Hon. Vic Toews (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Madam Speaker, I am wondering whether I might have leave to make a nonpolitical statement.

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

Mr. Toews: Madam Speaker, I think this is a very proud time for the MLAs from Elmwood, from Rossmere and from River East.

The 1997 Provincial AAAA High School Basketball Championship that took place on Saturday, March 22, at the University of Winnipeg was won, both men's and women's, by the River East School Division. They have swept the varsity titles.

The varsity girls champions were the River East Kodiaks. I might indicate the members here of that team: Leah Armstrong, Nicole Pangilinan, Cheryl Jean-Paul--[interjection]

Madam Speaker: Order, please. I am experiencing great difficulty hearing the honourable Minister of Justice. I wonder if I might ask that all those members standing at the rear of the Chamber either move to the loge or outside the Chamber to continue their conversations.

Mr. Toews: I may have some difficulty pronouncing some of the names, but I will table the list. Ola Samborska, Larissa Puttaert, Carolyn Bell, Heather Wedlake, Dara-Lynn Wyfon, Kathy Griffiths, Tara Madec, Kelly Copp, Lisa Johnson, Karen Dyck, Jenell Witsky.

The game's most valuable player was Heather Wedlake, team all-stars were Ola Samborska and Cheryl Jean-Paul, 1997 most valuable player, Karen Dyck. Their coach was Jaenas Pangilinan and the Assistant Coach Ijeoma Ogoms.

Then the varsity boys team, out of the member for Elmwood's (Mr. Maloway) constituency were the Miles Mac Buckeyes. The team members there were: Paul Horosok, Thu Tran, Justin Holomond, Bikky Dhalinal, Rodney Unrah, Bryce Kushnier, Dimitri Evdokimov, Kelly Aboud, Harpal Duggal, Kris Campbell, Braden Hammond, Mike Stefanyshyn.

The coach was Martin Riley, Assistant Coaches Mannu Duggal, Jeff Shaddock, Milan Holth. Oh, I am sorry, one more team member, Matthew Mills. The game's most valuable player, Braden Hammond, all-star team, Justin Holomond, and the most valuable player was Rodney Unrah.

I believe all members in this House should congratulate the victors in this provincial championship.

Mr. Clif Evans (Interlake): Leave for nonpolitical?

Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Interlake have leave? [agreed]

Mr. Clif Evans: Madam Speaker, last weekend the community of Riverton had the opportunity to host the Provincial C Midget Championship with a total of five other teams from across this province, along with our host team the Riverton Eagles.

I would just like to add my congratulations and the congratulations of the members of the House to the bronze winners from Warren, Manitoba and to the silver winners from Silver, Manitoba.

* (1430)

Madam Speaker, it is a great pleasure to inform the House that the Riverton Eagles midgets won the gold medal this year, along with, as I mentioned, the bronze medal that was won by the bantams last weekend. I would like to just acknowledge the players from the team: Adam Ross, Daylen Kroeker, Joseph Bernier, Rick Forfar, Garrette Webb, Brian Johannesson, Craig Popowich, Clayton Monkman, Chris Yaremkiewich, Ryan Epp, Arlen Eyolfson, Charlie Marks, Chad Palsson, Michael Johnson, Cory Ross, Erik Grimolfson, Darren Kornelson and Chris Johanson; Coaches Gordon Leduchowski, Percy Marks and Alvin Ross. I would also like to make special comment that this year's Riverton midget team was comprised of young players from not only the Riverton community but from the communities of Fisher Branch, Hodgson, community of Gimli and the community of Arborg.

I know that all members would join me in wishing and saying congratulations to the Riverton Eagles Midget C Championship.

Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): Madam Speaker, do I have leave to make a nonpolitical statement?

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

Mr. Martindale: I want to encourage all members of the Legislature to make a donation of blood to the Canadian Red Cross. Your donation can be the gift of life for a hospital patient or an accident victim. Since there is a critical shortage of blood, I hope that as many members of the Legislature as possible will make a donation as soon as possible. We have no excuse for not taking the time to do so since the blood-donor clinic is on Osborne Street, about a two-minute walk from here. I also have the hours that they are open, which is Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

I would encourage all honourable members to take the time and make the effort to make a donation to the Red Cross blood-donor clinic, a donation that would be the gift of life for someone else. Thank you.