ORAL QUESTION PERIOD
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Mr. Speaker, first of all, we would like to pass on our condolences to the member for Seine River (Mrs. Dacquay) on the passing of her mother, just yesterday I believe.
Federal Budget
Defence Spending
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Premier.
Last week, we talked about the fact that there was no indication in the budget about the federal cuts to health and post-secondary education.
Yesterday, we talked about the devastation of the Crow rate reductions and safety net reductions and the pooling changes on the producers here in Manitoba and asked questions about its impact on the budget.
Today, we have learned that on top of the 185 jobs that are proposed to be lost at Shilo, at that institution, that there is a further hundred military jobs on top of the 185 jobs proposed lost. This is the largest employer in the western region of this province--the largest employer.
When we have checked the numbers in terms of civilian reductions, it was indicated to us that the reductions in the province of Alberta were 15 percent in civilian reductions in defence spending. The reductions in the province of Quebec at the Bagotville operation were about 2 percent in civilian population defence cuts, and at Shilo, the cuts are 40 percent in terms of the province of Manitoba.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask this government whether they have built in these horrible impacts in their own provincial budget, and what can we do to get the federal government to reverse its decision, to go back to its original position that there would not be cuts at Shilo, so that we can keep those 285 people working in western Manitoba?
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Mr. Speaker, firstly, as has been indicated by the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson)--I know that the Leader of the Opposition spends a lot of time posing his questions but not much time listening to answers. The Minister of Finance told him last week in response to his questions that, firstly, all of that is in the budget. It is in the budget speech and is referred to specifically so that the Leader of the Opposition could read about it.
Secondly, it does contain the $60 million in years '96-97 and '97-98, the reductions there.
Thirdly, there is a surplus in the '95-96 budget which can be allocated to things such as that and, finally, as he has indicated previously, the projections for revenue increase are modest and, in fact, below those of almost all economic observers, so that we have left in plenty of room for additional funding, not that we appreciate any of those cuts. In fact, I might say that the Leader of the Liberal Party (Mr. Edwards) has termed them to be fair, Mr. Speaker, all of these cuts, close to a thousand jobs on the air side with Air Command and so on and also the major cuts at Shilo.
We have put together, I might say, an all-party committee utilizing support from the public at large and many organizations to go to the federal government. We have been denied the opportunity by the federal Minister of National Defence to even meet with him, to even have input to his decision or to question him. I might indicate, Mr. Speaker, that Manitoba's share of the defence cuts is probably at least double that of any other province.
When I raised that with the Prime Minister on Friday, his response was, well, you know, Mr. Klein has not been complaining about the cuts and we closed the base in Calgary. I said, yes, that is right. You closed the base in Calgary, and you moved it to Edmonton which is bigger.
There is no sensitivity whatsoever on the part of the federal government, and what is absolutely infuriating is that the Liberal Party here in this Legislature will not speak out against those cuts. They will not even appoint a representative to the committee that we want to fight the cuts in Shilo. They say that it is fair, Mr. Speaker, and we disagree with them totally.
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Mr. Doer: Mr. Speaker, of course, as the Premier knows, we were not informed of the further hundred cuts at Shilo until after the budget was tabled in this Chamber, so this is why we are asking a number of these questions. The cuts keep trickling into the Manitoba economy in terms of its impact.
Mr. Speaker, the Premier did not answer the question of what we are going to do about it. I am a member of the all-party committee. We want to be active in fighting on behalf of Manitobans. We were refused the opportunity to meet with Minister Collenette, and as the Premier has indicated, there is a further $60-million reduction in the Manitoba economy, 550 military cuts in the Defence department and 211 civilian cuts at the Air Command relocation to the Ottawa-Hull area, and a further 25 percent reduction in the 17th Wing.
Mr. Speaker, what are we going to do about that? What is the strategy of the provincial government to deal with this horrible decision, where you have a $30-million building built in Manitoba, and we believe it will cost the taxpayers of Canada more to relocate the Air Command headquarters to Ottawa-Hull.
How are we going to fight this insensitive decision and a decision that does not make any economic sense, nor does it make any sense for the province of Manitoba?
Mr. Filmon: Mr. Speaker, we are doing as we have done in the past, when Ottawa a few years ago announced the closure of CFB Portage la Prairie. We formed an all-party committee that included the local municipal governments, that included representatives of the unions and the workforce, that included community organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce and all of us.
The former Leader of the Liberal Party in this Legislature, the Leader of the Opposition, myself and others joined together to go to Ottawa. The difference was, of course, that time when we went to Ottawa, we were able to get to see the Minister of National Defence. We were able to get to see the key decision makers. We at that time convinced the government to move private sector training into that base and foster the development of 600 or 700 jobs eventually at that base to replace the cuts.
This time, of course, we are not able to get to see the Minister of National Defence. We do not really have the support of the Leader of the Liberal Party (Mr. Edwards) or his people on this issue. We have two all-party committees, one that is being chaired by the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae), surrounding the cuts at Shilo and will include municipal representation from Brandon and from surrounding areas, union people, chamber people, as we have for the Winnipeg closure of Air Command with the all-party committee, with Winnipeg 2000, with the Chamber of Commerce, with the City of Winnipeg and all of the other relevant people.
We believe that is the way to go, and we will enlist, obviously, the support of the opposition parties if they choose to be a part of it.
Mr. Doer: Mr. Speaker, this is a $60-million reduction that we know of through a relocation in the city of Winnipeg, well over a $10-million reduction in the community of Brandon, the Westman region and the largest employer, and every day, we are finding out about more cuts. It is not as if the budget announcements initially that were made by the federal government have been static. They have continued to flow through our economy.
Mr. Speaker, we were promised a military conversion program for defence spending changes. We have had no announcement. I have called on the provincial government time and time again to have a conversion strategy here in Manitoba. Since I have asked them to have that strategy, we have had a further cancellation of CF-5s and a discontinuation of that fleet, affecting some 300 workers at Bristol Aerospace.
I would like to ask the provincial government, do they have a conversion strategy on defence contracts, so that we can have people at Bristol, Boeing, Standard Aero and other facilities in Manitoba working and thriving in this community?
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Mr. Filmon: Mr. Speaker, we have set up an Aerospace Industries Association with the assistance of Industry, Trade and Tourism, and, in fact, I spoke at a conference that was organized by the Economic Innovation Technology Council and the Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism last spring with the Industries Association.
The fact of the matter is, the Industries Association is working on the issues to try and address some of these concerns. The problem is, of course, that every time they feel that they have something they can work on, the rug is pulled out from under their feet with a new announcement in a new budget.
In addition to the cuts that took place with the cancellation of the EH-101 contract which cancelled about 350 jobs, most of them high-tech, more than 250 of them engineering jobs last year, we now have, of course, the cancellation of the CF-5 overhaul which, again, cuts an additional 300 jobs from Bristol.
All of these things are being done without any consideration, it would appear, on the part of the federal Liberal government or without any concern being expressed by the Liberal Party in this Legislature which wants to keep university graduates working here in this province, and they applaud the killing of over 600 jobs for university graduates here in this province--engineers, science grads, all of those people. They applaud the killing of those jobs, and then they turn around and say, why can we not have jobs to keep our university graduates at home in this province? I cannot believe the hypocrisy that comes out of their mouths, Mr. Speaker.
Agriculture Industries
Diversification
Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Mr. Speaker, the recent federal budget will result in drastic changes to agriculture because of the huge cuts in the Agriculture budget. Farmers are told that they should diversify, and one of the areas they should look at is livestock, particularly cattle. However, to diversify, we have to have markets. We are shocked at the announcement by the federal government that they are going to allow more Australian beef into Canada.
I want to ask the Minister of Agriculture whether he will contact the federal government and tell them that this is a ridiculous move. If the cattle industry is going to grow in Canada, we have to be able to supply our market, and we should not be allowing more imports of beef into Canada.
Hon. Harry Enns (Minister of Agriculture): Mr. Speaker, I welcome that question from the honourable member for Swan River, because it demonstrates to all of us and more particularly to the farm community that there are things that can be done in a very positive way that can ensure our future well-being in agriculture without costing tons of money. These are policy decisions, and that is one that she is referring to.
It is intolerable that at this precise time, when the WGTA is stripped from us, the same federal government, the same federal minister, the same Liberal federal minister, would allow, to pacify--there is not a meat shortage in Canada, but the eastern packers want access to cheaper cuts of meat from offshore and not to have the sensitivity to at least allow the Crow to die gracefully before he rubs salt in our wound, he could have prevented this from happening.
So I support very strongly the member for Swan River, and I have made my views known to the minister. I support the Manitoba and indeed the Canadian cattlemen's position in this particular area.
Ms. Wowchuk: It appears that the East wins again and the West
loses.
Training Programs
Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Mr. Speaker, an important part of this whole transition for farmers is going to be training, and training takes money, but I understand that the $500,000 that was provided by Human Resources Development Canada for training in agriculture programs has now been cancelled.
Can the Minister of Agriculture tell us, has he addressed this issue in this budget? Is there going to be money available for farmers to continue to get training in agriculture programs, as they had in the past before this cut in funding?
Hon. Harry Enns (Minister of Agriculture): Mr. Speaker, I have listened now to several questioners asking the same kind of question, asking whether or not the province, in this case the Department of Agriculture, will find the money that Ottawa has withdrawn from Manitoba.
Mr. Speaker, that simply is not the case. We have struck our budget. We have done our homework as best we can. I am very proud of the budgets that we have presented in the documents and the specific Agriculture Estimates. We have shown some growth in the particular areas of the value-added end of agriculture for the new Ventures program, but, no, to answer her question directly, there are not funds in my budget to backfill where the federal government has unloaded or walked away from its responsibilities.
Ms. Wowchuk: It is unfortunate that farmers are not going to have the supports they need, and I do not expect the provincial
government to pick all of that up.
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Crop Insurance
User Fee
Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Mr. Speaker, in light of the fact that we are told that there is a proposed $100 user fee that will be applied to all crop insurance and revenue program applications, can the Minister of Agriculture tell us whether or not that fee is going to be applied in this year's season and whether the contracts are going to open up to allow for farmers to have the information on how this fee is going to be applied?
Will it be applied this year, and will farmers be given all the information before it is applied?
Hon. Harry Enns (Minister of Agriculture): Mr. Speaker, I would have to take that question as notice by and large.
I want to indicate to the honourable member, though, that I am much more concerned with the projected 30 percent reduction from the federal government in terms of overall support in the safety net programs. That is a very serious matter, and I will certainly be letting Mr. Goodale know where Manitoba--and I am sure I will be joined by other provinces on this particular issue. We will address the question of the $100 administration fee at the same time, Mr. Speaker.
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Mr. Paul Edwards (Leader of the Second Opposition): Mr. Speaker, I want to join comments on behalf of our party with other members of this House who, I am sure, all of us want to express our sympathies to the member for Seine River (Mrs. Dacquay) on the recent passing of her mother.
I also want to take this opportunity to express what I believe would be similar sentiments on behalf of all members here for Mr. John Harvard, M.P. for St. James, on the recent passing of his daughter.
Gambling
Cross-Border Statistics
Mr. Paul Edwards (Leader of the Second Opposition): Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation.
When the McPhillips Street Station and the Regent casinos were announced in 1992, the statement announcing them read that there were plans to replace two bingo facilities in Winnipeg in an effort to help counter the number of Manitobans travelling out of province for gaming entertainment, and the present CEO, Bill Funk, said that in addition to stimulating the Manitoba economy, the two new facilities will ensure that gaming dollars stay in the province.
Mr. Speaker, since that time, we have learned that, in fact, the largest tour operator, as one example, that takes Manitobans south to gamble experienced a 25 percent increase in business in the first six months of the operation of those two facilities and has, in fact, had their business more than quadruple, taking Manitobans to gamble in Minnesota, North Dakota and Nevada.
This is obviously a far cry from the promise set out in the initial document. The idea of stopping gambling has, in fact, been reversed. There have been substantial increases in cross-border gambling.
My question for the--[interjection] I cannot hear you, Linda, you will have to speak up. My question for the Minister responsible for the Manitoba Lotteries--[interjection]
Mr. Speaker: Order, please. The honourable member was just about to put his question.
Mr. Edwards: Mr. Speaker, my question for the Minister responsible for the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation: Can he reveal the statistics that the Lotteries Corporation has as to their tracking of gambling here in Manitoba?
He indicated when he announced the report that they thought that approximately 10 percent of the people gambling here were from outside of the province.
Can he, in fact, confirm and reveal the studies done at the Lotteries Corporation that led him to that conclusion that only 10 percent of the people gambling here in Manitoba are from outside of this province?
Hon. Jim Ernst (Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Lotteries Foundation Act): Mr. Speaker, I am advised by the Lotteries Corporation that, indeed, yes, about 10 percent of the people who utilize the Crystal Casino or the McPhillips Street Station or Club Regent are from outside of the province of Manitoba. That number, I am also advised, is increasing slightly over the past year or so.
But, Mr. Speaker, he talks about Mr. Canada's Touring Network and the fact that they have increased their business substantially. It is not hard to increase your business when you start off saying it costs you $100 to go for two days down to the Shooting Star Casino in Minnesota, for which we will give you $25 to gamble, whereas now the situation has virtually been reversed.
Now people can go there because they are being bought to leave Manitoba by that company, to take them down to those casinos in the United States. It is not hard to double your business if you do that.
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Mr. Edwards: Mr. Speaker, in fact, a representative of Mr. Canada Touring told us this morning that this government's casinos had educated people about gambling in Manitoba, enticing them to do more of it, so that is their explanation for the growth.
For the same minister: Has the Lotteries Corporation indeed studied the people gambling at the existing facilities in Manitoba to determine the frequency with which they also gamble at other gambling facilities outside of the province of Manitoba? Has there been any attempt to study, in fact, the people gambling here to determine the frequency with which they go outside of this province to gamble?
Mr. Ernst: Mr. Speaker, from time to time the Lotteries Corporation conducts surveys amongst its patrons to determine a wide variety of things.
I am advised by the Lotteries Corporation that, I believe it is somewhere in the neighbourhood of half of our patrons believe that our facilities present a quite acceptable alternative to those being offered in the 22 casinos in the northern United States.
Video Lottery Terminals
Revenues
Mr. Paul Edwards (Leader of the Second Opposition): Mr. Speaker, what is obvious and clear is that the expansion of gambling here has done nothing but enhance and increase the cross-border gambling done by Manitobans, and, in addition, has not attracted tourists.
Finally, for the minister, just approximately a month ago, on February 17, the minister indicated--[interjection]
Mr. Speaker: Order, please. We are going to move along right now.
Mr. Edwards: Mr. Lett has written nothing but good things about you, Mr. Premier (Mr. Filmon), I am sure.
My final question for the minister: The statement that was made in the press release a month ago indicated that the latest audited annual report of VLT revenues on a community-by-community basis would be released as soon as it was available. It has now been close to a month.
Is the minister able to release the VLT revenues on a community-by-community basis across the province? Is he prepared and able to do that at this time?
Hon. Jim Ernst (Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Lotteries Foundation Act): It is my expectation that we will be able to do that very soon.
Northern Health Care Facilities
Staffing Levels
Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): Mr. Speaker, it is becoming increasingly clear that Manitobans cannot trust the Tories on health care, and northern Manitobans, in particular, know that.
In August of 1993, major cuts were announced to northern hospitals. Despite the feedback from northerners, the government has brought in further cuts in a document dated October 14. I have now received a letter from the Premier (Mr. Filmon), and I would like to table it, indicating that the Premier, himself, supports the major cuts which will begin implementation April 1.
I would like to ask on behalf of the people of Thompson and the people of Flin Flon--and I know the member for The Pas (Mr. Lathlin) will also be raising this concern on behalf of the people of The Pas and surrounding communities.
I want to ask directly to the Premier. Will he do the right thing and not in the dying days of the mandate of this government bring in major cuts to northern hospitals? Will he put those cuts on hold and let the people of Manitoba have their say on the Tory health care record in the next election?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Mr. Speaker, a year and a half ago, when I was appointed, I asked that the implementation of staffing guidelines for hospitals outside the city of Winnipeg be put on hold pending a very thorough review of what the implementation of those guidelines might mean.
In conducting that review, we asked the Manitoba Association of Registered Nurses, the Manitoba Association of Licensed Practical Nurses, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the hospital staff and representatives, including people representing northern hospitals, to take part in that review.
It was a very thorough one, and it reviewed not only nursing staffing requirements but also dietary staffing requirements, cleaning staffing requirements and all of those efforts that have to be undertaken to run a safe and viable hospital operation.
At the end of last year, the report was completed, the findings were made known, and the implementation plan was also made known, Mr. Speaker, that any staffing decisions that would have to be made to implement the staffing guidelines, where it was found that those staffing guidelines would indeed result in safe and appropriate patient care, that that would be phased over a further two-year period.
In addition, the department consultants are available to hospitals, and if any hospital has difficulty achieving the staffing guidelines, they need only let the Department of Health know about it.
Mr. Ashton: Mr. Speaker, my question again is to the Premier (Mr. Filmon), because hospitals have expressed concern about patient safety. In the case of the Thompson General Hospital, the College of Physicians and Surgeons has warned that there is danger of a serious mishap in obstetrics because of cuts that have already taken place. The guidelines will result in further cuts.
My question to the Premier (Mr. Filmon) is, given the clear evidence that we are dealing here with patient safety, will this government put the cuts on hold, Mr. Speaker?
Mr. McCrae: Mr. Speaker, that is precisely what we did a year and a half ago, engaged in a very, very thorough review of the staffing guidelines. That review included personnel from the hospitals. For years, hospital personnel have been saying, ask us, we know about how to run hospitals. Those are the people we asked in the development of the staffing guidelines.
If indeed the College of Physicians and Surgeons has a specific problem with the implementation of the guidelines in the obstetrics ward of the Thompson General Hospital, my department is there to assist, to ensure that patient care is not compromised.
Mr. Ashton: Mr. Speaker, I would suggest that this minister and the Premier (Mr. Filmon) talk to staff at the Thompson General Hospital, the Flin Flon hospital, The Pas hospital, because they are saying it is going to jeopardize patient safety. The hospital itself has said that the guidelines increase the patient liability of the hospital.
I ask the Premier once again, why will he not put these cuts on hold and let the people decide on the Tory health care record?
Mr. McCrae: Mr. Speaker, we did precisely that a year and a half ago when the implementation of the staffing guidelines was put on hold.
If the honourable member's assertions are correct, that there are people within the Thompson General Hospital, the Flin Flon General Hospital or The Pas hospital to the effect as the honourable member has said, we have already offered to make our Manitoba health consultants available to address any concerns which are exclusive or unique concerns, to address them to us, and we will ensure that implementation is not rushed to the point where anybody is in any danger.
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Northern Health Care Facilities
Staffing Levels
Mr. Oscar Lathlin (The Pas): Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health.
Earlier this year, the minister in Winnipeg announced that over 100 more jobs would be cut at the Flin Flon, Thompson and The Pas hospitals.
My question is simply this. Why did the minister decide to lift the pause on cuts to the northern hospitals? Will he put his sweater back on again?
(Mr. Marcel Laurendeau, Acting Speaker, in the Chair)
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Mr. Acting Speaker, the staffing guidelines implementation plan and report was released and made public, and it affects all Manitoba hospitals, not just northern hospitals.
There are hospitals in Manitoba where adjustments will be made either up or down, depending on the requirements of the patients in those hospitals, depending on the utilization rate of those hospitals, depending on the occupancy of those hospitals.
I cannot stress to the honourable member for The Pas and the honourable member for Thompson (Mr. Ashton) and, well, whoever is here representing Flin Flon, I cannot stress enough that people working in northern hospitals were involved in the review of the staffing guidelines for all of the hospitals in Manitoba.
I say to the honourable member, it is not correct for him to single out three hospitals when this--
An Honourable Member: You are the one that did it.
Mr. McCrae: I did not.
Mr. Acting Speaker, the review of the staffing guidelines was undertaken by the people that I have already enumerated, many of whom work in northern hospitals.
Norway House
Physician Requirements
Mr. Oscar Lathlin (The Pas): Mr. Acting Speaker, while this minister claims that all is well all over the place, including northern Manitoba, I wonder then what assurances he can offer to residents of Norway House, who will be losing their last doctors in a matter of a few days.
What assurances can he offer that there will soon be four doctors at the hospital in Norway House? The doctors are leaving.
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Mr. Acting Speaker, this is indeed an important matter the honourable member raises. I met as recently as yesterday with residents of Norway House to discuss the issue of physician requirements in that area, and I have directed the Department of Health to turn its attention immediately to the problems that would be created if the remaining physicians are to leave.
As the honourable member may know from correspondence or otherwise, he may know that the Physician Resource Committee has made an interim report available. There has been a change in the licensure requirement for particular circumstances. The setting up of a pool for locum tenens positions is happening. We are also making permanent billing numbers available to doctors presently operating on conditional billing numbers in exchange for their locating in areas where doctors are needed.
So a lot of things are happening. I share with the honourable member the concern about Norway House and have asked the department to make this a top priority.
Opaskwayak Cree Nation
Meeting Request
Mr. Oscar Lathlin (The Pas): Finally, Mr. Acting Speaker, has the Minister of Health agreed to meet with Chief Francis Flett of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation to discuss the health cutbacks and their impact on northern Manitoba; more specifically, to that OCN member who was ill and could not be seen at the emergency unit because there were no doctors?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Mr. Acting Speaker, a person representing the person referred to by the honourable member put out an emergency press release demanding a meeting with me without asking me to have a meeting. Regardless, I got in touch with them, and I have offered that a meeting can happen at any time.
However, their press release contains some factually incorrect statements, talks about cutbacks in the emergency room at The Pas hospital which have not happened and--
An Honourable Member: Oh, speculation.
Mr. McCrae: That is exactly what happened. It also ignores altogether the responsibility of the physicians practising at The Pas who have not lived up to their responsibility to provide emergency services.
My door is open as it always is, Mr. Acting Speaker, but do not tell me it is an emergency in a press release without getting in touch directly with me. If it is an emergency, it will be dealt with that way.
Immigration
Government Initiatives
Ms. Becky Barrett (Wellington): Mr. Acting Speaker, over the last four years, immigration in Manitoba has declined by over 42 percent, and recent federal government changes, including a major decrease in the family reunification category and the $975, quote, right-of-landing fee--more appropriately known, I believe, as a head tax--have made it extremely difficult for people to come to Manitoba as part of a family or even as individuals.
My question to the Minister responsible for Citizenship is, what has the provincial government done to alleviate these negative impacts on immigration in Manitoba?
Hon. Harold Gilleshammer (Minister of Culture, Heritage and Citizenship): Mr. Acting Speaker, we are very concerned with a number of the changes that are taking place with the federal immigration policy. We have written to the federal minister and for some time now attempted to have a meeting with the federal minister. I realize that he has many responsibilities and has been unable to meet with us at this time.
We have kept up our support for the settlement agencies here in Manitoba. Our support has been there to enable those agencies and our department to provide the support that the immigrants need, but we are concerned that Manitoba will be very negatively impacted by these policies of the federal Liberal government.
Ms. Barrett: Mr. Acting Speaker, I would like to ask, given the fact that the federal Minister of Immigration has been unable or unwilling to meet with his provincial counterpart to discuss this issue, if the Premier, when he met with the Prime Minister last week, brought up the serious issue of the federal immigration changes and the very negative impact that these changes are going to have on Manitoba?
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Mr. Acting Speaker, I can just tell the member for Wellington that we have said publicly our opposition to the changes that have been made. We have expressed those through the efforts of the Minister responsible for Culture, Heritage and Citizenship, and we are indeed opposed to those changes.
Ms. Barrett: I take it from the Premier's answer that, no, he did not raise this issue when he had the opportunity with the Prime Minister.
Memorandum of Understanding
Ms. Becky Barrett (Wellington): Will the provincial government, in its current negotiations with the federal government on immigration policy for Manitoba, promise to renegotiate the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed by this government before the latest drastic changes to the federal immigration policy had taken place, renegotiate that memorandum so that immigrants from all over the world will have an opportunity to come to Manitoba, both as family immigrants and as independent immigrants?
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Mr. Acting Speaker, I can tell the member for Wellington, the Johnny-come-lately who has suddenly become interested in issues of immigration now that she is the critic, and did not ask any questions on it or show any concern before, that this government has been working with successive federal governments now for five years to try and get an agreement on immigration that would allow provincial input, so that we would have a say in all of the various issues to do with immigration, so that we could increase the numbers and, in fact, target them toward skill shortages and various other issues that are important to the immigrant community, that are important to the various ethnic communities in Manitoba.
Department of Education and Training
Learning Disabilities Co-ordinator
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Mr. Acting Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education.
There is the need for a co-ordinator in terms of learning disabilities within the Department of Education. Quite often, what is required is if a teacher is having problems with some student who has a learning disability, they used to be able to call into the Department of Education and talk to the learning disability co-ordinator. That particular position, unfortunately, has not been filled since September.
My question to the Minister of Education is, when does he plan on filling that particular position?
Hon. Clayton Manness (Minister of Education and Training): Mr. Acting Speaker, I thank the member opposite for the question. We are in the process of filling a number of positions at this point in time, particularly in the program development side.
I cannot give the member a definitive response to that particular question. I will take that question as notice.
Mr. Lamoureux: Mr. Acting Speaker, I wonder if the minister--and again, to the Minister of Education--is he aware that the Learning Disabilities Association of Manitoba, as a result of this particular minister not filling that vacancy, has, in fact, been receiving a number of calls which they are unable to deal with, because they do not have the expertise to pass on to the teachers who need this assistance.
Is the minister aware of it and if he is, what is he doing about that? Does he believe that is a problem?
Mr. Manness: Mr. Acting Speaker, I am aware of many of the issues in education. I would tell the member, though, we are trying to fill positions in a fashion in keeping with his request and the representation that has been made to him by those who are, of course, wanting to see the position filled.
But, Mr. Acting Speaker, I would point out to the member that we are going through a significant period of change that is supported by the public across the width and breadth of this province. We are reorganizing within the department. I believe the Liberal Party has supported elements of that and, of course, rejected great portions of the reform process upon which we have embarked.
I would say that the member will be forced, I would think in the very near future, to spell out very clearly where the Liberal Party stands with respect to education reform in this province.
The Acting Speaker (Mr. Laurendeau): Time has expired for Question Period.
NONPOLITICAL STATEMENTS
Manitoba High Schools Hockey Championship
Mr. Edward Helwer (Gimli): Mr. Acting Speaker, do I have leave to make a nonpolitical statement?.
The Acting Speaker (Mr. Laurendeau): Is there leave for the honourable member for Gimli to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. Helwer: I would like to congratulate the Stonewall Rams on their victory over the Silver Heights Huskies last Monday evening, crowning them the Manitoba high school hockey champions. The Rams have demonstrated what leadership and team spirit can accomplish. They were winners, pulling together and making it to the championships, but their victory also shows all of Manitoba that they are the best high school hockey team.
Many fans turned out to Winnipeg Arena to witness the victory of the Rams, and sticking to the game plan was key to the victory, according to the Ram's coach, Bob McIvor.
In life, politics or hockey, the rules of success are the same--have a clear vision and a game plan and stick to it and have strong leadership and be a team player, and as the Stonewall Rams have shown, you will come out ahead.
It is my pleasure today to stand and congratulate the coach, Bob McIvor, all the players and everyone involved with the team. The Stonewall Rams are the pride of my constituency and proudly bear the title of the 1995 Manitoba High School
Athletic Association's 1994-95 Hockey Championships. Thank you.
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Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): I would like leave for a nonpolitical statement, please, Mr. Acting Speaker.
The Acting Speaker (Mr. Laurendeau): Does the honourable member have leave? [agreed]
Mr. Doer: I would like to join with the member for Gimli (Mr. Helwer) in congratulating the Stonewall Rams on their victory. I know they beat a team on their way in the quarter finals that I was certainly cheering for. I know that a lot of people were very happy that Stonewall won.
I think what we have seen in Manitoba over the last four or five years is a tremendous development in high school hockey, which I think is terrific for our province. At one point in young people's lives, if they were going to play amateur hockey, when they reached the point of being 15 or 16 years old, they literally had to quit school to join junior hockey teams and participate if they wanted a career in hockey or if they wanted to be much more serious in hockey.
I think what we have seen over the last number of years through the excellent work of a lot of communities and volunteers, both in our high schools, we have seen terrific hockey develop. It is no longer necessary as it was 10 or 15 years ago for young people to have to quit school to play hockey beyond the age of 16. They can play hockey now in high schools, and the calibre of hockey is just excellent. That also allows kids to go to universities and play university hockey.
I want to congratulate all the participants in high school hockey in Manitoba. It is growing and growing every year. The crowds are great in terms of following the communities. I think there was an article just recently about the Boissevain hockey team and the tremendous turnouts that were coming to the Boissevain Antlers in terms of the tremendous turnout for their games. Communities are really getting involved in their high school hockey teams.
I want to congratulate all those volunteers and all those players. I think it is just great for the province. Congratulations to the Stonewall Rams for winning that important award.
The Acting Speaker (Mr. Laurendeau): Does the honourable Leader of the second opposition party have leave? [agreed]
Mr. Paul Edwards (Leader of the Second Opposition): Mr. Acting Speaker, I want to join with the comments of the member for Gimli (Mr. Helwer) and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Doer) in congratulating all of the players in the Stonewall Rams and indeed the entire school for their support for that team.
I recognize that they, I believe, beat the Silver Heights team. While that is, perhaps from my perspective and that of the member for Sturgeon Creek (Mr. McAlpine) that Silver Heights school is in, a bit unfortunate--many of the people in that school do come from my area--nevertheless, I understand it was a very good match. I understand it was a very good season for both of those teams and many others. We congratulate that team.
I share comments with the Leader of the Opposition on the importance of high school athletics generally speaking and in particular in this case high school hockey.
I also indicate as an individual who played a lot of hockey growing up that it was very important to me, very important I know to many in this House playing hockey and sports. We must always, I think, ensure that as many young people are playing sports, whether it is hockey or other athletic activities, because it is part of the development process and I think a key aspect of a healthy lifestyle and as well builds social bonds and a sense of sportsmanship which is lasting throughout one's life.
Mr. Acting Speaker, I join congratulatory comments and best wishes to that team. I also look forward to, of course, a reverse decision next year as I am sure that Silver Heights will be back and will no doubt be victorious next year. Thank you, Mr. Acting Speaker.
Mr. Gerry McAlpine (Sturgeon Creek): Do I have leave to make a nonpolitical statement?
The Acting Speaker (Mr. Laurendeau): Does the honourable member for Sturgeon Creek have leave? [agreed]
Mr. McAlpine: I too would like to congratulate the Stonewall hockey team, but especially I would like to offer my congratulations to the Silver Heights team, a high school that is in the constituency of Sturgeon Creek--and the importance of hockey in the area of Silver Heights and the whole community of St. James-Assiniboia.
The Silver Heights team has shown the sportsmanship and the calibre year after year, not only this year, that they are real competitors and are worthy hockey players, not only hockey players but in all aspects of the athletic field.
I would like to take this time to congratulate the team members, the coaches and the parents for the participation and the commitment that they make to amateur sport and to the game of hockey in high school especially. Thank you.