Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Culture, Heritage and Citizenship): I have a member's statement, Madam Speaker.
I would like to congratulate the St. John's-Ravenscourt Screaming Eagles high school hockey team for winning the city championship last evening, Tuesday, March 10, at Max Bell Arena. This is the first time the Screaming Eagles have won the city championship in the high school hockey league. The team achieved this through very hard work, through a strong effort, and, of course, through the coaching skills of Mr. Ralph Waples and Mr. Paul Sawyer. I would like to recognize the effort and the time commitment of these two coaches and their dedication to the players.
The high school hockey league is very vibrant in Manitoba and emphasizes sportsmanship, development and fair play. Each player in the league deserves recognition for his hard work, and as a fan I want to cheer them on. I would like to recognize the support that the fans provide, the fans being their fellow students, friends, staff of the school, and of course, the parents of which I am but one.
Best wishes and congratulations again to the SJR Screaming Eagles high school hockey team for winning the city championship.
Mr. Stan Struthers (Dauphin): I rise today on behalf of the citizens of the area of Grandview, the town and the R.M., who right now are concerned about the availability of health care services, in particular 24-hour emergency care and the ambulance service. What the people of Grandview have come to recognize is that this government has no commitment at all to the services of quality health care in their community, and what they have done is they have circulated petitions throughout the community over the last several months.
If you will remember, before Christmas I presented petitions with 218 names. The citizens of Grandview have approached me again. This time, they have petitions totalling 463 names on petitions that I would like to put forth for the government to consider. The last paragraph of the petition says: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba request that the Minister of Health consider maintaining 24-hour emergency and ambulance service at the Grandview District Hospital for the community of Grandview, Manitoba.
The citizens of the community of Grandview would not be very impressed with what they saw in the budget just presented last Friday. They would really be insulted by the phony claim by this Finance minister that he is somehow finding 100 million new dollars to put into health care in Manitoba. When they realize that, in effect, that is just $1 million, not $100 million as the Finance minister claims, then these people will really wonder whether this government has any commitment to health care at all in this province. This is a good example of where this government has failed rural Manitoba health. On their behalf, I present the final batch of petitions for consideration by this Health minister. Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Peter Dyck (Pembina): I rise today to acknowledge how fortunate we Manitobans are having the Honourable Eric Stefanson as Minister of Finance. I would like to praise him for his latest budget. The people of Manitoba are proud that they live in a province with a government that continues to be responsible with their tax dollars. Manitobans have cause to celebrate. This is the fourth consecutive year that the Filmon government has balanced the budget. Not only have we begun to see the promising future, we are living in promising times. We have begun the process of retiring our provincial debt, and as our more than $500-million interest payments are reduced, we will be able to direct more taxpayers' dollars to our priority services.
We have also, for 11 consecutive budgets, held the line on major taxes, a record unmatched. I would like to applaud the efforts of my colleagues present and past who have worked diligently to ensure that we have controlled our spending while protecting and enhancing vital social programs. The people of Manitoba know that the Filmon government worked very hard to make Manitoba strong, and now we are working towards making a stronger Manitoba. Manitoba is an excellent place in which to live, work, invest and raise a family. I know that the people of Manitoba see their priorities and ideas reflected in this budget. Manitobans asked us to keep the taxes down, create a positive economic environment, protect priority social services, balance our books and start paying down our debt, and we have delivered. When I look around our province, I see new employment opportunities, new investments, strength in schools and renewed health care.
Madam Speaker, I hope members opposite listened carefully to the budget on Friday so that when their constituents asked questions they were able to respond enthusiastically and honestly. Thank you very much.
Ms. MaryAnn Mihychuk (St. James): I rise today on a member's statement on the issue of this government's preference for gambling revenues. The dependence of this government, and in particular the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson), sometimes known as the Minister of Lotteries, was demonstrated in a recent W5 story on CTV. Even in this tragic story of the Wynant family, where the father lost his life and more than $165,000 to VLTs, this Minister of Finance says the government, which promotes VLTs, brought them into the province, should bear no responsibility, and that the worst situation would be that Manitobans would be gambling elsewhere, a shameful statement for the minister who doubled VLT gambling advertising.
This is the minister who is spending more than $55 million on expanding the two casinos built by this government. It is this government that brought VLTs to this province, and it is this minister and this government who are hooked on gambling revenues. The minister is well aware that only a tiny fraction of the gambling revenue in this province comes from outside tourists. As the budget showed again last week, gambling has become Manitoba's third-largest revenue source behind only income tax and sales tax. Under this minister, the Gaming Commission is simply an expensive stalling device.
I have here today, and I would like to table, over 550 signatures of Manitobans who have signed our petition calling on the government to allow for local governments to hold local plebiscites, and cutting the advertising, as well as better assisting problem gamblers. I hope this minister and this government will hear their call and finally respond.
Madam Speaker: Sorry about the hand signals. I was just trying to clarify. Today is Wednesday, and in the rotation I have in front of me the official opposition is entitled to three, the government two members' statements, and I understand we are now at four. Does the official opposition wish to make a further member's statement?
An Honourable Member: No.
Madam Speaker: I thank the members for the clarification.
Mr. Ben Sveinson (La Verendrye): Madam Speaker, Manitobans have placed our province on the map as a great tourist location. Manitoba Tourism announced today that in 1997 more than 600,000 people visited Manitoba from the United States and more than 13,000 came from foreign countries. Every year those numbers increase. Manitoba is becoming a world-renowned destination for tourists as our province continually acquires the rights to host world-class events. Right now in Winnipeg hotels are full with visitors from across Canada and from the world taking in the action at the Labatt Brier.
In 1999, our province will host the Pan-American Games for thousands of people from around the world. This fall we will once again host the Grey Cup, and hopefully our Blue Bombers will be victorious at home. In December, Winnipeg, Selkirk, Portage la Prairie and Brandon will host the 1999 World Junior Hockey Championships. Manitoba's famous hospitality will ensure these visitors return to our friendly province, and hopefully they will bring their friends and families.
I have mentioned the one-big-time events that attract thousands of tourists, but we also have many events that attract visitors each and every year. To name a few, there is Folklorama, the Morris Stampede, Festival du Voyageur, Northern Manitoba Trappers Festival, International Children's Festival, the Folk Festival, along with many, many more.
I would like to thank the Manitobans who work so hard at co-ordinating these events. It is thanks to their efforts that Manitoba tourism generates more than $1 billion in annual revenues and provides more than 50,000 jobs. I would also like to thank all Manitobans for their friendly hospitality that continues to prove that Manitoba is the place to go. Thank you.
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