Manitoba Hansard — 5 May 2025 (Sitting 48, 43rd Legislature, 2nd Session)

43-2-48

Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

Second 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. LXXIX No. 48 - 1:30 p.m., Monday, May 5, 2025 ISSN 0542-5492

MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Forty-Third Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation 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 CORBETT, Shannon Transcona NDP 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 JOHNSON, Derek Interlake-Gimli PC KENNEDY, Nellie, Hon. 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, Hon. River Heights NDP MOSES, Jamie, Hon. St. Vital NDP MOYES, Mike, Hon.

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, Hon. 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 Vacant Spruce Woods

1625 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Monday, May 5, 2025 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 only desire 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 Anishinaabe, 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 partner- ship with First Nations, Inuit and Métis people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Please be seated.

Point of Order Mr. Greg Nesbitt (Riding Mountain): Honourable Speaker, on a point of order. The Speaker: The hon ourable member for Riding Mountain, on a point of order. Mr. Nesbitt: My choice of words for a recent ques - tion to the honour able member–Minister of Finance (MLA Sala) in this House was inappropriate. This morning, I apologized in person to the hon- ourable minister, and this afternoon, I publicly apolo- gize to the minister and all hon ourable members of this House for any unintended conse quences of the way my questions were worded. Thank you, Honourable Speaker.

The Speaker: I would just point out that the member doesn't have a point of order, but we certainly, I 'm sure, all appreciate the member's apology. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Bill 216–The Health System Governance and Accountability Amendment Act (Plebiscite Before Permanent Emergency Room Closure) The Speaker: The honourable member for–been away for a week–the honourable member for Radisson.

MLA Jelynn Dela Cruz (Radisson): I move, seconded by the MLA for Tuxedo, that Bill 216, The Health System Governance and Accountability Amendment Act (Plebiscite Before Permanent Emergency Room Closure); Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la gouvernance et l'obligation redditionnelle au sein du système de santé (plébiscites sur la fermeture permanente de salles d'urgence), be now read a first time. Motion presented. MLA Dela Cruz: Honourable Speaker, I rise today to introduce Bill 216, the health system governance and accountability act, plebiscite before permanent emer- gency room closure, which will require a plebiscite take place prior to the permanent closure of an emergency room. Manitobans deserve to have a say when it comes to whether or not emergency rooms close perma - nently.

Honourable Speaker, after the previous gov- ernment closed emergency rooms across the province without listening to the needs of Manitobans, this bill will ensure that they receive their rightful opportunity to have their voices heard. The Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed] The motion is accordingly passed. Committee reports –oh, the honour able member for Brandon West. Bill 232–The Victims of Impaired Drivers Com- memoration Day Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended) Mr.

Wayne Balcaen (Brandon West): I move, second- ed by the MLA for Portage la Prairie, that Bill 232, The Victims of Impaired Drivers Commemoration Day Act (Com memoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended), be now read a first time. Motion presented.

1626 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 5, 2025 Mr. Balcaen: I'm pleased to rise today and introduce Bill 232, The Victims of Impaired Drivers Commemo- ration Day Act, which will occur May 1 of each year. This bill commemorates the lives of the victims lost to the dangerous act that is impaired driving. This bill is in remembrance of Jordyn Reimer and all of those who have lost a life to impaired driving and to all the victims and their families. I look forward to the unanimous support of this legislation.

The Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed] COMMITTEE REPORTS Standing Committee on Justice Second Report Mr. Logan Oxenham (Chairperson): Honourable Speaker, I wish to present the second report of the Standing Committee on Justice. Clerk (Mr. Rick Yarish): Your Standing Committee on Justice– Some Honourable Members: Dispense. The Speaker: Dispense. Your Standing Committee on Justice presents the following as its Second Report.

Meetings Your Committee met on the following occasions in the Legislative Building: • April 24, 2025 (2nd Session – 43rd Legislature) • April 30, 2025 (2nd Session – 43rd Legislature) Matters under Consideration • Bill (No. 9) – The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Amendment Act (2)/Loi no 2 modifiant la

Loi sur la réglementation des alcools, des jeux et du cannabis • Bill (No. 13) – The Minor Amendments and Corrections Act, 2025/Loi corrective de 2025 • Bill (No. 32) – The Residential Tenancies Amend- ment Act (Measures to Address Unlawful Activities)/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la location à usage d'habitation (mesures concernant les activités illégales) • Bill (No. 35) – The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la Société d'assurance publique du Manitoba • Bill (No. 36) – The Drivers and Vehicles Amendment and Highway Traffic Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les conducteurs et les véhicules et le Code de la route • Bill (No. 43) – The Human Rights Code Amend- ment Act/Loi modifiant le Code des droits de la personne Committee Membership Committee Membership for the April 24, 2025 meeting: • Mr. B ALCAEN • Mr. BLASHKO • Mr. KING • Mr. OXENHAM • MLA REDHEAD • Hon. Mr. WIEBE Your Committee elected Mr. OXENHAM as the Chairperson. Your Committee elected Mr. BLASHKO as the Vice - Chairperson. Committee Membership for the April 30, 2025 meeting: • Mr. BALCAEN • MLA CORBETT • MLA CROSS • MLA DELA CRUZ • Mr. KING • Hon. Mr.

WIEBE Your Committee elected MLA DELA CRUZ as the Chairperson. Your Committee elected MLA CORBETT as the Vice-Chairperson. Resignations received during Committee proceedings for the April 30, 2025 meeting: • MLA DELA CRUZ as Chairperson • Your Committee elected Mr. OXENHAM as the new Chairperson. • MLA CORBETT as Vice-Chairperson • Your Committee elected MLA LOISELLE as the new Vice-Chairperson. Substitutions received during Committee proceedings for the April 30, 2025 meeting: • Mr. G OERTZEN for Mr. KING • Mr. KING for Mr. BALCAEN • Mr. BALCAEN for Mr. GOERTZEN • Mr.

OXENHAM for MLA DELA CRUZ • MLA LOISELLE for MLA CORBETT • Mr. BLASHKO for MLA CROSS

May 5, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1627 Non-Committee Members Speaking on Record Non-Committee Members speaking on record at the April 24, 2025 meeting: • Hon. Min. ASAGWARA • Hon. Min. FONTAINE • Mr. GOERTZEN • Mr. GUENTER • Hon. Min. NAYLOR • Mr. SCHULER • Mrs. STONE Non-Committee Members speaking on record at the April 30, 2025 meeting: • Hon. Min. ASAGWARA • Mrs. HIEBERT Public Presentations Your Committee heard the following two presenta- tions on Bill (No. 9) – The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Amendment Act (2)/Loi n o 2 modifiant la

Loi sur la réglementation des alcools, des jeux et du cannabis: April 24, 2025 meeting Keith Horn, Retail Cannabis Council of Manitoba Sharon Clark, Big Buds Cannabis Sales Your Committee heard the following two presenta- tions on Bill (No. 32) – The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act (Measures to Address Unlawful Activities)/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la location à usage d'habitation (mesures concernant les activités illégales): April 24, 2025 meeting David Grant, Private citizen Sel Burrows, Point Powerline Your Committee heard the following 59 presentations on Bill (No. 43) – The Human Rights Code Amendment Act/Loi modifiant le Code des droits de la personne: April 24, 2025 meeting Desirée Pappel, L'Association des éducatrices et éducateurs franco-manitoabains Derek deVries, Park City Gospel Church Christine Ronceray, Private citizen Nick Klassen, Private citizen Michael Sullivant, Pembina Valley Baptist Church Joshua Shetter, Private citizen Naomi Letkemann, Private citizen Monica Wiebe, Private citizen Candace Sabel, Private citizen Tara Sheppard-Luangkhot, Organization for Peace, Equity and Nonviolence Jennifer Friesen, Private citizen David Grant, Private citizen Karen Sharma, Manitoba Human Rights Commission Don Woodstock, Private citizen Kathy Harris, Private citizen Caleb Clay, Private citizen Helina Zegeye, Sunshine House Barbara Bendera, Private citizen Gina McKay, CUPE Manitoba Kristine Barr, Private citizen Charlie Eau, Trans Manitoba Michaela Chotka, Private citizen Fae Johnstone, Queer Momentum Parker Morran, Private citizen Jen Seguin, Private citizen Rachamim Enoch Coad, Private citizen Kai Solomon, Private citizen Michael Shaw, Private citizen April 30, 2025 meeting Dayne Moyer, Private citizen Lee Ramuscak, Private citizen Dieth de Leon, Bahaghari Pride Manitoba Lila Asher, Private citizen Jackson Unger, Private citizen Rhiannon Frost, Private citizen Alevtin Pankov, Private citizen Reece Malone, Private citizen Ashlyn Noble, Private citizen Lauren Bailey, Private citizen Kai Zamora, Private citizen Linda Karn, Private citizen Raymond Lyttle, Private citizen Emersyn Hildebrand, Private citizen Nathan Martindale, Manitoba Teachers' Society Moon Fast, Private citizen Volin Thiessen, Private citizen Lindsay Brown, Private citizen Chris deBoer, Private citizen Gloria Dignazio, Private citizen Sandra Saint-Cyr, Private citizen Rhonda Forbes, Private citizen Alison Norberg, Private citizen Noreen Stevens, Private citizen Arlene Macklem, Manitoba Federation of Union Retirees Mandalyn Unger, Private citizen Erica McNabb, Private citizen Aro van Dyck, Private citizen Wren Robertson, Private citizen Kate Kehler, Social Planning Council of Winnipeg Andrew Kohan, Private citizen

1628 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 5, 2025 Written Submissions Your Committee received the following 423 written submissions on Bill (No. 43) – The Human Rights Code Amendment Act/Loi modifiant le Code des droits de la personne: Jeff Burnard, Private citizen Annika Baer, Private citizen David Krahn, Private citizen Gary Driedger, Private citizen Darryl Harder, Private citizen Scott Ryman, Private citizen Dawson Krahn, Private citizen Cornelio Dyck, Private citizen Caitlin Wall, Private citizen Brayden Friesen, Private citizen Mike McFarlane, Private citizen Jorden Wall, Private citizen John Krahn, Private citizen Emily Baker, Private citizen Vincent Elias, Private citizen Steven McGillivary, Private citizen Geoff Bergen, Private citizen Braden Wall, Private citizen Dylan Young, Private citizen Raymond Garand, Private citizen Rosalie Feener, Private citizen Chas van Dyck, Private citizen Jonathan Van Dyck, Private citizen Joanne van Dyck, Private citizen Leon Laidlaw, Private citizen Raven Hebert-Lee, Private citizen Lynne Granke, Private citizen Megan Wray, Private citizen Erik Thomson, University of Manitoba Faculty Association Sarah Schira, Private citizen Breanne Wall, Private citizen Fraser Young, Private citizen Doug Derksen, Private citizen Katie Derksen, Private citizen Miriam Robern, Private citizen Brooke Reed, Private citizen Kelly Hughes, Private citizen Darlene Blatz, Private citizen Sandra Schira, Private citizen Lucy Delgado, Private citizen Amanda Morris, Private citizen Owen Toews, Private citizen Maddi Reed, Private citizen Robert Martens, Private citizen Anny Chen, Private citizen Morgan Schroeder, Private citizen Emèt Eviatar, Private citizen Hillary Siemens, Private citizen Katie Leitch, Private citizen Tara Forshaw, Private citizen Leah Krahn, Private citizen Leo Cortens, Private citizen Kaitlyn Duthie-Kannikkatt, Private citizen Joel Siemens, Private citizen Heather Krahn, Private citizen Jonathan Janzen, Private citizen George Krahn, Private citizen Sierra Krahn, Private citizen Stokely Lindo, Private citizen Chris Scott, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505 Jason Hodson, Private citizen Robert Lentowich, Private citizen Victoria Hornblower, Private citizen Sarah Borbridge, Private citizen Joe Curnow, Private citizen Melanie Janzen, Private citizen Ellen Bees, Private citizen Jeff Patteson, Private citizen Kathleen Wilson, Private citizen Jennifer Watt, Private citizen Karlie Higgins, Private citizen Fenton Litwiller, Private citizen Raelene Hall, Private citizen Mary Peladeau, Private citizen Kathy Bergen, Private citizen Shannon Moore, Private citizen Lani Zastre, Private citizen Joan Kirouac, Private citizen Natalie Wiebe, Private citizen Aimee Rice, Private citizen Cale Gushulak, Private citizen David Camfield, Private citizen Shannon March, Private citizen Elizabeth Matte, Private citizen Cathy Pleskach, Private citizen Timothy Giesbrecht, Private citizen Wayne Serebrin, Private citizen Greg McFarland, Private citizen Gretchen Derige Cortens, Private citizen Cherie Schellenberg, Private citizen Sara Patteson, Private citizen Sarah Leeson-Klym, Private citizen Noah Schulz, Private citizen Garry Schellenberg, Private citizen Marley Pauls, Private citizen Shane Thevenot, Private citizen Marianne Shaibu, Private citizen Joan Armstrong, Private citizen Cameron Griffiths, Private citizen Grace Carey, Private citizen

May 5, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1629 Emmanuella Shaibu, Private citizen Elis Wautier, Private citizen Jacklyn de Visser, Private citizen Zacharie Montreuil, Private citizen Anna Levin, Private citizen Helene Bernardin, Private citizen Caleb Mcneish, Private citizen Louis Richard, Private citizen Jacqueline Rados, Private citizen Orvie Dingwall, Private citizen Leyla Shahsavar, Private citizen Alexis Miller, Private citizen Mary Richard, Private citizen Laurie McDougall, Private citizen Sharon Vandenbosch, Private citizen Kyle Ross, Private citizen Andrew Single, Private citizen Sherise Fleury, Private citizen Cortney Pachet, Private citizen Carla Gervais, Private citizen Nicole Trottier, Private citizen Robyn Dyck, Private citizen Jo Turner, Private citizen Jennifer Nembhard, Private citizen Shauna Neault-Pawlychyn, Private citizen Rosalie Madden, Private citizen Vicenza Enns, Private citizen Lindsay Kane, Private citizen Mark Derksen, Private citizen Elena Anciro, Private citizen Isabelle Costanzo, Private citizen Roan Regan, Private citizen Amanda Mondaca, Private citizen Carolynn Derksen, Private citizen Gail Matheson, Private citizen Gilbert Vielfaure, Private citizen Victor Mondaca, Nahuen Consultation Hunter Reynolds, Private citizen Alexandra Altunbash, Private citizen Kaitlyn Mitchell, Private citizen Elyse LeBlanc, Private citizen Stacy Cardigan Smith, Private citizen Ashley Walklett, Private citizen Luca Gheorghica, Poverty Awareness & Community Action Barbara Cowan, Private citizen Jill Carr, Private citizen Miranda Hutlet, Private citizen Ruth Baines, Private citizen Lorraine Bisson, Private citizen Jennifer Hancharyk, Private citizen Jacques Lavack, Private citizen Michael Van Damme, Private citizen Harv Enns, Private citizen Natalie Mark, Private citizen Jean-Paul Hutlet, Private citizen Erin Bergen, Private citizen Dorothy Giesbrecht, Private citizen Lise Lavack, Private citizen Reginald Giesbrecht, Private citizen Kay Maskiw-Connelly, Private citizen Jen Gieg, Private citizen Angela De Koninck, Private citizen Donald De Koninck, Private citizen Ivy Fraser, Private citizen Kathleen McCandless, Private citizen Alexander Gregovski, Private citizen John Lamont, Private citizen Denis Robert, Private citizen Jane Gattinger, Private citizen Erika Couto, Private citizen Brittany Priest, Private citizen Jennifer Demare, Private citizen Gillian Moore, Private citizen Kyle Coffey, Private citizen George Gervais, Private citizen Danielle Chammartin, Private citizen Sara O'Leary, Private citizen Tim Killoran, Private citizen Derek Pena, Private citizen Chantel Gueret, Private citizen Erik Bonnefoy, Private citizen Christine Musick, Private citizen Kimberly Manaigre, Private citizen Gareth Priest, Private citizen Daniel Malo, Private citizen Chantal Schriemer, Private citizen Helene Tymchen, Private citizen Meaghan Madden, Private citizen Sabrina Abreu Schlickmann Gil, Private citizen Sandra Hernandez, Private citizen Anna Weier, Private citizen Lisa Lavack, Private citizen Rafael Jose Cardoso Gil, Private citizen Kat Roberts, Private citizen Lorraine Hackenschmidt, Private citizen Amelia Valencia, Private citizen Barbara Young, Private citizen Eric Musick, Private citizen Paulo Gonçalves de Arruda, Private citizen Ashley Dupont, Private citizen Kelly Smith, Private citizen Cassandra Schroeder, Private citizen Debra Schroeder, Private citizen Madeline Dumont, Private citizen Mikayla Patenaude, Private citizen April Penner, Private citizen

1630 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 5, 2025 Isabelle Froese, Private citizen Colleen Giesbrecht, Private citizen Sharon Webb, Private citizen Nettie Kehler, Private citizen Betty Hiebert, Private citizen Mark Harder, Private citizen Justin Jeanson, Private citizen Kendra Fehr, Private citizen Al Dyck, Private citizen Jamie Fehr, Private citizen Milton Garcia, Private citizen Marina Doerksen, Private citizen Massis Sarkes, Private citizen Elizabeth Michnik, Private citizen Anna Madden, Private citizen Eva Krahn, Private citizen Donald Michnik, Private citizen Ruby Warren, Private citizen Brendan Giesbrecht, Private citizen Marcey Waldner, Private citizen Carol Neufeld, Private citizen Jordan Fehr, Private citizen Rhonda Banman, Private citizen Claudia Dyck, Private citizen Catherine Hart, Private citizen Jillian Freund, Private citizen Bryan Sullivant, Private citizen Elizabeth Heide, Private citizen Sondra Sawatzky, Private citizen Gustav Sawatzky, Private citizen Margaret Wiebe, Private citizen Viola Kraemer, Private citizen Cassia Nelson, Private citizen Tahlia Hiebert, Private citizen Indira Pedersen, Private citizen Julianna Dueck, Private citizen Cheryl Enns, Private citizen Brenda Kroeker, Private citizen Robin Janz, Private citizen Helena Peters, Private citizen Nettie Freund, Private citizen Helena Friesen, Private citizen Naomi Bergeron, Private citizen Amy Martens, Private citizen Pam Reimer, Private citizen Colleen Zacharias, Private citizen Victoria Freund, Private citizen Rhonda Rempel, Private citizen Alana Knelsen, Private citizen Alyssa Knelsen, Private citizen Celine Castro, Private citizen Julia Wall, Private citizen Tammy Klassen, Private citizen Danna McDonald, Private citizen Inna Kraemer, Private citizen Rachael Krahn, Private citizen Nicole Winkler, Private citizen Zachary Freund, Private citizen Shirley Sawatzky, Private citizen Nathan Unger, Private citizen Adam Wiebe, Private citizen David Betker, Private citizen Linda Churchill, Private citizen Tracy Friesen, Private citizen Eva Guenter, Private citizen Cynthia Klassen, Private citizen Margie Loewen, Private citizen Margaret Ketler, Private citizen Jessica Dyck, Private citizen Rebecca Waldner, Private citizen Arev Melkon, Private citizen Juan Friesen, Private citizen Bob Hildebrandt, Private citizen Elizabeth Hildebrandt, Private citizen Daniel Laurence, Private citizen Shayna Hart, Private citizen Edward Brost, Private citizen Aasher Kataria, Private citizen Steven Freund, Private citizen Chelsea Hoffman, Private citizen Sarah Wall, Private citizen Cornie Wall, Private citizen Brendalee Reimer, Private citizen Arthur Aidarkhanov, Private citizen Jodi Janzen, Private citizen Rachel Hiebert, Private citizen Andrea Wiebe, Private citizen Helene Engbrecht, Private citizen Vikin Sarkes, Private citizen Irene Bindi, Private citizen Crystal Wall, Private citizen Victor Mondaca, Private citizen Ana Penner, Private citizen Barbara Teichroeb, Private citizen Wilhelm Zacharias, Private citizen Randy Hiebert, Private citizen Vanessa Rodas, Private citizen Mabel Neufeld, Private citizen Judy Betker, Private citizen Esther Wiebe, Private citizen Cheryl Pecus, Private citizen Tanner Fehr, Private citizen Brenda Peters, Private citizen Donna Molberg, Private citizen Jenna Dyck, Private citizen Barb Neudorf, Private citizen

May 5, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1631 Justina Dyck, Private citizen Richard Peters, Private citizen Will Klassen, Private citizen Anna Toews, Private citizen Aaron Zacharias, Private citizen Janelle Colbourne, Private citizen Caleb Waldner, Private citizen Jeremiah Dyck, Private citizen Tammy Harder, Private citizen Julie Wall, Private citizen Peggy Peters, Private citizen Curtis Hildebrand, Private citizen Shirley Watt, Private citizen Diane Falk, Private citizen Sarah Broad, Private citizen Melanie Hildebrand, Private citizen Nicole Wiebe, Private citizen Henry Giesbrecht, Private citizen Lesley Dalrymple, Private citizen Alex Watt, Private citizen Patsy Penner, Private citizen Carol Neisteter, Private citizen Dorothy Giesbrecht, Private citizen Jack Giesbrecht, Private citizen Bonnie Friesen, Private citizen Ron Neisteter, Private citizen Charlotte McCrar, Private citizen Jake Klassen, Private citizen Sharon Schroeder, Private citizen Abe Redekop, Private citizen Myrna Giesbrecht, Private citizen Sharon Nield, Private citizen Esther Hoeppner, Private citizen Pauline Mahmood, Private citizen Carol Fehr, Private citizen Linda Hildebrandt, Private citizen Crystal Driedger, Private citizen Pratima Manuel, Private citizen Irene Letkeman, Private citizen Dario Sidler, Private citizen Brya Enns, Private citizen Maria Neufeld, Private citizen Marge Hoeppner, Private citizen Brenda Wooley, Private citizen Carolyn Klassen, Private citizen Brent Wiebe, Private citizen Mark Warms, Private citizen Janice Thompson, Private citizen Debbie Whyte, Private citizen Lynn Giesbrecht, Private citizen Jan Wollmann, Private citizen Lorrine Penner, Private citizen Mary Tarka, Private citizen Nicole Thiessen, Private citizen Jonathan Young, Private citizen Stanley Neufeld, Private citizen Lori Wiens, Private citizen Bev Hamm, Private citizen Jennifer Giesbrecht, Private citizen Jake Peters, Private citizen Kathy Bueckert, Private citizen Abe Neufeld, Private citizen Judy Penner, Private citizen Judith Loszchuk, Private citizen Bruce Wooley, Private citizen Shauna Peters, Private citizen L.

Grant Morrison, Private citizen Laura Hatfield, Private citizen Tyler Jonah Pierce, Private citizen Lex van Dyck, Private citizen Kevin Rebeck, Manitoba Federation of Labour Carey Richards, Private citizen Chrystal Neault-Lount, Private citizen Judy Walker, Private citizen George Friesen, Private citizen Mary Klassen, Private citizen Mikayla Hunter, Private citizen Caleb Martens, Private citizen Cliff Wiebe, Private citizen Cindy Schulz, Private citizen Reynold Schulz, Private citizen Davey Bonser, Private citizen Teresa Hildebrand, Private citizen Amanda Livingstone, Private citizen Danielle Hart, Private citizen Irma Syganiec, Private citizen Kimbal Hyszka, Private citizen Colleen Rogers, Private citizen Lindsey Childs, Private citizen Dan Saul, Private citizen Liz Lylyk, Private citizen Amber Vandenberg, Private citizen Rosanne Loewen, Private citizen Brett Kozak, Private citizen Michael Lesperance, Private citizen Alexis Lam, Private citizen Elaine Burland, Private citizen Raquel Driedger, Private citizen Eliana Dueck, Private citizen Keith Johnson, Private citizen Feng Xu, Private citizen Crystal Johnson, Private citizen David Puranen, Private citizen Leah McDonnell, Private citizen Matthew Schiller, Private citizen Paul Navidad, Private citizen

1632 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 5, 2025 Darren Pawella, Private citizen Logan Wall, Private citizen Samantha Stevens, Private citizen Joey Moore, Private citizen Bills Considered and Reported • Bill (No. 9) – The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Amendment Act (2)/Loi no 2 modifiant la

Loi sur la réglementation des alcools, des jeux et du cannabis Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. • Bill (No. 13) – The Minor Amendments and Corrections Act, 2025/Loi corrective de 2025 Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. • Bill (No. 32) – The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act (Measures to Address Unlawful Activities)/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la location à usage d'habitation (mesures concernant les activités illégales) Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. • Bill (No. 35) – The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la Société d'assurance publique du Manitoba Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. • Bill (No. 36) – The Drivers and Vehicles Amend- ment and Highway Traffic Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les conducteurs et les véhicules et le Code de la route Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. • Bill (No. 43) – The Human Rights Code Amend- ment Act/Loi modifiant le Code des droits de la personne Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. Mr. Oxenham: Honourable Speaker, I move, seconded by the honour able member for Tuxedo (MLA Compton), that the report of the committee be received. Motion agreed to.

Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development Second Report MLA Robert Loiselle (Chairperson): L'Honorable Président, I wish to present the second report of the Standing Com mittee on Social and Economic Development. Clerk: Your Standing Committee on– Some Honourable Members: Dispense. The Speaker: Dispense. Your Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development presents the following as its Second Report. Meetings Your Committee met on April 24, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in Room 255 of the Legislative Building. Matters under Consideration • Bill (No. 7) – The Human Tissue Gift Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les dons de tissus humains • Bill (No. 33) – The Public Health Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la santé publique • Bill (No. 34) – The Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Motor Carrier Enforcement)/Loi modifiant le Code de la route (réglementation des transporteurs routiers) • Bill (No. 38) – The Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Traffic Safety Measures)/Loi modifiant le Code de la route (mesures de sécurité routière) • Bill (No. 41) – The Reporting of Supports for Child Survivors of Sexual Assault (Trained Health Professionals and Evidence Collection Kits) Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la présentation de rapports concernant les mesures de soutien destinées aux enfants survivants d'agression sexuelle (professionnels de la santé formés et trousses médicolégales) Committee Membership • Hon. Min. A SAGWARA • Mrs. COOK • MLA CORBETT • MLA LOISELLE • MLA MALOWAY • Mr. NARTH

May 5, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1633 Your Committee elected MLA LOISELLE as the Chairperson. Your Committee elected MLA CORBETT as the Vice-Chairperson. Substitutions received during Committee proceedings: • Hon. Min. NAYLOR for Hon. Min. ASAGWARA Public Presentations Your Committee heard the following one presenta- tions on Bill (No. 33) – The Public Health Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la santé publique: David Grant, Private Citizen Your Committee heard the following three presentations on Bill (No. 38) – The Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Traffic Safety Measures)/Loi modifiant le Code de la route (mesures de sécurité routière): Ewald Friesen, CAA Manitoba - Government Relations David Grant, Private Citizen Rick Rennie, Manitoba Federation of Labour Your Committee heard the following one presentation on Bill (No. 41) – The Reporting of Supports for Child Survivors of Sexual Assault (Trained Health Professionals and Evidence Collection Kits) Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la présentation de rapports concernant les mesures de soutien destinées aux enfants survivants d'agression sexuelle (professionnels de la santé formés et trousses médicolégales): Fernanda Vallejo, Latinas Manitoba Inc.

Written Submissions Your Committee received the following one written submission on Bill (No. 34) – The Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Motor Carrier Enforcement)/Loi modifiant le Code de la route (réglementation des transporteurs routiers): Kyle Ross, Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union Your Committee received the following two written submissions on Bill (No. 38) – The Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Traffic Safety Measures)/Loi modifiant le Code de la route (mesures de sécurité routière): Dave Elmore, Private Citizen Bruce Henley, Heavy Equipment Aggregate Truckers Association Manitoba Bills Considered and Reported • Bill (No. 7) – The Human Tissue Gift Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les dons de tissus humains Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. • Bill (No. 33) – The Public Health Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la santé publique Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. • Bill (No. 34) – The Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Motor Carrier Enforcement)/Loi modifiant le Code de la route (réglementation des transporteurs routiers) Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. • Bill (No. 38) – The Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Traffic Safety Measures)/Loi modifiant le Code de la route (mesures de sécurité routière) Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. • Bill (No. 41) – The Reporting of Supports for Child Survivors of Sexual Assault (Trained Health Professionals and Evidence Collection Kits) Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la présentation de rapports concernant les mesures de soutien destinées aux enfants survivants d'agression sexuelle (professionnels de la santé formés et trousses médicolégales) Your Committee agreed to report this Bill without amendment. MLA Loiselle: L'Honorable Président, I move, seconded by the honour able member for Radisson (MLA Dela Cruz), that the report of the committee be received. Motion agreed to. * (13:40) TABLING OF REPORTS Hon. Uzoma Asagwara (Minister of Health, Seniors and Long -Term Care): I'm pleased to table the Health, Seniors and Long -Term Care 2025 -2026 Supplement to the Estimates of Expenditure. The Speaker: No further tabling of reports?

1634 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 5, 2025 Hon. Mike Moroz (Minister of Innovation and New Technology; Acting Minister of Advanced Educa- tion and Training ): It's my pleasure to table the 2025-26 Supplement to Estimates of Expenditure for Innovation and New Technology. Honourable Speaker, it's my pleasure to table the 2025-26 Supplement to Estimates of Expenditure for Advanced Education and Training. Hon.

Adrien Sala (Minister of Finance): I'm pleased to rise today and table the Supplements to the Estimates of Expenditure '25-2026 for the Department of Finance; Public Service Com mission; Employee Pensions and Other Costs; and Enabling Appro - priations, Tax Credits and Public Debt. The Speaker: No further tablings? Hon. Mike Moyes (Minister of Environment and Climate Change): Honourable Speaker, I'm pleased to table the Sup plement to the Estimates of Expenditure 2025-26. Hon.

Nellie Kennedy (Minister of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism): Honourable Speaker, I'm pleased to table the 2025 -26 Sup plement to the Estimates of Expenditure for Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism. Hon. Nahanni Fontaine (Minister of Families): I'm pleased to table the 2025 -26 Sup plement to the Estimates of Expenditure for the De partment of Families. Hon. Tracy Schmidt (Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning): I'm pleased to table the Supplement to the Estimates of Expenditure for Budget 2025 for the De partment of Educa tion and Early Childhood Learning. Hon.

Bernadette Smith (Minister of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness): I'm pleased to table Supplements to the Estimates of Expenditures for the Housing, Addictions, Homelessness de partment for the fiscal year of '25-26. Thank you. Hon. Ron Kostyshyn (Minister of Agriculture): Honourable Speaker, it's my pleasure to be tabling the 2025-2026 supplement of Estimates of Expenditures for Manitoba Agriculture. Hon.

Glen Simard (Minister of Municipal and Northern Relations): Honourable Speaker, I'm pleased table the Sup plement to the Estimates Expenditure for the Municipal and Northern Relations Department for the fiscal year '25-26. Thank you. Hon. Ian Bushie (Minister of Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures): I am pleased to table the 2025-2026 Supplement to the Estimates of Expenditure for Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures. Hon. Matt Wiebe (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Honourable Speaker, I'm pleased to table for Manitoba Justice the '25- 26 supple ment for the Estimates of Expenditure. Hon.

Malaya Marcelino (Minister of Labour and Immigration): Honourable Speaker, I'm pleased to table the Supplement to the Estimates of Expenditure 2025-26 for Manitoba Labour and Immigration. Hon. Jamie Moses (Minister of Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation): Honourable Speaker, I'm pleased to table the Sup plement to the Estimates of Expenditure reports for Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation for Budget 2025. Thank you. Hon.

Lisa Naylor (Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure): I'm pleased to table the 2025- 26 Supplement to the Estimates of Expenditure for the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. Hon. Mintu Sandhu (Minister of Public Service Delivery): As the Minister of Public Service Delivery, I'm pleased to table the Sup plement to the Estimates of Expenditure for '25-26. Thank you, Honourable Speaker. The Speaker: No further tablings? MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Red Dress Day Hon.

Nahanni Fontaine (Minister of Families): Today, we remember and honour the lives of MMIWG2S alongside their families and action change for our province. Manitoba is often described as ground zero for MMIWG2S. There are countless cases and even more broken hearts mourning the lives of sacred women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse relatives who are missing or murdered across our province. Their losses are felt across families, communities and generations. One year ago today, we announced the establish- ment of an MMIWG2S Healing and Empowerment Endowment Fund with an initial investment of $15 million.

In November, we announced, in partner- ship with Shoppers Drug Mart, another $10- million donation towards the endowment fund, making it

May 5, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1635 $25 million in less than one year. The endowment fund will exist in perpetuity, ensuring MMIWG2S families will have access to the vital supports to foster healing and empowerment for themselves for years to come. This morning, I was honoured to announce five community partners, representing First Nations, Métis, Inuit and urban Indigenous populations across Manitoba, who will help deliver the first return of over $350,000 to MMIWG families this year.

Our government's Mino'Ayaawag lkwewag provin- cial strategy, which translates into all women doing well, reflects our sacred commitment to support, pro- tect, empower and liberate Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit.

Through Mino'Ayaawag Ikwewag, in the last 20 months, so far we have supported or established: the ANCR safe ride; over–almost $1 million to Tina's Safe Haven; Giganawe's [phonetic] Matriarch Circle support; the MMIWG2S mural; Fisher River Cree Nation healing space; Brandon 24- 7 safe space and transitional housing, called Franny's Place; Norway House healing gathering; Anne Oake Family Recovery Centre; Downtown Community Safety Part- nership Indigenous woman's unit; 2Spirit Manitoba; Tracia's Trust engagement; Infinity Women Secretariat; transitional housing support, North End woman's resource centre; MKO baby baskets program; February 14 Women's Memorial March in honour of MMIWG2S; Manitoba Moon Voices; Sagkeeng First Nation's memorial event for Tina Fontaine's 10-year anniversary; MKO, monument installation; Andrews Street Family Centre; sunshine Two- Spirit Powwow; and the Inuit family resource centre.

My team and I are looking forward to sharing some incredibly exciting, innovative and transforma- tive initiatives that we have under way in the next months. To survivors and families: We see you. We believe you. We are walking this path with you. Let the red dresses hanging across our province today not only stir our hearts but move our hands and policy into meaningful action. And our government is committed to do just that. Finally, Honourable Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not take a moment on this important Red Dress Day, and on the member for Fort Whyte's (Mr.

Khan) first day in this House as Leader of the Official Op - position, to remind Manitobans, especially MMIWG2S families, that the new PC leader–who, let's be honest, barely secured his position– has yet to apologize for his role in the 2023 PC election campaign, a PC campaign that echoed Trump -style tactics targeting Indigenous women murdered by a serial killer. And while he's been too busy thanking Donald Trump for the tariffs that are making Manitobans' lives more difficult and thanking Donald Trump for interfering in Canadian politics, he still hasn't found time to reach out to the families.

He's not stood in this Chamber to apologize. He's not shown remorse. And let's not forget that he has also yet to apologize for his deplorable Trump-style attacks on trans children. It's shameful, it's unacceptable, and Manitobans deserve better. Miigwech. * (13:50) Ms. Jodie Byram (Agassiz): Honourable Speaker, today as Manitobans march downtown for their loved ones at this very moment, we stand with all those victimized by the terrible MMIWG2S crisis. The crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two- spirit people has left anguish and irreparable wounds on our communities for decades.

In just these last few years alone, Manitoba has sadly witnessed many Indigenous women and girls taken at the hands of domestic violence and systemic failures. Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran, Rebecca Contois and Ashlee Shingoose, who were killed in 2022, deserved better. Amanda Clearwater, her small children Bethany, Jayven and Isabella Manoakeesick, as well as her 17-year-old cousin Myah-Lee Gratton, were murder- ed last February by Amanda's boyfriend. They deserved better. Jessiah Young was murdered by her own grand- mother this January. She deserved to celebrate her third birthday this April 20th.

Nadia Flett-Carriere, killed in a murder-suicide by her ex-boyfriend just last week, also deserved better. These are just 10 of the many, many women and girls who deserved more than any words can say. These are families whose mother day –Mother's Day this month will not be celebrated the way it should be. Children without their mothers. Mothers without their daughters. Red Dress Day is a vow to not forget them, and to ensure that no woman or girl is left behind again.

1636 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 5, 2025 Let us all strive to do better, work together and protect Manitoba women and girls as they so deserve. Thank you, Honourable Speaker. MLA Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): I ask for leave to respond to the minister's statement. The Speaker: Does the honourable member for Tyndall Park have leave? [Agreed] MLA Lamoureux: Today, on Red Dress Day, we honour and remember the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people.

These red dresses–empty, haunting and symbolic– remind us of the deep grief felt by families and com - munities, and the urgent need for justice, safety and systemic change. I want to thank the Minister of Families (MLA Fontaine) for her statement today. Words of remembrance are important and they must be matched with meaningful actions. Honourable Speaker, as legislators, we have a responsibility to do more than just acknowledge this national crisis.

We must support the families still searching for answers, invest in preventative supports and commit to fully implementing the Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry. This includes better access to housing, trauma -informed health care, mental health supports and culturally appropriate services led by Indigenous communities. There are many Indigenous women and families who are still waiting for justice, for safety and for recognition. They deserve to know that their loved ones are not forgotten, and that their lives matter every day.

Let us honour these lives with lasting change and ensure that the red dresses we see today are not only a symbol of loss, but also a call to action. MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Lapu Lapu Festival Tragedy MLA Jelynn Dela Cruz (Radisson): Honourable Speaker, I request leave in advance to finish my member's statement on the Lapu Lapu Festival tragedy. The Speaker: Does the honour able member have leave to finish her statement? [Agreed] MLA Dela Cruz: Rizza Pagkanlungan immigrated to Canada from the Philippines with her husband to be closer to her family.

Kira Salim was a well-respected teacher-counsellor at Fraser River Middle School and New Westminster Secondary School. Jendhel May Sico was a loving aunt employed at a lumber distributor company. Maria Victoria "Vicky" Bjarnason was a beloved mother visiting her sons from the Philippines. Richard Le was a realtor who died alongside his wife, Linh Hoang, and their five -year-old daughter, Katie Le. They are survived by their 16- year-old son who stayed home that day to study.

Daniel Samper, Glitza Maria Caicedo and Glitza Daniela Samper immigrated to Canada from Colombia to escape violence, and Jenifer Darbellay was a creative and skillful artist. Many are still waiting for good news to come for their loved ones in critical care, including the two-year-old son of my family friend, a Manitoban.

Honourable Speaker, on April 26, 2025, families and friends of the Filipino community gathered in Vancouver for the British Columbia's second annual Lapu Lapu Day Festival, a time meant to com - memorate and honour a Philippine national hero, Datu Lapu-Lapu, who bravely resisted Spanish colonial rule and put an end to Ferdinand Magellan's tirade on our land. Across the diaspora, the Lapu Lapu Festival marks a time to celebrate our culture's historic resilience in times of injustice. This celebration was stolen by a tragic juxtaposition when a car sped into the crowd.

Over 30 people were injured and 11 devastatingly lost their lives. The youngest life lost was only five; the oldest was 65. In our culture, we have a belief called kapwa [friend], Honourable Speaker, a value rooted deeply into everything that we do that connects all of us in a profound way. Kapwa means that what happens to you, happens to me. It happens to all of us. Filipinos are told far too often that we are a resilient people because of how we have overcome the hardship that we have faced. We have seen count - less waves of bloodshed, natural disaster, injustice and collective hurt.

While resilience is something that I, and I know the member for Notre Dame (MLA Marcelino), minister for Labour and Immigration, hold with pride, I also understand that as a second-generation Filipina immigrant whose blood- line has already seen so much, Honour able Speaker, we should have–we should not have to keep enduring

May 5, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1637 this hurt. This kind of violence and uprooting has no place in a country like Canada that our ancestors fought tooth and nail for us to call home. Because of this violence, shockwaves of grief, fear and reminders of past trauma have been sent through our communities in the Filipino diaspora, all the way back to our homeland in the Philippines. To our pamilya [family] out west, nandito po kaming lahat para sa inyo [we are all here for you] .

Kahit lang–kahit dito lang po tayo sa Manitoba, hindi po kayo nag-iisa sa lungkot at luksa. [Even though we are here in Manitoba, you are not alone in sadness and grief.] We are right there with you in your sadness and in your grief. And to the first responders who acted promptly to the call of duty, the kababayans [countrymen] on the front lines who treated the victims, and the Filipino BC organizers who provided first aid and leadership amid the attack, thank you.

Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat. [Thank you very much to all of you.] Condolences, as well, to our elected counterparts out west: Mayor Ken Sim, Premier Eby, MLA Mable Elmore and all those also provi ding support to their constituents. To our kapwa [friends] who are hurting right here in Manitoba, who are nervous for what comes next and whose minds are racing trying to find new ways to help: We see you. We are here for you. And com - munity will get us out of this. Honour able Speaker, community is the reason that the Filipino community is strong. Community is the source of our safety.

For those wishing to offer monetary support, a transparent fund has been set up between Filipino British Columbia and United Way British Columbia at uwbc.ca/lapu. Honourable Speaker, 100 per cent of these donations will help provide immediate assistance, counselling and trauma services and other critical sup- port as the community begins to heal. Honourable Speaker, I ask for leave for a moment of silence immediately following my statement to commemorate the lives lost to this tragedy, those hurt and the pain and the grief of the friends and family affected.

The Speaker: Is there leave for a moment of silence? [Agreed] A moment of silence was observed. * (14:00) The Speaker: Thank you. Decorum in the Chamber and Public Apology Mr. Obby Khan (Leader of the Official Opposition): Today, I have the honour of rising as the leader of His Majesty's official opposition to play a key role in leadership in our free and democratic electoral system. I am beyond honoured and humbled. Thank you. I also have an honour of serving here for the last three years.

So often, I have looked up in the public gallery filled with students who are looking at us as mentors and examples of respectful behaviour, and on every occasion we have failed them with our behaviour that would not be tolerated in schools or in society. That tone changes today. Today, we hold this NDP government to account, and we will do that in a dignified way that reflects the views of Manitobans who have sent us a clear message: All elected officials must do better. We will ask tough questions because Manitobans deserve real answers. We will hold the NDP to account for their long list of broken promises.

We will show Manitobans that there is a better path to unleashing our full economic potential, to making life more affordable, to holding criminals to account with jail not bail policies and, once and for all, fixing health care with real action, not photo ops and empty announcements. Today, it is fitting that my first opportunity to address this House is on Red Dress Day, honouring the memories of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

I stand here today as the new leader of the PC Party and apologize to the families of Rebecca Contois, Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran and Ashlee Shingoose and to all Manitobans for the harm that was caused by our previous campaign. As the new PC leader, this is now on me to carry and move forward, in humility, in humbleness and in kindness, in an unwavering love and belief that when we come together under one big tent, we are all better for it. Honourable Speaker, a new day has begun. Thank you.

Infinity Women Secretariat MLA Billie Cross (Seine River): Today, on Red Dress Day, I would like to recognize the non- profit Infinity Women Secretariat. Through a grassroots

1638 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 5, 2025 movement, IWS has created programs that advocate for Red River Métis women, girls and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals through social, economic and political arenas. IWS offers many programs to help their commu- nity members through policies, programs and services that foster an understanding of the needs of women, girls and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community through economic, social and mental health avenues. Their youth outreach program is dedicated to supporting and encouraging and inspiring Red River Métis women, girls and 2SLGBTQ individuals.

They want to celebrate and embrace individual connections to their Métis identity through culture, outreach and empowerment programming. As part of the MMIWG2S advisory committee and in collaboration with the MMF, their Pey Key Way Ta Hin, Bring Me Home program offers a family support worker to help Red River Métis families, citizens and survivors by supporting and assisting them with finding their lost relatives and by bringing them home. This program is about providing families with closure and giving those that have been lost their voices back.

It is about provi ding families with an understanding of what happened to their missing loved ones and being able to bring them home. Where colonial systems attempt to suppress and erase the voices of Red River Métis women, girls and two-spirit individuals, the IWS's work in supporting them and fostering connections between them is critical. It would not be possible with the hard work of the dedicated IWS board members, Frances Chartrand, Adrienne Carriere and spokeswoman Anita Campbell who is here with us today in the gallery.

Honourable Speaker, women are sacred, and we must continue to uplift their voices, guarantee their protection and show reverence for their lives. I ask my colleagues to please rise and join me in celebrating the work of the IWS. Alfred "Bucky" Anderson Mr. Richard Perchotte (Selkirk): It's not every day we get to celebrate someone who I have known for 35 years and whose leadership, creativity and heart have touched so many lives, but today, I am proud to do just that by recognizing Alfred "Bucky" Anderson.

Joining online today is Minister Anderson, vice-president of the Interlake region and Minister of Culture and Heritage with the Red River Métis government. Elected in 2010 as vice-president of the Manitoba Métis Federation, Minister Anderson's leadership and commitment have earned him the continued trust of his community, being acclaimed in 2014, 2018 and again in 2022. Minister Anderson often says his mission is to instill pride among Red River Métis citizens and, quote, put a smile on your face, unquote.

That mission came to life when he created the Métis Music Van, a unique initiative that has travelled throughout the Interlake, southeast and Winnipeg regions, promoting the vibrant culture and music of the Red River Métis. His efforts have been recognized with three separate awards in Selkirk, including the Selkirk Biz business excellence award and a community leader - ship award from Promoting Aboriginal Student Success.

The impact of his work is also captured in a life-sized mural titled, quote, The Beat Goes On, unquote, at Robinson and Main Street in Selkirk, where the Métis Music Van stands as a symbol of cultural pride and unity. Minister Anderson finds joy in watching the Métis community flourish. He continues to connect citizens in a meaningful way, sharing music, history and hope. Please join me in thanking Minister Alfred "Bucky" Anderson for his unwavering dedication, cultural leadership and the joy he brings to the communities across Manitoba. Thank you, Honourable Speaker. Drag the Red Hon.

Bernadette Smith (Minister of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness ): Today I want to recognize the incredible work of Drag the Red, who search the Red River for missing and murdered persons. Drag the Red is a grassroots organization that was started in 2014 after the discovery of 15- year-old Tina Fontaine in the Red River. It was co-founded by myself and Kyle Kematch. We formed Drag the Red to search for others who were –have relatives who have gone missing or have been murdered, including our own siblings, Claudette Osborne-Tyo and Amber Guiboche.

Since then, Drag the Red volunteers con- tinue to search the Red River each and every year. This is preventative work, it gives families hope, supports community building and works collabora - tively with policing and many community organizations.

May 5, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1639 MMIWG2S+ touches the lives of so, so many, and the heart work that they do is creating change. This is a heavy task that Drag the Red does and–but is unfortunately needed, and I'm pleased to know that there are folks who are out there looking for our relatives. Their continued dedication means the world to MMIWG2S families. For anyone who has faced the grief of losing a loved one, know that –know you are not alone.

All of us have a part to play in supporting the community during hard times, and Drag the Red does just that important work to support those who are still searching for their loved ones. Organizers from Drag the Red have joined us today in the gallery, and I ask that the House join me in saying miigwech to the volunteers for their dedica- tion and commitment, each and every year. You have shown great strength in the face of tragedy and do so much to support the community. I am so grateful for your work in supporting MMIWG2S+ families in your efforts to bring our relatives home and to keep our community safe.

We love you. Miigwech. Thank you for all of your work. Jana Benzolock, Lilian Bonita, Mitch Bourbonniere, Raelyn Deboynton, Morgan Fontaine, Shawna Francois, Neale Gillespie, Cherish Harper, Caitlin Lima, Savanna McMannus, Tyna Moorfoot, Santana Roberts, Gina Smoke, Jill Wilson Introduction of Guests The Speaker: Prior to oral questions, there are several guests in the gallery I'd like to introduce.

First I'll draw attention to –of all honour able members to the public gallery where we have with us today pulmonary arterial hypertension patients Tanya Stinson, Cindy Hayman, Chrissy Wilder; and pul - monary arterial hypertension caregiver Rob [phonetic] Wilder, Dr. David Christensen, St. Boniface Hospital, who are guests of the honourable member for Tuxedo (MLA Compton). * (14:10) And we welcome you all here today.

We have, seated in the public gallery, from École Saint-Norbert, 40 grade 6 to grade 8 students under the direction of Chantelle Murray, and this group is located in the constituency of the honourable member for Seine River (MLA Cross). We welcome you here today. And we have, seated in the public gallery, from Novell Design Build, custom home builders in Vancouver, BC, three guests: Laurel James, Angelito Camalang [phonetic] and Terran Camaclang. And we welcome you here today. Speaker's Statement The Speaker: And now, prior to oral questions, I have a statement for the House.

I'd like to take a moment to clarify our practices of–for referencing guests in the gallery during debate. I've recently received questions from members on this matter, and I felt it is impor tant for all MLAs to understand what is acceptable. As the Speaker of this House, it is a pleasure to be able to welcome guests into our galleries so that they may witness the business of the Assembly first-hand. While it is acceptable for members to applaud, wave at or reference guests in the gallery during pro- ceedings, such as during a member's statement, it is not acceptable to draw them into debate.

The public gallery code of conduct specifically directs visitors to refrain from making any interruption or disturbance during proceedings, so encouraging them to do so is both confusing and unfair. This is the most problematic when a member's making partisan statements. Many guests, including youth visiting as part of school groups, have conveyed feeling uncomfortable when such attention has been drawn to them. They are here as observers of our democracy, not as props.

I would also remind members that it is a long-standing practice in our parlia mentary system that comments must be made through the Chair and not directly to other members or to the galleries, as noted on page 610 of the third edition of House of Commons Procedure and Practice. To involve guests in our debates, then, is not only a breach of etiquette, but is also a breach of practice. I want you all to understand that if this occurs again, especially in more partisan moments, I may interrupt members and ask them to rephrase their demark–remarks and to stop involving guests in the debate.

I hope this statement clarifies this matter for the House, and I thank you all for your attention to this matter.

1640 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 5, 2025 ORAL QUESTIONS Leader of the Official Opposition New Leader Acknowledgements Mr. Obby Khan (Leader of the Official Opposition): Honourable Speaker, in this role as an MLA, there are a lot–there is a lot that unites us in this room. We see lots of joys and sad that we also exper ience much tragedy. One of the first events I attended as Leader of the Opposition will forever stay with me. Last Tuesday, we were not NDP, Liberal or PC; we were Manitobans standing with the Filipino com - munity to stand united after the Lapu Lapu tragedy in Vancouver.

On the exact opposite side of the spectrum, last night we also stood united for entirely different purpose and saw the Jets tie up a win in its– incredible overtime action. Go, Jets, go. I have many serious questions for the Premier, but I want to take this first opportunity to acknowledge all that unites us and allow him the oppor tunity to respond. Hon. Wab Kinew (Premier): On behalf of the Province of Manitoba, I want to take this opportunity to extend my sincere con dolences to everyone in British Columbia who is directly affected by the tragedy at the Lapu Lapu festival.

I also want to extend those sympathies to members of the Filipino community in British Columbia, here in Manitoba, across Canada and around the world. What took place at that event betrays our expect- ations. A gathering was not only turned into a dark, dark event, but we saw a celebration become the site of a loss of life. We stand together as Manitobans to support the survivors, their friends and their families. Honourable Speaker, you can tell that I was at the game last night, too.

I left a good chunk of my voice there, but I will always be able to say: go, Jets, go and we want the cup, we want the cup, we want the cup. The Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Manitoba's Economy GDP Growth Targets Mr. Obby Khan (Leader of the Official Opposition): Honourable Speaker, we agree that there's a lot that unites us, and our economy is one of them. Unfortunately for Manitobans, under this Premier, our province is dead last in GDP growth–I'll table that

article here today –where declining agri cultural exports are already contributing to this decline, and American and Chinese tariffs will worsen the situation. The Premier's approach on economic leadership is failing. Can the Premier tell us what his GDP growth targets are for this year? Hon. Wab Kinew (Premier): Well, everyone in Canada knows that the biggest threat to our economy is Donald Trump. That's why we're all so puzzled at the Progressive Conservatives, who chose a new leader who thanks Donald Trump for his 25 per cent tariffs.

Our strategy to grow our economy is to stand up to Donald Trump and to prevent the Progressive Conservatives from ever forming govern ment in Manitoba again. Only then will we be ensured that we're not going to have somebody who is worried about Donald Trump instead of worrying about you. We're fixing health care in Manitoba. We're making life more affordable. I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate Mark Carney on his election as Canada's Prime Minister and to wish him luck in his Oval Office meeting with Donald Trump tomorrow.

We are going to keep building up this country by working together, not by sucking up to Donald Trump. The Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary question. Mr. Khan: Manitobans, you saw it right there. This Premier reverts back to his nature: bullying tactics. It's who he is. I asked a serious question, first day, Leader of the Opposition, about GDP in this province of Manitoba, and what does the Premier do? He attacks. He misleads Manitobans.

The NDP–Manitobans should know, the NDP are using your taxpayer dollars to a –launch attack web - sites on me minutes after I won. They're using your taxpayer dollars to attack–[interjection] The Speaker: Order. Mr. Khan: Now when you want to talk about Donald Trump, there's a direct line between this Premier's history and Donald Trump. I'll ask the Premier again: What is his growth targets for GDP in this province? Manitobans have a

May 5, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1641 right to know. It's not a joke. He can stop laughing and bullying and answer the question. Mr. Kinew: Honourable Speaker, these are the words of the member opposite, a direct quote here. How much of an influence does the 25 per cent tariff threat have? He goes on to say: Thank you. I would say thank you to Donald Trump. These are his words. The biggest threat to our economy, and everyone out there knows this, is the Trump tariff tax.

At a time when business owners were asking for us to work together, at a time where Canadians were saying: we need to rally around the flag to stand up for this beautiful country that we love so much, the member for Fort Whyte thanked Donald Trump not once, but twice: I would say thank you, I would say thank you. Verbatim, direct quote. That's not how we build up our economy. We build up our economy by investing in you, the working people of Manitoba. We build up our economy by making businesses more productive.

But most importantly, we do it as Canadians protecting our national sovereignty and our national security each and every single day. I will never thank– The Speaker: Member's time is expired. The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question. Venture Capital Investment Mr. Khan: Manitobans witnessed it there directly. I asked him a question about GDP, refuses to answer it. The Premier wants to attack, attack, attack. Why won't he go outside the House and repeat that attack where he's not protected by parlia mentary privilege?

He won't do it because he knows –he knows–he is misleading Manitobans. [interjection] The Speaker: Order. Mr. Khan: Venture Capital provides private financing to startups and companies that investors believe have growth potential. It's an im portant measure of busi - ness confidence. * (14:20) Can the Premier share the level of capital 'velture' investments for Manitoba in 2022 and how it compares nationally with last year? Mr. Kinew: I'd venture to say that capital is afraid of Donald Trump right now, which is why it's so puzzling that the member opposite would thank Donald Trump.

Again, direct quotes, his words: I would say thank you. I would say thank you for the 25 per cent tariff threat. The tariff threat is a big risk. It's a source of uncertainty, so we, as your govern ment, are stepping up to deliver. How are we going to do that? We're going to build, build, build our Manitoba economy: new personal -care homes that the PCs never built; new emergency rooms that the PCs closed; new highways in rural Manitoba across all the constit- uencies, none of which voted for the member opposite to become the new PC leader.

But, impor tantly, we're going to work together with the premiers and the new Prime Minister to stand up to Donald Trump as one united team Canada. We're working for you; we're working for Canada; we will never thank Donald Trump, like the member opposite. The Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Mr. Khan: Honourable Speaker, the NDP are using your taxpayer dollars and have already been hit with copyright infringement, misappropriation of likeness, and defamation by false implication.

The Premier can simply step outside and repeat the words he's saying, but you know who's afraid of this NDP? Everybody. Venture capital is afraid of this NDP. Venture capital investments–[interjection] The Speaker: Order. Mr. Khan: –in Manitoba in 2023 were $46 million – fifth strongest in Canada. In the first year under the NDP, venture capital is $2 million–a 96 per cent drop under this NDP and this Premier. I'll table the data so the Premier can actually read it. Will the Premier wake up to the fact that his policies are not growing our economy? What is he going to do to increase our economy? Mr.

Kinew: The economic horse pulls the social cart. That's why our govern ment has been working hard, not only to build, build, build our provincial economy and to invest in the next generation of workers–that's you and the kids in school across Manitoba today–but we've also been working with the other premiers and the Prime Minister at the federal level to stand up to Donald Trump. Donald Trump is in the media over this weekend talking seriously about the possibility of a military–of

1642 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 5, 2025 invasion in Canada. He says it's not likely, but he's still talking about it. How could somebody claiming to lead a legit - imate political party in Canada thank a person like that? Again, the direct quotes: I would say thank you. I would say thank you. These are the words that the member opposite said. How could he support Donald Trump? If you want to stand for Manitoba's economy, you have to stand against Donald Trump. We stand for our economy. He stands with Donald Trump.

The Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary question. Mr. Khan: Oh, Honour able Speaker. The law, the Premier's favourite quote: the economic horse pulls the social cart. What did the president of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce say? What did the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce say? The economic horse is pulling the social cart, and the social cart is getting heavier and heavier and heavier under this NDP. The question is simple: Can the Premier stop bullying? Can the Premier answer a question so Manitobans can be assured that their economy is safe?

What is this Premier going to do to grow our economy here in the province of Manitoba? Mr. Kinew: I'm going to stand up to Donald Trump and I'm going to stand up for Canada because I love this beautiful country. Even if you didn't have the political IQ to prevent yourself from saying, I would say thank you to Donald Trump, would your patriotism not kick into gear? Would you not have the good sense to say, let me not thank the existential threat to Canada's economy right now? Apparently not. I guess we know there is a clear division when we're talking about our visions for the future of the economy.

On this side of the House, we're feeding the economic horse. We're making it strong. We're investing $3.7 billion into building up the infrastructure to power the economy for tomorrow. At the same time we're investing in you, the youth, the next generation, because the best economic plan is an education plan, and we're standing up to Donald Trump and we're saying: Canada is not for sale. Canada will never– The Speaker: The member's time has expired. Crown Timber Dues in Manitoba Request to Align with Neighbouring Provinces Mr.

Konrad Narth (La Vérendrye): Two weeks ago, I asked the conservation minister why his depart- ment wasn't reducing Crown timber dues, even though Ontario had cut theirs to one -third of Manitoba, driving our loggers out of business. Since the minister wasn't able to answer my question then, the logging industry is concerned that this govern ment is out of touch, and are scared for their future. Will the minister commit today to align timber dues with our neighbouring province and put hundreds of loggers back to work? Hon.

Ian Bushie (Minister of Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures): There are loggers working all across Manitoba. They're working in part nership with Indigenous communities; they're working in part- nership with the industry, some thing that members opposite had no idea, had no concept of wanting to support in any fashion or way whatsoever.

But as we stand up that industry here in Manitoba, we do it in a good way, in a good way that brings everybody to the table, that brings industry, that brings Indigenous com munities to the table, that brings benefit to not only Manitoba, but not –all of Canada, and we're doing that in a right way, some - thing members opposite never done in all of their years. The Speaker: The honourable member for La Vérendrye, on a supplementary question. Mr. Narth: Well, Honourable Speaker, well, we knew we had a Premier (Mr.

Kinew) that still thinks he's campaigning, the Health Minister listening to our health-care system crumble, an Edu cation Minister that hasn't built a school, but now we've got a conser- vation minister that is taxing building supplies on new homes out of the market. How can this govern ment tell Manitobans that they are breaking down inter national trade barriers and strengthening our economy when they have just created new trade barriers as a result of this minister's inaction? Mr.

Bushie: As we break down those trade barriers, that member opposite stands with their newly elected leader and thanks Trump for the tariffs. Thanks that – creating those barriers, building those walls and creating that hardship for Manitoba and hardship for the logging industry here in Manitoba.

May 5, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1643 We're going to break down those barriers. We're going to do that in support. We're going to do that when we have revenue sharing, some thing that was unheard of under the PC government. We're bringing that forward in a very concrete way for the benefit of all Manitobans, Indigenous communities and industry all across this great province. First Nations Along Eastern Lake Winnipeg Licence for Forestry-Based Business Mr. Konrad Narth (La Vérendrye): Okay.

Honour- able Speaker, if the minister is unwilling to sit down with neighbouring–[interjection] The Speaker: Order. Mr. Narth: –provinces to create a stan dardized fee structure to promote interprovincial trade, there is another solution: Hollow Water First Nation, along with three other First Nations on the east side of Lake Winnipeg, had been awarded a licence under the previous PC govern ment to operate a forestry -based business, formally –formerly managed by Tembec, which would provide hundreds of good jobs.

Will the minister commit to providing support and assist ance for this Indigenous -led venture to strengthen our economy? Hon. Ian Bushie (Minister of Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures): For the member to talk about Hollow Water, probably having never visited Hollow Water in the first place, is shameful. I'm a member of that First Nation, and I've spoken with leadership all across the east side of Lake Winnipeg. And knowing full well that they had the doors locked from those members opposite.

They did not open the doors; they did not open the communication; they stood there and they talked about creating things. They built those things on Etch A Sketch. What happens when you do that? You shake those details out and they disappear. That's exactly how they plan; that is exactly how they govern, and they did nothing for timber industry all across Manitoba. The Speaker: Order, please. Just to remind the honour able member for La Vérendrye (Mr. Narth) to use the minister's correct title in the future. There is no conservation minister.

Interprovincial Trade and Labour Mobility Request to Remove Barriers in Manitoba Mrs. Lauren Stone (Midland): In a public docu- ment, the Montreal Economic In stitute noted that Manitoba will be one of the largest beneficiaries of eliminating interprovincial trade barriers. Other pro - vinces are moving well ahead, and all Manitobans would benefit. Bill 227 would remove trade and labour mobility barriers between Manitoba and other provinces. Where other provinces are already ahead of Manitoba, Manitoba is falling behind. Will the NDP support Bill 227 today and support the free flow of goods, services and labour?

Yes or no? Hon. Adrien Sala (Minister of Finance): Honour- able Speaker, this team is doing very im portant work reducing interprovincial trade barriers, and that work continues under the incred ible leadership of my colleague, Minister Moses–or, sorry, the minister responsible for busi ness, mining, jobs, trade and– we also, of course, have great leadership from our Premier (Mr.

Kinew) on this file. * (14:30) There are a number of other really im portant things we're doing, like a $3.7- billion capital plan, a payroll tax cut to make Manitoba even more investible and, of course, other really im portant investments we're making to grow our economy here in Manitoba. You know, that's very different from what the members opposite did over the many years they were in government, when they failed to do that work of growing our economy and, of course, what's not going to help grow an economy? Tariffs on Canadian goods from Mr.

Trump, which we know the member oppo- site, the leadership–leader is supporting. The Speaker: The honourable member for Midland, on a supplementary question. Mrs. Stone: Honourable Speaker, there was no answer to the question that was provided. It was a simple yes or no question. Prime Minister Carney has vowed that, from a federal level, we will have free internal trade by Canada Day. Ontario, Nova Scotia and PEI are all moving ahead and Manitoba is being left behind. We're asking a simple question for the NDP to make a legislative commitment to removing interprovincial trade barriers.

Eighteen months of no talk–all talk and no action by this NDP. At what date can Manitobans expect fast-tracked licensing and certification require ments to increase labour mobility to Manitoba?

1644 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 5, 2025 MLA Sala: Honourable Speaker, this team is doing the work to protect jobs and protect our economy here in Manitoba. We are working to reduce interprovincial trade barriers. We brought forward a huge $3.7- billion capital plan that is going to see us build, build, build 11 schools, three personal -care homes. We're going to get the NEWPCC facility built which they never got done to ensure Manitoba's economic engine in Winnipeg continues growing, and we're going to keep making important investments to support busi nesses so they can keep growing in Manitoba.

This team is doing the impor tant work. Our last budget is going to help to unlock economic potential in Manitoba. That work continues; Manitobans can continue to rely on this team to grow our economy and protect jobs here in our province. The Speaker: The honourable member for Midland, on a final supplementary question. Mrs. Stone: Honourable Speaker, we are talking about a free trade bill here in Manitoba that other provinces have already moved ahead in. When this NDP had an opportunity support it, it was the Minister of Agricul- ture (Mr. Kostyshyn) that actually spoke it out at a time of US and China tariffs.

Prime Minister Carney advises that he is com - mitted to removing all federal exemptions under the Canada Free Trade Agree ment. The PM has said removing barriers to the free movement of workers, goods and services would increase Canada's economy by $250 billion; that's $6,000 back in the pockets of Canadians. Will this minister follow Ontario, Nova Scotia and PEI and commit to eliminating all prov incial exemptions by Canada Day, yes or no? MLA Sala: Again, Honourable Speaker, you know what will not help to grow our economy here in Manitoba? Tariffs from Donald Trump, right?

And here we have the Leader of the Opposition who is on record thanking President Trump for those tariffs. That's obviously not the right forward. Our team will always stand against Donald Trump and his tariffs and we'll always fight for Canada and Manitoba. You know, I'll say briefly, I'm happy–over the last week, I was meeting with investors, credit -rating agencies who, I'm very happy to report, are very, very supportive of our budget, of the work we're doing; they think our work is credible and they see us as building a stronger Manitoba. Hudson Bay Archives Auditor General Recommendations Mr.

Richard Perchotte (Selkirk): The Premier's (Mr. Kinew) expressed an interest in Hudson Bay archives. What recom mendations has the minister implemented from the Auditor General that would protect and preserve Manitoba's archives? Hon. Nellie Kennedy (Minister of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism): Honourable Speaker, I can honestly say that our government is committed to the historical value of all that we have in Manitoba. Our government stands behind making sure that we have the ability and the wherewithal to be able to preserve the history within our province. Thank you.

The Speaker: The honourable member for Selkirk, on a supplementary question. Mr. Perchotte: Honourable Speaker, the Auditor General's report found over a dozen instances where the HVAC system and other condi tions were insuf - ficient for record storage. How many such incidents have occurred since the report was done in February of 2024? MLA Kennedy: Honourable Speaker, we take these things very serially with the –seriously in this side of the House.

We recognize the importance of ensuring that all of our archives and our history within our province are managed in a way that keeps things safe, and to ensure that we have the ability to enjoy these records for years to come. Thank you. The Speaker: The honourable member for Selkirk, on a final supplementary question. Mr. Perchotte: Honourable Speaker, the question is about what has the minister done to protect and preserve these critical archives. Why is the minister refusing to engage with this vital aspect of our shared history? Manitobans deserve to know.

MLA Kennedy: Honourable Speaker, it's interesting coming from that side of the House where we have, you know, the new official Leader of the Op position thanking Trump for tariffs. On this side of the House, we actually care about our history and how we support Manitobans.

May 5, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1645 We support First Nations and ensuring that artifacts are here and that Manitobans are able to be sure that we are taking care of our ancestors and the people that have come before us. Thank you. Death of Myah Gratton Status of Family Services Report Ms. Jodie Byram (Agassiz): On February 11, 2024, Myah-Lee Gratton was murdered despite reaching out to her case worker to express her fears for her safety and plea for help. The minister and Premier (Mr. Kinew) made different promises to Manitobans about what would be released and when.

Why has the minister still refused to release this report? Hon. Nahanni Fontaine (Minister of Families): Again, I want to put on the official record, on behalf of myself as the minister responsible–and the Premier has said it many times as well–in behalf of our whole NDP caucus: you know, what happened was an absolute tragedy, and it's something that's going to go down in Manitoba history as one of the worst acts of intimate partner violence, particularly involving children. And that remains true to this day, that we stand with the families.

We actually went out to Carman on the year anniversary and had the oppor tunity to hear from family members and from community talk about every single one of them and the love that they had– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. The honourable member for Agassiz, on a supple- mentary question. Ms. Byram: A grieving mother should not have to turn to the courts for answers. Juliette Hastings deserves justice for her daughter. Will this Premier today apologize for his govern- ment's failure to protect Myah -Lee and commit to working together for the safety of all Manitobans?

MLA Fontaine: If the member opposite had cared to do a little bit more research instead of trying to make a political football out of this or get some political points out of what is a really, really in credibly heart- breaking and serious tragedy, she would know that the mother does have a report. We did release some of the report, as was her lawyer. So her lawyer does have that report. The Speaker: The honourable member for Agassiz, on a final supplementary question. Ms. Byram: The Premier said last year that he'd be willing to launch a public inquiry.

When can Manitobans expect that public inquiry into the systemic failures that led to Myah-Lee's death? MLA Fontaine: The member opposite also knows – because I had her in my office when we shared our $20-million Mino'Ayaawag Ikwewag strategy, which a huge component of that, as I shared with her, is about helping to support women tackling intimate partner violence, which i ncludes access to shelter, 24-7 drop-in safe spaces and transitional housing. We're doing that work.

Our government invested $20 million towards ensuring that Indigenous women, girls, two -spirit and gender -diverse folks have the supports and the safety net that they need to ensure their safety and that they're able to– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. Universal Screening for Learning Disabilities Timeline for Standing Committee for Bill 225 MLA Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): On March 26, I introduced Bill 225, universal screening for learning disabilities.

On April 11, two weeks later, the govern- ment issued a news release celebrating their commit- ment to uni versal screening for learning dis abilities. And on April 15, I was thrilled to see Bill 225 pass second reading with unanimous support. * (14:40) Honourable Speaker, the next step is com mittee. Many Manitobans have already signed up to present at committee. Will the minister share with the House here this afternoon when Bill 225 will go to committee? Hon. Tracy Schmidt (Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning): I thank the member opposite for that very important question.

I will make a small correction for the record and that is that our government did more than just express a commitment to the early universal screener tools that we have intro- duced; in fact, we've issued a policy directive, and it is something that we're really exciting to be rolling out in the fall in schools across Manitoba. The introduce it–the introduction of these univer- sal early screening tools are going to ensure that all Manitobans, including our earliest learners, receive the supports that they need at the earliest possible intervention. We're very, very proud of that announce- ment.

I look forward to working with the member opposite–

1646 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 5, 2025 The Speaker: Member's time has expired. The honourable member for Tyndall Park, on a supplementary question. Resources for Specialists and Schools MLA Lamoureux: Identifying learning dis abilities through universal screening is just the first step. We also need teachers, reading specialists and speech - language pathologists who are trained and resourced to support students.

It was shared in a letter from a Dyslexia Canada outreach co-ordinator that the heartbreaking reality is that even highly engaged families cannot replace the role of an adequately supported school system. Does this government agree that providing a uni- versal screening program for students will help educators and specialists respond with a more consistent and evidence-based strategy that children require? MLA Schmidt: Again, thank you to the member opposite for this important question, for allowing the opportunity for this im portant discussion in this Chamber.

And, again, I think it's impor tant to note some - thing that's different from Bill two-two–225 that separates from what the announcement that our government was very proud to make earlier last month, and that's that our universal screening tools are not just there to help identify students with disabilities. And, again, I very much applaud the member opposite for her work with Dyslexia Canada and the folks that work at Dyslexia Canada for the excellent advocacy that they do.

But our universal screening tools here in Manitoba are to–are designed for all children and to identify all the barriers that they might be facing when they're struggling with literacy, not just learning disabilities. So we also agree that it's very important– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. The honourable member for Tyndall Park, on a final supplementary question. Accountability for Literacy Outcomes Systemic Barriers for Marginalized Communities MLA Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): Honour- able Speaker, there's no accountability in the govern- ment's announcement.

Literacy outcomes in Manitoba are not simply about an individual effort; they are shaped by poverty, language barriers, race and disability. Many parents want to help but cannot take on the role of a trained reading instructor. Literacy is not just an at-home responsibility; it is a public right. How is the government ensuring that its approach to literacy, whether through policy, legis lation or curriculum, acknowledges and addresses the systemic barriers students and families are facing, especially those from marginalized communities? Hon.

Tracy Schmidt (Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning): Again, thank the member opposite for the question, and I think that it's true that the member and I probably agree on more than we disagree on this important topic. And I would argue that probably most members of this Chamber really want the best for children and we want the best for–to improve the literacy outcomes here in Manitoba. That's why our government was so proud, for a second year in a row, to finally restore proper, healthy funding to schools: $170 million, Honourable Speaker, over two years, in this province.

We've also annual - ized the $30 -million univer sal nutrition program, which hopefully will be protected into law later this afternoon, to ensure that all children across Manitoba, specifically the children in the most need, receive the– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. Threats to Canada's Economy Manitoba's Response Mr. Logan Oxenham (Kirkfield Park): Honourable Speaker, the MLA for Fort Whyte has been silent for months on issues that matter to Manitobans, but he has been clear on one thing: how thankful he is to Donald Trump for his tariffs on Manitoba businesses.

In fact, he said: So, how much of an influence did the 25 per cent tariff threat have on that? I would say a lot. And I would say thank you; I would say thank you, he's gone now. So does the minister for economic develop ment, investment and trade have a different approach to Trump's tariffs and threats to our sovereignty? Hon. Jamie Moses (Minister of Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation): Honourable Speaker, let's be clear: we will never become the 51st state, and that is very clear, despite the musings of members oppo- site, like the MLA for Borderland.

We will not give EV rebates to Elon Musk, like the MLA for Midland wants. And we will never thank Donald Trump for his tariffs, like the MLA for Fort Whyte suggests.

May 5, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1647 Now, if the MLA for Fort Whyte had stood up for Manitoba businesses instead of thanking Donald Trump, maybe he would have actually won the PC leadership race with more votes. Now–but I tell members opposite: instead of trying to outcompete themselves to see who can grovel over Donald Trump the most, our govern ment, instead, is going to support Manitoba businesses, support grow- ing more good jobs here in our province and doing it as part of our team Canada approach– The Speaker: Member's time has expired.

Homeless Encampments in Winnipeg Concern for Government's Housing Strategy Mrs. Kathleen Cook (Roblin): Honourable Speaker, the minister and the Premier (Mr. Kinew) have cer - tainly spent a lot of time talking about their strategy for ending encampments and getting people into housing. To date, how many people have been housed through this process? Hon. Bernadette Smith (Minister of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness): For seven and a half years under that govern ment, they sold off housing, they didn't support people. It takes minutes, seconds, to sell off housing. We've continually supported people.

We've con- tinually taken off the boards that that previous failed government put up. We're not going to continue to take lessons –or any lessons, for that fact –from any members opposite. We will continue to support people, to put people into housing that they boarded up. These folks are continuing to thrive in their housing. They're–these folks that are supporting them are, you know, so thankful that they finally have a government that is supporting them. So I want to lift them up and say, thank you for the work that they're doing. The Speaker: The honourable member for Roblin, on a supplementary question. Mrs.

Cook: Honourable Speaker, that was a really simple question. The minister should have had the answer at her fingertips. The minister has expressed that progress is being made, but Marion Willis of St. Boniface Street Links told the media that there are more encampments right now than ever before. Can the minister tell us how many people are living in encampments right now in Winnipeg? Ms. Smith: Well, for the–first, Heather Stefanson and the member for Fort Whyte (Mr. Khan) worked to sell homes out from underneath them. They sold hundreds of homes on Smith Street –over 300 units. Those put people into tents.

That's what created encampments in this province. So members opposite can stand by those folks across the street when, in fact, they're the ones that put folks into encampments, were okay going outside this building and seeing people in bus shacks. They sold off–now the Leader of the Opposition, you know, is following in those footsteps. They thanked Donald Trump for the tariffs that's going to make building housing here in Manitoba even more expensive. We're going to continue– The Speaker: Member's time has expired. The honour able member for Roblin, on a final supplementary question. Mrs.

Cook: Honourable Speaker, another simple question and yet again, no answers from this minister. It seems today is partisan political attack day. There's no actual answers coming from members opposite. Media is now reporting that encampments are being reoccupied, despite the minister's previous claim that encampments would be cleared and would stay that way. Why has this minister failed to uphold her own plan that was supposed to help keep sites cleared as residents expected? Ms.

Smith: And I know that member and members across the way are really jealous about our strategy, Your Way Home, and getting people housed with the supports that they need. Unlike members opposite, we're actually getting folks housed with the supports. Right now they're delaying a bill, Bill 12, that will actually support social housing. Those folks, you know, they want to sell off housing. We're not going to do that. * (14:50) So what I say to members across the way: Get out of the way, allow Bill 12 to pass. Protect taxpayers' money and allow us to protect social housing. What is so hard about that?

Quit delaying Bill 12. Allow us to protect that housing and get folks out of

1648 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 5, 2025 encampments, and help us do that work instead of delaying it– The Speaker: Member's time is expired. And just before we move to the next question, I have to remind the honour able member for Kirkfield Park (Mr. Oxenham) to please use the correct title for– ministerial title or con stituency when he's asking questions. Brandon Health Centre–Assault of ER Nurse Release of Alleged Perpetrator–Bail System Concerns Mr. Wayne Balcaen (Brandon West): Health-care workers at Manitoba's hospitals are under siege.

And recently, a nurse at Brandon regional hospital's emergency room was spat on, put in a chokehold and nearly stabbed in the neck with a needle. These kinds of assaults are all too common now under this NDP government. Here's something else that's all too common under this NDP govern ment: the alleged perpetrator was released. When will this Justice Minister put an end to his catch-and-release bail system and start protecting Manitoba nurses? Hon.

Uzoma Asagwara (Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care): Honourable Speaker, I want to be very clear: violence, harassment, harming our health-care workers is entirely unacceptable. Health-care workers deserve to be safe at their jobs. They should show up, provide care–quality care to Manitobans–and go home safe at the end of the day.

Our govern ment has taken real steps to ensure that nurses and all health -care workers are safer, including at Brandon Regional Health Centre, where we've established institutional safety officers despite the fact that, under the previous failed PC adminis - tration, they didn't do that for years, even though they could. On that side of the House, they want to weaken health care. The member for Fort Whyte (Mr. Khan) thanks Donald Trump for tariffs and wants an American-style private, for-profit health-care system. We won't take that approach.

We're investing in making health care stronger and keeping health- care workers safe. The Speaker: Member's time is expired. The honourable member for Brandon West, on a supplementary question. Mr. Balcaen: Another direct question that was not answered. The question was about protecting Manitoba nurses and the release on bail. Honourable Speaker, this failure to address the safety of health-care workers comes hand in hand with the Justice Minister's failure to address violent offenders.

BPS chief Tyler Bates confirmed to media that the man they arrested had a record of violen ce against those trying to help, and I quote: This isn't the first time he has assaulted a service-care provider. End quote. How many other repeat offenders is this minister releasing under his failed bail plan? MLA Asagwara: Honourable Speaker, I want to thank our Minister of Justice (Mr. Wiebe) for the tireless work that he is doing to make Manitoba, including our health-care system, safer for all Manitobans.

And I want to be very clear: After seven and a half years of the failed PCs doing nothing to keep health- care workers safer, we know that the steps we've taken aren't enough, which is why the Justice Minister and myself work very closely together to take very serious steps, like ensuring that over 100 institutional safety officers will be across our sites across this great province of ours.

That is all the while members opposite, including the leader for the opposition, thank Donald Trump for the tariffs that make lives harder for health-care workers and threaten to privatize, if they have the chance, our health-care system. That's–[interjection] The Speaker: Member's time is expired. Mr. Balcaen: This Justice Minister has had nearly two years to address serious work place violence issues at all Manitoba hospitals.–[interjection] The Speaker: Order, please. Order, please. I stand corrected. Time for oral questions had expired. PETITIONS Phoenix School Mrs.

Kathleen Cook (Roblin): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. The background to this petition is as follows: Phoenix School, a kindergarten to grade 5 school located in Headingley, has experienced consistent

May 5, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1649 enrolment growth over the last several years. Enrolment is expected to reach 275 students in the next two years. Because the school is now over capacity, the school division has had to install portable classrooms on site as of fall 2024. For several consecutive years, the top capital priority of the St. James -Assiniboia School Division has been the renovation and expansion of Phoenix School. In 2022, the Phoenix School expansion and reno- vation project was approved to proceed to the design phase.

The project included, among other amenities, a new gymnasium, two new classrooms, a multi-purpose room and room for 74 child-care spaces. In June 2024, the school division received notice from the provincial government that the project has been deferred. There is no guarantee if, or when, the project will move forward. There are currently hundreds of children on a wait-list for child care in Headingley.

The daycare operator in Phoenix School has been told that they will continue to have space within the school for the 2024-2025 school year only, that further expansion of child-care space within the school is not possible and that space may be reduced moving forward due to the shortage of classrooms. If new space is not constructed as planned, many families may be left without child care. It is critical that the expansion and renovation of Phoenix School proceed as planned in order to support the needs of students, teachers and families in the growing community of Headingley.

We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to proceed with the planned renovation and expansion of Phoenix School without further delay. And this petition is signed by Emma Filion, Joe Filion, Jamie Peterson and many, many other Manitobans. Little Mountain Park MLA Cindy Lamoureux (Tyndall Park): Honour- able Speaker, I wish to present the following petition. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) The Manitoba Highways de partment has expressed a desire to have the CentrePort Canada Way to Chief Peguis Trail extension developed to follow Klimpke Road with a termination point on the CentrePort Canada Way.

(2) The proposed path would eliminate a portion of Little Mountain Park, which abuts Klimpke Road, private residences and the neighbouring Little Mountain SportsPlex.

(3) Although located in the RM of Rosser, Little Mountain Park is one of Winnipeg's valuable green spaces, located within the Perimeter Highway boundary, and is the only signi ficant green space in the north - western sector of the city.

(4) Little Mountain Park has been provi ded recreational opportunities and natural habitat for local wildlife since it was established in 1965. It contains a tall grass prairie ecosystem and an ecologically sensitive land, complete with flora and fauna, and is a destination for tourists from all over.

(5) The impact of the growing industrial port and the resultant redirected traffic through this area would not only disrupt access to the nearby Sportsplex and golf course with an additional heavy traffic, but would also pose environmental threats and disrupt local wildlife in the nearby Little Mountain Park.

(6) The Province of Manitoba has a stated respon- sibility to protect the environ ment and green spaces for the benefit of all Manitobans with policy and legis- lation that support economic develop ment, invest - ment, trade and natural resources and the conservation of species and ecosystems to conserve these precious resources for future generations.

(7) The encroachment of the proposed highway must be considered a threat to the Little Mountain Park designated ecosystem.

(8) An earlier proposal utilized a different route that followed the existing old Sturgeon Road foot - print, circumventing Little Mountain Park and the Sportsplex, while still providing suitable access to the industrial area, with a termination point between Mollard Road and Jefferson Avenue. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

(1) To urge the provincial gov ernment to recog - nize Little Mountain Park as an at-risk ecosystem and as a potential ecosystem preservation zone. To urge the provincial gov ernment to recog nize the impact of the proposed route on Little Mountain Park, The Players Course, the neighbouring Little

1650 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 5, 2025 Mountain Sportsplex and the citizens and tourists who use and visit them; and

(3) To urge the provincial government to seek an alternate route that would avoid the area while still providing adequate ingress and egress to the CentrePort Canada Way, such as the old Sturgeon Road route, and avoid expropriating land unnecessarily. * (15:00) This petition has been signed by many Manitobans. Thank you. Opposition to Releasing Repeat Offenders Mr. Obby Khan (Leader of the Official Opposition): I wish to present the following petition. To the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, the background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Kellie Verwey, a beloved young woman from Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, was tragically killed in a car crash caused by a repeat violent offender with a long criminal history.

(2) Despite repeated violations of his bail conditions, the officer was free –apologize, Honourable Speaker. The offender was free to roam the streets–okay, let's try it again. The offender was free to roam the streets and to ultimately claim Kellie's life. The tragedy was entirely preventable.

(3) While the Criminal Code falls under federal jurisdiction, provinces have been given the respon- sibility for the administration of justice, allowing for meaningful provincial action on bail reform to ensure public safety.

(4) Other provinces have taken proactive steps to strengthen bail enforcement, but Manitoba has not used all the available tools to address the issue effectively.

(5) The provincial government has the ability and the responsibility to advocate for and implement measures that protect its citizens by ensuring that repeat violent offenders are not released into our communities without proper safeguards.

(6) Immediate action is required to close gaps in the justice system that allow dangerous criminals to remain free, which puts innocent Manitobans at risk. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

(1) To urge the provincial government to make immediate and decisive action on bail reform to address serious deficits in enforcement by utilizing all available provincial mechanisms to strengthen warrant enforcement, increasing bail supervision and opposing release of offenders, thus ensuring the repeat violent offenders are held accountable and the public safety is prioritized over leniency; and

(2) To urge the provincial government to lobby the federal government to immediately repeal pro - visions of the Criminal Code that allow for continued victimization of law-abiding Manitobans while granting repeat offenders additional rights. Honourable Speaker, this petition was signed by Margaret Nelissen. Nielsen [phonetic] . Nielsen [phonetic]. Nelson [phonetic]. Some Honourable Members: Nielsen [phonetic]. Mr. Khan: Nielsen [phonetic], Mark Nielsen [phonetic] and Brayden Twist. Thank you, Honourable Speaker. Death of Jordyn Reimer–Judicial Review Request Mr.

Wayne Balcaen (Brandon West): I wish to present the following petition. To the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, the background to this petition is as follows:

(1) On May 1, 2022, Jordyn Reimer, 24 years of age, was killed by an impaired driver while she was acting as a designated driver.

(2) There are two people legally culpable for her death: the impaired driver and the accomplice. The driver was charged, but the second criminal, the accomplice, has not been held accountable.

(3) A concerned citizen took the keys from the impaired driver earlier in the evening to ensure he could not drive impaired. The accomplice retrieved the keys from the citizen under false pretenses and knowingly provided the impaired driver with access to the vehicle.

(4) The Winnipeg Police Service, WPS, investi - gation provided adequate evidence to meet the charging standard and recom mended charges be laid against the accomplice. The Crown prosecutor declined to prosecute the accomplice.

(5) The family of Jordyn Reimer has called for the prosecution of the accomplice and that the decision not to prosecute be reviewed independently.

(6) As recently as 2022, there is precedent to refer criminal files of decisions to not proceed with

May 5, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1651 prosecution to extra-provincial departments of justice for review. This was done in the Peter Nygård file, which ultimately led to a reversal of the decision to not prosecute, and charges were laid.

(7) An out -of-province review is supported by MADD Canada, MADD Manitoba and by Manitobans.

(8) The family has exhausted every avenue within the existing system, and, in the absence of a prescribed process when a disagreement exists on charging standards, the only option is to request an independent out-of-province review.

(9) In December 2024, the WPS reported an alarming number of impaired drivers in the holiday Check Stop program. Extending criminal culpability beyond the driver to those who engage in overt actions to facilitate impaired driving will save lives.

(10) Manitobans deserve to have confi dence in the provincial gov ernment and justice systems to make decisions that achieve true justice for victims and their families. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial gov ernment to order an out-of-province review of the prosecutor's decision to not prosecute the accomplice in the death of Jordyn Reimer. Honourable Speaker, this petition was signed by Dave Taylor, Derek Bengco, Richard Perscona [phonetic] and many, many other fine Manitobans.

Removal of Federal Carbon Tax MLA Jeff Bereza (Portage la Prairie): Honourable Speaker, I wish to present the following petition. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) The federal government has mandated a con- sumption-based carbon tax, with the stated goal of financially pressuring Canadians to make decisions to reduce their carbon emissions.

(2) Manitoba Hydro estimates that, even with a high-efficiency furnace, the carbon tax is costing the average family over $200 annually, even more for those with older furnaces.

(3) Home heating in Manitoba is not a choice or a decision for Manitobans to make; it is a necessity of life, with an average of almost 200 days below 0°C annually.

(4) The federal government has selectively removed the carbon tax off of home heating oil in the Atlantic provinces of Canada, but has indicated they have no intention to provide the same relief to Manitobans heating their homes. * (15:10)

(5) Manitoba Hydro indicates that natural gas heating is one of the most affordable options available to Manitobans, and it can be cost prohibited–'hibitive'– for households to 'replece' –to replace their heating source.

(6) Premiers across Canada, including the Atlantic provinces that benefit from this decision, have collectively sent a letter to the federal gov ernment calling on it to extend the carbon tax exemption to all forms of home heating, with the exception of Manitoba.

(7) Manitoba is one of the only provinces–sorry, Manitoba is one of the only provincial jurisdictions to have not agreed with the stance that all Canadians' home heating bills should be exempt from carbon tax.

(8) Provincial leadership in other juris dictions have already committed to removing the federal carbon tax from home heating bills. We petition the legislative of–Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to remove the federal carbon tax on home heating bills for all Manitobans to provide them much-needed relief. This is signed by Nhan Amore [phonetic], Lu Saito, Debbie Spencer and many, many more Manitobans. Thank you, Honourable Speaker. Provincial Road 352 Ms. Jodie Byram (Agassiz): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) The Provincial Road 352 is an 87.5-kilometre route where it begins at Provincial Trunk Highway 5, PTH 5, near Birnie, Manitoba, and terminates at PTH 34 near Arizona, Manitoba, intersecting with the Trans-Canada Highway.

(2) The route is gravel for most of its length, with two paved sections: one from PTH 5 to Birnie; and the other from PTH 16 to Arden.

1652 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 5, 2025

(3) PR 352 has had considerable amount of deterioration over the years with little to no regular road maintenance and has seen ruts and damage to the gravel sections, those of which are featured online at CAA's worst roads.

(4) The promotion of PR 352 weight restriction to an RTAC classification of 140,000 lbs weight restriction has caused further damage, as the route was only built to accommodate the original 80,000 lbs and has not seen upgrades to accommodate the increase. The 1.5-mile stretch on PR 352 from the community of Birnie is the main access off PTH 5 to the community.

(5) Residents in the area were advised these weight increases to PR 352 were due to commerce movement, although there is no commerce in Birnie.

(6) Within this stretch, there is a bridge that is damaged structurally and rests only five feet above the creek, causing it to sit in the water and deteriorate. With increased agriculture traffic, such as heavier trucks hauling grain and livestock, the bridge may not have the capacity to sustain further neglect.

(7) Community members have reached out and have spoken to civil servants. The issue must be resolved before it becomes a bigger problem, some one gets injured or an accident happens. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

(1) To urge the provincial government to meet RTAC road designation by providing upgrades and regular road maintenance to Provincial Road 352 in Manitoba, specifically the 1.5-mile stretch from Birnie to Provincial Trunk Highway 5, and ensure the road remains paved with asphalt and not reduced to gravel.

(2) To urge the provincial government to reduce load weights on PR 352 until the upgrades can be completed.

(3) To urge the provincial government to replace or repair the bridge located on 1.5- mile stretch from Birnie to PTH 5 and to provide an integrity assessment. This petition has been signed by Melissa Rossnagel, Rob Waddell, Melanie Beck and many, many more Manitobans. Thank you. Removal of Federal Carbon Tax Mr. Wayne Ewasko (Lac du Bonnet): Honourable Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly. And the background to this petition is as follows:

(1) The federal government has mandated a con- sumption-based carbon tax, with the stated goal of financially pressuring Canadians to make decisions to reduce their carbon emissions.

(2) Manitoba Hydro estimates that, even with a high-efficiency furnace, the carbon tax is costing the average family over $200 annually, even more for those with older furnaces.

(3) Home heating in Manitoba is not a choice or a decision for Manitobans to make; it is a necessity of life, with an average of almost 200 days below 0°C annually.

(4) The federal government has selectively removed the carbon tax off of home heating oil in the Atlantic provinces of Canada, but has indicated they have no intention to provide the same relief to Manitobans heating their homes.

(5) Manitoba Hydro indicates that natural gas heating is one of the most affordable options available to Manitobans, and it can be cost prohibitive for households to replace their heating source.

(6) Premiers across Canada, including in the Atlantic provinces that benefit from this decision, have collectively sent a letter to the federal gov ern- ment, calling on it to extend the carbon tax exemption to all forms of home heating, with the exception of Manitoba.

(7) Manitoba is one of the only provincial juris - dictions to have not agreed with the stance that all Canadians' home heating bills should be exempt from the carbon tax.

(8) Provincial leadership in other juris dictions have already committed to removing the federal carbon tax from home heating bills. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to remove the federal carbon tax on home heating bills for all Manitobans to provide them much-needed relief. This petition, Hon ourable Speaker, is signed by Sue Antymis, Lex Antymis, Terry Neplyk and many, many more fine Manitobans.

May 5, 2025 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1653 Opposition to Releasing Repeat Offenders Mr. Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach): I wish to present the following petition to the Legislature. The background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Kellie Verwey, a beloved young woman from Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, was tragically killed in a car crash caused by a repeat offender with a long criminal history.

(2) Despite repeated violations of his bail con- ditions, the offender was free to roam the streets and to ultimately claim Kellie's life. The tragedy was entirely preventable. * (15:20)

(3) The Criminal Code falls under the federal jurisdiction; provinces have been given the respon- sibility for the administration of justice, allowing for meaningful provincial action on bail reform to ensure public safety.

(4) Other provinces have taken proactive steps to strengthen bail enforcement, but Manitoba has not used all of the available tools to address this issue effectively.

(5) The provincial government has the ability and the responsibility to advocate for and implement measures that protect its citizens by ensuring that repeat violent offenders are not released into our communities without proper safeguards.

(6) Immediate action is required to close gaps in the justice system that allows dangerous offenders to remain free, which puts innocent Manitobans at risk. We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

(1) To urge the provincial government to take immediate and decisive action on bail reform to address serious deficits in enforcement by utilizing all available provincial mechanisms to strengthen warrant enforcement, increasing bail supervision and opposing release of offenders, thus ensuring that repeat violent offenders are held accountable and that public safety is prioritized over leniency; and

(2) To urge the provincial government to lobby the federal government to immediately repeal pro - visions of the Criminal Code that allow for the continued victimization of law -abiding Manitobans while granting repeat offenders additional rights. And, Honourable Speaker, this petition is signed by Kaytlin Wilson, Tye Finlanson [phonetic] , Aaron Stieger [phonetic] and many other Manitobans. Thank you. Funding Crime Cost Mitigation for Small Business Mr. Josh Guenter (Borderland): I wish to present the following petition. To the Legis lative Assembly of Manitoba, the background to this petition is as follows:

(1) Small businesses are vital in supporting their local economy and the prov incial government has a responsibility to act and support them.

(2) The recent increase in vigilantism shows that Manitobans do not trust this provincial government to fulfill its responsibility.

(3) More than half –54 per cent–of small busi- nesses in Manitoba are impacted by crime. Property damage, theft, littering and public intoxication are some of the crimes that affect most businesses, according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. There has been a 44 per cent increase in shoplifting incidents over the last year.

(4) In order to combat this rise of crime, small businesses try, unaided, to implement various out-of- pocket security measures and safety training for their staff and they face increasing costs when they incur property damage or theft.

(5) Vandalism, break-ins and other senseless acts cannot be accepted as a cost of doing busi ness for businesses throughout Manitoba, and the provincial government must do more to ease the burdens small businesses are carrying with its catch -and-release justice system.

(6) Failing to support small businesses is failing the Manitoba economy, failing Manitoba families and failing Manitobans' dreams.

(7) The security rebate program, in place for homeowners and small businesses, does not cover the real costs impacting businesses, such as vandalism, property damage and repairs. We urge the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows: To urge the provincial government to support Manitoba small businesses through specific funding to reimburse the expenses and insurance deductibles that they incur as a result of crime.

1654 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 5, 2025 This petition has been signed by many, many Manitobans. Morden Waste Water Project Mrs. Carrie Hiebert (Morden-Winkler): Honour- able Speaker, I wish to present the following petition. To the Legis lative Assembly of Manitoba, the background of this petition is as follows:

(1) Between 2011 and 2021, Morden's population grew by an impressive 27 per cent, outpacing the national average by 16 per cent, according to the Statistics Canada.

(2) While growth is welcome and encouraged, Morden has long faced a critical need for infra - structure upgrades to meet current demands and support future development. Morden's–

(3) Morden's waste water system has operated beyond capacity for years, prompting the Province in 2019 to halt property subdivisions due to insufficient waste–winter waste water storage.

(4) As of 2024, after exploring all options, the City announced in July that the estimated cost for critical infrastructure upgrades has risen from 70 million to 88 million to 108 million.

(5) These revised estimates leave Morden with a significant funding shortfall of 13 to 33 million dollars.

(6) Despite efforts to address the gap, including plans to raise utility fees for residents and businesses, such increases that have been delayed since 2017 due to the lack of an approved capit

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	43-2-48
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	43rd 2nd hansardpdf 48.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	9d2704fbe63aacdd0c4b9999770d54a40f145d2b

Source file is stored in the law ingest library (pdf).