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MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

Mennonite Organizations

Manitoba Works

Mr. Peter Dyck (Pembina): Madam Speaker, as the MLA for Pembina, we have a wide range of ethnic, cultural and religious diversities. Many people from many backgrounds form the building blocks that make up our constituency.

Today, I want to recognize one group from among many worthy groups, and they are the Mennonite people. There are three Mennonite organizations that have joined forces to help Winnipeggers on social assistance and employers to get together so people can make the transition from welfare to work. In other words, as opposed to offering a handout, Winnipeggers are being offered a hand up. The three Mennonite organizations spearheading this initiative are the Mennonite Central Committee, the Mennonite Economic Development Associates, and this is the Winnipeg chapter, and the Trainex Centre, a division of the Winkler-based Eden Health Care Services.

Madam Speaker, I know many people personally who are part of these Mennonite organizations who since the times of the World Wars have reached out to help those in need through food, shelter, clothing and medical relief. A good deal of that overseas service has also found representation in our own city of Winnipeg through the support of the aforementioned Mennonite organizations which have a broad base of support in rural Manitoba.

These three Mennonite organizations are working together in a government-funded project called Manitoba Works: Opportunities for Employment. The program is designed to screen, select and train welfare recipients for placement into jobs with commercial organizations. MCC Manitoba will co-ordinate the two-year pilot project which is designed to find jobs for about 100 people during the first year of operation, and up to 250 people in subsequent years. With the commitment of the Mennonite business community wealth behind them, this venture--I know that this innovative program will be a success. It is my pleasure to recognize the work of the Mennonite Central Committee, the Mennonite Economic Development Associates and the Trainex Centre.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Manitoba Telephone System

Privatization

Ms. Rosann Wowchuk (Swan River): Madam Speaker, the Conservative decision to privatize Manitoba Telephone System is an outright broken promise. Before and during the election the Conservatives said that they would not sell MTS. Premier Filmon himself said just last month, I can say unequivocally that we did not have privatization of the Manitoba Telephone System under active consideration at all during the election.

The privatization scheme will only benefit the few. The winners will be big corporations, telecommunication companies and other major users of long-distance services. The losers will be 75 percent of Manitobans who will see rates rise for guaranteed profits of new owners. The unilateral decision made by the Filmon government to privatize Manitoba Telephone is undemocratic.

In March, over 70 people at a public meeting in Swan River expressed opposition to the selling of MTS. Over 40 rural communities and organizations passed resolutions urging the government to maintain MTS as a publicly owned Crown corporation. These communities and others include Minitonas, Pelican Rapids, Brandon, Selkirk, Dauphin, and the Manitoba Association of Urban Municipalities itself at its annual convention last month. Over 15,000 ballots have been sent to the NDP from Manitobans stating they want MTS to remain under public ownership. The government refuses to consult the public, who are the owners of MTS, because they know Manitobans want MTS to be kept as a Crown corporation.

It has been proven in countries like Britain that privatization translates often to reduced services at the consumer level, combined with hefty raises for the company insiders and friends of government. In Manitoba there are alternatives to privatization. Over $2 billion has been raised through the sale of HydroBonds in the past six years. Rather then selling Manitoba Telephone System, the government should look at bonds to generate the revenue for MTS like they did for Manitoba Hydro.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Morris Community Recognition Award

Mr. Frank Pitura (Morris): Madam Speaker, I recently had the pleasure of participating in the recognition of two rural Manitobans who are making a difference to their local community of Morris, and to any and all who have ever driven through their fine town. Those two individuals are John and Sarah Remple, residents of Morris since 1969.

John and Sarah Remple were recently awarded the Community Recognition Award by the people of Morris because of their tireless and selfless efforts to make Morris the kind of place you would like to visit, drive through and live in. John and Sarah Remple were recognized because they have almost single-handedly taken the people of Morris down a new path of expression.

It was the Remples' house during our wonderful Manitoba winters that came to be somewhat famous for its elaborate and always-expanding Christmas light displays. Soon others were following this lead and before we knew it, Morris was caught up in a desire to send good cheer to those who passed through Morris. During the summer, the Remples took full advantage of our sunbathed province to put their green thumbs to work. They saw to it that the main street of Morris had flower planters with a veritable cornucopia of horticultural splendour. Their initiatives led to Morris's Communities in Bloom campaign which encouraged others to spruce up their yards and, by extension, the community as a whole.

Then, Madam Speaker, to add to this, John and Sarah Remple are feverishly busy with other volunteer work in their community. They are active in their church. They participate in a wide range of committee and volunteer work, and their home is known as having an open-door policy for both family and friends. It is citizens such as John and Sarah Remple who have made it their goal to beautify the space in which they live. That kind of action and attitude is thankfully contagious, and the community of Morris has benefited from their work. By extension, those who travel through Morris are welcomed with these efforts, efforts which make our province all the more attractive to those who live here and to those who visit.

It is my pleasure to recognize John and Sarah Remple of Morris, recipients of the Morris Community Recognition Award.

Manitoba Telephone System

Privatization

Mr. Stan Struthers (Dauphin): Madam Speaker, this Conservative government broke an election promise once they announced the privatization of MTS. Just last month, Premier Filmon stated, I can say unequivocally that we did not have privatization of Manitoba Telephone System under active consideration at all during the election.

Aside from this broken election promise, the Filmon government neglected to consult the owners of MTS before they decided to sell it off. These owners are the citizens of Manitoba. As late as last fall, the government denied that they were considering selling MTS. It was not until the NDP was leaked information that the government hired brokerage firms to begin the process of selling MTS that the public was notified. This is not the public accountability and open government that was promised in the last throne speech. It is clear that this government does not have the guts to face Manitobans on this issue, in particular, rural Manitobans who will suffer the most as a result of privatization. As a direct result of MTS being publicly owned, up until now Manitobans have enjoyed the second lowest phone rates in North America. This will change with privatization. In Alberta, the privately owned AGT has increased local phone rates by $6 a month so far this year.

This government is more concerned with ensuring that their big business friends have the opportunity to profit off our publicly owned utility than they are about ensuring that rural Manitobans have efficient phone service. Mr. Findlay, the minister himself, even stated that he will be the first in line to buy MTS shares for his own personal gain. He stated, I personally, if I am allowed to, will definitely want to. I consider it a very good investment as a Manitoban and my family will too.

Mr. Findlay will use his insider information to make a buck off Manitoba's telephone system. What about those rural Manitobans who will no longer be able to afford phone service as a result of this personal greed? I am appalled at this government's arrogance, the very fact that this government feels justified to unilaterally privatize the publicly owned utility without public consultation is disturbing and dangerous.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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Point of Order

Mr. Marcel Laurendeau (St. Norbert): Madam Speaker, on a point of order, I do realize that this is Members' Statements, but I would like to remind the honourable member that we do refer to our members in this House as the honourable minister, not by his name.

Mr. Steve Ashton (Opposition House Leader): On the same point of order, Madam Speaker, I think you might also want to remind the member that he is not currently sitting in the Chair, and he should not be handing out procedural advice. If he is going to rise on a matter of order, he should address it to you and ask you to make the ruling on this particular matter.

Madam Speaker: Order, please. On the point of order, yes, I was somewhat disturbed by some of the language used by the honourable member for Dauphin (Mr. Struthers), and I would remind the honourable member for Dauphin that he should exercise discretion in selection and choice of his words.

Gimli Representative

1996 Olympic Games

Mr. Edward Helwer (Gimli): Madam Speaker, I would like to take this time to speak briefly about a young lady from my constituency.

Niki Jenkins is a 22-year-old Selkirk native who will be representing Canada at the upcoming Olympic Games to be held in Atlanta. Miss Jenkins earned her spot by winning her fourth straight national title at the Judo Senior Nationals held in Quebec City on April 20.

Miss Jenkins proved beyond a doubt that she deserved to be the Canadian going to Atlanta in her weight class after earning her berth for her country at the world championship in Tokyo. In the space of an average commercial break during your favourite sitcom, she dispatched three more opponents and claimed her prize, punctuating the performance with a tournament-ending move on Quebec's Karin Blanchet, a move that even some of her top-level judges had never seen before.

Miss Jenkins has been seeking to compete in the Olympics since the 1992 Olympic Trials, which included both the 1991 and '92 nationals. At the 1991 nationals, Miss Jenkins lost a split decision to the reigning champion. After much training, Miss Jenkins again lost in the 1992 nationals; however, perseverance and a tremendous positive attitude has resulted in her Olympic dream finally being realized.

Miss Jenkins has now left for a training camp in Japan as part of her final preparations for the Atlanta games. On behalf of all Manitobans, I would like to wish her, Miss Jenkins, the best of luck at the Olympics and further relate to her our pride at her accomplishments to date. Miss Jenkins represents the noble spirit of sports, and it is only fitting that we have chosen her to represent Canada. Good luck, Miss Jenkins.