Mr. Deputy Speaker: On the proposed motion of the member for Pembina (Mr. Dyck) and the amendment of the Leader of the official opposition (Mr. Doer), the debate is open.

Ms. MaryAnn Mihychuk (St. James): Mr. Deputy Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to rise once again in Manitoba's House, the House of Legislature, to put a few words, my words on response to the fourth session of the Thirty-sixth Legislature of the Province of Manitoba. This is the first session since the flood of the century, and all of us have our perspectives and views of the flood and experience. The flood fortunately did not impact on my riding directly, but many of us from St. James participated in that co-operative spirit, came out and helped those that were being threatened by the flood and built dikes both in the city within our fortress protected by the floodway and outside of that fortress, where we have family members and friends who live outside of the Winnipeg area that were impacted by the flood.

Indeed, for the flood we had--personally I had the experience of sandbagging both in Elmwood and in the north end on Scotia Street and met many people there as well, people that I worked with in the school division, friends and neighbours. My own son was out, my husband, my sister from the United States who had come up for a visit. It was a spirit of unity that is something that I think that we all need to remember, that sense of co-operation and community spirit. However, that feeling has somehow dissipated, particularly by the actions of this government and its approach to dealing with what has been a very traumatic experience on many, many Manitobans.

It is our understanding that still 250 families are not back in their homes for this winter, that families are still living in trailers, that many families are living in temporary shelters or with other family members. So the crisis, although it seems a long time away, is still very real to those families, to their children and to those that know them.

We are indeed fortunate for the vision of Duff Roblin and those before us who invested public monies, who went into debt, the evil debt, to build what was a protective structure for Winnipeggers. We were saved by the Winnipeg Floodway and saved by interventionist programs in an emergency state, and I think we in Winnipeg are very, very grateful. We did not have to move our furniture out. We did not have to find another emergency place to live. We did not have to live in a shelter. So that type of foresight is indeed important, and it is important for us to remember that, and the fact is that all Manitobans built the Winnipeg Floodway. All Manitobans contributed to that protection.

So there is an onus upon all of us to ensure that our friends, our neighbours who are in the valley outside of the floodway structures are also protected. That is why the Premier's (Mr. Filmon) comments to Manitobans that they must take on the responsibility if they choose to live outside of protected areas is such an incredible insult and so incredibly callous.

Madam Speaker in the Chair

At a time when Manitobans were looking for compassion and heart, they got coldness and disregard. We have got a government here who is not being compassionate and understanding to Manitobans. For not only hundreds of years the Red River Valley has been settled but actually thousands of years. Thousands of years Manitobans have been in the Red River Valley, have worked together to face floods, storms and other natural challenges, and we did it collectively. But when the Premier of our province does not understand that it is a collective disaster, when the Premier of our province suggests that these people had a choice, that shows the total disregard and callous nature of the Premier and this government.

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You know, I think that we all know perhaps farmers who would like to construct a hog barn in Tuxedo. Unfortunately, the land is taken up. You know, there is quality land at The Forks for example, but Sam Katz seems to want to build a baseball stadium. I could put in a crop of wheat at that field. Madam Speaker, let us be serious. I mean we have got a wonderful, vibrant city that we have chosen to have here at the forks of the Red and the Assiniboine. Perhaps the Premier (Mr. Filmon) needs to remember that and that there needs to be sensitivity to those that are outside of the protective structures and show some more compassion and heartfelt feeling for Manitobans who are dealing with this crisis.

But getting to the rest of my throne speech, and I wanted for a short time to talk about St. James itself. The St. James riding is actually made up of two communities, the west end of Winnipeg and old St. James. We have had some good news and some bad news. The good news is that we have seen the co-operative spirit extended to our business community. The West End BIZ zone was formed. The airport BIZ zone was formed, and the St. James Village BIZ zone was recently formed. Madam Speaker, we are proud of our business community to be taking that initiative to looking to improve our community and doing what they can to enhance their businesses and their community. We congratulate the BIZ zones in the St. James riding.

We also had the good news that Winnport was successful at negotiating an agreement with the Orient, with China, for two centres. That will be a very significant deal because Winnport, as we know, has been searching for that type of agreement and has finally got that. We wish them well and success. The people who are near the airport are indeed for the most part very, very supportive of Winnport and the airport development.

However, Madam Speaker, I think that there is another area where this government falls in terms of its commitment to the people of Manitoba. This government, as well as the city and the federal government, have encouraged and supported financially and otherwise the business developments of the airport but have turned their back to date on the residents who live in the vicinity of the airport, the residents who are going to be impacted by increased noise levels, the people who have their homes and see the property values dropping, the people who are there to support the airport during good and bad times.

This government has not agreed to look at a sound insulation program as is, in fact, the case in most American cities. This government has turned its back on the residents who live near the airport, and I am suggesting to them, remember community spirit, remember the responsibility of giving your handouts to business--and in this case looking at economic development which I applaud--but also look at fairness for those people who live nearer the airport and are impacted by increased noise levels.

A small investment in the community would be appreciated, would help to have those homes and those families have a normal life, and you can do it. The program which I found for Minneapolis which is common throughout the United States has been provided to the government, and the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson), who also represents a riding in the west end of the city near the airport, has said that he is going to look into it. Well, Madam Speaker, the time has come that the government actually endorse the program. I have a private member's resolution to the effect of the sound insulation program. I hope that we can see the endorsement of the members in government for this program which shows true co-operation with business development and sensitivity for the residents.

Also in our riding we have a chance to celebrate with the official opening of our new school. Greenway School was constructed and just last month we went and celebrated the opening. That is a significant step. When I took my first elected position as a school trustee in 1989, that school had been put on the prioritized list for seven years. We then fought as a local trustee to bump it up to No. 1. Then we had to wait for the government to give approval which was three years in the coming, and now finally in 1997 we celebrated with the community.

The problem is not for the Greenway community, who are truly appreciative. The problem is that we have many, many other school buildings that are deteriorating. In fact, Isaac Brock School, which is also in my riding and is a nursery to nine school, just had its roof fail. That roof has been patched and mended for 70 years.

Now, Madam Speaker, would you expect your roof at home to survive 70 years? No. Now, is that sound management? Seventy years? Put on another band-aid. Put the shingle back on. No, the average length expectancy of a roof is 20 to 30 years--20 to 30 years. Does it seem reasonable to look at our school systems and say, gee, that is a very old roof; we might expect a catastrophe. Well, did it happen? You are right, it happened. Water came down through the third floor, through the second floor into the basement, destroyed materials, reference materials, books.

There were six or eight suits, men in suits--this is fairly uncommon in an elementary school--standing in the hallway the day I came to visit. Of course it is a disaster. The building department had to be called in. Classes had to be cancelled. The principal was on alert. It was poor planning.

This is a government that has not managed, cannot manage finances, has a record that is deplorable, and, in fact, this example, Madam Speaker, not only cost more, it wasted time of staff and managerial people, took away from educational time of our students and could have been avoided.

That is one roof and there are many. As the Minister of Education (Mrs. McIntosh) knows, there are many, many roofs that need replacement. There are many situations that we have let wait until the emergency situation rises. Crisis management, Madam Speaker, is not proper, sound fiscal management. We do not wait until the roof collapses to repair it. Seventy years is a long time for a roof. I hope that the government would admit that, but, no, they are to wait longer. Wait longer.

That is just one example of this government's mismanagement and the fact that they are allowing public school buildings to deteriorate to the point where we are not only wasting money, we are wasting time and we are impacting on the classroom. All of those things are unacceptable, Madam Speaker.

Now, Madam Speaker, I also want to talk about another feature of our community that is very important, and that is Omand's Creek. Omand's Creek is a green space that runs through the centre of St. James along by Empress Avenue, and it is in an area that is tourist recreational, and we have seen the development of a large building, a Home Depot store, and we have seen Home Depot modify the layout of their store, change the foot imprint and actually develop a walkway for us. We say congratulations to Home Depot. In fact, the community is glad to be working with this industry and this business.

Now, the other part of this commitment is to look at the development of that green space, important to not only St. James but to all of Winnipeg, and I ask for the commitment of the members of the government to develop that green space. Do you know that in the west end, in the riding that I represent, that we are very shortchanged in terms of green space? We have only two-thirds of what is considered average in Winnipeg, and the majority of that green space belongs to the school division which we all use, but I ask for members' support to ensure that something that is not only important to my riding but is important to Winnipeg and important to tourism and important to the Pan Am Games, that we look to developing that green space in the centre of our city into a beautiful, linear parkway that we have all talked about.

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I especially look for the co-operation from the member for River Heights (Mr. Radcliffe) where Omand's Creek Park, a linear parkway, will feed right into River Heights and then ultimately to Assiniboine Park where we can all enjoy those beautiful green spaces.

Now, Madam Speaker, what is this throne speech? This is the fourth throne speech that I have had the pleasure to respond to. Sixteen pages. You know, I like to call it the government's air miles throne speech. Now, this government does like to travel, and it goes here, and it goes there, and it goes to London and then the Orient, and now it is going to South America, and it travels, travels, travels. I would say, if you want to pack your bags so badly, let them pack their bags and make room for a new government.

Madam Speaker, this is a throne speech to remember. I had to reread it just so I could recall if there were any initiatives. If we were not going to lobby the federal government, if we were not going to converse with the federal government, if we were not going to lobby the federal government, this throne speech would be maybe two or three pages. Is this a government that has vision? Apparently not. This is a government that is old, tired, and run out of ideas. This is a government that ran out of ideas many years ago. In fact, this was photocopied, as an insult to us, because we do do some research, and that was very easy to look up. It was over and over again.

You would think, Madam Speaker, with the resources of the government, and they love to hire communicators, that they would--in fact, perhaps they should check. You know, say, come on, you guys, put some new stuff in there. I mean, we are going to get criticized that it is the same as the other one. Try and try. Try to look at some vision. But the fact is, this is an old, tired, out-of-date government that belongs out, out, out.

Madam Speaker, I want to refer to the throne speech, page 3. Let us have a look at this throne speech, because it was difficult to actually remember what was being said, but: My government's vision--which was what I am talking about right now, a lack of vision--for the future is one of shared and growing economic prosperity--primarily in Lotteries, I would say--and providing and protecting essential services of health.

The nerve of this government seems to be quite unbelievable. Protecting the essential services of health, education and family supports for Manitobans. Well, let us get this straight. Protecting health services is by bringing in frozen toast from Toronto three days later? They are going to rethermalize toast? Madam Speaker, we can make food, and the people who are ill and those who are in hospitals deserve the best that we can give them, not the miserly policies of the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik), not the meanspirited policies of the Minister of Health. He has decided that the food is not good enough. Well, good. Does he look to improving it? Hardly. He has decided that those elsewhere can make food for us and it is going to be better. He has come out and said that it is the bottom line, it is the money in his pocket that is important. Is it? Is it the best food, best nutrition, best diversity, being culturally sensitive to our neighbours from the North? No. When you get it in microwaved containers from Toronto, it is not going to be culturally sensitive.

Not only, Madam Speaker, are we going to see a program that is focused on miserly, penny-pinching programs which hurt and are an insult to Manitobans, but we are going to lose good, decent jobs that are going to move out of our province. That is not what we need. What we need is the development of jobs, good jobs, in Winnipeg, and we have seen over and over again young families, young people who have to find two or three jobs, part-time jobs, to make a living without benefits, without pensions, without trips to London or to the Orient or to South America, with no government cars. These are individuals who are trying to make a living, and this government has done little or nothing. In fact, the real wages of earners for Manitobans has dropped. The real earnings has actually flown out of our pockets. You talk to the people in my riding. They can tell you that: forty dollars a week less in our pockets than when this government took office. That is the record. That is what they stand for: meanspirited, coldhearted, outdated government.

Now, Madam Speaker, let us look at what economic development this government really loves. They love gambling, and we have recently had the sixth suicide related to gambling, unfortunately. [interjection] Perhaps the Minister of Education (Mrs. McIntosh) does not find this to be particularly relevant, but the fact that six Manitobans have taken their lives because of gambling and the government's policies for VLTs, I do find it a very serious situation. The government has promoted gaming in this province to the point of ridiculousness. We have seen gaming move from $55 million to over $200 million for the province's revenues, and apparently that is their priority.

The Desjardin report recommended a gaming control commission, one that is independent. Did they do that? No. They filled it with political appointments. The Gaming Control Commission meets regularly. I am not sure that it has met at all. It took two years to establish, year and a half, year and a half to establish--[interjection] We announced the chairperson of the Gaming Control Commission at least a year before they ever met, and this person--as far as I know there have been no policy decisions out of that committee. Has the Gaming Control Commission come forward with recommendations, presentations to the House? Not to date. Again, why are Manitobans cynical? Just have a look at the actions of the Gaming Control Commission.

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Now, the government says that they reduced VLTs by 600 machines. Now, that was a recommendation of the Desjardin report. The other fact, the reality, Madam Speaker, is that they increased the number of electronic slot machines, which most Manitobans cannot tell the difference from VLTs, by 500. So, in fact, let us not try and play games. Do not play games. Electronic slot machines have the same effect as VLTs. So they did not reduce VLT machines. They are more interested in getting money from gambling than actually taking any positive steps to dealing with the problem.

Not only that, the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson) has a certain affinity to handing out lifetime contracts. Dominion Construction for example was awarded a lifetime permanent contract for all casino construction. Who? We had to raise that as the issue. Was that fair? What about the tendering process? There are many construction companies in Winnipeg that could do that work, and they were shut out until we pushed the government to do something about it. They changed their policies because it was bad, it was mismanagement, it was incompetent. That type of favouritism is not going to be accepted by Manitobans or this side of the House.

Now, VLT revenues are on their way up, Madam Speaker, and this government revels in the fact that it is going up and up and up. What we have called for is the separation of the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson) from the role of Minister of Lotteries. That seems reasonable. We have a Minister responsible for Gaming (Mr. Radcliffe) who represents River Heights. Let him handle the full responsibilities.

Madam Speaker, separate Lotteries from Finance, because obviously the Minister of Finance has the bottom line. The dollars are much more important to him than dealing with the negative impacts on addictions, on the important issues of gaming. He is interested in how much money he can scoop from Manitobans not in the protection or the preventive programs.

We have asked for this government to allow for communities to decide on VLTs. They have said no. We have asked this government to increase funding to awareness and treatment programs, and they have said, we doubled it. Awareness and treatment programs only receive $1 million--actually less, $966,000. That is $1 per Manitoban. Do you know what is very interesting that in 1994 this is the amount of money put into VLTs by Manitobans? Do we have any idea how much that is? How much money did we put into those machines? Two point three billion dollars was put into VLT machines. That works out to $2,100 for each and every single Manitoban, $2,100 for each Manitoban. You are talking about a significant problem. Apparently not one of those Conservatives put in a loonie. The fact is then a whole lot of other people are putting in a whole lot of money into those machines.

Everybody in the addictions business calls them the crack cocaine of gambling. Has this government taken any intervention programs that are significant? Only because they were pressured at a recent death in Winnipeg Beach have they called for a meeting to work on the intervention. That was called four years ago. It was called four years ago, and they did not do it. They stalled and they wait and they postpone and they create another committee. That is completely unacceptable, Madam Speaker.

Addictions awareness: The fact is that we estimate 4.3 percent of Manitobans are addicted or are problem gamblers. That is approximately 35,000 to 40,000 Manitobans have a serious problem. It is affecting their families. It is affecting their spouses, their children, their way of life, everything else. How many of those Manitobans are aware or receive treatment? Less than 900 Manitobans--808 I understand was the number of Manitobans who received help. Eight hundred out of 40,000 received help. That means that our program of awareness is a dismal failure. You have to promote and make people aware of the serious nature of addictions. Are Manitobans aware that gambling is the most difficult addiction to treat, that people are highly susceptible to gambling? Gambling is a much more difficult addiction to treat than smoking, drugs or alcohol.

This government chooses to spend $1 for each Manitoban on awareness and treatment. For drugs and alcohol, 6 percent of Manitobans have a problem with drugs or alcohol, and how much is spent on awareness and treatment? Ten million dollars, Madam Speaker--$10 million, and $1 million on gambling. That tells you that the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson) is more interested in collecting monies from VLTs than doing anything to help the families that are addicted.

Who are the victims of VLTs and gambling? Not only is it the players, it is their spouses. It is their children as we have very vividly heard from the family in St. James. It is the landlords who cannot receive the rent because somebody has used it to try and win the big one. It is the mortgage companies which are not going to receive payments and people are losing their homes. It is the businesses and employers of those individuals who have been embezzled and swindled out of money because the victims, the players, are going and stealing from their employers so that they can feed their gambling habits.

Community centres are also victims. In my riding alone I have four community centres. Each one reports a loss between $10 and $15,000. That means that the doors are locked; the hockey rinks are shut down. We do not have programming as we used to in the old days. That money is coming out of a community that is a working class neighbourhood. It is not being reinvested, Madam Speaker, and that is unfair.

Let us look at how the government has decided that it is going to support communities. In 1990, this government handed out $2 million to Community Support Programs. That is when revenues were significantly less from gaming. Now, in 1997, they hand out $2 million. Madam Speaker, their revenues have doubled and yet they are being mean, miserly, coldhearted and allow our community centres to shut down and not operate in full capacity as they should which is to provide those options for our youth, to provide those options for our communities. What used to be dedicated money for our communities is now into general revenue, into a slush fund, into the rainy day fund. Well, I would say it is raining, it is pouring, and the old Tories over there are snoring.

Madam Speaker, we are trying to emphasize how this government is more interested in the bottom line and money and revenues than providing supports for families, for individuals who need help because of programs that they initiated, and they laugh and they look at it with total indifference. What Manitobans want is a government that not only can balance the books, which I think is a commendable action, and be good managers which I feel that this government are now no longer good managers. I would say they are incompetent managers, and I used a perfect example of the roof at Isaac Brock School.

This is a government that has turned its back on real Manitobans. This is a government that rules for the elite, rules for the 19 percent of upper-crust Manitobans. This is a government that no longer has the feel for real true Manitobans, and the throne speech has exactly reflected that attitude, empty, shallow, coldhearted and with no meaningful programs for families and citizens in St. James.

Madam Speaker, this throne speech had the nerve to talk about Manitoba Hydro. Well, no matter how many times this government says: we are not going to sell Manitoba Hydro, we are not going to believe you. We do not believe you in the past, we do not believe you now, and we will not believe you in the future.

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Madam Speaker, the people I represent in St. James and the people of Manitoba want the ability to tell this government what they think of this government's performance with Crown corporations. We are looking forward to that debate. We want to take it forward to the people of Manitoba, and no matter how many times the minister or the Deputy Premier says he loves Manitoba Hydro, that facts are there, the facts will say: we will sell, we will sell, we will sell. We do not trust you.

In fact, it is a Crown corporation that we can be proud of, and this must drive them crazy, Madam Speaker, because they have a philosophy, a dogma, a belief that there is no Crown corporation that is a good Crown corporation, even one that has good jobs, good wages, provides power to us that is reliable and safe.

This government's dogma drove them to sell MTS, and this government's dogma will drive them to sell Manitoba Hydro. Not only does it provide all of those good things, a head office in Manitoba, decent jobs, a future, expertise that is called on worldwide that we can be proud of, civil servants that are regarded as the best in the world. We can provide this service at the lowest rates in the world, probably. There is a debate whether we are the lowest or second lowest, but we can accept that. That is pretty darn good for a Crown corporation.

There are many large multinational corporations that are looking at Manitoba Hydro as having huge potential, Madam Speaker, with huge potential for profit, with huge attractiveness to them because, if they picked it up, the margin between what we charge customers and what is being charged in North Dakota, in Ontario, or Saskatchewan is much higher. So their profitability margin can rise dramatically.

I know that those very businesses happen also to be major contributors to the Conservative Party. Now, you tell me, it would have been a coincidence that these big businesses may want to buy Manitoba Hydro and may be trying to talk the Conservative Party of Manitoba into selling it, just like they did Manitoba Telephone System. That is not a very long reach, Madam Speaker. In fact, most Manitobans believe that this government cannot be trusted on Manitoba Hydro or on any Crown corporation and they will sell it the minute they get their hands on it, and we are not going to allow it.

Madam Speaker, the only new thing for kids and children in this throne speech is the minister's creation of a new Internet site. The people in my riding, quite frankly, find this to be trivial and absolutely unacceptable. It is this side of the House that has a plan for a Healthy Child plan. It is this side of the House that has new proposals and a strong vision for a future, and it is the government, the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba which has lost steam, lost vision, and will lose its confidence by the people of Manitoba and the next election.

Mr. Mervin Tweed (Turtle Mountain): Thank you, Madam Speaker. Certainly--

Madam Speaker: Order, please. The honourable member for Turtle Mountain was recognized to put his comments on the record, but regrettably I was experiencing great difficulty hearing him, as I am certain other members were as well.

Mr. Tweed: Madam Speaker, it is certainly a pleasure to be back in the House after a summer break, and I want to welcome you back and offer you my appreciation of your help in guiding me throughout the last couple of sessions. As I get to know you better, my respect continues to grow for you.

I certainly want to welcome the six new pages. I think we have had an opportunity here to learn, as you will over time, the workings of the House, and sometimes the House does not always perhaps act the way that it was expected to or people would like it to, but it is the system that we work within, and I hope you enjoy your stay with us here.

I also want to extend welcome and congratulations to the new member for Portage la Prairie (Mr. Faurschou). Knowing him a few years ago and then getting to know him again as a member it is certainly a pleasure to have him here, and I think that the city of Portage la Prairie has made a wise and good choice in their representation. I know that the service he provides to his community and to all Manitobans will be great.

I would at this time just like to mention in regard to the flood that we have heard a little bit about from both sides and relate a couple of the experiences. I know several communities in my constituency of Turtle Mountain through their schools, through their social clubs and service clubs took the opportunity and did so with great generosity to provide care and help and helping hands to the people, the flood victims. I think it was truly a great time for all Manitobans. As disastrous as it was, it was an opportunity for everybody to pull together and to serve the common good of all people, and I think all people of Manitoba are to be complimented and appreciated for the services that they provide. I also want to include in that group, and I do when I say all Manitobans, but in particular many of the government staff that took time away from work and also away from their families to participate, I think that it does indicate a very strong commitment on behalf of all the employees of the government of Manitoba that it is not just a job for them. They do care and have a lot of consideration for the people that they work for and the people that they serve and also the people that they live with.

I think that before I get right into the thrust of the throne speech, and I think it is a big part of it, I would love to congratulate the city of Brandon today on their announcement of the McCain's announcement that Maple Leaf announcing the investment in Brandon. I know that southwestern Manitoba is thrilled with the news. I think it is great news not only for Brandon but for the entire province, but particularly I see very many opportunities presenting themselves to my constituents, be it in the production, be it in the transportation industry, be it in several of the spin-off benefits that come with such a major announcement.

I was just perusing the newspapers yesterday and today. I would like to just put a couple of the quotes on record of the community, and Turtle Mountain, the boundaries come within six miles of the city of Brandon, so I am certainly very familiar with a lot of the effort and time that was put in by the community and by the city and also by the members of government. I think at times from the opposition through criticisms we maybe make things work out a little bit better. Today is a great day I think for all people in Manitoba.

One of the quotes that I would like to just put on the record is by the Chamber president, Mr. Todd Lumbard, where he states: "It's going to have a big impact for all of southwestern Manitoba." I think that, again, we see hog barns particularly growing up in my communities. I think that with the announcement there comes a responsibility for all people, for all Manitobans to make sure that as we grow this industry that we grow it properly, that we do it with consideration and concern for all the people that surround the areas where we are going to see increased hog production. I do not think it is anyone's intention not to do that. I think it is this government's intention to do it right and do it right the first time, so that we can build on this great announcement.

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One of the other ones was from Brandon Economic Development Board General Manager Don Allan. He said, "This is a dream come true for anybody in the economic development field." I know Don has been working diligently on this project for months. When you think about it, when you add 1,100 jobs to a community the size of Brandon, there are just so many benefits that come with it that I do not think as a province or as a government or as members in this House that we can even begin to recognize or realize all the benefits. I think of the benefits to me directly and to my communities, but this thing is endless. It opens up so many more opportunities. It is such a great announcement I want to stand up and cheer all night long because I think it is a great announcement.

The payroll is expected to be $25 million and create $500 million in economic spin-offs for the province of Manitoba. Again, if you can say that is not good news for the province, then I would suggest that maybe we do not have an impact on everything.

One of the things I do want to highlight, and I know when we toured the province on the rural task force to talk to farmers, to talk to rural Manitoba basically, about what we can do to enhance their opportunities, one of the concerns that we had was the loss of the Crow. It was something that everybody was feeling, and the impact was just starting to hit home. Freight costs were starting to increase, and people were very concerned about that. Yet that very thing turned into a benefit in bringing this plant to Brandon because the company had recognized that we now offer the cheapest feed costs for livestock in North America because we have the farthest to ship it. So I again see the producers in my communities and again in rural Manitoba benefiting from this because the shipping costs--it is not the cost of the feed itself--are going to be eliminated or at least dramatically reduced.

I think that also one of the comments I would like to put on the record in regard to this announcement was the fact that during the debate to go to the dual market system in Manitoba, I felt a lot of pressure from the communities that I represent and from the people that produced hogs. It was impossible to avoid those concerns put forward. I met a lot of my constituents. I talked to them personally. I tried to deal with them on a one-on-one issue in regard to their concerns over where the hog industry was going and where we saw it going.

I can say that many of the people that criticized me for standing beside government and with government on this particular issue have also taken the time to acknowledge that now they see where we were headed and the benefits. They are truly benefiting from a lot of the decisions that we have made, and as hard as those decisions were to make, I stand today very pleased that the government stood fast. I do recognize the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Enns) who had to face many of these people in the industry that were concerned over what was happening and face the music, and he did. I appreciate and recognize what he did. I want to acknowledge the ministers that were involved in this announcement today. I know they worked hard and diligently for the province, not for one community over another or one area over another but for the entire province of Manitoba.

I think that when we talk about this, we talk about the throne speech and how does it relate? Well, how does a company the size of Maple Leaf or the McCain family come to identify Brandon as an opportunity for them to invest? I think it comes from the history of a government that has been out there for the past several years promoting balanced budget legislation, producing balanced budgets, certainly trying to enhance the economic benefits to encourage. You are not going to win every battle that you go into trying to bring big companies like this, or small companies, into your province, but you are certainly going to enhance your opportunities if you provide a stable, fiscal, responsible government with the concerns of all the people in the province at heart.

One of the things that I have discovered as being part of government, and I guess as a former small-business owner, is that 90 percent of Manitoba's businesses employ under 19 people, and I think that that is a statement in itself. Again, I suggest that that is going to be one of the opportunities we will see as rural Manitobans in building and taking from the spin-offs of the announcement of Maple Leaf. Actually, when I got home last night I had a couple of calls on my answering machine from people in my communities phoning to find out what they could do or how they could help enhance this opportunity and what opportunities they saw. In discussion with them, they had several ideas themselves as to what they saw as a benefit.

I also want to relate a story that a family--I took part in the closing of a hog barn, which is what the process is when you actually open it, and I got talking. It was a young farmer, a farmer and his wife, who would be I would suggest mid-40s, with a young son approximately 23 to 24 years old, and he told me that this was the real opportunity he saw for his son to stay on the family farm, work on the family farm and be able to have the affording money to buy his father out of the business that he has been in all his life, that his father had and his father before him.

They did not see that opportunity before. They just did not have the wherewithal to manage that type of situation. The expansion of the hog industry gave him that opportunity. It is a high cash flow business and with the ability to contract out and guarantee himself that income for five years it was certainly the right step for them. So it is things like that that reassure you along the way, that sometimes you do something right for the right reasons and the people benefit, and when they acknowledge that to you it is probably the nicest feeling that you can have.

The economy being as strong as it has been, I think it is certainly reflected in a lot of the statistics we read throughout the articles that are written. I know that our government has in the past, as always, its goals were to foster job growth. Coming on today's announcement in Brandon, again, I feel so strong about that.

I think the other thing we are trying to do is to help families become stronger and more self-sufficient. The minister has stated time and time again that the best form of support is a job, and I think by creating the opportunities and giving people the ability to create jobs we are going to create a wealth in the people that need it most and offer them the opportunity.

I spoke today on the phone to a young gentleman who has worked for a company for 11 years, and he said to me, he said you just do not know what opportunities there are out there until you start exploring it, and once you find out you do not ever want to go back to working for somebody else. You may have a good life that way, but he saw the opportunities of creating more jobs for the people that he knows.

I think the government, in its desire to be responsible, has put out a message that we are in a position and will continue to control taxes. I think that that is a strong enhancement for the communities and for people who are looking from outside and looking at us as the place to invest. I think we have set those guidelines down for people to judge us and compare us to other communities and make decisions about our province which we are bearing the fruit today.

The other areas I see that we have helped to enhance the situation that we have basically come today to discuss in the throne speech is the fact that we have become more efficient as a government and as a province, and we continue to work on that. I do not think it is something that ever ends. I think we have to constantly be re-evaluating, looking at all programs, all deliverables that we have and trying to improve on that. I think that the days of saying, well, we have satisfied a percentage of the population, that is good enough, I do not think that washes with communities anymore and I do not think that they want a government that is going to sit on that and just let time pass them by.

* (1750)

One of the great things that I see as happening in the province of Manitoba and allowing for this prosperity is just the fact that by showing the public and showing the world, I would suggest now that we can balance budgets. We have announced the fourth consecutive surplus budget coming up in the next fiscal year, and I think about that, you know. We always talk about social programs and helping people, and I agree 100 percent with that. If I can help someone, that is what I am here for and that is what I am prepared to do, but I think by offering it as a province that we are financially stable, we have the wherewithal to move now a little bit. When you are in a position where you are debt-financing or paying extremely high interest rates and you do not have any wiggle room to respond to the issues that are in front of you, we have to be very careful and not let that happen.

I would suggest my colleagues on this side of the government have made a commitment through legislation that we are not prepared to let that happen again. I think that is something that is a strong message not only to the investors that want to come to our province but to the investors and the people within, that by doing so we will always have the ability to move a little or change the direction without having to worry about the banker at the door and the financial implications of some of the decisions, and tough decisions, that we have to make.

The things that are happening in rural Manitoba, I think, are very positive. We have a tremendous response in some of the programs that we have introduced and announced. I know one of the things that I have seen in the communities that I represent recently is the development of the CDCs, community development corporations, which provide financial assistance to small businesses, but they are locally run and locally operated. I think that is very important. The communities and the people that live in those communities help make the decisions to help people within their own communities establish businesses, expand businesses, to grow businesses, to add employees, and they are doing it on a community level, where the responsibility, I believe, should lie and does lie at this time.

In the communities I represent, many of them are small communities, I have seen many one-person home operations start with the assistance of these types of funding. I think that as the word spreads and as the word grows, we are going to see more and more of our communities get into the program, take advantage of the program and administrate it themselves so that they can see it grow and also see the successes that are there.

One of the issues that was touched on and I think is probably the cornerstone of the province of Manitoba--as far as I am concerned--in recent months, I have had the pleasure of working with the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik) on some health issues. I think I learn everyday that it is a tremendous issue and there is certainly--I am not sure if the issues are ever going to be totally solved, because it is a day-to-day issue where things come up and they have to be dealt with. Sometimes they have to be dealt with immediately, sometimes they have to be studied, sometimes they have to be understood before we can even proceed, but I think that the department has certainly tried to develop the systems and put them into place to help in that case.

We can always mention dollars, and I will, but I do not think that is the bottom line in the sense that the amount of money that we do spend on health care, it is $1.826 million, approximately one-third of our budget. I know everybody has heard that before, but I do not think that is the whole story. I think the fact is as the government has done in the past and will continue to do, as needs and occasions arise, they will address those issues and they will address them head-on. I am not a firm believer that throwing money solves the problem, but I am also concerned that if health care is involved, we have to look at the individuals and the concerns of the people. We have to do everything that we possibly can to enhance the quality of life for all Manitobans and particularly those less fortunate than probably everyone in this House.

I think that the government has recognized the importance in being able to access health care procedures on a timely basis. I am sure, unlike everyone here, no one likes to wait in line and no one likes to be told that they have to wait to receive a service. I constantly ask the question, as members of the opposition do: what are you doing to help this problem, to alleviate this situation?

I think that the government's record has been strong in that particular area. Just to relate a couple, through additional funding for bone-density testing, waiting lists for this procedure will be reduced. I think we had to first understand what the problem was and address it from that position. The lineups were definitely there but, when we studied the issue, the bottom line was, the use of the machines and the availability of it just was not being applied in the proper way. With very little extra money but a different procedure and a different pattern to present it to people and to offer it to people, it will help shorten these lists and, again, I suggest, satisfy the needs of many Manitobans.

Additional funding has also reduced waiting lists for radiation therapy. Approximately $380,000 was allocated to the Manitoba Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation to operate a new radiation therapy unit and thereby treat more patients. It is allowing for an additional 7,000 treatments per year for patients. I think if that is not addressing an issue and dealing with it, then I do not know what it is, but I do recognize the fact that we had to address the mechanical issues before we could solve the problem. I think one thing that the department has really looked at is the fact that: what can we do to do it better first, and then what do we have to do to offer the services more to the people who need it?

A new electronic cancer treatment and management information system is possible, thanks again to additional funding from the province. It will help the Manitoba Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation to increase the quality of care for Manitoba residents by developing more consistent care and increasing the delivery of care. It is an ongoing situation.

I do not think any of us can say that health care will ever be resolved. I think that as we settle some issues, new ones will continue to present themselves, but I think putting the Department of Health in a position to deal with those issues, deal with them in a constructive manner, deal with them in a processed manner, we can resolve a lot of these problems that arise from time to time. I do not think the old--if it was used--but I am not a believer in throwing money at anything to solve the problem. I think we have to discover what the problem is and then develop it from there.

I am certainly committed to modernizing our health care system and to ensure the privacy of personal health information. We recently passed The Personal Health Information Act in the last session, and the confidentiality of personal health information is assured through the setting of limits on the collection, use, disclosure and destruction of the information. I know there is a concern around that and--

Madam Speaker: Order, please. When this matter is again before the House, the honourable member for Turtle Mountain (Mr. Tweed) will have 15 minutes remaining.

The hour being 6 p.m., this House is adjourned and stands adjourned until 1:30 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday).