Purolator Courier Sort Facility

Mr. Gerry McAlpine (Sturgeon Creek): Madam Speaker, as the member for Sturgeon Creek, it is my pleasure to address the members of the House this afternoon on a very important announcement for Manitobans. I would like to inform that Purolator Courier announced this morning the construction of a new $6.6 million state-of-the-art sort facility at Winnipeg International Airport.

The Premier (Mr. Filmon) of the province joined Purolator President and Chief Executive Officer Fred Manske to break ground at the new development. The 84,000 square foot ground- and air-sort facility covers 16 acres on the airport land. Construction will be completed in the spring of 1997. Purolator will also be taking over an existing 22,000 square foot building for air operations and maintenance. The new project will require 42 person years of construction. Purolator will inject more than $1.2 million into the local economy annually through expenses such as airport landing fees and property taxes alone.

The announcement of this new project marks further expansion of Purolator's already significant presence in Winnipeg, combining existing operations and consolidating them into the modern facility. As the Premier said at the groundbreaking this morning, Purolator's decision to build their $6.6 million airport sort facility is a huge economic boost for Manitoba's transportation and distribution sector which already employs 30,000 Manitobans, the highest per capita level in Canada.

Madam Speaker, this is just another positive move in this province's bid to making Manitoba the trade capital that it is soon and will be. Thank you.

Premier's Comments

Ms. Becky Barrett (Wellington): Yesterday the Premier made statements which go to the heart of issues of integrity, accountability and his view of the role of women. The Premier (Mr. Filmon) stated that spouses on trips can help smooth the way for constructive, personal connections that often result in investment because, and I quote: At the end of the day to get a couple of extra people there so that, when you are entertaining, you are not just men in suits that are trying to entertain these people who bring their own spouses to all these events. I mean, it only makes common sense.

Well, Mr. Premier, to many of us your comments not only do not make common sense but are sexist and denigrating to women. Let me clarify for you, Mr. Premier, what should be obvious to anyone who actually lives in the 1990s. Women are not just helpmates to their male partners, not just along for the ride at public expense, I might add, to smooth the way for males who have spent an arduous day deciding the affairs of nations, not just there to entertain. Women have lives of their own, jobs and professions of their own, in some cases are even leaders, ministers and even premiers. Your assumptions, that only men will take spouses along on these trips, that the only role for spouses, read women, is to help entertain other men and their spouses, that women do not have a role outside the subservient one of angel of the house, are an affront to all women.

I wonder what the Deputy Premier (Mr. Downey) feels about your comments. He has stated time and time again that his wife's activities on their trips together were not just social but brought economic benefit to Manitoba. Do you suppose the Deputy Premier believes his wife was along to only help smooth the way or entertain? Had the spouses in question been male, which could have been the case since you do have several cabinet ministers who are women, would you have responded in the manner in which you did yesterday? I think not.

Mr. Premier, we are known by our words and deeds. Your devaluation of the role of women and your refusal to tell the people of Manitoba the amount of gift you received from IBM tells us much about you, and none of it is worthy of your position. You owe the people of Manitoba and most particularly the women of Manitoba an apology.

* (1430)

Terry Fox Marathon of Hope

Mr. Jack Penner (Emerson): Madam Speaker, April 12, 1980, marked the beginning of Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope. Despite the fact that he himself was diagnosed with bone cancer, he chose to run 5,000 kilometres in the 143 days so as to make Canadians aware of the critical need to raise money for cancer research. He began in Newfoundland and continued on to Thunder Bay where he was forced to stop because he was diagnosed once again with cancer for the second time. However, this time it was lung cancer. Terry wore out 22 shoes on his left foot by running an average of one marathon a day. He fundraised $24 million during his run. Even though he died at the age of 22 on June 28, 1981, his memory has been kept alive.

Madam Speaker, this year, Manitoba organizers celebrated the 16th anniversary of the Terry Fox run on Sunday, September 22. This year's event was a huge success. For the first time Manitoba surpassed the $300,000 mark. Sixty-eight thousand people participated in the 309 events spread throughout the province. Tens of thousands participated across Canada for the annual fundraising event.

Forty-two hundred runs occurred throughout Canada and the world this year, and over the years the run has raised $168 million. Madam Speaker, it is satisfying to know that amongst our busy schedules and workweeks Canadians of all ages really want to participate and become involved, and especially for those of us who have families that have been involved in this devastating disease. We truly appreciate the support that the research foundation and the Terry Fox Run has received from Manitobans throughout all walks of life, and we thank you for that.

Crescentwood Community Club

Mr. Tim Sale (Crescentwood): Madam Speaker, it gives me pleasure today to rise in support and recognition of the volunteers of Crescentwood community centre, who opened their new facility at a very lovely ceremony on Saturday afternoon of last week.

Madam Speaker, this community club had at its annual meeting over 150 residents concerned about the development and involvement in their community, and I think that speaks tremendous volumes about the strength of the Crescentwood community, which I have the privilege of serving part of, along with my colleague the honourable member for River Heights (Mr. Radcliffe).

Madam Speaker, the new facility has on its walls and various places plaques and memorials to many citizens of that community who have contributed over the years to the development of programs which have strengthened our community and made it a safer place, have provided fellowship and fun for children, have built bonds and relationships among families and have made Crescentwood a very good place in which to live.

I think all honourable members would join with me, as they recognize the strength and importance of community clubs in their neighbourhoods, in honouring and recognizing the contribution of the volunteers of Crescentwood Community Club to our city, to our community and to their mutual health and safety. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Minister of Labour's Comments

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): Madam Speaker, I just wanted to take these couple of minutes to review something that came up during Question Period and something that is very serious. I would suggest and maybe even recommend that the Minister of Labour (Mr. Toews) use his grievance time as an opportunity to be able to expound on the statements that have been alleged.

Quoting from the letter specifically, it reads: Every day you are in front of my house, I am adding seven days to your strike.

Then there was a discussion that took place and it reads as follows--and members can obtain a copy of this. Strikers--it is a verbal exchange--is it true that for every day picketers are in front of your home, you will delay settling the strike for seven days, seven days for every day of picketing?

Answer from the minister: I do not remember saying that. I did not say that.

Another response or question from the minister was: When is Peter Olfert up for re-election? His own answer was: That is when your strike will be over. Peter Olfert has made this a political strike and he is just using strikers--in brackets, you people.

Strikers responded: We just want to go back to work. The minister's response is that: Well, you can go back any time, you can go back now. The striker's response was: And be a scab just like you--to the minister.

The striker's response or question: Do you know how to spell “impartial”? The minister's: Of course. Strikers: Look it up in the dictionary, as you are supposed to be impartial.

The minister: If you do not get out of my house, this strike will last forever.

Madam Speaker, I bring it up because I personally believe these are very strong allegations that are being brought forward and that the minister does have an opportunity to clarify the record because if the allegations are in fact accurate, there is a very strong case to be made that in fact this minister should be taken out of the current position that he is in.

Having said those few words, Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity.

Madam Speaker: Grievances. The honourable member for Point Douglas, with committee changes.

Committee Changes

Mr. George Hickes (Point Douglas): I move, seconded by the member for Broadway (Mr. Santos), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Municipal Affairs be amended as follows: Interlake (Mr. Clif Evans) for Radisson (Ms. Cerilli); Selkirk (Mr. Dewar) for Wolseley (Ms. Friesen); Dauphin (Mr. Struthers) for Osborne (Ms. McGifford), for Wednesday, September 25, 1996, 7 p.m.

Motion agreed to.

Mr. Edward Helwer (Gimli): Madam Speaker, I also have some committee changes.

I move, seconded by the member for Sturgeon Creek (Mr. McAlpine), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Municipal Affairs (for Wednesday, September 25, 1996, at 7 p.m.) be amended as follows: the member for Roblin-Russell (Mr. Derkach) for the member for Pembina (Mr. Dyck); the member for Morris (Mr. Pitura) for the member for Emerson (Mr. Penner); the member for Ste. Rose (Mr. Cummings) for the member for River Heights (Mr. Radcliffe); and the member for Kirkfield Park (Mr. Stefanson) for the member for La Verendrye (Mr. Sveinson).

Motion agreed to.