ORAL QUESTION PERIOD

Winnipeg Jets

Public Shares

Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Last week, the Premier indicated on three occasions that the provincial shares could potentially be reduced to 9 percent. This week, the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson) and the Premier indicated that the provincial and city shares for the Winnipeg Jets would be equal to 36 percent.

It has been reported that Mr. Shenkarow's group will receive 22 percent equity in the hockey team. I would like to ask the Premier, in light of his comments that the MEC group is responsible for raising $111 million for this project to proceed, does that mean that the MEC group is responsible for raising $111 million and will only receive 42 percent shares of the team?

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, as I indicated last week, the additional money that is being put into the investment in the team would not dilute the value of the shares that are owned by the taxpayers, that is, through the city and the province. More money would be put in, and that would create a larger share base, that is, a larger equity base, and our equity would still be proportionate to the value that it had in going into the deal. We would not lose any value of the equity, but there would be more equity in total distributed amongst more investors.

Mr. Doer: Perhaps the Premier could table the percentage shares that we will all have in terms of the public shares and their values and the equity, and table the whole proposal so that we can understand, the public can understand this whole proposal and we will not keep going back and forth and back and forth between the Premier, the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson) and some of the private investors.

Madam Speaker, on June 6, the Premier indicated that Mr. Asper's representatives were at the table. On June 6, we have a letter from Mr. Asper to another private-sector group saying that he is not being represented and he is not part of the negotiations. The Premier has been using the term "investments" repeatedly in this House in terms of the proposal. Mr. Asper is saying clearly these are not investments, these are donations.

I would like to ask the Premier, in light of the conflict between both Mr. Asper's role from that of what the Premier stated and the type of financial arrangements that are being made, can the Premier indicate today whether the charitable status hinges upon the use of the terms "investments" or "donations" and has the federal government approved the charitable status for the investments in the privately owned hockey team?

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Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): Madam Speaker, just to clarify for the Leader of the Opposition, I think the reason that expressions like that are being utilized is some individuals are prepared to actually invest in ownership of the hockey club, other individuals are prepared to put money into an endowment fund. That is why you get the description between two types of investments by people who are prepared to invest in preserving NHL hockey here in Manitoba.

We have had no indication from the private-sector group as to any feedback they have received from the federal government in terms of any charitable donation status, Madam Speaker.

Winnipeg Arena

Financial Shortfall

Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Madam Speaker, we are quite worried now that this may set up three classes of shares, and perhaps the Premier (Mr. Filmon) and the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson) could table for the public, today, the instructions they have given Mr. Bessey and Mr. Benson on how we are going to negotiate all of these matters, both the percentages, the voting rights, the equity, all these issues that are going back and forth and back and forth and creating quite a deal of confusion, both in this Chamber, I would suggest, and in the public.

A further question to the Premier: Mr. Frost indicates, again, in his letter to City Council, which is carbon-copied to Mr. Benson, that in fact the $17-million shortfall for the arena will be revisited by the city and the province. Can the Premier indicate who will be responsible--given the fact that we have given the private-sector group all the concessions, the revenues for parking, the revenues for the luxury box seats that we are going to build--for the $17-million shortfall?

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): Madam Speaker, of course I want to just point out that the confusion is being deliberately perpetrated by the Leader of the Opposition for his own political purposes.

The instructions that have been given to those who represent us at the table are to protect the public interest.

In response to the third aspect of his question, which was about the $17-million shortfall, we have always indicated, both to the city and to the private-sector people involved, that we retained options to continue to pursue the federal government for contributions as well as options with respect to other elements of the revenues to the construction of the arena, such as the naming of the building and the sale of the advertising on the clock and that sort of thing, and that we retained those other options to make up the shortfall.

Winnipeg Arena

Environmental Review Process

Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Madam Speaker, with a new question to the Premier: We have in our possession a letter which I will table from the Western Economic Diversification office written on February 14, 1995, which is carbon-copied to the Department of Environment, requesting that the Department of Environment and the Province of Manitoba outline a number of specifics to comply with the federal and provincial environmental review process for the MEC site selected at The Forks.

Could the Premier indicate today, have they responded to that letter and could he table that response in the Chamber today?

Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister of Environment): Yes, I can assure the member that we have begun discussions with the federal authorities to begin their screening process and that we have undertaken to make sure that appropriate review and judgment is brought to bear on this project. I would wait to look at the specifics of the letter before I answer in more detail.

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Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, this letter was written February 14, 1995, on a fairly significant project, an $111-million capital project.

Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the minister if he could table today the request from the Western Diversification office for the province to provide a project description, environmental interactions, environmental effects, the sustainable use of renewable resources, direct effects on human health, socioeconomic conditions, natural resources and physical and cultural heritage.

Could the minister and the Premier (Mr. Filmon) today table that material that was requested on February 14, 1995, from the provincial government?

Mr. Cummings: No, I am not prepared to table the information the member is seeking, but I can assure him that we have begun the process, as I stated earlier. I want to assure him and you, Madam Speaker, that this request has been dealt with appropriately.

Mr. Doer: Madam Speaker, they will not table the share proposal. They will not table the equity proposal. They will not table the material on the charitable status. They will not table the make-up of the team. They will not table the environmental material. Perhaps we should open up the windows and open up the doors and let the public come in.

My final question to the Premier: The letter goes on to state that the Province of Manitoba will have to outline a public consultation process for The Forks site. I would like to ask the Premier (Mr. Filmon), when will that public consultation process take place as part of their plan, and how will it take place, so that the public of Manitoba can be involved, rather than just backroom wheeling and dealing that appears to be going on right now?

Mr. Cummings: Madam Speaker, as I stated some time ago in the House, when we have the appropriate information to deal with the questions appropriately, we will do the public consultation.

Public Housing

Work Orders

Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): Madam Speaker, I have been asking over the last number of days questions about the enforcement of inspectors' work orders and repair orders for rental properties, and the government has tried to minimize the extent and significance of this problem, but I would suggest that the residents on Young Street living with cockroaches know full well that this is a very serious problem.

I would like to ask the Minister of Housing, since this building is a Manitoba Housing Authority property, can he advise the House, does the problem continue to be complaint-driven, as other Residential Tenancies matters are, or can the minister describe a regular or long-term treatment program for this problem since it is a long-term problem for this building on Young Street?

Hon. Jack Reimer (Minister of Housing): Madam Speaker, I would like to report to the member for Radisson in regard to the cockroach infestation at that particular address.

The phone call that came from the tenant came in the morning. Shortly after noon, the director of tenancy and community relations was on the scene. There was an evaluation done. There was the recognition that there was a problem. There has been arrangement for fumigation of that particular suite.

So it was a proactive situation within a very short while. Within six hours, there was a direction being outlined by the Housing director.

Ms. Cerilli: Can the minister clarify then, since this time it was complaint-driven, if there will be an ongoing treatment program for this building on Young Street since this has been a long-standing problem?

We cannot just continue to have it responded to each time a tenant complains. Will they develop a long-term, regular treatment program, proactive program--

Madam Speaker: Order, please. The question has been put.

Mr. Reimer: Madam Speaker, what I can report is that the instruction has been given to go to the source of the problem in that building and find where it has been generated from and eradicate it.

On-Site Caretakers

Ms. Marianne Cerilli (Radisson): Madam Speaker, would the minister agree that would occur much more effectively if there was an on-site caretaker for this property, which is a 12-storey property, and can the minister assure the House that there will be an on-site caretaker for this public housing development?

Hon. Jack Reimer (Minister of Housing): Madam Speaker, as indicated to the member, there was a problem. It was recognized as a problem. There was an action taken. There was an action taken not only to eradicate it in that particular suite, but in trying to find the source of the nesting of the cockroaches for the elimination.

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911 Service

Yellow Pages Placement

Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker, this week there have been several incidents concerning 911 and emergency ambulance services. There is confusion regarding this area. That is why we are very concerned with the release of the new Yellow Pages.

I will table copies of pages 1 and 2 of the Yellow Pages for the Minister of Health, and I would like to ask the minister, is the minister not concerned that even more confusion will be created and possibly delays in the provision of emergency ambulance services by virtue of the fact that directly across from the 911 announcement in the Yellow Pages is a major ad by a private stretcher ambulance company, which could result in individuals not knowing where and how to phone for this kind of service?

Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, of course, I would be like the honourable member and not want anybody to be confused about what services are available, especially in emergency situations.

As far as stretcher services, that has been something that has been the subject of some review by the Department of Health and the Department of Highways and Transportation.

I do not think that I want to comment on such short notice with respect to a page in the Yellow Pages. I will consider the matter.

Mr. Chomiak: Madam Speaker, my supplementary is to the minister responsible for the telephone system.

Can the minister explain how it is and who vets these kinds of ads that this kind of situation should occur in the Yellow Pages?

Hon. Glen Findlay (Minister responsible for the administration of The Manitoba Telephone Act): Madam Speaker, the member has raised an issue of whether the specific location is appropriate. I will talk to MTS staff to see why they did it or if they gave consideration to the nature of the question the member is asking.

Private Ambulance Services

Regulations

Mr. Dave Chomiak (Kildonan): Madam Speaker, my final supplementary is to the Minister of Health.

Will the Minister of Health today advise this House when regulations will be brought in by the Department of Health, as per instructions in his own reports that he has received, concerning the regulation and training of individuals who operate these stretcher ambulance services?

Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Health): The honourable member's first question started out with a derogatory sort of tone with respect to anything that is run by the private sector, which right away leads one to wonder what the honourable--[interjection] Touché, good point--member's point really is: if he is concerned about the care and safety of people or if he has some more philosophical matter on his mind.

Certainly we do not want anyone to feel that somebody held out, holding themselves out to be something they are not. That would be inappropriate. I would not want to go along with that and we would want to see that is regulated against.

I expect in the near future to be able to respond to any regulation or licensing requirements that would come forward for stretcher services.

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Keewatin Community College

Women's Sponsorship Program

Mr. Oscar Lathlin (The Pas): Madam Speaker, my questions are directed to the Minister of Family Services today.

The women's sponsorship program at KCC is being eliminated, forcing nine single parents off training, seven of whom are in the final year of their program. Not only were these single parents forced off training and education, but they have been forced onto welfare, essentially putting 25 women and children on welfare.

My question for the minister this afternoon is, seeing as how this government is spending $37 million on the Jets and, by eliminating this program, they are hoping to save $17,000, how much will it cost the taxpayers of Manitoba to put these women and children on welfare, and will the minister get together with the Minister of Education (Mrs. McIntosh) and see if this program can be restored?

Hon. Bonnie Mitchelson (Minister of Family Services): Madam Speaker, I will try to answer all three questions that were just put, first of all, indicating the specifics of the program that he mentioned I will take as notice and get back to the member with a response once I look at the specific details.

As far as the bigger issue of trying to provide supports for single parents so that they can move off the dependent system that has been in place for many, many years in the province of Manitoba and right across the country, we are working aggressively trying new pilots, one being the Taking Charge! initiatives that will pilot new and innovative ways of working with individual women to make personal plans around moving from the dependent welfare system to independence. Those will include all kinds of initiatives: on-the-job-training, education opportunities and other forms of education that will prepare women who are presently dependent on a welfare system for the workforce.

Mr. Lathlin: Madam Speaker, perhaps this minister could explain the reasoning behind forcing nine women off training and education--seven of those nine women were in the final year of their training programs--and forcing them onto welfare. Can the minister explain why that makes sense to her and not to us?

Mrs. Mitchelson: Madam Speaker, I totally reject the preamble and the comments and the insinuations that the member makes around forcing anything to happen. Our government has been extremely proactive in trying to find new ways of delivering service for women and children in the province of Manitoba and we will continue along that path.

We want to ensure that when women are trained to enter the workforce, there are meaningful jobs at the end of that training process.

Community Colleges

Staffing Reductions

Mr. Oscar Lathlin (The Pas): Will the minister table in this House a complete list of all staff positions, programs and courses that have been cut at KCC, Assiniboine Community College and at Red River Community College this year, along with her position on those cuts? Why are they being cut?

Hon. Bonnie Mitchelson (Minister of Family Services): I am a little confused by the request for information that I believe is information that probably could be discussed this afternoon in the Estimates of the Department of Education and Training where the community colleges are funded.

I would hope that the member for The Pas would attend those Estimates this afternoon, and hopefully we might be able to provide the opportunity for--

Point of Order

Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Madam Speaker, as you know, a matter of attendance is not to be pointed out. Of course, the member for The Pas (Mr. Lathlin) was at Estimates yesterday asking these questions. Perhaps the minister could get it straight.

Madam Speaker: Order, please. In relation to the point of order, indeed, the Leader of the official opposition does have a point of order.

I would remind all members that in response to questions, Beauchesne 481 clearly states that there should be no reference to the presence or absence of specific members.

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Madam Speaker: The honourable Minister of Family Services, to quickly complete your response.

Mrs. Mitchelson: Madam Speaker, I certainly do apologize to my honourable friend if he felt that I was referring to his absence, but I would invite him to pose those questions during the Estimates process in the Department of Education and Training that is ongoing this week.

I would also invite him to pose those questions when the Estimates of the Department of Family Services are before this Legislature in the very near future.

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Winnipeg Arena

Impact of Relocation

Ms. MaryAnn Mihychuk (St. James): Madam Speaker, my question today is to the Minister of Finance.

In regard to the existing Winnipeg Arena, a comprehensive environmental assessment report, as we earlier heard, is required under the act. A major component of this assessment report is the economic impact of the existing Winnipeg Arena.

Will this government finally be open with the people of Manitoba and the people of St. James as to the impact of the new arena being built at another location and table the information?

Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): Madam Speaker, we have been open throughout this whole process, provided as much information as we possibly can as the whole process unfolds. There have been many Manitobans participating very actively in this whole process over the course of many months. If the members of the opposition choose not to participate, that is their own choice.

In terms of the issue of the existing arena, it currently falls under the mandate of the Winnipeg Enterprises Corporation. The City of Winnipeg has involvement with that organization through the appointment of members to the Winnipeg Enterprises Corporation.

They will be dealing with the issues affecting any adjustments if a new facility is put in place downtown, Madam Speaker, in terms of the ultimate utilization of the current arena and obviously the impact on other facilities that fall under their management.

Existing Facilities

Ms. MaryAnn Mihychuk (St. James): My supplementary question to the Minister of Finance: What conditions are placed on the use of the existing arena in this secret MEC deal?

Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): I certainly do not agree with the member. She refers to the secret MEC deal. There are aspects of discussions that are taking place now to close an agreement, but the entire process, the entire discussions of all of the issues, have been issues that have been discussed at great length not only here in this Chamber but indeed throughout our province.

In terms of any restrictions on the existing facility, those will be discussed with the current landlord, Winnipeg Enterprises Corporation. I believe there are some discussions going on in terms of the whole area of competition, what uses the old facility might be put to in relationship to what a new facility, if built, would be utilized for. But those are discussions that are taking place or will be taking place with the Winnipeg Enterprises Corporation in terms of the future utilization of that facility.

There has been a whole range of scenarios have been talked about, and those will be ongoing.

Ms. Mihychuk: Will the minister now confirm that this deal does in fact mothball the existing Winnipeg Arena?

Mr. Stefanson: No, Madam Speaker, I will not confirm that.

Property Taxes

Education Levy

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): My question is for the Minister responsible for Urban Affairs.

In Winnipeg we have the highest property tax virtually in the country. The reason for that is because of the education levy, both the provincial levy and the school board levy.

Madam Speaker: Order, please. The honourable member for Inkster, to pose his question.

Mr. Lamoureux: My question is to the minister. Given the response that we have been hearing from City Hall and particularly in the city of Winnipeg and the public's concern regarding this issue, what does this minister plan to address this very serious problem in terms of the school taxes on the property tax bill?

Hon. Jack Reimer (Minister of Urban Affairs): Indeed, it is a refreshing pause to hear the member for Inkster concerned about taxation and the implications that it has on the people who are paying for it. I can say that the matters before the City Hall have not been put forth to the department as to what type of direction or redirection they were looking for in their taxation. At that time we will be able to review or discuss their presentation as to what they feel is the taxation base that they are looking for.

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Mr. Lamoureux: A supplementary question to the Minister of Finance: Is this government not prepared to address the inequities that are there currently because we continue to further rely on the financing of education through property taxes as opposed to relying on general revenues?

Will this government, given its new mandate, finally take action and address this issue so that the property taxpayers of this province will be given a break?

Hon. Eric Stefanson (Minister of Finance): Madam Speaker, in this year's budget we held funding consistent for education. In fact, there was a very slight increase overall in our education funding. We are seeing adjustments being made to funding levels for education right across Canada. Many provinces reduced funding for education across Canada. We did not do that here in Manitoba.

Obviously, decisions around utilization of the dollars they have, the expenditures of those dollars are decisions that are made by autonomous school boards elected by the public.

The City of Winnipeg

Long-Term Funding Agreements

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): To the Minister of Urban Affairs: Would the minister consider multiyear agreements on all funding to the city to allow for longer term planning to help the city achieve its proposed financial management plan?

Hon. Jack Reimer (Minister of Urban Affairs): Madam Speaker, the member for Inkster is bringing up a hypothetical speculation on a proposal that has not been put forth. The discussions have not even been implemented on any type of redirection of taxations and the basis behind it.

Voters' Lists

Public Postings

Mr. Gord Mackintosh (St. Johns): Madam Speaker, my question is to the First Minister.

During the last election, many Manitobans who are increasingly concerned about their own personal safety expressed concern about the posting of voters' lists on street corners and in conspicuous places. I heard from seniors and I heard from a woman who was in hiding from a stalker.

Would the First Minister explain why the government has repeatedly ignored the recommendations of the Chief Electoral Officer in reports in 1990 and 1993 which in 1993 stated, I strongly urge that the act be changed so as to delete the public postings of the voters' lists?

Hon. Gary Filmon (Premier): I thank the member for St. Johns for asking that question, Madam Speaker. It gives me the opportunity to indicate that we have asked Legislative Counsel to draft the appropriate amendments for implementation for the upcoming municipal elections this fall, and we would hope that we would receive the co-operation of the opposition in dealing with that prior to June 30.

Mr. Mackintosh: Well, since the matter was not in the throne speech, Madam Speaker, we will trust the First Minister to bring that legislation in.

My final question to the minister is, would he also support limiting access to the voters' list to election-related purposes so that we can prevent salespeople, direct mail firms, bill collectors from using the list, which was also recommended by the Chief Electoral Officer?

Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Madam Speaker, I would like to tell the member that I think we need to look actually at a very wide strategy to access of some personal information, and though the First Minister has indicated that it is the intention of this government to proceed on The Elections Act very specifically regarding the posting, I would like to tell him the Department of Justice is in fact looking at a strategy for access to information which may in fact be used the same way. We are very concerned, particularly about the personal safety of Manitobans.

Mossy River

Flooding

Mr. Stan Struthers (Dauphin): Madam Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Natural Resources.

As the minister is aware, there are a total of seven rivers that flow into Lake Dauphin and only the Mossy River that drains it. It goes without saying that this year's flooding has put even greater pressure on the Mossy River.

The minister has indicated to the R.M. of Dauphin that a channel out of Lake Dauphin will be surveyed and built.

My question for the minister is this: Is this project going ahead, and, if so, how far along is the surveying process?

Hon. Albert Driedger (Minister of Natural Resources): Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to give credit to the Lake Dauphin Advisory Committee that was established by my predecessor some years ago.

Where you had diversified interest groups that all had different views as to what should happen, the advisory committee basically has done a tremendous job of getting everybody thinking along the same lines, and they have made recommendations related to improvements that should take place, and my department is considering those improvements.

Mr. Struthers: This department does make the final decision, not the advisory board.

Can the minister explain to what extent this channel will alleviate the pressure on Lake Dauphin and how the communities downstream will be affected?

Mr. Driedger: Madam Speaker, first of all, I did not indicate that the project was moving ahead at this time. It is a matter of the finances being able to be put into place, so that we can proceed with it.

But I have to say that the planning basically has been done, and I am very comfortable that the engineering people who have designed this have done it with the intention in mind that there was going to be no downstream effect to the people who are--it should be of benefit to all people who are involved with the project.

Shellmouth Dam

Drainage System

Mr. Stan Struthers (Dauphin): Madam Speaker, can the minister tell the House whether he has a plan that addresses the flooding concerns of all communities affected by the drainage system flowing from the Shellmouth Dam?

Hon. Albert Driedger (Minister of Natural Resources): Wow. Madam Speaker, that is a very, very complex question. I would invite the member for Dauphin that, once I have the opportunity in my Estimates, I would be prepared to go through in detail many of the complicated issues that are involved with the Assiniboine River flooding.

I would just like to say at this time that what we experienced this year has been a record all-time flood along the Assiniboine River and the valleys and the people affected there. We have never had anything like that in history, as far as our records show.

I am prepared to discuss the implications of the flooding and the drainage works with the member once we get down to my Estimates.

Bill C-89

Minister's Presentation

Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): Madam Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Highways and Transportation.

Since this government was first elected, Manitoba has lost 3,000 rail jobs. In fact, 206 jobs were cut by CN Transcona two days after the election.

This week being National Transportation Week, I ask the minister whether he has made a submission to the federal government over the sale of CNR, that is Bill C-89, and if he did so, whether he can table that submission today.

Hon. Glen Findlay (Minister of Highways and Transportation): Madam Speaker, certainly our staff and myself have had discussions with the appropriate people in Ottawa.

Our intention or desire with CN is to be sure that we have a second competing railroad for the shippers of western Canada, most particularly for Manitoba, so any initiative that allows CN to become stronger as a service provider for shippers we are in support of.

Rail Line Abandonment

Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): Madam Speaker, to the same minister, how many branchlines does the minister expect will be abandoned in rural Manitoba over the next 18 months as a result of the sale of CNR and further deregulation?

Hon. Glen Findlay (Minister of Highways and Transportation): Madam Speaker, I cannot give the member a specific indication, other than to say a lot fewer will be abandoned in the future than have been abandoned over the last 25 years. Manitoba does not have very many lines that are not at reasonable service use at this stage.

We do not know exactly what the details will be in the new proposals brought forward by the federal government for the national Transportation Act amendment. We will see at that time. Clearly, at this time, there is a process for abandonment that involves communities, shippers and the railroad itself, but I understand there will be amendments that may alter that.

Clearly, we want to be sure that lines are kept open for use by shippers, and where a line is not to be used by the main company, we want it to be converted to a short line.

We have introduced legislation, passed it through this House, to allow the establishment of short lines in Manitoba to serve shippers, to move those loaded cars to the main lines. We believe that is a very efficient process.

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Mr. Jennissen: My final supplementary, Madam Speaker: Why has the minister and this government not spoken out against potential loss of rail lines which will cost this province, according to the government's own report, $85 million annually in higher shipping and road costs?

Mr. Findlay: Madam Speaker, the whole transportation industry is going through a massive revolution right now. Massive changes in terms of subsidies that Ottawa used to pay to keep the system alive are disappearing overnight. The competitive people supplying those services have got to be able to make adjustments, and the shipper who is paying the cost has got to be able to compete in the world market, so everybody has to get their costs down.

I have to tell the member, everybody in the industry is recognizing that. Everybody is moving towards trying to be sure we can survive competitively in this global economy, moving products from here and in greater volumes than ever before, and I think that the process is moving reasonably well to allow everybody to adjust. We want to maximize the ability to serve our shippers, to move products and to create jobs in Manitoba.

I will just add for the member, he has forgotten to recognize that over 400 jobs have come to Winnipeg because of the customer service centre the CN put in Winnipeg. Four hundred are coming, and more likely.

Manitoba Women's Advisory Council

Executive Director

Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): Madam Speaker, my questions are for the Minister responsible for the Status of Women.

The mission of the Manitoba advisory council, previously known as the Manitoba Advisory Council on the Status of Women, is to provide advice to the government on the status of women and so encourage the full and equal participation of Manitoba women in our communities. I understand that since at least January 1995, the council has had no executive director.

My first question is, how can the advisory council provide advice on women's rights and issues when it lacks an executive director to direct the research necessary to inform that advice?

Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister responsible for the Status of Women): Madam Speaker, the executive director did move, in fact, to another country. However, the Advisory Council on the Status of Women does have a chairperson, and the chairperson of that advisory council has been the one who has been directing the activities of the advisory council. I believe she has done so with very strong consensus from the advisory council itself.

The advisory council has been very active. I know the member will want to speak in Estimates about the work they have done and the numbers of meetings that they have had in various places in Manitoba and really how very active they have been on a number of issues both with community contact and also within their own work.

Ms. McGifford: Madam Speaker, will the minister tell this House when the director's position will be bulletined and filled through the Civil Service Commission?

Mrs. Vodrey: Madam Speaker, to my knowledge, that is now in progress.

Ms. McGifford: Does the lack of a full-time executive director at the council explain why the government has no substantive policies on women's issues and rights?

Mrs. Vodrey: Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to take a little time this afternoon to speak about a number of the programs which this government has put into place on behalf of women, but, very specifically, through our Women's Directorate this government put in place the Training for Tomorrow scholarships.

The Training for Tomorrow scholarships instituted by this government are directed at women, women who will undertake studies at our community colleges in areas of, particularly, nontraditional studies for women, but also very particularly in areas of programming in which labour market forecasts indicate that there will be jobs at the end.

Madam Speaker: Order, please. The time for Oral Questions has expired.