Alberta Hansard — 3 November 2009, Afternoon sitting (13:30) (Legislature 27, Session 2)

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Alberta — Debates (Hansard)

Province of Alberta The 27th Legislature Second Session Alberta Hansard Tuesday, November 3, 2009 Issue 54 The Honourable Kenneth R. Kowalski, Speaker

Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 27th Legislature Second Session Kowalski, Hon. Ken, Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock, Speaker Cao, Wayne C.N., Calgary-Fort, Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees Mitzel, Len, Cypress-Medicine Hat, Deputy Chair of Committees Ady, Hon. Cindy, Calgary-Shaw (PC), Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation Allred, Ken, St.

Albert (PC) Amery, Moe, Calgary-East (PC) Anderson, Rob, Airdrie-Chestermere (PC) Benito, Carl, Edmonton-Mill Woods (PC) Berger, Evan, Livingstone-Macleod (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Sustainable Resource Development Bhardwaj, Naresh, Edmonton-Ellerslie (PC) Bhullar, Manmeet Singh, Calgary-Montrose (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Advanced Education and Technology Blackett, Hon.

Lindsay, Calgary-North West (PC), Minister of Culture and Community Spirit Blakeman, Laurie, Edmonton-Centre (AL), Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition Official Opposition House Leader Boutilier, Guy C., Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo (Ind) Brown, Dr. Neil, QC, Calgary-Nose Hill (PC) Calahasen, Pearl, Lesser Slave Lake (PC) Campbell, Robin, West Yellowhead (PC), Deputy Government Whip Chase, Harry B., Calgary-Varsity (AL), Official Opposition Whip Dallas, Cal, Red Deer-South (PC) Danyluk, Hon. Ray, Lac La Biche-St.

Paul (PC), Minister of Municipal Affairs DeLong, Alana, Calgary-Bow (PC) Denis, Jonathan, Calgary-Egmont (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Energy Doerksen, Arno, Strathmore-Brooks (PC) Drysdale, Wayne, Grande Prairie-Wapiti (PC) Elniski, Doug, Edmonton-Calder (PC) Evans, Hon. Iris, Sherwood Park (PC), Minister of Finance and Enterprise Fawcett, Kyle, Calgary-North Hill (PC) Forsyth, Heather, Calgary-Fish Creek (PC) Fritz, Hon. Yvonne, Calgary-Cross (PC), Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Goudreau, Hon.

Hector G., Dunvegan-Central Peace (PC), Minister of Employment and Immigration, Deputy Government House Leader Griffiths, Doug, Battle River-Wainwright (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Solicitor General and Public Security Groeneveld, Hon. George, Highwood (PC), Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hancock, Hon. Dave, QC, Edmonton-Whitemud (PC), Minister of Education, Government House Leader Hayden, Hon. Jack, Drumheller-Stettler (PC), Minister of Infrastructure Hehr, Kent, Calgary-Buffalo (AL) Hinman, Paul, Calgary-Glenmore (WA) Horne, Fred, Edmonton-Rutherford (PC) Horner, Hon.

Doug, Spruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert (PC), Minister of Advanced Education and Technology Jablonski, Hon. Mary Anne, Red Deer-North (PC), Minister of Seniors and Community Supports Jacobs, Broyce, Cardston-Taber-Warner (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Agriculture and Rural Development Johnson, Jeff, Athabasca-Redwater (PC) Johnston, Art, Calgary-Hays (PC) Kang, Darshan S., Calgary-McCall (AL) Klimchuk, Hon. Heather, Edmonton-Glenora (PC), Minister of Service Alberta Knight, Hon. Mel, Grande Prairie-Smoky (PC), Minister of Energy Leskiw, Genia, Bonnyville-Cold Lake (PC) Liepert, Hon.

Ron, Calgary-West (PC), Minister of Health and Wellness Lindsay, Hon. Fred, Stony Plain (PC), Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security Lukaszuk, Thomas A., Edmonton-Castle Downs (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Municipal Affairs Lund, Ty, Rocky Mountain House (PC) MacDonald, Hugh, Edmonton-Gold Bar (AL) Marz, Richard, Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills (PC) Mason, Brian, Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood (NDP), Leader of the NDP Opposition McFarland, Barry, Little Bow (PC) McQueen, Diana, Drayton Valley-Calmar (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Environment Morton, Hon.

F.L., Foothills-Rocky View (PC), Minister of Sustainable Resource Development Notley, Rachel, Edmonton-Strathcona (NDP), Deputy Leader of the NDP Opposition, NDP Opposition House Leader Oberle, Frank, Peace River (PC), Government Whip Olson, Verlyn, QC, Wetaskiwin-Camrose (PC) Ouellette, Hon. Luke, Innisfail-Sylvan Lake (PC), Minister of Transportation Pastoor, Bridget Brennan, Lethbridge-East (AL), Deputy Official Opposition Whip Prins, Ray, Lacombe-Ponoka (PC) Quest, Dave, Strathcona (PC) Redford, Hon. Alison M., QC, Calgary-Elbow (PC), Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

Deputy Government House Leader Renner, Hon. Rob, Medicine Hat (PC), Minister of Environment, Deputy Government House Leader Rodney, Dave, Calgary-Lougheed (PC) Rogers, George, Leduc-Beaumont-Devon (PC) Sandhu, Peter, Edmonton-Manning (PC) Sarich, Janice, Edmonton-Decore (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Education Sherman, Dr. Raj, Edmonton-Meadowlark (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Health and Wellness Snelgrove, Hon. Lloyd, Vermilion-Lloydminster (PC), President of the Treasury Board Stelmach, Hon. Ed, Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville (PC), Premier, President of Executive Council Swann, Dr.

David, Calgary-Mountain View (AL), Leader of the Official Opposition Taft, Dr. Kevin, Edmonton-Riverview (AL) Tarchuk, Hon. Janis, Banff-Cochrane (PC), Minister of Children and Youth Services Taylor, Dave, Calgary-Currie (AL) VanderBurg, George, Whitecourt-Ste. Anne (PC) Vandermeer, Tony, Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview (PC) Weadick, Greg, Lethbridge-West (PC) Webber, Len, Calgary-Foothills (PC), Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations Woo-Paw, Teresa, Calgary-Mackay (PC) Xiao, David H., Edmonton-McClung (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Employment and Immigration Zwozdesky, Hon.

Gene, Edmonton-Mill Creek (PC), Minister of Aboriginal Relations, Deputy Government House Leader Officers and Officials of the Legislative Assembly Clerk W.J. David McNeil Clerk Assistant/ Director of House Services Louise J. Kamuchik Clerk of Journals/Table Research Micheline S. Gravel Senior Parliamentary Counsel Robert H. Reynolds, QC Senior Parliamentary Counsel Shannon Dean Sergeant-at-Arms Brian G. Hodgson Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms J. Ed Richard Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Gordon H. Munk Managing Editor of Alberta Hansard Liz Sim

November 3, 2009 Alberta Hansard 1689 Legislative Assembly of Alberta Title: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 3, 2009 [The Speaker in the chair] head: Prayers The Speaker: Good afternoon. Welcome. Let us pray. Grant us daily awareness of the precious gift of life which has been given to us. As Members of this Legislative Assembly we dedicate our lives anew to the service of our province and our country. Amen. Please be seated. head: Introduction of Guests The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Decore. Mrs. Sarich: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Today it gives me great pleasure to rise to introduce to you and through you to all members of the House visitors from my constituency of Edmonton-Decore. There are 55 wonderful students, our future leaders, from the Edmonton Christian school northeast campus, which also is celebrating its 60th anniversary and 10th year of partnership with Edmonton public schools later this month. Also, this happens to be the alma mater of the Member for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview. It gives me distinct pleasure to welcome these students. They’re joined by their teachers, Mr. Greg Gurnett, Miss Elaine Junk, Mrs.

Melanie Sigrist; parent helpers Mrs. Charlene Stoklosa, Mr. Don Gerdun, Mrs. Karen Vandermeer, Mrs. Colleen Barbe, Mrs. Lori Bourgeois, Mr. Fred Woudstra, and Mrs. Evelyn Wiebe. I would now ask the students and their teachers and parent helpers from Edmonton Christian school northeast campus, who are seated in the members’ gallery, to please rise to receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Castle Downs. Mr. Lukaszuk: Thank you. We have a group of students today in our gallery who are also your guests, Mr.

Speaker, as they partici- pated in today’s marvellous service for Remembrance Day; that is, two classes from St. Timothy elementary school in Edmonton, which happens to be residing in my riding of Edmonton-Castle Downs. These 44 students are accompanied by Mrs. Leana Perri, Mr. Sheldon Biamonte, and Ms Natalie Onyschuk. I would ask all the students to rise and accept the traditional welcome of this Assembly. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Little Bow. Mr. McFarland: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, may I thank you for hosting a very wonderful Remembrance Day service this morning.

I’m pleased to introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly Ms Hailey Cervo, who is seated in your gallery. Hailey is from Nobleford, Alberta, and was first-place winner of the Alberta-Northwest Territories command and dominion 2009 senior poem competition. We all had the great pleasure of hearing your touching poem today during the Legislature Remembrance Day service. Hailey is joined today by her dad, Lorne, and her grandma, Alice. Unfortunately, her mom, Crystal, had to work and stayed at home today.

You may be interested to know that Hailey will be attending the national service in Ottawa on November 11. She along with three other category winners in the seniors competition will be laying wreaths for the youth of Canada. She’s going to meet the Governor General, and more significantly her poem is going to be in the national War Museum on display for a year. I would ask that Hailey, her dad, and her grandma please rise and receive the traditional warm welcome. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Whitecourt-Ste. Anne. Mr. VanderBurg: Thank you.

On your behalf I’d like to introduce to you and through you Donna and Herb Kopp, who reside in Barrhead, Alberta. Herb is a fellow Rotarian and past president and treasurer of the Barrhead Rotary Club as well. They have brought with them today two exchange students: Camille Houbaille, Westlock Rotary student from Belgium, and Andrea Suárez Lárraga, Barrhead exchange student from Mexico. Their visit is made possible through the long-term exchange program which is spon- sored by Rotary clubs throughout the world.

The Barrhead and Westlock Rotary clubs are pleased to welcome Camille and Andrea for a one-year stay in our communities. They’re seated in your gallery, Mr. Speaker, this afternoon. I’d ask them to please rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Justice and Attorney General. Ms Redford: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased today to rise and introduce to you and through you to all members of this Assembly 13 speakers from this morning’s Safe Communities Showcase.

The showcase took place at the Radisson Hotel in Edmonton, where six presentations highlighted the successes of grassroots crime prevention initiatives and demonstrated the personal commitment and excellent work that is being done at the community level. The presenters joining us today are Sheila Bradley and Leslie Munson from addiction prevention in schools; Serri Lasuik and Paul Hawthorne from the youth diversion project; Deborah Hopkins, Doreen Roy, Nola Smith, and Randee Rurka from the positive parenting program; Cheryl Gardner, Dr.

Tanya Boles, and Constable Clayton Okell from the Edmonton and Calgary police and crisis teams; Sharon Steinhauer from the Saddle Lake Boys and Girls Club; and Dr. Pamela Thompson from Pathways to Housing. I’d ask them all to please rise and receive the warm welcome of this Assembly and our thanks. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Rutherford. Mr. Horne: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I’m delighted to introduce to you and through you today to all members of the Assembly three students from my constituency of Edmonton- Rutherford: Miss Elizabeth Otto, Miss Rongjia Liu, and Miss Stephanie Bohaichuk. Elizabeth, Rongjia, and Stephanie are students of the Harry Ainlay and Louis St. Laurent schools in my constituency. This summer they participated in a University of Alberta program known as WISEST, designed to encourage excellence in scholarship and research, and all three had the opportunity to come up with some very impressive projects.

I’d ask Elizabeth, Rongjia, Stephanie, and the people accompanying them today to please rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of our House. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview.

Alberta Hansard November 3, 20091690 Mr. Vandermeer: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to introduce to you two people that are near and dear to me that have already been introduced to you: somewhat unusual, perhaps. They are a part of the Edmonton northeast Christian school group, and they are seated in the members’ gallery. I would ask them to rise as I mention their names. The first is my favourite sister-in-law, Karen Vandermeer. The second is one of my favourite nephews, Carter Vandermeer. I would ask that you all give them the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Edmonton-Riverview. Dr. Taft: Well, thanks, Mr. Speaker. I’m frequently impressed with the constituents of Edmonton-Riverview whom I’ve introduced here, but none impresses me more than the person I’m going to introduce today. His name is Doug Pruden, and he’s in the public gallery. I’d ask him to stand. Now, Doug is recognized most recently in the current Guinness Book of World Records for completing – get this – 1,025 one-arm push-ups on the back of the hand in one hour, a feat he completed on November 8, 2008. He’s also been declared a grand master of push-ups in the U.K. and in Germany.

He has a number of other records, and this is pretty humbling for all of us, I think, including 1,781 back-of-hand push-ups in one hour, 5,557 on- fist push-ups in over three hours, 1,000 – I can’t believe this one – on-fist push-ups in just over 18 minutes, and 1,777 one-arm push- ups in an hour, to name only a few of his records. Congratulations on your stamina and dedication, Doug. Please give him a warm welcome. 1:40head: Members’ Statements The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Egmont. 20th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall Mr. Denis: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

It’s with great pleasure today that I rise as an Albertan of German descent to acknowledge the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Many of us can remember 20 years ago the dramatic television footage from Germany on November 9, 1989, and the subsequent celebration of freedom, but while this was the end of the Iron Curtain for most of us, it was a new beginning for Germany and for Europe. It symbolized the first step in German unification, which formally concluded October 3, 1990. Not only did this event reunite family, friends, and neighbours; it inspired people across the world.

While reading about the upcoming celebrations to commemorate this special anniversary, I learned of an international project called Mauerreise: the Journey of the Wall. Twenty symbolic wall bricks are being sent from Berlin, which started in May 2009. Their destination, Mr. Speaker? Places like Korea, Cyprus, Yemen, and other places where everyday life is characterized by division and a similar border experience. In these places the bricks will become a blank canvas for artists, intellectuals, and young people to tackle the wall phenomenon.

I applaud this international effo rt in raising awareness for the problems that come with divisions within a nation and look forward to seeing some of the end results. Mr. Speaker, I did see some of the end results this summer, when I had the fortune to visit Berlin. What are the results? Where there was once a wall, there is now a modern, cosmopolitan city. I also had the opportunity to visit East Berlin, where I saw a Stasi prison, which is now a historical site.

This anniversary serves as a reminder to me of how proud I am to be an Albertan and how fortunate we are to live in a country that is free and united, free of oppression of dictatorial regimes inspired by fascism and communism. We must never take our freedom for granted. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Lesser Slave Lake. Family Violence Prevention Month Ms Calahasen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Family Violence Preven- tion Month started in 1986 as a local initiative in the little town of Hinton, where concerned residents launched a family violence education and prevention campaign.

This grassroots effort inspired the Alberta Legislature to support family violence prevention as an ongoing provincial initiative, resulting in the inception of November as Family Violence Prevention Month. For most of us family is who we turn to for support, comfort, and protection, but for some Albertans family can be a source of violence, danger, and fear. Family violence hurts everyone. It touches every group in every community. It knows no socioeconomic, educational, or cultural boundaries.

Family Violence Prevention Month is an opportunity to remind Albertans that we all have a responsibility to help end the cycle of violence because, Mr. Speaker, victims of family violence are often silenced by fear or don’t know where to turn for help. As caring friends, families, and neighbours we all must do our part to end the silence and stop the violence. The government of Alberta is doing its part and continues to be a leader in addressing the issue of family violence.

As an example, through the prevention of family violence and bullying initiative nine government ministries are working together to address family violence. We have strengthened legislation to protect victims, established domestic violence courts, increased funding to women’s emergency shelters, supported sexual assault centres, and provided funding for community-based programs and victims’ services.

The government’s safe communities initiative also supports several programs to prevent family violence and support its victims, including outreach pilot projects aimed at improving access to resources for aboriginal and immigrant communities. Albertans who suspect that someone is dealing with family violence are encouraged to call the toll-free family violence info line at 310.1818. The 24-hour, seven-days-a-week info line offers help in more than 170 languages. Additional information and resources are also available on the website, www.familyviolence.alberta.ca.

All Albertans deserve to feel safe and live with respect and dignity in their communities. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar. Health Care Spending Mr. MacDonald: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government is downsizing Alberta Hospital, limiting diagnostic testing, and forcing patients to wait longer and longer for surgeries. This government claims that health care spending is out of control and needs to be curtailed. Well, if anything is out of control and needs curtailing, it’s not the public health services Albertans depend on.

It’s this government’s lavish spending on a few lucky, hand-picked friends inside our public health care system. Jack Davis, for example, is receiving over $22,000 a month from a lavish pension plan. He contributed not one penny to this plan, and he was credited with over 28 years of pensionable service even though he only worked for the health authority for a little over eight years. He’s receiving a gold-plated pension based on over 20 years of work that he actually didn’t do.

November 3, 2009 Alberta Hansard 1691 Here’s another example of out-of-control spending in the health department. The total cost of paying out severance packages for the transition from nine health boards to the one cost taxpayers $23 million; $18 million of this was shared by a mere 30 senior execu- tives. On top of that, there wasn’t even a defined process for handing out these severance payments. In fact, Alberta Health Services overpaid to the tune of $41,000.

On top of all this, the Auditor General’s report shows that accounting practices and processes during the transition from nine boards to one were incredibly mismanaged. There was no oversight, no consistency. The 2008-09 budget hasn’t even been approved by the minister or the Alberta Health Services Board in a year when the operating deficit is approaching $400 million in Alberta Health Services. The minister of health has admitted that he bears the ultimate responsibility for all of this. Therefore, it’s long past time for this minister to do the right thing, the honourable thing: resign. Thank you.

The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Lougheed. Stephen’s Backpacks Mr. Rodney: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recently I was honoured to bring greetings from our Premier and our Minister of Children and Youth Services at a thank-you luncheon for foster parents. I was inspired by all in attendance and suggested that someone write a book celebrating the incredible achievements. Immediately thereafter Nancy and Jim McPhee offered me a copy of their book, Dream Out Loud, the proceeds of which assist working families to get off the street.

The book raises awareness of early intervention and the amazing benefits it can bring to set up a child for success, and it draws attention to the great merits of children helping children despite their own challenges. It features the journey of Nancy and Jim’s son Stephen. A few years ago, Mr. Speaker, when he was only five years old, Stephen proclaimed: mommy, I need to help them. That’s right, Mr. Speaker. A preschool boy who happens to have autism was pledging to help the homeless. Stephen decided he would make ‘packbacks,’ as he called them.

He packed his newer toys and whatever else he thought appropriate, including mitts, hats, toys, candies, and socks. The McPhees made 15 backpacks, which they gave to those in need on a cold Christmas Eve. Shy little Stephen gave one to a 16-year-old boy with Down’s syndrome. In 2007 the community of Airdrie caught Stephen’s passion, and the result was 265 backpacks. In 2008 the province got involved. Over 1,000 backpacks came of that, and they were distributed to homeless children all over the province.

In August 2008 Stephen also raised 600 pairs of shoes for schoolchildren who didn’t have any, and in 2009 he nearly doubled that. Stephen’s Backpacks Society is now a national charity with warehouses, hundreds of volunteers, and corporate sponsors. Mr. Speaker, when Stephen popped into the lives of the McPhees, they had no idea what direction their journey might take them, and they might never have dreamt that their little one would one day become a recipient of the Alberta Great Kids award and be named a Global 2008 Everyday Hero.

Stephen has taught us all to dream out loud, and anyone who wants to join him in these and other projects can buy a copy of Dream Out Loud at Alberta Safeway stores and visit stephensback- packs.com. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Rutherford. Pan-Canadian Paralympic School Week Mr. Horne: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, the torch has been lit, and the countdown is on to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. With only four months to go, excitement is growing in Canada and around the globe.

I’m sure many of my colleagues here in the House remember a similar experience when Calgary hosted the ’88 Winter Games. The period leading up to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games presents an unparalleled opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to engage students in an event that will be receiving world- wide attention. In my capacity as deputy chair of the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities I’m very pleased to stand today and recognize November 2 through 6, 2009, as Pan- Canadian Paralympic School Week.

Paralympic School Week offers a special opportunity for students across the country to explore the values that Paralympians bring to their sport and to recognize and celebrate people with disabilities and their achievements. All schools in Alberta and across Canada are invited to participate in this week-long program. Teachers can download a resource guide which contains suggestions for planning school-wide and classroom- based activities for a range of grades and subject areas.

The guide helps teachers create Paralympic-style events right in their class- room, discusses the values of the Paralympic Games, and showcases people with a disability who are making a difference. Anyone interested in the Paralympic School Week materials or other Olympic education resources can visit the Department of Education website to find out more. Mr. Speaker, this is an exciting time for Canada. I hope everyone, and particularly all members of this House, finds a way to support and participate in this extraordinary event.

Thank you. 1:50head: Oral Question Period The Speaker: First Official Opposition main question. The hon. Leader of the Official Opposition. H1N1 Influenza Immunization Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday the Alberta health minister took complete responsibility for Alberta’s H1N1 pandemic plan. On Sunday clinics to administer the plan were closed, the only clinics in Canada that were shut down. On Monday it was the same. Today it is the same.

Yesterday the federal Health minister indi- cated that the national plan identified high risk and health workers to get the vaccine first, a plan this minister did not follow. This cannot be regarded as anything but a complete failure. To the Premier. Yesterday the federal minister also said that we have sufficient vaccine for high-risk individuals. Will you now fire the health minister? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, you know, the only response we have from the opposition is: fire this person; fire that person. But this individual has changed position now three times.

His first position was: let everyone in the province of Alberta be vaccinated. That was towards the end of last week. Then he changed: no, only high risk. Then back to everyone, and today I really don’t know where he is: high risk or no high risk? All of a sudden he’s now on the fourth position in about five days. Dr. Swann: Mr. Speaker, Albertans know that is untrue.

Alberta Hansard November 3, 20091692 Yesterday in this House the minister of health asserted that “every health care worker . . . who wanted to get vaccinated has been vaccinated.” I later spoke to health workers in Drayton Valley and the Royal Alexandra hospital here in Edmonton. They have not been vaccinated despite repeated attempts to do so. For misleading the House the Premier must fire this minister. Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, again, misinformation, and the minister will clarify. Mr. Liepert: Well, Mr. Speaker, there are two areas that have not had a pause in terms of vaccination.

One is health care workers, so that is continuing, and at the same time we are also continuing our vaccinations wherever possible with our homeless community. Every Alberta health care worker will have the opportunity to be vaccinated and has the opportunity to be vaccinated right now because that is not part of the pause that’s currently under way. The Speaker: The hon. leader. Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday the minister of health also asserted that the pandemic tent at the Stollery children’s hospital was not planned as a pandemic tent at all.

I have documents which I’ll table later that show this is not true. Again to the Premier: will you fire this minister for deliberately misleading the House? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, those are quite serious accusations, and it’ll be up to the minister of health to decide how he will proceed with those allegations. I think it’s getting beyond ridiculous. This is a serious situation in the province of Alberta and the country of Canada, and quite frankly we can play around with this issue in the House, back and forth, but it’s a serious matter.

We want to get the correct information out to all Albertans, those at high risk, ensure that we provide the vaccination in a better model than we did last week, and we will do that. In the meantime let cooler heads prevail. This is the largest vaccination program of its kind in recent history at least, if not in the history of the country of Canada or at least in the province of Alberta. The Speaker: Second Official Opposition main question. The hon. Leader of the Official Opposition. H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The minister of health is responsible for what happens in his ministry.

That’s one fact he cannot spin, he cannot hide from. The confusion, fear, and outrage seen now throughout this province are due to this minister’s conflicting statements, changing plans, and inability to admit his mistakes. Again to the Premier: what is your excuse for holding onto over 180,000 doses of v accine for three days when you could have been delivering these to high-risk groups and health workers who need it? Mr. Stelmach: Again, working on information, it’s just like today in the scrum. You know, one reporter on one side: 200,000 doses of vaccine missing.

Another reporter from another station said: no, no; it’s only 20,000. You know, even the media are now working on: well, is it 200,000 or 20,000? Now we hear in here 180,000. It just goes back and forth, back and forth. If you want to win political points, go ahead, but I’m not going to do it on the backs of Albertans that are good civic citizens, who want to get the correct information. This minister is working with the medical officer of health and also Alberta Health Services to get the vaccinations out there as quickly as possible to all of the high-risk groups. Dr.

Swann: Why did this minister of health for three days – three days – rejig a plan that finally now corresponds to what other provinces and the federal government had indicated was necessary? Surely it’s clear to this Premier that this minister has to go. Mr. Stelmach: No, the minister does not have to go. In fact, the minister is working every hour of the day trying to ensure that there is a reasonable process in undertaking the largest vaccination program in the history of this province. Just the other week we heard, again, that the supply of doses from the one manufacturer in Montreal was interrupted.

That is different information than we had the week prior. The medical officer of health had to make a change in the plan to deal with the change in the number of doses that were available to the province of Alberta. Dr. Swann: Well, I’m going to try the Premier again on the first question. What is your excuse for holding on to thousands of doses of vaccine when there are thousands of vulnerable people and health workers that needed those vaccines in these last three days, Mr. Premier? Mr. Stelmach: Mr.

Speaker, I believe yesterday in the debate this came up, that in Alberta we have 400,000 people that were vacci- nated, and in all of the country of Canada the amount is a bout 1.4 million. So of the 1.4 million in all of the country of Canada that were vaccinated, 400,000 of those are here in the province of Alberta. That’s pretty good. The Speaker: Third Official Opposition main question. The hon. Leader of the Official Opposition. Health Care Restructuring Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The minister of health is facing a test of the health care system he shattered 18 months ago, and frankly the public has given him a failing grade. Again to the Premier: under this minister of health’s incompetence the health authority’s deficit has skyrocketed to $1.3 billion. What will it take for you to fire this minister? Mr. Stelmach: Mr.

Speaker, with respect to the budget in health services, notwithstanding the constant words – let’s put it very mildly – by the opposition in terms of cuts, cuts, cuts, the Alberta Health Services, the department of health have seen an increase in the last budget of $550 million. They will see another increase in the budget that will be introduced here in the House in February. It may not be as large as the budgets that were increased 10 to 12 per cent in years previous, but there will be increases.

Secondly, we’re also looking at the help of all health care professionals to see how we can deliver those services much more effectively and efficiently. We’re looking to those that work in the system to give advice to the minister so that we can put a sustainable health program in place. Dr. Swann: I don’t need to remind the Premier that this is the most vital service government provides to Albertans. It’s this minister of health’s incompetence and mismanagement that has led to confusion and mixed messages about 246 beds being cut from Alberta Hospital Edmonton. Will the Premier fire this minister?

November 3, 2009 Alberta Hansard 1693 Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, I believe he’s referring to the Alberta Hospital. We have a situation in the province where many of the community organizations and those that represent mental health organizations have requested this government for years to move people out of institutions and put them in homelike settings in the community, which I think will greatly enhance the quality of life for the people that may be suffering from mental illness and other related issues. We will work with the Alberta Health Services Board.

We’ve put an implementation team in place to make sure that this is done properly to improve the quality of life for those people that are living presently today in institutions. 2:00 Dr. Swann: In 1989 there were 13,300 acute beds in this province, and under this government the total of acute beds now has been cut to 6,800. The minister of health wants to reduce that further when we have the greatest need. Why, then, will this Premier not fire this minister for not protecting our health care system and for future generations? Mr. Stelmach: Mr.

Speaker, that just tells us how misinformed the Leader of the Opposition is. I can tell you that today, given how health services were delivered in the ’80s, cardiac – you know, open- heart surgery – patients are up within hours after surgery. People that spent days in hospital for cataract surgery are now operated on in day surgery. They come into the hospital in the morning, and they’re released later that afternoon.

The health delivery has completely changed, and to say that we need the same number of beds we did in 1989 I think, quite frankly, shows us that the leader has a total misunderstanding of how quickly the health system has changed for the better. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands- Norwood, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Calder. H1N1 Influenza Immunization for Hockey Teams Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Hockey players are not at high risk for swine flu, yet the Calgary Flames were given preferential treatment with government-supplied vaccine.

So were their families and their coaches. This was no doubt a measure taken by the team’s owners to protect their investment. Some pregnant women and young children now f ace a greater risk of very serious disease or even death because millionaire hockey players got a vaccine they did not urgently need. My question is to the Premier. Why is the Premier putting the in vestment of the Calgary Flames owners before the health and safety of pregnant women and young children? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, that issue is under investigation, and I applaud the member for bringing it forward.

Once the investigation is completed by Alberta Health Services, we’ll have further informa- tion to give. The one thing, though, is that if it has happened, somebody has broken the rules, and we want to find out who it is because it is deplorable. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Albertans want to know why government vaccine was secretly distributed to NHL players by Alberta Health Services while high-risk groups like expectant mothers were left waitin g in line.

The Calgary Flames owners have an investment to protect and together have donated more than $44,000 to the Progressive Conservative Party since 2004. Why has the Premier permitted millionaire friends of this PC government to receive preferential treatment over vulnerable Albertans like pregnant women and children under five? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, again, this is an issue that was brought forward as of yesterday. Obviously, upon further investigation we’ll have more information, but of course to drag this kind of nonsense, again, just adds to this whipsawing back and forth.

Again, part of the group tends to just excite every body at a time when we need calm. We need the time for our health care professionals to do the work that is absolutely necessary to provide the number of vaccina- tions that are necessary for Albertans. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Mason: Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. CNRL chairman and Calgary Flames owner Allan Markin has donated more than $20,000 to the PCs since 2004, team governor Harley Hotchkiss has donated nearly $15,000, chairman N. Murray Edwards has donated $3,500, and owner Alvin Libin has donated $2,000. Mr. Hancock: Point of order, Mr.

Speaker. Mr. Mason: Why won’t the Premier admit that he’s allowed his friends to jump the queue for the government flu shot, leaving vulnerable Albertans unvaccinated and risking serious illness or even death? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, many of the people that the member mentioned have contributed greatly to the province of Alberta. Harley Hotchkiss is funding total brain injury research under Dr. Sam Weiss. Every one of those people that have been mentioned has significantly contributed to the wealth of this province. They may have given money to this party. I’m sure they gave it to that party.

The member from Calgary is smiling because I know he’s received some. I don’t know if they did give to the NDs. Probably not, but it doesn’t really matter. The thing is that all those names that have been mentioned in the House publicly have contributed tremendously to the province of Alberta. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Calder, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Riverview. Safe Communities Initiative Mr. Elniski: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This week we are recogniz- ing the people working to keep our communities and families safe.

As part of the second anniversary of Alberta’s safe communities initiative I was pleased this morning to attend the Safe Communities Showcase. My first question is for the Minister of Justice and Attorney General. Could the minister please explain how commu- nity programs are contributing to overall crime prevention and reduction in Alberta? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Ms Redford: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I was pleased today to have the opportunity to meet with a number of community organiza- tions from across this province both in Edmonton and via the web to talk about the work that they have undertaken through the safe communities innovation fund. There were representatives from SuperKids in Brooks, mentor programming from the community of

Alberta Hansard November 3, 20091694 *See page 1731. right column, paragraph 7 Drayton Valley, and members of the Calgary and Edmonton police services from the police and crisis teams. The one thing that they all had in common is that they understood the importance of providing support, direction, and mentorship to young people who may be at risk of making bad choices in their life. There are a number of opportunities in a child’s life where if they do have the right direction and information, they should be able to make the right choices with our help. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Elniski: Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. My next question is for the same minister. Safe communities supports a variety of projects that address community action and diversion. What kind of progress are we seeing in these areas? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Ms Redford: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We need to strike a balance between enforcement, intervention, and prevention, and the empha- sis on the safe communities innovation fund is around prevention.

The youth diversion pilot project based out of Edmonton focuses on youth with mental illness and diverts them from the criminal justice system to appropriate health resources, and the Saddle Lake Boys and Girls Club is providing holistic and culturally appropriate programs and restorative justice programs in the community that it represents. Crime prevention is extremely effective at a grassroots level. We all know that. It’s important for us to highlight successes and challenges that community agencies have to ensure that we can think through how we deliver our programming in the future.

The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Elniski: Thank you. My final question is again for the same minister. What can we expect as safe communities moves forward? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Ms Redford: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’re now into the second year of our safe communities innovation fund and the safe communities initiative overall. We’ve had some tremendous success with respect to legislative reform, the gang prevention summit co- hosted by the Solicitor General and I earlier this year.

We’ve also had tremendous support from the community and feedback from the community with respect to how we as government need to support the work that they’re doing and how government departments need to work together, and we will continue to do that. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Riverview, followed by the hon. Member for Lacombe-Ponoka. Health and Wellness Executive Search Contract Dr. Taft: Thanks, Mr. Speaker. A careful digging into government books shows that a numbered company was paid $135,000 by the Department of Health and Wellness last year.

If you dig through a second layer of numbered companies, you’ll find that the $135,000 went to a company 50 per cent owned by the election campaign manager for the Minister of Health and Wellness. To the Minister of Health and Wellness: can he tell the people of Alberta why his department paid $135,000 to 1024226 Alberta Ltd., a company half owned by his campaign manager? Mr. Liepert: I can only assume, Mr. Speaker, that he’s referring to the search that took place for the board members for Alberta Health Services, which was an open, tendered competition.

My recollection is that the winning search firm that was selected was a search firm out of Calgary called Boyden. One of the partners in that firm is a gentleman named Brent Shervey, who was my campaign manager. It was an open competition. If the member would like to have sent over the documentation that we have, I’d be happy to supply it to him. The Speaker: The hon. member. Dr. Taft: Thanks, Mr. Speaker. I’ll take the minister up on the offer, so ship me the documents.

Again to the same minister: what was his personal involvement in the decision to have the Department of Health and Wellness hire his campaign manager’s numbered company? Is it just coincidence that his campaign manager’s company was hired, or was there political influence? Mr. Liepert: Well, I can say that the competition was conducted by the HR department of Alberta Health and Wellness. At the time they did the search, they asked me about the fact that this particular company had been the successful bidder and, I believe, the lowest bidder, Mr.

Speaker, but I’ll clarify that because I was not involved in the actual selection process. I was informed. I don’t see why any company in this province who does business should be precluded from doing business with this government if they meet all of the guidelines in the RFP.* 2:10 Dr. Taft: In May 2009 the Minister of Health and Wellness told a legislative committee that he wasn’t going to have a board of health care professionals running Alberta Health Services. Well, no kidding. The only health professional on the board is a doctor from Toronto.

Again to the same minister: did he give direction to his campaign manager to avoid recruiting to the board of Alberta Health Services any health care professionals from Alberta, or is it just coincidence that it turned out that way? Mr. Liepert: I can’t recall the exact documentation that was provided as part of the search, but it was done by our HR depart- ment, and I’d be more than happy to give whatever is not privileged information to the member, and then he can go on his witch hunt, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Lacombe-Ponoka, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre.

Cattle Price Insurance Program Mr. Prins: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our livestock industry has experienced some very challenging times over the last several years, and with the current economic downturn and our strong Canadian dollar the gap between the risk and reward in our cattle markets has become even greater. My question is for the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. With economic challenges like a global recession, a fluctuating Canadian dollar, market access issues, and high feed costs what has the government done to lessen the impact on our livestock producers?

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

November 3, 2009 Alberta Hansard 1695 Mr. Groeneveld: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our government certainly recognizes that the cattle market can experience some significant price swings, and the need for livestock insurance certainly was identified by the Alberta livestock and meat strategy. In response, we implemented the cattle price insurance program, the first one in Canada, by the way. CPIP, as it is called, is available through Agriculture Financial Services Corp.

CPIP provides the Alberta feed industry with the ability to manage risks such as the exchange rate, which is a real fluctuation barrier right now, so this certainly contributes to a more sustainable industry. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Prins: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. My next question. I’m pleased that our government has found a way to assist the cattle industry during these challenging times, and I’m proud to hear that it’s a made-in-Alberta solution. To the same minister: can you tell us briefly how the cattle price insurance program actually works? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr.

Groeneveld: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I certainly can because we worked with the industry to develop this program, so we know how CPIP meets their needs. It’s market driven, and it’s flexible. CPIP provides producers with a guaranteed minimum price where the guaranteed price and the associated premium reflect the current market situation. Producers can customize their coverage levels and policy length to suit their specific needs. The bottom line is that with government funding, administration costs, and producers funding the premium, CPIP is a valuable investment in an operator’s long-term success.

The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Prins: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again to the same minister: what has the industry’s r eaction been to the cattle price insurance program? Mr. Groeneveld: Well, Mr. Speaker, I’m very pleased to report that we’re off to a great start with CPIP, and the uptake by the industry has been very positive. AFSC was flooded with inquiries when the program was announced, and many eligible participants are taking advantage of it today.

More importantly, AFSC is monitoring how well the program is working and gathering feedback from industry to aid in developing programs that we can meet further on for better tools in our industry. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre, followed by the hon. Member for Battle River-Wainwright. Alternative Energy Investment Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Yesterday, in defending his lack of support for renewable energy in Alberta, the Minister of Environment stated, “This government believes that it’s not the role of the government to invest in energy.” Well, I’d say that spending $2 billion on carbon capture and storage, $200 million on technologies to improve oil and gas production, and $30 million to clean up abandoned wells, drilling credits, and new well incen- tives all add up to a government investing in energy. My questions are to the Minister of Environment.

Why is this government willing to invest only in fossil fuels and not in the wind and solar energy sector? Mr. Renner: Well, Mr. Speaker, the member is referring to an exchange that we had yesterday when she talked about the fact that there was an investment that was ongoing in Ontario that was encouraging the development of renewable energy in Ontario. The difference is that in Ontario all of the power production is owned by a Crown corporation, Ontario Hydro. The same situation doesn’t exist in this province. In this province the power production is owned by individual, privately owned companies.

Those same privately owned companies that we have operating in Alberta have had significant investment. In fact, the CCS dollars went to an electric generator here in Alberta. The Speaker: The hon. member. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. To the same minister. Well, Alberta enjoys more sunny and windy days than almost anywhere, yet Ontario will be the wind and solar power capital of Canada and will have created 50,000 green technology jobs in doing so, not even to mention what they’re doing in Texas.

Why is the minister letting our jobs and investment in our province leave the province for Ontario and Texas? Mr. Renner: Mr. Speaker, the process that’s being used in Ontario is a process that has been broached with the Alberta government. Frankly, as Minister of Environment I’m not entirely opposed to it. It’s something that’s called feed-in tariffs.

Essentially what it means is that all of the consumers of power in a jurisdiction would pay an environmental surcharge on their bill, and then that surcharge, that lump of dollars that is an environmental tax, for lack of a better term, is then reallocated to the producers of environmentally sustainable power. It has some merit, but it’s something that I’m not sure the government would arbitrarily impose upon Albertans without first asking them if they are in favour of it. The Speaker: The hon. member. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Back to the same minister.

This government is willing to compete fiercely with Ontario and with some other places in the States for everything else. So why – why? – is this government willing to let Ontario and Texas walk away with our jobs and walk away with investments in green energy technology? Mr. Renner: Mr. Speaker, I remind the member once again that in Ontario the electricity-producing corporation is owned by the government. It’s a Crown corporation. They’re moving money from one pot to another. It’s not the government that is doing it; it’s their Crown corporation.

We don’t have that same situation in Alberta, and frankly I don’t think we want that situation in Alberta. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Battle River-Wainwright, followed by the hon. Member for Lethbridge-East. Trade Mission to Asia Mr. Griffiths: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For two years I had the distinct pleasure of serving as parliamentary assistant to the minister of agriculture. I was always very proud of the minister for his resolute dedication to fiscal restraint. He seemed to manage every taxpayers’ dollar as though it was an investment for his grandchil- dren. I have a question for the minister.

He announced last week that he’s travelling to Asia for a trade mission. Given the economic circumstances the province is enduring right now and the great need

Alberta Hansard November 3, 20091696 for fiscal restraint, I’m wondering if he can explain why he now needs a trade mission to Asia. Mr. Groeneveld: Well, Mr. Speaker, the government of Alberta has a plan for a strong economic recovery, but it’s important that we continue to keep Albertans working by ensuring that our industries are competitive and are attracting investments. Access to the Asian market holds a tremendous potential for Alberta’s agriculture and food industry and particularly for the beef industry.

On a trip in 2007 I gained a better understanding of what these markets and their consumers wanted for their livestock and for their meat products. Since then the industry has been working to better meet these demands, and I will be providing an update on our progress in identifying more ways to supply these markets. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Griffiths: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The minister mentioned how important these markets are, but right to the south of us we have a market of 250 million people.

I’m wondering why we want to focus our attention on markets that are halfway around the world and what sort of benefits they are supposed to provide. Mr. Groeneveld: Well, Mr. Speaker, Asia is a growing market for our export opportun ities. People in Asia, as we all know, are now eating more protein, and it’s a growing market for the types of products produced here, like our famous Alberta beef. There are also opportunities for industry to tailor products to suit the specific consumer tastes in these regions. Alberta producers depend on exporting, and we have the products here that consumers in Asia want.

They’re not only interested in our beef. They’re interested in pork, canola, honey, and barley; you name it. 2:20 The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Griffiths: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This won’t be the first time that the minister has travelled to Asia, and I know he believes we are going to get some benefits. Are we building on benefits that came from other trade missions that he went over to Asia for? Did we accomplish some goals already that we’re going to build on? Ms Blakeman: Nice question, but it’s still on the website. Mr. Groeneveld: It’s a good question, whether it’s on the website or not, Mr. Speaker.

When I visited Asia in 2007, they told me that age verification and traceability are the minimum requirements for market access. To help meet these requirements, we created the Alberta livestock and meat strategy and, indeed, the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency. Market access is a top priority for ALMA. They are working with Alberta industry, government, and key foreign members to advance access for our Alberta products. As a matter of fact, one of our board members joined federal Minister Ritz on a mission to Hong Kong in January, where an agreement in principle for incremental market access was secured.

It was a direct result of our being there the previous year. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Lethbridge-East, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona. H1N1 Preparedness in Seniors’ Living Facilities Ms Pastoor: Thanks, Mr. Speaker. I asked the Minister of Health and Wellness about the pandemic planning for seniors’ living facilities; however, he only talked about the vaccines and not the care that the residents may require.

In Alberta Health Services’ pandemic plan it states that “all continuing care facilities . . . are expected to be self-sufficient.” My question to the Minister of Health and Wellness would be: could he explain exactly what self- sufficient means? Mr. Liepert: Well, Mr. Speaker, I am not part of the delivery system of health care. I will ha ve to ensure that Alberta Health Services has adequate plans in place; I’m confident they do.

I’m not exactly certain what self-sufficient means – I can only make some assumptions – but I do know that as part of that pandemic planning our seniors’ care has been considered to the fullest. The Speaker: The hon. member. Ms Pastoor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This minister speaks about the right care in the right place. Would it then not make sense to treat residents in the facility that is their home rather than having to use an ambulance to shuttle them back and forth to ERs if there is H1N1 influenza in that facility? I think this sounds like policy to me, not delivery. Mr. Liepert: Well, no, it’s not, Mr.

Speaker, because we don’t operate the long-term care centres in this province. Any pandemic planning would have been developed with those operators and would have been done with the ultimate care of the patient in mind. I’m not sure what the member is referring to relative to transferring back and forth by ambulance. I’m assuming that if the facility cannot handle or if the patient gets to a state where they need to go to an acute-care setting, that’s the arrangement that’s in place. Ms Pastoor: Well, deregulation rears its head again. Housing care. I’m speaking of care. Care comes under health.

Will the minister commit to monitoring and tracking the number of expensive ambulance calls to continuing care facilities as a way of measuring how these facilities are coping with residents who require assess- ments? Mr. Liepert: Sure. I’d be happy to get a report for the member from Alberta Health Services. Ms Pastoor: Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Ellerslie. H1N1 Influenza Immunization for Aboriginal Albertans Ms Notley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yesterday the government was taking credit for the federal government’s success in ensuring that the First Nations were the first to receive the H1N1 vaccination. Unfortunately, when it comes to what the province is actually responsible for, they fall short. While the Calgary Flames were jumping the queue, we’re told that this government only started meeting with Métis settlements’ reps last Thursday. To the Minister of Aboriginal Relations: why didn’ t this government take the lead and ensure that all remote Métis settlements got the vaccine first? The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Aboriginal Relations.

November 3, 2009 Alberta Hansard 1697 Mr. Zwozdesky: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Public Health Agency of Canada and, in fact, Health Canada are responsible for delivering the vaccines to First Nations throug hout the dominion, including Alberta. However, our role in that respect was to help ensure that the vaccines actually got there, and I personally phoned, oh, about eight reserves from down south all the way up north to make sure that that had happened, and it did occur.

In fact, this morning at a special strategies meeting of western Canadian officials Grand Chief Charles Weaselhead complimented both the govern- ment of Alberta and the government of Canada for how carefully that was done and indicated to us that it was one of the most successful rollouts in their history. I’ll comment on the Métis later. Ms Notley: Well, Mr. Speaker, the people of the Paddle Prairie settlement are hours away from the care they’ll need should they fall ill with H1N1.

That’s why Health Canada, as you identified, said that they and others in isolated communities should have been first on the list to get the vaccination. In this government’s first plan – I don’t know how many we’ve got at this point – they were not going to get their shots until week 2 or week 3, and now that may be delayed even further. To the same minister: why wasn’t Paddle Prairie the highest priority last week, as they should have been? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, we have eight Métis settlements here. Two of them were prioritized for early delivery.

They were in fact provided the vaccination on October 26, day 1. We phoned there as well to ensure that the vaccines had arrived. They had. As part of that vaccination plan a number of others were scheduled. For example, Paddle Prairie, that’s being referred to, was scheduled for November 6. I haven’t seen the details of the new plan, but I know that as soon as the v accination s upply is increased again by the provider, they will be among the priority groups that will be serviced. Ms Notley: Well, Mr. Speaker, 400,000 people vaccinated, and they don’t have it yet. It’s a tale of two governments.

Under the feds all 47 First Nation bands in Alberta have received their vaccine. A hundred per cent. A su ccess. Under the provincial government’s authority only 3 of 8 Métis settlements have received theirs, 38 per cent. A failing grade. We’ve known for the past six months that remote communities were among those at highest risk. How could the Alberta government fail to ensure that remote communities received the v accine the moment it became available? If the feds can do it, why couldn’t you? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr.

Speaker, the federal government’s jurisdiction with respect to the reserves in Alberta covers approximately 100,000 people. Our responsibility covers an additional 3.2 m illion, 3.3 million. There simply was not enough vaccine to go around. I have spoken with the Minister of Health and Wellness, and he has assured me that Métis settlements, including the five remaining ones, and numerous other category groups are the top priority. They will be provided the vaccine as soon as possible.

I remain hopeful that the November 6 plan for that particular Métis settlement as well as the ones that are coming on stream next week will be adhered to. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Ellerslie, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-Buffalo. High School Completion for High-risk Students Mr. Bhardwaj: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. On October 20 I attended an information session put on by Terra, a centre for pregnant teens, helping teenage mothers to complete high school. I must say that they’re doing a wonderful job. My questions are to the Minister of Education.

What steps is your ministry taking to help these young women complete high school? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are a number of programs across the province, one of which includes the Terra centre, for example, that work in partnership with school boards. In this case Terra works in partnership with the Edmonton public school board to support teen moms in achieving their academic success, getting their high school completion. The partnership between Terra and Braemar school helps the students achieve their potential both as students and as parents.

Many of the Alberta school jurisdictions have developed programs that support pregnant and parenting teens to complete their education. It’s a very, very vital part of making sure that every Alberta youth, regardless of their circumstance, has the opportunity to achieve their potential. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Bhardwaj: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. To the same minister: given that vulnerable students are the most at risk of not completing high school, what initiatives is your ministry taking to help other high-risk and vulnerable students to obtain their high school diploma? Mr. Hancock: Well, Mr.

Speaker, there are many reasons why students don’t finish high school. There’s not one single answer to that. In the spring of 2009 we did launch the high school completion strategic framework, which outlines strategies, including personal- ized learning, successful transitions, collaborative partnerships, positive connections, and tracking progress.

We have the Alberta mentoring partnership, we have a province-wide wraparound research project, we have a provincial protocol framework for success in school for children and youth in care jointly with Children and Youth Services, we have the children’s mental health capacity building project jointly with Health, funded out of the former Mental Health Board, and the aboriginal parent and community engagement. There are a number of projects across the province. I think it’s fair to say that one of our highest priorities is making sure that every child can get an education. 2:30 The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr.

Bhardwaj: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My final supplemental to the same minister. In recent years the province’s high school completion rate has flatlined. What is the minister doing to improve the rate and ensure that the province is graduating students that are capable and ready to contribute to the workforce or to the postsecondary institutions? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Hancock: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Actually, from the years 2004 to 2007 the five-year high school completion rate has increased steadily and now remains at a constant 79 per cent, so we actually over the five-year term have had good growth in that. It’s still not good enough. A lot more needs to be done. As I said, we launched the high school completion framework at the beginning of this year. Initiatives associated with the framework

Alberta Hansard November 3, 20091698 *See page 1731, right column, paragraph 2 were either at the research stage, the pilot stage, or the first years of development. Currently departmental staff are meeting with school jurisdictions to help them understand the high school completion framework and get their advice on best practices around the province that can be shared among jurisdictions. Grizzly Bear Protection Mr. Hehr: Mr. Speaker, last night many members of this honour- able House had a presentation from Carl Morrison with the Sierra Club and Dr.

Steve Herrero, an expert on grizzly bear conservation, on the need to list the grizzly as a threatened species now. We heard the findings from the best grizzly conservation science in the world. Despite some government members’ questioning of this science, I found it very informative. To the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development. You passed the grizzly bear recovery plan. What do you think of this plan? The Speaker: Opinions are not part of the purview of the question period. If the minister wants to comment, go ahead. Dr. Morton: Mr. Speaker, we’ve barely heard from the hon.

Member for Calgary-Buffalo this session, so I’m happy to answer his question. Dr. Stephen Herrero is a distinguished alumnus, professor emeritus at the University of Calgary, somebody I’ve known for over 25 years, so I’m happy to comment on their remarks last night. We appreciate their concern with the grizzly bears, and we share them. This government has taken more steps than any other jurisdiction in western North America to do that. We’ve had a five- year DNA study. We’ve suspended the grizzly hunt. That study is being reviewed by peer review right now. We have our BearSmart program.

I challenge the hon. member to find another jurisdiction that’s put that much resource into grizzly bears.* Mr. Hehr: Well, I’m glad the minister feels that the grizzly bear recovery plan is a good plan, but I’d appreciate knowing why he hasn’t put any long-term funding in place to pay for this plan. Dr. Morton: Mr. Speaker, the hon. member asked me last spring to detail funding on grizzly bears. I sent him a letter in response to his April 9 questions in the House. I’ll photocopy the letter and send it back to him again.

The Grizzly Bear Recovery Team recommended three years ago that we spend $2.8 million on grizzly bears. We’re close to $4 million now. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Hehr: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. You should maybe discuss with these experts, who do not believe that the grizzly bear recovery program is now being funded. Why do they continue to say that you’re not funding this program, then? The Speaker: Well, again, how does the minister respond to what somebody else is saying? If you want to go ahead, try it. Dr. Morton: Mr. Speaker, let’s put the bare facts on the table, okay?

Not only is our DNA study cutting-edge science, but it’s currently being peer reviewed, scientifically reviewed by some of the participants in the most successful grizzly bear recovery program, which was the one down in Yellowstone park. We have some of the top grizzly experts in North America on the job, working for the government of Alberta and working to protect our grizzlies. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Drayton Valley-Calmar, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar. Health Care Registration Services Mrs. McQueen: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Six months ago the government changed the way Albertans register for health care. They can now do it through a registry office. My questions are to the Minister of Service Alberta. Has your department maintained proper service levels for Albertans needing to apply for or update their health care registration? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mrs. Klimchuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In fact, the registration process is the same, but Albertans now have more locations to go get their health care cards. Previously there were only two locations, in Calgary and Edmonton.

Now we have 23 different registry offices across Alberta handling this. This is, indeed, a very successful pilot project. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mrs. McQueen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Minister. To the same minister: with registry agencies being privately owned and operated, Minister, how are you assuming that Albertans’ personal health care information is being protected? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mrs. Klimchuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Registry agents provid- ing a service have no access to Albertans’ personal health informa- tion.

The transactions they do are similar to the other ones that they do with respect to all of the drivers’ licences and things like that. This is one of the requirements under the Health Information Act, so the registry agents do not have access to that information. We also work with Alberta Health and Wellness, and we conduct audits on a regular basis to ensure the information is being handled properly. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mrs. McQueen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Finally to the same minister: what are your plans for expanding the pilot program so that all our registry agents across the province can offer health care registration services? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mrs. Klimchuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The current pilot project runs until March 2010. At that point we’re going to be evaluating and deciding what are next steps. But I can tell you right now that it’s going very well. So far we’ve had 21,000 Albertans come and register for health care through a registry agent.

This is just one of the creative and innovative ways that we can provide better service to Albertans. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-Fort. Health Board Senior Executive Contracts Mr. MacDonald: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When the minister of health was asked about who was responsible for signing off on senior executive contracts in Alberta Health Services and in the regional health authorities, the minister indicated that the final

November 3, 2009 Alberta Hansard 1699 signature is his. To the minister of health: why under your watch did Jack Davis, leaving Calgary health region, get a $2.3 million severance and a $22,409-a-month pension for life? Mr. Liepert: Mr. Speaker, this member is going to have to show me where I said in this House that I was responsible for signing off on contracts for the former regional health authorities. I never said that. I would ask him to retract that statement unless he can show that I said that in this House.

What I have said in this House is that one of the reasons we have moved to one health board that’s accountable to this government is because we did not have the ability to approve those contracts that were signed by the previous regional health authorities. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. MacDonald: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For the hon. minister of health’s information at the Public Accounts Committee meeting on October 26 the minister indicated: “The final signature is mine.” Mr. Liepert: Where? Mr. MacDonald: In Public Accounts. Look at the Hansard. The Speaker: Okay. Through me, continue with your question.

Mr. MacDonald: Yes. My second question: why under your watch, hon. minister, did Paddy Meade receive a quarter of a million dollar bonus as part of her severance after only nine months of work? Mr. Liepert: That’s a different question, Mr. Speaker, and I’m happy to answer that one. He knows the answer because he asked the chairman of the Alberta Health Services Board at Public Accounts, or one of his colleagues asked it. But I’ll repeat the answer that the chairman of the board said. He said that there were actually three phases of this situation.

One was the previous regions, one was the interim board, and the third phase is the permanent board. During that interim phase the compensation package was much more tied to what the old regions were involved in. That has been changed – there now no longer are contracts like the member is alluding to – and this minister does have final say on those contracts. Mr. MacDonald: Again, Mr. Speaker, to the same minister: why under your watch will one terminated chief executive officer remain under the lavish pension program for another two years, costing the taxpayers an additional $290,000? Mr. Liepert: Well, Mr.

Speaker, it’s very simple. There were several of the former CEOs who the new board determined they did not want to lose from the organization. I would suggest that we should be looking to retain the best people we can. Those two individuals that I can think of – there might be a couple more – had contracts with the previous regional health authorities. In order to keep them, we would have had to pay out the contract and rehire them. Does that make any sense? No, it does not. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Fort. Bow Habitat Station Mr. Cao: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Alberta government has a mandate to educate the future generation on environmental stewardship. Phase 1 of the Bow Habitat Station was recently completed, and I’m excited about it for two reasons: one, it is in my great constituency of Calgary-Fort, and because I expect it to foster education on the relationship between human activities and the health of aquatic systems and fish populations. My question is to the hon. Minister of Sustainable Resource Development. What role will the Bow Habitat Station in Calgary play in providing educational services? 2:40 The Speaker: The hon. minister. Dr.

Morton: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the hon. Member for Calgary-Fort for taking us to such a happy conclusion today. Yes, it was a fun and happy day last month when we had the grand opening of the Bow Habitat Station. We wouldn’t have had that without the good efforts of the hon. member. The most important renewable resource of this province is our children. That’s what the Bow Habitat Station is about: education on stewardship and conservation of Alberta’s rivers, lakes, and water.

There’s a broad array of hands-on exhibits, the big show, four galleries, some aquaria with Alberta fish, some hands-on learning things. When it comes to water, the kids are learning that what’s good for fish is good for us. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Cao: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My first supplemental question is to the same minister. In light of the recent upgrades what is the minister’s long-term plan for the Bow Habitat Station? Dr. Morton: Mr. Speaker, the primary focus at the moment is a teaching facility for the sc hoolchildren of Alberta.

Currently the programs for grades 1 through 5 align with the Alberta Education curriculum. These include the exhibits, the interpretive wetland, and the Livingston Fish Hatchery. In the coming three years programs will be expanded to include the junior high curriculum as well. Currently we are opening it simply as an educational facility, but by next year it will be open to the general public and also be a tourist facility. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Cao: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My last supplemental question is to the same hon. minister.

If a habitat station concept like that is so great, does your ministry intend to build more educational habitat stations across Alberta? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Dr. Morton: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me just say that the Bow Habitat Station is unique. It has arisen out of community efforts. The Sam Livingston Fish Hatchery has been there for 30 years and provided the vision and resources. There’s been a wonderful volunteer society. The Bow Habitat Station Volunteer Society was formed in 1992. I’ll take this opportunity to acknowledge the important work of its president, Mr. Lloyd Horn.

In 1995 the volunteer society came up with the idea of expanding the educa- tional outreach component of the hatchery. This is the origin and the genesis of this wonderful facility for the conservation and steward- ship education. Again, Mr. Speaker, when it comes to water, W.C. Fields was wrong. If it’s good for fish, it’s good for us.

Alberta Hansard November 3, 20091700 The Speaker: Hon. members, that concludes question period for today. There were 96 questions and responses. In a few seconds from now I’ll call on the remaining member to participate in Members’ Statements. head: Members’ Statements (continued) Government Accountability Mr. Hinman: Mr. Speaker, during the Calgary-Glenmore by- election I met with thousands of great people in my community, and I have listened. I have heard their concerns about Albertans’ economic situation and the lack of fiscal accountability from the Premier and his government.

I have heard their concerns about government accountability and their muzzling of MLAs. I have heard their concerns that health care decisions should be returned to local boards in our communities rather than big government superboards. Indeed, I have heard from people all across this province, and they feel that their concerns are not being addressed by this government. I have listened, and it is their concerns that I bring to Edmonton. Their concerns are my priority.

Instead of listening to everyday Albertans, this government, to quote the President of the Treasury Board, continues with the priorities set by the Premier, priorities that have not been in the best interest of Albertans. Bill 50, the Electric Statutes Amendment Act, 2009, is but one example. Most recently the government’s mishandling of the H1N1 vaccine program has become a personal crisis for those at highest risk. Mr. Speaker, Albertans want to know why this government has failed to prioritize and distribute the H1N1 vaccine to communities and individuals most at risk, and still we wait for them to act.

Albertans no longer trust this government as it continues to centralize power and decision-making instead of empowering local health authorities with the responsibility of distributing the H1N1 v accine to those most at risk. This government has impeded an efficient and effective local vaccination plan, and the H1N1 vaccine program is only the most recent example of this government’s failure to properly prioritize. Mr. Speaker, Albertans want to know when their priorities will become the priority of the Premier. head: Introduction of Bills The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

Bill 51 Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2009 Ms Redford: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure to rise today to request leave to introduce Bill 51, the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2009. Mr. Speaker, Bill 51 contains a num ber of provisions which are noncontentious. I’ll briefly list those acts which are affected by this particular bill: the Alberta Evidence Act, the Fatality Inquiries Act, the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act, the Companies Act, the Family Law Act, the Government Organization Act, and the School Act.

Thank you. [Motion carried; Bill 51 read a first time] head: Tabling Returns and Reports The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Health and Wellness. Mr. Liepert: Mr. Speaker, thank you. I just wanted to table five copies of a statement on the Liberal website by the Leader of the Opposition urging all Albertans to get your shots as soon as possible: “I’ll be getting my shot soon. I encourage you to do the same.” The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Rutherford. Mr. Horne: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

On behalf of the hon. the Premier and in my capacity as deputy chair of the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities I’m pleased to table the appropriate number of copies of the council’s 2008-2009 annual report. As you know, the council works to improve the lives of Albertans by advising, reporting, and making recommendations to government and other stakeholders on issues of interest to Albertans with disabilities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Whitecourt-Ste. Anne. Mr. VanderBurg: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to table the appropriate number of copies of the 2008-2009 annual report for the Seniors Advisory Council for Alberta. The council is a vital communication link that works with Albertans and seniors’ organi- zations to share information about the issues that are important to seniors with our government. Thank you, sir. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Yesterday during the debate on immunization that resulted from the Standing Order 30, I quoted from two different e-mails from constituents and promised to table those documents, which I am pleased to do now. The first is from Ann Campbell, who was raising questions about why those at risk were not given priority and a number of other issues that she was concerned about around the immunizations. The second is from a Victoria Stevens, who w ondered why the government change their mind, and why they neglected the vulnera- ble.

The third e-mail is from another constituent, Julie McGuire, who has been a great advocate on behalf of the grizzly bears. I think this is her second letter to me, which I am happy to table. She lists a number of requests, including listing grizzly bears as a threatened species, reinstating the Grizzly Bear Recovery Team, and dedicating a budget for recovery, which is above and beyond what the minister talked about today. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Riverview. Dr. Taft: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I see the guest I introduced earlier is still here, and I’m rising on his behalf to table some documents about his achievements. They include photographs from his doing push-ups in various locations around the world; articles, some in more than one language; the rules for competition; and the various Guinness world record certificates. I’m proud to make these part of the official proceedings of the Legislature. Thank you. 2:50head: Tablings to the Clerk The Clerk: I wish to advise the House that the following document was deposited with the office of the Clerk. On behalf of the hon.

November 3, 2009 Alberta Hansard 1701 Mr. Liepert, Minister of Health and Wellness, pursuant to the Health Disciplines Act the Health Disciplines Board’s annual report, January 1 to December 31, 2008. The Speaker: The hon. Government House Leader on a purported point of order. Point of Order Imputing Motives Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the exchange earlier today during question period in the question from the Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood directed at the Premier we heard some of the most despicable and scurrilous language that I think we’ve heard in this House.

It really is an affront to the rules of the House and Standing Order 23(h), making an allegation against another member; 23(i), imputing false or unavowed motives to another member; and 23(j), using abusive or insulting language of a nature likely to create disorder. If that wasn’t bad enough, Mr. Speaker, it also violates, in my view, rule 481(

f) in Beauchesne, which states, “make a personal charge against a Member,” which mirrors our standing orders, and 491, which refers to: “The Speaker has consistently ruled that language used in the House should be temperate and worthy of the place in which it is spoken.” Also, 493(4) in Beauchesne would suggest that “the Speaker has cautioned Members to exercise great care in making statements about persons who are outside the House and unable to reply.” In the exchange the Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood brought into it discussion about an issue which is clearly of signifi- cant importance to Albertans.

We spent all yesterday afternoon on an emergency debate on his motion about the importance of Alber- tans’ understanding what was happening with the H1N1 virus, what was happening, more importantly, with the vaccination program, and how all Albertans needed to be conscious and aware of the need to be vaccinated but also to clearly put a priority on those people at risk. That was the context of yesterday afternoon’s debate. That’s been the context of questions, some more informative than others, over the course of the last week.

But today the Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood stooped to a new low in terms of the level of questioning by bringing into that very important debate a practice which is used in other places, which, quite frankly, I’ve always found totally offensive, and that is to allege false motives against a member of the government, in this case against the Premier, by suggesting that anything that an hon. member in this House would do and an hon. member of government would do and that the Premier would do would be linked to cam- paign contributions.

It’s particularly scurrilous to make that kind of a statement in the context of such an important issue to Albertans with no basis for making that statement. Mr. Speaker, in looking at Beauchesne’s, I’ve had to really temper what I would say about the statements that were made b ecause a number of the statements that one would be tempted to make have under 488 been ruled unparliamentary.

For example, the statement that he’s “scarcely entitled to be called gentlemen” was ruled out of order April 17, 1876; “honourable only by courtesy” was ruled out of order on April 30, 1880; “disgracing the House” was ruled out of order January 17, 1896; “a cowardly slanderer and a bully” was ruled out of order February 21, 1907; “stooping to pretty low motives,” February 2, 1956; “cheap political way,” D ecember 2, 1960; “dishonest insinuations,” March 10, 1960. Now, just because terms have been ruled out of order doesn’t mean that they’re always out of order.

In some cases they may actually be in order if they are appropriate in the context, but I don’t want to go there. I don’t want to move off the language that was used by the hon. member today by asking you to rule that any of those statements which might otherwise have been entirely inappro- priate in the circumstance are in order. Rather, I think we could go to things that have been ruled parliamentary to use, and that would be “spurious charge” and “unscrupulous.” Mr.

Speaker, whatever language one uses, it should be clear to every member of this House and every Albertan that it’s one thing to bring up political banter.

It’s one thing to make charges across when you’ve got evidence to base something on to say that some- thing wrong has happened, but it is absolutely unscrupulous and spurious, when we’re supposed to be treating each other as honour- able people in this House, to raise in a question that someone, particularly in light of the answer that the Premier gave to the previous question that the incident was under investigation and that there would be serious charges, particularly if it was true, did what the hon. member alleges. That would be something that would surely be investigated for criminal charges.

To raise that in the House simply to make cheap political points is the most obnoxious and foul attempt to demean the character of all members of this House, not just the Premier but all members of this House. Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should be asked to apologize and withdraw. The Speaker: Are there others who would like to participate? The hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona. Ms Notley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise, of course, to ask that you do not follow the request made by the Government House Leader with respect to his alleged point of order.

I think that the issue here that is relevant is that the Government House Leader refers to an alleged situation wh ere allegations were made against another member. The Government House Leader suggests that perhaps there was some type of imputation of false or unavowed motives, and he also suggests that abusive or insulting language likely to create disorder was used. To start with the last point first, I believe that it was actually at this point now that the hon. Government House Leader just spent five minutes reading through a list of language which has previously been ruled abusive or insulting.

A clear review of every word and every bit of language used by the hon. leader of the third party in his question, of course, included not one word that would remotely come close to being abusive or insulting, so I w ould suggest that that’s simply not applicable. The next question comes: was an allegation made, or was there some claim that false motives drove a particular member?

I would suggest that if you look very clearly at the question that was asked by the leader of the third party, what the leader did was that he asserted three facts, all of which are on the public record or which are known to be truths within this Assembly. The first fact is that, unfortunately – and I’m sure that many members on the other side agree with all members of the opposition on this – some citizens received preferential treatment in the access to the much-desired vaccination. We know the Premier acknowledged that that occurred.

As well, it was reported in the news that some people got access to the vaccination not in clinics, so clearly they were treated differ- ently. It’s a reasonable assumption to suggest that it was preferential because they got access to the vaccine and they were not in clinics, which nobody else had the opportunity to receive. The next thing that the hon. leader of the third party suggested was that there was a relationship between those people and/or people who had a business interest in the team and the PC government, and that is a matter of public record. It may be an uncomfortable thing

Alberta Hansard November 3, 20091702 for people to hear sometimes, but there is a reason why these things are a matter of public record, Mr. Speaker. There is a reason why campaign donations to successful and unsuccessful people that run for office are a matter of public record, so that the public can have a public discussion about that in the way that that may or may not be a factor in the deliberation of public policy. We’re not suggesting it is, but the fact that it’s a matter of public record is simply that: it’s a matter of public record. 3:00 The third thing that the hon.

Member for Edmonton-Highlands- Norwood stated was that he talked about the Premier permitting a certain thing to happen. Now, I would suggest that that is a reasonable characterization of the principle of ministerial responsi- bility. When something happens in the government for which the member in question is being questioned and for which that member has responsibility under the tradition of ministerial responsibility, it’s reasonable to suggest that it was permitted. It may not have been intentional, and we didn’t suggest that it was intentional. It may not have been planned. There may not have been motives.

There may have been none of that stuff. But that is not what the Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood stated. He simply characterized what I would suggest is a known position within this Assembly about ministerial responsibility. Ultimately, the Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood did not make an allegation, and he did not describe or articulate a motive. He simply outlined that which is on the public record.

While it’s unfortunate, I appreciate that members on the opposite side have been subjected to a great deal of criticism both in this Assembly and in the public sphere over the last 10 days for a number of issues relating to the vaccination program and the way in which it has been laid out. Notwithstanding that that makes them perhaps a bit more sensitive, it’s something that’s going to be discussed and, throughout the discussion, all other elements of the mistakes that have occurred throughout the rollout of the v accination program.

The government has accepted as a fundamental premise that under the theory of ministerial responsibility it’s a reasonable thing to be discussed in this House, and this matter is no different. I would suggest that notwithstanding the discomfort that members opposite may feel with this, there was no allegation. There was no description of a motive. [interjection] Read the Hansard; it wasn’t there. This is all information that has been publicly discussed, publicly posted on the elections website.

As a result, I do not believe that the words of the leader of the third party meet the criteria for any of the three items that the Government House Leader referenced in his point of order. Thank you. The Speaker: It’s a very narrow point of order. A lot of what has been said is totally irrelevant to this point of order. Hon. Member for Calgary-Varsity, do you want in on this point of order? Mr. Chase: Yes, please. The Speaker: It’s very narrow. Proceed. I’ll sit you down if you wander. Mr. Chase: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I see this as an incident of a government kettle calling an NDP pot black.

In complaining about allegations and unparliamentary language, basically the equivalent of suggesting that the hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood take a bite out of a bar of soap, the Government House Leader used these terms . . . The Speaker: Okay. Hon. member, please, sit down. Before I recognized you, I clearly made a statement that much of what had been said is totally irrelevant to this point of order. You are now continuing in that same vein. This is not about the Government House Leader or anything else.

If you want to participate on the point of order that was raised, do so, but what you just finished saying is totally irrelevant. On the point of order, or I’ll sit you down again. Mr. Chase: Thank you. The point of order had to do with an allegation being made of impropriety, and the manner in which the allegation was made, I would suggest, is as improper as the supposed allegation being discussed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Anybody else? Okay. Sometimes it’s amazing to me how when we get our way, we don’t recognize that we actually got our way, and we just keep going.

I listened very attentively to a question that was put forward today to the Premier by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands- Norwood. I heard the Premier respond that he thought it was a very serious matter. He took it upon himself that he was going to have an investigation done to find out what this was all about and that when the investigation had concluded, he would report. Well, it seems to me, that’s just about where the matter should end. I don’t know. We win, but we somehow then just keep going.

I guess we have to learn to either have the ability or the agility to understand this and deviate, then, from the script that we have. Regardless of what was said, I thought everything that the hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood had wanted was responded to in the first question. But the hon. member goes on: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. CNRL chairman and Calgary Flames owner Allan Markin has donated more than $20,000 to the PCs since 2004. Team governor Harley Hotchkiss has donated nearly $15,000. Chairman N. Murray Edwards has donated $3,500, and owner Alvin Libin has donated $2,000. Okay.

All, I suppose, statements of fact. Then at that point the hon. Government House Leader jumps up: “Point of order, Mr. Speaker.” Then the hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood goes on: Why won’t the Premier admit that he’s allowed his friends to jump the queue for the government flu shot, leaving vulnerable Albertans unvaccinated and risking serious illness or even death? It seems to me that the point of order should have come after that statement because that’s the one that basically gave something to somebody else. I just don’t understand it. Okay. It’s public record that people make contributions.

There’s nothing wrong with that. You can use that. That’s all part of the public record. We passed laws in this Assembly to basically say that political parties had to admit publicly who they got all of their funds from. I read very diligently every year how much the PCs get, how much the Liberals get, how much the NDs get, and now how much the Wildrose Alliance gets. I mean , the lists are there. I always check to see who, you know, are the biggest contributors. There’s one lady on the NDP list that gives 100-plus thousand dollars every year, it seems, out of her estate or something.

I’m quite impressed with that. I think that’s what she gives. I don’t know why, after the Premier would respond that he’s taking this matter seriously and that he’s going to review it, an allegation would be made: “Why won’t the Premier admit that he’s allowed his friends to jump the queue for the government flu shot?” Okay. Hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona, there may be another forum in which you make your arguments about these not

November 3, 2009 Alberta Hansard 1703 being allegations or anything else, but in this forum it strikes me that it was an allegation. You know, I’m not gifted in terms of the arts that one would find at a certain law faculty or anything else. Just kind of common sense is what sort of runs my way. “Why won’t the Premier admit that he’s allowed his friends to jump the queue for the government flu shot?” Then you go further on. Another statement was made here during this discussion by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona. Quote, some constituents received access to the vaccine. End quote. Whoa.

What’s all that about? What’s all that about? I don’t know why we get into this. You’re recognized to raise a question, you win with the response that you get from the leader of the province of Alberta, and then you go on with something else. I mean, what’s the purpose of all of this? I don’t like the language. I’ve got to dig down there hard to find this ability to move and shift. I mean, if you’re going to get hit by somebody with a bodycheck, you sort of move so you don’t get creamed. In this case you kept going for no reason at all. I think you certainly are more gifted than that, hon.

Member for Edmonton- Highlands-Norwood, and you could have used better phrases. You’d already won, so why would you keep going on and doing that? I don’t know. I don’t get it. I’m not going to, you know, dismember you or disembowel you or anything else. Maybe you could just add some clarification here to solve this i ssue so we can move on, that it was not the best temperate language. Mr. Mason: I will certainly do that, Mr. Speaker.

I was attempting to connect facts together, and perhaps I did that in a way that created a strong impression that I was making an allegation against the Premier when I was asking for him to elaborate on the connections that obviously I saw. It’s clear that that’s created a great offence on the other side, and I apologize for doing that. I will try and phrase my questions more carefully in the future. 3:10head: Orders of the Day head: Government Bills and Orders Second Reading Bill 56 Alberta Investment Management Corporation Amendment Act, 2009 The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Finance and Enterprise.

Ms Evans: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I’m pleased to spend a few minutes discussing Bill 56, the Alberta Investment Management Corporation Amendment Act, 2009. To refresh everybody’s memory, what Bill 56 does is remove the Deputy Minister of Finance and Enterprise from the board of Alberta Investment Management Corporation, or AIMCo. The deputy minister was appointed to AIMCo’s board when AIMCo began its transition to a specialized arm’s-length organization. AIMCo’s roots can be found within Finance and Enterprise as Alberta Investment Management.

This transition period began in 2008, and we felt it was prudent to maintain that link between the department and AIMCo until AIMCo was fully up and running as an independent organization. I’m pleased to say that AIMCo has been fully functional for some time, building a talented base of staff and knowledge to manage our investments. In fact, AIMCo is preparing to move to their new downtown Edmonton location early in 2010, and it will be setting up its own IT department separate from government.

As one of the final parts of their transition removing the deputy minister from its board will help to make it clear that AIMCo operates as an arm’s- length organization. Thank you. Dr. Taft: Did you not want to adjourn? Ms Evans: I would be quite prepared to adjourn the debate. [Motion to adjourn debate carried] Bill 57 Court of Queen’s Bench Amendment Act, 2009 The Speaker: The hon. Member for Lethbridge-West. Mr. Weadick: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure to rise today and speak to Bill 57, the Court of Queen’s Bench Amendment Act.

We are always looking for ways to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our justice system, and this legislation will do exactly that. Right now law enforcement must make applications under

part 15 of the Criminal Code to obtain a warrant authorizing the use of a tracking device or a number recorder to a provincial court judge or a justice of the peace. Applications under

part 6 of the Criminal Code for other types of warrants, like applications for wiretaps, can only be made to a justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench. In some investigations multiple applications must be made because warrants under both parts are needed. In these cases more work is involved on the part of the police, and more court time is needed as two decision-makers must familiarize themselves with the lengthy and complex documentation typically submitted in support of these kinds of applications. Bill 57 would give Court of Queen’s Bench justices the same jurisdictions as justices of the peace in cases where law enforcement is applying for warrants under

part 15 of the Criminal Code, authorizing the use of a tracking device or a number recorder, and applying for a warrant under

part 6 of the Criminal Code. This will reduce the administrative time needed for law enforcement to apply for warrants. By reducing the number of applications that law enforcement needs to make in complex investigations that involve multiple warrants, court time can be used much more efficiently. In conclusion, Bill 57 will increase the effectiveness of the justice system by decreasing the amount of court time and police resources needed in cases where complex and multiple applications are required. I urge all members to support this important legislation and ask that we would now adjourn debate. Thank you.

The Speaker: Hon. member, I’ve just been advised that you did not move second reading, so perhaps you should move second reading as part of the discussion. Mr. Weadick: Thank you. I’d like to move second reading of Bill 57. [Motion to adjourn debate carried] Bill 58 Corrections Amendment Act, 2009 The Speaker: The hon. Member for Battle River-Wainwright. Mr. Griffiths: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to move second reading of Bill 58, the Corrections Amendment Act.

Alberta Hansard November 3, 20091704 This legislation will expand the monitoring and recording of inmate communications and will also allow offenders of provincial statutes and municipal bylaws to earn remission for their sentences. Earned remission, Mr. Speaker, allows the offender to earn reduced time through good behaviour, compliance with facility rules, and program participation. It’s an incentive for them to behave well and to participate in programs while they’re in custody.

Currently earned remission is available only to individuals serving sentences for offences under federal laws or where the offender’s sentence includes convictions for both provincial and federal offences. Individuals serving sentences solely for provincial offences or municipal bylaw offences, which are generally less serious and nonviolent offences, do not currently have the opportu- nity to earn any remission. Examples of these types of offences, Mr. Speaker, include driving without insurance, gaming and liquor offences such as public intoxication, and petty trespass.

In fact, there have been situations where individuals convicted of much more serious Criminal Code offences have spent less time in jail than provincial statute offenders. In 2007-2008 individuals convicted of provincial statute offences spent an average of 9.9 days in jail. With one-third remission that would decrease to seven days. Now, I know that doesn’t sound like a lot, Mr. Speaker, but this decrease in time spent in custody is expected to reduce the number of offenders in our provincial facilities by 40 people per day. Based on that estimate, we’re looking at $175,000 in savings per year.

Apart from Yukon, Alberta is the only jurisdiction that does not allow earned remission for provincial statute or municipal bylaw offences. These changes provide several benefits, including encouraging good inmate behaviour, reducing the offender popula- tion in our facilities, and making our legislation consistent with other jurisdictions. The other amendments for the Corrections Act are about inmate communications. Currently recording and electronic monitoring of offender phone calls is permitted. In fact, Mr.

Speaker, many legal decisions have recognized that inmates of a correctional facility have a reduced expectation of privacy. That’s not going to change. This bill, however, would allow for recording and monitoring of all inmate communications rather than just phone calls. Rather than labelling specific items, we use “inmate communica- tion” to expand the scope of the communications that can be monitored and recorded to include written, oral, and electronic forms of communication among inmates and between inmates and the public.

British Columbia uses the term “inmate communication” in its Correction Act, and making this change will prevent the need to list individual forms of communication. New forms always arise, and we won’t have to change it in the act. Electronic communications would be passively recorded. This means that conversations would be recorded directly into a database with no one monitoring them, no one listening to them. These recordings would be listened to only if there are reasonable grounds to do so, as set out by the act.

Communications between an inmate and his or her lawyer or any other privileged communications that an inmate is entitled to would not be recorded or monitored. The practice being proposed is used in British Columbia and by Correc- tional Service Canada. These amendments will provide us with greater opportunities to intercept and report active or planned criminal activity, which will make our communities safer, Mr. Speaker. This legislation allows us to address communication technology as it evolves and gives law enforcement another tool to help prevent crime.

It also gives offenders an incentive to participate in programs, follow the rules of our facilities, and get back out to be productive members of society faster. Mr. Speaker, with that, I conclude my comments, and I would move to adjourn debate. [Motion to adjourn debate carried] Bill 59 Mental Health Amendment Act, 2009 The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Meadowlark. Dr. Sherman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to move Bill 59, Mental Health Amendment Act, 2009.

Community treatment orders, which will be issued by two physicians, one of whom is a psychiatrist, will enable individuals to maintain their mental health tr eatment in the community. These orders will reduce the need for hospitalization and help to keep more hospital beds available for those individuals who need a greater level of care. Bill 59 includes amendments that support the introduction of community treatment orders which were established by the Mental Health Amendment Act, 2007.

It is expected that the provisions in the Mental Health Amendment Act, 2007, relating to community treatment orders will come into effect early in 2010. Throughout 2008 consultations were conducted with numerous stakeholders, including the Alberta Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health, the patient advocate, Alberta Health Services, the Alberta Medical Association, as well as practising psychiatrists. These stakeholders provided input and helped to identify the need for the amendments contained in this bill. I’d like to provide you with a brief

summary of the proposed amendments. The

section 9.6 amendments. To support community treatment orders, the 2007 act provided that if a person subject to a community treatment order did not accept the treatment and care outlined in the order, a psychiat rist could issue an apprehension order. This order allows for an examination to determine whether the individual should continue to live in the community. An apprehension order may not be issued until after the psychiatrist has tried to contact the person and re-establish treatment and care. 3:20 This bill also incorporates an amendment that clarifies the role of psychiatrists.

The amendment ensures that any psychiatrist, rather than only the psychiatrist that issues the community treatment order, may issue an apprehension order. This amendment is supported by psychiatrists who participated in the consultations. The

section 9.7 amendments. In the 2007 act a provision was also included that permits a physician to be designated to act in the place of a psychiatrist when the psychiatrist is not available. This provision was included so that people living in remote areas that do not have a resident psychiatrist could also have access to community treatment orders. These designated physicians must consult with a psychiatrist before exercising their authority under the act. This bill clarifies that designated physicians, in addition to issuing, amending, and cancelling community treatment orders, may also issue appre- hension orders.

Section 42 amendments. This bill also clarifies the criteria a review panel may consider when hearing reviews related to commu- nity treatment orders. It also responds to issues raised by review panels.

Section 45 amendments. In addition, Bill 59 clarifies that the authority of the patient advocate to request information on records when conducting investigations applies notwithstanding the Health Information Act. Supporting the role of the Mental Health Patient Advocate is essential to the protection of those with mental disor-

November 3, 2009 Alberta Hansard 1705 ders. The patient advocate’s role was recently expanded to include the authority to investigate complaints on behalf of persons subject to one mental health certificate. It will also include people subject to community treatment orders. This amendment ensures the patient advocate is able to access records that are vitally important to the advocate’s ability to conduct a full and meaningful investigation. Lastly,

section 52 amendments.

Section 52 confirms that technical irregularities within the forms required under the act are not sufficient to invalidate actions taken under the act. The amend- ment to this provision extends this rule to community treatment order forms as well. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, this bill demonstrates our recognition of the important role of the ment al health services in our health system and signifies this government’s continued commitment to supporting the availability of these services to Albertans in need. I would ask all members of the Assembly to support this bill.

With that, I move to adjourn debate today on Bill 59. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Motion to adjourn debate carried] Bill 60 Health Professions Amendment Act, 2009 The Speaker: The hon. Member for Strathcona. Mr. Quest: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Health Professions Act provides the legislative structure that supports the regulation of health professionals by their health profession governing bodies. Bill 60 amendments will keep the regulatory environment current. The amendments in the bill are routine amendments that have been requested by the colleges and reflect the evolution of the Health Professions Act.

First, the bill will amend the practice statements of three health professions. The practice statements contained in each profession’s

schedule under the act identified the activities of a health profes- sional that are subject to the regulatory control of the college. The respective colleges have requested that the professional practice statements for acupuncturists,

schedule 1, dentistry,

schedule 7, and midwifery,

schedule 13, under the Health Professions Act be expanded to include the activities of teaching, management, and conducting research. In response Bill 60 will amend the practice statements for acupuncturists, dentists, and midwives to allow the respective colleges to regulate the practice of members who are engaged in teaching, management, and research within the profes- sion. Second, the Health Professions Act reserves certain titles for each profession. This bill updates the titles reserved by three health professions. A reserved title may only be used by qualified and registered health professionals.

The Alberta College of Paramedics is developing its regulations under the Health Professions Act. The titles of paramedic, primary care paramedic, critical care paramedic, and several provisional titles along with the respective initials are to be added to the list of reserved titles for this profession. The College of Pharmacists has begun the process to amend its professional regulation to accommodate pharmacy technicians as regulated members and has indicated that titles for pharmacy technician students and provisionally registered pharmacy techni- cians are required. The bill will also amend the title of

schedule 19 to include pharmacy technician. This will clarify that the Alberta College of Pharmacists regulates both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Lastly, Bill 60 will update the titles reserved for registered nurses in

schedule 24 to include graduate nurse and graduate nurse practitioner. The respective colleges for these health professions have either requested or have been consulted on and support these changes. Mr. Speaker, this bill demonstrates our recognition of the important role health professions have in our health system and signifies this government’s continued work with the governing colleges to ensure that legislation meets their needs. I ask all members to support this bill and move this bill to the next stage. I move second reading of Bill 60 and ask for the debate to be adjourned.

Thank you. [Motion to adjourn debate carried] Bill 61 Provincial Offences Procedure Amendment Act, 2009 The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Castle Downs. Mr. Lukaszuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As usual, a pleasure to rise in the House. It is my pl easure to speak today to Bill 61, the Provincial Offences Procedure Amendment Act.

This bill further extends our Premier’s commitment to creating safe communities, and as a result of this legislation we will see more police officers actually working on the street and doing the work that they have been trained to do and that they want to do as opposed to spending time in courthouses and other hearings. The amendments in this legislation will help to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the Alberta justice system as well. I will touch upon three amendments that will help update this Legislature on this particular bill.

The Provincial Offences Proce- dure Act sets out the rules for prosecuting offences under the Alberta provincial statutes and municipal bylaws. The amendments in Bill 61 include changes that will update the legislation and help decrease pressures on court time and law enforcement. Bill 61 will expand the circumstances under which police officers may submit affidavit evidence if they were not a primary witness to an offence.

For example, as something I imagine every member in this House can relate to, in operations like speed traps there is often one officer responsible for operating the radar, who actually witnesses the offence, the speeder, one officer is directing the offenders to the side of the road, and the third officer is actually physically writing the ticket. In some cases when a ticket is disputed by the offender, all three officers are required to attend court when only one of them actually saw the offence. Imagine three police officers in a court- house and not on the street.

Right now in situations like speed traps the officers who did not witness the actual offence can submit affidavit evidence, meaning they do not physically need to go to court. The amendment in Bill 61 will extend this kind of situation in which police officers can offer this affidavit evidence to situations like stop signs and seat belt violations. This will allow police officers to spend more time on the streets, where they are needed, and less time in our courtrooms. It will also reduce the amount of court time used in these cases. This won’t of course impede the accused’s right to cross-examine a witness.

In situations where affidavit evidence will be used by police officers, the Crown must give advance notice. The accused would notify the Crown if they would like to cross-examine the officers. If the accused wants to cross-examine the officer, they can. If they do not, the officer can submit their affidavit instead of coming to court. Another amendment in Bill 61 allows the accused person who

Alberta Hansard November 3, 20091706 currently has to attend court personally or by agent to plead not guilty to do so by registered mail instead of actually taking the time of the court in appearing in person. In some cases an accused will receive a summons to appear in court to enter a plea. Sometimes the court the accused must attend is far away, and appearing may be a hardship or an inconvenience as one would have to appear to plead not guilty and then appear again at the specified trial time.

Right now for some offences an accused can plead not guilty by mail, allowing the court to set a trial date and notify the accused of the trial date by mail. These are generally offences that would not result in a warrant being issued if the accused failed to appear. Under the proposed amendments, Mr. Speaker, accused persons could plead not guilty by registered mail if they are charged with an offence that would result in a warrant.

By using registered mail, the accused can check to ensure that their plea has reached the designated court. 3:30 Bill 61 will also increase the amount a justice of the court can award as compensation for damages, from $2,000 to $25,000, in cases where the property damage is readily quantifiable. In situations like traffic accidents there is often evidence on the amount of damage of the property such as a damaged vehicle. A presiding justice has the ability to order compensation. Under Bill 61 the maximum the justice can award will increase to $25, 000, as I said earlier.

This will be applicable in straightforward cases where there is quantifiable damage to property. Mr. Speaker, the Provincial Offences Procedure Amendment Act will help increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the justice system. The amendments in Bill 61 will help update the legislation, free up court time and resources, and reduce the amount of time police officers need to spend in court. I urge all members of this House to support and vote in favour of Bill 61. At this point, Mr.

Speaker, I would like to adjourn the debate. [Motion to adjourn debate carried] Bill 48 Crown’s Right of Recovery Act The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Health and Wellness. Mr. Liepert: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to rise today and move second reading of Bill 48, the Crown’s Right of Recovery Act. This proposed legislation will enhance government’s ability to recover health care costs resulting from wrongful acts or om

Document details

Collection	Alberta — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20091103
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	L27 S2 20091103 1330 01 han.pdf
Language	en
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Source	PROVINCIAL
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