Mother's Day
Mr. Mervin Tweed (Turtle Mountain): Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge some very special people in the wonderful world of Canada and our fine province of Manitoba. We set aside days to recognize a variety of causes, people and events, and rightfully so, but I want to speak to a segment of society that is not restricted by boundaries, by religious, political or societal intentions. I am of course referring to mothers and Mother's Day coming this Sunday.
With the new rules, I was hoping to do this closer to the day, but I would like to recognize a few of the people in my life that have served me: one is my mother, Elva Tweed, and one is my Aunt Nancy and the other person is my wife. She always says she is not my mother, but she is the mother to my children and a fine example for all young Manitobans.
I think that we could probably have agreement from everywhere in the House and outside of the House as far as the importance of this valuable day to recognize people that give so much to society and who ask for so little in return.
I wish to acknowledge our mothers on Sunday and today, and I wish that we could acknowledge them every day for their importance. I wish to celebrate those individuals who bring life into this world, and I wish to celebrate what mothers have done for us and what they continue to do.
Living at the end of the 18th Century, Hannah More penned these words which I think actually describe the spirit of motherhood. She wrote: Love gives, then worries that it has done too little.
Happy Mother's Day. Thank you.
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YM-YWCA Women of Distinction Awards
Mother's Day
Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Madam Speaker, last night the member for Swan River (Ms. Wowchuk), the member for Radisson (Ms. Cerilli), the member for Wellington (Ms. Barrett) and I attended the 20th annual YM-YWCA awards dinner, where this year six Women of Distinction were named and honoured.
I was personally delighted that Muriel Smith, the former MLA for Osborne, herself a previous winner of the Women of Distinction title and a model and mentor for dozens of women, including me, facilitated these ceremonies. Muriel Smith reminded us of something all women know, that, and I quote: We women are not guests on this planet; we are here to stay.
The 25 nominees for the Women of Distinction Award are living embodiments of this statement's truth. The variety and daring of their accomplishments, their compassion and creativity, their pioneering spirits and courage do them proud and act as inspirations to the younger generations of Manitoba women.
It gives me great pleasure to name the six winners, starting with Hygiea Dela Cruz, a young woman just beginning her career, who is the winner of the Gerrie Hammond Memorial Award of Promise. The others are Diane Dwarka, who is a multicultural information specialist; Yvonne Lafreniere, who has dedicated herself to the Manitoba Special Olympics; Anne Jorowski, the founder of Share Christmas; the Women Business Owners of Manitoba, founded by five Manitoba women; and Virginia Hasselfield, a former principal and communications professional. I add that these brief descriptions do not do justice to the accomplishments of these women.
I am sure that all members of the House join me in congratulating the winners of this year's YM-YWCA Women of Distinction Awards and thanking these women for their gifts to our communities.
I also join the member for Turtle Mountain (Mr. Tweed) in wishing all mothers a happy Mother's Day on Sunday.
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, I, too, would like to join the member for Osborne (Ms. McGifford) and the member for Turtle Mountain (Mr. Tweed) in acknowledging a very important date that is going to be coming up over the weekend. That is, of course, to congratulate, on behalf of the Liberal caucus, all of those mothers who have contributed.
Who could actually say anything negative? You know, this is something that is very much appreciated from all sides of the House in terms of the efforts that mothers have to go through, year in, year out, no matter what generation they might be from, but they do ultimately contribute, first and foremost, to society and the way in which society is going to ultimately evolve.
Also, Madam Speaker, to comment on last night, 1996 Women of Distinction Awards were presented to five Winnipeg women in recognition of their achievements and contribution to our city. The YWCA of Winnipeg was the first to recognize and honour women who have made significant contributions to their community.
On behalf of our caucus, I would like to take this opportunity to ask this Chamber to join me and my colleagues in paying special tribute to Virginia Hasselfield, along with Diane Dwarka and Anne Jorowski, Yvonne Lafreniere and Hygiea Dela Cruz for winning the 1996 YM-YWCA Women of Distinction Awards. These are efforts that have been recognized, and it is something in which we take great privilege in being able to extend our congratulations to the efforts of these wonderful individuals. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Transport for the Handicapped
Altona
Mr. Jack Penner (Emerson): Madam Speaker, it was with a great deal of pleasure and privilege that I attended this morning the ribbon-cutting of an event in the town of Altona. The event was the purchase and putting on the road of a caravan or a van for the mobility-disabled people in the town of Altona.
The organizations and individuals in this town a year ago started a fundraising event, and there were some 20-odd organizations that contributed $68,000 to the purchase of a van that will allow people who were not able to gain access to transportation out of their homes--either people who were provided with home care or people who were institutionalized in personal care homes and the like--to now have access to transportation to their churches, to community functions and other organizations.
I want to thank the Department of Rural Development for co-sponsoring the purchase of this vehicle that will give the kind of services that are required in a town which takes a great deal of pride in its senior citizens and provides for those senior citizens through programs such as home care and the transportation through this kind of initiative. Thank you very kindly.
Labatt Brewery
Plant Closure
Mr. Tim Sale (Crescentwood): Madam Speaker, today I rise to condemn this government's failure in securing the continued operation of the Labatt brewing plant. This failure on the part of the Filmon government has led to the loss of employment for 132 workers, not to mention bringing an end to a century of brewing tradition, beginning almost 120 years ago in Winnipeg. The Labatt plant in Winnipeg was hailed as one of the cheapest brewing operations in western Canada.
The workers in this plant consistently exceeded the production quotas; they set records. They landed beer more cheaply than any other of Labatt's western operations. This was an efficient and profitable plant, and yet Labatt decided to close the Winnipeg plant, not because of overcapacity, but because of corporate greed. They are adding a third shift to Edmonton. They are spending over $12 million on Edmonton. They are moving all the good equipment out of this plant to other plants in western Canada and eastern Canada.
This was neither an inefficient nor a losing operation, Madam Speaker. This is naked corporate greed at work. The parent company, Labatt's Canada, had a profit of $280 million in the last year, and yet they closed this plant in a market where they had 70 percent market share. This is a shame, simply a shame. The Filmon government accepted this closure. They rolled over and allowed Labatt to make such a decision, which will have a disastrous effect on this province. So the plant closed its doors.
Our party does not accept this fate. We tried to develop alternatives in an attempt to save the jobs. We believe there is a market for such a brewery in Manitoba. The Filmon government must realize they are the government of the province, and in this role they cannot only stand up for the rich and the powerful, they have to stand up for workers, too. It is time the Filmon government woke up and started to defend working people of Manitoba.