Manitoba Hansard — 21 November 2025 (Sitting 4, 43rd Legislature, 3rd Session)

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Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

Third Session – Forty-Third Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Tom Lindsey Speaker Vol. LXXX No. 4 - 10 a.m., Friday, November 21, 2025 ISSN 0542-5492

MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Forty-Third Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ASAGWARA, Uzoma, Hon. Union Station NDP BALCAEN, Wayne Brandon West PC BEREZA, Jeff Portage la Prairie PC BLASHKO, Tyler Lagimodière NDP BRAR, Diljeet Burrows NDP BUSHIE, Ian, Hon. Keewatinook NDP BYRAM, Jodie Agassiz PC CABLE, Renée, Hon. Southdale NDP CHEN, Jennifer Fort Richmond NDP COMPTON, Carla Tuxedo NDP COOK, Kathleen Roblin PC CORBETT, Shannon Transcona NDP CROSS, Billie Seine River NDP DELA CRUZ, Jelynn Radisson NDP DEVGAN, JD McPhillips NDP EWASKO, Wayne Lac du Bonnet PC FONTAINE, Nahanni, Hon. St.

Johns NDP GOERTZEN, Kelvin Steinbach PC GUENTER, Josh Borderland PC HIEBERT, Carrie Morden-Winkler PC JOHNSON, Derek Interlake-Gimli PC KENNEDY, Nellie, Hon. Assiniboia NDP KHAN, Obby Fort Whyte PC KINEW, Wab, Hon. Fort Rouge NDP KING, Trevor Lakeside PC KOSTYSHYN, Ron, Hon. Dauphin NDP LAGASSÉ, Bob Dawson Trail PC LAMOUREUX, Cindy Tyndall Park Lib. LATHLIN, Amanda The Pas-Kameesak NDP LINDSEY, Tom, Hon. Flin Flon NDP LOISELLE, Robert St. Boniface NDP MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Malaya, Hon. Notre Dame NDP MOROZ, Mike, Hon. River Heights NDP MOSES, Jamie, Hon. St. Vital NDP MOYES, Mike, Hon.

Riel NDP NARTH, Konrad La Vérendrye PC NAYLOR, Lisa, Hon. Wolseley NDP NESBITT, Greg Riding Mountain PC OXENHAM, Logan Kirkfield Park NDP PANKRATZ, David Waverley NDP PERCHOTTE, Richard Selkirk PC PIWNIUK, Doyle Turtle Mountain PC REDHEAD, Eric Thompson NDP ROBBINS, Colleen Spruce Woods PC SALA, Adrien, Hon. St. James NDP SANDHU, Mintu, Hon. The Maples NDP SCHMIDT, Tracy, Hon. Rossmere NDP SCHOTT, Rachelle Kildonan-River East NDP SCHULER, Ron Springfield-Ritchot PC SIMARD, Glen, Hon. Brandon East NDP SMITH, Bernadette, Hon. Point Douglas NDP STONE, Lauren Midland PC WASYLIW, Mark Fort Garry Ind.

WHARTON, Jeff Red River North PC WIEBE, Matt, Hon. Concordia NDP WOWCHUK, Rick Swan River PC

65 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Friday, November 21, 2025 The House met at 10 a.m. The Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, from Whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to the welfare and prosperity of our province. Grant, O merciful God, we pray Thee, that we may desire only that which is in accordance with Thy will, that we may seek it with wisdom, know it with certainty and accomplish it perfectly for the glory and honour of Thy name and for the welfare of all our people. Amen.

We acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty 1 territory and that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Anishininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Denesuline and Nehethowuk nations. We acknowledge Manitoba is located on the Homeland of the Red River Métis. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. We respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partner- ship with First Nations, Inuit and Métis people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration.

Please be seated. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Bill 211–The Budget Bill Public Accountability Act Mrs. Lauren Stone (Midland): I move, seconded by the MLA for Portage la Prairie, that Bill 211, The Budget Bill Public Accountability Act, be now read for a first time. Motion presented. Mrs. Stone: This bill will require any budget bills that implement the budget must be referred to a standing committee that allows members of the public to make representations.

This new require ment will mean there'll be at least 10 hours of committee hearings and ensure adequate public scrutiny of government expen- ditures and budget measures, ensuring that the Finance Minister, the government and the Legislative Assembly are held publicly accountable for the decisions being made. This bill will ensure that budget bills cannot be passed without going to com mittee or without ade - quate debate, as what has happened in recent years. I look forward to the support of the Assembly and the Finance Minister for this bill to improve account- ability to Manitoba taxpayers.

The Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed] The motion is accordingly passed. No further introduction of bills? Committee reports? Tabling of reports? MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Holodomor Hon. Ron Kostyshyn (Minister of Agriculture): I rise today solemnly recognizing the anniversary of the Holodomor, a genocide that took place in Ukraine between 1932 and 1933. In Canada, we recognize the Ukrainian Holodomor Memorial Day on the fourth day of November –the fourth Saturday of November.

On this day, the people of this province, along with Ukrainians around the world, recall the tragedy of deliberate, stated, sanc - tioned famine that took place. Holodomor translates to the death by hunger, but– that forced people to live and work on some of the most fertile land. Stalin deliberately–policies resulted in land and crops forcibly taken away from the people. Without access to food, Ukraine, once the E uropean breadbasket, became the place of suffering without rescue or escape, and, as people were prevented from leaving the country, millions of men and women and children starved.

Homicide–Honourable Speaker, today Holodomor is recognized for what it was: a genocide. It was purposely done in an effort to break the backs of the Ukrainian people. Yet we see, through the immense struggle, people have prereserved. Ukrainians prove the strength of human spirit. This event strengthe ns the will for self -determination that remains present today in the spirit that we carry throughout the world. In Manitoba, Ukrainian roots run deep. One in seven Manitobans are of Ukrainian heritage, including me. It's a proud heritage of our multicultural province.

66 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2025 Manitobans–all backgrounds have stood together, allies in honouring of those who lost, and Ukrainians continue to work in their future. Honourable Speaker, we support Ukraine. We stand in solidarity with them and those impacted by the ongoing conflict with Putin and unjust war. We welcome the Ukrainian Canadian Congress with us as a reminder of the past honour of those fight- ing today. Thank you, Joanne Lewandosky, and the team here joining us. As members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, we are united in memory of Ukrainians lost in the Holodomor.

May we always remember. Slava Ukraini. [Glory to Ukraine.] Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): Tomorrow, November 22, communities around the world will observe Holodomor Memorial Day. Today I rise to recognize this solemn anniversary and to honour the millions who perished in the Holodomor, the genocide and state-engineered famine that devastated Ukraine in 1932 and 1933. The Holodomor was not the result of crop failure or natural hardship. It was an intentional act of brutality orchestrated by Stalin's Soviet regime as a means of crushing Ukrainian identity and resistance. Entire families vanished.

Rural farmers who had long nurtured Ukraine's fertile fields were stripped of their harvests and starved by the tens of thousands each day. At the height of this genocide, 28,000 people died every day. Behind those numbers were human beings, chi ldren with dreams, parents with hope for their families and communities whose futures were stolen.

Last night, I had the pleasure, I guess, of being invited by Mia [phonetic] Shykota, who did a memorial out- side the steps of the Manitoba Legislature, and I was joined by my colleague, the MLA for Swan River, the MLA for Fort Garry and also the Minister of Agricul- ture (Mr. Kostyshyn). Honourable Speaker, 750 little pairs of shoes were put out on the steps of the Legislature with a candle by each one of them, repre senting the children that have either been killed, stolen, lost.

And we know that there's many, many more that have not been accounted for, and just in the last few days there were more to be added to that list, unfortunately.

Yesterday was also World Children's Day, and President Zelensky had moved the Ukrainian World Children's Day from June to yesterday to match up with the rest of the world celebrating those young lives that we have that will be our future leaders, not only in this country, this province, but in the rest of the world. * (10:10) There is a quote, Honour able Speaker –I know that I'm getting close to the time –that the Minister of Agriculture had mentioned, but I would like to say also that I know that this present government had brought forward Holocaust education into our curriculum.

I know that previous–as a previous Education minister, we were working on both the Holocaust education– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. Some Honourable Members: Leave. The Speaker: Is there leave for the member to con - clude his member statement? [Agreed] Leave has been granted, but I would make it short. Mr. Ewasko: I'd like to thank each and every one of my colleagues for extending the ministerial response, and I do want to thank the minister for bringing for - ward the ministerial statement today.

So as I was saying, as previous Education minister, we were working on the Holocaust curriculum to be included in the education–the K-to-12 education. We were also working on the Holodomor edu cation, his- tory, culture because, as we all know with many of our different–various different cultures, our Canadians here, living in Manitoba –we want to celebrate the culture and the identity and make sure that our students are learning the history of this great province of ours.

And so I'm calling on the govern ment to, on behalf of Ukrainians, to bring forward that education part of the curriculum and just basically gives the Premier (Mr. Kinew) the opportunity to actually announce it. With that, Honourable Speaker, I have many more words to say on this topic but I'm going to leave it at that. I want to thank Joanne Lewandosky and the rest of the Canadian–or Ukrainian Canadian Congress for being here, as well, and all your efforts on making sure that this is never forgotten. Honourable Speaker, at the end of this, I'm also asking for a moment of silence from everyone in here.

Slava Ukraini. [Glory to Ukraine.] MLA Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): Honour- able Speaker, I ask for leave to respond to the minister's statement.

November 21, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 67 The Speaker: Does the honour able member for Tyndall Park have leave to respond? [Agreed] MLA Lamoureux: Honourable Speaker, we rise today to remember those from Ukraine, those who suffered the horror of the genocide, the Holodomor. Here in Manitoba, we have a very strong presence of Ukrainian heritage that continues to rapidly grow. We are fortunate to have such an active Ukrainian community that helps educate us on the history of Ukraine and the realities being faced to this day.

Honourable Speaker, the Holodomor, a famine imposed on Ukraine, began through waves of deportation of Ukraine's farmers, and deportation and executions of Ukraine's religious, intellectual and cultural leaders. About eight years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Ukraine, where I experienced the national museum memorial to Holodomor victims. It was an intense experience, and for my own understanding, it is where the Holodomor really came to life. The museum teaches us just how horrific the famine was and it portrays the pain and suffering that millions of people were forced to endure.

The entrance of the museum still sits prominently in my memory. Two angels, the angels of sorrow who represent the guardians of the souls who starved. We can also reflect upon the statue that we have the honour of having here on the Legislative grounds: a young girl clutching a handful of wheat. This statue is titled the Bitter Memories of Childhood and it has been dedicated to the most vulnerable victi ms of starvation. Honourable Speaker, we must continue to share these stories and talk about the history and remembrance and the hope to learn from the past.

I'd like to thank those who have joined us today in the galleries, as well as the minister for bringing forward today's statement. Thank you. The Speaker: Is there leave for a moment of silence? [Agreed] A moment of silence was observed. The Speaker: Thank you. MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Winnipeg Hosts 112th Grey Cup MLA Jim Maloway (Elmwood): Last weekend, Winnipeg hosted the 112th Grey Cup. Thousands of fans from across the country came to celebrate. It was a big moment for our city and for Manitoba. The stadium was packed, the streets were busy and the atmosphere was electric, with Manitoba Catie St.

Germain singing O Canada. This wasn't just a football game; it was a major event that gave our economy a real boost. Manitoba saw close to $90 million in new economic activity and over $8 million went straight to the provincial tax revenues. Events like this show we can do–what we can do when we bring people together. Workers picked up extra shifts. Shops saw new customers. Hotels were booked solid with more than 5,000 rooms reserved each night. Restaurants had lineups out the door. Downtown Winnipeg was alive with visitors enjoying the Grey Cup Festival and everything our city has to offer.

And while this was the first Grey Cup in five years without the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on the field, the city still came together in true Manitoba fashion. The week reminded us that the Grey Cup is more than just a championship game; it's uniquely Canadian celebration of community, pride and unity. After all, the Grey Cup belongs to all of us and is a reflection of our shared identity and ability to come together across provinces, languages and backgrounds. Winnipeg once again proved why we're known as friendly Manitoba. We welcomed guests with open arms and showed the country what makes our city special.

The energy, pride and the sense of community were felt everywhere. Thank you to everyone who helped make the Grey Cup a success. From the volunteers to business owners to all our fans, you helped put Manitoba on the map. Peter Sawatzky Mr. Wayne Balcaen (Brandon West): It's a true honour to stand before you today to recognize Peter Sawatzky, his incredible work and his lasting con- tribution to the Brandon Riverbank. I'm joined in the gallery today by Peter himself, and Dean Hammond, executive director of the Riverbank Discovery Centre, and many of Peter's friends and family.

68 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2025 Peter Sawatzky is not just a sculptor; he's a story- teller in bronze, a visionary who captures the spirit of the wild with breathtaking realism. Born in Sommerfeld, Manitoba, Peter's journey from farm boy to inter - nationally acclaimed artist is a testament to the power and passion and perseverance. His works, like the Seal River Crossing and Curious Black Bear now grace the Peter Sawatzky Sculpture Garden at the Brandon Riverbank. Nestled along the Assiniboine River Corridor, this garden has been in the making since 2015.

It reflects years of vision, planning and collaboration. And I want to emphasize the partnership with the Brandon Riverbank team has been nothing short of outstanding. Together, they've created more than a space for art; they've built a sanctuary of reflection, inspiration and connection with nature. As you walk through the garden, you'll encounter a series of bronze sculptures that speak to Peter's deep reverence for wildlife and the prairie landscape. Anchored by the Caribou Gateway Plaza, each piece invites you to pause, to wonder and to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.

This project has also been made possible through the generosity of our community, family donations and a significant contribution from the PC government. Their support has turned this dream into reality. So today we don't just recognize sculptures. We celebrate a legacy: a legacy of art, nature and commu- nity spirit. Thank you, Peter, for sharing your gift with us. And thank you to everyone who helped bring this vision to life. Honourable Speaker, I ask that my guests be added to Hansard. And I ask all my colleagues to rise and recognize world-renowned artist Peter Sawatzky.

Cheryl Goosin ; Marv Goosin; Dean Hammond ; Alison Loch ; David Loch ; Andrew McKinley ; Rachel McKinley; Hubert Theuroux ; Bob Williams, O.M.; Heather Williams. Federal-Provincial Investments for Churchill MLA Eric Redhead (Thompson): Today, I rise to share my excitement about the Churchill project, a bold vision for northern prosperity that is moving forward in a big way. Members of this House know the importance of Churchill and the potential it holds.

What's new and worth celebrating is that both our provincial government and the federal government are stepping up together to make this vision a reality. * (10:20) In Budget 2025, the federal government announced supports for Churchill under its nation- building pro- jects and strategies. Here in Manitoba, our govern- ment is committing $51 million to the Arctic Gateway Group for upgrades to the Hudson Bay rail line and the construction of a new critical minerals storage facility. This brings Manitoba's total investment to $87.5 million.

Combined with our federal funding, the joint investment now totals $262.5 million over five years, almost a quarter of a billion dollars for northern Manitoba. Honourable Speaker, this project is reconciliation in action. Our government will soon introduce legis - lation to create Manitoba's Indigenous Crown–or, Crown-Indigenous Corporation, ensuring Indigenous nations have a real voice and a real stake in develop - ment. This approach puts Indigenous equity owner - ship at the heart of the Churchill project while pro - tecting rights and lands and creating great jobs in the North.

Expanded port capacity through Hudson Bay will strengthen our trade with Europe and other partners while connecting Churchill more deeply to the rest of Canada. But just as importantly, it will bring lasting benefits to northern communities: more employment, better infrastructure and new opportunities for local businesses and families. It means more young people can build their future at home and more communities can thrive with dignity and economic security. This is how we build one Manitoba, where recon- ciliation drives oppor tunity and every community shares in our success. Ekosi, Honourable Speaker.

Municipal Government Awareness Week Mr. Trevor King (Lakeside): Honourable Speaker, I rise today to recognize the upcoming Municipal Government Awareness Week and to acknowledge the essential role municipalities play in building strong, vibrant communities across Manitoba. Municipal governments deliver the services that shape daily life. They are the level of government closest to the people, and their work forms –tie the foundation upon which our communities thrive.

November 21, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 69 But behind every service and every decision are the municipal officials who step forward to serve. These individuals take on immense responsibility, often while balancing full -time careers, families, farms and community obligations. They endure long nights, tight budgets and difficult choices that rarely please everyone. Their work is rarely applauded and often misunder- stood, yet they do it because they care deeply about their neighbours and their communities. That level of commitment is a true sacrifice, and it deserves our respect.

Honourable Speaker, we must also confront the growing climate of political intimidation facing municipal leaders. What happened recently in the RM of Taché, where elected officials faced threats and harassment, is completely unacceptable. Disagreements are part of democracy, but they never justify violence, intimidation or personal attacks. Elected officials are ordinary people, people you'd meet at the grocery store or the curling rink. They deserve the same courtesy and decency we extend to any fellow Manitoban.

Municipal leaders must make decisions in the best interest of their communities as a whole, even when those decisions are difficult or unpopular. That is the essence of public service. Next week as municipal officials gather for their AMM Fall Convention, we honour not just the work municipalities do, but the people who devote them - selves to it. Their sacrifice and dedication strengthen Manitoba. Thank you, Honourable Speaker. Intimate Partner Violence Mrs.

Colleen Robbins (Spruce Woods): Honourable Speaker, let me begin with truth that should stop every one of us in our tracks: somewhere in Manitoba tonight, someone is terrified to go home, and not because of a stranger, but because of a person who claims to love them. That is the reality of intimate partner violence, and it is happening every single day in communities across our province. IPV is not a private matter. It is a crisis. It affects people of every age, background and income.

Behind every incident is a person living with fear, control and emotional or physical harm, often with children witnessing it and carrying those scars forward. We cannot look away. Our shelters, crisis lines, police, social workers and community advocates work tirelessly to support survivors. Their dedication saves lives, but they cannot do this alone. If we are serious about ending intimate partner violence, we must turn awareness into action: prevention, education and long- term stable funding, culturally safe supports and trauma-informed services. And, above all, we must believe survivors when they reach out.

To every survivor: Your courage is seen, your voice matters and your safety is right, not a privilege. Home should never be the most dangerous place in someone's life. It's time we confront intimate partner violence with urgency it demands. I want to thank Dr. Michael Ellis for his work on IPV, and in attendance: Dr. Kendra Nixon of the University of Manitoba; Delma McLeod, psychiatric nurse; and a strong survivor, Stacey Hainsworth; Sam Driedger, her support. Thank you. Introduction of Guests The Speaker: Prior to oral questions there's some guests in the gallery I'd like to introduce.

I'd like to draw the attention of all honour able members to the public gallery where we have with us today Ivan Kutsak and Joanne Lewandosky, who are guests of the honour able Minister of Agri culture (Mr. Kostyshyn). We welcome you here today. Also seated in the public gallery we have with us today David Loch, Alison Loch, Hubert Theuroux, Dean Hammond, Marv Goosin, Cheryl Goosin, Bob Williams, Heather Williams, Andrew McKinley, Rachel McKinley, who are the guests of the honour - able member for Brandon West (Mr. Balcaen). And on behalf of all honour able members, we welcome you here today.

And, as previously mentioned, in the public gallery is Stacey Hainsworth, Dr. Kendra Nixon, Delma McLeod and Sam Driedger, who are guests of the honourable member for Spruce Woods (Mrs. Robbins). And on behalf of all honour able members, we welcome you here today.

70 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2025 ORAL QUESTIONS Constituent with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Request to Cover Mr. Bray's Medication Mr. Obby Khan (Leader of the Official Opposition): I'm going to take a different approach today. The Premier does not want to answer any questions on why Manitoba's economy is dead last in Canada, why Manitoba lost 1,300 net jobs in the last two months, why grocery prices are a record high, cost of living, education property taxes have all gone up.

So I'll ask a kind of question, a question of empathy and compassion; a question to which this Premier and the Minister of Health can alone give the answer of hope to: Will the Premier approve the coverage of the life-saving drug for Manitoban-born and -raised Jeremy Bray? The Premier, with one word, can give Jeremy and his family hope. Will the Premier say yes today? Hon. Wab Kinew (Premier): I want to begin by giving Jeremy a shout-out. I know that he's devoted a ton of effort towards his advocacy on this and the Minister of Health and our govern ment have definitely heard your message.

That's why many, many months ago already we were in contact with Roche, the pharma- ceutical manufacturer, advocating for an arrangement so that you could get the medi cation that you are requesting. At the same time we're asking the regulator at the federal level to approve this drug coverage, and this is where the issue becomes complicated because it is not approved and the federal regulator has communicated with our team about that. But we continue to be on your side, Jeremy, and you have a strong ally in the Minister of Health, who I know is planning to meet with you again soon.

And so we'll keep working for your health care, the same way that we work for everyone's health care here in Manitoba. The Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. * (10:30) Mr. Khan: Does the Premier simply have no compas- sion in his heart? He can just say yes. A shout -out is not a yes. A for -profit pharmaceutical company said yes. Other provinces are saying yes. Saskatchewan, Alberta, Ontario are all covering this medication on people over the age of 25 like Jeremy. The Premier and the Minister of Health have the power. They have the authority to say yes.

I'm simply asking: Will the Premier say yes today and cover the cost for Jeremy Bray to live the rest of his life? Thank you. Mr. Kinew: Yes, Jeremy, we've got a ton of compassion, and our heart certainly goes out to you. We admire the amazing effort and courage that you shown in advo- cating for your health care. We know that Roche, the drug company in question, has been trying to get this drug approved, but it is not approved in Canada. You will know, Honour able Speaker, that in other instances where we're able to work with the federal regulator to quickly get drugs approved, we have provided coverage.

Very rec ently there was a case for a young family in the Hanover area, in which our Health Minister expedited the coverage in response to the approval of the drug. But we have to balance safety, safety for the patient. And the federal regulator is doing their best to consider patient safety in all situations. And so we'll continue working with them, and certainly, Jeremy, our Health Minister will continue working with you. The Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary question. Mr. Khan: So once again, lots of words, no compassion. It's a simple yes.

Other provinces are doing this: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario. A Quebec doctor says that 90 per cent of his adult patients have benefited from this drug. A for -profit pharmaceutical company said yes and covered this drug. This Premier and this Minister of Health haven't offered anything. Half the cost; maybe then the pharmaceutical company could cover half. Maybe they can cover it for a few months until they get the study done. But nothing at all by this Premier, empty words, empty promises like he has done for the last two years.

I'll ask the Premier again: Will he, with an ounce of humility and compassion in his heart, say yes to Jeremy and approve the medication so Jeremy can live a better life? Thank you. Mr. Kinew: Honourable Speaker, you know, a situation like Jeremy's certainly pulls at the heartstrings, and that's why our team has been working with him.

November 21, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 71 One of the many things that we did, including pressuring Roche to provide compassionate coverage for him these past six months, is that we also pushed the federal regulator for an expedited review of this medication. That review has happened. This drug is not approved for use for people in Jeremy's situation. Now, we all need to recog nize that there are im - portant safety con siderations when it comes to the approval of new drugs, and we will listen to the experts. Now, when it comes to Jeremy, we're, of course, going to continue to work with you.

We hear your message loud and clear. That's why our Health Minister is taking the time to continue to respond to your concerns and also will meet with you. This is how we work together. This is how we collaborate. We ensure that every Manitoban in this province has the ability to access safe, approved, expert-recommended health care. The Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question. Health-Care Facilities Nurse Safety Mr. Obby Khan (Leader of the Official Opposition): You already hear yourself.

Even on a matter of com - passion, the Premier will tell you one thing, but the reality is very different. More an nouncements, false numbers, false accomplishments. This Premier stands up and says mission accomplished. We have more than enough nurses in this province, according to this Premier. Manitobans know different; nurses know different. The Health Sciences Centre has been greylisted for two months, meaning that the very nurses working there say it's unsafe to work there. Thompson hospital is also looking at the same designation.

The nurses' union has been clear: If they have to greylist every health-care facility in Manitoba, they will. So I will ask the Premier: How many more health facilities need to be greylisted before the Premier acknowledges that he has yet another failing minister in his Cabinet? Hon. Wab Kinew (Premier): Honourable Speaker, you got the best Health Minister in the country right here: 3,500 new health-care workers, 40 new nurses at the Health Sciences Centre just in the last two months. They are on a roll when it comes to fixing health care. But do you know who needs to be blacklisted? The member opposite.

Cowardly display yesterday, refusing to stand for the first trans MLA in this province's history. He comes in here and he pats himself on the back–first Muslim MLA ever elected. But when it comes time to honour a different community, no; they draw the line. Why is that? Such a bizarre world view in the PC side of things, where human rights for some but not human rights for all. Legacy? Your legacy is one that you should be ashamed of. I direct that through you, the Chair. The Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Pop-up Liquor Mart Local Brewery Promotion Mr.

Obby Khan (Leader of the Official Opposition): There you have it once again. The Premier cannot help but attack, attack, attack. His true nature, his bullying nature, his toxicity is coming through for Manitobans to see. I'm asking about safety for nurses, and he wants to attack me for being Muslim. I don't understand what the Premier has against that. Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. The Speaker: Order. Mr. Khan: This Premier says he has the 'belth' Health Minister. A D- is the best for this Premier. Record wait times in Manitoba –he thinks that's the 'beth' Health Minister.

It's a shame; it's a tragedy; it's embarrassing. Manitobans deserve better. The Premier cannot help himself. [interjection] The Speaker: Order. Mr. Khan: He has to go on TikTok everywhere he goes. The Premier opened up a pop- up Liquor Mart, stocked with American alcohol, and then shoots a video holding a Boston Beer Company and Coors Light instead of something local. Will the Premier stand up and apologize to Manitobans and say he supports local busi nesses instead of misleading Manitobans like he's done? Hon.

Wab Kinew (Premier): Honourable Speaker, I recognize that you're grading on a curve and allowing him to start a new series of questions, but I'll play ball because we need to put on the record the very hateful display. I'll table the photo of him not standing, not applauding for a statement about the Transgender Day of Remembrance.

72 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2025 What do they have about trans people? In the last election, he was the poster boy for the anti -trans ads that the PCs ran. I'll table the vote in which their caucus was split on the question of whether trans people have rights. And then again yesterday, on the Transgender Day of Remembrance, he refuses to stand; he refuses to clap; and, of course, yes, he refuses to make eye contact because he knows that his behaviour is shameful. And let me be clear: this is a pattern of behaviour. It is against LGBT people.

But the question that you need to consider–[interjection] The Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –if you ever think about voting PC is: are you going to be next? What do they think about Indigenous people? We saw in the last election cam - paign. What do they think about different denominations? It's a bizarre world view where some Manitobans deserve rights in the PC side but not others. On this side, it's very clear: human rights for everybody, one Manitoba– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary question.

Crime Rate in Manitoba Justice Minister Resignation Request Mr. Obby Khan (Leader of the Official Opposition): I'm asking questions. Maybe the Premier can't follow the theme here. It's on misleading and false infor ma- tion for Manitobans. The Premier misleads Manitobans when it comes to HSC, when it comes to safety of Manitobans, when it comes to crime, when it comes to supporting local because he wants to stand up with American alcohol. And now he wants to mislead Manitobans with what's happening in this Chamber.

The facts are you cannot trust this Premier or any of his Cabinet ministers or any of his colleagues for anything they say. Two years in Manitoba, this province has only gotten worse under this failed Premier. The Minister of Justice (Mr. Wiebe) now wants you to think that crime is down. Crime is up. Earlier this month, a nurse was sexually assaulted at St. Boniface Hospital. The assailant had a criminal record as long as the Premier's. This assault occurred days after he was released on other charges.

Will the Premier stand up and admit he has another failed minister in his Cabinet and remove the Minister of Justice from his job? Hon. Wab Kinew (Premier): The most disappointing thing about the member's hateful conduct is that he does not have the courage to stand behind his con- victions. He purposely disrespects the transgender statement that we heard in the House here yesterday, and then he goes into the hall: oh, I didn't know. I thought it was about

section 33. You knew exactly what you were doing. Yesterday? You knew exactly what you were doing– The Speaker: Order, please. [interjection] Order, please. [interjection] Order. * (10:40) I will direct the honourable First Minister to make sure he directs his comments through the Chair, not directly to the member opposite. And I will direct the Leader of the Official Opposition. I'll be the one that calls order, not him. Mr. Kinew: Thank you for that interjection, Honour- able Speaker. I guess what I'm saying is this: we all know how this ends.

On the next election night, the member opposite crying yet again: I'm a big guy, I'm a big guy, with the member for Roblin (Mrs. Cook) patting him on the back soon before the jagged edge of her political ambition hits him from behind. Let this remain on the record. He's not a leader; he's a bigot. Manitobans, let's work together so that every child in our province, whether they're gay or not, trans or straight, can have a bright future. Let's bring people together. Let's not divide people– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. The honour able member for Spruce Woods (Mrs.

Robbins). [interjection] Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. The Speaker: Order. Order. Everybody needs to come to order. I realize it's Friday. Things generally get a little rambunctious on Friday, but I cannot allow people sitting, screaming across the way. Constituent with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Request to Meet with Health Minister Mrs. Colleen Robbins (Spruce Woods): Jeremy Bray has nine days of medi cation left before he runs out. It is clear that this one Manitoban is not a priority for the Health Minister or minister's teams.

November 21, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 73 Yesterday, after my questions in the House, Jeremy reached out to me, let me know about a con versation he had with the minister's chief of staff, who said, and I quote: was unwilling to promise us a meeting with the minister. So my question is this: Can the minister tell me why they won't meet with Jeremy? Hon. Uzoma Asagwara (Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care): The member for Spruce Woods is incorrect. I've met with the Bray family, Jeremy Bray advo- cates, his parents –his father more spe cifically– previously.

My office spoke with him just yesterday, and I've also communicated that I will be very happy to meet with Jeremy as well. The member for Spruce Woods might know now– if she's done her research as I requested, she probably would benefit from doing yesterday–that this issue was actually brought forward years ago under the previous government and they chose to do nothing. If they had done something back then, perhaps by now that medication would have been through clinical trials at the CDA level and we wouldn't be having this conversation.

The Speaker: The honourable member for Spruce Woods, on a supplementary question. Request to Cover Mr. Bray's Medication Mrs. Robbins: I guess the minister is calling Jeremy a liar. What–sorry. I guess, in the NDP caucus room, you can put a cost on the life of a Manitoban. That is shameful, and this minister should be embarrassed. This government has money and time for 'ministral' travel, but clearly none for Manitobans in the need of life-saving medication. The minister has the power.

They have the responsibility, but do they have the moral integrity to do the right thing: fund Jeremy's medi cation and ensure it's a priority. MLA Asagwara: Honourable Speaker, I recog nize that the member opposite sits on the side of the House where personal attacks are just the way that they go. I recognize that on that side of the House, they are focused on, you know, attacking people rather than on bringing people together or understanding the facts of a situation. I am going to continue to sit down with Jeremy Bray and his family.

We're going to continue to work with not only the CDA, but with Roche to find a path forward here that supports Jeremy. We advocated very, very hard to Roche to make sure that they could provide com passionate coverage to Jeremy for six months. We also advocated for the CDA to do an expedited real -world review. We're hoping the CDA will look at this case and build that into their approach, that they can make a new recom- mendation that would benefit– The Speaker: Member's time is expired. The honourable member for Spruce Woods, on a final supplementary question. Mrs.

Robbins: For six months, Jeremy Bray has had access to life-saving medication that notably improved his quality of life and stopped the progression of his disease, only because the manufacturer stepped in to give this minister six months to figure it out. Even for a not–a for-profit pharmaceutical company can show a little passion. When will this minister show some compassion for Jeremy and his family? MLA Asagwara: Honourable Speaker, Jeremy Bray's situation is a tragic one, and we have only compassion for what he and his family have been going through for years.

That is part of the reason why I will not allow for members opposite to treat this as some sort of a political puck; it's not. This is a real person and a real family. We are working very, very hard, as we have for months, to find a path forward here that supports Jeremy. We were able to success fully advocate for Roche to provide com passionate coverage under a program that they have that is meant to deliver this kind of service to folks when there is not the benefit of clinical trials being actioned at the CDA level in partnership with the manufacturer.

We're hoping for that relationship to benefit from Jeremy's reported progress, and we're going to con- tinue to work so that there's a path forward– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. Pop-up Liquor Mart Local Brewery Promotion Ms. Jodie Byram (Agassiz): This Premier (Mr. Kinew) gets up in this Chamber and talks about the economic horse in our province, all while throwing local busi - ness under the cart. It doesn't get more local than a local company growing Manitoba grain to produce a Manitoba beer.

74 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2025 Farmery Estate Brewery operates in Agassiz. They employ many Manitobans and they support local com- munities. So why –when this Premier (Mr. Kinew) was stocking a local new LC facility, why did he not support local Manitoba business? Hon. Glen Simard (Minister responsible for the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation): I want to thank the member opposite for the question. It's an impor tant question because it highlights the Manitoba industry that is growing and thriving under our government.

We are really happy to provide Manitoba products to the consumer across Manitoba in our 63-plus stores, highlighting Manitoba-grown and -produced sections. We are continuing to work with craft producers to be able to highlight their products in a way that the previous government never did, highlighting the fact that these industries bring jobs and economic develop- ment to regions across the province. We have been there, we will continue to be there and we'll continue to deliver for Manitobans. The Speaker: The honourable member for Agassiz, on a supplementary question. Ms.

Byram: The minister responsible could have stood up and said to this Premier: no; we have to support our own local busi ness here. Hey, let's support Farmery brewery in Neepawa, or how about

Section 6 or Black Wheat Brewing in Brandon East? But no. Instead, let's stand up and support Americans and get their advertising out there on their products. Why did this minister refuse to stock Manitoba product in this new storefront? Mr. Simard: US liquor is off the shelves in Manitoba. That is fact. And that is a fact that is due to our government. The US industry, the health industry, thrived under that govern ment when they were shipping away patients to Ohio, Florida and places unknown. We rebuild our economy. We rebuild our capacity.

And if you ask Manitobans who they trust to deliver for them, they already answered: not them; us. And we'll continue to do it. When we go to the places like

Section 6 and Black Wheat Brewing in Brandon East, we do it because we support– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. The honourable member for Agassiz, on a final supplementary question. Ms. Byram: This NDP government failed to deliver. That's what they did. They failed to deliver on an opportunity and a responsi bility to support local Manitoba busi ness. Instead, they failed Manitobans yet again.

I'll give this minister one final op portunity to correct the record and stand in his place today and commit right here, right now, to support Manitoba products. * (10:50) Does he support Manitoba busi nesses or his Premier? Hon. Jamie Moses (Minister of Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation): Members opposite's record on supporting small businesses local is horrible. And when–they completely failed when they were in government, and in opposi tion they even spent time thanking Donald Trump instead of –for his tariffs instead of supporting local businesses.

We not only brought in a campaign to support local, we brought in a day about supporting Manitoba businesses. We brought in a month for small business month. We provide supports for local busi nesses. We're even taking the PST off of manufacturing equipment so more businesses can grow and thrive in Manitoba. On top of all the gobs–new jobs we've created on– in this province, Honour able Speaker, Manitobans should know that we support local, we support Manitoba businesses because they are the heart of thriving– The Speaker: The time has expired. Number of Paramedics Hired Inquiry into Exact Numbers Mrs.

Kathleen Cook (Roblin): Manitobans know that NDP math is a subject all unto itself. It's certainly not real math, and it's the only explanation for the fact that the minister went out earlier this week and claimed that they had hired 231 net -new paramedics in the province of Manitoba. But they were wrong. How many paramedics did they actually hire? Take a guess. Eighteen. But we only know that because the union called them out publicly. Thinking you've–[interjection] The Speaker: Order.

November 21, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 75 Mrs. Cook: –hired 13 times as many paramedics as you actually have is hardly a rounding error, and it speaks volumes about how well they understand this file. How did the NDP mess this up so badly? Hon. Uzoma Asagwara (Minister of Health, Seniors and Long- Term Care): Under the previous failed PC government we had a net loss of paramedics from this province. We had a net loss of almost a hundred paramedics in rural Manitoba alone.

But talking about counting, since the member brings up math, when we were counting the number of folks on that side of the House who stood up to recognize trans people who have died in this province and trans people who were in the gallery for that statement from our colleague on this side of the House ye sterday, I didn't count the member for Roblin as one of them. Wasn't that long ago that the member for Roblin wore a pink shirt on Pink Shirt Day, and I called her out. I guess she's standing on the right side of the House after all, Honourable Speaker.

The Speaker: The honourable member for Roblin, on a supplementary question. Mrs. Cook: They promised 90 new paramedics in their first year of government and hired 14. They promised 200 new paramedics over the span of their mandate; two years in, they've hired 18. In all of 2025, accord- ing to MAHCP, Shared Health has had a net gain of one paramedic. Claiming to have hired 231–[interjection] The Speaker: Order. Mrs. Cook: –net-new paramedics when there's actually only 18 calls into question every health human resources number this minister has come in here and presented as fact.

And it's also a very serious concern for front-line paramedics and for Manitobans for whom timely access to ambulance service can be a matter of life or death. Will the NDP be keeping their promise to hire 200 paramedics, yes or no? MLA Asagwara: We're hiring net-new paramedics in this province, Honourable Speaker. They fired almost a hundred paramedics from rural Manitoba alone. Our training seats for paramedics are full for the first time in many years. They couldn't fill any of the seats when they were in government.

But, Honourable Speaker, I think it's really impor- tant to note that the paramedic students that I met, some of those folks are part of the 2SLGBTQ+ com - munity, and thanked our govern ment for showing representation and strength that allowed for them to feel like they could pursue paramedicine as a career path safely. The member for Roblin is actively creating con- ditions in which those folks would be less safe in this province. She is part of the problem. On this side of the House we stand for all health-care workers, not just some, like the member for Roblin.

The Speaker: The honourable member for Roblin, on a final supplementary. Mrs. Cook: When they don't want to answer the question, they get personal. I guess that's no; they will not be hiring 200 paramedics. It's becoming clear to Manitobans that this NDP government has no idea what it's doing when it comes to health human resources. We've got a Premier (Mr. Kinew) who's out here hanging the mission- accomplished banner, saying he's hired enough nurses despite a 30 per cent vacancy rate in Prairie Mountain Health alone.

This is a govern ment with, quote, no credible staffing plan, according to MAHCP, claiming to hire thousands of new staff only to have front-line workers publicly asking, where are they. So who's telling the truth: front -line workers or the NDP? MLA Asagwara: Thirty-five hundred net-new health- care workers, net -new paramedics, net -new nurses, net-new health-care aides, net-new nurse practitioners, net-new respiratory therapists, net-new technologists, net new, net new, net new. Nothing net new about the PCs' behaviour in Manitoba.

They are still corrupt, they are bankrupt, including morally, and that member for Roblin is part of the problem. On this side of the House, all health-care workers of all identities are welcome in this province on the front lines. Don't worry, the member for Roblin will never have the chance to under mine your rights and your dignity in health care ever again.

76 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2025 Interlake Region and Rural Manitoba Access to Hospice Care Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): Honourable Speaker, once again, the Health Minister stands here and when backed into a corner, they get personal. Honourable Speaker, I'd like to ask the current Health Minister whilst they are still in that position: Will they share with the House their opinion on the difference between hospice and palliative care? Hon. Uzoma Asagwara (Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care): Hospice and palliative-care services are incredibly important for Manitobans.

When I first came into this role, the Canadian Cancer Society issued a daffodil report. In that report, they captured the landscape of palliative and hospice services in Manitoba. However–sorry, across the country. However, Manitoba was missing from that report, and that is because the previous PC govern ment refused to participate in it. On this side of the House, we've been meeting with folks across the sector to better understand what we need to do. There's a lot of work to do in this space, but I want to say thank you to all of those who provide hospice and palliative-care services; the work you do is sacred.

We ap preciate it. You're making a differ - ence every single day. The Speaker: The honourable member for Lac du Bonnet, on a supplementary question. Mr. Ewasko: Honourable Speaker, there's a petition right now out there for the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority to provide hospice care for termi - nally ill people in the Interlake-Eastern region. There's over 1,000 signatures. Under this Health Minister, Honourable Speaker, no resident from the Interlake and eastern regions can access hospice care in the designated palliative- care facilities at hospitals wards in the city of Winnipeg.

Rural Manitobans deserve the same quality of care or a similar designated facility for terminally ill people as those who live in Winnipeg. Honourable Speaker, have the Health Minister actually get to work and actually do some thing on behalf of all Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Author- ity, and– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. MLA Asagwara: Honourable Speaker, this is an area of health care that is very, very im portant to families across this province, and having options is really key.

We've been working with experts in this area to build capacity across Manitoba, recognizing that, for seven and a half years, this was neglected entirely. We've been able to work with the CMO of the Winnipeg Regional Health Author ity, Dr. Reimer, who has successfully recruited folks to the province to provide hospice and palliative expertise, geriatricians in this area of practice, and to make sure that in doing so we're actually ensuring they're providing those ser- vices in rural communities.

So we're building up capacity here, we recognize there's much, much more to do, but we're working with experts– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. The honourable member for Lac du Bonnet, on a final supplementary question. Mr. Ewasko: Honourable Speaker, just recently, a dentist said, and I quote: lying through your teeth is not a replacement for flossing, end quote. It's obvious, Honourable Speaker, that this Health Minister has over 780 days of plaque build-up. It's embarrassing. So I stand today on behalf of all rural Manitobans– all rural Manitobans, Honourable Speaker–[interjection] The Speaker: Order.

Mr. Ewasko: Will the Premier (Mr. Kinew) today stand up in his spot and replace, do a Cabinet shuffle, of this embar rassing Health Minister, because the health care in this province is only getting worse, Honourable Speaker. [interjection] * (11:00) The Speaker: Order. Order, everyone. Particularly, the NDP bench needs to calm down. MLA Asagwara: Honourable Speaker, I'm not sure why the member for Lac du Bonnet is recounting his dental ap pointments on the floor of the House, but what I can tell you is that our government is investing more money in hospice and palliative -care services year over year.

We recognize that there's more work to do here. We're building capacity and we want folks, no matter where you live in this province, to be able to access hospice and palliative care services. Now, I know the member for Lac du Bonnet will continue to make personal attacks, but my focus is on Manitobans. My focus is on you, making sure that you

November 21, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 77 have improved health care. You didn't have a govern- ment that was focused on you for seven and a half years; you have one now. We're going to keep working for you no matter where you live in this province, to have the care that you count on and you deserve from the beginning– The Speaker: Member's time is expired. Correctional Facility Overcrowding Request for Plan to Address MLA Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): Honour- able Speaker, correctional facilities across Manitoba are all over capacity by hundreds of inmates.

A big part of this problem is due to the number of people being held at the Remand Centre. On September 28, less than two months ago, Kyle Ross, the president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union, said: We really need a plan from this government moving forward because once bail reform comes, we're going to be in a tight position in this province. I table this article.

There was no mention of a plan moving forward in the Throne Speech, and while the building of a Dauphin prison is fine and hopefully it will alleviate some of the overcrowding, what are the overrun correctional facilities to do in the meantime? Hon. Matt Wiebe (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): I thank the member opposite for the question. I think it's an important one and I appreciate her recognition of the important work that we're doing on bail and on getting tough on crime, ensuring that our com munities are safe. Our public safety i s the No. 1 priority of our government.

Included in that, of course, is the safety of our staff and the inmates in our corrections facility. We've been working very closely with the MGEU and with our corrections staff to ensure that that safety is paramount and that we're ensuring that as we manage the load within the system, that we're ensuring that the safety is a priority. I welcome the line of questioning. I think it's an important one; it's one that speaks to the values of our government: that is, again, safety for all Manitobans and justice. The Speaker: Time is expired. The honourable member for Tyndall Park, on a supplementary question.

Correctional Centres–Worker Burnout Internal Review Update MLA Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): Honour- able Speaker, correctional and emergency service workers are currently experiencing burnout, which is leading to high vacancies. This is due to factors like chronic understaffing, excessive overtime, workplace violence and repeated exposure to traumatic events. Back in May, CBC News reached out to the Province inquiring about how an internal review had been launched at the Brandon Correctional Centre to examine the circumstances and reinforce safety mea- sures for both staff and inmates.

When asked, the Province said there is no time - line for this review. Those working in public safety are at a breaking point. Can the government share with us today an update on the review, and will the results be made public? Hon. Matt Wiebe (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Again, a good question and as I mentioned, we're working very closely with staff and with the union representing workers to ensure that our policies are strong and that safety is a No. 1 priority.

The review that we're doing is an impor tant one and it will inform how we keep people safe in our institutions, so it's an important one to get right. You know, we are building capacity in the system overall. Member opposite noted that we have com - mitted to moving forward on the Dauphin centre for justice, an important component of providing correc- tions capacity as well as justice for people in the Parkland, throughout the province. I, again, welcome the line of questioning. I'll – happy to answer more questions in the third answer. Thank you.

The Speaker: The honourable member for Tyndall Park, on a final supplementary question. New Dauphin Correctional Facility Architectural Design Plan MLA Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): Honour- able Speaker, correctional facilities here in Manitoba are all over capacity. In the Throne Speech, the government shared that they will break ground on a correctional facility in

78 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2025 Dauphin next fall, and further commented that it will make our province safer by helping people who are ready to turn their lives around. The language of this commitment has been brought to my attention and I'm hoping the Justice Minister can clarify for the House if this new facility in Dauphin will be similar to the facilities in Headingley, Milner Ridge and The Pas, or will it be more along the lines of a holding ground or a place for r estorative justice and mediation to take place? Hon.

Matt Wiebe (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Well, again, I ap preciate the question and it does allow us to highlight some of the innovative work that we're doing in the design of the Dauphin facility. We've been undertaking consul tations with the City of Dauphin, with the surrounding Parkland region, First Nations and ensuring that we have true input and true collaboration.

This is important work because under the previous government, there were two jails closed in this province, including in the city of Dauphin, and it's unbelievable to me that they would close jails at a time where public safety is a No. 1 concern of people across this province. We're taking a different path; we're rebuilding that capacity, we're paying our corrections workers– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. Transgender Day of Remembrance Government's Message to Trans Kids Mr. Logan Oxenham (Kirkfield Park): I am so proud to work with a leader, a great Premier (Mr.

Kinew), who values the lives of trans kids and understands the truth: that trans kids exist and will always exist. Yesterday, Manitobans once again saw the cowardly, transphobic Leader of the PCs doubling down on his hate for the 2SLGBTQ community and on his efforts to divide Manitobans. Can the Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care please tell the House how the PCs continue to divide Manitobans and about our government's message of hope to every kid in our great province. Hon.

Uzoma Asagwara (Minister of Health, Seniors and Long -Term Care): Yesterday, the PC Leader refused to stand to honour members of the trans com- munity who have died and those in this very Chamber. Before the last election, during the last election and since the last election, the PC Leader has attacked trans people and particularly trans kids across Manitoba. Yesterday was Trans Day of Remembrance, a day when Manitobans honour and remember trans and gender-diverse people who have died due to trans - phobic violence.

And so, while the PCs continue to try and divide Manitobans, our government has one simple message for every trans kid in this province: your government has your back. We will fight for you. You absolutely belong. Pop-up Liquor Mart Local Brewery Promotion Mr. Konrad Narth (La Vérendrye): Premiers Moe, Smith and Ford are all out there repre senting their economy and getting results. Here in Manitoba, invest- ment is down, businesses are leaving and our agricul- ture sector, one of the largest economic engines, is being ignored by this Premier and his failed Agri cul- ture Minister.

Instead of supporting Manitoba canola, Manitoba breweries, Manitoba distillers and Manitoba's agri - business, this government is busy promoting American- made liquor in publicly funded stores. How can the Premier claim to support Manitoba's economy when his own actions time and time again actively undermine Manitoba producers– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. Hon. Ron Kostyshyn (Minister of Agriculture): I'd like to thank the member opposite for asking, finally, an agriculture question.

What we've witnessed in the last seven and a half– or, the previous seven and a half years when they were under govern ment, Hon ourable Speaker, what did they actually do? And let me give you a little bit of refresher of what that government did about represen- ting the rural economy in the province of Manitoban agriculture: they closed 20- some offices in the agri - culture industry, they closed the Dauphin jail. In fact, the Justice Minister come into town, couldn't get out of Dauphin fast enough after he told city council –actually, maybe he had a silica sand meeting somewhere that he had to go to.

The Speaker: Member's time has expired. * (11:10) Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. The Speaker: Order, please. I will allow one more question from the opposition to compensate for several bouts of excessive clapping.

November 21, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 79 Mr. Narth: Thank you, Honourable Speaker, for the opportunity. Honourable Speaker, while Manitoba breweries, distilleries and private liquor retailers invest their own dollars to support our economy, the Premier (Mr. Kinew) was out at a Costco parking lot promoting American liquor companies –not a single Manitoba -made pro- duct in sight. Even Farmery brewery called him out by undermining local producers. Other premiers stand up for their industries: Doug Ford for the auto, Scott Moe for canola, Danielle Smith for energy.

Why is our Premier using taxpayer-funded pop-ups to boost American companies instead of supporting– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. Hon. Jamie Moses (Minister of Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation): Well, first of all, Honour- able Speaker, Manitobans should know that instead of thanking Donald Trump for his tariffs that he imposed on the Canadian economy, we've actually pulled the US booze off the shelves and supported our local economy and local breweries and busi nesses right here in Manitoba. That's how we grow an economy that works for everyone.

Instead of putting one Manitoban against the other, instead of supporting some busi nesses and not others, we build an economy that works for everyone: for businesses, for business leaders and for workers in Manitoba–to make sure workers stay safe with a strong economy by creating more jobs and more opportunities for businesses to invest right here at home. That's how we grow a strong economy that works for everyone. The Speaker: Order, please. [interjection] Order, please. [interjection] Order. There's some guests in the gallery that I would like to introduce. Time for oral questions has expired, first.

Introduction of Guests The Speaker: We have seated in the public gallery, from École Charleswood, 22 grade 6 students under the direction of Kim Bleue, and this group is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Roblin (Mrs. Cook). We welcome you here today. PETITIONS Programs for Adolescents with Disabilities Ms. Jodie Byram (Agassiz): I wish to present the following petition. To the Legis lative Assembly of Manitoba, the background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Children with dis abilities often require child care beyond the age of 12. Children with dis abilities aged 12 to 17 face a gap in publicly available care programs.

(2) The current adolescent -care service model creates an undue hardship on caregivers.

(3) While developing children may be entering into extracurricular activities, school clubs or spending time with friends independently, children with disabil- ities have reduced op portunities for such social and recreational opportunities due to the lack of spaces.

(4) The current self-managed adolescent-care models place additional workloads onto already stressed families, requiring parents to seek all alter native options and prove their need for care.

(5) The current adolescent-care system, as part of overall respite and support available to families, is failing families of children with dis abilities, as identified in the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth's Bridging the Gaps report.

(6) To date, none of the nine recommendations it contains have been completed beyond 50 per cent.

(7) The recommendations in this report touch on many of the issues facing families, with adolescent care being a small component of their overall needs. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

(1) To urge the provincial gov ernment to fully implement recommen dations in the bridging gaps report.

(2) To urge the provincial gov ernment to imme- diately implement official policies and procedures that are more respectful and collaborative, which also minimize harm faced by families seeking help from Children's disABILITY Services.

(3) To urge the Minister of Families to arrange for a full review of em ployment supports provided by Children's dis ABILITY Services for children with disabilities aged 12 to 17, including direct consul ta- tion with impacted families and to explore a full

80 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2025 spectrum of options to support families, em powering them to choose solutions that best fit their needs. This petition is signed by Darrell Mandrick, Natalka Ramonshyn [phonetic] and Vanessa Vanderhoort [phonetic], and many, many more Manitobans. Thank you, Honourable Speaker. The Speaker: Further petitions?

ORDERS OF THE DAY GOVERNMENT BUSINESS THRONE SPEECH (Third Day of Debate) The Speaker: We will now resume debate on the address and reply to the Speech from the Throne, standing in the name of the honour able member for Kirkfield Park, who has 10 minutes remaining. Mr. Logan Oxenham (Kirkfield Park): Thank you so much, Honour able Speaker, again, for provi ding me an opportunity to stand up with my response to the Speech from the Throne. And, again, I would just like to, you know, thank the folks–the good folks in Kirkfield Park who work hard every day.

Many of them work at the Grace Hospital and the clinics around the community. Your hard work, your dedi cation, your sacrifices that you make every day don't go unnoticed. We see you and thank you for that work. I also just want to talk again about what I learned from the Throne Speech. I learned a lot about freedom and what that means, and how our gov ernment is really supporting people to express themselves and to be who they are and to be free, Honourable Speaker. You know, children being free to pursue who they are.

And I'm so proud to be part of a team that recog- nizes that that's impor tant, and a team that also recognizes just how harmful it can be to be against those freedoms: the freedoms to choose, the freedom of choice–something our government stands very solidly behind, those freedoms. And families really don't want politicians in the room with them when they're seeing the doctor.

So why don't we let the physicians and the experts and the scientists do their work, providing us information, and we'll continue to trust the science, trust the physicians and, most of all, trust the children who, you know, expect us to believe them when they tell us something–[interjection]–thank you. You know, on the public safety front of the Throne Speech, our justice system, we're really focused on being rooted in prevention and not punishment. When I worked at the Manitoba Youth Centre, I saw the con- sequences of the inaction of the previous government. I saw what happens when we wait too long to help.

And as a helper, I feel like I'm someone who's, you know, been born to help people, and it's really heart - wrenching when you don't have any tools on your tool belt to help the people that need help. * (11:20) You know, so this Throne Speech, Honour able Speaker, really makes it clear to me and, I believe, to the rest of Manitoba, that safety starts with prevention support and intervention, not just punishment. We're also strengthening supports for youth in CFS care; we're giving them more stability, more pro- tection, a real chance at success instead of a pipeline to crisis.

And, Honourable Speaker, I've been a part of the youth justice system, I've seen that pipeline; it's very distressing to witness and it's really hard on the kids. We expect a lot out of them, and I know a lot of those kids, you know, never really had a choice about where they were coming from. But we need to provide them with options. We need to provide them with hope and a direction on where to go. I worked with a lot of these kids; they're very smart; they're very busy with their hands. You know, they like to work on stuff; they're very, very creative.

And so I think, you know, our government's on the right track by keeping these kids busy in a good way, keeping them educated, giving them oppor tun- ities to be involved in cultural activities and really getting the kids to take ownership of their lives to help them get on a better path and to live life in a good way. So, Honourable Speaker, I believe we are taking a health-based approach to addictions. We're expanding detox beds, something that's desperately needed here in Manitoba, and we're adding supports after sobering. So it's really important, you know.

I've seen it, I've been a part of releasing people from jail, and they have all their personal belongings on them and they don't have anything that they can go to immediately after they're released to offer further supports. Those things were cut by the previous gov- ernment. And so we're just setting them up for failure. So I'm really proud that our government recognizes those things and we're working towards, you know, bringing forward creative solutions for folks. Addiction is a health issue; it's not a crime. And we're living –

November 21, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 81 we're giving police the tools that they need to seize illegal weapons and prevent violence before it starts. We're fighting the meth crisis. We're stopping drugs from flowing into northern communities, Hon- ourable Speaker. The amount of folks that I worked with who, you know, came down from the North was really heartbreaking–again.

So, once again, I believe our govern ment–we've seen what hasn't been working: years of cuts; devastation; ignoring the calls and pleas for help by correctional officers themselves; striking correctional officers saying, why, why in God's name would you close a jail in a time where, you know, we're double-, sometimes triple-bunking people together, which is not safe whatsoever.

So I'm really proud, again, Hon ourable Speaker, that we have a Justice Minister who recognizes these things and that, you know, relies on the experts, listens to the people working on the front line and comes up with solutions to these issues. And for the first time in decades, we're building a new correctional and healing facility in Dauphin, one focused on rehabilitation, not just incar ceration, something that is des perately needed, again, here in Manitoba.

Families in Kirkfield Park deserve to feel safe on their streets and in their homes and in their daily lives, and I really believe this govern ment is acting not with slogans, Honourable Speaker, but with actual, tangible solutions. So as I wrap up my remarks, what this Throne Speech really shows more than anything is that Manitoba's moving forward with purpose. We're rebuilding what was broken, strengthening what was neglected and we're restoring what families in every corner of this province have been asking for: dignity, stability and real hope.

But none of this works–work happens from inside this building alone, Honourable Speaker. It happens in the hospitals, it happens in our schools, in the cor - rectional facilities, in communitive–community centres, in living rooms, around the kitchen table. It's led by people who call this province home, and I carry the voices for folks in Kirkfield Park with me every day: the parents who want a better future for their kids, the seniors who simply want to age in com fort and security, the workers who want fairness and opportun- ity. I hear from those folks all the time.

And I want them to know this, I want you to know this: that we hear you, we do see you and we are acting for you. Just over two years ago, Manitobans elected a government that would show up not just for easy moments, but for the hard ones. Not with excuses, but with solutions. And we're just getting started, Honour- able Speaker. Together, we are building safer commu- nities, healthier families, stronger schools and a more affordable life. Not for some, but for everyone.

This is the work of one Manitoba, Hon ourable Speaker, and I'm so honoured, every single day, I help to carry that work forward on behalf of the good people of Kirkfield Park. Thank you, Honourable Speaker. Mr. Obby Khan (Leader of the Official Opposition): It's an honour to rise in this Chamber and respond to the govern ment's Throne Speech on behalf of Manitobans, on behalf of members in this House. We all heard the Throne Speech, we've all read it and we are all amazed by how terrible it was; how it didn't reflect any of the needs, desires, wishes, wants of this province.

It was reannouncements, it was the Premier (Mr. Kinew) and his NDP government taking credit for stuff that was done previously that they had nothing to do with. It was a real travesty in this province.

The Throne Speech is supposed to signal to the province and the nation where we're going, the things that we have look forward to, the investments that the government is making, the investments that are going to make this a amazing province to live in, the invest- ments that are going to keep families here, bring children back to this province, that are going to grow this economy out of dead last under this NDP government.

Investments that are going to address the concerns of Manitobans when it comes to crime, when it comes to our health care, when it comes to our economy, families, homelessness, mental health crises, when it comes to community centres and municipalities, when it comes to infrastructures and safety. None of that was addressed by this NDP government. Mr. Tyler Blashko, Deputy Speaker, in the Chair The Throne Speech was a disgrace to what hap - pens in this Chamber. My job as the Leader of the Opposition is to ask tough questions, to hold this failing NDP government to account.

To get them to answer questions for once, to Manitobans, on what's really happening. And you can see by the conduct in this Chamber by this government, they don't care about that. They're not interested in answering any questions. They're not interested in listening to what you have to say, what

82 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2025 your concerns are. They simply don't care. Their arrogance is so great, and the Premier (Mr. Kinew) says it himself, and I quote: Premier thinks his arrogance is his virtue. End quote. That speaks volumes to this govern ment, to this toxic leader and that has now flowed into the Throne Speech. It is our job to speak up when the government tries to do things without giving Manitobans the whole story. And when we don't feel like a plan is right for Manitobans, it is our job to speak up. It is our job to bring those concerns forward.

The plan isn't clearly articulated to Manitobans. It is our con stitu- tional duty to oppose it and vote against it. For some reason, when we do that, the NDP thinks it's a joke. You know what's a joke, Honourable Speaker? This NDP government. This failing Premier. All of his front bench and second bench. Failed Minister of Families (MLA Fontaine), of Education, of Justice, of Finance, of Health, have all received a D- or lower. * (11:30) You don't get much lower than a D-. They reserve that spot, F, for this Premier. A failure is what his legacy will be.

Every thing in this province is worse under this NDP government and that is highlighted in the Throne Speech. In a demo cracy, the gov ernment belongs to the people. Maybe they should listen to that, to the people. A government needs to be accountable to the people. Don't take my word for it, take C.D. Howe. They gave this Finance Minister a report of D- when it comes to accountability and trans parency. A democracy, the government belongs to the people and the government needs to be accountable to the people. D-, that's what their record has to say.

In a demo- cracy, we should never be afraid to ask honest and tough questions. And yet when we do, on that side of the House, they simply attack. They make it personal. The Premier said, when they go low, we'll go high. It's the exact opposite of what they're doing. We ask questions on health care, they attack. We ask questions about life -saving medi cation and this Premier attacks. He has the power to do it, a power to approve medication that will save lives in Manitoba and he's–won't answer.

We ask about paramedics, crime, repeat violent offenders, grocery prices that are at all -time highs under this NDP govern ment, and they won't answer. This Premier, let's not forget, Manitoba, threatened local grocery companies that if he –they don't lower the price of groceries, he will come for them. Grocery prices are at an all-time high. No one can deny those facts on that side of the House. They're nodding their heads and yet they won't do anything to address it. Why? Because they're scared of their Premier. The Throne Speech does not address any of those concerns that Manitobans are asking for.

That's what a Throne Speech is supposed to be. Nothing was addressed in that. If the govern ment has a good idea, something that will benefit Manitobans, benefit your family, we will support it. We have done that on this side of the House with numer ous bills we have supported, saying this is good for Manitoba. We've also brought forward recommendations to change bills, and when the govern ment shockingly listens, they take those amend ments and the bill gets better. It's not perfect. We're in op position; we can offer our sug gestions and we hope that they listen.

From the very rare time to time–actually, maybe only once, and that was because the Minister of Finance (MLA Sala) didn't know what dyed fuel was when he introduced his gas tax stunt. He didn't know. This is the quality of ministers we have over the way, that they don't even know the difference in types of fuel in Manitoba; the difference that agri culture needs–producers versus Winnipeg. It's shocking; it's appalling, and that is reflected once agai n in this Throne Speech. If you have a bad idea, we're going to speak out against it. That is our job in op position.

In a demo- cracy, in Manitoba, the power is with the people, your votes. Citizens, you are the power in this province, not this Premier, no matter much he wants to stand up and smile and bash his fist against his chest and insult and bully and intimidate not only myself, but all members on this side of the House. It is you that has the power. It is you that can look at this Throne Speech and say there's actually nothing really in here. A few flashy announcements and that's all.

It is up to you, and as I go through the next hour, you will see that this failing ND P gov ernment has done nothing to address the needs. Now, in this province you have to look– we have two parties. That's the reality to what it is. You have the NDP and you have the Progressive Conservatives on this side. As the new PC Leader, I have committed to work for you, to listen to you, to bring the best policies forward in a Throne Speech that reflects the needs and desires of Manitoba and where we're going

November 21, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 83 to go, get the right answers from Manitobans, listen but then institute those changes, get them done. Two years this government has said they're listen- ing and nothing has gotten better. And again, it's reflected in the Throne Speech, where there are no real concrete, tangible changes or vision for the future. Our economy is dead last in Canada, and there is nothing in this Throne Speech that addresses the immediate needs of Manitoba to get out of the gutter under this NDP.

There's talk of Port of Churchill–minimum–Prime Minister says it himself, quote: There is a lot of work to do. End quote. From the Prime Minister–minimum 10 years before it even gets going to be a viable economic driver for this province. And this govern - ment has no other plan in their Throne Speech. The difference between this NDP gov ernment– well, there's lots of differences–one is we don't live in la-la land; we live in reality, based on facts and needs of what Manitobans want.

We also live in the reality that Manitobans are hurting; that whether you are a single parent, a student, a family of five, a senior, a new comer to Canada, whether you have a stable job at a career, you are still hurting under this NDP government. This NDP govern ment has made life worse for Manitobans, and absolute worst part about that is this Premier (Mr. Kinew) would do it with a smile on his face. That is the worst kind of hypocrisy and leader - ship you can have in a government. We have to change that.

You have to look at this Throne Speech and what's happening in the province of Manitoba and say, this is not enough. The promises that are made by the NDP have not been kept. The promises of fixing health care–it's worse. The promises of bail reform never happened. The promises of getting all homeless people housed has not happened–less than a hundred. The promise of hiring 200 paramedics is nowhere near where it is; 18 was the last number. Promise after promise after promise with zero results. And, on top of that, they have removed Manitobans' democratic right to come and speak.

Time and time again we've seen it in bills in this Chamber, where they have completely removed your right to com e speak. Whether it's a finance bill that this failing Finance Minister–a D-minus-rated Finance Minister–brings forward, they block you from speaking. BITSA–budget implementation bill that they have to bring forward–and it talks about what they're going to do with the money, how they're going to spend the money–they didn't bring it forward. No debate on that, no conversation on that.

Hundreds of millions, billions of dollars into this province, and they delayed it to the very last day, and then they pa ssed it without any conversation. That's not right. That's not democracy; that's dictator- ship. That's an authoritarian Premier on that side. That is someone who thinks he has all the answers and doesn't need anyone's input. When it comes to homelessness and drug con- sumption sites–it is a drug consumption site. They can say what they want. It's a safe consumption site where drugs are being done. You've created a site for drugs to be consumed. Is that not what it is?

Are people just going there to this site and playing volleyball or hand- ball or playing cards? Having coffee and a tea? No. They're doing drugs. It is a drug consumption site. On that side of the House, they believe it's the right thing to give Manitobans drugs. On our side of the House, we believe it's the right thing to help Manitobans get off drugs. The choice is yours. It's simple.

It's that trans parent; it's that much accountability we demand on this side of the House. * (11:40) He won't even tell you, the Premier, the NDP gov- ernment, the failed Minister of Addictions, won't even tell you where it's going. They won't tell you that it's going in your backyard, across the street from your child's school. Every member on that side of the House, every single NDP member votes in favour of having a drug consumption site in their riding.

Every single riding in the city except for Fort Whyte and Roblin, under this NDP government, believe it's right to have a drug con- sumption site in their backyard. Member from Waverley thinks it's okay to have a drug consumption site in your backyard. Member from Transcona, member from Radisson, St. Johns, St. Vital, Kildonan-River East, Kirkfield, River Heights, Assiniboia, Lagimodière, Brandon East–every single member on that side of the House thinks it's okay to have a drug consumption site in your neighbourhood. On this side of the House, we don't. On this side of the House, we want to help people.

We want to provide wrap-around supports. We want to get you off of drugs.

84 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2025 This Throne Speech– what does it say? They're going to open up a drug consumption site in January, downtown–won't tell you where, won't let you have come a say –come have a say, won't commit to open reporting or trans parency and accountability, won't tell you how much it costs or who's going to staff it. They simply say it's going downtown. What's happening to our downtown core right now? Busi nesses are closing at an exponential rate under this NDP gov ernment. Violence and crime is happening at an exponential rate under this NDP government.

And what do they want to do? Open up a drug consumption site downtown with zero consul tation. Have they addressed any of the businesses there? No. Have they addressed any of the families there? No. And when families came out in Point Douglas to talk about this, they came out in numbers upon numbers and said, we do not want this in our backyard. Well, will the member from Tuxedo commit today to opening up a drug consump tion site in their back - yard? That's what they're advocating for.

Tuxedo resi- dents, be it known that the member from Tuxedo thinks it's okay to open up a drug consump tion site in your backyard with zero input from you. Same with the member from Waverley, Lagimodière, Transcona, Radisson, McPhillips, Burrows, Maples. They all think it's okay to do that. On this side of the House, we do not. And we will not do that. Every day in this Chamber, government ministers hurl abuse, threats, insults at this side of the Chamber. You can go back and look at the public record. We ask questions; they launch assaults, attacks. Why?

Because they're afraid that what they're doing is actually being exposed for what it is, and it is nothing other than smoke and mirrors, hypocrisy, misleading Manitobans and destroying the province that we all love. Two years into the job under this NDP govern - ment and what do they do? Their No. 1 answer is blame, blame, blame. It's time they look in the mirror. Two years have gone by under this administration and everything is worse in this province. Then they go back –oh–about seven years of the previous govern ment, they did this, this, this, this.

Well, 17 years before that, it was them, and 10 years before that it was someone else and 15 years before that it was someone else. The reality is, in the present, it's two years under this failing NDP government and they have done nothing to make this province better. That is not leadership; it's cowardice. It is cowardice by this entire NDP government. Instead of the simplest questions on your behalf that we are asking in this Chamber, they meet it with such visceral disdain.

They meet it with such anger, such hypocrisy that it seeps through to every one of their members and is now reflected in the Throne Speech. Because the Throne Speech does not address any of the concerns that Manitobans are talking about. The Premier (Mr. Kinew) can only deflect for so long before the truth comes out. The Premier is running out of time and he knows that. He knows that, after two years, he has failed on every deliverable promise he made. So, once again, he uses democracy as a tool to control, as a tool to scare you into thinking that there's an election coming up.

And there might be, because people are seeing how terrible they are. People are seeing that life is getting worse. They're seeing a new energy, a new vision, a new passion on this side of the House. And they see the Premier for who he is: he doesn't like criticism, he doesn't like to be asked tough ques - tions, not only from me, but from media. From anybody–Manitoban asking him a question, he will attack, he will insult, he will humiliate and he will belittle you. He does it every day in the Chamber. He does it to the member for Fort Garry (Mr. Wasyliw) time and time again, who was a colleague of his. Why?

Because the member of Fort Garry wouldn't put up to his toxicity. The Speaker in the Chair The rest of the lambs on that side will follow. The member from Waverley is the prime candidate for that: whatever you say, boss, I will do. I will not use logic, I will not think about what's happening, I will do whatever I'm told because I have no backbone to stand up. And he's going to clip that on social media, and I hope he does, because the people living in Waverley know that he is a coward. They know he won't stand up and do what's best for their constituency.

Neither will the member from Transcona or Radisson or McPhillips or Tuxedo or Concordia. And we'll get to the failed Minister of Justice (Mr. Wiebe) from Concordia in a little bit here. Again, not just me, not just the member for Fort Garry. Take a look at one of his own candidates: Chris Wiebe, vice- president. Resigned from being vice - president of the party because he felt like the values

November 21, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 85 of the NDP were not reflected in the way the Premier (Mr. Kinew) was going and they're not reflected in this Throne Speech. That's what we have to get back to, is that none of the promises that they committed to are reflected or – in a real, tangible way to deliver for Manitobans in this Throne Speech. That is why their vice -president resigned, the member from Fort Garry. Member s on that side of the House, they'll even clap for the Premier when he stands because they know what he stands for is a toxic leadership. Manitobans are finally starting to see that.

If you disagree with the Premier, he will make you pay. On this side of the House, we're not afraid of him. Manitobans aren't afraid of him. The truth about this government and the failures are reflected in t his Throne Speech.

Whether it be the Minister of Families (MLA Fontaine) blocking foster parents, insulting an ASL interpreter, making fun of a father being murdered in front of his children and political violence; whether it's the Minister of Finance (MLA Sala) for D -, and the debt is not even reflected in this Throne Speech– how they're going to get out of $4 billion in debt; whether it's the Minister of Addictions and Homelessness; whether it is the Minister of Justice (Mr. Wiebe) for the endless crime, it is tragic what's happening in this province and what's reflected in this Throne Speech.

And every one of the members on that side of the House knows that. They know that's not why they ran. They know what's reflected in this Throne Speech doesn't actually reflect what they believe: hard work, accountability, not giving people drugs when they see it themselves first -hand–that the best thing to offer those people is hope, a chance of survival, of getting off of drugs. When their own colleagues work in the field and they see this on a day- to-day basis and all they want to do is get them treatme nt, they continue to push drugs on Manitobans.

Health care in this province was a footnote in this Throne Speech. Surgical and diagnostic wait times are longer than they've ever been. Nurses are leaving the profession faster than ever. More Manitobans are leaving this province. Youth unem ployment is at an all-time high. Our GDP is worst in the entire country. There are no jobs, there are no oppor tunities in this province. * (11:50) Manitobans are feeling the pinch. Manitobans are with–50 per cent of Manitobans are within bankruptcy, $200 away from bankruptcy.

The NDP, the supposed party that reflects the needs and desires and the wants of Manitobans, over 50 per cent are $200 away from bankruptcy in this province. Borrowing is up for families. Spending is up for families. Debt is up for families. And this NDP gov - ernment have provided you no solutions, nothing at all. What they did supposedly do was a gas tax. Well, let's look at that gas tax. That gas tax took $300 million– $350 million, I believe was the number –out of prov- incial coffers to help Manitobans.

Then what they did was they reintroduced the gas tax to Manitobans, costing Manitobans $550 more in provincial gas taxes this year –$550, this year, increase you felt at the pump. Don't believe me? Take a look at the Taxpayers Federation reports. August 21: drivers in Manitoba are paying 29 cents per litre when they fill up–more – according to a study. This year's Manitoba's provincial gas tax is costing drivers up to $12 per fill-up. A two- car family in Manitoba filling up once every two weeks is paying $550 more provincial gas tax this year.

That's under your NDP gov ernment, and they've offered nothing to help you. When you look at the reality of what is presented in this Throne Speech, Honourable Speaker, you will see that there is a way to do things better. You will see that the sheer neglect for the common needs of Manitobans, of businesses, of health-care workers, of educators, of families is left off. When I became the Leader of Opposition, I said, we're about to do things better. And we are. And we have. You can see it every day in the Chamber here.

You can see it in how we carry ourselves, how we reflect and how we bring forward the needs of Manitobans. When we talk about grocery prices being at all - time highs –where we offer real solutions. Member from Midland on this side of the House, the Finance critic, brought forward real, tangible ways to get grocery prices down, and they voted against it. But what do they do? These are real, proven methods the member offered: by removing the industrial carbon tax, by removing PST. Talked about rebates for families that are in need of it. And they voted it down.

But what they did do in the Throne Speech is they committed to a survey or a study–a study. What's there to study? Prices are exponentially higher now than

86 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2025 they were. Milk has gone up in the last two years, bread has gone up, eggs have gone up, meat's gone up, cheese has gone up, chips have gone up. Everything has gone up under this NDP –there's your study, it's done. Take it; don't pay $1 million or $20 million for another layer of bureaucracy under this NDP govern- ment, because that's all they want to do: create more jobs, create–make an impression you're creating more jobs. When, reality, you're just creating burea ucracy and you're delaying the process.

For the love of God, why do you need another study to tell you grocery prices are higher now? They are higher. Ask any family. On this side of the House, we proposed solutions for that. They refused to listen. But what they don't refuse to do is create more bureaucracy, because under the NDP, nothing's going to get done. Let's move the piece of paper from here to there to there. The Throne Speech reflects that. The Throne Speech, loud and clear, reflects that. Again, don't take my words for it.

Let's look at Taxpayers Federation again, and I quote: Taxpayers can't afford to keep bankrolling this ballooning NDP government wage bill. The Province of Manitoba 2024 list shows over 30,000 govern ment employees being paid more than $100,000 annually. The govern- ment spent $1.8 billion more paying gov ernment employees in 2024, compared to 2020 when we were in government–$1.8 billion. And, on top of all that spending, productivity has gone down in this province.

Any business owner, any rational human watching this, looking at home, says, if I'm going to hire 30,000 employees, my product - ivity better go up in this industry. Only under NDP can you hire 30,000 employees and productivity can go down. Only under them can you spend $1.8 billion more. And where's all that money coming from, Hon- ourable Speaker? The gov ernment is increasing the provincial debt to $37.4 billion. Debt interest payments are costing taxpayers $2.3 billion this year. That is every single Manitoban is going to be taxed $1,550 to cover that; another $1,500 out of your back pockets.

But I guess when this NDP government has now taken $400 million in an education property tax out of your back pocket, what's another $1,500 from this NDP? Honourable Speaker, $400 million they've increased your education property taxes, all under the smoke and mirrors and auspice of you're getting a rebate. Well, a small percentage of Manitobans are getting a rebate. The majority of Manitobans are now paying $400 million in taxes, which is larger than what this Premier (Mr. Kinew) and NDP government now, and colleagues across the way, supported in the previ ous NDP leader Greg Selinger's PST increase.

That was $275-million tax increase under Selinger. This Premier is worse: $400-million tax increase, just under a dif - ferent name. When you look at what the Throne Speech says when it comes to the Premier's thought, vision, of Manitoba–I'm going to go right to the end here; and it's really telling of what this Premier thinks –I quote: "Little old Manitoba." That's what he thinks of your province. Little old Manitoba. The title in this Throne Speech is from promise –should be from promise to failure, because that's what it is: a lot of promises with nothing actually being delivered by this NDP govern- ment.

Those are the facts of this NDP government. When it comes to health care, the median wait time for ERs is over 11 hours–11 hours at the Grace Hospital. Then they talk about opening other hospitals that are unstaffed, so they close them. It's smoke and mirrors. It's misleading. It's not the reality of what's happening, and when they say something different, all you have to do, Manitoba, is look at your own situation, look at your own bank account, look at the own health crises in your family, look at the educa- tional needs of your children, and you'll see that what they're telling you is not reality.

And I'll tell you, on this side of the House, we will deliver on our promises. We will make life better for you in Manitoba, unlike them –unlike them, who has no plan to actually get it done. And when a plan is offered, they don't want to take it because t heir Premier is too arrogant. The Premier believes arrogance is his virtue. He has said it himself time and time again. You know what's a virtue, is humility, compassion, empathy, meeting people where they're at, helping them, not forcing legislation down their throat without them listening.

This is the problem of what we have in this province under this NDP government. * (12:00) We, on this side of the House, offer solutions. We offer a way to grow our economy, not in 10 years like this Premier talks about Port of Churchill, but imme - diately by signing on to the MOU, the contract agree- ment with Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario.

November 21, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 87 That's how we grow our economy; that's how we create jobs. Why won't the Premier (Mr. Kinew) do that? Every other province has signed on to a energy corridor, transmission of pipeline. And this Premier won't do it. One way he says he will and another da y he says he won't. They said they weren't going to increase the gas tax and he– we presented $550 more Manitobans are paying. This Throne Speech reflects a $400 -million edu- cation and property tax hike. They've increased hydro rates.

When this Minister of Finance (MLA Sala), for years, across the way, said he would never circumvent the Public Utility Board he did that exact thing by circumventing the Public Utilities Board and jacking up hydro rates. It's a shame that this NDP government has gotten away with this. I don't even know what to say. His corruption, his half truths, smoke and mirrors, flashy announcements. The Throne Speech was nothing but a flashy announcement. They talk about a digital health card, that it is going to save lives when you're waiting over 11 hours in the waiting room.

The Minister of Health has such little respect for their own job and the department that instead of helping Jeremy Bay [phonetic] in Manitoba, who could have life-saving medical treatment, they go around with a paper health card on them, acting like that's funny. The Premier stands up with American alcohol at a pop-up store instead of supporting local breweries and distilleries. And he says that's a good thing. He stood up today, members across the way stood up today and defended that. There's no defending that, just like there's no defending this failed Throne Speech. The Premier said in 100 days he'd fix bail.

Over 700 days later, nothing. Violent crime is only getting worse, and I don't need to tell you that; you see it in the streets. You've seen in our province, whether it's Winnipeg or Brandon or Winkler, Morden or The Pas, Swan River to Turtle Mountain, Lakeside to Steinbach, you will see crime is up everywhere. What does this Throne Speech do to address that? Nothing. There's actually no announce ment in the Throne Speech on how to do that. We've heard over and over again: more RCMP officers, is there more funding to the municipalities, CSO officer, private. Nothing. Government doesn't offer anything.

Might as well fix it yourself. The Premier hasn't lived up to his promise. He talks tough talk, like he thinks it's jail justice –street justice he wants, but he won't actually do the work. You need more than talk when it comes to getting things done. You actually need tangible plans. You need to keep repeat violent offenders in jail, period, full stop. You–if you are a repeat violent offender, you will stay in jail under our government, period. We will make Manitoba safer. We brought forward a common sense legis lation that's not reflected in the Throne Speech.

I'll ask you, Manitobans: if someone breaks into your house and threatens you and your family, do you believe you have a right to defend yourself? Yes, we do. We brought forward legislation, castle law, and they voted it down. We brought forward legislation that says if some one breaks into your property and hurts them selves, you are not liable for that. They voted against it. This is the insanity of what we're dealing with with this NDP government. They need to understand that none of the needs and desires of Manitobans are reflected in the Throne Speech. Honourable Speaker, we need to protect our children.

On this side of the House we believe we have to do everything to protect our children. As a father, who have talked it about over and over again, I love my son more than anything. You love your children more than anything. You want to do everything to pr otect them from whatever is out there, in any situation. We stand for that. On that side of the House, they want to remove that from you. They don't want you to have a say in that. You can decide which party, which–opposition or NDP govern ment–best reflects your needs, your desires, your beliefs.

The Premier tabled Bill 50, which wasn't mentioned in the Throne Speech, but talks about it, how it's going to somehow–somehow–I actually don't know because the Premier can't make up his mind. He says one day he supports the use of the notwithstanding clause; the next day he doesn't support it. Then he su pports it again and he won't support it.

He has said this time and time again, that he won't use the notwithstanding clause to protect youth in this province, but then when there's a federal ruling that says sexual predators have no longer a one-year minimum sentence, he says they should be buried under the jail, but he won't say they– federal gov ernment should use the notwithstanding clause. He's a wordsmith: says one thing, means one thing else. If he stands for holding on this side of the House, like we do, if you are a sexual predator, if you are

88 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2025 abusing children, if you are exploiting them, you will be in jail for much longer than one year, and if we have to use the notwithstanding clause and we have to call on the federal gov ernment to use it, we will do that. Why won't he do it? That is the de sire of Manitobans that's not reflected in this Throne Speech. The Premier (Mr. Kinew), though, will ask on the federal government to do everything for them. He will say, help us, Mark Carney. Help us with our canola. We have no plan to grow our economy or help our industries, but help us.

Premier Moe, Premier Smith, Premier Ford, all Conservative leaders, have done the work. Premier Moe brought in billions of dollars in trade deals with canola during this tariff period. Danielle Smith has grown the energy sector to billions of dollars during these tariffs. Alberta signed a contract with Mexico to export their beef. What has this Premier done? Nothing. But he hired his best friend, because he's good looking, to earn $400,000 in Washington, DC, as a trade com mis- sioner. Premier said himself, because he's good looking.

Seven and a half months later, not one trade deal done, and he's paying him $400,000 of your tax dollars. Honourable Speaker, on the economy, the Premier promised to make things better. It's worse. Grocery prices are higher than they've ever been. Cost of living's higher than it's ever been. Fuel tax, $550 when they put it back. Premier called–cancelled the indexation of basic personal taxes. He cancelled the edu cation property tax rebates.

He cancelled the phase- out that we had committed to, costing you $400 million, he cancelled infrastructure projects, cancelled committed senior homes, and then he reannounced them later, like he always does. None of the hard work, but wants to try and take the glory. Now Manitobans are realizing there's no glory to be had by this failed NDP government. * (12:10) Our former gov ernment left them $373 -million surplus, and that is confirmed in the Auditor General report. Regardless of what they say, $373 million was confirmed in '23- 24. And now they've taken that surplus and turned it into a $4-billion deficit.

Honourable Speaker, it's laughable. It's unacceptable that this Throne Speech doesn't even address the bare needs of what Manitobans are asking for. After years of accusing the previous govern ment of whatever they want to accuse us of, because it doesn't even matter anymore because they don't live in reality, they are making every single mistake and breaking every single promise that they committed to. They can spin the facts all they want, but Manitobans are living the life of a worse Manitoba under this NDP.

We balanced the public accounts in 2019 and again in 2023, confirmed in black and white by the Auditor General. Our PC government grew the economy by 1 per cent year after year –no, grew –sorry. The NDP can't even grow the economy by 1 per cent. They're actually targeted below that. Under the previous government, we had record increases in this province. Unem ployment was at all- time low, and under this NDP government, it's at an all-time high. Their legacy is one of failure. That's why this Throne Speech is now called from promise to failure. Manitobans can't afford that.

Do you feel safer under this NPD govern ment? Are grocery prices cheaper? Are the roads better? Is cost of living going up and down? Has our economy grown in any sector under this NDP? They want to talk about a gold mine; we started the gold mine, not them. They want to talk about Port of Churchill like it's going to be done tomorrow. The Prime Minister says it's at least 10 years away, left off the big megaprojects list twice. They hav e no real plans on that side, other than the Premier standing up with American alcohol supporting American busi - nesses. That is this NDP government.

Mining was sixth in this province in 2023 under the previous government; now it's 26th. Oh, those are the facts. While other provinces are growing, Manitoban's falling farther behind. Don't have to take my word for it; the facts are there and the biggest fact of all is you are seeing it in your every single day life. While this gov ernment continues to divide Manitobans, we will work for the benefit of all Manitobans. We will grow our economy. We will create jobs and uplift Manitobans so that they can get great jobs, they can buy their first home and they can have a secure retirement that everyone dreams about.

Under this NDP government, none of that is pos- sible, because the sad reality is none of it is even reflected in this Throne Speech. There is literally nothing to talk about when it comes to concrete, tangible deliverables for Manitobans today. Studies, future plans, future promises –nothing for today.

November 21, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 89 That's not a Manitoba that I want to live in under this NDP government. I want to live in a Manitoba when I moved here in 2006 and fell in love with the province, a province that was booming, growing, vibrant, amazing downtown, amazing communities, amazing municipalities, a ton of tourism and investments happening in this province. That's why I chose to make Manitoba home and I'm going to fight for that Manitoba, and everyone on this side of the House is going to make sure that happens, Honourable Speaker.

I came here over 20 years ago, Honourable Speaker, and I never imagined to have the honour of standing in this building and to represent the values of the province that I fell in love with from day one when I got traded here, when I moved here from Ottawa. Best decision of my life. Best decision after that is to now represent this amazing party going forward and giving Manitobans an amazing oppor tunity to unleash Manitoba. That's what we need to get back to. I chose to make it my home. I started my family here. I started my businesses here.

I've experienced all the ups and downs there has to offer in this province, and I continue to keep pushing forward, to keep working for you, working for a better Manitoba , striving for a better Manitoba. That is not reflected in this Throne Speech. I got into politics because I love this province. Anybody that knows me from my playing days or my entrepreneur days, or just seeing me up and about, I love this province. And I'm going to fight for this province. I want this province to win. We can make it win. It can –it's not about a personal victory like that side of the House. It's not about the Premier (Mr.

Kinew) taking all the glory. It's about the team that we have on this side of the House. It's about the vision. And we believe that if you work hard as a Manitoba, you should also succeed. You should keep more money in your pocket. You should have a bright future ahead of you, an opportunity to buy a house, to start a family, to have savings and look forward to retirement in a great province with a thriving economy, not an economy that's ranked dead last under this NDP.

As the Leader of the Op position, I'm going to be here every single day continuing to call out this failed NDP government for all of their failures and broken promises that are reflected in this Throne Speech. We, as a province, are going to unleash the power of the – of Manitoba together. Can't promise you that I'm going to be perfect. I'm going to make mistakes. That's the humanity, that's humility on this side of the House. The Premier will never stand up and do that, ever. That tells you about your leadership.

On this side of the House we will work for you every day, a govern - ment where you, the people, the everyday ordinary folks who make Manitoba what it is, will be front and centre, a government that protects you, a government that respects you. I want you to know I'm going to work as hard as I've ever worked to earn your trust, to earn your vote, to earn our way into gov ernment and reflect your values in a Throne Speech, not like the one that this government has presented forward. This is a new era for the PC Party, a new day.

We are the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba, and we will reflect your needs, your desires and your passions in this Chamber to make Manitoba better. Honourable Speaker, it shows you the class of this Premier: when I asked him a question on health care and affordability and economy, he wants to attack members on this side of the House for our logo. That's how low he goes. He wants to make fun of a logo. I'm talking about families that can't afford to put food on the table and he wants to make fun of the logo of the PC Party. Make fun of it all you want.

It's not going to change the fact that you don't actually care about what Manitobans want, as is reflected in your Throne Speech, as is reflected in you saying old, tired Manitoba, as is reflected by no plan to grow Manitoba today. I am proud to stand on this side of the House. The wisdom of the past will inform the common sense approach we take today.

It means we respect in sti- tutions and traditions, that we have evolved over time for a better Manitoba, that we respect the laws and the democratic traditions handed down by the founding people of Canada and Manitoba, the Indigenous people, the French, the British, Manitoba Red River Métis, along with many, many other people from around the world that have come to Manitoba to make Manitoba their home, to make Manitoba a province it can be. But not under this failing NDP government.

Where else on earth, Honourable Speaker–and the Premier actually made fun of this today–I don't know why–where else on earth could you elect the first Muslim leader of a Conservative Party to be elected to become the official Leader of the Opposi tion? Right here in Manitoba on this side of the House.

90 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2025 We all have a story to tell. I, as the Leader of the Opposition, look forward to hearing that story, look forward to working for you. Together we're going to build a better Manitoba. * (12:20) This Throne Speech doesn't take any into that into account, takes into account the broken promises and reannouncements by this NDP. Our PC team and members on this side of the House are committed to that. We will be principled and robust opposi tion, asking questions of Manitobans, asking them: Why are they failing? Why are they not delivering on their promises?

We will continue to do the hard work every single day for you, to make Manitoba better, Honour- able Speaker. With that, we will not support this gov ernment's continual failures and broken promises –promises made not in good faith with Manitobans, but made to mislead them, Hon ourable Speaker. We will not be supporting this Throne Speech because Manitoba deserves better. With that, Honourable Speaker, I move, seconded by the MLA for Roblin, THAT the motion be amended by adding at the end– of–the following words: But this House regrets that the provincial government has: (

a) once again failed to present a plan that reflects the realities faced by Manitobans; and (

b) failed to present a credible or transparent fiscal plan, while making yet another false promise to balance the budget despite record deficits, deteriorating credit outlooks and no path to sustainability; and misstated progress in the health -care system while Manitobans continue to face unaccep - table emergency wait times, closed rural services, long surgical backlogs and a worsening shortage of front -line staff in many regions; and (

d) failed to address the growing cost -of-living crisis, offering short-term rhetoric instead of long-term affordability measures, leaving families, seniors, farmers and small busi - nesses without meaningful relief; and (

e) failed to address the growing cost -of-living crisis– (

e) failed to offer a serious plan to rebuild the economy despite job losses, a weakening investment climate and stalled major infra - structure projects that are vital to Manitoba competitiveness; and (

f) misrepresented the provincial government record on public safety, as crime rates during–crime rates, drug trafficking and violent incidents continue to rise in many communities across the province, with no comprehensive strategy to tackle the root cause or support law enforcement; and (

g) failed to support municipalities, which con - tinue to face downloading, infrastructure deficits and cost pressures, without stable long-term funding; and (

h) failed to address the severe impact of drought, wildfire, climate -driven disas ter, providing no concrete commitment to build provincial resilience, protect agricul ture or support affected communities beyond vague reviews and slogans; and (

i) continued to overpromise on northern devel- opment and the Port of Churchill, offering speculative, uncosted announcements with- out supporting evidence, timelines or guar - antees of feasibility, transparency or value for Manitobans; and (

j) ignored the urgent need of Manitoba stu- dents, with declining educational outcomes, teacher shortages and a lack of clear standards or accountability for improving classroom supports; and (

k) relied on political branding rather than measurable progress, offering a speech heavy on self-congratulation and light on evidence, vision or a realistic plan for the future. As a consequence, Honourable Speaker, of these and many other failings, the provincial government has thereby lost the trust and confidence of the people of Manitoba and this House. Thank you, Honourable Speaker. The Speaker: Order, please. Is there leave to have the amend ment considered moved as written as opposed to how it was said? Is there leave? [Agreed]

November 21, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 91 THAT the motion be amended by adding at the end the following words: But this House regrets that the Provincial Government has:

a) once again failed to present a plan that reflects the realities faced by Manitobans; and

b) failed to present a credible or transparent fiscal plan while making yet another false promise to balance the budget despite record deficits, deter - iorating credit outlooks, and no path to sus - tainability; and

c) misstated progress in the health-care system while Manitobans continue to face unacceptable emer - gency room wait times, closed rural services, long surgical backlogs, and a worsening shortage of front-line staff in many regions; and

d) failed to address the growing cost-of-living crisis, offering short-term rhetoric instead of long -term affordability measures, leaving families, seniors, farmers, and small businesses without meaningful relief; and

e) failed to offer a serious plan to rebuild the economy despite job losses, a weakening invest - ment climate, and stalled major infrastructure projects that are vital to Manitoba's competitive - ness; and

f) misrepresented the Provincial Government's record on public safety as cr

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	43-3-4
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	43rd 3rd hansardpdf 4.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	023d5ab4da6183695ebd9fb7423ca63197430c55

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