Mr. James Downey (Arthur-Virden): Mr. Deputy Speaker, on behalf of my constituency and the constituency of western and other parts of Manitoba that have been devastated this spring by the tremendous amounts of unusual rainfall and the problems which have resulted because of that, whether it is devastating forest fires in northern Manitoba, whether it is major floods in the Red River Valley or whether it is prolonged results of excessive amounts of moisture such as we have seen in western Manitoba, I want to acknowledge the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and my colleagues in their very affirmative response and their positive response to people in need.

I think that is a true hallmark of this government, that when it is a demonstrated need when people are in a situation where governments are the only thing that they can look to for support in desperate times, that this government has been there. I thank the Premier and my colleagues for their acknowledgement and their contributions to the support of my community.

I think it is also important to note that it is extremely important as we approach Canada Day that the Canadian government look with some generosity on all the parts of this country in an equitable way and they truly come forward with the kind of support that is meaningful and hits the mark so that the people of this country truly can have faith in a country that is so great.

I acknowledge the support that this cabinet and this caucus have given to the region, which was badly needed. Thank you.

Mr. George Hickes (Point Douglas): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to highlight some of the advantages of our strong credit union systems here in Manitoba. Manitobans are turning to credit unions as a viable alternative to the banks. Manitoba credit unions are owned by Manitobans. They are responsive to our needs because credit unions are co-operatives. As the advertising says, member-owned, member-driven. In fact, there are 391,000 Manitobans who are members who use the services of the credit unions they own.

Manitoba credit unions returned almost $13 million to its members in 1998 in the form of patronage refunds, shared dividends or cash simply for doing business with credit unions. This is $13 million that likely would have left the province. Manitoba credit unions are a local success story. At the end of 1998, the Manitoba credit union system held assets worth $4.75 billion, holding $307 million in equity. The number of members of Manitoba credit unions has increased from 280,000 in 1983 to nearly 400,000 today.

There are 163 credit union locations in Manitoba, twice as many as any other financial institution in the province. In 53 rural communities, the credit union is the only financial institution providing financial services to area residents, organizations and businesses. On top of these important facts, Manitoba's credit unions had a payroll of $64 million in 1998. Credit unions operate differently from the country's banks. As vital parts of Manitoba communities, putting people first translates into benefits for all Manitobans through employment and community support. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

Mr. Gerry McAlpine (Sturgeon Creek): It gives me great pleasure to rise today and sing the praises of the Manitoba economy. Just yesterday the Toronto Dominion Bank Financial Group predicted Manitoba is expected to lead the West in growth in 1999. The Toronto Dominion Bank Financial Group says Manitoba's economy will record growth of close to 3 percent as the province benefits from a strong expansion in its diversified manufacturing sector.

The transportation, equipment and food processing industries are expected to have another banner year, with the latter benefiting from the upcoming start-up of the Maple Leaf Foods hog processing plant in Brandon. The tourism industry will also benefit from the Pan Am Games being held in Winnipeg and around the province this summer, and Manitoba will continue to boast the lowest unemployment rate in the country of less than 6 percent. The Toronto Dominion Bank Financial Group recognizes what many other independent financial organizations have said, that the Filmon government's sound fiscal management policies have cultivated an environment that invites businesses to succeed. The Filmon government believes the way to achieve a strong economy is to provide responsible, predictable leadership, remove barriers to economic growth, keep taxes competitive and look for strategic opportunities which build upon the province's natural strengths.

Consecutive surplus budgets, no major tax increases and a plan to pay off the province's accumulated debt all serve to send the message: Manitoba is open for business. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

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Ms. Becky Barrett (Wellington): Mr. Deputy Speaker, for a week the workers at the Maples Personal Care Home have been locked out by management. They were locked out. Even though they were at the negotiating table, at the bargaining table, were prepared to continue negotiating in good faith, management locked them out.

This privately run, for-profit organization, whose ownership is looking to make its profits on the backs of the workers and at the risk of the health and well-being of over 200 residents, is not bargaining in good faith, is bringing in scabs, is bringing in replacement workers. They are not prepared to pay a living wage, a decent wage to the workers that have spent, in some cases, decades working with those residents at the Maples Personal Care Home, but they are prepared to pay $15 an hour to the scab replacement workers who are coming in to the Maples Personal Care Home. This labour dispute is all about people's lives. It is about the lives of the workers who want to go back and provide the care, seven days a week, 24 hours a day, that they have provided for years for these 200 residents, and it is about the quality of life, never mind as well as the health and safety of those residents.

If you walked the picket lines, government members, the way that I have over the last week, the way that the member for Kildonan (Mr. Chomiak) has, you would know the desperate situation that the patients, the residents and their families are in because of the greed of the private owners of this personal care home.

I would like to ask the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and the government members not to hide behind let it take its course but to take an active, proactive role to end this despicable lockout before the lives of the residents and the workers are even put more in jeopardy. Thank you.