Manitoba Hansard — 8 April 2021 (Sitting 45, 42nd Legislature, 3rd Session)

42-3-45

Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

Third 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. LXXV No. 45 - 1:30 p.m., Thursday, April 8, 2021 ISSN 0542-5492

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

GOERTZEN, Kelvin, Hon. Steinbach PC GORDON, Audrey, Hon. Southdale PC GUENTER, Josh Borderland PC GUILLEMARD, Sarah, Hon. Fort Richmond PC HELWER, Reg, Hon. Brandon West PC ISLEIFSON, Len Brandon East PC JOHNSON, Derek, Hon. Interlake-Gimli PC JOHNSTON, Scott Assiniboia PC KINEW, Wab Fort Rouge NDP 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 Seine River PC MOSES, Jamie St. Vital NDP NAYLOR, Lisa Wolseley NDP NESBITT, Greg Riding Mountain PC PALLISTER, Brian, Hon. Fort Whyte PC PEDERSEN, Blaine, Hon. Midland PC PIWNIUK, Doyle Turtle Mountain PC REYES, Jon Waverley PC SALA, Adrien St. James NDP SANDHU, Mintu The Maples NDP SCHULER, Ron, Hon.

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

2229 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Thursday, April 8, 2021 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. Amen. Please be seated. Good afternoon, everybody.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Madam Speaker: Introduction of bills? Committee reports? Tabling of reports? MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Holocaust Memorial Day Madam Speaker: The honourabl e Minister of Health–and I would indicate that the required 90 minutes notice prior to routine proceedings was provided in accordance with our rule 26(2). Would the honourable minister please proceed with the statement. Hon. Heather Stefanson (Minister of Health and Seniors Care): Madam Speaker, Yom Hashoah, also known as Holocaust Memorial Day, is a day of commemoration for the Jewish victims of the Holocaust.

Yom Hashoah is a national memorial day and a public holiday in Israel, and a day of obse rvance for Jewish communities and individuals around the world. Holocaust Memorial Day is dedicated to the memory of the lives of lost –of the lives lost and the suffering of 6 million Jewish people and the millions of other victims during World War II. Though the events and locations of the Holocaust may seem distant, there are reminders throughout our province, including the names that appear on the monument at the Manitoba Legislative grounds.

We are reminded of the victims who tragically perished, many of whom have Canadian ties. Truly, the scale of loss experienced during the Holocaust is unimaginable. We must be cognizant of the thousands of relatives of Holocaust survivors who bear the loss of their family every single day. It is only by listening to the stories of individuals that we can start to comprehend the magnitude of the suffering from a dark time in our world's history. I've had the honour to hear some of the survivors' stories first-hand.

Today and every day, we remember the lives lost and renew our commitment to remain alert and aware of speech and actions that go against the principles of human rights. In remembering the Holocaust and paying tribute to its victims, we renew our commitment to fight against all forms of hatred and recognize the value of creating a compassionate, diverse and respectful society, and –where increasing connections between all cultures, faiths and ethnicities becomes a benchmark of an equitable Manitoba.

We will not forget, Madam Speaker, and I ask that all members observe a moment of silence in 'remembery' of those who suffered and died in the Holocaust. Thank you. Mr. Diljeet Brar (Burrows): Every year we remember the approximately 6 million Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust. Yom Hashoa h, or Holocaust remembrance day, is marked on the 27th day in the month of Nisan, a week after the seventh day of Passover. It is important to remember the horrors of the past so that we ensure we avoid repeating them.

The world has recently seen a wave of increased hate crimes against minority groups such as Jews, with the FBI counting a 14 per cent increase in the US alone. Jewish leaders have said that these attacks have come in part due to a frightening normalization of anti - Semitism. It's clear that action needs to be taken now, in order to ensure the safety of Jewish communities worldwide. In the past 28 years, The League for Human Rights of B'nai Brith Midwest Region has presented Unto Every Person There Is A Name, a program that has been held at the Manitoba Legislative Building in

2230 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 8, 2021 previous years. At this commemoration, the names of Holocaust victims are –that are inscribed on the monument at the Manitoba Legislature are read. At 8 a.m. this morning, B'nai Brith hosted a virtual reading –due to COVID -19–of the names of individuals and families who perished in the Holocaust and of survivors who came to Manitoba. These people, their children and grandchildren, have made substantial contributions to every aspect of life in our province.

The Jewish Federation of Winnipeg is also hosting a Holocaust remembrance event this afternoon and an online reading this evening of the Megillat Hashoah, or Holocaust Scroll. There will be also memorial events available online both tomorrow and Sunday, and I encourage Manitobans to attend. We must never forget– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. Is there leave to allow the member to complete his statement? [Agreed] Mr. Brar: We must never forget the devastating horrors of the Holocaust and the lifelong impact on survivors and their families.

I hope all Manitobans will take the opportunity to commemorate this important day and to recommit to standing up against anti-Semitism wherever it occurs. Thank you. Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): I ask leave to speak to the minister's statement. Madam Speaker: Does the member have leave to respond to the statement? [Agreed] Mr. Gerrard: Today on Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, we spend time to remember the Holocaust and to build the awareness needed for all Manitobans to understand what happened.

Fifteen years ago –I remember as if it was yesterday–Naomi and I visited the Yad Vashem – The World Holocaust Remembrance Center –on the western slope of Mount Hertzl, the Mount of Remembrance in the western part of Jerusalem in Israel. It was raining when we entered and raining when we left. The drops of rain were like tears falling all around us, tears in sorrow for those, including many children, who died in the Holocaust.

It was a deeply moving experience to visit Yad Vashem, to walk through the hall of names and to learn of so many stories: awful, tragic stories, but also stories of incredible fortitude and endurance from survivors, and also stories of courageous people, both Jewish and non-Jewish, who risked their lives to help Jews to survive and to escape the Holocaust. * (13:40) Today, closer to home, we have the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in our community. It is dedicated to better understanding and awareness of human rights and abuses of human rights, as the Holocaust was.

It is dedicated to preserving memories and to creating a future where we can do everything possible to prevent future genocides. The global effort to respect human rights and to eliminate genocides around the world must continue. Thank you. Merci. Miigwech. Madam Speaker: Is there leave for a moment's silence? [Agreed] Please rise. Leave has been granted. A moment of silence was observed. MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Howard Barker Mr.

Ian Wishart (Portage la Prairie): On March 29, the community and district of Portage la Prairie lost one of its most recognizable voices with the passing of CFRY news director and broadcasting host Howard Barker. Howard passed away peacefully in the Portage and district hospital at the age of 82 after a 14- year battle with cancer. Howard was born in Glenboro, Manitoba, and spent his early years on the family farm, and in '63 decided to go into broadcasting and took a course at Brown Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Upon graduating, he obtained employment at CFRY Portage and remained there for 40 years.

Howard spent most of his time at CFRY as the farm news director, attending many meetings and providing live coverage at fairs from June to August each year from the 1960s into the early 2000s. Howard was also the voice of farm markets that every farmer turned to on a daily basis. A colleague, broadcaster John Aune vividly remembers Howard taking his show on the road with the CFRY trailer, attending local events, annual summer fairs. His was the voice we liste ned to for updates on all farm issues.

April 8, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2231 Howard was also a remarkably talented musician with a passion for country music. He played the guitar in several bands and performed at local care homes until last March. Howard belonged to many other organizations , including Toastmasters, the square dance club, the Portage fair board, and the 10-pin bowling league. The long-time CFRY broadcaster will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Cheryl, his sons and–Trevor and Jeff, and his grandchildren and many other family members and friends.

The passing of Howard Barker is a great loss of a voice which put –which had–which holds a place in history in many rural homes in Manitoba. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Manitoba Educators Ms. Lisa Naylor (Wolseley): In times of c risis, protecting the ones we love is our top priority, particularly the children in our lives who rely on adults for their safety and well-being. Manitoba educators and all school staff have diligently protected our children throughout the COVID-19 pande mic. They've pivoted between in - person and remote learning, sometimes doing twice as much work to help our kids succeed.

They've bought PPE out of pocket, and they've put themselves and their own families at risk. We all owe our province's educators and school staff a huge debt of gratitude for their passion and perseverance in the face of unprecedented adversity. But how does this government repay these hard - working Manitobans, Madam Speaker? They intro - duced a massive bill that discredits educators and seeks to overhaul the public school system and introduced a budget that counts on teachers to pay for supplies with their own money.

The ministers of Education and Finance also wrote a mandate letter forcing a two-year wage freeze on all school staff. In their letter, the ministers blamed COVID-19 for the freeze, but we know that the Pallister government has forced wage freezes on public workers– Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Naylor: –ever since they took office, and they were always planning this one. This wage freeze was previously laid out in Pallister government's bill 28, which was ruled unconstitutional by the courts. This wage freeze is unconstitutional, unfair and punitive.

It was educators, custodians, education assistants, school secretaries and administrators, bus drivers and all school staff who pulled many families through this pandemic, not the Premier (Mr. Pallister). But now he plans to freeze their wages. I call on the Premier to reverse this wage freeze immediately so that our Manitoba education heroes can be paid fairly for their unwavering dedication to helping our children learn and navigate this global crisis. Jean Gunter Mr.

Alan Lagimodiere (Selkirk): Madam Speaker, everyone would like to know how to be a centurion while still being an active member of their family and community. I have the distinct pleasure today to celebrate the life of a centurion, Mrs. Jean Gunter, a long- time Selkirk resident who recently celebrated her 100th birthday in February. At the age of four, Jean moved to Cypress River with her family from Scotland. In order to flourish, Jean had to accept and recover from things she couldn't change. Like most centurions, Jean has lived through the Great Depression, lost friends and los t loved ones.

Jean's own wedding had to be postponed when her fiancé enlisted to serve Canada during World War II. Upon her fiancé's return from the war in 1946, they were married in Cypress River and moved to Selkirk to begin their lives together. Jean has witnessed the tremendous growth in Selkirk during her 75 years as a resident. Jean is resilient. She possesses a strong support for her family and community and 'dispays' confidence within herself. She continues to live on her own home with the l oving support from her family of four children, nine grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

Jean loves the game of hockey and is a long-time supporter of our Selkirk Steelers. She has given to her community over the years by giving many athletes a helping start with their careers through the billeting programs.

2232 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 8, 2021 Everyone wants to know the secret to being a highly functioning centurion. Jean attributes her longevity to keeping busy and by–keeping moving. Madam Speaker, few of us are lucky enough today to become centurions. I offer Jean our con- gratulations and best wishes on such a special occasion. Mrs. Jean Gunter is a shining example of a life well lived and fulfilled by simply keeping busy and supporting your 'compunity'–community. Happy birthday, Jean. Thank you. Kraft Hockeyville Contest Mr.

Diljeet Brar (Burrows): Madam Speaker, I rise in the Chamber today to congratulate the community of St. Adolphe on becoming one of four communities in Canada to be named Kraft Hockeyville 2021 finalis ts. If they win, St. Adolphe will be the first town in Manitoba to become a Kraft Hockeyville winner. The arena in St. Adolphe was built by community members years ago, and it is used for both sport and for community gatherings. The ice plant at the arena broke down earlier this year, and it now requires major updates before it can reopen.

The community responded to this by rallying together to nominate–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Brar: –St. Adolphe for the Kraft Hockeyville grand prize. If the St. Adolphe community club and arena win the final prize, $250,000, they could repair the ice plant, fix a wall with significant mould damage and expand dressing rooms for the growing female hockey program, among other projects. The community would also be gifted the opportunity to host a pre - season NHL game. I want to thank local St.

Adolphe residents for bringing this opportunity to my attention, and I would like to specifically thank Kori Plesiuk and Gurjaspal Singh Bala for letting me know about this endeavour that the community has taken on. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues here in the Legislature today to support the community of St. Adolphe by visiting krafthockeyville.ca and cast unlimited votes on April 9th from 8 a.m. until April 10th, 4 p.m. Let's make this happen, Manitoba. Go, Hawks, go. Lead Exposure Screening Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Order. Mr.

Gerrard: Madam Speaker, very recently, the President of the United States, Joe Biden, announced funding of $45 million. This would go toward the funding of replacing all the lead water lines in the United States. * (13:50) The United States has been ahead of the curve, recognizing that lead is a very serious neurotoxin and is especially harmful to young children, causing developmental delays, learning disability and be - havioural problems. And particularly important to our discussion of education, it results in poor performance of students in schools. In Manitoba, we are behind on lead screening.

Lead screening of children in the United States has been routine. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Continue. Mr. Gerrard: Indeed, up to 30 per cent of children in the United States have been screened every year within their first few years of life. In Rhode Island, the number is up to 70 per cent. In Winnipeg and Manitoba, we have serious problems with lead pollution, and yet we don't have any lead screening of children early in life. Indeed, in this budget there was a complete lack of any attention to this, as has been the case under NDP and Conservative governments for many years.

It is time that we start screening children for blood lead levels so that we can pay attention to where the lead is coming from and we can the n proceed with abatement programs effectively. It's time we act here in Manitoba. I call on the government to act on lead screening of children in our province. Let us help and protect our children.

April 8, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2233 ORAL QUESTIONS Health-Care Funding Budget 2021 Mr. Wa b Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Madam Speaker, yesterday's budget showed that the Premier hasn't learned the lessons of the pandemic. Now, I don't know why he hasn't learned the lessons. Maybe his teachers don't have the school supplies around to teach him. But whatever it is, he's clearly failed to absorb one of the key lessons we learned last fall, which is that our health -care system needs investment in order for it to be able to succeed in protecting us from COVID-19.

And yet what doe s the budget accomplish, Madam Speaker? It cuts funding, in real dollars, for care at the bedside in Manitoba. We need more health care, not more of these Conservative cuts. When will the Premier reverse these funding cuts, in real dollar terms, to our health -care system and announce funding increases in real dollars? Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): Well, again, Madam Speaker, the mendacity monitor hums as the member speaks. The reality is we're $1.42 billion ahead of where the NDP ever were investing in health care.

But, Madam Speaker, the other reality is that money's going to the bedside, and it's achieving better results for Manitobans. So Manitobans have better care and they have it sooner. They have lower ambulance fees than they did under the NDP, too, and that's an added benefit to Manitobans. In their homes–when they are fighting against this pandemic, they're also looking for support in their home and they're looking for support with lower taxes and lower fees. And, Madam Speaker, the budget gave them that and better health care sooner, as well.

Madam Speaker: Just a caution to the member that the word mendacity is not a word that is recognized as–[interjection] It is not recognized as parliamentary in the House. [interjection] So a cauti on to members–[interjection] And the Speaker is standing. A caution to members about language in the House, please. The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. COVID-19 Vaccine Program Distribution Rate Concerns Mr. W ab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Well, Madam Speaker, it's clear what there is less of in this budget. There's less funding for health care at the bedside.

There's less funding for personal-care homes. There continues to be an underfunding of our education system. These are among the clearest lessons that every Manitoban learned during the pandemic. We learned that there needs to be more investment, more direct care at the bedside for seniors living in personal -care homes. And yet, that was completely absent from the budget.

We also know that the No. 1 priority–and they say budgets are about priorities, Madam Speaker –the No. 1 priority right now is the vaccine rollout, and yet the government is failing to accelerate the pace of delivering those valuable doses to Manitobans. No details on how to improve the plan. And if it was simply a question of spending more money, why was that not already being invested in the vaccinations in the first place? Will the Premier stand in his place today and tell Manitobans how he plans to accelerate the vaccine rollout that's failing. Hon.

Brian Pallister (Premier): Well, again, Madam Speaker, the untruth gauge is humming along as the member speaks. With every occasion that rises, he adds to that. And I can only say to the member that we have invested significantly more in health care – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Pallister: –than the previous NDP ever did, that our focus has been on improving services to patients, that we will continue to do that.

And we will also continue to remember that Manitobans have struggled through this pandemic mightily and that we will make sure that we put more money on the kitchen table, not less, because they deserve to get that support. They deserve a break and, Madam Speaker, yesterday's budget gave them that break. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary.

2234 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 8, 2021 Long-Term-Care Funding Request for Increase Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Madam Speaker, well, sure, the budget had taxpayer dollars for the Premier to go and rent his kitchen table from the furniture store, but what it did not have was adequate investments in seniors care in Manitoba. Again, we saw throughout the second wave that Manitoba had among the worst outcomes, when it came to seniors, anywhere in Canada. We saw the very tragic situations at Maples, at Parkview Place, at Charleswood personal -care homes.

We saw loss of life that was very tragic indeed. I thought, at least until the budget was tabled yesterday, that we had all resolved to fix this problem, to make the necessary investments to help seniors, to ensure that they got more care at the bedside. And yet, the budget freezes and cuts support for seniors in personal-care homes. Will the Premier at least acknowledge that his failure to invest in long -term care is wrong and commit to an increase now? Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): Well, again, Madam Speaker, the fact index is suffering as we speak. It's going down, while the untruth index rises.

Again, I can only say to the member that the reality of our investment–rate of investment in PCHs, and it's protecting seniors, is that it's significantly higher, in our five years in government, than the NDP ever invested . Significantly higher investments in PCHs to protect our seniors, Madam Speaker, is what we're about as a government, what we'll continue to be about. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question. Mr. Kinew: Madam Speaker, I was not talking about the shipping containers.

If you would have asked me, I could have told you last year that putting seniors in shipping containers was a bad idea. However, that side of the House disagreed and they decided to invest more than $80 million towards a mistaken idea of putting seniors into shipping containers. We know what it –that–is actually needed in personal-care homes is investments in one-to-one care at the bedside: more time for the nurse, more time for the health-care aide to spend with the senior. And yet, there is not one more real dollar for seniors care in this budget. It is completely wrong.

It ignores perhaps one of the greatest lessons of the pandemic and it does a disservice to seniors–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –right across Manitoba. Will anyone in the Conservative caucus stand up against this madness and do the right thing for seniors by asking for an increase to personal -care-home funding? Mr. Pallister: Well, again, Madam Speaker, I do appreciate the member and his 20/20 hindsight in respect of opposing seniors having visitors. I do appreciate the fact that we disagree with him on this.

And I appreciate him coming out against visitation shelters for seniors, because it puts clearly in view his lack of concern for the mental well-being and mental health of seniors in our province. I think that the ability, that seniors needed, to have more contact with family and friends was impeded mightily by the pandemic. We all understand that. And the member's theory is that we should have just let it go. Madam Speaker, we chose not to. We chose to invest in a manner that would allow seniors to see their family and to see their friends safely–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr.

Pallister: –and I will defend that, Madam Speaker. And while the member may choose to oppose it, he is also in favour, Madam Speaker, of keeping taxes on seniors residences higher, and we are in favour of taking those taxes down to allow seniors to stay in their own homes. * (14:00) We think that seniors should have more contact with family and friends safely, not less. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Education System Funding Request Mr.

Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): We want more care for seniors when they need it every day, more time with nurses, more time with health-care aides, Madam Speaker. There is not one more real dollar.

April 8, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2235 The true barrier to visitation in personal -care homes is the lack of investment in keeping seniors safe by this government, and it only continues with this budget. We know that the Premier is also doing a disservice to teachers.

It was a remarkable display of being out of touch when he suggested yesterday that, after freezing the wages of teachers for years, after making sure that they have less disposable income, that with those fewer dollars, the Premier suggested that they should spend what remaining money they have on school supplies that this governme nt has denied children because of their cuts to education. Will the Premier apologize to the teachers of Manitoba and commit to properly funding education at least for once? Hon.

Brian Pallister (Premier): Well, the member raised two issues: the perso nal-care homes–we spent last year more than double what the NDP did in improving seniors homes in the province. On the second issue, Madam Speaker, the member disrespects teachers again, because teachers like my mother, my sister, have been investing the ir own money for years–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Pallister: –in inspiring their students, and they've been doing it without any compensation at all. Here's a quote: I think it's fantastic when the political parties talk about such a tax grant for teachers.

That was Norm Gould from the Manitoba Teachers' Society. Madam Speaker, that was in '15, when the federal government added this credit. The NDP didn't do anything about it because they'd rather give money to trustees for junkets than they'd put it in the classroom with a teacher. We're for the teachers in the classroom– Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary. Mr. Kinew: Madam Speaker, it is clear that the Premier has not spoken to a teacher in decades.

It's very clear that the entire government is out of touch with every member of the teaching profession in Manitoba, because, if they would put their ear to the ground and listen to the voices of teachers, and if they would share that message that they think that after implementing a wage freeze for years on these teachers that, with those few remaining dollars, those teachers should buy the school supplies that the government should rightly be investing in, they would hear a resounding no from teachers across Manitoba. We know that the Premier's approach and his commentary yesterday was offensive.

The teachers rightly deserve an apology, but, more importantly in the long run, they also deserve to have a properly funded education system. Can the Premier deliver on either count? Mr. Pallister: I can. We are and we will, Madam Speaker: $441 million more in education this year than the NDP ever put in. Members opposite would rather fund junkets for trustees to Milan and New York and Whistler and, as far as I know, Disney World.

Madam Speaker, we're going to put the money into the classroom where it belongs so it can help the children and support the teachers in this province to reach their potential and have a better education than the NDP ever provided them with. Long-Term-Care Funding Budget 2021 MLA Uzoma Asagwara (Union Station): Madam Speaker, too many Manitobans have lost their loved ones to outbreaks at personal -care homes, and the deadliest outbreaks have happened at for -profit homes.

We were all deeply saddened by the events that occurred at these facilities last fall, and unfortunately, the previous minister believed that these deaths were unavoidable, and he questioned the motivations of health staff who were fighting for their patients. With yesterday's budget, it's clear it's going to be more of–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. MLA Asagwara: –the same, without significant investment in long-term care. Why is the minister failing to invest in the care for our seniors at the bedside? [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Hon.

Heather Stefanson (Minister of Health and Seniors Care): Of course, our heartfelt condolences go out to those who lost their loved ones. And, certain ly, Manitobans know that we did build the visitation shelters so that Manitoba families,

2236 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 8, 2021 those that live in personal-care homes, could have the opportunity to visit with those loved ones. And that's what the Leader of the Opposition just said is a waste of money, Madam Speaker. We don't think that's a waste of money. You can't put a cost on what it means to be able to visit with your loved ones. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Union Station, on a supplementary question.

MLA Asagwara: Madam Speak er, increased staff levels, proper relief coverage when staff are away and physical separation between residents: these are the things that need to happen to address the crisis in long- term care that took the lives of far too many Manitobans. We expected, as Manitobans expected, that yesterday's budget would undo some of the damage that the Pallister government has made and make real and substantial investment in these areas. Unfortunately, the budget doesn't do that. Funding for long-term care is below the rate of inflation, and that's not going to get it done.

Why is the minister, like her predecessor, ig- noring the real needs in long-term care? Mrs. Stefanson: Madam Speaker, following the COVID-19 tragedy at Maples Personal Care Home, our government co mmissioned an independent review, conducted by Dr. Lynn Stevenson, and we take the findings within that report very, very seriously. There were 17 recommendations within that report, Madam Speaker, and we have committed to implementing all 17 of those re commendations. We want to ensure that our seniors can live comfortably, can live in these homes.

They are their homes, and we want to ensure that they can have access to their loved ones in visitation sites so that they can have that access to their loved ones, what we feel is very important. I'm sorry the Leader of the Opposition doesn't feel the same way. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Union Station, on a final supplementary. MLA Asagwara: Madam Speaker, instead of deflecting and deflecting and deflecting, the minister and that side of the House have an opportunity, actually, to support Bill 202, a bill that would address the staffing shortages in personal -care homes.

And unfortunately, to this point, they've chosen not to support it. Instead they spent tens of millions of dollars on units that would facilitate and have been facilitating only three visits per day. Now, obviously, we all want to see our loved ones during this challenging time, but we also want to see them well. And that mea ns we need to increase staffing, proper physical distancing between residents and a plan to move away from for -profit– [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. MLA Asagwara: –models of seniors care in Manitoba. This budget doesn't deliver any of that.

After Maples, after Parkview, after Charleswood, why is the minister– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. Mrs. Stefanson: If members opposite cared so much about seniors being able to visit with their loved ones, Madam Speaker, why did they just say that it's a waste of money to have these visitation sites? They can't have it both ways. But what I will say –[interjection]–what I will say, Madam Speaker, is that since we took office – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mrs.

Stefanson: Madam Speaker, s ince we took office, we built 257 personal -care-home beds, with another 253 in facilities currently under construction. That's 510 beds in total. Seniors and their families are a priority for this government, Madam Speaker, and our government is taking a ction to provide better care for seniors in Manitoba. Renters and Small Business Rent Freeze and Tax Changes Mr. Mark Wasyliw (Fort Garry): Madam Speaker, in 2019, the Pallister government greatly increased property taxes on those living with very mode st homes.

This approach continues with changes yesterday that hurt some of the least able to pay. Yesterday's budget left renters and small businesses behind. * (14:10)

April 8, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2237 Here's page 61 of the budget: Landlords of buildings, and not renters, will benefit f rom the changes government has made. Why is the Pallister government focused on landlords over the needs of many working Manitobans during the worst financial crisis in our lifetime? Hon. Scott Fielding (Minister of Finance): This budget is about protecting Manitobans and advancing Manitobans in so many different ways. For average residents in the city of Winnipeg, with an average tax, that's going to save–they're going to get a tax 'rechurd' of $481 for residents of Manitoba.

That's going to be double the next year, Madam Speaker. We're going to do it again. What this budget did, it increases the Rent Assist budget by more than 11 per cent for individuals, $20 million, and it also froze rents for a two -year period. We think that's going to address the poverty issue, and we think that's going to put some more money in Manitobans' pockets. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Fort Garry, on a supplementary question. Mr. Wasyliw: Well, I want to welcome the minister back. I see he's back from hiding.

Now, renters are losing $175, and as we know, the minister's so-called rent freeze–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Wasyliw: –is porous: 100 per cent of appli - cations over guideline have been approved by this minister. This is–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Wasyliw: –an unfair burden placed on renters, many of whom are our front -line service workers in this pandemic. The same is true for many small businesses that lease their space. And, again, the benefits in many cases flow to the landlords, not those holding the lease.

This is obviously unfair and tone -deaf response to those suffering through the worst financial crisis in modern Manitoba history. Why is this minister leaving so many behind? Mr. Fielding: I thank the member from Texas for his return to Manitoba. If you're looking for an expert of someone that's raised taxes, jacked up taxes more than anyone else, you can look at the member that was in– part of the Winnipeg School Division that jacked up taxes more than anyone can anticipate. What our budget does, it provides more money for people, lower income individuals, on the Rent Assist program.

More than 3,300 more people are supported on the Rent Assist program, and that's why our poverty rate has gone down by over 18 per cent, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: Order, please. I would just remind the member that, when referring to other members, it is to be by their constituency names and not other names. And both sides of the House have been, you know, party to this over– An Honourable Member: What? An Honourable Member: Really? Madam Speaker: It's true, both sides have– Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Madam Speaker: Hey, I'm standing.

You know, there's enough of this lack of respect for the Chair, and it's time for that to end. When the Speaker is standing, I'm representing something far bigger than all of this, and big sighs from people aren't going to change my responsibility here. And I have a responsibility that is to be more worried about maintaining a democratic environment than worrying about, you know, some of this heckling that is going on in the House. And part of what I have to do as the Speaker is to maintain some level of decorum in here or we move into chaos, and we've come pretty darn close to that already a few times.

So I'm going to ask everybody's co -operation, please. I'm asking for civility, respect–respect for each other so that you can hear questions and hear answers– and also to just remind members that when you're referring to another member, it is b y their ministerial name or by their constituency name. Mr. Wasyliw: Well, Madam Speaker, we can't be too hard on the member from Kirkfield Park. I mean, he's as confused about geography as he is about public finances, so I think we have to just let that go. But, once again, the Pallister government isn't focused on the real needs of Manitobans.

We just have to look at the programs from last year. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Wasyliw: Back to Work This Summer and Summer Student Recovery Jobs Program: underspent

2238 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 8, 2021 by $27.3 million, or 59 per cent; pandemic stuffing – staffing support benefit–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Wasyliw: –underspent by $9.5 million , or 95 per cent; and Hometown Green Team: underspent by $2.7 million , or 64 p er cent. And there's much, much more. Millions of dollars announced but not put to work for Manitobans is a classic bait and switch– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. [interjection] The member's time has expired. Mr. Fielding: The member's obviously lost. He still thinks he's on the river walk trail in San Antonio.

He's in Manitoba. He should be walking down the Assiniboine, Madam Speaker. What this government has done to support businesses: we've provided over 50,000 individual payments to Manitoba businesses, 125,000 businesses; over $400 million of support to support businesses and over $400 million of support for individual Manitobans; 360,000 Manitobans are better off than they were prior to the pandemic. Post-Secondary Education Funding Request for Government Investment Mr. Jamie Moses (St.

Vital): Madam Speaker, one of the hallmarks of this government is their dogged determination to make life more difficult and more expensive for Manitoban students. In the past year, during the pandemic, many Manitoban students have already seen two tuition increases because of this government's failure to invest. It's so disheartening but it's not surprising that, in yesterday's provincial budget, the government chose once again to reduce funding for post -secondary education, this time by $8.7 million.

The continued underfunding of universities and colleges will result in reduced programming, more layoffs and higher tuition. This makes it harder for life for students in Manitoba and their families. Will the minister change course today and increase funding for post -secondary institutions, yes or no? Hon. Wayne Ewasko (Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration): I'm glad the member brings up a question in regards to our great budget yesterday. Madam Speaker, protecting Manitobans and advancing Manitoba.

We on this side of the House are making sure that we've got the right people with the right skills at the right time here to move Manitoba forward. Madam Speaker: The honourable m ember for St. Vital, on a supplementary question. Mr. Moses: Madam Speaker, this government has cut tuition rebates, cut valuable bursary programs and, year after year, they continue to reduce funding for colleges and universities. On top of that, we se e this government con - tinually fail to follow through with the little funding promises that they make.

Last summer, they promised to invest $120 million in Summer Student Recovery Plan, but only spent 15 per cent of that. This is simply irresponsible. Will the minister get up today and explain to Manitoban students and their families why he refuses to invest in colleges and in universities? Mr. Ewasko: Madam Speaker, I can talk to this member and talk to this member and write letters to various different organizations in the province, but I cannot comprehend it for this member. So I'm not going to start today trying to do that.

We on this side of the House have been working with our post-secondary partners, including students, making sure that going into the future, Madam Speaker, we've got strong programs for students. Our key goal on this side of the House is student success, and that includes tuition fees. We–as I will remind the member –we're the third lowest tuitions in Canada. So I'll take no lessons from the member from St. Vital. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. Vital, on a final supplementary. * (14:20) Mr.

Moses: Madam Speaker, Manitoban universities and colleges are seeing increased enrolment rates; faculty have higher workloads and now the added uncertainty of the COVID-19 and remote learning. We want more affordable education for students. And it's shameful that this government continues to push their austerity agenda during the pandemic and– further moving post-secondary education out of reach for many Manitobans. This will only further disad- vantage marginalized groups.

April 8, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2239 Every Manitoban benefits when post -secondary education is accessible and affordable. So why doesn't this government continue –why do they continue to shift t he financial burden of education onto Manitoban students and their families? Mr. Ewasko: It's interesting that the member will not pivot from his NDP talking points, Madam Speaker. We on this side of the House, again, as I've said before, we work very closely with our post-secondary partners, which includes, of course, the students.

And our No. 1 objective on this side, Madam Speaker, is to make sure that students receive some success–that are going to take us, Manitoba, into the future. We spent over $ 1 billion, Madam Speaker, on post-secondary here in the province, through direct and indirect funding, and if the member wants, he can continue on with the line of questioning, and we can go on for all afternoon with all the good news that I have for Manitoba students. Education System Funding Concerns Mr. Nello Altomare (Transcona): Madam Speaker, yesterday the Premier (Mr.

Pallister) was asked if he was bothered that teachers are having to spend hundreds, even thousands, out of pocket to get children what they need. The Premier responded that it doesn't bother me at all. This didn't reassure teachers that education is a priority for this Premier or his government. They know he is not putting the necessary resources into the classroom to meet the needs of our children. Their education funding was underspent last year. Classroom funding for the coming year doesn't keep up with inflation or enrolment. Why is this government underfunding the real needs in our schools? Hon.

Cliff Cullen (Minister of Ed ucation): Well, Madam Speaker, here we go again from the party of the status quo, the party of last place when it comes to education in Manitoba. Madam Speaker, we recognize that many teachers go above and beyond in their classroom and in teaching kids, a nd we're here to support Manitoba teachers. We think this is a great tax rebate for Manitoba teachers, and quite frankly, we stand beside Norm Gould, who said this is a fantastic tax credit. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Transcona, on a supplementary question. Mr.

Altomare: Well, Madam Speaker, Norm Gould was around six years ago, so talk about going into the past: there it is right there. But the Premier said yesterday it doesn't bother him at all that teachers have to pay out of pocket for the needs of students. In fact, he said he encouraged others to do the same. Madam Speaker, teachers can give as they see fit, but we must first be meeting the needs of our classrooms, not relying on charity for the essential school needs. That approach is going to make schools less equal and less able to meet the needs of students from a diversity of backgrounds.

Underfunding education will guarantee that, which is what this government has planned. Why is this government not addressing the real needs in our schools? Mr. Cullen: Well, Madam Speaker, this budget puts over $3 billion into K-to-12 education in Manitoba. If the member opposite wants to talk about past history, I will challenge him to go back and find a place in history where the NDP, in 17 years, ever invested $3 billion in K-to-12 education. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Transcona, on a final supplementary. Mr. Altomare: I'd like to point the minister to page 139 of the budget document.

Manitoba's rankings amongst provinces on poverty and child poverty are worse than they were in 2015. That's despite billions in federal benefits that we've reaped. The budget this government tabled is not meeting the real needs of our communities or our schools. Instead, the Premier looks to charity. That's not a plan, it's a recipe for uneven outcomes in our schools. Why won't the Pallister government put real programs forward, like a universal nutrition program, to address the needs of all of our students? Mr.

Cullen: Well, Madam Speaker, when we came into government, we inherited some of the highest child poverty rates in the country. Madam Speaker, we've reduced child poverty rates by 25 per cent to date. We have more work to do. We recognize that. We have invested, this year, over $3 billion in public education, K to 12, and we've also committed

2240 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 8, 2021 to an additional $1.6 billion, K to 12, over the next four years. COVID-19 Vaccine Sites Accommodations for Seniors Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, Liberals were contacted today by a Manitoban who tried to book a vaccine appointment for her mother, who has Alzheimer's. When she called to book the appointment, she was told she couldn't accompany her mother, that a health-care aide would do it if –if–one was available, but that the aide might not be able to stay with her and return her mother, who has Alzheimer's, back to her outside.

So the appointment wasn't booked. When she asked assistance for people with disabilities like Alzheimer's, she was told there's a wheelchair ramp. I ask the Premier: Why do the operators booking vaccine appointments expect seniors with dementia or Alzheimer's to navigate the supersite alone? Hon. Heather Stefanson (Minister of Health and Seniors Care): Madam Speaker, I thank the member for bringing this issue to the floor of the Legislature, I guess. I would prefer that he would bring it to my office so we can actually find a solution for this to ensure that this individual gets the vaccine that they need.

Madam Speaker, I think it's very important when these issues come forward that we can work together. This is not a time to play politics with this on the floor of the Legislature. This is a very important issue. I suggest the member bring it to my office and we will work with this indi vidual to ensure that this doesn't happen further, that –or, that they get their appointment and that this doesn't happen to anyone else out there. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for River Heights, on a supplementary question. Mr.

Gerrard: Yes, Madam Speaker, but these are not just individual cases for constituents, these are systemic issues. Liberals had another upsetting call from a constituent, an 80- year-old senior who faced severe difficulties when going to the Winnipeg Convention Centre supersite. She went to the centre with her 87-year-old husband. They were told their daughter couldn't accompany them. They stood in line for three hours. She has bad knees, but the chairs inside had no armrests, so she couldn't lift herself to standing. She doesn't want anybody to go through this sort of thing again.

Can the Premier make sure by the end of today – today–by the end of today, that it won't happen again? Mrs. Stefanson: Well, Madam Speaker, I'm sorry for this individual and the experience that t hey've had. Again, if the member brings it to my office, we would be happy to deal with this. The member mentions just a couple of cases here, Madam Speaker. This is–and then he says that this is a systemic issue. This is –these are individual cases that should be dealt with.

Very important to ensure that these individuals get the vaccines that they need, and we'll continue to work with all Manitobans towards ensuring that those who are eligible get the vaccine as soon as possible. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for River Heights, on a final supplementary. Request for Military Assistance Mr. Gerrard: Yes, Madam Speaker, how did anyone involved in the Premier's supersite facility ever think it was acceptable to force people in their 80s to stand for three hours in line?

There are hiring shortages, while half -trained, half-time workers are staffing critical roles, while people with real expertise are sitting at home waiting to be called. For more than a year, it has never been clear who's been in cha rge of the pandemic response as fiasco after tragic fiasco rolls out. It's been 390 days of amateur hour. The former head of emergency measures says it's time to bring in the army. Manitoba Liberals agree. Does the Premier agree as well? Will he bring in the army? Hon.

Brian Pallister (Premier): Well, Madam Speaker, we're going to bring in the army, and I think we should have done it to get vaccines in this country a lot sooner than has been the case. I would have to say to the member that what is clear here is that the service that was offered to the two individuals he cited was not properly delivered, and what's clear here is that what is at least as improper is his attempt, through histrionic projections onto the floor of the Legislature, to scor e cheap political points on the backs of people who need better health care.

April 8, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2241 * (14:30) So we'll focus on helping the people get better health care, and I hope in future he focuses on the same thing. Affordable Housing Government Investments Mr. Andrew Micklefield (Rossmere): Madam Speaker, we know that many Manitobans rely on affordable housing. We know our government is making record investment to ensure that all Manitobans who need a home have a home. Could the Minister of Families update the House on our government's latest investments in this area? Hon.

Rochelle Squires (Minister of Families): I'd like to thank my friend from Rossmere for that question. Our government was pleased last week to provide $12 million to our municipal partners to address their affordable housing needs. These municipal leaders in Dauphin, Brandon, Flin Flon, Morden, Portage la Prairie, Selkirk, Steinbach, The Pas, Thompson and Winkler are going to help our government ensure that everyone in the province has a safe, a ffordable place to call home. Very pleased to be working with these municipal leaders to address housing needs so that all Manitobans can have a safe place to call home.

Rural and Northern Manitoba Broadband Services Mr. Adrien Sala (St. James): Manitoba Hydro Telecom, a subsidiary of Manitoba Hydro, has played an important role in helping to expand broadband connectivity across rural and northern Manitoba since its inception. We know that Manitoba has the worst Internet connectivity south of the Te rritories, and we are in desperate need of broadband investments from this provincial government.

But instead of investing in Manitoba Hydro Telecom and rural broadband, this government has instead chosen to freeze MHT's operations for the last seven months while they wait for private companies to tell them how to get it done. As a result, MHT's future now hangs in limbo while broadband projects have been unnecessarily delayed in communities across the province. Will the minister tell us today whether or not they will be making investments in expanding broadband infrastructure in rural and northern Manitoba? Hon. Reg Helwer (Minister of Central Services): Thank you for the question on broadband.

We've had a number of civil servants working from home for the last year, and we expanded services to them to make sure that they could do so. We do recognize that it is a challenge in certain areas of Manitoba to access that broadband, and that's why we went out for an RFQ and an RFP to make sure that we could expand services throughout Manitoba where it's needed. Just stay tuned. There'll be an announcement coming soon, and I'm sure you'll all be thrilled to hear what's going to happen. Madam Speaker: Time for oral questions has ex - pired.

PETITIONS Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Thompson, on a petition. Public Child-Care Grants Ms. Danielle Adams (Thompson): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) The pande mic has further emphasized the need for quality, affordable, accessible child care and demonstrates that the government has failed to ensure child care is accessible to all Manitoban families.

(2) Ninety per cent of Manitoba children receive child care through non-profit, licensed centres, and yet funding has been frozen since 2016. These cuts have resulted in early -childhood educators leaving the sector.

(3) While child-care centres have faced increased costs associated with the loss of parent fees due to COVID-19 closures and spent thousands on PPE while open, to keep kids safe, and the provincial government provided no additional financial support.

(4) The government spent less than 1 per cent of the $18 million on temporary child -care grant, and instead gave KPMG double their contract, nearly $600,000, to conduct a review that will raise parent fees and lay the groundwork for privatization.

(5) The provincial government's cuts to the nursery school grants, doubling parent fees for

2242 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 8, 2021 hundreds of fam ilies, making child care less affordable and accessible.

(6) The provincial government passed bill 34, the budget implementation and tax status amendment act, which removed the cap on child-care fees for private sector businesses. We petition the Legislative Assembly as follows: To urge the provincial government to reverse the changes to the nursery grant program and to end the freeze on child -care operating grants while committing to keep public child care affordable and accessible to all Manitoban families. 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. Mr. Ian Bushie (Keewatinook): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. To the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, the background for this petition is as follows: The pandemic has further emphasized the need for quality, affordable and accessible child care and has demonstrated that the government has failed to ensure child care is accessible to all Manitoba families.

(2) Over 90 per cent of Manitoba children receive child care through non-profit, licensed centres, and yet funding has been frozen since 2016. These cuts have resulted in many earl y childhood educators leaving the sector.

(3) While child-care centres have faced increased costs associated with lost parent fees due to COVID-19 closures and spent thousands on PPE, when open, to keep kids safe, the provincial govern - ment has provided no additional financial support.

(4) The government spent less than 1 per cent of the $18- million temporary child -care grant, and instead gave KPMG double their contract, nearly $600,000, to conduct a review that will raise parent fees and lay the groundwork for privatization.

(5) The provincial government's cuts to nursery school grants is doubling parent fees for hundreds of families, making child care less affordable and accessible.

(6) The provincial government passed bill 34, the budget implementation and tax statutes amendment act, which removed the cap on child- care fees for private sector businesses. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to reverse changes to the nursery school grants and to end the freeze on child -care's operating grants while committing to keeping public child care affordable and accessible for all Manitoba families. This has been signed by many Manitobans. Ms. Amanda Lathlin (The Pas-Kameesak): I wish to presen t the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background for this petition is as follows:

(1) The pandemic has further emphasized the need for quality, affordable and accessible child care and has demonstrated that the government has failed to ensure child care is accessible to all Manitoba families.

(2) Over 90 per cent of Manitoba children receive child care through non-profit, licensed centres, and yet funding has been frozen since 2016. These cuts have resulted in many early childhood e ducators leaving the sector.

(3) While child-care centres have faced increased costs associated with lost parent fees due to COVID-19 closures and spent thousands on PPE, when open, to keep kids safe, the provincial govern - ment has provided no additional financial support.

(4) The government has spent less than 1 per cent of the $18- million temporary child -care grant, and instead gave KPMG double their contract, nearly $600,000, to conduct a review that will raise parent fees and lay the groundwork for privatization.

(5) The provincial government's cuts to nursery school grants is doubling parent fees for hundreds of families, making child care less affordable and accessible.

(6) The provincial government passed bill 34, the budget implementation and tax statutes amendment act, which removed the cap on child- care fees for private sector businesses. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

April 8, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2243 To urge the provincial government to reverse changes to the nursery school grants and to e nd the freeze on child care's operating grants while committing to keeping public child care affordable and accessible for all Manitoban families. Madam Speaker, this petition has been signed by many, many fine Manitobans. Diagnostic Testing Accessibility Mr. Jim Maloway (Elmwood): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background of this petition is as follows:

(1) Until recently, diagnostic medical tests, including for blood and fluid samples, were available and accessible in most medical clinics. * (14:40)

(2) Dynacare blood test labs have consolidated their blood and fluid testing services by closing 25 of its labs.

(3) The provincial government has cut diagnostic testing at many clinic sites, and residents now have to travel to different locations to get their testing done, even for a simple blood test or urine sample.

(4) Further, travel challenges for vulnerable and elderly residents of northeast Winnipeg may result in fewer tests being done or delays in testing, with the attendant effects of increased health -care costs and poorer individual patient outcomes.

(5) COVID-19 emergency rules have resulted in long outdoor lineups, putting vulnerable residents at further risk in extreme weather, be it hot or cold. Moreover, these long lineups have resulted in longer wait times for services and poorer service in general.

(6) Manitoba residents value the convenience and efficiency of the health -care system when they are able to give their samples at the time o f the doctor visit. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to immedi - ately demand Dynacare maintain all of the phlebotomy, blood sample, sites existing prior to the COVID-19 public health emergenc y, and allow all Manitobans to get their blood and urine tests done when visiting their doctor, thereby facilitating local access to blood testing services. This petition has been signed by many Manitobans.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. Vital (Mr. Moses). The honourable member for St. Vital, on a petition? Okay, the honourable member for St. James. Public Child-Care Grants Mr. Adrien Sala (St. James): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background for this petition is as follows:

(1) The pandemic has further emphasized the need for quality, affordable and accessible child care and has demonstrated that the government has failed to ensure child care is accessible to all Manitoban families.

(2) Over 90 per cent of Manitoba children receive child care through non-profit, licensed centres, and yet funding has been frozen since 2016. These cuts have resulted in many early childhood educators leaving the sector.

(3) While child-care centres have faced increased costs associated with lost parent fees due to COVID-19 closures and spent thousands on PPE, when open, to keep kids safe, the provincial govern - ment has provided no additional financial support.

(4) The government spent less than 1 per cent of the $18- million temporary child -care grant, and instead gave KPMG double their contract, nearly $600,000, to conduct a review that will raise parent fees and lay the groundwork for privatization.

(5) The provincial government's cuts to nursery school grants is doubling parent fees for hundreds of families, making child care less affordable and accessible.

(6) The provincial government passed bill 34, the budget implementation and tax statutes amendment act, which removed the cap on child- care fees f or private sector businesses. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to reverse changes to the nursery school grants and to end the freeze on child -care operating grants while committing to keepi ng public child care affordable and accessible for all Manitoban families. This has been signed by many, many Manitobans.

2244 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 8, 2021 Dauphin Correctional Centre Mr. Mintu Sandhu (The Maples): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) The provincial government plans to close the Dauphin Correctional Centre, DCC, in May 2020.

(2) The DCC is one of the largest employers in Dauphin, providing the community with good, family-supporting jobs.

(3) Approximately 80 families will be directly affected by the closure, which will also impact the local economy.

(4) As of January 27, 2020, Manitoba's justice system was already more than 250 inmates overcapacity. We petition the L egislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the Minister of Justice to immediately reverse the decision to close the DCC and proceed with the previous plan to build a new correctional and healing centre with an expanded courthouse in Dauphin. This has been signed by many Manitobans. Madam Speaker: Any further petitions? Mr. Matt Wiebe (Concordia): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. And the background to this petition is as follows:

(1) The provincial government plans to close the Dauphin Correctional Centre, DCC, in May '20.

(2) The DCC is one of the largest employers in Dauphin, providing the community with good, family-supporting jobs.

(3) Approximately 80 families will be directly affected by the closur e, which will also impact the local economy.

(4) As of January 27th, 2020, Manitoba's justice system was already more than 250 inmates overcapacity. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the Minister of Justice to immedia tely reverse the decision to close the DCC and proceed with the previous plan to build a new correctional and healing centre with an expanded courthouse in Dauphin. And this petition, Madam Speaker, is signed by many Manitobans. ORDERS OF THE DAY GOVERNMENT BUSINESS House Business Madam Speaker: The honourable Government House Leader–or the honourable Official Opposition House Leader. Ms.

Nahanni Fontaine (Official Opposition House Leader): Pursuant to rule 33(8), I am announcing that the private member's resolution to be considered, if the House is sitting, in private members' business on Thursday morning, April 15th, 2021, will be one previously put forward by the honourable member for Union Station (MLA Asagwara). The title of the resolution is increase staffing and support for personal-care homes and seniors.

Madam Speaker: It has been announced that the private member's resolution to be considered, if the House is sitting, in private members' business on Thursday morning, April 15th, 2021, will be the one previously put forward by the honourable member for Union Station. The title of the resolution is Increase Staffing and Support for Personal-Care Homes and for Seniors. Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Government House Leader): I have a series of committee announcements to make.

I'd like to announce that the Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs will meet on Monday, April 12th, 2021 at 6 p.m. to consider the following: Bill 8, The Pension Benefits Amendment Act; Bill 11, The Workplace Safety and Health Amendment Act; and Bill 18, The Workers Compensation Amendment Act. Madam Speaker: It has been announced that the Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs will meet on Monday, April 12th, 2021 at 6 p.m. to consider the following: Bill 8, The Pension Benefits A mendment Act; Bill 11, The Workplace Safety and Health Amendment Act; and Bill 18, The Workers Compensation Amendment Act.

April 8, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2245 Mr. Goertzen: I'd like to announce that the Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development will meet on Monday, April 12th, 2021 at 6 p.m. to consider the following: Bill 10, The Regional Health Authorities Amendment Act (Health System Governance and Accountability); Bill 56, The Smoking and Vapour Products Control Amendment Act; and Bill 67, The Public Health Amendment Act.

Madam Speaker: It has been announced that the Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development will meet on Monday, April 12th, 2021 at 6 p.m. to consider the following: Bill 10, The Regional Health Authorities Amendment Act (Health System Governance and Accountability); Bill 56, The Smoking and Vapour Products Control Amendment Act; and Bill 67, The Public Health Amendment Act. Mr.

Goertzen: I'd like to announce that the Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development will meet on Tuesday, April 13 th, 2021 at 6 p.m. to consider the following: Bill 33, The Advanced Education Administration Amendment Act; and Bill 34, The University College of the North Amendment Act. Madam Speaker: It has been announced that the Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development will meet on Tuesday, April 13th, 2021 at 6 p.m. to consider the following: Bill 33, The Advanced Education Administration Amendment Act; and Bill 34, The University College of the North Amendment Act. Mr.

Goertzen: Finally, Madam Speaker, I would like to announce that the Standing Committee on Justice will meet on Tuesday, April 13th, 2021 at 6 p.m. to consider the following: Bill 26, The Human Rights Code Amendment Act; Bill 58, The Criminal Property Forfeiture Amendment Act; and Bill 63, The Petty Trespasses Amendment and Occupiers' Liability Amendment Act.

Madam Speaker: It has been announced that the Standing Committee on Justice will meet on Tuesday, April 13th, 2021 at 6 p.m. to consider the following: Bill 26, The Human Rights Code A mendment Act; Bill 58, The Criminal Property Forfeiture Amendment Act; and Bill 63, The Petty Trespasses Amendment and Occupiers' Liability Amendment Act. * * * Mr.

Goertzen: Madam Speaker, could you please call for a resumption of debate this afternoon on the budget? * (14:50) BUDGET DEBATE (Second Day of Debate) Madam Speaker: It has been announced that the House will resume debate on the proposed motion of the honourable Minister of Finance (Mr. Fielding), that this House approve in general the budget ary policy of the government, standing in the name of the honourable Leader of the Official Opposition. Mr.

Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): It is certainly an honour to stand in the House and to speak against the government's budget, which fails to learn the lessons of the pandemic. You know, if you were to ask anybody, if we were to ask ourselves what lessons have we learned throughout COVID-19 this past year, I think a few common themes would come to the surface. We'd probably hear about the importance of health care, particularly here in Manitoba.

We saw last fall that as a result of successive years of cuts to our health -care system, that it was only the heroic efforts of nurses and doctors who kept our emergency rooms and hospitals functioning. We saw, at the same time, that even though many of us know the importance of the health- care system and recognize how valuable it is to have health care close to home when you need it, that it's also an economic and a social issue.

When our health- care system is on the verge of being overrun, then the economy came screeching to a halt and there were tremendous impacts on social and mental health dimensions of our society as well. And yet, what was the government's response? The gov ernment's response after a year of the pandemic was to cut funding in terms of real dollars delivered in health care at the bedside. That means less resources in the coming year than there were last year to care for patients at the bedside.

So after cutting health care for many years, after having to bring our economy to a screeching halt because of the pandemic, the government resolved, you know what, we should have less people working in the health-care system delivering direct patient care to Manitobans. Clearly, they did not learn the lesson of the importance of health care, not just to the health and well-being of Manitobans, but also to our economy, society and to our collective mental health. One of the big issues that we saw throughout the pandemic was also –not just in Manitoba, but

2246 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 8, 2021 everywhere–the impacts on seniors living in long- term-care homes. We saw in the first wave, in provinces like Ontario and Quebec, that long- term- care homes were very vulnerable, and we had very tragic loss of life. Many seniors perished. Unfortunately, even though we knew that that was coming, the government failed to put in place proactive measures to protect seniors in long- term care, and we saw a disastrous outcome, unfortunately, in care homes like Maples, Parkview Place, Charleswood and, sadly, many others.

And yet, after seeing that impact, what was the government's response? The government's response was to freeze funding for personal-care homes. The government, through its actions in this year's budget, is saying that the same amount of care in personal-care homes as was there last year, according to them, is the right amount. And we say that's wrong.

We saw what happened with that amount of investment last year, and I had thought that we as a society all banded together in November and December to say, we're going to fix this thing, we're going to improve personal -care homes as one of the lasting legacies of the pandemic.

But, apparently, those were just empty words for the members opposite, because what they are doing in this budget is guaranteeing that there will be less staff time, less time with a nurse, less time with a health - care aide for every senior living in a personal -care home in Manitoba because they've frozen the funding and then they're forcing that money to go further and cover more patients in more beds. So simple math would tell you that the situation is going to, at the very least, not improve, and probably is going to get a lot worse.

The solution, of course, would be to invest to ensure that there's more health-care aides and nurses who can deliver that direct care to patients. We also see that there's many issues with the education system. The government has –well, being honest here, already being pretty unpopular at the moment–decided to devote a significant amount of their remaining political capital towards trying to implement a plan with Bill 64 to cut the education system.

Then we saw in the budget that despite all the fanfare and rhetoric that Bill 64 was announced with, that their real plan is to continue underfunding the K-to-12 system here in Manitoba. If that weren't bad enough, the Premier (Mr. Pallister) decided to go out and insult teachers by asking that they pay to cover the school supplies to teach children in their cl assrooms as a result of the underfunding that his government has perpetrated on the system.

We were in question period when the members opposite were clapping for their leader as he doubled down on that misguided approach, but at the same time, CBC publi shed the story whose headline said that teachers are insulted and disgusted by the First Minister's suggestions. And rightfully so. It is truly bizarre that a government would try and ask teachers–whose wages they have froze for some five years now –to dip into the shrinking pool of disposable income that they have to buy school supplies that the public system should be furnishing for those children.

Of course, when we look at the post -secondary system, there is a cut in terms of even nominal dollars–not j ust real dollars, but there's a nominal dollar cut–of more than $8 million, almost $9 million. That's less investment in young Manitobans who are seeking to expand their horizons and lay the foundation for a good career. And so, certainly there are many challenges in this budget. And we also note the failure to rectify the ongoing fiasco of this government's mismanagement of Manitoba Hydro. Simple request from IBEW workers was to get out of the way and let them negotiate a fair deal.

The Premier, the ministers, had an opportunity to do so in yesterday's budget and they failed to avail themselves of that opportunity. And so a strike continues. At the same time, we know that this costs Manitobans millions of dollars a day. And so, one of the failures of the government in this budget is for them to fail to disclose to Manitobans just how much they plan to raise their electricity rates by, in the coming year.

They did it in December –in the middle of the pandemic, they made life more expensive –and now they wi ll choose to do so again, perhaps in this year's BITSA bill, perhaps in a stand- alone piece of legislation, or perhaps they will just wait until November, after their Bill 35 passes, and then decide to raise rates by a order-in-council.

April 8, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2247 But whatever app roach they take to bypass the Public Utilities Board, one thing we can conclude is that it is wrong. Manitobans deserve to have a fair and open public hearing to determine the impact of the billions of dollars of export contracts that the Premier has concealed from the light of day.

Manitobans deserve to have a fair and partial hearing that would shed light onto the true nature of the financial health of the corporation so that the workers–among many other stakeholders –could understand what a fair deal might look like and what a fair rate to be set could, in fact, be. So there are many issues with the Province's budget, and I am going to move an amendment that highlights our displeasure and begins to list some of the many failures that this government has.

And, again, there are so many failures, I would encourage any page or anybody who has to table the document–you know, don't stand up just yet, necessarily, because this is going to take some time. It's out of sheer consideration that I give you that advance warning and do, of course, appreciate your role very sincerely. So, I move, seconded by the member for Concordia (Mr. Wiebe), THAT the motion be amended by deleting all the words after "House" and substituting: therefore regrets that this budget neglects the priorities of Manitobans by: (

a) refusing to learn the lessons of the pandemic by further reducing health- care funding and holding it to below the inflation rate, compromising bedside care and failing to prepare for a potential third wave; and (

b) cutting emergency acute-care funding while spending millions on the health trans - formation office to cut nurses and other front-line health -care workers and close rural ERs; and (

c) failing to invest in rural and northern health care to ensure all Manitobans have access to the care they need close to home by freezing doctor and nurse recruitment efforts; and (

d) cutting the Health capital budget, which means less investments in services such as a seizure clinic and new technology and refusing to inve st in training for front -line health professionals, such as nurses, to help Manitobans get quality care; and * (15:00) (

e) failing to improve long-term care and home care for seniors after the Maples and Parkview Place tragedies by cutting long - term-care funding; and (

f) failing to provide any funding or details on addressing the failing vaccine rollout, while freezing funding for the emergency measures office which assists with logistics and planning; and (

g) compromising the Crown corporation, Manitoba Hydro, by trying to influence Manitoba Hydro operations and continuing their unconstitutional wage freezes, by refusing to repeal bill 28, which has caused a strike for members of IBEW; and (

h) failing to be transparent with Manitobans with its plans to in crease hydro rates this year after raising their rates in last year's budget; and (

i) failing to be transparent with its plan to privatize Manitoba Hydro; and (

j) providing millions in funds for insurance brokers but refusing to pay a fair wage to employees of Manitoba Public Insurance; and (

k) jeopardizing access to rural broadband by pursuing privatization and failing to provide investments to ensure rural and northern communities can get connected to high- speed Internet; and (

l) continuing to reduce education funding, cutting literacy and learning supports and supports for children with exceptional needs, compromising children's success and their ability to catch up after the pandemic; and (

m) requiring educators to pay out of pocket to meet the educatio nal needs of children because of inadequate educational funding; and (

n) failing to implement a universal school breakfast program and cutting supports for food security in the North to ensure every child succeeds in the classroom; and

2248 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 8, 2021 (

o) refusing to provide menstrual products in schools to make sure no student is subjected to period poverty; and (

p) continuing to cut funding for post-secondary institutions which will raise tuition, making education less affordable and accessible, cutting supports for apprentices and adult literacy, hindering Manitoba's economic recovery; and (

q) failing to provide any additional aid for small businesses or communities suffering job losses to ensure their success and economic recovery during and after the pandemic; and (

r) failing to adequately fund public child care after five years of funding freezes and opening up public dollars to for -profit centres, all while cutting subsidies for families; and (

s) refusing to invest in local mental health supports and ignoring the a ddictions and homelessness crisis while refusing to invest in supports such as a safe consumption site or building new social and affordable housing units; and (

t) failing to address climate change by continuing a court challenge on carbon pricing while cu tting its own Climate and Green Plan Implementation Office; and (

u) charging people more fees for government services, such as park passes, during a pandemic when more Manitobans are trying to get outside; and (

v) refusing to fund improvements for the North End Sewage Treatment Plant to help save Lake Winnipeg; and (

w) cutting funding to municipalities com - promising their ability to fund services and priorities such as transit; and (

x) failing to support agricultural producers during what is anticipated to be a year of drought by cutting risk management and support programs and cutting fund- ing for Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation; and (

y) failing to provide support for women, BIPOC, newcomers and low -income Manitobans to fully assist in a social and economic recovery from the pandemic, including training and credential recog- nition; and (

z) failing to provide targeted supports with racialized, workplace and geographic data in mind while refusing to implement the living wage for Manitobans; and (aa) cutting Indigenous and Northern Relations budget by millions, compromising consul - tation and reconciliation efforts and freezing supports from Communities Economic Development Fund and refusing to include representatives of the Métis nation in its pandemic response; and (bb) cutting the Sport, Culture and Heritage budget by millions, including the Status of Women, which further jeopardizes economic recovery for women and recrea- tion opportunities for children; and (cc) failing to match the commitment of Manitobans who have worked together heroically and sacrificed collectively to fight COVID-19; and (dd) failing to have any members of the pro - vincial government caucus stand up against this budget.

As a consequence, the provincial government has thereby l ost the confidence of this House and the people of Manitoba. Madam Speaker: It has been moved by the honourable Leader of the Official Opposition (Mr. Kinew), seconded by the honourable member for Concordia (Mr. Wiebe), THAT the motion be amended by dele ting all of the words after "House" and substituting: therefore regrets that this budget neglects the priorities of Manitobans by: (

a) refusing to learn the lessons of the pandemic by further reducing health-care funding and holding it to below the infla tion rate, compromising bedside care and failing to prepare for a potential third wave; and (

b) cutting emergency acute-care funding while spending millions on the health trans - formation office to cut nurses and other front-line health -care workers and clo se rural ERs; and

April 8, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2249 (

c) failing to invest in rural and northern health care to ensure all Manitobans have access to the care they need close to home by freezing doctor and nurse recruitment efforts; and (

d) cutting the Health capital budget, which means less investments in services such as a seizure clinic and new technology and refusing to invest in training for front -line health professionals, such as nurses, to help Manitobans get quality care; and (

e) failing to improve long-term care and home care for se niors after the Maples and Parkview Place tragedies by cutting long - term-care funding; and (

f) failing to provide any funding or details on addressing the failing vaccine rollout, while freezing funding for the emergency measures office which assists with logistics and planning; and (

g) compromising the Crown corporation, Manitoba Hydro, by trying to influence Manitoba Hydro operations and continuing their unconstitutional wage freezes by refusing to repeal bill 28, which has caused a strike for members of IBEW; and (

h) failing to be transparent with Manitobans with its plans to increase hydro rates this year after raising their rates in last year's budget; and (

i) failing to be transparent with its plan to privatize Manitoba Hydro; and (

j) providing millions in funds for insurance brokers but refusing to pay a fair wage to employees of Manitoba Public Insurance; and (

k) jeopardizing access to rural broadband by pursuing privatization and failing to provide investments to ensure rural and northern communities can get connected to high - speed Internet; and (

l) continuing to reduce education funding, cutting literacy and learning supports and supports for children with exceptional needs, compromising children's success and their ability to catch up after the pa ndemic; and (

m) requiring educators to pay out of pocket to meet the educational needs of children because of inadequate educational funding; and (

n) failing to implement a universal school breakfast program and cutting supports for food security in the N orth to ensure every child succeeds in the classroom; and (

o) refusing to provide menstrual products in schools to make sure no student is subjected to period poverty; and (

p) continuing to fund–pardon me –(

p) conti - nuing to cut funding for post -secondary institutions which will raise tuition, making education less affordable and accessible, cutting supports for apprentices and adult literacy, hindering Manitoba's economic recovery; and (

q) failing to provide any additional aid for small businesses or commun ities suffering job losses to ensure their success and economic recovery during and after the pandemic; and (

r) failing to adequately fund public child care after five years of funding freezes and opening up public dollars to for -profit centres, all while cutting subsidies for families; and (

s) refusing to invest in local mental health supports and ignoring the addictions and homelessness crisis while refusing to invest in supports such as a safe consumption site or building new social and affordable housing units; and (

t) failing to address climate change by con- tinuing a court challenge on carbon pricing while cutting its own Climate and Green Plan Implementation Office; and (

u) charging people more fees for government services, such as park passes, duri ng a pandemic when more Manitobans are trying to get outside; and (

v) refusing to fund improvements for the North End Sewage Treatment Plant to help save Lake Winnipeg; and (

w) cutting funding to municipalities compro - mising their ability to fund services and priorities such as transit; and (

x) failing to support agricultural producers during what is anticipated to be a year of

2250 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 8, 2021 drought by cutting risk management and support programs and cutting fund- ing for Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation; and * (15:10) (

y) failing to support–pardon me–(

y) failing to provide support for women, BIPOC, newcomers and low -income Manitobans to fully assist in a social and economic recovery from the pandemic, including training and credential recognition; and (

z) failing to provide targeted supports with racialized, workplace and geographic data in mind while refusing to implement a living wage for Manitobans; and (aa) cutting Indigenous and Northern Relations budget by millions, compromising con- sultation and reconci liation efforts and freezing supports from Communities Economic Development Fund and refusing to include representatives of the Métis nation in its pandemic response; and (bb) cutting the Sport, Culture and Heritage budget by millions, including the Status of Women, which further jeopardizes economic recovery for women and recre - ation opportunities for children; and (cc) failing to match the commitment of Manitobans who have worked together heroically and sacrificed collectively to fight COVID-19; and (dd) failing to have any members of the provincial government caucus stand up against this budget.

As a consequence, the provincial government has thereby lost the confidence of this House and the people of Manitoba. Madam Speaker: The amendment is in order. The floor is open for debate. Mr. Ian Wishart (Portage la Prairie): It's my pleasure to put a few words on the record in support of this budget and against the amendments that have been brought forward.

The rather extensive list – laundry list–of amendments that have been brought forward reminds me a little bit of some of the budgets that I sat through in the opposition position, where they would list endlessly little bits of programs that they thought would deal with problems but simply, in most cases, pa pered over those problems and never really dealt with the issues. Our government has shown a lot more leadership than that and we are willing to deal with the tough issues. I certainly appreciate the opportunity to speak to the budget in favour of the budget.

I believe this is a good- news budget in time of adversity, because there's no doubt that this is –with COVID-19 still in place in the province, this is going to be a time that most Manitobans remember and most Canadians remember for a long, long time. Most of us know of at least a number of families or some families that have been impacted negatively by COVID-19. They have lost family members and our heart certainly goes out to those people and their families for the suffering that they have endured.

And many other people have had impacts in terms of the way that their life was, whether it's through their job or through their community, the isolation that they've had to work through and continue to work through. But our government has taken a number of steps to shield Manitobans from these impacts, and I think that's important that we recognize these and continue to support these. COVID's going to be with us for a while yet. We certainly don't know what the long-term impacts will be, how this is going to roll out into the future.

I'd also like to take a moment to thank some of the people that were involved in putting the budget together–the Department of Finance staff and the minister, of course. It is an awful lot of work to put together a budget and I know that they were very dedicated in this whole process, and I would like to thank them for that, and also for those that sat on Treasury Board and made some of the tough decisions that had to be made. But our first priority of Budget 2021 is to con- tinue to protect Manitobans through the ongoing pandemic. And our second focus is to advance jobs and economic recovery across the province.

We, as a government, have continued to invest more per person on health care, education and social services combined than any other province on a per capita basis, and we will continue to do that. Budget 2021 funding in these priority areas is nearly $1.5 billion, and this includes $156 million more for health care, 91 more for K -to-12 education and post -secondary ed ucation, and $34 million more for social services. And as was announced

April 8, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2251 yesterday, there is $1.18 billion in the 2021 budget for COVID-19 costs in particular. Economic growth and job creation remains at the centre of our plan for a stronger and more prosperous Manitoba. A record $2.1 -billion investment in strategic infrastructure will help drive construction jobs and stimulate the economy. Mr. Doyle Piwniuk, Deputy Speaker, in the Chair Manitobans deserve a break, and that's why we'll reduce the taxes they pay and protect their income at the same time.

We're delivering in full on our 2020 tax rollback guarantee one year earlier than was planned, and keeping our province–promise to phase out education property taxes, a long- standing issue for most Manitobans. Budget 2021 protects our environment for future generations through more action our climate change and protects our clean energy advantage with a secure Manitoba Hydro. The pandemic has significant impacts on this year's finances, but thankfully, COVID-19 won't be with us forever; and over the next eight years, we have indicated that we will get back in a balance situation.

We can grow our way out of this deficit and back to balance. And we will, by –doing so by investing in jobs, in tax relief and economic growth. Manitobans are stronger and more resilient than anything this pandemic has thrown at us. And we have seen it time and time again as people in Manitoba have stepped forward and done what was necessary to deal with the COVID problem as it arose, and we trust that they will continue to do so. I'll just touch on a few of the issues in some areas. In terms of health measures, the health -care funding in Manitoba is its highest level in history at $6.98 billion.

A key investment includes $812 million in capital commitments for rural and northern health care under a five -year clinical and preventative services plan – that's triple our original commitment of $2.7 million. Fifty million to speed up wait times for surgeries and services so that people don't have to suffer in silence while waiting, move that as quickly as possibly can. This is something that has certainly occurred as a by-product of COVID and has occurred in many other provinces as well, and we certainly hope that we can move quickly in regard to that.

Also, an extra two–23, sorry, million for cancer treatment coverage and $9 million more for 120 personal-care-home beds. And, certainly, that will be well appreciated. Creating a program to cover the cost of the continuous gluc ose monitors for the eligible youth under 25 and increasing insulin pump coverage to the age 25. And I know that that will be very well received by many people who are impacted by diabetes. I also like to take a moment to recognize the Mental Health, Wellness and Recovery situation, and thank Minister Gordon for the great work that she is– Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Order.

I just want to remind the member for Portage la Prairie (Mr. Wishart), if he can refer to the minister by their title, not by their last name. Mr. Wishart: Thank you very much for the reminder. The minister of mental health and wellness, to thank her for the great work that she has done, including an initial $3.42 million for programming and services within the new Department of Mental Health, Wellness and Recovery. And, certainly, that's very much needed at this particular point in time.

We certainly have had a number of people reach out to us because mental health is suffering a bit because of the isolation that we're seeing that is g enerated in the process of dealing with COVID. We've committed an additional $5 million to engage with communities and stakeholders on a whole-of-government approach, and an additional $1.7 million for Mental Health and Addictions Strategy, and $1.8 million more for 24 -7 housing supports for mental health. I also like take a moment to recognize the success of the RAAM clinics that have been put in place across Manitoba.

Just last December, one was opened in Portage la Prairie, and I have been following what's been going on there very closely. It has certainly been a busy time for them, and it has helped a number of people in the community. And we're very pleased to have it in place. Now, in the area of Families, we're freezing rent control guidelines through 2023, and I know that this will help a number of families that are renters recover from the crisis, or the economic situation–economic stress that they felt during COVID, and certainly pleased to be part of that.

An additional $22 million for Rent A ssist is committed to help Manitobans who play –pay rent.

2252 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 8, 2021 Renters who see this–their benefits increase by up to 11 per cent to make housing more affordable to help lift Manitobans out of poverty. * (15:20) Twelve-and-a-half-million increase for commu - nity living and disability services, and more than $2.5 million for the wraparound supports for Manitobans that are experiencing homelessness, and that is very important.

Nearly $4 million more for early learning and child care and operating grants of $1.6 million to child-care centres will support nearly 400 spaces that have opened over the past year; approximately 150 new spaces in capital projects opening over the coming year, plus 50 new home -based licensed child-care spaces. And just want to take a moment here. When I was in opposition, I did a fair bit of work as critic of Family Services, looking at child care in other provinces.

And I–repeatedly, we've heard from a number of people that the situation in Quebec is the one that they are most like–would most like to emulate because, of course, they have closest to the number of spots for the need of child care. When you look in Quebec, it's actually very interesting. The biggest portion, of course, are not-for- profits, as we see here. But in Quebec, f ully 32 per cent of their capacity is licensed in-home child- care facilities, private ones. And if we had anything approaching that situation here in Manitoba we, in fact, probably would have a very limited waiting list, if any.

To help families cope fin ancially in a difficult time, we are freezing child-care fees for the next three years, and I hope that that helps a number of people get back into the workplace and get their –get the child-care facilities that they need. In the area of Education, we're m aking record investments, over $3 billion in our public school system: more than $78 million for COVID -related costs through the safe schools program, and they're specific to the COVID pandemic situation, and investments to implement our Better Education Starts Today strategy.

That includes 5 and a half million for special needs funding and nearly $4 million to support online distance and remote learning, which has become much more–the need for which has become more evident during the COVID crisis. We're also introducing a new refundable teaching expense credit so educators in child care and kindergarten and grade 1 can claim up to 15 per cent. And I know the opposition seems very offended by this. This is actually –aligns very nicely with the federal tax credit in this area, and it also is a recognition of what's existed for many years because many teachers have been doing this.

If they choose not to, that is their choice, but for those that have been doing it, this is a recognition of the special nature of this, and helping them with a little bit of a tax credit along the way. In terms of tax relief, I would like to take a few moments here to talk about the education property tax and our 50 per cent over the next two years reduction commitment for residential and farm properties; that's 25 per cent per year. This is a very important one. Before I got into in–provincial politics, I was in – president of Keystone Agricultural Producers for six years, I guess it was.

And during that time we lobbied extensively NDP government of the day to help producers deal with this situation and the stress that was caused by education property tax and the fact that it's not an even distribution. Certain sectors of society are paying quite a disproportionately higher portion of the education tax, and we lobbied extensively in regards to that. Got very little satisfaction, as I said, they came up with a small program that papered over the current situation but didn't really deal with the problem. And our government has shown the nerve and the backbone to deal with the problem.

We're really the only province left that is funding education in this way. And it's historically kind of interesting in that, really, the basis for the funding of this goes back to the Homestead Act of 1872. And I can tell you an awful lot of things have changed, not only in education but in rural Canada since that time. And, really, since 1930 when it was turned over to the provinces, this has been an increasing burden really based on the theory that we used to have one family on every quarter

section of the farm, and, of course, those days are long gone, not only in the farm but also in urban centres. And there is no equity in the perception that property generates a certain value and if you have a lot of property that you must be financially well off.

April 8, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2253 There is simply not any real connection or ability -to- pay connection. So, certainly I am glad to see that this is–has finally started to be recognized and moved on, and I applaud our government especial ly for having moved on this –and in a difficult time –but in recog- nition of the unfairness of the situation. And I can tell all members that I know that the money saved will be put to good use; many cases it'll likely be applied against mortgages because i n the process of making–dealing with those mortgages, taxes are often part of that calculation.

And so money left over that didn't go to taxes will very often be available to help deal with either monthly payments or as lump -sum payments on mortgages, if that's an option for the individual, and that will help a lot of families out in a major way. So I am certainly pleased to see movement on that. Homeowners, actually, in Manitoba will probably get an average of about $800 by year 2 on this situation. We're also removing the retail sales tax on personal services and reducing vehicle registration fees by another 10 per cent. And all of these things will help put more money on the kitchen table.

Did want to mention a little bit about investments in strategic infrastructure; I think those are very important ones. We all know that you need good, solid infrastructure, and in particular I'm looking forward to something at the junction of 1 and 16, an area in our constituency that has historically been a real problem in terms of accidents; it can be very challenging. It has actually gotten so that many people in the city of Portage flinch when they see the fire truck headed west because they know something has gone wrong at that intersection.

And so we're certainl y looking for better solutions and greater safety for all Manitobans. So we're very happy to see movement come on that. And, of course, there are other infrastructure projects that many of us across the province are looking for, based on need, including construction on South Perimeter at St. Mary's, which I know is another bad intersection that people are very concerned about. Budget 2021 also commits to a three-year horizon or a minimum of $500 million per year in terms of infrastructure investments.

And that–certainly the predictability makes it very valuable, not only to us as the people of Manitoba, but also the industry likes that in terms of the ability to plan their projects. And I know that one of the other projects that we have committed the funding this year is $101 million set aside for the Lake Manitoba- Lake St. Martin outlet, and I know how much damage that did, not only to people in the community and the communities themselves because it virtually destroyed some smaller communities around the lake, but also environmentally.

There are areas around the lake that do not look like they did prior to the flood in 2011, and it may be a long time before they ever get back to that situation, and we certainly don't want a repetition of that type of situation. So we need to put in place the infrastructure to prevent that. Now, I see my time is getting short and I haven't even begun to get through quite a few of the projects and parts of the budget that I do strongly support. But I would like to take this moment to emphasize that we should all be supporting this budget. I do not support the amendments that have been put forward.

I'd also like to take this moment to thank the staff at the Legislature who have been working so hard during the rather difficult sessions that we put forward. Things are working relatively well in terms of remoteness and that is certainly very positive, because we do need to have ongoing democracy during a situation like this. So I'd like to thank you as well. * (15:30) With th at, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I will give the floor back to whoever wishes to speak. Thank you. Mr. Mark Wasyliw (Fort Garry): The impact of COVID hasn't fallen equally on all Manitobans.

We know that low-wage workers have borne the brunt of job losses. We know that women, non- unionized workers, renters, small business owners, have disproportionally lost their livelihoods. We also know that low -wage and racialized workers are over - represented in front-line jobs deemed essential. As of January 2021, female unemployment rate is 9.4 per cent in Manitoba. Youth unemployment rate sits at a shocking 18.9 per cent. And these are under estimates; these are the ones that are looking for jobs. Many have stopped looking, and that number is much higher.

We also know that there's many female workers out there who can't get adequate child care in Manitoba–it's neither accessible nor affordable, and as a result, they've been forced out of the labour force.

2254 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 8, 2021 So those numbers, as shocking as they are, are actually much, much worse. Now, let's look at the pre -pandemic economic approach of this government, because it's weakened us. It prevented Manitoba from responding in a strong and confident position and it has resulted in the loss of life and the economic devastation of our province. And, of course, it starts with this government's policies of austerity and cuts and the tens of thousands of good, middle -class, family -supporting jobs that they eliminated.

They made us poor; they engaged in unfair labour bargaining that resulted in good family- paying jobs, having them frozen, which essentially is a unilateral cut in pay. They've engaged in battles with teachers and bus drivers and caretakers and civil servants, and all these things result in legal action and work stoppages a nd costs. It's very expensive to be a toxic employer, which I hope that this government is starting to understand. They failed to fill vacancies. Just in the ministry that I'm monitoring, 27 per cent of our tax collectors– that's crazy. And it's throughout the civil service.

And of course, when they've had these disastrous economic policies, there is an impact on our economy. When they took office, we had the second lowest unemployment rate in Canada–we're now, I think, down to seventh; we had the second f astest growing economy in Canada–we've now fallen down to seven. Austerity reduces economic growth and increases inequality, and that was before we went into a pandemic. So, let's talk about their pandemic spend- ing. The Pallister government is reluctant to spend any money at the start of the pandemic, and we know this. They pursued an aggressive austerity approaches.

When other provinces were supporting their popula - tions, we were firing ours. The Pallister government fired close to 12,000 Manitoba wor kers–again, in good- paying, often unionized employment–stuff that could actually –you could support a family with. The only other government that thought this was a good strategy was Alberta. There is no surprise that the two most -hated premiers in this country are Manitoba and Alberta–two most out-of-touch, econo- mically illiterate premiers in this country, right. The initial cuts exacerbated the crisis.

One economist estimates that we lost 1.3 to 1.5 billion dollars in economic revenue because of these 12,000 job cuts, and an estimated loss of 157 to 189 million dollars in tax revenue. That's money that could be used to fight the pandemic, which went out the window because you thought that was a good time to throw Manitobans out of work. So, thankfully, the federal government stepped in and there was very minimal supports and then of course what happened?

The official opposition did its job, and we had to shame this government and shame them, and finally they would give a little bit more reluctantly and give a little bit more reluctantly. They would announce these eye -popping numbers of hundreds of millions of dollars for supports and then they would make it impossible to apply for these programs. They were all undersubscribed, and the reality being they had absolutely no intention of actually helping Manitobans.

They designed programs to fail, and it was only through a public backlash that they actually moved on these programs and, of course, we started with loans for small business and finally we ended up with grants. And then, of course, we look at all the millions of dollars that they wasted. Talk about PPE contracts that they couldn't simply fill out an order form properly and get the right specifications. Tens of millions of dollars was wasted on that. They were sending expired PPE to our front-line workers. Then we have the $7.2 million Providence Therapeutics boondoggle.

That's a non -refundable deposit, and basically, the government's investing in magic beans. This vaccine is unproven, it hasn't received any sort of regulatory approval and even if it does come about, it'll be a year from now when Canada will be absolutely swimming in vaccines by this summer. We already have four official vaccines that are approved, two on the cusp of being approved and all six of them will be in a position to be in Manitoba by the summer. Yet, why are we throwing $7.2 million out the window?

Well, because there are connections with this Calgary -based company and the Pallister government, and there's a political e lement to it. It's no different–[interjection]–it's no different than selling polar bear licences to the top donor of the Conservative Party of Manitoba. That's not a

April 8, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 2255 mistake, right? There's a pay-for-play that's unseemly over there in that side of the House. At the same time, you know, Pembina Trails–one of the school divisions in my area –they have a $7-million deficit because of a education funding cuts. Nineteen teachers are needed to keep up with the 350 new students that they have in the fastest growing division in the province, and they don't have that money and kids are going to be crammed into classes.

And this government doesn't care, and they would rather throw $7.2 million out the window than make sure that we have appropriate class sizes, th at every child has a reasonable sized class to learn in. So we could go on and there's more, but I want to get to this budget and its failings. This government hasn't learned anything from the pandemic. It didn't learn anything from their failure during the second wave and the lives lost. They didn't learn anything through the second lockdown, and they've learned nothing from their failed vaccine rollout.

So, the government is prioritizing their political needs over the needs of Manitobans. So, how did we get here? Well, we have a record high deficit from last year and a second, near-record- high deficit this year, and the government is borrowing money like never before and the two main scapegoats for this government is the federal government. They blame everything on the federal government. They also blame Manitoba Hydro. That's their other scapegoat. But the federal government has gave them almost a half a billion dollars more in federal transfers this year.

Manitoba Hydro, with the new dams and transmission lines that they hate, gave them a half a billion dollars extra this year that they didn't have. Those two boogeymen of the Pallister government provided a billion dollars of revenue this year for this government. * (15:40) But it doesn't stop there. The other boogeyman is Crown Services. So they want to privatize everything, and of course the next on the hit list is Manitoba's Liquor & Lotteries. Well, guess what? Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries is going to be projected to have $189 million more profit this year that directly will go to assist this government.

So, of course, they got to privatize it and of course they've got to sell it at fire - sale prices to some campaign donor of theirs. So–and we've seen how else they've raised money this year on t he backs of students. They're making life less affordable for Manitobans. They're raising $41 million off of increases in post-secondary education at the same time that they're cutting almost $9 million in direct operational funding, leaving aside inflationary costs. And despite borrowing record amounts of money, they're actually paying less interest this year because the interest rates are so much cheaper.

So, between Hydro, the federal government, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, they've seen a huge increase in revenue this year. In fact, this government has more revenue this year than they had pre - pandemic, and that's an amazing thing. Now–[interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Mr. Wasyliw: –what hasn't increased, of course, is income and personal tax rate. Those have gone down. Why? Because when you fire 12,000 people, they don't pay taxes. When you fire 12,000 people, they don't use stores and businesses and put money into the local economy. So you're going to see a drop in income and corporate tax rates.

And so what does this government do with an historic amount of revenue? They have had more revenue sitting in their bank accounts than any other previous government in Manitoba. What is it they're going to do? Are they going to help female workers with their 9 per cent unemployment rate? No. Are they going to help the 19 per cent youth unemployment rate? No. Are they going to do anything 'toor' the environment? No, they actually cut funding for environmental programs. So, what do they use i t for? Tax cuts.

And they have cut our taxes so much that our tax-to-GDP ratio has fallen from 25 per cent all the way down to 23 per cent. And the public –sorry, the Parliamentary Budget Office had–did an analysis in Manitoba's finances and said that the current Pallister government process is unsustainable – it's unsustainable. You cannot fund government the way that they're doing. And it's reckless. This is a government that's had two credit downgrades –two. No government in the history of Manitoba has ever had two back-to- back credit downgrades. You've been in power for

2256 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 8, 2021 five years and no credit upgrades in that period of time. Why? Because you have been cutting taxes. So, when we look at some of the taxes here, we have first the education property t ax–25 per cent flat rate tax reduction. So we certainly agree that income tax should pay a larger percentage of education funding, but this was cynical and dishonest from the start. It was originally said that it would be phased out over 10 years.

All of a sudden I'm looking over there and there's at least three members that are going to lose their seat next election, given the polling numbers, and they're panicking–they're panicking. They know that this is their –you know, the time's short for them–[interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order, order. Mr. Wasyliw: –and they're in some big trouble – [interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Order. Order. When I get up here, it's order. Mr. Wasyliw: And, well, obviously , with displays like that, Mr.

Deputy Speake r, you can see why this government is so hated by Manitobans and why their days are very much numbered. So, they're doing this with borrowed money – borrowed money. They're borrowing money to give a tax cut, and by giving a 25 per cent flat -across-the- board tax cut, we're basically giving a huge handout to the wealthiest Manitobans, right? There was a way to do this that could have been progressive; there was a way of doing this to get money into the hands of lower and middle -income Manitobans. But, it's a missed opportunity. So, the Premier (Mr.

Pallister) pays $16,000 a year in education property taxes –going to get a $4,000 rebate check. Average Winnipegger who pays $1,500 in education property tax will get a $375 rebate. In what world is that fair? In what world does that make any economic sense? So, the second big, you know, tax credit is of course with teachers. Because, you know, this government has now recognized yes, we're under - funding education; yes, we don't value it; we're going to do, like, s o much damage to your schools that, teachers, it's up to you to supply, you know, materials to your students. But, you know what?

We'll give you a coupon. You'll be able to go to the store and you're going to get a 15 -per-cent-off coupon on valuable teaching materials that we will no longer give you money for to do your school. So, leaving aside how disrespectful and out -of- touch and bizarre that is, but that is basically the entire education response from this government. So then we're looking at the indexing of basic personal exemption. It's a loss of tax of $16 million that disproportionally goes to the wealthiest Manitoban. The more you make, the more you're going to save from this.

And again, it's one of another sort of death -by-a-thousand-cuts tha t makes our income tax system that more unfair, unequal. And we're seeing child poverty rates go up; we see social inequality go up; we see all kinds of social deter - minants of health related to poverty go up. And of course, then this is the great one: you are going to borrow money to remove PST on expensive spa and fancy haircuts. Because that's what will get Manitoba back on track right now.

So, you know, for all those people who, you know, are struggling to spend a hundred dollars on a haircut –they need a coupon from this government in order to do it. Now, there's a little bizarre part about this: the government says in their speech that they'll –they're going to waste $8 million in another budget material– I think it's $7 million they're wasting–when you flip to the back of the budget documents, the actual Finance Department predicts it'll be about $2.7 million. Whatever the point is, whenever I talk to a mother about this, she goes: you know what?

I'm prepared to pay PST on my haircut; what I'm not prepared is to have my kid in a classroom with 40 other kids. You know? I'm prepared to pay those few extra dollars when I go to a salon for something I choose to do, but I want to make sure that when my kid goes to school, there's a teacher librarian there fo r them; there's an English as an additional language instructor, that they have actual number of teachers to help the actual number of kids. And of course, you know, this government is just out to lunch, and it's all about supporting– Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Mr.

Wasyliw: –wealthy Manitobans over regular Manitobans. And that's everything that this government does

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	42-3-45
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	42nd 3rd hansardpdf 45.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	55700a5052bed00c7a99c2478b394f3725c70815

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