Mr. Edward Helwer (Gimli): Madam Speaker, this past weekend I had the pleasure of attending the ceremonies to mark Arborg officially becoming a town. The Village of Arborg was incorporated on January 1, 1964. A few years have passed since then, but Arborg residents have always known that becoming a town was an attainable dream. When the 1991 census figures came out showing that Arborg's population had reached 1,039 people, 39 above the 1,000 people required to achieve town status, their dream had finally been met. The necessary paperwork followed, and on October 25, 1997, town status was officially granted.
Arborg is an important regional trade and agricultural service centre for Manitoba's Interlake. As Mayor Bert Kindzierski has said, having town status provides Arborg with greater recognition. This is important not only when it comes to luring potential businesses and industries to the community, but it also helps reinforce a sense of pride in local residents. So I would like to thank the organizing committee, the municipal council and the residents of Arborg for inviting me to this wonderful event. I want to congratulate all members of the community for their ongoing involvement and interest in the community as it moved towards town status. I hope Arborg residents undertake many more fruitful projects in the years ahead. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Ms. Becky Barrett (Wellington): Madam Speaker, the Minister of Urban Affairs (Mr. Reimer), in response to the unveiling of the NDP Seven Steps to Restore our Capital, said that everything was just fine in Winnipeg in the Capital Region. Ostrich-like, the minister ignores the fact that since 1988 residents of Winnipeg have been witness to many worrying trends: housing starts falling to one-sixth of their levels; value of older homes in older neighbourhoods diminishing to virtual invisibility; school taxes having risen by over 50 percent; violent crime having risen by 77 percent in Winnipeg; and a nearly doubling of youth crime. Auto theft is three times what it was in 1988, and in the decade since the Filmon government took office, child poverty has been either first or second-rate in the country.
Madam Speaker, our plan, even the Free Press has agreed with our plan, and I quote:--
Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. I am experiencing difficulty hearing the honourable member for Wellington.
Ms. Barrett: Madam Speaker, I quote: "The NDP has clearly recognized that some Winnipeggers feel they are being taken for granted by the provincial government. In doing so, the party is emphasizing that a healthy, vibrant Winnipeg is key to the development of a prosperous province.
"The city's position has been, and continues to be, one of working co-operatively with the surrounding municipalities to develop a plan to strengthen the entire region. The NDP's proposal for city and regional development is built on the same idea--one that tries to unite Manitobans, not divide them. It is a step in the right direction."
Madam Speaker, the citizens of Winnipeg in the Capital Region are looking for leadership to build on our strengths and move us toward a better future. Unfortunately, this government is not providing that leadership; however, the next government, which will be an NDP government, will provide that leadership.
Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister of Natural Resources): Following on the heels of that nonpolitical statement, I would like to share with the members the privilege that I had in taking part in the millennium project which met in the rotunda this morning. This project is the brainchild of the class of 2000 from the Neepawa Area Collegiate institute, and they have invited other class of 2000 graduates to join them in a project whereby they hope to raise funds and to support research to eventually alleviate juvenile diabetes and also to share those funds with the Trans-Canada trail in the spirit of unity and healthy living that of course goes with the use of something like the Trans-Canada trail.
Their goals are modest in raising $5 per student graduating, but they expect to link that to community partnerships, to private sector partnerships and multiply that into hopefully a multimillion-dollar project where money can be set aside across Canada in aid of these two very worthwhile projects. I want to commend the class of 2000 from NACI, as well as all the other classes from 25 different high schools who joined them here today, along with I believe hundreds more classes of 2000 who will in all likelihood join them across Canada in this goal, and I salute the principal of NACI, Mr. Phil Shaman and Bob Lepischak who are leading this project.
Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): Northerners are very happy with the recent announcement by Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co. at Flin Flon. HBM&S announced that it will proceed with production at Kanuta Lake [phonetic]. Kanuta Lake will produce 800 tonnes of copper ore per day, beginning at the end of June. The ore will be trucked to Flin Flon for processing. The operation will create some 30 new jobs initially and some 55 jobs once it is in full production. The mine is expected to operate for roughly six years.
This is the third such announcement in the last month. Earlier HBM&S announced a significant find at Flin Flon. Additionally, New Britannia at Snow Lake announced that the mine body there is significantly deeper than perhaps was first anticipated. These finds show once more that this region has still more potential for producing ore. It is our hope that the provincial government will take notice of these developments and strengthen its commitment to exploration in the area. The Leaf Rapids-Lynn Lake area deserves immediate attention. These communities have contributed millions of dollars annually to the provincial economy. Despite this, the provincial government has failed to make a commitment to actively explore in this region. The Manitoba Chamber of Commerce, among others, has proposed that special attention be paid to areas where the life expectancy of mineable ore is five years or less. It is time that the provincial government stood up and acted. The province never misses an opportunity to take taxes from the North. When it comes to providing assistance or services to the North, the province is virtually invisible. It is time for a change.
Mrs. Myrna Driedger (Charleswood): Madam Speaker, along with two members of my caucus, I had the pleasure of taking part in the twelfth annual Teddy Bears' Picnic at Assiniboine Park. Held by the Children's Hospital Research Foundation, the Teddy Bears' Picnic raises funds for research, equipment and programs at the hospital. Along with the honourable members for Niakwa and River Heights, I took part in the festivities by making and serving pancakes to some of the nearly 30,000 Manitobans who did not let cooler than normal temperatures prevent them from attending. Hundreds of Manitobans also took part in the Teddy Bears' Picnic walkathon to help raise funds for the Children's Hospital Research Foundation. Events such as the annual Teddy Bears' Picnic serve as a reminder to all of us that children approach health difficulties very differently than adults do. Educating children about the role of hospitals is only one of the very important functions the Children's Hospital fulfills each year at the Teddy Bears' Picnic. It also raised an estimated $80,000 for research and equipment.
Along with all of my colleagues, I would like to thank all of the 2,500 volunteers who once again helped make the Teddy Bears' Picnic a tremendous success. Thank you.