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Hon. Jim Rondeau (Minister responsible for Healthy Living): Mr. Speaker, I have a ministerial statement for the House.

Today is the beginning of National Nursing Week. The purpose of National Nursing Week is to raise public awareness of the many contributions registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses and licensed practical nurses make to the well-being of Canadians. The theme this year is Nursing: Knowledge and Commitment at Work. The knowledge, dedication, compassion, experience of nurses play a critical role in delivering the best possible health care to Manitobans.

We currently have approximately 15 000 active practising nurses in Manitoba. I call on all members of the House to join me and acknowledge and applaud the enormous contributions nurses make towards our well-being.

We are proud of our nurses, knowledgeable and dedicated health professionals with a commitment to provide the best possible care, both physical and mental, to patients in the community and in hospitals. I am delighted, Mr. Speaker, that our Government has made significant progress on all points of the nursing strategy we put in place four years ago.

Enrolments in nursing programs have more than doubled since 1999. We have 879 more active practising nurses in Manitoba than were registered in 1999. Nurse graduates have almost tripled since 1999.

Mr. Speaker, members of this House will note that we have acted on and continue to make achievements on all five points of the nursing strategy. We have demonstrated our commitment to nurses by taking decisive and effective action in consultation with nurses. We value their role in many settings where their skills are needed.

* (13:40)

Nurses take on roles including health educator, care provider, counsellor, consultant, just to name a few of their roles. I believe this year's theme: Knowledge and Commitment at Work, reflects the value we place on nurses in terms of the care they offer and the knowledge they bring as they maintain continued competence over their entire career.

I congratulate all nurses of Manitoba and applaud their knowledge and commitment.