• Making Manitoba a Better
  Place Now and in the Future
• Working to Improve
  the Local Area
• 
  Building Community
• 
  Jim's Bio
  

• 
  Being Accessible
• 
  Supporting Seniors
• Creating Recreational
  Facilities
• Improving Local
  Infrastructure

I would like to bring all members' attention to an important announcement that was made in Assiniboia recently. John Harvard, representing the federal government; Glen Murray, the Mayor of the City of Winnipeg; Peter De Smedt, councillor for St. Charles ward; Bonnie Korzeniowski, MLA for St. James; and I had the pleasure of announcing an expansion to the St. James Centennial Pool through the infrastructure program.

This new wellness recreational facility is sorely lacking in west Winnipeg because of the following reasons: one, there is a large percentage and concentration of seniors in the province in west Winnipeg. There is a lack of any recreation or wellness or physical fitness facilities. Recreation and physical fitness fits into our Government's focus on preventative health care. Research shows that those people who are physically and mentally active rely less on hospital care and thus save our province money.

Since the Unicity mall has closed there has been no place for the mall walkers to walk and no heart for the community, no place for meeting within their community. This facility will create a place for youth to participate in appropriate physical fitness and sports activities, providing a safe place for youth to expend energy, will avoid difficulties with law and legal problems in the future and less vandalism.

I would like to commend all three levels of government for taking proactive action in health and wellness for the seniors, youth and families in west Winnipeg and particularly Assiniboia. I would like to thank all those involved who continue to improve the quality of life for a people in our province. I think this is long-term forward thinking, and this facility will provide a wonderful opportunity for all those people in west Winnipeg. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Today, I had the pleasure of presenting a cheque from the Community Places Program to Cindy Tremblay, Patti Corso-Dumitru, the committee play structure executive, and Monique Wichenko, the president of the parent council from Bannatyne School. This school is located in the Kirkfield Park constituency.

I was particularly impressed by this committee for the following reasons: They were able to raise over $80,000 in one year to build the structure. The entire project has been paid for through the efforts of a small, dedicated group. The structure is an excellent Canadian-made playground structure offering a wide variety of components. It is impressive that our Government provides support to many worthwhile projects throughout the entire province, based on need.

I would like to congratulate the principal, Hitesh Raval, the playground committee, the entire parent council and, of course, all the students in the school for embarking upon and completing this most worthwhile project. They have left a legacy of many hours of safe, enjoyable play for the children and community surrounding the Bannatyne School.

Congratulations and best wishes for a wonderful structure. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to bring everyone's attention to a wonderful event I had the pleasure of attending just recently. A resident of Assiniboia invited me to the Alpha House fundraising dinner. This wonderful event brought people's attention and focussed resources on a most worthwhile cause, and that is the cause of family abuse and violence. Alpha House supports abused women and their families.

At this event, we heard a testimonial from one client who was able to turn her whole life around, was able to make a change for her and her family and get out of an abusive relationship. I understand that there were over 80 families assisted by this wonderful organization. It provides personal support, a safe environment and positive employment supports so that people can move from an abusive relationship into the future and move positively. When this person was able to talk about her testimonial and told how this organization changed her life, how this organization moved her family from one that was just horrid to a positive environment, it was very, very emotional and very touching. She had a true new lease on life. This program provides a hand up.

I would like to commend the volunteers who organized the fundraising event, the board for their unfailing support of this organization, and for all the people who came to the fundraising activity and made a real difference in people's lives. They really did make a positive change. To the staff, a huge commendation for the staff who work hard in a very tough environment.

I think that it is important to note that our Government is now supporting this project, and it is one that will make society a better place to be and a better place to grow up for many families. Thank you.

Good day, Mr. Speaker. Today I had the pleasure of attending the Oak Park Raiders recognition assembly with the MLA for Charleswood. It was a wonderful event. The colour guard from the legion, representatives from Assiniboine South School Division, the City and the Province, Joe Poplawski, a football legend, and officials from the High School Football League were in attendance.

This team, the Oak Park Raiders, had three wins out of four years of the city football championships. This team has won two times in a row. I would like to commend the coaches, the youth, and the volunteers who have worked very hard in this community. They have done a great job. I would like to commend the administration for their commitment to youth, and their hard work in supporting the team, the parents for their commitment to the children and to the future of our province.

We look forward to this weekend with the Bisons and the Bombers winning, the next week, to continue the Oak Park example. We hope that in the future the Oak Park Raiders will do the lead for the Bisons and the Bombers.

Just to give you a little bit of history, here are some of the scores. Oak Park to Grant Park, 41-0. Oak Park to Fort Frances 37-0. Oak Park to Kelvin, 31-7. Oak Park to St. Paul's 25-15. Oak Park 48, River East 7. This is an amazing team with amazing individuals and good luck to our future.

I rise today to talk about a wonderful event I was at earlier today. I was pleased to represent the Government at a commemoration ceremony for Louis Riel. Louis Riel was a famous leader of the Métis who was born in Red River settlement, the son of a Métis leader and a French Canadian mother. Riel led the Métis in 1869 during the Red River resistance. He went so far as to establish provisional government and ended up being exiled to the United States. He later returned to Canada to take part in the Northwest Rebellion and was eventually hanged for treason in 1885.

When Riel was only 25 years old, he and his supporters seized Fort Garry and established a provisional government. They drew up a list of rights which they sent to Prime Minister John A. Macdonald. It is important to emphasize that these rights protected not only the Métis who made their homes here in Manitoba but they also laid out protection for all the settlers of the Northwest Territories. Their demands included an elected legislature, representation in the federal parliament, official status for both French and English and an economic plan for the Métis.

These points became the basis for The Manitoba Act of 1870 which brought our province into Confederation and provided language, religious and schooling rights for both French and English speaking populations of Manitoba.

Riel's actions deeply shaped the entire country at the time, and the effects can be seen across the nation today. Riel was the very founder of this province and played a key role in opening up Canada's West. His work would eventually contribute to the laying of the framework for minority rights across Canada. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, today we pay tribute to Riel whose sacrifice enabled the various ethnic groups of Manitoba, and ultimately Canada, to learn and live together in a bilingual, multicultural, caring society.

Mr. Speaker, we all have the responsibility to remember the legacy of Louis Riel and to continue to strive toward a nation that is built on tolerance, fairness and co-operation. I am fortunate to be able to recognize Riel in his contributions on this most important day. Thank you very much.

Mr Speaker, Thursday evening I had the pleasure of representing the Government at the 50th anniversary of the Red River Exhibition. This is a great location; it is in Assiniboia, in west Winnipeg. It is spacious, very attractive, and I would invite all Manitobans to attend, to see the displays of talented artists' many accomplishments and to have fun.

The Ex is symbolic of all Manitoba: great food, good family time, good entertainment and lots of fun. The Red River Ex began in 1952 as a means of raising funds for the Kinsmen Club of Winnipeg. It has grown every year, with almost 200 000 visitors visiting.

The economic impact of the 10 days of the Ex is estimated at $11.7 million in direct and indirect economic benefits. There is an equivalent of 142 full-time positions, with $3.7 million worth of wages and salaries. Taxes paid: there is about $205,000 to the City of Winnipeg, $974,000 to the Province and $1.4 million to the federal government.

It also provides a lot of scholarships. This year there is one in tourism and there is also one in trades. I had the pleasure of awarding that last year and I am planning to do that again this weekend. I would like to recognize and commend the 750 volunteers who make the Ex possible every year. It is through their effort and dedication that 200 000 people are able to experience and enjoy the Ex year after year. This is truly a Manitoban experience, it is really great to be a part of it, and it is nice to see that it is happening in the best constituency in the province, Assiniboia. Thank you.

It is a privilege to rise today to discuss the Manitoba Marathon. The 23rd running of the Manitoba Marathon was run on Sunday, and it is the largest event in its history. There were over 8000 people, 855 runners in the full marathon, 2174 in the half, 2631 in the super run, 617 in the 10K walk and there were 486 teams. It was a wonderful activity. It raises money for local groups. It also is great for exercises and individual challenge. It is also a wonderful community event. Teams from Assiniboia schools such as Crestview School, Lakewood School, Ness Middle School and Buchanan School all participated.

I would like to thank the coaches, the parents and all the volunteers who brought the kids out and helped make it a wonderful day. It is great because they all participate and they all set individual goals which they can accomplish. I would like to recognize all the spectators, organizers, volunteers and participants, including parents and friends. Of particular interest was the Member for Elmwood (Mr. Maloway) who streaked across the finish line in record time.

I would like to congratulate all those who participated and thank all the people who make it a wonderful Manitoba event where people from all over Canada, the U.S. and the world attend.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring all members' attention to an excellent youth outreach program that is occurring in the West Broadway area.

The West Broadway Youth Outreach Program is a recreation program for core area students from ages four to twelve. This is a free program with the goals to provide positive role models and instill a sense of community in the children. They are to learn how to be accountable, and they are to also develop local leadership skills. This program involves taking children swimming, playing games, sports and also providing a variety of arts and crafts to all children. It also provides nutritious snacks for all those involved during every day. They also plan a number of special events. Seasonal special events include swimming, taking children on four-day camping trips and excursions. The staff also goes out on home visits.

It is excellent to see the work of volunteers and the staff of this program. They really care about the community and are leaving a wonderful legacy of ability with our children. It is great to see how some people can and do make a difference in Manitoba every day. I would like to congratulate Ken Opaleke and co-manager Leslie Bruce for their commitment to the community and the legacy they will leave to our province. Thank you.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, I rise today to bring all members' attention to the efforts of two remarkable teachers who have taught for a combined total of 62 years and have worked at John Taylor Collegiate for a combined total of 43 years. Mr. Jim Stewart and Ross Shaver have been the band, choir, drama, jazz and theatre instructors at John Taylor for many years and have worked with literally thousands of students in classes and in producing musicals and performances during their tenure at JT.

I had the pleasure of attending the finale and farewell for these dedicated individuals at their final performance at the Lyric Theatre in Assiniboine Park this last Sunday. There was a total of nine groups of performers at this event, including five different jazz bands, four choirs in concert and symphonic bands. Their performance was excellent, with hundreds of people in attendance to hear their students and bid a fond farewell to these dedicated teachers.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt once stated that the most important legacy we can leave is not a monetary one, but instead, a human one. I can assure all my honourable colleagues that the legacy Mr. Jim Stewart and Mr. Ross Shaver leave to Assiniboia and this province is truly very rich, indeed. The wonderful memories for the high school plays and performances, the increased confidence and self-assurance of their students, and the lifelong friendships that were created by the efforts of these two men will indeed be a rich legacy that will last in the minds for thousands of John Taylor students and graduates.

I would like to publicly thank both Ross and Jim for caring and giving their students 100 percent. Teachers can and do make a difference every day, and as a government and as an individual MLA, I do appreciate the special efforts that are made on behalf of students in this province. We, indeed, have a very bright future if we can continue to have teachers such as Ross Shaver and Jim Stewart in Manitoba. Thank you very much for your efforts.

I am pleased to rise today to bring all members' attention to a wonderful community project that was opened last week. The official opening of the Heritage Park new playground structure on Friday was a true school and community event. The new structure is multicoloured, with slides, swings and many other activities for children. It meets the new standards for safety with appropriate ground cover and equipment.

I understand this project cost almost $60,000, with assistance coming from the City of Winnipeg, school division, Province of Manitoba, and of course lots and lots of fundraising. The parent council undertook to raise a majority of the funds necessary to complete the project over the last two years.

I would like to thank all those people who donated time, effort and of course money to make this project possible. Of particular note are: Sherri Sweetland, who was in charge of fundraising for the activity; Doreen Devries, the parent council treasurer; Daren Jorgenson, the parent council president; and all members of the parent council itself. I would also like to thank Heritage Park Principal Gail Surman, who has assisted with this project from the outset.

This wonderful facility will be a true asset for the children attending Heritage Park School and those growing up in the neighbourhood. I would like to thank all of the people who made this project possible and for the legacy they are leaving to all citizens of Assiniboia. Thanks for a great effort.

Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. Last week I had the pleasure of attending a celebration at Golden West Centennial Lodge. The reason for this celebration was that seven of the residents are a hundred years old or older in this one institution. It was an excellent event, with the Golden West Auxiliary Lodge staff, many friends and family in attendance to celebrate the lives and accomplishments of these seven amazing ladies.

One of the ladies, Dorothy Samuels, still lives alone and attends the Golden West outreach program regularly. The other six live in the lodge.

I would like to bring all honourable members' attention to these wonderful ladies who I will name in order of age: Kathleen Anderson, 107; Marianne Hodgson, 105; Anna Herms, 101; Olive Nevill, 100; Isabel Kossats, 100; Mae Jarvis, 100; Dorothy Samuels, 101. I would like to congratulate the Golden West Centennial Lodge, the family and friends and, most importantly, seven ladies for reaching this milestone of history.

It is interesting to note the changes that we talked about during this event and the changes in their lives that have been made in the past century. These people were born mostly in the 1800s and have had a huge, wonderful life. I would like to congratulate these ladies of attaining 714 years for the seven people. Thank you very much.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak to this House about the work being undertaken by this Government in co-operation with Child Find Manitoba.

With the participation of Child Find Manitoba, a new committee, the Children Online Protection Committee, which will include representation from government, police, the community, Internet providers, will examine new ways to protect children on the Internet. The provincial government is committing $41,000 to support the work of this new committee, which will report to the Attorney General. One of the first tasks of this committee will be to develop a tip line, which will help the public report instances of child pornography and child luring.

This Government is serious about ending exploitation in all forms, with particular attention now being paid to technologies such as the Internet, which child predators use to attract children. This initiative to combat Internet stalking through a cyber tip line will be the first of its kind in Canada. Manitoba has been leading the way in urging the federal government to enact strict new laws to prevent Internet crimes, particularly child luring. By working together with organizations such as Child Find Manitoba, we will be better able to ensure that our laws and policies keep pace with new advances in technology.

I invite all members of this Legislature to join me in wishing the new Children Online Protection Committee success in carrying out its important mandate. I also wish the best to Child Find in all its efforts on behalf of Manitoba's children. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Today, Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss and talk about World Literacy Day which will be held September 8 this year. As we all know, literacy affects health and is a direct relation to poor health, it affects full employment and ability to hold and maintain good employment, and it also stops people from becoming full participants in society. Literacy also perpetuates over the years.

I would like to congratulate the volunteer teachers working in this area and also the people who are improving their studies in this area. Literacy Partners of Manitoba and many other groups are planning activities on September 8 this year. The weekend will be comprised of many activities to promote literacy and to raise awareness of the effects of illiteracy. I am working with the MLA of St. James and the staff and students of Stevenson-Britannia adult learning centre to hold a barbecue with people donating money and school supplies for students and literacy programs in the St. James area.

These books will be provided for family literacy. Children's books will be provided for families literacy, and other books will be provided to the schools and libraries for these programs. I hereby challenge all MLAs on all sides of the House to get involved in this event and leave a legacy of literate participating people in Manitoba. Literacy does make a difference. I urge everyone to get involved and improve the literacy levels of all Manitobans. Thank you.

Good day, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to draw the attention of this House to the expansion of production which is taking place at the Simply Natural Spring Water Corporation. This company, located in Middlebro in the southeast corner of the province, has done extremely well. It has been experiencing steady growth in demand for its product and has been recognized as the world's best-tasting water.

The growth of this company is phenomenal. It went from a quarter of a million dollars worth of sales to over $6 million worth of orders currently. It is just excellent. Once completed, the new expansion will create 12 new jobs and provide a fully automated production line, increased warehouse capacity and will be able to ship its products not only to the States but across Canada.

This latest example highlights the importance of the Grow Bonds in providing Manitoba business support that it requires. What it does is it takes local people to contribute and buy the local bonds and invest in local companies, and it works. It has worked in the past and it continues to work. Locally controlled bond corporations can invest in commercially viable projects such as manufacturing, processing, tourism, export services and environmental.

I would like to commend the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs (Ms. Friesen) and the Minister of Industry (Ms. Mihychuk) who helped assist this project. I commend the owners of Simply Natural and all the people who worked on this program since 1992. This is where Manitoba does further its Manitoba expansion. I wish the best of luck and future success to the people of Simply Natural, and I thank the Grow Bonds for making it possible.

I also would like to thank the Member for Emerson (Mr. Jack Penner) for providing the drinks that we all have on our desks and also for participating in the ceremony yesterday. I thank all people involved in making this possible within Manitoba. Thank you.

This week of April 22 to 28 has been proclaimed as Volunteer Week in Manitoba. Manitobans take great pride in their commitment to volunteerism and public service, and Manitoba is well known for its spirit of volunteerism and community.

In Manitoba, volunteers of all ages make invaluable year-round contributions to this province. I had the privilege of attending Winnipeg Community Clubs Past Presidents Awards Dinner last week where Mr. Jerry Jones of Assiniboia West and Mr. Mike Audenbright of Heritage Park community centres were honoured for their outstanding contributions as volunteer community club presidents. Many, many other community club presidents were also honoured at this dinner.

In my own constituency many people, in a variety of ways, volunteer. Recently three other people were honoured during the annual general meeting of the Salvation Army where Irene George was honoured for her contributions as president of the auxiliary, Major Lou Ashwell for his dedicated service as a volunteer to the Golden West Centennial Lodge, and Tiffany Holland for her hard work as a volunteer from Silver Heights Collegiate.

Community clubs, school teams, Pan Am Games, world curling, baseball competitions and many others could not have been possible without the countless volunteer hours that were donated by Manitobans. We should all take a moment this week to thank those in our neighbourhood and communities who give of their energy and time to make our province a better place to live and for everyone to have a better Manitoba. Thank you very much.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw the attention of the House to the record of responsible tax relief that this Government has provided for Manitobans. Our two budgets are providing $218 million in income and property tax cuts by the year 2003. Our Government is working diligently to achieve sustainable balance between increasing resources in priority areas such as health care and education and providing responsible tax relief and forward planning. We are providing property tax relief in this Budget that will save Manitobans $27 million this year alone.

In Winnipeg, the result of our last two budgets will be a 6% reduction in property taxes. In 2001, we have renewed our commitment to balanced budget spending and our priorities of responsible tax relief and that is to all Manitobans, including corporations, businesses, small business owners and the average citizen.

The year 2000 marked the first time that Manitoba's provincial Budget reduced property taxes while also reducing income taxes and business taxes. We are doing it again by cutting the middle-income tax rate to 14.9 percent by 2003. Manitobans will be enjoying a 10.5% decrease in the provincial income taxes by 2003 based on our past two budgets. With the 2001 Budget, 4000 more low-income Manitobans will be removed from the tax rolls. We have increased the basic personal tax credit from $578 to $802, which will help all Manitobans. We have increased the child tax reduction from $250 to $300 per child. We are addressing the pension liability which has been neglected by all governments over the past 30 years. Our Government is keeping its commitment to provide responsible balanced sustainable tax relief for all Manitobans and an excellent quality of life for everyone. Thank you.