THRONE SPEECH DEBATE

(First Day of Debate)

Mr. Mervin Tweed (Turtle Mountain): I move, seconded by the member for Gimli (Mr. Helwer), that an humble address be presented to His Honour the Lieutenant Governor as follows:

We, Her Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, in session assembled, humbly thank Your Honour for the gracious speech which Your Honour has been pleased to address us at the opening of the present session.

Motion presented.

Mr. Tweed: Madam Speaker, as we begin the Third Session of the Thirty-sixth Legislature, I want to begin by acknowledging my confidence in your ability to perform your role as Speaker. Although there have been challenges to your impartiality by members opposite, I believe in the name of political opportunism. I have never had cause to question the integrity and wisdom of your office. I know that as we enter this session of the Legislature, you will continue to show patience and wisdom as you make your decisions.

As I go into the detail on my remarks in relation to the throne speech, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome and congratulate the three new ministers now sitting in the government of Manitoba. I would also like to welcome back the pages, congratulate them, and express my confidence in their ability to continue to carry on their duties in these challenging and enlightening times.

It is certainly my pleasure and an honour to rise today and move the throne speech and an opportunity to reiterate aspects of the speech while expanding on others. The Premier (Mr. Filmon) has offered me a tremendous opportunity today, and I thank him for that privilege.

Madam Speaker, the Speech from the Throne that we and all Manitobans heard yesterday is one about potential. It is about qualities that can be developed, possibilities that can be achieved and capabilities to which we all aspire. In 1988, the people of Manitoba decided it was time for a new, responsible direction. They voiced their desire for a government that would assist Manitobans in realizing and accessing their potential. Manitobans at that time were weary of a government that linked almost all solutions with taxes.

Madam Speaker, this throne speech and our governmental policies remain steadfast in their goals. Fiscal responsibility has been achieved through the balanced budget and taxpayers protection legislation, legislation that protects not only today's taxpayer, but tomorrow's taxpayers as well. It has been achieved through nine years of no major tax increases, including personal income tax, corporate income tax, capital tax and the sales tax. It has been achieved through two consecutive balanced budgets, along with the $156.5-million surplus for the '95-96 fiscal year and an anticipated $22-million surplus for '96-97. With restored fiscal stability, we have set our economy on a solid and sustainable path, opening new opportunities for jobs and new opportunities for growth.

Our government's commitment to continued employment growth was a key feature of the throne speech. Over the past decade, we have seen dramatic shifts in economic conditions not only within our provincial boundaries but around the entire world. There was a time when an individual thought of their competition as the neighbour down the street. Later, that competition meant the nearest community; then it meant bordering provinces and states. Today, Madam Speaker, our competition comes from around the world. It comes from Asia, Europe and South America. Competition is global and our response as a province and as a government to this competition has and must be global.

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These shifts have brought with them challenges and opportunities for all Manitobans. Manitobans have shown themselves to welcome opportunity, the opportunity to show Canada and the world their potential when it comes to job creation. For example, the province ended 1996 with the largest workforce in our 126-year history. This workforce is comprised of 537,000 working Manitobans. As noted by Statistics Canada, our current job level represents a gain of 19,000 jobs since December 1995. That is an increase of 3.7 percent, more than twice Canada's 1.4 percent growth over the same period.

Manitoba's youth unemployment rate was the third lowest among the provinces and more than three percentage points lower than the national average. Manitoba's gross domestic product has been pegged to grow by 3 percent in 1997, up from 2 percent last year, and for two straight years, Madam Speaker, Manitoba has outperformed Canada with a GDP of 1.6 percent. Manitobans also have the second strongest showing of any province in retail sales last year. Consumer spending is growing and has grown by 6.4 percent.

Madam Speaker, the outlook for 1997 remains strong. The Conference Board of Canada expects our province to add another 10,000 jobs in 1997. According to Great-West Life Vice-President and Chief Economist Andrew Alleyne, Manitoba is the place to be, a place to grow. Through the creation of a vibrant and varied economic environment, our government has ensured that our youth have the opportunity to remain in Manitoba, whether that be in rural or urban Manitoba. Our government is committed to all of our youth, especially the youth in most need.

Our government has, with this speech, announced a partnership with the federal government and the private sector to commit to a number of entry level positions each year for unemployed aboriginal high school, college and university graduates, a tremendous step forward for all involved. Our government, with this initiative, is ensuring that a significant segment of our population is offered equal opportunities to display their skills, their merits and their values to all Manitobans. Aboriginal youth in Manitoba possess tremendous potential, and our government acknowledges that potential and the need to foster its development.

Employment opportunities for our youth will be further enhanced through the revitalization of apprenticeship. The apprenticeship task force will soon recommend to our government the best means of ensuring that apprenticeship programs are relevant to today's needs, are cost-effective, are accessible, are efficient and are supported by enabling legislation and sustainable into the future. With more than 42,000 Manitobans employed in prenticeable occupations, providing quality products and services to Manitobans in the industrial, mechanical, construction and service sectors, the importance of revitalizing this program cannot be understated.

Rural Manitoba has always shown a great deal of potential when it comes to providing employment prospects for all Manitobans. As one of the co-chairs in the Working for Value Task Force I, along with the members for Morris (Mr. Pitura) and Emerson (Mr. Penner), travelled throughout Manitoba to listen to rural Manitobans. This initiative was launched by the departments of Rural Development, Agriculture, and Industry, Trade and Tourism to identify ways and means to adapt and diversify the rural economy for the future, leading to a $1-billion increase in Manitoba exports within the next decade. We were there to listen to their ideas on enhancing and developing the rural economy even further. Individuals I met with shared with me their vision of Manitoba and I can assure you they are excited about the future.

This vision has been developed through programs such as the Rural Economic Development Initiative, which has funded over 230 business initiatives, generating a total leveraged investment of $73.8 million and has led to the creation to 1,600 full-time jobs and 3,800 part-time jobs for youth in rural Manitoba.

Manitoba Grow Bonds has helped Manitobans invest approximately $100 million in rural communities, generating about $28 million in new investment and, by extension, enabling the start-up or expansion of rural businesses to create almost 500 new jobs. The purpose of the program is to mobilize the local economy and the entrepreneurial energies to create jobs and economic diversity in rural Manitoba. The bonds program empowers communities and their members to take a direct role in their futures as Manitobans. The limited guarantee that the province offers on the principal creates a positive climate for investment and assists communities in defining and pursuing their own economic objectives. In Manitoba we have some 84 community round tables involving more than 140 municipalities that are setting visions, goals and action plans for community economic and social development. The process has been heralded as a way for communities to work co-operatively for the best interest of the community and therefore the best interest of Manitoba.

Madam Speaker, the throne speech indicated that our government will continue to support the efforts of rural Manitobans, support needed in development and research in all sectors of the agricultural industry and will initiate sustainable development strategies for the province's fisheries and wildlife. Agriculture has always been a mainstay of our economy and will continue to do so in the future. Manitoba farmers are turning challenges like the loss of the Crow rate into opportunities, and we will all benefit, all Manitobans. In the constituency of Turtle Mountain we have had a recent construction of two multimillion-dollar hog barns. The combined value of these two facilities is expected to exceed $6.5 million and create approximately 11 permanent full-time jobs. This, I would suggest, is just one of the many examples and opportunities that await all Manitobans. Manitoba is now one of the most dynamic sites in Canada for pork production. More than 12,000 Manitobans are employed in the production, processing, transportation and distribution of pork products to over 30 countries worldwide.

The speech noted Manitoba's success in export diversification and the capture of alternative markets, and I would suggest to you, Madam Speaker, that exports means jobs to all Manitobans. Our efforts have been driven by focusing on key sectors and emerging markets in Asia, Europe and North America, aggressive marketing, trade missions with private sector companies and supporting freer trade. Major gains have occurred in value-added sectors, such as food products and wood products, and in the manufacturing and high-tech sectors, such as the information technology, health care products, transportation equipment and agricultural machinery. Manitoba exports to the United States are well into the sixth straight year of steady growth. In fact four consecutive years, between 1992 and '95, the value of our exports to the American market grew at double-digit rates. Total exports to all foreign destinations also look good, rising 10.8 percent to November '96 compared with the same period last year. This was the third best provincial performance and more than double Canada's total international export gain of 4.2 percent.

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Madam Speaker, the speech also noted Manitoba's successful bid for the 1999 Pan American Games. These games hold great promise for increasing trade and tourism with Pan American countries. To capitalize on this opportunity our government has formed the Pan American Trade and Tourism initiative which will work to attract new trading opportunities for Manitoba and Manitobans. They will also co-ordinate trade missions, participate in trade and tourism events in the region and aggressively market Manitoba to our neighbours throughout North and South America.

As well, Madam Speaker, this summer Brandon hosts the 1997 Canada Games which brings with it thousands of athletes, coaches and families to the region. Not only has Brandon opened its doors to welcome the sporting events, but other neighbouring communities will do as well. Many events are to be held in the surrounding communities, giving those communities a chance to show off their region to the rest of Canada.

Without the effort of the dedicated Manitobans who volunteer their time and energy, these events could not happen. Volunteers are the lifeblood of any event, and Manitobans have consistently shown their willingness to play the role of great host.

I have had the experience of being a volunteer and also being in communities where the volunteers have looked after all my needs and wants. My hat certainly goes off to the unsung heroes of these communities. As a province, I believe we owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude.

Provincial tourism was also highlighted in the throne speech. Manitoba offers a wide range of tourism products such as heritage, culture, outdoor and adventure touring, recreation and sport, ecotourism, and many seasonal events. The number of Americans visiting Manitoba has continued to climb. In 1996, almost half-a-million Americans came to Manitoba, a rise of almost 2 percent from the previous year. Conversely, the number of Manitobans travelling to the United States fell by almost 9 per cent from 1995. To me, Madam Speaker, it is evident that through these numbers, more Americans and more Manitobans are realizing the wonders that are available in our province.

Our government is committed to working with industry to double tourism revenues to

$2 billion by the year 2000. We expect to meet that goal by implementing strategies developed at the Exploring Manitoba forum, which was held in November 1995. We have established a tourism council to develop a strategic direction for the marketing and promotion of each of Manitoba's six tourism regions.

Madam Speaker, despite the unprecedented reduction in federal funding for health, education and social services, our government continues to spend a significant proportion of our budget on health care. These cuts, which began in 1995, have culminated in a loss of revenue in the amount of $220 million. This has put a significant strain on all Manitobans.

We want to ensure our Health at any given time in the future is able to deliver the medically appropriate service people require as close to home, as practical and as efficiently as possible. We should never forget that every dollar we waste takes one dollar out of our health care services that we can spend on health care delivery. Our government believes that partnering with community-based service providers can serve as an effective alternative to costly government programming as we work to tap the potential of all Manitobans.

In the throne speech it was noted that our government will look at new approaches, including a mobile health clinic, diabetes prevention, expanded roles for nurses, midwifery and other health initiatives. Our government will also ensure that certain services will be brought directly to the patient, including dialysis, an expanded intravenous program and mental health programs. The establishment of ten regional health authorities for rural and northern Manitoba, a Brandon regional health authority and two health authorities in Winnipeg will ensure decisions will be made closer to the communities they serve. We will ensure that health care delivery and service will be relevant to the people.

Madam Speaker, the throne speech also noted the importance of our education and the system and plays the future strength of Manitoba in the global economy. Education continues to be a priority in our spending department of this government, second only to Health in overall expenditures.

This year's funding for public schools in Manitoba was announced at a level of $746.5 million, a slight increase over last year, but I think the one generous thing was that they were advised that this funding would not decrease the following year, which greatly assists the challenges that they face in the programming of education to meet the needs and challenges of the future.

Recognizing the need for change, our government has implemented standards in testing in core subject areas. Measuring outcomes in education will allow teachers, administrators and parents the opportunity to see where we need to develop new approaches. With the help of the Council of Learning Technologies and our Partners in Education we continue to focus attention on the effective integration of new technologies into the enterprise of education. This is a challenge for the education system at all levels, particularly in these times of fiscal restraint. However, we are committed to technology as a foundation skill in curriculum and providing professional development to educators in this area. Together with our education partners we are building a technological network that will provide better access to educational programs, facilitate collaboration, provide greater choice for students and generally provide exciting, cost-effective learning opportunities.

With over 70,000 Manitobans enrolled in Manitoba's four universities and three community colleges, the throne speech indicated that the Council on Post-Secondary Education will begin operation shortly. The purpose of this council is to examine post-secondary education institutions in Manitoba as one system. It will provide guidance and leadership to further the pursuit of excellence at the post-secondary level while eliminating overlap and duplication. The council will also work to increase co-operation between institutions, for example, by increasing the ability for students to transfer credits between institutions.

There has been a need to assist some Manitobans in realizing their potential. In order to achieve this, our government has developed the Employment First Strategy and the welfare reform initiative which have helped a significant number of Manitobans realize their potential. The welfare reform initiative was implemented in May of '96. A key thrust of this initiative has been to refocus existing programs and services to provide an effective link between training and employment. New initiatives, including the development of employer and community partnerships and providing adult literacy training through community organizations, have been implemented. Manitoba Education and Training will continue to play a key role in facilitating employment for income assistance recipients in '97-98.

Only through co-operation and partnership can we achieve success. Much of the success to date has been the result of partnerships with the private sector and community-based groups, such as the Mennonite Central Committee. The speech made reference to two specific programs that have led the way in addressing this issue, Youth NOW and Taking Charge!. Recognizing that all Manitobans--

Madam Speaker: Order, please. The hour being 6 p.m., when this matter is again before the House, the honourable member for Turtle Mountain (Mr. Tweed) will have 16 minutes remaining.

This House is adjourned and stands adjourned until 1:30 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday).

Corrigendum

Standing Committee on Law Amendments Vol. XLVI No. 6 - 7 p.m., Tuesday, October 15, 1996, page 162, first column, fourth paragraph reads:

Mr. Chairperson: I appreciate that. I did have some . . .

Should read:

Mr. Chomiak: I appreciate that. I did have some . . .