Mr. Gerry McAlpine (Sturgeon Creek): Madam Speaker, I would like to rise today to congratulate Air Canada for its ongoing commitment to job creation in Manitoba. I am referring, of course, to its recent decision to open a state-of-the-art call centre in the former Winnipeg Free Press building. The customer-service call centre set up to open this fall will create 500 new, high-quality jobs over the next three years.
Not only will jobs be created in the call centre itself, but jobs will be created during renovation to this classic building. We welcome companies who are committed to creating jobs in Winnipeg's downtown as they play an important role in revitalizing the city's core. Air Canada has a long tradition of providing employment in the heart of the city, and they are to be applauded for that. In fact, Air Canada employs more than 2,200 Winnipeggers in positions ranging from finance to reservations to aircraft maintenance. They are sound corporate citizens.
Manitoba's economy is strong, vibrant and growing, and this latest announcement is a testament to the confidence companies, large and small, domestic and international, have in our province. The sustained economic growth Manitoba is experiencing in the call centre industry is due, in no small part, to our large and stable labour pool and highly qualified employees with multilingual capabilities. It is also proof positive that our government's sound fiscal policies with balanced budgets help create jobs.
Once again I congratulate Air Canada for helping to create sustainable jobs and promoting lasting, economic growth in Manitoba.
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Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): People on social assistance do need help getting off social assistance and into paid employment, and there are many disincentives for some of those people to make that transition. So it is appropriate that government assist them in their policies.
However, when it comes to the child tax benefit, this government chose to allow people on social assistance to keep none of the money, and we are not really talking about people here, we are talking about children who would be the beneficiaries of this money. The government had an opportunity to help these people and they chose to do nothing. These people will get absolutely none of the new money from the federal government because it will be deducted dollar for dollar from their cheques. They will get more money from the federal government in the child tax benefit, and it will be deducted dollar for dollar from their welfare cheques.
This would have meant $605 a year for a family of one child, $1,010 per year for a family with two children and $1,415 per year for a family with three children. Instead, they are getting none of this money. This government had an opportunity to do something good, to lower the rate of poverty in Manitoba, and they chose to do absolutely nothing. This government and this policy, when it comes to children living in poverty, is a disgrace.
Mr. Jack Penner (Emerson): I rise to congratulate today Isby Bergen of Altona. This past weekend she was named 1997 Citizen of the Year by the Altona District Chamber of Commerce. Isby Bergen is a spirited senior, aged 90, whose sense of community service is the envy of many younger volunteers. Throughout her life Isby has freely dedicated herself to serving others, and her warmth and compassion have touched many different individuals and groups.
For example, when Isby arrived in Altona in 1940, she went to work for the Altona Echo. There she delved into the history of the region and its pioneers, and she chronicled the lives in newspaper articles so that others would not forget their efforts. This important research work was the basis of a publication in 1982 of Altona: The Story of a Prairie Town, a book that won the Manitoba Historical Society Award for the best book of its kind for the year.
Isby was also an active member in the Altona Women's Institute. During her time with the WI, it tackled many important issues, including working towards the building of the community's first hospital and spearheading the local United Way branch. The agricultural community benefited by Isby's presence through her work in the Rhineland Agricultural Society. One of its most important and popular events was the annual fall fair, and Isby played an important role in organizing its displays. She also played a very vital role in helping to build the Rhineland Pioneer Centre and the Rhineland agricultural exhibition grounds in the town of Altona.
The arts community also profited by Isby's efforts. She was there when the local music festival was born and helped sow the seeds for its success. Many a budding artist can thank Isby for having the opportunity to perform locally.
We thank once again and congratulate Isby Bergen as the Altona Citizen of the Year and her exemplary work for the community.
Mr. Gord Mackintosh (St. Johns): Madam Speaker, welcome and bitaemo to Ralph Brown School and its art exhibit that is currently on display in the Pool of the Black Star here in this building. I am sure all members who have seen the exhibit will agree that it is a beautiful exhibit. It is extremely colourful, and I think it really adds a great touch to this building.
Ralph Brown School is in my constituency. We are very proud of that school. It is known for, among other things, its English-Ukrainian bilingual program. But, clearly from the exhibit, we know that Ralph Brown truly values art education and the importance of developing those aspects of the brain that can benefit from art, as opposed to other forms of expression and activity.
Ralph Brown School is blessed with some teachers who are indeed artists. I want to just commend the students, the school and principal, Vicky Adams, for coming down and sharing their talents with the members of the Legislature and those who work in this building and those who are increasingly visiting the Pool of the Black Star to see the artwork.
I urge all members who have not yet seen the exhibit to come down and, as well, to express their gratitude and responses in the guest book that is provided.
Mr. Peter Dyck (Pembina): Madam Speaker, last Wednesday evening I had the honour of attending the Morden Credit Union's annual general meeting. The AGM also marked the 50th anniversary of the Morden Credit Union's creation. The aim of the credit union is, and I quote: to be a member-owned organization providing financial and related services to its members and assisting in the development of its communities.
Without a doubt, they have been very successful. The Morden Credit Union continues its efforts expanding services to its members. They currently offer ethical funds and Crocus Funds as investment vehicles. By looking forward, our local credit union is ensuring that tomorrow's options are available today. They are reviewing the potential of providing telebanking services in the near future and now have an Internet website.
A fundamental principle of any credit union is the sharing of profits with its membership. The credit union will again return $400,000 to its members in the form of surplus shares, and they have redeemed in cash to its members' accounts another $150,000 from existing surplus shareholdings. The performance of the Morden Credit Union has been well above average among credit unions around the province.
So, Madam Speaker, I congratulate Morden Credit Union for their 50-year commitment to providing quality and comprehensive financial services to the communities of Morden, Manitou and Miami. I wish them the very best as they continue promoting our communities and their membership's economic needs. Thank you.