Mr. Edward Helwer (Gimli): From March 4 to March 8, 1998, Gimli will host the MTS Manitoba Games. As the MLA for the Gimli constituency, it is a real pleasure to see the tremendous progress that the organizers have made in preparation of these games. Amateur sport makes a significant contribution to the economic, social and physical well-being of our province, and these games will have an important impact on the Interlake.

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Gimli will be the host community and the focal point for the games, but other Interlake communities will also be actively involved. Some hockey and ringette events will be held at Winnipeg Beach. The five-pin bowling competition will be held in Selkirk, and the alpine skiing will be held at Stony Mountain.

By working together and using facilities in surrounding communities, organizers will be able to stage events that will be enjoyed by many more people, and this will benefit the whole Interlake area. Approximately 1,600 athletes, coaches and volunteers will make their way to Gimli and the area to participate in the Manitoba Winter Games, and the games will represent the largest continuing multisport competition ever held in Manitoba. I am sure that all the visitors and all the athletes will be overwhelmed by the hospitality and generosity that they will experience in the Gimli and in the Interlake area.

So I would like to congratulate all the games organizers for their hard work in bringing the games to Gimli, and I want to wish them success in their future games. Thank you.

Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I ask permission to make a member's statement.

An Honourable Member: You do not have to.

Ms. McGifford: I do not need permission. Well, that is good. One never knows for sure.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, last Thursday, November 27, the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg held a public meeting and issued its child poverty in Winnipeg 1997 report card. There was an interesting juxtaposition of events this day, for this very same day the Lieutenant Governor read the Speech from the Throne. The Social Planning Council told us that Manitoba had the third highest child poverty rate in Canada. We lag behind only Newfoundland and New Brunswick. Later that same day, this government assured us through the throne speech that, and here I quote: "Manitoba is recognized across the continent and abroad as one of the top provinces in Canada for new investment opportunities and sustained growth."

Yet despite this reputation, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Manitoba has the third highest rate of child poverty in Canada, and, furthermore, in Winnipeg 35 percent of aboriginal households with children live in poverty. How to explain this anomaly--booming economic prosperity and the shame of a province where 23 percent or one in four children live in poverty.

Well, the Minister of Family Services (Mrs. Mitchelson) took a stab at it. She said, and this was reported in the Free Press on Friday, November 29, that her government did not believe in handouts, and consequently they would not resort to the rainy day fund to assist families on welfare. They believe in jobs and would find jobs for parents. The question she evaded and the information which she chose to ignore was that huge numbers of Manitoba's poor children live in families where both parents are working. They are just not making a decent income.

I note here that we have the third lowest minimum wage in Canada. The logical conclusion is clear. [interjection] May I finish my sentence, Mr. Deputy Speaker? I can conclude?

I want to thank the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg for their report. We urge this government to adopt their recommendations, to put children first. Remember children are our greatest resource, our hope for the future and our best teachers.

Mr. David Faurschou (Portage la Prairie): Mr. Deputy Speaker, it is truly a pleasure for me to rise in the House today to add a note to indeed a tremendous achievement for the province of Manitoba. Earlier today, as members know, it was announced that Maple Leaf Foods will be investing $112 million in Manitoba's economy in the construction of a state-of-the-art, world-class hog processing facility in the city of Brandon.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, I was pleased to hear that the member for Brandon East (Mr. Leonard Evans) indicated his support for Maple Leaf meats, as well as acknowledgement of the efforts and all of the departments of this government to bring this project to Manitoba. For the 2,200 people who will find employment eventually in this plant, the announcement of Maple Leaf meats is another indicator that Manitoba is experiencing a strong sustainable economic growth. The announcement today is a result of a government that has worked hard to nurture an industry as part of an overall plan to diversify our economic base. It is a result of a government that has worked hard with all stakeholders to promote an industry while putting in place the environmental parameters needed to ensure its sustainability.

Madam Speaker in the Chair

Madam Speaker, the pork that is processed in the Brandon facility will find its way into markets around the world. It will assist in distributing the finest pork in the world, and it will help distinguish our province as truly a global competitor and will undoubtedly pave the way for an even brighter future and further investment in our province.

Today, it is a day that all residents of Manitoba should stand proud. It is another day that Manitoba has shown that it is growing even stronger. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr. Gary Kowalski (The Maples): I just rise to make a few comments about an incident that happened in The Maples in front of the Maples Collegiate yesterday, and I will not speak about the incident because it will be before the courts. My daughter attends Maples Collegiate, and myself and many other parents in the community were very concerned, but I want to commend the principal of the school, Brian O'Leary. [interjection] Right, and apparently he is a constituent. I believe he might even be a member of the opposition party. I do not know, but that is not why I am rising.

What he did yesterday, he made an announcement over the public address system at the high school after the incident, cooling the situation, commending the students for their behaviour afterwards not to get overexcited and take any retaliation in any way, shape or form. He assembled a group of counsellors that dealt with the students, and his quick reaction, I think, lessened the seriousness of what could have happened after this incident, which could have transpired into further incidents. So I commend the principal of Maples Collegiate, Brian O'Leary, for his quick action yesterday. Thank you.

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): I would like to just say a few words. I know the member for Broadway (Mr. Santos) had the opportunity yesterday actually to comment on the visit of President Ramos from the Philippines. I, too, wanted to echo many of the comments that the member for Broadway had put forward. I was really thrilled with the response in Winnipeg in particular to the president's visit. I know that there were literally hundreds of members from the Filipino community, a number of them very good, personal, close friends of mine, who had the opportunity to be able to meet with the president and to extend my hearty congratulations to all those that were involved in getting the president of the Philippines to come to visit, from Doctor Rey Pagtakhan to the Premier and whomever else was involved in having, inviting if you like, the president of the Philippines to come here, because it did give a very big boost to a lot of people who reside here. He was warmly welcomed and hopefully we will see, if not him, his replacement sometime in the not too distant future.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.