Manitoba Hansard — 13 May 2019 (Sitting 50, 41st Legislature, 4th Session)

41-4-50

Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

Fourth Session – Forty-First Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Myrna Driedger Speaker Vol. LXXII No. 50 - 1:30 p.m., Monday, May 13, 2019 ISSN 0542-5492

MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Forty-First Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ALLUM, James Fort Garry-Riverview NDP ALTEMEYER, Rob Wolseley NDP BINDLE, Kelly Thompson PC CLARKE, Eileen, Hon. Agassiz PC COX, Cathy, Hon. River East PC CULLEN, Cliff, Hon. Spruce Woods PC CURRY, Nic Kildonan PC DRIEDGER, Myrna, Hon. Charleswood PC EICHLER, Ralph, Hon. Lakeside PC EWASKO, Wayne Lac du Bonnet PC FIELDING, Scott, Hon. Kirkfield Park PC FLETCHER, Steven, Hon. Assiniboia Man. FONTAINE, Nahanni St. Johns NDP FRIESEN, Cameron, Hon. Morden-Winkler PC GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib.

GOERTZEN, Kelvin, Hon. Steinbach PC GRAYDON, Clifford Emerson Ind. GUILLEMARD, Sarah Fort Richmond PC HELWER, Reg Brandon West PC ISLEIFSON, Len Brandon East PC JOHNSON, Derek Interlake PC JOHNSTON, Scott St. James PC KINEW, Wab Fort Rouge NDP KLASSEN, Judy Kewatinook Lib. LAGASSÉ, Bob Dawson Trail PC LAGIMODIERE, Alan Selkirk PC LAMONT, Dougald St. Boniface Lib. LAMOUREUX, Cindy Burrows Lib. LATHLIN, Amanda The Pas NDP LINDSEY, Tom Flin Flon NDP MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Flor Logan NDP MARCELINO, Ted Tyndall Park NDP MARTIN, Shannon Morris PC MAYER, Colleen, Hon. St.

Vital PC MICHALESKI, Brad Dauphin PC MICKLEFIELD, Andrew Rossmere PC MORLEY-LECOMTE, Janice Seine River PC NESBITT, Greg Riding Mountain PC PALLISTER, Brian, Hon. Fort Whyte PC PEDERSEN, Blaine, Hon. Midland PC PIWNIUK, Doyle Arthur-Virden PC REYES, Jon St. Norbert PC SARAN, Mohinder The Maples Ind. SCHULER, Ron, Hon. St. Paul PC SMITH, Andrew Southdale PC SMITH, Bernadette Point Douglas NDP SMOOK, Dennis La Verendrye PC SQUIRES, Rochelle, Hon. Riel PC STEFANSON, Heather, Hon. Tuxedo PC SWAN, Andrew Minto NDP TEITSMA, James Radisson PC WHARTON, Jeff, Hon.

Gimli PC WIEBE, Matt Concordia NDP WISHART, Ian Portage la Prairie PC WOWCHUK, Rick Swan River PC YAKIMOSKI, Blair Transcona PC

1799 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Monday, May 13, 2019 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Madam Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, from Whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to the welfare and prosperity of our province. Grant, O merciful God, we pray Thee, that we may desire only that which is in accordance with Thy will, that we may seek it with wisdom and know it with certainty an d accomplish it perfectly for the glory and honour of Thy name and for the welfare of all our people. Amen. Please be seated.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Speaker's Statement Madam Speaker: I have a statement for the House. Yesterday, May 12th, 2019, marked the 149th anniversary of Manitoba joining Confederation as a province. In honour of this historic occasion, in today's Speaker's parade our Sergeant -at-Arms carried our original Manitoba mace. Carved from the hub of a Red River cart whe el by a soldier with the Wolseley Expedition in 1870, this mace made its first formal appearance on March 15, 1871, at the first session of the first Manitoba Legislature, held in the home of A.G.B. Bannatyne in Winnipeg.

Included in the designs carved i nto our original mace are the rose, thistle, harp and fleur -de-lis. The Bannatyne home was destroyed by fire in April – pardon me, in December 1873, but thankfully, the mace survived. This mace was retired in 1884 after 13 years of service when our current mace was first used. The original mace has a permanent home on display in the Speaker's Office. I brought it out of retirement in 2017, after it had been retired for 133 years. It came out of retirement for the third time , today, for this celebration.

This important historical artifact was used in today's Speaker's parade to pay tribute to the rich history of our province. The original mace, as well as the Assembly's current mace, will be on display in the Chamber in their respective cases during the Do ors Open event on May 25th and 26th. Manitobans are encouraged to visit the Assembly Chamber on those days to see the maces firsthand.

In addition to the original mace, the star -blanket mace cushion and the beautiful beaded mace runner– gifted to the Assembly by the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs in 2010–are also on display today to help celebrate Manitoba Day, and to honour Manitoba's indigenous heritage. These artifacts also serve as a reminder that this Assembly Chamber and Legislative Building are on Tr eaty One territory, the traditional lands of the Anishinabe and the homeland of the Metis people. I am pleased that we were able to include our original mace in the celebration of Manitoba Day, and I hope this tradition continues.

Introduction of bills? COMMITTEE REPORTS Standing Committee on Justice Second Report Mr. Doyle Piwniuk (Chairperson): Madam Speaker, I wish to present the second reading of the Standing Committee on Justice. Clerk (Ms. Patricia Chaychuk): Your Standing Committee on Justice presents– Some Honourable Members: Dispense. Madam Speaker: Dispense. Your Standing Committee on JUSTICE presents the following as its Second Report. Meetings Your Committee met on May 9, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building.

Matters under Consideration • Bill (No. 5) – The Mental Health Amendment and Personal Health Information Amendment Act / Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la santé mentale et la

Loi sur les renseignements médicaux personnels • Bill (No. 6) – The Statutes Correction and Minor Amendments Act, 2018 / Loi corrective de 2018

1800 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 13, 2019 • Bill (No. 8) – The Referendum Act /

Loi sur les référendums • Bill (No. 9) – The Family Law Modernization Act /

Loi sur la modernisation du droit de la famille • Bill (No. 20) – The Courts Modernization Act (Various Acts Amended) / Loi modifiant diverses lois en matiè re de modernisation des tribunaux Committee Membership • HON. MR. CULLEN • MS. FONTAINE • HON. MR. FRIESEN • MR. ISLEIFSON (VICE-CHAIRPERSON) • MR. JOHNSTON (ST. JAMES) • MS. LAMOUREUX • MS. LATHLIN • MS. MORLEY-LECOMTE • MR. PIWNIUK (CHAIRPERSON) • MRS. SMITH (POINT DOUGLAS) • MR. TEITSMA Public Presentations Your Committee heard the following four presentations on Bill (No. 5) – The Mental Health Amendment and Personal Health Information Amendment Act / Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la santé mentale et la

Loi sur les renseignements médicaux personnels: Keith Kovacs, Private Citizen Bonnie Bricker, Private Citizen Kristen Valeri, Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg Cassidy Allison, Private Citizen Your Committee heard the following six presentations on Bill (No. 9) – The Family Law Modernization Act /

Loi sur la modernisation du droit de la famille: Ronald Bewski, Family Mediation Manitoba Jason Bekiaris, Private Citizen Robynne Kazina, Manitoba Bar Association (Family Law Section) Lawrence Pinsky, FAMLI Mediation and Arbitration Allan Fineblit, Private Citizen Christine Ens, Mediation Services Your Committee heard the following two presentations on Bill (No. 20) – The Courts Modernization Act (Various Acts Amended) / Loi modifiant diverses lois en matière de modernisation des tribunaux: Susan Dawes, Provincial Judges Associ ation of Manitoba Mark Toews, Manitoba Bar Association Written Submissions Your Committee received the following written submission on Bill (No. 5) – The Mental Health Amendment and Personal Health Information Amendment Act / Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la santé mentale et la

Loi sur les renseignements médicaux personnels: Anna Ziomek, The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba Bills Considered and Reported • Bill (No. 5) – The Mental Health Amendment and Personal Health Information Amendment Act / Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la santé mentale et la

Loi sur les renseignements médicaux personnels Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. • Bill (No. 6) – The Statutes Correction and Minor Amendments Act, 2018 / Loi corrective de 2018 Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. • Bill (No. 8) – The Referendum Act /

Loi sur les référendums Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. • Bill (No. 9) – The Family Law Modernization Act /

Loi sur la modernisation du droit de la famille Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. • Bill (No. 20) – The Courts Modernization Act (Various Acts Amended) / Loi modifiant diverses lois en matière de modernisation des tribunaux Your Committee agre ed to report this Bill with the following amendment: THAT Clause 42 of the Bill be replaced with the following: Coming into force 42 This Act comes into force on a day to be fixed by proclamation.

May 13, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1801 Mr. Piwniuk: Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member for Seine River (Ms. Morley-Lecomte), that the report of the committee be received. Motion agreed to. TABLING OF REPORTS Madam Speaker: I'm pleased to table the annual report of the Legislative Assembly Management Commission for the year ending March 31st, 2019. Copies of the report have been placed on members' desks. Ministerial statements? MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Ab McDonald Hon.

Scott Fielding (Minister of Finance): Today I wish to recognize the legacy of Ab McDonald, a long-time resident of Winnipeg west where he made his home with his family from 1967 to 2018. Ab, short for Alvin Brian, may be best known for some of his remarkable hockey career, resulting in four Stanley Cups, where he played on the Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues. He was the first captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins as well as the inaugural captain of the Winnipeg Jets. Ab was also a great leader in the community and a community champion.

He often lent his name to important fundraising causes like –things like the Special Olympics, which was close to his heart. His family, some of who are in the crowd here today, started the Ab McDona ld Foundation in his honour, an organization that supports health, wellness and recreation, empowering youth and adults in the community to achieve. The foundation recently awarded its first grant this past January to the Weston Memorial Community Centre, carrying out Ab's legacy, where everything started for him, for his love of support and the community.

Ab's legacy, through the Ab McDonald Foundation, will continue to support the community he loves, and I want to recognize Ab and his role in helping create a vibrant community. Ab's legacy doesn't end there. A motion has recently been passed by the Winnipeg City Council – or debated by Winnipeg City Council –for a rink at the St. James Civic Centre named in Ab McDonald's honour, a fitting recognition as Ab was an active citizen both on and off the ice and a champion in the community. Madam Speaker, I ask for leave for the members of the McDonald family who are here to be added to Hansard, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Madam Speaker: Is there leave to inclu de those names in Hansard? [Agreed] Cindy East, Kristina Gottfried, Kurt Gottfried, Rachel Gottfried, Ryan Gottfried, Lori Koke, Pat McDonald. Sinclair Park Community Centre Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns): Sinclair Park Community Center has been a hub of connecting St. Johns families and communities since 2012. Sinclair Park offers a variety of programming, including soccer, Canada Day celebrations, Breakfast with Santa, movie nights, open gym, summer day camp and dance programs but to name a few. Madam Speaker, b oth the member for Point Douglas (Mrs.

Smith) and myself have hosted two joint community barbecues at Sinclair Park, bringing out well over 1,000 people each year. Last year, the member for–or la st weekend, the member for Point Douglas and myself hosted a women's cabaret fundraiser highlighting local artists. Aliyah Pacheco, Emily Fars and Charli McKay, three dance performers from Sinclair Park, left our guests in absolute awe with their contort ionist performance. All the girls practise, perform and travel together to competitions, including upcoming international competitions with each –with dreams of performing on Broadway and Cirque du Soleil.

The Sinclair Park dance program has literally changed the course of these young girls' lives in unimaginable ways and is a testament to the importance of investing in community and estab- lishing measures to tangibly support Manitoba youth, and this is just one small example of the transfor - mative work at Sinclair Park under the phenomenal leadership of its president, Tracy Ball.

1802 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 13, 2019 * (13:40) Tracy best illustrates love of community through her tireless work. You can't help but fall in love with Tracy as she daily demonstrates her commitment to youth, families and community she serves at Sinclair Park. It truly is an honour to know and work with Tracy. So today I acknowledge all of the girls in the Sinclair Park community dance program, and miigwech to Tracy, Sinclair Park board members, staff and the countless volunteers who make all these events at Sinclair Park Community Centre possible and accessible.

I ask my colleagues to help me in acknowl - edging and welcoming them. Accueil Kateri Centre Mr. Bob Lagassé (Dawson Trail): Madam Speaker, I rise today to honour a group of Dawson Trail heroes who volunteer their time and effort each week for the endless battle against hunger, a worldwide issue that unfortunately still exists this –in this day and age. Madam Speaker, Accueil K ateri Centre is a charitable organization that provides food bank services for local families in need. They serve the rural municipality and town of Ste.

Anne and provide up to five meals' worth of food to each registered client every second week. Founded in 2015, the kind-hearted volunteers of Accueil Kateri Centre came together with the mutual objective of over - coming hunger in the area. They reached out to local businesses, organizations who are willing to lend a helping hand in partnership. Next, they set up multiple non- perishable food donation bins at local landmarks throughout the town of Ste. Anne and Richer. They have continued to provide food for–to those in need ever since.

Not only does Accueil Kateri Centre accept non- perishable food donations, but also financial donations, which help in keeping a consistent delivery of food to those in need. Financial donations can be made for one year, six months, two months, one month, two weeks worth of meals. Madam Speaker, Accueil Kateri Centre's work doesn't end there. They are continuously working to promote food- related self -sufficiency, providing community leadership on this subject. Their vision is one day to see a community that no longer requires the services of a food bank.

The president, manager, treasurer and member responsible for communications of the Accueil Kateri Centre Board join us in the gallery today. Please help me in applauding their endless efforts in fighting the fight against hunger. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Dawson Trail. Mr. Lagassé: Madam Speaker, I ask to have the names of the board members entered in Hansard. Madam Speaker: Is there leave to include those names in Hansard? [Agreed] Accueil Kateri Centre Board : Aurèle Boisvert, Armande Leclair, J. Guy Levesque, Suzanne Ritchot. Madam Speaker: Further members' statements?

Lac du Bonnet Constituency Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): Madam Speaker, with the recent changes to the Manitoba electoral boundaries, I would like to pay tribute to the Lac du Bonnet constituency, old and new, that I have been very fortunate to represent as the member of the Legislative Assembly since 2011. When we think of tourism in Manitoba, we think of the Lac du Bonnet constituency.

Whether you are following the Trans -Canada or the La Vérendrye trails through Powerview -Pine Falls, Sagkeeng, RM of Alexander, Lac du Bonnet, Pinawa and Victoria Beach, or taking the historic No. 1 through Beausejour, the RM of Brokenhead and Whitemouth, you will be able to explore many of our rural communities, each of which has something special to offer. The Lac du Bonnet constituency offers an abundance of Manitoba's history and is home to many museums that celebrate and honour the artifacts of bo th the indigenous and settlers of the area.

The discovery of gold in the Bissett region back in 1911 sparked an era of prospecting in the Wanipigow River watershed and in the area we now know as Nopiming. Commonly known as cottage country, the Lac du Bonnet constituency comes alive in the spring as many Manitobans and visitors from outside the province head to their cabins or favourite

May 13, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1803 campsites, allowing the businesses in surrounding communities to benefit from the economic growth.

Many of the communiti es in the Lac du Bonnet constituency host annual events throughout the year that have almost become a tradition for many Manitobans and visitors alike: the Canada Day fireworks show in Lac du Bonnet, the Canadian Power Toboggan championships in Beausejour, the Fire & Water Music Festival in Lac du Bonnet, the Summer Winds music festival in Victoria Beach, the double B rodeo and agricultural festival in Beausejour, the 4P Festival in Powerview -Pinefalls and the Boreal Shores Art Tour featuring artists of their studios or group locations throughout the beautiful boreal forest –just to name a few, Madam Speaker.

Diverse in culture, environment and recreation, the Lac du Bonnet constituency has something to offer during any season, and I am extremely honoured to represent what is considered by most as the most beautiful region in this wonderful province, Madam Speaker. Thank you. Madam Speaker: Are there any further members' statements? Does the member for The Maples (Mr. Saran) have a statement today? The honourable member for Assiniboia? Hon. Steven Fletcher (Assiniboia): Well– Madam Speaker: I would indicate that the member is not on the list.

He's not on the rotation, but I'm wondering if there was a switch. [interjection] No? Then, we –the rotation indicates that should be the member for The Maples, and if he's not standing to speak then that spot is gone for the day. Introduction of Guests Madam Speaker: Prior to oral questions, we have some special guests in the gallery that I would like to introduce to you.

Seated in the Speaker's Gallery we have with us today from Japan: the Ambassador, His Excellency Kimihiro Ishikane; his spouse, Kaoru Ishikane; Counsellor Shunichi Inoue; and Consul for Public Relations, Kohei Sakamoto; and the Honourary Consul for Japan, Ken Zaifman. On behalf of all members here, we welcome all of you to the Manitoba Legislature. ORAL QUESTIONS Concordia and Seven Oaks Hospitals Request to Retain ER Services Mrs. Bernadette Smith (Point Douglas): The Premier and his ministers are reaching for any excuse that their plan is failed –any excuse for –that their plan is not failing.

The use of consultations and talk of delays is nothing more than an admission of failure by this government. All Manitobans can see the cold, hard fact that their plan is failing: ER wait times has–have continued to rise since the beginning of their plan; mandatory overtime is way up; front -line workers are working in straight chaos. The real solution to th eir failing plan would be not to close Concordia or seventy–Seven Oaks ER. Will the Premier get up today and tell us that Concordia and Seven Oaks ERs will not be closing? Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): We inherited a mess from the NDP.

We're committ ed to cleaning it up. But Ab MacDonald was a fine man, an absolute gentleman, a father and blessed with a wonderful wife, and he wasn't as modest as everybody says. I got to go to a hockey game with Ab thanks to George Sigurdson, and we were sitting ther e watching and they brought out the crew to clean up the ice mid-period, and I said, Ab, did they do that when you played in the NHL? And he said, they never had to in our defensive end. So he wasn't as humble as people say, but he was truly a fine Canadian, a fine gentleman and a wonderful friend to many in our province.

And I'm honoured that I have this chance –and I will address the substance of my colleague's question in the second answer, but I –honoured to have the chance to say a few words to his family today. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Point Douglas, on a supplementary question. Mrs. Smith: The minister's saying his plan is failing due to an aging population, nothing more, but that's not what this minister and Premier are claiming.

The Department of Health's own population report, which I table here today, does not show a dramatic increase in a aging population or elderly either in the WRHA or the rest of Manitoba. What it does show is the same steady increase year after year

1804 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 13, 2019 since this government has taken government: a trend upward. * (13:50) So instead of hiding behind excuses, will the Premier stand up today, admit his plan is failing and keep Seven Oaks and Concordia ERs open? Mr. Pallister: Well, Madam Speaker, again, Concordia and other Winnipeg hospitals had the longest wait times in Canada and the previous government knew there was a problem–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Pallister: –they knew there was a problem, but they didn't want to take advice, Madam Spe aker.

Even when they asked for a report to be done, they threw it under a desk some place and just didn't pay any attention to it, and that's typical NDP for you: when the heavy lifting starts, they run away. We saw a challenge. We see a problem. We see a problem worth solving. We're going to solve the problem they created, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Point Douglas, on a final supplementary. Mrs. Smith: It's that Premier that continues to throw reports on the floor that Manitobans have worked on that are telling him that his plan is going in the wrong direction.

The minister said 'norse'–nurses endorsed his plan; that is false. The minister said the percentage of elderly people was dramatically increasing in Manitoba; that is false. The minister said everything is fine and peachy; that, clearly, is false. How can anyone trust the forthcoming report if the minister isn't even giving Manitobans the facts? Manitobans know that they cannot trust this government. Will the minis ter stand up today and commit to keeping Seven Oaks and Concordia ERs open? Mr. Pallister: I love it when the NDP ask questions about trust, Madam Speaker.

And they shouldn't come into a debate unarmed, but that's exactly what they're doing now. Nobody trusted them when they were in government. They had no reason to trust them. I mean, they went around the province and promised everybody, right at their door, that they wouldn't raise their taxes, and then they jacked their taxes up. Now they say the population's not aging. Well, if this population isn't aging in this province, Madam Speaker, it's the only jurisdiction in Canada and most of the western world where the population isn't aging. Madam Speaker, we need health care for our people.

They weren't getting health care under the NDP. They broke the system. We're fixing it up. Seven Oaks Hospital ER Request to Retain Service Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns): Well, Madam Speaker, St. Johns constituents are confused and concerned about the future of the Seven Oaks ER. They want to be assured that access to critical care will be close to ho me when they need it most, but they’re not getting any assurance from the Premier or his minister. Instead, they receive incoherent responses. The government's own news conference on Friday has left the people of St.

Johns with more questions than answers and concerned about the fate of their Seven Oaks ER. Will the Premier stand up today and commit to keeping Seven Oaks ER open? Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): Appreciate any question from any NDP member on listening, Madam Speaker, because that is the party that staged an historic rebellion against itself because it wouldn't even listen to each other. Its own members were so confused, and their policy statements so incoherent–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Pallister: –that they couldn't explain them to one another.

They didn’t have a clue what they were doing because they wouldn’t communicate with each other. Madam Speaker, they rejected–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Pallister: –the previous leader, Greg Selinger, on the basis that he wasn't listening, but they weren't listening to each other either. We took a report that the NDP themselves commissioned and we're acting on the advice that they ignored, Madam Speaker. We're proving that we're a government that listens to the experts. We are listening to front -line workers, too, and we're acting on the advice we receive. [interjection]

May 13, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1805 Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Pallister: We'll continue to act on that advice, because Manitobans deserve a government that listens, and they have one now. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. Johns, on a supplementary question. Ms. Fontaine: Well, speaking of listening, nurses are not fine with what this Premier has done to our ERs and our system here. Nurses are not fine working 16 hours a day and recorded mandatory overtime.

Nurses are not fine with overcrowded emergency rooms and lack of patient care, but we know how little this Premier and minister regard Manitoba nurses. We've all seen it first -hand what they think they really do, but the reality check for this minister is that being a nurse is not a day at the spa, especially in the sheer chaos this minister has brought forward. Will the minister stop the chaos, value nurses' opinions and actually listen to what they're saying and keep the Seven Oaks ER open? Mr.

Pallister: Finally, a question the NDP has some expertise on –chaos, Mad am Speaker –because they had the longest waits in Canada for people in our city, sitting for seven and a half hours on average in Concordia not getting health care. Record numbers of patients actually leaving without getting any care at all is not success. It's dead last. It's 10th out of 10, Madam Speaker. That's what the NDP's telling us we should retreat to: dead last. It's not good enough for Manitobans, not even close. We've already reduced the wait times – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr.

Pall ister: –significantly, Madam Speaker. We've saved Manitobans –just already in our term versus the last NDP couple of years–a half century of sitting in waiting rooms waiting, not getting care, and the member –the best the members can come up with over there is we should go back to that? Not a chance in the world, Madam Speaker. Manitobans deserve better than that. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. Johns, on a final supplementary. Ms.

Fontaine: From the very beginning families, patients and front -line workers have been telling the Premier to stop his rushed plans to close ERs and cut our health-care system, but the Premier has refused to listen. And now when they finally sat down with nurses, they misconstrue statements that were made and tell th e public the only thing that's hindering their plan is an aging population, which is clearly false, Madam Speaker. How are Manitobans supposed to have confidence in their health -care system when the Premier and his minister clearly do not?

Will the Prem ier stand up today, apologize to Manitobans for the chaos that he's created and commit to keeping the Seven Oaks ER open? Mr. Pallister: Again with the chaos, Madam Speaker. There were three former Health ministers who rebelled against the previous gover nment because they knew that the system was falling apart. Nurses were telling us and they're–I'm sure they're telling the members opposite as well, that they want to work in a system that works for patients. But they haven't been, Madam Speaker, for a long time under the NDP. Previous NDP Health ministers knew that.

They threw up their hands and quit because they couldn't get it done. Madam Speaker, our Health Minister and our previous minister are getting it done. This team is getting it done because hea lth is our top priority. That's why we're investing more than $400 million more, this year's budget alone, than the NDP ever put into health. But more importantly, we're getting better results for the people of Manitoba. What they broke, Madam Speaker, we are fixing. Concordia Hospital ER Request to Retain Service Mr.

Matt Wiebe (Concordia): Madam Speaker, last week hundreds stood in front of the Concordia ER with one clear demand: save our ER. For two years they've been told over and over again that the facility was closing. For two years residents have begged the Pallister government to reconsider. Now, at the eleventh hour, they claim they're doing a management review, but they're not listening to the –what the staff, the front -line staff and the residents have to say, and now they're even misrepresenting what nurses have told the government clearly.

1806 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 13, 2019 Why does this minister continue to promote a plan to close Concordia ER, a plan that he knows is not working? Hon. Cameron Friesen (Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living): Madam Speaker, the member for Concordia is just wrong. He complains that we're not listening, but at the same time he knows that when Dr. Peachey was in this jurisdiction only a week ago, he consulted with a broad array of system leaders and front-line workers. For weeks he listened to the key people who were both running the system–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Careful–order. Mr.

Friesen: –change and those who worked in the system. And the member complains right now and chirps and says it's not true, but he knows it to be true. Madam Speaker, they broke the sy stem. We are fixing the system. We are relying on 'exterpretise.' We will do this the–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Friesen: –right way and we will do it for the benefit of Manitobans, who have waited long enough. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Concordia, on a supplementary question. Mr.

Wiebe: Madam Speaker, last week Pallister government said they were caught off guard by the fact that people were getting older in the city of Winnipeg and that would further strain the health - care system. It's nonsensical; it's a frightening admission, in fact, by this government. If the Premier (Mr. Pallister) and the minister can't anticipate an aging population, they shouldn't be making sweeping changes to–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Wiebe: –undermine the care of tens of thousands of Winnipeg residents.

They shouldn't be closing emergency rooms and services and certainly not in one of the most fastest growing areas of the city. * (14:00) Why won't this Premier and mi nister back down and cancel their plan to close the Concordia ER? Mr. Friesen: Well, Madam Speaker, not his finest effort. Let me tell that member this: Our government takes an evidence–[interjection]–well, if they'd wait, we can give the answer. Our g overnment takes an evidence-based–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Friesen: –approach to its decision- making. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr.

Friesen: I know the members don't want to hear what we have to say, but what we have to say is this: that we're listening to Manitobans, that the changes that we are bringing to the health -care system are necessary after years of neglect by the NDP, years in which Manitoba got the worst results in Canada. That group says that their only solution is go back. I assure the opposition, Manitobans do not want to go back. They are inviting a stronger, more robust, more sustainable health-care system that gets better health care sooner, and that is what we're bringing. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Order.

The honourable member for Concordia, on a final supplementary. Mr. Wiebe: Madam Speaker, the Premier is doing a management review because, of course, he knows that what he's doing is causing lasting harm to our health-care system and he knows it's not popular. He's looking for any excuse now to put these issues out of sight for an early election. But Manitobans aren't fooled. The Premier has said over and over again he wants to close emergency rooms not just in Winnipeg, but, actually, across the entire province just to save a buck.

Well we, of course, have a different approach, Madam Speaker, and that is to invest in health care and to ensure health care access to all–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Wiebe: –Manitobans. Why is the Premier closing emergency rooms in Manitoba? Mr. Friesen: Well, Madam Speaker, finally a rare point of agreement. They did have a very different approach by the NDP. The approach can be summarized as follows: the most expensive system in Canada, the worst results in Canada, the longest – [interjection]

May 13, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1807 Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Friesen: –length of stay in Canada, the most waiting for suspicion, diagnosis and treatment in Canada. Manitobans have waited a long time for a government that will do the right thing to sustain our health-care system. All they can do is yell across the aisle, but they know –they know –that a stronger health-care system is not just possible, but within sight. We will continue to stand up for all Manitobans. Concordia Hospital ER Request to Retain Service Mr. Jim Maloway (Elmwood): My question is to the Premier.

The Concordia emergency room is set to close on June 6th, in just a matter of weeks from now. There's been utter chaos with staff–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Maloway: –departures from that hospital. Our constituents are saying, loud and clear, don't close this emergency room. The Premier isn't listening. He's even misrepresenting what nurses have had to say. Question is: Why has this Premier caused such damage to our health system? Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): Well, there you go again, Madam Speaker. Nobody in the NDP wants to do any of the lifting when it comes to improving the system.

They just want us to go back in time to when we were dead last. That's not good enough for Manitobans. So, you know, Madam Speaker, the Concordia facility served as a waiting room more than it did a treatment centre much of the time, and the member knows that and he knows the longest waits in Canada were in Concordia. So I'm surprised he'd stand in his place and tell us that the people of Concordia deserve to be not served by a system that failed so miserably and that was dead last in Canada. We don't agree.

They sat back and did nothing, Madam Speaker, out of fear, cowardice or just simply ignorance –I'm not sure which, maybe all three –but we'll go and we'll act on the advice of experts and that's what we're doing now. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Elmwood, on a supplementary question. Mr. Maloway: Clearly, the residents of northeast Winnipeg don't agree with this Premier on this point. Last week, Madam Speaker, the Premier admitted that he can't accurately anticipate the aging of our population.

That's a sho cking admission because the Premier's making decisions that will impact the care of tens of thousands of people for decades to come. The Premier has his ears closed to what northeast Winnipeg needs and he's only listening to consultants. He needs to listen to northeast Winnipeg and Transcona residents. They've been telling him. They've been telling him for two years: don't close the Concordia emergency room. Why won't he listen? Mr. Pallister: Well, both the member and I know that the system was failing the people of northeast Winnipeg. He knew it so well, Madam Speaker.

He knew that the NDP system was failing his people. My evidence would be, I suppose, that he took NDP right off his election signs last time. So he was embarrassed, and he had every right to be, that he was part of a government that failed so miserably to provide services to the people–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Pallister: –of northeast Winnipeg. And I know it's a sensitive issue for him and his colleagues, but it's true, Madam Speaker, that Concordia was ranked as the longest waits in Canada. We're changing that. They seem content with it; we're not.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Elmwood, on a final supplementary. Mr. Maloway: Clearly, the Premier's tone- deaf on this whole issue. The Premier's caused chaos in our hospitals. Concordia's slated to close in just a few weeks. There's been a mass of departures there from the hospital over the last year. Premier's done lasting damage to our health care with less care by the bedside. Manitobans, northeast Winnipeg and Transcona residents, are telling the Premier: don't close the Concordia emergency room. Why won't this Premier listen to the people? Mr.

Pallister: Well, actually, our prebudget consultation process is just one of many, many

1808 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 13, 2019 examples where you listen to thousands of front -line workers and take their perspectives very seriously. We've got the Idea Fund now, tens of millions of dollars in projects going forward, coming from front- line workers. But the me mber and his colleagues have some explaining to do when it comes to trust. I mean, they walked around the city in 2011 election, they knocked, they looked people right in the eye –looked people right in the eye –and they said that they would not raise their taxes, and then they did, Madam Speaker.

They knew they were going to. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Pallister: Now they talk about trust, Madam Speaker. Even if they could be trusted to take us back in time, they–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Pallister: Madam Speaker, even if they could be trusted to take us back in time, their guarantee to the people of northeast Winnipeg that they're going to have the longest waits in Canada –good luck running on that one. They broke the system. We're going to fix the system. We'll make it work better. That's what Manitobans deserve. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order.

Health-Care Service Reform Peachey Report Recommendations Mr. Dougald Lamont (Leader of the Second Opposition): It's incredible to me that the Premier repeats day after day complaints about the failures of the NDP while boasting of implementing an NDP plan to fix health care. It just shows how little difference there really is between these parties. The Premier's decision to hire back Dr. David Peachey raises a lot of questions, as do Dr. Peachey's recent statements. He–Dr. Peachey claimed that nurses told him changes were great when nurses' union said they'd never been worse.

He implied Manitoba has ha d a sudden spike in the number of old people who live here. Now I don't want to blame Dr. Peachey, because everything he's saying fits in perfectly with this government's strategy of gutting health care while gaslighting Manitobans and telling them every thing is fine. The question is why Dr. Peachey is being hired at all. This government ignored much of his advice. Are they just spending more public money so they can justify postponing a politically inconvenient ER closure in the middle of an election? Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): That applause wasn't deserved, Madam Speaker.

No, actually what we're doing is what we've continued to dedicate ourselves to doing, which is to fix a broken system and make it work better for the people of Manitoba. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Second Opposition, on a supplementary question. Health-Care Services Funding Levels Mr. Dougald Lamont (Leader of the Second Opposition): It's also critical to correct the inac - curate statements the Premier and his minister's been making hundreds of times in and out of this Chamber. Health transfers are going up 3 per cent.

This government only increased health-care spending once, and that was three years ago. This Premier promised to cut at the top, but not only are there people on the front line who are burned out, broken and discouraged, this government is creating an entirely new level of bureaucracy: shared services. * (14:10) The Premier wants an election. Manitobans deserve the truth. Will the Premier just admit that the health system will never see an increase under his watch? Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): It's $414 million higher this year 'never was under the NDP, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: The honourable Le ader of the Second Opposition, on a final supplementary. Health-Care Service Reform Peachey Report Recommendations Mr. Dougald Lamont (Leader of the Second Opposition): There's a term for what the Premier and his ministers have been doing to Manitobans; it's gaslighting. So when doctors, nurses, health- care workers, patients, the WRHA, CIHI, the wait times task force all tell this government things aren't

May 13, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1809 working, the answer is to deny it and, what's more, to blame the people who are raising it. I feel a lot of sympathy for Dr. Peachey because this government seems to be making him the fall guy for their own failures since they bulldozed ahead with reckless changes over the objections of many experts. Given the Premier's track record of firing anyone who stands up to him, if Dr. Peachey recommends that Concordia's–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Lamont: –ER stays open, why should we have any faith the Premier will listen? Hon.

Brian Pallister (Premier): Well, because, unlike his allies in Ottawa, we defend the rule of law, transparency and fairness, and we'll continue to do that, Madam Speaker. Leader of the Second Opposition wants taxes to be higher; he wants bigger subsidies for special interests; he wants higher business taxes. He thinks the previous NDP government didn't have a big enough bureaucracy and didn't spend enough. He'd reinstate the vote tax.

He wants us to borrow more money on the futures of our children, and, Madam Speaker, this is the mandate he hopes to be elected on, and that explains, I think, in part, why he doesn't have anybody with him today. [interjection] An Honourable M ember: Point of order, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: Order, please. Order. I'll just point out to members that points of order are not allowed during oral questions. Birthing Services in Flin Flon Request to Restore Services Ms. Amanda Lathlin (The Pas): We know that this government is about cuts and the bottom line.

While this government are do a poor job to crisis manage the closure of Seven Oaks and Concordia emergency rooms, mothers and families in Flin Flon and the surrounding area have to travel over an hour to give birth in The Pas. It also means that front -line workers at St. Anthony's hospital are forced to deal with the extra workload created by this government's refusal to restore birth delivery services in Flin Flon. When is this government going to stop listening to high-priced consultants, listen to northern Manitobans and restore birth delivery services in Flin Flon? Hon.

Cameron Friesen (Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living): Madam Speaker, I would hope that the mem ber would know that that's inaccurate. She knows that the decision to curtail low-acuity obstetric services at Flin Flon was a medical determination, one made by a medical expert in obstetrics and then by a nurse expert. That member is saying that we should ignore the experts. We listen to the experts not just in terms of the transformation of our health- care system, which is necessary, but also when it comes to the safety of patients and babies.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for The Pas, on a supplementary question. Northern Patient Transport Service Request to Restore Funding Ms. Amanda Lathlin (The Pas): The high- priced consultants hired by this government told us something that we already know: that timely access to health care is a serio us problem in the North. Northern Manitobans have to–often need medevacs to Winnipeg because they don't have access to health care they need where they live.

Instead of improving health- care access, this government's response has been to make deep cuts to the Northern Patient Transportation Program while pursuing a privatization plan for Lifeflight. Will this government back off their privatization plan and r estore funding for the Northern Patient Transportation Program? Hon. Cameron Friesen (Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living): Madam Speaker, I find it interesting and puzzling that an NDP member would make a criticism of a closure of an obstetri cs ward in northern Manitoba.

What do the following communities have in common: Hunter Memorial Hospital in Teulon; Pine Falls General Hospital; Lakeshore District Health Centre in Ashern; Ste. Rose centre; Norway House Hospital; Churchill Health Centre? All of those were obstetrics hospitals closed by the NDP. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for The Pas, on a final supplementary.

1810 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 13, 2019 Northern Health Clinics Construction Request Ms. Amanda Lathlin (The Pas): When this government came into power they immediately cancelled the billions of dollars worth of much - needed health-care investments, including clinics in The Pas and Thompson.

With that money this government has spent on high- priced consultants, that would have built The Pas 'pramary' health -care clinic at $5.3 million, the Northern Consultation Clinic in Thompson at $9 million, and they would've had–still had enough money left over to run the Concordia emergency room for a entire year. Will this government commit to no more high - priced consulta nts and direct those savings to building clinics in The Pas and Thompson? Ekosi. Hon.

Cameron Friesen (Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living): That member knows that it was not that long ago, only a few weeks, in fact, that the Premier (Mr. Pa llister), myself and other members of our party were –and the govern- ment were happy to be in Flin Flon to open the new emergency department there, a $27 -million opening of an emergency department there that will serve not only that community, but the outlying areas. I only regret that I do not have time in this response to talk about all the ways our government is making good health- care investments right across northern Manitoba.

Non-Profit Organizations New Strategy Announcement Ms. Janice Morley-Lecomte (Seine River): Non- profit and charitable organizations play a vital role in our communities. Their services improve the quality of life for Manitobans, especially those in our community who are most vulnerable. Our government understands the importance of a strong not-profit sector that is well equipped to meet the needs of those they serve. Recently, the Minister of Municipal Relations announced the development of a new strategy for Manitoba's not-profit sector. Can the minister please share–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms.

Morley-Lecomte: –the details with the House? Hon. Jeff Wharton (Minister of Municipal Relations): I'd like to thank the member for that great question from Seine River. Madam Speaker, a strong, sustainable non-profit sector benefits all Manitobans and that's exactly what our government is committed to do. Last week at a community development forum with more than 150 representatives from non- profits all over Manitoba, we were pleased to announce that our government is working on a new strategy to build capacity and promote sustainability right across Manitoba in the non-profit sector.

Madam Speaker, our goal is to deliver positive outcomes and increase charitable–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Wharton: –right across–charitable giving right across Manitoba, Madam Speaker. Unlike the NDP's top-down approach where they failed non-profits, we'll get it right. Cultural Sector Improvements Government Position Mr. Dougald Lamont (Leader of the Secon d Opposition): I want to raise this issue of serious double standards that this government shows.

Trudy Schroeder, the executive director of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, received the Order of Manitoba yesterday, but she's also been sharply critical of this government and previous NDP governments in their neglect of cultural infras - tructure. I know that calling for repairs to cultural infrastructure may seem hard to justify when this government is cutting EIA, life -saving drugs and freezing health, ed ucation and infrastructure spending, but let's consider what this government does talk about spending money on. The Premier offered $1.7 billion to Jeff Bezos, the richest man in the world.

The Blue Bombers got a $200- million bailout and the Premier is ordering MPI to give money to brokers. Manitoba's cultural sector is a huge driver of tourism, innovation and exports, and art work is work, Madam Speaker. Can the Premier explain why Jeff Bezos, Bombers and brokers all get bailouts, or are cultural industries one of those sectors he doesn't consider to be a real job?

May 13, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1811 Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): I appreciate any question from the previously unemployed member about jobs, Madam Speaker, given that this is the first job he's ever had in his life. The fact is the member stood up and said for his first priority once he was elected–[interjection]–not– he didn't stand up for vulnerable–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Pallister: –children in our province. He didn't stand up for people needing health care. He said he wanted a bigger office.

And, Madam Speaker, the member wants Manitobans to pay higher carbon taxes just because Justin Trudeau says it's a good idea. He mouths the words here as well. He says that Manitobans should pay a higher PST because the NDP thought it was a good idea, so he thinks it's a great idea too. He wants a subsidy for his party so they can advertise more. These are the things the member stands for while we support major cultural projects in this province, significant cultural projects, sports projects, heritage projects around the province.

While we're supporting the sustainability of our cultural, historic industries in o ur province, Madam Speaker, the member stands there and supports himself and higher taxes. That's it with him. * (14:20) Madam Speaker: There is a significant amount of heckling going on during this oral questions and it is coming from all sides of the Ho use. And while one side may be unhappy about the heckling, they will turn around and heckle, and this is going–this is working from both sides.

The intent here is to be able to ask questions and answer them, and I am having some difficulty hearing all of them and I know that you want me to be able to hear them in case there are any rules broken. So I would encourage everybody here, this is the Legislative Chamber, it's a democratic Chamber, and I would ask everybody please to allow people to stand in here and be heard. The honourable member–the honourable Leader of the Second Opposition, on a supplementary question. Community Places Program Project Approval Concerns Mr.

Dougald Lamont (Leader of the Second Opposition): Well, that was a very creative response from the Premier, Madam Speaker. The issue of double standards is a serious one, however, because it's clear this government does more than just reward its friends; they go out of their way to punish their opponents. When I asked the Premier last week about the Community Places Program, he seemed to think that the reason there were more projects in PC ridings is the allocation of seats.

But let's be clear about this breakdown of spending under this program: four seats in rural Manitoba alone received more funding than all the ridings in Winnipeg put together, Madam Speaker. And when we look at the average spending per constituency, which I table, in Liberal constituencies it was about $16,900; in NDP constituencies it was about $33,500; while in PC constituencies it was over $79,600. Can the Premier explain whether he or anyone in his government directed this choice? [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Order. Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): I appreciate the member's reference in his

preamble to punishing adversaries, Madam Speaker. No one has done that better than the Trudeau government in Ottawa he clings to so closely. It actual ly caused Jody Wilson- Raybould to be kicked out of their caucus, not because she said anything that was inappropriate or untrue, but rather because she told the truth and she stood up for the rule of law, much the way the NDP has expelled Steve Ashton from being a candidate not because he misled anyone but because he told the truth about the record of one of his colleagues. Now, Madam Speaker, this is not how you stand for rule of law. We're standing up for the culture projects the member referenced in hi s

preamble. We're supporting them. We're supporting the people, and we praise the people who work so hard to advance these projects in our province. We're with them, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Second Opposition, on a final supplementary.

1812 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 13, 2019 Mr. Lamont: As I recall, the Premier had to dispel or turf the member for Assiniboia (Mr. Fletcher) for not being a team player. Again, this relates to the double standards, and when I raised it, members opposite thanked me. They thanked m e for talking about the projects in their constituencies, and it's truly sad they would take any pride in what they have done. I tabled a document that showed a spreadsheet of Community Places Program projects that link projects to the MLAs and constituency they lived in.

Now, it's a list of projects that were either recommended or denied. And what's interesting, Madam Speaker, is that while 85 per cent of the final projects were in PC constituencies, there were 38 changes to the recommendations. More than two thirds recom - mended projects in Liberal and NDP areas that were spiked. There were projects recommended in Fort Rouge and River Heights and Kewatinook, but when all was said and done, someone turned them down. Was there political inte rference in the choice of these projects? [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr.

Pallister: I'd really appreciate a question about SNC-Lavalin from the Liberal leader, Madam Speaker, because political influence on matters that are an issue of rule of law is wrong and should not be undertaken. I would also remind the member that we have supported on this side of the House significant Manitoba projects not limited to but including military memorials, Inuit art, the aviation museum, Diversity Gardens, an d our recently announced Heritage Trust funds will be available across the province for projects locally initiated that we'll be partnering in.

Madam Speaker, in terms of support of the culture and heritage and the sports fraternities and sororities and various groups across the province, we are going to stand with those organizations. We're proud of the work they do and we'll continue to stand with them. Winnipeg Strike of 1919 Commemorative Display Mr. Tom Lindsey (Flin Flon): I thank the Premier for listing off all those wonderful things that his government is contributing to and honouring. Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. Mr. Lindsey: So let's talk for a minute about that which they're not honouring. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr.

Lindsey: You know, 30,000 men, women– [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Lindsey: –and children put down their tools 100 years ago to stand up for their rights in this province. So what I'm asking the Premier today is: Will he commit to erecting a permanent commemoration for the strike of 1919? Hon. Brian Pallister (Premier): Well, I will commit to continuing to stand with workers for their right to have a secret ballot on all union ratification votes, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Flin Flon, on a supplementary question. Mr.

Lindsey: We want more than just empty words from members opposite or the Premier when it comes to honouring working people in this province. We want them to actually commit to something physical, something that says that they actually support workers and workers' rights. So will this government commit today to a permanent fixture of some kind to commemorate the strike of 1919 or will we just get more empty, meaningless words from this Premier? Mr.

Pallister: Well, I see that the member's grumpy as usual, Madam Speaker, and he has a right to be, because when he talks about empty gestures, he's talking about things like his effort to go to the doors and tell the people in Flin Flon that they should pay more to get to work, that they should pay higher carbon taxes, that they shouldn’t work in a mine because, according to the NDP, you're supposed leave that in the–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Pallister: –ground, Madam Speaker.

He has got to go to the doors and convince people he's telling the truth, which is difficult for any NDP member to do, especially on the issue of taxes. So he'll go to the door and he probably won't tell the people in Flin Flon he wants them to pay higher PST, but he really does.

May 13, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1813 So when it comes to issues like significant issues that matter to working families and working people, Madam Speaker, we're on their side and the member and his colleagues are against them. Madam Speaker: The honourabl e member for Flin Flon, on a final supplementary. Mr. Lindsey: I guess we understand why their high- paid consultants use baffle gab. What I want for this Premier is to stand up and recognize workers died in 1919 for doing nothing more than participating in a peaceful demonstration to stand up for their rights.

If nothing else, will this Premier commit to a permanent commemoration of M ike Sokolinski [phonetic] and Mike Sherbanzowich [phonetic] today? Mr. Pallister: Where was the member and his colleagues when women were getting harassed and sexually attacked in their own caucus? Where was the member? [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Order. Order. Mr. Pallister: Where were any of his colleagues? They were silent; swept it under the table and said nothing about it. Where were they when a union leader in the city of Winnipeg with the–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr.

Pallister: –Winnipeg labour congress needed some help and support when she was being attacked? Where were they? They were nowhere to be found, Madam Speaker –[interjection]–all symbolism and everything short of actual help. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Pallister: Members weren't able to help. They didn't even stand up for their own–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Order. Order. I have just stood a few minutes ago and indicated to people I cannot hear when people are answering questions or presenting questions, asking questions and answering them.

I'm having difficulty, and this just went way over the top of that. I will ask for everybody, please, to show some respect in here. We've got guests in the gallery. We've got hundreds of peopl e that watch this online. I would ask so that they can all hear properly. Yelling across isn't going to get us any further with this debate and, in fact, it's very disrespectful to the whole democratic process that we're supposed to be standing and representing, so I would ask for everybody's co-operation, please. The honourable First Minister to conclude his statement. Mr.

Pallister: When they had the chance to stand up and protect women in their own caucus and their own staff they wouldn't do it. When they had the chance to protect a union leader who was being harassed–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Pallister: –they wouldn't do it. They just like the symbolism, Madam Speaker, but they don't enjoy doing the actual work. We'll stand up and protect women in this province. That's what we're about and that's what we're going to continue to do. We're standing up for a safer workplace. It's something the NDP failed to do for 17 years.

Madam Speaker: The time for oral questions has expired. * (14:30) Point of Order Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Second Opposition, on a point of order. Mr. Dougald Lamont (Leader of the Second Opposition): During my exchange with the First Minister, he referred to the fact that some members of my caucus are not here today. [interjection] He certainly–he implied it. So I simply want to– [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order, please. Mr. Lamont: I just want to make a point, Madam Speaker.

Not only that, but the First Minister continually was directing his remarks not through the Chair, but directly across to other members. But I did just want to put on the record why my members are –two of my members are absent, whether that's possible or not. They're not – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Is the member fi nished with his point of order? Mr. Lamont: No.

1814 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 13, 2019 The reason the –I'm going to say it anyway. The reason the member for River Heights (Mr. Gerrard) is not here is because he's at a funeral for George Myer. He was diagnosed with cancer in September. Nothing happened for months. He spent 48 hours in an ER over Christmas. That's where Jon Gerrard is today. Madam Speaker: The honourable First Minister, on the same point of order. Mr. Pallister: Yes. Quite frankly, Madam Speaker, I didn't refer to the abse nce of members. I referred to the absence of recognition of the member's comments. I was careful to do so. So, in respect of his

preamble, I understand he's emotional about the reasons for the absences he referred to just now, but that has very little to do with any comments made by me or any other member of the House. Madam Speaker: Did the member for Assiniboia want to speak to that point of order? I see his –he's indicated to me that he does. The honourable member for Assiniboia, on that same point of order. Hon. Steven Fletcher (Assiniboia): Madam Speaker, the reference to the physical attendance of members is not appropriate. That's well established.

However, I will notice today and every da y as we look across the Chamber, the Premier (Mr. Pallister) stands alone. There's no one over there with him, either. Madam Speaker: I would indicate that the – [interjection] Order. The member did not have a point of order. The – what I certainly heard is the Premier did not directly say that Liberal MLAs were not there. There were some other comments made, but he did not reference the absence of those members, and therefore it is not a point of order. PETITIONS Daylight Saving Time Mr.

Cliff Graydon (Emerson): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. And the background to this petition is as follows:

(1) The loss of sleep associated with the beginning of daylight savings time has serious consequences for physical and mental health and has been linked to increases in traffic accidents and workplace injuries.

(2) According to Manitoba Public Insurance news release, collision data collected in 2014 showed that there was a 20 per cent increase in collisions on Manitoba roadways following the spring daylight savings time change when compared to all other Mondays in 2014.

(3) Daylight savings time is associated with a decrease in productivity the day after the clocks are turned forward with no corresponding increase in productivity when the clocks are turned back.

(4) There is no conclusive evidence that daylight savings time is effective in reducing energy consumption. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to amend The Official Time Act to abolish daylight savings time in Manitoba effective November 4, 2019, resulting in Manitoba remaining on Central Standard Time throughout the year and in perpetuity. This petition has been signed by Bréanne Déquier, Ryan G owronsky and Shawn Graydon and many, many more fine Manitobans.

Madam Speaker: In accordance with our rule 133(6), when petitions are read they are deemed to be received by the House. Early Learning and Child-Care Programs Mr. James Allum (Fort Garry-Riverview): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Early learning and child- care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy.

(2) Licensed, not -for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over three years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually.

(3) High-quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a fundamental need for Manitoba families and contributes to a strong economy.

May 13, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1815

(4) The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating expenses continue to increase.

(5) The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators has continued to increase; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately remunerated.

(6) Accessible , affordable and quality early learning and child- care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to increase funding for licensed, n ot-for-profit child -care programs in recognition of the importance of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce. And Madam Speaker, this petition is signed by Luzminda [phonetic] Nabas, Jean Nabas, June–Jude Nabas, and many other Manitobans. Mr.

Tom Lindsey (Flin Flon): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Early learning and child- care progra ms in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy.

(2) Licensed, not -for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over three years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually.

(3) High-quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a fundamental need –maybe I better I do that one again–sorry.

(3) High-quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a fundamental need for Manitoba families and contributes to a strong economy.

(4) The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot me et the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating expenses continue to increase.

(5) The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators has continued to increase; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately renumerated.

(6) Accessible, affordable and quality early learning and child- care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provi ncial government to increase funding for licensed, not -for-profit child -care programs in recognition of the importance of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce. Madam Speaker, this petition has been signed by Tamara Ross, Domolingo [phonetic] Prosner, Yvonne Kipling, and many other Manitobans. * (14:40) Ms.

Amanda Lathlin (The Pas): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Early learning and child- care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy.

(2) Licensed, not -for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over three years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually.

(3) High -quality licensed care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a fundamental need for Manitoba families and contributes to a strong economy.

(4) The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating expenses continue to increase.

(5) The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educator s has continued to increase; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately 'renumerdated'.

(6) Accessible, affordable and quality early learning and child- care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba. We petition the Legislative Assembly as follows: To urge the provincial government to increase funding for licensed, not -for-profit child-care programs in recognition of the importance

1816 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 13, 2019 of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce. Madam Speaker, this petition has been signed by many, many Manitobans. Mr. Rob Altemeyer (Wolseley): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background to the petition is as follows:

(1) Early learning and child- care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy.

(2) Licensed, not -for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over three years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually. High-quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact o n children's development, is a fundamental need for Manitoba families and contributes to a strong economy.

(4) The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all o perating expenses continue to increase.

(5) The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators has continued to increase; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately remunerated; and

(6) Accessible, affordable and quality early learning and child- care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to increase funding for licensed, not -for-profit child-care programs in recognition of the importance of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce. And, Madam Speaker, this petition is signed by Melanie Glaser, Amanda Lewis, Noelle Palsso n and many, many other fine Manitobans. Ms.

Flor Marcelino (Logan): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Early learning and child- care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy.

(2) Licensed, not -for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over three years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually.

(3) High-quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a fundamental need for Manitoba families and contributes to a strong economy.

(4) The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating expenses continue to increase.

(5) The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators has continued to increase; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately remunerated.

(6) Accessible, affordable and quality early learning and child- care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to increase funding for licensed, not -for-profit child -care programs in recognition of the importance of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce. Signed by many Manitobans. Thank you. Mr. Ted Marcelino (Tyndall Park): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. And the background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Early learning and child- care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy.

(2) Licensed, not -for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over thr ee years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually.

(3) High-quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a

May 13, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1817 fundamental need for Manitoba families and contributes to a strong economy.

(4) The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating expenses continue to increase.

(5) The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators has cont inued to increase; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately remunerated.

(6) Accessible, affordable and quality early learning and child- care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba. We pet ition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to increase funding for licensed, not -for-profit child -care programs in recognition of the importance of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce. * (14:50) Signed by Angela Hanischuk, Paramjit Brae, Laura Chupinha and many more. Thank you. Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Early learning and child- care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy.

(2) Licensed, not -for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over three years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually.

(3) High-quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a fundamental need for Manitoba fam ilies and contributes to a strong economy.

(4) The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating expenses continue to increase.

(5) The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators has continued to increase; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately remunerated.

(6) Accessible, affordable and quality early learning and child- care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to increase funding for licensed, not -for-profit child-care programs in recognition of the importance of early lear ning and child care in Manitoba, which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce. Signed by Barbara Turner, Nian Conti and Torrie Vicklund and many more Manitobans. Mrs. Bernadette Smith (Point Douglas): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Early learning and child- care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy.

(2) Licensed, not -for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over three years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually.

(3) High-quality licensed child care has a lastin g impact on children's development, is a fundamental need for Manitoba families and contributes to a strong economy.

(4) The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating costs continue to increase.

(5) The workplace –workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators has continued to increase; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately renumerated.

(6) Accessible , affordable and quality early learning and child- care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to increase funding for licensed, n ot-for-profit child -care

1818 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 13, 2019 programs in recognition of the importance of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which also– or which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce. And this is signed by James [phonetic] Willsey, Nicolle Smith an d Jane Link and many other Manitobans. Mr. Andrew Swan (Minto): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background to the petition is as follows:

(1) Early learning and child- care programs in Manitoba require increased funding to stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy.

(2) Licensed, not -for-profit early learning and child-care programs have received no new operating funding in over three years, while the cost of living has continued to increase annually.

(3) High-quality licensed child care has a lasting, positive impact on children's development, is a fundamental need for Manitoba families and contributes to a strong economy.

(4) The financial viability of these programs is in jeopardy if they cannot meet the fiscal responsibility of achieving a balanced budget, as all operating expenses continue to increase.

(5) The workforce shortage of trained early childhood educators has continued to increase; quality child care is dependent on a workforce that is skilled and adequately remunerated.

(6) Accessible, affordable and quality early learning and child- care programs must be available to all children and families in Manitoba. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to increase funding for licensed, not -for-profit child -care programs in recognition of the importance of early learning and child care in Manitoba, which will also improve quality and stability in the workforce. And, Madam Speaker, t his petition is signed by Meranda Storin, Calla Vandenberghe Burton, Tonya Van Mackelberg and many other Manitobans. Quality Health Care Mr.

Matt Wiebe (Concordia): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. And the background to this petition is as follows:

(1) The provincial government's program of cuts and restructuring in health care have had serious negative consequences, reduced both access to and quality of care for patients, increased wait times, exasperated the nursing shortage and significantly increased workload and the reliance on overtime from nurses and other health-care professionals.

(2) Further cuts and consolidation are opposed by a majority of Manitobans, and will only further reduce access to health-care services.

(3) The provincial government has rushed through these cuts and changes and failed to adequately consult nurses and health- care professionals who provide front-line patient care. * (15:00)

(4) Ongoing cuts and changes appear to be more about saving money rather than improving health care. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

(1) To urge the provincial government to reverse cuts and closures that negatively impact patients' ability to access timely, quality health care.

(2) To urge the provincial government to make real investments in Manitoba's public health -care system that will improve this timeliness and quality of care for patients by increasing the number of beds across the system and recruit ing and retaining an adequate number of nurses and other health professionals to meet Manitoba's needs. And this petition is signed by Michael Barkman, Curtis Reynolds and J.S. Seinhieber and many other Manitobans. Madam Speaker: Grievances? ORDERS OF THE DAY GOVERNMENT BUSINESS Hon.

Kelvin Goertzen (Government House Leader): Could you please call for second reading debate, Bill 22, The Business Registration, Supervision and Ownership Transparency Act (Various Acts Amended). And, following its hasty passage, could you then call for debate Bill 24, The Minor Amendments and Corrections Act, 2019.

May 13, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1819 Madam Speaker: It has been announced that the House will resume debate on second reading of Bill 22 this afternoon, to be followed by second reading of Bill 24. DEBATE ON SECOND READINGS Bill 22–The Business Registration, Supervision and Ownership Transparency Act (Various Acts Amended) Madam Speaker: Resuming debate on Bill 22, The Business Registration, Supervision and Ownership Transparency Act (Various Acts Amended), standing in the name of the honourable member for Point Douglas, who has three minutes remaining. Mrs.

Bernadette Smith (Point Douglas): Well, I'm going to put some more words on the record about Bill 22, but I'd like to be sitting in this House actually asking the Minister of Health questions about–in Estimates. But, you know, here we are talking about The Business Registration, Supervision and Ownership Transparency Act. Mr. Doyle Piwniuk, Deputy Speaker, in the Chair Well, let's talk about this government's transparency.

This bill partly focuses on ownership transparency, which is ironic and hypocritical considering that the mem bers of this Pallister government continue to be evasive and actually avoid transparency. Manitobans actually expect their political leaders to follow the law and to be open and transparent about their fiscal dealings. Well, let's talk about the Premier (Mr. Pallister). Let's talk about his transparency.

The Premier actually threatened to sue the Winnipeg Free Press for publishing a story that said he hadn't paid his taxes–his taxes in Costa Rica, taxes that actually went to support people that needed housing, people that couldn't afford housing. Hmm, I see a trend here with this Premier. He likes to pick on people that are poor, that need housing. They continue to sell off Manitoba housing that actually supports people who need safe and affordable housing. But does this government care? No, because they're worried about money over people, and their austerity shows it time after time.

So $8,000 he had to pay in back taxes. And, you know, in fact, the Premier said, oh, I don't owe any money. No, there's no money there. And he didn't even want to tell Manitobans that he actually had a place in Costa Rica. The Premier disregarded The Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Conflict of Interest Act and actually misled Manitobans over the nature of his personal financial holdings, as well as his financial interests in Costa Rica. For years this Premier has provided incomplete conflict-of-interest filings hiding –and who knows how much more he's hiding –his Costa Rica assets as required by law.

And, actually, in fact, Manitobans only learned the truth through a Costa Rican newspaper which revealed undeclared assets to holding companies in Costa Rica which contained three properties, including a residence in the coastal area of Tamarindo and the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The Premier only disclosed his Costa Rica assets after he got caught. He got caught. And then, only then, did he tell us that, oh, he hasn't paid his taxes and, in fact, he actually tried to blame it on his wife and say, I have no dealings i n paying any of that; that's my wife's department. So– Mr.

Deputy Speaker: The honourable member's time is up. Mr. James Allum (Fort Garry -Riverview): [interjection] Well, thank you, yes, it's a heck of a way to spend your birthday, talking about The Business Registration, Supervision and Ownership Transparency Act. It's right up there with the minor amendments act –[interjection]–yes, which one –the Interim Supply 2020 bill that really is just beyond ludicrous. But, you know, nothing surprises me about this government anymore.

They continue to filibuster their own budget by having us debate some of the most inane and inconsequential legislation ever put before a House probably in Canadian history, Mr. Deputy Speaker. [interjection] Well, and the member for Minto (Mr. Swan) says, well, what should we be doing? And every member of this House knows, as certainly he well knows, is that we should be in Estimates today.

We should have been in Estimates all last week and we should have been in Estimates the we ek before that so that there is a proper accounting of government finances and so that the opposition on behalf of the people of Manitoba that we represent–and, in fact, on behalf of all people of Manitoba–have a chance to ask ministers in Estimates very d irect, very specific, very detailed questions about the budget and its implications for the people of Manitoba.

1820 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 13, 2019 But we're not doing that, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Instead, we're spending time working with the government almost seemingly to filibuster its own agenda. But, as I said last week on a bill of utter inconsequence–it's almost– you almost forget which useless bill it was–but, as I said last week, the people of Manitoba elect us, 57 of us, to come to this Legislature to debate the issues that are of consequence to them and their families.

And yet we have a government that fails to respond to the colossal needs in our communities, the needs of families that live in our communities. And I don't even mean the constituencies. I mean our neighbourhoods, our c ommunities, the very place that we all live and thrive together. And so we are instead, today –the name of this bill is called The Business Registration, Supervision and Ownership Transparency Act, and if it sounds as dull as it reads, well, that's because it is, Mr. Deputy Speaker. The bill deals with extraprovincial registrations of business.

Registrars may enter into agreements with other Canadian jurisdictions respecting the extraprovincial registration of corpo- rations, partnerships and co-operatives. Cabinet may make regulations about these registrations. This part of the bill also deals with extraprovincial limited partnerships that can now be registered in Manitoba. And then it deals with extraprovincial limited liability partnerships that have an attorney for service no longer require a registered office in Manitoba. And, Madam Speaker –or Mr.

Deputy Speaker, forgive me–while I'm sure somewhere in Manitoba, this is of consequence, this is not really a substantial matter that we need to be discussin g in this Legislature today when there are so, so many needs in our communities. The bill also addresses the supervision of co- operatives, and so it amends The Cooperatives Act to authorize the minister to designate a superintendent of co-operatives.

Those functions of the registrar of co-operatives that relate to the supervision over financial matters, the issuing of securities and appeals of membership terminations in a housing co- operative are transferred to the superintendent. The registrar is also no longer required to act as an adviser to co -operatives or provide model forms of articles and bylaws to co-operatives. * (15:10) Now, this may well be consequential to the co- operatives movement in Manitoba.

We're not sure exactly because there's been no explanation in the minister when he gave up –got up to give his lame introduction of the bill, really didn't give any explanation as to why this particular change was happening or occurring or the need for it, who might have–he might have consulted with in coming up with this particular amendment to The Cooperatives Act.

Lots of questions were left unanswered even as we asked, and I'm sure it was my friend from Flin Flon, maybe my friend from Minto, maybe my friend from Concordia who got up and asked quest ions on this bill to the minister at the time, but, of course, no answers were forthcoming, which lead us to believe that the minister really doesn’t understand his own legislation, which is problem enough.

But, when the legislation is presented to the House over and over and over again instead of us being in Estimates where we actually ought to be, then it raises a number of questions about the government's agenda, the government's intention to address the real issues facing Manitobans and the government's intention to attempt to try to distract Manitobans from the impact of their austerity agenda.

And then, finally, the act touches on ownership transparency, and isn't it always so interesting how the government is always so interested in businesses and what's happening with them while working people in Manitoba are left day by day to–are hung out to dry by this government on the vast array of issues? But–so the government's real priority, appar - ently, is, instead, trying to speak clearly about ownership transparency in the business community, and so The Corporations Act and The Cooperatives Act are harmonized with recent changes to federal legislation respecting ownership transparency.

The act –this part of the act also addresses corporations must mainta in a register of individuals who, separately or collectively, exert more 25 per cent of the shareholder voting rights. Reporting issuers, publicly traded corporations, licence insurers and loan and trust corporations are exempt from this requirement, and I would suggest to you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, that you probably need to be a chartered accountant to understand the real impact of this. We tried to ask questions of the minister when he introduced the bill on this

May 13, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1821 particular matter to try to get more infor mation, to try to get real answers, to try to get substantive answers, but none were forthcoming. And so we're left, again, to conclude that, of the three elements that make up The Business Registration, Supervision and Ownership Trans - parency Act, that the minister certainly didn't understand the legislation that he's introducing into the House. He was simply unable to answer any questions that we put to him.

And so we're left to, again, question the govern- ment's priorities for Manitobans except in t his sense, that if they can cozy up to the business community they'll do that at every turn, but if it means working day in and day out in this Legislature to address the needs from people of Manitoba, well, that's not going to happen. That's clearly not happening right now; it happen–hasn't been happening in this Legislature for a couple of weeks.

And it's a sad commentary on the state of public engagement and the public interest in Manitoba when this Chamber is reduced to having to address these bills day after day when, in fact, we should be in Estimates and the government and ministers, the Premier (Mr. Pallister), Cabinet ministers, should be in, defending and helping us to understand the nature of the cuts that they've made to all kinds of services that Manitobans rely on. But we're not doing that.

Instead, we're left to do that and–to do this today, and I have to say I think what gives the whole thing away is that no member of the government gets up to speak about this bill. I waited in my chair a few seconds here to see which member of the government side would pop up to defend this critically important issue that needs –that we need to spend so much time here on the House and, frankly, none did.

And I would suggest to you that not only is the minister undermining the interests of Manitobans when we're forced to spend so much time on such a really meaningless bill in the context of all the other issues that need to be addressed in Manitoba, but, at the same time, it speaks volumes that the government side isn't even getting up to debate their own bills, to defend their own bills, to tell us how they –why they regard this as being of such monumental importance.

I'm sure my friend from Riding Mountain –who will be lucky, I think, to hang on to his sea t in the next election–was probably out door -knocking over the last little while, and I'm hazarding a guess that this was not brought to his attention once. I know my friend from St. James is going to go and–going to go run in a new constituency, Assiniboine. I'm not sure why he wasn't welcome in St. James anymore, but I dare to say I have no doubt– An Honourable Member: I live in Assiniboine. Mr. Allum: Oh, he says he never lived in his constituency in the first place; never a good idea for an MLA, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

But I know he would have been out door - knocking because he's scared for his seat as well–and well he should be–over the weekend, I have no doubt about that. And I'm sure that this matter, Bill 22, was not raised with him once during the c ourse of his door-knocking exercises. I hazard to say they were probably addressing critical issues in health care and education when he went to the doorsteps. No one was talking about the business registration act and so that's –it's kind of disappointing– An Honourable Member: Very pleased with Grace; they're very pleased with Grace Hospital. Mr.

Allum: And the member for St. James (Mr. Johnston) now talks to me, saying something about Grace Hospital, and let me just say to him: you're welcome. The NDP was proud to build that great institution and the great innovations that have happened there. [interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Mr. Allum: Of course, you'll put up the plaque –and this is the old story with the Tories. They'll put up the plaque: We'll do the hard work of getting things built on behalf of the people of Manitoba. And so, Mr. Deputy Speaker–[interjection] Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. Mr.

Allum: –I find it quite remarkable that the leader of the opposition, the member for Fort Rouge (Mr. Kinew), gets up every day and he talks about important issues in health care, whether it's keeping the ERs open at Seven Oaks or Concordia or the cuts to service s–physiotherapy being a good example – that have been sliced and diced apart by this government. And, on our side of the House, we want to get up and we want to engage with the government on those

1822 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 13, 2019 critical health-care issues but, Mr. Deputy Speaker, are we doing that today? Are we doing that, either here in the House or where we should be, in Estimates? No, we're not. We're looking at the business registration act. My friend from St. Johns, who is a remarkable individual in her own right, gets up every da y and talks about a wide variety of issues in the justice system.

She wants to know why there's been twice as many murders this year as there has been last year; why crime rates are going up; why there have been cuts to the Elizabeth Fry Society; why there 's been cuts to the John Howard Society; why there has been real–no real effort to really get behind a crime prevention plan that works, that's rooted in the determinants–the social determinants of health, but that hasn't been forthcoming. So are we doing that today, Mr. Deputy Speaker, either here in the Chamber or in Estimates? No, we're not. We're talking about the business registration act. My friend from St.

Johns also wants to get up and talk about missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. It's such a critical issue facing our country. It is at the core of reconciliation. If we can start to do that right, Mr. Deputy Speaker, then we're positioned to be able to take those first gentle steps toward reconciliation, but are we talking about that today? No, we're not. We're talking about the business transparency act.

My friend from Concordia, as I said last week, gets up, as he did today, to speak out on behalf of keeping the Concordia ER open, and he joined with hundreds of other Manitobans last week at Concordia to protest the government's actions, to advocate for keeping it open. * (15:20) But are we talking about keeping the Concordia ER open today, Mr. Deputy Speaker, either in the House or in Estimates? No, we're not. We're talking about the business transparency act.

My friend from Concordia also wants to get up and talk to the Minister of Education, engage with the Minister of Education on any number of education issues affecting this province. He'd like to get more detail on the so- called education commission that's going through the province.

And I know, to his credit, that he's been to virtually every single one of the open house sessions that have been held by the commission to date, and what he's come back and told us time and time again is that the people who attend those sessions are telling the government to walk back their cuts to education, walk back their cuts to the K -to-12 system, start investing in education, start investing in our children. But are we talking about that today, Mr. Deputy Speaker, in the House or in Estimates? No, we're not. We're talking about the business registration transparency act. Mr.

Deputy Speaker, I know my friend from Concordia also wants to talk about to the Minister of Education, engage with the Minister of Education, either in this House or in Estimates, about the woeful state of post -secondary education in this province under the Pallister government. He wants to ask what impact has happened by the sudden and huge increase in tuition. He wants to know about the impact of taking away the tuition rebate program.

He wants to know what impact has happened when the government sliced away, cut access program funding, an unspeakable act, in my view, something that is so reprehensible I can hardly get my head around it. My friend from Concordia wants to talk to the Minister of Education about that critical post-secondary issue, either in the House or in Estimates, but are we doing that today? No, we're not. We're talking about the business registration act.

My friend from Concordia also wants to talk about the state of capital spending on our campuses, which has been not only nothing, but less than nothing since the Pallister government came into power. Now, when you think about our government that was elected four times by the people of Manitoba over 16 years –incidentally, when the fixed election date came in in 2007, we ran our fixed election dates in 2011 and 2016, but that's just an aside, Mr. Deputy Speaker. But since the government has come into power, there's been no capital construction at any post-secondary institution in this province.

But yet when you think about the 16–our 16 years in government, over four elected terms, go to any of the campuses and see the difference that was made by our predecessors who took a bold step to try to innovate and invest on any of the –on every single campus in this province. You only have to go downtown to see the incredible campus at Red River downtown, just adjacent to City Hall. It's a remarkable learning commons. And then across the street at the Union Tower building, which sat

May 13, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1823 empty for so long, is now a remarkable educational institution. That institution was built by the NDP. The governme nt has not done anything like it. Are we dealing with that today, either in the House or in Estimates? No, we're not. We're talking about the business registration act. My friends from Brandon should be wanting to get up and speak about the absence of pos t- secondary investment in Brandon at the –at Brandon U– An Honourable Member: How about that school we're building that you failed? Mr.

Allum: And I hear my friend from Brandon West chirping in the background. Where's he been as we try to–as the process of trying to move the rest of ACC to the North Hill, where is his voice been on that, Mr. Deputy Speaker? He has no problem heckling me in the House here today, but when it comes to the critical educational issue in Brandon about getting the North Hill proj ect completed, where is he? He's silent. He's not saying anything. He hides behind the business registration trans - parency act. He doesn't even get up to debate it. He doesn't want to talk about critical issues in Brandon.

Are we –but are we talking about that critical issue today, about making sure that the North Hill project gets completed for ACC? Are we talking about that today, Mr. Deputy Speaker? No, we're not. We're not talking about it here in debate; we're not talking about it in Estimates. Instea d, we're forced for the umpteenth time to look at the business registration act. Mr. Deputy Speaker, my friend from Flin Flon asked the Premier (Mr. Pallister) a very direct question about how the government will com - memorate the 100th anniversary of the Winnipeg General Strike in question period today.

You know, he couldn't have sent an easier softball over to the Premier if he tried, because the right thing to do, the honourable thing to do was for the Premier of Manitoba to get up and to accept the suggestions made by the member for Flin Flon (Mr. Lindsey) about how we could commemorate the Winnipeg General Strike, now entering its 100th anniversary, and only two days, I believe, away from when it started 100 years ago. Did the Premier respond to the good suggestions made by the–by my friend from Flin Flon? No, he didn't. Instead, he threw insults across the floor, as he constantly does.

He makes issues personal and he throws insults across the floor instead of actually answering questions or leading t his House in serious debate on serious issues of consequence to the people of Manitoba. But are we talking about any of those issues today, Mr. Deputy Speaker? Oh no, we're not. We're talking about the business transparency act. My friend from Minto, a s I said last week, is the newly minted Finance critic for the NDP. He wants to get up and ask the Minister of Finance (Mr. Fielding) how much money this government has made from the legalization of marijuana to date.

It was something for a budget to come out to begin with in March in which there was no projected revenue for that particular revenue stream in the budget. And since then, have we heard anything from the Minister of Finance about that important issue? No, we haven't, Mr. Deputy Speaker. We've heard crickets from him. And so I know my friend from Minto wanted to be in Estimates today to address that issue and many, many other issues relating to the finances of the Province of Manitoba. But are we in Estimates talking about those critical issue s today? Are we debating them in the House today? No, we're not.

We're looking at the business registration act. I know that my sister from The Pas talked about a northern patient transfer program that has been hacked and slashed by this government, and we–she raised a really critical issue about it today in question period. Did we get an answer? No. Did we expect one? No. Did–were they even in the same universe of an answer? No. But we should be talking about that in Estimates today. But are we, Mr. Deputy Speaker? Are we talking about the northern patient transfer program in Estimates, where we should be, or are we even debating it here in the House?

No, we're not; we're talking about the business transparency act. I know my friend from Wolseley is coming up to my 'hood, into Lord Roberts tonight to give a presentation that he's done in a number of places across the province on the impact of climate change, what science is telling us about climate change.

He's certainly putting the record of the Conserv ative government out there, but he's more concerned with making sure that people are educated on the issue and understand what scientists are telling, and how important that we begin to address climate change both in terms of mitigation and adaptation right now, today.

1824 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 13, 2019 That's how pressing, that's how important this issue is. Even as I was watching John Oliver last night, he talked about it and how people in positions of power have their heads in the sand when it comes to this particular issue. Like this g overnment, they're in denial about the impact of climate change going forward. So my friend from Wolseley wanted to be in Estimates today to talk to the Minister of Sustainable Development (Ms. Squires) about the Pallister government's climate change green scam–plan–green washing thing that they've got going.

And–but are we in–are we doing that in Estimates today or are we even debating a profoundly important climate change bill in the House today? Have we seen anything like that in the light of day during the three years that the Pallister government has been in power? No, we haven't. We haven't seen it for three years; we're not seeing it today. We're not in Estimates being able to talk about it today.

Instead, we're back to the old drawing board of talking about the business registration act. * (15:30) The other day I said that my sister from Logan wanted to talk to the Minister of Education, who also is the minister for immigration, about immigration. And as I said, she wanted to talk about the head tax, that deplorable concept that the Pallister government in the 21st century has imported from the late 18th, early 19th century, put a head tax on people coming in to this province at 500 bucks a shot that –which has raised about $5 million.

And my sister from Logan got up one day in question period, and she said to the Minister of Ed ucation and immigration, well, you say you've spent $3 million. Where's the other $2 million? Was there an answer? No, there wasn't, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

So my friend from Logan wanted to be up in Estimates, but the Minister of Education, who doubles as the minister of immigration and he's obviously giving short shrift to both–he can't handle either job, it appears –she wanted to be in Estimates to discuss what happened to the revenue associated with the head tax, that deplorable concept –I'm going to have to wash my mouth out with soap even to have–when I go home just having had to say that term over and over again. It's such a deplorable term. It's such a deplorable concept. It doesn't speak to Canadian or Manitoban values.

My sister from Logan wanted to ge t up to –in Estimates and talk to the Minister of Education and immigration about that important subject. But are we in–are we doing that in Estimates today? Are we even doing it in the House today? No, we're not, Mr. Deputy Speaker. We're talking about the business transparency act. My friend from Tyndall Park has a number of critic responsibilities. He certainly wouldn't mind being in Estimates today to talk to the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Eichler) about how he's working to address the canola issue in our province.

The only thing I've heard for the –from the minister on this particular issue was for him to say, hey, you know what we should do? Let's take a trip to China. But that's all. No answers. No plan. No strategy. Nothing of substance. And so I know my friend from Tyndall Park, who doubles as our Agriculture critic, wanted to be in Estimates today to talk to the Minister of Agriculture about the canola crisis. But are we doing that today, Mr. Deputy Speaker? Are we doing it in Estimates where we should be? Are we even doing it in the House by addressing a bill on that important issue? No, we're not.

What are we talking about instead? The business transparency act. I know if my friend from Elmwood was here, he'd want to be talking again and agai n and again about keeping the ER opened at Concordia. He'd also want to be talking about infrastructure. This government has cut virtually half the Infrastructure budget from what it once was when we were in government. And not only that, the government has tried to cheat the City of Winnipeg out of $40 million, leaving a sizable–sizable –financial and real pothole for the City of Winnipeg.

I know my friend from Elmwood might also even like to talk about the government's infrastructure plan to renew the –or rebuild the Louise Bridge. But, you know what, Mr. Deputy Speaker? He's not going to get a chance to do that. He's not going to get a chance to talk to the minister today about infrastructure projects, about infrastructure invest - ment, about investing in this province for now and future generations to make sure that they have the kind of infrastructure, whether it's physical infras - tructure of roads and bridges or whether it's a hospital or a school or a child -care centre.

He's not going to get that opportunity to talk about that. He's not going to be able to talk about it in Estimates. He's not going to be able to talk to it –about a bill in the House that we're debating.

May 13, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1825 Because, again, for the umpteenth time, the government is instead putting forward the business transparency act for debate today when, in fact, the – it does not address any of the critical questions, critical issues, colossal needs facing our neighbour - hoods, facing our communities, facing our towns and villages, facing our First Nations, facing Metis people in their communities. Mr. Deputy Speaker, we're not doing any of that. Instead, we're forced, with almost a proverbial gun at our head, to talk about the business transparency act,

an act that would've really, literally taken a couple of minutes to actually get through, if the government had brought more substantive issues to the table. But they haven't, and they continue to fail the people of Manitoba as a result. Mr. Deputy Speaker–and I know you know this– when austerity is your only agenda, then after the cuts, there's nothing, and I mean nothing, left to talk about with this government. They don't have a plan for building the province of Manitoba. All they're really interested in doing is diddling about, wasting our time when, in fact, New Democrats– Mr.

Deputy Speaker: The honourable member's time is up. Ms. Flor Marcelino (Logan): I'm surprised and I echo the sentiments of my brothers and sisters of this side of the House, why we are discussing Bill 22, The Business Regis tration, Supervision and Ownership Transparency Act, right now when there are many, many more pressing issues to discuss. I don't disagree that there are housecleanings to be done, bills to be cleared, bills to go through second, third readings and therea fter, committees. However, there are much more urgent priorities that we should be discussing today. What are those priorities?

My brother, member from Riverview, just mentioned we're so eager to engage the government in Estimates process. We have many q uestions to ask the ministers, the Premier (Mr. Pallister), on behalf of all Manitobans. We have a duty to fulfill, and that is to hold this government to account. We take that duty seriously. We are committed to getting to the bottom of the issues that ar e–and problems that are plaguing our varied communities in Manitoba. And what are those issues in our communities? Well, everyone knows, if you're listening to the radio, watching TV news, reading the daily newspapers, peace and order.

I just heard that one of the problems right now is the ever -increasing use of firearms in committing crimes, crimes against persons, life of persons, and to–crimes to commit robbery. And people are using firearms now. Not too long ago, the weapons being used are, well, knives and crowbars. But now we see the use of firearms. Just, I think, a few weeks ago, our community was saddened to hear of the death of a Filipino 50-something- aged male Filipino who was killed, was shot and eventually he died because the people who did this to him wanted to rob him. * (15:40) And that poor man has family.

That person has friends, that person is well -loved by his co -workers, and now they are left to bear the pain and the great loss of losing a family member, a dear friend, all because someone had the bad intention of –well, it's bad enough to rob someone, bad enough to waylay someone, but to kill the person in committing the act of robbery is so –not just disgusting but so abom - inable, and, of course, we are still not through yet with grieving over the loss of this young 17- year-old boy, should be graduating very soon next month, a 17-year-old boy who was the only male son of Imelda, whom I know very well, who's well-loved in her community.

To this day, the grief of that family and the gr ief of the boy's many friends are so palpable, so intense, they don't know how they'll get over this, their grief. They are so saddened that this very nice, very loving and quiet boy will die such kind of death in the hands of persons not only made bad by their addictions, but totally made deranged by substance that is now a huge crisis in our province, and that's the meth crisis. We should be talking about where the departments of Justice, of Families and the likes should put their heads together to solv e this crisis and make our communities safe.

Imagine if this boy had lived, he would have been a very successful business person. He would have been a very success- ful baker, because that's his dream, to be a well - known baker, an internationally known chef . Imagine all the opportunities that –and the possibilities that this boy could have seen in his later life, the love that he could have continued to shower on his family, his parents and his friends. This boy didn't even have a chance to be in a relationship and even have children of her own– his own, just like many of us here, the joy of being with

1826 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 13, 2019 their–our own children and later in life our very own grandchildren. Because of the meth crisis plaguing the cities today –our city today –that boy has not realized all those joys that many of us are now enjoying. Bill 22, The Business Registration, Supervision and Ownership Transparency Act–well, there will be time to discuss this, but right now there are far more urgent, important issues to tackle. I've just mentioned peace and order, the meth crisis.

To this day, we don't know what this government has done with the $4 million or so they have signed in last December from the federal government with all the fanfare and photo ops. That $4 million, if put to good use immediately, could have prevented several deaths that have occurred since that signing date, that it could be attributed to the meth crisis. To this day, we haven't heard from this govern - ment what they'll be doing to address the absence of beds that would take in addicts or substance abusers that cannot be accommodated in their homes and cannot be services or helped by community orga - nizations.

To this day, we don't know –we have not heard yet from the minister who signed it with–along with the federal minister –what this government will do to make good us e of that $4 million from the federal government. What else are pressing issues, besides peace and order? Housing. Day after day, we get calls and even visits to our constituency from constituents asking for help to be referred to Manitoba Housing. In the past, we took great pride in being able to talk directly to staff members for Manitoba Housing when we have case work related to Housing.

There was a particular instance, I don't remem - ber the name now of the lady –a constituent. She was residing in one of the Manitoba Housing high- rise buildings and has disability. For some reason, that area of Manitoba Housing she's in is –she felt not very safe in that place. And there were all –from time to time, commotions and flare ups of conflict among residents. An d she's a woman and –with disability. And she has –she would have difficulty protecting herself and warding off unwanted attacks if it comes. She has a part -time job and–which requires her to come home quite late in the evening.

And with problems with mobili ty, she felt so unsafe in that place. It so happened I was doing some door knocking in that building and she related to me her problem. Right away, the following day, my staff made inquiries with Manitoba Housing. And she has a preferred place and she said it's closer to her work. So we connected with the staff in that particular housing place, and it didn't take very long for that request to be granted. * (15:50) And I even has forgotten about it.

I thought there are more issues to tackle, more pressin g issues to tackle, until one day I received an email from this lady, and she was so grateful that she has now moved to the housing place that she had long wanted to be. And she's–she felt safe and very happy to be there. And I thought, oh, so, it was not that easy to grant this lady's –this constituent's request; just a phone call away was what it all needed. And in this kind of job, we felt fulfilled. We felt encouraged.

That little action we did –which is part of our work, anyway, that's what we signed u p for –resulted in happiness, security and safety of a constituent. Those are the kinds of issues that we should be talking today, not Bill 22. We should be talking about health care. Just the other day, Thursday, my daughter –well, with two young children, there are times when you will have no sleep at all at night. And that Wednesday evening into the morning of Thursday, it was 7 a.m. and the two young kids are still awake.

When she woke up or stood up around 9 a.m. to take care of breakfast, she suddenly felt dizzy and fell down. And she fell flat on her face and there was a cut here on the lower left lip. And it was huge that –it needed to be stitched. So the poor husband, who's working, had to leave work and go home and take her to Seven Oaks hospita l. Too bad, because they were there, say, for five hours and still she couldn't be attended to, because it was just a cut on the lip, but it was bleeding.

And by the time, evening time, it was still bleeding, so she was told to–they phoned Health Links, and she was told to go to Victoria instead, where she could be attended. Well, at Victoria, at around 10 in the evening, by then there was already a scab on the wound. So for them to be able to stitch it–it required seven stitches–they have to remove the scab. So that's not only painful, but unnecessary if she were attended, say, within the next five hours of waiting in the emergency room. So there could have been a mitigation of pain and she could have been back in his house –in her

May 13, 2019 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1827 house with her children but, instead, the kids had to be with her in the hospital. And, of course, we know the hospital environment –you should not be taking kids there with you. Even adults who are otherwise strong could take in, you know, germs and bacteria that's all over the hospital environment. So we should be taking–talking about health care instead. We should be asking the Minister of Health, during Estimates, what are really happening in the health-care file under his watch.

But we're now talking about Bill 22, The Business Registration, Supervision and Ownership Transparency Act. Rather than Bill 22, let's hear from the Education Minister what's happening; why are–during Estimates we want to ask the Education Minister: Why is a –post-secondary students paying too much tuition these days under this Conservative government? I was at a U

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	41-4-50
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	41st 4th hansardpdf 50.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	862bd0d4bcf187f1d9d9b303551e55df1f0067a8

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