Conference Board of Canada Provincial Forecast
Mr. Jack Penner (Emerson): The Conference Board of Canada, one of the largest and most widely respected economic forecasting organizations in this country, released the latest provincial forecast.
That forecast had some interesting and encouraging things to say about Manitoba's economic performance. The Conference Board's latest look at Manitoba's economy reported that Manitoba's rate of real economic growth is expected to outperform the national average in 1996 for the second year in a row. The real GDP growth in 1996 is forecast at 2.3 percent, third highest in the country and well above Canada's forecast expansion of 1.9 percent, and particularly the forecast cites a robust manufacturing sector as one of the key engines for Manitoba growth in this year.
There is plenty of other evidence to support the optimism. Just this morning, Stats Canada reported that shipments by Manitoba manufacturing firms were up 7.9 percent in the first quarter of 1996. That is compared to the first quarter of 1995, which had a very dramatic increase. That is the strongest second growth rate in the country. Over the same time period, shipments at the national level fell by half a percent.
Stats Canada also reported last week that Manitoba manufacturing firms added an average of 5,000 new jobs during the first four months of this year, compared to the same four good months last year.
The Conference Board goes on to note that 1995 was also a very good year for Manitoba. They report that Manitoba significantly outperformed the national average in 1995 with real growth of 3 percent. The Conference Board cites robust investment, export gains, job growth as the prime engines of growth in Manitoba.
Madam Speaker, I think this is clearly an indication that our economic policies that we have adhered to in the last eight years are now coming to drive the economic engine of this province and to create jobs in this province.
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Statistics Canada Job Survey Report
Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East): Madam Speaker, you know, from the opposite side we always get next-year country. We always get a forecast, but when we look at what has happened, we get a different story.
Madam Speaker, the latest Statistics Canada job survey report shows that only 523,000 persons were working on a seasonally adjusted basis in April, which was down 2,000 jobs from last month, March 1996. So we are down 2,000 jobs from March to April. Furthermore, and this is the more significant point I would make, Statistics Canada reports that there were 7,000 fewer people working in Manitoba in April of this year than in April of 1990. In other words, after six years we have 7,000 fewer jobs in Manitoba, and as of April of this year if you look at how many people were working in Manitoba compared to the whole country, it was only 3.8 percent, whereas six years ago, April 1990, we had 4 percent working. In other words, we have got Manitoba declining as a percentage of the national job picture in this country, and that is very unfortunate.
If we look at the first four months of the year, the job growth rate was only .3 percent compared to 1.4 percent for the nation as a whole, and at this rate this province is going to continue to decline relative to the rest of the employed workforce in Canada.
Madam Speaker, it is obvious that the economic policies of the present Conservative government have not provided the number of jobs needed in Manitoba to prevent the exodus of people to Alberta and British Columbia. Despite the public relations statements opposite, the fact remains that the opportunities are not being realized, and there is no way that the members opposite can deny the fact that we have fewer people working today than we did six years ago--7,000 fewer jobs.
Victoria Day
Mr. Peter Dyck (Pembina): We are planning to celebrate a very important day in the history of our province and, by extension, our wonderful land of Canada. On Monday, May 20, our nation will set aside most orders of business to collectively participate in Victoria Day. Victoria Day recognizes the birth of Queen Victoria who was actually born on May 24, 1819, but tradition saw fit to celebrate her birthday not on the 24th but on the Monday which preceded it. As a result, we will not convene in this House on Monday but will, instead, celebrate Victoria Day.
In 1901, during the Ninth Parliament, May 24 was established as a public holiday. I believe that it is important to celebrate this event as it is a building block in the history of Canada which, after all, is part of the Commonwealth. When the legislation for Victoria Day was passed 95 years ago, Canada's population was just over five million and that of the province of Manitoba was 255,000. We have come a long way since then and our country has been blessed with growth, both from within and through immigration.
We are reminded of Queen Victoria through various distinctions which surround us to this day. The Victoria Cross is the highest military declaration of the Commonwealth and it was first awarded for valour by Queen Victoria in 1856. Among the recipients are Winnipeg's own Andrew Mynarski who was also honoured by having a school named after him. The Victorian Order of Nurses or the VON is our country's oldest national nursing organization and it was founded in 1897. The VON was named to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and was modelled on the Queen's Jubilee nurses.
I would hope that all members of this House take this upcoming long weekend to reflect upon how our country has flourished throughout the century. We not only live in the greatest country in the world, but as Manitobans, we know that we are Canada's greatest asset. Thank you, Madam Speaker, and to all I say happy Victoria Day.
Home Care
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, as we hear through different media outlets and so forth some of the content of the tentative agreement that has been agreed to between management and the union executive, one of the things that is becoming somewhat clear is that it appears as if the government did not give in on the concession of a 12-month moratorium. We find that, in fact, is most unfortunate. The 12-month moratorium, I think, was something that was reasonable.
One of the things that we have found is that the government, throughout the hours of Estimates, has failed to be able to demonstrate that they have done their homework in terms of any valid arguments whatsoever as to why the province of Manitoba should be moving towards privatization for profit. They have failed that. They have failed miserably. We have asked time and time again in order to try to understand why the government has chosen to go in that direction. We are greatly disappointed they have done that.
Ultimately, whatever the tentative agreement comes down to, we hope and trust that the government will at least open its mind somewhat and allow for public input, in particular input from the clients, input from the home care workers, input from other interested Manitobans in terms of including them in part of the process that would allow them to make sure that the government is going to make a good decision, a good solid decision that is based on information, not based on a philosophical or an ideological point of view. That is clearly the only reason why this government has chosen to move towards privatization for profit.
So we ask still for the government to give serious consideration, Madam Speaker, to allow for that public feedback, which is absolutely critical, no matter what is in the tentative agreement. Thank you.
National Mining Week
Ms. MaryAnn Mihychuk (St. James): Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize National Mining Week. Manitoba's mining heritage has been one of the building blocks of our economy since before Manitoba became a province. Our mining heritage, particularly in the North, was shaped by pioneering explorers, prospectors, geologists and mine makers.
Across Canada, over one million Canadians live in 150 communities whose economic lifeblood is mining. The metals and minerals sector employs 80,000 people directly and another 300,000 jobs indirectly. In Manitoba, mining employs over 3,000 people. Although we may be impressed with the number of jobs related to mining, let us not forget that we have still lost over 1,000 jobs in this sector since 1989. In Manitoba, mining's economic benefits are second only to agriculture. In 1994, mining value production was $700 million and we are still aware that the all-time high was in 1989 at $1.8 billion. We realize over the past decade capital investment in the mining sector has declined by over 50 percent. While spending on exploration is expected to be some $40 million this year, it is still less than that spent in 1988.
At a national level, reserves and production in Canada are in serious decline. We see more mines closing than opening. In Canada during the period of '92-93, 44 mines closed while only 24 opened. Reserves for copper and nickel are down 33 percent, zinc is down 40 percent and lead is down 50 percent.
I am encouraged by the mines that are opening and reopened in the past year if it is an indication that northern Manitoba is once again becoming a major contributor to the province's economy. I am also pleased that the proposed mine at Cross Lake is proceeding.
I also want to congratulate the Mining Association for inviting members of the House to join the mining industry in a celebration tonight.