Manitoba Hansard — 21 November 2019 (Sitting 3, 42nd Legislature, 2nd Session)

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Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

Second Session – Forty-Second Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Myrna Driedger Speaker Vol. LXXIV No. 3 - 1:30 p.m., Thursday, November 21, 2019 ISSN 0542-5492

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

GOERTZEN, Kelvin, Hon. Steinbach PC GORDON, Audrey Southdale PC GUENTER, Josh Borderland PC GUILLEMARD, Sarah, Hon. Fort Richmond PC HELWER, Reg, Hon. Brandon West PC ISLEIFSON, Len Brandon East PC JOHNSON, Derek Interlake-Gimli PC JOHNSTON, Scott Assiniboia PC KINEW, Wab Fort Rouge NDP LAGASSÉ, Bob Dawson Trail PC LAGIMODIERE, Alan Selkirk PC LAMONT, Dougald St. Boniface Lib. LAMOUREUX, Cindy Tyndall Park Lib. LATHLIN, Amanda The Pas-Kameesak NDP LINDSEY, Tom Flin Flon NDP MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Malaya Notre Dame NDP MARTIN, Shannon McPhillips PC MOSES, Jamie St.

Vital NDP MICHALESKI, Brad Dauphin PC MICKLEFIELD, Andrew Rossmere PC MORLEY-LECOMTE, Janice Seine River PC NAYLOR, Lisa Wolseley NDP NESBITT, Greg Riding Mountain PC PALLISTER, Brian, Hon. Fort Whyte PC PEDERSEN, Blaine, Hon. Midland PC PIWNIUK, Doyle Turtle Mountain PC REYES, Jon Waverley PC SALA, Adrien St. James NDP SANDHU, Mintu The Maples NDP SCHULER, Ron, Hon. Springfield-Ritchot PC SMITH, Andrew Lagimodière PC SMITH, Bernadette Point Douglas NDP SMOOK, Dennis La Vérendrye PC SQUIRES, Rochelle, Hon. Riel PC STEFANSON, Heather, Hon.

Tuxedo PC TEITSMA, James Radisson PC WASYLIW, Mark Fort Garry NDP WHARTON, Jeff, Hon. Red River North PC WIEBE, Matt Concordia NDP WISHART, Ian Portage la Prairie PC WOWCHUK, Rick Swan River PC

39 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Thursday, November 21, 2019 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Clerk (Ms. Patricia Chaychuk): It is my duty to inform the House that the Speaker is una voidably absent. Therefore, in accordance with the statutes, I would ask the Deputy Speaker to please take the Chair. Mr. Deputy Speaker (Doyle Piwniuk): O Eternal and Almighty God, from Whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to the welfare and prosperity of our province.

Grant, O merciful God, we pray Thee, that we may desire only which is in accordance with Thy will, that we seek it with wisdom, know it with certainty and accomplish it perfectly for the glory and honour of Thy name, for the welfare of all our people. Amen. Please be seated. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Bill 6–The Planning Amendment Act Hon. Rochelle Squires (Minister of Municipal Relations): I move, seconded by the Minister of Central Services, (Mr. Helwer), that Bill 6, The Planning Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la

Loi sur l'aménagement du territoire, be now read a first time. Motion presented. Ms. Squires: This bill will amend The Planning Act to extend subdivision -approving authority for the City of Brandon. This amendment will also give the Province authority to make regulations designating a municipal council as an approving authority and to establish e ligibility requirements and conditions for when a council can approve subdivisions. I am pleased to present this bill to the House for consideration. Mr.

Deputy Speaker: Any other bills? [interjection] The question before the House is the reading of bill–the first reading of Bill 6, The Planning Amendment Act. Is it the pleasure of the House to make the motion? [Agreed] Bill 4–The Manitoba Hydro Amendment Act Hon. Jeff Wharton (Minister of Crown Services): I move, seconded by the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Relations (Ms. Clarke), that Bill 4, The Manitoba Hydro Amendment Act, be now read for a first time. Motion presented. Mr.

Wharton: Bill 4 amends The Manitoba Hydro Act and enables Manitoba Hydro to perform more efficient cash management within existing credit frameworks. The amendment will increase the short-term borrowing authority and bring Manitoba Hydro into greater alignment with other similar public utilities across Canada. The amendment seeks the–to increase the short-term borrowing authority from $500 million to $1.5 billion. The current limit was established in 1992 prior to Centra Gas and Manitoba Hydro–or, Winnipeg Hydro acquisitions.

The amendment will allow Manitoba Hydro to mitigate potential risks due to unanti cipated events, which performs favourably with credit rating agencies and allows Manitoba Hydro to borrow more efficiently from fiscal institutions. The amendments to the short -term borrowing limit will bring annual savings to Manitoba Hydro and ratepayers of approximately 8 to 15 million dollars, depending on financial markets and cash balances.

Manitoba Hydro secures funds up to three months in advance, with requirements with the vast majority of prefunding currently secured with long- term financial–financing through the Province, resulting in additional costs to Manitobans. Under the amend- ment, Manitoba Hydro will be able to reinvest to reduce financial costs. The initiative shows our government's priority, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and our commitment to fi xing our finances to help save Manitobans money by shopping smarter. By changing Manitoba Hydro's short-term borrowing limit, the cost of ratepayers to service Manitoba Hydro's debt will be reduced.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Is it a pleasure of the–is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the first reading of

40 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2019 Bill 4, The Manitoba Hydro Amendment Act? [Agreed] Any other further bills? Bill 201–The Legislative Assembly Amendment and Legislative Assembly Management Commission Amendment Act Mr. Dougald Lamont (St. Boniface): I move, seconded by the member for Tyndall Park (Ms. Lamoureux), that Bill 201, The Legislative Assembly Amendment and Legislative Assembly Management Commission Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la

Loi sur l'A ssemblée législative et la

Loi sur la Commission de régie de l'Assemblée législative, be now read a first time. Motion presented. Mr. Lamont: This is a bill designed to amend and modernize Manitoba's laws surrounding the definition of official parties. We do believe that in the interests of democracy that this should–this is a bill that should be considered to reflect and modernize the act and make it match representation of official parties in other provinces. Mr.

Deputy Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the first reading of Bill 201, The Legislative Assembly Amendment and the Legislative Assembly Management Commission Amendment Act? All in order? Is it agreed to the House? Is it –we all agree? [Agreed] Now we'll go–if there's any other–no further other bills, we'll go on to committee reports. Tabling of reports? MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage –the required 90 minutes notice prior to the routine proceedings was provided in accordance with rule No. 26-2.

Would the honourable minister please proceed with her statement. Holodomor Hon. Cathy Cox (Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage): Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to recognize the Holodomor, a dark

chapter in history, when wheat became a weapon in Ukraine. In 1932 and 1933, an artificial famine in Ukraine was created through the deliberate seizure of land and crops. On fertile lands know n as the breadbasket of Europe, millions of people slowly starved to death. * (13:40) For many years, the Holodomor went un- recognized and even denied. But the truth has come to light because brave survivors have boldly shared their stories to help ens ure this horrific

chapter in history is never forgotten. And last year, on the 85th anniversary of the Holodomor, Mrs. Luba Semaniuk shared her experience as a young girl growing up in Ukraine. Her words are well worth repeating as a reminder of what millions of people suffered through. She wrote: I will never forget the sights and sounds of people crying because they had nothing to eat. I will never forget painfully watching family and neighbours dying of starvation, and I will never forget my mother grinding up dried corn cobs and husks and using that to make soup broth for her children to survive.

And even though that was all that they had, my mother was telling me to take some of the broth over to neighbours, only to find the mother and her two young sons dead of starvation. These are things that should never be experienced by anyone, especially a six -year-old girl. And she says she will never forget and forever remember. We must continue to build awareness about the Holodomor. One of the ways we are accomplishing this is by educating our children and grandchildren. And it was my sincere honour to host students today from the English- Ukrainian bilingual program at R.F.

Morrison School during today's noon- hour commemoration of the Holodomor here a t the Manitoba Legislature. And under the direction of teacher Hannya Bryl-Klimenko, the students prepared a beautiful dance to commemorate the Holodomor. It is a

chapter that we teach the next generation about this dark

chapter in history, to ensure this atrocity is never ever repeated. As another way to raise awareness, members of this House will notice our Ukrainian flag flying at half-mast in Memorial Park today. As a special commemoration of the Holodomor, thoughtful members of Manitoba's Ukrainian com - munity have graciously provided each member of the House with stalks of wheat tied with a black ribbon, which has become a symbol for the Holodomor.

November 21, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 41 Madam Speaker, as we reflect on this atrocity, I would like to request a moment of silence in honour of those who perished in Holodomor. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Is it the will of the House to have a moment of silence after we get through all the minister statements? [Agreed] The honourable member for Fort Garry , Riverview, to the minister's statement. Mr. Mark Wasyliw (Fort Garry): On November 23rd, we and the rest of the world will commemorate the genocidal famine known in Ukrainian as the Holodomor.

It's considered to be one of the worst atrocities in human history, but it's relatively unknown. In 1986, a study of the famine by British historian Robert Conquest, entitled Harvest of Sorrow, was perhaps the first time that Western audiences received information about this tragic event. There is evidence that an estimated 10 million Ukrainians suffere d slow, horrifying death in a conscious act to starve the Ukrainian people and to take away their hope for a free and independent Ukraine. This is a horrible event and it's inflicted a deep and lasting scar on the Ukrainian community here and throughout the world.

There are strong and vibrant Ukrainian com - munities here in Manitoba and across the country. Many of these families were directly touched or impacted in some way by this genocide. The famine and genocide has been recognized by the provincial government as an atrocity and a dark page in human history. I urge the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba to join with the Ukrainian community in com - memorating this tragic event. By honouring the survivors and those who lost their lives in the famine, we are also bringing awareness to the tragedy.

It is only with these hard lessons of the past that we can hope to prevent reoccurrences of genocide in the future. Vichnaya pamyat, vichnaya pamyat, vichnaya pamyat. Eternal memory, eternal memory, eternal memory. Ms. Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I ask for leave to respond to the minister's statement. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Is there leave for the honourable member for Tyndall Park to speak on this minister's statement? [Agreed] Ms. Lamoureux: I rise today to speak in remem - brance of those from Ukraine who suffered the horror of the genocide, the Holodomor. Mr.

Deputy Speaker, the famine imposed on Ukraine 86 years ago began with the deporta tion of Ukraine's farmers through several waves. There were also deportations and executions of Ukraine's religious, intellectual and cultural leaders. I am grateful we have such a strong presence of Ukrainian heritage here in Manitoba, and we are incredibly fortunate to have such an active community who educates us through commemoration events. Several years ago, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I had the opportunity to experience the national museum memorial to Holodomor victims in K yiv, Ukraine.

Here, I was able to learn more about and reflect on this horrible genocide. This is where the Holodomor and the true tragedy behind it became very real for me. Mr. Speaker, the senses that overcome one's body in this museum resonate and amplify how horrific the famine was. It portrays the pain and suffering that millions of people were forced to endure. When I reflect upon this experience, I recall two angels of sorrow at the entrance of the monument. These angels represent the guardians of the souls who starved.

I also think about the more commonly recognized statue of the young girl clutching a handful of wheat. This statue is titled the Bitter Memory of Childhood, and has been dedicated to the most vulnerable victims of starvation. Mr. Deputy Speaker, the stories of our history can often be terrible and unexplainable to articulate; however, we must continue to tell them in remembrance and the hope to learn from the past. Thank you. A moment of silence was observed. MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Team Kurz Curling Champions Mr. Scott Johnston (Assiniboia): Mr.

Deputy Speaker, it is my honour today to rise to pay tribute to an outstanding curling team from my constituency of Assiniboia. We have us–we have with us in the gallery today Team Kurz, whose home rink is the Assiniboine

42 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2019 Memorial Curling Club. That's the home of champions, Mr. Deputy Speaker. They were the nine– they were the 2019 gold medal winners this past October at the World Mixed Curling Championship in Aberdeen, Scotland. Team Kurz members are: Skip Colin Kur z, who unfortunately couldn't make it today; Third Meghan Walter; Second Brendan Bilawka; Lead Sara Oliver and Coach Jim Waite. In April 2018, they won the mixed provincial curling championship. Later that year, Team Kurz won the nationals and celebrated our province's first mixed Canadian title win in a decade.

With their win, they earned the honour of representing Canada at the World Mixed Curling Championship in 2019. This past October, after a week-long, tough competition, Team Kurz defeated Team Kapp of Germany 6 -5, in an exciting come-from-behind win, to earn the gold medal. With this victory, Canada has now won back- to- back world mixed curling championships, and I know that certainly warms our Premier's (Mr. Pallister) heart, as he's a former mixed champion. This young team of talented curlers continues to have a very bright future, and I am sure they will do Manitoba proud for many years to come.

Madam Speaker, I would ask that my colleagues join me as I congratulate Team Kurz for winning gold at the mixed–World Mixed Curling Championship. Well done. West Central Women's Resource Centre Ms. Lisa Naylor (Wolseley): Manitoba's rate of violence against women is double the national average. With the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence commencing next week, I wanted to commemorate an organization in the Wolseley constituency who is working so hard to support women and non-binary folks. Today, I am pleased to highlight the West Central Women's Resource Centre.

This centre is actively breaking down systemic barriers and providing desperately needed services to w omen and their children. The drop- in centre sees about 100 women a day, who come to reduce isolation and have their basic needs met: a meal, a shower, hygiene products, laundry facilities or access to a telephone. The centre also offers dozens of progra ms, from mentorship to job readiness support and child- minding training as just a few examples. * (13:50) Over the past years, the staff and volunteers have noticed a significant increase in demand for their services.

Last year, the centre connected 194 women and their families to housing and income supports, provided critical trauma support, served 14,000 meals, helped settle 302 newcomers, and led the development of a strategy to end homelessness for women in Winnipeg. To keep up with the growing dem ands for their services, the centre has made a commitment to purchase the Klinic site, also located in Wolseley in a very central location, to continue to serve clients from downtown, West End, and all over the core area of the city.

This tripled the cen tre's space, allowing them to expand services; the cost of the relocation requires the centre to raise $7 million in private and government funds. Minister Squires has been very supportive of the centre and I look forward to–[interjection] Mr. Deputy Sp eaker: Order. I just want to remind the member that you can't use members' names. It has to be either their department or their constituency name. Ms.

Naylor: The minister has been very supportive of the centre and I look forward to working with her and all of my colleagues in the Chamber to continue to support the great work of the centre and to champion their fundraising efforts. Today, we have staff and clients from the centre here. Thank you so much for your compassion and dedication to support some of our city's most vulnerable women. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for Wolseley. Ms. Naylor: Mr. Speaker, I ask for leave to have the names of my guests included in Hansard. Mr.

Deputy Speaker: Is it the will of the House to have leave to have the guests listed in Hansard? [Agreed] Rachel Bergen, Megan Carrothers, Lorie English, Eden Friesen, Sharon James, Halima Jelloul, Helena Kelly, Gloria Knott, Denise MacDonald,

November 21, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 43 Haidee Maderal, Melissa McGregor, Dale Pike, Lisa Spring Mr. Deputy Speaker: Any other members' statements? Weston Memorial Community Centre Ms. Malaya Marcelino (Notre Dame): Mr. Deputy Speaker, many times when we think of community centres, sports activities come to mind. Community centres keep their visitors and members positively occupied and provide a space for them to interact with one another.

Weston Memorial Community Centre goes the extra mile; it provides a safe haven for many, most especially seniors and children, and it has been serving the Notre Dame community since the 1940s. This community centre is located close to Blake Gardens co -op, which is the province of Manitoba's largest government housing complex. Many of the residents living there are serviced by the community centre, and this centre hosts about 600 to 900 community members every week. Weston Memorial Community Centre offers various programs to its guests.

Their weekly after-school program provides children with hot meals and a safe space to play. And other programs include the Bright Start play program and the City of Winnipeg Free Play drop-in. This community centre also has a host of programs fo r seniors. Senior Tuesdays provides seniors with healthy lunches and technology classes. Weston Club 302 Bingo is a favourite for many of the participating members. And other activities available for community members include Ping- Pong, foot care, Zumba classes, Spirit of Peace anger management classes, and an upcoming chess club.

They also provide the larger community with food through the Sparling United Church's food bank. Weston Memorial Community Centre has lived up to its mandate and more, and cont inues to do so by uniting the community through enjoyable and developmental programming. To the staff and volunteers at Weston Memorial Community Centre, I applaud you. And a special thank you to Michelle Cooke and Brennon Green, community centre staff who are joining us here today in the gallery. Recognizing Federal Cabinet Ministers from Manitoba Mr. Dougald Lamont (St.

Boniface): J'aimerais offrir mes félicitations à Dan Vandal, le député fédéral de Saint -Boniface–Saint-Vital, pour sa nouvelle position comme Ministre des Affaires du Nord. Translation I would like to offer my congratulations to Dan Vandal, MP for Saint Boniface–Saint Vital, on his new position as Minister of Northern Affairs. English I would like to offer my congratulations to Dan Vandal, MP for Saint Boniface–Saint Vital, for being appointed to the federal Cabinet. As Minister of Northern Affairs, he faces a portfolio with major challenges as well as major opportunities.

It's great to see it–a province–our province have a represen tative like Dan, who is both Franco- Manitoban and Metis, on the national stage. I'd also like to wish the best to Jim Carr, who has been appointed to special representative for the Prairies. Former Premier Brad Wall was just saying to–Jim was an excellent choice, and we know that we are, as a House, unified in wishing him the very best in recovering from his illness.

This is a turbulent political time in Canada, and while we all have our political differences, I would also like to wish the best for all Manitoba MPs from the Conservative and NDP parties in representing our province and all its peoples. There are many reasons to be grateful for being Manitoban, and one of them is that at all levels of government we have a fantastic tradition of a dynamic political culture. Thank you and best wishes to all MPs. Merci. Altona Police Service–100th Anniversary Mr. Josh Guenter (Borderland): It is my pleasure to recognize a very special anniversary in my constituency.

On October 19, 2019, the Altona Police Service held a community ball, a night of fine eating and entertainment attended by dignitaries and over 250 members of the community, to celebrate a very historic 100- year milestone for the local police service.

44 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2019 It was a wonderful night for our community, and the performances by the Winnipeg Police Service pipe band and local musicians Brothers Keep and DJ Kylex had everyone involved. The police service selected The Station, our local Youth for Christ, as the beneficiary of the proceeds from the evening. One hundred years ago, in 1919, the village of Altona hired its first night watchman, who was tasked with filling and lighting street la mps, ensuring street safety and enforcing the curfew for children under 16.

Later that year, Altona hired a police constable who assumed these duties, along with new ones like repairing streets and sidewalks, conducting janitorial services for the local sc hool and acting as a truancy officer. The job description has obviously changed with the times, but the Altona Police Service still delivers the same level of professionalism, integrity, honesty and reliability.

I want to thank past members of the Altona Police Service, as well as those serving today: Sergeant Dan Defer; Corporal Shawn Tarnick; Constables Mark Legal, Brendan Funk, Anthony Dueck, Dustin Giesbrecht; and Special Constable Sanja Kiansky. And I want to especially thank Police Chief Perry Batchelor, for his service to our country previously as a member of the Armed Forces and for his service to our community today. Congratulations. Thank you. Introduction of Guests Mr. Deputy Speaker: Before we start with oral questions I would like to draw t he attention to all honourable members to the Speaker's Gallery.

We have with us today a good friend, Raquel 'detmuss' – Raquel Dancho, MP elected for Kildonan- St. Paul, and her fiancée, Scott Gurski, is with her. And we also–who also–guests –they're also gue sts of the Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage (Mrs. Cox). And also today we have with us is Brynn Fielding, the daughter of the Minister of Finance (Mr. Fielding). She's with us here today. Welcome. And we also have the former MLA for Transcona, Blair Yakimoski. Welcome everyone here today. ORAL QUESTIONS Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a first question.

Recent Liquor Mart Robberies Request for Summit to Address Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Yakimoski-like reception there, eh? On a question on the recent spate of thefts from liquor stores, Mr. Speaker. You know, nobody should feel like they're in danger when they go to work or when they're simply visiting a business in the community, and yet time and time again over the past few months we have seen increased thefts from liquor stores, many of which have been broadcast across social media, bringing that issue closer and closer to home.

But, yesterday, one of these incidents, which took place at the Tyndall Park Liquor Mart, rose the issue to a new level, unfortunately. Course, our thoughts are with the victims, both the bystanders and the employees of the Liquor Mart. But what is concerning is that this issue has been raising–has been rising in prominence here in the province of Manitoba, and yet this Premier and this government have not acted to stem the tide.

The question for the Premier today is simple: Will he convene a summit, bringing together unions, community groups, businesses and the provincial government, as well as law enforcement, to get a handle on the thefts from Liquor Marts? Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): Well, of course, our hearts go out to the victims, the family and friends of these people who were attacked by this senseless series of events. * (14:00) In fact, the member is quite wrong in his assertion in respect of actions; we've been taking a whole- of- government approach and we'll continue to.

We've actually embarked on eight new initiatives in just the last five weeks in respect of this and other related issues around crime, contributing over $14 million to those initiatives alone. That being said, when someone is injured as a consequence of an attack such as this, it reminds all of us of the vital importance that lies in making sure we do our best to create an environment of public safety and security for all our citizens. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question.

November 21, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 45 Mr. Kinew: The Tyndall Park Liquor Mart has been a hotspot for this activity for some time. The Premier would be well aware of this; the minister responsible would be well aware of this as well. And yet, in spite of that, they refuse to act and they put no measures in place to prevent an incident such as the one that unfolded yesterday from happening.

Now we see that the liquor corporation is putting into place some additional measures such as a security measure, but the question remains: What steps will be taken to protect paying customers once they leave into the parking lot? Again, we are seeing from this government a lack of attention to the immediate solutions needed to stem the tide of these thefts from liquor stores, but also ignorance regarding the addressing of the long- term root causes that has led to an increase of crime and violence in the city of Winnipeg as well as across the province of Manitoba.

So the question remains: Will the Premier convene this summit and will he comm it to new resources to respond to– Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable minister's – member's time is up. Mr. Pallister: There's a lot in the member's

preamble, none of which is factual. The fact is that we have been taking action and we'll continue to take action. We've been adopting a whole-of-government approach. We've been working with our partners not only in the police forces of our province, but in various other community agencies as well. And so we will continue to take action. That being said, the member would perhaps have the opportunity to explain to Manitobans in his next

preamble why his party, during the run- up to and during the election campaign, failed to mention or make a single reference to public safety in their platform. Mr. Deputy Spea ker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary question. Mr. Kinew: So, the Premier will also know that in addition to the Tyndall Park location being a particular hotspot for this sort of Liquor Mart theft, that the location at Portage and Banning is also a hotspot for this sort of activity.

I'm sure many other MLAs and ministers in the room here know that there are Liquor Mart thefts happening in their communities as well, yet what specific steps is this government taking to stop them today? Silence. That speaks volumes about this government's approach. They refuse to take action to address these problems. Immediately, they could call this summit which would bring together unions, business, law enforce - ment and the Province. But importantly, they need to take action on addressing the root causes – [interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –of crime as well.

On that front, complete silence once again. Mr. Speaker, this government is failing to act. When w ill the Premier commit to calling the summit as well as addressing the root causes of crime in Manitoba? Mr. Pallister: Well, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I fail to accept the member's assertion that he and his party are emblematic of safer streets. The fact of th e matter is that they, in their 50-page platform, did not make one single reference. The member speaks about silence– not one reference: not one reference to safer streets, not one program suggestion.

While we have acted on dozens of program initiatives and, of course, are going to act on more, while we are investing millions –tens of millions of dollars–in working toward safer streets, the member offers not one single suggestion, not one single program assertion, not one advance of one idea except to try to capitalize on the day after a violent action was perpetrated on innocent people by a misguided youth and others. I fail to accept the

preamble of the member. We will continue to work diligently for safer streets and safer neighbourhoods for the people of Manitoba. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question. Municipal Government Funding Operating Grants and Services Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Well, perhaps if the Premier would show some of the outrage for the actual crimes that are occurring that he shows when we attack his policy failures, then maybe we would get somewhere here in the province of Manitoba.

46 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2019 You know, just last week–if he wan ts a solution presented–we presented an idea of providing community supports for organizations like Bear Clan, Mama Bear Clan, Fearless R2W and Aboriginal Youth Opportunities to create that bridge between law enforcement and the community, which is clearly in need of allies at this time. And yet we saw that it was completely absent from any sort of approach addressing the root causes when they brought down their Throne Speech this week. Now, the issue extends further to municipalities across the province of Manitoba.

Within the past few days, we've heard of numerous proposed cuts for libraries, from community centres, even from policing: all services which would help us respond to this current spate of violenc e in Winnipeg. And yet where does the origin of that challenge lie? Mr. Deputy Speaker: The leader's time is up. Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): Long on questions, short on ideas, Mr. Deputy Speaker. And that characterizes the NDP's approach on these issues and many others. The fact remains that we've launched over 100 new initiatives in respect of the issues the member vaguely references without any specificity.

We've launched initiatives to address treatment for those who are engaged in the use –regular use or the addictive use of alcohol, of drugs and other substances. We've engaged in upgrading the educa - tional programs that were never upgraded during four terms of NDP government, so that our children can be educated as to the dangers of drug use. We've engaged experts in the consultative process of designing strategies, through the VIRGO report and other mechanisms, to co -operatively work to make our streets safer for people, to help people live safer lives.

But one thing we will not do is make excuses for criminal behaviour among our young people, as the member opposite seems to want to do on occasion. And I would suggest that we encourage all of us here not to try to score political points on the backs of those victims of crimes of irresponsibl e people who commit– Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable First Minister's time is up. The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Mr. Kinew: Well, all the initiatives that the Premier is highlighting were paid for with federal money, so I hope that Justin Trudeau gets his–[interjection] Mr.

Deputy Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –thank-you card in the mail, Mr. Speaker. So I raise that point because the Premier knows full well the impact of adequate funding from one level of government to the other, and what that has to do with the provision of services. That is relevant today because the city of Winnipeg is now contemplating cuts, as are many other municipalities across the province, to services like policing, to community centres and to libraries. Now, they are being forced into this position because of the cuts and the operating grant freezes that this provincial government has handed down to them.

In light of the current spate of violence and the social challenges o ur province is facing, will the Premier simply reverse his cuts and freezes to municipalities across Manitoba? Mr. Pallister: The City of Winnipeg's police budget is 22 per cent higher than it was 10 years ago, Mr. Speaker. The member always offers, and the NDP consistently offer, no practical solution other than throw money at the problem. That's it.

That's where it starts and ends with them when the actual solutions are much more complex and are being engaged in by many of the people on this side of the House directly, and all of the people on this side of the House indirectly, through partnerships, and through hard work, honest work. Rather than simply saying let's make the problem go away by throwing more money at it, I suggest the member and his colleagues engage in a little research before they make phony assertions, such as the federal government's paying for everything.

They should remember that in those 100 initiatives, 95 -plus of them are provincially funded by provincial taxpayers out of the same pocket that funds federal initiatives. We work with the federal government co - operatively. We'll continue to do that, and we'll work with the City of Winnipeg and the other municipalities as well. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary.

November 21, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 47 Mr.

Kinew: Our communities thrive when we can raise our families in wonderful spaces, when our young people have the ability to expand their minds by accessing books in a local co mmunity library, when our children can reach their full potential, learning the life lessons afforded to them by playing sports out of local community centres, when our family members can shop safely at a Liquor Mart in our community because there is adequ ate law enforcement resources to cape–to keep our com - munities safe. * (14:10) And yet, all of those initiatives are under attack because of this Premier's cuts and his freezes that he has handed down to municipalities across Manitoba.

Now, many Manitobans are starting to connect the dots and they are not happy with the provision of services–or the lack thereof –overseen by this government and its Minister of Finance (Mr. Fielding) dating back to his time as a city councillor. Will the Premier simply stand up today in this House and commit to ending the freeze and the cuts for municipalities right across Manitoba? Mr. Pallister: This year we'll invest more than $1 billion in excess of what the NDP ever did in the caring and compassionate departments of govern- ment. We invest more than any other province in these departments per capita.

In fact, the contributions for police services in the city of Winnipeg have risen at more than twice the rate of inflation over the last decade. The member's simplistic solutions are always in the line of just throw more money at the problem and it'll go away. The member stands on the other side of the House and tries to argue he's a proponent for safer streets when the record he possesses and his party possesses does not speak to the commitment to safer streets. The actions of this government do. WRHA Staffing Levels Employee Engagement Survey MLA Uzoma Asagwara (Union Station): Mr.

Speaker, the WRHA made a $16 -million cut to staffing in ju st one year, as explained in the health authority's financial statement. That's the biggest cut in the history of that organization. In real terms, it means that the people still working in our hospitals are being stretched further and further. Yet rather than engage with our front -line health workers to support their work, the Pallister government decided to cancel this year's 'employmee' –Employee Engagement Survey. Why has the minister allowed this to happen? Hon. Cameron Friesen (Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living): Mr.

Deputy Speaker, yesterday the opposition tried to assert that somehow the number of doctors working in the WRHA was down. It was no more correct yesterday than it is today. It is false. The number of doctors, including em ergency physicians in emergency departments, is up. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for Union Station, on a supplementary question. MLA Asagwara: Mr. Speaker, the Pallister government's cancellation of the Employee Engagement Survey, which is t he question I was asking about previously, is really –just doesn't make any sense.

Just weeks ago, the health region called a press conference focused specifically on the recruitment and retention strategies, and they recognized that they don't have enough staff. Yet, at that exact moment, the Pallister government cancelled the Employee Engagement Survey. To put it plainly, they say they want a strong workforce, but they don't really want to hear what the workers in our hospitals have to say. So again, I ask: Why has the minister allowed – [interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. MLA Asagwara: –that to happen? Mr. Friesen: Mr.

Deputy Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to respond to the member's comments yesterday in which they asserted a $16-million decrease in overall salaries and wages in health care. Now, I would say to all members that that was almost exclusively as a result of our commitment to tone at the top and trimming at the top. There are no front-line, no non- union–or, only non -unionized, only administrative positions that comprise that actual $16-million decrease. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for Union Station, on a final supplementary. MLA Asagwara: Mr.

Speaker, I want to address what's going on in terms of the minister's wanting–or lack of wanting–to listen to what front- line service workers are trying to have made clear.

48 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2019 This government has cut millions of dollars from front-line staff, as documented in the health authority's annual–[interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. MLA Asagwara: –financial statement. There are 131 less beds in Winnipeg hospitals. Any staffperson at any level in the regional health authority would tell this government that more capacity is needed. In fact, they're telling this government that more capacity is needed, and yet the minister clearly doesn't want to hear that. The survey was cancelled. It was the wrong approach.

It's not what Manitobans expect or deserve– Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member's time is up. Mr. Friesen: Mr. Deputy Speaker, yesterday the opposition tried to assert that there are less doctors working now in Manitoba when, in actuality, there are more doctors working in Manitoba. So, are there more nurses working now in Manitoba? Yes. Are there more doctors working now in Manitoba? Are there more emergency department physicians working at the WRHA? Is this government getting better health care senior –sooner for all Manitobans? Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for Thompson, on a question.

Access to Affordable Child Care Wait-List and Capital Projects Ms. Danielle Adams (Thompson): Mr. Speaker, we know more and more parents are struggling to find affordable public child care. Sadly, it is women that are typically impacted most with this. But I don't think this concerns the minister. Through a freedom of information request, which I will table, we have learned a total of 12 previously approved capital projects were placed on hold. Those projects were previously approved and ready to be built and expand early child-care centres in Manitoba. Why has the minister placed these projects on hold? Hon.

Heather Stefanson (Minister of Families): I thank the member for the question. And I will indicate for the member that we are working diligently with the Manitoba Child Care Association, with parents and families, closely to ensure that we move towards a better system that is more available for Manitoba families. We know that we inherited a significant mes s from the previous NDP government. We are committed to cleaning up that mess on behalf of Manitoba families to ensure that they have the daycare that they need when they need it. Mr.

Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for Thompson, on a supplementary question. Ms. Adams: These are critical, needed child -care spaces that the Premier (Mr. Pallister) and his minister have placed on hold. These are opportunities for families to go to work, go to school, and they are simply being set aside. They are afraid to admit that they are failing to provide more child-care spaces. Mr. Speaker, in a free –in the same freedom of information we found the government has not updated the child-care wait-list but they have–and they will not disclose it.

Will the minister disclose the number of children on the child-care wait-list today? Mrs. Stefanson: Well, I can tell the member opposite that that child-care wait-list more than doubled under the previous NDP watch, Madam Speaker. We will work and continue to work with the Manitoba Child Care Association, with Manitoba families, towards ensuring that there is affordable child care there for Manitobans when they need it.

What I will also say is one thing that we did announce in the last election is more than 1,500 new child-care spaces as a result of the expansion and the building of more schools in Manitoba, 13 more schools on top of the seven more schools that were previously introduced, Mr. Deputy Speaker. So, I know members opposite, you know, they want to say, you know, whatever they want from their seat, but we know the record under that previous NDP government, and I'll take no lessons– Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member's – minister's time is up.

The honourable member for Thompson, on a final supplementary question. [interjection] Order. Ms. Adams: Mr. Speaker, they stopped publicly disclosing the wait-list in June of 2018 and now they won't even disclose the numbers to the public. That can only mean one thing: that the wait -list has

November 21, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 49 increased and they are af raid to admit that they have broken yet another promise. They are making it more difficult for public facilities to provide quality staff and programming through their funding freezes. Now we have learned that they are putting capital projects on hold and they are afraid to admit their cuts are growing the wait-list. Why is the minister depriving our public of a child-care–[interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Ms. Adams: –system? Mrs. Stefanson: Well, again, the member opposite is completely wron g in her

preamble, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and I'll reiterate again for the House that we're working closely with the Manitoba Child Care Association. We have a ministerial advisory group that will be meeting next week as well. Mr. Deputy Speaker, we take th e issues of child-care affordability and of child-care accessibility very seriously.

That's certainly why we have ex - panded our child-care tax credit as well, to ensure that we partner with the business community to–for the not-for-'profis'–profit sectors of our communities so that we can partner towards building more daycare facilities in the province of Manitoba to ensure that there are those spaces ready for Manitoba families when they need the child care. * (14:20) Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for Flin Flon, on a question. [interjection] Order. Obstetric Services in Flin Flon Request for Reinstatement Mr.

Tom Lindsey (Flin Flon): November 18th marked the one -year anniversary since this government did away with obstetric services in Flin Flon. Dozens of families, children marched down the streets to protest this and to ask a very simple question: when will obstetric services be res tored in Flin Flon? Their statement was very simple: We want birth. So when will this minister tell us that he's restoring obstetric services in Flin Flon, and when is he going to make that happen? Hon. Cameron Friesen (Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living): That member knows that the Premier (Mr.

Pallister) and I were very proud to attend Flin Flon's opening of the emergency department, a $27- million new opening for that community. The member also knows that, personally, myself and also –I'm a–the minister sat down and met with that group to talk about their concerns. And the member also knows the decisions to suspend those services was done on the basis of safety, as ordered by a doctor and a nurse expert. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for Flin Flon, on a supplementary question. Mr. Lindsey: Madam–or, excuse me, Mr.

Speaker, the minister won't tell is that he forced the regional health authorities to use vacancy management in order to meet their austerity demands. The minister need only look at the health region's two public compensation disclosure documents. It shows a 19 per cent decline in the number of physicians working in the Northern Health Region in just one year–19 per cent reduction in one year. Why is the minister running northern health care into the ground and hurting our communities? Mr. Friesen: Well, Mr.

Deputy Speaker, I'm a bit confused by the assertion that somehow the opening of a new $27- million emergency department for Flin Flon is somehow running it into the ground. Beyond that, I would say, though, Mr. Deputy Speaker, that this government has been clear that, while we inherited a mess, in terms of health care, from the NDP, we are working every day to be able to build the system that is more sustainab le, better organized, with accountability built in, so that we have good health care not just today, but long into the future–not just here, but in the North. Mr.

Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for Flin Flon, on a final supplementary question. Mr. Lindsey: The minister talks about opening a new ER, but he fails to talk about closing every other service at that hospital in Flin Flon. So it's been a year since we've been without – [interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Mr. Lindsey: –obstetrics in Flin Flon. The region has been slow to staff up in order to meet the austerity demands of the Pallister government. Nineteen per cent decline in the number of physicians. The minister won't talk about that.

50 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2019 Who knows what's next on the c hopping block. The minister can resolve this today by committing to the funds necessary to staff the North appropriately and he can commit to staffing up an obstetrics unit in Flin Flon. Will he do that today? Mr. Friesen: Mr. Deputy Speaker, I will rev iew Hansard, but I believe that the member just indicated that there was a closing of every other service at the Flin Flon hospital, which is not just disagreeable, it is actually disappointing; it is fear mongering. Mr.

Deputy Speaker, where the NDP oversaw the disorganization and the disintegration of our health- care system, we are fixing that. We are rebuilding the Manitoba health-care system to get better care closer to home. And over the next number of months, that member will see how we are bringing health care back home to the North after years of disrepair by the NDP. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for Notre Dame, on a question. Throne Speech Poverty Reduction Ms. Malaya Marcelino (Notre Dame): Mr. Deputy Speaker, tens of thousands of Manitobans live in poverty. Thousands go hungry every day.

Yet, unfortunately, Tuesday's Throne Speech included exactly zero references to the word poverty. It's a missed opportunity and it certainly is revealing about the Pallister government's priorities. I ask the minister: Why is poverty missing from the Pallister government's agenda? Hon. Heather Stefanson (Minister of Families): Well, Mr. Deputy Speaker, when poverty was mentioned in the context of the previous NDP government, it was mentioned in a way that Manitoba was the child poverty capital of Canada.

That is not something to be proud of at all, and that's why we took measurable steps to ensure that we put programs in place to ensure that we reduced that child poverty –the child poverty rate by some 42 per cent, Mr. Deputy Speaker. We know that there's more work to be done, and we're committed to working with stakeholders in community towards eradicating poverty in our communities. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for Notre Dame, on a supplementary question. Ms. Marcelino: Mr.

Deputy Speaker, the 2019 HungerCount report shows that Manitoba has the highest food bank usage rate in the country and the highest percentage of children using food banks. In the constituency that I serve, seniors tell me that they live on a grocery budget of $6 per day, weekly food bank usage for families is normal, and we have schoolteachers who regularly pack extra food for their classroom students, and on Friday afternoons, schools give out food packages because they know that their students are unlikely to eat during the weekend. Yet, the word poverty does not appear one time in the Throne Speech.

Why is the Pallister government leaving so many Manitobans behind? Mrs. Stefanson: I thank the member for the question. There are indicators that are used nationally and standards that are used nationally to decipher what the poverty rates are across the country, and I know that under the previous NDP government we were the child poverty capital of Canada. That was absolutely unacceptable. We put various measures in place to ensure that we have improved child poverty rates in Manitoba.

We recognize that no child that lives in poverty is acceptable, and we will move toward s eradicating that, but we're not going to do this by playing politics across the floor of this Chamber, Mr. Deputy Speaker. We'll do it by working together. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for Notre Dame, on a final supplementary question. Ms. Marcelino: Mr. Deputy Speaker, there has not been a single new commitment to social housing since the Pallister government came to office.

This is despite all the research that points to housing- first policy successes that has changed the lives of thousands of Canadians for the better. This government seems incapable of under - standing that the wave of crime and addiction that we are experiencing are rooted in issues of poverty, violence and childhood trauma. If they did, the word poverty would have appeared at least once. Will the Pallister government reconsider its approach and include poverty in their Throne Speech next year? Mrs. Stefanson: We are taking measures to make life more affordable for Manitoba families.

In fact, we have–there's 3,000 more Ma nitoba families that are

November 21, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 51 helped through our programs by the way of Rent Assist. So that helps in the area of housing, Mr. Deputy Speaker. It goes without saying, really, that we inherited a mess from the previous NDP government: over $1 billion in deferred maintenance charges that–on the backs of taxpayers of Manitoba. That affected the number of units that were available for those families that need them, because of their neglect of housing–of the current housing stock that Manitoba Families–that housing had for–in–under MHRC.

So we're working towards eradicating those problems, Madam Speaker– Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable minister's time is up. Public Safety and Crime Government Response Mr. Dougald Lamont (St. Boniface): The Premier's major response to concerns about crime has been to cherry-pick statistics and deny that it's a problem. The fact that the NDP didn't mention public safety in their platform once is no excuse for the inaction and denial we're seeing from this government. For a government in its second term, it's an increasingly threadbare excuse. The Premier's had three years of majority govern- ment.

Either he's in charge and responsible or he isn't. But since 2015, property crime is up 70 per cent, employees are being terrorized, and now hospitalized, by brazen thefts and not just at liquor stores. Whatever this government is doing, it ain't working. Does this Premier recognize that on his watch, criminals feel as though they can steal as much as they want and nothing will happen to them? [interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Mr. Lamont: When is this government going to enforce the law? * (14:30) Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): Well, I'm – unfortunately, Mr.

Deputy Speaker, I think you may be losing control here a little bit because I wasn't able to hear the last part of the member's question, but I will say this: the

part I did hear was something about he isn't working, and I would dispute that. I am sure he's working very hard. But we are working even harder. We're working even harder to address the issues of crime in our province and we'll continue to do that. We'll do it co-operatively and collaboratively. We'll continue to work with other levels of government. We'll continue to work with the municipalities in our province. We'll continue to work with the police forces, the prosecutors, the staff, the experts in our province who offer advice.

We'll continue to consult and we will continue to implement, as we have been doing strategies that we believe can counter the trend of individual behaviour that is indescribably ignorant and hurtful. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for St. Boniface, on a supplementary question. Mr. Lamont: When it comes to crime, this has been a do-nothing government. The Justice Department lost years of annual reports from the IIU. There's a crisis of the administration of justice in northern Manitoba.

We have overdose deaths that aren't being reported to the medical examiner, a record number of murders in Winnipeg; but Thompson, Manitoba, is actually Canada's most dangerous city. We heard six months ago that anti-theft measures in Liquor Marts were working, but now the problem is worse than ever. Employees and customers are being terrorized and assaulted. Does the Premier really think the Justice Minister is doing a good job when it's clear that criminals can steal with impunity in this province? Mr. Pallister: I appreciate a question on SNC-Lavalin from the member, Mr.

Speaker, but that being said, we're addressing the issues of crime, crime prevention through a complex strategy, multi-faceted and all-party, all hands on deck, if the member would like to get involved. Certainly, we have all the departments working collaboratively. We have initiated a number of programs specifically designed to address the social and the economic determinants –factors that can contribute to criminal activity.

We have consistently invested more in our Families Department, our Education Department and Health Department to make sure that we are making the necessary investments, and we're doing so on a collaborative and foresighted manner, I might add, Mr. Deputy Speaker, as well. So the member's assertions are false, and this is why he is where he is. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for St. Boniface, on a final supplementary question.

52 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2019 Mr. Lamont: For many years the city of Glasgow was the murder capital of Europe. This changed after they took a different approach to reducing and defusing gang violence to actively intervening with gang members to get them out of the life with the creation of violence prevention networks. It worked. It is not enough to ask people and businesses to buy a stronger door that won't break when someone tries to kick it in. We want to reduce the number of people kicking in doors in Manitoba.

Will the Premier consider an al l-party task force on crime to work with communities in order to develop recommendations on reducing crime and making communities 'safeter', not just punishment after the fact? Mr. Pallister: What an incredibly misguided approach, Mr. Deputy Speaker, to m ake false assertions, accusatory

preambles, repeat them, put them on the record, and then ask for an all -party action committee. Mr. Speaker, we have no desire to do anything but work with the experts on these issues, and we'll continue to do that, and to work with community representatives, the police, the prosecutors, but also those engaged in community betterment. We are not focused only on treatment, but also on education and preventative investments. And this multi -faceted approach will take time to work, as it did in Glasgow. Emergency Medical Services Announcement of New Ambulances Mr. Brad Michaleski (Dauphin): Mr.

Speaker, after 17 years of the NDP government's mismanagement of taxpayers' dollars, our EMS system was outdated and ambulance fees were one of the highest in Canada. Can the Minister of Health please update this House on the work our government has undertaken to improve our EMS system and the safety and quality of care for Manitobans and our front -line EMS professionals? Hon. Cameron Friesen (Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living): Mr. Deputy Speaker, I thank the member for Dauphin for the question. I also thank him for hosting the member for Brandon East (Mr.

Isleifson), the new legislative assistant for Health, and also the new minister of government services when they opened the final completion of the new Dauphin emergency department just a week ago. Mr. Deputy Speaker, we promised to reduce ambulance fees by 50 per cent. We did it. We promised to hire 150 new paramedics, and we did it. We've now–we're now committed to hiring 80 new paramedics. And last week we just announced the arrival of the first of a fleet of new ambulances for the province of Manitoba: a $10- million investment to improve emergency medical services across the entire province.

We are getting better health care sooner, and this includes new ambulances for all of Manitobans to have– Mr. Deputy Speaker: The minister's time is up. The honourable member for St. Vital, on a first question. Northern Manitoba Freezing of CEDF Loans Mr. Jamie Moses (St. Vital): Mr. Deputy Speaker, on Tuesday the Pallister government missed a great opportunity to announce it was lifting the freeze on business loans through the Communities Economic Development Fund. The fund provides vital financial support to businesses in northern Manitoba, but it has been frozen for two years.

Why is this Pallister government dragging on this for over two years when the support is needed now? Hon. Scott Fielding (Minister of Finance): Our government's very proud of the record we have in terms of getting the fundamentals of government right to en sure private sector investment happens in the province of Manitoba. We know that Manitoba's leading the nation in private sector capital investment. That means money that's coming into the province and it also means jobs, Madam Speaker. We encourage the opposition to join our plan to create 40,000 new jobs for Manitobans. Mr.

Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for St. Vital, on a supplementary question. Mr. Moses: The CEO of CEDF, Mr. Speaker, appeared before the Thompson city counci l on October 28th and expressed the organization's desire to meet with the Pallister government to establish business loans–again, in the very near future. Can the minister tell us the status of that request for that meeting and simply tell us when the loans will be reinstated? Mr. Fielding: Our government is interested in meeting anyone that wants to create jobs in the

November 21, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 53 province of Manitoba. That's why we have some of the longest, lowest unemployment rate in Canada. That's why we see things happening in Manitoba. We have over 40,000 job-creation plan that's in place that will create jobs. We think that's a strategy that's going to work for Manitobans. We're seeing some success, Madam–Mr. Deputy Speaker, in terms of the private sector capital investment. They're seeing Manitoba as an opportune place to come and invest, and that's exactly what's happening. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for St.

Vital, on a final supplementary question. Mr. Moses: Economic diversification is needed now more than ever, not just at the time of the Pallister government's choosing. The freezing of this two-year delay of new business loans for CEDF should never have occurred. Why is the Pallister government neglecting this important financial lifeline in northern M anitoba for far too long? Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): I wasn't sure if I heard lifeline or pipeline there, Mr. Speaker. As far as the economic aspects of growing– [interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Mr.

Pallister: –an economy, the NDP never misses a chance to kill jobs. In the midst of a very, very, very challenging harvest time, in the midst of tremendous stress for many, many families, especially farm families in rural Manitoba, CN threatens to strike and then launches a strike. And to show total 'insensity' – insensitivity towards the plight of not only farm families but all those who depend on the logistical services of CN rail, the Leader of the Opposition decides to enter into the fray and do a photo op with the Teamsters. This is the level–[interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Mr.

Pallister: –of insensitivity to the millions of dollars put at risk, the operating loans, the challenges that small businesses and family farms have to face every single day, the stress that family farms have to endure, and the member opposite decides to launch into the fray and pick sides, ignoring the realities being faced by Manitoba families today. Shame on him. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Time for oral questions have– has expired. An Honourable Member: On a point of order. Point of Order Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a point of order. Mr.

Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Yes, I congratulate the First Minister on his continued interest in the federal Conservative leadership campaign there, however I maintain committed to standing up for the–[interjection] * (14:40) Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Mr. Kinew: –people of Manitoba. I will share an interesting fact with the– Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Order. Let's have respect in this Chamber here. Shame on everyone here. Mr. Kinew: I'll share a quick fact that I learned from the Teamsters who were out on strike.

So the trains that are currently being moved by CN right now are not domestic product. They are currently prioritizing international shipments. These are intermodal trains. That means product coming into the country from China and emptied train cars heading back to port to be shipped back overseas. So while this side of the House may want to stand up on the side of the billionaire shareholder class that has created this strike, we will stand up for the working people of Manitoba every single time. Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable Government House Leader, on the same point of order. Hon.

Kelvin Goertzen (Government House Leader): The member opposite cited no breach of a rule. He did, of course, protest too much, Mr. Deputy Speaker. He knows the hardship that is happening as a result of the strike. I think that the Premier's (Mr. Pallister) words struck very close to the heart of the Leader of the Opposition, and that is why he felt that he had to stand up, so I hope that he actually takes the words from the Premier to heart, and I hope he reflects on those over the next day, and he may want to come back to the House with an apology.

54 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2019 As to any leadership intentions, from what I've seen in this House, the only person who should be worried about leadership is the member who occupies, for now, the office of the Leader of the Opposition, Madam Speaker. Mr. Deputy Speaker: On that point of order – [interjection] Order. Order. Order. On that point, the Leader of the Official Opposition ( Mr. Kinew) does not have a point of order; the dispute is over the facts. * * * Mr. Deputy Speaker: And–but let's just have respect for each other in this Chamber. We've got a little bit too much heckling there.

Let's respect each other's differences, and go on with debating here. The time for oral questions has expired, as I said before. Now for orders of the day, gover nment business. Oh, petitions. Sorry. PETITIONS Personal-Care Homes Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background to this petition is as follows: Manitoba elders and seniors ha ve built this province and should receive a high level of support, having earned the right to be treated with due respect, dignity, understanding and compassion as a funda - mental human right.

Seniors who reside in personal -care homes have more diverse and complex physical and brain health issues today than those who were in similar homes even just five years ago, yet the staffing formula, or minimal personnel requirement, is over 20 years old. The issue of the changes to, and more complex nature of, care is being exacerbated by the provincial government policy of discharging people out of hospitals more quickly, leaving many residents still in need of a high level of care.

Manitoba does not have enough health-care aides and nurses specifically trained to care for seniors with high and complex levels of physical and mental issues such as those with dementia, coupled with multiple chronic conditions. The added complexity of care with such residents is putting additional stress on doctors and family members, as it may take six to eight weeks for a doctor to see a resident in a personal-care home.

Unfortunately, the lack of quality care received by many residents is not unique, causing one person to say that: It was easier to watch my dad die in the personal-care home than to watch him live in the personal-care home. Staff are so overworked that they are forced to tell senior elders and residents in need: Go in your diaper; I can't help you; or, you will get food eventually. Relatives are also being told that residents in care homes should not ever expect to walk again after hip or knee replacement surgery because care homes are not set up for rehabilitation.

The provincial government has allowed personal- care homes to serve food that is warmed from frozen instead of being freshly cooked, depriving seniors the taste of good food, which is one of the few real pleasures that they would be able to enjoy at this time of life. Although residents enter personal -care homes to have the best possible quality of life in their last few days, weeks, months or years, relatives repeatedly hear the words: He came here to die; and: She came here to die.

Relatives are relatively angry, frustrated, disap - pointed and shocked at the care their loved ones now receive in Manitoba's personal-care homes. Administrators in personal-care homes respond to complaints by stating they need more better –and better-trained staff. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to increase training and staffing requirements for personal -care homes in Manitoba to ensure residents receive high- quality, nutritious food as well as compassionate care. Signed by Monique Earle, Rachel Scarpino, Wayne Lebosse [phonetic] and many others.

Mr. Deputy Speaker: In accordance with our rule 133-6, when petitions are read they must be deemed to be received by the House.

November 21, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 55 ORDERS OF THE DAY GOVERNMENT BUSINESS Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable House leader– Government House Leader. Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Government House Leader): Sure, whatever, Madam –Mr. Deputy Speaker. I'm not hung up on titles. Could you please resume debate on the Throne Speech? House Business Ms.

Nahanni Fontaine (Official Opposition House Leader): On House business, pursuant to rule 33(8), I am announcing that the next private member's resolution to be considered on the next Thursday of private member's business will be one put forward for the honourable member for St. Johns. The title o f the resolution is Call to Address the Urgent Public Safety Crisis. Miigwech. Mr. Deputy Speaker: It was brought by the honourable member for St. Johns (Ms.

Fontaine) that, pursuant of rule 33(8), I am now announcing that the private member's resolution to be considered for next Thursday of private member's business will be one put forward by the honourable member for St. Johns. The title of this resolution is called the –Call to Address the Urgent Public Safety Crisis. In order? THRONE SPEECH (Second Day of Debate) Mr. Deputy Speaker: The honourable member for– is–resume debate on the Throne Speech brought–that followed address presented by the –His Honour the Administrator. Mr.

Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): I would like to begin my remarks today by acknowledging that we are gathered on Treaty 1 territory in the homeland and birthplace of the Metis Nation. I also want to acknowledge that all of us here gathered in the Chamber represent communities that are on, you know, the treaty territories and ancestral homelands of the Dakota, the Dene, the Anishinabe, the Anishininiw, the Cree, the Metis and the Inuit.

We are preparing to celebrate the 150th anniver - sary of the creation of the province of Manitoba, and so I think we ought to acknowledge 150 years ago that there was a great leader by the name of Louis Riel, who helped to usher our province into confederation. Now, Louis Riel was our crucial leader. He was our father of Confederation, and he was our first premier, Mr. Deputy Speaker. He formed a progressive government here in this territory, and he declared a bill of rights–a bill of rights that recognized the need to protect linguistic minorities, including the Franco-Manitoban community.

He articulate d the affirmations of the rights of indigenous people, and he brought forth a vision where people from all backgrounds could live here and work together to make successful lives for themselves and their families. Louis Riel founded Manitoba as a pluralis tic, multicultural democracy made up of people who have a right to strong public services and public infra - structure.

It's remarkable to think that he articulated all those things 150 years ago, and I'm very proud to stand here in this Chamber today, as should be every member in this Legislature, proud to be here as inheritors of Louis Riel's legacy. * (14:50) That was 150 years ago.

Moving ahead to 100 years ago, we had the Winnipeg General Strike, which was a time when workers here in our Capital Region rose up together to declare their right to a living wage, to have the right to come home safely at the end of the day when they go to work in the morning and, of c ourse, to have the freedom to negotiate and to bargain collectively. Now, I would note that some 100 years later, many of these rights are still being fought for by people in the labour movement and workers and working people across Manitoba. But coming out of that general strike 100 years ago, J. S.

Woodsworth became a prominent leader in this province and eventually founded the CCF which, in turn, became the NDP. Now, I'm very proud, as are all my colleagues, to be leaders within the political movement that is the inheritor of those leaders of the Winnipeg General Strike, including leaders like Helen "Ma" Armstrong, who is very prominent in the women's labour league. Now we, on this side of the House, stand firm in advocating for those rights, which is why many of my colleagues and I today joined the Teamsters who are currently on strike at CN.

Again, we stand on the side of people who have to work for a living and the rights

56 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2019 that they have guaranteed under our Charter of Rights and Freedoms here in Canada. So, it was 150 years ago, 100 years ago. We move now to 50 years ago this year. Ed Schreyer, in 1969, became premier of Manitoba and, in the process, formed our first NDP government. Now, in his time in office he did many remarkable things, things that we would even regard as truly progressive today.

He brought forward affordable public car insurance; he paved the way for a carbon - free electricity grid; they brought forward, for the first time, the idea of a basic income, and he ended the Conservative practice of charging health -care premiums here in the province of Manitoba.

Now, since Schreyer's time, the NDP has governed Manitoba for 32 of the last 50 years, and in the process, those governments helped to realize many aspects of Riel's vision, including in the Pawley years under Premier Howard Pawley, when we saw the introduction of a human rights code and the attendant protections of human rights, as well as the protection of French language rights here in the province of Manitoba. Those rights were later expanded under Premier Gary Doer, who was elected 20 years ago this year, and, of course, Premier Greg Selinger.

Now, in the intervening years, we've also seen strong moves from NDP leadership while in opposition. Perhaps most notably Elijah Harper stood in this very Chamber and stopped the Meech Lake Accord for its refusal to adequately regard the rights of indigenous peoples, and I speak on behalf of our entire caucus in saying that we are very proud to be inheritors of that great legacy. Now, the NDP caucus and the team that I'm very proud to stand here with today is impressive by any standard. We have people here who all did something very difficult to get elected to this place.

We had members who made history in the process of coming to this Chamber, and we have some members who are still fighting each and every day to be able to sit in this House. I'm thinking of my colleague from Transcona at this time. And so we're very proud of our team. I would say to you, Mr. Speaker, we are the only party in Manitoba that increased our seat count in this recent election and we took most of those seats from the government. That's right, Mr. Speaker. The government lost seats, including part of their Cabinet, in the most recent election, and anything else that they tell you is nothing but spin.

So we're very happy to be returned here with an increased number of seats. I hear the member from Assiniboia chirping and perhaps laying out the reasons why he refused to stand for re -election in St. James. Again, we know that he was fearful of the fact that the government was losing seats and I don't blame him. Again, trying to defend the moves that the Pallister government has made certainly didn't fly with the people of St. James and not with many other Manitobans as well.

Now, again, moving past the government's spin and just re -affirming once again for the record that they lost seats in the recent provincial election, that they lost one of their Cabinet colleagues, I do just want to return and reiterate the fact that I am very proud of the team that I am a part of here on our side of the Chamber. Now, I'm very honoured to have been chosen by the people of Manitoba to lead their official opposition and to act as the voice of conscience in this Chamber and to hold this government to account.

Now, it's an important role and it's a role that I share with my colleagues in a very humble way. And we hope that over the intervening years –four years, likely; perhaps three years if there's another early election–we will prove to the people of Manitoba that we are worthy of their support and we'll be working very hard to earn the right to form their next government here in the province of Manitoba. Now, to be sure, there is a lot of work to do.

We have a lot of work to do to earn that trust, but when I look at our caucus, and when I look at our team, I see a team that is getting closer to representing Riel's vision for Manitoba and indeed the vision that this province was founded on. Now, of course, we have much more work to do. There are certain aspects where we have to go beyond the vision that Louis Riel articulated here in Manitoba. And at this time I'm thinking specifically of the issue of gender, which Louis Riel did not include in his list of rights.

And so, be ginning very, very soon, we're going to be bringing forward measures to ensure that everybody in Manitoba has the respect and is included by this government, and I'm talking about all expressions of gender there. And over the next few years we will be work ing very hard to identify, to mentor and to support more women to enter into politics so that we achieve gender equity with the election of our next caucus and of our future Cabinet. Now, this is an important step, along with other issues of representatio n, that we all must take seriously here. And when we achieve these goals, we

November 21, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 57 will all be the benefactors of that progress. Indeed, our democracy works best when everyone's voices are included, and I say that in terms of gender, I say that in terms of cultural communities, I say that in terms of economic backgrounds. For the people, by the people is an American phrase, but it is an ideal that we ought all aspire to when it comes to the exercise of our right to vote. Climate change is one of the defining is sues of our time, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

One of the reasons why I entered into politics is because I want to help solve the climate crisis. Now, let's be clear: future generations will judge us by the way that we respond to the threat of global warming, and, specifically, future generations will judge us by the way that we responded to this threat of global warming over the next decade.

Now, they will ask each of us, as parents and as grandparents, you know, our kids and grandkids will sit us down someday and ask us what we did when we had a chance to act to prevent floods, ice storms and smoke from forest fires from permanently degrading and destroying our way of life here in Manitoba. And it's my intention, when they ask us what we did, that I will be able to say that I did what I could. And so we know what is needed in order to address the issue of climate change, Mr. Deputy Speaker. We have to set targets that will help us end global warming.

We have to put in place job-creating policies that will allow us to achieve those targets. But importantly, if politicians and political leaders fail to achieve those targets, then there must be accountability, and we should exercise accountability as severely as we do when governments fail to balance their budgets. A gain, we pay attention to fiscal accounting; it's time for us to pay attention to environmental accounting as well. * (15:00) So the climate crisis is certainly a topic that demands urgent attention on the public policy level as political leaders.

But I would argue that each of us also has a personal responsibility to do our part to assist the environment as well. So that's why, in my own life and in my own home, I am trying to take many steps to try and improve the impact that I have on the environment. So I switched the way that I get around from point A to point B. I continue to try and raise my kids to know how to live off the land. And so when we do eat meat these days, it's probably an animal that we've harvested ourselves or perhaps it's from the farmer that I order meat from in southwestern Manitoba –perhaps, actually, in your constituency, Mr.

Deputy Speaker –who practises regenerative agriculture, meaning he's raising cattle and chickens and other animals on the land in a way that's designed to reduce emissions and yet to still have a good yield.

And so this sort of personal responsibility, personal agency and individual accounting, I think, is needed for all of us in order to be able to solve the climate crisis, and I'm hopeful that all 57 –56 of my colleagues will take that seriously and in addition to acting in the public sphere, that as MLAs we will also help to spread the word in our own communities about the good work that we can do to help prevent global warming from turning the 'curmet' –current climate crisis into a climate catastrophe.

Now, in our recent alternative speech from the throne, we articulated many visions for how we might improve on the government's governing agenda. And, unfortunately, I was not surprised when they brought forth their Throne Speech that the document that we had prepared a week in advance pretty neatly anticipated the announcements that they were about to make. So to draw your attention to a few of these priority areas, we know that there is a continued emphasis on cutting health care on the part of this government.

And so we propose a different approach that sees us move upstream and invest in keeping people healthy in the community and healthy at home so that we can not only make the health-care system more sustainable in the long term, but also guarantee a strong quality of life for Manitobans for many, many years to come.

When we turn to education, we know that this government is intent on launching an education review whose predetermined outcomes likely include the amalgamation of school divisions, reduction in the amount of teachers and cuts to education funding–in fact, they campaigned on cutting education funding in the recent election–whereas we view education as an investment in young people that will help them adapt to the changing technology -driven society, which is continuing its evolution all around us. Now, I've spoken with–Mr.

Deputy Speaker, I've spoken with many tech experts, and what they tell me is that for sure you need what are called hard skill training: math, science, STEM topics. You need to be able to code and things like that. But many of these tech leaders tell me that those skills are often out of date within two to five years after being acquired by a

58 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2019 learner. And so what young people real ly need to be able to do during their educational journeys is to learn the ability to be autodidacts. Spelled more clearly and maybe a more conversational way, young people need to learn about lifelong learning. They need to develop the critical thinking, creative thinking and collaborative skills that will allow them to adapt to a changing world and a changing environment.

One of the best ways for young people to get this is to have a strong education from the K -to-12 level, but then also, you know, to ha ve access to good college programs, to have good access to liberal arts undergraduate educations and then to have access to professional training as well, should they choose to further their educations in that direction. Now, unfortunately, what we've seen so far from this government is a refusal to recognize that that is the way the world is headed and that young people ought to be able to have those academic freedoms and academic opportunities at their disposal.

Instead, we're seeing a narrowing of the focus of education and vision, if you could even call it that, on the part of this government, that renders young people into simply being cogs in the machine. Now, recently, we have also been talking a lot about public safety and the issue of crime in the province of Manitoba. In the recent Throne Speech, we saw a very narrow dealing with the topic, one that failed to deal with addressing the root causes.

So what we advocate for on this side of the House is that we need immediate steps to make sure that peop le feel safe and secure in our communities right across Manitoba. But we also, at the same time, need to pay attention to the long-term investments that are needed to turn the issue of crime and violence in our communities into a more positive direction. And so, from our recent alternative throne speech, I'd highlight just a couple of ideas. One is to provide stable operating funding to the Bear Clan Patrol.

Whether you're in Brandon, here in Winnipeg, Selkirk, other communities, I think we all recognize the good work that Bear Clan is doing to provide a link between community members and services and, in some cases, even law enforcement. Now, the other issue that I wanted to present from the alternative throne speech on this topic that I think is a good one that the government ought to pay attention to is the idea of placing community resources led by organizations like Fearless R2W, Aboriginal Youth Opportunities, Mama Bear Clan and others into schools where they could interact with young people.

Many of us in this Chamber are familiar with school resource officers. These are police officers who are placed into schools. They attend high school hockey games. They attend graduation ceremonies. They attend, you know, just school on a day -to-day level, talking to kids in the hallway, the idea being that they can build a link between the students and the police services so that they can help better connect with young people when they are in need.

And so what we're proposing is to use a similar model, but to place community-based allies into those positions, so that you might have somebody like a Michael Champaign in a school like William Whyte, and then they notice when a young person hasn't been there for a few days–hey, is everything okay? Is there something going on at home that we can help you with? Could we maybe recommend that you talk to somebody who might be able to assist you with some of the challenges?

And, if we lower the barriers to entry for people asking for help, if we meet young people where they're at, if we wrap them with services and access to a pathway to success that begins with education, continues through post -secondary, advances with a good job that pays a living wage and then, of course, continues on to home ownership and the building of generational wealth for that family, then that is when we are going to truly transform things into our society into being one where each of us can be proud inheritors of Louis Riel's legacy and the articulators of his vision. [interjection] I want to thank my colleague, Matt–or thank my colleague from Concordia there for his continued dedication to this mission, and it's one that I take very seriously.

And so, over the next few years, but this session in particular, you are going to see us pushing to not just honour Louis Riel's vision and legacy with words, but to do so with actions. And so as long as God is willing and as long as the river doesn't rise, I will be here each and every day, pushing forward on that front. And so I thank you for your atte ntion, Mr. Deputy Speaker. However, if you've been listening carefully to question period and the Throne Speech, you will know that this government has already failed in their responsibility to govern responsibly for the people of Manitoba.

And so it is with great hesitation, but indeed, after careful deliberation, that I now move an amendment that will culminate with this government

November 21, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 59 falling, the triggering of a new general election and the election of a new NDP government for our 150th anniversary. Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Mr. Kinew: Maybe. I don't know. We'll see. Maybe not. We'll have to see. But I do think that the members from Riding Mountain and Assiniboia, you know, shades of The Muppet Show over there that they are, are actually listening with open hearts and open minds and open ears. And so they will have to listen carefully–and I say that with love.

I say that with love and friendship and admiration and good vibes across the Chamber floor today, Mr. Deputy Speaker. So with all that said, I move, seconded by the member for Union Station (MLA Asagwara), THAT the motion be amended by adding at the end the following words: But this House regrets that the provincial government has: (

a) continued to freeze funding for munici - palities, 'forching' large –forcing large communities like Winnipeg, Brandon, Thompson, Dauphin and Selkirk, and smaller communities like Gimli and St. Lazare to make difficult decisions on cuts to public services and programming that keep communities safe and welcoming; and (

b) broken the health-care system that Manitoba families and seniors rely on by closing emergency rooms, firing hundreds of nurses, privatizing life-saving services for rural and northern communities, eliminating more than 130 hospital beds in Winnipeg, ending obstetric services in Flin Flon and failing to build a single personal -care-home bed in its first term; and * (15:10) (

c) failed to acknowledge cuts that have caused numerous cancellations of cardiac surgeries and exacerbated emergency room hip, knee, and cataract surgery wait times; and (

d) continued to ignore Manitobans by pro- ceeding with its health-care overhaul, which will cut critical services and closed facilities relied on by rural and northern families; and (

e) refused to address the public health crisis by failing to provide long -term investments to community organizations and harm reduction initiatives which help Manitobans dealing with mental health and addictions get the help they need and reduce blood -borne diseases; and (

f) presented no comprehensive plan to help reduce and end poverty, which in turn fails to address the root causes of crime; and (

g) failed again to present any commitments to build new social or affordable housing, despite having promised to do so in its first term, and made the situation worse by selling government housing units, even though a Housing First strategy has been proven to move people out of poverty; and (

h) continued to put the long- term success of Manitoba students at risk by laying the groundwork for cuts with an internal mandate review, as well as education commissions report, having already eliminated small class sizes/support services, cut education funding and frozen teacher wages; and (

i) continued to increase tuition for post - secondary education while interfering on the academic freedom of post -secondary institutions by tying operating grants to student outcomes and interfere–sorry; and (

j) interfered with Crown Corporations numer - ous times, specifically agreements signed by Manitoba Hydro, offering online service delivery with Manitoba Public Insurance, projects with Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries and the delivery of Efficiency Manitoba strategic plan, all of which caused Chairs and full boards to resign; and (

k) failed to listen to Manitoba producers who have overwhelmingly said that their approach to leasing Crown lands will cause irreparable harm to family farms in Manitoba that are already dealing with serious challenges due to climate change while also failing to provide them with insurance supports during a time of need; and (

l) broken its commitment to budget over $500 million per year on highways annually, and underspend highways infrastructure by hundreds of millions of dollars while also continuing to pursue the privatization of infrastructure services; and

60 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2019 (

m) failed to make any clear commitments to address the Manitoba Human Rights Commission order for a n o-sex-designation option on all government identification; and (

n) cut supports for French language services at the Université de Saint- Boniface Santé en français and Translation Services, and eliminated the assistant deputy minister for the Bureau de l'éducation française; and (

o) failed to meaningfully consult with indigenous leadership regarding the Lake St. Martin outlet channel and other initiatives that affect indigenous rights; and (

p) failed to implement a living wage and instead made it more difficult for employees to unionize and instituted an unconstitutional wage freeze law that is now being legally challenged; and (

q) ignored the needs of the northern communities who have lost hundreds of mining jobs by putting families into poverty and contributing to a rise in crime by the failure to release funds in the Mining Community Reserve Fund; and (

r) failed to make any clear commitments to evaluate the challenges in the northern justice system, particularly those in Thompson, that have negatively impacted individuals from all northern communities; and (

s) failed to take any meaningful action on climate change by not making any commitments to put a price on carbon, substantively reduced M anitobans' greenhouse gas emissions, grow the clean energy sector of Manitoba Hydro, or invest in infrastructure projects, such as the North End treatment plant that would benefit all Canadians by helping to curb emissions and reduce pollution; and (

t) continued to freeze operating funding for public child care centres, making it difficult for facilities to offer day -to-day programming during children's most critical years, and to attract and retain quality early learning and child care workers, while also failing to address the growing wait list for public, non- profit centres, and instead focusing on moving towards a private operating model; and (

u) failed to offer any supports to newcomers in this diverse and inclusive province. As a consequence of these and many other failings, the provincial government has thereby lost the trust and confidence of the people of Manitoba and this House. Mr. Deputy Speaker: It has been moved by the Official Opposition Leader –Leader of the Official Opposition (Mr. Kinew), seconded by the honourable member for Union Station (MLA Asagwara), That the motion for the amendment be adding at the end of the following words: But this House regrets that the provincial government has (

a) continues freezing– Some Honourable Members: Dispense. Mr. Deputy Speaker: I hear dispense? Dispense. So the amendment is in order. Debate proceeds. Hon. Reg Helwer (Minister of Central Services): I'm pleased to be back into the House to address the Speech from the Throne and, of course, the amendment to the Speech from the Throne. I listened intently to it, and it just continued to present the –I can't use that word–let me think: How should I phrase it?

You know, if you continue to say something time and time again, you expect that it might become true, but that is certainly not the case from what we hear from the opposition. So, Mr. Deputy Speaker, pleased to be back in the House, as I said. Welcome back to everyone. I haven't had an opportunity to speak since the election, and going through an election campaign is always a challenging and rewarding time.

I am–this is the third election that I have been able to put my name forward and fortunate to be re -elected by the citizens of Brandon West, very fortunate to represent such a fine community and, indeed, the people of Brandon and Westman are often great people to work with and very pleased to be here on their behalf. I am always astounded, Mr. Deputy Speaker, on the work that is done in a campaign on your behalf by the volunteers. They are what makes things work. They do so much work on your behalf, and you are not always aware of what they're doing because they just get to work and get things done.

So thank you to all the volunteers that worked on our campaign and thank you to all the donors.

November 21, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 61 Indeed, we did broaden the campaign with my colleague from Brandon East and colleague from Spruce Woods, that we were able to h ave a unified campaign in Brandon and part of Westman to make sure that we would keep Brandon blue again. And I'm very pleased to be back with my colleague from Brandon East. He ran a great campaign in Brandon East. We had a great number of volunteers out there knocking at doors and listening to people throughout the community.

A lot of help from Spruce Woods and other members, as well, that we were able to make sure that we were successful again in the entire Brandon community. So thank you to the member from Brandon East and the member from Spruce Woods, the Minister of Justice (Mr. Cullen). The campaign team that we put together is –we had many new people, we had several people that had helped us in the past. And to name some of them, Mr. Deputy Speaker , that were important to the success is, of course, the chair was Lee Jebb.

We had Glen Crook as the official agent, who's now finding out what that means as he works with Elections Manitoba to put all the returns in place and dot the I' s and make sure that all the numbers are in the correct slot there. Dale McKay and Mike Leech did a great deal of fundraising, as did my father, Ron Helwer. They were all a great part of the campaign to have out there. Trudy Corbett, Dianne Fotheringham, Kathy Vandale, Jeff Cristall ran the signs with Jeff Bales –and the sign wars in Brandon are unique, Mr. Deputy Speaker. They sometimes disappear overnight.

They sometimes get destroyed and need to be put back up. I've often asked city council if we could do away with signs on public property, but sometimes they say that might be the only way that we know there's an elections happening in Brandon. So they do like to have those, but there are bylaws in place that most of the–my opponents followed very well.

I think we had a very respectful campaign, although I was disappointed by the dialogue from some of the NDP candidates that just parroted the phrases that were coming out of, you know, NDP headquarters and trying to mislead and scare Manitobans–very disappointing on that side. And it must have been very difficult, I think, for the candidates–for the NDP in Brandon, indeed, for the things that they were forced to say. * (15:20) Other members of the campaign team, we got some young people. Ashleigh Hamm was great on the photography, the videography and a little bit of social media.

In fact, my daughters noticed fairly quickly that who's doing my social media because they knew it wasn't Dad, that–Ashleigh said, I only put one emoji in there. So, you know, we're finding a lot of help from different places. My sister Sherry Helwer is always a big part of it, as, of course, individuals from past campaigns, Bob Harrison and, you know, my lovely wife, Aynsley Helwer, is always there for support and to listen to the things that I might be thinking, causing problems–that are causing problems, but working things through.

So the people that came out and volunteered, especially in door knocking, which is a critical part of the campaign that we did throughout Brandon, was a very imp ortant part. Literature droppers –there were some young people, very young people, that came out: Hannah Sharp and Quinnlan Andrews. Was very rewarding to see teenagers out helping us and being part of politics as we move ahead. They are the future of our great nation. And, of course, thank you to the voters, the residents, of Brandon West and, indeed, Brandon and Westman itself. It was a unique campaign for me, Mr.

Deputy Speaker, as I said, the third one that I have–that be able to run in, and third time successful, very rewarding to represent the citizens of Brandon West, to make sure that they are well represented here and that we are fulfilling their concerns and meeting their needs and requirements as we really, as MLAs, help them to navigate the bure aucracy. And the staff that we have are critical to that as well. There was something that was a little different for me this campaign, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

As many of you know, I've–we're into Movember now and trying to grow something here that supports that campaign against–to draw attention to prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health for men. We're often not very good about talking about those things, so it's trying to draw attention to that. I have gone public with the circumstances that I've gone through, having testicular cancer this summer. Indeed, first indication, really, was just prior and during the day of the Premier's (Mr. Pallister) state-of-the-province address in Brandon where I had an ultrasound that morning, and a good friend, Dr.

Harold Fung, looked down at me and said, you've got cancer. Not something one wants to hear.

62 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2019 The Premier came out, did a fabulous job on his state-of-province speech. I had to read most of it in the paper; I didn't quite pay attention. Sitting at the lunch that day was a little difficult, as I'm sure you understand. So to have the diagnosis of cancer as the colleague–we–our colleague from Transcona has had as well and is dealing with, other members of the Assembly, of course, and, indeed, our own Lieutenant Governor and the Member of Parliament have all come forward with their own issues.

People that we have as friends have had this diagnosis, more severe, less severe. It is all a very unique occurrence to be told those three words, you have cancer. And at the time I might have thought –well, I did think, is there a different way to say it? You know, you might have cancer; I think you have cancer as opposed to, you have cancer, is a very definite approach to it. But, you know, I do have to say that the doctors, the nurses, the medical practitioners, ultrasound technologists, staff were absolutely fabulous.

I could not have had a better experience, and it quite saddens me to hear the opposition speak about our medical system. In fact, it does anger me some because of the experience that I had is not what they are trying to reflect to Manitobans, nor is it what I hear from the many people who have approached me as I've gone public to tell me of their experience. They are quite shocked with the approach the opposition is taking to representing what is happening in our medical system, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I know it's not true; you know it's not true. As I said, the experience I had from Dr. Akerele, Dr. Duncan, Dr.

Kassier and Dr. Skead, the nurses, the staff, the receptions–receptionists, was absolutely fabulous from beginning to end. I could not imagine how it could be any better. And that is my reflection and many of my friends' reflections and other people that have come forth to tell me their stories of their medical–what's happened in the medical world in Manitoba. So thank you to all of those people that have helped along the way, and I wish them all well. They want a good outcome for their patients, Mr. Deputy Speaker, as we all do. We've all lost friends to cancer.

Indeed, a very good friend a few years ago, Vince Crisanti, he and I would spend many times together talking about his business and his family. He started up a cellphone business when there –it was brand new in his father -in-law's Canad ian Tire store, just a little kiosk. Was very successful with the business and his family, and, unfortunately, taken from us with cancer. Vince was always well known for his bright socks, which I do reflect here from time to time, and for his elaborate t ies, one of which I am wearing today, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

As he passed away, those of us who were close friends and family were given the opportunity to select some of Vince's ties, and this is one of them that I wear in his memory. And we also remember the many sunsets together at Clear Lake, and that reminds me–reminds us of Vince's life, Mr. Deputy Speaker. So how do you tell people that you have cancer? It's not something you just walk up and say, hey, by the way, something happened over the summer. It's something that's part of you. It doesn't define you. Family and friends–of course, my wife, Aynsley, were very supportive.

The campaign was unbelievable in their support, because I was told after surgery I could do light walking. Had to ask the que stion, does that include door-knocking? Well, depends on the steps, how many steps you can take. Sometimes, as the MLAs for Brandon East and Spruce Woods know, I had to quit and leave the team a little early, wasn't able to finish that night but eventually got strong enough to come back and be able to do it continuously because –the member for Transcona (Mr. Altomare) and I –have talked a little bit about our experiences. You wake up in the morning.

You know, you let the dogs out, feed the dogs. You get t he coffee and breakfast and maybe read some of the news, respond to emails, and then promptly crash for an hour or two. It's just beyond your control. But, eventually, you get past that, and I wish him well in his recovery. It's not something that we deal with easily. Hopefully, it's not something that we deal with that often. The reason I want to draw attention to it publicly, Mr. Deputy Speaker, is because when I would go to the hallway, the waiting room outside the surgeon's, the urologist's office, ev erybody knows why you're there.

There's chairs down the hall and you do what I've come to refer to as the man -nod. I see you. I recognize you. I won't tell anyone. But we should, Mr. Deputy Speaker. We need to talk about it more. If we were more outgoing, there'd probably be a lot more hugs. And I do have to thank

November 21, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 63 many people for the good wishes, the stories and indeed, the hugs, including the Premier (Mr. Pallister). So, talk about it. If you think there's something up there, something wrong, get checked. Catch it early. Don't take it for granted. My latest mantra has become, you know, that the–life happens when you're making other plans. It was made very popular from John Lennon in one of his songs, but has been attributed to many others, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

So I think what I hear from the opposition is a disservice to our health-care providers and what truly happens in health care. It's not my experience. It's not what many stories are that I've been told. They all want the best outcome, and we know that change isn't easy. But we have been very good in proceeding along with the changes that are necessary to make sure that we are continuing to provide the best health care to Manitobans. The Throne Speech was great in setting out that opportunity for growth; some more changes that are coming to health care. There's plans in place.

We are moving ahead to make sure that Manitobans have access to those health services that they need. Of course, a lot of discussion on tax reduction: making Manitoba more affordable for Manitobans, putting money back on the kitchen tables because Manitobans best know how to spend their money. * (15:30) What I saw in opposition, Mr.

Deputy Speaker, was a government in the NDP that thought they knew best how to spend the money, and we know that that's not true, having spent four years on–three and a half years on Treasury Board, and I wish all the current members of Treasury Board well, we know that that is not the case, that we are still paying for the many misdeeds and the many pieces of mismanagement from the previous NDP, and it is something that is very disheartening. But we're on the path to fixing those problems, and we're –we have so me very good people in place to help us with that.

Red tape is something we've had a lot of discussion about in this Chamber, and when I talk to businesses now, as you know that I have a background in business, still own a business, but I have not been active in it since 2011. So I am removed from the day- to-day work of businesses, and what I encourage business people to do is talk to us. If you run into a barrier, if you run into something that doesn't make sense from the government, tell us; don't just work with it and move ahead. Let us know, because we can make those changes, and we can improve things in Manitoba and continue to improve those things.

Obviously, trade is a big issue. In the current world that we're living in, Mr. Deputy Speaker, many changes to the trade world over the last couple years, with the United States and China being in a trade war, seemingly the United States being in a trade war with just about everybody, including us, and we are a trading province in a trading nation. It is important not only that we get it right, to trade with other provinces, but indeed the world, because we are great at producing products and moving them across the world.

Unfortunately, now, we have a rail strike going on that is impairing that ability to not only move our product out to the world, but the world's product into Manitoba, and 'monny' of those products and services we require here on a daily basis are not at risk at this point, but there comes a point, not too far down the road, where they may be at risk. So as Minister of Central Services, and respon - sible for the Civil Service Commission, we've rapidly been putting together this new department, and determining what is in it, what is not in it. But, when I look at the basic requirement of this department, Mr.

Deputy Speaker, it is to help government buy better, help government buy smarter. We know that the former government didn't do that; they had no idea how to do that, and what Manitoban, what business person wouldn't want to help the governme nt buy better? It's just a great opportunity. Business does this every day. Every time they look at, they look at how to buy better, how to buy smarter, where to buy new product and how to move it.

So these are things that we're all bringing into government and I'm thrilled to be part of the team that's going to do that, working with the capital, that show our return on investment for Manitoba. The new ambulances, the 65 ambulances, are just a start there, Mr. Deputy Speaker. New paramedics, and of course , we are working on The Civil Service Act was mentioned in the Throne Speech that I think will be a great change. The Act–the current Act is 134 years old. The world was a lot different 134 years ago. Women weren't allowed to vote. Now they're a great par t of our Legislature and repre - sentation.

So things are different; we need to modernize–a modern workplace, modern standards and values that will be brought to the fore. Of course, the Learning Fund, the Idea Fund that we've rolled out to bring the ideas forward from the front line, how we can make Manitoba life better, how

64 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 21, 2019 we can improve services, improve health care sooner, by listening to the talented front line. And we're still listening, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Many changes that we're putting into place to make Manitoba better today. Mental health and addictions have often been at the forefront. There is no one answer, but working together with the private sector we can make things better with our Safer Streets, Safer Lives program. Mr. Deputy Speaker, I ran, first of all, for election because I was not happy with the way that Manitoba was headed.

I think many of us were not happy with the direction of the NDP government, and we wanted to make Manitoba a better place to be in. It was a path to ruin tha t the NDP were on, and we have changed that path, and we are now moving forward to a better Manitoba for everyone in this area, everyone in Manitoba. We know the Premier (Mr. Pallister) often talks about the only thing better–[interjection] For all of us? Yes, indeed, for all of you. You are among the most fortunate in Manitoba to be MLAs. You, as MLAs, are in the one per –you're the one percenters of the world. You may not realize that but, indeed, you are.

Indeed you are, and we are the ones that can help Manitoba grow and prosper with your help. You're welcome to help us make it a better place. I know you worked hard to destroy it, but we're on the path to making Manitoba better. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I wish you all well and we're just going to work–continue to work, keep our head down and fix a lot of the problems that the NDP created. Thank you. MLA Uzoma Asagwara (Union Station): I'm honoured to rise today to introduce myself –further introduce myself to this House, the constituents of Union Station, and to share a bit about my path to this new role.

First I'd like to acknowledge that we are in Treaty 1 territory, the traditional territory of the Anishinabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dene and Dakota people, and homeland of the Métis nation. I'd like to thank the constituents of Union Station who elected me to represent all members of our communities. Thank you to the many volunteers and folks on our team who worked so very hard for us to accomplish something historic. It is an absolute honour to serve community as the MLA and I'm grateful to all of those who believed in me and who continue to express their support.

Yesterday, when we were all here in the House and looked up and saw the groups of students in the gallery–there was even a baby in the gallery–it really struck me that these are some of the first young people, the first youth who are seeing black people in this Chamber as MLAs for the very first time, and that for them, this is now their norm. For my nanny who turned 85 this year and has lived in Canada for several decades, this is the first time in her life in Manitoba that she is seeing this type of representation. I'm reall y grateful that she has the opportunity to see this.

I hear from families and individuals on a regular basis how significant this past election was. I've had youth, racialized folks and two-spirit LGBTQ people and folks, really, from all demographics tell me that they are inspired. Some have expressed that they now believe they, too, can aspire to politics. Others have said that they're so happy their children have someone who is not only fully capable but who also looks like them in this role of public service.

Overall, what I knew and what I know is being consistently echoed, that we are all served better when our representatives actually reflect the communities that they serve. My path to this moment is not unlike many people in Manitoba. I am a fi rst generation Canadian. My parents immigrated from Nigeria to Winnipeg in the 1970s and they raised all five of their children here in Winnipeg. My mother, Doris, was instrumental in me becoming the person I am today. As a child, I was bullied.

I was made fun of for being black, for having hairstyles unfamiliar to other children, for being more like a boy than a girl, for being a young, queer kid who didn't have the language to explain their identity. My mother saw all of that and worked so hard to advocate for all of her children to be treated with respect and to be treated equitably. She knew the importance of utilizing free community resources. A lot of resources in our family were pretty tight, and she wanted to make sure that her five kids remained constructively busy, safe, and surrounded by people who would nurture us and our talents.

School in our household, in the Asagwara household, was year -round. We didn't really have

November 21, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 65 summer vacations other kids had. We would frequent the Pembina Trail public library and sign out books on science, math and history and write book reports that our mother would grade. We went to open swims at Margaret Grant Pool; at All Saints' church right here in Union Station, we found community and supports who remain active in my life today. * (15:40) One of the resources I accessed the most were basketball courts and community centres and schools. Rain or shine, I was that young person who'd be outside shooting hoops.

And, once the WNBA was created, and I actually realiz ed that I could aspire to professional sport, it changed everything for me. Not only did I see myself in the Michael Jordans and Scottie Pippens, but I could now see myself in Lisa Leslie and Sheryl Swoopes, and so many strong black women who wore beautif ul jerseys and played the game with integrity, passion and joy. From teachers to other parents and coaches, I learned, from all of those resources, that the folks who were playing in the WNBA, many of them had gotten scholarships and played university basketball.

I learned that you could get a degree, play a sport, and be a part of something bigger than yourself, and so, with the support of so many, so many people in community along the way, I did just that. Right here in Union Station, I became a University of Winnipeg Wesman, where I played for five years for an amazing head coach, Tanya McKay, who taught me what it means to support people first in becoming the best versions of themselves, and that wins always came second to that. After my five years at the U of W as an athlete, I was a member of the Canadian women's national basketball team.

I travelled the world, competing in countries like China, Brazil and Chile, at Pan-American Games and Olympic qualifiers. I've been all over Canada and the United S tates as an athlete, and recently I was chatting with a woman who was new to Winnipeg. Her and her husband have been raising their two children here for the past one year. She knew about us winning the election, and she knows that I'm queer, she knows I'm gender non- conforming and she asked a lot of questions about my past.

And, when I told her about my past athletic career, about over –about my over decade- long psychiatric nursing and addictions specialist career, and my involvement in community as an orga nizer and advocate, she looked stunned. She looked at me and she said something I will always remember. She looked at me and she said, you are Canada. That was one of the most humbling moments for me on this journey. When we support those who face barrie rs and have systemic challenges to overcome, we create a generation of people who make history. I am evidence of that.

Those are the values that informed my work as a front-line service provider for over a decade, and as a community activist and advocate. When we make informed and strategic decisions that are rooted in compassion, that are progressive and address the fundamental issues people are facing, we see long - term positive change, and this is why I believe most of us are here. I know my NDP colleag ues and I certainly understand that. And yesterday, in this House, it was my first time listening to a Throne Speech, and I would be remi

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	42-2-3
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	42nd 2nd hansardpdf 3.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	80986f0cb979350b3368e6b729fd19b292a1ffa1

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