Mr. Gord Mackintosh (St. Johns): I beg to present the petition of Walter Gregory, Kay Gregory, Walter Kiryluk and others praying that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the Minister of Justice (Mr. Toews) to consider using this action plan, the 18-point plan, to deal with gang crime as a basis for provincial policy and organized criminal gangs.

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Wellington (Ms. Barrett). It complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

WHEREAS medical authorities have stated that breast cancer in Manitoba has reached almost epidemic proportions; and

WHEREAS yearly mammograms are recommended for women over 50, and perhaps younger if a woman feels she is at risk; and

WHEREAS while improved surgical procedures and better post-operative care do improve a woman's chances if she is diagnosed, early detection plays a vital role; and

WHEREAS Manitoba currently has only three centres where mammograms can be performed, those being Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson; and

WHEREAS a trip to and from these centres for a mammogram can cost a woman upwards of $500 which is a prohibitive cost for some women; and

WHEREAS a number of other provinces have dealt with this problem by establishing mobile screening units; and

WHEREAS the provincial government has promised to take action on this serious issue.

WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRAY that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik) to consider immediately establishing a mobile screening unit for mammograms to help women across the province detect breast cancer at the earliest possible opportunity

.

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for St. Johns (Mr. Mackintosh). It complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Pardon me?

An Honourable Member: Yes.

Madam Speaker: Yes? The Clerk will read.

Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba humbly sheweth:

THAT the increase in violent crimes in Manitoba since 1990 has been more than three times as much as the Canadian average; and

THAT crime can only be effectively dealt with through both prevention and suppression; and

THAT the tough talk of the Manitoba Justice minister has not been matched with action; and

THAT Manitobans want a positive, comprehensive response to crime and gang crime that provides alternatives for youth; and

THAT the New Democratic Party has put forward an 18-point plan to deal with gang crime; and

THAT this plan is divided into elements focused on both the justice system and families, schools and communities; and

THAT this costed plan has been subject to widespread consultation and has been praised as a detailed plan to fight youth crime that is well thought through and constructive.

WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRAY that the Legislative

Assembly of Manitoba urge the Minister of Justice to consider using this action plan as a basis for provincial policy on organized criminal gangs.

Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Dauphin (Mr. Struthers). It complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

An Honourable Member: Yes.

Madam Speaker: Yes? The Clerk will read.

Mr. Clerk (William Remnant): The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba, humbly sheweth that:

WHEREAS medical authorities have stated that breast cancer in Manitoba has reached almost epidemic proportions; and

WHEREAS yearly mammograms are recommended for women over 50, and perhaps younger if a woman feels she is at risk; and

WHEREAS while improved surgical procedures and better post-operative care do improve a woman's chances if she is diagnosed, early detection plays a vital role; and

WHEREAS Manitoba currently has only three centres where mammograms can be performed, those being Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson; and

WHEREAS a trip to and from these centres for a mammogram can cost a woman upwards of $500 which is a prohibitive cost for some women; and

WHEREAS a number of other provinces have dealt with this problem by establishing mobile screening units; and

WHEREAS the provincial government has promised to take action on this serious issue.

WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRAY that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik) to consider immediately establishing a mobile screening unit for mammograms to help women across the province detect breast cancer at the earliest possible opportunity.

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Madam Speaker: I have reviewed the petition of the honourable member for Swan River (Ms. Wowchuk), and it complies with the rules and practices of the House. Is it the will of the House to have the petition read?

Some Honourable Members: Yes.

Madam Speaker: The Clerk will read.

Mr. Clerk: The petition of the undersigned citizens of the province of Manitoba, humbly sheweth that:

WHEREAS medical authorities have stated that breast cancer in Manitoba has reached almost epidemic proportions; and

WHEREAS yearly mammograms are recommended for women over 50, and perhaps younger if a woman feels she is at risk; and

WHEREAS while improved surgical procedures and better post-operative care do improve a woman's chances if she is diagnosed, early detection plays a vital role; and

WHEREAS Manitoba currently has only three centres where mammograms can be performed, those being Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson; and

WHEREAS a trip to and from these centres for a mammogram can cost a woman upwards of $500 which is a prohibitive cost for some women; and

WHEREAS a number of other provinces have dealt with this problem by establishing mobile screening units; and

WHEREAS the provincial government has promised to take action on this serious issue.

WHEREFORE YOUR PETITIONERS HUMBLY PRAY that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba may be pleased to request the Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik) to consider immediately establishing a mobile screening unit for mammograms to help women across the province detect breast cancer at the earliest possible opportunity.

Mr. Ben Sveinson (Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the Second Report of the Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources.

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

Your Standing Committee on Public Utilities and Natural Resources presents the following as its Second Report.

Your committee met on Friday, October 25, 1996, at 10 a.m. in Room 254, Tuesday, March 18, 1997, at 10 a.m. in Room 255 and Thursday, March 20, 1997, at 10 a.m. in Room 254 of the Legislative Building to consider the Annual Report for the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board for the year ended March 31, 1996.

Mr. John McCallum, chairperson, and Mr. Robert Brennan, president and chief executive officer, provided such information as was requested with respect to the Annual Report for the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board for the year ended March 31, 1996.

Your committee has considered the Annual Report for the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board for the year ended March 31, 1996, and has adopted the same as presented.

Mr. Sveinson: Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member for St. Norbert (Mr. Laurendeau), that the report of the committee be received.

Motion agreed to.

Mr. Peter Dyck (Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections): Madam Speaker, I beg to present the First Report of the Committee on Privileges and Elections.

An Honourable Member: Dispense.

Madam Speaker: Dispense.

Your Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections presents the following as its first report.

Your committee met on Thursday, March 20, 1997, at 10 a.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Assembly to consider a review of the operation of the Children's Advocate section of The Child and Family Services Act. At that meeting, your committee elected Mr. Dyck as its Chairperson and Mr. Tweed as its Vice-Chairperson.

At that meeting, your committee adopted the following motions:

MOTION:

THAT the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections establish a Sub-Committee in order to facilitate a review of the operation of the Children's Advocate Section of the Child and Family Services Act; and,

THAT the Sub-Committee consist of five (5) members, namely, Messrs. DYCK, HELWER, MARTINDALE, KOWALSKI and TWEED; and,

THAT Mr. DYCK be designated as the Chairperson of the Sub-Committee.

MOTION:

THAT the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections recommends to the House that the Sub-Committee established to review the operation of the Children's Advocate Section of the Child and Family Services Act be authorized to advertise this review in the local newspapers throughout the province; and,

THAT the advertisement should indicate that both written and oral presentations will be accepted by the Sub-Committee; and

THAT the deadline for submitting names for oral presentations before the Sub-Committee be April 18, 1997; and

THAT the deadline for submitting written presentations be April 30, 1997.

MOTION:

THAT the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections recommends to the House that the Sub-Committee established to review the operation of the Children's Advocate Section of the Child and Family Services Act be authorized, based upon the response from the general public, to travel and/or video conference, throughout the province.

MOTION:

THAT the Sub-Committee established to review the operation of the Children's Advocate Section of the Child and Family Services Act call as its first presentor Mr. Wayne Govereau, the Children's Advocate.

THAT any presentations before the Sub-Committee established to review the operation of the Children's Advocate Section of the Child and Family Services Act be limited to 20 minutes for presentation and 10 minutes for questions.

MOTION:

THAT the Sub-Committee established to review the operation of the Children's Advocate Section of the Child and Family Services Act submit its report on or before May 30, 1997.

Mr. Dyck: I move, seconded by the honourable member for Turtle Mountain (Mr. Tweed), that the report of the committee be received.

Motion agreed to.

Hon. Frank Pitura (Minister of Government Services): Madam Speaker, I have a statement for the House.

Madam Speaker, as Minister responsible for The Emergency Measures Act, I would like to take this opportunity to inform the House on the activities of the Manitoba Emergency Management Organization to prepare for potential spring flooding.

Madam Speaker, an emergency response starts at the local level with the development of an emergency plan. The communities in the flood-prone areas of the Red River Valley have such plans and have reviewed them in anticipation of spring flood activities. At the provincial level, the flood forecasts issued by Water Resources Branch are being immediately faxed to municipal offices to ensure municipalities have the latest flood information. The Manitoba Emergency Management Organization has been proactive in co-ordinating information, resources and actions of provincial and federal resources to support local authorities in their flood mitigation efforts.

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Manitoba Agriculture, the Canadian Wheat Board and Manitoba Pool Elevators have met and agreed on steps to ensure that grain will be moved from low-lying areas. By March 31, about 100,000 tonnes of grain will have been moved by rail out of the Red River Valley. In addition, to provide timely information and assistance to local authorities, flood liaison offices will be set up in Melita, Niverville, Russell and Selkirk.

The Manitoba Emergency Management Organization has furnished information to municipal offices on diking operations, suppliers of sandbags, elevation databases and other information relating directly to individual communities.

Finally, Madam Speaker, MEMO has developed training courses for local officials on the cost-recovery process through disaster financial assistance. Training sessions began in Selkirk on March 18 and will continue in Winnipeg on March 21, in Morris on March 25 and in Letellier on March 26.

Madam Speaker, I will continue to provide updates to the House as new developments occur. Thank you.

Mr. Jim Maloway (Elmwood): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the minister for his update on the flood situation, and I want to assure him that we on this side of the House will work with him to help get the province through a very potentially troubling time. This is potentially a very stressful time for the residents of this province and could lead to a lot of upheaval in people's lives, and could possibly lead to tremendous property losses because we are looking at potentially one of the worst floods on record.

Once again, I do feel that we will do our utmost and help the government out wherever possible. We have suggested in the past that the government approach this problem on an all-party basis. Back in the '80s we had an all-party committee dealing with the Garrison flooding question, and we would encourage the government to adopt that type of an approach to keep us informed and let us participate in the process. Thank you very much.

Hon. Vic Toews (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): I am pleased to table the 1995 Annual Review of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Hon. Glen Cummings (Minister of Natural Resources): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table the Five-Year Report on the Status of Forestry.

Madam Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would like to draw the attention of all honourable members to the Speaker's Gallery where we have with us this morning His Excellency Paul Dempsey, Ambassador of Ireland to Canada.

On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you this morning.