Manitoba Hansard — 22 April 2024 (Sitting 47, 43rd Legislature, 1st Session)

43-1-47

Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

First Session – Forty-Third Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Tom Lindsey Speaker Vol. LXXVIII No. 47 - 1:30 p.m., Monday, April 22, 2024 ISSN 0542-5492

MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Forty-Third Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ALTOMARE, Nello, Hon. Transcona NDP ASAGWARA, Uzoma, Hon. Union Station NDP BALCAEN, Wayne Brandon West PC BEREZA, Jeff Portage la Prairie PC BLASHKO, Tyler Lagimodière NDP BRAR, Diljeet Burrows NDP BUSHIE, Ian, Hon. Keewatinook NDP BYRAM, Jodie Agassiz PC CABLE, Renée, Hon. Southdale NDP CHEN, Jennifer Fort Richmond NDP COOK, Kathleen Roblin PC CROSS, Billie Seine River NDP DELA CRUZ, Jelynn Radisson NDP DEVGAN, JD McPhillips NDP EWASKO, Wayne Lac du Bonnet PC FONTAINE, Nahanni, Hon. St.

Johns NDP GOERTZEN, Kelvin Steinbach PC GUENTER, Josh Borderland PC HIEBERT, Carrie Morden-Winkler PC JACKSON, Grant Spruce Woods PC JOHNSON, Derek Interlake-Gimli PC KENNEDY, Nellie Assiniboia NDP KHAN, Obby Fort Whyte PC KINEW, Wab, Hon. Fort Rouge NDP KING, Trevor Lakeside PC KOSTYSHYN, Ron, Hon. Dauphin NDP LAGASSÉ, Bob Dawson Trail PC LAMOUREUX, Cindy Tyndall Park Lib. LATHLIN, Amanda The Pas-Kameesak NDP LINDSEY, Tom, Hon. Flin Flon NDP LOISELLE, Robert St. Boniface NDP MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Malaya, Hon. Notre Dame NDP MOROZ, Mike River Heights NDP MOSES, Jamie, Hon. St.

Vital NDP MOYES, Mike Riel NDP NARTH, Konrad La Vérendrye PC NAYLOR, Lisa, Hon. Wolseley NDP NESBITT, Greg Riding Mountain PC OXENHAM, Logan Kirkfield Park NDP PANKRATZ, David Waverley NDP PERCHOTTE, Richard Selkirk PC PIWNIUK, Doyle Turtle Mountain PC REDHEAD, Eric Thompson NDP SALA, Adrien, Hon. St. James NDP SANDHU, Mintu The Maples NDP SCHMIDT, Tracy, Hon. Rossmere NDP SCHOTT, Rachelle Kildonan-River East NDP SCHULER, Ron Springfield-Ritchot PC SIMARD, Glen, Hon. Brandon East NDP SMITH, Bernadette, Hon.

Point Douglas NDP STEFANSON, Heather Tuxedo PC STONE, Lauren Midland PC WASYLIW, Mark Fort Garry NDP WHARTON, Jeff Red River North PC WIEBE, Matt, Hon. Concordia NDP WOWCHUK, Rick Swan River PC

1439 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Monday, April 22, 2024 The House met at 1:30 p.m. The Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, from Whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to the welfare and prosperity of our province. Grant, O merciful God, we pray Thee, that we may desire only that which is in accordance with Thy will, that we may seek it with wisdom, and know it with certainty and accomplish it perfectly for the glory and honour of Thy name and for the welfare of all our people. Amen.

We acknowledge we are gathered on Treaty 1 territory and that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Anishininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Denesuline, Nehethowuk nations. We acknowledge Manitoba is located on the Homeland of the Red River Métis. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. We respect the spir it and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Inuit, Métis people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration.

I'd ask that you please remain standing. Hon.

Nahanni Fontaine (Government House Leader): Could you please canvass the House for leave: (1) for the Speaker to dispense with calling intro duction of bills, committee reports, tabling of reports and minis- terial statements today; (2) to have only one member's statement today, with the understanding that the official opposition will use their two statements from today sometime later this session; (3) to waive the two-minute time limit on a member's statement delivered today by the honourable member for Waverley; (4) for the House to observe a moment of silence after the statement; (5) for the House to recess up to 30 minutes, followed by the statement by the hon ourable member for Waverley, with a two -minute bell to summon members at the end of the recess.

As part of this agree- ment, the House must resume by 2:30 at the latest.

The Speaker: Leave has been requested for the Speaker to dispense with calling introduction of bills, commit- tee reports, tabling of reports and minis terial state - ments today; (2) to have only one member's statement today, with the under standing that the official opposition will use their two statements from today sometime later this session; (3) to waive the two-minute time limit on a member's statement delivered today by the honour able member for Waverley; (4) for the House to observe a moment of silence after the statement; (5) for the House to recess for up to 30 minutes following the statement by the hon- ourable member for Waverley, with a two -minute bell to summon members at the end of the recess.

As part of this agreement, the House must resume by 2:30 at the latest. Is there leave? [Agreed] Introduction of Guests The Speaker: At this time I'd like to draw the atten - tion of all honour able members to the Speaker's Gallery, where we have with us today the family of fallen firefighter Preston Heinbigner.

We have with us Shayda Tashakor, E laine Heinbigner, Robert Heinbigner, Mona Taskador [phonetic], Farshid Taskador [phonetic], Dalain Gagne, Roxanne Tessier, Stephane Mitton, Lindsay Hebert, Gary [phonetic] Geron, Asha Geron, Chantal Pa chal, Bill Pa chal, Andrea Mucska, Steve Obelnicki, Jenna Lode r and Cherie-Ann Sheppard. Please be seated. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Preston Heinbigner MLA David Pankratz (Waverley): Today, I pay tribute to Preston Heinbigner, a devoted fire fighter, cherished husband, father, son and dear friend. Recently, at just 40 years old, we lost Preston.

He dedicated his life to serving our com munity and safeguarding Manitobans. Preston embodied selflessness, humility, service to others and left an indelible mark on all who knew him. His family has bravely asked that we recog nize the immense challenges first respon ders face. Their roles demand intense emotional resiliency as they bear witness to life's fragility and offer comfort during our darkest times. Preston balanced these heroic acts with personal struggle; the impacts of his duty. I've been reflecting on the phrase, it's okay to not be okay, and as a fellow

1440 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 22, 2024 firefighter, I affirm the importance of embracing this mindset fully. We need a commit ment across our ranks to be open and honest about needing help. The work we do exposes us to relentless stress and trauma, and ac - knowledging when we're not okay is the first step towards healing. True resiliency is found when we break the silence and make space to share the quiet battles within us. These words are not just reassurance. They're a call to action for the well-being of every first responder. To Shayda, Oslo and Preston's family, we support and stand with you.

Your courage in the face of such profound loss and your advocacy for better support for the mental and emotional well-being of our first respon- ders remind us that the challenges Preston faced are too common among all who serve on the front lines. * (13:40) I would ask that we reflect on Preston's life and his commitment to others, and let this strengthen our resolve to support the well-being of those who protect us. Honourable Speak er, I ask for leave from the House to observe a moment of silence in honour of Preston Heinbigner. The Speaker: All members 'prease' rise for a moment of silence.

A moment of silence was observed. The Speaker: I'd ask that all members remain stand- ing while the piper pipes the family. Please be seated. As previously agreed, there will now be a 30-minute recess, followed by a two -minute bell to call the House back to order. In all cases, we will be resuming by 2:30. The House is now in recess. The House recessed at 1:42 p.m. ____________ The House resumed at 2:13 p.m. The Speaker: The honourable–[interjection] Order, please. We are resuming session. Hon.

Nahanni Fontaine (Government House Leader): As per our previous leave, is it leave of –is it the will of the House to continue our recess until 2:30 p.m. with a–two-minute bells beforehand? The Speaker: Is there leave for the House to continue the recess until 2:30 with a two-minute bell? [Agreed] The bell will be two minutes before 2:30. The House recessed at 2:14 p.m. ____________ The House resumed at 2:30 p.m. The Speaker: Order, please. We will now resume session. Routine proceedings. ORAL QUESTIONS Provincial Nominee Program Draws Premier's Knowledge of Labour Minister's Conduct Mr.

Wayne Ewasko (Leader of the Official Opposition): Honourable Speaker, on behalf of PC caucus, condol ences definitely go out to the Heinbigner family and, of course, Shayda and their son Oslo, and their new addition that they're expecting in the upcoming fall. Honourable Speaker, members on this side of the House have raised some significant concerns about the Minister of Labour and Immigration (MLA Marcelino) threatening to inter fere with Manitoba Prov incial Nominee Program draws. Since we shed light on the issue, more individuals have come forward to corroborate the story, making the NDP's denial confusing.

I've got some important questions. The question to the Premier (Mr. Kinew) is simple: When did he know about the minister's threats? Was he aware of the threats the minister made before they were brought up in the House? Hon.

Uzoma Asagwara (Deputy Premier): You know, we had a pretty sombre start to sitting in the House this week, and, you know, on this side of the House we certainly send our condolences and strength and prayers and support to the family and to front-line workers, you know, first responders, firefighters, EMS, police, all those working on the front lines who show up for Manitobans in some of their worst moments, quite frankly, and provide the care that Manitobans depend on.

Our Minister for Immigration is doing an excel- lent job addressing the issues that were unaddressed by the previous government cuts made to the department incapacity–or on immigration in our province, and she's

April 22, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1441 going to continue to do a great job, and we support her fully. The Speaker: Member's time has expired. The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Mr. Ewasko: Honour able Speaker, once again, no answers from this Premier (Mr. Kinew). Members on this side of the House do not doubt the veracity of the complaints we have received about the minister's threats.

The fact that hopeful new comers who are in immigration limbo would risk their immigratio n status to raise these issues is heroic and deserves more respect from this Premier. I understand the Premier himself met with a group of hopeful newcomers who had protested here at the Manitoba Legislature. It's so far unclear at which meeting the minister decided to make her threats. So, for clarity, I have to ask this Premier: Was he, in fact, in the room when the minister threatened the hopeful newcomers?

MLA Asagwara: Honourable Speaker, our Premier and minister have done a lot of outreach– a lot of outreach–in the months that we've been in government. The Premier and the minister have met with pro - testers; they've met with families; they've met with advocates. And on this side of the House, we're going to continue to meet with folks who expr ess their concerns in terms of the decisions made, handed down by the federal government.

We're going to continue to work with those on the front lines of immigration in our province and work with all levels of government to make sure that, here in Manitoba, the pathways to becoming a Manitoban, being a part of our Manitoba family, contributing to our economy, working in health care, are supported by this government, while also cleaning up the mess the previous government made on this file. The Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary question. Mr. Ewasko: The words of this Deputy Premier are ringing hollow throughout this great province of ours.

It's the actions that are deplorable, Honourable Speaker– in–the inaction. When the Premier became aware that the minister threatened hopeful newcomers with a cancelled draw is an important detail. Whether or not the Premier was present for that threat is also im portant. If he knew about the m inister making such threats before they were raised in the Legislature, why did he fail to act? And if he was present for the threat, why didn't he interject to restore the faith in the impartiality of the Provincial Nominee Program?

MLA Asagwara: Honourable Speaker, some would argue it's deplorable that the previous PC government cut resources in the de partment so badly that we couldn't process over 2,000 folks who wanted to be here in Manitoba due to their cuts. Some might say it's deplorable t hat the previous PC gov ernment created a head tax for those in the nominee program. Some may say it's deplorable that instead of bring- ing people together in our province, members opposite continue on their train of division– their rhetoric of division–that hurts people across this province.

On this side of the House, we're focused on bring- ing people together, on making sure no matter who you are, you get to build a life here in Manitoba, and our Minister of Immigration is doing an outstanding job. The Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question. Provincial Nominee Program Protest Labour Minister–Interference Concerns Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Leader of the Official Opposition): Honourable Speaker, the only droop that is dividing Manitobans right now is that NDP government.

As long as the MLA for Notre Dame is the Minister of Immigration, the immigration process in Manitoba is compromised. Manitoba's immigration process needs to be impartial and free of interference. Unfortunately, those who are awaiting the next steps in becoming Manitobans do not have confi dence in this minister. In fact, Honourable Speaker, they're afraid. I'll table a transcript from a meeting between workers and students hopeful to rema in in Manitoba. In this meeting, it's made clear that these individuals were informed by the minister there would be consequences of protesting.

If it's not a cancelled draw, as many people believe was implied, then the Premier (Mr. Kinew) needs to be clear: What are those consequences? Hon. Uzoma Asagwara (Deputy Premier): Honour- able Speaker, Manitobans made a decision when it

1442 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 22, 2024 came to trust on October 3. Manitobans made very clear that trust was im portant to them, which is why they voted out members opposite and why they voted in a government that puts people first on this side the House. Honourable Speaker, we know that during their time in government they cut capacity from the depart- ment. We know that the previous PC government led the highest out -migration this province has seen in over two decades. We know that immigration was being attacked and cut and undermined by the previous government.

On this side of the House, we're focused on people. We're focused on bringing people toget her. We're focused on immigration– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Provincial Nominee Program Request for Labour Minister to Resign Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Leader of the Official Opposition): Honourable Speaker, another great display of distracting, dodging and deflecting by this Deputy Premier. And again, no answers from the Premier.

We are bringing these concerns forward on behalf of hopeful Manitobans who want to remain in the province, who this minister threatened with conse - quences. They shared their story with us, and we brought that story here to the Assembly because it involves wrongdoings of this NDP government. More and more individuals continue to come for- ward to share their stories with us, and more still are too afraid to come forward. The reputational harm to Manitoba on the inter national stage is already done, unfortunately.

So I have to ask the Premier: Will he remove the Minister of Labour and Immigration (MLA Marcelino) from her role today? Hon. Uzoma Asagwara (Deputy Premier): Honour- able Speaker, I think we're all glad that Manitobans removed them from their role of gov ernment on October 3 in the election. And it's this kind of behaviour that's–that behaviour is the reason why Manitobans made that decision. On this side of the House, we're focused on bringing people together. We're focused on working with all levels of government to make sure Manitoba has pathways in place to improve immigration in our province.

We're focused on moving things in a better direction. The highest out -migration in two decades under the previous government–we're improving that on this side of the House. Our government is focused on making sure we have more capacity, not less. Our government is making sure that immigration in Manitoba is strong for generations to come. The Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary question. Mr. Ewasko: Honourable Speaker, our job on this side of the House is to advocate and support new and hopeful Manitobans.

Not like that side of the House, which seems to be dodging and deflecting and pro- tecting their ministers, who on a day -to-day basis continue to threaten Manitobans. The immigration process shouldn't depend on who you know or whether or not you're able to gain an audience with the minister and the Premier. Making promises contingent on protests ending is the same as making threats to end protests.

Will the Premier do the right thing to restore con- fidence in Manitoba's immigration system by asking this failing minister to resign or removing the NDP MLA for Notre Dame from her duties as Minister of Labour and Immigration today, Honourable Speaker? * (14:40) MLA Asagwara: Honourable Speaker, Manitobans have the strongest Immigration Minister they've had in almost eight years in this province, on this side of the House. A minister with expertise that predates her term being an elected official in M anitoba; expertise that Manitobans can count on to put people first.

Honourable Speaker, on this side of the House, we're focused on making sure that every single day, our government is working to improve immigration for Manitobans, challenging in–the federal gov ern- ment to improve on some of the decisions they've handed down to our province that don't put us in the position to best support folks who want a pathway to our province. The minister's working each and every day on that. They've met with protesters. They've met with commu- nity members. They've engaged com munities more than the previous government ever did. We'll take no– The Speaker: Member's time has expired.

April 22, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1443 Provincial Nominee Program Draw Labour Minister–Interference Concerns Ms. Jodie Byram (Agassiz): Honourable Speaker, last week this NDP government denied the scandal of the Minister of Labour and Immigration threatening to interfere MPNP draws. They denied that she told poten- tial applicants that draws would be cancel led if they continued to protest. Honourable Speaker, more individuals have come forward with the truth. I table addi tional correspon- dence from a graduate international student.

Honourable Speaker, this minister needs to make it abundantly clear: Will she commit today that there will be no further inter ference in MPNP draws or scheduling? Hon. Malaya Marcelino (Minister of Labour and Immigration): Honourable Speaker, the accusation that I have suspended or threatened to suspend draws is categorically false. No suspensions have ever occurred, and all that the members opposite needed to do was to check a website, and they would've seen that there have never been a suspension of draws. So let me put the website on the record, Honour- able Speaker.

It's W- W-W-dot-immigrate-Manitoba- dot-C-A. Honourable Speaker, I am tabling a document that shows we have not suspended any MPNP draws, and in fact, we have done consistent draws since I took on this role. The most recent one was two weeks ago– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. The honourable member for Agassiz, on a supple- mentary question. Ms. Byram: Honourable Speaker, I quote: I have con- firmed that I, as well as another international student, have received threats from that mini ster, threatening to stop the drawing of MPNP if we protest again before May. End quote.

These are the words of an inter - national student that is standing up to this NDP gov - ernment and this minister. So I ask the minister a simple question: Who is being honest with Manitobans, the students with every- thing to lose or this minister? MLA Marcelino: Honourable Speaker, since March, when all these protests began, in every single inter - action that I've had in public or in private with folks who have raised this matter with me, whether it was through email, social media, by phone, in- person meetings, in question period, at Tim Hortons or in gurdwara, my message has been the same.

I understand and empathize the difficult situation that folks are in. These difficulties were brought on by previous Tory cuts and mismanagement and by the fact that the federal government chose to cut out these temporary foreign workers. My message has been the same: Manitoba needs your labour, and I am working with the feder al gov- ernment to allow these people to stay in the country. Immigration is a priority for our government, and our government is investing these resources into the MPNP. The Speaker: Member's time has expired. The honourable member for Agassiz, on a final sup- plementary question.

Request for Labour Minister to Resign Ms. Byram: Honourable Speaker, and I quote: According to them, during their talks, that minister shouted at them and even slapped the table and said, how dare they challenge her like that? End quote. This is behaviour that is unacceptable in any facet of society and even more so for a minister of the Crown. To quote again: This is totally a sign of having power and using it to dictate. End quote. This minister must resign. Will she today? MLA Marcelino: My message has never wavered. I am doing all I can to keep these folks in the country, and to improve our MPNP system.

It is members oppo- site that are making slanderous accusations with no hard evidence. My messages in public and private have all been the same. Members opposite are being careless about their privileges of freedom of speech in the Chamber. Those privileges need to be balanced with care for others' reputations. They are bringing forth damaging accusations with no evidence, no corroboration and no information for me to even be able to begin defending myself. It is members opposite's bullying, baseless actions that are the threat to democracy– The Speaker: Member's time is expired.

Minister of Labour and PNP Program Newcomers Right to Protest Mr. Wayne Balcaen (Brandon West): Well, that was an interesting statement by the minister; not to suspend any draws–yet. Honourable Speaker, it is the

1444 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 22, 2024 Charter of Rights and Freedoms, not the charter of wrongs and freedoms. And many wrongs do not make a right. The Premier (Mr. Kinew) has repeatedly said that this is the people's building. They have invited anyone to exercise their democratic right here to protest, with the exception of those that give their government bad press. They're more worried about their government's reputation than Manitobans' reputation on the inter - national front. As the saying goes, when the cat's away, the mouse will play.

Was this a caucus decision made in the absence of the Premier, or was he informed? Hon. Matt Wiebe (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): You know, I was quite surprised when the member stood up and he started to talk about the people's building, about one Manitoba and I thought maybe, just maybe, Honourable Speaker, he'd finally gotten the message that Manitobans are sick of the division, they're sick of the mis representation of t he facts and they want a new approach.

That's why I'm proud to be on a team –I'm proud to be with a Minister of Immigration that cares; that cares to meet with people, that cares to reach out to the public and cares to respond to their needs. And what is this minister doing but trying to repair the damage that was done by seven and a half years by the pre - vious government. So I stand with this minister, and we will stand each and every day– The Speaker: Member's time is expired. The honourable member for Brandon West, on a supplementary question. Mr.

Balcaen: I'll agree with the Justice Minister: Manitobans are sick of the division, and these letters proved that. Honourable Speaker, it's a character right– it's a Charter right to association, assembly and expres- sion. There's no Charter

section that gives rights to threats, intimidation or coercion. Federal law also speaks to abuse of power by a public official. And for this minister to threaten in - dividuals by prohibiting protests right here is a blatant violation of such rights and freedoms. Why is this NDP government ignoring the rights enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms for newcomers for Manitoba? Mr. Wiebe: Well, the truth is, Hon ourable Speaker, that members opposite have no proof that their accusa- tions are spurious, and that they have no real connection with what's really happening on the ground.

This Minister of Immigration has met with folks– [interjection] The Speaker: Order. Mr. Wiebe: –who are concerned about immigration. This Premier has met with folks who are concerned about their futures here in Manitoba. And every single time that they have met, they have heard the same message: that we welcome you, that we want to ensure that this issue tha t's been caused by the federal gov- ernment, that we resolve it on our end and that we prioritize immigration. That's been the message of one Manitoba and one future– The Speaker: Member's time is expired.

The honourable member for Brandon West, on a final supplementary question. Mr. Balcaen: Perhaps this minister should look at the evidence of co-operation, thus these letters. * (14:50) Honourable Speaker, we have individuals from the international community scared to come forward out of fear of retribution and consequence. They have shared with us that this NDP government has blatantly threatened their dreams of becoming Manitobans as they exercise their democratic rights and protest against this government's poor management of the MPNP pro- gram. This is fundamentally wrong and a miscarriage of justice.

Why is this NDP adopting failed policies from dictatorships that these folks are so des perately seek- ing freedom from? Mr. Wiebe: You know, Honourable Speaker, the words that are put on the record here in this place matter. I know the member opposite had some notes prepared for him, I suppose by somebody in the back rooms there that thought they were being clever or that they would be able to make these accusations. There's no re percussions for them sitting in the back room. But these words matter to Manitobans, and these words are being heard by Manitobans.

And what they're hearing from this side of the House is a message of unity, a message of working together with people who want to build a future here

April 22, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1445 in Manitoba. We're going to do absolutely everything we can to make that a reality. While the opposition will continue to divide Manitobans, we won't take that dark path. We'll continue to fight for Manitobans and fight– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. Minister of Labour and PNP Program Newcomers Right to Protest Mr. Grant Jackson (Spruce Woods): The constitu- tional rights and civil liberties of Manitobans are non-negotiable. They have protected rights to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.

But the NDP Immigration Minister seems to treat those freedoms like a bit of a nuisance. Everyone has the right to peacefully protest and oppose NDP policies whether this minister or her government likes it or not. So I need to ask, will the minister admit that she was wrong and stop infringing on the Charter rights of hopeful Manitobans? Hon. Nello Altomare (Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning): It's a very interesting question. I'll just say this: We on this side of the House are working every day to repair the damage that was made by that former gov ernment.

We have, Hon ourable Speaker, a minister in place that knows its portfolio inside out, makes the connections necessary and ensures that people are treated with dignity and respect–some- thing they never got from members opposite. The Speaker: The honourable member for Spruce Woods, on a supplementary question. Mr. Jackson: It's very interesting that the Minister for Education is answering these questions about immi - gration policy, but I guess a Cabinet shuffle is on the horizon. The Charter guarantees Manitobans freedom of expression, 'feedom' –freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association.

Protests are one way Manitobans can speak truth to power and set a loud message to this NDP government about their reckless policies and manipulative behaviour. But this Immigration Minister wants to silence these Manitobans. That's dangerous. So, again, I will ask: Will she stop infringing on the Charter rights of Manitobans and allow them to peacefully protest in front of this building? MLA Altomare: Again, it's a privilege to be in this House. That member, the member –the Minister of Immigration and Labour knows that this is a privilege and treats it like a privilege.

Arrives to work every day with integrity and with purpose to make this place, Manitoba, a place that's attractive for immigrants, attractive for everybody in the world to bring their talents and opportunities here to this province. I can't think of a better person, either can anyone on this side of the House. It's time for them to get on board and agree with us. The Speaker: The honourable member for Spruce Woods, on a final supplementary question. Mr. Jackson: Honourable Speaker, threatening immi- grants to stop them from exercising their freedoms is unethical and wrong.

It's also not treating this place like a 'priverige.' The Immigration Minister needs to stop this and apologize. She also needs to come clean on the infringement on these immigrants, as well as an infringement on all Manitobans. Will she stop threatening these immigrants, apologize and retract her statements that infringe on their rights and the rights of all Manitobans? MLA Altomare: I will continue supporting this Minister of Immigration and Labour every day as she arrives in this House to do the im portant work for Manitobans. Right now we're a –busy repairing a damage left by the previous government.

We're fully instituting a functioning health- care system. We're ensuring our public schools are fully funded with the supports they need to support new Manitobans coming into this province, and ask–after six months, not only have we got to work, we got lots more to do. Pay attention and we'll get it done. Minister of Labour and PNP Program Call for Independent Investigation Mr. Obby Khan (Fort Whyte): We have tabled docu- ments, letters and emails, and the members opposite will not deny what we are saying. If the minister is not denying this happened, then it must be true.

Manitobans deserve answers and they deserve more from this Minister of Labour and Immigration (MLA Marcelino). The international com- munity has come forward with th eir credible fears, having heard directly from the minister herself. The PNP program was the gold standard and is now

1446 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 22, 2024 destroyed under this NDP. It was a tool to bring people to Manitoba to make it a better province for everyone. Will this Premier (Mr. Kinew) stand in his place, turn to the camera as he loves to do with that smirky smile on his face, and tell Manitobans– Some Honourable Members: Oh, oh. The Speaker: Order, please. Order, please. Order, please. I would caution the member for Fort Whyte about the language that he used there, and perhaps maybe he should apologize for it. Mr. Khan: I wasn't aware smirky smile was a negative comment, but I will apologize.

I will apologize and say will the Premier turn to the camera and smile like he does and tell Manitobans that he will launch a full investigation into the scandal, or is the Premier afraid of the truth? Hon. Jamie Moses (Minister of Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources): Honourable Speaker, I just want to begin my response by noting that we began with today with a tribute to a firefighter, and as a minister responsible for wildfire service and other front -line workers in Manitoba, specifically conservation officers.

I want to just add our thoughts and prayers with the family who gone through this tragic time, and say that we are all support ive as this province, as front -line workers and as folks who care deeply about supporting community and supporting people in this province, we want to offer our thoughts and prayers. I'll get to the member opposite's question in my next opportunity to speak. The Speaker: Before the member for Fort Whyte resumes his question, I would point out that he actually asked two questions, which is somewhat of a reflection on the Chair.

I asked him to apologize; I didn't ask him to repeat and ask a question again. So I'd caution the member to pay attention to rulings from the Chair and not question them in the future. Mr. Khan: Well, I guess the Premier and the Minister of Immigration are afraid of the truth and they don't want to stand up and answer the simple question of if they will launch a full in vestigation into these letters and tabled documents.

Regardless of whatever story this government tries to spin, or now the M inister of Economic Develop- ment stands up and tries to pull the wool over Manitobans' eyes, there is no denying the truth. Why will this Premier not stand up and call a full investigation into the scandal by this Minister of Immigration, and if he won't, will the minister resign today? Mr. Moses: Honourable Speaker, it's quite clear that members opposite are trying to drive a very divisive debate based on a false narrative. We won't play into that.

What we will do is work every day for the benefit of Manitobans, of new comers here, to support them with greater supports through education, greater sup- ports through settlement services, greater supports through health care. These are the initiatives that we're leading as an entire team and vocalized through the incredible advocacy of our Immigration Minister, and we'll do that work on behalf of Manitobans every day. The Speaker: The honourable member for Fort Whyte, on a final supplementary question. * (15:00) Mr.

Khan: This Premier and the Minister of Immigration refuse to stand up and simply answer the question. If they are denying these allegations, why are they afraid of the truth? Why would they not call an investigation into these accusations by people who want to come to Manitoba? The only division occurring in this building is on that side of the House: the NDP dividing immigrants and newcomers to Canada versus Manitobans. So I'll be very clear again: Why will this Premier not call an in vestigation, and if he won't call an in - vestigation, will the Minister of Immigration and Labour resign today? Mr.

Moses: Honourable Speaker, I think the member for Fort Whyte knows quite a bit about division from the campaign that went on the last fall. On this side of th e House, we learned the lesson of that campaign: that it pays off when you bring Manitobans together; when you bring Manitobans on to one side and on one team. And not only did we learn that lesson, but we're living that out in this group–this today. This NDP team is united, united around our Minister of Immigration, united around the idea that Manitobans–that newcomers can come to this province

April 22, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1447 and they can have a better and brighter future led by the most popular Premier (Mr. Kinew) in the country, some- thing we're very proud about, something that we want Manitobans to know and we'll continue to work on their behalf every day. Plastic Waste Recycling Request for Local Processing MLA Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): Happy Earth Day. Let me begin by commending all the fantastic Manitoba organizations who continue to strive for a more sustainable future. This year's Earth Day theme is focussed on the epidemic of plastic waste.

The recovery rate of plastic packaging is 45 per cent in Manitoba. There are no local busi nesses that pro - cesses recycled plastic materials in our province. Instead, they are shipped to end markets in Ontario, the US and even overseas. Can the Premier explain why we choose to increase our carbon footprint by not repurposing recycled plastic locally, right here in Manitoba? The Speaker: The honourable member for Immigration– sorry. The honour able Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Hon. Tracy Schmidt (Minister of Environment and Climate Change): Thank you t o the member opposite for that question.

I also want to wish Manitobans a happy Earth Day. We had a wonderful celebration of Earth Day in the Rotunda earlier today. And on Earth Day, we really commit ourselves not only to celebrating our Mother Earth, but really to committing to protecting our Earth and conserving our Earth. I'm very proud of the work of our De partment of Environmental Stewardship. I know that they are working hard on modernizing our material stewardship pro - gram and our recycling programs and I look forward to sharing more. Thank you to the member again for the question.

The Speaker: The honourable member for Tyndall Park, on a supplementary question. Low Aluminum Can Return Rate Request for Plan to Address MLA Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): Here in Manitoba, our recovery rates for aluminum beverage cans are 48 per cent. Compare this to Alberta where their overall return rates are 85 per cent. There's no excuse as to why Manitoba is only recovering half of what Alberta is able to do. Does the minister believe Manitoba's return rates are sufficient and , if not, what is she doing to boost this number? Hon.

Tracy Schmidt (Minister of Environment and Climate Change): Again, I thank the member opposite for the question. I thank the member opposite for a question that's important to Manitobans. You know, I know that Manitobans care about many issues and I would urge the members of this House to ask more pertinent que stions that Manitobans are concerned about. I have met many times already with the Canadian beverage recyclers. I do question the member's facts and statistics there; I do not believe that they're accurate.

I'd be happy to meet with her later to talk about it, but I know that Manitoba is doing a great job in our recovery program. I know that there is room to do better. We are doing that work and we are committed to doing better for Manitobans for the environment. The Speaker: The honourable member for Ty ndall Park, on a final supplementary question. Refundable Beverage Containers Request to Expand Program MLA Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): The same amount of energy used to produce one aluminum can is equal to 20 recycled cans.

Part of the reason wh y Alberta's recycling system is so effective is because beverage containers for both soft drinks and beer, which include aluminum, plastics and glass bottles, are all eligible for refunds. Can the minister explain why Manitoba does not have a refundable container program outside of beer products? Hon. Tracy Schmidt (Minister of Environment and Climate Change): Again, thank the member for Tyndall Park for the question. As I said, you know, I am very proud of the work that our department is doing. I know that we are work- ing hard on modernizing our recovery and recycling programs.

We know that we can do better. We know that Manituba [phonetic]–Manitoba is already doing great things. We're very proud of our budget that we've just put forward and the budget measures that were put

1448 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 22, 2024 forward for our department, and I look forward to working with the member opposite and learning more about what they're doing in Alberta. Thank you very much. Support Services for First Responders Government Announcement Mr. Logan Oxenham (Kirkfield Park): Honourable Speaker, I rise today with an important question on an issue that affects every community in the province. When Manitobans call, first responders are there. As a government, we have a sacred duty to support first responders and their selfless work in keeping Manitobans safe.

Can the Minister of Families (MLA Fontaine) tell us about our announcement earlier today that will further support our first responders? Hon. Matt Wiebe (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): I want to thank my colleague for the question. This is, indeed, a sombre week and a sombre day for first responders in this province. I wan t to thank you, Honourable Speaker, our clerks, our Premier and our House leaders, who facilitated the family and allowed us, as a Legislature, to offer our condolences.

Today, our government announced funding for three mental health workers, to ensure fi refighters, paramedics and law enforcement across the province have access to mental health support. First responders are always there for Manitobans during an emergency, and over time it takes a toll on their mental health. These three mental health workers are a step in our government's continued effort to reduce the stigma around post-traumatic stress and to remove barriers for people to get mental health support. The Speaker: Member's time is expired.

Provincial Nominee Program Draws Labour Minister–Interference Concerns Mrs. Kathleen Cook (Roblin): For the historical record, members of the NDP Cabinet and backbench are today calling MPNP applicants liars for speaking out about the treatment they've received at the hands of this Immigratio n and Labour Minister. They have closed ranks around their minister, leaving MPNP applicants out in the cold. If that's not divisive, I don't know what is. Will the minister stop threatening MPNP appli- cants today? Hon.

Uzoma Asagwara (Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care): Honourable Speaker, since coming into this role as the Minister for Health, it has been an absolute honour and privilege to invest in increasing capacity for folks to work in our health- care system. Internationally educated health-care workers have been living in Manitoba for many years. They've never had a government the past seven and a half years who had any interest in addressing the barriers that kept them out of joining our health-care system. Our government is doing that work.

We're doing that work in Department of Health, the Department of Immigration, EDIT and our–and others as well. We're going to make sure that if you are an internationally educated health-care worker, you have a home in health care here in Manitoba. The Speaker: The honourable member for Roblin, on a supplementary question. Mrs.

Cook: I'd like to quote again from the same document that my colleague tabled earlier: I have confirmed that I, as well as other international stu - dents, have received threats from the Minister of Labour and Immigration (MLA Marcelino), threatening to stop the drawing of MPNP if we protest again before May. The minister says that these folks are liars. Will the minister stand up today and acknowledge their role in this mess? Hon.

Wab Kinew (Premier): I understand the angst that many folks who hold postgraduate work permits are feeling in Manitoba these days because of the actions announced by the federal government. I want to assure folks, though, that our steadfast commitment to keeping you here in Manitoba remains. When we talk about the PCs, there were any number of protests outside. One thing I never saw the mem - bers opposite ever do during their time in government was take the time to meet with people holding ra llies or protests and bring them into the building.

On the other hand, our Minister of Immigration and Labour, at each event that has been held on the steps of the Leg., invited people into the building to listen to their concerns and to work together to chart a path forward. * (15:10) We held a draw two weeks ago. We're holding another draw this week, and we are about to announce a major breakthrough with the federal government.

April 22, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1449 While they want to play games, we're delivering results for Manitobans and those who hope to join this province in the future. The Speaker: The honourable member for Roblin, on a final supplementary question. Mrs. Cook: Honourable Speaker, there are no games here, and contrary to comments made by the Minister of Environment earlier today, these are in credibly pertinent questions to a huge number of Manitobans.

I'll quote again from the same document tabled earlier: During their talks, the minister shouted at them and even slapped the table and said, how dare t hey challenge her like that? In public she says, welcome to friendly Manitoba–as long as you keep your mouth shut regarding their mismanagement of the program. Will the NDP stop politically interfering in the Provincial Nominee Program today, yes or no? Mr. Kinew: I want to say some thing clearly and unequivocally for the House and for everybody on the opposite side: this Minister of Labour and Immigration (MLA Marcelino) has my complete confidence.

She's doing important work. She's doing draws to ensure that the Prov incial Nominee Program can move forward. She's doing the work of staffing up the department. She's engaged with the federal gov ern- ment so that we're going to be able to deliver results for postgraduate work permits. And I'd like to assure everyone on the opposite side that not only will she be in Cabinet longer than the member for Fort Whyte (Mr. Khan), she'll be there longer than the member for Lac du Bonnet (Mr. Ewasko), longer than the member for Steinbach (Mr. Goertzen).

Longer than any of them were ever in gov ern- ment, she will still be there in Cabinet. The Speaker: The time for oral questions has expired. Petitions? Grievances? ORDERS OF THE DAY GOVERNMENT BUSINESS Hon.

Nahanni Fontaine (Government House Leader): Can you please call the continuation of second reading deadline debate on the following bills: Bill 13, The Emergency Medical Response and Stretcher Trans - portation Amend ment Act; Bill 17, The Workplace Safety and Health Amend ment Act; Bill 18, The Community Child Care Standards Amendment Act; Bill 19, The Drivers and Vehicles Amendment Act; Bill 20, The Highway Traffic Amendment Act; Bill 24, The Intimate Image Pro tection Amendment Act (Dis tribution of Fake Intimate Images); and Bill 11, The Stat utes and Regulations Amendment and

Interpretation Amendment Act. The Speaker: As per subrule 2(11), today is the second deadline day for the second reading of specified bills and, as such, at the beginning of orders of the day the following provisions shall apply: for each such bill, the minister can speak for a maximum of 10 minutes, followed by up to 15- minute question period–question and answer period. Critics of recog- nized parties and the in dependent member may then speak for a maximum of 10 minutes per bill, following which I will put the question on second reading of the bill.

If such a bill had been previously called for debate, all remaining actions just identified will be dealt with before the question is put.

The list of bills that will follow this process is as follows: Bill 13, The Emergency Medical Response and Stretcher Transportation Amendment Act; Bill 17, The Workplace Safety and Health Amend ment Act– advisory council; Bill 18, The Community Child Care Standards Amendment Act; Bill 19, The Drivers and Vehicles Amend ment Act; Bill 20, The Highway Traffic Amendment Act; Bill 24, The Intimate Image Protection Amendment Act (dis tribution of fake images–fake intimate images); Bill 11, The Statutes and Regulations Amendment Act and Inter pretation Amendment Act.

SECOND READINGS Bill 13–The Emergency Medical Response and Stretcher Transportation Amendment Act The Speaker: Accordingly, I will now call second reading of Bill 13, The Emergency Medical Response and Stretcher Transportation Act. Hon. Uzoma Asagwara (Minister of Health, Seniors and Long -Term Care): Honourable Speaker – [interjection] You don't really have to– I move, seconded by the Minister of Justice (Mr. Wiebe), that Bill 13, The Emergency Medical Response and Stretcher Transportation Act, be now read a second time and be referred to a committee of this House.

Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor has been advised of the bill, and I table the message. The Speaker: It has been moved by the honour able Minister of Health and Long- Term Care –sorry. It's been moved by the honour able Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care, seconded by the honour- able Minister of Justice, that Bill 13, The Emergency

1450 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 22, 2024 Medical Response and Stretcher Trans portation Act, be now read a second time and referred to a committee of this House. Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor has been advised of the bill, and I table the message –the message has been tabled. MLA Asagwara: Honourable Speaker–[interjection] And again. Honourable Speaker, currently The Emergency Medical Response and Stretcher Trans portation Act does not contemplate the issuance of separate licences for the operation at different parts of one air emergency medical response system.

However, a new service model has been adopted for one air emergency medical response system, based on a 10-year agreement signed in 2023 in which the air platform and the medical care on transports will be operated by two different entities. In parti cular, t he air plat form is provided by Keewatin Air LP, a certified and licensed Transport Canada air carrier, and medical care in transports is provided by Shared Health.

This bill will enable the department to issue separate air emergency medical response system licences to both Keewatin Air LP and Shared Health to operate the parts of this system that they are each responsible for. This bill will also provide flexibility if the model is changed in the future to allow more than two dif - ferent entities to be licensed to operate different parts of an air emergency medical response system.

The licence holders will be required to enter into an agree- ment to define their responsi bilities in respect of the air–rather, the operation of the air emergency medical response system, to ensure that it will function as one cohesive system. To enable new emergency medical response system– rather, to enable the new emergency medical response system, in which two different entities are responsible to provide the air platform and the medical care, it was necessary for a ministerial order to be issued under the act to exempt Keewatin and Shared Health from cer - tain require ments in the legis lation.

This bill will revoke these exemptions when new licensing regime is implemented. Currently, min isterial orders issued under The Emergency Medical Response and Stretcher Trans - portation Act to exempt the licence holder from requirements in the legis lation are not made public. This bill will require that the min isterial exemption orders issued under the act must be published on a government website to provide for greater trans par- ency in relation to these exemptions. Thank you. Questions The Speaker: A question period of up to 15 minutes will be held.

Questions may be answered–addressed to the minister by any opposition, independent member in the following sequence: first question by the offi - cial opposition critic or designate; subsequent ques - tions asked by critics or designates from another recognized party; subsequent questions asked by each independent member; remaining questions asked by any opposition member. And no question or answer shall exceed 45 seconds. The floor is open for questions. Mrs. Kathleen Cook (Roblin): I have a couple of questions, and they're a little bit detailed, so bear with me. Can the minister –these questions are around

section 5.5(2). Does this

section imply that the minis- ter could cancel an emergency medical response con- tract at will? And, depending on your answer, I might have some follow-ups. Hon. Uzoma Asagwara (Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care): I think I'm following the member's question–I'm not, to be honest, entirely sure– asking about the minis terial capacity to cancel the contract.

I believe– I mean, under, more broadly, the ministerial powers that is some thing that I believe would be under the capacity of the minister. * (15:20) However, given the way this legis lation is being brought forward, really at the heart of the amendments being brought forward is to allow for flexibility for increased capacity. So it's really around–this is a 10-year agreement.

So this is really about in future, if there are other agreements, having the flexibility to have more t han, you know, one and two separate licences issued if you've got multiple folks who are responsible for each component of the agreement. Mrs. Cook: Okay, I thank the minister for that answer. Under

section 12(2), does this provide that no ad- ditional licences could be issued to any other provider besides Keewatin Air LP and the relevant prov incial health authority? MLA Asagwara: I appreciate the member's question's getting in the weeds. I think that's a good thing. We

April 22, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1451 did have a briefing with the critic on this particular legislation, but I do think it's a good thing if questions are coming up after that are looking at the details. So, you know, this particular agreement is a 10-year agreement and, as it stands in the agreement , the responsibility of staffing the aircraft is by Shared Health. The responsi bility to maintain and maintain standards for the aircraft is under Keewatin Air LP. That is the agreement in place. It's a 10-year agreement.

I personally don't foresee any changes ther e, but certainly, you know, I think the im portant is having the flexibility for future agreements, should this be an issue. Mrs. Cook: So, if I'm understanding the minister cor- rectly, so the licence that'll be issued under this bill to the–to Shared Health is a licence only to operate the services within Keewatin Air's aircraft as described in the legislation? This isn't issuing a licence for Shared Health to operate their own separate air ambulance vehicles? MLA Asagwara: Yes, that's an im portant p oint of clarification.

So even the language of the question, I think I want to be mindful of how I respond because the licence for Shared Health is for the staff, right, it's for the human resource component to provide care within the aircraft. And the maintenance of the aircraft operations, et cetera, are specific to Keewatin. And so there's a clear distinction of responsibilities there. Shared Health is responsible for the health-care staffing expertise that will deliver care in those ambulances. If there is a bit more nuance here the member needs, happy to provide a follow-up briefing on that note. Mrs.

Cook: I thank the minister for indulging me in my weedy questions. I have a few more basic ques - tions they're probably prepared for. What kind of personnel will Shared Health be providing to these aircraft? MLA Asagwara: Yes, that's a great question. I believe, and I can get clarity on that, but I want to say that the complement is going to be a physician, nurse–there may be a paramedicine component to that as well, but I can get the full complement for that member on the details of that. I don't have it right in front of me.

But it's important to know that the human resource component of this agreement will have standards and have consistency. Shared Health is going to be respon- sible for maintaining the standards and the quality around what that staffing complement looks like and, as well, making sure that if there are adjustments, training, et cetera, that need to be made that they're responsible and on top of that. Mrs. Cook: Has the minister consulted with Keewatin Air specifically on this bill? MLA Asagwara: Yes. So both proponents, Shared Health and Keewatin Air, are aware of this legislation and have been consulted.

This is a piece of legis lation that, quite frankly, just sort of cleans up and streamlines the process moving forward. It also allows for greater transpar - ency. Previously, there was no requirement to post if any exemptions were being signed off on a ministerial order, to place those online or on a website and make them public. So this is an oppor tunity to not only, you know, make sure we're mitigating the use of exemptions and just having a clear delineation of duties but also enhancing public trust and transparency. Mrs. Cook: Has the minister consulted with any other stakeholders on this legislation?

MLA Asagwara: Yes, that's a really good question. We have had really good meetings and conversa- tions with other emergency air service providers. Maybe not necessarily the same type of aircraft, but folks who provide these emergency response services in dif - ferent capacities. And there's a good under standing, I would say, across the board from folks that it's important that we have legis lation that supports people being able to practise to their full scope and recog nize the 'delienation' of duties is very, very clear.

And so this legis lation, obviously, is specific to, you know, what's come of this agree ment an d the difference in responsibilities. But certainly, we com- municate with partners across the province in regards to the best approach on these types of provision of health services. Mrs. Cook: It's not a secret that, while in opposition, the minister was critical of Keewatin Air. And I'm just wondering if they could articulate why they've chosen to continue working with Keewatin Air now that they're in government.

1452 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 22, 2024 MLA Asagwara: Sure. This agree ment was signed by the previous gov ernment. It was a 10-year agree- ment that was entered into by the previous government. That agreement is in place, and in my capacity as a minister, ensuring that we're doing our due diligence to make sure that Manitobans having the best chance at good health-care outcomes is prioritized, which is why this legislation is being brought forward.

It's to make sure that we've got clear legis lation that supports the responsi bilities of either Keewatin and Shared Health and has a clear distinction there. We're going to continue to work with all of our partners and service providers, no matter who they are, to make sure that Manitobans' outcomes are prioritized and that we're making sure we're strengthening the health-care system for no matter where you live in our province. Mrs. Cook: What communities in Manitoba would be served by this contract? MLA Asagwara: Sure. We certainly know that rural Manitobans, northern Manitobans are served by this aircraft.

We also know that, you know, ideally, we're also investing in–which we are, as a gov ernment, and our Budget 2024 does that–investing in strengthening services on the ground in rural and northern communities. And so air ambulance services are one really im- portant component of how folks are able to access health care, especially in emergency services where, you know, there are heightened health-care needs. But definitely, you know, it's important to ensure that we're always investing in strengthening care in community, so that no matter where you live, you can get the care that you need.

And also, you know, this legislation is doing what's necessary to make sure that the responsibilities are clearly defined and supported by law. MLA Jeff Bereza (Portage la Prairie): Excuse me. Has the minister consulted with any other stake - holders regarding this? MLA Asagwara: Yes, we talk to our stakeholders on a regular basis, rural and northern com munities, you know, in constant consultation, quite frankly, in terms of what the best approaches are to better serv e their communities.

Our Budget 2024 makes signi ficant investments in strengthening care in com munities, whether that's training health-care expertise, whether that's working with rural and northern communities to make sure that their ERS services have the flexibility that meets the needs of rural communities. That's been a really, really big point, something that I've heard really clearly from folks needs to be prioritized; and thrilled, you know, that recently, we were able to put forward for community consultations the ERS services approach that they were hoping to see by our government. So there's a lot of work to be done.

Lots of con- versations we need to continue to have. But we're always talking with our stakeholders to make sure we're making the best decisions, taking the right approach. The Speaker: Time has expired. No further questions? Debate The Speaker: The floor is open for debate. Mrs. Kathleen Cook (Roblin): Honourable Speaker, I did have one addi tional question, I just didn't stand up quickly enough. Could we revert back to the question period for one additional question? The Speaker: You'd need to ask for leave to do that. Does the member have leave to revert for one more question? Some Honourable Members: Leave.

Some Honourable Members: No. The Speaker: Leave has been denied. Mrs. Cook: I'm pleased to rise to put a few words on the record about Bill 13. We did have a briefing. I had additional questions coming out of that briefing that I may have to follow up with in writing. I was going to ask the addi tional question about whether this legis lation applies to the transport of deceased persons as well, if that's something that Keewatin Air is doing under their contract.

But I will refer that question to the minister for another time. * (15:30) So in reading this legislation, I'll admit that it was a little bit confusing to understand exactly what the intent of it was. So my under standing of this legis - lation is that there is currently no legislation explicitly allowing Shared Health employees to be on subcon - tracted air ambulances, and it is my understanding that that's what this legislation seeks to correct, that Bill 13 would formally allow Shared Health employees to be

April 22, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1453 on Keewatin aircraft. And in speaking to stakeholders on this bill, that is also their understanding. But it–where I have some concern as the critic for Health is that, you know, previously as opposi tion critic for Health, the now-minister was very critical of the previ ous gov ernment's decision to work with Keewatin Air. They alleged that patients were being put at risk and that the quality of care had been diminished. They labeled it privatization. And, obviously, I disagree with that character - ization of Keewatin Air's work.

I am glad that the minister has changed their tune some what since becoming Minister of Health; and, indeed, the Minister of Infrastructure said in the fall that this was a way to save money. So, I guess, kudos to the previous Progressive Conservative government for signing this contract. It's kind of like how the Premier (Mr. Kinew), shortly after becoming the Premier, told media that it's much harder to be in gov ernment than it is to be in opposition.

So I just felt that it was im portant to get those comments on the record, because where it causes con- cern is knowing that that's how the minister previously felt about Keewatin Air. I had been combing through this bill, trying to find what was hidden, if there was anything hidden that the minister might be trying to pass in legislation in order to get out of the contract. So I'm glad they've seen the light, that there's nothing wrong with partnering with service providers under the publicly funded health- care system. That's good news for Manitobans.

I would note that the provision of air ambulance services is a critical part of our health -care system, that just like any other part of our health- care system requires staff. And I am hopeful, although I'm not holding my breath, that we will soon see some kind of tangible staffing plan from the NDP in order to properly staff our health-care system. Mr. Tyler Blashko, Deputy Speaker, in the Chair The targets that we've heard spoken of in the budget and through news releases are –they're ju st numbers without a real plan to train and to recruit and to retain those staff.

New beds, new ERs; air am - bulances don't staff themselves, either. And I do have some concern that some of the measures the government is taking are going to drive health-care workers out of Manitoba, or at bare minimum make it a least–a less attractive province for health-care workers to come and work here. And so with those comments I will cede the floor to others who may wish to make comments on Bill 13. Thank you. The Deputy Speaker: The question before the House is second reading of Bill 13, The Emergency Medical Response and Stretcher Trans portation Amend ment Act.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed] I declare the motion carried. Bill 17–The Workplace Safety and Health Amendment Act The Deputy Speaker: We will now move on to second reading of Bill 17, The Workplace Safety and Health Amendment Act. Hon. Malaya Marcelino (Minister of Labour and Immigration): I move, seconded by the Mi nister of Economic Development, industry, Trade and national– Natural Resources, that Bill 17, The Workplace Safety and Health Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la

loi sur la sécurité et l'hygiène du travail , be now read a second time and be referred to a co mmittee of this House. Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor has been advised of the bill, and I table the message. The Deputy Speaker: Moved by the hon ourable Minister of Labour and Immigration, seconded by the Minister of Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources (Mr. Moses), that Bill 17, The Workplace Safety and Health Amendment Act, be now read a second time and be referred to a com mittee of this House.

Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor has been advised of the bill and I –and the message has been tabled. MLA Marcelino: It is my pleasure to rise and speak about Bill 17, an amendment to The Workplace Safety and Health Act, to re -establish the Advisory Council on Workplace Safety and Health. Restoring the Advisory Council on Workplace Safety and Health is an immediate priority of our–for our government. In 2018, the previous gov ernment, against the advice of the business and labour commu- nities, repealed the advisory council as part of a gov - ernment-wide reduction of standing com mittees. Its

1454 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 22, 2024 repeal ended a long- standing practice of engaging with Manitobans and receiving input on protecting the health of workers. Our government made a commitment to Manitobans to grow the economy with good jobs. All workers deserve a fair wage and to be treated with dignity and respect. Good jobs mean safe jobs and an expectation that employers provide safe work environments so that workers come home to their families after a hard day's work. This bill re-establishes and restores the 13-member advisory council.

Members of the council will repre - sent workers, employers and technical and profes- sional bodies. Like before, the advisory council will advise the minister on occupational health and safety issues, legislative and regulatory changes and the ap- pointment of consultants and advisors. The council will also under take a review of The Workplace Safety and Health Act every five years. The call for restoring the advisory council came from the health and safety community, employer and labour representatives and Manitobans through an Engage Manitoba consultation in 2022.

Our government is a listening government, com- mitted to meaningfully engaging employers and workers. Restoring the council is one example of this commit- ment. Thank you, Hon ourable Speaker, for the op por- tunity to speak to this important bill. Questions The Deputy Speaker: A question period of up to 15 minutes will be held.

Questions may be addressed to the minister by any opposition or independent mem- ber in the following sequence: first question by the official opposition critic or designate; subsequent questions asked by critics or designates from other recognized opposition parties; subsequent questions asked by each independent member; remaining ques- tions asked by any opposition members. And no question or answer shall exceed 45 seconds. Ms.

Jodie Byram (Agassiz): We all know the importance of safety and health on the job here in our province of Manitoba, and I welcome the opportunity to ask the minister a couple questions here and get some things on the record. Can the minister share specific examples of what type of advice the council will provide to them? The Deputy Speaker: The honour able member – Minister of Labour and Immigration. Hon. Malaya Marcelino (Minister of Labour and Immigration): Thank you to the member opposite for that question.

Examples of advice could be legislative or regula- tory changes on emerging safety and health matters; recommendations on the appointments of consultants and advisors; again, the completion of a five -year review of The Work place Safety and Health Act, which is a pretty large under taking; and other, you know, recommendations relating to occupational health and safety. Other recommendations could be about the pro- tection of workers in specific workplaces and situa - tions. A concrete example would be protections and– on PPE for women.

Women currently–and other types of– The Deputy Speaker: The honourable minister's time has expired. MLA Jeff Bereza (Portage la Prairie): What measures will be in place to prevent conflicts of interest among members of the advisory council? MLA Marcelino: Just like –thank you, Honour able Speaker, and thank you to member opposite for their question. * (15:40) I'd just like to remind the member that this was a unanimous recommendation by many different types of folks that have been on this council for many years before the 2018 time that it was repealed. This is not a partisan type of decision.

There are technical advisors on here, there are members from labour and there are members from the employer com- munity. And those types of people also give their own names for future recom mendations, for people that would represent them as w ell; that would be for our consideration. Thank you. Mr. Jeff Wharton (Red River North): Of course I'm–this is not a partisan issue when it comes to safe way–safety, pardon me, and we are all are concerned, of course, for our workers' safety. Can the minister tell us again –and I know you touched on it earlier–who you consulted in labour and business com munity?

And I'm talking spe cifically business community in the private sector.

April 22, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1455 MLA Marcelino: Thank you to member opposite for their question. We did take on the public and stakeholders through the Engage Manitoba website–this was from October 30 to November 30 of 2022: the Manitoba Federation of Labour, the Manitoba Employers Council, American Industrial Hygiene Association, the Mining A ssociation of Manitoba Inc. and the Occupational Health Centre.

As part of the Manitoba Employers Council members, we've got the Canadian Federation of Inde- pendent Busi ness, the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, the City of Winnipeg, Credit Union Central of Manitoba, Keystone Agricultural Producers, Made Safe, Manitoba Association for Safety in Healthcare, Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, Manitoba– The Deputy Speaker: And the honourable minister's time has expired. Ms. Byram: Thank you to the min ister for sharing that information. Can you share with us, will the council have representation from rural and northern areas of the province?

MLA Marcelino: In general, we strive to ensure that all regions of the–our province are covered and with– especially to rural areas, because a lot of the mining and other types of potentially dangerous work comes from there. So we will ensure that those kinds of con- siderations are put forward to the council. Thank you. MLA Bereza: Thank you to the minister for the answers. Is there a risk that the advisory council could become dominated by certain interest groups, poten- tially marginalizing other groups? MLA Marcelino: Thank you, Honour able Speaker, and to member opposite for their question.

This is a non- partisan issue. There are very im - portant issues that need to be tackled as it relates to safety and health that this council has done remark - ably well over the many, many years of its existence. This is something that other jurisdictions have across Canada. There is nothing, you know, remarkable about it in terms of it being able to be susceptible to this type of thing. This is a non- partisan issue. It's about work place safety and health, and this is a unanimous recommendation made by both business, labour and technical experts in this field. Thank you, Honourable Speaker. Mr.

Wharton: I thank the minister for answering the question I posed earlier. I will build on that, though. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business– the minister had mentioned that there were some con- sultations done with CFIB. Was that in person or was it done through Engage Manitoba? MLA Marcelino: These con sultations with the Manitoba Employer Council happened with the de - partment from January 21 to August 8, 2023. So that was not through Engage Manitoba.

Other folks that are part of Manitoba Employers Council include the Canadian Federation of Indepen- dent Busi ness, but there are so many others that I wasn't even able to name in the time t hat I had.

And perhaps the other –members opposite would like to hear about the rest of those: Manitoba Home Builders' Association, Manitoba Hotel Association, Manitoba Motor Dealers Association, Manitoba Pork Council, Manitoba Restaurant & Foodservices Association, Manitoba School Boards Association, Manitoba Trucking Association, Maple Leaf Foods, Merit Contractors Association of Manitoba, Restaurants Canada– The Deputy Speaker: And the honourable minister's time has expired. Ms. Byram: Can the minister tell us how much mem- bers will be renumerated for their participation on this advisory council board?

MLA Marcelino: Thank you to member opposite for that question. Actually, I've asked the department for that same piece of information and it hasn't been–gotten back to me yet, and I will take that on notice and let the mem- ber know once I have that information. I was just briefly told that the issue of renumera - tion is just some thing done as part of –par for the course. It's nothing going to–it's not going to be like a really high number or anything like that.

And one of the reasons why the previous review com mittee that was established by the previous minister in this role where it failed to actually accom plish their review in a timely matter, was because of the lack of renumeration of those folks there. So this is something that is going to be– The Deputy Speaker: The honourable minister's time has expired.

1456 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 22, 2024 MLA Bereza: Thank you to the minister for the previous answers to my questions. How will the advisory council enhance public trust and confidence in the government's actions? MLA Marcelino: Thank you to members opposite for that question. This is like a new –a very, very im portant topic, workplace safety and health.

There are so many facets to this that even folks like us that, you know, head the department, there is so much information and it's such a growing field that we really, really need this proper advice from folks on–especially from the technical aspect of it. One of the im portant incoming questions that we're going to be asking has to do with PPE and the applicability of PPE for people with diverse needs and for women in general. Another kind of question would be some thing about asbestos or silica and how to best protect work- ers in these types of– The Deputy Speaker: The honourable minister's time has expired.

Mr. Wharton: The minister had mentioned in an answer earlier to my–one of my colleagues about not knowing what the 'mumuneration' will be for this new committee, yet she mentions that she has information on what the com mittee was remunerated under the former government. Could she table that report today? MLA Marcelino: Thank you to the member for that question. What I did say was that the previous group was not renumerated.

The previous review committee group was not renumerated, and that was one of the reasons that was cited by the department as to the reason why these folks had a difficult time maybe meeting on a regular basis in order to come up with the different recommendations that the department needed to move forward on the review of The Workplace Safety and Health Act. Ms. Byram: Can the minister share how frequently this new advisory council will meet? MLA Marcelino: Thank you to member for that question. This council can–could possibly meet whenever a question or an important matter arises at the minister's discretion.

It also has to meet a minimum of four times per year, so it can go from those two facets of time. Thank you, Honourable Speaker. MLA Bereza: How will the advisory council ensure that the needs and concerns of various stake holders are adequately represented? MLA Marcelino: Thank you to the member opposite for that question.

Again, the makeup of the council, it has, in the past, been a 13-body–a 13-member body divided into three, with experts from the technical side, folks with the labour leader ex perience and also folks from the employer community. * (15:50) And each set of groups, they bring forward names, experts in their own field, and then those names are brought for the consideration of the minister, and that's how we get to choose who gets to go on this. It's basically pretty much a self-nominating group– The Deputy Speaker: The minister's time has expired. Mr.

Wharton: Can the minister tell us, during the Engage Manitoba, did they also engage other jurisdic- tions across Canada? MLA Marcelino: Thank you to member for that question. As far as I know, there wasn't that physical or virtual en gagement across Canada. However, there was a jurisdictional scan that was made by the depart- ment, taking a look at what other juris dictions have that are similar to a work place safety and health advisory council. And sure enough, pretty much all the jurisdictions across Canada have this. They might be named other things.

They could be called advisory council on occupational health and safety that has an 11-member advisory group in Newfoundland-Labrador. In Ontario they have a 14 -member group; it's called occupation health and safety pre vention council. Saskatchewan has a nine-member group– The Deputy Speaker: Honourable minister's time has expired. Ms. Byram: Can the minister explain why this legis- lation has changed from its pr evious iteration and no longer has the LGIC making appointments, but rather the minister themselves?

April 22, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1457 MLA Marcelino: Thank you to member opposite for that question. This was a recommendation that was made by the department to just help streamline this process so that there wouldn't be, like, the necessary step of having to put many names through the order-in-council, because there are a lot of them. Again, this was another recom- mendation that was made by the de partment in con- junction with consultation with all the folks that have been part of this Engage Manitoba. Thank you, Honourable Speaker.

MLA Bereza: The concern that I see here is with 13 people is–a number of people here. Will the advisory council add unneces sary bureaucracy and delay the legislative process? MLA Marcelino: Thank you to member opposite for that question. Again, I can't stress enough the unanimous nature of this recom mendation to bring forth, again, this council. It was a mistake on the previous government's part to ever do away with it. We were outliers, once again, across Canada.

This was a weird decision that the previous gov ernment made not to have a work - place safety and health council that had technical expertise and buy-in from both employers and labour groups across Canada. Our message is the same. Our–the reason why we do this is all the same. Whether they were technical experts, employers or labour leaders, the message was to keep Manitobans safe while they were at work. This was the primary point why this was necessary and– The Deputy Speaker: Honourable minister's time has expired. And with that, the question period has come to an end.

Debate The Deputy Speaker: I open the floor to debate. Ms. Jodie Byram (Agassiz): I'm pleased to stand in the House today and speak to Bill 17, The Workplace Safety and Health Amendment Act. I would like to address the crucial topic of work- place safety and health and –excuse me–spe cifically focusing on the importance of that in every workplace here across our province.

We all know and recognize that workplace safety and health are paramount concerns for both employees and employers, and it is incumbent upon us all to foster a work environ ment that prioritizes the physical and mental well-being of all individuals involved. The Province of Manitoba has always recognized the funda mental principles and has always worked towards enhancing the existing framework, em pha- sizing the importance of pre vention and safety, as well, in the workplace.

Manitoba has legislation and safety standards that aim to strengthen, and proactive measures taken by employers, to identify and address potential hazards before they happen and cause harm. By fostering a culture of prevention, we can significantly reduce the number of accidents and injuries in workplaces. We all understand and realize the nature of today's workforce is evolving with technological advancements and a changing workforce and practices. And it is crucial to adapt to the challenges and the changes related to the workplace while ensuring that our workforce remains safe and healthy.

In Manitoba, there are health officers that conduct thousands of inspections per year. Some of those inspections result in orders being i ssued to an em - ployer. Many of these improvement orders are issued with required measures to be put in place by a specified time frame to ensure compliance and that safety and health of workers is improved and not com- promised. Thousands of those orders are issued every year.

I do have to raise some concerns related to the amendment, is the burden that could come from changes and the potential increased compliance and the associated costs for which small –excuse me–and medium-sized busi nesses could pot entially face. Increased requirement includes, you know, stricter penalties that could impose significant financial burden on some of these Manitoba busi nesses, and this, in turn, could impact their ability to grow, create jobs and contribute to the economy.

There needs to be balance between safety, health, all while supporting the growth and sus tainability of our working force and our businesses. It's concerning what the impact could be with an advisory council and the potential for excessive regulations and/or unwarranted inter ference that this could have on our local busi nesses. And this council adds an ad ditional layer to bureaucratic hurdles that stifle innovation and could impede busi ness productivity.

1458 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 22, 2024 Concerns related to the safety and health of Manitobans on the job is priority for all of us here in the Legislature, and I believe and trust that we all recognize that. But the question still remains: Why does there need to be an appointed ministerial advisory committee to replicate the work of other committees? That is, you know, this is only adding, like I said, that additional layer to a system of red tape and bureau- cracy. Employers and employees want investment and action, not another ministerial-appointed council.

It's important to know and learn what is coming from the legis lative five -year review that was initiated. Hopefully we'll see that. Concerns lie that there's potential for introduction for stricter penalties and potential overreach. There needs to be col laboration between workers and em - ployers and members making a safe and trans parent environment for all. Workplace safety and health is sig nificant in our ongoing commit ment to protect the well- being of workers. It provides a foundation for a safer and healthier future.

We all need to work towards creating workplaces where every individual employee can thrive without compromising their safety and health and where employers feel confident in their abilities to provide that safe work environ ment without the threat of intimidation and interference. Again, thank you, Honour able Speaker, for the opportunity to put a few records –or a few words on record regarding bill 7. And thank you.

The Deputy Speaker: The question before the House is second reading of Bill 17, The Work place Safety and Health Amendment Act. * (16:00) Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed] I declare the motion carried. We will now move on to second reading of–oh. One point of information. For the information of all members, under the provisions of subrule 2(11), the House will not rise tonight until the second reading question has been put on all remaining specified bills.

If the House is still sitting at 12 midnight, the debate will be interrupted to put any remaining second reading questions without further debates or amendment, and the division bells shall ring for no more than one minute on each question. Bill 18–The Community Child Care Standards Amendment Act The Deputy Speaker: And with that, we'll move on to second reading of Bill 18, The Com munity Child Care Standards Amendment Act. Hon. Nello Altomare (Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning): I move, seconded by the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of Manitoba (Mr.

Wiebe), that Bill 18, The Com munity Child Care Standards Amendment Act; Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la garde d'enfants, be now read a second time and be referred to a committee of this House. The Lieutenant Governor has been advised of the bill, and I table the message. There you go. The Deputy Speaker: It has been moved by the hon- ourable Minister of Edu cation and Early Child hood Learning, and seconded by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, that Bill 18, the community care stand- ards amendment act, be now read a second time and be referred to a committee of this House.

Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor shall –has been advised of the bill, and I table the message –and the message has been tabled. MLA Altomare: I'm pleased to stand before the House today to speak to Bill 18, The Community Child Care Standards Amendment Act. Manitoba Government is committed to support - ing our youngest learners and children here in our province. In our November 2023 Throne Speech, we pledged to create a comprehensive strategy for recruit- ing and retaining early childhood educators.

This bill supports our commitment under the Canada-Manitoba Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care A gree- ment to esta blish 23,000 new child- care spaces by March 31 of 2026. Increasing child -care spaces requires a propor - tionate increase in the early learning and child -care workforce. One particular key initiative that we're ex- cited about to address this workforce demand is the expansion of early childhood education and child-care assistant training programs at Manitoba's post-secondary institutions.

These training expansions include the creation of innovative new learning labs that will sup- port practical hands -on learning experiences for post-secondary students in the field. These amendments will enable the Department of Education and Early Child hood Learning to directly fund the construction of these learning labs at our

April 22, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1459 public universities, colleges and the Manitoba Insti - tute of Trades and Technology. The proposed amend ments align with commit - ments announced in a 2023 Speech from the Throne, and our department's mandate letter commit ments to develop a com prehensive strategy for recruiting and retaining early childhood educators. Once the necessary legal authority is in place, the department will flow the funding for the construction of learning labs directly to the post -secondary insti- tutions.

These new innovative learning labs will provide practical hands -on learning e xperiences for post-secondary students in the field of early childhood education. Honourable Deputy Speaker, investing in a com- prehensive strategy for recruiting and retaining early childhood educators supports the families who require child care and strengthens and expands the child-care sector in the province. This legislation will allow us to fulfill these responsibilities efficiently and effectively. With that, Hon ourable Deputy Speaker, I com - plete my remarks on this bill and recom mend its passage through the House.

Miigwech, merci and thank you. Questions The Deputy Speaker: A question period of up to 15 minutes will be held. Questions may be addressed to the minister by any op position or in dependent member in the following sequence: first question by the official opposition critic or designate; subsequent questions asked by critics or designates from other recognized opposition parties; subsequent questions asked by each independent member; remaining questions asked by any opposition members. And no question or answer shall exceed 45 seconds. Mr.

Grant Jackson (Spruce Woods): I would like to thank the minister for bringing forward this legis - lation. As he mentioned, this was under development by the previous government, as part of their commit- ment in signing on to the national child- care plan in 2021. I'd just like to ask the minister –he's talking here about funding for post-secondary institutions and my own constituency, Assiniboine Com munity College was committed to having a 216-seat child-care facility built there as part of this agreement. Will this bill enable that child-care facility to come to fruition? Hon.

Nello Altomare (Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning): I want to thank the member for that important question. Not only is Assiniboine Com munity College at the North Hill campus approved for this learning lab, the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Tech nology at the Pembina campus; Manitoba Institute of Trades and Tech nology at the Henlow campus; Red River College Polytechnic at the Notre Dame campus; the University College of the North located in The Pas; Université de Saint- Boniface at their main campus; and also approved is the Uni versity of Winnipeg at their main campus.

And again, I want to thank the member for that important question. Mr. Konrad Narth (La Vérendrye): As a member that represents a constituency in the southeast corner of our province and repre senting a rapidly growing region, my question is, are there plans to consult with stakeholders to create programming in northern regions but also providing training outside of Brandon, Winnipeg and The Pas? MLA Altomare: I do want to thank that member for that important question.

While we're workin g with these parti cularly identified post -secondary in stitutions, we're always open to see if we can expand this further into other areas of the province. The reason these parti cular in- stitutions were chosen is that they were ready to go. We're always hoping to hear of new plans from other centres and look forward to partnering with possibly places from that member's 'constit' and so we can get this going. We need child- care workers des - perately in the province. We also need to ensure that they get the training they need to provide the support for our earliest learners.

Thank you for that. Mr. Trevor King (Lakeside): Thank you to the member opposite for bringing the course forward with this legislation. Very much needed, the child-care workers in our province. Can the minister provide an update on project details and some timelines for when these learning lab classrooms will be in operation? MLA Altomare: Again, Honourable Deputy Speaker, I want to thank the member for that question. I expect these learning labs to be created as soon as this fall, starting with the one, I do believe, at

1460 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 22, 2024 Assiniboine Community College. I can check to en - sure accuracy and veracity of that, but I expect them to be opening and being constructed very shortly. Mr. Jackson: Again, thank the minister for his answer to my initial question. He confirmed the seven learning labs will be going ahead, and that is the reason for this legislation. * (16:10) My question now is, will the child -care centres that were also supposed to be built at these post - secondary institutions also be proceeding?

Assiniboine Community College was supposed to get a 216-seat day care, in addition to the learning lab. MITT was supposed to get a 104- seat day care in addition to the learning lab, et cetera, et cetera. Will those child -care centres also be proceeding as part of this legislation? MLA Altomare: Again, I want to thank the member for that question, and what I can do is I can provide an accurate answer on –once I have the stuff in front of me that will identify exactly if that will proceed.

I want to ensure that we put accurate information on the record, and I can get to that as early as today after this question and answer session. Mr. Narth: We look and –or, we see that ACC is a beneficiary of this legislation. ACC has campuses in Dauphin and Red River in Winkler. Will those benefit also from future expansion? MLA Altomare: I want to thank the member for that question. I believe with the North Hill campus, what that'll do is that will spur even more expansion into these learning labs.

I would expect that campuses located in places like Dauphin will also be included in this project once it's under way at North Hill; see how it goes, get some of the learning done, and then they can become more efficient at provi ding this service and training. Mr. King: I'd just like to ask the minister if there will be some mechanisms in place to evaluate the effec- tiveness of this amend ment in achieving its intended goals. MLA Altomare: Again, I want to thank the member for that question.

Part of the Canada-Manitoba agree- ment has in it–has, as part of the agreement, mechan- isms in place to ensure that the funds flow properly, and that they follow regular, standard public account- ing practices so that we can be accountable for the money as it's flowed to institutions that are identified here. Thank you for that. Mr. Jackson: I appreciate the minister taking it upon himself to get back to us with some of those details as early as later today.

With respect to the learning labs, can he share with the House and with all Manitobans how many further early childhood educators will have the oppor- tunity to take

part in these learning labs? What size of classes of early child hood educators will they be receiving? MLA Altomare: Again I want to thank the member for that question. The only limitation on the number will be identified by the particular in stitution as to how many people they can take in at a time. It'll all depend on the number of instructors that are available. It would also depend on the square footage and if–how many people can be in that parti- cular place. There are a lot more requirements when it comes to early learning and child care as opposed to the actual public school environment .

They're much more stringent on the square footage and the number of people that can be in that piece, and it will depend on the square footage of the –these new learning labs and how many people can be trained at a parti cular time. MLA Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): Just a quick question for the minister: I was wondering if he could provide an example, just in reference to the pur- poses of grants, of when the minister may requisition a grant to be made to support. Just an example of what this might look like. MLA Altomare: I just want to clarify the question.

Are you talking about, like, how a person, or how a particular institution would apply for the grant? Is that what you're talking –no? Or an example of an in sti- tution that has already applied for a grant –no? Can I get some clarity on that? Thanks. MLA Lamoureux: Just to provide a little bit of clarity, in the legis lation itself it references how the minister may requisition a grant to be made to support, and I interpret this as the minister has the authority to provide a grant or to send or share a grant with a child-care facility. I'm wondering what an example of a case where he might do this would be.

April 22, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1461 MLA Altomare: Again, I want to thank the member for clarity on that question. We're willing to work with anybody that is willing to provide the training for new child-care workers. It's something th at we need to really expedite in this province in order to provide the space necessary for new child-care centres to be built. Child care can only work if we have enough people trained in the system to get them out there working in these centres.

I do know that there are a number that are really chomping at the bit to get people into these seven areas that were identified and to get them trained and out into the community as soon as possible. Mr. Jackson: Just to build on my colleague from Tyndall Park's question, the premise, as I understand it, of this legis lation is with regard to being able – for the de partment of Education to flow funds to post-secondary institutions to operate these facilities. Can the minister outline: Were there any other reasons for these proposed amendments, or is that the only focus of this bill?

MLA Altomare: Again, I'd like to thank the member for that question. Before, under the agreement, what would happen is that if you were an existing child -care centre, you were the only facility able to access funds from the Manitoba-Canada-wide agreement for child-care spaces. So what this does is, in the creation of these learn- ing labs, it allows these learning labs, even tho ugh they're not licensed child -care centres per se, to pro - ceed with the training and to provide space for kids as they need the child care in that particular institution.

The Deputy Speaker: Seeing no further questions, the question before the House–oh, sorry; it's open for debate. Right. We have to do debate. Debate The Deputy Speaker: The floor is open to debate. Mr. Grant Jackson (Spruce Woods): That's okay, Honourable Deputy Speaker, I'll be brief. [interjection] Yes, yes. I know. I–no, I sincerely appreciate the minister bringing forward this bill. As he and I have discussed pre - viously and as he mentioned in his comments on this bill, as well, this is a continuation of what was hap - pening under the previous Progressive Conservative government.

And we take lots of shots across the floor, but can't be all bad. And so I appre ciate the minister recog nizing it and proceeding with this bill, because this is a non-partisan issue. We know that we need more child care in this province, we need–we know we need more early childhood educators in this province. And that's part of the reason why –most of the reason why, in fact –the previous government signed on to the national child -care plan proposed by the federal gov ernment in 2021. At the time, I was privileged to be working for the minister of Families.

At that time, the early child hood education portfolio fell under the Department of Families, and so Minister Squires, at the time, was responsible for that portfolio. And it was my first look at negotiating bilateral agreements with the federal gov ernment. Quite a process that is, I will tell you, Hon ourable Deputy Speaker, when you ever find yourself in a situation negotiating agreements with the–our federal cousins, it's quite a process and an experience. But, nonetheless, we got to the point where we agreed on 23,000 new child -care spaces in this province within a five-year time frame; that is historic.

That lev el of child -care spaces have never been created that fast in the public sector in this province before, and we were very, very pleased to be getting that work done. And I would like to highlight, cer - tainly very pleased to be halfway there at the time of the change of government in October. And so we look forward to this new gov ernment continuing to make progress on creating those afford- able child-care spaces across the province. And this agreement didn't just do that. It lowered child-care fees i n the public sector to an average of $10 a day.

That is badly needed financial assist ance for young families in this province at a time when their cost of living has never been higher. * (16:20) And so I want to recognize the work of previous ministers from this side on that agreement , in parti - cular, that milestone achieve ment. We were the first government–provincial government in the country out of any that signed on to this deal to reach that average of $10 a day across the province, the first one recog- nized by the federal gov ernment to reach that target.

That is a significant achievement and provided signi- ficant relief to Manitoba families who had their kids in our affordable public child-care system.

1462 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 22, 2024 And further to that, we intro duced a wage grid. We're talking about the challenges of retaining staff, about attracting people into the profession, even folks who start on their early child hood educator diploma program and then don't follow through, don't complete the program.

Thes e learning labs that the minister is proceeding with will be a way to get some hands -on training while they're going to school, which, you know, student teachers get when they're going through their education program, so why would we not have that for early educators–early childhood educators as well. It's a good idea. I thank the minister for following through with it. We were very proud to introduce it, and we are very glad to see this minister proceeding with it. And we know that these types of programs cost money.

And so, as the minister confirmed for us in the question and answer period, that's the premise of this bill, is to ensure that these high -quality public sector institutions can get the financial support from the provincial gov ernment that they need to be able to offer these post -secondary ad ditional programs and these learning labs. And so we're very glad to see that come forward from an official op position perspective, very glad that the minister is continuing to follow through with those commitments that were made by the previous Progressive Conservative government.

And I look forward to his responding to my earlier question about whether these post -secondary in sti- tutions, all of which are receiving learning labs, wil l also be receiving their child-care centres as well. And just to put it on the record, Assiniboine Com- munity College North Hill campus in the beautiful constituency of Spruce Woods is supposed to be receiving a 216-seat daycare. That's the largest daycare in prov incial history under one roof, just for the record.

The –MITT is supposed to be receiving a 104-seat facility at their Pembina campus and a 74-seat facility at their Henlow campus; Red River College Polytechnique, a 20-seat facility at their Notre Dame campus; UCN, a 74-seat at their The Pas cam- pus; U of M, a 90-seat at the Bannatyne campus and a 76-seat at the Fort Garry campus; a 60 -seat for Université de Saint- Boniface and a 32- seat for the University of Winnipeg. I look forward to the minister confirming that all of those childcare seats should be going ahead and will be going ahead as well.

We, this side of the aisle, when we were in gov- ernment, did the front -end work. We got the deal signed with the federal government–$1.9 billion deal over five years to create 23,000 spaces. We were well on our way to achieving that target.

We hope that the minister will be proceeding with these projects, as well as the RTM model and many, many other avenues to ensure that these child- care facilities get built, not just here in Winnipeg, but across southern Manitoba, in the Parkland and up north, to make sure that Manitoba families can access the $10-a-day child care that they need and deserve so that these kids can get the high- quality early child - hood education that they deserve. That's what this bill takes steps towards by allow- ing the financials to flow to these post -secondary in- stitutions.

Now the minister needs to do the work and get these facilities built. As an official op position caucus, we will be making sure that that work gets done and reminding this minister until those doors are open and those seats are filled with the next generation of Manitobans. Thank you very much, Honour able 'decubity' Speaker. MLA Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): I'm happy to rise and just put a few words on record here this afternoon for Bill 18, The Com munity Child Care Standards Amendment Act.

I think that it is unanimous within this House that we all know the importance of child c are and having enough facilities, having enough spots, having staff and ECE and retention and recruitment. And these are all issues that are very real and prominent right now here in Manitoba. We know that we need more child-care spots. As an example, Honourable Deputy Speaker, we know that every single facility here in Manitoba has wait-lists for children within the province, and we just can't keep up with the amount of children who are currently waiting.

And so it is encouraging to see that, whether it be the former government or this new gov- ernment, they want to invest and create more child-care spots. I think that we are all in favour of that, but there is still a lot of action that needs to be taken on this. You know, earlier this morning, I was at Stanley Knowles child-care centre, and this is right in the heart of Tyndall Park, Honour able Deputy Speaker, and it was a very neat ex perience because we had Minister Hussan, the federal minister, come out and join us as

April 22, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1463 well as my father, the Me mber of Parliament for Winnipeg North. And this child-care centre, I actually used to be a child in it. So it's very neat for me to be able to go back into the com munity and see what's going on. And it was very precious, some of the experiences and enco unters I had this morning. From one little child explaining to me how octopuses have five tentacles instead of eight and how because of this, it could hold up its head better –these little toys and figurines that they make, Honour able Deputy Speaker.

And I had another child show me this obstacle course that they had created where you had to stand up on, like, a little curb and walk in circles all around but only if you were holding the teacher's hand because it can be very dangerous as well. But to me, th is was a testament of how excited children get when they actually get to partici pate in these child-care centres. But in order for this to hap - pen and for their minds to be able to grow and for socializing to occur, we need to have the spots avail - able, Honourable Deputy Speaker.

So I think that it's a good piece of legis lation as far as creating more spots. We want to see that happen. We want to see hard numbers and have them tangibly be rolled out. The $10 a day, it's very exciting. It's very encouraging. It's long past due. And we need to make it more affordable for Manitobans and their children to be able to access child-care centres. Again, we need the spots for that, though, Honourable Deputy Speaker.

But during the question portion of this bill here in second reading, I did ask a little bit about, like, what would an example be if a minister could requisition a grant to be made to support. Now, I didn't hear a tangible example. And so, hopefully, I'll hear more about this at the committee stage. But my only concern is I believe that this should be done in a non- partisan fashion.

It's im portant that decisions are being made by non- partisan civil ser - vants, not necessarily the minister at hand, but again, I'm hoping I'll learn more about this at the committee stage, and we're happy to see this legis lation pass through second reading. Thank you. The Deputy Speaker: The question before the House is second reading of Bill 18, the community child-care standards act. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed] I declare the motion carried.

Bill 19–The Drivers and Vehicles Amendment Act The Deputy Speaker: We will now move on to second reading of Bill 19, The Drivers and Vehicles Amendment Act. Hon. Matt Wiebe (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): I move, seconded by the Minister for Sport, Culture, Heritage and sport, that Bill 19, The Drivers and Vehicles Amendment Act, be now read a second time and be referred to a committee of this House. Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor has been advised of this bill, and I table her message.

The Deputy Speaker: It's been moved by the honour- able Minister of Justice and Attorney General and minister in charge of MPI, and seconded by the Minister of Sport, Culture, Heritage and sport, that Bill 19, The Drivers and Vehicles Amendment Act, be now read a second time and be referred to a com mittee of this House. Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor has been advised of the bill, and the message has been tabled. Mr. Wiebe: I'm pleased to rise in the House today for second reading of Bill 19, The Drivers and Vehicles Amendment Act.

The Drivers and Vehicles Act currently does not allow Manitoba Public Insurance, or MPI, to designate a trailer as either, quote, salvageable or, quote, irreparable, or it does not allow for it to be classified as, quote, rebuilt. * (16:30) With these proposed amendments to The Drivers and Vehicles Act, the provision dealing with written-off, salvageable and irreparable motor vehicles would now also apply to heavy trailers, those with a gross vehicle weight rating of over 4,500 kilograms. Based on the

definitions used in The Highway Traffic Act, The Drivers and Vehicles Act and their regulations, anything that references motor vehicles does not include trailers because they are not self-propelled. Currently, trailers automatically receive the same normal-status designation after they are repaired and reregistered. This means that trailers that have been written off can be purchased at a salvage auction and reregistered without being subject to any kind of inspection to verify that they are in fact roadworthy. It also means

1464 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA April 22, 2024 consumers who subsequently purchase these trailers have no record of their claim history or an accurate estimate of th eir true value. This situation can also happen to trailers purchased from other juris dictions and then brought into Manitoba, where they receive normal status upon registration. With these proposed amend ments, MPI will be authorized to designate trail ers with a status that ac - curately reflects their roadworthy condition and claims history upon registration.

This bill will therefore improve road safety and strengthen consumer protection, as it will prevent unsafe trailers from being registered and operated on Manitoba roads and will inform con- sumers of the true con dition of the claims history of the trailer. Honourable Speaker, I urge all members of this House to show support for Bill 19 today and pass second reading. Thank you. Questions The Deputy Speaker: A question period of up to 15 minutes will be held.

Questions may be addressed to the minister by any op position or in dependent member in the following sequence: first question by the official opposition critic or designate; subsequent questions asked by critics or designates from other recognized opposition parties; subsequent questions asked by each independent member; remaining ques- tions asked by any opposition members. And no question or answer shall exceed 45 seconds. Mr.

Doyle Piwniuk (Turtle Mountain): I was wanting to know if the minister actually had consulted with any groups to–about this legis lation that he put forward here, such as the Manitoba Trucking Association? Hon. Matt Wiebe (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Yes, that's right, Honourable Deputy Speaker. The Manitoba Trucking Association is an im portant partner of the gov ernment as a whole, an im portant stakeholder, but spe cifically within Manitoba Public Insurance, which the member opposite would know very well. They are an im portant partner. They were con - sulted.

We also consulted with the Keystone agri cul- ture producers and other users of heavy equipment and heavy trailers. They understand the need for this, and they support our efforts in promoting road safety for all. Mrs. Carrie Hiebert (Morden-Winkler): It's impor- tant for us to continue to invest and enhance in all aspects of road safety and infrastructure. Was there con sideration adding light trailers to this category for the policy? Mr. Wiebe: Yes, it is an interesting question, Honourable Deputy Speaker. I welcome it from the member opposite.

I think there's always room to im - prove the work that's being done at MPI to ensure that we're promoting road safety. My understanding is, is that, you know, the nature of the trailers that we're contemplating here today are so significant in terms of their size and their weight that they do pose a specific kind of danger if they are not properly repaired and that infor mation is not communicated. But I think there's always room for improvements to ensure that we enhance safety across the board. Mr.

Richard Perchotte (Selkirk): The minister just alluded to the fact there was no safeties required after a vehicle has been damaged, but any trailer over 4,500 kilograms requires a safety and, actually, an annual safety. Are you aware of that? Mr. Wiebe: Right. Again, for–so what we're talking about here is these heavy trailers, and that's the classification that we're talking about. What this is specifically referring to in this bill is with regard to those that have been written off and then are deemed at that point by MPI to either be salvageable or irreparable.

And so these are for trailers that are then repaired. Again, you know, done in a way that is checked by MPI and–to ensure that the safety is there and then those would then be allowed to be back on the road. It's just another check and balance for those trailers which, up until this point, would have had no record about their–when they were written off, what the repair was done on them. The Deputy Speaker: I'll remind all members that the questions should be put through the Chair and not directed directly to the minister. Mr. Derek Johnson (Interlake-Gimli): Yes, the an- swer should be as well then.

So the question is, anything that's 4,500 GVW or higher has to have a safety –like that little green sticker–on the side of the trailer and/or vehicle prior

April 22, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1465 to it being able to be registered. So it goes through a safety process. Is the minister suggesting it goes through multiple safety processes? Mr. Wiebe: So again, Hon ourable Deputy Speaker, the issue at hand here that's contemplated in the bill is simply those trailers that have been damaged to the point where they have been deemed as being written off.

And I'm not sure I'm using the exact, proper language here in terms of how MPI classifies them, but I think the member knows what I'm referring to and that is, is that the damage was so severe, MPI has written this off. Now, if it's salvageable, they will still sell that trailer back to the public through auction and at that point, it is possible–or in fact, I think the person who owned the trailer gets first dibs –they would have the opportunity to then fix that trailer.

We want to make sure that when it's fixed, the record of that is clear and that the work is done to a standard that we all expect for safety on the road. Mr. Piwniuk: I just want to know if the minister can answer this question that, what impact will it have on individuals insuring trailers, especially the rates that they will have to pay and the delay if there's also–if a trailer has to be fixed and put out of sequence or out of circulation, and how much time would it delay and especially the–when it comes to the supply chain issues going out there right now? Mr. Wiebe: No impacts on rates, certainly.

And certainly in working with the Manitoba Trucking Association, with others –again, Keystone Agri cultural Producers and others–what we understand is, is they believe that the safety of these vehicles is paramount. The Speaker in the Chair And that's why, you know, for their members and for producers across the province, I know that they do a lot of work to ensure that their members are follow- ing the rules, that they're doing every thing to a high standard.

We're not concerned about those folks; we're just giving them addi tional tools to ensure that the work that they are getting done on these tra ilers is ap pro- priate and has been checked. Mr. Johnson: Yes, absolutely, safety is paramount. I think on both sides of the House, that's not a question at all. But the question is, I believe every–well, I know, every vehicle over 4,500 GVW has to go through a safety annually and prior to any registration, and if there's a change of ownership it has to be gone through the safety again.

So is this requiring multiple safeties on a vehicle that has been written off, repaired, then it'll be safetied and then safetied again to get the green sticker on the side of it? I just want to be clear what the minister is suggesting. Mr. Wiebe: No. No duplication, Honourable Speaker. In fact, what this is doing is giving addi tional tools for, you know, those v ehicles that have been in a serious accident and, you know, either the owner or, in this case, MPI wants to–you know, believes that it's repairable to get this vehicle back on the road.

That's the idea. * (16:40) Unfortunately, again under the current de finition in The Highway Traffic Act, the–we just–because these trailers are–they're not self -propelled, we needed to make this change. It's supported by industry and it's supported by MPI. Mr. Johnson: Yes, Hon ourable Speaker, will that trailer

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	43-1-47
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	43rd 1st hansardpdf 47.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	8c59cd7f8c2f7e52ff8900262c7406607782c7e7

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