Manitoba Hansard — Sitting 82 (43rd Legislature, 1st Session)

43-1-82

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. 82 - 1:30 p.m., Monday, November 4, 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 COMPTON, Carla Tuxedo 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 STONE, Lauren Midland PC WASYLIW, Mark Fort Garry Ind.

WHARTON, Jeff Red River North PC WIEBE, Matt, Hon. Concordia NDP WOWCHUK, Rick Swan River PC

3311 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Monday, November 4, 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 and 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 spirit 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. Please be seated. Mr.

Derek Johnson (Official Opposition House Leader): Pursuant to rule 78(4), this is the list of minis- ters to be called for questioning in the debate on concurrence motion in the Com mittee of Supply for November 5, 2024, and November 6, 2024, and I table that. The Speaker: The honourable official gov ernment– honourable Official Opposition House Leader. Mr.

Johnson: Could you please canvass the House to see if there is leave to 'expediate' consideration of Bill 41, The Provincial Court Amend ment Act, and Bill 221, The Earlier Screening for Breast Cancer Act, on November 5, 2024, as follows: At the top of orders of the day, the House will consider second reading of Bill 41, with the following limited debate provisions to apply: First, the Minister of Justice may speak for up to five minutes; Then a question period may be held in accord- ance with subrule 137(5); Next, a member from the official op position may speak for up to five minutes; Lastly, each independent member may speak for up to five minutes; and The Speaker shall then put the question.

Once Bill 41 passes second reading, bills 41 and 221 shall be immediately referred to the Commit- tee of the Whole. Once the Com mittee of the Whole rises, and the Chairperson reports, the House will consider concurrence and third reading of bills 41 and 221. The following limited debate provisions will apply to Bill 41: First, the bill sponsor may speak for up to five minutes; Next, a member of the official op position may speak for up to five minutes; Lastly, each independent member may speak for up to five minutes; and The Speaker shall then put the question.

The following limited debate provisions will apply to Bill 221: First, the bill sponsor may speak for up to five minutes; Next, a member of govern ment may speak for up to five minutes; Lastly, each independent member may speak for up to five minutes; and The Speaker shall then put the question. The House will not see the clock until all the House business outlined in this request has been completed. Thank you, Honourable Speaker. The Speaker: Is there leave for the House to consider Bill 41 and Bill 221 as described by the member? An Honourable Member: Leave. Some Honourable Members: No.

The Speaker: Leave has been denied. Hon. Nahanni Fontaine (Government House Leader): Could you please canvass the House to see if there' s

3312 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 4, 2024 leave to expedite con sideration of Bill 41, The Prov- incial Court Amendment Act, as follows: 1. At the top of the orders of the day today, the House will consider second reading of Bill 41 with the

section of the Committee of Supply meeting in room 254 consid ering de partmental Estimates to sit concurrently in the House. The following limited debate provisions will apply to the Bill 41 debate: (

a) First, the Minister of Justice may speak up to five minutes; (

b) Then a question period may be held in accordance with subrule one seven–137(5); (

c) Next, a member of the official op position may speak up to five minutes; (

d) Lastly, each independent member may speak up to five minutes; and (

e) The Speaker shall then put the question. 2. Once Bill 41 passes second reading, it shall then be referred to the Standing Com mittee on Social and Economic Development, which will meet in room 255. The House shall then resolve into the Chamber's

section of the Committee of Supply to consider de partmental Estimates. On November 7, 2024, the House will consider concurrence and third reading of Bill 41 during orders of the day, government business, with the follow ing limited debate provisions to apply: (

a) First, the Minister of Justice may speak up to five minutes; (

b) Next, a member of the official op position may speak up to five minutes; (

c) Lastly, each independent member may speak up to five minutes; and (

d) The Speaker shall then put the question. The Speaker: Is there leave for the House to consider Bill 41 as described by the official Government House Leader? Some Honourable Members: Yes. An Honourable Member: No. The Speaker: Leave has been denied. Routine proceedings– Introduction of Guests The Speaker: Before we get into that, I have a couple of guests I want to introduce. First, I'd like to draw attention to all honour able members to the Speaker's Gallery where we have with us today Mr. John Hollman, who is the chief clerk of the Illinois House of Representatives.

John is the guest of our Clerk, Rick Yarish, and while in Winnipeg on a personal visit, he was eager to see how the Manitoba Legislature operates. With another clerk in the Chamber today, I'm hoping that members will put their best foot forward this afternoon, as I 'm sure we 'd all like to make a good impression on our American guest. On behalf of all honour able members, we wel - come you here today. And the guest is sitting in the Speaker's Gallery.

Further, I would like to draw the attention of all honourable members to the public gallery, where we have with us today Atun [phonetic] Patel, Kiran Parmar, Yash Desai, Raj Pandit, Nisarg Patel, Naitri Patel, Apexa Parmar and Megha Bhatt who are the guests of the hon- ourable member for Brandon West (Mr. Balcaen). And on behalf of all honour able members, we welcome you here today. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Bill 42–The Planning Amendment Act Hon.

Ian Bushie (Minister of Municipal and Northern Relations): I move, seconded by the Minister of Families (MLA Fontaine), that Bill 42, The Planning Amendment Act, be now read a first time. Motion presented. * (13:40) Mr. Bushie: I'm pleased to introduce Bill 42, The Planning Amendment Act, to reaffirm our government's commitment to listen to local leadership and respect the autonomy of local governments. This bill gives the existing member municipalities of the Capital Planning Region the choice to partici - pate in the next capital region plan.

Amendments proposed in the bill will recognize the importance of local voices, those of elected muni- cipal officials, to chart the path and planning for the capital region. I am pleased to present this bill to the House for its consideration. Thank you. The Speaker: Further introduction of bills? The honourable member for–oh.

November 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 3313 Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed] Further introduction of bills? Bill 223–The Indigenous Veterans Day Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended) MLA David Pankratz (Waverley): I move, seconded by the member for The Pas -Kameesak (Ms. Lathlin), that Bill 223, The Indigenous Veterans Day Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended);

Loi sur la Journée des anciens combattants autochtones (modification de la

Loi sur les journées, les semaines et les mois commémoratifs), be now read a first time. Motion presented. MLA Pankratz: Bill 223, The Indigenous Veterans Day Act, seeks to officially recognize Indigenous veterans day on November 8, building on the 1994 resolution, enshrining it in law. It honours the remarkable contributions and sacri- fices of Indigenous veterans and active service mem- bers who embody the principles of freedom, unity and service before self.

By making this day a statutory commemoration, we create space for reflection, respect and education around the unique challenges faced by Indigenous military members. I look forward to its unanimous support and passage, ensuring these heroes are honoured and remembered for generations to come. Thank you, Honourable Speaker. The Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed] Committee reports? TABLING OF REPORTS Hon. Nahanni Fontaine (Government House Leader): In accordance with rule 78(9), I am tabling a revised sequence for the consideration of departmental Estimates for today only.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Honourable Murray Sinclair Hon. Wab Kinew (Premier): Murray Sinclair was a great Canadian, a great Manitoban and a great Anishinaabe. His career stands as a legacy of public service and a deep commitment to truth, fairness and to justice for all people who live on these lands. He was the first Indigenous person named to the Provincial Court and the Court of Queen's Bench here in Manitoba. He was the first. He will also be remembered as one of the best.

He was appointed co- commissioner of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry, which laid bare systemic racism in the in stitutions of justice and is considered a foundational perspective on the system 's relation - ship with Indigenous people. He also led the Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Inquest, an important study which helped to improve heart care as it is delivered to the most vulner able young Manitobans in our province. The penultimate moment of his career, however, came as he led the Truth and Reconciliation Commis- sion of Canada. Here we see Mr.

Sinclair's brilliance embodied in the fact that he took a process which could have been very divisive and could' ve split Canadians apart, and instead he used it as a tool to forge Calls to Action to bring all of us together for the future of this great country and to ask us to live up to that phrase that we have been taught by residential school survivors, that Every Child Matters. It will be a long time before our nation produces another person the calibre of Murray Sinclair. He showed us that there is no reconciliation without truth.

We should hold dear in our hearts his words that our nation is on the cusp of a great new era and that we must all, quote: Dare to live greatly together. End quote. Murray Sinclair was the living embodiment of reconciliation in this country. And today, now that he has begun his journey to the spirit world, each of us as Canadians is forced to contemplate how we will con- tinue on this important work now that he has left us. Once a forest loses once–one of its giant cedars, it's important for the rest of the trees to ensure that the next generation can grow strong.

I send all my love to his kids and to his grandkids, as Murray is now reuniting with his late wife Katherine. On a personal level, Mr. Sinclair has been there my entire life. I also want to remind Manitobans of what we witnessed just over a year ago. Mr. Sinclair presided over our govern ment's swearing in ceremony;

3314 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 4, 2024 he administered our oaths of office. And on that day, he told us something that is remarkable in its wisdom but also its simplicity. He said, and I quote verbatim: You have to learn to love the people, even when they do not love you. End quote. You have to learn to love the people, even when they do not love you. Murray's heart is present in these words. To love one another unconditionally, whether we are Indigenous or non-Indigenous, survivor or supporter, family or merely family we haven't yet met, he asked us to love one another, no matter what.

This is the legacy that Murray Sinclair is leaving to us as Canadians. And in return, on behalf of the Province of Manitoba, I say, we love you, Murray, always. Gizhawenimin aapiji [I love you lots], Mizhana Gheezhik. Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Leader of the Official Opposition): Honourable Speaker, today I rise to honour the life of a Manitoban judge and senator, the Honourable Murray Sinclair. From humble beginnings, being born in 1951 in the Selkirk area, on the former St.

Peter's Reserve, he demonstrated that with hard work and dedication, any person can go on to make an impact on their com- munity and in their country. By many accounts, he was the type of student that excited teachers; he distinguished himself academic- ally and his peers named him valedictorian of Selkirk Collegiate in 1968. Less than a decade later, he would have experience serving the Attorney General of Manitoba, a fresh law degree from the University of Manitoba and even a prize recognizing his academic achieve- ment in introduction to advocacy.

Honourable Speaker, there is a story in his bio- graphy about him that details how, early in his career, a judge mistook him for a defendant and asked him to state the charges brought against him. He felt it demonstrated why he was called to practice law, a practice he defended vigorously. On two separate occasions, he declined offers to serve as a judge, choosing instead to defend the Manitoba Human Rights Commission, the Manitoba Métis Federation and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, amongst others.

In 1988, he would eventually accept an offer to serve as a judge, becoming Manitoba 's first and Canada's second Indigenous judge. But that milestone is not his achievement. His work continued. In the same year, he was appointed co-commissioner of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry, which produced almost 300 recommendations that continue to impact our justice system today.

Justice Sinclair later held a significant role, of course, as chief commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission from July 2009 to June 2015, creating a space for more than 6,000 residential schools survivors across Canada to tell their stories.

Today, as remember his life–as we remember his life, achievements will stand out: he exposed injustices and educated Canadians; his work left a lasting impression on Canada and Canadian law; and his life outside of those professional contexts, I have no doubt, left a lasting impression on those closest to him. * (13:50) Every Manitoban can draw inspiration from his hard work, his story, his commitment to his culture and to justice for all Canadians. To his family: thank you for supporting him and his work, and all of you are in our thoughts and prayers, on behalf of our PC team. Thank you, Honourable Speaker.

Hon. Nahanni Fontaine (Government House Leader): May I ask for a moment of silence. The Speaker: Is there leave for a moment of silence? [Agreed] A moment of silence was observed. MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Columbus Courts Tenants Association MLA Carla Compton (Tuxedo): I rise to recognize the remarkable dedication and community spirit of the Columbus Courts tenants association in the Tuxedo constituency. This committed group of residents have tirelessly advocated for the needs and well -being of their neighbours, demonstrating what a united com - munity can achieve.

Recently, they took on a project to enhance a special place within their building –their chapel. For many of the residents, this chapel serves as a place of worship, a peaceful refuge and a cornerstone of their community. However, a recent change in building management created uncertainty about the future of

November 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 3315 the chapel. Undeterred, the tenants association rallied together and found their pews as well as volunteers to help move them into the new–into their chapel. Through collaboration, resourcefulness and volunteer hours, the Columbus Courts tenants association has transformed their chapel into a welcoming, comfort - able space for all residents to gather, worship and find solace.

They were able to gather for their first church service this past week and provided snacks and coffee for everyone who attended, and I heard that it 's actually been the biggest service they've had in recent memory. So the Columbus Courts tenants association is an example of positive change that can occur when the community unites for a shared purpose, and I'd like to ask that the names of the members be submitted to Hansard. Thank you.

Columbus Courts Tenants Association: Leslie Hargreaves, director; Sylvia Lieblich, director; Terry Haussler, V -P; Gloria Taylor, secretary; members: Russel Harkness, Russel Novadale, Greg Sheedy. Hindu Heritage Month Mr. Wayne Balcaen (Brandon West): Honourable Speaker, I would like to welcome my guests in the gallery and take this opportunity to recognize Hindu Heritage Month, and celebrate the rich cultural heritage and significant contributions of the Hindu community.

This month-long celebration allows us to appre - ciate the diverse traditions, philosophies and values that Hinduism brings to our multicultural society. It is time to honour the significant impacts that the Hindu community has had on the social, cultural and economic fabric of Brandon, as well as recognize their commitment to volunteering with community events, such as food and blood drives. By participating in various events and activities, residents can gain a deeper understanding of Hindu customs and practices, fostering a sense of inclusivity and mutual respect.

This year, the celebration is par - ticularly special as, over the summer, we witnessed the grand opening of the BAPS Mandir, the first Hindu temple in Brandon. This newly inaugurated temple serves as a spiritual and cultural hub of the Hindu community, offering a place of worship, com - munity gatherings and cultural education. It re flects the growing diversity and spirit of inclusion within the city of Brandon. Throughout the month, there will be many cele - brations with colourful displays, highlighting the com- munity's rich heritage and promoting values of harmony, service and cultural exchange.

These events under - score the importance of diversity and the strength it brings to our community. I have had many wonderful opportunities to attend Hindu events, with the most recent last Friday and Saturday where I joined the Diwali and Hindu New Year celebrations. I am always deeply moved by the warmth and hospitality extended by their community. These experi- ences have deepened my appreciation for the rich cultural traditions and the spirit of inclusivity that the Hindu community embodies. I am looking forward to many more celebrations.

Honourable Speaker, in the spirit that we celebrate during Hindu Heritage Month, recognizing invaluable contributions that enhance the cultural mosaic of Brandon. Art Bloomfield MLA Billie Cross (Seine River): It is my honour to rise today and pay tribute to both a powerful tradition of remembrance and the remarkable individual who ensures that it endures. In 2008, a long- time resident of our Seine River community, Art Bloomfield, made a discovery that would alter how our community in St. Norbert would remember its history and its heroes.

While walking his grandson to preschool, Art came across a neglected cenotaph, forgotten and overgrown, dedicated to 13 soldiers who had given their lives in service of our country during World War I. Rather than letting this piece of history fade into obscurity, Art took it upon himself to revive it. He understood that commemorating Remembrance Day is

an act that requires action, dedication and effort. Year after year, Art, his wife Wendy and com mittee have tirelessly worked to ensure that the cenotaph remains in our collective memory via the St. Norbert Remembrance Day ceremony. Because of their hard work, the cenotaph remains a symbol of those who sacrificed their lives for our freedoms. Those soldiers who fought and died for our country had connections to the community of St. Norbert. Many were Red River Métis citizens. And as a Red River Métis woman, it is my privilege to attend this ceremony and lay the wreath honouring those Métis soldiers.

3316 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 4, 2024 What started as one man's mission to preserve the legacy of 13 brave soldiers has grown into an annual ceremony of reflection and gratitude. Thanks to his efforts, our community takes a special pause to remember those who gave everything for our country. Art's determination reminds us that one person, one community, can indeed make a profound dif - ference. He not only ensures that the memory of these soldiers will live on, but has inspired future genera - tions to understand the weight of this remembrance.

Today, I would like to ask the names of both Art, his wife Wendy, his committee and the 13 soldiers be added to Hansard. And I ask my colleagues to rise and recognize Art, Wendy and his com mittee for their hard work.

Organizers: Art Bloomfield, Wendy Bloomfield, Ian Cummins, Deb Degryse-Clark, Bill Younger Veterans on Cenotaph: Francois Cardinal, Arthur Carriere, Roger Chartrand, Richard Fenton, Joseph Frobisher, Alfred Laliberte, Charles Leaumorte, Alfred Lord, James Normand, Albert Ryan, Ernest Ryan, Alfred Taylor, Jules Seewald Portage District General Hospital Foundation MLA Jeff Bereza (Portage la Prairie): Honourable Speaker, I'd like to recognize the Portage and–District General Hospital Foundation today.

The foundation is a long-standing local charity that is highly regarded by donors, health-care staff and the citizens of Portage la Prairie region. The foundation's mission since 1986 has been to strive to enhance, enrich and maintain a high- level quality of health care, and they have done just that. Over the years, this organization has funded invaluable projects, including a heliport, gamma knife, renovations to the labour and delivery room and cafeteria, new stretchers, vital sign monitors, bassinets and the list goes on and on.

The foundation also operates two bursaries which promote and support professional development for medical staff in our community. Between the Roberta's Dream Bursary, which started in 2004, and the Dr. Michelle Bailes bursary, which started in 2019, over 50 bursaries have been given away and over $100,000 awarded to local medical staff. * (14:00) The foundation was especially pleased to make a capital contribution of $3 million this year to the new Portage regional health -care facility currently under construction.

It has also made a historical commit- ment of $5 million towards an MRI scanner in the new facility, thanks to the ongoing and generous contribu- tions of local donors who strongly believe in the importance of accessing health care close to home. I'd like to recognize the Portage District General Hospital's executive director, Tara Pettinger, for her outstanding efforts, including organizing another sold-out event. Attending today along with Tara is long-time board member Jill Verwey and Roy Tufford.

Please join me in thanking the Portage district foundation for their almost-four decades of enhancing and enriching health care in our com munity and beyond. Thank you. Remembrance Day MLA David Pankratz (Waverley): Today, I rise to speak of Remembrance Day and what it means to us as Manitobans. Every day that we live in this great province, a province in which we have the privilege of freedom and peace, is thanks to the brave men and women who serve in our country's military.

And it's thanks to their dedication, bravery and sacrifice that every single one of us is free to live a life where we can provide for our families and pursue opportunities that for many the world over are denied. Service members past and present deserve to be recognized for risking life and limb in some of the most dangerous places in the world so that we can live in a free and demo cratic society. The courage, selflessness and valour of all Canadian veterans and service members from past and present conflicts should be commemorated and remembered.

In this past June, it was an absolute honour to be in the presence of veterans who stormed Juno Beach. Having the oppor tunity to thank them personally for their service was truly inspiring and put real faces and first-hand stories to the allied effort of preserving peace and freedom. And being present for the 80th anniversary of D-Day was a humbling experience. The privilege that every single one of us in this Chamber has, that every Manitoban has, is thanks to those brave soldiers and their sacrifice.

So, to every veteran, every active service member, every soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice for peace, freedom and democracy, thank you. You are and always will be remembered.

November 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 3317 I would also like the members of this Chamber to rise and warmly acknowledge the many active and retired military service members we are graced with having join us here today. Thank you, Honourable Speaker. ORAL QUESTIONS Tax Increases Government Intention Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Leader of the Official Opposition): Honourable Speaker, NDP leaders in Manitoba struggle with the facts when it comes to taxes. Gary Doer said repeatedly, and I quote: I'm not elected to raise taxes. End quote.

Of course, he said that over 20 years ago before he raised taxes by $90 million. This current NDP Premier has already raised taxes by more than $150 million, and he's not stopping there. And now, he is listening to calls for new taxes in Winnipeg. Honourable Speaker, can the Premier please share more with the House about how open he is to increasing taxes on Winnipeggers and fellow Manitobans? Hon. Wab Kinew (Premier): What I'd like to share with the people of Manitoba is that the days of having a Premier who picks fights with mayors is over. We're working hard with you.

We 're working hard with the mayor of the City of Winnipeg, with the mayors of Brandon, Steinbach, Thompson, to deliver for you, the people of Manitoba. Of course, the member opposite and the ragtag group of leadership contestants apparently want to keep picking fights with other levels of govern ment. They can go ahead and do that, and we'll see how the paltry turnout for their leadership events continues over the course of this run.

But before he invokes the name of the great Gary Doer, I would remind him that we had an event to honour Gary Doer's 25th anniversary of his election, and it was attended by dozens and dozens and dozens of times more people than ever come out for PC events these days. The Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Mr. Ewasko: Honourable Speaker, as usual, no answers from you know who, the MLA for Fort Rouge. We've established the Premier is not Gary Doer. He seems different to outdo him by raising taxes nevertheless, Honourable Speaker.

His mentor, Greg Selinger, also said he wouldn' t raise taxes. He said a PST increase was, and I quote, a ridiculous idea and utter nonsense. He misled Manitobans and got elected and raised the PST anyways. It took a Progressive Conservative government to come in and lower it again and the – lower the cost of living for all Manitobans. Honourable Speaker, can the Premier please be upfront with Manitobans about their taxes: When is he raising them and by how much? Mr. Kinew: On January 1 of this year, our team cut the provincial gas tax to save you money.

This is something that nobody on the other side ever did during their two failed terms in government. None of the leadership candidates trying to lead the PC ship into the next iceberg saw fit to try and save you money in this way. It was only a Manitoba NDP govern ment that stepped up to save you money each and every time you go to the pump. And guess what? It didn't just help you as you' re trying to put food on the table for your loved ones, for your kids; it also helped the whole economy. Inflation came down in this province because of that cut to the provincial gas tax.

Now, of course, when it comes to lowering taxes, when it comes to helping the economy, everyone in Manitoba knows where this team stands. We 're on your side, we're on the side of affordability, we 're on the side of growing the economy. The only question that Manitobans are still wondering about is why did the PCs– The Speaker: Member's time is expired. Mr. Ewasko: Honourable Speaker, Manitobans are seeing time and time again that the only thing that concerns this Premier is photo ops instead of actually taking action for you, Manitobans.

The availability of information, we know, is greater than ever before, Honourable Speaker. Everyone knows it can –they–and can easily confirm that the NDP record is clear. They get elected with false promises– [interjection] The Speaker: Order. Mr. Ewasko: –then they under-deliver and break those promises, then they overspend and raise taxes. We 're watching it unfold again. History is repeating itself.

3318 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 4, 2024 Honourable Speaker, does the Premier have the courage to rise in his place and be trans parent with Manitobans: What taxes is this Kinew government going to be increasing or allowing to be increased shortly? Mr. Kinew: We cut the provincial gas tax. We saved you money throughout this year. The PCs on the opposite side? They voted against that. They wanted to keep the 14 cents a litre they were charging every single day during their time in office. They charged you ever y single time you gassed up at the pump during their time in office.

Now, of course, what else did they do? Well, they had not just one, but two premiers, Brian Pallister and Heather Stefanson , who wanted to pick fights with mayors. Of course, we're taking a different approach. We want to work with other levels of govern ment because we know it's not about us; it's about you, the people of Manitoba. It's about returning decision-making power, it's about returning choice to you, the people of Manitoba. Now, of course, this difference is not only the reason that you invested in us the ability to serve you, the people of Manitoba.

It 's also why the Winnipeg Sun says, and I quote, the size of the gathering was modest, end quote, when they're talking about the PC leadership event last week. So we know that we're on the right track– The Speaker: Member's time is expired. The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question. Mr. Ewasko: It seems that, once again, the Premier just constantly just dodges questions, and I just wish he would stand up one time and actually answer one of them. The CFIB has a business barometer which measures expectations for business performance.

Across Canada, most provinces experienced only minor shifts, but in Manitoba, business optimism is tanking and it's at its all-time low under this Kinew government. Far below other provinces, far below historical averages, and, Honourable Speaker, I table the data. * (14:10) Businesses in Manitoba are not seeing the sort of revenues that they would expect to see around this time of the year, says CFIB director provincially, Brianna Solberg. Inflation is still squeezing every- body's budgets, she adds.

Honourable Speaker, can the Premier just tell Manitobans: Is a slumping economy the reason why he has to raise taxes? Mr. Kinew: We cut the gas tax on January 1 of this year. Again, it was 14 cents a litre under the PCs. Under us, it's zero. You're not paying a provincial gas tax. Again, every single question he asks, I will respond exactly right on the money, right on the mark, talking about the very subject he seeks to raise, because you know what? We're delivering for you. We 're helping you and your family. We lowered a tax that was extra- ordinarily expensive under them. And do you know what else?

We're helping to grow the economy. We are delivering on lower infla tion, which is something that we ran on. And, of course, those who are watching have said, and I 'm quoting here, quote, the Kinew govern ment has made it clear it is prepared to do what it takes to encourage economic growth in Manitoba, end quote. So you don't have to take it from us. The economic observers are weighing in and saying that our plan works– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. Mr. Ewasko: Honourable Speaker, short on time and short on answers. Starbucks in Fort Rouge; grocery stores affecting St.

Vital and Riel; 7-Elevens across Winnipeg constit- uencies; Giant Tiger in St. Johns; and a $1.6- billion electric vehicle battery plant to Ontario. What do all these things have in common, Honour able Speaker? They are fleeing Manitoba. They're closing their doors and they're giving up on this NDP economy. Honourable Speaker, so I 'll ask again: Can the Premier please just stop the games, answer the question, and what taxes are the Kinew government going to be increasing or allowing to increase to all Manitobans? Mr. Kinew: Another question on the gas tax. Guess what the answer is?

We cut the gas tax on January 1 to zero to save you money. Again, we know that this contributed to inflation coming down in our province, but we can go to the experts. Again, when we listen to TD Economics – again, that 's TD, a leading finance firm –they said, bottom line, tax measures are, on balance, expected to generate savings for Manitobans this fiscal year, largely through the extension of the fuel tax.

November 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 3319 Now, again, the member opposite might not like to hear it, but the experts are weighing in. The CFIB has added their voice to the chorus, and you, the average Manitoban, are all speaking in unison. Our move to cut the provincial fuel tax is saving you money. It 's helping the economy. The only people who are offside are the PC party. Mr. Ewasko: Honourable Speaker, dead last in Canada. This is the legacy of this Premier, the MLA for Fort Rouge. Unemployment has shot up to 5.7.

The cost of fresh meat and veggies are up by 8 per cent, and the econo- mic horse is galloping off to Ontario, Hon ourable Speaker. Employers and their families across the province can 't keep up with the rising costs, and they're losing hope in this govern ment's economic plan, if they even had a plan. So Manitobans are asking this Premier again, and I'm asking please answer one question, Hon ourable Speaker. Will the Premier just please stand up and answer: Which taxes is he increasing or allowing to be increased on Manitobans? Answer the question. Mr.

Kinew: Well, if the member from Lac du Bonnet wants to know which tax I want to talk about, obviously it's the provincial gas tax, because we cut that to zero on January 1 of this year. And I take it sincerely when he stands in his place and he says, please, please, please tell us more about the cut to the provincial fuel tax. So I'll tell him more about the cut to the provincial fuel tax.

Not only does it help you, not only does it mean that the average person can take their kids to grab, you know, a fun meal at McDonald' s or some thing after saving money at the pump, it also means that our economy saw inflation decline from record highs under the failed days of Heather Stefanson to a new normal. Which again, we recog nize that there is more work to do, but there is a very important phenomenon now going on where Manitobans perhaps feel as though they're able to catch up a little bit. But here's the main thing that I want to share with you, Honourable Speaker.

We are going to continue to work hard for you. We've delivered on many of our election commitments to date– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. Removal of Carbon Tax on Natural Gas Request to Join Alberta's Legal Challenge Mrs. Lauren Stone (Midland): Honourable Speaker, this Premier (Mr. Kinew) likes to talk a big game about his fuel tax holiday, when in reality, on January 1, Manitobans are about to ex perience the largest fuel tax that they have ever seen in Manitoba history. And while that's happening, this Premier is remaining silent on the carbon tax.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation and 55 per cent of Manitobans want to see this Premier challenge Trudeau 's unfair treatment of western Canadians. Trudeau 's carbon tax on home heating fuels in Manitoba, but not in Atlantic Canada, is simply unfair and discriminatory. Last week, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith applied for a judicial review to exempt from Ottawa's federal carbon tax. Will this Premier join Alberta's legal challenge and fight for the carbon tax to be removed from natural gas? Hon. Adrien Sala (Minister of Finance): One of the things that we're proudest of is that we cut the gas tax in Manitoba.

Honourable Speaker, seven and a half years, every single day, they charged 14 cents a litre on Manitobans. They come into this House, they talk about, you know, what life could have been like, perhaps, under a continued PC government. Manitobans know it would have been continued charging 14 cents a litre every single day. They did not take action. We took action. And that gas tax cut was only one of a long list of 21 measures that we brought in with our budget, some- thing our govern ment is in credibly proud of. We 're doing the work.

We 're making life more affordable while we make the investments in things Manitobans sent us here to do: fix health care– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. The honourable member for Midland, on a supple- mentary question. Mrs. Stone: This Premier continues to remain silent on Trudeau's carbon tax. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is standing up for western Canadians. She said, and I quote: Less than 1 per cent of people in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba use home heating oil. The outcome is blatantly unfair for people in Alberta and other parts of Canada

3320 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 4, 2024 who use natural gas and other fuels to stay warm in the winter. I table that today. Alberta's premier is standing up for Manitoba, but our own Premier (Mr. Kinew) is remaining silent. We're heading into the winter months and this Premier needs to stop sitting on the fence and propping up Trudeau's carbon tax. Will he immediately join Alberta's legal challenge against the federal carbon tax and will he move to stop collecting carbon tax from home heating today?

MLA Sala: Honourable Speaker, what did Manitobans get under their leadership for seven and a half years? Nothing. They got years and years of inaction. That's fact. They come here and they talk about, you know, what they expect to see from us, when the reality is we took action. We took action almost imme diately after coming into this building, and we 're incredibly proud of that. We're proud that in very short order we brought in real savings that benefit Manitobans every single time they go to the pump.

And as our Premier has outlined today, it's not only benefitting us when we go to the pump, those changes have impacted inflation in this province –reduced inflation by 0.4 per cent in this last report alone. That's helping Manitobans across this province in every respect. We are doing the work of making life more affordable– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. Mrs. Stone: Removing the carbon tax would save the average Manitoban $318 this year. Fifty-five per cent of Manitobans want the carbon tax removed from all heating fuels.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the Premier to join the challenge. I table that today. Will this Premier stand up, take action to defend Manitoba and challenge Trudeau from his unfair carbon tax? * (14:20) MLA Sala: Honourable Speaker, our measure– our fuel tax measure–over the course of the year that will have been put in place by the end of December will have saved Manitobans an average of $500 per family. That is real action, Hon ourable Speaker.

That 's real action in addition to the long list of other actions the–we brought forward, whether it 's the $1,500 homeowner affordability credit or the broad middle - class tax cuts we brought in. That's the work of our government, focused on the real, everyday challenges that Manitobans are facing, something Manitobans didn' t benefit from for seven and a half years when they had a govern ment that wasn't attuned to their reality. Finally, as of last October 3, Manitobans had a govern ment they can count on. We're going to keep doing that work of making life more affordable.

Diagnostic and Surgical Recovery Task Force Request for Supply Arrangements Mrs. Kathleen Cook (Roblin): The Minister of Health has repeatedly claimed that no one at the Diag nostic and Surgical Recovery Task Force knew what they were working on, a statement that's an insult to the top doctors and medical professionals that completed 85,000 procedures for Manitobans. So today I 'll table a leaked Shared Health status update, dated September 13, 2023, showing that the DSRTF had 106 projects in operation and 62 planned projects in progress.

These projects had clear tracking and timelines, with updates like this one regularly sent to health-care and government leadership. How many of these projects did the NDP cut when they fired the task force? Hon. Uzoma Asagwara (Minister of Health, Seniors and Long -Term Care): Honourable Speaker, our government was graciously awarded the oppor tunity by Manitobans to do something they didn't see happen for seven and a half years, and that is invest in making health care in our own province the best that it can possibly be for the citizens we serve.

On this side of the House, we came into office and found the previous gov ernment had not only worked very hard to decimate the health -care system, but to decimate relationships with the experts who guide us in our health-care journey in this province. We started from day one repairing those relation- ships, and we've made some great progress as a result, but there's more work to do; we're going to keep doing that for Manitobans. The Speaker: The honourable member for Roblin, on a supplementary question. Mrs. Cook: According to the same leaked data that I just tabled, 77 RFSA contracts were signed with public

November 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 3321 and private providers to expand surgical and diagnos- tic capacity in Manitoba. Now, despite repeated requests from me and from the media, the Minister of Health has thus far refused to provide any clarity about the status of these con- tracts. But we do know that only half as many cataract surgeries have occurred at Western Surgery Centre this year compared to last year, and that was one of the key RFSA contracts signed by the DSRTF.

So can the minister specify how many of these 77 contracts are currently operational, how many have been cancelled under their watch, and what has the impact been to Manitoba patients? MLA Asagwara: Honourable Speaker, the impact has been that we are doing more surgeries and more diagnostics in our own province than we've ever done before. We're doing more cataract surgeries than we' ve ever done before. All of this, Hon ourable Speaker, after seven and a half years of cuts, chaos and disrespecting health- care workers by the previous failed Heather Stefanson government and members on that side of the House. Mrs.

Cook: According to CIHI data, Manitoba now has the second largest surgical and diagnostic backlog in the country, a backlog that has only gotten worse since the NDP fired the people responsi ble for reducing it. The data I table today shows that 62 projects were actively in progress as of September last year. Meanwhile, wait time for CTs, MRIs, hip and knee surgeries and cataracts have all surged, and the NDP has offered no plan and no explanation. I can only imagine the impact that those 62 projects would've had on those wait -lists had they proceeded, but then the NDP came in and cut them.

How many contracts have been cancelled? How many projects were cancelled when the NDP fired the Diagnostic and Surgical Recovery Task Force? MLA Asagwara: Honourable Speaker, I'll remind the member opposite, as she might not be aware, it 's actually the former head of the diag nostic task force that made very clear during the pandemic that the backlog for surgeries and diagnostics pre -dated COVID-19 ever reaching Manitoba's borders. Honourable Speaker, we are cleaning up the sur - gical mess and diagnostic mess that was made by the previous failed PC government.

They had seven and a half years to clear backlog; they didn't do it. Honourable Speaker, on this side of the House, we are doing that work each day for Manitobans. We are doing more surgeries, more diagnostics than we ever have before. There's more work to do. We 're going to keep doing that on behalf of Manitobans, some thing they didn't do for seven and a half years. Carjacking Incidents Offenders Out on Bail Mr. Wayne Balcaen (Brandon West): Honourable Speaker, W- T-F: Why that fast?

This is the public messaging from the Winnipeg Police Service aimed at reminding motorists to drive according to the speed limit, which I table. Under this minister, however, one Winnipegger found out how simply sharing this message incurring motorists to slow down has become an invitation for violence. This man's sole crime was asking the driver of a stolen vehicle speeding through his neighbour - hood to slow down, and as a result, he was stabbed. Imagine that. Manitobans can no longer encourage people to obey the laws without being stabbed and left with life-altering injuries.

So I ask this minister: W-T-F: Where's the fairness? The Speaker: Member's time has expired. Hon. Matt Wiebe (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): As it 's my first op portunity to rise in the House, I wanted to offer my deepest condol ences to the family, to the friends, to the colleagues of a great Manitoban, Justice Murray Sinclair. As Minister of Justice and Attorney General for the Province of Manitoba, his work continues to echo through the work that we do every single day. And on a personal level, I–his words and his approach to the important work that we have in front of us has been a guiding light.

I think it was an impor tant question on public safety. I look forward to answering that in my second answer. The Speaker: The honourable member for Brandon West, on a supplementary question. Mr. Balcaen: Honourable Speaker, under the watchful eye of this Minister of Justice, Manitoba is reporting a violent carjacking every few days. Manitobans are not safe shopping, at church or even dining out

3322 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 4, 2024 without being violently assaulted, dragged from one's vehicle and even run over. Of the almost 60 violent carjackings so far this year, can this minister share how many victims had to be hospitalized, either because of the initial carjacking assault or being run over by their own stolen vehicle? Mr. Wiebe: This is what' s frustrating, Honour able Speaker, is the members opposite were part of a gov- ernment that for seven and a half years did absolutely nothing when it comes to public safety. They picked fights with other levels of govern ment.

They refused to take any kind of accountability or responsibility for the worsening state of public safety throughout our communities and across the province. And now –and now–they come to this House and say, as if they have some kind of moral author ity on this, that we should be doing more. Well we are doing lots, Honourable Speaker. We're working across this province, seeking input from com- munity, working together with law enforce ment and building that future of one Manitoba that Manitobans elected us to do. We' re going to continue to unite people while the members opposite– The Speaker: Time is expired.

The honourable member for Brandon West, on a final supplementary question. Mr. Balcaen: I'll answer that question: What' s this government doing wrong? Lots. The Kinew gov ernment seems obvious to the violence spreading throughout our communities. The Minister of Justice is hopping from one crisis to the next, offering buzzwords and band-aids, but no tangible actions. A key component to the NDP's safer communities promise was bail reform.

So I ask the Minister of Justice: Of the 60 violent carjackings that have occurred so far–so far–in 2024, how many arrests have been made, and how many of those carjackings involved an offender that was out on bail? Mr. Wiebe: Members opposite want to know what lots is. Well, lots is $4 million for bail reform right here in the province of Manitoba, real dollars to solve issues created by them; $2.9 million for ankle bracelets, a program cut under Heather Stefanson that we brought back and we 're getting under way. The members opposite want to know what lots is.

Lots is 12 new officers hitting the ground in the streets of Winnipeg. * (14:30) After their time in office, 55 officers lost, gone, from the city of Winnipeg. That 's their record. Our record is doing lots for the people of Manitoba. Christmas Cheer Board Funding Concerns MLA Jeff Bereza (Portage la Prairie): Honourable Speaker, last year under this Premier (Mr. Kinew) we saw the Christmas Cheer Board had to shut off their phones for the first time ever. Every time we have asked about affordability for people that may not be able to afford to drive a car we hear about a 14-cents gas tax holiday.

Why are aid organi zations being forced to turn away needy Manitobans? Hon. Nahanni Fontaine (Minister of Families): I do want to just take a moment to, on behalf of our gov- ernment, really honour and lift up the incredible work that folks like the Christmas Cheer Board and all of those folks that are on the front lines of supporting families who are struggling right now at Christmas. We–I know that when I was a little girl my mom often would apply for those Christmas hampers, and I remember waiting for those Christmas hampers because sometimes those were the–actually the only gifts that I ever got.

So on this side of the House we honour and we ap- preciate and understand how im portant those organi- zations are for Manitobans struggling right now. Food Security Fund Request to Restore MLA Jeff Bereza (Portage la Prairie): Honourable Speaker, we know the last three–we know the –last year three calls were coming into the Cheer Board every second. Manitobans want to help, but like the oxygen mask on an airplane, you can only help others when you're able to. That's why demands are up and donations are down.

When Manitoba growers announced they had excess potatoes, Manitobans from all over organized to get the food banks and into hands of those that need them most. So I ask the Premier: Why does he not restore the $4.75-million food security fund? Thank you.

November 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 3323 Hon. Nahanni Fontaine (Minister of Families): One of the things that our government did, our first thing that our government did, is we instituted a universal school nutrition program, something that members opposite were so against and thought that it was such a bad idea. We are on the front lines of supporting families and supporting children to ensure that children have food when they're at school. No child should be hungry when they're at school.

Again, I want to remind folks that every single member across thought it was a bad idea to want to support and feed children. Feed children was a bad idea to members opposite. So we'll take no lessons from any single one of them opposite. The Speaker: The honourable member for Portage la Prairie, on a final supplementary question. Christmas Cheer Board Funding Concerns MLA Jeff Bereza (Portage la Prairie): Honourable Speaker, I want to take a moment to speak to all Manitobans today. If you have the ability, please help out the Cheer Board or any organi zations like that.

And to those folks that are having times struggling, please reach out to the Cheer Board. There 's people out there that want to help out. Last year this govern ment shut down the $4.75-million food security fund, and the Cheer Board had to turn to–folks in need away. Will this minister guarantee this government will return funds to the Cheer Board, yes or no? Hon.

Nahanni Fontaine (Minister of Families): I'd like to share with the House and with the member opposite, actually, Families, and members may not know this, we actually support, through our Families Department, casual staff that go every year to help out the Christmas Cheer Board. We know how important the Christmas Cheer Board is to families, and we will continue to do that in the Department of Families. You know, the other thing that we did, Honour - able Speaker, is when we assumed government, when we were so lucky to be able to do that, was we also doubled the prenatal benefit.

We know that providing that support to expectant parents has long-term effects that can only help our province in the long run and, again, help support those children and those families– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. Health-Care System New Beds Added MLA Carla Compton (Tuxedo): Our govern ment was elected to fix the health -care mess created by Heather Stefanson's PC gov ernment. They damaged health care and created chaos while also disrespecting health-care workers across the system. We are committed to fixing the chaos and know the first step is adding staff beds to the health -care system.

Can the Minister of Health update the House about the progress of our–that our government has made in adding staffed beds so Manitobans can get the care when they need it? Hon. Uzoma Asagwara (Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care): I'd like to thank my colleague, the MLA for Tuxedo, for that wonderful question–that important question. Honourable Speaker, we know the previous gov- ernment closed over 500 beds from across the province between hospitals, ERs and personal-care homes, and they fired nurses. Our gov ernment is taking a different approach.

We've opened over 112 acute-care beds with a plan to open 70 more, 43 transitional-care beds with a plan to open 27 more, and we funded 26 new ICU and PICU beds with four step- down beds, as well. We 've also added 16 new beds at the Grace Hospital in last fiscal year. Manitobans elected us to fix health care, Honour- able Speaker. We're cleaning up the mess left by the previous government. We're getting the work done– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. Labour Bills in BITSA Legislation Government Amendments Ms.

Jodie Byram (Agassiz): It was very clear that the addition of significant labour legislation to the BITSA bill was made in haste. During committee last week, the government brought forward multiple amend ments to their own bill. The Chamber of Commerce says the changes trample on workers' ability to choose whether they should go back to work based on their personal circum stances and that union rights trample individual rights. What does this minister have to say in response to these concerns?

3324 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 4, 2024 Hon. Malaya Marcelino (Minister of Labour and Immigration): Thank you–to member opposite , for your question. On this side of the House, we 're proud to stand with workers every single day of the week. On this side of the House, we 're proud to put through legis - lation that's historic to make sure that workers ' rights are going to be protected like never before in this province. Members opposite don' t know a thing when it comes to respecting the rights of workers.

It 's a good thing that Manitoba has elected a govern ment that cares about workers all across this province, and it 's our pleasure to be able to put through this historic legislation, that will hopefully pass by this year. Thank you, Honourable Speaker. The Speaker: The honourable member for Agassiz, on a supplementary question. LMRC Recommendations Ms. Byram: Honourable Speaker, these changes will put the burden on workers and create unneces sary complexity. Manitobans did not have the opportunity to participate in the legis lative process and speak at public committee to voice their concerns.

We've heard from the minister that the changes were made in response to recommendations from the Labour Management Review Committee. Can the minister share the list of all recommen - dations made by the LMRC? MLA Marcelino: Honourable Speaker, members oppo- site remind me of my mother -in-law. No matter how great this legis lation was that we put forward, never it's going to be enough. Okay? Honourable Speaker, we list–we put through this historic legislation. It was wonderful legislation. And then Manitobans said to us, you know what, it could still be better.

We listened to Manitobans, so we improved it using this new amendment–three great, new amendments to improve this legislation. But nope. Not good enough. On this side of the House, we know it's good enough. It's going to be respecting Manitobans and all workers across this province. [interjection] The Speaker: Order. Order. Order. Ms. Byram: Honourable Speaker, they are not listening. They are not listening to all Manitobans. This did not go to public committee. We know that this legislation was rushed and done without proper consultation. We have heard stories of inter ference from the Premier 's (Mr.

Kinew) office and saw that this legis lation was incomplete when multiple amendments were brought forward last week at committee. We know that not all recommendations from the LMRC were taken when bringing forward this legislation. * (14:40) Can the minister share why all recommendations were not included and why this legislation was rushed? MLA Marcelino: Honourable Speaker, you know, it's a new day in Manitoba. We have a govern ment–we have a Premier that has a vision for this province for the next 100 years; a vision for our province to take it from this have-not status to a have status.

And we 're going to be doing that with workers who build Manitoba, with busi nesses who have the innovation and the strength to build Manitoba. We are doing this working together as a part nership for the betterment of Manitoba, and we will take no lessons from members opposite. Driver Education Program Need for Classes in Rural Manitoba Mr. Trevor King (Lakeside): Honourable Speaker, rural parents are setting up multiple computers and phone lines to try and increase their chances of securing a spot in MPI's Driver Z program.

But these spots are getting more and more difficult to access with entire courses being filled within minutes. Road safety starts here in Manitoba with our 15-and-a-half-year-old educated drivers, Honour able Speaker. Why is this NDP govern ment putting up road- blocks for young rural drivers? Hon. Matt Wiebe (Minister responsible for the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation): I just want to correct the –maybe not the Hansard, but certainly the audio and video recordings of today. It is–driver zed is the program, Driver Z, and that is an important program.

And it 's an impor tant program throughout the province but very, very im portant, of course, in rural Manitoba and especially in Westman. That's why it's an important program to enhance by partnerships. Partnerships with instructors throughout the province and with instruction institutions. This has been a focus of MPI. It's certainly been a focus of our government. We 're working to fix the mess of the

November 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 3325 previous government and we're hard at work in doing so. The Speaker: The member's time has expired. Mr. King: Honourable Speaker, parents have called me sharing that in order to secure a place in a Driver Z program, they have taken to registering their child hundreds of kilometres away. Amy Soroby [phonetic] has to drive her son almost 500 kilometres round trip every week to attend his course at another town. That 's time away from her farm, her family and her community.

Is this minister prepared to pay mileage to parents, or will they be stuck with the bill for this poor planning? Mr. Wiebe: Again, this is an in credibly impor tant program, and it's worth investing in and ensuring that it works. Unfortunately, the previous government did neither of those things. In fact, what they did with MPI is, first of all, they failed to anticipate the pent- up demand from the pandemic and the impact that that was going to have on the program. But then, of course, what did they do? They meddled with MPI, numerous CEOs, a string of CEOs making bad decisions.

And then they perpetrated a strike, which impacted MPI, that we're still cleaning up. Now the member opposite could spend some time talking to the front bench, getting some answers from former ministers about why they messed things up so poorly. We 're getting to work. We 're working with Assiniboine Community College. We're working with– The Speaker: The member's time has expired. And the time for question period has expired. Petitions? GRIEVANCES Mr.

Wayne Ewasko (Leader of the Official Opposition): Honourable Speaker, I stand today to bring forward a grievance against the Kinew govern - ment on the Lac du Bonnet personal-care home. You see, many members across the way, of all political stripes as well, should understand that the Lac du Bonnet personal -care home does not only service those that are residents of the area. The Lac du Bonnet personal -care home will be servicing those individuals that have lived within Manitoba, that call cottage country, the Lac du Bonnet area, home.

And that's what we want to see, Honourable Speaker: people come out, possibly live in their cottages as well, as time goes on, and then have those services closer to home for those individuals. Let me recap some history for the members opposite, especially the NDP members in the Kinew government. You see, Honour able Speaker, Gary Doer and the now-Premier's (Mr. Kinew) mentor, Greg Selinger, had promised the residents of the Lac du Bonnet constituency a personal-care home many, many years ago. But you see, Honourable Speaker, no money, no plans and no documentation supported those claims.

In 2012, Greg Selinger showed up with a skeletal crew, of course, a few photographers, but no Health minister to promise the Lac du Bonnet area and residence a personal-care home that was going to start construction in 2014. Nothing happened in 2013, nothing happened in 2014. I'm on a roll. The Speaker: If I could get members to take their conversations to the loge or somewhere else, I 'm having a hard time hearing what the member is saying. Mr. Ewasko: Honourable Speaker, can we reset the clock there a little bit? I lost a few seconds, but I appreciate your guidance. So 2014, construction was supposed to start.

The only thing that actually went up in the area was a sign which was purchased and placed by the com munity. And since then, the NDP government, back in the day under Greg Selinger, the now-Premier's mentor, didn't even provide a weed whacker to build –with the trim around the sign, Honourable Speaker. So then fast-forward to 2016, when the Progressive Conservative government got into–our party got into government. There was no money to be seen for the Lac du Bonnet personal-care home, no plans from the former NDP government and no documentation sup- porting those claims, Honourable Speaker.

So we again fast -forward. What did the NDP leave? The NDP left a large deficit, a large debt which they more than tripled in just eight years. So then, fast-forward to 2023, with documents in tow and the money in place, there was a groundbreaking for the new Lac du Bonnet personal -care home, a 90 -bed personal-care home. So we're simply asking on behalf of the Lac du Bonnet constituents and Manitobans who reside in cottage country and who want to age where they are enjoying their time, Honourable Speaker, to the NDP

3326 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 4, 2024 government, the Kinew government, to continue with the Progressive Conservative Lac du Bonnet personal-care home plan. Now, Honourable Speaker, I know the Premier 's (Mr. Kinew) going to get up in the next few days, and he's going to write a little column over to some of our local papers, maybe even the Winnipeg Free Press or the Winnipeg Sun, and say how the member for Lac du Bonnet, which is myself, is not voting for this year's budget.

But, Hon ourable Speaker, the fact is that the documents proving that the personal -care home for Lac du Bonnet under our government was going to be put in place, plus the money was put in place, so we're asking and urging this Premier to do good by his word and continue on with the Lac du Bonnet personal-care home. I did want to put on the record, Hon ourable Speaker, some reasons for not voting for the 2024 budget, voting against the NDP, the Kinew gov- ernment's budget. So the budget allows the NDP to raise fuel taxes overnight at the Cabinet table, which we will see come the beginning of 2025.

The budget rakes in hundreds of millions in new and increased property taxes on Manitobans with cottages and second homes, Honour- able Speaker. The budget eliminates basic personal amounts and increases income taxes on doctors and skilled profes- sionals and trades people like engineers. The budget waters down financial accountability for Manitoba Hydro by eliminating the legis lated requirement for Hydro to pay down its debt to keep electricity rates low. The budget strips busi nesses of their rights by banning the use of replacement workers during labour disputes.

The budget strips workers of their demo- cratic rights by eliminating the use of secret ballots and while lowering thresholds for automatic un ion certification. The budget doubles taxpayer -funded rebates for political parties, which the NDP never campaigned on and which they intend to use to fund their election war chest. The budget does not include funding for nine new schools with daycares planned in Winnipeg, Brandon, West St. Paul, Neepawa and Ste. Anne. * (14:50) The budget does not include funding for two care homes planned in Winnipeg and Arborg, which have already gone through Treasury Board.

The budget cut tens of millions of dollars from commu nity develop- ment and summer jobs programs such as Green Team, ACSC and Building Sustainable Communities amid a concerning rise in youth unemployment in Manitoba. Now, Honourable Speaker, simply just asking the NDP to stop playing games and move ahead with the Progressive Conservative plan to build the Lac du Bonnet personal-care home.

I know that during Estimates, I had asked the ques- tion about the 70- to-80-million-dollar plan for the Lac du Bonnet personal -care home, and the Premier himself stood up and said it 's not going to cost that much; it's going to cost $66.4 million. So then I might as well ask it this time, Hon our- able Speaker: So, if, in fact, that we had the money set aside for the 70, 80- million-dollar, 90-bed personal- care home in Lac du Bonnet, and this Premier's so sure of himself that by delaying it for over a year is actually going to reduce the cost, some kind of NDP math, but he is saying $66.4 million.

So then I 'll strongly encourage him to take that additional 3.6 to 13.6 million dollars and start again moving forward with the construction that has been paused by his Infra structure Minister. So take those funds and start making sure that the turning lanes on 313, 433 and, of course, the 520 gets upgraded as well. So with that, Honourable Speaker, I know that the Premier has already invited me to the ribbon- cutting of the Lac du Bonnet personal-care home.

In order for the two of us, plus others, to attend the ribbon-cutting of the Lac du Bonnet personal -care home, I strongly encourage him to let the project continue and get to work. ORDERS OF THE DAY GOVERNMENT BUSINESS Hon. Nahanni Fontaine (Government House Leader): Can you please dissolve into Committee of Supply. The Speaker: Now resolve into Committee of Supply. The Deputy Speaker can take the Chair.

November 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 3327 COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY (Concurrent Sections) ROOM 254 AGRICULTURE * (15:00) The Chairperson (Rachelle Schott): Will the Com- mittee of Supply please come to order. This

section of the Com mittee of Supply will now resume con sideration of the Estimates for the Department of Agriculture. The last item to be considered for the Estimates of this department is item 3.1(a), the minister's salary, contained in resolution 3.1. The floor is open for questions. MLA Jeff Bereza (Portage la Prairie): I move that line item 3.1(

a) be amended so that the Minister of Agriculture's (Mr. Kostyshyn) salary be reduced to $16. Motion presented. The Chairperson: The motion is apparently in order. Are there any questions or comments on that motion? Is the committee ready for the question? Some Honourable Members: Question. The Chairperson: Shall the motion pass? Some Honourable Members: Yes. Some Honourable Members: No. Voice Vote The Chairperson: All those in favour of the motion, please say aye. Some Honourable Members: Aye. The Chairperson: In my opinion, the –oh. All the opposed to the motion, please say Nay. Some Honourable Members: Nay.

The Chairperson: In my opinion, the Nays have it. * * * The Chairperson: All there any–are there any further questions? If not, we'll move on to the last resolution. Resolution 3.1: RESOLVED that there be granted to His Majesty a sum not exceeding $3,937,000 for Agriculture, Financial and Admin istrative Services, for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. Resolution agreed to. This completes the Estimates for the Department of Agriculture. The next set of Estimates to be considered by this

section of the Committee of Supply is for the Estimates of Municipal and Northern Relations. Shall we briefly recess to allow the minister and critics the opportunity to prepare for the com mence- ment of the next department? [Agreed] The com mittee shall now recess briefly– very briefly. The committee recessed at 3:05 p.m. ____________ The committee resumed at 3:18 p.m. MUNICIPAL AND NORTHERN RELATIONS The Chairperson (Rachelle Schott): Will the Com- mittee of Supply please come to order. This

section of the Committee of Supply will now consider the Estimates for the Department of Munici- pal and Northern Relations. Does the honour able minister have an opening statement? Hon. Ian Bushie (Minister of Municipal and Northern Relations): I do have some extended introductions, actually. I'm pleased to make a few comments on the 2024-2025 Estimates and discuss some of the im por- tant activities of the De partment of Munici pal and Northern Relations, also perhaps some questions on Indigenous Economic Development as well.

Before I begin, I'd also like to recognize the hard work of my de partment staff and the professional work that they do in col laboration with Manitoba municipalities, the City of Winnipeg, the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, the Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities, northern affairs community councils, planning districts, fire services, mutual aid districts, non-profit and com munity develop organi - zations, also chief admin istrative officers, fire chiefs and our many other clients. On the Indigenous Economic Development side, I'd also like to recognize the hard work of the department

3328 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 4, 2024 staff in supporting the esta blishment of this new department. With me today is my deputy minister, both Municipal and Northern Relations as well as Indigenous Economic Development, Bruce Gray, who will join me shortly. Also with me is Don Hallett, the assistant deputy minister of Indigenous economic partnerships. On the MNR side, Nick Kulyk, assistant deputy minister. I also have with me Mike Sosiak, assistant deputy minister and executive financial officer.

Finally, from my office, the director of min isterial affairs, Marty Gautron, is also joining us here today. I know that this good work is also being recog- nized by the communities and municipalities that we serve. Our govern ment is committed to investing in communities across the province. Even before the 2024 budget, we started with our gas tax cut, provi - ding millions in relief for municipalities. Municipalities keep community infrastructure and services running.

Our cut to the gas taxes led to signi- ficant additional savings for municipalities, with an estimated $3.75 million in lower costs for the duration of the freeze. * (15:20) Now I'm proud to say that, after years of freezes and cuts, we're also permanently ending the previous government's funding freeze and investing in all municipalities across Manitoba. Each munici pality will receive more funding than in previous years, and we are committed to growing predictable multi- year funding in the years ahead.

Budget 2024 permanently adds a $47- million increase to the municipal operating grant, an amount that was only provided by the previous government as an end-year adjustment in 2023. This provides local governments with greater financial certainty and security in planning for their community's needs. Our govern ment also recog nized the increased financial pressures that all municipalities are facing and will provide a 2 per cent or $4.4-million escalator in funding to municipalities .

These increases will yield a total of $221.1 million in unconditional munici- pal operating funding in 2024-2025; $140.6 million for the City of Winnipeg and $80.5 million for all the other municipalities across Manitoba. Northern Affairs com munities will also receive an increase in operating grant funding for a total $11.1 million in 2024. This will bring total operating funding for munici palities in Northern Affairs com - munities to more than $232 million.

Budget 2024 has also committed $7.3 million in new capital funding through the strategic infrastructure basket, including $3.2 million or 2 per cent increase in capital grants to municipalities to address cost pres- sures on infra structure projects and allow munici- palities to continue to advance core capital needs; $4 million or 20 per cent increase to the Manitoba Water Services Board for a historic $24 -million base budget to support the dev elopment of critical water and sewer projects in rural municipalities and address Manitoba's water and waste water infrastructure deficit.

These increases will yield a total of $167.7 million in strategic infra structure funding in 2024- 2025; $93.9 million of that is for the City of Winnipeg and $73.8 million for all municipalities across Manitoba. This is in addition to the recent commitment of $10 million in one-time support to the City of Winnipeg for critical sewer pipe crossing repairs near the Fort Garry Bridge advanced in 2023-2024, and over $56 million in infrastructure projects for critical infra structure like airports, roads, fire trucks and equipment.

Beyond this, our govern ment is committing to reliable, flexible and stable funding to meet the needs of our growing population. Our government will be a true partner of the municipalities over the coming year and years to come. We will work with the munici pal stakeholders, including the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, and the City of Winnipeg to esta blish a reliable and flexible multi- year funding model for programs, infrastructure and maintenance that works for all local governments.

Our government has committed $25.7 million for community development programs, which provides core operating and program-specific funding to its strategic partners and neighbourhood renewal corporations. Funding is also provided for application-based grant programs for non-profit organizations and local gov- ernments for programs and initiatives that enhance communities across the entire province. Our government believes in revitalizing, support- ing and building healthier com munities from the ground up to create healthier and safer neighbour - hoods in Manitoba.

From the ground up, Budget 2024 is investing $12.5 million to support new community development program called From the Ground Up. On April 29, 2024, our govern ment launched the From the Ground Up: Safe Healthy Com munities and–For All Program, which will focus on the revitalization of high-needs neighbourhoods throughout Manitoba and community infra structure and initiatives to support

November 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 3329 poverty and crime reduction efforts. The new program will repurpose funding from the former Building Sustainable Communities program, which was never sustainable in the first place. Grants under the new program will support initia- tives in the areas of community capacity building; com- munity economic development, well-being and recrea- tion; and housing and safety co-ordination supports.

Under the new program, applicants can apply for funding under the following three streams: (1) com - munity renewal initiatives, (2) community spaces and (3) healthy care, connected children and youth. In addition, the program will also invest in expanding and extending service for children and youth programs. The Province has allocated $800,000 for non-application-based strategic partnerships to support after-school and weekend programs in high- needs areas in Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson.

On the Green Team side of things, Budget 2024 also includes funding to support the Urban Hometown Green Team program to continue to support youth employment projects across Manitoba. The Green Team program, which creates summer em ployment opportunities for Manitoba 's youth, will see an increase of $730,000 in 2024 to address the recent increase in the minimum wage. Funding is provided for a variety of com munity development projects that improve neighbourhoods, promote com munity involvement and help develop young leaders.

The 2024-2025 Estimates marks a reset in fund - ing for our application- based grant programs. In the past these programs were temporarily increased over the short term to mitigate the impact and support economic recovery from the pandemic. However, given the need for prudent fiscal management to reduce the deficit, funding for these programs has been returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Neighbourhood renewal corporations in Budget 2024 will also provide $200,000 increase to annual core operating funding to support 12 neighbourhood renewal corporations across Manitoba, seven located in rural and northern com munities and five in higher needs areas in–of Winnipeg. This $200,000 increase for the 12 neighbourhood renewal cor porations bring the annual support for core operating funding from $1.7 million in 2023 to $1.9 million in 2024 and is the first increase in core operating funding for these organizations since 2016-2017.

Effective and efficient land use and planning regula- tions help boost economic competitiveness and pro- mote sus tainable municipalities when it comes to community planning. Manitoba is undertaking a com- prehensive review of recent amend ments made to planning legis lation that includes public repre sen- tations. We have engaged an in dependent consulting team to provide com prehensive review with stake - holder involvement to ensure that the review of the legislation is impartial and nonbias ed on our–as our stakeholders expect.

The statutory review aligns with the government's mandate to review Bill 37, speed up approval timelines and ensure local voices are respected. With French language translation, our government recognizes the founding role of the Francophone com- munity in our province and is committed to protecting their rights and improving access to French language education, health care and other services so that we are truly a bilingual province.

As part of the new Canada -Manitoba Agreement on French Language Services with our federal govern- ment partners, Municipal and Northern Relations will increase its funding to the Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities for translation services for Manitoba's designated bilingual com munities by another $100,000, this–the largest increase in funding for these services in more than 20 years.

This builds on our government's continuing support for bilingual municipalities and adopting necessary bylaw amend- ments–bylaw changes to implement the AMBM's 3M Maturity Model for enhancing support for the delivery of municipal services in both official languages. On Indigenous Economic Development, for the first time in Manitoba's history, we have a department that is truly dedi cated to making meaningful strides in Indigenous economic development. This is our Premier's (Mr.

Kinew) words and actions: the economic horse will pull the social cart in Manitoba, which is really about a vision where all Manitobans benefit from the contributions of Indigenous Manitobans, business and others towards the goal of economic reconciliation. Manitoba has the largest Indigenous popula tion per capita of any province at 18 per cent, and this popu- lation is younger and growing at a faster rate than any other demographic in Manitoba.

Removing barriers to the full inclusion of the Indigenous peoples in Manitoba's economy represents one of the most signi ficant eco- nomic opportunities for the province. Working closely with other departments, Indigenous Economic Development is adopting a whole-of-govern- ment approach to grow our economy by increasing

3330 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 4, 2024 economic participation and creating opportunities for Indigenous Manitobans and communities. Manitoba is a province with a significant undeveloped potential in our resources and our people. In this respect, it's a real have-province. This is also true with respect to Indigenous communities and businesses. The potential impact of removing barriers to the full inclu- sion of Indigenous peoples to Manitoba's economy is one of the most signi ficant economic op portunities facing the province.

This new department has a mandate to work col- laboratively with First Nations, Inuit, Métis and part- ner organizations to improve economic participation and opportunities for Indigenous Manitobans and com- munities with a special focus on education and jobs. The department is comprised of two main program areas: the Con sultation and Agree ments Branch and Indigenous Business Development branch, supported by Financial and Administrative Services Branch. In conclusion, I will leave it there for now.

Our government is dedicated to supporting municipalities and communities across Manitoba as demonstrated by our commitments made in the 2024 budget. Municipal and Northern Relations will continue to help build stronger com munities through ongoing education and support for local elected officials by providing funding to build and strengthen munici- palities and by investing in programs that enrich the lives of Manitobans. Thank you. The Chairperson: We thank the minister for those comments. Does the critic from the official op position have an opening statement? Mr.

Trevor King (Lakeside): I thank the minister and his de partment officials for being here today. Hope we can get some good infor mation on the workings of the department and the Estimate numbers. I'm sure some of you know I 've had some exper- ience in the municipal world for 12 years–eight years as council in my municipality, as well as four years as the reeve. And then, of course, I spent eight years on the Association of Manitoba Munici palities board of directors as well. So I got a good–got a bit of passion and that in the municipal world for sure.

And you know that, Minister, that I 've had some ex perience there and built some relationships over the years and listened to the–still listening to the people and know a lot of the people that are still involved in municipal government. So I know there 's a lot of things in this year 's Estimates across the de partment there are extensions from many years of work and planning by the depart- ment. There 's also many new directions that this minister and the new govern ment are taking that I want to explore here today.

So I want to have a thorough Estimates discussion with the minister, and I'd like to take a global approach to the discussion.

Same time, I'll try and indicate to the minister and the department which areas I'll focus on today so that department can ensure that they'll get the right officials at the table and be ready to–that we can get the best possible answers for the public at this meeting today. * (15:30) Of course, the more quickly we get the good answers on the various topics, the more quickly we 'll be able to move through all this infor mation and get some details on the de partment's plans for their expen- ditures this coming year before the Legis lative Assembly's members.

I do want to express some concerns with some of the approaches of the new govern ment, including some of the significant additional expenditures in the Estimates and the budget: the sig nificant borrowing that's being under taken by this Premier (Mr. Kinew) and minister, planning to add over $5 billion to the net debt since the release of last fall 's Public Accounts – billions more in debt in just the first year while interest rates have skyrocketed since last summer, some thing perhaps attributable to the Liberal Prime Minister 's spendthrift ways.

Doesn't seem to be much concern from this gov- ernment about adding this much debt in such a short time frame, while interest rates have been higher than they have been in decades and the inflation of Manitoba has slowed to below the Bank of Canada 's target level, which suggests the economy is no longer keeping up with the govern ment's spending plans. Seems to be a lack of urgency to grow the economy in these Estimates. So we'll have a lot of questions about the priorities of this government, about what is in these budgetary Estimates and about what is not in these budgetary Estimates.

For the minister, hopefully he can do some explain- ing of his positions and rationale for the decisions he's

November 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 3331 made. For example, within the Estimates as a whole and within the minister's departmental Estimates, there seems to be a complete lack of funding and priority for roads, bridges and munici pal infrastructure projects. There's a lack of investment in water and waste water infrastructure, and the Building Sustainable Commu- nities program and funding seems to be nowhere to be found within these Estimates –not in the Municipal Relations Estimate, nor anywhere else in the budget.

I know in his opening statements, the minister mentioned that the Building Sustainable Communities fund was not sus tainable, but like him maybe to explain today how the 12 and a half million that 's in their budget versus the $25 million that the previous government had, how it couldn' t've been sustainable. Same goes for Arts, Culture and Sport in Community Fund–doesn't seem to be anywhere in the parts – department's Estimates or anywhere else in the budget or Estimates package. He recently announced a new program focused on revitalizing neighbourhoods, but only for Winnipeg, Thompson and Brandon.

So I'd like to know why the minister is leaving all the other large and small com- munities out of that funding envelope. Why are The Pas, Dauphin and Portage la Prairie and many other northern com munities and First Nations being excluded from that funding? It is stated very clearly in the release that some of the funding is only for those three communities. As I pass this over to the minister after my first questions, I'll just let him know I'd like explain why– him to explain why he does not seem concerned about the high interest rates and the growing debt load.

This minister's government is increasing spending in many areas while cutting others, like capitals for roads, bridges and munici pal waste water projects and, of course, drinking water projects. And hopefully by the end of today, we can get the minister to explain why, in a budget where spending is going up exponentially, why his de partment and municipal priorities do not seem to be getting the same level of attention. So that, honourable Chair, would be my opening remarks. Thank you. The Chairperson: We thank the member.

I'd like to inform everyone at a table for clarity that we're currently considering only the Estimates for Municipal and Northern Relations, and then afterwards, we'll–we've, after we've concluded this

section of the department, we will move then to Indigenous Economic Development section. Great. Thank you. So, under Manitoba practice, debate on the minister's salary is the last item considered for a de partment in the Committee of Supply. Accordingly, we shall now defer consideration of line item 13.1(

a) contained in resolution 13.1. At this time, we would invite the minister 's staff to join us at the table, and we ask that the minister introduce any staff in attendance that he hasn't already included in his opening remarks. Thank you. Please join us. Mr. Bushie: Just to intro duce the additions, I intro- duced the –some of the staff that was joining me in opening comments. We are also joined here by Kevin McPike, David Neufeld and Nadalene Khan Cooper.

The Chairperson: According to our rule 78(16), during the consideration of departmental Estimates, questioning for each department shall proceed in a global manner, with questions put separately on all resolu tions once the official opposition critic indicates that questioning has concluded. The floor is now open for questions. Mr. King: Again, thanks for the opportunity to come today and pose some questions to the ministers in his department of municipal relations here. Greatly enjoy- ing the role as critic here, being something that I got a little bit of experience in.

So, going to start with just some general staffing questions for the minister and– what political staff work out of the minister 's office or within their purview? I don't know if you could name them. And just a breakdown of their salaries, as well as what pay scale they 're on. How many, if any, are on the executive salary schedules? And does the minister have any staff who are on secondment? And what are their salaries and who is paying for it? Mr.

Bushie: Just as an oppor tunity before I respond to the last question that were posed, when he talked about–in his opening comments about not investing in municipalities, investing in Manitobans, and I think that was significant for us as a new government to be able to do that.

3332 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 4, 2024 We heard, for the entirety of our time in opposi - tion, the strain that the freeze to municipal funding had and the effect that it had on municipalities. So that was significant for us to be able to address, and that was something that AMM had called for as well as a lot of other communities as well–community members as well, to be able to do that in a real meaningful way. It's something that meant and would have real impact for municipalities.

So when we committed to end–not only ending the freeze, but the predictability of funding going forward as well, was significant for us to be able to do that. And that is something that we campaigned on, we heard, we listened and we acted. So we heard from municipalities about the real strain that the funding freeze was having for them, so we addressed that in a meaningful way with a 2 per cent increase. And we'll continue to have those discussions on what it looks like going forward for a funding model and predictability going forward.

But also, the other thing that we heard quite a bit was what the funding freeze–it wasn't just one year, it was over multiple years, and what that meant for the municipalities to have to play not only catch-up to be able to do what they wanted to do in their com mu- nities, but just to kind of be made whole. * (15:40) And how do they grow? And so we're in it with them as well. And when you talk about a government kind of having the backs of the front line of Manitoba, in this case munici - palities, it was sig nificant for us to do that and come to the table for them, but not do it in a top- down approach.

It was also important for us to do that with them as well. So we are part of discussions to the development of what an escalator is going to look like going forward and what the percentage increases look like going forward for funding. And that was something that was very well received by municipalities and committees and just everyday Manitobans, is the predictability of what they could look forward to. Because previously, they could look forward to zero, and that's really not a prediction that anybody really wants to see.

So when the member talked about kind of the investments that Manitoba is making, it was sig nifi- cant for us to do. And some of the questions that I would have, and we did have in opposition, is, well, if you're freezing funding for your municipalities and your deficit is growing, as the previous govern ment was, then what were you really doing with being able to support Manitobans? And we really didn't see that.

So it was a very welcome opportunity, and we were privileged enough to be able to form government and then bring those ideas forward in conjunction with the municipalities on a predictability of funding model going forward. And it was well received and we see those–and you're going to start seeing those effects right from year one as well, is what that means for municipalities going forward, what that means for com munities all over this province.

So it was signi ficant for us to say we have your back, we 're here for you, and we 'll continue to have those discussions with them at the table as well, not a top-down approach where govern- ment is just going to dictate exactly what the funding model looks like, but what the extent of funding is. If there's challenges–and not to say that govern - ment and municipalities and communities are going to agree on everything all the time, but we're going to be part of the conversation. So that was significant for us to be able to do, and it was welcomed.

And before –and I do have the answer for the member opposite about the kind of, the political side of the–of our staffing, but I do also want to take this opportunity to thank Kam Blight as well, to thank Kam for his years of service, not only to AMM but to his community as well. And I think I share that sentiment with members on all sides of the Chamber. Kam, we–I first met him when I was in opposition. We had some excellent con- versations. He'll hold your feet to the fire, which is something that good govern ment should do. So that was very good to be able to do. And I thank him for his service.

And it was this kind of –I think the conver sation that the–one of the last conversations I had with Kam before he stepped down was just about family. So I think it was important for him to be able to do that. So I wish him well, and I thank him for all his years of service, and I look forward to the fall convention of having new administration for AMM–leading AMM. So it was a good conversation to be had. To answer the member's question, I do have one political staff, the director of min isterial affairs. And he is on the SF7 pay scale.

November 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 3333 Mr. King: I thank the minister for that partial answer, and I can certainly ap preciate his comments for Kam Blight there. He 's certainly going to be –he certainly will be missed at the AMM. He was passion- ate about what he advocated there for. So my question again, honour able Chair, for the minister: So are the political staff roles broken down by subject matter? Is municipal relations separate from Indigenous Economic Develop ment? Can you give me that breakdown? Mr. Bushie: Thank you for the question.

And I apologize, the clock was running short of me there to be able to give the fulsome answer, and I wasn't sure if this was the place to actually say that. Because when I was informed that we were in–dealing with Municipal and Northern Relations spe cifically and Indigenous Economic Develop ment separately, but I could share that with the member opposite a s well. So I do have a director of minis terial affairs that oversees kind of both departments with me.

So when it comes time to political staff, there is only the one political staff that works in both de partments, the Municipal and Northern Relations side as well as the Indigenous Economic Development side. One of the other questions that the member asked, too, was about secondments for the de partment. And I can say that we have no secondments coming into our department.

But one of the things that I've realized–and I mean, I say the term, one of these things, many, many times because it just keeps reminding me that there 's so many different things that we come up with day in, day out–is there was a real refresh, I would say, from the civil service when we formed govern ment, and there was a real desire and real, kind of, renewed energy to be able to move the work of gove rnment forward. So it 's some thing that I encouraged and something that was very, very helpful.

And our department staff in Municipal and Northern Relations and the newly formed Indigenous Economic Development, which also has some folks that were parts of –different parts of gov ernment in previous years or previous work histories as well. That renewed energy and that expertise is some thing that, as a new government, was welcomed as well. And I will share this.

Some thing that really kind of bothered me in opposition, when previous govern- ment would come to the table and we would table–or they would table reports in the House and they would table sometimes multiple copies of multiple reports and sometimes a stack of maybe 12 documents or 16 documents or what have you, and they would go through the motion–the procedural motions to have those, kind of, those reports introduced. There would be comments from the PC government at the time to say, oh, that's the hardest working minister in government.

And to me, I really took kind of offence to that, because the work of a lot of those reports is done by the civil service, is done by people in the departments, and it's something that I remind them every day and I say every day and I talk about the great work that our department does because as politicians come and go, a lot of the civil servants remain in place. And they may move on to different departments, but they really have a desire to work for the betterment of Manitobans.

And that's something that's very important for all of us to remember, that as civil servants, as politicians, that have the great honour of serving the people of Manitoba is that, in fact, we are here for them, and the work should be appreciated. And there's a lot of expertise around this table. And I will say as well, there's a lot of expertise around all members of the Chamber as well. As the member mentioned earlier, I mean, he has a sig nificant back- ground in munici pal governments as well.

So you were selected by your constituents to be able to bring those voices for ward, and I 'm not going to say they made a right or wrong decision, but the fact of the matter is, you're here because of what you bring to the table. And I think that's important to remember across all of govern ment. There 's people that are in our world, in our board room tables, in our offices, in our government that are there because of the expertise and the kind of professionalism they bring and the know- ledge they bring to the table.

So that's important for me to be able to acknowledge and I will say again, that was a pretty big beef for me to be able to hear those kind of connotations from the previous government to say this is hardest working minister in gov ernment when, you know, they' re tabling X number of reports, when really it was the work of departments. So I do want to be able to shout out the department. I'll–maybe I 'll do that a few times through out the afternoon here as well.

But it –to answer the question about secondments, we have no secondments in either department, whether it be MNR or whether it be Indigenous Economic Development, and we do have

3334 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 4, 2024 one political staff member, my director of ministerial affairs, that oversees us in both departments. The Chairperson: Before recog nizing the hon our- able member for Lakeside, I just want to remind all folks here questions and answers must come through the Chair. Mr.

King: So my question here now to the minister is, with reorganization of several departments into the current department of Municipal Northern Relations and Indigenous Economic Development, can the minister explain if this is being operated as a single department or two separate departments and one–with one minister? Another part to that question would be, do all the political staff work out of the minister's office, or are some working in satellite offices? And are there any vacancies at this time as –in the deputy minister 's or assistant deputy minister roles? * (15:50) Mr.

Bushie: So on the organizational structure side of things, when we formed govern ment, there was dif - ferent departments and de partment titles and de part- ment responsibilities previously. Municipal and Northern Relations, Indigenous economic–well, Indigenous Economic Develop ment did not even exist. But on the reconciliation side of things, when we formed government, we kind of separated three different parts. Separated them on –in terms of the duties and responsibilities but at the same time kept an over–kind of–sight of what we wanted to do.

So the MNR and Indigenous reconciliation side now became Munici pal and Northern Relations and Indigenous Economic Develop ment, which I 'm the minister of both. The Indigenous reconciliation side is something that the Premier (Mr. Kinew) is the minister of, because it was important for us to–and for the Premier to articulate a government-to-government, nation- to-nation relation- ship when it came time to dealing with Indigenous communities. So we did that on the reconciliation side.

Further to the question about vacancies, as I 'm sure the public documents that we have here as well, it speaks to –on the Indigenous Economic Develop - ment side of things, there is an assist ant deputy minister, which in the older documents says vacant, but that has been filled now. So there is no va cancies on the Indigenous Economic Develop ment side of things in regards to the ADM.

On the organizational structure chart for the Department of Municipal and Northern Relations, it previously had Munici pal and Northern Support Services and the Northern Affairs, which had two separate ADMs, which is now compiled into being one ADM unde r Munici pal and Northern Support Services. So that was kind of combined. And further, to answer the member 's question about, I guess –I'm sorry, I 'm probably paraphrasing here a little bit, as to where they're housed, is–it's one office. So I'm the Minister for Municipal and Northern Relations, as well as the Minister for Indigenous Economic Develop ment.

Bruce Gray is the Deputy Minister for Municipal and Northern Relations as well as Indigenous Economic Develop ment. And my director of ministerial affairs is the director of min is- terial affairs for both departments as well. Mr. King: This–for the minister, here, I 've just got one more staffing question. I 've got so much that I want to go through here. Our time's limited, of course. But–so what is the vacancy rate within your de - partment now, and do you have a target vacancy rate? Mr. Bushie: So, actually, the number is equivalent across both departments.

So, in the Municipal-Northern Relations side, the vacancy rate right now is 17 per cent. And the Indigenous Economic Develop ment side is also 17 per cent, with the goal –and it's been reduced since last year; last year was in the 20 -percentile range–so the goal is to get that down to a vacancy rate of 12 per cent. * (16:00) Mr. King: In the introduction of the Estimates book, on page 8, it states that employee-related measures are now tracked centrally.

So can the minister and depart- ment explain where those are now tracked and what changes have been made in regards to staffing and employee-related measures within municipal relations? And can the minister tell us why the de partment's staffing was reduced by three full -time equivalents? And can he explain what roles were cut? Are they new hires for the government? And the second part to that would be can the minister tell us the titles of the positions added with those full -time equivalents and who will be filling those roles if they have already been filled. Mr.

Bushie: So just for clarification, we're looking to look at what document the member is referring to. So he's referring to page 8 of the Supple ment to the Estimates of Expenditure?

November 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 3335 Mr. King: Sure, yes, it would be page 8 in the Estimates– supplement to the Estimates. In the last paragraph it's– states that performance measures have been updated to align with the de partment's mandate letters, employee-related measures are now tracked centrally. Mr. Bushie: I thank the member for the question. So training used to be tracked in 2023-2024 in the Supplement to the Estimates of Expenditure, but that now–is now recorded in the Public Service Commission. Mr.

King: So it also talks in the intro about tracking the govern ment's strategic priorities and the de part- ment mandate. Can the minister outline his mandate and his department's priorities for the coming year and the next four years? Mr. Bushie: So the member had asked about, kind of, the mandate that we have as gov ernment or we 've done so far and what we plan to do for the next number of years.

So I 'll take some points out of the mandate letter and, of course, it's also a public document that I received when I had the honour of being chosen to be the Minister of Municipal and Northern Relations, also, Minister of Indigenous Economic Development. So some of the things that we had in there was about, first off, creating the Department of Indigenous Economic Develop ment and being able to kind of advance economic reconciliation for Indigenous com- munities. So that was a priority of that de partment, and we're well on the way to being able to do that and have that engagement.

One of the other mandated things we talked about was the multi- year funding model for municipalities so they can count on reliable funding. And it gets back to my comments that I 've made in my opening com - ments, but something that I'm proud to be able to say each and every day that we do, is being able to address that on the 2 per cent, for one, but also the predict - ability that it would give municipalities going forward. So that was important for us to be able to do as per my mandate letter.

And when we talk about the mandate letter, it was a really sig nificant all -of-government approach that we wanted to be able to do, so we had a lot of com - ponents of–every department's mandate letter kind of worked together. A working collaboration is truly what the all-of-government approach hopes to be able to do rather than, say, you have a municipal issue; just talk to the one minister; where you have infrastructure, just talk to one minister; you have health, just talk to one minister–when it's a rather all-of-government approach to be able to do.

So parts of what's been in our mandate as a new government for this past year really overlap a lot of different de partments and a lot of different aspects of government as well. * (16:10) Another part of my department, as well, and part of my mandate, is to expedite treaty land entitlement, and we're well on our way to being able to have those discussions. And for the first time, there 's–it's been– we've had to use the word reset on a lot of occasions, because those relationships just did not exist in a pre- vious government.

So it's been met with a lot of optimism and a lot of excitement to be able to say that the mandate of our government is something that we not only had a year ago, but we 're delivering on to this point and we 're going to continue to deliver on as well. So one of the other things that we had, too, is kind of the engagement strategy with the Métis Federation and First Nation as well, so we 're well on our way to being able to do that in our department.

But also, some thing, and this is kind of –really kind of a truly all -of-government approach, is being able to develop the infrastructure to improve northern airports for northern Manitoba too. So we were up in Wasagamack quite some time ago with the Minister of Infra structure to be able to announce that we 're actually going ahead with the process of building the airport for Wasagamack, a northern First Nation remote fly-in community that doesn't have any kind of access through airports in any way.

And as we get into kind of freeze-up here in the later parts of fall and early parts of winter, it's going to be a significant challenge. So that's–for us, that's important to be able to do across, really, kind of all levels of government. Another aspect that was in my mandate letter, as well, was to expedite the review of Bill 37. And that's been a very welcome interaction, if you will, with communities really kind of highlighted by AMM, really coming to the table. And keep in mind, I mean, legislatively, we weren't mandated to do that for another year.

But it was something that we heard from municipalities to be able to–this is something they wanted to see done. So we expedited that review process, and it's still–it's ongoing, but it's–we're close to being able to develop and see the results of that review come forward rather quickly.

3336 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA November 4, 2024 But there's a lot of other things that we've done in terms of the mandate letter and the mandated part of our department, and it's significant for us to be able to do. So we've done a lot of different things. I've touched on the funding model for munici palities; a new Park Community Centre in Brandon; something that we've done, fund 40 firefighters across Manitoba and in the city of Winnipeg here; property tax rebates from the property tax bills at the outset.

So a lot of smaller things, maybe not what you would call in some cases even high profile or imme - diate things, but there's a lot of rolling up our sleeves and getting to work for Manitobans. So that 's some- thing that we want to be able to do each and every day and not necessarily out there looking to do just a government of an nouncements but actually get the work done. Mr. King: Costs related to capital budget has increased by 735 per cent year over year. Can the minister explain the increase and its impact on the departmental budget? Mr. Bushie: I thank the critic for the question.

It was–it's very important, as well, because there was something that was kind of flagged, if you will, by our de partment. And that 's some thing, when we talk about the Northern Affairs communities and the assets that were in the Northern Affairs com munities were never reflective or on the books, if you will, of the provincial government.

So in order to bring those in line and to actually have them treated as such, as assets, for Northern Affairs com munities, that was some thing that was brought on in March of 2023, and the increased amount is associated with the amortization expenses and decommissioning of some of these assets, if you will. So it was impor tant that we had a kind of a true reflection of the assets of what Manitoba has and what the Northern Affairs communities had as it reflects to Manitoba.

And the–this cost will be recalculated each year, and the projected value will be reflected in the Estimates of Expenditure with the actual amortization expense recorded in the de partment's annual report and the Province's Public Accounts documents. Mr. King: Get into some of the funding programs that you talked about –the minister talked about in his opening statement. One was the ground up program. Couple–kind of a two -part question here. What percentage of that 12 and a half million is actually going to munici- palities? How many have applied and been approved?

And the municipal escalator funding, I'm curious to know how negotiations are going moving forward with this, and how it impacts the budget for this year. * (16:20) Mr. Bushie: I thank the member for the question. It gives me great pleasure to be able to talk about the From the Ground Up Program and what the impacts it's going to have, what kind of the real-world impacts it's going to have, if you will.

So one of the things that's really exciting about the project is it gives the op portunity to partner not just with municipalities but a lot of organi zations in the community as well, to be able to kind of get more bang for your buck and be able to really kind of work together and take a real targeted approach to the issues that are in each –while we have– while we're a lot of common issues around–across municipalities–a lot of the uniqueness as well.

So it gives the oppor tunity to be able to do that not just with the direct impact to the municipality itself, but with the organization in there, whether it be the root causes of crime and those kinds of recreation issues that they want to be able to deal with. So there's a real op portunity to be able to kind of get together and really kind of work all levels of that funding and all levels of the 12 and a half million dollars in the From the Ground Up Program. But also leads me to talk about the Manitoba GRO program that we have as well too, the $42 million in those that are directly per municipalities as well.

And some of the streams that are in that program is to deal with public safely, flood pre vention, infra structure, roads, bridges, what have you, recreation infrastructure, water, waste water. So there's a real desire to kind of work together. And every fund and every project that we bring forward for Manitobans, for municipalities and for com mu- nities is really meant to work together as well.

So there's a real opportunity here for the Manitoba GRO and the $42 million there and the 12 and a half million From the Ground Up to be able to really kind of work together in communities to really tackle the challenges that they face each and every day. And there's–it's–also leaves that op portunity for municipalities and communities to take those dollars

November 4, 2024 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 3337 that really kind of target the issues that are affecting them personally. Like I said, there's a lot of common issues we have but a lot of uniqueness in our commu- nities as well. So, out of the Manitoba GRO, out of the $42 million in the Manitoba GRO project or program to be able to deal with, can really complement some of the things that the 12 and a half million dollars in From the Ground Up can do as well. So there was a large amount of intakes to those programs as well, which speaks to the challenges that are being faced by communities as well.

So I think, as a good govern ment, we need to be able to come to the table with those municipalities and those communities to be able to help address that. So we addressed it in a way with 12 and a half million dollars in From the Ground Up Program but signifi- cantly even more so with the $42 million in the Manitoba GRO project as well.

Like I said, public safety, flood prevention, infra- structure, recreation, so there 's a real desire on the communities to kind of oversee and overlook a lot of different aspects of what they do and what they want to bring to the table, because there 's a lot of projects out there and a lot of opportunities out there that they want to be able to go with, maybe just a little bit of assistance, or significant assistance in some cases, form the Manitoba government. So it's important for us to be able to do that, and we're doing that in From the Ground Up as well as from Manitoba GRO. Mr.

King: Before I close out of this de partment and move into the next one, I just want to give the minister here another opportunity here to answer the question that I just posed to him. And it was kind of two parts there. Again, I'll give him the opportunity: How are the negotiations moving along with the municipal escalator funding with municipalities? And with the ground up program, what percentage of that $12 million is going to municipalities? And how many have been–have applied and approved? Mr.

Bushie: I thank the critic for the question and I apologize I didn' t address the funding part of your question in the first time around. But in regards to the dollar amounts that are being kind of given to municipalities, if you will, and when the member talks about two municipalities, part of the discussion is–the municipalities are part of Manitoba and municipalities are part of our com munities as well, so there's significant contributions made from an all-of-government approach.

So when we talk about the Manitoba GRO and the $42 million there; From the Ground Up, 12 and a half million dollars; Green Team, $6 million; the water stewardship board of $24 million–those are all part of what makes up our contribution to municipalities , as well. Fo

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	43-1-82
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	43rd 1st hansardpdf 82.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	933af60ce3afb6af31eff56bdfd92f68a13211d7

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