Alberta Hansard — 8 May 2014, Afternoon sitting (13:30) (Legislature 28, Session 2)

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Alberta — Debates (Hansard)

Province of Alberta The 28th Legislature Second Session Alberta Hansard Thursday, May 8, 2014 Issue 27 The Honourable Gene Zwozdesky, Speaker

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

W) Barnes, Drew, Cypress-Medicine Hat (

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

W) Strankman, Rick, Drumheller-Stettler (

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

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

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

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

STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future Chair: Mr. Amery Deputy Chair: Mr. Fox Eggen Hehr Kennedy-Glans Kubinec Lemke Luan McDonald Pastoor Quadri Rogers Rowe Sarich Stier Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund Chair: Mr. Casey Deputy Chair: Mrs. Jablonski Amery Barnes Dorward Eggen Khan Redford Sherman Standing Committee on Families and Communities Chair: Ms Olesen Deputy Chair: Mr.

Pedersen Cusanelli DeLong Fenske Fox Fritz Jablonski Jeneroux Leskiw McAllister Notley Sandhu Swann Webber Standing Committee on Legislative Offices Chair: Mr. Jeneroux Deputy Chair: Mr. McDonald Bikman Blakeman Brown DeLong Eggen Leskiw Quadri Wilson Young Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services Chair: Mr. Zwozdesky Deputy Chair: Mr. VanderBurg Casey Forsyth Fritz Johnson, L. Kubinec Mason McDonald Sherman Towle Standing Committee on Private Bills Chair: Mr. Xiao Deputy Chair: Mrs.

Leskiw Allen Brown Cusanelli DeLong Fenske Fritz Jablonski Notley Olesen Rowe Stier Strankman Swann Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing Chair: Ms Kubinec Deputy Chair: Mr. Rogers Calahasen Casey Kang Khan Luan Notley Olesen Pastoor Pedersen Saskiw VanderBurg Wilson Young Standing Committee on Public Accounts Chair: Mr. Anderson Deputy Chair: Mr. Dorward Allen Amery Barnes Bilous Donovan Hehr Jeneroux Khan Luan Pastoor Sandhu Sarich Young Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship Chair: Mr. Khan Deputy Chair: Mr.

Hale Allen Anglin Bikman Bilous Blakeman Brown Calahasen Cao Casey Goudreau Johnson, L. Xiao Young

May 8, 2014 Alberta Hansard 789 Legislative Assembly of Alberta Title: Thursday, May 8, 2014 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 8, 2014 [The Speaker in the chair] head: Prayers The Speaker: Hon. members, on the eve of our country’s National Day of Honour let us stand together to pray for and give thanks to the brave men and women of the Canadian armed forces who participated in the Afghanistan mission. Let us remember the fallen and the families and friends left behind to mourn. Let us pray for the wounded and the injured, who bear the physical and mental burdens of service.

And let us add our voices to those of all Canadians on May 9 in expressing our deepest gratitude to all those who have served and to those who are still serving in our armed forces. Amen. Please be seated. head: Introduction of Guests The Speaker: Let us begin with school groups, starting with the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development. Mr. Campbell: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a pleasure to rise in the House today and introduce to you and through you over 50 grade 6 students, teachers, and parents from Summitview school in Grande Cache.

These students will be among the first to enjoy a modernized high school in Grande Cache, that I announced just a couple of months ago as part of our investment into educatio n under the building Alberta plan. I hope that these future leaders enjoy their visit this afternoon. I’d ask that they receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Riverview , followed by Stony Plain. Mr. Young: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure to rise and introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly 26 students from Windsor Park school.

They’re accompanied by their teacher, Ms Lyster, and parent helpers Ileana Stvelkov and Donna Moorgen. I had the opportunity to talk to these students. Not only are they from a very recognized and well -established school, but these kids are really smart. They asked me for my autograph, which surprised me. Usually my signature has been on a speeding ticket in the past. This is much better. I’d ask that they rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Stony Plain. Mr. Lemke: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It’s my pleasure to rise and introduce to you and through you to all members of this Assembly 17 bright young grade 6 students from St. Matthew Lutheran school from my constituency of Stony Plain. The students are accompanied by their teacher, Gary Skoye, and parent volunteers Mark Smith, Angela Goertz, an d Michele Kleijnen. I would now ask that they please rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: Are there other school groups? If not, let us move on with other important guests, starting with the Associate Minister – Services for Persons with Disabilities. Mr.

Bhardwaj: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. For several years the Legislative Assembly has supported the Edmonton Regional Heritage Fair, held every spring, providing an opportu- nity for students from schools in the surrounding areas to present projects celebrating Canada’s heritage. In 2007 the Legislative Assembly Office initiated an award to recognize participants who demonstrate outstanding achievement in celebrating an aspect of Canadian parliamentary democracy, governance, or political history, with a specific focus on Alberta.

It’s now my pleasure to introduce this year’s award winner, Hari Abhimanyu, a grade 7 student from Dan Knott school and my constituent, who created an excellent presentation on Emily Murphy because he wanted to research someone who changed the perspective of Canada’s federal government to what it is today, an interesting and relevant topic, indeed, Mr. Speaker. Accompany - ing Hari today are his parents, Mrs. Pichammai Meiappan and, of course, Mr. Muthiah Vinaitheerthan, and Mrs. Suzanne Sparling, his social studies teacher from Dan Knott. I’d ask my guests to please rise and receive the traditional warm welcome.

The Speaker: Welcome and congratulations. The hon. Premier. Mr. Hancock: Yes, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly Katelyn Penstone, a recent political science graduate from MacEwan University who will be working as an intern this summer with my communica- tions and correspondence units. It’s clear that Katelyn is a bright, capable young Albertan with a strong sense of citizenship. She has already infused the communications and correspondence team with her energy, positive attitude, and willingness to assist every - one around her.

We’re happy and fortunate to have her onboard. I’m sure there will be no shortage of work as we continue to engage and inform Albertans about the building Alberta plan. I’d ask Katelyn to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. Mrs. Sarich: Mr.

Speaker, it’s an honour and privilege for me to rise today to introduce to you and through you to all Members of the Legislative Assembly eight representatives from Glengarry school, part of Edmonton public schools, here at the Legislature in recognition of their 50th anniversary and the grand opening of the Hassan Seifeddine Literacy Learning Centre, which was celebrated in the fall of 2013. My guests are seated in the members’ gallery, and I would ask them to please rise as I mention their names. I would like to welcome this afternoon Mr. Jim Scott, principal; Mr.

Hassan Seifeddine, assistant principal and namesake of the Hassan Seifeddine Literacy Learning Centre; Mr. Patrick Reilly, curriculum co -ordinator; Mr. Abdallah Fares, school council member. Also, representing the grade 6 student leadership with pride are the following four students: Noah Fares, Raeesa Kudoos, Bisan Ibrahim, and Ibrahim Araji. I would now ask that the Assembly please honour my guests with the traditional warm welcome. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Service Alberta, followed by Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview. Mr. Griffiths: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I have two introductions today. First, I’m pleased to introduce to you and through you to all membe rs of this Assembly on behalf of the Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour a summer intern that will be working in his office. Her name is Caitlin Bullerkist. She’s also studying political science at the University of Alberta and

790 Alberta Hansard May 8, 2014 aspires to go to law school, which are some pretty high ambitions. I believe Caitlin is sitting in the members’ gallery. I’d ask her to rise and please receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For my second introduction again it’s my pleasure to introduce to you and through you to members of this Assembly someone who is well known to many of us. Roberto Noce is a former Edmonton city councillor, a former candidate for mayor in this city as well, and has been a member of numerous boards and associations with the city of Edmonton.

Among his many accomplishments Roberto has been invaluable in his contributions to our condo act review process. He’s a lawyer, active member of his community, and author of dozens of publications on the intricac ies of condo ownership. Roberto is in the members’ gallery. I’d ask him to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome and a thank you on behalf of the House. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview, followed by the Minister of Health. Mr. Bilous: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Today it’s my pleasure to rise and introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly Ella Schepens, a high school student whose attempts to establish a gay -straight alliance were denied by her s chool. Ella wanted to establish a GSA in her school to provide an inclusive space for all students. Ella and many Albertans are very disappointed that administrators can deny GSAs. Ella is accompanied by her father, Jim Schepens, and her mother, Mary Anne Bilko. I would now ask Ella, Jim, and Mary Anne to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. The Speaker: The hon.

Minister of Health, followed by Olds- Didsbury-Three Hills. Mr. Horne: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two introductions today. First, I’d like to take the opportunity to introduce to you and through you to members of the Assembly Isaac Caverhill - Godkewitsch. I have the distinct pleasure of having Isaac work in my office this summer through the Alberta student ministerial internship program. Isaac has a very interesting and broad background, including a master’s of global governance degree and extensive experience in public policy and research.

This includes work with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations. I would ask that Isaac please rise and receive our traditional warm welcome. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As you know, this is the last day that we will have the opportunity to recognize Mental Health Week. In that vein, it’s my pleasure today to introduce to y ou and through you two of Alberta’s most influential and most respected advocates in the area of mental health. First, I’d like to introduce Mr. Tom Shand, who will be very familiar to many members. Tom served for many years with the Canadian Mental Health Association.

He’s currently the chair of the Alberta Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health and also a member of the Lieutenant Governor’s Circle on Mental Health and Addiction. 1:40 Mr. Shand is accompanied today by Dr. Austin Mardon, who is well known to many in this House as well. Austin is known for receiving, among other honours, the Order of Canada in 2006 and was one of the first people that I met in my career that had the courage to stand up and talk about his personal experience living with mental illness.

Austin and Catherine, his wife, have established the Catherine and Austin Mardon schizophrenia award and endowed scholarship at the University of Alberta for either a person with schizophrenia or a close family member. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House and on behalf of Albertans I invite both gentlemen to stand and receive our warm thanks and deepest respect for their contributions. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Olds-Didsbury -Three Hills , followed by St. Albert. Mr. Rowe: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is my great pleasure to rise today to introduce to you and through you to all members of this Legislature a group of volunteers from the fabulous Three Hills area whose church operates a program which brings students from Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma to volunteer here in Edmonton at the U of A hospital and the Cross Cancer Institute. As I call their names, I would ask them to please rise: Murray and Marguerite Baerg, Joni Kuepfer, Kaitlyn Wiebe, Brooke Unruh, and Danielle Loewen. All members of the House, please join me in giving our traditional warm welcome to our guests. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for St. Albert, followed by the Associate Minister – International and Intergovernmental Relations. Mr. Khan: Thank you, Mr. Spe aker. It is my pleasure to introduce to you and through you Mr. Michael Lam. Michael is here today on behalf of Edmonton Economic Development to promote an exciting and landmark event that’s being organized in our city. Named Host Edmonton, this three -day event will be Edmonton’s first culinary festival and conference. This conference will connect hospitality professionals and home kitchen masters with local and international experts in food, drink, and services.

Over two dozen nationally and internationall y acclaimed food and hospitality celebrities will also be participating. Michael hopes you will all come out to support this important event, taking place between May 22 and 24 at the Shaw Conference Centre, and eat, drink, and think as we support Edmonton ’s thriving hospitality industry. Mr. Lam is seated in the members’ gallery, and I’d ask that he please rise and receive the warm traditional welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Associate Minister – International and Intergovernmental Relations, followed by Edmonton-McClung.

Ms Woo-Paw: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to introduce to you and through you Sharon Compton, professor and director of the dental hygiene program at the University of Alberta. Sharon has led health research on oral health for seniors and has also led two Alberta Health Services funded projects. After travelling to South Korea last year, inspired and accompanied by a colleague of hers of Korean descent, Sharon hosted a visiting Korean scholar, Dr. Kim, for si x months. Dr.

Kim had a chance to immerse herself in the U of A’s curriculum and is now an advocate not only for the university’s excellent program but for our province as a whole, based on her very positive experience here. This is a great example of the many diverse and varied ways in which our province can build and strengthen international ties. Sharon is seated in the members’ gallery, and I’d ask her to please rise and receive the warm welcome of this House. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton- McClung, followed by the Associate Minister – Seniors. Mr. Xiao: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’m pleased to introduce to you and through you to the members of this Assembly a group of

May 8, 2014 Alberta Hansard 791 nine home-schooled students and their chaperones: Rebekka Burtt, Dina Gerwing, Carrie Kastelen, and Connie Kennedy. I’d ask the students and their chaperones to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this House. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Associate Minister – Seniors, followed by the Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation. Mr. Quest: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a pleasure to rise and introduce to you and through you to all members of this Assembly my executive assistant, Remo Padovani.

He has provided me great support both in the office and as we travel around t he province. I actually inherited Remo from the former Associate Minister of Seniors, and I very much appreciate his knowledge and his wisdom. Remo is soon going to be taking on some new challenges in this building, but it is, truly, always a pleasure work ing with you, Remo. It’s been great. He’s seated in the members’ gallery, and I’d ask him to rise and receive the warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation, followed by Edmonton-Gold Bar. Dr. Starke: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

On behalf of my colleague the hon. Minister of Education it’s my pleasure to rise today and introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly Jessica Ross. Jessica is a recent graduate of the bachelor of educati on program at the University of Alberta, and she has been a substitute teacher with the Edmonton public school board for the past year. She will be interning with the Education department for the duration of this summer, and given her background I know tha t she will be a tremendous asset to that office.

I would now ask Jessica to please rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar. Mr. Dorward: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for this last -minute introduction. A good friend of mine is in the members’ gallery, Mr. Jerry “ZoomJer” Aulenbach, Mr. Bacon Realtor. A good friend of mine and the entire family, Jerry is a wonderful supporter of the things that happen in Alberta. He’s always talking about Alberta across the country. I’d just like to have him stand and have the acknowledgement of the MLAs.

Thank you. head: Members’ Statements The Speaker: Hon. members, we have two minutes per statement. Glengarry School 50th Anniversary and Grand Opening of Hassan Seifeddine Literacy Learning Centre Mrs. Sarich: Mr. Speaker, a school is more than bricks and mortar. It’s the sum of its entire people, which includes administration, teachers, staff, students, parents, and community. It is my honour to rise to recognize and celebrate 50 years of outstanding innovative education as delivered by all those from the past and present at Glengarry school, which is part of Edmonton public schools’ rich history.

In 1963 Glengarry school was built as a community school and in 1983 embarked upon a new venture with the inauguration of the Arabic bilingual program, which today proudly serves over 630 students. Glengarry school has an active and thriving school council, which partne rs with administration and teachers in an effort to achieve high -quality classroom teaching conditions and learning opportunities for all students.

Building on their firm belief in the power of partnerships and collaboration between school and community, Glengarry school maintains historic and positive relationships with the Canadian Arab Friendship Association of Edmonton, the World Lebanese Cultural Union, the community at large, and business partners and supporters. Mr. Speaker, Glengarry school can be defined by their legacy of dedication to school and student accomplishments, and in support of this goal and learning innovation the Hassan Seifeddine Literacy Learning Centre was established.

The centre incorporates new and emerging technologies with proven resources and approaches to meet and advance the learning needs of students , staff, and the community at large. The Hassan Seifeddine Literacy Learning Centre’s namesake is a dedicated advocate, supporter, builder, and leader at Glengarry school, known for his work on delivering bilingual programming locally, nationally, and internationally. Mr. Speaker, 50 years is a very special anniversary.

On behalf of all Albertans and in the Alberta spirit, congratulations to Glengarry school administration, teac hers, staff, students, parents, and community. Best wishes in the coming year, God bless, and thank you. The Speaker: The hon. leader of the Alberta Liberal opposition. Government Policies Dr. Sherman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There’s a social contract between the government and the people. Albertans honour this contract every day when they go to work to help build this great province and when they pay their taxes.

The government’s side of the contract is essentially this: deliver basic public services and make society better while at the same time getting the people the best value for their money and balancing the books and not saddling the next generation with debt. 1:50 Well, Mr. Speaker, this government has not been respecting the people and their contract with the people. Its policies have led to the downfall of one Premier during this session and caused the current Premier to apologize profusely at his party’s recent $500- per-plate fundraiser. The betrayal of trust, Mr.

Speaker, is too much for A lbertans to bear any longer. It’s too much for parents to bear when they’ve done their part but can’t find affordable child care near home. It’s too much for seniors to bear that after building this great province, they have to fight this government to get a drug plan that works for them. It’s too much for public-sector workers to bear when this government undermines their Charter rights, threatens their pensions, and refuses to negotiate with them.

It’s too much for the sick to bear because our health care system can’t provide timely access to the care they need when they need it, and it’s too much for taxpayers to bear when their money is being wasted and they’re going into debt. Mr. Speaker, Albertans want more. They want more than a broken promise and underfunded public services and debt despite our province’s great wealth and economy. It’s time for Alberta to have not just a strong economy but also a strong society.

Alberta Liberals will deliver on that promise to educate our children, care for our sick and elderly, get the schools that we need for our kids,

792 Alberta Hansard May 8, 2014 get the roads and bridges, fund our municipalities, balance the books, and put money in the bank. Mr. Speaker, it’s time to build a strong economy and a strong society based on Liberal values and Al berta values, and it’s time to deliver. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. head: Oral Question Period The Speaker: Hon. members, you’re reminded that no question ought exceed 35 seconds, and no answer ought go beyond 35 seconds either. Let’s start with the Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition and question 1. Federal Funding Programs Ms Smith: Mr.

Speaker, yesterday the Infrastructure minister stepped down. Now, we welcome lots of people getting into the race to be the last PC Premier – the more the merrier – but there is still work to do. This government has continuously done a poor job of applying for federal infrastructure dollars. Well, here we go again. The previous Infrastructure minister was in charge of finalizing the agreement with Ottawa so that Alberta municipalities could access the building Canada fund, but now he’s gone. With the construction season having already begun, can someone assure us that this ball is not going to be dropped? Mr.

Hancock: Well, Mr. Speaker, let me first assure the hon. member that many teams have never made it to the finals when they’ve tried to get past the first game too quickly. I wouldn’t assume that the next PC leader will be the last. I will assure the hon. member that this government will be working very hard to ensure that Albertans have the opportunity to take advantage of the building Canada fund, that we work with the federal government to get the right projects in place for the right reasons at the right time to help continue with the building Alberta plan. Ms Smith: Mr.

Speaker, I wish I could trust that were true. Alberta municipalities are entitled to this federal funding, but to get it, they have to rely on the province to finalize an agreement. Now, in his haste to launch his leadership campaign, it appears the Member for Calgary-Hays didn’t get around to doing it. His only other competitor in the race, the former Municipal Affairs minister, also dragged his feet when it came to accessing the federal gas tax fund. Why is this government so incompetent when it comes to leveraging our federal government’s much-needed and readily available support? Mr. Hancock: Mr.

Speaker, I think history will show that for each of these federal funds we have worked very closely with the federal government to ensure that the fun ds work well for Albertans, that we utilize the funds in appropriate ways, and that we have the appropriate agreements in place to mesh with our spending priorities on behalf of Albertans, and that’s what we will do in this particular case. Ms Smith: Mr. Speaker, but they haven’t done that, and it doesn’t end there.

This government also didn’t avail itself of the matching flood mitigation grants in 2012, and the previous, previous Municipal Affairs minister took six months to ask for an advance on the $3 bi llion Ottawa pledged to help with last year’s floods. The PCs’ negligence is a constant source of frustration not only for Albertans but also for our hard-working MPs, who are rightly proud of the incredible support that the Harper government gives this pr ovince. Will the new Infrastructure minister commit that this time around he won’t once again drop the ball? Mr. Horner: Well, Mr.

Speaker, a lot of what the hon. member just said was not true, and it’s unfortunate to categorize the discussions that we’re having with the federal government as dragging. In fact, this Premier took it upon himself to meet the new Finance minister at the very earliest opportunity. He and I met with Minister Oliver not that long after he was appointed after the tragic loss of Minister Flaherty.

We talked about the flood mitigation money, and we thanked them, actually, for the speed with which they have advanced money that they have never done before because of the lobbying efforts of this government and these ministers. The Speaker: Thank you. Second main set of questions. Ms Smith: Finance minister, you didn’t ask for the money until December 16, and we know it. Federal Building Redevelopment Project Management Ms Smith: Mr. Speaker, it turns out Alberta taxpayers paid at least $173,000 to not build the former Premier’s so-called sky palace.

Now, I find that a little odd because usually the cost of not building something is zero. The former Infrastructure minister tabled the documents we asked for on his way out the door to declare for PC leader, apparently to clear the air on how ridiculous this project was and how it came to be, but more questions than ever remain. Who started it? Who stopped it? How did it get so far along? To the new Infrastructure minister: can you help us out with this? Mr. Drysdale: Mr. Speaker, this is a heritage building in the downtown Edmonton area that we’re proud to be restoring for this city.

This project has existed since 2008. This is the th ird Premier and the sixth Infrastructure minister to work on that project. I knew of a private space for the Premier in there, and the former Premier’s office dealt directly with the architect for the design there. No residential space is being built there now or in the future. Ms Smith: To be clear, Mr. Speaker, the sky palace isn’t part of our heritage.

The new Infrastructure minister, who also happens to be the old Infrastructure minister and the same Infrastructure minister who was on the job when the sky palace scheme was hatched, claims he cancelled the project. The other former Infrastructure minister, now a PC leadership contender, is also claiming that he spiked it. The fact is that $173,000 was wasted. Everyone is trying to take the credit, but no one wants to take the blame. To the Infrastructure minister: why can’t they get their stories straight? Mr. Hancock: Mr.

Speaker, the reality is that this hon. member can try and dress it up any way she wants with respect to a sky palace. There’s never been a sky palace. There’s never been a sky palace. There was a contemplation of a hotel option. That was ruled out as a bad idea a long time ago. It hasn’t been built; it won’t be built. The building is a heritage building that Albertans will be proud of. I t will house hundreds of civil servants, it will house a few legislators, and it will be a place where government can do business with the world.

May 8, 2014 Alberta Hansard 793 Speaker’s Ruling Interrupting a Member The Speaker: Hon. members, we’ve had a couple of outbursts during a pri vate member’s statement from the government mem - bers, and I heard a few outbursts now during an answer the Premier was trying to give. Show a little respect for each other. I’d like to hear the answers, and I’m sure you would, too. I’d also like to hear the questions. Let’s hear the final supplemental from the hon. Leader of the Opposition. Federal Building Redevelopment Project Management (continued) Ms Smith: Mr.

Speaker, the fact is that it’s $173,000 that’s been wasted. The sky palace has become the ultimate symbol of this current PC era. It encompasses everything that this party and this government have become: duplicitous, entitled, secretive, waste- ful, a nd completely out of touch with the priorities of everyday Albertans. It is no wonder they are falling all over themselves to try and put it all behind them, but try as they might, Albertans are not going to forgive and forget. To the Premier. On his last QP as Premier he’s apologized for so much already. Will he apologize for this? Mr. Hancock: Mr.

Speaker, I will apologize for what’s happened with respect to the federal building because it’s an old building. The project management could have been done bet ter, absolutely. As we learned along the way and have done better, we’ve been able to make sure that some changes that are asked for are not made, including the hundred thousand dollar change that the Official Opposition wanted to the offices being built i n the federal building for their offices. [interjections] The Speaker: Order. [interjections] Order, please. [interjections] Order, please. Hon. Member for Airdrie, were you rising on a point of order?

Mr. Anderson: They were lying again, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: The point of order has been noted at 1:59:45, and it will be dealt with at the usual time. Are both sides ready to carry on? [interjections] Good. Let us move on, then. Third and final main set of questions. The hon. leader. Premier’s Term of Office Ms Smith: Well, Mr. Speaker, I’d like to take a moment to talk about the Premier if I may. As I mentioned, it is his last day in the Assembly as Premier, and whether or not he drew the short straw in caucus, I guess we’ll never know.

But I do want to say that he’s done the province and his party a service by agreeing to shoulder this load until a new Premier is chosen. It couldn’t be easy, but as always he has served with dignity and class. To the Premier: when we are hanging his portrait in the Legi slature halls, what is his legacy going to be? 2:00 Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, I’ve never been one to worry about my legacy. People will think of me as they will. I’m amazed that so many people are concerned about portraits. I think it may be more appropriate, if at all, to have a postage stamp or an asterisk. Ms Smith: Well, Mr.

Speaker, as everyone knows, the PCs are closing the Legislature doors this afternoon so they can hit the campaign trail to elect a new leader. They’re so desperate to get out of here that they actually voted in favour of a few opposition amendments yesterday. But I know that this Premier is a master of the legislative process, and he respects the role of MLAs in making good laws, so I can’t imagine he’s all that thrilled at forcing through omnibus bills so his colleagues can stampede toward the e xit. To the Premier: why is he allowing debate to be shut down just so his party can go and pick its last Premier? Mr.

Hancock: Mr. Speaker, as I understand it, the House adjourned debate about 4:30 or 5 yesterday afternoon. There was plenty more time for people to speak if they had wanted to speak. I understand it adjourned at 8 o’clock or so on Tuesday evening, again much more time available for people to speak if they wanted to speak. I think the hon. member protests too much.

I think they probably want to get out of here a lot more than we do because they’re seeing how the table is turning, they’re seeing how this government is taking charge, and they’re seeing how Albertans are responding to the good work that this government is doing. Ms Smith: Yes, Mr . Speaker, the Premier is right. We’d hate to have another few weeks of question period. We are about to embark on a long summer recess that will have MLAs out of the Legislature until the end of October. Now, depending on who succeeds as Premier, it coul d be a year before we’re back. It’s sad, Mr.

Speaker, that the business of governing will once again take a back seat to the government’s internal leadership battles. To the Premier: will he be able to make any headway whatsoever on balancing the budget, e liminating wasteful spending, or fixing health care this summer while the rest of his colleagues are busy trying to save their party? Mr. Hancock: Well, Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member, first of all, for her very kind comments in her first

preamble and then for this question because it allows me to assure Albertans that this government is on the job. This government is doing the work that Albertans elected us to do. Albertans can count on us to build the schools we said we’d build, to continue the work to ensure that primary care is there for Albertans when they need it through family care clinics and primary care networks, and to do all those other things that governance requires. The world is moving quickly. Alberta is not standing still. We’re not wa iting for a new leader. We’re continuing to do the work we were elected to do.

The Speaker: The hon. leader of the Alberta Liberal opposition. Personal Information Collection by Members Dr. Sherman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank the Premier for serving, and in my last question to the Premier in his term I’m going to give him a tough one. There’s been a lot of talk around here lately about the importance of protecting privacy. Today we continue on that theme. Back in 2010 in a PowerPoint presentation a minister of the Crown instructed PC MLAs on how to use government resources to collect the personal information of Albertans for partisan purposes.

That person is now Justice minister. To the Premier: how do you justify this abuse of government resources for partisan campaign purposes? Mr. Hancock: Well, there’s one thing that we have in common, Mr. Speaker. I haven’t a clue what he’s talking about, and neither does he.

794 Alberta Hansard May 8, 2014 Dr. Sherman: Mr. Speaker, let me enlighten this member. When Albertans come into contact with their PC MLAs, they don’t expect their personal information to end up in a PC Party database for use at election time. I highly doubt they would give consent. Well, that’s what happens when the PCs never let a voter get away, according to thi s PowerPoint presentation made to PC caucus in 2010. To the Premier: why does your government so flagrantly disrespect privacy rights while using government resources for partisan campaign purposes? Mr. Hancock: Mr.

Speaker, one thing I know about Albertans is that when they talk to their legislators, they want to know that we listen and that we care. One of the ways that they can know that we listen and care is when we respond to them about the issues they’ve raised with us.

In order to be able to respond to somebody about issues that they’ve raised with you, you need to keep track of what those issues are so that when a bill comes up, for example, on that topic, you might be able to send a letter or an e -mail or perhaps even a phone call to the individual who contacted you and say: you talked to me about this; I’d like to get back to you on it. I presume that that’s what we’re talking about in this circumstance. Dr. Sherman: Mr. Speaker, the Premier is right.

We do collect information to communicate, but we don’t collect information with taxpayer dollars and disclose it to the political party for campaign purposes, as it shows on this PowerPoint. This government has no respect for the fact that there is supposed to be a separation between the government of Alberta and the PC Party of Alberta. In their minds, the government is nothing but a subsidiary of the PC Party. It’s this sense of entitlement that led the current Minister of Justice to counsel PC MLAs on the dark art of using government resources to compile lists for use in the 2012 election.

Premier, when will this government finally stop using what belongs to the public for their PC purposes? Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, I can assure this hon. member and all Albertans that this government, this caucus, respects the law, respects the private information of Albertans, and does not use private information that’s collected for public purposes for private purposes. That would be against the law. We wouldn’t do that. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona. Federal Building Redevelopment Project Management (continued) Ms Notley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

When it comes to the wasted $175,000 on the sky palace, there seem s to be an impressive case of amnesia on the part of the entire cabinet. We’ve heard two directly contradictory stories, and now a senior public servant has been dragged into the PC Party’s sad little version of Game of Thrones. Meanwhile accountability to Albertans is lost. To the Premier: how can Albertans trust a cabinet that can’t even keep its story straight for a session of a mere 27 days? Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, the fixation of this hon. member and others in opposition is not a fixation that Albertans have.

Albertans have very clearly understood what has happened with respect to the federal building. They very clearly understood that mistakes were made. They very clearly understand that there is no residential component being built in the federal building. They very clearly understand that the federal building is a heritage building that will be very useful as a cornerstone of the capital area here in Edmonton, that it will be a signature building for civil servants, for a few MLAs, and for government. It’s a very important part of our future as it is of our heritage. The Speaker: Thank you. First supplemental.

Ms Notley: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know what? Calling it a hotel or calling it an apartment: it means nothing. It was always planne d as a luxurious hideaway for the former Premier until it wasn’t. To the Premier. Albertans have had enough of these conflicting tales from self -interested politicians. One of your members of cabinet or caucus is not giving us the correct information. Why won’t you tell us which one that is? Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, just because the hon. member says that it’s so doesn’t make it so. There’s never been a luxurious accommodation. There is not accommodation.

There will not be accommodation. There was a plan at one point in time to consider whether it might be appropriate to have some overnight space. That was killed as a bad idea. That was a bad idea. We’re not going to build it. Ms Notley: Well, Mr. Speaker, the timing of this outrageous project’s cancellation is important because taxpayers are on the hook for almost $200,000 because of it. One claims he cancelled it in 2012; one claims he cancelled it in 2014. If we assume that both are correct, why exactly, Mr. Premier, should Albertans trust a government tha t has to cancel a project over and over and over again?

Should they believe you’re incompetent or not believe you at all? The Speaker: The hon. Premier. Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Finally, a decent question. You know, we have made mistakes, and w e’re fixing those mistakes. One of those mistakes is having better controls on a project like this, that is a very complex project, that involves the removal of blue asbestos, renovations of an old building, and very high costs for some of the planning processes. We can do better on that for Albertans, and we will do better on that for Albertans.

The Speaker: Hon. members, we’ve lost some valuable time due to some outbursts, so I would ask you to look at your

preambles and please curtail them, cut them out so we can get through the list here. I have at least 18 members wanting to ask questions. Let’s start now with Calgary -Foothills, followed by Chestermere-Rocky View. Union Dues Regulation Mr. Webber: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In the 2012 provincial election the PC Party promised Albertans that they would introduce a paycheque protection, transparency, and freedom to choose act, which would make union dues more transparent and would allow union members “the ability to ‘opt -out’ of the proportion of . . . due s . . . unrelated to collective bargaining and grievance administration.” That was taken directly out of the party platform in the 2012 election. My question is to the Premier. When will this government introduce this legislation, which was promised to Albertans in the last election? 2:10 Mr. Hancock: Never. Mr.

Webber: Again to the Premier: given that the issue of limiting union dues for political causes and causes not directly

May 8, 2014 Alberta Hansard 795 related to improving workplace conditions is highly popular with Albertans, will the Premier commit to bringing this legislation forward to give Albertans what they want? Mr. Hancock: I’m not sure what the hon. member did not understand about my first answer. Mr. Webber: To the Premier: will the Premier commit to making union dues transparent before the next election? Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, Alberta has a long history of labour peace in the building trades and other areas.

We have a significant amount of work that happens in this province, and there’s a great deal of competiveness in that. There is plenty of work for both union members and nonunion members. This is not a big issue for anybody except a very small group of people on the contracting side. It’s not a big issue for Albertans. We should do as little as possible to disrupt the very, very strong construction environment we have, which is only held back right now by the costs involved, which escalate if we do anything to disrupt the projects. Student Assessment Mr. McAllister: Mr.

Speaker, today we learned that the Calgary board of education is following provincial directi on and ditching letter grades and percentages for students in favour of four achievement levels, including “not meeting expectations.” It’s the same thing that the province pushed on the Battle River school division. Parents, students, and teachers fought back on and said: “No. Thank you.” To the Premier. The world does not hand out jobs like your government hands out associate ministries. Why do you think these value achievement levels are better for our kids than percentages and letter grades? Mr.

Hancock: Once again the hon. member is fundamentally wrong in his assumptions. The provincial government has not been telling any school board how to do assessment. In fact, assessment practices are a matter of teachers’ pedagogy. Teachers and school boards decide how they’re going to do assessments in their schools and in their districts. That is not something that is driven by Inspiring Education or by provincial education policy whatsoever. It’s something for teachers in the classroom, working with their princi pals in their schools, working with their school districts and the parents. Mr.

McAllister: Well, Mr. Speaker, given that when this issue was front and centre in Battle River, the former superintendent said that he was just following the philosophy and the direction of Inspiring Education – in other words, the boards are making these changes because the province says that they have to – when are you going to start listening to parents and teachers, who know this isn’t good for our kids, and stop listening to your edubabbling educrats? Or do you just not care what parents and teachers think? Mr. Hancock: I think what I heard in there was about babbling because that’s what it was. Mr.

Speaker, how a superintendent might interpret the Inspiring Education report and use it to defend what he or she might be doing with respect to a school board: they have to be responsible for that. I can tell you from intimate knowledge of the Inspiring Education process that Inspiring Education was developed through a thorough consultation across this province with educators and with parents and with members of the community, not by educrats or whatever the hon. member wants to label them. By the way, he shouldn’t diminish . . . The Speaker: Thank you. Final supplemental. Mr. McAllister: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would give the Premier and his Education minister an F for their handling of the education file. Given that parents are overwhelmingly opposed to these report card changes and that across Alberta they are saying that eno ugh is enough, will you do what the Wildrose would do, Premier, and mandate that report cards in this province include a percentage or letter grade for students in junior high and high school, or will you continue to say one thing and do another, just as y ou have been since the last election? Mr. Hancock: Mr.

Speaker, it’s become increasingly apparent that there is no limit to the extent to which this hon. member and that hon. party will go to try and find the disaffected across the province and gather them into a group and try and build it into a strong enough group to get elected. It’s not going to work.

What they need to do is to look at education in an appropriate way in terms of all of the issues around education; have a positive public policy discussion, as we have had over the last five years in this province; come to appropriate conclusions for the future of our children and grandchildren; and make sure our teachers are well equipped to be in the classrooms with our students to make sure that they can maximize their passion and potential. The Speaker: Thank you. The hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar , followed by Innisfail-Sylvan Lake. Edmonton Sporting Event Hosting Capabilities Mr. Dorward: Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. I would like to talk about sport and wellness. The Saville Community Sports Centre, for - merly known as the GO Community Centre, was the recipient of a grant from the major community facilities enhancement program. This fiscally sustainable building, that today benefits thousands of children, youths, and adults, would not have been built without the grant. To the Minister of Culture: when will the government reinstate these grants so that project organizers can apply for assistance for large-scale projects all across our great province? The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Culture. Mrs.

Klimchuk: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. The major community facilities program was a great program, about $280 million, and it finished in 2009 -10. As a member of Treasury Board I constantly advocate for more funding for these projects as they continue to build Alberta. We know the value they have for building community and supporting community. In the meantime Budget 2014 has $66 million in grants that wi ll be available to the nonprofit voluntary sector and $38 million to the community facility enhancement program. But I will continue to advocate for another program of that magnitude. Mr.

Dorward: To the Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation: what can the province do to support municipalities in securing championship events at the high school, college, and professional levels as even I field questions from local, national, and indeed international sports organizations about the capacity of Edmonton and other places in the province to be sports host cities? The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation.

796 Alberta Hansard May 8, 2014 Dr. Starke: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank the member for his ongoing and persistent advocacy in this area. Alberta has a strong track record of hosting major events, going back to the 1978 Commonwealth Games and the ’88 Olympics in Calgary to the 2001 world track and field games, and we continue that legacy by providing municipalities and bid committees with strong suppor t whenever they have the option or the opportunity to host a major athletic event, whether it’s a small event or a World Cup event or an Olympic trial.

We have various numbers of programs to do this, and we’re one of the best host areas anywhere in the world for that sort of thing. The Speaker: Thank you. Mr. Dorward: I’m glad to hear about the Commonwealth Games because my third question is: what kind of support can the province offer the city of Edmonton during their bid process for the 2022 Commonwealth Games? Dr. Starke: Well, Mr.

Speaker, the Commonwealth Games that were hosted in 1978 in Edmonton were certainly a watershed event for the history of this city, and the opportunity to host once again in 2022 is one that the bid committee for the city of Edmonton is working very hard on. We are co-operating with that bid committee to put together as much information as possible to make it a successful bid.

As far as the actual support for the games themselves, this is the kind of initiative that was envisioned by my hon. colleague the Minister of Finance when we introduced Bill 1 and the Alberta future fund, something that can then provide support for these sorts of initiatives. The Speaker: Thank you. Care Facility Restrictions on Family Member Visits Mrs. Towle: Yesterday I asked this government why it refuses to intervene when family members have been unfairly banned from visiting loved ones in continuing care.

The Health minister said that he can’t intervene because the case of Shauna McHarg is before the courts. As the minister knows, the only issue before the courts is a simple request for documents through FOIP. When that process wraps up, the ban will still be in place. This is not about FOIP. This is about allowing Shauna to see her mom on Mother’s Day and her father on Father’s Day. To the Health minister: now that you formally control Alberta Health Services, will you step in immediately and ensure Shauna can see her parents? Mr. Horne: Mr.

Speaker, it may be that the hon. member thinks that she is i n a position to judge the circumstances of a particular case, and she may even believe that if she were in my position, it would be appropriate for her to intervene in an issue that is very specifically in the domain of patient care and management of risk in health care settings. I am not going to pretend to understand the circumstances of this particular case.

My responsibility, and I would think the hon. member should agree, is to make sure that the appropriate processes are in place to allow people to raise concerns, to allow them to appeal decisions with which they may not agree, including to the Ombudsman, and to have recourse to the courts . . . The Speaker: Thank you. 2:20 Mrs. Towle: Your appropriate processes have taken her three years.

Given that I asked the Associate Minister – Seniors about Shauna McHarg being banned from visiting her parents in continuing care and he said, “I’m not that familiar with this case . . . this is the first that I’ve heard of it” and given that I have copies of an e -mail, which I will table, that Shauna sent to her MLA in 2011 describing her ordeal and given that that MLA just so happens to be this very same Seniors minister, does any of this ring a bell, and will you now step in to help your former constituent battle t his three -year, great process that the current minister is asking for? Mr. Quest: Well, Mr.

Speaker, I think you’ll understand that an e- mail that was sent to my office three years ago may not be top of mind, so no, I’m not familiar with this particular ca se. I understand it is today before the courts, so I can’t comment too much further. But what I can tell you is that there are a number of avenues that can be taken for people that find themselves in a position where their visits are restricted. Those include Alberta Health Services patient relations and speaking with management at the particular facility.

What I can also tell you is that the protection of the staff and the residents in those is paramount. Mrs. Towle: The associate minister knows that this is not about safety, and you need to stop hiding behind the courts. Minister, are you really telling families with loved ones in continuing care that if they end up banned from a facility for speaking out and advocating for their loved one – not for safet y reasons; for advocating – this isn’t your concern and the only thing these families can do is get a lawyer? Do you really find that acceptable? Mr. Quest: Well, Mr.

Speaker, once again – I have said it a number of times now – I’m not familiar with this p articular case or all the ins and outs, and I wouldn’t pretend to be. I’m sure it’s rather complex. There have obviously been many discussions, and many different avenues have been explored, and decisions have been made that I certainly wouldn’t have the d etails on. Again, I am absolutely confident that there are appropriate processes in place, an appeal process and discussions that can happen, to ensure that people at least get the opportunity to visit. It may be somewhat restricted, and I think we have to understand why.

The Speaker: Thank you. The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre , followed by Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview. Environmental Hearing Participation Ms Blakeman: Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. With the passage of the responsible energy act, who was allowed to speak at oil sands development hearings changed radically to a definition that narrows it to only those “directly and adversely affected,” which, for all intents and purposes, means that no coalition, no First Nation, no NGO will ever be able to present to a hearing on any issue contrary to what the oil sands developer wants.

To the minister of environment: how is it democratic, fair, or ethical for a government to use its majority to legislate hearings structured so no environmental issues can or will be raised? The Speaker: The hon. minister responsible for the environment. Mr. Campbell: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me start off by saying that the member opposite’s

preamble was incorrect. All First Nations have a chance to be at any hearing . They have the ability through their treaty rights, and they have the ability through

May 8, 2014 Alberta Hansard 797 traditional land use if they are directly affected in any environmental hearings that are going on in this province. I can say to you that if you are directly affected, you’re allowed to attend those hearings. Those groups might not be able to attend as a coalition, but as individuals or individual organizations they might meet that criteria. Ms Blakeman: No, they don’t have standing. Back to – well, we’ll see who answer s.

Given that the last Energy minister stated that they were in the process of changing all that for people with different perspectives to bring their case forward and the current Energy minister said that she’s opened all the doors and the new regulator w ill be transparent and open so every voice can be heard, if intervenors don’t live across the road, they’re sunk.

To either minister that would like to answer: do you really think that the whole environment exists just in the property across the road from the development site, static, that the air doesn’t move, the rivers don’t flow, or emissions don’t seep through the soil? Mr. Campbell: Again, Mr. Speaker, I would suggest that we have a very good hearing process in the province of Alberta. I say to you that this government is committed to making sure that we look after the environment. The world’s eyes are on us.

As we continue to extract natural resources and look after our forest industry, we understand that we have to have a very good environmental assessment program in place, and I have full confidence in our quasi -judicial boards that they do a very good job looking after the environment for all Albertans. Ms Blakeman: With respect, that’s hooey. Back to the minister of the environment.

Given that in the Kirby expansion project proposed by CNRL nine parties wanted to be heard, including seven First Nations, an environmental coalition, and one individual, and not one of them was granted status, so no one was able to question or present concerns about the effect of this project on water, on wildlife, on climate change, on tailings ponds, on CO 2 emissions, nothing, how does the minister go to international conferences with a straight face knowing that anyone can look at this process and recognize it . . . The Speaker: Thank you. Mr. Campbell: Well, Mr.

Speaker, I can say with great confidence that Alberta has the strongest regulatory policies in place for the environment as we move forward. I have no problem talking, whether it’s in Canada or to internation al audiences. We have a very good record on the environment and will continue to have a very good record on the environment for all Albertans moving forward. The Speaker: Thank you. Education Funding Mr. Bilous: Mr. Speaker, once again this government has shown, this time through a task force of appointees and PC MLAs, that they don’t understand the complexities and challenges in today’s classrooms.

No teacher can be at their best in a class with 40 students or a class with diverse needs but little to no support. To the Premier: why won’t you admit what every parent, teacher, and child already knows, that class size and class makeup determines the quality of education we provide our children? Mr. Hancock: Mr. Spea ker, that would not conform with the research that’s been done across the world with respect to what actually makes excellence in education. Class size is important, and the demographic makeup of a classroom, including the abilities and skills of children in that classroom, is important.

But what really makes a difference is excellence in teaching. All of us who have been in a classroom know that an excellent teacher can handle a class of 40 students in the right circumstances, but in other circumstances a class of 10 students might not be appropriate. But excellence in teaching is always appropriate to the success of our students. Mr. Bilous: That’s baloney, Mr. Premier. Mr.

Speaker, given that this government was elected on a promise of predictable, sustainable funding for our schools, all the way from to kindergarten to grade 12, and given that after two budgets from this PC government our schools have been left to deal with freezes and cuts, which means fewer supports for students and bigger classes, wil l the Premier accept that to have excellent classrooms, you need to have excellent funding and that the first problem this government should address is the broken promises? Mr. Hancock: Mr.

Speaker, what this hon. member should know, having been in the Leg islature and having had the opportunity to peruse the budget, is that the per capita funding for students has not been cut. It is in fact there, and it’s demand driven. We fund every single student in this province. Those funds go to school boards, and the y have the ability to allocate those dollars to the classroom. We have good funding for students in this province and for the education system in this province. We have a strong education system. We have a strong curriculum, we’re going to make it stronger , and we have excellent teachers.

That’s why the world is coming to Alberta to see how we’re doing education. Mr. Bilous: And that’s why we have classes with 30-plus, 40-plus students. Mr. Speaker, given that teachers want to be supportive, inclusive leaders in the classroom and given that this government has cut the resources they need to play that role, will the Premier explain how suggesting that teachers need to improve without providing them the resources to do so can be seen as anything other than blaming them for this government’s failures? Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, we have not cut resources for students in the classroom.

In fact, we have maintained those resources, and school boards can allocate those resources appropriately to determine how many st udents need to be in classrooms and how much support they need around. The hon. member should realize from his question that it’s not just about the teacher in the classroom but also about the supports for the teacher in the school and for the students in the school that create a successful education system. Again we come back to excellence in teaching being foundational.

Excellence in teaching means ensuring that teachers get a good start in the profession, that they continue their professional development , and that they’re supported when they are in trouble. The Speaker: Thank you. The hon. Member for Medicine Hat, followed by Grande Prairie-Smoky.

798 Alberta Hansard May 8, 2014 University Executive Compensation Mr. Pedersen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Albertans were pleased to see the f ormer advanced education minister and now jobs minister undertake a review of postsecondary executive pay and perks. In many instances these packages are way out of line and well in excess of what public -sector employees should be paid by taxpayers, with some cases over $1 million. However, the Premier and current advanced education minister has cancelled that review.

Does the Premier disagree with the jobs minister and actually believe that taxpayers should be on the hook for these unrestrained and exorbit ant compensation packages for university executives? 2:30 Mr. Hancock: What I believe, Mr. Speaker, and what government policy is is that we actually ask members of the community to form boards, and we have board-governed institutions.

Those boards have a distinct responsibility with respect to how they hire their chief executive officer, how they get the talent they need to achieve the success that they believe is important for those institutions, how those institutions work together with Campus Alberta to get the best value for money. One of the most significant aspects of their role as board governor is to determine the appropriate level of compensation for the appropriate qualifications of the appropriate person that they want to hire. The Speaker: First supplemental. Mr. Pedersen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Given what we’ve seen transpire in the Premier’s office with regard to salaries, severances, and perks, Albertans have become justifiably concerned with how much money they pay to civil servants across the board. Does the Premier really believe that his department as a steward of Alberta taxpayers’ dollars has absolutely no role in ensuring that compensation for executives is kept at reasonable levels? Mr. Hancock: A bit rich, Mr.

Speaker, coming from a party who was just a few weeks ago saying that we should be settling th ings with AUPE and that we should never legislate, we should pay extra, we should be doing everything, and then they come back and say: no; you should actually tell everybody. In fact, I heard even today somebody hollering from across the way about centralization, yet they want everything centralized in government. We have community members on boards making appropriate decisions with respect to how to allocate the resources within the institution.

Yes, we’re concerned about how that works across the spectru m, and we have those discussions, but we don’t interfere with their decisions. Mr. Pedersen: Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, this Premier is not setting the gold standard.

Given that the government loves to say that it needs to dole out these perks to attract top-level talent but given that the president of the Banff Centre, whose expense report includes Hilton hotel stays and $40 dollar steaks, abruptly left his post last month in spite of these rich compensation packages, how can the Premier honestly justify that these very generous salaries and perks are necessary to attract and retain the top talent? Mr. Hancock: The answer is in his question, Mr. Speaker.

While he goes on slagging people about their expenses without giving any particular context or any way for anybody to assert where he’s coming from with respect to that, he then goes on to indicate that we’ve lost a top -notch educator, who is moving back to be with his family in Toronto, who is going away for other reasons. I don’t know. Maybe if we paid him more, he’d have stayed. I don’t know.

But the fact of the matter is that to get top talent, you have to look through the world, you have to determine what your goals and aspirations are, and then you have a board who determines and negotiates with that talent the compensation that they need to have to be . . . The Speaker: Thank you. The hon. Member for Grande Prairie-Smoky , followed by Strathmore-Brooks. All-terrain Vehicles Mr. McDonald: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Trespassing by ATVs and side -by-sides continues to be a tremendous problem in my constituency of Grande Prairie-Smoky not only for the property damage but also for the safety and the trespassing rights that we have as landowners. M y question is to the Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation. What is your department doing to add more trails in the systems in Alberta to prevent some of this damage? The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation. Dr. Starke: Well, th ank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’d like to thank the hon. member for this important question because it highlights two aspects of my portfolio, one being Active Alberta and the active recreation that trails provide as well as the tourism strategy, in which this is an important component. We’re working very actively in collaboration with ESRD, with the various stakeholder groups, both motorized and nonmotorized, who are interested in trail development and trail maintenance.

We have a system of trails in the province already that we’re seeking to maintain and develop a better status of, and, of course, these groups are also interested in providing new trails to users. This is important work. It is ongoing and something that we’re endeavouring to expand in consultation with these various groups. Mr. McDonald: Okay. Well, thank you, Mr. Minister. Will you be doing anything to educate these riders as to where they can ride these units? Dr. Starke: Well, Mr.

Speaker, in point of fact, we are, and for a number of years along with the departments of Education, Justice and Solicitor General, and ESRD we have worked with the Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association to provide the ride with respect program. That program not only teaches safe operation of off-highway vehicles but, indeed, also safety equipment that’s required and also stresses very much getting proper permissions for private land use and also the appropriate use when ATVs are being used on Crown lands, which, in fact, is the majority of it.

So we’re already involved in a program that is doing the kind of education this member is asking about. The Speaker: Thank you. Supplemental. Mr. McDonald: Yeah. Thank you, hon. minister. My final supplemental is to the Minister of Service Alberta. Will your department be adding any levies to the ATV licences to help compensate for some of these damages resulting from ATVs? The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Service Alberta.

May 8, 2014 Alberta Hansard 799 Mr. Griffiths: Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Alberta’s Traffic Safety Act states fairly clearly that off -highway vehicles aren’t allowed on private property without the owner’s permission, and most ATV owners across the province are incredibly respectful. Righ t now the fee for a licence is $45. I don’t think we’re contemplating at all – in fact, I assure you we’re not contemplating at all adding on any extra tax, that everyone would have to pay, to compensate for a very small group of people who disrespect the rules.

We’ll continue to support the minister to my right on education programs to prevent that damage. The Speaker: Thank you. The hon. Member for Strathmore -Brooks, followed by Edmonton-Manning. Freehold Mineral Rights Legislation Consultation Mr. Hale: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This weekend I had the privilege of attending the Freehold Owners Association’s AGM. This is a group which represents over 30,000 individuals. For the past 15 years this association has unsuccessfully been trying to work with the government to make meaningful changes to the legislation to protect the rights of the individuals.

Now we find out that no one from the association was contacted for input on the changes to the Freehold Mineral Rights Tax Act, which directly affects their stakeholders. Can the minister explain why this group wasn’t consulted with? The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Energy. Mrs. McQueen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly, if the member is talking about the piece of legislation in the bill that we had passed y esterday, I personally spoke with the freeholders’ association myself, not only just on the phone but also in my office just a week ago.

If there’s something that the member is hearing differently, I’d love to sit down and talk to him. I made the point of not only my staff talking to them but me personally doing that because I fully respect the freeholders’ association. The Speaker: Thank you. First supplemental. Mr. Hale: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Given that I have communications from the president of the association and another board member stating that they only heard of the changes after I contacted them and given this government’s claim to have consulted with stakeholders on this matter and others, to the Minister of Energy: just whom did you consu lt with in that association? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mrs. McQueen: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I consulted with the president and with Else, and there was another person there with us as well. I made sure, personally, that my staff talked to them and that they were okay.

I also personally made sure that I met with them before they had their meeting so that before the legislation was here in the House, from talking to me personally they knew about it and they were okay with it. They confirmed to me in my office that, yes, indeed, they were. Mr. Hale: They have told me, Mr. Speaker, that they knew nothing of the mineral tax changes that were coming.

Given the government’s recent string of apologies, resignations, and other embarrassing gaffes and that this government has still been pushing ahead with their agenda, will the minister once again take the Wildrose’s advice and apologize to the key stakeholders they have ignored and come back to the table to make real, meaningful changes to the Freehold M ineral Rights Tax Act working with the freehold association? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mrs. McQueen: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I will continue to do what I have been doing, having my staff work with them, and then when my staff does that, I personally follow up with them. I fully support the freeholders. They do great work in our province. I will always talk to them myself when we have changes to the legislation because I have respect for them. If that member is hearing something differently, I can’t help what he’s hearing. Maybe he’s hearing wrong. I personally have talked with them myself in my office. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton- Manning, fol - lowed by Innisfail-Sylvan Lake.

Mental Health Service Procurement for Adults Mr. Sandhu: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Tuesday I gave a member’s statement outlining concerns that I and my constituents in Edmonton-Manning have regarding our mental health care system. In particular, parents or guardians of adult children with mental health issues are restricted from seeking help for them. Regardless of the adult children’s state of mind they are required to come forward and ask for help themselves. My question is to the Minister of Health.

Are there policies in place or being considered to assist g uardians seeking treatment for their adult children with mental health issues? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Horne: Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I thank the hon. member for the question and his significant contribution to Mental Health Wee k in Alberta by virtue of this question and his member’s statement earlier this week. Indeed, mental health issues can be very difficult for families and guardians, and I appreciate that all Albertans want to know how they can best help someone in need, pa rticularly a family member.

The Mental Health Act contains options for a parent or guardian to work through the legal system to request that a person be taken to a mental health facility to have their mental health status examined by physicians. In most cases this is a straightforward process, but in some cases . . . 2:40 The Speaker: Thank you. Mr. Sandhu: To the same minister: what you are saying is not enough. The legal process is very lengthy and complicated. Patients give up before they get the help that they need. What steps are you taking now to change the process? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr.

Horne: Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The situations that we hear about in our day -to-day work as MLAs can be heart -wrenching, but of course we have to achieve a balance between observing the rights of the individuals in question, who may be suffering from mental illness, and our desire, our heartfelt desire, to provide help when they need it and reach out to them at the earliest opportunity. Our government and our health care partners are committed to suicide prevention, prevention efforts,

800 Alberta Hansard May 8, 2014 and other programs, as the hon. member will know. The introduction of community treatment orders a few years ago . . . The Speaker: Thank you. Mr. Sandhu: Again to the same minister: is there a way to make the process less complicated so that Albertans have easier access to help? Mr. Horne: Well, Mr. Speaker, we’re always looking for ways to make the process easier. The hon. member’s question, of course, refers to a situation wherein family members or parents or guard - ians are so concerned that they actually have to seek help, quite often in a very difficult situation.

The more important issue, in my view, is what we are doing to prevent mental illness, how we are using the resources that we have to get them to people when they need them and when they are receptive to receiving the help. The Speaker: Thank you, hon. members. The time for Oral Question Period has expired. head: Members’ Statements (continued) The Speaker: You have two minutes each. Let’s start with Edmonton-Decore, followed by Edmonton -Meadowlark. Oh, I’m sorry. They have already gone. My apologies. It’s Grande Prairie- Smoky, followed by Edmonton-McClung. Thank you. Great Kids Awards 2014 Mr.

McDonald: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Whenever we think of leaders, we often think of adults. However, we must also think of Alberta’s youth. Each year thousands of children and youth do great things at home, at school, and in their communities, and they deserve to be recognized for their exceptional achievements. That’s why today I’m pleased to celebrate the Great Kids awards and all the young leaders across Alberta. For the 14th year the province recently presented the Great Kids awards to 16 children and youth for their outstanding determination, generosity, and compassion.

While these award winners are between the ages of five and 18, they all lead by example through their selflessness, kindness, and courage. One example, Mr. Speaker, is an award winner from my constituency of Grande Prairie-Smoky, 16 -year-old April Wyant. April is an optimistic, self -motivated young lady. She has had a childhood full of challenges and eventually was living on the streets. One day April decided to change her life, and she stopped using drugs and alcohol and enrolled back in school.

Since then she has been an honour student every year and has earned several academic awards and is known as a leader in her classroom. I’m very proud of her for overcoming the odds and making a better life for herself. As a government we support the success of these and all Alberta’s youths. The Great Kids award is one way that we are investing in families and communities to build Alberta, but the youth themselves are the real winners in the future of this province. Mr. Speaker, today I encourage everyone to join our government in celebrating the award winners and nominees of the Great Kids awards.

The Speaker: Thank you. The hon. Member for Edmonton-McClung, followed by Medicine Hat. National Day of Honour Mr. Xiao: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This Friday, May 9, has been designated as the National Day of Honour in recognition and commemoration of Canada’s military mission in Afghanistan.

Like all Canadians, Albertans saw our men and women of the armed forces go off to Afghanistan 12 years ago with a mixture of pride and sadness, pride because Canada was joining an international effort to address a threat to our nation and to our closest allies, sadness because we knew that military operations cannot happen without lives being affected. At the very least it meant upheaval for military families, that there would be many households missing a family member for a period of months if not years.

Even then, no matter how optimistic we might have been, we realized the likelihood t hat some brave Canadians would not be coming home at all, that Canada, too, would have to pay the age-old price of war. Twelve years later we are humbled by the efforts of our troops to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan. War teaches no easy lessons, Mr. Speaker. We are eternally grateful to the men and women who have endured those difficult truths. A thank you hardly seems enough.

But we have to accept that for those Canadian individuals and families who have lived through their portion of the conflicts, a thank you must be the starting point. Mr. Speaker, this past March, at the conclusion of Canada’s mission in Afghanistan, we announced free admission for Canada’s military personnel and their families to Alberta’s provincial museums, historic site s, and interpretive centres. All they need to do is to show their CFOne card to enjoy free, unlimited regular admission from now on. It’s a small gesture, one that we hope will convey our thanks to . . . The Speaker: Thank you, hon. member.

I’m so sorry to interrupt. Your time has expired. I realize how sensitive the topic is, but I’m bound to enforce the rules. Let’s go on with Medicine Hat, please. Innovation in Alberta Mr. Pedersen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We know that Albertans have an entrepreneurial spirit, and the best and the brightest people in the world call Alberta home. We don’t let anything stand in the way, not even government. This isn’t only in research and business but also in the arts, nonprofits, and people in general. Albertans have developed SAGD for oil sands development.

There is work going on in nanotechnology, and we’ve seen success stories in health, with Cold -fX coming from Alberta, and in rural development, wi th the rural Alberta development fund. While there are many good projects that have had government involvement, there are many more achievements that are just the simple result of grit and determination, entrepreneurship, and sometimes even just a little l uck. They have had nothing to do with government. This is what makes the PC government’s approach to innovation so troubling. They think that government has the answers.

They think that centralization is the way to go. They think that appointing a committ ee is going to solve all their problems. Then they appoint another committee and then a task force and then a panel, and then they write a report, and then there’s a cabinet shuffle, and the whole thing starts all over again. This is not to say that every thing is awful. Congratulations on the new economic dashboard are deserved, and there has been a positive reception from innovators and the business community.

May 8, 2014 Alberta Hansard 801 But there was troubling news a couple of weeks ago when the Premier admitted that his advisory panel never met, not once. We don’t need to have more government, but we need to have accountability. We have to trust Albertans, and we have to believe in them. One thing to keep in mind with the success stories of today is that they are not because of go vernment. The truth is that despite government sticking their hands into everything, Albertans are still succeeding.

It’s time for this PC government to take a step back, get their house in order, and allow Alberta entrepreneurs and innovators to succeed. We know that they can, and we know that they will. The sky isn’t falling, but you would have to be foolish to think that we can’t do better with the more than $8 million invested yearly. Sometimes we can do better by having government do less. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Foothills. Animal Protection Legislation Mr. Webber: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is with regret that I rise today to give the last member’s statement of this session.

The Premier decided that he doesn’ t want to deal with the necessary laws and regulations that govern Alberta. No surprise here. We have seen the current government killing Albertans’ access to governance for a while now. As I walk out of the opposition lounge, there’s a photo hanging on t he wall, dated 1912. The photo shows hon. members doing something that rarely happens nowadays. They are debating. They are together in a Chamber discussing the future of Alberta. Those individuals worked hard governing, not balancing media and backtracking on comments and promises.

One such lost piece of legislation was my Bill 205, the Animal Protection (Prevention of Animal Distress and Neglect) Amendment Act, 2014. I am fully aware that my current status as an independent member is the reason that this bill never saw a second reading. I also know that the Minister of Justice and Sol Gen has commented on it extensively.

I know that my bill will be killed and is going to be killed and another government bill bearing a remarkable similarity will be introduced soon. 2:50 Despite the fact that I was made an MLA by my constituents, the government doesn’t think I’m one of the cool guys anymore and has ensured that I cannot pass a bill which, if passed in the last couple of days, would have been effective in punishing the offender that caused me to draft the bill to begin with. He was very recently caught, but because of the political ridiculousness of the last year or so offenders such as this fellow will get a slap on the wrist.

Closing down session effectivel y kills the voices of thousands of Albertans. I’m willing to bet that they are tired of this treatment. This is what makes me a very sad man. head: Presenting Petitions The Speaker: The hon. Member for Bonnyville-Cold Lake. Mrs. Leskiw: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I have three petitions to present on behalf of the Member for Calgary -Currie, with over 1,500 signatures, that encourage the Parliament of Canada not to pass legislation that would legalize prostitution. The Speaker: Thank you. head: Tabling Returns and Reports The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Edmonton-Centre on behalf of. Ms Blakeman: I have two sets on behalf of my colleague the Member for Edmonton-Meadowlark and leader of the Liberal opposition. I have the appropriate number of copies of a PowerPoint presentation that was made to the PC caucus which talks about collecting data, sending out surveys, always uploading information of the people to the database, and then later on it talks about using that same database as your best get -out-the-vote resource. Yup, pretty interesting stuff. May I continue with my own tablings? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I think I have three or maybe four. The first one is backing up my quotes from the previous Energy minister that were given during my question, suggesting that people with different perspectives would be allowed to bring their case forward to the hearings for new oil and gas developments. The second is a copy of a letter that went back to the Oilsands Environmental Coalition which lists five different criteria that they would have to meet in order to be allowed into the hearing, which, frankly, is very difficult to meet unless you live across the road.

My fina l tabling is a copy of the Alberta Energy Regulator rejection which lists the statements of concerns that were filed – and I’m glad that the minister of environment is still here – by Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation, Chard Métis Society and Chard Métis Dene, Whitefish (Goodfish) Lake First Nation, Beaver Lake Cree Nation, Kehewin Cree Nation, Cold Lake First Nations, and Fort McMurray First Nation, all of which were denied the ability to speak at the hearing. Thank you. The Speaker: Thank you. Let’s move on to Innisfail-Sylvan Lake. Mrs. Towle: Thank you.

I have in my hand a tabling that I’ll put to the Legislature today from Shauna McHarg, dated April 26, 2011, where she is e -mailing the hon. Member for Strathcona - Sherwood Park. She goes through in ve ry in-depth detail exactly what her concerns are with regard to the banning, talks about the process, the ombudsman, and all of the processes she’s been through. She even talks about the multitude of Health ministers that she went through, including when y ou were Health minister, Mr.

Speaker, and the ongoing process and the ongoing fight of over four years to resolve the banning situation. head: Tablings to the Clerk The Clerk: I wish to advise the House that the following documents were deposited with the office of the Clerk: on behalf of the hon. Mr. Lukaszuk, Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour, a letter dated May 7, 2014, from Robert Blakeman, business manager, International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Wor kers local 720, to hon. Mr.

Lukaszuk, Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour, regarding the Sims report; a letter dated May 6, 2014, from John Desrosiers, business manager, Construction and General Workers’ Union local 92, to hon. Mr. Lukaszuk, Mini ster of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour, regarding the Sims report; a letter dated May 5, 2014, from Ian Robb, president/administrator of Unite Here local 47, president of Northern Alberta Building Trades Council, chair of Building Trades of Alberta camp committee, to hon. Mr. Lukaszuk, Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour, regard-

802 Alberta Hansard May 8, 2014 ing the Sims report; a letter dated May 6, 2014, from Wade Logan, business manager, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers local 110, to hon. Mr. Lukaszuk, Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour, regarding the Sims report; a letter dated May 6, 2014, from Bruce Moffatt, business manager and CEO, International Union of Operating Engineers locals 955, 955B, and 955C, to hon. Mr.

Lukaszuk, Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour, regarding the Sims report; a letter dated May 6, 2014, from Brett McKenzie, executive direc- tor, General Presidents’ Maintenance Committee for Canada, to hon. Mr. Lukaszuk, Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour, regarding the process concerning the Alberta construction labour legislation review; and a letter dated May 6, 2014, from John Tackaberry, business manager, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades local 177, to hon. Mr. Lukaszuk, Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour, regarding the Sims report. The Speaker: Thank you.

Hon. members, there was a point of order raised by Airdrie just before 2 o’clock, but the hon. Member for Airdrie has since withdrawn that point of order. So we have none to deal with. Mr. Campbell: Well, Mr. Speaker, it’s my privilege to advise the House that the government business for the spring sitting has now been completed. Therefore, pursuant to Government Motion 9 the Assembly stands adjourned. The Speaker: Government Motion 9 simply says that we’re going to be adjourned until October 27 of 2014, so that is so ordered. We are done.

Congratulations. [The Assembly adjourned at 2: 57 p.m. pursuant to Government Motion 9]

Activity to May 08, 2014 The Bill sponsor's name is in brackets following the Bill title. If it is a money Bill, ($) will appear between the title and the sponsor's name. Numbers following each Reading refer to Hansard pages where the text of debates is found; dates for each Reading are in brackets following the page numbers. Bills numbered 1 to 199 are Government Bills. Bills numbered 200 or higher are Private Members' Public Bills.

Bills numbered with a "Pr" prefix are Private Bills. *An asterisk beside a Bill number indicates an amendment was passed to that Bill; the Committee line shows the precise date of the amendment. The date a Bill comes into force is indicated in square brackets after the date of Royal Assent. If a Bill comes into force "on proclamation," "with exceptions," or "on various dates," please contact Legislative Counsel, Alberta Justice, for details at (780) 427-2217. The

chapter number assigned to the Bill is entered immediately following the date the Bill comes into force. SA indicates Statutes of Alberta; this is followed by the year in which it is included in the statutes, and its

chapter number. Please note, Private Bills are not assigned

chapter numbers until the conclusion of the Fall Sittings. Bill Status Re port for the 28th Legislature - 2nd Session

(2014) Savings Management Act ($) (Redford)1 First Reading -- 4 (Mar. 3, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 47-50 (Mar. 4, 2014 eve.), 84-85 (Mar. 5, 2014 aft.), 146-54 (Mar. 10, 2014 eve., passed) Committee of the Whole -- 184-87 (Mar. 11, 2014 aft., passed) Third Reading -- 217-18 (Mar. 12, 2014 aft.), 226-28 (Mar. 12, 2014 aft.), 231-34 (Mar. 12, 2014 eve., passed) Royal Assent -- (Mar. 13, 2014 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force April 1, 2014; SA 2014 cS-2.5] Appropriation (Supplementary Supply) Act, 2014 ($) (Horner)2 First Reading -- 84 (Mar. 5, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 143 (Mar. 10, 2014 eve.), 154-56 (Mar. 10, 2014 eve., passed) Committee of the Whole -- 187-88 (Mar. 11, 2014 aft., passed) Third Reading -- 218 (Mar. 12, 2014 aft.), 234 (Mar. 12, 2014 eve., passed) Royal Assent -- (Mar. 13, 2014 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force March 13, 2014; SA 2014 c2] Securities Amendment Act, 2014 (Horner)3 First Reading -- 62 (Mar. 5, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 143-45 (Mar. 10, 2014 eve., passed) Committee of the Whole -- 187 (Mar. 11, 2014 aft., passed) Third Reading -- 218 (Mar. 12, 2014 aft.), 234 (Mar. 12, 2014 eve., passed) Royal Assent -- (Mar. 13, 2014 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force on proclamation; SA 2014 c3] Estate Administration Act (Kubinec)4 First Reading -- 62-63 (Mar. 5, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 145-46 (Mar. 10, 2014 eve.), 184 (Mar. 11, 2014 aft.), 191-93 (Mar. 11, 2014 eve., passed) Committee of the Whole -- 229 (Mar. 12, 2014 aft., passed) Third Reading -- 250 (Mar. 13, 2014 aft.), 330 (Mar. 20, 2014 aft., passed) Royal Assent -- (Apr. 24, 2014 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force on proclamation; SA 2014 cE-12.5] Appropriation (Interim Supply) Act, 2014 ($) (Horner)5 First Reading -- 119 (Mar. 10, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 174 (Mar. 11, 2014 aft.), 188-90 (Mar. 11, 2014 aft., passed) Committee of the Whole -- 218-20 (Mar. 12, 2014 aft.), 228-29 (Mar. 12, 2014 aft., passed) Third Reading -- 230 (Mar. 12, 2014 aft., passed) Royal Assent -- (Mar. 13, 2014 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force March 13, 2014; SA 2014 c1] New Home Buyer Protection Amendment Act, 2014 (Minister of Municipal Affairs)6 First Reading -- 300 (Mar. 18, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 330-31 (Mar. 20, 2014 aft.), 417-21 (Apr. 10, 2014 aft., passed) Committee of the Whole -- 493-503 (Apr. 16, 2014 aft., passed) Third Reading -- 522-23 (Apr. 17, 2014 aft.), 657 (Apr. 23, 2014 eve., passed) Royal Assent -- (Apr. 24, 2014 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force on proclamation; SA 2014 c5]

Tax Statutes Amendment Act, 2014 ($) (Horner)7 First Reading -- 417 (Apr. 10, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 488-93 (Apr. 16, 2014 aft., passed) Committee of the Whole -- 503-4 (Apr. 16, 2014 aft., passed) Third Reading -- 523 (Apr. 17, 2014 aft.), 657 (Apr. 23, 2014 eve., passed) Royal Assent -- (Apr. 24, 2014 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force on various dates; SA 2014 c6] Appropriation Act, 2014 ($) (Horner)8 First Reading -- 488 (Apr. 16, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 519-20 (Apr. 17, 2014 aft.), 523-27 (Apr. 17, 2014 aft., passed) Committee of the Whole -- 559-62 (Apr. 22, 2014 aft.), 563-80 (Apr. 22, 2014 eve., passed) Third Reading -- 610-23 (Apr. 23, 2014 aft.), 633-38 (Apr. 23, 2014 eve., passed on division) Royal Assent -- (Apr. 24, 2014 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force April 24, 2014; SA 2014 c4] Public Sector Pension Plans Amendment Act, 2014 (Horner)9 First Reading -- 484 (Apr. 16, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 520-21 (Apr. 17, 2014 aft.), 544-59 (Apr. 22, 2014 aft.), 625-31 (Apr. 23, 2014 aft.), 638-57 (Apr. 23, 2014 eve.), 711-17 (May 5, 2014 eve., passed), 717-18 (May 5, 2014 eve., referred to Standing Committee on Alberta's Economic Future) Employment Pension (Private Sector) Plans Amendment Act, 2014 (Horner)10 First Reading -- 484-85 (Apr. 16, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 522 (Apr. 17, 2014 aft.), 559 (Apr. 22, 2014 aft.), 580-96 (Apr. 22, 2014 eve., passed on division), (May 5, 2014 eve., referred to Standing Committee on Alberta's Economic Future) Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Amendment Act, 2014 (Bhullar)11* First Reading -- 541 (Apr. 22, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 623-25 (Apr. 23, 2014 aft.), 673-79 (Apr. 24, 2014 aft.), 718-20 (May 5, 2014 eve.), 737-40 (May 6, 2014 aft., passed) Committee of the Whole -- 745-55 (May 6, 2014 aft.), 757-58 (May 6, 2014 eve.), 779-82 (May 7, 2014 aft., passed) Third Reading -- 787 (May 7, 2014 aft., passed) Statutes Amendment Act, 2014 (Campbell)12 First Reading -- 693 (May 5, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 735-37 (May 6, 2014 aft.), 740-45 (May 6, 2014 aft., passed) Committee of the Whole -- 758 (May 6, 2014 eve., passed) Third Reading -- 759 (May 6, 2014 eve.), 782-87 (May 7, 2014 aft., passed) Condominium Property Amendment Act, 2014 (Olesen)13 First Reading -- (May 6, 2014 aft., passed) Agricultural Pests (Fusarium Head Blight) Amendment Act, 2014 (Kubinec)201 First Reading -- 63 (Mar. 5, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 123-34 (Mar. 10, 2014 aft., referred to Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship) Independent Budget Officer Act (Forsyth)202 First Reading -- 63 (Mar. 5, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 264-79 (Mar. 17, 2014 aft., defeated on division) Childhood Vision Assessment Act (Jablonski)203 First Reading -- 249 (Mar. 13, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 352-61 (Apr. 7, 2014 aft.), 444-50 (Apr. 14, 2014 aft., passed) Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (MLA Public Interest Fee Waiver) Amendment Act, 2014 (Barnes) 204 First Reading -- 263-64 (Mar. 17, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 450-52 (Apr. 14, 2014 aft.), 694-707 (May 5, 2014 aft., defeated on division) Animal Protection (Prevention of Animal Distress and Neglect) Amendment Act, 2014 (Webber)205 First Reading -- 417 (Apr. 10, 2014 aft., passed)

Rosebud School of the Arts Amendment Act, 2014 (Hale)Pr1 First Reading -- 609 (Apr. 23, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 737 (May 6, 2014 aft., passed) Committee of the Whole -- 758 (May 6, 2014 eve., passed) Third Reading -- 758 (May 6, 2014 eve., passed) Maskwachees Cultural College Amendment Act, 2014 (Calahasen)Pr2 First Reading -- 609 (Apr. 23, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 737 (May 6, 2014 aft., passed) Committee of the Whole -- 758 (May 6, 2014 eve., passed) Third Reading -- 758-59 (May 6, 2014 eve., passed)

Table of Contents Prayers ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 789 Introduction of Guests ................................................................................................................................................................................ 789 Members’ Statements Glengarry School 50th Anniversary and Grand Opening of Hassan Seifeddine Literacy Learning Centre ........................................... 791 Government Policies ............................................................................................................................................................................. 791 Great Kids Awards 2014 ....................................................................................................................................................................... 800 National Day of Honour ........................................................................................................................................................................ 800 Innovation in Alberta ............................................................................................................................................................................. 800 Animal Protection Legislation ............................................................................................................................................................... 801 Oral Question Period Federal Funding Programs ..................................................................................................................................................................... 792 Federal Building Redevelopment Project Management......................................................................................................... 792, 793, 794 Premier’s Term of Office ...................................................................................................................................................................... 793 Personal Information Collection by Members ....................................................................................................................................... 793 Union Dues Regulation ......................................................................................................................................................................... 794 Student Assessment ............................................................................................................................................................................... 795 Edmonton Sporting Event Hosting Capabilities .................................................................................................................................... 795 Care Facility Restrictions on Family Member Visits ............................................................................................................................. 796 Environmental Hearing Participation .................................................................................................................................................... 796 Education Funding................................................................................................................................................................................. 797 University Executive Compensation ..................................................................................................................................................... 798 All-terrain Vehicles ............................................................................................................................................................................... 798 Freehold Mineral Rights Legislation Consultation ................................................................................................................................ 799 Mental Health Service Procurement for Adults ..................................................................................................................................... 799 Presenting Petitions .................................................................................................................................................................................... 801 Tabling Returns and Reports ...................................................................................................................................................................... 801 Tablings to the Clerk .................................................................................................................................................................................. 801

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Document details

Collection	Alberta — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20140508
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	L28 S2 20140508 1330 01 han.pdf
Language	en
Format	json
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	4dc455c014fdd3563f9a301efcb5d6eaa66869b5

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