Manitoba Hansard — Sitting 100B (40th Legislature, 2nd Session)

40-2-100b

Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

Second Session - Fortieth Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Daryl Reid Speaker Vol. LXV No. 100B - 1:30 p.m., Thursday, August 29, 2013 ISSN 0542-5492

MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Fortieth Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ALLAN, Nancy, Hon. St. Vital NDP ALLUM, James Fort Garry-Riverview NDP ALTEMEYER, Rob Wolseley NDP ASHTON, Steve, Hon. Thompson NDP BJORNSON, Peter, Hon. Gimli NDP BLADY, Sharon Kirkfield Park NDP BRAUN, Erna Rossmere NDP BRIESE, Stuart Agassiz PC CALDWELL, Drew Brandon East NDP CHIEF, Kevin, Hon. Point Douglas NDP CHOMIAK, Dave, Hon. Kildonan NDP CROTHERS, Deanne St.

James NDP CULLEN, Cliff Spruce Woods PC DEWAR, Gregory Selkirk NDP DRIEDGER, Myrna Charleswood PC EICHLER, Ralph Lakeside PC EWASKO, Wayne Lac du Bonnet PC FRIESEN, Cameron Morden-Winkler PC GAUDREAU, Dave St. Norbert NDP GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Liberal GOERTZEN, Kelvin Steinbach PC GRAYDON, Cliff Emerson PC HELWER, Reg Brandon West PC HOWARD, Jennifer, Hon. Fort Rouge NDP IRVIN-ROSS, Kerri, Hon. Fort Richmond NDP JHA, Bidhu Radisson NDP KOSTYSHYN, Ron, Hon. Swan River NDP LEMIEUX, Ron, Hon. Dawson Trail NDP MACKINTOSH, Gord, Hon. St.

Johns NDP MAGUIRE, Larry Arthur-Virden PC MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Flor, Hon. Logan NDP MARCELINO, Ted Tyndall Park NDP MELNICK, Christine, Hon. Riel NDP MITCHELSON, Bonnie River East PC NEVAKSHONOFF, Tom Interlake NDP OSWALD, Theresa, Hon. Seine River NDP PALLISTER, Brian Fort Whyte PC PEDERSEN, Blaine Midland PC PETTERSEN, Clarence Flin Flon NDP REID, Daryl, Hon. Transcona NDP ROBINSON, Eric, Hon. Kewatinook NDP RONDEAU, Jim, Hon. Assiniboia NDP ROWAT, Leanne Riding Mountain PC SARAN, Mohinder The Maples NDP SCHULER, Ron St. Paul PC SELBY, Erin, Hon. Southdale NDP SELINGER, Greg, Hon. St.

Boniface NDP SMOOK, Dennis La Verendrye PC STEFANSON, Heather Tuxedo PC STRUTHERS, Stan, Hon. Dauphin NDP SWAN, Andrew, Hon. Minto NDP WHITEHEAD, Frank The Pas NDP WIEBE, Matt Concordia NDP WIGHT, Melanie Burrows NDP WISHART, Ian Portage la Prairie PC Vacant Morris

4653 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Thursday, August 29, 2013 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Mr. Speaker: Good afternoon, everyone. Please be seated. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Mr. Speaker: Seeing no bills, we'll move on to– PETITIONS Provincial Sales Tax Increase–Referendum Mr. Ian Wishart (Portage la Prairie): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. And these are the reasons for this petition: The provincial government promised not to raise taxes in the last election.

Through Bill 20, the provincial government wants to increase the retail sales tax, known as the PST, by one point without the legally required referendum. An increase to the PST is excessive taxation and will harm Manitoba families. Bill 20 strips Manitobans of their democratic right to determine when major tax increases are necessary. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to not raise the PST without holding a provincial referendum. This petition is signed by R. Childerhose, D. Hobson and K. Vivier and many, many more fine Manitobans. Mr.

Speaker: In keeping with our rule 132(6), when petitions are read they're deemed to have been received by the House. Provincial Road 520 Renewal Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. And the background to this petition is as follows:

(1) The rural municipalities of Lac du Bonnet and Alexander a re experiencing record growth due especially to an increasing number of Manitobans retiring in cottage country.

(2) The population in the RM of Lac du Bonnet grows exponentially in the summer months due to increased cottage use.

(3) Due to population growth, Provincial Road 520 experiences heavy traffic, especially during the summer months.

(4) PR 520 connects cottage country to the Pinawa Hospital and as such is frequently used by emergency medical services to transport patients.

(5) PR 520 is in suc h poor condition that there are serious concerns about its safety. We petition the Legislative Assembly as follows: To urge the Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation to recognize the serious safety concerns of Provincial Road 520 and to address its poor condition by prioritizing its renewal. This petition is signed by L. Johnston, B. Young, D. Beigrel and many, many more fine Manitobans. Reopen Beausejour's Employment Manitoba Office Mr. Blaine Pedersen (Midland): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly.

These are the reasons for this petition: The RM of Brokenhead and the town of Beausejour are growing centres with a combined population of over 8,000. Employment Manitoba offices provide crucial career cou nselling, job search and training opportunities for local residents looking to advance their education. The recent closure of Employment Manitoba 's Beausejour office will have negative consequences for the area 's population who will–who want to upgrade their skills and employment opportunities. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

4654 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA August 29, 2013 To urge the provincial government to reopen Beausejour's Employment Manitoba. And this petition is signed by N. Sprott, D. Scott, T. Wilton and many more fine Manitobans. Provincial Sales Tax Increase–Referendum Mr. Ralph Eichler (Lakeside): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. These are the reasons for this petition:

(1) The provincial government promise d not to raise taxes in the last election.

(2) Through Bill 20, the provincial government wants to increase the retail sales tax, known as the PST, by one point without the legally required referendum.

(3) An increase to the PST is excessive taxation that will harm Manitoba families.

(4) Bill 20 strips Manitobans of their democratic right to determine when major tax increases are necessary. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to not raise the PST without holding a provincial referendum. This petition is submitted on behalf of R. MacDougall, M. Martinez, J. Papro and many other fine Manitobans. Municipal Amalgamations–Reversal Mrs. Heather Stefanson (Tuxedo): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) The provincial government recently announced plans to amalgamate any municipalities with fewer than 1,000 constituents.

(2) The pro vincial government did not consult with or notify the affected municipalities of this decision prior to the Throne Speech announcement on November 19th, 2012, and has further imposed unrealistic deadlines.

(3) If the provincial government imposes amalgamations, local democratic representation will be drastically limited while not providing any real improvements in cost savings.

(4) Local governments are further concerned that amalgamation will fail to address the serious issues currently facing municipalities, including an absence of reliable infrastructure funding and timely flood compensation.

(5) Municipalities deserve to be treated with respect. Any amalgamations should be voluntary in nature and led by the municipalities themselves. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To request that the Minister of Local Government afford local governments the respect they deserve and reverse his decision to force municipalities with fewer than 1,000 constituents to amalgamate. And, Mr. S peaker, this petition is signed by S. Martiny, M. Maranz, S. Margrat and many, many other fine Manitobans. Provincial Sales Tax Increase–Referendum Mr.

Dennis Smook (La Verendrye) : I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. These are the reasons for this petition:

(1) The provincial government promised not to raise taxes in the last election.

(2) Through Bill 20, the provincial government wants to increase the retail sales tax, known as the PST, by one point without the legally required referendum.

(3) An increase to the PST is excessive taxation that will harm Manitoba families.

(4) Bill 20 strips Manitobans of their democratic right to determine when major tax increases are necessary. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to not raise the PST without holding a provincial referendum.

August 29, 2013 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 4655 This petition is signed by L. Fournier, E. Klassen, A. Dreger and many more fine Manitobans. Provincial Sales Tax Increase– Cross-Border Shopping Mr. Cliff Graydon (Emerson): Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. And these are the reasons for this petition:

(1) Manitoba has a thriving and competitive retail environment in communities near the –near its borders, including Bowsman, Swan River, Minitonas, Benito, Russell, Binscarth, St -Lazare, Birtle, Elkhorn, Virden, Melita, Waskada, Boissevain, Deloraine, Cartwright, Pilot Mound, Crystal City, Manitou, Morden, Winkler, Plum Coulee, Altona, Gretna, Emerson, Morris, Killarney, Sprague, Vita, Reston, Pierson, Miniota, McAuley, St. Malo, Foxwarren, Roblin and many others.

(2) Both the Saskatchewan PST rate and the North Dakota retail sales tax rate are 5 per cent, and Minnesota's retail sales tax rate is 6 per cent. The retail sales tax rate is 40 per cent cheaper in North Dakota and Saskatchewan and 25 per cent cheaper in Minnesota as compared to Manitoba.

(4) The differential in tax rates create a disincentive for Manitoban consumers to shop locally to purchase their goods and services. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To acknowledge that the increase in the PST will significantly encourage cross -border shopping and put additional strain on the retail sector, especially for those businesses located close to the Manitoba's provincial borders. And (2) to urge the provincial government to reverse its PST increase to ensure Manitoban consumers can shop affordably in Manitoba and support local businesses. And this petition is signed by M.

Wiebe, S. Courcelles, R. Arnold and many, many more fine Manitobans. * (13:40) Applied Behaviour Analysis Services Mr. Cameron Friesen (Morden -Winkler): Mr. Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. And the background to this petition is as follows:

(1) The provincial government broke a commitment to support families of children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, incl uding timely diagnosis and access to necessary treatment such as applied behavioural analysis, also known as ABA services.

(2) The provincial government did not follow its own policy statement on autism services which notes the importance of early intervention for children with autism.

(3) The preschool waiting list for ABA services has reached its high est level ever with at least 56 children waiting for services. That number is expected to exceed 70 children by September 2013 despite commitments to re duce the waiting list and provide timely access to services.

(4) The provincial government policy of eliminating ABA services in schools by grade 5 has caused many children in Manitoba to age out of the window for this very effective ABA treatment because of a lack of access. Many more children are expected to age out because of a lack of available treatment spaces.

(5) Waiting lists and denials of treatment are unacceptable. No child should be denied access to or age out of eligibility for ABA services. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To request that the Minister of Family Services and Labour consider making funding available to address the current waiting list for ABA services. And this petition is signed by J. Meglt, D. Bilodeau and B. McCallister and many, many others. Provincial Sales Tax Increase–Referendum Mr. Reg Helwer (Brandon West): Mr. Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. These are the reasons for this petition:

4656 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA August 29, 2013

(1) The provincial government promised not to raise taxes in the last election.

(2) Through Bill 20, the provincial government wants to increase the retail sales tax, known as the PST, by one point without the le gally required referendum.

(3) An increase to the PST is excessive taxation that will harm Manitoba families.

(4) Bill 20 strips Manitobans of their democratic right to determine when major tax increases are necessary. We petition the Legislative Assemb ly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to not raise the PST without holding a provincial referendum. Signed by E. Fowler, R. Fowler, L. Fowler and many other fine Manitobans. Mrs. Leanne Rowat (Riding Mountain): Mr. Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. And these are the reasons for this petition: The provincial government promised not to raise taxes in the last provincial election.

Though Bill 20– or through Bill 20, the provincial government wants to increase the rail sales tax, known as the PST, by one point without the legally required referendum. An increase to the PST is excessive taxation that will harm Manitoba families. Bill 20 strips Manitobans of their democratic right to determine when major tax increases are necessary. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to not raise the PST without holding a provincial referendum. This petition's signed by M. Stone, E. Zimmerman, W. Shwaluk and many more fine Manitobans. * * * Mr.

Ron Schuler (St. Paul): Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask leave to read the petition for the honourable member for Arthur-Virden (Mr. Maguire). Mr. Speaker: Is there leave for the honourable member for St. Paul to read the petition into the record for–on behalf of the honourable member for Arthur-Virden? [Agreed] Municipal Amalgamations–Reversal Mr. Schuler: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and I wish to pres ent the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) The provincial government recently announced plans to amalgamate any municipalities with fewer than 1,000 constituents.

(2) The provi ncial government did not consult with or notify the affected municipalities of this decision prior to the Throne Speech announcement on November 19th, 2012, and has further imposed unrealistic deadlines.

(3) If the provincial government imposes amalgamations, local democratic representation will be dram–drastically limited while not providing any real improvements in cost savings.

(4) Local governments are further concerned that amalgamation will fail to address the serious issues currently facing municipalities, including an absence of reliable infrastructure funding and timely flood compensation. Municipalities deserve to be treated with respect. Any amalgamations should be voluntary in nature and led by the municipalities themselves.

We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To request that the Minister of Local Government afford local governments the respect they deserve and reverse his decision to force municipalities with fewer than a thousand constituents to amalgamate. This is signed by M. Santos, R. Swiegers, M. Shoemaker and many, many other fine Manitobans. TABLING OF REPORTS Hon. Steve Ashton (Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act): Pleased to table the first -quarter report of Manitoba Lotteries for the three months ending June 30th, 2013.

August 29, 2013 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 4657 Mr. Speaker: And, in accordance with sections 11 and 28(1) of The Auditor General Act, I am pleased to table the auditor 'genedal 's' report on the Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet. Any further tabling of reports? Introduction of Guests Mr. Speaker: Prior to oral questions, I'd like to draw the attention of honourable members to the gallery where we have with us today Hardev Sandhu, who is the guest of the honourable member for Radisson (Mr. Jha). Mr. Sandhu is the president of the India Association of Manitoba.

On behalf of honourable members, we welcome you here today. And prior to oral questions, I'd like to draw the attention of honourable members to the Speaker's Gallery where we have with us today Thomas Seale, who has been a page with us in the Assembly. Thomas will be attending the University of Manitoba this fall and will be studying biomedical engineering, and Thomas's ultimate goal is to become a surgeon. Besides his work in the Legislature, Thomas worked at a food store and has maintained a 92 average. On behalf of honourable members, best wishes, Thomas. Thank you for your service.

ORAL QUESTIONS Provincial Economy Tax Increases Mr. Brian Pallister (Leader of the Official Opposition): I hope the Premier can get 92 on this accountability quiz, Mr. Speaker. Manitoba's small-business confidence and hiring intentions have been falling for months now, while nationally these indicators continue to rise. And we see the problem; we understand the problem. This government is cutting the income of Manitobans because they don't get that the fact of the matter is they aren't the builders of this province, but they want the credit for playing at building this province.

But by cutting Manitobans' incomes as they are doing with their high-tax strategies, they are taking the tools away from the very people that could build the future of our province. So I'll start by telling the Premier we've reduced the degree of difficulty here so that it's just yes -or-no questions today. And the biggest determinant of an economy's success is discretionary income, yes or no? Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): I thank the member, Mr. Speaker. I noted he didn't put on the record the Conference Board of Canada's prediction that there'll be a 3.8 per cent increase in disposable income among Manitobans.

I note he's had no interest in increasing the minimum wage in Manitoba. And 'yester'–just yesterday he tabled a document of all of our announcements, of which, he said, the overwhelming majority, well over two thirds, were unnecessary. So now he's doubled down on cuts in Manitoba. In addition to his $550 million before we rolled out the spring infrastructure program, he's now saying, let's cut about $800 milli on out of the infrastructure program. That would have created 125,000 jobs. He can add another 75 to 80 thousand people on the unemployment rolls. That's really good for Manitoba, Mr. Speaker.

Inflation Rate Mr. Pallister: If the Premier ever wants to pass one of these, he's got to improve his listening skills and his reading skills, evidently. * (13:50) The reality is that Statistics Canada reported in July that there was one province in Canada –one province–that led the way on inflation, that it was the highest rate. This isn't a prediction, this is a fact: from last July to this July, 3 per cent increase in inflation. That's two and a half times the national average. I want to ask the Premier: Was that province Manitoba? Yes or no? Mr. Selinger: Mr.

Speaker, the member missed the earlier announcement this week that in the province of Manitoba the bundle of home heating, electricity and auto insurance rates are the lowest in the country–lowest in the country –on average $2,100 lower than the Canadian average. That's the affordability advantage by not privatizing Manitoba Hydro, by not privatizing the public auto insurance corporation, which some members opposite ran on in the last election as party policy. Keeping Crown corporations accountable to the people of Manitoba adds $2,100 to their bottom line on affordability every year.

This side of the House will maintain that affordability advantage. Mr. Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, the final supplementary.

4658 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA August 29, 2013 Wage Increases Mr. Pallister: Well, it'd be great if the 'provin'–if the Premier would keep one of his promises, and low utilities bills, bundles, fine, except it's only a little bundle. Manitoba taxpayers pay a bigger bundle. They pay tax, and the tax is the Saskatchewan comparison, for example, on this bundle's great; Manitoba's are cheaper than Saskatchewan's utility bundle. That's wonderful, except their taxes are a lot less than ours. So, Mr.

Speaker, actually, a middle-income family in Saskatchewan loses a couple of thousand dollars versus–when all are concluded. So the fact is, Manitobans have to pay all their bills, not just the little convenient piece that the government likes to talk about. Now, yesterday StatsCan numbers on payrol l earnings were released, and one province had 0.4 per cent growth, which is one seventh as much as their inflation rate. That was a hint. Now, this province was at the bottom of the barrel when it came to wage increases. Was this province Manitoba? Mr. Selinger: Mr.

Speaker, obviously, the member missed the full story where we've got an additional 14,000 jobs in the private sector in Manitoba, where new housing starts are leading the country. Residential real estate transactions are leading the country, more people working, more people investing in housing and assets for themselves, more people able to afford sending their children to school as the fall comes up as we build the future of Manitoba. The member opposite –the member opposite – what was his ap proach when he was in office?

Privatize the telephone system, take the rates from the third lowest to among the highest in the country; disposable income, flat or shrinking under his time in office; minimum wage, maybe adjusted 25 cents one every–once ever y four years; a widening income gap, people poor while a very few are richer. Not the way forward in Manitoba. Mr. Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question. Tax Increases Provincial Revenues Mr. Brian Pallister (Leader of the Official Opposition): The Premier's degree might have been from the London School of Economics –wasn't in economics.

Look, when you have salaries that are going up by 0.4 per cent and your inflation's going up by seven times as much, you aren't cr eating higher incomes for Manitobans. You're kicking Manitobans, and that's what this government's doing with its strategies. It's reducing the income of working Manitobans and their families. Now, let's go on to tax revenue, own- source tax revenue.

With last year's broken promise, tax hikes by this government –and this is a Premier who promised not to raise taxes and then did weeks later– gas is more expensive, beer and wine, haircuts, insurance on your home, on your life, car insurance – car registration, I 'm sorry, PST was broadened by this government, and it's had an amazing impact on Manitoba families, a negative impact as can be seen by these emerging statistics I quoted earlier. Was this tax hike, which the Premier promised not to make, was it the biggest tax hike since Howard Pawley? Yes or no? Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): Mr.

Speaker, the largest tax reductions in the history of this province have been made under this government –made under this government. An average family pays about $2,500 less a year in taxes than when the member was a senior Cabinet minister in the Filmon government, which he described as the best government in the history of Manitoba. That's when people–32,000 people left the province. Every year hundreds of civil servants we re fired. Minimum wage was repressed every single year while they were in the Province. The poor got poorer, and a very small 1 per cent got richer.

That was his approach to governing, not one that's good for the future of Manitoba. Mr. Pallister: It'd be good if the Premier tried a little harder. It's apparent that his three Rs are retro, rhetoric and ribbon cutting, Mr. Speaker. That's all he's got. That's all he's got left. Let's recap if we may: the lowest wage growth in Canada, the highest inflatio n rate. The highest inflation rate and the lowest wage growth, and the highest tax hikes. Add that up. What does it mean? What does it mean for the people of Manitoba? Tougher times, tighter times, and the PST going up a point adds to that damage.

August 29, 2013 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 4659 Now, w ho's got the highest projected tax increase revenues in this country, at 22 per cent, at double the national average? Would that be Manitoba? Yes or no? Mr. Selinger: Mr. Speaker, we've just seen another example of voodoo economics from the Leader of the Opposition. His numbers cannot be confirmed by any professional economist in Canada, Mr. Speaker. No professional economist in Canada will substantiate the allegations he's made. Once again, he's playing with numbers to serve his political purposes. We've seen him do that throughout the entire session.

Our objective : build the future prosperity of Manitobans. Start by building Manitoba Hydro, which he wants to cancel. Improve the security of Manitobans by building flood protection, which he doesn't want to do, the same thing he did with the floodway in Winnipeg when he called for a halt on it. Educate more Manitobans so they have the skills to do the jobs that are growing in Manitoba, something he doesn't want to do, with his across -the-board cuts to educ ation, his across -the-board cuts to early childhood development, his across -the-board cuts to daycare, his across-the-board cuts to health care.

That is not the future, Mr. Speaker. That's doubling down on punishing Manitobans. Mr. Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary. PST Increase US Border Delays Mr. Brian Pallister (Leader of the Official Opposition): Well, punishing Manitobans is exactly what this government's doing. And when you use Statistics Canada numbers, you don't expect the premier of a province to jump up and call them a right-wing think tank, okay? The reality is the Premier can't argue against the facts, not effectively. He just has to resort to rhetoric, as he does.

He just has to resort to comparisons with 20-year-ago governments, which he does. And the reality is his response is not appropriate f or the people of Manitoba who are struggling under this government's policies. Now, the natural response for smart shoppers is to get a deal, and Manitobans are smart shoppers. The NDP response is to issue a highway traffic condition report for US I -29 urging Manitobans this weekend to expect long delays due to the construction of an additional northbound lane to accommodate more Manitoba travellers returning with their purchases.

I want to ask the Premier –and try to get this one right, please –the PST hi ke, will it increase border waits? Yes or no? Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): Mr. Speaker, the member's sanctimonious approach to these questions really speaks volumes why he left the profession of education. It's not a very effective method of either teaching or learning. Mr. Speaker, what have we seen here?

We've seen a government committed to growing the economy in Manitoba, and we're getting record growth, record number of housing starts in the province, increasing people who are employed in Manitoba, a growing population, all of which bodes well for the future of Manitoba. What does the member opposite want to do? Yesterday he released all the announcements and commitments we've made to build infrastructure in Manitoba and he said two thirds of them we re unnecessary, Mr. Speaker. So he wants to put another $800 million of cuts on top of the $550 million of cuts that he promised when he came into the session.

That means more people losing their jobs. That means less people having good public services. Th at means or –more uncertainty in the province of Manitoba. That is not the future; that's the retro approach of the Leader of the Opposition. Provincial Economy Inflation Rate Mr. Cliff Graydon (Emerson): Mr. Speaker, Stats Canada recently released cost -of-living numbers in Manitoba, and once again the spenDP find themselves at the bottom of the barrel. High taxes, high inflation, low business confidence and more and more people leaving this province are this government's record.

And now, for the fifth consecutive month, small-business optimism is down in this economy, unless, of course, you're shredding government contracts. It's clear that the risk capital is leaving this province. Mr. Speaker, when will this government let Manitobans and businesses decide what to do with their own money, rather than taking every single dime from them?

4660 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA August 29, 2013 * (14:00) Hon. Steve Ashton (Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation ): Well, Mr. Speaker, I think he–the member opposite is completely ignoring the fact that one of the keystones of this budget has been the kind of investment in the future of this province that's key to all businesses, small businesses –where, by the way, we've eliminated the small-business tax– and businesses throughout the province.

And I find it interesting that the Leader of the Opposition, who a few moments ago was again auditioning to be the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire quiz host–by the way, the last one in Canada was Pamela Wallin –I think he's well suited for that part of the job. You know, he completely ignored the fact that this long weekend people will be travelling on Highway 75 where we've seen a record investment. We took a highway which was an embarrassment under the Conservatives; we've made it a model for this province. Mr. Graydon: Well, Mr.

Speaker, the NDP's spinners must redact or shred the numbers so that the minister can either ignore or hide whatever he doesn't like to see. Inflation is the highest in the country. Taxes have seen the biggest increase in a generation, and Manitobans have had the worst average weekly earnings growth in the country. John McCallum, an economist at the University of Manitoba, says that, and I quote, having the highest inflation rate in the country by far and the lowest weekly earnings increases is an absolute terrible cocktail for creating a strong economy. When will this Minister of Finance (Mr.

Struthers) listen to the economists and to Manitobans instead of the Premier (Mr. Selinger) of this province? Mr. Ashton : Well, Mr. Speaker, when it comes to the Manitoba economy, our actions of government speak volumes. Their words mean nothing, because when they were in government in the 1990s, we, you know–and I know members opposite applaud for the Filmon government, but, you know, I noticed even the leader of the– [interjection] And by the way, there's a club in Osborne that's having a retro '90s dance night later on. It's Thursday.

You know, the fact is we had low and no growth; we've had some of the best economic growth in the last 30 years in the last decade in this province. And I want to compare our agenda and their agenda. Our agenda is to develop our potential, including hydro; they would shut it down. Ours is to invest in infrastructure, a record– Mr. Speaker: Order, please. The minister's time has expired. Mr. Graydon: And the best economic growth has actually ended up being doubling the debt of the province of Manitoba. Mr.

McCallum went on further to add that the PST increase will add more fuel to the inflationary fire and will damage the economy long -term. Manitobans are being forced to curb their own spending to help the spenDP dig themselves out of an economic hole that this Premier and the Finance Minister have created. Why are Manitobans being forced to pay for this spenDP government's lies, mismanagement, political activities and broken promises? Mr.

Ashton : I think Manitobans know that one of the reasons we had su ch a poor record in the 1990s, when the Leader of the Opposition was a key Cabinet minister, was because they failed to invest in our infrastructure. It's a record this year. It was $85 million when they were in government; it's $468 million this year. Tha t's the kind of difference we're making. Mr. Speaker, in our first decade, we built, in partnership with NCN, we built the Wuskwatim hydro dam. What do they want to do? They want to shut down Conawapa and they want to shut down Keeyask even before it's st arted.

We have, in addition to all those investments, some of the lowest utility rates –in fact, the lowest utility rates –in the country because of the actions of this government. So the members opposite can talk all they want. They can applaud all they want for Gary Filmon. The bottom line is– Mr. Speaker: Order, please. The honourable member's time has expired. STARS Helicopter Service Quality Assurance Review Mr. Cameron Friesen (Morden -Winkler): There are questions arising about the safety of STARS in the province of Manitoba.

We've learned this week of one –at least one –new incident that was not previously disclosed, and there are probably others.

August 29, 2013 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 4661 And yesterday the First Minister said that in Manitoba critical incident reviews take place where there is concerns about a patient's quality of health care and that also applies to STARS. The First Minister also said yesterday that STARS' contract has compliance requirements. My question for the Minis ter of Health is: Who conducts the quality assurance reviews for STARS? Hon. Theresa Oswald (Minister of Health): Yes, I thank the member for the question.

It does offer me an opportunity to make some corrections in some items that were reported by members opposite. First, I want to let the member opposite be aware that, indeed, there are two critical incident investigations under way, one that has been portrayed in the media and, indeed, another critical incident that STARS themselves came forward and asked to have investigated. That information was disclosed to the patient, Mr.

Speaker, and to their family, as is appropriate under the critical incident legislation, which, I would remind the member opposite, was unanimously supported by all members of this Legislature. Mr. Friesen: Well, Mr. Speaker, let's be clear. A critical investigation–a critical incident investigation looks into a system failure and asks what happened and when–what can we do to make sure it doesn't happen again. A quality assurance review assesses the performance of a service like STARS in delivering services of a standardized quality.

Now, the First Minister said yesterday that quality assurance reviews are done as a matter of routine for all health -care services, including STARS. But , Mr. Speaker, there's a problem here with transparency and accountability. The minister procures STARS, she oversees STARS, and now, it seems, she tells us that she will directly assure the quality of that service. Can the minister explain: How is that not a conflict of interest? Ms. Oswald: I'm very pleased that the member today will acknowledge the words that I have spoken in the Chamber.

Yesterday, the member got up and asked me if I had confidence that STARS was providing good service. I stood in my place, Mr. Speaker, and I said, yes, I do. Moments later, the member opposite went into the hallway, spoke to a television interviewer, and it was run last night. When asked the question, the member said, the minister refuses to say that she has confidence in STARS. I want to say very clearly that not only is that wholly inappropriate, but it's also misleading to Manitobans who count on this critical service.

I will say to the members opposite that medical professionals and, indeed, members of the re gional health authorities and Manitoba Health do quality assurance and critical incident investigations as appropriate. Mr. Friesen: Mr. Speaker, it would seem that what the minister refuses to acknowledge is that Manitobans deserve to know that the STAR S system is being delivered to the highest standard possible. Mr. Speaker, this minister has a lot –made a lot of mistakes when it comes to STARS. She did not tender this 10- year, hundred-million-dollar contract.

She indicates or seems to indicate that qu ality assurance reviews will be done in -house by the Health Minister. And she is reluctant to ensure that the public has the opportunity to learn about the recommendations that come out of these critical incidents with STARS. Mr. Speaker, how can the minister defend such a lack of transparency? Ms. Oswald: Well, Mr. Speaker, some time when we're allowed to have more than 45 seconds, I will read to you the list of incorrect information that the member has put on the record this session. This might be the greatest.

I will say to you that our public reporting and transparency record on critical incidents, indeed, is observed by members across the nation. The CEO of the Saskatchewan Health Quality Council, Bonnie Brossart, says, in Saskatchewan we're committ ed to growing a culture of safety across our health system. Perhaps a good way to start is walking the talk– would be to follow Manitoba's lead and be absolutely transparent. Deputy Premier FIPPA Redaction Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): Mr. Speaker, on more than one occasion we had asked, was the decision to redact the minister's inflammatory comment covered under

section 23(1)(

a) of the act, to protect against material that would reveal advice, opinions, proposals,

4662 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA August 29, 2013 recommendations, analyses or policy options developed by or for the public body or a minister. Can the Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism (Ms. Marcelino), the minister in charge of the act, tell the House: What part of

section 23(1)(

a) would the redacting of the Deputy Premier's (Mr. Robinson) comments fall under? Hon. Jennifer Howard (Minister of Family Services and Labour): I believe this question has been asked and answered a number of times in this House. The way that FIPPA works is–our understanding is that those responses–and the member opposite has quoted the

section of the law that this response was made under–those responses are made and formed by senior civil servants. That's the way that it works. I would draw to his attention, in the past, I remember before, when we were in opposition and sending in a request –a FIPPA request to the government for a wait -list, for health -care wait-lists, you know what the answer was, Mr. Speaker? No such information exists. * (14:10) Mr. Ewasko: We've been asking, but we're not getting any answers. The Premier (Mr.

Selinger) told this House, when asked whether the statement which was redacted was the opinion or the advice of the government or the minister or himself, and he answered no. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism: Why are they hiding behind the act? Or do they feel, once again, that they are above the law? Ms. Howard: Mr. Speaker, I think, as has been said in this House many times, the Deputy Premier has expressed his regret for those words. I have been proud to serve with the Deputy Premier for many years.

I know as someone who has worked in the area of preventing domestic violence for most of my life, I know as somebody whose family used the services of a women's shelter, I know that the Deputy Premier is an ally in that fight. I have no doubt about that. Mr. Speaker, I would say, in response to the question, again, you know, it's interesting that when they were asked for information about health- care wait-lists, which you would think that they would have, that they would be keeping, they denied any of those wait- lists exist. Today, you know what?

You could go on the Internet and find that information; you don't have to FIPPA it. Mr. Ewasko: It seems that the Government House Leader likes the movie Back to the Future as well. Mr. Speaker, it's clear that the Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism has lost control of her department, if she had it in the first place. The government won't answer questions in QP, so we as opposition have to use the FIPPA process to get factual answers to our questions. We have seen proof in the last few days that the FIPPA process has been compromised. Mr.

Speaker, will the Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism admit that her department did, in fact, cover up for the Deputy Premier and is using the act as an excuse? Ms. Howard: Mr. Speaker, again, this question's been asked and answered many times in this House. The decision that was made was made in accordance with the act. Those decisions on how FIPPAs are handled are made by senior civil servants in the department.

There is more openness and transparency from this government than has ever been seen in the history of Manitoba in terms of the information that is routinely released, not only through FIPPA but the information that you c an go online and find, information that the previous government, of which the Leader of the Opposition was a proud member of Cabinet, denied even existed. They wouldn't give you information on how long a wait-list might be for a health -care procedure. They 're–they denied they even kept that information. That's the kind of cover-up that those members were engaged in.

So I guess if that's they –if that's the way they believe government should work, I can understand where these questions are– Mr. Speaker: Order, please. The minister's time has expired. Deputy Premier FIPPA Redaction Mr. Reg Helwer (Brandon West): Mr. Speaker, the questions, indeed, have been asked, but they have not been answered.

August 29, 2013 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 4663 Manitoba's freedom of information law and regulations allow the government to redact information if it is the opinion of the government or advice to the government. The Premier (Mr. Selinger) is on the record saying that the Deputy Premier's (Mr. Robinson) racist comments were neither advice to nor the opinion of the government. The Premier also stated that this was a standard repo–response to a FIPPA request. If that is the case, is it the standard response of this government to hide racist comments made by a senior minister? Hon.

Jennifer Howard (Minister of Family Services and Labour): Well, Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to stand up and talk a little bit more about what the opposition actually believes about FIPPA. You know, it's interesting that during the week that access to information is talked about, the Right to Know Week, do you know how the members opposite decided to recognize that week and celebrate it? Well, they tried to amend the municipal conflict-of-interest act to let municipalities off the hook on any kind of disclosure for another year.

They used t hat week to tell citizens that you don't have the right, actually, to get information from the municipal level of government. That's their commitment to transparency. We take transparency very seriously on this side. Mr. Helwer: Mr. Speaker, Manitobans have now come to expect that if they place a request for information under the freedom of information law, portions of that response will be blacked out, removed or not provided at all. It is the standard response of this NDP government to hide racist comments made by a senior minister. What else are they hiding? Ms.

Howard: When we came to government –and I think part of that was probably informed by time in opposition when we were repeatedly stonewalled on information that you could reasonably expect that a government would be keeping. I mean, they had no problem standing up every day saying that health care wait -lists were not a problem, but when they were asked for any information that they might have based that opinion on, their response was, we don't have it, we don't have any information, we're not keeping any information.

So coming from that kind of experience, in 2000, when we became government, we actually extended freedom of information legislation to public bodies that the opposition when in government had specifically excluded –municipal governments, school divisions, universities, health regions–so that people could get the kind of information that they're looking for. But we've gone beyond that. There are now regular releases of information that previously– Mr. Speaker: Order, please. The minister's time has expired. Mr. Helwer: Mr. Speaker, Manitobans no longer trust what this government says.

And its actions in hiding information further betray this trust. It is the standard response o f this NDP government to hide racist comments made by a senior government minister. What else are they hiding from Manitobans? Ms. Howard: I know the member opposite may be trying to play at being Woodward or Bernstein, I don't know which one over there. But, really, there is no problem looking at our government when it comes to its history of access to information and the members opposite.

We also have on this side of the House –it is now the practice that anybody who's dissatisfied with a disclosure ma de under FIPPA has a right of appeal, can go to the Ombudsman and express that dissatisfaction and the Ombudsman will look into that. We also, for the first time, have made things available like ministerial expenses, made that public online. You can go a nd look that up. Under the previous government, when the Leader of the Opposition was a minister, he never made his expenses public; that wasn't something that he thought was appropriate to do. So our transparency, Mr. Speaker– Mr.

Speaker: Order, please. The minister's time has expired. Expectant Mothers DHA Levels Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Mr. Speaker, school is starting next week for many children in Manitoba, and we need to focus here on what

4664 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA August 29, 2013 makes a difference in the cognitive and learning development of children. A psychological development study at New York University showed that man–of the many factors that could be involved, that four are most critical for cognitive development of children. One of these, interestingly, is ensuring tha t pregnant women and children are receiving sufficient levels of long -chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly one vital for brain development, docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA.

I would ask the Premier if he can help us and provide details on what proportion of pregnant mothers in Manitoba are deficient in DHA. Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): Mr. Speaker, unlike any other province in Canada, we actually have a prenatal benefit that's available to every pregnant mother in this province to ensure that they have proper nutrition and access to any nutritional supplements they might require. And that puts us ahead of any other jurisdiction. I know the member's aware of that.

If he has specific recommendations he'd like to make to the Healthy Child program on t he types of nutrition that should be available to people, we'd be pleased to receive it. Public health nurses do home visits out to these homes. Public health nurses are well informed of the requirements of young mothers. And if he has any additional information he'd like to share with them, we'd be happy to get it to them as soon as possible. Mr. Gerrard: The Premier well knows too many children are not even receiving those nutritional benefits.

And we need to make sure not only do they get the benefits but they're using them in ways that are going to be most effective. The Canada Food Guide says that pregnant mothers need adequate DHA during pregnancy. The international Perinatal Lipid Intake Working Group recommends a minimum of 200 milligrams per day of DHA during the latter half of pregnancy when the infant's brain is growing rapidly. Canadian studies show that the average DHA intake in pregnancy is far below international standards, averaging only 80 milligrams a day, less than half.

I ask the Premier: What is his plan to address the DHA deficiency present in too many in Manitoba? Mr. Selinger: Again, Mr. Speaker, the member knows that we have a strong complement of public health nurses in the province of Manitoba. They organize and provide many prenatal courses for young families, mothers in particular. They're able to provide all kinds of important information with respect to nutrition as well as other basic requirements for having a child and raising a child in Manitoba.

And, aga in, if the member thinks that there's a –something they should be aware of that would help them in providing good advice and good support to young pregnant mothers in Manitoba, we'd be happy to receive that information. * (14:20) But we do have a strong public health -care system in the province and we will continue to support it and not do the across -the-board cuts that we've seen the members opposite promise on so many times. They were planning to lay off public health nurses. That's part of their broad- based approach to cutting government: putting a chill on things and showing the tough love.

We're trying to support young families and we will continue to do that. Nutritional Deficiencies Call for Task Force Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Mr. Speaker , this is not just about pregnant women and infants. A randomized control trial of children who were slow in reading concluded–and I table it–that DHA supplementation offers a safe and effective way to improve reading and behaviour in healthy but underperforming children from mainstream schools. Mr. Speaker, I've called for an all -party task force to come up with a better plan to eliminate nutritional deficiencies in our province.

How many nutritional deficiencies do I need to bring forward before the Premier acts? I ask: Is the Premier ready to be part of an all-party effort to eliminate nutritional deficiencies in our province and help children, particularly those who are struggling? Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): Thank you for the

article from the leader of the opposition. Mr. Speaker, we have a Healthy Child Committee of Cabinet. It is the only one in the country that's r equired by legislation. We have a minister of children and youth and very capable staff

August 29, 2013 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 4665 over there that do a variety of longitudinal research studies on the effects and the positive effects of the investments we're making in young children and families in Manitoba, about $400 million, a very significant increase over the last several years, and targeted. Yes, with respect to nut rition, the member knows that we have over 900 community gardens in northern Manitoba now where there was just a handful a decade ago.

He knows that we're a lead investor in the Nourishing Potential Fund which provides a variety of different forms of food security throughout Manitoba, community gardens, breakfast programs, nutrition programs for children, and we have our public health nurses which we continue to fund. We're not cutting these programs. And even the Leader of the Liberal Party was not in fa vour of the budget. He was opposed to that and wanted to support the members of the opposition in cutting those programs. If he has good information, we'll be sure to pass it on to the people in the Healthy Child subcommittee of Cabinet.

They will take a look at whether the prenatal benefit and other programs we have can support this kind of research and whether it will have the desired outcomes. But we're all very interested in seeing– Mr. Speaker: Order, please. The First Minister's time has expired. Ste. Anne Hospital Expansion Announcement Ms. Sharon Blady (Kirkfield Park): Merci, Monsieur le Président. Translation Thank you, Mr. Speaker. English Our government is investing in better health care closer to home for rural Manitoba families, rather than freezing health capital expenditures as was done in the 1990s.

Aussi, notre gouvernement travaille avec les communautés rural es et avec la communauté francophone. Monsieur le Président, je veux poser une question au ministre de la Santé. Translation In addition, our government is working with rural communities and with the francophone community . Mr. Speaker, I want to put a question to the Minister of Health. English Could the Minister of Health please advise the House of the exciting new developments for the Ste. Anne Hospital? Hon. Theresa Oswald (Minister of Health): Merci, Monsieur le Président.

Cette extension va donner à la communauté accès aux services de santé plus près de chez eux. Translation Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This expansion will give the community access to health services closer to home. English Mr. Speaker, we were absolutely delighted to be with the community of Ste. Anne today to cut the ribbon on–[interjection] Listen to the reaction from members opposite who only know about cutting, know nothing about ribbons. We were there, Mr. Speaker, to open the two brand new state -of-the-art surgical suites that are going to bring even more surgeries to that region of the province.

We know that an additional surgeon has already been recruited as a result of this splendid facility. We give our thanks to the fabulous members of that community who have dedicated themselves to bringing more health care in partnership with– Mr. Speaker: Order, please. The minister's time has expired. Manitoba Hydro Biosecurity Protocol Mr. Blaine Pedersen (Midland): Manitoba Hydro has informed landowners about requiring easements for the circular Bipole III route. Now, biosecurity is a huge concern for landowners. Mr.

Speaker, can the Minister of Agriculture provide me with the –Manitoba Hydro's current biosecurity protocol for agricultural lands and livestock operations? Hon. Greg Selinger (Premier): Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question from the member opposite. The member knows full well that with respect to biosecurity and security general ly, one of the things Hydro wants to do is to have an additional bipole in

4666 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA August 29, 2013 the province which will provide much more security to the Manitoba economy, a $62- billion economy. And to have that additional bipole will make a phenomenal improvement in the secur ity of hydro transmission in Manitoba and other forms of security for the Manitoba economy. So that's one of the things that we're doing that the members opposite oppose. They would like to put Hydro at risk. They'd like to put the Manitoba economy at risk. Mr. Pedersen: Mr. Speaker, I'll try one more time. This'll–I'm talking about biosecurity, not electrical security.

This is biosecurity. This is disease control in –on both land and livestock. So, Mr. Speaker, I –apparently the Premier's unable to provide a current hydro biosecurity protocol. Can the Minister of Agriculture provide me with a contact within Manitoba Hydro? Maybe somebody in Manitoba Hydro knows about biosecurity. Can they provide me with a biosecurity control? Mr. Selinger: Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the member's question. He doesn't want to have security for Hydro.

He doesn't want to have security for the Manitoba economy, but I can assure him this: Manitoba Hydro, when they're moving around Manitoba to provide services, in cluding the maintenance of lines or any surveying that relates to that, they're very careful on approaching any private property. They're very careful and respectful of landowners. They do try to make sure that those landowners have access to electricity, but they're very mindful of biosecurity issues and will take those fully into account in the way they do their job. Mr. Pedersen: Mr. Speaker, I'll just try one more time.

This is about biosecurity, and I will make sure that I've sent the Premier's answ ers out to all the landowners–all this –the livestock operations who take biosecurity very, very seriously. But apparently the Premier doesn't care about agriculture and agricultural disease control. Will Manitoba–will he direct Manitoba Hydro to send me their biosecurity protocol that they will be using when they build Bipole III? Mr. Selinger: I know the member had a prepared question there; he didn't hear my last answer. My last answer was –my–the last answer was, Mr.

Speaker, that Manitoba Hydro's ver y respectful of biosecurity. They don't enter people's private property without first contacting them and making sure that there's a comfort level with doing that. When it comes to their heavy equipment, they do biosecurity procedures on heavy equipment to make sure it's safe when they move it from one piece of land to another. And they will certainly follow all the terms of the environmental licence which has recently been issued, which has even more conditions on it than were recommended by the Clean Environment Commission.

So I can assure the member opposite, as we secure energy for the people of Steinbach, for the people of Winkler, for the people of southern Manitoba, we will do it in a safe and responsible way, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker: Time for or al questions has expired. Order, please. Time for oral questions has expired. It's time for– MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Mahatma Gandhi Way Mr. Bidhu Jha (Radisson): There are many people in the world whose strength of character is an inspiration to me and to all of us. But no worldly being do I respect more than Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, known across the globe as Mahatma Gandhi.

Mahatma Gandhi embodied the philosophies of non-violence and advocated the social justice in the face of extreme adversity. Though –through his words and actions, he taught people from every nation, every race and every religion that peace and understanding can combat the world's injustices. This is why, Mr. Speaker, I'm so pleased that, earlier this month, a portion of York Avenue leading to the Canadian museum of human rights was renamed as Mahatma Gandhi Way.

Mahatma Gandhi symbolizes the fight for human rights, and this honorary street designation will help guide travellers across the world and our nation towards the Canadian museum of human rights. Nearby will stand the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. * (14:30) Mr. Speaker, one of the greatest honours in my life was taking

part in the unveilin g of this statue along with other dignitaries at The Forks in 2004. I thank Dr. Dhalla, whose work, along with the

August 29, 2013 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 4667 government of India, resulted in this historical donation to our city. It is spiritually uplifting to know that Mahatma is with us in our cit y, both through the statue and now the road that bears his name. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Winnipeg City Councillor Devi Sharma, Deputy Mayor Russ Wyatt, Mayor Sam Katz, as well as Dr. and Mrs.

Dakshinamurti, who's up in the gallery, and all the board members from the Mahatma Gandhi Centre of Canada who worked extremely hard to help deliver this dream long held by the community to honour the memory of Mahatma Gandhi. I would also like to thank the Indo -Canadian community leaders and all the hard -working people who believe in circulating Gandhi's ideals. This is a remarkable step to the road of success for those who–from some of us who dream about building a better world.

To everyone in the gallery and to all of us, thank you for being here and le t's–in Gandhi's words –be the change we wish the world to see. I request all members of this Chamber to stand and give a big applause to the people who have come here to witness this member's statement. Mr. Speaker: Order. Pinawa's Pen Pal Program Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): I rise today in the House to acknowledge the thriving Pen Pal program at F.W. Gilbert School in Pinawa. This exciting program connects young students with older adults in an effort to break down the barriers between age groups.

The Pen Pal program is organized by the Pinawa Age-Friendly Committee as part of their commitment to intergenerational participation. Three years ago, Pat Porth, a long- standing member of the Age -Friendly Committee, presented the idea to Darcia Light, pr incipal of the elementary school, based on her experience of being a pen pal in Whitemouth. The idea was well received and very quickly the program was established, and it's been successfully running at the school for the last three years. The program is a very simple: students and older adults exchange letters five to six times during the school year.

The program begins with the students writing an introductory letter to their pen pal and then the adults write back a response. Letters are exchanged around seasonal holidays like Christmas, Valentine's Day and Easter, so students are able to share their creativity with cards or drawings. The program has been described as a confidence builder for students by teaching them proper writing skills and how to pri nt and spell correctly. But the most exciting part of the program is when the students get the opportunity and meet their pen pals face to face.

Students will often prepare a video, perform a skit, play musical instruments or share what projects they have worked on at school throughout the year to their pen pal. Mr. Speaker, t he Pen Pal program in Pinawa is an excellent example of teaching intergenerational communication through showing participants the value in understanding each other's life experiences beyond age-based stereotypes. Mr. Speaker, I encourage the members of the House to congratulate the efforts of the Pen Pal program in Pinawa in breaking down age barriers.

I look forward to seeing the day when similar programs will take place across Manit oba. Thank you. Sher-E-Punjab Sports Club 5th Annual Sports Tournament Mr. M att Wiebe (Concordia): Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, the Sher-E-Punjab Sports Club hosted their 5th annual sports tournament at the Valley Gardens Community Centre. This family -friendly tournament bought –brought together people and teams from all over Winnipeg to play sports and spend time with the community. This year's two -day tournament was a great success. Hundreds of community members from all walks of life were in a ttendance.

The tournament included sports familiar to many Canadians, such as soccer, basketball, volleyball and field hockey, and also kabaddi, a game that originated in India but has gained many international participants. There was also a shot put, tug- of-war, three -legged races, foot races and a large dancing tent for everyone. Mr. Speaker, the Sher -E-Punjab Sports Club is an organization based out of East Kildonan. Led by Indo-Canadian parents in the community, the club provides opportunities for chil dren and youth to participate in a variety of sports.

Sports help to develop not only athletic skills, but also the leadership and team -building skills while promoting healthier lifestyles and creating safer, more connected communities.

4668 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA August 29, 2013 Mr. Speaker, nothi ng brings together a community like sports. Sport also helps build bridges and create connections between communities. Many people from across the city and from various backgrounds came out to join in the activities together. I want to thank the many orga nizers, sponsors and volunteers that helped make the tournament a success. Through their efforts, our community was able to come together for an exciting, fun and hot weekend of summer sports.

In particular, I'd like to thank the board of directors of the Sher -E-Punjab Sports Club, including Harkamal Saggi, Jagdev Buttar, Sinder Gill, Kuljit Gill, Baljinder Jawandha, Randy Dhaliwal, Baljit Sandhu, Dilbar Pandher, Nirbhai Dhaliwal, Karam Sidhu, Nachhater Sangha, Mohinder Sidhu, Kanwarjit Rakhra, Gurmit Dhill ion and Tony Panchhi. Congratulations on a great event. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Christie Lavallée Mr. Ian Wishart (Portage la Prairie): Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about an amazing young woman, Christie Lavallée of St.

Ambroise, who has 'quali'–recently qualified to participate in the 2014 North American Indigenous Games. Ms. Lavallée will compete with the Manitoba team in the sport of archery. This rem arkable young woman has been receiving awards and accolades in the past few years.

To name a few: the Manitoba Aboriginal Youth Achievement Award for her personal achievements, the Spirit of the Earth Award from Manitoba Hydro, an academic award from the southwest region and the Metis Role Model Awards, the National Aboriginal Role Model Award and t he Congress of Aboriginal Peoples' Annual Youth Achievement Award for culture, arts and dance. Not only is Christie culturally involved, she dances; she is a musician and an archer and a cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with cancer 15 years ago. She underwent surgery which left her visually impaired.

She has no vision in her right eye and only 40 per cent remaining in her left. But, even through all this, she has been able to do everything she would like to do. When Christie heads off to Regina in 2014 for the North American Indigenous Games, she will have the opportunity to compete with archers from all over Canada and the United States. One of the major reasons why Christie will be wearing the brown and gold for the first time is because she recently won the gold medal at the provincial championships for the junior women's compound division. Mr. Speaker, t his wasn't all from her standout summer.

She also won a silver medal in the junior compound category in the 2013 national outdoor 3-D archery–'co'–championships in Woodstock, New Brunswick, improving from a fourth- place finish in the 2012 tournament. Not only improving in the tournament, but she also moved into a different category where her distance maximum was increased by 50 yards. The Indigenous Games will be Christie's biggest competition yet. Throughout the many 'tourmanents' and competitions Ms. Lavallée has taken

part in, she has picked up may –different skills and met different archers who have given her pointers, which, in turn, has helped her make the best shots possible. Ms. Lavallée begins university in the next few weeks, but her plan will be to continue training throughout the fall and winter as much as possible, with the summer of 2014 high in her mind. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Great Manitoba Duck Race Ms. Deanne Crothers (St. James): Mr. Speaker, Assiniboine Park is one of Winnipeg's great community places.

Accessible to anyone, the park is a beautiful place to take in events, enjoy the outdoors, connect with friends and witness the diversity of our province. The Assiniboine Park Conservancy has been working hard over the past four years to redevelop Assiniboine Park, adding many new delights and attractions to this wonderful public space. Next weekend, the 'Assin iborne'–Assiniboine Park Conservancy is bringing back a favourite community event: the Great Manitoba Duck Race. On Saturday, September 7th, up to 30,000 yellow rubber duckies will flock to the Assiniboine River by the Portage Avenue footbridge.

Anyone is welcome to purchase a duck and enter the race, and prizes will be awarded to those lucky ducks that finish first. The event will raise funds for the Assiniboine Park Conservancy's wonderful redevelopment of Assiniboine Park and the Assiniboine Park Zoo, including the Journey to Churchill northern species exhibit now under construction. The most

August 29, 2013 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 4669 comprehensive project of its kind in Canada, Journey to Churchill aims to teach the public about issues related to polar bears, other northern species, conservation and climate change. Other projects that the Assiniboine Park Conservancy has undertaken in redeveloping the park have included the children's garden, popular with my own kids, the expanded duck pond and the Qualico Family Centre. The Great Manitoba Duck Race is also a great opportunity to enjoy some time in our park.

I'm attending the event with my children, and we are very excited for what is sure to be a real nail -biter of a race. In today's world, many of us find ourselves spending more and mor e time indoors, increasingly bombarded by technology, yet disconnected from our neighbours.

Events like the Great Manitoba Duck Race bring people in the community together to enjoy the outdoors, to have fun, to support improvements to the park, a place tha t is free, accessible and dedicated to the experience of being engaged with the outdoors. * (14:40) I would like to recognize the Assiniboine Park Conservancy for putting together this event and for their vision for Assiniboine Park to ensure it remains a treasure in the heart of Winnipeg. I invite other members to join me in –at the race, and may the best duck win. Thank you. Mr. Speaker: That concludes members' statements.

We'll now move on with grievances. Any grievances? Oh, sorry. The honour –before we get to grievances then, I didn't see the honourable member for Lac du Bonnet. Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): I'd like to stand and rise on a matter of public importance, please–urgent public importance. Mr. Speaker: Oka y. The honourable member for Lac du Bonnet, on a matter of urgent public importance. MATTER OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the member for La Verendrye (Mr.

Smook), in accordance with rule 36(1), that the regularly scheduled business of the House be set aside to discuss a matter of urgent public importance, namely, the provincial government's violation of the freedom of information and privacy protection act,

section 23(1)(a), redaction powers to protect itself from ministers who utter remarks that are inappropriate and the need for the Ombudsman to investigate the violation. Mr. Speaker: It's been moved by the honourable member for Lac du Bonnet, seconded by the honourable member for La Verendrye, in accordance with rule 36(1), it's been moved that the regularly scheduled business of the House be set aside to discuss a matter of urgent public importance, namely the provincial government's violation of the freedom of information and privacy protection act,

section 23 point (1)(a), redaction powers to protect itself from ministers who utter remarks that are inappropriate and the need for the Ombudsman to investigate the violation. And, before recognizing other members that may wish to add c ontributions to this matter, I should remind all members that, under rule 36(2), the mover of a motion on a matter of urgent public importance and one member from the other recognized parties in the House are allowed not more than 10 minutes to explain the urgency of debating the matter immediately.

As stated in Beauchesne citation 390, in quotations, urgency, end of quotations, in this context means urgency of immediate debate, not of the subject matter of the motion. In the remarks members should focus exclusively on whether or not there is an urgency of debate and whether or not the ordinary opportunities for debate will enable the House to consider the matter early enough to ensure that the public interest will not suffer. Are there further contributions? Mr. Ewasko: Mr. Speaker, in the next few minutes I'm going to try to prove to you and this House why this is a matter of urgent public importance.

All week we have been demanding that questions be answered surrounding the government's misuse of sec tion 23(1)(

a) of The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. They have had ample opportunity to answer as to which parts of

section 23(1)(

a) applies to the redacted comments made by the Deputy Premier (Mr. Robinson).

4670 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA August 29, 2013 There were many question s asked of the Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism (Ms. Marcelino), who is in fact the minister in charge of the act, Mr. Speaker. They have denied that these comments that the Deputy Premier (Mr. Robinson) had put in the record in the FIPPA request that was –that we've been talking about all week, Mr. Speaker. They were denying the fact that they were the advice, opinion, proposals, recommendations, analyses or policy options developed by or for the public body or a minister, all of which are exempt ions under the 20– under

section 23(1)(a). The point is, Mr. Speaker, is what else could it be? In fact, the FIPPA office had actually stated that the reason why the redacting was done was due to that particular

section of the act. And the fact is, is th at we've asked many questions throughout the week to–for the –whether it's the minister in charge of the act, Mr. Speaker, or any of the other ministers or Deputy Premier, to stand up and basically put forth how come that was blacked out. It just so happens that just because they used a less -than adequate Sharpie in their eyes, that is why it's come to our attention. The fact is that this government and their staff has broken yet another law, Mr. Speaker, and this requires immediate debate and action by thi s Legislature.

This is a grievance offence by this government and shows –in regards to some of our other conversations today –it shows complete and utter disrespect for this Legislature and what it stands for and the people–and for the people of Manitoba. It is clear that the only reason that these comments were censored was to protect the reputation of this government, the reputation of the staff involved and the reputation of an NDP MLA, who made racist and completely inappropriate comments as a minister of the Crown, no matter how much good this minister has apparently done in the past, according to the Premier (Mr.

Selinger), Mr. Speaker. And it seems to me that the fact of the actions of the past are irrelevant in this, because we have seen the actions o f the Premier taken upon backbenchers on the government side immediately. And–but what I want to do–or what I want to talk about for another couple of minutes, Mr. Speaker, is the fact that this is in addition to the comments put on t he record by the Deputy Premier. We're actually talking about something even bigger than that, and that's the lack of democracy. We want to talk about how many other times has this government abused

section 23(1)(

a) or any other part of The Freedom of Inf ormation and Protection of Privacy Act. How can this Legislature know and have confidence in the practices and procedures of a system which can be in complete shambles, have zero credibility? The entire FIPPA system has now come into question, as well as the so-called standard procedures and practices which this government seems to follow and hide behind, Mr. Speaker. The freedom of –freedom to information and transparency of government is an important part of our democracy, especially on this side of the House.

We, on this side of the House, as I stated earlier in question period, we ask questions to the government side and nine times out of 10–maybe even more than that–we don't get answers from the government side. So, then, what is–what tools do we have? What tools do other Manitobans have? They have the ability to do a FIPPA request and get a response back. And so, if we're now seeing over the past week that some of this process has been compromised, we're wondering what do us on opposition plus other M anitobans– what other avenues do we have to go?

The Premier has stated that FIPPA applicants have the right to appeal to the Ombudsman if they feel the response by government was lacking, inappropriate or if they feel something was being hidden. I know tha t the Government House Leader (Ms. Howard) had stated that i n an answer in QP today as well . The fact is when you get a document like that and it's blacked out, in the past, how do we know we're supposed to appeal it?

We are putting the trust in the servic es of the FIPPA office to be going and handling the process properly, and, so that when they go and they black out something, we're under – we were under the assumption that, under the act,

section 23(1)(a), it was to protect –the reason why it was blacked ou t–it was to protect against the material that would reveal advice, opinions, proposals, recommendations, analyses or policy options developed by or for the public body or a minister. If this would not have come to light, due to the lack of judgment as fa r as the quality of Sharpie –I'm not sure, Mr. Speaker–how would the public know to appeal it to the Ombudsman? Now, here comes another Pandora's box wide open, Mr. Speaker. The public, Manitobans,

August 29, 2013 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 4671 opposition members, even government people, are going to then now start questioning if they get a piece of FIPPA –a FIPPA document back after their request was made and it is blackened out, they're going to be automatically appealing it to the Ombudsman. Is the Ombudsman's office prepared to deal with this? * (14:50) It's going to be interesting in the next few minutes to hear somebody from the government side stand up and defend or answer some of these questions that have been brought up this past week. It's simple. The purpose of the MUPI today, Mr.

Speaker, is that we want the government to stop breaking the law. They broke the balanced budget legislation with 2013 budget, no legally required referendum; breaking the laws under FIPPA, inappropriately applying exemptions and censoring of information. The NDP have a history of shredding important and official documents, as well as missing video footage, has all become commonplace under this watch of the NDP. It is a blatant disregard for transparency and accountability. Over the course of this government's regime, the civil service has increasingly become politicized and partisan in nature.

This has led to cover -ups and other inappropriate actions, exactly as what has happened here in the misusing of

section 23(1)(

a) of the FIPPA. Mr. Speaker, this has to be stopped, and this is why I stand today. The neutrality of civil servants must be upheld, and these same civil servants and their actions must be held accountable to the people of Manitoba. There must be a full debate on this issue and a review of the gove rnment's procedures and processes when it deals with FIPPA requests by members of the public, as well as any public body. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hon. Jennifer Howard (Government House Leader): I am pleased to be able to get up and respond to the member's motion.

First of all, on the question of urgency, certainly this has been a topic of debate now for some time in the Legislature. For several days we have answered the member's questions about this topic, and certainly I do not see that the test for urgency is met, based on the fact that this is the first time that he's bringing it but also based on the fact there are many other ways that if you wanted to advocate for changes to FIPPA legislation, he has the power to do that in many places in this Leg islature. He has the power to do that in question period, as he's been doing.

He has the power to do it in any of the speeches he makes. He has the power to do that by bringing forward legislation if –as private members' bill, if he so chooses, and having a debate on that. So this requirement for urgency I don't believe is met. I will say I know we're not to actually debate the matter at hand. I'm going to be perhaps more careful than the member opposite to not do that, but I will say on this I think that members opposite are coming very, very close to attacking the civil servants who make these decisions based on the law, and that's how it works in departments, Mr. Speaker.

I don't know how it worked under them. I know how it works for us, and the decisions about what goes out in response to a freedom of information request are made by civil servants. They look at the law; they're trained to apply the law; those decisions are signed off by senior civil servants. That's how it works. And I get that they don' t–many, many times in this Legislature, when they don't like the answer to something, their response is then to go after civil servants or to go after independent officers. And I know that that's the way that they want to conduct themselves. I don't think it's entirely fair.

I spoke in question period, certainly, of the differences of opinion when it comes to freedom of information between our parties. I don't think I need to go into that again. I know the members don't like the answers they've been getti ng, but they have been getting answers.

And I don't believe that just based on the fact they don't like the answers they're getting, I don't believe that this meets the test of urgency and I don't believe that it's something that we need to set aside other very urgent business for this House such as getting on with the debate on Bill 18 and protecting kids who'll be going back to school soon. I don't believe that's something that we have to do today, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker: I want to start by thanking honourable members for their advice on the matter of urgent public importance raised by the honourable member for Lac du Bonnet (Mr.

Ewasko) on whether the motion proposed by the honourable member for Lac du Bonnet should be debated today. The notice required by rule 36(1) was provided. Under our rules and practices, the subject matter requiring urgent consideration must be so pressing that the public interest will suffer if the matter is not given

4672 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA August 29, 2013 immediate attention. There must also be no other reasonable opportunities to raise the matter. I have listened very carefully to the arguments put forward by honourable members. However, I was not persuaded that the ordinary business of the House should be set aside to deal with this issue today. Although this i s an issue that some members may have concerns about, I do not believe that the public interest will be harmed if the business of the House is not set aside to debate the motion today.

Additionally, I would like to note that there are other avenue –that o ther avenues exist for members to raise this issue, including question period and member statements, and, in fact, this issue has been raised in oral questions over the past several days. Therefore, with the greatest of respect, I must rule that this matter does not meet the criteria set out by our rules and precedents, and I rule the motion out of order as a matter of urgent public importance. * * * Mr. Speaker: Now we'll move on to grievances. Seeing no grievances– ORDERS OF THE DAY (Continued) GOVERNMENT BUSINESS Hon.

Jennifer Howard (Government House Leader): Mr. Speaker, would you please resume third reading debate on Bill 20. DEBATE ON CONCURRENCE AND THIRD READING Mr. Speaker: Now, resume debate on concurrence and third reading of Bill 20, The Manitoba Building and Renewal Funding and Fiscal Management Act (Various Acts Amended), and the amendment thereto, standing in the name of the honourable member for Midland, who has 17 minutes remaining. Bill 20–The Manitoba Building and Renewal Funding and Fiscal Management Act (Various Acts Amended) Mr.

Blaine Pedersen (Midland): Interesting, the Government House Leader was, in speaking to the MUPI or cause for th e MUPI, blamed us for not debating Bill 18, and then two minutes later stands up and calls Bill 20. So we know where the priorities–where their priority is. Their priority is to obtain more tax money for themselves, to pay them a vote–pay themselves a vote tax. And it's –there's no doubt about it, Mr. Speaker, this government is all about the money, but the difference is the money is for them, it's not for Manitobans. Mr.

Speaker, during question period, I had a guest up in the gallery, and she was watching question period, and she just sent me an email afterwards, and she says, thanks again for lunch and a show. She says, wow, what would they do without a past to refer to, and it was retros '90s day today. I think they batted a hundred per cent on mentioning the '90s with every non-answer that they gave. And so, you know, it –I can understand this, makes it easier for the spin doctors. Like, they don't have to think up anything original; just go back to the '90s and how about that.

And, instead of talking about their own record of mismanagement, I guess they will leave it up to us to do that, and, believe me, there is no shortage of material to talk about the mismanagement of this government. And, you know, Mr. Speaker, just going back to question period a gain, asking the government about biosecurity for agricultural land, fairly simple question, I thought. I thought it was a simple question. And he gets up and talks about electrical security. Either he didn't understand or he didn't hear. I gave him another chance. He still didn't understand. This is a serious issue for landowners.

It's the equivalent of me walking into your house with my muddy boots on and not thinking twice about it. Who would do that? Who would walk into someone else's house with muddy boots on and not even think twice about it? This is the same for landowners; whether it's plant diseases, whether it's animal diseases, they're very easily transferred. And our agricultural producers, be it –whether it's crop production or for livestock operations, are very, very sincere and very strict about biosecurity on their land and in their operations. * (15:00) And, Mr.

Speaker, to hear this government's flippant, negative attitude towards agriculture, towards private landowners, it is concerning. I t is concerning, and I know that the concern will be even more so when I send out that non- answer to the landowners. Mr. Mohinder Saran, Acting Speaker, in the Chair And when they read that the Premier (Mr. Selinger) of the province, the man in charge, doesn't even understand anything about biosecurity. And not

August 29, 2013 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 4673 only is he not interested–fine, be not interested if you don't want to be interested, but at least take it under advisement and ask someone –until he gets the note brought in, and then he gives anot her non- answer. Like, that is just totally wrong. And I know that the landowners who are affected by Bipole III will certainly not be at all heartened when they read that non-answer from the Premier (Mr. Selinger) about a serious concern for them. This –and it's just a reflection back again on this government. They really don't care.

This–it's been quite a week this week. We started out with racist comments from the Deputy Premier (Mr. Robinson) to be defended by the Premier, to be covered over by the freedom information office trying to redact comments that apparently they're – as the member for Lac du Bonnet (Mr. Ewasko) says, they should have bought a better Sharpie or something in order to make it cover over be tter. That's how we started the week. We learned later, as the week went on, we have the highest inflation across the country –and Manitoba now has the highest inflation, 3 per cent.

We learned that we have lowest wage growth, which translates into less mo ney for families. As we talked yesterday about school starting next week and a lot of parents out there buying school supplies, and now they're–you know, they have lowest wage growth, we have the highest inflation. And there's less money to be put into those households and into those school supplies and into the extracurricular activities that our children should be engaging in.

In–for–whether it be for the arts, or whether it be for physical ed– physical activities to promote better health, it's–those are i mportant to our children coming up in this province, and yet here we have less money into those families. And it's not just less money into the families, but it's the huge growth in income for this government – 22 per cent increase in income. Imagine what those families could do, as they're looking at back to school, if they had–suddenly they had a 22 per cent wage increase. It would make a huge difference for them.

But what are we getting out of this 22 per cent wage increase to the government, to this Province? It's a continuing parade of ribbon cuttings. And they're cutting ribbons using the money that those children and grand–and our grandchildren will have to pay, because somebody has to pay for that. I know this government doesn't care about tomorrow or the next day. They've only worried about today and themselves, but someone has to pay for this. In spite of a 22 per cent increase in their way –in their–in the income, the revenue to this government, we continue to have a $500- million deficit on an annual basis.

We continue to not only borrow more money in this province and go into debt farther, but this government is not repaying any debt. This is going to have serious implications down the road when interest rates do rise, and they –they're at historic lows now–interest rates will rise. How much and when, we don't know. We can only hope that it's not too much, because this province is going to feel that effects of that and Manitobans are going to feel that effects of that very quickly from a government that's out of control in their spending. They've maxed out their credit card.

There is no money at all left to rebuild Manitoba and to build on our core government services. They seem to have lost all track of reality from this government. And not only –and that's today's income. The 22 per cent rise in the revenues, this – today, and yet you go back to flood compensation, there are hundreds of Manitobans that have still not got flood compensation worked out with this – between this government and themse lves, from the 2011 flood. Two years and we still have over 2,000 people homeless from that flood.

In fact, I talked to another person this –just at noon down in the cafeteria, a fellow who used to live near me, and he was telling me that he bought a piece of property out between south–southeast of Ste. Rose, along Lake Manitoba. And he had just barely got his small property and he had a little bit of livestock there, and he was retired. He was on top of the world there, and then 2011 flood came along and his property is gone now and he's back living in Winnipeg.

And, you know, we didn't talk about the financial loss, but, obviously, the financial loss is there because he had invested in that property, he had put his retirement hopes in that property. And now–but being the upbeat person that he was, he says, well, there's also consolations in everything. He says, at least he's closer to his grandchild in Winnipeg now, being–having to live in Winnipeg, but you could tell that the hurt was there from him, that he–from losing his property and not being able to go back there. So, you know, and, again, this morning–Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation (Mr.

Ashton), maybe it was in question period today, he's talking about the rebuilding of 75 Highway, and I'm sure

4674 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA August 29, 2013 that all those cross -border shoppers that are headed down to North Dakota and Minnesota for the long weekend are certainly going to appreciate that upgrade to 75 Highway. And I know that they'll certainly be hoping that the lines aren't too long when they come back on Monday from their shopping, their cross-border shopping. This cross-border shopping comes at the expense of our local businesses, and it's going to hurt our local business. It's hurting them already. They're already feeling the pinch of that.

We've heard from different communities: the community of Roblin talking about the amount of shopping that's going– moved over to Yorkton and now they're treating the local stores as convenience stores. And this hurts local business, and it's money out of the Manitoba economy because when it's spent out of province it's gone. It's not going to recirculate here, so we need to–we need this government to at least begin to try to address this. They need to slow down their ribbon cutting and start thinking about the debt in this province, about their out-of-control spending.

Of course, we continue to debate Bill 20 and – which is actually ripping up the taxpayer protection act, and so Manitobans will know that we will be headed into even more tax incr eases once this government is able to get this bill through because that's–without taxpayer protection act –we should have been having a referendum right now on the –we should be out there debating a referendum rather than be debating Bill 20. And that's wha t the law is right now, and because Bill 20 hasn't passed, the law says that there should be a referendum prior to any major tax increase.

And yet here we are, debating a bill that's illegally–while they've illegally raised the sales tax and $5 million a week coming out of the Manitoba economy into this government's coffers to help their self-congratulatory ribbon-cutting parade, and that's hurting Manitoba economy. It's pulling money out; it's not creating jobs because when people are overburdened with t axes they don't –they have to spend only on the necessary and even some of the necessary gets cut back when the taxes become too high. So we need to–we need this government to pull–they really need to pull Bill 20 and call a referendum.

And I know, again, the Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation (Mr. Ashton) didn't seem to like my suggestion for Bill 33, another bill that they don't seem to be calling these days. And I gave him a very good suggestion for Bill 33, I told him, the best amendment for Bill 33 is to pull the bill and go back and consult with municipalities.

I know the municipalities would certainly be interested in speaking with the government if they were to do that, but, no, they're–I think that they would be quite keen to engage in s ome conversation with government if they were to pull Bill 33 and begin 'consultive' consultations with them instead of trying to use the heavy hand of government to demand what they should be doing. * (15:10) And we have so many municipalities around the province that are well run, and, you know, the longer the story plays out, too–there was some articles in the Free Press recently about the oil boom in southwest Saskatchewan and in North Dakota, and one of the communities that was highlighted in that

article was the town of Waskada. And the town of Waskada has seen the minister's wrath, the Minister of Local Government's (Mr. Lemieux) wrath before, because he said that there was a community out there that had four councillors representing 35 residents each and he thought that that was terrible. He didn't think that was very economical and he thought that he had a better plan. Well, it turns out that that's the town of Waskada, and they've actually very well managed and they have a huge budget. They –unlike this government, they have a surplus every year.

In fact, they don't just balance their books, they actually have a surplus every year, and due to–also due to a–the commitment from a late resident, an endowment from a late resident, that they're actual ly building a huge community centre. And I was through Waskada here about three weeks ago and it is absolutely booming out there. And this government seems to have lost track.

They don't realize that there are–there is an economic reality out there that's–that can function, and they fail to realize that they would function even better if this government would just back off their taxes and control their own spending. We know that their budgets continue to skyrocket every year. They're out of control on thei r spending. They –in spite of a 22 per cent revenue growth, they are still not projecting to be able to balance the budget. We know that they've raided Manitoba Hydro so that there's no money left in Manitoba Hydro to raid any farther, and with their ill -conceived plans for

August 29, 2013 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 4675 Manitoba Hydro, trying to Americanize Manitoba Hydro and sell power into the US at a loss at the expense of Manitobans, because our hydro rates have gone up 8 per cent already in the past year. They're going to continue to rise just to pay for this –for the subsidization of selling power into the US, and yet this government does not seem to want to back off and at the very least put the Bipole III under an NFAT. And, if the Premier (Mr. Selinger) needs an explanation of biosecurity, I w ould be happy to provide that to him.

You know, I don't even need to go to the dictionary, I can just write it out for him. I can type it if he can't read my handwriting. You know, I would just do anything so that he would understand what biosecurity is, y ou know, because here's the person who's running the province who seems to –either he doesn't care or doesn't want to know, and so we're–you know, that's not reflective of a $12-billion company that's headed up by a person who really doesn't care about what is happening to this province, and that's a sad state. This government needs to pull Bill 20 and call a referendum. Thank you very much. Mrs.

Heather Stefanson (Tuxedo): I was hesitant to get out of my seat. I was wondering if members opposite were goi ng to get up and speak to this hoist motion brought forward by the member for Steinbach (Mr. Goertzen), and I want to thank the member for Steinbach for bringing this forward for debate today. And, indeed, I think there's so many issues with respect to this bill and I would hope that members opposite would get up and stand in their place so that their constituents would know where they stand on this–on respect to –with respect to Bill 20 and with respect to this hoist motion.

I think it's a very important thing for this Legislature at this time. We've been here for several months now. We've had the opportunity to debate this bill several times, but members opposite are refusing to put on the record why it is that they are opposing this –or that they are support–they are in support of this bill, why they are in support of hiking the PST for hard- working Manitobans and why they are doing so while at the same time stripping Manitobans of their democratic right to vote on a tax increase, which we know is currently required under existing legislation in the province of Manitoba.

And so I think it's unfortunate that members opposite are refusing to put on the record why they are in favour of a tax increase. I think I know why, though, because I think it's not in the best interest of them to put on the record the reasons why they're in favour of a tax increase. I know members opposite, of course, went door to door in the last election campaign –all members opposite. And they knocked on the doors of their constituents and not once did they mention to their constituents that they were going to raise the PST. In fact, they said it was nonsense.

I will remind members opposite: they said it was nonsense. Their Premier said it was nonsense that they were going to be rai sing any kind of taxes after the next election. So they went door to door, they made a promise and what did they do? They 'boke' –they broke that promise to Manitobans. Not only they –did they break their promise to Manitobans but they were incredibly disre spectful in doing so for Manitobans.

And I think that they – their disrespect to Manitobans by not listening to Manitobans–whether they came in the way of a rally to the front steps of the Manitoba Legislature, whether they were at the doors, whether the em ails that they've been sending; all of these things –all of these emails and letters and phone calls and people showing up at the Manitoba Legislature, at rallies and to speak at committee; members opposite have obviously refused to listen to what Manitobans are saying with respect to this bill and this PST hike. And I think it's unfortunate.

It's incredibly disrespectful, but I'll get more –get into more of that later, because we do see that there's been a lack of consultation as well that had –that took pla ce prior to the increase of the PST. And that, again, is disrespectful as well.

I also want to talk this afternoon about the PST increase and how it affects and has a negative impact on all Manitobans, when it comes to seniors, when it comes to families and their children, when it comes to businesses and, indeed, when it comes to individual taxpayers in our province, when it comes to young people who are making a decision who are coming out of university who are getting jobs in our province, it–when they are deciding whether or not they are going to stay here if they can get a job here in Manitoba whether or not they're going to stay here.

And they look at other provinces like Saskatchewan; they look at other provinces across our country, and they'll start to compare their income

4676 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA August 29, 2013 taxes that they have to pay and this –and the living and the standard–or the cost of living as well. They'll do that. They'll look at it all as a package. And you have to look at it all as a package. Members opposite like to pick out certain things where, you know, maybe it might be beneficial for Manitobans. But, if you look at the overall big picture and how we compare to other provinces and with taxes and fees and services and all these things that Manitobans have to pay, we are not in a competitive environment here in Manitoba. And, Mr.

Acting Speaker, when we compare to other provinces like Saskatchewan and our other western provinces–indeed most other provinces across Canada, with the exception of maybe one or two, we are near the bottom of the barrel. And when those youth in our province–which, of course, we know are the future of our province–when they are making the decision to whether or not to stay here or leave, they will look at those factors and they will make their well -informed choice as to whether or not they stay here in Manitoba.

And so I would think members opposite would want to do what they can to encourage Manitobans and especially young people in this province to stay here and work and raise their familie s here in Manitoba. And by supporting this bill and not supporting this hoist motion, I think they're sending a very clear message to Manitobans that they don't care about the future of our province. They don't want to keep Manitobans here in our provinc e. They don't want to keep our youth here in our province. And so that's the message that they're sending to our youth and our future of our province.

But not only that, I'll get into talking about the various ways that the NDP have broken the law with respect to this increase in the PST. Of course, we know that they were supposed to bring about this PST hike according to the existing laws of our province right now. We know that –and members opposite know full well –that they were supposed to bring this forw ard by way of a referendum to the people of the province to allow them the ability to have a say when it comes to the PST increase.

But they didn't do so because they were afraid of what Manitobans would tell them in that referendum. * (15:20) I also will talk this afternoon a little bit about the fact that we have the highest inflation rate in Canada with the lowest wage growth, and that is a nasty combination for disposable income in Manitobans' pockets in this province. It means that they will have less disposable income, which means that they will be spending less money here in the province of Manitoba, and that is not the way to grow an economy.

And so –and, of course, one of the last things I want to speak to today is the focus on–by this government and the obsession that they have about speaking about the 1990s, and about –also about the– their ribbon cuttings and their –their–you know, the way that they just want to go out and spend money on their various pet projects to make them, you know, look bette r. It's all about their political–how they look politically to Manitobans. That's what–they care more about that than they do about what's actually in the best interest of Manitobans.

And so that's, I think, an important thing to raise when discussing this bill. But, you know, and I would encourage all Manitobans that, if they were really interested in what's in the best interest of Manitobans, that they would support this hoist motion. This is an opportunity that members opposite and all members of this Manitoba Legislature have now. They have the opportunity today to vote in favour of this, or at least stand in their place and say why they don't support this hoist motion. What this hoist motion allows is an opportunity for the government to go back to the people of Manitoba.

This would be hoisted for six months. We could revisit this in six months. It doesn't mean it won't come back to the Manitoba Legislature. We have ample time for it to come back to the Manitoba Legislature. But this is an opportunit y for this government to do the right thing here, allow for this hoist motion to go through, and go back and give them the opportunity to go back to their constituents and perhaps ask their constituents, are they in favour of this PST increase. Maybe, pe rhaps, go and consult various businesses in Manitoba, businesses in their community.

Maybe, perhaps, ask, you know, for various non-profit organizations. Ask–ask people in Manitoba what they really think about this and not be so afraid to go back and do the proper consultation that should have taken place many, many, many months ago. And I think, had the Minister of Finance (Mr. Struthers) done his proper due diligence with respect to this PST increase prior to introducing the

August 29, 2013 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 4677 bill in the Manitoba Legislatu re, I think he would have found from Manitobans that they weren't, in fact, in favour of this PST increase. But, again, members opposite believe that they know best. They think that they know what's in the best interest of Manitobans more than Manitobans know what's in their own best interest, and that is fundamentally the difference between the NDP party and our party, because they believe they know best and we believe that Manitobans know best.

And I think it's the sign of an arrogant government who chooses not to consult Manitobans in any kind of meaningful way. It's the arrogance of a government that has been in for too long that believes that they know what's in the best interest of Manitobans. And I think it's important. I think this hoist motion is a perfect opportunity for members opposite to take a little time out, maybe go back to their communities and perhaps speak to people in those communities.

Go door to door; go and knock on their doors as they did in the last election; and maybe go knock on those same doors again and ask the people when they're going door to door: Now that this PST increase is on the table in the Manitoba Legislature, you know, we voted in favour of it –you could say that you voted in favour of the hoist motion because you wanted to come back to your own constituents and give them the opportunity to have a say in this PST increase.

And I think, if members opposite did support that, it would give them the opportunity to go door to door and really ask Manitobans and their constituents when they go door to door, really ask them if they are in favour of this PST increase. But I suspect members opposite –the reason why they're not standing in this Manitoba Legislature today and they're not wanting to–and yesterday and weeks past –they're refusing to debate this hoist motion. They're refusing to debate Bill 20 because I think that they're afraid what their constituents would say.

They're afraid to listen to their constituents, because I think they know that their constituents would say that they're not, in fact, in favour of this PST increase. And so, you know, of course, there is an easier way too. I mean, this is one way. They've already refused to hold a referendum which is the existing law in the province of Manitoba. So the NDP, by not holding that referendum, when it comes to the question of the PST increase, by not holding that referendum, what we are seeing from this government is that they are afraid of what Manitobans would say if that referendum were have to taken place.

Well, we have asked day in, day out in this Manitoba Legislature –we have asked members opposite if they would call the referendum, if they would do the right thing, if they would stop breaking the laws in our province, if they would call that referendum and go back to the people of Manitoba and ask them for their vote on the PST increase, but they have refused to answer those questions. They've refused to call for a referendum, and so we have really –this is another opportunity that we're giving members opposite to take a time out by supporting this hoist motion here before the Manitoba Legislature today.

If they support this, then they actually have a chance to go back and ask their constituents whether or not they agree with the PST increase. And, you know, it's just another opportunity that they have. And we know –I want to go back to the first point that I spoke about earlier, and that is that this government is a government of broken promises to the people of Manitoba. They are a government that likes to go out and say one thing to Manitobans during an election campaign.

They are desperate and they wanted to get elected, and they were so desperate that they would say anything they could to Manitobans in order to get elected. And I think Manitobans are starting to see past that, because not only did they break their promise when it came to this–when it came to raising taxes in Manitoba, they broke their promises to children who have autism and who need –who have autism spectrum disorder and who need those muc h-needed ABA services. They broke their promise in so many different ways for Manitobans.

Manitobans who perhaps voted for them in the past and voted because they heard them say, no, we're not going to raise taxes–voted for them because they said, yes, we' re going to support those ABA services, voted for them for so many other reasons because they went door to door and they lied to Manitobans and they said–and as a party they spread the lies to Manitobans and they told them one thing during the election, and they turned around right after getting elected and did quite the opposite.

But I think Manitobans are starting to realize what this government is all about –that it is not a government with integrity. It's a government that is desperate and is out of touch with reality, out of touch with Manitobans. It is an arrogant government that believes that they know what's in the best interests of Manitobans more so than Manitobans know what's in their own best interest.

4678 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA August 29, 2013 And so the longer they go out and they make the promises–the longer that they go out and they cut the ribbons in all the ribbon- cutting ceremonies, we know that half the ribbon- cutting ceremonies that they hold in this province –half–more than half of them–probably 80 per cent of them don't even come to fruition in this province. Or it's a second or third ribbon-cutting for the same project that's been announced over and over and over again. And there are so many examples of that.

I could bring forward a binder that I have of all the NDP press releases since 1999 when they came into power and the duplication of those press releases is uncanny. * (15:30) And I think we just need to go back and I'll certainly–and for the next opportunity that I have to speak on this in the House, I'll perhaps bring some of those press releases forward and remind members opposite of how many times they have reintroduced projects over the years. And then they try and hide behind–that those projects, the only way to pay for them is through this PST increase.

Well, sever al of these projects were projects that were introduced six, seven, eight, nine, 10 years ago, projects that haven't even seen the light of day. Now, members opposite have gone out and cut the ribbons for them two, three, four times over, sometimes even fi ve times over. But those projects have let –yet to see the light of the day. Presumably, when members opposite and Cabinet ministers opposite and the Premier (Mr.

Selinger) go out and they cut these ribbons and have these ceremonies and make these great announcements and these grandiose announcements, presumably, they have the money in the budget at the time that they make the announcement. So these reannouncements that were made three, four, five times over, from six, seven, eight, nine, 10 years ago, when those were announced at that time, the money should have been in the budget for that project in that given fiscal year.

But, because they didn't, because they ov erspent all the way along in this province, because they overspent, a lot of those projects that they promised Manitobans haven't even yet to see the light of day. And now they're hiding behind a PST increase to say that that's why we need all these projects in Manitoba. Well, had they properly managed the finances in this province over the past 13, almost 14 years now, I don't believe the NDP would be in the position, and that Manitobans would be in the position, today of having to pay for this NDP's mism anagement of the finances of our province.

But, beyond that, I want to talk–I want to read, actually, a letter that was written, and it's a letter to the editor, so it's in the Free Press, so it's already in the public domain, and so there's no need to ta ble it here in the Manitoba Legislature. If members opposite want to read it, they can just read it in the Free Press. But I'd like to read it for you today because I think it's a great summation of what Manitobans are thinking out there with respect to t he NDP and with respect to this PST increase.

Now, the caption underneath a picture of the Premier and his colleagues here in the Chamber that sit next to him, it says, the Premier has raised the PST despite his campaign promise. And then the headline goes on to read: Adding up to serious money. And serious money is actually in quotes. And so this Mr. Friesen goes on to say: I wish to address those –and it's Mr. Dan Friesen; so it's Mr. Dan Friesen–and he goes on to say: I wish to address those who feel t hat the PST hike does not pose a hardship to the general population.

Let's assume, he says, for a moment that the hike was not in direct contrast to a promise made by the Premier, and let's also assume for a moment that the hike did not circumvent legisl ation designed to prevent exactly this type of thing. He goes on to say: Factor in the PST hike with last year's PST expansion: fuel -tax hike, annual increases in Hydro rates, Bipole III, liquor price increases, increases in fees to enter camps in provincial parks, increases for fishing licences and on and on, and you start to see why so many Manitobans have had it.

Sure, it's all nickel-and-dime stuff, but it adds up to some serious money in a year. And, while most can absorb the cost, it has come at an expense of something else. If you're of average income, odds are this year you will maybe save a little less for your retirement, maybe pay off a little less of your own debt, maybe a vacation will have to wait. In any rate, all these hikes erode the one thing I work hard for, and that is being able to provide a certain quality of life for my family. I am the silent majority, and I've had it, he says. And that's end quote. And I want to thank Mr.

Friesen for coming forward because he is absolutely right. H e–this says it all. He is the silent majority out there that–maybe

August 29, 2013 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 4679 they don't necessarily come down to the Manitoba Legislature and speak in committee. Maybe they don't come out to demonstrations on the front steps of the Legislature. Maybe they don't send emails or maybe they don't send letters, but this was obviously a decision that he made. He took the time out of his

schedule because he believes wholeheartedly in what he is saying, and he believes that this PST hike will have a negative impact on he and his family. And he is absolutely right. And, you know, I commend Mr. Friesen for coming forward and for putting that letter to the editor, and I want to thank him because I know it's not an easy thing to do, and it's not something that, you know, maybe comes naturally to all of us. But, if we believe very strongly in issues, then we will stand up for those issues in whatever way that we can. And so I think that –I believe that, like Mr.

Friesen has said, this all adds up to serious money. This affects sen iors in our province. This affects families. It affects low-income Manitobans. It affects those most vulnerable in our society who can't afford the luxuries of many things. They can't afford–they live on fixed income, and every little bit of tax increase, every little bit of a fee increase, an expansion of a PST, expansion of other taxes in this province has a negative impact on the disposable income that those Manitobans have to spend in our province.

And they are being forced now, because this NDP governm ent couldn't make the tough decision around the Cabinet table and around their caucus table. They didn't make the tough decision to perhaps see where they could rein in their spending in certain areas. They've now forced that hardship into the family home. They're forcing families–and here we are on the eve of our children going back to school, and I know my children are going back to school next week. And I had the opportunity, I went out and I was buying 'soo'–school supplies this week, and I ran into one of my colleagues.

It was a member opposite, but I won't say who it was. But we ran into each other in the aisle of Staples while we were buying our school supplies for our children for school. And I know that–I know what we paid last year and I know wha t we paid this year for their–those school supplies, and every little bit, as Mr. Friesen said so appropriately earlier, every little bit of this adds up, whether it's that or these hard-working families sitting around the tables trying to decide how they are going to make ends meet because of the less disposable income in their own households.

How–what do they need to cut in their own budgets, in their own homes, in order to make ends meet? So they're having to make the tough decisions as to whether or not their children can play hockey this year or maybe it's only one of the children–and then, which one? And how do you choose? Maybe it's volleyball. Maybe it's basketball.

Maybe it's a piano lesson or a violin lesson or a music lesson or a singing lesson, whatever –maybe it's an art lesson – whatever those extracurricular activities are that are so important to keep our young people engaged in these extracurricular activities, to keep them focused on the important things of life, to ensure that they are kept occupied, so that they can continue to enhance and–their own lives. And they can learn from those extracurricular activities.

But what's happening here is that members opposite are forcing them to make those tough decisions and taking those extracurricular activities away from those children which will have a negative impact on society. And so I–it really–it does bother me that members opposite have done that to our families. * (15:40) Families have enough hardship in our province in order to make ends m eet. And we know –and I'll just touch on, you know, being the highest inflation rate in Canada and being the lowest wage growth, that in and of itself, regardless of the PST hike –the PST hike only makes that worse.

It affects inflation in our province, so it makes it worse. But the very fact that the –we have the inflation rate is seven times

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	40-2-100b
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	40th 2nd hansardpdf 100b.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	1dfc96709de28f53134080c4764fce028860e715

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