Manitoba Hansard — 18 November 2022 (Sitting 4, 42nd Legislature, 5th Session)

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Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

Fifth Session – Forty-Second Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Myrna Driedger Speaker Vol. LXXVII No. 4 - 10 a.m., Friday, November 18, 2022 ISSN 0542-5492

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

Southdale PC GUENTER, Josh Borderland PC GUILLEMARD, Sarah, Hon. Fort Richmond PC HELWER, Reg, Hon. Brandon West PC ISLEIFSON, Len Brandon East PC JOHNSON, Derek, Hon. Interlake-Gimli PC JOHNSTON, Scott, Hon. Assiniboia PC KHAN, Obby Fort Whyte PC KINEW, Wab Fort Rouge NDP LAGASSÉ, Bob Dawson Trail PC LAGIMODIERE, Alan, Hon. Selkirk PC LAMONT, Dougald St. Boniface Lib. LAMOUREUX, Cindy Tyndall Park Lib.

LATHLIN, Amanda The Pas-Kameesak NDP LINDSEY, Tom Flin Flon NDP MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Malaya Notre Dame NDP MARTIN, Shannon McPhillips PC MICHALESKI, Brad Dauphin PC MICKLEFIELD, Andrew Rossmere PC MORLEY-LECOMTE, Janice Seine River PC MOSES, Jamie St. Vital NDP NAYLOR, Lisa Wolseley NDP NESBITT, Greg, Hon. Riding Mountain PC PEDERSEN, Blaine Midland PC PIWNIUK, Doyle, Hon. Turtle Mountain PC REDHEAD, Eric Thompson NDP REYES, Jon, Hon. Waverley PC SALA, Adrien St. James NDP SANDHU, Mintu The Maples NDP SCHULER, Ron Springfield-Ritchot PC SMITH, Andrew, Hon.

Lagimodière PC SMITH, Bernadette Point Douglas NDP SMOOK, Dennis La Vérendrye PC SQUIRES, Rochelle, Hon. Riel PC STEFANSON, Heather, Hon. Tuxedo PC TEITSMA, James Radisson PC WASYLIW, Mark Fort Garry NDP WHARTON, Jeff, Hon. Red River North PC WIEBE, Matt Concordia NDP WISHART, Ian Portage la Prairie PC WOWCHUK, Rick Swan River PC Vacant Kirkfield Park

73 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Friday, November 18, 2022 The House met at 10 a.m. Clerk (Ms. Patricia Chaychuk): It is my duty to inform the House that the Speaker is unavoidably absent. Therefore, in accordance with the statutes, I would ask the Deputy Speaker to please take the Chair. Mr. Deputy Speaker (Andrew Micklefield): O Eternal and Almighty God, from Whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled here before Thee t o frame such laws as may tend to the welfare and prosperity of our province.

Grant, O merciful God, we pray Thee, that we may desire only that which is in accordance with Thy will, that we may seek it with wisdom and know it with certainty and accomplish it perfectly for the glory and honour of Thy name and for the welfare of all our people. Amen. We acknowl edge we are gathered on Treaty 1 territory and that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Anishininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Denesuline, Nehethowuk nations. We acknowl edge Manitoba is located on the Homeland of the Red River Métis.

We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. We respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partner- ship with First Nations, Inuit and Métis people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Good morning, everybody. Please be seated. Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Government House Leader): Good morning, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

With a leave request, I 'm not trying to start a tradition of casual dress Fridays, but it 's obviously a special day today where a number of members are wearing Blue Bomber jerseys in celebration of the Grey Cup this weekend. I wonder if there's a leave to allow for those who are wearing Blue Bomber jerseys and jackets to have the option to remove their jackets. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Is there leave to –for those wearing Blue Bomber jerseys and a jacket to have the option of not wearing the jacket?

Is there leave for that? [Agreed] ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Bill 4–The Minimum Wage Adjustment Act, 2022 (Employment Standards Code Amended) Hon. Reg Helwer (Minister of Labour, Consumer Protection and Government Services): I move, seconded by the Minister of Finance (Mr. Friesen), that Bill 4, The Minimum Wage Adjustment Act, 2022 (Employment Standards Code Amended), be now read a first time. Motion presented. Mr. Helwer: I'm pleased to introduce bill 44, the minimum wage adjustment act .

This bill will set the minimum wage at $14.15 effective April 1st, 2023, the next step towards an approximately $15 per hour minimum wage by October, 2023. Thank you. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Committee reports – [interjection]–thank you. My error. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed] * * * Mr. Deputy Speaker: Committee reports? Tabling of reports? Ministerial statements? Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Government House Leader): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I 'm seeking leave of the House–I know we 're sitting earlier this morning, so it changed some of the time frames.

But I wonder if there is leave of the House to allow for the Minister of Educa tion to deliver a min isterial statement on Bullying Awareness Week. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Is there leave? Some Honourable Members: Agreed. Some Honourable Members: No. Mr. Deputy Speaker: I hear a no. Leave has been denied. Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Order. Order. Order.

74 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 18, 2022 MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Holiday Season Ms. Janice Morley-Lecomte (Seine River): As snow falls, people prepare for the next few months ahead. Hockey and winter sports activities begin to fill the calendar. Homes and businesses are decorated and lit up with lights and holiday decorations. This time of year brings out the holiday spirit. People celebrate and embrace the festive season, which highlights the beauty of our city. Winnipeg 's festive spirit has exceeded the limits of our city and Winnipeg has been referred to as the Christmas capital of Canada.

Families can walk or drive through their neigh- bourhood to view the many lit-up displays throughout our beautiful city. Many people have heard about Polar Bear, Nutcracker and Candy Cane Lane, which are some of the streets one can drive through to catch a glimpse of the holiday -themed cheer offered by residents in this neighbourhood. Canad Inns Winter Wonderland and Assiniboia park Zoo Lights continue the celebration of the holidays with light displays that thrill and extract smiles and comments of awe from all who take in the beauty of the light displays. St.

Mary 's Road has been a go- to favourite for those seeking out holiday light displays. In addition to the many holiday decorations, the many greenhouses which light the –which–sorry, which line the road, present the public with a light display and lit -up Christmas trees. There are many homes that are decorated with festive lights and scenes. Ken 's lights of hope on Aldgate is a work of art. For more than eight years, the Gallant family has filled their front yard with a light show and animated, whimsical and twinkling Christmas decor in support of Make -A-Wish Foundation.

To date, more than $25,000 has been raised in support of this charity. I am proud to live in a province known for its generosity and Christmas spirit. I want to take this op- portunity to wish everyone and their families a merry Christmas and happy holidays. Big Sky Studios Mr. Diljeet Brar (Burrows): Today, I recognize Big Sky Studios, a new nine -acre, full -service motion production centre in north Winnipeg, and the film industry in Manitoba who make great things happen. Big Sky Studios is a newly re novated facility.

It is the biggest production studio in the province designed for film, television, multimedia projects and installations. The facility is 167,000 square feet and includes four large soundstages. * (10:10) Big Sky Studios managers Jocel yn Mitchell and Michael Thorn join us today, as well as executives from On Screen Manitoba, Manitoba Film and Music, National Screen Institute and the City of Winnipeg 's Film and Special Events team, along with other guests in the gallery. These are such important Manitoba organizations whose contributions over the years has led to the success of our Manitoba film industry.

I also recognize the impact of the Gimli Film Festival in showcasing our diverse narratives; ACTRA Manitoba in providing a wide pool of talents; IATSE 856 in harnessing motion picture technical support; as well as Inferno Pictures and Animiki See Digital Productions in providing high- class product- ion services in Manitoba. Efforts of the Manitoba DGC in ensuring voices of thousands of on- screen creatives are duly represented as well cannot be overemphasized.

The Manitoba film industry has created several economic opportunities, which the representatives of Manitoba Hotel Association here in the gallery with us today can attest to. Kudos to Big Sky Studios for taking initiative to invest in Manitoba 's film industry for the future. I would like to include the names of guests present from Big Sky Studios and across the film industry to the public record. Please join me, welcome our respected guests in the gallery. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Mr. Obby Khan (Fort Whyte): Mr.

Deputy Speaker, despite the challenges of the pandemic, Manitoba 's film and TV industry remained strong. Manitoba was the first jurisdiction in the western world to return to film sets, and remained one of the safest. That is why last year, Manitoba had the most successful year with $365 million in production volume; and with a new direct flight to LA from Winnipeg, that number will only continue to grow. The direct flight was not only new development that contributed to this unprecedented growth. This was also due to the new studio space, Big Sky Studios, which opened this year on Inkster Boulevard.

November 18, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 75 The space currently includes two soundstages at 17,000 square feet and 12,800 square feet, renovated production offices, workshops, on- site equipment rentals and specialty areas for various film depart - ments, all fully air-conditioned. Located at 1771 Inkster Blvd., Big Sky Studios is 15 minutes fr om Winnipeg 's international airport, 15 minutes from downtown and 10 minutes away from city limits–a convenient location with all of the services of a major urban centre, along with easy access to rural filming spaces.

Our government recently had the opportunity to travel to Los Angeles, California, and sat down with 15 studio heads at the Motion Picture Association of America. These were the top executives from all the big studios. They 've all heard of Manitoba and look forward to coming here to film their next production. Additionally, Manitoba 's film and media tax credit, up to 65 per cent of Manitoba's labour or up to 38 per cent on eligible Manitoba expenditures, and a 10 per cent increase on the labour tax credit on the third film shot within a two -year period, is the most competitive tax credit in Canada.

It is a significant incentive for producers and Big Sky Studios' ability to attract producers here to Manitoba. Mr. Deputy Speaker, this is an industry that we really see an opportunity for, and Big Sky Studios– Mr. Deputy Speaker: The member 's time has expired. Some Honourable Members: Leave. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Leave has been granted. Mr. Khan: Deputy Speaker, this is an industry that we really see an opportunity for, and Big Sky Studios is projected to play a huge role in that.

Our safe and smart return to set was admired in the film world, that additionally production have actually chosen–ad di- tional productions have actually chosen to come to Manitoba because they can be secure in the know - ledge that we restarted production the right way and their cast and crew are safe. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Premier's Approach to Community Safety Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns): The Premier 's (Mrs. Stefanson) record on community safety has been an utter failure. When she was Justice Minister all she did was cut.

She cut, to name but a few: the gang action task force, the Spotlight unit, restorative justice programming, employment training programs for incarcerated citizens, the Elizabeth Fry Society. There are consequences to cuts when you leave citizens vulnerable and desperate. And now, instead of supporting community and outreach, the Premier wants to continue taking a failed approach.

The Premier doesn 't care about prevention or addressing the root causes of crime as evinced in her problematic Throne Speech, where she commits to, and I quote, increasing supports for front -line law enforcement officers through technology, specialized training and increased police presence, end quote. Community-based experts know we must support children and families, feed children, invest in educa- tion, house citizens, ensure that citizens have access to mental health supports and health care.

We are not going to police ourselves out the present conditions that the Premier and every other failed Justice minister have created. The PCs continue to advance an old, tired, conservative approach that demonizes citizens and divides communities by positioning it as either you're with us or against us. Voters are smarter than that. Voters want equit - able, innovative, restorative approaches. Finally, let me be clear: sleeping in bus shelters or struggling with addictions or dealing with mental health issues does not make you– Mr. Deputy Speaker: The memb er's time has expired.

Are there any other members' statements? Habitat for Humanity Housing Project Mr. Blaine Pedersen (Midland): On Wednesday November 9th, I had the honour to attend a key ceremony for a Habitat for Humanity housing project in Rosenort, Manitoba. Mustaf, Magda and their children received the key to their new home. Previously, this family of seven had been living in a 600- square-foot rental apartment. Their new home has five bedrooms, two bathrooms and a spacious yard. Mustaf and Magda had completed the 500 hours of sweat equity long before taking possession of their home.

The community of Rosenort was also very involved in this project. K-Tec industries in Rosenort builds earthmoving scrapers. K -Tec and their sup - pliers built a scraper and auctioned off the machine,

76 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 18, 2022 donating the entire $200,000 proceeds to Habitat for Humanity. This machine, complete with a Habitat for Humanity paint job, was bought by a dealer in Oklahoma and both the dealer and the young farmer purchaser attended the ceremony in Rosenort. While the house project was happening, local groups provided meals for the workers. There is a long list of contributors to this housing project and I will include the list with this statement. Home ownership is a key component to strengthening families and our communities.

Our government has allocated $3 million to Habitat for Humanity from the National Housin g Strategy for families just like Mustaf and Magda's and to see them take possession of their new home was a very emotional event for everyone in attendance and for the community as a whole. Thank you to Habitat for Humanity, K -Tec industries and their s uppliers and the community of Rosenort for making this home a reality. Congratulations to Mustaf, Magda and their family on becoming the proud owners of their new home. I know they will enjoy the benefits of home ownership. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

ORAL QUESTIONS Health-Care System Privatization of Services Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Just like Brian Pallister, this Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) wants to cut health care and privatize health-care services. It's what they did with outpatient physiotherapy. When this gov ernment cut outpatient physio therapy, it created a situation in Man itoba where people who get hip and knee surgeries now have to pay hundreds of dollars to receive what used to be a public health- care service. That's what we get when the PCs priva - tize health care: Manitobans paying more money out of pocket.

Not only is that wrong, because it's violating our fundamental Canadian value of universal, publicly ac- cessible health care, but it couldn' t come at a worse time amidst a cost-of-living crisis. Will the Premier simply admit that she was wrong to privatize outpatient physiotherapy? * (10:20) Hon. Cliff Cullen (Deputy Premier): Again, the Leader of the Op position is factually incorrect. Record investments in health care in Manitoba under this government's watch: more than $1 billion more money invested in health care than the NDP gov ern- ments ever did in their history. Mr.

Deputy Speaker, this–over the last two years, over 12,000 Manitobans have received suc cessful surgeries at private providers right here in Manitoba, over the last two years. That is something, apparently, the NDP would not allow. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary. Mr. Kinew: Just like Brian Pallister, the Premier and this Cabinet want to privatize health care in Manitoba.

We've seen what happens with nurses working on the front lines at the bedside –or, maybe more accurately, what happens when they're not working at the bedside because of priva tization ideology being pushed by the PCs. When they took office, there were 400 more nurses than there are today. They are driving nurses away from the bedside. And because of the wrong decisions that they 're making, it 's private, for -profit nursing agencies that are rushing in to turn a profit. In fact, this year, 40 m illion more dollars are going to private agency nurses.

That 's money that should be invested in improving working condi tions for nurses in the public system, where you'd be able to get care when you need it. Will the Premier just admit that privatizing health care is wrong? Mr. Cullen: Sounds like the NDP are speaking out both sides of their mouths, because a few years ago, Gary Doer an d his ideology said, you know, t he Maples clinic was a good thing to have; the Western surgical clinic was a good thi ng to have –private clinics delivering health care for Manitobans right here.

In fact, over the last eight months alone, 4,500 Manitobans reserved surgeries in private clinics in Manitoba. Is the Leader of the Op position saying that he would deny those 4,500 Manitobans the surgeries that they had? Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary.

November 18, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 77 Mr. Kinew: On that side of the House, they're for the big, for-profit companies. On this side of this House, we're for the patients of Manitoba. Nowhere did we see this more clearly than when they privatized Lifeflight Air Ambulance and some of their big-pocketed friends rushed in to make a profit. What was the result? During the third wave of COVID-19, critically ill ICU patients were being transported by for-profit providers that didn't have the right equipment and whose staff didn't have the right training to be transporting ICU patients.

This is what you get with privatization: you push more nurses out of the public system, you get worse quality care for patients and you end up having to pay money to get services which used to be free. Will the PCs just admit that this priva tization approach is wrong and won't help Manitobans? Mr. Cullen: Mr. Deputy Speaker, our gov ernment will stand up for Manitobans each and every day, and we will make sure that they get the services they need in a timely fashion. Clearly–maybe the Leader of the Op position thinks that he is now going to rescind the STAR S contract that they entered into.

Maybe this is doublespeak, Mr. Deputy Speaker. We have lined up 13,000 more surgeries for Manitobans to be done here in private clinics over the next six months alone. Are the NDP going to deny those 13,000 Manitobans t he surgeries that they deserve right here in Manitoba? Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question. Personal-Care-Home Beds Government Election Target Mr.

Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Here's why you can 't trust the PCs on health care, and here's why you can 't trust any of the numbers that they try and circulate in their press releases and their press conferences. In 2016, during that provincial election, they ran on a platform that said they would add 1,200 personal- care-home beds in Manitoba. Now we go to the current situation. Here we stand in 2022. Did they add 1,200 beds? [interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: No. Did they add 1,000 beds? No. Did they add one bed? No. In fact, we lost–[interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order.

Mr. Kinew: –216 long-term-care beds since they took office. Will the PCs just admit that they misled Manitobans and were always intent on cutting personal-care homes? Hon. Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health): What we are intent on doing is ensuring that Manitobans, our seniors, have the care they need at the time that they need it, Mr. Deputy Speaker. That is why our gov ernment is making invest - ments in the public system; $3.4 millio n to assist uncertified health -care aides with tuition supports, beginning with 120 students to expand staffing in personal-care homes, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

That is why our gov ernment has established the Ministry of Seniors and Long- Term Care, so that we can focus on the nee ds of seniors and ensure that a seniors strategy, a very com prehensive seniors strategy is put in place to assist seniors here in this province. Will the members opposite support what our gov- ernment is attempting to do for seniors? Mr. Deputy Speaker: The–[interjection] Order. The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Mr.

Kinew: The Minister of Health cannot deny that they broke the 1,200- bed promise and, in fact, cut beds by 216, because she knows it's true. In 2021, there were 9,765 personal -care-home beds in Manit oba and now there are 9,549 personal- care-home beds in our province. You do the math: 216 fewer beds. I will table the docu ments that this gov ernment has produced its elf from their own De partment of Health, which proves the case.

Not only did they fail to add 1,200 personal -care-home beds, the year after the pandemic, in which we all agreed that we had to invest in long -term care, they, in fact, reduced the number of beds in our province by 216. How do they justify cutting personal -care-home beds after every thing we've seen seniors go through these past few years? Ms. Gordon: The Seniors and Long- Term Care Department will be releasing a very com prehensive

78 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 18, 2022 seniors strategy that will look at the needs across the province in terms of personal-care-home beds. But what the member opposite does not want Manitobans to know is about our record invest ments in capital infra structure, Mr.

Deputy Speaker: $283 million to add 90 beds to the Portage la Prairie area, $127 million to add 60 new beds in the new hospital in Neepawa, $70 million to enhance and add 30 ad ditional beds at Brandon Regional Health Centre, $32 million to enhance and add 23 beds in Steinbach Bethesda hospital, $64.4 million to enhance and add 24 beds at Boundary Trails. Mr. Deputy Speaker, the good news just keeps coming and coming. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary. Mr.

Kinew: Who could believe anything the PCs say when they float these press releases and press conferences on health care? This is the case that undermines the entirety of their argument. They came out in 2016 trying to seek election and they said they'd built 1,200 beds. Today, we prove that not only did they not build 1,200 beds, but they actually cut 216. And if you needed any further proof, the fact that the Minister of Health cannot deny this settles the case entirely. We all saw how much seniors suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic. We all agreed as a society that we needed to fix long-term care.

In light of that experience, how does this govern- ment justify cutting 216 personal -care-home beds in our province? Ms. Gordon: Mr. Deputy Speaker, our government is proud to be able to work with the various regional health authorities to identify their needs as it relates to personal-care-home beds. * (10:30) There are times when the health authorities have said, we want to change the types of beds that are being offered from the traditional personal-care-home beds to, sometimes, behavioural units.

We want to be able to support their needs as it relates to their specific jurisdictions, and we're going to continue to work with the regional health authorities in the days and months to come. And, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I want to say to the Leader of the Opposition that the Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care (Mr. Johnston) will be bringing forward–[interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. [interjection] Order. Ms. Gordon: –strategy, and they will be very pleased to see what we will be doing as it relates to personal- care-home beds. Mr.

Deputy Speaker: I'm hearing chirping from op- position benches about the timing. The rule is that when a question is asked to the Premier (Mrs. Stefanson), the Leader of the Official Opposition (Mr. Kinew) and the Premier have one minute. That is–[interjection] Okay. Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Okay, if members have issue, they can request clarity with clerks, who will relay to those members and to myself how those things work. I'll admit that is an honest mistake. I am told that that is 45. So that–we will move forward with that.

But that is not something I'm aware of until this very moment. We will proceed with oral questions. Review of Provincial Parks Timeline for Release of Report Ms. Lisa Naylor (Wolseley): Mr. Deputy Speaker, the PCs are selling off our parks piece by piece. We know that's been the agenda of the PCs, first under Brian Pallister, now for the Stefanson government. After forcing Manitobans to send $1 million to a Texas company just to see our parks, now the PCs are hiding a review of our parks that we know will lay the ground for privatization. We know the minister has the report in his hands.

Will the minister do the right thing and release it today? Hon. Jeff Wharton (Minister of Environment, Climate and Parks): Certainly, we know the history and the record of the NDP when it comes to our parks, and the member knows that they cut every thing in parks, except for the grass. We know that. Our–we are getting things done by procuring a new parks reservation system that will replace the dysfunctional syste m that was under the NDP for 17 years. Mr. Deputy Speaker, we are just getting done with ensuring our parks are there for Manitobans for generations to come.

November 18, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 79 Ms. Naylor: Mr. Deputy Speaker, the PCs have been sitting on this report for six months, and we do know why. It 's because, just like Brian Pallister, the only agenda the Stefanson gov ernment has is for more privatization of our parks. But our parks should not be for sale or divest ment or decommissioning or what - ever word the PCs want to use. Manitobans love our parks and know just how bad the PCs' plans for our parks are. We deserve to see this report. Will the minister release it today? Mr.

Wharton: I certainly have the pleasure of repre- senting the fine folks in Red River North, which includes St. Clements and East St. Paul, Mr. Deputy Speaker. We know that Grand Beach sits in that riding. We know under the NDP the disaster they left that park in. Mr. Deputy Speaker, we are making investments across our parks to ensure, No. 1, that they are there for generations of Manitobans–[interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Mr. Wharton: –to enjoy all 64 of our prov incial parks. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Just before we proceed, I 'm asking the clerks to stop clocks.

We 're going to add one minute in light of the recent exchange to make up for–[interjection]–yes, that previous mis understand- ing. Okay, we're going to go ahead with the honour - able member for Wolseley (Ms. Naylor). Ms. Naylor: For months, the PCs have been looking at divestment and decommissioning of our parks. That is their agenda. That is their words. It's wrong. No matter how they try to spin it, it means selling off our beloved prov incial parks piece by piece. The PCs should stop hiding this report from Manitobans. Will the minister stop hiding and release his park privatization report today? Mr.

Wharton: It's a privilege to put the actual facts on the record when it comes to our parks, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Fact: we are getting things done–[interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Mr. Wharton: –by partnering with Trails Manitoba to invest nearly $1 million this year to support recreational trails across our province, Mr. Deputy Speaker. [interjection] Fact: we are getting things done by embarking on an ambitious, multi-year, strategic capital investment strategy in our publicly owned prov incial parks, Mr. Deputy Speaker. [interjection] Our parks are not for sale. They might be, under the NDP.

Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Order. Order, please. I'm just going to call for a little decorum. Let 's keep things moving smoothly as best we can. Economic Review of Bipole III and Keeyask Request to Table Progress Report Mr. Adrien Sala (St. James): In June of last year, the PCs interfered in Hydro once again and ordered them to implement all of the recommendations of the sham Wall report. That report means selling off Centra Gas and hiking up rates on homeowners. It 's bad and it should be put in the trash, just like bill 64.

But the PCs told all Manitobans they would update them on the progress of imple menting their terrible plans this fall. Will the minister table the update on the imple - mentation of the Wall commission today? Hon. Cam eron Friesen (Minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro): Well, Mr. Deputy Speaker, with the Grey Cup on Sunday, I feel like a football analogy is ap propriate. That member has been fumbling the ball on bill 36 for months and months.

And I think the most important to note is the fact that he was advancing the ball one way for months in saying the PUB should not be inter fered with, and then he got spun around and he started advancing the other way and saying now the NDP will interfere with the PUB. One thing is consistent though. He fumbled it that way and he's fumbling again. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for St. James, on a supplementary question. [interjection] Order. Mr. Sala: Yet again, this PC gov ernment says one thing and does another. It's just another broken prom- ise from the PCs.

80 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 18, 2022 They told all Manitobans they would table a report on the imple mentation of the terrible recom - mendations from the Wall report this fall, but we 've seen nothing and neither have Manitobans. We know every Manitoban deserves to see the PCs agenda for privatization and rate hikes, so will the minister stop breaking his promises and table the report today? Mr. Friesen: There was a flag on the play, and the member's offside again.

That member s till knows that it continues to be fall, and only last week, we updated Manitobans to let them know that that report, of course, and the response to it, is coming. But what that member clearly doesn 't want is for Manitobans to have that response to that report, that report saying that NDP interference in Hydro cost billions of doll ars of avoidable debt that now Manitobans are on the hook for. So no wonder the NDP does not want the expert report on Keeyask and bipole to come forward. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for St. James, on a final supplementary. Mr.

Sala: That's two times now the minister hasn 't answered the question. I think it's clear he's got some- thing to hide. [interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Mr. Sala: I've got a quote from the minister, from his government: A public formal response document that describes the actions that have been or will be taken in response to each of the ERBK recom mendations will be tabled in the House in the fall of 2022. End quote. That's what the government said last year.

The fall sitting of this Legislature has now come and gone, but there 's no trans parency from this PC minister or anyone else on that side of the House. Will the minister tell Manitobans why he thinks it's okay to mi slead them about the terrible Wall report? Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honour able Minister of Health–of Finance, sorry. Mr. Friesen: The member's lost the coin toss once again. He won't take yes for an answer.

We've indicated that report and response is coming this fall and it is coming this fall. * (10:40) But let's be clear: the reason the NDP doesn't want to talk about that extra report and will try to shout me down every time is that we know that while they said that Manitobans wouldn' t pay one cent for Keeyask and bipole, Manitobans now understand that the debt of Hydro has tripled, that billions of dollars were added to the debt, and it is Manitobans that are on the hook for it.

That is why our government is stabilizing Hydro, keeping rates low and giving the PUB a mandate that will prevent a debacle like that and the NDP in the future for all time. Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Order. Government benches, please. [inte rjection] And opposition benches also. Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order, please. The honourable member for Fort Garry has the floor. Manitoba's Population Provincial Out-Migration Mr. Mark Wasyliw (Fort Garry): Mr. Deputy Speaker, Manitoba has lost over 10,000 people to other provinces last year.

That 's the worst loss since 1989. The PCs are not building a province that works for all Manitobans. There are just not the same oppor- tunities for young people in this province, and as a result, they're voting with their feet. A gen eration of young people are leaving Manitoba. Why isn't this PC gov ernment doing anything to address the loss of 10,000 people to other provinces? Hon. Cliff Cullen (Minister of Economic Development, Investment and Trade): Well, actually, Mr. Deputy Speaker, we want to get Manitobans employed here. We're doing that.

We're investing millions of dollars in training, retraining and upscaling. We're working closely with our post -secondary insti tutions on developing new courses to make sure that Manitobans seize the oppor- tunities that are here. As of last month, our unem ployment rate was 4.6 per cent, the third lowest unem ployment rate in the country, Mr. Deputy Speaker. We've also – [interjection]

November 18, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 81 Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Mr. Cullen: –last month alone, increased full -time employment by 9,900 jobs. That 's 9,900 more Manitobans working today in Manitoba than there was even a month ago. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honour able member for Fort Garry, on a supplementary question. Mr. Wasyliw: Mr. Deputy Speaker, 1989–that's how bad it's got. It has not been that bad in Manitoba since 1989. Thousands of jobs have been lost in the public service. Thousands more are being lost right now in northern Manitoba.

Brian Pallister did a lot of damage to our province and enabled by these members across the way. Nothing has chan ged, Mr. Deputy Speaker: 10,000 people left Manitoba for other provinces last year alone. That's the worst its been in a generation. Why is this gov ernment driving so many people out of Manitoba? Mr. Cullen: In fact, last year Manitoba welcomed more than 16,000 new comers from outside of Manitoba. That is a record. Mr. Deputy Speaker, I know we have a lot of work to do. We do have job vacancies in Manitoba. We want to make sure that Manitobans seize the op - portunities that are here.

That 's why we 're investing millions of dollars in training and retraining. This year alone, 6 and a half million dollars supporting over 300 small businesses. That is training and upscaling over 3,000 Manitobans to fit the bill for the jobs that are here today. These companies also contributed to the training to the tune of $2.6 million. And also we 're going to take in another– Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable minister's time has expired. The honourable member for Fort Garry, on a final supplementary. Mr. Wasyliw: This Premier (Mrs.

Stefanson) prom- ised a different approach than the one they've actually delivered. So many talented people are leaving. Thou- sands of jobs are being lost in the North. Mr. Deputy Speaker, 10,000 people left Manitoba for oppor tun- ities in other provinces. It hasn 't been this bad since 1989. This gov ernment could have made different choices. They could have chosen not to cut health care, not to cut education. They could have chosen to make life less expensive for Manitobans, but they didn't. Will the minister change course and choose a different path? Mr. Cullen: Well, Mr.

Deputy Speaker, again, the NDP are misleading Manitobans. Record investments in health care, over $1 billion more than the NDP ever did; record invest ments in education; record investments in social services. We can do this because more Manitobans are working than ever before. In fact, Mr. Deputy Speaker, the labour force has increased month over month; 5,200 more Manitobans are working this month than they were last month. That 's because of the policies this gov ernment has in place to get Manitobans to work, and we 're working at that and Manitobans are working at it as well.

Progressive Conservative Party Cancellation of Events Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns): Well, what we know to be true is that the Premier and her PC caucus can't face their own PC members. First, the PC Party cancelled their annual general assembly, which violated their own constitution. Now they've abruptly cancelled their enchanted forest fundraising dinner without explanation, scheduled to tonight. It's clear, Deputy Premier, that the PC and her entire PC caucus are afraid to face their own members. Can the Premier tell us why she's so scared to face her own PC members? [interjection] Mr.

Deputy Speaker: Order. Order. Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Yes, I don 't know about an enchanted forest, but I think that we should have a grassy knoll dinner and invite all of the members opposite, because they 're living in the grassy knoll. There's some sort of conspiracy that they think is going on. Clearly, this weekend there's a very, very impor- tant event going on that all Manitobans are going to be paying attention to, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Adam Bighill is going to be running on the field and disrupting the defence–or the offence for the Toronto Argonauts.

We 're going to see big Willie knocking down passes. We're going to see Collaros out on the field.

82 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 18, 2022 And I know the members opposite, despite what they're wearing now, are probably going to be cheering for the Toronto Argonauts, because they always cheer for the wrong side, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honour able member for St. Johns, on a follow-up. Ms. Fontaine: Does anybody, actually, on that side, even understand how the game of football is– Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Ms. Fontaine: The PCs–[interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Ms. Fontaine: –cancelled their annual general meeting–[interjection] Mr.

Deputy Speaker: Order. [interjection] Order. Order. [interjection] Rein yourselves in. Ms. Fontaine: The PCs cancelled their annual general meeting, violating their party's own constitution. Then it was their enchanted forest fundraiser dinner. Deputy Speaker, g iven how unpopular this Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) and her PC caucus is, it 's likely that the ticke t sales were very, very low . But one thing is certain, it 's clear that the PCs are scared to face their own members. And why wouldn't they be, Deputy Speaker? This PC caucus has shown time and ti me again it 's not capable of running a province.

Why is the Premier so afraid to face her own party members? Mr. Goertzen: Yes, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I remember a time when you couldn' t walk into the NDP caucus room without going through a body scan and having a metal detector because there was so much violence that was happening on the–in the caucus room of the NDP. This weekend is a very, very im portant weekend for all Winnipeggers and Manitobans. We're going to see the Blue Bombers take the field on another Grey Cup. We 're going to see us celebrate another Grey Cup win.

And just like the PC government next year, we're going to see the Blue Bombers this year go back to back to back, Jack. And that's the facts, Mr. Deputy Speaker. * (10:50) Mr. D eputy Speaker: The honourable member for St. Johns, on a final supplementary. Ms. Fontaine: At this point, we know that the PCs are scared to face even their own shadows. They've cancelled three straight annual general meetings, and now have abruptly cancelled their fund- raising dinner. [interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Ms.

Fontaine: Let's be clear: there 's no good reason for the PCs to cancel their fundraising dinner. [interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Ms. Fontaine: The Grey Cup is on Sunday, and is a province away –also, go, Bombers, go. The only plausible explanation is the Premier is trying to avoid facing her own members and hearing–[interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Ms. Fontaine: –what they truly think a bout her dismal leadership and her failing, miserable gov ern- ment. Can the Premier explain why she 's avoiding her own party members? Mr. Deputy Speaker: The member 's time has expired. Mr.

Goertzen: Somewhere in the bowels of the NDP caucus, there's a p aper that was called the solidarity pledge, Mr. Deputy Speaker, where the NDP caucus members actually had to sign on a paper to confirm that they supported their leader. They may want to pull that out again, Mr. Deputy Speaker, to see if they still have that support for their leader. They could ask the part -time MLA for Fort Garry whether or not he actually supports the leader. They could go around that caucus and see what kind of support they actually have. I don 't suppose there 's much support there, actually.

But I do know where there is support. There is support for our Blue Bombers, Mr. Deputy Speaker. We're going to be cheering them on. S ome of us will be in Regina. Some of us will be in our home . Some of us will be in different places in Manitoba. We'll be in solidarity there. They can fight on Monday . T oday, we're all united as Manitobans cheering on the Blue Bombers, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

November 18, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 83 PC Party Candidate for Kirkfield Park Concerns Regarding Peter Nygård Connection Mr. Dougald Lamont (St. Boniface): Yesterday, when I asked about Peter Nygård, the Minister of Justice suggested I move to China. The PCs may not have read the class -action allegations against Peter Nygård–[interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Mr. Lamont: –in which 57 Jane Does tell their stories of abuse, but I have, and it's–[interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Mr. Lamont: –stunned me.

It also alleges that Nygård funnelled money to politicians in the Bahamas, and in a video leaked online called Nygård Take s Bahamas Back 2012, he boasted how he had won the election for the PLP party. The senior executive in charge of gov ernment relations for Nygård, who is in that video and who appears on page 99 of the class-action lawsuit–which I table–is the PC Party c andidate for Kirkfield Park, Kevin Klein. When can Manitobans expect an explanation of exactly what kind of work Kevin Klein did for Peter Nygård, and why the PCs have no problem with it? Hon.

Kelvin Goertzen (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Well, I don't know if I suggested that he should move to China. I would miss the member for St. Boniface if he left Manitoba. I may have suggested that there are countries like China and like North Korea that have justice de part- ments that direct–politically –prosecutions. So if that is the kind of system of justice that he likes, then he could move to China and support that system of justice. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honour able member for St. Boniface, on a supplementary question. Mr. Lamont: According to the CBC

article I table, written by the Premier 's (Mrs. Stefanson) current press secretary, quote, Klein worked for Nygård during two period– different periods: four weeks in 2012 and just under four months in 2014; his work in communications and in a gov ernment relations role for a biotech company partially owned by Nygård. My role at the time was as senior executive for gov ern- ment relations, Klein said. I table docu ments showing that Nygård paid Bahamanian [phonetic] and PLP MP Shane Gibson $94,000 prior to the general election in 2012 and into 2013.

Gibson' s brother, as well as many police officers, were also on Nygård 's payroll, speaking of people of justice systems. And the stem-cell company in question was at the centre of the controversy. Brian Pallister hired a private investigator to dig up dirt on the NDP. Did anyone think– Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member's time has expired. Mr. Goertzen: There wasn't actually a question there, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I don 't imagine he could figure out how to pose one on that ramble.

The member opposite used to work for Frank Magazine, a satire magazine from Ottawa that had a lot of his own sort of challenges. Does he want to defend everything that he helped to publish in Frank Magazine? Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Order. Order. Government benches, cool it. Mr. Lamont: I wrote about–thank you. I wrote about Peter Nygård for Frank Magazine.

The class-action lawsuit in New York that details the alleg ations of horrific, violent crimes by Peter Nygård states that, in the months leading up to the general election of May 2012, many politicians visited Nygård Cay to receive cash for their campaigns. Nygård spent $5 million to get politicians he could control and turn a blind eye to what he did. And the stem-cell company that Nygård was proposing used stem cells from aborted fetuses for his anti -aging treatments. That was at the centre of the controversy.

And the Nygård executive repre senting that company was, again, the PC Party candidate for Kirkfield Park, Kevin Klein, the anti-crime candidate who worked for Peter Nygård who' s currently facing 57 allegations in New York and charges in Toronto and Quebec and– Mr. Deputy Speaker: The member 's time has expired. Mr. Goertzen: Once again, he didn't actually form a question. He may want to spend the weekend, after he watches the game, trying to form a coherent question with some logical, actual facts, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

84 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 18, 2022 Early Learning and Child Care Agreement Creation of New Spaces in Rural Manitoba Mr. Ian Wishart (Portage la Prairie): Unlike the former gov ernment, our PC Party is dedi cated to actually creating more child -care spaces for all Manitobans. That is why our gov ernment signed the historic $1.2-billion Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. Can the Minister of Edu cation and Early Child - hood Learning tell the public how our PC government will actually implement quality, accessible child care across the province? Hon.

Wayne Ewasko (Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning): I'd like to thank my colleague, the MLA for Portage la Prairie, for that great, great question, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Earlier this week, alongside the Premier (Mrs. Stefanson), municipalities and the federal gov- ernment, I had the honour–the honour of announcing 1,200 new child-care spaces in 17 locations across this great province of ours, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

These first nine sites were spe cifically chosen in the rural and Indigenous com munities that the NDP had abandoned over their 17 years of dark days, forcing families to drive miles and miles and miles for child care. Also on top of that, Mr. Deputy Speaker, we 've released an expression of interest, which is out for eight additional sites, which I encourage all munici- palities and Indigenous communities to apply for. Thank you very much. Agricultural Crown Land Leasing Reduction in Beef Herd Production Mr. Diljeet Brar (Burrows): Mr. Deputy Speaker, the PCs' approach to the cattle industry has failed.

Manitoba accounted for 9 per cent of Canada' s beef farms in 2021. That's down from 10.7 per cent in 2016. Producers are leaving the industry. Manitoban's beef herd is in decline. Will the minister change course and take action to restore beef producers in Manitoba? Hon. Derek Johnson (Minister of Agriculture): We're the government that's getting things done. We have increased excess moisture insurance by 50 per cent. That's 50 per cent, Mr. Deputy Speaker. An Honourable Member: How much? Mr. Johnson: Fifty per cent, that's how much, yes.

The member needs to start consulting with producers across Manitoba and get some of his stories straight. Mr. Brar: Mr. Deputy Speaker, moisture is not cows. Beef farms are declining and the PCs' changes to Crown lands have made the situation worse. Beef producers are saying–[interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Mr. Brar: –that younger producers are being outbid under the new system. We need to be encouraging young producers to enter. Instead, this government is watching the number of beef farms decline. Will the minister take action to restore beef producers in Manitoba? Mr. Johnson: Mr.

Deputy Speaker, this is a gov ern- ment that's taking action. We have in creased the vet seat spaces by 33 per cent to service the beef producers in Manitoba; 33 per cent. What did they do? What did that government do? Nothing, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Nothing. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for Burrows, on a final supplementary. Mr. Brar: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Bill Campbell of Keystone Agricultural Producers says, that, I quote, will essentially lost a gen eration of expertise in the livestock industry. * (11:00) Manitoba is falling behind in its share of beef farms across Manitoba.

Their approach to Crown lands have left so many producers behind. When will the minister take action and address the problems his government has created in the Crown land program? Mr. Johnson: Our government is a listening govern- ment. And if the NDP don' t believe me, they –maybe they'll believe Brent Benson, president of the Manitoba Crown Land Leaseholders Association. In an

article written by the Manitoba Co -operator about the rent reduction on ag Crown lands, Brent Benson says, and I quote: It appears that the minister is actually listening to producers, and we are hopeful that the con sultation process will result in more positive changes to come.

November 18, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 85 I table that letter, an d let me tell the member opposite, there's more positive changes to come. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The time for oral questions has expired. The–petitions. PETITIONS Hearing Aids Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background to this petition is as follows: A hearing aid is a battery -powered electronic device designed to improve an individual 's ability to perceive sound.

Worn in or behind a person's ear, they make sounds louder, helping people hear better when it's quiet and when it's noisy. People who suffer hearing loss, whether due to aging, illness, employment or accident, not only lose the ability to communicate e ffectively with friends, family or colleagues, they also can experience unemployment, social isolation and struggles with mental health. Hearing loss can also impact the safety of an individual with hearing loss, as it affects the ability to hear cars coming, safety alarms, call 911, et cetera.

A global commission on the state of the research for dementia care and prevention released an updated consensus report in July 2020, identifying 12 key risk factors for dementia and cognitive decline. The strongest risk factor that was indicated was hearing loss. It was calculated that up to 8 per cent of the total number of dementia cases could potentially be avoided with management of hearing loss.

Hearing aids are therefore essential to mental health and well -being of Manitobans, especially to those at significant risk of dementia, Alzheimer 's, a disorder of the brain affecting cognition in the ever - growing senior population. Audiologists are health -care professionals who help patients decide which kind of hea ring aid will work best for them, based on the type of hearing loss, patient's age and ability to manage small devices, lifestyle and ability to afford. The cost of hearing aids can be prohibitive to many Manitobans, depending on their income and circumstances.

Hearing aids cost on average $995 to $4,000 per ear, and many professionals say the hearing aids only work at their best for five years. Manitoba residents under the age of 18 who require a hearing aid, as prescribed by an otolaryngol- ogist or audiologist, will receive either an 80 per cent reimbursement from Manitoba Health of a fixed amount for an analog device, up to a maximum of $500 per ear, or 80 per cent of a fixed amount for a digital or analog programmable device, up to a maximum of $1,800.

However, this reimbursement is not available to Manitobans who need the device who are over the age of 18, which will result in financial hardship for many young people entering the work- force, students and families. In addition, seniors, representing 14.3 per cent of Manitoba 's popula tion, are not eligible for reimbursement, despite being the group most likely in need of a hearing aid. Most insurance companies only provide a minimal partial cost of a hearing aid, and many Manitobans, especially re tired persons, old- age pensioners and other low-income earners, do not have access to health insurance plans.

The Province of Quebec' s hearing devices program covers all costs related to hearing aids and assistive listening devices, including the purcha se, repair and replacement. Alberta offers subsidies to all seniors 65 and over and low-income adults, once every five years. New Brunswick provides coverage for the purchase and maintenance not covered by other agencies or private health insurance plans, as well as assistance for those for whom the purchase would cause financial hardship.

Manitobans over age 18 are only eligible for sup- port for hearing aids if they're receiving Employment and Income Assist ance, and the reimbursement only provides a maximum of $500 an ear. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to consider hearing loss as a medical treatment under Manitoba Health. To urge the provincial government to provide income-based coverage for hearing aids to all who need them, as hearing has been proven to be essential to Manitobans' cognitive, mental and social health and well-being.

86 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 18, 2022 Signed by David Montgomery, Bonnie Okaluk and Alvin Semenel [phonetic] and many others. Mr. Deputy S peaker: My apologies, my mic came off. Just going to pin it back on my Winnipeg Blue Bombers shirt here. An Honourable Member: It's actually my shirt. Mr. Deputy Speaker: It's actually –actually, it 's a jersey and actually, it's your son's. Anyway, are the re any other petitions? I don' t believe I see any. So we're going to keep moving here. There are no grievances during –[interjection]–yes, Throne Speech. ORDERS OF THE DAY GOVERNMENT BUSINESS Mr.

Deputy Speaker: So orders of the day, gov ern- ment House business. Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Government House Leader): Thank you, Mr. Jefferson. Could you please call for –sorry, Mr. Deputy Speaker, not –could you please call for debate the Throne Speech. THRONE SPEECH (Third Day of Debate) Mr. Deputy Speaker: Okay. We will resume debate on the proposed motion of the honourable member for Borderland (Mr. Guenter), and the amendment thereto proposed by the leader of the –the honourable Leader of the Official Op position (Mr. Kinew), standing in the name of the honourable member of–for St.

James, who has 15 minutes remaining. Mr. Adrien Sala (St. James): It's great to have a further opportunity here to comment on this Throne Speech presented by this government. I want to talk a bit about, right now, about com - munity safety, and this government's failure to present a credible or serious plan to respond to some of the challenges that we're facing right now in this province. Before I do that, I also just want to just take a moment to comment on some of the comments yesterday from the Minister of Justice (Mr.

Goertzen), who's in many ways respon sible for so much of our community safety here in Manitoba, who spent, you know, most of his Throne Speech response yesterday making a lot of serious comments or accusations about folks on this side of the House not caring, or not being concerned about community safety. I thought that was in parti cularly poor taste for someone who has such a high level of responsi bility to cast those accusations.

Also want to say that it was particularly rich to hear the Minister of Justice make those accusations, when it 's he himself and his gov - ernment that is respon sible for creating the situation that we're in. You know, this enough- is-enough busi ness that we're hearing from them sounds ludicrous when we know that it's this government that is largely respon - sible for the com munity safety challenges that we' re facing here in this province. So here we are now, in an election year, and we 're seeing the PCs suggest t hat they have a concern about crime and com munity safety in Manitoba.

And that's after they've created the conditions for these–for increases in violent crime in Manitoba and other types of crime. And that's after years of gutting social pro gramming and program ming that helps to respond to those issues. And suddenly they care about the outcomes of their disinvestment from our commu- nities. Instead, of course, of talking about the actual reasons why we 're seeing these big increases in violent c rime, we 're seeing them just spew more ideological rhetoric. They haven't proposed anything new other than more video cameras and more police.

Levels of violent crime in Manitoba are too high right now. We know that. The stats show that. But we also have too much property crime and other types of crime happening in Manitoba right now. And, you know, I hear a lot about that in St. James. Folks are seeing seemingly a spike in people breaking into their garages, stealing bikes, sort of disorganized crime. Crimes of inconvenience that create, you know, chal- lenges for folks in our communities. Those crimes are also going up in St. James.

And people want to see action in response, and they want to know why this is happening and they want to see a government that is taking this issue seriously. But what we know and what's clear is that the ideological crime-and-punishment approach that we're seeing em- phasized by the Tories, for the benefit of the media or whoever else they think they're speaking to with these comments, will not work. We know –studies have shown over and over again that that will not help to decrease crime. * (11:10) You know, that is not a serious response to improving com munity safety in Manitoba. In fact,

November 18, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 87 what it will do is it–that it will lead to more over -in- carceration of low -income people in this province. That's what it will do. And, frankly, we don't need more police in those neighbourhoods. We need more invest ment in those low-income neighbourhoods. We need more invest - ment. We need to ensure that we invest in housing, in job training, in mental health supports, in addictions supports, in good quality programs that are designed by folks in our com munities and led by folks in our communities. Mr.

Deputy Speaker, t here's a very well -esta- blished relationship between com munity disinvest - ment and rises in crime rates and social challenges. It's a very well-established relationship, and that's exactly what's happened here in Manitoba under this PC gov- ernment. If I had a chart, we could see very clearly PC disinvestment in social programs matching up very closely with an increase–a slow and steady increase with crime in Manitoba. And if you speak with Manitobans of an older genera tion–I have the privilege of speaking wit h a lot of older Manitobans who live in St.

James –they'll tell you the same thing happened under the last PC gov ernment, when Gary Filmon cut 55 or so social programs that were playing a key role across Manitoba in helping to keep commu- nities safe. He cut those programs, and what happened? We saw, during that last PC gov ernment, the same thing happened: a spike in crime. So disinvestment from communities is the PC way and, unfor tunately, the results of that disinvestment are very predictable. We need to be investing in our communities. We need those job supports. We need mental health supports. We need good housing.

And we need to fund grassroots, com munity-led programs –led by people from within our com munities. Those are the invest - ments we should be making instead of disinvesting from those programs, as this government has done. If they did that, that would actually demonstrate a real desire to do some thing about the com munity safety challenges we're facing here in Manitoba right now. That would show Manitobans that they 're serious, that they understand the true causes of crime and that they actually wanted to do some thing about it.

But we know that's not going to happen because we know this government would prefer to continue taking an ideological approach. Mr. Deputy Speaker, in Manitoba, we had a really great program under the last NDP government. It was called Neighbourhoods Alive! And that was a phenomenal program that ensured that gov ernment dollars were spent in our communities in a way that reflected what our com munities needed. It helped to ensure dollars went where they were needed. That program had a significant impact in improv- ing life in our com munities, in making our com mu- nities safer.

And this go vernment cut that program. And what did they do with those dollars? They shifted it to another program, Building Sus- tainable Communities, that forced applicants to come up with 50 per cent of the funding if they wanted to get access to those dollars. And guess what that did? It ensured that only wealthier communities in this province could access those funds. And what it did is it ensured that the com- munities that needed those funds the most were not able to access them. And that had a significant impact in our com munities.

It privileged wealthier com mu- nities and ultimately led to a demise of a lot of the programming that we 're feeling the impacts of right now. More cameras, more police officers is not a serious or well-informed approach to improving com- munity safety. We should be em powering com mu- nity-led solutions and programs and helping our com- munities that are struggling to help themselves. Mr. Deputy Speaker, I want to shift now to talk a little bit about afford ability. And we saw, of course, that this Throne Speech did not present anything new to help Manitobans to help them to deal with this affordability crisis.

We saw them rehash old an - nouncements and we saw them to–continue to double down on their proposals to disproportionately benefit the wealthiest people in Manitoba. We saw a lot of recycled ideas, but one thing we certainly did not hear about in this Throne Speech was any reference to the out-of-control rent-increase issue being faced by folks in this province right now. AGI increases are one of the biggest drivers of our housing affordability crisis in this province. The Free Press just reported last week that last year AGI requests averaged 17.5 percent.

The average above-guideline rent -increase request last year was 17.5 percent. And we know that 100 percent of those requests are approved.

88 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 18, 2022 Process that, Mr. Deputy Speaker. What are the impacts of that if every single rent -increase request that's coming in is approved and the average request was 17.5 percent? Think about what that's doing to the cost of rental housing in this province if we allow that problem to continue and continue to grow as this gov- ernment has done. There is currently a huge imbalance in the way that we approach this issue and we have a huge imbalance in the power.

And the scales are currently tipped too strongly in favour of property owners, and we need to shift that balance back to ensure that we have the interests of renters that are represented–better represented. We know this gov ernment doesn't stand for the interests of working people in this province. We know that. Increases of 17.5 percent mean two to three hundred dollars more a month on t he average one bedroom in this province. Thousands of units are seeing those types of increases every single year.

And if this gov ernment really cared about the challenges facing people in this province, they would know that that is not acceptable and it' s not sus tain- able. It is not sus tainable. We need to take action to put a stop to the out -of-control above-guideline rent- increase issue in Manitoba and I 'd hoped we 'd see a commitment to that in this Throne Speech, but we did not. Two years ago, w e identified this issue. We brought a solution into this House. We 've identified that this problem is ongoing. This issue has been ongoing for a long time under this gov ernment.

We proposed a solution in the form of a bill. They didn 't want to pass it. We're going to introduce it again in the hopes that they're listening, that they care about the challenges facing working families in this province, facing sen- iors in our rental accommodations, facing people on fixed incomes. And we're going to keep pus hing that forward.

But we know that instead of taking that solution and running with it and fixing this issue, the gov ern- ment just wanted to pat them selves on the back for a rent freeze they imposed that had no teeth, that was ultimately just where we saw property owners going around that over and over again with this above - guideline rent- increase channel that allows them to continue raising rates in an unsustainable way. This problem needs to be solved, Mr. Deputy Speaker. It was a huge shame that w e didn't see it in the Throne Speech. We 're going to keep fighting to make sure that that problem gets fixed.

I want to use the last portion of my time here to talk a bit about one other huge failure of this gov ern- ment, and something we did not hear enough about in this Throne Speech, and that 's concerns about child care. This Throne Speech failed to instill any confi - dence that this government has been listening to child- care experts or listening to families who are using our childcare system here in Manitoba. It did not provide any evidence or hopefulness that the government will be using the significant funds that the federal gov ernment is transferring to this province to benefit Manitoban families.

What we received instead are a bunch mor e empty promises, which we know this government likes to make and we know that we hear them make commit ments all the time that just simply don't go fulfilled. And one of the things I think that Manitobans wanted to see most clearly was that this gov ernment was actually going to finally commit to actual univer- sal $10-a-day care. That is something that Manitobans wanted to see and they wanted to see it because they're struggling with an affordability crisis right now.

And if you're a Manitoban famil y with a kid or a couple kids or kids in child care, child care as –I know, as a father, is expensive. We have the op portunity to take those federal funds and make uni versal $10- a-day care, and this government is wasting that op portunity. Instea d of making child care $10 a day, instead of ensuring that it's affordable, we 're seeing this gov ernment continuing with their plan to be the only juris diction in all of Canada to distribute those federal dollars, those affordability child -care dollars with a subsidy approach.

And the result has been a complete and total, unmitigated disaster. The minister would know that if he spoke with any families who are using child care or child-care directors, he would know that. One con- versation with a child-care director would inform him of that issue. * (11:20) That they 're listening that that–if they were listening to child -care centres, they 'd know that that subsidy approach that they' re forcing child- care centres to use is resulting in massive inequities in the way that those federal dollars are being distributed.

November 18, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 89 And that's because there's mass confusion on the part of families and child-care centres as to how those dollars are supposed to be disseminated. They do not know with clarity how those doll ars are supposed to be disseminated because this government has created mass confusion with their rollout, and the impact is significant. The effect is that families using different child - care centres are receiving very different levels of benefit.

If you happen to be at one child- care centre where that director in that centre has managed to figure out how to navigate the outrageously complex approach that this government has asked them to use, you may be lucky to have received some of those federal child -care dollars. You may have saved thousands of dollars if you were lucky enough to be in that centre.

And you could simply be down in a child- care centre down the road–this is the reality–you can be in a child-care centre just down the road and have a very different experience, where that child-care centre may not have been able to navigate the approach that this government is forcing them to use and you may have missed out on thousands of dollars. It's a complete gong show. It 's created hugely unequal outcomes for families in the midst of an affordability crisis. This gov ernment should be ashamed. They had a chance to change course. We hoped we'd see that in the Throne Speech, but they didn't do it.

We know why they're using a subsidy approach, because it allows them to ensure that gov ernment dollars go to private child-care centres. If they reduce the daily maximum fees, that would disincentivize private child -care centres from establish ing them - selves. We know that we should be moving to a universal $10-a-day approach. This government failed Manitobans. We need to help them with the affordability crisis that they 're facing. I'm grateful for this chance to speak to this Throne Speech. Thank you. Hon.

Jon Reyes (Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration): It's an honour to rise – [interjection]–thank you. It's an honour to rise today on behalf of my constituents in Waverley. I was pleased to be nominated on November 8th and represent Waverley at its–as its next PC candidate for a 2023 general election. Mr. Brad Michaleski, Acting Speaker, in the Chair I also want to welcome and con gratulate Her Honour Anita Neville, the first Jewish woman and third female Lieutenant Governor in Manitoba. I also want to thank Ms. Janice Filmon for serving seven years as a–the LG.

I wish her well with her husband and former premier, Gary Filmon. First of all, my con stituency, I can 't thank them enough. It's a great constituency. A lot of diverse new- comer and immigrant popula tion, a growing number of small busi nesses and entrepreneurs, new and affordable housing. Two new schools, a K -to-eight and a nine-to-12 will be built, and we have an increased popula tion in that quadrant of the city of Winnipeg. Our government's Throne Speech is making life more affordable for families, for busi nesses, for students and anyone living in Waverley.

Communities also are safer, more competitive and more inclusive as a result. The Throne Speech is delivering on our commit– government's commits to make con stituencies like mine strong and vibrant, and I 'm pleased of recent government funding into my constituency, Green Team, Building Sus tainable Com munities and the Arts, Culture and Sports in Community grants all help to make my constituency of Waverley a better place.

For example, $5,000 to the Sri Lankan Association of Manitoba, 177 and a ha lf thousand to the South Winnipeg Com munity Centre, 28 and a half thousand to the Winnipeg Chinese Senior Association, one hundred and twenty one point eight thousand to the Manitoba Islamic Association and $75,000 to the South Pointe Parent Advisory Council. Funding helps with community engagement with programming, with providing those access to events, but most of all, to make our communities more vibrant and inclusive.

And I'm proud of my Waverley constit- uents, individuals such as Yan Jiang of the Winnipeg Chinese Senior Association; Marny Campbell, a com- munity leader helping Ukrainian families; Jose Tomas, a Filipino trailblazer involved with basketball and youth sports. Many of them –and those are just a few names that I 've mentioned –have con tributed to our com munities in my con stituency and for the betterment of Manitobans.

90 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 18, 2022 Our gov ernment is putting more money in the pockets of hard- working Manitobans. Unlike the tax-and-spend NDP and the out of touch NDP-Liberal federal coalition, our gov ernment is lowering taxes and reducing the tax burden, have lowered the PST from 8 to 7 percent, giving back 50 per cent of the education property tax rebate next year to hard - working Manitobans, and reached a balanced budget in 2020 after many years of the NDP not being able to accomplish that feat. We are making life more 'affordle' for all Manitobans.

Growing the workforce is a priority, and Manitoba's supporting invest ments in adult, continuing and post-secondary education are on track. It is essential that we s trengthen our col laboration with post -secondary in stitutions and busi nesses to identify skills and labour needs in response to the training, research and development needs of Manitoba businesses, including the manufacturing sector. Our government is considering all post-secondary program proposals that will help address labour shortages and foster economic growth.

Government's also taking a close look at ensuring equitable funding across post -secondary in stitutions as our Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) has stated. Our gov- ernment will work with colleges to refine the college growth proposal to address labour and skills shortages. Earning micro- credentials is becoming in - creasingly important, and our colleges are adapting programs to serve st udents, employees and busi - nesses. I've had many con versations with leaders of post-secondary institutions, and micro- credentials is becoming increasingly important, as we know.

A comprehensive review to inform the dev elop- ment of an adult education strategic plan is under way on how best to retain Manitobans to address high demand, well-paying trades in our province. Promot- ing skilled trades as a strong career path will help Manitoba build and support a skilled, diverse workforce.

Our gov ernment is investing in post- secondary and adult learning: over $1 billion is invested in our Manitoba post-secondary institutions each year; more than $217 million in student loans, grants and bur - saries; over $44.7 million to graduate an ad ditional 400 new nursing seats; investing $20.3 million to strengthen adult learning and literacy. So we are taking action and listening to post - secondary in stitutions, some thing that the NDP did not do in their 17 years of government. And we're still cleaning up the mess the NDP left us behind. We are making life more affordable for post - secondary students.

Manitoba has one of the lowest tuitions in Canada. Many students, including inter - national students, are choosing to study and stay in Manitoba. Manitoba is the home of hope. Immigration is a key component of our economy and our labour supply plan. Throughout our history as a province, Manitoba has been a destination for those fleeing conflicts around the world, seeking peace and the oppor tunity for a better life for their families. Our province continues to welcome and support newcomers to our province.

Last year we welcomed more than 16,000 newcomers to our province, and we had a record number of 6,275 nominations last year into Manitoba through our Prov incial Nominee Program. We will continue to work with the federal govern- ment to ask for more MPNP allocations so that more newcomers can come to friendly Manitoba. And this year, in little over six months, the welcoming and generous spirit of Manitoba was exemplified by how we united as a com munity to welcome more than 12,000 people fleeing from the brutal and unjust war in Ukraine. This is due to the leadership of our Premier and our gov ernment.

We are the gold standard across Canada for welcoming refugees from Ukraine, across to the federal Minister of Immigration. This demon- strates once again that when we work together, we win together. The final report of Manitoba 's Immigration Advisory Council will be delivered soon with our recommendations to enhance the suc cessful Prov - incial Nominee Program that we already have. But there's always an opportunity to improve and enhance programs and services, as I've stated in the past.

This group, the Immigration Advisory Council, 20 esteemed Manitobans, have been hard at work all year, meeting to discuss ways to improve and enhance immigration programs and services so that our com - munities remain strong and competitive. There were 14 immigration public meetings this summer and fall, and I met hundreds of Manitobans, including inter - national students, recent newcomers and immigration service providers that shared with me their thoughts

November 18, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 91 on how to make Manitoba more welcoming, stronger and inclusive. I want to remind everyone that it was a PC gov- ernment back in 1998, under the steady leadership of MLA Bonnie Mitchelson, that created the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program.

A generation later, our PC govern ment is improving and passing the program, something the NDP gov ernment could not do in their 17 years. * (11:30) Our renewed Canada- Manitoba immigration agreement will ensure our province is able to attract potential immigrants based on prov incial economic priorities, while collaborating on the settlement and integration of newcomers. In closing, I am proud of the direction that the Speech from the Throne is heading. Our gov ernment is making life more affordable, making com munities more safer and stronger and making Manitoba more competitive.

We are taking action and listening to Manitobans. I want to thank my family for their ongoing love and support, and to my constituents of Waverley, I thank you time and time again for the opportunity to serve you as best as I can each and every day. And one more final point there: I just want to wish good luck to my friend, No. 4, Adam Bighill and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Hoping for a three -peat in Regina. Go Blue. Go Bombers, go. Thank you.

The Acting Speaker (Brad Michaleski): Before we continue, I would just like to remind the House, as Speaker, I have to hear the people that have the floor, and the background noise, the general conversation, is getting a little bit loud. So if you can just tone it down, that would be much appreciated. Mr. Dougald Lamont (St. Boniface): You know, there was a lot of hype around this budget about bold ideas. But in so many ways, this is a stand-pat budget. It offers many of the same ideas and solutions that we've seen for 40 years that haven't really worked.

And it happens at a time of c risis–not just one crisis, but multiple crises. We have environmental crisis. We have a health -care crisis. We have a cost - of-living crisis. We have lots of crises all happening at once, and that requires some thing more than just sticking the word bold on the side of it and hoping for the best.

I do just want to say that I did –that I was lucky enough to attend the com memoration of the –Louis Riel's execution the other day and, you know, he was their first founder–he's the founder of Manitoba, one of the fathers of Confederation and he fought for things like making sure people could have the French rights and le mot français n'apparait pas une seule fois dans le discours du trône du Manitoba. Translation The word French does not come up once in Manitoba's Throne Speech. English So the word French doesn't even appear once.

But we can look at what the gov ernment's priorities are when they say, it 's not really–because I don't think it really is about making our –helping our community safer because it actually targets the vul - nerable people who are homeless or who have mental health crises or an addiction and blames them for violent crime, which is dangerous and unfair non- sense.

It's not really about helping families make ends meet, because when you look at how much money is being spent that's going to the biggest property owners or the biggest earners in Manitoba, it's clear that we're giving much more to the people who already have something than the people who need it. We're actually–this government is actually going out of its way to borrow money to make rich–the rich richer, while we 're seeing people treading water and going under. It's a sad state of affairs. And they put health care third. I mean, I think that speaks about this government's priorities.

You know, they say they 're strengthening health care and reducing surgical and diagnostic backlogs, but there's two things about this. One is that the actual deadlines, when we 're talking about rolling back and achieving objectives when it comes to surgical and diag nostic backlogs, well, those were already bad and getting worse for three days leading up to the–into the pandemic.

We put out a report in December of 2019 pointing out the CIHI statistics made it absolutely clear that the–that wait times for hip and knee replacements and cataracts were getting worse every single year for three years, from 2016 to 2019 as we led into the pandemic.

92 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 18, 2022 So to say that, you know, to declare a victory and say that they cleared the backlog when the backlog was already getting worse prior to the pandemic, it 's no–it's not really a victory. When you set the bar so low you just put it on the floor, you can step over it, that's not really an accomplishment.

And helping make Manitoba more competit ive– again, this is the same failed strategy to debase Manitoba and our labour in order to export profits from our province instead of building it up and making sure that we've got supports for locally owned independent business, who are going under right now. And I think that 's an enormous concern that 's completely ignored in this Throne Speech. It's actually–when it comes to the economy, this is one of the –we're seeing local busi nesses, long – basically local in stitutions, go under. We 've heard – seen three in the last week.

Even if just –KUB–you know, KUB Bakery have gone under. I just heard that Kelekis is going under and Quest Musique. Like, these are all long -standing, locally owned Winnipeg businesses and they've all–they're all going under in the last week. This is a huge red flag for where we're going and this government actually needs to be stepping up with more support for businesses. And when it comes to, you know, protecting our environment, climate and parks, it 's a gov ernment whose legacy in the environment really just–it matches the NDP 's.

The recent BITSA bill actually gives a fuel tax cut to peat harvesters, which means that we're subsidizing–fuelling climate change. And there is a heading for advancing recon- ciliation in the Throne Speech but as you scroll down, there's actually not any content. So I don't know if that was just a typo, but it certainly is an unfor tunate indication of where this government is heading. You know, the world has changed and new ideas and old truths have been unearthed. And honestly, this government is still pursuing ideas that have been – some of which have been tried and failed for 40 years.

One of it would be the example of the funding they're–the funding–what is it, performanc e-based funding that they're holding over the heads of univer- sities. This was tried in Tennessee in 1979 and if we're really talking about ideas that are new and modern and applicable to Manitoba, why are we looking to Tennessee in 1979?

I don't really think of that as being the best model because it was actually an atrocious plan, and most states that adopted this –have adopted this measure abandoned it again because it doesn' t work; because it's based on an assumption–a mistaken assumption– that universities actually aren't doing their job, when universities and–are actually doing a very good job of graduating and teaching people. Part of the problem is the labour market.

The labour market has changed and it is bad, but we also shouldn't be imposing–I don 't know what gov ern- ment–it's–we–we're imposing more government con- trol, more bureaucracy and more costs on a university rather than just letting them be free to do what they do best, which is teach people and to research. And that's what they should be focused on and not on–try and make the imme diate needs or forcing people in–and denying people choice when it comes to the decisions they want to make around their own education.

And I have to say, you know, when it comes to economic development, this government is doing–it's more of the same because it's more top-down, trickle- down economics. In three years, in the last two years and the next, this gov ernment is going to borrow $900 million in unfunded property tax cuts that go to people who own property. And the more property you own, the more money you'll get. So that money is not being spent –or not neces - sarily being spent or reinvested in Manitoba and it 's certainly not going to people who need it the most, who need –who are having trouble paying for their groceries.

And so we're borrowing money. We're borrowing money to give it to the–some of the largest companies and wealthiest shareholders, not just in Manitoba and not just in Canada, but in the world. Because some of the compan ies that are benefitting are owned by Bill Gates. Some of the companies are owned by Jeff Bezos. It doesn't make sense. And we 're cutting $6,000 cheques to condo owners in Tuxedo and cheques for tens of thousands of dollars are just going to company headquarters out of the province. So the idea that this is good for our economy just isn't true. It 's just not true.

And I 'm–look, I am concerned that the gov ernment needs to do much more to help local businesses. We're hurting–hearing from small busi nesses that they –it's actually tougher now than there was at any point in the pandemic. So they're running out, and we need to be prepared to step up with innovative programs to make sure that they're supported.

November 18, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 93 And I do want to talk about health, especially because this gov ernment has been pursuing a very misleading narrative that Brian Pallister did about health-care funding. [interjection] The Acting Speaker (Brad Michaleski): Order. [interjection] Order. Again, I just want to remind the House that the background conversations are getting quite loud and it's difficult for me to hear this–to the person that has the floor. So I'd ask for your help on just bringing the level of conversation down. Mr.

Lamont: And when it comes to health -care funding, it is incredibly important that we talk about equity. It should be part of the national conver sation, but it hasn't been.

Because if we put equity back into how the health–federal gov ernment funds prov incial health systems, instead of just funding based on head counts, we would actually see an imme diate increase for nine out of 10 provinces–nine out of 10 provinces– because the money would be more efficiently allocated and more fairly allocated; because it would be funding based on people who are s ick, the people who need care, and not just giving money to everybody whether they're sick or not. * (11:40) That's the difference.

It 's really –what we 're calling for is the reversal of a Harper Conservative-era policy that funded provinces based on a str ict per - capita model. It was slipped into the 2007 Budget, although it didn' t take effect until 2014 and it had a very dramatic effect.

The Globe and Mail in 2013 wrote: Based on estimates for 2014-15, Alberta will receive $954 million more into the new formula and every other province will lose money as follows: Ontario will lose $335 million; BC–minus $272 million; Quebec–minus $196 million; Newfoundland– minus $54 million; Manitoba–$31 million; Saskatchewan –$26 million; Nova Scotia–$23 million; New Brunswick–$18 million; and PEI–$3 million. Now this was voted for by a number –in fact this was voted for by the former premier, Brian Pallister.

And we've been the only –we're the only party who 's been calling to have equity brought back to how federal health funding works, because we should be considering the number of seniors, we should be con- sidering the number of people with diabetes as well as distance into the cost of a health-care system. If the federal gov ernment put equity back into their fundi ng formula, nine out of 10 provinces, including Manitoba, would see a funding increase. And taxes would be the same. It wouldn't actually be any more money. We 'd actually just be allocating it more efficiently and more fairly.

And we don't have a probl em with strings being attached to health funding because what 's happened before is that if it isn't actually specifically targeted to health, it won't go there. We have equalization funds that are a billion dollars more a year than they used to be, but t hey're not going to health care. They 're not. We know they 're not because otherwise health care would actually be getting more funding. And it 's not that–that's not happening.

And we have to make the distinction between building buildings, which don' t a ctually provide health care, and supporting people because nurses, doctors and everybody else who works in health care, those are the people who actually provide the care. A building on its own can't do that. So let's stop mixing infrastructure and health-care funding and pretending that infra structure funding is health -care funding when it's not.

And, you know, I 'll–when helping Manitoba – making Manitoba more competitive, which is–it's the same failed strategy to debase Manitoba and often our labour in order to export profits from our province instead of building up. I do not understand the idea that we always have to go somewhere else, that jobs exist somewhere else and we have to import them, that businesses exist somewhere else and we have to import them, that invest ments exist somewhere else and we have to import them. Those are all things we can do ourselves. We can create jobs here, we can create businesses here, and we can have investment here.

And when that happens, it ends up with a virtuous cycle and we end up actually being more independent, more and more self -reliant, and that's what we need more than anything. When we see shattered supply chains, when we see inflation, when we see the difficulties people had buying things before a nd during the pandemic, it's because we have lost so much of our own self - reliance. We need a marshal plan to build our way out of this. But instead we keep giving massive tax breaks and giveaways to the biggest companies in the world

94 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 18, 2022 while we're letting independent, locally owned busi - nesses go broke. So it's the free market for small busi- ness and socialism for the top. When it comes to protecting our environment, climate and parks, again this is a gov ernment–it's–it really has been a continuation of the NDP 's lack of interest, but it also–the recent BITSA bill–or sorry, the recent BITSA bill, again, gave a fuel tax cut to peat harvesters, which actually accelerates climate change and there's no mention of Lake Winnipeg whatsoever in this–in the Throne Speech.

And when it comes to building stronger com mu- nities, again, this is over whelmingly focused on– [interjection] The Acting Speaker (Brad Michaleski): Order. Mr. Lamont: –on bringing individuals from Manitoba just to fill labour , just to say, well, we 're going to have people leaving, so we're going to bring some more folks in. We have to find ways to keep people here, to attract and retrain them. And if we 're really pushing for inter national students, we need to be very clear about what we're asking new Canadians to do because Manitoba 's seeing record losses of people leaving our province.

Again, when it comes to advancing recon- ciliation, there 's nothing. We have said that there should have been an apology and a commit ment to return the funds that were taken, that the Manitoba courts determined this government violated the rights of thousands and thousands of First Nations children in the care of CFS. Right now, this government's being sued and other governments is being sued by a billion dollars. They need to be settling this. We need to actually make this right. And, you know, it 's not bold.

This is largely the same–unfortunately the same stale, discredited ideas in–I have to say, you know, when this gov ernment pretends, they talk about ideology, they pretend they don't have one. Ideology is when you think you always have the answer no matter what the question. It means you don't have to think. And, quite frankly, we have two parties who've both been highly ideological. And in not–and this province has not been parti cularly well served of them. So with that being said, I'll move on to the Throne Speech subamendment. Mr.

Andrew Micklefield, Deputy Speaker, in the Chair I move, seconded by the member for Tyndall Park (Ms.

Lamoureux), THAT the motion be amended by adding after clause (bb) the following clauses: (cc) failed utterly to recognize the COVID pandemic is not yet over and that for many people, businesses and organizations, life and work now is harder than at any point during the pandemic; and (dd) failed to accept responsibility for its own role in creating a health-care crisis by cutting and freezing actual health spending and forcing the closure of clinics; and (ee) failed to commit to equity in 'fealth'– federal health-care funding for Canadian Health Transfers, which would see an immediate improvement in Manitoba's health funding if were calculated based on need, instead of the current, grossly unfair per capita formula; and (ff) failed to commit to being responsible and accountable for federal health-care funds for mental health, seniors, and instead demanded money from others without accountability; and (gg) failed to apologize to nurses for forcing them to endure impossible working conditions which include not ending mandatory overtime or providing them and other health-care workers coverage for burnout, as requested by the Manitoba Nurses Union, which is driving nurses from the system; and (hh) failed to maintain or strengthen hospital capacity which has resulted in a critical shortage of bed space and excessive wait times for patients that resulted in a bottleneck of patients waiting for medical care and surgeries; and (ii) failed to introduce a plan to increase the capacity of family and specialist physicians in Manitoba, where the province currently boasts the lowest and third lowest number in the country respectively; and (jj) failed to develop a comprehensive retention plan to ensure equitable health- care delivery in rural and northern com- munities; and

November 18, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 95 (kk) failed to reinstate full and proper health- care coverage for international students while recognizing the disproportionate impact in inflation on living costs for students; and (ll) failed to present a comprehensive strategy to tackle diabetes in Manitoba; in particu- lar, by not providing complete coverage for insulin pumps and CGMs for people of all ages or implementing strategies as pro- posed by Diabetes Canada's Diabetes 360 framework; and (mm) failed to launch awareness campaigns and education about diabetes prevention and complication issues, particularly among Indigenous communities and vulnerable populations; and (nn) failed to ensure equitable access to dialysis services in rural Manitoba; and (oo) failed to recognize hearing loss as a medical treatment under Manitoba Health and provide income-based coverage for hearing aids to all who need them, espe- cially seniors age 65 and older; and (pp) failed to provide dental care for seniors who cannot pay for coverage without sacri- ficing basic needs; and (qq) failed to take action to create an independent, non-partisan seniors advocate to assist in creating policies and recom- mendations on issues that have been ignored for decades under previous gov- ernments; and (rr) failed to articulate a plan to increase Manitoba's economic self-reliance, choos- ing instead to focus on Manitoba as a branch-plant economy where Manitobans will toil for owners investors, with the result that all profits will be relocated out- side the province; and (ss) failed to create a venture capital fund that is politically independent and accessible to all Manitobans; and (tt) failed utterly to pursue justice measures or take action against gangs that will be effective in reducing crime through prevention, ignoring proven and effective measures of the anti-gang interventions, youth justice committees and community intervention, such as providing individuals with positive alternatives in recreation and jobs, including safe spaces for youth; and (uu) failed to call inquiries into the construction of Winnipeg's police headquarters, despite multiple requests to do so and evidence of bribes and other illegal activities taking place; and (vv) failed to call a public inquiry into Peter Nygård, who's currently awaiting trial on multiple accounts of sexual assault, attacks on women and underage girls, including Indigenous women, in Manitoba and beyond; and (ww) failed to ensure that municipalities have adequate funding to fund community ser- vices and safe spaces to keep people out of trouble; and (xx) failed to prevent against provincial vulner- ability to a dependence on federal transfers, instead of strengthening Manitoba's own source revenues to fund core programs and services; and (yy) failed to protect ratepayers by introducing measures to weaken and politically inter- fere with the Public Utilities Board, which will result in substantial, irresponsibly imposed hydro rate increases; and (zz) failed to apply education property tax rebates through a model of equity,

whereas the current model has resulted in enormous cheques for wealth property owners while squeezing the incomes of the lowest income Manitobans; and (aaa) failed to realize the toll that the cost of living has taken on the most vulnerable populations and failing to address the basic needs of these Manitobans, particularly seniors, families and children, and people living with disabilities; and (bbb) failed to protect women and children fleeing domestic violence by cutting and freezing resources meant to support vic- tims, including women's shelters, second stage housing, shelter crisis lines and specialized programs; and (ccc) failed to ensure that children who age out of care from CFS and those with learning disabilities, ADHD and autism are pro- vided proper supports when and after they turn 18; and

96 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 18, 2022 (ddd) failed to commit to returning $338 million that was illegally seized by successive PC and NDP provincial governments from children belonging to First Nations in CFS from 2006 to 2019, and recognizing that doing so is an important step in the process of reconciliation by the provincial government; and (eee) failed to ensure that full and universal coverage is available for individuals accessing opioid agonist treatment, OAT, and failed to ensure that people without appropriate health-care coverage are able to access timely treatment for opioid addictions; and (fff) failed to adequately support the transition to electric vehicles in Manitoba by insuffi- ciently investing to ensure widespread availability of electric charging stations in Manitoba and insufficiently supporting the purchase of electric vehicles; and (ggg) failed to mention the importance of preserving the quality of groundwater in southeastern Manitoba; and (hhh) failed to put forward a strategy to reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides in Manitoba; and * (11:50) (iii) failed to mention any effort to support the immigration of people from Afghanistan to Manitoba to help those whose lives are threatened in their country of origin and to help address skilled shortages in Manitoba; and (jjj) failed to put forward a plan in the Throne Speech to advance reconciliation.

Mr. Deputy Speaker: Okay, a couple things. There were some slight errors in the member's reading, so he has to go back to the–no, I'm just joking, he doesn't have to go back to the beginning.

But, is there leave for the subamendment to be accepted–considered as printed, not as read? [Agreed] THAT the motion be amended by adding after clause (bb) the following clauses: cc) failed utterly to recognize that the Covid pandemic is not yet over and that for many people, businesses and organizations, life and work now is harder than at any point during the pandemic; and dd) failed to accept responsibility for its own role in creating a health care crisis by cutting and freezing actual health spending, and forcing the closure of clinics; and ee) failed to commit to equity in federal health care funding for Canadian Health Transfers, which would see an immediate improvement in Manitoba's health funding if it were calculated based on need, instead of on the current, grossly unfair per capita formula; and ff) failed to commit to being responsible and accountable for federal health care funds for mental health, seniors, and instead demanded money from others without accountability; and gg) failed to apologize to nurses for forcing them to endure impossible working conditions which include not ending mandatory overtime or providing them and other health care workers coverage for burnout, as requested by the Manitoba Nurses' Union, which is driving nurses from the system; and hh) failed to maintain or strengthen hospital capacity which has resulted in a critical shortage of bed space and excessive wait times for patients that resulted in a bottleneck of patients waiting for medical care and surgeries; and ii) failed to introduce a plan to increase the capacity of family and specialist physicians in Manitoba, where the province currently boasts the lowest and third lowest number in the country respectively; and jj) failed to develop a comprehensive retention plan to ensure equitable healthcare delivery in rural and northern communities; and kk) failed to reinstate full and proper healthcare coverage for international students while recognizing the disproportionate impact of inflation on living costs for students; and ll) failed to present a comprehensive strategy to tackle diabetes in Manitoba, in particular, by not providing complete coverage for insulin pumps and CGMs for people of all ages or implementing strategies as proposed by Diabetes Canada's Diabetes 360's Framework; and

November 18, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 97 mm) failed to launch awareness campaigns and education about diabetes prevention and complication issues, particularly among Indigenous communities and vulnerable populations; and nn) failed to ensure equitable access to dialysis services in rural Manitoba; and oo) failed to recognize hearing loss as a medical treatment under Manitoba Health and provide income-based coverage for hearing aids to all who need them, especially seniors age 65 and older; and pp) failed to provide dental care for seniors who cannot pay for coverage without sacrificing basic needs; and qq) failed to take action to create an independent, non-partisan Senior's Advocate to assist in creating policies and recommendations on issues that have been ignored for decades under previous governments; and rr) failed to articulate a plan to increase Manitoba's economic self-reliance, choosing instead to focus on Manitoba as a "Branch Plant Economy" where Manitobans will toil for owners and investors, with the result that all profits will be located outside the province; and ss) failed to create a venture capital fund that is politically independent and accessible to all Manitobans; and tt) failed utterly to pursue justice measures or take action against gangs that will be effective in reducing crime through prevention, ignoring proven and effective measures of anti-gang interventions, youth justice committees, and community intervention such as providing individuals with positive alternatives in recreation and jobs, including safe spaces for youth; and uu) fa iled to call inquiries into the construction of Winnipeg's Police Headquarters, despite multiple requests to do so and evidence of bribes and other illegal activities taking place; and vv) failed to call a public inquiry into Peter Nygard, who is currently awaiting trial on multiple accounts of sexual assault, attacks on women and underage girls, including Indigenous women, in Manitoba and beyond; and ww) failed to ensure that municipalities have adequate funding to fund community services and safe spaces to keep people out of trouble; and xx) failed to protect against provincial vulnerability due to a dependence on federal transfers, instead of strengthening Manitoba's own source revenues to fund core programs and services; and yy) failed to protect ratepayers by introducing measures to weaken and politically interfere with the Public Utilities Board which will result in substantial, irresponsibly imposed hydro rate increases; and zz) failed to apply education property tax rebates through a model of equity,

whereas the current model has resulted in enormous cheques for wealthy property owners, while squeezing the incomes of the lowest-income Manitobans; and aaa) failed to recognize the toll that the cost of living has taken on the most vulnerable populations and failing to address the basic needs of these Manitobans, particularly seniors, families with children, and people living with disabilities; and bbb) failed to protect women and children fleeing domestic violence by cutting and freezing resources meant to support victims, including women's shelters, Second Stage Housing, Shelter Crisis Lines, and specialized programs; and ccc) failed to ensure that children who age out of care from CFS, and those with learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism are provided proper supports when and after they turn 18; and ddd) failed to commit to returning $338 million, that was illegally seized by successive PC and NDP Provincial Governments from children belonging to First Nations in CFS from 2006-2019, and recognizing that doing so is an important step in the process of reconciliation by the Provincial Government; and eee) failed to ensure that full and universal coverage is available for individuals accessing Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT), and failed to ensure that people without appropr iate healthcare coverage are able to access timely treatment for opioid addictions; and

98 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 18, 2022 fff) failed to adequately support the transition to electric vehicles in Manitoba by insufficiently investing to ensure widespread availability of electric charging stations in Manitoba and insufficiently supporting the purchase of electric vehicles; and ggg) failed to mention the importance of preserving the quality of groundwater in south-eastern Manitoba; and hhh) failed to put forward a strategy to reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides in Manitoba; and iii) failed to mention any effort to support the immigration of people from Afghanistan to Manitoba to help those whose lives are threatened in their country of origin and to help address skilled shortages in Manitoba; and jjj) failed to put forward a plan in the Throne Speech to advance reconciliation.

Mr. Deputy Speaker: Okay. So it has been moved by the honourable member for St. Boniface (Mr. Lamont), seconded by the hon- ourable member for Tyndall Park (Ms. Lamoureux), THAT– An Honourable Member: Dispense. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Dispense. The motion is in order. Thank you. The floor is open for debate. [interjection] Order. Hon. Wayne Ewasko (Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning): It–I'm thankful for the opportunity this morning to get up and put a few words on the record in regards to this, again, another historic Throne Speech, Mr. Deputy Speaker. That–right off the bat, though, Mr.

Deputy Speaker, I would like to thank the constituents of Lac du Bonnet for voting me in in the 2019 election, and I look forward to continuing to serve them as their PC candidate in the next election and as their MLA. Also, I would like to thank, of course, my family and the support of them over, now–which has started my 12th year in this in credible, in credible position that I'm so honoured to have, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Since January of 2022, I was appointed educa- tion–the Minister of Edu cation and Early Child hood Learning, and I 'd like to also, at this time, thank the Premier (Mrs.

Stefanson) for her support and confi - dence in me and in working with our de partment to make sure that the students of Manitoba have greater success as we continue to move forward. And not only the students, Mr . Deputy Speaker. It 's also the awareness and the visionary thinking to join early - childhood learning as well within the de partment, because we know that it is a synergy that definitely complements one another, where we 've got the two departments now amalgamated.

And I'd like to do a bit of a shout-out to the entire department because of their hard work that they have done, especially over the last two and a half years, but since we formed government, I know that the Depart- ment of Education and the new Department of Educa- tion and Early Child hood Learning is putting in countless, countless hours to make –making sure that our students–that the students of Manitoba are having success, no matter where they live in this great province of ours or their cultural background or their personal experience.

I would like to talk about a couple topics in regards to the Throne Speech, of course, and–because that's what we 're here debating. And, again, I would like to congratulate the new Lieutenant Governor on her ap pointment to the role, and I think she did an exceptional job bringing forward the throne –the 2022 Throne Speech, Mr. Deputy Speaker. And, again, I wish her all the best in her new position for the upcoming years that she serves in the role of Lieutenant Governor. And at this time I would like to say thank you to Her Honour Janice Filmon for her years of service.

She did a exemplary job in her position, making sure that she held that position with dignity and grace, and I know that s he represented all Manitobans so very, very well, and I–she was always–took her role as non- partisan very, very im port–very, very seriously and made sure that she was representing all Manitobans. Mr. Dennis Smook, Acting Speaker, in the Chair And I see that there' s some members from the opposite side that are itching to get up to speak, I 'm sure, positive things to the Throne Speech, Mr. Acting Deputy Speaker. So, a few things.

So I know that not that long ago, a few minutes ago, the member–one of the opposition members stood up in his place and put–as usual, from the NDP side –misinformation on the record. It 's unfortunate that this member would take a page out of his leader 's self -serving talking points and stand up and try to make political hay over such an im portant issue such as early childhood education.

November 18, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 99 I know that that member –[interjection]–and they're asking me to name him, so I will. So, I mean, it's the MLA for St. James. And it 's unfortunate that we see, in this Chamber, something that is starting to happen again, Mr. Acting Deputy Speaker. And what is that, you may ask? That is those dark days of the NDP under Greg Selinger. And the NDP so- called team of 10 multiple teams on that side of the House, they're trying to distance the mselves from Greg Selinger. But we know that within their caucus there's something brewing.

We know that just like what happened to Greg Selinger is starting to happen under this NDP so- called new teams. We know that the member for St. James (Mr. Sala), I do believe, and through those– because Manitoba is one sixteenth degree of separation, Mr. Acting Deputy Speaker, many people know and listen to many things that are going on throughout all party stripes. And I think we know that the member for St. Jam es has his sight set on that leader chair of the NDP.

And so, much like when Greg Selinger put his arm around the leader of–the now-Leader of the NDP, the member for saint –for Fort Rouge put his arm around him and brought him in as the star candidate, little did Greg Selinger know that with the other arm, the Leader of the NDP, the now -Leader of the NDP, the member for Fort Rouge (Mr. Kinew), was actually bringing out the knife and right into the back, Mr. Deputy–Mr. Acting Deputy Speaker, the same is starting to brew on that side. And I do believe that the one that the member from Fort Rouge should watch out for is possibly the member for St.

James because I see the same self - serving talking points, the misinformation, the non- factual infor mation bein g put on the record today, Mr. Acting Deputy Speaker. Mr. Acting Deputy Speaker, in regards to child care, we just announced earlier this week, with the federal government and the municipalities, a partner- ship with our department to bring forward 1,200 new daycare spaces. These 1,200 -plus seats –spaces are going to help 1,200 children. * (12:00) I know that the member from St. James and his multiple 10 teams over in the opposi tion side, Mr.

Acting Deputy Speaker, want to–wanted to stay with the status quo, which was no child- care spaces, high rate for child-care fees and also a very long list– wait-list for child-care spaces. We're taking a different approach. We 're making child care far more affordable right now, Mr. Acting Deputy Speaker. Come the springtime of 2023, we're going to have an average of $10- a-day daycare for Manitobans. That's three years–that's three years ahead of our agreement with the federal government. And on top of that, we've also promised, by '26-27, to bring in an additional 23,000 more daycare spaces.

So I know that the member opposite is against any type of advancement that will help families. I know that he has some form of plan written on the back of his own napkin, which he hasn't shared with his actual leader, Mr. Deputy Spe aker, but we have a plan: 1,200 spaces, 17 new com munities that had, in most cases, daycare deserts across the province. Under the dark days of the NDP, there were no new spaces built. Matter of fact, they just increased those waiting lists, increased those waiting lists and made it more expensive for families to get the child care that they needed–not under our government.

And you know what I contributed to, Mr. Acting Deputy Speaker? It's collaboration and partnering within the sector, within our other levels of government. That is something that the NDP never did. They never consulted. They were top-down–their top-down approach to not only other levels of government; they even tried to bully the federal government, Mr. Acting Deputy Speaker, when the NDP were in power. We know that Manitobans are far smarter than that, and they will–they do not want to go back to the dark days of the NDP.

When we talk about child- care wages –another thing that under 17 years of the dark days of the NDP, they never did. They never cared. The child- care sector would come to meetings with their then - minister that was responsible of child care, Mr. Acting Deputy Speaker, and they would say, you know what, we need to increase our wages because we need to retain, we need to recruit and we need to train up new individuals to get into the sector. Did the NDP ever listen? No, they didn't. No, they didn't; they turned a blind ear, a deaf ear, a blind eye to all the requests of the sector.

So, in July of 2022, the wage grid supplement is helping that sector retain qualified, exper ienced staff, and we' re boosting the recruitment efforts, Mr. Acting Deputy Speaker.

100 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 18, 2022 Another tidbit of misinformation that the member for St. James (Mr. Sala) put on the record, and other members on that side continue to repeat those self - serving talking points of their leader. Just recently, we announced a recruitment strategy which included some of those dollars that the member from St. James mentioned: $5,000 per student, per year of post - secondary training, to upskill or to recruit brand- new ECEs in this great province of ours, Mr. Acting Deputy Speaker, $5,000 per student.

Their–when that an nouncement happened, some of the students who were participating and were in the room at the time, they absolutely stood up and they clapped and they cheered.

And there were even some tears because they know that we are here for not only the children's sake, but also to make sure that we value that sector, which is so im portant, so essential; to make sure that when we 're moving forward with the Manitoba economy that that child -care sector is strong, is there to make sure that our parents, families who want to go to work, they have the child care that they need, they deserve and they can afford. Another thing, Mr. Acting Deputy Speaker, when we talk about subsidies, I know that the member from St. James, he 's against subsidies for some reason.

I don't quite understand. They're doing–he's doing that flip-flop like that pickerel on the dock just like his leader does, which is interesting, because I think he 's trying to distance himself from the leader, but he continues to use the same self -serving talking points of his leader. I know, Mr. Acting Deputy Speaker, that the levels, in order for subsidies to occur, had been locked down, frozen under the NDP. Under the NDP there were 6,

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	42-5-4
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	42nd 5th hansardpdf 4.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	3ce03b7f8a43783af6661556f76861a82b34ec38

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