Mr. Gerry McAlpine (Sturgeon Creek): Do I have leave for a nonpolitical statement?

Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Sturgeon Creek have leave? [agreed]

Mr. McAlpine: Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the Red River Community College business conference luncheon on behalf of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism (Mr. Downey). The conference was called Directions '97, and it gave students a chance to take part in a conference which included several working sessions and exhibits. It also gave students, staff and employers an opportunity to get together for meaningful dialogue, to stop and think about the role businesses play in our communities and our economy and where we are headed economically as a new century approaches.

Many of the students who attended the conference will go on to become the business leaders in our community. I think that events like this help them understand, as well as we, the important role that small business plays in creating jobs and wealth in Manitoba. The Directions '97 conference was more than simply a chance for students to have learned a bit about planning, setting up and running a business. The conference gave them an opportunity to look seriously at their own skills and choices.

I would like to commend the organizers of the conference for putting together such a worthwhile and informative program, and I would like to congratulate the students of Red River business education program for their participation and interest in business management and entrepreneurship. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr. Tim Sale (Crescentwood): Madam Speaker, do I have leave to make a nonpolitical statement?

Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Crescentwood--[agreed]

Mr. Sale: I would like to rise to honour today three teachers in the Grant Park High School; Norm Roseman, Walter Funk and Dennis Kuzenko, who were the 1997 Prime Minister's awards for teaching excellence in science, technology and mathematics.

It is the first time in the history of these awards that three teachers from one school have won awards. I think that the record of these three teachers in this school is just exemplary. Mr. Funk and Mr. Roseman have taught for 32 years, Mr. Kuzenko for 22 years. The students of these teachers when interviewed by the press talked about the teachers in a way that showed enormous respect for their enthusiasm and dedication. The students said the science teaching of Mr. Kuzenko is such that he has helped a number of students start their own businesses and to learn ways of applying their upper-school science curricula to the real world that they want to become successful in.

These teachers have volunteered, as most teachers do. The real teachers of our society volunteer all over the place for teaching sports programs, leading in arts programs, and these teachers are no exception. Mr. Funk, Mr. Roseman and Mr. Kuzenko should be commended by all of us here and indeed by all Manitobans, as they have been by all their students, for being yet another strong example of how well our public schools do in reaching young people and helping our young people to reach their highest potential.

I hope all members will join with me in extending congratulations and their honour due to Norm Roseman, Walter Funk and Dennis Kuzenko, teachers of the year.

Mr. Peter Dyck (Pembina): Madam Speaker, do I have leave to make a nonpolitical statement?

Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Pembina have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]

Mr. Dyck: I had the privilege of attending the Premier's Volunteer Service Awards this week where a young constituent of mine was honoured. Stacy Lyne of Snowflake, Manitoba, is a Grade 12 honour student. She has demonstrated leadership and contributed greatly to her school and community. Stacy's goal in life is to have made a difference, something her nominator, the principal of her school, says she has most certainly done already.

Stacy has served as class representative on student council for three years, planning dances, track meets and fundraisers. As vice-president last year she organized a jeans sale, raising $1,000 for graduation. Concerned about the abuse of alcohol by youth in the area, Stacy volunteered to serve as youth representative on a community round table finding solutions to community problems. She has been a 4-H member for eight years, serving a variety of roles, including reporter, president, secretary, treasurer and club president. Stacy has also served several years as junior leader in Sunday School and has served as a volunteer counsellor at Rock Lake United Church summer camp for three consecutive summers.

Madam Speaker, time does not permit me to list all the accomplishments this young lady has had. Suffice it to say, with young Manitobans like Stacy in our communities who have made significant contributions through leadership, personal initiative and determination, all members should watch out if this young lady decides to run against them in the next election. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

* (1420)

Mr. Conrad Santos (Broadway): May I have leave of the House for a nonpolitical statement?

Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member have leave? [agreed]

Mr. Santos: Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate the City of Winnipeg for recognizing the Public Home Care Week, April 14 to 21. This is a very wise move by the City of Winnipeg and worth repeating.

The resolution reads as follows:

WHEREAS health care restructuring is making home care more important than ever before; and

WHEREAS Manitoba's system of publicly operated and funded home care is famous around the world; and

WHEREAS Manitoba's home care attendants provide a vital service to thousands of Winnipeg residents;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Susan A. Thompson, Mayor of the City of Winnipeg in the province of Manitoba, do hereby proclaim the week of April 14 to 21, 1997, as Public Home Care Week.

Manitoba's public nonprofit home care system is indeed something to be proud of. The support by Manitobans from all walks of life for public, nonprofit home care has long been acknowledged, perhaps most of all during the dispute last year when the province attempted to privatize the system. The city has sent a strong and necessary signal to the province to support public home care. Let us hope this proclamation will become an annual event.

We must remember, Madam Speaker, that people are more important than money, for the love of money is the root of all evil. They that will be rich fall into temptations and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful desires, lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. Thank you.

Mr. Edward Helwer (Gimli): Madam Speaker, do I have leave for a nonpolitical statement?

Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Gimli have leave? [agreed]

Mr. Helwer: It is my pleasure today to rise in the House to congratulate 54 women who are honoured in this week's edition of the Stonewall Argus for their role in the small-business communities of Stonewall and Teulon. The businesses which they own range from pet stores to interior designing to real estate and to restaurants, just to name a few. All of the businesses mentioned are thriving in both communities. With the latest population statistics released only a few days ago, Stonewall is considered to be one of the fastest-growing towns in the province. This can only mean good news for these businesswomen. It is also exciting to see that so many women contribute to the community by investing their time and efforts in making their businesses thrive. Many of the jobs that have been created within the province since January have been in the private sector. This province is doing better than ever when it comes to job creation in the private sector, and I am pleased to see this trend take place in the Gimli constituency. Again, I would like to congratulate these women on their business ventures, and I wish them continued success for the future. Thank you.

Mr. Gord Mackintosh (St. Johns): May I have leave to make a nonpolitical statement?

Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for St. Johns have leave? [agreed]

Mr. Mackintosh: I thank the members for giving leave. I want to just put a few words on the record and to members about the rapidly rising waters in the Red River, of course, which we are more than aware of. It is expected that the waters can certainly be as severe as 1979 and could be worse. We know the effect this is having on individuals and homeowners in particular. This is an extremely stressful experience for those individuals. It is time to remind ourselves that volunteers are urgently needed in mass numbers. I think we all have an obligation as leaders in our respective communities to call on organizations and even individuals to volunteer to assist. Citizens certainly in this city and in affected rural areas have been turning out in great numbers to help out.

The City of Winnipeg now has a new information line, and I am glad to hear about that, but we have to do better. For example, this morning I know on Scotia Street we looked down the street at noon, and it looked like we had made very little progress. The flood situation this year does not compare at all to last year. It is much, much worse, and I think all members should be on notice that it may be, after a review over the weekend, we will have to call for more widespread and innovative ways of raising the volunteer forces and perhaps even calling on the Armed Forces to assist.

At this time it may be premature, but given what I see on those little stakes as to how high those dikes have to go and how much work can be done in half a day, I think that this is a time for great caution on our behalf, and in the meantime let us rally the troops. Thank you.

Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Do I have leave to make a nonpolitical statement?

Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Swan River have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]

Ms. Wowchuk: Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the many women over the years who have been members of the Women's Institute. This week the Manitoba Women's Institute is holding its annual conference in Brandon and will be celebrating the centennial of the Women's Institute. The first formation of the women's group took place in Stoney Creek, Ontario, and the movement has spread across western Canada.

I want to recognize the members of the Women's Institute for the tremendous amount of work that they have done to improve the quality of life for families. They were very active in the early days in working towards better nutrition, better services, better health care services throughout the province and across Canada. They have been active in many areas when they feel it is necessary to put pressure on the government for various issues, and they have done an awful lot to raise the quality of life of people in rural Manitoba. I want to recognize them for the work they have done and wish them the best in their centennial celebration and the discussions that they will have at their conference.

There will be issues that they will be discussing. I am sure they will be discussing the regional health authorities. They have discussed things such as the need for support such as rural stress lines in rural Manitoba, speech therapists, medical curriculum for rural doctors. So they address a broad range of issues and meet with government on a regular basis and with the opposition caucuses to make us aware of what the issues are. I want to commend them for the work they have done to improve the quality of life for families that live in rural Manitoba.