Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for St. Boniface have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]

Mr. Gaudry: Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Phonnipha Keomanyla, an 11-year-old patroller from Provencher School in St. Boniface. On November 28 of last year, she and three other patrollers were crossing students at their post when a car stopped in the crosswalk near her partner. A van travelling behind the car was unable to stop and swerved to avoid hitting the car. In doing so, the driver lost control and the van skidded toward Phonnipha's partner. Phonnipha's warning to her partner came just in time as the van narrowly missed her and ran into the corridor signal post that was nearby.

For her heroic efforts, Phonnipha received the Canadian Automobile Association-Governor General Lifesaving medal--

Madam Speaker: Order, please. I am experiencing difficulty hearing the comments by the honourable member for St. Boniface.

Mr. Gaudry: --from the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, Mr. Dumont, at a ceremony last week, Thursday, June 19, one of two Canadians.

Madame la présidente, je tiens à souligner que cette médaille est le plus haut degré de reconnaissance accordé à des patrouilleurs des Brigades scolaires de sécurité. Je suis fier de reconnaître l'héroïsme de Phonnipha Keomanyla aujourd'hui dans cette auguste Assemblée.

[Translation]

Madam Speaker, I want to emphasize that this medal represents the highest recognition given to members of the school patrols. I am proud to recognize Phonnipha Keomanyla's heroism today in this august assembly.

[English]

Madam Speaker, there are hundreds of patrollers in Manitoba who use caution and prudence to ensure that children may get to school each day without harm. Occasionally, a patrol is required to take rapid action in order to prevent danger. Phonnipha's quick thinking in a potentially serious situation saved her partner's life.

Je félicite encore une fois Phonnipha Keomanyla à l'occasion de recevoir la médaille de l'Association canadienne des automobilistes-Gouverneur-général. Merci, Madame la présidente.

[Translation]

Once again I congratulate Phonnipha Keomanyla on receiving the Canadian Automobile Association-Governor General's medal. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): Madam Speaker, I would like to make a nonpolitical statement.

Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Radisson have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]

Ms. Cerilli: There was an exciting, unique event in Radisson at Kildonan Place Mall on Saturday night, June 21. It was entitled Bids Build Hope. It was an auction in support of flood relief.

I want to extend congratulations to the management and staff at Kildonan Place Mall for conceiving of and organizing the event, especially, Mike Schwarz, the manager, and Joanna Loney. They raised more than $26,000, and in total the merchants of Kildonan Place and the surrounding area have raised close to $200,000, and they have shown a tremendous amount of leadership.

There are numerous volunteers to thank, and again the Legion helped out, Q-94, and 1290 Talk Radio sponsored the event. A big thank you to all the merchants who donated to the balloon pot for prizes. There were 62 businesses donating to the live auction as well as items for the Rainbow silent auction. Branigan's donated catering for the great food and drinks, and entertainment was by Serenata Latina and James Ladkya. The Folklorama youth ambassadors were also there to help out and add a further sense of festive atmosphere with their bright costumes.

There were a number of creative fundraising events that have raised both dollars and collected goods for the families affected by the flood. Manitobans and citizens from all over Canada, and indeed outside of Canada, have been very generous with donating funds, goods and their time for volunteering. I think we must remember that there is still a need out there to support evacuees that are only now being able to deal with the devastation in their homes. We still have an opportunity to help out, and I would encourage all members of the House to do that. Thank you.

Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Madam Speaker, I ask leave to make a nonpolitical statement.

Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]

Ms. McGifford: Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Manitoba Heritage Council on their ceremony yesterday, during which former Premier of Manitoba Robert Atkinson Davis, Premier from 1874-78, was declared a person of provincial historical significance. Speakers at the event included Jock Bates from the Manitoba Heritage Council, Donna Dul from the Historic Resources Branch, and Celine Kear, president of the Manitoba Historical Society. I brought greetings on behalf of the NDP caucus, and Ruth Swan, several times--the niece of the former Premier--provided a fascinating analysis of her uncle's work, the historical process and the role family stories play in both. Family members from Quebec, Ontario and B.C. were in attendance and participated in the unveiling of an historical plaque. The plaque to be situated just north of Portage and Main on the former site of the now demolished Emmerling Hotel, once owned by Robert Atkinson Davis, is inscribed with historical details of the Premier's life.

As I read about Robert Atkinson Davis, I was struck by his ability to form working coalitions, an important characteristic for a politician with clear aims and purposes, and as well by the contemporaneity of his agenda. His goals included eliminating the provincial debt, obtaining better terms for Manitoba within Confederation and defending French language rights and French educational rights in Manitoba, i.e., preserving The Manitoba Act.

Yesterday, when we sang O Canada, I stood beside Celine Kear. She sang in French, and I sang in English. It seemed to me a fitting way to honour the memory of Robert Atkinson Davis and to keep alive the bilingualism and tolerance of difference that marked his time in office. His agenda might suggest that history repeats itself, though with a difference. It most certainly suggests this man's progressive thinking and farsightedness. I ask members of the House to join me in congratulating the Manitoba Heritage Council and especially Ruth Swan for their work in bringing the past into the present, and in so doing, suffusing both with new life.

Mr. Edward Helwer (Gimli): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the member for St. Vital (Mrs. Render), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Economic Development for Monday, June 23, at 7 p.m. be amended as follows: The member for Lac du Bonnet (Mr. Praznik) for Arthur-Virden (Mr. Downey); Fort Garry (Mrs. Vodrey) for Minnedosa (Mr. Gilleshammer); Sturgeon Creek (Mr. McAlpine) for Assiniboia (Mrs. McIntosh); Morris (Mr. Pitura) for Riel (Mr. Newman); and La Verendrye (Mr. Sveinson) for Niakwa (Mr. Reimer).

I move, seconded by the member for Turtle Mountain (Mr. Tweed), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Economic Development for Tuesday, June 24, at 10 a.m. be amended as follows: The member for Roblin-Russell (Mr. Derkach) for the member for Lac du Bonnet (Mr. Praznik); the member for Ste. Rose (Mr. Cummings) for the member for Fort Garry (Mrs. Vodrey).

I move, seconded by the member for Turtle Mountain (Mr. Tweed), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Law Amendments for Monday, June 23, at 7 p.m. be amended as follows: The member for River East (Mrs. Mitchelson) for the member for Lakeside (Mr. Enns); the member for Gimli (Mr. Helwer) for the member for Minnedosa (Mr. Gilleshammer); St. Norbert (Mr. Laurendeau) for Riel (Mr. Newman); and Pembina (Mr. Dyck) for Turtle Mountain (Mr. Tweed).

I move, seconded by the member for St. Vital (Mrs. Render), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Law Amendments for Tuesday, June 24, at 10 a.m. be amended as follows: The member for Rossmere (Mr. Toews) for the member for River East (Mrs. Mitchelson).

Motions agreed to.

* (1550)

Mr. George Hickes (Point Douglas): I move, seconded by the member for Broadway (Mr. Santos), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Law Amendments be amended as follows: Burrows (Mr. Martindale) for Wellington (Ms. Barrett); The Pas (Mr. Lathlin) for Flin Flon (Mr. Jennissen); Radisson (Ms. Cerilli) for Elmwood (Mr. Maloway); Swan River (Ms. Wowchuk) for Transcona (Mr. Reid) for Monday, June 23, 1997, for 7 p.m.

I move, seconded by the member for Broadway (Mr. Santos), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Economic Development be amended as follows: Kildonan (Mr. Chomiak) for Wolseley (Ms. Friesen); Dauphin (Mr. Struthers) for Elmwood (Mr. Maloway); Osborne (Ms. McGifford) for Transcona (Mr. Reid) for Monday, June 23, 1997, for 7 p.m.

I move, seconded by the member for Broadway (Mr. Santos), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Economic Development be amended as follows: Interlake (Mr. Clif Evans) for Kildonan (Mr. Chomiak); Swan River (Ms. Wowchuk) for Osborne (Ms. McGifford); Thompson (Mr. Ashton) for Crescentwood (Mr. Sale) for Tuesday, June 24 for 10 a.m.

I move, seconded by the member for Broadway (Mr. Santos), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Law Amendments be amended as follows: St. Johns (Mr. Mackintosh) for Burrows (Mr. Martindale); Flin Flon (Mr. Jennissen) for The Pas (Mr. Lathlin); Wolseley (Ms. Friesen) for Radisson (Ms. Cerilli); Elmwood (Mr. Maloway) for Swan River (Ms. Wowchuk) for Tuesday, June 24 for 10 a.m. Thank you.

Motions agreed to.

Madam Speaker: Is there leave to revert to nonpolitical statements? [agreed]

Mr. Tim Sale (Crescentwood): Madam Speaker, I want to rise and pay tribute to the members and staff of the AIDS Shelter Coalition of Manitoba. This coalition dates from 1988, some nine years ago now, when it came into being to try and assist people living with AIDS to find appropriate shelter, particularly as they lost their income due to the progression of this terrible and debilitating disease. The organization undertook what was at the time groundbreaking research which brought into perspective the broad needs of people living with AIDS and people who are HIV positive. The coalition led to the building of the first and to date the only co-operative housing-supported shelter for people living with AIDS which is called Artemis Housing, and it is located in the Crossways complex of the United Church of Canada on Furby and Broadway.

Against great odds, this very small organization in dollar terms--very large in terms of its efforts and its heart and its integrity--has continued to exist while a number of other organizations have come and gone. It has done so on a shoestring budget, sad to say, without any support from the province but with a vast majority of its support coming from the federal government under the ACAP program. The organization also gave rise to the Manitoba AIDS Shelter foundation, which is a nonprofit foundation that provides rent subsidies to people who cannot get into public housing or publicly assisted housing that is suitable to their particular needs of the disease and has been able to assist a number of such persons.

So I want to pay tribute to the ongoing efforts of that organization and to express a hope along with them that there will be found a way within the capacity of the province to ensure that this organization will have the sustained ability to meet the needs of a still-growing population. I think perhaps AIDS has slipped a bit from the public consciousness in the last little while, but those who follow the whole business of epidemic evolution--epidemics tend to have a plateau stage, Madam Speaker. Unfortunately, we are in that plateau stage now, and there will be a sharp uprise in the rate of HIV detection and in the rate at which it is converted into full-blown AIDS in the next few years, particularly in our core areas among women, among young children and among I.V. drug users who, unfortunately, are still not taking the precautions that should be taken to prevent the transmission and spread of this disease. So I pay tribute to that organization, its volunteers and staff and board members, Madam Speaker.