Province of Alberta The 27th Legislature Fourth Session Alberta Hansard Tuesday, April 12, 2011 Issue 21 The Honourable Kenneth R. Kowalski, Speaker

Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 27th Legislature Fourth Session Kowalski, Hon. Ken, Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock, Speaker Cao, Wayne C.N., Calgary-Fort, Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees Mitzel, Len, Cypress-Medicine Hat, Deputy Chair of Committees Ady, Hon. Cindy, Calgary-Shaw (PC) Allred, Ken, St. Albert (PC) Amery, Moe, Calgary-East (PC) Anderson, Rob, Airdrie-Chestermere (WA), WA Opposition House Leader Benito, Carl, Edmonton-Mill Woods (PC) Berger, Evan, Livingstone-Macleod (PC) Bhardwaj, Naresh, Edmonton-Ellerslie (PC) Bhullar, Manmeet Singh, Calgary-Montrose (PC) Blackett, Hon.

Lindsay, Calgary-North West (PC) Blakeman, Laurie, Edmonton-Centre (AL), Official Opposition House Leader Boutilier, Guy C., Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo (WA) Brown, Dr. Neil, QC, Calgary-Nose Hill (PC) Calahasen, Pearl, Lesser Slave Lake (PC) Campbell, Robin, West Yellowhead (PC), Government Whip Chase, Harry B., Calgary-Varsity (AL), Official Opposition Whip Dallas, Cal, Red Deer-South (PC) Danyluk, Hon. Ray, Lac La Biche-St. Paul (PC) DeLong, Alana, Calgary-Bow (PC) Denis, Hon.

Jonathan, QC, Calgary-Egmont (PC), Deputy Government House Leader Doerksen, Arno, Strathmore-Brooks (PC), Deputy Government Whip Drysdale, Wayne, Grande Prairie-Wapiti (PC) Elniski, Doug, Edmonton-Calder (PC) Evans, Hon. Iris, Sherwood Park (PC) Fawcett, Kyle, Calgary-North Hill (PC) Forsyth, Heather, Calgary-Fish Creek (WA), WA Opposition Whip Fritz, Hon. Yvonne, Calgary-Cross (PC) Goudreau, Hon. Hector G., Dunvegan-Central Peace (PC) Griffiths, Doug, Battle River-Wainwright (PC) Groeneveld, George, Highwood (PC) Hancock, Hon. Dave, QC, Edmonton-Whitemud (PC), Government House Leader Hayden, Hon.

Jack, Drumheller-Stettler (PC) Hehr, Kent, Calgary-Buffalo (AL) Hinman, Paul, Calgary-Glenmore (WA), WA Opposition Deputy Leader Horne, Fred, Edmonton-Rutherford (PC) Horner, Doug, Spruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert (PC) Jablonski, Hon. Mary Anne, Red Deer-North (PC) Jacobs, Broyce, Cardston-Taber-Warner (PC) Johnson, Jeff, Athabasca-Redwater (PC) Johnston, Art, Calgary-Hays (PC) Kang, Darshan S., Calgary-McCall (AL) Klimchuk, Hon. Heather, Edmonton-Glenora (PC) Knight, Hon. Mel, Grande Prairie-Smoky (PC) Leskiw, Genia, Bonnyville-Cold Lake (PC) Liepert, Hon.

Ron, Calgary-West (PC) Lindsay, Fred, Stony Plain (PC) Lukaszuk, Hon. Thomas A., Edmonton-Castle Downs (PC), Deputy Government House Leader Lund, Ty, Rocky Mountain House (PC) MacDonald, Hugh, Edmonton-Gold Bar (AL) Marz, Richard, Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills (PC) Mason, Brian, Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood (ND), Leader of the ND Opposition McFarland, Barry, Little Bow (PC) McQueen, Diana, Drayton Valley-Calmar (PC) Morton, F.L., Foothills-Rocky View (PC) Notley, Rachel, Edmonton-Strathcona (ND), ND Opposition House Leader Oberle, Hon. Frank, Peace River (PC) Olson, Hon.

Verlyn, QC, Wetaskiwin-Camrose (PC), Deputy Government House Leader Ouellette, Hon. Luke, Innisfail-Sylvan Lake (PC) Pastoor, Bridget Brennan, Lethbridge-East (AL), Official Opposition Deputy Whip, Official Opposition Deputy Leader Prins, Ray, Lacombe-Ponoka (PC) Quest, Dave, Strathcona (PC) Redford, Alison M., QC, Calgary-Elbow (PC) Renner, Hon. Rob, Medicine Hat (PC), Deputy Government House Leader Rodney, Dave, Calgary-Lougheed (PC) Rogers, George, Leduc-Beaumont-Devon (PC) Sandhu, Peter, Edmonton-Manning (PC) Sarich, Janice, Edmonton-Decore (PC) Sherman, Dr. Raj, Edmonton-Meadowlark (Ind) Snelgrove, Hon.

Lloyd, Vermilion-Lloydminster (PC) Stelmach, Hon. Ed, Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville (PC), Premier Swann, Dr. David, Calgary-Mountain View (AL), Leader of the Official Opposition Taft, Dr. Kevin, Edmonton-Riverview (AL) Tarchuk, Janis, Banff-Cochrane (PC) Taylor, Dave, Calgary-Currie (AB) VanderBurg, George, Whitecourt-Ste. Anne (PC) Vandermeer, Tony, Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview (PC) Weadick, Hon. Greg, Lethbridge-West (PC) Webber, Hon. Len, Calgary-Foothills (PC) Woo-Paw, Teresa, Calgary-Mackay (PC) Xiao, David H., Edmonton-McClung (PC) Zwozdesky, Hon.

Gene, Edmonton-Mill Creek (PC), Deputy Government House Leader Officers and Officials of the Legislative Assembly Clerk W.J. David McNeil Law Clerk/Director of Interparliamentary Relations Robert H. Reynolds, QC Senior Parliamentary Counsel/ Director of House Services Shannon Dean Parliamentary Counsel Stephanie LeBlanc Committee Research Co-ordinator Philip Massolin Sergeant-at-Arms Brian G. Hodgson Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Chris Caughell Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Gordon H.

Munk Managing Editor of Alberta Hansard Liz Sim Party standings: Progressive Conservative: 67 Alberta Liberal: 8 Wildrose Alliance: 4 New Democrat: 2 Alberta: 1 Independent: 1

Executive Council Ed Stelmach Premier, President of Executive Council, Chair of Agenda and Priorities Committee, Vice-chair of Treasury Board, Liaison to the Canadian Armed Forces Lloyd Snelgrove President of the Treasury Board, Minister of Finance and Enterprise Dave Hancock Minister of Education, Political Minister for Edmonton Iris Evans Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations Mel Knight Minister of Sustainable Resource Development Luke Ouellette Minister of Transportation Rob Renner Minister of Environment Verlyn Olson Minister of Justice and Attorney General Yvonne Fritz Minister of Children and Youth Services, Political Minister for Calgary Jack Hayden Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Political Minister for Rural Alberta Ray Danyluk Minister of Infrastructure Gene Zwozdesky Minister of Health and Wellness Ron Liepert Minister of Energy Mary Anne Jablonski Minister of Seniors and Community Supports Len Webber Minister of Aboriginal Relations Heather Klimchuk Minister of Service Alberta Lindsay Blackett Minister of Culture and Community Spirit Cindy Ady Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation Hector Goudreau Minister of Municipal Affairs Frank Oberle Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security Jonathan Denis Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Thomas Lukaszuk Minister of Employment and Immigration Greg Weadick Minister of Advanced Education and Technology Parliamentary Assistants Evan Berger Sustainable Resource Development Manmeet Singh Bhullar Municipal Affairs Cal Dallas Finance and Enterprise Fred Horne Health and Wellness Broyce Jacobs Agriculture and Rural Development Jeff Johnson Treasury Board (Oil Sands Sustainable Development Secretariat) Diana McQueen Energy Janice Sarich Education Teresa Woo-Paw Employment and Immigration

STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund Chair: Ms Tarchuk Deputy Chair: Mr. Elniski DeLong Forsyth Groeneveld Johnston MacDonald Quest Taft Standing Committee on Community Services Chair: Mr. Doerksen Deputy Chair: Mr. Hehr Allred Anderson Benito Bhullar Chase Johnston Notley Rodney Sarich Taylor Standing Committee on the Economy Chair: Mr. Bhardwaj Deputy Chair: Mr. Chase Amery Dallas Fawcett Hinman Johnson Lund Taft Tarchuk Taylor Woo-Paw Standing Committee on Health Chair: Mr.

McFarland Deputy Chair: Ms Pastoor Forsyth Griffiths Groeneveld Horne Lindsay Notley Quest Sherman Swann Vandermeer Standing Committee on Legislative Offices Chair: Mr. Mitzel Deputy Chair: Mr. Lund Bhullar Blakeman Campbell Hinman Lindsay MacDonald Marz Notley Quest Rogers Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services Chair: Mr. Kowalski Deputy Chair: Mr. Campbell Amery Anderson Bhullar Elniski Hehr Leskiw Mason Pastoor Rogers VanderBurg Standing Committee on Private Bills Chair: Dr.

Brown Deputy Chair: Ms Woo-Paw Allred Benito Boutilier Calahasen Dallas Doerksen Drysdale Hinman Horner Jacobs Kang Lindsay McQueen Morton Redford Sandhu Sarich Taft Xiao Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing Chair: Mr. Prins Deputy Chair: Mr. Hancock Amery Berger Calahasen DeLong Doerksen Forsyth Groeneveld Hinman Jacobs Leskiw Lindsay McFarland Mitzel Notley Pastoor Quest Sherman Tarchuk Taylor Standing Committee on Public Accounts Chair: Mr. MacDonald Deputy Chair: Mr.

Rodney Allred Anderson Benito Calahasen Chase Dallas Elniski Fawcett Griffiths Groeneveld Kang Mason Sandhu Vandermeer Xiao Standing Committee on Public Safety and Services Chair: Mr. Drysdale Deputy Chair: Mr. Kang Boutilier Brown Calahasen Cao Forsyth Johnson MacDonald Rogers Sandhu Xiao Standing Committee on Resources and Environment Chair: Mr. Prins Deputy Chair: Ms Blakeman Anderson Berger Boutilier Hehr Jacobs Marz Mason McQueen Mitzel VanderBurg Select Special Ombudsman Search Committee Chair: Mr. Mitzel Deputy Chair: Mr. Lund Blakeman Hinman Lindsay Marz Notley Quest Rogers

April 12, 2011 Alberta Hansard 595 Legislative Assembly of Alberta Title: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, 2011 [The Speaker in the chair] head: Prayers The Speaker: Good afternoon. Let us pray. Grant us daily awareness of the precious gift of life which has been given to us. As Members of this Legislative A s- sembly we dedicate our lives anew to the service of our province and of our country. Amen. Please be seated. head: Introduction of Guests The Speaker: The hon. the Premier. Mr. Stelmach: Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I’m privileged to have two introductions.

First, I’m pleased to introduce to you and through you on your behalf to the Assembly the participants in the 2011 Forum for Young Albertans, who are here today. This is a program for high school students that introduces them to the dy- namics of government, and it includes representation from the major political parties and all three levels of government as well as the judiciary, civil service, the media, labour, and business. The group is pa rticipating in a week of sessions mostly in and around the Legislature. They are here to watch question period.

They’re seated in both the members’ gallery and the public gallery. I’m sure I speak for all members when I say how wonderful it is to see young people take such an active interest in democracy and public service. There are nearly 30 members in the group, too many for me to name individually. They are led by the Forum for Young Albertans’ executive director, Jason Stoltz. They are accompanied by Ms Tanya Hrehirchuk, Mr. Arthur Lee, and Miss Caitlyn Pett i- for. I would ask all of them to rise in both galleries and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. Mr. Speaker, I have another introduction.

I’d like to introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly an outstan d- ing Alberta doctor who has returned to his home province. Dr. Jayan Nagendran is a top heart surgeon who trained at the Unive r- sity of Alberta and ranked number one in Canada on his Royal College of Surgeons exa m. He received a prestigious offer to join the heart transplant team at well -renowned Stanford University and spent several years there as a key member of their medical team. I’m delighted to say that Dr.

Nagendran has recently r e- turned to Edmonton, where he is a key member of the heart and lung transplant team at the Mazankowski Heart Institute. In add i- tion, he is director of research for the cardiac surgery team and assistant professor in the faculty of medicine. We are proud to have him saving lives here in the best publicly funded health care system in Canada. He’s joined in the gallery by his wife, Jessica, and his parents, Jay and Shyamala. I would ask Dr. Nagendran and his family to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the House. The Speaker: The hon.

Minister of Employment and Immigration. Mr. Lukaszuk: Mr. Speaker, thank you. To you and through you I’d like to introduce a group of enthusiastic students from St. Lucy Catholic school in Edmonton-Castle Downs. They had a tour of the building, and they were just a lot of pleasure to meet with this morn- ing. They are accompanied by Mr. Eugene Hirniak, Miss Dawn Miskew, Miss Cassie Galley, and Miss Farah Rizwan. I would like them all to rise and receive the welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Bonnyville-Cold Lake. Mrs. Leskiw: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is my pleasure to rise today on behalf of the hon. Member for Athabasca-Redwater to introduce to you and through you to members of the Assembly 12 grade 6 students from Radwa y school. These students are acco m- panied by their teacher, Mrs. Sandra Moschansky, and parent helpers Mrs. Lillian Cherkawski, Mr. Gerald Yurkiw, Mrs. Ta m- my Kuefler, Mrs. April Chykerda, and Ms Gerri -Lyn Goodhope. I know their MLA, Jeff Johnson, and I thank them for making a trip down to the Legislature. I would like them all to rise and receive a traditional warm welcome from this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Strathmore-Brooks. Mr. Doerksen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a significant privilege for me to introduce to you and through you to all members of the House this afternoon a very significant group of junior high school students from Rosemary school, accompanied by a good group of parents. They are also my friends and neighbours in the closest sense of the word in that we share the same communities. I also have some family in this group, so I’m going to begin by introduc- ing my sister-in-law, Yvonne Doerksen, who is a parent helper with the group, and her daughter Monica.

The rest of the group are the principal, Mr. David Blumell, teacher Mrs. Marian Wilson, and the other parents accompanying the group: Mrs. Lorna Retzlaff, Mrs. Angela Morasch, Mrs. Jody McCreadie, Mrs. Brenda Stimson, Mrs. Cindy Engel, Mrs. Cretia Morishita, Mrs. Willie Paetkau, and Mrs. Jennie Johnston. Their group is accompanied by about 20 junior high school students. I’m going to ask you all to rise and enjoy the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. Mr.

Speaker, I’d also like to introduce my friend and partner in life, my wife, Wanda, who has come to visit with a few of our neighbours who accompanied this group today as well. Wanda, stand up and enjoy the traditional welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Health and Wellness. Mr. Zwozdesky: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s my great pleasure to introduce three very special guests who are here today to participate in a special ceremony that’ll occur shortly here concerning another special gu est.

In the meantime I’d like to introduce to you Dennis and Halyna Elkow, who are lifelong friends of mine, former Shumka dancers years ago, and they are here with their son Toma Elkow, who among other things is my godchild. I’m really proud that he’s here today. He’s a PDD reci- pient, and it’s just a delight that he’s here celebrating his 30th birthday with us. Welcome, and please rise. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview. Mr. Vandermeer: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two groups of grade 6 students to introduce to you and through you today to the members of this Assembly.

The first group will be showing up at around 2 o’clock. They are from the Abbott elementary school. There are 28 visit ors altogether. They are accompanied by Mrs. Nicole Christian, Mrs. Adele Olson, and Ms Audrey Nederlanden. Like I said, they’ll be showing up at around 2 o’clock. We also have with us in both galleries 34 visitors from the Overlanders elementary school. They are accompanied by Ms Cindy MacLeod and Mrs. Jennifer Mulcahy. I’d like to give a special mention to one of the classmates, Avery, who plays hoc k-

596 Alberta Hansard April 12, 2011 ey with my son Samuel. I’d them all to rise and receive the tradi- tional warm welcome of the Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs. Mr. Denis: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure today to rise to introduce to you and through you to all members of this Assembly five friends of mine who span four generations.

Here today seated in the members’ gallery are my administrative assistant, Shanno n Clarke; her husband, Bud; and their new son, Maverick; along with Maverick’s grandmother, Bonnie-Lea Clarke-Olive, and gr eat-grandfather James McLean. Shannon just returned from maternit y leave, and I’m very pleased to have her back in my office. She worked in the building for nearly four years for Housing and Urban Affairs and has been with my office since the ministerial shift last year. Shannon and Bud have been married for almost six years.

Bud earned his busi- ness marketing diploma from NAIT and is now currently starting a career with Evolve Surface Strategies as a land agent. Most importantly, little Maverick is ei ght months old and was born on August 13. Perhaps it’s wishful thinking on my part that he’d grow up to be a fan of the Calgary Flames. I would ask all mem- bers to join with me in we lcoming Shannon, Bud, Maverick, Bonnie-Lea, and James to our Legislature. 1:40 Mr. Blackett: Mr. Speaker, it’s an honour to introduce to you and through you two amazing Albertans.

On December 5, 2010, Stars of Alberta volunteer awards were presented to six extraordinary people, and two of those are with us today. Today as we celebrate National Volunteer Week, we’re fortunate to have them. It is our privilege to introduce to you two amazing citizens, Danny Guo and Olivia Butti. Danny Guo works for the Centre for Family Literacy and is founder of CHARIOT, a group aimed at improving access to healthier food choices for University of Alberta students. Former Edmonton alderwoman Olivia Butti serves on numerous boards and committees.

As a volunteer she has worked tirelessly for the Cana- dian Breast Cancer Foundation and has helped to raise more than $20 million for the Lois Hole hospital for women. Danny and Olivia are seated in the members’ gallery. I would ask them now to rise to receive the warm traditional welcome of this House. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Lethbridge-East. Ms Pastoor: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s certainly a pleasure today to be able to stand up and introduce guests from Lethbridge. It doesn’t happen very often.

I’d like to introduce Don- na Karl, who is president of the Galt School of Nursing Alumnae Society of Alberta; Ian Zadeiks, who is the lawyer; and Kathy Mac- Farlane, who represents the University of Lethbridge. They have come up here today to make comments on Pr. 2, and they’re here to have dollars transferred from what was a scholarship fund that was endowed by the Galt family in 1907. These nurses have nursed these dollars all of these years, and they now have $147,000 that they are going to transfer to the Un iversity of Lethbridge for scho- larships in the nursing faculty.

I would like to ask all three of them to rise and receive the warm welcome of this House. head: Members’ Statements The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Calder. Valour Place Military Family Support House Mr. Elniski: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since my election in 2008 I have had the opportunity to ma ke 32 members’ statements on topics ranging from autism to the Victoria Cross. Today is espe- cially meaningful for me as I express my support for a group of people whose hearts and minds are truly in the right spot.

Valour Place will be the first facility of its kind in Canada, providing hope away from home for injured soldiers, veterans, and their families who are in Edmonton for rehabili tation and medical treatment. The Glenrose and Royal Alexandra hospitals have long provided excellent rehabilitation care for soldiers returning from conflict abroad. On Tuesday, April 19, shovels break ground on the new Valour Place site. Now, of course, Mr. Speaker, we all know that it’s all in Calder, but I must share this one with the hon.

Member for Edmonton- Centre as the facility is located on the south side of 111th Avenue in that fabulous constituency. It’s a squeaker, really. Mr. Speaker, in January 2010 Honorary Colonel Dennis Erker of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment brought together a group of dedicated individuals to put this plan into motion. Now, just a year later, they are well under way. Th e Valour Place Society has been created to raise some $10 million to build, furnish, and operate the facility, a facility with 12 suites set to accommodate both soldier and family. It is very important that this facility happens here, Mr. Speaker.

I believe that one would be hard-pressed to find a community that holds their military families in higher regard than we do in our province or in our city. Freedom is not free, and those who protect us do so at the ultimate cost. We are blessed with many who wil- fully put themselves in harm’s way to protect our freedoms, our liberties, and our way of life, and it goes without saying that sup- porting this project is the least we can do. I would urge every one of you here today to show your support and learn more about this facility by visiting www.valourplace.ca. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Calgary-Currie. Support for Education Mr. Taylor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The past two and a half years have seen the worst global economic slowdown since the Great Depression. Many parts of the world are still in bad shape and many Albertans are still un- or underemployed, yet by and large what was a major upset to most of the world has been com- paratively a hiccup here in Alberta. Indeed, our jobless rate is two points below the national average, and there’s serious talk about another labour shortage brewing here.

That’s mostly because oil is $106 a barrel, and we’ve got more proven reserves than just about anybody. It is good to be king. Well, Mr. Speaker, the thing about being king is that if you take more than a minute or two to sit back and gloat, somebody is going to come along, capture all your posses- sions, and leave you there in the dust. It’s only good to be king as long as you can stay ahead of the conquering hordes.

Since our fossil fuels or the demand for them will not last for- ever, and since oil continues to keep us living a lifestyle that would take 10 planet Earths to support if everybody on this planet lived the way we do, and since th ere seems to be broad consensus that to sustain ourselves, we need to transition from a resource economy to a knowledge economy, and since this government makes much of its five-year commitment to sustainable health funding, my constituents are wonderi ng: why is there no talk of a similar five-year commitment to education, both K to 12 and postsecondary, including a much sharper focus on trades training, and while we’re at it, early childhood as well?

Over time, but not over that long a horizon, nothing will reduce the strain on health budgets like a better educated population.

April 12, 2011 Alberta Hansard 597 Over time nothing will produce innovation and breakthroughs in science and technology, energy development, a nd environmental protection and nothing will produce more art and culture, stronger communities, a more diversified and more resilient economy, and a broader tax base like a better educated population. Then, Mr. Speaker, we wouldn’t have to rely on the roller coaster of resource revenues, and we could stop balancing our books on the backs of Alberta’s children. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Decore. Excellence in Teaching Awards Mrs.

Sarich: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleas- ure to rise today to speak about our province’s excellence in teaching awards. This province is truly blessed with many excep- tional teachers and principals. Hear tfelt thanks to all of them for the tremendous work that they’re doi ng at the local level to place children first. The excellence in teaching awards program cele- brates its 23 years in existence, and it provides the opportunity to recognize some of the very outstanding educators that we have. This week 135 awards program semifinalists will be recognized at events in Edmonton and Calgary.

Overall 326 teachers and principals, Mr. Speaker, were nominated from across our great province. Nominees must show tremendous leadership, demon- strate creativity and innovation, work collaboratively with colleagues, and create positive learning environments that moti- vate students to have learning successes. Semifinalists can also access up to $1,500 for professional devel- opment. The 23 award recipients, to be honoured in Edmonton this year on May 28, will be able to access up to $4,000 for professional development.

Three recipients who receive the Smart Technologies’ innovative use of technology awards will receive a comprehensive technology package, which includes a Smart board. Mr. Speaker, the nominees for the excellence in teaching awards program are to be cong ratulated for making a positive difference at the local level for all the children for whom they contribute to their learning success as well as to their learning communities, the students that they inspire, as well as their fami- lies.

The awards program serves to acknowledge some of the best and brightest teachers and principals as well in our system who, through their passion for teaching and leading, create the true joy of learning in all students. Our sincere congratulations to these teachers and principals. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Fort McMurray-W ood Buffalo Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Mr. Boutilier: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Today I am very pleased to rise to speak a bout the oil sands capital of the world, my home for 35 years.

Fo rt McMurray has become a sym- bol of Alberta’s robust resource economy, and we’re very proud of what our community contributes not only to this province but to our entire country. Imagine our dismay when we heard the Energy minister. In his typical way he told the U.S. President to, quote, sign the bloody order for the Keystone pipeline. Why would you, anyone, ever say that to your best customer? The minister does a lot of travelling around the world to promote the oil sands. We applaud that. But if he spews these types of things in public, can you imagine what he might be saying in private?

He should be reminded that he speaks not only for Alberta, but he also speaks for my backyard. His remarks are an embarrassment to Albertans who don’t share his tendency to throw a tantrum when it looks like things aren’t going his way. But we shouldn’t be surprise d. This is just the latest in a string of embarrassments for Alberta’s once proud and stable energy sector. 1:50 Last week with the Energy mi nister’s enthusiastic support the government indicated plans to tear up contracts entered into in the lower Athabasca region, striking another blow to investor confi- dence and creating more instabilit y.

So we’ve got a government that can’t keep its nose out of the energy sector and an Energy minister who gets his kicks from lipping off to other countries and attempting to bully the world into getting his way. It gives new meaning to the word “diplomacy.” Mr. Speaker, this government is turning my hometown and, indeed, all of Alberta into a la ughing stock. You don’t know what you’re talking about.

To put it in the terms of the Energy minister so that he can understand it, he owes it to Albertans to stand up and, in his words, make a bloody apology. head: Oral Question Period The Speaker: First Official Opposition main question. The hon. Leader of the Official Opposition. Patient Advocacy by Physicians Dr. Swann: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I recently asked this Premier to provide details on the dismissal of Dr. Tim Win- ton. Instead of answering th e question honestly, the Premier deliberately misled Albertans by stating that if Dr.

Winton was bullied, he should bring the evidence before the Health Quality Council. This Premier is not telling the truth. Both the Alberta Medical Association and independent lawyers have publicly stated that doctors who sign nondisclosure ag reements are at legal risk if they appear before the Health Quality Council. Why is the Premier deliberately misleading Albertans by misrepresenting the legal problems . . . Speaker’s Ruling Parliamentary Language The Speaker: Okay.

That’s enough of that . [interjection] That’s enough. [interjection] That’s enough of that. [interjection] Would you sit down, please? [interjection] Would you sit down, please? Twice in that series of questions phrases and words that are inap- propriate for use in this Assembly were used: “deliberately misleading” is a statement that is not part of the tradition of the nomenclature in this Legislative Assembly. Now, the Government House Leader rose on a point of or der. I’m prepared to deal with that point of order at the end, but we’re now going on to the sec- ond question.

Patient Advocacy by Physicians (continued) Dr. Swann: Will the Premier answer this question truthfully? Did Dr. Tim Winton receive a financial settlement from Capital health or Alberta Health Services when he was pushed out of chief of thoracic surgery, and was he forced to sign a nondisclosure agreement promising to keep the terms quiet? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, the disclosure agreement, if it was signed, was between his employer at that time, Alberta Health

598 Alberta Hansard April 12, 2011 Services, and the doctor. That disclosure agreement was entered into by those two parties. The Speaker: This is now the second supplementary on the first question. Proceed. Dr. Swann: How will we Albertans ever know what happened to Dr. Winton with this government’s culture of secrecy and intim i- dation and cover -ups? How many other government critics wer e silenced with nondisclosure agreements, Mr. Premier? Mr. Stelmach: I thought, Mr. Speaker, that the member was tal k- ing about doctors and not government critics.

That’s quite different from a medical doctor and referring to government cri t- ics. As I said b efore, the Health Quality Council will listen to any physician, any health care worker that wants to come forward with any kind of evidence. If there is any evidence there with respect to misappropriation of funds, that should be taken directly to the police or to the Auditor General. The Speaker: Second Official Opposition main question. The hon. Leader of the Official Opposition. Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday Dr.

McNamee, the lung surgeon who was victimized by this government’s culture of fear and intimidation, said that he and other physicians would likely testify but only with sufficient legal protection such as that provided in a public inquiry. While the health minister claimed yesterday that Dr. McNamee was the only doctor who was calling for a public inquiry, in fact six sections of the AMA are calling for a public inquiry, over 2,000 doctors. Why should Albertans trust a Premier who can’t even get his facts straight? Not one, not 200, but over 2,000 support a public inquiry, sir. Mr. Stelmach: Mr.

Speaker, you know, you’ve heard the oppos i- tion talk about a public inquiry. A public inquiry is that. It puts these doctors in front of a camera, in front of reporters, not behind a screen but in front of reporters, an inquiry that will have the doctor himself making the evidence, and they’re calling for some sort of protection. How can there be some protection if it’s done in a public inquiry in front of reporters that may go on for months? I don’t see where the protection is there. Dr. Swann: What are you hiding, Mr. Premier? You might have to appear also.

How many more doctors need to speak out before the Premier stops deceivin g Albertans by insisting no one wants a public inquiry? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, I’d be glad – glad – to go if asked by the Health Quality Council because it’s a very rare opportunity when a member of this government can talk about the good things that are happening in Alberta Health Services in a province that’s delivering some of the best health services in the world. Dr. Swann: When will this Premier finally do the right thing and admit the truth? We need a public inquiry. Do you want public confidence? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, no.

We do not need a public inquiry. The Alberta Health Quality Council has very robust, rigorous terms of reference. They’re proceeding. They’ll have three reports coming to the Legislature: one in three months, the next one i n about six months, and the final report in about nine months. The Speaker: Third Official Opposition main question. The hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar. Settlement Agreements with Physicians Mr. MacDonald: An employee who believes they have been wrongfully dismissed has the right to sue the employer, and the parties have the right to reach a financial settlement to avoid a case in court.

My first question is to the Premier. How many claims of wrongful dismissal by Alberta’s health authorities have been filed in the courts in the last decade? You should know. Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, that’s Alberta Health Services. I’m sure if he inquired with Alberta Health Services, then he’d be able to get the information. Mr. MacDonald: That’s not true. The Premier is dodging it, and he knows it. The Speaker: Okay. Okay. There’s no

preamble. Get on to your question. Mr. MacDonald: I’m sorry? The Speaker: Get on to your question. There’s no

preambles. Mr. MacDonald: Thank you. How much have our health author i- ties paid out in financial settlements over the last decade to avoid having grievances aired publicly in the courts? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, that’ll only be between those that have been dismissed for whatever reason that in some cases there are disclosure agreem ents that were entered into, and I’m sure there were two parties to that agreement, the individual that was dismissed and the employer. Mr. MacDonald: Mr. Speaker, silence is appropriate in libraries but not in politics.

Again to the Premier: can the Premier please explain why these settlements require such nondisclosure agreements? Mr. Stelmach: Well, it’s between the employer and whoever filed the grievance or, in some cases, who was let go by the employer. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Fish Creek. Health Quality Council Review Mrs. Forsyth: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Doctors have indicated that short of a public judicial inquiry the Health Quality Council review may have limited impact in fixing our health care system.

Yesterday the health m inister indicated he was only aware of one doctor who wanted to see a public inquiry. Currently six sections of the AMA, which comprises over 2,500 doctors, have indicated that they support a public inquiry. My questions are to the Pre m- ier. How are you goi ng to protect the physicians who have currently signed nondisclosure agreements? Mr. Stelmach: I don’t need to protect them because they have a disclosure agreement with their employer. Mrs. Forsyth: It’s not right.

What guarantee can you give physicians that if they testify, they will not be terminated or demoted and can continue to speak out without fear of repercussions from Alberta Health Services or, for that fact, the government? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, the AMA, the college, and Alberta Health Ser vices have entered into an agreement. They have put out a document that I think is very fair to all three parties with

April 12, 2011 Alberta Hansard 599 respect to allowing and asking physicians and other health care providers to bring evidence forward if there is intimidation. Pe r- haps the re are different ways of delivering services that may improve the services, the quality of services, reduce some of the costs. All of those areas: the Health Quality Council will be ready to hear their evidence. Mrs. Forsyth: Mr. Premier, you should be embarrassed.

Can the Premier confirm that the Health Quality Council has been so overwhelmed with complaints that they now have esta b- lished two committees, one dealing with the clinical side and the second dealing with how the procurements of contracts have been handled? Mr. Stelmach: Again, the Health Quality Council is going to do a good job. They’ve set very rigorous terms of reference, and they’re going to conduct the business as they see fit. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood. 2:00 Storage of Nuclear Waste Mr. Mason: Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker.

On March 30 the municipal district of Big Lakes voted to consider hosting a nuclear waste storage facility in their area. In addition to storing hazardous nuclear waste in our province, this would also require that dange r- ous radioactive materials be transported through dozens of Alberta communities from other parts of the country. I want to ask whet h- er the Premier will commit today to protecting the health and safety of Albertans by int roducing legislation to categorically prohibit the transportation and storage of nuclear waste in Alberta. Mr. Stelmach: Mr.

Speaker, once again the question is purely speculative. There is an authority that deals with this. It’s a federal authority. What the authority has said is that they’re looking at those provinces that presently have nuclear energy in their prov- ince. Alberta doesn’t have any, and there’s no reason for that to come to the province of Alberta. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Mason: Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker.

Well, given that the recent crisis in Japan shows that even well-managed nuclear mate- rials can become extremely dangerous, will the Premier commit to protecting the health and environment of Albertans by passing legislation sim ilar to that in the province of Manitoba which would prevent Alberta from becoming a nuclear waste dumping ground for the rest of the country? And don’t say it’s speculative, Mr. Premier. Mr. Stelmach: Well, it is speculative. You read something in a paper, and then all of a sudden it’s going to happen. It is speculative. We’ll watch the situation very carefully.

As I said, the national authority will only look at those provinces that have nuclear ene r- gy in their province today. We don’t have any. Mr. Mason: Once a project like this gets approved, Mr. Speaker, it’s too late, and that’s the lack of foresight of this government that just comes through over and over and over again. Given the action of the . . . The Speaker: Well, hold on, hon. member. We have no prea m- bles on the third question. Mr. Mason: Sorry, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Well, I’m not sorry. I’m just enforcing the rules. Mr. Stelmach: Once again, Mr.

Speaker, purely speculative, something just to get attention. If he read all of the

article and saw all of what was in the print, he would know that there’s no need to come to any province that does not have any nuclear energy. We don’t have any, so nobody will be coming here to do any invest i- gation of any storage of nuclear waste. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre , followed by the hon. Member for Lacombe-Ponoka. Abandoned Wells Ms Blakeman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So far the town of Ca l- mar has found 26 abandoned wells, three of which are leaking. That’s 26 wells under or beside homes, schools, and businesses. But in Alberta, that’s okay.

Abandoned wells are allowed to be removed from land titles, so no one could know about t he danger or even the existence until something goes wrong. To the gover n- ment: who is responsible for this situation? Is it the Department of Energy, which has the ERCB regulation, or Environment, which signs off on abandoned wells, or Municipal Affairs? Mr. Liepert: Mr. Speaker, let’s start off with the Minister of Energy, since the member sort of threw it out. First of all, the ERCB does have responsibility for this. [interjections] The Speaker: Hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre, proceed. Ms Blakeman: Thanks, Mr. Speaker.

I would have liked to have heard the rest of the answer from the minister. But my question again to the government: if the point is to protect Albertans and make it possible for them to make informed choices, in this case purchasing a home, why do the legislation and the regulations continue to permit the opposite? Mr. Liepert: I’ll finish the answer, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to clarify the

preamble of the member. Clearly, through the ERCB that information is available. But what is important is that if a municipality decides that it wants to subdivide and develop a parcel of land, it’s up to the municipality to check with the ERCB relative to abandoned oil wells on the property. The ERCB has no knowledge of whether or not a municipality is subdividing. So that information actually is there. The Speaker: The hon. member. Ms Blakeman: Thank you. Again to members of the government: stop doing this. There are three different ministries involved here, and the result is – people are buying homes.

Now, which one of you is responsible? Mr. Liepert: Mr. Speaker, the member says, “Stop doing this.” What does the member want us to stop doing? We actually have the information. The Minister of Municipal Affairs and the Department of Energy are working on an a mend- ment whereby we may make it a requirement for the municipality to check. We’re working with the Minister of Municipal Affairs on that. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Lacombe-Ponoka , followed by the hon. Member for Lethbridge-East. Economic Recovery Mr. Prins: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In many parts of the world the global economic recession is beginning to end. In fact, several

600 Alberta Hansard April 12, 2011 nations have already returned to economic growth. According to the IMF the overall world output is expected to increase by 4 a nd a half per cent in 2011. My questions are to the Minister of Finance and Enterprise. What is the estimated yearly growth for Alberta, and how does that compare with the rest of the world? Mr. Snelgrove: Well, Mr. Speaker, it is hard to compare Alberta with the rest of the world. But it’s very clear in IMF discussions that the parts of the world that are developing are coming out of the recession very strongly, and Alberta is, too.

While they’re talking about 4.5 per cent, we’re looking at about 3.3 per c ent, which is considered a very steady growth. To compare us to Brazil or China is difficult, but compared to the rest of the developed nations, Canada and Alberta are leading the pack. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Prins: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. My next question is to the same minister. If average world growth is at 4 and a half per cent and Alberta is only growing at roughly 3 per cent, does this mean that we are losing pace with the rest of the world? Mr. Snelgrove: No. As a matter of fact, Mr.

Speaker, we’re not losing pace with the rest of the world; we’re leading most of the developed world. What it really shows is the fact that we had a plan to take Alberta through the recession. It was to manage our spending. It was to continue to invest in infrastructure so that we can sell goods to the rest of the world which is leading us out of the recession. We stuck to our plan. It’s working very well, and Albertans see that. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Prins: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again my last question is to the same minister.

What steps is your ministry taking to e n- sure that the Alberta economy has access to these dramatically growing economies around the world? Mr. Snelgrove: Mr. Speaker, it’s not our department; it’s our government. I t started with this Premier’s initiative in the Asia advisory council. We have markets there of 4 billion people. We all know how important the pipeline is to the west coast, but it’s not just oil. We have ag products that are wanted all over the world. We have to work with all of our transportation providers to sell them food.

They want forestry products and a multitude of things that Albertans are very good at. So while the Asia advisory council is a very good step, everyone in Alberta I think would agree that we’re positioned very well. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Lethbridge-East, followed by the hon. Member for Foothills-Rocky View. Transfer of Tax Recovery Land Ms Pastoor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tax recovery land has been handed to municipalities without any environmental assessment, without any public input, and without any requirements on the future use of this land; for instance, the importance of protecting agricultural land in this province. To the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development : why was this most recent transfer of 84,000 acres, which is 130 square miles of land, transferred now? Mr. Knight: Well, Mr. Speaker, there’s an ongoing requirement for us as a government to take a look at the land base that we manage on behalf of Albertans.

From the point of view of moving public land into areas of either production or perhaps conserv a- tion, it goes on continually. I think that we’re doing quite a good job of it. Ms Pastoor: I’m referring to some of the land around Taber, which he’s very aware of. Why was this transfer made before the land-use framework regional plan was completed? Wouldn’t it have made more sense to wait until the regional priorities were set? Mr. Knight: Mr. Speaker, of course, the member opposite is referring to a situation where the province of Alberta has been managing land that was initially in the hands of municipalities.

We transferred the land back where it rightly belongs, in the co n- trol of municipal ities. Any of that real estate that has an environmental or ecological value for Alberta’s future is mai n- tained as public land by the province. The rest of it is going back to the management of municipal entities, where it rightly belongs. Ms Pastoor: I guess the question was: why now and why before the land-use framework has been put into place? Mr. Knight: Well, Mr. Speaker, why now? This thing has been going on since 1960.

I’m not exactly sure where the member has been in all that period of time; neverth eless, living quite close to a lot of the area where this real estate exists and has been transferred for the better part of 35 years. Why now? We’re just completing a piece of business that we started with municipalities, by the way with their co -operation, many years ago, and I think that they are all going to be quite satisfied when it’s concluded. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Foothills -Rocky View, fo l- lowed by the hon. Member for Calgary-Buffalo. 2:10 Lower Athabasca Regional Plan Dr. Morton: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My question is also to the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development. Following the release of the draft lower Athabasca regional plan last week, some opposition members said that the plan came out of the blue and caught many in the oil industry entirely off guard. That version of events doesn’t seem to quite match my recollection of events. Could the minister set the record straight as to exactly when the regional advisory committee’s report was released? How many months have been spent on consultation between the release of the RAC report and the release of the draft regional plan? Mr.

Knight: Well, one thing I will say, Mr. Speaker, to the me m- ber opposite is that the plan, the whole plan, the land- use framework and the rest of it, did come out of the blue, Tory blue. And it’s a very, very good plan. In fact, we have had consultation on this plan with more than 10,000 Albertans up to this point in time, and there is now one draft plan available for consultation, again a 60 -day consultati on period with Albertans. Nobody was caught by surprise with respect to the plan. The Speaker: The hon. member. Dr. Morton: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My first supplemental is to the same minister.

With respect to the lower Athabasca regional plan, is there a risk that if we do not strike the right balance with respect to conservation of boreal forests and wetlands and cumula- tive effects on air, water, water quality, and endangered species, we risk losing jurisdiction to the federal government? If so, could the minister identify the specific pieces of federal legislation that could be used by Ottawa to take away jurisdiction? The Speaker: The hon. minister.

April 12, 2011 Alberta Hansard 601 Mr. Knight: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Yes, there is an issue here, and there are a number of areas, of course, where the federal government has jurisdiction. Air would be one of them; water quality is another one. But tw o important things have ha p- pened to Albertans recently. The Species at Risk Act, that is federal legislation, has been brought into the province of Alberta in certain circumstances where the feds believe we are not doing enough to maintain proper protection of habitat or species at risk.

Another one would be the Migratory Bird Act, which does a very similar thing, where they look at situations where migratory birds, in the federal opinion, are not being properly managed. The Speaker: The hon. member, please. Dr. Morton: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My second supplemental is to the Minister of Energy. Last week, yesterday, and even again today there was a lot of hysterical fearmongering by certain opp o- sition members about Alberta being a banana republic and that only absolute morons would invest in Alberta, but I haven’t heard any of the industry players or financial analysts saying that.

Could the minister possibly set the record straight? Mr. Liepert: Mr. Speaker, the member is absolutely correct b e- cause the plan had barely been released, and I know there was one political party that put out a news release that was, frankly, outr a- geous and over the top, totally ridiculous assertions. It took about five seconds for all of those assertions to be dispelled by reputable organizations like the Canadian petroleum association, like Fir s- tEnergy, like Barclays Capital. As the member says, that draft plan is now out for consultation. I think it’s achieved a great balance. Speaker’s Ruling

Preambles to Supplementary Questions The Speaker: Look, the chair should only have to intervene once with respect to this question of the

preamble, and then all me m- bers should be able to catch on to that intervention at the beginning and not have to go every time. I’d have had to inte r- vene, I think, probably on all nine so far, which would not be anything more than intervention period instead of question period. Let’s deal with the

preambles, okay? Eliminate them on the second and third question. Let’s move forward. Education Funding Mr. Hehr: Mr. Speaker, again I rise to ask the Education minister about cuts to our education system. Willow Creek composite high school, Pembina Hills school division continue on the list of or- ganizations cutting because of the minister’s budget. The minister knows that the change in per -pupil funding barely covers the sal a- ry deal the minister signed with the teachers.

Will the minister acknowledge that school is more than just teachers and students and includes aides, support staff, and others who help support learning and who are being cut right now because of his budget? Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, unquestionably a school, an educ a- tion system, involves more than just teachers and administrators. Particularly when you include all students in the school, you have to ensure that you have the appropriate wraparound services, the appropriate supports to ensure that every child can come ready to learn and be supported in a safe, caring, and respectful place.

No question about that. Mr. Hehr: I thank the minister for tha t honest answer. I’m su r- prised, then, that he hasn’t rectified the cuts to budget. Given that, will you return the funding to . . . The Speaker: Hon. member, what did I just say not three minutes ago? It’s not a lifetime ago. It’s not a decade ago. It’s not a month ago. It’s not a week ago. It was like about two or three minutes ago. Okay? Get that question in really quick. Mr. Hehr: I got so excited by the answer that I just lost track. I’ll go to my second supplemental.

Given that this government is able to find money for the Premier’s legacy projects and we learned yesterday that the Minister of Education has apparently asked for an increase to the Education budget, can the President of the Treasury Board explain why he refused the Minister of Educ a- tion’s request for funding to ensure that no student with special needs will be left to fall behind and that teacher -to-pupil ratios will not worsen because of a lack of necessary funds? Mr. Snelgrove: You know, maybe you should just give him long- er

preambles and no answer. Mr. Speaker, no government commits more to education per student than us, not only K to 12 but advanced education. We are very aware of the pressures that have been put on education with the funding they got, but we understand reality. Everyone in A l- berta has had to do a little bit more with a little bit less, and that’s what we asked of education. The Speaker: Hon. member, last question. Mr. Hehr: I’m fine. The Speaker: Thank you. That really helps because we were extending it there with the exchange back and forth. Mr. Hehr: I know. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Calgary-North Hill, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood. Municipal Franchise Fees Mr. Fawcett: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last year I sponsored Bill 203, the Municipal Government (Local Access and Franchise Fees) Amendment Act, 2010. While it was defeated in the Legi s- lature as per a recommendation of the Standing Committee on Community Ser vices, the committee made a number of reco m- mendations to the government that acknowledged the importance of the bill’s intent. My question is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

Pursuant to the committee’s recommendation that you consult with the AUMA an d AAMD and C to explore the deve l- opment of a formula that provides for consistency and predictability, could you provide an update on this process? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Goudreau: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the member has indicated, we are ex ploring the development of a province -wide franchise fee formula, and we’re moving along very well in that area.

Municipal Affairs is presently conducting consultation to look at how we can best strike that right balance, and the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association and the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties as well as the cities of Edmonton and Calgary are being involved and consulted. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Fawcett: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That’s good news. My supplemental is to the same minister. Have you had any convers a- tions with the municipalities that base their fees on the price of the

602 Alberta Hansard April 12, 2011 commodity, a variable the committee specifically recommended not using? Mr. Goudreau: Mr. Speaker, letters were sent to the mayors of Edmonton and Calgary inviting their comments and suggestions in regard to this matter, and both the AUMA and the AAMD and C have also been asked to comment. We’ve asked that their input be forwarded to us by as early as next Monday, April 18. The impor- tant thing in this matter is that we want to provide consistency and predictability to utility consumers across the province. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Fawcett: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My final supplementary is to the Minister of Energy. Have you considered the necessary changes to regulation that would allow the utility companies to clearly disclose on the utility bills the name of the municipality that is the beneficiary of the revenue collected from these fees? Mr. Liepert: Well, first of all, Mr.

Speaker, I think it’s important to outline the fact that in Alberta we probably have the most transparent retail bill that exists in the country because it includes everything from the cost of the electricity to who the specific billing company is, the na mes and telephone numbers of the di s- tribution owner and the retailer. However, there is an anomaly relative to municipally owned providers, so that’s something that both the Minister of Municipal Affairs and I have been exploring, and we’ll continue to do so. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands - Norwood, followed by the hon.

Member for Calgary-Varsity. Support for Child Care Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Family budgets are being hard hit under this government’s watch. This year the government has decided to cut funding for any new child care spaces, yet costs for spaces went up over 12 per cent on average last year. I want to ask the Minister of Children and Youth Servi c- es to reverse this cut so that more parents can find affordable care for their children. The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mrs. Fritz: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Just a small correction, hon. member, but t he fees that the member is discussing aren’t operational; that was capital dollars for child care spaces. Actually, we have increased subsidies for parents. We did i n- crease those by 78 per cent since 2008, and the number of children and families that that is helping has gone from 11,000 to 20,000. 2:20 The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Mason: Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. At a time when families are struggling to afford child care, half of our child care spaces in the province are for profit, adding overhead to already inflated child care rates.

Will the minister move to create more not-for-profit spaces at an affordable rate so that every parent who needs care for their kids can still afford it? Regardless of what she said, Mr. Speaker . . . Speaker’s Ruling

Preambles to Supplementary Questions The Speaker: Boy, if that wasn’t the longest pre amble I’ve ever heard in my life. Please have a seat. We’ll get to the answer right away. But, you know, how many times do I have to say this? Is it every time? This is not going to be a question period; it’s going to be an intervention period. The hon. minister. Support for Child Care (continued) Mrs. Fritz: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We don’t regulate whether the daycare or day home is for profit or not for profit because parents do like to have the freedom to choose whichever daycare or day home they are going to place their child into to be safe and protected. I can tell you this: as with many businesses in the prov- ince the same is true for daycares as they hire very professional staff. The cost for staffing has increased, and that is why some of the rates have gone up. You mentioned 12 per cent. Up to 95 per cent of the cost for daycare is staff cost. The Speaker: Thank you. Third question, member. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker. Given that two- income families are a reality in our modern life and are drivers of our economic prosperity, and given that there are only enough spac- es for 16 per cent of children under age 12 in Alberta – here’s the question – why is the minister failing to offer more Alberta parents a shot at affordable child care so families can improve their lot? The Speaker: I’m going to recognize the minister, but I want you to go home later today and read the text of what you just said, okay?

Just read the text of what you said, and if you don’t put a hand over your eyes and put your head down like this, then heaven help me. Mrs. Fritz: Well, Mr. Speaker, it’s very important to increase subsidies for parents when we know that there is a need. That’s why you would have seen in the budget, hon. member, that the child care program at $229 million had an operating expense i n- crease of $17 million for this year, and that is to assist parents overall with the cost. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Varsity, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Ellerslie.

Mental Illness Treatment Services for Children Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Monday of last week a 15-year-old girl refused to get back in her temporary caseworker’s car after she left her group home to go for a coffee. On Friday her father, having received tips as to the whereabouts of his daughter, contacted the child crisis unit but was told to call back after shift change. Last night I learned that the girl had been assaulted and left unconscious, so I, too, contacted the crisis unit and was told that she was in care but AWOL.

To the Minister of Children and Youth Services: please explain how a teenager can be considered in care and AWOL at the same time. Mrs. Fritz: Well, Mr. Speaker, I met with the individual’s family that this member has brought forward to the Assembly today, and I can tell you that I had ver y experienced staff at that meeting, that there’s experienced staff from Health and Wellness there as well, and that our staff continue to work very, very closely with this fami- ly on a daily basis.

But what I am concerned about is that you could pick up the phone and have private information given to you regard- ing this individual and their whereabouts, so I will look into that. The Speaker: The hon. member.

April 12, 2011 Alberta Hansard 603 Mr. Chase: Thank you. How is it in this or any other teenager’s “best interests” to be abandoned by C hildren and Youth Services to the streets? Mrs. Fritz: As I indicated to you, Mr. Speaker, our staff are working very, very closely with the individual that this member has brought forward today. They’re paying very close attention. A lot of resources have gone into the situation, and we have very experienced staff, not just at the case worker level but at a very high level, working with this individual, and it will continue as that family does need our assistance. Mr.

Chase: Simple question, Mr. Speaker. Wh ere is she now? Is she protected? Mrs. Fritz: That really is none of this member’s business at all, Mr. Speaker. Enough said. We are on top of this, and it’s none of your business. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Ellerslie, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-Glenmore. Adult Literacy Mr. Bhardwaj: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. In every community there are those who face barriers in good times or bad due to their lack of literacy skills. Adult education is vital to build- ing successful futures, raising healthy families, creating happy and productive lives.

My questions today are to the Minister of A d- vanced Education and Technology. What is this government doing to address adult literacy levels in Alberta? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Weadick: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that ques- tion. Literacy is extremely important to this government, and in working in partnership with Alberta Education and Employment and Immigration, we’ve created a literacy framework that will help increase literacy opportunities in this province.

Right now we fund over 200 community adult learning programs across this province to help with literacy and other adult learning needs. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Bhardwaj: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My next question to the same minister: given that there are quite a number of Albertans having difficulty attending postsecondary education institutions, what is your ministry doing to make it easier for them to enter and be successful?

The Speaker: I think if we came back this evening, we’d proba- bly get those answers as part of the questions for the estimates of the Department of Advanced Education and Technology. Third question, please. Mr. Bhardwaj: Final question: what concrete policy do you have in place to promote adult literacy programs in Alberta? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Weadick: Thank you. We continue to implement programs in partnership with the other departments of this government. It’s not just literacy, Mr.

Speaker, but it’s financial literacy that’s extreme- ly important and also workplace and technical literacy so that our workers can be safe in the work environment. So we continue to create opportunities for our workers to increase literacy. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary -Glenmore, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-Montrose. Lower Athabasca Regional Plan (continued) Mr. Hinman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In 2008 this government made the grand economic boondoggle of breaking mineral leases’ contracts by jacking up royalties. Investment was driven out of the province.

With the regional plan released last week, the current government plans to turn a portion of our oil sands region into a protected park. It sounds nice, except that to do it, they are extin- guishing leases from companies who have invested millions. To the Minister of Energy: can you please share with this House what additional debt will be added to our current cash deficit of $6.6 billion, or was compensation something they never thought of? Mr. Liepert: Well, Mr.

Speaker, as I said earlier in the much better-framed question from the Member for Foothills -Rocky View, these particular charges that have been made in that party’s release are – I know we can’t use certain terms in this Assembly, but I’ll try and stick within what is permitted. I would say that they are so far from the truth they are almost . . . I’ll leave it at that. The Speaker: Okay. The hon. member. Mr. Hinman: What a joke. You don’t even know what compe n- sation is. Speaker’s Ruling Decorum The Speaker: Okay. Now listen. Please sit down. This is not a debate. This is not a debate; this is name calling.

I asked the man to sit down, and I asked you to sit down. If you cannot find civil i- ty, either one, I’m going to just forget about recognizing either one of you. Now, have you got a question? No

preamble. No prea m- ble. A question. Lower Athabasca Regional Plan (continued) Mr. Hinman: Given that the Supreme Court ruled in 1985 that governments must compensate not only for a ll developmental costs but for the full value of the resources when these leases are expropriated, does the government plan to challenge the Supreme Court ruling, or are they relying on the clause in Bill 36 so that taxpayers aren’t on the hook for billions of dollars? Mr. Liepert: Mr. Speaker, I think that the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development has made it very clear that what is out today is a draft plan.

It’s out for consultation. There is no sugge s- tion that anything is being confiscated by any body other than by a few fearmongerers on the other side of the Legislature. The Speaker: Well, that’s not helpful either. Short question, to the point. Mr. Hinman: Mr. Speaker, that question was: how much is com- pensation going to cost? He didn’t even do it. Does the minister realize how totally incompetent it is for our government to be paying companies not to develop and extract our resources? You have no idea how much compensation this is going to cost the taxpayers, do you? No idea.

604 Alberta Hansard April 12, 2011 Mr. Liepert: Mr. Speaker, unlike the member who asked the question, I’ve had a number of discussions with industry over the last week or so, and I believe the overwhelming view by industry is that what the government has come up with . . . [interjections] The Speaker: I don’t know how many light bulbs are up there. I keep looking up and keep looking. I know where a few of them are burned out. The hon. Member for Calgary -Montrose, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Riverview. 2:30 Noise Attenuation on Stoney Trail Mr. Bhullar: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I’ve constantly advocated for my constituents in Abbeydale, Applewood, and Monterey Park and raised their concerns about noise from Stoney Trail. We have been awaiting the results of sound testing for many months now. To the Minister of Transportation: Minister, the sound testing is complete; where is the report? Mr. Ouellette: Well, Mr. Speaker, the report is in. We’re current- ly reviewing that report. When it’s completed, the report will be posted on our web page. If we need to take any action, it’ll be taken at that time. Mr. Bhullar: Mr. Speaker, I sure hope that – actually, I shouldn’t get into

preambles. Mr. Speaker, my next question to the minister is: will there be a sound barrier put up between Stoney Trail and the communities of Abbeydale and Applewood and Monterey Park to mitigate the noise? Mr. Ouellette: Mr. Speaker, noise mitigation is considered if the noise levels adjacent to those communities happen to be over 65 decibels. That means that t he province would consider sound attenuation after it reaches 65 decibels over a 24 -hour period. Any decision on this would be done once the noise monitoring and the modelling studies are finalized later this month.

I want Albertans to know that measuring noise levels is something that we actually do regularly on our ring roads. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Bhullar: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My last que s- tion to the same minister: Minister, should the noise level not reach 65 decibels, what othe r measures can you take to ensure noise reduction within that area? Mr. Ouellette: Well, Mr. Speaker, the bylaw is that if it reaches 65 decibels, then we would try to do something, whether we do it in partnership with the communities or with the municipal ity.

If it does reach 65 decibels, then it meets the requirements. Daycare Accreditation Dr. Taft: Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Child- ren and Youth Services. Last summer after an unaccredited daycare in Stony Plain was ordered closed because of concerns with force-feeding and mistreating toddlers, the minister said, and I quote: we should have accreditation at 100 per cent. End quote. Now the minister has backtracked on mandatory accreditation, leaving it on a voluntary basis. To the minister: Why? Why did she abandon her commitment to 100 per cent accreditation for Alberta’s daycares? Mrs.

Fritz: Well, Mr. Speaker, to be clear, I haven’t abandoned my commitment to 100 per cent accreditation, and neither has the community. In fact, the community has responded to accreditation where it’s already 85 per cent fully accredited for daycares and day homes, 10 per cent are participating in accreditation, and 5 per cent are in transition, including newly opened facilities. I can tell you that with that voluntary commitment by the community this has become a very successful program and has been embraced by the daycare and day home operators. Dr. Taft: Again to the same minister.

She’s talking about a volun- tary program. I’d like her to give us an an swer here. What is the firm deadline for 100 per cent accreditation for Alberta’s da y- cares? Give us a deadline. Mrs. Fritz: Well, Mr. Speaker, it might be helpful to this member if I explained about a daycare and day home and how they’re licensed and they’ re approved. When a day home or daycare is licensed or approved, their safety is regulated – we have very high provincial standards – and they’re also inspected and monitored on a regular basis. Now, accreditation is completely different.

Accreditation is about enhancing the child care program, creating better learning opportunities for children, Mr. Speaker, and that’s why we esta b- lished the accreditation program. That’s why the . . . The Speaker: The hon. member, please. Dr. Taft: Well, thanks, Mr. Speak er. Given that we probably all agree that accreditation is a valuable thing, why is this minister allowing some children in this province, little children, to go to daycares that are not accredited? Mrs. Fritz: Well, Mr. Speaker, I explained in my earlier answer that the community has embraced this program.

Eighty -five per cent are accredited – no, don’t shake your head; they are – 10 per cent are in the process of being accredited, and 5 per cent, the new facilities, are becoming accredited. That is mostly a hundred per cent compliance. Mr. Speaker, we did increase the accreditation funding. We increased it by 12 per cent, from $74 million to $83 million, the only program of its kind in Canada. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Drayton Valley -Calmar, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-McCall. Pigeon Lake Waste-water Management Project Mrs. McQueen: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The proposed Pigeon Lake waste-water project is very important to the residents of the summer villages of Sundance Beach, Ma-Me -O Beach, Noris Beach, Crystal Springs, Grandview, Poplar Bay, Wetask i- win county, Pigeon Lake provincial park and, certainly, to myself as MLA. My questions are to the Minister of Transportation. What is the status of the Pigeon Lake waste-water project? Mr. Ouellette: Well, Mr. Speaker, I have to start this one off with: Drayton Valley -Calmar are awfully lucky to have such an MLA. She’s continually trying to speed up things for her constituents. Mr.

Speaker, this proposed $26.7 million waste -water project involves piping waste water to the existing northeast Pigeon Lake regional waste- water commission. Through the provincial water for life program this project could be eligible to receive a grant of up to 90 per cent of the waste -water system. The first stage of the project . . .

April 12, 2011 Alberta Hansard 605 The Speaker: I thank the hon. minister. Thank you. Now we’ll hear from that hon. member again. Mrs. McQueen: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the hon. minister. My constituents are understandably very i nterested in seeing progress made on this project. When will funding for the first stage be approved, the line from Ma -Me-O Beach to the existing Mulhurst lagoon? When, Minister? Mr. Ouellette: Mr. Speaker, my officials have informed me that a review has nearly been completed of the proposed line from Ma - Me-O to the Mulhurst lagoon.

We know this is an important project. My officials are working with the Pigeon Lake regional waste-water steering committee, and I expect to have a report in the coming weeks. I will certainly review it thoroughly, and that’s when we can provide more information and when the funding would be available. Mrs. McQueen: My final question is to the same minister. Cons i- dering what I heard, that stage 1 of the Pigeon Lake waste -water project will be approved, when would construction begin? Mr. Ouellette: Well, Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned before, the project could be eligible for a grant of up to 90 per cent.

As for when the construction would begin, it would be up to the proponents of the project, the Pigeon Lake regional waste-water steering com- mittee. Alberta Transportation would provide the funding, and the construction process would then be managed by the proponents. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-McCall, followed by the hon. Member for St. Albert. Flood Hazard Mitigation Mr. Kang: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Disaster recovery by its very definition is reactionary and implies intervention after a natural disaster has occurred.

To the Minister of Municipal Affairs: be- sides flood hazard mapping and occasional one -time grants aimed at supporting emergency preparedness, is the minister satisfied that the government does absolutely everything it can to prevent or mitigate flooding before it occurs? Mr. Goudreau: Mr. Speaker, the provincial government is doing a lot of work in terms of mitigation and helping municipalities prepare for potential disasters and emergencies that might come their way.

On a yearly basis we continu e to work with municipali- ties that are subject to flooding, for instance, to make sure that they are aware of flood plains and how high water levels may rise. So we continue to do that type of work with individual municipali- ties right across the province. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Kang: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the minister again: what role does the Alberta Emergency Management Agency play in instructing regions on proper placement of sandbags since recent media reports have suggested that this is often being done impr o- perly and may actually make flood damage worse?

Mr. Goudreau: Mr. Speaker, I’m not aware that the AEMA, or the Alberta Emergency Management Agency, is actually training people on how to place sandbags. If that’s a broader issue that we see happening right across the provi nce, then we could certainly look at that particular aspect. But, generally, we are providing sandbags and are making sure that equipment and facilities are available for municipalities to use. If there’s a need to use san d- bags to protect property, those are available to them. 2:40 The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Kang: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

To the same minister again: are there any permanent, enduring solutions that could be e m- ployed to prevent or mitigate flooding in high-risk areas and reduce the impact on taxpayers? I’m thinking of last year’s whop- ping $191 million supplementary appropriation for disaster recovery. Mr. Goudreau: Mr. Speaker, we keep on working with our indi- vidual municipalities, and municipalities are encouraged to purchase mitigation equipment. Through the municipal sustaina- bility initiative funding they can choose to protect their individual communities.

As well, we continue to do a lot of training with individual municipalities. If those municipalities actually buy equipment or have access to equipment, we encourage them to share it with their neighbours if there’s a need to have that happen. We also make sure that that equipment is well known and doc u- mented so that there is the possibility of using it elsewhere across the province. The Speaker: Hon. members, that concludes Oral Question P e- riod for today. Nineteen members were recognized. There were 111 questions and responses, and it’s only Tuesday.

We’ll come back in a few seconds from now to continue with Members’ Statements. head: Members’ Statements (continued) The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Mackay. Bethany Care Society Brenda Strafford Centre on Aging Ms Woo-Paw: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure to rise today to speak about some exciting achievements by two outstand- ing organizations aimed at improving the lives of seniors in Alberta. First, I want to recognize the Bethany Care Society, one of my constituents and a long-established provider of seniors’ care in Alberta.

Bethany was named one of Alberta’s top 50 employ- ers, one of only three nonprofit organizations among many major corporate entities. Nationally, the Workplace Institute named Bethany as one of three companies named as Canada’s top em- ployers for 50-plus employees. Almost 40 per cent of Bethany’s workforce is age 50 or older, with 36 employees over the age of 65 and the oldest being over 80. Bethany Care Society has an impressive record of recei ving 10 national or provincial employers of choice awards over the past 11 years.

This speaks volumes to the focus of Bethany on attracting and retaining qualified staff and providing safe environments that foster positive relationships among staff, residents, and their families. Mr. Speaker, on April 4 the Brenda Strafford Centre on Aging at the University of Calgary was launched, thanks to a $5 million gift from the Brenda Strafford Foundation.

The centre on aging will promote the quality of life for sen iors through developing programs in support of age -related applied research and public policy, interdisciplinary education in geriatrics and gerontology, community outreach, and public awareness. The new centre was announced at a special event to celebrat e Dr. Barrie Strafford’s contributions to the university. To date he

606 Alberta Hansard April 12, 2011 has contributed more than $8 million to the U of C through his foundation and personal philanthropy. These gifts have supported research in the faculties of kinesiology, medicine, nursing , and social work. Mr. Speaker, Alberta is blessed by the contributions of these individuals and organizations. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre. Volunteer Week Ms Blakeman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This week, April 10 to 16, we are recognizing Volunteer Week in Alberta.

I would hope, given the enormous workload carried by volunteer -driven age n- cies in Alberta, that there would be the sound of knees hitting the floor as their owners engage in fervent prayers of thanks to volu n- teers, particularly government knees, as this sector provides so many of the services that government used to provide and makes our cities and towns livable, creative, helping, and caring. Volunteering has changed so much in the last several decades. More families volunteer together. Seniors put in an enormous amount of volunteer hours. In some cases, students volunteer for class credit.

One thing is for sure. People have less time and want their volunteer experience to be both meaningful and also benef i- cial to the recipient and to themselves. I remember a well -known businessman who reflected on his volunteer experience. He wanted to do something different, diffe r- ent from what he did every day. He wanted to get his hands dirty, to paint sets or pound nails, but he was immediately put on the board. He duly gave his well -informed input but left the board after only a year because he was never given the opportunity to do what he wanted to do.

Recruiting, orienting, training, and retaining today’s volunteers is complex and challenging. What the volunteer gets out of the experience is just as important as what they give. So, government, pay attention. The volunteer centre of Camrose is closing on June 30 of this year. Sector colleagues say that this is a well -run and valued or- ganization. So what’s wrong? Well, a couple of things. One is the loss of funding pools. Prior to 2009 volunteer agencies could access several different grant programs to fund different aspects. Now there’s only one CIP, and there’s a competition for dollars.

Two is the emphasis on quantity not quality, and that has a parti c- ular impact on rural centres. Organizations are judged by outputs rather than outcomes. Third is the insistence that orga nizations’ eligibility is based on how much money they raise. So this week and all weeks a shout -out to volunteers and volun- teer centres: for all the benefit we receive as Albertans, my profound thanks. head: Presenting Petitions The Speaker: The hon. Member for Strathcona. Mr. Quest: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to present two pet i- tions.

The first petition, from approximately 250 residents in the Strathcona area, reads: We, the undersigned residents of Alberta, petition the Legisl a- tive Assembly to urg e the Government of Alberta to: Firstly, ensure that the underground option and not the overhead line option for the proposed 500Kv transmission line for the East Transmission Utility Corridor between the Ellerslie Road corner and Baseline Road, an area which is densely populated and with nearby schools in Strathcona County, be implemented.

Secon d- ly, as this is a regional line, to ensure that the cost of this underground line is borne by the entire province of Alberta. And thirdly, to ensure that all future 500Kv transmission lines which may be built near any other densely populated area in the Province of Alberta, be built according to this same or a similar underground option.

The second petition, from approximately 5,000 residents in the Strathcona area, reads: We, the undersigned residents of Alberta, petition the Legisl a- tive Assembly to urge the Government of Alberta to ensure that: (1) the underground, not overhead, line option is used for the proposed 500 kV transmission line for the East Transmission Utility Corridor between the Ellerslie substation and Baseline Road; (2) the cost of the underground line is borne by the entire province of Alberta; and (3) all future 500 kV transmission lines located in densely populated areas be built using the unde r- ground line option.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. head: Tabling Returns and Reports The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Health and Wellness. Mr. Zwozdesky: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to table the appropriate number of copies of the following two annual reports. First is the 2009 -2010 annual report from the College of Hearing Aid Practitioners of Alberta, and the second is the 2010 annual report from the Public Health Appeal Board. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Culture and Community Spirit. Mr. Blackett: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise to table the appr o- priate number of copies of documents referenced in Culture and Community Spirit’s main estimates on March 23, 2011. Included are two reports. The first is entitled A Dialogue with Alberta’s Arts Sector. The second is entitled A Dialogue with Alberta’s Nonprofit/Voluntary Sector. Both are available online. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Varsity. Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Today I’m tabling Castle - Crown clear -cutting concerns from the following individuals: Marianne Dufour, Mandy Rowe, David Manning, Greg Michaux, Catherine Talbot, Disa Hovatta, Donna Jabillo, Chris Jones, J o- nagh Fairbrother, Ruby Rowat, Karel Sanders, Jennifer Smith, Marilyn Hurrell, Margaret Yorke, Chris Dunn, Jeffrey Phillips, Tonya Bourque, Rachel Christensen, Ron Williamson, Cathy Wolfe, Fiona Mansfield, Jenny May, Rebecca M cEvoy, John Gaul, and Evelyn Abell. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Lethbridge-East. Ms Pastoor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’m tabling on behalf of the Leader of the Official Opposition documents in which are the quotes that he spok e about today from lawyers that the Alberta Health Quality Council doesn’t have adequate protection for doc- tors who sign nondisclosure agreements. 2:50 The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Two tablings today. The first is tablings from constituents who’ve written with their concerns about the future of the physician and family support program, a program which they feel is focused on keeping current physicians in the best possible mental health.

These constituents

April 12, 2011 Alberta Hansard 607 are Dr. Lisa Burback, Dr. Thea Chibuk, Dr. Nick Etches, Dr. Warren Ma, Dr. Daniel Miller, and Dr. Edwin Zhang. A further tabling on behalf of my colleague for Calgary -Buffalo is a petition signed b y a number of parents and teachers at Silver Springs school in Calgary voicing their opposition to the recently announced budget cuts that will severely impact the Calgary board of education. They underline that their children’s education needs to be a priority for the province. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: I’ve also had notice that the hon.

Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar wanted to table something. Is anybody doing it on his behalf? Okay. Hon. members, we do have a point of order to deal with. The hon. Government House Leader. Point of Order Parliamentary Language Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll take your advice on this, but I thought you did more or less deal with the point of order at that point in time in an appropriate way. The point of order was, as you indicated, with respect to parliamentary language.

I would refer to the Speaker’s memo of February 18, 2011, and specifica l- ly to attachment 1 of that memo, page 6, with respect to the use of the term “deliberately misleading” and to pages 14 and 15 with respect to the term “misleading.” Of much lesser stature I’d refer to the authorities of our own Standing Order 23(

h) and (j) – mak- ing allegations against a member, using abusive or insulting language – and 23(i), introducing a matter in debate that “offends the practices and precedents of the Assembly.” Beauchesne also supports the point of order that I am making with respect to its sixth edition, 489, pages 145 and 146, where it refers to terms which are unparliamentary, “deliberately mi slead- ing” and lying being included in those. At 491 Beauchesne indicates that the Speaker “ruled that language used in the House should be temperate and worthy of the place in which it is spo- ken.” That’s why I raised a point of order.

As you know, Mr. Speaker, I am very reluctant to raise points of order on this because we could be doing it incessantly, and what it normally does then is just afford another opportunity for people to make speeches on the same topic and refer to the reasons why they were usin g intemperate language. But there does come a point at which we have to intercede, in my view, and say: “This is a House which is supposed to be the highest form of debate of public policy in our province.

It is a forum which should bring respect to the di scussion of public policy and to the political a f- fairs of our province and to the leadership in our province.” It is for that reason, in my view, that language has been termed unpa r- liamentary, that we do have rules in place which suggest that if a member makes a statement, we are to presume it to be true. If we are going to attack the veracity of a member’s statement, that is a very severe intervention, and we do have processes for that.

There are times when you can go to the Ethics Commissioner or to the privileges committee when someone is engaging in inap- propriate conduct, but in the normal give -and-take in the House it is not that difficult for us to formally lay our questions to make our purpose and make our point without being disreputable, wit h- out being disrespectful of each other. We can hold our opinions in this House very strongly. We can disagree, as is often said, wit h- out being disagreeable. In this case the language that was used by the Leader of the Official Opposition was unparliamentary and inappropriate.

Now, you addressed that, but I would ask that you do rule it out of order. The Speaker: The hon. Official Opposition House Leader. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The Leader of the Official Opposition has asked me to respond to the point of order on his behalf. I know the citations that the Government House Leader has brought up, and I agree with him when he says that our discourse here should be of the highest form and should bring respect. I note that in House of Commons Procedure and Practice at 427 it talks about: questions should not create disorder.

Interestingly, there is also an answer to that because on 431 it talks about: re p- lies to oral questions should be “phrased in language that does not provoke disorder.” So there are two sides of the same coin there. I also find that reflected when I look in Beauchesne . If I look at Beauchesne 410(5), it’s talking about “the seeking of information and calling the Government to account,” which, I would argue, the Leader of the Official Opposition was trying to do.

At Beauchesne 417 it talks about: “Answers to questions should be as brief as poss- ible, deal with the matter raised and should not provoke debate.” We have both of those things happening over a long period of exchanges here, Mr. Speaker. I don’t have access to the question as written by the Leader of the Official Opposition. I would be- lieve, sitting next to him, that the language that was used was that which came from extreme frustration with the answers and the repeated information that the Premier has brought forward. Mr. Speaker, we all have access to the same information here.

The Premier keeps saying that physicians are protected by the Evidence Act, which is what he said yesterday. Today he said that they’re protected by robust . . . The Speaker: Hon. member, please. One of the rules is that we’re not continuing debate in a point of order. Let’s deal with the point of order. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much for that guidance, Mr. Speaker. That is what I’m trying to do, deal with the point of order. We have an accusation from the Government House Leader that the leader used language that he shouldn’t have used, and 23(h), (i), and (

j) were quoted, which is sort of a catch -all. But what we have here is the Premier insisting on putting information before the House that is not matching the publicly available information, and from that has arisen the leader’s insistence on trying to get to the bottom of the question, to literally hold the government to account, as they are urged to do in both Beauchesne and the House of Commons book. We have information that is publicly available from the AMA, which is on their website, which talks about phy- sicians not being able to do this. The Speaker: Let’s deal with point of order, please.

Ms Blakeman: It is to the point of order. The Speaker: No, it isn’t. I’ve interjected twice now. I’ll have you sit down if you don’t deal with the point of order. Ms Blakeman: Well, yes, indeed the Speaker has the power to do that, and I acknowledge that. But what we are having repeatedly happen in this House is that the Leader of the Official Opposition asks the Premier to deal with something, and the Premier answers with a completely different set of information. Now, there is no requirement that the answer is . . . The Speaker: Okay. Thank you very much. This was the first question today.

This was on the first question. There was no previous background today to anything. These are the

608 Alberta Hansard April 12, 2011 words that were used, and these are the words that the point of order is about. These are the words that would be intervened on by the chair regardless of who they were used against in this House. This is the Leader of the Official Oppo sition in the first question, in only the third line of today’s question period. “Instead of answering the question honestly, the Premier deliberately misled.” That’s a direct accusation against a member of this House. If it was said against any member of this House, there would be intervention.

Then in the next line: “This Premier is not telling the truth.” This is not oblique. This is not indirect. It’s not: the government is not telling the truth. It’s an accusation against one member. “The Premier is not telling the truth.” Then in the next line: “Why is the Premier deliberately mi s- leading?” Those are three direct attacks on a member in a couple of lines on the first question in the question period. As I hear the arg u- ment, that was okay because, after all, the guy got pushed, anxious. That’s ridiculous. These are direct violations of the rules of this Assembly.

They are absolutely directly put against another member of this Assembly. They violate the rules of House of Commons Procedure and Practice in all the pages I can give – pages 614, 618, 619 – and Beauchesne paragraphs 485 to 492. Then throw in our Standing Orders 23(h), (i), and (j), which by the way are the most important of the orders. 3:00 The Leader of the Official Opposition knows full well. He stood up in this Assembly not too many years ago and, basically, gave a great big speech about ethics and all the rest of the stuff, civility and everything else.

The language used in crafting these questions for this Assembly violates our rules. They should be tempered. They should be worthy of the place they’re spoken in. These comments I suppose were withdrawn because I did intervene. I did interject. I ruled, basically, the question to be out of order. This is inappropriate language, absolutely inappropriate. It’s only Tuesday. It’s only April 12. I will intervene repeatedly in this Assembly, and I will call recess of question period unless the decorum improves. I have called recess before the question period in the past, and it had to do with decorum in this House.

That means that the question period ends, to return later. If men and women here cannot have civility, that is really, truly unfortunate. These are three deliberate attacks and should not have been used. head: Orders of the Day head: Committee of Supply [Mr. Cao in the chair] The Chair: The chair would like to call the Committee of Supply to order. head: Main Estimates 2011-12 Executive Council The Chair: Before I call on our hon. Premier, I would like to talk about the process here. The first hour would be reserved for the Official Opposition.

The next 20 minutes would go to the third party, which is the Wildrose Party. Then the next 20 minutes would be f or the fourth party, the ND. The 20 minutes after that would be for independent members, and thereafter any other members. Now I would like to call on the hon. Premier to begin the est i- mates under consideration. Hon. Premier, please. Mr. Stelmach: Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Hon. members, I’m pleased to appear before this committee to discuss the 2011- 2012 Executive Council budget estimates and 2011- 2014 business plan. I’d like to begin by introducing the staff who are with me today.

On the floor we have my chief of staff, Ron Glen; Brian Manning, deputy minister of Executive Council; Dwight Dibben, deputy secretary to cabinet; Roxanna Benoit, deputy chief of policy co- ordination; Lee Funke, managing director of the Public Affairs Bureau; and El aine Dougan, executive director of corporate ser- vices.

Some of my staff are also up in the gallery, including George Samoil, deputy chief of staff for operations and legislative affairs; Jason Ennis, my executive assistant; Bob Fessenden, depu- ty minister to the Premier’s Council for Economic Strategy; Cam Hantiuk, director of communications; Ken Faulkner, director of the McDougall Centre, the southern Premier’s office; and Karen Lindgren, who’s our senior financial officer. I think I’ve got ev e- rybody there.

First of all, since this is my last time here in Committee of Supply, I’d like to take a moment to say what a pleasure it has been to work with such a committed group of people from both sides of the House. It has certainly been a roller-coaster ride going from the boom to the recession. But during that period we’ve learnt a lot, and I know our government has accomplished a lot as well. We’re investing in infrastructure now to ensure that Albertans have the schools, hospitals, and roads that they need today and as the province continues to grow. We have plans to manage that growth.

We were the first province in Canada to develop a 10-year plan to end homelessness. And we have done it all with respons i- ble budgeting that meets Albertans’ needs. This is why in this year’s budget we took a balanced approach, to enable government to focus efforts on areas that are most important to Albertans: education, health care, and infrastructure. Executive Council is one of the nine ministries that has a d e- crease in its 2011- 12 operating budget. The budget for Executive Council is $28.6 million this year, down $2.3 million from last year.

This reduction was mainly achieved by reducing spending for our promoting Alberta program, formerly the branding initi a- tive, by $1.8 million and by reducing the budget for the Premier’s Council for Economic Strategy by $500,000. The business plan. Executive Council’s program areas and priorities are as outlined.

Executive Council includes my offices in the Legislature and in McDougall Centre in Calgary, the deputy minister’s office, the cabinet co -ordination office, the policy co- ordination office, the Premier’s Council for Economic Strategy, the protocol office, administrative support for the office of the Lieutenant Governor and the Order of Excellence Council, and the Public Affairs Bureau.

The 2011-14 business plan lays out the following priority initi a- tives for Executive Council: supporting policy development, co- ordinating government strategic planning, supporting the Pre m- ier’s Council for Economic Strategy, continuing to implement a strategic communications plan, supporting ministries in the effe c- tive use of social media and continuing to implement a government-wide social media policy, and co -ordinating with ministries and organiza tions to promote Alberta’s energy, imm i- gration, employment, investment, and tourism potential to the world.

I’m going to cover a few of these initiatives in detail to put them into context, starting with the Premier’s Council for Economic Strategy. I established the council to provide advice on strategic decisions and initiatives to put Alberta in the best position poss i- ble for the long -term future. The council has consulted with Albertans all over the province, including students, businesses,

April 12, 2011 Alberta Hansard 609 and community leaders.

They looked at what the expected growth in China and other emerging markets means for Alberta, what policies will best foster sustainable development, how we can create and sustain future wealth, and how we can ensure that A l- berta continues to be an innovative and prosperous province where Albertans continue to enjoy a high quality of life built on vibrant communities and a healthy environment. 3:10 Their final report, which is expected in the next month or so, will offer us a road map on how to boost the position of our prov- ince for a bright, sustainable future.

A key part to securing our future is keeping Alberta top of mind for people around the world, and that is for trade, for tourism, and for immigration. We have now seen how much decisions made in other jurisdictions can affect our livelihood. That is why we must ensure that the legisla- tors and opinion leaders in influential markets have all the facts before they take actions in sectors like energy. I believe we are getting our story out, and we are seeing some positive results, though we still have more work to do.

That’s why we made growing our economic presence in Asia the top of our priority list with Bill 1, and that is why we are continuing to focus on promoting Alberta’s potential to the world through investment and the promoting Alberta program. Promoting Alberta is the extension of the Alberta brand. The program engages other mini s- tries, Alberta organizations, businesses, and all Albertans to help tell our story. In 2010-11 we were building off of our success from the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

We supported trade shows, conferences, collected and shared the stories of Albertans and what they can accomplish here, connected with brand ambassadors, and created cultural experiences f or visitors in the province through involv e- ment in events like Alberta Arts Days. We are seeing a positive impact for our efforts nationally and internationally, but we still have a further way to go as people and organizations continue their efforts to tarnish the reputation of Alberta and its industries. We see this program as a long -term effort to protect and pr o- mote our province.

Next year we will focus on telling Albertans the story about the best place to work and invest, recognizing the burgeoning economic climate in our province. We will also co n- tinue to engage Albertans around the world through the use of social media and strategic communications. We are proud of our people and our industries, and we are committed to ensuring that the world knows it. Mr. Chairman, I’m going to stop here and now prepare to take questions from committee members. Thank you. The Chair: Each member’s speaking time is 10 minutes, but you can combine it for 20 minutes. Hon.

Leader of the Official Oppo- sition, would you lik e to combine it for 20 minutes with the Premier? Dr. Swann: I would. The Chair: Okay. Go ahead. Twenty minutes. Dr. Swann: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the Premier and his staff for joining me today for discussions around the estimates for Executive Council. The Executive Cou n- cil’s business plan states that a priority initiative is to co -ordinate the government’s strategic planning process and support the de- velopment of the government of Alberta strategic plan.

This year government m inistries, including Executive Council, have reduced the amount of information in their ministry business plans. In September we saw a comparable reduction in the scope of reporting in many ministry annual reports. This coincides with the usual regular changes in government organization and the scope of programs, but some of the changes require reconciliation between fiscal plans and estimates from last year to this year. In some cases there appears little correlation between the goals and the budget lines.

We find significant differences between the way ministries are reporting on spending for the same functions, such as the ministry support services in some cases covered under just two or three lines and in others there are seven or eight lines with no ap parent relation to the amounts involved. In the case of Executive Council core businesses and goals have been reduced from three to two, and some performance measures have been dropped.

For example, the branding initiative has become the promoting Alberta pr o- gram, and the performance measures have disappeared even though $5 million has been allocated to the program for this com- ing year. Can the Premier explain why all of these changes in reporting and budgeting have taken place and the differences in the m anner of reporting between last year and this? More importantly, can the Premier explain how this promotes transparency and accountabil i- ty and in particular the stated goals of performance measures such as understandability and comparability and completeness?

At a time when the government has been grappling with a record deficit and there is intense public interest in the gover n- ment’s actions to reduce the deficit without compromising programs valued by Albertans, why are we seeing less opportunity for pub lic scrutiny rather than more? Why has it become neces- sary for the Official Opposition to request information about spending through written questions rather than clear, consistent, comprehensive reporting in the first place?

Can the Premier e x- plain why no w, so late in his mandate, we’re seeing changes that make it so much more challenging for Albertans to hold the gov- ernment accountable on its spending? Last year in this forum the Premier stated that the government would be “back in the black in three years.” That was Hansard, March 9, 2010, page 368. How do the changes in the presentation of estimates affect the bottom line; that is, the current deficit and the timeline to be back in the black?

Last year in the government’s business plan there was a sect ion entitled The Premier’s Vision for the Future, with shared values in support of the vision. That

section has been dropped in the 2011- 2014 government business plan. Can you explain that? Given that the current Premier has announced that he will step dow n, to what extent can Albertans assume that the government’s priorities for the 2011- 12 fiscal year will continue through 2011-12, after he steps down? One of the better initiatives of the Executive Council in recent years was the development of the publi c agencies governance framework, one that we applauded, and the passing of the Alberta Public Agencies Governance Act for 2009.

I quote the framework documents: An Agency Governance Secretariat has been established to su p- port ministries and agencies in implementing the Framework by providing further advice, assistance and implementation tools. The Secretariat will be located in Executive Council and led in a way that promotes coordination, fosters a wide range of per s- pectives, and respects the role of the responsible minister. The work of the secretariat was reported in the most recent annual report of Executive Council, page 12.

Responsibility for the act was subsequently transferred to the Treasury Board toget h- er with the secretariat. Given that the public agencies governance framework, almost two years old, was an initiative of Executive Council, which has the role of providing policy support to the

610 Alberta Hansard April 12, 2011 government and policy co-ordination, can the Premier explain why the Alberta Public Agencies Governance Act has not yet been proclaimed? Has the initiative been sent to die in Treasury? Under the policy goal that government policy and planning are co-ordinated and effective: “Decision-makers need comprehensive and coordinated policy and planning . . . Ministries need analytical and coordination support to ensure that initiatives align with go v- ernment priorities.” With respect to policy development that aligns with government priorities, I want to raise health care.

One of Executive Council’s priority initiatives is to provide advice and analysis to support policy development that aligns with government priorities. Goal 2 in the government’s 2011-14 business plan is to “increase access to quality health care and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of health care service delivery.” In 2010 -11 the Premier’s vision for the future of Alberta included the goal of having “the best performing public health care system in Canada.” In 2010- 11 Albertans saw a profound mismatch between this priority and the actua l achievements.

We’ve talked about many of those issues here in the House. Can the Premier explain what advice and analysis Executive Council plans to provide in 2011-12 to ensure that “policy development . . . aligns with government priorities.” We saw in this House documentation, clearly reviewed by the cabinet, that indicated a phase 2 in development of our health care system that includes private options, insurance comp a- nies, user fees, these kinds of issues. That only came out through a secret document.

It raises questions about: just what is the plan for health care given the wait times, the concerns about quality of care, the lack of long -term care in the province, and cuts to prevention pr o- grams?

I think Albertans have a reasonable question that we are trying to reflect here with respect to leadership on health care policy and how Executive Council is or is not involved in esta b- lishing where we’re going in the health care system and how we can expect to see some better, clearer planning for the futur e that would ensure that Albertans, whether professionals or patients, have a sense of whether we’re moving towards a more sustainable, quality, accessible system or if, in fact, we’re going in another direction.

Can the Premier, then, tell us the purpose of this policy co - ordination role specifically in relation to our health care system? It’s obvious to most Albertans that the buck stops here. We have to assume that the health decisions that have been made, the health impacts that we’ve experienced, the demoralization of the health workforce, and the frustration of patients have to be addressed.

There’s a mismatch between what the Alberta Health Services Board is saying, what Alberta Health and Wellness is saying, and what I hear the Premier saying on a number of occasions. 3:20 Another area has to do with home ownership and safe commun- ities. Goal 1 of Executive Council is that government policy and planning will be co -ordinated and effective. The government makes efforts to communicate strategy, to stres s that it is one government, yet we constantly see that when it comes to matters that affect Albertans, the approach is simply not working.

Policy and planning appear to be not co-ordinated or effective. For example, the evacuation of residents from condominiums in Fort McMurray raised the anxieties of homeowners, as it has over the last 10 years, with the dream of home ownership. We found that Alberta Municipal Affairs is responsible for building codes, but municipalities are responsible for inspections. Albertans mak- ing the biggest purchase of their lives have to rely on home inspectors who fall under the doubtful purview of Service Alberta.

The Condominium Property Act is also the responsibility of Se r- vice Alberta, but the promised review of that act has been ongoing for years. A committee was struck to review residential constru c- tion issues three years ago, in 2008. Where is the policy co- ordination on standards, inspection, and outcomes? Where are the results? We’ve also seen a proliferation of cross-ministry committees and the creation of more advisory bodies as well as an extensive array of grant programs in support of cross -ministry initiatives. The safe communities initiative is just one example.

At a time when many areas of government are reducing spending on core programs, we see funding going to things such as community crime reduction projects instead of policing, where Alberta ranks 12 out of 13 among provinces and territories for police per population. My questions. Given the role of Executive Council in policy co- ordination can the Premier tell us what is being done to evaluate the value for money coming out of these cross-ministry programs? What is being done to evaluate the value for money in these cross - ministry programs?

What kind of cost -benefit analysis is being done to ensure that funding is not being taken away from pr o- grams that provide greater benefits to Albertans? How are these decisions being made? What are the criteria? With respect to the public affairs program goal 2 relates to government communications being co-ordinated and effective. Albertans need comprehensive, two -way communication about government programs and services that matter most to them. The Chair: Hon. member, the 10 minutes have been used up, so it’s time for our Premier to reply. Then you can continue on the next 10 minutes. Dr. Swann: Very good.

Thank you. Mr. Stelmach: I’ll try to cover all of the questions. In terms of priorities the budget responds to the priorities of government. If the budget is passed, then the priorities of this government will be met. We presently have oil estimated at $89.40. It did go up to as high as $116, $117, and today it’s down to $106 and may continue to drop. I believe a very conservative estimate of $89.40 is reaso n- able. If there is a considerable amount of hoarding that may happen at higher prices, I’m sure we’re going to see a drop in oil prices before we end the fiscal year.

It reminds me of when we were at $147 a barrel and all the opposition was calling for more spending. By the end of that year we were down to $35. We have a good budget in place. We also have a good way of tracking . It’s the best in Canada in terms of quarterly reports. With respect to where government money is going, I don’t know of anyplace else in Canada where you can go on the web and pull up where and to whom government cheques were issued, you know, even government aircraft manifests. You want to know where the ministers are flying? Go on the web. You can find out exactly that same day.

They don’t have to ask for information; that information is available immediately. All of the changes that were made have been very positive, so Albertans do know where their money is being spent. With respect to the documents, you know, for planning they’re much more concise. They’re readable. People can get more info r- mation from those documents, and the estimates are tied to the priorities of government. I know that the changes made will allow more Albertans to actually read the document because it is much more concise, and a person can read it in a much shorter period of time and get more information.

There were a number of questions in terms of policy co- ordination and outcomes. We have, for instance, the policy co -

April 12, 2011 Alberta Hansard 611 ordination office, the performance measures for 2010. The results will appear in the 2010-11 annual report. The last actual figures that we have currently available go to 2009-10. Satisfaction of policy co -ordination office clients with products and services. This measure rates the satisfaction of government clients with the products and services they received from the pol i- cy co-ordination office. From March 22 to April 12 a survey was conducted of government clients of the PCO. A total of 857 clients were invited to participate in a web -based survey.

Two hundred and nine responded. Eighty -one per cent of those who responded were very or somewhat satisfied. The se cond goal, that government communications are co - ordinated and effective. The Public Affairs Bureau is in the process of completing its performance measures for ’10-11. Again, they will appear in the 2010 -11 annual report. For actual figures we’ve got to go back, again, to ’09-10. The bureau has not reached the targets set in its performance measures, but those targets are very aggressive compared to other jurisdictions. We have come very close to achieving them.

We look at the feedback received and work hard to make improvements, strive to achieve the targets, and continue to look for ways to increase ratings; for example, by using emerging web technologies and improving two- way communications with Albertans. Public satisfaction with government communications. This meas- ure rates Albertans’ satisfaction with information they receive directly from the government about Alberta government programs and services. For the ’09- 10 results 1,008 adult Albertans were interviewed from April 22 to May 10. Figures show t he average results of a series of questions.

The average satisfaction rate was 64 per cent. The target of 71 may seem low, but it is fairly high for public satisfaction with government. Once again, it’s measuring how that information is presented, and in t his particular case it’s difficult to measure because it may be issues with political ideology and not necessarily in terms of the communications. Public satisfaction with the government of Alberta home page. Of respondents, again, 84 per cent found the h ome page to be useful, just below the target of 90 per cent. Government client satisfaction with the communications su p- port and services received.

Again, 1,193 clients were contacted via e-mail. Responses were received from 772. The figures reflect the average results of a series of questions on the various services provided by the Public Affairs Bureau. Ninety -four per cent of those responding were satisfied with the services and support they received, and the target we set was 95, which is quite extensive. There was, I believe, also the role of policy co -ordination in health. Executive Council assisted Health and Wellness to develop the Alberta Health Act, passed in the Legislature just last fall.

We provided the co-ordination through the very thorough process of decision-making through cabinet, caucus, and the legislative draft- ing. It’s

an act that was passed. With respect to the secretariat transfer, it was transferred to the Treasury Board April 1, 2010. It fits very well with the central agency role of the Treasury Board. It aligns with the ministry mission to promote effective and efficient government and the office of the Controller’s role of communicating on financial issues with agencies. We transferred 622,004 FTEs. What is cu r- rently in progress is the development of the regulations supporting the Alberta Public Agencies Governance Act. More time is needed. There are about 190 public agencies in Alberta.

Alberta public agencies administer about 50 per cent of the government of Alberta’s annual ope rating budget. The act builds on the public agency’s governance framework, which was released by the go v- ernment in 2008. It received royal assent on June 4, 2009. It has not been proclaimed. About 80 per cent of public agencies have made their mandate docu ments and codes of conduct publicly available. We’re working to complete that part. 3:30 With respect to Alberta Health Services, I mean, a lot has been talked about with respect to Alberta health. We have 102 acute - care hospitals in the province.

There are 6,800 acute-care hospital beds, 18,000 long -term care and supportive-living beds and spa c- es, and seven urgent -care centres. These are ’08 -09 figures because those are the last figures available: 1.9 million emergency visits, 163,000 urgent -care visits, 354,000 hospital discharges, 247,000 surgeries, over 50,000 births, 60 million laboratory pr o- cedures – 60 million – 147,000 MRI exams, 419,000 CT exams, approximately 10 million home -care hours, and 900,000 Health Link calls. More than 500,000 Albertans saw a physician for mental health concerns.

Of those who were surveyed about their satisfaction with mental health services, approximately 90 per cent indicated they were satisfied with the treatment received. Annually more than 45,000 cancer patients rec eive