Manitoba Hansard — 9 May 2022 (Sitting 45, 42nd Legislature, 4th Session)

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Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)

Fourth Session – Forty-Second Legislature of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS Official Report (Hansard) Published under the authority of The Honourable Myrna Driedger Speaker Vol. LXXVI No. 45 - 1:30 p.m., Monday, May 9, 2022 ISSN 0542-5492

MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Forty-Second Legislature Member Constituency Political Affiliation ALTOMARE, Nello Transcona NDP ASAGWARA, Uzoma Union Station NDP BRAR, Diljeet Burrows NDP BUSHIE, Ian Keewatinook NDP CLARKE, Eileen, Hon. Agassiz PC COX, Cathy Kildonan-River East PC CULLEN, Cliff, Hon. Spruce Woods PC DRIEDGER, Myrna, Hon. Roblin PC EICHLER, Ralph Lakeside PC EWASKO, Wayne, Hon. Lac du Bonnet PC FIELDING, Scott, Hon. Kirkfield Park PC FONTAINE, Nahanni St. Johns NDP FRIESEN, Cameron, Hon. Morden-Winkler PC GERRARD, Jon, Hon. River Heights Lib. GOERTZEN, Kelvin, Hon. Steinbach PC GORDON, Audrey, Hon.

Southdale PC GUENTER, Josh Borderland PC GUILLEMARD, Sarah, Hon. Fort Richmond PC HELWER, Reg, Hon. Brandon West PC ISLEIFSON, Len Brandon East PC JOHNSON, Derek, Hon. Interlake-Gimli PC JOHNSTON, Scott, Hon. Assiniboia PC KHAN, Obby Fort Whyte PC KINEW, Wab Fort Rouge NDP LAGASSÉ, Bob Dawson Trail PC LAGIMODIERE, Alan, Hon. Selkirk PC LAMONT, Dougald St. Boniface Lib. LAMOUREUX, Cindy Tyndall Park Lib.

LATHLIN, Amanda The Pas-Kameesak NDP LINDSEY, Tom Flin Flon NDP MALOWAY, Jim Elmwood NDP MARCELINO, Malaya Notre Dame NDP MARTIN, Shannon McPhillips PC MICHALESKI, Brad Dauphin PC MICKLEFIELD, Andrew Rossmere PC MORLEY-LECOMTE, Janice Seine River PC MOSES, Jamie St. Vital NDP NAYLOR, Lisa Wolseley NDP NESBITT, Greg Riding Mountain PC PEDERSEN, Blaine Midland PC PIWNIUK, Doyle, Hon. Turtle Mountain PC REYES, Jon, Hon. Waverley PC SALA, Adrien St. James NDP SANDHU, Mintu The Maples NDP SCHULER, Ron Springfield-Ritchot PC SMITH, Andrew, Hon.

Lagimodière PC SMITH, Bernadette Point Douglas NDP SMOOK, Dennis La Vérendrye PC SQUIRES, Rochelle, Hon. Riel PC STEFANSON, Heather, Hon. Tuxedo PC TEITSMA, James Radisson PC WASYLIW, Mark Fort Garry NDP WHARTON, Jeff, Hon. Red River North PC WIEBE, Matt Concordia NDP WISHART, Ian Portage la Prairie PC WOWCHUK, Rick Swan River PC Vacant Thompson

1751 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA Monday, May 9, 2022 The House met at 1:30 p.m. Madam Speaker: O Eternal and Almighty God, from Whom all power and wisdom come, we are assembled here before Thee to frame such laws as may tend to the welfare and prosperity of our province. Grant, O merciful God, we pray Thee, that we may desire only that which is in accordance with Thy will, that we may seek it with wisdom and know it with certainty and accomplish it perfectly for the glory and honour of Thy name and for the welfare of all our people. Amen.

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

Good afternoon, everybody. Please be seated. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS INTRODUCTION OF BILLS Bill 37–The International Child Support and Family Maintenance (Hague Convention) Act Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): I move, seconded by the Minister of Families (Ms. Squires), that Bill 37, The International Child Support and Family Maintenance (Hague Convention) Act, be now read for a first time. Motion presented. Mr.

Goertzen: The bill will improve access to justice by provi ding Manitoba families with ad ditional avenues for establishing, varying and enforcing child and spousal support where one party lives outside of Canada, by enabling Manitoba to implement the 2007 Hague Convention on the Inter national Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance. This is the second province in Canada to bring forward this implementation bill.

If implemented, the convention will expand the number of foreign juris - dictions with which Manitoba has child and spousal support reciprocity, including France, Italy, Brazil and the Philippines. I look forward to all parties' support of this impor- tant piece of legislation. Madam Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? [Agreed] Committee reports? TABLING OF REPORTS Hon.

Cameron Friesen (Minister of Finance): In accordance with step 1 of the financial procedure, I am tabling a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor regarding supplementary Estimates for the 2022-2023 financial year and supporting documents. Thank you. And it is my pleasure to rise today in the Assembly to table the errata to the Estimates of Expenditure pages 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 68, 70, 128 and 130. Thank you.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Madam Speaker: The honourable Minister of Health, and I would indicate that the required 90 minutes notice prior to routine proceedings was provided, in accordance with rule 26(2). Would the honourable minister please proceed with her statement. National Nursing Week Hon. Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health): Today I would like to acknowledge all nurses for their hard work and dedication. Today is the beginning of National Nursing Week. It provides the perfect opportunity for all Canadians to take a moment and reflect on the incredible work nurses do for all of us.

This year's theme, Madam Speaker, for National Nursing Week is We Answer the Call, and Manitoba's nurses time and time again have proven this statement to be true. Nurses have always been the backbone of our health-care system, and without them we would not be where we are today.

1752 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 9, 2022 Manitoba nurses have always led by example by providing exceptional care for their patients. They have been the smiling faces who greet us at hospitals and clinics, and they're also the ones who hold our hands while we receive the worst health news possible. For the past two years, they have led Manitobans through COVID and ensured a high quality of care for all their patients. Nurses have demonstrated time and time again their strength, knowledge and courage by putting Manitobans first. Their commitment and dedication has been an inspiration to all.

I would like to especially take a moment to thank the over 500 nurses that were redeployed, over the past two years, away from their program areas to ICUs to provide critical care during t he pandemic. They have now, many of them, returned to their program areas and are settling in. Thank you on–from the bottom of my heart on behalf of all Manitobans. Also, the work of retired nurses who came back to the health system after being retired fo r many, many years.

I thank them, as well as the hundreds of others who worked on the vaccination efforts to help decrease the impact of Omicron and put Manitoba in a place where we can start to feel normal again. In addition, they have helped inspire and mentor the next generation of nurses, helping them develop into the health-care superheroes they are. And, Madam Speaker, I was so pleased to join the graduating class last October for the faculty of nursing, where we saw 115 new nurses graduate from the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, and I welcome them to our health system.

And we have many more nurses graduating this coming spring who will ensure that patient care is always top of mind. Thank you to all the nurses for their continued hard work and commitment to our health-care system. MLA Uzoma Asagwara (Union Station): Madam Speaker, I am always pleased to speak about the amazing nurses working in our province, and to thank them for going above and beyond to provide the best care possible for patients and our communities.

Manitoba nurses are at the bedside and on the front lines as people face serious health challenges and injuries, and they're there to witness the big moments in people's lives, whether it be the new birth joining a family or at the end of life with families and loved ones. They do this, and–always pro viding patients with the best care possible and dignity as many are going through some of the most difficult and uncertain moments of their lives. The pandemic has demonstrated even more just how courageous and committed our nurses are.

This year's theme for National Nursing Week is W e Answer the Call, and I believe it's very fitting because our nurses have truly gone above and beyond in the fight against COVID and is stabilizing our health-care system. * (13:40) Unfortunately, Madam Speaker, the same is not true of this government. While Manitoba nurses have worked almost 1 million hours of overtime last year, this government's cuts have created enormous–sorry– enormous nurse vacancy rates across the province.

At Winnipeg's Grace Hospital one of three posi- tions in the ER is currently vacant, and at Victoria Hospital ER patients will be placed in hallways and staff lounges because there's not enough space and staff to care for them. Rural and northern nurses face these challenges and often many more. Overworking and understaffing nurses is exacer- bating the immense stress and exhaustion nurses are already experiencing due to years of mismanagement of our health- care system by this government.

Manitoba Nurses Union has been sounding the alarm on the nursing shortage for five years, and it's cur - rently the worst it's ever been. I call on this government to step up and listen to our health-care professionals and advocates. There are many things –so many things –this government can do to address the cri sis, like prioritizing and 'streamlizing'–streamlining the process for licensing internationally educated nurses and creating strategies for keeping nurses and recent graduates in Manitoba, strategies we so desperately need here.

It's not enough, Madam Speaker, to recognize the indispensable work of our nurses and that they do every single day, but our nurses need much more from this government. Quite frankly, what they need is real action to be taken. Thank you. Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, I ask leave to speak to the minister's statement. Madam Speaker: Does the member have leave to respond to the ministerial statement? [Agreed]

May 9, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1753 Mr. Gerrard: Madam Speaker, I begin my comments on National Nurses Week with a big thank you t o all nurses in Manitoba. What you have done during the COVID pandemic has been and is absolutely extra - ordinary, and has often been at great personal and family sacrifice.

In spite of many of you having had to switch positions or locations as a result of the Conservative government's reorganization in the 2016 to twenty-nine period, and in spite of the fact that much of the Conservative government's reorganization has made life and the delivery of health care more dif - ficult, you have continued to work and to help others in a way that has been outstanding. Even when the Conservative government closed down emergency rooms or urgent care centres or QuickCare clinics where you were working, you have put every effort into continuing to provide care for Manitobans.

Even when the Conservative government failed to listen to recommendations from various know ledge- able sources to ensure adequate staffing of long-term care facilities, including personal -care homes, you have done everything possible under very dif ficult circumstances to help seniors and elders in our province. Even when the Conservative government failed miserably in filling staffing positions, to the extent that many, many areas of nursing care in Manitoba were understaffed by 10 to 30 per cent or more, you still came to work and you did everything you pos - sibly could to help Manitobans.

Even when the Conservative government so botched the organization of our provincial health-care system that emergency rooms and urgent-care centres have wait times of 10 to 12 hours, and even when those who have had to wait a long time got frustrated and angry and took their anger out on you, you did not hesitate to continue working and giving everything you have to help Manitobans who are sick and who were having a lot of difficulty. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Merci. Miigwech. Dyakuyu. Madam Speaker: Further ministerial statements?

The honour able Minister of Transpor tation and Infrastructure–and I would indicate that the required 90 minutes noti ce prior to routine proceedings was provided, in accordance with our rule 26(2). Would the honour able minister please proceed with his statement. Flooding Update Hon. Doyle Piwniuk (Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure): Madam Speaker, I would like to take a minute and –to update my colleagues in this Chamber and the public at home regarding the ongoing flooding happening in our province of Manitoba. This past Friday the Red River water levels at Emerson peaked.

Our hydr aulic forecasting team expects that–the Red River to peak in Winnipeg later this week. Flooding continues in the Interlake, Red River Valley and many other portions of the central and southern Manitoba. The flood watch has been issued for streams in the Parkland regions draining from the –off the escarp - ment, causing the melting snow at higher elevations. Our hydrological forecasting team is actively monitoring the upcoming rain events, and I will continue to update the House as we receive more information.

There are 26 states of local emergencies but from 'greencipalities' evacuations totalled about 351 evacuees from about 146 households. Evacuees are from six RMs, including Montcalm, Ritchot, Morris, Dufferin, Rhineland and Emerson- Franklin. Additionally, the First Nations of Long Plains and Roseau River has recently declared local states of emergency, joining Peguis and Fisher River First Nations. Several communities throughout the province continue to experience loss of road access, flood properties–flooded properties and drinking water concerns.

The Canadian Red Cross has registered around 1,500 evacuees from Peguis First Nation and con- tinues to operate reception centres to –for impacted residents. The federal government remains the pri - mary support for Peguis, but our government, through our emergency measures staff, is continuing to assist whenever possible. The water levels began to decline in some areas of the province; communities are beginning to assess ongoing impacts and determine ne xt steps for recovery.

1754 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 9, 2022 Much of last week, the Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) and I travelled throughout the province to assess the extent of damage first -hand. In some cases, these damages are significant, and our government is ready to support communities in their rebuilding efforts. Just this afternoon, I announced our government's plans to issue a disaster financial assist ant program. However, our government is still very much in the state of response, so DFA specifics will be limited until damages can be p roperly assessed.

Please 'risit' our government website for more information in the days to come and weeks to come. Lastly, I want to extend the deepest thanks to all the government and municipal staff, as well as Manitobans across the province, for their continued flood-fighting efforts and resiliency throughout the challenging times. And I want to thank my staff, who have been out there continuously for many hours, doing assessments and working with the public; and they've–I've–they've been so grateful to have them in the area and making sure that com munities come through this.

From record-level snowfalls to recorded levels of precipitation, this winter and spring have been tough. Our government is ready, willing, and able to 'presevere' through chal lenging situations, and will continue to do so, for the benefit of all Manitobans. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Mr. Matt Wiebe (Concordia): As rain continues to pour outside the Legislature and across our province, this House reiterates our gratitude for all those labour- ing to protect Manitoba lives and property, and our commitment to support all those impacted by these conditions.

There's no corner of our province now left un- affected by flooding. As of this morning, roads are closed as far south as the North Dakota-Gretna border crossing and as far north as Tadoule Lake, including portions of Highway 6, as far west as Pukatawagan and as far east as Shamattawa. We need to remain cognizant of all the ways in which these closures will impact our communities even when they're not direct- ly threatened by flood waters themselves.

We also need to hear the concerns of those producers and farmers who are worried about how the flooding and water saturation will delay and hinder crop growing this summer. But first and foremost, our thoughts are with those who were evacuated from their communities this past weekend, especially the mothers who had to spend Mother's Day away from home. But amid all this devastation and suffering, we also reiterate our thanks to all those who are stepping up and working tirelessly to protect and care for their neighbours, their communities and our province.

We thank volunteers like Emma and Damian Bird, for example, who spent last Friday sandbagging homes around Peguis First Nat ion; and officials like Chris Ewen, the mayor of Ritchot, who is overseeing evacuation efforts in his municipality as nearby high- ways close down. As always, all members of this House, along with our NDP team, stand with all Manitobans during this trying time. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Mr. Dougald Lamont (St. Boniface): I ask leave to speak to the ministerial statement. Madam Speaker: Does the member have leave to respond to the ministerial statement? [Agreed] Leave has been granted. Mr.

Lamont: We welcome the declaration of disaster financial assistance today, which will help Manitobans in need. There have been some challenges getting infor - mation from this gov ernment over the pandemic and the flood has been no different. * (13:50) We did have to request a briefing, and when we asked specifically about the threat of flooding in the Interlake and Peguis First Nation in particular, we were told that it was a federal problem.

Two days later, Peguis was evacuating 900 people in some of the worst floods they've ever experienced, and they were still being left off flood bulletins, which I understand is an error that is now being corrected. There are multiple concerns we would love–once again like to highlight.

At an individual level, this government should restore help for homeowners look- ing to keep their basements dry; that after another year of frozen funding for munici palities, municipalities need relief and guaranteed multi -year funding, in- cluding increases to deal with an infrastructure back - log that is now in the billions, and the gov ernment should consider exploring dipping into the rainy day fund.

May 9, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1755 We are, after all, facing rains of 400 per cent to 600 per cent above normal in some areas, multiple more Colorado lows, massive costs for municipalities who faced years of flat-lined funding, all as we come out of a pandemic. If that isn't a rainy day, I don't know what is. This is actually an op portunity, as well, once the flood waters receded, to invest our way out of the pandemic and deal with future crises, but I don't see a plan for that.

We are deeply thankful and we want to ensure that, to everyone who's working so hard to keep their homes and com munities safe, that they have all the support they need. I do want to say, for the record, that when it comes to megaprojects like the Lake St. Martin diversion, the government did not do the basic work they needed to before submitting their application to the federal government. As one example, the Province's Lake St. Martin submission did not include a map of Lake St. Martin.

I sat with the Interlake regional tribal council and chiefs from SCO, who detailed the complete lack of consultation with First Nations, which was, I believe, in February 2020. One official said that oil companies routinely do better and more respectful consultation than was done by this gov ernment on a $500-million project.

There are plenty of reasons for First Nations to be sensitive on this issue since there are people who are still ho meless from the deliberate decision to sacrifice and flood First Nations over a decade ago, and there are still unanswered questions on–about community environmental impacts, including flood- ing graveyards where people's loved ones are buried, or the poss ible destruction of wilderness habitat, which has been routinely inflicted on First Nations without compensation, especially with hydro projects. Of all the emergencies we face as a province, floods are among the most common.

We should have a protocol–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Lamont: –down for handling them, and that ensures that all Manitobans –all Manitobans –are in - formed, engaged, empowered and protected. Thank you. Merci. * * * Hon. Cameron Friesen (Minister of Finance): Madam Speaker, I'm just canvassing the House to see if there is leave to revert to tabling of reports at this time. Madam Speaker: Is there leave to revert to tabling of reports? [Agreed] TABLING OF REPORTS (Continued) Hon. Cameron Friesen (Minister o f Finance): Madam Speaker, just a clari fication.

There is not a message from Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor to the supplemental Estimates for this year. Rather, I would be pleased to table the Supplement to Estimates of Expenditure for the Department of Finance for the fiscal year 2022-2023. MEMBERS' STATEMENTS Steinbach's Reach for the Top Champions Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Madam Speaker, we all want to reach for the top when it comes to our students. We want them to succeed.

Many of my colleagues will be familiar with the Reach for the Top trivia competition that features high -school students from around the province. Around 1985, I was part of a team at the Steinbach Regional Secondary School, the S RSS, preparing for this competition. I have no idea what my contribution to this team would have been, other than the coach said that if there were trivia questions about the Winnipeg Blue Bombers or Winnipeg Jets, they were relying on me. That year the TV version was cancelled and my sports trivia knowledge was never utilized, and my Reach for the Top dreams died.

But Reach for the Top has carried on in sub - sequent years, as it has for almost 55 years, away from TV, with schools competing against each other across the province for an opportunity to go to the national competition. This year, on April 27th, for the first time in school history, the Steinbach Regional Secondary School reached the top and won the provincial title. After going undefeated in the tournament, they beat Fort Richmond 360 to 270. They now prepare to participate in the national championships and carry the Manitoba banner to compete against schools from across the country.

1756 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 9, 2022 All of us should be proud of the young people who participated in this annual competition, as well as their coaches who have invested the hours to prepare and support them. And we are especially proud of the SRSS championship Reach for the Top Manitoba team. Colleagues, please join me in congratulating and welcoming to the Manitoba Legislature this year's Reach for the Top provincial champions: Kyle Jeffers, Garrett Hurst, Elena Knight, Brenden Kootstra and their coaches: Andrew Unger, who joins us, and Neal Rohne and Chris Yorke. Brar Family Acknowledgements Mr.

Diljeet Brar (Burrows): I'm honoured to rise in the House today and welcome my parents, Mangal Singh Brar and Amarjeet Kaur, and my younger brother Gurreet to the Manitoba Legislature for the first time. Given the importance of this moment, I would like to take a moment to share the story of our family, similar to the experiences of many other Manitobans. Throughout my childhood, I witnessed my par - ents work hard to give my brother and I a good life. My parents are retired educators who served mostly in rural schools of Punjab all their lives.

They raised us with limited resources, but they never complained and put me and my brother through college. Because of their grit and dedication, my brother and I were able to achieve university educations. I completed my masters in agriculture in India and my brother received his Ph.D. in horticulture from the University of Florida. He is now an assistant professor at California State University, the true academic of our family. Immigrant families sacrifice a lot, especially time spent together. My parents have missed seeing their grandchildren grow up.

My parents couldn't join me at my swearing-in ceremony in 2019 and my heart is full seeing my family here today. Last week, my brother landed in Winnipeg and I took him home to surprise my parents. It takes enormous sacrifice to immigrate, and our family paid the steep price of over a decade of separation before finally being united just last week, where we were able to sit together at the dinner table after 15 years. From humble origins, you both have taught Gurreet and I the true value of education and have instilled in me a strength and drive to fight for others.

Thank you for always putting us first, for allowing us to leave home in the search of a better life, not know- ing when you would see us next. I'd like to ask all members to join me in welcoming my parents and brother to the Manitoba Legislature and to appreciate the sacrifices all immi - grant families make to make Manitoba better. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Child and Youth Mental Health Day Mr.

James Teitsma (Radisson): Madam Speaker, this past Friday, youth and mental health advocates were invited to this Legislature to join in publicly proclaiming Friday, May 6th, as child and youth mental health day in Manitoba.

Kidthink, represented at the event by Rosanna Acacio, had asked the minister of mental health and wellness to officially proclaim–and community well- ness to officially proclaim this day, and so offer all of us the chance to celebrate the incredible work by organizations, service providers and educators across this province who support the mental health of chil - dren and youth, while also giving hope to those who are struggling.

Staff and board members from Kidthink, in- cluding founder Carmyn Aleshka, were on hand for the event, along with representatives from Project 11, northwest youth hub, Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba and Huddle. Even our esteemed Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning (Mr. Ewasko) headed over to the Rotunda to mark the event. And as a special surprise, when they arrived they found themselves surrounded by art –poems, paint - ings, videos, sketches –along with the student artists themselves in person.

Students from Argyle Alternative High School had spent time creating works of art depicting ad- dictions and the impact addictions have had on themselves, on their families, on their friends and their communities. They entered their art in a contest organized by Winnipeg School Division addictions counsellor Rosetta Troia. Rosetta was also in at- tendance at the event, together with several of her colleagues from Argyle Alternative High School and the Winnipeg School Division.

It's important to reduce the stigma of mental ill - ness and to encourage yout h to speak about their feelings with parents, teachers, peers and loved ones. By exhibiting their pieces of art inspired by addictions

May 9, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1757 for all of us, these students played a

part in reducing the stigma of discussing mental health. Special thanks also to the media that were on hand for spending significant time interviewing these stu - dents and giving them the opportunity to tell their stories. The artwork is still on display in the rotunda, and I encourage everyone to take a few minutes to have a look. * (14:00) All Manitoba children and youth need to hear that they are loved, that they are valued, and that they matter.

So join me in thanking the students, Rosetta Troia, Kidthink, the minister of mental health and wellness and everyone else who are helpin g to im- prove mental health for children and youth in our province. Jane Couch Mr. Adrien Sala (St. James): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to recognize an esteemed educator and leader within my com munity, Jane Couch. Jane was recently recognized by her colleagues as the 2022 Canadian Distinguished Principal of the Year, a national-level award given to a principal who's demonstrated excellence in leadership.

She's been a teacher for over 28 years and the principal at Stevenson -Britannia school for over a decade. Her passion in education is in learning about the strengths of students and staff and creating the conditions for them to share their strengths with others. Jane's approach to education is founded on the belief that the role of educators is to help children become the best they can be. Learning from mistakes and celebrating everything are key to accomplishing this.

She teaches that our differences are special and make us all better, and she makes it a focus to cele- brate the cultures of all families attending her school. There is no doubt that Jane works tirelessly alongside her team to create the best possible learning environment for her students. She is committed to reconciliation and is a strong proponent of imple - menting the truth and reconciliation Calls to Action in the classroom and beyond. Jane, your work is invaluable. You, along with your team, change lives every day and make our province a better place, one student at a time, one day at a time.

Madam Speaker, I ask all members to join me in thanking Jane for her commit ment to helping kids in St. James become the best that they can be. Morgan Grace Ginther Hon. Alan Lagimodiere (Minister of Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations): Madam Speaker, Métis fiddle playing is medicine; it pulls you in; it connects your soul to the culture and roots of the Métis voyagers who played the fiddle to keep the rhythm while paddling. Métis fiddle music is a unique blend of First Nations rhythm and beats and European melodies.

Joining us here today is a very gifted 15-year-old Métis fiddle player from the Lord Selkirk Regional Comprehensive Secondary School in Selkirk. Ms. Morgan Ginther–or Morgan Grace, as she is known–is a proud Red River Méti s and a grade 10 honour-roll student. She grew up surrounded by music and was first introduced to the fiddle at a young age. By age four, Morgan received her first fiddle. She would quickly learn that she was a left-handed fiddle player, a rarity in the musical field of violin and fiddle playing.

Morgan is known nationally and internationally for her commitment to progressing in her musical career and for her tenacity. Morgan loves the sound of the Métis fiddle. She was–has embraced her Métis roots and takes great joy in bringing the culture and heritage of the Red River Métis to many others through music. Morgan thanks her family, friends, Red River Métis, and the many teachers and musicians she has encountered along the way for her success.

Because o f Morgan's unique style and commit - ment to her culture and heritage, she is an endorsed musician from the gigla violins, a violin handcrafted from Romania. Morgan has played in front of many crowds at different events, bringing joy, a lot of toe-tapping and the jigging wherever she goes. She has played the national anthem at the Winnipeg Goldeyes game and performed in front of Winnipeg Jets and the Manitoba Moose fans. In the next big step to her musical career, Morgan will launch her first CD later this month at the human rights museum on May 28th at 7 p.m.

Mark that date in your calendar as you are all invited to attend.

1758 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 9, 2022 I would like to ask my colleagues in the Chamber to please join me in celebrating Morgan Grace on her current success and sending her best wishes for a bright, rewarding musical career. ORAL QUESTIONS Minimum Wage Increase Request Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Madam Speaker, over 23,000 Manitoba families worked for minimum wage last year. That's tens of thousands of families, of parents who are working hard just to get by, to put a roof over their head. But, come this October, Manitoba will have the lowest minimum wage of anywhere in Canada.

Making sure Manitobans have a paycheque they can live on is a priority for us on this side of the House. We know Manitobans who put in a hard day's work deserve a living wage. Will the Premier commit to ensuring the same? Hon. Heather Stefanson (Premier): The Leader of the Opposition will know that it was our gov ernment that indexed the minimum wage, Madam Speaker, and we will continue to move forward to make life more affordable for Manitobans. He will also know that there is a shortage of labour out there, Madam Speaker. And so, in order – it's a supply and demand issue.

And to explain it to the Leader of the Op position, if he will listen, what that means is that, if people want to attract high -quality workers, that they are going to have to pay a little bit more. And that is exactly what is happening right now in the event that we have a shortage of labour. Madam Speaker: The honour able Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Mr. Kinew: You know, growing up, we're all taught that if you work hard, you'll get ahead. But un- fortunately, that's just not true in Manitoba right now under this gov ernment.

You can work full time in Manitoba on minimum wage and still live in poverty. That's just not right. That's why a future NDP government, should we get the great honour to serve, would imme diately make the minimum wage $15 an hour, and then we'll make it a living wage after that. Will the Premier increase the minimum wage in Manitoba to $15 an hour? [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mrs. Stefanson: Well, Madam Speaker, this is about making life more affordable for Manitobans, and that's exactly what we are doing in this budget.

We are increasing the edu cation property tax rebate to 50 per cent by next year, Madam Speaker. There's all sorts of other things –we're creating a Residential Renter's Tax Credit, saving Manitoba renters up to $525 per year. That is steps towards making life more affordable for Manitobans. That is what Budget 2022 does, Madam Speaker, and we will continue to work with Manitobans to make life more affordable. Madam Speaker: The honour able Leader for the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary. Mr.

Kinew: Madam Speaker, can the Premier or somebody on the PC side of the House tell me why they think it's okay for someone to work full time and live in poverty? It's just not right. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Order. Mr. Kinew: There's no defence to the minimum wage policy that this government is enacting. I hear the member for Fort Whyte (Mr. Khan) heckling. Of course, we know that he received a huge cash handout from this govern ment, something that minimum wage workers just can't rely on.

I'm no fan of Doug Ford or Scott Moe, Madam Speaker, but they are doing better than this Premier when it comes to the minimum wage. Will the Premier stand in her place today and explain why she thinks it's okay for somebody who works full time to still live in poverty? Mrs. Stefanson: I will remind the member opposite that it was an NDP government where Manitoba was the child poverty capital of Canada. We certainly don't want to go back to those dark days of the previous NDP government, Madam Speaker.

What I will say to the Leader of the Op position: While he may talk about $15, Madam Speaker, he will also put together policies that will tax that money away at a lower rate. And so, I think what it is, is that we want to ensure that we make life more affordable for Manitobans. That's what Manitobans have asked us to do, and that's what we will deliver on. Madam Speaker: The honour able Leader of the Official Opposition, on a new question.

May 9, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1759 Health System Consolidation Staffing Level Concerns Mr. Wab Kinew (Leader of the Official Opposition): Madam Speaker, there is an absolute crisis in the emergency rooms in our health- care system right now. Brian Pallister, he caused a lot of a damage with the cuts that he ordered the members for Steinbach (Mr. Goertzen) and Tuxedo (Mrs. Stefanson) and Morden-Winkler (Mr. Friesen) to carry out during their terms as Health minister. But now we see the Premier carrying out this situation. It was already a crisis when she took office and now it's so much worse.

We see patients being cared for in hallways, Madam Speaker. We were supposed to have ended hallway medicine when Gary Filmon left office. Now we see that it only increases. * (14:10) Will the Premier acknowl edge the crisis in our hospitals and stop her plan for hallway medicine today? Hon. Heather Stefanson (Premier): Well, what I remember, Madam Speaker, is an NDP gov ernment that got elected on f ixing health care and doing away with hallway medicine in six months with $15 million.

That was never fixed back then, and what I will say today is the litany of false accusations con- tinues by the Leader of the Opposition. Madam Speaker, $7.2 billion invested in health care in this budget. It's the largest investment in health care in the history of our province. We are committed to ensuring that Manitobans get the health care that they need when they need it. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a supplementary question. Mr. Kinew: For all the an nouncements this govern- ment makes, what do we actually see in hospitals today?

More people in the hallways; we see staff shortages; we see paramedics; we hear about pub lic health nurses being called in to try and address the staffing crisis that is entirely the creation of this gov- ernment. They were warned multiple times that the cuts that they made to emergency rooms, to ICUs, to beds in our health- care system would create a staffing crisis. They decided to proceed in spite of those warn- ings and chose to ignore them. Now it's the patients in the hallways of ERs at the Grace, at Victoria General, the urgent care, who are the ones left to shoulder that burden.

Will the Premier stop putting patients in hallways at the Vic, at the Grace and at so many other hospitals? Mrs. Stefanson: I know the Leader of the Opposition would like to erase the fact that there was a worldwide pandemic, Madam Speaker, and the challenges that that has created not just for our health- care system here in Manitoba but, indeed, across the country and around the world. We recog nize that there's a nursing shortage, Madam Speaker. There was a nursing shortage back when the previous NDP government was there. They didn't fix it then.

Madam Speaker, we are committed to more– 400 more nursing seats and we will ensure that we get more nurses working the front lines. What's very interesting is that we have a plan and a vision for the future of health care, Madam Speaker. I wonder if the NDP has a plan, or is it just some- what of a hidden agenda. Madam Speaker: The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition, on a final supplementary. Mr. Kinew: Madam Speaker, the PC plan is to care for seniors in the hallway. There's no dignity in that approach to health care.

The PC plan is to send people who need surgeries not just out of province, but out of the country. Madam Speaker, they cannot hide behind the cuts that they made and try and point the finger at the pan- demic because the St. Boniface emergency room was already on diversion in 2019. It was a direct result of their closures of emergency rooms at the Concordia, Seven Oaks and Victoria General. Emergency doctors and nurses raised the alarm immediately. They continued to make cuts, and now the situation –which we already knew was a crisis – continues to get worse and worse and worse.

We know that what's required is a part nership with those on the front lines and serious invest ments in health-care capacity. Will the Premier start to support our efforts to repair health care in Manitoba by stopping the cuts and starting to work with the front lines? Mrs. Stefanson: Madam Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition has no efforts because he has no plan or

1760 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 9, 2022 vision for the future of Manitoba when it comes to health care. We've seen that time and time again. It's easy to stand up and criticize, Madam Speaker, but at some point he's going to have to put forward a p lan and a vision for the future of the province. We are still waiting. Manitobans are still waiting from the Leader of the Op position to come up with that plan. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mrs. Stefanson: Where is it? When will Manitobans know what his plan is, or is his plan simply more of a hidden agenda? [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order.

Health System Consolidation Hospital Bed Capacity MLA Uzoma Asagwara (Union Station): Madam Speaker, a leaked memo from Victoria General Hospital r efers to a bed crisis. Patients are being transferred to, and I quote, non- traditional locations. These include staff lounges and overflowing medical rooms. It's hallway medicine, Madam Speaker. It was a mistake to close 124 beds across Winnipeg, but it was a decision that this government made. Why won't the minister restore the beds that they cut and ensure that patients aren't forced to sit in hallways? Hon.

Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health): I thank the member for Union Station for raising this matter in the Chamber today. I want to first start by thanking all the health-care leaders and all the health -care staff at the grassroots, in hospitals and clinics, for the incred ible work that they've been doing over the past two years to ensure Manitobans receive the health-care services that they need.

And the time –we are not out of a very difficult pandemic, Madam Speaker, and I just want to thank those individuals again–National Nursing Week–I thank all of you for the incred ible work that you 're doing and I stand in awe of what you are doing to help Manitobans during this time. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Union Station, on a supplementary question.

MLA Asagwara: Madam Speaker, the memo at Victoria General says, and I quote: At all sites across the region this will mean pulling more patients out of the emergency rooms to wherever patient -care space can be created, in some case, in non -traditional loca- tions. End quote. These spaces, Madam Speaker include hallways, staff lounges and overflow rooms. The decision to close 124 beds across Winnipeg was a mistake this government made. Why won't the minister end hallway medicine and restore these beds to ensure that patients are actually able to get the care they need and deserve? Ms.

Gordon: It's my understanding, from speaking with the health-care leadership, that there are several sites that are experiencing a surge in patient demand, and we are committed–our government as well as the health-care leadership –working hand- in-hand to ad- dress those issues. And I'd want to commend the leadership–and many of these ideas came forward right from the hospital floor: initiatives to level transport arrivals across all sites, improving the timelines for individuals to receive lab tests such as COVID. Madam Speaker, some temporary measures have been made.

Patients who are moved, contrary to what the member for Union Station says, are being dis - charged within 24 to 48 hours. They're low -acuity patients. And we want to address this issue as soon as possible. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Union Station, on a final supplementary. MLA Asagwara: Madam Speaker, the chief medical officer of Victoria Hospital is referring to this as a bed crisis. Winnipeg hospitals have run out of capacity. Patients brought by ambulance are being diverted away from emergency rooms.

Nearly a quarter of all patients at Health Sciences Centre are leaving without ever even being seen. This government closed clinics, urgent care cen - tres and emergency rooms. They closed 124 hospital beds. Madam Speaker, health-care providers need more than empty thank yous from this minister. Why won't the minister end hallway medicine and restore the beds to ensure that patients get the care they deserve when they need it?

May 9, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1761 Ms. Gordon: It's really shameful today to hear the member for Union Station stand in this Chamber – someone who worked in the health system, but I guess now that they are no longer in the health system, it's not okay to thank the health-care workers. But I'm going to continue to thank them, Madam Speaker. Our health-care facilities are experiencing a surge and I want to assure patients that the system is balancing available staff and patient needs to continue to provide safe patient care. Women's Reproductive Rights Access to Services Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St.

Johns): Women and gender-diverse folks continue to face attacks on their body autonomy and their reproductive rights. A recent leaked US Supreme Court draft shows that they intend to overturn Roe v. Wade, removing legal protections to access abortions. * (14:20) Madam Speaker, this is wrong on so many levels, and in Canada we're not immune to these attacks by anti-choice. We need to do more to protect and pro- vide essential reproductive rights an d to increase ac- cess to these services. Will the Minister of Health commit to doing so today? Hon.

Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health): Our government cannot speculate on matters before the United States of America courts. And it's very dis - turbing to me that the member for St. Johns is fear mongering and bringing this issue forward to bring fear into the hearts of Manitoba women. But, unlike members opposite, we don't play politics with women's health, Madam Speaker. Abortion services are health services. And while our hearts go out to our–to women and our allies in the US, we are organizing to defend their rights. This American court decision will not change access in Manitoba.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. Johns, on a supplementary question. Abortion Protest Buffer Zone Request for Support for Bill 203 Ms. Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns): We know that removing legal access to abortions doesn't reduce the number of abortions, Madam Speaker; it only reduces the number of safe abortions. Abortion is essential health care and it must be treated as such. Currently, many people seeking abor- tions face harassment and inti midation from anti - abortion protestors. That's why I've in troduced Bill 203 four times already in this House.

This would create buffer zones around essential health-care services providing abor- tions. Twice, members opposite have stood in this House and voted against it. Will they do the right thing and final ly support this bill? Hon. Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health): I don't think any member of this province should be blocked at any time from entering a health-care facility. I know the member for St. Johns doesn't mind blocking railway lines, and that's okay.

But I will say that we will not support anyone who wants to harass or threaten our health- care staff or any individual seeking care in a health-care facility in this province. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. Johns, on a final supplementary. Ms. Fontaine: Now more than ever, it's important to stand up and protect abortion access and abortion rights. Currently, people seeking reproductive health services can face harassment, intimidation and persua- sion from anti-choice Manitobans. This deters people from seeking the services that they need.

Bill 203 would create a protest buffer zone that would protect citizens who are accessing abortion services. This gov ernment should do the right thing and support this bill. Will they finally do so today? Ms. Gordon: Again, I rise in the House to say that our government does not support any action that is taken to block a health-care worker from entering their place of work, a Manitoban from accessing health- care services, and anyone who does that is wrong. That should not happen, Madam Speaker. And that applies to all health-care services in this province.

We will continue to stand on the side of access, Madam Speaker. DeFehr Furniture Production Facility Closure Concerns for Manitoba's Economy Mr. Mark Wasyliw (Fort Garry): Madam Speaker, DeFehr Furniture is closing its Winnipeg production facility; 224 workers are losing their jobs.

1762 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 9, 2022 And we know that's just the beginning. Manitoba's momentum has stalled, em ployment actually declined over the last two months. Thousands of jobs are being lost in northern Manitoba, and hun- dreds more are lost like we're seeing at DeFehr. Why is the minister ignoring the needs of Manitoba business, and why is he refusing to address the problems in Manitoba's economy? Hon.

Cameron Friesen (Acting Minister of Economic Development, Investment and Trade): I would like to say that our gov ernment has been working actively –the Minister for Economic Development, the Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) in her new role of leading the economic com mittee of Cabinet–and that work has been very, very robust. As a matter of fact, just last week we saw New Flyer Industries sign a new bus contract with the City of Toronto for –to liver more than 500 new el ectric vehicles. All over this province, there is hope.

There are some cases, like the one at Palliser Furniture, where there's been some changes–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Friesen: –but clearly, Madam Speaker, this is a government that continues to say we are open for busi- ness, and the results are very widespread that business is feeling good about this budget and about the future. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Fort Garry, on a supplementary question. Mr. Wasyliw: Not one me ntion about DeFehr, Madam Speaker, in that response. Not one mention of 224 workers losing their jobs. Madam Speaker, 80 per cent–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order.

Mr. Wasyliw: –of businesses in Manitoba disprove of this PC gov ernment's performanc e. That is the worst approval rating since 2017. It's no surprise. This gov ernment has abandoned business in Manitoba and they have failed to support business through the pandemic. Now, 224 manufac - turing jobs–family-supporting jobs–are disappearing in Manitoba. In the past–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Wasyliw: –our province contracted with agen- cies to help support workers when they were in a situation like this. This minister is silent.

So why is the minister not responding to the needs of Manitoba– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. Hon. Scott Fielding (Minister of Natural Resources and Northern Development): Making sure that Manitobans are employed is a real priority for our government. In fact, we've got a plan, Madam Speaker.

It's a plan that's going to attract busi nesses by lowering payroll taxes; having a competitive tax environment ; having venture capital worth $50 million amassed by people in the business community for a long period of time; less red tape; as well as a number of tax credits that we think will grow Manitoba's businesses. We want to make sure we work with companies and people that have been impacted by this, and we think a competitive tax environment is something that can bring jobs to Manitoba. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Fort Garry, on a final supplementary. Mr.

Wasyliw: Madam Speaker, we've seen this gov- ernment's plan when it comes to the economy, and what it looks like is not pretty. It m eans filling the pockets of the member of Fort Whyte –hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer dollars –while those who are not friends of this political party get no support–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Wasyliw: –when they're struggling. Madam Speaker, 224 workers are losing their jobs, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr.

Wasyliw: Manitoba is running behind the Canadian average and em ployment in Manitoba has declined over the last two months. Why is the minister not responding to the closure at DeFehr and the needs of both workers and busi - nesses in Manitoba? Mr. Fielding: We know what the NDP's plan for this is: they don't have a plan. And that's the history of the NDP, Madam Speaker. We h ave a plan to be more competitive, to drive and attract busi nesses to Manitoba. In fact, over the last number of years we've had the highest increase in invest ments in Manitoba, in

May 9, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1763 terms of things like manufacturing, other sectors. We think a plan that consists of lower taxes, having tax credits to have busi nesses here, ensuring venture capital and less red tape is going to attract more busi- nesses. That's our plan. Where's the NDP's plan? International Student Health Care Request to Reinstate Coverage Mr. Jamie Moses (St. Vital): Madam Speaker, many international students are being forced to pay massive bills for health care in Manitoba.

We've heard stories of students having to pay tens of thousands of dollars wait–'saking' treatment for mental health, COVID-19 and more. The PC government cut health services for inter- national students back in 2018. That was simply a mistake. Will the minister do the right thing and reinstate health-care services for international students today? Hon.

Jon Reyes (Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration): I was pleased to recently meet with the Manitoba Alliance of Post- Secondary Students, representing those from the Uni versity of Manitoba, the Uni versity of Manitoba Graduate Students' Association, Assiniboine Com munity College, Uni versity of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytech, who advocate for all post - secondary students, including inter national students across Manitoba. * (14:30) Our government is listening to students, including international students, on ways to remove barriers and find solutions to student success, graduation and labour market success.

International students continue to play an important role at post-secondary institutions and we value our international students who study and stay while contributing to a better life in Manitoba. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. Vital, on a supplementary question. Mr. Moses: Madam Speaker, I am pleased to fight on behalf of inter national students while this minister does–takes no action. We have heard terrible stories of students owing tens, if not even hundreds of thou- sands of dollars when it comes to their health care right here in Manitoba.

We know that we can have devastating impacts when we force international students to pay their own health care, and it costs them opportunities right here in Manitoba. This simply needs to change. This gov - ernment can easily sol ve this problem by reinstating health care for international students. Will the minister make this commitment today? Mr. Reyes: Madam Speaker, we on this side of the House know that inter national students are valued members of our community and are extremely impor- tant to Manitoba's growing economy.

That is why we are making record invest ments of–in the post -secondary sector, so our students, including inter national students, can access world - class post-secondary education in Manitoba. The m ember opposite has routinely brought up specific individual cases as pawns, ignoring the fact that all international students in Manitoba must have health coverage, either arranged by their school as part of the annual tuition–in fact, all juris dictions in Canada require students to have some form of health coverage, including British Columbia, the only NDP-governed province in Manitoba–or in Canada.

Madam Speaker: The honourable member for St. Vital, on a final supplementary. Mr. Moses: Madam Speaker, Manitoba needs to be a welcoming place for newcomers. Many international students will choose to apply for residency here in Manitoba and call this their home. But Manitoba's no longer welcome with this PC government. Many international students have to pay out of pocket for their health-care services. These students will end up owing for –a fortune just to get their health-care services.

Will this government do the right thing, reinstate health-care services and welcome inter national stu - dents to Manitoba, and will the minister choose to do so today? Mr. Reyes: Madam Speaker, unlike the member opposite–to our–who's trying to politicize this issue, I want to assure our international students that you have health-care coverage in Manitoba as soo n as you arrive in our wonderful province to study. Our province is the home of hope, and we are better with each new family that chooses Manitoba.

Our gov ernment intro duced the Immigration Advisory Council to redesign the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program based on the labour market needs

1764 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 9, 2022 for new comers, including inter national students, to get good employment and stay permanently in Manitoba. Madam Speaker, unlike the top–all- talk-no- action NDP, we have a plan for our students, as you want them to study and stay in Manitoba. Thank you, Madam Speaker. COVID-19 Deaths Case Numbers Mr. Dougald Lamont (St. Boniface): I know this government wants to pretend the pandemic is over, and we –apparently, we've moved to a new phase – denial–because our hospital beds are still full of COVID cases.

Hospitalizations since March have been worse than the entire second wave, but equally of concern is that the data keeps changing. I table the gov ernment's own figures for severe outcomes of COVID -19: at first, for the week –for week 16, which is April 17th to the 23rd, the govern- ment said 13 people had died; the next week, they revised the figures to say 26 had. Can the Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) explain why the gov ernment initially understated COVID d eaths for week 16 by half? Hon.

Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health): I want to thank–I know this will not be pleasing to the ears of the member for Union Station (MLA Asagwara)–but I want to thank all the individuals who worked so hard on our COVID respo nse; the public health system; Brent Roussin, our Chief Prov incial Public Health Officer, for the incredible work that they did over the past two years, and continue to do to keep Manitobans safe. And I just want to highlight again for Manitobans what is in Budget 2022 for Health: $7.2 billion total for health -care budget.

That is the most signi ficant health-care investment in the history of our province. It's over $1 billion more than the previous government ever– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. The honourable member for St. Boniface, on a supplementary question. Health-Care Workers with Long COVID Workers Compensation Coverage Mr. Dougald Lamont (St. Boniface): We're also in- credibly concerned about this gov ernment's in - difference to long COVID, a cluster of long -lasting and debilitating physical and mental symptoms.

I recently read a quote we should all keep in mind about the long- term effects of long COVID: Every - thing that you know–you think you know about polio is long polio, everything you think you know about MS is long mono and AIDS is long HIV. It's estimated that Manitoba has had one of the worst COVID infection rates in Canada, and that means more long COVID. And I heard from a nurse recently, who contracted CO VID at work in the second wave and is now being denied WC benefits.

Will this gov ernment ensure that health -care workers who get long COVID at work–in National Nursing Week –will be covered for this workplace injury? Hon. Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health): I once again want to recog nize the incredible work that has been done by many, many professions throughout our health system over the past two years to keep Manitobans safe. Again, I want to reinforce what our chief public health officer has said many times: Practice the fun - damentals; if you're sick, stay home; social distance; wear a mask; wash your hands; keep yourself, your family, your loved ones safe.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Peguis First Nation Flood Preparation Provincial Flood Projections Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, Thursday, April 28th, the Manitoba caucus was given a briefing on the flood–which I thank the minister. During the briefing, I asked spe cifically about concerns for the Peguis First Nation. There were no immediate concerns raised. Two days later, Peguis was in the middle of a very severe flood and Glenn Hudson, chief at Peguis, was expressing concerns that they had not received sufficient warning from the Province of the potential for such severe flooding.

Why was there such a drastic failure to provide an early warning to the Peguis First Nation so they'd have more time to prepare, and what measures will be taken

May 9, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1765 to ensure such a terrible failure in the Province's pro- jections does not occur in the future? Hon. Doyle Piwniuk (Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure): Thank you for the –I want to thank the member for the question. When we had a briefing, the thing that was–when it came to Peguis First Nation, the thing was there was concerns about the amount of snow and the rain that was coming. We did mention it to the member.

And the thing is, when it comes to First Nation communities, it's Indigenous Services Canada that is actually the one that looks and works with the First Nations Communities, along with the Red Cross. And the thing is, Madam Speaker, we –our EMO staff are out there all the time. Our –when it came to our Trans portation and Infra structure staff, when it comes to culverts, our staff are out there working on it, making sure that the–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Piwniuk: –water flows–as much of it. And then myself and the Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) were out there.

I didn't see any signs of the opposi tion or the Liberals out there, Madam Speaker. Thank you. Municipal Road Maintenance Funding Announcement Mr. James Teitsma (Radisson): Madam Speaker, this has been a springtime for the history books. From April blizzards to May rain showers, weather this season has been unpredictable, to say the least. Anyone who has driven lately has seen the state of roads across this province, as well, and recognized the impact that the weather has had on the roads and that those roads have subsequently had on Manitobans.

Like, I even saw someone setti ng up a fishing pole to demonstrate the absurdity of the situation. So my question is for the Minister of Munici pal Relations: Would she please share with this House what the Province is doing to help our munici pal partners fix their roads and improv e the lives of Manitobans? Hon. Eileen Clarke (Minister of Municipal Relations): I want to thank the member for Radisson for such an uplifting question. This morning, I was proud to stand with our Premier (Mrs. Stefanson) as well as municipal – [interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Ms.

Clarke: –partners to announce $15 million to be distributed to municipalities for road maintenance. This fund will be distributed based on popula tion, which amounts to $8.8 million for Winnipeg, $605,000 for Br andon, $210,000 for Steinbach and millions more to all munici palities across our province.

Members opposite may be opposed to this, just like they voted against $25 million in funding for our communities in budget '22 for building sus tainable communities, but our government is absolutely com- mitted to working with our munici pal partners, in interests of safety, through investments such as this. * (14:40) North Perimeter Access Point Closures Upgrades and Investments Needed Mr. Matt Wiebe (Concordia): Madam Speaker, this government has an obligation to make travelling on our highways safer, and that includes the North Perimeter.

But arbitrarily closing access points has created a whole host of new problems. We heard from a resident on Sturgeon Road who saw an ambulance he called pass right by as they couldn't find an access point to reach him. Meanwhile, his wife was struggling to breathe. Now, luckily, she made a full recovery, but others may not be so fortunate. Will the minister comm it to resolving and investing in this issue? Hon.

Doyle Piwniuk (Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure): Madam Speaker, I just want to thank the member for the question, but the member has to realize that, you know, the Perimeter Highway is beco ming a very busy highway. As the city of Winnipeg grow–continues to grow close to a 'milling' people, we're going to be looking at investing in the Perimeter Highway.

Any other major city in North America actually has a freeway system, and that's what we' re focusing on is trying to make Manitobans who are on that Perimeter Highway safe and –get home and to do so, so they're not –I have been out many times where I have had close calls when it comes to collisions on that North Perimeter. I saw a person who wan ted to

1766 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 9, 2022 turn on to the median lane. That's not safe, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Concordia, on a supplementary question. Mr. Wiebe: Madam Speaker, minutes matter when people's lives are at stake. Any time wasted on finding an access point is too much. If safety truly is the main concern of this government, it cannot come at the cost of emergency response times. Investments in upgrades, not closures, need to happen before something tragic happens. Will the minister commit with working with residents to find a solution today? Mr.

Piwniuk: Madam Speaker, when it comes to first responding–let's say, ambul ances, paramedics –you know what? The thing is every place in Manitoba has roads and stuff like that when we have to identify the locations. And we've been, actually, in the Perimeter Highway, when it comes to–they should have access when it comes to knowing which to turn off. And when it comes to north–again, the Perimeter Highway, we want to make sur e that people who are on that highway are going to be safe.

And that is why we've actually closed some of these access –because there's many–too many close calls, too many accidents, and we want to make sure that people are safe and not because–we want–we don't want a responder coming to an accident where there is major fatalities. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: The honourable member for Concordia, on a final supplementary. Mr. Wiebe: Madam Speaker, 750 residents signed a petition asking this p rovincial gov ernment to re - consider removing local access on the Perimeter.

Now, several months later, after I read those petitions here in the House, we're seeing the results of removing that access. Those residents on Sturgeon Road consider themselves fortunate, but many others may not be quite so lucky. And residents want some action to be taken before it gets that far. Will the minister commit to the upgrades and investments that have been asked for by residents and that are needed to ensure tru e safety for the residents and for people travelling on the North Perimeter Highway? Mr.

Piwniuk: Madam Speaker, I just wanted to let the member know, too, that, you know, we invested over $1.5 billion for the next three years when it comes to our infra structure. And the thing is, the Perimeter Highway is one of them. We are going to be –invest to making sure that there's access points. When it comes to intersections, we're going to make sure that we have–when it comes to the St. Mary interchange, we're g oing to do that – McGillivray. And we're looking at places in north–we're doing a study right now on North Perimeter, and we're going to make sure that there's access points and service roads.

We're going to invest in service roads, making sure that people can–riding along the Perimeter Highway and get to these destinations, especially when it comes to EMS. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Lead Contamination in Soil Report Consultations MLA Malaya Marcelino (Notre Dame): Madam Speaker, parents like me want to ensure that our chil- dren aren't being exposed to lead. The Province's recently released lead -in-soil report is a welcome step. However, advocates are wondering why there was no community consultation for this report.

They're wondering why no uni versity researchers, environmentalists or com munity groups were involved with this report. They're also wonder - ing why active industries that are contributing to lead contamination in Point Douglas and in St. Boniface weren't examined. And they want to know where these 2,100 examined sites are. Can the minister provide this information today? Hon. Jeff Wharton (Minister of Environment, Climate and Parks): We certainly know the record of the NDP when it comes to reports, Madam Speaker. They hid the reports for lead from Manitobans.

We're–we are the most transparent–[interjection] Madam Speaker: Order. Mr. Wharton: –government. Madam Speaker – [interjection] Madam Speaker, if the member –if the Leader of the Opposition would want to listen, we can certainly answer the question from the member from Notre Dame. I was pleased to meet with the member from Notre Dame and the member from Wolseley two

May 9, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1767 weeks ago in my office to do a review, and actually talk about partisa n ways we can move forward to ensure Manitobans, particularly our children in play- grounds, will remain safe. That's exactly what we're going to do, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker: The time for oral questions has expired. Petitions? There being no petitions, I have been notified that a member wishes to bring forward a matter of urgent public importance. MATTER OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE Mr.

Ian Bushie (Keewatinook): I move, seconded by the member from The Pas-Kameesak, that the regular business of the House be set aside to discuss a matter of urgent public importance, namely the impact on the lives and livelihoods of Manitobans due to the flooding in and around Peguis First Nation, all through the Interlake, Red River Valley and other regions of Manitoba.

Madam Speaker: Before recognizing the honourable member for Kameesak–or, for Keewatinook, I should remind all members that, under rule 39(2), the mover of a motion on a matter of urgent public importance and one member from the other recognized parties in the House are allowed not more than 10 minutes to explain the urgency of debating the matter imme - diately. As stated in Beauchesne's citation 390, urgency in this context means the urgency of imme diate debate, not of the subject matter of the m otion.

In their re - marks, members should focus exclusively on whether or not there is urgency of debate and whether or not the ordinary oppor tunities for debate will enable the House to consider the matter early enough to ensure that the public interests will not suffer. Mr. Bushie: Flooding. The flooding situation in Manitoba we've had over the last number of years, number of decades, in fact, different tragedies, different levels of flood, whether it be in southern Manitoba, whether it be in Interlake, whether it be in northern Manitoba.

And we're sitting here today with unprecedented levels in the Peguis First Nation. Over 1,500–as of this morning–Manitoba evacuees that have been forced to leave their homes; their homes, mind you, Madam Speaker. Not cottage country, not a place that they go and visit, but their homes. And some just had a matter of minutes notice and hours notice–no days, no weeks, no planning. It's something that came about as a direct result of flooding in the area.

And, Madam Speaker, in particular, and specific- ally in dealing with the Peguis First Nation and the on- reserve complement of evacuees that had to come from there, it's very disheartening that, on behalf of this government, they seem to think that the responsi- bility for this tragedy and for this devastation ends at the border. The question was asked just a little while ago, Madam Speaker, about Peguis First Nation's flooding situation. And the minister got up to speak about Indigenous Services Canada.

So the importance of this happening today really needs to have that approach and really needs to bring this government to the table to the urgency that comes about here. This doesn't stop at the border, Madam Speaker. So the Province has a respon sibility, and there is a responsibility to deal with this on a level that doesn't differentiate where you are in a com munity or where your community's located. And just simply a matter of fact that this is, quote unquote, on reserve land, so that federal–so that responsibility falls to somebody else.

This needs to take an all -of-government ap - proach, meaning prov incial and federal gov ernment responsibility to be able to come and bring this to the table. We've dealt with this over years and years, Madam Speaker. And you've seen the deflection on behalf of this gov ernment to deal with this public importance and this emergency preparedness on prov- incial versus federal responsibility. It–there was a call for the military from Peguis. There was a call t o say, let's get military assistance here to assist our evacuees, to assist our flooding situation, to assist with the devastation that's going to happen.

And we knew that it was going to happen. * (14:50) And, Madam Speaker, the simple ask of asking for the federal gov ernment's responsibility to call in the military was simply a matter of no. No, because the Province needs to first exhaust all their resources to be able to do this, and the fact of the matter is, that is not happening. The Province has not exhausted all of their resources to assist the com munity of Peguis. In fact,

1768 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 9, 2022 rather than exhausting any–or, deploying any kind of resources, they're trying to offload that responsibility to the federal gov ernment. And that's just simply unacceptable. Where in Manitoba other than on- reserve would this be acceptable? It's not. If this is happening in southern Manitoba, we are, in fact, dealing with a public emergency; but because this is happening on-reserve in Peguis, it doesn't seem to be an emer - gency, it doesn't seem to be any kind of urgent matter from this provincial government to deal with.

The fact of the matter is, Madam Speaker, the water does not stop at the border. The devastation does not stop at the reserve line. It, in fact, is flowing through the com munity, within the com munity, all around the community and displacing residents of the community. And, Madam Speaker, there's been a long history–and I realize, maybe, perhaps this is not the debate to raise that issue–but these communities have been displaced time and time again for gen erations.

So now being displaced into a flood- prone territory– this gov ernment has to bear that respon sibility and bear that acceptance to be able to say, we need to do what we n eed to do there. Not a matter of trying to check a box and deflect away from that responsibility, but that responsi bility clearly falls on this gov ern- ment. But instead, Madam Speaker, the urgency from this government just simply isn't there. We're sitting– and you've heard the term, oh, we're in a 100- years flood. We've been in 100 years of this. This –these kind of events haven't happened for generations.

Madam Speaker, within the last calendar year, we've had COVID. Again, COVID does not recognize that reserve boundary, does not recognize where you live in Manitoba. It affects everybody. The fire season we had, again, affected everybody no matter where you were. The extreme snow that we got this past winter didn't affect where we were. So, the importance of being able to deal with this emergency –so now we're dealing with the floodwater that's coming in there. Madam Speaker, those four events have all happened in the last calendar year. So are we dealing with an urgent emergency? Absolutely.

So now this emergency is now becoming the norm. It's not be - coming the exception; it's becoming the norm, and it's something that needs to be dealt with across all of gov- ernment. Not a simple of–matter of we're going to take it up to there. There's more to flooding besides the Red River and the Assiniboine, even those other tragedies that are happening today. In dealing with the watershed in the Interlake, Madam Speaker, that's something that has to be a priority for this government also. And it just simply is not. And it's a matter of dealing with the residents – 1,500–and that number is growing.

The minister had talked about being–going up in the community and not seeing hide or hair of anybody in the community. The fact of the matter is, members on this side of the Chamber have been in the commu- nity, Madam Speaker. Are we out there publicly, say, oh, you know, we're going out there, promoting the fact that we're visiting a commu nity? No, let's get in there boots on the ground. Let's get in there and assist wherever we can. Madam Speaker, we're at un precedented levels here. Unprecedented.

You get into the com munity of Peguis and you go on the highway –and the highway is now marked just simply with stakes in the ground. And they're not little–short little stakes. They're long stakes to be able to see where the road is, just to be able to access and get in and out. And, Madam Speaker, that may be acceptable anywhere else in Manitoba, but it should not be acceptable in the First Nation.

When we deal with those kinds of issues –if we were dealing in southern Manitoba, or downtown Winnipeg for that matter, if you had stakes to be able to see where the road is–just so you can travel to go for health care, to go buy food, to go buy supplies, to go to your medical appoint - ments–we would be absolutely up in arms in having this emergency debate take days and days until it was resolved. But what are we doing when it comes to Peguis? Totally ignoring that and totally trying to offload that responsibility to Indigenous Services Canada, which is absolutely unacceptable.

So, this debate and this discussion needs to happen here, it needs to happen today and it needs to happen until this issue is resolved. Understanding, Madam Speaker, there's going to come a time where these waters are going to recede, and they're still going to– you're going to feel those impacts for decades–not just days, not just weeks, but decades. We've had this issue happen in First Nation com- munities before, Madam Speaker, and that was over a

May 9, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1769 decade ago. And those communities are still displaced to this day, still feeling those impacts today. So, that is something that this gov ernment needs to take into account. Let's solve this issue now. Let's deal with this issue now. Let's truly bring a all -hands-on-deck ap- proach and deal with this emergency. Because it is an emergency, Madam Speaker. This isn't some thing, like I said, that stops at the border and all of a sudden, on- reserve is somebody else's respon sibility.

As Manitobans, as –and as the government of Manitoba, the responsi bility is also borne on this–on that side of the Chamber. So, Madam Speaker, so when we talk about dealing with the urgency and the importance of being able to deal with this, it's absolutely there and there is no double standard, even though clearly, when it comes to gov ernments and First Nation and Indigenous com munities, there is clearly a double standard. There is always that excuse to try and offload that responsibility to a different level of gov - ernment rather than avoid it and deal with it yourself.

But this government as the Province of Manitoba and Peguis First Nation –you can call it on -reserve land, Madam Speaker, but it is still located in Manitoba–it is still feeling that impact. There is no dome over Peguis. That water flows to Peguis, through Peguis and out of Peguis, but that impact is being felt today. So, are we talking about establishing a ring dike around Peguis to deal with that flooding situation in the future? Perhaps. But we also need to deal with what's happening here today. Madam Speaker, a lot of people don't really understand the impacts that flooding is having.

It's not just a matter of there's some water in your basement. You know, there's water in your basement, your home is ruined; your 100-, 200-, 300-, 400-thousand-dollar home is ruined. Then you have sewage backup in your home, so now your health is impacted, and you don't have that ability to cover that and recover from that on your own.

So we need to deal with the impacts of preventing this from happening again; we need to deal with the impacts of what's happening here right now, right here today; and we need to assist with a truly all -of-gov- ernment, provincial-federal government approach to be able to assist the people of Peguis. Again, Madam Speaker: 1,500 people. Hundreds of homes are being lost. Hundreds of homes are being damaged beyond repair. So we need to step up as Manitobans, as the gov ernment of Manito ba on that side of the Chamber, and deal with this assistance.

So when the government is being called upon to exhaust all the resources, let's truly do that. Exhausting all the resources doesn't mean just kind of what may be in front of you. Let's truly get out there and exhaust the resources that we have at your disposal, because you're clearly not doing that. We're not helping with damming, we're not helping with the infrastructure. The responsibility just simply does not end at the border, Madam Speaker, and that's why this is of urgent public importance– Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired. Hon.

Kelvin Goertzen (Government House Leader): There's no question, and nobody in this House on either side of the House, I don't believe, would quibble with the fact that the flooding that is happening in Manitoba –Peguis, in the North, in the Interlake, in the south–it's raining again today –we know t hat it is very im portant. There's no one who would take exception with the fact that it is a very, very im portant issue. It's one that Manitobans and the government–and I think all members –are sig - nificantly engaged in. I know that our Premier (Mrs.

Stefanson) and the Minister responsible for Infrastructure had been tour- ing the province to see the damage. Just this morning, the Minister of Infra structure talked about support when it comes to flying–applying for disaster finan- cial assistance. That shows that the gov ernment is fully engaged in this issue. He provided a statement today, a ministerial update, so that all members could hear information about the flooding that is happening around the province. There is no question this is a very, very important issue.

Here in the Legislature, and what you have to make the deter mination on, Madam Speaker, is whether or not there are any other oppor tunities to have these matters discussed. Of course, I already spoke about the minis terial statement that was pro - vided by the member opposite–or, sorry, the member– Minister of Infrastructure, and also, of course, there is question period. Question period allows the op posi- tion to bring forward–and typically, they would bring forward the emergent issues of the day. Today the NDP had the opportunity–I think they asked 34 or 35 questions.

Do you know how many questions they asked on Peguis and flooding? Not a single one, Madam Speaker. Not a single question.

1770 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 9, 2022 It is such an important issue for them that they believe that there is no other thing to do but to set aside the entire afternoon, and yet they didn't ask one single, solitary question about this very matter. It doesn't feel like, from their perspective, that it was so important. Now, I will give credit to my friend for River Heights. He did ask a question on this matter, Madam Speaker. He recognizes that question period is the place to bring forward im portant issues, and he did bring forward this question. But the NDP didn't ask one single, solitary question.

I don't know, after 34 questions maybe it was No. 50 on the list, maybe it was 57, 70 on the list–I don't know how far we would have had to get into question period for them to ask a question. * (15:00) Now, beyond that, Madam Speaker, if you look at the agenda for this afternoon–and it's no secret, we've talked with the Opposition House Leader and others– we're going to resolve into Committee of Supply. We're going to have Estimates. And for those who are listening, the Estimates process is an op portunity for members of the opposi tion to ask ministers and the Premier (Mrs.

Stefanson)–because the Premier is scheduled for Estimates this afternoon–to ask ques - tions about, essentially, anything that they wish. And instead of moving very quickly to get into Committee of Supply so that they could start asking questions of the Premier and other ministers who are scheduled to appear in Estimates, they've decided to delay. I don't know why, Madam Speaker. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Not a single question out of their 34 in question period centred on this parti cular issue. They don't seem to want to ask the Premier questions about this particular issue.

There must be some thing else at play. I'm– I hesitate to say th at it is politics, Madam Speaker, because I have great respect for my friend and also for members of the opposition, but there clearly is some- thing else going on when they don't want to ask any questions in question period about it or seemingly any questions to the Premier in the afternoon. So, there is no doubt that this is an im portant issue. No one would take exception with that.

But if the members opposite really want to ask questions about it, they have plenty of oppor tunity in question period and in Estimates this afternoon, and we await the decision of your good office on whether or not this raises to the standard of no other oppor tunity to ask about this issue. Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, I ask leave to make a response to the matter of urgent public importance. Madam Speaker: Does the member for River Heights have leave to respond to the matter of urgent public importance? [Agreed] Leave has been granted. Mr.

Gerrard: The flood is clearly a matter of urgent public importance in Manitoba. Of this, there's no question. We're in the middle of the flood of 2022. There is more rain coming today and tomorrow in the fourth Colorado low, and we have more rain coming later on in possibly another Colorado low this weekend. For many who have been affected by the flood, these are des perate times. I understand already there are about 1,900 people who've been evacuated: about 1,600 from Peguis First Nation and about 300 from varied locations in the rest of the province.

One of the reasons that we must have this matter of urgent public importance fully debated is that there has been an almost unbelievably poor ability to fore - cast the flood at Peguis and to give the people of Peguis First Nation adequate warning of the flood. On Thursday, April 28th, as I spoke earlier, Manitoba Liberals were given a briefing on the flood.

I asked about the situation at Peguis First Nation, and one of the reasons that I asked spe cifically about Peguis Firs t Nation was that the municipality of Fisher, located just south of Peguis First Nation, had declared a state of emergency on April 27th, and their notice specifically mentioned concerns at Poplarfield, Fisher Branch and Hodgson. The first two are just south of Peguis and Hodgson is right beside Peguis. And yet, when I asked about Peguis First Nation, the minister responded by saying his concern was with the outlet channel from Lake Manitoba to Lake St. Martin and the channel from Lake St.

Martin to Lake Winnipeg. The minister didn't mention Peguis First Nation at all. Strangely, in the flood, which was two days later, Peguis First Nation was in the middle of the worst flood that they've ever experienced. People are talking about a one -in-a-hundred-year flood. That's like the '97 flood in Manitoba. It should have been possible to give the people of Peguis First Nation several weeks. I suggest a month's advance warning of the potential risk would be reasonable. It's true that the snowstorms earlier in

May 9, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1771 April were a significant factor, but there should have been much better monitoring of the snow pack in the Fisher River watershed than occurred and much better information on the potential risk much earlier than was provided. My son Charles has been involved in measuring the snow pack in British Columbia and predicting the expected runoff. It can be done, and it must be done for the Fisher River watershed in the future.

Note that we're talking about areas of the watershed which are outside of Peguis F irst Nation, which are the ones which contribute the water to flood Peguis. The con- tribution from snow in Peguis First Nation itself is much less. Only when a community can have adequate warn- ing of a potential flood can the com munity properly prepare. We ensure such flood warnings for many other com munities in Manitoba: from Emerson to Melita to Brandon to Swan River and The Pas. We can and we must do the same for First Nation com mu- nities, including–particularly for Peguis.

This snowpack monitoring and monitoring of risk–we have a lot of ex perience with this in Manitoba, but we didn't do it. Something broke down, something was not done as well as it could have been done to warn Peguis First Nation and, as of today, there are about 1,600 people who've had to be evacuated. The fact that these 1,600 people have had their homes and livelihoods threatened is disturbing and unsettling. All Manitobans should be concerned when so many people have to be evacuated. The extent of these evacuations worries us all and points to major gaps in flood defences in our province.

It's important that we have, today, a full debate on this matter of urgent public importance so that MLAs can contribute to discussion of where these gaps are and the measures that are needed to fix the gaps. The potential for flooding along the Fisher River at Peguis has been known for many years. On many occasions in the past, I've called for the dev elopment and implementation of flood protection and flood pro- tection plan for Peguis. I've been in discussions where there have been alternatives described, either storing water upstream or building a channel to divert water around Peguis itself.

Either way, or some combination could provide protec tion for the people who live on Peguis First Nation. These solutions have been talked about for many years. Sadly, though, the NDP, when in gov ernment, knew of the problem, they failed to act. The PCs in the last six years have done no better. Shame on both the NDP and the Con servatives. It's imperative that we discuss today this situation and that it is not delayed further. Madam Speaker, we are in a time when at the very top of the agenda for all of us is reconciliation.

Recon- ciliation means working and planning together, recog- nizing the harms that have been done in the past –as they have been done to people in Peguis First Nation– and working out a plan, as we say in our land ac - knowledgment every day, to collaborate to solve these problems in the future. Madam Speaker, to not have this matter of urgent public importance today would be a step back from the motion we are making, from the forward progress we are making on reconciliation.

And I would urge the government to reconsider their position, to join all members in a process of recon ciliation which will allow us to discuss this situation –the situation of the flooding at Peguis –today and not wait for any other day in the future. It needs to be 'dos' now. The situation is very serious and I hope that we will have co-operation from the government and the opposition parties and us–we are in favour, so that we can have this very important debate and we can have the process of recon ciliation move forward, as it should and must today. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker: I thank the hon ourable members for their advice to the Chair regarding the motion proposed by the honourable member for Keewatinook (Mr. Bushie) on a matter of urgent public importance. * (15:10) As members may recall, two con ditions must be satisfied in order for this matter to proceed as a debate in this House. The first condition has been met in that I did receive a letter with notice of this MUPI more than 90 minutes prior to the start of routine proceedings, as required by rule 38(1), and I thank the honourable member for that.

The second condition is that the matter proposed for debate must be urgent, with no other reasonable oppor tunities available to fully debate the matter. I have listened very carefully to the arguments put forward and I agree that the impact of flooding is an issue that fits the criteria for a matter of urgent public importance and that it should take precedence over other House business today.

1772 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 9, 2022 Many, many Manitobans across the province have been affected by the current flooding and I feel that citizens would benefit from members having an opportunity today to raise concerns and hear about proposed solutions in this Chamber. I feel the people of Manitoba would want to hear from their elected representatives regarding this crisis and that a fulsome debate on the matter should take place as soon as possible. I therefore rule this motion in order as a matter of urgent public importance and I put the question to the House. Shall the debate proceed?

An Honourable Member: Agreed. An Honourable Member: No. Madam Speaker: I hear a no. Voice Vote Madam Speaker: All those in favour, please say yea. Some Honourable Members: Yea. Madam Speaker: All those opposed, please say nay. Some Honourable Members: Nay. Madam Speaker: In my opinion, the Nays have it. I declare the motion lost. Grievances? Mr. Gerrard: I call for a recorded vote, please. Madam Speaker: A recorded vote having been called, call–oh. [interjection] Oh, does the member have support of three other members?

Not seeing any support, there is no support for a recorded vote. * * * Madam Speaker: Grievances? ORDERS OF THE DAY GOVERNMENT BUSINESS Hon. Kelvin Goertzen (Government House Leader): Could you please resolve into Committee of Supply? Madam Speaker: It has been announced that the House will consider Estimates this afternoon. The House will now resolve into Committee of Supply. Mr. Deputy Speaker, please take the chair. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY (Concurrent Sections) ROOM 254 HEALTH * (15:30) Mr. Chairperson (Dennis Smook): Good afternoon. Will the Committee of Supply please come to order.

Before we begin, I have a leave request for this

section of Com mittee of Supply. Our long- standing practice is for the op position to sit at the commit tee table to the right hand of the–to the right-hand side of the Chairperson. Because the minister is participating virtually this afternoon, I am asking if there is leave of the committee to waive this practice. This would make it much easier for the members of the opposi tion to see the screens that are situated in the room. Is there leave? [Agreed] This

section of Com mittee of Supply will now consider the Estimates of the Department of Health. Does the honour able minister have an opening statement, and would they please introduce their staff that is with them? Hon. Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health): On behalf of the Department of Health, I am very pleased to present the financial Estima tes for the 2022- 23 fiscal year. In doing so, I commit to Manitobans that through this budget, we will continue to deliver high- quality health care in a safe, innovative and sus tain- able manner to our patients, clients, residents and families.

As the supplement describes, we will continue to strive for positive results in the department and health system, with dedicated focus on results in the areas of improving access, improving health- service ex per- ience, improving patient safety, ensuring affordability and health-system spending. The proposed 2022- 23 Health budget, in core, represents the largest invest ment in health care in our history, just over $6.2 billion. More spe cifically, the De partment of Health now reflects a 2022- 23 expenditure, in core, of $6.273 billion.

This represents a $146.1-million increase from the 2021-22 budget or a 2.4 per cent increase. In terms of

summary, the 2022-23 health sector

summary budget is set at $6.687 billion. The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant and far-reaching collateral impacts on many aspects of the

May 9, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1773 health-care system. The magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic backlog challenge includes surgical and diagnostic waits, cancer screening and diagnoses and waits and increasing demands for other im portant services to Manitobans. The Manitoba government has created a diagnos- tic and surgical recovery task force to address the diagnostic and surgical backlog challenges.

The five-point plan includes the following actions: (1) improve the capacity of the existing prov incial health system to deliver activity; ( 2) increase prov - incial capacity through more intensive health -care purchasing efforts; (3) engage the front line in finding solutions; (4) apply innovations developed locally and globally; (5) engage citizens and com munity in identifying challenges and finding solutions. The Manitoba gov ernment already recog nized that significant financial resources were needed to ad- dress these multiple challenges.

Budget 2021 con- tained a total of $50 million to support the backlogs in activity in that fiscal year alone. Budget 2022 con- tinues to address the pandemic backlog by provi ding a total of $110 million to aid in the recovery from COVID-19 related to surgical and diagnos tic back - logs. This $110 million is on top of the amounts I referenced in our core budget. On the topic of COVID-19, our government con- tinues to proactively budget for and set aside amounts in respect to pressures from COVID -19.

And, again, on top of the core amounts I noted earlier for Health, our gov ernment has esta blished an amount of $630 million in 2022 -23 for the ongoing COVID -19 response and other contingencies. In addition to the budget I just spoke about and in response to the unpre cedented pressure placed on the prov incial health -care system as a result of COVID-19, an initial investment of $9 million is committed to esta blish a higher baseline ICU bed level in Manitoba. A further $4.2 million and 18 addi- tional term FTEs will be provided to Cadham prov - incial lab to support core and COVID-19 operations.

Budget 2022 includes other key invest ments and enhancements in the delivery of health services. I will now take a few moments to describe some of these investments. Health has made large commit ments related to funding for wages and benefits. Manitoba spends ap- proximately 73 cents on every dollar in hospitals and health-care facilities on salaries and benefits for the workforce. The total invest ment made in respect of these resources amounts to $8 7.2 million in Budget 2022.

For the 2022-23 fiscal year, over $12.6 million in incremental operating funding has been made avail - able to support the annual operating cost of the fol - lowing new capital projects in Manitoba: the acute 'crotes'–acute stroke unit at HSC, an increase of $8 million in addition to $1.7 million in funding provided in 2021-22; Rest Haven personal-care home, an increase of $2 million in addition to $4 million in funded–provided in 2021-22 for 83 incremental beds; CancerCare Manitoba, an increase of $2.7 million to support several cancer initiatives.

An investment of $7.6 million is being provided for emergency response services, including for hiring of 35 addi tional primary-care paramedics as part of the gov ernment's commit ment to hire an addi tional 80 paramedics; increased capacity for life -saving dialysis treatment for those living with end -stage chronic kidney disease; and we've budgeted an addi - tional $1.8 million for 2022-23, and plan to invest in capacity for more dialysis spaces in Manitoba. This includes both in- centre and home dialysis for those who wish to deliver or receive care in the privacy of their home.

Since 2015- 16, $34.1 million in total funding has been approved to expand dialysis capacity. Funding of $10.9 million will be made in support of Manitoba's Pharmacare program. This will include a 2.1 per cent increase in anticipated price increases as well as 2.4 per cent increase in prescription volumes and additional funding for drugs for rare diseases. I n addition, we continue with our plans announced in 2021 to provide improved coverage for insulin pumps and glucose monitors to help those suffering with diabetes.

Although delayed by COVID -19, wave 2 of the health-system transformation continues to implement Manitoba's Clinical and Preventative Services Plan. The CPSP is focused on sustaining health services into the future so that care is optimized, guiding investments in rural and northern health care, digital health supports and infra structure investment in pro- jects and program delivery. And we continue to ad- vance the imple mentation of Manitoba's CPSP, in- cluding the unpre cedented $8.2-million capital plan that was announced last year in Budget 2021.

New hospitals are in planning for Neepawa and Portage la Prairie, and many other infra structure im- provement projects are under way across the province. In Winnipeg, our gov ernment was very pleased to

1774 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 9, 2022 announce the progress made on the St. Boniface Hospital emergency depart ment project. The $141-million project will include patient care, reduced wait times and meet growing demands for the future. The health system and those who work in it have been providing care during a once -in-a-lifetime pan- demic, arguably the most difficult period in re cent memory. Now they're hard at work on recovering from the backlogs and stabilizing from the pandemic.

Our gov ernment has made historic invest ments in Budget 2022 to help our valued health-care providers do this important work. Historically, the Ca nada Health Transfer played an important role in helping support prov incial and territorial health services. In 2017 -2018, the federal government cut growth in the CHT from a fixed 6 per cent per year to a three-year moving average of nominal gross domestic product growth, with funding guaranteed to increase by 3 per cent per year.

The decrease in the CHT's growth rate since 2017 -2018 has reduced the overall federal contribution through the CHT in supporting total health -care costs in Canada, resulting in billions of dollars less in health - care funding for provinces and territories. For Manitoba, it means a reduction of $739 million in total when compared to what would have been re - ceived during this period under the previous formula. By 2021, provinc es and territories were paying about 78 per cent of total health-care costs in Canada while the federal gov ernment paid only about 22 per cent.

Sustaining the health- care levels to re - spond to Manitobans' greatest health-care needs going forward requires an increase in the CHT of provincial and territorial– Mr. Chairperson: The honour able minister's time has expired. We thank the minister for those comments, and would the minister introduce her staff at this time? Ms. Gordon: Here with me today is Karen Herd, the Deputy Minister of Health; Sandra Henault, assistant deputy minister and executive financial officer, finance, shared services for all three depart ments, Manitoba Health. Mr.

Chairperson: Does the critic from the official opposition have an opening statement? An Honourable Member: Yes. Mr. Chairperson: The honour able member for Union Station. * (15:40) MLA Uzoma Asagwara (Union Station): So I'd like to start by thanking the staff who are supporting the proceedings today. W e know how hard you folks work, and we genuinely appre ciate your support and your efforts made so that we can do this work in this building and on behalf of Manitobans. I also want to thank all of those who are working in our health-care system during this very challenging time.

It is currently nurse ap preciation week, and it's also allied health-care professionals week, and those folks most definitely, most certainly deserve our thanks for every thing that they have done and are doing. And beyond our thanks, they also deserve real action to address the ongoing crisis and challenges that they're facing in our health-care system. The pandemic has posed exceptional challenges to our health- care system. As we've previously dis - cussed, years of closu res and consolidation left Manitoba uniquely unprepared for a public health emergency.

We've seen the impacts of that in terms of health-care outcomes throughout this pandemic; unfortunately, being some of the worst across North America. We know the capacity in our health -care system was cut, beds were closed, critical care was cut, emer- gency rooms were consolidated. Unfortunately, over the last year, things have got- ten worse in the health -care system. We're facing a record backlog for surgeries and diagnostic tests. Wait times in emergency rooms are also breaking records.

Facilities in rural and northern Manitoba also face incredible challenges, including what the northern region describes as a very fragile state of sites and services across the region. This cannot be overstated, and I'm grateful for our colleagues who represent the North in our caucus –NDP caucus –who have been advocating tirelessly for folks who reside in the North and in rural communities.

In addition, my colleague for Point Douglas will spend some time inquiring of the gov ernment re - garding the very serious addictions crisis, the crisis of unmet basic needs and the crisis of unaddressed child- hood trauma and trauma generally, and how that manifests in our province. The addiction support the gov ernment has put forward are simply inadequate to deal with the problem at hand and much more must be done.

May 9, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1775 My colleague will get into more of those details by way of questions throughout this process. I want to thank the health staff who are supporting today's proceedings under what are very challenging circumstances. Appreciate you very much, and thank you for your expertise throughout Estimates. Thank you. Mr. Chairperson: We thank the member for that statement. Under Manitoba practice, debate on the minister's salary is the last item considered for a de partment in the Committee of Supply. Accordingly, we shall now defer consideration of line item 21.1(

a) contained in resolution 21.1. According to our r ule 77(16), during the consid - eration of de partmental Estimates, questioning for each department shall proceed in a global manner with the questions put separately on all resolutions once the official opposition critic indicates that questioning has concluded. Before I open the floor for questions, I would just like to remind everybody to please give a proper signal with your hand for myself to recognize you, so that way there's no mistakes of the cameras and the mics being turned on prematurely. The floor is now open for questions.

MLA Asagwara: I'd like to start today by actually sharing a response to a freedom of information request we received, which I'm happy to table. It shows the discharge disposition of patients at St. Boniface Hospital's cardiac unit over six years. So, in 2015 and '16, 69 patients were discharged because they died. In 2018 and '19, it was 115 patients. In 2019 and '20, it was 157. Clearly, you know, these numbers predate the pandemic –the rise in these numbers predate the pandemic. Can the minister explain this rise in deaths in cardiac units at St. Boniface Hospital? Ms.

Gordon: I thank the member for Union Station (MLA Asagwara) for the question. I would like to take it under advise ment. That information is not available at this time. MLA Asagwara: So a memo from Victoria General Hospital that was leaked recently–I know the minister is well aware of this–refers to a bed crisis. That is–that description is a direct quote from the memo. The memo says that at all sites across the region–this will mean pulling more patients out of the emergency rooms to wherever patient care space can be created; in some cases, in non -traditional locations.

That, again, is quoted directly from this memo that was leaked. What is the minister doing to address this bed crisis? If she could outline maybe the imme diate actions that she's taking and then, more generally, what steps they're taking to address this bed crisis. Ms. Gordon: I thank the member for Union Station for the question.

It is my understanding from the health system leadership that the Victoria General Hospital is exper- iencing a surge in patient demand at this time, and a number of initiatives are being imple mented and developed to lower emergency as well as urgent care wait times and reduce the backlogs at these sites. These ideas are coming forward from engage - ment and conversation with staff, staff that work right in the urgent care, assisting patients.

And so some of the ideas that have come for ward is the levelling of transport arrivals across all sites, including the lab turnaround time for patients requiring admission. I understand that these are temporary–and I stress and emphasize the word temporary –measures of the individuals that are bei ng moved–I'm assured are ambulatory. They're low -acuity patients. They are close to being discharged within 24 to 48 hours. They're independent and relatively low-care needs. The spaces they're moved to are monitored by staff.

They're equipped with al l necessary equipment and are locations where patients who are expected to be discharged, again, within a short period of time. Our health -care facilities continue to com municate with these patients and staff about moves and plans for managing the surge. We know that these are challenging circum - stances, and we –I do want to recognize the pro- fessionalism and dedication of all our staff to ensure patients are receiving quality care in a safe manner. Mr. Chairperson, thank you. MLA Asagwara: I than k the minister for that response.

You know, I'm sure the minister would agree that, however temporary, folks are being put in hallways or in staff lounges or wherever staff are creatively being able to find space to provide care that–for any amount of tim e–that is unacceptable. That it is not what Manitobans should come to expect when they access

1776 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA May 9, 2022 health care in our province, and that these temporary measures–the reality of it is that they're a direct result of decisions that this government has made leading up to the pandemic, including cutting 124 beds from our hospitals. * (15:50) And so, you know, knowing that, I'm sure the minister recognizes that this circum stance–no one should ever expect to be ex periencing this in health care, and it places an incredible burden on top of what is already a really challenging time for health -care workers to try and meet those health-care needs in that kind of an environment, as creative as they are finding these solutions.

Can the minister commit to restoring the 124 beds that have been lost in the last few years that have con- tributed to the state of things right now? Ms. Gordon: I thank the honour able member for Union Station (MLA Asagwara) for the question. I am reviewing some CIHI data–Canadian infor- mation for –institute for health infor mation data for 2020-2021 and it shows the total number of beds for each of the provinces and territories. And they're listed in a ranked order, and Manitoba was at 4,170, up from 4,132. I'm not aware of the bed closures the member references.

Of course, during the pandemic, there has been pressures and challenges on the health system to staff beds as a result of redeployment of staff, in - dividuals who may have chosen, throughout the two years, to seek em ployment elsewhere. And so there were challenges, and you can't keep a bed open unless you have it staffed, so. Those decisions are not being made here in the ministry. It's being made in each and every facility by leadership to ensure that individuals who occupy those beds are receiving care from the right ratio and complement of staff.

But if the member for Union Station could be more specific about the number that they are putting on the record, that would be appre ciated because we are not familiar with those closures. Thank you, Mr. Chairperson. MLA Asagwara: So the 124–I thank the minister for that response–that number, which has been raised in question period a number of times to this point, comes from the WRHA annual report. So that's infor mation that the minister should have readily available and, again, has been raised a number of times in the past many weeks.

So, if the minister is able to clarify how those beds are going to be, you know, reinstated, that would be great. But, certainly, I won't spend too much time on that, if the minister is not willing to commit to reinstating those 124 beds that were cut. What I would like to be able to get into is whether or not the minister can provide the amounts regions have spent on nursing agencies. This is a really important question. It's a question that I certainly understand if the minister doesn't have all of the data available to her, an undertaking would be fine.

But if the minister could provide the amount regions have spent on nursing agencies, broken out by region, for the fiscal year of 2021 and '22, that would be great. Ms. Gordon: I thank the honour able member for Union Station for the question. I just want to clarify that the fiscal year is '21-22. And if that is accurate, we would not have those numbers as of yet. We're just in the process of final - izing the end of the fiscal year numbers. So, please clarify that it is the fiscal year that has just ended. MLA Asagwara: Would the minister be willing to take that as an undertaking? Ms.

Gordon: Yes, we will take that under advisement and provide a response. MLA Asagwara: I thank the minister for agreeing to do so. Similarly to my question on those stats, is the minister able to –and broken down by area, so, for example, surgery, ER, urgent care, et cetera, and by region–would the minister be able to provide us a current vacancy report for nurses? * (16:00) Ms. Gordon: I thank the honour able member for Union Station for the oppor tunity to put some words on the record about our gov ernment's investment in nurses.

So, we have invested–nearly 1,600 nurse training seats now, over double the 700 the previous NDP gov- ernment had when they took power. We're graduating 15 per cent more nurses than the NDP ever did; $19.5 million has been invested to add 259 nurse training seats this year, and that will be at five

May 9, 2022 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA 1777 post-secondary institutions as part of our larger plan to add close to 400 new nursing education seats. Mr. Chairperson, on top of these invest ments, we're hiring 35 more paramedics across our province. And I want to highlight that 149 nurses have com - pleted their intensive-care unit nurse training program since last April; 93 nurses, as well, in the last year have completed the 12 -week critical-care orientation program to be able to help support our intensive-care units; and 30 more nurses have signed up for the program just this past February.

And I've shared a number of times that last year I was pleased as a first-time Health Minister to partici- pate in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences' College of Nursing nurses' graduation ceremony, and 115 nurses graduated at that time, and there will be even more graduating this spring. Mr. Chairperson, $4.3 million for 37 addi tional nurse training seats at University College of the North is an investment where we will see more nurses being able to provide care throughout various facilities in our northern and remote communities.

And we're supporting hundreds of internationally educated nurse applicants to obtain their licensure and start practising in Manitoba with up to $23,000 of financial aid per person. And that might –may not sound like a lot to those around the table today, but to someone who's a newcomer trying to get back into their field of practice f rom their previous country of origin, that is a lot.

And our undergraduate nurse employees program–last December, 63 third - and fourth -year nursing students joined care teams to support the delivery of health services for Manitobans, and this will allow them to gain invaluable paid experience in a clinical setting. And 159 more nursing students will start by the end of April. And so we are ensuring that we provide opportun- ities right here in our province for new nurses, for internationally educated nurses, to be able to practise in their area of passion and expertise. It's about making Manitoba more welcoming.

And welcoming doesn't just mean to individuals that are coming to our province from another country or another province. It's about people who have grown up here and went to school here and spent their entire life here and now they want to stay here at home in Manitoba and practise in their area of passion and expertise. And so we're ensuring that Manitoba welcomes them into our health system.

So pleased to be able to have several discussions with the Manitoba Nurses Union, the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba on how we can [inaudible] remains open and a welcoming place for those who want to be in the nursing profession. I've said many times that it's a very rewarding and ful - filling profession, and we want to keep it that way. And that is why we've also added 60 new full - time nursi ng positions to intensive -care units. And that's not just here in Winnipeg at St. Boniface and Health Sciences Centre, but it's also in Brandon and Grace Hospital.

And it's about –what this week is all about, National Nursing Week; it's thanking nurses. I t's ap- preciating them. It's valuing them and making sure they know that–[interjection] Mr. Chairperson: The honour able minister's time has expired. MLA Asagwara: I thank the minister for that response. I didn't hear an answer to my question in regards to whether or not the minister will provide, broken out by area and by region, a current vacancy report for nurses. I would appre ciate if the minister could provide clarity on that point.

But I just want to also state that I agree with the minister that Manitoba should be a welcoming place for nurses. People should be excited, whether they're new grads or they're relocating

Document details

Collection	Manitoba — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	42-4-45
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	42nd 4th hansardpdf 45.pdf
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	a06903864ea4c93c39e5ee070ac74da784f2f40d

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