Manitoba Hansard — 7 May 2018 (Sitting 42, 41st Legislature, 3rd Session)

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Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

Third Session – Forty-First Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Myrna Driedger Speaker Vol. LXXI No. 42 - 1:30 p.m., Monday, May 7, 2018 ISSN 0542-5492

MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Forty-First Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ALLUM, James Fort Garry-Riverview NDP ALTEMEYER, Rob Wolseley NDP BINDLE, Kelly Thompson PC CLARKE, Eileen, Hon. Agassiz PC COX, Cathy, Hon. River East PC CULLEN, Cliff, Hon. Spruce Woods PC CURRY, Nic Kildonan PC DRIEDGER, Myrna, Hon. Charleswood PC EICHLER, Ralph, Hon. Lakeside PC EWASKO, Wayne Lac du Bonnet PC FIELDING, Scott, Hon. Kirkfield Park PC FLETCHER, Steven, Hon. Assiniboia Ind. FONTAINE, Nahanni St. Johns NDP FRIESEN, Cameron, Hon. Morden-Winkler PC GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib.

GOERTZEN, Kelvin, Hon. Steinbach PC GRAYDON, Clifford Emerson PC GUILLEMARD, Sarah Fort Richmond PC HELWER, Reg Brandon West PC ISLEIFSON, Len Brandon East PC JOHNSON, Derek Interlake PC JOHNSTON, Scott St. James PC KINEW, Wab Fort Rouge NDP KLASSEN, Judy Kewatinook Lib. LAGASSÉ, Bob Dawson Trail PC LAGIMODIERE, Alan Selkirk PC LAMOUREUX, Cindy Burrows Lib. LATHLIN, Amanda The Pas NDP LINDSEY, Tom Flin Flon NDP MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Flor Logan NDP MARCELINO, Ted Tyndall Park NDP MARTIN, Shannon Morris PC MAYER, Colleen St.

Vital PC MICHALESKI, Brad Dauphin PC MICKLEFIELD, Andrew Rossmere PC MORLEY-LECOMTE, Janice Seine River PC NESBITT, Greg Riding Mountain PC PALLISTER, Brian, Hon. Fort Whyte PC PEDERSEN, Blaine, Hon. Midland PC PIWNIUK, Doyle Arthur-Virden PC REYES, Jon St. Norbert PC SARAN, Mohinder The Maples Ind. SCHULER, Ron, Hon. St. Paul PC SMITH, Andrew Southdale PC SMITH, Bernadette Point Douglas NDP SMOOK, Dennis La Verendrye PC SQUIRES, Rochelle, Hon. Riel PC STEFANSON, Heather, Hon. Tuxedo PC SWAN, Andrew Minto NDP TEITSMA, James Radisson PC WHARTON, Jeff, Hon. Gimli PC WIEBE, Matt Concordia NDP WISHART, Ian, Hon.

Portage la Prairie PC WOWCHUK, Rick Swan River PC YAKIMOSKI, Blair Transcona PC Vacant St. Boniface

1931 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Monday, May 7, 2018 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Madam Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, from Whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to the welfare and prosperity of our province. Grant, O merciful God, we pray Thee, that we may desire only that which is in accordance with Thy will, that we may seek it with wisdom and know it with certainty and accomp lish it perfectly for the glory and honour of Thy name and for the welfare of all our people. Amen. Please be seated. Good afternoon, everybody.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Madam Speaker: Introduction of bills? Committee reports? Tabling of reports? MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Madam Speaker: The honourable Minister of Justice, and I would indicate that the required 90 minutes notice prior to routine proceedings was provided in accordance with our rule, 26(2). Would the honourable minister please proceed with her statement. Winnipeg Police Service Half Marathon Hon. Heather Stefanson (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Madam Speaker, members of the Winnipeg Police Service go above and beyond the call of duty every day.

They a ct as role models for our youth; they establish lasting relationships in the communities they serve, and they volunteer their time for worthy causes that improve the health and safety of individuals in our city. The Winnipeg Police Service Half Marathon , held this weekend at Assiniboine Park in my Tuxedo constituency, is an incredible example of this leadership and community engagement. Established in 2005 by two dedicated Winnipeg Police Service officers, Nick Paulet and Jean Roch, this event has exceeded expectations from the very beginning.

The inaugural race was planned for 200 people but actually brought together 1,000 registered runners and raised $37,000 for the Manitoba division of the Canadian Cancer Society. The next year, it increased to 1,500 runners and raised a whopping $70,000 for cancer research. Since then, the Winnipeg Police Service Half Marathon has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for cancer research in our province, including an incredible $90, 000 this year. Madam Speaker, we all know how import ant cancer research and treatment is for Manitobans.

Each one of us here today has had our lives touched in some way by this terrible disease. We also know that brain cancer, which has a survival rate of just 22 per cent , is one of the most deadly forms of cancer in existence. That is why I' m pleased to report that this year's marathon raised a significant amount of money to help improve understanding and treatment of brain cancer for Manitobans and their families.

In partnership with the Manitoba di vision of the Canadian Cancer Society, the more than $ 90,000 raised this year will be matched dollar for dollar by Brain Canada through the Canada Brain Research Fund. This public -private partnership has already made significant investments to help save the lives of those suffering with brain cancer. It will help people like Catherine Wreford Ledlow, a truly inspiring Manitoban with brain cancer who participated in a 5K run yesterday. She is one of the top three fundraisers for this year's race and has rai sed more than $10,000 for brain research this year alone.

Madam Speaker, it was a pleasure for me to meet Catherine yesterday and to participate in the marathon event this weekend with so many Manitobans, including my colleagues the Minister for Sustaina ble Development, the member for Southdale (Mr. Smith), the member for Morris (Mr. Martin) and the member for Minto (Mr. Swan). It was great to see our community come together on such a beautiful day to help in the fight against brain cancer.

Madam Speaker, I'd like to thank all of the organizers, the runners, the title sponsor, Food Fare, for everything they did this weekend and for everything they continue to do every year to support the Winnipeg Police Service Half Marathon.

1932 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 7, 2018 And I'd also like to especi ally thank race organizer Inspector Nick Paulet of the Winnipeg Police Service, who joins us in the gallery today with his wife, Leslie, as well as John Douglas, the executive director of the Canadian Cancer Society, and several others also involved in thi s year's half marathon. I ask all members, Madam Speaker, to rise and thank them for everything they do for our community. Mr. Andrew Swan (Minto): I rise on slightly tired legs today to congratulate all participants in the 14th annual Food Fare Winnipeg Police Service Half Marathon.

This year's race– yesterday, May 6th –continued the tradition of the WPS half marathon being a premier running race, but also one of the most popular and meaningful funding–fundraising events you can participate in or donate to, as all proceeds raised are donated towards brain cancer research done by the Canadian Cancer Society. The race has sold out for over a decade, and this year was another fantastic opportunity to be involved with an amazing cause. Pledges and donations by runners and their supporters are matched dollar for dollar by Brain Canada. Whether Manitobans were taking

part in the half marathon, the 5K or the two-person relay, the day was filled with great connections as our community came together to fight against cancer in a tangible way. I want to recognize my colleagues in the Legislature who toed the line in various events, and I actually do want to give special mention to the member for Morris (Mr. Martin) who, like myself, have run all 14 half mar athons, which is equivalent to running from here to just this side of Virden, Manitoba. Nearly every family has dealt with the loss of a loved one or been affected by cancer.

While progress continues to be made, there is much more work to do in the fight against it, and the WPS half marathon is a wonderful community event that allows people to learn more about the fight against cancer, raise funds to help research that will save lives and also meet some of the police officers who serve our community. Here in Manitoba, when families have to start the cancer journey, they're helped by CancerCare Manitoba and the incredible front -line health -care professionals who continue to do their utmost for patients. It is essential that this continues.

I want to giv e special recognition to Winnipeg Police Inspector Nick Paulet. In addition, of course, to his responsibilities with the marathon, Inspector Paulet has been involved with organizing the response to a little downtown event called the Winnipeg Jets Whiteout party, so there is truly no rest for the wicked for Inspector Paulet. I want to thank all the co -ordinators, volunteer staff, donors and runners for what was a truly incredible day. This year's Food Fare WPS half marathon was definitely another successfu l event.

I encourage all members of the Legislature to come out next year for the 15th annual event. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Ms. Cindy Lamoureux (Burrows): Madam Speaker, I ask for leave to speak in response to the minister's statement. Madam Speaker: Does the member have leave to respond to the statement? [Agreed] Ms. Lamoureux: Yesterday, thousands of Winnipeggers laced up their running shoes and hit the pavement running for the 14th annual Winnipeg Police Service marathon at Assiniboine Par k. All funds raised at the marathon went to the Canadian Cancer Society in support of brain cancer research.

Madam Speaker, what a great cause. This makes me think about LIVESTRONG's mission statement. LIVESTRONG fights for more than 32.6 million people a round the world affected by cancer. They provide direct services, they connect people and communities with the services they need, and they call for world leaders to help fight this disease. * (13:40) Madam Speaker, this is what our Winnipeg police are d oing. Yesterday's marathon was just one of several events that will be taking place across our province over the next couple of months.

It's a time for communities to come together, raise funds and develop further knowledge on brain cancer. I encourage al l Manitobans to participate and support, and I'd like to thank those who have joined us up in the gallery today. Thank you.

May 7, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1933 Hon. Steven Fletcher (Assiniboia): Yes, Madam Speaker, I ask for leave to speak to the ministerial statement. Madam Speaker: Does the member have leave to respond to the ministerial statement? [Agreed] Mr. Fletcher: The Minister of Justice (Mrs. Stefanson), the member for Minto (Mr. Swan) and the member from Burrows have said all that needs to be said, and I simply want to state that, as the MLA for Assiniboia, I completely agree with each of the statements. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: Further ministerial statements? The Minister of Infrastructure.

The required 90 minutes notice prior to routine proceedings was provided in accordance with our rule 26(2). Would the honourable minister please proceed with his statement. National Emergency Preparedness Week Hon. Ron Schuler (Minister of Infrastructure ): I was joined on the south lawn today by joy–Joe Masi, executive director of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, and Natalie Hasell, Environment and Climate Change Canada, to announce the national emergency 'preparedess' week. Be Emergency Ready is the theme of this year's national Emergency Preparedness Week.

We are fortunate that spring flooding is limited this year, but we know flooding is one of the most frequent and costly natural hazards in Manitoba and in Canada. This is a call to action for all Manitobans to prepare for emergencies, to stay i nformed and to do what we can to lessen the impact of potential emergencies. We encourage all Manitobans to prepare and be ready for an emergency at all times. Preparedness starts with the individual, and each of us should be aware of our needs in an emergency. Being prepared means that you know what to do before, during and after an emergency.

For individuals and families, that means being prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours. If an emergency happens in your community, it may take emergency workers some time to reach you. Seventy-two-hour preparedness has three steps: (1) know the risks, (2) make a plan, and (3) get an emergency kit. The most likely hazards in Manitoba include floods, severe storms, including tor nadoes. Also, wildfires, blizzards, utility outages and chemical spills. Information about risks and preparedness in Manitoba is available at manitobaemo.ca.

Municipal, provincial, territorial, federal and indigenous governments prepare for large -scale emergencies. But individuals, families and individuals looking out for the needs for vulnerable neighbours and families have an important role in being ready to react in an emergency. Emergency management is a shared responsibility. We thank first responde rs, volunteers, community leaders and authorities at all levels who work together to build a strong and resilient province and country. The Province, through Manitoba EMO, prepares and helps municipalities, communities and individuals to be prepared.

We r ecognize the efforts of communities to be prepared throughout Manitoba, and we do so with the Manitoba Community Emergency Preparedness Awards. This year's recipients are the rural municipalities of Cartier and Hanover, the municipality of Louise and the S outhern Emergency Response Committee consisting of the RM of Stanley and the cities of Morden and Winkler. The award recognizes communities with programs meeting or exceeding recognized national and international standards for emergency preparedness.

The Province also supports the Manitoba disaster management conference, held every 18 months to increase awareness of emergency-preparedness requirements. Delegates and speakers share experiences, display technology and create network opportunities. The confe rence will be held this year, October 10th to 12th. And finally, Madam Speaker, a very important reminder: this Wednesday, May the 9th, at 1:55 p.m., the Alert Ready system will issue a test, which will, for the first time, include delivery to compatible wireless devices.

This is an expansion of the warning system for emergencies and disasters via TV broadcasts, radio, cable and satellite distribution and web feeds.

1934 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 7, 2018 In Manitoba, Manitoba EMO, Environment and Climate Change Canada are the only agencies authorized to issue Alert Ready messages. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Mr. Jim Maloway (Elmwood): Manitobans are no strangers to severe weather events –floods and forest fires to tornados and snowstorms. We've got a little bit of everything. That's why Emergency Preparedness Week is such an important time to acknowledge the hard work of front -line emergency workers who keep us safe. Manitobans will experience a test of the new national public alert system called Alert Read y.

It's important to not only know about an emergency but to be prepared for one when one occurs. In honour of Emergency Preparedness Week, people across the country are encouraged to learn how to prepare for an emergency. While a majority of Canadians agr ee that having an emergency plan is important, only 40 per cent actually have a planned response to any emergency. Our NDP team wants Manitobans to feel prepared to face any kind of emergency, but we also want our government to make sure that emergency services they rely on are accessible.

This government is attempting to privatize crucial government air services like Lifeflight and water bombers. We know that privatization means less quality service. In an emergency, Manitobans want reliability of knowing that help is on the way. Instead of making cuts to infrastructure, health care or flood protections, the Premier (Mr. Pallister) should be investing in the public services that we need to stay safe. Instead of cutting front -line workers that keep us sa fe during emergencies, the government should be investing in making sure they can continue doing their jobs. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Hon.

Jon Gerrard (River Heights): I ask leave to speak to the minister's statement. Madam Speaker: Does the member have leave to respond to the ministerial statement? [Agreed] Mr. Gerrard: Madam Speaker, emergency alarm tests are a step forward, as is being able to deliver emergency call information through cellphones. Though I believe on this week, Em ergency Preparedness Week, that we could do even more, for example, training all MLAs in the Legislature to use automated external defibrillators and having practise emergencies when MLA preparedness is actually evaluated.

Other areas also needing improv ements are in forest fires. Last summer a small fire near Wasagamack, Garden Hill and St. Theresa Point was not addressed early and put out quickly. It became a big fire and many residents had to be evacuated. A new approach to forest fires in Manitoba is needed to better address these small fires, but we've seen no sign of a change. Liberals have called for better planning and protection of northern communities since this government was elected, but from what we know, Manitoba's co-ordinated response t o wildfires hasn't been updated since before the Fort McMurray fire in 2016.

As well, there are concerns the government may move to privatize wildfire suppression and air ambulance services and real concerns about northerners' safety if this were to happen. Despite having nine wildfires raging across the province while we sit in these chambers, many are concerned this government may be cutting services rather than ensuring community safety. Another concern is preparation for a drought emergency. I hav e raised this with the government, but there's been no response.

I raised this recently with the Keystone agriculture producers and people laughed because, as far as anyone knows, there's no such plan. Planning for a drought emergency needs the government to prepare for months and years ahead. It is time this government presented a drought plan and had it debated in the Legislature to get the full input from Manitobans. We would like to have a province which is better prepared for a drought than the Premier was prepared going for a hike. Madam Speaker: Further ministerial statements?

The honourable Minister for Sustainable Development, and the required 90 minutes notice prior to routine proceedings was provided in accordance with our rule 26(2). Would the honourable minister please proceed with her statement. * (13:50)

May 7, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1935 International Compost Awareness Week Hon. Rochelle Squires (Minister of Sustainable Development): I would like to recognize that this week is International Compost Awareness Week. International Compost Awareness Week started in Canada in 1995 and increases awareness about the benefits of composting. The theme for this year is: Compost! Building a Better Future. Approximately 40 per cent of residential waste that ends up in landfil ls is organic material, mainly food scraps and yard waste which can easily be composted. Clearly, we can do better.

So we are working with our partners on a number of fronts to address the organic material before it ends up in the landfill. As part of our Made-in-Manitoba Climate and Green Plan, to increase diversion rates we are looking at a number of options which we believe will help to address organics in the short and the long term. Options we are considering is a landfill ban on organics and a comprehensive food- waste reduction plan and pursuing methane emissions at landfills and enhancing gas -capture measures that are already in place.

These are some of the measures we are considering, and I want to stress we don't plan to do this alone because we c annot. We plan to work with our municipal partners and others to come up with a plan that works for us all. It is important to point out that when we increase diversion rates and keep organic materials out of the landfills by composting them, we also reduc e the amount of harmful greenhouse gases entering into our atmosphere. This is truly a win-win scenario and encourages us to keep working on this front.

From backyard composting to large -scale operations, composting will assist municipalities in extending the life of their landfills. Many schools and daycares are shaping the future generations, as educators teach the benefits of composting to their students. By classroom composting, these students ensure that they are doing their part to keep organic materials out of the landfills. Compost is an excellent soil amendment, and mixing compost into your gardens and flower beds or using it as top dressing in your yard will yield amazing results.

We are proud to have partnered with the Green Action Centre to l aunch Compost Winnipeg, a company that collects, compacts and tracks organic waste from residences, businesses and events right here in Winnipeg. I would also like to point out that one of our successful programs that is already making a big difference, The Manitoba Composts Program, has a goal to divert 100,000 tons of organic material annually from landfills. I applaud the numerous municipalities who participate in this program and who are doing their part on–by composting on a municipal scale.

As we celebrate international composting awareness week, I would like to thank all of those who work in composting and organics, and I encourage all of us to participate in any way we can to help make a difference in diverting waste in our province. I know that wh en we pull together as Manitobans, we can achieve great things. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Mr. Rob Altemeyer (Wolseley): I want to thank the minister for her statement celebrating compost awareness day and add a few more additional reasons why composting should be much higher on all of our agendas.

The kudos have to go out to all the stakeholders who are already involved. And the potential of composting is just enormous, and building on what the minister mentioned, when we manage to divert organics out of a landfill, we actually get benefits for the climate twice. First, the material does not form methane in landfill and then escape, and, secondly, when you use some of that finished compost on agricultural lands to replace some of the industrial fertiliz ers that might be needed, you avoid creating nitrous oxide, which is hundreds of times more potent than even carbon dioxide as a greenhouse-gas emitter.

So all of those reasons are there. We certainly would encourage and hope that this government begins to more aggressively take action on these types of issues. There's enormous potential to create new green jobs here in Manitoba by diverting organics, not just from Winnipeg but from waste streams clear across the province. I brought forward this idea way back in the fall of 2016 and had the temerity to suggest that any revenue a government might raise on carbon taxes could actually be used to fight climate change.

That's apparently not happening, but we would encourage this government to look for other wa ys to, indeed, work with their partners and work with the public to make sure that composting is available and accessible and affordable and effective for everyone. Our children's future depends on it; so does our own.

1936 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 7, 2018 And, indeed, I would note, with the very dry conditions that I'm sure many within the city and outside of the city are facing, when you have healthier soils, healthier soils can store more water. And whether you are in a drought cycle or a flood cycle, that is a very, very valuable feature to have. So all of the evidence is there. Our government very proudly partnered with the City of Brandon back in 2010 to launch a curbside composting collection service that includes food waste. Mayor Katz at the time in Winnipeg wasn't so keen.

We actually had to pass legislation forcing him to capture the gas escaping from the Brady Landfill, but we did that because that was what was necessary for a green future. We encourage the minister to continue moving in this good direction. Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): I ask leave to speak to the ministerial statement? Madam Speaker: Does the member have leave to respond to the statement? [Agreed] Mr. Gerrard: I thank the minister for emphasizing the importance of Compost Awareness Week. The first I nternational Compost Awareness Week was celebrated in Canada in 1995. This year the theme is Compost!

Building a Better Future, because compost is one of the ways we can reduce our carbon footprint and truly build a better and greener future for our planet. Emissions from Canadian landfills account for 20 per cent of national methane emissions and the best way to curb this trend is by composting. In 2015, approximately 30 megatons of carbon dioxide equivalents were generated at Canadian landfills.

While the government would prefer to use carbon tax funds to balance their budget, they should perhaps consider using a portion to reduce emissions and encouraging municipal compost programs to start to bring these numbers down. In B ritish Columbia , after their carbon tax was implemented, they used a portion of the ir funds to implement composting programs across municipalities and they've been very successful. If Manitoba were to reduce their organic waste in landfills by 50 per cent , we could prevent 720,000 tons of CO 2 from entering our atmosphere – quite a benefit.

It's unfortunate that this government has no plan to reduce these emissions, but certainly composting is one of the many actions that could be taken. There is value in what some call ed waste and each of us can do something to help. Composting is good for the environment and for our f uture no matter where you live. Through composting we can keep organic matter out of landfills, we could improve our soils and our gardens and we can feed and improve more people. I say let us all pay attention to composting this week and do the best we can for the years ahead. Thank you.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Winnipeg K-9 Unit Welcomes New Puppies Mrs. Sarah Guillemard (Fort Richmond): Madam Speaker, there are few topics that can take the attention away from the Winnipeg Jets and their Whiteout celebrations, but I believe that I have news that will be a wonderful distraction: a birth announcement. Madam Speaker, early on Thursday, April 5th, 2018, Winnipeg Police Service dog Veyda went into labour and delivered five he althy puppies. Proud K -9 father, Hector, will be busy helping to teach his offspring the ropes in hopes of adding these new recruits to the police service in the near future.

I enjoyed following K -9 Hector's handler, Constable Car negie, on social media as his family proudly wondered if this made him a grandpa. The Winnipeg K-9 breeding unit was established in 1999. It is one of the only in- house breeding programs run by a municipal service in all of Canada. This Quarr y Program has 54 members who are tasked with caring for breeding females and their puppies, as well as assisting the handlers in training, as well as on the streets. On average, 90 per cent of pups born into t he Winnipeg K -9 unit will pass the required courses necessary to work within the police service.

Belgian Malinois and German shepherds are the choice breeds for this program due to their unique tracking abilities and faster rate of maturing. The puppies c an be trained and begin work by the age of 13 months and will typically have a nine-to-10 year career with the police service. Winnipeg Police K -9 dogs are in high demand by police forces across North America and internationally. Congratulations on your five newest recruits and well done on a successful program.

May 7, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1937 Today in the gallery we have Sergeant Wally Antoniuk, Sergeant Shawn Lowry, Constable Andy Aitken and retired police service dog Griffin. * (14:00) African Community Awards Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns ): Madam Speaker, I had the great privilege of attending the third annual African Community Awards alongside Blandine Tona, our incredible St. Boniface candidate.

ACA brings together Manitoba's vibrant, diverse, proud and influential black com munity, celebrating black excellence and outstanding achievements in music, business, sport, education and the arts, to name just a few. There are far too many extraordinary award nominees and recipients, both past and present, for me to name. Each year, ACA also incorporates a philanthropic element, with all the proceeds donated to a charity. This year's funds were donated to Hands of Hope, a non-profit, community-based organization that donates furniture and household items to people in need.

I was honoured to spend an evening in such extraordinary beauty and strength, alongside some pretty amazing music performances and deejay ing, which, on more than one occasion, got Blandine and myself dancing in our seats. The significance of ACA is its ability to connect Manitobans together in celebration by facilitating a space wherein the black community is uplifted, seen, appreciated and represented. It's critical that we move towards equitable black representation, not only within the mainstream collective, but, I strongly submit, in this Chamber. This House has yet to elect a black MLA.

I look forward to Blandine making history by being the first black person to sit in this Legislature. Miigwech to all of ACA's sponsors , organizers for your t ransformative and critical work in commanding black space and highlighting black excellence in Manitoba. I am proud to call you my relatives. And I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating such amazing work. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. Johns. Ms. Fontaine: Madam Speaker, I ask leave to have our guests' names recorded in Hansard.

Madam Speaker: Is there leave to have those names included in Hansard? [Agreed] African Community Awards attendees: Daniel Dimude, Chigozie Ezeogbulafor, David Fahn bulleh, Fabian Gbem, Ayobami Ige, Aika Mbatia, Mutale Musonda, Ori Ochoga, Stanley Orlu, Blandine Tona Grant and Award Recipients Mr. Andrew Micklefield (Rossmere): It is with great pleasure that I rise to honour a number of accomplished resid ents from Rossmere with us today, all of whom are recent grant and/or award recipients. Nour Ali is a Syrian who has been active in Winnipeg since his arrival five years ago.

As well as maintaining a business and acting as a translator for newcomers, Nour recently received a provincial grant to assist with integration for Kurdish, Arab and Yazidi immigrants into Winnipeg. Kwame Bonsu is one of just nine people to receive the Pr emier's Volunteer Service Award for his unwavering dedication as a volunteer a t community and church youth programs, university leadership, Folklorama and more.

Simran Saggi and Marianna Pozdirca were acknowledged as scholarship recipients on International Women's Day as part of the Manitoba government's commitment to partner with the Nellie McClung Foundation in order to inspire and educate present and future champions to continue the journey to equality. Simran's scholarship essay outlined a variety of leadership experiences as well as her goal to pursue STEM academics at univer sity in order to assist others.

Marianna, who works as a student assistant for a city councillor while also studying science, drew on her experience as an immigrant and shared about her passion for a better future for everyone. Support for community groups is also important, and an 11 per cent fun ding increase for the Community Places Program means that , all in all, community development programs now have more than $20 million of funding available for groups led by strong leaders like those present with us in the gallery from Rossmere. Please join me in welcoming Nour Ali, Kwame Bonsu, Simran Saggi and Marianna Pozdirca.

1938 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 7, 2018 National Nurses Week Mr. James Allum (Fort Garry-Riverview): Today our caucus is celebrating National Nurses Week, and I am happy to welcome nurses in the gallery here today. The proud husband of a nurse, I know first -hand how passionate they are about their job. I've seen the emotional and physical toll it takes to work three 12-hour night shifts in a row, then come home to be a full-time parent. Their commitment and dedication is quite simply awe-inspiring.

This is made even more clear to me as I watch Manitoba nurses protest widespread government cuts to health care. Nurses are stepping up to advocate for patients in the face of political austerity and ruthless privatization. While they work overtime to cover off the Premier's (Mr . Pallister) job cuts, off the clock they are organizing and protesting a government that has abandoned its promise to protect front -line workers and the services they provide. Last week we saw hundreds of nurses gather on the steps of the Legislature to protest reckless health-care cuts.

At the rally one nurse said it loud and clear, and I quote: The minister's changes are dangerous, they are reckless and nurses will not stand for them. End quote. Our caucus was proud to stand in solidarity with these nurses and we were disappointed to see that no government members did the same. We in the NDP would like to thank nurses not only for their role as health- care providers, but also for their advocacy. They are a strong voice for Manitobans who are watching this government attack our health -care system. Nurses are speaking up.

They're speaking up for their patients, for their families and for their colleagues in the system. I ask all members of this House to stand up and applaud them for their hard work a nd commitment for helping all Manitobans. Winnipeg Jets Hon. Blaine Pedersen (Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade): Now, normally I'm not a real hockey playoff fan, especially when it's 30 degrees outside. But with the Jets in the second round of the playoffs, my family and I have –very much into each and every game.

Now with the sixth game tonight in Winnipeg, it's an exciting time for both Winnipeg and for Manitoba and, in fact, for all of Canada. Now, there's no need to throw a tiny catfish out when you've got a –when you've got the Winnipeg Whiteout with thousands of fans inside and outside the Bell MTS centre cheering the Jets on. So we wish them success tonight–or Thursday night if necessary. [interjection] I only said if necessary. We look forward to the Jets taking on the Vegas Golden Knights in the next round. What else can I say but: Go Jets go. Go Jets go.

Introduction of Guests Madam Speaker: Prior to oral questions, we have some guests in the gallery that I would like to introduce to you. I would like to draw the attention of all honourable members the Speaker's Gallery where we have with us today honourable Mr. Iwao Horii, Japan's parliamen tary vice -minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Shingenobu Kobayashi, consul general of Japan in Calgary, and accompanying Japanese delegates. On behalf of all honourable members, we welcome all of you to the Manitoba Legislature.

And seated in the publ ic gallery from Greenland School we have 21 grade 6 and 7 students under the direction of Brian Penner, and this group is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Dawson Trail (Mr. Lagassé). On behalf of all honourable members, we also welcome you to the Manitoba Legislature. ORAL QUESTIONS Changes to Health Care Use of Consultants Mr. Andrew Swan (Minto): Madam Speaker, Manitobans are concerned about the future of health care under this government.

In Winnipeg alone, the Premier has closed or plans to close three emergency rooms, an urgent -care clinic–or urgent -care centre and closed clinics in every corner of Winnipeg. He's privatized physiotherapy services and he has cut coverage for life -saving drugs –and he's just getting warmed up. The Premier tries to justify this through reports from accountants at KPMG and other consultants, but not front -line workers and the people they care for.

May 7, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1939 Why is this Premier (Mr. Pallister) listening to high-priced consultants instead of patients, f amilies and those working to provide care? * (14:10) Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Minister of Health , Seniors and Active Living ): Well, for the 17 years that the NDP were in government we heard from patients, patients who said they were waiting too long in eme rgency rooms. Some of the longest wait times in all of Canada, Madam Speaker, and they continued to get worse. Now, we're on a trend as those wait times get better.

There's more work to do, but we are proud to listen to those Manitobans. And we continue to invest in the health -care system, including last week where we announced that the new pediatric cardiology unit would be established at the Health Sciences Centre; more investments to come, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Minto, on a supplementary question. Mr. Swan: Madam Speaker, back in March the Province issued an RFP for the development of a provincial clinical and preventative services plan, but the government has already received that very plan.

So the issuing of this new RFP shows the Province never planned to follow that advice. This government has cherry -picked closures and the downloading of services for its own cost -cutting purposes. The WRHA has already implemented phase 1 of its cuts and we're told phase 2 is coming soon, and communities outside of Winnipeg are holding their breath awaiting cuts to their services. Why is the Province just spending more money on high-priced consultants? Mr.

Goertzen: My friend from Minto almost got it right at the end when he said, of course, we are investing more money, $500 million more this year than was ever invested under the NDP. Now, maybe he considers paramedics to be consultants, but over the last week I was pleased to be able to join my colleagues across Manitoba to announce 60 new paramedics right across the province of Manitoba, Madam Speaker –and it's no wonder that the member for Minto considers them consultants, maybe that's why he voted against those investments. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Minto, on a final supplementary. Mr.

Swan: This government needs to start listening to the front -line workers and patients and families who are saying no to cuts and closures. They're saying no to the chaos, the confusion, this Premier and this minister are spreading throughout our health-care system. They're saying no to this government ordering yet another plan. The RFP tells us the government should have made its choice by now. So can the minister rise and tell this House how much more money they're spending on this plan and which high-priced consultant is going to be getting the work this time? Mr.

Goertzen: Madam Speaker, I am glad that the member for Minto started off that question by talking about listening, because not only did the member opposite vote against those 60 new paramedics and vote against the new pediatric cardiology centre at Health Sciences Centre, he also voted against a program that I was pleased to be at this morning where we talked about the youngest person in Manitoba, little Ireland, who r eceived a cochlear implant so that she could hear –the youngest person in Manitoba ever to get that input–plant.

And we saw the video of when she first –and other children first got to hear their first sounds. It's quite remarkable. So she's listening beca use now she can hear because of that cochlear implant. I hope the member opposite will listen and support those investments, because he hasn't in the past. Death of Manitoba Hydro Worker Workplace Safety Measures Mr. Tom Lindsey (Flin Flon): Madam Speaker, worker safety is of the utmost priority. When there's an accident or death at a worksite, investigations must be prompt and thorough.

We're joined today by the family of Todd Maytwayashing, who was killed at a Manitoba Hydro site earlier this year. Th ey are here to make sure they receive the answers they deserve from this government. Will the minister ensure that Todd's family receives all updates, as soon as they are available, regarding their family member's death? Hon. Blaine Pedersen (Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade): Madam Speaker, our

1940 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 7, 2018 condolences to the family on a loss that none of us could ever comprehend unless we're actually in something like that. Last Friday –a week ago, Friday, when we had the workers' memoriam across the –across Broadway on–in Memorial Park, the family was there, and Mr. Maytwayashing was able to speak to the group, and it was very heart-wrenching. But I would say that the serious -incident support workers within the department has met with the family.

The inve stigation by workplace health and safety continues, so I cannot speak to what workplace health and safety is investigating. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Flin Flon, on a supplementary question. Mr. Lindsey: Madam Speaker, Todd's family deserves information. Some reports indicate that the worksite had been altered after his death and prior to the arrival of workplace health and safety officers.

I ask the minister: How long did it take for workplace health and safety to arrive on site and start their investigation, and did workplace health and safety release the site prior to their investigation starting? Did they release it to the contractor? Mr. Pedersen: Madam Speaker, I cannot and I will not in any way compromise the investigation of workplace health and safety. The investigation continues and in due course they will have the answers that the family is seeking, but we just don't want to interfere with that process and certainly don't want to politicize this issue.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Flin Flon, on a final supplementary. Mr. Lindsey: Madam Speaker, Todd's family deserves accurate information, to be kept in the loop. We're also hearing reports of worker harassment and bullying at northern remote worksites such as this one, including the site where Todd was killed. Swift action must be taken to protect workers at remote sites. Has Workplace Safety and Health investigated these reports, prior to or since Todd's death, at any of these northern remote worksites? Mr.

Pedersen: Again, Madam Speaker, I just cannot and will not comment anything on an ongoing investigation. However, if the member has information that workplace health and safety should be investigating in other sites, I certainly encourage him to do that. We want a safe and respectful workplace all across Manitoba. This week is national occupational safety and health week; NAOSH is the acronym for it. I was at their opening this morning, and safety is on the top of everyone's mind. Skills Training for Offenders Dissolution of ManCor Program Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St.

Johns ): The Justice Minister cut the ManCor program which provided training programs for youth incarcerated to learn the skills that they need to get a job once they're released. The minister claimed t hat the program was underutilized because average length of the stay for youth is too short, Madam Speaker. But the minister is misleading Manitobans. Programs like ManCor are some of the most effective ways to stop recidivism, giving youth the skills that they need to get a job once they are out of that particular facility. Why has the minister cut a valuable program for Manitoba youth? Hon.

Heather Stefanson (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): In fact, the only person who is misleading Manitobans is the member opposite, with the

preamble to her question. We –as part of our Criminal Justice System Modernization Strategy, one of our key pillars is responsible reintegration of offenders back into society. That's why I was –I had the privilege of joining the Minister of Education at a very important announcement at the Momentum Centre, where we invested, as a government, $900,000 to help those individuals get retrained and responsibly reintegrated back into society. We believe that this is the appropriate approach to this, and that's why we are continuing to invest in programs that yield real results for Manitobans.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. Johns, on a supplementary question. Ms. Fontaine: John Hutton of the John Howard Society says the minister is taking the wrong approach. He says, and I quote, it doesn't have to be an all -or-nothing, end quote, and that people can benefit from obtaining skills while they are incarcerated and also while they're living in the community.

May 7, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1941 We understand that, for a young person, incarceration often does the reverse of what it's supposed to do. Staying in the community with supports is very critical and important, but without the opportunity to learn job skills, people often think that they hav e no other option but to return and get into conflict with the law, Madam Speaker. Will the minister admit that without the training piece, Manitoba will not have a long-term solution to jail overcrowding? * (14:20) Mrs.

Stefanson: In fact, when it comes to the John Howard Society, John Hutton from the John Howard Society has spoken in favour of a responsible reintegration initiative, which is one of our key pillars of our Criminal Justice System Modernization Strategy. But I will say, Madam Speaker, again, we are investing in programs that are working to yield real results to keep our communities safer for all Manitobans, and that is why we are continuing to invest in programs like the Momentum Centre that is offering those resources to those people that need it. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St.

Johns, on a final supplementary. Ms. Fontaine: The minister has cut a program that helped young people get the skills that they need to stay out of the criminal justice system. She's claimed that it's ineffective, and we just heard that right now, but she may have juked the stats to prove it. Her responsible reintegration program does not help people learn skills and it certainly won't help them find jobs once they're released.

T he minister's cuts will save her a few thousand dollars, but it won't solve the biggest problems in Manitoba's justice system and it certainly won't do anything for our youth who are in conflict with the law and who need training and who need supports right now. Will she bring back the program and actually support and stand for marginalized at-risk youth here in Manitoba? Mrs. Stefanson: Well, Madam Speaker, the NDP's response, when they were in power, to some of the challenges that our province faces was to, in fact, double the incarceration rates of adults in our correctional facilities.

We take a very different approach. We understand that these offenders need to be responsibly reintegrated back into society. That's, again, why we're investing in progra ms like the Momentum Centre which we know will and has already proven to yield real results for Manitobans when it comes to recidivism rates. So I hope members opposite –while we take a different approach, we take a proactive approach, we take a responsibl e approach to this. We do not take the approach of the members opposite, which is simply to just throw people in jails. Pineland Forest Nursery Sale of Company Mr.

Rob Altemeyer (Wolseley): Manitobans were shocked just this past Friday to learn that the Pallister government is now putting the Pineland tree nursery on the auction block. They are going to sell it off for whatever they can get for it, and the ironic piece to this, Madam Speaker, is that this move was announced by the Minister for Growth in t his government.

And yet the Minister for Sustainable Development would have us believe in their so-called Climate and Green Plan, on page 44, no less, that they actually want to do more work planting trees in Manitoba, leading all Manitobans to the obvious question: Who's in charge over there? Hon. Rochelle Squires (Minister of Sustainable Development): I trust that members opposite had a very productive weekend discussing a $300 price on carbon, higher taxes for all Manitobans and among other salacious idea–notions of NDP misogyny.

But while our government was elected on a promise to fix the finances of Manitoba, that's exactly what we're doing. Pineland nursery was run into the ground by members opposite in their mismanagement and, in fact, Pineland nursery was losing–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Squires: –up to $500,000 a year. We plan to get on a more sustainable track and that's exactly what we're doing. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Wolseley, on a supplementary question. Mr. Altemeyer: It seems we've hit a nerve with the minister, and understandably so.

On page 44 of her own document she claimed that her government was seriously looking at improving opportunities for shelterbelts, improved

1942 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 7, 2018 opportunities for afforestation in rural Manitoba and they are actually going to use the number of trees planted in Manitoba as an indicator of how healthy forests are. And now they're selling off the Pineland tree nursery, laying off jobs and walking away from their climate commitments. How on earth can this be an enhancement under the definition of even the Pallister government's hack-and-slash approach to this province? Ms. Squires : Well, Madam Speaker, our government has a plan that is better for the environment and better for the ec onomy.

We're going to ensure that seedlings are produced and available in Manitoba and that climate research with these young forests will continue, unlike members opposite who had absolutely no plan to protect the environment, had absolutely no plan to ac hieve any meaningful reduction in carbon emissions. And we also learned over the past weekend that they had absolutely no plan to protect the women who worked for their government during the 17 years of NDP misogyny. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Wolseley, on a final supplementary. Mr.

Altemeyer: Well, Madam Speaker, at least it's clear to everyone that the Minister for Growth and the Minister for Sustainable Development are on completely different paths. We're talking about fewer jobs in Manitoba and, on top of that, the scientific research that is happening at the Pineland tree nursery, there was no mention of it in the Growth Minister's public statement. There was no mention in the Growth Minister's public statement about the fact that Pineland is where the genetic heritage for every single indigenous tree species in our province exists.

How on earth are they going to protect these valuable public assets, which need to stay under the control of the public going forward, if they're just going to sell everything off? [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): So let's look at the factual record, Madam Speaker. The NDP ripped off Pineland nursery to the tune of hundreds of millions of trees, of seedlings, gave them to a profitable, multinational corporation named Tolko over at The Pas in the form of a subsidy and just about lost us all the jobs at The Pas at the same time. They had no environmental plan at all.

The previous Auditor General noted in their report that they had a plan which could only be achieved by taking every gas - and diesel -using vehicle off the highways. That's not a plan at all. Madam Speaker, the only green the NDP ever has cared about is the green in the pockets of Manitobans. We're going to leave the green there. Social Impact Bonds for CFS Request to Release Contract Details Mrs. Bernadette Smith (Point Douglas): We know this Premier is intent on privatizing our social services. His proposal for social impact bonds made that clear.

But we also know private delivery of social service means caring for children –caring for our children, actually –here in Manitoba becomes more complex with less opportunity for oversight. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mrs. Smith: Will this minister commit to the House to releasing the details of any social impact bond contracts his government signs? Hon.

Brian Pallister (Premier): Well, Madam Speaker, we've had the concept of social impact bonds in the planning stages for a while and we plan to act o n it, as supported by Kevin Chief and other thoughtful members–former members, I should say – of the NDP caucus. And I would suggest, Madam Speaker, that leading the country in social problems, we should lead the country in finding solutions to those problems. And so we'll continue to pursue those kinds of solutions, Madam Speaker. You know, in terms of supporting the private sector, the NDP's idea was to put needy children in motel rooms and support motel owners.

But that's not the approach we're taking with Child and Family Services, and that's not the approach we'll taking in the future either. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Point Douglas, on a supplementary question. Mrs. Smith: We still have the highest number of kids in care in this province. Until they bring those numbers down, I wouldn't be talking about that. The deadline for submission for Manitoba's SIB was nearly four months ago. The RFP –the province release said it wou ld develop a business plan and contract within 120 days. Manitobans should know

May 7, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1943 how much they are giving to private corporations for the care of our children here in Manitoba. Will this government release the details of any SIB contract that they sign? Hon. Scott Fielding (Minister of Families ): We know what the NDP's track record of the last 17 years was in terms of social causes. We became the child-poverty capital of Canada, which we think is shameful.

We think that the most amount of kids in car e are something that the NDP really needs to focus in on and realize from the past what they did in terms – as a 'provinch.' That's why we engaged in our –in a child-welfare reform. That's why we've taken on initiatives like social impact bonds that we think will provide innovation, solutions to some of the social problems that we have here in the province of Manitoba. * (14:30) Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Point Douglas, on a final supplementary. Mrs. Smith: Kids are still living in poverty.

In f act, kids are still having to eat from Winnipeg Harvest in schools because this province hasn't –doesn't even have a poverty plan yet. Two years they've had and they've done nothing. This Premier intends to sign a complicated financial contract with a priv ate provider to care for our children. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mrs. Smith: Transparency in this process is essential. Manitobans should know how much money the Premier is giving to private corporations and they should have access to these con tracts the government will sign.

Will the minister commit to releasing the true cost of the SIBs and release any SIB contracts the government will sign? Mr. Fielding : The member talks about poverty in the NDP's track record. Well, the Canadian index su rvey on low-income individuals came out recently, and you know what they found? They found that Manitoba is no longer the child -poverty capital of Canada anymore. They also said, in terms of the percentage of children living in low income–Manitoba has gone from being the 10th ranked, or the worst, to the fifth best –fifth worst in Canada. That's a dramatic improvement.

That's a lot to do with some of the progress that this government has taken in addressing poverty issues, in terms of addressing social issues in Manitoba, and social impact bonds is a part of that solution, Madam Speaker. Death of Manitoba Hydro Worker Workplace Safety Measures Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, Todd Maytwayashing is a 22- year-old who worked at a Manitoba Hydro site near Gillam. He was involved in driving trucks to haul the steel pieces needed to build the transmission line to Keeyask. He was known as an amazing worker, a great worker, and a young man of great promise.

He apparently went to help a fellow worker on January 17th this year, and a poorly loaded metal bundle came down on top of him and killed him. I ask the minister responsible for workplace safety what measures he has already taken so that no more of our sons and daughters will die like Todd Maytwayashing. Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): The minister's previously responded as best he can to this horrible event, this horrible situation, that has impacted on this family in the most profound of ways.

I will endeavour and undertake on behalf of the family to get answers for them that they desire, and we will work very diligently to do so. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for River Heights, on a supplementary question. Mr. Gerrard: Yes, I thank this Premier. I know this: Todd Maytwayashing did not have to die. His death was preventable. Procedures could have been taken to prevent his death. Barr y Swan, Todd's father, who has worked in the same type of work his son was doing, is in the gallery today along with family members. Todd's death is the third death at a Forbes Bros. worksite in the last year.

Two others died due a deviation from a standard procedure. Has the minister increased inspections at Forbes Bros. and Manitoba Hydro worksites, and what other steps has he taken to ensure no other Manitoba fathers or mothers will have to bury their son or daughter from a workplace accident? Mr. Pallister: I've taken this issue on personally and seriously, Madam Speaker. I am not pleased with the

1944 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 7, 2018 absence of compassionate response and timely response in some areas for this family, and I will undertake and our government will undertake to get information for them. But we will not use this situation for any political purposes, Madam Speaker. I encourage the member to accept our minister at his word in respect of his desires to see change and to investigate. He has undertaken to do so and I would hope the member would allow him to fulfill his responsibilities in that manner. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for River Heights, on a final supplementary. Mr.

Gerrard: I thank the Premier again. Manitoba Hydro had the responsibility for building the transmission line that Todd was working on and for making sure there was a safe environment for workers, and yet Manitoba Hydro has denied responsibility, even though the accident occurred at a Manitoba Hydro marshalling site and may have involved loading done by Manitoba Hydro workers. Manitoba Hydro, in the four months since, has not even made a call to the family to say they were sorry.

What is the minister doing to make sure that Manitoba Hydro is held responsible for workplace safety on its projects and in its marshalling yards? Mr. Pallister: The member has just, in a couple of

preambles, cast aspersions at the private contractor, at Manitoba Hydro, at Manitoba Hydro workers, and he himself has admitted in other parts of his

preamble he's not in possession of the facts. Madam Speaker, these are premature assertions at best. They are political opportunism at worst. There should not be these types of questions asked of this type of situation in this place. There is a desire on the part of this governm ent to get answers for the family. That is what we will pursue. And I would encourage the member to confine his questions to those shared and desired outcomes rather than cast aspersions on others without possession of facts. Changes for Manitoba Student Aid Streamlining of Application Process Mrs.

Sarah Guillemard (Fort Richmond): Madam Speaker, students have told us over the years about the mess that student aid system has become under the NDP. Last week, there was an important announcement to streamline the process for bursaries and student aid in Manitoba. Can the Minister of Education please inform the Chamber what these changes will mean for Manitoba students and how our PC government continues to fulfill our election commi tments and work hard to repair the services that were left a mess after the NDP's decade of decay? Hon.

Ian Wishart (Minister of Education and Training): I thank the member for the question. Our PC government will be distributing additional $8.6 milli on worth of loans in the 2018-2019 program. And, further, we'll be simplifying and making the progress –the process user-friendly so it's more predictable for students and they can use it more easily. We expect more students to enrol in post - secondary programs and we want to make sure that there–the doors are open to success. Plus, students can continue to work while they're at school, something that was not allowed under the previous lending program.

Students that apply for Manitoba Student Aid will also be automatically considered for bursaries of up to $2,000 and will be also eligible for federal Canada student grants of up to $3,000. PC government is increasing Manitoba bursaries by 2.7– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. Manitoba Cattle Producers Elimination of Point System Mr. Ted Marcelino (Tyndall Park): We heard in Westman from producers who are concerned that the Minister of Agriculture has ripped up the points system for awarding Crown land for cattle producers. Why is the min ister making life harder for our young producers? Hon.

Ralph Eichler (Minister of Agriculture): Actually–thank you, Madam Speaker–I thank you for the question. The points system has been outdated for a number of years. We've been in consultation with the farm producers, the beef producers, and we're hearing over and over again that this is the right program for our young farmers. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Tyndall Park, on a supplementary question.

May 7, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1945 Mr. Marcelino : The minister made these changes last year and passed the regulations. Only then did he say he would be consulting. But his consultations have been by invitation only. The minister is hiding from the truth. His system–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Marcelino: –will cost producers much more. Why is the minister making life harder for young producers? * (14:40) Mr. Eichler : I'd love to take the member opposite for a little road trip, and maybe he'd learn a little more about what agriculture really means.

In fact, if he'd make a trip up by The Narrows, you'll see a lot of Crown land that actually is in young producers' hands. So part –back to the consultation process, we hope to have this rolled out by November, not like December like the previous member talked about. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Tyndall Park, on a final supplementary. Mr. Marcelino: I'd love a road trip with the Minister of Agriculture– Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Marcelino: –if only–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Marcelino: –to prove that he is not hiding from the truth.

But the minister is only focus ed on his bottom line. Manitoba producers will be badly hit and it's not funny. He doesn't have to do this. Saskatchewan has maintained its point system. Will he reverse his decision for young producers? Mr. Eichler: Madam Speaker, 17 years of repression under this NDP government –never paid attention to details at all. In fact, modernizing The Crown Lands Act is something to be very proud of. We ask the members, get on side with us. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order, order. Boards and Committees Request to Stop Bill 10 Ms.

Flor Marcelino (Logan): The government's Bill 10 will go to committee tonight where we will hear from Manitobans how this bill would put the health and safety of Manitoba families at risk. This bill cuts the Advisory Council on Workplace Safety and Health. This council worked hard to identify the risks and dangers that Manitobans face every day on the job. They provided a forum to workers to have their concerns heard and safety regulations put in place. The minister doesn't see the value in this council because he doesn't see the value in listening to workers.

Will the minister stop Bill 10 now, before it's too late? Hon. Blaine Pedersen (Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade): The advisory council will still meet every five years to do a review of the act and make recommendations. It's typical of the NDP to be so far behind. We now have SAFE Work Manitoba. We have safety associations within private industry. Safety is a focus, as I've said earlier. The North American safety conference is on right now at the Fort Garry Hotel. The safety is utmost in everyone's mind. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Logan, on a supplementary question. Ms.

Marcelino: Bill 10 will cut the advan ced education advisory committee, which ensured the voices of students and teachers were heard by the government. This committee made Manitoba's post-secondary education accessible and affordable, but the minister doesn't see the value in the committee because he doesn't value students or their families. This government ignored hundreds of students and committees protesting their bill to hike tuition. Now students are paying 6.6 per cent more this year. Will the minister ignore them again tonight? Hon.

Ian Wishart (Minister of Education and Training): I thank the member for the question. We're certainly always listening to students. In fact, I met with students this morning. But as for the committee, it rarely met and never made any recommendations to the government.

1946 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 7, 2018 Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Logan on a final supplementary. Ms. Marcelino: Bill 10 will reduce the number of people recommended by parent-child coalitions to sit on the Healthy Child Manitoba board. The bill would see that number from six to just one. These board members are often parents advocating for more family supports; sometimes they are front -line workers like early childhood educators and doct ors, who deliver services to families every day. The minister doesn't see the value of listening to parents or supporting families through policy.

His government hasn't even met with the Healthy Child board since they took office. Will the minister stop Bill 10 now while he has the chance? Mr. Pedersen : Madam Speaker, one of the things that Bill 10 does is reduce the size of the boards down to a more manageable size. Some of these boards that the member opposite was referencing had never met and never produced any reports. What we're doing is eliminating those ones.

And other ones, we're reducing the size of the board to make them more manageable, which we know will help the board be more effective because as board members are able to attend and be more actively involved in the operation of the boards that they –and committees that they sit on. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Winnipeg Police Service Use-of-Force Simulator Mrs. Colleen Mayer (St. Vital): Last week, the Minister of Justice announced a sustainable investment in police training in the Westman region. Can the minister inform the House about this exciting announcement? Hon.

Heather Stefanson (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): I want to thank my honourable friend for that excellent question. Last week, I was proud to join the members for Brandon East (Mr. Isleifson) and Brandon West (Mr. Helwer), along with the Brandon Police Service chief of police, Wayne Balcaen, to announce a $90,000 investment in the new use -of-force simulator at Assiniboine Community College. Madam Speaker, by giving police students and the Brandon police officers practical training to de-escalate dangerous situations, this state -of-the-art technology will hel p make our communities safer.

Our government will continue to stand by our front-line police officers and ensure they are properly equipped to help reduce crime for all Manitobans. Thank you. Manitoba Economy Government Plan Ms. Cindy Lamoureux (Burrows): One major concern that Manitobans have is the lack of a plan for Manitoba's economy. We continue to wait and we try remaining optimistic that there will be a plan for our economy. However, all this government is doing is making cuts. Madam Speaker, this does not leave us with a lot of hope. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Lamoureux: Manitobans continue to struggle.

What is this Premier's plan for our economy? Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): Well, Madam Speaker, our plan for the economy is best reflected in Manitoba's economic performance indicators in our first full year of government. International exports to the United States are up 12 per cent for the first two months in '18, and I think that's best among the provinces. Ca pital spending–private sector capital spending growth is expected to be the highest in Canada in 2018, up 6.5 per cent. In terms of retail vehicle sales, motor vehicle sales increased by 56 per cent in January of 2018.

Passenger motor vehicle sales increased by 31 per cent year over year. These are numbers which are the best in Canada.

I could go on, Madam Speaker, but I do want to say, given the short time available to me, I want to offer sincere condolences to the family of my friend, Gord Brown, who was a long- serving Member of Parliament in Ottawa, a friend to people, regardless of their political parties, who served his constituency of Leeds-Grenville very well and who I know will be very much missed by his family, by his many, many friends and, of course, by his colleagues in Ottawa on either side of the aisle in the House of Commons.

He died at his desk in the House of Commons, working for his constituents, and we wish his family all the best in this difficult time. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Burrows, on a supplementary question.

May 7, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1947 Ms. Lamoureux: Madam Speaker, about a month ago, a number of reports were released that gave a thoroughly bleak look at the state of the province. This government paid Deloitte to essentially tell us what we already knew, and that is that this government has no economic plan. * (14:50) My question for the minister is: How much money did Manitobans have to pay for this report? Mr. Pallister: Well, actually, the member only has it part right, Madam Speaker. Deloitte was commissioned to investigate best practices in economic development globally.

They did come back as part of their report and comment that the previous administration had no economic strategy, but rather threw funding in almost 100 different directions; that there wasn't a co-operative strategy for economic development and growth; that there were not priorities identified to take advantage of innate Manitoba competitive opportunities. Madam Speaker, a study that leads to action can be useful. The NDP commissioned studies, but didn't act on them.

We've commissioned a study which will be acted upon and which will allow us to move from bottom of the barrel on an economic advance to top of the pile. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speak er: The time for oral questions has expired. PETITIONS Tina Fontaine–Public Inquiry Mrs. Bernadette Smith (Point Douglas): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. These are the reasons for this petition.

(1) Tina Fontain e was murdered at the age of 15 years, and her body was found in the Red River on August 17th, 2014.

(2) Tina Fontaine was robbed of her loving family and the Anishinabe community of Sagkeeng First Nation.

(3) Tina Fontaine was failed by multiple systems which did not protect her as they intervened in her life.

(4) Tina Fontaine was failed –further failed by systems meant to seek and pursue justice for her murder.

(5) Tina Fontaine's murder galvanized Canada on the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, MMIWG , as she quickly became our collective daughter and the symbol of MMIG across Canada.

(6) Manitoba has failed to fully implement the recommendations of numerous reports and recommendations meant to improve and protect the lives of indigenous peoples and children, including the Manitoba Aboriginal Justice Inquiry, Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and the Phoenix Sinclair inquiry. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

(1) To urge the Premier of Manitoba and the Minister of Justice to immediately call a public inquiry into the systems that had a role in the life and death of Tina Fontaine, as well as the function of the administration of justice after her death.

(2) To urge that the terms of reference of a public inquiry be developed jointly with the caregivers of Tina Fontaine and/or the agent appointed by them. Signed by Eric a Johnson, Susie Zaray, Merill Yozanis [phonetic] and many, many other Manitobans. Madam Speaker: In accordance with our role – rural–rule 133(6), when petitions are read they are deemed to be received by the House. Vimy Arena Hon. Steven Fletcher (Assiniboia): I'd like to present the following petition. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) The residents of St. James and other areas of Manitoba are concerned with the intention expressed by the provincial government to use the Vimy A rena site as a Manitoba Housing project.

(2) The Vimy Arena site is in the middle of a residential area near many schools, churches, community clubs and senior homes, and neither the provincial government nor the City of Winnipeg considered better suited locations in rural, semi-rural or industrial locations such as the St. Boniface industrial park , the 200 –the 20,000 acres at

1948 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 7, 2018 CentrePort, or existing properties such as the Shriner's hospital or the old Children's Hospital on Wellington Crescent.

(3) The provincial government is exempt from any zoning requirements that would have existed if the land was owned by the City of Winnipeg. This exemption bypasses community input and due diligence, and ignores better uses for the land which would be consistent with a residential area.

(4) There are no standards that one would expect for a treatment centre. The Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living has stated that the Department of Health has no role to play in the land acquisition for this Manitoba Housing project for the use of a drug addiction facility.

(5) The Manitoba Housing project initiated by the provincial government changes the fundamental nature of the community, including parks and recreational uses. Concerns of the residents of St. James a nd others regarding public safety, property values and their way of life are not being properly addressed.

(6) The concerns of the residents of St. James are being ignored while obviously other locations in wealthier neighbourhoods such as Tuxedo and Riv er Heights have not been considered for this Manitoba Housing project, even though there are hundreds of acres of land available for development at Kapyong Barracks or parks like Heubach Park that share the same zoning as the Vimy Arena site.

(7) The Man itoba Housing project and the operation of a drug treatment centre fall outside the statutory mandate of the Manitoba Housing renewal corporation.

(8) The province –the provincial government does not have a co -ordinated plan for addiction treatment in Mani toba as it is –currently underfunds treatment centres which are running far under capacity and potential.

(9) The community has been misled regarding the true intention of Manitoba Housing, as the land is being transferred for a 50 -bed facility even though the project clearly falls outside of Manitoba Housing responsibility. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

(1) To urge the provincial government to take the necessary steps to ensure that the Vimy Arena site is not used for an addiction treatment facility.

(2) To urge the provincial government to take the necessary steps to ensure the preservation of public land along Sturgeon Creek for the purposes of parkland and recreational activities for public use, including being an important component of the Sturgeon Creek Greenway Trail and the Sturgeon Creek ecosystem under the current designation of PR2 for the 255 Hamilton location at the Vimy Arena site, and to maintain the land to continue to be designated for parks and 'recuration,' active neighbourhoods and community. This has been signed by John Hanlan, Eric Hanlan and Keith [phonetic] Kunz.

I submit this to the Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: The petition was not read as printed. Is there leave to accept the petition as printed? [Agreed] TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA: The background to this petition is as follows: 1. The residents of St. James and other areas of Manitoba are concerned with the intention expressed by the the Provincial Government to use the Vimy Arena site as a Manitoba Housing project. 2.

The Vimy Arena site is in the middle of a residential area ne ar many schools, churches, community clubs and senior homes and neither the Provincial Government nor the City of Winnipeg considered better suited locations in rural, semi-rural or industrial locations such as: the St. Boniface industrial park, the 20,000 acres at Centre Port or existing properties such as the Shriner's Hospital or the old Children's Hospital on Wellington Crescent. 3. The Provincial Government is exempt from any zoning requirements that would have existed if the land was owned by the Ci ty of Winnipeg.

This exemption bypasses community input and due diligence and ignores better uses for the land which would be consistent with a residential area. 4. There are no standards that one would expect for a treatment centre. The Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living has stated that the department of Health had no role to play in the land acquisition for this Manitoba Housing project for use as a drug addiction facility. 5. The Manitoba Housing project initiated by the Provincial Governmen t changes the fundamental

May 7, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1949 nature of the community. Including park and recreation uses, concerns of the residents of St. James and others regarding public safety, property values, and their way of life are not being properly addressed. 6. The concerns of t he residents of St.

James are being ignored while obvious other locations in wealthier other neighbourhoods, such as Tuxedo and River Heights, have not been considered for this Manitoba Housing project even though there are hundreds of acres of land available for development at Kapyong Barracks or parks like Heubach Park that share the same zoning as the Vimy Arena site. 7. The Manitoba Housing project and the operation of a drug treatment centre fall outside the statutory mandate of the Manitoba Housing Renewal Corporation. 8.

The Provincial Government does not have a coordinated plan for addictions treatment in Manitoba, as it currently underfunds treatment centres whi ch are running far under capacity and potential. 9. The community has been misled regarding the true intention of Manitoba Housing, as land is being transferred for a 50 bed facility even though the project is clearly outside of Manitoba Housing's responsibility. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: 1.

To urge the Provincial Government to take the necessary steps to ensure that the Vimy Arena site is not used for an addiction treatment facility. 2.

To urge the Provincial Governme nt to take the necessary steps to ensure the preservation of public land along Sturgeon Creek for the purposes of park land and recreational activities for public use (including being an important component of the Sturgeon Creek Greenway Trail and the Stur geon Creek ecosystem) under the current designation of PR2 for the 255 Hamilton Avenue location at the Vimy Arena site, and to maintain the land to continue to be designated for Parks and Recreation Active Neighbourhood/Community. Medical Laboratory Services Hon.

Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background to this petition is as follows: The provision of laboratory services to medical clinics and physicians' offices has been historically, and continues to be, a private sector service. It is vitally important that there be competition in laboratory services to allow medical clinics to seek solutions from more than one provider to control costs and to improve service for health professionals and patients.

Under the present provincial government, Dynacare, an Ontario -based subsidiary of a US company, has acquired Unicity labs, resulting in a monopoly situation for the provision of laboratory services in medical clinics and physicians' offices. * (15:00) The creation of this monopoly has resulted in the closure of many laboratories by Dynacare in and around the city of Winnipeg. Since the acquisition of Unicity labs, Dynacare has engaged in anti-competitive activities where it has changed the collection schedules of patients' specimens and charged some medical offices for collection services.

These closures have created a situation where a great number of patients are less well served, having to travel significant distances in some cases, waiting considerable periods of time and sometimes being denied or having to leave without obtaining lab services. The situation is particularly critica l for patients requiring fasting blood draws, as they may experience complications that could be life-threatening based on their individual health situations. Furthermore, Dynacare has instructed that all STAT's patients, patients with suspicious internal infections, be directed to its King Edward location.

This creates unnecessary obstacles for the patients who are required to travel to that lab rather than simply completing the test in their doctor's office. This new directive by Dynacare presents a direct risk to patients' health in the interest of higher profits. This has further resulted in patients opting to visit emergency rooms rather than travelling twice, which increases cost to the health-care system.

Medical clinics and physicians' offi ces service thousands of patients in their communities and have structured their offices to provide a one -stop service, acting as a health -care front line that takes off some of the load from emergency rooms. The creation of this monopoly has been problematic to many medical clinics and physicians, hampering their ability to

1950 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 7, 2018 provide high- quality and complete service to their patients due to closures of so many laboratories. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

(1) To urge the provincial government to request Dynacare to reopen the closed laboratories or allow Diagnostic Services of Manitoba to freely open labs in clinics which formerly housed labs that have been shut down by Dynacare.

(2) To urge the provincial government to ensure high-quality lab services for patients and a level playing field and competition in the provision of laboratory services to medical offices.

(3) To urge the provincial government to address this matter immediately in the interest of better patient-focused care and improved support for health professionals. Signed by Myrna Assiniboine, Chantel Holmes, Melanie De Guzman and many others. Tina Fontaine–Public Inquiry Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns ): I wish to present the following petition to the Legisl ative Assembly. These are the reasons for this petition.

(1) Tina Fontaine was murdered at the age of 15 years, and her body was found in the Red River on August 17, 2014.

(2) Tina Fontaine was robbed of her loving family and the Anishinabe community of Sagkeeng First Nation.

(3) Tina Fontaine was failed by multiple systems which did not protect her as they intervened in her life.

(4) Tina Fontaine was further failed by systems meant to seek and pursue justice for her murder.

(5) Tina Fontaine's murder galvanized Canada on the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, MMIWG, as she quickly became our collective daughter and the symbol of MMIWG across Canada.

(6) Manitoba has failed to fully implement the recommendations of numerous reports and recommendations meant to improve and protect the lives of indigenous peoples and children, including the Manitoba Aboriginal Justice Inquiry, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and the Phoenix Sinclair inquiry. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

(1) To urge the Premier of Manitoba and the Minister of Justice to immediately call a public inquiry into the systems that had a role in the life and death of Tina Fontaine, as well as the func tion of the administration of justice after her death.

(2) To urge that the terms of reference of a public inquiry be developed jointly with the caregivers of Tina Fontaine and/or the agent appointed to them. Signed by many Manitobans. Madam Speaker: The petition was not read as printed. Is there leave to accept the petition as printed? [Agreed] TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA: These are the reasons for this petition. 1. Tina Fontaine was murdered at the age of 15 years and her body was found in the Red River on August 17, 2014. 2. Tina Fontaine was robbed of her loving family and the Anishinaabe community of Sagkeeng First Nation. 3.

Tina Fontaine was failed by multiple systems which did not protect her as they intervened in her life. 4. Tina Fontaine was further failed by systems meant to seek and pursue justice for her murder. 5. Tina Fontaine's murder galvanized Canada on the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) as she quickly became our collective daughter and the symbol of MMIWG across Canada. 6.

Manitoba has failed to fully implement the recommendations of numerous reports and recom - mendations meant to improve and protect the lives of Indigenous Peoples and children including the: Manitoba Aboriginal Justice Inquiry; Royal Commission on Aboriginal People; and the Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

May 7, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1951 1. To urge the Premier of Manitoba and the Minister of Justice to immediately call a Public Inquiry into the systems that had a role in the life and death of Tina Fontaine as well as the function of the administration of justice after her death. 2. To urge that the terms of reference of a Public Inquiry be developed jointly with the caregivers of Tina Fontaine and/or the agent appointed by them. Twinning Leila Avenue Mr. Mohinder Saran (The Maples): Madam Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) The residents of The Maples community have diverse needs, such as the issue of twinning Leila Avenue, which was raised with the previous minister responsible for Municipal Relations.

(2) The residents of The Maples appreciate that Leila Avenue is a City of Winnipeg, city responsibility, but the new Minister of Municipal Relations has not complied with requests to ask the City to make twinning this road a pr iority, even though the provincial government provides the City with its share for funding such projects.

(3) Leila Avenue is the main road to approach the Seven Oaks hospital, and one extra lane would ease the traffic that has been created by a corresponding increase in population in the area.

(4) The Maples residents are frustrated because both the City and the provincial government do not treat infrastructure developments in the north Winnipeg equally with those in the south. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to request that the City twin Leila Avenue to reduce traffic and commute time for the residents of The Maples and surrounding areas, enabling the accessing of timely health services, w hich will contribute to both the economy and society. Signed by many Manitobans. Madam Speaker: Grievances?

ORDERS OF THE DAY GOVERNMENT BUSINESS House Business Hon.

Cliff Cullen (Government House Leader): On House business, I would like to announce the Standing Committee on Public Accounts will meet on Wednesday, May 16th, at 7 p.m., to consider the following reports: The Auditor General's Report: Follow-Up of Recommendations, dated May 2016– Managing Cyber Security Risk Related to Industrial Control Systems; Auditor General's Report: Keeyask Process Costs and Adverse Effects Agreements with First Nations, dated September 2016; Auditor General's Report: Follow -Up of Recommendations, dated March 2017–Managing Cyber Security Risk Related to Industrial Con trol Systems; and the Auditor General's Report: Follow -Up of Recommendations dated March 2018– Managing Cyber Security Risk Related to Industrial Control Systems and the Keeyask Process Costs and Adverse Effects Agreements with First Nations.

Witnesses to be called include the Minister of Crown Services (Mr. Cullen) and the CEO of Manitoba Hydro.

Madam Speaker: It has been announced that the Standing Committee on Public Acc ounts will meet on Wednesday, May 16th, 2018, at 7 p.m., to consider the following reports: Auditor General's Report: Follow -Up of Recommendations, dated May 2016–Managing Cyber Security Risk Related to Industrial Control Systems; Auditor General's Report: K eeyask Process Costs and Adverse Effects Agreements with First Nations, dated September 2016; Auditor General's Report: Follow-Up of Recommendations, dated March 2017–Managing Cyber Security Risk Related to Industrial Control Systems; Auditor General's Report: Follow -Up of Recommendations, dated March 2018–Managing Cyber Security Risk Related to Industrial Control Systems; K eeyask Process Costs and Adverse Effects Agreements with First Nations.

Witnesses to be called: Minister of Crown Services and CEO of Manitoba Hydro. Mr. Cullen : On further House business, I would like to announce the Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development will meet on Monday, May 14th, 2018, and on Tuesday, May 15th, 2018, at 6 p.m., to continue consideration of Bill 19, The Planning Amendment Act (Improving Efficiency in Planning).

1952 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 7, 2018 Madam Speaker: It has been announced by the honourable Government House Leader (Mr. Cullen) as House business that the Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development will meet on Monday, May 14th, 2018, and on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at 6 p.m. to continue consideration of Bill 19, The Planning Amendment Act (Improving Efficiency in Planning). * * * Mr. Cullen: In terms of today, for House business, I'm seeking leave of the House to allow, for today only, Families to fill the

section of Executive Council in room 255 for the Committee of Supply. Madam Speaker: Is there leave, for today only, to have Executive Council replaced by Families in Committee of Supply? An Honourable Member: No. Madam Speaker: I hear a no. Leave has been denied. Mr. Cullen : Madam Speaker, would you call Committee of Supply? Madam Speaker: It has been announced that the House will consider Estimates this afternoon. The House will now resolve itself into Committee of Supply. Mr. Deputy Speaker, please take the Chair. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY (Concurrent Sections) FINANCE * (15:30) Madam Chairpe rson (Sarah Guillemard): Will the Committee of Supply please come to order. This

section of Committee of Supply will now resume consideration of the Estimates for the Department of Finance, including Crown Services. As previously agreed, questioning for this department will proceed in a global manner. I will now ask the minister to introduce the staff. Hon. Cliff Cullen (Minister of Crown Services): Sure. Deputy Minister Grant Doak; Director of Corporate and Crown Services Robert Marrese; David Safruk, special assistant to the minister; and Inga Rannard, who is the senior financial officer, Finance and Administration 'serds' –Shared Services, Comptroller Division.

Madam Chairperson: Thank you, Minister. The floor is now open for questions. Mr. Tom Lindsey (Flin Flon): Can the minister tell us if he has any undertakings he would like to provide with us at this point in time? Mr. Cullen : No, to m y knowledge, there was no undertakings that we were committed to bring forward. Mr.

Lindsey: Okay, I suspected as much, but–so we were talking about Manitoba Hydro when we were last here and trying to get a handle on some of the things that had gone wrong with the board resigning and the negotiation wheels coming off between the Manitoba Metis Federation –and now we see in the paper that the Metis Federation is, again, waiting for something from the government. Can the minister update us on any progress that has been made in that regard? Mr. Cullen: I appreciate the question and chance to review history and, hopefully, explain how we got to the present situation we're in today.

In terms of the Manitoba Metis F ederation and discussions with Manitoba Hydro and discussions with the government of Manitoba, clearly, Manitoba Hydro are –have undertaken and are continuing to undertake transmission projects across the province, and they've also undertaken, obviously, the Keeyask dam–hydroelectric dam and the bipole transmission project as well. Clearly, there's been ongoing discussions around those projects with the Manitoba Metis Federation.

We certainly, as a government, recognize that we have an obligation under sec tion 35 to consult with the Metis, and we certainly take that –we do not take that obligation lightly. At the same time, clearly, Manitoba Hydro are negotiating agreements with Metis community, as they would do with First Nations communities as well.

And, I guess, in terms of Manitoba Hydro trying to secure the relationship and understanding between, I guess, all three parties, really –Manitoba Hydro, Manitoba Metis Federation and the government of Manitoba –there was discussion with the previous government i n terms of what a framework for that discussion would look like. And I think it probably precipitated out of the Keeyask and the bipole projects, how that undertaking came to be.

May 7, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1953 So, after considerable discussion, I would assume, with the previous government, they came to a document, a Turning the Page document. So that document talks about relationships and how to move forward in terms of any disputes that might come out of discussions with Manitoba Hydro, Manitoba government and the Manitoba Metis Feder ation. So that's really the–I use the term framework, that we're working under right now.

And getting back to the point of the arrangement, moving forward with the Manitoba-Minnesota line, the potential of lines going into Saskatchewan and also any pot ential future developments, there was discussion with Manitoba Hydro and the Manitoba Metis Federation in terms of what a long- term agreement would look like in terms of those capital projects. So the document proposal was put together between Manitoba H ydro and the Manitoba Metis Federation in terms of a path forward over the next up to 50 years.

And at that point in time, when the government became aware of that proposal, the government of Manitoba had concerns about that proposal and about what it means for future rights of Metis people in Manitoba. So the government undertook a thorough review of that proposal –the proposed document to see what the implications were–or would be for the government of Manitoba and for the rights of Metis people around the province. And, obviously, the government had concerns about that particular proposal.

And, as a result, the Cabinet decided to issue a directive to Manitoba Hydro to–not to proceed with that proposal –or it's often termed a term sheet –to finalize into a f ormal agreement. And, you know, that's certainly the government's position that that proposal was not a formal document. And the Manitoba Metis Federation have a different opinion saying that that particular proposal was an agreement, and that's where we have a dispute over that particular proposal. Mr.

Lindsey: And I guess the minister, several times, has suggested that the agreement that apparently Manitoba Hydro board thought that they had and apparently the Manitoba Metis Federation thought they had–because both parties, I believe, has called it an agreement –that the minister is now saying that there's no agreement; it's only a proposal. The only time, I guess, there can be an agreement is when the government says yes or no, and that's the only time one of these negotiated processed with one of the Crown corporations becomes an agreement is when the Premier (Mr.

Pallister) or the Crowns minister signs off and says it's an agreement. Is that the correct takeaway from this conversation? Mr. Cullen: Yes, I–you know, it's my understanding Manitoba Hydro never referred to the proposal as an agreement. I think it's my understanding all along, and there was –obviously discussions have been going on for quite some time between Manitoba Hydro and the Manitoba Metis Federation. And, to my knowledge, Manitoba Hydro never declared that particular proposal an agreement.

These were terms that could be potentially written into an agreement, and I think if you review the documents, it's pretty clear in the wording that this is, in fact, a term sheet. And I believe –you know, I don't want to quote for sure, but I think the comments on the document were it was for discussion purposes only. So, you know, clearly Manitoba Hydro recognized that this was a step in the proces s to ultimately reach a formal agreement.

And I think we'll have to go back to our discussion when we previously met, you know, in terms of this particular proposal being unique to Manitoba Hydro in terms of the structure around this agreement, because previous agreements that had been signed by Manitoba Hydro, whether it be with Metis people, the Metis Federation, or whether it be with individual indigenous communities, they were always around the basis of one project and one proposal going forward. And it was in regard –they would be in regard to a specific project, a specific proposal, in a specific area,

whereas this particular proposal is unique in that it reflects a number of projects which are on the table. And it also talks about a number of projects that are not on the table –in fact, over a 50-year period of time. * (15:40) So, a very unique proposal that had been discussed and negotiated between Manitoba Hydro and the Manitoba Metis Federation, so that's why it was incumbent upon government to have a sober second look at this one and to see what those repercussions would be. So I know, certainly, Manitoba Metis Federation believe this was an agreement. Our view, and I think pretty sure Manitoba Hydro would concur, that this was a discussion document laying out specific terms

1954 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 7, 2018 that could be put into an agreement. And, quite 'franky,' I feel that's where we have a disagreement, and we're probably going to agree to disagree on those conditions of this proposal. So the mechanism within the Turning the P age Agreement actually talks about a dispute, and I won't say a reconciliation; I would say more of a way to actually make sure we clearly define what the dispute is about. And that's really the mechanism in the Turning the Page Agreement.

So, when I met with President Chartrand a couple of weeks ago, we decided that we would allow process, proper process, to take place under that Turning the Page Agreement. So what transpired was the tripartite steering committee actually met. So tripartite –so there's members of Manitoba Hydro, government of Manitoba and the Manitoba Metis Federation get together to outline what the dispute is. And they're currently going through that process. So I will tell the member that there's been a number of meetings of that tripar tite steering committee.

I know there's been some documentation drafted around that component of the Turning the Page Agreement. Obviously, it now requires some more consideration, so I think there is additional meetings of that tripartite steering committee scheduled. So what we as a government are doing is allowing the process to naturally unfold under that Turning the Page Agreement which was signed back in 2014. So we believe that's the proper process to allow that dispute mechanism to take place. Mr. Lindsey: Okay, so we need to–you –the government needs to determine what the dispute is, seems odd.

Publicly, it at least seems to be pretty clear what the dispute is, but –so you became the minister responsible in August of 2017. Is that correct? Mr. Cullen: Yes, I think it's pretty clear what the dispute is about, and I don't know if there is an easy way to resolve that particular dispute, but I guess time will tell how we–how things move forward. So, to confirm, yes, I became minister in August of 2017 and certainly look forward to dealing with Crown Services, an interesting portfolio with a lot of different areas and Crowns' involvement, so challenges and opportunities out on the Crown side of it for sure.

Mr. Lindsey: We'll get to some of the othe r Crowns soon enough. So you became the minister in August of 2017. How many meetings did you have with the previous minister to lay out things that he would've been aware of about agreements like this particular one with the Manitoba Metis Federation and Manitoba Hydro? Did he make any mention of the status of that particular negotiation? Mr. Cullen: I've had a number of meetings with the previous minister, obviously, even prior to knowing that I was going to be involved in Crown Services, a number of me etings subsequent to the appointment and during the transition.

Obviously, we talked about a lot of different issues. I certainly can't remember the specifics around, you know, the number of meetings exactly or specifically when we would have talked about, you know, this particular project, but certainly it's an ongoing dialogue with the previous minister on a number of different files. Mr. Lindsey: So you were obviously in Cabinet prior to becoming the minister. You were the minister of something else. So, do you recall discussions about a potential agreement between, or negotiation, even, for that matter, between Manitoba Hydro and the Manitoba Metis Federation? Mr.

Cullen : Well, I can't speak for the previous minister, but I'm sure he had ongoing discussions with Manitoba Hydro probably about, you know, their discussions and how the discussions were going with the Aboriginal community and Metis communities in regard to these transmission projects because, well, quite frankly, these transmission projects, the Manitoba -Minnesota lines into the –into Saskatchewan to sell power are very important for Manitoba Hydro, very important for Manitoba Hydro, very important for the government of Manitoba and certainly for ratepayers within Manitoba Hydro as well, and, quite frankly, critically important for our partners at the other end who are consuming our green energy.

They obviously like our clean, green energy and they're certainly willing to pay a price for it. And we need all those opportunities we can, given t he difficult financial situation that Manitoba Hydro finds itself in. We need all the export revenue that we can generate. * (15:50) Now, clearly, and as the Public Utilities Board report pointed out just a week and a half ago–last week–seems like a mont h ago–last week that, clearly, Manitoba Hydro is in a difficult financial situation. And some of the decisions that were taken by the previous NDP government did put Manitoba

May 7, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1955 Hydro in extra financial difficulty vis -à-vis the decision around Bipole III. Be–placing it on the west side of the province had a bearing of at least an extra $900 million on the expenses of the corporation –of Manitoba Hydro. And, again, that's money that has to be borrowed, and that will be accumulated as part of a $25-billion debt and–which will–which we will see fully on the books of Manitoba Hydro in and around 2021. And that $25 billion worth of debt will incur interest payments of $1.3 billion annually at today's interest rates.

And we're really not sure what will happen in terms of interest rates going into the future, and especially we look at 2021 down the road–three, four years from now –will potentially have a significant impact on operations at Manitoba Hydro and, indeed, interest payments to constituents outside of the province of Manitoba. So, clearly, these projects are important to us. It's ongoing discussions with me as a minister, with Manitoba Hydro. We did–as a government did not become aware of this unique proposal until last summer or last fall, and we didn't know the details of it at that– 'til that point in time.

And because it is a very unique proposal, we as government decided it would take, you know, proper due diligence and scrutiny to fully understand what the implications would be for the government of Manitoba, for Manitoba Hydro and for the Metis people of the province of Manitoba, as well. And not just today, but what the implication would be for their rights for years to come. And the proposal talks about projects up to 50 years into the future. So, clea rly, this particular proposal will have significant implications for many Manitobans for many years to come. Mr.

Lindsey: So the government, you're suggesting, only became aware of this agreement –and I will continue to call it an agreement because, accord ing to my information, that is in fact what Manitoba Hydro called it–was a Manitoba Metis Federation relationship agreement –you just became aware of that last fall–so, August–and yet you have–a member of your caucus sits on the board of Manitoba Hydro? So these types of things would never have been discussed at a board meeting? Mr. Cullen: You know, I can't speak to that. I would assume there would be some discussions at the board level.

I don't know when the board would–been made aware of the discussions–or I'm sure they would have been briefed along as the discussions went along. But having said that, I don't know when the board became aware of this particular proposal. I know that we as government didn't become aware of the details of this particular proposal until August or September of this past year, and that's when we as government felt it was an obligation on our part to make sure that we fully understood what the ramifications of this agreement –potential agreement would be.

Clearly, the terms i n the term sheet spelled out a lot of information that would have a bearing on individual Metis rights for up to 50 years to come. We obviously did not take that lightly, and that's why we engaged our own internal legal people to review the document to see what the implications would be for government, for Manitoba Hydro and for Metis people in Manitoba. And as, again, I talk really about the unique component of this particular proposal, is that it is – considers projects that haven't even been before the board of Manitoba Hydro for consideration.

So it is a very unique proposal to anything that the board has entertained before or clearly anything that has been before the government of Manitoba as well. And I think that's why it is so important to make sure t hat we as government do the proper scrutiny to fully understand what the ramifications and potential repercussions would be.

You know, if we did sign an agreement as a result of this particular proposal, what would that mean for future proposals, potential future agreements for First Nations communities, if there's going to be other additional developments in the future, whether they be hydroelectric dams or whether they be transmission lines? So this particular unique agreement has really far -reaching consequences, not just for the Manitoba Metis Federation, but certainly for the Aboriginal community as well.

So if Manitoba Hydro and the government of Manitoba Hydro were to entertain these far -reaching agreements, which could encompass up to 50 y ears, there clearly is repercussions for many individual Manitobans, and that's why the government wanted to make sure that we had our research done properly and to fully understand what this potential agreement would mean to Manitobans. So that's why we certainly took the time to do our diligence, and then a directive was issued to Manitoba Hydro in March of this year to not move to the next stage with this proposal, to not move it into the agreement stage.

So that was the directive that

1956 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 7, 2018 Cabinet issued t o Manitoba Hydro in March, and I guess that's certainly part of the dispute that we're currently seeing with the Manitoba Metis Federation, Manitoba Hydro and the government of Manitoba, certainly a difference of opinion in terms of what that proposal was actually trying to accomplish. Mr.

Lindsey: So does the member, I believe, from Emerson, who sits on the board of directors on behalf of Cabinet, does he report back to Cabinet discussions with the board or things that the government should be aware of that are being discussed, even if it's in the broadest of terms, just to make the government aware? Mr. Cullen: I do appreciate the question. I don't know whether this is a process that is unique to Manitoba or not, but for some Crown corporations, we do have MLAs sitting on Crown corporations.

And I suppose that's a mechanism for the government to sort of keep a handle in terms of what's going on at the board level, but there's no legislation that provides the –a mandate or a framework that talks about wha t the role or the reporting mechanism back to Cabinet would be. * (16:00) So it's –I guess it's more of an informal framework or discussion, if you will, around that. And I–I'm not, obviously, going to speak about Cabinet confidence in terms of what discussions may or may not have taken place at the Cabinet table around, you know, this particular agreement.

But it is a unique opportunity for government to be represented on some of these Crown agencies. And we certainly appreciate the expertise that someone like the member for Emerson (Mr. Graydon) could bring to the table and–in a very important Crown corporation like Manitoba Hydro. And we certainly appreciate the good work that the member for Emerson has done at the board of Manitoba Hydro. You know, we certainly respect his opinion at the table, and I'm sure he will make sure his voice is heard at the table as well. And that's why the Premier (Mr.

Pallister) appointed him to that role, so that he brings the level of expertise to that. I know he will bring a high degree of common sense and a business-minded approach to the board of Manitoba Hydro. And I think I could share with members of the committee that I 'm sure the member for Emerson was quite vocal at the –has been quite vocal at the board of Manitoba Hydro and certainly would pass on his wishes and certainly the wishes of his constituents. We certainly know that his constituents will be impacted by decisions made at Manitoba Hydro.

And, importantly, certainly the Manitoba-Minnesota line is in his area. So certainly, his residents and his constituents will be impacted by those decisions as well. And I certainly know he will stand up for all Manitobans when he lets his voice be heard at the board at Manitoba Hydro. Mr. Lindsey: So you have a member, an MLA from your caucus, sits on the board of directors of Manitoba Hydro, but you're suggesting that there's nothing anywhere that spells out specifically that he's supposed to report back to government on anything that's discussed at that board or that corporation?

There's nothing that spells out that he's supposed to take anything from government to that board to discuss with them? So you're not suggesting, I would hope, that he's just sitting there without communicating back and forth betwee n the board and the government the wishes of the government or the desires of the board. You're not suggesting that –or the minister's not suggesting that. Mr. Cullen : Well, a few things to that. We operated–the previous government operated the same way by appointing members to respective Crown corporations.

There's no legal framework in any legislation that requires a reporting mechanism back. And I'm not going to get into Cabinet –confidential discussions about what may have transpired at Cabinet in terms of the relationships between the board members and Cabinet. But I will speak to the legislation that we have brought forward just over the –in the course of the last two years. And that's The Crown Corporations Governance and Accountability Act. So the int ent there was to make sure that everyone clearly understood their roles and responsibilities.

And when I say everyone, that includes the Government of Manitoba, the Crown corporations –whether it be the chair of the board, the board of directors or senior management in terms of the CEO and senior management–everyone would understand what the roles and responsibilities are. And it sets out mechanisms for communication between the various agencies, if you will. So the whole legislative framework is a governance model based on defined accountability systems and those clear accountability relationships, something that we never really had in the past. So we

May 7, 2018 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1957 thought it was important that everyone clearly had the roles and responsibilities and the accountability mechanisms in place. I will say, you know, this legislation is relatively new, so it's still a work in progress for us as government to fully get onside in terms of laying out those roles and responsibilities and role –laying out those mandate letters to the Crown corporations. And I think it's also new for the Crown corporations themselves in terms of helping define those relationships and that accountability between the Crowns and government.

So we're going through this hand in hand, learning through the process as we go. It's not something that can be addressed overnight, but we are working together with the Crowns to work through the process. And we think it's a good process for, you know, a positive framework that provides structure, provides accountability, and quite frankly, provides oversight as well. So it's a work in progress for us to lay out those roles and responsibilities. Certainly have agreement from the board of directors at the respective corporations, what those roles and responsibilities are. We clearly sign those off.

Cabinet ultimately approves the roles and responsibilities, and that – which frames those relationships. And, certainly, the minister can offer mandate letters to the Crown corporations. Those mandate letters are also signed off by Cabinet, so that's certainly an important piece of oversight and provides that structure to the Crown corporations –so a very important piece of the legislation. And part of that legislation –too–makes a change in terms of structure within government too. So we did away with the Crown Corporations Council.

We've moved to a secretariat model within government as opposed to the old Crown Corporations Council which was exterior to government. We now have a model that actually works within government. So we think it improves the relationships and then the oversight, and provides better structure in terms of us dealing –as government, dealing with the Crown corporations. And you know the other component, too, is obviously the policy directives that can be issued by government. And again, those policy directives are approved by Cabinet. Mr.

Lindsey: So, it would appear that –from your answer–that you've got a member that sits on the board. One of your MLAs sits on the board of a Crown corporation, but you don't know exactly – excuse me. The minister doesn't know exactly what that role is for that MLA sitting on the board. Do you–could the minister tell us what he thinks that particular MLA is doing attending board meetings of Manitoba Hydro? Mr. Cullen : I ap preciate the question from the member. You know–clearly, each and every member that is appointed to a board has a fiduciary responsibility to that respective board.

And they are asked to operate in a manner that is in the best interest of that particular board. And that's really their fiduciary responsibility. * (16:10) Clearly, we want Crown corporations to be run as efficiently and appropriately, with the proper oversight, as possible. And certainly part of our mandate as Crown Services is to provide so me education and –to newly appointed board members. And we provide that training to board members so that, you know, they have the relevant background and knowledge that they need to help carry out their respective responsibilities.

Clearly, you know, we as a government have a set of policies. We have a set of priorities that we have established as government. And we expect our Crown corporations to act within that same scope of policies and priorities. And that's why we have formulated the new legislat ion in terms of the government –governance and accountability to establish that framework so that it provides that direction to boards to work in that framework and with that accountability piece in mind, which we think is so important. You know, I think w e can point at situations where there has been government intervention previously.

Political staff would phone and provide direction to Crown corporations. That's not what's transpired now. We actually have a framework, a legislative framework, in place to fully brief each and every one of the senior team, whether it be the minister, the deputy minister, the chair of the board, the board themselves or the chief executive officer of the–of a respective corporation, in terms of what those relationships should look like. So, clearly, we've laid out that framework that we think provides proper oversight to boards, and it also makes sure that, you know, we as a government are working

1958 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 7, 2018 within that scope of that legislative framework. So we think that's very important. So, when we see a corporation that is maybe acting outside of what we would view a priority or a policy of the government of Manitoba, we as a government have an opportunity to provide mandates and directives to that particular corporation to make sure that we keep the corporation operating within the same priorities and the same policies that the government of Manitoba has.

And that's why, in this particular case, Cabinet saw fit to offer a directive to Manitoba Hydro to not continue into an agreement with this particular proposal that the Manitoba Metis Federation and Manitoba Hydro had negotiated in terms of the terms sheet. So that's really the legislative mechanism that we have to make sure that Crown corporations are acting within the same polic ies and the priorities that the government of Manitoba has set. So this legislative framework really, really deals with that, and I think it's obviously a work in progress as we work through it.

But we're certainly getting there and I think it enforces and creates the opportunity to have a positive dialogue with the respective boards and the government of Manitoba. And it really creates a positive

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	41-3-42
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	41st 3rd hansardpdf 42.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	098274e894519d886912f5989d2cbbf5dc250758

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