Mr. Edward Helwer (Gimli): Madam Speaker, yesterday afternoon I had the pleasure of attending a sod-turning ceremony for a new addition being constructed at the Winnipeg Beach elementary school. This new addition to the school will house a kindergarten, science classroom, a resource guidance office, grooming room, as well as four early year classrooms and two other classrooms.

The town of Winnipeg Beach has been growing steadily in recent years, and this addition will ensure that the school continues to meet the needs of the community for many, many years to come. The addition is also certain to make the school an even better place to learn and teach. An investment in a school is an investment in the children's future and will help to expand their knowledge, skills and horizons so that they are able to take part in shaping the future of our communities and our province.

I would just like to express my thanks to the chairperson, the members of the Evergreen School Division and their staff for their work on this important project and to the people of Winnipeg Beach for their support. Thank you.

Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Madam Speaker, one of the most serious failures during the past decade of the Filmon government has been the failure to expand the capacity of the community colleges. It is a failure which has affected the future of many young Manitobans and has undermined the ability of the city of Winnipeg, in particular, to grow in the high-scale, high-wage sector. When other provinces, particularly New Brunswick and Alberta, have been investing in and expanding their community colleges, attracting young people from elsewhere and equipping their own people to enter a diverse range of work, why has Manitoba not made the significant changes in this area that are necessary?

It is not because they have not been warned. In 1988 the Mauro report detailed the needs and the gaps in Manitoba's system. In 1993 the Roblin commission made this its focus, and I quote: It is our view that a concerted and determined effort is required to increase the capacity of community colleges to develop a broader range of diploma programs. This is particularly significant because former Premier Roblin was not asked to look at community colleges, but he recognized that, for the whole sector, this was the crucial area. He made many significant recommendations.

Report after report has told us of the impact of the skills shortage in Winnipeg and Manitoba. In 1995, of course, the government yet again made election promises in this area, but what has been the real story? It is that on two occasions there have been serious and deep cuts to the community college funding over the last 10 years. There has been no growth in sequential students, and this, I think, is one of the most significant areas of neglect of this government, and overall the waiting lists, particularly at Red River Community College, are growing. The economic and social impact of this government's failure over 11 years will have a lasting impact on the future of Manitoba.

Mrs. Myrna Driedger (Charleswood): It gives me great pleasure to rise in the House and speak about the success of our government's Power Up computer training initiative. Yesterday 78 Manitoba women graduated from this program armed with knowledge and skills to help expand their career options. The Power Up initiative is a two-year, $300,000 computer training program that provides free computer training to women around the province.

The Women's Directorate, in partnership with Manitoba Education and Training, developed the Power Up program. Employment Projects for Women Inc., a community-based employment centre for immigrant women and women re-entering the workforce, developed the course curriculum. Since the Power Up training program was announced on International Women's Day on March 8, more than 1,200 women have registered for this important initiative. These first graduates were from Winnipeg, but similar training projects are underway in Selkirk, Rossburn, Swan River and Ashern. Courses are also being arranged in more than 30 additional communities throughout Manitoba.

Madam Speaker, this is a tremendous initiative. We are all aware of the importance of computer literacy in today's world, and one's ability to move ahead in the workforce is now largely contingent on familiarity with computers and related technology. The Power Up graduates have taken advantage of training that builds self-confidence and improves career prospects. This government wants to give all Manitobans a chance to succeed, and we are committed to helping Manitoba women seize the incredible opportunities present due to our economic growth. This training will help give them a competitive edge.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): Madam Speaker, I wish to congratulate Susan Mah, a student graduating from Joseph H. Kerr School in Snow Lake, for being selected as one of the two Canadian students who will be representing Canada in Japan. Susan, a student of high academic standing, will be participating in a two-week science symposium at the International Science School in Tokyo, Japan. Students from other Pacific Rim countries will also be attending the symposium.

As a former teacher, I found it particularly interesting that Susan Mah, in a radio interview, said that it was the enthusiasm of her biology teacher that first awakened her interest in biology and neuroscience. So thank you, Dwayne Hanson, for being that inspirational teacher. As well, a big thank you goes out to Susan's other teachers, her parents and friends. I know that she will represent us very competently at the science symposium in Japan. So have a great trip to Japan, Susan. We are proud of you.

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The other reflection that I have from that trip is you could tell when you had hit the Canadian border on the way back because of the conditions of the highways. There was no doubt. And I will readily admit, because I stand for Manitobans first, that the federal government should be putting more emphasis on spending on our highways. It is to me almost a source of shame that travelling on the interstates, going to the rest stops, they are beautiful, they are clean, and then you hit the Canadian border. I think anything that we could do as Manitoba legislators to encourage the federal government to include our Department of Highways with the resources they do have to try to get even near the condition of highways we have from our neighbours to the south is a goal that we should try to at least aim to achieve. Thank you.