ORAL QUESTION PERIOD
Winnipeg Jets
Status of Provincial Shares
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Madam Speaker, my question is to the First Minister.
During the election campaign, the Premier promised to limit his public contribution to the Jets to $10 million. Madam Speaker, it has since been reported that the figure may be as high as $37 million for the capital, up to $9 million potential loss of revenue to the province in terms of potential tax rulings from the federal government, and what remains unclear to us is the status of the 18 percent shares that the provincial government owns in the Winnipeg Jets hockey team pursuant to the operating loss agreement signed by the Premier in 1991.
Can the Premier advise us as to the status of the shares owned by the people of Manitoba through the Province of Manitoba?
Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, they will remain as equity to the credit of the taxpayers of Manitoba.
Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, given the fact the Premier promised to also cancel the operating loss agreement which created the shares that the Premier and the government of Manitoba now have, would this not constitute a further investment by the taxpayers of Manitoba in the Jets issue here in the Province of Manitoba on the operating side of the equation?
Mr. Filmon: No, Madam Speaker, because the only way that the taxpayers could have benefited from the shares would have been if the team had been sold to an outside party interest outside the province that would have seen the money come back to the credit of the taxpayers of Manitoba.
Since we did not believe that this was in the best interests of the province, obviously we will leave the shares there as equity in the team.
Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, the Premier could have also sold the shares to the new owners of the team, the MEC group, the Shenkarow group and the other groups that are allegedly or reportedly taking over the team.
Would this not now constitute at least another $9-million public contribution to the Jets? Would this now mean that we have $37 million potentially invested in the capital, up to $9 million potentially invested in a revenue loss through a tax proposal that is before the federal government and now another $9 million in terms of the equity that we now hold in the ownership of 18 percent shares, one of the largest percentage shares of any owner in a privately owned hockey team?
Mr. Filmon: No, Madam Speaker, you cannot have it twice. Firstly, the Leader of the Opposition has already talked about the fact that we absorbed some $9 million of losses in the team for which we received, I might say, some $17 million of direct revenue to the taxpayer for that $9 million in losses, and for that $9 million in losses, we have $9 million of share equity in the team, which remains there to the credit of the taxpayers of Manitoba, is not lost in any way.
Seven Oaks Hospital
Funding Reduction
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): I have a new question, Madam Speaker. One hopes that the Premier will be as generous with health and education as he seems to be on the changing relationship with the Winnipeg Jets.
My question to the Premier is, the government announced the pre-election pause on health care cuts and spending reductions to health care facilities. Since the election, we have learned that at Seven Oaks Hospital, a reduction of $600,000 from previous pauses and now a further $1.6-million reduction is being implemented at the hospital.
I would like to ask the Premier, what will be the impact of a somewhat close to 5 percent reduction in investment at Seven Oaks Hospital?
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Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): I just want to say, in response to the preamble of the Leader of the Opposition, that we will continue to be generous to health care, as we have been. We are the province in Canada that spends the highest proportion of its budget on health care, almost 34 percent of the budget, Madam Speaker. That is the highest proportion of any province in Canada. Even on a per capita basis, it is the third highest of all the provinces in Canada.
So, Madam Speaker, we will continue to treat health care more generously than almost any province in Canada.
Mr. Doer: The Premier never answered the question.
The $9 million in equity in the privately owned hockey team is equal to the health care cuts or hospital cuts of $8 million in this year's budget--money one way, equity one way and cuts another way.
I would like to ask the Premier, what is the impact of the 5 percent reduction at Seven Oaks Hospital on patient care and on the standards of care for the people in Manitoba, a cut that was accelerated after the election campaign by the Conservative government.
Mr. Filmon: Again, Madam Speaker--and, of course, it is the reason why he had no credibility during the election campaign. The Leader of the Opposition does, in fact, give false information.
The cuts were not to hospitals, were not to personal care homes. They were a reduction to the MMA agreement. They were a reduction to the fees given to the MMA. They were not cuts to hospitals, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, my question to the Premier (Mr. Filmon) is, what are the priorities of this government to cut 5 percent out of Seven Oaks Hospital after the election campaign and multiply by three, four and five times the investment in the Winnipeg Jets issue after the election, both contrary to the word of the Premier during the election campaign.
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, no matter how the Leader of the Opposition wants to obfuscate this matter, the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson) met with all of the hospital people last fall to let them know that the amount for hospitals, personal care homes and community health centres would be the same this year as it was last year at $1.2 billion. That is a very significant contribution to health care.
As the Premier has pointed out, we are second to none in this country when it comes to the share of the budget being spent on health care.
Medical Services Council
Information Release
Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker, the minister might add that when the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson) met with hospital officials, they said a 2 percent cut to budgets. It is in their own press release, and it is now being brought to bear after the election.
My question to the Minister of Health is, we are back to the era of cutting. The minister's secret council is planning to deinsure a number of medical services, including general eye examinations.
Will the minister today do something that we asked him to do eight months ago and make the deliberations of that secret committee public, so the Manitoba public can know what services this government is planning to cut from medicare.
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, about a year ago, the Manitoba Medical Association and the government of Manitoba entered into an historic agreement, which brought about some level of consultation and working together that has not existed for 20 years in the Province of Manitoba.
The so-called council the honourable member refers to is the Medical Services Council. It has representation on it from the government, from the Manitoba Medical Association, from other parties, as well, including members of the public. That is a very open process, and no recommendations will be coming forward that have not been very carefully screened by that council and by myself.
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Eye Examinations
Deinsurance
Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker, the pattern continues with no answers to the questions.
My supplementary to the minister is, can the minister advise this House how much it will cost Manitobans who will be forced to pay out-of-pocket expenses for general eye examinations? How much will it cost Manitobans to pay for these services that the government is intending to deinsure?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, the honourable member does not like the answers, because they give the lie to the misinformation that honourable members opposite have been putting across in this province for far too long. [interjection]
Well, Madam Speaker, if I have said something that is inappropriate or offensive to honourable members--
Madam Speaker: Order, please. The honourable Minister of Health, I believe, was about to apologize in case his comment was misinterpreted or he said something that should not have been permitted on the record.
Mr. McCrae: Madam Speaker, I realize I used the word "lie" and I should not have done that.
I am sorry for that, but you know, I think the people of Manitoba spoke very, very wisely when they passed judgment on the misinformation that formed part of the recent election campaign.
The numbers are there for honourable members and everybody else to see. Manitoba has a very, very significant contribution to make and has been making to health care in our province.
Mr. Chomiak: Madam Speaker, will the minister do something this government has refused to do all throughout its tenure in health care, and that is bring these decisions about deinsurance and other cuts, like the 5 percent cut to Seven Oaks Hospital this year, before members of this Chamber and the public, so they can deliberate prior to the government making its cuts?
Mr. McCrae: Madam Speaker, if that argument holds true, then why were honourable members opposite not using that when they were cutting and cutting in the days when they had an opportunity--the Pharmacare program, for example? Why did they not do that then?
It is precisely because of the need for input from the various stakeholders and interested parties that the Manitoba Medical Services Council was set up. It does contain representation from the various groups I mentioned, like the College of Physicians, like the MMA, the government, representatives from the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and Evaluation, whom honourable members opposite tell us are beyond reproach.
That is the kind of representation we have in decision making on how to run the medical services component of the budget of Manitoba.
The Pas Health Complex
Kidney Dialysis
Mr. Eric Robinson (Rupertsland): Madam Speaker, as members of the House may be aware, there has been an international conference, that is going to be concluding today at the Convention Centre, talking about the indigenous peoples and the link with diabetes.
My questions are also for the Minister of Health.
Nearly two years ago, we asked this government whether it was prepared to offer dialysis treatment at The Pas Hospital. I would like to ask the minister, does this government now have a date at which such services could be made available at The Pas, instead of forcing people to drive to Flin Flon and even farther for treatment?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): I will be happy to provide the detail of that question and the answer for the honourable member in due course, Madam Speaker, but, certainly, over the last few years, we have seen, indeed, an increase in the need for dialysis and an increase in the supply of dialysis services in Manitoba.
We will continue to monitor that situation, Madam Speaker.
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Health of Manitoba's Children Report
Recommendations
Mr. Eric Robinson (Rupertsland): Madam Speaker, to the same minister, given that rickets is preventable, as The Health of Manitoba's Children Report noted with their recommendations, I would like to ask the Minister about those recommendations in that report, when they will be acted on to prevent rickets, as has been experienced in the Island Lake communities of Red Sucker Lake, St. Theresa Point, Garden Hill and Wasagamack in northern Manitoba.
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): The child health strategy that came forward in the report by Dr. Postl and his committee formed the basis for the election campaigns of, I think, all three political parties in this House, and I look forward to working with the honourable member and his colleagues in the future as we put some action around the proposals within that package of proposals.
Food Co-operatives
Mr. Eric Robinson (Rupertsland): Madam Speaker, it has been said that poverty and health are directly linked--
Madam Speaker: Order, please. Pose your question now, please.
Mr. Robinson: The question I would like to ask is, will this government assist in the growth of food co-operatives in the North, as recommended in the report?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, poverty and health are indeed directly linked. I am glad honourable members opposite recognize that now. We have recognized it for some time.
We would certainly be happy if our federal friends would recognize that, and instead of cutting back on nutrition programs and programs for new moms as the federal Liberals have done, I think it would be wise if they prioritize their spending as we have done here in the Province of Manitoba.
Physician Resources
Grandview/Gilbert Plains
Mr. Stan Struthers (Dauphin): Madam Speaker, my question is also for the Minister of Health.
Last Wednesday, my colleague the member for Flin Flon (Mr. Jennissen), asked a question in this House regarding doctor shortages in his constituency. Today, I stand before this House and ask similar questions on behalf of my own constituents.
Like Leaf Rapids and Lynn Lake, the communities of Grandview and Gilbert Plains are also facing a doctor shortage crisis. Could the minister table an agreement he made with the communities of Grandview, Gilbert Plains and Roblin to pursue the recruitment of four to five permanent salaried physicians?
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): I will take the honourable member's question under advisement.
He should know that last Friday I met with representatives from the communities of Leaf Rapids, Lynn Lake and Gillam, as well, and discussed physician issues in general for rural, northern and remote Manitoba.
There is general agreement about the necessity to address the problem, and that goes for communities like Grandview, Gilbert Plains and others in rural Manitoba, because even if they are not having a problem right now, they know that a problem, once it is upon us, is an acute problem. It is not like losing a doctor from one of the larger communities in our province--a doctor in a small community can be a very, very serious problem.
I think I made it clear to the people in my office on Friday that I recognize that, and along with all of our partners, including them, we are working to solve the immediate problems but also to build a long-term solution through the Physician Resource Committee.
Mr. Struthers: Can the minister indicate what financial assistance will be given to those communities for recruitment of these four to five doctors, given the recruitment of even one doctor can cost upwards of $70,000?
Mr. McCrae: I will look at the traditional level of assistance for this type of activity and also look to see if there is an additional responsibility on the part of the government indicated by circumstances. We will review that as we are doing with the Leaf Rapids situation.
Mr. Struthers: What full-time support will be provided so that the one remaining physician stays and so that the health of the community is not threatened?
Mr. McCrae: Madam Speaker, that is exactly the kind of question and issue that is being addressed by the community in concert with representatives from my department and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, as well.
As to a precise response to a question like that today, I am not able to give that, but I expect that we will discover the answer to that as we continue to work together.
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Winnipeg Jets
Estimated Losses
Mr. Tim Sale (Crescentwood): Madam Speaker, a key component of the Jets' new deal between MEC and the Spirit of Manitoba, the new Jets owners, is that there will be a private-sector fund to pay the losses of the hockey team over the estimated 20-year period of the lease or the agreement.
The viability of the hockey team is very much a matter of concern for the viability of the $175-million public-sector investment in an arena; therefore, the level of team losses, Madam Speaker, is a very critical issue for this House.
Will the Minister of Finance tell the House, what are the estimated losses for 1995-96 and '96-97 for the Winnipeg Jets?
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): Madam Speaker, we continue to await the conclusion of the discussions that are taking place right now between the private sector here in Manitoba and the current owners of the Winnipeg Jets in terms of a realignment of ownership, the current owners possibly staying in for a minority interest.
Obviously, part of those discussions are going to be the operations of the hockey club for the 1995-96 season and what the projections might well be in terms of the ultimate losses of the club, ways of controlling expenses to minimize that impact, and, obviously, a major part of this whole undertaking is the establishment of the endowment fund that has been contributed to very significantly to date by many, many Manitobans.
Mr. Sale: To the same minister, Madam Speaker, will the minister then confirm the estimate of the Provincial Auditor and MEC that the losses will likely exceed $12 million to $14 million in each of the next two years for a two-year total of at least $28 million in losses during the arena construction period?
Mr. Stefanson: Madam Speaker, those are numbers that are in the range of what projections were several months ago.
As I have indicated, if this whole new arrangement is, in fact, put in place, and we are hoping to hear definitive answers on that within the next few days, a major part of the whole reorganization will be to find ways to control expenses, to reduce losses, but, ultimately, as has been indicated by the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and many others, the whole objective is that the private sector takes over the operations of the hockey club, they take over the exposure to any potential losses, and the mechanism that is being put in place is this establishment of an endowment fund to cover those losses for the next many years.
Part of governments remaining and continuing to hold equity in any future operation is on the basis that governments are in no way exposed to any contributions to any losses, Madam Speaker.
Winnipeg Arena
Information Release
Mr. Tim Sale (Crescentwood): I thank the minister for beginning to shed some light--
Madam Speaker: Order, please. Please pose your question now.
Mr. Sale: Will the minister then commit to tabling with this House the cash flow projections upon which have been based the development of the $60-million endowment fund to enable the House to see for itself that the fund is sufficient to ensure the long-term stability of the team in Winnipeg prior to a shovel being put in the ground for an arena?
Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): Madam Speaker, as has been indicated consistently, the whole objective of the reorganization is to make sure that the team can remain here in Manitoba for many years and remain viable, and that is the whole purpose behind the establishment of the endowment fund.
I know the NDP, through their comments and questions, oppose building an entertainment complex here in Manitoba. They oppose trying to keep the Jets here in Winnipeg. We believe it is in the best interests of Manitoba, the economy in Manitoba, and many other aspects of Manitoba to do the utmost to keep them here, Madam Speaker, and as we have indicated on many occasions, in concert with the private-sector group that is now hopefully taking over control of the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club, all information that can be made available will be made available, not only here in this House but to the public of Manitoba.
Education System
Funding
Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Madam Speaker, this government's support for the business known as the Winnipeg Jets has rapidly escalated since the election, at a time when the same government claims there is no more money for Manitoba schools.
I want to ask the Minister of Education, when the arena and Jets final package was being considered by her colleagues, did she make the case for an alternative investment priority of the restoring of the $35 million of cuts to Manitoba schools over the last three years?
Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): Madam Speaker, the member knows full well that in terms of priorities for this government, the largest percentage of our budget goes towards three main areas--health, education and family services.
The member also knows that over the course of our term of government, funding to schools has been good, has been adequate for the needs faced by the schools. The member also is aware of the number of divisions around the province that have been able to acquire and maintain surpluses in the school divisions.
The member is aware that there are opportunities that divisions have had. Some took advantage of those opportunities, some did not, for Bill 22 days. The member is also aware that bargaining units have the opportunity to control some of the rising costs of divisions by the way in which they settle their negotiations at the table.
So, Madam Speaker, I do not accept the premise inherent in the member's statement that funding for education in Manitoba has somehow been inadequate.
Impact of Staffing Reduction
Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Madam Speaker, I am going to enjoy sending that response to every--
Madam Speaker: Order, please.
Ms. Friesen: Will the minister table the information she must, as minister, have collected on the impact on class size and program availability of the loss of over 270 teachers across the province in this coming year?
Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): Madam Speaker, the member consistently does not wish to acknowledge that school divisions and unions with whom the school divisions bargain have opportunities at the bargaining table to determine whether or not teachers are laid off, staff sizes--[interjection]
Madam Speaker: Order, please.
Mrs. McIntosh: The number of staff any given division is able to employ is dependent upon the amount of wages that division has to pay that staff.
We know that 83 percent of school division budgets goes towards wages. We know that in some divisions, that percentage is much higher than 83 percent, and the divisions have done an admirable job containing their operating costs.
The one cost they are having difficulty controlling is the wage cost, and there are two parties at the bargaining table, Madam Speaker, that have the opportunity to determine what that cost shall be and the subsequent size of the staff complement in the division.
Ms. Friesen: Can the minister tell us what the impact of the loss of 270 teachers, in some divisions 10 percent of the teachers, will be on the implementation of the new curriculums, the new timetables and the new examinations in the so-called reform plan of this government?
Mrs. McIntosh: I, first of all, would like to clarify that it is not a so-called reform. It is a reform. It is a reform that is going on not just in Manitoba but in other provinces across Canada, in other countries across the western hemisphere.
The use of adjectives and descriptive phrases before good words colour the good words. The member knows it. The member is doing it consciously, and I just want the record to show that most people are not taken in by those kinds of colourful adjectives.
I would like to repeat again, Madam Speaker, that there are two ways in which staff positions can be saved. One is to overspend and the other is to bargain in such a way that wage increases do not interfere with the division's ability to have a certain number of staff in its complement.
School Boundaries Commission
Implementation Timetable
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education.
As fall quickly approaches, there is a great deal of concern with respect to the school divisions and the alignments of the school divisions. The public has a right to know, in the sense that there are many children, what school divisions are going to be coming about in terms of changes. There are literally hundreds of trustees and potential candidates who are out there who are making their decision today on whether or not they are going to be running, and they need to know what sort of boundaries.
My question to the minister is, will the minister make a firm commitment to establishing a timetable for boundary changes?
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Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): Madam Speaker, in response to the member's question, it has already been indicated that we now have the Boundaries Review Commission requesting the receiving of written submissions to comment on the proposals and the recommendations as developed by the commission. They will be reporting back to us in September.
The regular school board elections will take place in October, as they do every three years, and those three years during which this particular school term will extend will be transition years.
Any decisions made regarding boundaries will be announced during that period, and during that period, we would expect that the trustees who were elected in October would be part of the process of transition, of any mergers that may be decided upon, and any trustees running should see that as a possibility when they decide to make their decision to run.
Mr. Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, just for confirmation, I understand that the school trustees--
Madam Speaker: Order, please. Would the honourable member please pose a supplementary question now.
Mr. Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, can the minister then confirm that this fall election will be on the old boundaries and indicate what options she is also considering for the subsequent elections?
Mrs. McIntosh: Madam Speaker, I repeat for the member's information and clarification that we will be hearing from the commission at the beginning of September as to its final developed proposals based upon reaction to their current recommendations.
The October elections that will take place for school boards across the province will take place as they normally do. The next three years, the normal school board term will be a transition period during which school divisions will prepare themselves for any amalgamation if it occurs.
There may be some divisions where there is no amalgamation. We have not made our decisions yet. Those three years will be a transition period during which school divisions will prepare for an orderly blending or merging of students and staff, et cetera.
Tax Rebates
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, the other indication of changes, that of rebates--and I would ask the Minister of Urban Affairs whether or not his intentions are to have the rebates process in place, the legislation that the City of Winnipeg and others are looking for?
Hon. Jack Reimer (Minister of Urban Affairs): Madam Speaker, I believe what the member for Inkster is referring to is the legislation that was just introduced regarding the rebates for the councillors and the setting up of a system within the parameters of the bill that was just introduced.
Status of Women
Government Initiatives
Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Madam Speaker, my questions are for the Minister responsible for the Status of Women.
This government's document entitled Plan Manitoba, A Vision for the Future and the Speeches from the Throne, December 1994 and May 1995, include virtually no plans, policies or visions which promote the status of women. I cite, for example, family violence, Family Violence Court and women in second-stage housing. These are ignored. I am encouraged, however, in the knowledge that the minister met in Ottawa last week with her provincial and federal counterparts and trust that she returned with renewed vision and some ideas.
My first question for the minister is, will the minister table with the House her presentation to last week's meeting in Ottawa?
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister responsible for the Status of Women): Madam Speaker, I was very pleased to represent our province at a meeting of Ministers responsible for the Status of Women last week.
There were a number of issues which were discussed. Among those at the top of the agenda were economic security. One of the major issues to be determined in the area of economic security for women is the federal minister of human resources' plan. We have yet to see what detail will be put forward on behalf of Canadian people to deal with economic security.
In the area of violence against women, of course, there was a renewed emphasis across Canada for provinces to look at initiatives to deal with violence against women. I was very pleased to again put forward information regarding Manitoba's Domestic Violence Court and also put forward to my federal counterparts that I will be tabling in this House legislation in the area of maintenance enforcement.
However, again, a great deal rests with the federal government of this country to deal with the child support guidelines.
Ms. McGifford: Will the minister detail for this House the ideas that she has brought with her from Ottawa?
Mrs. Vodrey: Madam Speaker, I will be pleased to see that the member receives a copy of the communique in which all areas that were agreed upon between Ministers responsible for the Status of Women were outlined.
I was very pleased, just as an example, to tell the member to take forward the initiatives that have been put forward by our Minister of Family Services (Mrs. Mitchelson) in the area of Taking Charge!, in the area of initiatives dealing with single-parent families and our position and questions that we had concerning the plan that the federal minister of human resources will put forward, again initiatives relating to family violence. I was pleased to draw that to the attention of my counterparts.
Madam Speaker, I was also very pleased to receive agreement from my counterparts, ministers for the Status of Women, that we would, by agreement, look at any barriers between provinces for the collection of maintenance enforcement payments.
That was, I believe, a really important step taken at that meeting. I was pleased to do that on behalf of the Province of Manitoba, the people of Manitoba.
Ms. McGifford: Can the minister outline for this House her current and future plans for promoting the status of Manitoba women?
Mrs. Vodrey: This government has made major strides in the promotion of women and the position of women in the seven years that we have been in government, and we look forward to up to five more years in which we can continue to do that.
Strides have been made and certainly we will be looking at this, I am sure, in Estimates in terms of the senior positions women hold within the civil service, strides that have been made in the area of employment and also economic equity in the area of training.
I am very pleased to remind the member that it was this government which introduced the Training for Tomorrow Scholarship. The Training for Tomorrow Scholarship deals very specifically with economic security of women, encouraging women to move into the nontraditional professions by way of a scholarship.
Madam Speaker, there are a number of initiatives which this government has implemented and will continue to implement, and I will be more than pleased to discuss those during the time of Estimates.
ACCESS Programs
Funding Restoration
Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): Madam Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Education.
Manitobans, particularly northerners, hope this minister will be open-minded and generous about proven success stories such as the ACCESS program.
Is she willing to restore funding of ACCESS and BUNTEP to previous levels?
Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): As the member realizes, in terms of post-secondary education, we have more people now currently taking advantage of the ACCESS program than did before, so, clearly, the number of people being able to take advantage of that particular program has not been diluted in any way, given the increase in sign-up.
BUNTEP Program
Wage Deductions
Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): My supplementary question is, will the minister review the policy of deducting 80 percent of BUNTEP students' part-time wages, since many of these students cannot make ends meet on loans alone.
Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): As I indicated, we have an increased enrollment, we have an increased number of students accessing the ACCESS program, and all indications are that the success of that program in terms of providing opportunities for students still remains, in fact, is enhanced with the increased take-up.
I indicate in terms of equity and fairness that taking some responsibility, if you have the means, if the money is there in your own personal income, to repay that money to the people of Manitoba who provide it is something that other people in Manitoba have to do and that we are now saying is a fair and equitable way to proceed.
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BUNTEP Program
Government Initiatives
Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): My final supplementary question is this. What specifically is this minister prepared to do to keep ACCESS programs such as BUNTEP affordable for the disadvantaged and, specifically, the most disadvantaged students in this province?
Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): Madam Speaker, ACCESS students are not denied any educational opportunities. More people are taking advantage or taking up to it.
Eight hundred of the most needy students are exempt from paying student loans, so what we are saying is those who are in need will still have those needs met. Those who have an ability to repay, we will be asking to repay, as other students do in this province.
School Boundaries Commission
Transcona-Springfield School Division
Mr. Daryl Reid (Transcona): With the release of the final report and recommendations of the school division's Boundaries Review Commission, taxpayers of the Transcona-Springfield School Division No. 12 learned that their school taxes will rise from between $80 to $100 per home as a result of the recommendations.
Can the Minister of Education explain how taxpayers of the Transcona-Springfield School Division are going to have their taxes reduced, considering the report's recommendations?
Hon. Linda McIntosh (Minister of Education and Training): Madam Speaker, the member knows from my announcement that those questions are ones that the government is taking under further review. I should emphasize these are recommendations. They are not decisions of government. They are recommendations being made to government, and those recommendations we are now sending back to people, such as those who sit on the Transcona-Springfield board for their commentary.
We have also said in terms of the division of assets and liabilities that we will be taking a careful look to ensure equity, to ensure that no one division is unduly penalized or rewarded but that fairness exists before any decisions are made in that regard.
Madam Speaker: Time for Oral Questions has expired.
NONPOLITICAL STATEMENTS
Teddy Bears' Picnic--Children's Hospital
Mr. Gerry McAlpine (Sturgeon Creek): Madam Speaker, do I have leave for a nonpolitical statement?
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Sturgeon Creek have leave for a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. McAlpine: Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer my congratulations to the Children's Hospital Research Foundation for hosting probably one of the most successful Teddy Bears' Picnics in history.
I would like to also recognize the volunteers, the people who really made this possible and, actually, the weather co-operated with the organizers.
I would like to congratulate the Research Foundation, Colin Ferguson and his board of the Teddy Bears' Picnic in hosting the very, very successful campaign and picnic.
Also, Madam Speaker, this morning at Children's Hospital, I had the pleasure of participating in another leg of the Research Foundation raising money for children. I was able to participate on behalf of the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and the government of Manitoba to start this memorable race off this morning and participate by running 14 kilometres from Children's Hospital to the Perimeter Highway.
I think it is fitting that we, as members of the government and sit in this Chamber, have from time to time an opportunity to participate, but this was one I felt was one of emotion because if it were not for the research of the Children's Hospital, two grandchildren that my wife and I enjoy, 25 months ago born to my son and daughter-in-law, Melanie and Nicole, would not be here if it were not for the research that was done at this Children's Hospital.
Madam Speaker, I say that with a great deal of emotion because these two young girl twins were born something like three months premature and their hearts would stop 25 and 30 times a day and as a result of the research that is done at this facility, I really want to thank them and congratulate them and wish them continued success in all their endeavours. Thank you.
Children's Hospital Research Foundation
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable Leader of the official opposition have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, and to members of the Chamber for granting leave.
I also want to pay tribute to the thousands and thousands of volunteers who are working throughout the events of the Children's Hospital Research Foundation.
I understand the weekend was another very successful occasion. Many thousands of young people attended and volunteered their activities and were involved in the activities of the research foundation. It is truly a remarkable public institution that we have here in our community, the Children's Hospital. It is a great partnership between the professional staff, the medical staff and the community.
I was involved in an event just a couple of weeks ago for the Research Foundation of the Children's Hospital, and that was the fundraising dinner for the book market that the Children's Hospital Research Foundation puts on on an annual basis. I have some very, very intimate knowledge of that book market. My mother used to be the volunteer chair of that book market. It used to be a wonderful opportunity to carry books around. I was her labourer for that book market. I know carrying those books around, it was a wonderful recycling opportunity both of the intellectual material in those wonderful books and a great fundraising activity that I believe has gone from approximately $40,000 a year to $240,000 a year through the work of volunteers and people.
I understand next week that the telethon is scheduled, and I hope again that is very successful. I am sure that all of us will join in, in working as part of our community, in this very, very successful activity.
The Children's Hospital is very important for the kids of Manitoba. It is very important for residents of northwestern Ontario, even as far away as Saskatchewan. We have excellent staff, as I say, there at the hospital. We are only too happy to join in paying tribute to the community for their great investment in this wonderful community asset that we all own, called the Children's Hospital Research Foundation. Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for The Maples have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. Gary Kowalski (The Maples): I would like to join in with the celebration of the fundraising effort for the Children's Hospital. This is a cause that is very near and dear to my heart. I spent almost a year in the Children's Hospital when I was six years old with rheumatic fever, and if not for the advances in medical science at that point, I would not be alive today.
I had the opportunity to attend the Winnipeg Police Association charitable ball this weekend. The funds from that charitable ball will also be given to the Children's Hospital Research Foundation, as it has over a number of years. I learned at that ball that the Winnipeg Police Association has donated almost $100,000 to the Children's Hospital Research Foundation.
Again, Manitobans have shown they have got a strong community spirit, and I applaud the efforts of all the volunteers and the efforts of the Children's Hospital Research Foundation. Thank you.