Mr. Frank Pitura (Morris): A survey made public last week by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business indicated that Manitoba responses point to some of the most confident business people in the country. Manitoba's small- or medium-sized businesses are expected to lead Canada in hiring over the next 12 months.
Of the more than 900 Manitoba respondents to the survey, 34.8 percent of those who hired or who intend to hire did so because of business growth. This is the highest level in the country, a full 7.6 percent higher than second-place New Brunswick. So, while members opposite criticize incessantly, businesses move aggressively forward, taking full advantage of the longest-running tax freeze in North America as well as the strongest balanced budget legislation in the country.
Our government has long recognized that government alone cannot create jobs and wealth. However, leadership and a strong long-term policy framework can provide a favourable and competitive economic climate for the growth of jobs and the economy. It is encouraging to see once more that our policies and legislation are having tangible, positive results on Manitobans.
Madam Speaker, it should also be noted that the Canadian Federation of Independent Business found that new hirings are, for the majority, career opportunities. This bodes well for young people graduating from community colleges and universities. They can graduate with the knowledge that career opportunities are available, opportunities that will allow them to remain in Manitoba, to live, work, invest and raise a family. Thank you.
Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Madam Speaker, just when Manitobans were convinced that politicians were not even speaking to each other, we politicians managed to pull another rabbit from the hat. It is too bad that journalists have fled the gallery because I refer, of course, to the politicians' resounding victory in last Friday's spelling bee, one event in School Division No. 1's 125th anniversary celebration, an event which featured politicians versus journalists.
After much early-morning swagger and braggadocio, evident to all Friday morning Free Press readers, the journalists at high noon were roundly trounced by a team which included the Premier (Mr. Filmon), Councillor Garth Steek, school trustee Betty Granger and me, the MLA for Osborne. The defeated team of Lindor Reynolds, Roger Currie, Marjorie Stevens and Diana Swain were unrepentant, and despite a 22 to 19 loss, refused a public retraction of their boast to, quote, make mincemeat out of the political team. Even the CBC coverage, supposedly unbiased, continued the myth of journalistic superiority. All I heard were whispers of, wait till next time. Of course, we will wait till next time, and we will be ready.
The Filmon team, or more properly the McGifford-Filmon team, developed a strategy of consultation and teamwork, clearly the basic socialistic principle of co-operation. Clearly, this principle carried our team to victory. The final word, undoubtedly, Manitobans will sleep securely tonight safe in the knowledge that the member for Osborne can spell "accessories" and "scissors" and the Premier has mastered the spelling of "deficit" and "aardvark." Indeed, this Premier can even spell "potato."
Mr. Mervin Tweed (Turtle Mountain): I think every now and then we must highlight some of our province's economic performances, and I would like to share a few of these with the members. Manitoba is the only province to have recorded five consecutive years of rising private sector investment. The total increase between '92 and '96 was 22.3 percent, which is five times the growth rate of Canada. Manufacturing investment in Manitoba has been very strong since the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement came into effect in '89. Over those eight years, real manufacturing investment has been 73 percent higher than in the preceding eight years.
The Free Trade Agreement has also been a boon to Manitoba exporters. Over the past four years, merchandise exports to the U.S. have increased 124 percent, the largest increase by a substantial margin of any province and well above the national increase of 86 percent. Retail sales in '95 and '96 have grown at more than double the national rate. This strength may be explained by the fact that Manitobans have among the lowest level of household indebtedness in the country.
There has been a revolution in Canada in Canadian agriculture over the past few years. Manitoba farmers have shifted production and are investing in new capacity, especially livestock. Thanks to these changes and to current strong grain prices, farm cash receipts from the market have grown at double-digit rates in both '95 and '96.
Madam Speaker, this government has been working hard to ensure that Manitoba's economic prosperity continues to perform well. We will continue to follow our fiscal strategy of balancing budgets and repaying the debt. We will also continue to provide a stable and competitive tax regime. Thanks in part to fiscal discipline, Manitoba has one of the strongest economies in Canada, and it is easy to see why the CFIB stated that Manitoba has set a standard that many other provinces should follow.
Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, over the past three years, Manitoba Telephone System has systematically been stripped of valuable assets such as cable and telemarketing. At the same time, Manitoba Telephone has been told to cut over 1,000 jobs. Three hundred of those were cut this last spring. Many of these jobs have been cut, of course, removed from rural Manitoba making a mockery of this government's decentralization policy. Rural Manitobans know very well who the losers will be once MTS is sold off.
On June 10, MTS filed application requesting residential rate hikes of up to 80 percent for rural Manitobans. The politically appointed CRTC are reviewing this request at this time, but it is clear such hikes will greatly benefit the new owners of MTS. Small wonder that once again today the provincial government is refusing to hold hearings outside the Legislative Building. Despite wasting over $400,000 advertising the so-called reasons for dumping MTS, the government knows that rural Manitobans do not believe this government.
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In the last week alone, rural municipalities such as Lac du Bonnet, Brokenhead, Grandview and others across the province have passed resolutions asking that hearings be held outside of Winnipeg. This government has refused to listen to rural Manitobans, and, once again, they have broken their promise on MTS. Nowhere did they talk about the sale of the MTS during the election, and they have no mandate to sell the system. The government also has a responsibility to listen to people outside the city of Winnipeg, and we urge this government to go out and hold public hearings in the rural communities, as they should, since it is the rural communities that are going to be most drastically affected by the sale of MTS and will suffer the greatest increase in telephone rates and the greatest loss of services.
Mr. Ben Sveinson (La Verendrye): Madam Speaker, as most members know, Technology Week was held last week from October 18 to 27, and, indeed, it was a huge success. National Science and Technology Week was first held six years ago to encourage public appreciation of science, engineering and technology and the importance to our quality of life. In Manitoba, the week was aimed at increasing awareness of the importance of science and technology in the education and business sectors and sustaining science and technology activities throughout the year.
Science is Investing was the theme of this year's event which was celebrated with hundreds of activities taking place across the province. Highlights of the Manitoba activities included 21 scientists, engineers and investors volunteering their time to work with schools and share their experience with students and teachers. Organizers plan to recruit more scientists and continue that activity year round.
Science and technology workshops will be held for educators in October and in November. Through live seminars and video conferencing, teachers will have the opportunity to discuss topics such as gender equality in science and technology training and careers, generic skills in the workplace and how to involve business and parents in raising science and technology awareness among young people. The CIBC is also training young people in Internet technology and entrepreneurship so they can act as a resource for small business, especially in rural areas. A pilot project is underway with students and staff from River East Collegiate.
Madam Speaker, I am proud of my government's support of Science and Technology Week. As the honourable Minister of Education (Mrs. McIntosh) said, the more we can promote science and technology, the more we can benefit our children for generations to come.
Last week was a chance for everyone to focus on this important task and to ensure these activities are continued throughout the year. Thank you.