Province of Alberta The 28th Legislature Second Session Alberta Hansard Thursday, March 20, 2014 Issue 12 The Honourable Gene Zwozdesky, Speaker

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

W) Barnes, Drew, Cypress-Medicine Hat (

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

W) Strankman, Rick, Drumheller-Stettler (

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

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

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

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

STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future Chair: Mr. Amery Deputy Chair: Mr. Fox Dorward Eggen Hehr Kubinec Lemke Luan McDonald Pastoor Quadri Rogers Rowe Sarich Stier Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund Chair: Mr. Casey Deputy Chair: Mrs. Jablonski Amery Barnes Dorward Eggen Khan Sandhu Sherman Select Special Ethics Commissioner Search Committee Chair: Mr. Rogers Deputy Chair: Mr.

Quadri Blakeman Eggen Goudreau Lemke Leskiw McDonald Saskiw Standing Committee on Families and Communities Chair: Ms Olesen Deputy Chair: Mrs. Forsyth Cusanelli DeLong Fenske Fritz Jablonski Jeneroux Leskiw McAllister Notley Pedersen Sandhu Swann VanderBurg Standing Committee on Legislative Offices Chair: Mr. Jeneroux Deputy Chair: Mr. McDonald Bikman Blakeman Brown DeLong Eggen Leskiw Quadri Wilson Young Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services Chair: Mr. Zwozdesky Deputy Chair: Mr. VanderBurg Casey Forsyth Fritz Johnson, L.

Kubinec Mason McDonald Sherman Towle Standing Committee on Private Bills Chair: Mr. Xiao Deputy Chair: Mrs. Leskiw Allen Brown Cusanelli DeLong Fenske Fritz Jablonski Notley Olesen Rowe Stier Strankman Swann Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing Chair: Ms Kubinec Deputy Chair: Mr. Rogers Calahasen Casey Kang Khan Luan Notley Olesen Pastoor Pedersen Saskiw VanderBurg Wilson Young Standing Committee on Public Accounts Chair: Mr. Anderson Deputy Chair: Mr.

Dorward Allen Amery Barnes Bilous Donovan Fenske Hehr Khan Luan Pastoor Sandhu Sarich Young Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship Chair: Mr. Khan Deputy Chair: Mr. Anglin Allen Bikman Bilous Blakeman Brown Calahasen Casey Goudreau Hale Johnson, L. Webber Xiao Young

March 20, 2014 Alberta Hansard 317 Legislative Assembly of Alberta Title: Thursday, March 20, 2014 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 20, 2014 [The Speaker in the chair] head: Prayers The Speaker: Hon. members, the duties we inherit upon becoming elected members of an Assembly such as this are difficult to des cribe, and they impact each of us in very different and very personal if not unique ways. However, we are all very acutely aware of the strain and the stress that is put upon our families and our loved ones, who share what many would describe as the burden of public office.

Bearing that in mind, let us pray for the well -being of our families, of our friends in addition to the well-being of all Albertans, who sent us here to be of service to them. Amen. Please be seated. head: Statement by the Speaker Member for Lesser Slave Lake 25th Anniversary of Election The Speaker: Hon. members, on that note, today actually marks a very special anniversary which deserves special recognition in our Assembly. On March 20, 1989, that being 25 years ago, a particular member was elected to this Assembly for the first time.

She has since been re-elected seven consecutive, successive elections. [Standing ovation] Hon. members, the thunder is well deserved, but it has been stolen from your Speaker. She has been re-elected seven successive elections, and this is truly a remarkable achievement. Eight hundred and twenty -nine members have been elected to this Assembly since 1905, and only 15 of those members to date have served for 25 years or more. The member in question becomes the 16th in this line and the first woman ever to reach that milestone. [applause] My thunder is stolen twice in one day. Well deserved.

Now may I ask this hon. member to please come forward and receive a special token of thanks on behalf of all Albe rtans and especially colleagues in this Assembly for 25 outstanding years of service to the province of Alberta. For this we have a special commemorative pin, which I would like to place on your person in recognition of this milestone. Ms Calahasen: Be careful where you pin that. The Speaker: I don’t think I have felt this nervous since my wedding day. There we are. Hon. members, please join me in thanking the Member for Lesser Slave Lake. Thank you, hon. members.

Please be seated. head: Introduction of Guests The Speaker: Hon. Member for Lesser Slave Lake, we know you have several guests, and I would invite you now to introduce them all to us, please. Ms Calahasen: Mr. Speaker, 25 years ago today a small group of family and friends truly believed that thi s trapper’s daughter could bring a different perspective to this Legislature. Without a structured organization and without any money they pulled off a miracle.

Today I am very proud to introduce to you and through you to the members of this Assembly some of my family and friends who played a major role in getting me elected. I ask that they rise as I call their names. Seated in your gallery are Ann Marie Auger from Slave Lake, Solomon Auger from Slave Lake, and Michael Auger originally from Slave Lake. Seated in the public gallery are Yvonne Anderson and Jim Robertson from Grouard and Sherry Anderson and Gil Giroux from Gift Lake. Seated in the members’ gallery are some of my family: Helen Calahasen, Freda Dennison, Mena Calahasen, and Roland Calahasen.

Unfortunately, my daughter is not in the country and couldn’t be here, and my husband had to work because somebody has to bring in the money. I ask that all the members in this Assembly give my guests a very hearty welcome to this Legislature. The Speaker: Thank you, hon. member. Congratulations, once again. Respected members, it’s with great pleasure that I introduce two very special young people who are seated as my guests in the Speaker’s gallery. They are here with their family, friends, and representatives of Alberta Easter Seals. Those would be the Easter Seals stamps that greeted you as you entered.

First, I want to introduce seven-year-old Portia Dugan, who is this year’s Easter Seals ambassador. She is seated in the wheelchair there with her caregiver. She enjoys art, swimming, and especially riding her bike. Thank you, Portia, for coming. Secondly, I’d like to introduce 13-year-old Jacob Dunn. Jacob is from northern Alberta and was the ambassador in 2013- 14. He lives with a kidney diseas e that challenges his active life, but in spite of that he did a yeoman’s job this past year as the Easter Seals ambassador. He received the Speaker’s special merit award for outstanding service.

Congratulations, and thank you to you, Jacob. Portia’s parents, Isabel Marangoni and Michael Dugan, are here along with grandmother Pierina Marangoni. Please rise. Jacob’s mother, Jennifer Dunn, is here. Representing Alberta Easter Seals are Jodi Zabludowski, the director of operations, and Darla Zuk, events manager, who do a tremendous job for Easter Seals, whose campaign started yesterday. Good luck to all of you, and thank you for what you’re doing for thousands of Albertans. Let us move on to the hon. Member for Lac La Biche-St. Paul - Two Hills. Mr. Saskiw: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am pleased to rise today and introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly a group of students from the Glen Avon school in St. Paul. They are spending the afternoon here today at the Legislature, and they are joine d by their teachers, Mr. Shane Boyko, Mrs. Karen Kendel, Mrs. Linda O’Neill, and teaching aide Mrs. Rhonda Collins. I have been informed that Mrs. O’Neill’s birthday is on Saturday, but I won’t tell all Albertans which birthday it is. I’d ask that they ple ase rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly.

The Speaker: Are there other school groups or youth to be introduced? If not, let us move on, then, to the Associate Minister of Recovery and Reconstruction for Southeast Alberta. Mr. Weadick: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s indeed a pleasure to rise. I don’t get to do this very often, have people here from my constituency in southern Alberta. I would like to introduce to you and through you to everybody here two ladies, Ms Sheila Rogers and Ms Karin Champion. Both of these ladies have been hard -working, active people in Lethbridge that have

318 Alberta Hansard March 20, 2014 been involved in the No Drilling Lethbridge campaign and are here today as their petition with over 11,000 names will be tabled by the hon. Member for Calgary-Mackay-Nose Hill a little later on. I’d like to ask both ladies to rise and receive the warm welcome of this Assembly. 1:40 The Speaker: The hon. Associate Minister of Recovery and Reconstruction for Southwest Alberta, followed by Calgary-Shaw. Mr. Fawcett: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It’s an honour today to rise and introduce to you and through you the wife of someone that many of the members here in the Assembly know, Lanny Westersund. His wife, Annie Graham, and her friend Dana Jans are with us to day. Annie and Lanny are constituents of mine in Calgary-Klein, and I can honestly say that Annie is the best thing that’s ever happened to Lanny. If they could rise and be given the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly, that would be great. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary -Shaw, followed by Edmonton-Riverview. Mr. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It’s my pleasure to rise and introduce to you and through you to all members four guests. Mare Donly and Linda McFarlane are members of the Calgary Social Workers for Social Justice Committee, a subcommittee of the Alberta College of Social Workers, and are in Edmonton to present at the ACSW conference on Friday. Their interest in social justice issues keep them active in the areas of long -term care, affordable housing, and poverty reduction. With them are Joe Ceci and Mike Brown, also in Edmonton to present at the ACSW conference.

Many of you will recognize Joe from his time serving as an alderman in the city of Calgary. Today they are representing Action To End Poverty in Alberta. I would ask Mare, Linda, Joe, and Mike to please rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Riverview , followed by the Minister of Energy. Mr. Young: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly Ruth Adria, who is a retired nurse and a passionate advocate for seniors.

I’d ask that she rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Energy, followed by the leader of the Liberal opposition. Mrs. McQueen: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a pleasure to rise today to introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly one of my outstanding staff from our Calgary office. Mr. Craig Watt is here to join us in question period. Craig, thanks for being here. Let’s give him the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. leader of the Liberal opposition, followed by Stony Plain. Dr. Sherman: Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. I have two introductions. It’s my pleasure to introduce to you and through you to all members of this Assembly Shauna McHarg and Dennis Dupuis. Shauna and Dennis have been made victims of our embattled health care system. As advocates for their family members in care they’ve been punished for speaking up, banned from seeing their loved ones, when those loved ones need their support most. They’ve asked for an opportunity to meet with the hon. Minister of Health. I have given him the ir names and e- mails, and I would ask him to give them a call to listen to their concerns.

I’d ask all members of the Assembly to give them the traditional warm welcome. The Speaker: A second introduction, hon. member? Dr. Sherman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d also like to introduce to you and through you to all members of this Assembly Marguerite Saunter. Marguerite has come here many times before. She would like to draw attention to the fact that we should be advocating for our seniors and they should not ban advocates from seeing the ones who have built this wonderful province and country. I would ask everyone to give her the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Stony Plain, followed by Medicine Hat. Mr. Lemke: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure to rise and introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly the hard -working mayor, council, and CAO of Parkland county. Parts of their municipality are also represented by George VanderBurg and our colleague Doug Horner. As a progressive rural community Parkland county council takes an active role in providing the necessities and leisure activities for all families in the region while preserving the natural distinction of the essence of their commu nity.

I would like to ask the members of Parkland county to please rise as I call their names and recognize them in the House: His Worship Mayor Rod Shaigec, Councillor AnnLisa Jensen, Councillor Jackie McCuaig, Councillor Phyllis Kobasiuk, Councillor Trac ey Melnyk, Councillor Darrell Hollands, and the CAO, Pat Vincent. I would now ask that they receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: Hon. members, we’re just reminded to not use first or last names of members who are elected in this Assembly. Mr. Lemke: Yikes. I’m sorry. The Speaker: Apology noted and accepted. Let us move on. The hon.

Member for Medicine Hat, followed by Calgary-Shaw. Mr. Pedersen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my honour to introduce to you and through you nine individuals in the social work program at Medicine Hat College. They are in Edmonton to take

part in the Alberta College of Social Workers conference and wanted to visit the Legislature to better understand the policy - making that can affect their future careers. The individuals are Hannah Berger, Mark Codlin, Jamie -Lee Danielsen, Kristel Kirstein, Jennifer McBride, Aimee Sarsons, Sarah Schnell, Jason Thunberg, and instructor R ichard Gregory. I would ask them to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Shaw. Mr. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

On behalf of the Member for Airdrie it gives me pleasure to introduce to you and through you 74 guests from George McDougall high school, the hon. member’s alma mater, I would assume. Accompanying the students today are Mrs. Devon Sawby and parent helpers Mrs. Nicky Addo-Bond and Ms Lisa Brown. I would ask them to all please ri se and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly.

March 20, 2014 Alberta Hansard 319 head: Members’ Statements The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar , followed by Edmonton-Meadowlark. Alberta Economic Development Authority Mr. Dorward: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize the important work of the Alberta Economic Development Authority, or AEDA. Established two decades ago, AEDA has been the go -to adviser to the Premier and cabinet on issues affecting Alberta’s economy.

AED A has identified strategic solutions to a full range of economic challenges, including job creation, skills and education, productivity, and competitiveness as well as market access. Last fall AEDA was improved when the Alberta Economic Development Authority Amendment Act was passed. The new act restructures the governance of AEDA and integrates the work of the Alberta Competitiveness Council. In January our Premier announced the newly appointed AEDA board. These newly appointed members are senior -level executives who are leaders in their community, Mr.

Speaker, and the vast knowledge and expertise that they volunteer will serve our province very, very well. I want to personally thank the chair, Barry Heck, and his executive board. This smaller and more f ocused 12-member board will sharpen its mandate and focus on the priorities of diversifying Alberta’s economy and helping to expand our markets. The quality of life of Albertans depends on the decisions government makes now, and many of those decisions will indeed be strengthened with AEDA’s advice.

With international expertise in the financial, energy, agriculture, and technological industries the new board will help this government ensure that it has the right tools to continue building a better Alberta. That’s building Alberta, Mr. Speaker. AEDA’s annual report is being tabled in the Legislature today, and I encourage all members of the Assembly to go through it cover to cover. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton- Meadowlark and leader of the Liberal opposition. Public Service Dr. Sherman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to begin by thanking the Premier for her service to our great province. We all know public service isn’t easy. It involves a lot of personal sacrifice, a lot of time away from family and friends, sometimes facing just a little bit of criticism. So once again, Premier, I would like to thank you for your service to this province. I wish you and your family the very best on behalf of the Alberta Liberals. However, now that the Premier’s leadership has come to an end, a new leadership is needed to stop the attack on workers’ rights and public service pensions.

As the governing party looks to put a fresh face on an old and tired government, Albertans are loo king for leadership out of the legal and ethical quagmire of the past. The next administration needs to end the government’s attacks on workers’ rights and repeal Bill 45 and Bill 46 as a mandatory first step. In recent months the government has launched a three-pronged attack on working Albertans, the very people that build this province.

They passed Bill 45, which infringes on sections of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms by making it illegal to even talk about illegal strikes, and Bill 46, tha t strips the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees of its collective bargaining rights, something that Premier Lougheed ensured. The Progressive Conservative government is also moving quickly to drastically alter the pension benefits of public servants, without demonstrating convincingly the need for changes or consulting those affected workers beforehand.

Public servants have spent their lives actually building Alberta, and those who currently keep Alberta running are being told that they’re paid too much and should contribute more and retire later with less. It’s fiscally and morally wrong. Mr. Speaker, the Alberta Liberals stand here in support of all public servants, the heroes that build this wonderful and great province. Thank you. The Speaker: Thank you. 1:50 head: Oral Question Period The Speaker: Just before we start the clock, please be reminded that 35 seconds is allowed for the question, 35 seconds is allowed for the answer, and no

preambles after spot 5. Let us begin. We can start the clock with the hon. Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition. First main question. Government Effectiveness Ms Smith: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to join the Liberal leader in thanking the Premier for her service and thanking her family for the sacrifice. We do wish her well. Mr. Speaker, for the third time in eight years the PCs will search for a new leader, and t he business of governing our province will take a back seat to the internal politics of the PC Party.

Albertans are frustrated that once again the instability and infighting that has seized the PC Party will result in priorities not being met and the peopl e’s business not getting done. To the Deputy Premier and soon-to -be interim Premier: can he assure Albertans that he’ll be able to keep governing while his party sorts out yet another leadership crisis? Mr. Hancock: Absolutely, Mr. Speaker. [interjections] This government was elected by the people of Alberta to fulfill an agenda, to set hope and prosperity for the future. We’re doing just that.

We’ll continue to bring to this Legislature the legislation that’s needed to do that. We’ll pass the budget in thi s Legislature, or we’ll ask this Legislature to pass the budget. We’ll continue to govern responsibly for Albertans. [interjections] The leadership process is a separate process that happens out there, but we’re here to provide good government to Albertans , and we’re going to do that. Ms Smith: Well, Mr. Speaker, maybe the Deputy Premier should reconsider running for leadership with that kind of a response.

Albertans are starting to see that the problems with this 43-year- old dynasty run far too deep for one leader to change. The government across the aisle is once again in disarray, desperately trying to keep their grip on power by putting a new face on their party to mask the internal strife that has now taken down two Premiers in three years. To the interim Premier: what policy direction will this government follow while the PC Party once again tries to figure out what, if anything, it believes in? Mr. Hancock: Mr.

Speaker, this government and this party share values with Albertans, which means that we want to have an

320 Alberta Hansard March 20, 2014 educated population who has the opportunity to trade out into the world, to have a quality of life that’s better in Alberta than virtually anywhere else in North America, anywhere else in the world. It’s the type of province that attracts 100,000 people a year, that grows because people want to be here. The type of government that this caucus and this government are going to provide is that kind of aspirational leadership for this province, so that people know that their children, their grandc hildren can be educated here . . . The Speaker: Time is up. Ms Smith: Mr.

Speaker, Albertans are looking for strong leader - ship from this provincial government, and they just aren’t getting it. PCs always promise change and renewal when they get rid of their leader and then pick a new one, yet somehow we always end up right back here with the new leader gone and another leadership race under way. Each time the promises become more hollow. To the interim Premier: why doesn’t he see that his party has lost the moral authority to govern this province? Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is right about one thing. After each election we end up right back here.

We end up right back here, some of us, for 25 years. We end up right back here because we’ve had a tradition of providing good government for Albertans, we’ve had a tradition of understanding the values of Albertans, we’ve had a tradition of understanding the aspirations of Albertans, and we deliver the programs and the policies that Albertans want to grow forward. We’re a government that knows about the past but lives for the future, and we do it together as a team. We do it together as a team. It’s not one person. It’s a whole group of people . . . The Speaker: The hon. Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition.

Second main set of questions. Budget 2014 Ms Smith: Well, Mr. Speaker, he’s right about one thing. We think the whole group of them are to blame for the situation we’re in today. There is a budget before this Assembly that was tabled under a Premier who will be officially replaced on Sunday. This budget borrows billions, raids the heritage fund, and commits Alberta taxpayers to $820 million in interest payments alone by 2016. It’s a bad budget, Mr. Speaker, and the Premier who brought it in will soon be gone. To the Finance minister, a simple question: was this her budget, or was it his budget? Mr. Horner: Mr.

Speaker, it was our budget. Ms Smith: That’s what I thought, Mr. Speaker. Budget 2014 is merely a continuation of the disastrous long - standing fiscal policy of this PC government: spend more than we have, borrow the difference, and raid the savings accounts to keep on spending beyond our means. It’s an approach that hasn’t worked anywhere else in the world, yet this PC government insists on taking us down the debt and deficit path. To the interim Premier: is he going to continue with these reckless, costly, and unsustainable debt policies? Mr. Hancock: Mr.

Speaker, Albertans know better than this hon. member what this budget brings for the prosperity of the people in this province. [interjections] Our Finance minister and President of Treasury Board has been travelling the province and talking to people about the budget, and there have been nothing but positive reactions. Members here hav e been over with AAMD and C this week and are hearing very positive reactions about the budget.

It’s a budget that paves the way forward for Albertans by creating the schools and the hospitals that we need for the future of this province, the programs that we need for the quality of life for citizens in this province. It about families and communities. It’s about creating new markets. It’s about building Alberta. Ms Smith: Mr. Speaker, it’s about $21 billion worth of debt by 2016, and he knows it.

If there is a glimmer of hope in the latest PC leadership crisis, it’s that maybe, just maybe, we will finally get a leader, with principle, vision, and the courage to reverse the dreadful fiscal policies of previous Premiers. Now, I have my doubts, Mr. Speaker, but like most Albertans, I’m an optimist, so here it goes. Does anybody on that side who plans to replace this Premier have what it takes to fix the fiscal mess in this province and bring our books back into balance? Mr. Hancock: All of us, Mr. Speaker, sep arately and together.

This party and this government have been blessed over the 17 years that I’ve been here with leaders of principle, vision, and purpose, and as our party . . . [interjections] I know we don’t talk about party politics in here, but as pe ople talk about the future vision of this province, as they go out and engage with Albertans, we’ll come back to this House with another leader of principle, vision, and purpose. [interjections] Speaker’s Ruling Decorum The Speaker: Hon. members, people at home can’t hear all the interjections, but I surely can.

When somebody asking a question or somebody giving an answer has to try and shout overtop of the din and the noise, I think we’ve gone a little too far. Could I ask you to please curb your enthusiasm for the rest of question period? Let’s see how we do on the third main set of questions. Ms Smith: Well, Mr. Speaker, all I have to say is that we are now on our third new leader in eight years, and that says it all. Flood-related Buyouts in High River Ms Smith: Mr. Speaker, the problems in High River continue to be made worse by this government.

One of our communities, Beachwood, has been declared in the floodway and must disappear, despite the fact that the town of High River and the developer completed provincially mandated dikes and berms after the 2005 flood. The risks of Beachwood were studied, and appropriate changes were made, all with the approval of this government, yet because of flawed maps which predate this community’s construction, Beachwood will be wiped out. That will have a profound effect on High River. Why won’t the minister see reason and save Beachwood? Mr. Hughes: Well, Mr.

Speaker, I know Beachwood well, I know High River well, and I know that what we’re trying to do here is to ensure that all residents of High River are safe and are protected should there ever be another flood. This is an important step in that process. You cannot have communities that reside completely in a floodway where people are able to continue to live. It’s not safe for people, it’s not safe for the community, and frankly it’s not safe for the rest of the community of High River.

March 20, 2014 Alberta Hansard 321 Ms Smith: Mr. Speaker, that’s not what the government’s own documents say. The government’s document Appropriate Use of a Flood Hazard Study points out that flood hazard maps need to be updated after development. In this budget this government has earmarked funding for new flood maps. They know the 1992 maps are wrong. The town of High River knows the 1992 maps are wrong. The residents of Beachwood know the 1992 maps are wrong. Why does the Minister of Municipal Affairs continue to declare that Beachwood must go based on outdated 1992 maps? 2:00 Mr. Hughes: Mr.

Speaker, I think I’ve already answered the question, in essence. I can tell you that knowing that community, knowing that river, knowing southern Albertans, people are ready to move on. People want closure, and they want to move on. This hon. member is doing them no justice by opening up questions like this. Ms Smith: I’m standing up for my constituents because they asked me to. This government continues to bully and intimidate the remain - ing residents of Beachwood by refusing to recognize the very mitigation work that this government approved.

This government has failed to update its own flood study map and uses outdated 1992 maps to force these residents out. This is wrong, and it will be a waste of $30 milli on. Will the minister do the right thing, the compassionate thing, and the frugal thing and recognize that Beachwood is safe and let the residents stay in their homes? Mr. Hughes: Mr. Speaker, I actually accept the advice of people who are technically competent on this topic. Those people who are technically competent on this subject do not recommend the course of action that this member is recommending.

I listen to the experts, and we’re moving forward to help the whole community of High River survive any possible future event. This is important to the whole community. It is an important initiative that is worth spending money on to support and keep people safe in the future in that community. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre , followed by Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood. Flood Recovery Communications Contracts Ms Blakeman: Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker.

I am quite struck by the number of crossing lines involved with the contract for Navigator Ltd. to provide crisis management advice during the 2013 floods. Now, friendships and support are important in our lives, but politics, friendship, and special deals spending taxpayer money should stay far apart. To the Minister of Municipal Affairs: how did the government sole source a $250,000 contract, wit hout an open competition, to a company filled with friends, Tory insiders, and supporters’ money? Isn’t sole-sourcing over $75,000 . . . The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Municipal Affairs. Mr. Hughes: Well, Mr.

Speaker, thank you very much. I believe I essentially answered this question yesterday. There were four sole-sourced contracts issued in the moment of the crisis that we all went through last summer. This was an unprecedented circum - stance, and in that circumstance the government of Alberta, my predecessor and this government, made the choice to reach out to people who could help buttress the capacities of the government of Alberta. That was Tervita, that was Navigator, that was Norex, and that was Stantec.

These were capacities that helped to ensure that Albertans were safe and looked after in the wake of the floods. The Speaker: First supplemental. Ms Blakeman: Well, thanks. Back to the same minister: is it standard operating procedure for this government or this ministry to sign contracts like Navigator’s three months after the work has begun? Mr. Hughes: Well, Mr. Speaker, clearly, I can’t speak to specific details with respect to when it was signed, but people were engaged. None of this, the floods last summer, was normal operating procedure for anybody in Alberta.

The government responded to meet the needs of Albertans, to ensure that Albertans were safe, that they knew what was going on, that they had access to information, and that they could take steps to protect themselves. Ms Blakeman: Now, Minister, that’s why you have procedures, so that everything can be treated the same. Back to the same minister: wh at was the plan?

How was the government going to hold this particular company, Navigator, accountable for anything that went wrong, like a privacy breach or a missed deadline, or even hold them to the terms of the contract when the contract wasn’t signed until three months later? Mr. Hughes: Mr. Speaker, this particular contractor enhanced the work of the Public Affairs Bureau. They provided support in terms of strategic communications advice and research on flood recovery as well as a communications strategy so that Albertans could have trust in the public institutions of this province at a time of great crisis.

I can tell you, as Albertans know, that the govern - ment of Alberta responded in a very strong way to look after Albertans. The Speaker: The hon. leader of the ND opposition. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. If I may, I’d like to just take a second and express my gratitude to the Premier for her service to this province and to congratulate my old university roommate, who is going to become the 15th Premier of the province of Alberta, something that I know he’s always aspired to. Severance Payments to Premier’s Office Staff Mr. Mason: Now, Mr. Speaker, on with business. Mr.

Deputy Premier, we learn today that a number of senior staff in the Premier’s office were let go yesterday. Can he tell us exactly which people were let go and how much the severance is going to be? Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, I don’t have a list of people in front of me, but I think it’s understood at any time of transition that most people in a Premier’s office are aligned specifically, hired by the Premier to serve that Premier. Anyone in that position normal - ly would tender their resignation at that time or be let go at that time. It’s a matter of process, and that will evolve in due course.

With respect to payments, the salaries of all of those people, because of the gold -standard sunshine law that we have, are available to the public, and those contracts are also available to the public. The Speaker: First supplemental.

322 Alberta Hansard March 20, 2014 Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, we’ve had a look at those contracts, and actually the total severance for the senior people in the Premier’s office amounts to hundreds of thousands of dollars, perhaps a million dolla rs or more. Will the Deputy Premier please tell the House what the total bill to the taxpayer is going to be? Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, that will all evolve in due course. I’ve had approximately three hours on – well, I’m not actually on the job yet. That starts Sunday, I guess. That will all evolve.

There are, obviously, changes when there are transitions in leadership. It’s sort of interesting that for most of the year these people have been hounding about too many people on staff and too many salaries on staff and all of those things, and now when there’s a change, they want to complain about the cost of people leaving. The fact of the matter is that people come to the service of government, and they know that it’s a volatile job. They know that it’s a risky job, and they come out from whatever they’re doing in the private sector to do it, and . . . The Speaker: Final supplemental, please. Mr.

Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, the Deputy Premier is misstating the position. Of course we want the Premier’s office to be shrunk down. We want to know how much it’s going to cost to get rid of everybody. There are going to be new people put in place by this Deputy Premier, and then a few months later there will be a new Premier. Will he commit that the people that he’s going to hire will have short -term contracts with minimal severance conditions? Mr. Hancock: Mr.

Speaker, I would think that it w ould be very apparent to anybody that anybody who came to work specifically for me in a role that I take on as interim Premier would be coming for a very short -term period of time, and they would know that and understand that coming in, and they wouldn’t have any expectations of it being longer. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Chestermere-Rocky View , followed by Lesser Slave Lake. Mathematics Curriculum Mr. McAllister: Mr. Speaker, thank you. We have a problem in the education system in Alberta, and it needs to be addressed.

You see, tens of thousands of Alberta parents and teachers say that kids are struggling in math right now because of the way Alberta Education insists that it be taught. Now, clearly, the Education minister isn’t listening. I’d like to see if anybody else from government is. To the Deputy Premier: there has to be merit in what tens of thousands of Alberta teachers and parents are saying. Do you still insist on replacing the basic, fundamental teachings in mathematics and going to discov ery- or inquiry-based learning, or will you listen? Mr. Hancock: Mr.

Speaker, it would appear that the only person that isn’t listening is the hon. member. The Minister of Education has over and over and over again stressed the fact that while we’re doing curriculum reform, numeracy and literacy are absolutely fundamental and will continue to be a fundamental part of the cur - riculum going forward. There’s a difference between curriculum and teaching styles. The hon. member should understand that. We have ex cellent teachers in this province. We have an excellent education system in this province. It’s going to get even better.

It’s the best education system in the English -speaking world, and the recent PISA tests show that our students actually are good in their numeracy. They are good in their numeracy. It’s the problem - solving skills where they had a problem. Mr. McAllister: I would suggest that many of the math professors in this province disagree.

Given that a university professor called into our tele tow n hall the other night to tell us that the system is no longer quantifiable so it’s difficult to tell if a student is passing or failing and given that the U of A’s Ken Porteous has written to the minister saying that this discovery approach has no place a t the junior elementary level and that Alberta Education is dumbing down the curriculum, again to the minister: do you support this full on push to inquiry - based discovery learning, or will you listen to Albertans? 2:10 Mr. Hancock: Mr.

Speaker, once again the hon. member confuses instruction with curriculum. He shows and demonstrates that he doesn’t have the knowledge of how a curriculum is developed going forward.

I can tell this hon. member that a curriculum is developed by experts in the field, by teachers, who are in the classroom on a day -to-day basis working with our students in this province, achieving the results that students in this province have achieved over time to make Alberta one of the leading education systems in the world, a place where people come from around the world to see what we’re doing and how we’re doing it so they can emulate it. And this hon. member wants to destroy it. Mr. McAllister: I would hate to have to take that to the doors. Given that Mr.

Porteous also said the following: I was a member on two different occasions of university committees which met with representatives from Alberta Education to provide input on proposed changes to high school mathematics curriculum, and this was a most frustrating exercise supposedly done under the banner of consultation, but at the end of the day Alberta Education accepted almost none of the suggestions and went ahead and did what they wanted to do anyway, the concern from teachers, parents, and experts has to be real. When will you listen? Mr. Hancock: Mr.

Speaker, the hon. member should understand that the plural of anecdote is not data. The fact of the matter is that there will be differences of opinion and differences of viewpoints from experts all the time. That’s a reality. But what we have is a group of people who consult well, who understand what they’re doing. They’re called teachers. They work on curriculum, and they develop the best curriculum possible for the students of Alberta. What we know and understand is that the curriculum currently is packed with an awful lot of specific items that students have to learn.

What we know is that that has to be unpacked, but the people who are doing it are people who are actually experts in . . . The Speaker: Sorry. Let’s go on. The hon. Member for Lesser Slave Lake, followed by Calgary- Shaw. Kinship Care Ms Calahasen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of my constituents has been trying to get her three -and-a-half-year-old granddaughter into her care. She already has adopted the other siblings. Sh e is an approved adoption foster home, a loving grandmother willing and capable of providing for her grandchildren, yet she is not being considered.

She has received nothing but the runaround in trying

March 20, 2014 Alberta Hansard 323 to get her granddaughter to be a part of the family. M y question is to the Minister of Human Services. Why would the system do such an injustice to these children’s lives by not keeping them together? The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Human Services. Mr. Bhullar: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the member for the question. Obviously, the member is a strong and powerful advocate for her constituents, and I want to congratulate her on her anniversary. The member makes a very valid point, Mr. Speak er.

Something that I’ve been saying since I became the Minister of Human Services: my priority is children staying in kinship care, children staying where children are safe and loved. Hopefully, we can find that arrangement within a kinship type of situation. Obviously, I can’t discuss the specifics of this particular file. Ms Calahasen: Mr. Speaker, to the same minister: why, then, did the department tell the foster family that they could adopt the child when they were fully aware that the grandmother wanted her? Mr. Bhullar: Mr.

Speaker, as I said, I can’t discuss the specifics of a file, but what I can say is that there are objectives in the system to help children find permanency. However, as I’ve said – I’ve been very clear since day one – as a matter of policy direction the priority must be placing children with safe family members and those that are closest to the children. That’s my priority, that’s where I want the focus, and that’s where we’re shifting the system on a daily basis. Ms Calahasen: Mr.

Speaker, I’m really glad to hear that because the ’60s scoop, years ago, was a terrible thing that has happened to aboriginal children. Mr. Minister, could you please indicate to those individuals in my constituency that the ’60s scoop will no longer happen? Mr. Bhullar: Mr. Speaker, what the member says is something that resonates with my heart and many other members’ hearts. The fact is that we cannot continue the cycle, the cycle of unfortunate things that happened during residential schools.

We hav e to support families and empower families and help children stay with families and strengthen families within their own home so that children don’t have to be moved, Mr. Speaker. That’s my goal. That’s my priority. That’s what we’re working towards. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary -Shaw, followed by Edmonton-Centre. Primary Health Care Mr. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The more things change, the more they stay the same. The Premier says one thing, a minister says another, both being far from what either of them had promised.

In her resignation speech the Premier made a curious announcement about 80 family care clinics. It’s curious because at the same time in budget estimates the Health minister alluded to announcing 24. Meanwhile both the Premi er and the minister seemed to have forgotten that the promise was for 140. Minister, what’s going on here? Mr. Horne: Well, Mr. Speaker, listening to the hon. member’s question, it is perfectly true that the more things change, the more they stay the same. I can’t think of a period in time when primary health care has been more thoroughly discussed in this Legislative Assembly.

As the hon. member well knows, we began a process last year with 24 communities across Alberta that have been wor - king diligently to plan family care clinics for their communities. As we’ve indicated, we have an announcement forthcoming about that group. We have very adequate resources in the budget that’s been tabled to add more FCCs. The Speaker: First supplemental. Mr. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know this will come as a huge surprise, but there are more unfulfilled promises.

Given that members across the aisle were all elected on a platform that included a promise to refund tuition for students qualifying in family or communi ty medicine and given that it’s been two years since this government was elected, why hasn’t this promise been kept? Mr. Horne: Well, Mr. Speaker, I’m not sure exactly what the hon. member is referring to. I’m not sure that he knows either.

What I will tell you is that we continue to work very closely with physicians across the province, working wherever possible to increase family doctors and geriatricians and others that provide very important community -based services. More and more of these physicians are telling us that they want to work in alternative payment models that are not tied to traditional fee -for-service approaches, and we’ll continue to work with them to make that realization come true. The Speaker: Final supplemental. Mr. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is a surprise that the minister had not read his own platform, but I’m not done there. Given that families were told that if they elect a PC government, they could expect a $500 per child per year tax credit related to the cost of sport and physical activity programs and that, yet again, this promise has still not been delivered, is there any remorse at all from anyone on the front bench for betraying Alberta families yet again? Mr. Horner: Mr. Speaker, it makes for great rhetor ic, and it sounds good in the House for them, but the drama is not lost on Albertans watching this.

We are still within our mandate, within our term. The hon. member might want to stay tuned. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre , followed by Edmonton-Calder. Livestock Industry Regulations Ms Blakeman: Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. Nothing exposes this government’s lack of transparency and openness like its treatment of special friends. Now, elk and deer game farmers are pretty connected here i n Alberta, and they’ve asked for a change in regs so special that no one else in North America will go there.

Now, few things anger Albertans more than phony consultations, backroom deals, and a sense of entitlement, but that’s exactly what the elk and deer game farmers have asked for. To the minister of agriculture: how is it transparent to make major policy changes on behalf of one special group and agree to deny stakeholder and public consultation? Mr. Olson: The simple answer, Mr. Speaker, is that there has been extensive consultation. She should stay tuned. Ms Blakeman: No, there hasn’t on this particular change. I’ll go to the Minister of Environment and SRD.

Now, why would this minister agree with a policy that could expose Alberta

324 Alberta Hansard March 20, 2014 wildlife populations of elk and deer to chronic wasting disease or genetic contamination? I thought his mandate was to protect wildlife, not infect them. Mr. Campbell: Well, Mr. Speaker, that’s not going to happen. We do a very good job of inspecting the elk farms across this province, and the fact that one or two do escape is not going to cause us any issues. We’ve had a very good discussion with Agriculture. We had a very good discussion with stakeholders.

We’ve had a very good discussion with people within my ministry that are experts, and we’re quite confident that the policy will do okay. The Speaker: The final supplemental. 2:20 Ms Blakeman: Thank you. Back to the minister of agriculture: is the minister denying that there has been agreement between himself and the mini ster of environment to finalize a domestic cervid industry regulation which would give owners of elk and deer game farms ownership in perpetuity? Mr. Olson: Mr. Speaker, this is a discussion that’s been ongoing now for several years.

There have obviously been discussions between my department and ESRD. There is no regulation on the table right now, but there certainly is discussion, and it’s ongoing. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Calder , followed by Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. Public Service Pensions Mr. Eggen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today is a new day and a chance for this government to rethink their tired Conservative strategies that are dragging them down in the polls, below 19 per cent as far as I can see.

Backing off on unnecessary attacks on workers’ pensions, which independent analysis shows are well on their way to be fully funded, would be a great start. To the Finance minister: will you show Albertans that were tricked into voting for you in the last election that you’re going to turn this around, stop dictating changes, and start negotiating for a fair deal? The Speaker: The hon. President of Treasury Board. Mr. Horner: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

You know, it’s interesting that the hon. member seems to forget that back in July of 2012 was the first time that we started talking to the pension boards about the sustainability and survivability of defined benefit programs. We talked to them then and said that over the period of 2012 to 2013 we wanted them to come forward with some proposals and some other ideas that we could use. We did that. At 2013’s year-end in March we suggested that we would put some more things on the table. We did that and opened it up for consultation.

In fact, the proposals that we now have on the table are different than the ones we presented because we listened . . . The Speaker: First supplemental. Mr. Eggen: Well, Mr. Speaker, given that in 20 locations right across this province Albertans today rallied against this government’s attack on pensions and given that this government could stop these changes even before they’re introduced in the Legislature if they had the will to do so, will this Finance minister commit here today to Albertans to not introduce these sweeping changes to the pensions in this session? Or is it just bus iness as usual here? Mr.

Horner: Mr. Speaker, what I will commit to do today is to ensure the survivability and sustainability of defined benefit programs for the benefit of those public -sector employees. The pension promise is about providing a percentage of your income for life. That’s not a defined contribution. That’s a defined benefit plan. It’s a good plan, and we’re making it sustainable. Mr. Eggen: Mr.

Speaker, given that reducing the benefits of 300,000 public-service workers is a surefire way to i nflame whole new generations of Albertans and given that this PC government is actually increasing pensions and severances to managers and other insiders at the very same time, will this government come back to the table to meet with the people who actuall y own these pensions in the first place and start negotiating and not dictating? Mr. Horner: First of all, Mr. Speaker, his last comment around management pensions is absolutely false. He should check his facts.

He should also check his facts about the benefits that are supposedly being reduced. In fact, for service up to 2015: no reduction. If you’re on pension today: no reduction, no change. For service earned beyond the pension guarantee of the percentage of your salary for life: guaranteed. What we’re t alking about is giving the plan members and the plan payers the ability to manage it and keep it sustainable. We’re protecting the defined benefit plan, not getting rid of it. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Olds-Didsbury -Three Hills , followed by Calgary-Hawkwood. Associate Minister’s Remarks Mr.

Rowe: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For over three decades I worked as a journeymen electrician and a master electrician. Those years were some of the best of my life, working with some of the most skilled and honourable people I’ve ever met, people who were dedicated to providing service to all Albertans, people who are actually building Alberta. Needless to say, the comments last week from the Associate Minister of Family and Community Safety were more than upsetting. To the minister: will you apologize and retract the comments that have upset tradespeople, men and women, across the province? Ms Jansen: Mr.

Speaker, this antitrade narrative that I’ve seen unfolding all week is simply not true. I can tell you right now that my father came over from Holland as an 18 -year-old with his carpentry ticket to start a new life. Last time I checked, that was a trade. Certainly, along with that, my mentor and fellow Dutchman, the Member for Whitecourt-Ste. Anne, is a former welder, and last time I checked, he was still talking to me. Are you still talking to me? Mr. VanderBurg: I am. Yeah. Ms Jansen: I can tell you that that narrative is simply not true, but you’re enjoying it, so fill your boots. Mr. Rowe: Really, Mr.

Speaker. Well, obviously, we’re not going to get an apology from the minister, but has she taken the time to personally apologize to the member in question? Ms Jansen: Mr. Speaker, I will never apologize for loyalty. I will also never apologiz e for my passion and my dedication to the people that I represent. I issued an apology last week on Twitter to anyone that I may have offended with those comments, but I heard from many people in the trades in my constituency over the last few days, and they completely understood the meaning of my

March 20, 2014 Alberta Hansard 325 comments. Mr. Speaker, this is irresponsible behaviour designed to whip up the population, and the tradespeople in my constitu- ency know it. Mr. Rowe: Thank you again for that non apology. Given that after the as sociate minister made those comments, she claimed that she didn’t mean to attack a group of people, just one individual, and given that her mandate is to find solutions to bullying, is it really appropriate for her to say that if someone feels they’re being bullied, they should just pack up and go back to where they belong? Ms Jansen: Mr.

Speaker, the comments about bullying I find are interesting, and this, I think . . . [interjection] You should listen. This is a teachable moment. When we use the term “b ullying” . . . [interjections] That’s right. When we use the term “bullying” . . . [interjections] Mr. Speaker, I’m trying to talk here, and I can’t even hear myself. The Speaker: Hon. members, please. Tough question; presum- ably a solid answer if we’d hear the rest of it. Please, don’t try and outshout each other. Ms Jansen: Thank you. Mr.

Speaker, when you use the term “bullying” to describe what we do in the political arena, you are devaluing the term. There are many people watching today, many families who have contacted me, whose children are the victims of bullying, who say: shame on you for that. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Hawkwood, followed by Medicine Hat. [interjections] Second call for Calgary- Hawkwood. [interjections] This is the th ird time I’ve had to rise. We’re losing time. Let’s see if we can gain it. Calgary-Hawkwood. International Investment Mr. Luan: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Globalization has led to a more interconnected world. We need to harness this opportunity by creating a welcoming and supportive environment to attract international investment to do business in Alberta and to bridge our product to the international market. My question is to the hon. Associate Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations. What program, if any, has your ministry done to reduce the red tape so that international visitors can do business in Alberta? Ms Woo-Paw: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I’d like to thank the hon. member for this very serious question.

His interest and connection in this area is definitely an asset for our govern - ment. Our government has created one of the most attractive and competitive business environments in this country for new or expanding investors anywhere. Our ministry and our international offices actually work directly with interested investors to respond to questions, such as on regulations, to provide them with information and intelligence. Last year we provided connections to about 1,400. Mr.

Luan: To the minister of Treasury Board and Finance: what are the barriers preventing our government from selling bonds to emerging markets such as China? Mr. Horner: Well, actually, Mr. Speaker, there are no legal bar - riers that are preventing this. The province, in fact, has a global medium-term note program, which does allow it to sell debt in numerous international markets and currencies, including the Chinese market. The key issue comes down to the cost.

Right now the cost of issuing Chinese currency, or renminbi, bonds denomi - nated in that debt would be expensive relative to the Canadian currency or even the U.S. currency. So the goal is to borrow at the lowest possible cost at the appropriate maturity dates for the assets that we’re building. 2:30 Mr. Luan: To the same minister: given that the gove rnment of B.C. has successfully sold their bond on the Chinese market, is there anything we can learn from their experience? Mr. Horner: Actually, Mr. Speaker, we did visit in Hong Kong with the group that did the sale for the B.C. bond issue.

What’s interesting to note on that issue is that British Columbia did not actually convert the currency to Canadian dollars and bring it back. They actually left it offshore, left it on deposit, if you will, for a brief period of time, earned the interest and paid the interest back on the debt currency, and they’ll recover the funds after that. We have looked at doing that, but there’s really no purpose to that other than the investment. We don’t borrow to invest in bonds and securities. We borrow to invest in infrastructure for Albertans. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Medicine Hat, followed by Grande Prairie-Smoky. Long-term Care Beds Mr. Pedersen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The demand for new seniors’ care beds keeps growing, but this PC government continues to fall behind in not only the quantity of beds but also the level of care required. A new 80-bed care facility for Medicine Hat received a $6.4 million building grant in February 2012 with a promise that it would be completed in two years. That would be now, but construction has just started.

Can the Minister of Health please tell Albertans how a government -approved project can be allowed to sit idle for two years, putting seniors’ quality of life at stake? Mr. Horne: Well, Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member may know from talking to municipal officials in Medicine Hat, the delay in this particular project was caused as a result of drainage issues on the site for the new seniors’ care facility. It has taken a period of time for those issues to be resolved. I understand from information I received from the municipality that they have been resolved, and construction can commence.

The Speaker: First supplemental. Mr. Pedersen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Two years is a bit too long, though. Given that there is an average of 1 5 seniors occupying acute - care beds in the Medicine Hat hospital because there is nowhere else for them to go and given that the cost of long -term care is approximately $60 a day versus acute care at over a thousand dollars a day, why does this government continue to waste valuable resources? Mr. Horne: Well, Mr.

Speaker, as the hon. member should know, the affordable supportive living initiative program, under which this facility is funded, depends upon a successful partnership between the government of Al berta, which is contributing to capital, and the proponent of the project. I would be the first to agree that two years is too long to wait. However, in a very few number of cases due to circumstances beyond our control

326 Alberta Hansard March 20, 2014 municipalities and proponents discov er issues that they need to resolve at their level before construction can commence. The Speaker: Final supplemental. Mr. Pedersen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Given that two extra years of having 15 seniors a day in acute -care beds cost taxpayers upwards of $10 million and given the monumental difference in quality of life for seniors in long -term care versus an acute-care hospital bed, will the Infrastructure minister include financial penalties in future building contracts so those who fail to meet approved construction deadlines are held to account? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Horne: Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, a very interesting remark by the hon. member.

In response to his question about fines and penalties, we actually do have provisions in the affordable supportive living initiative program that allow us to cancel projects that do not begin construction within the specified period of time. I’m assuming that on behalf of his constituents he would not want us to make that decision, but I’m sure they’d also be wondering whether, if the hon. member was in my position, any continuing care facility would be built at all. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Grande Prairie-Smoky , followed by Cypress-Medicine Hat. North-South Trade Corridor Mr. McDonald: Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. The Canamex highway is a project that this gover nment put forward a number of years ago. It’s a four -lane highway to connect Mexico through to Alaska. Alberta’s part of the project was to be completed in 2007. Could the Minister of Transportation tell me when this project will be completed? The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Transportation. Mr. Drysdale: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the member for the question. This project is important to my constituency as well.

I’m pleased to tell you that the work on this vital north -south trade corridor is nearing completion, with work on 20 kilometres of highway 43 in the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, west of Valleyview, currently under way. After that we’ll just have over 50 kilometres left west of Grande Prairie to the B.C. border. When completed, a total of $1 billion will have been invested in this important project and a thousand kilometres. The Speaker: Hon. member, first supplemental. Mr. McDonald: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

One of the biggest areas that is of concern to me, of course, is Grande Prai rie, which the hon. minister also shares with me. Their department has purchased the land, but they don’t seem to be utilizing it. Could the minister tell me when they plan to utilize it and install the bypass around the city of Grande Prairie, which is pa rt of this corridor? Mr. Drysdale: Well, Mr. Speaker, we plan to use this land around the city of Grande Prairie for the eventual construction of a bypass around the city called 43X.

This project will allow industrial traffic travelling to other parts of the region to avoid moving through the city. This will save industry valuable time and help ease traffic congestion for residents of Grande Prairie. But these large-scale projects take time to plan and assemble the land for this important growth. The Speaker: Hon. member, final sup. Mr. McDonald: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the minister said, they do have the land assembled now, so could I get a com - mitment to have this placed on a three-year plan? Mr. Drysdale: Well, Mr.

Speaker, as we hear in this House all the time, just about every community and municipality in this prov - ince has transportation projects that they’d like to see added to the three-year plan. Everybody has them. It’s a balance. We have to take all these projects and balance them o n priorities, needs. That’s the job we’re doing. We can’t do them all at once, but every region considers their project the top priority. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Cypress -Medicine Hat , followed by Sherwood Park. Highway 61 Mr. Barnes: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In Cypress -Medicine Hat taking action on highway 61 is just another broken PC promise that will keep getting neglected, no matter how many PC Premiers take their turn in the big chair. The narrow road, steep ditches, and pavement conditions have made this highway treacherous to drive. Will the next leader who walks through the revolving door finally put the needs of these constituents ahead of political motivations and commit to the past government promises made on highway 61? Mr. Drysdale: Well, Mr.

Speaker, I think I could just put replay on here because everybody asks the same question, whether it’s members opposite or my own members. As I’ve said before, there are many requests. If we did every request there was in this House – the opposition knows we don’t have the money. Mr. Barnes: Mr. Speaker, he can push replay because he’s got a litany of broken promises.

Given that highway 61 needs attention to the point where locals are scared, school boards are worried about putting kids on the road, school buses are scared to be there and knowing that some students have to face daily bus rides of an hour and a half, will the government commit to promises made – promises made a decade ago – to improve the safety of this road? Mr. Drysdale: Mr. Speaker, I’ve said lots in this House. Safety is our number one priority. It’s not appropriate for the members to scare the good citizens of Alberta.

I guarantee you that there’s no bridge or road in this province that isn’t safe to drive on. If it w as, we’d close it, and we don’t plan on closing any roads or bridges. Mr. Barnes: Mr. Speaker, it is not appropriate to break your promises. The local economy has already been badly damaged by PC decisions from the royalty review and the inaction on the s age grouse, not taking action is affecting oil, gas, and agriculture industries as these commodities have to move. Minister, when will this road finally be widened and improved? Mr. Drysdale: Well, Mr. Speaker, I guess he wants me to hit rewind again.

It’ll be done when it makes the top of the priority list and fits within our budget for the year. Every project is a priority to each community, but there’s only so much money, and

March 20, 2014 Alberta Hansard 327 it’s a balance to make sure we have safety, market access, and budget all fit in there. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Sherwood Park, followed by Drumheller-Stettler. Anthony Henday Drive Northeast Portion Ms Olesen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Construction of the north- east Anthony Henday began in the summer of 2012 with the expectation it would be finished in 2016. This project completes the long -awaited Edmonton ring road, connecting the capital region like never before. However, my constituents are concerned that the project will end up late and over budget.

They’re tired of getting tied up in traffic and wasting valuable time, and so am I, and we want some answers. To the Minister of Transportation. My constituents are impatient and want a definitive answer. Will the northeast Anthony Henday Drive be completed on time? 2:40 The Speaker: The hon. Transportation minister. Mr. Drysdale: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to this hon. member for the question. She’s always working hard on behalf of her constituents. The Anthony Henday road is a great example of how this government is building Alberta for now and for the future.

This investment will help support economic, population growth in the capital region for the next 25 years. I’m happy to report that the northeast leg of the Anthony Henday will be completed in 2016 on schedule. The Speaker: First supplemental. Ms Olesen: Thank you. To the same minister: can you stand in the House and guarantee that this project will not run over budget? Mr. Drysdale: Well, Mr. Speaker, the good thing about this project is that it’s being delivered on our P3 model.

The beauty of P3s is that they save both time and money, and with P3 projects we’ve never had one that hasn’t been on budget yet because we sign the contract, and that’s all the money they get. So I can assure this member that it won’t cost us any more money. The Speaker: Final supplemental. Ms Olesen: Thank you. To the same minister: given that construction projects often disrupt traffic flow and cause lengt hy travel delays, what is being done to ensure that my constituents can move freely into and out of Sherwood Park? Mr. Drysdale: Well, Mr.

Speaker, with large-scale projects like this it’s virtually impossible to guarantee that there will be no traffic disruptions, but while traffic may be impacted for a time, the constituents in Sherwood Park can look forward to less con- gestion with improved traffic flow when the project is completed. In the meantime, Alberta Transportation continues to work with the publ ic – informing them with open houses, travellers’ advisories, up-to-date construction info on the 511 Alberta website – so that people are able to plan their routes accordingly. The Speaker: Thank you.

Hon. members, today: 17 main questions with answers for a total of 102. Good job to all of you. No points of order. The star of the day for no

preambles to supplementary questions has to go to Sherwood Park, very brief, succinct. Let us all learn from her, following on the heels of Barrhead -Morinville-Westlock a couple of days ago. And there were others, but I cite those two that stand out. In 30 seconds from now we will continue with the private members’ statements, starting with Bonnyville-Cold Lake. Hon. members, while we wait for private members’ statements, do we have unanimous consent to revert to introductions briefly? [Unanimous consent granted] head: Introduction of Guests (continued) The Speaker: Mr. Deputy Premier. Mr.

Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’m pleased to introduce to you and through you to members of the Assembly some excellent students and their professors from The King’s University College here in Edmonton. Students are visiting the Legislature as part of their class in which they study politics, history, and economics. That class is called engaging the world: faith in public life. The King’s University College is a great partner in our Campus Alberta system. With about 700 students from across Canada and 16 other countries King’s offers under - graduate education through a Christian perspective.

Postsecondary education plays a significant role in our building Alberta plan. It’s important that students are included when we discuss the future direction of Campus Alberta. Mr. Speak er, I’d like to introduce the following individuals, who are in the members’ gallery, and ask them to stand when I call their names to receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly: Tauffic Adams; Jacob Aldrich; Noah Bradley; Zachary DeJong; Reagen Henderson; Marie Page; Martin Vriend; Dr. Michael DeMoor, assistant professor of social philosophy; and Dr. Gerda Kits, assistant professor of economics.

I’d like them all to stand and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: Are there others? Seeing none, let us continue with private members’ statements. head: Members’ Statements (continued) The Speaker: Bonnyville-Cold Lake , followed by Edmonton - Manning. Northern Leaders’ Summit Mrs. Leskiw: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize the very successful northern leaders’ summit held on March 14, 2014, in Athabasca.

The northern leaders’ summit brought together elected officials for a day of conversation, leading to the identification of priorities for the development of Alberta’s north. I was pleased to share that day with municipal, First Nations, and Métis leaders from across Alberta’s vast north. It’s important to recognize the significant contribution of the many ministers of this government to this successful event.

Northern elected officials were so pleased to have ministers sit down with them to hear the concerns of northerners and to see their willingness to work together to progress northern Alberta and indeed all of this great province. We were delighted that the Premier was able to join us. The Premier sent a clear message that this government is committed to supporting development in northern Alberta and respecting the concerns of those who live next door to that development.

328 Alberta Hansard March 20, 2014 Mr. Speaker, this gathering of northern leaders was unprece - dented. Issues were brought forward and priorities were identified through real and authentic conversation. Albertans know and understand that the rich resources in northern regions of this province are critical to our present and future prosperity. The northern leaders’ summit was an important recognition of the role northern Alberta and its citizens play in Alberta’s prosperity.

At the conclusion of the day a hundred per cent of the delegates voted to convene another northern leaders’ summit in 2015, truly a ringing endorsement. I want to thank the Minister of Aboriginal Relations and the MLA for Lesser Slave Lake, who chairs the Northern Alberta Development Council, for their leadership in bringing attention to Alberta’s north. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Manning, followed by Little Bow. Trade with India Mr. Sandhu: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a great honour to rise today to speak about the Premier’s recent trade mission to India.

Our Premier, with a group of Alberta’s representatives, extended Alberta’s trade to one of the world’s largest markets. Alberta now has strong trade ties with two Indian provinces. Our government is strengthening our future with continued economic growth in new Asian markets. I was honoured to be part of the signing of the agreement and the opening of the New Delhi -Alberta office with the Premier and colleagues. I recognize the value that India has in the global marketplace. Since the agreement was signed, my contacts in the government of Punjab are as eager to move forward as we are.

We all agree that this memorandum of understanding will be a huge benefit for the two states of India, Punjab and Meghalaya, and our beautiful province. Our government worked hard to promote trade with India. Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased for the forward thinking of our government and this trade mission to diversif y markets to the benefit of Alberta and Canada. The future economic growth that Alberta will experience will prove that this is an investment for all Albertans. We need to continue to move forward quickly to promote oil, gas, and agriculture to new Asian m arkets.

Both India and Alberta will profit now and for a very long time to come. God bless our province of Alberta, and God bless Canada. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Little Bow. Bridges in Rural Areas Mr. Donovan: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to talk about rural Alberta. This government has its building Alberta plan. Well, this plan seems to have forgotten a little place called rural Alberta. We have a lot problems with their strategic infrastructure program, and one of the key parts to that is the building bridges file. All the bridges are run by the municipalities, and the bridge funding was cut last year.

The AAMD and C has talked about how they need at least $75 million a year for the next 10 years to keep these bridges going. Today the hon. Minister of Transportation talked about the Canamex highway, with a billion dollars pumped into that. That’s great, but if you cannot get your product to the main highways because a bridge is being banned or shut down, that basically renders this whole province useless for getting any of their products moved around. This province really needs to sit down and remember where the products come from and where they need to be moved from.

We talked about fearmongering there on the safety side when one of the members, I believe Cypress -Medicine Hat, brought up things. It is a problem. One of the bridges in Lethbridge county has been banned to five tonnes. Mr. Speaker, at five tonnes a fire truck cannot drive across there with a load on it. If it does and it falls through, who’s at fault? This is a safety concern for my constituents and a lot of the constituents in Alberta. Mr. Speaker, in my riding due to irrigation there are over 750 bridge files.

That’s a lot of bridges, that basically account for about 12 per cent of the bridges in this province. If we do not figure out how to get the money back into this program, we’re going to have a lot of people sitting here wondering how they’re going to get around to get to see all the signs in this province about building Alberta. Mr. Speaker, I was sent here to represent the constituents of Little Bow and as a voice for rural Alberta. Right now I’m voicing that we need to get our bridges back up so people can get around this province and get trade back to where it should be. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker: Thank you. The hon. Member for Fort McMurray -Wood Buffalo had a spot and has ceded it, so we will move on. 2:50 head: Presenting Petitions The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Mackay-Nose Hill. Dr. Brown: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I have a petition with over 11,000 signatures collected through the campaign No Drilling Lethbridge from the citizens of Lethbridge and area who are very concerned about the possibility of urban drilling close to residential areas and schools in the city. Thank you very much. head: Tabling Returns and Reports The Speaker: The hon.

Deputy Premier and Minister of Innovation and Advanced Education. Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today it’s my pleasure to rise to table five copies of the Alberta Economic Development Authority’s annual activity report. AEDA has been one of the government’s most dependable, enduring, and trusted partners for the past two decades. AEDA has identified strategic solutions to a range of economic challenges such as job creation, skills and education, productivity, competitiveness, market access.

The annual report is a great celebration of their work and contains information on some of the latest studies and reports commissioned by AEDA. The studies include water reuse, congestion management, opportunities in Alberta’s innovation system, and the 2013 Report on Competitiveness. I would encourage all members to get a copy and read this report. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands - Norwood or someone on behalf of, followed by Edmonton-Centre. Mr. Eggen: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I have 50 of the more than 4,000 postcards that our office received asking this PC government to restore consistent and reliable funding to post - secondary education in Alberta. I also have the appropriate number of copies of a letter sent to the Finance minister, Doug Horner, by one of his constituents,

March 20, 2014 Alberta Hansard 329 Paulina Ross, lamenting the unnecessary meddling in the public - sector pension plans. Finally, I have five copies of a document that we were distribut- ing as Alberta New Democrats here today talking about pensions and problems with public pensions. Thank you. The Speaker: Hon. member, you know that we are not to refer to the first or last names of people who are elected here. I know you know that. I see that you’re sincerely sorry, so we’ll move on. The hon. Member for Edmonton- Centre, followed by Barrhead- Morinville-Westlock. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I’d like to table copies of an e-mail actually directed to the Health minister but copied to me. This is from a constituent, Nicholas Ternes, and he points out that the 2011 campaign Plenty of Syph, whic h was an STI testing campaign, resulted in a 17 per cent increase in public interest and patients seeking this but no additional staffing there, so people are being regularly turned away. His point is that now that we’ve got people understanding they need to get tested for STIs, it’s not helping us if they go there and get turned away, that we’d likely create far more expensive consequences. Thank you.

The Speaker: Thank you. The hon. Member for Barrhead -Morinville-Westlock, followed by Drumheller-Stettler. Ms Kubinec: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to table five copies of an

article I referenced yesterday in my member’s statement. The

article is from the March 14, 2014, Calgary Herald and is titled Brandon and Gereluk: Let’s Strengthen Education through Evidence, Not Fads. It was written by Jim Brandon and Dianne Gereluk. Thank you. The Speaker: Thank you. The hon. Member for Drumheller-Stettler. Mr. Strankman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also rise today to table letters from constituents. I have the requisite copies. This is from John Emmons and Maria Farmer, who have the apparent failure of the Workers’ Compensation Board to recognize their claims going forward. I wish to table that. The Speaker: Thank you.

No rulings on points of order are required, so we can move on. head: Statement by the Speaker Mr. Speaker’s MLA for a Day Program The Speaker: I’d like to make a brief statement if I could for you regarding the MLA for a Day program. Fellow members, as you know, the Legislative Assembly is again hosting Mr. Speaker’s MLA for a Day on Monday, May 5, and Tuesday, May 6.

This is a great opportunity for high school students from all over the province, from all of your constituencies, actually, and mine, to learn about what we do here, how we do it, and so on and to gain a better understanding of how our parliamentary democracy functions, meet other y oung people who are equally interested, and in general to promote good citizenship and participation. These students will even debate a resolution right here in the very Chamber in which we sit. I hope they will have a chance to meet all of you throughout the course of the program.

Please, can you let your high schools know that this program is fully supported by the Legislative Assembly Office, with the sponsorship of the Royal Canadian Legion, Alberta -Northwest Territories Command, and that means there i s no cost to the students whatsoever. None. The LAO, visitor services, will take care of all of those arrangements, and the deadline for registration is March 31. Of course, we’re trying to generate again as much interest as we did last year, when we had a record number turnout.

Information packages and registration forms have already been sent to you, but they are also available on the Assembly website at www.assembly.ab.ca. I’d be most obliged to all of you to support this program and encourage a student or two to submit their names from your area. Your personal involvement is extremely helpful, and it is most encouraging to help students participate from your constituency. Ultimately, we’re all looking for the same thing, and that is success in connecti ng with our young people, encouraging them perhaps to even follow in our footsteps.

Thank you for whatever you can do to help promote this important program, MLA student for a day. head: Orders of the Day head: Government Bills and Orders Third Reading Bill 4 Estate Administration Act [Adjourned debate March 13: Ms Kubinec] Ms Kubinec: It is my pleasure to rise and move third reading of Bill 4, the Estate Administration Act. The Speaker: I believe you already moved it, hon. member, or someone did. You have 12 minutes to finish your speech, though. Ms Kubinec: Actually, you know, I’m just going to talk briefly about it, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Sure.

Ms Kubinec: As a result of the roles and responsibilities of personal representatives it will be easier to understand, and beneficiaries can be more assured that the wishes of the deceased are being followed. Mr. Speaker, I am confident this legislation will benefit Albertans. Several of the changes contained in the bill were motivated by recommendations from the Alberta Law Reform Institute, and both round-tables and online consultations were conducted with Alberta’s estate practitioners. With that, I would like to close debate. The Speaker: Hon. member, I have others who may still wish to speak here.

Did you truly mean to conclude it? Ms Kubinec: My apologies. The Speaker: I don’t think you did, because you were moving third reading far earlier. Ms Kubinec: My apologies. The Speaker: Are the re others? Edmonton-Centre , you wish to join in the debate? Ms Blakeman: I do. Thank you so much.

330 Alberta Hansard March 20, 2014 The Speaker: So can we ask Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock to just recant that last statement? Ms Kubinec: I recant. The Speaker: Thank you. The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre. Ms Blakeman: Thanks very much to the sponsor of the bill. Again, I want to particularly recognize the people that were involved in the development of this new estate act, which is going to replace – excuse me while I do uble-check this. I think we’re repealing two other bills as a result of this, the previous estates act and one other one. It’s not going to come to me in a quick second here.

The other thing of interest in all of this is that a minor’s interest, not a person with a shovel but a person under 18, has been, for the most part, removed from this act, but it’s being dealt with somewhere else, and I think that’s quite appropriate. I do want to recognize the various legal minds that were involved in this. I think they have done an exceptional job in this, particularly given lawyers’ proclivities to make the language more dense and harder to follow. They’ve done a very nice job working against their lawyerly instinct.

I also want to recognize the staff from the Department of Justice and Solicitor General because I know they had a big hand in this and have been chugging along with this legislation for some time. I really am quite pleased with this legislation, and I’m very glad to see it in place. Hopefully, I will not have to take advantage of the clear writing and instructions to laypeople in any quick timeline, but I’ll be much happier working with this legislation than with what we had previously when that day and time comes for me to act as executor. Once again, thank you to everyone that was involved with this.

I’ve not had any negative feedback on the bill. My congratulations to everyone, and I am happy to support this bill in third reading. The Speaker: Thank you. Are there others? None. Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock, now should you wish to conclude debate, it is your opportunity to do so. 3:00 Ms Kubinec: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s been a real pleasure to have the ability to carry this bill through. I think it’s important to Albertans. With that, I would adjourn debate. The Speaker: Thank you. The hon.

Member for Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock has moved third reading of Bill 4, the Estate Administration Act. [Motion carried; Bill 4 read a third time] head: Government Bills and Orders Second Reading Bill 6 New Home Buyer Protection Amendment Act, 2014 The Speaker: The hon. associate minister of reconstruction. Mr. Weadick: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure to move second reading of Bill 6, the New Home Buyer Protection Amendment Act, 2014. The existing legislation protects Albertans buying a new home.

It raises the overall quality of construction and provides Albertans with the strongest new -home warranty protection in Canada. The home warranty legislation and supporting regulations came int o effect February 1, 2014, and have been working very well. Sometimes when new legislation is introduced, there are minor changes needed. That’s what these amendments to the New Home Buyer Protection Act are about. The foundation principles in the act, in cluding its warranty protection requirements, remain. The proposed amendments result from extensive stakeholder consultations while preparing the regulations in 2013.

Certain sections in the act were identified as areas for clarification and technical chan ges in the way some provisions are implemented. Bill 6 proposes technical and clarifying amendments. In addition, Bill 6 adopts several rules already in place in the regulations. While these regulations are working well, adopting them into the act provide s a more permanent solution. It clarifies existing policies; for example, the 10 -year period that a new home is subject to in the act is currently called the purchase period.

In Alberta the date buyers sign papers to purchase a home can be long before warr anty coverage begins. Bill 6 will rename the 10 - year period to be the protection period. To clarify what it is about: how long a home is protected by the act. It also clarifies the commencement of the protection period for condominium conversions of apart ments built under an insurance exemption. If a conversion occurs during the apartment’s protection period, each condominium unit’s protection period is determined individually. Each protection period is deemed to have begun on the date of the unit’s first rental occupancy.

Bill 6 also clarifies that administrative penalties may be issued on a per -home basis. It proposes that when an administrative penalty is appealed, the penalty recipient must pay it or post an irrevocable letter of credit similar to a ch eque that can’t be cancelled. The letter of credit will be returned in the event of a successful appeal but discourages filing an appeal just to delay payment. One of Bill 6’s technical amendments provides that the first day of occupancy starts the protec tion period for all homes.

Currently where home purchases do not involve a land titles transfer, the day the owner moves in is the day the warranty starts if it has not started already. Builders rarely let owners move into new homes without buying them fir st. However, from time to time owners move into new homes before land titles registrations go through. Whenever this happens, the warranty coverage will begin on the day the owner moves in if warranty coverage has not been started already.

Bill 6 proposes a new provision called a rental use designation, part of a land titles based conditional home warranty insurance exemption for apartment buildings. A provision in the regulations allows apartment builders and owners to have apartments without home warranty insurance provided the building is owned by one person who does not sell units individually, convert the building into condominiums, or subdivide the building in separate titles. Mr. Speaker, this exemption is not available for condominium buildings. Mr.

Speaker, under Bill 6 exempt apartments must have a rental use designation registered on their land title. The caveat will warn potential buyers that the apartment building has no insurance. The land titles registration is similar to an existing provisio n in the act on restrictive covenants; however, Bill 6 provides more detail on how the land titles registration works, which is something stakeholders wanted to clarify. The bill’s provisions describe how the caveat will be registered, maintained on title, and discharged. In particular, discharge of the caveat will be allowed only through

March 20, 2014 Alberta Hansard 331 application to the new -home buyer protection office. Where there are disputes under this exemption, the regulation-making powers under the act allow for grounds for appeal to the New Home Buyer Protection Board to be put in place. Additionally, Bill 6 adopts some rules contained in the regu- lations to make them more permanent. Some amendments give the registrar of the new -home buyer protection office and the New Home Buyer Protection Board tools to handle a higher volume of work efficiently.

Minor amendments to the appeals process also include allowing the board to make rules of procedure and making all appeals to the board due within 30 days. Mr. Speaker, I would move second reading of Bill 6. The Speaker: Hon. member, I assume you’re moving it on behalf of the Minister of Municipal Affairs. Is that correct? Mr. Weadick: That’s correct, and I would like to adjourn debate. The Speaker: So it is correct that you did move it on behalf of the hon. Minister of Municipal Affairs and that you have moved to adjourn debate.

Hon. members, the motion for adjournment of debate on this particular bill is up. [Motion to adjourn debate carried] head: Consideration of His Honour head: the Lieutenant Governor’s Speech Ms Kubinec moved, seconded by Mr. McDonald, that an humble address be presented to His Honour the Honourable the Lieutenant Governor as follows. To His Honour the Honourable Colonel (Retired) Donald S.

Ethell, OC, OMM, AO E, MSC, CD, LLD, the Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Alberta: We, Her Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly, now assembled, beg leave to thank Your Honour for the gracious speech Your Honour has been pleased to address to us at the opening of the present session. [Motion carried] head: Government Motions Address in Reply to Speech from the Throne 12. Mr. Olson moved on behalf of Ms Redford:

Be it resolved that the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne be engr ossed and presented to His Honour the Honourable the Lieutenant Governor by such members of the Assembly as are members of Executive Council. The Speaker: This motion is debatable. Are there any others who wish to participate? If not, are you ready for the question? Hon. Members: Question. The Speaker: The question has been called. [Government Motion 12 carried] Mr. Olson: Mr. Speaker, I move that we adjourn until 1:30 on Monday, April 7. [Motion carried; the Assembly adjourned at 3:08 p.m. to Monday, April 7, at 1:30 p.m.]

332 Alberta Hansard March 20, 2014

Activity to March 20, 2014 The Bill sponsor's name is in brackets following the Bill title. If it is a money Bill, ($) will appear between the title and the sponsor's name. Numbers following each Reading refer to Hansard pages where the text of debates is found; dates for each Reading are in brackets following the page numbers. Bills numbered 1 to 199 are Government Bills. Bills numbered 200 or higher are Private Members' Public Bills.

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

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

chapter number. Please note, Private Bills are not assigned

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

(2014) Savings Management Act ($) (Redford)1 First Reading -- 4 (Mar. 3, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 47-50 (Mar. 4, 2014 eve.), 84-85 (Mar. 5, 2014 aft.), 146-54 (Mar. 10, 2014 eve., passed) Committee of the Whole -- 184-87 (Mar. 11, 2014 aft., passed) Third Reading -- 217-18 (Mar. 12, 2014 aft.), 226-28 (Mar. 12, 2014 aft.), (Mar. 12, 2014 eve., passed) Royal Assent -- (Mar. 13, 2014 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force April 1, 2014; SA 2014 cS-2.5] Appropriation (Supplementary Supply) Act, 2014 ($) (Horner)2 First Reading -- 84 (Mar. 5, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 143 (Mar. 10, 2014 eve.), 154-56 (Mar. 10, 2014 eve., passed) Committee of the Whole -- 187-88 (Mar. 11, 2014 aft., passed) Third Reading -- 218 (Mar. 12, 2014 aft.), (Mar. 12, 2014 eve., passed) Royal Assent -- (Mar. 13, 2014 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force March 13, 2014; SA 2014 c2] Securities Amendment Act, 2014 (Horner)3 First Reading -- 62 (Mar. 5, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 143-45 (Mar. 10, 2014 eve., passed) Committee of the Whole -- 187 (Mar. 11, 2014 aft., passed) Third Reading -- 218 (Mar. 12, 2014 aft.), (Mar. 12, 2014 eve., passed) Royal Assent -- (Mar. 13, 2014 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force on proclamation; SA 2014 c3] Estate Administration Act (Kubinec)4 First Reading -- 62-63 (Mar. 5, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 145-46 (Mar. 10, 2014 eve.), 184 (Mar. 11, 2014 aft.), 191-93 (Mar. 11, 2014 eve., passed) Committee of the Whole -- 229 (Mar. 12, 2014 aft., passed) Third Reading -- 250 (Mar. 13, 2014 aft.), 330 (Mar. 20, 2014 aft., passed) Appropriation (Interim Supply) Act, 2014 ($) (Horner)5 First Reading -- 119 (Mar. 10, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 174 (Mar. 11, 2014 aft.), 188-90 (Mar. 11, 2014 aft., passed) Committee of the Whole -- 218-20 (Mar. 12, 2014 aft.), 228-29 (Mar. 12, 2014 aft., passed) Third Reading -- 230 (Mar. 12, 2014 aft., passed) Royal Assent -- (Mar. 13, 2014 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force March 13, 2014; SA 2014 c1] New Home Buyer Protection Amendment Act, 2014 (Hughes)6 First Reading -- 300 (Mar. 18, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- (Mar. 20, 2014 aft., adjourned) Agricultural Pests (Fusarium Head Blight) Amendment Act, 2014 (Kubinec)201 First Reading -- 63 (Mar. 5, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 123-34 (Mar. 10, 2014 aft., referred to Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship) Independent Budget Officer Act (Forsyth)202 First Reading -- 63 (Mar. 5, 2014 aft., passed) Second Reading -- 264-79 (Mar. 17, 2014 aft., defeated on division)

Childhood Vision Assessment Act (Jablonski)203 First Reading -- 249 (Mar. 13, 2014 aft., passed) Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (MLA Public Interest Fee Waiver) Amendment Act, 2014 (Barnes) 204 First Reading -- 263-64 (Mar. 17, 2014 aft., passed)

Table of Contents Prayers ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 317 Statement by the Speaker Member for Lesser Slave Lake, 25th Anniversary of Election .............................................................................................................. 317 Mr.

Speaker’s MLA for a Day Program ................................................................................................................................................ 329 Introduction of Guests ........................................................................................................................................................................ 317, 327 Members’ Statements Alberta Economic Development Authority ........................................................................................................................................... 319 Public Service ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 319 Northern Leaders’ Summit .................................................................................................................................................................... 327 Trade with India .................................................................................................................................................................................... 328 Bridges in Rural Areas .......................................................................................................................................................................... 328 Oral Question Period Government Effectiveness ..................................................................................................................................................................... 319 Budget 2014 .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 320 Flood-related Buyouts in High River ..................................................................................................................................................... 320 Flood Recovery Communications Contracts ......................................................................................................................................... 321 Severance Payments to Premier’s Office Staff ...................................................................................................................................... 321 Mathematics Curriculum ....................................................................................................................................................................... 322 Kinship Care .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 322 Primary Health Care .............................................................................................................................................................................. 323 Livestock Industry Regulations ............................................................................................................................................................. 323 Public Service Pensions ......................................................................................................................................................................... 324 Associate Minister’s Remarks ............................................................................................................................................................... 324 International Investment ........................................................................................................................................................................ 325 Long-term Care Beds ............................................................................................................................................................................ 325 North-South Trade Corridor .................................................................................................................................................................. 326 Highway 61 ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 326 Anthony Henday Drive Northeast Portion ............................................................................................................................................. 327 Presenting Petitions .................................................................................................................................................................................... 328 Tabling Returns and Reports ...................................................................................................................................................................... 328 Orders of the Day ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 329 Government Bills and Orders ..................................................................................................................................................................... 329 Second Reading ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 330 Bill 6 New Home Buyer Protection Amendment Act, 2014 ....................................................................................................... 330 Third Reading ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 329 Bill 4 Estate Administration Act ................................................................................................................................................ 329 Consideration of His Honour the Lieutenant Governor’s Speech ............................................................................................................... 331 Government Motions Address in Reply to Speech from the Throne ........................................................................................................................................ 331

If your address is incorrect, please clip on the dotted line, make any changes, and return to the address listed below. To facilitate the update, please attach the last mailing label along with your account number.

Subscriptions Legislative Assembly Office 1001 Legislature Annex 9718 – 107 Street EDMONTON, AB T5K 1E4 Last mailing label: Account # New information: Name: Address: Subscription information: Annual subscriptions to the paper copy of Alberta Hansard (including annual index) are $127.50 including GST if mailed once a week or $94.92 including GST if picked up at the subscription address below or if mailed through the provincial government interdepartmental mail system. Bound volumes are $121.70 including GST if mailed. Cheques should be made payable to the Minister of Finance.

Price per issue is $0.75 including GST. Online access to Alberta Hansard is available through the Internet at www.assembly.ab.ca Subscription inquiries: Other inquiries: Subscriptions Legislative Assembly Office 1001 Legislature Annex 9718 – 107 St. EDMONTON, AB T5K 1E4 Telephone: 780.427.1302 Managing Editor Alberta Hansard 1001 Legislature Annex 9718 – 107 St. EDMONTON, AB T5K 1E4 Telephone: 780.427.1875 Published under the Authority of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta ISSN 0383-3623