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MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

Mr. Gerry McAlpine (Sturgeon Creek): Madam Speaker, as part of my government's ongoing commitment to further economic development of our province, coupled with our continuous efforts to make our tax system more progressive and competitive, we were proud to recently announce the introduction of the equity tax credit.

Manitoba investors are now eligible for a tax break of up to $4,500 over a three-year period when they buy qualifying shares of an eligible Manitoba-based company. The credit can be deducted from Manitoba personal income tax and pertains to equities listed exclusively on the Winnipeg Stock Exchange. This new tax credit will help us further develop capital markets in Manitoba and will provide another incentive to invest in Manitoba companies. This, of course, will result in job creation for Manitobans. Manitoba has been experiencing phenomenal economic growth and diversification in the past few years. We are branching out into nontraditional sectors and are making a name for ourselves in many cutting-edge industries such as film and video production, health research, and value-added agriculture. This Equity Tax Credit is just the latest way that my government is giving its support to Manitoba-based companies and industry. The Equity Tax Credit will help strengthen and fortify Manitoba businesses and give them the resources they need to grow and expand. We all know that a strong and healthy economy leads to a strong and healthy province. My government is committed to both. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East): Yesterday in Question Period I raised the matter of structural problems at the Brandon Regional Health Centre related to a flooding that occurred because of a breakage of a valve in the air conditioning system. Fortunately, the staff were able to fix it up quickly, but nevertheless it could have been very serious if the roof of the emergency room collapsed.

Madam Speaker, these problems are not new. The administration of the Brandon general hospital for years has had to cope with this. They have always thought, though, that the government was going to come forward with a modernization of the building and therefore put off a certain number of preventative maintenance procedures that could have taken place.

I read from the letter dated September 21, 1993, to the then Minister of Health. It is from the chairman of the board of directors at Brandon general and signed by two other officials from the board, and it says: solutions are long overdue and absolutely necessary. Time-expired facilities continue to deteriorate, mechanical systems routinely require very expensive retrofit and repair, building and system codes in most instances do not reflect current standards and are failing repeatedly.

This was 1993, and we still have the situation of Brandon waiting for a new hospital to be built. I suggested yesterday, in all seriousness to the Minister of Health (Mr. Stefanson), that funds be put aside to enable the administration to engage in certain preventative maintenance to avert any potential disaster that could be around the corner. I wanted to remind the honourable minister and the House that since 1988, when the first Minister of Health was appointed, the Brandon general hospital facility was put under review, and that is about all we have had as far as the Brandon general or the Brandon Regional Health Centre is concerned. Madam Speaker, I would hope the minister will take my suggestion seriously.

Mrs. Myrna Driedger (Charleswood): Madam Speaker, I would like to take a few moments to talk about The Employment and Income Assistance Amendment Act that was introduced in the House yesterday. This legislation will allow us to help people on social assistance escape the trap of welfare dependency and achieve self-sufficiency. Welfare should be a hand up not a handout. It has never been intended to serve as permanent income replacement for able-bodied Manitobans.

My government wants to help people on social assistance become self-sufficient and to acquire the skills they need to provide for themselves and their families. Some of the programs we are proposing include work for welfare which would require all clients capable of working to draft personal job plans and prove that they are actively seeking employment. Clients will be expected to participate in community service until they gain employment. This service will help them increase their chances of finding work. Learnfare, which would help Manitobans both with and without children acquire the skills and experience necessary to find work and to succeed in the workforce. Able-bodied childless youth will be expected to attend school to receive their benefits.

Finally, the addictions treatment program will oblige childless welfare recipients who have addictions problems to engage in addictions treatment. Those with children will be strongly encouraged to seek treatment, as well, but their benefits will not be cut for noncompliance. The welfare of their children will be carefully monitored.

Madam Speaker, there are jobs and opportunities to be had in this province, and we want everyone who is capable to capitalize on these opportunities. We want to connect people to these jobs because we know that a lifetime on welfare is a commitment to a lifetime of poverty. Turning a blind eye to the problem of welfare dependency is simply irresponsible, and my government will not ignore the problem.

Mr. Gary Kowalski (The Maples): On the way down to Question Period today, I was listening to CBC Questionnaire, and they had Tom Simms of CEDA and John Prystanski, the city councillor, talking about the fire zone in the north end of Winnipeg. I understand the member for St. Johns' (Mr. Mackintosh) sensitivity because I, too, am very proud to come from the north end. It is hard to point out the problems without stigmatizing the area. It is a wonderful area of this city to live in.

The point that Tom Simms made on CBC Questionnaire was that this is not a problem that just affects the north end. People from River Heights, people from Tuxedo, people from all over, if there is a zero percent property increase next year, they will still be paying higher taxes in their areas as a result of the decreasing value of the property in the north end, properties where, according to Tom Simms, the values have fallen as much as 50 percent in one year. When there is a reassessment, all of us will be paying higher.

Now that is not the only reason. There are human issues concerned. I worked in that area for a number of years as a community police officer. I chose to live in that area, and it is an area that all legislatures should look at because it affects all of us in Manitoba what happens to that area of town.

Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Madam Speaker, last evening the Municipal Affairs committee met and considered Bill 14. Bill 14 amends The Amusements Act so that digital video disks and video games can be classified by the Film Classification Board. The Minister of Culture, Heritage and Citizenship (Mrs. Vodrey) was on record as saying that she did not intend to have the board classify video games, and last night her position did not waiver.

Although I proposed a second amendment which would make classification by the board mandatory, government members used their majority to defeat the amendment. Members of the opposition do not believe that classification of video games should be a matter of ministerial discretion. As video games have become increasingly graphic, realistic, violent and pornographic, we believe that the need for classification has become paramount. We think the majority of Manitobans agree with us, and we were extremely disappointed to learn that the–

Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Environment): I believe the amendment was withdrawn not voted down. That is a very misleading and incorrect statement to leave on the floor, very bad. I do not know; it is probably a dispute over the facts, but the record will show the member was ruled out of order. It was not turned down.

Madam Speaker: Order, please. On the matter raised by the honourable Minister of Environment, there was no point of order.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Osborne, to complete her member's statement.

Ms. McGifford: Madam Speaker, I do thank the Minister of Environment. She is quite right. The amendment was ruled out of scope; it was not voted down. So she is quite right.

We think the majority of Manitobans want to have video games classified, and we were extremely disappointed to learn that the minister did not consult with Manitobans about the kind of legislation they would prefer. I would have thought that this minister, who is also Minister responsible for the Status of Women and a former Minister of Justice and who claims to be a proponent of zero tolerance, would have had the sensitivity to consult with parents and with women's groups, especially since violence against women is a fairly regular feature of video games.

In conclusion, we are disappointed with the minister's decision, a decision which ignores the public good and which is plainly illogical in that it does not classify video games, though films and videos are classified.