Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister of Natural Resources): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I would like to provide a very brief update to the House this morning on flood conditions, followed by a brief report by the Minister of Government Services (Mr. Pitura).

Normal updates on the precise information on water levels will be made available later today at regularly available times, but early indications this morning are that we are remaining stable within predicted levels.

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The construction of additional diking in the Brunkild area is proceeding and is proceeding at a good pace being mindful of the weather conditions that could come upon us, but we are receiving good reports on the progress being made there, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

I also would like to report that there are 800,000 additional sandbags available this morning and an additional two million that will be made available shortly.

Hon. Frank Pitura (Minister of Government Services): I just want to inform the House in terms of updating that since yesterday the R.M. of St. Clements and Roseau River have declared states of emergency in their respective jurisdictions.

With regard to evacuations, approximately 3,850 people have now evacuated who are registered, and I am sure that there are a number of evacuees who have not registered to date. Those will be registered over the next little while so that we will have a more accurate number, but this is the number of registered evacuees at this present time. It is anticipated that many of the evacuees will probably be housed with friends or relatives, and therefore they do not feel that there is a need to register.

A change that has occurred since yesterday, Mr. Deputy Speaker, is the province has brought into force and recommended the mandatory evacuation of all properties at risk by 8 p.m. tonight in the R.M. of Morris and in the area south from the R.M. of Morris to the United States border. The identification of properties and persons at risk will be determined by Natural Resources officers in consultation with local authorities. Essential personnel for dike maintenance and security of communities will consist primarily of Natural Resources and Canadian Armed Forces personnel. So this is a mandatory evacuation order for all areas in the R.M. of Morris and south.

Also, as a result, with regard to the protection of life, it has been advised to us by the R.M. of Ritchot that they would like to see the restriction of volunteers going into the R.M. of Ritchot as of this morning because of the potential risk to life. So we are working with them to put that restriction in place.

Armed forces personnel deployed to date: At Emerson we have 65 personnel; Rosenort, 65; Letellier, 38; St. Jean Baptiste, 65; Morris, 55; St. Adolphe, 110. An additional 250 regulars will arrive today for the possible deployment to the City of Winnipeg if requested. There are additional armed forces personnel who will arrive tomorrow by air in general support of flood operations.

I just want to also inform the House that the Manitoba Emergency Management Organization is continuing to staff the provincial emergency co-ordination centre on a 24-hour-per-day, seven-day basis to provide co-ordination of provincial response. For those members who do not have that phone number, the phone number there is 945-5555 if you wish to get hold of them. MEMO community advisers are in the flood area providing advice and assistance to local authority.

Those are the major changes from yesterday, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Thank you.

Mr. Stan Struthers (Dauphin): Again, thank you to the ministers who have provided the statements and the information to the House. It is beneficial to us all. I want to join with the government in congratulating those who are working on the diking project at Brunkild. I say congratulations and assure them that their work is important. We hope that they continue with the hard work that they are doing at Brunkild.

We also feel for the people who are mandatorily evacuated from the R.M. of Morris and south through to the American border. It is no easy task to pick up and leave your communities like so many of the people are, including those in Morris. We certainly feel for the people who have to do that today and wish them all the best.

One final point, congratulations to those who have been volunteering at the R.M. of Ritchot. It is in the best interests of the people who are going out there and volunteering that they not be put in danger, and we certainly thank those people who are working in that part of the flood zone as well.

With that, I just want to encourage again the ministers to keep the steady flow of information coming and again pledge our co-operation in dealing with this 1997 flood.

Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister responsible for the Status of Women): Mr. Deputy Speaker, may I have leave to revert to Tabling of Reports, please?

Mr. Deputy Speaker: Does the honourable minister have leave? [agreed]

Mrs. Vodrey: Mr. Deputy Speaker, I am pleased to table the Supplementary Information for the Manitoba Status of Women and Women's Directorate for 1997-98.

Hon. David Newman (Minister of Energy and Mines): Leave to table a report, Mr. Deputy Speaker?

Mr. Deputy Speaker: Does the honourable minister have leave? [agreed]

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Mr. Newman: Mr. Deputy Speaker, on Monday I tabled the Supplementary Information for the 1997-98 Expenditures of Estimates for Energy and Mines. My department has advised me there are five pages that are to be replaced: pages 11, 19, 23, 25 and 27. One change has impacted four pages. I would like to table these revised pages today. I apologize to the House, but I believe these revisions will help members in their review of the department's Estimates in committee. Thank you.