Manitoba Hansard — 8 March 2023 (Sitting 24, 42nd Legislature, 5th Session)

42-5-24

Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

Fifth 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. LXXVII No. 24 - 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 8, 2023 ISSN 0542-5492

MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Forty-Second Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ALTOMARE, Nello Transcona NDP ASAGWARA, Uzoma Union Station NDP BRAR, Diljeet Burrows NDP BUSHIE, Ian Keewatinook NDP CLARKE, Eileen, Hon. Agassiz PC COX, Cathy Kildonan-River East PC CULLEN, Cliff, Hon. Spruce Woods PC DRIEDGER, Myrna, Hon. Roblin PC EICHLER, Ralph Lakeside PC EWASKO, Wayne, Hon. Lac du Bonnet PC FONTAINE, Nahanni St. Johns NDP GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib. GOERTZEN, Kelvin, Hon. Steinbach PC GORDON, Audrey, Hon. Southdale PC GUENTER, Josh Borderland PC GUILLEMARD, Sarah, Hon.

Fort Richmond PC HELWER, Reg Brandon West PC ISLEIFSON, Len Brandon East PC JOHNSON, Derek, Hon. Interlake-Gimli PC JOHNSTON, Scott, Hon. Assiniboia PC KHAN, Obby, Hon. Fort Whyte PC KINEW, Wab Fort Rouge NDP KLEIN, Kevin E., Hon. Kirkfield Park PC 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 MICHALESKI, Brad Dauphin PC MICKLEFIELD, Andrew Rossmere PC MORLEY-LECOMTE, Janice, Hon.

Seine River PC MOSES, Jamie St. Vital NDP NAYLOR, Lisa Wolseley NDP NESBITT, Greg, Hon. Riding Mountain PC PEDERSEN, Blaine Midland PC PIWNIUK, Doyle, Hon. Turtle Mountain PC REDHEAD, Eric Thompson NDP REYES, Jon, Hon. Waverley PC SALA, Adrien St. James NDP SANDHU, Mintu The Maples NDP SCHULER, Ron Springfield-Ritchot PC SMITH, Andrew, Hon. Lagimodière PC SMITH, Bernadette Point Douglas NDP SMOOK, Dennis La Vérendrye PC SQUIRES, Rochelle, Hon. Riel PC STEFANSON, Heather, Hon. Tuxedo PC TEITSMA, James, Hon. 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 Vacant Morden-Winkler

621 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Wednesday, March 8, 2023 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Madam Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, from Whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to the welfare and prosper ity of our province. Grant, O merciful God, we pray Thee, that we may desire only that which is in accordance with Thy will, that we may seek it with wisdom and know it with certainty and accomplish it perfectly for the glory and honour of Thy name and for the welfare of all our people.

We acknowledge we are gathered on Treaty 1 territory and that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Anishininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Denesuline and Nehethowuk nations. We acknow ledge Manitoba is located on the Homeland of the Red River Métis. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. We respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partner- ship with First Nations, Inuit and Métis people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration.

Good afternoon, everybody. Please be seated. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Bill 29–The Life Leases Amendment Act Hon. Jam es Teitsma (Minister of Consumer Protection and Government Services): I move, seconded by the Minister for Seniors and Long-Term Care, that The Life Leases Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les baux viagers, be now read a first time. Madam Speaker: It has been moved by the honourable Minister of Consumer Pro tection and Government Services, seconded by the honourable member–the hon- ourable Minister for Seniors and Long-Term Care, that Bill 29, The Life Leases Amendment Act, be now read a first time. Mr. Teitsma: Madam Speaker, our gov ernment is proposing changes that align with the priorities of improving consumer protection while also promoting a greater understanding and transparency, all in align- ment with stakeholder feedback.

This bill will require landlords to conduct regular reserve fund studies. It'll also ensure that tenants' interests are guarded in a change of ownership caused by an exceptional circumstance like a mortgage sale, tax sale or foreclosure, and it will also e nsure that audits, financial statements prepared by the landlord are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Thank you. Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? Agreed? [Agreed] Bill 21–The Highway Traffic Amendment Act Hon.

Doyle Piwniuk (Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure): I move, seconded by the minister of Gov ernment Services, that Bill 21, The Highway Traffic Amendment Act, be now read for the first time. Motion presented. Mr. Piwniuk: Madam Speaker, I'm pleased to intro - duce amendments to Bill 21. This bill amends The Highway Traffic Act to improve road safety by strengthening the safety oversight by–for heavy com- mercial vehicle operators.

This bill addresses recom mendations from the 2019 Office of the Auditor General report by enabling stronger en forcement actions to be taken against unsafe heavy vehicle operators, including operators who are shut down or reopened under a new company name to avoid complying with the safety regulations, Madam Speaker. This bill will help to put the stop to this behaviour by targetting the unsafe and fraudulent operators that put all Manitoba road users at risk. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the Hous e to adopt the motion?

Agreed? [Agreed] Bill 22–The Emergency Measures Amendment Act Hon. Doyle Piwniuk (Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure): I move, seconded by the Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage (Mr. Khan), that Bill 22, The Emerge ncy Measures Amend ment Act, be now read for the first time. Motion presented.

622 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 8, 2023 Mr. Piwniuk: Madam Speaker, I'm pleased to intro - duce Bill 22, The Emergency Measures Amendment Act. This bill will change the name of Manitoba Emergency Measures Organizatio n, as known as EMO, to the Manitoba Emergency Manage ment Organization. This will better reflect the role of EMO plays in the overall manage ment emergencies, from plain–planning and preparedness and to response to– and recovery. It is also con sistent to similar organi- zations in other provinces.

This bill will also align emergency preparedness requirements for provincial government departments with standards for other non- government organi- zations. As well, the amend ment recognized that not all government departments require the same degree of emergency planning and preparedness. We will provide EMO with greater flexibility to determine which emergency planning and prepared- ness steps are needed in each de partment, Madam Speaker.

Finally, this bill will provide government with the ability clearly to define critical service providers to include sectors of industry and classes, and groups of organizations, entities and individuals. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? Agreed? [Agreed] Bill 13–The Wildlife Amendment Act Hon. Greg Nesbitt (Minister of Natural Resources and Northern Development): I move, seconded by the Minister of Edu cation and Early Child hood Learning (Mr. Ewasko), that Bill 13, The Wildlife Amendment Act, be now read a first time. Motion presented. Mr.

Nesbitt: Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to intro duce The Wildlife Amend ment Act. The purpose of this bill is to put forward statutory amendments that modernize and align residency

definitions for the hunting and angling public. This bill will align the

definitions of Manitoba residents, Canadian residents and non-Canadian resi- dents in The Wildlife Act with those already in place under Manitoba's fishing regulations. This will simplify the process for all hunters and anglers when they are purchasing Manitoba licences, thus enhancing the licence purchase experience. This bill also removes an outdated prohibition on Sunday hunting. Hunting on a Sunday has occurred in Manitoba for many decades through regulatory exemp- tions. By removing this redundant provision, Sunday hunting can continue for decades to come.

Thank you. * (13:40) Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? Agreed? [Agreed] Bill 225–The Health Services Insurance Amendment Act (Personal Care Home Staffing Guidelines) MLA Uzoma Asagwara (Union Station): I move, seconded by the MLA for Point Douglas, that Bill 225, The Health Services Insurance Amendment Act (Personal Care Home Staffing Guidelines), be now read a first time. Motion presented. MLA Asagwara: I'm pleased to intro duce Bill 225, The Health Services Insurance Amend ment Act (Personal Care Home Staffing Guidelines).

Currently, under prov incial guide lines, personal -care homes must provide each resident with a minimum of 3.6 hours of paid care each day, which we know is inadequate, Madam Speaker. The hours of paid care include time that is not spent provi ding direct care to t he residents of a personal-care home. Bill 225 will require the minister to report on the average number of hours of direct care provided in personal-care homes.

In addition, if these hours are not at least four hours per day, the minister must explain why that was the case and how the care provided adequately –and how the care provided is adequate for the health, safety and comfort of the residents. I look forward to unanimous support to Bill 225 in this House. Thank you. Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? Agreed? [Agreed] Committee reports? TABLING OF REPORTS Hon. Jeff Wharton (Minister of Economic Development, Investment and Trade): Madam Speaker, I'm pleased to table the CEDF quarterly financial statement for the '22-23 fiscal year.

March 8, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 623 MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Madam Speaker: The hon ourable of Minister of Families, and I would indicate that the required 90 minutes' notice prior to routine proceedings was provided in accordance with our rule 27(2). Would the honour able minister please proceed with her statement. International Women's Day Hon. Rochelle Squires (Minister responsible for the Status of Women): I rise today to acknowl edge that today, March 8th, is International Women's Day. This day is a global tribute to women's achievements and the continuing pursuit of gender equality.

And I want to start off by saying happy Inter national Women's Day to you, Madam Speaker, and to all my female colleagues in the Manitoba Legislature. This year's International Women's Day theme is centred on working towards embracing equity. Equity ensures that the necessary resources and opportunities are allocated to an individual so that they can reach an equal outcome. Equity can have a signi ficant impact once achieved for women and girls in society.

Sadly, it does not take a lot of imagination or awareness to see that women and girls still have many barriers to overcome, many ceilings to break and many sticky floors to become unstuck from. Gender-based violence, sexis m and discrimina - tion still exists, and in many facets of society, women have not achieved anything close to parity in crucial sectors such as finance, science, media, tech nology and, of course, right here in politics. Yet it is im portant to recog nize the strides that have been made.

And right in this Chamber there is living proof of the many strides that women in this province and in this country have made towards achieving leadership equity. But we all know that until all of us have made it, none of us have made it. That is why the Manitoba government is dedicated to working towards embracing equity and creating an equal future for all in Manitoba. In the last few years we have doubled the funding that goes towards the Manitoba Status of Women Secretariat. We have modernized our family violence prevention shelters.

We have invested in proactive measures to pre - vent misogyny and gender -based violence. We have signed on to the gender -based violence national action plan, and today we announced an ad ditional $2 million for our women's resource centres. These are women on the front lines of races –or sexism and misogyny each and every day. They are angels on earth, and the work that they do is to be commended, and I'm very pleased that we were a ble to announce this funding today. We realize that more work needs to be done, and we will continue until all of us have an opportunity to achieve our full destiny in society.

Madam Speaker, together we can make change happen in ensuring an equitable future for women and girls within the province of Manitoba. Thank you. MLA Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns): Happy Inter- national Women's Day. I'm honoured to be partici pating in this year's United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. It's alrea dy been a very busy and full three days. Global delegates have gathered for the first time since the pandemic to discuss, strategize and bring strength to one another regarding gender equity.

We are raising our voices to point out that the gender equity divide is growing ever wider and ever deeper. We know that it's quite obvious. Afghanistan, Ukraine, Iran, Yemen, Syria and the women of South Pacific are on the minds of delegates and how these disparities are felt across our world. Given these global fa ctors, achieving gender equity is estimated to be 300 years away.

Issues such as violence against women and girls, lack of access to education, lack of gender and pay equity in the private sector, the lack of women in designing artificial intelligence a nd in STEM and more, are all con- tributing to unequal dis tribution of economic oppor - tunities, health and wellness for all. For example, if we look at economic prosperity as a measure of success, it's im portant to know and ap- preciate, in Canada, economists have calculated vio - lence against women and girls cost approximately $7.4 billion a year.

And yet, while there are–is a busi- ness case to invest in solutions, flexible feminist funding is a concept that is constantly challenged by patriarchal institutions and issued like charity. In Manitoba, gender equity is happening in situa- tions such as the inability to get sexual assault– Madam Speaker: Just a note to the member for St. Johns that her computer froze there for a moment and–I think what w e're going to do, we'll allow the member to come back to complete her statement.

624 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 8, 2023 In the meantime, we'll move forward with the honourable member for Tyndall Park. Ms. Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): I seek leave to respond to the minister's statement. Madam Speaker: Does the member have leave to respond to the ministerial statement? [Agreed] Ms. Lamoureux: Over the years, I have learned how much I really love and appreciate celebrating International Women's Day.

And this year, I attribute this to my very goofy friends–who have been engaging with Beyoncé and girls who run the world, that song, all day long, Madam Speaker–and my family and my colleagues, as I am exceptionally lucky to be surrounded by people who really help me feel empowered on this special day. And in the spirit of International Women's Day, I'm going to share about two specific women who I had breakfast with this morning. The first is Shandi Strong.

I have known Shandi for eight years and she's exceptionally driven, know - ledgeable and she has this remarkable talent of always making people feel accepted. Shandi is my biggest encourager as a woman in politics and she has always demonstrated how powerful it can be when women support others through never putting other women down. In fact , she takes this a step further. She is always the first to interject and stand up for a person who may be under attack. Shandi is a protector, a characteristic that I strive for.

The second woman who I had the honour of getting to know over this past year, and I'm so grateful to have in my life, is Rhonda Nichol. Rhonda is the kindest, hardest–has the kindest heart that a woman could possibly have, and she's exceptionally intel - ligent, determined and driven to contribute to our province in making health c are better for all Manitobans. Rhonda really inspires me and encour - ages me to be myself. She reminds me it 's okay to wear your heart on your sleeve and that we, as women, are resilient and strong.

In closing, Madam Speaker, I want to wish everyone a ver y happy International Women's Day and I can't wait to celebrate this weekend with AWOW. Madam Speaker: We have been able to connect with the member for St. Johns (MLA Fontaine), who has 41 seconds remaining. The honourable member for St. Johns. The member needs to unmute. * (13:50) MLA Fontaine: I apologize. Madam Speaker: Thank you. MLA Fontaine: I'm not sure what happened, but let me just finalize my statement. On this Inter national Women's Day, I want to lift up all of the grassroots groups and adv ocates working tirelessly to advance gender equity.

This is exhausting work filled with burnout and frustration and, without you, our circum- stances would be so dire. And so, today and every day, I stand with you. Miigwech. Madam Speaker: Further ministerial statements? The Honourable Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage (Mr. Khan), and I would indicate that the required 90 minutes' notice prior to routine proceedings was provided in accordance with rule 27(2). Would the honour able minister ple ase proceed with his statement. Holi Festival of Colours Hon.

Obby Khan (Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage): It is my honour and privilege as the Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage to rise before the House and deliver my first ministerial statement to recognize the Hindu com munities of Manitoba and wish them all a very happy Holi to those celebrating the Festival of Colours on March 8th of this year. Holi is an ancient spring celebration that re cog- nizes the quality of all people and the triumph of good over evil. On the eve of the festival, bonfires are sometimes lit, with rituals that include the addition of wood, dried leaves and the twigs to ward off evil.

On the day of Holi, people gather to throw brightly coloured powder and spray water on one another – friends, family and strangers participating in this play- ful celebration. Now I, myself, was going to bring some brightly coloured powder and throw it on every- one, but after under standing that it will not allow protocol and the fac t that I would have to clean it, I decided to pass. This is all followed by meals and the distribution of sweets to neighbours and friends. In Manitoba, our cultural diversity is a source of great pride.

We are privileged to live in a province that welcomes and cele- brates many cultures. We have a great community spirit and we regularly demonstrate it as we join together to help our neighbours through difficult times. Madam Speaker, today it is more im portant than ever to support each other as we work together against

March 8, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 625 the many continuing and emerging challenges we all share locally, nationally and with countries around the world. Holi is an important opportunity to focus on the positive forces in our community and connections that make our province a welcoming and inclusive place. While spring in Manitoba is still a few wakes – weeks away, I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing all Manitobans and my friends here in the viewing gallery celebrating Holi, a vibrant festival filled with joy, good health and prosperity. Happy Holi to everyone. Mr.

Diljeet Brar (Burrows): I wish happy Holi to you and everyone listening, and I welcome my friends, community members sitting in the gallery today. Today, Hindu communities in Manitoba and around the world will celebrate Holi, also known as the Festival of Colours. This festival is also celebrated by people from various cultures and religions across the world, which is a symbol of love and harmony across cultures. Holi marks the end of winter and the arrival of spring, and the timing of the festival is determined by the last full moon of the winter.

It was traditionally celebrated in northern India, but is now popular across the whole country and throughout the rest of the world as well. It is a time when families and friends gather to share food, light bonfires, sing and dance and spray each other with brightly coloured powders and dyes. There are many sweets and dishes that are prepared for Holi. Holi is an opportunity to celebrate peace, renew and strengthen our relationships and look forward to the year ahead with hope and joy.

The festival is an important reminder of the ultimate triumph of light over darkness and invites us to remain optimistic in our daily lives and celebrate the endurin g power of hope and peace. One of the most celebrated festivals in South Asia and in South Asian communities across the world, this festival is a joyous and highly anticipated time of the year for many who celebrate. Holi is also an opportunity for all of us to recog - nize the many contributions that people of Hindu faith have made and continue to make in Manitoba. We thank you for everything you do for your com- munities and for our province.

I wish all Manitobans who celebrate Holi a very joyous and wonderful festival with their loved ones. Keep well and stay safe. Holi Hai. Mr. Dougald Lamont (St. Boniface): I seek leave to speak to the minister's statement. Madam Speaker: Does the member have leave to respond to the ministerial statement? [Agreed] Mr. Lamont: Around the world, at the end of winter, spring offers a time of new life and rebirth.

For the Hindu community here in Manitoba and, of course, for millions around the world, it marks the coming of spring with Holi, a bright, beautiful and colourful celebration marking the triumph of good over evil and a time of forgiveness when the social barriers of caste, gender and status are all set aside as people come together to forgive each other, dance, play and feast together. That includes the playful rite of pelting each other with a perfumed, coloured powder called Gulal, using water pistols and water balloons to make the powder stick.

The god Krishna is sometimes said to have thrown coloured water at people when he was a boy. Krishna is represented by the blue powder, while red is for love, and yellow is like turmeric, a spice, of course, used in lots and lots of Indian cooking and associated with healing. For those of us who wish to join, the Hindu Society of Manitoba will be celebrating the f estival of Holi at both their temples on Sunday, March 12th, 2023rd; at the Hindu Temple and the Dr. Raj Pandey centre, at 999 St.

Anne's Rd., from 1:30–1 to 2:30 p.m., and at the Hindu Society of Manitoba and cultural centre at 854 Ellice Ave. at 1 p.m. It's on their website. They also kindly reminded us to set our clocks forward an hour on March 12th, 2023, daylight saving time, so nobody misses it. To all our friends in the Hindu community, we send you our warmest greetings. May this Holi bring joy, love and harmony to all. Thank you. Introduction of Guests Madam Speaker: And I think this might be a good time to intro duce the guests that we have with us in the public gallery.

We have with us Manohar Mennon, the Malayali Association of Manitoba; Kamt a Roy Singh, the Manitoba Cricket Association; Priyanka Singh, vice-president of India Association of Manitoba; Kirit Thakrar, president of the Hindu Society of Manitoba; Bhadresh Bhatt, Manitoba Hindu Seniors; Amandeep Singh Plaha, com munity leader;

626 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 8, 2023 Adam Bhagria, com munity leader; Vivek Bhagria, community leader; Sheeraj Patel, com munity leader; and Pardeep Singh Plaha, who are guests of the hon- ourable Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage (Mr. Khan). On behalf of all members here, we welcome all of you to the Manitoba Legislature. MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Emma Marie Renee Dutiaume Mr.

Bob Lagassé (Dawson Trail): Madam Speaker, today being International Women's Day, I am honoured to recognize a Métis elder constituent of mine, a 'centarian' who celebrated her birthday September of last year, Emma Marie Renee Dutiaume. Emma is currently a resident at Villa Youville in Ste. Anne, Manitoba, where she has settled in and has become a welcome part of the community. Mrs. Dutiaume was born on September 8th, 1922. She spent her early childhood years in Marquette, Manitoba, where she met her late husband Albert , who was serving with the Winnipeg rifles during World War II.

They married on January 18th, 1947, and soon after started their family. Emma is the mother of 13 and grandmother of 41 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren, 11 great-great- grandchildren and counting. Emma and Albert relocated to Richer, Manitoba, in 1964. Emma was first and fourth most a mother, but Emma and Albert were also amazing musicians. Emma played the piano as well as the lap steel guitar, and Albert played the fiddle and guitar, and together they raised a family of musicians.

Not only were they all exceptional musicians but they were also teachers, mentors and inspirations to the Métis and Indigenous musicians in Manitoba and across Canada. * (14:00) On November 5th, 2022, she celebrated a very spe- cial evening with her four youngest sons, The Younger Brothers–Clint, Tom, Keith and Jim Dutiaume –at their–as they were inducted into the Manitoba Country Music Hall of Fame. In memory of her son, Clint, and to honour his legacy, Emma was invited to drop the puck at the March 4th Winnipeg Jets game.

Emma was born in the R oaring Twenties when the automobiles were a novelty and television did not exist. She was young lady– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. Some Honourable Members: Leave. Madam Speaker: Is there leave to allow the member to complete his statement? [Agreed] Mr. Lagassé: She was a young lady during the Great Depression and World War II. Emma is joining us in the gallery today. Please join me in honouring the legacy of Emma Dutiaume. Northern Health Services Ms. Amanda Lathlin (The Pas-Kameesak): Yester- day's PC budget will not support the needs of northern Manitobans.

This is especially true when it comes to health care. This government has cut funding to health- care services in the North over and over again. Hospitals have even been without hot water due to this govern- ment's incompetence. N ursing positions are sitting vacant. Health-care centres have been forced to close. People are being transferred to different communities to give birth because 'obstestric' services were cut. The government's privatization of Lifeflight has resulted in s lower transport times and less service.

Their refusal to expand the SANE program means victims of sexual assault are 'fosed' –are forced to travel to Winnipeg just for an examination. And there is no–and there is an acute doctor shortage in northern communities, meaning the health- care providers who stay are forced to do more and more with less and less. And yet, this budget from the PC government does nothing to reverse these cuts. Northern Manitobans deserve access to the health- care services they need, when they need them. Northern Manitobans are also suffering from the lack of mental health supports, especially for our children.

We know that so many children and youth are suffering, and yet this government refuses to take action over and over again. Recently, the Health Minister claimed that my colleagues and I do not understand northern health- care issues. But we are from the North. We have seen and lived these problems first-hand, Madam Speaker. We know that there is a health-care crisis in the North. We have experienced the last seven years of this PC government's failure to give northern communities

March 8, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 627 the resources they need to have health -care services that they deserve. And so, we know that this budget will do nothing to help the health -care crisis in the North. So, it's time to step up– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. Some Honourable Members: Leave. Madam Speaker: I heard a request for leave. Is there leave to allow the member to complete her statement? Some Honourable Members: Agreed. Some Honourable Members: No. Madam Speaker: Leave has been denied. Niverville Waste Water Treatment Facility Mr.

Ron Schuler (Springfield-Ritchot): One of the largest contributors to the level of health we enjoy in our modern world is a supply of fresh water –clean drinking water. It allows us to keep our drinking water clean and pure and prevent the spread of diseases like 'chlora' and E. coli. Our government is committed to increasing water treatment and safety, with this summer alone pro- viding over $110 million in federal- provincial-civic funding to a waste water treatment facility in Niverville. This facility will service the RMs of Niverville, Ritchot, Taché and Hanover.

Today, I want to highlight another project that will continue to help increase our water treatment abilities in the communities of Springfield, Niverville and Ritchot. This commitment of over $11 million of funding from our government and the municipal government is for the design and construction of a new joint water trea tment plant for the communities of Dugald and Oakbank to provide treatment capacity for future growth in Springfield.

This will include a new groundwater -supplying water treatment plant, which will address regulatory issues such as treating excessive fluo ride levels to below the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. As well, this new facility will address fire protection with a new reservoir designed to accom - modate storage requirements. I am happy to see our government contribute to the growth of our community this way.

The com - munities of Springfield, Niverville and Ritchot have grown exponentially in the past few years, with Niverville in particular becoming the fastest growing municipality in Manitoba and the fifth fastest growing municipality in Canada. With these increases in water treatment through - out our communities, we will continue to see the sus- tainable growth continue. Community Safety and Justice Services Mr. Matt Wiebe (Concordia): Madam Speaker, families deserve to feel safe in their communities, but years of the Stefanson government's cuts have been making things worse.

Over two terms of PCs cuts, property crime, vio- lent crime and homicides have risen across the province, and people just don't trust this gov ernment to deliver on safety–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Wiebe: –in their communities. Their record speaks for itself, Madam Speaker. The PCs have cut funding–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Wiebe: –and programs for crime prevent ion, community corrections, rehabilitation services, family resolution services, as well as funding to munici - palities that have directly led to cuts to police services across our province.

We also know that the root causes of crime need to be addressed, such as addictions, poverty, mental health issues. Yet, the PCs have refused to establish a supervised consump tion site; they've sold off hun- dreds of units of affordable housing; and have left the minimum wage in Manitoba to fall to one of the lowest of any province across the country. These PC cuts have had tragic consequences.

The rising rate of homicide and violent crime in our province is devastating to families and communities, and it hits poor and marginalized communities the hardest and dis proportionately impacts women in those communities. Winnipeg has one the highest rate of homicide in Canada, with over 50 homicides in 2022 alone. Tragically, this week, we saw a number of vio- lence incidents again, including several involving guns, and a 15 -year old boy was killed and his 17-year-old brother wounded in a St. James neigh - bourhood.

It's heartbreaking to see youth subject to such violence, and I want to extend my condolences on behalf of this Legislature to the family.

628 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 8, 2023 Manitobans want a government that prioritizes citizens, community safety and justice services . And after seven years of failures, nobody trusts this gov - ernment to fix the problems they created. That's why our NDP team is committed to tackling the issue of public safety he ad-on and with compassion, Madam Speaker, while addressing the root causes of crime. Thank you very much. Westman Volt Hockey League Mr. Len Isleifson (Brandon East): The game of junior hockey can be a great way for our youth to gain lifelong benefits associated with playing the game.

Hockey allows our youth to learn responsibility, team- work and respect for others. But what about kids with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy or other forms of disabilities? Unfortunately, many children wi th disabilities often participate in sporting events only as a spectator, as they are forced to watch from the sideline. They get regulated to the stands to cheer on their favourite athletes and their favourite teams. Madam Speaker, I am extremely pleased to say, not anymore.

Thanks to Michelle and Chad Wallin, along with their twin boys, Sawyer and Zander, the dream of playing hockey for those with disabilities is now a reality in Brandon. Zander, who joins us in the gallery today with his dad, Chad, and a very dedicated volun- teer by the name of Chris Low, is a sports fanatic who, just prior to his second birthday, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. His dream of moving from the sideline to being a participant in the game of hockey became a reality when his parents' desire to provide an oppor - tunity for children with disabilities came true with the introduction of Volt Hockey.

The Westman Volt Hockey league is currently running introduction to Volt programs to introduce participants, parents and support workers to the game. For those who are unfamiliar, Volt is played as a three-on-three on an indoor court or gym, using specially designed hockey sport chairs. The chairs are battery operated and are controlled with a joystick. This allows virtually any person living with mobility limitations the ability to play the sport of hockey independently. Thanks to the Wallins, the introduction of the sport in Brandon has taken off in leaps and bounds.

With both the corporate world and abundance of volunteers like Chris, this program is seeing growth well beyond expectations. Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Wallin family for creating such an incredible opportunity for those who experience so many limitations to sport. Thank you. * (14:10) Introduction of Guests Madam Speaker: And prior to oral questions, we have another guest that has joined us. In the loge to my left, we have the former member for Assiniboia, Steven Fletcher, and we'd like to welcome him back to the Manitoba Legislature.

ORAL QUESTIONS Health System Reform Government Record Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Happy International Women's Day, Madam Speaker, and I want to give a special shout-out to all the sisters who are here in the gal lery today from the labour movement. Thank you for being union strong. Brian Pallister did a lot of damage to the health-care system while all the PC MLAs supported him, and the Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) supported him every step of the way as the deputy premier and as his failed Health minister.

On this side of the House, we know that closing ERs and cutting health care and cutting C ancerCare was wrong. But we still haven't heard a statement clearly from that side of the House. I guess that's why no one trusts the Premier and no one trusts the PCs. This being an election year, of course, they're try- ing to change the channel, but I just don't think anyone believes them. Will the Premier finally set the record straight and let the people of Manitoba know whether she thinks Brian Pallister was bad for health care in Manitoba? Hon.

Cliff Cullen (Deputy Premier): Appreciate a chance to talk about health care and all the money that we're going to invest in health care in this year's budget, Madam Speaker. This year alone, we set aside $7.9 billion for health care. Madam Speaker, that is $668 million more this year in this budget than last year. That represents a 9.2 per cent increase to health care in Manitoba.

March 8, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 629 Manitobas have asked us to invest in health care in Manitoba and that is exactly what we're doing. We will hope the op position will come forward and vote for this budget so we can invest $7.9 billion in health care. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Mr. Kinew: No, Madam Speaker. They're just saying that because it's an election year. You just can't believe them when it comes to health care. We know what they've done with health care–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr.

Kinew: –ever since they took office in Manitoba. They all supported Brian Pallister when he closed emergency rooms –three of the biggest emergency rooms in the province. Every single one of them, except for maybe the member for Fort Whyte (Mr. Khan), supported Brian Pa llister when he cut CancerCare. Every single one of them supported Brian Pallister when he cut the number of nurses here in the province. Now, of course, it's an election–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –year. They want to change the channel. They want Manitobans to forget.

But I just don't think anyone trusts them on health care anymore. Will the Premier ( Mrs. Stefanson) finally admit that her and Brian Pallister's cuts to health care were wrong? Mr. Cullen: Well, Madam Speaker, here we go again. Opposition members putting false information on the floor of the House. Madam Speaker, under our government–2016, we have increased health-care spending year over year over year. In fact, since–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Cullen: –2016, a 22 per cent increase in health - care funding by this government. Madam Speaker, we know there's more work to do.

Manitobans have asked us to do more work. That's why we're investing in this year's budget $120 million just to retain and attract more health -care workers in Manitoba. Madam Speaker, I would say the NDP should cut their losses and vote for this legislation, this bill, and then we will get the job done on behalf of Manitobans. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary. Mr. Kinew: Madam Speaker, I think the Finance Minister was trying to say they're going to cut their losses and vote NDP, which is what more and more people are saying each and every day.

I guess that's why he's quitting shortly after bring- ing forward this budget, Madam Speaker. But until we get to that election day, this PC gov ernment needs to explain–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –why they supported the Brian Pallister plan, continued under the Stefanson gov ernment, to cut health care–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –here in Manitoba. They've got their talking points, but when a Manitoban goes to the emergency room at the Concordia Hospital, it's just not there anymore.

When they go to t he CancerCare facility at the same hospital, it's just not there anymore. When they go to emergency rooms all across rural Manitoba, those health -care services just aren't there and it's because of the cuts under this PC government. Will the PCs finally, as part of their election year desperation gambit, admit that Mr. Pallister and the Stefanson government's cuts to health care– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. Mr. Cullen: Let's talk about trust. When the NDP were in office, they closed permanently close to 20 ERs.

Right from Teulon, Whitemouth, Winnipegosis, McCreary, Baldur, Rivers, Myrtle, Wawanesa, Rossburn, Erickson, Vita, Gladstone, St. Claude, McGregor, Manitou and Emerson. Madam Speaker, we have made record invest - ments in health care, to the tune of 22 per cent more since we've–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Cullen: –taken office. This year alone, a 9.2 per cent increase, $668 million more for health care. We are committed to healing health care in Manitoba. Let's hope the op position gets onside and votes for that investment in health care for Manitobans.

630 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 8, 2023 Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question. Long-Term Care and Mental Health Funding in Budget 2023 Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Madam Speaker, the reason the health-care system needs healing is because of the cuts made by the PCs. We know that it's an election year and so they're going to make all sorts of an nouncements and promise to pave the r oads in front of every Manitoban's – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –front door, but their actions speak louder than words.

When you look at this gov ern- ment's own budget, they're cutting $27 million from long-term care and mental health. That's according to this government's own financial statements, Madam Speaker. Why does the–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) of Manitoba thinks it's okay to cut $27 million from long-term care and mental health? Madam Speaker: The–[interjection] Order. Hon. Scott Johnston (Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care): I–we just wanted to correct the Leader of the Opposition in support of long-term care and seniors in this province.

This government, for the first time in the history of this gov ernment, has created–created–the Department of Seniors and Long- Term Care and, as a matter of fact, in this budget, it got a 72 per cent increase, Madam Speaker–72 per cent increase. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leade r of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Mr. Kinew: You know, even though there may be a new department, apparently, the minister has not read this government's budget. I guess that's the ultimate testament that nobody believes the PCs when it comes to health care.

So I'll tell you what I'll do, Madam Speaker – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –I'll table the budget documents, the specific page which shows that under this minister, and under this Premier, long- term car e and mental health has been cut a combined $27 million. Again, Madam Speaker, it's no wonder that there are fewer long-term-care beds in Manitoba today than there was when they took office. * (14:20) But that's just another broken PC health- care promise–2016 they promised 1,200 new beds; instead, we lost them.

This election year, they want to make all sorts of announcements, but nobody believes them. Will the Premier finally admit that cutting long - term care and mental health is wrong? Hon. Janice M orley-Lecomte (Minister of Mental Health and Community Wellness): I'd like to say that our budget yesterday put more supports in place for mental health and community wellness. In our second year of our five-year road map, we are investing more in access, edu cation, well-being, chronic disease preven tion and are opening up our seventh RAAM clinic to assist individuals with Aboriginal health RAAM services.

Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary. Mr. Kinew: You know, it's no surprise that a govern- ment that needs more than two Finance ministers to put together this year's budget also needs multiple ministers to try and answer these questions. The fact of the matter is that $27 million was cut from long-term care. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Order. Mr. Kinew: Well, you know what they say about the PCs: Look to your left, look to your right. If neither one of those people are quitting, that means you're quitting this year during the election year.

And it's no wonder. Nobody believes the PCs when it comes to health care in Manitoba. After seven years of cuts, will they finally stand in their place and admit that Brian Pallister and the Stefanson government's cuts to health care in Manitoba were wrong? Hon. Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health): Budget 2023 includes nearly $8 billion in historic investment into our health- care system, provi ding $668 million more to strengthen health care for Manitobans. But, Madam Speaker, I just want to put on the record some infor mation about the dark days of the NDP.

Question period, April 28, 2014, this was said: In the Virden ER, there were two doctors that have left to go to another jurisdiction within Manitoba. It means

March 8, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 631 we cannot keep that ER open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We just don't have the staff there right now to do it. Who said that, Madam Speaker? Erin Selby, former NDP Health minister. That is their record. We will put our record up against– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. Order, please. Order. Order. I hope I don't have to remind members about treating each other respectfully in this gallery. I know we've got a lot of guests in the gallery. I'm hoping that members here will show respect and listen to ques - tions and listen to answers.

That would be the proper way to show that we respect democracy and the demo- cratic process in Manitoba. So, I'm going to ask for everybody's co-operation, please. We do have guests in the gallery, and I would like everybody to show them that we can actually have debate here in a civil manner without heckling and yelling across the way.

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program Request to Address Staffing Shortage MLA Uzoma Asagwara (Union Station): The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program at the Health Sciences Centre provides critical supports to sexual assault survivors and helps collect evidence for sur - vivors to get justice. Yet, staff vacancies and failing to listen to the expert advice of the nurses who keep that program running is threatening the ability of the program to support survivors.

The PCs promised to listen to these nurses and fix the staffing issues nearly a year ago, but they haven't done anything and, in fact, things have gotten much worse. Can the Prem ier (Mrs. Stefanson) explain why she's broken her promise and she's failing sexual assault survivors? Hon. Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health): This is a very, very serious issue for our government and we recognize it is difficult for anyone who's undergone a trauma of this nature. And our government, as I said previously, takes it seriously.

That is why our gov ernment is attempting to roll back the dark days of the NDP, when there was just casual staff in the program. Madam Speaker, by investing $ 640,000, we created the forensic nurse examiner program. Madam Speaker, staff have been hired into the unit; we have a manager in place and we are going to continue to do what needs to be done to assist victims of sexual assault. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Union Station, on a supplementary question.

MLA Asagwara: Madam Speaker, it's those very same casual nurses working to keep that program afloat who are telling us that the PCs have broken their promise to sexual assault survivors. They promised they'd fix the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program by addressing those staffing issues back in April of 2022, and they would expand access to the program. Yet, nearly a year later, the issues persist and things are getting worse. The result is that survivors are being sent home with the instruction not to wipe themselves or shower until they can return when nurses are available to provide those examinations.

That is wrong, Madam Speaker, it's beyond wrong. Will the Premier finally fulfill her promise to assist–to survivors, listen to those expert nurses and fix the program–fix the problems at SANE? Ms. Gordon: We recognize that more work needs to be done in the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program. We want to ensure services are there for each and every individual who comes forward who has under - gone such a tragic and horrible trauma. Madam Speaker, that is why we are rolling back the dark days of the NDP and correcting all the errors they made with that program.

We have hired seven – three–there are seven nursing positions within the program; three are working, three are in training. And we are going to continue to make record investments to ensure that that program is fully staffed and that proper management, which was not available under the NDP, is available under our government. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Union Station, on a final supplementary. MLA Asagwara: Madam Speaker, the dark days of that program are right now. They are right now.

Survivors are not getting the c are that they need because this gov ernment has failed them and has broken their promises to the staff who run that program and survivors who depend on it. There were 21 shifts without adequate coverage in February, including a 46- hour stretch where there were no nurses available.

632 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 8, 2023 During this 46-hour stretch, a child tried to access the SANE program. A SANE nurse says that she does not know if the patient, who is a little girl, got the help that she needed. The dark days of the program are right now, under this government. Can the Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) explain to Manitobans why she's failing survivors and failing children? Ms. Gordon: Madam Speaker, it truly saddens me that a child has had to exper ience a horrible trauma such as this. My heart goes out to that child and their entire family.

I also want to say to the member for Union Station that they are able to look at this issue through rose-tinted glasses because they were not a part of the NDP during those dark days, when the program was mismanaged and underfunded, Madam Speaker, when there was only casual staff available. Our government is rolling back those dark days again, Madam Speaker, by investing $640,000, by adding more staff, adding a manager.

We have dedi - cated space at HSC for thi s program and we will continue to respond to the needs of individuals who have ex perienced this type of horrible, horrible trauma. * (14:30) Child Survivors of Sexual Assault Proclamation Timeline for Bill 213 Ms. Amanda Lathlin (The Pas -Kameesak): In 2021, the PCs supported Bill 213, The Reporting of Supports for Child Survivors of Sexual Assault Act. Bill 213 requires the government to report annually on the number of health professionals with special train- ing to examine children who have been sexually assaulted.

Yet, nearly two years later, the PCs still haven't proclaimed the bill, meaning that it hasn't come into force and nothing has changed. Will the PCs do the right thing and support child sexual assault survivors, and finally proclaim two – bill 213 today? Ekosi. Hon. Rochelle Squires (Minister of Families): Our government recognizes that women and children and survivors need the support wherever they are through- out the entire province. And we certainly did appre - ciate the member b ringing forward that issue to the Manitoba Legislature with the piece of legislation that we all unanimously supported.

And my understanding is, is that there is work under way. We do agree that people need to get the services that they need in the communities in which they live, and that is why there are–there's training initiatives happening up in the North and we are working towards ensuring that there's a full complement in the North so that survivors can get the services that they need close to home. Ms. Lathlin: In 2021, the PCs supported bill 213, The Reporting of Supports for Child Survivors of Sexual Assault Act.

This bill requires the gov ernment to report annually on the number of health professionals with special training to examine child ren who have been sexually assaulted, and it also requires annual reporting on sexual assault evidence kit 'invetory'. Yet the PCs still haven't proclaimed bill 213, without explanation. Will the PCs do the right thing, support child sexual assault survivors and finally proclaim bill 213 today? Ms. Squires: Of course, our government is supporting child survivors of sexual assault and other traumatic incidents, and that is why we supported the legis - lation.

And I certainly encourage that House –that side's House leader to take the issue up with our House leader. And we certainly do look forward to moving forward with this initiative. On the aspect of training, though, that work is under way, and I want to thank the nurses that have come forward and have taken this training already. And we look forward to more nurses becoming trained. These are all dollars–this training is occurring by dollars that have been put forward in last year's budget–which the NDP, I would like to remind the House, voted against.

The question this year is: Will they vote in favour of training for nurses to do sexual assault nurse examinations? Madam Speaker: The honourable member for The Pas-Kameesak, on a final supplementary. Ms. Lathlin: Madam Speaker, the PCs' refusal to proclaim 213 raises the question of whether they only passed the bill to appear as though they are taking action to support child sexual assault survivors. Yet, it's been nearly two years, Madam Speaker. Two years. Imagine how many predators have gotten

March 8, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 633 away during that two years. We can't afford to wait any longer. We know the PCs have failed to bolster supports for child sexual assault survivors in rural and northern areas since taking office. Bill 213 will hold them accountable for their failures. Will the PCs do the right thing, support child sexual assault survivors and finally proclaim bill 213 today? Ekosi. Ms. Squires: It saddens me to see this member play gutter politics with something that is so im portant to so many people in the province of Manitoba.

We're standing on the side with supporting sexual assault survivors, something that we've done in each of our budgets. And when we've brought forward more money for families, more money for social supports, more money for health care, more money for training for those sexual assault nurses –every time, the members opposite have voted against. They voted against budgets that have brought forward more money for survivors. The question remains, is: this year, there's money in this budget that will help survivors of sexual vio - lence recover; will they vote in favour of it?

Women's Health and Maternity Care Funding for Services Mrs. Bernadette Smith (Point Douglas): The women of Manitoba know that they can't trust this PC govern- ment, nor the Premier (Mrs. Stefanson), with their family–with their No. 1 priority, which is health care. The government's cut to lactation consultants con- tinue to hurt new mothers who are learning to breastfeed their children. Slashing budgets for hospitals over the past six years meant postpartum mothers now have to go without mesh underwear, blankets or pads while they recover from labour.

Can the minister explain why these essential health-care services specific were–for women were cut? Hon. Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health): I know members opposite don't want Manitobans to hear about the record invest ments that we are making in Budget 2023. Again, Madam Speaker, nearly $8 billion is–which is a historic invest ment into the health -care system, provi ding $668 million more to strengthen health care for Manitobans. That includes women, children, seniors.

And again, as the Minister of Families said, I want to ask the exact same question: will the members opposite 'fote' in favour of those suppor ts for women or against? Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Point Douglas, on a supplementary question. Mrs. Smith: Manitobans haven't forgot about the devastation that's been caused by this gov ernment with their reckless cuts to health care. Women who relied on the Mature Women's Centre are going without specialized treatment for their reproductive health service–health issues.

Will the minister apologize to women in Manitoba for their health -care cuts and the needed health-care services that they can no longer access here in Manitoba because of this PC government? Hon. Rochelle Squires (Minister of Families): Well, Madam Speaker, I'd like to remind the member that it is this gov ernment that expanded services for re- productive health for all women to achieve access to reproductive health services wherever they live. And that is some thing that that member, who's chirping now, voted against.

It's a shameful record that they didn't make those investments in women's health when they were in office, and then when they're in opposition, they vote against. They voted against ending period poverty in the province of Manitoba. That's another thing that that opposition–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Squires: –has not supported. We are moving forward to advance the lives of women and girls in this province by ending period poverty, doubling the money for the Status of Women Secretariat and the women's family violence resource centres, investing in women's health like never before.

And each and every time, that member who chirps voted against it. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Point Douglas, on a final supplementary. Mrs. Smith: All we get is talk, talk, talk from this government and no action whatsoever–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mrs. Smith: –whether it's from the minister or the Premier. She's failing at her job, just like the premier

634 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 8, 2023 is before her, and like all of her colleagues on that side, who happily supported Pallister's health cuts. Today is Int ernational Women's Day. Will this minister do the right thing and reinstate all of the cuts, the six years of funding cuts that they put in place for women in this province, today? Ms. Squires: Last year, our gov ernment invested $5 million in our Family Violence Prevention Program. These are direct supports for women who are fleeing domestic violence and ensuring that they get the supports when they need it.

The members opposite voted against $5 million towards family violence pre- vention last year. They voted against that. This year, today we announced $2 million for nine women's resource centres in the province of Manitoba. These women's resource centres are on the front lines helping women get the services that they need so that they can achieve their destiny and turn their lives around. And I certainly hope that the members opposite will vote in favour of $2 million for women's resource centres today.

Home-Care Services Funding and Staff Retention MLA Malaya Marcelino (Notre Dame): Madam Speaker, women in Manitoba know that they can't trust this Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) and her PC gov - ernment with their families' No. 1 priority, which is health care, especially as it relates to home care. This government's failure to adequately fund home ca re leaves our elders struggling at home without needed support and assistance. Care-sector workers are mostly women, and with an ongoing vacancy rate of nearly 20 per cent. * (14:40) How does this minister justify their failure to attract and retain home-care workers?

Hon. Scott Johnston (Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care): As I'd indicated many times in the House, this government is committed to finding solu- tions to problems, and the budget that we've just presented certainly supports that initiative, Madam Speaker. This gov ernment is working very hard to find solutions. We've just announced the $12.6- million self-and-family-care support. As I've indicated, this government is working towards a revitalized and revamped home-care system that we will be present - ing very shortly with the supports behind it.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Notre Dame, on a supplementary question. MLA Marcelino: Madam Speaker, Manitobans haven't forgotten the devastation caused by PC efforts to privatize home-care service delivery. Families are struggling to get the help they need for their aging loved ones. The health system is so stretched that seniors are threatened with discharge to downtown shelters for proper care. Women are often the prim ary caregivers – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. MLA Marcelino: –both for their children and their parents.

Will this minister apologize to women in Manitoba for their health-care cuts? Will the minister apologize for his gov ernment's failure to provide home care for Manitoba families? Mr. Johnston: The only apologize –apology that's necessary right now is the member's fear mongering to the people of Manitoba. That's what needs to be addressed. As I'd indicated, this gov ernment's putting its money where its mouth is, based on the budget that we just brought forward to support seniors in Manitoba, and we will continue to do that. We are finding solutions, and the Minister of Health (Ms.

Gordon) has made a commit ment of –a $200-million commit ment to bring forward more support to retrain and train and recruit, and, certainly, our government's doing what it needs to do. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Notre Dame, on a final supplementary. MLA Marcelino: It's certainly not fear monger ing, Ms.–Madam Speaker. If you take a look at the documents–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. MLA Marcelino: –that were tabled by the Opposition Leader, page 7 –the Budget 2023

Summary Budget and Financial Updates –$24 million in cuts for this year for the actual –what was spent for Seniors and Long-Term Care. That is not fear mongering; that is right there in the documents that were presented to us yesterday.

March 8, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 635 Madam Speaker, today is International Women's Day, and all we get is bluster and no ac tion from this minister. We know that Manitoba's health-care work- ers, who are primarily women, have struggled under this government to deliver quality care for our aging population. Will this minister do the right thing today and apologize for all of the past– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. [interjection] There must be a full moon. Mr. Johnston: I thought I was the only one that raised my voice in this House. But, obviously, I appre ciate the member's passion.

And I understand the position that the opposition is in, based on the budget we're –we just brought forward. I mean, they've got to rant–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Johnston: –and rave and try to draw attention away from the realities of this government supporting the people of Manitoba. And this department will–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Johnston: –continue to do what we need to do. As I mentioned, the budget of Seniors increased by 72 per cent, Madam Speaker. Recruitment of Nurses from the Philippines Immigration and Resettlement Supports Mr. Dougald Lamont (St.

Boniface): We've heard from many Manitoba nurses who are concerned about the PCs' Philippines nursing recruitment 'schleme.' As these docu ments that I tabled show, that the program is virtually identical to one launched in 1999 by the PCs. The same cities and towns were visited. Four hundred nurses were promised; three years later, only 65 had arrived, which included 22 who were hired despite failing their exams. As my colleague from Tyndall Park mentioned yesterday, the gov ern- ment doesn't even have health workers as a priority for PNP immigration to Manitoba, and the budget for retention is frozen.

How can the PCs promise nurses with no plan to get them here, and no money to keep them here? Hon. Jon Reyes (Minister of Labour and Immigration): I won't apologize for travelling to the Philippines to be with health -care workers. We travelled eight hours away to attend the infor ma- tion sessions and interviews. My parents were given the opportunity to come to this beautiful province. Why is the member denying people from the Philippines to come to Manitoba? Why is he against immigration, Madam Speaker? Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. Boniface, on a supplementary question.

Neurological Procedure Backlog Recruitment of MRI Technologists Mr. Dougald Lamont (St. Boniface): My mother's an immigrant–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Order. Mr. Lamont: That's a shameful response, Madam Speaker. My mother's an immigrant. We're still hearing that people who are waiting for surgery, who are facing waits that may take years. I spoke to someone this morning who were told they'd have to wait two years for the operation they need.

Now, on page 45 of the budget document, which I tabled, it shows that there's been virtually no im - provement in backlogs in neurosurgery, gynecology, general surgeries and no improvement whatsoever in pediatrics. In May 2022, Shared Health stated they need 15 to 16 addi tional MRI technologists to drive down wait times, and starting wages in Manitoba are currently 12 per cent behind Saskatchewan. And the technologists haven't had a contract in five, going on six years. How can we hope to attract, to retain MRI technologists to Manitoba working at 2017 wages? Hon.

Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health): It's quite evident to me today that the member for St. Boniface doesn't spend any time talking to his Liberal cousin in the federal government; the Member of Parliament for Winnipeg North actually had the op- portunity last week to con gratulate me and our team in person for the incred ible results that we have achieved with the Philippine mission, Madam Speaker. I invite the member for St. Boniface to call the MP for Winnipeg North and have a conver sation.

Madam Speaker, our gov ernment is investing, in Budget 2023, $130 million for the Diagnostic and Surgical Recovery Task Force. That money will go a long way to assisting with MRIs. They–I would like– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired.

636 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 8, 2023 $10-a-Day Child Care Accessibility of Program Ms. Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): Since the budget, I've spoken with child- care centres and parents, and I'm disappointed to learn that the $10- a- day child care is not actu ally a reality for many Manitoba families. While yesterday's budget paints the picture that all Manitobans would be eligible, this is not the case for those enrolled in extended child care, for in- service days and for school holidays.

Can the minister p lease explain if and when the government plans to make $10- a-day child care a reality for all Manitobans. Hon. Wayne Ewasko (Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning): I'd like to thank my Liberal colleague for the question. The Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) and I clearly stated just last Friday, with some of her federal cousins, that Manitoba is going above and beyond our commitment by maximizing all parent fees to $10 a day for children 12 and under for regular hours of care. And we are achieving this historic goal three years ahead of time. So, as far as the date goes: April 2nd.

Clan Mothers Healing Village Construction Sector Council Initiative Mr. Bob Lagassé (Dawson Trail): Madam Speaker, we have so much to celebrate this Inter national Women's Day ; a female Lieutenant Governor, Premier and clerk of Executive Council, as well as yourself. What's most impressive are the actions our gov- ernment has taken to support the advancement of women's rights. Aside from the monumental intro - duction and passing of both bill 40, Clare's Law and– 43 this past fall, can the minister continue to elaborate on what she's done to protect and support women here in Manitoba. * (14:50) Hon.

Rochelle Squires (Minister responsible for the Status of Women): I'd like to thank my friend for asking that wonderful question.

And, since I've already updated the House on the good work that our gov ernment has done, including doubling the funding for the Status of Women Secretariat, investing in family violence pr evention and signing on to the national framework for ending gender-based violence, I do want to use my time that I have here to pay tribute to an amazing organization, the Clan Mothers, and to talk about an initiative: a $1.5-million initiative with the Clan Mothers Healing Village and the Manitoba Construction Sector Council to train 20 Indigenous women over a 36-week period.

They're going to have cultural and land- based teaching and healing. And upon completion of this program, all these parti cipants will be working in an all-woman construction company. I want to salute the Clan Mothers and the Indigenous women that are participating in this program. We lift them up and we honour them– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. We've lost so me time in oral questions today, because of extended applause and because of disorder that has occurred. I'm going to allow the next opposition member to ask one question.

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program Request to Address Staffing Shortage MLA Nah anni Fontaine (St. Johns): The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program is meant to support sexual assault survivors and help collect evidence for criminal action. Yet, thanks to this gov ernment's in- competence, the SANE program is having to turn away survivors due to a lack of permanent nurse 3 staff. The PCs said they'd fix this staffing issue, but they didn't, and then they hired a manager who lives in Alberta. Will the Premier (Mrs.

Stefanson) apologize and fix this mess right away to help protect Manitoba women and girls, and support the SANE program in a comprehensive manner? Hon. Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health): Again, my heart goes out to all the individuals that have ex - perienced sexual assault. This is a very im portant issue for ou r government; we take it very seriously. We certainly won't play politics with anyone's exper- ience of sexual assault, Madam Speaker. Our government has invested $640,000 into the program.

We created the forensic nurse examiner pro- gram, and we're committed to ensuring that it is fully staffed with a manager and staff that can provide the services that these individuals need, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: The time for oral questions has expired.

March 8, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 637 PETITIONS Community Living disABILITY Services Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly.

The background to this petition is as follows: Currently, adults with specific or non- specific disabilities, or a combination of dis abilities, such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalcul ia, auditory or language processing disorders and/or non- verbal learning disabilities, will be denied access to services under the Province of Manitoba's community living and disability services, CLDS, i f their IQ is above 80. People with these or other borderline cognitive functioning issues also have extremely low adaptive skills and are not able to live in dependently without supports.

Recently, it's become widely recog nized that access to CLDS should not be based solely on IQ, which is only a measure of a person's ability to answer questions verbally or in writing in relation to mathematics, science or material which is read. Very often, persons with specific or non-specific disabilities or a combination of those disabilities have specific needs related to their executive function for support when they are adults or are transitioning to adulthood, which are not necessarily connected to their IQ.

Executive function is the learned ability to do the normal activities of life, including being organized, being able to plan and to carry out plans and adapt to changing conditions. Those who have major defects in executive func- tion have a learning dis ability requiring assist ance under CLDS to be able to make a con tribution to society and to be self-sustaining.

Provision of CLDS services to individuals with specific or non-specific disabilities or a combination of those disabilities or executive function disability, would free them from being dependent on Employment and Income Assistance and have the potential to make an important change in the person's life. Newfoundland and Labrador have now recog- nized that access to services should be based on the nature of the disability and the person's needs, rather than on IQ.

We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to change the requirements for accessing community living and dis- ability services so that these requirements are based on the needs of individuals with specific or non -specific disabilities, including executive function or a com - bination of disabilities, rather than solely on the basis of their IQ. Signed by Don Repal, Leata Goulet, Mike Dagohoy and many, many others. Madam Speaker: In accordance with our rule 133(6), when petitions are read they are deemed to be received by the House. Provincial Road 224 Ms.

Amanda Lathlin (The Pas-Kameesak): I wish to present the following petition to the Legis lative Assembly. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Prov incial Road 224 serves Peguis First Nation, Fisher River Cree Nation and surrounding communities. The road is in need of substan tial repairs.

(2) The road has been in poor condition for years and has numer ous potholes, uneven driving surfaces and extremely narrow shoulders.

(3) Due to recent popula tion growth in this area, there has been increased vehicle and pedestrian use of Provincial Road 224.

(4) Without repair, prov incial 224 will continue to pose a hazard to the many Manitobans who use it on a regular basis.

(5) Concerned Manitobans are requesting that Provincial Road 224 be assessed and repaired urgently to improve safety for its users. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the Minister of Infrastructure to complete an assessment of Provincial Road 224 and implement the appropriate repairs using public funds as quickly as possible. This petition has been signed by many, many fine Manitobans. Ekosi.

638 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 8, 2023 Security System Incentive Program Mr. Jim Maloway (Elmwood): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background to this petition is as follows: Mr. Andrew Micklefield, Deputy Speaker, in the Chair

(1) Cities across Canada and the United States, including Chicago; Washington, DC; Salinas, California; and Orillia, Ontario, are offering home security rebate programs that enhance public safety and allow for more efficient use of their policing resources.

(2) Home security surveillance systems protect homes and busi nesses by potentially deterring burglaries.

(3) Whole neighbourhoods benefit when more homes and businesses have these security systems.

(4) A 2022 Angus Reid Institute poll fo und 70 per cent of Winnipeggers surveyed believed crime had increased over the last five years, the highest percentage found among cities in Canada.

(5) The same survey reported half of Winnipeggers polled do not feel safe walking alone at night, and almost 20 per cent of them said they were a victim of a police-reported crime in the last two years.

(6) Although the public understands what the criminologists and com munity advocates point to as the main drivers of crime, namely the larger issues of lack of food, addictions and poverty, they support rebate programs like these as they help the most vul - nerable in our com munity by removing financial barriers for personal protection.

We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the prov incial government to work with municipalities to establish a province-wide tax rebate or other incentive program to encourage residents and businesses to purchase approved home and busi ness security protection systems. And this petition is signed by many, many Manitobans. * (15:00) Mr. Deputy Speaker: Any further petitions? Orders of the day; government business. The hon- ourable minister–oh. [interjection] The honour able minister of –[interjection] Yes, you don't have to call it. [interjection] Okay, we can do it that way too.

ORDERS OF THE DAY GOVERNMENT BUSINESS Hon. Derek Johnson (Acting Government House Leader): Mr. Deputy Speaker, can you please com - mence the debate on the budget. BUDGET DEBATE (Second Day of Debate) Mr. Deputy Speaker: By all means, we will resume debate on the budget. And the honour able Leader of the Official Op - position on the proposed motion–[interjection] –on the proposed motion of the honour able Minister of Finance (Mr. Cullen), standing in the name of the hon- ourable Leader of the Official Opposition. Mr.

Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): We all know from parlia mentary procedure that the budget vote is a confidence vote. And I do not have con- fidence in this government. For seven years, they've cut every thing in Manitoba. They cut health care, closed emergency rooms. They cut and underfunded the educa tion sys- tem. They've cut law en forcement. There are fewer conservation officers working today in Manitoba because of their cuts. And now, all of a sudden, there's an election year, and they want to come around and try to change the channel.

Interestingly, you'll know that almost all of these PC MLAs were elected under Brian Pallister. And what are the two words that none of them will say in the year 2023? Brian Pallister. They've backed him up on every single one of his cuts and every single one of his closures. They stood and they clapped and they said it's great that we're closing the Concordia ER; it's awe - some that we're closing the Victoria ER; why don't we close the Seven Oaks ER and the Misericordia urgent care as well? They kept standing and applauding for Brian Pallister right 'til the very day that they chased him out of the building.

And now that it's an election year, they don't want to talk about Brian Pallister's cuts to health care, even though they continue them under this Stefanson government.

March 8, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 639 So Manitobans know that they just can't trust the PCs when it comes to health care. In edu cation, day after day, we see another school division stepping up and telling us how many teachers they're going to have to cut, which music program is going to be ended, which enrichment program or addi tional clinical ser- vice has been cut as a result of the chronic unde r- funding of this gov ernment. And, of course, just because it's an election year, they're coming around with their talking points again.

Madam Speaker in the Chair But here's the problem with their talking points, Madam Speaker: All they have are lines that have been cooked up by political consultants. Meanwhile, in the real day-to-day lives, in the actual communities where Manitobans make their lives, they see the im pact of these PC cuts. There's no more emergency room there in the community where it used to be. There are fewer teachers in the school than there once was. And in issue after issue and program after pro - gram, Manitobans are paying more under the PCs and getting less. Manitobans know that they just can't trust this PC government.

Of course, we know that they're also playing politics with the im portant issue of affordability. If they wanted to do some thing on affordability, they should do it right now. Not make it an election- year announcement and then delay action until some future date. Because Manitobans know exactly which ver - sion of the PCs they'll get, should they get another term in office. It won't be this election-year PC charm offensive, it'll be the same PC gov ernment that made cuts for year after year after year. They cut health care under Brian Pallister.

They continue to cut health care under the Stefanson gov - ernment. And if you just look at the services that have been cut, I mean, it is quite a long list: CancerCare, emergency rooms, urgent care, physiotherap y. We're talking about some of the programs that Manitobans rely on. We're talking about allied health professionals without a contract. We're talking about 500 fewer nurses working at the bedside. Physicians leaving not only the Manitoba Clinic, but physicians leaving the province.

When we're talk ing about people leaving the province, let's talk about young people leaving the province: provincial outmigration higher than it's been in a generation, all because of the cuts that the PCs have made. Our approach is different. We say, let's help Manitobans right now. Let's a give a freeze on the hydro bills that people pay each and every month. Let's help Manitobans with the utility bills that keep piling up and grinding people down.

When it comes to hea lth care, why don't we empower the local leaders, cut through the PC bureaucracy and empower the local leaders in our health-care system who know the solutions at the bedside. They've spent seven years hiring out-of-province consultants, lining the bank accounts of people who work on Bay Street and who work in downtown Toronto. How about somebody who's going to stand up for the working person in Manitoba? That's what we're about, right here, on this side of the House. And all of our families have been t hrough some- thing very trying with the pandemic.

Some of our family members have borne the ultimate price. Seniors certainly experienced the tremendous impacts throughout the pandemic. But let's not forget the young people have missed out on so much: education, socialization, athletics, those bonding experiences that all of us call some of our favourite memories in life. It's our firm belief on this side of the House that we have to make this up to the young people of Manitoba. And we're just not going to get that with the chronic underfunding under the PCs.

Instead, we need to invest in our schools, and we need to do so year after year because kids aren't just going to school in election years; they're going to school each and every year. So why don't we respect educators along the way too? No one believes the PCs when it comes to health care, edu cation, affordability or these im portant issues. In fact, they don't even believe the PCs when it comes to these issues. That's why fully one third of their caucus is quitting in this election year.

In fact, not only did the Finance minister who was supposed to table this budget quit, but the new guy that they brought in, he's also quitting, too. Even the Finance Minister doesn't believe the PCs and their election year Hail Mary promises. We need a sus tainable, committed, common- sense and pragmatic approach to gov ernment in this province, and that's one that you'll get with the Manitoba NDP.

So the budget vote is a confidence vote, and I do not have confidence in this government, and we look forward to being able to put our plan in front of you, the people of Manitoba and earning your support this election year.

640 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 8, 2023 So, I move, seconded by the member for Union Station (MLA Asagwara), THAT the motion be amended by deleting all of the words after "House" and substituting: therefore regrets that this budget neglects the priorities of Manitobans by: (

a) breaking Manitobans' trust for seven years through supporting Brian Pallister and making deep cuts to health care, including closing emergency rooms, cutting cancer care and firing nurses, cutting education, including teachers and EAs, supporting and seconding bill 64 and ignoring local commu- nity voices, raising the cost of living by raising rent and hydro bills by hundreds of dollars at the Cabinet table, sending money to billionaires, as well as failing Manitobans in many other ways, while failing to be respon- sible and failing to balance the budget, despite record revenue increases, increase d federal transfers and funds from Manitoba Hydro, failing to properly address health care and also reverse cuts to roads and highways in rural and northern Manitoba, and failing to apologize for years of underspending and annual cuts, including failing to address homelessness in local communities.

As a consequence, the provincial government has thereby lost the confidence of this House and the people of Manitoba. * (15:10) Madam Speaker: It has been moved by the honour - able Leader of the Official Op position, seconded by the honourable member for Union Station, THAT the motion be amended by deleting all of the words after "House" and substituting: therefore regrets that this budget neglects the priorities of Manitobans by: (

a) breaking Manitobans' tr ust for seven years through supporting Brian Pallister and making deep cuts to health care, including closing emergency rooms, cutting cancer care and firing nurses, cutting education, including teachers and EAs, supporting and seconding bill 64 and ignoring local commu- nity voices, raising the cost of living by raising rent and hydro bills by hundreds of dollars at the Cabinet table, sending money to billionaires, as well as failing Manitobans in many other ways, while failing to be respon- sible and failin g to balance the budget, despite record revenue increases, increased federal transfers and funds from Manitoba Hydro, failing to properly address health care and also reverse cuts to roads and highways in rural and northern Manitoba, and failing to apologize for years of underspending and annual cuts, including failing to address homelessness in local communities.

As a consequence, the provincial government has thereby lost the confidence of this House and the people of Manitoba. The amendment is in order. The floor is open for debate. Hon. Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, it's an honour to rise in the Chamber today to put a few words on the record that speak to Budget 2023 and to highlight some of the excellent work our government has put forward within it. But before I begin, Madam Speaker, I do want to wish you a happy, happy International Women's Day, as well as all the women on both sides of the Chamber.

In particular, I want to pause to recognize someone who is here in the gallery today with us. Her name is Luda, and she has fled the war in Ukraine and has left her entire family behind in Ukraine and has made Manitoba her home. And so I invited her to join me here today in the gallery on International Women's Day because she is an example of someone who has persevered against a horrible situation, Madam Speaker, and has been able to come to Manitoba and resume her profession that she was involved with in Ukraine. And, again, we wish Luda and her entire family all the best.

I hope very much that you will be united with your family very soon. Happy International Women's Day. Madam Speaker, I'm proud to stand behind Budget 2023, which includes the historic invest ment of nearly $8 billion to strengthen our health- care system–an 8.8 per cent increase over last year –and $668 million of additional investments. Health care has always been a top priority of this government. The budget affirms our commit ment to health care by improving health care and making it more sustainable for all Manitobans, not just today, Madam Speaker, but in the years to come.

March 8, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 641 It is no surprise that the most im portant part of Manitoba's health-care system are the 50,000 people who work within it. That is why our gov ernment works closely w ith health -care staff, leadership, unions and post -secondary in stitutions to create a comprehensive health -human resource action plan designed to support our front lines when and where they need it most. Budget 2023 invests $200 million to retain, train and recruit 2,000 health- care staff in order to move towards ending mandated overtime.

Madam Speaker, this is the largest single health - care announcement in the history of our province, and it means more doctors, more nurses, more paramedics and m ore health –allied health pro fessionals in our system, helping to treat Manitobans.

I'm pleased to put on the record some of the robust investments that Budget 2023 has made possible: $123 million for nine nurse incentives; a new hourly premium for nurses who work weekend hours; up to $10,000 for nurses who hold the equivalent of a full - time position as this helps to build more stability in the workforce; $8.4 million to reimburse the costs of nurses' professional licensing fees; up to $10,000 for nurses who are eligible to retire but choose to remain in the workforce for up to an addi tional two years to retain valued expertise and building capacity as new nurses are recruited into the workforce.

An incentive, as well, Madam Speaker, for nurses who have previously left the profession but choose to return to the workforce–a new refer-a-nurse program for current nurses who refer a prospective nurse to a Manitoba employer; a provincial float pool to support nurse staffing needs across the province; a travel nurse incentive, which will provide an ad ditional hourly premium for nurses who travel to work in remote locations, and a wellness incentive, which adds addi - tional funds to the health spending account of full- and part-time nurses to help to cov er the cost of eligible expenses.

And then for families and pediatric physicians, we have extended billings for patient hours for their clinics. We have invested $450,000–excuse me–for physician mental health supports through the peer support program, and $5 million to implement the new emergency care services vectors to virtually sup- port patient transfers. We invested $8 million to recruit additional para- medics and have increased new physician training seats by 80: forty undergraduate physician seat s, 10 international medical graduate seats, 30 two -year postgrad medical seats for internationally educated medical students.

Madam Speaker, Budget 2023 also sees large investments in recruiting new health-care professionals to Manitoba. Shared Health and all five regional health authorities a few weeks ago completed a very success- ful nurse recruitment mission to the Philippines. The delegation had one message: Manitoba's–is a destina- tion of choice for trained health -care providers from around the world. The response was over whelmingly positive – 350 letters of intent to already-trained health-care pro- fessionals, including 190 registered nurses, 50 licensed practical nurse equivalents, and 110 health-care aides.

This significantly exceeded our goal and expectations, and I look forward to welcoming those health-care pro- fessionals into our health-care system.

Manitoba now stands as a national leader in re - cruiting internationally trained health -care pro fes- sionals, and we accomplished this by creating a wel- coming, streamlined and reasonable process that in- cludes paying for three months of ac commodation; allowing spouses and families to accompany them to the province; paying for licensing fees, immigration fees and travel costs; allowing an earn-and-learn pro- gram to integrate nurses into the system while they take any bridging courses, ensuring they have imme - diate employment.

We are also working here in Manitoba to support and invest in the internationally educated nurses who already live in our province. This includes paying $23,000 of financial aid for each internationally edu - cated nurse applicant to help with fees to obtain their licensure. It also includes working with the College of Registered Nurses to modernize their pathw ays for licensure, including the English language component. We are taking action here in Manitoba to strengthen our health system. That includes investing $130 million in funding dedicated to reducing the surgical and diag- nostic backlog.

With these substantial investments, the Diagnostic and Surgical Recovery Taskforce to date has ensured 22,335 additional Manitoba patients have received their procedures through the taskforce's request for service agreements. In the last year, we have compl eted 89,378 MRIs, 264,849 CT scans, 126 cardiac surgeries, 2,182 orthopedic hip surgeries, 2,878 orthopedic knee replacements.

642 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 8, 2023 The pandemic backlog for cataract surgery has now been fully eliminated. Madam Speaker, 15,251 com - pleted procedures. We have halved the pandemic back- log for ultrasounds from almost 4,500 procedures to under 2,000. The Maples gynecology program has pro- vided dozens of suc cessful procedures to Manitoba women. St.

Boniface general hospital has added an additional eight outpat ient cases a week and will be reducing the endoscopy backlog by 416 cases per year. * (15:20) FIT tests continue to reduce the endoscopy wait - ing list; 1,055 patients have been diverted from the waiting list, exceeding our goal of 1,000 patients for the year. Budget 2023 sees the largest health capital invest- ment in the province's history at $1.2 billion, covering expansions, renovations and new multi-year bills.

We're increasing the capacity of Manitoba's health system by investing $4.9 million for a fifth operating room at Concordia Hospital to increase orthopedic surgery capacity by 1,000 procedures a year. We are tripling the size of the St. Boniface emergency room by investing $141 million and increasing Health Sciences Centre's surgical capacity by 25 per cent with a $50-million investment in Operation Excellence.

This is the largest among these invest ments, Madam Speaker, is $812 million for the clinical pre - ventative services plan to build, expand and fix our health-care facilities in all regions of our province.

This will see 38 projects across the province funded, including $283 million for a 90 -bed new hospital in Portage la Prairie; $127 million for a 60-bed new hospital in Neepawa; $7 million to enhance and add 30 addi tional beds at the Brandon Regional Health Centre; $32 million to enhance and add 23 ad- ditional beds at Steinbach's Bethesda hospital; $64.4 million to enhance and add 24 beds at Boundary Trails; $31.6 million to enhance and add 30 additional beds at the Selkirk Regional Health Centre; $5 million for a new ER in Dauphin; $10.8 million, Madam Speaker, to enhance and add 12 additional beds at the Lakeshore General Hospital in Ashern.

Another substantial portion of Budget 2023 is the $115.6 million, the largest eve r increase in the prov - incial drug budget, so that we can continue to keep up with the rising cost of pharmaceutical treatments. I'm happy to announce that, as part of this invest- ment and for the first time in the province's history, our gov ernment wi ll be provi ding coverage for all eligible Manitobans, regardless of age, with diabetes insulin pumps and glucose monitors. This, Madam Speaker, now makes Manitoba the national leader in providing diabetes coverage.

I could go on for hours, Madam Speaker, on all of the initiatives that our gov ernment is working to - wards, but I just wanted to share some of the health highlights in Budget 2023 with the Chamber today. Our government is committed to strengthening health- care infra structure, investing in health -care pro fes- sionals and building our health human resource capa- city here in Manitoba. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Mr. Nello Altomare (Transcona): It–on this Inter - national Women's Day, I would just like to take the time to recognize the important women in my life.

I like to say thank you to my daughter Kira, who has provided support to me her entire life; my sisters Teresa and Vanda who are–have been incredible role models for my children and our family; my mother, Maria, who immigrated to this country as an 18-year- old back in 1963. Imagine that, Madam Speaker. An 18-year-old coming to a country full of passion and vigour and wanting to make a life here in Canada. And finally, I'd like to acknowledge my wife, Barb.

I would like to say tha t not only for the support, but just the in credible partner she has been these past years that we've had the–I've had the pleasure of being with her. And it means a lot to me, Madam Speaker. Now on to the budget. You know, Madam Speaker, after seven years of freezes and cuts to edu- cation, health care and other crucial gov ernment services, this House has lost con fidence in this gov - ernment. Suddenly, Madam Speaker, they're attempting to change the channel. But Manitobans won't be fooled.

Not only is this budget terrible policy, it is the feast- and-famine approach that's taken with budgeting that has really impacted the lives of everyday Manitobans. And mostly what we've been exposed to, Madam Speaker, is a famine approach. And that's not one that a complex organization like a provincial government uses to plan its fiscal policy. It flies in the face of the pragmatism of Manitobans. They expect their govern- ment to fund their services that are crucial to running this province consistently, fairly and with predict - ability–all of which has been missing these past seven years.

March 8, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 643 Madam Speaker, seven years of austerity has done considerable damage to our health-care system, public education and to our other cherished public services.

For the pub lic education system, these past seven years of PC austerity has left school divisions with impossible decisions of what to cut next, of which teaching positions to remove, number of EAs to lay off, the clinical services to reduce –or outright eliminate, in certain school divisions –and which student-support services to cancel –student-support services, Madam Speaker, that are absolutely crucial in the post-pandemic period, one where mental health supports have to be provided on the consistent and predictable basis. And we haven't seen that at all.

As a matter of fact, it's not even mentioned in the budget document. At every budget consultation for school divisions, Madam Speaker, the meetings have taken place with an air of real trepidation. Every t ime a budget chair opens up a meeting, it's about what services will be cut next, especially in this budget season. School divisions have been challenged by the ravages of inflation and the pandemic. But, Madam Speaker, what is perhaps their biggest obst acle and their biggest challenge is this particular PC gov ern- ment right here.

They haven't provided near the support that's necessary, especially after years of a pandemic. And they're feeling it right now. This PC government and this Cabinet has made decisions that have–detrimental to students, families and school divisions throughout the province. And what is most troubling, Madam Speaker, is that during the Finance Minister's speech, there was nary a mention of child poverty, nary a mention of a strategy that would begin the very important work of lifting children out of poverty in this province.

The absolute scourge of our province here in Manitoba: 20 per cent of our young people living in poverty, and nary a mention of that in the budget speech yesterday. A missed opportunity, but one that needed to be risen to as a challenge. And we never saw that. How troubling is that? And we know the impacts of poverty on children, on their families, on learning, on schools and all the other services . This is some thing that needed be risen to, and it was not, Madam Speaker. And that is troubling.

Instead, they doubled down on a terrible policy of providing cheques to billionaires and billion- dollar corporations, much of that money which will leave the province–hard-earned Manitoba tax dollars that Manitobans pay into for their cherished public services leaving the province. Gone and forgotten. Paid as dividends to shareholders that–many of which don't even live in this province, Madam Speaker. An absolutely terrible policy, and one that they've doubled down on, and really shows where their priorities are; because they certainly aren't with the people of Manitoba.

And we saw that in that docu- ment yesterday. That is truly shameful, and again a missed opportunity. * (15:30) The other glaring omission, Madam Speaker, was a plan or strategy to provide nutrition programs for every Manitoba school. Another missed oppor tunity; one that really required a gov ernment to rise to the challenge, and we didn't see that. Instead, like I said earlier, doubling down on policies that reward their friends, that reward billion- dollar corporations, that reward billionaires instead of their very own citizens here in Manitoba, and our most vulnerable in Manitoba.

Again, a missed opportunity. Doubled down on a terrible policy, and one that they need to be reminded of, because this is what Manitobans have been telling them, Madam Speaker. They have been telling them that they need to invest in public education system. They need to invest in our cherished public services that will make a difference to everyday Manitobans, not to the well-off people that leave the province for three months at a time. This is the problem with their policies. I just want to continue on nutrition programming and something that–very important here in Manitoba.

According to the Child Nutrition Council, that out of 700 schools, 325 of them have some form of nutrition program - ming, Madam Speaker. April 15th is the deadline for applications and what they're seeing is that there are 29 schools that are currently on the wait list and probably as of April 15th, they're going to see 21 more in this application cycle. So this called again for a government to rise to the chal- lenge to completely eliminate that wait list, Madam Speaker. That is some thing that most people in this province would have seen as great public policy.

To feed our kids so that they're ready to learn and to be at school. Many know that these programs act as an attraction and keep kids in school, getting them ready to be contributing members of our society later on

644 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 8, 2023 when they become adults and have jobs. This is some- thing that was missed. Madam Speaker, kids and families in our schools are presenting with more and more profound needs every day. Nutrition programs and–are especially challenged because of the inflationary pressures. Again, they needed help. They didn't get it. What they needed to hear yesterday is that their prov incial gov- ernment was going to eliminate the wait list and provide support for all the applicants to the Child Nutrition Council.

Instead, nothing from this gov ernment regarding a crucial support for kids and families. With the fund- ing for education an nouncement last month, Madam Speaker, a number of divisions have revealed that the funding allocated to them does not match increasing enrolment, let alone the soaring cost of inflation or future salary increases. Madam Speaker, the crisis of years of persistent underfunding h as wreaked havoc on our cherished public education system. School boards are left with difficult and impossible decisions: cut program ming or cut teachers or other human resources.

These are crucial human resources that are there to support our learners and families, many who are marginalized and vulnerable. This government continues to miss an oppor tun- ity to fully fund, like I said earlier, nutrition programs; to fund increased mental health supports; provide greater supports for children in care. And all of these things, by the way, Madam Speaker, that were recom- mended in the–own Department of Education's policy that was released a couple of weeks ago on childhood 'proverty'. All recom mended and not acted upon in any tangible fashion in yesterday's speech or budget.

Again, a missed opportunity. I'd like to move on to the impact of years of austerity on my own constituency. Madam Speaker, we've seen lab services that have been greatly reduced. These are lab services lets –such as blood collection and X-ray in Transcona. Back in 2019, there were three labs in Transcona that provided services of blood collection and X-ray. Right now in Transcona –in the constituency of Transcona, Madam Speaker, zero labs are remaining.

Instead, people are forced to go to a super centre, located at Regent and Lagimodiere; well outside the boundaries of Transcona and really difficult to reach with people with mobility issues; with people that then are now required, Madam Speaker, to get a ride, to get other support to make sure that they get to their diagnostic service, services that they were easily able to walk to as little as three years ago have now been completely removed. And that takes away the dignity of a person who was able to get there by themselves and now having to rely on other people to get them there.

Because not only is that location in a very busy spot, Madam Speaker, it's also exceedingly dangerous because of the volume of traffic and the inability of people to access that area without having to park further away, causing more issues for people that have mobility issues to get to that particular test. The other piece that our parti cular constituency has been impacted by is a lack of personal-care-home space. Well documented t hat in northeast Winnipeg, one of the lowest per capita areas of PCH space in the province. We had a plan; the plan was done.

Madam Speaker, 2016, we were supposed to see the expansion. What happened: the very first thing that this government did in 2 016 was cancel the expansion of Park Manor Personal Care Home. They took down the sign and they left up the sticks. And they're still there, and how insulting that was to our con stituents is still a matter of great conversation in my constituency. The other piece, of course, is the com munity IV program, which has yet to be restored.

And we all know the impacts that that have, right, because what ends up happening is that when workers are short supply, they then have to drive further, causing further delays to people, Madam Speaker, that require that service. So, after seven years, we've had consistently dif - ficult times, not only in our constituency, but also the province of Manitoba due to this particular Conservative government. And as I wrap up my remarks, Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the constituents of Transcona who continue to show their support for me, and continue to always be there when called upon.

I also want to ensure that everybody here in this House knows that on this side of the House, we will not be supporting this budget. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Hon. Wayne Ewasko (Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning): It's always an honour to stand up and put words on the record following the

March 8, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 645 doom and gloom of my friend from Transcona, Madam Speaker.

But before I get into all of that, Madam Speaker, I, as well, would like to wish you and all the great women in this great province and country of ours, a happy International Women's Day, especially to my wife, Tracey, today; my mom and my mother-in-law, Lydia [phonetic] and Sylvia [phonetic]; of course, my sisters-in-law, Monique [phonetic] and Cheryl [phonetic]; and just want to shout out to them that they are my rocks as I continue to move forward in this great honour and privilege to serve the constituents of Lac du Bonnet.

So, with that, Madam Speaker, hopefully you en- joy not only this day, but each and every day as we continue to move forward. Madam Speaker, Budget 2023: Historic Help for Manitobans. W e look outside; people of Manitoba woke up this morning to bright blue skies, thrilled with yesterday's budget. Safer streets, healing health care, stronger communities and of course, oppor tun- ities ahead. As we heard from the doom and gloom, from my friend, the member for Transcona (Mr.

Altomare), unfortunately, he didn't take a whole lot of time talking about Education and Early Childhood Learning–which I would like to congratulate him on the move into the critic role of the Early Childhood Learning section, as well–but as you noticed in his speech, he failed to mention all the good things that are going on in educa- tion and in early childhood learning. * (15:40) So, I'm going to take the few minutes that I have this afternoon to highlight a though–a lot of those key points not only that are in the budget, Madam Speaker, but are going to continue moving forward because of the hard work of not only myself and my great depart- ment, but my predecessors, as well, who have served in this role f or Early Child hood Education plus, of course, Education in its entirety.

Madam Speaker, $100- million increase in the K-to-12 system for schools –announcement demon - strating our ongoing commitment getting the best out- comes and supporting the over 200,000 students in our K-to-12 system, which is a 6.1 per cent increase. This is the largest–some might say astronomical –increase since over–well over 25 years. And this is building upon the historic investments that have–that we have been doing in education year after year after year since we formed government.

The problem that my friend, the member from Transcona, who is a teacher himself –part of the pro- blem is, is that he's–doesn't want to give credit where credit is due, Madam Speaker. The fact is, is that the former NDP government actually took our students in Manitoba from third in numeracy and literacy and then–in 2003, and then they added science shortly thereafter–they took those students to dead last. Dead last; 10th in all three categor ies, and further behind ninth each and every year. The member from Transcona doesn't want to stand up and talk about their record.

Well, Madam Speaker, Manitobans do not want to go back to the dark days of the NDP, where the – where they underfunded education and they did not get the results that parents and guardians and kids deserved. We on this side of the House came forward with the K -to-12 com mission, where well over 30,000 Manitobans chimed in. Then we came forward with the K-to-12 action plan; Mamàhtawisiwin, which talks about Indigenous inclusion in education. Did the NDP ever have any plans, Madam Speaker? Absolutely not. No plans. They were fine with the old status quo.

And so, today, I'm also going to highlight some additional things that we're doing. So, what did we do on top of the $100 million, Madam Speaker? We also annualized the $106 million which we brought forward last year in Education. This is something that the K -to-12 system has asked for. They want to see that annualized funding continue to move on and on and on. [interjection] And I hear the member from Transcona talking from his seat, but he decided to sit down a little early, Madam Speaker, so, unfor tunately, he didn't use his time wisely.

So, at this time, what we know is that those funding–that funding that we have provided the K-to-12 system, Madam Speaker, are going to be used in operating their school divisions, but also increasing their special needs budgets, as well. Matter of fact, in the last three y ears, we have increased special needs funding to the tune of $17 million above the operating grants. So, I don't know how the member from Transcona will, once again, stand in his place and vote against investments in our kids' future, Madam Speaker. It is absolutely–it's frustrating and it's disheartening, but I

646 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 8, 2023 know–deep down–the member from Transcona has a heart of gold, and he will see the–see those blue skies outside in Manitoba, and he might even try to turn around his team's mentality over there on the NDP side. But I've got a story about his teammates over there in a short–a little bit of time. So, also in this budget: $260 million in capital funding for school divisions, 'whilch' will help achieve our promises of building 20 new schools across the province by 2027, Madam Speaker. Well, this can't be done one –by one individual by them - selves, of course.

With the strong backing and the hard work of our Premier (Mrs. Stefanson), the MLA for Tuxedo, plus the hard work of the–my good friend and colleague, the member from Brandon West, as well, who put in a lot of time and effort into making sure that we can get these promises done on time– An Honourable Member: Ahead of time. Mr. Ewasko: –ahead of time–and probably, no doubt, on budget, Madam Speaker, which is very important, which I know is a myth, a mystery to those that are on the NDP side. They don't know nothing about any type of budgeting and bringing in anything either at budget or under budget.

So, in addition to that, we incre ased annualized funding–funding for the elders and knowledge keep- ers in schools, bringing a program which brings it to a total of $2.2 million. This program helps students feel more welcome in the classroom by giving them the cultural supports they need. I know the member from Transcona talked about nutrition. I had the pleasure of being part of an an- nouncement with my friend and colleague, who is now the Minister of Advanced Education, that saw the government's con tribution to the Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba. We more than doubled their funding.

It was originated in 2006 under the NDP. The NDP felt that they would put in $1.2 million. They froze that amount for years and years and years and years. And today, the member from Transcona stands up and says, they want to see funding for nutrition. Well, we're getting it done, Madam Speaker. We more than doubled the funding to Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba to a tune of 2.5 total –2.5 million total dollars. So, of course, we've got $1.4 m illion to support the imple mentation of our new prov incial student information system that provides data on Manitoba students with an overall investment of $3 million.

As announced in the Throne Speech, we will be creating an independent oversight body to handle teacher misconduct. Budget 2023 earmarks $1.4 million to help to implement this change and will help keep our students safe. Madam Speaker, a lot of the things that we've been doing on this side of the gov ernment had been shining a spotlight on those unfor tunate situations, with adults dealing with our students. And whether that's through sports or just each- and-every-day conduct, we know that there was many stories brought up from the early 2000s and now are coming to a light. We're shining a light.

We're educating Manitobans. We're educating parents and guardians. We're educating students. We're educating all Manitobans to make sure that this is a reality and that we're all aware of what's happening. Matter of fact, I took it upon myself and my good friend, the MLA for Southdale– An Honourable Member: No, Lagimodière. Mr. Ewasko: For Lagimodière, yes.

And actually, the good work of the –of my friend and colleague from the–the MLA for Southdale as well, took it upon ourselves to actually invite the MLA for Transcona to participate because I know personally that he is an educator himself, so I invited him to our office to share some of his wisdom in how we can better protect kids, and, unfortunately, his colleagues, the wannabe leader of the NDP, the member for St. James (Mr. Sala) and the member from St. Vital had actually asked for a meeting, but they didn't include the member from Transcona.

I don't quite understand why they would not include an educator within their own caucus, Madam Speaker. But you know what, I took it upon myself because I really strongly feel that protecting kids is a non-partisan issue, and so we felt that it is very important to invite the member for Transcona (Mr. Altomare) in to have those conversations. [interjection] There's no team on the NDP side. Madam Speaker, investing in ac cessible, high- quality, affordable early learning and child care. January of 2022, the Premier (Mrs.

Stefanson) had amalgamated the K-to-12 system with the early child- hood learning sector, and I thought that was an incred- ible, incredible move and helps with the transitions of our students, our kids, from zero to the ages of 18, 19, and I know that we have made leaps and bounds – moves–in order to make sure that that early childhood

March 8, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 647 learning sector is feeling valued and honoured because each and every day, they work hard. And, really, Manitoba can't work unless child care works, so we, on this side of the House, are working hard to make sure that we're increasing spaces; we're increasing wages; we're doing many things to make sure that we're retaining and training; and, of course, we're keeping those child-care fees more than afford- able, Madam Speaker.

We're actually making sure that the allocated –we've allocated –$75 million had been allocated for reducing parent fees, three years ahead of schedule, to $10 a day for a regular day of child care for all licensed, funded spaces in centres and homes in this great province of ours. * (15:50) In 2023, we included $250 million where we were advancing acces sible, high -quality and affordable early learning and child care, Madam Speaker. We are making sure that we're recruiting and retaining ECEs and encouraging CCAs to carry on and get their training and become ECEs. So wha t have we done?

We've increased the tuition rebates of $5,000 per student per year of education, so they can upskill and stay in the early child hood education field. A great initiative, and I know that it's going to continue for years and years and years, because we are provi ding sustainable funding. Oh, Madam Speaker, just to let you know, the partnerships with our education partners –not only in municipal, not only prov incial, but also federal, and that's one thing that I know that the earl y childhood education child -care sector was screaming for well over 20 years. Why?

Because the former NDP gov ernment had no idea of partnering. They didn't want to get together and talk to the grassroots individuals who are provi - ding these cares –this care to our most precious re - sources. We've taken it upon ourselves to make sure that the doors are open. We're listening, we're learn - ing, we're making things better, not only for the child- care providers, Madam Speaker, the sector, but also making sur e that those parents and guardians are seeing more and more affordable, high- quality care right here in this great province of ours.

Madam Speaker, I also want to talk about a couple other partnerships that we are having. We're having partnerships with municipalities and rural and northern Manitoba. We have announced within the last couple months–and, actually, within the last few weeks–23 new child-care centres that we're partnering with municipalities to bring almost 1,700 brand- new child-care spaces right here to Manitoba, all across this great province.

And, in addition, what we're doing is we've also– increasing the wages for child-care assistants and early childhood educators in 2023, building on already the increases that we've increased from 2022. Work is also under way, Madam Speaker, to work closely–something that was a mystery to those on the NDP side–work closely with our post-secondary insti- tutions to be able to offer more training, recruitment and retention oppor tunities to the ELCC workforce strategy. With those few words, Madam Speaker, I am definitely going to be supporting Budget 2023.

This provides historic investments for Manitobans that has been long overdue, far past any numbers that the NDP ever, ever did, whilst we're keeping the amount of deficit at bay. We've also prom

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Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	42-5-24
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	42nd 5th hansardpdf 24.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	338358ad22daac9cd3790c69bd3f32a97bc0cc89

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