MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS
Hon. James Downey (Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism): I have a statement for the House. I have copies.
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to congratulate the board of directors of Winnipeg's Winpak Ltd. for their decision yesterday to invest $25 million for a new production facility in Winnipeg to manufacture and distribute biaxially oriented polyamide film. Winpak and Nichimen Corporation have signed a memorandum of understanding to form a joint venture for this initiative which will create 50 new full-time positions. This announcement follows on the heels of Winpak's $34-million expansion of their Winnipeg plant which will add another 80 full-time positions to their current workforce of 300 employees. Together, these developments will create a minimum of 130 new full-time jobs and a $59-million investment in our province. This clearly establishes Winnipeg as the core of Winpak's North American operations.
Madam Speaker, this announcement reiterates the belief of business people, government and Manitobans as a whole that the provincial economy is booming. More Manitobans are working today than at any other time in the history of our province. Manitoba is the only province that is positioned to have its seventh consecutive year of growth in the private sector capital investment.
In conclusion, I would like to again commend the board of directors, management, particularly Winpak Ltd.'s president and CEO, Mr. Bob Lavery, and, most importantly, the Winpak employees for making this exciting announcement possible. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Tim Sale (Crescentwood): I am pleased to join with the honourable minister opposite in congratulating Winpak, a company that began its life I believe when the NDP was in government, which has gone on to expand and to develop a niche for itself as one of the pre-eminent packaging firms in North America--
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Madam Speaker: Order, please.
Mr. Sale: As I said, the company has gone on to develop a strong niche in a very large and competitive market in North America and has done very well. I had the opportunity coincidentally to travel with a member of their staff recently and to hear first-hand from him about the exciting developments in the company, both here in Winnipeg and in its Toronto offices and plant.
Madam Speaker, I think this is a very good development for Manitoba in the addition of good, long-term, permanent and stable jobs in this company. I would just note, however, that the last paragraph on the first page of the announcement speaks about the booming economy. Indeed, in many ways, from an economic perspective, that is true. Unfortunately, we continue to see a disconnect between the economy and the needs of ordinary people whose needs continue not to be met very well as their wages fall and as over 6,000 of them found it necessary to leave our province in the last year to seek opportunities in Saskatchewan and in other provinces.
So we welcome the development of these full-time jobs and wish this exemplary company well in its continued development in our province and in its future. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
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