Mr. Marcel Laurendeau (Chairperson of the section of Committee of Supply meeting in the Chamber): Madam Speaker, the Committee of Supply has adopted certain resolutions, directs me to report the same and asks leave to sit again.
I move, seconded by the honourable member for Sturgeon Creek (Mr. McAlpine), that the report of the committee be received.
Motion agreed to.
Madam Speaker: The hour being 5 p.m. and time for private members' hour, proposed Resolution 3. Oh, the honourable government House leader. Do you have an announcement?
Hon. James McCrae (Government House Leader): Yes, Madam Speaker, on a matter of House business, I would like to call the Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources for Thursday morning at ten o'clock, April 10. The committee will consider the Annual Reports and the Five Year Plans of the Workers Compensation Board.
Madam Speaker: To repeat the announcement, the Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources will meet Thursday, April 10, 10 a.m., to consider the Annual Report for Workers Compensation.
Mr. Gerry McAlpine (Sturgeon Creek): I move, seconded by the honourable member for St. Norbert (Mr. Laurendeau),
"WHEREAS the Province of Manitoba and specifically the City of Winnipeg will be hosting the Pan Am Games in 1999; and
"WHEREAS this represents a unique opportunity for the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg to receive positive recognition from Pan Am participants, competing countries, and the international community at large; and
"WHEREAS a culturally aware and linguistically capable citizenship in Manitoba will be an essential component to the Pan Am Games; and
"WHEREAS the Pan American Games is an opportunity to promote Manitoba as a tourist destination and set the stage for future economic development.
"THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba encourage all Manitobans to participate in the Pan Am Games experience in Manitoba and also to encourage the partners and sponsors of the games to foster opportunities for Manitobans to become an integral part of the games."
Motion presented.
Mr. McAlpine: Madam Speaker, as this resolution indicates in the first Whereas, that the province of Manitoba and specifically the city of Winnipeg will be hosting the Pan Am Games in 1999, I think that we have to really look at this as a serious commitment to this province and to this city in terms of what has been achieved in obtaining the 1990 Pan Am Games.
When I first saw the success of the Pan Am Games Committee down in South America, with our Premier (Mr. Filmon) and the mayor of Winnipeg being successful, and the committee led by Mr. Don MacKenzie in their success, it was really an exciting moment, I think from my point of view, as far as all Manitobans and all people of Winnipeg to be able to rise to the occasion of hosting all the countries of South America and the Pan Am community.
Madam Speaker, in the Speech from the Throne, it was indicated that the 1999 Pan Am Games will be the largest celebration of sport and culture ever staged in Canada.
I remember the 1967 Pan Am Games so well and what an impact those games had on me and the people of Winnipeg in terms of the activities that were going on and the camaraderie and the associations that we as Winnipeggers and Manitobans and Canadians would have, the interaction and participation with people from so many countries that in many cases we have little in common with.
That was in 1967. It is a different matter today, and I think that we can look on this as a real opportunity to be able to create and build on those relationships. That will not only improve our relationships as individuals but improve our relationships economically and foster great partnerships for many years to come with the NAFTA agreement and the trade corridor and all the things that we will benefit from as a city and as a province and as a country.
The fact that an event of this magnitude is happening in our province is really quite an accomplishment for our city and our province. I encourage all Manitobans to get involved with the pre-game activities, to join in the fun because I think there is a real spirit out there. I think that we have to, as members of this Chamber and members of the various constituencies that we represent, be ambassadors for the Pan Am Games and to get the message out for people to be involved. This is one of the biggest events that we are going to be participating in--and be involved in as members of this Legislature and as Manitobans--that we will maybe see in the rest of our lifetime. Maybe we will never ever see this happening again in our lifetime, and we should be pleased that there is already a highly active and enthusiastic volunteer base working on the games related activities and planning. They are keeping the Pan Am Games Society and government plan for a successful event that will benefit all Manitobans. I think that we as members of the Legislature should do our part in the things that we can do.
In talking to Mr. MacKenzie just recently with regard to the Pan Am Games, he referenced the fact that they are going to need 20,000 volunteers. He has no concern about being able to get them because he has had the experience and a taste of really what lies before him, the committee and the people who have really fallen into place to make sure that these games are going to be a success.
Our government is working closely with the Pan Am Games organizers to take full advantage of the economic and the community development benefits of staging the games. Looking back again to the 1967 Pan Am Games, I mean the Pan-Am Pool, a facility that has been used to the full extent, and anytime you go there you still marvel at the structure and the things that go on there, the swim meets and all the other activities. It is a class facility. The cycle dome, or whatever it is called--at the--for cycling that was developed in 1967 as well, something that we as Manitobans and people in the city of Winnipeg would never have if it was not for these games. So we should take full advantage of the opportunities and to participate because they will be enjoyed and be able to be shared by not only our children but our grandchildren for many, many years.
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In addition to the significant and direct economic impact of the games, Madam Speaker, the games will also provide Manitoba, and indeed all of Canada, with a vehicle to expand economic and cultural relationships in the Americas and to further showcase our city, province and country. When we talk about culture, I think there is so much that we as Canadians and members of this Chamber can do in terms of strengthening our ties with the various cultures that we have. We are so rich in what we have and maybe no other country or no other province will have that same experience because of the cultural diversity that we have and the opportunities that are open to us to learn and to be able to cherish the other cultures and what they have to offer in terms of our societies.
It is also worth noting the Pan Am Games economic development initiative. The initiative will emphasize the many legacy components of the games such as an enhanced trade and investment, tourism development, community development and cultural industry expansion. Madam Speaker, I am sure that a lot of the people that will be coming to these games--I think it is important to us as ambassadors to ensure that they will want to come back, that this will be a very pleasurable experience for all of those people. Our government has taken a role and I think is the leading edge of this with this Pan Am committee and the organizers that are there, to work hard in partnership with all Manitobans to secure the Pan Am Games for our province.
I think that, as I referenced, the people, the work, the dedication and the commitment that went in to securing the Games was nothing short of miraculous. But it did not come by just some mere miracle. The miracle was created by the people who headed up the organization and the committee that made the presentation. I think they should be commended for the fine effort that they did and the commitment that they made.
The Games are a tremendous opportunity in terms of the economic benefits. I think it is almost impossible to say what the economic benefits will be. When we think of the Grey Cup, as an example, that we hosted here a few years ago, it generated some $30 million. Here is going to be an event that is going to be over a period of two weeks. I am sure that there are people in place that have some numbers that will prove to be reasonably accurate. I think that the amounts economically that we can expect to receive as a province, in addition to Canada--because I think Canada will probably benefit as a whole greater than the province will--I think the numbers will probably be staggering if we were to consider and to know what they are at this point.
Our province has the rich heritage in terms of, as I mentioned, the cultural diversity of this province, which is different and unusual from many other provinces and many of the countries that are going to be coming here. There will be an opportunity for them to see the different cultures that we have and to see how we are able to harmonize and to promote each other's cultures. I think the Pan Am Games will certainly add to that and bring home that fact that we can always do more.
The people of our province will be the most important part of the successful Games, and that goes beyond the 20,000 volunteers that we are going to have. Manitobans have a great deal to contribute in terms of all the aspects of what we have to do as a province and as a government. Already Manitobans have dedicated countless volunteer hours to the planning of the Pan Am Games. The volunteers are the bedrock upon which these Games will function, and the success of these Games will be based on the volunteers that we have in this city and in this province.
The people of Manitoba are the strongest resource, and I think that we cannot afford to sell ourselves short on that matter, Madam Speaker. Manitobans are distinguished by the active community-minded approach to life. I think we only have to look at past experiences and the past successes that we have had in hosting the previous Pan Am Games, the Grey Cup, the Canada Games in Brandon, the world baseball, junior baseball in Brandon a few years ago, the world curling. These are class events. I think we are becoming known for putting on successful events, and I would expect that the Pan Am Games will not be an exception to this.
Our government plans to continue its support for activities which enable Manitobans to participate in the experience of hosting these games. There will be that opportunity to be involved as volunteers, in committees, whatever committees, whether they are driving committees in terms of education, in terms of the schools, I think is really something that I look forward to. I think that in attending a school just a couple of weeks ago, Madam Speaker, even the students in the schools were talking about the opportunities and the excitement that is going to be generated around these games.
The Pan Am Games Society has a school program committee that is working on initiatives more directly related to the school divisions and in partnership with Manitoba teachers. Through this committee, Madam Speaker, school divisions are being encouraged to adopt a Pan American country and to learn about that country. I think there is a tremendous opportunity for students to really expand their horizons in terms of understanding as far as not only the cultures but where they are in terms of relation. It really brings home the message in terms of what people in other countries, how they live and how they compare with our quality of life and the things that we do.
Madam Speaker, I see that my time is running quickly. What I am going to do is emphasize the fact that we have a real opportunity here as members of this Chamber. I, for one, because of the nature of these games and involving a lot of the Spanish or Hispanic communities would love the opportunity of possibly learning Spanish and being able to communicate to some extent in learning that language and learning about their cultures. I would hope that all members of this Chamber would see fit to support this resolution and to give it the consideration that it really sincerely deserves because we are all going to benefit from this, not only today and leading up to the Games, but for many, many years. Not only will we benefit as individuals, but our families, children and grandchildren will reap the benefits of this event for many, many years.
I would ask all honourable members to support me on this resolution and give this the true consideration that it warrants.
Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): It is interesting in listening to the member opposite's comments on the Games and presenting this very much as a feel-good resolution. It is hard to argue I guess with hosting something like the Pan Am Games which is good for the province. It is good for Winnipeg. I certainly have submitted my name to be one of the 20,000 volunteers. I know that I have been in contact with a number of people who are active with the various sports and various volunteer committees that are operating to put on this event.
I also want to caution the Minister responsible for Sport (Mr. Stefanson) and the government in the way that this has progressed so far. I guess, while I outline some of the benefits that we know will come to the province with having the infusion of millions of dollars from the federal government to provide for facilities, the tourism that it will bring and the other benefits in terms even of community development, I also want to raise some concerns that we have and that I have from talking to people about the way that this government has been dealing with this proposed bid and now the plans for the Pan Am Games. It is true that there is a very elaborate committee structure in place. There are already a number of volunteers from across the province working away. There are concerns that I have heard that things are not progressing as quickly as they might need to, particularly in terms of having the facilities ready.
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There is also the advantage when we have the Games here in Manitoba, that we could have greater numbers of Manitoba athletes and Canadian athletes able to participate in the Games and all of the lead-up activities to the Games, particularly in trial runs of the new facilities. It is interesting, and it is good to see that there has been some attention to the needs of athletes with the new national centre that was announced not too long ago for Manitoba.
Of course, as the member opposite has mentioned, there will be a legacy of new facilities that will be left in the province. I know from past years that there are facilities that were constructed for the '67 Pan Am Games that are still very important to the province. I was not able to participate as a volunteer back in the '67 Games. I was a bit young and was not even living in Manitoba at the time. I was coached by Mr. Jim Daly when I was at the University of Manitoba in a track and field program. Mr. Jim Daly is perhaps one of the reasons that the member, Mr. McAlpine, is bringing forward this resolution, because Mr. Daly resides in his constituency.
I know he is not participating to any great deal in the planning and organizing for these Games, but he also coached one of the athletes in '67 who ran middle distance who was then my coach in high school. So I do feel like I have some connection to the '67 Games even though I did not participate in any way back then, but I did benefit from a lot of the facilities that were developed, and also from the expertise and the talent that was developed in terms of the sport administration in the province, as well as coaching and basic management in sport.
With that said, though, I want to deal a little bit, as I said, with some of the concerns that we have. One of the largest concerns is the underfunding of the Games. We know the budget for the Games is approximately $122 million. We also know that the mayor, and others, have admitted that they have not budgeted enough, that there was a problem in the budgeting. It seems that with a lot of the sports they did not account for the facilities that are going to be necessary to be constructed, particularly some of the equipment that is additionally added on, like additional spectator stands, score clocks, that type of thing.
So there is going to be, depending on whom you talk to, a shortfall of between $14 million to $30 million in lack of funds or underfunding. There is some $64 million in total public money invested in the Pan Am Games for 1999. The amount that the province has committed is some $23.5 million of this amount. The federal funding is supposed to be approximately $37 million. That leaves about $4 million to be covered by the city. The remaining $58 million is to be raised by the Pan Am Games committee, the private sector, and the community through merchandising, TV sales, general fundraising and sponsorship.
This is one of the largest areas of concern. I know that there is, with the Pan Am Games committee and the general public, they have yet to sign a TV contract. We know without getting a large TV network to broadcast the games, that there will be difficulty securing the sponsorship. There will be difficulty then in securing the topnotch athletes that will make these Pan Am Games in Winnipeg in '99, indeed, a top-notch international sporting competition.
So the member opposite may talk about how it is going to be a cultural event and how it is going to be wonderful for all the volunteers in Winnipeg, but when you get right down to it, it is a sporting event. For it to be a top-notch international sporting event, you have to have the advertising and TV contracts in place and you have to have the facilities in place, and that does not seem to be progressing as well as we had hoped.
There seems to be some problems with the pool, the track and field venue, equestrian, sailing, water skiing, the velodrome, the baseball park. All of these facilities are involved in what some could call political disputes, what some could call just the usual difficulties. For example, in Gimli, which is to host the boating events, they were allocated only $127,000 when it is going to cost more than a million for the town to make the expansion in their harbour and accommodate more than a hundred boats, what they can accommodate now. So it is a lot of money, the member for The Pas (Mr. Lathlin) says, and, yes, it is a lot of money.
When you look at the requirements for some of the other venues--the baseball park. I know that in my own constituency there has been a proposal to have the south Transcona retention pond, which I just discovered in Estimates for Urban Affairs is not on track for this year. Again, you can see that there are difficulties in ensuring there is going to be a venue secured in time for water skiing.
Now the problem, Madam Speaker, with these venues, and I have raised this with the Minister for Sport and Finance (Mr. Stefanson) in the House, is that we cannot think just in terms of 1999 for the Pan Am Games. In order to qualify as an international competition, a number of these venues have to be tested with international meets at least a year prior to the event of the Pan Am Games in 1999. There is a lot of concern that this is not on track and that there are problems in timing in having--slate the high-quality international competitions necessary in order for the Games to have qualifications met to have international competition of this calibre at these new venues.
As we can see, even though there are a lot of volunteers--and I have met with a number of the staff that are working out of the building out in Tuxedo, the former School for the Deaf. There is still a lot of work to be done. I think that if we want to truly see a successful first-class Games competition, some of these questions are going to have to be addressed fairly quickly. Some of these issues are going to have to be addressed by this government very quickly, since they are portraying themselves as the leaders in this endeavour, the Pan Am Games. They were the ones who worked very hard to put together the bid.
When you look at the fact that the Pan Am Games plan for Winnipeg is going to have three times the number of sports as the Commonwealth Games in Victoria but they have a third of the budget, then you know we are in a difficult situation. It is an understatement when I read in the newspaper that the mayor for the city is acknowledging that there is a funding problem.
I guess, in mentioning Victoria, one of the other things that I wanted to mention is the caution that we take with hosting this type of high-calibre, international, large event, is some of the things that went on in Victoria which we would hate to see go on here. That is the loss of attention to problems that have been long-term problems in our community, particularly in the downtown area, as the way is paved for the Games. With that, I am alluding to in Victoria how they had massive relocation of largely low-income people in their downtown areas in order to make way for new residential facilities for the short period of the Games.
So that whole question, as well, of housing all of the thousands of athletes and spectators that will come here is another issue that I do not believe this government is yet considering adequately enough, and we do not want to see that kind of legacy associated with these Pan Am Games in Manitoba. We know that Winnipeg has a large number of needs. We know that there are lots of kids in Winnipeg that do not get to play sports because they cannot afford it. We know that if these facilities are going to be constructed and there is going to be a large debt, it is going to be Winnipeggers that are going to have to pay when they want to go for a swim, when they want to go play hockey, when they want to go play ball or go and watch some other events.
So with that, I just want to, I guess, caution the government that they can bring in resolutions like this that are very much to encourage us to feel good about what is happening, very much to encourage us all to participate, and that may all be well and good. There are some serious concerns in terms of the Pan Am Games, and we would want to see that those are addressed and that this government is not going to just try and use resolutions like this and a public relations campaign. I know that there was a success with the launching of the clothing and merchandise line. There was a big uptake on that. I was unable to go to that event.
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Those kinds of initiatives are important, but I think that there also has to be some attention paid to the large-ticket items that are seriously underfunded, the fact that we have to see serious attention paid to the television contract so that we can secure the sponsorship for the large corporate sponsorship that is going to be necessary to run an event like this. People often say that events like this can put Winnipeg on the map, but we would hate to see if being on the map for a couple of weeks in 1999 is going to leave the province of Manitoba and the city of Winnipeg with a debt to repay for many years to come.
So while we look forward to being able to use those facilities that will be built with money from the federal government as well as other money from outside the province, I do not think that Manitobans want to be left with having to pay for those facilities long after the balloons are gone and the ribbons and trophies are given out and the medals are given out for the Pan Am Games. With that, Madam Speaker, I am interested in hearing what others in the House have to say with regard to some of the comments that we have put on the record. I look forward to continuing to deal with issues around the Pan Am Games as the Sport critic. As I said, I look forward to being one of those 20,000 volunteers.
Mr. Gary Kowalski (The Maples): Madam Speaker, there is a time to be critical. There is a time to be cautious. There are times to be a cheerleader. There is a time to be a booster. There is a time to be very positive. This is one of those times when it is a good time to be positive about something. The Pan Am Games is something. It is not a partisan issue. It is not a provincial issue, a federal issue. They are all sharing. Everyone is sharing in the credit. No one is looking for credit here. This is something, with the loss of the Winnipeg Jets, Winnipeg needs a shot in the arm as far as Winnipeg pride. This is something that we can all be proud of.
Sometimes you have to take a risk. Sometimes you have to not be overly cautious. If Duff Roblin had been cautious, would we have the floodway right now and what would Winnipeg be looking at right now? Mayor Stephen Juba was often thought of as a character, but he was a visionary. He saw some things that we are seeing the benefit. On the other hand, we look at Mayor Drapeau and what he did to Montreal with the Olympics and--[interjection] Yes, as the member says, sometimes you have to be cautious, but we have to step out of our comfort zone. What I heard from the member for Radisson (Ms. Cerilli) was concern mainly about debt and money, and there is a legitimate concern. I know some of the people involved in the Pan Am organization committee. I know of Rod Zimmer, as the vice-president in charge of festivals. Tim Ryan, I believe he is the administrative vice-president. I believe the Premier's wife is on the organizing committee. I have confidence in these people, including Don MacKenzie, that they will be able to--
Mr. Neil Gaudry (St. Boniface): Not Dan, Don.
Mr. Kowalski: Don MacKenzie, I stand corrected. My colleague from St. Boniface has corrected me. I have confidence in these people that they will be able to overcome any of these challenges. I am confident that they will be able to get a TV contract that will make this profitable. I am confident that this is a benefit to all of Canada, and there is federal money coming.
If there are problems with some of the unexpected costs, just as when there was another incident where Winnipeg and the province was in trouble with--when there was a problem at Boeing, how quickly Lloyd Axworthy and the federal government came in together and worked hard to make a benefit. I am sure that the regional minister from Manitoba, if there was a problem with the Pan Am Games organization committee, would pitch in and work with the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and the mayor in a positive way to see this very positive event take place.
I will make my comments short because I think this is something that we could all celebrate, be positive about, and not worry about political gain here. That is not what is important. Pride to Winnipeg, Manitoba and Canada. I think we should all support this resolution. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): I am delighted that I can add my few comments to those that are being expressed in the House today. I very much appreciate what the member for The Maples has just said in terms of a time for everything under the sun. A time to be a booster in a resolution such as this I think is very important.
There are so many people who have worked their hearts out to ensure that the Pan American Games came to Canada, came to Winnipeg, and who are continuing to work constantly and diligently to ensure these games are the best and most successful games ever. We, as one of the players, as the government of Manitoba, recognize and celebrate the opportunities we have before us in staging a world-class event like the 1999 Pan Am Games. More and more Manitoba is being recognized as more than a great place to work, live and raise a family. Canadians and people all over the world are seeing that Manitoba is a great place in which to invest. This kind of opportunity was acknowledged in the Speech from the Throne when the speech indicated that the Pan American Games will be the largest celebration of sport and culture ever staged in Canada. This will give us a wonderful opportunity to showcase our province in a very worthwhile way.
The lead up to 1999 is providing Manitobans from across the country with the opportunity to work with each other in a new and exciting way. We have been working, along with others, as a government steadily with the Pan American Games Society on planning for this event. I find it inspiring to report that the Manitobans we have encountered during this process are being energized by pre-Games activities, and becoming a very significant part of the overall planning process. It is not often that we all get to work together in this way. Manitobans together on one team, working for the promotion of our province, a Manitoba that we are all proud to call our own. The economic spinoffs, the economic opportunities are very positive, and we will all benefit from those. The social benefits are being seen, and they are growing, Madam Speaker, as we move closer to the Games, as the Pan Am Games spirit grows in us all.
The 1999 Games is a catalyst. In preparing for hosting this event, Manitoba's consciousness is being raised and unified in a new and exciting way. In hosting the Games, we are thinking more about global issues and the excellent position we have in this world. Together, we are seeing opportunities not just for ourselves but for the province as a whole. This is a unifying spirit. As we do the north-south corridor, Manitoba is strategically located for trade and other opportunities. The Pan American Games will enable us to build upon that north-south trading corridor and to enhance partnerships and relationships between South America and Manitoba, and North America as well, because Mexico and the United States are very much a part of this.
We have all kinds of things going on in Manitoba that are beneficial to Manitobans in the preparation for the Games. Ryerson Elementary School in Fort Garry has been selected as the keeper of the 30- by 60-foot legacy flag donated by the Canadian Olympic Association to the Pan Am Games Society. Students from across the province also had an opportunity to participate in a name-the-mascot contest. The winning name of Pato Panamericano was submitted by the students of Voyageur Elementary School. These are just a couple of examples of the types of things that are going on in the schools.
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There are things that are happening throughout the Department of Education and Training together with the Pan American Games Society on the whole to help young people, teenagers and young adults to become involved in the Games in a very worthwhile and long-lasting, positive benefit way. We announced the pilot Pan Am Youth Training Initiative in June of last year. Through this unique initiative, young Manitobans were employed by the Pan Am Games Society to enhance the natural environment as they prepared sites for the Games.
There were four specific project areas which the Games Society selected for this initiative. I would like to just take a quick minute to tell you a few of the highlights of what the youth who were hired under this initiative accomplished. Firstly, under the Habitat Enhancement Program, one habitat researcher was retained by the Environment Committee for the establishment of environmental screening and assessment information of the Games competition venues, and it was a very worthwhile project.
A site assessment of six competition venues, including the university stadium, Max Bell arena, Pan Am Pool, Winnipeg Soccer Complex, Red River Exhibition site, John Blumberg Golf Course, the Blumberg softball complex at the golf course, were completed. That analysis identified types of vegetation that currently exist at the sites, determined what types of vegetation could be introduced for the purpose of greening the venue, and that information is being used by the Pan American Society when planting at these sites in subsequent summers.
We also have the groundwork for an environmental impact screening check list which has been established to determine the potential impact on the environment resulting from games activities at each site. We have the landscape design and planning program which involves landscape architecture students from the University of Manitoba, and they have been involved in greening and plantings at various sites. That landscape design and planning program incorporated the data gathered through their research into the development of a unified landscape enhancement plan for the Games. I think that will be a lasting legacy for Manitoba and a legacy for those students in terms of increased knowledge and hands-on experience.
We have the environmental manual program in which we have MBA students who were retained by the Environment Committee to research and write an environmental manual for the Games. That has been incorporated into the Games operating procedures as well, into their procedures and resources. As a result of the students' work, the Pan American Games Society was able to distribute the first draft in August of last year of an environmental manual which is a legacy to future sport and public events in Manitoba.
Finally, under the computer-aided design program are computer operators or design operators retained by the facilities division of the Games. The focus of the program was the production of detailed site and building plans for each competition venue, athlete village, practise site and special events sites used in hosting the Games.
The CAD drawings allowed Games organizers the opportunity to view the properties of venue for the preparation of the venue operating plans, allocation of space for games operation, sponsor and broadcasting sites, egress of athletes, as well as VIP and spectator seating. There are a number of things that the CAD drawings have done to add to the value of planning the Games.
Those are just a very few, Madam Speaker, of the kinds of youth training initiatives that we have already begun and are already well through their initiatives that will provide and are providing opportunities to young Manitobans to continue to have a chance to bring their energy and their creativity to a world-class event which will help showcase Manitoba to the world in 1999.
I am not going to say too much more, because others also wish to add their comments to this particular topic. I will conclude simply by saying that the emphasis on learning Spanish that is going to be occurring in our schools and in our communities because of the Pan American Games through the Spanish in the schools initiative will be not good just for the Games but good as well for raising up citizens who can compete well in a NAFTA trading corridor, north-south, from Manitoba straight down to the southern tip of the Americas. So I thank you, Madam Speaker. I encourage all to get involved with this very worthwhile project and to support this resolution.
Mr. Jack Penner (Emerson): It certainly gives me a great deal of pleasure to rise in the House and speak a bit about the Pan Am Games and, specifically, the city of Winnipeg and how it affects communities in the rest of the province of Manitoba, how we deal with youth initiatives and young people and how games such as the Pan Am Games affect the mentality of a community, a whole community. I think there is a real message in the ability of the city of Winnipeg and the province of Manitoba to be able to go out on the international stage and make a case and present itself in such a way that others, other countries, people, leaders in other countries, are attracted to the plan that was put before and the proposition that was put before the committee that finally decided where the Pan Am Games would be held in 1999.
I want to congratulate the committee that was comprised of people of the City of Winnipeg, our Premier (Mr. Filmon), the major of the City of Winnipeg and all those participants that took part in negotiating, lobbying, playing host to other leaders and other countries when those decisions were made. I think there was an absolutely fabulous, fabulous effort put forward on behalf of all Manitobans.
Sure, the city of Winnipeg will be the city that will be the hosting community. But the city of Winnipeg in itself, as a city, cannot bring forward the effort that will be required to put on the Games. It will be the people living in the city that will be not only the hosts but will provide the voluntary effort that will be required to put on the Games.
I think this is fundamental. There is a fundamental element here that exists in this city that exists in very few other urban areas in this country or in even other urban areas of the world. That element is the ability for volunteers to come forward and give of themselves in a participatory effort that makes others feel good and allows others to enjoy themselves.
When I look at this Chamber and members of this Chamber, I see a tremendous number of people sitting in this Chamber that are of that mentality. They do not hesitate. They do not hesitate to give of themselves. When the need arises, they are there. The honourable member for Radisson (Ms. Cerilli) said at the end of her presentation, and I look forward to being one of the volunteers, one of the 15,000 volunteers that will be required to put on these games. I think all of us look forward to playing at least some minuscule role in making this event an absolutely fabulous event that will not soon be forgotten.
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I think we have demonstrated in this city, the people of this city have demonstrated, that if they choose to, and when they put their minds to it, they can make almost any event successful. Quite frankly, I think there is a difference in this government. I listen to the honourable member for The Maples (Mr. Kowalski) speak in support of this resolution. I think it demonstrates the Liberal Party's will to become part of the total community effort. That is what is going to be required to make this event a success.
I heard both members from our side of the House speak of the need for total involvement. Yet when I listened to the honourable member for Radisson (Ms. Cerilli), I heard that negativism. I heard the question as to whether we can, in fact, afford. Have we allocated enough dollars, was the question. It came down to a dollar-and-cents economic situation. Should we or should we not have because. Maybe we cannot afford it. Madam Speaker, I think that is the difference between us and them. It really is the difference between a Conservative government or an NDP government. A Conservative government has traditionally looked very positively on events such as this and said we can use these as building blocks for our communities. There is a very positive attitude when we go forward and put our proposals before committees that make these kinds of decisions. I think that is the difference.
In Manitoba today, quite frankly, when we look at the economic situation in this province compared to what it was 10 years ago when we took government, or nine years ago when we took government, there was a negative attitude that had evolved in this province simply, I think, perpetrated by the then government. That is their attitude that we always look at the narrow, negative side. I think this is a tremendous opportunity. This is a tremendous opportunity for all sides of the House to set aside their political differences, address this issue and support this resolution in a very, very positive way. We are dealing with Manitobans, and Manitobans' will and ability to work together to put on games that will attract people for a long time to come. It will build our tourism industry to a height that I think we have not seen before. I think the volunteers that put their efforts behind the Grey Cup when we had the Grey Cup in Manitoba in 1991 demonstrated what a great event a Grey Cup could be. The Grey Cup had sort of dwindled in my estimation. The lustre had come off the cup. Yet Winnipeggers in 1991 polished the cup back up to where it should be. The Grey Cup event became again--and you had to be there, really, to experience the enthusiasm.
I think this will be an opportunity for all Manitobans to demonstrate to others, whether they come from South America or any one of the Pan Am North American countries, provinces or states, our ability to work together, to come together, to have fun, to enjoy ourselves. We, as Manitobans, in the final analysis, will be the big benefactors when this comes about.
Madam Speaker, I would ask that all of us give our support and our encouragement to those 15,000 people that will be required, the volunteers that will work on this event, the Pan Am Games, in 1999. I would ask all members of this House to truly support that effort in supporting this resolution.
Madam Speaker: Question. Is the House ready for the question?
Some Honourable Members: Question.
Madam Speaker: The question before the House is the motion on the Pan Am Games, moved by the honourable member for Sturgeon Creek (Mr. McAlpine), seconded by the honourable member for St. Norbert (Mr. Laurendeau).
Madam Speaker: All those in favour of the motion, please say yea.
Some Honourable Members: Yea.
Madam Speaker: All those opposed, please say nay.
The resolution is accordingly passed.
What is the will of the House? Six o'clock? The hour being 6 p.m., this House is adjourned and stands adjourned until 1:30 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday).