Manitoba Hansard — 28 November 2016 (Sitting 6, 41st Legislature, 2nd Session)

41-2-6

Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

Second 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. LXX No. 6 - 1:30 p.m., Monday, November 28, 2016 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 CHIEF, Kevin Point Douglas NDP 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 PC 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, Hon. 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 NDP SCHULER, Ron, Hon. St. Paul PC SELINGER, Greg St. Boniface NDP SMITH, Andrew Southdale PC 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 Gimli PC WIEBE, Matt Concordia NDP WISHART, Ian, Hon.

Portage la Prairie PC WOWCHUK, Rick Swan River PC YAKIMOSKI, Blair Transcona PC

143 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Monday, November 28, 2016 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 c ertainty and accomplish it perfectly for the glory and honour of Thy name and for the welfare of all our people. Amen. Please be seated.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Bill 6–The Manitoba East Side Road Authority Repeal Act Hon. Blaine Pedersen (Minister of Infrastructure): I move, seconded by the Minister of Indigenous and Municipal Relations (Ms. Clarke), that Bill 6, The Manitoba East Side Road Authority Repeal Act, be now read a first time. Motion presented. Mr. Pedersen: Bill 6 repeals the East Side Road Authority Act, thereby fulfilling our election pledge as well as helping to fix the finances of Manitoba. Repealing this act also begins to rebuild the trust and respect of those Manitobans impacted by ESRA.

Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed] Bill 208–The Public Schools Amendment Act (Continuity of Learning) Mr. Wab Kinew (Fort Rouge): I move, seconded by the member for St. Johns (Ms. Fontaine), that Bill 208, The Public Schools Amendment Act (Continuity of Learning); Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les écoles publiques (continuité de l'apprentissage) , be now read a first time. Motion presented. Mr. Kinew: This bill would fulfill one of the recommendations from the report on how to improve educational outcomes for children in the child and family services system. It would do so by allowing children who, during the course of a school year, are moved out of a school division to still receive services and an education from that origina l school division.

Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed] COMMITTEE REPORTS Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs First Report Mr. James Teitsma (Vice-Chairperson): Madam Speaker, I wish to present the First Report of the Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs. Clerk (Ms. Patricia Chaychuk): Your Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs– Some Honourable Members: Dispense. Madam Speaker: Dispense? Dispense. Your Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs presents the following as its First Report.

Meetings Your Committee met on the following occasions in the Legislative Building: • December 16, 2015 (5 th Session – 40th Legislature) • November 25, 2016 (2 nd Session – 41st Legislature) Matters under Consideration • Annual Report of Elections Manitoba for the year ending December 31, 2014 including the conduct of the 2014 Arthur -Virden and Morris by-elections • Annual Report of Elections Manitoba for the year ending December 31, 2015 including the conduct of The Pas by-election Committee Membership Committee membership for the December 16, 2015 meeting: • Hon. Mr. ALLUM • Hon. Mr. CHOMIAK • Mr. CULLEN

144 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 28, 2016 • Mr. EICHLER • Mr. GOERTZEN • Hon. Ms. IRVIN-ROSS • Ms. LATHLIN (Vice-Chairperson) • Hon. Mr. LEMIEUX • Mr. MARCELINO (Tyndall Park) (Chairperson) • Mr. PEDERSEN • Hon. Mr. SELINGER Committee membership for the November 25, 2016 meeting: • Mr. ALLUM • Hon. Mrs. COX • Mrs. GUILLEMARD (Chairperson) • Mr. JOHNSTON • Mr. KINEW • Ms. LAMOUREUX • Ms. MORLEY-LECOMTE • Hon. Mrs. STEFANSON • Mr. SWAN • Mr. TEITSMA • Mr. YAKIMOSKI Your Committee elected Mr. T EITSMA as the Vice-Chairperson Officials speaking on the record at the December 16, 2015 meeting: • Ms.

Shipra Verma, Chief Electoral Officer Officials speaking on the record at the November 25, 2016 meeting: • Ms.

Shipra Verma, Chief Electoral Officer Report Considered and Passed Your Committee considered and passed the following report as presented: • Annual Report of Elections Manitoba for the year ending December 31, 2014 including the conduct of the 2014 Arthur -Virden and Morris by-elections Report Considered but not Passed Your Committee considered the following report but did not pass it: Annual Report of Elections Manitoba for the year ending December 31, 2015 incl uding the conduct of The Pas by-election Mr. Teitsma: Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member for Seine River (Ms.

Morley-Lecomte), that the report of the committee be received. Motion agreed to. TABLING OF REPORTS Hon. Ian Wishart (Minister of Education and Training): Madam Speaker, I wish to table the annual report for 2015- 2016 for 'Assinibane' – Assiniboine Community College. Madam Speaker: Ministerial Statements? Oh, another one? Mr. Wishart: Madam Speaker, I wish to table the report for Red River College for 2015-2016. MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Madam Speaker: The required 90- minutes' notice prior to routine proceedings was provided in accordance with rule 26(2). Would the First Minister please proceed with his statement.

Fidel Castro Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): Madam Speaker, Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor reminded us all one week ago that Manitoba is the home of hope, a place that people from all backgrounds and from all regions of the world have chosen to make their home. They came, and they continue to come, in search of a new life, a better life for themselves and their children. Manitoba has always provided that new life: a new life of hope, and opportunity. That has been true since the arrival of the first settlers and it remains true today.

It is especially true for those who have fled the oppression of tyranny, who have fled starvation, who have fled terror and who have fled torture. Manitobans have welcomed them with open arms and with open hearts, as we always have, as we always will. It is with those thoughts in mind that we take note of the passing of Cuban President Fidel Castro this past weekend. While some have praised him as a great leader and gifted orator, my thoughts are for those who suffered horribly from his oppression throughout his long tenure.

My thoughts and the thoughts of this government are with the thousands of Cubans who were punished, tortured, imprisoned and, in far too

November 28, 2016 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 145 many instances, killed because of their religious beliefs, because of their sexual preference, because of t heir support for workers' rights, because they yearned for freedom and democracy. Madam Speaker, as Human Rights Watch has pointed out, thousands of Cubans were incarcerated in abysmal prisons, thousands more were harassed and intimidated, and entire gene rations were denied basic freedoms. Fidel Castro created and presided over a one-party state that controlled all aspects of Cuban life for more than five decades.

The denial of Cubans' fundamental freedoms was pervasive and it was unrelenting. All forms of dissent and opposition were ruthlessly suppressed, and the surveillance, the beatings and the arbitrary detentions continue to this day. Our thoughts also go out to the many thousands of Cubans who fled their nation and, in particular, to those who died seeking the freedom and opportunity that Manitobans enjoy, and too often take for granted. Madam Speaker, our thoughts and prayers today are for the Cuban people with whom we share a warm and deep friendship.

Manitoba is the home of hope, and today w e share that hope with all Cubans: the hope that a new day of democracy, a new day of freedom, is dawning for their nation and for each other. Thank you. * (13:40) Ms. Flor Marcelino (Leader of the Official Opposition): I rise in response to the Premier's (Mr. Pallister) statement on the passing of Fidel Castro, long-time president of Cuba. Canada, under many governments, and the Canadian people have had a long relationship with Cuba and the Cuban people.

Madam Speaker , d espite a US embargo for 50 years, Cuba under Castro made advances in the fields of education, literacy and health for millions, while also employing arbitrary arrest and detention against opponents, stifling dissent, causing hundreds of thousands of Cubans to flee and revile Castro as a totalitarian dictator. It is difficult to imagine a 20th century without his presence.

As we look to the future, I know I speak for all Manitobans when we hope and wish for the best for the future welfare of the Cuban people, a future characterized by free and open elections, respect for human rights and respect for economic and social justice. Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, I seek leave to speak to the Premier's statement. Madam Speaker: Does the member h ave leave to speak to the ministerial statement? [Agreed] Mr. Gerrard: Madam Speaker, I rise today t o respond to the Premier's statement on Fidel Castro, who passed away just recently.

He governed Cuba as prime minister from 1959 to 1976 and then served as its president for 32 years before he was succeeded by brother Raúl in 2008. Canada and Cuba have had good relations for many years. Canada and Cuba first established diplomatic relations in 1945 and have maintained them since then. In 1976, Pie rre Trudeau, as prime minister, visited Cuba. In the decades since, many Canadians, my parents included, have travelled to Cuba and enjoyed their stays.

Cuba has developed a local community -based health-care system, which has put a significant emphasis o n wellness and preventing sickness, aspects of which have attracted the interest of Canadian policy -makers. There have been business partnerships and trade relations between our two countries. Though there were very serious and major issues of human rights while Fidel Castro governed Cuba, there was, at the same time, a major effort to achieve universal literacy and he spoke out and acted against racism.

In spite of the views of the government of the United States, over many years Canada has pursued its own foreign policy and tried to work with Cuba in a positive, co-operative way. It is of interest the comments of Nelson Mandela. Nelson Mandela gave Cuba and Fidel Castro much credit for helping to bring the end of apartheid in South Africa by helping Africans. He talked in 1991 about liberation and said, we want to have the moment of liberation open the way to ever-deepening democracy. He said that in Cuba. He also talked of the Cuban help in the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale in Angola.

Manna –Mandela said Cuito Cuanavale max the –marks the divide in the

146 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 28, 2016 struggle for the liberation of southern Africa and an important step in the struggle to free the continent and our country of the scourge of apartheid. Looking back today, the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale is credited with ushering in the first round of trilateral negotiations, meted by the –mediated by the united nation–the–by the United States– Madam Speaker: Order. The member's time has expired. An Honourable Member: Do I have leave just to finish the last little bit? Madam Speaker: Does the member have leave to finish his statement? [Agreed] Mr.

Gerrard: That battle is credited with securing the withdrawal of Cuban and South African troops from Angola and Namibia by 1991. Fidel Castro was a polarizing figure, neither all good, nor all bad, but he does have an important place in the history of the Americas and of Africa. Our thoughts are with the people of Cuba today. Our thoughts also go to Fidel Castro's family in these difficult times. Thank you. Madam Speaker: The honourable minister for Sports, Heritage and Culture. I would indicate that the required 90 minutes' notice prior to routine proceedings was provided, in accordance with rule 26(2).

Nellie McClung Hon. Rochelle Squires (Minister responsible for the Status of Women ): Madam Speaker, take it from me, nice men don't want the vote. These words, spoken by Nellie McClung in the midst of a mock parliament, started a suffrage movement in Manitoba that ultimately resulted in many women achieving the right to vote 100 years ago. Last January, our Premier (Mr. Pallister) wrote to the governor of the Bank of Canada requesting that Nellie McClung be chosen as the first woman other than the Queen to be represented on a banknote in Canada.

I, a nd many of my colleagues, stood on the snowy steps in the –of the Legislature to make the case for Nellie to be represented on that banknote as a reminder of all –to all Canadians that everyone has a special place in democracy. Because of the efforts of Nell ie McClung, and others who fought for equality, women are now able to vote and hold public office. As Minister responsible for the Status of Women, I believe I speak for all of my colleagues, male and female, when I say that we are grateful for their eff orts in putting us where women belong: on the floor of the Legislature.

Madam Speaker, 2016 marks the centennial anniversary of some women in Manitoba getting the right to vote. Having Nellie represented on a banknote would be a stunning tribute to her str ength and fortitude. Unfortunately, Ms. McClung is not listed as a final contender for the appearance on the Canadian banknote. I do not stand today to take anything away from those named on a short list, and we must congratulate the Bank of Canada for f inally deciding to put a Canadian woman on a banknote.

However, I would be remiss if I did not stand today to object the decision by the Bank of Canada to ignore the contributions of such an important woman in Canadian history. Let 'em howl, Madam Speaker. Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns): Madam Speaker, 100 years ago, with determination and courage, Nellie McClung spearheaded the women's suffragette movement, earning many women the right to vote and, in many respects, forging a new path to women's equal and full participation in Canadian society.

Along other members of the Famous Five, Nellie played a fundamental and lead role in the Persons Case which was crucial in changing the definition of persons to include women. This marked a fundamental shift in perception, social construction and inclusion of women in mainstream Canadian society within communities and even within families. Today, all Canadian women have the right to vote, women can be found in almost all levels of elected office and women are more prominent in the workforce.

But, despite these accomplishments and changes that have followed over time, there is much more work to be done in ensuring women's equality. Every day I drive by the beautiful bronze monument that we have on our Legislative grounds in

November 28, 2016 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 147 recognition of Nellie McClung and the Famous Five. The monument stands as a testament to women's strength, determination and perseverance in the struggle for equity and as a reminder for all of us to continue to fight for women's social and economic equality. Miigwech, Madam Speaker. Ms. Judy Klassen (Kewatinook): Madam Speaker, I ask for leave to respond to the ministerial statement. Madam Speaker: Does the member have leave to respond to the statement? [Agreed] Ms.

Klassen: Madam Speaker, I rise in the House today to recognize the life and the works of Nellie McClung. Liberals are proud to have a history of inclusion. Nellie McClung was a Liberal and, over 100 years ago, fought for and secured the right for some women to vote. It would not be until 1960 that our indigenous people would see the same right to vote and if they did prior they had to give up their First Nation Indian status. I would like to remind all that some women in this province still haven't had the right t o vote, specifically Buffalo Point First Nation, who –it's under a band system–band custom law.

Our province needs more women like Nellie, women who see an injustice to fight and fight to make our world better. The Manitoba Liberals are proud to stand besi de women who possess strong work ethic, determination, drive and passion for making our province better, not for only ourselves, but also in the generation to come. I am proud to join the House in–today in the celebration of Nellie McClung. Miigwech, Madam Speaker. * (13:50) MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Violence Against Women in Sexually Explicit Material Mr. James Teitsma (Radisson): I have three daughters.

I have three daughters and I want them to be treated with respect by the men in their life. I have three daughters and I want them to be free from sexual harassment, exploitation, abuse and violence. That's why I am so disturbed by the pervasiveness of violence and degradation against women in sexually explicit material available online. In Canada, almost 90 per cent of mainstream sexually explicit material content features violence against women. Even worse is that sexually explicit content featuring violence against women accounts for over 30 per cent of all Internet traffic.

Tragically, many of these –many of those consuming this material are under -aged. In Canada, the average age of first exposure to sexually explicit material for boys is just 12. It's prevalent, it's pervasive, and children should not be exposed to it. So many of our youth have easy access to online content featuring violence and degradation directed against women, and this has consequences. Many of us were sickened by the story of Rehtaeh Parsons who committed suicide after enduring humiliation and bullying attributed to a sexual assault.

Here's what her mother Leah Parsons had to say: Easy access to messages and visuals online that condone violent pornographic templates for our youth is setting the stage for what is considered a norm when it comes to the treatment of females. If my daughter was treated as a human being and not as an object to conquer she'd still be here today. It's our society's collective responsibility to protect children like Rehtaeh.

I encourage you all to attend the showing of the documentary , Over 18: The Question is Not Enough, at Springs Church at 595 Lagimodiere in my constituency at 7 p.m. tomorrow night to learn how we could be doing better. I have three daughters. They live in a society awash with material featuring violence and degradation against women and girls. We owe them better. Let's all work together to stem the tide. LITE's Blueberry Pancake Breakfast Mr. Kevin Chief (Point Douglas): I was thrilled to take

part in a LITE's, Local Investment Toward Employment, 20th annual W ild Blueberry Pancake Breakfast at the Indian and Metis Friendship Centre this past Friday. In what has become an annual North End tradition, hundreds of people and volunteers gather to celebrate building community together. People from all over Winnipeg came out to enjoy a locally sourced breakfast of blueberry pancakes

148 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 28, 2016 and sausages, a crafters market, community group displays and local entertainment. LITE is a non- profit organization that supports employment for businesses and people in the North End and inner city. LITE was originally created as an alternative Christmas hamper program for those in need. Today's hampers are filled with products and groceries purchased from local businesses and social enterprises, a gift that gives twice. Since it be gan, LITE has raised over $1.6 million in donations to support community economic development.

LITE has helped create over 1,500 jobs in the area and supports training and skill-building programs. The pancake breakfast is Canada's largest community economic development event. Lillian Richards, who is here with us today, made pancakes at the first -ever breakfast and helped come up with the idea of making Christmas hampers to support community economic development. At this year's breakfast, after 20 years and over 40,000 pancakes served, she was honoured for her efforts, receiving the Golden Spatula Award. Stories like the success of LITE show us that our community is always willing to lend a hand.

Whether it's a donation of money or time, everyone finds a way to make a contribution. Today we have with us in the gallery: Lillian Richards, Tyler Pearce, Kelsey Evans, Christa Campbell and Jewel Pierre- Roscelli from LITE; and Taryn Bruyere and Laura –Lori Thomas from the Native Women's Transition Centre, who bake cookies for the hampers. Can you please join me in congratulating them, Madam Speaker? Chi-miigwech. Gail Singer Mr. Wab Kinew (Fort Rouge): We've all had that one teacher whose lessons have stayed with us long after we left their classroom.

Many former and current students of Earl Grey School would point to Gail Singer, who is with us in the gallery today, as that educator. Madam Speaker, Gail was a principal at Earl Grey School for over 30 years. She recently took her well-deserved retirement. While she was principal, she spearheaded a number of different initiatives, including an all-girls' program, the first of its kind in the Winnipeg School Division. They launched the program to encourage more young women to enter the STEM fields. With a $10,000 grant, they purchased technology and science equipment.

Around 25 grade 7 and 8 students participate in the program every year. My younger sister is a past participant of the all-girls' program. This year she finished her Ph.D. from Harvard on a full academic scholarship and is now doing a post -doc at Stanford University. You can't argue with the results of Gail's program. In case you're wondering, yes, they have an all -boys' program too. Gail has always looked at education from a broad perspective, and by translating cutting edge academic theory into classroom practice she has encouraged students to become actively involved in their own learning.

She is committed to the Earl Grey community and believes not only in her students' potential, but has worked tirelessly to help them achieve it by making sure there are innovative approaches in our public schools. On behalf of your students as well as their friends and families, I t hank you, Gail, for your leadership, your dedication and the immeasurable contributions to Manitoba schools over the course of your career. Holiday Road Safety Hon. Ron Schuler (Minister of Crown Services): Madam Speaker, as all members of this House know, the Christmas and holiday season are upon us.

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year when we celebrate faith, family and the tradition of giving gifts, sending greeting cards and, most importantly, spending time with loved ones. It also is a time when friends and colleagues get together to celebrate the closing of one year and the ushering in of a new year. This is a season filled with hope and joy and love. This time of year is also one of the most high-risk times on our roads with people taking to the highways as they head off for a well -deserved break.

Many people will be attending Christmas parties and end -of-the-year celebrations which often involve alcohol. Certainly, we want people to plan ahead as to know they're going to get back home safely at the end of the evening. If you are hosting a Christmas or a New Year's Eve party, please look after your guests so they get home safely. If you are attending a Christmas or New Year's Eve party, pleas e make sure you have

November 28, 2016 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 149 a safe roads program in place. An excellent option is the Operation Red Nose organization which is run by volunteers in select communities throughout Manitoba. Partygoers are taken home in their own vehicle driven by a sober driver. The service is free of charge and is not limited to those under the influence of alcohol, as fatigued or medicated motorists are free to use the service as well. Madam Speaker, this year has been a dangerous year on Manitoba roadways with far too many Manitobans losing their lives.

We hope that Manitobans will make responsible choices over the Christmas season and keep Manitoba's roadways safe. Let's make this a truly merry Christmas. Brandon Day at the Legislature Mr. Reg Helwer (Brandon West): Madam Speaker, today was to be Brandon day at the Manitoba Legislature. Over 50 people had been planning for weeks to make the trip from Brandon to introduce themselves to ministers and staff and spend the day getting to know their legislators. Unfortunately, winter intervened and it was too icy on the highway today.

Madam Speaker, the bus was to leave at 7:30 this morning, but, at that time, my colleague, the MLA from Brandon East and I received a text from Mayor Rick Chrest that they had to cancel. True to Brandon form, everyone who was scheduled to make the trip was already there to go, but it was always best to be safe. Madam Speaker, in the 2011 census, Brandon had a population of just over 46,000. It is now estimated that the population today is over 52,000, a very diverse and inclusive population, definitely the second largest city in Manitoba.

I have always been struck by the optimistic outlook of the citizens of Brandon and Westman. Problems are turned into opportunity, and Brandon is always looking to improve its situation and involve all of its citizens in the process. They're all proud of our communities. We are all proud here in the Legislature, and all of those communities contribute to a better Manitoba and we'll be the most improved province in Canada. Madam Speaker, I know the mayor and his colleagues are already planning another day and will find other ways to engage the legislators.

Until then, thank you to the many people in Brandon and at the Legislature that were involved in plan ning for today until the weather intervened. It's always best to be safe. * (14:00) In the words of Sergeant Phil Esterhaus, played by Michael Conrad on Hill Street Blues: Hey, let's be careful out there. Introduction of Guests Madam Speaker: Prior to o ral questions, we have some guests in the public gallery. From Henry G. Izatt Middle School we have 75 grade 9 students under the direction of Joe Martin, and this group is located in the constituency of the honourable First Minister.

On behalf of all of us here, we'd like to welcome you to the Manitoba Legislature. ORAL QUESTIONS Provincial Nominee Program New Application Fee Ms. Flor Marcelino (Leader of the Official Opposition): New immigration to Manitoba through the 2000s to today has helped drive Manitoba's population to a record 1.3 million people. The New York Times praised our parka-clad diversity, and the Provincial Nominee Program has allowed tens of thousands of new Cana dians to build and thrive in Manitoba.

Madam Speaker, the Premier is imposing a new fee that disadvantages newcomers and serves as a disincentive to apply, yet, just like with working people, the Premier has decided to reach into the wallets of new immigrants. Madam Speaker, imposing a new fee on immigrants will not create one more new immigrant, as the number of provincial nominee programs has been capped since the Harper administration. Will the Premier reconsider his position? Hon. Brian Palliste r (Premier): Well, actually, no, Madam Speaker.

My position has been, for over 30 years, that immigration to this province is essential, that we owe that hope, and this home of hope that we have here is appropriate for people to come here, whether ec onomic immigrants or refugees from around the world, and we will do our best to continue that fine tradition. The Provincial Nominee Program the member opposite refers to is, of course, something that was

150 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 28, 2016 developed, and I think the member knows this, in the 1990s under the government of Gary Filmon. And a great Progressive Conservative initiative it was, Madam Speaker. We'll continue to build on that tradition and encourage a program to work even better than it has under the previous administration. Madam Speaker: The honourable interim Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Community Connections Ms.

Marcelino: The Provincial Nominee Program currently selects skilled workers based in part on their education and training, work experience and language ability, as affirmed by ILELTS scores, a mandatory requirement from all nominee program applicants. Importantly, however, Madam Speaker, the program also encourages applicants who have strong connections in the province. We know that when immigrants have family, friends or community connections in Manitoba, they are much more likely to stay here over the long term. The Premier's statements in a press release last Friday were particularly vague on this point.

Is the Premier in tending to change the criterion for the Provincial Nominee Program and reduce the program's emphasis on community connection as part of this program? Mr. Pallister: Well, Madam Speaker, we can make the program work better, and that's what these changes ar e about. The biggest challenge for nominees under the Provincial Nominee Program is that 64 per cent of them last year arrived in Manitoba without guaranteed employment and they have to find jobs after they land as permanent residents.

And, as a consequence, the five -year average is higher for unemployment for these folks when they come here than it should be, higher than the average for the rest of the province, certainly. So our goal is to lower those unemployment rates and to better link, through improved outcomes– better link the folks who come here through the program to job opportunities. It doesn't do them a service to bring them from a desperate circumstance in another country, Madam Speaker, and put them on welfare in this province when, in fact, w e have tremendous needs for new people in jobs in our province.

So better links that will get people the opportunities they desire to work, something the member opposite should consider doing, would be appropriate. We're going to consider– Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Pallister: –we're going to continue to make sure those links are– Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Pallister: –better made. We're going to continue to make sure those links are better made and that a program that has languished in relative ineffectiveness relative to other provinces is improved in its effectiveness here in Manitoba.

Madam Speaker: The honourable interim Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary. Changes to Criteria Ms. Marcelino: Madam Speaker, the Premier's statements will be offensive to many nominee program applicants and new immigrants. Madam Speaker, Manitoba's immigration program has been so successful because it emphasizes community attachment. We know that when immigrants have a real connection here, eit her through family, friends or community, they are much more likely to stay here rather than leaving for bigger markets like Toronto or Vancouver.

The Premier needs to be straight with Manitobans and explain whether he intends to change the criterion of t he program. Will he do so today? Mr. Pallister: I understand the member opposite and her colleagues are very defensive about the program, and rightfully so, Madam Speaker, because the program did not result in employment opportunities for people who came here under it with the frequency that we would like to see happen.

People who are coming to Manitoba from other countries want to come here to work, and so working in partnership with our educational and training initiatives with post -secondary and community college opportunities that may present themselves, working in co- operation with our labour -market experts, who can tell us where people can come here and actually find jobs, is far better than the approach that was taken by the previous administration, which all too often resulted in people, unfortunately, having to depend on social supports for far too long a time.

November 28, 2016 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 151 So we want to make sure–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Pallister: Madam Speaker, 64 per cent of nominees under the previous administration were coming without guaranteed employment. Our goal is to make sure that that number is far lower in future. Madam Speaker: The honourable interim Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question. Changes to Labour Legislation Consultations with Labour Ms. Flor Marcelino (Leader of the Official Opposition): Madam Speaker, the Premier has broken his promise to protect front -line workers.

He pretended to work with labour leaders and claimed he would stay out of collective bargaining. Now we are starting to see the true side of this Premier. His Throne Speech announced his intention to reach into the wallets of front -line workers, but this announcement was not mentioned during the election. Did the Premier engage in any consultation with labour before announcing his intention of bringing in this heavy-handed legislation? Hon.

Brian Pallister (Premier): Absolutely, Madam Speaker, but the interesting thing here is, of course, that the member's referencing the phrase of reaching into people's wallets. This is exactly what the previous administration did when they walked and they knocked on the doors of Manitobans, and they looked people right in the eye, and they said we promise, no tax hikes, and then they hit Manitobans with the biggest tax hikes in modern Manitoban history: tax hikes that hit particularly h ard on union members, front -line workers who had to pay 8 per cent higher fees for insuring their own home.

The home where the members looked them in the eye and promised them they wouldn't raise taxes all of a sudden had an 8 per cent higher bill on the insurance on it in case it burned down. Madam Speaker, they also put an 8 per cent surtax on all the workers in the province on the benefits they purchase –8 per cent more for your benefits that you purchase to support your family in case you're hurt, you're sick. These are–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Pallister: –examples.

Though they're just a couple, they're examples of literally dozens of times where the previous administration not only broke its word, but reached right into the pockets of front-line union workers in Manitoba. Madam Speaker: The honourable interim Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Ms. Marcelino: Under our administration , with record investments, infrastructure, people were working. We had the s econd highest economy in the country and there were no 12,000 jobless Manitobans.

Madam Speaker, the Premier assures labour leaders that he respects the collective bargaining process and has no interest in interfering with it, then he inserts himself in to the university's negotiations with UMFA and causes a strike that hurts thousands of students. From this political interference we know the government has been planning this attack on front-line workers for months. Now his government has announced his –its intention to bring in a bill that may undermine constitutionally protected collective bargaining rights.

If the Premier's truly committed to consultation with front -line workers, why hasn't he put any of them on his Premier's enterprise team? (14:10) Mr. Pallister: See, the difference, Madam Speaker, between the previous administration and this one , is we understand what a team is, not just what it looks like, but what it is. The previous administration was so divided they couldn't focus any of thei r attention for over two years on the people of Manitoba. They were so divided, they decided to stage a rebellion against their leader–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Pallister: –the premier at the time.

They were so divided they decided to focus solely on the inward machinations of their party, as opposed to on the best interests of Manitobans. They were so divided, they decided that they substitute leadership with tax hikes and broken promises, Madam Speaker, and that's exactly what they did. Now, I'm quite prepared and will be continuing, as will my ministerial colleagues, to work with union leaders. We will work with them as partners. But, Madam Speaker, we most certainly wi ll not have

152 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 28, 2016 them lead our leadership selection process going forward. Madam Speaker: The honourable interim Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary. Ms. Marcelino: From the same time period, 1969– 2015, our party had only four leaders and all four served as premiers. In contrast, the other party had seven leaders and only two served as premiers. Madam Speaker, the government's proposed wage-freeze legislation is another step in the Premier's attack on front -line workers, and it's quickly undoing nearly 20 years of–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order.

Ms. Marcelino: –peace with labour. The Premier needs to stop manufacturing attacks on labour. Instead, he needs to work collaboratively with them. That collaboration cannot happen when a Premier has made up his mind and is dictating orders to everyone, like what we saw during his political interference at the University of Manitoba. Will the Premier agree to stop his –this proposed legislation, actually engage in real consultation with front-line workers and stop manufacturing attacks on our public-service sector? Mr.

Pallister: Thank you to my colleague for giving me the opportunity to mention to her that history is important and it's important to learn from it. One of the things that we've done on this side of the House when we were in opposition was to speak respectfully about Howard Pawley, Ed Schreyer, Gary Doer. We continue to do that. The members opposite decided to focus for almost 20 years on personal attacks on Gary Filmon. That was their style; it continued to be their style, Madam Speaker. It continued to be their style in the leadership campaign and it continues to be their style now. It isn't ours.

We don't choose to do things that way. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Pallister: But I should encourage the members to understand that history did speak loud and clear about seven months ago, and they were sent to the historical dustbins and the rump that they are now because of good reason. They need to examine those reasons. Madam Speaker, we on this side are the party of hope. They appear to want to be the party of despair and false accusations. Teachers' Collective Agreement Government Intention Mr.

Wab Kinew (Fort Rouge): There is, of course, another former premier that the current Premier did not mention. I would encourage him to speak respectfully about that person as well. The Premier's comments in the media about education funding and teacher salaries seem to imply there will be a wage freeze that could include teachers. This is particularly concerning because we have seen the British Columbia government break existing collective agreements with teachers in the name of cost cutting. The agreements in our province were negotiated in good faith and ought to be respected.

I ask the Premier to clarify for the House today whether he intends to respect the existing collective agreements with teachers until they expire in 2018. Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): Madam Speaker, I do apologize for the –to the member for St. Boniface (Mr. Selinger). Of course, as we all know here in the Chamber, I can't refer to the member by name, and so that was at part, I suppose, an excuse for not mentioning his name. But I do say and I will say that I have spoken respectfully of the member and will continue to–more respectfully than some of his colleagues have, quite frankly.

And I want that point on record. In respect of teachers, I was raised by one, was one, and I have nothing but respect for teachers. We'll work co-operatively and as teammates with our teachers and not wave them around as political weapons or try to frighten them with taxpayer -paid newsletters, as the members opposite like to do. Madam Speaker: Order. The honourable member for Fort Rouge, on a supplementary question. Mr. Kinew: I also thank the Premier for his clarification there. Sometimes it's difficult to hear the question over the din of some of the commentary here in the Chamber.

So I'd just like to reiterate that there were some comments made by th e Premier in the media which seemed to imply that there may be a wage freeze coming for teachers' salaries in the province.

November 28, 2016 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 153 And, again, this is concerning, because in British Columbia we saw , in the name of austerity , interference by that Premier in the existing collective bargaining process and with existing collective bargaining agreements. So with that in mind, I would just like to ask the Premier (Mr. Pallister): Will he clarify for the House today whether he we will respect the existing collective bargaining agreements that we have in this–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –province with the teachers that extend to 2018? Hon.

Cameron Friesen (Minister of Finance): I thank the member for the question. This government has been clear from the beginning that we're facing significant challenges, all of us as Manitobans, a real need to fix the finances of this province. The previous government brought a budget in the spring of 2015 and they said that the deficit for that year would be $424 million. The Public Accounts reveal that number to be now closer to $1 billion. For this member to try to pretend that somehow this is not something that all Manitobans must contend with is simply false and he should get his facts straight.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Fort Rouge, on a final supplementary. Mr. Kinew: That answer is a little concerning because it's a relatively straightforward question that was posed: Will you respect the existing collective bargaining agreements with teachers that should be in place into 2018? An indirect answer like that seems to imply that there may be other plans afoot. So I'd ask again: Will the Premier respect the existing collective bargaining agreements with teachers i n this province which are to be in place until 2018? Mr. Friesen: I thank the member again for the question.

We have to understand what the context of the member's question is. When that government brought, from time to time, in government an argument that said that there was a necessity to seek a pause in labour-sector agreements, they said it was because it was necessary. When this government has spoken about a need for all of us to understand what the fiscal reality is and establish a similar backdrop, somehow they would want to agitate and scare civil servants and they would like to scare teachers. They would like to scare workers who work for the government. We don't favour that approach.

We don't think that it's beneficial. We believe that we are al l in this together as Manitobans facing significant fiscal challenges. We will do the work of facing those challenges on behalf of all Manitobans. Restorative Justice Advisory Council Meetings Mr. Andrew Swan (Minto): Last week was national Restorative Justice Week. We're now discovering how little this government cares about getting better outcomes in our judicial system through restorative justice.

Could the Minister of Justice tell this House how many times the Restorative Justice Advisory Council has met since she was appointed to her position in May? Hon. Heather Stefanson (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Of course, last week was Restorative Justice Week in Manitoba, a good week in Manitoba, and I wa nt to thank the member for the question. Of course, it does bring up many challenges that we're currently facing within our provincial justice system, challenges that we're working with stakeholders within the community.

We're working with front -line ser vices to develop solutions to the various issues, and part of that solution is very much restorative justice and we're moving in that direction. And I want to thank the member for the question. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Minto, on a supplementary question. Mr. Swan: I recognize and my colleagues recognize how difficult it seems to be for this minister and for other ministers to answer even the most direct and basic questions. * (14:20) So I will help out the Minister of Justice. The answer is zero.

The minister has not called together the Restorative Justice Advisory Council even once in her seven months as minister. I'm told by members of the council they haven't even heard from the minister or her staff.

154 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 28, 2016 Maybe this minister should top–stop talking about how she says she's listening to Manitobans and actually start listening to Manitobans who have so much expertise to offer. When will this minister have this council meet? Mrs. Stefanson: Well, that, coming from a member from a previo us government that didn't listen to Manitobans, didn't consult with Manitobans, didn't even listen to members of his own caucus, Madam Speaker–I will take no lessons from members opposite when it comes to the challenges that we're facing within our justice system.

I will listen to front -line workers. I will listen to stakeholders within the community. I will not take lessons from members opposite. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Minto, on a final supplementary. Mr. Swan: The minister should be aware that the Restorative Justice Advisory Council have nine members. Each of these people are passionate about finding better ways to deal with criminal activities outside of our traditional court system.

Madam Speaker, t he council includes mediators and educators, representatives from NKO, Onashowewin, Peguis First Nation, the Manitoba Metis Federation, newcomer communities and Karen Wiebe, who many members will know from her work with the Manitoba Organization for Victim Assistance or TJ's Gift Foundation. Is the minister just not interested in hearing what these committed and passionate Manitobans have to say, or is this council one of the boards that's going to be sacrificed by this government? Mrs.

Stefanson: Again, coming from a member opposite that claimed to consult members within the community and really did nothing of the sort, Madam Speaker–back when he had a chance to make some changes within the system, he chose not to; he chose to cut and run from his job. So I will take no lessons from members opposite. We continue to meet with elders. We continue to meet with the Manitoba Metis Federation. We continue to meet with members across this great province of ours with respect to restorative justice initiatives.

We are moving forward in that, and I hope that members opposite will get on board and support the initiatives that will be moving forward for all Manitobans to ensure the safety of all Manitobans. Public-Private Partnership Legislation Transparency for Infrastructure Projects Mr. Jim Maloway (Elmwood): My question is to the Premier (Mr. Pallister). Madam Speaker, this government has no plan except to cut front -line workers and privatize important public services. But they don't want any kind of oversight of their plans.

They don't want to be transparent with the public and they certainly don't want to copy industry best practices. We know that P3s can benefit the public, and there's–should be nothing wrong with showing that information to the citizens. Why is this government ki lling a bill that promotes transparency for infrastructure funding? Hon.

Cameron Friesen (Minister of Finance): What this government is committed to is not –is leaving no good idea out of consideration, taking not an ideological approach to decision maki ng but taking a results -based approach to decision making, looking at a return on investment platform, looking at value for money in all of our decision making. Where our opponents would run away from viable options and underutilize them, that won't be this government's approach at all. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Elmwood, on a supplementary question. Mr. Maloway: The Premier certainly didn't answer that question.

Madam Speaker, transparency and account - ability are key. That's why we consul ted with stakeholders like the City of Winnipeg, introduced legislation that protects the public. It follows guidelines recommended by the federal government, the PPP Canada Crown corporation. But that isn't enough for this government. They ignore the experts, ignore the City of Winnipeg. They ignore their responsibility to the public. Madam Speaker, when will this government stop its wrong-headed attack on legislation which protects Manitoba's infrastructure budget? Mr. Friesen: Madam Speaker, I thank the member for the question.

We have to acknowledge that there has been disagreement on those benches since last week when this issue first came up. The interim Leader of the

November 28, 2016 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 155 Opposition stood up and said that private -public partnerships are an effective w ay of making investments. No sooner had she sat down and the member for Fort Garry-Riverview (Mr. Allum) stood up and said they're back- loaded, high- interest credit card arrangements with –for big investors. [interjection] So I'm not exactly sure what t he nature is of the disagreement on that side, but it seems that– Madam Speaker: Order. Mr.

Friesen: –the interim leader takes the more informed opinion, the one that this government will proceed on, which is that we won't leave any good idea off the tab le simply to say w e did. We'll investigate them. We'll make sure it makes sense for Manitobans and for the infrastructure arrangements that this province needs. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Elmwood, on a final supplementary Mr. Maloway: This government is taking away the bill that actually makes these things transparent. Transparency is what we're seeking.

If the government wants to spend public dollars, they should show the public how they're doing it. Accountability is what we're see king. If the government makes a bad deal, they should be held accountable to the public. The Auditor General is the best person to make these judgments, and that's who the–this particular legislation empowers. Why is this government bent on pursuing its ideological opposition to transparency and accountability? Hon.

Brian Pallister (Premier): This from a member who put Louise Bridge signs on his –above his NDP stickers on his own signs, Madam Speaker, to cover them up–talking about transparency. Wow. That's pretty funny when you think about it. Seven other provinces have used–in the last three years, have used 3Ps. None of them has such legislation as the NDP brought in to block the use of 3Ps.

You know, Madam Speaker, the Conference Board of Canada, in an analysis of P3s in a document they produced called Dispelling the Myths, said: Efficiency gains in the form of lower costs, quicker completion and higher service levels are due to factors such as performance -based contracts, risk transfer to private sector providers. This is exactly what we're after.

We have been left with a tremendous obligation to service the debts of the previous administration, and we need to look for ways to creatively make sure that we rebuild our infrastructure in partnership with those who would like to help Madam Speaker, so I encourage the member to, when he talks about transparency, demonstrate it in his own signs during elections. Provincial Nominee Program New Application Fee Ms. Cindy Lamoureux (Burrows): The Minister of Education said this past Friday that there will be up to an additional $500 acceptanc e fees for the applicants of the Provincial Nominee Program.

When an applicant of this program has been accepted, they are then considered a taxpayer here in the province of Manitoba. So when the government said in the Throne Speech that improvements to the program will not cost the Manitoba taxpayers, it would appear as if they didn't consider newcomers. Madam Speaker, there was a time when it took less than 90 days to process an application, and there was no $500 application acceptance fee then. Why is the government taking advantage of new immigrants who may already have a significant debt by taking more money out of their pockets? Hon.

Ian Wishart (Minister of Education and Training): I appreciate the member's question. We're certainly look ing to make the Provincial Nominee Program w ork better and, as the Premier has said, there had been definitely a deterioration in the number of people that arrived with a job lined up. So we're fine -tuning the program so that we think that when people arri ve here in Manitoba, which is when they'll be charged a fee, not when they express their first interests, but only after they have been accepted, and that money will be, actually, reinvested in helping other immigrants and refugees here in Manitoba.

I don't think the member has a problem with that. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Burrows, on a supplementary question. Ms. Lamoureux: I'm glad the minister mentions reinvesting the money, because, Madam Speaker, according to the Premier's words this past Friday, the government will not be using the money collected

156 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 28, 2016 from this new fee to correct the massive backlog or fix preventable issues within the Provincial Nominee Program. The Premier (Mr. Pallister) himself stated, and I quote: Revenue from t his fee will go towards language training resources as well as assisting refugees and their families. Madam Speaker, new immigrants are already paying out of their pockets for language training and for proficiency tests. Can the minister explain specifically how this additional $500 charge is going to be utilized? * (14:30) Mr.

Wishart: I can, certainly, answer most of that question for the member. We are certainly reinvesting it in language training– Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Madam Speaker: Order, please. Mr. Wishart: –answering most of the question for the member. The waiting list that she has been so concerned about we will have eliminated by April and we will be starting with zero –first time we've seen that in a number of years, espe cially with the previous administration. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Burrows, on a final supplementary. Request for Provincial Audit Ms.

Lamoureux: This government has decided to charge new immigrants more money rather than fix the mismanag ement of the Provincial Nominee Program. I am sure that the minister must recognize that the problems in the program run much deeper than just wait times. We need to evaluate and determine what went wrong and fix the program so that it is fair and that people applying can have confidence that their application will be respected and processed in a timely fashion. Madam Speaker, I ask sincerely: Will the minister please join me and invite the provincial auditor to review the program? Mr.

Wishart: We have certainly been concerned about the efficiency and the workings of the program since we became government. And, having reviewed the numbers, we have been able to put together, we think, a very good plan forward that'll reduce the wait times and make sure that people that come have jobs right away and that they're focused on those jobs and that the industry is in the right position to take advantage of them. We certainly don't want to –don't need to apologize for the inefficiency and the delays that were i n the previous program under the other government.

East Side Road Authority Repeal of Legislation Mr. Len Isleifson (Brandon East): A week ago today we heard a great Speech from the Throne. We heard that our government is setting a new course for Manitoba. We know that after a NDP decade of debt, we are focused on fixing our finances. After an NDP decade of decay, we are focused on repairing our services. And after the NDP decade of decline, we are focused on building our economy. Can the Minister of Infrastructure tell this House more about our government's pan to fix the finances by eliminating NDP waste and duplication? Hon.

Blaine Pedersen (Minister of Infrastructure): I want to thank the member for Brandon East for the best question of the day. Bill 6 repeals the East Side Road Authority, and this was identified in the Auditor General's report as a huge waste and mismanagement of funds within that organization. Our government will continue to fix our finances, repair our services, rebuild our economy, and repealing East Side Road Authority is just a first step in making Manitoba the most improved province in all of Canada. Environmental Protection Areas Government Intention Mr.

Rob Altemeyer (Wolseley): Can the minister please inform the Ho use if her government is still committed to protecting 17 per cent of Manitoba as a protected area? Hon. Cathy Cox (Minister of Sustainable Development): I'd like to thank the member across

November 28, 2016 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 157 the hall for the question again; it's a very important – the Chamber, sorry–it's a very important question. As I said last week, I don't know if the member was listening or not, but I've been right across the province, north to south, listening to Manitobans, stakeholders, you know, people who are working in the park industry, people who are, you know, concerned, people in community pastures, people who really care about this –about conservation and about the environment.

And, you know, I'd like to say, again, about their record, you know, in 17 years, they only saved 3 per cent –or had a 3 per cent increase in preserved areas. So we're not going to take any advice from the member opposite. Thank you. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Wolseley, on a supplementary question. Mr. Altemeyer: Madam Speaker, where to begin. To start with, the 3 per cent number. I had hoped the minister– Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Madam Speaker: Order please. Mr. Altemeyer: –would have brought some clarification to her erroneous portrayal last week.

The 3 per cent increase was 3 per cent of Manitoba's total land mass, was added to the Protected Areas Initiative. Millions of hectares were added as protected areas and the 17 p er cent goal is not an accident. It's the United Nations' goal based on the global scientific consensus which our government endorsed. Is this government, is this minister, going to be adding more protected areas to Manitoba's future generational legacy? Mrs. Cox: Thank you to the member opposite.

I'm glad to see he had his calculator out again and his little pen and pencil, and doing some calculations as he did last week on proposed climate change income and revenue. As I said, we're concerned about t his province. We're concerned about conservation, parks and we will get it done, Madam Speaker. You know, we're more interested in preserving the environment than media attention, as the member opposite has been involved in. Madam Speaker: Order, please. The honourable member for Wolseley, on a final supplementary. Mr.

Altemeyer: Well, I'll try one more time, Madam Speaker, to perhaps put this into a colour shading that the minister's partisan answers can understand. A gentleman by the name of Stephen Harper actually endorsed the 17 per cent protected areas objective that came from the United Nations. Our government endorsed that as well. Is she telling the House and Manitobans that her government is more conservative than Stephen Harper's was when i t came to protecting wilderness areas in this province? Mrs. Cox: Thank you so much to the member opposite.

I'm glad to see that he's actually quoting Stephen Harper and the Conservatives as a good reference in the House here today. And, you know, I would just like to also give clarification, you know, to the member opposite and his private member's statement where he says that after seven months we've done nothing as a government. You know, I am very proud of what we've done. We've implemented a two -year moratorium on park fees, which actually would have seen an increase of 750 per cent under the former government–shameful, Madam Minister. We've actually given fishermen marketing freedom.

They finally, after 17 years, they finally have the ability to sell their fish and market them in a manner that will give them the most money. They work hard and they deserve it. So thank you so much for that question to the member opposite. CPP Expansion Drop Out Provision Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns): We learned there are worrying and discriminatory provisions in the recent agreement to expand CPP , penalizing women and persons with disabilities. There is no so-called drop -out provision in the new CPP expansion. This means women who take time off to work to care for their children will have lower pensions.

This means that people with disabilities will also have lower pensions. Will the government call on the federal government–will this government call on the federal

158 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 28, 2016 government to add a drop- out provis ion in the expansion of the CPP? Hon. Cameron Friesen (Minister of Finance): I thank the member for the question, and it gives me an opportunity to talk about the many areas that Manitoba has actually been engaged in exactly this subject: talking to our federal partners, talking to other provinces about this opportunity that we have in this country right now to make CPP expansion not just a bigger process, but a better one.

This is exactly why Manitoba brought a series of recommendations that we put forward to all our partners, recommendations that will be considered at the next Finance ministers meeting, and I cannot wait until the next question to be able to continue my answer and talk about more of those changes that Manitoba is sponsoring. * (14:40) Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. John's, on a supplementary question. Ms. Fontaine: This is not a new provision that we are asking for. It is already part of the existing Canadian Pension Plan.

It was enacted because it is unfair for women , who still do the vast majority of child rearing, and unfair for persons with disabilities who cannot participate to the same level or degree as others within the workforce. Women and persons with disabilities should not have their pensions penalized. Will this government commit to supporting a drop-out provision in the expanded CPP? Mr. Friesen: This government has brought to the table numerous recommendations to the feds that would produce changes that will make it better, some of the changes, exactly as the member cited herself.

We can't wait to have that conversation at the federal level. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. Johns, on a final supplementary. Ms. Fontaine: Madam Speaker, i t's important and critical that Manitobans have access t o good pension options. Our government i ntroduced a simplified approach: the money purchase plan. Our plan actually requires employees to pair –to pay their fair share so that the 'burdem' of retirement does not fall solely on the backs of front -line workers. We have a made-in-Manitoba solution.

Will the government recognize that it cannot solve the problems –solve problems by offloading them onto Manitoba front-line workers? Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): I'm genuinely pleased to hear the new position of the NDP as articulated by the member in her three

preambles, because the previous position was, of course, that we should get on board with the proposals the federal government was advancing. That was the position stated this spring. In fact, members opposite were harshly critical of our attempts to make changes to the CPP which would enhance the benefits, the protections for vulnerable people. They were harshly opposed to us protecting disabled people, harshly opposed to us protecting vulnerable people, harshly opposed to us protecting widows.

In fact, Madam Speaker, we have advanced Manitoba modifications with a made -in-Manitoba strategy, and we have the unanimous support of nine other premiers. We're proud of that, and we ask for them to get onside. T hey were opposed before, but they can help now, and I ask for their help. Madam Speaker: The time for oral questions has expired. Petitions? ORDERS OF THE DAY GOVERNMENT BUSINESS THRONE SPEECH (Fifth Day of Debate) Madam Speaker: Resuming debate on the proposed motion of the honourable member for Fort Richmond (Mrs.

Guillemard) and the amendment and subamendment thereto, standing in the name of the honourable member for Wolseley who has two minutes remaining. Mr. Rob Altemeyer (Wolseley): When I left off in the majority of my presentation, I was outlining the basic features of an austerity agenda and what that does to local people in the jurisdiction that's unfortunate enough to be there when the government of the day brings in that austerity agenda. Austerity happens economically, socially, environmentally and politically.

The three areas I had commented on so far, in terms of what my constituents can expect from this government's agenda of austerity, is increased unemployment and decreased wages and money coming into their homes. That will take place

November 28, 2016 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 159 whether they work directly for government, whether they work in the non- profit sector or in the economy more broadly, as the government withdraws from its involvement in stimula ting productive growth and employment. There will also be a decrease in services as this government makes massive amounts of cuts to services that citizens deserve to have and did have under our administration.

And thirdly, the costs for individual house holds and people will undoubtedly go up as new service fees are brought in, and there are examples in all three of these areas of initiatives this government has already launched which fit the austerity agenda. Ultimately, though, one of the core goals of an austerity agenda is to provide more power and money to the elites, and you can see that no more blatantly than in the blind submission to so- called international trade agreements and the investor -state resolution dispute mechanisms that all of these contain.

Indeed, to summarize their impact based on the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the damage so far has been significant. In addition to paying hundreds of millions of dollars to investors, Canada has been pressured– Madam Speaker: Order, please. The member's time has expired. Mr. Bob Lagassé (Dawson Trail): Good afternoon, Madam Speaker and members of the House. It is once again an honour to stand before you today to speak to the Throne Speech for the Second Session of the 41st Legislature. The 'strone' –the Throne Speech read on November 21st is one that serves all Manitobans.

It is a great feeling to know that Manitoba is back on course after a decade of debt, decay and decline. Our priority is focusing on fixing the finances, repai ring our services and rebuilding our economy. We have set out to promote economic opportunities, improve our front -line services and put Manitoba back on responsible fiscal track. It is also important to know that we are seeing a shift of how we work wit h Manitobans.

As anyone here today will know, our new government has been holding public consultations and asking openly for Manitobans' input in the –in following government areas, including: the Canada Pension Plan; The Workers Compensation Act; most rece ntly, the health-care system; Budget 2017; labour and skills trading; Manitoba parks. These are just a few of an extensive list of consultations involving Manitobans. We know that Manitobans are our most valuable and first-hand knowledgeable stakeholders in fixing today's challenges, and, collectively, we will find the right solutions.

Madam Speaker, this is one of the most comprehensive plans Manitoba has ever seen. Today I take this opportunity to speak in support of the Throne Speech for many reasons, one being, and which is important to me and part of why I became an MLA, is making s ure that the most vulnerable children in our province are provided better protection and services. As a specialized foster parent and having many years with a strong career background in working with children, youth and adults in vulnerable situations, I have seen first -hand the impact of our most vulnerable when the system fails them.

For over a decade, like Mr. Freeze's victims, there was a standstill in proactive initiatives that have been proven to be effective and positive. This page turns with the Throne Speech and our government. Under the NDP we have seen more kids apprehended by Child and Family Services than in any other province. On a positive, we are seeing the positive impact that high- fidelity wraparound and customary care modelling are h aving on the child-welfare system.

Our Progressive Conservative government plans to not only acknowledge, but also act on the programs that are seeing Manitoba children in healthier, more positive and forward- looking situations. Our government is curr ently exploring all options, and we continue to work with our stakeholders and members of the community to find solutions to these challenges. Madam Speaker, o ne change that will have wide-reaching impact is the Progressive Conservative government's exploration and current implementation of the protecting children act.

By improving the information sharing between service providers, we are enabling earlier interventions, proactive prevention and quicker responses for children finding themselves in vulnerable situations. Service providers such as those with Child and Family Services, schools and law enforcement will be able to work together to filter down children's needs. It will open and welcome stronger

160 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 28, 2016 communications and create the ability to have an appropriate care plan. We will protect and improve lives, and we will give children a better chance to succeed without them getting caught up like Spiderman's villains in a web of barriers. We will also help parents and caregivers of some of these c hildren, should they find themselves in government housing programs, by making long overdue repairs to rental units and working with stakeholders, tenants and the public to develop a new made-in-Manitoba housing strategy.

This strategy will help parents, c aregivers and children. It will address the backlog of repairs and also start to address homelessness. Madam Speaker, there's no shortage of positive initiatives and changes that will benefit all Manitobans, from education, to conservation, to indigenous relations, to health. However, we do recognize there's lots of work to do. Our government is ready. * (14:50) Leading up to the Throne Speech, there has been a great deal of work done by the staff here in the Legislature, the government departments, our stakeholders and all Manitobans.

Their hard work needs to be recognized and a thank you given. Madam Speaker, the Throne Speech and our government also recognize that the children we help today will grow up to see other positive changes as our government is making for their tomorrow. As they go through school and enter the workforce, our decisions today will benefit their tomorrow. Some examples of the benefits are our government's decision to improve the Manitoba Bursary Program that will see bursary fu nding targeted to lower income and indigenous students.

And, when these children get to the workforce, they will benefit from our many decisions without quite remembering all of them. However, they will be able to look back to 2016 and see where the page turns. If a child decides to become an educator, like the member for Lac du Bonnet (Mr. Ewasko), today we are making investments so when that happens they will teach on the fundamentals of quality education and have better professional development support . They will see curriculums that aim for measurable targets so we know what is improving and where more improvements might be needed.

If a child decides to work in the justice field, like Batman, our government has made a commitment to better improve our justice system so people working in need of these services are not bogged down with a time–with the time -consuming backlog of cases. They will work in a system that sees that it is –that sees that access is timely and effective and efficient.

If a child d ecides to become a paramedic, which I couldn't find a superhero to compare to, today we see our government working towards self - regulation of paramedics, which tomorrow's children will benefit from a well-regulated service that results in a strong and effective health-care system.

As today our government has committed to spur economic growth for future generations to strive in, like Boba Fett hunting a bounty, our government will seek out a way of reducing burdensome regulations, unnecessary red- slash-orange tape that drag economic growth, costing our economy billions of dollars each year in lost time. The children who wake up with the great idea of entrepreneurship in this province will no longer feel the freeze of carbonite as Han Solo did, when they want to become their own bosses. They will be able to create a team working towards common goals without orange-tape anxiety.

Red tape stifles growth and kills jobs. Our government believes in removing these stumbling blocks. Our government will also capi talize on Manitoba's strengths, including aerospace, which my son is interested in going into, agriculture and industries attracted by our clean hydroelectric energy–[interjection]–as I'm supposed to mention that it's located in sunny St. James here –created and supporting our children in the many and rewarding future career choices.

Madam Speaker, I know there's a lot to be said only to speak of one area and only briefly on many almost does a disservice to the many others that are seeing great things happen. I wanted to take this opportunity to mention November 18th. On this day we gathered a group of people with diverse professional and personal backgrounds. We sat at a table, enjoyed some local coffee and got the opportunity to listen to their ideas and what they would like to see improved, as well as how they would do it. Within an hour, Madam Speaker, we covered eight subject areas.

We had a detailed discussion on different situations and solutions/ideas to some.

November 28, 2016 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 161 One challenge that is faced and was brought up by a resident of Ste. Anne, Manitoba, is that although her small town has an exceptional hospital and service, the problem tends to be the doctor's

schedule that sees him travelling all over the area to meet the area's needs. That brings me to proudly tell you what that part of the Throne Speech tells you of our government's plan to create a provincial agency for doctor recruitment and retention. By working together and having a collaborative approach, we believe this is something that will c onsider the needs of all Manitoba in both urban, rural and northern and remote communities. Madam Speaker, this is just one of the reasons our government strongly encourages public participation.

The value of information from the people who see what need s to be changed goes a long way in the decisions elected officials make. This Throne Speech reflects what people have been telling their elected officials for years and comes from consultations, teamwork and collaboration. The last thing I want to speak on in regards to the Throne Speech is an area that I deal with constantly throughout my riding, and that's municipal relations and includes the many people and levels of individual municipalities.

When our government first took office, we followed through with our commitment to provide municipalities with a new streamlined process for accessing cost-shared infrastructure dollars. This was warmly welcomed by many professionals who had concerns. With so many different areas o f the provincial infrastructure funding, this was one way we set forth to reduce red tape and make the delivery process more efficient. Our government has undertaken the most robust municipal infrastructure consultation in decades, and we will continue to build respectful and collaborative relationships across Manitoba.

By doing this we will be able to better respond to the needs of our province by funding support to local priorities and delivery of economic benefits, all the while ensuring that government funding delivers value for money and return on investment. Madam Speaker, I am very confident that the direction our government is taking to fix our finances, repair our services and rebuild our economy is a responsible and accountable one. Every day we are making progress and thinking about the future, a future that our children will raise their own families in.

I'm also confident Manitobans are at peace that their government is now moving in a positive direction in taking into consideration their tax dollars and their input. I want to thank you–I want to thank again all staff and members of the House and you, Madam Speaker, for the time to speak in support of the November 21st Throne Speech. Thank you. Mr. Mohinder Saran (The Maples): Madam Speaker, I would like to put a few words regarding the speech–the Throne Speech.

First of all, I will start from the point of immigration, and today I felt–being an immigrant I felt really insulted and it was insulted by the Premier (Mr. Pallister) by saying, when immigrants come over here they are most likely to have welfare. That is not true. When–provincial –under the Provincial Nominee Program, when immigrants come over here they bring $10,000 with them per person, and after that $2,000 every person. And so they are not –they don’t come for welfare. And, also, I think it's really insulting saying that when immigrants come over here they collect welfare. That's not true.

They have their families over here; they borrow money if they have to. On the other hand, they will take any job. They will take any job. It does not matter what kind of job they happen to have. So every immigrant that go through our doors are kind of struggle, and at the end they succeed. They take whatever job is available, and then they will learn and improve their other skills on whatever gap there. Then they get the job, a proper job. So I think–I hope the Premier (Mr. Pallister) gets correct information and apologizes to the immigrant community.

Further, I think the way immigration certain they are–think they are improving, according to even the Throne Speech or their intention in the Throne Speech, I don't think they will be doing a good job. What they are doing, they are simply match skill in

162 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 28, 2016 the other countries and all over with the employer. So the immigrant will become part of the employer. * (15:00) I suggested that when immigrants come over here immediately send them particulars for their engineers. Send that person to that engineering branch. Let them see the culture of that trade or that profession. Once they have their culture and then they will find their own way. So, in the beginning, help them a little bit. And they don't need that kind of manipulation or that kind of taking advantage of.

So I hope this government try to understand how the immigration system works as don't put your hand in their pocket, because when those people come over here, they are ready to do whatever needs to be done. The government's Throne Speech laid the groundwork for cuts to front -line workers and opens the door to privatization of front-line services. In their first year, the government has already broken their election commitment to protect front-line workers. Every single member of the Premier's (Mr.

Pallister) Cabinet gave themselv es a raise and are now going to make nurses, teachers, community safety officers and child -care workers and linemen suffer. Instead of building strong public services, the government is undermining them. They plan to gut a law that requires transparency and accountability for all private-public partnerships. Rather than having to justify their actions to the public, they want to benefit their well-connected insider friends. Why are they afraid of having the Auditor General monitor what they are planning on doing?

The government is more interested in manufacturing partisan crises and fighting the last election than finding real solutions for Manitobans. And they are attempting to use these fake, manufactured 'crisises' to justify a program of cuts and eventual privatization. The government's Throne Speech is the wrong direction for Manitoba. It cuts where it should build, it privatizes instead of keeping services public and it will divide Manitobans rather than offering an inclusive vision for the provinc e. New Democrats oppose this austerity agenda and that is why we oppose this Throne Speech.

Madam Speaker, f ixing the finances is code for politicizing the budget process. The government should stop picking ideological fights and actually work for all Man itobans. They are attempting to manufacture a political crisis in the budget in order to offer a fake justification for their program of cuts and eventual privatization. Madam Speaker, f irst, it trumpeted fake savings of over $100 million in their last budget. That's what transparent budgeting looks like for the Premier. But they could not produce a number because they made it up.

Instead, they found so- called savings by jacking up taxes on seniors, breaking an election commitment to do so and making $9 mi llion in cuts to schools and universities. Madam Speaker, seniors are still hurting, and our government was to give them a rebate of up to $2,300, and that's the maximum. But now this government is only giving them the rebate for $470 and, also, there's a clawback. So, about –seniors losing about –almost about $1,800. So, this is not the way to treat your seniors who worked all their life and who built Manitoba, who built the economy.

And, also, I think it's also important for the citizens. If citizens say in old days they are safe, so they will stay over here. Otherwise, they will leave to the other provinces. So it was very important to give the rebate, school tax rebate, to the seniors. But this government first attacked the seniors. Second, they inflat ed the actual budgeted number by over $150 million. The government claimed to have a historic deficit of over $1 billion.

But, when the Auditor General actually looked at the books, it turns out the government inflated their deficit figure by more than 15 per cent, and they never could explain why they misled Manitobans, nor did they apologize. This government had manufactured a political crisis surrounding the deficit in order to justify what they had already planned to do: cut front -line services and open the door to privatization, breaking an election pledge in the process. Their Throne Speech breaks an election commitment and launches an attack on front -line services and the people that provide these important services.

The government wants to offload their financial problems onto the backs of the front -line workers. Cutting jobs and slashing wages is not protecting front-line workers. It shows the Premier's pledge was not worth the paper it was written on. It was written with disappearing ink. Cutting jobs and

November 28, 2016 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 163 slashing wages is not a plan for hope. It takes money from the wallets of working people for the Premier's own mistaken priorities. The Premier (Mr. Pallister) and his Cabinet took a raise to their salaries of hundreds of thousands of dollars this year alone. The Premier will pocket more than $30,000 extra this year alone. Each Cabinet minister received approximately $24,000 more this year. This totals nearly $330,000 for the entire Cabinet.

But this government refused to raise the minimum wag e for working Manitobans, and now they are going to force nurses, teachers and child-care workers to take a legislated pay cut as well. When the Premier mentioned about the immigrants to go on welfare, maybe he has the intention to send them on welfare, because the immigrants who start from the –on the minimum wages, if minimum wages are better, in that case, they don't have to get other services. Cuts to jobs and to wages of front -line workers were not part of the Premier's election pledge. He's already broken that commitment, but they are his real agenda.

Nothing in this Throne Speech preserves Manitoba's affordability advantage. It doesn't even mention it. MPI rates, home heating and electricity rates and tuition fees are all set to rise under this government. This Premier does not believe it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that life in Manitoba remains affordable for families. They have refused to preserve our affordability advantage and instead are shifting the burden to those who can least afford it.

Deception and distraction are how this government conducts labour negotiations when it is not launching unnecessary partisan fights with labour, like it did with Bill 7. We already know that this government does not respect the coll ective bargaining process.

Collective bargaining is a fundamental right held by Canadians and has been affirmed as such by the Supreme Court of Canada. * (15:10) This government interfered with labour negotiations at the University of Manitoba, ordering the University of Manitoba to not offer a salary increase after negotiations had already started, which caused a strike that impacted nearly 30,000 students for three weeks, but it won't admit that its reckless actions hurt students. Now the government pro poses to bring in legislation to cut wages and jobs for front -line workers, legislation which may very well be unconstitutional.

Have they actually tried to talk to any labour leader regarding this proposed legislation? Kevin Rebeck, MFL, says, the Pre mier said that he respects collective bargaining and the thousands of Manitoba workers who deliver the vital services families count on, but that's clearly not the case. In this Throne Speech, the Premie r seemed to set on undermining collective bargaining and restricting the ability for our hospitals, clinics and Crown corporations to deliver services.

Michelle Gawronsky, MGEU, a quote: We were looking for a clear sign that this government was going to follow through on its commitment to protect and invest in the public services Manitobans count on. Instead, the Premier is now proposing to not only strip working Manitobans of their bargaining rights, but also threatening the very services that he clearly and publicly promised to protect. End of quote. Kelly Moist, CUP E Manitoba, quotation: Premier plans to table legislation to control the costs of public services, but appears to be backtracking on his commitment to respect the collective bargaining.

The government speaks of the consultations it had undertaken, but appears to listen only to a small, privileged minority. End of the quote. Mr. Doyle Piwniuk, Deputy Speaker, in the Chair If we talk about infrastructure, the agenda for infrastructure for this government is one of cuts. They do not want to boos t the economy through infrastructure spending. Our government invested a record $628 million in the 2015- 16 year in roads and bridges. Just last week, the Province admitted it is cutting that investment by 20 per cent next year.

But, rather than admitting it's cutting investments, the government today portrayed this cut as a strong commitment to infrastructure. It is nothing of the sort. Instead of actually investing in roads, bridges and other essential infrastructure investments, the government is planning to open the door to privatization of public services. Its only real plans for infrastructure are to scrap The Public -Private Partnerships Transparency and Accountability Act.

164 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 28, 2016 According to this government, when you have transparency and accoun tability, this discourages investment. We believe differently on this side of the House. We know that when you don't have transparency and accountability, this opens the door to the privatization of public services, which only benefits well-connected insiders. The Throne Speech claimed that infrastructure spending will use a return- on-investment test for roads and bridges. We know what return on investment means to Tories.

It means making no new investment in the North of this province and leaving rural Manitoba to fend for itself. That's why this government made no specific commitment to build an inch of road on the east side of Lake Winnipeg, nor did they provide a timeline for the construction of the Lake St. Martin-Lake Manitoba outlet. This Throne Speech offered no new investments in downtown Winnipeg. The government has already killed a role –killed a rail -relocation study that was supported by business, by the City of Winnipeg, by the federal government.

The government ordered Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries to kill their headquarters relocation project which would have saved the corporation millions and contributed to the revitalization of downtown. Now, the government has interfered in MBLL again and is trying to undermine their investment in the True North Square for partisan political purposes, and they are using deceit to cover their tracks.

The Throne Speech offered no new infrastructure investments for Brandon: nothing for Brandon water treatment plant; nothing for the Keystone Centre; no regional economic development plan; nothing for the North Hill ACC campus; no new school in Brandon's south end; no new student housing for Brandon University; no new seniors' housing. And, also, I think they are not keeping the commitment which was made p reviously to build a school in The Maples constituency. It is the same story for communities across the province: Selkirk, Gimli, Swan River, Dauphin, Lorette, Stonewall, Ste.

Anne, Steinbach, Teulon, La Broquerie, Arborg, Thompson, Flin Flon and so many more. Perhaps, most importantly, there was not one mention of Churchill, the Port of Churchill or the Bay Line in the Throne Speech. This government has no plan nearly six months after the port was shuttered and grain stopped shipping to get it open again. When we –will the –when will the government actually offer a plan to save the Port of Churchill? Thank you. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member –the honourable Minister for Infrastructure. Hon.

Blaine Pedersen (Minister of Infrastructure): In r esponding to the Throne Speech, I thought it would be best if I brought a positive message into this House given some of the things that happened last week. We certainly need to raise the bar in our discussions within this Chamber, and I will do my best to adhere to that. And, although it may be tempting to take a few swipes at the former government, I'm not going to do that today because I believe we should be above that.

And Manitobans are really asking for this government to move forward in a positive m essage and that's what the Throne Speech was all about, and as we continue to do this, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I first want to just speak to my constituents in Midland constituency. It's–it certainly is an honour to represent them in south central Manitoba, across south central Manitoba, and I was reflecting this weekend as I was driving in my constituency that having been given the honour of representing the Crown in Cabinet, I certainly don't have as much time right now to spend in my constituency as I would like to.

I was actually speaking to one of my constituents on the weekend, on Saturday morning, and having a great visit with him. And I reflected on that, that I just don't have the time to spend in Midland constituency that I would like to, and he just turned to me and said don't worry; we understand; you're busy. And we are busy taking care of the business in this province and bringing Manitoba forward as we really believe it needs to, and there is no shortage of things we want to do.

So I'll just –one last shout out for the great constituents of Midland constituency for their ongoing support. * (15:20) That also goes to family –not much time to see family these days. I did get to see a couple of my grandchildren on the weekend and thoroughly teased them and got them all excited and then left. So it

November 28, 2016 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 165 worked out well for all of us; so we have a good time with them too. Mr. Deputy Speaker, one of the things that was mentioned in the Throne Speech, and again today, as I introduced a bill –Bill 6 was to repeal the east side road authority act and this is a true demonstration of legislation. We campaigned on this to–with a –repeal this act.

We knew there was problems on the east side road–within the East Side Road Authority, and certainly the Auditor General's very extensive report on the workings or the misworkings within that agency certainly brought to light by the Auditor General's report. And so with this Bill 6 we will move forward. We are already, as a department, moving for ward to wind down the operations of the East Side Road Authority. It was very obvious when the Minister of Indigenous and Municipal Relations (Ms. Clarke), the Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade (Mr.

Cullen) and myself sat down with those chief and councils from the east side and, as we heard their story, just asked them to speak freely and they did speak freely to us. And it was of the broken trust and the lack of respect coming out of the East Side Road Authority and, by extension, from the NDP – former NDP government. So it was –we had very good meetings with them. We've continued to meet with them. My department is continuing to meet with the east side communities.

They're still very positive and it just–it's about rebuilding the trust and rebuilding the respect with those communities and making sure that we're in constant communication with them, and we are. And the–we will continue to build roads on the east side. We're very adamant that the federal government honour their election commitment in that the Prime Minister in the federal election, a year ago last October, one of his campaign promises was to put funds into building roads and infrastructure on the east side. And so we are continuing to work with the federal government on this.

We want the m to–it means–it's about action, it's not about words, and so we're looking for this action from the federal government to become involved with us and help build infrastructure on the east side of Manitoba and, of course, all across Manitoba. I also had the honour, a couple of weeks ago now, to release our capital plan for infrastructure in– not only for this year, $502 million for this year and an additional $500 million for the following four years–very well received by the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association.

They're looking for stability in the five-year plan that they know that the can hire people, they know they can buy machinery and know that there will be work out there for the next number of years and not simply moving it around to higher spending in election years followed by a drop-off in spending. You can't build a business on that kind of instability, and what we're all about is stability and return on investment so that we make sure that we – our investments that we do invest in roads and bridges and drainage projects across the province do bring a return on investment for that investment.

And to that end we know that the maintenance budget has really suffered in this department in the last number of years, so we're working to address that over the coming years. We continue with the AMM meetings last week, meeting with quite a number of municipalities and again I met with another municipality again this morning. And every municipality, it doesn't matter what part of the province you're from, they have road and drainage issues that they would certainly like to see addressed. But this is about being an open and transparent with them.

We know that you can't fix every road in every corner of the province right away, but we are going to work on a sustainable plan so that municipalities have that assurance that they are being heard and that they can count on infrastructure investments where it really will help return investment in–within their communities. Also, Mr. Deputy Speaker, we're certainly encouraged by the work that continues to go on on the Shoal Lake road. Our commitment is to build that road. We will build the Shoal Lake road. It's –the engineering is continuing. Surveyors have been on the ground in there.

We have a very good working relationship with Chief Redsky from Shoal Lake 40, and this is not about negotiating in the media. It's not about taking your selfie stick out there and doing photo ops. This is about doing the real preparatory work so that we can build a road in–for this community which has been over 100 years in the making, but this government will make it happen. So we really look forward to seeing that happen down the road, and we invite all members of this House to be involved in that when–as construction begins to take place in the foreseeable future here.

Another project, a huge project within our department, is building this Lake Manitoba -Lake St. Martin channel. There is an emergency channel in

166 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 28, 2016 there right now that's–is not the most functional way, and then we're sti ll missing this second outlet out of Lake Manitoba. Given the significant precipitation that's been across the western side and northern side of Manitoba, this is raising real concerns about going forward through this winter and into next spring. You know, it doesn't matter which political stripe you are, nobody wants to see a repeat of the 2011 floods or 2014, and just the damage that happened to communities.

And some of those communities have really never rebuilt from there and so we're being very pr oactive on this, trying to ensure what we can in the immediate term in terms of preparation. But also we want to–this is a purpose of building this permanent channel with control structures on it both out of Lake Manitoba and out of Lake St. Martin, and making sure that it provides stability not only for the communities around Lake St. Martin and around Lake St. Man– or Lake Manitoba, but it provides stability for all Manitobans. And–but this is just a start.

You can build a channel there to control those lake levels, but that doesn't address the entire flood question, and that's where this government's been very proactive. We've spoken, had ongoing discussions with Saskatchewan about controlling water. They've had a very aggressive drainage program in Saskatchewan and we are–we continue to speak with Saskatchewan on this. We're doing some preliminary studies to find out where the water is, the level–ground levels, et cetera, as to find out drainage patterns. And this is how you– this is not very glamor ous work when you do preparatory work like this.

This is not about photo ops. This is about making sure that we get it right so that when there are investments in here it does have a meaningful result from there and that's all about return on investment. Mr. Deputy Speaker, we –there's a lot of good things within this Throne Speech. Reducing red tape is part of our government's plan to grow the provincial economy.

No matter who you talk to, whether it's in business or whether it's in community groups, no m atter who, everyone is frustrated at the amount of red tape that there is in this province when it comes to–whether you're doing business, trying to set up a business. * (15:30) Just today at noon, when we met with Keystone Agricultural Producers, I was talking to a producer who was building a shed on his own operation and he was very frustrated at the level of red tape that was involved in just building a shed because he –and it wasn't that–it's partly because there's too many rules, but the biggest probl em is you never know what all the rules are.

You do something and then you think you satisfy those red tape regulations, and then the next thing something else comes up. So, that what business and community groups are looking for is certainly a reduction i n the red tape that happens whenever you try to do anything in this province, but also trying to streamline it so that everyone is aware what the rules are, there's clarity from within what building codes or disincentives there are. People want to know what they're up against. Certainly, the health -care review and lowering ambulance fees are a huge priority for this government.

We need to do this heath- care review. I noticed with some bemusement, I guess I would call it, where the former government is taki ng KPMG to task for doing a heath- care review, only to see that they did the same thing a number of years ago. But, however, they didn't follow through; they spent the money and didn't see the results. This government is all about results. We will get resu lts and that's what this Throne Speech is all about. We're–there are so many places within government that need to be reviewed.

We're doing a total operations review, and this is something that should be welcomed by all members of this Assembly, and it certainly is being welcomed by all– by Manitobans. It's long overdue. We're not sustainable at our tax rates. The sales tax, PST, not only increase but broadening that PST from former government was –is really a detriment to the economy of Manitobans. It ta kes money out of their pockets and it's in the government hands, and that's not how you grow an economy. So this government will do our level best to turn this economy around and turn Manitoba's economy around.

We're certainly interested in finding effi ciencies. This is something that is long overdue within this province, and when I talk–when I speak with Manitobans, that they're certainly excited about this. No matter whether it's a health -care review, a fiscal review, a red tape review, you name it, there's people that are interested. Minister of Finance (Mr. Friesen) has done his budget consultation, just a record number of people engaging in that process, and certainly a wide

November 28, 2016 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 167 variance of opinions of how the budget should roll out. But that's what you need to do; you need to look at every possible option there and make sure that we continue to operate, you know, in the best interests of all Manitoba. And so, Mr. Deputy Speaker, this Throne Speech was a very positive document. It was –I've seen throne speeches in the past that were full of empty promises and went on to no end to –of the promises way, but it's not about promises, it's about results, and Manitobans expect results. They want to see results.

They –everyone cares deeply about our province and wants to see the best outcome for us, and that's what this government is about. So, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and–you know, and I said I'd be positive, but it's –you know, I have to just digress just a wee bit. And after, you know, the decade of debt, decay and decline, it is certainly refreshing now to speak with Manitobans who understand that that decade is gone by and that there will be changes coming forward. This government is–has been given a mandate by the voting Manitobans for–to fix the finances. This government will repair the services.

This government will rebuild our economy, and what our goal is is to make Manitoba the most improved province in all of Canada. And this Throne Speech sets out the goal how we will get there, and I urge the opposition to get onside so that we can, together, rebuild Manitoba's economy, because it's certainly worth it, and we all love and want to see this province improve. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. This –I'd just encourage all members to support this Throne Speech. Thank you. Mr. Greg Selinger (St. Boniface ): I do rise to address the Throne Speech that was recently laid in front of us.

It is the first real statement of the new government's intentions for the future of Manitoba. The first Throne Speech is completely understandable that it was brought in quickly right after the government was elected, and this Throne Speech indicates where they're going in the future. They s tart by laying out that they want to deal with the fiscal realities of Manitoba.

And the one thing I've noticed in all the speeches that I've heard so far is that the one item is what is the cost of servicing the money that was borrowed to invest in ess ential infrastructure inside of Manitoba: money that goes for schools; hospitals; personal-care homes; of course, roads, sewer and water and other government facilities. What is the cost of servicing the debt? And that has been relatively flat or even slightly declining over the last seven years. It's about 5 and a half cents on the dollar. When we came into office it was 13.2 cents on the dollar.

So it's about 68 per cent lower than it was when we came into office, and yet the members of the government wa nt to say that it is a crisis. Well, it is probably the most affordable debt -servicing costs we've seen in many decades, and that is very important to making decisions about how you go forward in the future. The other point that they often make about the fiscal reality of Manitoba is that if the interest rate goes up, they will be suddenly exposed to a very dramatic increase in costs.

Well, most of the borrowing that is done, over 90-plus per cent of it, is done on the basis of how much money do you ha ve to set aside for that particular asset? If it's a road, it could be up to 40 years. If it's Hydro, it could even be longer. If it's a computer, it's three years. So the reality is is that most of the money is locked in for a very significant of –period of time on major infrastructure projects, and it won't vary in the short term if the interest rates change. The floating amount of money that is borrowed can be locked in more quickly.

If there's a concern that interest rates are going to rise rapidly, the n the government, through the Minister of Finance (Mr. Friesen) and Cabinet, can decide to lock in that floating amount of money at a long- term rate, which is very reasonable. When we asked in the spring session what the borrowing costs were for long- term debt in Manitoba, they were somewhere between 2.8 and 3.2 per cent, extremely reasonable from a historic point of view. So this notion that somehow we are going over a cliff on debt is quite inaccurately portrayed without those essential facts being put on the record.

The size of the 'defit'–deficit, you never hear that the size of the deficit is about 1 per cent or less in the province of Manitoba. That is a very important notion to understand, that your deficit has to reflect its size in relation to th e total size of the economy, which reflects your ability to pay through revenues received. And any deficit is of concern to some people, but there are certain times in the economic cycle when it makes sense to have a certain amount of deficit in order to m aintain economic growth inside the province. It, of course, needs to be managed.

It, of course, needs to be put towards those things that will make a difference in Manitobans' lives, whether they be infrastructure projects which

168 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 28, 2016 increase our economic capacity to grow the economy, or whether it be investments in things like education which prepares young people for the ability to contribute to the economy and make a living for themselves and, of course, fulfill their responsibilities as citizens, not just ta xpayers but as the citizens more broadly.

So those kinds of investments are good investments as well, which is why we very much support a skills agenda in Manitoba which will allow more young people and people of all ages to get equipped with the skills they need to fill the jobs that are available in the labour market where, in Manitoba, we have a high participation in the labour market and one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, although it has been rising since the government has changed and we have the seen the loss of 12,000 full -time jobs in the province of Manitoba.

That's about 60 jobs a day, assistant Speaker, that I want to put on the table. Losing 60 full-time jobs a day is a very serious concern for anybody who's in government. The other thing that we talked about when we talk about the budget was the so- called deficit being $1 billion. It turned out to be $150 million less than that through mistakes that were made by the Minister of Finance (Mr. Friesen) and the government and perhaps his communicators wanting to–and the transition team wanting to pump up a number that would easily stick in people's minds.

But the reality was it was considerably less than that and – 15 per cent less than that –and that's an error that's never been apologized for or put on the record as having been a mistake, a mistake which has misled Manitobans. * (15:40) Now, the other thing I wanted to talk about was the Canada Pension Plan when it comes to fiscal realities. We want to ensure that when people r etire, they have the means to support themselves and to live in dignity. And, early on, the current government shied away from supporting improvements to the CPP. Later on they decided to support it.

They said they wanted to make improvements in it. The CP P is a defined benefit plan. It's available to Canadians no matter where they live and work in the country. It increases the ability for people to be mobile and go where the jobs are. And, in our case in Manitoba, we have the jobs, so it allows us to attra ct people, and at the same time they can still build their ability to have a pension. But there are some shortfalls within it, and none of the improvements that this government has proposed addressed those shortcomings in the second tier of the CPP. What are those shortcomings?

There is no dropout provision which allows people that are out of the workforce because of a disability issue or out of the workforce because of parenting responsibilities to buy back their time and then –thereby be able to p ut in place a pension that will support them when they retire. Parenting should not be something that penalizes your ability to have a decent pension. Disability should not be something that penalizes your ability to have a decent pension. It should be an –the Canadian Pension Plan should be there for all people that wish to participate in the labour market.

The indexing that has been done under the current fiscal reality, the indexing of all the tax brackets and the lifting of the personal exemption– indexing has been shown to primarily support those people in the higher income brackets. So the benefits flow disproportionately to the people at the top of the income scale and have far less benefits to people who are working families, middle -class families or people working on lower wages. So they will be the worse off from this. And those that need it the least will be the biggest beneficiaries of the indexing proposal.

And locking it in through indexing means every year that money comes off the table befor e the government has an opportunity to consider what are the most important priorities of the government, be they education, be they health care, be they services to families. Those very important priorities are automatically shortchanged by an indexing pr oposal which takes the money off the table before anything else is considered. And you have to wonder about that, Mr. Speaker. The other thing that's sorely missing, both in the first budget and in the Throne Speech, is a commitment to affordability in Manitoba.

The affordability advantage was published every year. It was a methodology invented during the period of the Filmon government and laid out all the different costs of living that people bear in Manitoba: hydro rates, auto insurance rates, mortg age costs, daycare rates, costs of operating a vehicle in this province. All of those things are no longer available to the public to scrutinize, whether the government is keeping the province of Manitoba affordable. That's a massive oversight in public tr ansparency and accountability for the impact of provincial budgets on the cost of living of Manitobans. And I do hope

November 28, 2016 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 169 that the absence of this in the Throne Speech does not indicate that the Minister of Finance (Mr. Friesen) or the new government will eliminate that Manitoba advantage once again when they bring a budget forward this spring. It's important to publish the impacts of their decisions.

If they believe that they have to raise hydro rates, if they believe that auto insurance rates need to go higher, if they believe that daycare rates need to go higher, if they believe tuition rates for students at university need to go higher, they need to show the impact that will have on families; single -parent families, two -parent families, families who have different numbers of children, whether there be two, three or even higher numbers of children. They need to indicate what that impact will be on senior citizens. The Manitoba advantage was their methodology. They have eliminated it.

And I want to encoura ge them to bring it back. It's very important that we be able to discuss the impact of budgets on people's cost of living and family types of different sizes and of different levels of income. That is fundamentally important going forward, Mr. Speaker. So the fiscal reality is this: they need to take a balanced approach which does not put at risk essential services. They need to do it in a way that keeps Manitoba affordable.

And they need to do it in such a way that they don't use the excuse of a manufactured crisis of debt to be a reason why they cannot support fundamental infrastructure and investments in facilities that will allow Manitobans to have access to those things they need, including daycare, which I'll come to a little later on. Now, there's been a lot of discussion about labour relations in Manitoba. And we've heard many comments from not only the Premier (Mr. Pallister) but members of the new government that they want to work in partnership with labour.

And yet the first thing they do is they bring in this Bill 7, which takes away the right for people to certify after they hit a 65 per cent threshold through a democratic exercise of a secret vote to form a union and require them to do it twice. There's been so many comments on that. I will s imply say this: It puts at a disadvantage working people who feel very vulnerable in the workplace. And that is something that we should be very concerned about, Mr. Speaker.

It also speaks to the second issue, the notion that somehow there could be a le gislated cap on collective bargaining in terms of what wage increases people could support. And that is something that is –we have to take a very careful look at. There's a very good

article in the Free Press today that shows that there is a duty to consul t and seriously attempt to negotiate a collective agreement before any other measures are taken. And we do look forward to this government not unilaterally imposing wage caps on collective bargaining units and working people in Manitoba, but that they have a commitment to collective bargaining which is, after all, something that is constitutionally protected in this country and considered one of the core freedoms that people have as a collectivity in this great country of Canada.

My notes here also speak to the issues of infrastructure, and there are several very significant issues arising in infrastructure. There has been a reduction of 20 per cent in infrastructure spending over the last year. The member is shaking his head.

He w ould argue that we're keeping the five -year average in place as a floor amount, and I understand that, but the reality is there is an opportunity to piggyback on federal infrastructure money, which is being made available right now to do strategic investments, and I think that he should keep an open mind to which strategic investments will give him the best rate of return, which is one of the criterion, the key criterion, that he has put forward on what is the appropriate types of infrastructure investments .

For example, in the city of Winnipeg, does it make sense to complete the ring road, which is a complement to the Perimeter, that would take thousands of trucks off of residential streets and major arteries in the city of Winnipeg, make neighbourhoods safer and allow a greater efficiency for the trucking industry? Why would he not consider that as a strategic infrastructure project? Rail relocation: there's another opportunity. There's $1 billion of underpasses and overpasses that are going to be built over the next 20 years in the city of Winnipeg to deal with the reality of rail lines being in this city.

There should be a feasibility study on the potential benefits of rail relocation to not only the people of Winnipeg but to the province of Manitoba. And I would hope that the Minister of Infrastructure (Mr. Pedersen), as well as his colleagues in Cabinet, would not take those ideas off the table and cancel them right away. He talks about Freedom Road. He calls it Shoal Lake Band 40's road. It's called Freedom Road because it's an opportunity for those folks in that community of Shoal Lake Band 40 to have access to the goods and services that the others of us take for

170 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	41-2-6
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	41st 2nd hansardpdf 6.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	0e01c8bec3d3318575a21b6e2989e47693dca4d2

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