Mr. Glen Findlay (Springfield): I rise today on a rather unusual day when we tried to have a debate on the farm crisis in southern Manitoba earlier in the day and, lo and behold, although both the opposition and the government agreed that that debate should happen and we should be going forward to Ottawa with a very strong proposal, the Liberal Leader of Manitoba, who does not sit in this Legislature, prevented the debate from happening, which I find exceptionally unfortunate because there is no question that in southwest Manitoba and other regions of Manitoba the excess moisture that has happened this spring is something that has never happened in the history of settled Manitoba, never in its history.

No program that man could have designed could deal with the economic impact of this wet, unseeded land that is in southwest Manitoba. Not only does it affect the farmers involved, but it has a significant effect downstream and upstream from the farm gate, from the suppliers of goods and services to the farm, the livelihood of the communities, and the product that was to be produced that would be processed in Manitoba or exported.

There is a large economic impact that goes on for many, many months, and it has been projected at at least 18. I say, as a farmer, it will be at least 18 months. So for the member who does not sit in this Legislature, who is a Leader of a third party to ask his one member in this Legislature to deny the discussion–it was not going to be a debate. It was not going to be finger pointing. It was a discussion of how we would work together for the good of the flooded area of Manitoba and Saskatchewan to get some federal support. The fact that he denied it I think is really, really a serious blow to the Liberal Party. It contravenes our ability to have a logical discussion, particularly on what has become a very nonpartisan issue.

So for a member who has been involved previously as a minister dealing with these crises, I find today's events most unsatisfactory, and I wish the Liberal Leader would reconsider his position and allow that debate, that discussion to happen in Manitoba.

Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): The Nemihitowok Hoop Dancers are a well-known dance group from Flin Flon. They have been chosen to participate in the entertainment portion of the 1999 Pan Am Games. The hoop dancers have been quite successful in sharing their aboriginal culture through their hoop and jingle dances. Their youngest member is Cailie Church, who at the age of four performs with seven hoops. For this group it is not a competition, merely a demonstration dance often performed at opening ceremonies or at special pow-wows.

I am sure that all members in this Chamber are happy to join with me in expressing congratulations to the Nemihitowok Hoop Dancers as well as the parent association for their commitment and dedication on behalf of these young dancers.

* (1420)

Mr. James Downey (Arthur-Virden): Madam Speaker, I rise on a member's statement to bring to the House's attention again, as I did earlier today, and to, first of all, try to put the position forward that each and every one of us should clearly understand the pressure and the problems that members and families of farm people are facing when they are faced without having any income for 18 months. I do not care where you are in society, no income for 18 months is a terrible, stressful situation. That is the situation people are in.

We have asked the Premier (Mr. Filmon), our colleagues, all of our colleagues in this House have continually pressed for some consideration from the federal government and at least to work the AIDA program or to come forward with programs equal to the 1997 flood programs to bring some relief to those individuals. Yes, we have made a move with some support in hiring of seeding done, but there has to be considerably more done and done quickly.

Thirdly, what I really am troubled with today is that elected members of this Legislative Assembly, for political purposes, were denied the right to speak on behalf of the people that we are elected to represent. An unelected member put his political pressure on a sitting member to not allow this to take place, and I feel extremely sad for the member who was put under that pressure. I feel terrible for that.

If this House allows itself to be captured by such a situation, Madam Speaker, then it cripples democracy, the very heart of what we all support and stand for. If that is what that Leader stands for, I feel very, very sorry for the people that put him in that position, and I even feel sorry if he gets anywhere in the political scene in this province further than where he has been.

I am really depressed and troubled by that, and I have to speak that today in my member's statement.

Mr. Gary Doer (Leader of the Opposition): Madam Speaker, this Chamber has dealt with crisis before, and we have put aside the seats we represent, the parties that we represent, even sometimes the ideologies that we represent in order to put the human face and the human crisis as the priority of this Chamber.

We have worked co-operatively in the '97 flood. The member for The Maples (Mr. Kowalski), we have worked in his community; the member for St. Johns (Mr. Mackintosh)–I am going to leave a lot of people out. Everybody worked, but I know the member for St. Johns and the member for St. Norbert (Mr. Laurendeau) were running flood protection lines, and ministers opposite were in the Red River Valley.

People work together in times of crisis. That is the Manitoba way. That is the community way. We may disagree after the crisis about how we dealt with it or could we have done better or not, but the essence of this Legislature is we have the responsibility to be free of any other pressure except those of the people of this province to represent their crisis. This Legislature cannot be a surrogate to the Parliament of Canada. We are a united Legislature, Madam Speaker.

Today was not the Manitoba legislative way, and we have to again regroup because it is better for us to go to Melita and Ottawa united, together, rather than being divided. Surrogacy, no; united, yes, for the crisis here in Manitoba.

Mr. Gary Kowalski (The Maples): Madam Speaker, I rise to take advantage of my opportunity to made a member's statement, and I will be speaking about the Elizabeth Fry Society, of which I am a board member, that will be having their annual general meeting.

But I have to say that today's events–I want to make sure that the people of Melita, of Virden, of that area know that my dad was an implement dealer for John Deere. He worked for John Deere. I used to travel with him when he used to take movies around to different John Deere dealerships, and I remember travelling around and how well people treated me.

I have a lot of empathy for what people are going through in that area. I know, having gone through some difficult times myself, that when you are in a crisis, it is not knowing how much you are going to get or that, it is just to know that there is going to be help. Those people need to know that there is going to be help as soon as possible. We talk about how we are nonpartisan, but there are some political games being played. In the end, I do not think any human wants to see another human being in Melita and Virden suffer.

I will let Jon Gerrard speak for himself, and I am sure he will explain his actions, the reasons why he did what he did today, but I want it known how I am concerned about the people in that area, and I wish them no suffering, and I hope that as soon as possible they get everything that this community of Manitoba can deliver. Just as when any emergency–I have seen it countless numbers of times as a police officer, when a child falls down a well, everyone rushes to help. They do not ask what political stripe or what colour, they help, and I think we all should help the people of that area.

Thank you.

Mr. James Downey (Arthur-Virden): A point of order, Madam Speaker. I appreciate that I may be just stretching it a little bit, but I know that it is a challenge for all of us to deal–and I am not sure how this was circulated, but it is representing a political party not officially in this House. I do, quite frankly, think it has to be dealt with, and I really take an affront to the fact that this document was put out by a party Leader what is so totally unfactual that it has to be corrected by somebody. I would hope that the member who is responsible for the Liberal Party would correct the document that I have that said that the federal government did offer $25 an acre to the farmers.

I do not know how to deal with it in this Assembly; it may not be the appropriate place. I do think it is certainly a very unfortunate situation, and maybe you could give me some direction.

Madam Speaker: It is definitely not a point of order. There is one avenue available, and that is the honourable member could use his grievance privilege. Every member is entitled to one each sitting.

Mr. Edward Helwer (Gimli): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the member for Pembina (Mr. Dyck), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Law Amendments (for Monday, June 28, 1999 at 10 a.m.) be amended as follows: the member for Rossmere (Mr. Toews) for the member for Charleswood (Mrs.Driedger); and the member for River Heights (Mr. Radcliffe) for the member for Kirkfield Park (Mr. Stefanson).

Mr. George Hickes (Point Douglas): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the member for Burrows (Mr. Martindale), that the composition of the Standing Committee on Law Amendments be amended as follows: Selkirk (Mr. Dewar) for Wellington (Ms. Barrett), Wolseley (Ms. Friesen) for Concordia (Mr. Doer) for Monday, June 28, 1999, for 10 a.m.