Mr. Mervin Tweed (Turtle Mountain): Madam Speaker, during my time of elected office, I have heard the member for Swan River (Mrs. Wowchuk), and others in her party, asking why this government would move towards a dual marketing of hogs. For our government the issue was employment and economic opportunities for all Manitobans. However, the naysayers across the floor predicted chaos and calamity for the pork industry in Manitoba. Our government, with its foresight, realized the elimination of the grain transportation subsidies would give Manitoba's livestock industry a competitive edge. Our government decided to support further growth and development.

Hog production in Manitoba has increased from fewer than 2 million five years ago to 2.6 million today, and today the anticipated surge in hog production is taking shape in southwestern Manitoba. This fall, approval has been given for construction of two hog barns, one eight kilometres west of Souris and another 11 kilometres east of Souris. The combined value of these two facilities is expected to be about $6.5 million, create approximately 11 permanent full-time jobs, as well as extensive economic spin-offs for all Manitobans. These types of projects also benefit our grain farmers by providing them with a way to stabilize income by investing in other types of production. I would therefore like to welcome, on behalf of Manitobans, these two facilities, Elite Swine and Hogs is Beautiful, to the constituency of Turtle Mountain. Thank you.

Mr. Eric Robinson (Rupertsland): Madam Speaker, this afternoon I want to congratulate the people of Churchill and the Akjuit Aerospace Corporation for overcoming daunting obstacles in the continuing effort to create a commercial polar spaceport in Churchill. The vision, commitment and hard work is beginning to pay off. Today, I was pleased to attend a press conference at which it was announced that Akjuit has signed an agreement with the Scientific and Technological Centre Complex, STC Complex of Russia. This alliance will also see a Russian satellite launched from Churchill. This will be historic, not just for Manitoba, but also mark the first time internationally such a launch has occurred.

Since 1990, Akjuit has spent over $20 million preparing for the spaceport. When completed, the $400-million spaceport will be the largest privately funded project in the history of this province and will create hundreds of jobs both at Churchill and the rest of Manitoba. Akjuit will be a major user of the Port of Churchill and the Bay Line. It will be a major employer for Churchill and northern Manitoba. This announcement comes at a time when Churchill and northern Manitoba badly need some good news. Broken promises by both the federal and provincial governments over grain shipments and deals have put the Port of Churchill at risk.

At this time, the future of the Bay Line, the Sherridon line and the Flin Flon subdivision are all unclear. We on this side strongly support Akjuit's aerospace project and wish them continued success in their endeavours, also to the people of Churchill, Mayor Michael Spence and council. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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Mr. Frank Pitura (Morris): Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today and relate to all members our government's commitment to the health of Manitobans. While I need not remind members opposite that 33.8 percent of our '96-97 budget is allocated to Health, while only 31.4 percent was allocated in '88-89, I am confident they do appreciate it.

However, Madam Speaker, I want to discuss health care on a more local basis. The Carman health district identified a need in their community, a need for a modern facility in order to recruit and retain qualified health professionals. The success of their vision is clearly demonstrated by the fact that they were able to recruit three new doctors during the summer of 1995 with the promise of a new facility. This project has been in the works for some time, and its completion in July of this year caps a remarkable local fundraising drive which saw approximately $310,000 raised to date, an amount very close to their goal of $375,000.

This fundraising drive, tapping into the generosity and community spirit of businesses and individuals, is a clear sign of the viability and confidence of Carman and surrounding area. There are a number of people who deserve to be acknowledged for their efforts in making the Carman community health centre a reality: Chairman of the Board Barry Driedger, board member and Town Councillor Frank Graboweski, Fundraising Co-ordinator Verna Clemis and Head Nurse Betty Park are among those I wish to mention and thank.

The list of names requiring recognition is far longer than I suggest, but I doubt I would have been granted leave to list everyone responsible, so instead I just want to thank the people of Carman for allowing me the opportunity to participate in the ribbon cutting of the community health centre and extend to them my sincere congratulations on a job well done.

Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): On Thursday, September 26, the Manitoba Government Employees Union held the premier showing of their video, There Comes a Time. This video was produced by the MGEU women's committee and by the MGEU education committee. The subject is the history of women, first in the civil service and, second, in the MGEU. The format is personal interviews and recollections accompanied by materials from the archives and historical and contemporary footage. A narrative voice directs the sequence from the past to the home care workers strike in 1996.

As an historical document, the video traces the history of women in the civil service from a time when they were confined to the low-wage sector, hired nearly always as clerical staff, required to resign when they married and never considered for promotion. Intertwined with the civil service struggle is another story--

Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh.

Madam Speaker: Order, please. I am experiencing difficulty hearing the honourable member for Osborne. I wonder if those people having private meetings would do so more quietly either in the loge or outside the Chamber.

Ms. McGifford: Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Intertwined with the civil service struggle is another story: women's battle to be taken seriously by their union. The video celebrates early women activists like May Brady who worked at the Selkirk Mental Hospital beginning in the 1920s and Doris Armstrong from Brandon, who also worked in Mental Health services. Both women died before the video was completed but, fortunately, not before their stories were told.

Activists like Joy Cooper, Ellen Olfert and Patrice Pratt document the struggles through the '70s and '80s, and Debbie Jamerson, as participant in and witness to the home care workers strike, talks about a union which now works for the lives and rights of women.

Congratulations to filmmakers Elise Swerhone and Bonnie Dickie, to Bonnie Dickie for narration and Doug Smith for the script. Most of all, congratulations to the MGEU, particularly the education and women's committee for the courage it took to recognize that there comes a time to examine the past, understand it and celebrate women in the struggle for change.

Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): Madam Speaker, this year is the 10th anniversary of Winnipeg Harvest food bank. Ten years ago, 835,451 pounds of food were shared with Manitoba families; today, over five million pounds of food are shared with more Manitoba families. Ten years ago, 3,624 people needed food assistance; today, over 34,000 people need food assistance.

A single parent with one child, employed at minimum wage, needed to work 41 hours a week to bring the family to the poverty line 10 years ago. Today, the same single parent would need to work 75 hours per week to make the equivalent income. Ten years ago, approximately 25,000 people were unemployed; approximately 34,000 people are unemployed today. Ten years ago, the City of Winnipeg welfare cases were 6,958; today, 14,593 people. Ten years ago, there were no rural food banks in Manitoba; today, there are 43 rural food banks operating in Manitoba.

Here is the kind of assistance that is given and what people say about the benefit of the donations by Winnipeg Harvest, and I quote: Without the food provided by Winnipeg Harvest, we could not offer the hot lunch program to 147 children. Many of the kids arrive at the centre hungry; the hot lunch is their only substantial meal of the day. Some moms run out of baby food and formula before the end of the month, so Winnipeg Harvest supplies food for their babies.

It is really no surprise that there is a need for this, given the cuts in welfare and unemployment insurance, in wages, and the increase in part-time-only employment. Winnipeg Harvest has been in the community for 10 years. It is sad that in such an affluent society, there is a need for a food bank, but the fact is that Winnipeg Harvest is providing a lifeline for some, a supplement for some, giving choice to others who choose to spend money on school trips or clothes so their children will feel comfortable with their peers.

In conclusion, I would like to thank Winnipeg Harvest food bank staff and volunteers who will contribute 100,000 hours of volunteer work this year to meet the need in the community. We hope that justice will replace charity and that 10 years from now Winnipeg Harvest will be gone. Thank you.

Mr. George Hickes (Point Douglas): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the member for Broadway (Mr. Santos), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Economic Development be amended as follows: Flin Flon (Mr. Jennissen) for Interlake (Mr. Clif Evans); Elmwood (Mr. Maloway) for Broadway (Mr. Santos), for Thursday, October 10, 1996, for 10 a.m.

I move, seconded by the member for Broadway (Mr. Santos), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Economic Development be amended as follows: Interlake (Mr. Clif Evans) for Flin Flon (Mr. Jennissen); Broadway (Mr. Santos) for Elmwood (Mr. Maloway) for Thursday, October 10, 1996, for 2:30 p.m.

Motions agreed to.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Gimli, with committee changes.

Mr. Edward Helwer (Gimli): Yes, I have some committee changes, Madam Speaker.

I move, seconded by the member for Sturgeon Creek (Mr. McAlpine), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Economic Development for Thursday, October 10 at 10 a.m. be amended as follows: the member for Turtle Mountain (Mr. Tweed) for the member for Fort Garry (Mrs. Vodrey); the member for Arthur-Virden (Mr. Downey) for the member for Lac du Bonnet (Mr. Praznik).

I move, seconded by the member for Sturgeon Creek (Mr. McAlpine), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Economic Development for Thursday, October 10 at 2:30 p.m. be amended as follows: the member for Steinbach (Mr. Driedger) for the member for Arthur-Virden (Mr. Downey).

I move, seconded by the member for Turtle Mountain (Mr. Tweed), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources be amended as follows: the member for Riel (Mr. Newman) for the member for Niakwa (Mr. Reimer); the member for Rossmere (Mr. Toews) for the member for Kirkfield Park (Mr. Stefanson).

Motions agreed to.