Manitoba Hansard — Sitting 25 (42nd Legislature, 5th Session)

42-5-25

Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

Fifth Session – Forty-Second Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Myrna Driedger Speaker Vol. LXXVII No. 25 - 1:30 p.m., Thursday, March 9, 2023 ISSN 0542-5492

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

Fort Richmond PC HELWER, Reg Brandon West PC ISLEIFSON, Len Brandon East PC JOHNSON, Derek, Hon. Interlake-Gimli PC JOHNSTON, Scott, Hon. Assiniboia PC KHAN, Obby, Hon. Fort Whyte PC KINEW, Wab Fort Rouge NDP KLEIN, Kevin E., Hon. Kirkfield Park PC LAGASSÉ, Bob Dawson Trail PC LAGIMODIERE, Alan Selkirk PC LAMONT, Dougald St. Boniface Lib. LAMOUREUX, Cindy Tyndall Park Lib. LATHLIN, Amanda The Pas-Kameesak NDP LINDSEY, Tom Flin Flon NDP MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Malaya Notre Dame NDP MARTIN, Shannon McPhillips PC MICHALESKI, Brad Dauphin PC MICKLEFIELD, Andrew Rossmere PC MORLEY-LECOMTE, Janice, Hon.

Seine River PC MOSES, Jamie St. Vital NDP NAYLOR, Lisa Wolseley NDP NESBITT, Greg, Hon. Riding Mountain PC PEDERSEN, Blaine Midland PC PIWNIUK, Doyle, Hon. Turtle Mountain PC REDHEAD, Eric Thompson NDP REYES, Jon, Hon. Waverley PC SALA, Adrien St. James NDP SANDHU, Mintu The Maples NDP SCHULER, Ron Springfield-Ritchot PC SMITH, Andrew, Hon. Lagimodière PC SMITH, Bernadette Point Douglas NDP SMOOK, Dennis La Vérendrye PC SQUIRES, Rochelle, Hon. Riel PC STEFANSON, Heather, Hon. Tuxedo PC TEITSMA, James, Hon. Radisson PC WASYLIW, Mark Fort Garry NDP WHARTON, Jeff, Hon.

Red River North PC WIEBE, Matt Concordia NDP WISHART, Ian Portage la Prairie PC WOWCHUK, Rick Swan River PC Vacant Morden-Winkler

663 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Thursday, March 9, 2023 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Madam Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, from Whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to the welfare and prosperi ty of our province. Grant, O merciful God, we pray Thee, that we may desire only that which is in accordance with Thy will, that we may seek it with wisdom and know it with certainty and accomplish it perfectly for the glory and honour of Thy name and for the welfare of all our people.

We acknowledge we are gathered on Treaty 1 territory and that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Anishininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Denesuline and Nehethowuk nations. We acknowle dge Manitoba is located on the Homeland of the Red River Métis. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. We respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to worki ng in partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration.

Good afternoon, everybody. Please be seated. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Bill 24–The Wildfires Amendment Act Hon. Greg Nesbitt (Minister of Natural Resources and Northern Development): I move, seconded by the Minister of Environment and Climate (MLA Klein), that Bill 24, The Wildfires Amendment Act, be now read a first time. Motion presented. Mr. Nesbitt: Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to introduce The Wildfires Amendment Act. The purpose of this bill is to enhance public safety by strengthening measures to mitigate human -caused wildfire risks.

The bill strengthens the enforceability of fire - safety requirements and compliance tools, clarifies the officer powers to inspect and investi gate wildfire causes and standardizes fire -safety requirements for all industries and individuals within a new regulation. Amendments will also increase maximum penal- ties that have not been updated since 1998 to align with other prov incial juris dictions. These amend- ments are im portant for fire pre vention and public safety–that help reduce the threat of human -caused wildfires.

Therefore, on behalf of my de partment, it is my honour to introduce Bill 24, The Wildfires Amendment Act. Thank you. Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? Agreed? [Agreed] Bill 23–The Vulnerable Persons Living with a Mental Disability Amendment Act Hon. Roche lle Squires (Minister of Families): I move, seconded by the Minister of Munici pal Relations (Mr. Smith), that Bill 23, The Vulnerable Persons Living with a Mental Disability Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les personnes vulnérables ayant une déf icience mental e, be now read a first time. Motion presented. Ms. Squires: Bill 23 amends The Vulnerable Persons Living with a Mental Disability Act to address several recommendations made by the vul nerable persons task force. These proposed amend ments will make changes in three key areas. First, Bill 23 will update terminology and the principles of the act to reflect the current legal landscape and increase integration of Manitoba law with international standards.

Second, Bill 23 uses more inclusive and modern language when addressing individuals with intel - lectual disabilities, including renaming the legislation to reflect that new language. Third, Bill 23 provides a new approach to our protection mandate by aligning the act with best practices in other juris dictions and reducing the threshold in which abuse and neglect can be sub- stantiated. Finally, Bill 23 amends the act to involve victims and their support persons in the abuse investi gation process, ensuring that adults living with intellectual disabilities have access to case infor mation and are

664 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 9, 2023 notified of those findings and protective actions to be taken. I'm pleased to present this bill to the House for consideration and I'd like to thank the vul nerable persons task force for the work that they've done, some of whom are in the gallery here today. Thank you for your work. Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? Agreed? [Agreed] Further first readings of bills? Bill 30–The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Amendment and Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation Amendment Act

(2) Hon. Andrew Smith (Minister responsible for the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation): I move, seconded by the Minister for Families, that Bill 30, the liquor, gaming and cannabis control amendment and Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation amendment act, be now read a first time. Madam Speaker: It has been moved by the honour - able Minister of Municipal Relations (Mr. Smith), seconded by the honour able Minister for Families, that Bill 30, The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Amendment and Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation Amendment Act (2), be now read a first time. Mr.

Smith: This bill amends The Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Cor poration Act and Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act in order to create the legis- lative ability for government to initiate a pilot project for the retail of liquor following public engagement. The proposed legis lation enables Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries to remain nimble in the rapidly changing retail landscape by creating the ability–on a limited, pilot-project basis–to offer products in select areas where consumers are looking for and would welcome choice.

This legislation enables pilot proj - ects to be authorized for up to five years under condi- tions set by the provincial gov ernment after a mandatory public consultation period. Madam Speaker, this initiative is another step toward our government's priority to grow the economy while providing more responsible choices and a dded convenience for all Manitobans. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? Agreed? [Agreed] Committee reports? Tabling of reports?

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Madam Speaker: The honourable Minister for Sport, Culture and Heritage –and I would indicate that the required 90 minutes' notice prior to routine pro- ceedings was provided in accordance with rule 27(2). Would the honourable minister please proceed with his statement. Canada Winter Games–Team Manitoba Hon. Obby Khan (Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage): Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate Team Toba and their achievements at the Canada Winter Games. As you can see, I am proudly supporting Team Toba colours today.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for allowing me to wear this jacket in the Chamber. I do also want to point out that Team Manitoba did win best team uniform. Since 1967, the Canada Games has provided a stage for Canada's next generation of athletes to shine. It is the largest multi -sport event in the country and brought together over 3,600 athletes, managers and coaches across 20 different sports. * (13:40) From February 18th to March 5th in PEI, Team Toba sent 207 athletes, 68 coaches, managers and technical sports staff and 22 mission staff.

Madam Speaker, I had the privilege of joining Team Toba in PEI while attending the FPT on sport, physical activity and recreation in February. While in PEI, I was proud to hand the flag to the flag-bearer, Sofia Bieber, who while competing in the games won three gold medals for Manitoba. Unfor - tunately, she can't be here today; she's training and competing in Alberta. I was also proud to watch the female curling team curl their hearts out against Nova Scotia; the female, male, singles and doubles table -tennis team in PEI and the males' hockey team against Quebec and Saskatchewan.

After two weeks of competition, Team Toba made Manitoba proud and finished the Canada Games with 19 medals: six gold, six silver and seven bronze. Madam Speaker, I want to acknowledge all of the families, friends and others from the provincial sports organizations, Sport Manitoba staff and board and everyone else that had a hand in helping build some - thing great.

March 9, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 665 And to all the athletes, no matter the outcome of the competition, be sure to pause and appre ciate the special time that was spent with others with that same dedication and passion to their sports. It is im portant to always remember the fun and enjoyment and experience of the Canada Games. As a former professional athlete, I know the time and dedi- cation and sacrifice that has been put to get to this point. We are all so proud of you.

Madam Speaker, these athletes have all proven that they are the best of the best in Manitoba and have earned the privilege of being able to wear the uniform. I hope they will carry these moments with them forever. Madam Speaker, I also ask that the names of medalists, those joining us today in the gallery and the entire team of Team Toba be included in Hansard. And that's a wrap. Thank you so much, and thank you, thank you, thank you for making Team Manitoba so proud of you.

Madam Speaker: Does the member have leave to include those names in Hansard? [Agreed] Attendees in the galler y: Kelly Babb, Sofia Bieber, Cheryl Cheung, Peter Conway, Gabrielle Desrochers, Kylo Harris, Victoria Lee, Georgette Lessard, Julie Lessard, Khloé Lessard -Kulchyski, Janet McMahon, Grace Qi, Drew Todd, Sarah Tone, Arvin Tronco, Terry Zhang Gold: Sofia Bieber, speed skating, long track, women's 500 m, 1,000 m, mass start; Chyler Sanders, archery, compound individual female; Ryder Wilson, archery, recurve individual male; Julia Xiao, Keith Lau, figure skating, pairs pre-novice mix Silver: Sofia Bieber, speed skating, long track, women's 1,500 m; Cheryl Cheung, fencing, female épée; Victoria Lee, Grace Qi, table tennis, female doubles; Khloé Lessard- Kulchyski, fencing, sabre; Robyn Salie, Lindsay Smart, Sofia Bieber, Skylar Van Horne, speed skating, long track, women's team pursuit; Ryder Wilson, Emily Love, archery, recurve mix team Bronze: Jesse Bachinsky, para nordic/cross country ski, standing 2.5 km classic race; Ryan Cherniak, archery, compound individual male; Ryan Cherniak, Chyler Sanders, archery, compound mix team; Daniel Ekosky, judo, 81 kg male individual; Matias Enciso, fencing, male épée; Emily Love, archery, recurve individual female; Avery Pampolina, judo, 50 kg male individual MLA Uzoma Asagwara (Union Station): The only thing I'll say in direc t response to the minister's statements are, you know, why aren't the rest of us also wearing those jackets?

How do we get our hands on those? They're very, very nice. So, the 2023 Canada Winter Games recently con- cluded, and we are all very happy to take a moment to recognize the accomplishments of our very own team Manitoba. This year, the games were held in Prince Edward Island from February 18th to the March–to March 5th, and more than three–had more than 3,600 participants. Manitoba sent nearly 300 athletes to compete in sports ranging from figure skating and hockey to wheelchair gymnastics, badminton and so many more. Team Manitoba is represented by the bison.

A symbol of our province, the bison is a resourceful and–dedicated to the pursuit of succ ess, a social creature that travels in herds, is highly intelligent and playful and is proud, fast and strong. Team Manitoba shares these characteristics, and strives to always create an inspiring and supportive environment for all participants to perform–sorry, to perform at their very best and treat all Canada Games participants with respect and dignity. Team Manitoba had a very strong showing at the Canada Winter Games this year, and did especially well in fencing, archery and speed skating.

They brought home 19 medals, including six gold medals; and I want to extend a special congratulations to our gold medalists: Sofia Bieber in speed skating, Chyler Brynn Sanders and Ryder Wilson in archery, and the figuring skating pair Keith Lau and Julia Xiao who set a new Canadian record. While we congratulate the athletes and medalists, we also know that sports are a community effort, so we want to take a minute to thank all the coaches, family members, volunteers and friends who support Manitoba athletes every single day.

And I know, Madam Speaker, that we have many members of this House who have kids, and members of their own families who are active and partici pating in those sports as well. We want to thank all of those who make it possible for these athletes to participate and thrive in their sports. And to all the athletes who competed in the 2023 Canadian– Canada Winter Games, we con - gratulate you on your 'amaging' –on your amazing accomplishments. Every single one of you has made

666 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 9, 2023 Manitoba proud. We look forward to continuing to support you in all of your athletic careers. Congratulations. Ms. Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): Madam Speaker, I seek leave to respond to the minister's statement. Madam Speaker: Does the member have leave to respond to the statement? [Agreed] Ms. Lamoureux: I'd like to thank my colleague for allowing me to borrow their jacket today, as well, here in the Chamber.

Madam Speaker, the Canada Winter Games are an annual competition for Canada's top up -and-coming athletes to showcase their skills on the national stage. Team Toba athletes are among the best, and maybe it's our cold climate that has something to do with our success on the ice as Sofia Bieber, for example, our flagbearer, captured one of Manitoba's six gold medals in the 500-metre speed skating, and other medals in figure skating and archery. Madam Speaker, athletes have to travel far and wide to participate in competition. They are often overworked with demanding travel schedules.

They're extremely disciplined with practices and drills and often, a lot of sacrifices have to be made. This is why it's really important that we, as a province, do what we can to support our athletes, and we can better do this through provi ding affordable spaces to practice in; through b ringing awareness to the sacrifices that are made by our athletes and their families to promote, in this case, our country; and through providing mental health supports to all of our athletes and their families as well, Madam Speaker.

I want to thank al l 207 Manitoba athletes, their families, volunteers and coaches and support staff who, I understand, have joined us here in the gallery today, for another successful winter games. And thank you for showcasing Manitoba's high- level talent on the national stage and making us so proud. Thank you. Introduction of Guests Madam Speaker: I think this would be a good time for me to introduce to you some of the guests that we have in the gallery, who are from Team Manitoba. We have Victoria Lee, silver medalli st in table tennis, female doubles –maybe everybody could just hold their applause.

I have a list of them. We have Grace Qi, silver medalist in table tennis, female doubles; Khloe Lessard -Kulchyski, silver medallist, fencing, sabre; Cheryl Cheung, silver medallist, fencing, female é pée; and Matias Enciso, bronze medallist, fencing, male é pée; who are the guests of the honour able Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage (Mr. Khan). And on behalf of all honour able members here, we welcome all of you to the Manitoba Legislature. * * * Madam Speaker: Further ministerial statements?

The honourable Minister of Agriculture –and I would indicate that the required 90 minutes' notice prior to routine proceedings was provided in accordance with rule 27(2). Would the honour able minister please proceed with his statement. Canadian Agricultural Safety Week Hon. Derek Johnson (Minister of Agriculture): As the Minister of Agriculture, I rise today to recognize March 12th to 18th as Canadian agricult ure safety week.

For over more than a decade, the Canadian agri - culture safety association, or CASA, has been raising awareness about the importance of agriculture safety across Canadian farms with their Canadian agriculture safety week campaign. This ye ar's campaign theme is Safety is Our Promise and is part of a three -year safety campaign, Your Farm, Your Family, Your Success. We know that farming can be dangerous pro- fession. This campaign not only brings awareness to ag safety, but provides resources for producers to make their farm safer.

For example, Manitoba Hydro has developed a Go Underground Program to give farmers the oppor - tunity to eliminate overhead power lines by having them buried on their farms. This helps eliminate the danger of equipme nt contact and therefore helping prevent downed electrical lines. Through this pro- gram, potential hazardous situations for producers are reduced. If you're interested in this program, go to Manitoba Hydro, safety on the farm. Today, we wear our burlap ribbons, historically a common resource found on our farms. In addition to

March 9, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 667 being the fabric of commerce in seed, feed and grain, it also represents our unwavering support for CASA and ag safety. I encourage my colleagues to wear their ribbons all next week to show our support and commitment in keeping Manitoba farmers, their families and their workers safe. * (13:50) Please join me in wishing everyone a safe Canadian agriculture week as well as a safe and successful spring. Mr.

Diljeet Brar (Burrows): The importance of safe agricultural practices cannot be overemphasized, and Ag Safety Week is a great opportunity to raise awareness on this subject. This year's celebration is part of a three- year campaign tagged your farm, your family and your success, wh ich serves as a call to action for farm workers and communities to commit to farm safety. Manitoba farmers do incredible work each and every day, but this work does not come without its risks. Farmers are at greater risk of injury and death due to working with large machines, sharp tools, silos, livestock and more.

This is why it's so important that we prioritize the health and safety of farming families through awareness and appropriate training. Manitoba Farm Safety is highlighting this year's Agricultural Safety Week by sharing a message: a healthy farmer is a safe farmer, and a safe farmer is a strong farmer. I commend SAFE Work Manitoba for organizing a drawing contest for kids aged six to 12 to promote safety on farms and also encourage all Manito ba schools to use this opportunity to engage the younger generation about the importance of safe farming practices.

Once again, I urge this House and everyone listening to take

part in Agricultural Safety Week so that, together, we can raise awareness on safe ag practices, which will help ensure safe farming, safe farmers, as well as the longevity and prosperity of our agricultural sector. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Mr. Dougald Lamont (St. Boniface): Madam Speaker, I seek leave to speak to the ministerial statement. Madam Speaker: Does the member have leave to respond to the ministerial statement? [Agreed] Mr. Lamont: It's Farm Safety Week and, as always, it's critical to remind all Canadians of the challenges that people working farms face.

On a recent meeting with a rural municipal coun- cil, one member reminded me that we here in Winnipeg don't eat without the people we rely on in rural Manitoba who grow and harvest our food. Farming is stressful, it's risky and it can be dangerous. Growing up, I knew a young man who lost his arm in a tragic accident on his family farm. It goes beyond physical and personal safety, because the stress and mental health challenges can be tremendous. Farmers may feel isolated and alone, and as an industry they are at the mercy of so many factors beyond their control: weather, international markets and disease.

That powerlessness can contribute directly to a sense of anxiety and depression, which in itself is isolating. In the last years, Manitoba's producers have fought drought, flood and extraordinary challenges, and that's why we need to ensure that farmers have a place to reach out to to keep them out of crisis and get back to a place of wellness. The Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing is doing just such work.

They just received $160,000 in support from the federal government, which today's Free Press reports that the federal government's decision to put up money for mental health programs for farmers has been hailed as welcome recognition of a problem that is often ignored. Gerry Friesen, chief administrative officer of the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program, said: When the federal government starts handing out money for farmer mental wellness, that's huge. That sends a message across the board, to provincial governments, to industry people, to lenders, saying, hey, there is a problem out there that we need to address.

Manitoba Liberals are committed to ensuring that producers have access to mental health supports, to safety supports, and we also have to wor k to ensure that financial and other supports are in place to keep farmers out of crisis in the first place. Thank you. MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Hope's Cradle Mr. Bob Lagassé (Dawson Trail): Today, I am recognizing a project in my riding and the com - passionate team that brought it to fruition.

668 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 9, 2023 Today, I recognize the Hope's Cradle project team that consists of the Taché fire chief, Allan Rau; Deputy Chief Jason Kroeker; Susan Penner from Life Culture; and Trevor and Sheila Braun. To–Hope's Cradle is the first safe surrender site in Manitoba and the second in Canada. This initiative is of the upmost importance to help prevent the unsafe abandonment of infant children by giving them a safe surrender station in a centralized location in Manitoba.

There is a temperature-controlled bassinet inside of a specially designed room where the –an infant can safely be placed. There is also an envelope for the parent to take to inform them of their rights and available resources. Trevor and Sheila Braun were inspired by a documentary they saw years ago called The Drop Box, and that is when they came across an

article from Life Culture that was looking for a location to place Hope's Cradle. After hearing the story of a newborn baby girl that was found in a dumpster in Winni peg, the realization set in that Manitoba should have a safe surrender site. Life Culture Canada executive director, Susan Penner, started the fundraising campaign and raised $20,000 that was needed to install the cradle. Hope's Cradle is located at the Landmark fire hall in Landmark, Manitoba.

The RM of Taché Fire Department was involved in every step of the way and, together, the team is about to celebrate the grand opening of Hope's 'crable' –Cradle on March 18th, 2023. I would like everyone to join me in congratulating the team and their dedication to this project. Shenika Chornoby Mr. Eric Redhead (Thompson): Today, I would like to recognize a hero from the community of Tataskweyak Cree Nation.

Seventeen-year-old Shenika Chornoby was walk- ing to work on the afternoon of February 14th, found herself in the midst of a terrifying situation that would put her bravery and quick thinking to the ultimate test. On her way to work, Shenika saw smoke coming from a nearby apartment building while two othe rs were outside screaming. Seemingly without hesita - tion, this young hero sprang into action. Entering the apartment, Shenika's quick thinking was able to save the lives of two youth from that fire before firefighters and six other citizens arrived on scene.

Upon their arrival they entered the building to find the remaining tenants trapped inside. Once the building was cleared, Shenika and the others vacated. Only moments later, she collapsed from smoke inhalation. After receiving CPR from a bystander on- site, Shenika and a two -year-old resident from the building were airlifted to Health Sciences Centre where they were treated. Shenika woke up three days later to recognize she had become an overnight hero in our province. Thanks to her actions, all of the residents from the building were able to escape the inferno.

Her quick thinking, bravery, selflessness saved the lives that day and earned her gratitude and admiration from her community. Shenika Chornoby, while still humble, is a hero, and her selfless a ct of courage should be seen as an inspiration to others. In the end, this young woman's bravery, selflessness serves as a powerful reminder and true meaning of heroism. It is not about fame or recognition, but about putting other's needs before your own and doing whatever it takes to help those in need.

We can all learn from her example and strive to be a hero in our own lives, no matter how big or small the situation may be. We are truly honoured to have her joining us today in the gallery, so I would li ke to ask my colleagues in joining me in selling –celebrating the inspiration–inspiring youth and the hero of Tataskweyak, Shenika Chornoby. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Beverley Bragg Mr. Shannon Martin (McPhillips): It is an honour and a pleasure to recognize Beverley Bragg for her strong vision and efforts in promoting and strengthening the West St. Paul com munity in McPhillips con stit- uency.

Beverley Bragg volunteered as a West St. Paul convener since 1968, and currently sits on the West St. Paul Rec reation Committee. Fifty years ago, Beverley got together with other community members and formed the West St. Paul baseball team. She has been a visionary and a leader in providing quality services throughout our community. In 1969, with her neighbours, she resurrected the McNaught [phonetic] Community Centre in West St. Paul and served as president for 15 years. Beverley and the executive of the McNaughton Community Centre, together with the Rivercrest club, organized

March 9, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 669 the first Canada Day celebration in West St. Paul. She is still a –she was a member of that committee for 13 years and still participates in each Canada Day celebration. * (14:00) During the flood of 2009, Beverley organized food for the volunteers. In 2013, she organized a short Remembrance Day service at the Rivercrest and municipal hall, and West St. Paul has held a Remembrance Day service each and every year since then. In 1992, on Canada's 125th birthday, she was honoured with a plaque signed by the governor of Canada for her outstanding contributions.

In 2002, she received the "Chic" Balderson [phonetic] award; she was also awarded the Queen Elizabeth II medal. And in 2011, the play structure at the community centre was named Bev Bragg Park in honour of Beverley's services. And understand, when talking with Beverley, there's a plaque there, and says that you can make a difference. I would like to thank Beverley Bragg for helping build our community, establishing goals, executing them and giving back through community service. Please join me in thanking Beverley Bragg and her family and guests for 50 -plus years of volunteer services within our community.

Thank you, Beverley. Northern Health Care MLA Tom Lindsey (Flin Flon): I rise today to recog- nize northern paramedics and emer gency medical technicians for their continued diligence in spite of numerous challenges they currently face as a result of cuts and insufficient funding by this government. Health care in the North is not only understaffed but also underequipped. This gov ernment's cuts to northern health care is forcing health- care staff to make use of ambulances that lack basic requirements like heat or air conditioning. One ambulance in The Pas leaks into the patient area when it rains.

More than a hazard, these ambulances have become unsafe for staff and patients. An eight -hour drive from Leaf Rapids to Snow Lake took 23 hours because one of the ambulances lost a tire and landed up in the ditch. The state of ambulances in the North is unacceptable. Oil changes not done in a timely manner, tires are not rotated or changed between seasons so that snow tires are worn out next winter, which is a major hazard, considering the PC cuts to northern 'infranstructure' which leaves our roads in terrible condition.

As if their working conditions are not frustrating enough, N-R-H-A employees are made to pay $40 a day to secure accommodations away from home,

whereas their contemporaries down south are pro- vided accommodations free of charge. N-H-R-A employees deserve better, and th is PC government has failed them, making cuts and more cuts while withholding funds that would make their job safer and health care more accessible. The health and safety of northern health-care workers need to be prioritized as well as 24-7 mental health support services–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. MLA Lindsey: –specialized in PTSD. What N-H-R-A employees feel –really need is a government that listens and prioritizes their working conditions.

The NDP is committed to investing in northern health care for the welfare of staff and patients. Thank you. Health-Care Services Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, I begin by extending my condolences to the friends and family of the man who died in the Health Sciences Centre emergency room last week. This death should not have happened. We hear from a nurse in the emergency room that managers were slow to implement the overcapacity protocol. We know little else. The Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) is now saying that it's inappropriate to ask que stions about specific patient issues.

This is a new rule which applies to everyone–except, of course, herself when she was asking questions in opposition. Manitobans deserve answers quickly. We had major recommendations in reports following the deaths of Dorothy Madden and Brian Sinclair. Were those recommendations ever implemented and, if so, are they still being followed, or were the lessons from previous deaths forgotten? Manitobans need to know the answers.

670 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 9, 2023 Now, I wish to talk about the historic increase of net debt projected in this year's budget. The budget projects an increase in Manitoba's net debt of 1 billion, 642 million for this fiscal year. This is an extraordinary increase in the province's net debt for a year without a major flood or pandem ic. It is a 71 per cent increase compared with the increase in the net debt last year.

It's extraordinary to have such an increase in the net debt in a year like this one, when there are an unprecedented increase in revenues, including an increase of about $1 billion from the federal gov ern- ment this year. Overall, the increase in net debt under this PC government will be more than $9 billion; this is a 42 per cent increase in the eight years of this government. Will the–with the current higher interest rates, the cost of servicing this debt will be larger.

The budget will go down in history for the large increase in debt burden imposed– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. [interjection] Order. ORAL QUESTIONS Transport of Critically Ill Patients Licence Status of a Company Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Krystal Mousseau's life mattered. She's dearly missed by her family and friends. Krystal Mousseau deserves justice. We're now learning new infor mation about the situation which led to her death. The company hired to transport Krystal Mousseau was not licensed to provide critical-care transportation in Manitoba.

This is deeply concerning. We know that the Premier was the Health minister at the time that this death occurred. Why did she contract with companies to transport critically ill patients who did not have a licence to do so? Hon. Heather Stefanson (Premier): Madam Speaker, our hearts go out to Krystal Mousseau's family and all of the loved ones who cared very deeply for her. The Leader of the Opposition will know that this case has undergone a process –a formal process through critical incident reporting. It has also gone to the Chief Medical Examiner who has reviewed the incident and the report's findings.

And as you know, Madam Speaker, the Chief Medical Examiner has the official capacity and authority to make the deter min- ation if further action is required. I understand the matter could be before the courts, Madam Speaker. And we will respect the process and refrain from further comment, because it is before the courts. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Mr. Kinew: Manitobans deserve to hear answers, and they deserve to have accountability.

The Province of Manitoba employed a company that did not have properly trained staff and did not have the right equipment to care for an ICU patient. Now we learn that this company did also not have a licence to transport critically ill patients. We don't know what due diligence, if any, this government conducted on this company prior to asking them to move ICU patients during the third wave, when we ran out of ICU beds in this province. The Premier was the Health minister at the time that these decisions were made.

Will the Premier tell this House why she hired a company that was not licensed to provide critical care to patients like Krystal Mousseau during the third wave of the pandemic? Mrs. Stefanson: Well, again, Madam Speaker, our hearts go out to Krystal Mousseau's family and all of those who loved her very dearly. I also want to just thank all of the health-care pro- fessionals who were involved at the time. They were doing incredible work at the time during a very, very unprecedented, difficult time; not just here in Manitoba, but right across the country.

We know that physicians were making –having to make difficult decisions, Madam Speaker, and we know that those decisions, of course, were made by physicians, not by politicians. Madam Speaker, there was an in vestigation that took place. It was declared a critical incident. This was also investigated by the Chief Medical Examiner. Now, as I understand, Madam Speaker, this is before the courts, and I think it would be inappropria te to comment further on this until that process takes its course. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary.

March 9, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 671 Mr. Kinew: The Premier's answer reveals that she's willing to say quite a lot about this case on the floor of the Legislature here today. So, the remaining questions, among others, which should be answered, is: Why was a company con- tracted to provide care and to transport for critically ill patients when they did not have a licence to do so? I think Manitobans would also like to know what due diligence, if any, was conducted on this company prior to them being contracted to move these ICU patients.

And, of course, one of the im portant questions that has been asked since early on in the wake of this tragedy is: Why was a team used that did not have the right training or the right equipment to transport ICU patients? I would like the Premier to answer these questions. * (14:10) Mrs. Stefanson: The Leader of the Opposi tion will know that I ha ve not revealed anything that hasn't already been revealed publicly with respect to this particular situation, Madam Speaker. We know that this was –this underwent investi - gation through the critical incident reporting.

It also went under investi gation by the Chief Medical Examiner. And I know that the family is going in a certain direction here. That's their right and we respect that, and we will allow that process to transpire as well. Madam Speaker: The honour able Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question. Privatization of Air Ambulance Services Mr. Kinew: The family of Krystal Mousseau deserves answers.

The company hired to transport her did not have the proper training, did not have the proper equipment; and now we find out they did not have a licence to transport critically ill patients, which was what they were asked to do during the third wave of the pandemic. We also know that the gov ernment privatized Lifeflight, the air ambulance service that, prior to that privatization, had previously transported critically ill patients.

Going to offer a quote here, Madam Speaker: Several critical-care and transport physicians warned the government at the time that its priva tization plan for air ambulance services would lead to pr eventable deaths. End quote. Does the Premier acknowledge that privatization of Lifeflight led to failures in the trans portation of critically ill patients? Mrs.

Stefanson: The Leader of the Opposi tion will know that this was very difficult and challenging times, in the middle of a pandemic where critically ill people were, you know, were being looked after by physicians within our hospitals, and difficult decisions needed to be made–clinical decisions needed to be made. Those clinical decisions are made by doctors. And we know that it was very difficult at that time; there's no question. And we thank the doctors and the nurses and all of the–our health-care professionals for the in credible work they did during a very, very difficult time.

Madam Speaker: The honour able Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Mr. Kinew: The privatization of Lifeflight, including air ambulance services, was made many years prior to the pandemic, and it was a political decision taken by this PC Cabinet. We find out –of course, now –that among the contributing factors to Krystal Mousseau's death is the fact that the team transporting her did not have the adequate training, did not have the right equipment. And, of course, newly released details show that they did not even have a licence to transport critically ill patients.

In light of these facts, does the Premier acknowl- edge that the privatization of Lifeflight Air Ambulance contributed to worse outcomes for critically ill patients in Manitoba? Mrs. Stefanson: Again, our hearts go out to the Mousseau family, Madam Speaker. And I do know that within that incident that was– it went through a critical incident reporting. It also went through and was investigated by the Chie f Medical Examiner, who has the official capacity and authority to make the deter mination if further action was required. He felt that it wasn't required at that time.

We know that the family has now come forward, and they have the right to take this in the direction that they are, and we know that that process will take place, as well. And we respect that process, Madam Speaker.

672 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 9, 2023 Madam Speaker: The honour able Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary. Health-Care System Reform ICU Bed Availability During Pandemic Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): I think it's very telling that the Premier refuses to engage with their gov ernment's decision to priva tize Lifeflight Air Ambulance services. Yet, the Krystal Mousseau family deserves answers.

We know that one of the reasons that she was forced to be transported out of Manitoba by this team –that was not licensed to do so, that did not have the proper training, did not have the proper equipment –is because our province simply ran out of ICU beds. We did not have the ability to care for the sickest of Manitobans when they needed it. We also know that, in 2019, this gov ernment cut the number of ICU beds in Manitoba as part of their so-called consolidation plan. When we ran out of beds a few years later, it's difficult for the average Manitoban to understand that these two things were not connected.

Does the Premier acknowledge that her cutting of ICU beds, along with Brian Pallister, contributed to the outcomes Manitobans saw during the pandemic? Hon. Heather Stefanson (Premier): When it comes to the ICU beds, Madam Speaker, I know we have increased significantly the number of ICU beds in the province of Manitoba from 70 to 100 and beyond, I believe, right now. And so we recognized from the pandemic–we've learned a lot from the pandemic, Madam Speaker. We recognize that those critically ill individuals who needed and required ICU at that time–that was nothing that was unique to Manitoba.

But I will tell you that, Madam Speaker, that we have listened and we have learned from the past, and that's why we have put many more invest ments into ICU capacity in the province of Manitoba. Physician Shortage in Manitoba Funding for Recruitment and Retention MLA Uzoma Asagwara (Union Station): Madam Speaker, Doctors Manitoba said they are disappointed this PC gov ernment's budget completely ignores the province's physician shortage.

Health care is in a crisis in our province, plagued with shortages of health-care workers, and yet this Conservative gov ernment has frozen physician recruitment and retention funds for years. It's been frozen since 2017, when it was cut by this PC government by $1.6 million. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. MLA Asagwara : Why would the gov ernment still freeze funding to recruit and support more doctors during a health-care crisis? Hon.

Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health): Once again, I rise today in the House very disappointed with the members opposite for putting inaccurate informa- tion on the record, Madam Speaker. I'm so pleased that, as part of our health human resource action plan, Doctors Manitoba is one of the organizations we have been working very closely with to launch our incentives, Madam Speaker.

And I'd like to put them on the record: 80 new physician training seats were recently announced, we extended primary- care patient hours for family and pediatric clinics, $450,000 for physician mental health supports through the peer support program, $5 million for the new emergency-care services we call vectors. And we're partnering with Doctors Manitoba to reduce physician administrative– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. The honourable member for Union Station, on a supplementary question.

MLA Asagwara: This PC government's own budget papers show that they are misleading Manitobans and continue to mislead Manitobans in this very House. Last November, Doctors Manitoba warned this government that the shortage of physicians had reached 405. That's the highest it's ever been. But the Premier refused to listen to the doctors' warnings. Doctors Manitoba was clear that more was needed from the budget for doctors to be able to be recruited and retained in our province. Why did this Premier ignore the advice of Manitoba physicians who were calling out for help during our health-care crisis?

And I'll table this government's own documents. Ms. Gordon: What the members opposite don't want Manitobans to know is during their 17 years in power– the dark days of the NDP –Manitoba dropped from having amongst the highest physician numbers per capita to the third lowest in Canada, Madam Speaker.

March 9, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 673 We are rolling back the dark days of the NDP. That is why our government has moved to increase the physician training seats at our post -secondary insti- tutions: 40 undergraduate physician seats, 10 inter - national medical graduate seats, 30 two -year post - grad medical seats for internationally educated medi- cal students–something the NDP never did. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Union Station, on a final supplementary. MLA Asagwara: Madam Speaker, currently, right now–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order.

MLA Asagwara: –under this government, due to this government's cuts, the shortage of physicians in Manitoba sits at 405. We need hundreds of doctors in our province. Under this gov ernment, due to their cuts, Manitobans are desperately looking for answers. They're waiting for family doctors. They're wait- ing in emergency rooms. They' re waiting for sur - geries. Patients are left waiting and waiting and waiting while this Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) decides to freeze recruitment funds for physicians for yet another year in her budget. That's the Premier's record, just like Brian Pallister.

Will the government stop their cuts to recruiting for physicians and find a way–finally–to dig deep, do the right thing, invest in those dollars right now so we have more physicians in Manitoba for patients who need them? * (14:20) Ms. Gordon: Madam Speaker, our gov ernment an- nounced the single largest invest ment to Manitoba's public health-care system: $200 million to add 2,000 more doctors, nurses and allied health professionals. We are working with Doctors Manitoba to strengthen physician prac tices here in our province, Madam Speaker.

And I know the member opposite is having an issue with addition, so I'll state again some of the incentives: $450,000 for physician medical health supports, $5 million for vectors; we have added 80 new physician training seats. Again, Madam Speaker, this is some thing the NDP never had the courage to do for Manitobans. Prescription Costs for Dialysis Patients Constituent Case Concern Mr. Matt Wiebe (Concordia): The home 'hemeodialysis' program allows people to receive life- saving medical care in their homes. Now, this is an important program for Manitobans.

It's life -saving, and patients rely on prescription drugs for this pro - gram–patients like Martin Solodyuk. Up until now, Martin has been–never been charged for these life-saving drugs. However, starting April 1st, because of this gov ernment's privatization, he will now have to pay money every time he receives care. Can the Premier tell this House why her gov ern- ment is forcing Martin to pay mone y for life -saving medication? Hon. Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health): Our government has made a sig nificant investment in the Pharmacare program in Budget 2023, Madam Speaker.

And that investment is going to help individuals who are receiving services across our health system, including renal dialysis: $120 million to be exact, Madam Speaker, has been added to the Pharmacare program, including–I want to put this on record because I'm so pleased for Manitobans–extending the coverage for insulin pumps for adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. I'm not sure if the member opposite knows, but majority of individuals with diabetes will go on to develop end- stage renal disease, and we are going upstream to prevent kidney disease.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Concordia, on a supplementary question. Mr. Wiebe: Madam Speaker, Martin Solodyuk knows. He knows that he's now paying money for drugs that used to be free. He's paying dispensing fees for home dialysis. And the minister is looking through her book to find the answer to this. Maybe she can answer Martin Solodyuk when she stands up to answer the question next. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Wiebe: These–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Wiebe: –dispensing fees, M adam Speaker, amount to hundreds of dollars per year for patients who need these services.

I'll table the minister's own docu ments, so that she'll be aware of what patients are now paying.

674 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 9, 2023 Can the Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) or the minister tell the House why they are forcing dialysis patients like Martin to pay out -of-pocket for this life -saving care? Ms. Gordon: We respect and value all Manitobans – those that are receiving life -saving end- stage renal dialysis. And that is why, Madam Speaker, we recog- nize the need to add more dollars to our Pharmacare program. In Budget 2023–$120 million to the Pharmacare program, Madam Speaker. That will help to alleviate the pressures that are being felt by Manitobans all across this province.

Madam Speaker: The honour able member for Concordia, on a final supplementary. Mr. Wiebe: Not only is Martin now having to pay out-of-pocket along with other patients, he also found out about this change when Shoppers Drug Mart called his wife Suzanne [phonetic] to ask for her credit card information over the phone to receive these life-saving medications. In Manitoba, Madam Speaker, you shouldn't need a credit card to get health care. But that's what this Premier is doing to all seniors across this province. It's shameful. We w rote the government to reverse this, but we've since–haven't heard any response.

I'm going to ask the minister once again, on the floor of this Legislature: Will she apologize to Martin and Suzanne [phonetic], and imme diately cover the cost of prescription drugs for home dialysis patients? Ms. Gordon: Madam Speaker, my heart goes out to all the dialysis patients and individuals who are receiving care at many facilities –health facilities – across this province.

For over five years, I worked in the kidney dialysis program and saw first -hand what those in- dividuals were experiencing, and I have brought all of that expertise and all of that knowledge here to the Manitoba Legislature to be the voice of individuals who are receiving care in our province. That is why our gov ernment is responding, Madam Speaker, with $120 million added to the Pharmacare program to alleviate the pressures that seniors and all Manitobans are ex periencing with the rising cost of prescriptions. Education System Funding Concerns Mr.

Nello Altomare (Transcona): While the PCs need–mislead the public about education funding, schools are struggling with the harsh reality of their policies. Seven straight years of PC cuts and under - funding are forcing them, yet again, to cut. Teaching positions, after -school programs, student trans por- tation and more are on the chopping block. These cuts hurt our Manitoba students, Madam Speaker, and worsen education outcomes. Will the Premier do the right thing and stop cutting public education? Hon.

Wayne Ewasko (Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning): Madam Speaker, you know, it has been a great many, many years here in Manitoba, especially in the education field, working closely with our education partners. It's just unfor - tunate the member, my friend from Transcona, stands up and puts misinformation on the record. Madam Speaker, this year alone, $100 million going to the K -to-12 system –that's a 6.1 per cent increase. Each and every year we've seen historical, astronomical funding going to the education field. I'll table the charts. More is not less.

I wish the member would get on board and stop fear mongering Manitobans. Madam Speaker: The honour able member for – [interjection] Order. The honourable member for Transcona, on a sup- plementary question. Mr. Altomare: Madam Speaker, misinformation? Let's put some real, factual information on the record. Winnipeg School Division is raising the alarm regarding chronic underfunding, which has forced them to eliminate 130 teaching positions. Seven Oaks is being forced to cut up to 50 teaching positions and programs, like Learn to Swim. Pembina Trails has had to eliminate their full- day kindergarten program.

These cuts hurt our kids in schools, and that's the reality under this Premier today in Manitoba. Can the Premier tell us when she'll finally stop cutting education for our citizens? Mr. Ewasko: So, Madam Speaker, it's unfor tunate that the member from Transcona again is putting misinformation on the record. He could just look

March 9, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 675 behind him and see that the member from Fort Garry, at one time, was doing self –some self -promoting advertising when he was a chairperson or a trustee with Winnipeg School Division. Madam Speaker, Winnipeg School Division's receiving 6 per cent–or a $12.6- million–increase in this year's '23-24 budget. Madam Speaker, overall, education has received over 23 per cent increase since 2016. So, again, some of those initiatives that the member is mentioning, those are school boar d decisions, and he needs to go back and maybe talk to Winnipeg School Division.

Madam Speaker: The honour able member for Transcona, on a final supplementary. Mr. Altomare: Well, somewhere buried in those responses, I think, is an admiration for what we're doing on this side of the House: standing up for kids, communities and fairness –absolutely, and that's not what they want to hear. * (14:30) What's their legacy, Madam Speaker? Fewer teachers, larger class sizes. That's their PC plan, and that's their legacy. And just like they planned with bill 64, Madam Speaker, they wanted to get rid of those pesky school boards that hold them accountable for each and every decision that they've made.

So, finally, I will ask again: Will–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Altomare: –the Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) do the right thing and stop cutting education? Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Ewasko: I almost wish that we had unlimited time in QP today, Madam Speaker, beca use it would take me that long to continue to talk down to the – unfortunately, the member from –my friend from Transcona–his misinformation that he continues to put on the record. Hundred million dollars this year, Madam Speaker. The largest–6.1 per cent increase, the largest increase in well over 25 years.

We'll get the members opposite, the NDP, to maybe do some of their own research to actually check all that out. But, Madam Speaker, we've also annualized another $106 million on top of that –on top of a $260 million in capital funding. Madam Speaker, we are cleaning up the mess than the NDP made and we're educating our youth in this great province of ours, and they're going to stay in the province of Manitoba. Health-Care System Government Record Ms. Lisa Naylor (Wolseley): Brian Pallister and this current Premier cut health care together with all of their colleagues on that side of the House.

They fired nurses, they closed emergency rooms and they cut critical health care even during the middle of a global pandemic. When will the minister stop running from questions and admit to Manitobans that the PCs have no plan to fix health care? Hon. Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, the –a 22 per cent increase in health -care funding since we took office in 2016. That is more, not less. And in Budget 2023, nearly $8 billion, a historic investment into our health-care system, provi- ding $668 million more to strengthen health care for all Manitobans.

Will the members opposite vote in fa vour of ad- ditional monies for health care? Yes or no? Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Wolseley, on a supplementary question. Ms. Naylor: Madam Speaker, the PCs love to make big announcements, but Manitobans know they can- not trust them to follow through. They promised to build 1,200 long- term-care homes, but they didn't. They promised to handle the surgical backlog, but they didn't. And they promised to hire nurses, but they didn't. Will this minister apologize to the people of Manitoba for her government's many broken promises? Ms.

Gordon: I rise again to ask the members opposite: Will they vote in favour of $130 million in funding dedicated to reducing the surgical and diag- nostic backlog? Will they vote in favour of more money–$120 million–to the Pharmacare program, including extending the coverage for insulin pumps for adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes? Will they vote in favour of more dollars for our health human resource action plan to add more health professionals to the health system?

676 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 9, 2023 The question is simple, Madam Speaker, yes or no? Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Wolseley, on a final supplementary. Ms. Naylor: Madam Speaker, I think it's admirable that folks on that side of the House are practising for when they're asking the questions in question period, but today it's still me. So, make no mistake, if given the chance to cut – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Naylor: –health care again, the Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) will take it. The things that will stop the cuts is a change in gov ernment. So, keep practising.

When we look at their so- called plan in the PC budget, again and again we see the gov ernment fail to adequately fund health care, including commu- nity health centres like Women's Health Clinic. Will the minister apologize to the people of Manitoba for her gov ernment's failure to support the health of women? Ms. Gordon: Madam Speaker, the questions take on a different spin each time I rise in the House, but we remain focused on our path forward. Madam Speaker, $200 million for the health human resource action plan to add 2,000 addi tional health-care professionals.

I was pleased to announce $123 million has already been committed for nine nurse incentives: new hourly premiums, up to $10,000 for nurses who hold a full -time position, reimbursing nurses' professional licensing fees and more. We will continue to address our staffing shortages in this province with a concrete plan. Education in Budget 2023 Funding for Grants Mr. Dougald Lamont (St.

Boniface): The Minister of Education may be lost in space when he calls the budget astronomical, but I'll bring him back to earth: the increase in general support and grants in this budget for education is zero, and that–the rest doesn't even cover inflation. I attended a meeting of the Louis Riel School Division, which is having to reach into its rainy day fund to prevent layoffs –and that's before any new wage settlements. Can the Premier explain what's historic about a PC budget that forces cuts and layoffs in education? Because that seems pretty routine. Hon.

Wayne Ewasko (Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning): Madam Speaker, it's unfortunate that the member from St. Boniface is too busy reading some thing else during question period. He should be focusing and listening to the answers from the questions coming from the NDP side. Hundred million dollars in educa tion this year alone, Madam Speaker: a 6.1 per cent increase overall to the K -to-12 system. That's more, not less. Louis Riel School Division is receiving an 8.4 per cent increase. They're almost at $8.1 -million increase this year alone. I wish the member from St.

Boniface would do more reading and less talking, and get his facts straight. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. Boniface, on a supplementary question. P3 School Construction Project–KPMG Report Honorarium for Unsuccessful Applicants Mr. Dougald Lamont (St. Boniface): I was hoping the Premier could explain this 2022 document from KPMG that we obtained entitled Manitoba P3 Schools Project, which I table. It says that, quote, Manitoba is consid ering a public-private partnership, P3, to bundle the remaining nine schools.

The cost of the project is an esti mated $400 million to design, build, finance and maintain the nine schools under a single contract, with the plan for request for proposal to be issued this spring and a promise to pay an honorarium to the applicants who don't win. It includes market sounding questions than include how much that honorarium for failed applica- tions should be and what risks the private proponents want to stick the public with.

Can the Premier explain this report, how much KPMG was paid for it and if the PCs discussed it with current KPMG partner and former PC 'finister' of Finance, Scott Fielding? [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Hon. James Teitsma (Minister of Consumer Protection and Government Services): I'm incred- ibly proud of our government's record when it comes to building schools, something that the previous NDP certainly neglected for many, many years –and when

March 9, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 677 they did finally get around to building a few schools, it was for political purposes. Our side here, we have prioritized the con struc- tion of schools based on the needs of students. I'm in- credibly proud of the 14 schools so far –on track to deliver 20 schools, as mentioned in the budget. That's what we're about. * (14:40) Provincial Nominee Program Recommended Use for Application Fee Ms. Cindy Lamoureu x (Tyndall Park): Back in 2016, I raised a number of concerns about the Provincial Nominee Program and their $500 applica- tion fee.

At the time, the minister respon sible for immigration assured the House that the $500 fee would be reinvested to support new comers here in Manitoba. However, now, seven years later, the Immigration Advisory Council is recommending that 100 per cent of the application fee be committed to settlement services. So, what has the government been doing with all this extra money, and why wasn't this being done all along, when the government promised that it would be? Hon.

Jon Reyes (Minister of Labour and Immigration): I'm always –I always welcome a question with regards to the Prov incial Nominee Program that a PC Party–government created back in 1998. Madam Speaker, I want to share some good news today: Manitoba will receive 3,175 addi tional nomination spaces from 2022, which represents a 50 per cent year-over-year increase. This means, for 2023, Manitoba's allocation will be 9,500 nominations. Madam Speaker, more allocations was recom - mended by the Immigration Advisory Council, as well as invest ment into new comer settlement support organizations.

That's why there was a $7.1- million grant funding towards those settlement organizations. We are taking action in terms of immigration, Madam Speaker. Seniors Strategy Funding for Initiatives Mr. Rick Wowchuk (Swan River): Since the Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) created the Depart ment of Seniors and Long- Term Care, w e have continually heard from Manitobans that programs and services related to seniors need a greater focus. Can the Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care explain what the seniors strategy will do to better support seniors across our province? Hon.

Scott Johnston (Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care): Thank you to my honour able friend for that excellent question.

I was proud to announce the seniors strategy, as well as a number of initiatives relating to the seniors strategy: $12.6 million to expand the self- and family- managed care program; with an ad ditional $1.3 million, Madam Speaker–$1.3 million to expand palliative-care services in Manitoba; $450,000 to accelerate Habitat for Humanity's home modification program; $300,000 in support of t he Rainbow Resource Centre's Over the Rainbow program; $12.6 million for a hearing-aid grant program, which I hope that the opposition will support. This strategy is a– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired.

Lynn Lake Hospital Restoration of Services MLA Tom Lindsey (Flin Flon): This government's cuts to health care have made already unlivable con - ditions worse in northern Manitoba. The Lynn Lake hospital now only exists as an emergency room, as all patients have been shipped to hospitals far from home. It was said to be temporary, totally dependent on staffing levels. We have no idea when these people are going to be returned to their homes in Lynn Lake, to the hospital. People want this service restored now. Will the minister commit to doing that today? Hon.

Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health): Madam Speaker, our gov ernment is committed to ensuring individuals who live across our province receive the care that they need, as well as in Lynn Lake. That is why we are investing $812 million into northern and rural health. A significant portion of these dollars will be used in the creation of a new intermediary health-care hub in northern Manitoba, and we are excited to be working with our northern partners to reduce the need for travel to regions outside of their home. I was so pleased to be up in Thompson meeting with 30 stakeholder groups from across the North on–

678 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 9, 2023 to address the challenges that northern com munities face. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Flin Flon, on a supplementary question. MLA Lindsey: Madam Speaker, as I said earlier, it was told to the residents of Lynn Lake that it was entirely dependant on staffing levels when their hospital services would be restored. We now have a letter that has been sent t o the minister–and I'll table it today, just in case she never got around to reading it –that says staffing levels are now back where they need to be at the Lynn Lake hospital.

Will the minister commit to restoring those hospital services, bringing those patients back to Lynn Lake and to Marcel Colomb Cree Nation today? Ms. Gordon: Madam Speaker, I want to thank the member opposite for thanking our gov ernment for staffing the centre, and this is all being done through our health human resource action pla n that I ask the members to vote in favour of. We are going to continue to have discussions with health system leaders in the North, with stake holder groups in the North, about the timing of opening of various facilities.

This is all being done as part of the clinical preventative services plan, and we are going to continue to have that dialogue. Madam Speaker: Time for oral questions has expired. PETITIONS Community Living disABILITY Services Ms. Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): I wish to present the following petition to the Legis lative Assembly. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Currently, adults with specific or non-specific disabilities, or a combination of dis abilities, such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dy scalculia, auditory or language processing disorders and/or non- verbal learning disabilities, will be denied access to services under the Province of Manitoba's community living and disability services if their IQ is above 80.

(2) People with these or other borderline cog- nitive functioning issues also have extremely low adaptive skills and are not able to live in dependently without supports.

(3) Recently, it has become widely recog nized that access to CLDS should not be based solely on IQ, which is only a measure of a person's disability to answer questions verbally or in writing in relation to mathematics, science or material which is read.

(4) Very often, persons with specific or non-specific disabilities or a combination of those dis- abilities have very specific needs related to their executive functioning–function or support when they are adults or are transitioning to adulthood, which are not necessarily connected to their IQ.

(5) Executive function is the learned ability to do the normal activities of life–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Lamoureux: –including being organized, being able to plan and to carry out plans and adapt to changing conditions.

(6) Those who have major defects in executive function have a learni ng dis ability requiring assist - ance under CLDS to be able to make a contribution to society and be self-sustaining.

(7) Provision of CLDS services to individuals with specific or non -specific dis abilities or a combination of those disabilities or executive function disability, would free them from being dependent on Employment and Income Assist ance and have the potential to make an important change in the person's life.

(8) Newfoundland and Labrador have now recog- nized that access to serv ices should be based on the nature of the disability and the person's needs, rather than IQ. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to change the requirements for accessing community living and dis- ability services so that these require ments are based on the needs of individuals with specific or non- specific disabilities, including executive function or a combination of disabilities, rather than solely on the basis of their IQ. This petition has been signed by many Manitobans.

Madam Speaker: In accordance with our rule 133(6), when petitions are read they are deemed to be received by the House.

March 9, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 679 Security System Incentive Program Mr. Jim Maloway (Elmwood): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background of this petition is as follows:

(1) Cities across Canada and the United States, including Chicago; Washington, DC; Salinas, California; and Orillia, Ontario, are offering home security rebate programs that enhance public safety and allow for more efficient use of their policing resources.

(2) Home security surveillance systems protect homes and busi nesses by potentially deterring bur - glaries, reducing homeowners' and business insurance costs.

(3) Home security surveillance systems can also be remotely monitored with per sonal electronic devices such as smart phones. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the prov incial government to work with municipalities to establish a provincial-wide tax rebate or other incentive program to encourage students – encourage residents and busi nesses to purchase ap - proved home and business security protection systems. This petition was signed by many, many Manitobans. Madam Speaker: Further petitions? * (14:50) House Business Mr.

Ian Bushie (Deputy Official Opposition House Leader): Madam Speaker, pursuant to rule 34(8), I am announcing that the private member's resolution to be considered on the next Thursday of pr ivate members' business will be the one put forward by the honourable member for Transcona (Mr. Altomare). The title of the resolution is Calling on the Provincial Government to Stop Underfunding Education.

Madam Speaker: It has been announced th at, pursuant to rule 34(8), the private member's resolution to be considered on the next Thursday of private members' business will be the one put forward by the honourable member for Transcona. The title of the resolution is Calling on the Provincial Government to Stop Underfunding Education. ORDERS OF THE DAY GOVERNMENT BUSINESS Hon. Derek Johnson (Acting Government House Leader): Yes, if we can resume debate, please, on the budget. BUDGET DEBATE (Third Day of Debate) Madam Speaker: Resuming debate on the proposed motion of the honour able Minister of Finance (Mr.

Cullen), and the amendment and subamendment thereto, standing in the name of the honour able member for St. James, who has 14 minutes remaining. Mr. Adrien Sala (St. James): Yesterday, I started debate by making the case that this budget, Madam Speaker, is funda mentally about trust. It's about this government asking Manitobans to trust them, to trust that they're going to do what they say they're going to do and to trust that they're actually going to fix the chaos and problems that they've created across this province. That's what they're asking Manitobans.

And they're doing that, of course, after seven long years of giving us no shortage of reasons not to trust them. They've now brought forward this budget, which is filled with a lot of big promises and a lot of big an- nouncements. But, of course, they're doing that seven months before an election. And Manitobans can see exactly what this gov- ernment is up to with this budget. They know that it's a desperate bid at trying to save their political futures. We know that it's a self -serving act to bring this budget forward seven months from an election. And frankly, it looks des perate, and Manitobans can see that.

It's quite clear to Manitobans why they're doing this. They're not doing this because it's what's right for Manitobans. They're doing this to save their jobs. That's why this gov ernment brought this budget forward. It's not about Manitobans. It's about t hem, and Manitobans can see that. And that's what I know my colleagues are hearing when we speak with people in our com munities. That's certainly what I'm hearing in St. James from folks in my own com munity, which is, this gov ern- ment can't be trust ed and they're trying to buy our votes. Everybody sees it except for these folks across the way.

We know that we need investments in health care. We know that we need big invest ments in education. We know that we need to invest in municipalities.

680 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 9, 2023 We know that we need more than announce ments, which is what this government has offered us. But what this gov ernment has brought forward, this whipsaw ride that they're proposing to take Manitobans on, is not a responsi ble approach to governing. It is not a responsible approach. The last seven years of PC gov ernance in this province has put us in a terrible place, Madam Speaker. And to catch up, we, of course, need major investments to catch up, to get to where we need to be, to make up for a–inflation.

And, of course, we're still far behind where we need to be, even with the proposals that this government has brought forward. But, of course, we know that the last seven years have done untold damage in other ways and we don't– we not only need now to invest, of course, in catching up to inflation, but we also have to make up for all the costs and damage of their failure to invest over the last seven years. And really, what we need to do is repair the huge health and social deficits that have b een created along the way as this PC government has done the damage that they've done over the last seven years.

Madam Speaker, there's a very long list of things that are missing from this budget. One of the, I think, the most concerning gaps in thi s budget–and I know on speaking with folks in my community and that they really wanted to see was a focus on responding to child poverty –responding to child poverty in parti - cular. One easy opportunity to respond to that, which is to bring in funding for nutrition programs for kids in our schools to make sure that they can have what's necessary to learn and to be success ful. That's one really concerning gap in this budget.

Another, of course, is real affordability improve- ments. We've seen that this budget failed to mention anything about the out of control rental costs that Manitobans are facing in this province. We, on this side of the House, have worked hard to spell that out, to help this gov ernment understand just how big of an impact that's having on Manitobans, on low-income Manitobans, on Manitobans with dis- abilities, on seniors. But nothing, Madam Speaker; this budget has no relief for those Manitobans. In fact, this budget continues to apply tax increases to renters.

They've continued to apply that $175 tax increase to renters across the province. Climate action –complete and totally absent – completely and totally absent from this budget. No reference to climate, and we know that this province is one of the worst performing provinces in the entire country for reducing our GHG emissions. That is a shame because that is our children's future that this government is playing with. There has been absolutely no focus on that.

That's a huge concern, and I think, frankly, at this point in 2023, after seven years of failure on that front, this government and every member over there should feel ashamed about their failure to take action on climate. And then, of course, on harm reduction; we con- tinue to see an ideological approach bei ng brought forward by this gov ernment. They're unwilling to invest in a safe injection site. They're unwilling to listen to experts, the medical experts, that know how we can save lives.

And they've brought forward– again, it's just a proposal; Manitobans don't believe what they're announcing, but they've brought forward proposed funding to respond to our homelessness challenges here in the province. Well, tackling homelessness really will not go very far unless we focus on harm reduction and we ensure t hat those people struggling with addictions can get the help that they need, Madam Speaker. But, again, this is a glaring omission from this budget. Of course they've proposed, made a bunch of big promises in this budget; they've made some proposals for increases in funding.

But, in many cases, even those proposals that they've made, those promises don't even keep up with inflation. And we know that's especially true in health care when it comes to long - term care, home care, and community health agencies. In those areas we're actually seeing what amounts again to more cuts because this government has failed to fund those areas adequately to help them catch up for the funds that they've lost over the last seven years. My colleagues that have already spoken have done a great job speaking to some of these concerns.

I look forward to hearing more from them in a variety of these program areas. But as Finance critic I want to spend a little bit of time specifically on the lack of–the continued lack of economic vision that we've seen from this gov ern- ment. Not just in this budget, of course; the lack of vision goes back. It goes back to Brian Pallister's time and it continues on with this government.

March 9, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 681 But this budget, again, showed no sign that this government has any economic vision or plan for this province. There's no plan for creating good jobs for Manitobans, no plan in here spelling out how this province help–will help to create good family sup - porting jobs. There's no supports for small businesses to help them to continue to recover from the damage they suffered during the pandemic. And there's no plan to help them grow and thrive.

I'd say that that's probably, you know, one of the most glaring omissions that this government that likes to think of themselves as the great champions of busi- ness, have left small busi ness completely out in the cold, have offered them no support to ensure that they can continue to thrive or that they can thrive and continue to create jobs for Manitobans. There's no vision for attracting more industry to invest in this province, no sign that this gov ernment here has any sense about the need to ensure we bring more dollars, more capital, more industry to invest in building jobs across this province.

And there's certainly no evidence to suggest that this government understands that accelerating our transition away from imported non- renewable fossil fuels and moving towards renewable, abundant clean hydro electricity is the single greatest economic op - portunity of our lifetime. Again, no sign of that of any kind. * (15:00) I also see no sign that this government has a plan of any kind to unlock the potential of critical mineral wealth.

There's no sign that they're actually looking to partner with Indigenous com munities to ensure that we can bring those critical minerals to global markets, to unlock those job oppor tunities in northern Manitoba. There's no sign that this gov ernment has any interest in helping to increase processing–local pro - cessing of agri cultural goods in our rural com mu- nities, to help us ensure we can create more jobs in our rural communities.

No sign at all, and there's certainly no plan to help to make Manitoba a global shipping and trans por- tation hub by taking adv antage of CentrePort and, of course, the Port of Churchill. There's no sign that this gov ernment has any economic vision of any kind. It's completely absent. That is a concern, Madam Speaker. It's an absolute huge concern. Instead, the centerpiece of t his gov ernment's economic plan is a program of tax cuts that dispropor- tionately benefits millionaires and big out-of-province corporations. That's what they've brought forward for an economic vision, Madam Speaker.

And, of course, it's early days. We haven't yet seen all the analysis but we're starting to get a sense of what the impacts of their proposed tax changes will be and we're starting to get clarity on what those impacts will be. And we can see, of course, as with their previous tax changes with the education property tax that as usual with the PCs, when they go to make changes to our taxation system, we know that it's always done with an eye in ensuring that the ultra - wealthy–that millionaires end up taking the lion's share of those benefits.

And the changes that they're proposing here, Madam Speaker, with the increase to the basic personal exemption is no exception to that. The tax changes that are being proposed here are a poisoned pill for Manitobans. They're a poisoned pill for Manitobans because in order to get the help that those tax changes offer, Manitobans –low-income Manitobans and middle -income Manitobans have to accept giant giveaways to millionaires and out -of- province corporations in order to get that little bit of help that they're going to get. Mr.

Andrew Micklefield, Deputy Speaker, in the Chair And making it even worse, they have to accept continued cuts and underinvestment across gov ern- ment. That's the reality of it and that's the trade-off that they're being force d to accept. And that continued underinvestment has a major cost, a real cost that will eat away at any of the supposed help that this small return in reve nues to them through these tax breaks will offer.

You know, my colleague from Fort Garry has done a great job outlining the way that these tax changes have impacted Manitobans in the past, in debates about the education property tax rebate. And we know, through their cuts to municipalities–well, as a result of that we're now seeing the City of Winnipeg is raising property taxes because they have to, because this government has starved them for many years. So, Manitobans are paying more there because of this government's underinvestment.

682 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 9, 2023 Look at education. We have a number of examples there. Families are paying more for school outings or for instruments in band. Those costs are rising because of this gun–government's underinvestment. So, we–we're ultimately losing the small amount of benefit; those low- and middle-income families are losing those benefits that they're purportedly gaining. And in the end, we're helping the ultra -wealthy to make away with massive amounts of money that should stay in our province, helping to pay for the things we need.

Making all this worse, the giant giveaway to millionaires is largely being paid by time -limited windfall revenues that could dry up at any time. We know that we've got this $2 billion in windfall reve- nues that's driven by a huge year for Hydro, that's driven by massive increase in equalization payments, which are temporary. These are things that could dry up tomorrow, Mr. Deputy Speaker. That creates massive financial risk for this province. We've booked in millions of dollars of tax giveaways to millionaires at a time when we are in a very high level–we're experiencing a high level of financial risk.

So, what happens when those dollars dry up? Well, we're going to have a very big problem on our hands, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Making all this worse, of course, the gov ernment is going to have to borrow money to pay for the giveaways to millionaires because even though they have a $2 -billion windfall, they're still running a deficit. Giant tax giveaways subsidized by windfall reve- nues and paid for with interest by Manitobans. Zero fiscal responsibility on that side of the House.

And I'm guessing a lot of their base will be questioning their votes in this upcoming election because I don't think they can even recog nize this party. I think they're going to have a hard time recognizing this party. And I think Dan Lett, you know, in commenting about this government's fiscal approach overall, said it very well in his recent Free Press article: on the fiscal side of the equation, Stefanson's plan is– Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Mr. Sala: –pure madness. And I agree– Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order, please.

When quoting an article, one cannot use the name or the surname of someone who is a sitting member of this House. One has to use the member's constituency or title. Also, just a general caution of or der to all members: the honour able member for St. James (Mr. Sala) does have the floor. Mr. Sala: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Manitobans deserve a government that will act as a good steward of our economy, that will act as a good steward of our finances. But we know we can't expect that from this PC government.

As I said at the begin ning, this budget is about trust, and I believe the same can be said about our upcoming election. We deserve more than broken promises. We deserve a government that will actually make the investments that we need in health care, in education, and we deserve a government we can trust and believe in. And unfortunately, Manitobans cannot trust this PC government. Thank you very much. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honour able M inister of Seniors and Long-Term Care. Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Hon. Scott Johnston (Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care): Obviously a crowd favourite, Mr.

Deputy Speaker. As the Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care, it is my pleasure to ad dress this historic budget of 2023-24. I am proud to be a part of this gov ernment as we continue to stand for the best interests of all Manitobans ever since this gov ernment received its first mandate in 2016, and elected with quite major - ities in '16 and '19. Our government has always and will continue to recognize the challenges that Manitoba face, and we will continue to address those challenges. Mr.

Deputy Speaker, as I have always done when I have spoken to a Throne Speech or a budget, I would like to take the opportunity to recog nize and expressed my deepest appreciation to the constituents of Assiniboia for the continuing support that they give me in repre senting their interests in the Manitoba Legislative Assembly. And, Mr. Deputy Speaker, since elected to the constituency of Assiniboia, I have been humbled and honoured to represent this wonderful, diverse constit- uency.

As a matter of fact, I have also been very fortunate, very fortunate–one of the few members in this Legislature that has the –had had the honour of representing two constituencies, and I was fortunate enough to be elected in the constituency of St. James and–in 2016 and certainly, it was an honour to do that.

March 9, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 683 And I follow the member from St. James when he was speaking and I certainly still have a lot of close ties and a lot of close friends that live in that con stit- uency. And I can tell you that the people that I've spoken to from St. James are very, very supportive of the initiatives that this gov ernment's taken in this budget. As a matter of fact, based on the demo graphic in St.

James, there is a very significant, significant demo- graphic of seniors who have been nothing but support- ive for some of the initiatives that we have brought forward from the seniors strategy and I can assure you their ex pectation is that the members across, parti - cularly the member of St. James, will be supporting the initiatives we take, and particularly the hearing aid initiative, which is very, very well re ceived by that constituency, as well as the rest of Manitoba. * (15:10) As a matter of fact, Madam Speaker, I have been very fortunate to represent the areas that I grew up in, in St.

James-Assiniboia. I grew up on Overdale Street in St. James -Assiniboia, which is actually just a couple of –the home that I grew up is a couple of home–street–or, a couple houses away from the member of St. James' residence, and I see him and his family in the 'aibourhood' all the time. So, it's a great neighbourhood to grow up in and be part of. I've raised my two children in the area with my wife, and I've been always pleased to be part of the thriving com munity of St. James -Assiniboia.

As a matter of fact, as I'd indicated, my mother still lives in that area and I'm –we're very pleased to be in west Winnipeg. I have fond memories of that area growing up: down the street, Assiniboine Park; the St. James Civic Centre; won a couple of city championships out of Deer Lodge Community Club, actually, Mr. Deputy Speaker. And now, living in Assiniboia in that neigh- bourhood and growing up, our kids, it's extremely great, so. Madam–Mr. Deputy Speaker, our current Premier (Mrs.

Stefanson) created the Depart ment of Seniors and Long-Term Care to further commit to seniors and caregivers in this province, and I have been proud to do that. The Premier designated a special mandate for this portfolio: the implementation of all 17 recommen- dations of the Stevenson review, as well as developing the seniors strategy, which was the mandate that I was given by the Premier. This is an ongoing initiative and it is our goal to fulfill the goals that have been laid out in –to these particular initiatives, not only the ones that we have fulfilled and the ones that we are going to fulfil l.

We are certainly humbled and honoured to bring forward this mandate to the Manitoba Legislature, to the Manitoba people. Mr. Deputy Speaker, the Premier recognized that health care needed to be expanded, and as minister, I am thrilled to be able to a ddress the priorities, to implement these critical and necessary com prehen- sive initiatives for the seniors of Manitoba. As a government, we are proud to say we have – we are imple menting all 17 recom mendations of the Stevenson review. The majority have been completed and the remaining are in the process of being com - pleted. Mr.

Deputy Speaker, it's fair to say there's challenges when you ever take on these challenges – these type of initiatives, but we –our gov ernment is forging ahead and we will fulfill our obligations. Just two months after the department was created, we committed $15 million in initial funding to support and implement those 17 recom mendations of the Stevenson review, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

Over $15 million in ad ditional funding supports the following: enhancing infection pre vention and control within the long -care sector, which includes a provincial program manager to oversee those initiatives; regional leads to further support those initiatives; and 50 infectious contro l staff to address those needs; more than 200 full -time equivalent housekeeping staff, as well as the first phase of allied health staffing, 44 full-time equivalents; and improve- ments to the information and communications techno- logy to better support the operations and patient care.

On top of this critical investment, our government has also invested $16 million to expand staffing and training in personal -care homes to fulfill the critical recommendations laid out by the Stevenson review. Madam–Mr. Deputy Speaker, those are initiatives – that initiative was taking place in–when we budgeted through two thousand and–our first mandate in 2016. They continued through our mandate in 2019 and will continue in the next mandate that we receive. On top of this critical investment, our government also invested $16 million to expand staffing and training.

Madam Speaker, this is a total of $31 million– $31 million–invested in personal-care homes through the Stevenson report. Unfortunately, the oppos ition voted against that expenditure, $31 million for the –to implement the

684 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 9, 2023 recommendations of the Stevenson report, and the op- position voted against that expenditure in the budget. An Honourable Member: Why? Why? Mr. Johnston: That's a big question of why. We also have further expenditures coming up through this budget, which continues to–the initiation of the Stevenson report, and it's my expect ation and it's my hope that the members across realize the importance of this initiative and support that extra and further investment. Mr.

Speaker, I am thrilled with the $55 million that is coming forward within this, our new budget, our home run budget, is what I call it, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and we're looking forward to the people of Manitoba congratulating us as we finish –as we go through the finish line, Madam Speaker, as we hit home plate. I look forward to pursuing further initiatives, Mr.

Deputy Speaker, in regards to this, and more and more, we are continuing to address the needs of Manitobans by initiating the Manitoba seniors strategy, which I have released, with a number of initiatives that are –that have –I have indicated, and will be coming–more coming forward as we announce further initiatives. I reached out to Manitobans through Engage Manitoba, where we received over 10,000 responses, 10,000 responses helping us to develop the seniors strategy. I engaged with seniors and stake holders, both online and directly to the people in the com munities of Manitoba.

I have visited seniors in Selkir k, Brandon, Dauphin, Ste. Anne, Steinbach, just to name a few and look– An Honourable Member: Minnedosa. Mr. Johnston: –Lac du Bonnet, Minnedosa. Any other takers? Because I've been there. An Honourable Member: Arborg, you've been there. Mr. Johnston: Arborg, I've been there to Arborg, everywhere, and I look forward to–[interjection] I've been looking forward to continuing consulta- tions in all parts of the province because the seniors document is a living document, and we're continuing to develop and fulfill the needs of seniors.

These con- sultations helped inform the seniors strategy that we brought forward. And, Madam Speaker, I'd like to take a moment to commend my colleague, the member from Portage la Prairie, for travelling up North to get the insight and input of those com munities of Thompson, Flin Flon and The Pas. On a personal note, I was unable to attend those events due to an accident that I had in the fall, and my colleague, the member from Portage la Prairie, did an excellent job f illing and gaining the input of those communities.

Thank you for that, MLA–I can't say his last name, Wishart. [interjection] I can't say MLA Wishart, can–[interjection] Okay. All of these responses have helped shape the strategy, Mr. Deputy Speaker, an d certainly we en - joyed getting out there, whether it be through surveys, meetings, stakeholders, touring the facilities of this province, and most im portantly, sitting down and actually chatting with Manitobas over –Manitobans over coffee and seniors and listening to them and hear- ing exactly what they had to say, and that was really what built the foundation of the seniors strategy, which we brought forward.

Our gov ernment has been able to construct a highly competitive seniors strategy, and we have started initiating the results of those seniors strategies. This historic budget has made it clear that seniors are on the top of the mind for this government, and I em- phasize a 12.6 investment into hearing aids, which we heard loud and clear. We hear d loud and clear from Manitobans that's what they wanted because the costs of hearing aids have become prohibitive, and seniors have told us. * (15:20) Not only are we addressing this for low -income seniors, Mr.

Deputy Speaker, we are addressing this for middle-income seniors, who have a tendency not to be able to get the same benefit as the initiatives or the emphasis that we put on people who are –have a very difficult time affording it. Now we're saying to the middle -income seniors that they also, too, are able to be–to be able to utilize this program. And, Madam Speaker, I'm–again, I em- phasize that we are dealing with home care, and we've initiated $13.9 million in the self - and family - managed care. And that's a very significant investment, and it's a very significant initiative.

Home care–we've all –has been discussed many times in the House, and we acknowl edge it; it's a

March 9, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 685 challenge. And we need to do all we can to try to find solutions to home care. And we're doing that with this program, and the announcements that are going to be coming forward, Mr. Deputy Speaker, through–as part of the seniors strategy, is going to–even further – not only find solutions to home care, but it's going to revisit it. It's going to revise it. It's going to c ome to– it's going to modernize it. So, Mr. Deputy Speaker, looking very, very for - ward to having that discussion with my friends on the opposite side.

An Honourable Member: Hopefully they'll support it. Mr. Johnston: I have no doubt that after they've read it and everything they will support it. As well as all of the financial initiatives that are coming forward with the other–with the– An Honourable Member: They like the budget. Mr. Johnston: Oh, they love–I know it. A lot of them, behind the scenes they're smiling at this budget. And our gov ernment continues to be support ive of long-term-care needs.

As Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care, I recog nize that the baby -boomer population has significantly increased in age and we need to be resp onsive to this, and we are, Madam – Mr. Deputy Speaker. We have good people working tremendously hard towards addressing these future demogra phic in - creases; and I couldn't be more proud of my de part- ment for all the work, and the challenge they took on in helping develop the seniors strategy. And to date, our gov ernment has announced a number of different initiatives.

Over and above what I've indicated and emphasized, we have $450,000 that was established in '22 -23 to accelerate the ability of Habitat for Humanity to modify, renovate and rehabilitate existing housing for older Manitobans. So people who want to stay at home more, want to stay at home longer –now, all of a sudden, we've gone to a very credible group who's going to go in there and h elp Manitobans stay at home longer. An excellent initiative, and I'm very proud of the fact–and also, too, I must say the Minister of Families (Ms.

Squires) was also part of those initial dis - cussions, and I compliment her wisdom for supporting this particular initiative, Madam Speaker. Another great minister. We have $100,000 to support the historic initiative of –on the historic budget to support the Rainbow Resource Centre. And we're a forward - thinking gov ernment. We understand that there are situations that have to be addressed to ensure that the rights and situations are addressed for seniors also, Mr. Deputy Speaker. And therefore, we worked with the rainbow society to ensure that those initiatives are taking place.

We have a–$1.3 million to support the first phase of 'extanding' palliative care–palliative care in Manitoba. We heard loud and clear; loud and clear from our inner consul tations that the people of Manitoba needed further support for palliative care within their own environments. People who are in the last legs of their life, they needed that support. And frankly, this 1.3 that we're starting to initiate in Southern Health area is going to be expanded to the rest of the province of Manitoba, and we're looking forward to that f urther initiative. Because that's what Manitoba asked for, and that's what they got.

And, Madam Speaker, I can't be –I can't tell you how impressed and how pleased I was to work with the Manitoba Alzheimer Society. These people are committed and passionate and dedicated people. And when we recognized that dementia is a tough disease that really affects a number of families that –and there's different levels of it–and as we went through it with the Manitoba Alzheimer's Society it became very, very clear that this government had to take a role in ensuring that we try to do everything we can to try to address this very difficult, difficult disease.

And we have addressed it; $325,000 in the First Link program, which not only works for the person that's having the challenge, but it also, too–it also, too, works with the people –the people, the families, the caregivers–that are having to deal with this very difficult. I know myself, Mr. Deputy Speaker, my mother-in-law passed away having dementia, and it's tough. You know, it's very difficult. It's very difficult when you go to visit somebody who you love and you've had the oppor tunity and you respect and they have a tough time recog nizing you. That's very difficult.

And so this First Link program really helps those families and something that we felt that we needed to address as well as other initiatives that we'll be announcing to support Alzheimer's society in regards to dementia.

686 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 9, 2023 Mr. Deputy Speaker, as usual I'm running out of time when I get roll ing in regards to things that I'm passionate about, and I certainly am here. I wish to indicate certainly my support for this budget. I feel that it's a budget that, historically, has been– Mr. Deputy Speaker: The member's time has expired. Before recognizing the member for Tyndall Park, I just request out of respect for Madam Speaker, please refer to me as the Deputy Speaker. Ms. Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): Mr.

Deputy Speaker, I'm very happy to rise this afternoon and be able to share a few words on record here in response to the budget. And I'm going to be talking about a whole lot of topics that were mentioned throughout the budget, but I do want to start with post-secondary education. And the reason for this is since the budget on Tuesday, so just a couple days ago, I've had countless students reach out to me and share with me their concerns from what was actually lacking in the budget. And to truly be able to appreciate this, Mr.

Deputy Speaker, we have to go back in time just a little bit but still under this government. When this government first formed gov ernment back in 2016 one of the first things they did was they took away the tuition rebate. And this tuition rebate, it was incredibly important for students. Oftentimes it was used for down payments on houses or to pay off loans or to pay for their first vehicle. And it was well utilized and students across the province really appreciated it. It was sort of giving them a leg up right after they finished post-secondary. And, Mr.

Deputy Speaker, it was noticed when it was taken away, and that sort of –that was their first step when they formed government. Since then they've cut health care for international students. International students contribute so much to our province. We need inter national students more than international students need us. And we should be thanking them. We should be providing incentives for them, not getting rid of their health-care coverage.

And we have some amazing groups here in Manitoba, like MAPSS, in the Canadian Federation of Students, who really take the time to meet with all of us MLAs, and I appreciate their work so much. And I know my colleague from St. James and I, we meet with them quite often and they take time to do Zoom calls with us. They –St. Vital–sorry, Mr. Deputy Speaker–the member from St. Vital and myself. I know these students will often reach out to us through email and through text message and have conversations over Zoom. They'll come to the Manitoba Legislature.

They'll do lobby days, and they express to us the very real concerns that they're facing every single day through post -secondary institutions that are affected by this provincial government. And one of the issues that they always raise is mental health, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

And I think it's really important we talk about mental health because, for a while now, I'd say about two years, I've been mentioning and bringing forward the importance of regulating mental health, regulating psychotherapy here in the province of Manitoba. * (15:30) And, you know, there's a multitude of reasons why this would be important, but the two big ones is, one, affordability. Right now, many people do not have coverage for talk therapy, for psychotherapy. This is a huge resource that we desperately need. And we saw how evident this was throughout the pandemic and even more so now, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

By regulating psychotherapy here in the province of Manitoba, it will ensure that people who need it, who want to utilize it and have the resource, they'll actually be able to afford to do so. The second reason it's incredibly im portant to regulate psychotherapy, Mr. Deputy Speaker, is because we want to make sure that those who are providing the services are properly trained to do so. And allow me to give an example. If you go into the hospital and maybe you broke your arm, you want to make sure that the person who is fixing your arm has their medical degree, knows what they're doing.

When someone goes in to talk to a therapist, that therapist should be properly trained if they are providing mental-health advice. We need to make sure –and by regulating it here in Manitoba – Manitoba's starting to fall behind because other province are doing it –if we regulate it here in Manitoba, it will benefit many, many clients. It will also benefit the therapist, Mr. Deputy Speaker. And that's why it's so important. And just on the topic of mental health, too, if we regulate it, it's actually going to save money in the province of Manitoba. It's a preventative thing we can be doing in health care today.

Just like diabetes pre - vention–we can make sure that insulin and pumps are affordable. And one concern that I'm hearing–and again, this is since Tuesday, so for the la st couple of days–is people who use these tools –like insulin

March 9, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 687 pumps, for example –their concern is they're not actually going to be eligible for them. So, what is this Province going to do to make sure that, across the board here in Manitoba, if you have diabetes and you need these resources, that you're going to have access to them, that you're going to be able to afford them, that you're going to be able to do this right away rather than maybe years down the road. And again, this is a preventative thing we can be doing in health care today.

Now, if I actually refer to the budget, here, physician recruitment and retention initiatives, this is frozen; $25.5 million. This is on page 96. Mr. Deputy Speaker, why are they freezing this right now? We're– we need resources in health care more than ever right now. And we can go back to nursing recruitment and retention initiatives, also frozen. Again, just–it makes no sense why these–health care is the most important thing in Manitoba right now. Why is this government freezing it? Mr.

Deputy Speaker, we also need to be priori - tizing people who are in Manitoba who are trained in health care and would like to work. You know, I have countless examples of this. I go to the McDonald's every Saturday, and con- stituents come and they tell me about their personal stories. And I have one constituent who used to be a gynecologist in India. And they did this for many, many years. They come to Manitoba, they're not allow to practise. If they want to practise, they have to start from scratch in post-secondary. I'm sorry, but if you can practise gynecology in India, I am sure you can practise it here.

And if the government wants, we can do a stan dardized testing, something that will make sure that it's fair, make sure it provides comfort for everyone. I also –I have a con stituent now; she recently moved here, actually, but her husband has been in Tyndall Park for a long time. She moved here from BC. Originally, she's from China. She moves to BC working as a health -care aide, things are going well. She meets this wonderful gentleman, he lives in Tyndall Park. They get married. She moves to Tyndall Park. Now, here in Manitoba, not allowed to work as a health-care aide. She was allowed to in BC, Mr.

Deputy Speaker. We're provinces away. Why is she not allowed to work in health care here in the province of Manitoba, especially when we're so des perately in need of health-care workers? Mr. Deputy Speaker, health care is almost half of our budget, and it's been neglected from this govern- ment, it's been neglected from the previous NDP gov- ernment, for the last 25 years. We need to learn from our mistakes. We had inquiry done back in 2008 about a tragedy that happened, and we've been speaking about it a lot here in the Manitoba Chamber –here in the Chamber of the Manitoba Legislature, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

And nothing was done over the last 15 years about this inquiry. And, unfor tunately, that's why we had another tragedy just this past week. Mr. Deputy Speaker, it is tragic what's happening in our health-care system, and it–people need clarity. You know, I hear from people –people were com - menting on it on my social media the other day. They don't know where to go if they need to have hospital services. All the –all these signs, all these billboards everywhere, U for urgent care, E for emergency room–people don't actually know which hospital they are supposed to go to when they need services for something.

We need clarity. Manitobans need to know what to do if their health is being jeopardized. And the wait-list for surgeries and for MRIs. We had a guest here at the Manitoba Legislature the other day who has been waiting for an MRI literally on his brain, and he can't even get an appointment because the wait-list is so long. The hospital is actually telling him, sorry, sir, the wait-list is so long we cannot give you an ap- pointment.

Health care is, hands down, the biggest issue in our province right now, and we should be doing everything–whether in government, whether in oppo- sition, whether at a federal level, a city level–to work together and actually improve it. Manitobans deserve for health care not to be partisan and deserve for their health to be the No. 1 priority, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Mr. Deputy Speaker, I'm going to pivot here just a little bit. I want to talk about affordable child care. And this perfect example, if we did what we did with affordable child care here with health care, good things can happen.

We saw the federal and the prov incial gov ern- ment work together and come together and do this $10-a-day child care, which is excellent, especially when you just spell it out like that. But there are a few concerns with this recent announce ment, and we're

688 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA March 9, 2023 trying to better understand it and work with the govern- ment to have some more information brought to us so we are all on the same page. With this week's an nouncement, we were led to believe–and I am hoping this is still the case–that child care for any child that is 12 and under living in Manitoba would be $10 a day. That is the way the an- nouncement was presented, that is what Manitobans believed. We have since learned that it is now called regular hours, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Regular hours for child care.

I'm sorry, but if I go to work–if you're –if you have a child and you go to work Monday through Friday, 9 to 5, but your child has an in- service that day, is that not still regular hours? Does your child still not need child-care services if you are going to work on the in-service day? Mr. Deputy Speaker, whether it's in -services, whether it's holidays, whether it's over the summer, it is very deceptive to say that a child will have $10-a-day child care when, in fact, the reality is that's only during regular hours. It was misleading and that should be clarified. Mr.

Deputy Speaker, if I look in the budget here, child and youth services was actually frozen at $7.7 million as well. And, again, with the surge of people going back into the workforce, we want to make sure that child-care services are being invested in. [interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Ms. Lamoureux: I'm looking forward to meeting with child-care facilities within my constituency over the next few weeks. I've already begun reaching out to them. I've heard from a couple, and I'm curious to learn how this has actually affected them.

And I'm really–I'm hopeful that I'm going to come back with positive news on it, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I do want to briefly talk about the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, as well. And historically, this has been an excellent pro- gram. And, you know what? I even want to give the government a little bit of credit: it was invented, it was brought into these Manitoba Chambers under the Filmon gov ernment, and it was a success, a great program. Manitoba would be nowhere near where it is today in prosperity if it wasn't for the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program. So, great, it's going, it's running.

Then, the NDP- form government. Completely destroyed the program. I remember when I first got elected in 2016, people were coming to me and saying, I've been wait- ing five years just to hear if I'm going to be accepted, Cindy. And–so, put this in perspective, Mr. Deputy Speaker, imagine living in a different country, apply- ing for the Prov incial Nominee Program, waiting five years, putting your life on hold, not knowing if you should move, not knowing where you should send your children–school, not knowing if you should have children because you could be immigrat ing right away.

This is–it was completely unfair. Wait times were 'trocious' here in Manitoban, and I am glad that that ended up being cleaned up. And I'd like to think it's because, back in 2016, early on when I first got elected, because it was so bad, I actually did a sit-in here at the Manitoba Legislature. And, surprisingly, it wasn't my first time sleeping on the floors here in the Manitoba Legislature, but it was a very neat experience.

And I even had–the member from Notre Dame's mom even brought us treats to help keep us fed over- night, because it was tough; it was tough having to sleep outside of the minister's office, but it turned out to provide some very encouraging results, Mr. Deputy Speaker. [interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. * (15:40) Ms. Lamoureux: So, since 2016, I believe that the Provincial Nominee Program began to heal. It started to do a little bit better. These wait times–it took a little while, but it actually dissipated. It was good. People were applying; they were hearing back relatively quickly.

And then this gov ernment brings in a $500 fee, that is often known as this head tax. And I don't quite understand it because when the program was first invented, under Filmon, it ran great. There wasn't a $500 fee. So, it's not justifiable that we would need it now if we didn't need it before. Frankly, I think it was people taking advantage of immigrants. Immigrants are willing to pay the $500 fee if they are willing to come here. And, at the time, I was told in these Chambers, on Hansard, Mr. Deputy Speaker, that this $500 fee was going towards settlement services.

And now I recently found out–I asked about it in question period earlier today–that this was not actually the case because the

March 9, 2023 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 689 Immigration Advisory Council is now suggesting that the department do this. So, where has all this money gone? The $500 fee that all accepted applicants have been provi ding to this government over the last–since 2016–six, seven years here–where has the money actually been going when we were told it was going into the resettlement process? Mr. Deputy Speaker, it's a mess. And we're trying to make sense of it, quite frankly.

Last thing I want to talk about today are seniors here in the province, and following the minister who just spoke to seniors, who is responsible for seniors in the province. In 2016, I started fighting for what's called an in- dependent office of a seniors advocate. I actually went down to Victoria because they have an in dependent office for a senio rs advocate, and I met with her and we sat down and we talked about all the services that they actually provide and how beneficial it actually is. So I thought, this is a great idea; let's bring this to Manitoba. So, started talking about it here.

We've done member statements on it. I brought forward legislation on it. I worked with different de partments on it. And we can see how beneficial a seniors advocate could truly be in the province. We know that there are huge issues with seniors and how the y're being treated in the province of Manitoba. This was highlighted so much throughout the pandemic. We can talk abut home care, how home-care workers are often having to rush from one side of the city to the other side of the city. We can talk about fees like ambulance fees. And dental work.

You know, just a couple of weeks ago, I had –someone came and saw me at the McDonald's, and they were telling me how they cannot afford their dental bill, just not an option. So now, this senior is going to end up having way more bills in the future. It's going to hurt our health- care system. It's like this very terrible ripple effect, and if we were to just take care of our seniors, this wouldn't be happening, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Also, home repairs. Something so simple–installing a rail in a person's home, installing a ramp outside of the door–this could enable a senior to remain in their home for years longer.

But if the senior cannot afford it, and the government won't step up and help them do this, they're forced to leave; they're forced to move out of their communities, out of the familiarity and go into a care home where they don't even want to go, often- times away from their families, because of the smallest thing. We could be making huge differences in t he lives of seniors here in the province of Manitoba. And this budget, there's no mention of increasing beds or the pre ventative strategy to ensure personal - care homes is a last resort for seniors; no mention of it whatso ever. It's disheartening.

It' s discouraging. And it is very, very difficult to, in any form or context, say that we're going to support this budget. Manitobans deserve way more that is in this budget right now. If anything, the government should take it back, rewrite it, give us s omething that Manitobans actually need and want. Mr. Deputy Speaker, with those few words,

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	42-5-25
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	42nd 5th hansardpdf 25.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	50e334d550249804ac8e8ad6bc397126f11b7c6d

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