* (1010)

ORAL QUESTION PERIOD

Winnipeg Arena

Donations--Tax Deductibility

Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): My question is to the First Minister (Mr. Filmon).

On May 25 of 1995, the Minister of Finance in public statements that he made dealing with the revenue-loss issue with Revenue Canada stated that he supported the revenue status of a charitable status for corporations investing in the takeover of the Jets. He is quoted on public radio as saying that he feels it is worth it.

Yesterday, the Premier stated that he was opposed to this charitable status for the entrepreneurs. I would like to ask the Premier to clarify the position of last week with the current position of the provincial government on this matter.

Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): I would encourage the Leader of the Opposition to read the transcript. I believe he is referring to an interview with CBC Radio, where I was asked very specific questions on that.

I did not show support or nonsupport. I was then asked particulars about what the financial impact would be, and I said in terms of the payback to the province, it would be an additional one year, approximately, in terms of the payback to the province, and in terms of looking at keeping the Jets here for the next 20 or 30 years in terms of the economics of the issue, it was still in the best interest of Manitoba taxpayers because of the long-term benefits to our economy.

That was the kind of answer that I provided to that question, Madam Speaker.

Winnipeg Jets

Status of Provincial Shares

Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Last week, in a question to the Premier on May 29, or this week, I asked the Premier about the status of the share, the 18 percent share. The Premier indicated to this Chamber that this publicly owned share by the provincial government of 18 percent in the privately owned hockey team would remain as equity, as credit, for the people of Manitoba, in the hockey team.

Yesterday, the Premier indicated as part of the negotiations that are going on with the new groups of private owners that the provincial government would be shrinking its share from 18 percent to 9 percent as part of a $90-million package.

Madam Speaker, the Provincial Auditor has identified this 18 percent share in the operating loss agreement as an asset to the people of Manitoba. I would like to ask the Premier whether they have negotiated funds in exchange for the shrinkage of that share, funds to be paid by the private risktakers that could help defray the costs of the new arena, which the Premier has pledged.

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): As I indicated to the Leader of the Opposition, in terms of the imputed value of our shares, that has not changed. What has changed is that there has been a dilution of everyone's equity by the putting in of an additional $78 million by the private-sector group.

Mr. Doer: If the Premier can tell us that Mr. Shenkarow's shares have been diluted, when we calculate that his shares, 1 percent, have gone up in value by 50 percent under this proposal, and the public shares certainly have not--yes, they have been diluted by the Premier, so we have, in essence, a situation where the privately owned shares are increasing in value as part of this agreement, and the public shares are not even being converted to help defray the costs of the arena.

Why do we have a double standard in the value of shares of the taxpayers, who are paying for the arena, giving the arena to the private group with all the concessions and who now also seem to be further subsidizing the hockey team with our asset, with our equity, for the so-called risktakers, rather than converting that to help defray the costs for the arena?

Mr. Filmon: Well, Madam Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong. The input of substantial amounts of capital by the private sector, the MEC group, Mr. Asper and others, results in ours being the same value out of a larger pie of equity in the arena.

In the ownership of the team, I might say that even in our previous agreement, in terms of the way in which it was structured, we maintained a value of asset, but we were not in it to make a capital gain on it. In fact, the agreement would have called for us to get the repayment of the money that we had put out in terms of the losses over time, because we did not put up any money for the shares, and anything over and above that would have rested with Winnipeg Enterprises, who were the original holders of the shares.

* (1015)

Winnipeg Arena

Ownership

Mr. Tim Sale (Crescentwood): Last month, Madam Speaker, Winnipeg City Council approved rezoning of the land at The Forks. In so doing, the city totally abandoned the guidelines that it had adopted on February 1 of the same year.

Given all the bizarre twists and turns of the negotiations to date, can the Minister of Finance tell the House who will be the applicant of record to the Manitoba and federal environmental agencies? Who, ultimately, will have to approve this project? Who is going to actually apply for the permits, Mr. Minister?

Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): If the member is asking who will own a new facility, if a new facility is built here in Winnipeg, it will be owned by a company that is owned by the City of Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba equally.

Obviously, through ownership of the facility, any actions that they need to take will be taken if a facility is, in fact, going to be built, Madam Speaker.

Mr. Sale: Madam Speaker, I put the question again to the minister.

Who will be the applicant of record to the federal and provincial environmental agencies who must approve the new arena at The Forks? Whose name will be on the application, Mr. Minister?

Mr. Stefanson: I repeat, Madam Speaker, that the facility will be built on behalf of a corporation that is owned 50-50 by the City of Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba.

As I have indicated, in terms of the development of that facility, discussions are ongoing with the private sector, which has raised to date in excess of some $60 million, about building the facility for no more than the $111 million that has been committed; otherwise, they become responsible for any cost overruns, Madam Speaker.

Through the development by the private sector, through the ownership by the new entity owned by the city and the Province of Manitoba, the appropriate applications will be made, Madam Speaker.

Mr. Sale: Will the minister then confirm that, to date, nobody, no body private or public, has yet made any application to any of the relevant environmental bodies for this project?

Mr. Stefanson: I hate to have to remind the honourable member that at this particular point in time, no agreements have been reached to build any facility. No agreements have been reached to conclude the reorganization of the hockey team and so on. That has been the basis of ongoing discussions.

Members opposite know that full well. We have indicated on many occasions that if and when agreements are reached, as much information as can be made public and available will be made public and available, not only for members opposite but, indeed, for all Manitobans, Madam Speaker.

Winnipeg Arena

Environmental Assessment

Mr. Gregory Dewar (Selkirk): My questions are for the Minister of the Environment.

Since this government has railroaded through a deal to construct a $111-million arena at the Portage East site and there has been no mention by the province about the environmental impacts of this construction, can the minister answer the question as to whether this project is a Class 2 or a Class 3 under the federal regulations?

Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister of Environment): Madam Speaker, the member's inherent question is whether or not the appropriate reviews will be conducted. They would like me to prejudge any location and application, and I will wait until we have seen the applications.

Mr. Dewar: Has the minister had any contact with his federal counterpart to ensure that the federal regulations are fulfilled?

Mr. Cummings: Well, Madam Speaker, I am amused, actually, that the member is trying to--[interjection] Well, perhaps amazed is a better word, that the member is putting it in this context.

He is attempting to make sure that all appropriate licensing and approvals are in place. That is without question.

* (1020)

Mr. Dewar: Given the fact that nothing has been done so far, will the minister make a commitment today that he will fast-track the process?

Mr. Cummings: Did I just hear him say that he asked me to fast-track the process, after all the squawking that came from them about every environment licence that has been issued lately about going too fast? Now he wants to speed it up. [interjection]

Mr. Dewar: Right, the question is, will he ensure that the process not be fast-tracked?

Mr. Cummings: Madam Speaker, these are serious issues and not issues that will be dealt with in any offhand or poorly considered manner.

I would remind the member that our commitment has always been that we will deal appropriately with these projects, but if he is asking me to prior commit on classifications and whether or not there will be particular processes, let us see what the application is.

Sustainable Development

Forestry

Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, the issue of environmental protection and sustainable harvest of forest has been a subject of much discussion during the Louisiana-Pacific hearings. There has also been great concern about the sustainability of how our forest will be harvested. Unfortunately, we did not have hearings before the forest was given away.

I want to ask this government when they are going to take seriously their responsibility about our environmental protection and the sustainable management of our forests to ensure that we do not get F ratings from various groups, and when are they going to improve the environmental record of this province?

Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister of Environment): Madam Speaker, I am astounded that the member who represents the area where one of the single largest construction projects is ongoing at this point to prepare for jobs and opportunity that go with the harvesting of the poplar forest in this province is now indicating that she is prepared to line herself up with the Sierra Club which is making a political comment, not an environmental comment, as they review the forest projects in this province.

Louisiana-Pacific

Environmental Law Compliance

Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, in light of the fact that Louisiana-Pacific has been charged with violations of environmental laws in Colorado and in light of the fact that people in Swan River want jobs but they also want it done right and they want clean air, what assurance will the Minister of Environment give us that Louisiana-Pacific will follow the laws along with providing jobs? Give the people of Swan River--

Madam Speaker: Order, please. I would remind the honourable member for Swan River this is not a time for debate. This is a supplementary question.

Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister of Environment): Madam Speaker, again, we have a situation that is very difficult to understand coming from the opposition. They, too, choose to make political comment, not environmental judgment of whether or not the proper forest management process is in place.

That has always been the guarantee we have given the people of this province, that the forest management process will, first of all, be clearly put in the public record and approved through a public process.

Secondly, I would remind the opposition and anyone else who is interested in this that Manitoba not only has a forest licensing process, we have an environmental licensing process that is laid overtop of the forest management process. That is the tightest, most restrictive forest management process in the country. What else does she want?

Ms. Wowchuk: Madam Speaker, since the company has a record of violating environmental laws in the United States and Canada, will the minister give the people of the Swan River constituency the assurance that he will have in place the staff to supervise the company to ensure there is not violation of environmental laws?

* (1025)

Mr. Cummings: Madam Speaker, the member obviously was not paying attention a while ago, when we indicated that we have already hired staff to be prepared for the management of the licence for the mill. Certainly, the forest management process is an ongoing one for which we have a significant number of staff in the field through Natural Resources and through the Department of Environment.

I am very, very interested that this member now is willing to stand up, criticize a company simply because it is an American company. You can point to the environmental records of other--

Point of Order

Ms. Wowchuk: On a point of order, the minister has said I have criticized the company. I am not criticizing the company. I am criticizing this government because they are not enforcing environmental laws.

Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.

Madam Speaker: I assume we are now ready to continue Question Period.

Winnipeg Jets

Capital Fund

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, my question is for the Premier.

There was a private-sector capital fund that was created for the Winnipeg Jets back in November of '91 and which the province had guaranteed.

My question to the Premier is, is the Premier prepared to give a detailed accounting of the money that is spent from this fund through MEC in getting all the preparatory work prepared?

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, yes, I would be happy to provide that. I also point out to the member for Inkster that this fund will be reimbursed by the new capital that has been raised for the purchase of the team.

Mr. Lamoureux: Can the Premier give us some sort of indication when he would be prepared to table that detail?

Mr. Filmon: As soon as possible, Madam Speaker.

Mr. Lamoureux: I had a feeling he might say that, Madam Speaker.

Winnipeg Arena

Contracts--Tabling Request

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Will the Premier give a detailed breakdown of all the parties who have been awarded contracts under this new arrangement, given that it is not going to be up for tender? Will he make that commitment to doing that today?

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, as I pointed out previously with respect to this issue, four major companies--and they were listed, I believe, in the answer that was provided by the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson)--with Canadian presences were asked to provide bids or proposals on it. Three did submit proposals of which the preferred one was selected by the MEC group, and it is to be the managing contractor on the project.

Beyond that, most of the work that is then going to be done on a subtrade basis will be done by virtue of tenders being called, and all of that information will be provided as the tenders are awarded.

At this point, I believe that there may have been one tender awarded for mechanical already, and we will get the details on that, but the others are yet to be put out publicly and will be awarded on a tender-call basis.

* * *

Madam Speaker: Order, please. Just quickly on a procedural point, I apologize to the House. I neglected to address the honourable member for Swan River's (Ms. Wowchuk) point of order.

In my opinion, the honourable member for Swan River did not have a point of order. It was clearly a dispute over the facts.

Provincial Parks--Northern Manitoba

Cancellation

Mr. Eric Robinson (Rupertsland): Madam Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Natural Resources concerning the creation of provincial parks earlier this year.

There has been concern expressed by groups like the World Wildlife Fund and even the federal Minister of Indian Affairs on the lack of proper negotiations with First Nations that have been affected by the creation of the parks.

I would like to ask the minister whether he has considered rescinding the Orders-in-Council that gave creation to these parks.

Hon. Albert Driedger (Minister of Natural Resources): Madam Speaker, no.

* (1030)

Legality

Mr. Eric Robinson (Rupertsland): Madam Speaker, two years ago, The Provincial Parks Act was passed but not proclaimed by this government. Does the minister believe that the provincial parks that were created recently are, in fact, illegal?

Hon. Albert Driedger (Minister of Natural Resources): Madam Speaker, no.

Sayisi Dene First Nation's Concerns

Mr. Eric Robinson (Rupertsland): The Sayisi Dene First Nation at Tadoule Lake recently forwarded a band council resolution to the minister.

I would like to ask the minister whether he has communicated with Chief Bussidor of Sayisi Dene with respect to his government's position on the parks, and what measures is this minister prepared to undertake to correct this very great injustice?

Hon. Albert Driedger (Minister of Natural Resources): Madam Speaker, over a period of time, I have indicated the process that took place in terms of establishing the four new parks in northern Manitoba.

The process has been on record. I have also indicated that those people who have concerns about it, who maybe failed to respond initially, will have another opportunity as we move forward in terms of proclaiming The Parks Act, because we will be going through a hearing process, where we will define classes and categories of all the provincial parks in Manitoba.

The other point--and I have made this many times, as well, in the correspondence I have written to the people who have inquired about this--is the fact that aboriginal rights, the traditional rights of hunting and fishing are not affected by this and the same thing also under the Treaty Land Entitlement allocations. If there is going to be any land that is going to be impinged on in these parks, we will remove that.

Madam Speaker, I have tried to clarify this point over the last three, four, five months many times, and if people keep writing, I keep responding and clarifying it to them. I think if the member would look back on the record, he knows exactly what has transpired.

Post-Secondary Education

Government Initiatives

Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Madam Speaker, the government promised the Roblin commission in the 1980s. The Roblin commission finally submitted its report to the government in 1993, and that commission underlined for the government, and I quote: that the most pervasive issue brought to our attention in the North is the lack of a comprehensive post-secondary education policy.

I want to ask the Minister of Education if she could tell the House what steps her government has taken in the last 18 months to develop such a policy.

Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): Madam Speaker, I should indicate for starters that in terms of post-secondary education, we have done a number of things that apply to all post-secondary education at the community college level.

That has particular benefit to the North, because as we have pumped more money into community colleges and given them more ability to govern their own affairs, we have at the same time, of course, made the North more viable for students wishing post-secondary education, because it is the community colleges which service that area primarily as post-secondary educational institutions.

Keewatin Community College

Impact of Restructuring

Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Madam Speaker, could the minister tell the House what the impact will be of the recent restructuring at community colleges, and in this case, Keewatin Community College? What will be the impact on ACCESS programs, on aboriginal participation in teaching and management of the colleges?

Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): Madam Speaker, as the member knows in terms of ACCESS students, the federal funding that was withdrawn, some $4 million that was there before, of course, is no longer there. We have actually, of course, been able to provide opportunities to increase access to those programs, to increase access to ACCESS through allowing more--[interjection] Well, if the member wishes to hear the answer, I would be pleased to continue.

When the member talks about the ability for people to take advantage of ACCESS programs, she must also recognize at the same time that the moves we have made to enable more students to sign up by having a partial bursary, a partial Canada student loan--[interjection] Well, is the member wanting then no specific information on the very item she identified?

Ms. Friesen: Madam Speaker, could I clarify for the minister my second question? She does not seem to be able to grasp the point about KCC. I would be happy to clarify that second question.

President Selection

Madam Speaker: Order, please. Would the honourable member please pose her second supplementary question.

Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Madam Speaker, could the minister tell the House how she will ensure the participation of First Nation communities in a decision which is of great importance to the North, and that is the selection of a new president for KCC?

Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): I thank the member for finally being specific in her question, so that I can provide a specific answer.

Madam Speaker, the member also realizes that community colleges have been given self-governance, that they are conducting a search, that they will be looking for a president who will suit the needs of that area which the community college services. The process that has been put in place to conduct a presidential search is one that is deemed to be fair and workable.

If the member has any objections to the process, I would like her to indicate what they are for the record. Maybe in Estimates, if we get to them, she could indicate what her concerns are with the process that has been put in place to select a president for the area by the people of the area who are connected with the college.

Winnitoba Apartment

Property Management

Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): Madam Speaker, the Winnitoba apartment on Young Street in Winnipeg is one of many substandard rental properties collecting rent from tenants, including tenants on social allowance, without making sure that the apartment dwellings are up to standard. The government can do something about this by using the many tools it has to enforce the landlords to make sure that rental properties are maintained and comply with the work orders.

I want to ask the government, will they confirm that this property on Young Street has been taken over--the management has been taken over by the government--and that they are now collecting rent for this property, and will they ensure that the rent is going to be used for repairs?

Hon. Jim Ernst (Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs): Madam Speaker, I can say at the outset that of the more than 100,000 rental units in this province, 99.9 percent of them do not present a problem for other tenants or the government with respect to enforcement of its laws.

With respect to the specific question that the member asked, I can confirm that the Residential Tenancies Branch has, in fact, taken over the rents. We are dealing with the issues of repairs and work orders against the building by both Fire and Health Departments, and the issues of repairs are being dealt with at the present time.

Ms. Cerilli: Madam Speaker, again with the specifics of this property, how long have there been outstanding work orders on this property? Were there outstanding work orders before the landlord disappeared, and how long does it usually take--

Madam Speaker: Order, please. I would remind the honourable member for Radisson that questions are to be one short sentence and contain a single question.

Mr. Ernst: Madam Speaker, the enforcement of building standards lies with the City of Winnipeg inside the city of Winnipeg. So in the case of fire orders or building upgrade orders or Health Department orders, they all fall within the jurisdiction of the City of Winnipeg in this particular instance. The Residential Tenancies Branch may not even know there are work orders against the building, unless they are brought to the attention of the Residential Tenancies Branch.

In this particular case, they were brought to the attention of the Residential Tenancies Branch. The landlord, for all intent and purposes, had abandoned the building, so the Residential Tenancies Branch steps in, takes the rents that would normally have gone to the landlord and deals with the issues of outstanding utility accounts, repairs to the building and the work orders that are addressed against it, and we are moving reasonably quickly to deal with those issues that are most urgent.

Rental Properties

Assumed Management

Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): My final supplementary is more general, because this is only one of many properties. How many rental properties does the provincial government currently have assumed management for in Manitoba?

Hon. Jim Ernst (Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs): Madam Speaker, as I indicated in my first question, this is not a large problem in Manitoba. The fact of the matter is I do not know the exact number, but my suspicion is that it is in the neighbourhood of two or three.

* (1040)

Elections Manitoba

Independent Investigation

Mr. Jim Maloway (Elmwood): My question is to the Premier.

Elections Manitoba has hired an outside investigator to look into allegations that the Tories tried to manipulate the outcome of the last provincial election.

I would like to ask the Premier, will the Premier instruct his cabinet ministers to co-operate fully with Elections Manitoba investigators into the relationship between the PC Party of Manitoba and the independent aboriginal party during that election?

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Absolutely, Madam Speaker.

Mr. Maloway: I would like to ask the Premier, has the Premier been asked for an interview, and will the Premier and his staff agree to be interviewed by Elections Manitoba during this independent investigation?

Mr. Filmon: I have not been asked. If asked, I will co-operate fully.

Mr. Maloway: My final supplementary to the same minister is, will the Premier instruct his political staff to also co-operate with Elections Manitoba in this important investigation?

Mr. Filmon: Absolutely, Madam Speaker.

VLT Revenues

Information Release

Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): Madam Speaker, yesterday, the Premier indicated that he is still unable to comply with the request of many Manitobans, including the Manitoba Association of Urban Municipalities and many other Manitobans, for detailed information on the source of VLT revenues in this province.

I would like to ask the Premier or the Minister responsible for Lotteries (Mr. Stefanson) why it has taken four months to obtain this information and why yesterday the only assurance we got was that we would get it as soon as possible.

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, this must be Friday, because we are repeating Thursday's questions and the earlier questions of the week.

As I indicated, I am as frustrated as the member opposite, and we will do our best to get that information as quickly as possible.

Mr. Ashton: A supplementary, Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the Premier why the Premier has been promising this and why the government does not know, apparently, where it is getting a significant portion of the $240 million a year it brings in from lotteries. Why does the government not know where that revenue is coming from?

Mr. Filmon: We absolutely know where it is coming from. The point is the distribution, Madam Speaker, of all the various different lotteries programs that go to all the different individual municipalities and jurisdictions.

Gaming Commission

Telephone Access

Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): As a final supplementary, I would like to ask the First Minister whether he will respond to the many suggestions that have been made, particularly to establish a toll-free line so that rural, northern Manitobans cannot only register for the commission hearings but also express their views, as was the case with the MLAs' allowance commission, something that resulted in hundreds of Manitobans being able to express their views on that issue.

Will the government consider complying with the suggestion that this be applied in this particular case?

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, as we indicated, we have given the broadest possible mandate to Mr. Desjardins and his commission to review any and all aspects of gaming in this province.

We have also given them the mandate to seek any sources of input that they can from the people of Manitoba, and we certainly encourage that.

Rock Ridge Community Centre

Funding

Mr. Stan Struthers (Dauphin): Madam Speaker, on May 30, the Rock Ridge Community Council again found out that this government was unwilling to sponsor funding for its community hall.

My question is for the Minister of Northern Affairs. Given this government's willingness to provide funding for various private ventures, including private hockey teams and private golf courses, can this minister provide some rationale for his department's decision to refuse this funding?

Hon. Darren Praznik (Minister of Northern Affairs): Yes, Madam Speaker, absolutely. The priority is sewer and water and necessary infrastructure in Northern Affairs communities.

Mr. Struthers: How much longer, Mr. Minister, will it take before this government takes seriously the needs of rural and northern Manitoba?

Mr. Praznik: Madam Speaker, I guess I should ask the question of the member, if it were appropriate, why, when his party was in power, they did not see fit to meet the needs of people in Brochet and other communities, where we have put in water and sewer and other essential projects for people in those communities, that were ignored for decades, over two decades, by the New Democrats.

Mr. Struthers: Madam Speaker, maybe I should tell the people in Rock Ridge to form a hockey team and apply for funding on that basis.

Again, I want to know why this minister insists on treating rural and northern people in this province as second-class citizens?

Mr. Praznik: Madam Speaker, I would ask the member for Dauphin to perhaps do a little bit more research.

I would remind him that the Northern Affairs communities have a process through NACC, where they work to sort out their own projects and priorities within the Capital budget. Within that organization, Rock Ridge quite frankly has not been able to convince their fellow Northern Affairs communities of the priority of that project over other priorities.

I will just tell him, within his own area in the last few years, the Department of Northern Affairs has paid for an excellent brand new firetruck for one community in those areas. We have helped Camperville when their community hall burnt down, and we provided the dollars to build that hall.

We have done sewer and water projects, Madam Speaker, in a number of those Northern Affairs communities, and I am prepared to tell the communities that are getting sewer and water and other projects that the member for Dauphin's preference is a community hall in Rock Ridge, as opposed to sewer and water in their communities.

Flora Place

Future Status

Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): Madam Speaker, Flora Place public housing consists of two short streets of single detached houses. They are getting old. Some are in a poor state of repair, but there is a wonderful sense of community and people want to continue living there.

I would like to thank the former Minister of Housing for inviting me to a meeting in her office and the current Minister of Housing for inviting me to a meeting in his office next week.

However, since Manitoba Housing has been boarding up these houses since last October, can the Minister of Housing tell the people of Flora Place what the plan is? Are they going to get renovations or new housing?

Hon. Jack Reimer (Minister of Housing): Madam Speaker, as mentioned by the member for Burrows--and I must say that we have been in contact regarding this facility at Flora Place--Flora Place truly is a unique entity here in Winnipeg, because it is a lot of small little homes, what we used to call wartime homes, small little homes that were built in the late '40s, early '40s. They have come to a life of their own in a sense.

A decision as to the direction on it is being considered along with the member for Burrows, along with the City of Winnipeg. A meeting is going to be called on it, so that we can discuss it along with the residents of the area in trying to come to some sort of formality of continuation or what development is going to proceed in that area.

Mr. Martindale: Does the Minister of Housing and his department have a plan, since they have been boarding up these units since last October? They must have had a plan when they started boarding them up. What are their intentions?

Mr. Reimer: Madam Speaker, one of the first things on the plan is consultation. There is a consultation process that we are beginning, not only within the department but with the people in the area, with the representative from the City of Winnipeg, the representative for Burrows and myself to discuss this, along with people in the area, so there is an understanding and a direction and formality that we can come to on this.

Winnipeg Development Agreement

Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): Will the Minister of Housing consult with the City of Winnipeg and the federal minister under the Winnipeg Development Agreement, since there is money available for housing in the WDA, to allocate some of this money to Flora Place, either for renovations or for new housing?

Hon. Jack Reimer (Minister of Housing): Madam Speaker, let me make it perfectly clear. One of the things we are going to do in a very judicious manner is to have consultation and direction, not only, as the member mentioned, with the City of Winnipeg, but with the member, so that we can come to some sort of direction and a formality of getting this thing resolved.

* (1050)

Kildonan Youth Activity Centre

Funding

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Kildonan, there is time for one very short question.

Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker, the citizens of West Kildonan, the school division, parents and others have come together to establish the Kildonan Youth Activity Centre. Unfortunately, because of lack of funding, we may have difficulty opening this year. Last year, Child and Family Services indicated apprehensions were down in the area. Difficulties were down because this centre was open.

My question to the Minister of Family Services is, will the department consider funding staff in order to keep the Kildonan Youth Activity Centre open over this summer?

Hon. Bonnie Mitchelson (Minister of Family Services): Madam Speaker, I thank my honourable friend for that question.

We in the Department of Family Services and in government do, indeed, feel there is a need to ensure that our communities and all of the partners within our communities try to come to some resolution on how we can resolve the problem of ensuring that children are safe and secure and protected.

Madam Speaker, that is an issue for the community, for parents and for all of those who do support children to work out a resolution to.

Madam Speaker: Time for Oral Questions has expired.

Speaker's Ruling

Madam Speaker: I have a ruling for the House.

On Thursday, May 25, a matter of privilege was raised by the honourable member for Inkster (Mr. Lamoureux) regarding recognition of Liberal members during Question Period on Wednesday, May 24.

After hearing submissions from the honourable member, as well as the honourable member for Thompson (Mr. Ashton), I took the matter under advisement. I have had an opportunity to review the Hansard in question and consult the relevant authorities.

The Canadian authority on privilege, Joseph Maingot, in his treatise, Parliamentary Privilege in Canada, has this to say.

"While it will be seen that the member enjoys all the immunity necessary to perform his parliamentary work, this privilege or right . . . is nevertheless subject to the practices and procedures of the House. Thus allegations of breach of privilege by a member . . . which amount to complaints about procedures and practices in the House are by their very nature matters of order."

Therefore, the member for Inkster may have had a point of order to raise, but it was not a matter of privilege.

The member was also coming close to reflecting on the actions of the Speaker in his submission. I am sure this was not intentional but would remind all honourable members that any suggestion of partiality or bias on the part of a presiding officer automatically shows disrespect and amounts to contempt.

I would just like to conclude by saying that these are my first days on the job with a House that is significantly changed in composition from the last Legislature. Some of our procedures are firm and fixed in the rules; others are more fluid and, as far as possible, within the parameters of the history, traditions and the rules of this House, I intend to be as flexible as possible in working with all members.

As the honourable member for Inkster (Mr. Lamoureux) reminded me last week, I am the servant of the House, and it is my duty and aim to uphold the principles and traditions of the Assembly and to recognize the rights and privileges of each member while ensuring that the House's business is transacted in an orderly manner. My intention is to do just that in as fair and equitable a way as I possibly can.