Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): Madam Speaker, do I have leave to make a nonpolitical statement?

Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Burrows have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]

Mr. Martindale: I rise to recognize the designation by the Manitoba Heritage Council of the Ukrainian Labor Temple as a provincial historic site. A plaque unveiled on October 25, 1995, says constructed in 1918-19; this is the first and largest Ukrainian Labor Temple in Canada built primarily by volunteer labour and financed by donations. Built to a neoclassic design prepared by Robert E. Davies of Winnipeg, the temple contained an auditorium and balcony to seat a thousand people, as well as classrooms, library and print shop. A 1926 addition provided space for a new, larger print shop and offices for the Ukrainian Labor Farmer Temple Association. It remains the national headquarters for the Workers Benevolent Association established at the temple in 1922.

The temple was a focus for Ukrainian culture and worker and farmer political activism. As a rallying centre for the trade union movement, it was raided by the police during the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike. The temple remains the only surviving labour hall associated with the turbulent events of the strike. The Ukrainian Labor News and other Ukrainian language publications were prepared and distributed from here. The unity of working people is symbolized over the entrance by two clasping hands reaching across the globe underscored with "Workers of the World, Unite!"

I want to congratulate the progressive people who support the Ukrainian Labor Temple for wanting to preserve their building in perpetuity for the people of Manitoba. Also, a thank-you is in order to the Manitoba Heritage Council for agreeing to designate the Labor Temple as a historic site. It is my hope that this stately building will grace the corner of Pritchard and McGregor in the north end for many more years, and its doors will be open for numerous and many concerts and community events.

Mr. Neil Gaudry (St. Boniface): May I have leave for a nonpolitical statement?

Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for St. Boniface have leave? [agreed]

Mr. Gaudry: I wanted to join the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism (Mr. Downey) and the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Enns) in regard to the opening of the Schneider plant in St. Boniface this morning. I think St. Boniface has been blessed today with many things.

Prior to attending the official opening of the Schneider plant, I attended the sod-turning ceremony for the archives building at the cultural centre with the Minister of Culture and Heritage, Mrs. Vodrey, where there were 125 people attending the sod-turning ceremony. It was a long-awaited innovation in the community of St. Boniface to preserve the archives of a community that has a long history of Francophone and Metis people. It has been 15 years working, and it has been in co-operation with the Minister of Culture and Heritage and the minister from Ottawa, where they have given the funds for the project. Therefore I would like to congratulate the minister for being there this morning and being part of the festivities.

Madam Speaker, again, for Schneider's, I would like to congratulate them for the opening of their new facilities. I learned, being there this morning, that St. Boniface at one time was known to have the largest packing plants in the world. Unfortunately, with the changes in the industry, we lost many of the packing plants in St. Boniface, but today it has been turned around and we have Schneider's.

Congratulations and thank you to the people involved in the community, in the province of Manitoba, in Canada. Thank you.