Alberta Hansard — 7 April 2014, Afternoon sitting (13:30) (Legislature 28, Session 2)

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Alberta — Debates (Hansard)

Province of Alberta The 28th Legislature Second Session Alberta Hansard Monday, April 7, 2014 Issue 13 The Honourable Gene Zwozdesky, Speaker

Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 28th Legislature Second Session Zwozdesky, Hon. Gene, Edmonton-Mill Creek (PC), Speaker Rogers, George, Leduc-Beaumont (PC), Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees Jablonski, Mary Anne, Red Deer-North (PC), Deputy Chair of Committees Allen, Mike, Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo (Ind) Amery, Moe, Calgary-East (PC) Anderson, Rob, Airdrie (W), Official Opposition House Leader Anglin, Joe, Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre (

W) Barnes, Drew, Cypress-Medicine Hat (

W) Bhardwaj, Hon. Naresh, Edmonton-Ellerslie (PC) Bhullar, Hon. Manmeet Singh, Calgary-Greenway (PC) Bikman, Gary, Cardston-Taber-Warner (

W) Bilous, Deron, Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview (ND) Blakeman, Laurie, Edmonton-Centre (AL), Liberal Opposition House Leader Brown, Dr. Neil, QC, Calgary-Mackay-Nose Hill (PC) Calahasen, Pearl, Lesser Slave Lake (PC) Campbell, Hon. Robin, West Yellowhead (PC), Government House Leader Cao, Wayne C.N., Calgary-Fort (PC) Casey, Ron, Banff-Cochrane (PC) Cusanelli, Christine, Calgary-Currie (PC) Dallas, Hon. Cal, Red Deer-South (PC) DeLong, Alana, Calgary-Bow (PC) Denis, Hon. Jonathan, QC, Calgary-Acadia (PC), Deputy Government House Leader Donovan, Ian, Little Bow (

W) Dorward, David C., Edmonton-Gold Bar (PC), Deputy Government Whip Drysdale, Hon. Wayne, Grande Prairie-Wapiti (PC) Eggen, David, Edmonton-Calder (ND), New Democrat Opposition Whip Fawcett, Hon. Kyle, Calgary-Klein (PC) Fenske, Jacquie, Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville (PC) Forsyth, Heather, Calgary-Fish Creek (

W) Fox, Rodney M., Lacombe-Ponoka (

W) Fraser, Hon. Rick, Calgary-South East (PC) Fritz, Yvonne, Calgary-Cross (PC) Goudreau, Hector G., Dunvegan-Central Peace-Notley (PC) Griffiths, Hon. Doug, Battle River-Wainwright (PC) Hale, Jason W., Strathmore-Brooks (

W) Hancock, Hon. Dave, QC, Edmonton-Whitemud (PC), Premier Hehr, Kent, Calgary-Buffalo (AL) Horne, Hon. Fred, Edmonton-Rutherford (PC) Horner, Hon. Doug, Spruce Grove-St. Albert (PC) Hughes, Ken, Calgary-West (PC) Jansen, Hon. Sandra, Calgary-North West (PC) Jeneroux, Matt, Edmonton-South West (PC) Johnson, Hon. Jeff, Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater (PC) Johnson, Linda, Calgary-Glenmore (PC) Kang, Darshan S., Calgary-McCall (AL), Liberal Opposition Whip Kennedy-Glans, Donna, QC, Calgary-Varsity (Ind) Khan, Stephen, St. Albert (PC) Klimchuk, Hon.

Heather, Edmonton-Glenora (PC) Kubinec, Maureen, Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock (PC) Lemke, Ken, Stony Plain (PC) Leskiw, Genia, Bonnyville-Cold Lake (PC) Luan, Jason, Calgary-Hawkwood (PC) Lukaszuk, Hon. Thomas A., Edmonton-Castle Downs (PC) Mason, Brian, Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood (ND), Leader of the New Democrat Opposition McAllister, Bruce, Chestermere-Rocky View (

W) McDonald, Everett, Grande Prairie-Smoky (PC) McIver, Hon. Ric, Calgary-Hays (PC) McQueen, Hon. Diana, Drayton Valley-Devon (PC) Notley, Rachel, Edmonton-Strathcona (ND), New Democrat Opposition House Leader Oberle, Hon. Frank, Peace River (PC), Deputy Government House Leader Olesen, Cathy, Sherwood Park (PC) Olson, Hon. Verlyn, QC, Wetaskiwin-Camrose (PC), Deputy Government House Leader Pastoor, Bridget Brennan, Lethbridge-East (PC) Pedersen, Blake, Medicine Hat (

W) Quadri, Sohail, Edmonton-Mill Woods (PC) Quest, Hon. Dave, Strathcona-Sherwood Park (PC) Redford, Alison M., QC, Calgary-Elbow (PC) Rodney, Hon. Dave, Calgary-Lougheed (PC) Rowe, Bruce, Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills (

W) Sandhu, Peter, Edmonton-Manning (PC) Sarich, Janice, Edmonton-Decore (PC) Saskiw, Shayne, Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills (W), Official Opposition Whip Scott, Hon. Donald, QC, Fort McMurray-Conklin (PC) Sherman, Dr. Raj, Edmonton-Meadowlark (AL), Leader of the Liberal Opposition Smith, Danielle, Highwood (W), Leader of the Official Opposition Starke, Hon. Dr. Richard, Vermilion-Lloydminster (PC) Stier, Pat, Livingstone-Macleod (

W) Strankman, Rick, Drumheller-Stettler (

W) Swann, Dr. David, Calgary-Mountain View (AL) Towle, Kerry, Innisfail-Sylvan Lake (W), Official Opposition Deputy Whip VanderBurg, George, Whitecourt-Ste. Anne (PC), Government Whip Weadick, Hon. Greg, Lethbridge-West (PC) Webber, Len, Calgary-Foothills (Ind) Wilson, Jeff, Calgary-Shaw (W), Official Opposition Deputy House Leader Woo-Paw, Hon.

Teresa, Calgary-Northern Hills (PC) Xiao, David H., Edmonton-McClung (PC) Young, Steve, Edmonton-Riverview (PC) Party standings: Progressive Conservative: 58 Wildrose: 17 Alberta Liberal: 5 New Democrat: 4 Independent: 3 Officers and Officials of the Legislative Assembly W.J. David McNeil, Clerk Robert H.

Reynolds, QC, Law Clerk/ Director of Interparliamentary Relations Shannon Dean, Senior Parliamentary Counsel/Director of House Services Stephanie LeBlanc, Parliamentary Counsel and Legal Research Officer Fiona Vance, Sessional Parliamentary Counsel Nancy Robert, Research Officer Philip Massolin, Manager of Research Services Brian G. Hodgson, Sergeant-at-Arms Chris Caughell, Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Gordon H. Munk, Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Janet Schwegel, Managing Editor of Alberta Hansard

Executive Council Dave Hancock Premier, President of Executive Council, Minister of Innovation and Advanced Education Naresh Bhardwaj Associate Minister – Services for Persons with Disabilities Manmeet Singh Bhullar Minister of Human Services Robin Campbell Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Cal Dallas Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations Jonathan Denis Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Wayne Drysdale Minister of Transportation Kyle Fawcett Associate Minister – Recovery and Reconstruction for Southwest Alberta Rick Fraser Associate Minister – Public Safety Associate Minister – Recovery and Reconstruction for High River Doug Griffiths Minister of Service Alberta Fred Horne Minister of Health Doug Horner President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance Sandra Jansen Associate Minister – Family and Community Safety Jeff Johnson Minister of Education, Ministerial Liaison to the Canadian Forces Heather Klimchuk Minister of Culture Thomas Lukaszuk Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour Ric McIver Minister of Infrastructure Diana McQueen Minister of Energy Frank Oberle Minister of Aboriginal Relations Verlyn Olson Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Dave Quest Associate Minister – Seniors Dave Rodney Associate Minister – Wellness Donald Scott Associate Minister – Accountability, Transparency and Transformation Richard Starke Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation Greg Weadick Associate Minister – Recovery and Reconstruction for Southeast Alberta Teresa Woo-Paw Associate Minister – International and Intergovernmental Relations

STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future Chair: Mr. Amery Deputy Chair: Mr. Fox Dorward Eggen Hehr Kubinec Lemke Luan McDonald Pastoor Quadri Rogers Rowe Sarich Stier Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund Chair: Mr. Casey Deputy Chair: Mrs. Jablonski Amery Barnes Dorward Eggen Khan Sandhu Sherman Select Special Ethics Commissioner Search Committee Chair: Mr. Rogers Deputy Chair: Mr.

Quadri Blakeman Eggen Goudreau Lemke Leskiw McDonald Saskiw Standing Committee on Families and Communities Chair: Ms Olesen Deputy Chair: Mrs. Forsyth Cusanelli DeLong Fenske Fritz Jablonski Jeneroux Leskiw McAllister Notley Pedersen Sandhu Swann VanderBurg Standing Committee on Legislative Offices Chair: Mr. Jeneroux Deputy Chair: Mr. McDonald Bikman Blakeman Brown DeLong Eggen Leskiw Quadri Wilson Young Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services Chair: Mr. Zwozdesky Deputy Chair: Mr. VanderBurg Casey Forsyth Fritz Johnson, L.

Kubinec Mason McDonald Sherman Towle Standing Committee on Private Bills Chair: Mr. Xiao Deputy Chair: Mrs. Leskiw Allen Brown Cusanelli DeLong Fenske Fritz Jablonski Notley Olesen Rowe Stier Strankman Swann Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing Chair: Ms Kubinec Deputy Chair: Mr. Rogers Calahasen Casey Kang Khan Luan Notley Olesen Pastoor Pedersen Saskiw VanderBurg Wilson Young Standing Committee on Public Accounts Chair: Mr. Anderson Deputy Chair: Mr.

Dorward Allen Amery Barnes Bilous Donovan Fenske Hehr Khan Luan Pastoor Sandhu Sarich Young Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship Chair: Mr. Khan Deputy Chair: Mr. Anglin Allen Bikman Bilous Blakeman Brown Calahasen Casey Goudreau Hale Johnson, L. Webber Xiao Young

April 7, 2014 Alberta Hansard 333 Legislative Assembly of Alberta Title: Monday, April 7, 2014 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Monday, April 7, 2014 [The Speaker in the chair] head: Prayers The Speaker: Hon. members, let us pray. O gracious God, help us in our daily duties and guide us with Your wisdom. Remind us to not be judgmental of others, and help us to be understanding of those who may differ from us in cause and purpose. Amen. Hon. members, please remain standing for the singing of our national anthem now and remain standing after it’s over for an additional tribute. Mr. Robert Clark, will you lead us, please? Hon.

Members: O Canada, our home and native land! True patriot love in all thy sons command. With glowing hearts we see thee rise, The True North strong and free! From far and wide, O Canada, We stand on guard for thee. God keep our land glorious and free! O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. Mr. Jonathan Joseph Lord December 29, 1956, to March 26, 2014 The Speaker: Hon. members, as is our custom, we pay tribute on our first day to members and former members of this Assembly who have passed away since we last met. Today we honour and respect Mr. Jonathan Joseph Lord. Mr.

Jon Lord served this Assembly as the Member for Calgary- Currie for one term, from 2001 to 2004. Mr. Lord came from a background of enterprising acti on and spirit. He was an entrepreneur who carved out his future first through business and community and then as a two-term alderman for the city of Calgary from 1995 to 2001. As a Member of this Legislative Assembly Mr. Lord served on numerous committees. In the House he was a vocal proponent of the disadvantaged, a promoter of energy efficiency, and a champion for small business.

He la boured tirelessly on behalf of his constituents and his family, and he never stopped contributing to the betterment of his community. Many of us had the honour of serving with him. That means something very special to each of us. In a moment of silent prayer let us bow our heads and remember Mr. Jon Lord as we may have known him. O Lord, grant unto him eternal rest, and let light perpetual shine upon him. Amen. Hon. members, with our admiration and respect there is gratitude that we pay to members of the families who share the burdens of public office and public service.

Today I would like to welcome some very special members of the Lord family who are present in the Speaker’s gallery . I will introduce them one at a time.

Perhaps they could signal their presence to us with a hand wave, and then we can applaud and thank them all for having been part of Jon’s life and, in turn, part of our history: Jon’s partner, Sheryl Guillaume, of Calgary; Jon’s youngest daughter, Jessica Eren, of Calgary; Jon’s son-in-law Deniz Eren of Calgary; Jon’s grandson Altan Eren of Calgary; Jon’s sister Judy Brown of Edmonton; Jon’s brother Dennis Brown of Edmonton; and Sheryl’s daughter-in-law, Tanya Morey, of Calgary.

Unfortunately, Jon’s other daughters – Mandy, Michelle, and Katie – were not able to be with us here today, but our thoughts and prayers are also with them. To the Lord family we say thank you, and now we pay our respects through our applause for Mr. Jon Lord. [applause] Please be seated. head: Statement by the Speaker Welcome to the Premier The Speaker: Hon. members, I beg your indulgence just before we go on with the introduction of visitors to make a brief statement. In this respect I would ask that you please hold any applause that you might wish to offer until I have concluded my comments.

I want to take a moment to officially welcome Alberta’s 15th Premier, the hon. Member for Edmonton-Whitemud. First elected to this Assembly in 1997, the hon. me mber has served as Minister of Federal and Intergovernmental Affa irs, Minister of Intergovern- mental and Aboriginal Affairs, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Minister of Advanced Education, Minister of Health and Wellness, Minister of Education, Minister of Human Services, and is currently serving as Minister of Innovation and Advanced Education.

He has also held the role of Government House Leader or Deputy Government House Leader in 16 out of the 17 years that he has served in this Assembly. On behalf of all Members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta I welcome the first Premier of Alberta to be born in the Northwest Territories. He is now Alberta’s 15th Premier. Please join me in welcoming the hon. Member for Edmonton-Whitemud, Mr. Premier. [Standing ovation] On that note, I’d ask the hon. Premier to make his first introduction. 1:40 head: Introduction of Visitors Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr.

Speaker, and thank you for those kind remarks and to all of my colleagues in the House for the warmth that we will have for at least the next minute in this role. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce to you and through you to members of the Assembly a group of leaders from our First Nations and Métis communities that are with us here today. They’re sitting in your gallery, and I’d ask that they stand as I read their names.

From the Truth and Reconciliation Commission we have Commissioner Marie Wilson; Education Day co-ordinator Charlene Bearhead; president of the Métis Nation of Alberta Association, Audrey Poitras; and the Assembly of First Nations regional vice- chief, Cameron Alexis. In a few moments I’ll be speaking about the Truth and Reconciliation Commissi on events that took place recently here in Edmonton.

I’m grateful for our guests’ attendance here today and, through them, for all the work that was done by the leadership of the commission and by the commissioners and by all those who acted on their behalf to ensure that we had the event that we had to really discuss an issue of prime importance to Albertans and Canadians. Mr. Speaker, I’d ask all members to join me in thanking these dedicated individuals and the individuals they represent for the countless hours of work that they do for our community and for our people. Please give them the traditional warm welcome of the House. [Standing ovation]

334 Alberta Hansard April 7, 2014 The Speaker: Welcome. The hon. Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations. Mr. Dallas: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to introduce to you and through you to the members of this Assembly His Excellency Pisan Manawapat, who is the ambassador of Thailand. Welcome also to Mr. Narong Boonsatheanwong, minister -counsellor from the Royal Thai Embassy in Ottawa, and Mr. Yothin Tongpenyai, president of Thailand’s petroleum exploration and production company in Canada. Our province is home to a very active community of more than 1,000 Albertans of Thai descent.

Ambassador Manawapat’s visit is a great opportunity for us to tell Alberta’s story as well as explore new areas of co -operation in a variety of sectors. Our esteemed guests are seated in the Speaker’s gallery. I’d now ask th at they please rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this House. head: Introduction of Guests The Speaker: Let us begin with school groups. The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre, followed by Edmonton-Gold Bar. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I don’t have the notes with me, but I believe I’m introducing a group from the fabulous constituency of Edmonton-Centre, the careers-in-training program from NorQuest College, I think. Forgive me if I’m mumbling my way th rough your introduction. I know that you students always work really hard and have lots to bring forward. If you’re with us in either gallery, please rise so that we may give you an appropriate welcome. The Speaker: Your second introduction, please. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much. It’s very kind of you to allow me to do a second introduction.

Again, I can’t see him, but I am sure that Mickey Wilson is with us in one of the two galleries. I’ve known Mickey for a very long time. We have marched together and sang and danced together a little bit and stood watch and supported each other through a lot. I was at his wedding. He is now the executive director of the Pride Centre. He’s here today to witness the passage – she said hopefully – of my colleague’s Motion 503, which is to establish gay -straight alliances in schools if students so wish. Mickey, I hope you’re with us now. There he is. Please rise and accept our warm welcome. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar , followed by Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood. Mr. Dorward: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to rise and introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly 35 bright young grade 6 students from my wife Janice’s alma mater, Forest Heights elementary school, who are here today. These students will be attending School at the Legislature this week, and it’s my hope that they gain a positive and constructive understanding of the Legislature. The students are accompanied by their teacher, Marion Fritz, and a volunteer from Kassel, Germany, Christin Noll.

I would now ask that they please rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands - Norwood, followed by Edmonton-Calder. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I ha ve two introductions today. The first is 33 bright and energetic students from Delton elementary school. They are accompanied by Mr. Rodney Corkum and Mrs. Dao Haddad, their teachers. I would like to welcome them to the Assembly and ask them to please rise and receive the warm traditional welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The second introduction, please. Mr.

Mason: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to rise and introduce to you two new members of our caucus staff. Sean Steels is a sessional communicat ions officer. He attended the Grant MacEwan public relations program and most recently worked as a co -ordinator with the Works Art & Design Festival here in Edmonton. Chris Fulmer has recently joined us as a sessional research assistant. Chris has a bachelor of arts in political science from the University of Alberta.

He’s contributed to numerous political campaigns and is very excited to be working on the front lines helping to keep the government accountable and working towards a better and more inclusive Alberta. I would now like to ask Chris and Sean to rise and receive the warm traditional welcome of the Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Calder. Mr. Eggen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m very pleased to introduce to you and through you t o everyone here in the Assembly 58 members of St. Edmund school. They are accompanied by Miss Dawn Miskew, Ms Christina Fielden, and Ms Karen Butt. St.

Edmund school has the athletic program. I was just there recently, and I’m very pleased to have them her e to receive the warm traditional welcome of the Assembly. The Speaker: Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House -Sundre, your guests will arrive later, so let us move on, then, to the Premier, who has an introduction. Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’m plea sed to introduce to you and through you to the Assembly a group of very dedicated and passionate student leaders. The Council of Alberta University Students now represents more than 100,000 students.

CAUS recently added the student associations from Mount Royal University and from MacEwan University to its membership. For the next four days these leaders will be in the Legislature discussing key issues with a number of MLAs. This is their advocacy week. Within just a few minutes of meeting this group, you will realize that Alberta’s future is incredibly bright thanks to the talented and dedicated young men and women who make up the organization. Mr.

Speaker, I’d like to introduce to you from the University of Alberta Adam Woods, Petros Kusmu, Navneet Khinda , and William Lau; from the University of Calgary Raphael Jacob, Jarett Henry, and Levi Nilson; from the University of Lethbridge Shuna Talbot and Sean Glydon; from Mount Royal University Missy Chareka and Mr. Erik Queenan; from MacEwan Cam McCoy, Ryan Rot h, and Ray Khan; and, last but not least, the council’s support staff, Beverly Eastham. These students have been advocating on behalf of students from the universities across this province. They do incredible work.

Some of them are now retiring – their terms are up – and others are just coming into their terms. I’d ask the House to thank them for the work done, thank them for the work they will do, and give them the incredible warm welcome of the House. The Speaker: The hon. leader of the Liberal opposition.

April 7, 2014 Alberta Hansard 335 Dr. Sherman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to introduce to you and through you to all members of this Assembly Dr. Allison Sweeney and Dr. John Webb, who specialize in rural family medicine and genetic medicine, respectively. They are here today with the Pr ofessional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta, or PARA, to advocate for increased vaccinations for all Albertans. Vaccination is one of the single most effective ways a person can protect their health, that of their family, their workplace, and their community.

I would ask all members of the Assembly to please help PARA in accomplishing this important public health goal by resourcing public health and vaccination programs. I would ask Dr. Sweeney and Dr. Webb to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. The Speaker: Hon. members, the clock suggests that we ought to be moving to question period, but I have a request from the hon. Government House Leader. Mr. Campbell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’d request unanimous consent to wai ve 7(1.1) and delay Oral Question Period until the ministerial statement and all replies are concluded. 1:50 The Speaker: Hon. members, the Government House Leader has requested that we waive Standing Order 7(1.1) so that question period would begin after Ministerial Statements is completed. It’s my understanding that the opposition members have been apprised of the ministerial statement that may be forthcoming, and so, too, have private or independent members. [Unanimous consent granted] The Speaker: We have another eight or nine introductions.

Do you wish to do those first, hon. members? We could finish those up? Okay. Well, let’s finish those up, then, and please be quick so we can move on with Ministerial Statements. The hon. Member for Edmonton- Mill Woods, followed by Red Deer-North. Mr. Quadri: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure to rise today and introduce to you and through you to all members of this Assembly my dear friend Mr. Kashmir Gill. Mr. Kashmir Gill is a professional engineer who works as the regional director of the National Research Council of Canada’s industrial research assistance program.

This program provides technical and business innovation services to mid-sized Canadian companies. Mr. Gill is a very active community volunteer in the community at large. One of his outstanding achievements is to raise money for projects like the Guru Nanak Dev healing garden centre at the University of Alberta hospital. I will ask Mr. Gill to rise and receive the warm traditional welcome of this House. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Red Deer -North, followed by Lacombe-Ponoka. Mrs. Jablonski: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Today it’s my pleasure to rise to introduce to you and through you to all members of this Assembly a number of persons who are here to support Bill 203 in second reading. They are Dr.

Gordon Hensel, the registrar for the Alberta College of Optometrists; Bettylyn Baker, a teacher who is very concerned about children with visual impediments to learning; Diane Bergeron, who is the CNIB national director, government relations and advocacy; Lui Greco, who is with the CNIB – he’s the Alberta-Northwest Territories director, government relations and advocacy – John McDonald from the CNIB, the Alberta-Northwest Territories executive director and regional vice-president; Megan Kompf, the CNIB Alberta -Northwest Territories regional manager; Jul ia Roy from the Alberta Society for the Visually Impaired; Marc Workman, CNIB national manager for consumer advocacy; and Jung -Suk Ryu, manager, communications, CNIB Alberta and Northwest Territories.

They are seated in the members’ gallery. They’re all here to support Bill 203 and to hear second reading. I would ask them all to rise now to receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Lacombe-Ponoka , followed by Calgary-Buffalo. Mr. Fox: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’ s an honour to rise and introduce to you and through you to all members of this Assembly Nicholas Burris. Nick is a resident of the Lacombe-Ponoka constituency and has a very keen interest in global politics.

He has recently moved to Lacombe from Melbourne , Australia, looking to retrace his father’s roots. Nick, please rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Buffalo, followed by the Associate Minister of Wellness. Mr. Hehr: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure to introduce to you and through you to, in fact, all members of this Assembly Dr. Kris Wells of the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services at the University of Alberta. Dr.

Wells is a tremendous advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and queer youth in this province and throughout the country. I’m proud to have him as my guest on the day we debate a motion and, hopefully, pass that motion designed to continue the good work of making things better for LGBTQ kid s today. I would ask Kris to please rise and receive the warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Associate Minister of Wellness. Mr. Rodney: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today is World Health Day, and April 6 to 12 is Dental Hygienist Week.

In recognition of this, we have some very special guests from the college of dental hygienists and the Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta. Dental hygienists play a crucial role in promoting preventative health measures and wellness, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them sincerely for all of their hard work and dedication. Not everyone can do what they do. PARA is here for the annual resident physicians in the Legislature day.

Of course, they are continuing to build relationships with their elected representatives, as discussed, and also discussing many items of health policy. I had the opportunity to meet with all of the intelligent, enthusiastic members of PARA earlier today, and I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, that with these physicians leading our health care system, I know our medical future is in great hands. At this point I would like to ask not only Dr.

Allison Sweeney, PARA vice -president of leadership and education, but also Ms Gerry Cool, past president of the Colle ge of Registered Dental Hygienists of Alberta and the Alberta director for the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association, to please rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: Hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands -Norwood, you al ready did your introduction, or do you have a third introduction? You’re done? Thank you.

336 Alberta Hansard April 7, 2014 Edmonton-Meadowlark, you’re finished with your introductions, and, Edmonton-Centre, you’ve completed yours as well. Is that correct? It’s just that I have you listed further here. head: Ministerial Statements The Speaker: The hon. Premier and Minister of Innovation and Advanced Education. Truth and Reconciliation Commission National Event Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a great privilege for me to rise today to recognize the Truth and Reconciliation Commission having held its seventh and final national event in the city of Edmonton from March 27 to 30.

Four years ago the Truth and Reconciliation Commission held its first national event in the city of Winnipe g, the city with then the largest urban aboriginal population in the country. It was fitting that the final national event should take place here as Edmonton has the second -highest aboriginal population in the country and growing. Indian residential schools operated in our country for 130 years, and approximately 150,000 children attended those schools.

In Alberta there were 25 Indian residential schools, the most in any province or territory, and today there are 12,000 survivors in Alberta, the second-highest number in Canada. Over the four days of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission gathering over 400 residential school survivors related their experiences at those schools and the profound impact on the lives of themselves, their families, and their co mmunities. Parental, family, and cultural breakdown led to profound emotional and spiritual consequences for generations of children.

Over the four days that I was able to attend, I was touched to hear the experiences of the survivors and am still in awe of the courage they displayed by sharing such personal experiences. It was heartwarming to be there with the record number of Albertans and western Canadians in attendance at the commission gathering. I was so pleased also to see so many community leaders attending. I commend Alberta ministers and MLAs who attended the national event, and I would specifically reference the Member for Lesser Slave Lake, who was an honorary listener during the event.

We were all there to learn and to listen, to understand thi s part of our history better. I’d also like to thank Mayor Naheed Nenshi of Calgary and Mayor Don Iveson of Edmonton as well as the mayor of Wetaskiwin, Bill Elliot, for providing a declaration of a year of reconciliation. We look forward to working with t hem as to how that year of reconciliation can make a difference in our relationships and our results. Part of the work of the commission, Mr.

Speaker, is to help people understand the history of Indian residential schools and to engage Canadians in conversations and expressions of reconciliation about those schools and about the people who were affected. The history of Indian residential schools is not solely an aboriginal history. It is a shared history. It is our history. It was a proud moment when the Minister of Aboriginal Relations announced to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission how Alberta will move forward through our expression of reconciliation.

The Minister of Education is leading some bold work for the provincial kindergarten to grade 12 curriculum to include enhanced mandatory content for all Alberta students on the significance of residential schools and treaties.

The government of Alberta commits to continuing work on professional development so that teachers learn about the history and legacy of the residential schools and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples and are better prepared to meet the needs of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children and youth. 2:00 The public national events for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission may have concluded, but the work, Mr. Speaker, continues. We have an opportunity to write a new

chapter in our relationship with aboriginal people, a

chapter with a richer and fuller understanding of their experiences and the contributions that aboriginal people make to our province. Indeed, the history of aboriginal people in Alberta is our history. It’s an essential part of our history, and the future of aboriginal people in this province is our future. Alberta will continue to build its relationship with aboriginal people to ensure that First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people have every advantage to benefit from Alberta’s tremendous economy and great quality of life.

Aboriginal people in Alberta deserve to have the same socioeconomic status as all other Albertans, and we are committed to that happening. The Speaker: Sorry; Edmonton-Centre? Ms Blakeman: I was rising to ask for the unanimous consent of the members of the Assembly to allow the other opposition leaders and individual members to speak after the Lead er of the Official Opposition. The Speaker: Hon. members, a request has been put forward.

It requires unanimous consent for the leaders of the third and fourth parties to offer their remarks on this subject right after the Official Opposition House Leader has spoken. [Unanimous consent granted] The Speaker: Let us move on in the meantime with the Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition for her remarks. Ms Smith: Thank you, Premier, for your statement. The final national Truth and Reconciliation Commission event in Edmonton saw 3,243 survivors registered, 402 statements gathered, and 30,120 live video streams broadcast to 36 countries over the course of four days.

This paramount event helped to forge the path towards the integral process of healing and reconciliation for the victims of the residential school tragedy. Throughout the weekend many survivors were given the opportunity to share their stories. I was particularly moved by the story of Theodore Fontaine of Winnipeg. Theodore entered residential school in 1948 and spent more than 12 years there. He would later write a book about his experiences. In his words, quote, this was the biggest mistake that Canada ever made; whatever you’ve heard is incredibly true and is just a fraction of what happened. Unquote.

Theodore said that he endured mental, spiritual, and sexual abuse, having been raped repeatedly at a young age. He went through several phases of trauma, confrontation, and healing in his life. Just one month ago he began reliving the abuses. A terr ifying nightmare left him lying paralyzed in bed. He said: I always think I’m on my way to reconciliation and a better way of life, but it stays with you. He went on to share about how he reached out to one of the individuals who molested him in an attempt to bring closure, and the person claimed he didn’t remember him.

Theodore told him, quote: “I said, ‘I’m sorry because for the last 60 years I’ve hated you and wanted to kill you.’ Can you imagine saying that to another human being? That came from me, bu t it wasn’t me speaking. It was the seven -, eight-, and nine -year-old boy getting out whatever was still bothering him after 60 -some years.”

April 7, 2014 Alberta Hansard 337 Unquote. His abuser continued to deny that anything had happened, and Theodore resolved to confront him again at a later date. Within a month he had another face-to -face meeting with him, and at the end as they were wrapping up the meeting, his abuser said: by the way, Theodore, thank you very much for not mentioning my name in your book. Mr. Speaker, there are no words. A recent study revealed that only 50 per cent of Canadians are aware of the residential school system.

One of the long -term goals of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is to ensure that mainstream society is educated on this part of Canada’s histo ry as it is a key component of the healing and reconciliation process. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission asserts and we embrace the belief that the truth of our common experiences will help set our spirits free and pave the way to reconciliation. It is my hope that devastating stories like Theodore’s are not forgotten and will get us all one step closer to healing once and for all. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. leader of the Alberta Liberal opposition. Dr.

Sherman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On beha lf of the Alberta Liberal caucus I am very thankful and feel honoured to live on Treaty 6 lands. Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to attend the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and hear the stories and feel the pain shared by those survivors. The gov ernment of Canada guaranteed in return for peace and control of the land to provide for basic needs and the rights of the First Nations people.

Unfortunately, the implementation of the Indian Act meant ripping children from their families at a young age, d enying them their language and cultural practices, and in many cases physically abusing them and emotionally and mentally abusing them in many of the residential schools across the country. Absent parenting predictably led to absent skills for parenting in subsequent generations and mental health issues and addictions and poverty for many of our First Nations brothers and sisters. Mr.

Speaker, I’ve spent the majority of my life on the front lines in an inner -city hospital seeing the First Nations of our co untry overrepresented in the homeless population, overrepresented in the prison system, overrepresented in the human suffering that exists today in our society. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was absolutely essential to account for something that has been a horrendous black mark on our society as a civil society in Canada and right here in Alberta. Mr. Speaker, this is only the beginning.

Healing only begins with this, but what we need to do is follow up healing with hope, with a major investment into education, into health care, into really dealing with the real issues of inequality and poverty that still exist today: affordable housing, potable water. We’ve seen the missing and murdered women, hundreds of them across the country. That has to be atoned for. We have seen the deaths of 741 children right here in Alberta, one child a week dying in government care, 70 per cent of them First Nations, Métis, or Inuit. These problems, Mr. Speaker, still exist today in the Alberta that we live in.

I call on all members of the Assembly along with our Alberta Liberal caucus to not only support the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission – and I thank the commission members and all those across the country and the federal leaders for being a part of t his. But, my dear friends, we have so much more work to do. As the new Premier said, their problem is our problem, and the future of the First Nations community is our future. It’s a shared humanity and a shared future. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. leader of the ND opposition. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

The establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was a critical step in moving towards healing, and the Alberta NDP was thankful to attend the final national event in Edmonton. This event was the culmination of several years of work that began with a historic apology on behalf of the people of Canada in the Parliament in 2008. I am proud of the important role that Jack Layton played in bringing that about.

The powerful testimonies of survivors that were shared over the four-day event here in Edmonton were just a glimpse of the damage that residential schools have caused to indigenous cultures and communities. We applaud the courageous women and men who shared their testimony at the event, and we hope that they are finding healing. But the healing does not end with the adjournment of the commission, Mr. Speaker. There’s much more that we need to do. 2:10 Mr. Speaker, we’ve heard today that this government will be implementing an enhanced curriculum on residential schools.

We sincerely hope that this is a promise that will be kept. While teaching this history is vital, we must do more to remove barriers for indigenous people. We need to open doors for greater opportunity for indigenous students, and we could start by keeping the promise made for aboriginal bursaries for postsecondary education. We could strengthen our consultation process so that indigenous people are true partners in future resource development.

We need to do m ore to address the gross inequality in health and social spending that occurs on reserves and to expand resources dedicated to improving educational outcomes for indigenous children. Mr. Speaker, it’s time for action. Truth and reconciliation must be an o ngoing process, and we urge this government to not close the book on this sad history but to continue to push for further healing, inclusiveness, and the removal of inequalities for all indigenous Albertans. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker: Hon members, I have received a written request to participate in the statements at this time from Calgary -Foothills as an independent member of the Assembly. If anyone is in objection to granting unanimous consent to the hon. Member for Calgary - Foothills, would you please express your objection now? [Unanimous consent granted] The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Foothills. Mr. Webber: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. I’d like to join my colleagues in the recognition of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission over the last month.

This historic tragedy is one that we need to learn from and respect the incredible hardships that these people faced not only as a group but individually. The truth and reconciliation approach is a form of restora tive justice, aiming to heal the relationships between offenders, victims, and the community in which these tragedies took place. Those involved in truth and reconciliation commissions seek to

338 Alberta Hansard April 7, 2014 uncover facts and distinguish truth from lies. The process allo ws for acknowledgement, public mourning, forgiveness, and healing. It is important to remember that Alberta is comprised of many diverse groups, and the provincial kindergarten to grade 12 curriculum’s recognition of the study of residential schools and treaties is a vital part of what makes our province so strong.

Having had the incredible honour of being the past Minister of Aboriginal Relations, I have heard first -hand how important the learning of the history and legacy of all of Alberta’s First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples is to these groups. I am convinced that knowledge of past successes and failures will greatly increase our ongoing ability to recognize and honour the contributions by aboriginal peoples to all Albertans. Thank you. The Speaker: Hon. members, I have received two final written requests here for participation. Again, it requires unanimous consent. One is from the hon.

Member for Lesser Slave Lake, and the other is from the hon. Member for Fort McMurray -Wood Buffalo. I’ll ask one question. If anyone objects to giving unanimous consent to these two individuals expressing their brief comments on this matter, would you please express so now? [Unanimous consent granted] The Speaker: The hon. Member for Lesser Slave Lake. Ms Calahasen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

One of the darkest moments of our history is the history that has affected many individuals like Theodore, like my father, like my mother, and like myself but also many nations, and its effect has been felt and will continue to be f elt for many generations. As a result, we have experienced many ills in my community, ills that we’ve had to live with. Mr. Speaker, I was a small girl, a tiny girl. When I was born, I weighed two pounds. When I went to school, I was the smallest girl, and I had to go to residential school. Being small is really not as much of an advantage as overweight people think it’s an advantage.

It was not an advantage. It was not a good time. The nuns were very cruel. They used to pick on me because I was so tiny. Many times I was hit by a ruler; it was always across the back. I do have scars from that. But I did get through it. It was no fun. I was probably the least of those that were affected by physical abuse. That physical abuse was no fun. But I had a protector, and that protector was very good. The last time that the nun came to hit me, the protector got up and grabbed the ruler and broke it across her knee, and she said, “You’ll never hit her again,” and hit her in the face with her fist.

I still don’t condone any kind of physical activity against people. However, that day many of us children who were abused physically and in whatever way that we were abused were surrounding the girl who was hitting the nun, and we were yelling: kill her; kill her; kill her. That’s no way for kids to react. This is just one example, like the example of Theodore, of the stories that the commission has heard. Mine was not as bad as some of the others like my father’s or my mother’s. They experienced that physical and sexual be haviour, that I believe was so wrong to do to children. I don’t care who you are.

I don’t care what colour you are. That kind of physical therapy, as they used to call it, didn’t help us. It created a lot of problems in our community and in my community. Mr. Speaker, I commend the commissioners and the work that they have done. I commend them for being so strong, for listening to our stories. They are our stories. As the onion was peeled from some of the people’s soul, you got to the inner core of that individual. The only way that we can heal is by making sure that people know and understand the kinds of things we’ve gone through. Thank you to the commissioners.

Thank you to the government of Canada for establishing this commission. But I encourage them to also make sure they can release some of those files so that we can continue on our journey of healing. What is it to reconcile? What are we reconciling? Are we reconciling the harm? Are we reconciling the fact that we have broken people? Are we reconcil ing the fact that we have so many things to do, that affect us today in the policy decisions we make? Whether it’s in children’s services with all the children or whether it’s in the jails with all the people who are in there, what is it that we need to do?

It’s just the beginning, Mr. Speaker. It’s not the end. It is the beginning. And it’s up to us as people who make policies to ensure that we continue to do that, to make sure that other children do not get harmed in this way. It is a dark time in our hi story, actually, and it’s up to us to make sure that we get things done in the right way so that we can begin to see that people who need to be healed get healed. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. [Standing ovation] The Speaker: Thank you, hon. member. The hon. Member for Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo. 2:20 Mr. Allen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’m pleased to rise today to first of all thank the Premier for his comments today on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. I’d also thank all of the other hon. members that have spoken to that, in particular my friend and colleague the hon. Member for Lesser Slave Lake for her very personal and touching comments. I’d also thank all the survivors who demonstrated a tremendous amount of courage in sharing their stories. I think it’s important.

As well, I would like to acknowledge Willie Littlechild from the riding of Wetaskiwin-Camrose, who was the only commission member from Alberta, and thank him for his work on the commission. I commend the government on its commit ment to enhancing the K to 12 educational curriculum to include more content about the tragedy of the residential schools and the treaties. It’s so important that we continue to educate our teachers and students so that this tragedy is never repeated and never forgotten.

While I share the sentiments of many of my colleagues in this Chamber that this Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s work has had a healing effect, there is still more work that must be done. It’s important to acknowledge the horrors face d by the victims of residential schools, but we must not turn a blind eye to other victimized groups within this unique population. There are five First Nations and many Métis people in my region, and I’ve heard from many of them that more work still must be done. I’m pleased to hear that the Premier said that the work continues.

While this commission has been a step forward, I feel it’s disconcerting that the federal government continues to reject the calls by aboriginal and Métis groups across the countr y for an independent public inquiry into the murders and disappearances of aboriginal women. Aboriginal women, Mr. Speaker, accounted for at least 8 per cent of homicide victims in Canada between 2004 and 2010 despite the fact that they only account for 4 per cent of the total female population. Further, aboriginal women are twice as likely to suffer domestic violence and much more likely than other women to be attacked by strangers.

While I appreciate the

April 7, 2014 Alberta Hansard 339 work the government has done on this commission, I strongly urge our government to demand that the federal government hold a national inquiry into the murders and disappearances of these women. Having heard the heartbreaking stories during this commission, let us not turn a blind eye to further tragedies. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Thank you, hon. member.

Hon. members, we have a young school group that has travelled a long way to be here today and has an equally long trip home, so I would ask that we allow a certain member to please introduce them briefly and revert to introductions. Does anybody object? [Unanimous consent granted] head: Introduction of Guests (continued) The Speaker: Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House -Sundre, you’re up. Mr. Anglin: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to introduce to you and through you the grade 6 class of Bentley, Alberta, from my constituency, the best and the brightest.

If I could ask them to please rise real quick and receive the warm welcome of this Assembly. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Hon. member s, it has been a very historic day today, with the tributes given to the truth and reconciliation process. To the committee members who are here, thank you for joining us and sitting in my Speaker’s gallery. It’s an honour to have you here. However, that has also meant that we have extended ourselves beyond the normal time constraints, which was well worth it, I’m sure you would all agree.

Nonetheless, I would ask for your unanimous consent to waive Standing Order 7(7), that would allow us to continue the daily Routine until it is completed even if it means going beyond 3 p.m. Does anyone object to granting unanimous consent for that purpose? [Unanimous consent granted] The Speaker: Thank you, all. head: Oral Question Period The Speaker: Let us begin. The hon. Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition. Severance Payments to Premier’s Office Staff Ms Smith: Mr. Speaker, the former Premier’s resignation was another expensive day for Alberta taxpayers.

Nine of her departing staffers raked in $1.3 million in severance and vacation payouts, including more than $400,000 for her chief of staff alone. But here’s the uncomfortable truth. The Premier’s senior staff are approved by cabinet through orders in council, which means every single cabinet m inister had a hand in allowing these severance payouts to be dumped on Alberta taxpayers. To the Premier: why were these ridiculous contracts approved? Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, I believe appointments of senior staff come to cabinet. I don’t necessarily believe that the contracts come to cabinet.

Nonetheless, when one hires senior political staff, there are a number of pieces which need to be taken into account. Firs t of all, there is no security whatsoever. Secondly, there is a six -month cooling -off period when they leave their office. So whether they’re there for a month or for a year or for five years, there’s a cooling -off period. Contracts of employment include a severance pay of one month per year up to six months in the normal course. The Speaker: Thank you. Ms Smith: Mr. Speaker, we’ve seen one year of severance for one year’s worth of work, and that’s excessive by anyone’s standards.

That’s not the only thing this cabinet approves. Through an order in council dated June 21, 2012, they increased the maximum salaries allowed for the Premier’s senior staff. If that wasn’t bad enough, the Premier’s chief of staff was then hired at a salary $40,000 higher than the newly increased maximum. All of this happened with the full buy -in of the PC cabinet. Again to the Premier: when are he and his colleagues going to accept responsibility for this latest severance fiasco? Mr. Hancock: Well, Mr.

Speaker, of course it’s our responsibility as government to be accountable for what’s happened, and we take full responsibility for that. The fact of the matter is that those staff have now gone. There has been a change in leadership. There’s been a change in process. The previous Premier apologized to the public for some of the mistakes that were made. I would apologize to the public for the mistakes that were made as well. But let’s understand that the nature of these contracts is to bring in the best people you can to do work on behalf of Albertans.

Sometimes that requires that you pay above scale, so you make that change. And severance is important because . . . The Speaker: Thank you. Second supplemental. Ms Smith: Mr. Speaker, by now it should be pretty obvious that the government can’t just blame their former leader for all of their problems. Every cabinet minister is directly responsible for what seems like a never-ending parade of perks for political appointees, and they all sat around the table and approved them, not exactly a winning platform on which to launch a leadership campaign.

Again to the Premier: is he going to do anything to clean up this mess, or is he just going to keep on defending? Mr. Hancock: Well, Mr. Speaker, I’m not sure what the hon. member would want in te rms of cleaning up the mess. In fact, the people that she’s talking about are not working in the office any longer. I don’t think that she’s accurate in terms of saying that every member of cabinet was around making those decisions. Nonetheless, we accept responsibility for those decisions.

I can assure you that going forward, we will adhere to the policy that’s in place: one month’s severance for each year worked, with a minimum of six months because there’s a six -month cooling -off period. You’re bringing good people in from the private sector to help government, to help Albertans. You want good people, and you need to pay them appropriately, and there needs to be fair severance. The Speaker: Second main set of questions. The hon. opposition leader. Federal Building Redevelopment Plan Ms Smith: Well, Mr. Speaker, let’s see if they’ll take any responsibility for another scandal.

The details surrounding the ex -

340 Alberta Hansard April 7, 2014 Premier’s plans for an ultra swanky penthouse atop the federal building are deeply troubling, but more troubling are the conflicting stories that they’re now telling. The Minister of Transportation, who was the Minister of Infrastructure at the time the project was being planned, to ld newspapers that the project was killed in November of 2012. But the new Infrastructure minister said that he killed the project in January of 2014. To either of the ministers, who now have had two weeks to try to get their stories straight: which one of you is telling the truth? Mr.

McIver: Well, Mr. Speaker, I believe that we’re both telling the truth. What’s really interesting here is that the Leader of the Opposition seems very concerned about something that isn’t happening. In fact, there’s no residential component in that building now, and there won’t be when it’s opened. That’s what we’ve told the public. That’s final. That’s the truth. We think that’s in Albertans’ best interests. Ms Smith: Mr.

Speaker, the Minister of Infrastructure is clearly trying to launch his leadership campaign by bragging to the media that he personally killed the sky palace project in January, but this was after he spent weeks dodging media questions about the issue. He now says he issued orders can celling the project, but this isn’t mentioned in any of the internal e-mails that were released. To the minister: can he tell us exactly how and when he cancelled the sky palace project, and will he table evidence to back up his claims? [interjections] 2:30 The Speaker: Hon. members, you sat quietly and heard the question.

Let’s sit quietly and hear the answer, please. Mr. McIver: Well, Mr. Speaker, actually, I did the hon. member one better than to table evidence; I invited the media through to see it so they could see for themselv es that there is no suite there. Done and done. The fact is that regardless of what the hon. member believes or is trying to cast aspersions on, there is no residence there. There won’t be one built when it’s opened. It’s not happening.

The fact is that if the hon. member doesn’t like change orders, perhaps she shouldn’t have put one in just a couple of months ago after signing off last May on the very same building. Ms Smith: Well, Mr. Speaker, at least the jobs minister is starting to get it. He told a Calgary newspaper that this PC government has lost the moral authority to govern , and on this side we couldn’t agree more. I said the same thing just last month. This sky palace project was one of the worst displays of entitlement and arrogance that I have ever seen coming out of this government.

To the Premier or any other member of cabinet: when all of this was going on, why didn’t any of you have the integrity to just say no? Mr. McIver: Well, Mr. Speaker, we act as a government, and I would say that it’s not happening. That’s proof right there that a decision was made to not do it. The only thing I might give the hon. member a little bit of credit for is that it was determined that it was a bad idea. We have a lot of ideas. Some are good; some are bad. This was a bad idea that was stopped, and the evidence is right there.

In fact, again, I inv ited the media in the other day to have a look for themselves. I didn’t hear any of them use “swanky” after they were done there in their reports after. That was a word that I didn’t hear any of the media use. If I’m wrong, I’ll be happy to be corrected, but I didn’t hear that. The Speaker: Third and final set of questions, hon. leader. Progressive Conservative Party Trust Account Ms Smith: Well, Mr.

Speaker, speaking of the absence of moral authority and some other bad id eas, Albertans were shocked to learn that in 1977 the PC Party created a mechanism to avoid political accountability and transparency. The TAPCAL trust is a secret slush fund which allows the PCs and only the PCs to have access to an account which has been illegal for everyone else since 1978. The PCs are brazenly doing things that other parties are prohibited from doing, and this government defends it. To the Premier: how did we end up with one law for the PC Party and another law for everybody else?

Speaker’s Ruling Questions about Political Party Activity The Speaker: Hon. members, let’s craft questions in such a way that they don’t violate the rules and the traditions and the conventions. [interject ions] Excuse me. I’m not having a debate with you. I’m just saying: let’s be careful in crafting our questions in such a way that they do not violate page 504 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, wherein it says that a question should not “concern internal party matters.” So just be careful how you phrase your questions. The hon. Premier to respond.

Progressive Conservative Party Trust Account (continued) Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The reality is that there wasn’t one law for the governing pa rty and one law for the others. What happened was that there was a transition from an old financing model to a new one under the election finances and contributions act, and the pa rty that had money had to do something with that money and di d it in a legal way. Any other party that had resources at the time would have been able to avail themselves of exactly the same law. The fact of the matter is that that has not been a secret fund.

People have known about it. It’s been reported on. Every time the annual report is filed, the indication is there. The interest has been paid out of the fund. It’s not news this year. It wasn’t news last year. It wasn’t . . . The Speaker: First supplemental, hon. member. Ms Smith: Mr. Speaker, this secret PC slush fund negates over 30 years of improvements in donations transparency. Other than the PCs, no one knows who put the money in the trust. We don’t know what, if any, favours they got in exchange. We have to take the PCs at their word that they haven’t added any money to the trust since it isn’t audited.

What everyone else does know is that TAPCAL trust gives the PCs an unfair advantage which is illegal for all other parties. How is it that no one on the government side had the moral authority to speak out for equal treatment of all political parties for the last 30 years? Mr. Hancock: It’s not a secret fund, Mr. Speaker. It’s been talked about every year when the annual reports are filed, to my knowledge. The interest in that fund has been paid out and has been reported every year. Every year . It’s not news. It’s not new.

It’s been there since the transition. [interjections] It was a transition fund from the old processes to the new processes. I think it was 1977 that that happened, so there have been no contributions to the fund. There’s been nothing that’s happened

April 7, 2014 Alberta Hansard 341 with that fund other than it pays some money on an annual basis, and it’s reported on an annual basis under the current laws. Speaker’s Ruling Decorum The Speaker: Please. Enough of the interjections and the loud yelling across the bow. I heard Edmonton-Centre chiming in. I heard Innisfail-Sylvan Lake and perhaps others. Pretty soon we’re going to hear some government members responding, I’m sure. So before it gets o ut of hand, let’s please return to some decorum here. Let’s move on with your final supplemental.

Progressive Conservative Party Trust Account (continued) Ms Smith: Mr. Speaker, as we’ve shown before, the PCs have made a common practice of soliciting and accepting illegal donations from prohibited corporations. We also learned they created a loophole in order to bypass donation limits, and now we discover that they have a trust account to ensure a permanent advantage over all other political parties. Will the Premier assure us that there are no other secret accounts, that the amounts and donors of this TAPCAL trust will be fully disclosed, and that he will give us a timeline for when it will be dissolved? Mr.

Hancock: Well, Mr. Speaker, I’m not sure how I could disclose other secret accounts because if they’re secret, I don’t know about them. I can assure you that I don’t know of any other accounts. However, I have asked the party leadership, the president of the party and the executive director of the part y, to review with their executive the trust fund and what it would take to wind it up in the interest of total transparency. I believe that they will be addressing that. It is in their hands to do. I don’t know the terms of the trust. I’ve never known the terms of the trust.

But I have asked them to review it and determine what should happen going forward because we do not need to have this kind of a discussion every year when the financial report . . . The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton- Meadowlark and Liberal leader. Flood Recovery Communications Contracts Dr. Sherman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Former PC Treasurer Mr. Dinning said that the next Premier needs to purge this government of its sense of entitlement. However, the current Premier said that any talk about a Tory culture of entitlement and corruption is absolute garbage.

Well, Navigator’s January 31 press release saying that they completed seven contracts from 2011 to 2013 worth more than a half -million dollars seems to support what Mr. Dinning said. Premier, if giving untendered contracts to the who’s who of Tory land isn’t entitlement or cronyism, then what the heck is? Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, we’ve had a number of conversations about the Navigator contract around the floods. It wasn’t news even in March because, as the hon. member has indicated, Navigator themselves put out a news release in January talking about the contracts.

The fact of the matter is that virtually all of the contracts in this government go through an RFP process, with appropriate competition, but there are some times, in unique circumstances or when you need a unique talent, when you can sole source a contract. That has nothing to do with whom you know; it has to do with what you can do. Dr. Sherman: Mr. Speaker, the floo d happened in June. The contract was signed October 28 to end October 31, for a quarter of a million dollars. Continuing on the theme of the PC culture of entitlement, any government contract worth over $75,000 must be tendered out.

Navigator’s press release shows four different contracts with the Ministry of Health, each under that amount, totalling almost $220,000. It looks like a deliberate attempt to skirt the rules to benefit this Tory land PR firm, which also now employs a former chief of staff. To the Premier: is this the kind of thing you’re going to let your current Health minister get away with? Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, the hon. member time after time after time has talked about a contract being signed in late September, October.

What he woul d understand if he’d ever done any business in the world is that sometimes you have to get on with the job and do the paperwork later. That’s exactly what happened in that contract. The flood relief work was absolutely necessary. It was absolutely to let A lbertans know what was going on, and the government brought on the talent that they needed in order to do that. That’s what happened. That was good business for Albertans. That was excellent work for Albertans, and it needed to be done. Dr. Sherman: Mr. Sp eaker, do the work and sign their contract later. Wow.

You know, it almost seems like a special rule designed for something that the current executive director of the PC Party had done in the past. When the Premier’s immediate predecessor was Minister of Justice, Navigator received yet another contract, this one worth more than $107,000, which they completed in 2010. The former Premier condoned this PC culture of entitlement. The current Health minister condones the PC culture of entitlement. To the Premier: when will you put an end to this PC culture of entitlement? Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, continually repeating a phrase does not make it accurate.

What we do is hire the right people to do a job. [interjections] In the vast majority of circumstances those processes of contracting out go through an RFP process or a process that’s a competitive process to hire. In some circumstances, because of the unique circumstances or the unique service being provided, there are sole -source contracts. It doesn’t happen ve ry often, but when it’s done, it’s done for a purpose. [interjections] 2:40 Speaker’s Ruling Decorum The Speaker: You know, there are just days when you just don’t know how to even address you folks. [interjections] Some of you folks, pardon me.

I’ve noticed a little bit of a change today. I’ve actually noticed government members listening much more attentively and more respectfully, and some opposition members – some – are doing the same. For some it’s a habit to do so. Yet for others: you continue to do these outbursts, which I know that television and radio don’t capture, but we certainly do here. You all know what I’m talking about.

342 Alberta Hansard April 7, 2014 Please let this be the last time I have to remind you today. No more of these what I can only consider to be childish types of outbursts. Questions have been asked. They’re very serious questions. Opposition is trying to hold the government accountable. Government is trying their best to answer back, but it’s hard to do so over the loud shouting and yelling that is becoming characteristic of today’s question period. So please let us remember that and move on, shall we? I know we’ll have a good demonstration right now from the hon. leader of the ND opposition. Mr.

Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, I’m always nice to them on their first day and on their last day. Unfortunately, this is not his first day. Government Policies Mr. Mason: Albertans have been appalled by the litany of broken promises and stories of extravagance and entitlement. Hopes that this woul d end with the new leader appear to have been dashed given the statements by the new Premier. It appears that everything was fine all along, Mr. Speaker, and nothing really needs to change. My question is to the Premier.

Will he take steps to eliminate the PC culture of entitlement, starting by admitting that it actually exists? Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, for some 43 years people have been moving to this province because it’s the best place to live, to work, and to raise your family. That’s not by accident. Not by accident. Other places have resources; other places have opportunity. But Alberta is the place where people have a stable government that’s worked in the best interest of Albertans for all that time. Have we made mistakes? Absolutely. Absolutely, we make mistakes, and we learn from those mistakes.

We will continue to work on behalf of Albertans, and we will continue to make it the best place to live, to work, and to raise your family. The Speaker: Well, that lasted a full 30 seconds. The hon. leader. First supplemental. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. North Korea has a stable government, too. Albertans had hoped that the culture of bullying and intimidation would come to an end with the departure of the last Premier.

The prime examples of this, of course, were bills 45 and 46, which abolished the collective bargaining rights of provincial employees and infringe on their and our freedom of speech. To the Premier: will this government show Albertans that it wants to get rid of this culture of bullying and intimidation, that it gets it, and repeal bills 45 and . . . The Speaker: The hon. Premier. Mr. Hancock: Well, Mr. Speaker, other places in the world have certainly had long -serving governments, but they don’t have the business and cultura l environment that we have in this province.

They don’t have the quality of life that we have in this province. That’s the reason why a hundred thousand people are moving to this province every year. Albertans want to have good government, and they get good government from this government. Yes, we make mistakes, and we will because we’re human. We will apologize for those mistakes, and we will move on. This is the best place to live, work, and raise a family, and it’s because of good government, that’s been entrusted to this party by the people of Alberta. Mr. Mason: Well, I’ll admit that this government is better than North Korea, Mr.

Speaker, but whoop-de-do. Albertans are hoping that this government’s culture of broken promises will also change under a new leader. Ending child poverty, full -day kindergarten, and sustainable, predictable funding for education and health care are promises made by this party, this government, in the last election. Will the Premier undertake to ensure that these and other promises are kept, and if he will, how is he going to do it? Mr. Hancock: Thirty-four seconds, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, absolutely, this government is going to continue to work very hard to deliver on the promises it made to Albertans.

We are going to continue to invest in our families and our communities because they’re the backbone of the province. It’s what makes that quality of life, that every Albertan has the opportunity to be part of the advantages that we have in this province. It’s something we have to work for because right now there are too many Albertans who don’t get that chance.

This government is committed to working with Albertans to make sure that every Albertan has the opportunity to participate in the advantages that we have here and t he opportunities we have here through education, through all the other challenges that we have . . . The Speaker: Thank you. No more

preambles to your supplementaries, please. Let’s start with Fort McMurray -Wood Buffalo, followed by Airdrie. Education Property Tax Mr. Allen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the year 2000 the government began a mitigation strategy on education property taxes for communities experiencing rapid increases in property values.

When the province removed the mitigative measures last year, it meant a 40 per cent tax hike, averaging about $400 to $700 per home in Wood Buffalo, and the same increase is about to be imposed again this year on my constituents, hard-working families who already pay more for their housing than anyone else in Canada. My question is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs. What can be done to help those long -term residents on fixed incomes or those who work in the service sector or those who otherwise . . . The Speaker: The Acting Minister of Municipal Affairs. Mr. Weadick: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’d like to thank the Member for Fort McMurray -Wood Buffalo for asking that question of me today. You know, I think that in every community seniors and some others are going to be challenged with the cost of property taxes. That’s one of t he reasons we’ve brought in the property tax deferral program this year, to allow seniors specifically – but in those communities that we’re talking about, in 2012 we decided to fund education differently, and we collect the tax in a different way. At that time we wanted to make it equal for everyone in the province. The Speaker: First supplemental. Mr. Allen: Thank you.

To the same minister: as I’ve requested in the past and as this is a significant increase – the mitigation was done over 12 years – is it possible to have full market value assessments phased in over five years, respecting the hardship borne by people who already pay more for their housing?

April 7, 2014 Alberta Hansard 343 The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Weadick: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. What has happened is that w e have phased it in over a two -year period as opposed to having it come in all at once because we did know that the increases in some communities would be substantial. This now puts every Albertan on a level playing field. Every home of an equal value will be taxed, education taxed, at exactly the same rate, and this will go to support a wonderful education system. This is the fairest way to collect it, and it will be used for education in our province. Mr. Allen: Mr.

Speaker, to the same minister: as is do ne in other areas, is there any special consideration that could be made for qualifying residents in my constituency to avoid the possibility of constantly fluctuating increases for long -term and senior residents? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Weadick: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Part of what’s going to mitigate fluctuations is the fact that we now fund a set percentage of the education budget through this funding.

So it isn’t going to just rise and fall with property values, with growth in communities; it’s going to only fund a percentage of the budget for education. That will be a known amount, it’ll be very easy to manage, and in the long run it will create a very stable funding source for education but also a known quantity for the municipalities and the taxpayers. Thank you. Federal Building Redevelopment Plan (continued) Mr. Anderson: Mr. Speaker, my question deals with the sky palace renovation. We know that there was a decision made by someone to build a PC alumni lounge, private PC elevator , and Premier’s suite.

We know that this renovation would have cost millions of tax dollars to design and complete, and we know that a construction company was directed to begin the build, which was later cancelled by someone although we don’t know by whom given the evolving memories of the ministers involved. My question is simple. Which ministers or what governmental body, be it cabinet or Treasury Board, actually approved the initial appropriation of . . . The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Infrastructure. Mr. McIver: Well, Mr. Speaker, I think that the member is asking an important question.

All of our things get approved by Treasury Board, but the fact is that it doesn’t get approved in that detail about exactly where every piece of furniture is and exactly what’s in there. Certainly, not all change orders come to Treasury Board. The fact is that the hon. member is infatuated with something that’s not happening. I would agree with him on one thing – at least I think I would – that this was a bad idea. The bad idea is not happening, hon. member. You should be pleased. 2:50 Mr.

Anderson: Given that last week the Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour, when questioned on whether the legal approval process was followed for the initial decision to fund sky palace, stated that the approval, quote, broke all the rules of protocol, unquote, and further, quote, if one really goes out of their way to break the rules, they will do so, but usually the system will catch them, unquote, Premier, if this cabinet minister says that the proper rules and protocols were not followed, was the decision to initially fund the sky palace, therefore, done illegally? Mr. Hancock: Mr.

Speaker, I am surprised that you didn’t rise to admonish the hon. member for asking for a legal opinion, which, of course, I can’t give. But I would say this. The Minister of Infrastructure was absolutely right. Treasury Board approves funding. It approves funding on a global basis for a building project. It doesn’t go back and approve every single change order, every finite item.

The hon. minister that was referred to in the question will have to speak to what he was thinking about when he said that, but the fact of the matter is that you could not get any project done if you had to do approvals on that finite basis through Treasury Board or cabinet. Mr. Anderson: We’re talking about millions of taxpayer dollars, Premier. Come on.

Given that this same minister, the former Deputy Premier, stated, quote, that if there are individuals that acted in any way that exceeded the authority vested in them by their office, they should be de alt with appropriately, unquote; given, Premier, that your own cabinet minister is alleging that individuals in your government exceeded their authority in this matter; and given that this means that tax money was appropriated without going through the proper legal channels, will you call on the Auditor General or the RCMP, if necessary, to conduct an independent investigation into how this misuse of tax dollars . . .

The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Infrastructure. Mr. McIver: Well, Mr. Speaker, I wasn’t here then, but the hon. member might want to check his own records. What I wasn’t here for is that when the building was first approved, he might have been sitting on Treasury Board. I just don’t know. I wasn’t here then. Mr. Anderson: Point of order. Mr. McIver: I wasn’t here, so I’m just asking the question. I don’t believe that anything illegal was done. I believe that the processes were followed. When there are changes, there’s a protocol where different members of the administration have different lev els of authority.

I believe that all the rules were followed, Mr. Speaker, and a bad idea didn’t happen. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-South West , followed by Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills. Education Initiatives Mr. Jeneroux: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s always promising to hear that a new school is being announced. As this Assembly’s representative for Edmonton-South West many of my constituents and I have a vested interest in school projects. Southwest Edmonton is home to a high percentage of families with children and is one of the fastest growing areas in the country.

Therefore, schools are an essential component of the local community infrastructure. The announcements were great, Minister, but Albertans are interested in the actual school s themselves. My question to the Minister of Infrastructure, plain and simple: are these new schools going to be open by 2016? Mr. McIver: Well, Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is asking a question that I hear on a regular basis, and the answer is: we’re

344 Alberta Hansard April 7, 2014 working very hard to make that so. We’re feeling more confident all the time. I could tell you that I’ve met with industry members as a group in Edmonton, in Calgary, and in Banff and had other individual meetings. We’re getting a great deal of co -operation from industry. I can tell you that as every week goes by, people are getting more and more optimistic that what the hon. member is asking for is going to happen. It’s not going to happen by accident. It’s going to take a lot of work, but we’re determined to do that work because building Alberta is what Albertans want.

This is part of it, and we are going to do our level best to . . . The Speaker: First supplemental. Mr. Jeneroux: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My next question is to the Minister of Education. Given that my constituents are especially interested to know whether we will still be announcing new schools in Edmonton-South West , are more schools coming, or are we calling it quits now that the 50 -70 commitment has been met? Mr. J. Johnson: Mr. Speaker, we’r e still focused on delivering what Albertans demand and want us and expect us to focus on.

I can tell you that since 2010 we’ve opened six schools in the west, to the southwest, and created about 5,000 spaces. Of course, you know, recently we announced sev en other new schools and modernizations that combined are going to add about 6,400 spaces in that area. Obviously, there are capital plans being done at school boards all across the province, and we’re anxious to receive those here this spring. We’ll take those forward to Treasury Board, and we’ll be advocating for more schools just like this member is. The Speaker: Final supplemental. Mr. Jeneroux: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Again to the Minister of Education. New schools are one thing, Minister, but the curriculum is ultimately what counts for our children. Can you tell the Assembly: through this change are we sticking with the fundamentals or not, what changes are being applied, and who is being consulted? Mr. J. Johnson: Mr. Speaker, the one thing that I can assure parents is that their children are in a fantastic system, one of the best around the globe.

As a matter of fact, one of the most recent studies that was released last week by the OECD, the PISA studies on the K to 12 systems across the globe, just confirmed that Alberta is tied for the fourth spot on the entire planet in terms of our education system. We have a great system. One of the reas ons we have it is because we have ongoing continuous improvement. We want to include parents in those, but we don’t want to overlook the best practices across the globe. We think parents and employers are asking for . . . The Speaker: Thank you. The hon. Member for Lac La Biche-St.

Paul -Two Hills , followed by Calgary-Buffalo. Domestic Violence Offender Monitoring Mr. Saskiw: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. After cancelling ankle bracelets to track sex offenders and eliminating prosecution for some crimes, Albertans are sick of this Justice minister’s liberal, soft-on-crime policies. They would even make Justin Trudeau blush. Last week he ended a GPS monitoring program to track criminals convicted of domestic abuse that are under court order to stay away from the v ictims. This project gave victims safety and security and helped them ensure that they wouldn’t be victimized again.

To the Justice minister: why on earth would you end this sensible project? Mr. Denis: Mr. Speaker, I’m a little bit perplexed, actually, because I have already made the decision that we’re going to be continuing this project for at least six months, at least until the report comes in in June, and then we can make a decision on what’s best for these vulnerable women but also at the same time for the taxpayer. This decision was made much before this individual had made the question. I’m not sure why he’s asking it. Mr. Saskiw: Well, Mr.

Speaker, given that that is some interesting decision -making, here’s one quote from a victim that has been impacted by your flip-flopping. This is a woman who was thrown down a set of stairs and threatened with a butcher knife that she would be killed. She said, and I quote: every day that’s all I think about. Is he going to kill me today? It’s a really, really scary feeling. Now no red flags will go up if he comes near my work. I’m scared to leave my office to go to my car because I don’t know if he is going to come out there and hurt me. Unquote.

Now, to the minister: why won’t he put the victims of crime . . . The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Justice. Mr. Denis: Mr. Speaker, Alberta Justice puts victims of crime first today and every day. The women involved in those difficult situations have also been provided with a GPS locating beeper, again in the interests of the victim. It’s time that this member stick to the facts. Alberta Justice supports victims first. The Speaker: The hon. member, without

preamble, please. Mr. Saskiw: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that this project only costs $450,000, which is actually about the same amount as the severance for the former Premier’s chief of staff, will the minister do the right thing for once, admit that you made a brutal mistake, and reinstate the program permanently? Mr. Denis: Mr. Speaker, there’s been no mistake made here, and there are no apologies for standing up for victims of crime, particularly women in this situation. I believe we’ve done the right thing, and we will take a look at the report that comes out in June.

I suggest that this member get his facts straight and keep an open mind. The Speaker: Thank you. Hon. Member for Airdrie, your point of order was noted at 2:58. We’ll deal with it at the appropriate time. LGBTQ Student Supports Mr. Hehr: I appreciate that our new Premier wears a Children First pin. I also appreciate that when he tabled Alberta’s Education Act, it stated that all schools in this province would be subject to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Alberta Human Rights Act because he was putting children first. Sadly, the current Education minister did not write this into the act.

To the Minister of Ed. Despite this, you have verbally stated that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Alberta Human Rights Act apply to all schools in this province. Can you confirm this for me today? Mr. J. Johnson: Well, Mr. Speaker, I am no lawyer, but my understanding is that, of course, the Alberta Human Rights Act

April 7, 2014 Alberta Hansard 345 and Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms are over riding pieces of legislation and something that guides us in everything we do. Mr. Hehr: Well, given that these acts apply, I was shocked to learn that Heritage Christian Academy, a fully funded public school, makes students sign a pledge that states that they will not partake in homosexual behaviour and that if they do, they will be expelled.

My question is: why does the minister continue to allow schools to castigate students on the basis of their sexual orientation, which is clearly against the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Alberta Human Rights Act? Mr. J. Johnson: Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of the situation that the member is speaking of. Obviously, that’s not something that we would condone in this House and on this side of the House. 3:00 Mr. Hehr: Well, Mr. Speaker, it’s simply unbelievable that the minister is not aware of this.

Given that this example of the Heritage Christian Academy shows that there are schools and school boards in this province that without your government’s le adership will continue to not support kids who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and queer in our school system, accordingly will you bring in legislation that makes mandatory gay -straight alliances in schools where kids want them? The Speaker: Hon. member, we want to be careful about asking for any legal opinions or perhaps anticipating a motion or a bill of yours that might be coming up later, so please be careful. The hon. Minister of Education.

Mr. J. Johnson: Yeah. Mr. Speaker, I’m happy to respond. We’re going to have a chance to debate the motion in detail coming up in the afternoon, so I’m looking forward to that. But, you know, the allegations the member makes about school boards and about schools across the province I think are quite disparaging. We’ve got fantastic people all over the province as teachers in the classrooms and administrators on school boards that have the responsibility and the autonomy to deal with these things.

He may want us to take that away and operate all those schools out of here, but many of those people are in a better place than I to do that, and they do a tremendous job on it on a . . . The Speaker: Thank you. Federal Building Redevelopment Plan (continued) Mr. Bilous: Mr. Speaker, the entitlement of this gove rnment has grown so tall, it reaches the sky. Recently uncovered plans for an opulent residential penthouse include an express elevator that skips opposition floors, grooming quarters for a teenager, and a butler’s pantry for continental breakfast service.

To the Premier: which cabinet ministers knew about this project, and who turned a blind eye? Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, I think that the project that that hon. member describes is a fiction of his imagination, and therefore nobody could have possibly known about it. Mr. Bilous: Well, Mr.

Speaker, given that the former Minister of Infrastructure said that the penthouse was cancelled November 15, 2012, and given that documents clearly show continued planning of the penthouse past that date and given that the current Minister of Infrastructure said that it was he who cancelled the penthouse one year later, will the current Minister of Infrastructure set the record straight? Who’s telling the truth: the former minister, the current minister, or neither? Mr. McIver: Well, Mr. Speaker, obviously, we’re both telling the truth. The fact is that this isn’t happening.

I can’t speak to what the former minister did, but this much I can tell you. If there was an order given, not everybody got the message. I can tell you that in the middle of J anuary I had a conversation with my deputy, who was under the understanding it was to be done. I made it very clear at that point that it would not ever be done. Those are the facts of the matter. But it’s also important to remember that this isn’t happening. This is a bad idea that’s not happening. Some might call that the process working. The Speaker: Final supplemental. Mr. Bilous: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’d love to see those documents, Mr. Minister. Given that the departure of the former Premier does nothing to fix the fact that this PC government has a cabinet that can’t get its story straight and given that your inability to explain these contradictions goes to show that the entitlement problem runs rife through this whole government, can the Premier please explain how Albertans can trust a government that can’t even answer a simple question and back it up with proof? Mr. Hancock: Well, Mr. Speaker, given that none of his

preamble was actually accurate, I’m not sure that there’s an appropriate questio n to answer. But I can tell you this. This government works on behalf of Albertans every day. We care about the dollars that Albertans pay in taxes, and we will work hard to make sure that those dollars are used appropriately, and that’s what these ministe rs did when they reviewed the project, discovered something that they believed was not in the best interests of Albertans, and cancelled it. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Strathmore-Brooks, followed by Lethbridge-East. Pembina Institute Funding Mr. Hale: Well, thank you, Mr.

Speaker. Recently we learned the PC government is funding the Pembina Institute, an antipipeline group trying to block the Keystone, Northern Gateway, and Energy East pipeline deals from going through. To the Minister of Culture. Pe mbina funding is coming from your ministry. Does your ministry support these much-needed pipeline projects, and if so, then why fund a group that’s actively trying to stop them? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mrs. Klimchuk: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

T he Department of Culture funds many different organizations, including the ones that are nonprofits and support work that goes on in Alberta. The Pembina Institute has been funded in a number of different areas. The nonprofit sector is very, very important to the government of Alberta. We will continue to support projects that support Alberta and do great work. Mr. Hale: They’re trying to stop what’s going to help Alberta.

Considering that this PC government has spent millions of taxpayer dollars on pipeli ne advertising and travel expenses and given that the Minister of Culture has previously funded two anti - oil documentaries and since she has now taken money away from

346 Alberta Hansard April 7, 2014 community grants to give to anti-oil groups, does the minister understand that her decisions have put Keystone and other projects like it at risk, or does she not care? The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Culture. Mrs. Klimchuk: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. We know that the ongoing discussions on the importance of the Keystone pipeline are very important to Alberta in terms of expanding our markets and selling our products. With respect to how individual projects or themes are funded in the Department of Culture, it’s not my job as minister to judge.

We support the projects when they meet the r equirements, and then they are funded accordingly. Mr. Hale: Hmm. Not her job to look at that. Given that we need and support all major pipelines to increase market access and given that numerous pipeline projects such as Keystone, Energy East, and Northe rn Gateway currently hang in the balance, will the Minister of Energy commit that no more taxpayer dollars will be taken away from communities in order to fund antipipeline groups who put our energy future at risk? The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Energy. Mrs. McQueen: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I appreciate the question. Part of the work that the Pembina Institute and others have done that has been funded by different departments in government is to look at some of the work with regard to CCS, an important part for us with reductions through our climate change strategy and our policies. Over 70 per cent of our reductions will be coming through CCS, so important when we look at different companies and different not-for-profits.

When we look at the ones from Norway and different ones and the studies that have been done by a five -group consortium of ENGOs globally looking at CCS and at “How do we overcome that technology?” that’s an important piece for us. The Speaker: Thank you. The hon. Member for Lethbridge-East, followed by Drumheller- Stettler. Avalanche Safety Ms Pastoor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll start by expressing my condolences to the family and friends of Wade Galloway, a recently first -time elected member to our city council who was lost as the result of an avalanche.

He was an exceptional member of the Lethbridge community, and this tragedy has resonated throughout our city. Therefore, the question is to the Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation. Can you explain what is being done to monitor snowpack conditions and warn of potential dangers and the necessary precautions that should be followed? The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation. Dr. Starke: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d certainly like to echo the comments of the hon. member, not just for the family of Mr.

Galloway but to the families and friends of others who have either lost lives or suffered injury in what has been a particularly tragic year this past winter. Alberta Parks operates a series of remote monitoring stations throughout Kananaskis Country, throughout the backcountry, that gives us regular information on the condition of the snowpack. That information is then transmitted to the Canadian Avalanche Centre, and that information is then used to inform the public as to the changing conditions of the snowpack in the backcountry. The Speaker: First supplemental. Ms Pastoor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

To the same minister: what kind of capacity does our government have to respond in the event of an avalanche, not by passing it on but as the government itself? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Dr. Starke: Well, Mr. Speaker, thank you. In fact, Alberta Parks employs public safety officers in all of our parks, and they’ve been, unfortunately, rather busy this past winter. In fact, in many situations they are the first responders on site, and they often assist emergency personnel to attempt the rescue or the recovery of people who’ve been caught in avalanches.

They’ve been, as I say, very busy, and they’ve worke d co -operatively throughout that period of time to provide the necessary services to visitors to the backcountry, to Kananaskis Country in particular. The Speaker: Final supplemental. Ms Pastoor: Thank you. It is along the same lines as the answer. How can the ministry help proactively to educate the general public, municipalities, and tourist operators about the dangers of avalanches? Dr. Starke: Well, Mr. Speaker, that is a very good question.

Certainly, education and public information are essential in o rder to provide the general public with as much information in their hands as possible so they can then access and use the backcountry as safely as possible.

Again, through our co-operative work with the Canadian Avalanche Centre we provide information to the general public through regular avalanche bulletins and through traditional as well as social media up -to-date, real -time information as to the changing condition of the snowpack so that those venturing into the backcountry, into areas where avalanche danger could exist, can access that area as safely as humanly possible. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Drumheller-Stettler, followed by Edmonton-Mill Woods. 3:10 Travel Alberta Executive Expenses Mr. Strankman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recently a job posting came online at Tourism Alberta for a new associate deputy minister, just two days after the Wildrose questioned this PC minister for allowing a culture of entitlement to prevail in his department. This job posting replaces an associate deputy minister who attended a $2,000 dinner and, plus, had a $290 alcohol tab. Was the ADM fired for inappropriate behaviour? Dr. Starke: Well, Mr.

Speaker, currently in our department we have a number of changes that are going on, and unfortunately we’ve lost a long -term associate deputy minister who has been with us for many years, and we’re currently in the process of replacing that individual. I will tell you that that particular individual provided the public with outstandi ng service over a prolonged period in the public service, and the people of Alberta are very fortunate to have had his dedication working on a number of projects, not just in the Department of Tourism, Parks, and Recreation but elsewhere within the public service.

The Speaker: First supplemental.

April 7, 2014 Alberta Hansard 347 Mr. Strankman: Thank you again, Mr. Speaker. Given that the minister said three weeks ago in this House that he was reviewing the expenses that he and his staff should have reviewed in the first place, when will th e minister table his review and his actions in this House? Dr. Starke: Well, Mr. Speaker, as I stated a few weeks ago, I instructed Travel Alberta to undertake a complete and independent third-party review.

I expect that review to be complete, to be thorough, to look into all instances of expense claims, and to determine whether, in fact, correct procedures were followed. That review is under way. Travel Alberta will have that review and will have to review that review, and then they will have a discussion with me with regard to their future actions and any remedial actions should that be proven necessary. Mr. Strankman: Review a review: that’s an interesting concept.

Given that it does not take much time to figure out what are inappropriate expenses – like $150 tuxedo rentals, $99 steaks, bucket-list restaurants, and a $90 bottle of Cabernet – and given that the Wildrose has done the minister’s job in pointing out these inappropriate expenses, will this minister commit today to make that review public and curb this PC culture of entitlement? Dr. Starke: Well, Mr.

Speaker, what I have committed to and will continue to commit to is that Travel Alberta will continue to do the outstanding work on behalf of Albertans in promoting Alberta as an outstanding tourism destination and that we will have the review in our hands in short course. But Travel Alberta needs to do the full discussion of the results of that review, and they will do that. It will happen in the due course of time. I’m not going to rush that review because I expect it to be done properly and in the full course of time. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Mill Woods , followed by Little Bow.

Builders’ Liens Mr. Quadri: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Servic e Alberta. The Builders’ Lien Act lets a contractor put a lien on the property when the money has not been paid, but what’s actually happening is that the homeowners are being held hostage in the dispute between a contractor and a subcontractor. Why does government allow this to happen? The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Service Alberta. Mr. Griffiths: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I’d like to thank the member because he comes to my office regularly advocating for his constituents and some of the challenges that they have. We’ve discussed this before. It’s important through this process that all parties, whether it’s the homeowners, whether it’s the builders, the contractors, the suppliers, have the ability to protect themselves when they’re building a home and they’re owed money. The Builders’ Lien Act itself tries to balance protection between those parties, anybody who would have an interest and a claim in the party. Contractors have to follow up when they institute a lien.

If they don’t take court action, then the lien expires in 180 days. The Speaker: Thank you. First supplemental. Mr. Quadri: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the same minister. Some of my constituents from Edmonton- Mill Woods are asking me: how does the Builders’ Lien Act help protect homeowners? Mr. Griffiths: Mr. Speaker, the Builders’ Lien Act protects homeowners in many different ways. First, the act allows homeowners to hold back a portion of the money owed so that they c ould set a lien in a case where there’s a lien against the property. That’s the first case.

In the vast majority of cases, when a lien is issued against a property, it expires within 180 days if court action isn’t taken, and then the homeowner can have it removed. They can also instigate a court action that says that action has to be taken within 30 days. If action isn’t taken on a lien on a property, then that could be removed. Finally, Service Alberta also provides investigation services to make sure that false liens and violators are prosecuted. The Speaker: Final supplemental. Mr. Quadri: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

To the same minister again: how can homeowners protect themselves from contractors who are trying to get some extra money from them by putting a lien on the property? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Griffiths: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, the most important way for homeowners to protect themselves is to have a contract signed. When they have a contract signed, which they can rely on then, it makes sure that costs cannot increase by more than 10 per cent, to a maximum of $100, on any contract that’s issued on what the estimates are going to be.

If anyone does, it would have to be with the agreement of the homeowner. And if anyone tries to do something like that, above and beyond what the legislation says, then we can investigate and issue a fine of up to $300,000 and two years in jail for anyone that would violate those liens. Homeowners are very well protected in this province. The Speaker: Thank you, hon. members. Airdrie, your point of order has been withdrawn at your request. head: Members’ Statements The Speaker: We’ll start with Calgary -Currie, followed by Cypress-Medicine Hat. Emergency Housing for Women Ms Cusanelli: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am honoured to once again announce that I will be spending the night at the YWCA’s annual Keep a Roof over Their Heads event on May 1 this year. I speak today to encourage people to donate to this worthy cause or join me in seein g one night through the eyes of a homeless woman. Imagine this. What would you choose if you had to decide between keeping a roof over your head or paying your heating bill? Mr. Anderson: A point of order, Mr. Speaker. Ms Cusanelli: What would you choose if you had to decide between keeping a roof over your head and warm winter clothing for your children?

What would you choose if you had to pick between a roof over your head or walking on eggshells awaiting the next domestic altercation? If you would choos e leaving for a better life, what necessary belongings would you fit in your purse

348 Alberta Hansard April 7, 2014 or a small bag, knowing you have nowhere to keep these items completely safe? This is the reality for many women in Calgary and elsewhere, who even with a good job cannot fi nd affordable housing. The YWCA’s winter emergency response program provides emergency overnight shelter for up to 50 women per evening throughout the winter months in Calgary. Women can self refer, and their urgent needs, from basic clothing to hygiene a nd first aid, are addressed. Many of these women are called the “hidden homeless” because you won’t see them sleeping on the streets. It’s not safe.

Women at risk can become victims of violent crimes, including sexual assault. Many women will return to an abusive relationship, couch surf, sleep in their car, sleep in a church basement, or stay with family in an overcrowded house. The YWCA will need to raise $4 million this year to keep a roof over the heads of these homeless women. For those who will donate, your funds will help the YWCA keep the lights on and the clients safe and warm. Your funds will provide immediate care kits for women upon their arrival, which includes food and toiletries.

Your funds support on -site counselling, referrals, and advocacy in an environment that promotes positive change. Make a difference by visiting www.ywcakeeparoof.com.* The Speaker: Thank you, hon. member. Regretfully, the time has passed on. I have no choice but to stop members when the two minutes are up, and we’re trying to be more consistent in that way. Also, I was asked to forgo the 30-second departure for washroom breaks rule to speed things up, so let’s do that. Hon. Member for Airdrie, were you serious about a point of order? We don’t normally do points of order during private members’ statements. Mr.

Anderson: No. It’s after. The Speaker: It was after? I heard you during. Mr. Anderson: It was heard from him during the member’s statement. The Speaker: There either is a point of order on someone else or . . . Mr. Anderson: There is a point of order. The Speaker: Is there one? Mr. Anderson: On Mr. McIver. The Speaker: All right. It’s been noted, and we’ll look forward to hearing the arguments for it. Cypress-Medicine Hat , you’ll be next, followed by Red Deer - North. Federal Building Redevelopment Plan Mr.

Barnes: A few years ago the government decided that their PC MLAs should have new office space and that those luxury offices should be built on the dime of the hard-working taxpayer. Fast-forward to now, and the project has grown and grown and grown. They’re drowning Albertans in debt and interest payments, but office space is somehow still a priority for them. Mr. Speaker, when you take cost overruns, project add- ons, and incompetent oversight, and you put them all together, you get a renovation that now comes in at a staggering $400 million.

Sadly, this wasn’t even the worst story to come out of the federal building. We just found out that the former Premier’s executive assistant p ersonally meddled with project plans and demanded that builders include a luxury suite for the Premier, a private elevator, and a PC MLA alumni lounge. Albertans wouldn’t even dream of the day when they could plan their own multimillion-dollar living space or build themselves a rooftop garden for cocktail parties or host friends in a private theatre.

But for this government approving a PC palace in the sky is just business as usual in the building Alberta plan. 3:20 The Minister of Infrastructure and the previous one have been talking out of both sides of their mouths. Before they were being loyal foot soldiers and proudly trumpeting the PC messaging. Now they’re backtracking, and both are trying to claim credit for stopping the plans. It’s time for them to step up, claim responsibility, and apologize to taxpayers for putting themselves first. This is a testament to the size and power of government here in Alberta.

The web of government scope and authority becomes larger and more tangled with each budget that passes, and projects like the sky palace will start going unnoticed as accountability and transparency continue to disappear. Mr. Speaker, the Infrastructure ministers, the former Premier, and the whole cabinet owe taxpayers an apology for the sky palace and the $400 million. The Speaker: Thank you. Red Deer College Athletic Achievements Mrs. Jablonski: Well, Mr. Speaker, the city of Red Deer has always been very proud of Red Deer College and its academic and athletic accomplishments.

This year Red Deer College made national history by winning Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association national titles in both men’s and women’s volleyball and a national team championship gold medal in women’s curling. That is three national titles in one year. Red Deer Coll ege also received a national silver medal in men’s basketball and seven Alberta college provincial championships. Red Deer College also celebrates the fact that 97 student athletes achieved academic excellence with a GPA of 3.0. There are more than 175 student athletes who compete in seven sports on 15 teams.

The Red Deer College Kings and Queens have demonstrated throughout this historic season their determination, skills, and leadership. Four of their coaches have been recognized for excellence provincially and nationally. Not only are they part of an athletic dynasty; they are also volunteers, coaches, and mentors in our community, giving back whenever possible. To quote from Red Deer College president and CEO Joel Ward: “The unparalleled achievements o f our student athletes this year serve as the exclamation point to our remarkable 50 -year history.

We have a lot to be proud of at RDC, and our student athletes shouted that message to the nation this year. We’re excited to celebrate these accomplishments as we reflect on the storybook season where our student athletes, coaches, and trainers have exhibited the drive and dedication that has defined the spirit of our learners, our college, and our community for decades.” Please join me in congratulating Red Deer College and their student athletes who became a part of Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association history by winning three national titles this year. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Calgary -Glenmore, followed by Edmonton-Mill Woods. *The text in italics exceeded the time limit and was not read into the House.

April 7, 2014 Alberta Hansard 349 Volunteers Ms L. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. April 6 to 12 is National Volunteer Week. It is a time to pay tribute to and reflect on the immense contributions that volunteers, our everyday heroes, are making in communities. Generous and compassionate volunteers delive r vital programs and services in all corners of Alberta, contributing an estimated $9.6 billion in revenue to our economy each year.

Because of the efforts of volunteers, Albertans of all ages are able to develop their creative and athletic talents, expand the scope of their education, and be inspired to step forward themselves as volunteers. Volunteers are in hospitals, libraries, and hockey rinks. They are helping to fight fires and deadly diseases. Seniors are supported by volunteers, and seniors are volunteers. Volunteers are providing support to families devastated by flood waters and other natural disasters. They are building Alberta communities for the future by helping preserve its past.

Volunteers are our friends, our neighbours, our everyday heroe s, and they touch the lives of every single Albertan. Mr. Speaker, the government of Alberta is proud to support our volunteers with programs and direct funding and by recognizing their outstanding contributions with the annual stars of Alberta volunteer awards. Also, this year the government will be joining with Volunteer Alberta in the launch of Volunteerville, an online community where Albertans can share their own experiences as volunteers. I encourage all Albertans to visit this website at Volunteer Alberta.

In conclusion, on behalf of all the Legislature I’m especially proud to say thank you to the amazing Albertans that are building this province. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Mill Woods , followed by Calgary-Buffalo. Earthquake in Chile Mr. Quadri: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to bring attention to a natural disaster which has directly impacted some of my constituents in Edmonton- Mill Woods . As the people of Alberta know first-hand from last s ummer, nature can be a very devastating force. On Tuesday, April 1, an 8.2 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Chile.

This earthquake was the largest in the region since the devastating 8.8 magnitude earthquake in 2010, which killed over 500 people. Fortunately, the Chilean government took action after the 2010 earthquake and put in place measures such as earthquake-resistant buildings and the improved warning system to reduce the cost of human life. These measures were largely successful; however , sadly, seven people lost their lives in the earthquake. Nearly 928,000 people had to be evacuated, and more than 2,600 homes were seriously damaged. Alberta is home to over 6,000 people of Chilean descent.

My riding of Edmonton-Mill Woods has the highes t Chilean population of any constituency in Alberta. They are very active in my constituency and help to ensure that Mill Woods remains a vibrant multicultural community. I would like to especially recognize a few members of the board of directors from the Chilean Canadian Cultural Society’s Edmonton

chapter who are sitting in the public gallery today. Joining us are Sandra Azocar, Lito Azocar, Boris Contreras, and Degalio Henriquez. The Chilean people have shown the strength in their character and resolve in rebuilding from the previous earthquake, and I am sure this time will be no different. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Chile as they go through this rebuilding effort, and my condolences go out to those families who have lost their loved ones in this tragedy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Buffalo. LGBTQ Student Supports Mr.

Hehr: Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It is truly an honour and a privilege to talk today about my motion. Today, hon. members, we are faced with the choice between taking action to counter homophobic bullying in our schools or doing nothing, a choice between making things better today or paying lip service that things will get better someday. Today we can choose to make life better for kids by supporting Motion 503, which will mandate that gay-straight alliances be supported in all schools where kids want them.

Our education system is comprised of public, private, Catholic, and charter schools where children are subjected to horrific abuse simply because of who they are. The abuse faced by gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered students is not justifiable in any school, and something must be done. The research regarding solutions is clear. When students are permitted to form gay - straight alliances and create a safe space for themselves, bullying and suicide attempts are reduced. This is not limited to LGBT students but extends to all students.

Sadly, although no one can deny the problem of homophobic bullying, there appear s not to be the will to do anything about it. Hiding behind excuses like school board autonomy or the notion that preventing discrimination somehow violates religious liberty, the government seems content to do nothing.

Given that this government has accep ted that gay -straight alliances reduce bullying, I cannot understand why they will not legislate that GSAs be made mandatory in schools where kids want them when they know that some school administrators or boards will not be proactive in implementing thes e clubs, despite their success rate, because of redundant arguments that have no place in today’s Alberta. Hon. members, this afternoon we have a choice. Our actions could directly make things better for kids forever in this province if only we have the courage to make things better today. Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker. head: Tabling Returns and Reports The Speaker: Hon. Member for Red Deer -North, I understand you have four or five. Mrs. Jablonski: Five. That’s correct. The Speaker: Proceed, please. Mrs. Jablonski: Mr. Speaker, I do have five items to table today, all of which I have quoted from in my speech for second reading of Bill 203, the Childhood Vision Assessment Act. The first document is entitled Visual Impediments to Learning. It’s a document written by Dr. Noella Piquette and Dr. Charles Boulet.

I have quoted from this document, in particular the statement that says that it violates the human rights of children not to maintain their eye health.

350 Alberta Hansard April 7, 2014 3:30 The second document is a letter from John McDonald, the executive director and regional vice-president of CNIB Alberta and Northwest Territories, that states that the CNIB is very supportive of the intent of Bill 203. The third document is from the eye physicians and surgeons who support enhanced vision screening designed to capture and treat eye health problems in as many affected children as possible. The fourth document is a letter from Dr.

Gordon Hensel, the registrar for the Alberta College of Optometrists, that has provided suggested a mendments to Bill 203 and clearly states that they support comprehensive eye examinations for all children on a regular basis by a doctor of optometry or an ophthalmologist. The fifth tabling is from the Alberta Association of Optometrists, that congratulates me for introducing Bill 203, the Childhood Vision Assessment Act, and it provides seven recommendations for amendments to make the bill stronger. Mr. Speaker, I will be implementing those seven recommendations. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon.

Minist er of Aboriginal Relations – I understand you have two to present – followed by the Minister of Justice. Mr. Oberle: I do. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, it’s my honour to table the appropriate number of copies of the 2013 annual re

Document details

Collection	Alberta — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20140407
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	L28 S2 20140407 1330 01 han.pdf
Language	en
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