Alberta Hansard — 21 March 2013, Afternoon sitting (13:30) (Legislature 28, Session 1)

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Alberta — Debates (Hansard)

Province of Alberta The 28th Legislature First Session Alberta Hansard Thursday, March 21, 2013 Issue 40 The Honourable Gene Zwozdesky, Speaker

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

W) Barnes, Drew, Cypress-Medicine Hat (

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

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

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

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

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

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

Heather, Edmonton-Glenora (PC) Kubinec, Maureen, Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock (PC) Lemke, Ken, Stony Plain (PC) Leskiw, Genia, Bonnyville-Cold Lake (PC) Luan, Jason, Calgary-Hawkwood (PC) Lukaszuk, Hon. Thomas A., Edmonton-Castle Downs (PC) Mason, Brian, Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood (ND), Leader of the New Democrat Opposition McAllister, Bruce, Chestermere-Rocky View (W), Official Opposition Deputy Whip McDonald, Everett, Grande Prairie-Smoky (PC) McIver, Hon. Ric, Calgary-Hays (PC), Deputy Government House Leader McQueen, Hon.

Diana, Drayton Valley-Devon (PC) Notley, Rachel, Edmonton-Strathcona (ND), New Democrat Opposition House Leader Oberle, Hon. Frank, Peace River (PC) Olesen, Cathy, Sherwood Park (PC) Olson, Hon. Verlyn, QC, Wetaskiwin-Camrose (PC) Pastoor, Bridget Brennan, Lethbridge-East (PC) Pedersen, Blake, Medicine Hat (

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

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

W) Strankman, Rick, Drumheller-Stettler (

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

W) Woo-Paw, Hon. Teresa, Calgary-Northern Hills (PC) Xiao, David H., Edmonton-McClung (PC) Young, Steve, Edmonton-Riverview (PC), Government Whip Party standings: Progressive Conservative: 61 Wildrose: 17 Alberta Liberal: 5 New Democrat: 4 Officers and Officials of the Legislative Assembly W.J. David McNeil, Clerk Robert H.

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

Executive Council Alison Redford Premier, Pres ident of Executive Council Thomas Lukaszuk Deputy Premier, Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education, Ministerial Liaison to the Canadian Forces Manmeet Singh Bhullar Minist er of Service Alberta Robin Campbell Minister of Aboriginal Relations Cal Dallas Minister of Internationa l and Intergovernmental Relations Jonathan Denis Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Wayne Drysdale Minister of Infrastructure Kyle Fawcett Associate Minister of Finance Doug Griffiths Minister of Municipal Affairs Dave Hancock Minister of Human Services Fred Horne Minister of Health Doug Horner President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance Ken Hughes Minister of Energy Jeff Johnson Minister of Education Heather Klimchuk Minister of Culture Ric McIver Minister of Transportation Diana McQueen Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Frank Oberle Associate Minister of Services for Persons with Disabilities Verlyn Olson Minister of Agri culture and Rural Development Dave Rodney Associate Minister of Wellness Donald Scott Associate Minister of Account ability, Transparency and Transformation Richard Starke Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation George VanderBurg Associate Minister of Seniors Greg Weadick Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs Teresa Woo-Paw Associate Minister of Inte rnational and Intergovernmental Relations

STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future Chair: Mr. Amery Deputy Chair: Mr. Fox Bhardwaj Cao Donovan Dorward Eggen Hehr Luan McDonald Olesen Pastoor Quadri Rogers Rowe Sarich Strankman Xiao Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund Chair: Mr. Khan Deputy Chair: Mrs. Jablonski Anderson Casey Dorward Eggen Kubinec Sandhu Sherman Select Special Conflicts of Interest Act Review Committee Chair: Mr. Allen Deputy Chair: Mr. Luan Blakeman Dorward Fenske Johnson, L.

McDonald Notley Saskiw Wilson Young Standing Committee on Families and Communities Chair: Mr. Quest Deputy Chair: Mrs. Forsyth Brown Cusanelli DeLong Fraser Fritz Goudreau Jablonski Jansen Jeneroux Leskiw Notley Pedersen Swann Towle Wilson Young Standing Committee on Legislative Offices Chair: Mr. Cao Deputy Chair: Mr. McDonald Bikman Blakeman Brown DeLong Eggen Leskiw Quadri Rogers Wilson Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services Chair: Mr. Zwozdesky Deputy Chair: Mr. Rogers Casey Forsyth Fraser Kennedy- Glans Mason McDonald Quest Sherman Smith Standing Committee on Private Bills Chair: Mr.

Xiao Deputy Chair: Ms L. Johnson Barnes Bhardwaj Brown Cusanelli DeLong Fox Fritz Goudreau Jablonski Leskiw Notley Olesen Rowe Strankman Swann Webber Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing Chair: Ms Olesen Deputy Chair: Mr. Lemke Calahasen Cao Casey Hehr Jansen Kennedy-Glans Kubinec Luan McAllister Notley Pedersen Rogers Sandhu Saskiw Towle Young Standing Committee on Public Accounts Chair: Mr. Anderson Deputy Chair: Mr.

Dorward Allen Amery Anglin Bilous Donovan Fenske Goudreau Hale Hehr Jeneroux Khan Pastoor Quadri Quest Sarich Stier Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship Chair: Ms Kennedy-Glans Deputy Chair: Mr. Anglin Allen Barnes Bikman Bilous Blakeman Calahasen Casey Fenske Hale Johnson, L. Khan Kubinec Lemke Sandhu Stier Webber

March 21, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1677 Legislative Assembly of Alberta Title: Thursday, March 21, 2013 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 21, 2013 [The Deputy Speaker in the chair] head: Prayers The Deputy Speaker: Let us pray. As we conclude this week’s work in this Assembly, we renew our energies with thanks so that we may continue the work with the people in the constituencies we represent. Amen. Please be seated. head: Introduction of Visitors The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Foothills. Mr. Webber: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is my great pleasure to introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly two guests sitting in the Speaker’s gallery this afternoon. My first guest really needs no introduction to anybody in this building, a nd that is Mr. Peter Elzinga. Peter spent many years as the MLA for Sherwood Park and served under numerous portfolios as a provincial cabinet minister and as Deputy Premier. He later served as chief of staff to the hon. Premier Ralph Klein. Prior to his l ong, distinguished career here at the Alberta Legis - lature Peter served for 12 years as the Member of Parliament for Pembina.

In addition to his many political, business, and community achievements, Peter willingly and without hesitation chose to help his friend and brother Tom Shields by donating a healthy kidney to him in 2004. Tom enjoyed life to its fullest despite various health concerns, and he was daily grateful to his friend Peter Elzinga for the gift of a kidney, that extended his life for several years. Peter is here today to support my private member’s bill, the Human Tissue and Organ Donation Amendment Act, 2013, which is up for introduction later today, Mr. Speaker.

I ask that Peter please stand – I think he’s standing; I can’t see him – and receive the warm welcome of the Assembly. [Standing ovation] Mr. Speaker, accompanying Mr. Elzinga is Ms Karen Korchinski. Karen is a friend of mine and a friend of many and is faced with the possibility of someday needing a liver transplant. It is through her experience that I learned about the challenges facing our organ donor system. I thank her for enlightening me and inspiring me to do what I can to improve Alberta’s organ donation system.

She is here today to support Bill 207, and I ask her to please s tand and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. head: Introduction of Guests The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister of Education. Mr. J. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to rise and introduce to you and through you to the members of this Assem - bly 24 students and four adults accompanying them from the Guthrie school in Lancaster Park. These students attend the school at Edmonton Garrison, and most have parents who serve in Canada’s military.

I’ve had the pleasure of visiting the schoo l on many occasions, most recently in February with their Reading Rampage. I read to grade 2 and grade 6, and this grade 6 class is here today. It was a lot of fun. I hope to see them again soon. They are accompanied by their teachers Mrs. Colleen Tremblay and Ms Carol Moores and by parent helpers Cheryl Hamel and Melissa Colson. They tell me they love the Premier, and when I asked them, “Why do you like the Premier so much?” they said: “What’s not to like? She’s the Premier.” I agree.

They also said that t hey love it when we pound on the desks, so let’s give them a warm welcome to the Assembly. The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-McClung. Mr. Xiao: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is a great pleasure for me to rise to introduce 46 bright students, the future of our province. They are accompanied by their teacher, Keri Clifford, by assistant Catherine Manigo, and by parents Rachel Ross and Bradley Dundas. Before we started the session today, I had a brief conver - sation with them. They asked big questions.

They asked about the budget, you know, about the Education budget, and also about negotiations with the doctors. Now I ask them to rise to receive the traditional warm welcome of this House. The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-South East. Mr. Fraser: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s an honour to rise today and introduce to you and through you some special people in this province that actually define this province.

The work that they do through medical innovation and trying to increase the quality of care for Albertans through medically based evidence is what makes Alberta and what makes Alberta proud, and I’m certainly proud of the work they do. First, I’d like to introduce Ian McEwan. He is a friend and a paramedic that’s been on calls with me in the city of Calgary. He’s also an accomplished flight paramedic with Alberta Health Ser - vices, and now he is again leading in his profession through some of this work that he’s doing.

Second, I’d like to introduce Nancy Clayden, who is a researcher and paramedic, and Greg Hallihan, also a research associate. They are from the Ward of the 21st Century at the University of Calgary, and again they are leading the way with medical innovation to improve the quality of care that we give our patients. Y ou can read more about this research. They made the front page of the Edmonton Journal. Thank you for joining me in this House today, and if the House could give them a warm welcome, I’d appreciate it. The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Varsity. Ms Kennedy-Glans: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you and through you to members of this House the Girl Guides of Canada Alberta Council, here to partici - pate in the 42nd session of the Alberta Girls’ Parliament right here in Edmonton. This unique program is modelled on the Alberta Legislature, with decorum, of course, and the delegates come from all over Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia. There are eight staff members here accompanying the girls : Shannen Hoff - man, Laurie Robertson, Veronica Hoffman, Shannon Robertson, Heather Robertson, Claire Dubreuil, Emilie Brien, and Anja Clyke.

I’m looking forward to having dinner with these girls and learning much from them. I’d ask you to please stand and receive our welcome. The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills. Mr. Saskiw: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure to introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly two very amazing women. Glori Meldrum and Randi Tyler rep -

1678 Alberta Hansard March 21, 2013 resent the Little Warriors, a charity organization committed to awareness, prevention, and treatment of child sexual abuse. The work that Little Warriors carries out is something every Albertan supports. Today the Wildrose Caucus Foundatio n showed its sup- port for Glori and Randi’s work by donating the 8 per cent MLA pay raise to Little Warriors. I personally offer my thanks and gratitude for their dedication to help find healing for the most vulnerable members of our society, child victims of sexual abuse.

I ask Glori and Randi to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister of Human Services. Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure today to introduce to you and through y ou to members of the Assembly a good friend and constituent from Edmonton-Whitemud , Barb Esdale. Barb is the co -chair of Alberta Donates Life Coalition.

Alberta Donates Life Coalition is a group of several health organ - izations and individual advocates from around the province who have come together to encourage the government of Alberta to co - ordinate organ donation, create an organ donor public awareness campaign, and create an intent -to-donate registry for the citizens of Alberta. Barb’s husband, David, who leads the music mission at Riverbend United church, was fortunate to receive the gift of a double-lung transplant from a generous donor family.

Barb is here today in support of and to observe the introduction of private member’s Bill 207 later this afternoon. Barb is seated in the mem- bers’ gallery. I might also add, though, that she served the public of Alberta for many years in the Department of Education in, I think, the curriculum branch if I’m not incorrect. If Barb would rise and get the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. 1:40 The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Associate Minister of Services for Persons with Disabilities. Mr. Oberle: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

What an honour it is for me to rise today and introduce a great Albertan and a friend, Mr. Charles Rees, who is seated in the gallery. In addition to a varied business career in the Edmonton region, Mr. Rees is a really im - portant figure in the arts and culture scene in Edmonton.

He’s personally purchased and renovated two homes that are designated as provincial historic sites, he’s an associate member of Alberta Music, he’s a strong supporter of Festival Place, he’s produced and promoted music concerts in Alberta, he’s supported Broadway Across Canada for seven years, and he’s a big supporte r of the visual arts. He’s also a member of the Canadian Diabetes golf committee and yearly organizes a successful tournament. In what little spare time he has left, he also takes an interest in organ transplant awareness and is here today to witness the f irst reading of Bill 207. I submit that Mr.

Rees is working hard to enrich our community and to make Alberta a better place. Please give him the warm welcome of the Assembly. The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister of Culture for two introductions. Mrs. Klimchuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure today to introduce to you and through you Tammy Fifield. Tammy is a kidney transplant recipient and is here to represent the Kidney Foundation of Canada, northern Alberta chapter. I’d ask Tammy to rise and receive the warm welcome of the Assembly.

I did have another guest to introduce, Rachelle Sandy, repre - senting the Canadian Liver Foundation, the Edmonton chapter, but she was unable to make the trip due to the beautiful Alberta spring weather we’re having today. Both of these groups are part of the Alberta Donates Life Coalition and support private member’s Bill 207, which will be introduced later this afternoon by the hon. Member for Calgary-Foothills. The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister of Health. Mr. Horne: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

It’s my honour to rise today and introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly two transplant surgeons who are here to support the introduction of private member’s Bill 207, sponsored by the hon. Mem ber for Calgary -Foothills. Our guests are Dr. Atul Humar, director of the Alberta transplant institute, member of the Alberta Donates Life Coalition, and Dr. Lori West, pediatric trans- plant cardiologist at the Stollery children’s hospital, professor of pediatrics and director of research at the Alberta transplant institute, and also a member of the Alberta Donates Life Coalition.

I ask that both physicians rise and receive the traditional warm welcome and appreciation of the Assembly. The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister of Infrastructure. Mr. Drysdale: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my great pleasure to introduce to you and through you to all members of this Assembly two guests sitting in the members’ gallery this afternoon. The first is Mr. Al Arntson, a 35-year resident of Leduc, Alberta, and a double-lung transplant recipient. This past summer in Calgary Mr.

Arntson competed in the Canadian transplant summer games in cycling and is now a motivational speaker speaking on the impor - tance of organ donation awareness. He drove in today from Leduc to support Bill 207. Also, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Dave Smith, from Edmonton. Dave is the past president of the Canadian Transplant Association and is the current executive director of the Alberta transplant association. He is a living kidney transplant recipient of 16 years. He also competed in the Canadian Transplant Games and is also here today to support Bill 207.

I ask these gentlemen to please stand and receive the warm welcome of this Assembly. The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Riverview. Mr. Young: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is a pleasure to rise today and introduce to you and through you to all the members of the Assembly Sharon Marcus, the co-chair of Alberta Donates Life Coalition and mother of a kidney transplant recipient. I also have Silvio Dobri. Silvio is a heart transplant recipient and one of the founders of the GoodHearts mentoring foundation. You can read more about them at goodhearts.ca.

This organization is a support for all organ recipie nts. As mentioned by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Whitemud, Alberta Donates Life Coalition is a group of several health organizations and individual advocates from around the province who have come together to encourage the government of Alberta to co-ordi nate organ donation, create an organ donor public awareness campaign, and create an intent - to-donate registry for citizens of Alberta. The Alberta Donates Life Coalition supports the MLA for Calgary-Foothills’ private member’s Bill 207.

I personally would like to encourage all Albertans to sit down with their family mem - bers and have that conversation about giving the gift of life. Sharon and Silvio are seated in the members’ gallery, and I ask that they rise and that we give them the traditional warm welc ome of the Assembly. The Deputy Speaker: Edmonton-South West.

March 21, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1679 Mr. Jeneroux: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two introductions today. I’m pleased to introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly Mr. Tony White, a liver transplant recipient since the spring of 2009. Tony is a passionate organ donor advocate and is a member of the Alberta Donates Life Coalition. He is here in support of Bill 207, which will be intro - duced by my friend the Member for Calgary-Foothills. I’d ask that Tony, seated in the members’ gallery today, please rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly.

It’s also a real honour today to introduce a woman who’s had a big impact on me. I recently made a member’s statement this past session on Little Warriors, and I’d just like to take the opportunity to introduce Mrs. Glori Meldrum and her friend Randi here today. The Deputy Speaker: The Member for Strathcona-Sherwood Park. Mr. Quest: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you and through you to all members of this Assembly my constituent Dwight Kroening, who’s been liv - ing in Strathcona county for the last 17 years.

Dwight will be 27 years post heart transplant this August and has been the subject of numerous research projects at the University of Alberta hospital. As a result of that research al ong with his many athletic endeavours he’s become well known not just within the transplant community but also amongst the media and the general public. Dwight is a member of the Canadian Transplant Association and GoodHearts.

In 2008 Dwight became the fir st and only heart transplant to date to complete an Ironman triathlon, and on April 15 of this year he will be the first heart transplant to run the Boston Marathon, all in an effort to raise organ donor awareness. Dwight is seated in the members’ gallery with other supporters of Bill 207, which is being introduced today by the hon. Member for Calgary-Foothills, and I ask that he now rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this House. The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Lacombe-Ponoka. Mr. Fox: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is my pleasure to rise and introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly two front -line pharmacists from my constituency of Lacombe- Ponoka. Max Beairsto is a pharmacist at the Blackfalds IDA. Jennifer Fookes is a pharmacist and owner of the Blackfalds IDA. Max and Jennifer are strong advocates of their community and anticipate finally being consulted on the pharmacy issues here in Alberta. I ask Max and Jennifer to please rise and receive the tra- ditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Deputy Speaker: The Member for Edmonton-Highlands - Norwood. Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr.

Speaker. Today I have the pleasure of introducing to you and through you to this Assembly a friend of mine and an important figure in the Edmon- ton media landscape. Arnim Joop is the founder and editor of two major news publicatio ns, the Albertaner and the Mill Woods Mosaic. Through these two newspapers Arnim has been instru- mental in giving voice to multicultural communities in Edmonton and has been a strong champion of multiculturalism and social justice.

His work as a journalist has garnered him numerous awards, including the Canadian ethnic journalists’ and writers’ award, the Alberta centennial medal, and the Queen’s golden jubilee medal. I would now ask Arnim to please stand and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. I have a second one, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to rise today to introduce to you and through you a constituent of mine, Kathryn Westlund. For over four years Kathryn has been facing numerous obstacles with her workers’ compensation claim and the subsequent appeals process.

Kathryn is frustrated by the current legislation that, in her view, allows the WCB to question phy - sicians’ reports and discourages physicians from engaging with the WCB on behalf of the patient. Kathryn is facing foreclosure on her home due to lengthy delays and practices of the Workers’ Compensation Board. I would like Kathryn to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. 1:50 The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona. Ms Notley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

On this day, when people world-wide acknowledge that March 21 is the UN -designated International Day for the Elimination of Racism, it is my pleasure to rise to introduce to you and through you my guest, who is himself international. Reed Bennett is visiting us from the United States, where he is a political science student at Clemson Univer - sity in Clemson, South Carolina. He is part of Killam, an under - graduate exchange program between Canada and the U.S. He is exchanging with a student from the University of Alberta.

I would now like to ask Reed to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. The Deputy Speaker: Are there others? The hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar. Mr. Dorward: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to introduce to you and through you to the Assembly Mr. Jean Johnson, newly appointed executive director of the city of Edmonton French Quarter revitalization zone, located in the constituencies of Edmonton-Gold Bar and Edmonton-Strathcona. Please, Mr. Johnson, stand and receive the welcome of the House. head: Oral Question Period The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Leader of the Official Opposition.

Little Warriors Program Funding Ms Smith: Mr. Speaker, the government’s priorities are all wrong. They’re racking up $17 billion in debt, they’re running a cash deficit as well, yet they refuse to make meaningful cuts to the number of managers or to trim bloated expenses. They focus their cutting on the front lines and on our most vulnerable citizens. They don’t seem to have any trouble making life easier for criminals but are reluctant to help victims. The work done by Little Warriors helping child victims of sexual abuse is critical. Doesn’t the Premier agree? Ms Redford: Well, Mr.

Speaker, it’s fundamental to the work that we have to do as a community and government. Ensuring that we’re supporting victims of child sexual assault has been a commitment that we’ve certainly kept in this government. We have partnerships with community agencies like the Zebra foun - dation here in Edmonton, the Child Advocacy Centre in Calgary, working with many of the sexual assault centres across this province. In fact, we have funded in the last year $18 million with respect to these programs. We think these are important programs.

We want to make sure that we get good results for people that have been victims, and we’re always prepared to do that work. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you.

1680 Alberta Hansard March 21, 2013 Ms Smith: We appreciate that work, Mr. Speaker, but there is money available to help the Little Warriors establish its Be Brave Ranch. They’re only seeking $650,000. The money is available in the victims of crime fund, which, we understand, has $50 million worth of net assets. What better use could there be for the money in that fund than helping to heal and nurture victims of child sexual abuse? Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, I couldn’t agree more that the victims of crime fund money should be used to help victims of crime.

There’s no worse situation than a child who’s been sexually exploited. In this particular case, I met with Little Warriors on October 18, 2012, to talk about the Be Brave Ranch program and asked specif - ically for a business case and for a treatment plan so that we could know that any investment in tha t project would yield results. I’m awaiting that information, and when that comes, I’m more than happy to deal with that particular issue. It’s more than $650,000 as a capital grant. It’s operating money as well. That’s Albertans’ money, that they want to be used well, and we . . .

The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. The hon. leader. Ms Smith: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’re not asking for new spending, just spending on the right kinds of things. Why is the money just sitting there in that fund? Why not make a commitment today to support a charitable group, Little Warriors, that helps the victims of child sexual abuse? Just make the commitment today. Mr. Hancock: Well, Mr. Speaker, I would think that this hon. member more than anyone, given what t hey’ve espoused over the years about the effective use of public funds, would know that you have to have a process for any project.

There’s no shortage of really wonderful projects that are brought in the door. Our job is to make very difficult decisions. We ask for data, we ask for infor - mation to make sure that the investment is going to achieve a result for Albertans. That’s what we’ve asked for. That’s what we’re waiting for. When that comes, we’ll be more than happy to take a look at that particular pr oject to say: is this the best use of funds to achieve the outcomes for Albertans? The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. Hon. leader, your second set of questions.

Ms Smith: I’m glad the representative of Little Warriors is here to hear that answer, and we’ll be following up. Compensation for Pharmacy Services Ms Smith: We’ve been warning the government about the prob- lems they’re causing with pharmacies. It’s another example of cutting spending in the wrong place, and it’s another blow to front-line services. Repeated cuts to compensation levels for phar - macies is putting the entire industry at risk. The level of concern is evidenced by the protest that we witnessed earlier today in the Legislature.

Doesn’t the Premier realize that putting phar macies out of business is not the way to save money in health care in Alberta? Ms Redford: Well, Mr. Speaker, if that was actually going to happen, then we wouldn’t have made the decisions that we did. We believe pharmacies are fundamental to primary health care in this province. In fact, that’s one of the reasons that in the past two years we’ve actually changed the fee structure for pharmacists, who have asked us for a wider scope of practice, that is paid for by Alberta taxpayers, in order to support people in communities.

In fact, I was just in Vermilion last week working with a pharmacist who was saying that he is very pleased with the decisions that have been made. Of course, as we transition through this, we’ve made some commitments that we’re prepared to keep to support rural . . . The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. Premier. Ms Smith: Mr. Speaker, the Health minister made a mistake. The surprise changes that were announced in the budget without consultation will have a drastic effect on compensation for phar - macies.

Inventory costs can’t be recovered, revenue streams are being restricted, and additional services are not being priced fairly. The Health minister doesn’t get that. Will the Premier step in to clean up the Health minister’s most recent mess? Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, no one should ever suggest that our Minister of Health doesn’t understand exactly what needs to be done. In fact, I am truly proud of the work that our Minister of Health has done in the last two weeks and well before that in working with pharmacists to ensure that this transition goes smoothly.

In fact, pharmacists have said that they’re pleased with these changes. There is always work to be done. We will always make commitments to improve the system. Our Minister of Health has said that, and I have a lot of confidence in him. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. Premier. Ms Smith: Mr. Speaker, I don’t think 300 pharmacists are rally - ing because they support the government’s changes. The entire Health portfolio is a mess. Doctors, nurses, and now pharmacists are threatened, seniors and long -term care are ig - nored, but managers, VPs, and executives of AHS are looked after handsomely.

Their expenses are obscene. The executive is well taken care of. When is this Premier going to start taking care of the front lines? Ms Redford: Well, Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member actually paid attention to the communications that we have with Alberta Health Services, she would know that one of the things we have said very clearly to Alberta Health Services is that while they are getting a 3.5 per cent increase and while we’re holding the line at zero spending, which is 4.5 per cent less than this opposition would have done, they are not to impact front-line workers.

They will not impact front -line workers because at the end of the day that’s fundamental to the access to health care that Albertans need. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. Premier. The hon. Member for Chestermere-Rocky View. Labour Negotiations with Teachers Mr. McAllister: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Parents and teachers breathed a sigh of relief last week when it was discuss ed that the ATA and the province had reached a labour deal. True to form, the government nearly threw out its shoulder patting itself on the back. Well, that was then and this is now, as the Premier likes to say.

The deal appears to be falling apart. Schoo l boards are saying that the government is not putting boards first. To the Premier: did you really expect a ringing endorsement from boards when you didn’t involve them in the process?

March 21, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1681 Ms Redford: Well, Mr. Speaker, in fact, it was really wonderful last week on Friday to be able to make the announcement standing next to the president of the ATA and to actually have the Education critic for the opposition at the meeting saying very constructive things with respect to the deal. I don’t think it was just us p atting ourselves on the back. It was many people. The reason is that this is a good deal for kids. We have school boards, 15 across this province, that have already said that they like this deal.

It allows us to hold spending in line, to respect teachers, and to take care of families and kids. That’s what we promised Albertans. 2:00 Mr. McAllister: Mr. Speaker, given that we should all be putting our kids first in line here and given that the boards who are elected to represent these kids are concerned and are telling us that this deal does not put children first, again to the Premier: are you listening to the concerns of the boards, or will you impose your government-knows-best imposition on them, too? Mr. J. Johnson: Mr. Speaker, we’re absolutely listening to the boards.

That’s why our field people are out talking to the boards, and that’s why I’m very happy to report that I think by the end of the day we’re going to have in the neighbourhood of 20 boards supporting this deal and only one or two against it. This deal is good for kids. The last five years in this province have been fantastic in the c lassroom because we’ve had labour peace. We’re going to have labour peace for the next four or five years again. Mr. McAllister: Again to the Premier, Mr.

Speaker: given that you can’t swoop in with $107 million this time and given that you used local autonomy as a crutch to do nothing about that silly no- zero policy, why is it that this time you seem to have no problem disregarding the autonomy of locally elected officials? Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, what we’re actually seeing from locally elected officials is a lot of consideration about a deal that makes sense for kids and families.

That’s one of the reasons that we have school boa rds across this province, including the Edmonton Catholic board, the Calgary Catholic board, Medicine Hat, and I believe Grasslands, saying that this is a good deal for parents, for kids, for teachers, and for their taxpayers. The Deputy Speaker: The hon. leader of the Liberal opposition. Dr. Sherman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Another day, another major bungle from this government through its intellectually and morally bankrupt budget.

It’s great that the government has got labour peace with the teachers – that’s a good thing – but it seems that this government forgot that any teachers’ deal would need to be approved by all school boards in the province. Two of the biggest, Edmonton and Calgary, are saying that it’s a deal they can’t afford through the government’s severe underfunding of the K to 12 system. To the Premier: since you knew you would be offering this deal to the teachers, why did you not properly fund the school boards so they could pay for it? Ms Redford: Mr.

Speaker, you know, the wonderful thing about bringing people together in common cause is that it gives you the opportunity to exchange ideas. One of the things that’s been tremendously important in this negotiation and in this deal is that we’ve been able to ensure that we can keep our commit ment to Albertans to keep spending at zero but at the same time support the teachers, who are so valuable in our classrooms. In fact, there were increases to the Education budget this year.

We made commitments with respect to classroom size, and we made commitments with respect to inclusion that actually increased spending with respect to those. That’s what matters to Alberta families. Dr. Sherman: Mr. Speaker, this Premier is great at cutting deals, but I’ll tell you that 25 per cent of our kids aren’t finishing school.

Given that our schools are already short 650 teachers compared to three years ago despite the fact that enrolments are up 5 per cent over the same period and are projected to increase every year for the next 10 years and that the cancellati on of the AISI program means the loss of 400 more teachers, to the Premier: if you end up imposing this deal, how many more teachers do you estimate school boards will need to lay off so they can meet payroll? Mr. J. Johnson: Mr. Speaker, one of the great things this deal does is that it keeps teachers in the classroom.

One of the things we’ve focused on with the budget is strategically looking at every area of the Ministry of Education that we could trim, that we could cut, that does not affect the classro om, where we could put the resources in the classroom. AISI was one of those programs. It’s a great program. I don’t know how you can argue that you can’t afford a deal with three zeros. The only concern I have if you say that you can’t afford a deal with three zeros is that you want to have discussions about rollbacks. We don’t want discussions about rollbacks.

We want teachers focused on teaching our kids and doing the things that they do best. Dr. Sherman: Mr. Speaker, I can’t believe that the Premier and the minister honestly believe that laying off more teachers is good for our kids.

Given that today there are two rallies in Edmonton alone to protest the devastating effects this bankrupt budget will have on K to 12 and postsecondary education, which m eans we now have students, parents, school boards, university faculty and staff giving your budget an F when it comes to education, to the Premier: what plan do you have to deal with the chaos your budget is creating at every level of education from K to P hD? Your budget is a failure, Premier. What are you going to do about it? Ms Redford: You know, Mr.

Speaker, two weeks ago we very clearly set out a budget that ensured we could provide services to Alberta families and build communities. We made a commitment to invest in infrastructure. We made a commitment to save. We just had the AAMD and C, the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties, here talking about building communities, and what we heard from them is that they understood we had some tough choices to make but that we made the right choices. We’re increasing funding to education, to health care.

We’re investing in communities, we’re investing in savings, and we’re doing it in a way that meets the priorities of Albertans. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. Premier. The hon. leader of the New Democratic opposition. Government Communications Mr. Mason: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. This govern- ment has taken the politicization of government communications to a new low. One political scientist warns that it really causes Albertans to question the value of everything the government is telling us.

Adding a partisan spin to government communications is something we’ve grown used to seeing from the Harper Conservatives, who are well known for their disdain for openness

1682 Alberta Hansard March 21, 2013 and democracy. My question is to the Premier. Why does she feel that it’s okay to use the resources of the government to distribute PC propaganda? Mr. Lukaszuk: Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that this member, the leader of the fourth party, has to read a newspaper that quotes a political scientist to tell him what Albertans really think. Well, I can tell him that Albertans want to hear what the facts are, and the reason why the Harper Conservatives and this government have to send clear information to Albertans is because Mr.

Mulcair and this leader of the NDP Party won’t do that. [interjections] Mr. Mason: Oh, goody for him. Well, I happen to have a government information bulletin about 511, which is travel information, road information, and it contains this statement: “Our government was elected to keep building Alberta, to live within its means and to fight to open new markets.” [interjections] Well might they thump, but why don’t they tell the real reason this government was elected? They scared people to death about the Wildrose. [interjections] The Deputy Speaker: Hon. members, please. Hon.

Member for Airdrie, did you rise on a point of order? Mr. Anderson: I want her to answer the question, Mr. Speaker. The Deputy Speaker: Okay. So no point of order. The hon. Deputy Premier, please. Mr. Lukaszuk: May I answer this question by way of posing a question? Is it possible for me to give this member my 30 seconds so he can continue reading that press release? It is refreshing to hear him speak the truth. Mr. Mason: And, indeed, out of the mouths of babes: the Deputy Premier has put his finger on it. The government has transformed the Public Affairs Bureau into the Ministry of Truth.

Given that partisan politicking is not the responsible change that Alberta voted for and given the Premier has always claimed she wants government to be more open and transparent, can the Premier explain wheth er openness and transparency, in her mind, is forcing public servants to regurgitate meaningless PC pro - paganda? Mr. Lukaszuk: It is unfortunate that reading Orwell hasn’t changed that member’s mind and that he hasn’t changed his political views. Nonetheless, Mr. Speaker, it is imperative that the government of Alberta issues information that is factual to Albertans.

Unfortunately, when we have an Official Opposition that resorts to printing coupons and posters and we have leaders of the provincial oppositi on and federal opposition that insist on misspeaking on matters of truth, the only party that can possibly do it is the government of Alberta. We will continue telling Alber - tans the truth. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, Deputy Premier. Senior Public-sector Compensation Mrs. Forsyth: Mr. Speaker, this government continues to show how out of touch they are with the priorities of Albertans.

I’ve re - ceived a number of phone calls indicating that AHS is in the midst of pushing through executive bonuses now to beat the freeze that will come into effect April 1. When the government is asking phy- sicians to take a $275 million pay cut, this is troubling, to say the least. Can the Minister of Health confirm or deny that pay -at-risk bonuses will be proces sed before the end of the fiscal year, and will he take the necessary steps to ensure this does not happen? Mr. Horne: Well, Mr. Speaker, I don’t know what information the hon. member has or thinks she has, once again.

But what I can tell her is that the chair of the AHS board has been very clear about the intentions of that board with respect to both manage - ment salaries, including pay at risk, and expenses. The chair has outlined a clear plan to reduce both within the next budget cycle. I find no inconsistency between that position and the position of that chair and that board right now. 2:10 The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. The hon. member. Mrs. Forsyth: Thank you, Speaker. Minister, prove I’m wrong. Pick up the phone and call him.

Given that U of C officials have committed to a wage freeze but not until July 1, meaning plenty of time for raises and bonuse s be- fore then, will the advanced education minister commit there will be no special bonuses for university executives, boards, and commissions either today, tomorrow, or any point this fiscal year or the next fiscal year? Mr. Lukaszuk: Mr. Speaker, it is still acceptable that the Leader of the Official Opposition makes these very simple mistakes because she’s still a rookie, but for this member there’s no excuse.

She know that all 26 schools within Campus Alberta are governed by boards of governors who manage the salaries, not this government. However, some schools should be commended. For example, the University of Calgary has recently put out a directive on freezing wages for their management and executive staff, and I hope that other schools are watching it carefully and will follow the trend. Mrs.

Forsyth: With the freeze on senior government bureaucrats being lifted in June of 2012, will the Minister of Finance please tell Albertans whether all deputy ministers, chiefs of staff, senior officials, opted-out and excluded staff will receive any pay hikes or bonus packages in the next 10 days or the next fiscal year? Mr. Horner: Mr. Speaker, I think we were pretty clear back in the third-quarter update when we said that all management and opted - out salary grids will be frozen for the next three years. There will be no bonuses. The opposition knows this. This is not news.

I don’t know what else I would answer. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. The hon. Member for Fort McMurray -Wood Buffalo, follow ed by Lacombe-Ponoka. Transportation Strategic Services Budget Mr. Allen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last night the opposition proposed cutting the department that provides Alberta’s important transportation infrastructure. One of these proposals was to cut strategic services by $1.7 million. To the Minister of Trans - portation: will this cut-and -slash approach of the opposition influence the government’s commitments to keep transportation infrastructure safe for Albertans?

The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister of Transportation. Mr. McIver: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Strategic services provides information technology and database services. I was shocked,

March 21, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1683 frankly, that the opposition would propose to impair our ability to monitor and repair bridges and roads, threatening the safety of Albertans while they travel around Alberta. This clearly shows the Wildrose opposition’s lack of regard for the safety of Albertans, and frankly the member in the party that made the amendment should be embarrassed for the lack of concern for Albertans. The Deputy Speaker: The hon. member. [interjections] The hon. Member for Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo. Hon. members, please. The Member for Fort McMurray -Wood Buffalo has the floor.

Proceed, hon. member. Mr. Allen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the same minister: given that the opposition’s proposal would also have cut funding to traf - fic safety services by $1.4 million, can the minister please in form the House if the safety of motorists on our highways will become a lower priority? The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister of Transportation. Mr. McIver: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s unfortunate that the opposition is so ill informed about the important work that we do on behalf of Albertans and they continue to hack and slash.

Traffic safety services makes sure the vehicles on the roads are safe. They ensure compliance of dangerous goods and make sure that we look after drivers’ licences and other important functions. What’s clear to me and ought to be to all Albertans is that the opposition is prepared to sacrifice the safety of Albertans with an ideo - logically driven agenda rather than deal with what’s important. [interjections] The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. [interjections] Hon. Member for Airdrie, you rose on a point of or der at 2:15. Thank you. Hon. members, please.

I know it’s Thursday, and we’re all anxious to get home in the snow and the springtime weather. But, please, could we allow those asking the questions to be heard and, even more importantly, that we might hear the answers? Please. I’ll recognize the Member for Fort McMurray -Wood Buffalo for your final supplemental. Mr. Allen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Again to the Minister of Transportation: given that the opposition also wanted to cut the Alberta Transportation Safety Board by $121,000 and given that the Wildrose Party has been asking for due process for those caught violating the .05 legislation, is he still committed to that process? Mr. McIver: Mr. Speaker, the Wildrose has actually complained and been soft on our impaired driving legislation. They ask for due process, and then they try to cut the very budget that provides the due process that they claim is important.

Alberta’s Transporta- tion S afety Board not only does this, but they also provide that important channel of appeals for seniors and other medically at - risk Albertans that are in danger of losing their licence. They say they care, and then they go to cut off the appeal process. What else is the opposition not telling Albertans about what they do? They’re on both sides of . . . The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. Ms Notley: Point of order. The Deputy Speaker: Point of order, Edmonton-Strathcona, at 2:16. The hon. Member for Lacombe-Ponoka. Compensation for Pharmacy Services (continued) Mr.

Fox: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government’s meddling in the generic drugs market has threatened the viability of pharma- cies across Alberta. Unlike sectors that are simply facing a freez e, front-line local pharmacies are suffering drastic cuts. Last July this government hit rural pharmacies with harsh cuts, but this govern- ment’s fiscal mismanagement just keeps on going. Now front lines are being targeted again. To the Minister of Health: when will this government stop meddling in the industry, forcing local phar - macies out of business and leaving rural Alberta without care? Mr. Horne: Mr.

Speaker, this government has followed a path that we’ve seen across Canada in the last few years wher eby generic drug prices have been reduced. While this benefits very much the prices we pay as government for government -sponsored programs, it also benefits employers who provide jobs to Alber - tans along with benefit packages that they value very much. It also benefits Albertans who pay out of pocket. We are the only juris - diction in the country to provide over $90 million in transition funding to support pharmacists in the pursuit of the new model they designed to pay for their . . .

The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. The hon. member. Mr. Fox: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that it is estimated that the net loss is $100,000 per pharmacist and $400,000 per phar - macy, instead of pronouncing sentence on rural pharmacies, doesn’t the minister think this issue should have been dealt with head-on and in consultation with the front-line pharmacists? Mr. Horne: Mr. Speaker, the new pharmacy services framework and the transition funds that we have been providing have been the result of discussions with Alb erta pharmacists over the last three years.

The hon. member makes a dangerous generalization in the figures that he quoted. The impact of generic price reduction var - ies widely among pharmacists depending upon the size of the store they practise in and their affiliation and their involvement in other retail activities. What is important here is that we are sup - porting Alberta pharmacists in the transition to a new professional services model that recognizes them to provide the services they are trained to provide to Alberta. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. The hon. member. Mr. Fox: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

What is dangerous is losing our rural pharmacies. Given that this government has failed to address the outdated reimbursement mo del, will this government at least commit to meet with me and front -line pharmacists in Lacombe-Ponoka to work on a funding model that lets pharmacies operate as viable businesses and ensures my constituents and all Albertans still have access to the care they need? The Deputy Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Horne: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’m sure the hon. member is aware that we have a $15.6 million transition fund directly designed to support rural and independent pharmacies across the province. In addition to that, we have an implementation advisory com - mittee, which is meeting this week, consulting with pharmacists about transitional issues as the generic drug prices continue to

1684 Alberta Hansard March 21, 2013 lower in Alberta and across the country. Mr. Speaker, Alberta pharmacists are directly involved in analyzing the impact of this decision and in developing the solutions to address it. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. The hon. Member for St. Albert, followed by Calgary-Mountain View. CCSVI Treatment Mr. Khan: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A number of my con- stituents in St. Albert, as is all too common in our province, suffer from multiple sclerosis. This terrible condition robs people of their mobility in the prime of their life.

Many in the MS community perceive an innovation developed by Dr. Zamboni as ground- breaking treatment. My question is to the Minister of Health. Under the Alberta multiple sclerosis initiative has the province observed any efficacy of Dr. Zamboni’s treatment for chronic cer- ebrospinal venous insufficiency, also known as CCSVI? 2:20 Mr. Horne: Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for the question. Multiple sclerosis is an important issue, particularly in western Canada in the more northern climates. As he has said, we have an observational study in progress now, known as TAMSI, that began in 20 11.

It is designed to gather information and to improve understanding of the treatment for CCSVI. There are still many unanswered questions regarding the potential linkages between CCSVI and MS. There have been some preliminary results released. At this po int they primarily describe the socio - demographic characteristics of the participants. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. The hon. member. Mr. Khan: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

To the same minister: given that other provinces have partnered in larg e international studies as part of their fight against multiple sclerosis, has Alberta entered into any partnerships involving population-wide studies of this condition, including Dr. Zamboni’s CCSVI treatment? The Deputy Speaker: Thank you. The hon. minister. Mr. Horne: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. In fact, the multiple sclerosis clinic at the Foothills hospital in Calgary is involved with the Canadian multiple sclerosis monitoring system, which is a national registry for patients with MS.

Our role in Alberta has been, as I said, to design and implement the TAMSI study, an observational study. We have made our data available to other clinical researchers around Canada and around the world. I think we’re making a very significant contribution to the invest igation of the effectiveness of CCSVI. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. Hon. member, your final supplemental. Mr. Khan: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It’s good to learn of this initiative that the province is involved with, but given that this province is funding a monitoring study of the efficacy of CCSVI, will the province consider funding standardized treatment to a limited group of Albertans to ensure a universal standard of care and to increase the quality of the data gathered? Mr. Horne: Mr. Speaker, as I think the hon. member knows, there are a number of clinical trials that are being sponsored in Canada and internationally on this procedure.

What I can commit to the hon. member is that we’ll continue to monitor the results of our own observational study and continue to look at the evidence from research studies around the world. Based on that evidence, we would make a decision about the potential for sponsoring future clinical trials. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. The hon. Mem ber for Calgary -Mountain View , followed by Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview. Urogynecology Wait Times Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Dr. Jane Schulz is an Ed - monton surgeon and medical teacher at the University of Alberta.

She has expressed growing outrage with delays in women’s urinary and gynecologic surgery for five years. Her patients have their womb or bladder or rectum hanging from their vagina, they lose urinary or bowel control, and they’re in constant pain. They wait two to three years to see Dr. Schulz and six to 12 months for surgery. Three women this year died of preventable infectious uri - nary disease due to delays in treatment. To the minister: what have you done to solve this problem over the past year? Mr. Horne: Well, Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for the question.

He and I have discussed the issue in the past. I’ve also met Dr. Schulz and one of her colleagues myself. These wait times are too long. I think it’s the result of a number of issues, including the difficulty in recruiting physicians in this very specialized area. Part of the good news is that two additional urogynecologists have been recruited in Calgary, and that will bring the number there to five. AHS is continuing to try to recruit a similar specialist in Ed- monton. It is very much needed. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. The hon. member. Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, given what Dr.

Schulz calls, quote, a toxic climate for doctors in Alberta, end quote, and assuming y ou find more resources from somewhere, how will you attract specialists to Edmonton and Alberta? Mr. Horne: Well, Mr. Speaker, this is where the hon. member and I part ways. It is completely inaccurate and inappropriate to suggest that the climate in this province is anything but conducive to and supportive of attracting the best and brightest physicians in the world.

Not only is compensation 14 per cent above the nation- al average in this province and not only do we have some of the best hospitals that will be found anywhere in North America, including the new south Calgary health campus, we have some of the finest research facilities in the world. It is that climate, which is the product of decades of investment in this province, that has attracted the best. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. Dr. Swann: Mr. Speaker, this is one of many areas in women’s health care that’s being neglected in this province.

When will this government put women’s health care foremost in our health care system? Mr. Horne: Mr. Speaker, I believe that we already do have a very strong commitment to women’s health. One needs to look no further than the Lois Hole hospital for women at the site of the Royal Alexandra to see that evidence. The hon. member is a phy - sician, and he certainly is correct that more does need to be done

March 21, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1685 in the area of women’s health. Recruitment in very specialized areas such as urogynecology continues to be a priority. We will continue to stand up for women who need access to these services and do our utmost to reduce the waiting times. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. Summer Temporary Employment Program Mr. Bilous: Mr. Speaker, the Premier has broken yet another promise by axing the community spirit grants, which were funded entirely by lottery revenues.

Rather than supporting nonprofits, she’s cut funding to 2,100 groups, including food banks, com - munity leagues, and women’s shelters. The list of groups affected is 420 pages long. Will the Minister of Culture explain how community organizations can survive a $15 million blow at the same time as this PC government throws $200 million into new VLTs? The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister of Culture. Mrs. Klimchuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Indeed, the community spirit donation program: as the minister that was a really tough decision to make, as all ministers did.

At the end of the day for me, we know that there are other programs available in my department, the community facility enhancement program and the community initiatives program to name a couple, which are constantly oversubscribed. I guess that for me it’s working with nonprofits to enable them to have people wor k in their sector on a longer term basis rather than a short -term basis. We are working with the nonprofit sector. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. Mr. Bilous: Mr.

Speaker, I started an online petition two days ago, and given that over 500 people have already signed it, calling for the minister to reinstate the STEP program, and given that letters continue to pour into my office, providing tangible proof of how successful this program has been and continues to be, to the Minister of Human Services: will you admit that you’ve made a mistake by cutting a program that has touched so many lives and restore funding immediately? The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister of Human Services. Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The reality is that virtu - ally every dollar that’s spent in government, taxpayers’ dollars, touches people’s lives. If you’re going to balance the budget and if you’re going to make the best use of the public resources, you have to make tough decisions. The STEP program was one of those tough decisions. When we look at a program like that, we have to look and say: is it achieving the outcomes that we need to achieve? The reality is that there are other p rograms for students who need to get jobs in the summer.

There is a good job market for students now, so the purpose for which that program was set up is no longer there. However, there is a need on the not -for- profit side, and we’ve committed to working w ith the not -for- profit organizations to make sure that those organizations . . . The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. The hon. member. Mr. Bilous: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Penny-wise, pound-foolish.

Given that not a single community group has bee n consulted by any minister about a replacement for STEP and given that organizations like iHuman and the Boys & Girls Clubs are grap- pling with mean -spirited cuts to both the STEP program and the community spirit grants, how can the Minister of Culture possibly defend this devastating double blow to Alberta’s community organizations? The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister of Culture. Mrs. Klimchuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Albertans are among the most generous in all of Canada.

We know that the current taxable credit portion that we have is one of the most generous in Canada. That will continue to be available. I guess that for me ensuring that all dollars are focused on addressing the greatest need is what I’m going to be looking for. I look at the student SCIP program, the serving communities internship program. That program was undersubscribed when we began it; now it’s oversubscribed. So I look forward to working on that program and getting more students employed. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you. Water Supply in Southern Alberta Ms Smith: Mr.

Speaker, as we prepare to head back to our constituencies, I need to get some answers for the residents of Highwood, and I hope that the environment minister can help me out. As with many things in southern Alberta, it’s related to water. In Okotoks we’re facing a water crisis. The town is being forced to buy a water licence, at a cost of about a million dollars, from an oil company or an irrigation district to obtain rights to water for their growing needs. As I understand it, it’s the only community in the province being forced to pay private industry to get water for their residents.

Can the environment minister explain why? The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development. Mrs. McQueen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a pleasure to answer this question. I’ve had the opportunity to meet with the council of Airdrie and the manager of Airdrie on numerous occa - sions. In fact, in Okotoks we’ve had good conversations about this. We’re looking at a water conversation . . . [interjection] Quite frankly, I was there. I don’t remember seeing the hon. member there. We’ve had lots of discussion about this.

We are working with Okotoks and all communities in southern Alberta with regard to important issues on water, and that’s one of the important things that will come out of the discussions. 2:30 The Deputy Speaker: Thank you. Ms Smith: Mr. Speaker, not only is the town of Okotoks facing a huge bill for water; it is also one of the communities hard hit by education tax increases, around 17 per cent for this community, which is $1.6 million.

Since the province is taking $1.6 million more out of Okotoks and they need a million dollars for the licence, can’t we just call it square and have the pro vince assume the cost of the water licence for the town? The Deputy Speaker: The hon. minister. Mrs. McQueen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I just said, we are having the discussion across the province in 20 communities about water, the importance of water, s haring water for communities, particularly in the south, where we have a basin that is closed. That will be continuing until the end of the month. Albertans have

1686 Alberta Hansard March 21, 2013 a chance to give us input. We have talked with Okotoks. We have talked with other communities. You will see that with regard to water, as we committed to Albertans in these discussions, we are gathering input first, hearing what Albertans have to say in their communities, listening to Albertans first before we make any policy decisions. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. Hon. member, your final supplemental. Ms Smith: Mr. Speaker, there are different water issues in High River.

Former MLA George Groeneveld’s flood mitigation report called for a plan to help 66 communities that are at risk for flood - ing. When will the government provide a detailed, comprehensive priority list of flood mitigation plans so that I can tell High River where it is that they stand on the list? The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister of Municipal Affairs. Mr. Griffiths: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Minister of Municipal Affairs this falls under my department. We’ve been working very hard with the federal government. They wind up covering a significant portion.

The larger the disaster is, the more needs to be relieved to the communities. They cover a larger and larger portion, and they had announced quite a while ago that they want to work with the provinces on disaster mitigation because they realize an investment up front will save money down the road for repairs. So we’re going to continue to work with our provincial partners and the federal government to work on the mitigation of flooding. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. The Member for Calgary -North West , followed by Calgary - Shaw. New School Construction Priorities Ms Jansen: Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. Over 300 people in my constituency came together at a freezing cold rally on Family Day to raise awareness about the dire need for a new middle school in Calgary-North West . My first question is to the Minister of Education. Since our school board is changing its method for school ranking, calling it dated, will the minister take into account that a dated ranking system booted us out of the number 2 spot for a middle school? Mr. J. Johnson: Mr. Speaker, when we get the priority list from the school boards, we consider three things on our end.

One is health and safety – we’ve got schools with mould in the walls or the roof is falling off or a flood has come through – we look at the enrolment pressures, and we make sure that school boa rds have exhausted all possible partnerships with other local groups: postsecondary, health, municipalities. Those are the things we do to weigh the projects against each other across the province. We rely on the school boards to take the data that they’ve got to give us their priority lists, and as they change those, of course, we take that into consideration. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you.

Ms Jansen: My next question to the same minister: when school boards move a school from priority 1 or 2 down to a lower priority on the list like Calgary -North West, which moved from number 2 to number 7, will the minister consider this when making funding decisions for new schools? Mr. J. Johnson: Of course, Mr. Speaker, we will. We put a lot of weight into what the loc al school boards put forward in terms of their priority list.

It’s not the only thing we look at, but certainly they need the ability to change their capital list from year to year because communities evolve and grow and demographics change, and that’s why they submit annual capital lists. They do change from year to year, and then we respond to those changes. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. Hon. member, your final supplemental. Ms Jansen: My final question to the same minister. When can my constituents, who have already waited 14 years for a middle school, expect a new school announcement for Calgary -North West? Mr. J. Johnson: Mr.

Speaker, I want to commend the hon. member because she’s been a strong advocate for her community as well as others, the Member for Calgary-South East, particularly in the Calgary area, where we have some growth pressures. I understand that a lot of these communities and parents are anxious to learn about their school projects right across the province, and I’m looking forward to being able to announce these projects once we get through the budget. They are contingent on the budget, so I call on all members of this House to support us in getting this budget passed so we can get these schools built.

The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. The Member for Calgary -Shaw, followed by Edmonton- Riverview. Transition of Michener Centre Residents Mr. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’ve heard the minister defend his decision to slam the doors of the Michener Centre shut, even saying that it was, and I quote, an unacceptable situation. Well, on that we can agree. It’s unacceptable that this minister is kicking people out of their homes, and it’s unacceptable that this minister feels helpless to do anything about it.

The Michener Centre is also a support system for many patients that require stabilization before returning to community living, and losing this service will be a detriment to the social fabric of our province. Why is this government again targeting the front lines for cuts instead of the bloated bureaucracy? The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. member. The hon. associate minister for disabilities. Mr. Oberle: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

If the hon. member had been paying attention to the budget discussion – and if he attends the estimates, he’ll learn a little bit more – we actually have made administrative cuts across the board. The closure of the Michener Centre is about care for the vulner - able people that are in there, and it’s going to improve. We’ve got a significant body of evidence that’s been gathered across North America. We have our own evidence right here in Alberta, and we’re making the right move for putting the patients first. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. Mr.

Wilson: Given that the hard -working staff at the Michener Centre not only provide a home to these vulnerable Albertans but also provide a transitional facility for man y individuals that have been stabilized, how can this government justify shutting down this essential front-line service while continuing to support man -

March 21, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1687 agers managing managers managing managers at all levels of government? Mr. Oberle: An easy thing to say , Mr. Speaker, that across the board we’ve got so many managers and all this administrative overhead. The fact that it’s not true doesn’t seem to matter to that hon. member. If the member knew anything about transition, then he would understand how inadequate this facility is for the transition of patients. That is one of the reasons we’re moving to a better model. Mr.

Wilson: Given that the Albertans who have been cared for at the Michener Centre are still going to require the care and support of the community and given that the Michener Centre was a safe place for these Albertans and not a homeless shelter or a psych ward, are there going to be supports available for these individuals once they have been kicked out of their homes, or is this minister just going to make them fend for themselves? Mr. Oberle: You know, Mr. Speaker, that is so ridiculous that it almost doesn’t des erve an answer.

The opposition there would have Albertans believe that we’re just going to turn people out onto the street and put them on a waiting list for new homes. The facility doesn’t even close until every single resident in there has got a care plan prepared and is moved into an appropriate setting. They’re going to get all the supports they need and more. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. The Member for Edmonton-Riverview , followed by Cypress - Medicine Hat. Support for Postsecondary Education Mr. Young: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

William Butler Yeats said, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” Given that the universities have significant cuts to their operating budgets instead of the modest increases they we re expecting and now have been told that they are being given a mandate letter, to the Deputy Premier and Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education: how are these mandate letters going to account for cuts and preserve the fire of learning and research in Alberta’s postsecondary institutions? The Deputy Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Lukaszuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

No one is in any way proclaiming that having a 7 per cent decrease in funding is not going to be challenging, but what I am telling all presidents and chairs – and we tend to agree on this – is that we will tackle this challenge to gether not only as individual schools but as Campus Alberta, and we will be finding efficiencies, duplications, and any other efficiencies that can be found within the entire system. The mandate letters, on the other hand, are being written in collab - oration with each school and with student bodies. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you. Mr.

Young: Given that there will be no tuition increase for students, can the Deputy Premier educate me on how these cuts will not result in cuts to student programs or increases i n noninstructional fees charged to students? Mr. Lukaszuk: Mr. Speaker, we will discuss this in more detail when we go over the estimates for this particular ministry. However, I will tell you this. I made a commitment, the Premier has made a commitment th at we will not be increasing tuitions as a result of this budget. The reason is this: we have also been very clear that we will not be balancing the budget on the backs of students.

We will be finding efficiencies in administration, we will be finding efficiencies in relationships between all 26 schools, and we will be encouraging all schools to follow the lead of the government of Alberta on salary increases. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. The hon. member. Final supplemental. Mr. Young: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If we expect our univer - sities and colleges to serve as cornerstones of Alberta’s knowledge economy and the drivers of innovation, how can we expect to attract and retain the brightest minds with these cuts? Will these budget cuts result in a brain drain? 2:40 Mr.

Lukaszuk: Mr. Speaker, in this case the Beatles were right. It’s not always that money can buy you love. As a matter of fact, the way to attract the best researchers, the way to develop clusters of innovation, the way to devel op research and then commercial - ize it is to develop a climate for that research to occur in the first place. We will be fostering a climate of research and innovation and commercialization by identifying our areas of strength, by having our institutions collaborate with each other, and as a matter of fact, reaching nationally and internationally.

Both Alberta and Canada can do much, much better on that front. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. The Member for Cypress-Medicine Hat. Transportation Project Priorities Mr. Barnes: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Albertans just don’t trust this government. The Minister of Transportation claims that a prioritized list of transportation projects is available online. We went online, and the list he’s talking abo ut isn’t prioritized and is just tentative. So we FOIPed it and found out a priority list does exist, but it will not be made public.

In estimates the minister went back on his claims, saying that, quote, I don’t have a top five, and there is no definitive list. To the Minister of Transportation. It’s time to be honest with Albertans. Where is the prioritized list, or do you just not have a plan? The Deputy Speaker: Thank you. Mr. McIver: Well, Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for the question, particularly because he doesn’t seem to get the answer though he’s been given it before. The list is on the website. He was told at estimates last night that projects are either funded or unfunded. He has the answer.

Albertans that want the answer seem to get it. It seems the hon. member is the only Albertan that doesn’t know where the list is. Mr. Barnes: To the minister: given that you have already deferred many important projects like highway 881 and given that your government is known for making political announcements, will you explain to Albertans the criteria you use to prioritize projects, if you use any at all? Mr. McIver: Again, Mr. Speaker, the hon. member already knows we use a variety of criteria: safety, development, traffic, what’s there. You know what?

Whatever we’re building is 25 per cent more than the opposition would be by their own plans. We’re doing our best. We don’t like deferring any projects, but the fact is

1688 Alberta Hansard March 21, 2013 that this government is building Alberta. We’re delivering. That’s why they chose us in April. We’re actually moving the province forward with the infrastructure that Albertans are going to depend upon. Mr. Barnes: The list is just by highway number. To the minister ag ain: given that like failed Liberal leader Stéphane Dion, you find it hard to make priorities, can you at least explain to Albertans why you refuse to release a prioritized list, or are you just going to respond by saying that it’s just not easy to make priorities? Mr.

McIver: I hope the hon. member gives his regards to his good friend Stéphane. Mr. Speaker, again, the list is on the website. It seems the opposition are the only ones that don’t know where it is. All other Albertans can find it on the Alberta Transportation website. [interjections] We’re building Alberta. We’re moving it into the future. [interjections] People would have to wait a lot longer for their infrastructure if they had made the other choice in April. We’re proud of this Premier and this government, that are building . . . The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. [interjections] Wow.

It must be Thursday afternoon. Hon. members, I want to thank you for your co-operation. We got through 16 sets of questions and answers. Hon. members, might we revert briefly to the introduction of guests? [Unanimous consent granted] head: Introduction of Guests (continued) The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar. Mr. Dorward: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today it’s my great pleasure to introduce to you and through you to the Assembly 14 students, at least, and two professors from King’s University College, Dr. John Hiemstra, a professor of political science, and Dr.

Michael De Moor, professor of social philosophy. They lead a new course at King’s in the politics, history, and economics program. These 14 students are engaged in various aspects of public life through multiple field trips this semester, including a recent visit to my constituency office. Today they observed question period and now will witness House proceedings in order to gain a deeper understanding of how our actions shape public life. The guests are seated in the gallery. I would ask them to please rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills. Mr. Saskiw: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly three of my constituents from Lac La Biche-St. Paul -Two Hills. Maria Richard, Cameron Needham, and Graham Anderson came to Edmonton today to protest this government’s handling of the pharmacy issues in Alberta. I’d ask them to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Cardston -Taber- Warner. Mr. Bikman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I don’t really know whether my guests are still here. They were the grade 9 class from the Stirling school, home of the 1A girls provincial champions and the 1A boys bronze winners. This is a school where 12 of my 13 children were well launched on their roads to success as citizens, spouses, parents, professionals, and entrepreneurs. Are they in fact here? They were here, anyway, with their teach- ers Mike Fletcher, Morgan Schaufele, Ingeborg Pot, and parents Ryan and Ty Stef. In absentia, I guess, just please give them the warm welcome. head: Members’ Statements The Deputy Speaker: The hon.

Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar. French Quarter and Area Business Revitalization Zone Mr. Dorward: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Edmonton-Gold Bar is blessed with a significant francophone community, one that I have been privileged to live in and around for 50 of the last 60 years. Recently the city of Edmonton approved the French Qua rter revitalization zone, located in the Bonnie Doon area. The first executive director is Mr. Jean Johnson. La Cité, located on 91st Street, is a thriving, active cultural and community centre.

Businesses, cultural organizations, health organizations, a t heatre, a library, a restaurant, and food service: it’s all there, over 30 organizations. Across the street from La Cité is the University of Alberta’s Campus Saint -Jean, which sports a new cafeteria, Mr. Speaker, and I would encourage you to stop by. Cam pus Saint-Jean issues the only French-language degrees west of Winnipeg. They offer seven undergraduate degree programs and two master’s programs. Mr. Speaker, the number of Albertans that speak French in all of our communities is growing along with our population.

Some of these folks are from African countries, but new Albertans are coming from the whole world and other parts of Canada. I can’t help but mention the great work done in my constituency by the Greater North central school board, Conseil scol aire Centre-Nord. They operate three great schools in my constituency. Mr. Speaker, I’m proud to represent the good folks of Edmonton-Gold Bar, and I’m very thankful for the French culture that is in my home constituency. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. member. I recognize the Member for Edmonton-Centre. World Water Day Ms Blakeman: Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker.

When I was growing up, there was lots of water to fish in, swim, canoe, drink, water gardens, wash your car, heat houses, sprinkle lawns, cool turbines, irrigate crops. With the exception of southern Alberta the idea of us r unning out of water was laughable. Now we need to have a World Water Day to urge us to think about water, and that day is tomorrow, March 22. Here are some of my thoughts on water. I’d like to see water de- fined as a common good or a public good. In that way, we would provide leadership on future policy about who gets it and how water gets used.

This would make privatization and sale of water licences or FITFIR obsolete ideas. It would require that head - waters, lakes, and river runs would have their unique ecology protected. I’d like to see the government stop approaching ground- water and surface water as though the two are not connected. I’d like to see the government get ahead of the problems and test the

March 21, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1689 water, fingerprint it in areas where development m ay affect or change it. 2:50 I’d like to see grey water usage made common, have grey water used to water lawns, golf courses, gardens, used in car washes. I’d like to be able to use grey water produced in my household and to have the rainwater be integrated into the system. I’d like to see strict polluter -pay legislation in place in Alberta, especially as it affects water, ice, and snow.

I’d like to see conventional oil and gas and oil sands man up – if it was women, it would be done – and significantly r educe their water usage. Water used for deep well injection or for in situ extraction and SAGD is permanently removed from the hydrologic cycle. I’d like to see us choose to grow trees, plants, and food that need less water to survive. That’s what I’d like to see on Water Day. My name is Laurie Blakeman, and I’m an Alberta Liberal. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. member. I recognize the Member for Calgary -Currie, followed by Calgary-Hawkwood.

Child Sexual Assault Services Ms Cusanelli: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Alberta government understands the commitment to supporting victims of sexual abuse and their families. As has been said already today, everyone in this House wants to provide the best supports for Albertans who have survived sexual abuse. Th at is our shared goal. It’s our shared compassion for the vulnerable. Alberta’s programs and delivery partners achieve results in the prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse. The government of Alberta provides over $18 million in funding for these areas.

Centres like the Zebra Child Protection Centre in Edmonton and the brand new Child Advocacy Centre in Calgary offer a com - munity of professionals and provide front-line support for children who have been abused. These centres represent major partner s coming together to provide compassion through services that will ensure these tragic cases of abuse receive the best quality treatment possible. Police services, child and family services authorities, Alberta Health Services, and the Crown prosecutors’ office collaborate to put our children first.

These are child -centred environments that nurture the abused child and use all the wisdom of partnerships to heal our most vulnerable and commit to justice being done. I want Albertans to know that this governm ent has committed $1.8 million annually to nine sexual assault centres to support victims of sexual violence. We have established over $6 million for supports of the child sexual exploitation program, including counselling, in-home supports, and outreach f or children who have been sexually exploited through prostitution.

Approximately $10 million per year is spent regionally on counselling services and placement for victims of sexual abuse and their families. Yes, Mr. Speaker, Albertans chose a government that makes vulnerable Albertans a priority. We do not give . . . The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. member. The Member for Calgary-Hawkwood. Poverty Reduction Strategy Mr. Luan: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a former social worker I understand that poverty is a complex social issue that affects everyone, and so do the members of this government caucus.

That is why we are committed to developing a provincial strategy to reduce poverty in Alberta, particularly to eliminate child poverty. The new Alberta social policy framework guided us to work in such a way that we will strive to reduce inequality, protect the vulnerable, and promote dignity and inclusion. Under the same framework it calls for us to work in partnership with communities to develop local soluti ons and also apply research and best practices from other jurisdictions to guide our work in Alberta. Unfortunately, Mr.

Speaker, oppositions have risen in this House and painted a rather gloomy picture about Alberta’s poverty reduction strategy in Budget 2013. To set the record straight, I would like to share some numbers and facts to help Albertans know the real picture.

Budget 2013 includes a 4.4 per cent increase in funding for AISH, $5.5 million more in funding for persons with developmental disabilit ies, $16 million more in funding for child protection, a $7 million increase for foster care to keep our children safe, 6,300 new affordable housing units over the next two years, and $6.7 million more in funding for child care subsidies. Mr. Speaker, every Albertan deserves the opportunity to live in dignity, reach their potential, and give back to the community.

What Budget 2013 has delivered is a tough but responsible change that protects the most vulnerable Albertans while making some very difficult decisions to keep our spending within our means. It is a budget with a balanced and responsible approach to move Alberta forward. I believe that is what Albertans elected this government for. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. member. The Member for Strathmore-Brooks. Compensation for Pharmacy Services Mr. Hale: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Pharmacists are here in Edmonton today to draw attention to this government’s misman- agement of drug pricing and the negative effect upcoming changes will have on the viability of local pharmacies. My office in Strathmore-Brooks has received many e-mails and questions about this matter, and I would like to share some of what I have learned with the Assembly. In a letter from the president of the Alberta Pharmacists’ Association I was informed of the devastating consequences man- datory changes to drug prices will have on local pharmacies.

He wrote: The Alberta Pharmacists’ Association has heard from many pharmacists that are deeply concerned for their patients and for their profession. This cut is so severe and quick, it will be impossible for many community pharmacies to ensure the sustainability of their practice. Traditionally, the reve nue earned through generic drugs has benefited government as they have been able to chronically underfund pharmacy services . . . When cost of living increases are factored in, pharmacists are actually paid less for drug dispensing than they were in 1991.

This change coupled with an underfunded model means pharmacists will not be able to provide the level of care that Albertans have become accustomed to and the health system will suffer as patient needs are off-loaded to other care providers or go unmet. Pharmacists have expressed their commitment to keep prices low to benefit the consumer, but they also want government to reinvest their savings into pharmacies that have been underfunded for some time. Mr. Speaker, pharmacists are sounding the alarm, and t he government isn’t listening. Patient care will be impacted.

This government needs to get its priorities straight and do whatever it takes to keep pharmacies viable so they can deliver the care

1690 Alberta Hansard March 21, 2013 patients need. This was echoed loud and clear today by the ne arly 300 pharmacists that gathered on our steps to ask this province to do the thing it refuses to do, listen. Let’s not turn this into another attack on Alberta’s front -line workers. The government should reverse course on these changes before it’s too late. The Deputy Speaker: Hon. members, I notice that the clock is upon us. I’m wondering if the Government House Leader would like to rise. Mr. Hancock: I would be delighted, Mr.

Speaker, to rise and ask for unanimous consent of the House to waive the prov isions of Standing Order 7(7) and allow the Routine to proceed past 3 p.m. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. Government House Leader. [Unanimous consent granted] The Deputy Speaker: I recognize the for next member’s statement the Member for Calgary-Fort. Calgary Francophone History Mr. Cao: Merci, M. le Président. Last week I attended and spoke at the launch of a francophone television program called Hello - Bonjour Calgary . This privilege highlighted for me the rich his - tory of French culture in the city of Calgary.

The facts of history can be hidden by what we have become accustomed to in our current society and Calgary’s modern landscape. The long history of French-speaking people in Calgary began with the pioneers who contributed to the early developme nt of the land we call home today. There is a neighbourhood in Calgary’s inner city that originated as Notre -Dame-de-la-Paix, a Catholic mission, and it was for a time the incorporated village of Rouleau- ville.

Starting in 1872, Father Scollen and Father L acombe obtained two quarter sections of land for a mission district to ensure a strong French -speaking Catholic community would thrive. After obtaining the rest of the land that’s now called the Mission community, the area was incorporated in 1899 as the village of Rouleauville after Charles Rouleau. Despite Father Lacombe’s desire to preserve the French lan - guage and culture, Rouleauville slowly came to become more and more English in character. In 1907 the village was annexed to the city of Calgary.

As a result, all the French names of the streets were replaced by the Calgary street -numbering system that we have today. Francophones still continue to flock to Calgary from many parts of the world to begin their lives as Canadians and Albertans. Mr. Speaker, indeed, from these humble historical roots I heard in the news today that Calgary is now ranked the top livable city in Canada, and out of the top 10 livable cities in Canada, Alberta has six. Merci beaucoup, M. le Président. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. member. 3:00 head: Introduction of Bills The Deputy Speaker: The hon.

Member for Calgary-Foothills. Bill 207 Human Tissue and Organ Donation Amendment Act, 2013 Mr. Webber: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I request leave to introduce Bill 207, the Human Tissue and Organ Donation Amendment Act, 2013. Bill 207 would establish a corporation in Alberta to be known as the Alberta organ and tissue donation agency. The agency’s objective would be to plan, promote, co-ordinate, and support activities relating to the donation of human organs and tissues for transplant and activities relating to the education and research in connection with the donation of organs and tissues.

In addition, the agency would educate the public regarding matters related to organ and tissue donation, would facilitate the provision of such education by others, and advise the Minister of Health on matters relating to the donation of organs and tissues. The Alberta o rgan and tissue donation agency would co-ordinate and support the work of designated facilities in connection with donation and transplant and also manage the procurement, distribution, and delivery of organs and tissues.

It would be responsible for establ ishing and managing waiting lists for the transplant of organs and tissues and would establish and manage a system to fairly allocate organs and tissues that are available. In addition, the Alberta organ and tissue donation agency would be responsible for establishing and managing the Alberta organ and tissue donation registry. This registry would establish information-sharing agreements with relevant agencies consistent with the freedom of information and protection of privacy legislation. Mr.

Speaker, B ill 207 would advance the government’s commitment to building Alberta by creating an innovative tissue and organ donation agency, and it will have a positive impact on organ and tissue donor rates. It will save the lives of many. Thank you. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. member. [Motion carried unanimously; Bill 207 read a first time] The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Associate Minister of Seniors. Bill 14 RCMP Health Coverage Statutes Amendment Act, 2013 Mr. VanderBurg: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I request leave to introduce a bill being the RCMP Health Coverage Statutes Amendment Act, 2013. Mr.

Speaker, the act proposes amendments to two acts, the Alberta Health Care Insurance Act and the Alberta Health Insurance Premiums Act. It should also addres s changes in the 2012 federal budget to provincial health coverage by the federal government to the RCMP members. It will now fall on the respective provinces and territories to provide health coverage to RCMP members for basic health services, sir. This b ill makes the adjustments necessary to provide health coverage to RCMP members under the Alberta Health Care Insurance Act. I look forward to the debate. Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker: Thank you. [Motion carried; Bill 14 read a first time]

March 21, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1691 head: Tabling Returns and Reports The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-McCall. Mr. Kang: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to table the requisite number of copies of an e -mail my constituency office received from a constituent, Ms Tracey Bert. Ms Bert works at the Mount Royal University and is disheartened to learn about the proposed $147 million in budget cuts coming to postsecondary education.

Ms Bert feels that the government has made a decision that is not in the best interests of Albertans when we need to be investing in, not cutting, postsecondary education funding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you. Is there someone on behalf of the Member for Edmonton- Highlands-Norwood? The Member for Edmonton-Strathcona. Ms Notley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to table four post - card submissions that Albertans made during our broken-promises budget tour.

To give you an example of what Albertans are saying, Muriel Stanley Venne from Edmonton believes that taxes should be raised for corporations and the wealthiest Albertans. Similarly, John Johansen believes that replacing the flat tax with a progressive tax structure should be a priority for this government. Submissions like these are proof that the PC government is com - pletely out of touch with the true priorities of everyday Albertans. Thank you. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you. The hon. Member for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview. Mr. Bilous: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’d like to table the appro- priate number of copies of one of many e-mails we received about this PC government’s cancellation of the STEP program. Sara Coumantarakis writes about how STEP helped make the green shack program a reality and hurt the McCauley neighbourhood in the fabulous constituency of Edmonton-Centre . She asks, “Is scrapping this program a money saver or are we just deferring a cost which will show up later when kids who do not have enough constructive activities and good role models in the summer end up needing much more costly interventions?” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Rimbey -Rocky Mountain House-Sundre. Mr. Anglin: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two tablings today, one from the CEO of Value Invest, which is a pharmacy, and the other is from the CEO of Value Drug Mart . These are letters that, hopefully, the Minister of Health will take the time to read and listen to the concerns on what’s happened with the pharmacies out in the rural area. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. member. The hon. Member for Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills, follow- ed by Cardston-Taber-Warner. Mr. Saskiw: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have quite a few tablings.

The first is an e-mail dated March 20 from a Sandi Bow from Lac La Biche. She’s very concerned about the government of Alberta’s irresponsible plan with respect to medevac. I have the requisite copies. The second is an e -mail dated March 19 from Roxanne Suvak from St. Paul, who as well is concerned about the government’s irresponsible plan with respect to pharmacy. The third is an e -mail dated March 20 from Jeff Pedersen from Elk Point. Again, he’s concerned about the reckless plan with respect to pharmacy funding. The fourth is an e -mail dated March 21 from Natara Cardinal from Kikino.

She is also concerned about the proposed cuts to pharmacy funding. The next is a fax dated March 12 from Lillian Palmer from Vilna, who is also concerned about the cuts to her pharmacy because she knows that’s going to affect services in that area. The next is an e- mail dated March 15 from a pharmacist in Vilna illustrating to the government the impacts that their cuts will have on her pharmacy. The next is an e-mail dated March 18 from Lesley Rebryna from the St. Paul & District Co -op Pharmacy. She’s again outlining the problems with the government’s proposed cuts to pharmacy.

Finally, an e -mail dated March 12 from Hope Ainsworth from St. Paul, who also is concerned about the pharmacy cuts. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. member. The Member for Cardston- Taber-Warner, foll owed by Lacombe-Ponoka. Mr. Bikman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have four tablings today. One is from Zak Murakami, a pharmacist from Barnwell, Alberta, expressing concern for the province’s nursing homes as a result of the recent and future cuts to pharmacy revenues.

An e-mail from Magrath pharmacist Arlen Bennett, who’s been forced to lay off staff and says that fees for services are not remunerative. A letter about pharmacy from Kathy Schow of Cardston expressing her concerns. And a letter from Lance Mi ller dated today to the hon. Minister of Service Alberta, copied to me, with regard to Alberta registries. We’ve talked about that, perhaps examining the possibility of a two-tiered pay system for rural versus urban registries. Thank you. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. member. Hon. members, I might remind you that the requisite numbers are required with all tablings.

The Member for Lacombe-Ponoka. Mr. Fox: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table a letter hand-delivered to me today by Ms Jennif er Fookes on the issues within the pharmacies in Alberta. I have the required number of copies here. The Deputy Speaker: Are there others? The hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona. 3:10 Ms Notley: Thank you again, Mr. Speaker. I have since had the documents provided to me that the Member for Edmonton- Highlands-Norwood wished to have me table on his behalf.

I’m tabling the appropriate number of copies of a memo from the acting manager/director of th e Public Affairs Bureau to bureau staff directing them to use overtly political messaging in all the supposedly nonpartisan government communications that they produce. Accompanying the memo is an example of a government of Alberta press release where this language was used. There are many more examples that exist. This memo represents the cynical attempt by this PC government to use public money in an effort to improve their chances at re-election. Thank you.

1692 Alberta Hansard March 21, 2013 The Deputy Speaker: We had two points of order raised. We had a point of order at 2:12 by the Member for Airdrie, and I believe the Member for Edmonton-Strathcona rose at 2:17. At this time we’ll deal with the point of order from Airdrie. The Official Opposition Deputy House Leader. Point of Order Allegations against Members Mr. Saskiw: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise under Standing Order 23(h), (i), and (j): (

h) makes allegations against another Member; (

i) imputes false or unavowed motives to another Member; (

j) uses abusive or insulting language of a nature likely to create disorder What I’m referring to specifically is the Minister of Transport- ation’s comments that somehow the Wildrose opposition would want to sacrifice the safety of Albertans. I think every single Member of this Legislative Assemb ly would agree that not one of us would ever want to sacrifice the safety of Albertans. Of course, our party has taken very clear stances. In the last election we campaigned on five provincial checkstop teams to ensure that drunk drivers were kept off the road.

We had a policy in the Balanced Budget and Savings Act to put more front -line police officers on our roads to increase enforcement. We proposed electronic monitoring of sex offenders and other criminals. We of course deplored the cancelling of the s afer communities fund, and we do believe that vandals and other individuals should be convicted on their first and second offences. I think all of us, regardless of political stripe, would agree that not one of us wants to intentionally sacrifice the safety of Albertans.

We are all here, every single one of us, to ensure that the public safety and security of Albertans is maintained. Of course, not only is that statement by the hon. Minister of Transportation not true, but it also is unparliamentary langua ge according to the standing orders, and I’d request that he simply correct his statement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. member. I’ll recognize the Deputy Government House Leader and Min- ister of Transportation in response. Mr. McIver: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

What the hon. member needs to understand is that the reference that I made was to an amendment made by the Wildrose Party last night requesting that the government cut funding in areas where we actually provide saf ety for Albertans. The motive expected, frankly, is a logical extension of the actions of the Wildrose Party in their attempts, through wanting the budget to be amended, to reduce the funding to provide safety for Albertans. It’s actually a logical conclusion to what the opposition party put in writing and delivered and put on the record last night when we were doing estimates.

Under the category that the truth is an absolute defence, they actually made amendments last evening. I was just drawing what is, f rankly, a fairly logical conclusion to an end result of what the opposition party was doing. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. minister. Edmonton-Centre, did you wish to participate? Ms Blakeman: Yes, Mr. Speaker. I hadn’t intended to, but I have to say that the words given by the Minister of Transportation compelled me to my feet. I really am quite interested in how the minister could – I mean, I know he did make the argument. I just am seeking the logic in it.

When he says that 23(h), (i), and (j), particularly (i), “imputes false or unavowed motives to another member,” is not in play here and when he then goes on to describe that, in his opinion, what a member of the Official Opposition put in an amendment, which I’m presuming failed, to an estimates debate last night is a logical extension of their attitude towards the safety of Albertans – I mean, Mr. Speaker, please. You’ve got to come up to speed if you’re going to argue this stuff. Of course that’s the exact definition of it, saying, “makes allegations against another Member.” That’s exactly what happened.

Allegations that some member or all members of the Official Opposition – and I note that the new game the government is playing now is to just say “the opposition,” as though all parties were somehow involved in this and not specifying whether they’re talking about the Official Opposition or the Liberal opposition. No. It’s just all opposition. Of course he meant to, and that’s exactly what he did, which was to impute a false or unavowed motive and to make allegations against the member and, further, against the whole caucus. Now, it only counts if you do it against the member, and it’s specific to the member.

Honestly, Mr. Speaker, that’s exactly what was going on, and that was the purpose of it. All I heard all day today in question period was the government members getting up and slagging the people that were asking the questions. There’s no other way to put it. You know, it was slagging all opposition members without be - ing specific, and it seemed to particularly focus on the intellectual capacity of the people that are in this House. Now, you know, Mr. Speaker, this is a hard job.

I believe everybody works hard in here, and I also believe you don’t get here if you’re truly missing or a little shy on intellectual capacity. I’m sick of it. I mean, honest to goodness, you guys have got all kinds of help. You’ve got assistants, you’re the government, you can make stuff happen, and you have to get up in this House and be that thin skinned? Get a life. The Deputy Speaker: Hon. members, I caution you. Just a reminder that a point of order is not really an opportunity to continue debate, and we seem to have some of that. I’m going to recognize one more speaker.

I had intended to cut it off here, but I’ m going to recognize one more speaker for a short point, and then I’m going to make a ruling. The Member for Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre. Mr. Anglin: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I raised a point of order last night at the very committee meeting this hon. minister is speaking of. That point of order was upheld for the same type of language. The Deputy Speaker: Well, thank you, hon. members. I certainly appreciate the clarifications.

I want to emphasize clarifications because I think the deputy House leader from the opposition did a very credible job of outlining what seems to be the position of his caucus in relation to this matter. It’s certainly expected t hat there will be on an ongoing basis differences of opinion between where people come from on different points. The exchange started from a response, and I want to be clear. The point of order was raised by the Official Opposition in response to an answer from the minister to a question from the Official Opposition.

I’m of the opinion that the exchange that we just had has pro- vided us a glorious opportunity to clarify the positions of the various caucuses, and as such I think we have no point of order on this. I’d like to move on to the next one, which was raised by the hon. Member for Edmonton- Strathcona. Would you please proceed, hon. member.

March 21, 2013 Alberta Hansard 1693 Point of Order Offending the Practices of the Assembly Ms Notley: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Yes. I rise under 23(b), (h), (i), (j), and (

l) of the standing orders, and I rise in reference to the exchange that has just been the subject of the previous discussion. In so doing, I rise to talk about the whole exchange between not only the minister but also the government member who asked the question. The reason I do that is because what appeared to happen, to me, was that there was questioning and answering that was going on that essentially the foundation or the he art of which was about actions taken by the opposition.

What happened was that they were asking each other for questions and answers about issues that essentially revolved around actions taken by the opposition. 3:20 Now, the citations that I want to brin g to your attention, Mr. Speaker. First of all, under 23 is simply that a member will be called to order if the member (

b) speaks to matters other than (

i) the question under discussion . . . and also (

l) introduces any matter in debate that offends the pr actices and precedents of the Assembly, and then the typical (h), (i), and (j), which is where you’re essentially insulting and imputing bad motives and creating discord. What I want to start by bringing to your attention, Mr. Speaker, is on page 4 of Bea uchesne’s. It talks about the purpose of question period. I quote when I say: Similarly, the whole concept of the parliamentary Question Period depends on the tradition that the Cabinet . . .

The cabinet. . . . is willing to submit its conduct of public af fairs to the scrutiny of the Opposition on a regular basis. The next thing that I’d like to read from, Mr. Speaker, is on page 121, paragraph 410. In 1986 the Speaker put forth further views in light of more recent conditions and precedents. It was observed that . . . Then I jump to section (5).

(5) The primary purpose of the Question Period is the seeking of information and calling the Government to account. Also,

section 10:

(10) The subject matter of questions must be within the collective responsibility of the Government or the individual responsibilities of Ministers. What we had here were questions and answers that were not about the conduct of the government, Mr. Speaker, but were about the conduct of the opposition. I would suggest, ba sed on this pre - cedent, that they in fact breach the precedent and the practice of this House. Now, Mr.

Speaker, you are probably aware that there has been a long-standing debate in this House about the fact that the govern- ment uses its authority and its majority to insist upon the relatively uncommon practice of taking up question period by asking itself questions, by giving their backbenchers the opportunity to ask their ministers questions.

Whenever opposition House leaders raise that and say, “Gee, is that really the right use of question period?” we are told with the greatest of sincerity by the Govern - ment House Leader that backbench members also need to be able to hold the ministers to account in the question period setting on behalf of their constituents. That’s the argument we always get. Now, Mr.

Speaker, I suspect that you know and certainly anyone who watches this Assembly knows that that practice has essentially devolved into a process whereby the backbencher will read the first paragraph of the press release, the minister will then read back the second paragraph of the press release, the back bencher will then read the third paragraph of the press release, and so on, and so on in order to promote a particular policy of the government. So it’s already straying from the purpose of question period as outlined by precedent and by Beauchesne’s. That’s already a bit of a problem.

Nonetheless, that seems to be some thing that has happened in this Assembly for a very, very long time. That being said, when that, then, devolves yet again into a process where the backbencher asks the minister about why the opposition is so bad and then the minister responds with a question about why the opposition is so bad, that just takes it to a whole new level of abusing the time that all members of this House are supposed to enjoy in question period to fulfill that one primary responsibility, which is to hold not the opposition to account, Mr. Speaker, but to hold the government to account.

When you go beyond that, Mr. Speaker, and simply look at rules of basic fairness, when one person decides to accuse another or critique another – and we can use whatever language because certainly sometimes the opposition becomes more than simply inquiring, and the opposition itse lf will move on to sort of a little bit more of an accusatory mode when we’re asking questions – the fundamental characteristic of that exchange is that both parties get a voice.

If the opposition decides to be somewhat accusatory in their question of the cabinet minister in their efforts to hold the government or that minister to account, the fact of the matter is that that minister gets to then defend himself. He has every right to get up and answer.

When the government abuses this tradition in this Hous e of their ability to ask themselves questions and one of them gets up and accuses the opposition of something and then the other one gets up and accuses the opposition of something but we have a set of rules here which prohibit the victim of those accusat ions from actually engaging in the debate and defending themselves, well, then – you know what, Mr. Speaker? – we get right down to 23(h), (i), and (j).

No person in their right mind wouldn’t forgive the opposition for becoming disruptive in the House if t hey have to sit by and listen to an exchange between government members about why the opposition is so bad. That is what happened in that series of questions. It abuses the process, and it abuses the precedents that have been set in parlia- mentary setting s across the country. That is why Beauchesne’s sets out very clearly what the role of question period is. I would ask, Mr.

Speaker, that you rule that this is, in fact, a breach of our rules and that you direct the government members and the ministers and indeed all members of this House to keep their questions focused on those which are meant to be the subject of question period, which are those matters which are in the control of the minister and the government, not the opposition members. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, hon. member. I recognize the Minister of Transportation and Deputy Govern- ment House Leader. Mr. McIver: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The hon. member left, I think, one thing out which is pertinent to the discussion that she started. What she left out is that private members on the government side also have the right to hold the government to account. They also have the right to question ministers about their motives. They also have the right to find out what the minister’s

1694 Alberta Hansard March 21, 2013 actions might be, what affect it might have on Albertans. What we saw earlier in the question period was exactly that in action. What we saw in the questions – and I’m paraphrasing a little bit here – referred not to allegations but to actual proposed amend- ments to the estimates put on the record by the opposition. The one question talked about the opposition suggesting a cut of $1.7 million to strategic services. The question that he asked me was: if we were to go ahead with that change, would that change our commitment to keep the infrastructure safe for Albertans?

That’s a legitimate question, to ask a Minister of Transportation about what that would be and to get an evaluation on what the government action might be and how it might affect Albertans. Another q

Document details

Collection	Alberta — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20130321
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	L28 S1 20130321 1330 01 han.pdf
Language	en
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