Mr. Edward Helwer (Gimli): I wonder if I may have time for a nonpolitical statement.

Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Gimli have leave for a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]

Mr. Helwer: On February 28, March 1 and 2, the Manitoba high school curling championships were held at the Gimli recreation centre. I would like all honourable members in the House today to join me in congratulating the girls team from Gimli that won the event, which is the provincial high school curling. The team members include Corrine Suchy, Amber Narfason, Wendy Lewick, Kathy Semenchuk and coach, Donna Suchy. The bonspiel chairman, Lyle Eyolfson, and draw master, Peter Froese, did an immaculate job in keeping the annual championship running without a hitch. As well, volunteer Leona Groot should also be commended for making the championship a first-class event.

Female entries came from the Garden Valley high school in Winkler, the Pierre Trudeau school in St. Boniface, Vincent Massey in Fort Garry, Crocus Plains in Brandon, William Morton in Gladstone, from Deloraine, Stonewall, Joseph Kerr school in Snow Lake, the Lord Selkirk, Thomas Greenway and Crystal City, Strathclair, Swan Valley, Churchill, and also Gimli, and Oak Park in Charleswood, and the Edward Schreyer school in Beausejour. This annual event is a great opportunity for young people, who both enjoy and excel at the sport of curling, to meet one another and to partake in friendly competition.

As well, Gimli is an ideal location for such a competition as it hosts many sporting events. A number of rinks and facilities are located in the area. As a result of Gimli's excellent facilities and hospitality as an events co-ordinator, in 1998 the town will also be hosting the Manitoba Winter Games; also in June 1997, the Manitoba Society of Seniors Games.

Madam Speaker, I would again like to congratulate the Gimli high school girls and their coach for their hard work during the season, and for their victory on March 2. I would also like to commend all volunteers and, notably, bonspiel chairperson, Lyle Eyolfson, for their organization and dedication to this event.

Hon. Leonard Derkach (Minister of Rural Development): Madam Speaker, do I have leave for a nonpolitical statement?

Madam Speaker: Does the honourable Minister of Rural Development have leave for a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]

Mr. Derkach: Madam Speaker, I rise today to extend my congratulations, along with those of my constituents, to the Russell Major Pratt Trojans high school hockey team for winning the provincial AA championships in Morden this past weekend. I have watched this group of young Manitobans play since they were about five years old. They have demonstrated time and time again how team work and ability can earn tremendous rewards.

I must commend all those who took part in this exciting tournament for playing to the best of their abilities. I also tip my hat, Madam Speaker, to all of the coaches, the managers and the parents who also put much of their time and energy in ensuring that our youth are able to enjoy a healthy, competitive sport in our rural communities.

I would like to take this moment to also congratulate, along with my colleagues the member for Pembina (Mr. Dyck) and the member for Morris (Mr. Pitura), the Carman and Morden high schools hockey teams for winning the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Madam Speaker, as the MLA for the Roblin-Russell constituency and as a parent of two of the boys on this hockey team, I would like to congratulate each and every one of the team members, their coaches, their managers and all the parents who enjoyed this weekend for a tremendous victory. Thank you very much.

* (1420)

Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Environment): Madam Speaker, I wonder if I could have leave to make a brief nonpolitical statement?

Madam Speaker: Does the honourable Minister of Environment have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]

Mr. McCrae: Regardless of one's origin, today seems to be a day on which all of us like to claim a little bit of Irish origin, and I certainly do so with pride today. I see there may be some exceptions, but most people have that feeling today that we should be celebrating whatever Irishness there is in our society.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Roger Brown and the staff at the Department of Government Services for providing us all with the shamrocks that we have on our desks today. I would like to give a little advice. If you take a whole lot of commitment and a whole lot of hard work and a whole lot of dedication to the things that we do, Madam Speaker, these shamrocks can help bring us a little bit of luck as well.

I had occasion, along with Mrs. McCrae, to attend an Irish association celebration on Saturday night in the Westman area. I know that there are other Irish organizations in the province of Manitoba, and it is a good time for us all just to ponder about the contribution that Canadians of Irish extraction have made throughout the history of our country, so I think all honourable members would like to join in that sentiment.

Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East): Madam Speaker, if I may have leave to make a nonpolitical statement.

Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Brandon East have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]

Mr. Leonard Evans: I am very delighted to join with my colleague the member for Brandon West in congratulating all the Irish people today in celebration of St. Patrick's Day, which is a great event in the lives of many people of Irish descent.

My mom and dad came from north Wales. In fact, they spoke Welsh. This was at the turn of the century. They told me that St. Patrick was originally a Welshman who went over to Ireland and converted the Irish to Christianity. So there is some affinity between the Welsh and the Irish that will never be parted.

So congratulations to the Irish.

Mr. George Hickes (Point Douglas): I move, seconded by the member for Transcona (Mr. Reid), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources be amended as follows: St. James (Ms. Mihychuk) for Dauphin (Mr. Struthers) for Tuesday at 10 a.m., March 18, 1997.

I move, seconded by the member for Transcona (Mr. Reid), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections be amended as follows: Burrows (Mr. Martindale) for Kildonan (Mr. Chomiak); Wellington (Ms. Barrett) for St. Johns (Mr. Mackintosh); Osborne (Ms. McGifford) for Flin Flon (Mr. Jennissen). Thank you.

Motions agreed to.

Mr. Edward Helwer (Gimli): I move, seconded by the member for Turtle Mountain (Mr. Tweed), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources for the Tuesday 10 a.m. sitting be amended as follows: the member for Riel (Mr. Newman) for the member for Springfield (Mr. Findlay); the member for Sturgeon Creek (Mr. McAlpine) for the member for Morris (Mr. Pitura); the member for St. Vital (Mrs. Render) for the member for Kirkfield Park (Mr. Stefanson) and the member for Gladstone (Mr. Rocan) for the member for Turtle Mountain (Mr.Tweed).

Motion agreed to.

Hon. James McCrae (Government House Leader): Madam Speaker, on a matter of House business, I am announcing today that on Thursday, March 20, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections will meet to consider the review of the Office of the Children's Advocate.

Madam Speaker: To repeat, the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections will meet Thursday, March 20, at 10 a.m., in Room 255 to consider the Children's Advocate.