MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

Mr. Edward Helwer (Gimli): Madam Speaker, yesterday it was announced that the government of Iceland has decided to establish a full-time consulate here in Winnipeg. Consul General Svavar Gestsson is coming to this post with a great deal of experience in the Icelandic Parliament where he has sat for over 20 years and held portfolios including Trade, Commerce and Culture. As Consul General, he will work to enhance trade and cultural opportunities between Iceland and Manitoba.

I am certain that the arrival of the Icelandic Consulate will be greatly welcomed by the people of the Gimli constituency. As is well known, this area has a strong and celebrated Icelandic heritage. Anyone who has visited Gimli's annual Icelandic Festival has seen how proud the people are of their roots. Having a Consul General from Iceland here in Manitoba will certainly further strengthen the already strong cultural ties between our province and Iceland and help us to develop trade ties that benefit both partners. Thank you.

Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Madam Speaker, as all Manitobans know, Justice Alfred Monnin's report on the vote-rigging scandal pointed out that the ethics of the Progressive Conservative Party and the behaviour of its members were and remain an impairment to democracy and the workings of democracy in the province of Manitoba. Earlier in this session, the Premier (Mr. Filmon) rose to his feet several times and answered questions on the Monnin inquiry, and the Deputy Premier has also addressed this issue, although I must say the Deputy Premier (Mr. Stefanson) looked fairly distraught and flummoxed last week when he was in a position to answer questions.

One of the things that is disturbing to the people of Manitoba is the fact that the members implicated in the vote-rigging inquiry by Justice Monnin appeared to be members in good standing of the Progressive Conservative Party. Mrs. Jan Nestibo recently wrote a letter to the party and I want to quote from that letter. She says the expulsion of Gary Nestibo from the Progressive Conservative Party was none other than a ploy to somehow make the general public believe the corruptness of the Progressive Conservative Party had now been corrected. Mrs. Nestibo goes on to ask: where are the PC memberships of the men involved in the Monnin inquiry?

An Honourable Member: Good question.

Ms. McGifford: It is a very good question. It was one that the Premier (Mr. Filmon) chose not to answer today, well, obviously, with the blessing of the Speaker. I think it is a question that should be answered.

A further letter sent to the Brandon Sun by one Dallas Nestibo asks another question that I think people in Manitoba would like to have answered, and that is the question: what I also cannot figure out–

Madam Speaker: Order, please. The honourable member's time has expired.

Mr. Gerry McAlpine (Sturgeon Creek): I would like to pay tribute to a man who was known to all of us as Cactus Jack Wells. Jack Wells, legendary sports broadcaster, passed away this week here in Winnipeg. Born in 1911, Jack Wells lived his childhood years in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and did not move to Winnipeg until 1941, when he was hired by CJRC, which became CKRC Radio.

He was a member of the constituency of Sturgeon Creek for many years. He became a friend of many people in Manitoba and right across Canada. He was successful in his career and in making long-lasting relationships. After reading the paper this week, we see so many people say that he was a tremendous human being with kind words about everyone he met.

Cactus Jack Wells was still continuing his broadcasting career last year as he was still doing his famous Happy Honker Award for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on CJOB's post-game show. He was a very well-respected member of Winnipeg, and I am honoured to have known him.

I would like to express my deepest sympathies to his family, his wife Marguerita–Flicka–his sons John and Richard and his daughter Janice. At the age of 88, Cactus Jack was still a vibrant part of Winnipeg, and I know that he will be sadly missed by many. He was an ardent participant in the Grey Owl Golf Tournament coming up in June. He will certainly be missed at that time.

This was evident recently as many friends and family gathered to celebrate Jack's 88th birthday. Following a ball game, we are going to miss those famous words, "and it turned out nice again." The funeral service was held today at the Assiniboia Christian Centre at 11 a.m.

On behalf of all honourable members, I would like to extend our sympathy to all friends and family of Cactus Jack Wells. Rest easy, great servant.

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Mr. Leonard Evans (Brandon East): Madam Speaker, yesterday in Question Period the Premier (Mr. Filmon) put a misleading statement on the record when he stated that our young people, when the NDP was in office, had an unemployment rate that was 3 percent above Canada's youth unemployment rate. This is totally false. This is incorrect information.

I would refer the First Minister, indeed the government, to the historical records put out by Statistics Canada. If you look at it very carefully, you will find that, on average, youth unemployment in Manitoba was 3.25 percentage points below Canada's average in the period of '82 to '87. When this government was in office, we were below but only by 1.2 percentage points.

Madam Speaker, I think it is important that we speak the truth in this House and that we have the facts. If the members opposite want, I would be prepared to give them a statement of this or refer them to the historical records that they can see for themselves. But, in 1982, our first full year in office, we were 4.6 below the Canadian average; in 1983, we were 4.3 below; in 1984, we were 3.9 percent below; in 1985, we were 2.5 percentage points below; and in 1986, 2.8 and 1987, 1.4.

When you average this up, it is quite clear that our performance for youth unemployment was far superior to that which has been occurring under this government. For the Premier to get up and state publicly and to be quoted in the press that we had a youth unemployment rate that was above the Canadian average is simply misleading the public of Manitoba. It is not the truth. It is time we speak the truth. Especially the First Minister of this province, the Premier of this province, has a responsibility to speak the truth and nothing but the truth.

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, very briefly, just in response to the ministerial statement earlier today about the donation given from the Mining Association of Manitoba Inc. in regard to the minerals that were provided on behalf of both myself and the member for The Maples (Mr. Kowalski), just to express our appreciation and to wish the industry much continued success in the future, recognizing the very important role the mining industry plays in the overall performance of the Manitoba economy. Thank you.