Manitoba Hansard — 4 April 2024 (Sitting 37, 43rd Legislature, 1st Session)

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Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

First Session – Forty-Third Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Tom Lindsey Speaker Vol. LXXVIII No. 37 - 1:30 p.m., Thursday, April 4, 2024 ISSN 0542-5492

MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Forty-Third Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ALTOMARE, Nello, Hon. Transcona NDP ASAGWARA, Uzoma, Hon. Union Station NDP BALCAEN, Wayne Brandon West PC BEREZA, Jeff Portage la Prairie PC BLASHKO, Tyler Lagimodière NDP BRAR, Diljeet Burrows NDP BUSHIE, Ian, Hon. Keewatinook NDP BYRAM, Jodie Agassiz PC CABLE, Renée, Hon. Southdale NDP CHEN, Jennifer Fort Richmond NDP COOK, Kathleen Roblin PC CROSS, Billie Seine River NDP DELA CRUZ, Jelynn Radisson NDP DEVGAN, JD McPhillips NDP EWASKO, Wayne Lac du Bonnet PC FONTAINE, Nahanni, Hon. St.

Johns NDP GOERTZEN, Kelvin Steinbach PC GUENTER, Josh Borderland PC HIEBERT, Carrie Morden-Winkler PC JACKSON, Grant Spruce Woods PC JOHNSON, Derek Interlake-Gimli PC KENNEDY, Nellie Assiniboia NDP KHAN, Obby Fort Whyte PC KINEW, Wab, Hon. Fort Rouge NDP KING, Trevor Lakeside PC KOSTYSHYN, Ron, Hon. Dauphin NDP LAGASSÉ, Bob Dawson Trail PC LAMOUREUX, Cindy Tyndall Park Lib. LATHLIN, Amanda The Pas-Kameesak NDP LINDSEY, Tom, Hon. Flin Flon NDP LOISELLE, Robert St. Boniface NDP MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Malaya, Hon. Notre Dame NDP MOROZ, Mike River Heights NDP MOSES, Jamie, Hon. St.

Vital NDP MOYES, Mike Riel NDP NARTH, Konrad La Vérendrye PC NAYLOR, Lisa, Hon. Wolseley NDP NESBITT, Greg Riding Mountain PC OXENHAM, Logan Kirkfield Park NDP PANKRATZ, David Waverley NDP PERCHOTTE, Richard Selkirk PC PIWNIUK, Doyle Turtle Mountain PC REDHEAD, Eric Thompson NDP SALA, Adrien, Hon. St. James NDP SANDHU, Mintu The Maples NDP SCHMIDT, Tracy, Hon. Rossmere NDP SCHOTT, Rachelle Kildonan-River East NDP SCHULER, Ron Springfield-Ritchot PC SIMARD, Glen, Hon. Brandon East NDP SMITH, Bernadette, Hon.

Point Douglas NDP STEFANSON, Heather Tuxedo PC STONE, Lauren Midland PC WASYLIW, Mark Fort Garry NDP WHARTON, Jeff Red River North PC WIEBE, Matt, Hon. Concordia NDP WOWCHUK, Rick Swan River PC

1001 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Thursday, April 4, 2024 The House met at 1:30 p.m. The Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, from Whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to the welfare and prosperit y 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 acknowledge we are gathered on Treaty 1 territory and that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Anishininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Denesuline, Nehethowuk nations. We acknowledge 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 wor king in partner ship with First Nations, Inuit and Métis people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Please be seated.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Bill 31–The Captured Carbon Storage Act Hon. Jamie Moses (Minister of Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources): I move, seconded by the Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage, that Bill 31, The Captured Carbon Storage Act, be now read a first time. Motion presented. Mr. Moses: It gives me great pleas ure to intro duce Bill 31, The Captured Carbon Storage Act. This bill introduces a licensing framework that allows industry to apply for licences and permits throughout the stage of carbon capture project.

These projects will also require an Environment Act licence to ensure that public health and the environment are protected. Achieving net zero will require a multi -prong approach of policies, programs and legis lation to address emissions. Carbon capture and storage pro- jects have the potential to pre vent the release of hundreds of thousands of tons of carbon dioxide in Manitoba, the equivalent of taking over 85,000 gasoline cars off the road. Carbon capture and storage has been proved as a safe tech nology. Such projects have operated in Canada sin ce 2014 and around the world since the 1970s.

This new bill aligns with multiple economic and environmental priorities. It will address industry ex - pectations for a regula tory framework, allowing car - bon capture and storage projects while supporting the– The Speaker: Order, please. [interjection] Order, please. Order, please. I just remind the minister that when the Speaker stands, it's time to quit speaking. And a reminder to everyone to make sure that you keep your comments within the kind of guide line of time of how long it should be. Thank you. Committee reports–Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed] Committee reports?

Tabling of reports? Minis - terial statements? MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Rescue Siamese and Stray Cats Hon. Renée Cable (Minister of Advanced Education and Training): Today I rise to speak to the amazing work of Rescue Siamese and Stray Cats. The shelter is very near and dear to my heart, and I've never encountered such dedicated and compassionate volunteers. They're up in the gallery with us today. Located beside Frontenac School in Windsor Park, Rescue Siamese is a 100 per cent volunteer-run, non-profit, no- kill facility that gives their beloved felines a second chance at life, including my own very best buddy Mo.

The shelter holds a lifetime commitment to their cats, ensuring that all rescues are safely housed or adopted into new homes. Their adoption program ensures adopters are matched with the right cat based on personality and living situations, and their foster program provides an opportunity to learn about the cat's personality first, and later match that cat with a home they can thrive in.

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1002 Their feral trap, sterilize and release program cares for strays and places them in new homes, and the funny faces program is designed with the effects of feline immunodeficiency virus in mind. It provides funding to help treat FIV-positive cats and place them in homes that can accommodate their special medical needs. Rescue Siamese runs on community support through online auctions, wine and cash raffles, Christmas parties and pet expos.

On May 26, Rescue Siamese will be hosting a spring event in their parking lot with a bake sale, vendors, silent auctions and adorable adoptable cats. I highly encourage my colle agues to attend this exciting event. I invite all members to join me in thanking direc- tor Krista Krueger, who founded Rescue Siamese in 1996, co- director Tara Mychalyshyn and all of the incredible, passionate volunteers who have made it possible for Resc ue Siamese & Stray Cats to home thousands of cats in Manitoba and around the country. Lori Enns Ms.

Jodie Byram (Agassiz): Volunteerism is an important part of the success of many organizations and strength in many communities. Many volunteers invest their time and efforts in aid of those less for - tunate and support our most vulnerable. I recently met with one individual who is passionate about helping those in need. Today in the gallery, I would like to wel come Agassiz volunteer Lori Enns, her parents Cornie and Barb, along with volunteer and f riend–a friend Carla Hemingway. Lori volunteers many hours at Austin's MCC thrift store.

It is here she and other volunteers spend time receiving, sorting and organizing donated items in preparation for resale, providing a much -needed service in the community. Although Lori spends time volunteering at the thrift store, she also invests an incredible amount of time making items for shoeboxes to send to those in need. She and her mom make dresses and feminine hygiene products for the boxes. * (13:40) In late November, Lori made her seventh journey to Calgary where she, along with 23 others, packed 120–or, 210 boxes for Operation Christmas Child.

These boxes were filled with crafted dresses, hygiene products, small toys and other essential items and supplies and then transported overseas and given to women and children. Lori's passion and enthusiasm for preparing and packaging these containers goes all year. I know she's already packed and wrapped many shoe boxes and has them stored in her home and ready for delivery this fall. A special thank you to her family and friends who also support her passion in the gift of time and mater- ials.

On behalf of the Manitoba Legislature, I want to thank you, Lori, for your donation of time and energy for the benefit of those less fortunate. Your efforts and dedication are touching the lives of many and making a difference in our great world. Thank you. Marlene Stoddart-Phillips and Vanessa Chimuk Mrs. Rachelle Schott (Kildonan-River East): Honourable Speaker, today I rise to acknowledge the integral role of volunteerism plays in our community. I want to celebrate two amazing women from Kildonan-River East who join us today in the gallery: Marlene and Vanessa.

I know that Kildonan -River East would not be what it is today without neighbours who dedicate their time and energy towards serving their community. I want to uplift Marlene, a dedicated volunteer who I met when I began volunteering at Good Neighbours Active Living Centre in northeast Winnipeg, a fantastic place that helps seniors stay active and connected in their community. Marlene is one of the kindest people you'll meet and she has lasting relation- ships throughout northeast Winnipeg. Her contagious spirit and smile have welcomed so many people into Good Neighbours and encouraged them to keep com- ing back.

Marlene is also known for connecting people. She connected my family with her granddaughter, Vanessa, who babysat for our kids for many years. Marlene passed down her love of service to Vanessa, who is now graduating as a nurse who plans to stay and work here in Manitoba, our great province. I am so thankful to Marlene, as she is one of many folks in our community who exemplify the power of working together, dedicating your time to a cause and spreading kindness wherever you go.

Please join me in thanking Marlene and her granddaughter Vanessa for their continued service to our community and our always great province.

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1003 Headingley Fire Department Run for Wishes Mrs. Kathleen Cook (Roblin): It is indeed an hon- our to rise today to recognize the Headingley Fire Department's Run for Wishes. The Headingley Fire Department held their first Run for Wishes in May of 2001. From humble begin- nings the event has evolved and grown over the last 24 years. They now host hundreds of runners and walkers and are now supported by over 40 sponsors. They are currently raising about $20,000 a year for a number of great causes in our community.

In 2023 the funds raised went to support the Children's Rehabilitation Foundation and the Westgrove Family Resource Centre. Additionally, the run partnered with the Charleswood Youth Soccer Association's mini - soccer program to provide recreational soccer for approximately 36 youth in need, free of charge. The Headingley Fire Department Run for Wishes is a sanctioned five-kilometre run, part of the Manitoba Runners Association run series that uses professional chip timing and a three-kilometre walk.

In the beauti- ful constituency of Roblin, the scenic route takes you over and along the Assiniboine River and through residential South Headingley. It starts and finishes at the Headingley Fire Depart ment, and the event is followed by an awards ceremony, prizes and activities for the kids. This event is perfect for everyone from the elite runner to the casual walker and everyone in- between. I participated in the run last year with my entire family and I look forward to doing the same this year.

This year's event will take place Saturday, May 25, and pro ceeds raised will again go toward the Children's Rehabilitation Foundation and the Westgrove Family Resource Centre. Both initiatives work to better the lives of children in our broader community. I would like to recognize Glenn Reimer and Doug Hansen, founders of the Run for Wishes; as well as Josh Mulvenna, current race director and all those involved at the Headingley Fire Department's Run for Wishes on all of the good work they have done and continue to do in the great constituency of Roblin. Thank you.

Kenneth Strath Moore MLA Mike Moroz (River Heights): Honourable Speaker, I rise today in celebration of long-time River Heights resident, Kenneth Strath Moore, who was recently elected into the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame. Born in 1910 and a citizen of the Peepeekisis Cree Nation, Mr. Moore was Canada's first First Nations athlete to win an Olympic gold medal. A natural athlete, he excelled at every sport he played, but was most passionate about hockey.

His athletic and academic abilities enabled him to secure scholarships to Regina College in the late 1920s, at a time when few First Nations students were able to do so. There, he captained the hockey and rugby teams, played baseball and basketball and was described as the most versatile athlete at the college. Moore became a Canadian Junior Hockey cham- pion in 1930 with the Regina Pats, scoring the Memorial Cup winning goal with 40 seconds remain- ing in the game. In 1932, he represented Canada at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, where he won his gold medal.

Later in his career, he would add two Allan Cups to his championship resume. Today, Mr. Moore's achieve ments would be exceptional. A century ago, in the face of poverty and prejudice, they're nothing short of extraordinary. On his retirement, a Winnipeg newspaper noted: It is doubtful if any other athlete in Canada has a record that will stand up to that of Moore's. In his retirement, he gave back to the community, coaching three different teams to championship titles and sat on the board of Manitoba Hockey –of the Manitoba Hockey Association. Mr.

Moore is also a member of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame and the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame. Honourable Speaker, I am pleased– The Speaker: Order, please. The member's time has expired. An Honourable Member: Leave. The Speaker: Does the member have leave to finish his statement? [Agreed] Leave has been granted. MLA Moroz: I am very pleased that Mr. Moore's granddaughters, Jennifer and Alexandra Rattray, are with us in the gallery today, as is his gold medal.

And I ask the members of the Chamber to rise and celebrate the accom plishments of a great athlete and a great Manitoban.

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1004 ORAL QUESTIONS Provincial Carbon Tax Government Position Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Leader of the Official Opposition): Honourable Speaker, trying to keep up with this Premier and his position on the carbon tax has Manitobans' heads spinning. It's unclear, but based on recent news reports, t he Premier wants out of the federal backstop. But we know the way out is a prov- incial carbon tax. The Prime Minister was on CJOB radio this morning, saying he looks forward to working with the NDP leader on a Manitoba carbon tax.

When are the NDP going to share the details of their Manitoba carbon tax? Hon. Wab Kinew (Premier): The only Manitoba carbon tax that has ever existed is the one that the PCs ran on twice, including the member opposite, who voted for it twice. You know who stopped that from being implemented? It was us, the Manitoba NDP. We took action on January 1 of this year to save you and your families money each and every time you fill up at the pump. That's 14 cents a litre. As a result, we have the lowest gas price in all of Canada today.

The members on the other side of the Chamber should reflect not only on their flip- flop, but on the pointless fights that they engaged in with every other level of government during their time in office. While they continue trying to right the wrongs of their past administration, we're going to keep saving you money. The Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Mr. Ewasko: Honour able Speaker, despite all the staff that the Premier has, he still do esn't seem to be able to answer these questions. NDP are increasing costs to Manitobans.

Property taxes first, and soon, even the carbon tax. * (13:50) The Premier has options, and I'll list them off for him: He can create a carbon tax higher than the federal carbon tax; institute a cap and trade tax like Quebec; or institute a carbon tax plus output-based pricing like his friends in British Columbia. All that is to say the costs are going to increase on Manitobans. Which option will the NDP pursue, and how high will the Manitoba carbon tax be? Mr. Kinew: Well, we're never going to make life as expensive as it became under the member opposite and his failed administration.

We took action on January 1 of this year to save you and your family money. The result? Not only did the fuel tax come down by 14 cents a litre, but we now know according to Statistics Canada that inflation came down too. We've had the lowest inflation rate in the country for two consecutive months because of the actions of our Minister of Finance (MLA Sala) and the excellent team in our government. But you don't have to listen to us. You can listen to the experts.

The chief economist of Laurentian Bank said, and I quote: The fiscal house in Manitoba was not in order when the NDP took office, but, he said, Budget 2024 paints a reasonable balancing act including plenty of targeted measures to ease the cost-of-living pain for individuals. End quote. They can continue arguing with the failures that they implemented over their time in office. We're– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary question. Mr. Ewasko: We on this side of the House made per- manent tax savings for you, Manitobans.

This Premier stands up and, much like the floater that I spoke about yesterday in my speech, continues to take credit for those tax cuts, but he stands up today and continues to crow about the temporary tax cuts that he's putting forward for Manitobans. Fact is, taxes are going up, carbon tax is coming soon. Where–will the Premier be on side with 83 per cent of Manitobans who want to get rid of the carbon tax? What is this NDP leader saying today, and how was his meeting with his Trudeau-Singh coalition today? Mr.

Kinew: You know, even as he neglects to point out the fact that he twice voted for a PC carbon tax, even as he ignores the fact that he charged 14 cents a litre every single day in office, he refuses to give credit to our adminis tration for saving you money at the pump, which also brought down the rate of infla - tion. Of course I will meet with the Mr. Poilievre. I will meeting with the Mr. Trudeau. Yesterday, we met with

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1005 the two Green Party leaders. Later on today, we're meeting with Mr. Singh, because on t his side of the House, we'll work with anybody who wants to make life better here in Manitoba,

whereas all they want to do is divide. I will say, however, I was very pleased to read a commentary in The Clipper this week responding to some of our budget announce ments, saying that they were thrilled and that, I quote, it was great news. You know who said these things in The Clipper about our budget? It was the member for Lac du Bonnet. Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. The Speaker: Order. Order. Health-Care Worker Recruitment and Retention Competitive Tax Environment Concerns Mrs. Kathleen Cook (Roblin): Manitobans have been waiting six months for the NDP to come up with a health-care staffing plan.

All this Premier has come up with is a letter writing campaign. The Premier was on CBC Radio saying all it will take to attract nurses and doctors to Manitoba is the thought of affording a cottage. Meanwhile, his Finance Minister is implementing tax hikes that will increase the cost of housing, renting and cottage ownership. We are not just competing with Vancouver for health-care workers. We're competing with Alberta and Saskatchewan, where taxes are lower and health- care workers can keep more of their paycheques.

Why is the NDP destroying Manitoba's competi- tive advantage with higher taxes and more expensive housing? Hon. Wab Kinew (Premier): I recog nize that the members opposite have a very difficult job, consid - ering the amazing budget that our Finance Minister brought in this week. The job is made even more dif- ficult given the fact that their leader said he's thrilled and that our budget announce ment are, quote, great news. But even though they have that difficult job to plow ahead within opposition, I would say they don't need to resort to the over -the-top rhetoric about destroying anything.

The fact is, we have a great qual- ity of life here in Manitoba. It's amazing that people in Manitoba, whether you're the nurse, the physician, the health-care aide, the health-care professional, that you can still afford to own your own home here and buy a cottage. These are real competitive advantages that we're advancing with our $1,500 homeowner's tax credit and cutting the fuel tax. If you want to look at com - petitive advantage between the provinces, look at the price of gas between us, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Ontario, anyone right now; the lowest cost of living, it's right here in Manitoba.

The Speaker: The honourable member for Roblin, on a supplementary question. Mrs. Cook: The cost-of-living crisis is only getting worse with Budget 2024. Higher taxes, increased costs of rent and housing, and now a doctor's tax. Changes to the basic personal amount leave Manitoba as the least attractive province for an –in- demand physicians in Canada. Thanks to the NDP, doctors' property taxes will shoot up, their income taxes will shoot up and the NDP's offered no incen- tives to try and keep them here. The Premier is sup - posed to attract doctors here, not drive them out by taxing them to the hilt.

Why is the NDP bringing in tax changes that will chase physicians out of Manitoba? Mr. Kinew: You know, the No. 1 thing that deter - mines whether a physician is going to work in a juris- diction is whether there is good- quality health care. By the way, if you have a PC administration that attacks physicians, that chases them away. We've turned the page. You have a Health Minister and a government that is supporting you on the front lines, whether you're a physician, you're a health-care aide, you're a health -care professional or you're a nurse.

By the way, the cost of living in Manitoba is low and it is getting lower thanks to the intrepid steps of our Minister of Finance (MLA Sala). We're investing 1 billion more dollars to recruit 1,000 more health-care workers. This is only the start of being able to repair the damage caused by the PCs. But the good news to those on the front lines is that help is coming, and more help is arriving each and every day. The Speaker: The honourable member for Roblin, on a final supplementary question. Mrs. Cook: Alberta is offering up to $100,000 for in- demand positions.

Saskatchewan is offering up to $50,000 for nurses. Our western neighbours have tan- gible multi -layered plans to attract, retain and train health-care workers. Manitoba has a letter writing campaign.

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1006 Why has the NDP failed to put forward a real plan to staff our health-care system? Mr. Kinew: One of the worst things that the PCs did– one of the worst things the PCs did other than close some of the biggest emergency rooms in our province–was that they cut the rural doctor recruitment program.

Now, what happened as a result of the PCs cutting the rural doctor recruitment fund is that not only did you see the situation of closures in rural Manitoba get exacerbated–made worse and 'werch' each and every day, each and every summer. [interjection] And I recognize the member for Turtle Mountain (Mr. Piwniuk) is screaming in his chair, because many of those closures are in his own constituency. But the other impact is that municipalities have had to step up to pick up the slack. But do you know what our plan is in Budget 2024? We're restoring the cuts that they made to the rural doctor recruitment fund.

That's going to bring more physicians to rural Manitoba. That 's going to help more local com munities, and it's one more tan - gible– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. Provincial Parks Capital Budget Mr. Greg Nesbitt (Riding Mountain): The budget revealed the Minister of Environ ment and Climate Change has been unwilling to advocate for Manitoba Parks at the Cabinet table. That is unfortunate, and we all lose. Our PC government established the $220-million Manitoba prov incial parks infrastructural renewal strategy to expand and revitalize our parks.

I table a budget document showing that the Parks capital budget has been cut in half. Why is this minister cutting capital improvements in our provincial parks? * (14:00) Hon. Tracy Schmidt (Minister of Environment and Climate Change): Manitoba parks are an essen- tial part of the fabric of life here in Manitoba. They're something that Manitobans and their families love to enjoy. They're something that my own family loves to enjoy. I spent my childhood camping and hiking through Manitoba parks, and it's something that I enjoy doing with my own family.

We are investing in Manitoba parks after years of cuts from the opposition, and I look forward to sharing more about our investments in Manitoba parks. The Speaker: The honourable member for Riding Mountain, on a supplementary question. Mr. Nesbitt: It's obvious this gov ernment doesn't value parks, the experiences they provide or the tourism dollars they bring to the province. I table a document showing 12 proposed projects for this year, including campsite electrification in Hecla/Grindstone, yurt expansion in Duck Mountain and campsite upgrades in Birds Hill.

Will this minister tell Manitobans today which of these 12 projects will be cut? MLA Schmidt: I thank the member opposite for giving me the opportunity again to talk about a jewel in our province, Manitoba parks, something that abso- lutely contributes to tourism here in our province. The Minister of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism (Mr. Simard) knows this, and we have worked very closely on a parks plan. I'm very excited.

There are many exciting projects actually in our budget, if the member had taken the time to read it, to expand on Manitoba parks; and unlike the member opposite, we will always keep Manitoba parks public and we will never privatize them. The Speaker: The honourable member for Riding Mountain, on a final supplementary question. Mr. Nesbitt: Honourable Speaker, it seems like the NDP are cutting everything but the grass in our prov- incial parks. Manitobans love their provincial parks.

Short- and long- term investments to infra structure will increase park capacity, develop more trails and boat launches and enhance climate resiliency and environmental protection with water and wastewater upgrades. Will this minister commit today to reversing her 50 per cent cut to capital expenditures in Manitoba parks, yes or no? MLA Schmidt: I just have to point out the richness of the question. The member opposite and his govern- ment slashed the Parks department. Our Parks depart- ment has been left –I am so proud of the people who work in our public service in Parks.

They do a fan- tastic job despite the cuts of seven years of the previ- ous government. Our government is absolutely –we have actually added new positions, if the member had taken the time

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1007 to read our budget; and another thing that I'm really proud of, and I would like to highlight, is the Seal River Watershed Alliance MOU that we signed, that the member opposite failed to do. Property Taxes Increase Concerns Mr. Obby Khan (Fort Whyte): Honourable Speaker, all smoke and mirrors with this NDP govern- ment. They say one thing, yet their policies in the budget divides Manitobans. Union bosses versus small businesses. Homeowners versus renters, hard -wor- king Manitobans versus this entire NDP government.

I know this minister will not answer this question, so I'm going to table the facts for him from his own budget. On page 122 it says the NDP will increase tax by $148 million on homeowners. Why is this NDP government penalizing and pun- ishing hard-working, middle-class homeowners to the tune of $148 million? Hon. Adrien Sala (Minister of Finance): The member opposite is wrong. Our team is proud to bring tax cuts for Manitobans. [interjection] Right. And you know what? You know what, Honour - able Speaker? The reviews are rolling in about our work to make life more affordable for Manitobans.

Let me read for the member opposite some of the quotes that are coming in. From the Canadian Taxpayers Federation: This gas tax cut extension means more savings for families when they need it most. It's great to see the gov ernment listen to Manitoba taxpayers and help them by making life more affordable. We got one more from the Manitoba Real Estate Association: We are pleased to see the gov ernment introduce the $1,500 homeowners affordability tax credit for those who need it most. This credit will make home ownership more affordable– The Speaker: The member's time has expired.

The honourable member for For t Whyte, on a supplementary question. Mr. Khan: So, to be clear, Honour able Speaker, another non-answer, and the minister won't deny he increased taxes $148 million. So we'll take that as a yes, he increased taxes $148 million for hard-working Manitobans. Finance officials confirmed homeowners in Winnipeg School Division, that live in the Winnipeg School Division, will see tax increases of $700. That's $700 more taxes under this NDP gov ernment. That's far more than any savings they will ever achieve under their temporary fuel stunt. Typical NDP smoke and mirrors.

Why is this NDP hiding the addi tional infor - mation that he is taxing Manitobans an addi tional $148 million? MLA Sala: Well, there's more quotes here. I'm just going to clear my throat. A nother one from the Manitoba Real Estate Association: I think it's a great thing for the average homeowner in Manitoba, great for first-time buyers. They're going to benefit more under this change. At a time where Manitobans are looking for more affordabil ity, more oppor tunity to make ends meet, this is a really great initiative that really enshrines the needs of homeowners around the education property tax.

One more, just in case the member wasn't listen - ing. This one is from the Canadian Federation of Inde- pendent Business: We ap preciate the Manitoba gov - ernment's efforts in taking an approach to make life more affordable for citizens. That's the work being done by our gov ernment. We're going to keep making life more affordable, and the members opposite are going to keep barking, but they know– The Speaker: Member's time is expired. The honour able member for Fort Whyte, on a final supplementary question. Mr. Khan: I'm going to dial it back a little bit.

It's really sad that the Minister of Finance won't even answer a simple question. All the heckling aside, he won't even answer. On page 122, it says he's increas- ing taxes $148 million. He'll just read quotes over and over again, and that's really sad. The professional properties assoc iation said that under this budget, renters will pay more money. If the government takes away rebates, we will have to raise rent to cover the significant increase in our operating expenses. I table that today. This is the real question. These are real concerns from renters in Manitoba.

Why is the minister increasing taxes on Manitobans $148 million and making it harder for renters in Manitoba? MLA Sala: Again, the member opposite is wrong. We're making life more affordable for Manitobans. And I don't know if he noticed, but I got a long list in my hand I'm about to start reading from. Here we go, I'm going to start after the ones that I stopped

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1008 reading yesterday. The next one: increasing the rent - ers tax credit, free prescription birth control, $10- a- day child c are, $300 security system rebate, $4,000 rebate for new EVs, $2,500 rebate for used EVs and much more, Honourable Speaker. Highway and Road Repairs Budget Concerns for 2024 Mr. Josh Guenter (Borderland): This NDP govern- ment made it very clear in their budget this week that they are cutting the roads and highways budget by $164 million. Why is this NDP gov ernment imple menting Justin Trudeau's no-more-roads plan? Hon.

Lisa Naylor (Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure): I'm very happy to once again rise to speak to this question. There is absolutely no cut to funding for roads or any–to anything associated with highway infrastructure in this province. I think what the member is alluding to is cuts that were previous in their budget–in their budget–over the last few years where they underspent by over $100 million in this area. And we will spend– Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. The Speaker: Order, please. Order, please. I would ask all members to kind of tone it down a little. It's getting awfully loud.

I realize that debate is important. We can have differing opinions, but let's just keep it somewhat respectful so that everybody can hear the questions and the answers. We don't need to be screaming back and forth across the way. Mr. Guenter: Honourable Speaker, 18th Street in Brandon, Highway 75, Highway 6, Kenaston Boulevard: while Manitobans play dodge the pothole, this NDP government is cutting road construction projects and sidelining repair crews. This NDP government expects Manitobans to believe that less is more.

How can this minister cut the highways budget and expect that somehow more potholes will get fixed? * (14:10) MLA Naylor: I'm happy to remind this House that Brandon's 18th Street was in the top 5 of CAA's worst roads for two straight years under the previous gov - ernment. I will further remind anyone who drove to the Royal Winter Fair a couple of weeks ago that all the potholes had been filled on that stretch of our highway going through Brandon. The Speaker: The honourable member for Borderland, on a final supplementary question. Mr.

Guenter: If this minister thinks that 18th Street in Brandon is fixed, perhaps she can talk to the resi - dents in Brandon. And if this NDP gov ernment were serious about fixing potholes and upgrading our roads and highways, they wouldn't be slashing the roads budget by $164 million. Clearly, they don't have a plan for improving infrastructure–Manitoba. We know that road con- struction projects will now have to be delayed or can- celled. Can the minister share that list with us today? The Speaker: The honourable Minister of Transpor- tation and Infra structure, Consumer Pro tection and Government Services.

MLA Naylor: Honourable–sorry–thank you, Hon- ourable Speaker. Just to be clear, you asked about–the honourable member on the other side of the House asked about potholes. I said the potholes were fixed. In terms of a long- term fix for that particular stretch of highway, we are in constant conver sation with the municipality of Brandon and they fully understand that when their work is done that has to go under that street, we can com mence our work to do the final and the new paving of that stretch of high- way. And that's understood by the munici pality.

I'm sorry it's not understood by the members across the aisle. I also want to remind the members across the aisle that in 2022- 23, they lapsed their budget by $164 million. We're going to spend every dime that we commit to this budget. Provincial Nominee Program Priority for Expiring Work Permit Applicants Ms. Jodie Byram (Agassiz): I am joined today in the gallery by a group of Manitobans who have been try- ing to get the Minister of Labour's attention and have been met with only apathy and disregard.

I met with Yatin and others earlier today and committed to bringing their concerns forward because this minister will not get away with ignoring these Manitobans.

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1009 Can the Minister of Labour and Immigration (MLA Marcelino) explain why she refuses to priori - tize MPNP nominations from applicants up against the clock of an expiring work permit? Hon. Renée Cable (Acting Minister of Labour and Immigration): Thank you, Honourable Speaker– Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. The Speaker: Order. Order. Order. Order. Order. People are trying my patience today. It's probably not a very good idea. MLA Cable: Thank you, again, Honourable Speaker.

Immigration is essential to meeting our long -term vision of what we want for our province. We know that it's key for economic growth. We also know that it's essential for building strong com munities and strong community ties. On this side of the House, we are entirely dedi - cated to building bridges and helping to strengthen our communities. I thank the honourable member for the question. The Speaker: The honourable member for Agassiz, on a supplementary question. Labour-Specific Draws Ms. Byram: Another non-answer.

Our PC team won the largest increase in Provincial Nominee allocations ever from the fe deral government. We left this NDP in a position to welcome in more Manitobans and to give peace of mind to those that have gathered in the gallery here today and the many more who have appli- cations in the queue. Instead, this minister is playing games with their future. Will the minister turn to these Manitobans today and commit to specific draws that meet the labour needs of Manitoba? Will she commit? MLA Cable: I thank the honourable member for the question.

It's really unfortunate the tone that this mem- ber is taking, especially when the previous adminis - tration completely gutted the department of immigra- tion. When we took office, 2,000 applications were left unprocessed because there was insufficient staff. On day one, our minister was working towards processing times and working towards processing more folks. We value every individual that comes to our prov- ince. We have met with them and we will continue to have discussions. We will not use them as political props. They are humans who deserve compassion.

The Speaker: The honourable member for Agassiz, on a final supplementary question. Staffing and Application Backlogs Ms. Byram: These are Manitobans that are already here, growing our province and our economy. They are established here; are contributing members of our communities; many volunteer their time. The minister has often blamed staffing for the fact the application backlog has only grown under the NDP's watch. There are no meaningful staffing increases in this budget.

With increasing backlog and labour shortfalls, this minister needs to keep up, look in the right place, and explain to these Manitobans why they aren't a priority for her government. MLA Cable: I thank the honourable member for the question. And again, it's unfortunate that we have come to a place where we're using decent humans as a polit- ical football here. I can guarantee that we will see changes in the number of folks who are coming here and are able to call Manitoba home.

In our budget we' ve invested $1 million in new staffing and resources in order to lift up the capacity in the department and to be able to actually bring people into Manitoba and give them a decent life. Provincial Nominee Program Budget to Address Application Backlogs MLA Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): In February of 2023 there were 2,363 Manitoba Prov - incial Nominee applicants waiting in the Expression of Interest pool. The pool has increased by 4,000 applicants since then. In February of 2024, less than two months ago, there were 6,927 applicants waiting. I table these numbers for the House.

Imagine if we hadn't lost out on 2,000 certificates for all of these applicants, Hon ourable Speaker, and this is because of this government's negligence. We know that this high demand of applications is turning into a backlog. How will a 5 per cent increase in the budget to staff funding– The Speaker: Member's time has expired.

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1010 Hon. Renée Cable (Acting Minister of Labour and Immigration): I thank the honourable member for the question, and I agree. We agree on a number of things. I agree that having folks wait is really unfortunate. It's not what we want to be doing here. You can thank the folks on the other side of the House for the incredible backlog. And I'd also invite you to talk to your federal cousins about the challenges that have been created in immigration with the attacks that they have made on folks coming here.

The Speaker: The honourable member for Tyndall Park, on a supplementary question. Priority for Expiring Work Permit Applicants MLA Lamoureux: This gov ernment has to stop deflecting and blaming. It is their responsibility. They have it in their power right now to keep the thousands of immigrants here in Manitoba, and they are choos - ing not to. And we see this when the Yukon –the Yukon seems to understand the issue, Hon ourable Speaker. They are prioritizing certificates for individuals whose permits are expiring, and I table this for the minister's knowledge. So let's learn fro m them, Hon ourable Speaker.

Will our minister take initiative and do the same? Will she commit today to prioritizing Prov incial Nominee applicants whose post -grad work permits are expiring? * (14:20) MLA Cable: Thank you, Honourable Speaker, for the question. You know, we–it's clear by looking around our caucus that we value diversity. A number of my colleagues have family members who are here or who are interested in coming, who want to come.

There are a number of challenges right now that I can say are largely due to the short funding and under- resourcing of the immigration program here. [interjection] I'm so sorry, I have a hard time talking when multiple people are speaking at me. I'm going to get used to it; I know I'll get used to it. But I want to give the folks– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. The honourable member for Tyndall Park, on a final supplementary question. Application Processing Wait Times MLA Lamoureux: Honourable Speaker, that is not worth an applause. That is 'disapicable.' That is outra- geous.

It is completely unacceptable. This is at the expense of thousands of people's lives here in the province of Manitoba. In British Columbia, the Prov incial Nominee application processing times is three months. In Ontario, four months. There was a time where here in Manitoba it was under three months. But now it's nine to 12 months, Honourable Speaker. How long will it take for this gov ernment to get the program functioning, where people are not being forced to leave our province? Hon. Wab Kinew (Premier): I have a question for the members opposite, including– An Honourable Member: Are you back in opposi - tion?

Mr. Kinew: No, I have a question for the mem - bers opposite and for the independent member. And I would like them to answer this question in front of the people who are visiting the Chamber today. Who cancelled the inter national student post - graduate work permits? Who took that decision? It was the federal government that cancelled those work permits. Who cut staffing within the Provincial Nominee Program? It was the former Progressive Conservative government. Our government is stepping up to work with the feds.

We're investing $1 million in new staffing resources in the Prov incial Nominee Program, and where messes have been created by other people's decisions, our team is going to work hard with the folks who are coming forward to exercise their demo- cratic rights, and we're going to bring forward real solutions. The Speaker: Member's time has expired. Early Learning and Child Care Initiatives in Budget 2024 MLA Nellie Kennedy (Assiniboia): I am proud to rise today to ask a question to the Minister of Educa- tion and Early Childhood Learning on child care.

Our gov ernment got to work on day one t o address and expand affordable and ac cessible child care. We recog nize affordability and access in child care is vital to strengthening and growing our eco- nomy. Our government has made great progress in a

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1011 short period of time, and Budget 2024 gave an excit - ing look at what our team is doing. Can the minister please update the House on how our government is making $10- per-day child care a reality, and how we are helping families and child- care workers in our great province? Hon. Nello Altomare (Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning): I want to thank the member–the MLA for Assiniboia for that im portant question. This is im portant work. We recognize that inflation and rising costs are making it harder for everyday Manitobans to make ends meet.

When Manitobans chose our team, they –we got to work right away to lower costs for them. How are we doing that? Real $10- a-day child care, especially for times like spring break, summer break and the winter holidays; some thing that parents need right now. It will happen because of Budget 2024. Budget 2024 also expanded the availability for parents by supporting the creation of more new child- care spaces. Our budget increases salaries for early childhood educators, something that– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. Skilled Trades–Worker Shortage Apprenticeship–Journeyman Ratios Mr.

Richard Perchotte (Selkirk): Honourable Speaker, currently in Manitoba we are experiencing a shortage crisis of skilled workers. The previous PC government has listened to busi nesses and trades - people and changed the apprenticeship rules to allow for two apprentices for every journeyman. Why is this government bent on reducing the number of qualified tradespeople in our province? Hon. Jamie Moses (Minister of Economic Develop- ment, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources): Very happy to rise and speak about the good work that skilled workers are doing right across Manitoba.

This government takes their training seriously. That's why we're taking steps to be proactive, to ensure that they have high-quality training and safety at their work place, so they can go to work safe and return home safe. That's exactly the step that our gov- ernment is taking to protect all workers right across Manitoba. The Speaker: The honourable member for Selkirk, on a supplementary question. Apprenticeship Wait Times Mr. Perchotte: Honourable Speaker, as an individual that went through the apprentice ship program and then as an employer, I cannot believe we are going back in time.

There is a shortage of journeyman work- ers in all trades. Why is the NDP gov ernment not looking to the future to increase the number of journeyman and have deter mined to have employees wait for up to five years to begin their apprenticeship? Mr. Moses: The member opposite's assertions are, quite frankly, just wrong. We are investing in more training seats for ap prenticeships. Our Budget 2024 allocates an additional $1.3 million to go to apprentice training seats. That's mo re skilled workers who are going to be working here in Manitoba.

We want to have high -quality training and safe training for workers right across Manitoba. That's our government priorities and something we'll deliver on every single day. The Speaker: The honourable member for Selkirk, on a final supplementary question. Apprenticeship–Journeyman Ratios Mr. Perchotte: Honourable Speaker, it's clear the NDP have no clue. Safety, COR certification, CSAM, SAFE Work Manitoba, all programs private busi - nesses use to ensure their safety of their workers. Businesses will be forced to remove over 65 per cent of their apprentices if this ratio changes.

Why does this NDP gov ernment hate trades - people and small business? And I table, for the record, the comments by Ron Hambley, the president of the Winnipeg Construction Association. Hon. Wab Kinew (Premier): I love trades people. I love the blue collar. That's why I cut the gas tax on January 1 of this year, to save trades people money each and every day they go to work. I also made a promise to a woman by the name of Cindy Skanderberg. Her son was killed in an accident when he was apprenticing to be an electrician. She is the reason we had one-to-one.

She asked me to bring it back, and I said, in order to prevent a tragedy like you lived through again, we will bring it back. I'm proud of our minister for bringing in that trade. This is not a partisan issue; Doug Ford in Ontario brought in one-to-one.

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1012 So, I'd like the member to stand up and show the letter he's sending to Doug Ford to criticize his one - to-one apprenticeship ratio in the province of Ontario. The Speaker: The time for question period has expired. Petitions? An Honourable Member: On a point of order, Hon- ourable Speaker. Point of Order The Speaker: The honourable member for Tyndall Park, on a point of order. MLA Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): Typically, the way that question period works is the opposi tion asks the government questions.

This is what we have question period for, Honourable Speaker. Today, in question period, and frankly, this gov- ernment has been earning itself a pattern, by asking us questions as opposition. And that's not the way–that's not what question period serves for, Honourable Speaker. Today, the P remier (Mr. Kinew) straightforward asked me, less than 10 minutes ago, a question. And so, I would like to have the oppor tunity to answer it, Honourable Speaker. The Premier talks about immigration here in the province of Manitoba. And frankly, this government has a responsibility to immigrants– The Speaker: Order, please.

Order, please. I would point out to the member for Tyndall Park that what she's doing is not a point of order. * * * The Speaker: Petitions? * (14:30) There are no petitions? ORDERS OF THE DAY GOVERNMENT BUSINESS House Business The Speaker: Oh–the Official Opposition House Leader. Mr. Derek Johnson (Official Opposition House Leader): On House business. An Honourable Member: No, I was up first. Mr. Johnson: I've been recognized. The Speaker: The honour able Gov ernment House Leader has the floor. Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. The Speaker: Order. Order. Order. I told you, you folks were trying my patience today.

When the Speaker says order, I expect you to stop talking, and I don't expect you to sit and argue from your seat. The Government House Leader has the floor. Hon. Nahanni Fontaine (Government House Leader): I would like to announce that the Standing Committee on Social and Economic Dev elopment will meet on Tuesday, April 15, 2024, at 6 p.m. to consider Bill 207, The Islamic Heritage Month Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended). The Speaker: It has been announced by the Govern- ment House Leader that the Standing Com mittee on Social and Economic Dev elopment–[interjection] Order.

It has been announced that the Standing Commit- tee on Social and Economic Dev elopment will meet on Tuesday, April 15, 2024, at 6 p.m. to consider Bill 207, The Islamic Heritage Month Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended). MLA Fontaine: I would like to announce the Standing Committee on Social and Economic Dev - elopment will meet on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at 6 p.m. to consider Bill 200, The Fire fighters Recog nition Day Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended).

The Speaker: It has been announced that the Standing Committee on Social and Economic Dev - elopment will meet on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at 6 p.m. to consider Bill 200, The Fire fighters Recog nition Day Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended). The–just like to point out that the incorrect day was announced for the standing com mittee on the Islamic heritage day–month act. So, the Standing Com mittee on Social and Economic Dev elopment will meet on Monday, April 15, 2024, at 6 p.m. to consider Bill 207, The Islamic Heritage Month Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended).

The honourable Government House Leader. MLA Fontaine: Miigwech, H onourable Speaker. [interjection] Okay. Yes.

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1013 The Speaker: Before we proceed to orders of the day, the honourable Opposition House Leader, on House business. Mr. Johnson: Pursuant to rule 34(8), I'm announcing that the private member's resolution to be considered on the next Thursday at private members' busi ness will be one put forward by the honourable member for Midland (Mrs. Stone). The title of the reso lution is Calling on the Prov incial Gov ernment to Prioritize and Protect Children in Care and Commit to a Public Inquiry.

The Speaker: It has been announced that, pursuant to rule 34(8), that the private member's resolu tion to be considered on the next Thursday of private members' business will be the one put forward by the honourable member for Midland . The title of the reso lution is Calling on the Prov incial Gov ernment to Prioritize and Protect Children in Care and Commit to a Public Inquiry.

MLA Fontaine: I apologize, I just want to make sure, for clarity, that the Standing Committee on Social and Economic Dev elopment will meet on Monday, April 15, 2024, at 6 p.m. to consider Bill 207, The Islamic Heritage Month Act (Commemo ration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended). The Speaker: It has been clarified that th e Standing Committee on Social and Economic Dev elopment will meet on Monday, April 15, 2024, at 6 p.m., to consider Bill 207, The Islamic Heritage Month Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended). * * * MLA Fontaine: Could you please call to resume debate on budget?

BUDGET DEBATE (Third Day of Debate) The Speaker: We will now resume debate on the budget. The debate is standing in the name of the hon- ourable member for Lagimodière, who has 15 minutes remaining. Mr. Tyler Blashko (Lagimodière): Honourable Speaker, I am delighted to rise a second time to speak to the budget our government has put forward. It's worth again thanking our Finance Minister, the Premier (Mr. Kinew), Cabinet, members of Treasury Board and the many, many staff that commit their time and energy to produce such an optimistic path forward for our province.

This budget clearly moves forward the priorities Manitobans elected us to tackle, rebuilding health care and making life more affordable for those that need it. Equally, our Finance Minister has balanced those needs while trying–while laying out the path to tackle the fiscal mess we've been inheriting. Honourable Speaker, I want to take a moment and celebrate the theme of our budget: One Future, One People, One Manitoba. It's about focusing on the im - portant things to move our province forward. We can disagree on smaller things.

Just today, I learned a colleague, who shall remain nameless, hasn't listened to Cowboy Carter. Some people like Beyoncé, some people like T he Beatles, some people like Begonia. I think we'll be able to talk this through and rebuild an even stronger relationship. Ultimately, we can come together and address pressing issues Manitobans elected us to tackle. This budget is the tool to do just that. Whenever I talk with constituents from Lagimodière, I em phasize my drive to address things upstream. How do we create those systems, make those invest - ments and set the stage for success for people early in life?

Yesterday, I spoke about the invest ments of two schools in Sage Creek, a K-to-8 for the D-S-M– DSFM, and another for Louis Riel School Division. Ensuring youth have a good, solid learning opportun- ities is an example of upstream work our government is doing. When these schools open, child-care centres will open alongside them. The importance of a continuum of learning opportunities is valued by our government and I have to thank our ministers for ensuring this budget reflects that. I cannot properly express how important expand- ing access to child care is for families.

Just last week, I met with a parent who said she'd bring a couple others to our meeting, and we ended up with a group of 10 discussing how families rely on child care. Child care needs to be affo rdable, expanded to ensure accessibility and value the labour and care put in by child-care workers. A frustration I've heard is how $10- a-day child care came with a huge asterisk from the previous gov- ernment. I'm happy to see that our NDP budget is expanding this unfulfilled promise to include in-service days, spring break and summer vacation.

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1014 I regularly speak with families who are navigating wait lists and tough decisions. Families are stressed and making plans A, B and C for the many contingen- cies in their life. Some have even shared they may have to quit their jobs in order to ensure their young ones have a place to be. Expanding access to quality child care is im por- tant for communities and is a vital part of ensuring a stable workforce. Investments in child care is another example of our gov ernment committing to upstream work.

Honourable Speaker, I'd like to speak about the prenatal benefit. I'm thrilled to see this included in our budget. A doubling of the benefit will make it the most generous prenatal benefit in the country. Before I got elected, I worked with high school students and occasionally, we had students who became parents. I saw these young people on a steep learning curve, reprioritizing aspects of their lives and taki ng on this huge responsibility. A prenatal benefit removes an element of the stress and uncertainty that comes with pregnancy. An ability to eat healthier during pregnancy leads to a healthier newborn.

A little extra income allows people to buy maternity clothes, purchase diapers and other supplies. * (14:40) As a person without children, I hear all of this gets expensive. This is a proven invest ment that pays off for children, families and com munities. Yet another example of upstream invest ments in Manitobans our government is making. You might think, can we get more upstream than a prenatal benefit? Well, Honourable Speaker, let me tell you about the fertility treatment tax credit. We're doubling it from $8,000 to $16,000. I know families that are trying so hard to expand their loving home.

It's stressful physic ally and emo - tionally to pursue IVF, and our gov ernment is taking steps to remove that financial stress so that once fam- ilies are successful, they can focus on caring and nur- turing for their child. That's upstream investing our government is doing. Honourable Speaker, care is important across the age spectrum, and my constituents in Lagimodière are happy to see our government taking action to ensure seniors age with dignity. Personal-care homes should be a place where elderly relatives find comfort, are cared for and have all the supports they need to enjoy their golden years.

Unfortunately, after years of disregard from gov ern- ments, and despite the hard work of health- care staff in the facilities, some families are hesitant to have family members move into personal-care homes. I've had constituents share with me the ways they extend themselves, supporting their family members in an effort to allow them to age in place. Constituents are scared, frustrated and tired.

Our gov ernment investing $22.3 million towards providing more direct hours of care is an im portant step to ensuring health- care workers, seniors and family members feel sup - ported in this important piece our health-care system. I feel the need to underline the im portant role caregivers play in supporting elderly and disabled Manitobans. Retirements are taken early. Hobbies are abandoned. Relationships are strained. Sleep is lost and needs are put to the side to ensure family members are cared for.

I am excited that the combination of the return of the Mature Women's Centre at the Victoria Hospital and the implementation of the new safe and healthy at home program will lead to better out comes for Manitobans. This will undoubtedly relieve caregivers in some ways and empower folks to live with dignity and improve quality of life for vulnerable Manitobans. An Honourable Member: Well said. Mr. Blashko: Thank you. Honourable Speaker, before I wrap up my com - ments, I do want to touch on a program I've personally seen make a difference in com munities.

The Urban and Hometown Green Team program supports the hir- ing of youth for summer em ployment. This budget includes an additional $730,000 for this program. As I mentioned before, I worked with youth before being elected, and we, along with many other non-profits, relied on the Urban Green Team to hire some of our students throughout the summer. When I was younger, I was fortunate that my da d was able to help me get a warehouse job for my first summer job. Not everyone is born into a family with those levers to help them take those first steps into employ- ment.

This first ex perience with a summer job can be life changing. The opportunity to work with an organi- zation that you're familiar with in a supported way can lead to new paths for career exploration, increased

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1015 confidence and financial stability. Many youth I've worked with through the summers have gone on to be teachers, nurses, architects, youth workers and com - munity leaders. These experiences matter, and I'm so happy our gov ernment is making this investment in our youth. This budget is a roadmap forward, a roadmap that rebuilds our health-care system, that make life more affordable, that addresses the fiscal mess left behind by the previous government and invests in a Manitoba for all of us. Thank you, Honourable Speaker. Mr.

Obby Khan (Fort Whyte): It is always a pleas- ure and honour to rise in this House and speak, and I will remind you, I am still fasting, so my mouth will get dry at times. And no, for the members opposite, I can't drink a glass of water. So, I appreciate the ges- ture, but no. It is always an honour to stand and rise and speak. But, however, today it is actually kind of embarrass - ing to rise and speak to this unbalanced, this performa- tive, this smoke-and-mirror-filled budget. I'm going to have to remind the Premier (Mr. Kinew) and the minister that they're no longer in music bands. They're no longer artists.

They're no longer performers. There was a great

article about the Minister of Finance's (MLA Sala) band, Jackpine, and maybe after this failed budget, he can go back and join that band, because this budget is on the verge of bank- rupting Manitoba. And I'm going to get into the next 19 minutes and 13 seconds instead explaining why this budget is so awful. Manitobans want a plan, not a performance. It would do them well to remember on that side of the House that they serve all Manitobans. They tried to say that in their budget platform , and yet it's clear that they don't represent all Manitobans.

They represent a small group of Manitobans, and those Manitobans are called union bosses –not unions – unions' bosses. And I want to be clear to the member opposite from Riel –him and I were having a conver sation earlier, and he says, what's wrong with unions? And I said, nothing, unions are great. We love unions. We love union workers. The issue we have is when this Minister of Finance and this Pr emier and other min - isters on this side come out and say unions are the only way to go in this province. And why would they say that? Their union bosses. The union bosses are direct employees of this government.

The union bosses are the ones that are making deals with them –the union bosses at the Cabinet table. And I'm going to get into how this reflects to the budget. Unions are fantastic. Union workers are hard- working Manitobans making a living. No one can argue with that. Every employee deserves rig hts and protection, safety, security, human resources, guaran- teed jobs in a labour dispute. We're not talking about that. That is off the table. We agree that those are im- portant. But so are the rest of Manitobans.

So when they come forward with a budget for all Manitobans, it should be in asterisks and say, only union leaders and members opposite this side of the House. It's made abundantly clear that the NDP do not care about the economy, small busi nesses, safer com munities or middle-class families. In this budget, the NDP want hard- working Manitobans–you at home having dinner with your family, going to work every day, coming home –they want you to pay more money; $148 million more. Page 122 of the budget, the very top line will say, this government is taking home $148 million of your taxpayer dollars. Why?

Because they want to make life harder for middle-class Manitobans. That is a fact; page 122 of the budget. Manitobans aren't going to be fooled by this. The media might report what they want; we know which way the media leans. Their stakeholders will say what they want, because they are in bed with the union lead- ers. But over time Manitobans will see. When they open up that first –when they open up that letter that shows their education tax has gone up–and they can't argue the education tax has–it has gone up under this government. They said they won't raise taxes.

They raised education taxes up to 17 per cent in some rid - ings. Who's going to pay for that, Honourable Speaker? Manitobans. Manitobans are going to pay for the tax raises under this gov ernment. Already six months, two tax raises–two major tax raises. They should be ashamed of that. They are making life more unafford- able. You can't argue with that. They –education tax they raised, and now this home rebate of 1,500 bucks. This Premier talks ad nauseam –ad nauseam–at how the economic horse will pull the social cart, while under this NDP government, they have overloaded the

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1016 social cart. And instead of a fleet of Budweiser Clydesdales needing to pull this social cart, they have downgraded to Eeyore, the donkey from Winnie the Pooh. And Eeyore–and I love Eeyore, but that poor guy's still looking for his tail and how to attach that to the social cart that this government did. And you know what Eeyore says really well? Nothing to do. No hope of things getting better, not under this NDP. Quote, Eeyore. I added in under the NDP, facts. No economic horse pulling this overloaded social cart. Eeyore the donkey with no tail, poor guy.

Manitobans were sold a bill of goods, and now they're stuck with that for the next three and a half years. I mean, maybe they'll call it early and we can get them out in three years. That'd be fantastic, Manitobans'd be appreciative of that. * (14:50) Since the members opposite, you know, they don't care about small businesses, they have no idea how to grow the economy. A bill of goods is not a good thing. It means you were sold some thing that has no value. That's what Manitobans wer e sold in this NDP gov - ernment, and it's clear as day in this budget.

They have overloaded the social cart and they have no way of growing this economy. And you might say, well, hold on, some of those social programs–and, yes, social programs are always needed; there always need to be continued investment in that. How are you going to pay for that is the question, Honourable Speaker. You have to grow the economy. This budget has no balance, no impartiality, no discretion on needs and demands. It shows that this NDP government does not understand the real hard- ships of Manitobans, that they're only going to bend to the will of their union leaders.

Families and small businesses are facing a time of crisis and need, and there is nothing in this budget that helps families or small busi nesses, period. It simply loads up the cart and it says, along with Eeyore, Manitobans, now it's your time to pull the cart; we're raising your education taxes; we're taking more money out of your pocket, $148 million out of your pocket. Now, Minister of Finance (MLA Sala) is sitting here, so it's fantastic that–oh, am I allowed to com - ment on his absence? I apologize, Honourable Speaker.

I was in reference–the Minister of Finance earlier today made a comment about a CFIB quote, and it's great that he made that in question period. So I'm going to finish that quote off for him. Smoke and mirrors: they like to read you half of quotes, a portion of a quote, maybe one or two words of a quote. We know they've done that over time and time again. So let's read the quote. And what is CFIB? Canadian Federation of Inde pendent Busi ness, 97,000 members. And I'll quote.

I'll finish off the rest of that sentence since the Minister of Finance didn't want to finish it: The provincial budget was a missed opportunity to provide ad ditional, meaningful cost relief for Manitoba's small busi nesses. We would've liked to see the Province address more issues that continue to impact small businesses, such as red tape reduction, util ity costs and small -business support. End quote. And, Honourable Speaker, who said that? CFIB, Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

That's the rest of the quote, proof, example from today, this minister is cherry -picking the quotes he want s, just like this Premier; it's just like the NDP gov ernment did. Not very transparent at all to Manitobans. And further to that not very transparent–I'm glad that we're talking about trans parency. Well, we want to talk about increases in edu cation tax and housing. And when we look at, you know, where's that calcu - lated from, what is the number based on with this home rebate they're talking about, $1,500 of a home rebate? If you look in the budget, Hon ourable Speaker, what numbers do they us e?

The low number from 2023 for the mill rate. How can you present a budget for '24-25 literally using numbers from 2023 and the low number of 2023? Why would you do that? You want to mislead Manitobans, say this is the number you're saving. In reality, your mill rate, the taxing rate is going to be way higher and your education's going to go higher because this gov ernment has already increased taxes. Where is the transparency, Honourable Speaker? There is none. There is none. And when they quote these numbers of $1,500 rebate, who pays for that? Who's going to pay above that? The average middle - class Manitoban.

The average price in Manitoba varies from 345 to about 400, depending on what number you look at. But if you go $375,000 for an average house in Manitoba, how much are they going to get back? Zero. They are actually going to pay money under this program. Now, there is benefit to certain people, yes, there is, and we have to support, but we have to support everyone. Why is this government content on picking winners and losers, just like they're doing with union

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1017 leaders? They are not represen ting all Manitoba. They–it's clear as day that they are not doing what's best for the best interests of Manitobans. Middle-class Manitobans, the hard work you're doing is going to go to pay for this irresponsible spending by this NDP government. Now, what else is missing from this budget? We heard again ad nauseam –ad nausea, we're going to freeze hydro. No mention of it. Poof, it's gone with their magical wand. What happened? Not one men - tion.

CFIB also mentioned that we would've liked to see–we were, quote, disappointed that there was no mention of the hydro freeze in the budget. Again, another bill of goods sold by the showmanship Premier (Mr. Kinew) and his Minister of Finance (MLA Sala). Small businesses are dealing with insufficient – but with high demands on wages, on labour force, on cost of goods, higher taxes, with almost 20 per cent of them indicating that they're about to close–20 per cent of businesses. You know how you grow an economy, Honour - able Speaker, to pay for these irresponsible promises? You keep businesses around.

You don't force 20 per cent of them to close like they are under this NDP. That's what you do to keep them around. When you want to talk about economy, not one announcement. You have your social cart to programs that are needed –prenatal program, fertility, some homeless strategy –homelessness strategy –important social programming. How are you going to pay for those and all of the other nonsense this NDP pro- posed? You have to grow the economy. The Premier said it himself. Social-economic horse pulls the social cart, not a donkey pulling an overloaded cart. Sadly, that's what this government is doing.

There is not one –and he'll–it's actually really–this was a, you know, I had a moment, and the Minister of Finance and I had some conversations, surprisingly, and other members. We all attended the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce–a bunch of us attended the breakfast with– the day after the Minister of Finance spoke about this budget. And I have it on my phone: 8:46 he got up on stage; 9:17 he finished. So, 30 minutes, let's say, about the budget to a crowd, Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. Not one mention of how to grow the economy. Not one.

You are talking to a captive audience that are the backbone of this province, who are growing the prov- ince, who are paying payroll taxes, paying busi ness taxes, investing in our communities. Not one mention. You know what he did mention–I'll give you one guess–what type of leaders did he mention? Unions. Thirty minutes. You have an opportunity to grow the economy, a captive audience that wants to grow the economy. Not one mention. These are concerns when you have s o much irresponsible spending in this budget.

Now let's go over some numbers just so we get an understanding of what–they have increased a debt to GDP to 38.5 per cent in this province. They have a deficit projection of $800 million, and their Hydro projections for your information, Honourable Speaker, I don't know where they got –again, it's a magical wand because those numbers, I will guarantee you right now, are going to be way over what Manitoba Hydro's going to do. We're in a drought right now. We had a very low winter; some droughts are projected for the summer.

There's going to be an increase of wildfires, and yet this Minister of Finance has budgeted way more in Hydro's revenue. Irresponsible. You look at the borrowing–$3.8 billion for refinancing; $6.2 billion is planned to be borrowed in the next year; $2.4 billion for new cash requirements; $2.7 billion to date borrowed by this gov ernment; $9.25 billion approved in an order -in-council before the budget was even tabled. Yes, these are all billions, Hon ourable Speaker. Billions and billions of dollars this gov ernment is borrowing with no plan to grow the economy. That is very concerning. NDP–no darn plan.

They're adding another $1.9 billion to the debt. They've reduced the revenue contingency by $100 million. They have federal – you know, I could go on–the minister wants to list off 21 points on how he's supposedly, you know, mislead- ing Manitobans or helping them somehow. I mean, I got over four pages here of stuff I can talk about where he is driving this province into a worse state. I won't–I only have five minutes and 41 seconds left, so I won't be able to read all those. But it is concerning that the minister is taking this province in such a debt load with no plan to grow our economy. These are concerns.

Now, with that increase in debt, you have to say we're probably paying for every thing, and I would

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1018 say, well, okay, you're increasing the debt by that much money, in the tens of billions of dollars. You have the highest income-to-debt ratio in the history of this province. But no; they're cutting schools – $100 million from schools and daycares–$163 million for infrastructure spread–spent.

MLA Robert Loiselle, Acting Speaker, in the Chair They cut –and this one hurts, t his one hurts – they cut–[interjection] Yes, and members opposite, actually, as I look around, I believe probably every member on that side of the House benefitted from that. * (15:00) They benefitted from a program that under the PC government, Honour able Deputy Speaker, sup- ported communities–arts, culture and sport in commu- nities. Over $100 million went equally across the province. And how do I know it went equally?

Well, shockingly, I was the minister of that program, so I made sure it was sprea d out across the province – $1 million went to the Thompson pool, and I can't say where that member is, but $1 million went to the Thompson pool. We had hundreds of thousands of dollars, millions of dollars, go into the Minister of Finance's (MLA Sala) own back yard –I mean, not literally his back yard, that would be a big jamboree. It went into the riding where the minister resides. Money went into T he Maples and to –into Burrows.

It went into McPhillips, it went to –every single riding in this province, Honour able Deputy Speaker, $100 million dollars went–and Lakeside got some, Lac du Bonnet got some, Gimli got some. I mean, Roblin. This was what the previous gov ernment did, we supported arts, culture and sport in community. We all know it brings Manitobans together. Even across party lines we can maybe get together and play a pickup game of basketball or hockey one day; non-contact of course, Honourable Deputy Speaker. This is what sports and arts do, they bring–and what do they do, Honour able Spe aker–Honourable Deputy Speaker?

What did they do? Think you know the answer. I don't know if you're allowed to answer, but I'm going to answer it for you: they cut it. They cut it. They cut Arts, Culture and Sport in Community Fund, $100 million. Hono urable Deputy Speaker, there's major, major, major concerns when a gov ern- ment is going to cut that. You know, you want to talk about more quotes? I'm going to fly through here, because we've got three minutes left. The Association of Manitoba Municipalities, what did they say? Missed the mark for invest ments in public safety.

The AMM was hoping to see long-term predictable funding model, but instead were left con- cerned and discouraged by the public safety basket. Now, according to the AMM, they have major public safety concerns, like all of Manitoba. So to address public safety concerns, what does this Minister of Finance do for small businesses? Says yes, you've got break -ins; we're going to give you a $300 rebate. Well, the reality check, Hon ourable Deputy Speaker, and to members opposite, is $300 for a com- mercial security system is nothing.

It is thousands of dollars to have a com mercial community–alarm sys- tem, a camera system installed, thousands and thou- sands of dollars. So let's say it's $3,000. That's 10 per cent. Well, now you've got to get –what if your window gets broken into, Honourable Deputy Speaker? About $3,000 to replace your window every single time it gets bro- ken. A camera is not going to stop somebody. You know what's going to stop someone? Actually doing– with saying what they said they were going to do, and they haven't. Another bill of goods that is worthless. This gov ernment and this Premier (Mr.

Kinew) have not done anything they said they were going to do. Manitobans know when they say it's 1,000 health- care workers, it's smoke and mirrors. Where are they going to come from? Magical wand? They have no plan for this. This is the reality of where this gov ern- ment is going. It is misleading Manitobans. The fact of the matter, Honourable Deputy Speaker, is their housing rebate that they want to tout as this great champion of this budget is actually cost ing Manitobans more–$148 million. You work hard for your money, you should go home with your money.

Under the previous gov ernment, the tax savings were the largest tax savings in the history of this gov- ernment, and over four–on average $4,000 went home with Manitobans.

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1019 And you know how we know that now is because this NDP government is advertising the great work the previous PC government did. They're advertising the great work that everyone did on this side of the House. That is the reality of what is happening here. You know, so when you talk about, you know, what's happening with this gov ernment, it's embar - rassing. It's embarrassing; this budget is embarrassing. It's going to come out in due time that the housing is– their rebate's more money.

But I'll end on this, Honourable Speaker, that they say–this is a great saying, I'm sure they've all heard of this–that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, that mediocrity can play to greatness. I would beg to say that the NDP is imitating what we did with our tax cuts. That is the greatest form of flattery. To whom? Mediocrity–below mediocrity is what I would say on this side, and that is what this government is showing in this budget. They're showing that they are not here to fulfill the promises they led up to, that Manitoba –life in Manitoba is going to be more expensive under this NDP government.

Thank you very much, Honourable Speaker. Hon. Renée Cable (Minister of Advanced Education and Training): It's a true honour and privilege to stand up to speak about our very first budget as the new gov- ernment. We have so much to be proud of. I want to thank my colleagues for all of the work that they've put into this budget, including the Minister of Finance (MLA Sala). And I want to take a moment to thank the tireless work of the civil servants and the folks in Treasury Board, who spent literally thousands of hours putting together this budget and navigating really difficult waters.

I know that this year was quite difficult for folks in the civil service. There was a lot of unsettled sort of con versations and they went through a lot of transition. So, I'm also going to take a moment to thank the incredible staff in the –in my own ministry who have navigated inter national student changes, who have navigated a whole host of issues. And I just want to take this moment to say thank you so much for all that you do for the people of Manitoba. We have your backs and look forward to continuing the relationship.

I want to speak first and foremost to the fantastic news for everybody in the province on a number of fronts, including the fac t that this gov ernment has prioritized health care in a really meaningful way in this budget. In nearly every line and from almost every department, you can see how the intersection of education and health care, workforce dev elopment and health care, how all of us are working together to support really what Manitobans have brought us here to do, which is to fix the health -care system that was broken under the previous administration.

So I can–I want to speak specifically about what the Advanced Education and Training is doing to help with the impact on our public health-care system. So, throughout the question period and often in sort of side rhetoric, where are these folks going to come from? How are we going to staff up the health -care system? We're going to do it in a whole host of ways. I can tell you that, on this side of the House, the–me and my colleagues, we work together very well. If there's an issue in one de partment, we're calling our friends to have con versations about it .

We're calling our col - leagues who are directly impacted. I'm looking at my colleague from the North. If there is something that is related to his constituents, we have the con versation, because we really are a gov ernment that is here to represent all Manitobans. I want to take a minute to talk about the UGME, Undergraduate Medical Edu cation post -secondary program expansion fund. So, we're putting $22.8 million towards 15 new seats for the U-M-G-E; 15 new seats for the 'physiciant' assistant program; 20 new seats for nurse practitioners.

If anybody here has ever had the privilege of having care provided by a nurse prac ti- tioner, that is an investment well worth its weight in gold. And I have a nurse prac titioner that I see, and she provides phenomenal care. We also have 10 new seats for physical therapy program and 10 new seats for occupational therapy program. That's just through this budget alone. We know that it's going to take years to repair the damage to our health-care system, and that's why we got to work right away. We need to get people into health-care training and into the –at the bedsides in Manitoba.

I'm so proud that this expansion is happening. Stay tuned for more announcements. We will be lay- ing out the plan. And I heard anybody who–I have a child who is graduating from high school this year. I'm encouraging him to consider a career in health care or in education –looking at the Minister of Education

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1020 right now. But I encourage anybody who has an apti- tude for care and for science to consider a job in health care in Manitoba.

We're doing what we can to improve the working conditions and to change the conversation about being a health-care worker in Manitoba. * (15:10) This is a job that is –requires so much c ommit- ment and so much care and compassion and expertise, and we want to change the conversation so that folks are enticed to join a really rewarding career where they will be respected and honoured for the expertise that they bring, and have a fulfilling career that helps folks in the province. Exciting news in the Westman region: we're com- ing forward with our plan to expand medical seats at Brandon University.

So, we have allotted $370,000 to the U-M–to the U of M to start planning for the Brandon medical expansion. I'm a Brandon girl. I've said it many, many times; go Wheat Kings. And it is an ambitious project, but it is one that we need to do. So, we are looking at how we can ensure that folks are receiving their training closer to home, that if they are from a rural com mu- nity, from the Brandon area, that we find opportunities for them to receive their training close to home so that they'll stay there.

There's no–there–we know that it's –once people move from their home community somewhere to pur- sue post-secondary, to pursue higher education, that their opportunities to return home are sometimes dim- inished. And we want to make sure that we can support folks who are really invested in their home communities, and ensure that people in Brandon East, Brandon West, Souris, Roblin, that folks in the area are well supported by a heath-care system that is there for them. We also have a $10-million capital investment to the Uni versity of Manitoba. And so that will be a new building at the Bannatyne campus.

And that will help house our undergraduate -medical-seat expan - sion, and it's a long -overdue development needed to expand physician training. State-of-the-art equipment. It's a campaign promise that we made, and we are delivering. Nurses; we're expanding nurses. We are expand - ing nursing seats at six post -secondary in stitutions, including University College of the North, for nursing projects in Swan River and Flin Flon. Again, bringing care close to home is a goal of ours, and enabling folks to receive training close to home.

More and more when we talk to folks about what makes them suc cessful in their post -secondary, and really in any environment, it's that sense of belonging. And for certain, especially with Indigenous stude nts, they need to know that there is a place for them, that they are welcomed, that they are honoured and that they are kept whole as the individuals that they come as. So, this training in places like Swan River and Flin Flon will make a tremendous difference. Exciting things are happening at RRC Polytech.

We have given them a capital invest ment to expand their nursing program, including a wonderful state-of- the-art nursing simulation centre. I lost the word. And so, this'll be a fantastic opportunity for nurses to learn on the job, to–I had the oppor tunity at UCN, at the University College of the North, to interact with their simulation system, and it's incredible. It's incred- ible what we can do with technology. We have virtual reality where we can interact with patients. We can actually move close to them, we can take their vitals.

And it not only teaches the scientific or physical skills that are necessary to be successful in nursing or any sort of health- care 'practicate' –practicing–that's the word–but it also gives them practice time for those social pieces that are just so in credibly im portant. What is the ap propriate tone to take with somebody when you're communicating about the illness that they have, or the physical symptoms they're experiencing.

And being able to practise words of compassion, being able to practise empathy in real time and receiv- ing feedback from colleagues who are as interested as they are in them being suc cessful in the workplace. The nurses that I spoke with said that this is a game - changer, to be able to be a part of a simulation that allows them, without having the addi tional stress of being in the–in a real-world scenario yet, to be able to practise and strengthen those muscles.

So much of what we do every day is based on muscle memory; whether it's remembering facts, whether it's responding in an appropriate way, and it gives folks the opportunity to have those skills and also to, especially in remote communities, if they don't have a local facility that they could otherwise be train- ing at, to give them those skills. We are looking at good news for students as well. But the main part of this job here, in my opinion, is to ensure that every student has every opportunity pos - sible to be successful. You know, I think a lot about equity

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1021 and equality and what that means, and the formula for success is not the same for everyone. The formula for success, in fact, is different for every individual. So, what we have done with this budget is not only made life more affordable at home, with the changes to income taxes and the fuel tax holiday, but in post –advanced education and training, we have added additional funds to Student Aid.

We have added additional resources to Student Aid, in the form of staff, to help ensure that folks receive the supports they need quicker and that they –life is getting more complicated for everybody. So in order to navigate the complexities of different accommodations, ensuring that students with additional needs have their needs met in a timely way and that we can set people up for success is the thing that I'm probably most proud of in this budget.

The investments that we're making in those student sup- port services will help ensure that students, regardless of their postal code, regardless of their family status, regardless of whether or not their parents ever attended post-secondary, will be able to attend and be success- ful. My goal here is to ensure that as many –that we get as many students successfully through post - secondary as possible. We know that it means better outcomes, not only for them and for their immediate family members but the generations that come after them.

When I think about the impact that advanced education has on families, it's incredible. I'm so privil- eged to sit with so many people who are either the first in their family to have ever attended university or college, who are newcomers, who have –their own children will be the first in their family to attend a post-secondary here in Manitoba. It is a tremendous privilege to sit with the folks that I do and to consider the experiences of all folks in their path through post- secondary. I see my colleague, the Minister of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness (Ms.

Smith) sitting in front of me and I think about what an incredible impact post-secondary has had on her life and the life that her children have. My dear friend behind me, who is an educator and whose own path through advanced edu- cation has completely changed the trajectory of her family. And her family– An Honourable Member: Point of order. Point of Order The Acting Speaker (Robert Loiselle): Sorry, the member for Fort Whyte –point of order, the member for Fort Whyte. Mr.

Khan: It might not seem like a big deal, Honourable Deputy Speake r, but I've been called myself to numerous point of orders on recognizing whether a member is in the House or is not in the House and I believe the minister across the way did that numerous times in the last few minutes here of recognizing when her colleagues were sitting in their chairs in front of her. In the Legislature and in this Chamber, I believe that is a violation, as I myself have been called on that.

So I would just like to, you know, bring that up as a point of order that all the rules should be reflected equally on both sides, Honourable Deputy Speaker. Just asking for some fair rules and some fair–if one side is going to be accountable to one set of rules, I believe the other side should also be accountable to those same set of rules. The m ember opposite from the NDP does not operate a different set of rules. We in this Chamber and this province all operate on the same set of rules. Thank you. * (15:20) The Acting Speaker (Robert Loiselle): The honour- able member of St.

Vital and minister responsible for the economy, on the same point of order. Hon. Jamie Moses (Minister of Economic Develop- ment, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources): Just to respond on the same point of order, I think that all members in the House are under standing how we speak here in the right proper language, and I think all members are going to do their best in–currently and in the future to uphold those rules. I think that's the type of tone that we need in this House.

And as –you know, in your responsi bility, Hon- ourable Speaker, I think it's your job to make sure that we uphold the rules, and I think we'll all follow them. And I think as the Speaker rightly did not call the last speaker out, I think the Speaker was doing a good job of recognizing that people are following the rules in the appropriate manner. And so I am glad and I applaud the Speaker for doing his job so well, and I also make sure to point out to the Speaker and highlight that the member opposite's point of order is not a true point of order,

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1022 Honourable Speaker. And I'd like us to get on to continuing debate on this amazing budget brought forward by our amazing Finance Minister. The Acting Speaker (Robert Loiselle): In regards to the point of order, the member is correct that those are the rules. However, I did not hear those references. But I would like to remind every member in the House that we should not be referencing the absence or pres- ence of members that are in the House. Thank you. * * * MLA Cable: I thank the –thank you, H onourable Speaker, and I thank you for your ruling.

And I will assure all members that I am somebody who honours the rules and I appreciate the feedback. I will not make that mistake again. You know, I actually pride myself on being somebody that listens to the feedback of others. I like to work col laboratively. I like to build bridges with folks who share my vision or who don't. You know, I'm going to take a second to tell you what I've told my children about why I decided to run to be a member of this Legis lative Assembly.

And there's some thing quite troubling about what's hap- pening in terms of division in our world, and the polar- ization of ideas, and the inability for people to have conversations in a civilized way. And one of the things that I promised my children and that I promised myself that I would bring to this Assembly is respect for other people's opinions and respectful conver sa- tion and a real desire to build bridges between com - munities. It's some thing that I take in credibly seriously. I believe wholeheartedly that this is a job that requires heart and that it is a sacred duty.

And I am honoured to stand here. I will not become somebody that I am not in this space. And I implore everybody to really think about the impact that we have on the lives of Manitobans and how we can be the example setters in our com munities as to how to have respectful dis - course and how to build community. I thank the Honourable Speaker for the time, and I thank all honourable members for their attention. Mr. Wayne Balcaen (Brandon West): Honourable Speaker, it gives me great pride to rise today and speak to this budget. My budget discussion today will be more of a eulogy.

And I'm actually dressed for it today, all in black, to mourn the losses of this budget. I really want to bring that forward, that, you know, there has to be some compassion, as was spoke about by the member opposite, and compassion from all of us for this budget and the loss that not only us but all Manitobans suffered. So, I wanted to take this opportunity to talk about this budget and look at what has happened to all of the numbers in here and the losses of all of the opportun- ities for Manitoba. It's, you know, it's very sad that we have to look at this this way.

And the death happened in many ways here, and I think it's a death by a thou- sand cuts. And we've all heard that before, that we can die by a thousand cuts. They're slow, they're purpose- ful, but eventually it bleeds out. And with that, I would expect that there would be some lifesaving measures taken when that happens. And I didn't see that in this budget. I see nothing but cuts, more cuts and more cuts that have caused a lot of pain and a lot of suffering, Honourable Deputy Speaker. So, I know my friend from Waverley has ex per- ienced this same trauma dealing with death and dealing with first aid.

And I would fully expect that when this document was on the table that he was per- forming CPR to try and bring it back to life. And that CPR in this case was a critical page review, looking at it page by page. And I can envision him doing com - pressions on this document. And he actually did well. He compressed so much that many of these lines went flat. As a matter of fact, as he kept pressing, I'm sur e these lines went into the negatives. And I can show that from this budget –many of these lines that went into the negatives.

And I'll get to those as we go and, particularly, Honourable Deputy Speaker, as it relates to justice or the lack thereof in this document. So, I also wonder –I know that there's a staffing directory, and I've looked, and I did not see Johnny Depp as a member of staff. Edward Scissorhands is alive and well, and this was cut so much that I don't know how we could even look Manitobans in the face with the number of cuts that have happened in this document. So, I would like to start out a little bit about some of the expenses that we've done here.

And, Hon our- able Deputy Speaker, it was an excellent segue that the member from Fort Whyte had brought forward when he talked about Eeyore because it's all about sadness. It's all about depression. And, you know what, that poor donkey, I hope he has a chance to recover, and I know that he will in three and a half years.

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1023 So thank you, Honour able Deputy Speaker. If I could go on, one thing I would be remiss if I did not add–and again, it was a good segue from the member from Fort Whyte when he talked about inaccurate quotes or taking just snippets of a quote. * (15:30) So, as this direc tly relates to this budget and the suffering that all Manitobans are going to go through, I want to clear up a quote that the First Minister brought forward today. And he was talking about the member from Lac du Bonnet, and the member from Lac du Bonnet and his quote in the Lac du Bonnet Clipper.

And so the actual quote was: I'm thrilled that the pause has been lifted, because it is something that has been needed. If you read further in the article, he further quotes–it says the name, but I won't mention the name–it says the member from Lac du Bonnet claims the pause in construction could add as much as $10 million to this final bill. Is that fiscally respon si- ble, Honourable Deputy Speaker? That is not fiscally responsible. One other area that I have to bring forward.

When I heard this side of the House talk about –I believe it was something to the effect of 21 ways of savings, something to that effect. And it reminds me, again, as I talk about my eulogy, of a 21-gun salute. And that's used at the d eath of some –one thing im portant and something prominent. And I think that that is some - thing–a budget is very important. It's very prominent, Honourable Deputy Speaker, and it's some thing that deserved this 21 -gun salute, because it has unfor - tunately died on the floor in front of us. So, let's talk a little bit about this budget and some of the cuts that have come.

And I actually want to talk about Justice initiatives specifically. I have heard ad nauseam, as well, that the NDP government is tough on crime but also tough on the causes of crime. I was hoping that this was true. As a former police chief, as a former police officer, as somebody who served this province, I actually was hoping that that would come to fruition. But you know what happened instead? Edward Scissorhands. Cuts. Legal aid. Tough on causes of crime? Legal aid protects our most vul nerable citizens. These are the ones that need help.

My understanding is the NDP is supposed to look after the people on that and that need the help. And legal aid? The ones that help those individuals? Cut. Prosecution services. We talk about bail reform. We talk about all of this plan of bail reform. Guess what happened to prosecution services? Cut, that's what happened. Legal services: t he ones that help us out in this Chamber; the ones that help all of Manitobans when we look at some of our legis lation. Can any of my colleagues or anybody else in this House help me out, what happened there? Cut. Correctional services, cut. Court operat ions, cut.

The provincial policing, cut. The police commission, cut. LERA, cut. And on top of that, victim services, cut–victim services. They are the final line, the final frontier, the ones that look after the victims of crime and the ones that will talk about where this court case is going. The one that gives support, whether it helps them with some financial support, whether it helps them with moral support, whether it helps them with emotional support. Cut. And so again, I talk about the death of this docu- ment and what has happened. I'm just wondering, when is the funeral? When is the funeral for this?

I talked before about defunding the police. And you know what? That sits heavy with me because I lived through that many times during different pro- tests and gatherings where people wanted to defund the police. Well, I think what this document has done is defunded justice. And justice defunded is justice denied. When we look at this, how are Manitobans supposed to feel safe in their homes? How are they supposed to feel safe when they are walking the streets, whether it be Brandon, Winnipeg, or any of the other surrounding com munities? How are they going to be safe?

Honourable Deputy Speaker, I don't have the exact words here with me, but the –I believe it's the president of AMM, Mr. Blight, talked about this budget specifically, and I wish I would have printed out the document before I came here. I apologize for that, so I'll summarize in that this docu ment is lacking in public safety for ru ral com munities. Rural crime is alive and well, and they needed help. They needed support.

No mention–no mention–of those areas that could really help rural areas, such as com munity cadets and those areas that will put in ad ditional supports for rura l residents that are suffering and having to wait hours and hours for a response.

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1024 Now, I don't blame my colleagues from the RCMP, from the First Nations police services or any of the other regional or rural police services because they are overburdened w ith stuff that they need to do. However, what I have to say is that not providing any additional support for them is a crime in itself. Give them the support and the help that they need to make sure that they can keep Manitobans safe. So, if I can, Honourable Deputy Speaker, I'll just go back because I did find the quote here.

The Association of Manitoba Munici palities, the AMM, also says the NDP missed the mark on investments in public safety. The AMM was hoping to see a long- term and predictable funding model, but we were instead left concerned about and discouraged by the public safety basket. Now, according to AMM, public safety concerns are only going to es calate–escalate– for municipalities. The AMM says we have heard them make promises an d they would–that they would be tough on crime and on offenders, and we feel they missed the mark on that issue, especially for rural Manitobans.

Clearly, municipalities are in the same cart as the rest of Manitobans who were sold promises of no value by the NDP. That's scathing. That is scathing, and you know what? I'm embarrassed, quite frankly. It's difficult, hard work for people in the criminal jus- tice work system. And then to add insult to injury by not providing proper funding? Just –it actually burns me to the core. So, one other area that I would like to talk about– because I would be remiss if I didn't talk about what's happening in my own constituency–$163 million out of infra structure budgets.

That's what's missing and that's part of this death that I talked about earlier on this budget. Many of you in this Chamber, on both sides of this House, visited Brandon last week for the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, and I told you that I would–you would be treated like royalty because of that patro n- age designation for the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. * (15:40) And I'm sure many were treated like royalty, but they were treated like a third -class citizen when they drove down some of our roads; 18th Street, parti - cularly.

I've had colleagues that hav e been back on that road since apparently it was fixed, and they were playing dodge the pothole. So, $163-million cut could have been used on these roads. Or I'm wondering if part of the fiscal sus- tainability is making sure that the roads are bad enough that we have to attend to all of our shops in the area to get fixed and support the economy that way. I prefer not to do that. Let's look a little bit further at some of these areas that I'm concerned about, and again, bringing this back to the justice side.

It should be noted that, in this budget, after health and edu cation, debt servicing is now the third largest spending item line at 9 per cent of the prov incial budget and $2.264 billion. That's bigger than the De partment of Families, the De part- ment of Justice, Housing, Addictions and Homeless - ness all see. Could you imagine if we could take $2.264 billion– with a B–and put that into our economy? Put that into public safety? Put that into first respon ders? Just imagine how safe Manitoba would be.

Matter of fact, we could probably wave the flag that we are the safest province in all of Canada; 2.6–$2.264 billion. I can't even fathom that, but that's what we pay for debt ser- vicing, Honourable Deputy Speaker. Spending has increased by almost $1.4 billion. These are big numbers, and ordinary Manitobans that we represent don't understand or don' t talk this lan - guage of billions of dollars. Again, if we could take these billions of dollars and invest it, we wouldn't have to be having a funeral. We wouldn't have to be looking at the death of a document that died on that table.

When we look at what this side of the House did when it came to taxation and the provincial tax, we are looking at property tax, education, being eliminated by 2029. It was sitting at 50 per cent. This government is touting $1,500, but that's going to stay flat, just like the flat line of this budget. It's going to stay flat. Our plan was to move that incrementally forward to 75 per cent, to 90 per cent and to 100 per cent reduc- tion. So, saying that this is going to save Manitobans is not true. It's not factual. It will save them $1,500. Ours would have saved them every last penny of their taxes.

And again, that's money, for myself, I think it's close to $4,000, and if I had that extra money in my pocket, I'm going to boost the economy. I'm going to spend it on areas within Brandon and within our region, and I'm going to boost the economy. That's going to grow our economy and that's going to help all Manitobans cut down further on taxes,

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1025 because there's only a few revenue sources. One is taxes and the other is bringing in government transfer payments or government costs. So you know what? If we can lower these, grow our economy, how much better is that for all of Manitoba? You know, we look at the spending increase of $1.4 billion over Budget 2023. That's 6.1 per cent. Ordinary Manitobans do not get raises in that area; 6.1 per cent is unheard of, but yet we're okay with saying, let's just throw 6.1 per cent more on t here? I think that's quite shameful.

So, again, if we come back to this, how can we as Manitobans accept this budget and feel good about it? Know what? Again, I would like to end this budget discussion or my eulogy, if you would, saying Budget 2024, may you rest in peace and may you come back to life in three years. Thank you, Honourable Deputy Speaker. MLA Billie Cross (Seine River): I'm really happy to be able to stand up and put some words on the record in regards to our budget. And you'll notic e I wore white today to demonstrate the hope and light that our government is bringing to you, Manitoba.

I guess I want to start by saying that our gov ern- ment sees the value in unity. We demonstrated that through this budget. This is a budget for one future, for one Manitoba. We're not interested in picking fights with other levels of government. We're not interested in picking fights between citizens. What we're inter - ested in is bringing everyone together so Manitoba can be the amazing place that it is and will continue to be. I don't understand–actually, maybe I do under - stand–I feel like there's a black cloud kind of hanging over the members opposite because all we hear from them is negativity.

Manitobans need to know you have a government that will give you straight talk. We're not interested in rhymes, alliterations, metaphors, similes, like the members op posite. All they know is double-talk, doublespeak, and we know that when people do that, they're insincere. Don't believe the hype. Don't believe their hype. This is a good- news budget for Manitobans. I want to talk about a few areas of the budget that really impact citizens in Seine River. Number one, let's talk about the fuel tax, which we extended for another three months.

My constituency is home to a large number of landscaping busi nesses and green - houses. They have told me directly in conver sations recently how im portant that tax cut is for them. It saves them a tremendous amount of money, and they appreciate the support to their small businesses. I heard the members opposite use words today like hate: we hate small business. Well, sorry, folks, I'm a small-business owner, and nobody on this side hates small businesses. I've also heard the members opposite recently talk about how we feel about police officers. Well, I'd like to inform you we love them on this side.

My son-in-law is a Winnipeg police officer, and I have a deep amount of respect for the work that he does. I want to– Some Honourable Members: Hear, hear. MLA Cross: Thank you. I think it's important for Manitobans to know we walk the talk. When we say we're going to do some - thing, we do it. We don't just talk about it, talk about it, talk about it, and then just stop doing it. We make things happen, and we're going to continue to make things happen to make your lives easier. This budget helps people in so many ways. Folks in Seine River, particularly folks living in St.

Norbert, the seniors that I work with, talk with often, are ecstatic at the news that we are moving ahead with building a new ER at the Victoria hospital. This is huge for so many people. [interjection] Change takes time. Folks across want to heckle that it takes years. Well, sometimes it takes time to undo things you do in a split second. You made choices without really thinking about the conse - quences and the people it would affect. You never once thought about the people on the other side of it.

People are not just dollar signs; they are human beings and they deserve our respect, our attention, and we will always listen to you. Seven years, folks on the other side had a chance to make a difference in every- one's lives. What did they do? They made life harder. I'm a teacher who cares about schools, who cares about edu cation, who ca res about the students, the teachers, everybody who works in that system, the parents, the caregivers. * (15:50) It is not an easy place to work. Schools have such high demands. Members opposite are criticizing we're only building two schools.

I look at it like, wow, we're building two schools without using their model, a model that a con stituent of mine, who is a developer in this city, told me he is so grateful we are not going

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1026 with, because he sees it as a huge detriment to this province. I want to talk a little bit about the $1,500 home - owners affordability tax credit, and I want to talk about it in these terms: we are a gov ernment who understands what equality means. We are giving every homeowner $1,500. We are not picking and choosing who gets m ore based on the value of their home. Everyone deserves the same tax credit, and you're going to get it from us. Renters. My children–I have a child who's a renter.

This tax credit that we're increasing for renters is going to be huge for him. He's a dad, he's young, he's just starting out in his life. He can't afford to buy a home right now, but getting an extra tax credit like this will help him save some dollars towards the purchase of his first home. Affordability is important to our government. We care about the citizens in this province. We care about the lives that they lead and the lives they're going to have. I don't think anyone got into the political arena without thinking about people, and if they did, they're here for the wrong reasons.

Human beings deserve our respect and our help, and that is our duty as legislators, to make sure that we do the best job possible. I have citizens in Seine River who are thrilled with the rebate for new electric vehicles and the rebate for used vehicles, because not all of them can afford a brand-new electric vehicle. I've been inundated with emails and calls up until budget day regarding the $10-a-day child care. Folks have now reissued me emails and phone calls to thank us. They're saving money by not having to pay more than $10 a day on in-service and school holidays. That is huge for folks.

I want to talk now a little bit about fertility treat - ment tax credit. This, you know, is an im portant tax credit that I feel personally connected to. My sister had to go through IVF to have her children. Her first child, after spending nearly $40,000 in treatments, unfortunately didn't survive, and so she had to go through treatments again a second time to have the son that she has now. And I know how im portant tax credits are to folks so that they can create these fam - ilies that they desperately want. We have to do some- thing to help them, and we are. Free prescription birth control is huge.

Women in this province need access to birth control. Not every- body can afford it. They shouldn't have to choose between birth control and food, birth control and medicine, birth control and something for their child. They–we now have come forward to make sure that everybody has what they need. We talked a lot about–I've talked a little bit about education, about building new schools. One of the biggest things as a teacher that I had to deal with were kids that came to school hungry.

I could tell you that on a regular basis, at least on a weekly basis, I had students in the com munity that I worked in–which was a very affluent com munity–come to me and tell me that they didn't have lunch, they didn't have break- fast. One student missed a week of school because his family didn't have food to send with him to school to eat. When I phoned to inquire why that student wasn't at school, that's when they explained to me they didn't have food to send for lunch. I told them, send him to school, I will make sure he's fed; and I made sure he had a lunch every day.

We are going t o make sure children are fed. And we're not going to put that onus on teachers anymore. We are going to do the right thing and make sure kids have what they need. Because, in contrast to what the members opposite used to think, not all parents can feed their children. Members opposite talked about the $300 security system rebate. Gov ernment can't do every thing, but we can do some thing; $300 is not a piddly sum of money to put towards home security. People are really concerned about crime and the constant talk about crime.

We're taking action to make sure that they have some supports to make themselves feel safer and secure. We're taking action to end chronic homelessness with this budget and to help those who need it the most. We're provi ding $116 m illion in funding to build and maintain social and affordable housing. We're making it easier to build rental housing in Manitoba. My son is looking for a place to rent–a new place to rent. It is impossible to find the right fit. You can't have pets, you c an't have this. It is so difficult. We need more choice and we need more competition.

We've committed $3.9 million to esta blish a supervised consumption site, addiction treatment beds and to support harm reduction services. We need to be there when peo ple are ready to take the first step on their road to recovery. We should be for them –be there for them. That is our duty. I think one of the most touching parts of our budget that means a lot to me–and I know it means a lot to people that are close to me and to students I formerly taught –we are investing $20 million for MMIWG2S+ protection strategies to make Manitoba

April 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1027 safer for Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people. That is huge. As a teacher in south Winnipeg, in a span of one year, I taught t wo students who were affected by losing–one lost a mother who was murdered and another lost a sister who was murdered. This invest ment will help us move the needle on that problem. Women deserve to feel safe, and we're going to make sure that they do. I also, as the MLA for Sei

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	43-1-37
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	43rd 1st hansardpdf 37.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	442f3ac2fcc71f28ce03463c7baf6b7aae2aa405

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