conservative Party and the Filmon cabinet. This time the bill for two 30-second TV ads is $175,000. These ads will run for a full four weeks. Even the minister admits that the ads are another attempt to deal with the fact that most Manitobans do not believe the Filmon government when it comes to providing quality health care. For residents of the Norman Region, including Flin Flon, The Pas, Snow Lake, Pukatawagan, Sherridon, Cranberry Portage and some northern Saskatchewan communities, the timing of yet another promotional campaign is more than questionable. Just over a week ago, Linda Campbell, the CEO of the Norman Regional Health Authority, resigned. She was the second CEO of the regional health authority to quit in less than two years. Her resignation came just days after it was revealed that the special care unit of the Flin Flon Hospital closed due to lack of staff.

Earlier in May, Campbell had gone public when she spoke to the Flin Flon Chamber of Commerce over her concerns with staff shortages, nurse burnout, a continuing deficit at the Flin Flon Hospital along with other issues. The RHA is now advertising in newspapers locally and elsewhere for a new CEO. Given the problems facing the Norman Regional Health Authority, just why northerners or any other Manitobans should have to pay for yet more advertising campaigns promoting the Filmon government is hard to understand. Would the money not be better spent on front line health care, Madam Speaker? Thank you.

Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East): On Monday I raised the question in the House regarding the explosions at the Simplot plant in Brandon. The explosion that occurred a few days back is the third one that has happened since last September, and indeed people in the east end of Brandon, in fact the whole community of Brandon are very concerned.

Last year, at the time of the two first explosions, I raised the matter with the then Minister of Environment, the MLA for Brandon West (Mr. McCrae), and I raised it with the Premier (Mr. Filmon) by way of a letter requesting an independent review of the matter, bringing in expertise that I do not believe is available in the Workplace Safety and Health Division, and I repeat, this is no reflection on the staff; they are excellent staff. But you need expertise in this matter, and that expertise is available, as I found out by doing some research, through the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. They conduct an ammonia safety symposium every year. There is considerable information on this, and indeed I have mailed this, some months back, to various officials involved.

I now note that the City of Brandon is prepared to conduct an independent review and is now going to meet with Simplot officials and officials from Workplace Safety and Health to see how this may occur. I want to take this opportunity to again urge the Minister of Labour (Mr. Radcliffe), who is responsible in this area, to forthwith hire the expertise to conduct this review. This is not anti-Simplot. In fact I repeat that the company is prepared to engage in this independent review, welcomes it. Unfortunately, the MLA from Brandon West said that we are trying to close down Simplot. Far from the truth. The company is prepared to co-operate and wants this in the interests of safety, in the interests of everybody.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.