Alberta Hansard — 12 June 2007, Afternoon sitting (13:00) (Legislature 26, Session 3)

20070612

Alberta — Debates (Hansard)

June 12, 2007 Alberta Hansard 1681 Legislative Assembly of Alberta Title: Tuesday, June 12, 2007 1:00 p.m. Date: 07/06/12 [The Speaker in the chair] head: Prayers The Speaker: Good afternoon and welcome. Let us pray. In our mind’s eye let us see the awesome grandeur of the Rockies, the denseness of our forests, the fertility of our farmland, the splendour of our rivers, the richness of our resources, the energy of our people. Then let us rededicate ourselves as wise stewards of such bounty on behalf of all Albertans. Amen. Please be seated. head: Introduction of Guests The Speaker: The hon.

Minister of Health and Wellness. Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a number of introductions today, so if you’ll bear with me. First of all, I’d like to say that as a proud parent I know the pride that all parents have in their children, and grandparents as well. So today it’s a particular pleasure for me to introduce to you and through you to members of the Assembly the proud mother and the pr oud grandparents of our head page, Jennifer Huygen.

I’m sure that all members of this House will agree with me that Jennifer has done an absolutely outstanding job as a page in this Legislative Assembly, and we, too, consider ourselves as proud parents in that sense. Jennifer is attending the University of Alberta faculty of arts program, and last year she received the University of Alberta scholastic distinction scholarship, the millennium excellence award, and the Governor General’s award for highest academic average in grades 11 and 12.

Jennifer also enjoys figure skating and Pilates and is a University of Alberta Gateway news writer and a member of the Red Cross youth group. Mr. Speaker, seated in your gallery is Susan Huygen, mother of Jennifer and a constituent in my constituency of Edmonton- Whitemud. Susan is a research assistant with the department of medicine at the University of Alberta hospital. Accompanying Susan are Andy and Marge Bourgeault, Jennifer’s grandparents, who I’m told are very much enjoying retirement.

I know that they’re proud of Jennifer as our head page, and I’d ask them to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. Mr. Speaker, it’s also my pleasure to introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly two special guests. Mr. Chris Gowers is a constituent of mine and also the international service director for Rotary Club of Edmonton West. With Chris is Mariana de Leon Moreno, a 19-year-old Rotary youth exchange student from the city of Zapopan in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco in Mexico.

Mariana is here on a one-year student visa attending Ross Sheppard high school since August of 2006. I had the pleasure of meeting with Mariana today. She likes public speaking, arts and crafts, and design and hopes to pursue studies in communications and work in radio and television. While here Mariana has done hiking in the mountains near Nordegg, travelled to Yellowknife and flown over a caribou herd in the far north and built an igloo.

She’s also flown over the city of Edmonton, gone to an Edmonton Eskimo football game, an Oilers game, and Stars on Ice with Jamie Salé and David Pelletier, and many more activities. She’s experiencing our food, our language, our culture, and is sharing with us what her country of Mexico is all about. I would ask Mariana and Chris to please rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. Mr.

Speaker, I have the singular privilege today of introducing to you and through you to the Assembly 17 key stakeholders who every day make an immeasurable contribution to public health in Alberta and to the wellness of people across the province. Our guests come from many diverse backgrounds, but all have been invaluable in the advancement of a province-wide tobacco reduction strategy, and they’re here today to mark the introduction of Bill 45, Smoke-free Places (Tobacco Reduction) Amendment Act, 2007.

Albertans support and indeed demand that we as policy-makers take resolute action in protecting the health of the province. Our guests are seated in the public and members’ galleries, and I’d ask that the House hol d its applause until all visitors have been introduced. Dr. Tony Fields, vice-president of medical affairs and community oncology, Alberta Cancer Board; Dr. David Johnstone, clinical director, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute; Dr. Roger Palmer, dean of the School of Public Health, University of Alberta; Mr. Greg Eberhart, registrar of the Alberta College of Pharmacists; Dr.

Darryl LaBuick, president-elect, and Mr. Mike Gormley, executive director, Alberta Medical Association; Mr. Joe Rodgers, board member, and Ms Barb Davis, vice-president, provincial services division, AADAC; Ms Ingrid Meier, board member, and Ms Gina Smith, vice-president, health initiatives, Lung Association of Alberta and the Northwest Territories; Dr. Ian Montgomerie, chair, board of directors, and Ms Angeline Webb, cancer control analyst, Canadian Cancer Society, Alberta and Northwest Territories; Ms Kay Olsen, second vice-president, and Mr. Ken Kobly, chief executive officer, Alberta Chambers of Commerce; Dr.

Roger Hodkinson, honorary chair, and Mr. Les Hagen, executive director, Action on Smoking and Health; and Mr. Ken Chapman, policy consultant with the campaign for a smoke-free Alberta. Heather Jubenvill, a teacher with Nellie McClung who won an excellence in teaching award, and 12 of her students of the BLAST team had hoped to be here, but they had to stay at sc hool and prepare for exams. I’d like all of my guests to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome and thanks from our Assembly. A final introduction, Mr. Speaker.

It’s a pleasure for me to be able to introduce to you and through you to members of the Assem- bly six students from Bosco Homes’ smoking cessation and education program who are here to mark the introduction of Bill 45, Smoke-free Places (Tobacco Reduction) Amendment Act. Accom- panying the students are Dr. Milan Njegovan, addictions clinician; Kathy Clarkes, Bosco jurisdiction vice-principal; Jarret Mymko, teacher; and Jody Zacharkiw, smoking cessation project teacher. The guests are seated in the members’ gallery, and I’d ask that they stand and receive the warm welcome of the Assembly.

The Speaker: Hon. minister, you didn’t miss anyone? The hon. Minister of Advanced Education and Technology. Mr. Horner: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have but one introduction to give you this afternoon. It is an honour, though, for me to introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly a group of grade 6 students from Greystone Centennial middle school in Spruce Grove.

There are 138 visitors in total, with two groups in the members’ gallery and two groups in the public gallery, a very bright group who participated in the mock Legislature this morning and had some very interesting debate, I might add. The future of Alberta is very well represented in our two galleries today. They are accompanied by teachers Mrs. St. Amand, Mrs. Scanga, Mrs. Papp, and Mrs. Steigel. I would ask all of the students and their teachers and parent helpers to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Castle Downs.

Alberta Hansard June 12, 20071682 Mr. Lukaszuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today we’re accompa- nied by Muriel and Arthur McMurdo. Mr. McMurdo is an example to all of us that no matter how late in life, we all can change and improve. He spent most of his life in Saskatchewan, where he was a staunch NDP supporter, was educated by Tommy Douglas, became the province’s first full-time Crown prosecutor, and in 1960 the NDP government appointed him to the provincial bench. His cousin on the other side Agnes Macphail was Canada’s first female MP, elected in 1922.

However, he now resides in Edmonton and at the age of 82 has purchased his first PC membership. See, there is always hope. Both of them are accompanied by my muse, Stacey Brotzel. I would ask them to rise in the public gallery and receive the warm traditional welcome of our Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Wetaskiwin-Camrose. Mr. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of the Member for Lacombe-Ponoka it’s my pleasure to rise today and introduce to you and through you to the Assembly five members from the Lacombe action group.

Seated in the members’ gallery are Sandra Abma, Bob Doherty, Nick Nibourg, Trevor Taylor, and Tr acey Oliver-Forbes. I would ask that they all rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. 1:10 The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As part of my ongoing celebration of Edmonton being named the cultural capital of Canada in 2007, I’d like to introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly Kerry Mulholland. Kerry is the acting executive director of the Writers’ Guild of Alberta.

The Writers’ Guild of Alberta is a provincial arts service organization that represents nearly a thousand professional and emerging writers from across the province. Their mission is to promote, encourage, and support writing and writers in the province and to safeguard the freedom to read and to write and to advocate for the well-being of writers. They offer a number of programs, including a summer camp for kids age 12 to 18 who love to write, and an annual conference. This year that will be in Grande Prairie and culminate with the 2007 Alberta literary awards.

I would ask Kerry to please rise and accept the warm welcome of the Assembly. Ms Pastoor: Mr. Speaker, I have pleasure today in introducing to you and through you to this Assembly my constituency STEP student, Mr. Rob DeSandoli. He is in his third year at the University of Lethbridge, studying political science, and is interested in international policy. Rob is from B.C. and has enjoyed comparing how democracy is practised in B.C. and Alberta. He is a marathon runner and has competed in the Vancouver marathon every year since ’05, having won his age category in ’05 and ’06. Rob is capable of a seven-minute mile.

He must enjoy speed because he drives race cars as well. Many of us have had the opportunity to introduce our STEP students and their accomplishments. If these young people are an indication of our future, we are indeed in good hands. I would ask Rob to stand and receive the traditional welcome of this House. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview. Mr. Martin: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m delighted to introduce to you and members of the Assembly Chris Samuel. Chris has been with the NDP caucus for the past three years and is currently our director of research.

Previously he worked for the Member for Edmonton-Strathcona as his constituency assistant. Chris has been a long-time NDP activist. He and his partner, Cory, have been involved in the GLBT community for a number of years. He was also the cohost for CJSR’s Gaywire. Chris is very dedicated and has contributed immensely to our day-to-day work in this Assembly. We appreciate his hard work and support. I would now call upon him to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Calder. Mr. Eggen: Well, thanks, Mr. Speaker.

I’m very pleased to rise today to introduce to you and through you to the Assembly Margaret Siemens and Betty Welch. Margaret and Betty are constituents of mine in Edmonton-Calder, and both are members of the Calder Seniors Drop-in Centre. They are here today to add their voices to a growing number of Albertans who want the government to implement rent guidelines. Margaret grew up in Edmonton before heading to Winnipeg, but then she loved her home province so much she returned in 1976. Betty was born and raised here in Edmonton and has lived here all her life.

Betty has worked for Goodwill Industries for 37 years, and she’s a wonderful guitar player and musician. I would now ask them both to please rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona. Dr. Pannu: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I have two introductions today. First, I’m pleased to introduce to you and to all members of the House a visitor from India, Poromesh Acharya. Poromesh Acharya is a noted scholar and highly respected public intellectual in India.

He has served as a member of the Education Commission in the state of West Bengal, on the Indian Council of Historical Research, based in Delhi, the government of India Curriculum Review 2005 National Steering Committee, and the National Literacy Mission Authority. He’s a retired India councillor, a historical research fellow in education, and an accomplished author in Calcutta. Poromesh has al so worked with UNESCO as an education researcher. He is seated in the public gallery, and now I’ll request him to rise and receive the warm welcome of the Assembly. Mr.

Speaker, my second introduction is of Wayne Moen and Henry Maisonneuve, both members of the Old Strathcona Founda- tion. Wayne serves as the past president of the Old Strathcona Foundation, while Henry is the current president. The Old Strathcona Foundation is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organization. It was founded in 1974 to s upport the ongoing evolution and enrichment of the area’s character. The Old Strathcona Founda- tion’s main objective is to oversee the development of the Old Strathcona heritage conservation area while trying to balance the needs of the residents, businesses, and visitors.

This year the Old Strathcona Foundation is celebrating Strathcona’s centennial along with its traditional events, like the Silly Summer Parade and the art walk. I’ve been honoured by the foundation this year to be ap- pointed as the lord mayor of the Old Strathcona area. I will now ask that Wayne and Henry please rise and receive the warm welcome of the Assembly. head: Members’ Statements The Speaker: The hon. Member for Wetaskiwin-Camrose. Reynolds-Alberta Museum Mr. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The preservation of our cultural heritage is critical for future generations to understand the

June 12, 2007 Alberta Hansard 1683 past. Our province’s centennial celebration in 2005 reminded us of Alberta’s rich history and the need to keep history in the forefront of people’s minds. The Reynolds-Alberta Museum, in my constitu- ency, is an award-winning museum which attracts thousands of tourists each year. Last year the museum presented the Life and Times of the Motorcycle, which attracted 100,000 visitors. This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending the opening of a new exhibit, Showin’ Off, a unique display of 50 of the museum’s rare, unusual, and one-of-a-kind vintage cars.

The display runs all summer. The elements are in place for the Reynolds-Alberta Museum to be a landmark museum in North America. The automobile, agriculture, and transportation artifacts are outstanding educational tools for future generations. It is also the home of Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame and has a collection of 86 vintage aircraft, the second-largest collection in Canada. The Reynolds-Alberta Museum is also well served by the fact that the city of Wetaskiwin has embraced an active program of historical restoration.

Notably, the city refurbished the old Wetaskiwin courthouse into a new city hall, which will be opened on September 15. The combination of Wetaskiwin’s historical theme and the Reynolds-Alberta Museum presents a strong case for using tourism to boost the economic potential of that region. As a result of this potential, the Friends of Reynolds-Alberta Museum are spearheading a regional tourism study to map out the future of the museum. Knowing our past is critical to understanding our future.

The Reynolds-Alberta Museum presents a unique opportunity to this province to educate both young and old on the mechanization of Alberta. We have the means to support the preservation of our history and attract touris ts to this world-class destination. Now is the time to build a lasting legacy. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre. Volunteer Organizations Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Last Thursday I did part one of a member’s statement on the status of not-for-profit agencies in Alberta.

I expressed my concerns over the change in funding from core to project or contract and the resulting erosion of capacity of the agencies. I also talked about the extreme circum- stances being faced by many, many organizations as their top managers are lured away. Higher costs from choices this govern- ment has made in electrical deregulation, the wide-open insurance market, and a refusal to bring in temporary rent caps have also restricted the capacity of charities, their staff, and volunteers.

I ended up speaking about the increasing competition for fundrais- ing dollars as smaller groups go up against schools and other academic institutions and against hospitals and health foundations. Added to this is the distaste or even the ethical crisis that many organizations feel in pursuing gambling dollars in order to subsidize a service which may well be extensively used by those very same gambling clients. Mr.

Speaker, these are resilient, resourceful, determined people working and volunteering in this sector, but they are struggling with a lack of understanding by government about how they work and what they need to survive. Charities, not-for-profits, and organiza- tions run by volunteers are not free. They are extremely cost- efficient, tight with a penny, and very well managed, but they are not free. The choices this government continues to make in under- resourcing this sector are showing their toll. This is a great part of our society. They deserve to be treated as the valued partners that they are.

Please study carefully the reports and recommendations of the Canadian volunteerism initiative and listen to your local organizations for their suggestions and advice on how to achieve better partnerships. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Drayton Valley-Calmar. 1:20 Wyatt Broughton Rev. Abbott: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to honour the story of an incredibly inspiring Albertan. Wyatt Broughton, a five-year-old boy from Red Deer, represents a modern-day miracle.

Just two weeks before Wyatt was due, his parents, Shelley and Todd Broughton, discovered that Wyatt would be born with some health problems, the extent of which they were unsure. Following his birth, the doctors informed his parents that Wyatt had bladder exstrophy, two holes in his heart, and a missing valve in his pulmonary artery. Mr. Speaker, Wyatt’s first surgery occurred when he was only nine months old, and he has had 16 more since. Add to that over 150 X-rays, Botox injections, tests, scopes, blood work, and numerous other scans. Wyatt has congenital heart disease, chronic lung disease, and severe reflux.

He cannot swallow and is com- pletely deaf as well as blind in one eye. Mr. Speaker, with Wyatt meaning “little fighter,” it is truly a fitting name for him. Even while presented with such tremendous adversity, Wyatt remains forever enthusiastic. He continues his intense passion for life, inspiring all those who interact with him, and persists to embody a modern-day miracle. I invite all those who think they are having a bad day or week to hear Wyatt’s story. This young boy remains in good spirits through the toughest of odds every day of his life.

What a pleasure it was for me to attend a fundraiser in his honour on June 2 in Warburg, where 650 people from the Drayton Valley-Calmar constituency and surrounding areas came together to help this little fighter. Mr. Speaker, both he and his family highlight the aspects of life which we should all hold most dear. For his continued enthusiasm through adversity which he cannot control, I would like to honour this young man in this House. In fact, I ask all those present today to duly recognize Wyatt’s miracle story and inspiring journey through life. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Lougheed.

Farm Safety Mr. Rodney: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to remember the life of Kevan Chandler. Almost a year ago, June 18, 2006, Mr. Chandler was killed while working at a feedlot in southern Alberta. His death was tragic. It was unacceptable and has had lasting effects for his family. All Albertans deserve the security of knowing that their loved ones will return home to friends and family at the end of the day no matter what they do for a living. Mr. Speaker, let us dedicate ourselves to prevention.

This is perhaps the single most important thing we can do because legislation alone ca nnot eliminate work- place or farm injuries or fatalities. Getting good, valuable informa- tion out to producers and families and farmers about safety practices is key to eliminating injuries and fatalities. That’s the goal of the government’s farm safety program: to address farm safety awareness and workplace safety best practices. The more we can raise awareness of workplace and farm safety, the more people will return home unharmed.

Alberta Hansard June 12, 20071684 Alberta is striving for a culture of health and safety that is commonplace regardless of where people work or what they do for a living. I encourage all members of this Legislature and all Albertans to do their

part in helping to create this culture. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Calder. Education Funding Mr. Eggen: Thanks, Mr. Speaker. At a time when Alberta is experiencing unparalleled economic growth, this government has saddled Alberta’s school boards with rapidly shrinking budgets. For months school boards have been voicing their concern over budget shortfalls. Last night the Minister of Education confirmed what public education is up against. The minister stated: the budget is the budget; education in Alberta is adequately funded.

It is ironic that the minister made this comment on a night when the Catholic school trustees in Edmonton approved an operating budget with a shortfall of a full $15 million. Clearly, the minister is either out of touch with funding realities facing school boards throughout Alberta or he just doesn’t care. The Catholic school board announced last night that the funding shortfall has forced them to cut their infrastructure and maintenance budget by 55 per cent. The school board will also experience significant challenges stemming from a mere 3 per cent increase in their operating funding.

This increase falls short of the 8 per cent school board funding required and will provide significant hardship in curriculum updates and special-needs education. Beyond providing challenges to the school board, this funding shortfall also demonstrates a lack of foresight on the part of this government by failin g to provide adequate funding for labour settlements. The contracts of 90 per cent of Alberta’s teachers, including those in the Catholic system, are set to expire by August 31.

The rising cost of living in Alberta requires 5.5 per cent pay raises for these teachers, something that is unaffordable for the Catholic board budget and other boards across the province. This case of the Edmonton Catholic school board is just another in a long line of examples of this government’s consistent failure to recognize the importance of education in the lives of Alberta’s children.

By failing to adequately increase the funding to school boards, this government has in essence cut education budgets, let down students, teachers, and parents, and created an adversarial situation that is bound to get worse before it gets better. Thank you. The Speaker: Hon. members, is there an additional government member who chooses to participate today in Members’ Statements? The hon. Member for Calgary-McCall. Mr. Shariff: Mr. Speaker, I was just going to do a tabling, but I’ll take advantage of this. Shamsher Singh Sandhu Mr.

Shariff: On Saturday, June 9, 2007, I attended the 2007 outstanding Calgary seniors’ awards. One of the award recipients was Mr. Shamsher Singh Sandhu, who is a poet having published four books and is a regular contributor to Alberta Darpan , Sikh Virsa, Punjab Guardian, Desh Videsh, Desh Pardesh, and Punjabi Sahit. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Sandhu has translated the Canadian national anthem into Punjabi as well as the Alberta official centennial song. Later on today I will table those in this Assembly. Thank you. head: Presenting Petitions Mr. Mitzel: Mr.

Speaker, I rise today to present a petition signed by 34 residents of southeast Alberta that petition the Legislative Assembly to urge the government of Alberta to “introduce legisla- tion to ban resident trapping within 5 miles of the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park and in areas where species at risk are known to be present.” The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Decore. Mr. Bonko: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two petitions here.

The first one is signed by 40 Albertans that are concerned with the ongoing rent affordability crisis that contributes to Alberta’s worsening homeless situation, and it reads: We, the undersigned residents of Alberta, hereby petition the Legislative Assembly to urge the Government of Alberta to take immediate, meaningful measures to help low-income and fixed- income Albertans, Albertans with disabilities and those who are hard-to-house maintain their places of residence and cope with the escalating and frequent increases in their monthly rental costs.

My second one is from 178 people and reads: We, the undersigned residents of Alberta, petition the Legislative Assembly to urge the Government of Alberta to immediately conduct a comprehensive environmental impact assessment and initiate full public consultations regarding the proposed seismic testing on Marie Lake, and to deny permission for testing or further development if possible adverse effects are identified or the majority of affected members of the public are opposed. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-McClung. Mr. Elsalhy: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’m continuing with submission of signatures on the housing petition, this time 269, and the petition reads:

Whereas the ongoing rent affordability crisis is contributing to Alberta’s worsening homelessness situation, we, the undersigned residents of Alberta, hereby petition the Legislative Assembly to urge the Government of Alberta to take immediate, meaningful measures to help low-income and fixed-income Albertans, Albertans with disabilities and those who are hard-to-house maintain their places of residence and cope with the escalating and frequent increases in their monthly rental costs. Thank you. Mr. Lougheed: Mr. Speaker, I will table a petition signed by hundreds of residents of the capital region.

It urges the government to introduce legislation to suspend a graduated driver’s licence when the driver is involved in a serious car crash. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Glenora. Dr. B. Miller: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have 60 signatures on a petition.

The signatures were collected at a town hall meeting in Britannia-Youngstown in Edmonton urging the government to take immediate, meaningful measures to help low-income and fixed- income Albertans, Albertans with disabilities and those who are hard-to-house maintain their places of residence and cope with the escalating and frequent increases in their monthly rental costs. Rev. Abbott: Mr. Speaker, in light of the time, I would ask the House for unanimous consent that we immediately go to Introduc- tion of Bills. The Speaker: No. We’re right now in petitions. The hon. Member for Edmonton-Calder.

June 12, 2007 Alberta Hansard 1685 Mr. Eggen: Thanks, Mr. Speaker. I’m rising today to table a petition with 84 signatures on it. The petition notes the Conserva- tives’ refusal to protect Alberta families from rent increases and urges the government to immediately introduce temporary rent guidelines. Thank you. The Speaker: Hon. members, before proceeding, we’ll recognize a request from the hon. Member for Drayton Valley-Calmar to allow for Introduction of Guests. Is that okay? Hon. Members: Agreed. Rev. Abbott: Sorry, Mr. Speaker.

That was Introduction of Bills so that the people in the gallery could watch . . . The Speaker: Sorry. We’re not into Introduction of Bills yet. head: 1:30 Oral Question Period The Speaker: First Official Opposition main question. The hon. Leader of the Official Opposition. Education Funding Dr. Taft: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Governing effectively and responsibly is about choices, about getting the priorities right.

The Edmonton Catholic school district revealed that they need an extra $850,000 to continue delivering full-time kindergarten for at-risk children and will have to pull funds from other programs to keep this one going. Under an Alberta Liberal government this program would be fully funded. My question is to the Premier. The Premier boosted the budget of his own office by over $1.2 million this year. How can the Premier justify increasing the budget of his own office when Edmonton Catholic schools are struggling to maintain a critical program for at-risk children? Mr. Stelmach: Mr.

Speaker, the Leader of the Official Opposition was here when I defended the budget of Executive Council, and I explained that in this year’s budget we have, you know, an allocation of $1 million for a total governance review that we’re doing. That’s all the boards, agencies, commissions. These boards, agencies, and commissions spend about 50 per cent of the Alberta budget. We want to make sure that they are accountable and that their actions are open and transparent. That’s why the review is being conducted. The Speaker: The hon. leader. Dr. Taft: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’m sure that the cost of that could be found somewhere else in the budget. Parents in the Edmonton Catholic school district will have to pay more than $300,000 extra in transportation fees to make up a funding shortfall. Let’s look at the Premier’s priorities again. This increase could be easily covered by the budgetary boost the Premier gave to the Public Affairs Bureau. To the Premier: can the Premier explain why all this extra money went to the Public Affairs Bureau when parents in Edmonton are being forced to pay even more just to get their kids to school? Mr.

Stelmach: I know that I defended the budget last week, but I can answer this question the same. When he’s talking about finding places in the budget, the part of it being open and transparent is a very clear answer to the questions raised by the opposition last week in terms of defending budget. So for every increase, whether it’s increases due to staff increases or increases due to the annual pay increases or specific tasks that we are undertaking as members of Executive Council, those were clearly identified in the defence of the Executive Council budget last week. The Speaker: The hon. leader. Dr.

Taft: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Spin doctors should not take priority over schoolchildren. The priorities of this government are way off. The boards are doing their best to prioritize despite the confusion of this govern- ment. School boards around the province will be faced with tough choices in the coming weeks and months. In a province this wealthy delivering the basics should not be this difficult. To the Premier: can the Premier explain why his government is forcing school boards to do more with less when he’s also chosen to funnel $56 million this year alone in subsidies to the horse-racing industry?

Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, again, the allegations there are totally untrue. It’s the money that the horse industry can raise providing that people participate and use the slots that are available in the horse-racing facilities in Alberta. So if people participate, that’s how the horse-racing industry gets its support. If they don’t, well, then, they don’t get the money administered. You know, in the interests of openness and transparency I raised this issue during the defence of the budget, and I’m going to raise it again. The Liberals very secretly billed the Alberta taxpayers for their ads.

They have not come forward yet to be fully public and tell this House exactly what they are billing. What budget is it coming from? Let’s be open and transparent vice versa. Come on. The Speaker: Okay. We have a point of order that will be dealt with at the end of the Routine. Let’s all recognize as well that we’re continuing budget debate this afternoon with the second reading of the appropriation bill. Second Official Opposition main question. The hon. member for Edmonton-Rutherford. Teachers’ Salary Negotiations Mr. R. Miller: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Last evening myself, the Minister of Education, and a number of my Liberal colleagues attended a public meeting of the Edmonton Catholic school board. Unfortunately, the minister had to leave; he had another appoint- ment. Had he stayed, he would have received an earful, I can assure you. When Edmonton Catholic school district teachers head to the bargaining table later this month, they will likely ask for at least a 5 per cent salary increase.

If you consider the size of inflation, which was about 5.5 per cent this year, MLA pay increases at 5 per cent, and the skyrocketing costs of housing, 40.5 per cent in Edmonton this last year, this number is actually quite low. My question is for the Premier. If teachers and other staff in Edmonton Catholic are able to negotiate for the same pay increases that MLAs including this Premier received, the district will need at least another $5.1 million. Where will this money come from? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, the school boards are responsible for bargaining and negotiating with teachers.

We don’t do it in the venue of the Assembly. Public education is very important to this province. In fact, it’s part of the long-term plan to look at how we can further move to a knowledge-based economy, and that’s why there is significant investment not only in postsecondary education but primary education as well. It’s all part of the longer term vision

Alberta Hansard June 12, 20071686 for the province of Alberta to reposition this province on the world stage, especially in a knowledge-based economy. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. R. Miller: Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The Premier can try to argue that salary negotiations are just between the teachers and the school boards, but the fact is that this government has set the stage for widespread labour disruptions in the fall by failing to make adequate operating funding for school boards a priority at a time when 90 per cent – 90 per cent – of Alberta teachers will be renegotiating their salaries.

Again to the Premier: who should parents and students hold responsible for lost class time this fall if fair agreements can’t be negotiated? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, I have a tremendous am ount of confidence in our teachers and also in our school boards in this province of Alberta. They have worked extremely well in terms of working out various innovative solutions to the issues that come forward to a negotiation table. They’re very good at what they do. Again, I have great faith in the Alberta Teachers’ Association, the teachers, and also the school boards. They’ll find ways of dealing with various issues.

They have in the past. Quite frankly, in the province of Alberta we have the lowest days of labour interruption, period, compared to other jurisdictions in Canada. We’re very proud of that, and we’ll continue to work in that positive . . . The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. R. Miller: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In trying to explain away his fumbling efforts to divide teachers on the unf unded pension liability issue, the minister stated that he had decided new teachers would see the largest part of the new $25 million b ecause he was worried – he was worried – that the still unresolved pension issue would deter young people from entering the profession. My question is for the Minister of Education. How will forcing teachers to fight every few years just to maintain their standard of living and prevent salary cuts attract young people into the profession? How is this going to work? Mr. Liepert: Mr.

Speaker, that’s precisely one of the reasons why we put forward the initiative of the $25 million: to remove that as a deterrent for young t eachers. But I think we need to also reflect back to the fact that, as I’ve said in this House on numerous occasions, over the last 10 years funding for school boards – let me repeat – has gone up 86 per cent. Teachers’ salaries in that same 10- year period have gone up 45 per cent. Enrolment has increased by 5.9 per cent and inflation by 28 per cent.

So we can tie a particular fearmongering to whatever number we want, but I have a great deal of confidence that the school boards across the province and ATA locals will reach agreements. The Speaker: Third Official Opposition main question. The hon. Member for St. Albert. Education Funding (continued) Mr. Flaherty: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Inadequate operational funding especially impacts northern Alberta cities where growth pressures and inflation are particularly high.

Last week the Grande Prairie school district released what it called, and I quote, a difficult but balanced budget, which contains plans to operate with 16 fewer teachers. This means that the school board will not be able to meet the class size recommendations established by the Learning Commission. To the Minister of Education: given that inadequate operational funding means that school boards will not achieve the target class sizes, are you recommending that these standards be lowered, Mr. Minister? Mr. Liepert: Mr.

Speaker, there’s been no question that over the past three years the department has funded class size in itiatives to the tune of a half a billion dollars. The recommendations of the Learning Commission were that within five years we reach class size objectives. We’ve reached them for the most part within three years and fully funded them.

There are some areas – and it’s primarily due to infrastructure situations with the smaller class sizes with K to 4 – where we may be outside of the recommendations of the Learning Commission on class sizes, but for the most part we’ve met the objectives in three years as opposed to the recommended five years. 1:40 The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Flaherty: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The minister has advised school boards to exhaust any and all operating reserves to make up for funding shortfalls. Grande Prairie public does not have built-up reserves to fall back on. The only solution for them is to make cuts, Mr.

Minister. Asking school boards to rely on any operational reserves to make up funding shortfalls creates inequality across the province for boards that lack reserves. An Hon. Member: What’s the question? Mr. Flaherty: Yes. Thank you very much, colleague. Does the minister’s recommendation mean that he’s prepared to accept that some Alberta students will receive a better education than others in other parts of the province? Mr. Liepert: Well, Mr. Speaker, budgeting is always a tough process.

School districts are going through a very diligent time right now where they are making some choices relative to the funding that’s available. Contrary to what the opposition is referring to, we’ve had a number of settlements. We had a settlement recently by Pembina Hills school division. We’ve had a number of school districts, including the largest school district in the province, Calgary public, which are coming out with a balanced budget.

There are always going to be anomalies in certain areas of the province where it is more difficult because of growth pressures and other issues, but I again have great confidence in our school boards. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Flaherty: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member for Grande Prairie-Wapiti has suggested to constituents that their school board may receive some extra help from the province yet because Grande Prairie represents a unique situation, but the Minister of Education has told this Assembly that there will be no more money for school boards this year.

To the Minister of Education: who should parents, teachers, and trustees believe, you or the Member for Grande Prairie-Wapiti? Mr. Liepert: Well, Mr. Speaker, this hon. member has frankly twisted around what people have said on so many occasions. I’m not going to verify what he’s saying were comments by other

June 12, 2007 Alberta Hansard 1687 members of this Assembly, but what I will say is that it’s been very clear from the outset when the Finance minister delivered his budget several months ago that this government will have a policy going forward that the budget is the budget is the budget. We will not be coming forward with additional funds unless there are some circumstances around the unallocated surplus going forward. That policy has been very clear. Operating dollars are what is in the budget. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview, followed by the hon. Member for Whitecourt-Ste. Anne.

Affordable Housing Mr. Martin: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government’s economic policies have created a perfect storm in Alberta’s housing market, and it’s getting worse. New home prices in Edmonton have increased by 40.5 per cent, the highest in Canada. In Calgary new home prices have increased by 27.4 per cent, the second highest in Canada. There are less apartments in the market in Edmonton and Calgary than there were last October. People are getting hosed at both ends. They can’t afford to buy a new home, and they can’t afford the rising rents. My question is to the Premier.

As leader of the government in the province of Alberta what is your advice to the thousands of Albertans that are being crushed by rising rents and housing prices? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, this is a pressure that our government identified a long time ago, and this is with respect to housing. That’s why we put, well, more than a quarter of a billion dollars into affordable housing. That money will be distributed through the minister of municipal affairs, that will go to various municipalities.

We’re also working with municipalities and the federal government, looking at how we can create more spaces and available land. We just had a good meeting with Calgary in terms of some options. I’ve also met with the mayor of the city of Edmonton, that has come forward with some very innovative solutions. We are moving ahead. More units are being built, but just in the last five months or so 36,000 more people moved into the province of Alberta. Mr. Martin: Mr. Speaker, the Premier can make all the excuses that he wants.

The reality is that there are less apartments now than there were in October, and we have these rising rents and housing prices. The other things he’s talking about are going to take three to four years. The definition of affordable housing is that no more than 30 per cent of one’s income should go into accommodation. Now t hou- sands of Albertans are paying much more than that. My question is to the Premier. What would the Premier’s definition of affordable housing be in the new Alberta? Is it 40 per cent, 50 cent, 60 per cent, 70 per cent? Mr. Stelmach: Mr.

Speaker, we have a policy in place in terms of qualifications for affordable housing, that was clearly articulated by the minister of municipal affairs. If the hon. member needs the answer again, then I can ask the minister to reiterate the answer. The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Danyluk: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. When we look at rent supplements for individuals, we try to have a guideline that will help individuals so they w ould not spend over 30 per cent of their income on housing. Mr. Martin: Mr. Speaker, it’s not working. That’s the point.

There are thousands of Albertans that are paying a lot more than that, and you can’t begin to take it all under the rent supplement program. The minister is well aware of that. My question, though, is to the Premier. You’ve rejected rent guidelines. You’ve also rejected the new home ownership assistance program, that would have had an impact on young people buying their first homes. Again to the Premier, and I’d ask him to be specific rather than generalities. What short-term measure is the government proposing to deal with the rental and home ownership crisis? All the stuff he has talked about is in the future.

What’s he going to do now? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, once again, we’re increasing supply. That’s the only way of bringing down the prices. You know, they always talk about guidelines – guidelines. They try and sneak that in: guidelines. There is no such th ing as guidelines. Just be very honest and say: rent controls. That’s what they want. I’m supposed to tell someone in the province of Alberta: oh, please, if you want to buy a house, don’t spend more than 30 per cent of your income. What if they want to spend 40 per cent of their income on buying a house?

It’s not the role of government to dictate to individual families in terms of how much they want to spend on their mortgage to buy their own living accommodations. We’re not part of that socialist thinking from that side of the House. I can tell you that. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Whitecourt-Ste. Anne, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Decore. Political Party Donations Mr. VanderBurg: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’ve heard repeated assertions that volunteers for the Premier sought donations from a public body during his leadership campaign.

Further questions have been raised in this House about other solicitations of the Beaver River waste management commission. Can the Premier tell us if he’s aware of solicitations characterized by members opposite as improper? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, every day for the past two weeks the Leader of the Opposition has risen in this Legislature to attack my integrity. I want to quote from a letter dated October 3, 2006, to the Beaver regional waste management commission. To be effective, political parties need both money and support. That’s why I’m asking you to write a cheque to the Alberta Liberals today.

In fact, I hope you’ll consider making the maximum annual donation of $15,000. That letter has been signed by the president of the Alberta Liberal Party. I have the copies to table. The Speaker: At the appropriate time that document should be tabled. Mr. VanderBurg: Well, Mr. Speaker, we’ll see if the Leader of the Opposition still believes that those who mistakenly solicit donations from public bodies are guilty of heinous crimes. To the Premier: is this an issue that this Legislature should clarify? Does this happen often? Mr. Stelmach: Mr.

Speaker, it’s clear that many, many volunteers, even very intelligent people like lawyers, didn’t recognize the ethical issue at play. I have copies of a letter dated March 31, 2006, from an official of the Alberta Liberal Party asking the Beaver regional waste management commission to pay $350 a seat, or $2,800 for a

Alberta Hansard June 12, 20071688 table of eight, for the Liberal leader’s dinner. Now, that sounds familiar, Mr. Speaker. I believe they put the city of St. Albert in the very same predicament by sending them a letter, knowing very well that that was improper. I also have copies of letters to table with that as well. 1:50 Mr. VanderBurg: Mr. Speaker, so not once but twice. My final question is to the Prem ier. What is this government going to do about this? Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, to be perfectly clear, no laws were broken.

That also includes the members opposite, who have gone repeatedly to the same commission for dollars. I am committed to open, transparent government. I have promised legislation on leadership campaign funds, and I’m going to ask the members opposite to work – here’s an opportunity for the opposition to rise and tell Albertans how much they have billed the Alberta taxpayers for the radio ads they ran earlier this year. [interjections] As much as he wants to holler, the people of Alberta can still hear me.

He can give the exact amount of how much he billed secretly the Alberta taxpayers for their radio ads, and he can do it right now. The Speaker: Hon. Member for Drayton Valley-Calmar, you rose on a point of order. We’ll deal with it at the end of the Routine. The hon. Member for Edmonton-Decore, followed by the hon. Member for Drayton Valley-Calmar. Grizzly Bear Management Mr. Bonko: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government’s own recent grizzly bear inventory of unit 5 between highways 1 and 3 makes for very sad reading.

The number of grizzly bears in the southern half of the province is estimated at about 177 bears, and that population is in serious trouble. My question is to the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development. Why hasn’t there been any action under the grizzly bear action plan? Dr. Morton: Mr. Speaker, I’m glad it’s the last week here. I don’t think I could bear another grisly week with this crowd. This government’s priority has always been to ensure that grizzly bears not just survive but thrive. That’s why we cut off the hunt two years ago. We have a three-year moratorium.

There were no grizzly bears hunted last year, none this year, none next year. We’re doing a scientific count, and when we have the numbers in, we’ll make an informed decision. Mr. Bonko: When asked about this issue a month ago, the minister responded with the following: “The hon. members on the other side always hit the panic button and want to make a decision before all the facts are in. We’ll wait until the end of the three-year study and make a decision then.” Well, it’s clear now that waiting any longer would be completely negligent. The grizzly bears in Alberta are endangered.

Does the minister expect that the situation will be any better in two years when he is ready to act? Dr. Morton: As I said – and the hon. member is correct – they do like to hit the panic button early. We’ve undertaken any number of policies already. In addition to the moratorium on grizzly hunting, we’ve undertaken the DNA census, we’ve introduced the BearSmart program, we’re mapping bear environment, we have the Karelian dogs, and we have the grizzly bear intercept program. There are many activities under way as we speak to protect and enhance grizzly bear habitat. Mr.

Bonko: This minister, this Tory government is casually watching over the steady extinction of Alberta’s grizzly bear. This minister was appointed the task of protecting Alberta’s wildlife, and he isn’t doing his job. What’s it going to take for the minister to do his job, or will he stand aside and let someone else do it? Dr. Morton: Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member had paid close attention to the news that was released this week, he would have seen that in the southern part of the province there were 12 grizzly bears for every 1,000 kilometres. That’s a 36-kilometre diameter circle.

So if you’re standing in the middle of the forest with an 18- kilometre radius around you, there are 12 grizzly bears within that 18 kilometres. If you walk down a straight path and by chance all 12 bears are lined up, you’re going to run into a grizzly bear, hon. member, every 1.5 kilometres, every 1,500 metres. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Drayton Valley-Calmar, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-McClung. Off-highway Vehicle Use Rev. Abbott: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. There seem to be growing numbers of irresponsible off-highway vehicle users in Alberta.

Unmitigated OHV use can create significant damage to our public lands and could ultimately s poil this form of recreation for responsible OHV users. My questions are for the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development. What is his department doing to protect Alberta’s public lands from this type of damage? Dr. Morton: Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is correct. The number of off-highway vehicles has increased dramatically in Alberta. Sales have doubled in the past six years, and the number of registered vehicles has actually gone up by four times.

There are many more users out there looking for a place for recreation. Our focus is threefold: education, regulation, and enforcement. I’d be happy to elaborate on any of those. The Speaker: The hon. member. Rev. Abbott: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. My second question is to the same minister. I understand that you r ecently met with an OHV organization that promotes responsible use of our public lands. Is it true that these groups have told you about possible damage done to public land near Indian Graves after the May long weekend? If so, how can we stop this? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Dr.

Morton: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Indeed, I did go back to Indian Graves on June 2. I’m happy to report that the area was in much better order, and I observed many users enjoying the area for camping and off-highway vehicles in a responsible manner. I’d like to make it clear on the record that many Albertans who use off- highway vehicles do so in a very responsible manner and care about Alberta’s public lands. These groups were just as upset as I was and many Albertans were about what happened on the May long weekend.

These responsible off-highway vehicle users don’t want to be tarnished by the irresponsible behaviour of others. The Speaker: The hon. member. Rev. Abbott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I agree wholeheartedly. Again to the same minister: given that we want our public lands to continue to be used by both motorized and nonmotorized users,

June 12, 2007 Alberta Hansard 1689 what are these responsible OHV groups doing to demonstrate or aid stewardship? Dr. Morton: Mr. Speaker, these groups have very active and positive programs in our schools that deal with both safety instruc- tion and also with the respect the land message that’s been devel- oped by Sustainable Resource Development. On my June 2 tour I was in the Crowsnest Pass. I had the opportunity to work with the Crowsnest Forest Stewardship Society and also the Quad Squad. They were building a bridge as part of their Ed Gregor Memorial clean-up day.

Another group put up a bridge in the Ghost- Waiparous area. Here are two great examples of good Albertans, responsible off-highway vehicle users, out there giving their volunteer time to improve recreational opportunities and protect our natural reserves. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-McClung, followed by the hon. Member for Little Bow. School Security Mr. Elsalhy: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In the wake of bomb threats called into Archbishop O’Leary, arson, and later a mentally ill individual forcing a lockdown at the Victoria School of Performing and Visual Arts, and incidents of attempted child abduction and assault several months ago, the issue of school security has again come to the forefront. This is in conjunction with school shootings in Toronto and the United States. To the Solicitor General. There is no doubt that this is a complex issue.

Has the minister had any discussions with his colleagues from Education and Advanced Education to discuss strategies to enhance school security in Alberta? The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Public Security and Solicitor General. Mr. Lindsay: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the hon. member opposite mentioned, security in our schools and education facilities is indeed very important to this government and to this province and to all those who attend those facilities.

When these incidents unfortunately do come up, yes, we do discuss these with our colleagues to ensure that we have the best plans possible to ensure that we can alleviate these situations. Mr. Elsalhy: School officials do an excellent job, Mr. Speaker, with their limited resources, but too often when it comes to deciding between security considerations and instructional spending, a school is most likely going to choose teachers, textbooks, and technology. However, the issue of school security cannot be ignored for results can be tragic.

Solutions could be as simple as a school using a private security person to conduct patrols of the grounds, installing video cameras, or even utilizing available parents to walk around the school yards during recess, for example. Will the minister commit to providing a dedicated funding envelope specifically for the enhancement of school security, that schools can access if they choose, based on need? We’re not asking for much, and we don’t want them to have to choose between competing goals. 2:00 The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Lindsay: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Again, I’m not sure who’s asking for what, but I can assure the hon. member that we will work with the departments of Education and Advanced Education to put together whatever programs and procedures we believe are necessary to ensure that our students remain safe. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Elsalhy: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The safer communities task force cost taxpayers $1.5 million, and I argued in this House that it wasn’t likely going to hear anything new as it toured the province.

To the Minister of Justice: if you were okay spending $1.5 million on yet another public relations exercise, would you relinquish the same amount of money or half or even a third to the Solicitor General for his department to assist those administrators who want to enhance security in their schools and take action as compared to just talk? Mr. Stevens: Well, Mr. Speaker, all hon. members of this House have been invited to a symposium of this task force being chaired by the hon. Member for Calgary-Fish Creek next week in Calgary on the 19th and 20th. I think the hon. member should make a point of attending.

I know that many of the people on this side of the House will be there. He w ill find out that the nine members of the task force have felt that the 14 days that they have spent going through- out this province listening to Albertans about their concerns about public safety, about safety in their commun ities, is of the utmost importance and is of the utmost value to this government. It should be also to the hon. opposition in understanding what we’re trying to do to make our communities safer. Driver’s Licence Photos Mr. McFarland: Mr.

Speaker, a sampling of comments I’ve got in my constituency office lately: an abuse of religious freedom; only 11 family surnames in all of Alberta would be provided this provision – what a joke; individual and group pictures in the newspapers are okay but not on a driver’s licence; if hotel operators can deny a young person access with all forms of ID except a photo driver’s licence, I hope the same privilege will be extended to members of this church. As of 2003 Alberta required that everyone obtaining or renewing a driver’s licence be photographed.

Now, I understand, and the reason that I mentioned these comments, people heard about a recent decision by the Alberta Court of Appeal which struck down this requirement. My question is to . . . The Speaker: We’re out of time for this. Forty-five seconds is over, hon. member. Mr. Stevens: I have a sense of where the hon. member was going with this, Mr. Speaker. As the hon. member indicated, this has been the subject of a court decision, so my comments will take that into account.

The driver’s licence is now the primary form of identifica- tion in our society, and new abuses such as identity theft and creation of false identities pose a serious risk. With a digital photo of every licensee and facial recognition technology we can protect Alberta operators’ licences from being used for identity theft and other such purposes. The Hutterites of Wilson colony near Lethbridge challenged the regulation that the hon. member referred to. The Speaker: I’m afraid we’re going back to the hon. member now. Mr. McFarland: Thanks, Mr. Speaker.

The Wilson colony is but one of over 170 colonies that make up two sects of one church, not all of which object to this ruling. What is Alberta doing in response to this court decision?

Alberta Hansard June 12, 20071690 The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Stevens: Well, thanks, Mr. Speaker. This past May the Court of Appeal upheld a Queen’s Bench decision that Alberta’s manda- tory driver’s licence photo is invalid because it impairs the Wilson colony Hutterites’ freedom of religion contrary to the Charter of Rights. At this time we’re advising the hon. Minister of Service Alberta about Alberta’s options. We must decide whether to seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada or whether to amend the Traffic Safety Act.

Two of the three justices found that a regulation made under the Traffic Safety Act could only be used to address traffic safety and not as a means to prevent identity theft. However, there was a dissent. Mr. McFarland: My last question, Mr. Speaker: will Alberta use the notwithstanding clause or allow all individual Albertans to use the freedom of religion excuse not to have their pictures taken? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Stevens: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this point in time the government has no intention of using the notwithstanding clause as indicated previously. We are considering two options.

We’re considering whether to seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada and whether the amendments are required to the Traffic Safety Act. The question of security is very important. We will take the necessary steps to maintain the integrity of the licensing system in Alberta, but at this time this government has no plans to use the notwithstanding clause. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Glenora, followed by the hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona. Employment Standards Review Dr. B. Miller: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Employment standards dealing with such basic issues as minimum wage, hours of work, overtime pay, parental leave, and statutory holidays are supposed to offer a basic level of protection for all workers, but Alberta’s Employment Standards Code is about 20 years out of date. In 2005 we in the Official Opposition welcomed the employment standards review. My question is to the Minister of Employment, Immigration and Industry. It’s been two years now, and Albertans are still waiting. When can we expect to see the results of that review? Ms Evans: Mr.

Speaker, previously in this session in the House relative to employment standards, I did respond to the question, saying that I had asked for yet further consultation. Let’s look at the situation in Alberta. We have considerably more workers, a more active economy, an expanding workforce. We have new federal regulations on a number of fronts that address employment stan- dards.

I’d remind the hon. member that we added 72 staff members to Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry to protect the workers’ rights, to look after the workers, to assure that the current standards are being met, and to do their due diligence to make sure workers are safe. The Speaker: The hon. member. Dr. B. Miller: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The minister’s communica- tions staff has been on the record as saying that the review is being delayed because the Tory caucus has taken issues with some aspects of the proposed amendments.

To the same minister: can you tell us what part of your proposal was rejected or sent back for reconsidera- tion by the Tory caucus? Ms Evans: Mr. Speaker, no, it would be totally inappropriate. There were areas of concern relative to the updating of the standards. I think it behooves me to be prudent and do further consultation and further work.

I will be undertaking that work throughout the next few months ahead and paying very close attention to what we’re learning with the new workers on-site to make sure that we’re making appropriate amendments when we come forward, not bringing forward something in a half-baked form. Also, as we negotiate the annex to the co-operative agreement with Canada relative to immigration, I’ll be looking at many suggestions made in this House relative to the monitori ng of the foreign workers. It’s another area we’re examining. Dr. B.

Miller: We’ve heard from several sources that the results of the employment standards code review are so abysmal that the government has buried the report and has no plans to release it. When the Liberal caucus put in a request for the results of the public consultations through the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, we were told we would have to pay over $117,000 to see it. To the same minister: is the government afraid to release the results of the employment standards review?

If you have nothing to hide, will you agree to release the information immediately to the people and stakeholders who put time and effort into this review? When are we going to see it? Ms Evans: Well, Mr. Speaker, I’m not aware of the items the hon. member has referenced. We had responses from more than 5,500 Albertans, including employees, employers, industry, and labour organizations. I’m not aware of this particular request, but I can assure you of one thing: nothing is buried. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Strathcona, followed by the hon. Member for Wetaskiwin-Camrose.

Designated Assisted Living Facilities Dr. Pannu: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government has a long history of using Orwellian language around health care and service provision. Privatization has been called a third way, it has been called deregulation, and now it’s being called aging in place. Albertans are not fooled. Privatization is privatization, and the cost of privatizing long-term care services will continue to be borne by seniors and their families. My first question is to the Minister of Health and Wellness.

How can the minister justify off-loading the cost of long-term care privatization onto seniors and their families? 2:10 Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, the hon. member’s premise is exactly wrong. In fact, I had the opportunity yesterday afternoon to be in Pincher Creek at the Vista Village centre where seniors in that community can age in place. What happens at the Vista Village in Pincher Creek, which is a wonderful facility, is that someone who needs assistance with their living accommodation or with their ability to live independently can move into that facility. They don’t have to be institutionalized.

They can go for meals whenever they wish to; they can prepare some meals in their own rooms if they wish to. As their care needs grow, they can stay in the same location and have their care needs attended to in that location. What could be more appropriate than that? What could be more appropriate than that instead of, as the hon. member would have, changing your social structure every time your care needs change?

June 12, 2007 Alberta Hansard 1691 Dr. Pannu: Mr. Speaker, totally contrary to minister’s spin, seniors from across the province are finding their residences being redesignated from long-term care centres to assisted living. Their health needs don’t change. Their diet and personal care needs don’t change. The only thing that changes is the cost that they have to bear. To the Minister of Seniors and Community Supports: how many seniors will be paying more out of pocket because they find themselves in assisted-living facilities rather than in long-term care facilities? Mr. Melchin: Mr.

Speaker, first off, this is an issue of ensuring that the appropriate level of health car e is provided to the right person. People’s circumstances aren’t always static. They sometimes improve, and many of them might even be able to be put assisted living. What this does allow is choice for seniors to be in facilities that would best meet their needs. That’s what this is all about. It’s not about trying to save the dollar by taking from a long-term care to an assisted living. It’s about trying to match that they are in the right place at the right time for their needs. The Speaker: The hon. member. Dr.

Pannu: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Another Orwellian spin. We anticipate long-term care facilities in Grande Prairie, Jasper, and other communities closing and being replaced by assisted-living lodges where the same residents will simply have to pay more. Residents in Hinton have already gone through this. To the minister of seniors again: what are the estimated additional annual costs to all those seniors whose residences will be redesignated from long-term care to so-called assisted- or supportive-care facilities? How much is the Conservative government going to save on the backs of frail and ailing seniors? Mr.

Melchin: Mr. Speaker, I’ve had the opportunity to go around and tour and visit a number of different facilities, and we have such a range of descriptions. Ultimately, the seniors themselves gave feedback that they would prefer to live in their homes. They would then prefer next to have a facility that most approximated their living conditions in a home, and less of them wish to have the institutional approach. It is very much in response to the seniors’ request to have the facilities and then provide the health care where they are. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Wetaskiwin Camrose, followed by the hon.

Member for Edmonton-Centre. Property Taxes for Condominiums Mr. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Condominium owners in my constituency have written to me about the ability of municipali- ties to adopt a separate property tax class for condos. My first question is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Do municipalities have the authority to set different tax rates for condominium properties? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Danyluk: Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Municipal- ities do have that ability to set different tax rates for different groups or classes of residential property.

Municipalities do provide different services for different classes of residential properties, and this government feels that municipalities know best how that distinction should be made and how those property taxes should be assessed. Mr. Johnson: To the same minister. Condominium owners often have to provide for the maintenance and repair of infrastructure such as water mains, sewer lines, roads, and snow removal. Why should these owners pay the same rate as single-family properties? Mr. Danyluk: Well, Mr.

Speaker, owning a portion of a condomin- ium very much involves the sharing of the responsibility for the maintenance of the common property. It’s really, considering, akin to a single-family dwelling, where an individual has the responsibil- ity of snow removal, driveway maintenance, yard maintenance. Those condominiums have that responsibility. But I will say that there is some overlap in the condominium fees, and property taxes cover a much wider range. Mr. Johnson: My final supplemental is to the same minister.

Since many seniors live in condos and some seniors on fixed incomes are experiencing financial difficulty in paying their property taxes, is the provincial government providing any assistance to these property owners? Mr. Danyluk: Well, Mr. Speaker, the provincial government does recognize that property taxes can provide a burden and especially provide a burden for seniors who are wanting to stay in their homes. Starting in 2004, the Alberta seniors education property tax rebate program began, and that provided an annual property tax rebate to assist those seniors.

The program provides senior owners with a rebate for an amount equal to any education property increase from 2004. So that is some support. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-Fort. Physician Supply Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Alberta is currently short over a thousand physicians, and that number is expected to rise to 1,500 in the next three years. This shortage of health workers is contributing to lengthy wait times in emergency rooms, to see a family physician, and for surgical procedures.

Albertans in need of a family physician, especially in rural Alberta, are the hardest hit by this shorta ge. My first question is to the minister of health. PARA, the Professional Association of Residents of Alberta, has recommended a variety of recruitment incentives to attract residents to practise in Alberta. Will the minister take their advice and introduce a signing bonus for family physicians? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Hancock: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I would like to say that I don’t like to argue the numbers as to how many we are short of anything in the province.

We do need more of a health care workforce. We need to rebalance our workforce so that we use health care professionals to the full extent of their capability and expertise. We need to implement more policies such as the primary care networks, that physicians and health authorities in the province have embraced so that there are in excess of 19 primary care networks serving more than a million Albertans now.

What we know, again from my trip to southern Alberta yesterday to meet with the regional health authority, is that in certain circumstances if you empanel persons to physicians, have 1,500 people to a physician, we might have exactly the right number of primary care physicians in the province.

Alberta Hansard June 12, 20071692 The Speaker: The hon. member. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much. To the minister of advanced education. According to PARA, educational experience in rural medicine has a strong influence on attracting physicians to practise in rural areas. Given that the budget for the rural physician action plan did not increase this year, will the minister provide higher bursaries to encourage residents to train in rural Alberta? Mr. Horner: Well, Mr.

Speaker, between the three departments of Employment, Immigration and Industry, the department of health, and my Ministry of Advanced Education and Technology we’re looking at a number of different incentives or programs that we can put into play to increase the number of rural health care providers, not just rural physicians but health care providers across the gamut.

As the hon. minister of health has said, we recognize that there are a number of professions that we need to train, that we need to recruit, that we need to repatria te, and we need to bring all those things together to meet the needs geographically wherever they are in the province. The Speaker: The hon. member. Ms Blakeman: Thank you. Again to the minister of advanced education: given that the physician shortages also mean shortages in medical educators, what reforms is the minister making to ensure that medical educators are available and adequately compensated? Mr. Horner: Mr.

Speaker, that’s a very good question. In fact, we’re in discussions right now, as we speak, with the universities on how we accommodate the growth in our enrolment that we’re going to need to accommodate to meet the needs as I just mentioned in my previous answer. Part of that is the capital allocation that may or may not be required for the spaces. Part of it is the per-student payment that we’re going to make to the colleges or the institutions.

The other component is that, very true, we have to attract the best – we’re hoping – and brightest instructors and mentors, I might add, to come to help those health care professionals get out into the rural areas but also into the urban areas because we’re in need across the province. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Fort. 2:20 Affordable Housing (continued) Mr. Cao: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Economic prosperity in Alberta has brought with it the imbalance between supply and demand. We don’t need science to explain high price and cost when demand is higher than supply.

My question today is regarding affordable housing supply. The question is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. What was the funding for afford- able housing development in 2006, and what is additional in 2007? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr. Danyluk: Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. If we talk explicitly about the funding for affordable housing in 2006, it was in approximation of $75 million.

What we have done is added $285 million, which included new funding, which included extra funding for affordable housing, homelessness, and services, and of that, $272 million is spent explicitly for affordable housing. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Cao: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Quite early in his leadership our Premier correctly identified a high priority for housing. My question is to the same minister, reflecting queries from my constituents. How much of the affordable housing fund is allocated to Calgary, and how can a group propose a housing project, get to that fund? The Speaker: The hon. minister. Mr.

Danyluk: Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The city of Calgary got allocated $63 million for housing. From recommen- dations from the task force we provided funding directly to munici- palities that were in high-growth areas, and the funds were allocated specifically for affordable housing projects. I would encourage the individuals or the groups to contact the city, for they, I believe, are the best to know what their priorities are and where their challenges can be alleviated. So contact with the municipalities would be the best focus. The Speaker: The hon. member. Mr. Cao: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The city is the authority to give or refuse permits for condominium conversions and any housing construction. It also owns some land and decides on zoning. Given that the province has the funds ready, what measures is the same minister taking to encourage our city of Calgary to expedite the changes so the number of affordable housing units can be increased? Mr. Danyluk: Well, Mr. Speaker, we have talked with municipali- ties.

We have talked with the city of Calgary about some of the focuses and the directions that could be taken looking at the scope of having short-term solutions, such as rent supplements, looking at intermediate solutions, which could be secondary suites, also looking at long-term solutions, which would be rental housing. We have had discussions, and we will continue to have consultations as the city of Calgary is now meeting and looking at the requests and looking at the priorities for their particular city, their particular municipality, of which would work the best.

The Speaker: Hon. members, that was 84 questions and answers today. head: Introduction of Bills The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Health and Wellness. Bill 45 Smoke-free Places (Tobacco Reduction) Amendment Act, 2007 Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to rise this afternoon to introduce for first reading Bill 45, the Smoke-free Places (Tobacco Reduction) Amendment Act, 2007. In introducing the bill for first reading, I’d like to thank a number of people who have been strong advocates and have really made the whole issue of smoking and second-hand smoke an issue for Albertans’ health.

I introduced earlier to the House today members from the Alberta Cancer Board, the Mazankowski Heart Institute, the public health school at the University of Alberta, the College of Pharmacists, the Alberta Medical Association, AADAC, the Lung Association, the Cancer Society, the Alberta Chambers of Com- merce, Action on Smoking and Health, and I referenced the BLAST team from the Nellie McClung school, and many, many others participated.

June 12, 2007 Alberta Hansard 1693 The amendments to the Smoke-free Places Act which are being introduced will change the name of the act to the Tobacco Reduction Act; remove exemption provisions which currently permit smoking in public places and workplaces where minors are not permitted – that will ensure that public places are smoke free – prohibit smoking within a prescribed distance from a doorway, window, or fresh air intake; prohibit the retail display, advertising, or promotion of tobacco products in any place where tobacco is sold; restrict the sale of tobacco in health facilities, public postsecondary campuses, pharmacies, and retail stores; and add offence provisions.

Mr. Speaker, this is a momentous day for health in Alberta. I would ask members to give Bill 45 first reading. [Motion carried; Bill 45 read a first time] The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Health and Wellness. Bill 41 Health Professions Statutes Amendment Act, 2007 Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my privilege to introduce Bill 41, the Health Professions Statutes Amendment Act, 2007.

Amendments to the Health Professions Act and the Medical Profession Act will provide for greater acc ountability to Albertans about the consistency of health care standards of practice, require the reporting of public health issues despite any other confidentiality provisions in the respective acts, and provide for professions to be regulated under the Health Professions Act with government support in instances where professions may not have the resources to fully self-regulate. I’d ask the House for permission for first reading of Bill 41. [Motion carried; Bill 41 read a first time] The Speaker: The hon.

Minister of Health and Wellness. Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Pursuant to Standing Order 74.1(1)(

a) I would move that Bill 41, the Health Professions Statutes Amendment Act, 2007, be referred to the Standing Committee on Community Services for its review and that the committee report the bill back to the Assembly in the first week of November 2007. [Motion carried] The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Lougheed. Bill 42 Insurance Amendment Act, 2007 Mr. Rodney: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move first reading of Bill 42, the Insurance Amendment Act, 2007.

The purpose of this bill is to update the legislative provisions for insurance contracts such as life, accident, and sickness, as well as home and business insurance. Th e bill will provide a modernized legislative framework for insurance contracts, strengthen consumer protection, and address legislative issues that have been identified by consumers, industry, and the Ministry of Finance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Motion carried; Bill 42 read a first time] The Speaker: The hon. Government House Leader. Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would move that Bill 42 be moved onto the Order Paper under Government Bills and Orders. [Motion carried] head: Tabling Returns and Reports Mr. Melchin: Mr. Speaker, I’d like to table the appropriate number of copies of a petition that was from 500 Alberta residents – namely, the Calgary communities of Rocky Ridge and Royal Oak in Calgary- North West – to urge the government of Alberta to “keep up with the Calgary Board of Education’s recommended capital plans for new school construction.” Mr. Shariff: Mr. Speaker, earlier today I had a member’s statement on Mr.

Shamsher Singh Sandhu, recipient of an outstanding Calgary seniors’ award. As I indicated, Mr. Sandhu has translated Canada’s national anthem, O Canada, and the Alberta centennial song into the Punjabi language. I am tabling five copies of Mr. Sandhu’s translation for the official records of the Assembly. 2:30 The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre. Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Two tablings today.

The first is a copy of correspondence between the administra- tive manager for the Alberta Liberal caucus and the director of financial management and administrative services, senior financial officer for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. At the beginning it’s asking for permission and payment okay for the radio ads, and it, in fact, is answered by the director of financial management, saying that he sees “no party references in the ads that would cause concerns regarding processing related expenditures.” So the expenditures were okayed. I’ll table that.

As well, I’ll table the appropriate number of copies from Rod McConnell, who’s expressing concern about the potential privacy violations associated with government-contracted companies having access to health records. He would like to see his personal health records removed from these contracted databases with any third party and have Alberta Health immediately terminate all contracts and return all the data to Alberta Health and Wellness. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Health and Wellness. Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of the hon.

Premier it’s my pleasure to table for the House the requisite number of copies of two letters written on behalf of the Alberta Liberal Party in which they reference that they’re asking the Beaver regional waste management commission for their maximum “annual donation of $15,000 or exceeding your 2005 donation.” The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Rutherford. Mr. R. Miller: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I have several tablings this afternoon, all related to the public meeting of Edmonton Catholic schools last evening.

The most important, probably, is a copy of the agenda from last night, which highlights a number of teachers who were either nominated or received provincial teaching awards. I also have a copy of their news release from last night indicating that a balanced budget would be approved and that there are serious concerns about provincial funding.

Alberta Hansard June 12, 20071694 Mr. Speaker, I have a copy of a document entitled The Impact of the 2007/08 Budget on Students, Staff and Parents. Again, it outlines some of the difficulties they had and the need for what they described as creative budgeting in order to r each that balanced budget. Lastly, Mr. Speaker, a copy of a document entitled Three Year Strategic Education Plan 2007 to 2010, published by Edmonton Catholic schools, and it has the title United in Heart and Mind: Growing, Learning & Loving. I would hope that not only the Education minister but all members of this Assembly read through these.

They’re very important documents. Thank you. Mr. Goudreau: Mr. Speaker, I’d like to table five copies of a workbook now available for all Albertans to give their input on the government’s proposed community spirit program. This program will encourage and celebrate Alberta’s charitable giving. The workbook will be available online, through the local MLA offices, or by mail. It will also be available through public libraries by the end of June, and submissions are due by July 31. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-McClung. Mr. Elsalhy: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two tablings today.

The first one is from Kathy, who lives in Cameron Heights, in my constituency. She finds the noise emanating from the Anthony Henday ring road becoming louder as each month passes, and it is not unusual for her to hear brakes from semis and motorcycles at all hours of the day. She hopes that the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transportation will do something to attenuate the noise. The other tabling, Mr.

Speaker, comes from a young constituent, Alex Bernier, who has issues with the graduated driver’s licence program, especially that people are required to take an advanced road test two years after they’ve received their class 5 licence regardless of their driving record. The cost is usually around $120, depending on the registry, and then you add $64 for the new card. As a student he finds it extra expensive, and he can’t afford it. Thank you. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Ellerslie. Mr. Agnihotri: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a tabling from my constituent Eric Finley.

He is a businessman in the nanotech sector. He would like all MLAs to read the report I am tabling five copies of, a report called Taming the Tempest: An Alternate Development Strategy for Alberta. The report offers several forward-thinking alternatives for economic development in Alberta. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Calder. Mr. Eggen: Thanks, Mr. Speaker. I have a letter that I’m tabling today from Eric Musekamp, president of the Farmworkers Union of Alberta.

He wishes to remind the Assembly that August 20 will be the third annual farm worker day and urges all Albertans to think about the men, women, and children who toil unprotected on farms, ranches, and feedlots. Thanks. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Manning. Mr. Backs: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have one tabling today. It is the program for the supreme kickoff of City Farm. Now, City Farm is in Edmonton-Manning, the largest rural riding in the city of Edmonton. City Farm is a unique place where children and youth and adults can learn about growing food, animal care, and our natural habitat.

I invite all Albertans to visit City Farm and learn a little bit about farming in the city. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. head: Tablings to the Clerk The Clerk: I wish to advise the House that the following document was deposited with the office of the Clerk: on behalf of the hon. Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security responses to questions raised by the hon. Member for Edmonton-McClung on May 28, 2007, Department of Solicitor General and Public Security 2007-08 main estimates debate. The Speaker: Hon. members, we have two members who have risen with respect to points of order.

The first we’ll deal with is the hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre. Point of Order Allegations against a Member Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I am referring to an exchange during the first question between the Leader of the Official Opposition and the Premier, which was actually a question on Catholic school education. During it the Premier referred a number of times to making allegations – and therefore my citation is 23(h), 23(i), and 23(j) – that somehow a series of radio ads done by the Alberta Liberal caucus is out of order.

I did table earlier copies of correspondence in which the director of finance gave our caucus the okay to proceed with these, indicating that the cost was within the guidelines allowable by the Legislative Assembly Office to make payment. The Premier seems particularly exercised about this, and I don’t know why. Yesterday I tabled additional information on these radio spots, but he seems determined to somehow cast an allegation upon the Liberal caucus that this is not in order. Under 23(

h) these expenditures are clearly in order; they were okayed according to the documents that I’ve already tabled. Under 23(i), imputing a false motive, that somehow we were attempting to get away with something that clearly we weren’t: this has all been done above board. And 23(j), using insulting language: I would say that that’s certainly the case in trying to make it out that the opposition caucus has done anything but follow the rules. As the Speaker well knows, our caucus has no ability to write its own cheques. They have to be written by the finance department from the LAO.

All the payments come from the LAO, and I doubt very much that the hard-working staff there would breach any rules on our behalf whatsoever. The Official Opposition has been under intense scrutiny. All of our public documents and utterances are reviewed. Our newsletters, our ads, our truck decals, our policy documents, every one of them, Mr. Speaker, has been gone over with a fine-tooth comb to make sure that we are in order, and that is evidenced by correspondence like the tabling that I made earlier.

So I’m surprised that the Premier would disparage the staff of the LAO in somehow insinuating or making an allegation that they have been improper in their service in any way, and I can tell you that they certainly have not. They hold us to account, and when we have followed the guidelines and are ope rating within the rules set out, our expenditures are processed. The Premier is trying very hard to make something out of nothing.

We have followed the rules, and the Premier insists on misleading this Assembly, making allegations against us, and certainly provok- ing a great deal of disorder in the House by using insulting language and imputing false motives upon us. So I would ask that the Premier please withdraw his comments, refrain from making them in the

June 12, 2007 Alberta Hansard 1695 future, and apologize to this cau cus and to the staff of the LAO, who’ve done a good job. Thank you. The Speaker: Who should I recognize? The hon. President of the Treasury Board or the hon. Government House leader? Mr. Snelgrove: Mr. Speaker, if making false allegations . . . The Speaker: On the point of order. Mr.

Snelgrove: On the point of order. . . . is inappropriate, then I would dare say that most of the questions that the opposition leader has put to the Premier in the last two months should have been called immediately on the spot because they were far worse and based on nothing. 2:40 Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, the Member for Edmonton-Centre is far too sanctimonious on this point. In fact, the hon.

Leader of the Opposition has over the last number of weeks tried to call into question the integrity of the Premier by raising issues about the Beaver regional waste management commission only to discover when pressed to review with the Beaver regional waste management commission whether anybody else has solicited political donations that the Liberal party has solicited donations from that organization. They can’t have it both ways. However, with respect to this specific point of order, as I heard the exchange, the hon.

Leader of the Official Opposition was asking why the government would have a budget for the Public Affairs Bureau when the Catholic school board needed money. I think it’s perfectly appropriate for the Premier, in response to that, to point out that the Liberal opposition uses taxpayers’ money to advertise, which is – I don’t know – perhaps what the Public Affairs Bureau does. The Public Affairs Bureau is advertising on behalf of government, is communicating with Albertans what government is doing,

whereas the opposition is advertising – yes, perhaps, if she says so – under the rules of the House and the rules of the Legisla- ture and scrutinized undoubtedly by the Leg. Assembly but still for their partisan caucus concerns. What is more important to the public of Alberta and the taxpayer of Alberta, spending public money communicating to the public about what government is doing on their behalf and finding out what the public needs or advertising for partisan political purposes?

So in the context of the question about the Edmonton Catholic school board and whether or not their budget should be higher or school budgets should be higher instead of money going to the Public Affairs Bureau, it’s absolutely appropriate for the Premier to point out that money is spent on advertising on both sides of the House.

The money they were questioning was, of course, a budget for government, which has been held to account through the long process of Committee of Supply and which we’re going to be debating later on in the House, or the money spent by the Liberal caucus, Legislative Assembly appropriated funds, also voted by the House but with respect to a Liberal caucus. I fail to see the point of order. The Speaker: Well, the hon.

Member for Edmonton-Centre certainly has the right to raise a poi nt of order with respect to this whole matter, as it would have been an opportune time for members of the government to raise points of order over the last several weeks as well should they have chosen to do that. They made their decision with respect to how to deal with that. Today there was a series of questions led by the Leader of the Official Opposition which included the Public Affairs Bureau, but essentially I think that the remarks that caused the hon.

Member for Edmonton-Centre to rise had to do with the horse-racing industry and the prelude with respect to the Blues with respect to all of this. The Premier did respond to the question about slot machines and are they available in the horse-racing facilities. Then he goes on, and he says the following: You know, in the interests of openness and transparency I raised this issue during the defen ce of the budget, and I’m going to raise it again. The Liberals have very secretly billed the Alberta taxpayers for their ads.

They have not come forward yet to be fully public and tell this House exactly what they are billing. What budget is it coming from? Let’s be open and transparent. Vice versa. Come on. Well, in the last several weeks it would strike this chairperson that there was a whole series of questions that had a whole series of allegations and innuendo and other kinds of leading statements with respect to this whole matter.

The chair also recognizes that this is something like day 42 of this particular session, and the chair also recognizes that there’s a by-election going on today, and the chair also recognizes that it’s coming to the end of this session. So if you take all of these sorts of things together, you come up with a kind of a fatigue factor that comes into hon. members, where basically, after 3,300 questions and answers in the question period, oftentimes it’s easier to let some of these words that we wouldn’t normally use in our daily living and our daily practice come into the discussion.

So oftentimes you’ll get things like ethical, unethical, misleading, leading, that lead to innuendo and everything else. That’s been kind of more frequent in the last several weeks than it would normally have been, so the chair will recognize that all of this is part of the heat of the intensity of the battle on this particular Tuesday of June and say that the hon. Member for Edmonton-Centre certainly had an opportunity to clarify. What the chair is concerned about, however, is that the Legislative Assembly of Alberta is brought into this debate. Ms Blakeman: Yes. Exactly. The Speaker: Well, the hon.

Member for Edmonton-Centre brought it into the debate. All members have to consider this. If members are going to table documents that come out of the Legislative Assembly Office or my office in this House as part of the debate that they want to engender and engage in, you’re setting a very dangerous precedent. There are a lot of documents that are not tabled, and hon. members would not want to see them. I will not allow them to be tabled. They’ll stay in the confines of the Speaker’s office and the office of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.

If you want the Speaker to get involved in the debate by saying, “Well, somebody in the Legislative Assembly said this, or somebody said that,” you may find that some knees will be cut out from under the hon. members with respect to that. In this case, for the openness and transparency and clarification, the Liberal caucus is afforded a budget as the government caucus is afforded a budget. The Liberal caucus used some of those funds to buy radio ads. Some members of the Members’ Services Committee take great exception to that.

At an upcoming meeting of the Members’ Services Committee the matter will be on the agenda, but there has not been a meeting of the Members’ Services Committee with respect to this particular matter. In terms of the

interpretations that were provided at the time, they were an acceptable utilization of caucus dollars for these ads. The Speaker is not going to reverse anything or take any exception to that. That was the rightful exercise of those dollars at that time.

Alberta Hansard June 12, 20071696 Now, secretive: it may be a question that it wasn’t made public, I suppose. I don’t know what press release was put out saying who paid for the ads, but it’s the taxpayers of Alberta who pay for these ads. The government caucus has, you know, a million bucks. If they want to go and spend money on ads, presumably under the current situation they would have the right to do that. I would suspect that there would be questions in this Assembly if that were to happen, but at the moment that’s certainly acceptable.

In the last number of 10 days, I guess, there could have been all kinds of ads in Calgary on by-elections and what have you on behalf of the government caucus. That didn’t happen. Anyway, there’s clarification now with respect to this matter. A lot of this has to do with the mood of this particular House, and a lot of this has to do with the utilization of language.

We’ll have an opportunity now over the next number of months, I do believe, to basically study the rules of what words are acceptable, and we’ll have all this new money that all caucuses have to hire researchers to pen better answers to better questions. I’m sure we’ll see a tremen- dous improvement in the fall in the quality of the question period because of these new additional dollars that we have. Now, hon. Member for Drayton Valley-Calmar, you have a point of order. Point of Order Interrupting a Member Rev. Abbott: Yes, Mr. Speaker.

I rise on a point of order with regard to the exchange between the Premier and the hon. Member for Whitecourt-Ste. Anne. What happened is that the Standing Orders were breached during that time of questions and answers. I have several citations, but I’ll start with Beauchesne’s 333, which states that “a Member speaking shall not be interrupted except on a point of order”. Then if you go down to 334, at the end it says: “If the interruptions are excessive, the Member speaking may appeal to the Speaker for help, which will be forthcoming.

In extreme cases the Speaker may intervene without such request to restore order in the House.” Mr. Speaker, as you’ll recall, the Premier was answering the Member for Whitecourt-Ste Anne about, again, some political donations that were being solicited by the Liberal Party, and for some reason the Leader of the Official Opposition felt that he had the floor, that he could just butt in and start talking and start intervening between that question-and-answer period.

I didn’t see any questions whatsoever that were directed towards the Leader of the Opposition, yet for some reason he felt that he could get into this exchange. He was talking excessively. Other members in the House were trying to admonish him to be quiet and let the two members have their exchange, but the Leader of the Opposition absolutely refused. 2:50 I want to cite from Marleau and Montpetit, Mr. Speaker.

Marleau and Montpetit says, “When a Member is addressing the House, no other Member may interrupt except to raise a question of privilege which has arisen suddenly or to raise a point of order.” If you go over to 503, this is a key citation in Marleau and Montpetit. It says: One of the basic principles of parliamentary procedure is that proceedings in the House of Commons . . . Or in this case the Alberta Legislature. . . . are conducted in terms of a free and civil discourse.

In order that debate on matters of public policy be held in a civil manner, the House has adopted rules of order and decorum for the conduct of Members towards each other and towards the institution as a whole. Members are to show respect for one another. Mr. Speaker, I felt that this interruption by the Leader of the Opposition was an absolute disrespect for the Premier of this province. He did not let him answer a question from a private member when we know in this House that the private members of the opposition get to ask many questions every day and are expected to get answers.

Therefore, the private members from the govern- ment side should also be allowed to ask questions and to get answers. A final citation, Mr. Speaker, is from Marleau and Montpetit 513, which says: “Any Member participating in debate must address the Chair, not the House, a particular Minister or Member, the galleries, or the television audience.” In fact, it goes on to say, “If a Member directs remarks towards another Member and not the Speaker, he or she will be called to order.” Mr. Speaker, I think there is a point of order here.

I think that the Leader of the Official Opposition should apologize to the Premier, to yourself, and to all Albertans for interrupting a very important discourse between the Member for Whitecourt-Ste. Anne and the hon. Premier. In fact, in our own Standing Orders if you look at Standing Order 13(4)(b), again it refers to how there should be no interruptions when we’re conducting business in this House. So, Mr. Speaker, we have studied the books, we do know the rules, and all we’re asking is that they be kept in this House. The Speaker: Hon.

Member for Edmonton-Centre, you can either choose to participate, or I can give a ruling. Ms Blakeman: Thank you. I choose to participate in that I don’t see that, in fact, either member enga ged in this resumed their seat or stopped speaking or gave up on either the questions or the answers that they were engaged in. There’s a fair amount of heckling in this House, Mr. Speaker, as you often point out to us, but I didn’t see anything interrupted. The process of give-and-take between the questioner and the person giving the answers in that particular exchange continued on through three questions and three answers.

Certainly, if we’re going to talk about disobedience, we could look at the number of times that the government caucus has chosen to totally drown out speakers from this side of the House by continuing to thump their desks and yell and scream, by which effectively, in fact, an opportunity to ask a question or give an answer has been cut off. I didn’t see that happen today. There is no point of order. The Speaker: Hon. Member for Peace River, do you want to get involved in this point of order? Mr. Oberle: Actually on the last one, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Well, we’ve had the last one. Done it. The hon.

Member for Calgary-Nose Hill on this point of order. Dr. Brown: Yes, sir. Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I agree with the hon. Member for Drayton Valley-Calmar. He raises a valid point respecting this point of order under Standing Order 13(4)(

b) and under the citations which he gave in Marleu and Montpetit and in Beauchesne’s. I would also add to that group of citations a citation from Erskine May, the 23rd edition, page 445, where it says: Members must not disturb a Member who is speaking, by hissing, chanting, clapping, booing, exclamations or other interruption. On 22 January 1693, it was resolved that Mr. Speaker do call upon the Member by name, making such disturbance, and that every such person shall incur the displeasure and censure of the House.

June 12, 2007 Alberta Hansard 1697 Well, Mr. Speaker, a certain amount of interjections are certainly to be tolerated in the House, and well they should be. For the most part they are jocular in nature, and they don’t detract from the ability of members to enjoy the excellent conversation which takes place in the House.

But I think that with the quantity and volume of interruptions that were occurring today, particularly on the part of the Leader of the Official Opposition in response to those various questions, it was difficult if not impossible to hear what the Premier was saying on those occasions when those interjections were happening. I heard some various interjections, which I understand were in the nature of, “What are you afraid of, Ed?” and so on, which I think are completely inappropriate in the House. In my respectful view, Mr. Speaker, the interjections by the hon. Leader of the Official Opposition were excessive.

They were worthy of a sanction of the House by way of, certainly, your finding that there was a valid point of order there. The Speaker: Are there others? Peace River, are you getting up on this point of order? Mr. Oberle: No. The Speaker: Well, lookit, hon. members. I’m going to repeat what day this is. I’m going to repeat where we are. I’m going to repeat where we are in this session, the month and the mood and everything else. Okay? Now, hon. Member for Drayton Valley-Calmar and hon. Member for Calgary-Nose Hill, you should be commended for doing outstanding research with respect to this.

When you can dig back into citations coming from 1693, this is just really good. I apologize to you if, in fact, because of a lack of my interjections when all the members of this Assembly were being so enthusiastic – and I say all members of this Assembly were being so enthusiastic. I very clearly can relate to the question period when the hon. Premier cited from a certain letter, and all members on the government side erupted with glee and pounding desks and everything else. I can recall that. Then I can recall another occasion when someone else said some- thing absolutely correct.

Virtually all the members on the other side of the House erupted. So we had a good day today in terms of thunderous applause and enthusiastic participation. Maybe that is good, hon. members. Maybe it’s good to see people who are alive. They have blood flowing through their veins, and they’re really taking their work to heart. They’re into it. Look. This is not a normal reflection. There were some, I guess, bullets today. Some people would say that. I think there were some bulls’ eyes, maybe, today. That raised the excitement level with a little more enthusiasm.

Hon. members, if you want me to rise every time any hon. member was offside with a rule, I would be up for the whole question period. The only person anybody would ever see on television would be me – it wouldn’t be anybody else – and you’d all be thundering in the background, and the public out there would be saying some wonderful things. I have to tell you a little secret, though, that you should all know. Those mics are live in front of the hon. member.

So even though all the hon. members in the Assembly are pounding their desks in an attempt to drown out the speaker, that mic is live, and that television camera is only on the person who’s talking. So the hon. members in here may be drowning somebody out, but the vast television audience that we have hears it all very, very clearly. They’re not missing a thing. The only people who are missing something, perhaps, in this exchange are the hon. members.

Any skilled parliamentarian in this Assembly knows that, and they will continue to speak into that mic and look en thusiastically into that television camera, and that will be the tape for eternity. Hansard will not report this thunderous drowning out of people in this particular Assembly. Again, I’m not standing up here every time somebody is offside a bit. That takes away the ebb and the flow of the Legislative Assembly. But by the same token there’s a responsibility on all of us to be honourable, and that’s really the key. head: Orders of the Day head: Government Motions Adjournment of Session 28. Mr.

Hancock moved:

Be it resolved that when the A ssembly adjourns to recess the spring sitting of the Third Session of the 26th Legislature, it shall stand adjourned until November 5, 2007, as per Standing Order 3.1(2) or until a time and date as determined by the Speaker after consultation with the Lieutenant Governor in Council. [Government Motion 28 carried] The Speaker: The hon. Government House Leader. 3:00 Suspension of the Routine 29. Mr. Hancock moved:

Be it resolved that on Thursday, June 14, 2007, the Assembly suspend its daily Routine under Standing Order 7 for His Honour the Honourable the Lieutenant Governor to attend upon the House for the purpose of Royal Assent, with the daily Routine to continue after His Honour the Honourable the Lieutenant Governor retires from the Chamber. Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a bit unusual. We anticipate June 14 being the last day of the spring session. We’ve requested the presence of His Honour the Lieutenant Governor to give royal assent to such bills as may have been passed by that time.

His Honour the Lieutenant Governor has a standing commitment that he’s had for some time which precludes him from coming later on in the day while we’re in session, which would be our normal procedure. So although it’s unusual, I would ask the permission of the House for us to invite His Honour the Lieutenant Governor during daily Routine and that we suspend daily Routine for that period of time until he is able to attend, give royal assent, and retire. The Speaker: Hon. members, this motion is debatable. Shall I call the question? Hon.

Members: Question. [Government Motion 29 carried] The Speaker: I take it that by the decision made here by the Assembly, we would have the prayer on Thursday, and then the Lieutenant Governor would be invited before we start the Routine, after the prayer. Mr. Hancock: That’s my anticipation, yes. The Speaker: Okay.

Alberta Hansard June 12, 20071698 Point of Order Explanation of Speaker’s Ruling The Speaker: I’m going to call on the hon. President of the Treasury Board momentarily, but hon. Member for Peace River, you rose several times. Do you have a point of information that you want to rise on? Mr. Oberle: Mr. Speaker, I do, and I apologize if the timing was inappropriate, and I interjected on what was a creative and thought- ful point of order from over there. Mr.

Speaker, during your ruling on your first point of order you said that the Conservative caucus could purchase radio advertising, and that would be consistent with the rules of this House as they stand today. I wish to clarify that in actual fact the Conservative caucus does not purchase radio advertising with their caucus funds nor will we do so. I don’t want the taxpayers of Alberta to think anything different. We will not purchase partisan radio advertising with our caucus funds. Thank you for the opportunity to clarify.

The Speaker: So I take it that the hon. member was rising under Standing Order 13(2), which requests, basically, a further explana- tion from the Speaker with respect to his statement. Okay. head: Government Bills and Orders Second Reading Bill 43 Appropriation Act, 2007 The Speaker: The hon. President of the Treasury Board. Mr. Snelgrove: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With all these numbers flying around, I guess that it’s appropriate that it is my pleasure to rise today and move second reading of B ill 43, the Appropriation Act, 2007. The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Glenora. Dr. B.

Miller: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The second reading of Bill 43, Appropriation Act, 2007. There’s been quite a lot of debate through a number of weeks on all different parts of this bill, yet it’s important also to look at it as a whole. You know, my economics training, brief as it was, taught me to pay attention to history.

History teaches us that when the economy is slow or even in a recession, it is wise for governments to spend money on capital projects so that workers have jobs and employment rises, but when there is a hot economy, as we have now, it is wise for governments to invest and save for the future. [The Deputy Speaker in the chair] Where’s the wisdom in a $33 billion provincial budget as we have before us here in B ill 43? This can only be a budget that will increase the overheated economy. It will do nothing to decrease inflation or slow down our overheated economy.

I mean, it’s obvious that we are at a special crossroads in Alberta in terms of our hot economy today. GDP increased one-third from 1991 to 2003. GDP growth in Alberta in 2006 was 6.8 per cent, more than double the national rate. Inflationary pressures grow. The consumer price index was 5.5 per cent in March.

The government would prefer to refer to this growth as bringing about growth pressures, but the more we listen to ordinary Albertans, the more we realize that the growth pressures are actually growth crises, especially when we look at people’s individual lives and how they are struggling to cope with our overheated economy. This especially is obvious, Mr. Speaker, in the area of housing. I have a special interest in this area.

We removed that part of the budget of Municipal Affairs and Housing to vote separately on it because we were not happy with the response of the department to the Affordable Housing Task Force. I was a part of that task force. It was an amazing opportunity to go out on the road and to hear Albertans all across the province in all sorts of different cities. The pressures are just amazing. The population increased by 109,000 in 2006. There has been a 10.4 per cent increase in population since 2001, so you have the pressures of increasing population.

House prices in 2006 went up 31 per cent, in Edmonton 52 per cent, so you have tremendous pressures on families because of the high cost of housing. The rental vacancy rate is at .9 per cent. The overall vacancy rate in rural Alberta in 2006 was 1.4 per cent, a 10-year low. The Affordable Housing Task Force concluded when they looked at all these statistics and listened to people throughout Alberta that this makes for a perfect storm. You have tight supply, not enough housing of any kind. There’s not enough housing for people who are homeless, not enough emergency shelter space.

There’s not enough transitional housing. There’s not enough subsidized housing and not enough affordable housing. There’s not enough market housing for people coming to Alberta with high-skill jobs. There’s tight supply, and there’s high demand given the tremendous increase in popula- tion. Then there are labour shortages with the high cost of construc- tion. All that amounts to a housing crisis in Alberta. We were not happy with the Municipal Affairs and Housing response to the Affordable Housing Task Force. They proposed to support . . . Mr. MacDonald: Were you disappointed or just not happy? Dr. B.

Miller: Well, we asked for $480 million a year for five years to build 12,000 units of affordable housing, and the government response was half of that, $240 million. So the numbers weren’t there. Most of all, we were unhappy with the fact that the govern- ment didn’t respond to our suggestions about reorganizing the government to have a more concentrated focus on housing, to have a secretariat of housing or a ministry of housing where there is a concerted effort to pull the pieces together from all the different silos within government to focus on housing because it is a huge crisis. Mr.

Speaker, the effect of this , the appropriation bill, Budget 2007, on Albertans to me raises the question: who shares in the Alberta advantage? Where is all the money from resource revenue going? Obviously, that money is not going to people with low incomes. Income support rates through Alberta Works programs have remained virtually the same for the last 15 years, but buying power has for those people dropped.

The Edmonton Social Planning Council produced a document in which they state that after adjusting for inflation, the real value of monthly social assistance benefits since 1980 has dropped by over 50 per cent for families with children and, even worse, a 60 per cent drop for single adults. People on social assistance are obviously falling further and further behind because the money that they get and the rates haven’t changed considerably, appreciatively, in the last 10 or 15 years, yet they are not able to purchase as much with those meagre monies that they get. They fall further and further behind.

This budget really doesn’t have anything that’s good news for people living in poverty, people on low incomes. The Edmonton Social Planning Council points out that in this year’s budget, which refers to, for example, people expected to work

June 12, 2007 Alberta Hansard 1699 or not expected to work or learners, that effective July 1 those clients not expected to work and those clients temporarily unable to work will receive a 5 per cent increase in their monthly benefits. Learners will receive their 5 per cent increase. This leaves the remaining Alberta Works recipients who are expe

Document details

Collection	Alberta — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20070612
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	L26 S3 20070612 1300 01 han.pdf
Language	en
Format	json
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	866013f0a531a91cf6c171d0b6ac6806a586009f

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