MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

Entrepreneur of the Year Awards

Mr. David Newman (Riel): Madam Speaker, in today's fast-paced, ever-expanding global society, jobs and the issue of job creation are central to the hearts and minds of all Manitobans. The Filmon government has facilitated the creation of real lasting jobs in the private sector as distinguished from the old method of hiring people to do temporary government jobs.

In the spirit of meaningful job creation, I would like to extend credit and recognition to the individual entrepreneurs who have been such an essential part of this new era of economic challenge and innovation.

Awards for Manitoba's Entrepreneur of the Year were held on September 13, '96. I would like to extend my congratulations to this year's winner, Marc Raymond of Westsun, a company which deals in lighting and audio equipment for the event and entertainment industries.

Other finalists on the ballot included Richard Hoeschen of Fort Garry Brewing Company Ltd., Sam Katz of Showtime Productions, Terry Smith of Boyd Autobody & Glass, and Ed van Humbeck of Vansco Electronics. These individuals have all demonstrated that careful hard work and determination is needed to forge a bright and successful future for themselves and for Manitoba as a whole.

Job creation has taken on a new meaning for the youth of today. The challenge now is to delve into the consumer market and create innovative types of employment which address the needs of society. As businesses grow and expand, more residual jobs are in turn created and the individuals accepting the challenge of entrepreneurship are rewarded with the potential for untapped growth and incredible success. Self-employment is one of the fastest growing elements of today's job creation.

Statistics are showing that women have become significant players in entrepreneurship, and increasingly women have dared to undertake some remarkable ventures and have further taken a lead in inspiring change and innovation, creating meaningful employment and developing extraordinary new products.

Congratulations are in order to these many entrepreneurs. Thank you.

Employment Creation Strategy

Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Madam Speaker, Osborne, like all Manitoba constituencies, is alive with energy, ideas and vision. Consider, for example, the community garden at River and Bryce where local gardeners have turned a deserted lot into a productive green space. Consider the many gifted and socially responsible young people who in June graduated from our local schools and from Manitoba's universities. Consider Canada Day in the village, always one of the best celebrations in the country, or Labour Day weekend in south Osborne, another great community party.

Given this evidence of community commitment and ingenuity, you can guess my disappointment at a farewell party for a local family who are leaving Manitoba. Both parents, highly qualified professionals, had lost their jobs, and neither could find a new one. This family, active in the community and happy in Winnipeg, struggled to stay, but our dismal job market drove them to B.C.

The Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson) tells us that the economy is steamrollering ahead, but the job market must be underneath the rollers. The labour force shrank by 5,000 workers in August 1996. Why cannot a government which brags about its popularity with the banks and business put Manitobans back to work? Why this brain drain to B.C. and the common perception that Manitoba has no future?

Labatt's and North American Life have left, Richardson Greenshields has been sold. Now the CPR is decimating the Weston Shops, cutting 137 jobs and moving 138 out west. If, as the Minister of Finance tells us, the economy is steamrollering ahead, if the economy is up, then why do Manitobans feel so down?

Infrastructure Projects Funding

Mr. Frank Pitura (Morris): The latest round of infrastructure funding was announced yesterday by Deputy Premier James Downey. The announcement took place at the site of one of the larger projects receiving funding, which is an expansion of the Sanford water treatment plant in the Rural Municipality of Macdonald, a part of the constituency of Morris.

The funding includes $263,700 for 13 infrastructure projects, for new projects, and $445,300 in additional funding for five projects already underway. The projects are traditional infrastructure improvements such as water and sewer treatment projects, street and road repairs, drainage projects and construction of waste disposal grounds. The announcement marked a final allocation of infrastructure program funds earmarked for rural projects. In total, about $60 million of the $204-million program have been channelled into projects of this kind.

Madam Speaker, rural Manitoba has been given the opportunity to create new jobs, to make community improvements and to build a stronger foundation for future growth. Although government alone cannot create jobs and wealth, the leadership of this government and our long-term policy framework has provided a favourable, competitive economic climate for the growth of jobs in the economy. The Filmon government has the vision and the leadership Manitoba needs to conquer challenges, build new opportunities and put us on the road to new prosperity. This government continues to make this vision a reality. We have put in place a long-term plan for sustainable job creation and income growth. Thank you.

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Steep Rock Rail Line

Mr. Clif Evans (Interlake): Madam Speaker, residents of the Interlake are deeply concerned over the potential loss of the Steep Rock rail line in just a few months. Last year the federal government sold off CNR and brought in a new Canadian transportation act. Over 65 percent of CNR is now owned by American shareholders whose interests are quarterly profits and not economic development in rural Manitoba. The new Canada transportation act was proclaimed on July 1. The act abolishes branchline subsidies and the appeal process for abandoning branchlines.

Using the new act on July 2, CN announced the abandonment of four branchlines, including the Steep Rock line. Running up the east side of Lake Manitoba, the Steep Rock line goes through communities such as Grosse Isle, Lundar, Ashern, Moosehorn, Gypsumville, St. Martin and Grahamdale. Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting and Inco are major customers of the lime process at the Continental plant at Faulkner. Farmers along the line transport grain using this line. Even the Prairie Dog Central, the tourist train, runs along part of the line to Grosse Isle from Winnipeg. Following the July 2 announcement, Continental Lime was forced to consider either buying part or all of the line or spending millions of dollars to build a new plant in Winnipeg, ship their product at a greater cost by truck.

The repeated attempts to negotiate with CN suffered a major setback on September 2 when CN published an ad in the Toronto Globe and Mail and formally announced the line was up for sale or abandonment. Since then residents and affected workers have been waiting impatiently to see what will happen. So far there is no indication of what will happen. The Liberal M.P. for the area has been silent as have the other 11 Liberal M.P.s in Manitoba. None of them appear to have spoken to the federal Minister of Transport over the cost of rail abandonment to this province. As the Interlake Spectator said in a recent editorial: This is a rural area where wheat among other things is still grown. Some people will lap up Internet surfing pushed by M.P. Jon Gerrard, but what about keeping an eye on what this region does have to offer, not what it might have to offer. Thank you.

The Maples Youth Services Canada Project

Mr. Gary Kowalski (The Maples): Madam Speaker, once again it gives me pleasure to speak about a group that I have spoken about many times in this Legislature, but are well deserving of the frequency of my comments. It is The Maples Youth Services Canada project. This is the second year, this is the second group of 10 young people between the ages of 18 and 25. It is a federally funded program, but they are doing wonders in my constituency.

Their latest endeavour was last Wednesday. They attended the committee room here in the Legislature to practise their public speaking along with two mentors from the Toastmasters Club from the north end. I also want to take this opportunity to thank the Minister of Justice (Mrs. Vodrey) and the Leader of Her Majesty's official opposition (Mr. Doer) for joining me in welcoming them to the Manitoba Legislature. Listening to these young people, it again makes you realize how bright our future really is. When I heard these people speak on everything from self-esteem, to computer crime, to many topics, they amazed me by the depth and concern about society and their commitment to Manitoba.

So once again I would like to bring notice to this Legislature of the good work being done by The Maples Youth Services Canada project in The Maples, and possibly they might want to look at similar projects for their constituencies. Thank you, Madam Speaker.