I move, seconded by the honourable member for Pembina (Mr. Dyck), that the report of the committee be received.

Motion agreed to.

Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister of Natural Resources): I would like to make a brief report to the House followed by a statement from the Minister of Government Services.

Madam Speaker, we now have the flood waters at peak levels at the gates to the floodway. I believe, however, that we should all remember that the Selkirk area, Breezy Point and Netley Creek, in fact, all parts of the system are at peak levels in the northern end of the Red River Valley. We must remember the ring dikes, the personal dikes, the floodway, the system of dikes within the city are all at maximum stress. We have seen a slight lowering of the gates at the floodway intended to stay within the mandated operating range.

Everyone has worked extremely hard to prepare and defend the property and the homes of affected areas, but we must remind ourselves that this flood event is far from over. We can expect high water for at least a week to 10 days and even more in some locations. Now, as much as yesterday, everyone in the flood zone depends on each and every one to maintain a high level of vigilance to watch the infrastructure to make sure that it can withstand this long period of very high water. High pressure and high volumes are also possible to take their toll. We must continue to be concerned about problems with wind setup.

Madam Speaker, our hearts go out to all those who have suffered loss and dislocation during this period, and we are very thankful to everyone, both within the province and from afar, who have lent a hand and have given so generously of their time and their resources.

Hon. Frank Pitura (Minister of Government Services): Madam Speaker, an update on the Manitoba Emergency Management Organization. The following communities have extended or are in the process of extending their states of emergencies, and that is the R.M. of Morris, Town of Emerson, Town of Morris, R.M. of Montcalm, R.M. of Franklin and the R.M. of Macdonald. The declarations for the state of emergency are no longer in effect in the R.M. of Taché and the Village of Ste. Anne.

In the R.M. of Ritchot, three coast guard barges manned by water rescue crews continue to assist in the distribution of sandbags and may be used in rescue.

The R.M. of Ritchot has established a sandbag machine at Ile des Chênes for the production of sandbags for the Grande Pointe area and also for Ile des Chênes. Approximately 125 residences have been impacted by the flooding in the Grande Pointe area, and the actual figure will not be known until flood waters recede and access is possible.

Sandbagging of low-lying areas along the tributaries of the Red River in the R.M. of St. Andrews, the R.M. of St. Clements and the town of Selkirk continues with the assistance of the armed forces.

The Roseau River community is planning on having a re-entry into their community; however, there is a problem with a road access to the community at the present time, and I am informed that the armed forces are in the process of trying to help out that community to obtain re-entry access and may indeed supply them with a temporary bridge across the fault in the highway.

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With the evacuations, as of May 4, Madam Speaker, 28,301 persons have been registered as evacuated from flood-threatened areas; 17,198 persons have received assistance through the reception areas. With regard to re-entry, a 24-hour toll-free line has been established for re-entry, and that is at 1-888-993-2525.

Residents that are allowed to return to ring-dike communities are to be restricted to the community, and travel to rural areas outside the community shall not be permitted.

A meeting took place this morning at the Holiday Inn South with reeves, mayors and local officials to ensure all parties are clear on the complete re-entry process and to address any concerns. All of these communities have these guidelines in place and were faxed these guidelines so that they can implement them as soon as they wish to have the residents re-enter.

In the armed forces area, as of May 4 approximately 8,472 military personnel have been deployed within Manitoba in support of provincial-municipal emergency response. There was some concern about the number of flights taking place over the flood area, but Transport Canada reports that there were 66 flights over the area in a 24-hour period.

In Agriculture, the agriculture municipal authorities are presently developing a plan for the return of farm stock removed from the flooded areas. Within the area of Labour, a 24-hour toll-free line has been established for persons requiring information pertaining to boilers, electrical, elevators, workplace safety, fire, et cetera, that are affected by the flood waters.

Within the area of Natural Resources, they have implemented a security-pass system for individuals who wish to have a pass to re-enter the flood-stricken area to either check on the residences or to help their neighbours. That is apparently a system that is working very well, and people can get those passes through their local municipality.

In the area of Environment, and of course we are getting to that point where the flood waters are starting to recede, so we are getting a buildup of materials at the edge of the flood waters, so Environment is now taking action for the retrieval of floating hazardous materials identified by security and inspection forces. They have developed a collection and disposal system in consultation with the Miller Environmental Corporation. There is also a whole host of areas that Environment is involved with with regard to flood cleanup to ensure that people on re-entering are entering a safe and healthy environment within the confines of their individual residences or communities.

Under the area of disaster financial assistance, as a result of today, the disaster financial assistance office is now officially operational and accepting applications from those people affected by this disaster.

That is my report, Madam Speaker.

Mr. Stan Struthers (Dauphin): Again I would like to thank each of the ministers for their statements to the House and for keeping us up to date on the latest in terms of the flood-fighting effort.

I want to concur with what the Minister of Natural Resources (Mr. Cummings) cautioned in terms of the high water that we are facing right now. Since this House met last, we have seen the spectacle of the Red River cresting, and along with the Minister of Natural Resources, from this side of the House, I want to stress how important it is to remember that that high level of water will remain there for some period of time. It just will not recede quickly. It is going to be with us for a while. It is going to be a fact of life that we are going to have to deal with for the next period of time. In that time, I want to congratulate those who are monitoring the dikes. With high winds and the amount of pressure that is on those dikes, that is a very important stage of this battle that we have with the Red River. I want to congratulate all those who are manning the dikes through the course of this critical period of time

The other monitoring that we need to be vigilant with are the tributaries north of Winnipeg which will still contribute to the flood problems in that part of the province. As we have seen with other tributaries south of Winnipeg, the water that has flowed into the Red River system has contributed vastly to the amount of hardship that we have endured so far in Manitoba in this flood.

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We also want to wish all the best for those people who are now re-entering their homes and looking at the devastation that exists in their houses. Our hearts are with the people who have to go back now and clean up the mess that has been left in their homes.

Finally, since last we met, I want to point out that the Canadian people from across the country have come and stepped forward in a big way and have shown their co-operation and shown that their hearts are in the right place as well with the contributions that they have made over the last several days and over the course of the weekend. It is very much appreciated on behalf of people in Manitoba, and I am sure I speak for all MLAs when I say that. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): I am pleased to table the 1997-98 Expenditure Estimates for the Manitoba Enabling Appropriations and Other Appropriations.

Hon. Bonnie Mitchelson (Minister of Family Services): I am pleased to table the Supplementary Estimates for 1997-98 for the Department of Family Services.

Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): I am pleased to table the Supplementary Information for Legislative Review for the 1997-98 Departmental Expenditure Estimates.

Hon. Harold Gilleshammer (Minister charged with the administration of The Civil Service Act): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table the Supplementary Information for the Department of Civil Service Commission, as well as the report for Employee Benefits and Other Payments.