Mr. Gerry McAlpine (Sturgeon Creek): Madam Speaker, this morning my colleagues the Minister of Family Services (Mrs. Mitchelson), the Minister of Justice (Mr. Toews) and the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik) announced funding approval to construct a new personal care home at Concordia Hospital. This announcement reaffirms our government's commitment to add more beds to Manitoba's health care system. This project will add about 120 beds to the system upon completion and will alleviate some of the pressure currently on our acute care system.
The delivery and provision of quality health care has always been the No. 1 funding commitment for this government. Today's announcement reflects the commitment and will help ensure that in the years ahead Manitobans will have the care they need, when they need right in their own communities. When a new approximately $12-million personal care home opens in the fall of 1999, 60 long-term care patients which are currently in acute care beds at Concordia will move into the new facility. That will return those 60 beds to the acute care system.
Madam Speaker, the Filmon government knows the value of partnerships and consultation. Our continuing partnerships and consultations with all Manitobans has led to repeated balanced budgets, a growing economy, and a health care system second to none. Today's investment at Concordia Hospital is truly an investment in the healthier future of all Manitobans. Thank you.
Ms. Becky Barrett (Wellington): Madam Speaker, this week I was privileged to attend two public meetings that were very timely for Winnipeg and the Capital Region. Monday night, A Public Forum: Planning our Future, sponsored by the Free Press, the Council of Women of Winnipeg, the Winnipeg Real Estate Board, the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, was attended by over 100 citizens from Winnipeg and other communities of the Capital Region.
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Professor Chris Leo of the University of Winnipeg and Gerry Couture from the City of Winnipeg provided excellent information and ideas that were the basis for small-group discussions and recommendations. It was a well-organized forum that identified a number of concerns and challenges facing Winnipeg and the Capital Region and also several answers to those challenges, and we look forward to the report of that forum.
Yesterday, Tuesday, over 250 people attended Building Blocks, a housing forum sponsored by Centre Plan. Interesting, stimulating and informative speakers, panels and round-table discussions provided a variety of suggestions and plans for revitalizing downtown Winnipeg's housing and improving the city's quality of life.
Angela Mathieson did a remarkable job of co-ordinating this, her first conference. In addition to the specific ideas generated by these two events, those who attended took away an understanding that the Capital Region depends on the city of Winnipeg and vice versa. There is no shortage of great projects. What is needed is a commitment on behalf of all levels of government, the private sector, the nonprofit sector and the public at large to take these ideas and, working together, bring forth a vital and vibrant city of Winnipeg and Capital Region.
I call today on the province to make a commitment to follow up on these two excellent forums so they do not just gather dust the way so many other reports to this government have done.
Mr. David Faurschou (Portage la Prairie): Madam Speaker, this morning I had the opportunity to attend a ribbon cutting in Portage la Prairie at the Southport Aerospace Centre.
I would like to say that back in 1992 when the federal government decided to close the Southport air base, there was much concern in our community of Portage la Prairie because it was a significant employer and delivered a lot of economic development in Portage la Prairie. When faced with this challenge, though, the board of Southport Aerospace and their administration evaluated all of the strengths of the facilities and determined there were many opportunities. Since its inception, Southport Aerospace has strived to become a commercial centre for aerospace, industry, training and conferences, to just name a few. Without a doubt, Southport is well on the road to succeeding with this goal of continued prosperity.
This morning at a press conference it was announced that Southport Aviation Services and Steve's Place will be opening their doors to add to the facilities at Southport Aerospace.
On behalf of all honourable members, I would like to add my congratulations to Mickie LaBrie and the board of directors of Southport Aerospace for their continued diligence in securing a diversified economic base in Portage la Prairie, and I congratulate the owners of Southport Aviation Services, Mr. Dan Krahn, for his endeavours and continued support of Portage la Prairie, as well as Steve Prince and his endeavour to bring forward his confectionery's facilities to the Southport Aerospace Centre. Thank you.
Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, last night I had the opportunity to visit with people in Ethelbert, and while I was there I had the opportunity to speak to parents and students about their concerns about departmental exams and the provincial exams in math which are causing them an awful lot of concern which the Minister of Education (Mrs. McIntosh) does not seem to recognize.
But I was really there to attend a 4-H Achievement Night where the Ethelbert 4-H Club was celebrating their 45th anniversary, 45 consecutive years of 4-H in one community, and there is a lot to be said for that community and the work that they have done with their 4-H'ers.
They had 26 members who took part in a wide array of projects from Outdoor Living; Crafts; Looking Good, Feeling Great; Self determined--Poetry; Foods; Group determined--
Community Works; What are Crafts; Exploring 4-H; Clothing; Photography; Beef; and Getting a Jump on Life.
At this 4-H Achievement Night, two leaders were recognized for their 15 years of service, and that was Helen Stratuliak who served as club leader and led just about every project that needed leading during her time, and the second 15-year leader was Ilene Dowd who also is presently club leader but was an instructor in whatever courses were needed, from mechanics to crafts to sewing if it was needed.
One outstanding leader was recognized for her 25 years, and that is Rona Kamfoly who has volunteered for, as I say, 25 years, and of those, 19 years she was a club leader. It was quite interesting to note that, while Rona was being awarded, one of her first students was there, and one of his children is now a member in the 4-H club. That is clear to see that--
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. I am having difficulty hearing the honourable member for Swan River.
Ms. Wowchuk: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I just want to extend my congratulations to the three leaders who were recognized and to all the 4-H members, and just have all members recognize what an important role 4-H plays in the community.
Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): I wish to speak on a very important issue for northern Manitoba, and that is the issue of infrastructure.
Madam Speaker, over the last 10 years we have seen obvious examples in northern Manitoba of communities that are in very dire straits in terms of infrastructure. One such community is York Landing which currently is in a position where residents of that community have to boil their drinking water. They have been attempting to get action from the federal government. The federal government has refused to do anything more than come out with an interim solution. I want to put on the record my strong support for the community of York Landing and my hopes that the provincial government will also add its voice to the need for people in the community of York Landing to have what we all take for granted in this province, and that is proper sewer and water.
I want to stress, Madam Speaker, there are still many communities in northern Manitoba that do not have sewer and water facilities. I want to stress again, as we go into the new millennium, there is no excuse for any community in the province of Manitoba, whether it is a First Nations community, a Northern Affairs community, no excuse for any community not to have appropriate sewer and water.
I want to add to that list, in terms of concerns, concerns about roads. Despite our efforts in this House to try and get the government to recognize the need to improve northern roads, we see year after year that there is very little, if any, attention being given to northern roads. Even though there was some progress last year on Highway 391, I want to note that the Leaf Rapids Chamber of Commerce and Nelson House and other communities and representatives of communities in northern Manitoba are pointing to the fact that once again in this Highways budget, northern Manitoba has been short-changed.
I might add, Madam Speaker, it is ironic that I was in the Lac du Bonnet constituency, and it seems they are extending their definition of the North, because I heard complaints about roads and road conditions in Lac du Bonnet. I know the member for Interlake (Mr. C. Evans) has concerns, the member for Swan River (Ms. Wowchuk), Dauphin. It seems the government's plan is to treat all of us in rural Manitoba like northerners. We do not want that; we want fairness. We want infrastructure for northern communities.