Mr. Gerry McAlpine (Sturgeon Creek): May I have leave, Madam Speaker, for a nonpolitical statement?

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

Mr. McAlpine: Last night I had the great pleasure to attend the Arthur Andersen company reception honouring five Manitoba businesses. These businesses are among the 50 best-managed private companies in Canada. This is a fantastic performance by our province. While Manitoba makes up approximately only 3.5 percent of the country's overall population, we are home to 10 percent of the best businesses in Canada.

I am proud that two of these companies are from the constituency of Sturgeon Creek. Birchwood Automotive Group and Dimatec Inc. are two companies in Sturgeon Creek that won this award. The 1997 recipients of Canada's 50 best-managed private companies were announced in the Financial Post. The awards program is sponsored by the Post, Arthur Andersen and company, Canadian Airlines and Advantage.

The awards program is held annually to recognize business excellence among the Canadian-owned private companies. The winners were selected by the judges from advantages such as organizational structure, product quality, technical support, innovative marketing, human resource management and financial management. These awards are a wonderful opportunity to recognize businesses for their contributions to our province's economy and to the Manitoba workforce.

I would like to congratulate all the Manitoba businesses awarded for their superior management and wish them well in their future endeavours. Thank you.