Winnipeg Jets
Operating Losses
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Madam Speaker, my question is to the First Minister.
On June 27, 1994, the government indicated that they would be forwarding some $5.37 million to cover the operating losses for the privately owned hockey team in the province. Today we have been informed that the losses for the hockey team will be close to $13.5 million. This is in spite of the fact, Madam Speaker, that the hockey team was in a lockout situation and did not play 40 to 50 percent of the season.
I would like to ask the Premier, could he confirm the loss number in terms of the hockey team for the present hockey season year?
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): No, I cannot, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, one would think that if one was developing a so-called long-term plan for the existing proposal, one would know what the existing losses would be.
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Endowment Fund
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the Premier, in light of the fact that in Hansard, in the Estimates that we have just completed for the Premier, on June 1, 1995, the Premier indicated that $60 million would be placed in a so-called endowment fund.
I would like to ask the Premier, given the 40 percent increases in expenses of the hockey team in a strike and lockout year, $10 million of which is on the salary line of this hockey team, how long does the Premier budget that this endowment fund will last with losses that could be projected over $20 million in the next season?
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, the reason I could not confirm the figure that was being speculated by the Leader of the Opposition was that their year end has not yet been reached. It is June 30, and all of the numbers and figures that go into the preparation of that or the arriving at that number obviously are not yet available to anyone.
With respect to the second question, Madam Speaker, clearly, the group who is acquiring ownership of the team is not projecting $20-million annual losses or they would not be going into this venture on that basis.
Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, I asked the Premier, because he indicated a $60-million endowment fund would cover the losses of the team in the future.
Madam Speaker, we have a situation where the projected losses that have been reported to City Hall are above the projected losses that were announced in the government's own press release last year in June. We have a situation where these losses, these 40 percent increases in expenses on the salary line, took place in a strike and lockout year.
I would like to ask the Premier to table the so-called business plan, if they have one, that deals with the projected losses and the endowment fund of $60 million. Will two-thirds of that endowment fund be spent before the new projected arena is even open, Madam Speaker?
Mr. Filmon: No, that is not anticipated, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, I would like the Premier to table the so-called business plan, and, of course, we have been asking for the government to be open with the people of Manitoba for a long time, and it would certainly help today if he would start doing that.
Charitable Status
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): I have a new question for the First Minister.
In the Premier's Estimates, on June 1, 1995, the Premier indicated that he was opposed to a charitable status being arrived at by Revenue Canada. He repeated that answer in the Legislature on June 12. Madam Speaker, the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson) has indicated that that amount of money could cost the provincial taxpayers, on top of the arena money, up to $9 million at minimum.
I would like to ask the Premier, in light of the fact that one of the conditions of MEC is the so-called charity status from Revenue Canada, what conditions has the Premier placed back on MEC on his condition that no charitable status would be given?
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, the decision as to whether or not any type of tax treatment is granted to any portion of the investments in the Spirit of Manitoba Inc. or MEC is the sole prerogative of the government of Canada. I have repeatedly said that, as has the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson) to the Leader of the Opposition.
He ought not to indicate to anyone that it is our decision. It is not.
Mr. Doer: It is the sole decision of the government to go from a $10-million commitment to a $37-million commitment on the arena. It is the sole commitment of this Premier to place the shares into this new entity.
Has the Premier placed any conditions on the $37 million or the share conditions? Has he made any of those investments of the public taxpayers conditional upon this management group not obtaining a Revenue Canada decision to deprive the Manitoba taxpayers of another $9 million?
In other words, is he putting conditions forward on our money in these negotiations?
Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, we cannot stop the federal government from making a tax ruling.
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Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, given the Premier is opposed to a charitable status for Revenue Canada--can you imagine? We will have Hartley Richardson as a charity today, Peter Pocklington as a charity tomorrow, and God knows who else the next day. I mean, this is not free enterprise.
Given the fact the Premier is opposed to this condition, will he state that our $37 million and our other shares that we are putting into this team is conditional upon this management group not applying for a Revenue Canada status to be a charity here in the province of Manitoba?
Mr. Filmon: I cannot believe that this opposition party will go to any lengths to prevent the Winnipeg Jets from staying in Manitoba. They are absolutely incredible, absolutely incredible, that they would go to any lengths.
Madam Speaker, the hypocrisy of New Democrats just drips from his voice, when you consider that colleagues of his in the Pawley government went out of their way to obtain opportunities for tax shelters over and over again, milking the taxpayers of Manitoba and Canada time and time again.
Point of Order
Mr. Doer: Yes, Madam Speaker, the Premier is the same as all members in this Chamber, and when the Speaker stands, which you have done for the last 10 sentences of the Premier, the Premier is required to sit down.
Madam Speaker: On the point of order by the Leader of the official opposition, indeed, the Leader did have a point of order.
The Speaker, indeed, was on her feet to address continuous disruption, what appeared to be disruption in the proceedings, and I would request the co-operation of all members in adhering to the rules of the House.
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Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker--
Mr. Filmon: Sorry, Madam Speaker, I was not finished--
Some Honourable Members: Sit down; sit down.
Point of Order
Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, with respect, I was attempting to finish my response, when I was interrupted by the rude disruption on the other side.
Madam Speaker: The honourable First Minister, indeed, was interrupted by myself when I ruled on the point of order.
The honourable First Minister, to quickly complete his response.
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Mr. Filmon: I just want to point out the extreme hypocrisy of New Democrats whose members continuously utilize tax shelters, not only for their own purposes, but they set up Manitoba Properties Inc. as a tax shelter to allow wealthy Manitobans to be able to abuse the tax system both in Manitoba and Canada.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. I would once again remind all honourable members to pick and choose their words most carefully.
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St. Boniface General Hospital
Staffing Reduction
Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker, today St. Boniface Hospital announced the cutting of another 22 positions due to government funding cuts. This is in addition to several hundred cuts in November, '92, 141 in April '93, and the elimination of all the LPNs from the hospital. Of course, we always hear the same phrase--patient care will not be affected by this.
My question to the minister: Can the minister explain how this action will reduce surgical waiting lists, since we will see the loss of a further additional nine surgical beds?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, these are not my words but the words of Mr. Jack Litvack from St. Boniface Hospital, those being that the closure of these beds will not impact the quality of care provided to the patients or the surgical caseload performed at St. Boniface General Hospital.
Honourable members opposite, I recall many references to the advent of not-for-admission surgery and day surgery in our hospitals in Manitoba, and that is exactly what St. Boniface Hospital is referencing, as well.
You know, last summer, it was announced that there would be a total of 403 position-deletion notices at the two teaching hospitals. This is now June and the number of layoffs, Madam Speaker, has been two, and they have been voluntary layoffs.
Mr. Chomiak: How does the minister explain what this action will do to reduce waiting lists for surgery, since tomorrow, the government's election waiting list reduction program ends at all of the hospitals?
Mr. McCrae: I can only refer the honourable member to the announcement made by Mr. Litvack of St. Boniface General Hospital, Madam Speaker, and the point is that not-for-admission surgery, day surgery, has replaced a lot of the inpatient stays that have characterized the past in our acute-care sector.
The shift to newer and less intrusive technologies in dealing with operative procedures, as well as other restructuring efforts on the part of the staff at these hospitals, Madam Speaker, have contributed greatly to better patient care and have also contributed to a more efficient operation of our hospitals.
Health Care System
Community-Based Services
Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): My final supplementary to the minister is, where are all the positions that are supposed to be created in the community to replace all of these closures and all of these job losses, particularly when one considers that this year the budget for Home Care workers is down $1.8 million.
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): I am glad the honourable member raises these questions, because it gives us an opportunity to remind the House and to remind the people of Manitoba of the hundreds and hundreds of new personal care home beds opened in Manitoba in the last seven years, the hundreds and hundreds of jobs that have been opened by virtue of that.
In the last five years alone, we have added some 750 people to the rolls of those who provide service under our Home Care program.
We are pleased again to reannounce today, since the honourable member asked, the advent of nurse resource centres in places like St. Vital, Thompson, Manitoba--I know the honourable member for Thompson (Mr. Ashton) would be interested in this--at a soon-to-be-disclosed location in the Norman region and another soon-to-be-disclosed location in the Parkland region of Manitoba.
All of those initiatives provide a more appropriate type of health care and health delivery system in our province and very fortunately, too, put many, many health care professionals to work in our province.
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Canadian Wheat Board
Monopoly
Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, farmers in western Canada spoke out very clearly last fall when they voted for the Wheat Board Advisory Committee, stating that they wanted the monopoly of the Wheat Board to be maintained. However, leaked reports from the Canadian-U.S. International Joint Commission on Grains indicate that one of their recommendations will recommend opening up the Wheat Board to the marketplace.
This is a very serious concern for farmers and farm organizations, and I want to ask the Minister of Agriculture how he feels, if he is as concerned as farmers about this recommendation.
Hon. Harry Enns (Minister of Agriculture): Madam Speaker, I regret I missed the first part of the question. I wonder if I could ask her to repeat it, please.
Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Swan River, to quickly repeat the question.
Ms. Wowchuk: Madam Speaker, there is a recommendation made by the Canadian-U.S. International Joint Commission on Grains indicating that they recommend the opening of the Wheat Board to the marketplace.
This is a concern to farmers, and I want to ask the minister if he is concerned about--if this recommendation is implemented, what the impacts will be on farmers.
Mr. Enns: My impression is that the Wheat Board was always very much in the marketplace, not only in this country but in the United States, but, quite frankly, doing an admirable job in places like Brazil and Algeria and China and in Russia.
Regarding the reference to the commission that the honourable member for Swan River speaks of, my best information is that the full contents of that report have yet to be made public. They are reporting to their respective governments, and I am awaiting the publication of those comments. They have not crossed my desk yet.
Ms. Wowchuk: Since this recommendation will result in the monopoly of the Wheat Board being destroyed and will have a devastating effect on farmers, I want to ask the minister what action he is prepared to take to ensure that these recommendations do not become a reality and that the monopoly of the Wheat Board is retained.
Mr. Enns: Madam Speaker, I regret that the honourable member from the opposition--and, regrettably, it reflects the ongoing view of the New Democratic Party, the official opposition in this House, but the issue surely is not of a hang-up on words like monopoly or indeed even single-selling desks.
The issue is what opportunities do our Manitoba farmers have in marketing their products in the best possible way with the best possible returns to themselves for the maintenance of economic farm units and for the general well-being of the economics of this province.
So, Madam Speaker, these are issues that face the Wheat Board. I have a great deal of confidence in terms of how the Wheat Board has reacted in the past to some of these challenges, and I suggest that they will be doing some very innovative things in the future.
Ms. Wowchuk: Will the minister state clearly today that he supports the Wheat Board as it is, that it has monopoly over the sale of wheat, and will he state that he supports farmers, because this is what farmers want. They want the monopoly to be retained for the Wheat Board on--
Madam Speaker: Order, please. I would remind the honourable member for Swan River that a supplementary question should not require a preamble or a postamble.
Mr. Enns: Madam Speaker, on a matter that is, indeed, extremely serious, Manitoba grain producers face an unprecedented increase in their costs; that is, the movement of grain into export position, brought about by the Liberal government in Ottawa, I might say.
Canada's longest-standing support program for agriculture is coming to an end this August 1, 1995, a $700-million support program known as the Crow.
Now, Madam Speaker, what the Canadian Wheat Board will have to react to and what Manitoba grain producers will react to is to seek out and search out those markets that best maintain their viability, and I can tell you that the most attractive market is the one that is closest to us, namely the American market, and that is going to be an issue that the Canadian Wheat Board will have to deal with.
Where do I stand? Whom do I support? I support the farmers whom I have the privilege of representing.
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Clean Environment Commission
BFI Landfill Site
Ms. Becky Barrett (Wellington): Madam Speaker, the City of Winnipeg has made it abundantly clear for a long period of time now to the province that it has many serious concerns over the proposed BFI landfill site in the R.M. of Rosser. Environmental issues, governance issues and financial issues are all of concern.
I would like to ask the Minister of Environment today if there are Clean Environment Commission hearings scheduled to deal with the specific issue of the BFI landfill site, and if there are, will he table the terms of reference for those Clean Environment Commission hearings?
Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister of Environment): The answer is yes, and I will.
Ms. Barrett: Madam Speaker, will the Clean Environment Commission hearings include concerns that the proposed landfill site in Rosser was rejected by the city 20 years ago because it sits on a major aquifer whose potable water supply would be seriously jeopardized by such a landfill located in that location?
Mr. Cummings: Any of those environmental concerns--and certainly if what the member says is correct, that would be a concern--will be carefully examined in any hearings held by the Clean Environment Commission.
Ms. Barrett: Madam Speaker, will the minister--since I do not have the terms of reference of the Clean Environment Commission hearings--ensure that, should the Clean Environment Commission hearings not deal specifically with the BFI landfill site, he will request and require a further Clean Environment Commission set of hearings to deal specifically with the BFI landfill site?
Mr. Cummings: Madam Speaker, in discussions with the city, which became public about two to three months ago, I stated very clearly and publicly in response to the city's concerns and to BFI's concerns that we would be structuring a process that will allow for, first of all, some prehearing input regarding the debate about whether or not the city should have a monopoly over waste within its boundaries, whether or not the capital region is appropriately served, and even areas beyond the capital region, whether or not they have appropriate and reasonably costed availability of landfills.
We must not forget that there are a lot of jurisdictions outside the city of Winnipeg which, in fact, are, because of environmental regulation, actively searching for additional sites.
Madam Speaker, I would also add that, once that information has been put together, there will be Clean Environment Commission hearings on the specific site.
Post-Secondary Education
Funding
Mr. Gary Kowalski (The Maples): Madam Speaker, this week, the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Manitoba acknowledged that they might be the first to cut an entire program due to funding reductions. The end of the geological engineering program at the University of Manitoba comes because this government underfunds post-secondary education.
The recently released '93-94 report to Parliament on federal and provincial support to post-secondary education offers us an opportunity to compare Manitoba's commitment to post-secondary education funding with other Canadian provinces. The report shows that Manitoba spends less per person on post-secondary education than every other province in Canada except Saskatchewan.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. Will the honourable member please pose his question now.
Mr. Kowalski: Madam Speaker, my question is for the First Minister (Mr. Filmon).
Given this government has repeatedly acknowledged that in today's economy, education is the most important engine of economic growth, how does the Premier justify funding post-secondary education well below the national average?
Hon. Jim Ernst (Acting Minister of Education and Training): Madam Speaker, I will take that question as notice on behalf of the Minister of Education and Training (Mrs. McIntosh).
Mr. Kowalski: Madam Speaker, once again to the Premier, will he consider this, in light of today's announcement and given that a highly credible report indicates that had we done in '93-94 what other provinces have done, we would have had additional spending of $18 million to post-secondary education?
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, I find it very difficult to understand how a question like that could come from a member of the Liberal Party in this Legislature, a Liberal Party that stood up and said they supported all of the cuts to post-secondary education and universities in this country that are going to take place under the federal Martin budget, that are going to devastate universities right across Canada, including those in Manitoba, huge cuts to those universities, and he and his Leader stood up and said that it was fair.
I cannot believe he has the audacity to now talk about lack of funding for universities. It is unbelievable.
Mr. Kowalski: Madam Speaker, is the Premier aware that when EPF funding is factored out, the portion remaining, which is the provincial contribution, has declined by $10 million between '92 and '94?
Mr. Filmon: Madam Speaker, I am aware that the federal government is proposing significant and major cuts to funding for post-secondary education in this country and in Manitoba in the future.
I would urge the member for The Maples to set aside his partisan interests and join us in demanding that Ottawa reverse those cuts and in urging Ottawa to put more money into post-secondary education in this province.
Winnipeg Arena
Pan Am Games Funding
Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): Madam Speaker, I have raised before in the House concerns about the Pan Am Games advancing $5 million towards the new arena.
I would like to ask the Minister for Sport or the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson) to confirm if the Pan Am Games will be advancing $5 million towards this new agreement for the new arena.
Hon. Jim Ernst (Minister responsible for Sport): Madam Speaker, as far as I am aware, there is no new arena being constructed at the moment. Until some time that an agreement is reached between private-sector owners and the Winnipeg Jets and a whole host of other major issues are resolved, one will not be constructed.
But that aside, the Pan American Games Society indicated to, I believe, the MEC people that in the event they proceed with this arrangement, they would have $5 million available from: a) about half of that money will not need to be spent on the existing Winnipeg Arena to provide the upgrades necessary for the Pan Am Games; and b) the other half, approximately, of the money would not be needed for the University of Manitoba fieldhouse because they would not need to construct 7,500 seats; they could do with about 3,500.
So those two sums of money would then be available from their Capital fund to contribute to a new arena.
Ms. Cerilli: Madam Speaker, does the government know if the plans for the Pan Am Games include requirement for use of both the former or existing arena, as well as a new arena sited at The Forks? Can the government confirm if that is the case?
Mr. Ernst: Madam Speaker, I cannot.
Future Status
Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): Finally, Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the government if they can confirm if the new proposal for the new arena includes a provision to eliminate the old arena or eliminate competing interests for the use of the old arena.
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): Madam Speaker, a similar question has been asked before, I believe from the member for St. James (Ms. Mihychuk).
Those kinds of discussions will be taking place with Winnipeg Enterprises Corporation, who are currently the landlords, so to speak, for the current Winnipeg Arena and the football stadium and so on.
The City of Winnipeg has representation on that board, and they will be looking at all alternatives in terms of future uses of that facility, if a new entertainment complex is, in fact, built here in Winnipeg, Madam Speaker.
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AIDS
Prevention Strategy
Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Madam Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health.
At a major conference on AIDS held in Winnipeg last week, a new study found that death from AIDS in Canada costs so much in lost productivity, that only heart disease and motor vehicle accidents take a higher toll.
Last summer, the Krever inquiry made clear that this government's record with regard to people living with HIV AIDS over the past seven years has been almost nonexistent, and despite a series of meetings, Manitoba remains one of two provinces in Canada without an AIDS strategy, while an increasing number of Manitobans get sick and die.
My question to the Minister of Health is, given that Manitoba data indicates that if the annual increase in infective individuals continues at the current pace, the number of infected individuals will double in the next five to 10 years with each death representing a more than--
Madam Speaker: Order, please. I am certain the honourable member for Osborne has a question.
Ms. McGifford: What possible justification can the government have for taking so long to implement a comprehensive AIDS strategy?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, the very, very lengthy preamble to the honourable member's question contains some very important information and a very serious situation to be dealt with, and that is why it is important to deal with it seriously.
We are doing that through our consultations with care providers and victims of this disease, as well as other people who have expertise in this area through our round-table process, which will lead to the development of our second five-year AIDS strategy for Manitoba.
Ms. McGifford: Will the minister reconcile his government's cuts to AIDS services in Manitoba, especially since studies show that Canadians are willing to pay for prevention programs which save lives by gradually changing attitudes and behaviour?
Mr. McCrae: One of our partners in education in this area and in assistance to AIDS victims is the Village Clinic, Madam Speaker.
When the federal government pulled out of the funding of that particular institution, our government came along to fill in the blanks, and I do not call that cuts in spending.
Ms. McGifford: Given the major AIDS conference in Winnipeg last week juxtaposed to the government's passion for an arena and its equivocation on an AIDS strategy, will the minister explain the distance between public posturing and actual accomplishments regarding an HIV strategy?
Mr. McCrae: Madam Speaker, foolish rhetoric will not solve the problems or get the job done. Working together will.
Water Management
Responsibility
Mr. Stan Struthers (Dauphin): Madam Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Natural Resources.
As the minister certainly appreciates, this year's record flooding has had repercussions on many regions of Manitoba. Southwestern Manitoba, western Manitoba north of Brandon and the Interlake, particularly the Lake St. Martin area, have all been hard-hit.
The flooding of the Saskatchewan River may mean that communities such as The Pas will also be affected. Events of this year further emphasize the importance of water management in this province.
Can the minister explain to this House, who is directly responsible for carrying out water management activities in the regions of Manitoba?
Hon. Albert Driedger (Minister of Natural Resources): Madam Speaker, the Minister of Natural Resources is responsible for water resources.
Regional Managers
Mr. Stan Struthers (Dauphin): Just to clarify then, how is this enforcement of The Water Resources Administration Act carried out without managers in each of the regions?
Hon. Albert Driedger (Minister of Natural Resources): I cannot quite follow the question, but I want to tell the member that we have five regions in the province, regional offices, and we have directors in those regional offices. They basically are the people who administrate all the categories in the various regions, whether it be water resources, whether it be parks, forestry or commercial fishing.
Mr. Struthers: Can the minister explain what the rationale is for having regional managers for branches such as Forestry and Wildlife but not for Water Resources?
Mr. Driedger: Madam Speaker, I am looking forward to my Estimates, where possibly we can go through the structure of the department in a little bit more detail because, obviously, the member did not catch that my regional directors in the five different regions are the ones who, basically, administrate Water Resources, Forestry, Fisheries, et cetera.
I am prepared to go through that in more detail and give an outline of exactly how the department is formed when we get into Estimates.
Provincial Road No. 320
Maintenance/Upgrading
Mr. Gregory Dewar (Selkirk): Madam Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Highways.
As the minister is aware, there are numerous provincial roads in Manitoba in poor condition due to the lack of proper maintenance over the last six years. Provincial Road No. 320 which is a river road north of Selkirk was in such poor shape last month, that the school bus would not go down part of the road for nearly two weeks.
My question for the minister: Is the minister now prepared to order his department to put enough gravel on Road 320, so that residents and tourists can travel this important road?
Hon. Glen Findlay (Minister of Highways and Transportation): Madam Speaker, the government of Manitoba spends about $50 million a year on road maintenance across this province.
The member must realize--the member for Dauphin (Mr. Struthers) just raised the issue of excess water in various regions of the province--there was a wet summer last year, particularly in the North.
The department has responded to weather-related problems on roads all over the province as best they can. You cannot immediately put gravel on a road that is too soft to drive on, but the department responds within a reasonable time to improve their driving conditions for all Manitobans on all roads.
Mr. Dewar: Madam Speaker, my supplementary question is for the same minister.
What is the timetable then for grading repairs and gravel work being done on this road?
Mr. Findlay: Madam Speaker, I would certainly welcome that member to come to Estimates, and we will go through all that fine detail that the department used.
Yes, they have a guideline that they use for various roads relative to the amount of traffic, relative to the road condition, and that all exists and will be discussed in the departmental Estimates.
Northern Manitoba
Economic Development
Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): Madam Speaker, earlier today I, along with many members of our caucus, went to the meeting of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. One of the main concerns was in terms of economic development, particularly amongst northern chiefs representing their communities.
Since it is now two years since the Northern Manitoba Economic Development Commission released its report which called for action within three months, I would like to ask the Minister responsible for the implementation of the Northern Manitoba Economic Development Commission report when we will see action on the very specific recommendations of the report, beginning, for example, with the need to improve northern infrastructure through improved sewer and water and increased attention to northern roads.
Hon. Darren Praznik (Minister of Northern Affairs): Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Thompson for that question.
As the member is aware, he spent some time at the meeting which we sponsored in Thompson last winter to bring together the various political groupings of political leadership to try to forge some organization that could work as a co-ordinating body in the province.
That grouping of MKO, the urban industrial communities and NACC is still in the process of trying to put together a working arrangement that they will be comfortable with to advance many of these issues. I think that is a first step.
With respect to many of the specifics, I am sure in Estimates we can get into many of the projects that this government has taken on over the last seven to eight years in improving the economic opportunities in northern Manitoba.
Mr. Ashton: Madam Speaker, my supplementary: When will the Minister of Northern Affairs respond to the clear concern for northerners expressed at the very conference he referenced that the provincial government itself should act on the many recommendations that are solely within its jurisdiction, including such things as sewer, water and northern roads? When is the provincial government going to act?
Mr. Praznik: Madam Speaker, I can tell the honourable member he should be aware that across northern Manitoba over the last number of years, in terms of the Northern Affairs' budget for northern communities, we have been building, year by year, water and sewer projects.
I reference Brochet being a community that has received a water project for the first time in its history, that for 20, 30 years did not have it while others have had it, the bringing of hydro to Herb Lake, the host of other projects that we have done.
I would not for one moment want to leave upon the record the image that the member paints of nothing having been done. There has been a lot done in northern Manitoba over the last number of years, and we will continue to work year by year, budget by budget, at improving infrastructure throughout northern Manitoba.
Mr. Ashton: Madam Speaker, my final supplementary to the minister is, when will this minister stop serving up this same tired rhetoric to northern Manitobans and bring in direct action, not the kinds of cuts we have seen from this government to such areas as northern highways and other important areas?
When are we going to see action on the recommendations of the $1.3-million Northern Manitoba Economic Development Commission report?
Mr. Praznik: Madam Speaker, the member talks about rhetoric. Ask the people of Brochet about rhetoric. They had it from the member and his colleagues for how many years, and it was this government that brought water to the people of Brochet. It was this government that supported the people of Flin Flon with the revitalization of the smelter, and I can go on and on and on.
Madam Speaker: Time for Oral Questions has expired.