MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

Cultural Activities--Pembina Constituency

Mr. Peter Dyck (Pembina): I wish to inform the House of two unique events which I had the pleasure of attending in my constituency this past weekend. On Sunday, May 26, a spring concert was held at the J.R. Walkof School in Winkler which featured the Brass Angels Handbell Choir, the Southern Belles Handbell Choir and the Sweet Harmony Male Quartet. These groups combined to provide an afternoon of diverse and rich music, ranging from inspirational numbers such as He Leadeth Me to the more haunting sounds of The Phantom of the Opera. Their unique sound and presentation is one which will not soon be forgotten.

I would like to thank all the organizers of this event and in particular Karen Kuhl, as well as all the participants who helped fill a wonderful spring afternoon with music.

Also on the weekend, the talent of many of the areas quilters and crafters was on display at the Barn Swallows, more simply known to area residents as The Barn, for the annual Barn Swallows quilt and craft show. This show is renowned for the fine crafts it produces in general but has gained particular attention for the high quality of quilts it displays and sells year after year.

Madam Speaker, these events are just an example of the diverse and culturally enriching activities that take place in the constituency of Pembina virtually every week. As we have finally reached the end of a long and trying winter, I would like to invite all the members of the House and all Manitobans to come out and experience first-hand the many events that my constituency has to offer. Thank you.

British Columbia Election Results

Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): I rise to offer congratulations to the new Premier of British Columbia and to extend to him and his new government our best wishes for their second term of office. This election was close. Premier Clark recognized this in his acceptance speech as he, like other Premiers in similar positions, made his commitment to a government of all British Columbians.

Premier Clark leads a province which faces serious issues. Some of those we might look on enviously from Manitoba. British Columbia has an expanding economy, rapid immigration, a young and highly skilled population, a wealth of natural resources, a healthy industrial and tourism sector. These are challenges any government would envy. But the new government also faces the problems of the long-term historical divisions within British Columbia, and some of those economic divisions were reflected in the election results. Others are the serious unresolved issues facing First Nations and the many daily problems associated with the rapid formation of a visibly multicultural society.

This is, however, an historic occasion. The return of the Clark goverment in British Columbia confirms social democracy in Canada as the alternative government, not just in the crucibles of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, not just in the Yukon and Ontario but also in the prosperous and populous Pacific Rim province. It is in part a testimony to the work of Premier Clark and his cabinet, to the enormous expansion of post-secondary education, to the creation of three new universities, the real success in science education at all levels, the historic negotiations of a treaty with Nisga'a, an innovative forest policy, development in community health, which are of national significance.

It is, of course, Madam Speaker, part of a long tradition in British Columbia where Canada's earliest social democratic MLAs and M.P.s were elected, and where in mid-century Premier Dave Barrett led a government, a progressive provincial government.

Finally, Madam Speaker, this was an important election for Canada. It demonstrates that our fellow citizens have confidence in a co-operative and fair vision of our country. It demonstrates that Canadians will and can reject the harsh, mean, and divisive world created by Harris, Klein and Filmon.

Some Honourable Members: Here, here.

Madam Speaker: Order, please.

Hutterite Educators Conference

Mr. Mike Radcliffe (River Heights): Madam Speaker, I beseech the honourable members of this constituent assembly for their attention. I would like to advise them that I had the opportunity on Monday of this week to attend the fourth conference of the Hutterite educators which was held this year in Brandon, Manitoba. This is the first time this conference has been held in Manitoba. Previously it has been held in Alberta and in the United States. The conference brought together educational professionals from throughout North America. These people teach on Hutterite colonies, and a number of people from the colonies themselves who have an interest in the future of educational development in their communities also attended.

I valued the opportunity to be a part of this very special assembly and to bring greetings on behalf of the Honourable Linda McIntosh, Minister of Education. I had the opportunity to meet many people who are on the front lines in the Hutterite educational system.

Madam Speaker, members of Hutterite colonies in Manitoba have been instrumental in the involvement in distance education and interactive learning. These leaders recognize the essential need to educate their children, our next generation of leaders in Manitoba, which involves technology, world events, as well as the traditional core topics of education.

The singular challenges facing many of our rural students of distance and isolation are being overcome by many of the people in these communities. The Hutterian educators are also vigorously recruiting many individuals from their own communities to participate in education delivery to these students. Congratulations to the organizers, the participants, and the supporters of the Hutterite educators in Manitoba. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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Low Income Housing

Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): Madam Speaker, the treatment of this government for the women's march against poverty is indicative of the way they are trying to deal with poverty, to simply push it out of sight and out of mind, and it is imperative that they recognize that there are many social programs that are necessary for us to combat poverty, the widening gap of income in our community.

We know that if you want to deal with poverty and the stress on low-income families, you have to deal with the accessibility of housing. Housing is the single largest budgetary item of any family, and there is an increase of 29 percent of the households in Canada in core need. Over one million, 1.6 million households in Canada are in core need of housing. I am raising this today because the federal government is walking away from its responsibility for public and social housing, and we have not heard one peep from this government about their plan for ensuring that there is a strategy for low-income housing in our province.

Other provinces, especially British Columbia, which has picked up and replaced the $2 billion that is being cut from social housing across the country, is the only province that has undertaken that, and I think it is important that the Province of Manitoba will come forward with some strategy with especially the federal government now offering the provincial government to take over responsibility for managing social and public housing.

We know that other provinces are looking at selling the public housing stock in their province. We know that other provinces are going to simply allow social housing to be eliminated as a program in our country, and we want to ensure that that does not happen in Manitoba.

So I would implore the government, in closing, to come up with a strategy to ensure that low-income Manitobans are going to have adequate, decent, and safe housing.

Carol Shields

Chancellor of University of Winnipeg

Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Today I am pleased to rise and offer congratulations on behalf of my caucus to Carol Shields named yesterday as the chancellor at the University of Winnipeg. We offer congratulations as well to the University of Winnipeg for its timely and brilliant choice. As the NDP critic for the Status of Women, it warms my heart and gives me hope to realize that both the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba have presidents who are women and that now the University of Winnipeg has a female chancellor. A strong female presence is absolutely essential to complement the university's passage into the new millennium.

Carol Shields, our very own Pulitzer Prize winner, is, of course, an internationally respected novelist and short-story writer. She is a well-respected teacher of creative writing who has taught at the University of Manitoba and who has been the writer-in-residence at the University of Winnipeg. Perhaps most important, Carol Shields has a reputation among writers and students for her intelligent, empathetic support and serious commitment to the craft of writing, to the arts community and to people.

As a chronicler of the human condition, Carol Shields is insightful. As an artist, she is creative. As a teacher, she knows the university and is closely connected to this institution. As an artist and member of the arts community, she is a conscientious, responsible and dedicated citizen.

The University of Winnipeg has chosen well. My caucus is delighted with her appointment. Finally, we congratulate Carol Shields too on her honorary Doctor of Letters to be presented at the University of Winnipeg Sunday convocation.