Manitoba Hansard — 30 November 2021 (Sitting 6, 42nd Legislature, 4th Session)

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Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

Fourth Session – Forty-Second Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Myrna Driedger Speaker Vol. LXXVI No. 6 - 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 30, 2021 ISSN 0542-5492

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

GOERTZEN, Kelvin, Hon. Steinbach PC GORDON, Audrey, Hon. Southdale PC GUENTER, Josh Borderland PC GUILLEMARD, Sarah, Hon. Fort Richmond PC HELWER, Reg, Hon. Brandon West PC ISLEIFSON, Len Brandon East PC JOHNSON, Derek, Hon. Interlake-Gimli PC JOHNSTON, Scott Assiniboia PC KINEW, Wab Fort Rouge NDP LAGASSÉ, Bob Dawson Trail PC LAGIMODIERE, Alan, Hon. Selkirk PC LAMONT, Dougald St. Boniface Lib. LAMOUREUX, Cindy Tyndall Park Lib.

LATHLIN, Amanda The Pas-Kameesak NDP LINDSEY, Tom Flin Flon NDP MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Malaya Notre Dame NDP MARTIN, Shannon McPhillips PC MICHALESKI, Brad Dauphin PC MICKLEFIELD, Andrew Rossmere PC MORLEY-LECOMTE, Janice Seine River PC MOSES, Jamie St. Vital NDP NAYLOR, Lisa Wolseley NDP NESBITT, Greg Riding Mountain PC PEDERSEN, Blaine Midland PC PIWNIUK, Doyle Turtle Mountain PC REYES, Jon, Hon. Waverley PC SALA, Adrien St. James NDP SANDHU, Mintu The Maples NDP SCHULER, Ron, Hon.

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

161 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Tuesday, November 30, 2021 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Madam Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, from Whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to the welfare and prosp erity of our province. Grant, O merciful God, we pray Thee, that we may desire only that which is in accordance with Thy will, that we may seek it with wisdom and know it with certainty and accomplish it perfectly for the glory and honour of Thy name and for the welfare of all our people. Amen.

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

Good afternoon, everybody. Please be seated. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Bill 8–The Court of Appeal Amendment and Provincial Court Amendment Act Hon. Cameron Friesen (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister for Central Services, that Bill 8, The Court of Appeal Amendment and Provincial Court Amendment Act, be now read a first time. Motion presented. Mr. Friesen: Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today and introduce for a first reading this bill, the Court of Appeal and Provincial Court amend- ment act.

This bill will add to the types of matters that can be heard in the Court of Appeal of Manitoba. The bill will also amend the appointment process for judges of the Provincial Court of Manitoba so that the commit- tee will provide an evaluation and

summary for each candidate for judicial appointment. Further, the bill will require that candidates for appointment to the Provincial Court undertake to par- ticipate in continuing education in sex assault law and social context, and the Provincial Court can establish training programs on these subjects, and it also includes provisions for the annual reports of the court. The bill will help advance the goals of Gender - Based Violence Com mittee of Cabinet, improve the process for judges and increase public confi dence in the justice system. Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Agreed? [Agreed] Bill 207–The Criminal Property Forfeiture Amendment Act Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns): I move, seconded by the member for Fort Garry (Mr. Wasyliw), that Bill 207, The Criminal Property Forfeiture Amendment Act, be now read a first time. Motion presented. Ms. Fontaine: I'm proud to introduce Bill 207 in an attempt to bring greater 'inclusity' –'clusivity' and autonomy to the community.

Bill 207 would promote safer and more inclusive communities by directing monies raised by criminal forfeiture to non-profit community organizations that promote addiction treatments, mental health, harm - reduction services, housing, com munity patrol and safety and restorative justice. Miigwech, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? Agreed? [Agreed] Bill 205–The Filipino Heritage Month Act Madam Speaker: The honour able member for Lagimodière. The member is muted. Cannot hear. Is the headset plugged in? Mr. Andrew Smith (Lagimodière): There. How about that?

Madam Speaker: We can hear you now. Mr. Smith: Okay, there we go.

162 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 30, 2021 Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member from Brandon East, that Bill 205, The Filipino Heritage Month Act, be now read a first time. Motion presented. Mr. Smith: It is an honour for me to introduce this bill that recognizes the good work of the Filipino com- munity here in Manitoba and the contributions they've made to our province, and I encourage all members to support this. Thank you. Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? Agreed? [Agreed] Committee reports? TABLING OF REPORTS Hon.

Scott Fielding (Minister of Finance): It's my pleasure to rise today in the Assembly to table the fidelity bonds crime insurance report. Madam Speaker: Ministerial statements? MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Dr. Amanda Malboeuf Hon. Rochelle Squires (Minister of Families): Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honour a remarkable woman who lives in my constituency of Riel. Dr. Amanda Malboeuf, a doctor of veterinarian medicine, was recently nominated for an Empower Women 20/21 Award for her exemplary commitment to her community and to the animals that she serves. Dr.

Malboeuf works hard as a veterinarian to ad- vocate for all the pets that come through the doors at Winrose Animal Hospital. She has dedicated many hours outside work taking additional courses to ensure that she can provide the highest quality of veterinarian medicine. Her love of animals has also led her to give so much more of her time, including donating surgical hours to provide low cost for the Winnipeg Animal Services, the Winnipeg Humane Society and the K9 Advocates. During th e COVID -19 pandemic, Dr.

Malboeuf has extended her clinic hours to keep up with the increased demand to ensure that all animals that needed to be seen could be seen. Dr. Malboeuf is of Métis descent and is a proud advocate for her heritage. She is a shining example for all Indigenous people and has led the truth and recon- ciliation learning opportunities at the animal hospital and is a role model for many veterinarians at the beginning of their careers. Dr. Malboeuf is a remarkable individual who outside of the workplace is a dedicated wife and mother to two children. I ask all my colleagues to help me honour and recognize Dr.

Malboeuf for her–the contributions she has made to our great city and province. Thank you, Madam Speaker. * (13:40) Eating Disorder Treatment Services MLA Malaya Marcelino (Notre Dame): Last month, our NDP caucus met for a round table discussion with advocates working with Manitobans struggling from eating disorders. Two days before, the PC government announced a marginal expansion of the eating disorder program at the Women's Health Clinic. However, the reports we heard that morning made it clear that the government's efforts thus far fail to address the magnitude of this issue in Manitoba.

Far more needs to be done to hel p those struggling from eating disorders, especially when it comes to children and youth. Now, the average wait time for youth to receive treatment for an eating disorder is over a year. This is dangerous and unacceptable. All eating disorders are treatable, and the earlier the intervention, the more treatable the illness. The consequences of long wait times lead to long -term damage to body or brain development, or even death. Long wait times mean the services children and adolescents require are far more intense than if they receive treatment early on. According to Dr.

Margo Lane, the director of pediatric programs at HSC, the main challenge they face is the lack of public funding to adequately staff treatment. At the moment, Dr. Lane says her clinic is barely able to provide a crisis response, let alone do any type of prevention, early inter vention or much- needed research. She also stated that other similar -sized Canadian cities typically have 10 times the staff and resources. For instance, her colleagues at the Ottawa hospital have 10 psychologists on staff,

whereas at our Children's Hospital there is only one part -time

November 30, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 163 psychologist funded to help youth struggling from eating disorders. On behalf of young people and their families struggling with eating disorders, I call on this govern- ment to stop their health -care cuts and properly fund the prevention, treatment and research needed to ad - dress eating disorders in Manitoba–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. MLA Marcelino: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Wayne Balcaen Mr. Len Isleifson (Brandon East): July 12th, 1882: it's an important date in the world of policing, at least in the local level here in Brandon.

Under the leader - ship of Chief Constable Archibald McMillan, this was the date that the Br andon police force was first introduced to the citizens of Brandon with Constable Donald Campbell and Constable John Keays handling the duties. Unfortunately, the police chief himself passed away shortly after accidentally shooting himself when his rifle f ell from placing in a case at Smith's [phonetic] hardware store. Police in Brandon has changed over the years and so too has the role of the chief.

I have personally had the pleasure of working with some great folks and making some good friends who held t his role, in - cluding Chief Brian Scott in 1989, Chief Dick Scott in 1995, Chief Richard Bruce in 2001, Chief Keith Atkinson in 2007 and Chief Ian Grant from 2013 to 2017. Madam Speaker, milestones are indeed meant to be celebrated, and today I want to celebrate Brandon's 19th police chief, Wayne Balcaen, on his 30- plus years in law enforcement in Brandon. Chief Balcaen is a long-time resident of Brandon who joined the police force as a constable on October 1st, 1990.

In 2003, he was promoted and spent the next two and a half years as a sergeant, until his outstanding leadership abilities and work per for- mance saw him promoted once again. And then he would spend the next nine years as a staff sergeant. Once again, however, his continued efforts and hard work saw him being promoted to the position of inspector in 2015. In January 2016, Wayne Balcaen climbed the ladder of success within the Brandon Police Service when he assumed the role of deputy chief, until his most current promotion to his current rol e as Brandon's 19th police chief, on October 30th, 2017.

Madam Speaker, Chief Balcaen has shown an amazing dedication to our community, a commitment to his role and has achieved a distinguished career totally within the Brandon Police Service. He is only the fourth police chief who has made the Brandon Police Service his home– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. Some Honourable Members: Leave. Madam Speaker: Is there leave to allow the member to continue and conclude his statement? [Agreed] Mr. Isleifson: He is only the fourth police chief who has made the Brandon Police Service his home for his entire career.

I want to ask all my colleagues to join me in thanking Chief Balcaen for his service and to help me congratulate him on an amazing 30-plus years in law enforcement. Thank you. Louise Bridge Replacement Mr. Jim Maloway (Elmwood): A few weeks ago, city planners finalized the Louise Bridge replacement site. The 110- year-old, functionally obsolete bridge, built the same year as the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, continues to serve as a vital link between northeast Winnipeg and Transcona to the downtown and is long overdue for replacement, as time is running out on the basic structure.

City planners are recommending a three -lane bridge in each direction to maintain and enhance the link for all of northeast Winnipeg and Transcona. The City has also initiated its expropriation process by sending letters to affected property owners at the beginning of October 2021. City planners clearly appreciate the need to act quickly. And by building it as soon as possible, the old bridge can stay open during construction, a key ele - ment to the entire project. This coming spring 2022, the City will be making final decisions on the overall master plan and t he eastern corridor project.

They'll have to deal with the Louise Bridge replacement issue immediately for reasons obvious to anyone who crosses the bridge. The City needs financial help to get the new Louise Bridge built, and the new PC leader should be taking the initiative and contacting the City, offering its financial share to this vital project in northeast Winnipeg and Transcona–to Transcona residents.

164 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 30, 2021 The new PC leader needs to do this as soon as possible so we can keep the old bridge fully open to traffic while the new bridge is under construction. Early Learning and Child Care Ms. Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): I rise today to talk about the–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Lamoureux: –early-learning and child- care community of Manitoba. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms.

Lamoureux: I have been in communication with several child-care centres and quite a few parents who have children attending or are on wait -list to attend ELCCs in Tyndall Park. Child care can be a barrier that many people face, and this has been amplified during the pandemic. People are struggling to find child- care spots, child care that is affordable and ways to manage going back to work or just to maintain their jobs.

In addition to this, we as politicians are also hear- ing from child- care facilities about the reduction in enrolment in programs and hours of operation; closing cohorts; asking families to drop off or pick up their children earlier; finding staffing for screeners to check for symptoms a t the schools; and staffing to answer the phone and meet parents at the school entrances. Madam Speaker, public child care should be accessible for everyone. The federal government initiated agreements with most provinces to allow families to access p ublic child care for $10 a day.

This was an addition to their 2020 fall economic update where they provided Manitoba with $19.2 million to support recruitment and retention for our ELCCs. I believe this provincial government needs to step up. We know this provincial government underspent their designated funds for the pandemic support staff- ing benefit in 2020-2021 by $9.2 million. I table this information now. And while the minister responsible says that more child-care spaces are coming, the ques- tion of who will be staffing these spaces are ringing louder.

Madam Speaker, my hope is that the provincial government will work directly with ELCC centres and understand the importance of increasing wages and expand the eligibility for the pandemic support staffing benefit. Thank you. Madam Speaker: The hon ourable member –leader of–oh boy –the honour able First Minister –my day's not going well. My day's not going well. ORAL QUESTIONS Prairie Mountain Health Nurse Vacancy Rate Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of th e Official Opposition): Manitobans need more health care at the bedside, not less.

I think most of us agree with that, other than the PCs, but there are huge nursing vacancies in Prairie Mountain Health. There's a 25 per cent vacancy rate for licensed practical nurses; 21 per cent vacancy rate for registered nurses. We've proven all this over the past week. The former Health minister, we now show with documents we are releasing publicly, ordered $2.8 million in cuts at Prairie Mountain. Now this proves that the vacant positions at Prairie Mountain Health didn't happen by accident. They happened because of the government's orders.

Why did the former minister of Health order $2.8 million in health -care cuts to the front lines of Prairie Mountain Health? * (13:50) Hon. Heather Stefanson (Premier): Well, Madam Speaker, the member opposite is wrong. This year, Prairie Mountain Health –regional health author ity received $12 million in ad ditional COVID-19 funding. It is my under standing that they are forecasted to receive an ad ditional $14.6 million. We are making record invest ments, in the history of this province, in health care, Madam Speaker. We will continue to do so to protect Manitobans.

Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Mr. Kinew: No. The documents we are showing prove that almost $3 million was cut from the bedside in communities like Brandon, Dauphin, Grandview, Roblin–and that's this year, cuts this year, 2021. That's why there's a 25 per cent vacancy rate for LPNs and a 21 per cent vacancy rate for RNs. Now, the former Health minister, in the docu- ments, ordered PMH to, quote, hold vacant positions

November 30, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 165 open in order to hit these $2.8 million in cuts that they targeted. Now, patients and families deserve to know why there are fewer nurses at the bedside, and so we are showing them. We know that these cuts are wrong and they should be reversed. Will the former Health minister imme diately withdraw her order to cut nursing positions in Prairie Mountain Health today? Mrs. Stefanson: Well, the member opposite is wrong again, Madam Speaker.

This year, the Prairie Mountain regional health authority received an additional–that's more, not less– $12 million in COVID financing, and it's my under- standing that there will be an additional $14.6 million. Again, that is more, Madam Speaker, not less. We are making more invest ments in the Prairie Mountain regional health authority, not less, like the member opposite seems to say. Madam S peaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary. Mr.

Kinew: Well, these are the same sort of denials we used to hear all the time from Brian Pallister, and we know how well that worked out. And, of course, even though t he PCs under this new leader claim that there are no cuts, we know that there are, and that's why we brought the documents that prove in black and white–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –that nearly $3 million was cut from Prairie Mountain Health. And, of course, this is the decision of the current PC leader, not Brian Pallister's decision, though it looks an awful lot like Mr. Pallister's decisions.

So, we know that these cut funds are forcing nursing positions to remain unfilled. That is impacting patients. That's, in –impacting com munities right across the Westman. It's wrong. Will the new PC leader take a stand and reverse the cuts that she made as Health minister? Mrs. Stefanson: Well, what is wrong, Madam Speaker, is that this is the same old tactics of the Leader of the Opposition: playing fast and loose, once again, with the facts. Let's look at what the facts are: Prairie Mountain Health regional health author ity is receiving $12 million more in COVID funding, Madam Speaker.

It is also my under standing that they are forecasted–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mrs. Stefanson: –to receive an ad ditional $14.6 million in 2021 and '22. Again, those are more investments in our health- care system in the Prairie Mountain regional health authority, not less. The member opposite is wrong. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question. Vaccine Policy at the Legislature Requirement for Cabinet Ministers Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the O fficial Opposition): Madam Speaker, I want to share a quote from the former clerk of the Executive Council.

That would be the clerk that all of these PC Cabinet min - isters served alongside for many years. Now, this former clerk said, and I quote, strident anti-vaxxers in Cabinet can bring an insidious bearing to decision-making. End quote. He clearly made the call for all Cabinet ministers of gov ernment to be vaccinated. It's a simple requirement. This is a decision for the new leader of the PC party to make. Will the new PC leader require every member of her Cabinet to be vaccinated right now? Hon.

Heather Stefanson (Premier): Well, Madam Speaker, there are no anti-vaxxers in our caucus, and I will say that we certainly don't make Cabinet deci - sions based on what members of the–opposite want to put out in their Twitter. What I will say, Madam Speaker–and I have said before–is that we are moving towards having this building that we are in to be –to require people to be fully vaccinated to enter the building. It does take time to get that into place, with different gov ernment de- partments involved.

I know that that work is taking place and by December 16th –or December 15th, I believe, every single person who comes into this building will have to be fully vaccinated. Madam Speaker: The honour able Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Request to Remove Minister From Cabinet Mr. Kinew: Yes, this same former clerk of the Executive Council –who this PC leader served

166 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 30, 2021 alongside for years–now, this former clerk felt com - pelled to write, and I quote, allowing anti -vaxxers to sit at the Cabinet table presents a clear conflict of interest when it comes to acting in the public good against COVID-19. End quote. So I ask you, M adam Speaker, why would the former clerk pose this question–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –immediately after leaving the Pallister- Stefanson governments? Well, we know that the MLA for Springfield -Ritchot won't say whether he is vaccinated. We all know what that means.

This is a failure of leadership. The new PC leader needs to take action. Will the new PC leader kick this MLA out of Cabinet today? Mrs. Stefanson: Madam Speaker, I don't make decisions on Cabinet based on what I r ead in the Winnipeg Free Press, nor do I make decisions on Cabinet based on what members opposite want to tweet out. What I will say is that we are making decisions; we've made a decision to ensure that by December 15th that all people who enter this bui lding will have to be fully vaccinated.

We have mandatory Cabinet that takes place in this building, Madam Speaker, so we will ensure–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mrs. Stefanson: –that all of those individuals who enter this building are fully vaccinated. They will have to show that. Madam Speaker: The honour able Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary. Mr. Kinew: Attacking the Winnipeg Free Press, just like Brian Pallister. I'll tell you what the PC leader should be making Cabinet decisions based on, Madam Speaker. That's the–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –best interests of the health of Manitobans.

Now, making sure that people at the highest leadership positions in government are acting respon- sibly is very im portant and it should support public health. There should be a clear message from this new PC leader that they do not tolerate anti -vaxxers in Cabinet or the spreading of misinformation. Everyone in Cabinet should be publicly prepared to say so. Now, Cabinet solidarity should mean that the MLA for Springfield -Ritchot should leave, given what the government says about Manitobans and vac- cinations. So the question remains for the new PC leader: Will she show leadership?

Will she imme diately re- move the MLA for Springfield-Ritchot from Cabinet today? Mrs. Stefanson: Well, the member opposite talks about acting responsibly. I don't think it's acting re - sponsibly to make Cabinet decisions based on what you read in the media, Madam Spe aker. So we don't make our decisions that way. I guess that's the way the Leader of the Opposition wants to make his–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mrs. Stefanson: –decisions, Madam Speaker. You know, maybe that's why the NDP is in the opposition.

Surgical Backlog Timeline to Clear MLA Uzoma Asagwara (Union Station): In 2018, Kim Riddell was diagnosed with severe stenosis in her spine, a con dition which, over time, compresses the spinal cord. She was supposed to get surgery 18 months later, and just when Kim thought her day had finally arrived, the Pallister -Stefanson gov ern- ments consolidated the spine surgery program and bumped Kim's surgery to at least April 2021, a consolidation the PC leader said got some pretty good results.

She's now been on a wait-list for more than three years, living in pain and agony each and every day, forcing her to leave her career. I wouldn't call that pretty good results, Madam Speaker. Kim needs to know when she's going to be able to get her surgery. Will this gov ernment set a date for when the surgery backlog will be cleared? Hon. Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health and Seniors Care): I thank the member for Union Station for the question.

I'm unable to speak directly to the case that she– that they are referring to, but I welcome the member to share that information with my department and we will look into it.

November 30, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 167 After preparing for the fourth wave of COVID, Madam Speaker, our most important priority as a gov- ernment is to ensure Manitobans have access to the care they need in terms of surgeries and diagnostics, and we will follow through on our commitment to en- sure that that happens. * (14:00) Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Union Station, on a supplementary question. MLA A sagwara: The longer Kim goes without surgery, the greater the chance that surgery won't even be able to help her.

Even with all the thoughts and prayers in the world, each day that goes by means less chance of a full recovery and more chance of being permanently disabled. And Kim is not alone in this. There are 136,000 Manitobans that could suffer long-term consequences as a result of delaying the care they need. As Kim explained: I'm looking for action on these backlogs before more of us become permanently disabled or die while waiting. And I'll table that letter. Manitobans like Kim need action and account- ability on eliminating the backlog, not broken funding promises and prayers.

Will the minister commit to a date for when the surgical backlog will be cleared? Ms. Gordon: In Budget 2021 our gov ernment com- mitted $50 million to address the surgical and diag- nostic backlog. I am pleased to share that I've met several times now with the task force team and chair, and we will be naming that task f orce and team very shortly. And we've also finished our fifth request for supply arrangement. We'll be sharing the results of those proposals at the same time, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Union Station, on a final supplementary.

MLA Asagwara: The PC leader and the Minister of Health had ample time before each and every wave of this pandemic, and instead of preparing by staffing up, they let that wave crash into Manitoba and cancelled slate after slate of surgeries. And instead of investing in addressing the surgical backlog like British Columbia did, they sat on the cash while Manitobans like Kim suffered in pain.

Now, one of Kim's fears is that without publicly reporting on all of the backlog, this minister and PC leader will attempt to focus solely on reducing the backlogs for the procedures that are currently reported on publicly like hip, knee and cataract surgeries, not all surgeries like Kim's. Will the minister begin publicly reporting imme- diately on the backlog of all surgeries and all diagnos- tic tests? Ms. Gordon: This morning, when I was at an event with the member for Union Station, they were wearing a halo and angel wings. I see that the member lost it on the way into the Chamber today.

Our government has just finished our fifth request for supply arrangement–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Gordon: –and has received service proposals to date–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Gordon: –and this is factual information. Madam Speaker, $1 3.7 million has been spent and allocated on 8,300 procedures, contracted $8.1 million for the first four RFSAs, $5.6 million in service delivery organizations on procedures such as hips, knees, cataracts and more. U of M Faculty Association Labour Dispute Collective Bargaining and Wage Mandate Mr. Jamie Moses (St.

Vital): Madam Speaker, we are now going into the fifth week of the UMFA strike due to this gov ernment's ongoing interference. Despite the gov ernment's attempt to paint itself in a different shade of blue than Brian Pallister, the strike has actually gone on for even longer when than Pallister was the premier. Now, let's be clear: this strike is the direct result of this government's unconstitutional salary mandate– [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Moses: –and students know this. They showed up to ask the Minister of Finance (Mr. Fielding) this last night, to withdraw the mandate.

Now, I'll ask the minister today: Will he withdraw the salary mandate today and allow UMFA to negotiate in good faith with their employer? [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order.

168 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 30, 2021 Hon. Wayne Ewasko (Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration): Madam Speaker, the report of the inde pendent mediator is abundantly clear on the real reasons for the continuing of the strike. It's time to put students and families first. For their sake, we again call on both sides to go and accept the recommendations of the mediator and go to binding arbitration. It's unfor tunate, and I urge the member from St. Vital, his NDP multiple teammates, different parties and former staffers to please stand up for students. Help end the strike.

Stop politically interfering. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Order. Order. The honourable member for St. Vital, on a sup- plementary question. Mr. Moses: Madam Speaker, the Pallister gov ern- ment set salary mandates on the Uni versity of Manitoba administration that caused the 2016 strike. The U of M administration was threatened by funding cuts if it didn't adhere to the government's mandates. Now, the Stefanson gov ernment is using that same trick, the same, failed strategy–only worse.

This PC government's imposed wage mandates on public bodies such as the University of Manitoba and the uni- versities across the province are causing disruption on education. Will the minister do the right thing and withdraw the salary mandates immediately? Yes or no? Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Ewasko: I'd like to, I think, thank the member for the question because it gives me an op portunity to stand up and speak to the fact that the mediator has put on the table to recom mend to the Uni versity of Manitoba and UMFA to go to binding arbitration.

Basically, Madam Speaker, the Uni versity of Manitoba has accepted that recom mendation, is waiting for UMFA to go. And that would immediately end the strike. I, again, urge the member from St. Vital and his NDP staff and teammates to please stop politically interfering. Today, Madam Speaker, I table documents show- ing the fact that the member for St. Vital and his teammates do not stand up for students, they stand up just for their union friends. End the strike. Stand up for students like we are on– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. [interjection] And the Speaker is standing.

The honourable member for St. Vital, on a final supplementary. Mr. Moses: Students and professors are frustrated. They want to get back to class, but this gov ernment refuses to listen and withdraw their wage mandates. Students showed up at the Minister of Finance's (Mr. Fielding) budget meeting last night to try and finally get them to listen, but he refused to hear them out and actually walked out of the meeting. Students want this government– Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Moses: –to get out of the way, remove their– Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Madam Speaker: Order. Mr.

Moses: –mandate so they can get back to class, finish their education and start their careers. Again I ask: Will the minister listen to students, do the right thing, withdraw the wage mandates today? Madam Speaker: Heckling from both sides of the House at the same time kind of defeats some of the purpose of what we're trying to accomplish here. Mr. Ewasko: To me, Madam Speaker, the menu–the member from St. Vital is asking for binding arbitra - tion.

The mediator has put forward the fact that the U of M and UMFA are too far apart, so to end the strike earlier –five weeks early –they called on the recommendation to go to binding arbitration. This would save not only the unions but also the fact that it would save the students time and get them back into the classrooms, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we're doing what the NDP didn't do. Back in the Brandon University strikes, they inter- fered–they politically interfered. We've got evidence that they continue to politically inter fere through the process. Get the students back to class, Madam Speaker.

End– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired.

November 30, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 169 Menstrual Product Availability Request to Supply Schools MLA Malaya Marcelino (Notre Dame): Madam Speaker, we know that the pandemic has intensified a lot of the issues, and Manitoban students are facing more barriers than ever to quality education. * (14:10) As gov ernment, members opposite should be doing everything possible to ensure that kids are able to attend school regularly. Students should not have to miss school because they can't afford sanitary pro - ducts.

Providing menstrual products in all Manitoba schools would remove one signi ficant barrier and would keep students in classrooms more consistently. Will the minister invest in Manitoban students by making menstrual products available in all schools today? Hon. Cliff Cullen (Minister of Education): I appre- ciate the member's question. Today, I just want to give a quick update on the COVID that she referenced in her question. Some good news coming out of schools: week over week, we're down 12 per cent in terms of the number of cases in schools.

So, the good work of our staff and our students and administrators–things are heading in the right di- rection as–and far as COVID, and I look forward to responding to her second question. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Notre Dame, on a supplementary question. MLA Marcelino: Madam Speaker, this is at least the eighth time this year that members of our caucus have brought forward this important issue.

The responses we received from the members opposite have been lacking in accou ntability as they continue to put the responsi bility on the school to prioritize this im portant issue, all the while cutting funding and removing support from schools. Ontario was willing and able to make this impor- tant step. Why won't Manitoba? Will the minister invest in Manitoba students by making menstrual products available in all schools today? Mr. Cullen: Well, the member opposite is factually incorrect. We've increased K -to-12 funding 1.58 per cent this year–over $20 million extra funding going into K-to-12 education.

I will advise the member that we actually had a meeting this morning. A couple of my fellow Cabinet colleagues–we've done some review in terms of what other–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Cullen: –in terms of what other jurisdictions are doing, and we're going to plan to take this issue, move it forward. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Notre Dame, on a final supplementary. MLA Marcelino: Madam Speaker, this is actually an incredibly simple issue. Inequities in health care im- pact the abilities of students to show up to class.

Providing Manitoban students with access to free menstrual products would be one im portant step to - wards addressing the inequities that impact educa- tional outcomes for so many students. Will the minister do what's right and provide free menstrual products for all Manitoban students? Yes, or no? Mr. Cullen: Well, Madam Speaker, I'm not sure if the member opposite is aware that school divisions already are supplying t hose parti cular products to many students across Manitoba. We're just looking at it–how we can make that a more com prehensive and effective program across Manitoba.

We're looking what other juris dictions are doing–nice to see Ontario and see the pri vate sector come in to support what's going on in Ontario. That may be an option for Manitoba. We've got all of the options on the table, and we will have solutions. Provincial Budget Forum French Language Services Mr. Adrien Sala (St. James): Madame la Présidente, un principe fondamental de notre Province est l'offre active pour les services en français– Translation Madam Speaker, active offer of French languages is a fundamental tenet of our Province– Madam Speaker: The member –we may have a technical problem.

Can the table please stop the clock. Can the member perhaps start his question again?

170 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 30, 2021 Mr. Sala: Merci, Madame la Présidente. Un principe– [interjection] Translation Thank you, Madam Speaker. A tenet– Madam Speaker: Sorry, we–can the table please stop the clock again. Has the member changed any settings on his computer, and did some thing with his translation button? Mr. Sala: No. Don't know of a translation button. Madam Speaker: Can the member try it again, then. Mr. Sala: Madame la Présidente, un principe– Translation Madam Speaker, a tenet– Madam Speaker: Sorry. Order, please. Can the table please stop the clock.

We are just going to check with Translation Services here to see what is happening. For the information of the member for St. James (Mr. Sala), his mic cuts out and then we are hearing in here the translation over the speakers, so we're trying to discern what's happening. Introduction of Guests Madam Speaker: I'm going to take this opportunity. We have a special guest that has joined us in the Speaker's Gallery, and I would like introduce her to you. We have Ms. Apoorva Srivasta va, who's the consul general of India in Canada, and we –welcome, here, to the Manitoba Legislature. * * * Madam Speaker: Order, please.

We're going to try this one more time. There seems to be some connect- ivity problem somewhere and we're not sure –related to the translation component of this. But we'll see if we've been able to fix anything. So, the honourable member for St. James. Mr. Sala: Okay, on va essayer encore. Madame la Présidente, un principe fondamental de notre Province est l'offre active pour les services en français en Manitoba.

Hier soir, le ministre des Finances a convoqué un forum au sujet du prochain budget provincial, mais quand un citoyen s'est présenté pour offrir ses commentaires au ministre, la seule réponse qu'il a eu c'est : Je ne parle pas le français. Cette réponse est clairement décevante. Est-ce que les forums budgétaires sont bilingues? Oui ou non? Translation Okay, let's try again. Madam Speaker, one of the fundamental tenets of our Province is the active offer of French services in Manitoba.

Last night, the Finance Minister gathered a forum regarding the ne xt provincial budget, but when a citizen offered their comments to the minister, the only answer they got was: I don't speak French. This answer is clearly disappointing. Are budget forums bilingual? Yes or no? * (14:20) Hon. Rochelle Squires (Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs): Merci beaucoup, Madame la Présidente, pour la question. Nous savons qu'il est toujours possible d'améliorer notre prestation de services en français, et nous travaillons fort pour mettre en place des procédures pour mieux soutenir la communauté francophone.

Translation Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for the question. We know that it is always possible to improve our French services offer and we are working hard at putting together procedures to better support the Francophone community. English Madam Speaker, our government is committed to ensuring that there is active offer throughout the province of Manitoba, and, in fact, last year active offer training increased by 72 per cent compared to the previous year. Madam Speaker, we know that there's more work to do and we are committed to getting that work done. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St.

James, on a supplementary question. Mr. Sala: Madame la Présidente, le principe de l'offre active c'est clair : il faut que le français soit offert d'une manière active et directe. Il faut que les services soient offerts de façon à ce que les citoyens puissent s'en servir sans difficultés ou obstacles.

November 30, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 171 Un forum budgétaire pour déterminer les priorités de la Province pour son budget est très important. Est-ce que tous les forums budgétaires de la Province vont respecter le principe de l'offre active? Translation Madam Speaker, the principle of active offer is clear: French has to be offered in an active and direct manner. Services have to be offered in a manner in which citizens can use them without dif ficulties nor barriers. A budget forum determining the Province's priorities for the budget is very important.

Will all provincial budget forums respect the principle of active offer? Hon. Scott Fielding (Minister of Finance): It was pleasure to be at our first budget forum yesterday. Last year, our gov ernment consulted with over 51,000 Manitobans. We heard from people like the Manitoba Restaurant Association. We heard from the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. We heard from the Trucking Association, housing organi zations, the Manitoba Federation of Labour. We also heard from the Real Estate Board. These are important initiatives whether in French or English.

What we want to do is make sure that the priorities of Manitoba are incorporated in the budget, and that's why we do this. We're not going to perform a sham budget pro- cess like the NDP used to do. It's going to con- sult Manitobans and get t he real priorities from Manitobans. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. James, on a final supplementary. Mr. Sala: Madame la Présidente, hier c'était une échec. Translation Madam Speaker, yesterday was a failure. English And I'll translate for t he Minister of Finance: yesterday was a failure. La Province devrait faire mieux.

Elle devrait faire en sorte que les manitobains et manitobaines puissent s'exprimer en français quand on discute des priorités d'un budget provincial. Ce n'est pas acceptable de dire, simplement, qu'on ne parle pas le français ici. On s'attend à ce que l'offre active soit respectée. Je demande encore : est- ce que tous les forums budgétaires de la Province vont respecter le principe de l'offre active? Oui ou non? Translation The Province should do better. It should make sure that Manitobans be able to speak French when provincial budget priorities are being discussed.

It is unacceptable to just say that we do not speak French here. We expect the active offer to be respected. I will ask again: Will all budget forums held by the Province respect the principle of active offer? Yes or no? Mr. Fielding: Madam Speaker, we're extremely pleased with our budget process. I can tell you that we take these things seriously, not like the NDP. In fact, we made–with 51,000 people consulted last year, in terms of the budget consul tation, changed to have more capacity for vaccines, supports for busi nesses, reduced taxes.

Whether that be in French or English, we want to make sure we answer the question. I answer questions in English. We're not going to make the same mistakes as members like the member from Fort Garry, who under–if you look what Dr. Wiens had said about the way they consulted–let me just review what Dr. Wiens said –met the –at Winnipeg School Division. He said that the board– Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Fielding: –consulted–that the board will not con- sult, consider, reconsider any opinions other than their own– Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Madam Speaker: Order. Mr.

Fielding: –have a penchant for playing political games with each other, schools and parents. We're not going to play political games. We're going to make sure that priorities are supported by all– Madam Speaker: Member's– Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Madam Speaker: Order, please.

172 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 30, 2021 Surgical Backlog Request to Address Mr. Dougald Lamont (St. Boniface): Thank you, Madam Speaker. The new Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) has sought to explain away nursing shortages and tens of thousands of backlogged surgeries and procedures in Manitoba by saying things are bad everywhere, when Manitoba is clearly an outlier. In January 2020, echoing the Manitoba Nurses' Union, we warned that there was no surge capacity before the pandemic. W e warned this gov ernment to get ready for the first, second, third and fourth waves.

And this document obtained through FIPPA shows that, starting in November last year, every ICU in Winnipeg was over capacity for nine months, even between waves. For eight straight months St. Boniface ICU was over 150 per cent capacity, sometimes hitting 250 per cent, which crushed our ability to provide surgeries. Beds need nurses. In BC, they started planning for surgical backlogs after the first wave. Why is Manitoba so far behind? Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Minister of Legislative and Public Affairs): Indeed, this is a pan-Canadian issue.

In fact, it is an issue around the globe, Madam Speaker, and the Leader of the Liberal Party, such as it is, can deny it if he wants to, but, in fact, this is something that every jurisdiction is challenged with. In fact, in Manitoba we were challenged with it before the pandemic as a result of the leadership of the NDP. But this is a gov ernment led by our Health minister, who has brought in a number of different initiatives not only to train nurses but to ensure that ICU capacity was increased –[interjection]–and that there were more nurses increased. Now, I know he's eager to yell from his seat.

Perhaps he could also yell from his seat and speak to the leader in Ottawa, the Leader of the Liberal Party, in terms of getting a meeting to talk about health care, which every premier in Canada has been begging for without a response from Justin Trudeau, Madam Speaker. Madam Sp eaker: The honour able member for St. Boniface, on a supplementary question. Health-Care Workers Burnout as Workplace Injury Mr. Dougald Lamont (St. Boniface): Madam Speaker, since well before the pandemic, nurses have been quitting because of the brutal way this gov ern- ment has managed its cuts, freezes and closures to health.

I've received letter after letter, plea after plea, from nurses who quit because of their own mental and physical health, because they fear hurting or killing a patient because they're too tired or burned out to do their job properly, during and before the pandemic. I–it's really great that the gov ernment finds this funny. This government created a health-care system that traumatizes the people who work in it. Our health- care system will keep chewing up nurses and spitting them out broken, and that is no way to care for the people who care for us.

Unless we fix that, we are not going to be able to keep nurses or clear the surgery backlog. Will the Premier support Manito ba Liberals–our call to cover burnout as a workplace injury? Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Minister of Legislative and Public Affairs): Madam Speaker, throughout the pandemic, health -care workers –whether they're health-care aides, whether they are nurses, wh ether they are doctors–have been under tre mendous stress. And this gov ernment and all Manitobans recognize that, and we appre ciate the in credible work – [interjection] Yelling from the other side isn't going to help.

We appreciate the incredible work that has been done during the pandemic. We know that there were stresses before the pandemic, and we know that that has been exasperated across Canada and around the world. This is a gov ernment that negotiated –or en - sured that there was negotiati on for a contract for nurses, Madam Speaker. We're glad to see that there was a free and fair negotiation and now a respectable wage. That's a demon stration of the fact that we support nurses and others in the health- care field. We'll continue to do that.

I hope the member opposite will show that sup- port by ensuring that the federal government comes to the table with all the provinces to negotiate a fair agreement for funding for all Manitobans and Canadians. Madam Speaker: The honour able member for Tyndall Park, on a final supplementary.

November 30, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 173 Provincial Nominee Program Family Reunification Ms. Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): When the NDP were in government, they completely destroyed the Prov incial Nominee Program here in Manitoba. We had wait-lists going back over five years, Madam Speaker. Then the PC Conservatives get into govern- ment, and they completely fail to address the im - portance of family reunification, and they go ahead and they add a head tax on applicants being accepted into Manitoba.

Madam Speaker, my con stituents continue to share with me the dif ficulties that family members overseas are having when applying to Manitoba. And in addition to this, we also have a responsi - bility to do our part as Canada accepts 40,000 refugees from Afghanistan. What is the minister doing to ensure family reunification is part of the Prov incial Nominee Program? Hon. Wayne Ewasko (Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration): I ap preciate the question coming from my friend and colleague from Tyndall Park.

And as she knows, that we have had many con- versations in regards to the Manitoba Prov incial Nominee Program. I would like to give credit where credit is due, Madam Speaker. In the '90s, of course, brought forward by a then-PC government and one of my former colleagues, Mrs. Bonnie Mitchelson, who was the creator of the Manitoba Prov incial Nominee Program.

We have worked hard and –building on part ner- ships, not only with the new immigrants coming to Manitoba, Madam Speaker, but also with the federal minister, on seeing how we're going to continue work- ing in partnership, making sure that new immigrants come to Manitoba are supported. And on the Afghan–Afghanistan– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. Economic Stimulus Government Initiatives Mr. Andrew Smith (Lagimodière): Madam Speaker, Manitoba businesses have faced sig nificant challenges for the past 18 months while dealing with a global pandemic.

Our gov ernment has intro duced many progr ams that have helped small -scale busi - nesses in Manitoba to stay open and keep Manitobans employed. Can the Minister of Economic Dev elopment and Jobs share some highlights about the gov ernment's recent business supports for Manitoba businesses? Hon. Jon Reyes (Minister of Economic Development and Jobs): I'd like to thank the member from Lagimodière for the question. * (14:30) Our gov ernment has invested more than $470 million to support businesses and non-profits in their economic recovery and to protect jobs during times of uncertainty.

That is why we have introduced many innovative programs, such as the Digital Manitoba Initiative, that'll provide $15 million to sup- port digital business transformation and help business access new market s through digital platforms. We have committed $50 million to support the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce to administer the long- term recovery fund. Madam Speaker, our government will continue to engage with our business community and Manitobans as we focus on kick-starting the Manitoba economy. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Truck and Delivery Drivers Access to Washroom Facilities Mr.

Mintu Sandhu (The Maples): Access to washrooms is some thing most people in Manitoba take for granted, but is currently not granted for thou- sands of workers in this province, including delivery drivers, truck drivers and other important couriers. These folks got us through challenging times during the pandemic, and yet they don't have reliable access to essential facilities like washrooms. Will the minister commit to ensuring drivers can access washrooms wherever they need it? Hon.

Kelvin Goertzen (Minister of Legislative and Public Affairs): Certainly, we know, Madam Speaker, that our truck drivers do incredible work all the time, and in these times when there has been disruptions when it comes to the supply chain, that's particularly important. I know many of us have a connection with the trucking industry. My father was a truck driver for many years, Ma dam Speaker, so I understand very clearly how important it is that truck drivers have the

174 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 30, 2021 services that they need, and I know that our govern - ment recognizes the important work that they do. So wherever there are ways that we can ensure to make that industry easier, make the life of a truck driver better, we're active and engaged in ensuring that happens, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for The Maples, on a supplementary question. Mr. Sandhu: Madam Speaker, Ontario recently intro- duced legis lation that would require busi nesses to allow delivery drivers to use their washrooms when stopping to make a pickup or a delivery.

This is an important step toward ensuring that these essential workers can –able to access washrooms when they need it and it is –recognize that im portant work they do. Will the minister bring forward similar legislation that ensures all Manitoba workers can treat –treated with respect and dignity? Hon. Ron Schuler (Minister of Infrastructure): Well, I woul d like to thank the member for that question, and he's absolutely right. Being on our highways is an im portant part of our economy. We know that 80 per cent of what's produced in Manitoba is exported, and a lot of that is done by our truck drivers.

We have met with the Manitoba Trucking Association. We are going to deal with this issue. We know it's im portant and we hopefully will have all members onside and vote for the budget that will help to fund us moving forward on this issue. Madam Speaker: The hon ourable–[interjection] Order. Order. The honourable member for The Maples, on a final supplementary. Mr. Sandhu: Delivery drivers, truck drivers and couriers got us through some of the most challenging times of the pandemic, and yet they were not treated with respect and dignity.

Some busi nesses put up signs that say, I quote, no truckers past this point; or, I quote, staff only. But the delivery drivers and trucks –truckers are invaluable parts of our many–parts of many teams as the people who bring the product directly to the folks who need them. Will the minister commit to ensuring that Manitoba delivery drivers and truck drivers have access to washrooms when they need it? Mr. Schuler: The member is absolutely correct. We owe those individuals that do all the deliveries for our products, our goods and services across this province and across this country.

They have earned our respect and they've done a fantastic job. We understand there are some businesses that still refuse to allow truck drivers to use the washrooms, and when those are brought to our attention, we deal with those. If there are specific cases, I would ask the member to please bring them to the attention of the department. We want to continue to support those who bring the food and the services to our cities and our communities. And we'll continue to show them the respect they deserve. Thank you to all of those men and women who are involved in that part of our economy.

Madam Speaker: Time for oral questions has expired. PETITIONS Louise Bridge Mr. Jim Maloway (Elmwood): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Over 25,000 vehicles per day cross the Louise Bridge, which has served as a vital link for vehicular traffic between northeast Winnipeg and the downtown for the last 110 years.

(2) The current structure will undoubtedly be declared unsafe in a few years as it has deteriorated extensively, becoming functionally obsolete, subj ect to more frequent unplanned repairs and cannot be widened to accommodate future traffic capacity.

(3) As far back as 2008, the City of Winnipeg has studied where the new re placement bridge should be situated–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Maloway: (4) after including the bridge replace- ment in the City's five -year capital budget forecast in 2009, the new bridge became a short -term con - struction priority in the City's trans portation master plan of 2011.

(5) City capital and budget plans identified re - placement of the Louise Bridge on a site just east of the bridge and expropriated homes there on the south side of Nairn Avenue in anticipation of a 2015 start.

November 30, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 175

(6) In 2014, the new City adminis tration did not make use of available federal infrastructure funds.

(7) The new Louise Bridge Com mittee began its campaign to demand a new bridge and its surveys confirmed residents wanted a new bridge beside the current bridge, with the old bridge open–kept open for local traffic.

(8) The NDP provincial government signalled its firm commitment to partner with the City on replacing the Louise Bridge in its 2015 Throne Speech. Unfor - tunately, provincial infrastructure initiatives, such as the new Louise bridge, came to a halt with the election of the Progressive Conservative government in 2016.

(9) More recently, the City tethered the Louise Bridge replacement issue to its new trans portation master plan and eastern corridor project. Its recom- mendations have now identified the loc ation of the new bridge to be placed just to the west of the current bridge, not to the east as originally proposed. The City expropriation process has begun.

(10) The new Premier has a duty to direct the provincial government to provide financial assistance to the City so that it can complete this long overdue vital link to northeast Winnipeg and Transcona. The upcoming provincial budget will provide the timely opportunity to budget and announce prov incial participation in the building of the new Louise bridge. We petition the Legis lative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

(1) To urge the new Premier to financially assist the City of Winnipeg on building this three -lane bridge in each direction to maintain this vital link between northeast Win nipeg, Transcona and the downtown.

(2) To urge the provincial government to recom- mend that the City of Winnipeg keep the old bridge fully open to traffic while the new bridge is under con- struction; and

(3) To urge the provincial government to consider the feasibility of keeping it open for active trans por- tation in the future. And this petition is signed by many, many Manitobans. Madam Speaker: In accordance with our rule 132(6), when petitions are read they are deemed to be received by the House. Road Closures Mr. Matt Wiebe (Concordia): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. And the background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Manitoba Infra structure has under taken the closure of all farm access roads along the North Perimeter Highway, forcing rural residents to drive up to six miles out of their way to leave or return to their property.

(2) The prov incial gov ernment's own consul ta- tions showed that closing the access of some of these roads, incl uding Sturgeon Road, was an emerging concern to residents and busi ness owners, yet the North Perimeter plan does nothing to address this issue.

(3) Residents and busi ness owners were assured that their concerns about these access closures, including sa fety issues cited by engineers, would be taken into account and that access at Sturgeon Road would be maintained. However, weeks later, the median was nonetheless torn up, leaving local residents and businesses scrambling.

(4) Closing all access to the Perimeter puts more people in danger, as it emboldens speeders and forces farmers to take large equip ment into heavy traffic, putting road users at risk.

(5) Local traffic, commuter traffic, school buses, emergency vehicles and commercial traffic, including 200 gravel trucks per day from the Lilyfield Quarry, will be–will all be expected to merge and travel out of their way in order to access the Perimeter, causing increased traffic and longer response times to emergencies. * (14:40)

(6) Small businesses located along the Perimeter and Sturgeon Road are expected to lose busi ness, as customers will give up on finding ways into their premises.

(7) Residents, busi ness owners and those who use these roads have been left behind by the provincial government's refusal to listen to their concerns that closures will only result in worsened safety and major inconveniences for users of the North Perimeter. We petition the Legis lative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the Minister of Infra structure to leave residents access to the Perimeter Highway at least

176 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 30, 2021 every two miles along its length, especially at intersections such as Sturgeon Road, which are vital to local businesses; and

(2) To urge the Minister of Finance –of Infrastructure to listen to the needs and the opinions of local residents and busi ness owners who took the time to complete the Perimeter safety survey while working with engineers and technicians to complete– to ensure their concerns are addressed. This petition, Madam Speaker, is signed by many Manitobans. National Drug Plan Ms. Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly.

The background to this petition is as follows: Canada's public and private drug plans leave many patients with little or no coverage, resulting in one out of 10 patients not taking their prescribed medication because of affordability.

(2) It is estimated that Pharmacare would save Canadians between $4 billion and $11 billion per year.

(3) There have been repeated calls to include prescription drugs in Canada's universal health -care system, including a National Forum on Health; commission of the future of health care in Canada; several national organizations, including Canadian Nurses Associatio n, Canadian Medical Association, Federation of Canadian Municipalities. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

(1) To urge the provincial government to encourage the federal government to amend the Canada Health Act by adding prescription medicines prescribed by a licensed practitioner to the definition of covered services in accordance with an established formulary; and

(2) To urge the–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms. Lamoureux:–provincial government to develop, jointly with the federal government, a universal, single-payer, evidence-based, sustainable public drug plan that contains purchasing power to secure best available pricing, a list of essential medicines addressing priority health needs and the ability to expand to a comprehensive permanent plan that would promote the health and well-being of all Canadians. This petition has been signed by many Manitobans. Provincial Road 224 Ms. Amanda Lathlin (The Pas-Kameesak): I wish to present the following petition to th e Legis lative Assembly. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Provincial Road No. 224 serves Peguis First Nation, Fisher River Cree Nation and surrounding communities. The road is in need of substan tial repairs.

(2) The road has been in poor condition for years and has numer ous potholes, uneven driving surfaces and extremely narrow shoulders–I should know.

(3) Due to recent popula tion growth in the area, there has been increased vehicle and pedestrian use of Provincial Road 224.

(4) Without repair, Prov incial Road 224 will continue to pose a hazard to the many Manitobans who use it on a regular basis.

(5) Concerned Manitobans are requesting that Provincial Road 224 be assessed and repaired urgently to remove–to improve safety for its users. We petition the Legis lative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the Minister of Infrastructure to complete an assessment of Provincial Road 224 and implement the appropriate repairs using public funds as quickly as possible. This petition has been signed by many, many fine Manitobans. Madam Speaker: Are there any further petitions? Cochlear Implant Program Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly.

The background to this petition is as follows: People who suffer hearing loss due to aging, illness, employment or accident not only lose the ability to communicate effectively with friends, relatives or colleagues; they also can experience unemployment, social isol ation and struggles with mental health–

November 30, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 177 Madam Speaker: Order, please. Order. We're having a great difficulty hearing the mem- ber. I'm wondering if he has his headset there and could please put it on. Mr. Gerrard: Okay, is that better? Madam Speaker: Oh, that's much better. Thank you. Mr. Gerrard: Shall I start again? Madam Speaker: Yes, please. Mr. Gerrard: I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly.

The background to this petition is as follows: People who suffer hea ring loss due to aging, illness, employment or accident not only lose the ability to communicate effectively with friends, relatives or colleagues; they also can experience unemployment, social isolation and struggles with mental health. A cochlear impla nt is a life -changing electronic device that allows deaf people to receive and process sounds and speech, and also can partially restore hearing in people who have severe hearing loss and who do not benefit from conventional hearing aids.

A processor behind the ear captures and processes sound signals which are transmitted to a receiver implanted into the skull that relays the information to the inner ear. The technology has been available since 1989 through the Central Speech and Hearing Clinic, founded i n Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Surgical Hearing Implant program began implanting program– patients in the fall of 2011 and marked the completion of 250 cochlear implant surgeries in Manitoba in the summer of 2018. The program has implanted about 60 devices since the summer of 2018, as it is only able to implant about 40 to 45 devices per year.

There are no upfront costs to Manitoba residents who proceed with cochlear implant surgery, as Manitoba Health covers the surgical procedure, internal implant and the first external sound processor. Newfoundland and Manitoba have the highest estimated implantation costs of all provinces. Alberta has one of the best programs with Alberta aids for daily living, and their cost share means the patient pays only approximately $500 out of pocket. Assisted devices program in Ontario covers 75 per cent of the cost, up to a maximum amount of $5,444, for a cochlear implant replacement speech processor.

The BC Adult Cochlear Implant Program offers subsidized replacements to aging sound pro- cessors through the sound processor 'resplacement' program. This provincially funded program is avail - able to those cochlear implant recipients whose sound processors have reached six to seven years old. The cochlear implant is a lifelong commitme nt. However, as the technology changes over time, parts and software become no longer functional or avail - able.

The cost of upgrading a cochlear implant in Manitoba of approximately $11,000 is much more expensive than in other provinces, as adult patients are responsible for the upgrade costs of their sound processor. In Manitoba, pediatric patients under 18 years of age are eligible for funding assistance through the Cochlear Implant Speech Processor Replacement Program, which provides up to 80 per cent of the replacement costs associated with a device upgrade.

It is unreasonable that this technology is inaccessible to many citizens of Manitoba who must choose between hearing and deafness due to financial constraints because the costs of maintaining the equipment are prohibitive for low -income earners or those on a fixed income, such as old age pension or Employment and Income Assistance.

We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to provide financing for upgrades to the cochlear implant covered under medicare, or provide funding assistance through the Cochlear Implant Speech Processor Replacement Program to assist with the replacement costs associated with a device upgrade. This petition is signed by Harry Dyck, Tessa Masi, Brock Peters and many, many other Manitobans. Madam Speaker: Are there any further petitions? If not, orders of the day, government business. ORDERS OF THE DAY GOVERNMENT BUSINESS House Business Hon.

Kelvin Goertzen (Gover nment House Leader): I have a leave request relating to two bills, in consultation with the Opposition House Leader and the leader of the–or House leader of the Liberal Party.

178 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 30, 2021 Could you please canvass the House for leave to expedite con sideration of Bill 6, The Workers Compensation Amendment Act, as follows:

(1) At 4:30 p.m. today, the Speaker shall interrupt debate on the address and reply to the Speech from the Throne to allow the Government House Leader to call second reading of Bill 6;

(2) The House will not see the clock today until Bill 6 has been referred to committee;

(3) Bill 6 shall be referred to a standing com mit- tee tomorrow night, Wednesday, December 1st, 2021;

(4) Bill 6 shall be eligible for concurrence and third read ing on Thursday, December 2nd, 2021, despite the fact that it will also be reported to the House on that same day. * (14:50) I'll let you put that to the House first, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: Is there leave to expedite con sid- eration of Bill 6, The Workers Compensation Amend- ment Act, as follows:

(1) At 4:30 p.m. today, the Speaker shall interrupt debate on the address in reply to Speech from the Throne to allow the Gov ernment House Leader (Mr. Goertzen) to call second reading of Bill 6.

(2) The House will not see a clock today until Bill 6 has been referred to committee.

(3) Bill 6 shall be referred to a standing com mit- tee tomorrow night, Wednesday, December 1st, 2021.

(4) Bill 6 shall be eligible for concurrence and third reading on Thurs day, December 2nd, 2021, despite the fact that it will also be reported to the House on that day. Is there leave? [Agreed] Mr. Goertzen: I thank the House. Will you please canvass the House for leave to allow Bill 3, The Family Maintenance Amendment Act, to be listed on the Order Paper for concurrence and third reading on Thursday, December 2nd, 2021, despite the fact it will be reported to the House tomorrow, Wednesday, December 1st, 2021.

Madam Speaker: Is there leave to allow Bill 3, The Family Maintenance Amendment Act, to be listed on the Order Paper for concurrence and third reading on Thursday, December 2nd, 2021, despite the fact that it will be reported to the House tomorrow, Wednesday, December 1st, 2021? Is there leave? [Agreed] Mr. Goertzen: Could you please resume debate on the Throne Speech. THRONE SPEECH (Fifth Day of Debate) Madam Speaker: The House will now resume de - bate on the motion of the honour able member for Lagimodière (Mr.

Smith), and the amendment and subamendment thereto, standing in the name of the honourable member for Burrows, who has 15 minutes remaining–16 minutes remaining. Mr. Diljeet Brar (Burrows): I would like to continue my comments in response to the Throne Speech that I started yesterday. I was talking about the new Premier (Mrs. Stefanson), congratulating her to be the first woman Premier and feelings of Manitobans that they have started feeling that we actually needed a stronger woman premier, who could stand up for Manitobans.

This Throne Speech w as an op portunity for the new Premier to show that she has got leadership skills, but, unfortunately, she missed this opportunity. With what the PCs performed so far under Pallister - Stefanson gov ernments, followed by this Throne Speech, we can see when we enter this building every day to attend this session that UMFA members, they're upset. We know that uni versity students are upset. Nurses in Manitoba are upset. Doctors are upset. Schoolteachers are upset. Parents are upset. Ranchers are upset –I've been talking to so many ranchers in the past. Environmental stewards are upset.

Inter national students are upset. Seniors are upset. Small -business owners are upset. Minimum - wage workers are upset. Consumers are upset. And union workers are upset. There could be some people who might not be upset with the performance of PC gov ernment, and those could be millionaires, owners of the mansions, multinational big corporations and so on. It's about the priorities that the current gov ern- ment has, and Manitobans know that what are their priorities. We are in a time when we have a new Premier, we have new session, we have new start, we have new Throne Speech, but same old, same old approach.

November 30, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 179 This leadership race and the change of the Premier–people look at it as an effort to rebrand this PC caucus and PC government. But, actually, nothing changed with the change of the Premier. It's like the same person being in the chair in a new dress.

When we look at the content of the Throne Speech, we see that 80 per cent of the commit ments in this Throne Speech are a repeat of the Pallister government's old commitments–nothing new: nothing significant for the health-care system, nothing signifi- cant for making life more affordable, nothing signifi- cant for classroom supports for students, nothing sig- nificant for care for seniors and vul nerable people in Manitoba and nothing signi ficant for the climate crisis. I would like to discuss a few points as follows. Let's tal k about the Crown land leaseholders, small ranchers and commercial fishers first.

I've been talking to them recently, and I am told that they see many of their neighbours getting out of business. The next generation, young boys and girls, they're opting to leave the land and go for survival jobs away from those towns. And that's due to the policies that have been implemented by the PC government since 2016 without any proper consultation with the people on the land. They tell me that this gov ernment has refused to listen to them. I'm regularly hearing from these groups. They're annoyed, they're frustrated, dis - appointed and feel ignored by this gov ernment since they assumed office in 2016.

This Throne Speech doesn't offer any hope for the ranchers, fishers and family farms. The Throne Speech doesn't mention a single word about how this government is going to support financially broken Crown land ranchers. It doesn't show a mention of young farmers and strategies to encourage them to get into farming and be stewards of land in the future. I'm told, and I have read media stories, that this government does listen. This gov ernment does listen to a few people who are their friends –who are their friends–who angle together with them and thei r ministers and are just a phone call away.

That's a hotline, Madam Speaker. And from this Chamber I can assure the ranchers and com mercial fishers that I would keep raising their voice at all possible platforms. This Throne Speech does not talk about filling the vacancies in the Agriculture Department. This Throne Speech doesn't talk about rural connectivity and how the public extension system would be strengthened in Manitoba. It does not talk about staffing levels and the vacancy rate. And I know a few people in the Depart ment of Agriculture and MASC who I can't name.

They have decided to go on early retirement due to the wrong choices that this gov ernment made by cutting the budget and staffing levels in various units of the de - partment. We are going through a pandemic, and we all know how this gov ernment handled the pandemic: horrible. * (15:00) Premier Pallister left in the middle of the pandemic, simply ran away. He failed badly as a leader. He damaged the health -care system. And this PC gov ernment let Manitobans suffer and die in personal-care homes and during transfer to other provinces. That's shameful; that's painful.

After all that, did the PCs learn from this loss? No, they didn't. Outbreaks are still happening. PCs failed to take action against for -profit PCH management, refused to call the military for support. That's why an independent inquiry is required to know the details of failures during handling of the pandemic by this PC government. Our new Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) is a fai led previous Health minister, and we know that. Mr. Doyle Piwniuk, Deputy Speaker, in the Chair She failed to stand up for Manitobans.

She failed to face the press during tough situations; instead, pushed the health- care leaders to address the media when it was tough–a tough situation. Even apart from the pandemic, when we think about the backlog in surgeries, life-saving surgeries, the wait -list is in the hundreds of thousands. To be specific, 136,000 Manitobans are waiting on these surgeries. This g overnment has closed emergency rooms in various parts of the province. They have closed CancerCare. They failed to ensure proper staffing in hospitals. They failed to address the nurses' demands for their contract.

And they are failing to retain doctors and nurses in this province. Let's take a look on what her priorities are, actually. It's clear by now that her preference and priorities are her political goals. Her priorities are to put profit first and putting people at the last. She always stood to gether with Mr. Pallister when he

180 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 30, 2021 made wrong choices against Manitobans, common Manitobans. She stood against Crown land lease - holders by raising lease rates and revision of the regulations in 2019, after the election results. And she stood with Brian Pa llister in all damaging legis - lations, including bills 64, 35, bills 16, 57 and 40. And all of a sudden, when the leadership race was announced, everything flipped. The legis lations that this PC caucus stood for, spent time of our gov ern- ment servants , spent millions of dollars supporting and promoting their legislations.

They flipped every- thing because the priorities changed. The priority was for this Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) to be Leader of the PC Party of Manitoba, and many of us are aware about the media reports alleging unfair practices in signing up mem - bership race. There are accusations by people getting their membership slips they never signed up for or paid for. This is shameful –just getting a surprise in your mailbox that you are a member of the PC Party. You never opted for it. You never paid for it. You never requested for it. How did that happen is a mystery.

About bill 64, thousands of Manitobans opposed bill 64, and this government spent millions of dollars in drafting that legislation, promoting that legislation. And when the situation changed after the leadership race, all those PC caucus members who were standing strong with bill 64 and its contents, they started saying that bill 64 is to be repealed. And they repealed it along with other four legislations. That's how the priorities change. And this govern- ment did not respect the resources and time of this Chamber that was consumed, wasted in this whole exercise. This is just one example.

And now when the new Premier i s in the big chair, now they have started indicating and talking about a K -to-12 review. And they have started in- dicating that they could bring a similar –a legislation similar to bill 64 again. They have starting sending those vibes to the people. When we talk about post -secondary edu cation, before I go further, I want to appreciate my colleague, the critic for secondary edu cation, the member for St. Vital (Mr. Moses), for standing strong with University of Manitoba Faculty Association and the university students and supporting their demands. What the PCs did?

They cut funding to the uni - versities. They refused to withdraw the salary man - date to help UMFA negotiate with their employer freely. They refused to respect and retain intellect at universities and colleges in Manitoba. When we talk about Manitoba Hydro, the Throne Speech doesn't even mention Manitoba Hydro in it. And we know that how important this organization is. So this is the government that cannot even stand with their own caucus members and their own legis lation they they bragged about, that they drafted, that they introduced. How can they stand for Manitobans?

I cannot, and I won't, support this Throne Speech. So I would wait–I would vote against it. Thank you so much, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Mr. Jamie Moses (St. Vital): Pleased to be speaking in response to the Throne Speech today. It's a pleasure to, you know, to be speaking at this time and have this opportunity today. I know we've all –not only the residents of St. Vital, but also the people across the province have gone out –through a difficult past couple of years.

All the challenges that we've all faced together throughout the pandemic, the various waves; whether it's ourselves who've unfortunately been sick, our loved ones, people we know –friends and family members who maybe have gotten sick or one way or the other been affected –I just want to share that through myself and my family our 'haltfelt' thoughts are going out to those people. And, importantly, it's im portant to note, Mr.

Deputy Speaker, that us as gov ernment, us as people who are elected officials –whether in opposi - tion or in government–play a special and unique role in our com munities as –role as leaders, role as role models, and I'm honoured to be that person in my community of St. Vital. And it's our responsibility as role models to actively show that leadership, show those who are looking for guidance how they can make their community better. And so, with that said, I'm encour aging all folks who are eligible to get the vaccine to help us control the spread of the coronavirus.

That includes those who have been recently made eligible: children ages five to 11. * (15:10) I encourage all folks, parents and children who are watching this to make your appoint ment if you haven't already. Go get vaccinated to make our com - munity safe, and those who aren't sure, find out from your doctor or provincial health authorities, who have clear and accurate information about the vaccine, the safety and how we can all, as com munity members,

November 30, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 181 protect ourselves, protect our families, protect our neighbourhoods as best as possible from the virus that is in our communities. So with that, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I'll move on to speaking directly–on to the Throne Speech. And the ramifications of the pandemic is that things have been challenging for a lot of folks over the last few years. Some folks are struggling to make ends meet. Some folks are struggling with our broken health- care sys- tem as a result of this gov ernment and their choices.

And after dealing with that pandemic for so long– almost two years –this Stefanson gov ernment is simply not up to the challenge that we're facing right now. They seem to be falling into the trap of repeating the same mistakes of Brian Pallister. Now, we're in the fourth wave of the pandemic, and while we had months and months and months to prepare ourselves, we find ourselves in a place–again, limited capacity in our ICUs, patients again being transported out of –around the province. We don't want to go down that path of patients being trans - ported out of the province again.

And, again, we're in the same spot where long- term-care facilities are suffering from outbreaks with very unfor tunate con- sequences. We expect, we hope, we deserve, as Manitobans, a government that will actually work for us, but this Throne Speech has showed us that, sadly, we don't have that. This gov ernment, this Stefanson gov ern- ment, is simply a repeat of the Brian Pallister govern- ment–that they are bringing no real changes, that they have failed to learn the lessons of mistake and are simply repeating the broken policies that we've seen time and time again from this PC caucus.

We had hoped–we had hoped–that the change in leadership would bring in a change in gov ernment, a government that would listen to people. But, sadly, we haven't seen that yet. Sadly, Manitobans are often the ones to suffer the worst consequences of this. Now, we're seeing that one of the biggest issues that I believe was left out of the Throne Speech, that was left out of this government's agenda, that obvious- ly is a low priority for this gov ernment because it wasn't addressed in the Throne Speech, is the ongoing strike that we're now in the fifth week of between the faculty and the University of Manitoba.

And we know the reality of that strike is that students–that our students here in Manitoba are the most heavily impacted, their classes being delayed and cancelled, their education on hold. These students want to get back to class to get them selves educated, to graduate, to start their careers and to be the ones who are going to be the next drivers and leaders in our economy, the next drivers and leaders in health care, in education, in tech nology and industry, in manu- facturing, in trans portation, in aerospace.

But they can't do that right now when this government has been consistently and ongoing inter ference into the nego - tiations between the faculty, the administration at the University of Manitoba. The reality is that that wage mandate that the gov- ernment has imposed onto the uni versity is an inter - ference. It is preventing a fair negotiation, and that's the reality. That's the facts. That's why the strike is now, sadly, in its fifth week –record-breaking fifth week.

And despite what we hear from the other side, despite the failed denials and despite their obvious attempts to confuse and mislead about the ongoing process of negotiations, we know that, ultimatel y, what Manitobans deserve, what students deserve, what faculty deserve, is a fair negotiation in that process. And that can't happen with this government's constant interference in the form of wage mandates. And so, this is another example of how the Stefanson gov ernment is just like, sadly, like the Pallister government. And where their new Premier (Mrs.

Stefanson) had an oppor tunity to change, she's failed to do so. Now, when we look specifically at the strike and when we look at –specifically at some of the chal - lenges that those post-secondary students have faced, that was failed to even be mentioned in the Throne Speech, we are–and I feel for those students because they must be sad and disheartened that this gov ern- ment has nothing to offer them. The PC gov ernment, unfor tunately, has made problems worse at the University of Manitoba through 'impoging' this wage restriction on bargaining.

This is clearly unfair, it's clearly been proven to be illegal, and it stood in the way of free and fair negotiations. Now, we know that we need that wage mandate to be lifted, that imposed mandate to be removed, and we need, finally, with this gov ernment, this PC gov - ernment, even though they've been unwilling to do so, to commit to respecting the autonomy of our post - secondary institutions in Manitoba. So now we know the back ground to this. We know that students have been on strike. We know that

182 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 30, 2021 there was a strike brought in by the Pallister gov ern- ment in 2016 that was –that this strik e has now sur - passed in terms of length. We know this. So, again, we've been calling for this government to do the right thing, to get out of the way, remove the wage mandate, allow a free and fair negotiation so that faculty can get back to work and all students can get back to learning and moving our province forward.

Another aspect that was sorely missing from the Throne Speech is the gov ernment's lack of attention paid to the health crisis that is suffered –that is suffering by many citizens who are not citizens in our province, many residents who are not citizens in our province; and, specifically, we look at permanent resi- dents, temporary foreign workers, inter national students. We've all learned over the past several months about how important barrier-free, well-funded public health care would be in our province.

And, simply, it's something that we believe as Canadians is a basic human right, a funda mental respon sibility that we have to provide in Canada. But, unfortunately, since 2018, this PC gov ern- ment has denied inter national students equitable access to public health care by forcing them to purpose increasingly expensive private insurance coverage, and that includes the time during the pandemic.

We know it's clear that we must ensure everyone, everyone in Manitoba, has access to health care and to protect health and safety of all who live in this province, and that first step is by imme diately re - storing public health coverage for all inter national students. And so I urge the Health Minister, Minister of Finance (Mr. Fielding), Minister of Advanced Educa- tion, the Deputy Premier (Mr. Goertzen) to look seriously at how they can increase access to health care for inter national students because it is literally life-saving.

We know international students delay and postpone health care because they don't have cover - age, because they're worried about not getting covered through private insurers. And so I urge this gov ernment to take that issue seriously because it affects lives. It affects the lives of people who are here in Manitoba studying and who we want, and we hope, will one day call Manitoba home permanently. And so, Mr.

Deputy Speaker, I will move on with my comments on the Throne Speech and conclude with a fe w more remarks simply about the dis - appointment that this Throne Speech fails to address all of the important needs that have been highlighted throughout the pandemic. * (15:20) Many parents know about the needs–and growing needs–of child care that w as failed to be mentioned and brought forward a substantial plan to increase that in this Throne Speech. We know about the failure and the struggles in our education system–failures by this gov ernment to properly address through this Throne Speech. Quite frankly, Mr.

Deputy Speaker, when we look at past legislation–bill 64–what this government has tried to do with our education system knowing that those ideas are not only inappropriate, unwanted, outdated, they're simply bad for our children in the classroom. And did this new Premier (Mrs. Stefanson), when she had an oppor tunity to lay out a new plan for our education system, did she take that oppor tunity? No. She failed again to do so, and as a conse quence, children in our province, sadly, don't have that im - proved education system that we are all calling for and we have been advocating for on this side of the House.

And so, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I'll conclude my remarks, again, by saying that what we're saying is this: the opportunity that the new Premier had to set a new tone, to make a new path for our province, she chose, with the support of her whole Cabinet and her whole caucus, to not turn the page, to not change the channel, to stay on the same page as Brian Pallister and repeat, sadly–sadly–repeat the same mistakes of the past. And so, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I thank you for this opportunity to respond to the Throne Speech. Mr.

Tom Lindsey (Flin Flon): I guess I would be remiss if I didn't con gratulate this month's Pre mier. I look forward to potentially congratulating next month's premier. You know, we've had three premiers so far this year. Why not one more? And yet, they're all the same. They may change from a suit jacket to a dress, but they're still the same. Everything that they have done since they got elected in 2016 continues today – continues today. They have not changed. This new Throne Speech that the latest Premier (Mrs.

Stefanson) says is great hope and it's going to change channels and do all this wonde rful stuff– well, it doesn't. There's nothing in here to inspire

November 30, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 183 Manitobans to believe that there's a new thought process in this government. We look at what they've done, and we know that health care in this province was destroyed primarily by the first Health minister who later became the interim premier. He was the one that spe cifically de- signed the failed cuts that saw nothing but cost savings for the gov ernment. Meanwhile, people in Manitoba long before the pandemic came to realize how bad their plan was. They came to realize that, already be- fore the pandemic, health care in Manitoba was in trouble.

We can talk very specifically about health care in the North that this government, at best, ignores and, at worst, cuts every chance they get. And they stand up and say, oh, no, we're not cutting. We're going to spend more money. Of course, they may budget some more money, but they don't spend it.

I don't know whether any of the members opposite watch the local news, but, apparently, one of the things that's caught some city reporters' attention of late is the complete devastation of health care in Lynn Lake, the complete devastation of health care in Leaf Rapids, the near complete devastation of health care in Snow Lake, the complete removal of health-care services in the com- munity of Flin Flon.

Each and every one of those com munities has suffered, thanks to this gov ernment, and continues to suffer when we see nurse vacancy rates in some of those com munities at 80 per cent–80 per cent– vacancy rate, when we see the com munity of Leaf Rapids had to shut down their entire health facility because one agency nurse phoned in sick. And there was no contingency plan, there was no nurses, because they're all agency nurses; they all come in from somewhere else. They're not a part of the com - munity. Imagine deciding to shut down a hospital in Winnipeg because one nurse phones in sick.

We're not quite there yet, but give this bunch long enough and we probably will be. The mayor of Lynn Lake has been very vocal of late on what's happening to health care in his commu- nity. He sees the number of vacancies. He sees that those former health-care professionals, be they nurses, be they health -care aides, are no longer part of his community because it's not just about the devastation of people that are sick and needing care, it's actually about the destruction of northern communities.

Every time you take one of those good-paying jobs out of a community in the North, it's one less person paying taxes, it's one less person volunteering their time, it's one less family that has their kids in local sports, it's one less family that has their children in school. And it–the cuts just then keep rolling along be - cause, well, now we need to cut edu cation spending; well, now we need to cut infra structure spending; well, now we need to cut, cut cut.

And that's the entire mandate that started under Brian Pallister, continued under the member from Steinbach and continues under the current incumbent in the chair. And I'm sure that if the other one fighting to be the premier gets in, we'll see exactly the same thing. It'll be more cuts. You know, it's like playing Whac -a-Mole, trying to figure out who's in the chair because it changes so often. Three different premiers in a year –or four dif- ferent Health ministers in the course of five years.

And they just keep shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic and yet the ship is sinking worse than ever, and they do nothing. You know, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I'd like to not be negative. I'd like to stand up and say, wow, what an amazing Throne Speech this is ; it really sets a new tone for the Province of Manitoba. I'd like to do that, but alas, I cannot, because this Throne Speech is just a rehash of tired, broken ideas that didn't work and will not work. There's nothing new, there's nothing exciting, there's nothing to help Manitobans in this Throne Speech–absolutely nothing.

Let's talk about what could have been. You know, they could have actually sat down with labour and said, you know what, not only are we going to scrap bill 28 because it was wrong right from the start, but we're going to sit down with labour and actually negotiate free and true collective bargaining. But are they doing that? Well, ask UMFA. Clearly, the answer is no. The only reason they negotiated with nurses – [interjection]–I see the member from Steinbach wants to talk about the nurse negotiation–the only reason they caved in and negotiated was because of a –what was it, 95 per cent strike mandate?

They knew they were in trouble. They knew they couldn't keep forcing 'nurkers'–nurses to go to work without a collective agreement. They held out and held out and finally were brought to their knees by health-care nurses who they stand up every day and say, oh, thanks for your service, while we won't give you a decent rate of pay. * (15:30) We look at nurses in the North. Why don't we have nurses in the North? Well, as we just found out

184 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 30, 2021 the other day, they've mandated more cuts to northern health-care budgets. They've mandated that positions have to remain empty so that they can save money, I guess so that they can pay all their increased number of Cabinet ministers their salary bonuses that they gave themselves initially. You know, when they first got elect ed, this gov- ernment said, we're going to cut the number of depart- ments, we're going to cut the number of ministers to save money, but all of a sudden, look at that.

They're right back up where they were –well, other than the Health Ministry, where they split it into two and had two Health ministers. Now they've got one minister looking after supposedly two departments. Well, here's a news flash for the folks across the way–whether it's one or two, they're not looking after the Health De partment. Not only aren't they looking after, Mr. Acting Deputy Speaker, I listened to the current Minister of Health– An Honourable Member: He's the Deputy Speaker. Mr. Lindsey: He is the Deputy Speaker. An Honourable Member: Not the acting deputy; have some respect. Mr.

Lindsey: Everybody else over there is acting –I get mixed up sometimes. So, you know, I listen to the current Health Minister answer questions, both in the Estimates process and in question period and say, well, if it's a local matter, I'm not going to answer it in the House, but send me a letter and we'll talk about it. How many months should a person wait to get an answer from a minister in this gov ernment? How many months –how many ministers, never mind months? I'm still waiting for an answer from the previous minister of Health, who's now the Premier (Mrs.

Stefanson), never mind the current Minister of Health who won't answer a question, who won't answer a question that affects people in the North every day of the week. People in northern Ma nitoba know that, having to fly to Winnipeg for health care because there's none left in the North, but they only get to fly three days a week. They don't fly down for an appointment and fly home the same day. Does the government pay them anything extra?

Did the government respond to any requests to help compensate for hotels, meals, taxis when people had to stay –at one point in time during the pandemic, people in Flin Flon had to stay in Winnipeg for five days: five days in a hotel, five days of meals in a restaurant. Do people in Winnipeg have to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars to go and see a doctor? I don't think so.

And yet, not one person on that side of the House will even respond to those kind of questions about help–people have not equal access to health care because we know that's not going to happen with this bunch, but some kind of equitable access to health care. Will they even answer those questions? No, they will not. And yet they say, well, just ask, you know. Send us a letter , we'll answer. Well, that is, quite frankly, not true. You know, I don't really expect much different because it really doesn't seem to matter which minister we talk about.

I had a call in to then-acting premier, the member from Steinbach, and the answer was, well, he's on the road, he can't call you today. I said, okay, well, tomorrow's fine, I only want five minutes of his time. Did I get a call? No, I did not. So I emailed him– so I emailed him. [interjection] The minister likes to beak off now instead of answering at the time. And there's two things that were asked. One of them was about covering cystic fibrosis drugs, and I will commend the minister, the gov ernment, for approving it. They were the last at the table but, hey, they got there. They got there, finally.

But what about the other question that was asked? What about the other question that was asked that he never answered? He never replied. Sent emails to ask the second question, never got an answer. Asked the current Premier for an answer, no, not so much–well, I shouldn't say we never get an answer; we get auto- replies, and I guess they think that 's good enough for people in the North. Well, I can tell you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, that is not good enough for people in the North, and people in the North, quite frankly, have had enough of this government.

You know, I think that people really, really n eed to understand how im portant voting is, because they didn't vote for this kind of devastation that we've seen in this province, but that's what they got. You know, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I could go on for a lot longer with what's wrong, not just with t his Throne Speech, but what's wrong with this gov ern- ment, and, you know, I'd like to, but I know there's others on this side who want to stand up and also share

November 30, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 185 their views on what's wrong with this Throne Speech, what's wrong with this government. And at the end of the day, will we be voting in favour of this? Of course not. There's nothing to vote in favour of. It's nonsense; it's a waste; it's a waste of paper. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Mr. Mintu Sandhu (The Maples): Mr. Deputy Speaker, it's a pleasure to rise today in the House to speak to the Speech from the Throne.

I'd like to congratulate Premier Stefanson on her being elected as PC Party leader and the first female Premier in our [inaudible] Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Mr. Sandhu: Mr. Deputy Speaker– Mr. Deputy Speaker: Remind the individual, if member–if he can refer to members in this House – either their positions or their constituency name. Mr. Sandhu: And I'd also like to con gratulate my Indigenous colleagues who have worked so hard since 2017 and finally it's paid off with the land acknowl - edgement in the House yesterday. I listened to the speech with a great interest to see what is in there for The Maples.

But I'm disappointed. There's not much that is there for the people from The Maples. I was thinking there m ight be some thing to the Chief Peguis Trail extension. No, there was no mention of that. Is that on even the gov ernment's agenda? I don't think so. Or how to protect seniors at Maples Personal Care Home–there's nothing, no. Or more Dynacare locations in The Maples–you know, our seniors are waiting in the cold to get their bloodwork done. Or health care for our inter national students–there's no mention of that.

No mention of upgrading to Maples Com munity Centre –you may have said, you probably cannot sa y; this is a City of Winnipeg responsi bility. This is also the respon si- bility of the prov incial government, federal gov ern- ment and the City of Winnipeg. I don't see anything in the speech either, like, we are waiting for nine months to get a mar riage certif- icate, or somebody's waiting for a birth certificate, so there's 30 per cent vacancy in that one. Mr. Deputy Speaker, times are still tough for Manitobans: no mention of portability. Rising cost of living–there's nothing.

People are struggling today to make ends meet. After dealing with this pandemic together for almost two years now, Manitobans are seeing the First Minister is just another bad repeat of Brian Pallister. Mr. Deputy Speaker, in the fourth wave of the pandemic, while there were months to prepare, we find ourselves in the same place–limited ICU capa - city. You guys cut –Seven Oaks ER was closed and ICU beds were cut.

They nowhere replaced those ones. * (15:40) Vacancies in critical care, emergency and surgery units have grown despite the PC gov ernment's re - peated promise they are hiring more nurses to fill these spaces. Fired 500 nurses, and for the next four years maybe hiring 400, and they're still short 100. Patients are being transported across the province to make space in the health-care facilities.

You might have heard this in this news: Ruth Sampson has been known to–has no other home in her 100 years of life than in Stonewall, Manitoba until last week, when she was transferred, against her wishes, to a hospital in the community of Morden, two hours away. Instead of providing solutions to eliminating sur- gical backlog, our health ministers are provi ding thoughts and prayers. Over 136,000 Manitobans are waiting for their surgeries. The minister should have been listening to the experts. There should have been a plan in place for a long time.

This wait- list is not related to the pandemic; it was before even the pandemic. Long-term-care homes suffering deadly out - breaks: the First Minister has no plan to protect our vulnerable Manitobans. She is saying no mandatory vaccines for care- home staff. Given all the terrible outcomes we have seen in the personal -care homes, including the fourth wave, we need to do every thing possible to protect seniors and those living in the long- term care. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Manitobans accept and de - serve a government that will fix problems instead of making them worse.

Manitoba deserves a government that will work to protect them from public health emergencies like COVID -19 and provide them meaningful support while we navigate this challenging time together. The Pallister PCs did a lot of damage to our pro - vince, from health care, to edu cation, to raising the cost of living. Mr. Deputy Speaker, the First Minister had a chance to prove she's different. But she's not;

186 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 30, 2021 she's clear nothing has changed. Premier Stefanson is just like another Brian Pallister. Mr. Deputy Speaker, just like Pallister, the First Minister is starting her time in office with a strike at the Uni versity of Manitoba. Just like Pallister, she refused to take responsi bility for her failure as a Health minister when she –when 57 of the sickest patients were sent out of province with a statement like should have, would have, could have. Mr.

Deputy Speaker, Premier Stefanson's Throne Speech offers nothing new to Manitobans who are waiting for answers on how we will–[interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Order. I just want to remind the member also not to use the Premier's (Mrs. Stefanson)–it has to either be the First Minister or the Premier themselves, not Premier with their last name. Mr. Sandhu: In fact, over 80 per cent of the commit- ment in the Premier's Throne Speech appeared to be repeated from the Pallister administration. The First Minister is offering nothing new; in- stead, she's recycling ideas from the failed premier.

Nothing has changed at the decision-making table. It's the same people; the same ministers are sitting and making their decisions. The First Minister's Throne Speech contained the same broken promises used by Pallister. She doesn't have a plan to listen to the nurses, to listen to the –to get the surgeries done, to help outbreaks in the schools and long- term-care homes or to make life more affordable. Her Speech f rom the Throne failed Manitobans.

She failed to adequately address the issues that Manitobans care about: fixing our health-care system, making life more affordable, making sure students have the supports they need to–in the classrooms, caring for the vul nerable Manitobans of our society, the climate crisis and apologizing for the comments made by her predecessor, Brian Pallister, regarding residential schools and colonialism. Mr. Deputy Speaker, it's often said that those who fail to learn from the history will end up repeating it. And it seems that First Minister hasn't learned.

This is why it is so im portant that the Premier call an in de- pendent inquiry into the PC gov ernment's pandemic response to get recom mendations to the –help build our health -care system capacity and make positive lasting changes to improve the lives of Manitobans. However, instead of calling an in dependent inquiry into the pandemic response, the Premier's only saying she will in vestigate the leak of her Throne Speech. Instead of worrying about Manitobans and their needs, she is busy focusing on her own internal political problems.

Manitoba except –and deserve a government that has a plan to address the ongoing systemic issues within our province. Mr. Deputy Speaker, whether it's this–whether it's the climate crisis or another contentious matter, we deserve to be better prepared for the next emergency. We have to do this –we have to do what is necessary to build a better Manitoba. The NDP caucus is ready to get to work. We are ready to make a honest look at our pandemic response and commit to imple menting the recom mendations from the inquiries so we can build a better future for all of us. My friends, 2023 is coming soon. Thank you, Mr.

Deputy Speaker. Mr. J im Maloway (Elmwood): Well, thank you– [interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Mr. Maloway: –Mr. Deputy Speaker. I'm very pleased to make a few comments to the Speech from the Throne this year. Although I don't really see much of a change here compared to –this government to the previous gov ernment, other than they–I'm told that the Blue Bombers actually had a winning record under the previous premier, and since the new Premier became the premier, it's been all downhill. Two losses and we're just days away from a nail-biter at the stadium there.

So, hopefully, she can turn this all around by this weekend. But, seriously, the Throne Speech is really not a very exciting document. I understand that the govern- ment is in deep, deep trouble here and they are doing what they can, trying to do what they can to turn it around with no real guarantees that this is actually going to work. And I know the members look at past history, as we all do, and we all remember, I guess, René Lévesque in his second te rm after five years, like, went right to the end of his term and actually pulled out a victory.

Howard Pawley, after the French language debates, you know, basically ran a very focused, non-exciting year and a half, two years, and actually pulled off a victory against Gary Filmon. But, you know, there's lots of other examples that haven't worked out so well. I take a look at Brian Mulroney and his–after his second term, eighty –was

November 30, 2021 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 187 it '84 to '88–from '88 to '93, he went the full five years and realized he c ouldn't win again. So they had a leadership, and Kim Campbell won it, and she was Prime Minister for maybe four months. And at the end of all of this the Conservatives had, like, two seats – two seats left in the entire country. So, you know, it's basically hard to predict exactly how this is going to turn out for them. They could go anywhere from a surprising win to two seats left in the whole House here, right.

That's your range that you're looking at here. * (15:50) Now, you know, this gov ernment, or iginally, when it started off some–seems like a long time now, but six years ago, tried to implement the Peachey re - port and rationalize some of the health programs, and one of the things they did was announce that they were going to cut the ER, the emerge ncy room, at Concordia. Now, let's just take a minute to go back to that, because they were planning –their plan was to shut down that emergency ward completely and with no plans to put anything in there.

And then, after a few months, they decided to put a clinic in there. That didn't go over very well, so, at the end of the day, you know, after a big campaign in the area, they backed off just, you know, months before an election. They backed off and they made it into an urgent care, and I did talk to some nurses there at the time who really felt that urgent care was not a bad solution.

But, at the end of the day, the public in northeast Winnipeg, the voters up in northeast Winnipeg, re - member what this gov ernment tried to do and they remember what t hey actually did do, which was downsize the emergency room to an urgent care. And I think the voters are going to remember that in this election, and certainly we're going to be out there, you know, letting them know about that. They made changes to the CancerCare at the hospital as well, recently.

They've made major changes sending people to Dynacare now, where you cannot have your blood samples taken at your doctor's office anymore; you have to go to a Dynacare location. The gov ernments, you know, end up dying in many ways because of too many self -inflicted wounds. And, you know, taken a little bit at a time, you start adding these things up, and it becomes very big. Also, right now, they have –are engaged in another battle with the univer sity pr ofessors, the UMFA people, for the –now the second strike since they've been gov ernment in the last five and a half, six years.

And I can tell you, you know, I've been out on the picket line with the workers. I was at the McDermot street entrance. I was at the Univer sity of Manitoba, and I hearken back to, I think it was 1974, when we had the very first strike at U of M history, and I supported the food service workers in their strike at that time. Fact, I was on the very same spot. It was– took–brought back memories. But, once again, the government is embroiled in a battle right now that I don't think it's going to win at the end of the day. Let's look back for a moment to their treatment of the COVID-19 issues.

You know, in the very begin - ning, I don 't know whether, you know, that I watch more TV than some of the members opposite, but I know that on CNN there was coverage from the time COVID-19 hit the shores of the United States, and it was very clear from the begin ning that this disease was killing older people in the care homes in the United States. It was an issue with the cruise ships in the United States. So it was no, like, mystery that we should be looking at protecting our seniors in the seniors homes. So the government had lots of time.

We had a first wave where many people died in Ontario and Quebec in the homes. And Manitoba politicians –I guess the government, I guess, didn't recognize that we had seniors homes here, right, that over the years we have now put people into–increasingly into seniors homes– large buildings and shared accommodation in, I think, Parkview Place. So looking back on it, it's no surprise that there were the number of deaths there were at Maples, at Parkview Place. And the gov ernment did not anticipate this. Another issue that they should have anticipated was the vaccination of the workforce.

You know, they did the right thing in the sense that, in the beginning of the vaccinations, the premier of the day held back enough doses to cover the 10,000 res idents in those homes, when other provinces like Quebec and what - not were doing what England was doing; they were trying to put first doses into as many arms as possible, not worrying about whether a second dose was even going to show up. But Manitoba held back its doses and it gave the 10,000 seniors their dose.

But at the end of the day, what they did not do was vaccinate the workers in those homes, and it's just outright common sense here that they should have

188 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 30, 2021 done that. And then they wonder why COVID spread the way it did in those homes and COVID was being brought in by workers working there, by, I guess, family members, too. But they were so slow to react and they should have moved much, much quicker in that whole area at the time and they wouldn't hav e perhaps seen the number of people dying that did in this pandemic at this point. So, you know, there's a lot of mistakes this gov- ernment has made and, you know, they're going to be held accountable for it in the next election.

And now I note that, y ou know, we have a new variant that is the topic of con versation now, it's running 24-7 on all the news channels: the 'omnicron' variant. And the jury's still out as to how serious this variant is going to be. There's some suggestion that it's very hi ghly trans missible, that we're –all of us are going to get it at some point but it won't have a lot of power to make a lot of people really sick.

And, therefore, there's an argument to be made that vaccinations are really im portant here, because there's a pretty good–like, at least in South Africa, anyway, there's been–two doctors have been reporting their patient load in the last few weeks . And one of them, and she was on TV again last night –but they reported that about–in the last two weeks, there was a huge amount of people coming in: younger people, people that were having headaches and they were basically feeling very tired and sore but

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	42-4-6
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	42nd 4th hansardpdf 6.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	6c0ef0a216ea7cdee8be1d98df9a78c1a9ab1cf9

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