April 14, 2005 Alberta Hansard 765 Legislative Assembly of Alberta Title: Thursday, April 14, 2005 1:30 p.m. Date: 05/04/14 [The Speaker in the chair] head: Prayers The Speaker: Welcome. Let us pray. We give thanks for the bounty of our province: our land, our resources, and our people. We pledge ourselves to act as good stewards on behalf of all Albertans. Amen. Please be seated. head: Introduction of Visitors The Speaker: The hon. Minister of International and Intergovern- mental Relations. Mr. Stelmach: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’m pleased to introduce to you and through you to members of this Assembly a parliamentary delegation from Malaysia. Our Malaysian visitors are engaged in a dialogue on parliamentary reform, counterterrorism, regional security, and economic relations with Canadian parliamen- tarians. They are in Canada on the invitation of the Speaker of the Senate of Canada. Malaysia and Canada have much in common, including an economy rich in natural resources and membership in the Commonwealth. The mission is led by His Excellency Dr. Abdul Hamid, the President of the Senate of Malaysia, and his wife, Elham Hamid.

The delegation includes Senator Wong, Deputy President of the Senate; Senator Benedict; Nora Hardin, spouse of Senator Benedict; Senator Osman; Senator Norsimah; Mr. Zamani, Secretary of the Senate; Mr. Salleh, secretary of the delegation. This delegation is accompanied by Mr. Mat Dris, the consul general of Malaysia, based in Vancouver; and Mr. Mahathir, vice-consul. Providing co-ordination and support are Mr. Tonu Onu and Ms Astrid Ratzel. I would ask that all honoured guests rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. head: Introduction of Guests The Speaker: The hon.

Minister of Human Resources and Employ- ment. Mr. Cardinal: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to introduce to you and through you to the Members of the Assembly Kimberley Coulter and Ronda Bellerose, who are seated in the members’ gallery this afternoon. Both Kimberley and Ronda work for the Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Employ- ment, and they do an excellent job. I’d like them to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Government Services. Mr. Lund: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you and to all members of this Assembly on behalf of the hon. Member for Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo and Minister of Environment some 38 students and 9 adults from the Westview school in Fort McMurray. This is a grade 6 class. They’re accompanied by helpers and parents Mr. Janes, Mr. Stephen, Mr. Hobbs, Mr. Boehmer, Mrs. Whittaker, and Mrs. Foster and their teachers, Miss Laura Lewis, Mrs. Laura Rogers, and Mrs. Pearl Field. I’m not sure which gallery they’re in, but I would ask them to please rise and receive the cordial welcome of the Assembly. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Lacombe-Ponoka. Mr. Prins: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to introduce to you and through you to all members of this Assembly a large group of grade 6 students from the Lacombe Christian school. They’re accompanied by some teachers and parents, and I’d like to name them: teachers Mrs. Stephanie Littel and Mr. Tim Van Doesburg. The parent helpers are Darcy Dyck, Claire Talsma, Henry Luymes, Carolyn Vanderhoek, Sherry Vink, Willy Hoogenboom, Joanne Walls, Betty Scholing, Angie Salomons, Anneke Kassies, Lisa Ellens, Kim Walls, and bus driver Nick DenOudsten. This is a large group.

They’re bright students, but they’re also vocalists. I don’t know if you heard them singing a while ago. They came with a whole stack of birthday cards for me, and they serenaded me in the rotunda. So this was a great thing from the students. I would like to ask them to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Peace River. Mr. Oberle: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It’s my great honour to introduce to you and through you to the members of this House most of the board of directors of the hard-working Northwest Corridor Development Corporation, who are working to sustain and enhance the economic base and trade potential of the northwest corridor, linking the northwest to Prince Rupert and to the world. Today we have with us the chair, Mr. Jeff Burghardt; executive director Mr. Graham Kedgley; accompanied by boards members Mr. Wayne Ayling, the mayor of Grande Prairie; Mr.

Mike Mihaly, the mayor of High Level; Graham Dallas from CN Rail; Marylin Davies, who is a councillor with Terrace; Jim Eglinski, a councillor from Fort St. John; Kelly Glazer from Prince George; Carolyn Kolebaba, who is a councillor with Northern Sunrise county and who I promised to introduce nicely; Don Krusel from Prince Rupert; Dave Menzies from Terrace; Bud Powell, a c ouncillor from Dawson Creek; Ron Vanderlee from Terrace; and Ron Wiebe from Grande Prairie. They’re seated in the members’ gallery behind me, and I’d ask them to rise and receive the warm welcome of this House. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar. Mr. MacDonald: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s a pleasure to rise and introduce to you and through you to all hon. Members of this Legislative Assembly a constituent of Edmonton- Gold Bar, Mr. Merle Schnee. Mr. Schnee has been a resident of Edmonton-Gold Bar for over 40 years, is a former president of the firefighters. He is very active in the community and is a keen observer of all levels of government and the politics involved. Mr. Schnee is in the public gallery, and I would now ask him to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Drayton Valley-Calmar. Rev. Abbott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I am honoured to introduce four guests from the community of Warburg in my constituency. They own and operate a company called North End Oil Industries Ltd., and I would ask them to rise as I call their names and please remain standing: first of all, Arnold Bryant, Audrey Bryant, Kevin Hagel, and Bill Jewett, who is also a councillor for the village of Warburg. I’d ask the Assembly to please give them the warm welcome of the House. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands- Norwood.

Alberta Hansard April 14, 2005766 Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you and through you to this Assembly Mr. Justin VannPashak. Justin is a young man who resides in Vancouver but was born and raised here in Alberta. He’s here to observe the Assembly’s proceedings as well as visit family and friends in Edmonton. He also happens to be the grandson of my distinguished colleague the Member for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview. I would ask that he rise and receive the warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview. Mr.

Martin: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to introduce to you and through you to the Assembly Deanna Fuhlendorf. She is the project co-ordinator for the Fort Road & Area Business Association, a tireless worker and driving force behind the effort to revitalize the Fort Road area. One such initia tive is the historical town area, which will greatly enhance Beverly-Clareview for residents and businesses. I applaud and support her efforts and hard work. Accompanying Mrs. Fuhlendorf today is Mr. Tony Jones. Tony is my constituency assistant in my very busy office in Beverly- Clareview.

I truly appreciate his efficiency and hard work in keeping things running smoothly. I would ask them both to rise and receive the warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona. Dr. Pannu: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly an outstand- ing Edmontonian, Liz Iggulden.

In 1984 Liz began working for the Old Strathcona Foundation, whose mandate, many of you will know, is to preserve and restore the historic assets of the area, making it a place where people would want to live and where businesses would prosper. She was hired on for a temporary two-week position way back then. Last month she retired after 21 years of service with the foundation, the last 10 years serving as its executive director. I want to take this opportunity to thank Liz for all her hard work and dedication and amazing service to the community of Old Strathcona.

She is here today with her husband, Lee Iggulden. I would ask them to rise and receive the warm welcome of this Assembly. Also, Mr. Speaker, here with Liz today to honour her accomplishments and wish her well in her retirement is Old Strathcona Foundation executive director Karen Tabor. They’re all seated in the public gallery. I would ask them to please rise and receive the warm welcome of the Assembly. 1:40 The Speaker: Are there others? The hon. Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations. Mr. Stelmach: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’m delighted to introduce to you and through you to members of this Assembly my first group of students from the city of Fort Saskatchewan. They are 28 students from Win Ferguson school. They are accompanied by teachers Mrs. Joanne Simpson, Miss Carrie Sannerud; parent helpers Mrs. Sandra Smorenburg, Mr. Mark Smorenburg, Mrs. Heather Cnockaert, and Ms Mary Couper. I would ask them to all rise – I believe they’re seated in the gallery opposite – and r eceive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. head: Oral Question Period The Speaker: First Official Opposition main question. The hon.

Leader of the Official Opposition. Health Care Premiums Dr. Taft: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government refuses to eliminate or even reduce health care premiums. These are a tax by any definition of the term, and they have soared in recent years, making a mockery of this Premier’s claim that the only way taxes in Alberta are going is down. Likewise, this government takes more and more revenue from Albertans by allowing tax creep in the education portion of property taxes. My question is to the Premier.

Will this Premier finally admit that health care premiums are a tax that hits middle- and lower income Albertans and small businesses the hardest? Mr. Klein: Mr. Speaker, I would remind the hon. Leader of the Official Opposition that we have removed the health care premiums for seniors. The premiums are a way to have people understand that there is a cost to health care. Having said that, the amount the government spends on health care aside from premiums, the small amount that people spend on health care premiums, is in excess of 9 billion – billion – dollars. That is a huge amount of money.

The Speaker: The hon. leader. Dr. Taft: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that health care premiums just go into general revenues, not into the health depart- ment, why does this government refuse to give all Alberta families a tax break of over a thousand dollars a year by eliminating health care premiums? Why refuse to do it? Mr. Klein: Mr. Speaker, whether it goes into general revenue or not, it still finds its way to support health care. It’s part of that $9.5 billion. That is a very large amount of money. The opposition quite naturally are critical of the government. An Hon. Member: Rightly so. Mr.

Klein: Not rightly so. It’s their job. They have no other function, no other justification for living other than to criticize. The Speaker: The hon. leader. Dr. Taft: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, then, I’ll ask the Minister of Finance. How much do health care premiums cost to provincially funded organizations like school boards and regional health authorities and children’s services authorities and the like? Mrs. McClellan: Well, Mr. Speaker, I’d invite the hon. Leader of the Opposition to raise that question during estimates, and I’d be happy to bring the amount forward for him.

But I want to reiterate that our expenditures in health far exceed our premiums, by about 8 or 9 to 1, obviously. We very deliberately in Budget 2005 did some very targeted tax reductions to low-income and middle-income persons and to seniors both on the school property tax side and on health premiums. I would also remind the hon. member that we have reduced taxes in this province by $2.5 billion over the last half a dozen years, and I would remind him that health premiums have not soared. In fact, they were frozen in this province until about two or three years ago, when there was an increase.

The Speaker: Second Official Opposition main question. The hon. Member for Calgary-Currie. Postsecondary Education Funding Mr. Taylor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the Speech from the

April 14, 2005 Alberta Hansard 767 Throne, the Premier’s televised address, and during the introduction of Bill 1 Albertans were given the impression that the Conservatives had actually turned over a new leaf, were taking it off autopilot and were about to build a world-class advanced education system. But in yesterday’s budget the government made a modest 8 per cent down payment on its $3 billion access to the future f und without a commitment to make any future payments into that fund.

To the Premier: why won’t the government officially guarantee that it will continue to invest in the fund next year and each year after that? Mr. Klein: Mr. Speaker, it was in the budget speech. I don’t know if the hon. member was paying attention or not, but it certainly was in the budget speech. Mr. Speaker, I think it’s very in teresting to note what other people, especially those in the education field, say about Budget 2005, and I quote Carl Amrhein, who is the provost of the University of Alberta, where the hon. Leader of the Official O pposition is a postgraduate student.

Since my grad school days, I have not seen a government here in Canada or even in the U.S. announce a three-year funding package for post-secondary institutions that will accomplish so much . . . I haven’t seen anything like this in my entire professional life. This has to be seen as bold and visionary. This is just a wonderful thing, not only for the people who run universities, but it has got to be seen as wonderful news for the parents who have been worrying about where their children will go. The Speaker: The document will be tabled later for the benefit of all members. Proceed. Mr. Taylor: Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. Well, given all that accom- plishment, can the Premier explain how a 6 per cent increase in base operating grants will build a world-class system when our colleges and universities experienced that big an increase in their operating cost last year? Mr. Klein: Mr. Speaker, to answer the hon. member’s question, again I have to quote, and I quote from the president of the Univer- sity of Calgary, who understands, by the way, these issues, as opposed to the hon. Member for Calgary-Currie. Dr.

Harvey Weingarten said: “It will make a huge difference in the number of spots we have, in the quality of educational experience we can offer students, also in how affordable post-secondary edu cation is,” he said. “All those things are good.” Mr. Taylor: Again to the Premier, Mr. Speaker. This is not about good; this is about excellence. Can the Premier comment on the fact that students can generate as much income per student next year as the access to the future fund will by each taking three empty pop cans a day back to the bottle depot? 1:50 Mr. Klein: Mr.

Speaker, that’s the level to which the Liberals will sink: pop cans. But I take my lead from those in the t eaching profession, especially in the postsecondary system. I quote from Bill Cade, the president of the University of Lethbridge, who said: never in my 27 years in Canada have I seen an increase of this amount. The Speaker: Third Official Opposition main question. The hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar. School Closures Mr. MacDonald: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In March of this year a concerned parent from Sangudo had to go to court to stop the public school closure process at Sangudo high school.

The local school board failed to provide the parents the information required by

section 4 of the closure of schools regulation. In August 2004 this regulation was amended to mandate that school boards across the province provide to all parents information on their long-range capital plan. My first question is to the Minister of Education. Why did both the Department of Education and the Edmonton public school board district No. 7 use an outdated closure of schools regulation to force the closure of four good public schools in Edmonton? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, I don’t believe any schools have been forced to close, at least not to my knowledge.

Perhaps the schools being referred to are still open. I’m not sure if he’s named them, per se. However, I would have to say this with respect to the regulation. There was a regulation change made last year under the ministry of learning, and as people who deal with legal matters would know, you should really consult the Alberta Gazette or the Queen’s Printer to get the most up-to-date and most current regulations or regulation changes, similarly with statutes. Information that exists on websites, regardless of whose they are, always carries a disclaimer to that effect. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr.

MacDonald: Thank you. The parents have consulted the Alberta Gazette. The Minister of Education has not. How can the parents of the students enrolled in Wellington, North Edmonton, Terrace Heights, and Strathearn – these are all parents that are affected by these closures – make an informed decision when the board, the public board, has failed to provide them with all the information required by law? Mr. Zwozdesky: Well, Mr. Speaker, I’m not intimately familiar with exactly what documentation the Edmonton public school board provided to whom at what time.

But there are specific regulations that govern what has to be provided, and I’m assuming that the Edmonton public school board has done that through one form or another. So that question would be a very good question to ask the Edmonton public school board, and I assume the hon. member will do that. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. MacDonald: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Again to the Minister of Education: given that parents were not provided all the informa- tion they are entitled to by law to prepare for the school closure meetings, will the minister now immediately stop the school process of closures that was initiated by the Edmonton public school board district No. 7 on March 8 because they broke the law? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, I don’t know if anybody broke the law or not. I suspect that they haven’t. The school board has its legal people who look after these matters.

If they provided the type of information that is required surrounding a rumoured school closure or a rumoured set of school closures, those issues are dealt with at the local level, and I would seriously ask the hon. member to please put that question forward to the public school board. Until I see information to the contrary, there will be no need for me to intervene whatsoever. The Speaker: The hon. leader of the ND opposition, followed by the hon. Member for Bonnyville-Cold Lake.

Alberta Hansard April 14, 2005768 Health Care Premiums (continued) Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday’s budget did little to reduce the burden on hard-working and middle- income Albertans. In fact, using the government’s own figures, an Alberta family of four making $60,000 a year will pay $1,057 more in combined personal income and health premium taxes than the same family with the same income in Ontario. My question is to the Premier. Why won’t the government accept the NDP opposition proposal to give a $1,056 tax break to middle-income Alberta families by scrapping health care premiums? Mr.

Klein: Mr. Speaker, we don’t take our lead from the NDs. That’s for sure. As the hon. Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier pointed out, we chose to make targeted tax reductions that would benefit those who need tax reductions the most. The family employment tax credit has been enhanced. Seniors, of course, are now exempt from paying any health care premiums at all, and senior homeowners will receive relief from increases in sc hool property taxes. We’ve gone a long way to address the needs of those who are classified as being low income in this province. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr.

Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, why is the government then punishing Alberta families with yearly incomes between $50,000 and $150,000 by forcing them to pay, according to the government’s own figures, a thousand dollars a year more in combined personal income and health care premium taxes than the same families in either B.C. or Ontario? Mr. Klein: Well, Mr. Speaker, I’m going to have the hon. Minister of Finance respond relative to the details, but I will say this as a

preamble. If we had the tax system of the next most competitive province, which isn’t Ontario – it is British Columbia, and he mentioned British Columbia – Albertans and Alberta businesses would be paying almost $7 billion more in taxes, or over $2,000 per person. The Speaker: The hon. member. Hon. member. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much. I’m sorry, Mr. Speaker; I thought the Treasurer was going to respond. Will the Premier admit that the reason middle-income earners pay more tax than those in some other provinces is because of Alberta’s flat tax, which hits the middle class the hardest? Mr. Klein: Mr.

Speaker, I just pointed out that if we had the same tax system as our most competitive province, British Columbia, Alberta taxpayers, including businesses and individuals, would be paying almost $7 billion more in taxes, or $2,000 per person. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Bonnyville-Cold Lake, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-Mountain View. Traumatic Injury Rate in the Aboriginal Community Mr. Ducharme: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A study published by the Canadian Medical Association Journal stated that First Nations people in Alberta are four times more likely to suffer a traumatic injury.

These injuries are often the result of motor vehicle collisions. My question is for the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development. What is being done to address traffic safety issues in aboriginal communities? Ms Calahasen: Well, Mr. Speaker, four times is really very traumatic when you think of the numbers. One of the recommenda- tions in the McDermid report was to include and engage aboriginal leaders and elders in developing strategies to reduce highway traffic fatalities. Of course, the government accepted that recommendation.

My department has been working with the Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation to be able to see what we can do in terms of developing an Alberta traffic safety plan. What we’re trying to do is make sure that we reflect all the importance of addressing the high rates of traumatic injury and death from motor vehicles. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Ducharme: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the same minister: what are some of the contributing factors causing these high rates of traffic-related injuries and fatalities in Alberta? Ms Calahasen: Well, there are a number of contributing factors, Mr. Speaker.

Number one is poor road conditions on reserves. Number two is the lower seatbelt usage rates. Number three is the higher number of passengers in vehicles. Number four is, of course, increased highway travel due to the remoteness of aboriginal communities. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Ducharme: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My next question is to the Solicitor General. Given that the same study found that First Nations in Alberta are also more likely to sustain injuries from stabbings and assaults, what steps is the Solicitor General taking to enhance policing services in these aboriginal communities?

The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Cenaiko: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. We take these issues very seriously. We have 59 trained and skilled professional First Nations police officers that are serving on five different First Nations police services now in northern Alberta. These arrange- ments have been made in a tripartite agreement with Canada, the province of Alberta, and the First Nations band. We’re providing these services through the First Nations themselves, who are taking a lead role regarding policing in their communities, and we are working on three new tripartite agreements with them.

First Nations officers are expected to and do meet the same training standards as any other police officer in this province. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Mountain View, followed by the hon. Member for Highwood. Environment Budget Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Repeatedly Albertans have told this government, including the government’s own pre-election survey, that environmental protection is a top priority, yet well below 1 per cent of the budget continues to be committed to Alberta Environment.

Indeed, there’s no ability to implement the vital Water for Life strategy despite commitments in the throne speech, the rural development strategy, and in this House. My question to the Premier: as the third top priority to Albertans why has there been no significant increase in proportion of funding to this ministry in over a decade? 2:00 Mr. Klein: Mr. Speaker, what the hon. member says is not quite

April 14, 2005 Alberta Hansard 769 true. If he examines the budget documents carefully, he will find that our commitments to infrastructure, including the Water for Life strategy, are ostensibly in infrastructure. That will be spelled out by the Minister of Finance, and I’ll have her comment further. Mrs. McClellan: Mr. Speaker, there is, in fact, a significant amount of budget allocated to Water for Life. First, there are budget dollars in Environment’s budget on the operational side, whether they’re used for monitoring or watersheds and so on.

Secondly, there are significant capital dollars that are in this budget. I outlined some of those yesterday. I invite the hon. member to debate this issue in the House. Thirdly, we have a Water for Life strategy. It’s a tremendous strategy, and we have approved that as a government and accepted that. The Minister of Environment is working with his cabinet colleagues on putting together a very comprehensive work plan on all aspects of this very complex study. Dr. Swann: My only supplemental, Mr.

Speaker, to the Premier: with a fivefold increase in applications for oil and gas development in this province in the past decade, how can anyone believe that Alberta Environment has the capacity to ensure compliance with environmental protection regulations without a commensurate increase in monitoring, compliance, and enforcement staffing? Mr. Klein: This is a very interesting question, Mr. Speaker. It’s one that the hon. Minister of Energy and myself addressed with represen- tatives of the oil industry just recently.

We need to revisit the whole issue of land reclamation in light of the number of wells now being proceeded with. Mr. Speaker, it is not as simple as the hon. member points out. There are matters of reclamation that go to, well, the situation of the landowner being satisfied that the land has been reclaimed and that go to the situation of streamlining regulations and setting out rules, very specific rules, for the proper reclamation of land. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Highw ood, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre. Cougar Management Mr. Groeneveld: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My first question is for the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development. The recent report of a cougar attack on one of my constituents in Highwood is just one more example of how common these predators seem to be now. With a largely urban population in Alberta many of those who go out to our backcountry are not aware of the dangers they may face. What is the minister’s department doing to ensure that Albertans are aware of the threat of these animals? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Coutts: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

There has been an increase in wildlife in the province of Alberta, and particularly we’ve seen a slight increase in cougar activity in our province. Our staff work with a cougar management provision as well as with our partners in Community Development in parks. Because cougars can be f ound anywhere in this province and because they are available almost all 12 months of the year, particularly our fish and wildlife officers are out there trying to educate people year-round in terms of how to deal with cougars when you come upon them. We go into communities, and we do information sessions.

We’re there seven days a week, 24 hours a day, to make sure that when these cougar attacks exist, we’re on the spot and look at the situation. We’re really relieved that the folks that ran into the cougar in the backcountry in the member’s constituency only r eceived a few scratches and that they’re okay. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Groeneveld: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My second question is also for the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development. Does any of this management of cougars include relocating these preda- tors to areas closer to the communities, which some rural Albertans have been alluding to?

Mr. Coutts: Definitely not, Mr. Speaker. We’ve heard these rumours as well, and we have to be clear here. We never relocate cougars in any way, shape, or form because there’s a real chance of affecting their mortality when you relocate a cougar. But if we do need to move a cougar, we have expert biologists that go in and take public safety in mind when they do that. We have shown in cases in our history, in the past, that we would also close to human access areas where we felt there was a particular danger of cougar advances on human activity. Mr. Groeneveld: Mr.

Speaker, my final question is for the same minister. What guarantees do Albertans have that they will be safe in the backcountry? Mr. Coutts: Mr. Speaker, public safety is a key priority in wildlife management, everything from vehicle collisions to aggressive moose and elk and bears coming to garbage cans and that type of thing. Wildlife is a part of Alberta, and we can’t guarantee their behaviour. Innovative education programs are n ecessary to make sure that industry and the public understand, and we have programs out there like Bear Smart and Living with Cougars.

Many of our fish and wildlife officers are in communities, as I’ve said, to make sure with year-round programming in reducing encounters. We also manage vegetation on trails. We have programs that keep animals away from livestock in high-use areas. We’re well served by our fish and wildlife officers. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre, followed by the hon. Member for West Yellowhead. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Ms Blakeman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder was identified as a medical condition in 1973. There is no cure, and the damage is irreversible.

A child with FASD becomes an adult with FASD. My questions are to the Minister of Children’s Services. Given that many, many adults with FASD end up in the criminal justice system, has the department identified whether this is attributed to the lack of community support as an adult or a missed diagnosis when the individual was still a child? Mrs. Forsyth: Well, Mr. Speaker, I think that first of all the hon. member should realize that this province, Alberta, is leading edge on the issue of FASD, and I think that’s very, very clear in all the work that we’ve done in the past.

I also would like to let her know that I have just taken over the chair of the Canada northwest fetal alcohol spectrum disorder partnership, and we’re working on and researching some of the issues that she’s brought forward.

Alberta Hansard April 14, 2005770 FASD is a disease or an illness that this government is very, very vigilant on. We’ve got numerous pilot projects looking at what we’re doing in regard to the children in this province plus the adults. Ms Blakeman: I just wanted an answer to the question. The second question to the same minister: would the province consider a pilot project for adult FASD specialized housing, group homes, with support workers and counselling services included in the model? Mrs. Forsyth: Well, Mr. Speaker, as minister responsible for Children’s Services it’s something that we could look at.

I would be pleased to work in partnership with my colleague the Minister of Seniors and Community Supports. The Speaker: The hon. member. Ms Blakeman: Thank you. My final question to the same minister: what is the timeline for the implementation of the strategic plan dealing with FASD composed by the cross-ministry committee? Mrs. Forsyth: Well, Mr. Speaker, I don’t think you can get into timelines on this initiative. I think it’s an ongoing process.

To have any timelines, period – I can tell her, though, that we are working very, very hard on the issue of FASD and would be pleased to sit down and show her what we’re doing and explain to her. We’ve just increased the budget of one of the centres of research by $2 million, and they’re very, very excited about it. The Speaker: The hon. Member for West Yellowhead, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Meadowlark. Rural Police Services Mr. Strang: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. With the tabling of the 2005-06 budget yesterday by the hon.

Treasurer, I would like some clarifications on items in the Solicitor General’s budget. My first question is to the Solicitor General. Rural municipalities have been calling for more front-line policing in their communities. How does the budget meet the West Yellowhead constituency’s concern, especially in Edson and Hinton? 2:10 The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Cenaiko: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Budget 2005 was really an investment in the Solicitor General’s department as in every other ministry in government.

We know that the cost of policing puts an unusual strain on some of those municipalities that have a smaller tax base, and they don’t have the funds that they can put into policing. Some of those smaller communities, like the hon. member mentioned, have their tax bases where up to 45 per cent goes directly to policing. Thirty towns and communities with populations between 5,000 and 20,000 r eceived significant increases. For the town of Hinton the new amount that they’ll be receiving is $275,000 a year, which is almost double what they r eceived last year.

The community of Edson will receive a bout $262,000, which is more than twice the amount they received last year. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Strang: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My first supple- mentary question is to the same minister. Can he tell the House where the additional police officers promised for rural Alberta will be placed and how soon they will be able to look after the streets and highways? Mr. Cenaiko: Mr.

Speaker, this government recognized the need for additional officers in rural Alberta, recognized the fact that criminal activity takes place in rural Alberta, as it does take place in every larger urban centre. The additional 100 RCMP officers will be located throughout the province. Community needs will be looked at with regard to criminal activity. Those decisions will be made by Assistant Commissioner Bill Sweeney. But we have also been reassured by Commissioner Zaccardelli in Ottawa that the RCMP will be providing those officers to Alberta as soon as they can.

There are officers in training in Regina right now that will be coming to Alberta, and new classes as well will be starting up, with them coming to Alberta. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Strang: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My second supplemental question: the production of and traffic in illegal drugs, particularly crystal meth, is a growing problem in rural Alberta communities. Can the Solicitor Gene ral tell this House what he is doing about this? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Cenaiko: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

In our budget announcement yesterday 60 additional officers, 20 RCMP officers and 40 municipal offi cers, will be funded through the Solicitor General’s office to provide enforc ement with regard to our inte- grated response to organized crime throughout the province. These will provide officers that can work in an inte lligence-based opera- tional format as well as the enforcement format, all in undercover positions that can be mobilized and utilized anywhere in the province, from Grande Prairie to Medicine Hat to Fort McMurray to Crowsnest Pass. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Edmonton-Meadowlark, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview. Horse-racing Renewal Program Mr. Tougas: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday’s budget pro- duced another winning ticket for the horse-racing industry in the form of a $45 million lottery-funded subsidy. The horse-racing renewal program is entering into its fifth year and will have given out well over $150 million to the government’s friends in the for- profit horse-racing industry. My questions are for the Minister of Gaming.

How much longer will this government continue with this extraordinary subsidy for this one for-profit industry? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Graydon: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased he’s so interested in my budget that he’s bringing it up today as opposed to waiting till May 4 in the evening, when we will go into the details. Briefly on this point, it’s not a grant. It’s an amount of money that could be earned at the racetracks.

Depending on the am ount of gaming activity at that racetrack, in addition to the money that goes back to the industry, 33 and a third per cent of the money earned at the racetracks in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, and Grande Prairie goes into the Alberta lottery fund, which benefits every single Albertan.

April 14, 2005 Alberta Hansard 771 Mr. Tougas: Again to the Minister of Gaming: how can the minister justify giving more money to the benefit of the for-profit horse- racing industry than to the community fac ility enhancement program, which benefits all Albertans? Mr. Graydon: As I just said, the 33 and a third per cent of the money earned at the racetrack goes to all Albertans through the Alberta lottery fund. As well, we need to know that there are between 7,000 and 8,000 people working full and part time in the racing industry. As well, this industry contributes $300 million a year to the Alberta economy. Mr.

Tougas: Same minister: given that this government is suppos- edly out of the business of being in business, why does this not apply to the horse-racing industry in Alberta? Mr. Graydon: It’s a rural-based industry. It goes all the way from the people who raise hay and grain to the people that breed horses to the jockeys that ride the horses. I think the hon. member should saddle up and move on to a different topic. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview, followed by the hon. Member for Drayton Valley-Calmar. Capital Investment in Schools Mr. Martin: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The government’s touting of its increase in infrastructure spending is misleading and disingenu- ous to say the least. When you look at the actual numbers, capital investment is being cut quite severely in many key areas. Capital investment on schools is down 10 per cent compared to last year, capital investment on hospitals is down 30 per cent, and capital investment on postsecondary facilities is down more than 50 per cent. My question is to one of these ministers over there; I’m not sure. Maybe the Minister of Education: he’s here.

Given the threatened closure of dozens of schools throughout the province, why was the capital investment for new or renovated schools cut by 10 per cent in yesterday’s budget? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, I’m sure the Minister of Infrastruc- ture and Transportation would like to comment on this at some later stage, but let me say this in a general sense specific to the school question, at least that part of the question that has been asked.

We are looking at a new way of providing funding for new school construction or for major school renovation projects or for additions to schools, be that through the use of portables or modules or other forms of temporary accommodation for students. What we have found over the last several years is that because of the tremendously fast way in which costs related to steel, for example, and gyproc and labour and so on are increasing, it’s very difficult to provide one single budget item at the beginning of a budget year without having to amend it several times later on.

So we’re looking at moving to a new way of doing that, perhaps on a quarterly basis, and the first announcements in those respects will likely come out in June of this year. Mr. Martin: Mr. Speaker, it means this budget doesn’t mean anything. My question to the minister, then, is simply this: given that over half the schools in Edmonton are over 50 years of age, how can it make sense to cut 10 per cent from this year’s budget for capital investment in schools? How does that make any sense at all? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr.

Speaker, I don’t have the exact figure in mind, but I think it’s something like $644 million will be provided over the next two, three, or four years for the types of school projects that I just indicated. I am sympathetic, as all members here would be, to schools that are aging and to the fact that there are declining enrolments in many of those areas

whereas in other parts of the province there are some rapidly escalating student population counts. We’re doing our best to come forward with a new formula that will address those realities. Mr. Martin: Mr. Speaker, the new reality is that we cut 10 per cent from the budget. How can we, then, Mr. Minister, have new schools in Edmonton and fix up the ones we have with a 10 per cent cut in the budget? Mr. Zwozdesky: Well, Mr.

Speaker, in fact, the Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation along with the Minister of Municipal Affairs and myself and the Member for Edmonton-Castle Downs attended a very interesting press conference this morning at which the announcement was made of how the $3 billion in brand new monies are going to be rolled out to all municipal districts in the province of Alberta. That’s all part of a $9.2 billion capital infra- structure plan, and schools are going to be included within that bigger picture very soon. 2:20 The Speaker: The hon. Member for Drayton Valley-Calmar, followed by the hon.

Member for Edmonton-Rutherford. Climate Change Rev. Abbott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Although they likely won’t be around much longer, yesterday the federal government announced their long-awaited plan for implementing the Kyoto accord. My constituents were happy to see that it was taken out of the budget documents; however, we still have a lot of questions. My first question is for the Minister of Energy. How does this federal plan address the large final emitters, many of whom are industries based here in Alberta? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Melchin: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’d like to first state that this government has been the only province, really, that has taken a very proactive approach along with industry in trying to address and find solutions to climate change. In that light, though, I must state that the Kyoto accord continues to remain a flawed agreement, and this implementation plan of the federal government continues to remain a flawed methodology of application in trying to resolve the problem.

With respect to the large final emitters, they have reduced the megatonnes emission question to 45 megatonnes – I’d say that’s at least in the light of trying to find a practical approach – yet only about 20 per cent of that commitment can be put towards a technol- ogy solution. The solution is all about technology. It’s technology, technology, technology. Rev. Abbott: Again to the Minister of Energy: given that the federal plan talks about a number of funds, including the climate fund, the partnership fund, and the GHG technology investment fund, what difference will those funds make? Mr. Melchin: Mr.

Speaker, there are a number of funds which are being outlined, potentially $10 billion worth of funds, money that is going to come from somewhere to implement this plan. One of the

Alberta Hansard April 14, 2005772 funds mentioned was a technology fund. That’ll be upwards of about $2 billion. That is at least in the direction we would suggest that it ought to go. Companies then can apply to that fund with respect to their applications and solutions to climate change. There’s a climate fund, however, that’s the largest fund, probably in the magnitude of $5 billion to $6 billion, and it remains focused on hot air. That is their solution: a lot more hot air. Rev. Abbott: Sad. Mr. Speaker, my final question is also to the Minister of Energy.

Given that the federal plan calls for the automobile industry to have a voluntary approach to climate change, is this something that the oil and gas industry can also look forward to? Mr. Melchin: Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, an application, once again, very inconsistent across the industries in this country. We do support that there ought to be a voluntary approach with the auto sector. I think that is a right. Those industries in that area have the best understanding and expertise to address the question in their provinces.

However, when it comes to the energy sector the expertise, the regulatory environment, the ability to address the question remains in Alberta, and the federal government’s approach is to enact the Canadian environmental protection act and to somehow, through their own regulation, regulate and take control of an issue on which they don’t even have the expertise. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Rutherford, followed by the hon. Member for Lac La Biche-St. Paul. Securities Commission Mr. R. Miller: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Finance continues to try and bury the serious concerns regarding the enforcement of regulations at the Alberta Securities Commission. She continues to take the advice of the part-time commissioners, who are investigating their own work and actions. My question is to the Minister of Finance. On Tuesday in this Assembly the minister inferred that it was acceptable for one or two enforcement breaches at the Alberta Securities Commission given the number of files that they deal with. Is the minister, in fact, aware of one or two enforcement breaches? Mr. Melchin: Mr.

Speaker, I’ll be happy to take that information under advisement on behalf of the Minister of Finance. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. R. Miller: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Then to the same minister: how many enforcement breaches would be considered acceptable at the Alberta Securities Commission? Mr. Melchin: Mr. Speaker, I would give the same answer as to the first. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. R. Miller: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Why is the minister afraid to follow the lead of Ontario, where when the Securities Commis- sion came under controversy, an independent inquiry was appointed?

Will she call an inquiry into these allegations? Mr. Melchin: Mr. Speaker, our Minister of Finance is a very brave and courageous individual that acts to protect all individuals in this area of securities regulation, and she will continue to do so. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Lac La Biche-St. Paul, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-McClung. B.C./Alberta Transportation Issues Mr. Danyluk: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. In northern Alberta there has been a significant increase in oil and gas activity, forestry, wood products, tourism, agriculture value-added products.

This has taxed not only our road infrastructure but our weak and deteriorating railway system as well, with the majority of our exports in northern Alberta destined for the west coast. We are therefore required and should be encouraged to co-ordinate with the B.C. government to expedite our transportation schedules. My question is to the Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations. What is the government doing to increase the export opportunities for our industries shipped for the west coast? Mr. Stelmach: Mr.

Speaker, trade, of course, is very vital to Alberta’s continued economic well-being, and even though 90 per cent of our export trade is with the United States, as we look around at how the world is changing, especially the increase in value-added products and the growth in the Asian economy, we have to seize those opportunities. One way to seize those opportunities is to increase port capacity. We are working with the B.C. government.

In fact, we’re jointly co-sponsoring a northern corridor study, and that information will be coming forward to both governments as both governments are intensely interested in expanding port capacity. Mr. Danyluk: Mr. Speaker, my first supplemental to the same minister: what is the government doing to co-ordinate transportation policies and regulations between the two provinces? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, this had been on the top of the discussion list between the two cabinets, B.C. and Alberta, in the last three meetings.

Both Premiers instructed ministers in charge to come back with a plan as to how we will continue to harmonize transportation regulations between the two provinces. We have moved, small steps but measurable. I believe the largest accom- plishment of the two government s is a joint vehicle inspection station that will be on highway 1 at Golden. Rather than the truck stopping on the Alberta side and being inspected and then driving across the border to the B.C. side, we will now have one station, jointly manned.

It will save this province about $3 million in capital costs and about $300,000 to $400,000 in manpower costs in the future. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Danyluk: Thank you very much. My final supplemental, again to the minister: what investment does Alberta have in the port at Prince Rupert, and what are the future plans? Mr. Stelmach: The file in Prince Rupert is rather complex, but very quickly: our original investment was in the area of about $106 million; I believe one of the loans with respect to the grain port sits in our GRF at about a dollar.

There are other issues there in terms of the ownership of the port authority in Prince Rupert, the grain- handling facility, and those, of course, in Vancouver, and we are working with all the parties involved. I believe there are about four grain-handling companies. I’ll definitely have the Minister of Finance give a much more detailed answer to the member. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-McClung, followed by the hon. Member for Wetaskiwin-Camrose.

April 14, 2005 Alberta Hansard 773 Government Efficiency Mr. Elsalhy: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What happened to this Conservative government’s less-is -more mentality? This govern- ment has bloomed from 17 ministries in 1993 to a bloated 24 in 2004. The last addition was ironically created to make government more efficient. An expanded government is not an efficient government.

To the Minister of Restructuring and Government Efficiency: can the minister please explain how adding seven new ministries since 1993 and more than 1,000 new employees to the public payroll this year alone has made this government more efficient? Mr. Ouellette: Mr. Speaker, in all the different articles you read out there, we run the smallest government in the country, the most efficient government in the country. We’ve got the busiest industry in the country, we’ve got the highest rate of population growth in the country, and therefore we are running the most competent govern- ment in the country. 2:30 Mr.

Elsalhy: Mr. Speaker, will the Minister of Restructuring and Government Efficiency commit to making the government so efficient that he risks restructuring himself out of a job? Mr. Ouellette: Mr. Speaker, we have 24 ministries in this govern- ment, and they’re all very, very competent. Hopefully, we can get so efficient that I can sit with my feet up. Thank you. Mr. Elsalhy: Mr. Speaker, given that this ministry is spending over $3.3 million to assess opportunities for restructuring, how many millions does the minister promise to return to Alberta taxpayers through more efficient government? Mr. Ouellette: Mr.

Speaker, I’d love to be able to return all kinds of money to every Albertan there is, but we all know that we have to look after the business of government. International Delegations Mr. Johnson: Mr. Speaker, for our province to grow economically and culturally, it’s important for Alberta to develop and maintain close relations with other regions, other provinces, and countries around the world. My first question is to the Minister of Interna- tional and Intergovernmental Relations. I understand that there’s a delegation from the Chinese province of Shandong in Edmonton.

What is the nature of the delegation’s visit? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Stelmach: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a 26-member delegation visiting Alberta. They’re here to reaffirm a memorandum of understanding that was signed some time ago between Shandong University, the University of Alberta, the Alberta government, and the government of the province of Shandong, mostly centred around exchange of students, some technology. We hope that this relation- ship will lead to even bigger and better relationships with the province of Shandong. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Johnson: Thank you.

My first supplemental and final question is to the same minister. Does Alberta have many types of these delegations come to our province? Mr. Stelmach: Actually, Mr. Speaker, that is a very good question, the reason being that Alberta is certainly much more prominent on the world scene. Today the Speaker of this Assembly, yourself, hosted a very large Malaysian delegation. Roughly about 60 to 65 delegations visit Alberta on an annual basis, but I expect that number to increase in the future.

As the province grows in size, we will see much more interest in what Alberta has to offer in terms of trade and investment. head: Members’ Statements The Speaker: Hon. members, in just a few seconds from now I’ll call upon the first of six. The hon. Member for Banff-Cochrane. Sara Renner Thomas Grandi Mrs. Tarchuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to stand today and recognize an extraordinary couple from the constituency of Banff-Cochrane.

Canmore’s Sara Renner and Thomas Grandi are both remarkable athletes, and this past ski season they proved to be among the best not only in Canada but in the world in each of their respective sports. Sara, a two-time Olympian and Canadian cross-country skiing veteran, excelled in both distance and sprint events and started the season by claiming a gold medal at the Haywood Canada Cup pursuit race in Canmore. Thomas also had an incredible season as a giant slalom skier and captured World Cup gold medals not once but twice this year, in Italy and Austria.

His win in Italy gave Canada its first victory in 10 years and was the first in the discipline by a Canadian male in the 38-year history of the World Cup circuit. Following on her husband’s successes, Sara went on to win a bronze medal at the world sprint event in Germany, earning Canada’s first- ever medal at the world Nordic ski championships. What a breakthrough season for both: Sara’s first world podium and Thomas’s first two World Cup wins. The excitement back home after each of these wins was immediate and contagious.

Besides being inspirational to Albertans young and old with their athletic endeavours, Sara and Thomas are also inspirational with their community work. In fact, Sara donated all of the prize money she earned at the Canada Cup towards relief efforts for victims of the tsunami tragedy in south Asia. Mr. Speaker, Sara and Thomas are great role models for our youth, wonderful ambassadors for our province, and true heroes to the Bow Valley residents.

Please join me in congratulating these two exceptional athletes and individuals and wishing them well as they train for the upcoming season, World Cups, and 2006 Olym- pics. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Manning. Legislature Committees Structure Mr. Backs: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we look back into the last century and celebrate Alberta’s history, we must look at the importance that most of the governments in our history placed on select standing committees. There were many established for different areas of policy.

Indeed, in the first days of this session we paid homage in this Assembly to former members who had passed on in the last year. In our dedications to these former members, including many who were in opposition at their time of service, we remembered their membership on standing committees like Agricul- ture, Education, and Railways, Telephones, and Irrigation.

Alberta Hansard April 14, 2005774 The governments of those days valued contributions from all viewpoints even if they didn’t agree with them and obviously considered multiparty committees as fundamental to democracy. Indeed, that remains the practice on much of this continent. I will draw attention to the pro cess in British Columbia. The Legislature of B.C. website clearly states that these types of committees are creatures of the House. There, they do not give these over to one-party caucus committees.

These committees are comprised strictly of members of the Legislature, usually excluding the Premier and other cabinet ministers, and the membership mirrors as closely as possible party representation in the Legislative Assembly. Some of the committees there are Health, Education, finance, and other committees. In these committees matters are allowed a more detailed and thorough examination than in the larger, more formal environment of the House. Opposition involvement ensures as full a spectrum of analysis as possible.

I submit that this process is responsible, representative, and speaks to the fundamental operation of this democratic Assembly and must be reinstated. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Leduc-Beaumont-Devon. Project Discovery Mr. Rogers: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. February 13, 1947, was a day that transformed Alberta and propelled our great province into the unimagined prosperity that we enjoy today.

Today I rise to recognize Project Discovery, an expansion to the Leduc No. 1 oil interpretive centre, which is located one kilometre south of the town of Devon at the site of the Leduc No. 1 discovery well. The Leduc/Devon Oilfield Historical Society, which is a partner- ship supported by the town of Devon, Leduc county, and the city of Leduc as well as industry and a host of volunteers, built an interpre- tive centre to capture the history of energy development in Alberta.

The centre has evolved from its humble beginnings, and now, with $1 million in funding from the Alberta lottery fund, a planned expansion called Project Discovery will be completed to highlight the ongoing evolution of the energy industry. This expansion will assist in increasing our opportunity to educate the public in under- standing the value of Alberta’s energy industry to the province and to all Albertans. As well, the expansion will be a great addition to the outstanding tourist attracti ons in the area, enhancing and promoting the local economy.

I would also like to recognize some key individuals who were instrumental in developing and maintaining the interpretive centre: Dan Claypool, Gord McMillan, and Don Hunter. Incidentally, Mr. Speaker, Don Hunter is the son of the Leduc No. 1 driller, Vern “Dry Hole” Hunter. Along with these individuals, this project could not have been accomplished wit hout the support of the Alberta lottery fund. Hats off to the members of the Leduc/Devon Oilfield Historical Society for their dedication and hard work in telling a great Alberta story. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona.

Old Strathcona Foundation Dr. Pannu: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thirty years ago in my constituency an area known as Old Strathcona was plagued by urban decay. Historic buildings had been run down, and the neig hbour- hood had a terrible reputation across the city. On November 13, 1974, the Old Strathcona Foundation was incorporated to turn things around. By the mid-1980s the foundation had begun to work with various partners to transform the neighbourhood into the vital and dynamic community we know and love today.

They were oversee- ing the restoration of historic buildings and the development of a pedestrian-friendly retail district that is the envy of the communities across the city. 2:40 The foundation has also played an integral role in the development of Edmonton’s famous Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market, the Fringe festival, McIntyre park, End of Steel park, the Silly Summer Parade, the merchants’ association, and the Whyte Avenue mural. I have a particular fondness for the Silly Summer Parade, Mr. Speaker, in which I have participated for a number of years.

When else do I have the opportunity to masquerade as Jimi Hendrix and Elvis Presley? I have been truly fortunate to have the Old Strathcona Foundation as neighbours to my cons tituency office. The staff and volunteers there have always been helpful in keeping me up to date with what’s happening in the neighbourhood and have always met me with a smile and a warm greeting. One staff member in particular stands out in my mind. Liz Iggulden, who is now retiring after 20 years’ service to the founda- tion, has been a hard worker, dedicated community activist, and good friend.

I want to thank Liz and the entire Old Strathcona Foundation for all they have done for the neighbour hood and the city. I would ask my colleagues in this House to join with me to truly wish Liz all the best in what I know will an active and enjoyable retirement. Thank you, Liz. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Lac La Biche-St. Paul. National Wildlife Week Mr. Danyluk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. National Wildlife Week is being celebrated across Canada this week. Protecting Alberta’s natural spaces for wildlife has been a priority for the past 100 years.

Parks and other areas protected by law conserve important habitat for many threatened or endangered plant and animal species. Of this, more than 12,000 square kilometres protect core woodland caribou habitat. Hay-Zama Lakes wild-land provincial park is another protected area that conserves important habitat for the migrating waterfowl. During the fall migration 130,000 lesser snow geese, 47,000 Canada geese, and 200,000 ducks have been recorded at this site.

I would like to recognize all the dedicated provincial government staff who do an outstanding job of managing Alberta’s lands, forests, fish, wildlife, and parks and protected areas. Natural resource management requires a balanced approach to ensure all values and uses are considered, including economic, environmental, and social values. Over our last century science and technology have come a long ways, and at every stage Alberta has continued to use the best and latest science in managing our natural resources.

Our centennial year brings to mind the fact that Alberta has been committed to managing our resources for the long-term benefits of Albertans. Albertans have demonstrated their strong support over the years. It is the Alberta way to emphasize a collaborative approach to protecting and managing our natural resources. Albertans have worked co-operatively to protect and preserve wildlife. Alberta is indeed fortunate to have many residents who serve as co-stewards for the sustainability of our wildlife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

April 14, 2005 Alberta Hansard 775 The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Varsity. Alberta Centennial Multicultural Gala Night East Coulee Spring Festival Mr. Chase: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Recently my wife, Heather, and I had the privilege of attending two cultural events, one in an urban setting and the other in a rural. On Monday, March 28, we had the privilege of attending Al- berta’s Centennial Multicultural Gala Night at the Jack Singer Concert Hall in Calgary.

I wish to recognize in particular the efforts of the India Canada Association, the Southern Alberta Heritage Language Foundation, and the Calgary Federation of Filipino Associations for organizing such a colourful and entertaining evening of awe-inspiring cultural music and dance. The program included performances from talented artists of various ages from the Aboriginal, Ukrainian, Irish, Ea st Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Colombian, Tibetan, and African communities.

It is through important events such as this that Albertans who have originated from across the globe can come together and share their rich heritage and traditions and celebrate the cultural diversity that contributes to the character of our great province. Congratulations to all the hard-working, dedicated organizers, volunteers, and performers on a tremendously su ccessful event showcasing Cal- gary’s vibrant cultural kaleidoscope. This past weekend we once again had the pleasure of attending the annual spring festival in East Coulee, which is just east of Drumheller.

East Coulee was once a thriving coal mining town, which had a population of over 3,000 people, primarily employed by the Atlas coal mine. The approximately 200 remaining residents, led by a variety of dedicated local volunteers including Marcel and Bev Deschenes, Antonia and Andy DeJong, Linda and Robin Digby, Vivian Deitz, Gillian Murray, and Lynn Van Kleef to name a few, organized this year’s musical event. Numerous talented musicians from throughout Alberta volunteered their time to raise funds for the East Coulee school museum and the Atlas mine wash house.

Alberta author Lawrence Chrismas through his book CoalDust Grins, which immortalized the history of coal mining immigrants who came to Canada, serves as an inspiration for this annual event. Among the talented local performers was the band Willow Creek, led by Don Howard. The show stealers, however, were five-year-old Tyler Ferguson, eight-year-old Jordan Ferguson, six-year-old Rachel Robinson, eight-year-old Jesse Robinson, and six-year-old Kaylie Peak. Three generations of the Peak family were represented, including Kaylie’s mom, Velma Peak, and her granddad, Ed Peak. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Vignettes from Alberta’s History The Speaker: Hon. members, by way of an historical vignette today I’m going to tell you something that’s really, really odd, and it may be of particular interest to the Member for Lac La Biche-St. Paul. On this day in 1898 a sailor by the name of Charles Walker, who was a mate on a sailing ship, the Orca, arrived at what was then known as the Saddle Lake Indian reserve, which is located near St. Paul, after a walk of 2,500 miles to report the loss of his ship on the west coast of British Columbia. head: Presenting Petitions The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Manning. Mr.

Backs: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to rise and present a petition from good Albertans from the communities of Kikino, Enoch, Wetaskiwin, Morinville, Bowden, and Edmonton.

It reads: We the undersigned residents of Al berta, petition the Legislative Assembly to urge the Government of Alberta to prohibit the importation of temporary foreign workers to work on the construc- tion and/or maintenance of oil sands facilities and/or pipelines until the following groups have been accessed and/or trained: Unem- ployed Albertans and Canadians; Aboriginals; unemployed youth under 25; under-employed landed immigrants; and displaced farmers. There are 102 on this petition. head: Notices of Motions The Speaker: The hon. Deputy Government House Leader. Mr. Zwozdesky: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise pursuant to Standing Order 34(2)(

a) to give notice that on Monday I will move that written questions appearing on the Order Paper do stand and retain their places with the exception of written questions 12 through 23. I’m also giving notice that on Monday I will move that motions for returns appearing on the Order Paper do stand and retain their places with the exception of motions for returns 14 through 26 inclusive, noting, of course, that 14 through 18 inclusive were left over from this previous Monday. head: Introduction of Bills The Speaker: The hon. Deputy Government House Leader on behalf of the Minister of Finance.

Bill 37 Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2005 Mr. Zwozdesky: Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I request leave on behalf of the hon. Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance to introduce Bill 37, the Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2005. This being a money bill, His Honour the Honourab le the Lieutenant Governor, having been informed of the contents of this bill, recommends the same to the Assembly. In short, Mr.

Speaker, Bill 37 amends the Fiscal Responsibility Act so that debt retirement funds can only be used for that purpose and to increase the nonrenewable resource revenue that can be used for budget purposes from $4 billio n up to $4.74 b illion. This bill also amends the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund Act, the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research Act, the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Science and Engineering Research Act, and the Alberta Heritage Scholarship Act to clarify the transfer of money into these particular funds.

Thank you. [Motion carried; Bill 37 read a first time] head: 2:50 Tabling Returns and Reports The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Energy. Mr. Melchin: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to table five copies of the report completed by the internationally recognized London Economics group which concludes that Alberta’s move to an open, competitive electricity market puts the province in an enviable position amongst the provinces.

The report, commissioned by the Independent Power Producers Society of Alberta, was undertaken to review residential electricity rates across Canada while taking into account real factors, not considering comparisons by other organizations.

Alberta Hansard April 14, 2005776 The price analysis suggests that the rates in other provinces would be 25 to 30 per cent higher if consumers were charged the full value of electricity they use and that the rates in those provinces can be expected to rise much more rapidly than those in Alberta over the next decade. Copies of the report will now be tabled. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Sustainable Resource Develop- ment. Mr. Coutts: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am pleased to rise today before the House and table five copies of the Surface Rights Board and Land Compensation Board annual report for 2004. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar. Mr. MacDonald: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I have two tablings, and I’m going to anxiously await the chance to read the hon. Minister of Energy’s tabling. My first tabling is a letter I wrote on Friday, April 8, 2005, to the hon. Minister of Education.

This is a letter indicating that the closure process for the Edmonton public schools is not in accordance with the closure of schools regulation 238-97, consolidated up to 170/2004. The second tabling I have is a parent- and community-based solution to maintain the long-term viability of Strathearn school. It’s a report to the Edmonton public school board of trustees. It’s prepared by the Strathearn Community School Parent Advisory Association, and it is written by Deanna Dixon, president of the Strathearn Community School Parent Advisory Association. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Varsity.

Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have seven letters to table today from deeply concerned representatives of a variety of hunting and conservation organizations who call upon the government to re- evaluate its position on the interim Métis harvesting agreement, which they feel far exceeds the points of the Powley case and does not take the best interests of Alberta’s wildlife into account. The first two are from Tom Foss of the Alberta Bowhunters Association, followed by letters from Dr.

Gerrow of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Brian Rufiange of the Spruce Grove Fish & Game Association, Kevin Williams of World Class Alberta Trophy Outfitters Ltd., Pete Mountain of the Alberta

chapter of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, and, lastly, Ron Watt of the Southern Alberta Bowhunters Association. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview. Mr. Martin: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table an op- ed piece written by Ricardo Acuna and Diana Gibson of the Parkland Institute. The piece argues that the budget tabled yesterday by this government does nothing to promote a sustainable and equitable Alberta. Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. head: Tablings to the Clerk The Clerk: I wish to advise the House that the following document was deposited with the office of the Clerk on behalf of the hon. Mrs. Forsyth, Minister of Children’s Services: pursuant to the Social Care Facilities Review Committee Act the Social Care Facilities Review Committee annual report 2003-04. head: Projected Government Business The Speaker: The Official Opposition House Leader. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Subject to Standing Order 7(5) I would ask the Government House Leader to please share the projected government business for the week of April 18 to 21. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Deputy Government House Leader. Mr. Zwozdesky: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d be happy to do that. On Monday, April 18, in the afternoon we will begin with private members’ business, including Wr itten Questions and Motions for Returns, followed by Public Bills and Orders Other than Govern- ment Bills and Orders. On Monday evening at 8 we’ll continue with private members’ business.

At 9 p.m. we will go to Committee of Supply, which will be the department of aboriginal affairs – that’s day 2 of 24 – followed by second reading of Bill 37, the Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2005; Bill 35, Employment Pension Plans Amendment Act, 2005; and Bill 39, Traffic Safety Amendment Act, 2005; and otherwise as per the Order Paper. On Tuesday afternoon in Committee of Supply we will review the Department of Advanced Education as day 3 of 24.

At 8 p.m. we will go to Committee of Supply and look after Seniors, followed at 10 p.m. by Committee of the Whole on Bill 37, followed by second reading of Bill 35 and Bill 29, the anticipated Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped Amendment Act, 2005, and otherwise as per the Order Paper. Wednesday afternoon will be dedicated to Committee of Supply, the Department of Energy. Wednesday evening at 8 will be Committee of Supply for Sustainable Resource Development. That would be day 6 of 24.

At 10 p.m. we will proceed with third reading of Bill 37 and then with Committee of the Whole on Bill 1, Access to the Future Act, and otherwise as per the Order Paper. On Thursday, April 21, in the afternoon Committee of Supply will deal with the Ministry of Finance, followed by third reading of Bill 37, and otherwise as per the Order Paper. head: Orders of the Day Government Motions Provincial Fiscal Policies 19. Mrs. McClellan moved:

Be it resolved that the Assembly approve in general the business plans and fiscal policies of the government. [Adjourned debate April 12: Dr. Taft] The Speaker: The hon. Leader of the Official Opposition. Dr. Taft: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s my privilege today to rise to reply to the budget as presented by the Minister of Finance yesterday and, frankly, to take an opportunity to present some of our own ideas for the budget. I’ve come to think of Albertans as sitting on this amazing treasure chest of wealth quite unpr ecedented or unparalleled in the world.

I’ve often said – and I’ll keep saying it over and over – that this is probably the most valuable piece of real estate per capita, certainly, on the entire planet. Nobody in this world has the opportunities that we have here. A few weeks ago I was going through a list of the metropolitan areas in Canada and the United States with populations over a

April 14, 2005 Alberta Hansard 777 million people, and there are a total of 55 metropolitan areas in Canada and the U.S. with populations over a million. The very, very bottom of this list, the last one to make it on, is Edmonton, and the second-last is Calgary. So we have the two smallest populations of any cities in North America over a million; we just make it over that threshold.

I studied the list for a while, and I realized that if you were to take every single Albertan and put them into one city, people from Rainbow Lake and Fort Chip and Elkwater and Milk River and everywhere in between including our big cities of Calgary and Edmonton and they were all in one city, we would only rank number 18 of cities in North America. That helps put it in perspective. If you look at North America, we have a province here with a total population roughly equivalent to metro Seattle, yet we sit here on such wealth.

We sit here with huge forests, a strong agricultural sector – struggling now but still strong, fundamentally – tourism, a hard-working, well-educated workforce. We live in peace and security next to the richest market in the world, the United States, and on top of all of that there are petroleum reserves that rival Saudi Arabia’s, all of that divided among a population about the size equivalent to greater Seattle. Unbelievable opportunity. It’s our responsibility as legislators to make the most out of that opportunity, to recognize it for what it is and to steward it for future generations.

I didn’t feel or see that kind of spirit in yesterday’s budget, although I’m sure the intent is good. Some of the things we would do if it was our opportunity to present a budget, Mr. Speaker. First of all, put forward a surplus policy, put it down in black and white, and commit to it over the long term. Build up the heritage trust fund by taking 35 per cent of all surpluses and putting them into the heritage fund without capping it. Set up a second endowment fund and put 35 per cent of all budget surpluses into that and de dicate that to building the best postsecondary education system we can imagine.

There’s no reason that in this province we can’t have the best technical institutes and colleges and universities in the country and, indeed, on the continent. Take another 25 per cent and put it into a capital account to address infrastructure. Finally, recognize the role and the importance of the arts and humanities to a fruitful and rewarding life, putting 5 per cent of surpluses into an endowment f und for the humanities, social sciences, and arts up to $500 million. I didn’t see any sense of that plan in yesterday’s budget, Mr. Speaker. 3:00 On the health care front.

Health care consistently is the first concern of Albertans and of Canadians. What we would aim to achieve in our budget would be a high-quality, sustainable public health care system based on bold innovation and steady management within a public framework. An accessible health care system is one of the top priorities for the Liberal opposition.

We would like to bring in, we would propose to bring in a more extensive public pharmacare program, increase the number of residency training positions, proceed decisively with the new southeast Calgary hospital, eliminate health care premiums, and then some bold innovations because this isn’t all about treating sick people. In fact, we need more and more to emphasize how to keep people healthy.

So you would have seen a Liberal government here support a much stricter province-wide smoking ban in the workplace and taking tobacco tax revenues and puttin g them into a wellness f und to support building a healthier society. We’d establish an independent health auditor to ensure that our health care system delivers value for money, a health auditor focused on asking the questions: what is the best way to deliver orthopaedic surgery or the best way to deliver cataract surgery or long-term care services, taking it and giving it a sound basis of a value-for-money audit in our health care system?

Frankly, we would require all major policies and funding decisions to undergo a health impact assess- ment to help us identify and plan for all major decisions of the government and understand their impact on our health care system. We’d invest heavily and boldly in our education system, right from kindergarten to postgraduate studies. We’d introduce optional junior kindergarten and full-day kindergarten, with a special emphasis on children at risk.

We’d follow the recommendations of the Learning Commission and decrease class sizes, eliminate the need for school fees for education basics, and return to the day when we and pretty well all MLAs went to school, where school fees were to cover extras like field trips, not to cover some of the basics. We’d plan for an orderly renewal of existing school buildings, something that we don’t see at all in the current budget, and support community schools.

Of course, we would establish, as I’ve already said, an endowment fund for postsecondary education with the vision of making the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, the University of Lethbridge, Athabasca University, and all the colleges and technical institutes rank among the very best in the country. The municipalities would also get particular attention in our budget. One of our first priorities would be to address infrastructure problems by providing $3 billion to municipa lities to address infrastructure needs, and I was glad to see that in yesterday’s budget.

We’d like to develop a three-year rolling grant funding framework to allow municipalities to plan thei r infrastructure well in advance so that we don’t have this year-to-year, on-again, off-again game of unstable funding for municipalities. I think that, very importantly, we’d like to increase the local autonomy and create some new tax room for municipalities. The environment also consistently ranks as a top priority for Albertans. We need to be protecting Alberta’s natural resources, and that’s of all kinds: water, petr oleum, coal, wildlife, land, and landscapes.

Some of the measures we would introduce include establishing an arm’s-length standing committee to develop a province-wide water management strategy, implementing strategies to protect Alberta’s remaining wetlands, reviewing water-intensive industries to ensure that they’re using the best available technolo- gies. I suspect there are dramatic improvements to be made if we really put our spirit into it. We’d phase out, more ambitiously than is currently proposed, the use of fresh water for oil well injections, and we would – we would – prohibit bulk water sales of Alberta water.

There are other things we’d like to do to build forward on our environment: supporting aggressive research into renewable energy sources – wind, biomass, solar energy – supporting the growth of environmental technology companies; helping to diversify the economy as well as protecting the environment. We’d like to create a revolving fund for energy efficiency to help Albertans retrofit their homes, increase their energy efficiency; protect Alberta parks and special places from environmental damage; and halt the current plan to sell off public lands.

We’d design a comprehensive land use policy for all public lands in Alberta based on principles of conser- vation biology, and we’d fund and publicly share a comprehensive scientific study to determine the impact of sour gas flaring on human and animal health. Mr. Speaker, those are some of our ideas that we’d like to bring forward in a budget. We’d like to see some bold and dramatic plans here.

What I would love to see from any government here and any party would be statements like: making Alberta’s universities the best in the country or making Alberta the most energy-efficient jurisdiction in Canada or even in the world within a decade or making Alberta’s population the healthiest population in the world.

Alberta Hansard April 14, 2005778 Those are the kinds of lofty goals and ambitions that motivate and drive Albertans, and those are failing us here. The thing about approaching these in a comprehensive manner, Mr. Speaker, is that it’s not either/o r . I t ’ s not t ha t w e i nv e s t i n health at the expense of education or invest in education at the expense of protecting the environment or invest in the environment at the expense of our cities.

Indeed, a comprehensive plan address- ing all of these would create a virtuous circle in which higher education levels contribute to better health, stronger communities contribute to better health and a healthier environment, a healthier, cleaner environment creates a healthier population, and on and on, so we can have benefits across the board. This is not an either/or proposition. This is a way of building a strong, robust, well- educated, healthy, coherent community in Alberta for the future.

That’s the kind of vision I would like to see and that my col- leagues in the Liberal caucus, I think, have for Alberta. There were baby steps taken in that direction in yesterday’s budget, but I’d like now, Mr. Speaker, to raise some of the specifics in response to the budget presented yesterday. There is no long-term plan to seize Alberta’s opportunity. We are on the cusp, maybe on the apex of remarkable opportunity here, and it feels like we’re letting it slip through our hands. It really does. There are some good initiatives in the budget, and we’re happy that some of our ideas have been borrowed and adapted.

That’s fine. We’re all here, ultimately, to advance the quality of public life in this province, I’m sure. We’re pleased to see issues or ideas like increases to AISH levels appearing – and we look forward to the announcement tomorrow on the details – increases in health spending, inflation-proofing the heritage fund, and investing in municipal infrastructure. Those are all good ideas, but they are not enough on their own to inspire confidence. This feels – and I give credit for a good line to the New Democrats – like we’re sleepwalking into the next century with this budget. Mr.

Mason: Now I have to change my speech. Dr. Taft: Well, you can borrow from us. My disappointments with the budget. One of them, Mr. Speaker, was the postsecondary education endowment fund. I was really looking forward to something clear and dramatic there, something that would really make a difference, and I was, I must say, sorely disappointed. That was my greatest disappointment yesterday.

The headlines for weeks, perhaps months even, had trumpeted a $3 billion postsecondary endowment fund, and what was delivered was a payment, a down payment, of a quarter of $1 billion, that when the numbers are crunched will produce $11 million a year for the entire postsecondary education system, Mr. Speaker. Let’s put that in perspective. That would not have covered the increase in the electricity bill faced by the University of Alberta two years ago, not the whole bill but even the increase.

That wouldn’t have covered the increase in their power bill, much less have made a significant contribution to the rise of quality across the postsecondary education system. That was a real disappointment. 3:10 To make matters worse, as we read the budget documents – and I hope we’re corrected – the government actually cut the capital budget, indeed slashed the budget for capital spending for postsecondary institutions in half. So we’re left wondering: where will institutions house those 15,000 promised new sp aces in the postsecondary system within the next three years? Are those real spaces, Mr. Speaker?

We’re left w ondering if they aren’t virtual spaces, if we’re not actually going to see home offices and base- ments counted as spaces because students are having to log on and learn through the Internet inst ead of getting a direct, in-place education at a campus somewhere. So there were some real disappointments with postsecondary education, and as I say, I hope that as we go through the numbers and the details, we’re proven wrong on those, but so far it doesn’t deliver what it ought to deliver, Mr. Speaker.

On the K to 12 education side clearly there were some things to be pleased about, depending on how the details work out. If it’s actually a net gain of 435 new teachers this year and another 580 the next year, it’s a good thing, clearly, as long as it’s a net gain. Reducing class sizes so our kids have space to learn in is some- thing we’ve supported, and aiming at achieving the objectives of the Learning Commission is commendable. We support that, and we’ll work with the government to do that. But infrastructure spending, Mr. Speaker, as we read the figures, is down for schools $20 mi llion from last year.

It doesn’t add up. Where are these teachers going to go? Where are the students going to go? How are we going to reduce classroom sizes when we’re not investing in school infrastructure? I can tell you from my constituency that schools are in rough shape. I tour all the schools of my constituency, and I still remember – and I don’t think this has been corrected yet – going through one of the schools. The ceiling in the gym was leaking. I checked the emergency exit in the gym in an elementary school, and the door frame was so rotten that I could pick the wood frame apart with my fingernails.

There’s another school in my cons tituency, Mr. Speaker, where the cracks in the walls are so extensive and so wide that I can run a pen through them for metres and metres at a time. How are we going to correct that when our infrastructure investment in schools is actually dropping? It’s cold comfort to parents and students and teachers.

So that’s a concern, as is the pressure to close schools when, indeed, we should be converting these to community schools and looking at creative solutions to these issues and remembering that those schools 10 years from now might be the heart of a rejuvenated community and might actually play a crucial role in halting the urban sprawl when people want to move back into the central part of the city and they’re attracted there because there’s a sc hool in the neighbourhood. If we’ve closed those schools or sold them off, what have we done? We’ve made a long-term mistake for a short-term gain.

No addressing of that issue that I saw at all in yesterday’s budget. Health and Wellness. The first impressions look good. Base operating grants to health authorities are going to increase. Funding for the Alberta Cancer Board looks like it’s up about 25 per cent, and that’s good. Nobody is going to argue with that. It’s a good move. Unfortunately, the demand is there, but that’s the reality of a growing population. It also suggests to me, Mr. Speaker, that we need to be looking at the impact of environmental factors on the rise of cancer, and we actually need to get more serious about things like smoking bans.

You can see this strange and ironic paradox in this Assembly being played out, where we have a 25 per cent increase in funding for the Cancer Board, and we don’t have the guts to come in with a province-wide workplace smoking ban. It’s a sad commentary on our mentality in this Assembly. AADAC funding is up 12 per cent. I guess if we need it, we need it. Clearly, as we will be debating, perhaps, later this afternoon, there’s a need for treatment facilities for drug addicts: crystal meth and other drugs. But we also need to take a long-term view and recognize the importance that strong communities and excellent

April 14, 2005 Alberta Hansard 779 schools play in keeping kids from needing detox centres and treatment services because when those kids end up as addicts, it’s not just a breakdown of a family, and it’s not just because they’re weak individuals; it’s also a breakdown of a community. We need to pay attention to the strength of our communities.

Calgary and Edmonton, as I’ve often said in this Assembly, have the most overcrowded hospitals in the country, so we’re glad to see some action, some funding available to allow things like the ambulatory care centre to move forward in Edmonton and apparently – apparently – a solid commitment to the southeast Calgary hospital. I just hope it’s delivered. I hope it comes through.

I hope it’s done properly and efficiently as a public hospital because I can warn this Assembly right now – mark my words – that if we end up in a P3 for the southeast Calgary hospital, we will lose control of that budget just like we did with the Calgary courthouse, and we will pay over and over and over for that facility.

As I mentioned near the beginning of my comments, we’re delighted that the funding for AISH is being increased by $80 million and look forward tomorrow to the announcement that we hope will see the monthly maximum benefits for AISH recipients addressed and perhaps some of the other issues around clawbacks of the AISH benefits addressed as well. We’re pleased that there’s over $7 million provided to help seniors cover increases to the costs of school property tax.

Of course, we would have liked to have seen a cap put on the total provincial take from the education portion of the property tax so that there’s more room for municipalities if they need that tax room or that seniors or all families and all homeowners in this province can get a little bit of a tax break there. Funding for housing under Alberta Seniors goes up, I think, some $43 million, and that’s great. We’ve got to look after our people. Housing is crucial. Affordable housing is important.

As we see the cost of housing in this province climb dramatically, we’re going to have to pay more and more attention to this. The cost of housing in Fort McMurray is out of the reach of far too many people, and frankly the same thing is happening in Calgary. I heard a story two or three days ago about a house being listed in Calgary at, I think it was, $319,000 and being bid up and finally selling at $350,000 or $360,000. The cost of housing in Calgary is getting out of reach of too many people, so we’re going to need to pay attention to that. Minimum wage doesn’t have to be addressed through the budget.

It would be nice to see it addressed clearly and firmly somewhere in some mechanism before this session is over. It links back, Mr. Speaker, to that issue of the virtuous circle I addressed. One of the clearest indicators of health problems and strongest predictors of health problems is poverty. If we help people who are struggling to get by – you don’t have to give them a handout, but let’s give them a fair chance – we will see in the long term demands on the health care system diminish. We’ll see happier families and healthier communities and, frankly, a stronger society.

So I would have liked to have seen some addressing of the minimum wage. Maybe that awaits later legislation. 3:20 There’s no clear plan for the surplus. There’s been some sort of sketching out of what we might see. It’s interesting that just a few minutes ago a bill was given first reading, I think Bill 37, the Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2005, which allows, as I’m reading it, as I understand it, the government to increase the amount of revenue it spends from nonrenewable resource revenues, and I’m not convinced that’s a wise step for us to take.

Is that really a sustainable policy to bring in, or are we losing discipline in our long- term control of our resources? We have to remember that every $4.75 billion we spend out of the nonrenewable resource revenues is gone forever. We could have an interesting debate on that. Beyond that, what other plans are there in here for the surplus? Well, we’ll see how the postsecondary endowment fund plays out, that little down payment that’s going to produce $11 million a year that I hope gets augmented rapidly, but there’s no clear evidence that that’s going to happen.

I hope we pay serious attention to diversify- ing our economy away from our dependence on petroleum. There’s no mention in here of investing in our democratic deficit and investing in overcoming our democratic deficit, which I’d very much like to see. I’d like to have seen funds set aside to launch a citizen’s assembly on electoral reform. I’d like to have seen support in here for a lobbyist registry.

I’d like to have seen some of the technicalities addressed of how we handle an account for our money such as replacing the current government-only accounting principles with generally accepted accounting principles, which is, frankly, a recommendation that’s been made by the Auditor General for years and years. Of course, there are a few things that are downright irritating in here. Once again the horse-racing industry is receiving $45 million, and I know that draws a reaction from some members of this Assembly, but why? Why, Mr. Speaker, are we supporting the horse-racing industry? Why not some other industry?

Why any industry at all? If this is a government that wants out of the business of business, why are we still in the business of horse racing? What is the exit plan? This subsidy has actually increased year after year, and it’s well over $100 million in the last three or four years. Where does this end? Forty-five million dollars is more than the new money budgeted to hire police officers. It’s more than what’s given to seniors to provide dental and optical assistance. What’s the priority here? When do we give the human race some priority over the horse race? Mr. Mason: Good line. Dr. Taft: Well, thank you.

You can use it in yours, hon. leader. We’re pleased to see the investment in municipalities, in particular the infrastructure issues that th e municipalities face. I think some exciting leadership is going to emerge in local government in Calgary and Edmonton and elsewhere to really turn our cities into jewels, globally, among cities, not to take their place among the list of, you know, the huge cities, the Tokyos and New Yorks and Londons of the world, but to stand proudly on a list that might include Geneva or Zurich or Austin or Helsinki, to have Calgary and Edmonton recognized globally on that same list.

We’re not there yet, but we could get there. Let’s try. Let’s work on that. Environment consistently ranks as a top priority for Albertans. There was some debate about that earlier today, Mr. Speaker, and there will be more. I don’t see e nough in here a bout the environ- ment. We’ll see if there’s actual funding in here for increasing the number of fish and wildlife officers and other initiatives to protect the environment. Let’s hope that there is. We’ll see how the financing and support for the Water for Life strategy really plays out.

We’ll see what efforts, if any, and what resources, if any, are committed to helping Alberta address the issues of global warming because, frankly and clearly, Mr. Speaker, the Alberta Liberal caucus accepts the signs of global warming. We recognize the need that something is going to have to be done, and it’s going to have to be done boldly. It could be done. We could be leaders. We could take this problem and say, “This is not a problem; this is an opportu- nity.” If we deal with this opportunity properly, 10 years from now people from around the world could be coming to Alberta to learn

Alberta Hansard April 14, 2005780 how to live with a lighter impact on their environment, how to generate power without burning so much fossil fuel, how to insulate their homes or how to design their buildings so that they have absolutely minimal impact on the environment. We should be looking at that as an opportunity, not as an obstacle. I don’t see any addressing of that issue in this budget, Mr. Speaker. I applaud the government for adding up to 200 police officers to fight crime in Alberta. It’s a positive step, ensuring a safe commu- nity.

I also applaud the particular focus to fight organized crime because I do think that’s a rising problem in our province. The commitment to increase our police services is long overdue. Our parks and protected areas are suffering from neglect, and I don’t think this budget comes close enough to providing the necessary funding to return those to the proud state they were once in and to understand that they’re a key part of a tourism strategy, which is part of diversifying the economy. I could go on, Mr. Speaker. I’m concerned that this budget, frankly, doesn’t do much at all for the arts community.

It shows once again that this government does not value the contributions of the artistic community to the vibrancy of our province. It’s particu- larly galling that we can find $45 million for the horse-racing industry and so little for the arts community. Mr. Speaker, I understand that there’s going to be other special business and important debate today. I know that there will be day after day after day of debate, department by department, of the budget. I look forward to that. I will be following it, and we will all be following it closely.

I’d summarize by saying that this budget takes some good steps, but it’s not clear what road map we’re really following. There’s no sense of saying: “Albertans, rise to the challenge. You have the opportunity here to be remarkable.” There’s no sense of that here, Mr. Speaker, so I’m disappointed. We’ll debate it department by department. With those comments, Mr. Speaker, I’ll conclude my remarks. Thank you. The Speaker: Hon. members should be aware that under our Standing Orders the hon. Leader of the Official Opposition has up to 90 minutes to participate, and the hon.

Leader of the Official Opposition left 57 minutes and 40 seconds on the table today. Hon. leader of the New Democratic opposition, are you participat- ing today? Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I, of course, get 15 minutes, and I intend to use all of them. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to thank you very much for the opportunity to participate in the debate on the budget for 2005. As I have said, and now I’ve been quoted by the hon. Leader of the Liberal Party, Budget 2005 can most aptly be described as sleepwalking into Alberta’s second century.

That’s bad enough, but we all know that it’s very dangerous to wake a sleepwalker, so we don’t know what could happen then. There’s really so much more that this budget could have done for hard-working Alberta families. It could have scrapped health care premiums, which pose a particular burden on middle-class and low- income families.

It could have scrapped the $45 million annual subsidy for the horse-racing industry and got government out of being in the business of government, and then used the savings to cut tuition fees for postsecondary students by 10 per cent instead of providing students just a one-year stay of execution when it comes to tuition increases. The budget could have kept the promise to implement full-day kindergarten and half-day junior kindergarten for disadvantaged children. The government could have funded expanded kindergarten programs by scrapping the Alberta royalty tax credit, at a savings of almost $100 million, Mr.

Speaker. Unfortunately, Budget 2005 addresses none of these priorities. 3:30 Budget 2005 estimates a budget surplus of $1.5 billion for this year, which is slightly more truthful than the $300 million surplus claimed in last year’s budget. We know, of course, Mr. Speaker, that last year’s $300 million surplus actually ballooned into a surplus of over $4 billion.

Because the Tory government knows that they’re underestimating the budget surplus to the tune of billions of dollars, instead of making appropriate provisions for expenditures in the budget, this government then gives itself permission to go on spending sprees later in the budget year, often after the ink has barely dried. Instead of properly budgeting up front, the government likes to throw money at problems in an unplanned way. You know, the lowballing of budget surpluses has been a problem, Mr.

Speaker, because the government quite consciously uses estimates for the price of gas and oil that are significantly lower than what they traditionally will be. Thus, instead of accurately budget- ing the finances of the province, we get into the situation where we are used to having so-called unplanned or unanticipated surpluses. It’s this, I think, that we would like to focus on a little bit.

The government should use accurate estimates for the price of natural resources and accurately forecast its revenues and its expenditures instead of using unbudgeted surpluses to fund things like the postsecondary education endowment. I think that the problem here is that we’ve opposed this approach of unbudgeted surpluses in the past, but now with this proposal, which the govern- ment has lifted from the Liberal Party’s campaign book, they are institutionalizing the use of unbudgeted surpluses to finance ongoing government expenditures. We think that that’s a bad approach, Mr. Speaker. We disagree with it.

By all means, we should put more money into postsecond- ary education, but we should not be creating the endowment fund from unbudgeted surpluses, as the Liberal proposal suggests and which the government has adopted. It should be budgeted money that goes into postsecondary education. So, by all means, let’s spend a lot more money there because I think it is a good priority, but the approach is a bad one. I think that if the government is going to steal ideas from the Liberals, they should at least steal some of their good ones. Mr.

Speaker, this is a less than honest approach to government budgeting, particularly if infrastructure is taken into account. We think that it should be a priority, and it s hould be included in its entirety in the budget of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transpor- tation rather than being doled out from the so-called sustainability fund at the whim of the Conservative government to meet their political needs. Speaking of infrastructure, the monies being budgeted up front in Budget 2005 are actually quite disappointing.

In fact, the capital plan outlined on page 46 of the budget’s Fiscal Plan shows that while infrastructure transfers to municipalities are going up, capital investment in hospitals, schools, and postsecondary facilities is actually going down. In 2005-06, for example, capital funding for schools is actually 10 per cent lower than in last year’s budget. The postsecondary sector fares even worse, with needed capital invest- ment down more than 50 per cent compared to last year’s budget. When it comes to health care facilities, capital investment is down some 30 per cent compared to what was actually spent last year.

Increased investment in municipal infrastructure is badly needed

April 14, 2005 Alberta Hansard 781 and will help our municipalities begin to put a dent in their infra- structure deficits, but we should not be paying for it at the expense of infrastructure investments that are badly needed in other areas like schools, hospitals, and universities. Mr. Speaker, we know that there are crumbling schools across this province. We know that one of the things that’s leading to the closure of inner-city schools is just the cost of catching up on their maintenance.

It’s time the government had a systematic plan to restore and protect these valuable community resources and to work with municipalities to revitalize the inner-city communities so that they aren’t faced with a declining enrolment. We should be seeing these older schools as badly needed assets for our communities rather than as something that has to be closed before new schools can be constructed. Mr. Speaker, if you’re a parent and your child’s school is facing closure, this budget will not help you.

If you’re a patient waiting for a hospital bed to open up so you can have needed surgery, this budget will not help you either. I’d like to highlight another example of bad budgeting in this year’s budget; namely, the $55 million provided to municipalities for ambulance services.

This government knows, based on documents provided by the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, that it’s at least $12 million short, but instead of adding this shortfall to the budget, the Minister of Health and Wellness has tried to deflect the blame onto municipalities rather than putting the blame where it belongs, and that’s with this Conservative government and its botched approach to ambulance transfer. I must say that the NDP opposition is pleased that there were no further reductions in the general co rporate tax rate.

In last year’s budget the NDP opposition stood alone in this Assembly to oppose the 9 per cent cut in the tax rate for larger corporations, from 12 and a half to 11 and a half per cent. This corporate tax rate was sup- ported by the other parties in this Assembly, and we’re pleased that the opposition that we have raised to this ongoing attempt to cut corporate taxes has succeeded again in preventing this measure from being introduced in this budget. Alberta’s corporate tax rates are already by far the lowest of any province.

While I’m pleased that there were no further corporate tax cuts in this budget, I am concerned that the government still has not backed away from its eventual goal of cutting corporate taxes by another 30 per cent, all the way down to 8 per cent. The NDP opposition will keep up the pressure to ensure that the corporate sector pays its fair share for public investment in our schools, hospitals, and infrastruc- ture, investments from which they are among the greatest beneficia- ries. Yet we do favour some tax reductions, Mr. Speaker.

We favour a reduction in the tax burden for those for whom it truly is a burden, and that is for low- and middle-income families. Instead of cutting health care premiums and putting $1,056 in the pocket of each and every hard-working Alberta family, the government is choosing to rack up a budget surplus of at least $1.5 billion, and we know from previous experience that it’s going to be a lot higher than that. Even going by the government’s own lowballed revenue forecasts, the government could scrap health care premiums immediately and still end up with a sizable budget surplus of at least $650 million.

Why they don’t do that is beyond me. The refusal of the government to give hard-working middle- income Albertans a meaningful tax break means that they will pay significantly more in combined personal income and health premium taxes than if they lived in either British Columbia or Ontario. By the government’s own figures on page 140 of the budget’s fiscal plan, an Alberta family making $100,000 per year will pay $844 more in combined personal and health premium taxes than the same family with the same income in the province of Ontario.

Even worse, an Alberta family of four making $60,000 per year will pay $1,057 more in income and health premiu m taxes than the same family in Ontario. On school property taxes this is the fourth budget in a row where the government is breaking a promise made in the 2001 budget to freeze school property tax revenues at a constant $1.2 billion. In fact, when you cut through all the government’s spin and talk about mill rates and look squarely at the bottom line, this is what you find, Mr. Speaker: next year Martha and Henry’s school property taxes are once again going up, this time by 3.2 per cent.

The govern- ment’s take on school property taxes will increase to $1.45 billion, or 20 per cent above the $1.2 billion dollar property tax freeze promised in budget 2001. As the government first announced on the eve of last year’s election, Alberta seniors will get a provincial rebate to offset increases in their school property tax, but even there, Mr. Speaker, there’s a catch. Seniors will only have their school taxes frozen if they remain in their existing hom e. This seniors-only freeze will cost the government a very modest $7 million.

By contrast, everyone else will have their school property taxes go up, and the government pockets $40 million. 3:40 The same misplaced priorities as in previous budgets keep showing up; for example, the horse-racing subsidy is being kept at the same $45 million level as last year. The multiyear horse-racing subsidy actually cost $2 million more than a one-year tuition freeze for postsecondary students. On K to 12 education, per-pupil grants to school boards are only going up by 2 and a half per cent, barely matching inflation.

Moreover, the government is not expanding, only maintaining, funding for kindergarten and junior kindergarten programs. The government is breaking its promise by not providing funding for implementing the Learning Commission’s recommendations to expand kindergarten and junior kindergarten programs for disadvan- taged children, and I think that’s a terrible shame, Mr. Speaker. In terms of health care, the $700 million funding increase does seem impressive at first blush.

However, the government is not telling people that over half of this increase – that is, $370 million – is being paid for by Ottawa as a result of increased health transfers resulting from last September’s health accord. Moreover, the single biggest jump in spending is one of about 14 per cent in prescription drug costs for seniors and the poor. The government is keeping municipal ambulance funding transfers to municipalities at $55 million and not funding the $12 million shortfall identified by AUMA. On policing, 200 new police officers is a good start.

I’ll recall the NDP election platform that would have put 500 police officers on the street in Alberta. I see that since we’ve been raising this, the Solicitor General has managed to squeeze a little bit more money out of the Treasury Board and bumped it up to 200. So that’s a good start, Mr. Speaker, but I know that the people of this province want to have their municipalities properly funded for policing services. While these increases for mid-size communities are welcome, there is no increase in per capita police funding for the cities of Edmonton and Calgary, where the need is very great.

While $6 million for fighting organized crime and gangs with 60 dedicated officers is welcome, not all of this money should be going to the enforcement side alone, Mr. Speaker. We also need to make sure that some of the resources go into crime prevention; otherwise, the call on the government’s budget for policing will go up and up. In terms of the assured income for the severely handicapped,

Alberta Hansard April 14, 2005782 actual monthly benefit levels are not going to be made public until tomorrow. Looking at the $45 million being allocated to increased monthly benefit levels, it appears that it won’t even be sufficient to keep up with increases in living costs over the past dozen years. I’m running out of time, Mr. Speaker, but I want to say that with the billions of dollars of petrowealth flowing into provincial coffers, this budget could have accomplished so much more.

It’s easy to budget in Alberta given the money flowing in from our bounty of natural resources, but it’s tougher to budget well, and it’s tougher to budget for all the people. It’s tougher to meet the needs of low- and middle-income people ahead of the wants of the wealthy and the corporate sector. In this critical sense this budget has failed abysmally. With that, I will conclude and take my seat. Thank you very much. The Speaker: Hon. members, Standing Order 29(2)(

a) is available. The chair is prepared to recognize the hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona. Dr. Pannu: Mr. Speaker, I ask for the House’s unanimous consent so that the leader of the NDP opposition could complete his comments given that there are no questions. Some Hon. Members: No. The Speaker: Well, the hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands- Norwood suggested, at least in what I heard him saying, that he had concluded his remarks. Hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona, before the question would even be raised, it sounds to me that unanimous consent would not be given, so I won’t raise the question. Dr.

Pannu: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Well, shall I call the vote then, the question? I’ve been sitting here waiting for a minute. Hon. Member for Edmonton- Strathcona, do you want . . . Dr. Pannu: My request doesn’t stand there anymore. I withdraw it. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Cardston-Taber-Warner. Mr. Hinman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that. You had me nervous. I wasn’t sure what the question was going to be.

I’d like to congratulate this Tory government on their budget and the excitement that they had in being able to do what they wanted to do and to express their view to Albertans. I’m very excited with the announcement of a health care facility that will be similar to that of the Mayo Clinic. That’s exciting, and it will be a great addition to our province that we’ll all truly benefit from. I’m excited about the commitment, though at this time it seems more ceremonial than concrete, on the access to the future e ndow- ment fund. This has great potential.

I hope that we will look at and want to have world-renowned institutions, like we will do with our health care system. I’m excited about the thousand teachers that have been announced being able to go out to help our youth, our future assets in this province. I was very pleased with the increased funding for law enforcement and the 200 new officers that are going out there. I commend them on all of these excellent programs. Albertans will truly benefit from that as we go into this new centennial century.

While this budget offers a peek into the future, it still leaves me wondering what their 20-year plan really is. They say that they have one, but they just don’t share it with us or the municipalities, and it makes it difficult to plan for the future. So I have a few areas of concern that I’d like to address today about the budget; namely, those concerning families and individuals, communities and small business, the role and size of the government, and the future and the direction of Alberta. Help for families and individuals should be our first and highest priority.

Past government surveys have shown that the number one desire of Albertans, after paying off the debt, was to reduce taxes. They’re onerous and burdensome on the people of Alberta, and we’ve failed to look at that. But if we were to increase the basic personal exemption to $20,000 in Alberta, we would not only be the best in Canada. We’d be a long way ahead. We need to leave the money in the pockets of the people, where it is needed and used best. Tax cuts could have and should have been taken with the health care premium taxes for everyone. Property taxes and hidden taxes, fuel, and auto insurance are a few.

Currently our Health and Wellness budget is huge. Our Premier is running out of time to present his much talked about reforms, and I have great concerns. Too often when it comes to essential services like health care and power, when we look at the reforms that he did in the power industry, it’s been at the expense of small business and Albertans and didn’t benefit them as a whole. I question his reforms, and I hope that he puts them and aims them toward the benefit of Alber- tans. One of the things that I would like to see in their health care reforms is if funding was to follow the services provided.

In my area, with the Chinook health region, they’re desperately in n