MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, I wanted to add to the comments that I put on the record earlier today for Question Period. Ever since I was elected, one of the first issues that came to the forefront on the whole issue of health care has been the shortage of doctors in rural Manitoba. I can recall our former critic, Dr. Gulzar Cheema, questioning the government of the day what it was that they were doing to ensure that individuals who have the skills--

Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.

Madam Speaker: Order, please. The honourable member for Inkster was recognized for a member's statement. Question Period has been terminated, and it is very difficult to hear the honourable member.

Mr. Lamoureux: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The concern has always been that we have individuals who reside in the province of Manitoba who do have the abilities, who do have the skill sets, and it is a question of whether or not the political will is there to make it happen. There are doctors who are in fact there who are prepared to go into rural Manitoba. The reality is that we have individuals who could be practising medicine today who are on social assistance because the government has not taken the action that is necessary.

Today in QP the Minister of Health tries to pass it on to the certifying bodies. I for one want to respect the importance of those licensing bodies, but I am not going to tolerate, as an elected official, their being put into place as a potential robot on doing what is important for rural Manitobans. What rural Manitobans want is to have doctors in their communities. We have doctors who are prepared to go into those communities if in fact they are provided the opportunity to do what they do best and that is to practise medicine. I think that we are doing a disservice by allowing them to be on social services.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr. Edward Helwer (Gimli): Madam Speaker, our government remains committed to training Manitobans for management positions in the increasingly successful pork production industry. This is the goal of the new Advanced Pork Production Manager Training program. This program is a joint initiative developed in co-operation with the industry representatives, and our government will invest $120,000 in the program through Workforce 2000. Manitoba Pork will also invest $80,000 and agricultural-related businesses will contribute another $40,000 towards the program.

This program will be delivered through the University of Manitoba and the Assiniboine Community College. Course content will be developed in consultation with industry. Building a skilled workforce is essential to ensuring Manitoba maintains its competitive edge in the growing pork industry. Quality managers will help sustain the growth being experienced in this vital economic sector, and we want to make sure Manitobans are in a position to capitalize on these opportunities.

Pork production in Manitoba has experienced tremendous growth, increasing by more than 50 percent in the last five years, and it is expected to reach five million hogs by the year 2000. It is anticipated that the industry will result in the creation of some 8,000 new jobs in production, processing, distribution and related industries, jobs essential to sustaining Manitoba's economic health.

We want to ensure Manitobans are ready to explore the many opportunities with the growing pork industry, and the Advanced Pork Production Manager Training program will benefit this industry, employees and also the province. It is one more key step in developing an industry which will pay long-term dividends for all Manitobans. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr. Stan Struthers (Dauphin): I rise today to put a few words on Hansard dealing with a government that manipulated part of my constituency in the last 1995 election and now does not have the guts or the courage to call an independent judicial inquiry to show what they have done.

Madam Speaker, this is an absolutely despicable act by a desperate government who has very low moral standards. The Winnipeg Free Press editorial goes on to say that Mr. Sutherland, who ran in the Interlake constituency, was one of three native candidates who emerged during the election campaign arousing considerable suspicion. The other two ran in Swan River and in the Interlake.

Madam Speaker, Mr. Allan Aitken, the rural Tory campaign chairman, admitted at the time that he had provided advice to the candidates. He denied he or any other Tory helped finance the three native election campaigns. Premier Gary Filmon said at the time that he knew nothing of Mr. Aitken's activities, and they were not sanctioned by Tory headquarters. Mr. Filmon yesterday tried to brush off the allegations, saying it would be up to Elections Manitoba to determine whether any further investigation was required, and the Free Press notes that he could not be more wrong. Elections Manitoba officials refused to comment, saying that they realized after the first review that they did not have the tools to do the job.

So it only makes sense that this government moves forward with a judicial independent inquiry so we can get to know what the true facts were of this case. This Premier owes it to my constituents in Dauphin and other constituents around the province where they manipulated and abused the voters in a despicable act to try to split the vote and have their candidates win in those constituencies. Madam Speaker, this is unManitoban. This is just simply wrong. The Premier should do the right thing, the courageous thing, the honest thing and call for a judicial independent inquiry.

Mr. David Faurschou (Portage la Prairie): Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise in the House this afternoon to inform all honourable members about two very talented power mechanic students from Portage la Prairie. Trent George and Robin Boyechuk of Arthur Meighen High School competed against nine other pairs from across the province offering their skills in the face-to-face challenge to diagnose and repair a 1998 Ford Taurus. The duo repaired 10 problems within this vehicle in 45 minutes, a clear 15 minutes ahead of anyone else with no demerits. George and Boyechuk will receive $500 each for their victory, as well as an $18,000 Ford Ranger for the Arthur Meighen High School auto mechanics program.

This duo went to compete in Toronto against this nation's best power mechanic students, although they did not successfully win out. However, we can all be very proud of their endeavours. As well, I would like all members to have the knowledge that CAA and Ford Motor Company of Canada continue to support the power mechanics courses in our high schools across the province. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I wish to these two young men success in continuing their endeavours in power mechanics.

Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, when we have elections in this province, we expect to have a good race based on policies of each party, and the candidate with the most appealing message should win. This is the democratic process, but when one party starts to fund candidates in another party to split the vote, this is an affront to democracy. What we are hearing about in this House shows clearly that the Conservative Party was interfering in the 1995 election. This is corruption of the election process, and it is a shame that we have this going on in this province. For the Premier (Mr. Filmon) to be discrediting those people who have come forward with information on these events is also disgraceful. It takes a lot of courage for somebody to come forward to bring forth evidence, and for the Premier not to show respect for them, I am appalled.

Madam Speaker, I have worked with aboriginal people for many years, and I have represented the people of Swan River for eight years in this House. Many times I have heard First Nations people say that they feel disrespected by the government. My colleagues the members for The Pas and Rupertsland relay this message very well in many cases. People on the reserves that I represent have expressed the same concerns when I talk to them about this government.

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Madam Speaker, it is absolutely appalling to learn that the government tried to manipulate people in my constituency so that they could try to win a few more seats. We must have a judicial inquiry. We must have the opportunity for people who were involved in this, for Elections Manitoba to speak out on this. We must have the truth come forward in this matter so that democracy is not eroded.

I urge this government to recognize that people have been coming forward with a request, the opposition has been raising this issue. If the Premier has nothing to hide, he should come forward with a judicial inquiry, he should testify with what he knows and allow all the other people to testify on this very important matter, Madam Speaker.

Committee Changes

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Point Douglas, with committee changes.

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: Wellington (Ms. Barrett) for Wolseley (Ms. Friesen); Flin Flon (Mr. Jennissen) for Transcona (Mr. Reid) for Tuesday, June 23, 1998, for 6 p.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: Elmwood (Mr. Maloway) for Wellington (Ms. Barrett); Swan River (Ms. Wowchuk) for Dauphin (Mr. Struthers), for Wednesday, June 24, 1998, for 3 p.m.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Gimli, with committee changes.

Mr. Edward Helwer (Gimli): I move, seconded by the member for Pembina, that the composition of the Standing Committee on Law Amendments--this was effective June 22, '98, at 7:30 p.m.--be amended as follows: Pembina (Mr. Dyck) for Assiniboia (Mrs. McIntosh). This substitution was moved previously in committee and is now being moved in order for the House records to be accurate.

I move, seconded by the member for Pembina, that the composition of the Standing Committee on Law Amendments for June 23 at 6 p.m. be amended as follows: the member for Sturgeon Creek (Mr. McAlpine) for the member for Lac du Bonnet (Mr. Praznik); the member for Charleswood (Mrs. Driedger) for the member for Pembina (Mr. Dyck).