VOL. XLV No. 31 - 1:30 p.m., TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1995

Tuesday, September 19, 1995

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA

Tuesday, September 19, 1995

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

PRAYERS

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

PRESENTING PETITIONS

Federal Immigration Policies

Mr. Conrad Santos (Broadway): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the petition of Carolina Nario, Norma Nario, Lilia Valle and others requesting the Government of Canada cancel fee increases and instead institute policies that will encourage immigration to Manitoba.

TABLING OF REPORTS

Hon. Harry Enns (Minister of Agriculture): Madam Speaker, I have the privilege of tabling several annual reports: firstly, the Annual Report '94-95 for the Manitoba Farm Mediation Board, the Annual Report '94-95 for the Manitoba Agricultural Credit Corporation and the 41st Annual Progress Review of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba.

Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table reports today which have been circulated to the House: the 22nd Annual Report of Legal Aid Manitoba, the 24th Annual Report of the Manitoba Law Reform Commission, The Discriminatory Business Practices Act Annual Report ending March 31, '94 and The Discriminatory Business Practices Act Annual Report ending March 31, '95.

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MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

1995 R & D 100 Award

Hon. Leonard Derkach (Minister of Rural Development): Madam Speaker, I have a statement for the House.

It gives me great pleasure to share with the Legislature today that a rural Manitoba company is receiving one of the most prestigious honours awarded within the international research and development community. Rimer Alco North America Ltd. of Morden is the recipient of an R & D 100 award for 1995, a top honour in the field of applied research.

Rimer Alco's president, Earl Gardiner, will attend an awards banquet at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry later this evening to accept the award.

Rimer Alco was nominated for its development of a new product line known as the Refuge One Air Centre. Madam Speaker, the Refuge One is a unique device which provides respiratory protection to miners forced to take refuge in underground safe havens during emergencies.

Manitoba Rural Development has been pleased to work with Mr. Gardiner and his company in the development of the Refuge One Air Centre. Last March the Rural Economic Development Initiative assisted Rimer Alco in manufacturing and marketing this mine safety product with $78,300 in financial assistance. Previously, in March 1992 Rimer Alco received a Grow Bond issue worth $127,900 to enable it to diversify its product line which includes the Refuge One. Rimer Alco exemplifies the type of high-quality entrepreneurial activity we are witnessing in rural Manitoba.

R & D Magazine, which is presenting Rimer Alco with tonight's award, has honoured inventors and scientists around the world annually for the past 32 years. Some past winners of the award have included the electronic video recorder, anti-lock brakes, the automated teller machine, the fax machine and the digital compact cassette. Madam Speaker, I hope all my colleagues will join with me in wishing Earl Gardiner and the staff at Rimer Alco our heartfelt congratulations on their outstanding achievement of being recognized for developing one of the top 100 research and development products in 1995.

Mr. Clif Evans (Interlake): Madam Speaker, we on this side of the House would also like to join government side with our congratulations to Mr. Gardiner and Rimer Alco North America Ltd. I know that Mr. Gardiner, whom I do know personally from years past, is a hard-working individual who has the community at heart at all times. I am sure that the company and the product they have provided for the safety of miners and others will be a success and is a success. It is a pleasure and an honour to pass on to Mr. Gardiner and his company congratulations on their outstanding achievement in this field. Thank you.

Speaker's Statement

Manitoba Legislative Internship Program

Madam Speaker: I have a statement for the House. As members know, the Manitoba Legislative Internship Program has been in operation since 1985. Each year a total of six interns are chosen for the program. Again this year three interns have been assigned to the government and official opposition caucuses. Their term of employment is 12 months. During their term, interns perform a variety of research and other tasks for private members as distinct from ministers.

My purpose today is to announce the names of the six young people who are serving as Manitoba's 1995-96 legislative interns. They commenced their assignments at the beginning of September.

Working with the government caucus are: Mr. Kelvin Goertzen of the University of Manitoba; Mr. Shannon Martin of Brandon University; and Mr. John Morris of the University of Manitoba.

Working with the caucus of the official opposition are: Ms. Tannis Cheatle of the University of Winnipeg; Ms. Martha Lywak of the University of Winnipeg; and Mr. Ronuk Modha of the University of Winnipeg. Copies of the biographies of these young men and women will be distributed to members shortly.

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Introduction of Guests

Madam Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would like to draw the attention of all honourable members to the Speaker's Gallery, where we have with us today Mr. Tournier, President of the University of Valenciennes and Hainaut-Cambrésis and Professor Dr. Ostholt, Rector of Bielefeld University.

On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you this afternoon.