Mr. David Faurschou (Portage la Prairie): Madam Speaker, this past Friday I had the pleasure of presenting Portage Collegiate Institute's senior boys track and field team with Manitoba's Order of Sport Excellence Awards. On behalf of the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and on behalf as well of the Minister of Sport, the Honourable Eric Stefanson, this award was presented. The award is in recognition of their success at the Provincial Rural Track and Field Championships which was held in Winkler.

The Order of Sport Excellence consists of certificates and medallions for athletes and coaches who have excelled in their sport. Collectively, through the hard work, effort and commitment of the players and coaches, they were able to win the rural provincial championship.

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These fine young gentlemen have displayed the qualities of sportsmanship, skill, dedication and championship spirit. I would like to take a moment to recognize each member of the team: Gavin Clements, Aaron Szumilak, Wes Hunter, Jason Bond, Dale Fust, David Greenfield, Jason Giercke and Chris Schwartz, along with their coaches, Mark Diboll, Ruth Link, Steve Lewis, Mark Sokolowski and Jay Mellen. I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate them on their accomplishments, as well, the students and staff who supported the team through the year. I am certain that it was their enthusiasm and support that was greatly appreciated by the team.

Finally, I would like to make mention, on behalf of myself, a former alumni and track and field member of the Portage Collegiate Institute, how very proud I am of their accomplishments. Their hard work and dedication has indeed paid off, and we are delighted to cheer you on and wish you well in your future success. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr. Eric Robinson (Rupertsland): The shortage of nurses at Garden Hill has been a major concern for some time. In January of this year, we held a press conference with the chief of Garden Hill, David Harper, hoping to get the federal Minister of Health to take the issue seriously. Regrettably this effort was unsuccessful. Months later, he wrote back saying that the situation at Garden Hill had improved.

In fact, the situation has not improved, and again this month the nursing station has been temporarily closed due to an acute shortage of staff. Our support goes to the remaining nurses who have worked under incredible strain. The health crisis at the community is very serious with a diabetes rate of nearly 15 percent of the 3,300 residents, sorely in need of a functioning nursing station.

Garden Hill is probably one of the largest communities in the country that is still lacking water and sewage. The dusty roads contribute to the health concerns as does the extremely high cost of living. That neither the federal or provincial governments are willing to take community concerns seriously is a source of frustration for the chief and council along with the citizens of Garden Hill. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mrs. Myrna Driedger (Charleswood): The Filmon government is committed to helping Manitobans take back their streets. One of the ways we are doing this is through measures such as the recently proposed–

Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.

Madam Speaker: Order, please.

An Honourable Member: When was the last time you were in the core?

Mrs. Driedger: Quite often actually, Becky.

Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.

Madam Speaker: Order, please.

Mrs. Driedger: One of the ways we are doing this is through measures such as the recently proposed community protection act. This act will help citizens reclaim their neighbourhoods by allowing for the padlocking of booze cans, brothels, shooting galleries and drug dens. Concurrent amendments to The Liquor Control Act will also strengthen enforcement measures and allow for the cancellation or suspension of liquor licences where illegal activities continuously occur on licensed premises.

The legislation which is currently being drafted will allow authorities to close down buildings either partially or entirely that are habitually being used as bases for drug dealing, activities related to prostitution or other types of disorderly conduct, evict people who use rental units as bases for habitual serious criminal activity, cancel or suspend liquor licences of establishments where it can be shown that drugs are habitually used or sold or where stolen property is traded or activities related to prostitution are routinely permitted to take place.

Our government believes people should not have to live in fear. We stand beside Manitobans as they clean up their neighbourhoods. This legislation is an important component of the Take Back the Streets Initiative announced in the recent Speech from the Throne. Our government has stressed the need for community involvement, ownership and solutions to crime and social problems. Moreover, a community protection act is consistent with recent government policies and initiatives that promote the ability of communities to identify local problems and lead or participate in solutions for safer communities. Our tough stand on crime will continue. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr. George Hickes (Point Douglas): Concerns about crime in parts of the north end of Winnipeg have risen every year over the past decade. Sadly, the Filmon government and the Conservative Party only notice it briefly every four years. In the 1995 provincial election the Filmon team candidates held a series of press conferences announcing action on justice issues, few of which were remembered by the government once the election was over, which they are doing all over again. This must be election year, Madam Speaker. Now, as part of the 1999 election, the Filmon team and their advertising agency are making another series of announcements and television ads saying they care and understand that there is a problem. This cynical grandstanding by the government fools no one.

One resident on Pritchard Avenue told the media that she is sick of all this empty talk by Gary Filmon. She deals with real issues every day as she and neighbours try to take back the streets from prostitutes and their clients. At the same time, working with residents, the Winnipeg police raided a Pritchard Avenue house last week, confiscating boxes of needles, kicked several people out and boarded up the drug den, forcing the landlord to clean up his act, all without any photo opportunity by the Premier (Mr. Filmon) or his political ads.

Under Gary Filmon, the poverty rate has risen in parts of the north end such as Point Douglas to over 50 percent. Ignoring the causes of crime for 11 years and then holding press conferences does not solve crime. The Filmon government is just using problems of the north end for election ads and should get out, work and hear from the people of the constituencies such as Point Douglas who, with a little assistance, we will help to clean up the streets which belong to the residents, not the drug dealers and not the gang members.

Mr. Ben Sveinson (La Verendrye): Madam Speaker, I would like to speak about the recent expansion of the Auxiliary Constable Program and the benefits it will provide for rural constituencies such as mine, La Verendrye.

Our government will provide $500,000 to expand the Auxiliary Constable Program to 390 positions in an effort to allow fully trained officers to better serve and protect Manitobans. The Auxiliary Constable Program is a volunteer policing initiative that currently has 140 positions in rural Manitoba with the RCMP, the province's police force. This initiative is intended to enhance community policing by training volunteers who provide assistance to the police during the performance of their duties. The announcement will provide for 100 new positions with the RCMP, and communities mandated to provide their own policing, such as Ste. Anne, will have access to 150 positions.

The program is important because these auxiliary constables can provide added assistance to the local officers in areas such as community policing. I know this will prove beneficial to Ste. Anne residents. The Auxiliary Constable Program can assist police in preventing crimes such as residential and business burglaries, graffiti, car thefts and vandalism. They can also assist with school safety, traffic duties, and assist officers during other routine and emergency situations.

Our government has taken a tough approach to fighting crime, and we are pleased to support local police services. The Filmon government is working hard to assist crime, and this improvement to regional services reflects that commitment. Thank you.

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