MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

Mr. James Downey (Arthur-Virden): Madam Speaker, there are two issues which I would like to raise today. The first one is I would like to acknowledge and put on the record how serious the situation is in southwestern Manitoba as it relates to the unprecedented rainfalls and the situation which many people find themselves in. The stresses and the pressures are causing considerable difficulties, and I want to acknowledge the Premier (Mr. Filmon), the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Enns) and my colleagues for the meetings they have had with individuals and the pressures they are continuing to put on the federal government and will continue to put on them as we see the issues develop and the pressures continue on those individuals.

It is unprecedented. That area is traditionally a drier area and people are equipped to deal with that. They certainly are not equipped to deal with the matter which is before them and the rainfall. I think it is very obvious that a lot of crop will not be put in, so people can relate that to not having an income from any source they traditionally would get, and that is the kind of devastation that is out there.

Secondly, Madam Speaker, really last year I was denied the opportunity, because the rules would not let me do it–no, this is four years ago–to congratulate Mike Harris on his tremendous victory in Ontario. Today I rise as well to congratulate Mr. Lord, who is the new Premier of New Brunswick, who has again, I understand, run on tax reductions which people of Canada are looking for. The election of the Progressive Conservatives in New Brunswick augurs very well for the province of Manitoba and the continuation of a Progressive Conservative government here in the province of Manitoba.

Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, many farmers throughout Manitoba are facing serious challenges this year because of the unprecedented rainfall. Although the problem is most severe in the southwestern part of the province, there are areas that are affected throughout the province, areas north of the Yellowhead all the way to the Saskatchewan border, including areas such as Grandview, Gilbert Plains, Minnedosa, Neepawa, and in fact some parts of the Swan River area.

Many farmers will not be able to put in a crop this year. Municipalities have declared a state of emergency, and it is disappointing that the Premier (Mr. Filmon) waited until we raised the issue in the Legislature before he wrote a letter to the Prime Minister asking for assistance for Manitoba farmers. Only today did the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Enns) write to the federal Minister of Agriculture to ask for assistance for farmers in the southwest part of the province to be treated the same as the farmers in the Red River Valley. I know that the minister said he had telephone conversations with the Minister of Agriculture, and I believe him in that, but I am encouraged that he has finally put it down in writing and asked him for the support.

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Madam Speaker, the situation in southern Manitoba is a disaster situation, and farmers are looking for some kind of support. They are looking for financial support. They are looking for changes to crop insurance. We also need supports for families that are facing this disaster situation.

Madam Speaker, we had the opportunity to talk to many people who talk about the stress on their families, and unfortunately this government will not recognize that there is need for people who are under stress to have the mental health supports that they should be getting. It is quite unfortunate that this government will not recognize the important role that a rural stress line could play in these communities, not only in southwestern Manitoba but across the province where people are facing very serious situations. I encourage the government, now that they have written one letter, to look at another solution, and that is implement the rural stress line.

Mrs. Myrna Driedger (Charleswood): Madam Speaker, last Thursday evening, colleagues and I had the pleasure of attending the Manitoba Association of Registered Nurses' awards dinner. This event honours nurses and community members whose work makes a substantial contribution to the overall health and well-being of our communities.

Recipients of the 1999 excellence in professional nursing awards, which recognizes nurses whose practice exemplifies excellence in direct care, nursing education, nursing research or nursing management, included: Esther Robertson, community health director, Marquette Regional Health Authority, Minnedosa Health Centre; Joan Honer, clinical nurses specialist, palliative care, St. Boniface Hospital; Jean McLennan, teacher, Women's Health Program, Health Sciences Centre; and Maureen Heamen, director of research, Winnipeg Community and Long Term Care Authority.

The 1999 Professional Achievement Award, given in recognition of a MARN member's outstanding contribution to the nursing profession, went to Nettie Peters, retired program director of the baccalaureate program for registered nurses, Faculty of Nursing at the University of Manitoba.

These awards are symbolic of the high standards registered nurses strive to achieve and the value the profession places on their exemplary contributions to their fields of practice. The award winners, and indeed all nurses, are caring professionals whose work has had an important impact on patients, their families, and their communities. I would like to congratulate all the award winners and thank them for their dedicated service to the health care system. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): The Canadian Hockey Association has honoured Flin Flon by awarding that city the conditional rights to host the 2001 Royal Bank Cup, a truly prestigious event in Canadian Junior A hockey. Once again, this puts Flin Flon on the national hockey map.

The final game of the Royal Bank Cup will be televised nationally. The volunteer organizing committee, which worked so hard to get Flin Flon approved over several other sites, deserves our congratulations. A particular thank you goes out to the chair of the organizing committee, Don McElroy, and vice-chair, Dan Reagan.

About 500 volunteers will be needed to make this event a success, and a success it will be, given the long history of community spirit in Flin Flon. Flin Flon has often been referred to, somewhat jokingly, as a hockey factory. Indeed, we are very proud of the many hockey players who were born in Flin Flon or played hockey there.

To mention only a few of the many, many greats: Walt Cunningham, Fred Bowman, Mel Pearson, Bobby Clarke, Reggie Leach, Ken Baumgartner, Jerry Hart, Patty Ginell, and Reed Simpson.

As MLA for Flin Flon, I join many other voices in congratulating the organizers and the community for their support which will make the 2001 Royal Bank Cup Hockey Tournament a reality. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, it was last year that I was over–I believe it was in the month of June–at Garden City having breakfast. Being at Garden City, I was approached by a constituent of mine, a very well-known individual from within the New Democratic Party who wanted me to join with him and listen to some concerns. I did that, and there was a group of teachers who were from the Maples Collegiate, and they expressed a lot of concern that they had as to what was happening to one of their peers.

I brought it up back then as an issue, as something which does need, at the very least, to be looked into. The allegation then was that a standard exam was in fact tampered with and this particular individual's perception was–because who knows the reality might have been somewhat different–that this particular math teacher was demoted and put into another school because he reported what the provincial Department of Education mandates, and that is a breach of security for the standard exams. This is an issue that has been out and about for the last virtually 12 months, 10, 11 months at the very least, and only today are we starting to see some sort of action being taken.

It disappoints me in the sense that so much time has to lapse, and the impact that it has had on the integrity of standard exams is very significant. The impact that it has had on the individual in question is very significant. So I stand today to express my disappointment that the Department of Education did not take more tangible action to try to get this thing resolved in a more timely time frame. Thank you.