Mr. Marcel Laurendeau (St. Norbert): The year 1999 holds great significance for the Sikh community around the world as it marks the 300th founding anniversary of Khalsa Panth. On the auspicious day of Baisakhi, in the year 1699 A.D., the 10th guru created Khalsa. From that day, the Sikh Nations proclamation has become a turning point in history as it leads to the democratic process of social equality, freedom of beliefs and worship, liberty of civil rights, cultural integration and development of future generations of humankind.

In the international community, many states and cities are honouring these celebrations. It is a great honour that our Canadian government has released a stamp recognizing the importance of this historic Sikh Nations Day.

To commemorate the universal ideas of peace, prosperity, freedom and gender equality, the Manitoba Sikh community is organizing a Khalsa peace march starting from the Legislative Building in the morning and congregating at the Winnipeg Convention Centre in the afternoon of June 12, 1999.

On behalf of the Sikh community, some of whom are guests in the gallery today, I would like to extend an invitation to all members of the House and all Manitobans to honour this historic event on June 12, 1999. Thank you.

Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): Madam Speaker, regarding northern airports. There have been no new northern airports constructed in the 11 years that the Filmon government has been in office. What modifications and improvements that have occurred during this period have only happened because of public pressure.

Over the past 10 years, many planes operating in the North are larger turbo-prop and jet aircraft. These aircraft need larger runways. Only half of the northern airstrips have such runways. Lack of modern lighting and navigation equipment is also an obvious need.

The December 1997 tragedy at Little Grand Rapids forced the provincial government to agree to a joint task force review of airport safety. More than 17 months after the crash, the only improvement has been the application by the provincial government for federal funding of basic beacon lights at all northern airports. Meanwhile, the other serious concerns at remote northern airports remain.

Last week one small plane was stuck at Lac Brochet for three days stuck in wet gravel. A helicopter had to be used to medivac a young woman from the community. Calm Air has cancelled flights to Lac Brochet for at least a week because of conditions of the airstrip. Chief John Dantouze and council, along with the employees at the airstrip, are working to get the airstrip up to standard. It seems that it takes an emergency situation for the provincial government to even notice that there is a problem.

Northern Manitoba should not have to put up with second-class service and treatment, but under the Filmon government, second-class treatment has become routine for the North.

Mr. David Faurschou (Portage la Prairie): Madam Speaker, the 21st Century is quickly approaching. In honour of this momentous occasion, a special provincial millennium program was recently announced. The Honourable Rosemary Vodrey, minister responsible for the provincial millennium program, and Paul Robson, chair of Manitoba's Millennium Advisory Council, made this announcement Friday last.

Manitoba's millennium theme celebrates the entrepreneurial and pioneer spirit of Manitobans, past and present, as well as future development of our province. In celebration, we honour the courage, creativity and perseverance of Manitobans who have built our community.

The millennium program is designed to stimulate partnerships with individuals and community groups, governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations. The program consists of $10 million in provincial funding over two and one-half years involving the following: a $2-million allotment for a Municipal Partnership Program to assist local governments and funding of one-time special millennium projects; a $1-million fund for Innovation Manitoba Program to assist Manitoba-based organizations undertaking special millennium projects of regional, provincial, national and international scope; $6 million earmarked for a small number of significant high-profile signature projects such as capital initiatives, endowments or trusts, mementoes, commissions, publications and many others.

A $1-million fund has been created for the celebration program to provide Manitobans with the opportunity to mark the millennium through celebrations, festivals and special events throughout the year 2000.

Please join me in encouraging all Manitobans to celebrate our unique achievements and honour the pioneers, past and present, who have made our province such a dynamic place in which to live, work, invest and raise our families. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, on May 4, I had the opportunity to attend an operetta presented by the Grades 7 and 8 class at the Winnipegosis Elementary School, under the direction of Mr. Pearson. It was a delightful production of singing and acting, with the entire class taking part in the choir, with the cast consisting of Sheila McGill, Karyn Cochrane, Melissa Barsewsky, Alisha Tumak, Andrea Buller, Hailey Clarkson, Randi Voigt, Jenna Natrasony, Greg Campbell, Greg Harrison, Harley Davies, Dusty Johanneson, Krystie Gibbs, Lionel Goossen, Sheree Menard, Mandy Routhier, Meagen Lynn, Ashley Poynting, Ryan Little, Jackie Isfeld, Gary McKay, Leah Tomlinson, A.J. Hrychuk, Rachael Boyko, Cody Zunti, Brad Warkentin, Travis Routhier and
Barret Procyshyn.

Mrs. Bunka, one of the teachers, looked after the costumes, and Mr. Dan Brown looked after the lighting and the sound effects.

Madam Speaker, the opening of the program was a musical production put on by the Grades 1 and 2 class, called The Little Red Hen: A Musical, with the music provided by Mrs. Rempel. It was a very well-done production, a very entertaining evening by both the Grades 1 and 2 class and the Grades 7 and 8 class.

I commend all the performers for their efforts, and I look forward to seeing further productions by this young group in future productions. I want to commend the teachers and staff at the Winnipegosis Elementary School for offering these students the opportunity to show their talents, both in acting and in the musical field and give them the encouragement that they need to carry on their talents. Not all students are involved in physical activities; many have skills in music, and this was a wonderful evening where children could show their talents. I look forward to seeing further productions by them.

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, I stand in recognition again today to echo some of the remarks of the member for St. Norbert (Mr. Laurendeau) of a fairly significant year, that being the 300th founding anniversary of Khalsa. It is a very important anniversary within the Sikh community.

I can recall just a little while back we had a beautiful ceremony over at the City Hall, city of Winnipeg, where we had a flag-raising ceremony, and there is going to be another very special event. I know members of the community would welcome all members of this Chamber to be there in attendance on June 12 at the Convention Centre. It is going to be a wonderful expression of Sikhism. You will no doubt be enlightened by the wonders of this particular community in terms of the contributions that they have made in the past and in the present. [interjection] The member for The Maples (Mr. Kowalski) reminds me of the wonderful food that is there. If you have never had the opportunity to taste East Indian food, it is an absolute delight, and I highly recommend it. It is somewhat addictive. If you have it once or twice, you are going to be more inclined to have that as opposed to the modern-day French fry, that is for sure. But it is a very, very special year for the Sikh community, and we look to give acknowledgement of that through the Legislature in a very apolitical fashion.

This is the second time that I have had the opportunity to speak on this very auspicious anniversary, and I look forward to participating with my friends at the Winnipeg Convention Centre in any other events. Thank you.