Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister of Natural Resources): Madam Speaker, I have a brief statement for the House on the current fire situation, followed by a statement on the presentation of the trees.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to report this afternoon, with the general rain and cooler temperatures, that conditions are ideal to fight fires throughout the province. At this time there are still 52 fires that are burning. We have had a total of 177 fires to date, and they have covered an area of 37,000 hectares. The weather forecast continues to be favourable, however. It indicates we will be receiving precipitation in the next few days including Manigotagan and St. Theresa Point which have been hot spots. The fire at Manigotagan remains the main area of concern and it is being held today by 261 firefighters along with 33 bulldozers and skidders.

As I indicated yesterday, the rainfall has been timely. The good news is that with the much-improved situation, we are now seeing the evacuees return to their homes. The equipment that we have had from neighbouring jurisdictions, the water bombers from Northwest Territories have gone on to Ontario and the air tankers from Alberta that are presently at The Pas will be returning to their bases. I believe, Madam Speaker, that everyone shares the feeling that our firefighters have done an excellent job. On behalf of all Manitobans, I want to express our appreciation.

Mr. Eric Robinson (Rupertsland): Madam Speaker, I want to thank the Minister of Natural Resources for keeping us updated on the fire situation in northern Manitoba. It is also nice to know that many of the residents of Manigotagan, Seymourville and Hollow Water have made their way to their homes. Unfortunately, there are problems that come along with these, given the power that was off for several days in many of the communities in Bloodvein, Berens River, Poplar River, Little Grand Rapids and Paungassi. Unfortunately, many people went back home to find that their food had been destroyed or had spoiled as a result of no power, so this is an added problem, added stress, to an already stressful situation.

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I join the minister in thanking our firefighters from the Department of Natural Resources, as well as the many volunteers from the different communities. I think we only have to reflect back 10 years ago in 1989 when the major forest fires occurred in the province of Manitoba and a lot of credit has to go to the community residents of those communities that were involved in the fires back then.

Chief Reggie Mason of the St. Theresa Point First Nation informed me this morning that 11 homes had been burnt in their community, and in the pathway of the fire were a hundred homes. So it is only with luck that there was not further damage in that particular community. He also advises me that things like outhouses and sheds, equipment, boats, snowmobiles have been destroyed in their community. Eighty-two people in all from that particular community are still outside of their home community and are in places in the city of Winnipeg. Certainly our elderly and children and people who have respiratory problems, as they are not allowed to go home in Manigotagan, Hollow Water and Seymourville, these people with similar health problems are not allowed to go back to their homes in St. Theresa Point. So we have, as of this date, Madam Speaker, 82 people who are out of the community.

But we should commend the volunteers, not only the ones on the front lines but indeed the volunteers in Pinawa, Pine Falls, Bissett, the people from the community who have extended a very helpful hand to the evacuees. As I indicated the day before yesterday, these situations are often stressful and stressful on the little children. We want to give thanks, as well, to the City of Winnipeg, Mayor Glen Murray, Councillor Lubosch, for the assistance they provided and to the staff of the Winnipeg zoo by accommodating the children from Hollow Water, Manigotagan and Seymourville by allowing them the opportunity to visit the Winnipeg zoo, and for the first time the children got to see just exactly what is there.

So I believe, in spite of the bad situation that we are faced with throughout this province with the forest fire situation, there are many people who have to be thanked for making the people's lives just a little more comfortable. Thank you.

Madam Speaker: The honourable Minister of Natural Resources, with an additional ministerial statement.

Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister of Natural Resources): Madam Speaker, I have a statement on National Forest Week.

It probably is quite appropriate, given the report that I just gave, that we are now celebrating National Forestry Week. All the members obviously have their spruce in front of them, compliments of the Forestry Association, so it is a good time to remind us of the importance of our forests and the quality of the plants. Before I officially read into the record my statement, I want to assure the members, those who appear to be a little bit disadvantaged, that this is not a subliminal message.

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If I could build on the good nature in the House today, part of this campaign is to help Manitobans become more aware of this special week. Manitoba Forestry Association has provided seedlings to all members of this Legislature. As one of my colleagues once remarked, he now has a row of spruce as a result of having celebrated Forestry Week, and I am sure there are other members in the House who can say that they had the same benefit. It is an important symbol.

The forest industry generates more than $470-million worth of sales in this province and employs about 6,000 Manitobans. It is a significant contributor to our economy. This past week I had the opportunity to participate in a grand opening of new facilities at the new sawmill at Spruce Products Ltd. at Swan River. Spruce Products has operated sawmills and pulpwood operations throughout our province since 1942. In the past three years it has invested more than $10 million, with future plans to invest another $3 million. The forest industry in our province continues to grow and prosper to the benefit of all Manitobans as demonstrated by that investment.

During the celebration of National Forest Week, it is important to note that in the past 10 years Manitoba Natural Resources and the forest industry have planted more than 125 million trees. This is an accomplishment that everyone can take pride in. National Forest Week is a special time to celebrate our forests, and I congratulate the Manitoba Forestry Association for its efforts every year for the past number of years and for reminding us about this valuable resource.

Manitoba Natural Resources continues to support the forest industry association through its participation in its very successful programs. The forest education teacher's workshop, the Envirothon competition for high school youth, the Youth Ambassadors' program, all help to increase Manitobans' understanding of how important forests are to the economy and to the environment.

I ask all members of the Legislative Assembly to join me in the support of this effort, and I am pleased, on behalf of the forestry industry, to encourage you to care and nurture the tree in front of you.

Mr. Stan Struthers (Dauphin): I am very pleased to join with the minister today in celebrating National Forest Week. I thank him for his statement to the House, and I want to thank the Manitoba Forestry Association for providing us with the seedlings that I am sure we will all put to good use building our wood lots in the back of our properties over the course of years.

The minister very rightly talks about the expansion that took place at Spruce Products near Swan River. Not so long ago, the MLA for Transcona (Mr. Reid) and I had a chance to tour through that facility and meet with Mr. Dick Walker and the people who work there at Spruce Products. I must say that we were both very impressed with the expansion that took place, and I am sure the people of Swan River, who will benefit from that local boost to the economy, appreciate the work that Spruce Products is doing. We also had a chance to talk with Mr. Walker about some of the sustainable forestry practices that Spruce Products are employing in that part of the world, and we encourage Spruce Products and other Manitoba forestry companies to employ some of those common-sense practices in the forestry industry.

I also want the government to take this week to reflect upon some of its own policies in the area of forestry, especially the public participation in decision making. The Manitoba Forestry Association is doing a good job in raising the awareness of the public of the importance of trees, the importance of our forest, the importance of the ecosystems that live and operate within our forests. I think this government should do the same thing, particularly when it comes to First Nation involvement, before agreements are signed. This government does not have a good record in this regard. It has a chance to do the right thing on the east side of Lake Winnipeg before a memorandum of understanding has been signed. I think the government should take some positive steps in including First Nations and other members of the public before agreements are signed.

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So, with that, Madam Speaker, I want to wrap up by thanking the Manitoba Forestry Association for the white spruce, our provincial tree, and assure them that it will be taken care of in my backyard and be put to good use. Thank you.

Mr. Gary Kowalski (The Maples): Do I have leave to make just a few remarks–

Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for The Maples have leave to make some remarks?

Some Honourable Members: Leave.

Madam Speaker: Leave. Leave has been granted.

Mr. Kowalski: I just would like to thank the Manitoba Forestry Association for these. I think it is so appropriate that the weakest, the bent, are given to the two Liberal members because we do not give up on anyone. We will nurture it; we will make it strong, just as we could take any individual and never give up. Thank you very much.