Alberta Hansard — 9 March 2010, Afternoon sitting (13:30) (Legislature 27, Session 3)

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Alberta — Debates (Hansard)

Province of Alberta The 27th Legislature Third Session Alberta Hansard Tuesday, March 9, 2010 Issue 14 The Honourable Kenneth R. Kowalski, Speaker

Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 27th Legislature Third Session Kowalski, Hon. Ken, Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock, Speaker Cao, Wayne C.N., Calgary-Fort, Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees Mitzel, Len, Cypress-Medicine Hat, Deputy Chair of Committees Ady, Hon. Cindy, Calgary-Shaw (PC), Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation Allred, Ken, St.

Albert (PC) Amery, Moe, Calgary-East (PC) Anderson, Rob, Airdrie-Chestermere (WA), WA Opposition House Leader Benito, Carl, Edmonton-Mill Woods (PC) Berger, Evan, Livingstone-Macleod (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Sustainable Resource Development Bhardwaj, Naresh, Edmonton-Ellerslie (PC) Bhullar, Manmeet Singh, Calgary-Montrose (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Municipal Affairs Blackett, Hon.

Lindsay, Calgary-North West (PC), Minister of Culture and Community Spirit Blakeman, Laurie, Edmonton-Centre (AL), Official Opposition Deputy Leader, Official Opposition House Leader Boutilier, Guy C., Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo (Ind) Brown, Dr. Neil, QC, Calgary-Nose Hill (PC) Calahasen, Pearl, Lesser Slave Lake (PC) Campbell, Robin, West Yellowhead (PC), Government Whip Chase, Harry B., Calgary-Varsity (AL), Official Opposition Whip Dallas, Cal, Red Deer-South (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Environment Danyluk, Hon. Ray, Lac La Biche-St.

Paul (PC), Minister of Infrastructure DeLong, Alana, Calgary-Bow (PC) Denis, Hon. Jonathan, QC, Calgary-Egmont, (PC), Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Deputy Government House Leader Doerksen, Arno, Strathmore-Brooks (PC), Deputy Government Whip Drysdale, Wayne, Grande Prairie-Wapiti (PC) Elniski, Doug, Edmonton-Calder (PC) Evans, Hon. Iris, Sherwood Park (PC), Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations Fawcett, Kyle, Calgary-North Hill (PC) Forsyth, Heather, Calgary-Fish Creek (WA), WA Opposition Whip Fritz, Hon.

Yvonne, Calgary-Cross (PC), Minister of Children and Youth Services Goudreau, Hon. Hector G., Dunvegan-Central Peace (PC), Minister of Municipal Affairs Griffiths, Doug, Battle River-Wainwright (PC) Groeneveld, George, Highwood (PC) Hancock, Hon. Dave, QC, Edmonton-Whitemud (PC), Minister of Education, Political Minister for Edmonton, Government House Leader Hayden, Hon.

Jack, Drumheller-Stettler (PC), Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hehr, Kent, Calgary-Buffalo (AL) Hinman, Paul, Calgary-Glenmore (WA), WA Opposition Deputy Leader Horne, Fred, Edmonton-Rutherford (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Seniors and Community Supports Horner, Hon. Doug, Spruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert (PC), Deputy Premier, Minister of Advanced Education and Technology, Minister Liaison to the Canadian Armed Forces Jablonski, Hon.

Mary Anne, Red Deer-North (PC), Minister of Seniors and Community Supports Jacobs, Broyce, Cardston-Taber-Warner (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Agriculture and Rural Development Johnson, Jeff, Athabasca-Redwater (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Treasury Board Johnston, Art, Calgary-Hays (PC) Kang, Darshan S., Calgary-McCall (AL) Klimchuk, Hon. Heather, Edmonton-Glenora (PC), Minister of Service Alberta Knight, Hon. Mel, Grande Prairie-Smoky (PC), Minister of Sustainable Resource Development Leskiw, Genia, Bonnyville-Cold Lake (PC) Liepert, Hon.

Ron, Calgary-West (PC), Minister of Energy Lindsay, Fred, Stony Plain (PC) Lukaszuk, Hon. Thomas A., Edmonton-Castle Downs (PC), Minister of Employment and Immigration Lund, Ty, Rocky Mountain House (PC) MacDonald, Hugh, Edmonton-Gold Bar (AL) Marz, Richard, Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills (PC) Mason, Brian, Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood (ND), Leader of the ND Opposition McFarland, Barry, Little Bow (PC) McQueen, Diana, Drayton Valley-Calmar (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Energy Morton, Hon.

F.L., Foothills-Rocky View (PC), Minister of Finance and Enterprise Notley, Rachel, Edmonton-Strathcona (ND), ND Opposition House Leader Oberle, Hon. Frank, Peace River (PC), Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security Olson, Verlyn, QC, Wetaskiwin-Camrose (PC) Ouellette, Hon. Luke, Innisfail-Sylvan Lake (PC), Minister of Transportation Pastoor, Bridget Brennan, Lethbridge-East (AL), Official Opposition Deputy Whip Prins, Ray, Lacombe-Ponoka (PC) Quest, Dave, Strathcona (PC) Redford, Hon.

Alison M., QC, Calgary-Elbow (PC), Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Political Minister for Calgary, Deputy Government House Leader Renner, Hon. Rob, Medicine Hat (PC), Minister of Environment, Deputy Government House Leader Rodney, Dave, Calgary-Lougheed (PC) Rogers, George, Leduc-Beaumont-Devon (PC) Sandhu, Peter, Edmonton-Manning (PC) Sarich, Janice, Edmonton-Decore (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Education Sherman, Dr. Raj, Edmonton-Meadowlark (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Health and Wellness Snelgrove, Hon. Lloyd, Vermilion-Lloydminster (PC), President of the Treasury Board Stelmach, Hon.

Ed, Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville (PC), Premier, President of Executive Council Swann, Dr. David, Calgary-Mountain View (AL), Leader of the Official Opposition Taft, Dr. Kevin, Edmonton-Riverview (AL) Tarchuk, Janis, Banff-Cochrane (PC) Taylor, Dave, Calgary-Currie (AL) VanderBurg, George, Whitecourt-Ste. Anne (PC) Vandermeer, Tony, Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview (PC) Weadick, Greg, Lethbridge-West (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Advanced Education and Technology Webber, Hon.

Len, Calgary-Foothills (PC), Minister of Aboriginal Relations Woo-Paw, Teresa, Calgary-Mackay (PC), Parliamentary Assistant, Employment and Immigration Xiao, David H., Edmonton-McClung (PC) Zwozdesky, Hon. Gene, Edmonton-Mill Creek (PC), Minister of Health and Wellness, Deputy Government House Leader Officers and Officials of the Legislative Assembly Clerk W.J. David McNeil Clerk Assistant/Director of House Services Louise J. Kamuchik Clerk of Journals/Table Research Micheline S. Gravel Senior Parliamentary Counsel Robert H.

Reynolds, QC Senior Parliamentary Counsel Shannon Dean Parliamentary Counsel Stephanie LeBlanc Sergeant-at-Arms Brian G. Hodgson Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Chris Caughell Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Gordon H. Munk Managing Editor of Alberta Hansard Liz Sim

March 9, 2010 Alberta Hansard 355 Legislative Assembly of Alberta Title: Tuesday, March 9, 2010 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 9, 2010 [The Speaker in the chair] head: Prayers The Speaker: Good afternoon. Welcome. Let us pray. As Canadians and as Albertans we give thanks for the precious gifts of freedom and peace which we enjoy. We give further thanks for the gifts of culture and heritage which we share. As Members of this Legislative Assembly we rededicate ourselves to the valued traditions of parliamentary democracy as a means of serving our province and our country. Amen.

Please be seated. head: Introduction of Visitors The Speaker: The hon. Member for Wetaskiwin-Camrose. Mr. Olson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly today a visitor who is in your gallery. Stanley Gooch is a Camrosian. He doesn’t live there anymore, is now retired and lives in Kelowna, but he was raised in Camrose and has had a distinguished career as a Canadian diplomat. He has served as ambassador to Central America, to Mexico, as Canadian High Commissioner to India, served in Vienna with the atomic energy agency.

He’s here visiting relatives today, and we had the chance to have lunch. I always really enjoy visiting with Stan. He actually put his diplomatic skills to great use back in about 2003, when as chair of Augustana University College he helped negotiate the merger with the Univer- sity of Alberta. He has a very keen interest in world events, world affairs, and obviously what’s happening in Alberta. I’m very happy to have him here today. I’d ask that all members of the Assembly offer him the traditional warm welcome. If he could rise, please. head: Introduction of Guests Mrs. Sarich: Mr.

Speaker, it’s my honour and pleasure to rise to introduce to you and through you to all members of the Alberta Legislature 68 visitors from Northmount elementary school in the constituency of Edmonton-Decore. They are seated in both the public and members’ galleries. Also, I’d like to recognize a number of the teachers that are joining this large group of school visitors: Mrs. Krystal Lim, Ms Janis Greenwood, Mr. Derek Lutz, Mrs. Denna Gates, and Mr. Conrad Lutz. Mr.

Speaker, it says at Northmount elementary school, “Another month has come and gone,” just as an expression of how much time has passed, and it says, “Time flies when you are having fun!” It is my hope that the school visitors from Northmount school are having their first experience at the Alberta Legislature and having fun learning about this exciting opportunity and joining us today in the House. I would like all members of the Legislature to join me in giving an absolutely warm welcome to Northmount elementary school. I’d ask them to rise. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona.

Ms Notley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have three introductions today. The first group I’d like to introduce is a group who comes here today from l’école Maurice-Lavallée school in the riding of Edmonton-Strathcona. With the 30 students from the school are their teachers Mme Chantal Grégoire and Mme Marie-Claude Laroche. I’m very pleased that they were able to be here today and also, I believe, to participate in the lovely ceremony that we had earlier today in the rotunda. I would ask that these students visiting today rise and receive the warm welcome of the members of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon.

Minister of Municipal Affairs. Mr. Goudreau: Merci, M. le Président. It gives me great pleasure to rise today to introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly leaders from Alberta’s francophone community who participated this morning in a flag-raising ceremony in the Legisla- ture rotunda as part of Les Rendez-vous de la Francophonie, a national celebration of French culture and history. The executives are from the Conseil de développement économique de l’Alberta, or the Francophone Economic Develop- ment Council of Alberta.

This organization works closely with the province’s private sector to develop tourism from francophone regions, encourage and promote business, and promote job opportu- nities for Albertans. We also have members from the French Canadian Association of Alberta, or the ACFA. The ACFA is the provincial organization representing all francophones. Le gouvernement de l’Alberta est fier d’entretenir de bonnes relations avec l’ACFA en s’assurant que les francophones de l’Alberta ont accès aux services et aux ressources don’t ils ont besoin.

Je demanderais à nos invités de se lever lorsque je les présente: Dolorèse Nolette, Michel Berdnikoff, Jeanne Robinson, Adèle Amyotte, Oumar Lamana, Reed Gauthier, Denis Perreaux, Johanne Johnson, Rob Christie, Randy Boissonnault, Frédérick Turbide, Marc S. Tremblay. Se joignant à eux en cette journée spéciale sont des membres de mon équipe au Secrétariat francophone: Denis Tardif, directeur général, et Cindie LeBlanc, directrice adjointe. Ces individus sont tous assis dans la galerie des membres aujourd’hui. J’aimerais demander à tous nos membres de les accueillir chaleureusement à la Legislature.

Merci, M. le Président. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Rutherford. Mr. Horne: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m delighted to introduce to you and through you today to all members of this Assembly members of the board of management and staff of the Lamont health care centre. The Lamont health care centre is a combined acute-care auxiliary hospital and nursing home facility located in the town of Lamont. The centre’s proud history began in 1912 with the establishment of the Lamont public hospital and is the result of a unique partnership between local residents and the United Church of Canada.

The board members present today and those who came before them, including the hon. the Premier, have worked tirelessly over the years to preserve a strong tradition of caring for the community by the community. A small cottage hospital with modest beginnings established just before the First World War has grown to become a fully integrated health care centre. Our guests today are in the members’ gallery. I would ask them to please stand as I name them. They are Ms Trudy Herrold, Ms Connie Newgard, Ms Mae Adamyk, Reverend Lilley Glebe, and the chief executive officer, Mr. Harold James.

I’d ask all members to please join me in extending our traditional warm welcome. Thank you.

Alberta Hansard March 9, 2010356 The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m just delighted to introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly six film and television professionals who are seated in the public gallery. I’ll ask you to please rise as I say your name. We have Lorelei Kuchera, who is the vice-president of film for IATSE, local 210. We have Mr. Don Ast, who is representing ACTRA, but most of you will know him as Nestor Pistor. Indeed, many people remember.

We have Michelle Gougeon from the Directors Guild of Canada, Alberta branch; Prudence Olenik, who I was very pleased to work with at one point, also with IATSE; and Linda Bourgon, also with IATSE. I just want to point out that Linda was an Emmy award winner in 2004 for hairstyling. We’re also joined by Ryan Halun, who is also with IATSE. Thank you so much for joining us. They are here to press the government for changes to the film and television industry. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Leduc-Beaumont-Devon. Mr. Rogers: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you and through you two constituents of mine who are seated in the members’ gallery today. They represent St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic school district, and they are here to observe question period today. They are the superintendent, Jamie McNamara, and Arlene Hamilton, who is a Leduc ward member and a former alderman of the city of Leduc as well. I’d ask them to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. 1:40 The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands- Norwood. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

It’s my pleasure today to introduce to you and through you to all Members of the Legislative Assembly Jocelyn Stenger. Jocelyn is a first-year social work student from Grant MacEwan University and is currently doing her placement at my constituency office. She has a strong interest in the health of the community and in helping those in need. She has also developed a keen interest in electoral politics and the way in which government policy affects the lives of people in inner-city neighbourhoods.

She is a much-valued addition to my constituency office, and I thank her for the wonderful work she has done so far on behalf of my constituents. I would ask Jocelyn to please now rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona. Ms Notley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to try this one more time. It is my pleasure to rise today to introduce to you and through you two members from my office. The first is Ashley Fairall. Ashley is a social work student.

She’s in her first year of studies in the social work program at Grant MacEwan University, and she is currently doing her placement at my o ffice. She’s also serving on the MacEwan Students’ Council, the student program advisory committee, and is active in the students’ association. She has a strong interest in government policy and how it affects citizens in the community. I’ve been personally impressed with her advocacy efforts on behalf of my constituents and her patience with some of my missteps. Mr. Speaker, in addition, I would like to also introduce Philippe Johnson.

He is my constituency assistant and has been working in my office for almost a year now. Philippe grew up in Lac La Biche, drove truck in the oil patch, went to school at U of T, has done a tremendous amount of international development work, and most recently has been working for the citizens of Edmonton-Strathcona. I’d appreciate it if both Ashley and Philippe could rise and receive the warm welcome of this Assembly. head: Members’ Statements The Speaker: The hon. Member for Whitecourt-Ste. Anne. Fallen Four Fifth Anniversary Mr. VanderBurg: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The fifth anniversary of the deaths of four young RCMP officers in the Whitecourt-Ste. Anne constituency was marked with a community candlelighting at the Fallen Four Memorial Park in Mayerthorpe on March 3. It was an honour for me to have the support of my fellow MLAs who attended as well as the Solicitor General – I thank them for that – as we paused with the community to remember our heroes.

I was pleased to see that the families, friends, and co-workers of consta- bles Leo Johnston, Peter Schiemann, Brock Myrol, and Anthony Gordon were joined by family members and friends who came to honour our peacekeepers and other police officers as well. The memorial society volunteers are to be commended on creating this great memorial and the ongoing events that honour and celebrate all who have given their lives for the uniform.

The society volun- teers have done a tremendous job in helping the community, the province, and the country turn a devastating tragedy into a dignified memorial park, with ongoing events to encourage healthy minds, bodies, and spirits. As always, a special thank you goes to all that have generously supported the memorial and related events. On behalf of the society and as MLA for Whitecourt-Ste.

Anne I extend an open invitation to all Albertans to share with us the memorial candlelighting of five candles and the annual RCMP memorial hockey team versus the Whitecourt Senators oldtimers’ hockey team on March 19 at 6:30 at the Whitecourt Twin Arenas. There will also be a silent auction held to raise funds for the park. All donations are welcome through me. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Cypress-Medicine Hat. Ports-to-Plains Alliance Mr. Mitzel: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’m pleased to rise today and share with the Assembly a brief update on one of our very exciting international trade partnerships, Ports-to-Plains. Essentially, Ports- to-Plains is a corridor alliance which encompasses transportation, energy, and agriculture as well as a trade corridor running from the Texas border with Mexico, through nine U.S. states, and ending up in Alberta’s oil sands.

Alberta has been a member of the Ports-to-Plains Alliance for over a year, and the benefits of this membership are beginning to show, benefits like the increase in co-operation between our regional economic development alliances, or REDAs. In fact, our member- ship in Ports-to-Plains has prompted the REDAs along Alberta’s eastern border to work together, rather than competing against each other, and form Alberta’s Ports-to-Plains project. Another benefit gained t hrough our partnership with Ports-to- Plains is the development of strong international connections. Mr.

Speaker, through this partnership connections were made with universities in Texas and memorandums were signed to work on research with universities and colleges here in Alberta. Alberta has

March 9, 2010 Alberta Hansard 357 also gained an additional congressional advocacy group that is nine states large and regularly meets with all Senators and Congressmen in Washington. Mr. Speaker, through my work with Port-to-Plains I’ve had the opportunity to speak with many government and business leaders throughout the United States, and I can say with conviction that all of them are truly impressed and excited about the benefits Alberta can bring to their businesses and to their states.

But what is perhaps more exciting is that many of these leaders were really not aware of Alberta before our membership in Ports-to-Plains. They didn’t really know what Alberta had to offer. Mr. Speaker, the good work of this organization is going forward stronger than ever. The Ports-to-Plains Energy Summit in Denver, Colorado, on April 8 and 9 will give us another opportunity along with the energy industry to continue to sell Alberta and the benefits Alberta has for the American heartland.

Ports-to-Plains has proven itself to be a valuable ally in improving Alberta’s competitiveness, and I’m excited to continue to work with them to meet the goals set out in Bill 1, the Alberta Competitiveness Act. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar. School Closures Mr. MacDonald: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The 2009 city of Edmonton municipal census reveals that many communities are experiencing an increase in the number of school-aged children as well as preschoolers. In the city of Edmonton the number of preschool children increased between 2005 and 2009 by over 30 per cent.

This 30 per cent increase over the last four years certainly supports the government of Alberta’s projections that by 2014 there will be more students than we’ve ever had in the school system, yet in the latest 10-year facilities plan prepared by the Edmonton public school board the school enrolment for Edmonton is projected to decrease.

According to a statement on page 10 of this plan: “This projection is based on an analysis of Federal Census data from 1996 to 2006 and district student residency data derived from historical student information.” Parents demand answers to the following three questions from the school board. Why is it relying on inaccurate and outdated data when making such important decisions regarding public school closures? Why would the school board go against the city of Edmonton’s own stated goal of attracting new families into older neighbourhoods to help increase the population density in central neighbourhoods?

Finally, is the planning department of the school board deliberately ignoring data which does not s upport their recommendation to close schools in Edmonton’s central neighbour- hoods, or are they simply unaware of the latest census information collected by the city? In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I would urge that in light of this information the Edmonton public school board cease and desist, please, in their actions to close any of the six schools in the city of Edmonton’s central neighbourhoods until a proper assessment of the new data collected by the city of Edmonton is addressed. Thank you.

The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Hays. Calgary South Health Campus Mr. Johnston: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Calgary south health campus is the new hospital being built in Calgary, and I’m proud to say that it’s in my riding of Calgary-Hays. When completed, the new south health campus will be a 155,000- square-metre facility that serves Calgary and will serve as a referral point for parts of southern Alberta.

Not only will it contain tradi- tional hospital resources, but it will combine leading-edge health care with the latest in technology as well as research and education in an environment that focuses on providing a healthy, healing atmosphere for patients and staff. When phase 1 is complete in December of 2011, the facility will house 11 operating rooms, 30 emergency exam rooms, 65 short-stay beds, 12 intensive care beds, 216 additional in-patient care beds, and space for 200,000 outpatient visits a year.

Just to put that in perspective, that’s about the same number of beds as the expanding Rockyview general hospital and twice the outpatient visits as the Foothills Medical Centre. The Calgary south health campus will have a tremendous impact on my constituency, allowing for better access to health facilities. Not only this, but it will bring jobs and an economic benefit to my riding. In fact, when fully operational the south health campus will employ approximately 2,000 people. I look forward to the opening and what this hospital will bring to my constituency and Calgary. Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. 1:50 head: Oral Question Period The Speaker: First Official Opposition main question. The hon. Leader of the Official Opposition. Hospital Construction in Grande Prairie Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recently was in Grande Prairie, where the main concern was when they will receive a new hospital, a hospital that’s been needed for some years for their growing, thriving community. This was promised back in 2007. To the Premier: with the Premier being so willing to talk of the priorities and concerns of the people of Calgary, will he now speak of the priorities for the people of Grande Prairie?

Will the new QE II replacement hospital be started this year? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, there are a number of large projects where the tenders have been closed, which will produce some savings. Treasury Board and Infrastructure are evaluating how much money there is in savings. I’ve also instructed the minister of health to look at those projects that we have set aside money for, but during the huge inflationary period that we went through, the costs really rose. I’ve asked him to revisit all those projects.

That would be Grande Prairie, Medicine Hat, Slave Lake, I believe, or High Prairie, and a number of other locations, including some of the long-term care residences. Dr. Swann: Well, Mr. Speaker, the people want to have some definite response. Will the Premier give some definite information to the people of Grande Prairie about when they can expect shovels to be in the ground for a new hospital in Grande Prairie? When? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, the minister of health will be visiting the city of Grande Prairie in 10 days or so.

He’ll be visiting with the community and with council and will share some information with them. Dr. Swann: Well, another health concern for the people of Grande Prairie was the deplorable state of the Grande Prairie Care Centre, a long-term care centre urgently needing to be replaced or exten-

Alberta Hansard March 9, 2010358 sively renovated. Will the Premier commit to providing funding for long-term care needs in Grande Prairie? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, I believe that during the period of time of this inflation we did release about $10 million to the hospital to help support some changes in code requirements. As I said before, the minister will be in Grande Prairie in a number of days and will be able to sit down with the board, the chamber and discuss the situation. The Speaker: Second Official Opposition main question. The hon. Leader of the Official Opposition.

Health Facilities Capital Plans Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, in the ongoing health care saga the only thing that seems to have been accomplished in this last two years is confusion, frustration, and uncertainty. This is the product of failed centralization without a plan, no cost-benefit analysis, and no checks and balances in place. First to the Premier. I hope we’ll get an answer today on this question. What is the explanation for conflicting messages coming from this government and from Alberta Health Services? Who is actually in charge, Mr. Premier? Mr. Stelmach: Mr.

Speaker, there are no conflicting messages. We are the only jurisdiction in Canada that has not only removed, paid off the accumulated deficit but has given Alberta Health Services increased funding for five years. That’s the only plan of its kind in the whole country of Canada. Dr. Swann: Well, I’ll try to the minister of health, then, Mr. Speaker. Please clarify this: do you have the final decision on whether Calgary will or will not receive the much-needed new cancer centre? Yes or no? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr.

Speaker, as I’ve indicated on several occa- sions in the House, a capital plan for $2.5 billion over the next three years will be available in a matter of days. I will be sitting down with the Minister of Infrastructure, with colleagues from Calgary and from elsewhere discussing that, and we will roll out the good news at that time. Dr. Swann: Well, Mr. Speaker, another question revolves around what criteria are used for determining the priority of capital health projects. Are these determined based on need or on political expediency? Mr. Stelmach: Mr.

Speaker, it’s such an easy one to answer I thought I’d get up. If the hon. Leader of the Opposition had an opportunity to read the capital plan, the 20-year strategic capital plan, how priorities are set is listed in the whole plan, and that’s not only for health facilities, schools but for roads and other infrastruc- ture as well. The Speaker: Third Official Opposition main question. The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre. Waterfowl Deaths in Oil Sands Tailings Pond Ms Blakeman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

There is no question that ducks died on tailings ponds controlled by Syncrude, but the Premier’s policy of maintaining a wilful ignorance of the damage done to our international reputation is not helping. How can the Premier say that he’s on top of this file when he hasn’t even seen the photos that the rest of the world is looking at? This is the single biggest black mark on Alberta’s oil sands industry ever. My question is to the Premier. What sort of a briefing has the Premier had? Don’t ask, don’t tell? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear.

Of course I saw the very same photos that everyone in this Assembly saw when the ducks first perished in the tailings pond. I saw, you know, volun- teers trying to remove the oil with cotton swabs off the ducks’ bills. However, that was when the incident originally took place. The reference here is to the pictures that are evidence in the trial that is before us. I was very frank to the reporter yesterday. I did not see those pictures at all prior to them being delivered to the court as evidence. This is a serious situation before the court. It’s a very good act that we have.

We’ve charged the company that’s responsi- ble for it, and let the court decide. The Speaker: I’m not sure where this is leading, but if this matter is sub judice, I’m going to seek advice from the Minister of Justice. But I don’t think so from the first question. The hon. member. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Back to the Premier. Mr. Premier, people see these images and ask: what is Alberta doing to stop this?

What direct action is the Premier taking to give leadership on tailings ponds reclamation, on hard targets on emissions, on reducing the use of water, and all the other environ- mental issues that go along with this? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, we have the strictest environmental laws in the nation, and that is why in this particular case under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act the charges were laid to the company pursuant to that act. With respect to the Fort McMurray area, Mr.

Speaker, there is no area in Canada or perhaps even in North America that is as closely monitored on a 24-hour basis 365 days a year for air, water, and soil quality. The Speaker: The hon. member. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much. Back to the Premier again. Spin, spin, spin. Leadership is not about spin. It’s not about rebranding. It’s about actions taken to achieve a particular result. Is the Premier happy with the result so far? We have dozens of pages in international magazines talking about what a disgrace this is. Are you happy with it so far? Mr. Stelmach: Mr.

Speaker, there’s a lot that has been done in Fort McMurray and, in fact, right across Alberta with respect to the development of resources. There is a lot of attention paid, obvi- ously, to this area because there is a fair amount of production of oil, and it has attracted a lot of attention. But, again, if you go back to third-party evaluation, 98 per cent of the time the air quality in Fort Saskatchewan and Fort McMurray, in those two areas, which have a large oil and gas and value-added presence, is better than or equal to any major Canadian city in North America. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Airdrie-Chestermere. Oil Royalty Framework Mr. Anderson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today the Wildrose Alliance caucus released our energy competitiveness strategy outlining what the government should do to assist our energy

March 9, 2010 Alberta Hansard 359 industry to recover from the devastating effects of this Premier’s new royalty framework. In it we have noted that prior to the NRF coming into effect, the Premier and his cabinet were repeatedly warned by multiple caucus members, the Member for Calgary- Glenmore, and dozens of industry stakeholders that this policy would devastate our economy, and indeed it did. To the Premier: why didn’t he listen to the warnings of those who actually under- stood the energy industry far better than he did? Mr. Stelmach: Mr.

Speaker, I made it very clear that we will have the most innovative and competitive economy in North America, and an opposition report does not change that. We are pursuing the competitiveness review on a number of levels: the oil and gas sector – very important – agriculture, forestry, tourism. I’d like to add small business to that and as well look at how we can attract more financial institutions to the province of Alberta. Mr. Anderson: It was very competitive before this Premier got his hands on it. That’s for sure. By the fall of 2008 the economy was tanking.

Prior to that, land sales for oil and gas exploration in Alberta had significantly decreased on fears that this Premier would actually implement the NRF while land sales in B.C. and Saskatchewan increased during that same period. He had so many warnings, hundreds of warnings from people who actually knew what they were talking about. To the Premier: what possible explanation does he have for barreling ahead with this destructive policy despite all competent advice to the contrary? 2:00 Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, as I said before, we will have the most innovative and competitive economy in North America.

We are working through the competitiveness review, and that’s why we have a bill before this House, which I know will be passed and supported by all sides of the House as we proceed. We will then decide what factors to measure in terms of how we rate in competi- tiveness not only to other jurisdictions in Canada, North America, but indeed other places around the world. Mr. Anderson: This study should have been done long before he tampered with our most important industry. I have hundreds and hundreds of constituents who have suffered a great deal of hardship because of this Premier’s poor decision on this issue.

I would suggest that most of the members in this room could say the same. Mr. Premier, will you apologize to Albertans for the consequences your decisions have had? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, in fact, as oil prices fell drastically from about $147 a barrel down to $37 and gas was as low as $3, what we did was introduced some amendments to the royalty framework, and those amendments were embraced by the hon. member that has brought it up.

I also would like to table an appropriate number of copies of a letter he wrote to the Airdrie City View that says that he is supporting the changes that we made in the royalty framework. The Speaker: We’ll do the tablings at the appropriate time. The hon. Member for Leduc-Beaumont-Devon, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-Currie. New School Construction in Beaumont Mr. Rogers: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The town of Beaumont is recognized as one of the 20 fastest growing communities in Canada.

With a population of approximately 12,000 people, 25 per cent are under the age of 14. [interjections] The Speaker: Leduc-Beaumont-Devon has the floor. Mr. Rogers: Mr. Speaker, the school-age population is exploding so much that one elementary school has a classroom across the road in the community hall. The separate and public boards have agreed to a joint K to 9 facility, but there is no school in the current three-year program. To the Minister of Education: how soon can my constitu- ents see a school in Beaumont? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We have a major building program going on in this province with about $7 billion this year to capital, and that’s very aggressive. There’ll be 42 new schools being built. There are over 101 major projects going on. But I have to say that we still do not, within all of that, have enough to do all the projects that are needed. There is very definitely a need in Beau- mont. We’re working very hard.

I’ve asked the school boards to work with me to come up with i nnovative ways to do it, and I’m prepared to take those innovative ways to Treasury Board and to cabinet to find new ways to get those schools built that we need to build. But I’d have to say that I cannot give the hon. member an assurance today as to a time frame. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Rogers: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the same minister. He mentions innovative ideas. The separate board has recently proposed a temporary lease space option. My question to the minister: is this a viable solution that you’re willing to support? Mr.

Hancock: Mr. Speaker, if I may say, we had an interchange with the Member for Airdrie-Chestermere in the prior question, and I just can’t resist the opportunity to point out that in his comments answering the budget, he suggested we stretch out our building program even further. Under his program with his wild and rosy colleagues they would have us even wait longer for a school in Beaumont. But in answer to the question, the proposal made by the school board is exactly what I’ve been asking for. Now, unfortu- nately, I don’t have the money to finance it, so I have to find a way to do that. Mr. Rogers: Well, Mr.

Speaker, at least I’m pleased to hear that the minister is willing to look at the proposal. In light of that, then, Mr. Minister, I’m just wondering what the possibility is of a P3 solution. What signs of hope can we pass on to the students of Beaumont today? Mr. Hancock: Mr.

Speaker, one of the things that I have to find and take forward is a way – and we’re building a capital plan to do that – to take these priority projects forward within the context of a three- year capital plan that’s already committed but where we’re finding savings, as we’ve mentioned earlier in this House, because projects are coming in under budget, so we’ll be able to profile those to take advantage of those savings. We may be able to cast it as a P3 project. We may be able to cast it in the innovative way in which the board has with respect to interim lease processes.

But in order to give any assurances as to timing, I have to have the money, and right now I don’t have the money.

Alberta Hansard March 9, 2010360 The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Currie. Sour Gas Well Blowout Insurance Mr. Taylor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A sour gas blowout near Hythe has been burning for almost two weeks now, and regulators are saying that it might take another two weeks to fully put it out. Now, while blowouts are rare, industry is required to take out insurance to protect themselves. Unfortunately, their insurance does nothing to cover the losses incurred by Albertans as owners of the resource. To the Minister of Energy.

During a blowout there is an absolute open flow of gas which is much higher than normal production rates. How much gas is expected to have been released over the last two weeks? Mr. Liepert: Mr. Speaker, I don’t have that information. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Taylor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Companies are not required to pay royalties on gas that is not produced, so the gas wasn’t the only thing going up in smoke for the last couple of weeks. How much money in royalties is the province expecting to lose because of this blowout? Mr. Liepert: Well, Mr.

Speaker, obviously, if I don’t have the answer to the first question, I don’t have the answer to the second. Mr. Taylor: Well, then, hopefully, Mr. Speaker, the minister will be able to provide written answers to those questions and perhaps this one as well, written or oral. Albertans are the owners of the resource, so why hasn’t this government made it mandatory for blowout insurance to cover the loss in royalties? Mr. Liepert: Well, Mr. Speaker, the member is correct that he should put those questions on the Order Paper, and I will res pond accordingly. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Edmonton-Mill Woods, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre. Immigrant Investor Program Mr. Benito: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Our immigration system needs to attract the best and brightest people to Alberta, including investors and entrepreneurs. Many provinces already have an entrepreneur stream within their provincial nominee programs. My question is to the Minister of Employment and Immigration. Will Alberta open its doors and its immigration system to investors? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Lukaszuk: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

All provinces have different needs, and in Alberta we want to make sure that Alberta’s needs are met by our immigration program. For a while already Alberta has had a shortage of skilled and unskilled labour. That’s what our ministry, this department, has been focusing on, attracting the appropriate workers to the province of Alberta. Mr. Benito: My first supplemental to the same minister. Now is the time to build up our economy and prepare for when it picks up. Why hasn’t this entrepreneur stream actually started yet? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Lukaszuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, as the economy has changed, the landscape has changed. We are looking into an entrepreneur stream of immigrants to come to our province. However, we’re looking at experiences from other provinces. We know that some other provinces had certain issues with varieties of this program. We want to make sure that when or if we introduce such a program to Alberta, it is right for Alberta and it brings the value-added that we need in Alberta. Mr. Benito: My final question is to the same minister. The federal government has an immigrant investor program. Why does Alberta not participate in that program? Mr.

Lukaszuk: Mr. Speaker, the federal program is a program that Alberta has chosen not to participate in. It requires immigrants to invest $400,000 into the Canadian economy, giving Alberta really no control over what industries or what genres of industries those dollars would be invested in. We want to make sure that when immigrants come to this province, they give value-added to our industry, they help us diversify our economy, and they will benefit Alberta the way we want them to benefit Alberta. We want to have that final choice. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre, followed by the hon.

Member for Calgary-Lougheed. Support for the Film Industry Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Last July an open letter to the Minister of Culture and Community Spirit concerning the state of Alberta film and TV was signed by a wide cross-section of representatives. This was followed in December by a proposal from the Alberta film and television unions to combine streams 2 and 3, expand the number and description of key positions, implement regional bonuses, and re-establish a recoupable develop- ment fund.

It is now too late to save a spring or summer shooting season, but with a quick response the minister could save the fall season. To the Minister of Culture and Community Spirit: when can we expect a response from the minister to this proposal? Mr. Blackett: Well, Mr. Speaker, I have the information with my officials, and they are working on some proposals for me. We have in our department over the last two years made a multitude of changes to the film development program with the idea of enhancing business in our province, making ourselves more attractive.

Just last November we included $800,000 for money to promote Alberta stories, project and script development, export market development, training and mentoring along with increasing our cap from $1.5 million to $3 million to $5 million. 2:10 The Speaker: The hon. member. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much. Back to the same minister. Well, currently we are not competitive. My question is: why is the minister creating a situation where Albertans trained in Alberta are forced to go to B.C., Quebec, or even New Mexico to work? To put it another way, why are we training talent and crew for our competi- tors? Mr.

Blackett: Well, Mr. Speaker, we’re in disagreement. I believe we are competitive. People in British Columbia and Ontario say that we’re competitive. Our labour rate as of last September was the

March 9, 2010 Alberta Hansard 361 most competitive in Canada. It’s probably the third most competi- tive now. We’re not in a race to the bottom. If you talk to the film producers, the people who actually put their money on the line, who actually are out there trying to bring business to our province, they’re very enthusiastic about our prospects for the next six months. I’m not sure what the member opposite is listening to. Ms Blakeman: Well, I’m looking at how many people are working in this province. That’s what’s important to me, Albertans working.

Given the Premier’s focus on competitiveness and given that for every dollar spent toward production, the film and television industry generates $10.80 in Alberta, why can’t the minister see the film and TV sector as easy pickings for the government’s competi- tiveness checklist? Mr. Blackett: First of all, Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has her facts incorrect. The amount of return on investment is $6 for $1, not $10.80. We went through the minister of finance; we went through the department. We sat down with AMPIA; we sat down with other industry representatives. We agreed on $6.

If we’re going to move forward collectively, let’s at least work with the same information, and let’s get the facts straight. Let’s work together and make sure that we’re competitive and attract business to our province. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Lougheed, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-Buffalo. Sport, Recreation, and Physical Activity Funding Mr. Rodney: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recent media reports have focused on the province’s attempts to reduce rising obesity trends, and many of my constituents are concerned about reports that funds to sport, recreation, and physical activity initiatives are being cut by nearly 40 per cent in the new provincial budget. My first question is to the Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation. Can the minister explain these cuts at a time when a growing number of Albertans are overweight or obese because they’re not active enough? Mrs. Ady: Well, Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is right.

We’re concerned about the obesity levels, no question, as we see the trends that are emerging, but I think it’s important to note that this govern- ment is investing $23 million in some 100 sports organizations. I think that the confusion has come in from last year’s budget in areas of money that were flowing through. About $6.6 million was the Olympics, and $9 million was the final instalment for WinSport Canada, which was redeveloping the facilities at Canada Olympic Park. In fact, it’s only about, you know, $1.8 million out of a $23 million budget. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Rodney: Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. My second question is to the same minister. Constituents are curious: what was the process that was used to determine which sport and recreation groups would be affected by these reductions in funding? Mrs. Ady: Well, Mr. Speaker, it’s always difficult to make deci- sions when you have to meet budget targets, but we tried to look at this overarching. We looked at all the different sports organizations. We’re just doing, basically, a reduction of a percentage of each organization so no organization feels the pain too hard. As well, we’ve avoided any organizations with persons with disability.

We were able to protect their rent. Where they’re housed, at Percy Page, they pay a dollar a year. We felt really good about that. We’ll continue to work with these organizations. Mr. Rodney: Mr. Speaker, I’ve had inquiries from a number of people with a number of organizations across the province, and they’re very curious about the new provincial policy on sport. They’ve been waiting for it for some time, a little bit of time anyway, and they’re wondering: what’s the timeline for the new provincial policy on sport and recreation in the business plan of the minister for this current year? Mrs. Ady: Well, Mr.

Speaker, we’re working with the 10 other provincial ministries involved in developing this policy. It’s still early days. We’re just at the draft form. We need to go out and consult and get better information from our stakeholders, but we’re hoping that we can finalize the policy sometime this fall. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Buffalo, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood. Grizzly Bear Management Mr. Hehr: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In 2002 the Endangered Species Conservation Committee recommended that the grizzly be listed as a threatened species.

The government ignored this recommendation. Given that there are fewer than 700 grizzlies left in Alberta, my spider sense tells me that these experts will recom- mend this again on Friday at the minister’s scheduled meeting. To the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development: given that experts state that the grizzly bear is a threatened species, why won’t this minister simply list it as such? Mr. Knight: Well, that’s an interesting observation that the member opposite has made. My recollection of what’s going to happen here, Mr.

Speaker, is that there is a committee that will meet on the 12th of March, and at that point a decision will be made. To my knowl- edge no decision has been made other than what some folks might have put in the papers or other places, that individuals read and then presume that something is going to happen. I will wait, appropri- ately, until the 12th of March, until our committee has made the determination and given me a report, and then we will respond. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Hehr: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I guess I misheard the minister last night when I thought he said that he wasn’t going to list the grizzly bear as an endangered species. I guess, then, my return question: if this committee, the Endangered Species Conservation Committee, again recommends to you that it should be listed as an endangered species, will you take their advice after their meeting on the 12th? Mr. Knight: Mr. Speaker, it is not my position now nor will it be in the next few days to list any species in Alberta as endangered. We have a process.

The gentleman is asking a question now relative to something that went on in estimates last night: a point blank question if I was going to say that bears are endangered in Alberta. I was not prepared last night to say that, and I’m not prepared this afternoon to say that. The Speaker: The hon. member.

Alberta Hansard March 9, 2010362 Mr. Hehr: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess that estimates is where we have open and candid discussions with a minister. At least, I think that’s the process. Last night, again taking the minister at his word, he said that he wasn’t in a position to put a moratorium on harvesting bears. If the minister is not in a position to put a moratorium on hunting bears, then who is? Mr. Knight: Mr. Speaker, I guess I’m going to have to go through this again. We have a process in place. We have a grizzly bear recovery program in pl ace, and I’m going to let that process work.

Once we receive the information from the committee, we’ll be in a better position to be able to determine what the status of this species is in the province of Alberta. At that point we will deal with the issue. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands- Norwood, followed by the hon. Member for St. Albert. Oil Sands Tailings Ponds Mr. Mason: Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday the Premier showed startling ignorance when he claimed not to have seen the images of the ducks dying on Syncrude’s tailings lake.

These pictures show the world the consequences of this govern- ment’s environmental negligence in the development of the oil sands. My question is to the Minister of Environment. Why is your government ignoring this problem instead of implementing a firm deadline for oil sands companies to eliminate these tailings lakes altogether? Mr. Renner: Well, Mr. Speaker, contrary to the

preamble and the question, this government is hardly ignoring the issue. In fact, we have stated very publicly and very emphatically that it is our intention to eliminate the need for tailings ponds in oil sands production over a reasonable period of time, and that’s probably seven to nine years. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, I think the government has no such plan. The photographs and the videos of what happened at Syncrude’s tailings lakes are an indictment of this government’s failure to develop these oil sands in an environmentally responsible manner.

Why does the government continue to ignore the problem instead of requiring oil sands companies to adopt alternative technologies like dry tailings, fluid extraction, or ozone treatment? Mr. Renner: Well, Mr. Speaker, if the government was ignoring the problem, we wouldn’t be dealing with a court case where the photos that the member references were brought forward as evidence. That’s hardly ignoring the situation. We are and will continue to be committed to improving the technology that’s employed. There are very, very promising tec hnologies.

In fact, when I toured the University of Calgary just three weeks ago, the new faculty that has just opened there has got all kinds of very, very promising work under way that will significantly reduce the amount of environmen- tal impact on resource development. 2:20 Mr. Mason: Mr. Speaker, this government was forced into that prosecution by private prosecutions that were brought by environ- mental groups. Albertans can ill afford a government that turns a blind eye to the biggest environmental embarrassment our province has ever witnessed.

These images and videos expose this government’s inability to balance oil sands development with environmental stewardship. Why won’t this minister demonstrate to the world that his government is committed to solving this problem by implement- ing concrete deadlines to clean up tailings lakes and mandating the use of technology that would make them entirely obsolete? Mr. Renner: Well, Mr. Speaker, I would advise this member that he should stay tuned. He should watch the progress as we make it, and he may just find that what he requests may in fact become a reality. The Speaker: The hon. Member for St.

Albert, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-Varsity. New School Construction in St. Albert Mr. Allred: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The St. Albert Protestant school board has been working with a private developer to provide a new school in Erin Ridge North, a new subdivision in St. Albert, for three years now. The developer is proposing a P3 where there would be no government capital required and would follow the standard 30-year payback. My question to the Minister of Education is: what seems to be the delay in getting the proposal approved? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I can’t discuss the specifics of a particular proposal by a developer, but I would say this: there’s always money involved, and I don’t have any. The longer answer, Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier in the House, is that we have to develop alternative ways of developing capital. This is a very good proposal. I’ve encouraged the developer and the school board to work on the proposal, and I will be working with Treasury Board to get permission to do alternative capital programs as and when they make sense and as and when we can put them into our capital plan. Mr. Allred: Mr. Speaker, to the same minister.

The private P3 concept seems to be a win-win situation for everyone involved. The school gets a new facility, the first one in 20 years, the developer has a school in this new subdivision, and the government has no up-front capital costs. What is the downside to this proposal? Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, it’s a good proposal. In fact, it’s an excellent proposal. We need to do some work on sharpening the pencils and getting the numbers into the area where we could go out to the public and say that this has the best value we could possibly get because there’s no other way to do a one-off project.

It’s either an RFP, where everybody gets to bid, or we can clearly demonstrate the value of the project. We can work on that, but there’s no point in getting to that stage until I can work with Treasury Board and with government on our capital policy process because at the end of the day it has to fit into the long-term capital plan. It has to be funded. Mr. Allred: Mr. Speaker, my final question to the same minister. The government of Alberta has adopted P3s for massive schools in Edmonton and Calgary. Is the government not prepared to consider a single, individual, private P3 proposal? Mr. Hancock: Mr.

Speaker, I would hope very much that we would

March 9, 2010 Alberta Hansard 363 be able to consider those. I just have to find the right process and the right way to fit it into our capital plan so that a project which is a very valuable project, which could be done at considerable savings to government and the school board, which can serve that commu- nity very well, can also fit into our capital planning process because at the end of the day, whether it’s spending this year or next year or three years out or five years out, it is spending, it is investment, and it needs to be accounted for. We need to align those processes.

We haven’t quite got it to the stage where we can align those processes, but I’m working on it. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Varsity, followed by the hon. Member for Lesser Slave Lake. Protection of Children in Care Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In April 2008 a foster care review report was released. In November 2009 a kinship review report was released. Their recommendations have been widely ignored. A review of the child intervention system was initiated last summer. We’re still waiting for the report, but funding to interven- tion services was just cut by $27 million.

This government initiates review after review of broken systems but then undermines its findings. To the minister: how many foster and kinship homes in this province have more than their approved number of children? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mrs. Fritz: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m not able to give you an exact number at this time. I can get that number and give it to the member. I can tell you this. The foster care review report, the eight recommendations that were put in place – it’s very clear about the screening process, about the home orientation, about the training for foster parents.

I can tell you as well that there are provisions there for level 1 or level 2 support workers to have more children in their home when it’s been identified to be reasonable. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Chase: Thank you. I’ll look forward to the follow-up informa- tion. Right now it’s a first-bed, first-served circumstance for foster children as opposed to placing them carefully. When will this haphazard approach to placing children in foster and kinship homes based solely on beds available end? Mrs.

Fritz: Well, I think that you should apologize for that pream- ble, for what you’re saying about the way that children are placed in this province. I can tell you that the foster care system works very, very well with the people in the field and that they take their responsibilities very seriously. That foster care review report with those eight recommendations: you should read that, hon. member, and you would know the strong screening process that’s in place for our foster parents. You’d also know about the good work that’s being done in the field by our foster care workers. Mr.

Chase: There is no doubt that there are wonderful foster care parents out there. Unfortunately, not enough. Was the decision to cut $27 million from children intervention services made based on preliminary findings of the children’s intervention system review? What’s the justification? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mrs. Fritz: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I’ve indicated to you before, it’s a $1.1 billion budget in this ministry. There is a 3 per cent reduction. Yes, there has been a reduction in the child interven- tion area of the budget. I will be monitoring that very closely.

That reduction was made based on what the staff indicated, that the systems that have been put in place that have changed the way the service delivery is occurring for more placements of children actually create efficiencies. As I said, I will monitor that very closely. I’ll ensure that the supports and resources are available, and if they aren’t, I’ll take the appropriate measures to seek more funding if needed. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Lesser Slave Lake, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-McCall. Winagami Lake Fish Management Ms Calahasen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Every now and then the lakes in my constituency experience a fish kill due to the lack of oxygen in the lakes. This is devastating for all stakeholders relying on this precious economic resource. I am now told that a fish kill is possible in Winagami Lake. This is no way to manage a lake that many people expect some economic benefit out of. My question is to the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development. What management plans do we have for Winagami Lake, and who is involved in determining those management plans? Mr. Knight: Well, Mr.

Speaker, you know, the situation at Wina- gami Lake, of course, doesn’t happen often. The lake is very shallow, about four metres deep at its deepest point, and it’s very productive, in fact. Winter ice cover, of course, creates a situation where there’s little chance of reoxygenation in the lake, and in the spring, mostly in March, the oxygen levels tend to be low. We continue to work with that. We monitor the lake twice a week. There are a number of fisheries that are sustained there, First Nations fisheries as well as a sports fishery and commercial fishing.

We continue to work with those groups to monitor the lake. Ms Calahasen: Well, Mr. Speaker, it’s really good that we’re starting to include all the people that should be determining what happens in that kind of a management plan. My second question is to the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development as well. What is the allowable, acceptable level of oxygen for Winagami Lake at this time of year? Mr. Knight: Well, Mr. Speaker, as I said, we’re monitoring the lake. Currently the levels of oxygen are at acceptable levels for fish to survive.

The minimum amount of oxygen that you would expect to have in a lake like that and not have fish mortality is a bout one and a half milligrams per litre. I believe that’s the right number. Ms Calahasen: If the oxygen level is at one and a half and certain areas in Winagami Lake are at 1.3, why is it that we would not do everything we can to attempt to save a resource that’s so crucial to many people in my constituency? Would you continue to ensure that the fishermen can continue to extract the resource so that we can save as many fish as we can? Mr. Knight: Yes, Mr. Speaker, we’ve already actually done that.

What we did was instituted a fishery a bout four or five days early this year, on the 26th of February in fact, and allowed about a hundred thousand tonnes of whitefish, and the margins of other sports fish were caught at that particular point in time. Since that

Alberta Hansard March 9, 2010364 time the oxygen levels have returned and maintained themselves at around two milligrams a litre. We’re watching that, and we will institute a salvage fishery if, in fact, it appears that the fish become in jeopardy. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-McCall, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-East. 2:30 Online Government Services Mr. Kang: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. According to the provincial budget Service Alberta will have 410 full-time employees cut from its staff, most of them in information technology support roles.

My questions are to the Minister of Service Alberta. How can the minister plan to offer more services to Albertans online and cut the IT people needed to manage those services at the same time? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mrs. Klimchuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I’ve indicated before, part of Service Alberta’s budget, which I defended in my estimates, is about transforming the way that we do government. That’s what Service Alberta is leading. If you look at the areas of technology and the areas of efficiencies we found, yes, there will be some reducing of employees there; there’s no question.

But when we can find duplication and have efficiencies in government, that’s a good thing for Albertans. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Kang: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What assurances can the minister provide that cuts made to IT support staff won’t impair Alberta’s SuperNet access, that many rural and remote communities depend on? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mrs. Klimchuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With regard to the whole SuperNet and rural connectivity that is something that I’ve been working very hard on.

The ongoing team within Service Alberta is working hard, working with all the ministries that are involved with the SuperNet and making sure that Albertans have access to SuperNet, whether it’s through their ISP providers or whether it’s through the other services that are available. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Kang: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the minister again. Last July the health records of 11,000 Albertans were at risk of capture by a computer hacker. How can Albertans be sure that these massive departmental layoffs won’t leave the information that they provide to the government less secure?

The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mrs. Klimchuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With respect to the security of Albertans’ information that is something that we work on very hard, and the Auditor General brought that to this department’s attention a couple of years ago. These last two years we’ve worked very hard in that area to ensure that the information is protected. That’s access to information and as well all the good work that the registry agents do when they are working and having access to the information. It’s that partnership that we work very hard on as well. The Speaker: The hon.

Member for Calgary-East, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-Glenmore. Foreign-trained Physicians Mr. Amery: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recent statistics list Cal- gary’s population at over 1 million people. Twenty-five per cent of Calgarians, or more than 250,000 people, don’t have access to a family doctor. Many of these people are seniors, children, and new Canadians. To the hon. Minister of Health and Wellness: what action is the minister undertaking to ensure that Calgarians and all Albertans, for that matter, can access a family doctor when they need one? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr.

Speaker, I would hope that if those individuals don’t have a family doct or, they are at least accessing doctors in many of the medical walk-in clinics that exist. But I should say, too, Mr. Speaker, that our physician per population ratio of 201 to a population of 100,000 is the highest average in and amongst all Canadian provinces. It’s the highest national average, which is at, I think, 195. I would also say that our physician supply is growing faster and is the youngest physician supply in the country and the best paid as well. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Amery: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Calgarians say that the best place to get sick is either in a taxicab or in a hotel, where either the driver or the cleaner is likely to be a medical doctor who may have tried for years to obtain residency. Mr. Speaker, what is the minister doing to get more of these highly trained foreign doctors, who have met all the requirements, into the medical system so Albertans do not have to utilize emergency rooms for routine health issues? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, the fact is that between 2004 and 2008 the number of internationally trained physicians increased by about 36.1 per cent.

That’s an increase of about 575 physicians, which is outstanding. Alberta’s medical residency programs also increased in size virtually every year since 2004. In fact, this year we’re providing about $25 million to support the integration of international medical graduates into our provincial health system. Also very good news. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Amery: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Despite a doctor shortage in the province and despite the $1.5 billion increase in the Health and Wellness budget the government slashed the number of residency spots available to foreign-trained doctors from 70 to 40 for this year. What is the rationale for this decrease? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, we actually have up to 50 residency positions for which these internationally trained medical folks are able to apply. I can assure the hon. member that since 2001 Alberta Health and Wellness has done its best to provide the adequate funding to accommodate as many of those residency spots as possible.

There are complexities such as accreditation and licensing and other equivalency factors that have to be taken into account. Nonetheless, we are making good progress, and we’re also providing funding to international agencies to help out. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Glenmore.

March 9, 2010 Alberta Hansard 365 Oil Royalty Framework (continued) Mr. Hinman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In June 2009 the Premier promised Albertans that their competitiveness review would be completed by the fall of 2009. Since then industry has gone through another winter drilling season with more uncertainty because this government can’t get it done. We are now seeing an increase in speculation related to the acquisition and drilling rights on acreages. Clearly, this government’s royalty robbery has cost Albertans billions. They continue to cost us millions.

To the Minister of Energy: when will your competitiveness review be published so that industry can possibly move forward with more certainty? Mr. Liepert: Mr. Speaker, it will be published the day we decide to release it, and that will be shortly. Mr. Hinman: That’s why the industry and investors are so excited about Alberta. Mr. Speaker, Albertans have long memories, and people who were here understand the devastation of the national energy program. Albertans will not forget that it was this PC government that yanked the rug out from underneath the oil and gas workers and industry here in Alberta.

After the great royalty robbery this minister told the oil and gas industry to suck it up. Is he still telling industry to suck it up as the industry continues to lay off people and cut spending? Mr. Liepert: Mr. Speaker, I’m not quite sure who he’s referring to that made those comments because that was not me. As I said earlier, we will be imminently releasing the competitive- ness review, not only releasing the competitiveness review but government’s response and actions to it, and I believe it’ll be very well received by industry. Mr.

Hinman: Well, they believed they were going to get something last fall, so we’ll see. The minister has a real attitude problem, and everybody in Alberta knows it. He bullied the teachers, and it cost the taxpayers billions of dollars. He bullied the medical profession, and it cost the taxpayers billions of dollars. The government bullied the energy industry, and it cost the taxpayers billions of dollars. Does this minister know how many billions of dollars have been invested outside of Alberta because of this government’s royalty robbery? Mr. Liepert: Well, Mr.

Speaker, the absurdity of that question says a lot about the person who’s asking it. How could anyone stand here and estimate how much investment has taken place outside of Alberta in the entire world? It tells a lot about this particular member. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona, followed by the hon. Member for Bonnyville-Cold Lake. Syphilis Prevention and Control Ms Notley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Alberta’s rate of syphilis infection is double the national average, and the problem is only getting worse with the infection rate continuing to increase last year.

To the minister of health: will he now admit that this crisis is the direct result of his government’s decision to reject advice from public health doctors given back in 2007? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, this is indeed a very serious issue. I indicated yesterday that we are very serious about eliminating syphilis in this province within the five-year window, which is a very commendable and reachable goal. It’s all about accessing the treatment that’s required right now. It’s all about focusing on prevention and generating more awareness to stop the flow. Ms Notley: Well, Mr.

Speaker, if the five-year window had opened three years ago, we’d be almost there. Last year six babies were born with syphilis, and three died. The only other jurisdictions where you see numbers like this are developing countries that struggle with provision of basic food and shelter. Will the minister commit today to implementing an antisyphilis campaign for the general population as recommended by his staff three years ago? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, I will have the report from Alberta’s chief medical officer very, very soon.

In the meantime, I would like Albertans to know and I’d like this hon. member to know that we are increasing prenatal screening to help prevent the kind of circum- stances that she has just alluded to. We have a larger goal in mind as well, and that’s to eliminate syphilis entirely. We’ll be looking at other issues such as gonorrhea and chlamydia and so on at the same time. 2:40 Ms Notley: Mr.

Speaker, last week the minister’s head of public health said that provincial efforts to stop syphilis were delayed by H1N1, yet this Legislature just approved extra dollars for the H1N1 campaign, so that shouldn’t have had any impact at all. Your government has known about the epidemic for years, and you’ve had recommendations since 2007. Why are Albertans still waiting for action? Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, we got hit by a pandemic which had to be dealt with and had to be dealt with immediately to help protect over 3 million Albertans. I think the group that did that did a very commendable job.

With respect to the syphilis issue, I’ve already indicated that we have a 14-person team that’s addressing this immediately. There will be a further report on it very shortly, and we will stay focused on our goal to eliminate it within five years. The Speaker: Hon. members, that concludes the question period. Eighteen members, 12 in opposition to the government, were recognized today for 108 questions and answers. In a few seconds from now we’ll continue with the Routine, and I will call on the hon.

Member for Calgary-Nose Hill in about 15 seconds from now. head: Members’ Statements (continued) The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Nose Hill. Les Rendez-vous de la Francophonie 2010 Dr. Brown: Merci, M. le Président. Aujourd’hui je me lève à l’Assemblée pour souligner le début des Rendez-vous de la Francophonie, une célébration nationale de la culture, de la langue, et du patrimoine français qui se déroulera du 5 au 21 mars.

Ici en Alberta les communautés francophones ont lancé les fest ivités le 5 mars avec des levers de drapeaux partout à travers la province, et les festivités se poursuivront pendant les deux prochaines semaines pour les Albertains de tous les âges et d’origines diverses. Voilà une excellente occasion pour nous tous de se rassembler et de célébrer notre histoire et nos merveilleuses traditions.

Alberta Hansard March 9, 2010366 La francophonie albertaine est vibrante et diverse. Alors que l’on célèbre notre riche patrimoine, nous tournons également les yeux vers l’avenir en accueillant en Alberta des nouvelles personnes, traditions, et cultures. Au cours de la dernière année la communauté francophone s’est agrandie, et les centres d’établissements franco- phones continuent d’accueillir et de fournir des services bien importants aux nouveaux arrivants.

L’apprentissage demeure une priorité clé pour le gouvernement, et ainsi l’éducation de langue française dans notre province continue de prendre de l’ampleur et s’accroît. M. le Président, je tiens à remercier les membres de cette Chambre pour leur appui continu, et je vous invite tous à participer à ces célébrations afin de souligner les contributions des franco- phones au riche patrimoine albertain. [Translation] I rise in the Assembly today to announce the start of Rendez-vous de la Francophonie, a national celebration of French culture, language, and history that runs from March 5 to March 21.

Here in Alberta francophone communities started celebrations on March 5 with flag-raising ceremonies across the province, followed by two weeks of celebrations for Albertans of all ages and all backgrounds. This is a great opportunity for all of us to come together and celebrate our beautiful traditions and history. Alberta’s Francophonie is vibrant and diverse. As we celebrate our rich past, we also look to the future by welcoming new people, traditions, and cultures to Alberta.

In the last year the francophone community has seen growth as francophone settlement centres continue to welcome and provide much-needed services to newcom- ers. French-language education in our province continues to expand and grow as learning remains a key priority for this government. Mr. Speaker, I thank members of this House for their continued support, and I invite you all to take in these and other celebrations to mark the contributions of francophones to Alberta’s rich heritage. [As submitted] The Speaker: Merci, M. le Député. The hon. Member for Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo. Jennie Flett Mr.

Boutilier: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Last week Fort Chipewyan, the oldest settlement in our province and certainly part of my constituency, mourned the loss of elder Jennie Flett. She was 101 years old, often referred to as Mum. She was born in 1 908. When her mother died, Jennie took on the daunting responsibility of raising her 10 siblings. She married her husband, Ed, in June 1927, and they had a very large family of their own. Jennie followed in her mother’s footsteps, and at the age of 18 she became a midwife. She taught herself midwifery, gaining her knowledge from her mother.

She delivered – and I say this slowly – 450 babies for the province of Alberta. The incredible journey that she had was actually featured on CBC television when she cele- brated her hundredth birthday. She never lost a baby or a mother, an incredible feat in today’s medical terms considering the conditions she worked in. There was no electricity. There were no vehicles in those days. She travelled from trappers’ cabins to wigwams via dog teams in every imaginable weather condition. Husbands came to her in blizzards in the middle of the night on snowshoes. She definitely was the stuff legends are made of.

Jennie, as I mentioned, was often referred to as Mum. She retired from delivering babies at the ripe age of 75. She received a lifetime achievement award from RARA, and on her 100th birthday she was awarded an honorary nursing diploma from Keyano College. She was the oldest Métis women in Wood Buffalo. She dedicated her life to her community and to helping others in northern Alberta. Our province is a better place because of Jennie Flett. She died on the fourth floor of our hospital, where she had spent quite some time.

Our prayers and thoughts are with her family and all those she has helped over her past 101 years. head: Introduction of Bills The Speaker: The hon. Member for Lethbridge-West. Bill Pr. 1 Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta Act Mr. Weadick: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I request leave to introduce a bill being the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and South- western Alberta Act. I’ve signed it and dated it. Thank you. [Motion carried; Bill Pr. 1 read a first time] The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Bow.

Bill Pr. 2 Canada Olympic Park Property Tax Exemption Amendment Act, 2010 Ms DeLong: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I request leave to introduce a bill being the Canada Olympic Park Property Tax Exemption Amendment Act, 2010. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. [Motion carried; Bill Pr. 2 read a first time] The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Rutherford. Bill Pr. 3 Lamont Health Care Centre Act Mr. Horne: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I request leave to introduce Bill Pr. 3, the Lamont Health Care Centre Act.

The Lamont health care centre is a combined acute-care and auxiliary hospital and nursing home facility located in Lamont, Alberta. It is operated by a board of management established as a corporate entity by ministerial order under sections 4 and 5 of the Hospitals Act. The purpose of the Lamont Health Care Centre Act is to allow for continued and uninterrupted operation of the facilities subsequent to amendments under the Health Facilities Accountabil- ity Statutes Amendment Act, 2007, which will remove the opportu- nity for the board to continue after that bill is proclaimed in force. Mr.

Speaker, thank you. [Motion carried; Bill Pr. 3 read a first time] head: Tabling Returns and Reports The Speaker: Mr. Premier, did you have a tabling? The hon. minister. Mr. Snelgrove: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to table the

article in the Airdrie City View by the MLA of December 19, 2008, where the member highlights that the new royalty regime has some positive elements to it, that there was a global economic slowdown, plum- meting oil and gas prices, and competitive royalty regimes in Saskatchewan and B.C.

March 9, 2010 Alberta Hansard 367 The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Employment and Immigration. Mr. Lukaszuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to table an appropriate number of copies of a memorandum that I have sent to the chair of the Standing Committee on the Economy. This memo is indicating that pursuant to Standing Order 52.07 I am requesting that this particular standing committee inquire into and report on the issue of minimum wage in the province of Alberta. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands- Norwood. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I have two tablings today.

First, I’d like to table the appr opriate number of copies of 20 postcards signed by Albertans calling on the provincial government to keep its promise to build 600 new long-term care beds. The postcards are part of a campaign sponsored by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which has gathered signed postcards from approximately 2,500 Albertans. Mr. Speaker, my second tabling is the appropriate number of copies of photographs of dead and dying ducks from the oil sands.

These include some of the pictures that the Premier has claimed not to have seen, so I’m tabling them today for him and other members of the Assembly. These photographs relate to my questions earlier today. Thank you. 2:50 The Speaker: Hon. Member for Edmont on-Highlands-Norwood, you mentioned in your first statement that you had 2,500, so I take it you’re going to table all 2,500 at one time, or are you going to do, like, 20 a day for the next hundred days? Mr. Mason: I think we’ll do 20 a day for as long as we can.

The Speaker: So we’re going to need a minute a day or a minute and a half a day for the next hundred days. Mr. Mason: Well, I won’t read them individually, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Oh, thank you. head: Orders of the Day head: Committee of Supply [Mr. Mitzel in the chair] The Deputy Chair: Hon. members, before we begin, may we revert briefly to Introduction of Guests? [Unanimous consent granted] The Deputy Chair: The hon. Member for Calgary-Bow. head: Introduction of Guests (reversion) Ms DeLong: Well, I’m afraid that we’ve missed our opportunity to introduce Marg Mrazek, the past president of the PC Party.

She was here, and unfortunately we’ve just missed her, so we’ll have to do it another time. head: Main Estimates 2010-11 Executive Council The Deputy Chair: Hon. members, I’d like to call the Committee of Supply to order. We have for consideration Executive Council main estimates. The hon. the Premier. Mr. Stelmach: Well, thank you. Mr. Chairman and hon. members, I’m pleased to appear before this committee to discuss the 2010- 2011 Executive Council budget estimates and the 2010 -2013 business plan. I’d like to begin by introducing the staff that are with me today.

We have up in the gallery Elan MacDonald, who is the deputy chief of staff for policy and strategy; George Samoil, up there waving, chief of staff for operations and legislative affairs; Jason Ennis, my executive assistant; Bob Fessenden, who will be here shortly, deputy minister of the Premier’s Council for Economic Strategy; Anita Lunden, representing the Agency Governance Secretariat; Cam Hantiuk, director of communications; Jerry Bellikka, director of media relations; and Lee Funke, the new managing director of the Public Affairs Bureau. They’re with us.

On the floor would be my chief of staff, Ron Glen; Brian Man- ning, who is the Deputy Minister of Executive Council; Dwight Dibben, deputy secretary to cabinet; Roxanna Benoit, deputy chief of policy co-ordination; and Elaine Dougan, who is the executive director of corporate services. I’ll begin with the fiscal overview for 2010-11. Executive Council is one of the 13 departments whose budgets were cut this year to enable government to increase its support of key program areas such as health care during a time of fiscal restraint. The budget for Executive Council is $31.7 million this year.

It’s down $3.7 million from last year. This reduction will mainly be achieved by reducing spending in the final year of the brand initiative by $3 million. We will also do this by focusing on supporting our brand ambassadors in developing products they can use to help carry Alberta’s message to the world. We’re also reducing funding for the Premier’s Council for Economic Strategy, which is delaying recruitment to vacant positions and reducing discretionary spending on things like staff training, travel, hosting, and supplies.

I’d like to now turn to a review of the Execu tive Council’s program areas and priorities as ou tlined in the business plan. The Executive Council includes my offices in the Legislature and in McDougall Centre in Calgary, the deputy minister’s office, the cabinet co-ordination office, the policy co-ordination office, the Premier’s Council for Economic Strategy, the Agency Governance Secretariat, the protocol office, the administrative support for the office of the Lieutenant Governor, the Alberta Order of Excellence Council, and the Public Affairs Bureau.

Our 2010-13 business plan lays out the following strategic priorities for Executive Council: strengthening agency governance, enhancing policy capacity, continuing the work of the Council for Economic Strategy, implementing the branding initiative, continuing to implement the strategic communications plan across government, and using new social media and technology to enhance communica- tions. Mr. Chairman, let me put those activities in some context. Alberta is facing industrial and urban development on a scale never seen before.

As a government we’ve had to raise the bar and develop policies to accommodate this development such as the strategic capital plan, the municipal sustainability initiative, and the competi- tiveness review. We did this because Albertans want economic growth and all the opportunities it brings but not at a cost to the environment or our quality of life.

Alberta Hansard March 9, 2010368 Our government has worked hard to put this policy framework in place to achieve Albertans’ goals. This work could have easily gone out the window with the recession, with short-term economic and budget pressures trumping long-term planning. But leadership isn’t about changing directions whenever the wind does. Our plan positions the province to be ready when growth returns. It recog- nizes the need for Alberta businesses to be globally competitive to attract investment needed to further develop Alberta’s resources and does not rely on tax increases.

In fact, there will be no tax increases. It gets us back in the black in three years and continues to save for the future. A couple of comments with respect to the Premier’s Council for Economic Strategy. I established the Premier’s Council for Economic Strategy to provide advice on how we can ensure that Alberta continues to be an innovative and prosperous province where Albertans enjoy a high quality of life built on vibrant communities and a healthy environment.

We can’t predict what the world will be like in the future, but we can look carefully at the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead in the next few decades. The council is a group of globally recognized experts that will provide an external, big-picture perspective on our economic future. Through meetings, ind ividual interviews, and consultation with experts in communities of interest it is now developing an under- standing of the opportunities and challenges facing our province in a constantly changing global environment and how they will affect our economy, environment, society, and government.

Then it will turn its attention to possible opportunities and responses and start figuring out what conditions government should put in pl ace to ensure that Alberta stays focused on her vision of an innovative and prosperous province for this generation and generations to come. One of the things we know will be important is continuing to promote our province and manage our reputation globally as we recently did at the Olympic Winter Games. You know, we’ve been criticized for spending money on this, but you can’t reach a world- wide audience without spending money.

It’ll never be cheaper than when the whole world is already next door. While the naysayers in Alberta were moaning and groaning, let me tell you what others were saying about Alberta’s presence at the Olympics. People were calling the Alberta train, and I quote, the best idea Vancouver never had. The Vancouver Sun said that with the train the wily Albertans attracted all kinds of media coverage. In fact, we attracted about $70 million worth of media exposure. Another article, in the Vancouver Province, had this to say: “You have to hand it to the Albertans. First, they stole our Olympic train . . .

Then they pinched the premier location for their Olympic pavilion. Alberta’s Olympic vision . . . is as clear as it is down-to- earth. It’s to drum up business for Alberta.” A story in the National Post said that when they asked a Swedish man what he knew about Alberta, he replied: spirit to achieve, freedom to create. Yes, we could have saved some money by not being there, but we would have been missing a huge opportunity to promote our province. We as Albertans will never sit on the sidelines when we could be promoting our province and helping to realize its full potential. I’ll stop there, Mr.

Chairman, and I’ll prepare to take questions from committee members. 3:00 The Deputy Chair: The first speaker is the Leader of the Official Opposition. You have 10 minutes, and the Premier has 10 minutes to respond. Do you wish to combine that time for 20 to go back and forth or keep it separate? Dr. Swann: With the Premier’s permission I’d like to have an interactive discussion, a few questions, some brief answers, and back and forth if that’s acceptable to him, and written responses if it’s too short to deal with a question. Mr. Stelmach: Sure. Dr. Swann: Thanks very much, Mr. Premier, and welcome to the staff.

I’d like to introduce my staffperson also, Ryan Gordey, who is our research officer in the Alberta Liberal caucus on health care and several other ministries, including Executive Council. Executive Council is a very important ministry in any govern- ment, and it’s essential to provide leadership to the rest of govern- ment and to show the way in terms of both leadership and policy and in management and appropriations for the public interest.

This ministry is essentially the Premier’s office with the addition of the Public Affairs Bureau and in these past couple of years the branding initiative, policy development initiatives, and the new economic advisory committee. The overriding question for all government spending is value for money, clear goals, monitoring of results, and evaluation of how we can spend better in the long-term public interest.

Albertans continue to have concerns about how this government is managing its budget, how it’s setting goals, monitoring the implementation of strategies to achieve those goals, and holding itself accountable, providing evidence of value for money, whether it’s in health care, education, infrastructure, or any particular role that government has in caring for people and the infrastructure and the services that care for all of us. The Premier’s office clearly, then, sets the tone and the standard for the rest of government, and how responsibly it’s managed is a weather vane for the rest of government.

Given that half the budget in the Executive Council is related to public communication, it begs important questions about the goals, strategies, and accountability of spending in our communications budget both within Executive Council and how that relates to the rest of communications and public relations in the other ministries.

One of the fundamental questions that the opposition has contin- ued to raise over the years is the extent to which the Public Affairs Bureau, answering to the Premier, is really an important tool of the public and answerable to the public, that messages are indeed conveyed in the public interest to advise and inform and educate and improve the lives of Albertans.

Like the questions around the member benefits discussion and our Motion 501, that called for independence of those kinds of decisions that members benefit from and the question of a conflict of interest, the question a round the Public Affairs Bureau and the Executive Council has to be: is there a conflict of interest when the major portion of the budget in Executive Council, that related to communications of government services and plans and policies, is directly answerable to the Premier as opposed to the Legislature? That’s a

preamble, Mr. Chairman, to address a very ongoing, persistent question that I think Albertans continue to ask us and ask us to represent to this government. I think perhaps I’ll ask the Premier to respond to that specifically since it’s a fairly overriding and general question. I’d like to hear how, if anything, he would like to reassure Albertans and all representatives that this Public Affairs Bureau is paid out of the public purse and res ponds to the public interest as opposed to the Premier and the government’s interests. Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Chairman, the Public Affairs Bureau is nonparti- san.

It has the responsibility of ensuring that all Albertans are informed on what policies and laws are agreed to by this Assembly

March 9, 2010 Alberta Hansard 369 and by government. Albertans deserve very clear, strong informa- tion with respect to what government has done in this Legislature and what policies and regulations are implemented. So I think that there is no conflict of interest in terms of the Public Affairs Bureau giving that information out to the public. It’s also a function of the executive branch of government, which is not a branch of the Legislative Assembly.

The one thing that I want to say is that you find as you travel through Alberta, that whether it’s in advertising in papers in terms of policy direction or new policy or new laws that are implemented, there are always those that either miss the information or have to rely on phoning government for additional information, and these are some of the responsibilities of the Public Affairs Bureau. Just for additional information, there are 118 FTEs in the branch. Seventy-two are professional communications staff, and these are people that are assigned to communication branches in the depart- ments.

On any given day, as you know, there are news releases to co-ordinate, plan announcements, provide communications advice to department officials, and respond to media calls sometimes totalling in the hundreds in one department, depending on the issue. So they do serve a very, very valuable responsibility in government. Many departments chose to augment their communications branches by adding staff to meet particular needs such as their internal communications. It is entirely up to each department to make that choice and to resource these positions.

Now, in response further, there are 46 FTEs in the Public Affairs Bureau who fill a number of roles, including co-ordinating govern- ment communications to and from Albertans for major government initiatives and during public emergencies; planning, co-ordinating government-wide internal communications to employees; managing the government of Alberta website; co-ordinating cross-government standards for all ministry websites; providing advertising consulta- tion and support to ministries and co-ordinating corporate advertis- ing; distributing government news releases and providing media monitoring service to the ministries; and providing technical support for major government news conferences and announcements.

I think, to be very clear, that there is no connection between the bureau and party politics. Partisan political matters are, of course, those that are the domain of the party and its members and not government employees. Like all members of the public service, our bureau employees are guided by a code of conduct and an oath of office. The Deputy Chair: The hon. Leader of the Official Opposition. Dr. Swann: Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman.

It’s a bit hard for us to swallow that this kind of budget, this kind of staff, 180 full-time equivalents ultimately reporting directly to the Premier, has no political affiliation or no political agenda.

I guess I would ask the Premier again whether he sees any loss of confidence from a public that sees this kind of spending on communications and, instead of having any kind of an independent committee or any kind of a balanced committee overlooking our communications agenda, whether he would not see any merit in changing the perception that this is a vast resource that very much appears to be, even if not true, at the whim and the will of one man who represents one particular party? For many in this province there’s a real disconnect.

When he talks about transparency and accountability and open, honest communica- tion, there’s a real disconnect with this kind of money, half of his budget, going to the Public Affairs Bureau without any sense of balance in how that communication is being vetted, apart from his own. 3:10 Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Chairman, I think the hon. member mentioned 180 FTEs. There aren’t 180. There are 118 FTEs in the department. As I said before, this is nonpartisan. This is communicating the policies of the government. It’s not party politics.

Various parties, no matter what their political stripe, have their own infrastructure to get their message out. These are policies that are passed by the government. Many are debated here in the Legislature, whether it be information with respect to the budget, information to change in policies in health, transportation, any department. So I don’t see where there is a conflict of interest. Dr. Swann: In connection with numbers, then, Mr.

Chairman, I would ask the Premier, including Public Affairs Bureau staff and other communications staff with the rest of government: what is the sum total of communications people in this government? I have a directory here that lists all the ministries, and it suggests to me that it’s close to actually 220 people in this government that are charged with communicating this government’s purposes and services. Will the Premier also explain how the reporting lines are between communications staff and the Public Affairs Bureau staff?

Do the staff report to their respective ministries or deputy ministers, or does the Public Affairs Bureau staff only report directly to Executive Council? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Chairman, with respect to the Public Affairs Bureau, like I said before, 118 FTEs. There are additional commu- nications people in departments. These are people that may not all necessarily be right here in the city of Edmonton but may be working for various departments in locations throughout Alberta. As you know, the province is big, and it’s necessary to get the informa- tion out to individuals living in different parts of the province.

I know that within the regional offices Transportation will have some communications people, especially if, you know, there are some road bans going in or changes, perhaps, to a construction schedule, where some roads may be temporarily closed. Those are all part of departmental communications. I believe I gave a total listing person by person not that long ago through a question, and we’ll do the same thing. We’ll just itemize all the people, where they work, and we’ll get that to the hon. member. The Deputy Chair: The hon. leader. Dr. Swann: Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Throughout the 2010- 11 government estimates – excluding Housing and Urban Affairs, Municipal Affairs, Service Alberta – each ministry has a line item that shows their communications budget. The total for all ministries, including Executive Council and the branding initiative, is $34.9 million. This is an improvement because it seems the Premier has taken some advice from many of us to reduce government spending on spin. How did the Premier find these efficiencies from the total amount of government spending on communications, and why now? I mean, communications last year went up $6 million. Mr.

Stelmach: The $14.3 million budgeted for Public Affairs Bureau represents less than .04 per cent of the 2010-11 spending estimate for the government. If we include the roughly $15 million that departments have allocated to their communications budgets, that figure is still less than .08 per cent of total spending. If it’s less than 1 per cent of total government spending for communications, I think that is pretty efficient given that, you know, every department

Alberta Hansard March 9, 2010370 has so much to communicate over the course of a year. So I think that has been quite prudent. Dr. Swann: On page 124 of the Executive Council 2010 business plan under Significant Opportunities and Challenges it states: “Executive Council will enhance policy capacity and cross-ministry collaborations and ensure consistency with overall government strategic direction by facilitating collaboration in strategic planning and policy development.” Let me ask the following question, then, using as an example our health care system. Mr.

Premier, is there a plan for public health that the public, professionals, and representa- tives of the public could contribute to, and if so, when can we see an overarching plan for health? My second question would have to do with the way that health policy has been developed in the last couple of years. There continue to be questions raised about who is developing our health policy. Is it Alberta Health and Wellness? Is it Alberta Health Services? There’s more and more confusion around leadership on health and whether we can get access to a plan so that Albertans and professionals can contribute to that plan.

In light of the decision not to redevelop Alberta Hospital Edmonton, it seems that this policy decision was made by Alberta Health Services, and the news release that accompanied the decision was released by Alberta Health Services, yet the minister seems to have made a different decision. Which organization is actually responsible? Again related to health, what measures . . . The Deputy Chair: Hon. member, we are with the estimates for Executive Council, not with health. Dr. Swann: Yeah. I’m referring here to the policy role of Executive Council.

How is the policy role in this Executive Council relating to the delivery of a major part of our budget, health care? The Deputy Chair: As long as it applies to the estimates. Dr. Swann: Oh, yeah. Very much so. What measures have been taken through Executive Council to improve and increase policy development capacity with Alberta Health and Wellness? What influence does Executive Council have with health policy decisions? Is the Executive Council briefed on policy decisions before they’re made or announced or implemented? How does that work between Executive Council and Alberta health?

Last year in the budget debates for Executive Council the Premier stated: “I’m proud to say that we have the most participation in policy development from our caucus. We have various policy committees. All ministerial recommendations come forward for thorough discussion.” Two questions related to that, Mr. Premier: what input did cabinet policy committees have into the decision not to redevelop Alberta Hospital Edmonton, the decision to cut 290 acute-care beds from Edmonton and Calgary, the decision in 2009 to reduce the number of elective surgeries performed in our public hospitals?

The Deputy Chair: Hon. member, you’re going to have to direct this to the estimates. Dr. Swann: Go ahead, Mr. Premier, if you’d like to respond to those. Mr. Stelmach: In response to the hon. member the ministry sets overall policy. Let’s say the policy that health care in this province remains publicly funded. That is a policy. That it’s publicly administered. That is a policy. But in terms of the overall responsi- bility for operational decisions, that is up to the Alberta Health Services Board.

The board has a budget that’s been allocated to them, and they have to live within that budget and all of the responsibilities that are assigned to the board within the operational side. But the general policy, again I repeat – publicly funded, publicly administered – is the responsibility of the ministry and of government. Dr. Swann: Just a supplementary, Mr. Premier: were all the above- mentioned health decisions that I mentioned presented to the government caucus as a whole for their debate? Mr. Stelmach: Once again, they’re operational issues.

The Alberta Health Services Board is assigned a budget, and they make decisions based on recommendations that come forward to the board by their staff. The board then looks at the recommendations made by staff, and they make the final decisions, and they implement those decisions. Dr. Swann: Well, I hate to belabour this, but just one further question. The Deputy Chair: Hon. member, you’re going to have to tie this directly to the estimates and not to the policy of the rest of the government. Dr. Swann: This is Executive Council’s role, with all respect. The Deputy Chair: And their estimates. 3:20 Dr.

Swann: I’m asking for clarification about the role of Executive Council with respect to the major budget item in this government. Do you, Mr. Premier, know what the plan is for health care? Did you, for example, make the decision to centralize health through one board and eliminate regional delivery systems? Mr. Stelmach: Those decisions were made back in the ’90s in terms of reducing the number of local hospital boards, health unit boards, et cetera. I think there were about 200 and some-odd individual boards across the province. They were collapsed into a number of regional health authorities.

We made the decision to collapse the health authorities plus the other boards – Cancer Board, AADAC; I’m missing one – into one Alberta Health Services Board. That recommendation was brought forward by the minister. It was a policy decision simply to save the overall taxpayer millions of dollars, roughly $600 million, in costs to the overall government, which streamlined process, removed the need for individual accounting and human relations departments throughout the government. The Deputy Chair: The time has elapsed for this round of speaking. The 20 minutes have elapsed. Now I’ll call the next speaker, please.

Dr. Swann: Is it not true that I have the first hour? The Deputy Chair: No, you do not. This is estimates. This is not policy field committee. You have the first hour in policy field committee. This is Committee of Supply. You have 10 minutes each, and you can combine the two for 20. I’ll call the hon. Member for Airdrie-Chestermere. Mr. Anderson: Thank you, Mr. Chair.

March 9, 2010 Alberta Hansard 371 The Deputy Chair: Are you going to combine your questions and answers for the two 10s if that’s all right with the Premier? Mr. Anderson: Okay. I will confine this completely to the estimates. I want to talk specifically about some of the specific salaries and specific roles in this specific Executive Council budget, okay? I’m not going to go off somewhere else. I just want to make that clear up front. I need to understand the role of the chief of staff, and I need to better understand the role of the deputy chief of staff, so that means asking some very specific questions.

First off, I guess the thing that strikes me the most when you look at these numbers is that for a government that claims to be fiscally responsible, claims to be fiscally conservative, I just cannot understand how that jives with some of the salaries that are being paid to Executive C ouncil members. For example, the Deputy Minister of Executive Council: just before you came into office, Mr. Premier, the salary that was paid here in Alberta for that position was $283,000. Today it’s $530,000. It’s just short of being double. Comparatively, the clerk of the Privy Council for our nation makes $427,000.

I don’t see how on earth that number is justifiable. It’s no offence to the people making the salary. It’s just: how on earth is that justifiable if we’re trying to be fiscally conservative here? I’m not saying that they’re not doing a good job, bad job, or medium job. Secondly, if you go to the chief of staff, $232,000 in 2004; six years later it’s almost $400,000, a massive increase. If you look at the southern Alberta office director, in 2004 again we go to $118,000; now it’s more than double that at $252,000. And this is an amazing one. The director of communications used to make $66,000.

We’ve all heard of the complaints about communications in this government. It’s all communications’ fault. This year it’s $216,000. That’s almost four times the amount – four times. It’s just amazing to me that we could even make an attempt to justify that number. I guess the first line of questioning is: how are these salaries justified, especially given the economic climate that we’re in today? Mr. Stelmach: The question is raised with respect to pay and bonus to Executive Council.

For a matter of record with the two positions, Deputy Minister of Executive Council and the chief of staff, in terms of showing leadership, well before other provinces picked up on the idea – and, indeed, the federal government in the latest budget said: well, we’re just going to freeze all of MPs’ and ministers’ salaries this particular coming budget year. The government made that decision two years ago. MLAs’ and ministerial salaries have been frozen.

In terms of the Deputy Minister of Executive Council the year before last we said that the bonuses will be eliminated, so for this year the deputy of Executive Council sees the elimination of compensation of $80,000 – that was the amount of the bonus – plus a 10 per cent salary reduction. The deputy of Executive Council will see his compensation reduced by $112,000. The chief of staff, a 10 per cent reduction, which is $25, 000, plus the elimination of the bonus, which is around $76,000: that’s a reduction of $101,000. So the total for the chief of staff and Deputy Minister of Executive Council is $213,000.

All management salaries in government have been frozen. All bonuses are cancelled. That, in itself, is a reduction of approxi- mately $1.4 million in compensation cuts. Previous to that as well the Premier announced a reduction of $12,000 some-odd dollars a year in salary reduction, and cabinet ministers took a salary reduc- tion of about, I believe, $6,600 a year. The government has shown great leadership, and in fact, from what I gather, some of the other jurisdictions are following the leadership of the province. Now, some history in terms of how the compensation was decided.

This was decided a number of years ago when our deputy ministers were quite low compared to other jurisdictions in terms of their total compensation. The minister responsible for human resources – and this was a number of years ago – and our previous Premier put together a corporate human resources committee that was chaired by Eric Newell, Charlie Fischer, Gail Surkan, Gerry Protti, and the Deputy Minister of Executive Council. It came forward to cabinet at the time in terms of the salary range and also all of the other items that will be the total compensation package for the deputy ministers.

There is a comparison to other jurisdictions. I don’t have it here, but we’re in the range of what some of the provinces pay. Obvi- ously, some provinces are smaller, and other provinces have different rates of compensation which are, of course, much more than what we have. We’re kind of in the median in that particular range for deputy ministers.

Now, when the member talked about the deputy minister, this position and the numbers he’s referring to was occupied by two individuals during that year, and there was an additional cash benefit, which was the vacation payout of $54,204, which is according to the contract. As I said, two individuals, April 1 to September 28, ’08, and the sec ond from the 29th of September to March 31 of ’09. 3:30 The Deputy Chair: The hon. member. Mr. Anderson: Yes. Thank you for those explanations, Premier.

On the question of the salaries I think everyone in Alberta expects, and rightfully so, that as the Premier you’re the boss, you’re the leader, you’re the head of the Executive Council. I think that for a lot of people it’s a contradiction and a little unsettling that your chief of staff as well as the Deputy Minister of Executive Council are making so much more than yourself. That doesn’t seem to jibe. I mean, I think a lot of us here have been in different businesses. The guy who’s making the decisions at the end of the day should be the guy who’s the highest paid, and that’s not the case in our govern- ment.

I wonder if the Premier would address that. I’m not asking that he, and I don’t think he would, raise his salary to above what they’re making, but at the very least create a hierar- chy, that I think the people of Alberta would understand, where the Premier is the leader, is making the decisions. He’s the one that’s been democratically elected, and therefore he should be making the highest salary and not two or three or four or five bureaucrats. Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Chairman, that is the same right across the country of Canada. I know that the Prime Minister isn’t paid more than his deputies.

In fact, he might even be paid less than the assistant deputy ministers and other senior officials in government. I don’t know what the remuneration was for some of our municipal leaders across Alberta, but I do know that most of the CEOs and CAOs that operate municipalities were paid much more than the highest ranking elected official, which was the mayor. Mr. Anderson: Well, would it not be a good example, then, to the rest to rein back? I mean, we spend more in our bureaucracy than any other province per capita in the country.

Wouldn’t it be a good way to show leadership at this point and lower those higher paid staff, you know, the bureaucratic, nonelected, executive-paid

Alberta Hansard March 9, 2010372 members, maybe rein those salaries back a little bit to something that makes a little bit more sense to the average Albertan? I mean, we’re all in public service. You know, you’ve set an example. I person- ally don’t believe that the Premier’s salary is overly ex orbitant for the amount of work that you do, but shouldn’t, then, the people that report to you be making less or, at least, on par but certainly less than yourself?

If that was the type of leadership we had across the board, I think that we might foster more of a culture of public service rather than a culture of entitlement, which I kind of see existing right now. Is that something that you’d be willing to look at? Mr. Stelmach: I’m not going to ask people that are under contract in this province across all of government to take what would be significant reductions in management positions, in senior positions in government, and get paid less than what the Premier gets paid or the ministers.

In fact, I don’t know what issues there would be to the current contracts we would have in place. But, you know, that’s a matter that we can debate. I have great confidence and pride in our civil service in this province as a minister over the last number of years, no matter what ministry I served in. I started in agriculture, and I remember attending my first ministerial FPT, federal-provincial, meeting. When it came to policy, all other provinces seemed to look to Alberta to take a leadership role, whether it be on crop insurance, farm programs, food safety.

In Transportation we were the first province – and, again, leadership and buy-in through our civil service – to reduce I believe from 2,100 or 2,200 individuals down to about 700. We outsourced project management. We outsourced engineering. We outsourced maintenance. That was a significant change in the way transporta- tion services were delivered. There was a lot of pride in the Transportation department, and that pride was invested by Albertans. We’ve made the changes, and in order to attract good quality people, we’ve got to be in the median at least.

I’ve always said that we may not be paying the highest as compared to other jurisdictions, but on the other hand we do have the lowest personal income taxes. That, to me, is an added benefit because no matter how much a person earns, they pay a flat 10 per cent. I believe we still continue to have one of the largest personal income tax exemptions compared to other provinces. That, again, is another benefit, but that benefit is for all Albertans. Mr. Anderson: I didn’t really want to discuss the competitiveness of our province right now, and I won’t.

I would love to have that discussion, but I’m going to try to remain with the estimates here. We spent an awful lot of money and we’re planning to spend $7 million more, I believe, on the rebranding initiative. Personally, and no offence to the people that worked on it, I think the new brand is terrible. I think that it doesn’t reflect what this province stands for. As a people, thanks to the leadership of the previous Premier, I would say, too, we had come up with a slogan: the Alberta advan- tage. That’s something that really defined us as a province

Document details

Collection	Alberta — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20100309
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	L27 S3 20100309 1330 01 han.pdf
Language	en
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