Manitoba Hansard — 5 November 2020 (Sitting 15B, 42nd Legislature, 3rd Session)

42-3-15b

Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

Third Session – Forty-Second Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Myrna Driedger Speaker Vol. LXXV No. 15B - 1:30 p.m., Thursday, November 5, 2020 ISSN 0542-5492

MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Forty-Second Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ADAMS, Danielle Thompson NDP ALTOMARE, Nello Transcona NDP ASAGWARA, Uzoma Union Station NDP BRAR, Diljeet Burrows NDP BUSHIE, Ian Keewatinook NDP CLARKE, Eileen, Hon. Agassiz PC COX, Cathy, Hon. Kildonan-River East PC CULLEN, Cliff, Hon. Spruce Woods PC DRIEDGER, Myrna, Hon. Roblin PC EICHLER, Ralph, Hon. Lakeside PC EWASKO, Wayne Lac du Bonnet PC FIELDING, Scott, Hon. Kirkfield Park PC FONTAINE, Nahanni St. Johns NDP FRIESEN, Cameron, Hon. Morden-Winkler PC GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib.

GOERTZEN, Kelvin, Hon. Steinbach PC GORDON, Audrey Southdale PC GUENTER, Josh Borderland PC GUILLEMARD, Sarah, Hon. Fort Richmond PC HELWER, Reg, Hon. Brandon West PC ISLEIFSON, Len Brandon East PC JOHNSON, Derek Interlake-Gimli PC JOHNSTON, Scott Assiniboia PC KINEW, Wab Fort Rouge NDP LAGASSÉ, Bob Dawson Trail PC LAGIMODIERE, Alan Selkirk PC LAMONT, Dougald St. Boniface Lib. LAMOUREUX, Cindy Tyndall Park Lib. LATHLIN, Amanda The Pas-Kameesak NDP LINDSEY, Tom Flin Flon NDP MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Malaya Notre Dame NDP MARTIN, Shannon McPhillips PC MOSES, Jamie St.

Vital NDP MICHALESKI, Brad Dauphin PC MICKLEFIELD, Andrew Rossmere PC MORLEY-LECOMTE, Janice Seine River PC NAYLOR, Lisa Wolseley NDP NESBITT, Greg Riding Mountain PC PALLISTER, Brian, Hon. Fort Whyte PC PEDERSEN, Blaine, Hon. Midland PC PIWNIUK, Doyle Turtle Mountain PC REYES, Jon Waverley PC SALA, Adrien St. James NDP SANDHU, Mintu The Maples NDP SCHULER, Ron, Hon. Springfield-Ritchot PC SMITH, Andrew Lagimodière PC SMITH, Bernadette Point Douglas NDP SMOOK, Dennis La Vérendrye PC SQUIRES, Rochelle, Hon. Riel PC STEFANSON, Heather, Hon.

Tuxedo PC TEITSMA, James Radisson PC WASYLIW, Mark Fort Garry NDP WHARTON, Jeff, Hon. Red River North PC WIEBE, Matt Concordia NDP WISHART, Ian Portage la Prairie PC WOWCHUK, Rick Swan River PC

663 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Thursday, November 5, 2020 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Madam Speaker: Be seated. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Bill 209–The Criminal Property Forfeiture Amendment Act

(2) Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns): I mov e, seconded by the member for Point Douglas (Mrs. Smith), that Bill 209, The Criminal Property Forfeiture Amendment Act (2), be now read a first time. Motion presented. Ms.

Fontaine: To try and bring greater inclusivity and autonomy to community I am ple ased to bring forward to the House, Bill 209, which would promote safer and more inclusive communities by directing monies raised by criminal forfeiture to non- profit community organizations that promote addiction treatments, mental health and harm reducti on services, housing, community patrol and safety, and restorative justice. Miigwech, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? Agreed? [Agreed] Bill 211–The Employment Standards Code Amendment Act (Unpaid Leave for Reservists) Mr.

Jon Reyes (Waverley): I move, seconded by the honourable member for Riding Mountain (Mr. Nesbitt), that Bill 211, The Employment Standards Code Amendment Act (Unpaid Leave for Reservists); Loi modifiant le Code des normes d'emploi (co ngé non payé à l'intention des réservistes), be now read for a first time. Motion presented. Mr. Reyes: Madam Speaker, it's my pleasure today to introduce Bill 211, The Employment Standards Code Amendment Act, unpaid leave for Ca nadian Armed Forces reservists, to this House.

This bill amends the employment standards act to clarify when a reservist can take leave in order to participate in military skills training. The bill amends the act by reducing the minimum consecutive employment period required for leave from the current seven months to three months, and the bill will also align it with federal legislation. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? Agreed? [Agreed] Committee reports? TABLING OF REPORTS Hon.

Cliff Cullen (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): I am pleased to table the following report for the Department of Justice: The Independent Review of the Manitoba Police Services Act. Hon. Reg Helwer (Minister of Central Services): I am pleased to table The Public Service Group Insurance Fund: Benefits

Summary, Auditor's Report and Financial Statements for the year ended April 30th, 2020. MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Government House Leader): I'm asking leave of th e House to waive the notice provisions for ministerial statements and to allow ministerial statements from the First Minister and the Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage (Mrs. Cox). Madam Speaker: Is there leave of the House to waive the required ti me notice for the ministerial statements? [Agreed] Remembrance Day Hon.

Brian Pallister (Premier): In light of the global pandemic presently before us, this year's Remembrance Day is going to be like no other. However, the importance of the day is not lost upon all Manitobans, and it is to honour those who served or are currently serving this great country with courage and with dignity so that we may continue to enjoy our freedoms. So, today is the start of Veterans' Week –runs through the end of Rem embrance Day.

Veterans' Week honours those brave men and women who have served Canada, both past and present, in times of war, in times of military conflict, and in peaceful times, as we know, the military personnel that have been so

664 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 5, 2020 important in helping us in times of need in Manitoba during, for example, floods. This year's theme is the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. We were pleased to, just last June, to send the largest provincial contingent to France to share in the celebrations of D-Day and Juno Beach. We had, as you know, Madam Speaker, a military envoy attend the international celebrations.

I, the MLA for Waverley, as well as the MLAs for Midland and another member who I –will remain nameless until I can remember him, were all in attendance at a variety of events. In fact, as a delegation, we attended more events than all other provinces combined. And we did that because, here in Manitoba, we understand and honour our military veterans and the services that are provided to us by our current serving members. And I neglected to mention and give some credit to the Minister of Agriculture at the time. We honour the bravery and sacrifice of those individuals.

They fought for our freedoms; they fight for them today. And this means standing alongside, Madam Speaker, when we honour and when we celebrate Remembrance Day, those who fight for justice, democracy, and equality, not only here in Canada, but also around the world. Another initiative, Madam Speaker, I will briefly reference today is Bill 200. It's of course, as members know, The Municipal Assessment Amendment Act, and it received Royal Assent this past spring. That was following through on our commitment to make veterans' organizations exempt from municipal property taxes.

P roviding tax relief to veterans' organizations is another positive way that we can –all of us can show our appreciation to veterans and help the Royal Canadian Legion branches, the army, navy, and air force veterans units that are facing financial challenges and, in particular, accentuated by the realities of COVID. This legislative change will ensure that, through provincial law, all ANAVETS units and Legion branches are treated equally throughout the province by exempting them all from paying municipal property taxes.

We are honoured, Madam Speaker, I know all of us are, to support our veterans and active military personnel right here in Manitoba, and we have many, of course. And I want to acknowledge the great work that our special envoy for military a ffairs, the MLA for Waverley, and his office is doing for all Manitoba military members and their families, not only during Veterans' Week, but all year round, and as we approach Remembrance Day.

I encourage all Manitobans, if they cannot, of course, beca use of the restrictions of COVID, participate in the ways they are used to, in joining a Remembrance Day celebration to celebrate virtually in light of COVID this year, and safely, and to take a moment on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to remember the many sacrifices made by those who have served and serve today so that we may all continue to live free. On behalf of all Manitobans, thank you for your service, lest we forget, and we will remember them always. Thank you. Mr.

Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Freedom has never been free, Madam Speaker, and it's our brave veterans who remind us of the tremendous sacrifice and the tremendous contributions that those who have served in our Armed Forces have made so that all of us can enjoy the opportunities, the freedoms and the privileges that we enjoy.

I think that we, as legislators having the privilege of sitting in this hallowed Chamber, ought to be even more steadfast in our observance of Remembrance Day because it is th e democratic freedoms that we practice in this House each and every day that so many people laid their lives down for and returned home to tell stories about. Now, this year is going to be a different Remembrance Day. I'm very proud to represent a Legion in the constituency of Fort Rouge, and it looks like we're going to be doing things virtually this year.

But I can tell you that, on behalf of all Manitobans, the feeling in our hearts will be no less intense and no less patriotic than it has been for pas t Remembrance Days. We're very lucky to live in a province where we have many sites and schools and airports that pay tribute to great war veterans past, whether that's Billy Bishop or Sergeant Tommy Prince.

And, of course, as we move forward through this most challenging year, I think that we're all looking at things a little bit differently than we may have in the past. * (13:40) We're in a time, fighting this COVID -19 pandemic, where we're reminded of World War I and

November 5, 2020 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 665 of World War II. We're told that this is the worst recession that we've seen since before World War II. We're told that the borrowing happening this year is the greatest since World War II. And at the same time, Manitobans and Canadians from all walks of life are being asked to join toget her and mount a collective effort to save our society and our way of life, much as those veterans and those who served at home did in years past. Now, this year, I speak to you as our city where we meet here is under code red.

And I've been encouraging M anitobans to please not think about code red as a stop sign that's holding you back from doing the things that you love, but rather as that red heart that signifies your love of the community; or, perhaps, red like the poppy, red like the poppy that represents the sacrifice of those veterans who served before us. And so this year I think we can all agree that we have made sacrifices. Whether you're the schoolchild, a senior or just the average family, you've made tremendous sacrifices.

Hopefully, our expe rience through the pandemic of 2020, as we reflect on the scarifies that were asked of us–to wear masks, to stay home, to abide by physical distancing–when we reflect that those are relatively humble sacrifices next to those who laid their lives down on the front lines in Europe, in the Pacific, in other theatres of war, that we will think about those contributions a little bit differ - ently and perhaps with a little bit more awe.

So as we begin this Veterans' Week, as we observe Aboriginal Veterans Day an d, of course, as we turn our hearts and minds to Remembrance Day, I hope that we all better understand the sacrifice of those great heroes and patriots who came before. Lest we forget. Gego waniikekeg. [Do not forget.] Madam Speaker: The honourable membe r for Tyndall Park, I understand, would like to ask leave to speak to this statement. Ms. Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): Yes, Madam–to speak in response to the ministerial– Madam Speaker: Does the member have leave to respond to the ministerial statement? [Agreed] Ms.

Lamoureux: I'd like to take this opportunity to speak in honour of Remembrance Day next week. We take this time to honour the many individuals who have fought admirably for Canada over many years. It gives me great pride to honour those who paid the ultimate price for our province and for our country. We remember those who returned home with the scars of battle in their minds, and we remember that people gave their lives to fight for a brighter future that they would never see.

Madam Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not specifically express our deep appreciation for the contribution of Indigenous veterans to serve our country. One of those veterans includes Sergeant Tommy Prince of Brokenhead First Nation. A great - great-grandson of C hief Peguis, Tommy Prince received numerous awards for his service in both Word War II and the Korean War for his courage and exceptional skills. This Sunday, November 8th, I would encourage everyone to take a moment to recognize and remember our Indigenous veterans on Indigenous Veterans Day.

Madam Speaker, I know for myself this will be the first year in, I truly believe, my entire life where I will not be at the McGregory [phonetic] armoury for the heartfelt service. I have been attending this service with my father for as long as I can recall. And throughout the years, I have had the opportunity to get to know a few of our veterans who are still with us here today. Remembrance Day at the McGregory [phonetic] armoury was–always presented the oppor- tunity to lay a wreath and to say a prayer as we slowed things down and we truly took the time to recognize what Remembrance Day means.

Madam Speaker, I am sure all of us members have heard the poem, Remembrance Day, but I thought it would be nice to recite h ere and get on record: We wear a poppy / On Remembrance Day, / And at 11 / We stand and pray. / Wreaths are put / Upon a grave. / As we remember / Our soldiers brave. Thank you, Madam Speaker. And thank you to all who have and continue to serve. And I'd like to ask for leave for a moment of silence following this statement. Madam Speaker: Is there leave for a moment of silence? [Agreed] Please stand. A moment of silence was observed.

Madam Speaker: The next ministerial statement is from the honourable Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage.

666 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 5, 2020 Diwali Celebrations Hon. Cathy Cox (Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage): Today we recognize Manitobans who, like millions of people around the world, are preparing to celebrate Diwali. Known as the Festiv al of Lights, Diwali is the five -day Indian festival observed by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains. And it's also observed by people who are not religious. Diwali represents a period of renewal, inspiration, optimism and a recommitment to values centred on peace and harmony.

The lighting of diyas or lamps represents victory of good over evil, light over darkness, truth over falsehood and knowledge over ignorance. The Festival of Lights serves as a beautiful reminder of the value placed on family, fri endships and a peaceful coexistence. While Manitobans are not able to gather as in previous years, we must remember that during these unprecedented times to remain kind, to help our neighbours and to support each other. Even in the midst of darkness, light and goodness will ultimately prevail. Madam Speaker, I am so proud that diversity is one of Manitoba's greatest strengths.

It unites families, friends and communities from across our beautiful province. And it encourages all of us to share our wonderful traditions and our vibrant cultural celebrations. So, as Manitobans, we all have the opportunity to learn from one another, appreciate one another and live harmoniously side by side, like a row of lights, which is Sanskrit translation for the word Diwali. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to wish a happy Diwali to everyone preparing to celebrate this very important festival.

I extend my warmest wishes to all of you, on behalf of all of us in the Chamber, and to all of your loved ones, for a safe, healt hy, happy and prosperous Diwali. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: I would just ask anybody that is wishing to speak remotely, that they please let our moderators know that they wish to speak, otherwise we do not know who is wanting to rise and s peak to this. Mr. Diljeet Brar (Burrows): Diwali is a festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains in Manitoba and around the world.

For some, Diwali coincides with the harvest festival, new year and various religious celebrations. For example, in the Sikh religion, it is celebrated as Bandi Chhor Divas to celebrate the anniversary of Guru Hargobind Ji being released from the prison at Gwalior Fort along with 52 Hindu Rajput princes. It is celebrated with great joy as it was a time when right prevailed over wrong. Diwali is celebrated during the darkest night of the lunar moon with important rituals taking place on the third day. The word Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word deepavali, meaning row of lighted lamps.

When celebrating Diwali, communities will create a fasci - nating festival of lights in their homes, shops and various public spaces. It it truly a beautiful celebration of faith and community. * (13:50) The celebration of Diwali goes back more than 2,500 years. In India, Diw ali is one of the biggest celebrations of the year. The ancient celebration is linked with various stories and religious contexts. Many of the stories of Diwali's origins commemorate the triumph of good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.

During Diwal i, folks will shop, decorate their homes, adorn their spaces with fragrant jasmine, feast, make personal resolutions and spend time with their loves ones. Diwali has also become an opportunity for cultural exchanges. Community members, politicians and religious leaders will meet worldwide and– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. An Honourable Member: Leave. Madam Speaker: There's a request–is there leave to allow the member to complete his statement? [Agreed] The honourabl e member for Burrows, to complete his statement. Mr.

Brar: Diwali has also become an opportunity for cultural exchanges. Community members, politicians and religious leaders will meet worldwide, and this often represents the importance of diversity, inclusion and togetherness. Madam Speaker, my colleagues and I understand that this year it is very different for folks celebrating Diwali here in Manitoba and around the world due to the pandemic we are fighting against. We wish

November 5, 2020 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 667 everyone a safe and joyful Diwali with their clos est loved ones. Thank you. Madam Speaker: Was there anybody else that was going to speak to this or ask for leave to speak to this? If not, we'll move on to members' statements. MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Remembrance Day Ceremonies Mr. Andrew Smith (Lagimodière): Every November 11th since being elected, I have had the honour of attending Remembrance Day ceremonies organized and hosted by the Norwood St. Boniface Branch 43 of the Royal Canadian Legion.

They're typically sombre occasions, as we remember our young men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice in order to secure the freedom we share here in Canada. Unfortunately, this year due to the COVID -19 pandemic, there'll be no official celebrations to attend in person on Remembrance Day. The mission of the Royal Canadian Legion is to assist veterans in order to promote remembrance and serve our communities and our country.

A small group of dedicated volunteer members who work year-round to promote remembrance, assisting Canadian veterans and their fam ilies in times of need, they are also involved in facilitating many charity groups in the community at large. The Legion is a role model for all–us all, especially during this pandemic where we must give of ourselves and work together to help combat COVID-19. 'Manitelbans' have come together in the past when facing challenging circumstances. Brave Manitobans have fought in both the Great War and World War II.

During the flood of 1950, Manitobans unified in the face of adversity, worked as a team to save their homes, homes of their families and of their neighbours. During the ensuing polio epidemic of 1953, Manitobans again came together and did their

part in order to stem the tide of the disease. In 1997, Manitobans worked in unison to fight the greatest flood in the Red River Valley since 1852. In all of these circumstances, Manitobans have overcome what seemed to be an overwhelming adversity and prevailed. This year, with no official in- person Remembrance Day ceremonies who honour those who paid for our freedom with their lives, you can find ways, though, to pay your respects by either visiting a cenotaph safely in person or by means of a virtual ceremony– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. Some Honourable Members: Leave. Mr.

Smith: Madam Sp eaker, I ask for leave to continue. Madam Speaker: Is there leave to allow the member to complete his statement? [Agreed] Mr. Smith: You can attend virtual ceremonies that are available online. We must also honour the memory of our fallen veterans by working together to help stop the spread of COVID-19. On November 11th, we as Manitobans will take a moment of silence to honour the fallen heroes, and I encourage everyone to take another moment to plan our

part in helping their fellow citizens with overcom ing this pandemic. You must also remember that our front-line workers are working tirelessly every day for all of our safety. Thank you to everyone who has done their part already, and I encourage everyone to heed advice of our public health officers and work together to help protect our fellow Manitobans. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Jenna Forslund Mr. Matt Wiebe (Concordia): Madam Speaker, for kids across Manitoba, a teacher who can instill a love of learning in their students is critical to getting a good education.

That's never been truer than now, in the midst of the COVID -19 pandemic, where innovative teaching techniques that meaningfully engage students is paramount. In northeast Winnipeg, one educator who has exemplified how much of a difference meaningfully engaged students can make is Jenna Forslund. Ms. Forslund teaches math, science and environmental studies for students, grades 7 through 12, at Elmwood high school, and has taken the importance of innovative and dedicated teaching to heart.

Her engaging teaching style in the classroom has included everything from helping students build a 3D model of a city to learn about Indigenous land rights, to empowering students who mentor younger kids through water -related sustainability workshops, and regularly integrating technology into math and

668 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 5, 2020 science classes, something that's more important now than ever. Ms. Forslund's impressive work has not gone unnoticed. Earlier this year, she was recognized for her outstanding achievements with the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence in STEM. She is truly an exemplary leader for students around our neighbourhood, throughout the community of Elmwood, and a–and is well-deserving of this award. As the COVID- 19 pandemic continues, it's vital that all educators be given the resources they need to help students learning during this unprecedented time.

We know that investments like smaller class sizes or access to technology make a real difference for kids and their teachers, and I believe that the prov incial government has a role to play in making supporting educators like Ms. Forslund a top priority. On behalf of our community, I wish to con- gratulate Ms. Forslund on her outstanding work and this prestigious award and thank her for her many years of hard work as a dedicated educator. Thank you, Madam Speaker. WRHA Laundry Facility Closure Ms.

Malaya Marcelino (Notre Dame): Madam Speaker, insensible to basic common sense and decency, ignoring urgent demands of Manitoba's doctors, incomprehensively, we are seeing that the Pallister government is continuing, even now, in a global pandemic, from Flin Flon to Roblin to Selkirk, forging ahead on its health-care consolidation plans of cuts, privatization and closures. A few weeks ago, health -care workers came to my office seeking help. They are part of a group of WRHA laundry aides whose simple yet decent livelihoods have been shattered by this government's reckless cuts to our health-care system.

This government closed down the WRHA laundry facility in the city of Selkirk. Workers were forced to take early retirement or reapply at a laundry facility on Inkster Avenue in Winnipeg. This government cut full -time jobs for laundry aides at the Inkster site. They have lost full-time hours and benefits they ne ed to provide for their families. Even though their work is integral to health care, they are now precarious workers, never knowing from week to week if they'll have enough hours to pay household bills.

These laundry aides describe their current working conditions as utter chaos under this new quadrupled amount of management that was brought in without practical experience of how this fast-paced facility is supposed to run. Management brought in expensive robots to replace staff, but these robots don't work. They're gathering dust in corners. New management has cut necessary water breaks. Laundry aides used to take real pride in their work, but now they say there are no more considerations for quality. Unattended piles of laundry are stagnating for too lon g, growing mould.

When friends and family need to be admitted to hospital, laundry aides tell them to bring their own linens. Commitment to quality, workers' ability to provide decent incomes for their families, all of this is gone under this PC plan of health -care consolidation and cuts. In Alberta, we are seeing wildcat strikes from health-care workers. Unfortunately, I can see that happening here too. From laundry aides to ICU doctors, their message is one and the same to this PC government: prioritize the health -care needs of Manitobans. Stop your reckless cuts. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Government's Pandemic Response Mr.

Dougald Lamont (St. Boniface): There is a point in the future that this pandemic will be a thing of the past. We'll be able to look back on the virus as a memory. In the meantime, I think we have a very hard road ahead. * (14:00) We've been in code red since Monday. We started in code orange back in September, and doctors are pleading with this government to do their job, and the Minister of Health questions their motivation – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr.

Lamont: The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business have all said that this government's supports for small business are not enough. Now, I've spoken with business people who are not eligible for any provincial aid because of the strings that are attached. Businesses are disqualified if they get federal help, and the problem, in many cases,

November 5, 2020 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 669 for the programs that have already been announced is that money has already been gone. We're now in code red; cases are climbing, and they are doubling every 10 days–doubling. This is the single biggest emergency in 100 years, not just for Manitoba, but f or the world. It demands the single biggest response in 100 years. Of course, there are limits to what governments can do–of course, there are–but in Manitoba we are nowhere near those limits because we are holding back on investments in money right now that will save lives and save businesses.

Since code orange and code red, we have not seen any new legislation that will commit to helping Manitoba businesses. There are one -person busi - nesses with no employees or one employee who cannot apply for the wage subsidy, and wage subsidies don't help businesses that have to stay closed or that don't have revenue. I want to be absolutely clear about what is breaking us. It is the false belief that, in what everyone acknowledges is the worst crisis in a century, that we have to keep running the economy the same way.

We need an emergency business response, just as we need an emergency health response–and both have been sadly lacking –to make sure that we all get through this and that no one gets left behind. I hope that the government will be ready to introduce such legislation on the day we return. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Veteran's Week Mr. Jon Reyes (Waverley): Madam Speaker, I rise today to inform members of this House and all Manitobans that beginning today and through to the end of Remembrance Day is Veterans' Week.

Veterans' Week honours those brave men and women who have served Canada through times of war, conflict and peaceful times. This year's theme is the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. Our government continues to focus on all Manitobans, especially to our veterans who sacrificed so much so that we could all live free. As special envoy for military affairs, I want to thank our Premier (Mr.

Pallister) for having given me the opportuni ty to be part of the Manitoba delegation for the 75th anniversary of D -Day at Juno Beach in Normandy, France, last June, a pivotal moment to the start of the Second World War. Madam Speaker, 2020 continues to be a challenging and unprecedented year with the onset of COVID-19 for all Manitobans and those across the country and around the world. However, as Manitoba's military envoy, I have been busy throughout the spring, summer and fall leading up to Remembrance Day.

This summer took me to several Leg ions and ANAVETS throughout Manitoba to hear about how they are dealing with COVID -19 and the economic recovery in Carberry, Brandon, Swan River, Grandview, Erickson, Minnedosa, Neepawa and Gladstone, to name a few. I want to remind all members that this Remembrance Day will be the first in over a century held in the midst of a global pandemic. This fact does not deter us from losing sight on the importance of this day. It is to honour those who have served this great country with courage and dignity so we can practice our rights and freedoms.

Thank you to HMCS Chippawa, the Charleswood Legion, Seven Oaks School Division, Fort Richmond Collegiate, Park Care Manor and Deer Lodge Centre for allowing me to participate in your virtual ceremonies. Thank you to all who are being creative in their own way for Remembrance Day. So on November 8th for national Aboriginal Veterans Day and on November 11th for Remembrance Day, please find the time and take a moment to remember those who served. Thank you for your se rvice. Lest we forget. We will remember them. Thank you, Madam Speaker. ORAL QUESTIONS Second Wave of Pandemic Health System Readiness Mr.

Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Madam Speaker, doctors and other health-care heroes are speaking o ut. The Premier's half measures are failing. The situation is getting worse. Small businesses are hanging on by a thread and need new financial assistance. But this Premier has failed to prepare. Everyone knew that there was going to be a second wave coming, and yet it appears to have caught this government, this Cabinet, this First Minister unprepared.

670 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 5, 2020 And that's not just our opinion. That is the opinion of 82 per cent of people in Manitoba, Madam Speaker, and they're right. Doctors have been working–ha ve been warning for more than a year that the ICU capacity was an issue. The Premier needs to be accountable. Why did he fail to prepare our health- care system for the second wave of COVID-19? Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): Yes, Madam Speaker, absolutely we're in the middle of a COVID pandemic. It's unprecedented. Every jurisdiction around the world, frankly, is dealing with a second wave.

We're dealing with it, as a consequence of preparations, more strongly than we would have been without them. And, Madam Speaker, we thank our leading health care–public health experts for their constant work. That has been something that has been very much appreciated, I think, by all. Madam Speaker, we appreciate the input of all physicians. The member has refer enced physicians' input. But we can't have several thousand public health officers. We have Dr. Brent Roussin, and we will place our trust and confidence in him at this time.

We will continue to do that because –in the certain knowledge of this challenge–we need to not panic but rather have a plan. And we are following that plan with real health leadership provided by Dr. Roussin. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Physician's Letter Regarding Pandemic Apology Request for Government Response Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Madam Speaker, hundreds of doctors have signed open letters saying that this government's response is failing.

In fact, there are letters going back a year that said this government's cuts to emergency rooms and cuts to health care were causing critical issues in our intensive-care units. Now, even though there was a year's warning and even though the pandemic hit eight months ago, and we had a summer with r elatively few case counts in which this government could have prepared for the second wave, they didn't. What have they been doing this week instead of helping to ramp up ICU bed capacity? Well, they've been attacking physicians.

They've been refusing to a pologize to those physicians–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –after insulting them. The Premier of Manitoba should apologize for his Health Minister's comments and for his conduct. It would be

an act of good faith and a sign that this government is going to start listening to the experts on the pandemic. Will the Premier apologize? Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): I know that the member opposite, Madam Speaker, has some experience in apologies, and I know that he is right to be contrite. Now, our minister has worked diligently with more focus, arguably, than any Manitoban, and I don't think there's a Manitoba doctor who wants his job. So, Madam Speaker, I would suggest that this is a time for grace. I would suggest that this is a time for mutual support.

I would suggest this is a time to get with Team Manitoba and not try to score political points in this place, or outside of it, for that matter. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary. Mr.

Kinew: Madam Speaker, you know, you never lose anything by saying sorry, and in this case in which there are physicians and other health -care heroes saying that they have serious concerns about our health-care system, it's remarkable that not only is this Health Minister but also this Premier trying to throw shade, trying to cast aspersions, trying to demean their good intentions, their proper motivations. Madam Speaker, an apology would not save lives directly, but it would help to reset the re lationship.

It would show that this government, instead of trying to attack, attack, attack, is actually maybe willing to listen for a change and willing to admit that sometimes they get it wrong. If this Health Minister will refuse to apologize, if this Premier will refuse to apologize, is there anyone in that PC Cabinet who will stand up and do the right thing? Mr. Pallister: I appreciate any reference to doing the right thing from the member opposite, Madam Speaker. And I appreciate any reference that the member may make to apology. And I appreciate any reference the member may make to admitting past mistakes as well.

The fact of the matter is, the member himself has not been accountable for past mistakes, nor has he

November 5, 2020 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 671 acknowledged that what this government was handed was a miserable pack of mess by the previous administration: after 17 years in power, Madam Speaker, the longest wait times in the country, the worst results. And, Madam Speaker, we have maintained and strengthened our investments in health care to the tune of more than $640 million in this year's budget alone. We have–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Pallister: –attacked a pandemic by working and– working with and listening to our medical experts.

And, Madam Speaker, the member opposite is not a doctor. He should not pretend to be one, even though he's given business to doctors for many, many years. * (14:10) Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question. Hydro Rate Increase Request to Cancel Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Not a physician, Madam Speaker, but somewhat of a amateur historian, and history will record this government's failure during the pandemic. Unfortunately, they will also record the failure of this Health Minister and the Premier to do the right thing.

We also know that they have failed abysmally when it comes to protecting local business. Local businesses are already stretched thin. Those organi - zations that represent them are speaking out, even individual business owners fearing risk of reputational harm or reprisal from this government, even they are motivated to speak up. They want to protect their livelihoods. They want to protect the jobs of the people who work for them. Now, we know one of th e big hits that this government is going to put on them is an increase to Manitoba Hydro rates. Will the Premier listen?

Will he cancel this raise to hydro rates for Manitobans and Manitoba businesses? Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): The NDP put Hydro quintuple in debt when they were in power – quintuple–and now the member talks about defending ratepayers. They pursued projects they had no business pursuing. And the member talks about irreversible expenditures the NDP ran up, and now he says he's the saviour of Manitoba ratepayers? I don't think so.

Neither do the small-business people; they understand that our programs are the third most generous in the in country in terms of total budget, that they are working to create more jobs than in any other province. And, Madam Speaker, I have–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Pallister: –understanding, intimate under - standing of the lobbyists who work with organizations I once was active in and support, Madam Speaker, but I will tell the member this, w e are doing everything we can to support those organizations.

We'll continue to do that, but we are focusing our resources directly on the small -business community, not on special interests, and that is what we'll continue to do. Madam Speaker: The honour able Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Mr. Kinew: Because of the actions of this Premier and his silent Cabinet, we know that Manitoba businesses are going to have to pay more to heat their homes. Natural gas rates are going up. The same is true of Manitoba homeowners. Winter is coming, Madam Speaker.

But rather than helping Manitobans by making life a little bit easier, a little bit cheaper this winter, the Premier is hiking natural gas rates. Now, rates already went up by 5.6 per cent earlier this month, and now the Premier wants to raise it another 3 per cent by rushing through a piece of legislation later this evening. That's nearly a 9 per cent increase this month. Families need help to make ends meet. Businesses are closing the door. The Premier is sitting on his hands. Will the Premier stop his plan to increase natural gas rates and cancel his BITSA bill today? Mr.

Pallister: We have conditional non- repayable loans and working capital programs, Madam Speaker, that are helping over 10,000 Manitoba businesses as we speak. There were no such programs in place before under the NDP after 20 years. We have targeted business supports as well. Wage subsidies, student wage subsidies have helped over 20,000 people get back to work.

672 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 5, 2020 Maybe the NDP would like to–today – acknowledge that those programs are working better than any other jurisdiction. Others have already. Public insurance rebates –lower public insurance premiums; the NDP raised them, we lower them. Workers comp reb ates–the NDP raised the workers compensation premiums, we lowered them. Infrastructure spending at record levels, Madam Speaker. I can only tell the member that he's wrong and I can only suggest to him that while they took money away from small businesses, we're putting it back in the hands of small-business people.

Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary. Mr. Kinew: Madam Speaker, you know, I can only hope that the Premier will see reason and back away from that 9 per cent increase to natural gas rates. We know that he is dead set committed to increasing people's hydro rates. Doesn't make a lot of sense; Manitoba Hydro is profitable. We all know that: $100 million in profit last year, $50 million projected for this year in spite of the pandemic. Now, what is the response of this Minister of Finance (Mr. Fielding) and this Premier?

Well, they– [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –want to tax people on their hydro bills. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: They want to dramatically increase the rates that Manitobans have to pay during the worst recession that any of us can remember. Well, we have a clear message on this side of the House: That is wrong. That is wrong. There is no reason to force through this hike. Will the Premier back down from ramming through an undemocratic increase to Manitoba Hydro rates this evening? Mr. Pallister: The member speaks of something he has great experience in: knowing what's wrong.

Madam Speaker, what would be wrong would be to take $10 billion away from Manitoba ratepayers and throw it into silly projects they'll have to pay for for the rest of their lives and that their children and grandchildren will have to pay for. That would be wrong, and the NDP did that. Madam Speaker, the member also should acknowledge when he speaks about small business that taxing people and raising PST on their home insurance would be wrong. That's what the NDP did. We took that off, and so now tens of millions of dollars in the hands of small business. But, Madam Speaker, it goes further than that.

They also put the PST on your home insurance, and I don't think you have a home -based business, Madam Speaker. But the fact of the matter is we're taking that PST and putting it back in the households of this province. Where the NDP took money away from kitchen tables and from small businesses, we're putting that money back in the hands of the people who build our economy. Deaths Due to COVID-19 Medical Examiner Inquest Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns): The Premier (Mr. Pallister) and his Health Minister's blaming, condescending and absent approach to COVID-19 has resulted in avoidable deaths in Manitoba.

Under The Fatality Inquiries Act, the Chief Medical Examiner has the authority to call an inquest surrounding the cause and manner of deaths of Manitobans. I am writing the Chief Medical Examiner this afternoon, urging him to exercise his authority under the act to call an inquest as soon as it is safe to convene one to investigate the circumstances of dozens of deaths in Manitoba due to COVID-19. Will the Premier also encourage the Chief Medical Examiner to do the same? Hon.

Cameron Friesen (Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living): Madam Speaker, at a time when Manitobans most need reassurance and the leadership of opposition parties to fall in line and do their part–as Brent Roussin–Dr. Roussin–loves to say, we're all in this together –the NDP does not miss an opportunity to try to advance their na rrow political interests at the expense of Manitobans. Right now, today, the opposition could help by indicating that they have confidence in the senior health leadership installed in this province to keep all Manitobans safe. Will they give that assurance to Manitobans?

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. Johns, on a supplementary question. Ms. Fontaine: The Chief Medical Examiner, Madam Speaker, can call an inquest on deaths due to a

November 5, 2020 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 673 contagious disease that is a threat to public health and in a prescribed type or class of facility or institution under which the regulation specifically mentions Parkview Place. The Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Inquest–an inquiry into the 12 deaths at the Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre in 1994–is an example of su ch an inquest to provide Manitobans with a full explanation on what transpired and what recommendations were made to prevent future deaths. Will the Premier (Mr. Pallister) follow the law and support a public inquest into the deaths of COVID-19? Mr.

Fri esen: Madam Speaker, this is sad but it is regrettably typical of the opposition party. Madam Speaker, we believe that the early interventions of senior health- care workers acting in accordance with their colleagues and their –and doctors and nurses in th is province –that early intervention has saved lives in this province.

The early work that was done to protect personal-care homes by making one worker per site, the early work that was done to secure PPE even while global supply was diminished, the early work that was done to make sure we were getting the right equipment into Manitoba, the early work that was done to create more ICUs – these things have saved lives. * (14:20) Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. Johns, on a final supplementary. Ms. Fontaine: Manitoba law requires that an inquest be conducted into the death of Manitobans due to COVID-19.

The decision to call a full inquest into all of these deaths rests solely with the Chief Medical Examiner. Given the numbers of Manitobans who have d ied to COVID -19, including more than two dozen Manitobans in personal-care homes, an inquest is paramount to families having some type of accountability from the Premier. Again, I will be sending a letter within minutes, Madam Speaker, to the office of th e Chief Medical Examiner, encouraging him to exercise the authority under the act to fully investigate the circumstances surrounding these deaths so that we can prevent future tragedies.

Will the Premier do so as well? Miigwech. Mr. Friesen: Madam Speaker, it is clear to me that Manitobans have a desire to know more about the significant planning that is under way to be able to flex the health -care capacity. I even believe that the doctors' letter that was written clearly shows there's a desire among doctors and others to know more about the plan. This is why our chief integration officer offered more detail into that plan last Friday, but we are committing to offer a briefing to all MLAs of this Legislature, to doctors, to Manitobans and to the public.

That briefing for MLAs will be coming up shortly, I would invite that member and all members to be attending that to learn more about the ways in which this team is working to keep Manitobans safe. Paramedic Services During COVID-19 Worker's Mental Health Concerns MLA Uzoma Asagwara (Union Station): Madam Speaker, paramedic services in Manitoba are under significant strain. One retiring paramedic told media that calls for their services have risen to unprece- dented levels, leaving hours at a time wher e no ambulance at all is available.

Chief Lane explains that there's not been yet a new ambulance service in many years, despite growth in service demands. The toll to the pandemic –the toll, rather, during the pandemic has been enormous, with WCB claims associated with burnout and mental health tripling since last year. What is the Province doing to resolve this growing concern? Hon.

Cameron Friesen (Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living): I'm really pleased to be able to answer a question on the subject of the support that this Province provides for the Winnipeg fire and paramedic service, because there's been so much misinformation out in the public. This misinformation caused me to again ask my officials to provide new detail about what we actually do and how we've increased services. Here's what it shows: that in just the last five years, our fund for paramedic service in Winnipeg has grown by 400 per cent, while the City of Winnipeg's funding has fallen.

Madam Speaker: The honourable leader–pardon me, the honourable member for Union Station, on a supplementary question.

674 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 5, 2020 Paramedic Services Privatization Concerns MLA Uzoma Asagwara (Union Station): Madam Speaker, during the pandemic, the Pallister govern- ment has chosen not to address the concerns I've just raised, instead running full speed ahead with a plan to privatize paramedicine in Manitoba. Recent proposed regulatory changes include the following: the proposed amendments will enable for- profit corporations to engage paramedic s and emer - gency medical responders to provide primary care and prevention services.

This is a familiar refrain from the Pallister government: underserve the public and open the system up for private interests. Why won't this government simply provide the public ambulances that are so sorely needed? Hon. Cameron Friesen (Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living): So, Madam Speaker, we have–I actually am–understand that the full city fleet in the city of Winnipeg is 36 units. We've replaced every single one of those units in the last five years. There are more new ambulances on the way. We have hired new paramedics right across the province of Manitoba.

We are creating the new college of paramedicine. We are professionalizing this profession under the RFPA. We know that paramedics welcome the work we do. And even while the members on the other side chirp about these things, we know that Manitobans are celebrating how we are continuing to advance the profession of paramedicine in Manitoba. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Union Station, on a final supplementary. MLA Asagwara: Madam Speaker, right now, when health services are stretched to the breaking point, this is the moment the Pallister government is choosing to push this through.

It really shows their priorities that the minister is going to allow private operators into the system to engage paramedics and emergency responders for primary care and emergency services. The minister thinks that we need a for -profit, two-tier, American-style health care where access to care depends–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. MLA Asagwara: –on the size of your–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. MLA Asagwara: –wallet. We know that's wrong, and especially so during a public health emergency. Will the minister back off his plans to privatize paramedic services? Mr.

Friesen: This member has entered into the record over the past number of weeks a litany of falsehoods. But this is the greatest one yet, because I believe they have actually misread the bill itself. I think this is a routine language component that must be added to allow all the current operators to simply operate ambulances.

But I did want to take the opportunity to also say, I would be remiss if I did not say one of the greatest services we've done to improve ambulance fees is where the NDP failed to reduce ambulance fees from Manitoba, we have cut those fees in half in this province, saving everyone money every time they need an ambulance. Education System During Pandemic COVID-19 Tests for Teachers Mr. Nello Altomare (Transcona): The government's failure to prioritize timely COVID tests results and information to teachers is leading to many being absent for an extended period of time.

The minister and this government had months to prepare for the return to school and the anticipated influx of tests that would come with it, yet they've continued to fail to reach their own testing quotas, and even with the many outbreaks happening in our schools, they still haven't prioritized testing for teachers and other staff. This is putting a strain on our system and creating increased stress on our educators. Will the minister commit to prioritizing testing for teachers immediately? Hon.

Kelvin Goertzen (Minister of Education): There has been tremendous co -operation between public health and school officials as we've reopened the schools since September, Madam Speaker. And, certainly, we've seen a number of cases, of course, that have come to the school, as we would expect because there are many more cases within the community, but we haven't seen that transmission within the school. We continue, though, together with public health to look at different ways to ensure that quicker testing and 'quicking' –quicker results can be provided to those who are working within our school systems.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Transcona, on a supplementary question.

November 5, 2020 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 675 Federal Funding for Schools Mr. Altomare: Madam Speaker, 150 schools, that's how many schools have had exposures and outbreaks in only the first two months of the school year, and while the numbers continue to rise this government is failing to make the necessary investments in our school now. This own minister told CBC the other day that only only $17 million out of the $100 million of the minister's money is set aside and has been spent on a safe return to school.

That's not even half the amount they cut in laying off thousands of educational staff this spring, which is shameful. And even with the federal government put ting forth $85 million to create smaller and safer classrooms, the minister won't spend it. Will the minister commit to spending the federal money to address the outbreaks occurring in our schools and make our classrooms safe? Mr. Goertzen: The member is factually incorrect. I did indicate that in September, 15 and a half million dollars was spent by schools on preperation for COVID-19 within the schools; that is only for September.

We expect a similar amount of money to have been spent in October. We'll get those results, Madam Speaker, and, of course, our expectation is that schools are going to continue on through this school year and a similar amount of money will probably be spent, if not more each, and every month. Now, I know the member opposite would have liked us to have spent $100 million on the first day, and then I guess come back on the second day and say spend another $100 million and the third day another $100 million. Madam Speaker, we are providing the needs within the schools system.

Hun dreds of millions –or millions of dollars have been spent on staff. We'll continue to give those resources as they're needed. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Transcona, on a final supplementary. * (14:30) COVID-19 Tests for Teachers Mr. Altomare: We'd have liked to have seen a plan earlier, but it's good that we're getting an outline right now of the hundreds of millions that are supposedly being spent. But the delays in testing and delays in contact - tracing are resulting in delays in schools be ing notified. This is unacceptable.

Teachers are fearful that the virus is unknowingly spreading in their schools because delays in public health notifying. Madam Speaker, 13 days: that's how long a school community had waited to be notified about exposure. School divisions are having to take it upon themselves to notify schools, students and parents of possible cases. Will the minister commit to prioritizing testing for teachers so that schools can get notified immediately of possible exposures? Mr.

Goe rtzen: Public health has taken on a significant and difficult task in ensuring that there is notification to all those who are close contacts within our schools. That, of course, has been a challenge, Madam Speaker, but they've been working tremen- dously hard at it. More than that, they've also been notifying the broader school community where there's been a case, even if their student hasn't been an identified close contact. Yes, of course, there have been cases in our schools, as we expected. About 3 and a half per cent of all the cases identified across the country in schools are in Manitoba.

That is proportionately what we would expect in Manitoba, given our population. We've–stand with our public health officials who are doing tremendous work, Madam Speaker, in a very, very difficult time. Northern Health Services Travel Costs and Funding Mr. Tom Lindsey (Flin Flon): Through freedom of information, we've discovered that there's been a decline in day surgeries conducted in northern Manitoba of some 28 per cent since 2016. These are procedures that should be done close to home, particularly now with COVID -19 and the reduced flight schedules from the North.

This is requiring more time being spent in the city with no increase in the amounts paid by Northern Patient Transportation. Why has this government allowed the steady erosion of health care in northern Manitoba, and will the minister commit to increasing payments from NPTP to cover the added costs at this time? Hon. Cameron Friesen (Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living): Well, Madam Speaker, today is truly a good day.

676 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 5, 2020 It's taken a long time, but finally we have unqualified support by members of the opposition for this Province's first ever clinical and prevent ative services plan, a plan built by hundreds of Manitoba health-care providers and a plan to get better care sooner, closer to home; a plan that relies exactly on the evidence of being able to repatriate routines and procedures closer to the community. And I thank the member for Flin Flon for finally seeing the light. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Flin Flon, on a supplementary question. Mr.

Lindsey: Madam Speaker, I don't know what planet this Minister of Health is actually referring to with that answer. We know for a fact that the number of day surgeries has declined in each and every year for the last four years in northern Manitoba. He talks about a plan. We've never seen a plan other than cuts, cuts, cuts. It's not just one centre. It's not just one closure. It 's a steady decline year over year. Means northerners have to use services in other centres like Winnipeg, which are already under tremendous stress.

It means travel, unnecessary expense for hundreds of my constituents and constituents in the North, and it tests the limits of the whole system. Why won't the minister ensure that northerners can get the care they need closer to home like he promised? Mr. Friesen: On the contrary, Madam Speaker, our plan is exactly that the people of the North and the people in rural Manitoba will have the care they need closer to home after years and years of missed opportunities to do that under the former government. That member says he has not seen the plan. He must be living under a rock.

I'm not sure what planet he's on because, Madam Speaker, we're talking about volumes of reports with executive summaries that point us, finally, in the right direction to be able to reduce wait times, to help the people of that member's community get care closer to the community. Some of those investments are in place now. One of those investments is the $27- million emergency department we just opened at the Flin Flon hospital. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Flin Flon, on a final supplementary. Mr. Lindsey: You know, Madam Speaker, the minister repeating falsehoods doesn't make them true.

This minister's actions have caused more northern Manitobans to spend more time in Winnipeg to get the health care they need because the system in the North has seen cuts across the system, not increases. Less is not more. So during the middle of a COVID pandemic northern Manitobans are forced to spend more time in Winnipeg, increasing the likelihood of them carrying the COVID back to their northern communities. This lack of services in the North is now compounded by reduced flight schedules.

So, Madam Speaker, when will this minister actually commit to increasing the resources for northern health care and immediate assistance for northern patient transportation? Mr. Friesen: So, Madam Speaker, I think this is a rare point of agreement between the member of Flin Flon and our government, because it sounds like the member is expressing exactly this fidelity to the idea of getting care closer to home, which we're fully committed to–of getting less wait times for people. And the Premier (Mr.

Pallister) said today that in Manitoba under the NDP we were waiting the longest of any Canadians; and he's saying, as well, to get that right care in the right place at the right time. It is exactly the direction in which we will go. We need the member's support to be able to continue to support the transformation of our health-care system to focus on getting better care sooner for all Manitobans, and we're on our way, including for the people of the North. COVID-19 Outbreak at Keeyask Station Concern for Spread into First Nations Mr. Dougald Lamont (St.

Boniface): This morning, I received a letter from MKO, which I table, pleading for federal intervention in an uncontrolled COVID-19 outbreak at Keeyask, which is at code red. MKO says that Manitoba Hydro is ignoring their concerns, has provided no COVID plan when many nearby First Nations communities are at the highest risk. Now, there's a long and shameful history of Manitoba Hydro ruining the li ves and livelihoods of northern First Nations while we who live in the south reap the benefits. The Premier has no problem order - ing Hydro to raise rates, force layoffs and sell off businesses.

Will Hydro shut down for 14 days to make it safe, or is the Premier going to order Hydro to continue

November 5, 2020 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 677 working even if it means putting First Nations communities at greater risk? Hon. Jeff Wharton (Minister of Crown Services): Certainly, as I reported and I report daily on the progress that –and the partnerships that are being continued on with our First Nations, our staff, our KCNs and public health, Madam Speaker, that all 724 workers have been tested. We're certainly very aware of the concerns. We share them, because safety is No. 1, Madam Speaker, and that's what we're going to continue to focus on. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St.

Boniface, on a supplementary question. Emergency Measures Organization Role in Pandemic Response Mr. Dougald Lamont (St. Boniface): The government keeps saying this pandemic is an unprecedented crisis, yet they chose to shut down the incident command centre in the middle of it. No one knows who made that decision. What's just as incredible, Madam Speaker, is that Manitoba's Emergency Measures Organization has been completely missing in action during this crisis. EMO is tasked with pandemic preparedness. They have a detailed plan on their website for schools, communications and business–except it's from 2007.

According to the document I table, EMO is supposed to lead the pandemic response. Has anyone in the government read these documents; and why has emergency measures been completely absent in what this government keeps saying is the worst crisis in a century? Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): Again, Madam Speaker, I understand that research is work, but the member should still do it. The respiratory virus and steering committee, which has been in place throughout the entire year, is always in contact with the Emergency Measures Organization.

The Emergency Measures Organization has been at the table on the calls all year ever since COVID started, without exception. * (14:40) Increase in COVID-19 Cases Code Red Designation Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, the success of a government in an emergency depends on the government's ability to bring all resources and people with experience together in a united effort. The government's failure to do this, as we can see from the letter from hundreds of doctors, indicates clearly that we are now at an im portant and very significant point. We are in grave peril; it is an extreme emergency.

Madam Speaker, over the last seven days the number of new cases per 100,000 population is similarly very high in all areas of Manitoba except for Prairie Mountain Health, which is lower. Is the poor involvement of others in decision- making a reason that all areas of Manitoba except for Prairie Mountain Health are not being called code red as they should be? Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): The member is a medical do ctor, Madam Speaker, and he would understand the challenges that would be posed to any Manitoban of having hundreds of people advising a person on their health condition.

Such is, I think, a reasonable example of a parallel situation where we need to have senior health leadership and we can't have 800 doctors doing it. And so as a matter of simple professional respect, I would say it would be wise, and especially now during a pandemic, to show faith and supportive behaviour in reference to suggestions made to our senior health officials, including Dr. Brent Roussin. And I am sure that the member would understand how that professionalism would be integral to achieving better results for the protection of Manitoba citizens. Paramedic Self-Regulation Government Update Mr.

Greg Nesbitt (Riding Mountain): Paramedics are highly skilled health -care professionals who provide quality, life -saving care on the front lines right across the province. In 2016, our government committed to move towards self -regulation of paramedics. Would the Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living please update the Assembly on the progress in keeping this promise to our paramedic professionals? Hon. Cameron Friesen (Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living): I thank the member for Riding Mountain for yet another good question about paramedics in Manitoba.

Our government is committed to establishing paramedicine as a self -regulating health profession, and we are in the final countdown to make that happen. We are making necessary amendments to

678 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 5, 2020 legislation and regulations to create the college of paramedics. This will improve the quality of care to Manitobans, support the professional growth of paramedics and increase transparency. We thank all paramedics for being on the front- line of health care every day, but especially now during health–during COVID -19. We thank those paramedics as well, who are part of those Red River graduates who are going out to help and increase the capacity at screening sites. Thank you to paramedics. We'll continue to invest in your profession.

Changes to Crown Land Leasing Beef Producer Case Concern Mr. Diljeet Brar (Burrows): Manitoba beef producers are upset and concerned about the Crown land changes this government has made. I am continuously raising these ranchers' voices in the Chamber. One of these ranchers has written six letters to this minister requesting a payment plan. She is willing to pay the lease but needs support to do so. Why the minister is not showing compassion and give her a phone call? [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Hon.

Blaine Pedersen (Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development): So let's just cut this phony baloney about NDP caring about farmers. Let's talk about how the Leader of the Opposition wa lked the picket line during a CN strike, stopping grain movement. Let's talk about the rail and road blockades that they–interrupted farm's supply. Let's talk about the forced municipal amalgamations, calling the municipalities howling coyotes. Let's talk about the widening scope of the PST to include insurance on farm buildings, hurting farm families.

I could go on and on, talk about they want to shut down Maple Leaf Foods in Brandon. Where is their compassion for farmers? Instead, they're out there to kill the farming industry, and they should be–own up to it. Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Madam Speaker: Order. Order. I have a ruling for the House –time for oral questions has expired. And may I just say that after the last minute or so, that everybody's got that out of their system so that when we move into the rest of the day we can have a more relaxed, respectful environment.

Speaker's Ruling Madam Speaker: On March 12th, 2020, the honourable member for Wolseley (Ms. Naylor) r ose on a matter of privilege regarding the government's failure to present a report on the government's Climate and Green Plan. She expressed her opinion that this failure to provide information as required by legislation misled the House and breached her privileges as a legislator. The member concluded her remarks by moving, and I quote, that this issue be moved to on all-party committee for consideration. The honourable member for River Heights (Mr. Gerrard) and the honourable Government House Leader (Mr.

Goertzen) also spoke to the matter of privilege before I took it under advisement. I thank all members for their advice to the Chair on this matter. For the information of all members, in order for the matter raised to be ruled in order as a prima faci e case of privilege, members must demonstrate both that the issue has been raised at the earliest opportunity and also provide sufficient evidence that the privileges of the House or the privileges of individual members have been breached.

Regarding timeliness, the honourable member for Wolseley asserted that she was raising at the earliest opportunity on this issue after providing an adequate amount of time since the start of session for the minister to table the government's Climate and Green Plan annual report before the House. In reviewing the statutory provisions pertaining to the report in question, it appears that the honourable member for Wolseley may have raised this matter prematurely, as the deadline for the tabling of the report had not yet pa ssed at the time the matter of privilege was raised.

As a result, it is difficult to rule that this matter met the true test of timeliness simply because the member indicated that she raised the matter at the earliest opportunity without providing mitigating circumstances. Regarding the second condition of whether a prima facie case has been demonstrated, the member argued that, and I quote, the failure of the government to provide information as required by legislation misleads this House about the true s tate of the government's actions and, as such, breaches her privileges as a legislator. End quote. She further stated

November 5, 2020 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 679 that, and I quote, violating this legal obligation for public accountability obstructs her from doing her job and holding the Pallister government to account. End quote. Based on her comment in the House on March 12th, 2020, the honourable member for Wolseley (Ms. Naylor) appears to have a grievance against the government regarding the tabling of the government's Climate and Green Plan annu al report rather than a matter of privilege.

Furthermore, I would like to quote from a ruling given by Speaker Hickes on December 7, 2004, and I quote: I have checked the procedural authorities, and there is no reference or citation that advises that it is a matter of privilege if a government does not table information when requested to do so, with the exception of items that are required to be tabled by statute.

Should the information in question sought be an item that is required by statute to be tabled , there may be some scope for privilege, as Speaker Fraser of the House of Commons ruled on April 19th, 1993, that failure to table a document as required by statute was a prima facie case of privilege. End quote. In looking at the tabling requirements f or the government's Climate and Green Plan, it indicates that the report is to be tabled within 15 days after it has been prepared if the Assembly is sitting, or if the Assembly is not sitting, within 15 days after the next sitting period begins.

For this particular matter of privilege raised, the Speaker is not in possession of information that would verify if the report in question was in fact published or ready to be tabled in the Assembly. Therefore it is virtually impossible to know if the deadline has been missed. I appreciate that the report in question may be an issue of concern to the member, but I must rule that this matter does not constitute a prima facie case of privilege. * * * Madam Speaker: Petitions?

Grievances, and I understand there may be a grievance from the honourable–or by the honourable member for River Heights. * (14:50) GRIEVANCES Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, I rise today on a grievance. I speak today to say in the strongest possible terms that I support the hundreds of doctors and other health professionals who have signed a letter to the Premier (Mr. Pallister) calling for much more substantial measures to address the COVID -19 pandemic in Manitoba. The Minister of Health was wrong to say the doctors are trying to cause chaos.

The doctors say very clearly that we in Manitoba are in grave peril. These words by the doctors and their colleagues were not chosen lightly. We have an extreme emergency. The words of the doctors and other health professionals were not part of a political attack. There are, I am sure, among the many hundreds who have signed the letter, those of all political persuasions. They speak not from a political perspective, but from the perspective of health professionals who care deeply about the health and well-being of Manitobans. In fact, they have dedicated their lives to it.

The government says it has lots of capacity, but as the doctors point out, we may be short of ICU specialists and others. Not all doctors have the needed expertise to work in ICUs. Even physicians who are specialists in internal medicine may not be immediately able to switch into working in ICUs. There are limits in terms of personnel who have the expertise to safely expand our ICU capacity and the personnel that are needed for that expansion. There is also a concern that a number of people who work in our ICUs may get infected, and we have already seen one–Dr.

Mooney–and we have seen his case; and the question is if there are others, it is a concern that–whether we will have the extra capacity in staffing if a number of critical people like Dr. Mooney become infected. In personal-care homes we have already seen the drastic shortages in staff because staff have become infected or need to quarantine. As hundreds of doctors have pointed out, there needs to be an expansion of the public health measures to reduce virus trans - mission. We must have a much larger and more effective lockdown.

The Southern Health authority, the Northern Health authority and the Interlake - Eastman authority all have rates of new cases per 100,000 people which are similarly high as the numbers are also high in Winnipeg. In Winnipeg the seven- day average for the last seven days is 27 per 100,000. In the Southern Health it is 23 per 100,000. I n Interlake -Eastman it is

680 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 5, 2020 24 per 100,000. In the Northern Health authority it is 30 per 100,000. Only in the Prairie Mountain Health area is it down at 5.5. And so Prairie Mountain could be an exception, but the rest of the province needs to be in code red. What happens in the North affects people in Winnipeg because we may be needing to provide the ICU capacity in Winnipeg for people in the North. Indeed, as we saw in an earlier pandemic when we had many cases in northern First Nations, it strained the ICU capacity in Winnipeg.

We need stronger measures to reduce the potential for transition all over the province and we need to act particularly in areas where people gather or where there's a high risk of transmission. Just as the doctors have said, ther e needs to be a bigger lockdown, a bigger shutdown, a decrease –a major effort to decrease the transmission. At the same time, it's critical that there be support to Manitoba businesses who are struggling and to help individuals who are in great difficulty. We must commit to and have the capacity to do testing without long waits for COVID -19.

We must have the capacity to analyze and report the test results within 24 hours and we must have the capacity to complete the contact tracing within 24 hours and assemble and report results rapidly so this information is quickly available. Anything less than this is not good enough because by day four people can be infectious and pass the virus on to others. Only when testing and contract tracing can be done reliably and rapidly can these be used effectively to control the pandemic. As the doctors say, and I, too, here, there are far too many stories of this process taking far too long.

The doctors speak of more consultation being needed with vulnerable communities. First Nations need to be involved in decision making. They are critically involved in the North and as we see with the outbreak at the Keeyask dam right at the moment. We need to have detailed plans to ensure that individuals who are homeless, individual s who are immuno-compromised are adequately protected. In personal -care homes we have had horrific outbreaks at two personal-care homes: Parkview and the Maples. There have been problems at these homes dating back many years.

The government and the government before have under staffed these homes and put people at risk. We need not only to boost the staffing levels to boost the number of people working in homes and providing care, but we also need regular testing. In other jurisdictions where there are hi gh rates, all homes are being tested –all staff, all residents–up to twice a week. We need to be doing something much more vigorous, particularly in personal-care homes where there are already cases, or when there is a first case in a personal-care home.

We must be recognized that there are times when people will be infectious but asymptomatic and the people in the personal-care home are too at risk to take the risk that they are not picked up. We need more accountability and transparency in Estimates and in question period. The Minister of Health has worked hard to avoid giving many answers. The government needs to be much more fully sharing details: details of the structure of the incident command centre, making sure that Indigenous groups and physicians a re involved. I looked today at the Ottawa reporting; it is much more detailed than we are giving.

We could be doing much more and much better in reporting to all Manitobans. It is a tragic part of the COVID-19 pandemic that far too many cases are to be f ound in government funded or operated institutions: personal-care homes, hospitals, correctional institutions. The government needs to stop blaming others and ensure that the government is doing all it can, and in particular that the recommendations of hundreds of doctors and health professionals are followed.

There will certainly in due course be inquests and a public inquiry into the government's contact – conduct of the second wave of the COVID -19 pandemic. We in the the Liberal Party have called for the resignation of the Minister of Health. Sadly, he has lost the confidence of many in Manitoba; the minister was not prepared for the second wave of the pandemic.

My advice to the minister is this: if the minister wants to save his job as Minister of Health, he needs to apologize to the doctors he's attacked and he needs to implement immediately the changes the doctors recommend if we are to decrease the number of new COVID-19 cases and to reduce the likelihood of exceeding the pandemic capability in our I CUs, the capacity we have in health care. I say this to the Minister of Health, who I have worked in this Legislature for some time, and I think it's time that he listened and acted, and I ask you to do this, Mr. Minister. Thank you. Merci. Miigwech.

November 5, 2020 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 681 ORDERS OF THE DAY GOVERNMENT BUSINESS Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Government House Leader): Could you please resolve into Committee of Supply. Madam Speaker: The House will now resolve into Committee of Supply to consider Estimates. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY (Concurrent Sections) AGRICULTURE AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT * (15:00) Mr. Chairperson (Greg Nesbitt): Will the Committee of Supply please come to order. This

section of the Committee of Supply will now resume consideration of the Estimates of Agriculture and Resource Development. As previously agreed, questioning for this department will proceed in a global manner. The floor is now open for questions. Mr. Diljeet Brar (Burrows): Before my first question, I would request the honourable minister to not play a dodge game as he did in the question period today, but to answer the questions that I'm asking on behalf of our respectable producers who feed us.

My first question is: Manitoba Beef Producers and Keystone Ag Producers have approached honourable Minister of Agriculture with some requests to improve Western Livestock Price Insurance Program, AgriStability and set -aside programs for them. What was minister's response to these requests and why the agricultural critic was not kept in loop for that communication? Thank you. Hon. Blaine Pedersen (Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development): Mr. Chair, I'm first just trying the audio here. Does the audio come through all right? * (15:10) Mr. Chairperson: Yes, it's just fine. Mr.

Pedersen: Certainly, on wes tern livestock producer insurance premium or WLPIP, as we call it, this is a good insurance tool for beef producers. It was a tool that they could use. Then, when COVID hit in beginning of March, the premiums skyrocketed, and for those who hadn't bought in before the premium became very expensive in order to buy in.

We–between myself, the government of Saskatchewan, government of Alberta and, in fact, we had some support out of provinces like New Brunswick, because they're interested in the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program –we lobbied the federal government very hard to come up with a program where we could somewhat subsidize those increased premiums to make them affordable. Now, the federal government said no. They were–they kept using the excuse that it's a regional program, it's not a national program. And so, you know, the opportunity was missed there. The premiums are, again, the premiums are being posted now.

You go on MASC's website and you can find the premiums, and they're, you know, they're–it's a decision on the producer's side, but we would like to see this built into the next five -year plan –Canadian Agricultural Partnership plan–which is covered under all these things like AgriStability and AgriInsurance. So we would like to see–change the name, so it's not the western livestock. Call it the national live - stock. And we don't care what you call it. Let's get it in as a national program.

We see that there is –there will be interest from all provinces, producers, if this becomes an insuranc e program and, again, it's something that producers can decide where they're comfortable, not only with the premiums but the support levels that the premiums will give them, and it becomes a very useful tool, much like AgriInsurance, the crop insurance and the changes we're making to forage insurance, to make it work much better for producers. This is the kind of support that really builds because these types of programs become insurable. They become bankable.

They become predictable so that you can go to your financial institution and say I have bought in premiums at this price and to give me this support level, which is what AgriInsurance does right now, which forage insurance can do when you use it and where we'd like to see the western livestock insurance, whatever its new name is, but we're going to lobby very hard to build that in the new program. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Brar: Thanks, Minister, for that answer. Follow-up question that I want to ask again is, would the minister consider keeping the ag critic in

682 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 5, 2020 loop for future communications with ag organizations and producers? And my –another question is talking about insurance. This government has cut funding to MASC and to run or implement insurance programs, we need insurance agents and proper staffing to serve our producers. Can the minister reflect on, for example, how many insurance agents we have right now, for example, just in Interlake? Do we have enough? If not, how many do we have and why, in this situation, this government is putting budget cuts on MASC? Mr.

Pedersen: Well, let's clear up the misconceptions right off the bat. There is no budget cuts in MASC, and for the member to put that out there is not only false, but it's a disservice to the farm community too because there has not been any budget cuts in MASC. In fact, in the last number of years, MASC has spent $10 million in enhancing the technology. I think it's a disservice of the member to treat farmers like backwoods people. They're very technical savvy right now, and it's–when COVID came, offices were closed for the safety of the employees.

But that did not stop the service, because when you contact an agent – MASC agent –either through–by email or by tele - phone, whatever, the lines were forwarded. Everybody was still working, and they were working from home, and the responsibility between the agents is still there. It's–you don't have to have one person in one office for everybody. You can move this around, and we make sure that when somebody comes, it's all about customer ser vice, and they're doing this. And, you know, so many of –so much of this MASC work, and especially if I talk about crop insurance, can be done online now.

You can do your seeding report, your fall harvest report online and it can be done that way. A lot of the–of our field agents were 'encounting' some hesitancy from the farm community during COVID. They didn't want someone coming on their yard. They wanted to maintain that physical distancing, and so online and by phone works for these kinds of reports, and that's where MASC will continue to modernize in here, and I really take offense when the member tries to think that everything has to be done like it was done 20 years ago.

Farmers are very technical savvy right now, and for the member to insinuate that they're not is a disservice to the farm community. Mr. Brar: I know that the insurance agents, they are stressed, overworked, burdened, because they are transitioning from that traditional system to the new system. As of now, they have to handle both systems at the same time and, on top of that, they have to have 35 unpaid days off. That puts additional burden on them and their families.

So why the government is still recruiting summer students if they say that there's no need for this manpower and all the work is being done using technology? * (15:20) Mr. Pedersen: Apparently math is not the members' strong suit. Where does he come up with 35 days? It's five days, the same as every other government employee across the province. And, you know, I realize staff is stressed. Who is not stressed these days? Whether you're an MASC employee or whether you're a homemaker or whether you are working in a store, everyone is stressed these days.

And we have looked after our employees as–just like everybody els e, in terms of mental health help, and it's not different for MASC staff than anybody else. Now, in terms of summer students, we actually ended up not hiring any summer students this year because we couldn't be out in the field and we couldn't be doing–because that would be contact with people. And that's a really unfortunate situation, because many of our employees started out –our current employees of MASC started out as summer students. They learned what was happening at MASC; they got an education; they came back to work for MASC.

For the member to insinuate that we shouldn't be hiring summer students is totally wrong, is totally short-sighted, and we need to be hiring these summer students, whether it's in MASC or whether it's in government or wherever. This is the future of your–if you don't look forward, especially these days when we know that there are many –our aging population. There's lots of retirements. We need to make sure we've got those young people out there to be able to take over. We need t o be training them and showing them the opportunities in there.

So it is, again, it's just unfortunate when the member puts out false facts, or false information. It's

November 5, 2020 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 683 not a fact. It's a false information, and it does a disservice at any time. And in time s like COVID it certainly doesn't help the population of Manitoba. And, you know, the member asked– he wants to be included in briefings. Well, you could start by not spreading misinformation and then maybe we can possibly look at something down the road. But if whatever you're going to hear and then you're going to turn around and twist it, there is a big trust issue right here right now. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Brar: Mr. Chair, I don't have any questions further. Mr.

Chairperson: Thank you. Hearing no further questions, we will now proceed to the consideration of the resolutions. At this point we will allow virtual members to unmute their mics so they can respond to the question. I will now call resolution 3.2: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $13,457,000 for Agriculture and Resource Development, Policy and Transformation, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to.

Resolution 3.3: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $136,113,000 for Agriculture and Resource Development, Risk Management, Credit and Income Support Programs, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. Resolution 3.4: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $16,752,000 for Agriculture and Resource Development, Stewardship and Assurance, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to.

Resolution 3.5: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $16,684,000 for Agriculture and Resource Development, Production and Economic Development, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. Resolution 3.6: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $36,045,000 for Agriculture and Resource Development, Water Stewardship and Biodiversity, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to.

Resolution 3.7: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $12,891,000 for Agriculture and Resourc e Development, Resource Development, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. Resolution 3.8: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $950,000 for Agriculture and Resource Development, Capital Assets, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to.

Resolution 3.9: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $213,350,000 for Agriculture and Resource Development, Loans and Guarantees Programs, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. The last item to be considered for these Estimates is item 1(a), the minister's salary, contained in resolution 3.1. The floor is now open for questions. An Honourable Member: Question. Mr.

Chairperson: Resolution 3.1: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $6,270,000 for Agriculture and Resource Development, Administration and Finance, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. This completes the E stimates of the Department of Agriculture and Resource Development. MUNICIPAL RELATIONS Mr. Chairperson (Greg Nesbitt): The next set of Estimates to be considered by this

section of the Committee of Supply is for the Department of Municipal Relations. I would now ask that the honourable minister and critic from the official opposition turn on their video to indicate that they're ready to proceed, if applicable. * (15:30)

684 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 5, 2020 Mr. Matt Wiebe (Concordia): I just, in the interest of time–I realize that we are very short on Estimates time and, you know, as frustrating as that is, we are still hoping to get to a few more departments here. Simply asking that maybe we would forgo our opening statements so that we could have the opportunity to get straight to questions. I only have a few and then we could move straight into the next department here in this room. So I ask leave for that to happen, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chairperson: The member for Concordia has asked for leave.

Is leave granted? [Agreed] We'll now waive opening statements. Under Manitoba practice, debate on the minister's salary is the last item considered for departments in the Committee of Supply. Accordingly, we shall now defer consideration of line item 13.1(

a) contained in resolution 13.1. Does the committee wish to proceed through the Estimates of this department chronologically or have a global discussion? Mr. Wiebe: Global. Mr. Chairperson: Thank you. It is agreed upon that the questioning for this department will proceed in a global manner with all resolutions to be passed once questioning has concluded. The floor is now open for questions. Mr. Wiebe: I would like to ask a question about the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. I know that AMM has prioritized their selections very early in the year.

Very interested in getting some of that – those projects moving forward. Just asking if Manitoba has selected their projects for the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Programs, and if the minister could give us a quick update on that. While the minister is looking that up, I just wanted to thank her for taking the step to forgo the opening statements. I'm sure she has a very–lot to say and would have liked to have done that, so I appreciate her taking the step to move straight to questions. Thank you. Hon.

Rochelle Squires (Minister of Municipal Relations): Thank you to the member for his question, and it is a pleasure to be here today to take his questions. I have been in this role for just over a year now, and I do believe this is the first question the member has posed to me in 12 months, so I'm very pleased to have a collaborative discussion with the member about municipal funding for the province of Manitoba and look forward to this collaborative dialogue.

In the interest of time, I did forgo my opening statement, but I would be very remiss if I did not take a moment to thank all of my staff in the department, the people who show up for work every day throughout this pandemic and work –have worked diligently to continue to support our mem ber municipalities. * (15:40) I want to thank the leadership of my deputy, Bruce Gray, who has been an outstanding leader in ensuring that our department runs smoothly and that people are able to get the resources and the support that they need while staying safe as well as providing municipalities what they need in terms of resources and being a steadfast resource for municipalities to call upon.

We have spent countless hours working, ensuring that we're getting the right information out to all of our municipalities throughout the province and working with them all on a co -ordinated effort to ensure that whether it be a response to the pandemic or response to moving into a different –moving the pandemic response system up a level, and what does that mean for the municipalities and how we can best support them, has been absolutely critical. And, of course, at the centre of that has been my deputy, Bruce Gray, and so I do want to thank him and everyone else who works in Municipal Relations.

Earlier in the s pring, we knew our government had decided that shovels in the ground and getting people to work and investing in infrastructure would be one of the best ways to ensure a recovery of our economy, as well as creating jobs.

And so what we did is we supersized, if you will, the Building Sustainable Communities fund, and in a world where it takes sometimes months to get a program together and to open up an intake and to determine priority projects, my department was working rapidly when we said we're supersizing this fund and needing to select up to $10 million worth of projects and then ensuring that the projects could proceed and then flowing that money out the door. It was a remarkable feat and yet everyone rose to the challenge to ensure that we got this money out the door, and I know that almost every member in this

November 5, 2020 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 685 room, whether it be the member for Concordia or the member for Riding Mountain (Mr. Nesbitt) or in my own constituency of Riel, benefited from those projects. I was really pleased to go and announce projects: an accessible playground in the constituency of St.

Vital, with that member; a new playground in the constituency of Transcona, with that member; and really working and–across the entire province to ensure that these projects could proceed t hat brought so much excitement to many communities, and it was a real honour to do that and that's just one example of where my department responded rapidly. The other one was when we doubled the amount of money for the Green Team funding this year.

That was an exciting opportunity where we had more youth employed through many of our programs, not least of all the Green Team, and that was an overwhelming task for my department and I want to thank them for diligently– Mr. Chairperson: One minute remaining. Ms. Squires: –getting themselves –getting the applications ready and assessing each applicant and flowing that money with the least amount of strings attached so that they could have the resources to hire the people that they need.

Now the Investing in Cana da Infrastructure Program, as the member knows, our government did commit $500 million under our Manitoba Restart Program as part of an economic stimulus package which included $230 million for municipalities as part of Manitoba's contribution to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. And our government has always believed that there is no greater environmental problem in this province than the cleanup of Lake Winnipeg and to that end, we invested two–we're investing $268 million towards phase 1, phase 2 of the North End Water Pollution Control Centre.

I would like to highlight that it was in 2003 that the Clean Environment Commissioner told the NDP government to act on this priority– Mr. Chairperson: The minister's time has expired. Mr. Wiebe: Okay. So, I mean, we're looking for a bit more clarification there and maybe the minister could try to focus that down. My last question, I guess, Mr.

Chair, thank you, is with regards to a directive that was issued for –or letter that was sent April 15th from this minister to municipalities, the beginnings –beginning early days of the pandemic, suggesting strongly to those municipalities that they look to the Province –to examples being set by the Province–and begin to trim their budgets and, in this case, s uggest that perhaps layoffs could be on the table.

I'm just wondering if the minister could give us some insight into how many municipalities took her up on that, and if they tracked the number of people that were laid off, how many job reductions were initiated due to the urging or the suggestion of the minister? Ms. Squires: As I was saying in my previous answer, the North End Water Pollution Control Centre, phase 1 and phase 2 has been a priority for our government. This is also a –this was a priority identified by the clean environment commissioner in 2003.

At that time, the project–the total value of that project would have been significantly less than the 1.6 billion– 1.7 billion dollars that we're looking at today. And yet the NDP did nothing on this initiative that would have really put Lake Winnipeg in a completely different situation.

The cost of ignoring that problem –not only did we see the North End Water Pollution Control Centre project cost escalate to the $1.7 -billion figure that we're looking at today, it also saw the depletion of the health of Lake Winnipeg in such a catastrophic way that all the NDP members, when they–and I know the member that sits across from me, he has a cottage out there and he's greatly, greatly concerned about the health of Lake Winnipeg, as is everybody in my constituency and all the members' constituencies.

The health of that lake is something that we're all concerned about, and yet the NDP inaction on Lake Winnipeg caused it to be named the most endangered lake in the world in 2013 by international experts. That is the NDP record on the north end–on Lake Winnipeg. And our government does not think that that is acceptable, and that is why we've prioritized. We've worked very collaboratively through our Investing in Canada program with our federal counterparts and with our municipal counterparts and coming to an agreement that this is a priority that can no longer be ignored.

Now, I'll quote my colleague and my friend, City Councillor Brian Mayes, who a few years ago was saying in the paper when he was asked, why didn't the

686 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 5, 2020 NDP prioritize this project? He said, I don't know, I guess water and sewer is not a sexy initiative and it was never prioritized before. Well, we don't –we're not interested whether or not it's a sexy issue or not. If water and sewer is going to lead to the cleanup of Lake Winnipeg, then our government is going to act on that, and we're very, very pleased to be working with our counterparts on the cleanup of Lake Winnipeg, starting with the North End Water Pollution Control Centre investments.

When it comes to funding for municipalities, at the outset of the pandemic, I had reached out to all municipal leaders and I said, I can assure you that our budgets will remain intact. When I became the Minister of Municipal Relations, I had a collaborative conversation with the mayor, and he asked if I could provide for him certainty for his budgets as he was moving into a four -year budgeting cycle, if I could provide him that certainty that he would know wha t kind of operating and infrastructure funding that he would receive.

And for this first time–for the first time, the City of Winnipeg got that certainty, as did all other municipalities throughout the province, that they would have their operating baske ts and their infrastructure baskets maintained for the mandate of this government. * (15:50) And after we went into a pandemic all the municipal leaders, including the City of Winnipeg, had asked me, does that commitment hold? And our response was, absolutely. In fact, not only does it hold, I will flow 75 per cent of the operating dollars to you immediately so that they can help with your cash flow problems.

And we were very pleased that in the–in spring, at the early onset of this pandemic, we flowed t hat money out the door so that municipalities wouldn't have the cash flow problems. And then, just recently, we flowed the other 25 per cent of all their operating funding commitments to them, regardless of the fact that many of our municipalities, thanks to our ongoing stable funding that we've provided them and the federal restart money that we recently flowed to them, will be in a surplus position and– Mr. Chairperson: One minute remaining. Ms.

Squires: –and despite that, we've said to –and despite the fact that our provincial budgets have taken a significant impact due to the pandemic, we are still committed to working with our municipal leaders, flowing that money. In addition, we've also provided an extra $50 million in water services projects throughout this pandemic. This is helping taking places off boil-water advisories, like The Pas. They have not been able to expand and do proper land-use planning because they do not have the ability with their lagoon.

That lagoon has been overflowing at capacit y since 2012, and it was ignored by the NDP government. Our government, through this $50- million enhanced investment to the Water Services Board, is helping expand The Pas lagoon and many other projects throughout the province of Manitoba. Mr. Chairperson: Hearing no further questions, we will now proceed to consideration of the resolutions. [interjection] Order. At this point we will allow virtual members to unmute their mics so they can respond to the question.

Resolution 13.2: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $46,993,000 for Municipal Relations, Community Planning and Development, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. Resolution 13.3: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a su m not exceeding $11,524,000 for Municipal Relations, Municipal Capacity and Assessment, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to.

Resolution 13.4: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $313,951,000 for Municipal Relations, Financial Assistance, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. Resolution 13.5: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $1,725,000 for Municipal Relations, Capital Assets, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to.

November 5, 2020 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 687 Resolution 13.6: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $67,263,000 for Municipal Relations, Loans and Guarantees Programs, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. The last item to be considered for these Estimates is item 1(a), the minister's salary, contained in resolution 13.1. The floor is now open for questions. Mr. Wiebe: No, I'm sorry. I'm calling for the–I don't have a question. Mr.

Chairperson: Resolution 13.1: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $6,443,000 for Municipal Relations, Administration and Finance, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. This concludes the Estimates of the Department of Municipal Relations. CONSERVATION AND CLIMATE Mr. Chairperson (Greg Nesbitt): The next set of Estimates to be considered by this

section of the Committee of Supply is the Department of Conservation and Climate. An Honourable Member: Point of order. Point of Order Mr. Chairperson: The member for Concordia, on a point of order. Mr. Matt Wiebe (Concordia): I'd like to simply ask a leave, once again, as the minister of municipal affairs was so gracious to do, that the minister of Conservation simply forgo her opening statement, as well as the critic's opening statement, so we can move straight to questions. I believe we only have about five minutes left. Mr.

Chairperson: I would like to indicate to the member for Concordia that that is not a point of order, but he is asking for leave. * * * Mr. Chairperson: Is there leave to forgo the opening statement by the honourable minister? Some Honourable Members: No. Mr. Chairperson: Leave has been denied. Does the honourable minister have an opening statement? Hon. Sarah Guillemard (Minister of Conservation and Climate): I do. I am very pleased to participate today as we review the 2020-2021 Estimates of the Department of Conservation and Climate.

At this time, I would like to introduce the staff that are here with me today, including Jan Forrester, Deputy Minister of Conservation and Climate; Matt Wiebe, our ADM, Finance and Shared Services; Cordella Friesen, our ADM, Environmental Stewardship; Neil Cunningham, acting ADM, Climate and Green Plan Implementation Office; Blair McTavish, ADM for Parks and Resource Protection. The Department of Conservation and Climate has been diligently working to protect our environment and promote sustainable development.

Our dedicated staff, who work as conservation officers throughout Manitoba, have been working incredibly hard protecting and conserving our wildlife and addressing illegal hunting practices. Since October 10th our conservation officers, with support from aerial patrol and K-9 support, have charged or given appearance notices to 22 individuals for serious wildlife offences. They have been giving warnings to 13 individuals for night hunting or for hunting in moose closures. Our conservation officers have charged four individuals for possessing illegally taken wildlife.

They have seized six individuals, as well as eight firearms, and they have issued restitution orders totalling $6,500. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to these hard-working civil servants, who are working around the clock. Our staff are being recognized as leaders in their field. The National Association for

Interpretation has recently awarded two of our staff with important accolades. This year, Lindsey Mitton, the senior park interpreter at Birds Hill Park, was given out the award of Master Frontline Interpreter for her exceptional work. She builds an appreciation for the park's natural, cultural and historic resources; personally connecting with over 10,000 visitor s every year. She builds in– oh, sorry–during COVID-19, Lindsey is now pursuing ways to connect virtually with students and all Manitobans to promote the values of Birds Hill and the provincial park system.

688 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 5, 2020 Rob Nedotiafko, our director of parks, has also been recognized with the award for excellence in interpretive support. Rob champions the work of our perk–park interpreters, actively promotes our program and sees how important this work is in developing experiences in our provincial parks and promoting visitor appreciation and care of our provincial, natural, cultural and historical resources.

Our provincial parks remain treasures for Manitoba and I am proud that we are moving forward with significant investments in parks in order to have them remain cherished, sustained provincial public assets. We are focused on park modernization to improve the experience for all park visitors. This year, with COVID-19 affecting all of our lives, it was more clear than ever before that our citizens need our provincial parks as a place for experiencing nature, health and wellness, as well as family memories.

We have focused on transparency as we explore ways to modernize our parks; to enhance the experience and make our parks even greater for all to enjoy. We have always, and we will continue to engage Manitobans and park cottage residents– * (16:00) Mr. Chairperson: Order, please. For the information of all members, our rule 2(1) provides in part that where all required actions for the business of Supply and the Committee of Supply have not been completed 60 minutes prior to the usual adjournment hour on the last Thursday sitting prior to the Remembrance Day week, the provisions outlined in rule 2(24) are to apply.

Therefore, the hour being 4 p.m., I am interrupting proceedings to put the question without debate or amendment on all remaining resolutions before this selection–section of the Committee of Supply. I am therefore going to call in sequence the resolutions on the following matters: Conservation and Climate, Indigenous and Northern Relations, Civil Service Commission, Tax Credits, Enabling Appropriations and Emergency and Other Appropriations. Legislative Assembly, Employee Pensions and Other Costs. This

section of the Committee of Supply will now consider the Estimates of the Department of Conservation and Climate. I will now call resolution 12.1: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $6,511,000 for Conservation and Climate, Finance and Shared Services, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. Resolution 12.2: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $45,855,000 for Conservation and Climate, Parks and Resource Protection, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to.

Resolution 12.3: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $29,418,000 for Conservation and Climate, Environmental Stewardship, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. Resolution 12.4: R ESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $3,431,000 for Conservation and Climate, Climate and Green Plan Implementation Office, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to.

Resolution 12.5: RESOLVED that the re be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $49,602,000 for Conservation and Climate, Wildfire Service, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. Resolution 12.6: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $5,425,000 for Conservation and Climate, Capital Assets, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. This completes the Estimates of the Department of Conservation and Climate. INDIGENOUS AND NORTHERN RELATIONS Mr. Chairpers on (Greg Nesbitt): The next set of Estimates to be considered by this

section of the Committee of Supply is for the Department of Indigenous and Northern Relations.

November 5, 2020 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 689 I will now call resolution 19.1: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not e xceeding $1,344,000 for Indigenous and Northern Relations, Administration and Finance, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. Resolution 19.2: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $29,125,000 for Indigenous and Northern Relations, Indigenous and Northern Relations, for the fiscal year March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. This completes the Estimates of the Department of Indigenous and Northern Relations.

CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION Mr. Chairpers on (Greg Nesbitt): The next set of Estimates to be considered by this

section of the Committee of Supply is for the Department of Civil Service Commission. I will now call resolution 17.1. Resolution 17.1: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $24,658,000 for Civil Service Commission, Civil Service Commission, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. This completes the Estimates of the Department of the Civil Service Commission. TAX CREDITS Mr. Cha irperson (Greg Nesbitt): The next set of Estimates to be considered by this

section of the Committee of Supply is for the Department of Tax Credits. I will now call resolution 33.1: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $221,559,000 for Tax Credits, Tax Rebates and Fees, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. This completes the Estimates of the Department of Tax Credits. ENABLING APPROPRIATIONS Mr. Chairperson (Greg Nesbitt): The next set of Estimates to be considered by this

section of the Committee of Supply is for the Department of Enabling Appropriations. I will now call resolution 26.1: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $9,556,000 for Enabling Appropriations, Enabling Vote, for the fiscal year March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. Resolution 26.2: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $221,676,000 for Enabling Appropriations, Internal Service Adjustments, for the fiscal year en ding March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to.

Resolution 26.3: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $40,000,000 for Enabling Appropriations, Green and Carbon Reduction Fund, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. Resolution 26.4: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $135,000,000 for Enabling Appropriations, Capital Assets, Internal Service Adjustments, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. This completes the Estimates of the Department of Enabling Appropriations. EMERGENCY AND OTHER APPROPRIATIONS Mr.

Chairperson (Greg Nesbitt): The next set of Estimates to be considered by this

section of the Committee of Supply is for the Department of Emergency and Other Appropriations. I will now call resolution 27.1: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $100,000,000 for Emergency and Other Appropria - tions, Emergency Expenditures, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. Resolution 27.2: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $500,000 for Emergency and Other Appropriations, Allowance for Losses and Expenditures Incurred by Crown Corporations and Other Provincial Enti ties, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021.

Resolution agreed to. This completes the Estimates of the Department of Emergency and Other Appropriations.

690 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 5, 2020 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Mr. Chairperson (Greg Nesbitt): The next set of Estimates to be considere d by this

section of the Committee of Supply is for the department of Legislative Assembly. I will now call resolution 1.1: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $10,729,000 for Legislative Assembly, Other Assembly Expenditure s, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. Resolution 1.2: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $7,338,000 for Legislative Assembly, Office of the Auditor General, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to.

Resolution 1.3: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $4,043,000 for Legislative Assembly, Office of the Ombudsman, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. Resolution 1.4: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $1,700,000 for Legislative Assembly, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to.

Resolution 1.5: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $5,606,000 for Legislative Assembly, Office of the Advocate for Children and Youth, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. * (16:10) This completes the Estimates for the depa rtment of Legislative Assembly. EMPLOYEE PENSIONS AND OTHER COSTS Mr. Chairperson (Greg Nesbitt): The next set of Estimates to be considered by this

section of the Committee of Supply is for the Department of Employee Pensions and Other Costs. I will now ca ll resolution 6.1: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $24,113,000 for Employee Pensions and Other Costs, Employee Pensions and Other Costs, for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021. Resolution agreed to. This completes the Estimates for the Department of Employee Pensions and Other Costs. This also concludes our considerations of the Estimates in this

section of the Committee of Supply meeting in room 254. I would like to thank the

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	42-3-15b
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	42nd 3rd hansardpdf 15b.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	30a655417b092d7f1c0bfa4c11330e3363752943

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