Mr. David Faurschou (Portage la Prairie): Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure today to rise before all honourable members of this House today and offer congratulations to the winners of the 1999 Women Entrepreneur of the Year Awards which were presented last Thursday.

These awards, sponsored by the Women Business Owners of Manitoba, recognize achievement by women entrepreneurs in Manitoba.

The award winners were as follows: for the category of Start Up and Overall Excellence Award, Leslie Reimer, co-owner of Timber Trails Tree Farm; the Contribution to Community Award, Carmen Neufeld, Frontline Associates and Strictly Speaking; the Impact on the Local Economy Award, Daphne Petrakos of Giselle's Skin Care; the Home-Based Business Award, Fran Kowalchuk of Fran's Jewellers & Gifts; the Franchise Award winner was Darlene Pelda, World of Water; and the Innovator Award, Irene Merie, Executive Computer Training.

This year the provincial government sponsored the Lifetime Achievement Award, and I was very pleased that the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, the Honourable Merv Tweed, presented this award to Fran Funk, owner of the Portage Conservatory of Music. I am very proud to say that her love of music and her sense of community are very much appreciated in Portage la Prairie, and she is indeed a worthy recipient of this award.

Madam Speaker, whether those that were award winners or whether they were nominees, they all played an important part in being role models for Manitoba women. Their efforts and achievements will inspire all to test their own entrepreneurial spirit. Thank you.

Ms. MaryAnn Mihychuk (St. James): Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge members of this House to attend a very important meeting coming up at the end of the month, called Meet the Miners 1999 Reception, where members of the House are invited to meet with real miners who make a difference in Manitoba's economy. Mining is a very important economic resource to Manitoba. Many of us are not personally impacted by mining, but I must remind you that the wealth of mining impacts all members of Manitoba's community.

It is second only to agriculture in terms of its importance to our economy. In 1989 over 4,600 people worked in the mining industry. Now we see significant job losses, unfortunately, mine closures and extended shutdowns. The condition of Manitoba's mining industry in 1999 remains a concern. The rapid decline of ore prices over the past year has had a severe effect upon our operations in this province. Nickel prices have dropped by nearly 50 percent to roughly $1.75 a pound, a 12-year low. Copper prices have also dropped by nearly 40 percent over the past four years. The Triple Seven deposit at Flin Flon is proceeding; Snow Lake and Bissett are both operating well. Regrettably, the proposed Cross Lake mine is still in negotiations. Leaf Rapids has been a major source of provincial revenue for over 25 years, while Lynn Lake has had more than half a dozen mines over the past 30 years. Both mines are nearing the end of current known reserves.

On May 31, the Mining Association of Manitoba is presenting the annual Meet the Miners event. This is an important opportunity for the mining industry representatives to meet with government and opposition officials to discuss the state of the industry. I invite all members and urge you to attend the reception at the Art Gallery where you will be able to meet the people who make mining in Manitoba.

Mr. Peter Dyck (Pembina): I would like to address an important issue, namely the level of funding the federal government provides to the provinces for vital programs. At this week's Western Premiers' Conference in Drumheller, Premier Gary Filmon will be calling for full restoration of federal funds to be invested in health care and post-secondary education. The federal government has already announced the partial restoration of its Canada health and social transfer cuts. This amount has already been fully committed to health care. Our Premier is proposing that the premiers and territorial leaders consider allocating the $3.7 billion not yet restored between health care and post-secondary education initiatives equally on a 50/50 basis.

Since 1994, the federal government has reduced its funding to all provinces for health care, post-secondary education and other social programs by about $6.2 billion annually. During the same period, Manitoba lost over $260 million annually in CHST funds. Along with our government, the council of western Canadian university presidents is also calling on Ottawa to fully restore Canada health and social transfer payments for post-secondary education.

For too many years the federal government has pursued a policy of reducing transfers for health care and post-secondary education while lowering the national commitment to programs they seek to protect. Funding for post-secondary education is essential in our rapidly evolving global economy. By enhancing post-secondary training opportunities, we can continue to meet the increased need for skilled workers in our growing economy, but Ottawa must do its part to ensure that it is providing the provinces with adequate funding for post-secondary institutions. This will help ensure our young people are given the greatest possible opportunity to succeed. Thank you.

Mr. Eric Robinson (Rupertsland): Interest in the Churchill Rocket Range has again been renewed as people recognize the potential of this very valuable asset. There have been more than 3,500 sounding and weather rockets that were launched from the Churchill Rocket Range from 1957 to 1989. The federal government planned to bulldoze the site when the range was closed at that time. Fortunately, that plan was scrapped. Akjuit Aerospace made a major commitment to developing the range as an international private satellite launch site. Sadly, their first launch in April of 1998 proved to be their last, and the firm was unable to raise as much capital as they needed to proceed with their ambitious project.

Studies are currently being conducted to evaluate the market for an orbital satellite launching facility and another on the demand for a rocket launching facility. Meanwhile, at least two groups are looking at launching rockets from Churchill. One hopes to launch a sounding rocket this coming September.

This is good news for Churchill and good news for Manitoba, Madam Speaker. It proves once again that the range has potential and should be maintained. The Manitoba and federal governments should be working with the town council to see what other opportunities can be developed. With proper promotion, the range will find new customers and businesses in the years ahead. Thank you.

Mr. Tim Sale (Crescentwood): Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the staff and board of the River Avenue daycare centre. It is a co-operative daycare centre located in a very nice facility adjacent to the Hugh John Macdonald Youth Services on Mayfair Avenue. This co-operative has been in existence for many years now and provides a high level of service to many parents but particularly to many children with special needs.

I had the opportunity a week or so ago to observe the care being given to a young autistic child in a one-on-one situation with a very difficult child, and the caregiver was amazing in her patience and her compassion for this child.

This government has done much to make it difficult for parents of moderate and lower income to access child care at an affordable rate. It has not provided the kind of level of support for special needs children, and it has not provided the level of support for the staff of this vital service that they could have a reasonable income and be able to provide the care and compassion that they are able to do by virtue of their training to the children of Manitoba who need this service so badly.

I want to pay tribute to this centre that has provided the only 24-hour care service in this area of the city against great odds, and I want to wish them well as they celebrate again today their anniversary and service with all the parents and children.

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