Province of Alberta The 27th Legislature Fourth Session Alberta Hansard Tuesday, March 15, 2011 Issue 13 The Honourable Kenneth R. Kowalski, Speaker

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

March 15, 2011 Alberta Hansard 351 Legislative Assembly of Alberta Title: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, 2011 [The Speaker in the chair] head: Prayers The Speaker: Good afternoon and welcome. Let us pray. Guide us so that we may use the privilege given us as elected Members of the Legislative Assembly. Give us the strength to labour diligently, the courage to think and to speak with clarity and conviction and without prejudice or pride. Amen.

Please be seated. head: Statement by the Speaker Anniversary of the First Session of the Legislative Assembly The Speaker: Before we proceed, hon. members, there is some significance to this date in the history of the province of Alberta. One hundred and five years ago today, on March 15, 1906, some 4,000 people attended the opening of the First Session of the First Legislature in the history of the province of Alberta. This was at the Thistle rink here in Edmonton. As its first item of business the new Legislative Assembly elected Charles Wellington Fisher as its first Speaker.

Premier Rutherford’s speech at the opening of the First Legislature e x- plained that the House would be “laying the foundations of empire in this new land.” head: Introduction of Visitors The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Environment. Mr. Renner: Thank you, Mr. Speak er. I have two distinguished visitors that I would like to introduce to you. They’re seated in your gallery. I would like to introduce my counterpart from the province of Saskatchewan, the Hon. Dustin Duncan, Minister of Environment, and with him his chief of staff, Cam Baker.

I’d ask all members to welcome them. head: Introduction of Guests The Speaker: The hon. Member for Red Deer-South. Mr. Dallas: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of the Member for Red Deer -North it’s my great pleasure today to introduc e to you and through you the students of Gateway Christian school. This is an innovative and creative school that looks beyond the classroom to the world. They’re here today to observe the Legisla- ture and to observe members here in the House. The hon.

Member for Red Deer-North would have liked to be here to make this i n- troduction and hopes that each of our guests enjoys their time at the Legislature. I’d now like to introduce teachers Mr. Jim Driedger, Mrs. Klaaske de Koning, and Ms Sherry Glebe and parent helpers Mrs. Anna Haar and Mrs. Jenni Duke. If I could ask our guests to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-McClung. Mr. Xiao: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m very pleased to rise today to introduce to you and through you to this House a group of very bright grade 6 students from St.

Martha school and their teacher, Shelley LaFontaine. I had an opportunity to have a chat with them. They raised a lot of questions about this Legislature and also about my duty as an MLA. I’d like to ask them to rise to receive the traditional warm welcome of this House. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Grande Prairie-Wapiti. Mr. Drysdale: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today it is my honour and pleasure to introduce to you and through you to all members of this Legislature a delegation from the city of Grande Prairie.

They have joined us here today to meet with several ministers to promote the interests of the beautiful city of Grande Prairie. The talented mayor, councillors, and city manager are proud of the strong northern community and are incredibly dedicated to repr e- senting the issues of the citizens of this outstanding area of our province. At this time I would ask the guests to please rise. I am priv i- leged to introduce Mayor Bill Given, Councillor Lorne Radbourne, Councillor Alex Gustafson, Councillor Justin Munroe, Councillor Dan Wong, and Greg Scerbak, the city manager. Mr.

Speaker, the M ember for Grande Prairie-Smoky and I would like to thank this hard-working group for visiting the Legislature to- day. I would ask them to remain standing and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Lesser Slave Lake. Ms Calahasen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m truly blessed today because I get to introduce to you and through you a vibrant, bea u- tiful, bright young lady who hails from Widewater, 20 kilometres west of Slave Lake.

She has been a principal consultant of Mil e- stone Consulting, in fact, for the last five years now and has worked with and for nonprofit organizations to raise dollars, carry out projects, do research, and write great proposals. She is a third- term councillor with the MD of Lesser Slave River No. 124, and her name is Ms Darcie Acton. She is seated in the members’ gal- lery. I’d ask that Darcie please stand and receive the warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The Member for Athabasca-Redwater. Mr. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It’s my p leasure to rise and introduce to you and through you four very special people from Newthorad Seniors Housing based in Thorhild. The first is Shelly Hanasyk, a third -term councillor of Thorhild county and chair of Newthorad Seniors Housing. You can stand, S helly. Next are Kevin Grumetza, a fifth-term councillor and deputy reeve, and Julian Topolnisky, an administrator of Newthorad housing. Inte r- estingly, Julian attended school with our Premier. I’m sure he’s got a few interesting stories to tell.

Finally, Nick Hoffman, who’s a loyal and dedicated maintenance worker at Newthorad whom residents very much enjoy visiting with every morning. I’d like to thank them for everything they do for our constituency and invite the Assembly to give them a traditional warm welcome. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Mill Woods. Mr. Benito: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It is my honour today to introduce to you and through you to all members of this Assembly Nicholas Ameyaw and Grace Owusu, who are seated in the public gallery. Mr.

Ameyaw is the president of the Ghana Friendship Association of Edmonton, and two Saturdays ago they celebrated the 54th year of Ghana Independence Day. The ass o- ciation is very much thankful to the Alberta government for the

352 Alberta Hansard March 15, 2011 $125,000 in funding for the purchase of their community centre in Edmonton-Mill Woods. I would ask them to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Calder. Mr. Elniski: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure to rise to- day to introduce to you and through you to members of this Assembly a group of individuals who you may have visited over the lunch hour today, the Harmony Dialogue Group, who were serving their Noah’s pudding in the lower rotunda.

Harmony Dialogue Group is a nonprofit organization that focuses on intercultural dia- logue promoting unity among all cultural heritages in the city. Each year as a symbol of this unity the Harmony Dialogue Group serves Noah’s pudding in public places across Edmonton, giving them an opportunity to interact with their neighbours and strengthen our overall community.

I thank the Harmony Dialogue Group for their visit with us here today and for their continued contributions to our community, and I would ask that the seven representatives, who I believe are in the public gallery, please rise and receive the tradi- tional warm greeting of the Assembly. Thank you. The Speaker: I believe, hon. members, that there is a group of grade 6 students from Aldergrove elementary school, located in the constituency of Edmonton-Meadowlark, who are here today as well.

I’d ask them to rise and receive the warm welcome of the Members of the Legislative Assembly. head: Members’ Statements The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Calder. Canadian International Hospital Mr. Elniski: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s not every day that someone comes up to you and says: hey, I think we have the same DNA. So when a member of the third party said that very thing to me over a pizza not so long ago, I didn’t really think very much about it.

As events unfolded, however, I began to wonder how someone could possibly know a person’s DNA unless they had access to some pretty advanced medical technology. It turns out that one of the finest places on Earth to get such information is the Canadian international hospital in Hanoi, Viet- nam. Now, this is a five-star facility. This 200-bed luxury hospital, fully staffed with Canadian phys icians, operates the most modern diagnostic and treatment facilitie s, including patented DNA se- quencing technologies. 1:40 Now, I’ve never been to Hanoi, but clearly there must be some link here.

I was not surprised to learn that the chairman of this facility, this private, for-profit luxury hospital that caters to the seriously rich sick people, happens to be none other than a well- known doctor, former cabinet minister, and recently proclaimed Wildrose policy adviser on health. The Canadian international hos pital, which sounds more like a resort than a hospital, has the finest, most modern facilities. I am particularly impressed by the accommodations for the 30 Canadi- an physicians who will move to Hanoi.

I mean, so long as you have a surplus of doctors in Alberta, how can the loss of 30 really matter? Of course, it does translate into about 200,000 cancelled appointments per year over here. But, really, who’s complaining? You can get in to see one of these doctors. All you have to do is fly to Hanoi. Of course, that’s only about $2,700. Again, that’s 30 physicians that a key supporter of the third party has just shipped offshore, at a time when the third-party leader today, Mr. Speaker, talked on the radio about a shortage of doctors in the province of Alberta.

Thirty physicians will no long- er be in a position to accept pati ents right here at home, 30 physicians who, if they worked 1,800 hours a year, could see 200 patients a year, and they will in Hanoi, Vietnam. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Glenmore. Health Care System Governance Mr. Hinman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The floodgates are start- ing to open, and this government is scrambling for the life rafts. First, the government attempted to cast Dr. McNamee’s story of silencing, intimidation, and dismissal as a one-off, a human re- source dispute.

Yesterday we had no fewer than five physicians emerge with their stories, some with personal details of being victimized by this government’s playbook when it comes to sup- pressing advocacy and dissent in our health care system. Dr. Fanning says that she was fi red after criticizing the govern- ment over health care. Dr. Maybaum says that doctors and health care workers must be liberated from the culture of intimidation and that government politicians are insulting health care workers in this province. Dr. Francescut ti says that doctors, nurses, and paramedics must be allowed to come forward to tell the truth.

Two more doctors, still fearful of th is government’s retribution, re- mained anonymous in saying that a culture of silence and personal intimidation has repressed health care workers for years. Make no mistake, Mr. Speaker, that what we are seeing right now is 15 years of centralization, which has necessitated a culture of intimidation, mismanagement, and political corruption within our public health care system.

This same government, who never misses an opportunity to brag about their record for the last 10 or 15 years, now is trying to distance themselves from the reality of the system which they created and nurtured. To say that it was some other government or some ot her party responsible for these unforgivable acts of bullying and intimidation is wrong. Forty years ago a tired old government was replaced. Today Albertans have a tired but powerful old government that is no longer able to hide the incompetence, arrogance, and abuses of the power within their system. This government is way past its best- before date.

There should be more following the Premier’s exam- ple and announcing their resignation. The next six months will show what 40 years of unbroken PC rule has inflicted on our de- mocracy. The emperor does not have new clothes. They are exposed. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Grande Prairie-Wapiti. Mighty Peace Watershed Alliance Mr. Drysdale: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Peace River water- shed is the largest in Alberta a nd covers about one-third of the province. Its water and aquatic systems are critical to the health of Alberta’s natural environment. That’s why this is an exciting week for my constituents.

On Friday the Mighty Peace Watershed Alli- ance will hold its first meeting a nd elect its inaugural board of directors. The alliance is a pa rtnership between the Alberta gov- ernment, environmental organizations, aboriginal communities, industry, and others in the Peace River watershed. Its role is to provide an opportunity for people to improve their knowledge and understanding about the watershed a nd to safeguard the health of the aquatic system in the region.

March 15, 2011 Alberta Hansard 353 The Mighty Peace Watershed Alliance will be Alberta’s 11th watershed planning and advisory council. These councils are a key component of Alberta’s long -term strategy to manage water r e- sources: water for life. This bold plan aims to ensure secure, safe drinking water and healthy aquatic systems for all Albertans. It will accomplish these goals through knowledge, research, partne r- ships, and water conservation, positioning our province as the leading jurisdiction in North America for water management.

I’m happy to see that northwestern Alberta will soon have its own officially designated council. Watershed planning and adv i- sory councils provide important information to help government make the best water management decisions possible. They also provide valuable information to all Albertans by reporting the state of the watershed. Mr. Speaker, I commend the members who have joined the Mighty Peace Watershed Alliance as they embark on its critical journey of leadership, stewardship, and education.

I encourage those in my constituency and all Albertans to get involved in the protection of our precious water resources. After all, the success of these groups often depends on the passionate individuals who volunteer their time and effort to safeguard our environment. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar. Hospital Services Utilization Mr. MacDonald: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just before session started, I hosted a town hall meeting on health care.

Donna Wi l- son, a nurse, professor, and researcher, presented an update on health care here in Alberta, an update that shatters the old Tory myth that seniors are responsible for rising health care costs. Ms Wilson’s research indicates that in 1993, when we had a $4 billion health system, we had 110 hospitals, with 13,000 beds. That’s one bed for every 200 Albertans. Then came the Conservative cu t- backs. Over 12 per cent of nurses were laid off, and 6,500 hospital beds were closed, most of them in Edmonton and Calgary.

Then came the constant restructuring of health care governance, which resulted in growing wait-lists a nd rapid cost inflation, culminating in a single nonelected board. Wait -lists have gotten even worse, cost issues continue, and quality of care is suffering. Last year our $15 billion health care system still had 110 hospi- tals but only 6,800 beds, one bed for every 600 Albertans. Seniors didn’t lay off these nurses or close these hospitals. In fact, they’re not even using the hospitals as much as people under the age of 65.

Seventy-six per cent of all hospital admissions and 84 per cent of all emergency ro om, day surgery, and outpatient care are for people under the age of 65. These statistics absolutely refute Con- servative myths and claims that an aging population is driving up health care costs. In recent days this government has made a big deal about saying that 60 per cent of people have confidence in the health care system. Well, before, it was 90 per cent with conf i- dence in the health care system. In just nine years, Mr. Speaker, health care costs have risen 110 per cent, more than double.

This government should stop blaming seniors for those rising costs. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Bonnyville-Cold Lake. Farm Safety Week Mrs. Leskiw: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. March 13 to 19 is Cana- dian Agriculture Safety Week. Here in Alberta agriculture is our largest renewable resource, and we have more than 50,000 farms. Farm safety is a year -round priority. We believe the key to safe farms is education and awareness. This week the Minister of Agri- culture and Rural Development announced a new 15-member Farm Safet y Advisory Council.

The council was formed in r e- sponse to consultations with more than 20 stakeholder groups, representing more than 50,000 producers. Its membership includes a variety of representatives with back- grounds in safety, business, and agriculture, all of whom have a deep commitment to farm safety. This council will be co -chaired by industry and government. The advisory council is tasked with developing an action plan on farm safety and will be responsible for helping government enhance farm safe ty training and educ a- tion to address the needs identified by industry.

Agriculture and Rural Development’s Safety Up! awareness campaign is targeted to new and young farmers and the farm safety club, educating children four to 12 years of age about safe behaviour on farms and working with 4-H to promote agricultural safety. All of these efforts increase local delivery of farm safety knowledge through rural partnership. The focus of this year’s farm safety week is on implementation of safety procedures to manage risk and control hazards.

I would like all Albertans to recognize Agriculture Safety Week, and I strongly encourage rural Albertans to look at ways to participate in their community, whether by implementing a farm safety plan or by teaching their children how to play safely on the farm. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 1:50 head: Oral Question Period The Speaker: First Official Opposition main question. The hon. Leader of the Official Opposition. Health Quality Council Review Dr. Swann: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Late last week Albertans learned that these Tories forced respected surgeon Dr.

Ciaran McNamee out of his job for complaining publicly about surgery wait times and inadequate patient resources. These dam n- ing allegations against the Tory government make it clear a Health Quality Council investigation is not enough and that Albertans deserve a fully independent public inquiry completely free from government interference, control, or intimidation. To the Premier: if your government has nothing to hide, will you support the o p- position call for a fully independent and open, judge -led public inquiry? Mr. Stelmach: Mr.

Speaker, what I do support is a complete r e- view by the Health Quality Council, allowing physicians and nurses to come forward and talk about how better to improve the system so that we can learn from the past. On the other, if there is any wrongdoing on behalf of anyone in the system, it is the duty of those to report directly to Alberta Health Services, or if somebody has their hand in the cookie jar, a criminal matter should go directly to the police. Dr. Swann: Will the Premier do the right thing and release the financial terms of settlement for Dr.

McNamee, including the terms of the confidentiality agreement he was forced to sign, s o that all Albertans can see how this government muzzles health care professionals for speaking out? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, that’s not a matter for this Asse m- bly to even consider. Let’s get this straight. You have a disagreement. You have doctors on one side who are working hard for their particular area of practice. You have other doctors who are working hard for their side of a particular practice. What they’ve done is come to some kind of an impasse. As a result of

354 Alberta Hansard March 15, 2011 that, a statement of claim got fil ed, a statement of defence got filed, and guess what? Both sides had their arguments vetted be- tween themselves. They agreed to walk away from it, and that’s where it ended. Dr. Swann: Well, Mr. Speaker, the denials continue. Will you continue to ignore the facts, Mr. Premier, or will you finally co n- cede that health care staff, including Dr. McNamee, are subject to intimidation and retribution, are disciplined for speaking out on behalf of patients? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr.

Speaker, I don’t think we saw anybody attempting to muzzle the doctors who spoke out on the Thanksgiv- ing Day weekend last year. I can tell you that nobody at the AMA conference last weekend felt intimidated by my presence there or by my staff’s presence. What they felt was the building of a good, solid relationship, and we’re continuing to foster that while you folks on the other side are trying to undermine it. The Speaker: Second Official Opposition main question. The hon. Leader of the Official Opposition. Patient Advocacy by Physicians Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The list of damning alleg a- tions against this government is growing as well-respected doctors, including Dr. Anne Fanning and Dr. Lloyd Maybaum, are speaking out against this governm ent’s culture of fear and intim i- dation. Dr. Maybaum went as far as to say, and I quote: there is just plain fear you’ll lose your position. There are a number of different ways that people are fearful and can experience the back- lash that occurs when you speak out. End quote.

When will the Premier get off his soapbox by saying that health professionals like Maybaum are free to come forward when he says otherwise, with evidence of a culture of fear and intimidation making it i m- possible? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Spea ker, as I’ve said many times in the House, physicians, all those that may have had some disagre e- ments in the past within their organization: come forward to the Health Quality Council and bring those allegations forward and have the Health Quality Council look at it. These are physicians that sit on the Health Quality Council.

They are professionals, and they are better able to judge what is coming to them in terms of evidence, real, hard evidence of all of these allegations of hush money and allegations. Dr. Swann: Seriously, Mr. Premier, what do you have to lose by holding a public inquiry, a transparent public inquiry, into alleg a- tions of intimidation and financial misconduct? What do you have to lose? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr.

Speaker, I have to stand up and ag ain r e- mind the member to take a look at the tabling I made a few days back, where the Alberta Health Services leaders, the College of Physicians and Surgeons leaders, and the Alberta Medical Ass o- ciation signed a letter jointly last June. Here’s what it said. The Alberta Medical Association (AMA) stands behind any physician who advocates on behalf of his or her patients. Sim i- larly, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) and Alberta Health Services (AHS) also strongly su p- port and encourage patient advocacy. There it is in print. You should read it.

Dr. Swann: A lot of good that did me in 2002, Mr. Minister. Instead of finding real solutions to the culture of fear and i n- timidation, this government is advising health care workers to call the cops. Well, Mr. Speaker, that’s hardly a solution. Is that what you’re expecting, Mr. Premier? You want us to call the cops when there’s a problem? Mr. Stelmach: Mr.

Speaker, just hearing the comments from the hon. member, I would suggest that he maybe look to the Alberta Medical Association and to the college, really, to find out why they weren’t there to support him during an issue that I suspect he had – what? – over 10 years ago. The Speaker: Both the Leader of the Official Opposition and the Minister of Health and Wellness: you quoted from documents. I’d ask that you table the appropriate numbers of those documents during the tabling routine. Third Official Opposition main question. The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre.

State of the Health Care System Ms Blakeman: Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. Let’s do a checkup on health care basics because that is where this gover n- ment started to lose credibility, and it doesn’t look like the diagnosis is improving. To the minister of health: why do 250,000 Albertans still have no access to a family doctor? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, there are number of initiatives that we’re doing to strengthen primary care, and that’s one tremendous benefit of a commitment to five years of funding, of a commi t- ment to a five- year health action plan and to the performance measures.

We are working very hard to ensure that those people who don’t have a doctor or perhaps didn’t think they needed a doctor will have access to one. There are two primary parts to this. One is improving access in health care, and the other is reducing wait times. If we added a third, it would be to strengthen primary care, and that’s precisely what we’re doing. Ms Blakeman: Get the crash cart.

Back to the same minister: why do more babies die of congen i- tal syphilis in Alberta than in the rest of Canada combined if not for the fact that this government refused, intimidated, and fired the medical officers who were working on that very issue? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, I don’t know about the allegations that have just been made, but I can tell you that there is a syphilis problem in this province, as there is perhaps elsewhere, and we’re doing something about it. Very soon, within a few days if not a few weeks, you will see our approach to this matter.

You will se e the augmentation of dollars into that area because we have to let people know that this is a serious issue, and we’re treating it very, very seriously immediately. Ms Blakeman: No. This government is flatlining on health care. Back to the same minister: why are waiting lists for noneme r- gency procedures still months and months and months long? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, as I said, one of our primary goals is to reduce wait times. Why do you think we gave a guarantee of 6 per cent increases? Why do you th ink that our province is among the fastest growing rates of doctor personnel?

I’ll tell you why. Because here we have a plan, and the plan is starting to work, and they don’t like it. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Airdrie -Chestermere, fo l- lowed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood.

March 15, 2011 Alberta Hansard 355 Patient Advocacy by Physicians (continued) Mr. Anderson: Every day more and more evidence mounts, un- veiling a pervasive culture of fear and intimidation against our doctors and other health care professionals want ing to speak out for their patients’ safety: those aren’t my words, Mr. Speaker. Those are the words of Dr. Lloyd Maybaum, president of the Ca l- gary physicians’ association. The good doctor says that health professionals are fearful of AHS backlash that can occur when speaking out for patients.

To the health minister: why won’t you call a public inquiry with full powers of subpoena to investigate what has become a total breakdown of confidence in our health care system? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr.

Speaker, just a wee k or two ago his col- leagues from Calgary and Fort McMurray were practically begging for the Health Quality Council “to investigate the 322 cases that were documented previously.” They said among other things, “We applaud the Health Quality Council’s effort to restore public confidence in health care.” Others said, “Will the minister of health today commit to all Albertans . . . to launch an investiga- tion?” Well, guess what? That’s exactly what we’ve done.

We’ve brought in an independent review that will be done by a very highly respected body called the Health Quality Council, which two weeks ago they were praising. Mr. Anderson: Minister, the Health Quality Council is not quali- fied or sufficiently empowered to investigate allegations of wrongdoing and polit ical interference. You know that, sir. Minis- ter, if evidence continues to be released substantiating a pervasive culture of fear and political interference in our health care system, will you commit to Albertans that you will call a full public in- quiry, or will you continue to refuse?

It’s starting to look like you or your government is hiding something, and I sure hope for your sake that that’s not the case. 2:00 Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, allegations followed by more all e- gations. The fact is that we have an independent council that is setting its own terms of reference, that is choosing its own people to serve on that committee, that may well bring in people from outside – I don’t know – and they’ll make all of that public. That is a tremendous accountabi lity. Otherwise, if you follow this member’s advice, you’d have cabinet and government determi n- ing those things.

That’s not what I see necessary at this time. Mr. Anderson: Four new doctors bravely came out of hiding just yesterday, sir – Dr. Maybaum, Dr. Fanning, and others – and there are more coming forward every day. How much more evidence do you want? Given that Dr. Maybaum says, quote, there is a clear and present problem in the health care system, and anybody who suggests that this is preposterous – like this minister always does – quite frankly, is insulting health care workers, unquote, why then does this minister continue to say that the allegations are prepos- terous? Are you saying that Dr.

Maybaum is lying, sir? Is that what you’re saying? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, I’ve never said words to that ef- fect, and I don’t think you’d ever hear me saying that. What I am saying is that there are occasionally disagreements that happen such as was the case with some cases that were brought forward, and perhaps there will be more.

As people go and they find diffe r- ences in their opinions or differences in their perspective because they’re lobbying hard for this or they’re lobbying hard for that, obviously some separation of those agreements sometimes occurs, and that’s all that’s happened here so far that I’ve seen. The Speaker: Hon. Member for Airdrie-Chestermere, please table the appropriate documents as well at the time coming up. The hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood. Health Quality Council Review (continued) Mr. Mason: Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker.

Well, more doctors are stepping forward by the day with similar allegations – intimi- dation, questions raised about their mental health, firings – yet this PC government flippantly dismisses these alleg ations, telling those concerned to go to the police. Will the Premier admit the obvious, that the government has actually no intention of getting to the bottom of this scandalous situation? Mr. Stelmach: Mr.

Speaker, as I’ve said many times in the House, the minister has asked the Health Quality Council to draw its own terms of reference and do a full review of all of the alleg a- tions that have been made and also how to improve the system given all of the evidence that will be coming forward to the Health Quality Council. I suggest that we give them the opportunity. They’re going to move forward almost immediately, and we will have a full review of not only the allegations that have come fo r- ward but how to improve the system well into the future. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Mason: Thanks very much, Mr.

Speaker. Given that in his written instructions to the Health Quality Council regarding this review the minister excludes any mention of investigating charges of intimidation and retribution against doctor s or other health care professionals, will the Premier admit that he is merely pretending to get to the bottom of these allegations? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, the Health Quality Council member- ship is comprised of health professionals, people that know how to deliver health care services. They’ll be able to look into all of the allegations and sift out all of the information that is going to come forward.

They’ve always done good reports in the past. They looked at H1N1. They looked at a report coming soon on medevac services in this province. I have tremendous confidence in them to do the right thing for all Albertans. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Mason: Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. Given that more and more doctors are clearly saying now that they wi ll not come forward and co-operate with this government’s so -called investi- gation for fear of retribution, will the Premier please admit that that is exactly what he wants? Mr. Stelmach: Mr.

Speaker, you know, over the last number of years there has been n o province in Canada that has seen such a large increase in the number of physicians practising here. They are the best paid, with the lowest taxes and also a five -year funding commitment going to Alberta Health Services. Yesterday – good news – the AMA reached an agreement with government in terms of a three -year funding agreement. That tells me that we have an increase of 22.5 per cent in the number of physicians. They want to come here because it’s the best place in Canada to work. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar , fo l- lowed by the hon. Member for St. Albert.

356 Alberta Hansard March 15, 2011 Severance Agreements with Physicians Mr. MacDonald: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Taxpayers deserve for once a straight answer from this government. My first question is to the minister of health. Where in government books can inte r- ested taxpayers find the details revealing the financial settlements made to doct ors who stood up and spoke out against this gover n- ment’s health care policies? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr.

Speaker, if there were any kinds of sever- ance agreements and payouts related to that – and I suspect there were – then they will be accounted for in the categ ory for that. I don’t have the details for it right in front of me, but I can assure you that it would all have been audited by the Auditor General, and it would all be appropriate. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. MacDonald: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You s hould have those details, sir.

Again to the same minister: what is the total amount paid out by this government to silence doctors who stood up and spoke out on behalf of their patients about how you were running health care? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, I suspect the number is zero. What I do think, however, is that there were some honourable negoti a- tions that took place. Some differences of opinion were voiced. In some cases it resulted in separation. In other terms it might have resulted in divorce. But the fact is that the agreements were made.

They are sealed in accordance with the nondisclosure agreements that were signed by the parties in question. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. MacDonald: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again to the same minister: given that over $42 million – that’s $42 million – was listed last year by Alberta Health Services under other fees, can you please tell taxpayers how many of those other fees were spent in these negotiations to settle with doctors whom you were trying to silence? Mr. Snelgrove: Mr.

Speaker, there is a process in this government called Public Accounts, and that’s the point where members are able to get into the detail of just those such agreements, and if I’m not mistaken, the chairman of Public Accounts is the ho n. Mem- ber for Edmonton-Gold Bar . Maybe he ought to do his job in Public Accounts and ask those questions there. The Speaker: The hon. Member for St. Albert, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-Buffalo. Patient Advocacy by Physicians (continued) Mr. Allred: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Physicians are alleging that they’re being silenced, that they’re not allowed to speak up for patients. To the Minister of Health and Wellness: do we need a public inquiry to help create an atmosphere where physicians can speak up? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, physicians are speaking up. They do it daily. They’ve being doing it for quite a while, I suspect. I think what we need is the independent review that has been or- dered and that the Health Quality Council of Alberta will ca rry out. In fact, no one is telling physicians they can’t advocate. The exact opposite would be true.

The document I referred to earlier, which I had tabled quite a while ago but will table again at your request, explicitly states, in addition to what I’ve already said, that “if a physician feels that it is necessary to advance the interests of patients, then he or she should do so.” The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Allred: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My second question is to the same minister. Has our relationship with physicians broken down in some fundamental way? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, I don’t believe so.

I think the point that the Premier mentioned a little earlier, th at we now have an agreement in principle between the government, Alberta Health Services, and the AMA, is a very positive sign that we are moving forward and that there is a relationship that is beginning to work. I just want to say thank you to the Albert a Medical Association and all of its members for recognizing our economic situation, the worst since 1930. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Allred: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question, again to the same minister.

The fact remains that some physician s are say- ing that our relationship with physicians does not work, and they feel that our government has dismissed their concerns. Have we? Mr. Zwozdesky: Well, absolutely not, Mr. Speaker. If we had, we wouldn’t have an agreement in principle, obviously. I think what has happened here is that doctors more and more are finding A l- berta to be a very attractive place to come and practise, and that’s why we have had the highest growth rate in attracting doctors of any province over the past 10 years right here in Alberta. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Calgary-Buffalo, followed by the hon. Member for Cypress-Medicine Hat. Air Quality Monitoring for Radiation Mr. Hehr: Mr. Speaker, due to the tragic events in Japan it has now been confirmed that radiation is le aking from nuclear plants affected by the tsunami. Meteorologists report that there is danger of nuclear radiation spreading through the atmosphere to Alberta. Accordingly, my question is for the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

What action is being taken by emergency services’ air monitoring system or others to prepare for the risk of radiation spreading to Alberta through the jet stream? 2:10 Mr. Goudreau: Mr. Speaker, first, I want to indicate that this is such a tragic situation, and our hearts certainly go out to everyone that was affected by this disaster. Having said that, my department is in regular contact with our counterparts in Ottawa, and at this time they’re telling us that the radiation leak in Japan is not e x- pected to pose any health or safety risks in Canada. Mr. Hehr: Well, Mr.

Speaker, to the Minister of Environment: given that meteorologists worry that radiation may in fact reach Alberta, d oes our air monitoring system have the capacity to measure for radiation in order to protect Albertans? Mr. Renner: Mr. Speaker, we work very closely with our federal counterparts, and this would be a case where it’s not only national but international. The kind of monitoring and measurements that the member refers to would not only apply just in Alberta but would be on a national scale, so we would depend upon our na-

March 15, 2011 Alberta Hansard 357 tional and international experts to advise us on the ongoing issue if there is one. Mr. Hehr: Mr. Speaker, my final question is for the Minister of Energy. Prior to a nuclear plant proposal going forward in this province, will your ministry commit to establishing an expert panel to consult with the public to see whether a nuclear power plant is a viable option for this province? Mr.

Liepert: Well, first of all, I think the member may not be aware, but the first step that any nuclear plant proposal has to clear is the federal government, so I would suggest that he might want to direct that question to the federal government. Spring Flooding in Southern Alberta Mr. Mitzel: Mr. Speaker, last June my constituents in southeast Alberta faced significant and devastating flooding, which resulted in the largest disaster recovery package in our province’s history. With warmer temperatures now occurring, my constituents are again facing real flooding concerns.

A high water table and larger than normal snowpack only exacerbate the situation. In fact, many have been in close contact with me, and they are worri ed. My constituents need to know their government is on their side. To the Minister of Environment: what are you doing to ensure your de- partment is providing all assistance necessary to mitigate potential flooding? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Renner: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, let me point out that not only are this member’s constituents concerned but mine, as we are in adjoining constituencies.

I can assure all of the residents of southeastern Alberta that we are doing everyth ing that we can to prepare for any kind of negative impact. We’ve just today activated the Flood Response Coordination Centre to co- ordinate the flow of information between the city and the county and the residents. This morning we issued a snowmelt advisory, and we will continue to work very closely with city and county officials to ensure that appropriate actions are taken. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Mitzel: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My first supplemental is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

Give n that this may just be the start and that two homes I know of currently have water running through them because of this early melt, I’m sure there will be more. What plans do you have in place to assure and assist this area of the province with the flooding they are currently experiencing? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Goudreau: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The southeastern area of the province is certainly experiencing localized flooding. We’ve been planning for flooding and working with the county of Cypress and the city of Medicine Hat to get prepared.

As of this morning we’ve got an emergency management officer on site, and we’ve arranged for the loan of a sandbagging machine from the city of Calgary and authorized the purchase of a Candam, which is a 300-metre dam made in Medicine Hat, that will help prevent the spread of water. Mr. Mitzel: My second supplemental is to the same minister. As this is now a new flood and all claims are not yet cleared from last year and residents are still dealing with th e effects of the flood from last year, what’s being done or what will be done to help them? Mr. Goudreau: Mr.

Speaker, our efforts to assist the affected A l- bertans are ongoing, and our goal is to ensure that they receive the maximum amount of dollars that they are eligible for under the dis- aster recovery program. We’ve successfully provided first cheques or closed 98 per cent of the residential applications in this area. While we’re running nine disaster recovery programs throughout the province, we continue to pay special attention to southern A l- berta. We’re all working together to prepare as well, and we’re watching closely to see what Mother Nature might bring us. The Speaker: Thank you, Minister. The hon.

Member for Lethbridge -East, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-Hays. Farm Worker Safety Ms Pastoor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll stay on the health- related theme for today. Agricultural work makes the top -five list for high-risk occupations in Canada. This government is aware of that, yet the rights of farm employees in Alberta continue to be ignored. To the Minister of Employment and Immigration: where is the logic behind the decision made by this government to have mandatory investigations for some workplace injuries in the case of the 12 industrial oil workers? Mr.

Lukaszuk: Well, let me try to explain the logic, and if what I say doesn’t make sense, I would encourage the hon. member to meet with some actual farmers, and maybe they can reinforce what I say. The fact of the matter is, Mr. Speaker, that the majority of farming in Alberta is done on famil y farms, where people not only work and farm their own land but actually live and play and entertain on that land. Obviously, the presence of occupational health and safety in a setting where you have people living and working at the same time is not very conducive. The Speaker: The hon. member. Ms Pastoor: Yes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That’s a total red herring, and this minister knows it. He knows we aren’t talking about family. We are talking about employees, corporate farms. As the president of the Alberta Federation of Labour stated, the Farm Safety Advisory Council is a blatant example of public rel a- tions. Why another stall tactic instead of action to provide paid farm workers with the same rights as other workers in Alberta? Mr. Lukaszuk: Mr. Speaker, all farms are incorporated; hence, they are corporate farms.

I have to tell you that our minister of agriculture has just put in place a plan on how to deal with the health and safety of farmers and individuals who work on farms and who live on farms by way of educating, sharing best practices, and actually having farmers help farmers, having individuals who know something about farm- ing, unlike, perhaps, the hon. member and myself, institute safety on the farm.

Ms Pastoor: When members of the board instead of its chair are already speaking about their views on farm safety in the province, it’s clear to me that shared views with the government have al- ready again led to membership on a board. Is the minister just looking for confirmation of a decision that he’s already made? The Speaker: The hon. minister.

358 Alberta Hansard March 15, 2011 Mr. Hayden: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. These wonderful Albe r- tans that offered their time to serve on this board came from all over the province and put forward their names. I had it reinforced for me again this morning in a meeting that I had in Trochu, A l- berta, with a group of 25 agricultural producers when I asked them right flat out how we could help them and they said: no more regulations. I said: are we moving in the right direction with our farm safety instead of workmen’s compensation and occupational health and safety? They said: absolutely; this is what we want.

The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary -Hays, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona. Allegations of Criminal Wrongdoing Mr. Johnston: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For the past few weeks opposition members have implied or accused the government, the current and former ministers of health, the University of Calgary, the University of Alberta, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the Alberta Medical Association of everything from breaking the law through blackmail and payoffs to fraudulent bookkeeping. All my questions are for the Minister of Justice and Attorney Gen- eral.

Can the minister explain once again how any allegations of criminal misconduct should be dealt with and who they should be reported to? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Olson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do feel as though there’s a need for some precision in language here.

The debate in recent weeks has passed back and forth between allegations relating to management issues and so on, which I would submit are certainly a good subject for the Health Quality Council to deal with, but from time to time they’ve crossed over into allegations of criminal wrongdoing, and there is only one answer for that situation, and that is the police and police investigation. Mr. Johnston: To the same minister: further to your first response can you then explain to the House what a public inquiry can and cannot do? Mr.

Olson: Well, a public inquiry is not meant to be a substitute for a criminal investigation. So referring to my first question, if we are talking about allegations of criminal wrongdoing, there is only one process. That’s the courts. That is an independent judge, and it has sanctions at the end. If we’re talking about something else such as management issues, then there is an appropriate venue already in place. If there were a public inquiry, what would a judge do? He would need experts to help him such as t he Health Quality Council. The Speaker: The hon. member. 2:20 Mr. Johnston: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The opposition members have been using a statement of claim as supposed evidence to prove wrongdoing by this government. Can the minister explain to the House what is contained in a statement of claim and what its purpose is? Mr. Olson: Well, Mr. Speaker, a statement of claim contains all e- gations in a civil matter. It’s usually met by a statement of defence, which contains either further allegations or denial s. We can’t base decisions on allegations and denials in a statement of claim and a statement of defence. We need evidence. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona, fo l- lowed by the hon.

Member for Calgary-Varsity. Nuclear Power Ms Notley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday the Minister of Energy brushed off the dangers related to nuclear power, but with the tragic events in Japan, we are seeing prudent governments – Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, for example – taking strong actions to respo nd with measures to increase safety. Indeed, the EU just today completed an emergency debate on the issue and agreed on a number of preventative actions as a first step.

Will the Minister of Energy join this discussion and reassure Albertans that nuclear energy is one hazard that this province will steer clear of now and in the future? Mr. Liepert: Well, Mr. Speaker, I assume they had an emergency debate because they have nuclear power. Alberta doesn’t have nu- clear power. I’m not quite sure what the member is trying to get at. Ms Notley: Well, Mr.

Speaker, given that the Minister of Infr a- structure recently joined the Member for Athabasca-Redwater at a meeting to defend its deeply unpopular land- use bills and that those attending were told that the need for a massive proposed power line is to facilitate a nuclear power facility in northwest Alberta, will the Minister of Energy admit that the govern ment is actively enticing Bruce Power to bring the nuclear industry to Alberta and commit to reversing this position immediately? Mr. Liepert: Mr. Speaker, you know, I have no idea what the member is talking about because I wasn’t at any particular meet- ing.

But I did hear the member who I think was referred to, who happens to sit next to me, express some outrage when that partic u- lar accusation was made. Considering the track record of that member and the accuracy of some of her

preambles, I’m just g o- ing to pass on it. Ms Notley: Well, Mr. Speaker, given that Albertans have already expressed strong opposition to nuclear power and have so far been ignored by the Tories and given that the events in Japan demon- strate that the most fail-safe nuclear plants are never actually completely fail safe, will the minister assure Albertans that n u- clear power is excluded from all consideration as an option to provide power for the province? Mr. Liepert: Well, Mr.

Speaker, again the member’s recollection of what Albertans expressed through the public consultation proc- ess that we undertook is wrong. What Albertans expressed to us is that we have an open, competitive generation market and that at such time that an application is filed, it should be considered along with any oth er particular proposals, provided, of course, that it gets approval at the federal level, which is the first step that any project would need. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Varsity, followed by the hon. Member for Strathcona. Education Funding Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The government claims that education was protected in the budget this year, but parents, teachers, and school boards have been crunching the numbers, and they are saying that that’s simply not true. To the Minister of Edu- cation: are struggling school boards, larger classes, and staff

March 15, 2011 Alberta Hansard 359 layoffs what the minister had in mind when he talked about Inspir- ing Education for the past three years? Mr. Hancock: No, Mr. Speaker. When I was talking about Inspi r- ing Education, I was talki ng about the kind of education we need to have for the students of our province now and in the future so that they can be citizens of the world and compete in a global economy as well as in the local economy.

We’re talking about students with 21st century skills – literacy skills, foundational skills, and numeracy – those types of things which make it poss i- ble for every child to succeed. In Inspiring Education we are talking about every child having value and every child being able to succeed to their potential. Mr. Chase: It would seem, Mr. Speaker, that every child, if they’re to have value, should be invested in, but that’s not what’s happening with your cuts.

At a time when other countries are looking to copy the Alberta initiative for school improvement in their own schools, why is this government cutting AISI by 50 per cent? How is that progressive? Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, the fact that this year we have a r e- strained budget and we need to show restraint at a time when revenues are not as high as they have been in the past means that we have to make some very tough decisions, and education is not immune from those tough decisions.

I would grant, hon. member, that cutting the AISI budget was one of the most difficult dec i- sions that I’ve had to make as mi nister because AISI is a very, very important program. Mr. Chase: Obviously, AISI is dependent on oil and gas revenue rather than sustainable funding. If this government needs to save $40 million, why not trim the $170 million taxpayer dollars going to su bsidize private school tuition every year instead of cutting projects that help public schools improve student learning? Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, as I said in my first answer, every student in Alberta has value.

Every child in Alberta has value, and every child in Alberta, I’d go on to say, needs to have a place in the education system. Some people choose to be in the private school system, and those students are supported by public dollars to the tune of 70 per cent of the operational dollars that public school students get. So if we were to cut the funding to the private schools, I would suggest that we would find more of those st u- dents in the public schools, and we would end up having to take the dollars for the public school system and spread them even more thinly.

The Speaker: I would like to remind all members again that this is question period. Budgetary questions and particularly Educ a- tion’s budget will come before the House on the afternoon of April 19. There will be three hours that could be devote d to this subject. The hon. Member for Strathcona, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-Fish Creek. Employment and Immigration Funding Mr. Quest: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Alberta and the world emerge from one of the worst recessions in decades, the number one concern is ensuring that Albertans are back at work.

My que s- tion is to the Minister of Employment and Immigration. Has Alberta regained all of the jobs it lost during the recession? Mr. Lukaszuk: Mr. Speaker, no, not entirely. As a matter of fact, there has been good news coming to Alberta from Statistics Can- ada, showing that we are regaining jobs at a leading pace. However, during the recession Alberta had some 2.08 million people working, and now there are approximately 2.06 million, so we still have some way to go. However, we’re on the right track, and we’re leading the country right now in job recovery. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr.

Quest: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the same minister. On Friday Stats Canada released encouraging numbers, showing A l- berta tied for the second -lowest unemployment rate, but I still have constituents looking for a job or for a better job. What’s your department doing to help them fully participate in the labour force? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Lukaszuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A number of initiatives are in place. Our 59 LMIC offices throughout the province deliver a variety of programs.

One of them will be the building and edu- cating tomorrow’s workforce strategy, which allows for programming for upgrading skills, providing some foundational learning for Albertans and also providing benefits and a subsi s- tence allowance for those who choose to upgrade their skills and re-enter the workforce at a higher level of pay and a higher level skill set. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Quest: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again to the same minister. Youth unemployment is high in parts of the province, yet the mi n- ister has cut the Youth Connections program from his budget. Why did you cut this program?

Mr. Lukaszuk: Mr. Speaker, the answer is obvious. Some budg- etary decisions had to be made. This ministry has a budget diminished by some $70 million. The budget may be dimini shed, and the offices may not be available any longer, but I have to a s- sure you that the services will continue to be delivered to our youth through our 59 offices throughout the province and through the use of social media and other delivery methods that actually, perhaps, could be much better received by our young people. The Speaker: I’m going to repeat what I just said to the previous member with respect to budgets.

This budget for this department was dealt with in this Assembly last evening for three h ours. This is the question period. The hon. Member for Calgary-Fish Creek, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Ellerslie. Health Quality Council Review (continued) Mrs. Forsyth: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, when que s- tioned by the Wildrose, the health minister denied that he’d ever categorically said no to a Health Quality Council review, instead insisting he said: no, not at this time. Days later the Health Quality Council review was announced.

Later in the day, when I asked him if he would cal l an independent judicial inquiry, he said: no, not at this time. To the health minister: given that you’ve set the precedent for changing your mind, and you’re going from no to “not at this time,” when can we expect you to say yes and call a public inquiry?

360 Alberta Hansard March 15, 2011 Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, it’s like saying: I love you, but I’m not ready to marry you at this time. What part of that don’t you understand? No, not at this time. I said that I would review and take appropriate actions at the right time. That’s all there is to it. After I had more information and we looked at it and had a chat about it, we decided to call an independent review as requested 2:30 The Speaker: The hon. member. Mrs. Forsyth: Yikes, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Are you going to accept? He’s already married. Mrs. Forsyth: No.

Not at this time. [laughter] Holy mackerel, Mr. Speaker. You’ve got to be kidding me. Whoa. Given that the health minister has said no and not at this time – and I’m not talking about marri age, thank you very much – and the Premier continues to say a flat out no, will you on behalf of Albertans and the medical profession fulfill your role as a health minister and push for a public inquiry? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, I’ll go through this aga in.

On March 7 this same member said, “Given that the Health Quality Council can’t investigate until directed to do so, why hasn’t the health minister given such orders?” Guess what? I did. Later that day this same member who’s asking the question said, “M r. Min- ister: will you call in the Health Quality Council to investigate the 322 cases that were documented previously?” Yes, I will. And, yes, I already did. Mrs. Forsyth: I’m pretty good at convincing people, and that same minister said no. Then he said: not at this time. Then he said yes. So thank you. My final question is to the minister.

If you truly care about the health care system, if you want to live up to your commitment of an open and transparent government, and if you really believe health care professionals and doctors shouldn’t be silenced and they shouldn’t be muscled, will you reassure Albertans and call for a full public inquiry? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, a public inquiry, which clearly they don’t understand, would require cabinet to direc t and dictate the terms of reference. Who would conduct it? Who would sit on it? That’s not independence the way people want an independent review to be done.

I find it quite interesting that on one day they are praising the Health Quality Council, and now they are casting innuendo against the people that they stood behind just last week. I don’t understand that. It sounds very confusing on their part. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Ellerslie, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre. Temporary Foreign Workers Mr. Bhardwaj: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday the government announced changes to the way noncompulsory tradespeople employed as temporary foreign workers can apply for permanent residency.

My question is to the Minister of E m- ployment and Immigration. Why was there a need to make this change now? Mr. Lukaszuk: Well, Mr. Speaker, it’s a case of walking your talk. I strongly believe that not only Alberta’s but Canada’s immi- gration policies have to reflect what is good for Ca nada and what is good for Alberta. We have a cap of 5,000 appointees under the provincial nominee program, and it is imperative that we nominate the skill sets that are needed by our economy right now and allow them to stay. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Bhardwaj: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

My next question to the same minister: on the whole is Alberta getting immigrants with the skills needed in our province to ensure that our economy has a sufficient supply of labour? Mr. Lukaszuk: Mr. Speaker, for those immigrants that are ap- pointed through the provincial nominee program, the answer will be yes, 100 per cent yes. Those immigrants are matching exactly the needs of our economy. Other streams through which imm i- grants come in: some happen to have t he skill sets that are compatible to our economy but not all. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Bhardwaj: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

My final question to the same minister. The fact is, Minister, that after e m- ploying every Albertan and Canadian, we still need immigration. What concrete steps are you taking in your meetings with your federal counterparts to increase the flow of skilled immigrants to Alberta? Mr. Lukaszuk: Well, Mr. Speaker, I continue to impress the u r- gency upon our federal colleagues . The fact is that we’re facing a perfect storm. Baby boomers are retiring as of this year, natural population growth is slightly above zero, our economy is growing at a great pace, and our appetite for services is insatiable.

What does it mean? It means w e will have severe shortages of workers for many years to come. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre , followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-Montrose. Security of Health Data Ms Blakeman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What personal inform a- tion could be more private to individuals than information about their surgery and wounds labelled with their names? This is the sensitive information that has been reported missing from the Misericordia hospital. The Health Information Act is supposed to protect the privacy of this kind of health information but has r e- peatedly failed.

My questions are to the minister of health. Why doesn’t the minister conduct random audits to ensure compliance with security standards, especially for encryption of mobile IT devices? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, what happened with respect to the file that went missing may well have been a simple case of human error. I know that Covenant Health has accepted full responsibility for that, and they are going to do everything possible to ensure that it doesn’t happen again. Unfortunately, human error does occur to even the best of us, hon. member.

Ms Blakeman: You have to have health privacy that includes the human error. Why are you unable to do that? You have to be able to work human error into your privacy legislation. Why haven’t you done it? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, as new technologies, new proc e- dures are developed, we look at them. We consider them. We try

March 15, 2011 Alberta Hansard 361 to keep up as best we can with these changing technologies to provide the very assurances this member is looking for. I can as- sure her and I can assure all Albertans that we take cases like this very seriously, as does Covenant Health. Ms Blakeman: Okay. Well, back to the same minister, then.

As more and more databases are being strung together and personal health information in electronic form can be sent across the world with the hit of the send button, what protocols has this government identified for connected networks where information gets secon- dary and tertiary use like the new TALON system? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, that’s a pretty good thought there, and I’m going to have to take a look into the exact details of what Alberta Health Services has in terms of its own operations and what Covenant Health has in terms of their operations.

I’m sure that they have taken this already under advisement and into a c- count, and I would be equally sure that they also have some protocols to offer the maximum protection possible. But in the end you still have human people doing human entries, and human error may still occur, unfortunately. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary -Montrose, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-McCall. Degree Granting Approval Process Mr. Bhullar: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I think it’s fair to say that Alberta is known for the quality of our postsecondary programming.

We need to ensure that these high standards are upheld and new programs of study are introduced that meet soci- ety’s needs as well as the needs of students. The Campus Alberta Quality Council makes recommendations on what new degree programs are offered in the province. However, I’m told the proc- ess can be very slow, and I’m told that the process is more subjective rather than objective. My questions are to the minister of advanced education. Minister . . . The Speaker: We’ll hear from him now. Mr. Bhullar: . . . tell me why it takes so long. Mr. Weadick: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’m pleased to rise and respond to that. In my travels around the province and in talking to institutions I, too, have heard concerns about the time that it can take to get a new degree or new diploma approved. It can be quite onerous. So I talked to the department, and there is a process that has to be followed. First, the program has to be reviewed by the department to ensure that it meets the institution’s guidelines, that the program is needed, that the funding is available to deliver the program. Then there are experts recruited from around the world, actually . . .

The Speaker: The hon. member. [interjection] The hon. member has the floor. Mr. Bhullar: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the minister tell me what specific process improvements he’s considering to ensure that institutions don’t have to wait many, many months or even years to get an answer? Mr. Weadick: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are constantly lo ok- ing at program reviews to shorten the timelines on these new degree programs. One of the key things is making sure that the application is complete when it comes in.

Often we have to go back and work with the institutions to continue to garner inform a- tion until we get a complete application that can be reviewed. This can take some time as we develop the process, but we’re trying to streamline that each time we do one. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Bhullar: Thank you again, Mr. Speaker. My final questi on will be to the same minister. Minister, what if a postsecondary institution does not agree with the council’s decision? What a p- peal mechanisms do they have, if any?

What mechanisms do they have to make sure that the actual answer was based on the best interests of Alberta students? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Weadick: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Through the department we also do review these, but each institution has the opportunity to reapply for any program that may have been brought forward with some changes made to it. So there’s never a no. We try to work with institutions to ensure that each program has the best opport u- nity to be approved.

So we’ll continue to work with institutions, and we’ll try to make sure that all of these get a fair shake and get a chance to be approved. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-McCall. Residential Building Code Mr. Kang: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. More than 300 tenants of the Penhorwood apartments in Fort McMurray were evacuated after a report commissioned by the condo association identified major structural problems. Unfortunately, this is a situation that is being played out in communities across Alberta with increasing regulari- ty.

To the Minister of Municipal Affairs: will he admit that his lack of oversigh t and inaction on the regulation of construction file has led to the erosion of construction standards? 2:40 Mr. Goudreau: Mr. Speaker, the opposite is, actually, what’s happening. It’s because of the due diligence of the inspectors and looking at the buil ding codes that we’re able to identify such buildings and actually work with individual residences to make sure that the buildings are safe for occupancy. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Kang: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. They had to hire separate investigators to find things out.

To the minister again: why has the minister been so reluctant to exercise the authority granted to him under the Safety Codes Act to intervene in cases where homeowners impacted by poor buil d- ing practices are unable to get satisfact ion from their local municipalities? Mr. Goudreau: Mr. Speaker, the changes to the building codes occur because of the comments that we constantly receive from Albertans, and those concerns and issues are brought forward. That’s how the codes are improved and enhanced. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Kang: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

To the minister again: given the minister’s very public comments about introducing legislation this spring to protect homeowners from poor building practices, why has he failed to do so?

362 Alberta Hansard March 15, 2011 Mr. Goudreau: Mr. Speaker, I continue to work with my coun- terparts and with industry, and it’s still our intent to look at changes in legislation in the very near future. The Speaker: Hon. members, that concludes Oral Question Pe- riod. There were 19 sets. Nineteen members were identified today and 114 questions and responses. Just a bit of a follow-up from the question period, there are some tablings that will have to be dealt with. I asked the Leader of the Official Opposition to table some documents that he quoted from. Hon.

Minister of Health and Wellness, I believe you indi- cated in a subsequent question th at you had already tabled that document, so that won’t be required to be redone. Member for Airdrie-Chestermere, you were requested to table some documents as well. In a few seconds from now we’ll continue with the Routine, and the Routine is dealing with Members’ Statements. head: Members’ Statements (continued) The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Currie. Health Care System Administration Mr. Taylor: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

My constituents are excited about two things today, the return of spring finally and the feeling that after years and years we’re finally getting close to getting some answers about what’s wrong with the management of our health care system. Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that the people of Alberta continue to have great faith in the ability of our system to deliver great health care provided they can find the secret password that allows them to access the system in time.

In other words, the people con- tinue to believe that if they’re facing a serious illness or a medical emergency and they can get in, our acute-care system will likely save their lives. But it’s also no secret that the people of Alberta have next to no confidence in the administration of Alberta’s health care system, and that is true no matter how far the current minister puffs out his chest and spouts righteous indignation at his critics.

They’ve been watching it get worse for 15 years now, through three massive reorganizations, about a dozen different deputy ministers of health, and enough 180-degree changes of direction that it’s a wonder our kids haven’t all been born dizzy. Here’s the thing.

The people who deliver great health care are, among others on the front line, our doctors; and the administra- tors, the people who run the part of the system Albertans have no faith in, are from this government on down the people who would be in a position to silence and intimidate the front-line docs and others who are responsible for speaking truth to power when they see a problem. We now have the case of Dr. McNamee and that of another Edmonton doctor who has told CBC she was forced from her job and her mental stability questio ned. She remains anonymous be- cause of a nondisclosure agreem ent. Dr.

Fanning has now gone public. Dr. Maybaum says health care professionals have to be liberated from the climate of intimidation that pervades the sys- tem. I’d bet you, Mr. Speaker, that every single opposition member has had doctors tell them horror stories ending with the words, “But I can’t go public; it’ll cost me my job.” I know I have. A full public judicial inquiry w ould clear the air, Mr. Speaker. In fact, it’s the only thing that can. head: Presenting Reports by head: Standing and Special Committees Dr. Brown: Mr.

Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 99 the Standing Committee on Private Bills has reviewed the peti- tions that I presented in the House on Thursday, March 10, 2011, and I can advise the House that al l but one of the petitions comply with standing orders 90 to 94. The committee has considered the petitions and recommends to the Assembly that Standing Order 94(1)(

b) be waived for the peti- tion of the Galt Scholarship Fund Transfer Act subject to the petitioner completing the necessary advertising in accordance with the standing orders before the committee hears the petitioner. Mr. Speaker, this is my report. The Speaker: Hon. members, do you concur in the report just provided? All in favour, say yes. Hon. Members: Yes. The Speaker: Opposed, say no. It’s carried. head: Introduction of Bills The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Currie. Bill 205 Municipal Government (Delayed Construction) Amendment Act, 2011 Mr. Taylor: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today to request leave to introduce my private member’s bill, Bill 205, the Municipal Government (Delayed Construction) Amendment Act, 2011. This bill will allow municipalities to better regulate construction within their own boundaries and to ensure that projects are not significantly stalled, suspende d, or delayed for unreasonable lengths of time. The legislation would give municipalities clear authority to intervene when construction sites become signifi- cantly stalled, suspended, or dela yed.

In these cases I propose that municipalities should hol d the authority to require the owner of a delayed project to improve the a ppearance of the site within a specified time frame. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Motion carried; Bill 205 read a first time] head: Tabling Returns and Reports The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs. Mr. Denis: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I rise to table the requisite amount of copies of tw o documents to which I referred yesterday during the Standing Order 30 emergency debate. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Calder. Mr. Elniski: Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. I rise to table the appropri- ate number of copies of the webs ite pro forma for the Canadian international hospital. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo.

March 15, 2011 Alberta Hansard 363 Mr. Boutilier: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I have the requisite number of tabling copies of a letter to the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development from Bill Leithead, an Al ber- tan, pertaining to his concerns and not getting responses to the issues surrounding Bill 36 and Bill 50. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar. Mr. MacDonald: Yes, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table on behalf of the hon. Leader of the Official Opposition an

article from the Calgary Herald , dated Tuesday, March 15, 2011 – this, of course, comes from question period – where Dr. Lloyd Maybaum, president of the Calgary & Area Ph y- sicians Association states: many, many cases o f physicians being intimidated and threatened. The Speaker: Hon. member, that was the tabling document that I requested? Mr. MacDonald: That’s correct. The Speaker: Okay. It’s completed, then. The hon. Member for Calgary-Varsity. Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am tabling e- mails from the following individuals who are seeking the preservation of the Castle wilderness: C.

Morag Dornian, Randy Zielke, Patricia Su l- livan, Fred Vermeulen, N. Sjoman, Gwen Wozny, Denise Wall, Eileen Kosior, Robin Hitchon, Dwayne Hebron, Bernie Schaloske, Lorraine Nordstrom, Andrew Burla, Maddy Gustavson, Marion McFall, Ann Card, Dr. Maureen McCall, Janice Pitman, Bonnie Denhaan, Dawn Macdonald, Noreen Sundstrom, Dave Collyer, Matthew Johnson, Patricia Gaviller, and Alan Kane. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Hon. Member for Airdrie-Chestermere, you sent a note with respect to the tabling that you must provide to the House.

You said in a note to me on the back of an envelope: the quote was taken off a CTV broadcast report, not print; how do I table that? Well, very simply. What you do is get a copy of the television broadcast. You get it translated into English, you have a notary pub- lic declare it to be true and correct, and you come back tomorrow and table it in the House with the appropriate copies. Not a problem. 2:50 head: Tablings to the Clerk The Clerk: I wish to advise the House that the following document was deposited with the office of the Clerk: on behalf of the hon. Mr.

Olson, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, a letter dated March 7, 2011, from the hon. Mr. Olson, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, to Mr. Drysdale, chair, Standing Committee on Public Safety and Services, regarding a letter dated February 15, 2011, from the hon. Ms Redford, former Mi nister of Justice and Attorney General, to Mr. Drysdale correcting costs related to admin- istering and supervising a leadership disclosure system. head: Orders of the Day head: Government Bills and Orders Second Reading Bill 15 Victims of Crime Amendment Act, 2011 The Speaker: The hon.

Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security. Mr. Oberle: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to move second reading of Bill 15, the Victims of Crime Amendment Act, 2011. Mr. Speaker, victims of crime in Alberta must be treated with dignity and respect, and I believe that these amendments will help us to provide them with the services they deserve. The impact of violent and serious crime can be profound for victims, and we want our legislation to provide as much support as possible.

The number of victims applying for financial benefits has i n- creased significantly; therefore, our current processes are also being reviewed to ensure they continue to effectively handle this increasing volume. As part of the review we held consultations with stakeholders in January, Mr. Speaker, and we asked for pu b- lic input via a website, an online survey. The input received during consultations is reflected in the proposed amendments. Mr.

Speaker, two core programs serve victims of crime in our province: the financial benefits program and the victims of crime grants program, which allocates funding to organizations that provide information, support, and referrals to victims of crime. Albertans who are victims of violent crime can apply fo r a one - time financial benefit for their injuries through the financial ben e- fits program. This program is unique in North America because benefits are based on the severity of injury. It is not a compens a- tion program.

For example, it does not require victi ms injured in a violent crime to provide records of expenses or to show a loss of income. It’s an acknowledgement that the victim has suffered due to injuries associated with a criminal act. The benefits program does not compensate for property damage, mot or vehicle coll i- sions, or lost wages. This year, Mr. Speaker, we are providing $14 million for the f i- nancial benefits program. Organizations in Alberta that provide services to victims of crime receive funding from the government of Alberta through the victims of crime fund.

In the province there are currently 121 police-based and 29 community -based organizations that provide such vital services. Last year $9.7 million was allocated between these 150 programs, which, in turn, provided support for more than 60,000 victims of crime and trauma in our province. Mr. Speaker, I’ll go briefly into some detail about the proposed amendments. They relate to four main areas, the first of which involves administrative processes relating to the Criminal Injuries Review Board, or the CIRB.

Amendments relating to the CIRB will safeguard the rights of applicants to receive fair reviews and will help increase the efficiency of the CIRB processes. We pr o- pose that the board only review the evidence before them rather than accepting new evidence. In addition, we propose that the board must send an application back to the director when new evidence or information is uncovered. This clarifies that the board does not reinvestigate, and it will ensure consistency and eff i- ciency, resulting in timely decisions for victims.

Our amendments also state that the board chair can appoint up to three members to sit on a review panel. This will also improve the flexibility of the review process. We also wish to amend the processes for providing notification to the parties involved and for making submissions to the board. In addition, we propose that the board must refer matters back to the director when a decision on eligibility or dismissal of an application is overturned by the r e- view panel. Mr.

Speaker, these proposals will result in a more efficient and equitable review process, ultimately resulting in bet- ter service for victims of violent crime in Alberta. This bill will also bring the director’s authority in line with the applicant’s ability to challenge a board decision, Mr. Speaker. Currently the applicant can appeal to the Court of Appeal while the director seeks judicial review at the Court of Queen’s Bench. The amendment will give the director and the applicant the same rights of appeal, leading to consistent

interpretation of the act. We

364 Alberta Hansard March 15, 2011 also wish to replace the word “hearing” with the word “review,” which will help clarify the intent of the process. Finally, Mr. Speaker, in this area we propose a transitional p e- riod to allow review s already in progress to be concluded in accordance with the relevant legislation. This will ensure that people already involved in the appeals process are treated fairly. These changes will reduce the amount of time required to bring an appeal forward to the CIRB, Mr. Speaker, which means quicker decisions for victims.

Also, each time new evidence is introduced by a victim on appeal, the case will be sent back to the program. This will again result in quicker decisions. We also wish to set the death bene fit in the regulation, a sol u- tion which will be fair and compassionate to victims and surviving family members. With respect to the length of time to apply, Mr. Speaker, cu r- rently the department receives applications for injuries that are decades old. There may be no police or medical records available, and without such independent verification the likelihood of fra u- dulent applications increases.

So we propose to introduce a 10- year limit on applications. This is in line with the Limitations Act, which sets a limit of 10 years on civil matters. For child victims the 10-year period would start when they reach the age of majority to ensure that they have access to the financial benefits program. At the moment applicants must apply for benefits within two years from the date that they become aware of or know or ought to have known the nature of their injuries. However, the current le g- islation allows for open -ended discretion on this time limit.

We propose to change the above reference to: should have known tha t a crime has occurred or 10 years from the date that the crime o c- curred, whichever expires first. We also wish to address grant funding for victims of crime pr o- grams and organizations. The bill will make sure that victims of crime legislation is current with other acts, such as the Youth Crim- inal Justice Act, that reference the victims of crime fund. In the current act the minister can only introduce or improve programs or initiatives to benefit victims of crime by amending the act.

This has limited the government’s ability to be innovative and to fund new programs. In this bill we are proposing to allow the minister to make recommendations for grants both with and without the recomme n- dations of the victims of crime committee, making the process more responsive to the immediate needs of organizations serving victims. Mr. Speaker, the change will not impact the grant application process funding for police-based or community-based programs. Other proposals state that

definitions may be added, amended, or deleted to help modernize the act. For example, Mr. Speaker, the term “law enforcement agency” is being replaced with “police service” to provide clarity. We also propose giving the Lieutenant Governor in Council the authority to make additional regulations as required. This again will make programs more responsive and current. Mr. Speaker, this government and my ministry are committed to ensuring that victims of crime continue to be treated with dignity and respect.

The amendments being proposed today are ne eded to ensure that the services, programs, and financial benefits currently available to victims of crime continue to be provided efficiently and fairly. As a result of these amendments victims will be able to receive a financial benefit sooner, new gover nment programs can be introduced in a more timely fashion, and the appeals process will be faster. The amendments will also provide support for those organizations that assist Alberta’s victims and will recognize the hardships that victims experience through no fault of their own. Thank you, Mr.

Speaker, for the opportunity to provide these comments. At this time I would move that we adjourn debate. [Motion to adjourn debate carried] Bill 12 Alberta Investment Management Corporation Amendment Act, 2011 The Speaker: The hon. Member for Red Deer-South. Mr. Dallas: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to rise and move second reading of Bill 12, the Alberta Investment Manag e- ment Corporation Amendment Act, 2011. The Alberta Investment Management Corporation, better known as AIMCo, is the government’s investment manager.

AIMCo is responsible for managing nearly $70 billion in investments for the government, including the Alberta heritage savings trust fund, the sustainability fund, and public-sector pension funds. 3:00 AIMCo was formed in 2008 with a mission to seek the greatest financial returns with an acceptable level of risk for the clients on whose behalf they invest. Now that AIMCo has been in operation for a few years, amendments are needed to its govern ing legisla- tion to allow AIMCo to continue to invest Albertans’ money as effectively and efficiently as possible.

An amendment within Bill 12 would provide AIMCo with additional indemnification powers for its employees and directors. [The Deputy Speaker in the chair] Under the current legislation AIMCo can already grant inde m- nity, or legal protection, to a person who acts or acted as a director or officer of a directly owned corporation. The amendment esse n- tially broadens the scope of people who can be indemnified as part of their investment process. It will now include those whom AIMCo appoints indirectly as directors on boards of corporations or similar entities they make significant investments in.

It would also ensure that AIMCo employees who act as dir ectors of ind i- rectly held corporations are covered. A second set of amendments within Bill 12 would see changes to the

section which outlines directors’ responsibilities. We are adding a provision to the act that clarifies that AIMCo must consider the best interests of the designated entities, which are their clients, in providing investment management services. The act already co n- tains a requirement for directors and officers to act in the best interests of the corporation. This amendment makes it clear that what is in the best interests of the corporation is to act in the best interests of its clients.

This change replaces the current wording in the act, that requires AIMCo directors and officers to have due r e- gard to the interests of the Crown and designated entities. As well, a conflict of interest subsection is being added to pr o- tect the corporation and its directors further. This addition will effectively provide the same conflict of interest provisions that apply to directors of any company under the Business Corpor a- tions Act. The remaining amendments within Bill 12 deal with some m i- nor technical changes.

For instance, language is being added to explicitly state that compliance with any directive issued by the government is deemed to be in the best i nterests of the corpor a- tion. This would relieve directors from liability provided that they comply with the directive in a prompt and efficient manner. We’re also clarifying the legal ownership structure of AIMCo. Since the act states that AIMCo is a corp oration with one share owned by the Crown, it is confusing to also say it consists of a board of directors. We’re clearing up the confusion by removing those words with no legal consequence.

As you’ve heard, the amendments within Bill 12 are needed to ensure that AIMCo has the proper governance in place and can

March 15, 2011 Alberta Hansard 365 continue to operate effectively while investing the province’s sub- stantial assets on behalf of Albertans. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With that, I move that we adjourn debate. [Motion to adjourn debate carried] Bill 14 Wills and Succession Amendment Act, 2011 The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Grande Prairie- Wapiti. Mr. Drysdale: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is a pleasure to rise today to move second reading of Bill 14, the Wills and Succession Amendment Act, 2011. The Wills and Succession Act governs how and to whom prop- erty is transferred when a person dies.

Bill 14 contains a sm all but important amendment to the Wills and Succession Act, which was passed in this Legislature in the fall of 2010 and will likely come into force in January 2012. The new act will allow courts to correct certain deficiencies in invalid wills to make them valid. This correction power applies to wills or, more accurately, invalid wills made after the act comes into force. For example, under the Wills and Succession Act a court can add words to a will if there is proof they were omitted by mistake.

As this act reads now, it appears that the correction powers can be used to re -evaluate wills of people who are already deceased. This creates the immediate potential for disputes, delay, and ex- pense. In fact, there are already a few cases in which parties are holding up estates and probate applications so that they can try to get wills that are invalid under current law validated under new law. There may also be attempts to open closed estates. The intent of the Wills and Succession Act was that the new act operate on a go -forward basis.

This amendment in Bill 14 will make it clear that the new will correction powers will not apply to the estates of people who are already deceased. Justice officials, the Alberta Law Reform Institute, and similar reforms propose d in British Columbia all support the proposed approach. As this is already affecting the administration of some estates, it is important that we act quickly to incorporate this change. I urge all hon. members to support this important change. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to move to adjourn debate at this time.

Thank you. [Motion to adjourn debate carried] Bill 13 Appropriation (Interim Supply) Act, 2011 Mr. Snelgrove: Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to move second reading of Bill 13, the Appropriation (Interim Supply) Act, 2011. The Appropriation (Interim Supply) Act, 2011, will provide funding authority to the offices of the Legislative Assembly and to the government for the period of April 1, 2011, to April 28, 2011, inclusive. It is anticipated that funding authority for the entire fiscal year ending March 31, 2012, will be provided on that date.

The required funding authority for the full year is detailed in the 2011-12 government and Legislative Assembly estimates tabled on February 24, 2011. These interim supply amounts reflect both the anticipated date of full supply and the fact that many payments are monthly. Other payments are due at the beginning of each quarter and at the beginning of the fiscal year. The act would provide spending authority for the following amounts: $4.94 billion in expense, $252 million in capital inves t- ment, and $43 million in nonbudgetary disbursements. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Deputy Speaker: The hon.

Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar on the bill. Mr. MacDonald: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a pleasure to rise and have a few things get on the record regarding Bill 13. It’s not unusual for this government to request interim supply. It’s not unreasonable. When you go through the list – well, everyone is included in this list, as far as I can see, including the offices of the Legislative Assembly. Certainly, the one that catches my eye is the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, which is to receive 2 and a half million dollars from this bill.

Hopefully, that is mone y or funds that will be used to plan the enumeration that is to occur, as I understand it, in September. I believe it’s the last week in August and the first two weeks of September. Hopefully, we will have a thorough enumeration that will provide to all political parties a c- curate information on the 87 constituencies we now have.

That would certainly be one expenditure of note. 3:10 With the office of the Chief Electoral Officer I find it odd that many of the returning officers for the next election have been appointed through Elections Alberta, but I have yet – now, I could stand to be corrected – to see a list of those individuals who have been selected by Elections Alberta to manage or conduct the next provincial election.

But looking at that item, certainly this amount of money and what was provided last year should fund the admi n- istration of a provincial election, not only fund it but make sure that it is fair and even for each and every political party. Now, the Health and Wellness budget – of course, we’re look- ing at getting started there – at the end of the year will be probably above $15 billion. It is a lot of money, and I for one don’t have confidence in this government’s ability to manage the health care budget. That’s right.

I do not have confide nce in this gover n- ment’s ability to manage the health care budget, manage the $40 billion in expenditures as well. I don’t have confidence, hon. minister, and this is why. For the last week or so we have been asking questions, Mr. Speaker, r e- garding Healt h and Wellness. We know Health and Wellness would always put out, essentially, two annual reports,

section I and

section II.

Section I dealt with the ministry, the budget of Health and Wellness, and

section II would deal with in this case the nine RHAs, the Alberta Cancer Board, the Alberta Mental Health Board, and the Health Quality Council of Alberta. The Health Quality Council of Alberta would be the last entity noted in the financial reports. When you look at the financial reports and you compare them from one year to the next, you certainly see a lot of differences. Now, Mr.

Speaker, this is why I think we have to be very, very reluctant whenever we’re authorizing this government to spend money on behalf of citizens because there are some changes made in these financial statements that relate to the questions we have asked. The first change: this is in the unaudited portion, and I’m going to use 2008 -09 as an example. Why would you, for i n- stance, make a statement under the financial highlights? Again, I would like to stress that these financial highlights are not audited. They’re unaudited.

So if you want to hopefully get correct infor- mation, you would go to the audited statements. Now, I asked questions about this last week. I didn’t get any answers. The government is asking for a lot of money, over $2.2

366 Alberta Hansard March 15, 2011 billion, for health care. My questions were around the one -time funding. If we look at the annual report, Mr. Speaker, we can see where the government indicates: Excluding one-time funding, Alberta Health Services received a $522 million, or an eight per cent, increase in base operational support. If one-time funding is included, it equals an $830 mi l- lion funding increase, or 12.5 per cent, primarily attributed to population increases and inflation.

One -time funding for 2008/2009 includes a $97 million payment to the former Ch i- nook, Calgary and Peace Country health regions for 2007/2008 net accumulated deficit elimination. In other words, that’s money that was provided to those three health authorities; $ 97 million was provided to those three health authorities for a previous year’s deficit. Another one-time $80 million payment was required to support the transition of provincial health service delivery to a single health authority. There are a lot of dif ferent things going on in that one health authority, Mr. Speaker, now.

That $80 million was transferred out to the old East Central region, and it was used for everything from transition costs – that’s correct – to severance payments, to top up those pension funds, including, of course, the one big pension, the $22,400 a month pension for life, that I believe is indexed, to Mr. Jack Davis, the former administrator at the Calgary health author i- ty. That’s where that $80 million was slotted for. Now, you have $80 million, and you have $97 million. That totals $177 million. Perhaps in the course of debate the minister of finance can finally shed some light and clarify this.

When you look and you do the math, you have a lot of money left. You have $131 million. We know that, for instance, in supplementary supply that $97 million allocation was made, that $80 million allocation was made, but the additional money – and if we go to another portion of the annual report, we can see where it is ou t- lined. There are $200 million of overexpended amounts in the books. So, of course, you get this $377 million total. To clear up the confusion around this, the government could provide an explanation as to where that money came from, the $200 million.

If it was spent on one -time funding, where? I can’t find any details on this. The only thing the government can do to try to defend themselves is to say: “Well, it’s audited. It’s audited, and if you don’t like that, go to the cops.” I was listening in question period, you know, Mr. Speaker, and I was thinking: “K Division is not that far north on 109th Street. Maybe that’s the place to go for an answer.” But I think in the course of debate with this requisition, those details on how this government is going to budget and manage t heir money this year are related to what has happened in the past.

And if hon. members of this Assembly are a little bit reluctant to support Bill 13, well, there are a number of reasons. If you read the Auditor General’s report, which I’m sure every- one in this Assembly has, you can clearly see in his report from October of 2010 where the Auditor makes some key recommenda- tions to this government. In fact, I was surprised.

I’m sure that under the minister of finance’s watch we’re going to see a budget- ing pr ocess that’s not going to be a repeat of what happened in previous years when, incredibly, Alberta Health Services with their $8 billion plus budget had to work three times – three times – to finally get it right with their budget. I heard yesterday the minister, and the minister was very, very defensive in trying to explain, unsuccessfully, the reasons why there was a $500 million error between two ledgers and a $420 million – it wasn’t described as an error. It was described as a misclassification, I believe. 3:20 Mr.

Speaker, those would be examples of what the Auditor General has had to say, and those comments in those reports only add to the suspicions of the public about this government and how they’re managing health care and the dollars that are allocated to provide that essential service to sick Albertans.

When you look at all of this discussion, when you look at what the Auditor General has said, and then you look at the fiscal plan of this government, and you note at the very back in the small print of the fiscal plan that it is going to take the government until 2013 before they get their transition act in order with this Alberta Health Services one system of delivery across the province, essen- tially it’s going to take them five years, Mr. Spea ker, from the firing of the regional health authorities and the creation of the one superboard before they have a plan to manage their money.

Dur- ing that time, if you can believe the government’s own budget documents, there will be well in excess of $47 bi llion spent on public health care. I would point that out as one of the reasons why citizens don’t have confidence in this government when it comes to managing health care. Now, this $2.2 billion amount that we’re talking about in Bill 13 certainly is going to get the fiscal year off to a start, and we will see what happens.

But year after year, Auditor’s report after Audi- tor’s report, there are flags going up, there are suggestions about how this money can be managed more effectively and more eff i- ciently, but the government doesn’t seem to be able to get it right. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, hopefully when Bill 13 is passed and the money is allocated to the appropriate ministries, this go v- ernment will try once and for all to ensure that we are getting fai r value for every dollar that is requested here. With that, Mr. Speaker, I conclude my remarks on Bill 13 and cede the floor to another hon. member of the Assembly.

Thank you. The Deputy Speaker: Does any other hon. member wish to speak on the bill? The hon. Member for Calgary-Glenmore on the bill. Mr. Hinman: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a privilege to stand up on Bill 13, the Appropriation (Interim Supply) Act, 2011. My biggest concern on B ill 13 and the interim supply appropri a- tion is that when this Premier came in, they were going to start having early sessions. We were going to get in here, we were g o- ing to have the government budget out early so that we could debate all these things.

What this is is just poor planning, looking at extra work and having to double cover for the first month. Had we met earlier, gotten the budget out earlier, we could go through that, and we wouldn’t need to go through the interim supply a p- propriation to ensure that we have a month of funding in order for all the programs to go in there. What we kind of have is double jeopardy, every department wondering: “Well, okay. Are we going to get our interim supply appropriation? Yes, of course we are.

But is it going to be good for the rest of the year?” The biggest comment is that what we need is a government that’s efficient, that’s effective, where all of the departments know the budgets months in advance, can have them debated, and have that consistency going forward. Once again, it’s just disappointing that we’re having to spend the time to go through the interim supply appropriation because this government wasn’t able to get its act together, to bring fo r- ward a budget in a timely manner, and to bring it in here to debate. With that, I’ll sit down, and we’ll see if there’s anybody else to speak on it.

March 15, 2011 Alberta Hansard 367 The Deputy Speaker: Standing Order 29(2)(

a) allows for five minutes of comments or questions. The hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar. Mr. MacDonald: Yes. Thank you, M r. Speaker. I would like to ask, please, a question to the hon. Member for Calgary -Glenmore. Are you concerned, sir, about the cost of information technology expenses within Alberta Health Services? In 2007 there was roughly $180 million spent, and this ha s increased dramatically to 2011, where it’s anticipated to be close to $340 million. That is a significant increase. I’m wondering if you could shed some light on how this government is spending their money, particularly in health care.

This is just one example where we see IT expenses going up and up and up. For instance, we saw in the media here the other day where there was a breach of information technology and the private information of some citizens was jeopardized. Mr. Hinman: I really appreciate always the astuteness of the hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar and the details that he is able to focus on when he’s going through all of the different money bills. Yes, it’s a major alarm bell going off. Again I think this is all relative to the so -called centralization of this government.

I’ve spoken with many different doctors’ offices that were frustrated. I actually have gone to a clinic that specializes in radiology and the digital imagery that they’re dealing with in having to upgrade and meet the government standard. I think that when we look at technology, the Internet and it’s ability, it’s very interesting when we look at, you know, the big computers that were originally built and everybody having to have access to that big computer versus the curr ent system of the Inte r- net, where you can get wired into the smallest computer to the biggest server and it’s all there.

This government has made, I b e- lieve, a poor decision in wanting to basically be the master of all of the programs and saying that we’re going to create them. I mean, the gun registry is just another wonderful IT boondog- gle on trying to manage all of this digital . . . An Hon. Member: It’s federal. Mr. Hinman: Yes, it is federal. You guys seem to be following in the footsteps of some foolish decisions by centralized government, making big deals with big corporations. You have to wonder about the validity of it and what they’re trying to accomplish in bringing these programs forward. I’m very alarmed.

I don’t believe that they’ve gone in t he right direction. Again what we’re most vulnerable to right now is the loss of that information. I think your colleague from Edmonton- Centre asked some very good questions today on: what are they doing to have that secondary and tertiary involvement in t hese records, and how are we going to protect them? We’ve spent a lot of money for a system that is quite vulnerable at this point it seems, and we don’t know if it’s efficient and if the access is there.

It’s costing the different doctors, the different clinics a lot of money, to say that they have to buy into this program in order to be part of Alberta Health Services. I hope that answers the hon. member’s question. Mr. MacDonald: Yes, it does. The Deputy Speaker: Any other hon. members wish to speak on 29(2)(a)? Seeing none, any other members wish to speak on the bill? Seeing none, the chair now shall put the question. [Motion carried; Bill 13 read a second time] head: Government Motions The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. Canadian Wheat Board Act 11. Mr. Hayden moved:

Be it resolved that the Legislative Assembly urge all members of the Canadian House of Commons to pass Bill C-619,

An Act to Amend the Canadian Wheat Board Act (notice of opting out and licence for activities), allowing western Canadian producers to opt out of participating in the Canadian Wheat Board, thereby giving Alberta fa r- mers the choice to market their product as they choose. Mr. Hayden: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to move Gov- ernment Motion 11. I believe it’s imperative that I bring the attention of this Assembly to Bill C -619, which was recently i n- troduced into the House of Commons.

This bill will amend the Canadian Wheat Board Act and will al low western Canadian wheat and barley producers the option to market their wheat and barley as they choose. 3:30 Currently farmers in Alberta and in other western provinces are obligated to sell their product through the Canadian Wheat Board only. They have no choice, Mr. Speaker. With this amendment, however, western producers will be given the choice to opt out of participating in the Canadian Wheat Board for a minimum of two years.

Bill C -619 will bring parity to western farmers and will allow them the same marketing opportunities for wheat and barley as farmers in eastern Canada currently enjoy. Eastern Canadian farmers are able to freely market their wheat and barley as they choose. Mr. Speaker, over the last several years the federal government has pursued changes to the marketing system for wheat and barley in western Canada.

Some of the highlights are that in April 2007 the federal government proposed amendments to the Canadian Wheat Board regulations which would allow for marketing choice for barley, which would have taken effect August 1, 2007. How- ever, before that could happen, on July 31, 2007, the Federal Court ruled in favour of the Canadian Wheat Board retaining its monopoly on barley marketing. The federal government subs e- quently appealed t his decision, and in February 2008 the Federal Court of Appeal ruled against the federal government.

Unfort u- nately, this reaffirmed the decision that barley cannot be removed from the Canadian Wheat Board jurisdiction without opening up the l