Mr. Peter Dyck (Pembina): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member for Charleswood (Mrs. Driedger), that

"WHEREAS the Provincial Government and the Government of Canada have signed the Labour Market Development Agreement; and

"WHEREAS the agreement provides resources and opportunities to design and co-ordinate an even broader and more effective spectrum of programs to help unemployed Manitobans to get back to work as quickly and effectively as possible; and

"WHEREAS the Provincial Government will align the programs and resources to provincial economic priorities to ensure that Manitobans receive effective service in obtaining sustainable employment.

"THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba support the Provincial Government in its ongoing efforts to fully develop and implement the labour market development strategy so that Manitobans can benefit to the greatest extent possible."

Mr. Dyck: Madam Speaker, I think that this resolution, in a sense, is self-explanatory. On the other hand, I would like to put some comments on the record regarding job training programs. But I would also expect that the members opposite would want to support this resolution, so I would like to proceed in that fashion.

Manitobans want to ensure that job training programs, in fact, are out there, and we as a government are certainly participating in that. So ensuring the effective delivery of employment and training services for unemployed Manitobans is part of our government's commitment to making Manitoba the best place in Canada to live, to work, and to raise our families.

This resolution solicits support for the provincial government's continued efforts to fully implement labour market development strategies. Our responsibility is to ensure that Manitobans realize the greatest measure of benefits from the resources available under the Labour Market Development Agreement, which I will refer to later on as LMDA.

Supporting our focused labour market development strategies will help unemployed Manitobans to secure work as quickly and effectively as possible and to help restore their ability to pursue economic success here at home. The programs and services developed are designed to meet the economic needs of the Manitoba community. This approach enhances the opportunities to create sustainable employment in local communities.

This government recognizes that fostering sustainable employment is a key feature of developing long-term employment options. To achieve this outcome, our labour market development strategy is focused on four primary goals. Firstly, we are striving to integrate a continuum of programs and services to improve client service and make the services more cost-effective by eliminating overlap and duplication. Secondly, the strategy includes developing linkages and access to programs and services appropriate to the needs of Manitobans that are relative and responsive to the needs of employers, the changing economy and the availability of jobs.

In addition, employment services and programs are aimed at fostering partnerships with communities and employers to encourage local level participation. Further, the individual self-reliance is fostered by assisting the unemployed to achieve self-sufficiency through sustainable employment. [interjection]

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Madam Speaker, I think there are some problems across the way here. Provincial benefits from under the LMDA are available to those currently receiving employment insurance, as well as those who have had claims during the past three to five years. The programs and services delivered by Manitoba Education and Training, Employment and Training Services, to assist these Manitobans include initiatives in four categories: employment partnerships, offering financial assistance to individuals for skills training, support for self-employment and wage subsidies.

Madam Speaker, I would like to talk about some of the things that are taking place within the province of Manitoba, but possibly more specifically as they would pertain to the Pembina constituency. I do this because, again, I am well acquainted with some of the activities when it comes to job training that the Garden Valley School Division and also the Western School Division, or Prairie Spirit School Division, are working with. Those are the three school divisions that I represent.

First of all, we have the Distance Education which is being used by many of the local constituents. In fact, those who are not able to attend some of the regular school settings are doing this through Distance Education, and this office is headquartered in Winkler. Again, as I have gone and checked with them, they are busy. They are able to assist many students in order to be able to receive their education, but this education which they received through Distance Education is also assisting and benefiting them by preparing them for jobs within the communities that they are representing.

Another one of the areas that we looked at which are allowing and assisting the students in our area, which is specific to job training, would be the whole area of Adult Education. There are two Adult Education offices or departments within our area. There is one located in Winkler and another one located in Morden. I am told, as of last week, that both facilities are filled, that there are numerous students who are availing themselves of this opportunity to upgrade their skills which, of course, help them to be able to get better jobs and also meet the needs within our local community.

One of the newest programs that we implemented this past year in the southern region is the WoodLINKS program. It is a program that is new to Manitoba. It is a computerized program which talks about technology and allows the students within the area to work in a detailed fashion and prepare them for working with different wood products.

There are a number of businesses within the community that need students who have a good solid background dealing specifically with materials such as wood. It is assisting our local businesses to be able to hire students who have that background, but will then also add towards the specialties that they are offering within their own factories.

The WoodLINKS program, again was started in the fall of this past year. The receptivity of it has been very good. In fact, the uptake is excellent. The program is full on a continuous basis, and for the implementation in the first year the students were required to come to school before the regular school day starts. This, in some cases, because we do live in a rural area, was a little problematic. However, parents were very generous with their time and encouraged their own children to be involved in this program, so they would transport them to school before the school buses were driving. Certainly, again, it was something that was looked at as being very beneficial for students and also for the community at large.

I know that, having talked to those businesses who are receiving the expertise from these students who are going through the program, they are appreciative that we as a government have become involved and are supporting this project. So this is something that is assisting towards the viability of our community, and we certainly do encourage the ongoing use of programs such as that.

Another program that we use specific to job training is with welding, and, again, we have a number of factories within our own community, industries, where welders are required. For the students to be able to get the good background in metals is very beneficial for those businesses as they hire graduates who have backgrounds in metals and are being able to assist them as you continue to produce the product which is being exported throughout North America and overseas.

Employment partnerships create sustainable employment in local communities and meaningful work opportunities. Employment centres work together with employers and other community partners to combine efforts and resources to create projects which involve incremental work opportunities. As a result of these partnerships, unemployed Manitobans gained work experience that is directed toward long-term employment opportunities.

Again, Madam Speaker, as I have cited, the local employment that we have for these students is something that allows students to stay within the community. I would just like to recap some of the concerns that people have had within some of the neighbouring jurisdictions, where the town fathers did not have a visionary approach towards sustainability, sustainability meaning keeping their own young people within the community. Consequently, 10, 20 years ago, they did not look at diversifying the area, the communities that they represented, which would have enhanced and would have encouraged businesses to come into the local area. Consequently, those same students who graduate now do not have the opportunity to stay within their local communities and find jobs and to be able to relocate. In fact, now they need to relocate to other areas where there are jobs that are available for them.

Participants receive locally determined living supports to a maximum of $413 per week. Support for child care and transportation is also made available on an as-need basis. Providing assistance for training based on a client's individual needs is offered through the Enhanced Fee Payer Program which will become known as the Skills, Loans and Grants Program by September of 1999. This approach sees employment centre counsellors talk directly to individuals about their needs.

Clients who are prepared to share the costs of their training complete and present an achievable return-to-work plan. The level and nature of this support are then negotiated based on client needs. This needs-based approach allows clients to access tuition assistance to a maximum of $7,500, income support and support to purchase textbooks. Our self-employment programs foster self-reliance by assisting unemployed Manitobans to create jobs for themselves by starting a business. The program is administered by local sponsors who evaluate the business idea, assess candidacy and provide coaching and business plan development and implementation.

The sponsors also direct the participant to other supports, as needed, and this one, Madam Speaker, I would refer to as the development corporation which is in place in many of the communities which allows those who are sponsors or those who are looking for assistance to go directly to the development corporation and to be able to receive that seed money that they need in order to get started. In this way, candidates who are willing to contribute work, capital or equipment to achieve their business plan are able to access the advice and support that will help them launch a successful business. Eligible clients may receive up to $250 per week for a maximum of 52 weeks to support their goal of self-sufficiency.

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Our labour market strategy also includes wage subsidies to encourage Manitoba employers to provide on-the-job training leading to sustainable full-time employment. By offering a financial incentive to employers to hire eligible clients, we are able to enhance timely re-entries within the labour market by providing impetus for the creation of new employment opportunities.

LMDA, or as I referred to before, the Labour Market Development Agreement measures and national employment services are also available to help all unemployed Manitobans achieve their employment goals. Employment assistant service is one of the LMDA measures put in place to support those seeking work. Participants are able to remain on income assistance while they receive help preparing for finding and getting jobs. A variety of employment-related services are accessible to clients and can be tailored to the specific needs of individual participants and/or local communities.

Manitoba continues to have one of the strongest labour force participation rates in the country. For the month of March 1999, Manitoba's seasonally adjusted participation rate of 67.5 percent was the third highest among all other provinces and 1.9 percentage points higher than the national average. A high labour force participation rate is indicative of people's willingness to actively look for work.

Since April 1 of 1998, our labour market development strategy has reached 23,655 clients who have received assessment and/or counselling services. Over half of these clients have also been served through active provincial benefit and measures programming. While we are making gains, this government is committed to working to improve the integration of services to enhance a comprehensive and intersectoral approach. The full integration of former federal and current provincial training and employment services will continue in 1999 to 2000.

As we enjoy the benefits of a consistent balanced budget and a strong economy, my government will continue to work hard to assist unemployed Manitobans to re-enter the labour force. Through sound labour market development strategies, my government will endeavour to foster the creation of sustainable employment opportunities and strive to help all Manitobans see a future for themselves and their families right here in Manitoba. Thank you very much.

Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to participate in the debate on this matter. I want to begin by–[interjection] Number 2, Resolution No. 2.

An Honourable Member: Did you read it?

Mr. Ashton: Yes, I have. In fact, for the member opposite and I know why he is saying this is because we were engaged in some discussions amongst House leaders, and I am sure the member would encourage that. I think it is an indication of how, despite some difficulties earlier on in this session, we are attempting to deal with the House in a manner that is acceptable to all sides. I note when we moved into Private Members' Business, it gave the member opposite an opportunity to bring in his resolution, and I have some comments that I will be putting on the record.

I, first of all, want to indicate that I do not support this resolution. Anything that can say, and I want to note here that it states, "that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba support the Provincial Government in its ongoing efforts to fully develop and implement the labour market development strategy."

You know, Madam Speaker, I want to say this again. I do not mean any offence to the member for bringing this resolution in, but in recent years, the Conservative Party in this Legislature has brought in a series of rather self-serving resolutions that might be appropriate at a PC caucus meeting or a PC convention but, you know, the role of private members' hour is far more, and I do not want to pick sides here, but the member for Gladstone (Mr. Rocan), the, I guess, member for Carman perhaps in the future, is going to have a tough fight in there, I tell him. There is a very strong NDP contingent in Carman. We are looking for it right now, actually. But he brought in a resolution on volunteers yesterday, there was an amendment made, and there was unanimous agreement in the House. I thought it was excellent. That is what private members' resolutions should be about, not about sort of what I would call the trained seal complex.

You know, I brought in a lot of resolutions when I was a government backbencher. Very few of them said how much I supported the government. I mean, by being a member of the caucus, it was assumed that I supported the government, obviously. I would assume the member for Pembina (Mr. Dyck) supports the government. But the role of private members' hour is to put forward new ideas, suggestions, deal with issues, whether it be constituency issues–we have had international issues dealt with. I would invite the member to, by comparison, look at, for example, some of the resolutions we are going to be introducing, my colleague the member for Interlake (Mr. C. Evans) on medicare and the Interlake Regional Health Authority. I think that is appropriate. I look ahead to the member for Dauphin (Mr. Struthers) on school taxes, our member for Burrows (Mr. Martindale) on programs for children. I mean, those are substantive issues.

What the member has done is gotten up and, I believe, not only attempted to support the government in this area, but has done it in a way that neglects the reality of what is happening in this province. I will say very clearly on the record that if there is one area that you have a significant problem in this province right now, it is with this government's inadequate response to the job training needs and the labour market development needs of this province.

We are getting employers talking about the need for skilled people in particular sectors. I quote the CFIB, and I encourage the members opposite's reps, meet with the CFIB on occasion, perhaps the member for Pembina, because their recent members opinion surveys, I always read them when I receive them. It gives a sense of what the CFIB is going to be raising. But they have noticed from July of 1991, at that time 21 percent of their members said there was a considerable shortage of qualified labour in Manitoba. In July of 1998, it had risen to 49.9 percent. We have seen a dramatic increase in small businesses saying that we do not have qualified people. If you look at CFIB, again on an intraprovincial basis, you know where the province is, where the CFIB members have identified a shortage of qualified labour, the greatest number? It is in Manitoba, far greater than any other province.

Now, members opposite may say, well, blame the federal government. I mean, that is one of the first envelopes you always get from them. I will put on the record that I consider the last five years under the Liberal government as being a disaster, historic disaster in terms of labour programs nationally, whether it be in terms of the massive cuts to Employment Insurance, whether it be in some of the changes that have taken place in terms of training.

You know, I have constituents who have approached me on issues such as, for example, wanting to be a truckdriver. There is a shortage of truckdrivers in northern Manitoba, in Wabowden, for example. The difficulty of obtaining training assistance now as compared to a number of years ago is significant. There is a program underway in Thompson right now through KCC, and I welcome that, but there is a major gap that is out there.

Now, I want to point to some of the other examples that we have seen of the government's lack of commitment. I particularly want to focus on its lack of commitment to community colleges, because this is the government, and we are seeing this on a daily basis, that going into election in 1999 is announcing initiatives. It is amazing to see this government that starved education for many years now force-feeding the system in a desperate attempt to try and rebuild their lack of credibility in areas such as education and training.

One of the hardest hit areas is one of the areas that is the most significant in terms of job training. It is in community colleges. They dramatically cut the enrolments and the funding to community college in the early 1990s. You know, we had the Roblin commission report in 1993. Many of the recommendations of the Roblin commission have yet to be implemented. I say to the member for Pembina (Mr. Dyck), he should look at the situation that is in place. If the recommendations of the Roblin commission had been followed and the doubling of community college placements had taken place in this province, we would not see the kind of skill shortages identified from the CFIB.

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I want to continue because I think the government's record in education generally is indicative of how little it understands that. I noted with some interest the Minister of Education's (Mr. McCrae) comments about universities earlier, the parking tickets and what not. I do not want to restart that debate other than to point to the fact that when you are looking at our education system, we have a major problem right now with the crippling debt loads that students are faced with in pursuing a post-secondary education.

An Honourable Member: My daughter is in university.

Mr. Ashton: The member for Pembina (Mr. Dyck) says, no, that his daughter is in university. I do not know if his daughter has had to obtain a student loan. I assume if she is in the first four years that may not be the case, but I can point to people who will prove that nowadays the cost of an education can be $30,000, $40,000 or $50,000 in terms of accumulated debt load by the time one graduates with a four-year degree.

An Honourable Member: You can do it, but it is not necessary.

Mr. Ashton: The member for Pembina says you can do it, but it is not necessary. I say to the member for Pembina that many students are able to obtain what, a minimum wage job? This government has compressed minimum wages from the point in time where a number of years ago we had the highest minimum wage in the country. Now we have a $6 minimum wage. This government has just conveniently done it again, just in time for the election, increased the minimum wage. I would encourage the member to compare – [interjection]

The member for Pembina perhaps has a different perspective than a lot of the young people in this province. How many weeks does the member for Pembina think it takes to earn enough money simply to pay tuition at the current levels in this province? Since this government came in–you know, this is one of the best barometers. If you have a minimum wage job–and all young people do–a number of years ago in about 10, 11, 12 weeks, you could pay your tuition. It is now at approximately 19 weeks because you have kept the minimum wage down, and you have let tuition fees increase at a dramatic level.

I am surprised at the member for Pembina not being aware of this. Perhaps in his constituency he is not aware of people having difficulties getting a post-secondary education, but I can tell you about many of my constituents, the parents, the students. I survey every year my high school grads. One of the biggest concerns, one of the main reasons the kids do not continue their education, is why? It is because they cannot afford it. It is a major problem. If you are ending up in a situation where kids cannot pursue a post-secondary education, you are not going to get the qualified workers that you need.

I would point again, and I keep saying this because I am a strong proponent of education, and I say to the member for Pembina (Mr. Dyck), one of the main reasons the United Nations says that we have the best quality of life in the world is because of our commitment to two things. One is health care; the second is education. I say to the members opposite, we are in a situation that we are in danger of losing our competitive edge internationally. One of the reasons we are able to compete is not because we have the lowest wages. I say to the Conservatives, if they think their low-wage strategy is working, they should recognize the fact that, if you go to Mexico, our partners in NAFTA, they get paid what, $1.60 an hour, not $6 an hour. They are always in a position to be able to compete with us in terms of wages, but we have the trained and the skilled workers who are able to do the job.

I also say to members opposite that it is unfortunate again that we are missing the boat with one of the greatest opportunities we have. I point here in terms of the current situation to the ability to train and put aboriginal people into the workforce. The strongest growing component of the workforce is the young aboriginal people. I say to members opposite that announcing a few things before an election does not deal with 11 years of neglect. I have seen in northern Manitoba, for example, the huge difference you can make with a commitment to education and training. That is why I am puzzled.

You know, I want to stress again how self-serving this resolution is. It is incredible and I say to the member for Pembina (Mr. Dyck.), you know the member for Pembina did not even say, well, I am a loyal government member and I cannot say anything critical but maybe it can go a little bit further.

It says support the provincial government in its ongoing efforts. I mean, the member for Pembina is saying he is quite happy the way things are. That is it, nothing more needs to be done. That is what is in the resolution. It is like the trained seal complex again. I wonder if someone sat down and said to the member for Pembina, you know, we have a problem with training here. You had better bring in a resolution; you better get out there saying how good a job we are doing. It sort of reminds me of these Conservative ads in health care. It is the same idea that somehow, if enough Conservatives can say in the House or enough money can be spent on ads, that people will not actually believe what they know to be true, in this case that training is a problem. It says here: whereas the provincial government will align programs and services to provincial economic priorities to ensure that Manitobans receive effective service and obtaining sustainable employment.

Not one word of criticism, not even a doubt. I mean, not even one hesitant word in this. This is a resolution that suggests that nothing more needs to be done and based on what? Based on the provincial government and the Government of Canada signing the Labour Market Development Agreement. Is that it? Is that all we need to focus in on? Has that solved all the problems of Manitoba? If you read this resolution, you would believe it was.

An Honourable Member: We need to make an investment in knowledge.

Mr. Ashton: As the member for Osborne (Ms. McGifford) points out, we need to make an investment in knowledge in this province, and I say investment is the key.

This government has disinvested in education. It has disinvested particularly in post-secondary education, in terms of university education. It has made it increasingly difficult for people to afford a post-secondary education. They have failed when it comes to community colleges. They have not implemented the recommendations of their own report. This is a government that has done nothing to stop the erosion of apprenticeship training programs, the abandonment of apprenticeship by the federal government and they have done nothing at that level. Now in 1999 going into an election with this flurry of pre-election announcements they have–and I say to the member for Pembina I wish he had just said no to this–I believe the member in his own heart understands that there are people in his own constituency who know the problem with this. There are companies in his own constituency that have a shortage of workers.

Why is he not standing up and demanding that his Minister of Education (Mr. McCrae) and Minister of Labour (Mr. Radcliffe) make sure that the kids in his communities that could be benefiting from those jobs have the training now? If he did not do it a few years ago, why did he not do it now? I say to the member for Pembina, join with us in asking for better treatment for young people in this province. Join with us for giving constructive criticism. Join with us in saying what needs to be done, not the kind of "putting your thumb and pulling out a plum and what a good boy am I" type of mentality of members opposite.

I say to the member for Pembina, if he goes this weekend and talks to young people in his constituency, they will agree with us and they will ask the question of the member for Pembina: why will he not support us in opposing this resolution?

Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Education and Training): Madam Speaker, this is indeed a privilege to stand for the second time, third time on the same day in this Legislature and have a chance to speak about something that is very, very important to the people of Manitoba and to honourable members in this House. I am sure honourable members on all sides are very interested in job-training programs because they are so key to something I said earlier today, key to the development of as much of our potential as a province as we can possibly develop.

An historical overview helps to underline the significance of the changes being undertaken in Manitoba to improve opportunities for sustainable employment. In 1996, the Employment Insurance Act replaced the Unemployment Insurance Act and the National Training Act. The new Employment Insurance Act contains a section on redesigned income benefits that provide temporary income support for individuals while they look for work and active re-employment benefits to help individuals find and keep work.

The purposes of the changes to the act were to reduce overlap and duplication, reduce dependency on unemployment benefits, increase partnerships, improve flexibility to enable local decision making, and encourage commitment of individuals receiving assistance. Areas impacted by these changes to the EI Act include insurability, premiums, amount of work required to be eligible, allowable earnings and re-employment benefits. Finally, the EI Act changes resulted in the invitation to the governments of each province to enter into agreements for the purpose of implementing employment benefits and support measures.

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This was the catalyst for developing the Canada-Manitoba Labour Market Development Agreement signed by Canada and Manitoba on April 17, 1997. The Labour Market Development Agreement resulted in the transfer of responsibility to the province for employment and training services funded through the EI fund. The transfer of program and operating responsibility occurred on November 27, 1997. The LMDA provides Manitoba an opportunity to integrate federal and provincial training and employment services for unemployed Manitobans within the provincial economic framework. The federal EI Act and the agreement provide the parameters for program development. The transfer of responsibilities enables Manitoba to invest up to $50 million annually in program resources for supporting the return-to-work plans of individual EI clients, funding a range of employment services to assist unemployed Manitobans in finding work, and supporting community and employer partnerships which develop work and work experience opportunities for unemployed Manitobans.

On November 27, 1997, approximately 118 Human Resources Development Canada staff members joined Manitoba Education and Training. These former HRDC staff, along with existing provincial staff members, have formed a new branch known as Employment and Training Services. For the past year and a half they have worked together to develop a strong team that is committed to delivering quality employment and training programming for all Manitobans. Employment and Training Services program is establishing a one-stop approach to training and employment services that will link unemployed Manitobans with sustainable employment. The program framework has been developed around the following objectives: to improve client service and reduce duplication through a fully integrated continuum of employment and training programs and services for unemployed Manitobans; to ensure access and linkages to employment and training programs and services which are relevant and responsive to the needs of employers and communities in the changing economy; to encourage local participation in the planning and delivery of programs and services through partnerships in communities and employers; and to foster self-reliance and personal commitment by individuals to achieve self-sufficiency through sustainable employment.

Employment centres have been established throughout the province, many of which are located with other government service providers or with Human Resources Development Canada offices. These offices deliver employment benefits and support measures as outlined in the EI Act, as well as provincial programming that is primarily for income assistance clients.

The LMDA has provided Manitoba the mandate to address employment and training needs within the context of provincial priorities; however, it has also presented some challenges. The provinces and territories continue to work with the federal government on a number of issues that have arisen from the signing and implementation of the LMDA. Through the forum of Labour Market ministers, provinces and territories continue to identify issues where multilateral action may be necessary. Provincial and territorial officials are working on the development of a multilateral strategy and process to resolve the outstanding issues. Manitoba continues to work bilaterally with HRDC to address outstanding LMDA issues specific to Manitoba.

A strategy to integrate existing Employment and Training Services provincial programs with LMDA programs has been developed to eliminate duplication of programs and services delivered to employment insurance and income assistance clients. The strategy will see full integration of all programs by April 1, 2000. This will result in a more efficient and cost-effective mechanism to provide services to all unemployed Manitobans and increase opportunities for income assistance clients.

The new Employment Insurance Act significantly changed how training will be funded under the EI account. The primary means of supporting training has traditionally been through government to government course purchase, for example, $5.4 million in 1997-98, or through project-based training, which was at $13.4 million in 1997-98. The federal legislation requires these funding mechanisms to be phased out by June 20, 1999, and replaced by direct financial supports to the individual through the Skills, Loans and Grants benefit, which will use a grant, loan, or a voucher to a client. Until the SLG Program is implemented, individual clients will continue to receive support according to the existing enhanced fee payer guidelines. The development and implementation of a Skills, Loans and Grants benefit to support clients in training and apprenticeship is targeted for implementation in September 1999.

An interbranch steering committee has been established which includes Employment and Training Services, Management Services, Student Financial Assistance, Apprenticeship, and Labour Market Support Services. Student financial assistance loan application accessibility will increase to all employment centres as a result of the SLG system design. Employment and Training Services will consult with community service providers and training organizations on program delivery in order to further refine program development and delivery.

Agreements have been established under the labour market partnership provincial measures to support human resource planning activities and sectoral councils which are linked to provincial economic priorities. Unemployed Manitobans will benefit both directly and indirectly through the research and innovations provincial measure. Activities have been funded to support research, planning, and innovative labour market activities. Partnerships between Labour Market Support Services, Workforce 2000, Apprenticeship, Youth Programs, HRDC, and the community have facilitated the use of labour market information in the development of employment and training initiatives that support Manitoba business and the unemployed.

Several initiatives have integrated EI and income-assistance clients which have responded to industry needs for trained workers. Examples include call centre agents, machinists, and logistics workers. Increased consultation with the disabled and aboriginal communities along with Family Services has resulted in closer working relationships which have resulted in effective programming for these client groups. ETS has also supported activities that have addressed the cultural, linguistic, and economic development needs of Manitoba's bilingual communities. Employment Training Services forms partnerships with different levels of government, other Manitoba government departments, and business, industry, and labour groups to address changes in local labour market activities.

A recent example is the branch's involvement is the development of a labour adjustment committee to address a large number of staff layoffs from Atomic Energy of Canada Limited in Pinawa. ETS is able to support training opportunities and/or provide services such as job search assistance for employees. Another example is ETS involvement with the hog production industry in Brandon. ETS has been actively involved in supporting training programs to address the future demand for trained individuals in this growth industry. [interjection] The honourable member for Thompson (Mr. Ashton) would like me to expand and discuss the hog industry in Manitoba, and I intend to do that in a moment.

ETS supports programming for aboriginal people by cost-sharing in Partners for Careers, a program designed to support aboriginal people in the transition from training to employment. ETS also supports programming for aboriginal people through the New Careers North program, based out of the Thompson employment centre, and community-based adult literacy programs. Winnipeg Community Partnerships supports programming for aboriginal people who are on income assistance through the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development. Examples include woodworking and carpentry training integrated with trades training and customer service representatives training. The Kikinamawin centre is another partner that has provided employment preparation training and placement services.

Youth NOW, a program within Community Partnerships, has funded Gordon Bell High School to deliver Fresh Start, a preparation for employment program for 15 aboriginal youth on income assistance. ETS has worked in partnership with Family Services and the disabled community to ensure programming supported by ETS funding is addressing the needs of this community and is delivered in a co-ordinated manner. Recently this partnership has collaborated on the development of a strategy to aid in departmental planning over the next year. ETS has experienced many changes but continues to provide seamless service to clients throughout this transformation. ETS will continue to work closely with partners to ensure the programs and services delivered by ETS are providing unemployed Manitobans with the skills they need to find employment.

Madam Speaker, I would like also at this time to offer my personal welcome to all of those federal government employees who have joined forces with Manitoba government employees to provide job training and employment opportunities for Manitobans throughout the province. It is a noble work they do. I wish them well, and I want them to succeed, as do all honourable members in this House.

The honourable member for Thompson (Mr. Ashton) did make an important point during the course of my more formal comments. That point had to do with the growth of the livestock industry in our province. That provides us with challenges, of course, but it also provides us with some pretty significant opportunities.

I would like to pay tribute to my colleague the honourable Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Enns) for having some vision, for knowing that vision could be a complete vision in this province by virtue of making a very important step in reference here, Madam Speaker, to the marketing of hogs in our province. The minister is a courageous individual, a long-serving servant of the public in this province who, when you think of public service as a noble calling, one has to think of the likes of the Minister of Agriculture, because I have a high regard for him, especially coming from Brandon.

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I have a particularly high regard for him because my community is booming. I have lived in and around or back and forth from Brandon for the last quite a few years, since 1957 when I was very small. I have never seen Brandon booming except in the last couple of years. Brandon is officially booming, and that is thanks in no small measure to the actions taken by this government in general, and more specifically by the Minister of Agriculture, in taking a courageous stand with respect to the marketing of hogs.

That was not universally accepted at the time, and it is when that happens that it takes a little courage because it is easy to jump on the bandwagon of dissent, but sometimes it takes a little more vision, a little more strength, to stand up for the things that you believe are ultimately good for the people of our jurisdiction. In that regard, I think it will always be said of the Minister of Agriculture that he stood tall for something that was good for Manitoba. I appreciate that so much.

I also appreciate the investment being made by the Maple Leaf company in Brandon. I appreciate the efforts of my former department, the Department of Environment, for its very vigilant work as the plant is being developed. Kudos for the UFCW and my old friend Bernie Christophe. I have on my desk a photograph of Bernie Christophe and myself and the honourable Minister of Agriculture at the groundbreaking of the Maple Leaf plant in Brandon. It is true. Mr. Christophe and I do differ from time to time. This should not surprise anyone. But, on the other hand, Mr. Christophe knows what is achievable. When it comes right down to it, he knows what is achievable, and he had to exhibit some courage too.

I guess I say thank you to all of the aforementioned and many thousands of others who are going to be part of very significant development in Manitoba. Thanks to job training programs provided by the Province of Manitoba and others, these dreams will be reality for millions of future Manitobans.

Ms. Becky Barrett (Wellington): Madam Speaker, the resolution before us is a very short one. It is three WHEREASes and one RESOLVED. [interjection] I said "short" to the comments from my colleague.

On the surface it would appear, Madam Speaker, that it is quite innocuous. It talks about the agreement signed between the province and the Government of Canada to facilitate labour market training for people in Manitoba. However, when you get down beneath the superficialities you find that things are not quite as rosy as the member for Pembina (Mr. Dyck) and the Minister of Education (Mr. McCrae) would have you believe.

I would like to talk about several elements in this resolution. The first is the fact that it was signed by the Province of Manitoba and the Government of Canada. A couple of things of note about that agreement, Madam Speaker, and the first being that the guarantee which the federal government gave to the province of stable funding, which is a positive thing in and of itself, and something that I think the provincial government could use as an example to some of its funding recipients, a guarantee of stable funding for more than–well, even one year, because we know many times in the past 11 years this government has made promises in pre-election periods, in each of their budgets that they have had, and in every single budget in one way or another they have broken those promises on funding.

They say stable funding, but they do not follow it up. For many years, Madam Speaker, the government has promised millions of dollars for the health care system, and I believe in virtually every year they have underspent what they budgeted. So they have chronically underrepresented to the people of Manitoba the problems and their answers to those issues, to those problems. So it is good that the federal government provided for stable funding. However, the downside of this agreement that was signed by the Province of Manitoba and the Government of Canada, one of the downsides is that the stable funding was only promised for three years, and there may not be any funding at all after those three years are up. Who knows what the then Minister of Finance in the federal government will have up his or her sleeve for labour market training?

The concept of offloading is not one that is alone for the provincial government to do to municipal governments and individuals and families. The federal government is a classic case in point of offloading, and this may very well be the case. However, Madam Speaker, another element of this labour management training agreement that was signed by the province and the federal government that is the cause of great concern to us and should be of great concern to all Manitobans is the fact that it was negotiated in secret without the involvement of any other stakeholders.

We do not know or did not know what the elements are to this agreement.

An Honourable Member: Conceived in the dark.

Ms. Barrett: As my colleague the member for Flin Flon (Mr. Jennissen) says, the agreement therefore is of questionable legitimacy conceived in the dark. Governments need to be very aware of that kind of behaviour. I think the people of Manitoba have seen example after example of that kind of behaviour–arrogance, if I may call it such, on the part of this provincial government. We all know how arrogant the federal government is.

The provincial government and the federal government negotiating this agreement without consultation with community colleges, with training programs, with the people who might possibly be affected by these programs shows again the fact that this government does not really care as it says it does about the well-being of its constituents and its citizens.

Madam Speaker, it smacks of the kind of negotiations that were undertaken by the provincial government and the Urban Shared Services Corporation. The agreement that we have been asking for, for over a year now, to have tabled, we have no idea what that agreement says. We have no idea what the responsibilities and the rights are of the parties to that agreement, to the signatories of that agreement. We always see in the context of the Urban Shared Services Corporation agreement with the Province of Manitoba, through the nine hospitals that have signed on, as was eloquently stated this afternoon by the member for Thompson (Mr. Ashton), the trials and tribulations of a single pea, the rethermalization and the double blanching of vegetables.

It was quite amusing, Madam Speaker. I must say the member for Thompson gave a very interesting and provocative member's statement this afternoon, and we all had a chuckle about it. But the topic is of extreme seriousness for the health and well-being of many of our senior citizens and many people for whom this food is going to be food for them for the rest of their lives. They are not healthy people at the best of times, and they need nutritious food. They also need food that they want to eat. If you wanted to have nutritious food, nutritious items put into your system, I think we have the technology right now to have one pill three times a day that would have all of the nutritional value that you need. That is not what we believe. Food is an important part of our society. It is an important part of who we are as people. The enjoyment of food is, I think, a basic right that is being taken away from some of the most vulnerable citizens in our province.

Madam Speaker, I believe that I probably digress just a tad from the resolution in front of us, but I do think it is important that we reflect on the nature of the negotiations that were undertaken between the province and the federal government in this regard. When the agreement was announced, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Doer), the member for Concordia, stated I think very not only eloquently but prophetically that these negotiations would result in an offloading of services rather than a comanagement of services.

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Now, members opposite may not understand the difference between offloading and comanagement. That is clear from their actions throughout their 11 years in power, where they have done a very effective job of offloading onto municipalities, onto cities, onto individuals, onto families, onto voluntary service organizations, onto anybody you can name. This government is a past master at offloading. What they are not very good at, Madam Speaker, is comanagement of resources. I think we can see that not only in the labour-management training situation, we can see that again in the relationships with all of the people who are involved in our health care system. Nurses, doctors, patients, families do not co-manage, they do not work with, they are not co-operative in any way, shape, or form. They are, again, as I have stated earlier, an arrogant, tired, old government.

As an example of a negotiation that was undertaken between another province and the federal government, as the federal government transferred labour market development programs, we need look no further than Newfoundland, where the government of Newfoundland was able to negotiate a comanagement agreement with the federal government. They both worked together to design employment programs to meet the specific needs of the communities, of the unemployed, and of the employers, working together with all of the stakeholders.

I must back up a minute, Madam Speaker. This government does comanage. It may not comanage with workers and community colleges and programs like Access, but it co-manages quite nicely with individuals like Bob Kozminski. How much money did Bob Kozminski get under the Workforce 2000 agreement? How many tens of thousands of dollars? And how much did he give straight back to the Conservative Party? At least $249. So not only are the agreement procedures suspect, not only are they suspect, but this government's record, as has been eloquently stated by other speakers this afternoon, is dreadful when it comes to providing training programs for our particularly young people.

I want to share a couple of statistics. Red River Community College is in the constituency that I currently represent, the constituency of Wellington, although it does provide services for students from across the province. Two years after this government came into power in the year 1990-91, the very beginning of this decade, Manitoba had almost 6 percent of its 18- to 21-year-olds enrolled in community colleges throughout the province, almost 6 percent. [interjection] No, it is a dreadful record, but bad as that was, you know what it was in 1995-96? Four short years later, 5.6 percent.

Madam Speaker: Order, please. When this matter is again before the House, the honourable member will have four minutes remaining.

As previously agreed, the hour being 6 p.m., this House is adjourned and stands adjourned until 1:30 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday).