Mr. Gerry McAlpine (Sturgeon Creek): This weekend I had the opportunity to see Manitoba's youth take a giant step closer toward their dreams. I attended the 1998-99 NHL hockey draft in Buffalo where five Manitobans were drafted to teams in the National Hockey League.
Madam Speaker, all members in the House today should be proud of the five young men from across Manitoba that worked hard and were all drafted in the top four rounds. These young men include Chris Neilsen of Woodlands who was drafted by the New York Islanders, Jomar Cruz of The Pas drafted by the Washington Capitals, Jamie Hodson of Lenore drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs, David Cameron of Winnipeg drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Brent Hobday of Dugald drafted by the Detroit Red Wings.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the parents and the families of these hockey players. Most hockey parents have attended many games and practices, even as early as five and six o'clock in the morning, as well as expending considerable amounts of their savings to get these young men to where they are today.
I would also like to thank the hockey coaches who have supported these young hockey players to pursue their dreams and work harder than they ever thought they could. Today we see that their work is paying off as they become the property of teams across the National Hockey League. I am very proud of these young athletes and I wish them great success as they move closer to playing their first games as members of their respective NHL teams. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
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Mr. Tim Sale (Crescentwood): Madam Speaker, over the past week we have witnessed the spectacle of the First Minister (Mr. Filmon) first denying there was a problem, then acknowledging that there might be a problem, that Elections Manitoba might want to look into it, then finally, on Thursday, recognizing that indeed there was a problem and appointing a commission, taking the unfortunate step of putting Mr. Balasko in the position of holding that office. I want to be very clear that we hold Mr. Balasko and his office in the highest regard, that we believe that the government opposite--
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. I would remind all honourable members that this is Members' Statements and the honourable member for Crescentwood was interrupted partially through his comments.
The honourable member for Crescentwood, to complete his member's statement.
Mr. Sale: As I was saying, Mr. Balasko was put in an impossible position by this government, and the Chief Electoral Officer has--
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Madam Speaker: Order, please.
Mr. Sale: He has acted with great wisdom, as befits his office, by recognizing that it was necessary for him to not be put in the position the government wished to put him in. I want to reaffirm the faith of our party in his independence and in his wisdom as Chief Electoral Officer of this province. It is a sad comment on the state of democracy that this Premier has had to back down and reverse his field something like six times in the past five sitting days.
We are glad that Chief Justice Monnin is going to be appointed. That was what we called for. We are pleased with that. We will support this inquiry, and we commend the Chief Electoral Officer for his courageous stand, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Edward Helwer (Gimli): Today is the kickoff to Hire-a-Student Week in Manitoba, which allows all of us in this House to recognize the importance of summer employment for our future leaders and entrepreneurs. Our government believes it is important to have in place an economic environment that encourages job creation and benefits young people. In partnership with businesses, schools, communities and other levels of government, we are fulfilling our commitment to help young Manitobans find summer jobs. Highlighting the fact that Manitoba's youth employment rate is one of the lowest in the country is that there has not been a shortage of work for university students who began the job search much earlier this month.
Today, on the Legislative grounds, a jobathon is being held to help high school students who are now ready to begin looking for work. Besides the jobathon, the 34 government-funded Manitoba Youth Job Centres and the 13 student human resource centres across the province are working closely with local communities to help job seekers throughout the province and throughout the summer.
Honourable members would agree that a summer job goes beyond the opportunity for a young person to earn some extra cash. Summer employment gives students an opportunity to build skills that they need to compete in the global marketplace. As well, by hiring a young person, an employer gets a hardworking, enthusiastic employee. So I encourage all honourable members to join me this afternoon in recognizing Hire-a-Student Week from June 29 to July 3. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Peter Dyck (Pembina): Our government recognizes the need that exists for a steady flow of skilled immigrants. We know that Manitoba's booming economy has resulted in labour shortages in some business sectors. We also know the importance of our province having a direct say in the recruitment of new Canadians. It is therefore most encouraging that our government, in partnership with the federal government, has entered into two agreements that will result in increased immigration responsibilities flowing to Manitoba.
The first agreement will see the federal government transfer $7 million over two years to Manitoba for settlement services such as language training and job counselling for new immigrants. The second agreement will allow Manitoba to designate up to 200 immigrants annually over the next four years that it wants to bring into the province for economic reasons or to assist reuniting families. We were one of the first provincial governments to use the special provincial designation in 1995 to have some 200 garment workers immigrate to Manitoba to address the labour needs of that industry.
Today's agreements are about strengthening the role of Manitoba, in terms of immigration, because Manitoba and not Ottawa knows the labour requirements of our growing industries. We are committed to working in partnership with immigrant groups, industry and the federal government to continue building the province that is the best place to live, to work, to invest and to raise a family. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Stan Struthers (Dauphin): I rise on a member's statement to put some words on the record on behalf of constituents in my riding who in 1995 were presented with some bogus choices when it came to casting their ballots. I use the word "bogus" because of the allegations that have been put forth over the past little while having to do with the aboriginal voice candidate who was run in Dauphin.
Many of my constituents were disenfranchised by the moves made allegedly by people in the Progressive Conservative Party as far up as the Premier's Office itself. Now, Madam Speaker, I believe that this government right now today owes it to my constituents, whom they effectively disenfranchised in 1995, whom they denied the basic right of being a Canadian, a basic right of being a member of a democratic society, that is to vote--I believe that this government owes my constituents, No. 1, an apology but also to conduct this inquiry in the fullest, most public way that they can, not just that the recommendations and conclusions be made public but that the testimony itself of the people who are subpoenaed before this inquiry should be made public as well.
Madam Speaker, all Manitobans want to know these answers. I also indicate that this Premier owes it to my constituents, whom he disenfranchised three years ago, to broaden the scope of this inquiry to include the unethical conduct and the cover-up activities and the benefits received by agents of the Progressive Conservative Party just over three years ago.
So I urge the Premier to come out of hiding and make this public inquiry public. Thank you.