Madam Speaker: I am pleased to inform the Assembly that the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly has received from the Chief Electoral Officer, a certificate showing the election of David Faurschou, Esquire, as member for the constituency of Portage La Prairie. I hereby table the return to the Writ of Election.

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present to you David Faurschou, member of the constituency of Portage La Prairie, who has taken the oath and signed the roll and now claims the right to take a seat.

Madam Speaker: On behalf of all honourable members, I wish to welcome you to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and to wish you well in your parliamentary career.

Madam Speaker: I have a statement for the House.

I must inform the House that James A. Ernst, the honourable member for Charleswood, has resigned his seat in the House effective October 28, 1997. I am, therefore, tabling his resignation and my letter to the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council advising of the vacancy that is created in the membership of the House.

Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Sophia Holt, Rita Thorne and R. Keith Garvie requesting the Legislative Assembly urge the Minister of Education (Mrs. McIntosh) to consider immediately reinstating the inner city education program to the University of Manitoba.

Ms. MaryAnn Mihychuk (St. James): I beg to present the petition of Rick Boyd, Jo-Anne Valkovic, Joanne Johnson and others requesting the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the Minister of Education to consider immediately reinstating the inner city education program for the University of Manitoba.

* (1005)

Madam Speaker: I would like to draw the attention of all honourable members to the public gallery where we have the six young persons who have been appointed to the Manitoba Legislative Internship Program for this year. In accordance with established practice, three interns have been assigned to the government caucus and three to the official opposition caucus. Their term of employment is 12 months. During that time they will perform a variety of research and other tasks for private members.

These interns have commenced their assignments at the beginning of September, and I am pleased to introduce them. Working with the government caucus are Ms. Trisha Chestnut of the University of Manitoba, Ms. Maureen Cousins of the University of Manitoba and Mr. Ken Cohart of the University of Manitoba.

Working with the caucus of the official opposition are Ms. Iris Griffin of the University of Manitoba, Mr. Peter Ogrodnick of the University of Manitoba and Mr. Robert Sawatzky of Dalhousie University.

Copies of their biographies will be distributed to members shortly. I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of all honourable members, to welcome you and to hope you will have a very successful and interesting year. Welcome.

Also seated in the public gallery we have with us today thirty-eight Grade 9 students from Churchill High under the direction of Mr. Ed Lenzmann. This school is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Osborne (Ms. McGifford). On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you this morning.